The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-23
CHAS- F. SCOTT
R.v 1rwin,s Quar- er-CentenniaI.

The celebration of the quarter-cen-
tennial of the pastorate of the Rev. ;.
NJ. Irwin over the Presbyterian church
at Geneva, Kansas, deserves more
than a passing notice. 1t is thought
that this is the longest continuous
pastorate in the same church that has
= occurred in the State of Kansas.
The little town of Geneva, where
this church is located, is place of
historic interest. 1t was settled in
1859 by colony from the State OF New
York who located there ia the interest
of freedom and free soil i'm the days OF
'border ruffianism" in this State.
These colOnists brought with them
not only their hatred of African slav-
cry but also deep sense of religious
obligation and determination to
make what was then the Territory of
Kansas free not only politically but
reIigiously as well. They brought
with them minister of the Gospel
and at once began the work of found
ING the church and the school. At
first without dwelling houses, they
camped on the prairie and met for
worship i'm the grove, Goods first tenn
ple." With unwavering faith and
unf1inching perseverance they held on
their way, and some of them live to-
dav to see Kansas, the land of their
adoption, a State in the front rank, if
not clearly the leader of all the States
i'm thorough Christian evangelization
and in every moral reform.
In 1867 the Rev. :. NJ. Irwin, then a
yeung man but one year out of the
Theological Seminary, accompanied
by his accomplished wife, native of
st. Louis, came to Geneva. On Sep
TENDER 16 of that year he organized a
PRESBYTERIAN church there, of (which
he has been pastor ever since. During
the first year of his passionate he labor
ed also in the capacity of teacher
and in due time organized an academy
of which he was principal for several
wears. Through his eXertiOns beauti-
full and extensive grounds were secur-
ed and large and commOdiouS build
ing for the academy was erected. In
this building the quarter-centennial
exercises were held. The failure OF
the town to improve as was expected,
the lack of endowment and the rapid
development of the public school sys-
tenn have united to operate against
the success of this institution. But
the effort was laudable one and its
influence for good has by no means
been lost. A number of teachers were
educated in that school and five OF
Mr.. Twins pupils entered the Gospel
ministry.
Mr.. Irwin has during these p years
given but one-half of his time to the
church at Geneva, preaching during
the other half at various points in the
surrounding country. Although his
support in this field has been very
scant and Inadequate, he has received
but little aid from any other source.
and his salary at no time has eXceedi
ed $500. Content to labor where hf
thought God had placed him, he has
never sought another field.
On last Friday a gOOdly number as
sembled in the academy building "
celebrate the qUarter-centennial oil
this pastOrate. The program as pub
lished in the REGISTER was rendered
with one exception. The addresses
were pointed and appropriate. The
missionary society was well represent
ed in a paper read by Mrs. Spencer
in which the fact was brought TO light
that this society owed much OF lis
success to Mrs. Irwin, who has been
its efficient President since its organ
ization nearly nine years ago. The
choir rendered excellent music which
added much to the enjoyment of the
occasion. Many expressions of devOut
thankfulness to the Head oftheChurcl
for mis- providential protection and
merciful guidance during these years
oflabOr were heard, and the audience
separated, each one thankful that
he had been permitted to participate
in the celebration of this memorable
event. y.