Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1914 — LARGE AUDIENCE HEARD REV. WINN [ARTICLE]

LARGE AUDIENCE HEARD REV. WINN

Christian Pastor Delivered Farewell Sermon to Largest Audience in Many Months. ~~ An .audience exceeding in number that of the union service on “Go to Church” Sunday attended the union service at the Christian church Sunday night and listened intently to the farewell sermon delivered by Rev. W. Garnett Winn, who has been pastor of the church for the past two years and eight months. The church was made beautiful by a large number of blooming plants and cut flowers. Special music by the choir and a solo by Mrs. Rue Parcells, added to the interest of the service.

In the beginning Rev. Winn briefly reviewed his work here. There had been more than one hundred taken into the. church by conversion and by letter. A Church debt of $1,600 had been- paid off and the church remodeled at an expense of $6,000, the payment of which had been pledged. Rev. Winn stated that his aim and desire had been to declare the power of Christ? and Salvation in His name and to preach the Crucified Christ in all His majesty andlove, nothing more or less. He continued:

“I have never shrank from declaring unto you anything which I have considered profitable tor your religious upbuilding. “I have defended any encroachment upon the church by its enemies.

“I 'have boldly attacked any and all issues that aimed at the destruction of your homes. “I have endeavored to declare to you the whole council of God.

“I have not been obedlant to any man, party or cism, nor influenced by any faction, but rather it has been by pleasure to be obediant to God, whose I am and ever expect to be.

“Not only has it been my privilege to labor among the members of my own church, but it has been my pleasure to know and have fellowship with many outside of the Church,’ for which I am very gratefuik

‘The relation between my fellow pastors and myself has been one of harmony and I count it bne of the joys of my life to have known and had the privilege of working with such splendid yokefellows in the Lord.” Rev. Winn then delivered' a charge to the church, taking Paul’s farewell to the church at Ephesus, as recorded in Acts as his tert: ‘Take heed unto yourselves to feed the church of the Lord, which hie has purchased with his own blood.” Be alive to the responsibilities that are yours, for shall enter in among »you, not sparing the flock, and from among your ownselves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them.” With a (heart filled with the hope that the work he is leaving may prosper Rev. Winn admonished the members of the church and all Christian people to take a deeper interest in the welfare of their souls and to use the power of which they are possessed to help to establish the Lord’s work on a firmer foundation. In concluding his sermon he said: “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His Grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all of them that are sanctified.

“To the power and guidance of His Divine Word,. Make the Bible your constant companion in whom you have confidence and you shall be eternally holy in Heaven, heirs to eternal glory. “Some of these days we shall all meet at Jesus’ feet upon common ground, neither high nor low, rich or poor, just children of the Most High. e “It is not without a sigh'and an honest regret that I lay my-burden down and doff the pastoral robe and stand before you shorn of my happy reflation to you as your minister, to go at the bidding of my Lord and Master to assume other duties for Him.

“I close my message tonight with a prayer to God that He will eend to you one who will worthily wear the honor and lead you unto the Truth.”

■ Bev. Winn had taken a number into the church during recent services and two went forward at the morning service Six were baptised during the day, one in the afternoon and five following the evening service. Rev. Winn expressed himself as very happy that his closing days here ihad been sweetened by these additions. It is quite certain that the Christian church in Rensselaer never before had so able a minister or one so much admired by all the people of the eity, one able to meet up to the requirements of every occasion, one so broad and charitable and splendidly qualified to be the pastor of a congregation pt intelligent people. To almost all ft is plain

that Rev. Winn is leaving here long before be should have been permitted to have gone, for there was important work at hand which he could have accomplished better than any other. It looks as though the church had permitted itself to lose a man worth much more than he received in salary and that It willl be difficult, indeed, to find a successor able to fill the position so acceptably as he has filled it Rev. Winn will go to Irving Park, Chicago, Wednesday, to take up his work as pastor of the Christian church there His family wiM continue to live here tor some time, probably until the first of September. So far, we understand, no steps have been taken to secure another minister.