Source: Wood County Times 14 May 1908 Page 1
History of the Lemonweir Convention Written for the annual meeting of the Lemonweir Convention at its fiftieth
anniversary convened at Nekoosa Wisconsin, May 5th and 6th, 1908
Fifty years ago in the fall of the year, by the suggestion and advice of the state organization of Congregational
Churches, a few ministers and delegates met on the advisability of organizing a new convention whose bounds would
include the counties of Marquette, Waushara, Portage, Adams and Juneau. The result of this conference was that the
Lemonweir Convention came into being, and has continued through these fifty years to be a blessing in its kindly
helpfulness and fellowships to the fifty-one churches who have been received into its membership and over one
hundred ministers, who, for longer or lesser time have enjoyed the brotherly counsels and oft meeting together
during these years, who have kept in touch one with another and followed out the Golden Rule of "Bear ye one
another's burdens."
Looking back over these old records we, who have not yet lived as many years as the Convention is old, see only
strange names--though we read on through the history of these meetings we catch fine glimpses of the Christian
spirit and devoted labors of the men who made and sustained their part in the work of this beautiful Wisconsin.
Of the leaders in that time of beginnings we can only say little. Names I just mention will revive memories in some
of you. Rev. A. C. Lathrop, who is the oldest minister present, was moderator of that first meeting, Rev. D. A.
Campbell, Rev. M. Wells and many others I would mention. Rev. D. A. Campbell, who remained in this convention over
thirty years, was a familiar face at its many gatherings. When he left the state the following resolution was
passed by a rising vote of the convention held at Grand Rapids, June 3rd, 1892:
"Resolved, that the removal of our beloved brother, Father Campbell, from our convention that we lose a patriarch
from our ranks which vacancy cannot be filled by any of our members. Wheras, Father Campbell has stood as a father
and defender of the churches of the Lemonweir Convention for over thirty years, and whereas he is now about to remove
from our state, Resolved that we lift our hearts in prayer to God for his safety and extended usefulness in the field
where he shall be called, and that our love and good will go with him, our beloved father in Christ."
Another who in its early history came into its membership deserves some mention. Father Staples, as he was affectionately
called, was ordained by this convention to the ministry, took his first and only charge on the Friendship field, after
he had passed the 'dead line' (according to some) and continued on that charge for over twenty years of active, zealous
labor for The Master, Who at the close of that time called this aged servant to himself, saying softly, "It is enough,
come up higher."
It is an eloquent, though pitiful comment on the unselfish work of this man that, after all these years of sticking to
his post, a sum of $100 was raised by this convention to help care for the widow. The following resolution was passed:
"The Lemonweir Convention of the Congregational churches having since its last meeting sustained a great loss in the
death of the Rev. P. R. Staples, desires to place on record its high appreciation of his life and character.
Rev. P. R. Staples was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, January 11, 1815, and died at his home in Friendship,
Wisconsin, August 15, 1893. He united with the Congregational church when 15 years of age and ever continued to manifest
an active interest in Christian work, serving in the capacity of deacon for many years. He was led into the ministry of
Rev. G. B. Doe, then Home Missionary superintendent of Wisconsin of Wisconsin, and was ordained at Grand Rapids on June
5, 1875, being at the time 57 years old. For twenty years he was pastor of the Friendship and New Chester field, this
being his first and only pastorate. The dominant notes in his life were faithfulness to truth and devotion to duty.
Throughout his life one unswerving purpose seemed to run--that of loyalty to Christ and the Church. His ministerial life
being wholly on a home missionary field, he knew something of hardship, toil and self-sacrifice and may well be counted
as one of the heroes of the faith."
Of all the work that has been undertaken and carried out in these fifty years time would fail me to tell. The inspiring
meetings in which so many ably took part, the help these ministers give to young men, enabling them to enter the ministry,
directing their studies, training for the full work of the ministry, their splendid fellowship and hearty sympathy one
with another, the fearless stand for right on all questions of the day, their sturdy manliness and Christian vigor. All
these shine forth from the written record, kept so faithfully, of every meeting. One who reads cannot help but feel that
these were brave defenders of our faith.
