The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-10-06
NEW N. T. MINISTER

NEW M. I. MINISTER
Leon Methodists are Greatly Pleased
Over the Assignment of Dr.. A.
N. Pitcher to the Leon Charge.
The members of the Leon M. r.
church, while regretting the departure
| OF Rev. |. N. Woodward, are greatly
pleased over the assignment of DR.. A.
M. Pitcher as pastor Of the Leon church,
for they receive one of the ablest
ministers and best preachers in the con-
ference, and they are looking forward
to prosperous year with DIR. Pitcher in
charge. =
DR.. Pitcher was born at Springfield,
Illinois, and was educated in that city
and at Jacksonville. After completing
his education he at once entered the
ministry, and held numerous good ap-
pointments in Illinois, being chaplain Of
the state penitentiary at Joliet for three
years. He went from Illinois to Wis
consin where he was stationed for
nineteen years and was honored with
the appointment as Presiding Elder of
the Ashland district, in which position
he scored a decided success. On ac-
count of his health he decided to seek a
milder climate, and two years ago he
was transferred to the Iowa conference
and sent to Alton, where he was very
popular with both the church and public
in general. He secured the degree of
d. D. at the Wesleyan University at
Salna, Kansas. He has been in the
ministery for thirty-eight and half
years.
DIR. Pitchers family consists only Of
his wife, his seven children being all
married. Mrs. Pitcher is also an active
worker in the church and when occas-
ion demands can preach an excellent
sermon, being polished and we'll edu-
Gated lady.
The new minister occupied the pulpit
in this city last Sunday, being greeted
by large audience and all who had the
pleasure Of hearing him were we'll
pleased with his appearance and SER
mons.
The Alton Star-Enterprise of last
week has the following good words for
DR.. Pitcher:
DR.. A. M. Pitcher, the we'll beloved
lpastor of the local Methodist church is
to be no longer with us. The Atlantic
conference which completed it's labors
Monday of this week gave him a we'll
merited promotion, both as to import
ance Of assignment and remuneration
of filthy lucre. He is to go. to the Leon
church and expects ito depart for his
!new field of work the first of next week.
He would have undoubtedly gone this
week but other changes upon which
his depends were delayed on account of
sickness, and Alton will once more have
the pleasure Of listening to discourse
from him on Sunday.
The church to which DR.. Pitcher goes
is quite a strong one. 1t has member
ship of 250 and occupies bbeautiful
brick structure, erected at cost OF
$4,000. The building has been recent
ly repainted and the woodwork revar-
finished and every thing put in apple pie
order, SO that the doctor will step into
a live church we'll organized for the
fray. The parsonage has nine rooms
and is a large two-story residence ad-
joining the church. AS would be ex-
pected his salary at Leon is material
increase over that paid here. While
regretting to lose him from among
US his friends will rejoice that his new
berth holds out so many pleasing pos
sibilities.
DR.. Pitcher in speaking to the editor
paid a high compliment to the local
church here. Nowhere, he said, had
he ever ministered to a people SC
thoroughly united as here. Dissentior
there was none, and his pastorate had