The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-01-31
Gone to His Reward.
Rev. A. J. Pike, the Veteran
Pastor and Old, Settler
is Called Home. ,., 4.

day, January "a, was not unexpected,
for his friends knew the end was near,
but the sorrow was not lessened there
by, and as the news spread rapidly
through the city it was everywhere
received with sadness, especially SO by
the early settlers who had known and
loved him for nearly thirty-three
years.
Rev. A. J. Pike was born March I,
1928, at Topsfield, Mass. In his early
life he consecrated himself to Christ
and was always thorough and true in
all his ways. He prepared himself
for college at Thetford Academy and
entered Dartmouth, from which insti-
tuition he was graduated in 1855. For
one year following his graduation he
was associate principal of Tops6eld
Academy. The historian of the acad-
emy In writing of him said: ga. j.
Pike, A. B., was a most thorough
' scholar, he always carried the text
books closed in his hand, without the
slightest thought of referring to
them. Mr.. Pike studied theology at
Andover and Hartford Summaries,
preaching during vacations, and after
his ordination he was called to the
Congregational church at Marlboro:
Conn.,, where he remained eight years,
doing excellent work and beloved by
all. The close application to study
for so many years began to be
felt and he was obliged to resign his
pastorate and take up work less con-
fining. After short sea voyage, and
rest from public duties for one year,
he commenced work for the American
Mis- sionary Association, laboring in
northern and central New York, Wis
iting all the larger cities for the pur-
pose of collecting funds. In this work
he was very successful, but as soon as
he gained in health -having dedicated
his whole life to the ministry-he
could not be contented until he was
again in his loved work. In Septem-
Der 1868 he came to Sank Centre
where for nearly ten years he occupied
the pulpit of the Congregational
church. What this meant cannot be
understood by the pastors of to-day.
The poverty and hardships endured
by the pioneer workers, who only re-
ceived small salary and were not
always sure of even that, can only be
known by those who passed though
them, yet Mr.. Pike was always cheer
full and happy. During these ten
years he held frequent services in the
neighboring towns, Birchdale, Mel
rose, Fairy Lake, Paynesville, Glen
wood and other places. In addition
to his church services, Sunday school
and mid-week prayer meeting, he con-
Quoted in the later years a young peo-
ple's meeting at which the attendance
was from seventy-fiye to one hundred,
and large number of the christian
men and women of Sank Centre date
their first religious experience from
those meetings. Mr.. Pike was always
successful in raising money. 1t was
due largely to his untiring efforts in
this line of his work, that the present
Congregational church was purchased
and one thousand dollars additional
raised for necessary repairs and bell,
the first church bell that ever sent it's
gospel Invitation ringing through our
city. In Mr.. Pixies diary, always
faithfully kept, it is interesting to
read that on cold December Sundays
as far back as 1876, he preached in
the morning to one hundred eighty;
Sunday school numbering one hun.
dred twenty-five; attendance in the
evening one hundred fifty. Those
who used to attend church in those
days will remember we'll how, while
the closing hymn was being sung, Mr..
Pike sat down and let his eyes" run
over his congregation, always count
ing to a person the attendance. 1t
was with deep regret that his people
accepted his resignation, but his
health again failed him and change
was necessary. After two or three
years spent upon his farm. three miles
west of town, he went to England and
engaged in work for the Freedmen's
Aid Society, presenting that caase in
all the larger towns and cities. Upon
his return he went to Mandan, Dakota
While there the necessity of Con-
gregational college in Dakota was be-
ing agitated, the result of which was
Fargo College. Mr.. Pike was associ-
ated with the latesH. G. Simmons, D.
D., President of Fargo College. in
raising money and selecting the site
for the buildings, and in placing the
college on a solid financial foundation.
He was appointed one of the trustees
and held this office for ten years. He
always attended all the trustee meet
ings and all other meetings in connec-
ton with the college even when fifty
miles away. During his stay in Da-
kota he did great work; at Dawson