Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-08-27
The PASTORS d etch

The Pastors Sketch.
The following address, which is q
brief history of the rise end progress OF
the movement culumlnsting in the dedi-
cation OF Mission Hill church, was read
by the pastor at the dedication services:
In the vastness of creation and the \
mi%ghtiness OF the work OF the Creator |
we ere in danger of overlooking the fact
that divine Providence extends all cfea-
lures things and events however small,
however insignificant as regarded by
human Judgment. While 1t is an ao-
knowledged fact thst the work OF orea-
ton has been constructed or the largest
scale according to the most liberal
pattern yet IN this make up of crea-
ton, potency has been given to little
things, little agencies and events. Pro-
fuse as the work of creation may be yet
in all this profusion the striotest economy
is never lost to sight. No excess, nothing
wanting, nothing imperative. He that
fed five thousand with five small lf sves
also said gather up the fragments that
nothing be lost. In the Creators admin
istration Of his kingdom he chooses the
weak things OF the world and with these
he o%onfounds the mightiness Of men.
With the things that are not he brings
to naught the things that are.
The origin and progress OF the build.
Ing of this church has been IN harmony
with these teachings. Five OF the pro-
fessed disciples OF the Master, n man
and four women enter into covenant
! with God and each other to maintain the
ordinance of Gods house aud q church is
formed. Few very few in number, scanty
in means, rich only in the belief of the
truth. They had faith in God, believed
the word saying "all things possible to
aim that believeth," AS they move out
into the unseen world acting out their
faith the word OF Jesus was heard. "fear
not little flock il is the fathers good
pleasure to give you the kingdom" The
church was organized in @ small
school house then neal MIR. Frank
Hardin. To that school house an CO.
clesiastical council was invited to re-
view the work OF the church and il
thought expedient to recognize the
church and give 1t q place among the
churches of the denomination. When
the members reached the place where
the council was to be held they found
the school house had left. It had been
placed on wheels and moved far down il
the open prairie. 1t wss still on wheel.
and no one could tell when or where il
would stop. Then came the voice Of
the little band, let US rise up and build
The council met in the Norwegian church
and was recognized by appropriate ser
vices. Then came another stimulus Il
go forward in the work of building
house of worship, from the words o
courage uttered by members of tn
council especially those of the pastor o
the Yankton Congregational church
From that day the purpose gained
strength and took shape. A subscription
paper was prepared and circulated In tn
neighborhood. A lot was given by MIR
Abe VanOsdel, q whole acre on this com
manding height. In the mean time ser
vice went on IN the Violin school house
First two more joined the company 9
!, believers, then three more, then six NOR
and then another until the compan
numbered Eve men and eleven womer
The added numbers and the original fv
= were all OF one heart and one MIND
. The next question, where shall th
3 church be built, was easily settled by th
united company bearing no heart burn
: inRs and pent up evil behind. Whe
the subscription was circulated fe
pledges then began the digcouragemer
to the work. One said: when you 81
your church completed you will give {
notice, won't yan?" Another asked
l"When do you expect 10 occupy yor