Glacier County chief., 1940-04-05

Of the world In his crusade to save
souls, he nevertheless believed the
world was improving day by day.
Born in Germany
Born Of Dutch parents in the Ger
man state of Hanover in the year 1857,
determination SO typical of his race.
HIS parents emigrated to America when
their son was IA years of age and To-
Gated on farm in Iowa. There, their
son-christened Eiko John-did the
work that was to be done. He later
entered Lenox college, now Dubuque
university. While there he met his fu-
ture wife, Miss Loretta Vaughn. He
later attended Princeton university,
where he was graduated with honors,
after which he entered Mccormick
seminary in Chicago, where he was
ordained to the ministry in 1882
He was no sooner ordained than he
Mont, then regarded as one of the out
posts of civilization. The young preach
er regarded the offer as an oppor-
tunity and left Immediately, a Bible
IN one hand and gun in the other
I paid So for the revolver" he once
threw it away"
Refused Post in Iowa
The church at Deer Lodge had al
ready been established by the late Rev.
J. r. Russell, who came to Montana
IN the seventies. A year after Dr.
Groenevelds arrival at Deer Lodge
l883-the Presbyterian church took
over the management of the College
OF Montana and made the young Mr..
Groeneveld secretary. AS teacher,
preacher and secretary, he was an &C
tive force from the beginning. Within
a short time he was offered a pro-
censorship at his alma mater-Lenox
college-and later the presidency. He
declined both offers. In later years he
was honored when the college con-
ferred on him the degree of doctor of
divinity
After six years in Deer Lodge. DR..
Groeneveld was offered and accepted
the call to Butte, being installed pas
tor on May 2, 1888. He found an old
frame church and handful of men,
bers. With characteristic energy he
built up his new passionate and the
membership grew apace. Butte was still
IN its primitive stage but making its
greatest mining camp. Civic improve
ments were few. Sanitation was poor
and health measures were pressing for
attention. There were no electric lights
and the telephone had not yet arrived
Rail communication was fairly good
and the town was ahead of its neigh
borS with respect to the public prints
Intellectual geniuses contrasted sharply
with minds that were not. concerned
with the higher things of life Indus
trial giants were battling for su-
premacy. Political campaigns were hec-
tic, colorful, bitter Human life was
cheap. No one dreamed of woman suf-
frage, direct election of senators. auto
mobiles, radio or prohibition. 1t was
case of ION with the dance"
Took No Part in Politics
Into this social maelstrom the young
preacher from Deer Lodge threw him.
self with full vgor He took no part
in politics, as such, but was ever active
in the, interests of progress He
the first stated clerk of the Butte
presbytery, also its president. He later
was elected moderator of the Montana
synod and served twice in that post. a
distinction never enjoyed by any other
presbyterian clergyman in Montana
He served on the general assembly of
the church in America and attended
appointed by Gov. Joseph K Toole as
head of the state board of charities
and served 10 years
In 1900 DR.. and Mrs. Groeneveld
made trip to Europe, and before they
returned, had visited most of the his
t t3ric spots Of that continent During
their stay abroad, DR.. Groeneveld at
tended lectures on the new testament
and church history at the University
of Berlin.
Throughout his career. DR.. Greene
weld was often in demand as a public
speaker. He twice gave the graduating
address at Butte high school-l897 and
1902. He delivered the address at the
closing exercises for the state school
for the deaf and blind in Boulder in
1903. He performed a like service for
the college Of agriculture in Bozeman
now Montana State college-in 1897
and he delivered the commencement
address at Montana State university
in 1896.
Throughout his career, Dr. Greene