River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-03-01

" BAAttAb Ola Ah0hNhos A0FAOhO "
this, religious services. either S. 5. or
preaching had been held in various
places. The first sermon was preached
10y the Rev. Robt. Hall, July 1854, in
the old Pioneer Store. owned by n. n.
and d. 5. Powell. Services were also
held in the old Prairie Mill of q. Il.
Cox, in Luke Pomeroys barn, in
house standing on the farm now owned
by Mrs. Weld aud even farther, to
the home of VIM. II. Tozsr, owned at
present by Mr.. Spalding. A school
house was soon built aud became the
meeting house until 1858, when the
old brown church was built.
Feb. 3rd, 1855 meeting was called
to organize a church. There was no
council to call, and no one to call a
council" so they resolved to be their
own council and Prof. Pratt wrote the
following preamble which was adopted
by those present:
PREAMBLE
For the promotion of true religion and the
advancement OF the kingdom Of Christ. we
form ourselves into a church. and adopt the
following Constitution. Confession of Faith and
Covenant"
Here followed the Confession and
Covenant, which were used for many
years unchanged.
The following are the names en-
rolled at the organization OF the
LIST Cong. church of River Fall Wis
Mason Stone. Mary II. Stone,
Nathaniel Wales. Mary j. Wales,
Nathaniel Powell, Horace L. Wads-
worth, Mrs. Persis Pratt, q. w. Pratt.
Asaph Pratt, Hermione Pratt, Persis
IL. Pratt, :. Milton Pratt, Eunice
Pratt. Joseph f. Nichols. Lydia W.
Nichols. Ann Il. Wadsworth.
1t will be proper to add here that
the name of D. S. Powell would have
been on the list but for the delay in
getting his letter from his former
home.
On the goth of March 1856 w. r.
stevens was called TO be the permanent
pastor of the church. Tie was great
IN stature and great in intellect,
There were no giants in those days"
Prof. Pratt wrote of him, I'VE had
long been looking for man to look up
to and he completely filled the bill, for
all ordinary mortals had to look up or
not see half way to the top. His first
night in the valley was spent in Pres
colt. Waking out in the morning he
was met by man who surveyed him
carefully and sad, Say, stranger,
where did you lodge last night!"
With gravity Mr.. Stevens replied.
"My head was in Barker's Hotel, my
feet in infinite space" At the dedi-
cation of the church which took place
July 4. 1858. he preached from the
text, 1.-The Lord loveth the gates of
Zion more than ali the dwellings of
jacob speaking with beauty in the
fact that He whom the Heaven of
Heavens could not contain, would in
deed dwell among men, even in this
humble house which we had builded.
de was pleased with the perfect
harmony which existed among the
early settlers. Some people he SAID
were never satisfied, they were heard
TO say, 1--WE wish we had never come
west, land in this" said the
preacher. ''the whole community sym
pathizes with them
He was faithful pastor and closed
his laboTs here after seven years
service. He was followed by the
Rev. VIM. Gill. There were many
seasons of spiritual refreshing during
his long successful past0rate and when
after twelve years faithful service he
surprised the church one Sabbath
morning by preaching his resignation
sermon, SO greatly had he become
endeared to his people that it seemed
more like funel Al service than other
wise, in which we were all mourners.
Rev. james A. Ball came Aug 1875
aud remained one year. lie was fol-
lowed by the Rev Theo. c. Jerome, a
man OF great eloquence. At the close
of the year he refused to stay longer
unless installed. The church was
unanimous in extending him a call for
another year but not in favor of install
iation, SO he left us. Rev n. T.
Blakeslee came July 1878: during the
irst year he established prayer
meeting for the young people which
was the means of great good. The
weekly pledge system was also adopted
by the church at this time. He resign
ed his pastorate here in 1883. Rev. C
Il. Rogers succeeded him and 1t WAS
soon after that the Young Peoples
meeting emerged into the Y. P. S. G
E. Much against the wish of the
people he resigned in 1850. Next came
four years of faithful work by Rev,
J. ID. Whitelaw, who was followed by
our present pastor Rev. 5. 5. Grinnell
The church home we now occupy was
dedicated Feb. 1854.
Our Sabbath School was organized
before the church and has had :
steady growth. Many OF its members
have entered fields of usefulness bear.
ing precious seed; some TO foreigU
'ands, one the daughter of our firsi
pastor. Its first elected Superintend
ent was John I. Pratt. In 1859 Mr.
LyniA an Powell was elected TO the office
where he served faithfully and Low
ingly till his death in 1872. Walking
close beside him was the first choris
ter, Joseph F. Nichols. This offie
he held until his death, Aug. 9th. 1881
singing the gospel to many hearts
Sainted now. be, with the supts. men
toned and many another membe
from the school. sings the new son
which hath Ieen put in his mouth.
The choir las held prominent plae
; from the beginning. Indeed in it
early history its fame went abroad 5