Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1911-11-16
TWO DAYS MEETING HELD
IN COMMUNICATION OF
HALF CENTURY MARK
Fulton. Mo-. Nov. 13

Nioohs AiO.i MY. L.
The members of the Old Auxyass
: Presbyterian Church, northeast {
this city celebrated the fift.eth ann
versary of the pastorate of Docto
John Fleming Cowan ofthat churcl
The exercises were opened saturda
morning, November IL, and win col
tinue over Sunday, Nov. u.
Auxvasse Church is socalled be
: cause 1t stands on high elevation
In big bend of the Auxvasse River
a name derived from the French. |
Is on the road between Williams
burg and McCredie in Galloway ooun
ty. The church was organized IL
1928 by pioneers from Kentucky ant
Virginia. Three buildings hav,
served the congregation as meetine
places. The first was built of logs
the second of brick in 1910 and the
third frame structure, erected in
1870 and still standing.
Rev. John F. Cowan became pas.
tor of the church in 1861, and was a
that time "a years old. He lived In
the country near the church until
his wife died and his daughter mar
ried. Since then-1SSS-he has lived
in Fulton, teaching modern language
at Westminster College, and continu-
fling to preach each Sunday at Aux
vase church.
He has preached to that congre-
CATION 2500 times and to other,church
es In revival meetings and occasional
visits, 1900 times, He has conducted
fifty revival meetings in various
churches during his pastorate at the
Old Auxvasse Church. To Auxvasse
Church during the fifty years he has
served 1t. 535 members have been
added, 200 children have been bap-
tized and 240 couples married. Fun
erals of 70 adult female members
have been conducted and 65 funerals
of male members Of the church, be-
sides those of many children.
A number of years ago the church
was divided into three parts. One
church organized in the town of Aux
vase and another on Nine Mile prai-
rie. DR.. Cowan continued only as
pastor of the original church, and
now known popularity aus the Old Aux
vase. The celebration. however, will
make them one again, and the Aux
vase and Nine-Nlile congregations
will unite with the mother church
in making it a memorable affair.
The first service of the celebra-
tion was held Saturday morning, op-
ening with song and Scripture rea
ing Elder B. NJ. Yates read the
church history and Elder j. NJ.
Tate made talk on the In
fluence the church has exerted in the
community. In this he paid great
tribute to the man whose record
stands out prominently in the relig-
ious history of the State of Mis-
souri,, The Old Auxassve Church is
regarded as the mother church Of |
many churches in this section of |
the country and the record of DR..
Cowan is probably uneaualed in the
West. Hll / II
DR.. Cowan favored the gathering
with a talk ON the Influence of the
women of the church and the person
Al character of some of them. Sat
lrday afternoon thel sermon was deli
9red by Rev, B. Y. George, d. d., |
who was a school friend of DR..
Cowan. DR.. George. is now pastor
of the Presbyterian Church at Elm
wood, Ill,
A Native of Missouri.
DR., Cowan was born at Potosi, Mo,
March 8, 1887. His father, DR.. John
;. Cowan, was a pioneer Presbyte-
ian minister, and he looked af-
er the early education of his chill.
iren in the absence of modern ed
lcational facilities. The subject of
his sketch attended Westminster Col
ege in Fulton and graduated in
S5S. He then went to Princeton
rheolooical Seminary, where a three
ears course fitted him for the min
stry. He returned to Missouri,
topping at Carondelet, at that time
he home of his father.
He reached ST. Louis Just as the
,ivil war was being waged the hard
st. His entry into the city was
lad without much trouble, but his
gress was stopped by the ironclads
# the martial law. DIR. Cowan had
sweetheart in Missouri who was
t that time foremost in his thoughts,
ut the military rules were stringent.
Ie remained in the Mound City
hree months.
When he finally secured his pass
orts, necessitatang a SeTiew of his
Whole life and his future plans, he
ook a boat for Louisiana, Mo. DIR.
'owan says he remembers distinctly
he "quizzing" to which he was sub
ected, the soldier taking his testi-
lony referring to him as man of
lite" hair. a
Rev. Cowan preached in Louisiana
short while and then went toHanni-
al. At the latter place he was rec
as pastor for the church
t Palmyra, Mo-, and he went there.
was while at Palmyra that he
earned that the synod would be in
ession and he determined that he
you'd go there. He met Col Rob
ut R. Buclmer of Galloway County
{ the synod, and the latter became
o impressed with the appearance of
he young divine that he requested
i'm to come to the Old Auxvasse
,hurch and supply the pulpit