Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 14.

[p. 45] four years, and to whom this success was in no small measure due, had asked for another appointment by the bishop at Conference. That this change was made, and a successor took up the work so smoothly, speaks well for the church polity.

Rev. Arthur W. L. Nelson was pastor for three years, Rev. Arthur Bonner for two years, and Rev. George A. Cooke for two years more, and each did good work under difficult circumstances. There was some reaction from the effort of building, and some financial embarrassment resulted that was happily removed during the stay of Brother Bonner. For a time Brother Nelson did double work, as did both his successors, in connection with the newly formed Hillside church. All these did good work, each in a different way from the other, and all were beloved by church and people.

The next three years our charge was read ‘to be supplied,’ and we were fortunate in our supplies. Rev. Sylvester S. Klyne of the North Dakota Conference, pursuing special study in Boston University, served us for two years. He was an able preacher and profound scholar, and in his limited time did no little pastoral work, and in this latter was ably seconded by his devoted wife. From here he went to an important church in West Virginia, and is now pastor of the largest church of our order in Baltimore.

In April, 1907, Rev. Herbert A. Keck from the Iowa Conference (and also the university) came to us under the same limit of partial work. He ably succeeded Brother Klyne in the pulpit, and in the weekly prayer meeting has never been excelled in the history of the church. His home in the West claimed him at the end of one year, where his people have just dedicated a fine new church edifice.

At the Conference of 1907 Rev. Herbert Smith Dow was appointed, and came an utter stranger to every one in his new charge. Loyal to our church polity, its greetings were sent him by mail as soon as the appointments