Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-05-19
A DECADE OF SERVICE
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toward such a movement. She asked
for time to think it over" She final
ly decided that from the Christian
church to the Congregational was but
a step and she would take it.. From
that on there was many little confer
ence in the rooms above the bank, in
the drug store and in shack away out
on River Street. Meetings for prayer
and consultation were held, and other
earnest women and good Christian
men fell into line. At the only hotel
in the place there was ever an open
door and hearty welcome for our
little meetings.
The meeting for the organization of
the Congregational Church of Christ
was most enthusiastic one There
were smiles and tears and hand shak-
ings, and talks, even young men giving
hearty expression of their interest in
the movement A full corps of officers
was elected and work begun. The or
ganization of woman's society, called
the Bethany Sisters, followed A de-
nominational Sabbath School followed.
The Christian Endeavor Society be-
came a power for good. There was
not a 'drone" in the church. Each
had something to do and did it.
The council for recognition of the
church brought much cheer by their
commentator of the work done. They
said, eve have nothing to change,
nothing to suggest and nothing to do
but to recognize YOU" This council
took part in the solemn service of or
dination of the deacons and deaconess-
es, some of whom are still with you.
Our public services held in the opera
house, drew crowds of people Some
times standing room could hardly be
found. But there were inconvenience
One of these was the long narrow
stairs, making the hall difficult of ac-
cess to elderly persons, and dangerous
for the swarms of little children. One
Sabbath night while there was great
crush at the door, each one of about
two hundred persons seeming to be in
hurry to reach the street first,
Brother Byron Welpton was standing
beside the writer, watching the crowd
and remarked, 1--WE need a church. :"
The reply was, 1--WE do, and must have
it," Again there was drug store
meeting on another wildly stormy day
We owned that we were few and none
of us rich, but we ought to have a
church.
A day or two later sister Hudgel
said, "Pa is in for new church and he
says he will give" and then followed a
list of his proposed gifts of lumber ect.
The matter was placed before the next
meeting of the Bethany Sisters. All
echoed the sentiment, eve must have
church," 1t was thought that we
might be able to raise $1,000 For this
we would begin to work. But at our
next meeting bomb-shell thrown into
our midst could not have surprised US
more than the statement that Judge
Manning thinks we ought to have a
large church, one costing perhaps not
less than $5000!!" We were appalled,.
Five thousand dollars! What could he
be thinking Of? But he was seeing
visions and dreaming dreams of a city
"a fair city, such as you have this
day; of church pudding which would
be an honor and credit to the church
and to the city. But, after we fairly
caught our breath, there were no dis
senters among the Bethany Sisters;
there were no dissenters in the church.
Dear hearts-your struggles, your
sacrifices, your hard work and your pa
tient waitings are we'll known to God.
Nothing is of value-except that which
costs something. Your gem" of
church home cost you money and time
and thought and prayer and anxiety.
But in such measure as you have sac
rifced you have been blessed. Some
have come, some have gone-some-
no doubt, watch you from the heavenly
portals. But you are church of the
living God and your work is only fairly
begun.
1t is Joy to us to know that you
have with you as your shepherd and
bishop, one who has left never-to-be-
forgotten record for good among my
very own people. My precious mother
lust gone Dec. LIST at the age of 80
wears, rejoiced in the blessing he
brought to the Royalton church OF
which she was long loving and beloved
member. How she prayed for him!
Her prayers will be answered as he is
strengthened with Cody might to min
lister unto you.
It is but fair to say that in the be-
ginning of the work there-there were
manv who cheered us on who were not
members of that Or any other church.
There were members Of other churches
tho kInHtxJ hand