USA > Iowa > Linn County > Cedar Rapids > First Presbyterian Church, the seventy-fifth anniversary > Part 2
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she experienced the usual mingling of encouragement and discouragement. But her heart was so full of it that she could not desist and happily in applying for counsel to her pastor, Mr. Knox, she found sympathy and hope. Others in our church, prominent and effi- cient members, cheered her to proceed. E. E. Leach, the superintendent of the Sunday School, a man of God, indeed, was especially emphatic in approving the project. An organization was formed in a small frame building on the corner of Fifth Street and Seventh Avenue. Teachers and officers were found and the work began. It soon outgrew its narrow quarters and was transferred to the "Little Muddy" church. There, through the support of men and women of our church, the work steadily grew and prospered. It was called "Hope Mission" and in the spring of 1874 it was transferred from the "Little Muddy" church to the "Box Factory" of the pack- ing house of T. M. Sinclair where Mr. Sinclair pre- pared a special room for its use. Mr. Sinclair con- ducted, in the same room, a prayer meeting every Friday evening for the men in his employ. Well does the writer of these lines remember the days when he accompanied Mr. Sinclair to these meetings, held in the midst of the scenes of the daily occupation of the men who attended them.
In the month of November, 1877, Mr. Condit, then professor of the classic languages in Coe College and a man of association with every good work, was engaged by Mr. Sinclair to supply Sunday preaching
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services to such congregations as might gather and in April, 1878, a church was organized in the Box Factory as a branch of the First Presbyterian Church. Members were received into our parent church with the understanding that they worshipped in the Box Factory under the ministry of Mr. Condit. Never can the writer of these lines forget the first observance of the Holy Supper of our Lord held one Sabbath evening in that Box Factory amid the scenes so di- vergent from church architecture and ecclesiastical environment; yet so wondrously calculated to bring the presence of the blessed savior in contact with the labors of our working-day life. It was our habit a church to go down to the Box Factory every alternate month in the evening of the second Sunday and celebrate our Communion season there. Thus we observed the Lord's Supper every month. The work outgrew its quarters and one en- largement after another was provided, our church gladly standing behind and supporting such additions. This work is the foundation of the present Sinclair Memorial Church, which is such a powerful agency for good in that part of our city which it occupies.
It is a great pleasure in recording the history of our church, to note the deep interest which it has taken in the work of our Bohemian brethren and in the moral and financial support which it extended to them at that important point in our history, which led to the organization of the John Hus Presbyterian Church, which now rejoices in so full an equipment
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for its work, in its pastor, its excellent building, and its well sustained congregation. This work began, as so much else that is good has begun, in the mind and heart of Thomas M. Sinclair. He was zealously affected toward the religious needs of our Bohemian population and, as everything which he conceived to be good took with him the shape of something to be accomplished, he set out at once with energy to secure a pastor and teacher for the Bohemians. He wrote letters to Bohemia and also to Scotland where young Bohemian students were seeking theological educa- tion, and although he was only partially successful in his quest, still his work bore fruit in subsequent years, when the Rev. Wm. Hlavaty was brought to this city and became the minister of a Bohemian church, receiving very welcome financial aid as well as cordial moral support from our church.
One of the happiest features of the church life in the period which we are now treating was the warm interest felt and manifested by the young people in religion and in the christian life. This was very manifest and it evidently grew up by divine grace from among themselves. A young people's society was formed and grew to large dimensions. It was a joy to mingle with them and it was easy to kindle among them a fire of religious interest and be kindled by them to similar zeal. The pastor found himself greatly encouraged by their love of the study of the Bible and their zeal in following their Master and in going forth to bring their comrades to Christ.
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Their meetings on Sunday evenings were largely attended and generally participated in. It was dur- ing this period that the National Society of Christian Endeavor was founded by Rev. Francis E. Clark of Portland, Maine, and our young people were prompt and eager to incorporate themselves with this great movement. Dr. Clark visited us, and it is a matter of happy and grateful recollection that Dr. J. Willis Baer, now of Pasadena, California, was for several years a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was chosen General Secretary of the National Society of Christian Endeavor during his residence in Minnesota, a few years after he left us to make for himself a new home. The Sunday School, also, has ever been a marked feature of our church's life. Its officers were vigorous, painstaking, and energetic, loving their work and recognizing its great value. This church enjoyed a succession of greatly valued superintendents of the school.
