USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 21
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and the building continued available for services. In February, 1877, the final blow came, when the building took fire one Sunday night after services and was" completely consumed.
From then until 1880, when a part of the building just moved to the corner of Main and East Second streets was erected, where the new fine church now stands, services were held in rented rooms in different parts of the town. Those who are enjoying the comforts and luxuries of the church as they abound today little realize the tribulations through which the church people of early days here passed. .
The new Grace Methodist Episcopal church was dedicated on April 5, 1901, with all costs for the same provided for. The structure cost $25,000, and the pipe organ, which was installed later, cost $2,100. It is an Estey organ.
At the dedicatory exercises it was expected that Bishop McDowell, of Chicago, would be present ; but at the last moment he was taken sick and sent as a substitute Dr. James Roe, superintendent of the mission and church exten- sion work of that city. At first the people were much disappointed, but this disappointment was only temporary. Dr. Roe certainly preached a most excel- lent sermon and the people were greatly pleased with him. After this Dr. Trimble, a former pastor, took the platform and announced that it would be necessary to raise $8,000 to provide for the church debt. It took only a few minutes to raise $2.500 by $500 contributions, and in less than an hour $7,000 was raised.
At the evening meeting Dr. Trimble informed the people that there was some money yet to raise, and he proceeded by asking Dr. Lewis (now bishop). president of Morningside college, to do it. It only took a short time to raise the rest of this money.
The dedicatory services were conducted by Dr. Gillies, district superin- tendent. The ministers in attendance were Rev. Gillies, of Sheldon; Rev. Seward, of Sanborn; Rev. Alberson, of Sioux Rapids, and Rev. Batho, of Fostoria.
Rev. Gillies paid the following high tribute to the work of Rev. O. M. Bond, pastor of the church: "In the completion of this handsome edifice and the management of the finances and of all details incident to the dedication, the pastor, Rev. O. M. Bond, has proven himself to be perfectly fitted for the work and to my mind I have never found a more competent, unselfish and consecrated pastor."
The building just completed is undoubtedly one of the most convenient and most beautiful houses of worship in Iowa. Others are larger and more costly, but none is more beautiful or better adapted to the needs of the people.
The building is sixty-one by ninety-three feet in dimensions and is composed of pressed brick and stone, and it is built in a workmanlike manner.
The basement contains a spacious ladies' parlor, gentlemen's class room, large dining room and a large kitchen, provided with a range and many cup- boards, shelves and both hot and cold water, in fact all the comforts of an up-to-date kitchen.
The main floor is divided into two principal parts-the main auditorium and the Sunday school room. The auditorium occupies the front and is fifty by
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sixty feet, and with the balcony, will seat eight hundred people. The floor, which is on a slight incline, is of polished hard maple. The pews are of antique oak and are very comfortable.
The charm of the auditorium is in the splendid decorations, which are exceedingly beautiful. The decorators drew largely from nature, and the harmony and beauty displayed show that they were workmen of no mean order.
At the rear of the main auditorium is the Sunday school room, which embraces the greater part of the remainder of the main floor. It is connected with the main room by a hoisting partition, so that these two rooms can be thrown together when necessary to accommodate a large crowd. There are ten separate Sunday school rooms, and these are separated from the main Sunday school room by means of folding partitions. The Sunday school deco- rations are but little less artistic than those in the main auditorium. The pastor's study is also on the main floor, just to the rear of the pulpit platform.
.A splendid feature of the building is the lighting, which is by numerous large windows of the very highest class of art glass. Among these windows is an immense memorial window on the west side of the main auditorium, a gift of Mrs. Noll, in honor of her husband, the late Adam Noll. Another window is in memory of Anton Hanson, an earnest and devoted member of the church. who passed away a few years ago. Another feature of the building deserving mention is the elegant and fine electrical fixtures which, at night, when the current is on, illuminate every corner and part of the entire edifice. The whole building is heated by steam. In designing and constructing this building nothing which could contribute to the comforts, convenience and beauty of the same appears to have been overlooked.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SPENCER.
