Faulk County, South Dakota - Chapter 14: The Donation of a Church Bei.l, 1909

Chapter 14: The Donation of a Church Bei.l

Among the early settlers of Faulk county there was no one of broader and more liberal view than Capt. John Douglas, who located in the extreme western part of the county, or one who took a deeper interest in the general upbuilding of society. His family, his town or his immediate surroundings were far from being the whole world to him. Among the public spirited acts of Capt. Douglas, and one that reached our people in a way not to be forgotten, was his influence in securing to a struggling congregation a fine toned bell that continues to ring out upon every Sabbath morning a call to assemble, recognize and "Praise Him From Whom all Blessings Flow."

The interest in and appreciation of the act by the people of Faulkton, is best told by the following extracts from the local paper of that week:

"judge J. Douglas, of Eonaconing, Md., father of Capt. J. Douglas of Seneca, has presented to the Congregational church of this place a 550-pound bell, tone "a." The bell will be shipped from the McShane bell foundry of Baltimore, and will cost $140. The bell is the free and generous gift of Judge Douglas, and one that will be most acceptable and gratefully received by the church and fully appreciated and enjoyed by all. It is anticipated that its welcome tones will be heard in Faulkton within a month."

The Bell

to the Congregational church of this place. On Saturday afternoon it was raised by willing hands to its place in the belfr^^ of the new church - which is an ornament to the town and county - and an impromptu service was held. Among other choice selections rendered by the choir, was the following hymn, written for the occasion by C. C. Moulton, leader of the choir, which, with its perfect rendering, seemed a happy inspiration, aptly expressing the sentiment and feeling of th2 hearts of all:

Rev. Douglas, pastor of the church, spoke with much feeling in behalf of his people, giving Judge Douglas the thanks and God the praise. Others spoke, representing the generous sentiment of other churches, in congratulation of Rev. Douglas and his people in gratitude to Judge Douglas for a gift so unsectarian as to be of equal pleasure and benefit to all; in representation of the sentiment of thanks, universally shared by the citizens of the town, for the generous gift; praise for the good genius of Judge Douglas, in discovering the key that would open to him the door of every home in Faulkton, and the improving by him of an opportunity to reach directly and at once the hearts of all our people by the single stroke of the bell; in acknowledgement of the gratitude of the people for the bell - the first church bell in the county - the hanging of which would mark an event in the progress of the development of the county and the building of Faulkton, that would be looked back to as a mile stone in our history. As supplementary, and in addition to such action as might be taken by the church, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the citizens heartily unite with the people of the Congregational church in extending to Judge Douglas most sincere and grateful thanks for his thoughtful and generous gift.

Resolved, That a unanimous vote of thanks is due Capt. J. Douglas, of Seneca, through whose interest and influence the magnificent gift of his father, Judge Douglas, was made to the people of Faulkton.

Capt. J. Douglas, of Seneca, accompanied by his daughter. Miss Jessie, and his sister, Mrs. Beltz, of Ohio, was present at the hanging of the bell. The Captain spoke

\n modest depreciation of the magnitude of the gift, in the estimation of his father, and, while he gracefully acknowledged the expressions of thanks and gratitude, thought them greater than WQUW be desired by him^"