Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1907-07-18
CLOSE OF MINISTRY.
Elder Pallister Delivers his Parting
Message to the Members and
Friends Of the Christian
Church.
The Methodist People Together with
their Pastor attend the Service.

of the Christian church was delivered
last Sunday morning to congrega.
tion which filled the main audience
room of the church and was listened
to with the closest attention. Rev. j.
A. Howard, the Methodist minister,
together with his people, manifested
their Christian fellowship by being
present on the occasion.
Taking as the foundation for his re-
marks Pauls parting words to the ell
ders of the church at Ephesus, as found
in the 20th chapter of the Book of
Acts, from the 18th to the 28th verses
inclusive, Mr.. Pallister proceeded by
carefully ordered steps to the conclu-
sion of his sermon, so much OF the
latter as pertained to matters of 10.
cal nature appearing below -
:" 1t affords me sincere pleasure in
this farewell sermon to testify to the
unity and harmony which have pre-
vailed among the members of This
church. Not from the first Lords day
we occupied this pulpit down to the
present time, has y single word been
said in reference to finance. We simp-
ly tried to see all the members and
have them pledge themselves to give
per week the amounts they felt able to
give, furnishing them with numbered
and dated envelopes which Lords day
after Lords day they nave deposited in
the baskets passed at the close of the
communion service, and thus kept the
preacher in ample funds, be frequently
peing overpaid.
"Tne truth is that this congregation
was never in as good financial condjt-
ion as it is to day. In the treasury of
the Ladies' Aid Society there is a sur
plus of $50; In the treasury of the En-.
deavor Society there is . surplus of
$36; in the treasury of the Bible
while in the fund from which
the preachers salary is drawn there
is a surplus of $34.lO. The total
amount in the several treasures to the
credit of the church is $l27.O2. This
we take to be y very commendable
showing, something we'll nigh I'M
heard of in the history of the churches
in Extra.
During the past year the sum
raised by this congregation for all pur-
poses has been in the neighborhood of
5000. New hymn books have been
bought and the music question solved,
our present organist, mrs. P. M. Chris
Jensen, and the chorus choir, render
ing most excellent and acceptable SER
vice. The Bible School, under the
efficient superintendency of Mrs Mer-
tie Lair, has been and still continues
to be joy and an inspiration. The
prayer meeting, while not by any
means what it might aud ought to be,
has been to the few faithful ones, as
| we'll as to the pastor and his wife, a
source of untold spiritual strength.
The Endeavor Society has had some
what chequered career, the number
attending varying from six to sixteen.
The Ladies' Aid Society, to which
Mrs. Pallister has devoted her ener-
s;es, has been and is an unqualified
success. In reference to the preach
ing we have nothing to say, save that
the congregations generally have been
large and encouraging.
"Our relations with the pastors of
the other churches have been frank
and cordial, the presence of the Meth
odist minister this morning, together
with his people, speaking in this re-
gard louder than words. While de-
claring the whole truth az revealed in
the Scriptures, we have ever spoken it
in love, at no time INDUCING in harsh
terms toward those who do not see re.
ligiously as we see.
I'VE have never lived in q more
generous community. "The Audubon
County Journal" our local paper, has
been to us exceptionally liberal, plac.
ing at our disposal, week by week, all
the space needed to interest the people
in the affairs of the church. Indeed
the multiplied kindnesses shown to
my good wife and myself by all class
es, during our sojourn here, will never
be forgotten. Therefore, repeating the
apostles benediction: I'VE commend
every one of you to God and to the
word of his grace, which is able to
build you up and to give you an in.
heritance among all them that are
sanctified.'"
| Remarks expressive of keen regret
at the going away of the Elder and
his wife were made by Rev. j. A.
Howard, j. H. Bell, Oscar Hunt, /. p.
Whitfield and N. P. Christensen, after
which the congregation sang:
"God be with you
TIL we meet again.
and everybody passed around and
gave Mr.. and Mrs. Pallister the part.
ing hand wishing Heayen,s richast