Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-08-10
Congregational Church Reopening.

For the weeks past the members
of the Extra Congregational church
have been busily engaged in remod-
cling and identifying their place of
worship. The work began three
months ago when a new roof took
the place of the one put there twenty
seven years ago. The old windows
were replaced with beautiful stained
glass, and all the woodwork within
replaced with beautiful hard pine,
finished in hard oil. The floor was
covered with new carpet, covering
the entire floor, even to the outer
door. To accomplish all this need
ed united effort, and to accomplish
/ this end all faithfully labored, and
every branch of the church was
brought into active service. The
church in general raised money to
buy material and pay for labor on
improvements. The Ladies' Aid
Society took as their part the car
peting and otherwise identifying
the inside of the house. To the
Christian Endeavor Society was
committed the work of procuring
new organ to take the place of the
a quarter of a century. To accomp-
more than six hundred dollars, but
each department went steadily on
with the one object in view
To plan is one thing, to execute is
another, but these people seem to
possess the faculty of both plan
ming and executing for when the
time of reopening came, on Sunday
morning the pastor was ready to an
nounce that no collection of money
was necessary at that time for that
matter had already been attended
to, and the expenses of re1nodeling
and identifying the church had
been provided for.
To add to the pleasure of the occa-
sion the Methodist brethren had
withdrawn their usual morning
service and united with their Con-
gregational brethren in rejoicing
over their finished work, and thus
Strengthening. the bonds of true
brotherhood and exemplifying the
true christ spirit. Rev. Nichols, of
the Methodist church, assisted Rev.
Wissler in the reopening program,
which consisted of the usual morn
ing song service, responsive read
ings and sermon, followed with the
reception of number of members
into the fellowship of the church
and communion.
At the close of the services the
pastor thanked all who in any way
had helped the church to accom-
plish its purpose. To the commit
tee that has thus tried to faithfully
serve the church is due the thanks
of all. To the Ladies Aid Society
is due special credit for their la bors,
and last but not least to the Chris
tan Endeavor Society and those
many friends who, though not
members of the society, and many
who were not members of the
church, have had special part in
procuring the fine new>organ and
provided tor other needed improve
1nents. To all who have helped we
would again say thank you, and
God bless you. To those who could
not contribute money, but who did
contribute labor, we are as much in
debted as to those who gave the
money. The pastor wishes special
ly to thank the young men and
boys who are not members of the
church for their cordial support in
this work and hopes that each one
supporting the work may find it a
comfort and blessing to him.
One of the features that added
pleasure to the reopening service
was large picture of the founder
of this church, Deacon Lyman Bush.
This picture had been ordered by
the Endeavor Society and placed in
the church on Saturday afternoon.
To Deacon Bush largely belongs