Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-02
BURLINGTON, WIS.
Mar. Is. 1896.

BURLINGTON, WIS.
Mar. Is, 1896.
To THE FIRST CoNG'L CHURCH OF GRAND
RAPIDS, WIS, GREETING:
DEAR BRETHREN: From your pastor,
Rev. VIM. Kilburne, have just learned
that you are to celebrate the SAT
Anniversary Of your Church on the Goth
inst. We're it at some other time [
would attend, but having just begun a
series of revival services with Plymouth
Cong. Church of this city | shall doubt
less be held here beyond that date.
Let me assure you of the large, warm
place you hold in my heart. | can
never forget the cordial welcome you
gave to me and mine upon my accept
ance Of your hearty call to the pastoiate
and also your continued kindness,
specially manifest when affiiction
assailed us.
Tender memories gather about our
our youngest daughter was born. In
your beautiful cemetery we laid all that
was mortal of a precious little girl
Then [ recall Bro. II. B. PhilIeo, so
long the efficient Sunday School Super
intendant and Chorister of the Church
man Of extraordinary gifts and
tenderest sympathies, whose brotherly-
kindness and faithfulness were such q
comfort, support and inspiration to his
pastor and brethren, whose sick
chamber was on the verge of heaven
and whose death was most blessed and
triumphant. And then there comes to
ne that awful night in June, never to
be forgotten, when that most lOveable
and consistent christian, that worthy
officer Of the Church was carried away,
never more TO be seen, by the terrible,
raging and irresistible food; how all
citizens, coming to realize by the loss
sustained the value of good man to
the community, felt 20 gay: owe would
have cared nothing for this fearful loss
of property and the devastation of our
city If George Furguson could have
been spared"
Time would fail to tell of other noble
brethren and equally noble women who
i'll those days bore the burden and heat
OF the day; and of that memorable and
blessed communion service when such
a grand addition (abOut half hundred, ,
was it nOt?) was added to our church
roll.
Brethren, | trust that, having made
so splendid a record you are today fully
cOnsecrated to Christ and amounted with
the Holy Spirit. More and more the
times demand and the world needs
those who, in the spirit of love, will
devote themselves to personal, hand to
hand and heart to heart effort for the
salvation of the lost, a work within
reach of every member of the Church,
even the Youngest and feeblest. At
the same time every christian needs
the reflex blessing which is assured all
true laborers.
Then, brethren beloved, make the
salvation of the world and the universal
reign of Christ the generic aim of all
your efforts; follow closely in the shin
ing footsteps of him who left all, denied
himself and gave bis life that the lost
might be sought and saved;a and at Gods
Command, press forward in Christian
life and work.
Let us walk in blessed fellowship with
Jesus and his disciples every day, and
every night "pitch our moving tents a
days march nearer home"
May our heavenly Father 'suppIy all
your need according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus" and ''do for
you" and by you, exceeding abun-
dainty above all we ask or think,
according to the power which worketh
in us
"Time is short" Our journey Will
soon end. MAY we ultimately meet in
our SaviOr's home and beholding his
inetfable glory be changed into the
same image, from glory 10 glory through
out an endless eternity.
Yours fraternally and cordially,
J. 5. NORRIS