USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > Dubuque > Semi-centennial celebration of the First Congregational Church, of Dubuque, Iowa, May 12th and 13th, 1889 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
Not satisfied with the simple conversion of the Indians, and anxious to reach them more quickly, these people, in the face of their limited means, established a college for the education of native Indian ministery some time after Harvard College was founded.
Considerable progress was made by the time war broke out with King Philip in 1674. Three villages of praying Indians could be counted, with an aggregate population of between 4,000 and 5,000 souls. Moved by the zeal of these early Con- gregational churches of New England, the people of Great Britiain established their oldest Missionary Board for the propagating of the Gospel.
I need not remind you that when, at last, the churches began to feel the force of their Lord's last command and to prepare to obey, it was Congregationalism which in 1810 led the way to a more effective carrying out of that commandment by es- tablishing the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Other denominations followed; THIS BLAZED THE WAY THROUGH THE FOREST.
It was late when the Congregationalists came to a sense of their obligations to the New World and later still, as we have seen, when they came to believe that their polity was adapted to those settlements. But their home missionary zeal had be- gun to show itself, and most unselfishly and heroically, too; for they said: "If our polity is not the thing, we will work
56
for and help God's cause through some denomination whose polity is the thing."
But as in Foreign missions, so in Home, the Congregation- alists led the way in organizing a society for the better and more certain accomplishment of their work. We are soon to hold the sixty-third annual meeting of this society in Sara- toga, to recount its achievements, to learn its needs and pro- vide for the future. Year by year the churches of our order multiply; their communicants increase and their contributions enlarge. No other churches work more self-sacrificingly; none more bravely or hopefully to propagate-not denomina- tionalism-but the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ; none pray more earnestly, sincerely or effectively for the coming of the King in His glory, and, according to their means, none give more liberally.
And now the recital of the story must be cut off; not be- cause we have reached the end, but because there is no more . time in which to say what remains unsaid.
If Congregationalism has not multiplied churches as rapid- ly as some, and greatly added names to the respectable list of its communicants, it has achieved other results, not less worthy, perhaps, nor less useful. It has modified both the polity and the doctrines of those churches whose form of gov- ernment is either monarchic or aristocratic, and which are strongly bound to the past. It has re-discovered principles which for more than a thousand years had been lost to the world. It has sent its own fresh, vigorous and progressive spirit into the theological currents of the world. It has set like the brightest star in all the heavens, the best government that exists among men, and infused mankind with the sublim- est political hope that ever lodged in the human breast. It has provided for the enlightenment of the common people and championed the inalienable rights of man in the face of op- pression and despotism. And to-day, by virtue of its funda- mental principles and its educational effects, Congregational- ism is at the very front as inspirer and guide of that move-
57
ment for the emancipation and exaltation of man which began when John Wickliffe awoke the slumbering world by firing the first gun of the Great Reformation, and which has now gone into all the world. We are in the current, we are the current which is to become the ocean.
Following the address there was a hymn,
"Onward Christian Soldiers,"
in which all joined. This was followed by the benediction. Thus closed the Anniversary Day whose record is a part of the Church's imperishable history, and whose memory will be a blessing as long as it endures.
Simplot ETT
THE OLD STONE CHURCH. 1839-1846. Size, 40x60. Capacity, about 350.
MONDAY, MAY 13, 1889.
Promptly at 10:30 A. M., according to program, the audience having assembled, the exercises of Monday were opened by an organ voluntary, singing by the choir and con- gregation, prayer and a second hymn, when the present Pastor of the Church read the following account of its history during the fifty years of its existence. The zeal and joyful in- terests of the audience, so far from having been exhausted by the services of the day before, seemed only to have become the more aroused and eager.
HISTORICAL SKETCH. 1839-1889.
REV. C. O. BROWN, D. D.
