Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-23

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and we find the following minute in
the proceedings of the Leaders
Meeting; "At the request of VIM.
T. Phillips, leader of the choir, j.
Toay brought the subject of singing
before the meeting A molten was
put that hereafter we would have
congregational singing. 1t was car
ried without a dissenting voice, and
the people were to stand with their
faces toward the altar. Bros VIM.
Jacka, c. Hendra. and David Moore
were appointed leaders of the sing
ing"
This was in January, lS49. Tradi-
tion relates that on the Sabbath the
choir was in its place, and that on
the reading of the hymn it pro.
ceeded to lead the singing, as did
the leaders appointed at the Lead
ers' meeting. In the proceedings Of
the next leaders meeting occurs
this passage while the consideration
of the minutes of the previous meet.
ing was pending: "Question IL, in
reference to the singing to be re-
moved from the choir, it was a mis-,
understanding" And this is all the
allusion made to the great secession
in January, lS49, in which in one
season 50 members left the society
and organized the Primitive Metho-
dist church.
Whatever may have been the
cause, the records of this society
contain neither accuations nor re.
ordinations; but to the writer of
this article the protracted omission
of the pastors name from the list of
persons present at the leaders meet
ing, contrary to all precedents, is
very significant of an ill-feeling tow
are him.
Ii is too late to say who did wrong.
God has abundantly blessed both
societies. They have both been sue
cessful in winning souls to him, and
have no doubt done more good as
two societies than they could have
done as one, while to-day they are
in happy accord, and do their work
in perfect harmony.
Rev. r. II. Lawton succeeded
Whitford, and in powerful revival
rebuilt the waste places. Following
him j. M. Snow. After Snow, Alfred
Bronson one year, John Nolan two
years In 1854 w. Wilcox was re.
turned, and remained two years. in
1856 Henry Wood came and stayed
two years. After him Rev. James
Lawson one year, Z. S. Mather one
year, n. Green one year, John
Knibbs two years, w. B. Hozeltine
two years, Enoch Tasker one year,
James Lawson two years. These
last two years marked a new era in
history of the society. During this
time the society planned to build a
new church, which was to be Of |
brick and to cost not more than
$4,000. But when the plan was
adopted the brick could not be had,
and sandstone was substituted at
greatly increased cost. Then the
plan was found to be too small, and |
was enlarged until, when completed, |
the building had cost $32, 900.
In 1868 Rev. ID. w. Couch was
transferred to the society and re-
mained three years. After Couch |
came Isaac E. Springer in 1871, re-
naming two yeors. He was the son
of Elihu Springer, who had been
pastor in l845. J. b. Reynolds one
year; Christopher Bushby two yrs, |
which ought to have been made |
three; Michael Benson two years,
NJ. b. Balch two years, j. S. Thomp- !
son one year, Chas. Irish two years. |
The records of the quarterly con-
ferences from 1886 are preserved,
also a membership record Of l842,
'4S and "A, and baptismal record |
from Sept. 4, l842, to 1857, but the
membership record Of the church |
from lS45 to 1861 is missing, so that |
an accurate list of members cannot
be made, but enough can be found |
W suOW LldJ hDOhb oOV pclbOhh Hdfc /
been baptized since ls42, making
probably 1000 in all baptized in
the so years. $50 have united on
probation since 1861. Now, if that
number in 244 years, is it not safe to
estimate an equal number in the 25t
years preceding, especially when we
know that there had been four or
five great revivals, out Of which have
grown two strong charges md the |
p. NJ. church. I58 persons have |
united by letter in 241 years, during
which the immigration was not
nearly so great as for the previous
25 years, and during these years the
new comers have divided between !
the two churches, so that it is not
too much to say that if in 24t years
7ss persons have united with this
church, that during the preceding
25 years nearly as many more, max
ing list of probationers and mem
-