In addition, the Missionary put his own hands to the actual labor of preparing the materials.  It was done in this wise.  It was ascertained that a man in Stockbridge, who owned a fine grove of timber, proposed to give a certain amount of it for the church, provided the church people would cut it.  And it was further found that the owner of a mill in the vicinity would give the sawing.  We decided at once to accept both propositions.  Word was passed among the people, and on a given day a score or more of men and teams, with the Missionary among them, made an onslaught upon the timber.  In a few days the task was accomplished, and the success of the enterprise guaranteed.

The conference year, however, expired at this time, Aug. 20th, and terminated my labors among this people.

Well did the Apostle say, “I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon.”  Nor was this experience new to the world in the time of Paul.  It was the work of David to prepare the materials, but it remained to Solomon to build the Temple.  Thus it is in every calling of life.  But it is more manifestly so, perhaps, in the Itinerancy, than in any other.

CHAPTER IV.

Fond du Lac.—­First Sermon.—­Early Presiding Elders.—­Rev. H.W.  Reed.—­Rev. James R. Goodrich.—­Rev. Jesse Halstead the first Pastor.—­Rev. Harvy S. Bronson.—­First Class.—­Quarterly Meeting.—­Delegation from Waupun.—­Rev. Wm. H. Sampson.—­Extended District.—­A Disastrous Fire.—­Outside Appointments.—­Stowe’s Chapel.—­Preacher’s Home—­Ethiel Humiston.—­Byron.—­Rev. Joseph T. Lewis.—­Rev. M.L.  Noble.—­Rev. H.R.  Colman.

The first sermon preached in Fond du Lac was delivered at the residence of Hon. Mason C. Darling, by Rev. Jesse Halstead, Missionary to the Brothertown people, on the 17th day of November, A.D. 1839.  The meeting, the first of a religious character, was convened at the request of a few families residing in Fond du Lac and its neighborhood, only seven in number, they having learned that the ubiquitious Itinerant had struck their trail, and was making a visit to their settlement.  Having been accustomed to religious services in their eastern homes, these few scattered families had felt deeply their privations in these western wilds.  The advent of a minister, therefore, opened an era of no common importance.  Few and scattered as were the families, some of them living several miles away, the small log house was filled.

From this lowly, rude dwelling the songs of Zion ascended in grateful praise, floating out over the prairie and lingering in the branches of the old forest trees along the river until they fell upon the ear of the roaming savage, and arrested his careless footsteps.  The voice of prayer was heard, breathing to heaven in fervid accents a recognition of the Divine goodness, and an humble consecration of devout worshippers, and the fair land they had adopted as their home, to God.