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THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN March 2, 1900 DEDICATION ANNIVERSARY A Feast of Reason and Flow
of Soul at the Banquet. Impressive Sunday
Services. Debt for Improvements Wiped
Out. The Methodist Episcopal church in
this city has always been a factor for good ever since civilization was planted
on the banks of Waupaca Falls and that denomination has grown with the growth
of the village and city. A quarter of a
century ago the society had expanded to such proportions that they decided to
erect a new and better house of worship which they set out to do and soon had a
building modern and up-to-date in every respect. While the elements
necessitated the taking down of the tall spire pointing heavenward and
replacing it with a modest tower, the building proper stands firm, and since
the renovation, painting, re-frescoing and putting down new carpets it has as
bright and cheerful an interior as any house of worship in the state. For
some time past Pastor Reynolds, the ladies and others of the society in Waupaca
have thought it would be the proper thing to do to properly celebrate the
“silver wedding” or twenty-fifth anniversary of the dedication of the present
church ediface. In fact as soon as it
was proposed to give the church building a complete renovation of the interior
it was thought a banquet and anniversary would be the proper thing in order to
not only commemorate the event but at the same time receive offerings in
dollars enough o pay the expenses of improvements, which the REPUBLICAN is glad
to report was successfully accomplished; Rev. Reynolds having as aide to assist
him Rev. Perry Millar, who was pastor of the church for five years, now pastor
of Trinity M. E. Church Milwaukee and Rev. A J. Benjamin of Appleton, presiding
elder of the Fond du Lac district. THE BANQUET The
ladies and committee in charge had the pews removed from the body of the
church, tables arranged and covers laid for about 150 people. The
banquet was a success. Every seat was
filled and the menu was an excellent one, served in four courses, everything
moving off like clock work. The tables looked pretty trimmed with smilax and
occasional pots of blooming flowers. THE TOASTS The
program of toasts and responses were all carried out to the letter as
published, all being present except Rev. A. G. Harrison, who was detained at
Stevens Point, but he sent a not of congratulation and regret at being unable
to respond in person. Rev.
Perry Millar acted as toastmaster and made happy hits. Rev.
J. R. Reynolds in his introduction feelingly referred to the fact that this
occasion was in honor of the dedication of the church edifice just twenty-five
years ago. He referred to the old
building, now used as a blacksmith shop, and contrasted the ring of the hammer
and anvil to the ringing truths that had been told in sermon and song so many
years and the fires of the forges was like the fires of righteousness which had
been welded to the hearts of those who had confessed their sins and turned to
the Master as their Savior. Mr.
Reynolds said he was sorry the pastor who presided soon after the dedication 25
years ago, Rev. I. S. Leavitt, could not be present, but he was happy to
receive a letter from Mrs. Leavitt, which read as follows: Omaha, Neb., Feb. 17, 1900 To the Members and Friends of Waupaca M. E. Church: Heartiest
greetings and congratulations on this happy occasion. In looking backward today I hope some of you may recall the “little girl preacher’s wife” who was installed in your parsonage twenty-four years ago. When but twenty years of age Waupaca brought to me my first experiences as mother, housekeeper, and pastor’s wife. Too young to be overburdened by these grave responsibilities. I often smile at my “invincible ignorance” and always gratefully remember your patience ad consideration. No charge that we have since served has so impressed itself upon me. I almost believe that I could now call the roll from memory of the old church membership, including our faithful congregation at Barton school house. I can never forget your faces, nor your loyalty to church and pastor. The
church debt then dominated everything, and “anything for money” was our motto.
Suppers, fairs and entertainments of all kinds mingled with our prayer and
revival meetings. Ice cream, our own concoction, was legal tender at all
seasons. I
often recall the course of lectures which were given each winter, when we made
a personal canvass of the city, and instructing the sexton to “keep the furnace
Hot”, we would serve ice cream “between acts”.
