- REV. ARTHUR C. KEMPTON, who died Dec. 4, 1900, was the capable
and eloquent pastor
- of the First Baptist Church of Janesville, and achieved a
reputation that reaches far beyond the limits of Wisconsin for
piety and devotion to his sacred calling. He was born in Nova
Scotia, May 6, 1870, a son of the Rev. Joseph F. KEMPTON, a well
known Baptist minister. He was graduated from Acadia College
with honors in 1890, and from Rochester Theological Seminary
four years later. Because of special work he also won the degree
of M.A. in 1893.
- Mr. KEMPTON's first pastorate was with the First Baptist
Church of Eau Claire, Wisconsin,
- where in three years he made the remarkable record of nearly
three hundred additions to the membership of the church, building
a new house of worship, and making this the largest Baptist Church
in Wisconsin. During this period he also served two years as
president of the Baptist Young People's Union, of Wisconsin.
- In 1897 Mr. KEMPTON made an extended tour of Egypt, Palestine,
Turkey and Europe, after
- which he was called to the First Baptist Church of Janesville.
The success attending his work here equaled that which crowned
his labors at Eau Claire. In October, 1899, he was unanimously
elected president of the twenty-five thousand Christian Edeavorers
of Wisconsin, and with the hearts of the young people of the
State beating responsively to his appeals he hoped great things
for the church in the immediate future. His death cut short
a most useful career, and caused the universal sorrow wherever
he was known, but while "He died young, there are silvered
heads, whose race of duty is less nobly won."
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, p. 699.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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