Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-20

ing IN 1852, because the Methodists were
IN the field with their church work, and
also on account of the high price of lum-
Der. Total membership in December, 1862,
IS.
AS the town of Austin was growing
rapidly in population it was deemed eX-
pedient to resume work upon the church
edifice. 1t was decided to build 50x28,
and the contract was let. What with
loans and sales of pews the building was
completed in the early winter of 1868.
Services were first held in the edifice Sun
day, January 18th, 1854.
sum of $3.50 was raised by festivals, and
the church furnished with stoves and car
pets. The building was formally dedi-
Gated June Il, 1864.
The Baptists and COngregationalists
occupied the house alternate Sundays for
two years.
A Union Sunday School was conducted
by w. w. Cook This was the first Sun
day School in Mower county, being Or
ganized in 1858, with Hermann r. David
son as its first Superintendent.
On the Esd Of April, 1855, union memo
rial services in honor of President Abra.
ham Lincoln were held in the church.
Mrs. Parker, the wife of Elder Par
ker, died August 10th of the same year.
In Decemb sa 1885. the membership had
In 1856, the Congregationalists having
gone to the brick school house, the pres
ent NJ. E. Chapel, the church voted to
have Elder Parker preach every Sunday.
In August the bell in present use was
hung in the belfry.
In 1867 the Episcopalians occupied the
church Sunday afternoons, and continued
so to do until their church was built in
1858.
Nothing of special interest occurs for
some time. A steady growth was main
tanned until the membership in Deosm-
Der, 1871, had reached 100.
In 1872, 80 members were dismissed to
form the Window church.
On Nov. 18th Elder Parker left with
his family for the Pacific coast fer six
IN Onths' vacation.
This proved finally to be the end of his
eleven years.
During his time of service the church
received 1855 additions, of which Is were
by baptism and so by letter and expert
ence.
After going to California, Elder Parker
labored one year and half with the Bap-
list church at Visalia, four years at Santa
Barbara, and five years at Santa Ana.
There as here he was highly respected and
influential. He received the degree of
Doctor of Divinity, and was honored with
the Presidency of the California Baptist
State Convention for 1898. He has now
retired from the passionate, but will preach
as opportunity offers.
There was no regular pastor until Sep
TENDER, 1878, when Rev. G. T. Emerson
was called to the third pastorate. After
ministry of one year, during which %
Elder Emerson resigned. He was subse
quently pastor at Riceville, Iowa, and
Moorhead, Mimi, at which last point
he died August 9, 1881, aged Ga.
Nov. 8, 1874, Rev. G. D. Belden preach
ed in Austin for the first time. On the
18th he received a unanimous call to the
18th passionate of the church, which position
he filled in a most satisfactory manner for
over seven years. In November, 1881,
Elder Belden having been elected Superin-
tendent of schools for Mower comfy, re.
signed his passionate greatly to the regret
of the church. During his pastorate,
there were 119 additions to the church. of
which number 81 were by baptism. The
church was without regular pastor until
October, 1882, when Rev. w. E. Stanley
was called to the fifth pastorate, and
entered upon the duties of his office at
once. We find the aggregate number Of
admissions to the church during the %
years of its existence to have been $40.
OF these 1876 remain OF the 205 names
stricken from the roll, death has claimed
80. Over $50 have taken letters to join
other Baptist churches in numerous
states and territories, more particularly
in western Minnesota and Dakota.
| The true success of church must be
judged not by its record for any one year,
but by it's general history and progress,
A careful review of the annals Of the
church reveals spirit of constant pro-
erosion and faithful work. Discourage
ments and trials have played their part,
but thanks to the conservative and chris.
tian spirit of those intrusted with the
management of affairs state of peace
and hopefulness prevails
| An afternoon session devoted to short
addresses by the older members was held
at two o'clock, This exercise was very
enjoyable, and at times deeply affecting.
While some remained to tell the story OF
the privations of early days. more had
laid down the burdens of life and gone to
their eternal homes. Dea. Marsh and
wife, Judge Allen, Mr.. Cowan, and others
presented vivid pictures Of the scenes
which occurred in Austin and vicinity :
quarter of century ago. Mrs. Luther
Smith presented an original poem of rare
Although the weather was unpropitious
preventing the attendance of large
number from the country, yet it was ar
occasion of great interest to those who
participated, and reveals spirit of deer
earneStncss and faith that argues we'll for