The Columbus journal., 1889-02-13
Rscol1sc1oxs OF An OLD sEF1LER

REcoLLECIlosn OF AN OLD sEFTLR
N ueoMAR.
Te Arst sermon dslivsced IN Colum-
bus Va in the dining room of the Amer
ican Hotel BY Rev. Jaeob AdrianoA Q
Methodist itineGant. Word had been
previously received of tie appointment,
and on Saturday afternoon . steid.
sober old horse vas seea coming along
with the preacher on his beck, . pair Of
saddlebags behind him contained his
Bible and hymn book, with other neoes-
sary articles. He was immediately taken
in charge BY the brethren, J. p. Becker,
Judge Speice and Judge Pattison, who
were keeping '1bacheloris hall" On the
lots where Hn. Preston lived % long.
From that time until 1865 tho Protest
ant citizens Of the town Were indebted
to the Methodist church for all the
spiritual teaching they received In the
spring Of 1855 the Rev. Samuel Goodale
began making regular visits here, being
one Of small band whom the ever Ia
mented Bishop Clarkson gathered
around him, when he came to Nebraska
after his conservation a. its bishop
among whom were Revs. McNamara and
Dake, and whom Mr.. Goodale has sur
vived. For . long time services were
held in the town hall. In 1863 he moved
to Columbus with his family with the
intention Of building . church, which
was carried into effect tho following
year. Tho building Of the church re-
quired great deal Of effort and labor.
About $1,000 was subscribed by the
citizens and an equal amount furnished
by the church extension society. On
Sunday the 24th day Of December, 1859,
it was dedicated by Bishop Clarkson as
sisted by the Rev. Mr.. Dake Of Fremont.
Previous to this time Mr.. Goodale had
built up q Aourishing Sunday School,
which was attended by children Of all
denominations, including some Catholic
families, and on Christmas Eve Of that
year the first Christmas tree festival in
Columbus was held in the church. Hon.
II. J. Hudson was the superintendent,
and under his admirable management q
large portion Of tho children were at
tracted to the school. A very large tree
was procured, which was loaded with
presents for young and old. and there
are many young women and men who
will now recollect the presents they, as
children, received from that tree. Ex-
ercises suitable to the occasion were
held; addresses were made by the super
intendent, Mr.. Hudson, and some Of the
teachers, and the occasion has never
been surpassed, il equalled, by any effort
in that direction since. Mrs. Goodale
was at that time the organist and must
cal director, and with q choir; composed
in part Of those whom she had trained,
to which was added her own voice, then
Of marvellous power and sweetness, dis
coursed beautiful music suitable to the
occasion. Little Elsie Allen the seven
years old daughter of the then q. p.
agent here, q musical prodigy, also sung
q solo When I Seek Ny Father" The
following spring Dr.. Goodale was trans
ferred to Lincoln for the purpose Of or
ganizing and building a church in the
capital city, and the first church Of his
denomination in Lincoln is also one of
his monuments, and for . number of
years he was engaged in the same work
in different places. In 1877 he returned
to Columbus and ever since has been
one Of our citizens, and rector OF the
parish until 1887, when the inirmities
Of advanced age compelled him to retire
from active labor, and seek . needed and
wen earned rest, and although the hand
OF Time has thinned and silvered his
locks his heart is As young and warm as
ever, and many hearts 60 out to him lin
his temporary residence in Rapid City,
whose children he has baptized and
whose friends he has buried, with the
earnest hope that we soon will see him
among us again.
While on the subject of church build
ing, our thoughts turn to the other pio-
neers Of religious labor in tho territory,
to Rev. Reuben Gaylord the first minis
ter who came to Omaha and built the
first Congregational church in that city; |
10 Rev. Isaac F. Collins who built the
llrst Methodist church. Mr.. Collins was
, large, very blunt man, with q high |
sense Of duty which caused him to labor |
in season, and quite frequently out Of
season. There was an old gentleman
living near Bellevue, who was an Ag-
aostic or Infidel in his belief, and Mr..
Collins considered it his duty to labor
With him. He met him one day, and
lfter shaking hands, said to him: "Mr.
B, I understand that you have made no
for . future life. I also un-
lerstand that you have had two attacks
Il apoplexy, and q suppose you know
hat when the third ono comes you will
be or ut least loose your senses." The
Id gentleman here took part in the con-
and closed it with the remark,
You have had the third stroke, haven't
on? He was succeeded in 1856 by Rev.
II. Chivington, who afterward became
,ol. Chivington Of Colorado, the hero Of
be Sand Creek Indian fight in that
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