This Church was organized fifty years and twelve days after the government of the United States was fully set up by the in- auguration of George Washington as President. There was no telegraphic dispatch announcing the event in the Chicago dailies next morning for two reasons First, there wasn't any telegraph; and, second, there were no Chicago dailies nor any Chicago to speak of-that city then numbering less than five thousand souls. The whole country at that time had a popu- lation of less than fourteen millions. Martin Van Buren was then President; but General William Henry Harrison was elected the next year. Iowa, which in the successive stages of its history, had been first a part of Louisiana, then of Indiana, next of Missouri, then of Michigan, then of Wisconsin, had settled down to housekeeping on its own account as Iowa Territory, in 1838, and in 1839, the year in which this Church was organized, the Capital was removed from Burlington to Iowa City. Statehood did not come till seven years later, in 1846.
The first settlement in Iowa was made by Julien Dubuque, in 1788, near the mouth of the Catfish, who came by permis- sion of the Spanish government, to mine lead. After his death there were few or no white settlers here until 1833, the year in which the Black Hawk Purchase was opened by the government. The day fixed for the opening of the region was June Ist, but the rich lead mines had tempted many to cross the river in the middle of the winter and locate their claims. But they were driven away by a detachment of sol- diers from Fort Crawford, near Prairie du Chien, under the command of a young Lieutenant by the name of Jefferson Davis, of whom the world has heard a great deal since that day. He is credited with having been more lenient than the
59
government was. At all events he was little more than out of sight before the settlers were back again. They came to stay. Some of them are still in Dubuque and some are pew- holders in this church to-day, having been here during the whole period of fifty-six years and more which have inter- vened.
The American Home Missionary Society, which did the first religious work of Congregationalism in Iowa, began here. Rev. Aratus Kent, of Galena, preached in Dubuque as early as 1834. The first resident missionary of the Society was Rev. Cyrus L. Watson, who came from the Presbyterian Church of Rushville, Ill. Those were the days when our Home Missionary Society worked on "the plan of union" with the Presbyterians. Mr. Watson's commission was dated December 28, 1835, and assigned him for missionary labor at "Dubuque Mines, Michigan Territory." He preached his first sermon January 1, 1836, in a log house, which was used as court house, school house and church. The " Home Missionary " for May, 1836, says he preached every alternate Sabbath in the log school house and on the other Sabbaths in some of the neighboring villages and once a week, an evening discourse at one of the diggings in the vicinity. He remained in Dubuque but a few months; went eastward through Illinois, on the way attended the Con- gregational Association at Quincy and helped ordain the first Congregational minister ever ordained in Illinois. That was in April, 1836.
The first "full-blooded " Congregational preaching in Iowa was by Rev. Asa Turner, in the month of May or June, 1836, and by Rev. William Kirby, who at that time made a mis- sionary tour into this territory and preached at Ft. Madison, Farmington, Yellow Springs (or Kossuth) and Burlington. Mr. Turner was then pastor of the Congregational Church at Quincy, Ill., and Mr. Kirby was pastor of the Congregational church at Mendon in the same State. Iowa may owe many debts to Illinois; but none greater than that which she owes
60
for Father Turner, who became and for many years remained a leading force in the Congregationalism, not only, but the evangelization of this State.
The Dubuque Times of May 12, 1883, copies an item from the Dubuque Visitor of May 11, 1836, the first number of the first paper published in the territory, which says : "An- other minister of the Gospel is needed among us-one who can reason, preach, sing and enforce the Fourth Command- ment. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few." Down to his time one Methodist minister who preached here one-half of the time and Rev. Mr. Watson who preached as I have described, were the only Protestant ministerial sup- ply.
The corner stone of the Old Stone Church was laid on July I, 1836, nearly three years before the Church was organized. The building was about forty feet by sixty. Various finan- cial embarrassments characterized its early history.
On May 12, 1839, seven persons, namely, Ezekiel Lock- wood, Nancy Lockwood, Charles C. Bellows, Phebe McCloy, Nancy Watson, Martha Smith and Amanda Matthews brought together their letters from eastern churches and were organ- ized by Rev. James A. Clark into a Presbyterian Church. Of these seven one is still with us, Mrs. Amanda Matthews, and has had unbroken connection with the Church during these fifty years. Twelve other persons joined the organization immediately, on the same occasion, on the profession of their faith.
The Church, though Presbyterian in form, never belonged to the Presbyterian body at large. It was organized by a Presbyterian minister who was in the employ of the Congre- gational Home Missionary Society, and joined the Mineral Point Convention, which was composed of Congregational and Presbyterian churches. All of the ministers of these churches were Congregationalists. Rev. Mr. Clark was pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church at Fort Madison and was com- missioned by our Home Missionary Society June 13, 1838.
