Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-12

Mrs. Chas Raymond being absent he1
paper on Churches of Wood County
was read by the president, as follows:
THE CHURCHES.
In writing an article on'the
churches of our county, brief as
this necessarily must be, in order
not to trespass on time devoted
to other subjects, the history OF
them cannot be reviewed. | can
only present to you briefly, and
imperfectly the condition in
which we find them at present.
Grand Rapids has four churches
The Methodist with Rev. James
Churm as pastor. 1t is free from
debt A new church, well fur
nished, lighted and heated must,
and ought to be in good condi-
ton, and it is.
The FIRST Congregational with
Rev. William Kilburne pastor,
the Lutheran with Rev. J. T. L.
Bittner pastor, and the Catholic
with Father Beyerle as priest
and leader, are all doing, fairly
well. Centralia has three, Unity,
a branch of the Methodist and
Congregational churches Of Grand
Rapids, with Reverends Churm
and Kilburne as pastors, is doing
well and is a growing church.
The Episcopal with Rev. R. H.
Weller as rector, assisted by Rev.
George Shelton, curate, is pros
pering and upbuilding the mem
bership better throughout the
country than ever before, | under
stand.
The Moravian with Rev. Chas.
Madsen as pastor is doing a
noble work. Sigel has a Luth-
eran church with a membership
larger than the one in Grand
Rapids, q very strong church.
Rudolph has three: Lutheran,
Moravian and Catholic. Pitts
vile has four: Methodist, Con
gregational, Lutheran and Cath
Ole, all live promising churches.
Dexter has a Methodist society
and support a thriving Sunday
school.
Port Edwards has a beautiful
little church, while many from
there are members. of G. R,
churches. Auburndale has three
Presbyterian, Lutheran, and
Catholic. | failed to learn their
condition. Marshfeld has four,
Presbyterian, the leading one in
the county of that denomi-
nation, Methodist, Lutheran,
and Catholic.
| have mentioned twenty-four,
and probably there are half as
many more throughout the
county doing the Masters work,
the records of which | have been
unable to obtain.
The influence of the combined
churches cannot be estimated.
1t reaches as far as the farthest
point any one of it's people have
Travelled, and beyond the limita-
tons Of time or space. Here
and there we come across a
record of some silent influence
working on the hearts of men,
often we miss the visible infu-
ence of the work, yet we know
even in the darkest hours that
the work and influence goes on,
it always does and the seed
planted for the Master will bear
fruit for the kingdom of God.
Mrs. CHAs. RAYMOND.
Coronation" that old familiar hymn
was then sung by a full chorus.
SCHOOLs-PAsT AND PRESENT.
Mrs. O. Denis who has a happy
facaulty of saying bright things
on the inspiration of themoment
gave an impromptu talk On the
above topic. She made a point
on the superiority of the ways
that aimed straight at the mark
in plain methods, over the later
day "syste1n" of red tape, that
took, often, half Of ones lifetime
to acquire as a base to the educa-
ton. She thought the three R.
R. RsWere quite as essential and
worthy of prominence as the
complicated curriculum of mod
ern schools. In the teaching OF
the "primaries' she made an
amusing hit in her illustration
between the time when the A. B.
C's and Alb, abs were taught.
Now when a picture Of a cat, a
pan, and a girl serve as an object
lesson. She thought a bright
child might come toright conclu-
SiOns, while the duller ones would