River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-03-09
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Congregational Church
PAPERS READ.
Some Noteworthy Characters
in Our Church Family.
VIM. NJ. NEWcoMB.
REV. w. r. STEVENS.

VIM. M. NEwcoMB.
REV. w. R. STEVENS.
Rev. w. R. Stevens was a large
man, physically, intellectually and
spiritually. He made distinction
between fervor, which is always
right, and enthusiasm which is ex-
cess; therefore he was not favorable
to pulpit fireworks" but he gave
us good, strong sermons. He was
particular in the choice of words to
express his ideas. At tea one after
noon his wife remarked What
beautiful biscuits!" He said, Not
beautiful dear, but very good to
eat" He was by no means dull
but could feel intensely, as we saw
when the news of the union defeat
at the battle of Bull Run reached
us. He was partly comforted by
his confidence that God still reigns.
Being tall, he was up with the
times. In his marriage ceremony,
instead Of the words, Love, honor
and obey" he used the expression,
Love honor and watch over kind
ly." He may have learned by ex-
perience, having been twice mar
ried.
PROF. BENJAMIN WILCOX.
Professor Wilcox was the first
teacher of the Academy, located
where the public school house is
now. He was Christian scholar.
He had the power to tell what he
knew. At one time when was Wis
iting the school one of the exercises
was four boys to sing a piece. l
knew one of them, Phineas Flint.
They stood up together on the west
side of the room and started, but
the tune baked. They worked at
it bravely but it would not go. The
Professor stood with his arms fold
ed in all his New England dignity.
/ pitied the boys, but could not help
them and hardly think Mr.. Wilcox
could. A young girl by the name of
Elmira Nichols touched the key of an
instrument near her. 1t helped the
boys to start right and they finished
their task successfully. / wonder
if any one knows what has become
of that girl? Has she helped other
boys to start right and to make
success in lifef
PROF. A. H. WELD.
Professor A. H. Weld was an
other teacher and Christian scholar.
The churches and this community
are largely indebted to him for all
the good that comes to them from
the Normal school.
LYMAN POWELL.
Lyman Powell was a generous,
conservative Christian man, ready
to give helping hand to every
good work. He remembered that
he was once a boy and therefore
was a favorite with and had the
confidence of the young. We all
voted for him for Sabbath school
superintendent and when he was
taken away we often heard the re-
mark, "We have no one to fill his
place." But the Sabbath school
did not fail. DR.. Edward Ballard
and others have not tried TO fill his
place but have filled their own so
successfully that the work is still
progressing, but his place is still
open.
JOSEPH NICHOLS.
Joseph Nichols had the new
song put into his mouth here, and
we had the benefit of it. With him
singing was praying. He could al
ways be depended upon to give us
good music even if we had to have
printed sermon read. We have
heard Mr.. Gill say when he had
worked hard all the week to make a
point and felt that he had failed
Uncle Joseph was always sure to
make it in his voluntary. He could
help other ways. There was time
when the church saw no way to get
along without help from the Home
Missionary Society. Some felt that
church should live within its
means. Mr.. Nichols and Samuel
Wales were trustees and when the
application for aid was presented
to them they refused to sign it but
promising to make it up if we failed
to raise the amount. 1t was start
ing point in self support for this
church. And they did not have to
make the amount good.
The anti-imperialists affect to
think the people of the Philippines
civilized and enterprising while