Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-12-16

ted, lot was purchased or given
Il do not recall which, plans drawn,
and Rev. A. S. Tompkins and l put
our horses together and hauled the
first stick of timber for the new
church. | think it was in 1866 we
got the frame up, but could go no far
ther, and it stood all winter. The
next year we got it enclosed The
last OF October or the fore part of
November there was very cold wealth
er, freezing hard. We had the NOR
tar all made ready to plaster the
church, but had to cover it UP, ex-
pectimg to- leave it until spring. 1t
turned warm and it was thought the
mortar could be put on and left to
freeZe, SO ON the afternoon of the
l4th of November, | went over to-
consult with the other members of
! the building committee as to what
it was best to do. While I was over
there cur little Frankie was drowned.
Some of the older people will recol-
! lect it. | shall never forget the sym
! pathy and kindness of the friends
in that afflictioh
[ do not recollect the date of ded-
lea tion, but | do recollect that I did
not know where what [ signed was
to come from, but when the time of
payment came the Lord took charge
OF it, as | received enough wages
more than I expected to get to meet
my subscription.
1t was a hard struggle i'm the
early days and the few numbers
| worked hard and sacrificed many
| things for the good of the church
They were aided generously and
nobly by the friends not members
and never could have done what they
did but for them. Great credit is
due the memory of Mr. and Mrs |
Sampson as we'll as many others for
their faithful support of the old
church. When l left Grand Rapids
December 6, 1875, l had the satis-
faction of seeing a good church
building for those days, a good con-
gregation, flourishing Sunday
School, a pretty good choir and or
gan, all free of debt, and a deep re
1igious life i'm the church and com
munity. left some very dear friends
whose memory | cherish to this day,
and | hope to meet them and clasp
hands in the better home beyond.
This has necessarily been quite
personal as / could not write in any
other way, and I know you will over
look anything that may seem ego
tistical. If good was accomplished,
to God be all the glory
Kindly bear a word of personal
experience. I was converted and
joined the M. E. Church in Febru-
airy, 1850, and have held a. continu-
Gus membership since that date and
should I live until February next
it will be sixty years
My family have all passed to the
home beyond except my oldest daugh-
ter, Mary with whom | make my
home, travelling or visiting as incli-
nation or pleasure prompts. I enjoy
my church privileges here in De
troit, holding my membership in the
Central Church of over 400 members
1t is a live, aggressive church and
few Sundays pass without someone
uniting with the church by letter
or on probation.
[ am living in the past, but en-
joy the present and have a bright
hope for the future. In GRAND Rap
ids and Cenralia, [ made some of
the truest friends [ ever had, and
it has been pleasure to go over
the past, recall old associations and
write this letter. May the church
at Grand Rapids fulfill her mission,
cultiva ting a, deep religious life, not
only among the membership, but also
in the community so that many may
be led to- take Jesus Christ as their
personal Savior
Few will be here to celebrate the
Centennial, but may we all so live
that we may meet in the ''Sweet
Bye and Bye" is the earnest prayer
of your old friend and brother
Edwin R. Ostrander.
The Alhambra Apartments,
Detroit Mich, Nov "a, 1909.