The first Congregational church of Spencer was organized March 17, 1872, with a membership of eleven. At this time Spencer had a population of about two hundred people. The Free Will Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches. each having about fifty members throughout the county, were the only church organizations in the place at that time. The village was rapidly increasing in pop- ulation and the need was felt by some earnest souls of a church of the Congre- gational faith.
The first recorded step in the formation of the church was a written covenant of eighteen members, entered into under date of January 13. 1872. They agreed to work and assist each other in securing the regular preaching of the gospel and the establishment of a Congregational church society, to the end, as stated in their covenant and agreement, that intelligence, morality. good order and happiness be promoted in the community, and to advance the interests of true religion. Nearly all of these persons subsequently became charter members of the church.
On the written invitation of thirteen residents of Spencer, the Rev. David Wirt. a Congregational minister, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, came and held services in the courthouse hall, on the evening of March 14, 1872. At the close of the services those interested in the establishment of the church remained and took steps to effect an organization. A committee of three, consisting of A. W.
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Miller, L. C. Burgin and E. Pruyn, was appointed to draft a constitution and articles of faith and covenant and present the same at a meeting to be held on the following day. The report of this committee was presented at the appointed time and was accepted and adopted. It was also voted to organize into a Con- gregational Church of Christ.
After the regular services of Sunday, March 17, 1872, eleven persons united to constitute the church, signing the constitution and assenting to the articles of faith and the covenant.
The following names appear as signers of the original constitution and as charter members: L. C. Burgin. Edward Pruyn. A. W. Miller, P. M. Moore, Mary S. Moore, H. B. Coryell. Clarissa Van Epps, Clarissa Snyder, Ira Laughlin, P. L. Graves and Helen M. Graves. Of these original members, only L. C. Burgin, P. M. Moore and Clarissa Van Epps remain with the church, the others having died or removed from Spencer.
If there is any class of people in the history of the church who deserve to have their names perpetuated and revered, it is these early pioneers who banded themselves together to organize and build up the church. Their sacrifices, struggles and final achievements redound to their credit and to the glory of God. To their faith and efforts is due in a large part the church organization and the influence it has exerted upon the life of the community in promotion of morality and true religion. We cannot too much appreciate the work of these sowers of the seed who have made possible the bounteous harvests.
June 29, 1872, Rev. W. L. Coleman was elected pastor of the church. He came under the auspices of the Home Missionary Society, which bore a part of his expenses. Services were held in the court room of the old courthouse building on South Main street, the pulpit being occupied during the forenoon of each Sabbath by the Baptist and Methodist ministers alternately, and in the evening by the Congregational pastor. All of the services, however, were prac- tically union services, and all church people attended without reference to denominational preferences. After the arrival of Mr. Coleman the church and Sunday school became fully organized, elected its officers, and the church pro- ceeded to incorporate. One of the present members-L. C. Burgin-was one of the first deacons of the new church. P. M. Moore was the other deacon.
In September, 1874, the church determined to build a house of worship. Messrs. Charles McAllister, L. C. Burgin and A. W. Miller were appointed a building committee. The committee purchased the lot at the corner of Third and Mill streets, lying directly west of the present parsonage building, and in the fall of 1875 the church building was completed.
The American Congregational Union gave $400 towards the cost of the building. The entire cost amounted to about $2,400. The lumber for the church was hauled from Sibley, Iowa, that being the most convenient railroad point. a distance of about fifty miles. Considering the small membership of the church, the difficulties encountered and the general hard times of this period, the building of such a church was no light task.
After a pastorate of seven years, owing to feeble health Rev. Coleman resigned. During these years the growth of the town and country adjacent was not rapid, and accessions to the church were not numerous. The foundation,
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however, was laid for future growth. Twenty-seven were received into mem- bership during Mr. Coleman's pastorate.
In August, 1879, Rev. J. M. Cumings accepted the pastorate, and con- tinued with the church for three years. During this time forty-six were received into membership, and quite extensive improvements were made on the parsonage and church building. Much work of a foundation character was wrought, and the church experienced a period of rapid growth and increasing influence in the community.
In September, 1883. Rev. G. G. Perkins accepted the call of the church and entered upon a pastorate of about seven years. During this period ninety- eight were received into membership, and baptism administered to forty adults and children, the parsonage enlarged, two lots diagonally across the street fron the present site of the church building were purchased, and all indebtedness against the parsonage building was paid. The membership of the church at, the close of Mr. Perkins' pastorate was ninety-seven.
