THE CONVENTIONS


some others younger. By today the last has been left like a lone pilgrim;
without one other remaining to labor in the Gospel of Christ in the
language of the Welsh. We can only ask in disappointment, "The fathers,
where are they?" as we recall the old preachers and the excellent old
deacons of that time.
     In the year 1885, June 4 and 5, the last Welsh convention in the
place occurred, as far as I can remember. Every soul that enjoyed that
fine convention will have sweet memories of it. Among those who
preached were the following brethren: Hughes of Picatonica, Owens of
Cummings, then: Matthews and the evangelical and beloved Jones of
Dodgeville, Thomas of Ridgeway, Dr. D. E. Owen of Oshkosh, and the
remarkable old Bowen of Berlin. By today the leading preachers of
that convention have been called to their reward, with one or two ex-
ceptions; but the recollections of their sermons reverberate in the heart
yet at times. While the Welsh Convention of the denomination is still
held in other places, English has swallowed up Salem Church, so that
there is no hope of a Welsh convention there ever.

        THE CONVENTIONS OF THE CONGREGATIONALISTS

    The Welsh Congregational Convention of Wisconsin deserves special
attention because it was the first to be held in the Oshkosh Settlement by
any denomination. The Rev. Evan J. Evans, who was a minister in Racine
as early as the year 1850, was one of the chief instruments in the forma-
tion of this convention. He appealed to the ministers and the churches
for a gathering in a convention as early as February, 1850. At that
time the denomination had but nine churches in the state; and seven
ministers laboring among them. The church in the city of Oshkosh was
organized at the time, but Zoar Church was not in existence.
    The oldest church of the denomination in the state is Tabernacle,
Waukesha, which was organized by the Rev. Richard Morris July, 1844.
There, no doubt, was built the first house of worship of the denomination
in Wisconsin, in 1846. The Dodgeville Church was organized in 1845
by the Rev. David Jones. About the end of 1847 Rev. Richard Morris
organized the Racine Church. The Blue Mounds Church was organized
months earlier. About the end of 1848 the Pike Grove Church became
a Congregational one; after being a Methodist one for years. That
year too the Welsh Prairie one was organized; and the Spring Green
one in February, 1850. Besides the above, one or two others were in
existence before the convention.
    The first Convention of the Congregationalists of Wisconsin was held
in Racine June 12-14, 1850. The Rev. Jenkin Jenkins was chairman and
the Rev. Evan J. Evans scribe. There the rules of the Union were formu-
lated and the Convention was started which by this time has been held
48 times in the state. There were ten preachers of all grades in it.
Among the resolutions of the assembly, one was against slavery and
another warm one in favor of temperance.
    The Convention of 1851 was held in the earliest house of worship at
Welsh Prairie, when the Rev. Jenkin Jenkins was looking after the church.


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