The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-17

HfC ffV1nS u tstAlco
life on 1lteir farm near Ruseda.e, in
Hanson county, j.. Al. Crars and
wife. are living IN Sioux City,
happy and prosperous. ]. n. Root,
is now residing at Tempa, Arizona
aud Mr.. aud Mrs. Guy Wellman. are
now residing at Blue Creek, Wash
ington. No sooner had the church
been organized than the mem
beers began to think about erecting
a church building. We were then
occupying temporarily the north
room of the high school building on
the west side. A building com
mittee vas appointed consisting OF
the pastor, Rev. j. r. Reitzel. Col.
J.. M. Adams and DR.. J.. q. Tatman, jr.
TEE committee at once selected the
present site and began to make
preparation for the erection of this
church building Considering the
size of the town and the financial
condition OF the early pioneers the
erection of this building would seem
almost a herculean task. but the
committee was fully equal to the
occasion and with much yigor and
enterprise, pushed the work rapidly.
A little land, for we we're not
many, gathered from Sabbath to
Sabbath, to convers with one an
other and to hold communion with
God. We used a little school organ.
Miss Laura Wright, later Mrs. j. S.
Shantcn, was organist and soprano,
Prof. Lott, chorister and a fine
tenor, Mrs. Emma Day smith, alto
and your humble servant, wrestied
with the bass. We made good n usic,
such as it was, and we were all
happy because we we're young and
energetic and full Of hope-that we'll
spring CT every successful life. Prof.
Lott pounded out iron in the day
time, during the fall and winter of
81 aud at night swung the baton,
for | would have you know that the
professor had the first. and ia truth,
tue finest, old fashioned singing
school eve held in Mitchell. I
know for ] vas there. | speak OF
the singing school for it was "a sort
iof adjunct to the church and had
the patronage COT our pastor, WHO
thought he could sing some in those
days.
They were aided in their efforts by
as noble a band OF pioneers as ever
crossed the western plains. May
~, 1882, was a red letter day fol
Congregationalism in Mitchell, for
on that day was dedicated the
largest and finest Congregational
church building in the Their
territory of Dakota, with possibly
two exceptions. We were all buoyant
and high spirited on that day. To
us 1t seemed that a great under.
taking had been successfully &C.
complished and w we're most PROUD
OF u bright: new church home
sitting out on the prairie all alone,
two blocks east of Main street. Th,
church was we'll filled by an expec
tant, happy and a most joyous crowd
Rev. John Z. McLancy, of Siou,
Falls. preached the %dedicatory ser
mon, Rev. Stewart Sheldon mad'
the d%edicatory prayer and Rev
Jospeh Ward, Of Yankton, delivered
the keys. While our young paste
with that quiet unassuming way O
) his, and with much and deep salts
faction made the financial statement
While the building COMMITTEE
) are entitled to much credit, for TIL
i splendid work they did, Yeti believ
3 it but just to say that there is an
other person who is entitled to eve
D greater credit than the members O
5 the building committee and tina
j person is L. o. Gale, who, thougl
not a member OF the church proper
i was a constant adviser, and a mos
liberal donor. This church is unde
great obligations to Mr.. Gale for no
only heing the heaviest contribute
/ to the building OF the church, bu
has the distinction of being tn
: largest contributor to the pastor
' salary OF any person from that day t
this.
81 1t may be OF interest to recall no,
kindly we we're remembered by GU
sister churches of the east in tn
3 way Of furnishings for our ne,
i church building. Through the effort
> Of our pastor, Mr.. Reitzel. The Cen
7 trail Congregational church of Fal
River, Mass, donated the bell 10
. the tower, the Congregational churcl
{ of East Haven, Conn, donated th
l pulpit chairs, and the First Church
of Fair Haven, Conn.,. donated til
pulpit. Through the efforts Of thos
unsteady inclined a most successful
concert was given which netted
LII r,vo mort re ~, Grads For ei,a -.