Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 71

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 71

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The Diocese of Altou, Ill., was established on April 26, 1857, with Right Rev. H. D. Juncker as its first Bishop, and he at once directed hls efforts toward the founding of Catholic Schools. He applied through Archbishop Purcell to the "Brown County" community for teachers, and the resnit was that, on Angust 18, 1857, Mother Mary Joseph and four other sisters ieft Ohio for the Capital City of the Great Prairle State, which they reached three days iater. Their beginning In Springfield was very modest indeed, and they found it easy to make a iiterai application oť their vow of poverty. Their first night in Springfield was spent on straw mattresses on the floor of a practically empty house.

However, they opened school on September 7, 1857. and from the very beginning were quite successfni. The leaders of Springfield soclety conid well appreciate the cultivation and ac- complishments of the new Sisters, and were not slow to take advantage of them for thelr daugh- ters, regardless of religious affiliation, and as a

result inany of the ladies In Springfield's fore- most social circles today are proud of the fact that they are alumnæ of Springfield Ursuline Academy.

They spent their first year In what was then known as the "Farnsworth House," located at number 325 North Sixth Street, and the next autumn moved into a iarger and much more commodions building, on the corner of Sixtlı and Mason streets, where SS. Peter and Paul's parochiiai school now stands, and where, in ad- dition to the Academy, they had charge of a parochial school with an attendance of 150 girls. In 1865 the construction of the present commo- dlous maln building began, and in March, 1867, it was under roof. On September 24th of that year the Sisters and students moved into it. On the next day-the 25th-Father Hinssen celebrated the first mass in the new building. In thelr new home, amid deligbtfui surround- ings, they continued to grow and prosper, work- ing zealousiy for the benefit of humanity, and the greater glory of God. On October 29, 1890, after a long, earnest, active and very useful iife, Mother Mary Joseph quietly and peacefully passed from earth to that reward for which she had so dlilgently and faithfully labored through

. her iong life, to spend an eternity in communlon with the Master she had ioved and served so well.

In 1894 the building of a new chapel was begun, and in June, 1895, it was finished and dedicated. Neither pains nor expense was spared In its interior design and finislı, and under the careful and artistic eye of Architect W. H. Conway it became a real delight, a poem, a prayer. It is worth mentioning that the chancel is ornamented by some very fine wood- carving, every bit of which was done by hand by the Sisters themselves. most of it by Sister Camilla, formerly Miss Margaret Donovan aud Aunt to Mother Clare of the same convent.

Additional departments have since been added. The study of Art, and of Music, to which the Sisters were aiways partlal, have been given inore attention, and better provision made for thelr prosecution, and many other new features have been added. Tbe Academy now has the legai right to confer the Degreo of B. A.

Within the last few years a fine laundry and a magnificent auditorlum have been added. and now the Academy surrounded by friends, with alumnæ scattered all over this country and some

INTERIOR OF CHAPEL, URSULINE CONVENT, SPRINGFIELD

URSULINE ACADEMY, SPRINGFIELD

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

in foreign countries, gracing and adorning the circles in which they move, and constantly sing- ing the praises of their Alma Mater, it bids fair, under the management of Mother M. Ur- sula, to start on a new era of even greater suc- cess. One of its members now holds the respon- sible position of head of the Southern Province of the Ursulines.

SACRED HEART ACADEMY .- In August, 1873, the Rev. P. J. Mackin, theu pastor of the St. Pat- rick's church in Jacksonville, Ill., with the ap- probation of Bishop Baltes, secured six Domin- ican Sisters from Springfield, Ky., to take charge of St. Patrick's parochial school. They occupied the convent of St. Rose of Lima, Jack- sonville, and continued there for eighteen years.

By that time the Convent building bad become inadequate to their greatly increased numbers, and on June 9, 1893, acting on the advice of Very Rev. T. Ilickey, Vicar General, their Spiritual Director, and with the approbation of Bishop Ryan, they transferred their Mother House and novitiate to Springfield, where, for two years, they had been teaching in St. Mary's parochial school. In making this change they were very largely indebted to the late Charles L. Routt, of Jacksonville, one of the kindest and best of men, and the greatest benefactor the Dominican Community has every known.

Mr. Routt, who was a convert to the church, became greatly interested in the work the Sis- ters were doing. and gave them liberally of his large means. He purchased for them the old Dubois home on West Monroe Street, in what was then West Springfield. paying thirteen thousand dollars in cash for the building and a large tract of ground surrounding it.

