Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1883 — Church Matters. [ARTICLE]

Church Matters.

The Rev. Claypool began last evening, a series of meetings at the Sayler school house a few miles west of town. The protracted meeting at the M. E. church closed with the services of Sunday evening last. The meeting continued for six weeks. The total number of accessions to the church was 28. The Rev. Philip McDade still continues the series of meetings at the Baptist church. Much interest has been awakened, and a considerable increase been made to the membership of the church. Beecher, in speaking of the Bible, calls the verbal inspiration theory, the Devil’s Broadway to infidelity, and thinks that a man who holds that theory in this age of the world, ought to be ashamed of himself, and that he is not fit to either call himself a teacher, or to be a teacher even of babes.

The protracted meeting of the Free Will Baptist people, at the Presbyterian church, closed last week Thursday. It was an unqualified success. The total number of accessions to the church society during its continuance was twentyfour. Mr. Ferguton, the pastor, is now at Badger’s Grove, in White county, conducting a series of meetings. The Rev. J. V. Smith, pastor of the Monticello Presbyterian church preached Sunday morning and evening, and every evening since, at the Presbyterian church in this place. We have had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Smith preach, and advise our readers to do likewise. His manner of speaking is quiet and unassuming, and without rhetorical display of any kind, but is full of thought, feeling, and broad intelligence.

The meeting at the M. E. church last Friday evening was a notable one. A large and attentive congregation, composed of many of the best people of the town, was in attendance. The Rev. J. H. Claypool, of Delphi, preached the sermon, and among his auiitors, or assisting in the services, were the Revs. B. F. Ferguson, W. H. Sayler, J. J. Claypool, Geo. Havens, A. Taylor and Elder R. S. Dwiggins. The sermon was worthy of the occasion, and, like all others delivered during the week by the same gentleman, it was able, earnest and philosophic.

The Odd-Fellows of Lowell have invited their brethren in ReDsseIrer to send a delegation to Lowell Friday evening next to assist the Lodge there in preforming some important rites of the order. Iroquois lodge is well supplied with appropriate paraphernalia and is well drilled in.the performance of the mystic work of the order.