USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > Dubuque > Semi-centennial celebration of the First Congregational Church, of Dubuque, Iowa, May 12th and 13th, 1889 > Part 7
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
Princeton .- Charles A. Aiken, Henry W. Smith.
Auburn .- James Richards, Laurens P. Hickock, Clement Long, Ezra A. Huntington, Samuel M. Hopkins, Baxter Dickinson, William G. T. Shedd, James E. Pierce, Willis J. Beecher, Edwin Hull.
Lane .- Lyman Beecher, President; Calvin E. Stowe, Henry Allen, Henry Smith, Zepheniah M. Humphrey, Henry P. Smith.
Union .- William Adams, President; Roswell D. Hitchcock, Edward Robinson, W. G. T. Shedd, Henry B. Smith, Francis Brown, George Bush, Ebenezer Burgess, Theron W. Hawkes, Charles C. Starbuck, Elijah P. Barrows, George Shepherd, James M. Hoppin, and may be some others.
The Congregational Seminaries have hardly reciprocated this surprising appreciation in their choice of instructors. Do all these colleges and schools by their founding and filling make any history? But how shall the young men be found and supported to fill these seminaries?
In 1815-16 Madame Farrar, consulting with others in Presi- dent Porter's study, Andover, about the many poor young men who with some help could be trained as ministers, sug- gested: "Let us form a society to get the means to help them." The "American Education Society" came from that wise woman's words. How many pulpits and professors'
84
chairs in our country can testify what that Society has been good for ?
Early in the century Deacon Mark Newman printed on his Andover press little Christian books and thin things in paper covers. Dean Swift's name "tracts" was borrowed for them. People read them eagerly and wanted more. Mr. (after Rev. Dr.) Nathaniel Bouton, then a student there, while riding in a stage-coach with fellow students, proposed a society to do the work on a bigger scale. "The Massachu- setts Tract Society," which in 1824 became the "American Tract Society," thus came into history.
Next of MISSION WORK have we a place "in history." The second sentence of that "Compact" before mentioned reads: "Having undertaken for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith," &c. A missionary seed came then in that little ship in Plymouth Harbor. The heathen Indian soon felt the impulse of the new-comers to teach them of Jesus the Savior. Before the first century ended, Elliott, the Mayhews and others had so taught and preached that an Indian Bible was printed, and above three thousand converted Indians were gathered in nineteen churches, over some of which were native pastors. As fast as settlements got planted in the then "West," viz .: Berk- shire County, Massachusetts, Eastern and Central New York, missionary ministers were sent to them. Connecticut and Massachusetts early had missionary societies. " The American Home Missionary Society" is their sturdy son.
A little way from my present home is seen a circlet of ever- greens about thirty yards in diameter. In its center stands a marble shaft holding up a globe, with tracings of the continents and island groups upon it. In the eastern side is cut the figure of a mound or stack of hay, and the legend reads: " The Birth-Place of American Missions," and the names of Samuel J. Mills, Jaines Richards, and four others, then students of Williams College, near by, perpetuate the per- sons and the place of the prayer meeting in which that birth
85
was given. We now can tell only how the five men sent first to foreign lands have been followed by 599 other or- dained men, 144 other helpers and 1,080 women missionaries, or 1823 in all. They've brought twenty-six languages into written form, and have printed in forty-six different languages nearly two billion pages. Six Christian Congregational Col- leges (of course) have also been planted in heathen lands, and other schools in which more than 500,000 pupils have been taught, and 396 churches with above 95,000 converts as members. The first year (1812) $999.52 were given to the Board. The account this year (1889) closes with something over $650,000. In all the years over $21,000,000 have been given through the Board.
There is a younger sister of this Church, up yon river, called Plymouth Church. Last year it gave to various benev- olent causes $116,654, an average of $121 per member. Four weeks ago Dr. C- in New York Evangelist, "gives what he calls a "love tap " to the Pastor of a church claiming the largest membership in the United States-over 4,000 members. This Church last year gave to Home and Foreign Missions $280, or 7 cents per member ! That Pastor has a famed lecture to be heard in popular assemblies at the price of half the yearly salary of an Iowa Home Missionary. The capital story-the grand hit in it, when given out of New Eng- land where I heard it, is about the the mean and stingy Yankee. I will not here make any further remark about him and his church of 4,000 members with their 7 cents a member for missions, except to say that they are neither Yankees nor Congregationalists; but the members of Plym- outh Congregational Church, Minneapolis, giving $121 each last year are just Yankees altogether !
