Organ voluntary………Mrs. L. B. Halsey
Hymn No. 179
Violin duet……………..Miss Florence Parvin, Mr. William Hopp
Devotional service……Dr. T. R. Faville, Madison, State Superintendent of
Congregational churches
Anthem………………..."I Go to Him for Rest" Church
Quartet
Anniversary sermon….Rev. S. Bullough, Plymouth (Pastor of this church from 1917 to
1926)
The Congregational Church of Metomen was organized on April 19, 1857, in a little
schoolhouse in District No. 3 in the western part of Metomen township about five miles
northwest of Brandon. It seemed to be the result of a series of meetings held in that
neighborhood during the month of February of that year under the leadership of Rev.
Sherlock Bristol of Dartford, who also preached in the town of Green Lake.
Mr. Bristol had come west after a course of study at Oberlin and Yale which was
followed by a pastorate in New York state and in Ohio. In a search for health, he also had
gone west during the gold rush and returned after an interesting and successful
experience. Seeking a place to invest $2,500 which he had succeeded in bringing back from
the west under rather hazardous experiences, he came to Milwaukee. Taking the stage in
that city, Mr. Bristol fell in with a man by the name of Root, State Superintendent of
Schools, who invited him to his home in Dartford. Mr. Bristol spent the Sabbath there and
preached in the afternoon in the Congregational Church.
As a result of this visit, he purchased Mr. Root's farm and settled near Dartford. He
soon established three preaching stations and preached at these three places each Sunday,
one sermon about as fully crowded with Gospel meat, he tells us in the Pioneer Preacher,
as he could pack and press it.
Ten Organized Church
As a result of a series of meetings in Metomen 32 people expressed their faith in
Christ. And on the day named ten of these having adopted a constitution, confession of
faith and convenants as the basis of church life, joined together as the original members
of the church.
It will be interesting to know the names of these. They were John Wilson, Louisa
Wilson, Theodore O'Connor, Eunice O'Connor, Robert Jenkinson, Georgiana Jenkinson, James
Hargrave, Sarah Hargrave, and Antoinette Blossom.
The first seven of these were related to and have their representatives in the church
today in the persons of Mrs. Ida Jenkinson Brown and Miss Nettie Jenkinson. Mr. Jenkinson
remained in the fellowship of this church until his death in 1915 and Mrs. Jenkinson until
her death in 1921.
Within a little over a year from the time of organization 17 others were received into
membership. These include names that were long familiar to some of us who are here today:
George Bly, Caroline M. Bly, Edwin Reynolds, De Witt Reynolds, Lydia J. Bly and Sarah P.
Bly.
At the first meeting after the organization John Wilson was elected deacon and Robert
Jenkinson, Clerk. On Jan. 11, 1862, two delegates were elected to attend the Winnebago
convention and on Jan 22 at a meeting of that body in Rosendale the church was made a
member of that body, James Hargrave and John Wilson being its representatives there.
Evidently Pastor Bristol left for a time because at a meeting held Nov. 25, 1858, a
committee was appointed to engage a pastor. It was voted that in case they engaged the
pastor, half of his salary would be paid at the end of six months, and the balance at the
end of the year. Mr. Freeman was engaged as pastor. Evidently money was not a burdensome
commodity in those days since the committee appointed to solicit funds for the pastor's
salary reported that about $85 had been contributed for that purpose.
After about a year and a half absence Mr. Bristol returned to the pastorate and
remained a year and a half. Five years of worship in the schoolhouse in western Metomen
were followed by the removal of the church organization to Brandon which then had become a
village of considerable size and a railroad and shipping center for a large tract of
country.
Rev. Norman McLeod was chosen as pastor. At first the church held its meetings in the
schoolhouse. The removal, however, seems to have been the cause of a large influx of
members; 20 of the substantial people of the village and neighborhood united with the
church soon after that. This number includes the Grahams, Inglises, Halls, Watsons,
Saffords and Cadetts.
Building Erected in 1863
The year following the removal to Brandon a movement was started for the building of a
new church. Two lots were purchased for $75. Committees were appointed to solicit funds.
