The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-04
C0NGREGATI0NALIsTs
BUSY IN WISCONSIN.
INTERESTING NOTES OF WoRK
AMONG CHURCHES THERE.
Ninety Per Cent Of Present Pastors Of
Congregations CHURCHES in Wiscon-
sin Have Assumed Their Charges
Since 19oo-Rev. A. e. Leonard Re
turns to Menasha.

The last issue of The Congregations
a1lst, contains a letter Of interesting
information along church lines from q
correspondent covering the Wisconsin
HELD. The correspondent writes in part
as follows:
One of the happiest Of recent changes is the
return of Rev. Arthur e. Leonard to Menasha
for second pastorate. His singularly fruitful
ministry there was closed in 1904 by severe III
ness With great reluctance his resignation,
lions stili chung to him when he was minis
tering to another field. After the resignation
of Rev. e. G.. Crowds last May, their hearts
turned again to Pastor Leonard and his new
pulpit In Columbus was soon filled BY the call
OF Rev. Robert Hopkin from Cleveland, Ohio.
Raraboo, after some months Of waiting, finally
called Rev. L.. A. Goddard Of Redding. His
Work is beginning auspiciously in field left In
fine condition by his predecessor, Rev. J. q.
sarles, now Of Viroqua.
Probably 90 per cent Of the men in the ac-
have cone to their present work since 1900, but
now and then we find an exception. Last May
Rev Edward Fl. Smith Of Oshkosh rounded out
twenty years of service with First church. Rev.
Henry Favil1e, DID,, is on bis nineteenth year
at La Crosse. DR.. e. G. Updike has been six
teen years at Madison. At Plymouth church,.
Milwaukee, Judson Tttswerth--he needs no IT,
tle-is beginning his twenty fourth year Of sefv-
ice. These figures show that the day of settled
pastorates ia not over but these instances are
the rare exception. The rule in our churches Is
an itineraey with an average passionate Of three
to five years.
As representatives of our several churches
visited Beloit to attend the state convention
they were brought into communion with the sor-
row which has come to both our churches iT
that city. Second church, which entertained
the convention, bears still fresh grief the
taking away by sudden death Of its beloved pas
Rant min ,of1- .oiSr
feels his loss. - see.-@s s. =
The community was still tender because OF
this bereavement, when, at the September COM
munion DR.. George r. Leavitt, because OF
pastorate of First church.
During DR.. Leavitt's eleven years of leader
ship this strong church has maintained its
prestige in the city and its benevolences for
state and national work have been constant and
abundant. To our missionary work in, the state
it has not only given money with conspicuous
generosity, but 1t has also given its pastor for
the common cause, president of the Wiscon-
sin Home Missionary society, and his personal
service has been real and vital.
Mr.. Cheney's four years record in Second
ship has increased to over $50 and the old
church building has been replaced by brick
and stone edifce which is model for beauty
and selviceabieness. This church is planted in
the growing part of the city and has a fine
working constituency. The pastoral career of
Mr.. Cheney is not long in years, but in this ent
larged membership and new house of worship he
has left worthy memorial. -; -.
gs5-y zEgfsyS
The church in Whitewater is also vacant thru
the call of Rev. r.. ". Stevens to Yankton, 8.
D. Whitewater. like Beloit. is an educational
center. being the seat Of one of. our normal
schools. and Mr.. Stevens has the natural aptE
tude. developed by some seven years of training
in Whitewater, for the pastorate of college
church. 5-..- = + =ts-'-tas - p
Before Rev. ]. NJ. A. Spence left Green Bay
he had practically transferred his ministerial
standing to the Unitarian body and the church
to which he has gone In Aurora, IL, is OF the
tartan. Both in politics and religion Mr.. Spence
is an advanced radical. He failed to secure the
dogmatic assent of many in his congregation to
his individual views; but a man and as q
minister he was generally held In high esteem.
His alliance with the Unitarians does not fndi-
cate any recent change of views: and It Is
remarkable sign of the times, that he has been
allowed for eight years to live in peace in Con-
gregational fellowship while preaching and
teaching the doctrines of that branch Of the
church which he has finally joined