This continuous giving to save and to help fellow-men has reared some historic Congregational personalities the world will not forget. George Peabody giving $13,000,000 for Southern education; the "Swett legacy" and the "Otis gift," $1,000,000 each, the first to Foreign, the other to Home Mis-
86
sions; and just now the "Daniel Hand gift" of $1,000, 894. 25 to the American Missionary Association, rather enrich as well as make human history. Other church cultures may have brought up men with equal love to fellow-men and gifts to prove it; but if so, it hasn't got into the papers.
Briefly, The Historic Revivalism of these churches should be told. The work of the Holy Spirit in convincing souls of their sin, and in making the heart anew, has been a foundation doctrine in these churches from the beginning. John Robinson sent word of his sorrow to the Pilgrims that "Any Indian should have been killed, even in self-defense, before some were converted," and Elliott and his fellow- laborers, as before told, led thousands of the dark children of the forest to Jesus, the Lamb of God. Personal conver- sion, " born from above," " a new man in Jesus Christ," was and is the unchanged doctrine of these churches. In this they are in fullest accord with the larger households-the Baptists and the Methodists in this country.
An instance reaching through two hundred years to this Church: In 1670, Rev. Joshua Moody planted the Church in Portsmouth, N. H. Many souls were led to Christ by him. His zeal and success in winning souls, led the people of his day to call him the " evangelical doctor." That Church gave to this Church, through Dr. Holbrook, its first communion service, and a member of gave one of the flagons of that now in use. Rev. Mr. Moody left sons and nephews, minis- ters, school-masters and civilians, but all noted soul-savers. Rev. Samuel Moody, of York, Me., a man of many oddities, but of signal power, had great revivals, and at his death his Church, out of a small population, had 317 members. Of that root sprang twelve ordained ministers and one not or- dained, most of you have heard of.
"The Great Awakening," moving the land from Maine to Georgia, was mainly felt through these churches. History re- lates that the number of converts in New England alone, gathered into the churches from that revival was 30,000, and
87
that when the population was but 300,000, or one from each ten of the inhabitants and these in addition to those then in the churches. It would be like adding about 200,000 to the churches of Iowa. Whitfield, the main mover in that "Awakening," ended his labors at Newburyport in 1770. His wonderful preaching through thirty years had trained an apostolical succession of preachers of like impulse and method, though no one of his power. After the set-back of the War for Independence, revivals again were felt. A min- inister in Connecticut, in the early part of the century, stand- in his doorway, counted to a brother minister seventy contigu- ous churches which had been visited by revivals. " In differ- ent parts of New England there were hundreds of ministers whose hearts had been gladdened by this great refreshing."
Look at the glorious successors of divine apostles, whom some of us remember, " the chariots of Israel and the horse- men thereof" in those pentecostal days our churches have known. After the princely Edwards and Bellamy, came Drs. Griffin, Lyman Beecher, and the matchless Nettleton; the im- perial Finney, that polished shaft, Edward N. Kirk, and E. P. Hammond, and Pentecost, and B. F. Mills. And what need to name the marvelous Moody, belting the continent with labors like his of whom Christ said: "He was a burning and shin- ing light."
Do these men and the churches (Congregational ones) in which they had their birth and careers, merely belong to his- tory, or have they made history in the Chronicles and Acts of the Church of God on earth? And of this magnificent seven-order apostleship of love and good will to men, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the American Home Missionary Society, the American Mission- ary Association, American Congregational Union, Congrega- tional Sabbath School Society, the American College and Education Society, and the New West Education Com- mission-of these is there not a likeness to the "seven golden candlesticks," from which streamed the light of salvation
88
over the known world in apostolic times? They are in his- tory.
Come we then, ascribing praise and glory to God. To Him be all honor and thanksgiving; and to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith and of this Gospel and least human way of church life; to Him, the great Teacher, head of our schools and colleges wherein to train heralds of the cross; workmen needing not to be ashamed; to Him from Bethany inspiring our devoutest young men and women to go dis- cipling all nations; and to Him, for the ascension command to wait for the promised Divine Spirit, the resistless enduement of the Holy Ghost, through whom come the glorious revivals, " times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." Him let us laud and magnify evermore, with Jubilate Deo; Jubi- late Jesu Christo; Jubilate Sancte Spiritu.
