exalted morality shed their perfume. The early men of God knew this principle and recognized, too, the importance of its culture, and so devoutly addressed themselves to the task. It is well-nigh impossible to correctly estimate the value of the work of these men; to estimate their influence on the character of this growing county. Welcomed everywhere, for the news they brought from other homes, as well as for the "good tidings of great joy," they went from place to place, greeting with smiles and cheerful words the old; with counsel or reproof the young. Many and varied were the duties devolving upon them. A sermon here, a burial yonder; now a wedding, and then summoned to the bedside of a penitent sinner, what wonder the coming of these men was attended with blessings.

It is the essence of christianity that it be aggressive. It wars upon vice in all its forms, and brooks not even the appearance of evil. Checked, and for the time being thwarted in one direction, it only gathers energy for a greater onset in another, prepares and plumes itself for a more sublime flight. If men will not embrace its offered salvation, it goes to them with invitation and warning. This missionary element of Christianity alone enabled its propagation under circumstances so trying; and the men who were its embassadors were thoroughly imbued with the same spirit that sent Paul into Asia and Luke to the Gentiles. It was the same spirit that prompted those noble men of God to hie them away to the jungles of Asia, or brave the wilds of Africa-men whose names make bright the pages of the church miltant, and will add a brighter lustre to the church triumphant. What though its story lacks somewhat of the tragic brilliancy of political intrigue and plotting; what though it has not startled the world by those grand discoveries that make science so great a power in the land-discoveries that enable us to tell the myriad stars that people space, that impress us with wonder at the power and greatness of the Infinite! What though it partakes of the nature of none of them? Has it not brought to bear on man's intelligence the highest motives to virtue? Let the records of the past years testify to its power. Let the hallowed memories that stretch aback down the years of the past answer. This, too, was done when gilded churches were not; when the elect of God in the common-school room listened to the life-giving word from the lips of men sent of God. And who were these men? Were they not morally brave to dare the scoffs of an untried and untempered west? Were they not men whose love for the fallen outweighed every personal consideration so that they gave all for Christ? Where was their power? Was it not in that element of a truly noble character that men prize above all else -sympathy? Aye, and that was the principle which made the Son of God so welcome a visitant in the lowly homes of Palestine. It was a principle which bound their own hearts, as it did Christ's, to those in suffering

or distress. Here in these scenes of toil and strife, afar from the busy life of great cities, that mysterious power gave these holy men access to hearts and homes; an access that paved the way to conquests greater than an Alexander or a Napoleon ever achieved-conquests that marked their track, not with fire and blood and sword, but with tears, and vows, and resolutions which have culminated in many glorious lives. What was done the residents of this county know full well. What to do, the line of duty plainly indicates. How well their trust has been executed, how nobly their mission accomplished, none so well know, as those still living who enjoyed their ministration. In view of the grand work so well done under the guidance of Providence, we may exclaim in the language of the great apostle Paul: "O, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.”*

Nevertheless, there were some distinctive features attaching to the preaching of the gospel in the earlier days. The work of the ministry was as much itinerant in its character as was ever the mission of Paul. There was painfully evident the want of the permanent and regular moral influence of settled religious institutions. Hence arose the necessity for annual demonstrations, or special efforts which are now denominated revivals, and which owe their origin both to the scarcity of places for worship and the itinerant character of the preaching. The Methodists of that early day took advantage of this feature and in establishing the circuit, laid the foundations for future permanency. The circuit rider has been made immortal by the writings of Eggleston, and however overdrawn his descriptions may seem to be, they are quite faithful pictures of what has once been a real state of affairs. The men who thus presented the gospel had an eloquence all their own. Their fame travelled before them. The people, naturally sensitive and enthusiastic, were readily moved by the vehement declamations of these pioneer preachers, and their audiences were alternately dissolved in tears or awed to profound feeling. There was a boundless field for strong, earnest, and unlettered eloquence, and they improved the opportunity. They had little to expect from pecuniary support, and less from that prescribed reverence and influence, which can appertain only to a stated ministry. Hence, it not infrequently happened that they won respect and gained influence through personal encounter; and if successful, completely gained the hearts and heads of their uncouth audience. Ambition, intrigue, honors and loaves did not then, as now, seem the prime motives to labor. Their task was at once often thankless, attended by exposure, and with little prospect of emolument.

