A tribute to those deceased

     And to those alive,

Who attended the dedication,

     Easter Sunday, 1905.

Before building the church

     Services were in the old town hall,

Which was many times better

     Than having no church at all.

 

But their faith never wavered,

     As in worship they met"

Said one member to another,

     "Some day we'll have a church yet."

 

They talked, worshiped, and prayed,

     Sang songs, and God praised.

"A church building we want,

     But no funds can be raised."

 

To their presiding minister

     Their problem they told.

"We want to build a church,

     But we haven't the gold.”

 

To those faithful members

     Spoke dear Preacher Guy,

"You can have a church here

     If you really will try."

 

"Now beloved Brother Guy

If that money we raise,

We’ll shout ‘Hallelujah!’

     And give God the praise."

 

They then took on courage,

     And joined hand in hand,

"We’ll build a church here

 And long may it stand."

 

Said Brother Noah to Brother Cal,

     "On our wives we can count,

We’11 ask them to go out

     And help raise the amount."

 

So they hitched the farm horses

     To the old fashioned surrey,

And those two Christian women

     Drove away in a hurry.

 

Week after week, day after day,

     Those ladies could be seen

Driving over ditched roads

     And pastures not green"

 

Said they to their neighbors,

      "We are soliciting money

Just as sure as you live,

      We are going to build a church,

Please, how much can you give?”

 

From a dish in the cupboard

      Or the little tin pan,

They brought out their coin

      Saying, "We’ll help what we can."

On November l8, 1904, into the treasury

          They poured the contents

Of six hundred dollars

      And fifty cents.

 

Now, in their mind’s eye

      A new church they could see,

They were so very happy

      Their hearts filled with glee.

 

The men labored daily

      With saw, hammer and spade,

And now for the new church

      The foundation was laid.

 

The church was completed

      After months, weeks and days.

A miracle had been wrought,

      And they gave God the praise"

 

They viewed the new structure

      Both inside and out,

They were so happy

      They almost could shout.

 

Some had given money,

      Others their time gave,

All worked together

      Expenses to save.

 

Up in the steeple

      They placed a large bell

That all within its sound

      The church hour could tell.

 

When the big bell pealed,

   "It’s near time to begin."

In wagon, cart and buggy

      They came driving in.

 

Dad, mother and children,

     In front seat and back,

They hitched their teams

     To the old hitch rack.

 

And when the bell said,

     "It’s now time to begin."

They all spoke with reverence,

And straightway went in.

 

The preacher in the pulpit,

     The laymen in their pews,

Were eagerly waiting

     To hear the good news.

 

Then arose the church clerk,

     "My report I'll now make.

To make our books balance

     Eleven dollars more it will take."

 

To date Easter' Sunday, May 1905,

     Twelve hundred, eleven dollars

And ninety-nine cents

     Altogether had been raised..

 

We want to thank one and all

     And our Dear God be praised,

For the eleven dollars

     Still lacking yet

The tray was passed round

     And the sum was soon met.

 

Then from the pulpit,

Came a demand and a shout,

All who are happy

Let your voices ring out."

 

They sang, “Hallelujah!”

    “Hallelujah,” again,

They sang,  "Hallelujah,

    Hallelujah, Amen."

 

Reverently spoke the minister,

     “Lead us in prayer, please."

And devout men and women

     Dropped down on their knees"

"To Thee, Dear Heavenly Father,

Unto Thee, we pour out our thanks,

That the richest of treasures

     Are not found in banks.”

 

And, Dear Father, we could

     Not he. Ye done this

Had we not Thy help had.

     For this expression of love,

We truly are glad.”

 

For fifty long years

     The Wilmot Christian Church has stood

A church home for many

     A landmark for good.

 

As a Beacon Light

     Through years to come

Where all may learn of God

     And have a church home.

These pioneers had built

Their faith upon a rock

Throughout Eternity to stand,

     For would be aught

     To build one's faith

Upon a pile of sand.

 

They took the Bible

     For their guide

Christ the Rock

     On which to build

The Truth they sought

     From day to day

Their lives with Truth were filled.

 

Those dear pioneers

    Have come and gone

But left a Work for us

    To carry on.

 

And fifty years hence

     When our children look back

May they say we were true Christians,

     Not one thing did we lack.

 

Composed By

Mrs. T. R. Eastman