The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-07
QUARTER CENTURY SERMON.

few days since, Father Turner delivered
sermon before the Congregational Associa-
| ton in session at Dubuque, of which the
following is a part clipped from the Dubuque
Times:
l. Cor. VIII. l. moreover brethren we
do you to.wit of the grace of God bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia
The preacher briefly adverted to the
churces of Macedonia and then passed to the
gathering up and distributing Of the choicest
incidents in the planting and growth of con
gregationalism in our State during the quarter
century now closed.
| While combining his attention to this de-
nomination, he would not be understood as
| ignoring or at all undertaking. the Christian
labors of others. Each in building over
against his own house had wrought coed
work, and he hoped the day would soon dawn
when all should see eye to eye in outward
| forms as well as in essential doctrines.
| The first Congregational church was or
ganized ut Denmark. Lee county, May 9th,
| 1888. Every New England State was repre-
sented in it but Rhode Island, and she was in
the settlement. Rev. j. A. Reed. then OF
Warren, Ill.,, and Rev. Asa Turner ofQulncy,
H., organized this church.
The preacher, now pastor of the same
church. paid glowing tribute to the pety
and general worth of that pioneer church
Eleven Of the number now survive.
The Congressional Association Of Iowa was
organized November 9th, 1910. 1t consisted
of Revs. j. A. Reed, Reub. GAYLORD, A.
Turner and Chas Burnham churches, Den
mark, Danville and Fairfield. The member.
ship of the three churches WAS one hundred
and ten. On that occasion Rev. Mr. TURNER
was installed over the Denmark church he
had been stated supply since June of SO.
The marriage ceremony between Congrega-
tionalism aud Iowa was performed by clergy.
men from Illinois, and the two States have
always been upon peculiarly good terms ever
since. In this connection the preacher stated
that the population of the "Black Hawk
Purchase in 1896 was 1851 that of West
Wisconsin in SO was 22,S59-(the territory
of Iowa was set off July 9Th, 1893, Copen-
hagen as capital In 1850 our population
was estimated at AZ. 500.
This rapid growth increased the need Of
more laborers.
Besides, the Mormons Of Nauvoo, were
then threatening to make Utah territory of
Iowa, Lee county in particular. This popula-
ton was not far from 10000. They brought
the very name of religion into disrepute, and
made life ard property insecure Then too
AtnelSm maze desperate and systematic at
tempt to mould the spiritual interests of the
territory, especially on the Des MONIES. The
apostle of this faith, rather denial of It was
Abner kneeland, an able and accomplished
disciple of Tom Paine. At one time he was
| the political owner of Van Buren, county.
He was finally sloughed off but the virtues Of
his doctrine long ranked in the young blood
OF South Western Iowa. In 1910 twelve min
lsters were sent out from the East to labor in
the River counties and the counties adjacent,
and three in the southwestern corner.
These laborers, although assisted by faith.
ful men OF other Evangelical denominations,
soon found the work far beyond their power
and urgently appealed for aid. The dreary
want OF the times was the want of men, but
70 the Macedonian cry but little, heed was
PAID. II young divines started for this Vi
entity, ten to one they were, to use n slang
phrase, gootled before reaching us, Some
noble men, however. from time to time. run
the gauntlet, and found fields Of labor mi,
side the Father of Waters But in 1848 hone
began to dawn. Some young men studyine
theology in Andover, and about to graduate,
sent letters Of inquiry to onr far OF land, the
result OF which was that several eminently
useful men came among us. Their names
were Hutchinson, Hill, Robbins, Hammond.
Alden, Lane, Turner, Dalter, L. and I.
Adams. Spaulding. Thompson and Tale,
1hese young brtthers va promised %, fhey
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