The Princeton union., 1906-07-26

his excellent counsel and fatherly ad-
vice. How we did all enjoy his rich
baritone voice as he aided in singing.
Rev. j. M. Hubert was our next
pastor, of whom we delight to speak.
A ripe scholar, and of a deep spiritual
nature, he stimulated the church by
his preaching and his Christian walk
in life. he, too, was ordained by the
church; his uncle from Ohio preached
the ordination sermon and Rev. Geo.
Wells of Plymouth church gave the
charge. 1t was with deep regret that
we accepted his resignation, leaving
US for larger fields of usefulness.
Time and space does not permit me
to speak of all the faithful pastors,
among whom were Revs. G. D. Moore,
David Donavan, G. 81. Moxie and
others. The church became self sup
porting under the pastorate of Rev.
Z. d. Moore, and thereafter cut loose
from the Home Missionary society.
Also, during Mr.. Moore's pastorate,
the church adopted the manual for it's
guidance, and the present church
hymnal was introduced. AS I look
back over the past years, think we
made mistake in letting our pastors
go without extra efforts in their be-
half. 1t was always so. Just as we
would be prospering, and the church
interests looking up, some other
church would want our pastor, or he
would get discouraged over lack of
results Or seeming half-hearted sup
port and would resign. No church
has suffered more, too, by the loss of
members by removals from town. So
many removals, and so many changes.
l venture to say that if one-half only
OF the former active, working men,
bers OF the church, were now residing
in Princeton, it would be one of the
very strongest churches of our denom-
ination in the state, and it would be
so easy to carry on the work. But do
not be discouraged. It is Gods way.
Let the ranks be closed up, and each
try to do a little more than formerly,
if possible, and push the work.
God will bless you still more sig
nally.
wish I was with you. I rather
think you can imagine where I would
be found working, and love to think
that all those years when I was a
member I was not wholly unfaithful
to the interests of the church. Mis-
takes there were, but they were of the
head and not of the heart.
| AS I think of the past history of
the church a few facts stand promin-
emily forth.
First. 1t is a fact that but for the
Dorcas society the church could not
have kept it's doors open. God bless
the Dorcas society, and especially
those members whose names do not
appear as members of the church.
Without the earnest labors, SELF
denial and strenuous exertions of the
ladies of the parish, the funds would
not have been forthcoming for pas
tors salary, payment of taxes, debt
on parsonage, repairs on church,
church furnishings, etc., etc. re-
peat it, God bless the ladies of the
church and society, and hasten the
time when those without the fold may
be led by the Great Shepherd of the
church into His kingdom.
Second. 1t was the wisest kind of
an action when the church building
was removed to it's present central
location. Always remember that the
credit for the same is due, largely, to
the untiring efforts of Mrs. Mary
Rines, who first thought out the plan,
and who engineered the whole thing.
It looked like an insuperable under
taking to move the building so far,
and also to buy the three church lots
for 81, 1000 cash. But, tho small in
stature, she was veritable dynamo
in action, and a tower of strength to
the faint hearted.
Move it we did, before the streets
we're strung with wires for lights and
'phones, and now you are to be con-
graduated on having the best possible
location in town.
Third. The little trees now growing
about the church property I have the
honor of furnishing. Mr.. Clark
kindly set them out for me. love to
think that they will be growing years
after you and I have passed over
yonder, affording delightful shade
and cool rest to the worshipper and to
the weary.
Fourth. The church has fulfilled
another great mission for good in
past years. Until Jesmer's opera
house was built, it was the larg-
est building for public purposes in
town, and many lecture, Memorial