The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-11-17

upon them with pardonable pride, know
ing that in this little country churcl
these men who have become noble ant
straight citizens have been inculcatet
in all that was virtuous and good by
the hardy, rough handed but honest
pioneers who established the cause Of
Christ in the early days for the benefi
not only for the parties Immediately
concerned, but even also for the sur
rounding cities, and the country al
large.
Everybody was glad on this occasion
to see some of the aged DANES who had
also received much training and bless
ing in Salem church. Mrs. jeanette
Jones the daughter of the first promoter
of the church organization had come
from Dan to Bershebe to see the ole
landmarks. Mrs. Henry Hughes the es
teemed mother of many respected chill
dren. Mrs. ID. G. Evans of South Bend
and Others we saw there who lent
mellowing grace to the gathering of the
classes. "God bless them," the audi
ence seemed to say as they were point,
ed out and smiled upon.
One old time and honored friend
Humphrey Roberts, gave us again some
of those telling observations for which
he is proverbial. 1t was a great relief
from the solemn, almost the somber
when Miss Claudia Davies was called
uopn to sing a solo; this young lady is
the granddaughter of Mrs. ID. c. Evans,
and is flower of the third generation
since planting the parent stock in Blue
Earth county.
After this the Rev. DIR. Lloyd Roberts
was called upon to treat upon Welsh
churches as Nurseries of Spiritual
Life" We have the doctor now fairly
on his feet; he gave, us some inklings of
his oratory in the previous meetings; it
was now that he began to manifest those
powers for which he is proverbial. He
carries his audience at his will by his
inspired magic. And oh! AS he told
of the powers of spiritual life, it's or
igin, it's much needed blessings, its fell
ctious productions, and it's final con-
summation, did not our hearts burn
within us as he spoke to us by the way
as we passed along through these ser
les of meetings? But as we have a
word to say of him in the report of the
next and last meeting, we shall proceed
to say that our own dear Mr.. Heer-
nance gave us a glowing picture of the
future of Salem church, which was his
assigned topic; and his telling remarks
we confidently trust laid fitting re-
sponsibility upon the young men and
maidens, and the middle aged of the
congregation for the success of Salem of
the future.
The historical meeting made us wiser,
and, let us trust, better people.
The evening meeting was the consecra-
ton service. The meeting opened with
the question song, cam l a Soldier of
the CROSSE" Deacon Thomas Hughes
read the first psalm and offered prayer.
The Junior choir sang and their sweet
young voices was both cheering and re-
freshing. The Rev. Francis Wrigley
spoke to the people a preliminary ad-
dress to call the audience to a studious
attention to the great object of the ex-
ercises now engaged in and entered up
on for the proceedings so that one and
all might receive some special bless
ing 1t was a conservation service, he
said, and that it might be such, all
must pray for the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit. After singing, the Rev.
DR.. Roberts stood at the desk and took
his text in First John 40: Gin this
was manifested the love of God to-
ward us, because that God only His be-
gotten son into the world that we might
live through Him." The doctor is now
at home in his mother tongue; there Is
neither lisping or foreign accent OBJ
served; he salies forth with his in
PRODUCTION without reserve, but with
evident previous preparation; his SEN
fences were measured, and has periods
rounded off with a mastery touch; he
unlocked to us as he went on to un
ravel the mysteries of the manlfestions
of God in His Son, also to unfold his
own high capacious powers in such a
way that every eye was riveted, anc
breathless attention secured, as he por-
trayed the love of God in the sacrifice
of the son. Wistful faces were seen, and
fearful eyes were many, the audience
was melted into deep conviction until
the able divine closed his discourse, the
meeting was prepared to enter consecra-
ton, and when Rev. E. j. Wheeler took
hold to test the audience, his remarks
and appeals brought the whole company
to their feet as a manifestation of their
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