Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-07-31
FROM OLC-TlMERS

|
gational Church Golden Jubilee.
The following interesting epistle
came from Rev. Mr.. Niles, one of the
! first pastors of the church:
| JOHANNESBURG, n. Y, July IL, 1895 -Dea1
Friends Of the First Congregational Church, Water
| t0a0n, Wis: Gratefully acknowledge the di
| vine goodness in Sparlng me and enabling me
I to send you my greetings on the 50th ami
| versary of the organization of your church
The church was only little over eight
! years old when became its minister, more
than fOrty-oDe years ago.
The experiences of my first Sunday in Wa
tertOwn are still fresh in my memory. L had
| spent the previous week in packing our
household goods at Beaver Dam, and on Sat
urday placed my Sunday suit with change
OF linen and my manuscript sermons in my
satchel, and wearing my working suit tOgeth-
er with the linen which had seen hard service
in the packing, took the stage for Water
town. Arriving at the Planters hoteI'
deposited my Satchel in the hall, while !
sought the residence of Mr.. Heber Smith 1t
was near tea time and after supper Mr.. Smith
and L went to the "PlanterS for my Satchel,
where to my diSmay learned that the por-
ter had by mistake sent it off on the Waupun
stage. l searched the stores. for clean linen,
thorough brushing and generous use of ink
the coat was made to look its best, and being
buttoned up closely to the throat, it hid the
untidy linen.
l chiefly missed the sermons, whose place l
was compelled TO supply bya very hasty pre-
paraClOn. made no pubic allusiOn to the
untOWard circumstances and did my best, but
have no idea what preached.
As young minister preaching his first
sermon to a congregation which had Just
called him, | did not enjoy the situation.
The people SAID nothing.
The six years of my ministry at WatertOWn
were filed with varied experiences. The
church was small composed chiefly Of women.
There was little OF financial strength, and we
IL a a n
zion. The influence Of the saloon was very
strong and theOlOgianS OF the stripe OF
Thomas Paine were active distributors Of in
ndeI literature winch called out vigorous
newspaper correspondence running through
several weeks. Other opponents Of evangeli-
cal Christianity were organized ana busy.
The public school authorities ordered that
the reading OF the Bible and ali forms
of prayer be discontinued in the
public schools of the city, against which
the principal and twelve other teachers en-
tered an earnest protest. Even a profane
liquor seller sWOre that il was a shame that
the blessed Bible should be forbidden to the
children. The Bible and prayer were cOntin-
ued in the schools Under such circum-
stances there was call for great faith and
Christian courage.
Beside SPECIFIC church work, the young
minister was ever engaged in outside efforts
to promote temperance, good morals, educa-
ton and truth in the community. Some
things were done and many things were left
uDdODe.
Although l have not been permitted to
visit Watertown since leaving my interest in
the church and people has by no means
ceased.
Three of our precious children were born
there, one of whom was transferred to her
heavenly home at an early age.
L have very pleasant memories of loving
friends and Christian cO-WOrkerS, many OF
whom have passed into eternity and others
are widely scattered.
While writing. am sitting in a study chair
presented to me by Mrs IL. W. Blanchard
who many years since passed away.
1t would have been great qualification,
both to myself and to Mrs Niles, il we could
have been present at this semi-centennial
anniversary and we hoped at one time that
we might enjoy that pleasure, but circum-
stances have not favored the arrangement
and l must be content to send this unsatis-
factory epistle with our heartieSt greetings,
invoking upon you the richest OF blessings
the gift Of the Holy Spirit with power for
largely increased influence for good. Low
ingly, sincerely and fraternally yours,
w. A. NILES.
J. A. -yorris furnished "reminiscences
as follows:
SAUK CENTRE, Mimi, July 10, 1S95.-FTrst
Congregational. Church, Wdttqt0e0n, Wis.-DEA r.
BRETHREN: regret exceedingly that | can
not be with you on the 18th to assist in cele-
brating your fiftieth anniversary. You ask
me to say something Of the pastorates OF
Revs. Niles and BoyntOn. Of the former |
know very little as l did not become inter
ested in the church until after his removal
I remember him as fearless champion of
all questions affecting the people and the
Nation for good. On the temperance and
slavery questions he was radical and cOur
ageous The church was strengthened by bis
/ passionate. Mr.. BOyntOn's passionate was in
! augurated by one Of the most precious anC
| far reaching revivals | have even witnessed
| This was early in 1850. 1t was not "gOttel
! up revival, as are too many sO-called revi
| walls, but it was a genuine work of the holy
spirit Began without any special outward
| demonstrations and the work grew beyond TIT
| expectations of all. 1t was mostly among
the young people, many of them, like my
self, in school. AS a result, on the first Sun
day in May, 1850, forty -five young people unit
ed with the church Some of them [ know
are earnest workers in Christ's Kingdom
| others have passed over to the great beyond
1t gave the church spiritual uplift, the in
/ fluence of which was felt for years.
/ [ often think OF the noble band of worker
! at that time who have gone to their reward
Brothers Coe, Whyte, j. A. Hall, Skin
! ner, Bingham and others. I especially re
member the Bible class of young men laugh
| by Mrs. Daniel Hall in the old gallery in The
south end of the church, and the young pee
: pies prayer meetings held at the homes of tn
brethren. What help came from these! A
you review tn work of the pc fifty years an
recall the many who through the work Of tn
! church have been born into Christ's preciou
| (WhO can measure IT'D these have had in tn
| world, you cannot fail to take courage an
renew your spiritual strength. Truly lou
labor is not in vain in the Lord" May the
Holy Spirit be with you and in you, working
out His blessed purposes in the world. Frate1
nally yours, JAS. A. N ORRIS.
William Walker, an early member Q
the church, wrote:
MILTON, July 9, 1S95.-Dear Brother Weiss
Your very kind letter was received and
would give me great pleasure to go to Water
town and be able to add a mite to your sem
centennial memorial, because that woul
imply condition of health and strengt
which do not enjoy. And it would give m
the pleasure of meeting many friends. Blu
l can only pray that he who promised "Lo,
am with you Away may be present an
make your memorial pleasant and profitable
and that you may start off on another hal
century with hope and courage. And wit
such a leader, who can faint or doubt?
With best wishes for your success, I renal
very sincerely yours, VIM. WALKER.
A Pioneers Recommendation.
VIZ VoDoblo Of Doupou n ~