Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-01-20
The Rev. Gertrude Won PetxoId M. A,
OF England

On January 9th, the people of Au.
dnbon and vicinity are TO have the
rare opportunity of hearing most
remarkable woman, woman of in
ternatioual fame, woman whom the
great cities of two continents have
delighted TO honor, the Rev. Ger
trude Won Petzold
Miss Won Petzold Is the frat woman
ordained TO tke ministry of religion
In England. She Is of German birth
being descended of an old Prussian
family. She received the greater
part of her education In Great
/ Britain and is a graduate of the Uni
versitg of Edinburgh and OF Man
| chester College Oxford. She com.
pleted her studies under the leading
tneologians of the University of Ber
! lin.
Miss Won Petzold Is also the first
woman that has ever been permitted
to preach In the Lutheran Church of
Germany. She held the pastorate of
the Free Christian Church of Leices.
ter, England, until she came TO this
country some months ago, Her lect-
ure for this occasion will be on the
great Scandinavian writer Henick
Ibsen, the subject being Modern
Problems from bsen" This will be
lecture on practical, every day les
sous OF life drawn from the writings
of Ibsen the great Teacher of Morals,
ne who teaches us that self.realiza-
tion Is self-negatiou, that the indi.
vidual has duty to the community,
the application being made to society
of today. We quote from Miss Won
IN Ia 10
courage and his whole hearted daring
that makes Ibsen 80 noole poet, so
great a man. In his first production
"Brand," he presents the ideal man
who has the courage TO go the whole
length of his convictions. In peer
Gyntn he pictures an impractical
dreamer who Is afraid of his convic.
tions: in "Ghosts" he shows how the
sins of the father may descend upon
his children; In "An E1emy of the
denouuces 1t as a hollow system of
compromise based on shams and pre-.
tense from which an honest man may
escape by waging deadly war against
it," Sarp, one of highlands great
daily papers: anyone who Is ac-
ouainted with Miss Won Petzold &C
knowledges the magnetism of her
fascinating personality. The calm,
spiritual nature of the woman 10 re-
| Elected In pale beautiful face, illum.
mated by the unmistakable light of
culture and refinement. She 10 a
gentle, lovable won an, with some
thing of the dreamy MYSTIC In her
com position. She Is richly endowed
with intellectual qualities and Is
possessed with attributes betting a
Christian minister Again, she ls
spoken of as gift to the people;
! they loved, admired and reverenced
| her In truth. She has proved a
source of inspiration to men as well
IA women. she whose influence has
for two years held together large
! Sunday afternoon meeting of work.
| ing men,"
We take this clipping from the
! Leicester Daily Post, upon closing
! her pastorate preparatory TO coming
| To America: "On Sunday evening
/ the Rev. Gertrude Won Petzold
preached her last sermon as minister
OF the First Christian Church. The
building was taxed TO its utmost
capacity, the choir stalls being in
vaded and close lines of chairs COW
ering every inch OF availa Dle space
down the aisles The occasion was a
severe ordeal to the preacher, and
behind the wonderful self-control one
! felt the pent-up emotion beating at
the barrier gates. AS the service
proceeded the self-control grew, not
tsteadier-it had never faltered but
stronger. Der text wasfrOm the 18th
chapter of st Paul's Epistle to the
Corinthians Love never faileth."
There was she said, no deeper law OF
life, II was greater than charity,
nobler than martyrdom.