Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-07-24
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
WEDNESDAY, JULY "a, 1895.
FROM OLD-TlM Frs.
letters of Greeting Read at the Congre-
gational Church Golden Jubilee.


jubilee of the Congregational church
last week, several of which have been
handed JUS for publication. The fol-
lowing from w. &. Fountain contains
anuch of interest in the early days of
che church:
FIRST Congregational Church, Watertown Hls.-
&Freetinq-DEA FRIENDS: am in receint of
the circular letter from your committee in
vItlng the presence of the former members
at the golden anniversary of your church
organization TO be held July ID to L. 1895
1t would give me a great pleasure one
which, however, circumstances compel me
to fOregO, to meet face to face and take by
the hand those remaining of the kind friends
who for so many years and in troublous
times braYely and faithfully worked and
waited together, with sometimes seeming
Gg almost forlOrn hope of being able to keep
our loved church IN existence, as well as to
see and encourage the newer and Younger
ones upon whose shoulders now rest the
NANTES of those gone on before"
Almost the first thought on reading yOur
InEitation was, can it be possible the golden
anniversary? Fifty yearS-hOw time does
fly and what changes does it bring! Who
can Adequately estimate the influence for
good the dear old church has welded, not
merely in moulding individual characters
but much more towards establishing and
maintaining Christian institutions in city
so largely dominated, as was WATERFOWL in
its earlier history, by an element in openly
decided opposition TO so much that was most
dearly cherished by those associated in the
congregational church.
4 went to WATERFOWL in the summer OF
Eo4o and on the first Sunday [ spent there
attended morning services in Cramer nail
When giving out the hymn at the close OF the
service the minister (Mr. Parsons) an
nOunced that this being his last Sunday in
WatertOWn and having to leave immediately
SITTER the close OF the service TO iii an ap-
g3olatment elsewhere, he was panied TO have
10 state that the Sunday school must be aban-
edoDed, it having been dependent on his pres
ence Tor superintendent During the sing
{ ing Of the hymn went to the desk introduce
Eng myself to Mr.. Parsons, and asked him 10
recall the notice just given in relation to the
Sunday school, assuring him that | would
see that 1T was maintained. Herein was
again manifested lone sOwerh and another
reapeth 9hus early and in this manner
began my interest in and work for and with
the Watertown church and which continued
unabated to the best OF my ability during
the time Of my entire connection with the
for it held place very close to my
heart The Sunday school was regularly
maintained, but there was an interInis sion
: in the preaching service until the coming OF
= Mr.. tE}rsighead On account Of this intermis-
ssi0n, during which no church meeting was
held, my formal membership did not take
place until after the arrival of Mr. Craighead
although coming with 3 letter from the Pres
by terrain church Of Milwaukee, my previous
residence had been in Virginia, which fact so
Impressed itself upon our dear brother, Dea-
con q. Il. zoe, That he felt Justified in going
-%'behind the returns and putt n gme through
a most rigid examination on the slavery
question the result of which was seemingIy
not fully satisfactory to him, and he being
the only male member present, and the good
sisters having been so thoroughly admon.
Eshed not to speak in meeting. ii Mr.. Craig
mead moderator had not come to my res
Gue my membership in the WATERFOWL
church would, to say the least, have been
postponed for future consideration This
however, was about the first time that Bro.
~Coe had met me, as he then lived on his farm
some distance from Watertown, but we soon
became better acq ua1nted and never had any
difference, either on the slavery or any other
question
Soon after this the question of a church
building was considered and was sent to Mil
-waukee with the subscription paper. A good
brother prominent not only in the church but
also in that city and in the state, made gen
aeerOus subscription, but coupled it with an
4 ron-clad condition that the church must be
absolutely and unquestiOnably abolltionist.
We took his subscription, could not afford to
stand on little things like that. In those early
Gays, perhaps it is SO yet, the male membership
OF the church was in such very small proper
tion compared with the female membership
and this situation of affairs was extremely
DerpleXing. Did the pastors salary neeG
supplementing, as, alas! sometimes and not
SO very seldom either, it really did-the build
eng need paint or repairs-the Sunday school
a helpful lift? and multitude Of other con-
tingencies that were continually arising; at
such times we felt helpless and almost
hopeless, only as we could appeal for help to
the good sisters, and [ want here to give my
grateful and unqualified testimony that they
never failed to come faithfully and efficient
Iy to the rescue. (By the way, they got so
much into such habit in this direction, and
it was SO like them to do this thing, that feel
assured, if the necessity continues, they have
kept it up and most likely are at it now9
Some of you will remember the weekly
prayer meeting in those early days held in the
southeast corner of the church with aboard
across the aisle resting on the tops of the pews
for desk with a few tallow dips to make
the darkness more visible (tlhis was before
the days of either camphenb or kerOsene),
but the meetings were maintained by about
the same faithful few from week to week
month to month and year to year In all our
vIcissitudes we held on to the prayer meeting
and Sunday school. In this connection
must not omit to recall the memory Of faith
full Father Bingham.
would here mention with great satisfac-
ton the season of revival enjoyed by the
church in the earlier part of Mr. BOvntOn's
ministry when many of the young people
of the congregation united with the church
no can adequately estimate the results from
that one occasion alone, not only to the indi-
vidualS and families affected bur also to the
cause of Christ in the churches where their
future lot was cast?
In 1858 left WATERFOWL returning to nv
former residence in Virginia, remaining
there until 1858, when / again went to wis.
consin and in the year following O859) to Wa
teftoWn, where i then remained until the
year 1871 at which time / removed to Indian
apOliS, taking membership which vet CON
1nues with the Second Presbyterian church.
cannot omit such an opportunity as is
now furnished, to remind you, that for q
period OF twelve years (frOm 1859 to 1871 the
circumstances were such as to necessarily
bring me into very close and almost constant
association with Mr.. G. B. Skinner in our
church work, and wish here and now gladly
and unQualifedly to testify that in these
years learned to know him well, to esteem
him most highly as man and to love him as
friend and brother. l shall ever hold him
and the associations with him in affectiOnate
Eemem brance, and to assure the friends OF
tho Watertown Congregational church, they
can never estimate too highly the value of the
service so fully and generously given by him
IN behalf OF their mutual interests and wei
Gsts3. 't1nasmuch as ye have done it unto these
v21y brethren, ye have done 1t unto me-" will
ice the Judgment of the Master, and ST heard
q voice from heaven, saying unto me: Write
BLESSED are the dead which die in the Lord
Irom heIceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that
tth<4y may rest from their labors and their
ycSgens do follow them.'' And now dear friends
assuring you my continuing interest in al
THAT pertains to the usefulness and prosper
fTW OF the Watertown Congregational
Vchurch, and thanking you heartily
FOR all the kindness so generously extended
to me in the years of my residence amor gs1
you. and with the best wishes personally tC
each and every one of you, remain
Yours fraternally,
w. G. FOUNTAIN.
indianapolis, Ind July IL, 1885,
-"White Daisy" flour, per 4o-lb
4