In 1872, Miss Pratt of Waterloo, who had been en- gaged by our Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, as a missionary to India, visited us and was instrumen- tal in forming our young women into a Missionary Society of their own. In 1874 they undertook a work of Home Missions in our own city. We were then favored by having in our church membership one of the best of women, in the person of Mrs. E. J. Lund whom I have already mentioned and whom some of those earliest members still surviving will fondly remember. She resembled her divine Master in her
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habit of going about doing good. She was full of sympathy and compassion and was most at home with the needy. She visited them in their homes and carried sunshine wherever she went; although that sunshine was distilled in a heart that was familiar with personal sorrow of its own. In 1877 the Young Women's Missionary Society supported Mrs. Lund as City Missionary and enabled her to employ all her time in city missions. An industrial school was started, using methods and plans which had been found efficient in New York City and in suburbs in New Jersey.
In 1881 the "Helping Hand Society" was formed. It was to help the mothers whose children were in the Industrial School. These mothers met in our chapel and sewed for two hours. Half an hour was spent in devotional exercises. They were paid for their work ten cents an hour, their pay consisting in garments made by themselves, or in orders for groceries, dry goods, etc. It is a hallowed memory of the writer that often it was his privilege to look in upon these good women in their room in the chapel of those days, and see what they were doing. It was like looking in upon Dorcas at Joppa, when she helped and taught the widows there to make the coats and garments. It was a scene of the real Christianity, he who writes these words of memorial felt characterized the whole church to which he had been called. It was hand to hand, face to face, heart to heart, work. It was not at long distance, it was not done by committees or by a
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secretary, but by the women of the church themselves mingling with their sisters, teaching them to sew and to read the Bible and to do their work at home with their slender means with more hope and respect, be- cause they saw that they were esteemed and beloved by their sisters of more favored position and more abundant means. It was a beautiful sight and the results were of a saving grace to both the givers and the receivers of this ministration. Some are still with us who engaged diligently in this work and who treasure its memory. We are tempted to mention . some of them by name. We begin with Mrs. Fort (still living, but not in Cedar Rapids), Mrs. Geo. E. Crawford, Mrs. C. J. Deacon, Mrs. J. S. Ely, Mrs. G. M. Olmsted, and Mrs. Bessie Watson Davidson.
This church has taken a definite and unmistakable attitude in favor of temperance. It has been united and harmonious in this respect in supporting the pro- nounced attitude of our whole Commonwealth of Iowa on the subject. It has had in its membership women prominent in the ranks of the W. C. T. U., such as Mrs. Mary A. Ely, Mrs. M. J. Aldrich, Mrs. E. A. Wheeler of former years, and in later years Mrs. Ida B. Wise Smith and her husband Malcolm Smith. In 1874 the Iowa W. C. T. U. was organized in our church building and Mrs. E. A. Wheeler, one of our church members, was chosen President of the state union, serving three years in that capacity.
Our church has always been ardently evangelistic in its attitude for the preaching of the word of salva-
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tion, and during the long pastorate covered by the period 1876-1914, it was participant in at least four evangelistic campaigns with much power by such evangelists as Major Cole, Major Whuste, William A. Sunday (better known as "Billy" Sunday), and Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman.
In 1878 and 1899 we were privileged to entertain the Woman's Board of Missions of the Northwest and the missionary zeal of the church was greatly kindled thereby.
In 1893 this church sent out a large colony of its members who resided in the new Central Park portion of our city to form a new Presbyterian church. We gave them up somewhat reluctantly, as loving parents reluctantly give up their children to go forth and make for themselves new families and new homes, but the result has been most happy and we congratulate cur brethren of the Central Park Church on their prosperity.
