LA CROSSE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES

    The generations of today owe a debt of. gratitude to those sturdy
pioneers for the legacy we have: inherited through their foresight and
robust character. They suffered privation and lonely homesickness.
They did not despair in their struggle to establish homes in this land
of boundless. opportunities.
     The first article of the Constitution of the United States declares
religious freedom of thought and action for every citizen of the United
States. He may worship his Lord and Master in his own way. He may
give vent to his religious emotions in     any visionary fashion he;
chooses, providing, in so doing, he:does not interfere with the rights and
privileges of others.
     I have in mind a little church in Mindoro, La Crosse County, the
home town of my youth, erected under the auspices of the Adventist
creed. The pastor's name was Huff, a man well past middle age, tall,
slim and with a full beard of white whiskers which he kept well trim-
med at the sides, with streamers extending down from the chin to mid-
bosom. His well-rounded head was embellished with flowing locks of
shiny white hair. He wore the garb of a clergyman, which was some-
what faded but not shabby. When driving about the country he guided.
a pair of horses that were perfectly safe to sit behind and would stand
without being hitched while he was calling on his parishioners.
     His carriage was somewhat the worse for wear, but it answered
his purpose. The black curtain of the top was usually unbuckled, which
furnished ample circulation of air as it sailed in the breeze when the
carriage was in motion.
     He was of retiring disposition and paid but little attention to mat-
ters outside of his pastoral duties. He was a radical of the loud-speaker
type and he made the rafters tremble and the doors rattle when his
oratory was running in high gear. He was a convincing speaker to those
of his faith, which at times seemed to grip them into spells of hypnotic
obedience.
     His followers believed in him implicitly, trusting in his word and
leadership even as that of the living and eternal God. Unwilling to tol-
erate beliefs or opinions not in harmony with those of their pastor,
they made their church an object of ridicule and disgrace. Bigotry,
fanaticism, superstition and intolerance ran riot, which eventually led
the little band to destruction.
     One Sunday morning late in the autumn season the venerable pas-
tor proclaimed to his congregation that the day of judgment was at
hand. That on the morrow, as the shades of evening are gathering, the
Lord God would appear in the heavens and that the righteous would
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