April 9. 1891. Rev. J. O. Thrush accepted the call of the church and entered upon its pastorate. May 7, 1891, the erection of a new church building was decided upon, to cost not less than $6,000 and not more than $10,000. A. W. Miller, M. C. Stephenson and A. C. Perine were elected as a building com- mittee and the work of construction proceeded with. The total amount paid on account of the new church building, as shown by the treasurer's report of June 8, 1893. was $6,466.09. The amount of the loan from the Congregational Church Building Society on account of the building was $1.500. The old church building was sold to the Friends church society and was removed to a site on East Second street; from there it was later moved to the corner of Fourth and Prairie streets, where it now stands with but little change in its exterior appearance.
March 11. 1899. Rev. Thrush resigned, to accept a pastorate at Webster City, Iowa. During his pastorate of nearly seven years the membership of the church increased to one hundred and eighty-two in number, and the beautiful church home was erected and largely paid for. The church appears to have been remarkably blessed in a material way and to have experienced in a special manner the grace and favor of God.
Rev. Thrush was succeeded by Rev. Glen A. Taylor, who continued in the ministry of the church until August, 1902. During his pastorate the church debt was reduced to $1,100, and the church maintained a healthful and pros- perous condition. During Mr. Taylor's pastorate a furnace was put into the parsonage and other repairs and improvements made. The membership of the church at the close of this term was one hundred and eighty-three.
Rev. Earnest E. Day was called from Open Door Congregational church, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the pastorate of the church September 26. 1902, and entered upon the ministry October Ist of that year. . Eighty persons have united with the church during Mr. Day's pastorate. In 1903 the old standing debt of the church, amounting to the sum of $1, 100, was wiped out completely. In 1904 the rooms in the basement of the church were finished and completed at a cost of $1.566.16. All of these expenses have been paid. At the present time cement walks have been completed at a cost of $110 at the parsonage and at
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the east side of the church, and the same have been paid for by voluntary subscriptions.
The present membership of the church is two hundred and thirty. Its Sunday school numbers about two hundred. It also has auxiliary aids, a Woman's Missionary Society, the Christian Endeavor Society, and a Ladies' Aid Society, the latter of which has been very helpful in the financial work of the church.
In this brief sketch mention should have been made of many choice spirits who have labored in the upbuilding of the church, but space has not permitted. They will, however, receive their rewards according to their works, and thoughi their memories fade, their works will live and honor them for all time. The present pastor of the church is Rev. Earnest Elsworth Day.
THE NEW CHURCH EDIFICE.
The new church edifice was commenced in 1892 and dedicated June, 1893. It stands diagonally across the street from the first site of the other church.
It is composed of pressed brick and the greater part of the building is of frame.
The main floor contains the auditorium, lecture room, study (which is used by the infant class in Sabbath school), the lower room, where stairs lead to the floor below.
The auditorium is nearly octagonal in shape.
There are four beautiful memorial windows in the church, bearing the names of J. K. Andrew, A. W. Miller, Laura McAllister and Adelia West. In the upper part of the north wall a handsome window was placed by the King's Daughters.
The seating capacity of the main floor, including the lecture room, is about four hundred.
On the lower floor are found a kitchen, two cloak rooms, a spacious dining room, and a social room. These rooms were furnished and finished in 1904 at a cost of $1,600. The cost of the entire church was about $6,500.
THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY.
In 1874, thirty-four years ago, the women of the church and congregation met at the home of Mrs. Snyder, a widow living on East Third street, just east of where Dr. McAllister's residence now stands, and organized the Ladies' Aid Society. About fifteen women were present, among them being Mrs. Van Epp and Mrs. A. W. Miller, now residents of Spencer. There were also present Mesdames Hubbard, Garfield, McCoy, Davis, Eggleston, Sands, McAllister and Miss Mattie Bowman. A membership fee of one dollar was collected, and the dues were fixed at twenty-five cents per year. The new church, which is the one now owned by the Friends society, was built that fall and winter, and the ladies held a bazaar and gave a supper in it before it was completed. They had given one supper before this one, on the second floor of the Thorine building on Main street.
