Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-01-11

FORMER AUDUBON
! PASTOR Is DEAD
Served His Church in This City Three
| Years, Leaving to Serve Large
/ Church in Cedar Rapids
Rev. Samuel Conybeare, who wa.
pastor Of the Presbyterian church In
this city from 1904 to 1907 died Al
his home in Central City, Nebr.
January 4th. He had been i'll for g
month. His remains were shipped
to Cedar Rapids where interment
was made. Rev. Conybeare was q
popular minister while in Audubon
and made host of warm friends, all
of whom will be grieved to learn OF
his death. He went from Audubon
to Cedar Rapids, where he continued
to serve nine years. Following is the
Fobituary and history of his life fur
nished us by members Of the family:
Samuel Conybeare was born in
Southampton, England, June 29th,
1851. He was the son of Elias and
Elizabeth Conybeare. Following the
death Of the father, on Christmas
day, 1864. mother and son removed
to the little fishing village of Brix-
ham, Devonshire, England. The son
early became the mothers support.
At the age of Is he passed through a
deep religious experience as a men,
Der of the Sabbath school class, and
with great Joy told his mother that he
had given his heart to Jesus Christ.
At once he became very active in re-
ligious work. Even as boy he was
wont to preach In the open air to the
fishermen by the seaside, or on Sab
bath days to 60 to nearby inland vii
lagos to take part IN religious SER
vices.
Samuel Conybeare received the
barest of schooling, and was practi-
cally a self-educated man. AS a lad
of eleven he worked in the coal mines
for time, later he learned the trade
Of sail-making. AS boy he was con-
slant in his studying and reading, es-
pecially along religious lines.
In 1871 he decided to come to Am
erica, to Chicago, where he had rela-
tives. He had read much of the spir-
It of freedom and of the democratic
ideals Of this country and was much
attracted by them. Although always
loyal to his native land, he became a
most ardent American. AS a patriot
in later life he was much in demand
as a speaker on public occasions. In
Chicago. working at his trade, he con-
tinued his religious activity. He was
associated with Dwight L. Moody as
a lay worker in religious efforts in
Chicago, oftentimes preaching at
street corner services. His abilities
as speaker and religious worker
were so apparent that group Of
young men In the Scotch Presbyter-
ian church in Chicago, Of which he
was member, urged him to study
for the christian ministry. Although
married. and with q mother who had
followed him after a year to support,
he entered the Mccormick Theologi-
cal Seminary, and was ordained after
completing the three year course in
1888. 1t was necessary for him to
do in private study large part of the
work Of high-schoor and college work
training. Because Of his attachments
an exception was made in his case.
While in the Seminary he supported
his family, partially by serving as act
ing pastor of nearby churches.
In April, 1888, he entered upon his
first pastorate, the two country par
ishes Of Tranquility and Salem, in
Tama county, Iowa. He became a part
Of the life of his people, many Of
whom were Scotchmen, who regarded
him with all the affection and devo-
ton commonly accorded by Scotch
congregation to a minister whom they
love. In 1895, in order that his chill
dren might have better education,
Mr.. Conybeare accepted call to the
Presbyterian church at Oelwein, Iowa
in 1900 he became pastor at Upton,
Iowa; in 1904 he was called to Audi
bon, Iowa; in 1907 he was chosen
pastor of the Central Park Presbyter-
ian church at Cedar Rapids, Iowa;
where he served nine years; he be-
came pastor at Central City, Nebr.,
in October 1915. His services as an
ordained minister lacked but three
months Of being twenty-nine years.
Samuel Conybeare's one great pas
sion in life was to tell the old, old
stoyr of Jesus and His love. His evan
gelistic spirit baptized and made fruit
full his entire ministry. A fluent
speaker, his natural gift of oratory,
gave him great power in proclaiming
the Gospel message. Self taught, a
student all his days, HE mind was
filled with the riches Of sacred and
secular literature. His chief delight
was to preach gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
His passion for souls lead him
contantly into active personal evan
gelism. Besides the hundreds of peo-
pie who have responded to his earn
est appeal from the pulpit, there were
many others whom he won through
quiet. personal friendship. Around
the activities of the church which he
was serving as pastor at any time
were conferred his whole thought and
being; everything In his life was re-
lated to his work.
As a son, husband and father. Sam
uel Conybeare was unusually warm
and affectionate. He was the entire
support and comfort of his mother
from his early childhood until her
death in 1908, at the age Of seventy
nine years. He lived for her and she
for him. She was q devout christian
woman, and her life. like his, center
ed about his work as a chritian min
sister Toward his wife and children.
Mrs. Emily Conybexre, s. E. Cony-
beare, of Springfield. Mass, r. G..
Conybeare, Of Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
and Miss Lillian Conybeare. Of Cen
-. - IL - a IA
tied wealth of self-denial and tender
a faction Ha watchod tho ad i'm