The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-17
Caster Centennial OF The congrega
tioaal Church Was Celebrated
Tuesday Evening.

ina country is something o a
creuit to q church organization. The
ConpTegatioDalists of this city have
just reached that period in their ex-
istence, and the event was duly cele-
bra5ad Tuesday evening
The members of the chntch and
the adhelents were invited to par
ticipate 10 a buffet luncheon which
was served on tile lawn from 6 to Z
o'clock, and the number who re-
sponded was quite large. All the
eatables we're placed Oh a table and
the hungry folk with plates. knives
and forks, and coffee cup went to the
headquarters table, filled their plate
with the %proyender SO generously
provided and then hunted up another
table on which to place their food.
For the evening a program of
much merit was arranged that
touched on the points Of the history
OF the church, and there is much
that can be said with reference to
the early struggle of the oenomina-
tion to gain a foothold In this
western country.
Pastor Bowdish had charge of the
progfam during the evening and
introduced the speakers in a very
happy manner, touching on many
interesting points himself. The pro-
gram opened with a song by the
congregation and choir in singing
q OF The praising hymns of the
church. A prayer OF much earnest
ness was given by the Hev. G. L. W.
Kiihon, pastor of the church at
Letcher.
j.. ~. Crow gave "a very interesting
histviical sketch OF the church.
whiei, referred individually to those
who concerned directly in the
founding and building of The church
edifce. Mr.. Crow said in part:
am assigned the pleasant task of
writing a brief narrative of the
early doings of the First Gongiega-
tional church Of Mitchell. S. %. At
tracted by the glowing accounts of
ssthe land or the D~akotas,'' nine,
young, enthusiastic c~onsecrated men,
graduates of q far eastern college, by
mutual agreement handed themselves
together to do Gods work in a
distant part of His vineyard, and
were designated as the yale Dakota
Band
In the latter part Of June, j. r.
Reitzel, one Of the number visited
Mitchell, which at that time had
perhaps a score Of business houses,
including the hotels and land Offices
and among their number, three
tourishing saloons. As a result OF
this visit, arrangements were made
70 hold church In the little chapel
owned b. Rev. Chaplin, of the Pres
byterian church, and on Sunday,
July !, 1881. the first Congregational
church services, were held In Mitch
ell. &. Reitzel preached the
sermon from the text, Heb. 1-8:
but unto the Son he saith. thy
throne, O God, Is flor ever and ever
u sceptre.. OF righteousness is the
sceptre of thy Kingdom, 1t is
Perhaps worthy of note that thi.
sermon was preached the day befoft
that memorable Fourth OF July il
Mitchell. when liberty vas licen $
and law Was legerdermain, wllel
the civilized white man Wed with
the red savage to see to what depth.
Of iniqnity and degradation eacl
could 90. We who canFlook back q
years marvel at the. change aud 70,
who are later arrivals have littll
idea, of those early pioneer days
when barroom tights were an ever,
day occurrence Time has wrough
Its change and we tonight are enjoy.
ing the sweet frllttion that. tit
teachings OF tile Christ brings to an,
community.
The Congregational church wa
the second church organization ii
Mitchell. Now we have an eve,
dozen, and instead OF being a littl,
Village on the frontier, we are /;
city of nearly 1000 souls with the
best railroad facilities OF any city
in the state.
On August IA, 1881, which dat.
we now commemorate, the Firs,
Congregational church OF Mitchell
same into existence with the follow.
ing membership: Mr.. and Mrs. A
I. Lyman, Mrs. ]. E. Bradley, Mr.
and Mrs. J. II. Root. Mr.. and Mrs
Guy Wellman, Mr.. and Mrs. J.. NJ,
Crazy, Mrs. ]. "A. Adams, Mrs. NJ
N. Tatman, Mrs. Z. o. Gale. ant
Mrs. 81. NJ. Curtis. ID I'm all. No
the anlucky number, but the number
Of colonies which composed thu
original states Of the American
union. None of the original OF
%nlnnpknr sno.Nhnsr 500 - -