USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > Dubuque > Semi-centennial celebration of the First Congregational Church, of Dubuque, Iowa, May 12th and 13th, 1889 > Part 9
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A. J. VAN WAGNER.
FROM REV. J. M. CUMINGS.
DUNLAP, Iowa, May 7, 1889.
Rev. C. O. Brown, D. D.,
MY DEAR BROTHER :- Please accept my thanks for your kind invitation to attend the Semi-Centennial of your Church. It is indeed an occasion of great importance. It suggests many
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precious memories and hallowed associations. Fifty years of church life in Iowa, so new a State. How it suggests the early days of this then Western land-now central ! What toil, faith and hope are suggested by such a Celebration! To the labors of such churches the State owes a debt she can never pay. God be praised for such labors. I trust you will have a pleasant and tender time. Shall be glad to receive accounts of it. Expect to see you next week at Creston. Yours truly, J. M. CUMINGS.
FROM REV. J. B. THOMAS.
BOSTON, May 19, 1889.
MY DEAR BROWN :- I have just read in the Dubuque Times the account of your Jubilee gathering. Allow me to express to you my sincere regret on account of my absence. The gathering was a grand success-worthy of the heroic work of your large Church during all these years. Eter- nity alone will make known the far-reaching results of the Christian influence of the Dubuque Congregational Church which has had such a remarkable and such a blessed history.
May the favor of God continue to rest upon your dear peo- ple, and may your continued pastoral work therein be char- acterized by the remarable success of your present position. Yours in Christ, J. B. THOMAS, Pastor First Baptist Church, Dubuque.
Letters were also received from Rev. C. H. Keays, Pastor Congregational Church of Oskaloosa; Rev. W. W. Gist, Pastor Congregational Church at Marion; Rev. John T. Blanchard, Pastor Congregational Church at Monticello, and Rev. M. A. Bullock, Pastor Congregational Church at Iowa City. Others were received which are not in the hands of the compiler.
REV. C. E. HARRINGTON, D. D.
MONDAY EVENING, MAY 13th.
THE BANQUET.
The people began to assemble in the audience room as ear- ly as 6:30 o'clock, preparatory to the Banquet, which was the closing event of the Celebration. Wraps were laid aside, and a time was spent in pleasant social chat. Tickets had been issued to all guests from out of the city, to all former mem- bers of the Church in the city who are now members of other Churches, and to all present Church and Society members above the age of childhood, the seating capacity of the palrors making some limit necessary. At the proper time the entire company proceeded to the Church parlors, where a scene of rare loveliness greeted them. The tables were spread for nearly four hundred, and were beautifully decorated ; the
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young people of the church were in waiting to serve the guests, and the spirit of Christian love and joy ruled the hour. When all was in readiness, the pastor called upon Dr. J. S. McCord, pastor of the Main Street Methodist Church, to in- voke the Divine blessing.
The banquet hour passed most pleasantly, and the literary part of the feast began under the direction of J. S. Lewis, M. D., as Toastmaster, whose words and manner in introducing the speakers were most felicitous. From the first, and fre- quently through the evening, his remarks elicited laughter and applause.
"OUR SISTER CHURCHES."
Dr. J. S. McCord, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was called first, a little sooner than his order on the program, owing to another engagement, in which two expect- ant young people were anxious for his services. He respond- ed in manner and spirit most heartily to the sentiment, "Our Sister Churches."
" Not to one church alone, but seven The voice prophetic comes from Heaven ; And unto each the promise came Diversified, but still the same."-Longfellow.
Dr. McCord's words happily conveyed the impression of genuine fellowship. There was a heartiness in the manner in which he said, "I like to work by the side of a good, strong neighbor." His story, in illustration of one of his points, about the father who proposed to load as much hay as both of his sons could pitch up to him, and who, presently, buried in hay came tumbling to the ground, but upon being asked, "What are you doing here father?" blew the hayseed out of his mouth and responded, "Down after more hay !" was greeted with great laughter.
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SALUTATORY POEM.
Dr. Lewis after a few felicitous remarks introduced Mrs. Ada L. Collier, poetess of the occasion, with the following sentiment from Longfellow:
" The horologue of time Strikes the half century with a solemn chime, And summons us together once again, The joy of meeting not unmixed with pain."
Mrs. Collier's poem-expressive, touching, beautiful-will speak for itself. There is one who, having the opportunity, is strongly tempted to respond here and now to the kindly sent- iment of her closing stanzas. But after all the response can only be made by deeds and life. Be assured, O Poetess, the words fell not on unlistening ears.