The Dubois residence, large though it was, proved insufficient for their necessity, and in 1892 they erected the large three-story brick structure, which is now the main building. In 1893 it was blessed by Bishop Ryan with impos- ing ceremonies, ali the Catholic societies of the city turning out for the occasion. At the ear- nest solicitation of friends and persons inter- ested. the Academy was opened for use as a day sehool, and soon afterwards as a boarding school, with twenty-five boarders for a start. The number of boarders has since steadily in- creased until it has now reached eighty. There has also been a very satisfactory increase in the number of day scholars.

In 1901 the present handsome chapel and

auditorium were built, adding much to the con- venience of the Sisters and students, and also to the general effect of the premises. In 190S the Sisters began a new addition to the main structure, which has been recently completed, and which is, in fact, the main part of the Academy. It is a magnificent brick wing, five stories high, with East and North fronts, and is of elegant design and fiuish. The first floor is used for dining and recreation rooms; the sec- ond and third floors for library, laboratory aud class rooms; the fourtb, for dormitory and pri- vate rooms, and the fifth will be used exclusively as an Art Studio. The latter will be equipped with everything necessary. to give the students all the advantages of a thorough art education.

The Dominican Sisters are a teaching Order, making a specialty of graded school work for which they have carefully prepared themselves. As already stated, for two years before moving to Springfield they had charge of the Immac- nlate Conception parochial school, which has been continued ever since. In 1897, when Fa- ther Howard opened the St. Agnes school, they were given charge of it, which continues in their hands. At present the Sisters number in all one hundred and twenty, and in addition to the Academy. they conduct fourteen parochial schools in different parts of Illinois, and, as their work becomes better known, their field of operation widens .. .

The Academy is incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, and its charter gives it all the rights and powers of a first class col- legiate institution. Its curriculum includes a thorough English course, with Latin, French and German. Stenography and typewriting are taught carefully and successfully. The business course is very thorough. Calisthenics, sewing and fancy work are taught as part of the reg- ular course. But it is in its Music department that the Academy is especially strong. The historic old Dubois Mansion is converted into a home for this department. a use to which it is especially well adapted, being quaint, large and roomy, in a picturesque location and en- tirely separate from all the other buildings.

With magnificent stately buildings, located in a splendid natural park twenty acres in extent, including beautiful natural groves of forest trees, with perfect drainage, with easy access to street cars, with everything necessary for the physical, mental and moral development of its students,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

this Institution is bound to become a very im- portant factor in the future history of the city of Springfield, of the Catholic Church in Sanga- inou County, and, indeed, in Central Illinois.

BAPTIST CHURCHES. (By A. L. Converse.)

The history of the Baptist churches of Spring- field and Sangamon County, Ili., began with what was calied the United Baptist Church of Spring- field, organized July 17, 1830, with but eight members. During the first year of its history the church united with the Sangamon Baptist Association, an organization which was made up of five or six smali anti-misslon churches in Central Illinois. For the first five years dating from 1830, the prevailing sentiment amongst Baptists in this portion of the State was anti- mission.

In 1835 Mr. Charles B. Francis and Josiah Francis, formeriy members of the Baptist church in Pittsfield, Mass., came to Springfield and con- nected themselves with the Baptist church there. They came fnliy imbued with the strong mission seutiment then common to the churches of New England. In 1836 the American Foreign Bible Society was founded as a coadjutor of the American Baptist Missionary Union. The Amer- ican Baptist Home Mission Society, which was organized in 1832, had just begun to prosecute its work in Centrai Illinois. That Society found most efficient help in Its work for missions in the two Francis brothers, who were ever ready to disseminate in Central Illinois everything per- tainIng to the missionary splrit. Meetings were held at the residence of Mr. C. B. Francis fre- quently, for the purpose of reading and discuss- ing the news from Dr. Judson and other mission- aries in the foreign field, and these were the first missionary meetings ever held in Central Illinois.

In 1836 the Baptist Church of Springfield calied to its pastorate the Rev. Jonathan Mer- riam, of Passumpsic Village, Vt. He entered into his work with great earnestness and pros- ecuted it with success. The same year, at the annual meeting of the Association, the former name of United Baptist was changed to that of the Regular Baptist, for the purpose of sig- nifylng thereby that the Baptist Association should henceforth be known as missionary in

sentiment, and ready to lend encouragement not oniy to missions, but to Sunday schools, Bible societles and temperance organizations.

On the 15th of September, 1837, the Springfield Baptist church, in order to maintain a church in accordance with what was belleved to be Gospel principies, and give such members as were not in accord with the missionary spirit an . opportunity to withdraw, adopted the following resolution :

"Resolved, That any member of this church who is dissatisfied with it on account of its being favorably disposed to the cause of mis- sions, Bible schools, Bible societies and tem- perance, and desires to withdraw from it on that account, be granted at his or her request, on application to the church, a letter certifying the 'cause of separation."