61
Rev. Zerah Kent Hawley was first called to the supply of the pulpit of this Church April 9, 1840. He had, however, preached from December 1, 1839, and his ministry extended to April, 1841-one year and four months in all. Rev. Asa Turner, who had become Home Missionary Agent for Iowa, visited Dubuque in the summer of 1840. He says: "At Dubuque I found Rev. Mr. Hawley, laboring with accept- ance. The Church is small and it requires a great effort on their part to sustain the Gospel; but they are willing to go to the extent of their ability." Mr. Hawley received the whole of his support from the Church in these days of its weakness and that, too, while its members were struggling to build. He was a Home Missionary at La Harpe, Ill., before coming to Dubuque; was a graduate of Yale, and also studied theol- ogy there and at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati. After being here he was pastor of the Congregational Church at Knoxville, Ill., and died at Memphis, Tenn., after the war.
After him a Rev. Mr. Townshend supplied the Church for three months, in 1841.
We come now to times when the borders began to en- large; when one was called to the pastorate who was to abide with the Church many years, as its honored leader; whose formative hand was to be felt not only here, but throughout the new Northwest; not only in matters of our own denom- ination where his ability was ever recognized and in demand, but in all matters which concerned the Master's kingdom; not only in affairs of religion, but also in all of the stirring reformatory questions of the day which were moving this Nation with that mighty ferment which preceded revolution and liberty for the slave. On February 27, 1842, Rev. John C. Holbrook was called and on March 20th following signified his acceptance. The proposed salary was "four hundred dollars and such missionary aid as he could obtain." The records tell us that the amount of Home Missionary money which Dr. Holbrook secured was two hundred dollars a year. It will be in order, therefore, to call upon him for a statement
62
in the reminiscence meeting this afternoon. It is high time that we should know just how sumptuously he fared every day on six hundred dollars a year !
If we were now dealing with reminiscences this sketch could be enlivened with many an incident of those early days, which would illustrate the versatility of the Pastor's gifts and the varied experiences of a minister's pioneer life. Report has it that he could preach on Sunday; drive a dray team on Monday; make garden or do any odd job on Tuesday and Wednesday; write tracts or hold his own with a mob on the abolition question next day; prepare his sermons on Saturday and attend to all of the weddings, funerals, conventions, socia- bles and tea parties between times; and in extra busy seasons have a rousing revival besides! But the reminiscence meet- ing is set for this afternoon. Make a note of these things for that hour. The historian must get back to his own proper work and relate with due gravity that such a man as Dr. Hol- brook could not of course be very long Pastor of a church which was neither one thing nor the other; organized under Presbyterian form, but connected with Congregationalists from the beginning. Very presently the sound opinion pre- vailed that since this Church had been organized by a man in Congregational employ, and since the Congregational form of church government is according to the New Testament model, therefore it would be best to make it Congrega- tional, pure and unmixed.
But there were some steps leading up to this result. April 5th the Mineral Point Convention, composed largely or wholly of Congregationalists, met here and installed Mr. Holbrook. April 10th two Elders of the Church resigned their office and it was ordered on motion that " hereafter the business of the Church be transacted in a session of the whole." This was the preface. Without further explanatory steps, it was voted on December 12, 1844, "That we adopt the Congregational form of government, and that we elect two deacons at our next meeting."
63
During the winter of 1842-43, in the Old Stone building, which was then unplastered, occurred the first in the long se- ries of revivals of religion. As a result twenty-one were ad- ded to the roll by profession and nine by letter, bringing the membership up to fifty-six and greatly encouraging the hearts of the Pastor and the people.
