The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-28

TO know you as man that took an ac-
tive and lively interest ip everything
that pertained to the welfare Of CHS
congregation, particularly in its eco.
nomical development. By your intelli-
gence and upright conduct, you gained
general confidence and YOU we've
placed at the head of the Board If
Trustees and you were entrusted with
the financial management of the con-
gregation. You have now been our
treasurer for almost 8 years, during
which time more than forty thousand
dollars have passed through YOUR
hands, and of which sum you have
yourself collected more than thirty
thousand dollars for this church build
ing. You have had your portion of
trouble in this management, you have
spent much time and labor and YOU
have had to exercise not a little pa-
tience; but through your tact ind in
domitable courage you have conquered
all difficulties and succeeded to clear
the church from all debts. For all
these services you have asked for and
received no payment. The congreea-
ton however has not been inseusible of
your merits, nor forgotten the gratitude
1t owes you. 1t is proper that you
should detest and despise all emptv
t1attery, and We believe that YOU are
noble enough to regard the conscious
ness of having done your duty and the
satisfaction of having performed SO
much good for the church, as a suti-
Gent reward for all your troubles: but
never the less, it is not more than inst
that we as church should acknowledge
the respect and gratitude we owe YOU.
We pray that Gods richest blessing
may accompany you and especially NAV
the blessings of Gods House be YOUR
portion, without which every thing else
is nothing but vanity. May you vet be
spared for many years to continue in
the services of this congregation, and
as token of the high regard we enter
tain for you, l hereby deliver to YOU
this golden time piece. May it be a
friendly monitor to you of the great
value of time, gift of God for an
earnest preparation for the time to come
and also Of the fact that every truly
good deed, done while it is time, shall
not be without its reward! i.
To which Mr.. Peterson responded as
follows:
MIR. Norelius; l thank YOU, and
through you, all those who have con-
tributed to the magnificent gift, which
shall always be the occasion Of pleasant
memories to me and my children.
L prize it not only for the happy re-
suit attained, in the rearing, finishing
and final payment of all the indebted
ness incurred in the erection of our
stately Temple, to which, it has been
my lot, to be an humble instrument in
the hands of the congregation to achieve.
1t shall be yet dearer remembrance
tor the generosity displayed by friendly
contributors.
May God, to whose honor and praise
we have built this House, preserve the
same from misfortune; may it long
stand on this eminence as a monument
to its builders, and show our posterity,
what unanimity and good will accom-
plished, among the Pioneers of Vasa.
Again, thank you.
This beautiful gift to Hon. j. W. Pc
terson was deserved compliment to
the untiring energy that he displayed
as collecting and disbursing officer of
the church; a just tribute to his honor
ane integrity. Mr.. Peterson is we'll
and favorably known throughout the
18th senatorial district as its represent
tative in the Legislatures of 1884.
The watch is of the "Elgin BEST the
case being Is karat, and weighing 5 OF.
On the inner case appears the following
inscription, beautifully engraved: "Pre-
sented to j. W. Peterson by members
OF the Swedish. Ev. Luth. Church of
Easa, for meritorious services as Treas
urer of said church from 1870 to 1877"
Thus ended one of the p]easantest
~ fh 1o, lo.-