The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-28

Michigan. in 1872, and excepting two
summers in Europe, was a professor
there for fourteen years.
DR.. F'islk's college record was notable
in his personal popularity with the stu
dents. his enthusiasm in his depart
ment and his success in building it up.
He found a college in ashes in 1874 and
left Il museum of natural history, large
ly the fruits of his zeal and collections,
worth thousands of dollars; a biological
laboratory which was the best in Mich
igan, outside Of the state university.
DR.. Fisk resigned in 1886 to become
the pastor of the First Congregational
church of Jackson, Mich, where he
preached nearly six years, freeing the
church of a $4,000 debt, founding two
chapels with Sunday schools and sewing
schools in each, one of which soon de-
veloped into an independent church
Plymouth Congregational church-and
increasing the membership over 100.
DR.. Fisk left Jackson to accept the
pastorate of the First COngrega tional
church of Toledo, Ohio, the oldest and
strongest CONGREGATIONAL church in that
city. He remained there nearly six
years. His la OrS were particularly ar
duous in Toledo. Besides preaching to
large audiences-his auditorium seated
1.400-he was soon in great demand on
platform in pulpit and for occasional
addresses. He became the strong friend
of the labOring man, and addressed
them in large numbers before the Cen
trail Labor union and its branch assem-
blies. DR.. Fisk began in his own pulpit
that revolt against civic wrongs in To-
Iedo which has since grown to such
proportions that the political world is
watching its later and present develop
ment with interest. He lent himself to
no faction or party, but his enunciation
of principles of justice, and the capture
of the ears and attention of the masses
have born large and surprising fruitage.
It would seem q matter of regret that
DR.. Fisk took his hands off the civic
movement in Toledo as soon as he did,
but he did it in the interest of church
peace. He had colleague pastor
passed 20, who had been pastor of that
church over 40 years. He did no preach
ing after DR.. Fisk went there, but the
majOrjty of the church wished to retire
him as pastor on merit. A division
arose. DR.. Fisk would be no party to
schism. He quietly resigned and the
whole problem was thus simplified- The
old pastor could not resume the work,
and he resigned in six weeks.
DR.. Fisk was manifestly not looking
out for a soft place when he eSpouSed
the sinking fortunes of the church he
went to from Toledo and from which
he resigned last week. Compton Hill
is a beautiful part of st. Louis. but its
well-to-dO residents are largely Ger
mans who have to a great extent drop
ped their Lutheranism and their Cath
oHcism but have not taken up with any
American churches. In these surround
ings came DR.. Fisk to find a $50 600
church with q SOS, 600 debt, bankrupt In
hope. scattered by a cyclone, and fall
ing to pieces in numbers. To bring such
an enterprise back to financial solvency
meant a fight CT the hardest kind, but
the new pastor faced the task and in
two years and a half he has won the
victory. In that time over s.. 900 in
floating debts have been paid, over
81, 400 paid on the $1,000 organ and re-
Gently 2.470 has been paid on the mort
gage Indebtedness. Beside these finan-
cial gains, the church has held it's own
in numbers, adding 40 last year in a
community where to add a few means
much. The Sunday school has been car
ing a single class OF 60 recently from