Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-04-16
FESTIVAL OF "REMINISCENCES.
Exercises Observed in Biddi ,g Farewell
to the Old M. L. Church Ediicc,- His.
torical Synopsis by a. II. Roberts.
Rev Armstrong; "reminiscences.


Rev. Armstrong; "reminiscences.
Fare you well old house! you're naught that
can feel or see
But YOU seem like a human beinga dear old
friend TO me-
The closing services in the old NJ. Il.
church rs arranged by the pastor began
last Wednesday evening by sermon
from Rev. L. b. Dunn, from Matt. XVI
chapter, Is verse.
Thursday evening Rev. j. Ii. Harris
appeared before u crowded house who
listened to a plain, practical sermon
from Heb. III chapter, verse directing
his thought more particularly to christ
ians, warning against drifting" from
the doctrines and principles of Christ.
Friday night Rev. A. w. Armstrong
delivered his lecture Granite Founda-
tions," to a small but appreciative AN
dience. The lecture sparkled with gems,
Impractical truth for young and old. Al
though Sunday morning was rainy and
disagreeable and the congregation as u
consequence small, Rev. Armstrong
preached an excellent sermon from
Heb, nj chapter and II verse.
Sunday evening the house was over
crowded, many not being able to gain
entrance. After Introductory services
in which Reys. Dickinson and Smith
participated, Rev. A. w. Armstrong
gave
"REMINISCENCES OF THE WORK DURING
HIS PAsToRATE IN AUDUBON, $3.50
of which the following synopsis is
furnished us:
Rev. Armstrong began by saying that
I... l... 10. N
owing to n lack of written data he would
have to depend largely upon memory.
That quite q margin must be allowed
him, but that the historian which was
to follow him should adhere to facts.
Old friends when they meet delight to
talk over old times and SO he would
gossip q while about the old things.
Audubon was his second charge and he
was the first Methodist preacher ap'
pointed to this place. lie had been pre-
ceded by Rev. John w, Lewis, now
preaching in Nebraska, and he had been
preceded by Rev. Geo. ii. Detwiler, who
| Is doing very successful work rs an
Evangelist, but both had been appoint
ed to Hamlin circuit. Rev. Armstrong
| told how he had been at Macedonia, be.
fore coming here, what nice people he
| III HOW IlutH ntu Hiot
year in the Des Moines Conference. The
nth session of Il Des Mo mes Annual
Conference met in old Fifth st. Des
Moines, where he Ind been ordained a
local deacon and appointed September
LIST, 1885, by Bishop William l.. Harris
to Audubon. lie was much gratiied
with this appointment, the outlook for
success was excellent and he came after
a few days respite by wagon To Atlantic,
the balance OF the way by rail- llegaye
u graphic description of the spotted
broncho pony, paying a glowing tribute
to his virtues and described the first i'm
pressions on entering the New Eldora-
do. lie spoke of the welcome given
him by Brother a. ii. Roberts, and the
hospitality rendered him at the hands
of that gentleman and his good wife,
lie spoke of the newness of everything
save the native grass which grew In
luxuriant tangles all up and down
Broadway. Audubon, he said, was IN
infant of only few months growth but
healthy, hearty and the pride Of all her
inhabitants. The Van Gorder banking
house was the only brick completed and
occupied. Capt. Chas. Stuarts brick
building was being erected, also the
prospective court house. The Walker
House consisted of only the rear part.
The postmaster, editors, newspapers and
the people, were mentioned in kindly
terms. He spoke of the list of names
of original members handed him by his
predecessor which he gave in full. lie
spoke Of the yari0ns appointments on
the Circuits, the long rides, the hospital
ity of the members. or his introduce
tory sermon at Irwin, and the reason IL
was not repeated at Viola; Of his first
sermon in the first school house In Au-
dubon, September 2lst, 1870, from the
text, I'm my Fathers house are many
mansions;" of the first funeral he'd on
the charge by him at Mt Diggs school
house the following Wednesday; of the
first funeral service he held in Audubon,
November 9Th; of the county seat fight
and the removal Of the records from
Extra; of his boarding at Walkers and
his experience at self-boarding; how the
newspapers said, "Rey, A, W, Arm
strong Is getting quite intimate with
Kate" exciting the curiosity of the
country members; gave the times at
which the various quarterly services
were held and the new members that
had been added to the church; the ser,
vices were held through December in
the new court house; his first wedding
in the county occurred November eth
out in Viola township; about Christmas
time they became more numerous great
ly to his delight; he spoke Of tho man
moth Christmas tree In the court house
and the fine spirit that prevailed at that
time among the churches and in the
community; commended the generosity
and christian unity that seems to have
always prevailed this place: spoke of
the long, hard tedious canvas for sub
scriptions to this old church building
of how he had written the presiding ell
der about repeating his sermon which
proved an unwise venture; of how he
was surprised one morning in April
1880, ut finding his brother in town. her,
he took occasion to get even with thai
selfsame brother for the treatment Civ
EN- him in early childhood and boyhood
and gave the people to understand thai
he was the older although often taken
for the younger; he spoke of the yaca
ton granted him in tia m9nth lf May
, his visit to General Conference and Tn,
scenes of his early childhood; he read
the last report he made Of the work or
the charge in full which indicated sue
cess along all lnesi he smoke Of the frs
wedding where Invitations were sen
out, that of John A. Nash and Gerti'
Russell and pronounced high encomi
um on the character of the late Dr
Nash, fathDr Of the groom who perform
ed the ceremony, attended camp meet
ing at Bear Grove, preaching on Sunda.
afternoon TO large congregation CAV
ludicrOus description of the mali
r characteristic of the Viola folks ant
the "throe habiss' which the aHdienc
) highly appreciated, especially thoS
from Viola present who had witnesse,
t the scene; he closed his pastorate AM
preached his final sermon in the cas-
room on tho second floor Of the thel
J new school building September 10Th
!, 1880, from the text, an my Father
house are many mansions he left TIN
charge carrying In his hsart tender an
: precious memory of all with whom h
I had been associated.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF TIE CHURCH u
) AUDUBON.
The present time is truly an epocn q
G the history OF Audubon Mbthodisn