THE MARION ADVERTISER

April 20, 1900

 

Progression of Marion.

 

            Easter Sunday was quite a fair day, the sun shining brightly in the afternoon, which was the occasion of bringing all our church going people from the village and country to attend one church or another.  The Lutheran, Catholic and Methodist churches were crowded, and it reminded us that nearly all the people in this section of the country were a God loving people, though by times they become somewhat negligent in regular attendance.  It reminds us, too, of the few years since the old joint district school house, which was located on what is now our cemetery grounds, would accommodate all the people in a radius of six miles, who wished to attend services, and which were conducted in the old school house at intervals in those early days.  What a contrast there is in the number of inhabitants now and then.  Few of the old settlers are left to tell of the times when Rev. Clinton would come all the way up from Menasha on horse back to preach an hour to the few people in our midst.  But the elder was always gratified to know his good sermons and blessings were highly appreciated by the few.  Now Marion has five handsome churches elegantly furnished, with the usual accompanying bell to remind the infidel of his wayward and careless inclinations regarding what they term a mysterious hereafter, and to call in the attendance of the believers of the several different denominations in our village.  We have got the impression that there is not one person in our town but what is pleased over this steady progressiveness in church matters.  Morally there is a great improvement over the riverman’s day when men knew no God, or even had a thought about the Sabboth.  All days were alike to them, continuous work and no church.