After Dr. Whiting's address the audience adjourned for the noon recess. The pastors and their wives dined at the home of the present Pastor. It was a most enjoyable occasion. Those who sat at the table were Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Holbrook, Dr. Lyman Whiting, Dr. and Mrs. Bingham, Rev. and Mrs. C. E. Harrington, Rev. and Mrs. Brewster, visitors from Michigan, and Mrs. Cornelia Andrew, who assisted Mrs. Brown in entertaining, with Dr. and Mrs. C. O. Brown.
MONDAY AFTERNOON, 2:30 O'CLOCK.
REMINISCENCE MEETING.
At half past 2 o'clock in the afternoon the people came to- gether for the Reminiscence Meeting, which had been antici- pated with much pleasure. The older members of the Church and those of other churches in the city who had known the early history were out in force, and that they had come to live
.........
-
REV. JOEL S. BINGHAM, D. D.
over again a chapter in their lives was manifest in the greet- ings and in the atmosphere of the gathering. The younger members were well represented. After prayer and singing, the first speaker was Dr. Holbrook, who had been named on the program to open the floods of memory. He was heart- ily and demonstratively greeted by the audience who had manifestly come together to have a good time, and applause was frequent throughout the meeting. Dr. Holbrook began with an account of his coming to Dubuque. He had been holding protracted meetings over in Wisconsin under the auspices of the Home Missionary Society, in 1841, and when ready to go East was asked if he would go to Dubuque. Thus he came. He held up to the view of the audience a manuscript yellow with age, which was the the first sermon which he preached in Dubuque. The mice had devoured a
90
part of it and "perhaps got as much good of it as those who first heard it" he remarked. There was one present on this occasion who was present in the Old Stone Church and heard that sermon, Mrs. Amanda Matthews. Mrs. Rachel Davis, the first convert under Dr. Holbrook's ministry, was also present in this meeting. He told of his experiences in the East raising money for the Main street edifice. He read a list of the Dubuque subscribers to that enterprise and sug- gested this would be a good time for those in arrears to pay up. [Great laughter. ] He told of the admiring remarks that used to be made about that building, to the great merriment of those present. He read an extract from the dedicatory sermon of that Church in which he predicted that Iowa would become as great as it now is. He rehearsed the story of the revivals under his ministry and told of one revival under the preaching of Rev. John T. Avery, Evangelist of Ohio. One of the converts was Mr. James Steele, who subsequently went to Oregon and took part in organizing the First Congrega- tional Church of Portland. He told of his work in raising forty thousand dollars towards the endowment of Iowa Col- lege and of becoming editor of the first Congregational pa- per in the Northwest. In closing he touched the feelings of all by saying that Dubuque would ever be dear to him; it was here he began his pastoral duties; here he began his married life, and fond memories of the past clustered thickly here. He was delighted with this reunion and looked forward to a greater when he should meet his friends in the world to come. He expressed the hope that all of the present company might be there.
Following Dr. Holbook's address the Pastor read a list of those who had expressed their regrets at not being able to be present and very brief extracts from the more important let- ters saying, the limits of the meeting and other parts to follow forbade more of the letters which he regretted.
Then followed a scene which will long be remembered by all who witnessed it. In a few remarks the Pastor referred
91
to the only living member of the original organization, Mrs. Amanda Matthews. He would now escort her to the plat- form and suggested that the audience receive her with the waving of handkerchiefs. The suggestion was eagerly adopted, the audience not only waving their handkerchiefs but rising to their feet. She had been a member from the be- ginning during the entire fifty years.
At this point Deacon George D. Wood, who had several times been referred to as the benefactor who had saved the Church from financial ruin at one crisis of its history, was called forward and received with clappling of hands and wav- ing of handkerchiefs. He spoke most feelingly, disavowing any especial merits and referring in touching words to some of the departed who were associated with him in the Church in those former years. Among others he paid especial tribute to the memory of Miss Martha Baker who, he said, had done more for the Church than he. The impression produced by Deacon Wood's remarks, especially as he referred so feeling- ly to the departed, was profound. As one expressed it: "It seemed almost as if the gates of the other world had been opened and we were permitted to look in !"
