Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-20
The Baptist Church of Austin Celebrates
its Quartcr-Centennial.

its Quarter-Centennial.
The Baptist church of Austin celebrated
the 25th anniversary of its existence last
Sunday.
The pulpit was tastefully decorated
with beautiful cut flowers, while on the
wall were placed in evergreen letters the
names of the deceased pastors, Quincy
aud Emerson, and photograph of Rev.
H. I. Parker hung in the centre.
The choir sang an anthem. -'"They that
trust in the Lord" after which followed
the doxology invocation. Rev. G. D.
Belden, cx-pastor, offered the prayer.
lowship by the pastor to four new mem
bers, Rev. Stanley delivered the histori-
cal address, OF this address, which was
very interesting, we can give only brief
resume Text: Psalm 1885. "Remem.
Der the days of old
The mind is naturally given to retro
spection. Old age dwells ever fondly upon
the memories of childhood and youth.
How often are we waited back upon the
wings of memory and live again amid the
scenes of early days. We wander thought
fully and lovingly up and down the CORR
doris of the grand old past. tits this SEN
timent of kind remembrance of the days
of old that brings us together to celebrate
this anniversary of the organization of
our church. The celebration Of the
founding of a church is the commemora-
ton of a notable event. Ne institution
brings so great a promise of blessing to q
community as church of Jesus Christ.
1t is the bulwark of all good and the enc
my of all evil.
The Baptist church of Austin was for.
mally recognized by an ecclesiastical
on,,noS0 oo1101 fNr fhof Inn On
1858.
1t was gathered together through the
labors>of Elder Edward F. Quincy, who
came to Minnesota for his health in Feb.
ruary, 1857. Elder Quincy took claim
four miles west of Lansing, and from that
point often walked to Austin to preach, a
distance of seven miles. At first he held
services in private houses, and finally in
"Old Headquarters" where Dunkelmann's
block now stands:
In January the Baptist church was Or
ganized, with nine constituent members.
Rev. Quincy was subsequently called
to the passionate of the church, and Hora-
ito Marsh to the deaconship. Of the con-
stituent membership only one remains in
the church-Dea. H. Marsh,
The council of June 20, 1855, found all
the preliminary steps had been properly
taken, and instituted the church in due
form. It had then a membership of IS.
Meanwhile Pastor Quincy moved into
Austin, and built with his own hands
house at the foot Of Main street, where
he resided until the time of his death.
Hitherto Elder Quincy had supported
himself by his own efforts, with such
assistance as came from friendly dona-
tons, but IN 1859 and 1860 salary of
$500 was secured for him, the Baptist
Home Mission Society paying $500 of
this.
April q, 1899. a q the first baptism,
During this yeaif four others were re,
ceived by baptism and ten by letter.
Five Of these new members lived in the
town of Moscow, and services were held
occasionally In the east school house.
This was the beginning Of the Oakland
branch. The church now numbered 20
members.
In 1881 it was decided to attempt the
building of q church edifice. Pledges to
the amount of $500 were secured by Elder
Quincy. The present church site was
R!deF Kmorx Gale, superintendent Of
the Baptist Minnesota State Missions,
went into the woods on Geo. Remis' place
and felled the first tree for the new church.
The trench was dug for the foundations,
and some timber drawn upon the ground.
Here Elder Gurney's work was arrest
ed by failing health, and on the 18th of
November he resigned the passionate.
Rest brought no increase of strength, and
on the morning of June "a, 1852 his spirit
took its flight. He was a man of thor
ough culture, amiable analities, and held
ja hi i|yb. esteem SI by all wao knew him. His
Meanwhile Rev. H. ]. Parker, lately of
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, deslroas Of Eeca'
e Aa asSg sa s Ct pHas5sTss s.
his son and daughter. came to Austin in
January, 1851. The departure of his son
for the seat of war put On end to the pro:
ieet ct q apha0ll, and at the resignation Of
Nlder durney, by the request both of the
retiring pastor and the church, Elder Par.
ker assumed the second passionate.
Nothing was done in the way of build