Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana . ese were also days of peace. Days, too, when all seem-ed to share in the enthusiasm of the new enterprise. Theywere marked by the two longest periods of service that anyministers have rendered until the present pastorate; that ofRev. William C. Rommel, of four years, a man greatly be-loved by the entire community, who exercised the strongestinfluence of all this churchs ministers, whose name is best PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY. 341 remembered today, and whose work will always abide; thatof the Rev. J. D. Hewitt, next to Mr. Rommel the minist
Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana . ese were also days of peace. Days, too, when all seem-ed to share in the enthusiasm of the new enterprise. Theywere marked by the two longest periods of service that anyministers have rendered until the present pastorate; that ofRev. William C. Rommel, of four years, a man greatly be-loved by the entire community, who exercised the strongestinfluence of all this churchs ministers, whose name is best PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY. 341 remembered today, and whose work will always abide; thatof the Rev. J. D. Hewitt, next to Mr. Rommel the ministerwho is oftenest spoken of and who seems to have left thenext deepest impression. Then too the first church wasbuilt, at a cost of nearly $12,000, and dedicated, free ofdebt, August 13, 1876, under Mr. Rommels pastorate, andfurnished complete, even to hair cushions, under Mr, Hew-itts. An energetic Ladies Aid Society, which still survives,was established in 1874, to raise money for building achurch. It was a time of struggle for existence, and the. THE OLD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HELENA. BUILT IN 1876. raising of money was a prominent part of church there was no little earnest spiritual work done by theministers; there were conversions to Christ in considerablenumbers in Montana in those days, and at least one timeof distinct revival when special services were held for aWeek by Mr. Hewitt, beginning May 13, 1877, and severalunited with the church. The church increased its gifts and 342 HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTANA. by the end of this period seems to have reached the pointof nominal self-support; at least where it became inde-pendent of the Board of Home Missions. This was cer-tainly a great length to progress in seven years, startingfrom the bottom and in such circumstances. This period was not without its serious among them was the task of welding together theheterogeneous elements which composed the membership ofthe church itself. Those
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