Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-03-13
PASTOR SURPRISES
HIS CONGREGATION

| A clap of thunder came out of
clear sky at the Congregations
church sunday morning when the
pastor, Rev. Louis A. Goddard at The
close of the sermon presented his resig.
nation to take effect on April /,
Some weeks ago be received call from
Algona, Iowa, visited the church and
has re ceived a unanimous request to
c1me which he accepted.
There were forty applicants for the
place, fou. of whom preached to the
congregation. The Congregation al
church in Algona is the leading one,
has membership of 400 and the
people of the town are church going.
The salary is 81, 500 year, besides the
advantages of a fine new parsonage.
Strange as it may seem there was a
committee from Illinois Sunday morn
ling to hear his sermon and possibly
give him call. They came too late.
About AIgona.
Algona is town of 5000 people,
has four banks, three weekly ne Ws-
papers and is located in the upper
Des Moines valley east of Sioux City.
There is a rich farming country
roundabout and the locality is
noted for its law abiding, church
going, thrifty citizens. The boule-
ward system of lighting is used.
It is saloonless town and the drug
stores keep in the narrow way, he says.
The word "AIgona" is Indian from
Algonquin and "Maig" meaning
"Algonquin waters
Rev. Goddard'S Work.
Since coming to Baraboo seven
years ago, Rev. Goddard has accom-
plished much. When be came there
was church debt of 81 200 which h s
been wiped out and $1,000 has been
expended on the parsonage. Durii g
the time there has been severe 10
of membership in the church. Among
those who have gone are the Williams,
Denisons, Gehrads and many others.
The congregation has over 100 new
mem bers besides those who have
come by letter. The church has
crown to marked degree during his
stay and the loss of his activity will
be keenly felt. Mr.. Goddard issa fine
mixer. With the young people in and
out of the church, in the athletics of
the high school, in the work of
the other churches, he has been
active and has always taken
leading part. When he came tol Bara-
boo, union meetings were uncommon,
now they are frequently held and
most of the churches are working In
the greatest harmony. Mr.. Goddard
has also been active in the district and
st ate organic cations, holding importsnt
offices in them.
rlany Pastors.
Many have been the changes in
Baraboo pulpits since Rev. Goddard
came seven yearssago. He has become
ACC uaited with 33 different pastors
besides a number of Y. M. G. A. sec
retaries. OF those in the Baraooo pulpits
when Rev., Goddard came, Rev. ID.
Mueller alone remains.
Morals Have Improved.
When the minister came gambling
devices in Baraboo were frequent and
during the county fair the place was
not unlike Deadwood used to be.
Gambling machines have gone forever.
The fight was bitter but the purchase
is worth many times the cost. Occa-
sionally slot machine tries to creep
into town, but their existance is
of short duration. Years ago the saloons
were practically wide open on Sun
DAYS, now they are closed on that
dav and the screens are removed. Mr..
Goddard did not do all of this but his
activity was an important factor in
the campaign for better morals. The
moral tone Of the town is improved
and the old days will never returnb
Mr.. Goddard says he did not enter into
the fights because he desired to do SO,