The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-07-20
THE METHODIST CHURCH IN IOWA

One of the most interesting feat
ures of the Methodist State Conven-
ton held at Iowa City last week, was
the presentation ip succinct and reli-
able shape of the statistics of Meth
odism in Iowa. Reys. U. p. Coli
day, r. w. Keller, <. III. Warning,
and II. G. Sheutz, were sometime
ago appointed to prepare a history
of the church in this State, and to
compile its statistics. This they did
with most gratifying success. The
papers presented were quite lengthy,
and will shortly be issued in pamph-
let form. Our reporter was not pres
ent at the time they were read, hence
obtained no outline of them. The
Secretary of the Convention, who APP
peared to think he owned the whole
thing, refused the privilege of CLEAN
ing a synopsis of the report. The
only summary which we have seen,
was given by the Hasoheye whose
reporter was present and took the
main facts down as he could catch
them. As this is the best the people
will get until Bro. Waring is pleased
to print his pamphlet, we quote:
The first Methodist sermon
preached withiH the limits of the
present State of Iowa, was preached
at Dubuque, Nov. 9Th 1888, by Rev
Barton Randall, in the tavern of Jas.
Harrison, on the site of the present
Julien House. In the spring of 1884
a subscription was raised to build a
log meeting house, at cost of 1855.
This was the first house of worship
in Iowa. 1t has always been claimed
that the first Methodist sermon III
Iowa was preached IN Burlington, but
this seems not to be true. However,
in 1884, Rev. Barton Ii. Cartright
entered Iowa as preacher. Deter
mined to 90 TO his work at his own
cost, he took with him from illinois
four yoke of oxen and the necessary
implements to carry on farm. Dur,
ing the week he labored, and on the
Sabbath gathered together such as
would listen to him, and addressed
them. He preached his first sermon
in Iowa in Burlington in June 1884,
at the house Of DR.. William r. Ross.
on North Hill, from the text, "W HON
we PREACH" etc. After the sermon a
class Of seven members was formed,
of which DIR. Ross was the leader
The same summer the celebrated
Peter Cartright visited Burlington
and had a two days meeting, May
30, 1925, the first quarterly meeting
in Iowa was held in Burlington, al
which time eighteen joined the
church.
Quite an interesting account Of
John Ruble was given. We cannot
give it as fully as we would wish, as
Rev. Mr.. Waring, who read it, re
fused us the usual courtesy of his
notes from which to copy. We re
produce from memory. AT the ses
sion of the Missouri Conference il
1885, so undesirable did the Burling
ton District appear that the Bishop
refused to take the responsibility Of
sending any one there, and called
for volunteer. John Ruble re
sponded. His character was describ
ed in glowing colors. But his period
of labor was short. Yet he had the
honor of being the first preacher APP
pointed in Southern Iowa by an ANN
al Conference, the first married, and
the first to die.
The progress Of Methodism, as
shown by the statistics of this report
has been rapid and remarkable
probably no church or State ever
surpassed it. The figures given, as
to increase of membership, are truly
surprising. They are stated as fol-
lows: In 1886 there were III mem
bers of the M. Z. church in Iowa;
1856, 29,7ls 1860, 4O,3@; 1870,
6O,S7O. The aggregate value Of
church property it 81 ,592,2OO. Dur
ing the last thirteen years they have
built, on All average, "a churches and
10 parsonages year. The salary of
their ministers has avenged $649.
In 1s49 the ratio of NJ L. church
members to the population Of the
State was 3 Go per cent in 1870,
SIG per cent. Adding to the mem
bership of the M. E. church, that of
the other branches of the Methodist
family, they number 72,567, while
the aggregate membership of all the
other Evangelical churches in the
State, including 10000 Friends, is
only 1851, a result that is hardly to
be believed were it not supported by
figures. We presume the average
Methodist wilrejoice at and be proud
over this showing. The Methodist
is indeed mighty church, and
grows stronger every day. We do
not know how the statistics OF the
the church in this State compare
with those of other States, but should
judge that Iowa, population consid,
cred, is well up in the fore front OF
American Methodism, if not the