The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-05-13
EIGHTY YEARS YOUNG.
DR.. I. o. Kemble Celebrates a Not
able Occasion.


associates Doctor and Mrs. Kemble
had planned for a quiet family reun-
ion at their home No. BIG North Mar
ket street. Dinner was served for a
small company OF immediate relatives
There were present the daughters,
Miss Winnifred Kemble OF Denver and
Mrs. Max w. Babb of Milwaukee to-
gether with Mr.. Babb and their two
children Winifred and Irving and
members of the Kemble family resi-
dent in OskaloOsa. Rev. Kemble had
been remembered in a handsome way
! by friends and family members, an
elegant easy chair and a splendid Ii
brary desk being among the offerings.
Letters and postcards, words of con.
graduation and Fluctuations arrived
| by personal messenger and by every
mail during the day. Numerous friends
and acquaintance called at the KEN
! bic home to offer personal cOngratula-
tons and the day throughout was one
OF happiest character.
With the later afternoon house came
the OskalooSa Ministerial Association
of which Rev. Kemble is president,
chosen to it's leadership through sew
eral successive terms of service, and
spent a most enjoyable hour with the
honored minister. 1t was a semi-form-
al reception of happiest character.
Rev. Alexander McFerran, senior
member of the association, as chair
man of special committee, appoint
led to prepare set OF resolutions in
commemmoration OF the event ad-
dressed Rev. Kemble as follows:
Oskaloosa, Iowa,
May q, 1915.
Rev. Ira o. Kemble, ID. d.,
OskaloOsa, Iowa.
Honored Father and Brother: The
association of your brethren in the
ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ con-
graduates you on the attainment OF
your eightieth birthday AS this ex-
Iperience is SO very new to you, 1t is
our prayer that you may live long and
grow used to thinking of yourself as
an "Octogenarian only hoping that
ii may not have too SOLDERING an effect
on your life for we wish you to re-
main among us still as one that is full
of The Spirit"
We are glad at this time to express
Ito you our appreciation OF the kindly
relations sustained between yourself
and the ministerial Association" 1t
lis a rare experience your brethren
are enjoying in having one of such
ripe age and experience prove himself
the true friend, the safe counselor
and a raj leader in all the affairs that
pertain TO the work of the Christian
ministry in this community. You have
wisely presided over us in counsel, alb.
ly represented us on public occas
ions and stood before the community
a truly gracious Christian gentleman
We have all been enriched thereby.
We bear testimony to the very
Christian courtesy of your whole bear
ing toward your younger bretheren in
the ministry, even when they differ
very radically from you in theological
beliefs. Your evident desire to under
stand, without attempt to cOntrOyert,
has afforded an example of the Christ
like spirit that only one who has for
long lived close to the Master can dis
play.
When Browning said:
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last OF life for which the first
was made"
We wish to say that we want liter
ally to grow old like you. The Apostle
Isays And now abideth faith, hope,
love" and it is inspiring to us to see
the abiding reality of faith SO clear,
a hope so high, and a love so dear.
Should Providence grant to any of us
long life, may its latter end be that
quality of good will and charity to all
mankind that has so endeared our re-
lations these past years and given to
hn am YllIT ~ on MI nf
Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ Taber.
nacling among us in visible form.
Very Cordially yours,
Alexander McFerran, Conn
Doctor Kemble replied, in appreciat
i've way to the kind words and the
sentiment expressed. He said he could
mot realize that he was so far along
life's way. He felt as young and &C
tive, as much inclined toward service
and duty as in previous years. And ii
is the wish of all that this genial and
whole souled gentleman and citizen
man continue in the ways that have
} long known his effort and endeavor.
, Fifty years ago this fall, in Septem
) Der, 1865, Rev Iro o. Kemble received
} his first appointment, to the charge al
; Pella at the hands of the Iowa" Con
ference of the Methodist Episcopal
, church. He has been in constant ser
vice since that date, half century OF
D labor and service. This therefore Is
| the minister's semi-centennial year, a
| record that Is not given to all pastors
) While not continuously a resident Of
Oskaloosa Rev. Kemble has long re
: garled Oskaloosa as his home place
) and here his earlier work was out
lined and some of his best service rem
dered. He taught the first high schoo
in Oskaloosa in a building that was
on the site of the present Baptist
, church, Second avenue and Third
street. Miss Etiie Hoffman Rogers and
her associates of that day were his
pupils. And the veteran teacher is fiji
and able to this day, ready to assume
. Responsibilities and to tighten the bur
dens that fall TO the lot OF his people
, Ten years ago, Rev. Kemble and
his excellent wife resumed residence
] lin Oskaloosa, Rev. Kemble returned
, from active work in the ministry bu
in name only for he has been as active
ly engaged in supply work as though
, regularly in charge and the influence
, of his work and words is for reaching
J 0skaloosa friends and Acquaintance