The following resolution, which was adopted at the annual meeting of the Association in 1838, indicated iu no uncertain way the scope and breadth of that Christian enterprise which char- acterized the founders of the Baptist denomina- tlon in Centrai Illinois:

"Resolved, That the Sunday School work, min- isterial education, Sabbath observance, temper- ance, religious publications, and sacred music, aii combine to engage the most profound atten- tlon of the Baptists of this day or age."

At the same association a resolution was adopted setting forth, in unmistakable terms, the views upon the subject of ministerial edu- cation as follows :

"That we are in favor of an Intelilgent min- istry, and recommend to all our ministers, and to those designing to enter the ministry, to avali themselves of every means within their reach to attain, by publlc instruction or private study, to the highest point of literary and the- ological improvement withiu their power. And we further urge that the diffusion of generai intelligence in regard to the progress of the Redeemer's Kingdom is an object most desira- bie, and that we regard It as the duty of every Christian pareut, who has the means, to furnish himself and his family with such periodicals as will make them acquainted with all the great rellglous and moral enterprises of the day."

Each succeeding year from 1838 to 1861 the Baptists of Springfield and Sangamon County coutinued to meet in their annual Associations. The minutes of these Associations contaln re- ports, statistles and resolutions which bear abun-

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dant evidence that as Christians they had been active and aggressive, but iu the year of 1861 there was hanging over our iand, as it were, a pall which seemed to require of the Christians of every denomination expressions of loyalty to our country, in unmistakable terms, concern- ing the impending war. The Baptists were not slow in giving expression, as occasion seemed to demand, not only in the individual churches but in the annual gatherings of the Association.

At the meeting in 1861 expression was givenl as follows: "That, according to the prociama tion of the President of the United States, we recommend the last Thursday in September as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer; and that the pastors of churches in their respective charges urge it upon their people, in view of the calamities of civil war, to spend the day in ear- uest and humble supplication to Almighty God to avert the impending ruin which seems to threaten our beloved country." In 1862 the foi- lowing resolution was adopted: "That cherish- ing undiminished interest in the present strug- gles of our country with her enemies, we will not cease to pray, that the God of nations would grant wisdom to our rulers and success to our arms, that this wicked rebellion may be brought to a speedy issue and the authority of the Gov- ernment established."

In 1863 the Association gave expression as foiiows :

"Resolved, That the rebellion now existing is a crime against God and good government, and destructive of human liberty and civilization ; and that it is the duty of all Christian men to ald in its suppression. That while we ear- nestly pray for the restoration of peace and a speedy termination of a conflict which has brought unutterable calamity upon the country, we ask for no cessation of war invoiving the destruction of the national iife or the surrender of the great principle of human liberty which wicked men in arms would destroy.

"That the rebellion was begun and is carried on to secure the indefinite expansion and per- petual recognition of slavery. That slavery is sought to be made the corner-stone of a new government in defiance of the spirit of civiliza- tlon and Christian progress which characterize the age. That the institution is now made an . element of strength against us, and that, there- fore, not only the instinct of national preserva- tion, but the teachings of God's Providence, in-

dicate that the time has come for its utter ex- tinction.

"That as Christlan citizens we solemnly record our gratitude to Almighty God for the victories which have crowned our arms, giving promise of an early restoration of peace and a preserved Uulon; and to the integrity, patience and en- lightened patriotism of Abraham Lincoln, the Natiou is, under Divine guidance, indebted for the national preservation.

"In 1865 the Baptist Association of which the Springfield and Sangamon County Baptist churches were members, gave expression to their convictions as follows :

"Resolved, That, for the continuance of peace and for the ultimate salvatlon of the Union, it is needful that the freedmen become freemen, and that every possible effort be made to edu- cate and fit them for their new position. That it is the duty of every Christian, to do all in his power to send to the freedmen and whites, missionaries, teachers, colporteurs and books. And that upon the Baptist denomination espe- cially is there a loud call to engage in this work; and that the Baptist Home Misslon So- clety and the Baptist Publication Society, are the only proper organization through which our churches should act in this directlon.

"Resolved, That loyalty to the Union and the support of all proper measures for sustaining and perpetuating it, are clearly demanded by tlie religion we profess."

In giving somewhat in detail the early organ- ization of the work of the Baptists of Springfield and Sangamon County, and the stand taken by tbem through the years since the beginning of their record in 1838, and the trying times through which our country passed at the begin- ning and through the years of the Civil War, we have deemed it proper to place on record the stand taken by this people upon every public question which has arisen, involving the integrity of our country and the morals of her people, as weil as the record of the church in her dealings with every people throughout every known por- tion of the world.