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There was no parsonage at this time, but Mr. Coleman lived on Grove street.
When Mr. Cumings' pastorate began the aid society was reorganized. This was in the fall of 1879. As now recollected by the older members, the meeting for this purpose was held with Mrs. T. P. Bender on West Third street. A large number of the ladies were present, among them being Mesdames Allen, Verharen, Andrews, Cumings, Morrison, Purdy and Secor, besides most of those present at the first organization. Mrs. Cumings was made president. The society at this time met from house to house, and often did sewing for charitable purposes. They also furnished supper, to which the gentlemen were also invited.
Mrs. Theodore Secor succeeded Mrs. Cumings as president. She was the wife of Dr. Secor, who recently moved to Minneapolis.
Beginning in June, 1887, and continuing for several years, the society hekl its business meetings and gave its suppers in the library rooms on Main street.
When the present house of worship was erected the society furnished $1,500. The total amount turned over to the church building account since 1892 is $4,673.46, and the total receipts of the society since 1887 amounts to $8,457.53. A list of the presidents of the society since the administration of Mrs. Secor, as disclosed by the records, is as follows: Mrs. Secor, Mrs. J. G. West, Mrs. C. E. Adams, Mrs. G. G. Perkins, Mrs. A. C. Parker, Mrs. C. E. Blondel, Mrs. M. C. Stevenson, Mrs. W. P. Ward, Mrs. J. N. Andrew, Mrs. C. E. Leach, Mrs. Emma Ingalls, Mrs. Charles McAllister, Mrs. B. F. Felt, Mrs. B. W. Doty and Mrs. G. H. Martin.
HISTORY OF WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
At a meeting held March 2, 1888, at the parsonage, a missionary society to be called the Woman's Missionary Society of Spencer Congregational Church was organized.
Mrs. Perkins, wife of the pastor, was elected as president of the society ; Mrs. Verharen, vice president ; Mrs. A. A. Flint, secretary ; Mrs. C. E. Taylor, treasurer.
The names of the seventeen charter members are as follows: Mrs. A. C. Perine, Mrs. Charles McAllister, Mrs. William Morrison, Mrs. M. C. Stephenson, Mrs. Frank Barnard, Mrs. L. M. Snow, Mrs. J. N. Andrew, Mrs. John Francis, Mrs. C. E. Adams, Mrs. S. S. Snow, Mrs. Frank Kimball, Mrs. J. G. West, Mrs. Clarissa Van Epps, Mrs. A. C. Parker, Misses Minnie Perkins and Hattie Goodell. It was provided that each lady should pay not less than $I per year or ten cents a month. Gentlemen were to be made honorary members by the payment of $1.
The meetings were held the first Friday of each month, at 2:30 p. m., until October 10, 1890, when it was voted to hold them the last Friday of the month, on account of the publications used for help, they coming in `from the first to the middle of the month. The annual thanksgiving was collected by members of the society, as Mrs. J. I. Adams could testify. Mrs. Perkins held the office of president until the fall of 1890.
SPENCER HIGH SCHOOL
MEN GHS PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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Officers elected April, 1891, were: President, Mrs. Verharen ; vice presi- dent, Mrs. E. H. Crandall; secretary, Mrs. J. O. Thrush ; treasurer, Miss Flora Oliver; collector, Mrs. L. M. Snow. These held office until 1893, with the exception of Mrs. A. C. Parker, who was chosen vice president.
In 1894 Miss Hattie Goodell was made president; Mrs. C. E. Adams, vice president ; Mrs. J. O. Thrush, secretary ; Miss Flora Oliver, treasurer ; for five months, making the Thanksgiving meeting the last meeting of the year. At this meeting Mrs. Andrew was elected president.
The society was held together by the earnest and faithful persistence of these few women until 1895, when Mrs. Thrush was made president. She established a new method of raising money and of increasing interest in the missionary work. A committee of three was appointed to furnish and serve a ten-cent supper each month, at the different homes. This proved very satis- factory, from $3 to $9 being added to the treasury at each meeting. She also outlined a plan of study for each meeting during the year, having programs printed. Mrs. Thrush held the office of president during her stay in Spencer, until March, 1899, when, to the regret of all, Mr. and Mrs. Thrush moved to Webster City. By her strong personality and intense interest the standard of the missionary work was raised beyond the expectation of the most hopeful, the membership being three times as large as at its beginning.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. Historical Sketch.
