Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-08-04
the church property shall become alien.

the church property shall become alien.
ated, or the organization be changed to
other than Cong'i church, in either case
the bell shall be returned to Mr.. Haven.
The bell was accepted, subject to these
conditions, which were entered IN the
church records and also the official re
cords of the county. Thus the echo of q
church bell was heard up and down the
valleys of New Oregon, for the first time
In. Howard county. In accordance with
the conditions of the gift of the bell, il
is not sold with the old building. but is
to be hung in the new church, that i,
may still call the Cong'l people to wor
ship.
"And as OF old let it be voice from Heaven,
Joined with the starry host afar;
BY which high praise to God is given,
And which lead on the crowned year.
In 1856, ten years after organization
the church voted to buy an organ, ant
Brothers Marshall, Clemmer and Kim
ball we're committee to attend to its
purchase.
After serving the church for 10 years
Father Windsor, in 1866, resigned his
passionate on account of the intirm state
of Mrs. Windsor's health which made il
desirable for them to seek a milder eli
mate. Besides serving as pastor anG
clerk, and trustee, and committee on al
important projects, Father Windsor re
ceived pressing invitations to preach il
destitute settlements. He says, from
Plymouth Rock on the east, and Sarato
ga on the west, Orleans on the north ane
Booths settlement on the south, formed
the minister's circuit and received at
tention.
During this period Mr.. Windsor's sal
airy was $500 year. The local chuIcf
was unable to raise even this amount
without assistance. The Congregation
al Missionary society furnished at least
half of the salary each year. So, we see
this was home missionary church like
the hundreds of others that are praying
fer help today. We have cause for graf
itude, not only for the help we have re
ceived, but also that we are now strong
enough to help ourselves and to aiG
others who are still engaged in the strug
gle for existence.
After two years of uneventful histor,
during which Rev. Peet supplied the
pulpit, it was decided to remove the
church building to Cresco, whence had
already gone most of the business inter
ceto VI NcW oIeSOu anu eIuOu. IL WE
accordingly moved, repaired and en-
larged to it's present familiar proper
tons, and its name changed from Ore
gon Grove to Cresco Congregations
church.
The meeting at which these measures
were carried was presided over by G. l
White, who also presided over the meet
ing at which the vote was taken to buIlo
the new church the corner stone Of
which we are laying today.
At the same meeting Rev. j. w. Wind
sor was recalled to the pastorete; this
call was accepted.
Oct. %, 1868. the church was re.dedi
Gated to the service of Jehovah. Rey
S. p. Sloan preached and the pastor Of
fered the dedicatory prayer. To defray
the expenses of the improvements the
Congregational Union again pledged
5000. At the dedication they were able
to take up a collection of $40, and the
rest was assumed by few faithful
friends as before
Father Windsor having again assum.
ed the duties of clerk now made this en-
try in the records: "This church build
ing as it had been the first Protestant
place of worship erected in the county
when located at New Oregon, is the frs
in the county located at Cresco."