On the conclusion of Mr. Wood's remarks Dr. Holbrook told of his conversion remarking: "I little thought he would one day be the salvation of the Church." (See " Historic Sketch," page 67.)
The Pastor then said that there were several " elect ladies" in the audience to whom, though they had been silent listeners, these exercises had been especially interesting. By the side of each Pastor, through the years of labor, of trial, of victory, there had been a faithful companion, a sharer of burdens, and more often than the people had known, the hid- den cause of the Pastor's successes. In modesty and often withdrawn from the public eye, her work had been done and she had been content with her husband's success; but he now proposed without consulting their wishes in the matter, to give the people an opportunity to express for each of these
92
noble women the sentiments of gratitude and affection which they feel. Thereupon he asked Dr. Holbrook to escort Mrs. Holbrook to the platform which he very gladly did. As the doctor went down for his wife and the venerable pair came forward, Mrs. Holbrook quietly protesting, the audience rose to their feet and saluted her with fluttering handkerchiefs in every part of the room; and both Dr. and Mrs Holbrook were seated on the platform.
As Mrs. Esther Whiting's name was mentioned the audi- ence again arose and stood for a few moments with bowed heads in silence ; then in memory of her, of Dr. Guernsey and others who have passed over the river, all sang:
" O think of the friends over there, Who before us the journey have trod,
Of the songs that they breathe on the air, In their home in the palace of God."
Dr. Whiting, much moved, arose and spoke a few tender words of Mrs. Whiting whom the people had known and loved as the wife of the Pastor. It was further proposed in her memory that a Committee be appointed to have in charge the organization of a company of young people who should work for the raising of funds to erect a needed building for the Summit School, the organization to be known as "The Esther League," which was unanimously voted.
Dr. J. S. Bingham then spoke a few tender words in mem- ory of Dr. Jesse Guernsey who lies buried in Linwood. His remarks were supplemented by Dr. Whiting.
The Pastor then remarking " The affairs of life and death are strangely blended; we hold the dead in grateful memory and we thank God for the living who are still with us," called upon Dr. Bingham to go down into the audience and escort Mrs. Bingham to the platform. As they reached the platform the former scene was renewed with equal enthusiasm and demonstration. While the audience were still standing and the handkerchiefs still waving, several voices said: "Speech ! Speech! Say something Mrs. Bingham!" But that excellent
93
lady only blushed the more and quietly sat down by Dr. Bingham's side.
Similarly enthusiastic demonstrations greeted Mrs. C. E. Harrington and Mrs. C. O. Brown as they in turn were es- corted, each by her husband, to a place on the platform where all together remained during the latter part of the meeting.
From this point to the close of the meeting the services were of a promiscuous order, anyone in the audience feeling free to speak or call out any other, and every minute was fully occupied. There were volleys of questions, laughter, applause and tears strangely mingled. One told the story of the laying of the corner stone of the old stone church; how the audience being assembled and Rev. Aratus Kent, of Ga- lena, who was expected to deliver the address, having failed to arrive, they began immediately to look around for some one to supply his place. To offer the prayer they impressed Deacon Rupert, who was present in his working clothes, to assist in the manual services of the occasion-not even giving him time to go home and make a change ! For the address they drafted Dr. Mason, going with the brass band to his drug store and insisting on his responding at once. On the way from his store to the speaker's stand, he did his best to arrange his thoughts for a suitable speech, but could only think of one stanza of poetry which appeared to him an ap- propriate beginning and he determined to give it and trust the occasion for further inspiration. But when he faced his audience and had recited half of his stanza, the rest had gone from him ! Fortunately, a young lady school teacher, Miss Stoddard, who was present, knew the stanza and prompted him. "Thank you !" said the doctor, greatly relieved, and from that point proceeded, without embarrassment, to deliver what the newspapers described as "a very eloquent address." It was further told of Deacon Rupert that with a company of half-breed Indians, he went up the river, cut and rafted down the river to this place the timber needed in the building.
Colonel Lyon responded to a call in a few happy remarks
94
about the darker days, also giving an incident in connection with the hanging of the new bell, telling how some were afraid the tower would not stand its great weight when it should be rung ; and how he, M. M. Walker, the Pastor and several others ascended the tower and stood beside it while the rope was pulled the first time, and how the tower "did not tremble enough to jar the smooth surface of a glass of water." The pastor told of Governor Larrabee's anxiety to secure the re- turn of the old bell to this State on account of its honorable pioneer history. But the one which was found by the Gov- ernor and himself during an eastern trip in a yard full of re- fuse metal proved to be another. Ere this the old bell has doubtless passed through the furnace.
