Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-07-27
NEW METHODIST CHURCH
AT GRAY. IOWA

under consideration for some time
the Improvement of their church
building to meet the modern methods
! of church work. At first the money
was raised to put in a basement un-
der the church, but it was found that
the entire north wall of the church
had suffered a crack from one corner
to the other from the Easter storm OF
1913. The basement had to be
abandoned. Then a building COM
mittee was appointed and when they
decided that the church would not
permit of the basement, new church
was decided upon. The agreement
was that when $4,000 was subscribed
work should be started on the new
church. The subscription paper has
been steadily growing to that mark,
and now but few hundred dollars
needs to be subscribed. The building
committee, and the pastor, are in no
hurry.
1t seems that there has been long
time since the paper was started, but
those having the work in charge
think that all of those who want to
talk about what should go into the
church, and what should be left out
should have plenty of time to talk it
over. Better wait awhile, and let all
of the difficulties be seen and the talk
done before any work is begun. 1t
seems that so much talk must be in
dulged in, and since this will be the
only church builded in Gray for some
time, there should be given plenty of
time to make the mistakes before the
church is completed.
Gray needs, more than city needs,
a place for the social side of life.
There is scarcely any home in any
community that is large enough to
hold social, unless the guests are
limited to few. Gray needs place
for the young people to get together
every week; Gray needs a dining
room where every one may sit down
and have meal or luncheon together
Gray needs a place where the dram
attic instinct, that every normal per-
son has can have a chance to be de-
veloped; Gray needs place where
the farmers can meet and discuss
their problems and especially place
where they may go where they know
they are welcome; Gray needs place
where those inclined to oratory and
debate may have favorable conditions
for this; i'm fact Gray needs the ad-
vantages of the institutional church.
OF course there are a few souls who
need only the church room, where the
Gospel is given only in the sermon.
There is much larger number who
need not only the gospel in sermon
but who must have the Sunday school
as well; there are others who not
Ionly need the sermon and the Sunday
school, but who need the social side
of their life touched by the church
there are still larger number who
need the sermon and the Sunday
school and the social, but they de.
mand chance for their intellectual
development in the way of debate
lectures, concerts, etc. A city like
Audubon and Manning has to a more
or less degree institutions which ad
minister to these mentioned, but the
church at Gray must provide it, or il
is not provided. Gray has no right
to criticise those who have nothine
to do but talk, nor those who have ne
recreation but dancing, nor those who
never look into a book, until the
church at Gray provides somethinf
better than they now have. When the
. church provides for these things
, then may she ask all those who ar,
now staggering at underdevelopmen
to enter her doors and there receiv,
in every way what the church gives
The new church has provided fo
all these. There will be a big base
/ ment with the equipment that thu
church people of Gray thing is neces
sary. There will be big social room
, There will be Sunday school room
fitted up in the most modern way,
there will be a modern Epwortf
, League room; and there will be 9
; splendid auditorium and choir room
The outside walls are to be of the
{ very best compressed brick; the win
, dows modern art glass; the ceiling i!
i to have the dome effect" in lighting
t and first class furnace and if any
2 thing is left out it will be an over
| sight. The building committee ant
the pastor have done everything il
their power to get all expression
from everyone as to what the churcl
e should have to best administer to tn,
D needs of the entire human soul, be
: fore the work is started.
e Just as soon as a few hundred dol
r lars more is subscribed the splendi,
r well equipped church will DE staIte,
. and rushed to completion. Then ira,
] with her great intellectual develop
t ment will begin on the development
OF her religious AMI social side. 1t will
be most delightful situation, an,
Gray is to be congratulated on he
v up-to-date move to enrich her tow
2 with big new church building. Sue
! cess to you Gray!