River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-12
HISTORICAL.
The Congregational Church Of River Falls
During the Past Is Years.
ughly Interesting Sketch by Prof. @. W
Pratt.

compared to the vaStness of circling
ages. A mere bubble on the ocean of
time that floats moment and is gone
forever. And yet the Importance of
that brief period In shaping human in
situations and human destiny, eterni-
ty alone can duly estimate. Twenty
five years ago there was but one school
| house and no church in all this beau
| tiful valley. now thickly dotted over
| with both and filed with happy homes.
On the third of February, 1855 meet
ing was held for the purpose of form
| ing a Christian Church. But how
| could it be donet There was no body
to call council and no council for no.
body to call. They resolved to be
their own council, and your speaker
wrote the following preamble which
WAS adopted by those present.
| PREAMBLE.
For the promotion of true religion,
and the advancement Of the kingdom
of Christ, wo form ourselves into
| church and adopt the following con.
stitution. Confession of Faith and
| Covenant.
| Here followed the Confession
and Covenant which have been used
in this church ever since. That
is the sole authority on which this
church was founded, and on which it
has rested for a quarter of century.
No council assisted at its organization
and none has ever questioned its le-
gality or our right to be recognized as
a church. 1t is proper here to remark
only TO the organization of the church
religious services had been held for
some time previous. The first SER
mon was preached by the Rev. Rob
ert Hall In July, 1854, in the old "Pi-
oneer Store" of n. n. and o. S. Pow
ell. Services were also held in the
old Prairie Mill" and Luke Pome-
roy's barn; there was also Sabbath
School held IN the old Crane house on
the farm now owned by A. II. Weld.
In the winter of 81 So the Rev. James
Stirrat, from Ohio was engaged to
preach for six months. On the Goth
of March 1855, w. r. Stevens was
called to be the permanent pastor of
the church, and installed by council
soon after. He was giant in body
and giant In mind; tall of stature
and tall in intellect. We had long
been looking for minister we could
all look up to, and he completely filled
the bill-for all ordinary mertals had
to look up or they couldn't see half
way to the top. Usually sedate he
had an under current of genuine hui
NOR and often INDUCED in the keenest
sarcasm. These traits were manifest
on his first Sabbath with us. Mr..
| Stirratt, his predecessor, WAS a rery
tall man. We had rugged up a sort OF
three-story desk for him, but in the
presence of Mr.. Stevens said desk
dwiudled TO most dimunitive proper
tions. 1t was with severe struggle
that he managed to get through his
first sermon, and as he came out of
the house he said to brother with a
look bordering on despair, That desk
was so low that couldn't preach but
half of my sermon and that the upper
half" Some men are great without
knowing it. Mr.. Stevens comprehend
ed every inch, and with the utmost
good nature would answer all ques-
lions thereunto pertaining. On his
way hither he stopped at Prescott
over night. The next morning rs he
was walking near the river he perceiv-
ed he was the observed of all observers.
When one called out, II say stranger,
where did you lodge last night!'
With the utmost gravity he replied.
My head lodged in Barker's Hotel,
my feet in infinite space.
At the dedication of the church
| which took place July 4th, 1858, he
| preached from the text, 1.-The Lord
| loveth the gates of Zion more than all
the dwellings of jacob He spake
with great beauty and force on the
| fact that He whom the Heaven of
| Heavens could not contain would in
| Iced dwell among men even in this
| house which he had builded. He beheld
with much satisfaction the new and
| humble homes which he compared to
the dwellings of Jacob. He was es-
| pecially gratihed at the spirit of har
| mony and fellowship that prevailed
| among the early settlers. 1--WE ought,
! he said. to be indulgent and forbearmg
toward those who differ from us in
opinion. But there is one class who
are never satisfied with any thing
genuine crOakers-inveterate grumb-
lers. Utterly unable to do anything
right themselves, nothing ever is
right unless they do it themselves.
You often hear them exclaim with
sigh, Il wish had never come West,
and in this wish, said the preacher, the
whole community sympathizes with
them. He was faithful laborer, a
wise master builder-a workman that
needed not to be ashamed. He SOW
ed good seed. much of which fell on
good ground and brought forth fruit
an hundred fold. His successor, with |
becoming christian modesty attribut- !
ed his own success largely to the wise
counsel and correct christian teachings |
Of Mr.. Stevens. Mr.. Gill has told you |
Of the principal events of his own |
pastorate covering period of twelve |
years, and all characterized by signal |
prosperity and harmony between pas
tor and people. 1t is unnecessary for
me to speake of the acting pastorates
or Mr.. Ball, Mr.. Jerome and the
present incumbent.
When we made the move to build a
new church there was a great diversi-
ty of opinion as to the location, the
great contest however, was between
the one near Bakers Institute, and
Cascade Avenue. l was in favor of