Amid such circumstances as these and under influences as discourag*Romans, xi, 34.

ing did the religious history of Mills county find root. Among the names of those who early contributed to the organization of the moral forces of the county are those of the missionaries, Cotton and Witter, Rev. Mr. Armstrong, Peter Cooper, and others whose names appear in another place. Upon these men and such as these did the religious interests of the county depend, and right well did they discharge their task. Numerous churches have been founded in all portions of the county, a brief chronological history of which here follows.*

The first church to be established was the Christian church of Wahbonsie. The article of organization is very brief, bears the date of March 9, 1853, and is as follows: "The disciples of Rawles township, Mills county, Iowa, knowing it to be their privilege and duty to live together in a church baptistry do give themselves to the Lord and one another, taking the gospel of Christ for the rule of faith and practice." This confession of faith and article of organization was drawn up by Elder John Mullis, who was its first pastor. His residence was some fifty miles away, and his visits to the charge numbered only two or three in each year, while the services continued, when commenced, for two and sometimes three weeks. The names of those who originally subscribed to the above article of organization are Thompson Blair, H. P. Allison, Henry Cotreal, James McCord, Benjamin A. McCord, Christian Goodwin, Susan Cotreal, Elizabeth Estes, Mary Allison, Ellen Hayes, Jemima Hayes, Elizabeth Kerns, Mary McCord, Sarah Blair, Allen Watson, Michael Kerns, Rachel McCord, Charles Utterback, Garrett Dennison, Talbert Hayes, Nancy Linnville, and Elizabeth Linnville. In 1870 a church building was erected costing one thousand dollars. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. M. Delevan. July 11, 1872, the church was dissolved by mutual consent, but on the 14th of the same month was again organized, forty-two of the old members re-entering the organization. Since the society was first founded there has been a total membership of two hundred persons, many of whom have moved away, others have died, and a few have been expelled. It, at present, numbers twenty-five persons. The last pastor to minister to the church was the Elder Simeon Wright.

This

UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST, of Indian Creek township. society was organized in the year 1855, with an original membership of eight persons. They were Ephraim Cary, Deborah Cary, Shepherd Cary and wife, William Hutchens and wife, and Mary J. Crouch. The society is in good condition but owns no house of worship. The pastors have been Henry Cumber, J. M. Dosh, P. P. Landon, John Burt, J. M.

*The churches of the towns and villages are here omitted. They will be found elsewhere.

Duffield, James Hubbard, Richard Armstrong, William Cramson, and the present pastor, Rev. Philip Surface. The membership is now twen

ty-six.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH of Rawles township, was organized as Mt. Olive Mission June 16, 1860, and called, in connection with other points, Silver Creek circuit, after August 8, 1868. As originally founded the members, among others, were Luke Tipton, Mary Tipton, Saul Tipton, F. M. Wilson, Jane Wilson, Daniel Shuman, Mary J. Shuman, J. M. McKesson and wife, John Day and wife, John Bratton and wife, George Foster and Agnes A. Foster. In 1873 a frame church was erected, costing the society twenty-one hundred dollars, and in the following year it was set apart for divine service by E. S. Brown of the Iowa Conference of the Methodist Protestant church. The society has enjoyed the pastorate of J. M. Young, William Tipton, J. C. Hunt, William Van Vleet, S. A. Tarkington, W. W. Paul, John McCollister, S. A. Talbet, George W. Robinson, D. T. Beckwith, J. McCauley and S. C. Child. The present membership is seventy. The first official members were J. M. Young, pastor; William Tipton, secretary; J. M. McKesson, local preacher; S. M. Wilson, class leader and now secretary of Iowa Conference M. P. church; J. A. Byers, class leader; and stewards, George Foster, John Day and J. A. Byers. The church was organized by William Tipton and has become one of both interest and influence.

