Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-02-27
At th. p..,hl,elian chur,l,.

Sabbath was a great day with our
Presbyterian friends. 1t was reception
day for the new members. The pulpit
platform was tastefully arranged with
cut flowers and beautiful ferns. Con-
spicuous was the communion table on
which were placed the elements used in
celebrating the Lords Supper. In the
rear we're two rows Of chairs, one for the
ministers and the other for the eldership
CT the church, consisting Thos. Oliver,
Jas. Bell, W. D. Stanley. W. Burnside,
DIR. X. l.. Harris, ID. l.. Thomas, and W..
ii. Cowles. The service was opened by
joyful organ prelude. The pipe organ
never seemed to sound 80 sweetly,and the
doxology was never more heartily sung.
The devotional services were conducted
by Rev. Z. E. Reed, Of Storm Lake,
President of Buena Vista College and
Rev. E. b. Cousins. The reception OF
members was on this wise; fret those
who had never been baptized. w. ii.
Cowles the clerk OF the Sc ssion callt d
the roll of those who had not been
baptized. Sixty-four responded by APP
pearipg before the pulpit rostrum and
received at the hands Of the pastor the
rite OF baptism, the seal OF church
membership. Then those who had been
received by the session and had been
baptized came forward. There were
50 Of these including those received by
letter total of 1913 $40 these the pastor
addressed few well chosen words anc
/ presented to each Of them an elegant
reception card, and pronounced then
members of the church. Before they
took their seats the new members joined
hands and united with the congregation
in singing; "Blest be the tie that binds
After this seven children received tn
sacrament of baptism. This was follow
ed by that most sacred rite Of the
christian church-the sacrament of the
Lords Supper, the pastor presiding, read.
ing the scriptural warrant, Offering the
dedicatory prayer, Rev. e. f. Ree(
administering the bread and Rev. e. ID
Cousins the cup, the elements being dis
tributed by the elders. The servic,
closed by singing Sweet the moments
rich in blessing" and the apostolic bene
diction. Thus ended the most remark
able service known in the history OF tn
Presbyterian church OF Audubon. II
was such a scene as would cause angel
to weep for Joy and will certainly abide
with the participants and spectators 81
long as memory endures. A few facts
about the membership thus received
They were not all the fruits Of the Sun
day meetings. Quite a number hat
resolved on this step before Mr.. Sunda.
came; and still larger number did mo-
take public stand during the meetings
As to the age the oldest was n and the
youngest was eight years old. There
were but two Of this age. Concerning
the age OF those received on confession
these facts are suggestive: 2 we're owe
GO; were between SO and GO; Is wer
between 40 and 80; % were between &c
and 40; 20 were between 20 and 30
Is between Is and 20; II between Is anC
IL and Is under u. OF the 1913 Their
are 50 heads OF families. At the nom
ing service the large auditorium wa
packed and it was well filled in tn
evening when Rev. E. Z. Reed preache,
a most excellent sermon on 1.-THE New
Life" A large chorus choir led the
singing in most acceptable manner
The Session will convene for the recep
ton of new members next Sabbath al
1870 in the study. A number hav
expressed their purpose to unite witt
the church at THE time. ~