Lumber was hauled and the building was erected, in the outward form which it now has
except that a spire adorned it, a large platform stood in front of the church and the
entrance was in the front-center.
So far as the records show slightly over $2,000 was spent for this purpose. But that
does not represent the whole cost of the building, for in a few years we find the church
borrowing $400 from the American Church Union, the forerunner of the C. C. B. S. for the
purpose of paying a debt on the church property. Mrs. J. McClelland and Mrs. H. S. Cadett
were appointed to raise funds for church furniture. From time to time the building has
been repaired and remodeled at considerable expense, @225 for that purpose in 1880.
During the pastorate of Rev. H. W. Carter in 1883 a records of Nov. 15 says: "For
the past four weeks, no services have been held in the church because it was undergoing a
thorough repairing. The old gallery is converted into a neat and convenient lecture room
15 by 30 feet capable of seating 60 to 70 persons. It is comfortably carpeted with the
carpet formerly on the church aisles. The audience room has been neatly papered and
decorated including the ceiling in the prevailing style. The seats have been varnished and
the church recarpeted. The whole expense including the tower and putting a tin roof on the
bell deck was $360 which has been mostly provided for. The improvement is one the need of
which has long been felt."
A few years previous to this the evergreen trees to the east church were planted, as I
remember under the leadership of Edward Ensign. The next mention of repairs was in 1901
when $1700 was expended. These repairs included a new cellar and furnace, a prayer room on
the ground floor, a new entrance, new seats, and carpet, art glass windows, papering
throughout, also painting outside and in. The church records show that the society handled
about $4500 that year. During the pastorate of Robert Paton the parsonage was erected at a
substantial cost. It has assured the pastor's family a comfortable home ever since.
Women Bought New Bell
This brings us to the subject of the women in the church. The first recognition of any
organized activity by the ladies was in May, 1868, when a new bell was installed at a cost
of $185 of which $111 were the proceeds of the sewing society and fair. The society met
through the year once a week. The fair was held in December. The rest of the money was
raised by sister Kelly who circulated a subscription paper for that purpose. And the note
adds: "We are pleased with the bell (the church is)."
This organization has been a generous contributor to the general and special expenses
of the church down to the present day. Other organizations of the women are the Woman's
Missionary society which seems to have begun its contributions in 188_ [complete date not
readable] and continued them almost if not quite uninterruptedly ntil now. The Young
Ladies Missionary society also had an active part in the benevolences of the church. The
Busy Bees is an organization of boys and girls which has helped at times in this same
work.
May 9, 1863, seems to be the first mention of music in the church. Then Thomas Safford,
H. S. Cadett, and [unreadable] Jenkinson were appointed a committee to examine and advise
as to the best hymn book to be used. The next year Mr. Safford was authorized to engage
Miss Lang to play the organ for the next six months. Since then a long line of faithful
servants have filled that important place in the church services.
Among the earliest memories of the writer of this paper is that of the choir of the
olden days as they took their place in the gallery in the back of the church. When they
rose to sing the audience in part at least turned and faced the choir and joined in the
singing. I presume the book selected by the committee was the old Plymouth Collection
which was used until the adoption of the Manual of Praise.
The Sunday school seems to have started after the removal to Brandon. On May 30, 1863,
it was moved and carried to have a Sunday school. Joseph Bates was elected superintendent.
Pastor McLeod requested the church to pledge themselves to attend the Sunday school which
they did. From that time on the Sunday school has continued with varied attendance. For
many years especially during the writer's younger days Martin C. Short was superintendent.
The Sunday school for a long time had a good library which was well arranged and cared
for and was generally read. I do not want to close this note on the Sunday school without
saying a word in commendation of the efficiency of its teachers. I wish to say a word of
appreciation to three of these who had a class of mischievous lively boys. But Mrs.
Ensign, Mrs. A. A. Jones, and Deacon Turner are remembered by those of the boys who had
them in the formative period of life.
