Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-10-07
THE LITTLE BROWN
CHURCH IN THE VALE

song 80 popular with the children Of
AL sunday Schools. This account was
given last Sunday by Miss Doris
IDoderer, who with her father. visited
the historic spot in August OF the pres
lent year.
The song that we have sung In this
sunday School 10 often entitled "Thc
Little Brown Church In the Vale" has
a real existence In real church locat-
ed In nice little grove about two
miles east Of the town Of Nashua,
Iowa. On the afternoon OF Sunday,
August 10. 1919, my fether and 1 Wis.
Tied this historic church 10 beautifully
situated ON the banks OF the Cedar
RIVER; the song has made this spot
dear TO the hearts OF hundreds Of tour
lists.
The church was begun I'm 1862 by
Rev. j. X. Nutting, but was not dedi-
cnfed until December Of the year 1891
as a Congregational house of worship
In those pioneer days In Iowa with no
railroads no lumber was obtainable; 70
the native trees were cut down and
sawed into lumber at nearyby saw mill
and the building erected; the trees and
the work was all donated. Nails, hard
ware, and finishing lumber had to be
bought The Sunday School at Pitts.
field, Massachusetts,, filled with n mis-.
sionary spirit, sent $40 TO be used for
this purpose. The finishing lumber
was hauled by wagon teams from Me.
Gregor, town ON the Mississippi
River eighty miles away. The pioneer
salary Of Rev. Nutting, the pastor, was
$45O year.
DIR. w. =, Pitts when a young man
taught singing school In that communi.
ty In the acadmy building near there,
he Is the author OF the song that we
love to sing. One winter evening In
1864 he held his singing class in the
newly built church and he sang there,
the first time that II had been used
In public. Shortly after this the manu-
script was published by ii. NJ. higgins,
OF Chicago. II won speedy recognition
and with the years won its way into
the hearts Of the children OF all Sun
day Schools.
The church Is a very plain building.
painted brown. II will seat about 1S9
people, plain wooden pews. On its
walls are pictures OF Rev. Nutting and
DIR. Pitts, also the original copy of the
song. Due TO the deaths and removal
OF many OF the old settlers, the C0ngre-
gational organization ceased TO exist
In 1888 and from that time until 1900
no religious services were held In the
little Brown Church. At that time the |
friends OF the song organized a so
ciety called "The Society for the Pres |
ervation OF the Little Brown Church.
This society aided by ladies organl- |
zation called 'The Willing Workers
raised money and repainted and re-
the outside and re-decorated |
the interior. Since 1900 religious SER
vices OF some kind have been maintain |
ed most OF the time, generally only |
Sunday School, several revivals have |
also been held. There is no regular
pastor.
In June 1916 reunion of the early
settlers, their descendants. and old
time friends Of the church was held at
the Little Brown Church both Rev. j.
X. Knitting the builder Of the church
and DIR. Pitts, the author af the song
were able to be present, aged 81 and 81
On this occasion DIR.
Pitts again sang the song just as he
wrote II over half a century before.
Both these Christian men have since
died.
The Little Brown Church Is becom.
Ing more popular each year with tour
lists. A register Is kept In the church
for visitors who wish to register
father and / both registered giving
n. NJ, as our address, so this
Sunday School has the
credit OF having the names of two Of
lis members on that register. Contri-
buttons for repairs are also received
from those so inclined. Since April |
9Th of this year there have been over |
2175 names registered, but the number |
" visitors Is much larger, probably |
three or four times as many do not |
leave their autos TO 90 inside. This |
register lists visitors from % different |
states. also several from Canada, and |
Dne from India Many plcnics are held
under the beautiful old pines in the
church yard. II Is also getting to be
very popular for church weddings, |
many couples coming from long dis
tances TO crafty this novelty.
We took kodak picture of this Lit |
lie Brown Church. To me the visit TO |
this celebrated In song church was
most interesting. | will suggest that
the Superintendent permit us to sing
his song now, and also many times In |
he future.