Mexico weekly ledger., 1915-04-15

known TO refuse when invited to par
tieipste in such work.
Benton is also greatly indebted to
DR.. W. W. Robertson. Especially
during the days of its infancy when
in his monthly visits he preached
and sang. prayed and exhorted,
as only he could do, and. as il were,
held a meeting every time he
came.
The church has also been visited
by evangelists of the synod, among
whom were DR.. Drew and Xenophen
Ryland, both Of whom by their
warm and weighty messages called
numbers into the kingdom. Ben
toms last meeting was held last fall
Ly the pastor, Mr.. Pearman, assist
ed by Mr.. Mitchell, when 81 we're
converted and the church greatly
revived. These are important facts
and figures and shOwthat both the
church and the brethren of the pres
bytery we're wide awake to the op-
portunities of the situation and that
Miss Harrison and the other pion-
GERS with her were wise in their day
and did their work not only with
reference to their own interest, but
to that of posterity as we'll.
Some of these visiting preachers
have rested from earthly labor,
some have moved to distant parts,
while others are yet within calling
distance, but the fruits of the labors
of them all remain in places like
Benton City,-their rich reward
and the priceless inheritance of
the church.
APPRECIATION
Among those to whom the church
is indebted for its existence is Miss
Lucy Harrison, who by her faith and
prayers, her courage and persistency,
held the church to its task until it
was firmly established. Her in
fuence was felt in all departments.
"To her devotion the church owed
much of it's prosperity. Her activity
was unflagging in the Sunday school.
To her agency the Ladies' Missionary
Society owes its existence. From
her lips, her young associates failed
fn uf
Christian admonitions." Thus she,
though dead, still speaks, though
resting from her labors, her works
follow her.
| Another member of this church
who has long since gone to his rest
was Mr.. James Harrison. OF him
DR.. Cowan writes; Mr., Harrison,
10 years before his death publicly
confessed Christ and Joined the
Presbyterian church at Benton City.
He became one of the happiest of
Christians, taking the little church to
his heart and working for its pros
perity He was made ruling elder
within a year after he united, and
to the end of his life did his work
lovingly and well.
Another, not member, by his
wise counsel and encouragement
contributed not little to the erec-
tion of the house of worship. Dr.
w. w. Robertson, minister, evangel-
list, pioneer, organizer, and builder
of churches, friend of struggling con-
gregations, giving them untiring
service. with or without pay,
preached for Benton City one year,
and owing to his zeal many of the
difficulties. imagined and real, were
overcome. When some objected to
borrowing money the good Doctor
by one word removed the objection,
saying, that he would not give much
for a man who could not carry a
! small debt for awhile; when it was
; thought by some that the school
, house was good enough for place
: of worship, he insisted that as every
family needed a home in which to
work out its destiny so it was with
church. Besides his business
sense he possessed faith in the peo-
pie and they perceiving this,
yielded to his suggestions. and the
house was built.
The house was built and finished,
but with a balance still unpaid, yet
1t was dedicated clear of all incum-
brance, And thereby hangs tale;
: An entire stranger in these parts, a
Mr.. j. B. Graham, of Baltimore,
Md, happened in Mexico and pur-
} chased a ticket on the Chicago and
: Alton. BY accident he took Wa
bash train and was advised by the
, conductor to get off at Benton City
and return to Mexico. This he did
but while waiting at Benton for his
J train he fell into conversation with
Mr.. Charles Gray and from him
; learned the condition of things in
: the church. His sympathies were
J aroused and he inquired particu.
J larly as to the indebtedness resting
on the church. MIR. Gray could moi
tell the exact amount, but agreed, al
his request, to write and give the
: desired information. The stran
ger giving his card boarded the trair
and departed. as the day of dedi
/ cation approached, Mr.. Gray. learn
ing from II. II. Brown, treasurer o.
the building committee, the amount
9 of the debt (but not divulging hi'
purpose to anyonel wrote to Mr.
Y Graham and received in few day.
draft for the exact amount which
arrived on the day of the dedication
Y and when the people were assem-
: bled in their new house of worship
4 Mr. Gray sprang his surprise upol
: them and there was great rejoicing
t The stranger from that day has beei
e regarded as one of the principa
e helpers in the enterprise and held il
Q remembrance by greatful people
e The event was looked upon as a fav
/. orable omen and gave them conf
). dence for the future. The writer re
). lated this incident to one who wa
7. not clear on the subject of specia
/ providence and he admitted that
Mas al least a striking ILLUSTRATION