As early as 1867 the records show that the church took offerings for the American
Church Union which helped pay for the building. In 1868 the first mention is made in the
Clerk's record of an offering for the A. B. C. F. M. Six dollars were contributed for that
cause. Offerings were made more or less frequently for one or another of the benevolences
of the church, as well as for special objects. Some years the offerings have been as high
as $225. Since 1879 or 1880 all of the benevolences have been remembered regularly.
As I read the records and recall experiences early and late, I think the church has
been particularly fortunate in its list of pastors. In all, including two regular supplies
who were here only six or seven months each, there have been 24 of them, an average of
three years and two months. The first pastor, Mr. Bristol, served at three different
times, a total of four and one half years. Due to his vigorous, energetic, evangenistic
effort, and to the newness of the field, 29 persons united with the church in his first
pastorate. On resumption of his labors seven more were received. Again at one communion
service he received 14 additions.
The removal of the church to Brandon and the coming of Rev. Norman McLeod for his first
pastorate saw the addition of 18 members. And Mr. Bristol's third pastorate saw the
addition of 18 others.
Rev. R. M. Webster was also active in this line. 13 united in his earlier years. Under
date of Feb. 15, 1870, this entry in the minutes: "The church has held during the
last three weeks a series of daily meetings for prayer and preaching. The Lord has been
and still is with us. 23 have professed faith in Jesus and presented themselves for
membership in the church. These were duly examined and accepted by the church. Also three
others were received by the letter at the same time making a total of 58 under this
pastorate." Mr. Webster thought that the subscription method of soliciting funds for
the support of the minister was not exactly the proper method. A large box with scripture
texts was posted in the vestibule and voluntary contributions were asked for. After a year
of this experiment it was removed and the old method was returned.
Under Rev. J. H. Dixon's pastorate of year and two months, 33 members were received, 22
of these after a series of meetings in which Rev. C. F. Clapp preached. These were long
remembered by many as on[e] of the rich experiences of the church.
Three pastorates are notable for their length as well as for their general helpfulness.
Rev. H. W. Carter was here eight years and four months; Rev. Robert Paton spent eight
years and eleven months with the church; Rev. Samuel Bullough was here none years and
three months. 82, 78, and 41 additions were made during these pastorates. It has been my
good fortune to have some acquaintance with each of these pastors except two, Mr.Allen and
Mr. Freeman.
At least five of the pastors were ordained here. They are Revs. R. M. Webster, J. H.
Dixon, I. B. Tracy, Geo. M. Heckendorn, and Robert Paton.
The church is to be congratulated as well on the character of the people who have been
its members. They were of the substantial and influential people of the community, from
business, professions, and farming. Incidentally one of our members, Miss Fannie Ellenor,
represents us in the field of World Friendship in East Central Africa, Mt. Silinda
mission.
Among others, Mrs. H. W. Carter, and Mrs. H. O. Bethel represent the congregation of
pastor's wives, and the writer is I believe the only representative of the church as
pastor. Members have gone forth from the church and Sunday school to influential places in
the life of the state and nation. One of these, Dr. L. R. Jones of the University of
Wisconsin, is represented through his former students in influential places in many
foreign lands. He is deacon of the First Congregational church of Madison. One of the
former members of the church who united with it April 25, 1862, Mrs. H. S. Cadett, is
living in Humboldt, Ia.
One member, Mrs. Ida Jenkinson Brown, has been in continued membership with this church
since Feb. 18, 1872. She with her sister, Miss Nettie Jenkinson, are representatives of
several of ther [sic] original members, and she has been in the membership of this church
longer than any other living member.
It might not be out of place to mention a few of the earlier officeholders. Deacons
Wilson, Bly, Graham, Turner, McClelland, and Pallister were long in their offices.
Among the Clerks were Robert Jenkinson, M. C. Short, R. M. Wilsie, and E. J. Cheney.
Choristers whom I recall were Safford, Ensign, White, Wm. Graham, Mrs. Ida J. Brown.
Trustees included R. C. Kelly, F. R. Foster, and others not members of the church
itself.
