The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-09-05
THE B4PTISTS.
Interesting Letter from a Form
er Resident.
NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA,

August 10, 1901.
Dear Sister PGImer:-I have received
your letter, as one Of the committee, ETC.,
requesting that / write something for the
Fiftieth Anniversary Of the Oskaloosa Bap-
tist Association, to be held with your
church the last of this month. The asso-
citation had made five years of history,
nearly, before came to Oskaloosa or there
was a Baptist Church organization in the
town. have recently, and quite incident
ally, learned that several years before the
church was constituted a Rev. Mr.. Post
had held services in Oskaloosa, more or
less hut no effort it seems, was made to
form a church. 1t was some years later
stll!, in the year 1855, that Rev. ]. G.
Bowen think was the name-came and
preached for time, but the outlook was
SO discouraging that he either failed to
obtain aid from the Home Mission Society
or did not deem it expedlent to ask the
societ' for aid l do not remember which
he told me it was In either case, he be-
came discouraged In that regard, and &C.
cepted secular position temporarily, in
order TO provide for his family a support.
In my first visit to 0skaloosa, in Septem-
Der. 1856, ! spent an evening with Bro.
Bowen and family. He told me a pathetic
story Of the attempt, the self-denial, and
the obstacles encountered in order to lay
foundation for a Baptist churcn in os-
kaloosa, and his reasons for abandoning
the effort, etc
In the following November-the fore
noon of the Both day of the month-as we
were driving from Fremont, where we stay
ed the night previous, we met Rev. obed
Sperry with hi steam, conveying Bro
Bowen, with family and goods to Dan
willie. | think 1t was. AS we met and re.
newed acquaintance had met Bro. Sper-
ry, also, preyiously-they both urged that
as We were on our way to Pela, as our
objective point for the winter, that l
should take special interest in the few
Baptists in oskaloosa, and try to organize
theta into a church. The latter part of
December, about a month after arriving at
Pcila, few brethren came to Oskaloosa
and constituted the church of seven men,
bers. In the following April the Lord, in
the plainest way, sent us to Oskaloosa
But really He intended this, I believe, when
we left Chicago! Though, as when the
Master left Judea, and departed again in.
to Gslilee, and He must needs go through
Sansria," so it seemed we came to Oska-
loosa through" or via, Pella!
The first meeting of the association that
attended was in 1856, held with the Lib
ertyyille church. At this melting the Os-
kaloosa church was admitted into the asso-
citation. I remember that a brother, Peter
Gof. who had a large home--two- story
brick-and big heart, provided for the
larger part Of the attendants.
The meeting was held in a grove and
had much Of the character of a camp-meet-
ing In that early day, in Iowa generally
and In the Oskaloosa association especially
very few Baptist churches had meeting
houses, and for several years the annual
meetings were held in school or private
houses or in groves. During the meeting
referred to-1S56-the matter Of procur-
inG tent for the special meetings Of the
association was discussed in earnest and a
committee was appointed to consider and
obtain information on the subject How
ever. within a very few years the churches
began to build chapels, and thus the an
nua! meetings were provided for without a
tent.
The history Of the past fifty years of the
Oskaoosa Association has in 1t much that
Is Of very great interest to Baptlsts par
ticuIarly. The advance In all lines of
Christian activity has been marked, and
every way encouraging. The territory In
cluGed in 0skaloosa Association at its or
ganization was really the frontier How
charged today! There are few If any por-
tons Of Iowa more thoroughly improved or
more productive the population more in
telligent and prosperous enterprlsing and
devoted to the educational interests of the
rising generation. And with this all,
there comes now an important problem to
be considered by the churches, aud indi-
vidual members of the association. VIII
there be, in the coming years, an apprecia-
tion OF the Lords favor so slgnally mani
fest as In the half century just passed,
and the acquired knowledge experience
and wonderfully improved advantages and
facilities for aggressive gospel work, so as
to meet the greatly increased responsible
ties and wider opportunities to do for the
Master. and for soulsl
am sure that the churches of the asso-
citation are not behind those Of any other
Baptist body Of believers In Iowa In ZEAL
enthusiasm and conservation to Christ
Nor, in my judgment, will they, in the
next fifty years, eyince less Intelligent
comprehension Of the words of our Lord
that "the field is the world" Had there
beer, in the hfty years gone by only the
marrow view of Christian activity that
takes in, for the most part. little beyond
associational limits, there would not, on
this Fiftieth Anniversary occasion, be such
enforcement to rejoice over, 1t Is scarcely
needed, in these days, to assert that as a
sure means of prosperity in our local
churches there must be the caring for "the
region beyond"-to the ends Of the eartu.
arr quite sure that this missionary spirit
has had largely to do In the attainment of
the present position Of oskaloosa Assocla-
ton
'Thc fathers-where are theyy" The
majority Of those who formed this assotla-
tlon have rested from their labors.r "
they could come back In the body aud nc
hold what has occurred du,ing these efty
years. would they not exclaim; what