In 1910 a new face was seen in our pulpit and a new voice was heard from it. The Rev. Harry Kre- mers of Logan, Iowa, had been brought to be the assistant to the pastor and it is that pastor's grateful testimony that he could never have found a helper more congenial or a friend more close and intimate. Our congregation also found in him a very acceptable preacher of the word and pastor in their homes. Mr. Kremers served in this capacity for some four years, when upon my release from my pastoral office in December 1914, Mr. Kremers became a member of the
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faculty of Coe College, in which position, as instruc- tor in the English Bible, he still remains with much usefulness.
It is pleasant to remember the fact that from time to time through the years men of most exceptional power have preached to us from our pulpit as they have passed through our city on various errands. We think now of such mighty men as Principal Cairns of Scotland, Campbell Morgan of London, Wm. Flem- ing Stevenson of Dublin, Dr. John Hall of New York, and Dwight L. Moody of Chicago. Such preachers of the word elevate our conception of the power and necessity of the pulpit, as one of the chief factors in bringing in the Kingdom of God.
It is a joy to think that our relations with our sister churches in this city have been most close, cordial, and uninterrupted in the long years of fellow- ship with them. This has been manifested in manifold ways. For many years the meetings of our local Ministeral Union have been held in the Chapel. It is also a matter of peculiar gratitude to God, that our own domestic peace has never been broken.
On the 28th day of December, 1914, just one week after my retirement from the active ministry and my entrance upon the relation of pastor-emeritus, a meeting of the church and congregation was called to choose his successor. The choice fell upon Rev. R. B. A. McBride, of Leavenworth, Kansas. Dr. Mc- Bride had been a minister in the United Presbyterian church and had held several pastorates in that church, but at this time he had transferred his relations to
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our own branch of the Presbyterian church. He ac- cepted the call promptly and was installed pastor of our church on Sunday morning, February 14, 1915. His pastorate here was a brief one, for on Sunday, December 16, 1917, a meeting was held at his own re- quest to dissolve the pastoral relationship. His re- quest was granted and he was dismissed. He pur- posed at that time to enter the work of the Y. M. C. A. across the sea in the World War, and his proffered services had been accepted; but a physical examina- tion, to which all secretaries purposing to enter upon that responsible work are subjected, revealed the fact that his physical condition would not justify his being sent abroad.
The church remained without a pastor until August 28, 1918, when Rev. Alvin E. Magary, of South Orange, New Jersey, was called to the pastorate. He accepted the call and came in the fall to enter upon his work. He was installed pastor December 1, 1918, and he has filled this office to the present date. May he continue with the Lord's abundant blessing to dis- charge in this church the great work which God and this people have placed in his hands. It is a vast and responsible work, full of varied elements and it must often cause him who seeks to discharge it worthily to cry out, "Who is sufficient to do these things?" The only answer comes from the same source. "Our sufficiency is of the Lord." The only relief that can be given to the burdened heart and conscience comes from that profound faith and experience which was voiced by the great apostle when he said, "I can do
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all things through him who empowers me." The sincerest and most heartfelt prayers go forth from the heart of the writer of this history, who has known and loved this church so long that Dr. Magary may be a workman approved unto God and one who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The First Presbyterian Church of Cedar Rapids has certainly been a notable element in the history of cur city. It has been in the midst of our civic life from its very beginning. It will be confessed by all who are acquainted with Cedar Rapids, that the founders of this church were conspicuous in the build- ing up of the city. Both the men and women who composed its original members and many of the hun- dreds who have come into its membership since the earliest period have been builders of the city, promi- nent workers in all its material and financial develop- ment, numbered among its strongest merchants, pro- moters of its railroads, manufacturers, bankers, phy- sicians, lawyers, journalists, college presidents, and professors. Among its women have been leaders in the social life and advocates of every good cause. To mention their names would be to mention many of the best known names in the city of Cedar Rapids.
But the best of it all shall be our last work in this historical sketch, that this has been a church of true Christians, of men and women who have known and loved and served the Lord, and have followed Him and who, with all their faults, have been, through His grace, the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
From a Paper on the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society
BY MRS. CAROLINE ROWLEY HUBBARD.
