USA > Illinois > Kane County > Geneva > Fifty years of Unitarian life : being a record of the proceedings on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the First Unitarian Society of Geneva, Illinois, celebrated June tenth, eleventh and twelth, 1892 > Part 6
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More attention should be given to providing oc- cupation for all the receptive faculties and active energies
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Character Sketch.
of children. Give the little child the opportunity and means and he will be a perpetual student and experimenter 'in the examination of the elements, facts and forces of nature. Give him tools and materials and he at once takes lessons in mechanics, destructive perhaps at first, more destructive than constructive, but always instructive and therefore of interest and worth. When the season and weather permit put him in the garden, and he will at once commence observations and experiments in geol- ogy, geography, entomology, botany, and a dozen other sciences. "
This extract might also be used to show that he was looking forward to manual training as a branch of education.
I wish I could give you an idea of one of his sermons on Temperance, but I have only time for a few discon- nected sentences. A quarter of a century before anyone else suggested it, he urged the idea of checking intem- perance by influencing the saloon keeper and the owners of buildings used for saloons. He took for his text, "Alas for the man through whom the offence cometh, " and says:
"Men who know the effects of the liquor traffic and the terrible results of the use of intoxicating beverages, and who acknowledge that it is wrong, and who confess that their only motive and excuse is the gain- fulness of the traffic, live among us and, disregarding the welfare of their fellow men and the warnings of Christian- ity and the monitions of their own consciences, continue the ruinous work. And there are others, too, who are little less guilty than they, the landlord who rents tene- ments for such use is one 'through whom the offense com- eth.' * * * The reasoning that men who want it will have it and they themselves may as well reap the advan-
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Of The First Pastor.
tages as for others to do so will not excuse them from guilt. If no liquor were to be had, none could be drank. If no one would allow the use of a building for the sale of it, no one would sell it, and intemperance would not exist. Through those who furnish the beverage the offense cometh and the guilt of its crimes and woes rests upon them. × What a sacrifice of peace, purity and integrity and all real worth and enduring for that which will not purchase for the guilty soul a single hour of relief from the agonies of self-condemnation and re- morse. * Will you say of this as of the gain ! 'Some one will bring this guilt and torment upon his soul if I do not, and I may as well bear it as another?' *
* × If you will continue to be a curse instead of a blessing to the friendly community in which you live, what can you expect in case of your death but that we shall rejoice that a less evil has delivered us from a greater ?"
I very much want to give you more and fuller extracts to show you his power as a sermonizer, but time forbids. He indulged in no flowers of rhetoric but, with simple directness, went straight to the heart of his subject and his words carried conviction. He felt deeply, expressed him- self strongly and clearly and was absolutely fearless and independent in his determination to speak the truth as it appeared to him, and thoroughly practical, always urging his people to live up to their highest ideals. One can hardly believe in looking over his manuscripts that they were written so long ago, and in a country where books were almost inaccessible. I well remember how, when any one of the little band obtained a book, no matter up- on what subject, it was considered the property of all who wished to read it and that it was usually returned to the owner in nearly as good a condition as when it started on its travels .. And yet here on the prairie was this bright
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Character Sketch.
intellect, fully abreast of, and even in advance of his times, surrounded by a. coterie of congenial spirits, all studying together the problems of the day and of the future.
Mr. Conant was a `noted man in his day. During his visits east he met many prominent people, who never forgot the quaint figure from which spoke the great soul. Most of the noted people who came west to lecture or to study the country in the early days visited him. While in Geneva he numbered among his guests Margaret Fuller, Horace Greeley, Lant. Carpenter, of England, Mrs. Caro- line Dahl, Mrs. Rebecca Clark and Miss Sarah, the artist, the mother and sister of Rev. James Freeman Clarke, Miss Cummins, the authoress, Henry Giles, Isaac Mcclellan, the poet, Fred Douglass, Revs. Robert Collyer, Rush R. Shippen, C. A. Staples, Geo. W. Hosmer and Dr. Noyes. In Rockford among his guests were Ralph Waldo Emer- son, Prof. Yeomans, Lucy Stone Blackwell, Tom Corwin, of Ohio, Bayard Taylor and Revs. John Pierpont, Starr King and others.