“Ye ancient women” were then divided into two companies. Six of us going out together and sewing an
entire afternoon for one dollar. On
one occasion I remember a sewing machine was lacking. An ox team, which seemed
to be the only thing available, was appropriated, and a picture comes to me of
two of our women standing in a very rude wagon trying to keep a machine on. O,
those were glorious, heroic days, full of “faith and works”. Although
long before the days of Christian Endeavor or Epworth Leaguers, I think I have
never known a more devoted enthusiastic young people’s meeting than the one
when then crowded your lecture rooms each Sabbath evening. Visitors would often remark, “the best type
I have yet had of heaven”, and so the delightful memory comes to me. Surely if many of these young people are
with you today, you are still a mighty host for the Lord. How
delighted we would be, to be with you. Painfully we would note the many changes
wrought by those who are scattered abroad and by the dear translated ones, but
as memory brings us all together once more, it is not a sweet, a sacred
hour? Pledge of that blessed reunion by
and bye, when together we may review those earthly struggles and victories and
unite our glad anthem of joy and thanksgiving.
“To go out no more forever.”
“Weary not in well doing.” “God
be with you ‘ill we meet again.” MRS.
I S. LEAVITT. Since the event the following from
Pastor Leavitt, who was away from home and did not return in time for his
letter to reach Waupaca for the banquet, has been received by Rev. Reynolds: Omaha, Neb., Feb. 21, 1900 REV. J.
REYNOLDS, Waupaca, Wis. MY DEAR BRO.: - I
want to congratulate your good people on this their 25th
anniversary. I became their pastor seven months after the dedication and from
that time to this have had a warm interest in their work and development. At first there were embarrassments, both
social and financial, but like the mists of the morning they gradually
disappeared, leaving the church in her strength and beauty. I shall never forget those early days of
anxiety and struggle and yet the good Lord was better to us than all our
fears. Salvation in large and rich
measure was ours. I have never seen a
young people’s meeting, everything considered, which surpassed the one we had
at that time in the church. What
multitudes have been helped, built up in Christian life and have gone out into
the world, a blessing to mankind, through the agency of that church. Eternity alone can reveal the results it has
and will accomplish. May
heaven’s richest blessing be upon you and your dear people. Affectionately
yours, I.
S. LEAVITT. Rev. Andrew Porter, presiding elder
of this district, gave an excellent response to the toast “The Church and the
Children”. Then
followed the reading of a letter from Rev. Enoch Perry: Whitewater, Wis., Feb. 17, 1900. REV. JOHN
REYNOLDS, Waupaca, Wis. MY DEAR BROTHER: I
thank you for your kind invitation to send a few words of greeting for the
twenty-fifth anniversary of our present beautiful church in Waupaca. First of all, let me congratulate you on the
splendid improvements that have been made on the interior of the church. The work was much needed, and I am glad that
you and your dear people had the faith and the courage to undertake it at this
time. Success to every such movement. A
pastor does not lose interest in a church or its people when he leaves. He carries with him old memories that
inspire many a prayer for its future success.
A charge is a preacher’s “battle ground” and he an no more forget the
struggles, the defeats or the victories, than a general can forget his fields
of contest. And just as a general
follows his soldiers with keen interest and deep anxiety, though he may be far
removed from them personally, so a pastor follows the church, the noble men and
women who shoulder its responsibilities and do battle against the world, the
flesh and the devil, even though he may be in charge of another division of the
army. I am glad that I had the privilege
of toiling for four years on the Waupaca charge. They were years of faithful effort and soulful service. And God graciously blessed the toil in the
salvation of many souls and in the edification of the church. The years furnish sacred memories for me
today, while I acknowledge with gratefulness the many kind deeds and
encouraging words and glorious inspiration which came to me from so many of the
noble people. That veteran officer and
Sunday school superintendent, Judge Winfield Scott, was a daily benediction to
my life. Many and dear are the memories
I cherish of the other officers and the faithful choir. And I assure you that my prayers are that
the future of our church may be grander and far more glorious than the past. I
trust that the anniversary services may lend inspiration for renewed effort and
that this confer-ence year may witness the ingathering of many precious souls
into the fold of Christ. I
close with earnest greetings from Mrs. Perry and myself to you, the church, the
Sunday school, the Epworth League, the Ladies Aid Society, and all, and we pray
that God’s blessing may be upon you all. ENOCH PERRY. Professor Showalter’s response to
“The Church and the School” was right to the point, holding that each will
upbuild and exalt the other. After
Prof. Showalter’s excellent response was over Rev. Reynolds read the following
letter from Rev. D. J. Holmes, a pastor here in the ‘80’s: St. Charles, Ill., Feb. 15, 1900 REV. J. R.
