Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1884 — Presbyterian Matters. [ARTICLE]

Presbyterian Matters.

The Sunday school had a full attendance Sabbath morning. The teachers concluded to have a Sunday School Concert on the evening of the third Sabbath of July. There was a better attendance than usual on Sabbath morning; also a good audience in the evening. There will be communion services on the third Sabbath of July. Preparatory services on Saturday, at 2p. m. and at 7:45 p. m.

A Histoical Character.—We publish in an other place a letter from our venerable fellow citizen, Dr. James Ritchey. Dr. Ritchey is a remarkable man in mapy ways and has a remarkable history. IJe has exceeded, by, ten years’ jhe alleged allotted of human life, bufis still vigorous in body; and clear in mind. There is, probably, no man living in Jasper county who has filled so large a place in the political history of the state, as he. He was, originally, a Democrat and voted twice for Andrew Jackson for president, the first time in 1828. He was a delegate to the first National convention ever held, that which nominated James K. Polk, at Baltimore, in 1844. He was well acquainted with W. H. English when that gentleman introduced the Kansas-Nebraska bill in Congress, and left the party

upon its passage. He was a delegate to the first National Republican Convention, that which nominated John C. Fremont, at Philadelphia, m 1856. At that convention he received the high honor of being appointed member of the National Republican committee, for the state of Indiana, and in that capacity attended a meeting of the committee, in New York, at which he assisted in arranging the time and place for (he convention wnich nominated Lincoln, at Chicago, in 1860. At the same meeting, in New York, was prepared an “Address to the American People,” wherein the principles and purposes o f the Republican Party were set forth. The Doctor has still a copy of that interesting paper, and we hope soon to have an opportunity to examine it, and, perhaps, republish certain pbrtions. He attended the Chicago convention, above referred to, in thie double capacity of delegate and member of the National Committee. , J’he Doctor has served two terms in the lower house of the State Legislature, ami three yeai s in the State Senate. He was, also, a member of the convention which framed the State Constitution, in 1850-51.