The First Sermon In Lansing

Tho l'ehoit Pree Pres giws tha foHowing historical remtnueence of the Bral ermon preachcd at Lan-int : " A reporter of the Free Press was walking down Griswold strcct with Rer. 1. - Ulades last evening, their conversaüon bcing upon the rc-ent senatorial canoaj at l.insing. Mr. nades remarked tliat hehad not visitcd that city linee the tem capítol huil ln'cn npcni'd. "I wish to go vcry much, " said Mr. Bladea, " having a lively interest in tlio lilace. Did you knuw tliat I preaobed tha .first sermón there ?" " Xo," answercl the reporter, " li"W did it come about ?" " I was then on uiy way from Laton ('auntyone day," continued Mr. Bladea, " when I met in tbe woods, now thesitó of lmsing, a siurdy looking fellow who hailcd me witb, ' What's your name and wbat are you looking for?' l answored, ' My name ia Blades; lui a Methodist minister and 1'ni lookiüg for a congregation.' 'Well,' taid ba, ' my name is (ilenn , l'm a capitol cummissioner, and if you'll help me find a place for the new capitol I'll help you find a eongregation. I agreed, and in an hour or two we hd scttled the most important part of the question and duly blazcd the trees. Glenn asked me where dinnercould })C had, and I pilotad liim to a saw mili a mile or two aw;iy. We liad a good iliimor, and as there were sotuc twenty people about the place- mili hands and all- (Íleon says : ' Thw il ai nood a congregation as can be found ; tli.rc is twenty minutes time, and we'll heur BUd preaeh.' I preached to them then and therc."