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized March 10, 1889. The following officers were elected to serve the society: President, Miss Minnie Perkins; vice president, Miss Fannie M. Baldy; secretary Miss Hattie Goodell; treasurer, Miss M. A. Albee. These, with Misses Mary Garfield and Maggie Henry, were the charter members of the organization.
June 2d of the same year the first of a series of joint meetings with the Young Ladies' Missionary Society was held.
April 20, 1891, the society was reorganized, a new constitution adopted, and growth in numbers followed.
October 30, 1892, the society had on its roll the names of thirty-seven active members and thirty-two associate members. The society since that time has had a somewhat checkered career.
It has been on the whole a means of promoting the interests of the kingdom in our church work. At present it has some thirty members, maintains a prayer meeting which meets every Sunday evening, and contributes yearly to the benevolent societies of our church.
WILLIAM LEWIS COLEMAN.
In the early summer of 1872, Rev. W. L. Coleman entered upon his labors as the first pastor of the church. The church was fortunate in securing a man of good education and wide experience as its first pastor.
Mr. Coleman was a native of New York, born in Mt. Hope, November 14, 1817, and received both his college and professional training at Oberlin. Shortly
CLAY 12.
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after his graduation from Oberlin Theological Seminary, in 1846, he married Temperance Little, at Middletown, New York.
The following spring he came to Bellevue, Iowa. Here he remained nine years as pastor of the Congregational church. In 1856 he took charge of the Congregational church at Stacyville, Iowa. After seven years of service he was called, in 1863, to the Congregational church at Mitchell. It was nine years after this that he occupied the pastorate at Spencer. Three years before his departure from Mitchell his wife died, leaving three sons.
The first son died in infancy at Bellevue. In 1871 Mr. Coleman married Electa Abernathy. A year later he began his work in Spencer, with a church of eleven members. His was the task of laying the foundation-of working and waiting.
After leaving Spencer Mr. Coleman was pastor of the Congregational church at Big Rock for one year. In 1881 he moved to Grinnell to enjoy the advantages of a college town. After eleven years' residence in Grinnell he went to Portland, Oregon. Here he spent the remainder of his life. His death occurred at Portland, November 10, 1900. Mrs. Coleman died three years later. Mr. Coleman was the father of eight children, four of whom survive him. W. G. Coleman, Terrill, Iowa; Charles H. Coleman, White Bear, Minnesota; Fred a Coleman, London, England, and Lewis C. Coleman, Portland, Oregon.
REV. J. M. CUMINGS.
Rev. J. M. Cumings was called to succeed Mr. Coleman as pastor of the church. Like his predecessor, he was educated at Oberlin college and Theo- logical Seminary.
In his childhood his parents moved from South Amherst, Ohio, where he was born in 1848, to Tabor, Iowa. Here lie later prepared for college.
Shortly after graduating from Oberlin Theological Seminary he began the work of the first pastorate at Exira, Iowa. Two and a half years later he accepted a call to become the pastor of the Congregational church at Spencer. He came to this field with his wife, Carrie Briggs Cumings, in November, 1879, and remained three years.
For a few years the growth of the town was rapid and the church doubled its membership. The west half of the parsonage was built, the church assumed self-support and a bell was purchased. These were prosperous years for the Spencer church. The success was due in great measure to the painstaking efforts of a consecrated pastor and his energetic wife. During the first year at Spencer Mr. Cumings spent one Sunday at Emmetsburg. The church was reorganized, a frame building erected and the membership increased to twenty new members.
Mr. Cumings' subsequent pastorates were at Anita, serving for five years, at Dunlap for six years, at Baxter for one year, and at Denmark for four years.
In December, 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Cumings were called upon to mourn the loss of their elder daughter, Edith Louise, who died at Grinnell. She was a member of the senior class of Iowa college, and her life was full of hope and promise. A second daughter, Irene, born at Anita, Iowa, April 16, 1885, is living at home in Denmark.
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