The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-09-19
CHURCH OF CHRIST.
Delegates Report of the Annual
Convention.

The annual convention of the
Church of Christ of Iowa, was held
in Cedar Rapids Sept. to IL. Fol-
lowing is the report made &C Stone
Chapel by the delegates from Oska-
loosa:
THE Church of Christ" is the lega
name of this body of Christians, generally
known as Christians or Disciples OF Christ
whose distinctive plea or aim is inc unior
of all true followers Of Christ by the re
lection of all man-made creeds and names
and the carrying out of the following prin
ciples "In Faith unity, In Opinion and
Methods liberty in all things. emarUy.'
This principle is now practically accepted
today by all bodies of divided Protestant
ism.
The convention above referred to was or
ganized at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, fOrtySiS
years ago, in June, at the very time the
writer of this came to the state. He was
present at that convention and has kept in
close touch with it ever since, always at
tending its annual meetings when possible
either in his own person, or that of his
wife.
The convention was at first organized to
preach the primitive gospel of Christ in
destitute places in Iowa, and to aid weak
churches in the state and to promote Chris
tian education and not to legislate or dis
ciplne. or tell its members for what candi
dates or what political parties to vote
Since its formation, Christian Missions, at
home and abroad, Sunday schools, Chris
tian Endeavor, the Women's Board of Mis-
sions Church Extension, Ministerial Re
liefs, Asylums for Orphans. Old Peoples
Retreats have been added to the scope OF
the convention.
The development in these various lines
of practical work and ourN increase in pub
lie favor and church membership in those
46 years are most noteworthy. At the be
ginning of this period the church member
ship did not exceed two or three thousand a;
now 1t is over 10000, giving us rank next
to the MethOdists in the state: then we haC
no school, now we have the largest demon
national school in the state, with an en-
rollment last year Of over II 600 with at
almost certain prospect of 10000 next
then but one church in Mt. Pleasant Wa,
willing to invite one of our ministers Il
ill their pulpits that one did extend tn,
ter ignored the action of his church and at
tempted to fiji the pulpit himself, never Sc
much as speaking to Rev y. A. McOnelI
whom we had sent.
Thirty-One years ago when this same \
| A. McOnell tried all the churches in CedaI
Rapids to get the privilege Of preaching
the simple gospel of Christ he was refused
by all except the Presbyteriuns, and the!
granted the request on the condition tina
the church bell be not rung. Today. at GU
| last convention. the various Protestan
churches Wed with each other to see wh'
should honor us most The United Broth
rem church opened their fine house and fur
nished the finest dinners and supp.ers W
ever got at a convention. with little or II,
profit to their purse; the NJ L. churci
opened their splendid house. st. Paul
church, to us. night and day, and told u
to use il as we pleased all the EndeayOr
ers OF the city helped TO fill this spaciOu
building the last night, and those of tn
| Presbyterian church went onto the plat
| form with ours and made the music for tn
occasion besides many of our delegate
were lodged and breakfasted by the Othe
churches. Mayor Redmond in behalf o
!
n ial wecOme in very beautiful address
id was responded to by the pastor, Bro
Ruby, of the First Church Of Cedar Rapids
The convention was larger than ever before
more harmonious. enthusiastic and hopeful
than any convention ever attended in tn
staN by the writer. But we, like UChe
| Christian bodies assembled to devise way
and means to advance the kingdom of Jesu
| Christ, are annoyed by a few radicals, VIII
do not know the difference between churci
| and state. hence bring in resolutions as Il
| how men should vote, for whom they shOu
vote and for whom they should not vote
A strong resolution of that kind was intro
duced at Cedar Rapids, but IL was vOteC
down. after discussion, so almost unani
| mOusly that | hope hereafter, no resolution
| savoring OF party politics, and hence mo-
german to such convention will b.
offered Every voter should cast hGs baIlo
where lie thinks 1t will do the most goo
| for God and humanity. He is responsible
to God alona and not to his brother or an
convention. A Christian convention tina
attempts TO instruct its members how I
vote beyond this, lowers itself IN the est
| nation of all fair minded men. Many 9th
eF things OF general interest might be said
but / wish TO be brief, and hence mention
only one more. On Tuesday afternOOns a
the last meeting of the Womens Missionar
Board, auxiliary to the American Christian
Missionary Board that meets at Minnea
polls in October, there was presented to III
Women's Board of Iowa by the presiden
of the G. W. i. NJ. rare gift. lovely
highly educated and accomplished and con
secrared young lazy, Miss Florence Mills
of Des Moines. as a missionary to India
| The scene that followed l will not atemp
| TO describe. l never saw such a wave q
intense emotion and such floods OF tear
| from nearly everyone. present. as ther
The women present began to rise up with
| out being solicited 10 hand over bank bill
| for life membership. etc, till almost enoug
was pledged to pay the salary " the frs
| missionary Of the e. W. Il. VI. Of Iowa 1