THE REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS of Oak township, was organized in October, 1861, by Elder Charles Derry. The members originally forming this society were Mary Britain, Mary A. Britain, Eliza A. Britain, John Sivers, Mary A. Sivers, Frederick Wellborn, Ann Wellborn, Henry Kisby, Elizabeth Harmstone, Ann Leader, Frederick Cunington, Henry Cureden and others. The services of the society were for a long time held at the homes of members, and at other times at a hall rented in the city of Glenwood. The membership is at present about twenty. The pastors have been Charles Derry, Henry Kisby, Henry Curedon, William Britain, G. E. Deuel, E. F. Hyde and Garrett Walling. The rise of the original church to the successor of which this society belongs may be elsewhere found in this volume. The organization of which the Oak township church is a member dates from April 6, 1860. From that time to April 6, 1881, its principles have been disseminated in every part of the world, until at that date its membership numbered twelve thousand eight hundred twenty-seven souls. It was reorganized by Joseph Smith, the son of the martyred president of the original organization, though long years after Brigham Young led the majority into apostasy, and introduced the innovation of polygamy, an innovation with which this society holds no sympathies.

FAIRVIEW M. E. CHURCH, of Rawles township, was organized August 25, 1861. No names of original members have been preserved, and no record of the pastors. It is therefore impossible to present the reader with these interesting items. The present membership is eleven, though there are some thirty names enrolled on the class book. For a number of years a Sabbath school was sustained during the summer months, but efforts in that direction ceased in 1878.

THE CHURCH OF ST. BONEFATZINS, of Oak township, was organized in the year 1865, with John Finken and wife, Matthias Finken and wife, Matthias Kuhl and wife, Peter Kuhl and wife, Nicholas Kuhl and wife, Peter Lich and wife, John Weber and wife, John Little and wife, Mary Kirsch, A. Coll and wife, P. G. Linden wife and Michael Jaspers and wife as original members. In the same year a frame church was built at a cost of eight hundred dollars, and dedicated the same year by Father Daxacher, of Omaha. The pastor now ministering to the church is Father O'Reilly. The membership comprises twenty-five families.

SALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CONGREGATION, of Oak township, was organized in the year 1867. The original members were John H. Plumer, C. Plumer, William Plumer, Henry F. Plumer, F. Plumer, F. Bicher, Henry Saar and wife, Charles Green and wife, Henry Green and wife, H. Spetman, F. Spetman, H. Pusa, F. Spelling, John, Fred and Hans Shoning, Hans and Henry Kruse, John Dietcher, Jacob Young and John Saar. In the year that the church was organized a brick edifice was erected for purposes of worship, at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. In the same year it was dedicated to Almighty God by Charles Hoofmaster. The pastor is L. Fesner, who ministers to a congregation comprising some thirty families.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Rawles township, on section 29, was organized in 1871. The original members were William Kesterson and wife, Hannah Utterbach, Elizabeth Utterback, Celia Troth, Isaac Ventis and wife, Elizabeth Kesterson, J. B. Falden and wife, M. A. S. McPherron, and others. A frame church is owned by the society, built by William Kesterson, but it has never been formally dedicated. The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Kelly, who organized the church. A successful Sunday-school has been in operation for a number of years, and adds to the interest and work of the church.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of White Cloud township dates its organization from January, 1874. The original membership consisted of Thomas P. Kayton, Celia A. Kayton, E. P. Cook, Mary Cook, Isaac Miller, Susannah Vist, J. S. Tindall, Susannah Tindall, George Hilton, Mary Hilton and J. C. Miller. The society owns no church, and worships in the Sunbeam school-house. The pastors have been E. W. Sage Ezra Cary, John Elliott, William Patterson, L. W. Archer, Rev. Manary