Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-04-01
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Early History In Lancasier-The Ministers-
The First Building The Old Beli-The New
EdiHce-I Interesting Facts-Last Sermon In
the Old Building May Our Eyes Behold 1t
and Not Another"

building In Lancaster Is being con-
verified into machine shop, the sound
of the busy hammer and saw upon the
old frame work touches chord in the
hearts of many responsive to the mel
odies oflong ago, when, in 1851, this
old frame house was dedicated to the
worship of God, which continued to
be occupied as the Congregational
church until 1873, period of twenty
two years. Believing that history
of the church, from its infancy to the
first sound of the old bell in the tall
reaching spire on Madison street, call
ing forth to the congregation that
"The Lord builded the house," will
be both valuable and interesting, the
HERALD has obtained permission of
the Pastor, Rev. S. W. Eaton, to pub
lish a portion of the discourse deliver
ed on the last day of the occupancy
of the old house by the church, July
6, 1878, giving as its dues some inter-
esting facts and "reminiscences:
And of Zion it shall be said This and that
man was born in her The Lord shall count
when He writeth up the people, that this man
was born there.-Psalms 81: Sd verses.
LAYING FOUNDATIONS.
1t falls to the lot of some men to lay founda-
tons, and of others to build thereon. Some
found churches, and others take the oversight
of such as have reached their measure of sta
bility and strength 1t is not for US to say to
which kind of service belongs the greater
honor. Indeed, the Master hath need of both,
and will bestow his rewards not so much with
reference to the department of labor as to the
fidelity with which we work.
FIRST SERMON IN LANCASTER
At the time when ! was pursuing my classical
and theological studies, the young States
and Territories of the Northwest were begin
ming to give unmistakable indications of Their
future Importance. There was call for min
listers of the Gospel to follow the advancing
tide of emigration. Needing the appeal,
came, in 1916, to the then sparsey settled
Territory of Wisconsin, and preached in the
little village of Lancaster for the first time on
the 9Th day of November, and again on the
22d of the same month The Church then in
vited me to assume the duties of acting pastor
on the first of January, when their existing
engagement with Rev. 0. Littlefield would
terminate. This call accepted, declining
one received at the same time from the church
at Pot osi, then larger than this. At this time
the churches in the Mineral Point convention
were supplied with ministers as follows:
Platteville by Rev. J. D. Stevens, Mineral
Point by Rev. z. Eddy, Dodgeville by Rev. A
S. Allen, Hazel Green by Rev. j. NJ Phillips
New Diggings by Rev. John Lewis, Wyoming
by Rev. A. D. Laughlin, and Elk Grove by
Rev. C. Warner. OF these seven men two
have died, and the rest have removed to other
places. In all the churches of the convention
except this there have been repeated changes
Of pastors since 1916. 1t affords me rare
pleasure to be able to say: 81 dwell among
mine own people"
SEPARATE CONGREGATION.
AS the three churches then existing in Ian
caster we're in their infancy, they had been
accustomed to hold united services, the
preachers officiating alternately, either in the
court use-which has since given place to a
new building-or in the school house, which
has had three su ccessors. The time seemed
now to have come for gathering a separate
congregation. And this was done, but with.
out disturbing the relations of fraternity with
those good neighbors who held essentially the
same precious faith. From that time the
school house, now occupied as q dwelling by
Judge McGonigal, became our church home.
FIRST CHURCH BUILDING
In the Spring of 1850 it was resolved tc
build a house of worship, a measure which
was Justly regarded as essential to the growth
and permanent strength and influence Of the
church. Accordingly, drew a subscription
paper, and with great pains secured sucf
pledges as the limited means of the people en-
abled them to make. In compliance with &
request from the Trustees of Platteville Acad
envy, employed the months of the Summer
in raising funds at the East for the benefit O.
that institution. This delayed our enterprise
until the following Spring, when a contract
for building house, thirty feet in width by
forty in length, was made with Mr.. E. B. Ten
ney. He was to inclosc the building, lay the
floor and plaster, and to receive in payment
the subscriptions, amounting in the aggregate
to 1921 So for the collection Of which he was
to be solely responsible. The pastor of the
church consented to become his security fol
the fulfllment of the contract 1t should be
stated as a fact highly creditable to Mr.. Ten
ney, that he fully met the terms of his engage
ment, although on account of rainy weather
and for other reasons, he realized no profit.
THE FIRST SERVICE
was held in the house on the occasion of the
funeral of Mrs. James Kelly, rough boards be-
ing used for seats. Afterward movable
benches were purchased of the church at Pc.
tosi, they desiring to replace them with pews
Platteville contributed pulpit which had
been used in the Old Academy, without cost
to US. Stoves from the firm of Zeigler &
Thompson have done good service until the
present time.
THE DEDICATION.
In this incomplete condition the building wa:
dedicated December 2, 1851, Reys John Lewis
D. T. Noyes and E. Morris participating il
the exercises After short period of rest, W,
were able, with aid to the sum of 1925 from
the building fund, to add the pews and pulpit
THE OLD BELLS CALL TO PRAYER.
In the year 1860 the edfce was enlarged t.
its present dimensions by the additionof TWEEN
ty-one feet to its length. On the lst of Jan
uary, 1867, the twentieth anniversary of m,
settlement, bell was placed in the tower
which has since regularly announced the in.
coming of the first day of the week, and grave
ly, yet cheerily, repeated its call to prayer
and which is to go out with the congregation