Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-07-14
MELVILLE DEDICATION.


One of the most hopeful signs Of the
permanent growth of Audubon county
is the erection of many fine country
churches.
! On the day appointed your cores
pendent joined the moving throng from
Audubon toward Melville Center, the
sight of the new church. One half mile
north and six miles east of Audubon
take you along country road unsur-
passed for beauty and fertility.
The preliminary religious services
were held in the beautiful grove stu.
atcd ON the farm of Mr. Geo. Mccain.
The hospitality of this family was UNI
bounded, fully five hundred persons be-
ing present ut the morning services.
Rev, Knepper opened the services with
remarks in reference to the labor and
commendable services Of the commit
tee and people in building so well and
lasting in results. OF the personality
of the speaker il may be said he is a
host in himself in building up churches
when others have failed. That he has
done hard efficient labor in Audubon
county, no man can deny, He is a man
of eccentric habits, but the crowd goes
with Knepper and his friends are many
and are of the fighting kind and stay
with him to the last. He has preached
in every state and territory in the
Union and for five years occupied the
platform rs evangelist.
The sermon proper was delivered by
Rev. llgenfritz, of Audubon. The gen.
tleman took for his text, "And without
controversy, great is the mystery OF
Goodness. list Tim. 2,i6. For logic,
symmetry, forceof thought, illustration
and beauty, the writer has never heard
it surpassed, OF the personality of this
man it may be said, like all scholars
Rev. llgenfritz is modest in the ex
treme, he gently, smoothly and witt
faith sublime approaches each topi,
under consideration and one wishe,
that he might say moro and more. For
tunate indeed is Audubon with n mai
of such caliber to weekly administer e
the people,
After the sermon the collection nee
essary to lift the debt contracted In tn,
erection of the new church was takci
up. The aggregate debt including fur
niture, exceeded $500. This the goot
people of Melville provided for includ
irg gifts from prominent persons from
Audubon. From the latter place prob
ably one hundred were present. Messrs
Sharp, Bilharz, Russell, Cross, Marshall
Repass and families were present and
contributed largely in money to aid the
people of Melville In their church build.
ing. 1885 wese raised last Sunday
leaving q surplus OF $50.
The church itself stands near the
center of Melville on q commanding
view. The country around is inhabited
by many of the first and best families
in Audubon county. The free basket
dinner proyi led by this generous peo-
pie was simply immense in variety and
extent. The dedicatory services proper
were short, preceded by many pathetic,
touching testimonials. As one looked
over the faces of these country wor.
shippers they call up from our childish
memories tho forms of loved ones who
years and years ago passed the mystic
river to join the church triumphant
Prof. Repass rendered most beautiful
solo, it was inspiring and most appro-
pirate, The scripture conclusion, the
song, the prayer and the benedictlon
ended the day. lIomeward went the
throng, the memories Of the day will
long remain a perpetual benediction.