Their smiling guests the Greeks were wont to greet With roses garlanded, or wreaths of bay ; And amber wine as musk or honey sweet. " We live to love" they cried, "Life, is To-day! Laugh while we feast !" And soft the zephyrs played In moonlit gardens, through the myrtles' shade Beyond the wine-embowered colonade.
When wise Egyptian feasted, (subtle jest) A Death's Head in the midst, the table bore, Recalling one unloved, unwelcome guest
"Gainst whom no man so e'er might bar his door.
" For we" they cried while loud the viols throbbed,
" Live while we live-then die !"-And quick fear robbed The winds of peace, that round the palace sobbed.
A blither presence we would seek to grace Our festal board, and bid fair Memory here, That once again each loved and vanished face, Each noble deed, might from the past appear.
" For life " we cry, " bears in her sacred sphere To-day, the ended and the unborn year. We live, to live !" " Faith reads the riddle clear."
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Or like the charmed Princess in the tale Should memory sit, reflecting in her glass, The scenes and forms that throng the intervale ; While 'neath her drowsy casements swiftly pass The men who lived, who wrought, who live once more, Freed from the fret of days, the battle's roar, Perfected Life, beyond Time's shifting shore.
Turn then thy glass kind Memory and show The untaught beauty of the wilding West, The silent hills, the hawthorn's drifting snow, The mighty Mississippi's curving crest, The sullen Indian's fast decaying flame. Show, too, the youthful face of one who came, Planting and trusting, ever in God's name.
Welcome old Pioneer ! Hast thou not heard A message from the Past, in newer ways, 'Neath bluer skies! Were not the dark pines stirred To rythmic story of the old brave days ? Bright as of yore, the old fire burns again, The old love swells above forgotten pain, Sweet as in springtime hedge, the linnets' strain. Oh Shepherds of Christ's flock, you we salute ! Of fifty bounteous years, the fruit, the flowers, Behold the children of that Church whose root Christ blessed, thrice blessed since those long morning hours. Some dear ones are not here! Yet God doth keep The record perfect. And strong faith may leap From earth-worn paths, to scale Heaven's lofty steep.
Dear Shepherd of our later day, revered ! To whom the children turn, the suffering cling Who pass sometimes amid dull wheat fields seared With sudden blight, albeit the glad lark sing Loud in your heart of fresher fields to bloom, Sit down with us and let the rare perfume Of almond-blossomed years slip through the gloom.
Bring to us your best gifts, strong-sinewed, still, That we may feel your heart beats firm yet meek; Lend us your strength to trample down all ill, To lift the erring and uphold the weak.
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Teach us the faith that meets to-morrow's need; Still through long years, our faltering footsteps lead, Till in each soul shall shine, our Master's creed.
"THE DARK AGES."
Colonel D. E. Lyon, who has known the history of this Church as but few have ; who has been through the years of struggle with debt both as a Trustee and a member of the Finance Committee, when that Committee was confronted with a debt of over $20,000, was called upon to tell what he knew of " The Dark Ages," the Toastmaster kindly solacing him at the outset with the following words of Jean Ingelow:
"The dews of blessing heaviest fall Where care falls, too."
The response was such as only Colonel Lyon could make None but a short-hand reporter could do it justice, and, as the speaker did not commit it to writing, the compiler would be presumptuous indeed if he should venture upon any syn- opsis. Let it be sufficient to those who know the Colonel to say that it was in his own peculiar style and manner, and that it frequently set the dishes rattling. It touched upon the his- tory of the Church, both the lights and the shadows, then upon matters both biblical and political, for the Colonel is among those who believe that it is right for the Church to hold with certain great political results of the past.
"OUR FORMER MEMBERS."
Following Col. Lyon, Mrs. A. B. Kellar, a daughter of Deacon James Burt, of precious memory, and one who in ear- ly years was connected with this Church, but who having married a Methodist had strayed away to the Methodist
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Church of this city, was asked to give an account of herself and of others like her in response to the toast, " Our Former Members," which she did most acceptably, but in a manner which made it doubtful whether the poetic sentiment with which the Toastmaster called her name, were more appro- priate to her or to the Church which had lost her:
" 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all."
-Tennyson.
Both had "loved :" both had "lost."
