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October 14, 1914. ^ FAMILY PAPER. '»
AmnnO" the Chufchp^ Thomas Lindsay and Thomas Thom- kindly and forbearing to the mistakes to express my joy that you can enter
i^UlUllg Hit V..I11U1V.11&0* son were elected elders. and inexperience of youth, a splendid on your work at this time anew un-
BOVIimA'S CENTENNIAL. In June, 1887, Mr. 0. B. Milligan be- group of young people who responded der auspices that augur well for the
Historical Sketch of Bovina Congre- came pastor of the congregation and at once to every suggestion, and who future. May the blessing of the God
gation.
in 1888 was released. During his pas- nobly endeavored to do what the Lord of Israel be upon you as a people and
BY A.XDREW T. RUSSELL. torate E. F. Thomson was elected eld wanted them to do. Sickness there may a faithful generation, as it rises
The Covenanter congregation ol '^''' ^^^^^ ^^^^s later Mr. J. K. Reed was for some, and we learned more up, take the place of those who have
Bovina, New York, was organized in ^'^^ c^'^^ed as pastor. Rev Reed was than we ever taught by our visits to fallen asleep and carry on to comple-
Anril ' 1814 with ' Andrew Thomson ^^'^'^ "^ "-^^ ° y^^^^-- being compelled tj some older in years and experience, tion the unfinished work of our fathand
James Miller as elders.
resign on account of ill health in 189;;. Sorrow also came when the angel ot ers.
These men were the great grand- ^^ "^^^^ *® congregation called Mr. death called for loved ones, and we Sincerely, yours in Christ,
fathers of some present today. They ^-^- ^°^^' '^^° ^^^ "^'^^^ "^^ °'"' y®^""' ^^It our helplessness to aid in a sor- A. I. ROBB.
served as elders of the congregation ^'^ ^^^^^ '^^^^^^ ^° ^° *° '"'^^'^^ ^® ^ ''°w into which we could not then Seattle, Wash., August 17th, 1914.
for over thirty years, -Mr. Thomson missionary. During his pastorate John enter. There was happiness, too, and To the Pa-tor and Members of the
being called home in 1849 and Mr. ^' ^^^^^^^ was elected elder. In 1897 while none of our own people were Bovina Congregation, My Dear
Miller in 1851. The congregation had '^^^' '^' "^^' ^'^*^'' became pastor and married during that year, they did ex- Friends: It is with willing heart that
• no settled pastor until 1820, when labored among us for seven years, and cellent work at courting and pros- I respond to your invitation to have
Rev Melancthon B. Williams was in- ^^ '^^'^'^ ^^ ''^'^^ called to Seattle. In pects were good for pin money for a part in this glad occasion which
stalled as pastor and was released i'l ^^^^ ^®^' ^^'' ^' ^°^^ ^°°^ ^P '^e our successor's wife. The minister's calls you together today. However
1823 In 1825 Rev James Douglas be-^^"'^'^ among us, remaining nearly wife was soon sized up as a safe con- far we may be separated by distance,
gan his work among the people of Bo- ®'^^* ^^^''^ ^^^ resigning in 1913. One fldante,apparently, so the girls told however long it may be since we
Vina as stated supply On June 13th ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^'^ congregation called Mr. their love affairs to her and she told looked one another in the face, or
of the same year a meeting was caU- Tbomas Graham, he being the 10th only the minister.
however many and great the changes
ed to make arrangements for the V^^^°^ which Bovina congregation has The call of God to other work fin-that have passed over us all since I
erection ot a church. Previous to ^^^^^^ during the past 100 years. And ished our stay while the joy of the was last among you as your pastor;
this services had been held in James ^^^^ morning we witnessed his or- work was still new and undimmed. neither distance, time, nor circum-
Russell's barn It was decided that 'ii'is-tion and installation as our pas- The swiftly flying years have brought stances have abated my interest or afmeetine-
house be built of stone of *°''' ^'^ ® ^'"® ®"^® ^^^* ^°y ^^^^ every their changes. Some then in the fection for the loyal people with
the following dimensions- 34 feet long ^eart as we enter this new relation- bloom of youth as well as many of whom I was in the past so happily asri
94 fppt wide nd it had a eallerv ^^ip, and though we are few in num- those of older age, have finished their sociated. I think it an exceedingly
for there are those now livine who ^^^' ^5' ^® ®^°^ °^^ ^® whole-heart- course, and are now lying,, some in happy arrangement that your celebraremember
of sittine in the gallerv of ^^ ^^^ loyal to our leader and ever the beautiful cemetery there in the tion of the One Hundredth Anniverthe
old stone church This church ^^'^^ *" Jesus Christ, who gave him- mountains, some in other places, one sary of your organization as a congrewas
situated at Bovina, three miles ^^^^ °^ "®-
^t ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^""^^ ^^^^ across gation and your welcome to your pasabove
Bovina Center James Russe'l Letters from Some Former Pastors, the sea, all in the silent dust await- tor who now takes up his work among
David Ballantine and John RusseU 1221 Clay St., Topeka, Kan.. '""S the coming of the great day when you, coincide. From the point at
took charge of the building of the
August 25, 1914. ^e shall stand together in the pres- which you stand you look both ways,
church, which when completed was a Mr. T. D. Russell, Bovina Cente-, ence of the King. There are others forward and backward. The past and
model church in its day. The stones N. Y. Dear Friend: I have only re- to whom the passing years have the future are brought together, and
used in building the church were or- turned from an absence of several brought burdens that they nobly bear, m your mind today will be the
Iglnally drawn for a school house, but weeks. I wish I had leisure to sit One, and so far as I can remember, memories of the things that have
the district having changed the loca- down and write all that is in my heart the only one it was my privilege to been, and the hopes of those thmgs
tion of the school house, the stones and memory concerning the good peD- '"eceive into the fellowship of the which lief ahead, • Such a two-fold
were used for the church. The firstpie of Bovina congregation. But wi^h Church, is today the honored pastor prospect will inevitably brmg mmgled
sermon that Mr. Douglas preached in departure to a distant land coming °f the congregation from which 1 feelings, but only such as are proper
the new stone church was from the near, and the attendant duties pres.- ^^nt to the Seminary. Now it is to on this occasion. At the time the
text, "The Habitation of Thy House, ing, I can only take time for a word, be your privilege, in entering upon temple was restored, the, old men
Lord, I have loved well- Yea, in that A hundred years seems a long time the second century of your congrega- wept as they remembered the past.