I cannot close this paper more appropriately than by reading this letter from Rev. C. A. Staples, of Lexington, Mass. " ., written for this occasion. It is a critical summing up of this noble character by one who knew him and loved him well.
"In the summer of 1853, while a student in Mead- ville Theological School, I wrote to Mr. Conant asking him if he could find some missionary work for me in his vicinity during the approaching summer vacation. He replied cordially, inviting me to visit him and promising to find occupation for me in preaching as long as I chose to remain. Accordingly I started for Chicago as soon as the school closed and in due time reached Geneva, where I was heartily welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Conant. I well
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Of The First Pastor.
remember his pleasant home, his bright and cheery face, his simple, cordial manner and his earnest devotion to his duties as preacher and pastor. He was then preaching to his own people morning and evening on Sunday, and often going out several miles into the country to hold services in the afternoon. There were several places where he had little congregations meeting in school houses, to which he ministered, and his services were much sought by the country people for funerals, weddings and various meetings in the cause of temperance and anti-slavery. He seemed to me to be a missionary of the true,apostolic order, ever ready to go where the humblest service could be rendered to any human being, glad to be the comforter and helper of men.
After a day or two passed with him in delightful fellowship he took me to Elgin, then a small village not much larger than Geneva, where he had gathered a new society and built an humble chapel. Here he introduced me to a number of pleasant families, to whom I ministered in my youthful, boyish way for the next two months. During this time I made occasional visits to Mr. Conant and passed many days in his family. We had an exchange and held a meeting of the Ministerial association at his house, where Rev. Rush R. Shippen, of Chicago, and myself with our host formed the entire association. But it was a good time. , We held an evening service in the church and read essays and sermons to each other, inter- spersed with pleasant talk and rambles about the country.
One thing that much impressed me in this intercourse with Mr. Conant was his enthusiasm in his work. He thoroughly believed in it. He loved it and gave himself to it with untiring devotion. He was a man of warm and generous sympathies, and readily entered into the sorrows and joys of his fellow-beings; a man of sincere faith and
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Character Sketch.
piety, whose highest ambition it was to be an humble fol- lower of Jesus. He was a growing man, reaching out to larger thought and pressing on to a higher manhood.
Another thing which much impressed me was the high intellectual and moral character of the people whom he had drawn about him at Geneva. More genial, kindly, delightful people than the leading families of his church, I have seldom known, and they seemed to cherish a deep and tender love for him. My acquaintance with them during that summer forms one of the pleasantest memories of my life.
In after years I often met Mr. Conant at the meetings of the Western Conference and I met him once, I think, while he was a chaplain in the army; always the same cheerful, hopeful, loving spirit, always glad to help and cheer his fellow men, always true to the highest and best that he knew.
Such is my thought of him as I turn back the pages of memory. So vis he enshrined in my heart, as a true friend and a faithful worker in the vineyard of the Lord. We may well say of him in the words of the quaint old poet, Herbert :---
'The religious actions of the just,
Smell sweet in death and blossom in the dust.' "
NOTE :- In each of the three succeeding papers will be found further reference to Mr. Conant .- [EDS.] .
1
Dedication Dymn.
WRITTEN BY EBEN CONANT AND USED AT THE DEDICATION OF THE BUILDING, JANUARY 24, 1844.
O Thou whom Heaven cannot contain, Much less the poor abodes of men,. Who yet in condescending grace Dost find in humble hearts a place.
As children to their parents come Or wanderers to their native home, So to thy throne would we repair With joy and praise and fervent prayer.
Our humble efforts deign to bless And make this house thy dwelling place; Here let our souls in Thee rejoice While in thy praise we lift our voice.
Here let thy truth distill like dew And here let souls be formed anew, Thy saints be fed with living bread And in their hearts thy spirit shed.
And when the grave shall be our bed Then raise up others in our stead; Let generations yet to be Here learn to know and worship Thec.
1
Incidents and Reminiscences.
BY REV. L. C. KELSEY OF ELYRIA, OHIO.
