River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-02-23
F[FTIETH ANNIVERSARY
GongregationalChur
PAPERS READ.
The Passionate of Rev. William
Gill.
PAPERS READ
MRS. L. E. POWELL.

II is with feelings of great love
and respect that we take few
moments in which TO pay tribute
to the memory of our second pastor,
Rev. William Gill, and to recall a
few incidents in his ministry as he
came and went among US. Mr..
Gill was called to the passionate of
this church in November, 1862. the
first eng agement being for six
months. Mr.. Gill was then a young
man and fresh from the seminary,
and this was his first pastorate.
His first Sabbath with us was try
ing one, both to minister and peo-
pie. Those who were present must
we'll remember with what en-
barrassment Mr.. Gill gave out his
text, as by his side sat Rev. Mr..
Stevens, who was quite awe-inspir-
ing. Those first six months were
fraught with many struggles on the
part of the pastor, but through It
all he was strengthened and sup
ported by the earnest prayers and
wise counsel of Deacon Burr, Broth
er Newcomb, and the Superintend-
ent of the Sunday school, Lyman
Powell, who with many others, did
all they could to assist the pastor
in his good work. Mr.. Gill was al
so much indebted 70 the good choir,
the members of which were always
in their places to add the inspira-
ton of sacred song to the Sunday
services. 1t was during his pas
torate that the first organ was pur-
chased and it is now doing service
in the primary department of our
Sunday school. At the close of Six
months engagem ent it was voted to
employ Mr.. Gill as our pastor for
an indefinite term. He accepted the
proposed terms but asked for
leave of absence of short duration.
He was away but brief period and
on his return he brought with him
his he1pmeet for this part of Gods
vineyard. The day he left to go for
his wife a gentleman of the place
asked Deacon Burr: Has your
minister gone for good?" The
deacon replied, eve hope he has
left us for GOOD"
Mr.. and Mrs. Gill went to house
keeping III the upper rooms Of the
house now owned by President
Brier. 1t was in those rooms that
they organized a Friday evening
meeting for prayer and conference
for the young people of the church
and congregation. These meetings
were very much enjoyed and many
young people found help and
strength to start out in better ways.
Each one felt that he could go to
Mr.. and Mrs. Gill with his perplexi-
ties and doubts and find sympathy
and help. 1t was in those meetings
that many of the members of this
church, who were young people
then, first started in the Christian
life.
During the pastorate of Mr.. Gill
a free-will- fering system was car
ried on in the church. Mr.. Gill
said that he was willing to live on
what the people could give. He
had a good many hard days, for he
himself was liberal giver to all
branches of Gods work. At the
close of the war of 1861-65, while
Mr.. Gill was still with us, a move
ment was made for new church.
Mr.. Gill was very earnest in his en-
deavors to accomplish so desirable
an end and gave literally of his
means. Many sacrifices were made
by the people of the church and
congregation TO enable US to have
a more comfortable place of wor-
ship. But alas! these hopes were
not realized, for after considerable
work had been done and the frame
of the building had been erected
and rooted in, financial difficulties
prevented going on with the work
and the unfinished edifce stood for
some time, until one fateful Sunday
in severe gale the partly-fnished
structure was blown down. Great
was the disappointment of the peo-
pie, for all understood that nothing
more could be done at that time to
replace the building. Mr.. Gill
came forward with words of COM
fort and good cheer, but it being