The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-06-23
LIFE
IN THE
NORTH-W EST.
By JENNIE JONES.
sermons in stones,
Books In the running brooks.
And God i'm eyerythinQ."

~ seemeu emlnently ntung tnat man
should bow in worship TO the Giver Of all
good that seemed to come so near to him
and long win these first meetings be held
in reverent memory by the early pioneers.
THE BUILDING OF CHURCHES.
AS time advanced and improvements
were made, as wealth began to increase,
and the cities Of to-day had grown into
goodly villages, there was a desire for
more suitable places of worship. It
might be that pride had something to do
with the matter, but be that as it might,
the desire Cor church ediices soon re-
solved itself into action. In the work of
procuring means for the erection of these
churches the ladies kept even pace with
the "lords of creation" and did as much,
or ven more towards the accomplishment
of the laudable object as did the men, and
in some cases were the leaders in the en-
terprise.
There were many churches built at an
early date of settlement, some costly and
~pretentious, others simple in the extreme.
The building of most of these was at
tended with difficulties in this new coun-
try, where everybody was engrossed with
his own affairs and was more intent on
money making than on the building of
churches. The building of each had a
history peculiarly it's own, many of which
might be interesting, but l I'm only going
to write a short sketch concerning a
couple of these buildings, which may be
taken as a sample of the perseverance
that was required, and was never found
wanting under difficulties.
The first of which 1 shall speak was
the building of a Presbyterian church at
Chippewa Falls. There were but few
persons of either sex who were Presby-
t~erians, but it was resolved to build a
church of that denomination, and foremost
and most persevering in this matter were
three or four ladies. A local historian
writes: ''The company Of II. S. Allen u
Co. of course subscribed literally, gave
the building lot, lumber and materials,
but under the constant pressure of bust
ness cares and liabilities, could bestow
but little attention upon religious or other
enterprises. These ladies had but little
to bestow, but their hearts were willing
and their hands active. Money wa very
plenty, and all around them were men
whose earnings were daily s~quandered at
the card table and at the saloon. Their
only hope was to induce some of these
men to appropriate a share of their means
to a better object, even if the motive was
inspired by 40 higher conservation.
'These ladies did not institute church
fairs with their rfish ponds" fancy ar
ticles, sale of kisses, on anything Of the
kind. They knew of q surer way to
reach the pockets of the most of the COM
munity, and did not hesitate to avail
Of it. Here. as in most new
dancing formed the chief source
IF amusement, and the announcement that
there was to be a dance given was almost
to draw a crowd, and here, if any
where, people were liberal with their
money.
"In a hotel then being built were found
rooms suitable for dancing. These the
ladies' engaged and gave a succession Of
dances throughout the winter, which
we're well p~atronized. Good music was
obtained free, and a plain lunch was fur
nished at each. They cleared a consider
able sum at each gathering which greatly
them in their work; and here
was illustrated the maxim that nothing
succeeds like success for having accom-
this much, and being enabled to
90 on with their work the balance neces-
sary was easily collected by private con-
In that church every Sabbath is col
lected a fashionable and aristocratic con
gregation, which, it is to be supposed, sell
dom think of the difficulties under which
their church was built, nor is their devo-
tion less pure and acceptable because the
means to build the edifice in which they
worship wal furnished in such an unusu-
al and unorthodox manner
A little farther to the north was the
little village of Bloomer. 1t had grown
up quite rapidly, and now boasted Of three
four stores, as many shops of different
kinds, a..hotel, mills, etc. The people had
held their meetings in the little school
house, two or three different denomina-
tons occupying it at different times, as
could be agreed upon by them, not allow
ing their appointments to conflict one with
another. For instance: the Methodists,
with their enthusiasm and excitement,
would occupy the room in the forenoon.
In the afternoon the Seventh Day Adj
vents would search the scriptures through
and through, and quote whole chapters
to prove that Christ was soon to come and
ssset up His kingdom here upon earth"
In the evening perhaps a Baptist or a
Congregationalist, or a chance stranger,
would occupy the same room, air his own
pet views and doctrines, and-pound the
same old battered desk; and during the
week, at the debating club, a Spirituayist
would perhaps seize an opportunity to
ride his hobby.
There were a few members of the Con-
gregational society drawn together who
had stood aloof, seldom holding meetings.
At length they decided to build a church,
and some of the members having consid-
cradle wealth, the initiatory steps were
taken and the foundation laid for a good