, 1876-08-06

stores. or in the parlors of the faithful, and, as
these little bands kept increasing In numbers and
devotional ZEAL it became evident that some Organ
ized society was necessary. Accordingly, meet
ing WAS called for the lst day of January, 1879, at
the house Of Timothy Wells. in order to determine
tho formation Of church. Of either the Presbytcri
m or Congregational denomination. The Rev. Cyrus
Nichols, who preached the very hrst sermon in
Racine, was chosen Moderator, and Alfred Cary
Clerk. 1t was unanimously decided that separate
church organization Was IN absolute necessity, 80
Committee appointed consisting OF the
Rev. Cyrus Nichols, Joel Sage, Timothy Wells, and
meeting :: Confession OF Faith and Covenant. ''
The meeting TOOK pace ut the school house, which
WIS an empty room over store on Main street,
Moderator, and Alfred Cary Clerk, aud on eac b
one present being asked whether they preferred u
Presbyterian or i Congregational church. fifteen
the latter. It was then decided, with hut one
dissenting voice. to establish Presbyterian
church. The Committee read the Articles Of
Faith and Covenant, - which were approved with
but one dissenting voice. The name OF this un-
communstic Islirnae1ite is lost to history. The
twcnty-onc Of the twenty-five present subscribed
their names as
ORIGINAL MEMBERS,
which arc given herewith: Julius Cotton, Heman
Rice, Benjamin Z. Smith, Nelson A. Walker,
Timothy We: Joel ;;s S;n$s Elias = I IGapr9n Mn
Wells, Airs Sylvester hygatt. Mrs. Elias S. Gu
prom, Mrs. HeHan Rice, Mrs. J. P. Hulburt, a1rs
Cyrus Nichols. Miss sophronia 1. Wells, Miss
Susannah FRAZIER, Miss sarah G. Hale, and Mrs
Benjamin E. Smith.
Previous to the permanent organization OF the
church. the 18th of February, lS3g, the faithful
band Ut worshpers were indebted to the nlinistra-
tions Of regularly ordained clergymeu from other
Cities to itincrant preachers who visited the Vii
solution as they fell from the lips of the more
gifted Of the congregation. The Rev. Cyrus Mich
OILS WAS burning and shining light in those days,
and stood uobly By the tiny craft that WIS drifting
frnf!h1n6 NHtGfA
the first regularly appointed pastor was the Rev.
Z. G. Caldwell, who assumed the functions OF Shep
'aS Of 1he Church. IN uv
Rcv. M Caldwell. The principal feature of the Rev:
zeal with which he the evil influences OF the
dram chops that ilourshcd in those days. In Jan
usry, 1872, the Rev. Hiram Foote took charge Of
built on tho east side Of WISCONSIN; below Fifth
street now known as Odd Fellows Hall: The Rev
Footc was dismissed, and the Rev r, n. hopkins
man being the first whose :. .cali'' wns regularly
made and signed by q Moderator and Clerk. His
career as pastor was marked BY schism
ng and adoptns q the ee a
and appointing the Rev. Hopkins Us their spiritual
adviser. In the spring of 1850, the Rev. q. NJ:
to the pastorate. A new church OF greater capacity
now became an absolute necessity, and the present
edifce il the result Of the labors Of the Building
was dismissed to labor in fields Of greater use
fulness, and the Rev. George N. s. Blowrelt, OF
New Jersey was appointed his ,n successor During
brethren from Beloit College, and by j.
Ase Wf the Of The Me
ueh1s sa5s @ tall Ms s' re IL s 5nas
1861. November, 1885, the Rev. ". $. Alexan-
der took charge of the parish. and continued hls
ministry until June, 1872 The present pastor,
the Rev. D. E. Bicrce, gentleman Of rare talent
and Christian zeal assumed the care of the largest
March, 1873. The total number Of members
whose names appear on the rolls OF the
church during the thrty-six years OF its
existence are i, 055, Of whom lO7 died members,
4GO were dismissed to other churches, II were cx-
:1uded, and ~ marked absent, leaving 100 act
i've members now in the fold
traced the history Of the first church in our city
from the altar OF which the prayers Of the righte-
ous assembled long ago; 4 church that struggled
into existence two years after village lots were
surveyed, when only twenty -one seekers after t
mansions IN the world beyond could be found to in
1orse its rolls, but winch to-day t. powerful in it's
;rand In it, simple faith. |
"roSDS or BATRIN0SY." |
Not thousand miles from where the writer sits |
S located the scene Of q thrilling scandal. No |
other event that has transpireA in the ncighbor-
rood in question for number Of years has created
.uch sociul earthquake. and the withered old |
sr0ncS VIII eloEs Ill StsAEtlH!5 tragedies
Ire suprcmely happy 4 few short months ago |
here c1me to the locality in question young man
II pleasing address and presumed wealth. who !
vas cons1derco catcn Dy ionu nlaHmas for |
heir pure, unta'nted darl1ngs, SO they gathered |
heir ch'cks unaer tne.t lnothefly Wanys. pecked
heir piumcs into seemly shape anu cluckcd e4-
'ectantly 3or this shapely shanghai. lie |
u the p a. ana p: w., however, |
seemed eupremely Indifferent to the |
'ewitcmns beauty OF the hedSilnss or the wiles
u the experienced hens; golaen- haired darling
! ! utl ...S sS.": !4 -. III; .aa Ao!'s ~ tap.uieu
ne turkey, ,onzzasu oi "nonl write, anu was
@ ~ of @ cGop t
!seetul cloM!' u !oc01 togsteFs anl inc directed
,acklhS VI !lsai % he1s u!!y niohth ago was the
nIny IN nealscu o'iuG tnsiiieo III nel new homc-
y .nd now @ Snc Is an exile uAccf her iatners roof.
lales o. norsors soon thrilled the burg;
torres Q! nisnlS oeoancn ana brutal acts on the
,a1a " tie oeastls husn31la were whispered among
~ hnoMI!tS enss' .anu uAtI4eo oy Tue Hlsht OF
az Puu. ot!S ~. wy -: ns W AEt sutu aAu Mus-
e. s.s " nea n1e, 5ngnts cspoused
~ faasherx ns ,,o.u a RnaIt.r !. ransnt ol lr
i na ~ G-nr..s uI ;s,, ~" 70 ~ G3i!e aso
'nu eie NJ "l"s - ,ppe;u ~ lo!o 5ouso.
,,, .o,o,.oa .sshns. 49,. W. = - H., ~
~ s'sn.eu sAo.a @ ~ ~ Ine et,1ietes, "nen
y -, ual. ~ ~. IL lat elain 70 Two
I