FRIENDS AND KINDRED :- We return to our Father's house, not as the prodigal returned, but as loyal children, for we find the door standing wide open, the feast already pre- pared and even the elder brother waiting to give us a cordial welcome, extending to us the right hand of fellowship.
We are glad to be with you once more, to look into faces familiar from childhood, to listen to voices that sweep over the chords of memory and bring before us the forms and faces of the "long ago." In the hurry and bustle of the present, with the cares and anxieties of life pressing upon us, we scarcely take time to think of the past, and to us who have barely reached our prime, childhood and youth seem a far- off dream. But to-night time has turned backward in its flight, and we stand for awhile in the shadow of the past. We hear the chiming of the bell from the old Church tower, calling us to worship, and with brothers, sisters and parents we gather in the old-fashioned, high-backed pews to listen to God's message from the lips of our Pastor as he stood in his place in the stiff, old-fashioned pulpit. And well did men to listen, for the words and tones that came from that pulpit never gave forth an uncertain sound, but rang out clear and full, always true to God and humanity. We remember well how our hearts were thrilled by the words that were spoken in the cause of the down-trodden and oppressed, and this in days
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when it meant a great deal for a man to be outspoken in their behalf. One can judge of what power and inspiration must have accompanied his words who heard his sermon yesterday morning on the "Signs of the Times," for the fire and strength of manhood's prime have followed him even to the present time.
. We remember the many times when the Church was vis- ited with "showers of blessing" from on high, and the many souls that were born into God's kingdom on earth. We also remember the time when the call of the "old Church bell" rang out from the new Church tower, and the excitement that followed the moving from the "old house into the new."
Time has wrought many changes since then. New minis- ters have filled the pulpit, and strangers have filled the pews. The strong men and women of the early days have grown to be "the old folks," and the youth and maidens of ye olden time are the strong men and women of to-day, while many have wandered into other fields of work and service. Such may be found all over this broad land, and even across the wide ocean. Others with
" Life's race well run, Life's work well done, Have entered into rest."
If the vail could be lifted that hides the invisible from the vis- ible to-night, and we could see the goodly company of those who have passed from this Church "Militant to the Church Triumphant," our hearts, no doubt, would be rejoiced, for among the number would be many near and dear to us both by ties of kindred and friendship, and who knows but at this hour there are in our midst an invisible host who are rejoicing in this glad re-union. As one who has wandered in other fields of work and worship for lo ! these many years, let me say I have ever watched wth interest the progress and pros- perity of this Church, and to-night I think I will voice the sentiment of others who like myself have come to join in these
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festivities, when I say I thank you for remembering your wan- dering child.
"May the Lord be with and bless you. May He cause His countenance to shine upon you."
"'61-'65."
How much that period signified to the history of our Na- tion and to the hopes of mankind throughout the earth ! This was the theme assigned to Dr. Benjamin McCluer, who was himself a prominent Surgeon in the Union Army during the great epoch. He spoke feelingly and ably of it and of the causes which led up to it. The Toastmaster, whose name also appears in the list of members of this Church, who served in the war, introduced the doctor with the following sentiment from Bret Hart:
" A trumpet voice proclaiming Said, My chosen people come,
Then the great heart of the Nation throbbing answered ' Lord, we come.'"
MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :- That is a short text, "Sixty-one to Sixty-five," but it includes an epoch. It is not time, but events which make the foot-prints of the ages. 'Every life has its critical periods; every people and Nation have their crisis. When a new principle has been enunciated, when a mode of thought or course of action has been gradually developing among a people, and comes finally to claim recognition, a contest of the new with the old must come. The great principle of the equality of all men before the law, though new, had been the key note to our independ- ent National life. This ideal of liberty of the individual was opposed to the principles which had controlled the history of the past. Our fathers had been successful in their effort to throw off the yoke of bondage to the British throne, and had
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succeeded in establishing a free Government for the white population ; but had failed in their consistency, by denying freedom to the colored man. A contest between the ideal principle of liberty enunciated in the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and the actual principles of slavery as established in a large portion of our country, and most tenaciously con- tended for and adhered to was sure some time to bring on a mighty crisis. Such antagonism of ideas could only tend to a trial for the mastery. A crisis must come, and in 1861 the fearful moment was here. I need not repeat the history of the processes-intellectual, moral, social and political-which ul- timated in the final conflict. We had heard the mutterings of the storm-the threats of the terrible things to occur-but we could not believe it possible.
