Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-01-11

eight pews were added to the seating capaci-
ty of the audience room l remember, too,
quite an excitement in the city caused by an
attempt to exclude the Bible from the public
school, in 1888.
The warm-hearted kindness manifested to-
ward me and mine is still fresh in my mind.
Since leaving Watertown I served the Pres
byterian church in Corning, N. Y, for about
12@ years; then | was pastor Of the First
Presbyterian church of Hornellsvile n. Y,
for about IL years; after which was an in
structor in the German Theological school at
Bloomfield, n. j., for one year, and now at the
age of nearly 70 years l am acting pastor of
the Presbyterian church in Johannesburg, N.
Y, rejoicing in my work and loving to preach
as well as when a young man. God has gra-
ciously spared my precious wife and myself
to each other, and five of our six children
still live The eldest is Rev. W. K. Niles, pas
of the Presby terian church Of Table Rock,
Neb His family consists of a wife and four
children. Our eldest daughter Mary, born in
WatertOwn, has been for ten years mission
airy physician in Canton, China. Lucy, the
second daughter. also born in WatertOwn,
died at Corning, N. Y, at the age of years.
Silas w. Niles, also born in Watertown, has
been for several years on the editorial staff
of TheeOmaha Bee. He has wife and one
daughter Lottie Niles was a professor of
rhetoric in Elmira college for four years. but
is pow with us here in ilI-health Rev. John
S. Niles is pastor of the Presbyterian church
in Gorham, N. Y. He has a wife
The Lord has been very gracious unto us
and still continues his mercies. If any sur
vive in Watertown who remember us, present
to them assurances of our continued love.
God bless the Congregational church of Wa
tertOwn, Wis, and cause His face to shine
upon it's pastor and all of it's membership,
and make YOU fruitful in all good works.
Mrs. Niles joins me in this message of love.
Yours fraternally, w. A. NILES.
From James A. Norris.
SAUK CENTRE, MINI. Dec. 90 1892.
To the Congregational Church, Wat1town, We
DEAR BRETHREN: 1t is with great pleasure
hot r he
request of your committee. The church at
Watertown has q very warm place in my
heart. / remember with the most tender
feelings how the hand of sympathy and Chris
tian love was extended to me by the members
of that church when was passing through
the struggle of choosing between the church
of my birth-my family church homeland
the one towards which believed The spirit of
God was leading me. The decision / then
made cost me more than / can express. What
a glorious day for the church was that Sun
day in May, 1862 when forty-ive young peo-
pie entered into covenant with Gods chill
dren 1t seems but q short time ago, and yet
what changes have taken place since! Mod
esty would forbid me from speaking of my
work in the Lords vineyard, but as your COM
mittee requests something in that line will
say a few brief words On entering the
church / clearly saw that the Lord called me
not alone to privilege, but to service. 1t has
been my endeavor all through my Christian
life to respond to the calls of the Master, and
/ soon found that doing was privilege. Soon
after / united with the church very une Y
pected cal came. The life of the Nation be-
ing in danger, l believed it to be my duty to
respond the call for defenders. accord
ingly entered the army for three years. Dur
ing those terrible years did what / could in
maintaining religious services when possible
in camp or on the march. Soon after my re-
turn ! enjoyed q tWelye-yearS' residence in
Milwaukee, where ] was active in church,
Sundaf school, mission and Y M. e. A. work.
Falling health caused me to remove to this
state ard thirteen years ago | settled in this
city. am now and have been for the past
eleven years the superintendent of the Sun
day school, was six years president Of the
hoard of trustees. and eight years a deacon.
Besides have served in many minor capaci-
ties. have tried to fill these positions con-
ScientCus.y, realizing it to be the Lords work.
Who can measure the influence of single
Christian life? The dear church at Water
town has sent out many such lives. I have
had knowledge Of some Of them, and they
have been q blessing to the world. The Lord
has blessed your efforts in the past, take
courage and new zeal for the future. You,
like all, have had dark days. times of extreme
encouragement, but has not the Lords hand
been in 1T all? Eternity alone can disclose the
full fruit of your labors.
May the Lord cause His richest blessing to
fall upon you, and make His cause prosper in
your hands, is my earnest prayer. Yours in
Christian love, JAMES A. NORRIS.
Another installment OF letters will be
published next week