Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-12-17

attachments and is an indefatigable
worker. He is very popular with all
classes of people irrespective Of church
/ lines, and is regarded as one of our
abIest ministers.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL.
This church building is one Of the
finest 10 the city. 1t IS brick structure
with sandstone trimmings and is located
on Madison and Cherry streets. oppO-
site the southeast corner of the court
house square, This church was started
in 1871 but was not ready for occu-
pancy until 1873. The building is of
the style known as the pointed Gothic.
and is 50x85 feet in dimensions and
cost S12.6j0 The church is entirely
free Of debt. the last dollar of indebted
ness having been liquidated in 1879.
The church has a seating capacity Of
$50. and ranks among It's members
many Of the wealthy and leading peo-
pie of the city, and its envirns
REV. p. H. MASON
the present pastor has been in charge
since MAY, 1890. Rev Mason was born
in Edgar county, Illinois, on the Sd day
of April, 1854. where he attended the
public schools, receiving the rudiments
Of thorough education. After leaving
the public schools he entered Carlton
college. at Mortified. Minnesota. from
which he graduated in class of 'S3.
After graduation he entered Yale col
lege, gradu tting from the Divinity
school in 1888. Kew. Mason's first
charge was Cornwall, Connecticut, at
which place he remained one year and
a half, going from there to Reedsburg,
Wisconsin, and from there to Vjroqua
this state, where he renamed a period
of fourteen months, when he accepted a
call to this city, coming here in May.
1880 Rev Mason is regarded as one
of our brainiest ministers and is held in
high esteem by all.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
TO the Methodists belong the honor of
having been the first denomination to
hold church services in Lancaster The
first church meeting took place about
l847 in a cabin in what was known as
Bushnell Hollow. the congregation be-
ing composed of miners some half dozen
in number. In 1S49 the first organized
form of church worship took place. the
first quarterly conference being held at
that date. :he Rev. Elmore Yocum be-
ing the presiding elder and the Rev.
BeDjamen Close the pastor in charge.
This conference was held at Fennimore
and makes mention of the work at Lan-
caster of that year. Among other things
found in the conference report is res
olution to hold a parsonage at LancaS-
ter of that wear. Among other things
found in the conference report is res
olutiOn to build a parsonage at Lam
caster. The first church building was
commenced and completed in 1851.
The new church was 26x42 feet in
dimension and cost $500; this church
stood on the corner of Maple and Adams
street and continued to be used until the
erection of the present handsome brick
church which was erected in 1877. The
Methodist church has seating capacity
of 800 and is nicely furnished. The
mem bership is a little over $50 souls.
The affairs of the church both spiritual
ly and financially are in the best of
shape The congregations are very
large and take deep interest in all
matters pertaining to church affairs.
REy. c. c. swARTz,
the minister in charge is native OF
Ohio. having been born at Berlin, Ma
honing county that state, January l6.
1912, at which place he received an ex-
cellent collegiate education after which
he came to Wisconsin and engaged in
teaching school until 1869, when he
Joined the West Wisconsin Methodist
Episcopal Conference in September of
that year being ordained minister by
the Rev Bishop l.. Scott. His first
change was Cedar Falls, in Dunn coun-
ty. Rev Swartz has been engaged ever
since in the active work of the ministry
His appointments have been Cedar
Falls, Eau Claire, Neillsville, Modena.
Mondovi, Durand. Louisville, Green.
wood, Spencer. Oregon, Linden, ShullS-
burg and Lancaster. Rev Swartz has
been at all times very successful as
minister and pastor and in some special
lines has excelled. He has been very
successful in paying off church debts
and in building new churches. A large
anu dDDLtE4UtiNC tAuhittiGb - INV d} >
found in attendance at his sermons
which are of marked ability. The
church in this city has felt his invigor-
atiug power and has been placed in the
best of condition. An addition to the
church building has been erected by him
since his advent here. which affords bet
ter facilities for social church meetings
than in the past. The Epworth League,
the young peoples society of the church,
is a growing organization and is doing
much good, aiding the pastor and assist
ing in the church work. Rev. Swariz
is a giant in stature and intellect and
is every inch worker. He is highly
regarded in social and in church life.
and is certainly one of the abest minis
tiers of the West Wisconsin Conference.
OTHER CHURCHES.
The above mentioned churches are
not taken on account of any special
prominence or leading features. but
simply as an illustration of the char
acter and size of our houses of wor-