As a late speaker has said: " I have been trying to imag- ine myself," not "a young man of twenty," as did he, but of thirty-seven years. I have tried to feel as we then felt, when we received news from Washington, as State conventions passed ordinances of Secession, and assumed the preroga- tives of government ; as the meeting of delegates at Mont- gomery, Ala., to form Confederate States Government, and as the election of a President and Vice President of the Con- federate States of America occurred, and finally as we felt, when the news came that Fort Sumpter had been fired upon, and after a siege of thirty-six hours had surrendered.
War, war against the Government of the United States was now a fact. Can you imagine those hours back? Can you feel the thrill which excited the heart of every loyal man and woman throughout our land, as the words passed from mouth to mouth-Sumpter has fallen? And when President Lin- coln issued his proclamation calling for 75,000 men, what a supreme moment was that! Few of the generation then ac- tive had knowledge of war, except as a matter of history. But there was hurrying to the place appointed for rendezvous. The ranks were filled and brave men put on the dress of soldiers of the United States. The contest now begun and
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continued beyond all the calculations of the most wise among us. Still the ranks were filled. And now my friends, how was it with the First Congregational Church of Dubuque during these terrible months and years?
The legends of Congregationalism from its early history, as developed in its literature, are for liberty; liberty to wor- ship God. The claims of religious liberty tend directly to the idea of political liberty; and this was by the admission of all a war initiated solely in the interest of African Slavery.
And need I say it in this presence, that the pulpit of this Church gave forth no uncertain sound ? There were mem- bers of this Church born and bred in slave states, who held to the doctrine of State rights, so-called, and to the theory that African Slavery was right, not only right but Christian; who after the delivery of a certain sermon by the then Pastor, Rev. John C. Holbrook, left us, seceeded and were no more with us forever. And the old bell that hung in the tower ! It too was true. It tolled out its sad notes when news of de- feat was brought to us; and gave forth its loudest notes of cheer when victory perched upon our banners. Its final notes of victory were too much for bell-metal to endure, and it burst its bands while ringing out its gladest notes for liberty and union. Lee had surrendered and the Cause was lost-our country was saved.
The following named members of this Church and congre- gation were soldiers in the war: Wm. R. Baird, Col. George R. West, Edward E. Bale, Col. Samuel L. Taggart, Wm. P. Dickinson, E. Horton Dickinson, James N. Foye, John W. Markle, George W. Healy, Benjamin McCluer, E. W. Albee. And in our Church now, are others who have come into connection with us, who took part in the contest: C. O. Brown, D. D., our present Pastor; Major William H. Day, Dr. J. S. Lewis, William Dougherty, W. H. McGee, William C. Wheeler, W. H. Jennings, Ezra Lukenbell, Wil- liam H. Phillips, and Dr. Nancy M. Hill, who was a nurse in a military hospital, and perhaps others whose names I have not secured.
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We were represented in a large proportion of the severe battles of the war, as also in the prison hell of Andersonville.
But this Church was not only represented among the ser- ried hosts upon battle-fields. A large number of brothers and sisters were engaged in the labors of the Sanitary Com- mission, which accomplished such beneficent work in behalf of the soldier. Gen. H. A. Wiltse was president of the Sani- tary fair. Our brother, George D. Wood, gave freely of his money and time to the Commission.
Among others who deserve honorable mention as workers in the Commission were Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Langworthy, Mr. and Mrs. Solon Lang- worthy, Mr. and Mrs. William Andrew, Mrs. Geo. D. Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Herod, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Baker, Miss Lois Bissell, Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Amsden and Mrs. Franklin Hinds. And now, Mr. Chairman, may I have a minute more ? War ! war, sir, has ever been considered an uniniti- gated curse, but it is not so. Love of country must exist among a people if that country is ever to fill any important place in the world's history. Love of country, patriotism, is a necessity ; and there is nothing like defending the flag, the symbol of your country, suffering for it, striving for it on the field of battle 'mid carnage and gore and death if need be, to make the old flag dear. And especially is this true if the bat- tles are fought by the citizen soldier,-not the mercenary sol- dier, but the volunteer soldier; the soldier from and of the people. And such were the soldiers of our late civil war. No braver men ever drew sword or contended in the "lines" than the men of either army of this terrible conflict of 1861 to 1865. And our flag is dearer to the hearts of the people, and our country freer and safer than ever before.
"THE PASTORS."