S introductory to what I wish to present, I will briefly refer to the class, of which I was a member, which was graduated from the Unitarian Theological School at Meadville, Pa., in June, 1854. This class consisted of Henry B. Burges, C. A. Staples, N. A. Staples, D. C. O'Daniels, T. C. Moul- ton, John Murray, C. C. Richardson, Chas. Ritter, W. C. Scandlin, Geo. Withington and myself. As some of
these were, at an early day, ministers within the boundary of the Western Unitarian Conference I shall have occasion to refer to them. Nearly one half of the members of this class died in early manhood. The only one living, and at present in the ministry, so far as I know, is C. A. Staples, pastor of the Unitarian Society at Lexington Mass. After leaving Meadville and spending a few weeks in Massachusetts and Ohio, I proceeded with my little family to this place, and was received. with a kindly greeting and made welcome to the hospitality of Brother and Sister Conant. This was in September, 1854, and at that time there were several places in Illinois where the prospect for organizing liberal societies seemed to be quite promising. After surveying the field, and with Brother Conant's
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Incidents and Reminiscences.
advice and influence, I decided to make my first venture in Dixon, Ill., an enterprising place of about three thou- sand inhabitants. Here I found a few Unitarians from New England, who extended to me a very cordial welcome; they were greatly rejoiced at the prospect of organizing a liberal church, and entered hand and heart into the enter- prise. These formed a nucleus around which were soon gathered a band of progressive, liberal-minded men and women.
Our first services were held in a hall and continued there for three months, after which the M. E. church was rented and service held there at two o'clock in the afternoon every Sunday, until our church was ready for occupancy. This edifice was built in Gothic style, costing about three thousand dollars, and capable of seating about three hun- dred persons. The dedication of this church, on April 9, 1856, was quite an important event, as this was then re- garded as one of the western outposts of Unitarianism.
The services at the dedication were interesting and impressive and have always been a source of pleasant reflection. As some who are here to-day knew most of the ministers who were present on that occasion it may not be uninteresting to name them. The dedication sermon was preached by Rush R. Shippen of Chicago. He was assisted in the services by Brother Conant, Elder Bradley of Belvidere and Rev. H. L. Myrick of Cambridge, Mass. The installation of the pastor took place in the evening of the same day. Brother Conant preached the sermon. His topic was "The Personal Privileges of the Liberal Christian Minister." He treated his subject in a terse, manly and practical way and showed unmistakable evi- dence of deep thought and varied reading.
Rush R. Shippen of Chicago and John Murray of Rockford, Ill. took part in these services. Other services
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Incidents and Reminiscences.
were held in which Revs. Mason and Palmer of the Uni- versalist church and Elders Bradley and Towner of the Christian denomination, also Rev. M. Kaig of the M. E. church and Rev. Mr. Ball of the Baptist church took active parts.
The work at Dixon was producing quite a strain upon the body and mind and I soon began to realize that my health was failing. I sought rest and recreation by visit- ing and exchanging with fellow laborers and embracing opportunities of holding services at various places in the surrounding country.
At Como and Sterling, where Brother Conant had pre- ceded me, I found quite a band of New England Uni- tarians. At the former place there had been organized a small Unitarian Society; services were held among them selves, by reading sermons and selections, when they were unable to procure a speaker. I held services there a few times and formed some very pleasant acquaintances. *
There were other places where I was not received with so much cordiality, and I recall one occasion showing the spirit of intolerance as sometimes manifested. A friend invited me into the country to hold services at the school house in liis neighborhood. He made an appoint- ment for me and at the time designated I found the house well filled. I gave a short talk upon the principal fea- tures of Unitarianism, and so much interest seeming to be manifested I was induced to give notice that I would
The origin of this move in Como was largely due to one earnest Unitarian family from Providence. R. I., Mrs. Susan Jarvis Cushing, a lady of rare strength of character and refinement, her daughter, now Mrs. Frank Cheney of South Manchester, Conn. and several of her sons who were all warm friends of Mr. Conant. Before this date the mother and daughter had returned to their New England home, but their influence remained and the sons were among the helpful friends referred to by Mr. Kelsey .- [EDS: ]
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Incidents and Reminiscences. 79
speak there again in two weeks, in case it would not interfere with any other appointment; I was assured that it would not. Hiring a horse and carriage and taking with me a member of my society I started in the early evening for the place of meeting. Our surprise was great upon reaching the house to find it well lighted, quite a large congregation assembled and a preacher at the desk. We soon took in the situation, sat down among the people and had the benefit of a sermon which would not be tolerated in any pulpit to-day. At the close of the ser- vices I asked and obtained permission to say a few words and stated why I was there. The preacher in reply in- formed me that he was not responsible for the appointment at that particular time, as it had been made for him. I then concluded that some one in the neighborhood had perpetrated a joke at my expense and that other fields would be more pleasant and profitable for missionary work.