I suppose few western churches had simpler begin- ning than ours. We first worshipped in a school house. Then from 1850 to 1869 in a structure 26x40 feet with walls of "grout," a sort of mud plaster. This was erected by members giving their labor and women furnishing the luncheons to speed the work. The seats were made of slabs dressed off and raised on legs. These were not comfortable but were used with cheerful gratitude that we could worship in our own church.
We were helped in the erection of this humble edi- fice and also in the beginnings of the present church by the Board of Church Erection and at times the pastor's salary was supplemented by this Board. In March, 1869, just before we moved into the present church, through the request of the Woman's Board of the Interior, Rev. James Knox, then our pastor, called the women together to the parsonage, located where the public library now stands, for the pur- pose, as the Constitution of our society says,
"To awaken and cherish in the christian women of this community an earnest interest in the subject of missions and particularly in the support of female
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missionaries, through the agency of the American Board."
Note that the name of the organization was the "Woman's Missionary Society of Cedar Rapids," a community affair. We thus had as members ladies from five denominations in the then little village of Cedar Rapids. At the first annual meeting there were two officers from the Second Church (now West- minster.) The first officers were: First Directress, Mrs. John F. Ely; Second Directress, Mrs. John Aldrich ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. A. B. Hull; Cor- responding Secretary, Mrs. A. B. Goodale; Treasurer, Mrs. Thomas F. Fisk. The Constitution says, "The Directresses shall preside at all meetings, but in case of absence or disability any competent female shall preside." In March of the first year the secretary was instructed to secure through the parent society Mrs. Snow of the Moravian Mission and Mrs. Proctor of the Turkish Mission to address the society. Thus at the very first meetings the importance of contact di- rectly with the field workers was emphasized.
The dues, the only means of raising money, were only one dollar per year or two cents per week. Life memberships were twenty-five dollars. There were thirty-seven members enrolled during the first year, and thirty-seven dollars were sent to the Board. Twenty-five of this went to the Board to make Mrs. Knox a life member. Later followed Life Member- ships for Mrs. Ely, Mrs. Aldrich and Mrs. D. W. C. Rowley.
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During the first year the society felt the need of inspiration from the fountain head and Mrs. John F. Ely was sent as a delegate to the parent board.
In 1870 the society withdrew from the Board of the Interior and associated itself with the newly formed "Woman's Board of Missions of the North West." The following year the treasurer reported fifty-six dollars raised. It was also in the memorable year of 1870 that a great desire in the hearts of the women led them to take as their own responsibility a bible reader in the Uramia Mission in Persia, thus making their first pledge to missions and beginning an associa- tion with Persian missions which still remains. In 1870 and 1872 there was great interest in the society. Reaching out after broader fields they desired a mis- sionary of their own. One can see the leading of the Divine Will when it was found that Miss Jewett, of Marshalltown, had offered herself to the Board and had been accepted. The Board immediately arranged for Cedar Raipds and Marshalltown to assume her support. She was the first missionary sent to foreign fields from this Board. Marshalltown was unwilling to let a member of its own community be entirely supported by strangers. For thirty-six years Miss Jewett was the inspiration and the information of the society from the mission field of Persia. Dearly loved by the ladies, her visits to the society and her fre- quent informing letters were a joy. Boxes were regularly sent, one entirely of dolls, not one of which was broken. Another box took the journey twice
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across the ocean and finally found Miss Jewett at home in Marshalltown.
In the summer of 1872 Miss Pratt, of Waterloo, visited us and the society joined with Waterloo in her support in India. It would seem that these years of beginning were most wonderfully blessed, for soon two members of our own church offered themselves for mission work, Dr. and Mrs. Holmes. They also went to Persia, Mrs. Holmes doing kindergarten work and Dr. Holmes becoming one of the first medical mission- aries. We find a record of a gift to Dr. Holmes for special surgical instruments and to Mrs. Holmes for kindergarten furnishings. Dr. Holmes later became physician to the Crown Prince of Persia. with sanction of the Board. When we record missionaries and mis- sion fields near to our society we tell with pleasure of the deep interest we have always had in China. From the first we had a representative in Miss Johnson. We have sent many special gifts of money and today we send a large portion of our gifts to this field. This interest without doubt has been stimulated by con- stant representatives in the field by the Sinclair family. Mr. and Mrs. Hodge gave not only of their labor to these people; but their lives in the Boxer uprising. Mr. and Mrs. Woods went later to this field and are now doing special work there. Truly the Missionary Society of this church has a heritage of sacred memories. After fifty-three years of prayer and labor, we may well feel that we have had a part in the awakening of China.
