The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1922-09-13
Dr.. Horns Church
Closes Good Year
METHODIST PASTOR CRITICIZES
FAIRMONT FOR .INTENsE sPIR-
ITUAL APATHY. REPORTS GOOD.

The Fairmont Daily Sentinel of
September has the following to say
regarding DR.. E. G. Horn, a former
resident of Redwood Falls.
Closing the conference year with
an enthusiastic meeting of the con-
gregation Friday evening, members
of the Methodist church listened to re-
ports from the various church depart
ments which disclosed the largest
membership increase in any year of
the church's history and the greatest
average Sunday school attendance.
Conference was unanimously petit
toned to return Rev. E. C. Horn to
Fairmont for another year.
Rev. Frank Doran, district superin-
tendent, was here to conduct the regu-
lar annual checking up" Of the
church, prior to conference, which
opens at Winona September 20.
The feature of the reports that is
most gratifying is the great increase
in membership during the conference
year, from 489 to 622, net gain of
1873. Next is the Sunday school at
tendance, which has averaged 256 per
Sunday.
The percentage of gain in church
membership is the highest in the dis
trict. DR.. Doran said, and with one
possible exception the greatest in
Minnesota Methodism.
The East Chain church, also under
the pastoral leadership of Mr.. Horn
increased it's membership 90 during
the year.
During the conference year Mr..
T lc nf
which were for members of the church.
He baptized 40, of whom 43 were
adults and six children. Twenty-one
marriages were solemnized.
In his report Rev. Mr.. Horn charges
that there are forces at work in Fair
mont which would slay the higher
spiritual life unless vigorously COM
batted by the church. His report
says:
"High tribute should be paid
every department of the church
for accomplishments effected un-
der handicaps extraordinary; one
of the handicaps being limited
equipment in the way of rooms
and other facilities; another be-
ing the intense spiritual apathy
resulting from forces at work in
Fairmont that would slay the
higher spiritual life by laying en-
phasis upon anti-christian living
and teaching. The latter is un-
: equalled in my knowledge and
will require the greatest fidelity
to the church and to pure religion
possible on the part of all who
would stand for purity, holiness,
righteousness and the orthodox
faith once delivered to the saints
and lived by our fathers and
mothers who have gone to Glory.
"Methodism must set pace for
the higher life in Fairmont and
in such a campaign there is room
for everyone to take part. No
church or person can succeed per-
manently off the beaten path Of
holy living"
Years Program Suggested
Rev. Mr.. Horn suggests plan for
church program for the coming year
that covers evangelistic effort, social
endeavor and financial subjects. He
strongly advocates series of spe-
cial meetings continuing at least two
weeks in the pre-Easter period.
Need for new and larger church
building is pointed out, also the ap-
parent impossibility of filling this
need in the Immediate future is ad-
mitted.
Necessary curtailment OF the
church's moving picture services is
The price of good pic
lures is prohibitively high and can
not be met by the voluntary collec-
tions for that purpose. Mr.. Horn dis
cards the idea of a regular weekly
movie service, advocating only such
worth while productions as can be
and shown from time to time.