Place 1 do delight, where doth thine to look forward to, and even to look tional life, to behold again the face while the younger members of the
honor dwell." In 1847 Mr. Douglas backward, it is not short. It is more of your pastor. One who is also to congregation rejoiced. But in your case
^vas installed as pastor of the congr,- than the ordinary span of human life, take his ordination vows in your pres- there is nothmg to restore, there has
sation and tor ten years he continued There is no one in your community, ence, and take you for his first love, been no break, no captivity, no sushis
work among the people. His en- i believe, who was living when you Lest he think of himself more highly pension of your holy worship, the fire
tire labor in Bovina covered a period were organized as a congregation. But than he ought to think. I must be si- upon Gods altar m your midst has
of 32 years, his name becoming a God has not changed, nor have any lent about my enjoyment of his never died out, and in your case there
household word. In 1857 Mr. Douglas of the principles of his truth either Preaching as I was privileged to hear should be a predominance of glad refi.,;„v,
AT.- , .Li,ji,-, J I, 4.1 4.J. it a vear ago but vou who have joicmg—gladness that our Gracious
finished his work on earth and his changed or been taken out of our '^'- "^ '•^'^^ '^&"' ""*• •'"" " ^lu, j » o
body lies buried near the place where hands as witnesses.
chosen him to be your pastor will un- God has already allowed you to enjoy
he so often preached the word of In a country as young as ours, in derstand. I wish to congratulate you one hundred years of life and blesslile.
Four years later the congrega- comparison with the old world lands, as a congregation on your felicitous mg, and that you enter upon this
tion called Rev. J. T. Pollock, who it is matter for congratulation that choice, and I can say from my own new epoch with every hope that He
was ordained and installed July 10, you as a congregation have been al- experience, that congratulations are who hath in the past been mmdful ot
1861. Our present church building lowed to run out a full century of ser- no less deserved the other way. It you, will stil bless you.
was completed when Mr. Pollock be- vice and witnessing for Christ. It is is niy earnest desire and hope, for It is specially fittingthat as a conran
his work as pastor. Old records only a little more than twenty years which we will pray, that the great gregation you should celebrate this
show that Mrs. Douglas, widow of our since I became first connected wi^h Shepherd of the Sheep will lead you Centennial Anniversary of your orformer
pastor, headed the subscrip- Bovina, I remember well a long and in paths of pleasantness and peace. ganization. A whole century of
tions tor the new church, and the chilly ride from Delhi and a good Since you were organized a hundred mercies are not to be received witt
Rihio tv,„t 1- ^x. s, , + +!,„ „^A ^f it ry-hc vcars ago, the whole world has gone ingratitude. This is an experience not
oible that now lies on the desk was warm supper at the end of it. trie .v^aio a.^^, c o . ^ ^ ij4.v,.„
hpr „ift t„ iv, i- Tl r. 1 J • „ „.. ^r.^;r,r- oir^or whn forward more than in any preceding granted to every people, and to have
Der gift to the congregation. Rev. Pol- driver was your senior elder, who^^"^ '" ,, f . , * ii,- • „;+!,„„* a,,^
i„„, • J ^, , T, .. .• 1, A -r \. \^ ten centuries. With the hurricane let this occasion pass without due
lock remained three years, when he took me to his home, and if he is ••«" t-eui^iico. v c ,. \,„ .,, ^„ x,„„„
connected with the United Presbyteri- present with you today he will not of war sweeping Europe, and many recognition, would hardly baje been
an Church. One year later Rev. L e offense when I say that the indications of the rapidly approachmg consistent with gratitude. One of the
Joshua Kennedy was installed as pas- drive would have been of shorter dur- consummation of the ages in the Kmg- aults laid agamst Is ael was forgetj„,
_, ,, . 1- uii w , ,, ^, ,. .. ,„„„4. rlom of Christ, it is doublv needful fulness of the past. Nothing so helps
^or. The elders at that time were ation had I held the lines. At least dom of Ohr st, y ^^^^^^^^ _^ ^^^
James Miller. Jr.. William Thomson, i felt that way then. L d faithfu "He that endureth to present or nerves for a higher attain-
T mas Arbuckle and David B. Rus- Sugar making and trout fishing "^'^'^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ,^ ^^,^,,. „^^, ,^ ^he future as the rememe1.
Rev. Kennedy remained as pa..- were delightful recreations, smce T 'l'^J^\J ^^ congratulate you on branoe of a worthy past. And as
to Of the congregation for 20 years could quit when I got tired, which we ^^^^J^l^' \^ faithfulness to others wil doubtless speak to you of
drew 1 pastor.
was
Thomson,
an
During
able
Andrew
preacher
his pastorate T.
and
Russell,
faith-
An- ways
are
ory
not
of been the
always
a year delight.
ab^
that
to
followed ^
do.
loyal
The
people, has
memal-
[^
the service blue
7;^,;;'^;;"„,
ba or oui i^iu
J^ Covenant,
a
and what the Lord has done for
^^^^
you in