In 1844, on account of finanical troubles, the Church was obli- ged to abandon its first building, the Old Stone Church, which was situated on the east side of Locust street opposite Washing- ton Park. For a time they worshipped in the Court House, then in the Baptist Church. But in 1846 the Main street edifice which stood where the Town Clock building now is, was com- pleted at a cost of $3,500, six hundred and fifty dollars of which came from abroad. The new church building was thought to be a very fine structure in its day. Its beauty of architecture and convenience of appointments excited general comment. When Pastor and people entered it they had a sense of security and comfort in their surroundings which greatly encouraged them. Soon the Lord added his approv- al in the most gracious manner. In the winter of 1847-8 there was a precious revival, the spirit and power of which contin- ued into 1849 when it culminated in the largest ingathering the Church has ever received.
To quote from Dr. Holbrook's own words in reference to it: "In 1849 occurred that memorable outpouring of the Spirit which wrought such a change in the moral aspect of this com- munity as can hardly now be realized, and more than trebled our strength and efficiency as a church. It continued nearly six weeks, the Pastor preaching every day and the Lord add- ing daily to his people of such as should be saved. The whole number of hopeful conversions was between eighty and ninety. Between sixty and seventy united with the Church."
Such prosperity called for enlargment of the church build- ing, which was made in 1849, at a cost of $2,700, bringing the cost of the rejuvenated structure up to $6,200.
It was during this period of prosperity (March 25, 1848)
SIMPLOT ENG -
THE MAIN STREET CHURCH. 1846-1858. Size, 45x75. Capacity, 500. Cost, $6,200. Brick and Stone.
that the Church cut loose from the Home Missionary Society, which from March 20, 1842 had contributed $200 annually towards the Pastor's support-$1,200 in all. Not only did the Church thus enter upon self-support, but the same year gave $76.83 to Home Missions; $118.55 to the Foreign Mission Society and $40 to the American Bible Society. During Dr. Holbrook's first pastorate of eleven years the benevolences of the Church aggregated $2,500.
In July, 1850, about twenty members, many of whom had originally been Presbyterians, took letters and went out to organize the First Presbyterian Church of this city.
In 1851 there was another revival with twenty accessions to the Church, and a total of thirty-five before the year was over.
65
On the 22d of February, 1853, an ecclesiastical council con- vened to advise with reference to the removal of Dr. Hol- brook to Chicago, whither he had been invited to become the Pastor of a new Congregational church about to be organized there and editor of a new Congregational paper to be called The Congregational Herald. The advice of the Council was that a temporary absence be arranged for, not to exceed one year. But in July Dr. Holbrook was formally dismissed and the one year grew into three before he returned. Thus New England Congregational Church of Chicago was in some sense a child of this Church, which contributed not only its Pastor but six of the original twenty-one members to form it.
Immediately after Dr. Holbrook's dismission Rev. Jesse Guernsey began to supply the pulpit and was duly installed December 21, 1853. During his brief pastorate of two years there were about fifty accessions to the Church, largely by let- ter. He was dismissed by Council October 12, 1855.
The records for this period are meager, but doubtless inter- esting facts may be given this afternoon from the memories of those who knew and greatly loved Dr. Guernsey. He after- wards, in 1857, became the Home Missionary Superintendent of this State, which position he filled till his death. He died De- cember 1, 1871 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery. Soon after Mr. Guernsey's resignation, about fifty members took letters and formed the Second Presbyterian Church of this city.
In September, 1855, Dr. Holbrook was recalled and re-in- stalled the following July. The corner-stone of this building was laid at the same time. In 1857 and '58 there were reviv- als of religion, that of '58 being very extensive. Eighty-five accessions followed, of whom seventy-four on profession were received in one day; on letter and profession, ninety-two.
Reference has been made to the fact that the present build- ing was begun in 1856. But the financial panic of 1857 over- took the enterprise unfinished, and the basement only could be made ready for occupancy, in 1858. The first service was held in it on July 11th of that year. Services were held in
Alex Simplet Eng
FIRST CHURCH, COR. LOCUST AND IOTH, DEDICATED 1860. Size, 70x100. Capacity 900. Gallery on three sides. In- terior finished in walnut. Total Cost, $41,000. Brick, Stone-Trimmed.
the lower room until April 1, 1860, when a loan of $5000, obtained from Edna Dean Proctor, of Brooklyn, enabled the trustees to finish the audience room. The total cost at the time was $38,000. The dedication sermon was preached by Dr. Holbrook, and an historical address delivered the follow- ing Sunday, to which the writer is indebted for many facts contained in this sketch.