Dr. J. S. Bingham was fittingly introduced with the follow- ing words :
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"Thou are there, so loved and honored, as in each former hour, When we read thine eye's deep meaning, when we heard thy words of power," (Anonymous.)
to respond for all of his brethren, in the pastorate here, to the toast, "The Pastors."
The doctor's response was quite brief, and had reference, in large measure, to the Pastor's relations to his people socially. The Pastor should not be a recluse, but "a man among men," participating in their joys and their sorrows. The compiler regrets that it is not possible to give a full report of Dr. Bing- ham's remarks on this occasion.
" THE DEACONS."
Deacon Rudolphus Clarke was next introduced to respond to the toast, "The Deacons."
"Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness ; and place such over them."-Exodus.
He began with the New Testament history of the diaconate, showing the authority and intent of the office. Then he brief- ly reviewed the history of the office and its representatives in this Church, mentioning the names of those who had served : John T. Cook, 1844-1877 ; John W. Windsor, 1846-1849 ; Win. Reid, 1844-1846 ; Lincoln Clark, 1849-1850 ; Lucian Rice, 1849-1852 ; John Maclay, 1852-1856; Asa Horr, 1852- 1856; A. M. Chapin, 1852-1860 ; John W. Markle, elected 1857, and now Deacon Emeritus; N. C. Amsden, 1857; James Burt, 1857-1886; W. C. Chamberlain, 1860 to the present time ; Dr. E. L. Clarke, 1862, still in office; W. C. Wheeler, 1880-1889; George D. Wood, 1886-1890 ; Dr. R. Clarke, 1880-1892; E. A. Spaulding, 1886-1890. After other re- marks, he closed with a laughable reference to "ministers' sons and deacons' daughters," affirming of the adage, "'Tisn't
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true ! If you don't believe what I say, just come to my house and see for yourself!" a sentiment which was greeted with great laughter and clapping of hands, the point being that Rev. Dr. Bingham's son is the husband of Deacon Clarke's daughter, and all of the parties referred to were present.
" THE SUNDAY SCHOOL."
Dr. Lewis then introduced two persons in succession to re- spond for the Sunday School.
"We shall be what you will make us; Make us wise, and make us good ; Make us strong for time of trial ; Teach us temperance, self-denial, Patience, kindness, fortitude."
-Mary Howitt.
Deacon W. C. Chamberlain, who for many years was super- intendent of the School, with a record remarkable for its faith- fulness and efficiency, was the first to respond. He dwelt upon the work of the School in the past and upon the place and intent of Sunday School work.
Mr. E. J. Steinbeck, the present superintendent of the school, who has held the position for two years, to the satis- faction of all, was next introduced. We give such part of his remarks as we can command :
MR. CHAIRMAN AND FRIENDS :- It is customary, I be- lieve, on occasions like this, to preface remarks with a story ; but, in attempting to tell a story or to make a speech, I con- fess to a good deal of sympathy for the overgrown, awkward young man who was called upon suddenly at a district school examination to make an address to the scholars, and who could only stammer out, "Dear children, I hope you all love
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your teacher as much as I do !" and then fled from the room.
If it were not out of place, I would say, with him, that I hope you all love the Sunday School and Sunday School work as much as those who are actively engaged in it. It is unnecessary, however, to suggest that parents take an interest in their own children, and is not the Sunday School the child of the Church, and are not its pupils the members of our own households? Indeed, in these days, when writers and press- es are producing annually such multitudes of books and such a profusion of Sunday School literature in all its varied forms ; when the best thoughts of the brightest minds are given us weekly in comments on the lessons ; when architects and church builders are turning their attention more and more to the production of commodious and convenient Sunday School rooms, there seems to be but small danger that the children will be forgotten.
This Church has done, and is still doing her share in the work of leading the young toward the higher and better things. In these delightful days of our gathering together, "Fifty" has been the magic number which has charmed our thought, and lent its spell to reminiscence and remark. From the small and feeble beginning of long years ago, the Sunday School connected with this Church has been growing in numbers and influence, until to-day upon the rolls of the three schools directly under its charge and fostering care there are Five hundred and fifty names. May we realize the re- sponsibility, while we rejoice at the opportunity of laying a moulding, guiding hand upon the hearts and lives of half a thousand of the children and youth of this City in which we live. We gather to-night, a goodly company, and recall the scenes of the past, but let us, as we glance forward another fifty years, realize that most of our seats will then be vacant, and that our places will then be filled, if at all, by those who are now in the Sunday School.
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