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As I look over the record of the first twenty-five years there is scarcely a meeting in which there was not some word from a missionary, either in person or through the bright, informing letters which told of work planned or work accomplished. Some of those who visited us from the foreign field were Miss Jewett, Miss Pratt, and Dr. and Mrs. Holmes. Dr. Coan was here, telling of his mission to the Nestorians and of his translation of the Bible into the Tartar language, never before reduced to print. There were Mrs. Rhea, another gifted woman, Miss Dowling of China, Mr. Whipple of Asia, Miss Peabody, Miss Ran- kin of Mexico, Mr. Wilder of Africa, Dr. and Mrs. Eddy of Syria, Mr. Herron and Dr. Holcomb of In- dia, Miss Hartwell of Siam and many others. Officers of the Board made occasional visits, always leaving new enthusiasm and courage. By 1893, twelve mis- sionaries had been sent from the State of Iowa to foreign fields.
As I read the records of the society I am constantly impressed with the volume of prayer that ascended to the Throne of God, from the members of the society. Relying fully upon their christian faith they planted seed which has sprung up and borne a hundred fold. In one instance when the program was interrupted the entire hour was spent in reading the Scriptures and prayer and when, on a very stormy day, only four members came, some one quoted the verse "when two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them," and the entire hour
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was given to prayer and meditation. At one time in the early days a sermon on missions preached by Dr. Burkhalter so deeply impressed the society that it was printed and distributed with telling result. The pastor many times acknowledged the great influence of the society in the church. Thus by mutual help much was accomplished.
Nor were the children neglected in the early days. In 1872 a society for the young was formed from the Sunday School. "The Cheerful Givers," "The Jewett Band," "The Wisner Society," "The Holmes So- ciety," "The Girl's Mission Band" and from the Primary class, "Pearls for Persia." These were all under the parent society and not only gave to mis- sions, but assisted in the general gatherings of the society, being represented at the annual meeting.
In 1883 our society became interested in the Tama Indians and found the obstacles encountered as diffi- cult as in foreign fields, on account of the under- mining influence of the people about them. Later this work was given to the Home Mission Society. In 1878 the society entertained the Board of the North West. At that time it was a great undertaking, but it was well accomplished. Four hundred delegates spent three days with us, the Vinton and Waterloo societies giving able assistance. In April 1899 "The Board of the North West" was again entertained. Specially interesting meetings were those when Mrs. John Sin- clair, who had returned from a world tour of the missionary stations, told of her experience and when
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Mrs. C. J. Deacon returned from the great conference in Aberdeen, Scotland.
We read that receipt of ninety dollars was given during self-denial week. Again mention is made of the comfort of a new coal stove for the Chapel, where the fire was sometimes started by some members of the society. Time does not allow me to continue these reminiscences. With this review of the work of the founders and a group of faithful members who follow- ed them, we close the Book of History of the Foreign Missinary Society of our church.
From a Paper on the Home Missionary Society
BY MRS. J. T. LIDDLE
In the first records of the Home Missionary Society, under date of October 12, 1874, we find the following : "In accordance with a notice from the pulpit the ladies of the First Presbyterian Church met at the home of the Rev. James Knox." The General Assem- bly and later the Presbytery of Cedar Rapids had requested that Presbyterian women organize for such work, the reason being that the men of the Home Mission Board were appalled at the immensity of the task confronting them. Not alone were they respon- sible for the evangelization of the Indians, Mexicans, Alaskans, and the Mountaineers of the South, but the Mormons were already established in Utah and had begun their deadly propaganda. In addition the western states and territories were being so rapidly settled that the need was imperative that missionaries and teachers be provided for the new country. The Board believed that if the women could be enlisted they might prove an important factor in the accom- plishment of this work.
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