REYNOLDS. MY DEAR BRO: Yours
requesting a word of greeting on the twenty-fifth anniversary of your “new”
church, just received. I like that word
“new” applied to a twenty-five year old church. It is like an old preacher that still keeps “new” and carries the
dew of his youth over the dead line and up into the sixties and blinks and
twinkles and sparkles at the seventies.
I have none but pleasant memories of Waupaca. I
well remember my presiding elder who lived neighbor to me and sent me one
Sunday morning when the mercury was 25 degrees below zero and the wind blowing
great guns, up to Amherst, which that morning was “50” or “60” miles north of
Waupaca. He stayed at home and preached
for me in your new church. This was a
cold fact but it is a pleasant memory now. I
remember a promising young man you had there, Bro. Scott by name, who was my
Sunday school superintendent. He was
good then he must be par excellence by this time. I am glad he is a sundown worker. I hope when his sun goes down it will go down without a cloud. I
remember a woman there who conducted “the war department” without any war, but
always s had peace. Under her
administration the choir sung like nightingales, yet were harmless as
doves. I remember the first meal we ate
under the parsonage roof came from her bounteous table, and her kindness never
gave out. And I remember the Lord
rewarded her that year wit the most beautiful gift she had ever received. And I remember the five hundred dollars her
generous husband gave that year to Lawrence University. How well I remember the Evans, Simcock,
Jacquith and the Noyes families, Charles and Grace Roberts and many other
faithful souls whose friendship and fellowship pulled out thorns and dropped in
roses on life’s pathway. To
the church of those days and the church of these days I extend warmest
greetings and congratulations. May the
next twenty-five years bear still more abundant fruit to the glory of God. Yours faithfully, D. J. HOLMES. Rev.
H. T. Proctor, pastor of the Baptist church, responded to the toast “Church
Comity”. He said he felt somewhat
embarrassed after listening to so many excellent responses and he hardly felt
able to do the subject justice, but Rev. Proctor’s remarks were well chosen,
well delivered and well received. Mrs.
J. W. Evans responded to the subject “The Ladies Aid Society”, reading from the
minutes of the first society twenty-five years ago. Miss
Spalenka then sang with pleasing effect a soprano solo, which received a hearty
encore. “Tommy
Atkins” was the toast which Rev. A. G. Harrison, rector of St. Mark’s church,
was to respond to, but as the REPUBLICAN stated at the beginning, a brief
letter of explanation and good cheer was read. “Methodism
Past and Present” was a toast responded to by Judge Winfield Scott. The
marvelous growth of Methodism the judge contrasted with the growth of our
country and cited a speech recently made by secretary of the U. S. treasury,
Gage, showing the great advance in material wealth and prosperity to our
Nation. The judge being opposed to the
theory of “16 to 1” could not refrain from giving Bryanism a little thrust,
although an old time Democrat, but quickly realizing that “politics was not in
his toast” he closed with a grand tribute to Methodism past and present and in
general and to the Waupaca church with its noble ladies in particular. Rev.
A. J. Benjamin closed with eloquent and excellent remarks in response to the
toast “The Future of Methodism”. Then
Pastor Reynolds closed with the benediction. * * * SUNDAY SERVICES The church was crowded both at the
morning and evening services. Rev. Perry Millar delivered the morning sermon,
portraying that “Christ was rich, yet He became poor that we might be
rich”. It was a most eloquent and
interesting discourse. The
general services, Pastor Reynolds announced, were to be nearly identical with
those of twenty-five years ago. In addition to the regular choir were Prof.
Showalter, Messrs. Shearer and Oborn, Mrs. Lea, and Miss Spalenta. An
effort was made to raise an amount to meet all indebtedness incurred in
repairing, painting, frescoing and carpeting the church, amounting to about
$425, and it was nearly all subscribed at he morning service and completely met
in the evening. Rev.
A. J. Benjamin delivered the principal sermon in the evening. * * * In
this connection the REPUBLICAN must congratulate the M. E. Church society on
the bright and cheery appearance of the work which has been done to improve the
interior of their house of worship. The
frescoing, painting and the new carpet harmonize perfectly.
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