From February Ist, 1859, to August Ist, of the same year,
67
during an absence of the Pastor, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. J. M. Chamberlain, since for many years prominently connected with Iowa College, and still a resident of Grinnell.
In August, 1863, Dr. Holbrook resigned to accept a call to become the financial agent of Iowa College. Thus closed a long and fruitful ministry of more than seventeen years.
March 30, 1864, Rev. Lyman Whiting, D. D., of Provi- dence, R. I., was called and began his ministry in May. He was installed on April 19, 1865, Professor S. C. Bartlette, D. D., preaching the sermon.
The Church debt, caused by the financial crisis, against which no foresight could provide, had grown to more than $20,000, and the first serious problem of Dr. Whiting's min- istry was the proposition to sell this building to pay the obli- gations. But better counsels prevailed. Heroic efforts were made and nearly half of the necessary sum was raised in 1864. In the winter of 1865, largely through the broad liber- ality of one member, Mr. George D. Wood, the whole re- maining sum was cleared off and an emancipation celebration followed with songs, addresses, and prayer.
May 30th to June 3, 1866, the General Association of Iowa held its quarter centennial meeting with this church.
Another notable event occured in 1867. April 25th to 28th, the German Congregational Church was organized and took possession of its then new building on the side of Semi- nary Bluff.
In 1869 the organ was purchased at a cost of about $4000.
The opening years of Dr. Whiting's ministry were the closing years of the war, when events of such vast popular interest were transpiring that all thought and attention were turned upon them. Religious services were interrupted with telegrams announcing victory or defeat of our armies and audiences were correspondingly elated or depressed. When news from Appomattox came, the old bell in the tower was " turned loose" and lost its voice in an all night serenade over the event. Those were interesting times and this Church
68
had done its share in helping to bring them about; but they were not favorable to revivals of religion.
The human mind cannot be intensely and supremely inter- ested in two directions at the same time. The record shows no general revival interest after 1858 until the close of the war. In '67, '68 and '69 the old fires were re-kindled and there were accessions by profession, especially in 1869, when twenty-seven were received at one communion.
During Dr. Whiting's pastorate, he was frequently called upon to attend representative gatherings, to preach, to deliver addresses and lecture in different towns and cities of this region, especially in Iowa, and his influence was widely felt. He resigned July 10, 1869, and was dismissed on the 29th of the same month. For a year following, the Church was without a regular pastor.
During the year of 1869 Dr. Joel S. Bingham, of East Bos- ton, Mass., was twice called to the pastorate, and Dr. E. B. Fairfield, formerly President of Hillsdale College, Michigan, was also called; but both declined, the latter having accepted a call to become pastor of the Congregational Church at Mansfield, Ohio.
In the month of July, 1870, the call to Dr. Bingham was renewed, and circumstances had so far changed that he was enabled this time to accept and to enter upon his pastoral duties here. The installing council met October 12th.
In 1873 the evangelical churches of the city united in re- vival effort under the lead of Evangelist E. P. Hammond and enjoyed a great refreshing. At the following communion, in March, Dr. Bingham had the privilege of welcoming seventy- two persons on the profession of their faith, next to the largest number ever received at one time.
During Dr. Bingham's pastorate another series of union evangelistic meetings was held under the leadership of Major D. W. Whittle. There were numerous accessions at the March communion following, and constant accessions both by letter and on profession to the close.
69
In 1875 the tower of the church which had been left in an unfinished condition was completed at a cost of $3,000, mak- ing the total cost of the structure $41,000.
In the month of October, 1880, Mr. J. L. Dickinson, who for twenty-five years had been the faithful and efficient Clerk of the Church, and who from time to time had been honored by the Church with other important and responsible positions, resigned to remove from the city. The church put on record a resolution expressing its love and respect for the brother as also its gratitude for his faithful services.
After a fruitful pastorate of twelve years, Dr. Bingham was regularly dismissed by Council in March, 1882, to become pastor of the Congregational Church at Traer, in this State, where he still labors. His proximity to this city enables him to visit this scene of his labors from time to time, and he al- ways receives a hearty welcome. We wish the visits might be still more frequent.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.