I recall some peculiar and pleasant incidents con- nected with my brief ministry. There is always a funny as well as a sober side to a minister's life and I had a brief experience in both.
At one time a young man, in search of a minister to conduct services at the funeral of his father, called to in- terview me in regard to my religious opinions; after some rather pointed inquiries he informed me that his father was not a member of any church and was regarded by his neighbors as an infidel. He then informed me that I was® just the man he liad been looking for and he had no doubt I would fill the bill. With this, rather doubtful compli- ment, I consented to go .. The following day I was taken into the country to a rather secluded place in a valley, a distance of about ten miles, where there was a double log house which I found filled with people from far and near who had been notified that a Unitarian was to take charge
,
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Incidents and Reminiscences.
of the services. As I looked over the people assembled I thought I could detect in their faces indications of curi- osity and deep interest.
The large audience and the novelty of the situation were quite inspiring and I tried to impress upon the peo- ple the thought the occasion seemed to suggest, that the life and the character we are living and forming will be continuous; that what we call death is only a transition period in the life of every man; that God is the father of all and that neither time nor place, nor condition in this world or in any worlds could limit His love; and that as we all belonged to a common brotherhood we should judge and honor our fellow-men, not by their opinions or creeds but by their lives and characters. After the services many took me by the hand and expressed a desire to hear more of this new faith. The occasion made a deep im - pression upon my mind and has ever been a green spot in my memory.
During the early part of my labors in Dixon, John Murray had received and accepted a call from the Unitar- ian Society at Rockford, and it was during his ministry that the Society completed and dedicated their beautiful church edifice. Mr. Murray's labors in Rockford covered a period of nearly three years. He then resigned and went East. Subsequently he went to England where he died about three years ago. "At the time of his death he had charge of two societies.
During the years 1855 and 1856 Geo. Withington was preaching to a small Unitarian Society in Hillsbor- ough, Montgomery Co., IN. I recall with much pleasure a visit I enjoyed with him and his people in the summer of 1856. Of his subsequent history I have no knowledge.
Another member of the class of 1854, who for some years was one of the most prominent and promising young
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Incidents and Reminiscences.
ministers in the Western Unitarian Conference, was Nohor Augustus Staples, pastor of the Society at Milwaukee, Wis. from 1856 to 1860. A sketch of that earnest, beautiful life has been written by John W. Chadwick.
I recall several Universalist ministers who were among my most intimate friends and associates and who were doing good work for the spread of liberal views in northern Illinois, but time will not permit me to give them so much as a passing notice.
Brother Conant commenced his labors in a new field and with but few co-workers. His earnestness, the genial and friendly spirit manifested towards everyone with whom he came in contact, secured for him many warm . frends of liberal tendency. At this distant day I can re- call only a few of them. One with whom I became inti- mately acquainted and whom I greatly admired, deserves morethan a passing notice. Irefer to Ichabod Codding, an. anti-slavery lecturer of great ability and eloquence. He was largely in sympathy with Mr. Conant in his religious views. He believed in the largest freedom for man in forming and enjoying his religious opinions and had started out upon independent lines of thought and action. While arousing communities and gaining converts to the anti-slavery cause by his wonderful eloquence, he was preparing the way for the liberal church. The success re- sulting from his labors in many places brought him prom- inently before the Western Unitarian Conference as a suitable person for missionary work, but fearing that he might make his anti-slavery sentiments too conspicuous he was not employed in an official way. He continued his independent labors in various fields until one year after the close of the war.
