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

Il WCiGOutG kuSSSS al luz OeauGI1u!
western home. And rs we think
back over those early days md cen.
tenn plate her many acts OF Kindness
and true benehceuce our hearts are
touched with keen regret and sad
ness that She should so early be
called frcm her mission OF mercy on
earth to her sanity home on high.
As we look back over that last
twenty-five years, what a hood of
memory comes owe US from John r.
Reltzel, a companion of my youth,
to A. Craig Bowdish, my pastor in
middle life. AS l look back it seems
hut a brief span. but what ravaees
time has wrought. Mrs. nj. Nj.
Tatman, our first church clerk, has
gone to her reward, l.. McCurdy.
second church clerk, has also passed
away. James. Foster, that genial.
companionable Christian man, u
first trustee, has also joined the
majority, as has his noble wife.
Larua Wright, u first ..organist and
Mrs. Smith, a member OF our first
choir, have also passed away to that
better land. And l might mention
many others OF the church and con-
gregation.
Let us pause for a moment and a
our tribute OF respect Ito Col. j. NJ.
Adams, for the noble part he took in
the erection Of this church editice.
BY the peculiar irony of fate, he
sits tonight under the very shadow
OF the church he helped to build,
and perhaps can hear the singing.
| wonder how many OF US will be
present at the fftieth anniversary
OF the organization of this church.
From the very nature of things,
but few OF us, il any, who took part
in the early organization of the
!church will be present then. The
attrition OF time so rapidly transfers
and transforms earthly scenes that
this is probably the last time the
most of us will ever witness a scene
OF this kind relative to this church.
But, however that may oe, if we
live right that will matter but little.
We may differ in u individual
opinions relative to minor points in
a church creed. still we will bold to
those fundamental principles of
Christian faith: the %Fatherhood of
God the universal brotherhood of
man and the Immortality OF the
soul.
The former pastors Of the church
were requested to send letters for
reading Oh the occasion of the ami
versary, and several responded. The
nen who have filled the pulpit of
the church since its inception ara
given as follows: Rev. John r.
Reitzel, l5s1-1Ss2, Chicago; Rev. d.
R. Atkins, l8s3-1ss4, South Haven,
Mich. Rev. A. A.. Brown. 1885 1883,
Gregory, South Dakota; Rev.
Nelson S. Bradley, 1891, and 1893
1894, Saginaw, Mich; Rev. Mark
M. Williams, 1891, Cummings,
North Dakota; Rev. A.. M. dePu-
tron Glidden, 1892, who lives in
California; Rev. B. W. Burleigh,
le95.1s97, Valley, Nebr. Rev. d. r.
!, Tomlin, 1898, April to 1904, Kirk
land, Wash; Rev. A. Craig Bowdish,
the present pastor, beginning his
: duties in 1904.
+ Interesting letters were received
from Rev. Nelson S. Bradley, Rev,
B. w. Burleigh and Rev. ID. r.
e Tomlin. Each OF the gentlemen
e sent a very cordial letter which
was read by the clerk-.of the church
Mrs. r. E. Ruth. The klndliesI
OF greetings were extended to the
members Of the church and a strong
t hope expressed for the future growth
!, OF the society. The pastors referred
in the most pleasant terms OF thei,
t relations with the church ana whaI
r benefit they had received from th,
communion with the people here
r Two OF the pastors. Revs. Bradle,
anu puIiC1Sb WClC ICW III UlS WOfE
when they came to Mitchell and they
$ counted their first years here as one!
D that laid the foundation for thetl
future work in the pulpit. and botf
!, of whom them have risen to a high
; er eminence in the religious world.
Rev. John X. Reitzel, of Chicago
was present at the exercises, preach
: ing to the people Sunday evening
and instead of sending a letter ths
\ pastor called Son him for some
: remarks in person. Mr.. Reitzel':
talk was informal and touched or
!, the humorous side of affairs il
%connection with the church. He
paida high compliment to the mer
and women who labored with him In
those early days and recounted some
of the vicissitudes that we're en-.
countered in those DAYS when the