Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-22
vERSARY
Of CHURCH Isl
.BE|NG0BSERVE:1||
Congregationalists Planning
to Have Special Service
for Big Event
PRESIDENT MAIN OF
GRINNELL IS HERE
Miss May Ditch Outlines
History of Iowa Band
Rev. Dana Talks

History of Iowa Band
Rev. Dana Talks
The SEVENTEEN anniversary s>rvioosl
of the First Congregational churcts
were opened Sunday and continuol
through Wednesday evening OF thies
week. M
The pastor, Rev. Malcolm Dan&a
preached the anniversary sermon a(!
II o'clock Sunday morning and spec
ial music was given by the choir
Mrs. w. B. Rice, singing ? solo.
In the evening at $3.50 a union sOry.a
ice of the Congregational church 10 ol5
the city was held. A special sons
service preceded an address on Z; ~
Congregational Church." by Rev. Dams
and one on "The Iowa Band,' by MISC
May Ditch, city librarian
DR.. J. H. T. Main, president OF Grim
nell college, delivered the principal
address at the service which followed'
at 7:45. The choir sang several
songs and Mrs. Nellie Brown HugheEs
had q solo,
Have Meeting Tonight.
This evening at 7:45 there will be-
another union service of all the Con-
gregational churches of the city. The
music will be in charge of the mons
chorus from the Plymouth church and
Rev. Naboth Osborne of Burlingtop,;
will talk, having as. his subject, "OMsa
Heritage" u
The anniversary exercises close
Wednesday evening with banquet for
the members of the First church and
congregation and invited guests. CalsI
win Manning is to be toastmaster and
the following after dinner program
will be given:
Word of Greeting From Sister
Churches Rev. Mr.. Rhodes and Rev.
Mr.. Bjork
"Reminiscelces"- William McNeit
Recollection From an Eight Years'
Pastorate"--Rev p. A. Johnson.
Word From the Absent Henry
Merrick
"Auld Lang syne"-- Miss Emmss
Cooper.
"A Forward Look The pastor.
Discusses American Ideal.
President Main, in his address, dis
cussed the American ideal. He took
up the questions of democracy and
religion and handled them from the
standpoint Of their relations to one
another.
He said that democracy is funda-1
mental element in religion, that peo-s
pie are not conscious of Its atmos-s
phere about them until 1t Is taken
away. He thinks that democracy isE
not fully realized as foundation
stone Of the government, that It is1
still in the process of achievements; 81
it is imminent but probably In the dim
future.
Critics declare democracy means
vulgarity enthroned and maintain
that the nobility will form sort of
an invisible church.
The trouble with the church ID that
1t fails to recognize Christ as the In
terpreter of life and not merely as q
religious teacher. They have been
trying to reduce him to the size OF one
church instead Of expanding him q,
all the bounds of life. The treatment
of Jesus Christ has In way done
more than anything else to put democ-
racy on trial, declared DR.. Main. VI
Tells What Church 10.
Rev. Malcolm Dana, in his paper at8
the 6:45 o'clock meeting, outlined the
organization and divisions OF the Con-
gregational church. He said In parts:
"A Congregational church, true to-
its historic origin and development, II
q biblical church.
ut has always stood for the unfet.
tered word as 1t has come increasing
ly hard to understand. Therefore Il
welcomes all light and investigation,
believing that the word OF God III
greater than any powers Of criticiSm
and that the spirit OF truth is best
freed as the letter Of truth Is discov.33
cred in all it's history and meaning
and fact.
Church freedom is best illustrated
in Congregational church. For the
latter is under no ecclesiastical organ.
ization or body but is locally self gov
erning. Though the pastor IL often;
settled by council, his real ministry III
conferred by election at the hands Of
the people and his own acceptance o.;
that election. Officers are elected and
statements Of faith and doctrine are
told respectively, by the people, and
the latter in their own words. The
church at large has certain historic
statements of faith but they are not
binding on the individual church. ThNs
order and way of worship, what holy
days (aside from Sunday to be OBJ
served, are determined by the individs
ual church. The prayer meeting ard
It's democratic expression OF individual
experience is largely used.