He died in 1866, leaving a noble example of fidelity to a grand principle-Human Freedom. How dear to that
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Incidents and Reminiscences.
earnest, humanity-loving soul must have been the words, "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:" At the time Mr. Conant became acquainted with Mr. Codding the anti-slavery discussions were attracting much attention and I well remember a little incident which occurred in this church about the same time, causing no little stir and which made a deep impression upon my mind. It showed to the members that their pastor had the courage of his convictions and that he would not falter in denouncing oppression in whatever form it might appear, whether in church or state. I allude to the occa- sion of his preaching a sermon upon the terrible evil of human slavery as it then existed in our country. While in the midst of his most fervent utterances a prominent member of the society took his hat and in an excited and unceremonious manner left the church.
In the morning Brother Conant in referring to the inci- dent remarked to me that he did not notice any great change in the appearance of things. The sun arose as usual, the sky looked as bright and as beautiful as ever, and such little episodes, however unpleasant, could not hinder the onward march of truth and the ultimate triumph of the right. During the early part of Mr. Conant's min- istry, A. B. Fuller, a Unitarian and a brother of the re- nowned Margaret Fuller, was engaged in teaching at Belvidere, Ill. In connection with his duties as teacher in the Belvidere Academy he did some pioneer work in behalf of liberal Christianity. About this time Brother Conant did some missionary work in that vicinity which resulted in the formation of a small liberal society. Mr. Fuller left Belvidere early in 1845, going east for the purpose of preparing himself for the ministry.
The first regular minister of the society was Rev. Mr. Walworth, who remained but a short time. Subse-
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Incidents and Reminiscences.
quently the society had for a limited time other ministers, the last being Rev. Bradley. After he left in 1848, the society disbanded. Shortly after, a Universalist society was organized but concerning its history I have not the means of knowing.
Mr. Fuller was one of the first to enlist for the de- fense of the Union and one of the first to yield up his life. He was killed in battle.
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There were some earnest and liberal-minded men in other denominations who had taken Mr. Conant into- their fellowship. One of these was for some time preach- ing for the Universalist Society at St. Charles, Ill. He was not only an eloquent preacher, but poet and editor as well. I refer to Rev. Mr. Roundsville, who was known quite extensively in northern Illinois, and who did a grand work in the pulpit and by the pen for the cause of liberal Christianity.
Another co-laborer of a little later date was Rev. Mr. Slade, pastor of the Universalist Society at Aurora, Ill. He was a man of more than ordinary ability and a great admirer of Mr. Conant. I knew him quite intimately, having met him upon several occasions and I at one time exchanged pulpits with him.
I recall Elder Wickizer of Warrenville and Elder Towner of Belvidere, who were ministers in the so-called Christian denomination. They were self-educated, earnest men, serving their generation faithfully and in full sym- pathy with liberal religious ideas. These are a few of the brave ones who were contemporary with Mr. Conant in pioneer work.
Random Reminiscences.
BY MRS. JULIA DODSON SHEPPARD OF PENN YAN, N. Y.
was six months old when the First Unitarian Society of Geneva was founded. I have no recol- lection of the event; possibly I had not then learned to think for myself, or perhaps I may have been absorbed in the contemplation of "infant damnation, " a generally accepted doctrine at that date, and the belief, or rather disbelief, in a triune God had not then arrested my attention.
I have often heard my mother refer to the first ser- mon she heard questioning the trinity, she was shocked and began reading the bible, marking passages for and against it; great was her dismay to find the word, trinity, not in the book at all and the preponderance of evidence quite against it; she united with the society during Mr. Conant's pastorate; many little incidents of those early days she and my father often spoke of in my hearing. The little church was for some years quite the most stately edifice of the surrounding country. The Methodist society was holding services in the school house; Mr. Conant decided to offer the church to them, so one Sab- bath, after the morning sermon, he tendered the use of
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Random Reminiscences.
the church to them Sunday afternoons; there was a long and awkward pause, then the minister arose and said he could not accept the offer, 'he could not preach in a church where his Lord and Master was denied.' During Mr. Herbert's ministry that same society exchanged pulpits with him, seeming to have learned not to be unduly afraid of doubters.
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