The convention of the present day made up of wholly different material suited for the present day ministry, cannot fail
to recognize as brothers these true souls, so many of whom have passed on to their reward. Only a few survive, and these
are not in active service. Brother McChesney, of grand Marsh, Adams county, is perhaps the oldest now living. A program
was sent to him and if his presence here today could have been secured, it would have been gratifying.
Of the churches received into membership at that first meeting few remain. New Lisbon is the only church still alive and
at work. Many have joined other conventions. Kilbourn, where the two first meetings were held, united their forces with
the Presbyterian church at that place.
Many have been dropped, alas! Grand Rapids Congregational church has all along had a fine record and now under the
present leadership of Rev. Fred Staff has attained to high fame as a missionary church, with its up to date Bible
school and many agencies all at work for righteousness. Grand Rapids and New Lisbon have the distinction of each
having entertained the Lemonweir convention ten times during the fifty years of its history. In the last twenty five
years we meet with familiar names--dear Brother Grassie, with his powerful pleas for places destitute of gospel
influences; then the mention of Rev. Geo. C. Haun of blessed memory becomes frequent; Rev. H. N. Miner, our veteran
registrar of the state, who last year celebrated the Golden anniversary of his ministry; Secretary Carter is introduced
to to us as Wisconsin's new secretary of home missionary work, and bye and bye Rev. Frank N. Dexter, of New London,
our district missionary, or 'Pilgrim,' as he now styles himself, comes into vision. Some of you remember him telling
us at Dodgeville, when the state convention met there, that his lack of hair was owing over the way We, the
churches, did not do our part--he has a Frank way of putting things. O. L. Robinson ("Our Mr. Robinson" as our
little girl calls him), of Sunday school fame, comes into the semi-annual gatherings to plead the cause of Christ's
little ones. Many others come and go-- they gladden our hearts and remind us of the larger interests of the Larger Kingdom.
The new constitution adopted in 1892 which states that the convention shall not ordain nor install ministers nor organize
churches, nor assume any of the functions which properly belong to special councils, and, the change made of only having
one meeting a year, is perhaps quite necessary for our times; but, nevertheless, we look back with some regret to those
times--when perhaps fellowship meant more--because of such seasons as are recorded of their meeting: "The evening was
very pleasantly and profitably spent in the rehearsal of each other's joys and sorrows and of the Lord's dealings with
men upon their respective fields of labor." It reminds us of a still older gathering: "Then they that feared the Lord
spake often one to another."
We could not turn from this looking backward without seeing the Christian school in our midst, like a city upon a hill
that cannot be hid, holding out beckoning hands to the youth of our parishes--our own Endeavor! into whose life and well
being so much of the heart throbs of our beloved Cheney, of sainted memory, who really put his life there. Of the faithful
work of the energetic Rev. Child, when our church at Endeavor (or Merrill's Landing, as it was then called), was
organized, we read from the record of council which was held in the Cheney gospel tent, that the council to be "by itself"
took off to the woods. Its present pastor is also the successful head of the academy, which is growing in its influence
and reputation for high thinking and moral Christian culture. This church at Endeavor is only second to Grand Rapids in
its membership and royal givings to our benevolences. Its pastor, Mr. Ellis, although he does not look so aged, is yet
the minister who has been there longer than any other in the present membership of the Lemonweir convention.
Two missionaries from this convention are on foreign fields--Rev. Curtis in Japan, Rev. Merle Ennis in Africa. Many
ministers have been made and sent forth from this convention to help in the great world wide harvest field.
We who have had the privilege of looking over the written history of these fifty years feel that the organization has
been justified by the results in so many ways of usefulness and feel like saying today, "Long live the Lemonweir
convention."
I have purposely left some of my time for those who have personal reminiesces of these years, which are always more
interesting than facts gleaned by research.
If you have information about other Adams County churches, please let Joan
know about them so they can be added to these pages.
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Donated by Joan Benner © 2004 and last updated March 2004