River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-03-02
FIE'TIETH ANNIVERSARY
GongregatioalnChurCh
PAPERS READ.
The Pastors I Hove Known.
DR.. T. w. ASHLEY.
PAPERS READ.
REV. CHAS. H. ROGERS.

Rev. Chas. H. Rogers came to us
as our pastor in June, 1888. Re-
signed in September, 1886.
Personally l was not well &C
quainted with Mr.. Rogers, as
came in May and he went away in
September of the same year. / can
not do better than to read two testi-
monia1s from members of thi S
church that were members when he
was here, and they, l am sure, voice
the sentiment of his entire congre-
cation;
"The first time l ever saw Mr..
Rogers he and another gentleman
had just been thrown from car
rage near my home. Mr.. Rogers
was to preach as candidate for our
pulpit the following Sunday and
was driving around the city to make
a few calls, Having been landed
very Unexpectedly at our door he
thought it wise to make his first call
there. He came in with smile on
his face, which all who knew Mr..
Rogers will appreciate, looking so
we'll and strong, bringing flood of
sunshine into the sick-room of
which | was then an inmate.
He was a fine looking man, care
full and tidy in his dress. His very
manner inspired you with conf
dence and strength. He was full of
sympathy for his people and seemed
always able to say the right word in
the right place, whether it were in
the pulpit, in the home, at the flu
neral service of our dead or at the
wedding feast. His sermons were
strong and practical and he had the
rare power of holding the attention
of his audience from start to finish.
He was a great favorite among the
young people and we looked for
ward to his pastoral visits with
pleasure. And when, after a long
pastorate, at the close of a morning
sermon, Mr.. Rogers read his resig-
nation the whole audience was in
tears for we were to lose a true
friend"
when Rev. c. H. Rogers came to
us as our pastor was at once i'm
pressed with his strong personality.
His pleasing manner, genial smile
and warm-hearted sympathy, quick
ly won for him the hearts of his
people. AS he continued his stay
with us and we saw more of his
spiritual life we learned to love him.
In all homes, and especially where
there was sickness or trouble of
any kind, he was a welcome visitor,
his very presence bringing courage
and cheer to the Overburdened.
Without question it was real sor-
row to the church and congregation
when he decided TO leave us and go
elsewhere.
REV, ]. D. WHITELAW.
Rey. ]. D. Whitelaw began his
work here in May, 1887, and remain
ed until 1890. Mr.. Whitelaw was
not only preacher of the gospel
of peace" but he was lion-hearted
Christian; he believed in the majes-
ty of the law, and became indignant
at repeated violations of it by the
saloon element of this city. 1t was
due to his efforts as much as to any
one man that movement was in
augurated to enforce the law regu-
lating the sale of Intoxicating liq-
uors in River Falls. A hot and
vigorous fight was made extending
over months; the license of one
sa1oonkeeper was revoked and one
or two forced out of business. 1t
was he, almost alone, who drove
from our fair city the vilest of places,
the likes of which never have exist
ed since. In matters of principle he
was a rock-always to be depended
upon and what he believed to be
right he stood for even if he had to
stand alone. He alone, of all our
pastors, enjoys the distinction of
being placed under arrest. He was
arrested in company with one other
minister, pastor of the NJ. E. church
of this city, and three or four lay
men, on a charge OF false imprison-
ment. The case was carried to the
Circuit Court where it never came
10 trial. There was abundant OPP
portunity for bad blood to show it.
self during this heated and bitter
fight. Through it all Mr.. White
law conducted himself in way be-
coming his profession and was at
all times a Christian gentlemen.
Mr.. Whitelaw was in my opinion
noble Christian man, loving and
sympathetic to those who really
knew him. He was, think, an
honest, earnest worker for his Mas
ter, near whom he ever strove to
live.
REV. S. S. GRINNELL.
Rev. Sylvester Storrs Grinnell,
son of Jeremiah Grinnell Ca promi-
nent minister among the Friends)
and Martha Tabor, was born at
Mt. Gilead in Ohio, Jan. IL, 1850.
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