These few points are but hints of the spirit and fullness of the meeting, which will linger forever in the memories of those who were present.
It was fully 4:30 o'clock when the photographer, Mr. H. A. Jordan, made it known that he could not longer delay the taking of the group picture intended to mark the occasion. The meeting was thereupon reluctantly closed, the audience rising and joining in the hymn,
" My days are gliding swiftly by, And I a pilgrim stranger Would not detain them as they fly, Those hours of toil and danger." .
Dr. Holbrook then pronounced the benediction.
All then repaired to the front steps of the church, where the picture was taken, Mrs. Amanda Matthews and Mrs. Rachel Davis being in the foreground and the Pastors with their wives being in the center together. Over two hundred and fifty faces can be recognized in this excellent picture.
After the picture had been taken, a considerable company entered vehicles, which were in waiting, and visited the new German Congregational building, corner of Eighteenth and Jackson streets, and were delighted to find this work now so
95
admirably equipped. Mrs. Mary Ficke, wife of Pastor Ficke, accompanied the party and showed them through the build- ing.
The following are some of the letters received by the com- mittee and others :
LETTERS.
FROM REV. WILLIAM SALTER, D. D.
BURLINGTON, Iowa, May 8, '89. Rev. J. C. Holbrook :
MY DEAR BROTHER :- I was very much disappointed that you could not make us the visit your first letter led me to hope for and to presume upon. Please make your arrange- ments for it at your convenience later, and advise me when we may have the pleasure of seeing you. Come for a Sab- bath, with Mrs. Holbrook, and preach for me.
It was forty-five years ago in February that I first met you and enjoyed the hospitality of your home. I think I first saw you at Galena, where you were holding a protracted meeting in Rev. Mr. Kent's church, and at your request I went to Dubuque and supplied your pulpit in the Stone Church, Feb. 11, 1844.
Mrs. John Shaw, of Maquoketa, who was as a mother to me when I began my missionary work in Jackson county, November, 1843, had previously lived in Dubuque, and I be- lieve was one of the original members of the Church. She was a lady of sterling character, with a quiet dignity of man- ner, with gentle ways, of superior intelligence and capacity, and of ardent devotion to the work of planting the Gospel in the wilderness. I found a large and respectable congrega-
96
tion in the Stone Church, very different in appearance as well as in numbers from the small companies I had been preach- ing to in the log school-house at Maquoketa and in the two- story log court-house at Andrew. Your people received me kindly. I remember among them Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood, Mr. and Mrs. Bissell, Miss Jack, and another lady, in- telligent and bright, from Carlisle, Penn., where she had been a member of Rev. George Duffield's congregation, Mr. Stuart, a miner, a warm-hearted Christian, who told me of the impressions made upon his mind under the preaching of the Rev. James Gallaher, Mr. Hill, superintendent of the Sunday school (who was from Maine, a distant relation of Rev. James J. Hill, and who had been in Gorham academy, where he knew my Andover classmates (Rev. Edward Robie and Rev. Elijah Kellogg), Mrs. Crawford (who was a sister of Mrs. Maclay, of Maquoketa), and two interesting and friendly young men, Mr. Eustace H. Smith and Mr. Evans, who was clerk of the Church. In the course of that year, 1844, I preached for you four other Sabbaths. I think you were absent at the east part of the time to collect funds in aid of a new church building. In the month of March that year you aided me in a series of meetings at Maquoketa. I recall your vigorous and faithful preaching, and your earnest per- sonal labors with the prominent pioneers of the settlement. In the month of June I went up to Dubuque to welcome my classmate, Rev. James J. Hill, to the territory, and to pay my respects to his charming wife. I traveled in those days on horseback. At Dubuque I hired a buggy, and, taking in Brother Hill, carried him to his field in Clayton county. Turkey river was out of its banks (it was a season of heavy rains), and we took the buggy apart, carried it over on a skiff and swam the horse. We found a hearty welcome at the cab- in of Mr. James Watson, who kept a flock of sheep near Jacksonville, now Garnavillo. He had been one of the early members of the Dubuque church, and was a brother of the Rev. Cyrus Watson, a missionary of the A. H. M. S. at Du-
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.