River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-04-15

| clergymen, as you call them, do not
dress differently from other people in
Bronson. Customs are very different
there from those in England"
A day later, on Sunday morning,
Albert Townley noticed that his friend
did not attend divine service, which is
always held on Atlantic liners in the
dining room Of the first cabin every
| Sunday morning.
In spite Of his attitude toward re-
iigion,' said Townley to himself one
day as the voyage drew near its close,
Il like this immigrant. l wonder who
| he is.
| Albert Townley often wondered
about the antecedents Of Reginald Mel
son, but with the exception of the few
| hints that the immigrant gave when
he spoke Of possible life of ease in
| England, the young man did not men
ton his past life and made it clear that
he desired his past history to remain
a blank.
| The friendship between Mrs. Graham
and the immigrant also grew during
| the ocean voyage, and Joy Graham
found him a most agreeable cOmpan-
ion. She discovered that he was a viO-
! linist and persuaded him to add his
part to a concert which was given by
the more talented passengers on the
cabin list.
| Contenting himself with q brief visit
around New York, Reginald accompa-
MED Albert Townley to Bronson.
| The day after his arrival in Bronson
Albert Townley was walking down the
main street. nodding his head contin-
ually, like Chinese mandarin, as his
numerous friends greeted him on every
side. Suddenly two men stopped in
| front of him.
Il am glad to see you home again.
Mr. ToWnley, said the older Of the two
men.
Mr.. Graham, / declared" responded
| the minister heartily. 'It does me good
TO see some familiar faces once more"
Mrs. Graham and Joy have been
telling me about their pleasant voyage
home on the same boat with you" said
the other. who was Mrs. Graham's hus-
band. Here's q friend" he continued.
whom | wish you to meet. This is the
new pastor of the Central church, DR..
Allan Rutledge. | think you two men
ought to become good friends"
Albert Townley looked at Mr.. Ora
| hams companion with lively inter
est. He had often heard Of the young
hn Cti hn tirn
middle west with his apostolic fervor.
| Shortly the two ministers babe good
| by to Mr.. Graham and walked down
the street together.
Tell me something about your work
| in wellington" said Mr.. Townley.
There was nothing very wonderful
about my ministry in Wellington" re-
piled Allan Rutledge smilingly. II am
surprised to see the interest that the
| country has taken IN my work IN that
small Iowa town. The facts simply
were that the community needed the
gospel Of Christ, and | was privileged
| to bring il to them in an effective
way"
But in the reports of your work
| there which ! have read" said Town
| ley, you revoutioniZed your church.
| the college in Wellington and the en-
| tire community"
when began my ministry in Wei
| lington." responded the other, speak
| ing more earnestly, both our church
and college were dead spiritually.
There was distressing lack Of life
and power. and l simply proved once
more what has been proved ten thou
sand times that the gospel is the pow
err Of God"
Before accepting his recent call to
Bronson, Allan Rutledge had been pas
tor for six years in Wellington. Ia.
and. as Mr.. Townley said, his ministry
there had brought him wide fame.
The Central church Of Bronson had
finally been able to prevail on the pow
erful young western minister to accept
q call. and he had only arrived in
Bronson on the week preceding the re-
turn of Albert Townley from his trip
abroad.
You have come here" said Albert
| lOWuicys SpCdhIuS Will lulcIlSe ctlt II
estness, lin response to the prayers
Of many true Christian people. We
feel we are in bondage in Bronson. and
we need a Moses to deliver us.
DO not for a moment think that !
am trying to make out that Bronson is
a specially wicked city" continued
Townley quickly. but / would like
you to begin your ministry here know
| ing that Bronson needs a regeneration
| far more than Wellington ever needed
| one. There are a multitude Of earnest
| Christian men and women in our city.
| but the city itself is now in the con-
troll of the powers Of evil. 1t is foolish
| to deny it. A corrupt ring controls our
| city politics. and it keeps our best
! citizens under its thumb. Saloons and
| gambling places are wide open. and
no one pretends that our laws reg
ulating and restraining these evils are
| enforced