The Baptists have ever left their impress upon every phase of human progress, they have freely expressed themselves upon every question in ' which the civillzed world is interested, for the elevation of mankind, and for the betterment of the human race, wherever found. As a church she has ever been arrayed against human siav-

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ery, against intemperance in every form, against polygamy, and all things which have a tendency to demoralize, and keep in ignorance and super- stitlon, either in native or foreign lands.

While the Baptists have ever stood for the inspiration of the Scriptnrc, and have been close observers of the truths as revealed in God's word,. they have always been believers in those truths to be sufficiently broad in their teachings to cover every human need. not only In the past, bnt the present, and for all time to come.

As a denomination the Baptists have grown in Sangamon County from one church, with a mem- bership of eight In 1830, to twelve churches, with a membership of 2,258, in the year 1910.

INDIVIDUAL CHURCH HISTORY. (By Edwin S. Walker.)

The First Baptist church In Springfield was constituted July 17, 1830, with the following named members : John Crowder, John Dnrham, Samuel C. Neal, Sarah Neal, Temperance Watson, Polly Miller, Betsey Gillock, and Nancy Gillock. Two other persons having united with the church in July, Rev. Aaron Vandeveer was called, on the 21st of August following, to take the pastoral care of the church, "and to attend her whenever he can," and quoting further, "this church agrees to join the Sangamon Association." He continued to serve the church nnder that call for five years, during which time the membership in- creased to eighty. In Jnne, 1834, a lot on the southwest corner of Seventh and Adams Streets, SOx157 feet In size, was purchased for $800, for a site for a meeting honse. Upon this was erected a small frame building, which, with additions, served for purposes of worship until 1850, when a substantial brick church was erected, and ded- icated on April 7th of that year.

On the 26th of October, 1836, Rev. Jonathan Merriam, of Passnmpsic Village, Vt., was called and hecame pastor of the church, and continned to serve her until November 1, 1838. During his ministry of two years the membership was in- . creased by seventy received by baptism and twenty by letter. Mr. Merriam, in his jour- ney coming west overland, with a two horse team, was eight weeks on the road, as that was the only means of travel at that early day. He was the father of the Hon. Jonathan Merrlam, so well known as a soldier of the Civil War and

one of the leading citizens of Illinols. Jonathan Merriam, Sr .; was a man of qnite liberal ednca- tlon, having for two years been connected with Columbia College, Washington, D. C.

For the year following his resignation the church was withont a pastor, nntil October, 1839, when Rev. Oliver C. Comstock, D. D., of Detroit, Mich., was called to serve as pastor at a salary of $400 per annum. He was a man of culture, and, having been a member of Congress, was widely known as one of the leading mem- bers of the Baptist denomination of his .day. During his term of service of one year, fifteen members were added to the church.

He was sncceeded by Rev. Henry W. Dodge, in November, 1840, who served for three years. He was gifted with a most attractive and win- ning personality, and the memory of his elo- qnence and devont sprit Is still among the tradi- tions of that early day. During his term of service In Springfield the Decatnr Baptist church was constituted, September, 1843, with twelve members, as a result of his missionary work there. Ile served nntil February, 1844, and was succeeded in April following by Rev. Ambler Edson, who served one year.

On October 1, 1846, Rev. Gilbert S. Bailey became pastor of the church and served three years. During his term of service the church erected the substantial brick honse of worship, on the corner of Seventh and Adams Streets, which it continned to occupy nntll the erection of the new building, on Capitol Avenue, in 1881. During this period snbstantial growth was made, and from that time the organization be- came one of the most substantial and prominent churches In the city.

As is not nnfrequently the case, when the new house of worship was completed, the pastor resigned, and Rev. Thomas C. Teasdale, of Pittsburgh, Pa., was called to the pastorate, on April 7. 1850. and served two years. He was a man of remarkable ability, as a preacher, and left his Impress upon the community as an ear- nest, devoted minister. His successor, Rev. Wil- liam Sym, took pastoral charge of the church and continned two years, until 1855.

Mr. Sym was succeeded by Rev. N. W. Miner who, commencing his labors in April, 1855, served with eminent efficiency and success during the following fourteen years, until October, 1869, and his inenmhency was the longest. with a single exception, In the history of the church, during

1 LugoThana

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINO'S

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

which, as it included the period of the Civil War, when Springfield became the center of great po- litical and military activity, he hecame one of the most earnest and outspoken supporters of the Government in that great contest. During this period, also, his ministry was followed with the most gracious outpouring of the spirit, in the conversion of many souls and the enlargemeut of the membership of the church. A man of strong sympathies and generous impulses, he attached to himself a host of devoted friends.

During the pastorate of Rev. Miuer, with the increase of membership, there arose some differ- ences, which resulted in the withdrawal of some ninety or more memhers, aud their organization into another church, calied the "North Baptist Church," in 1860. Erecting a modest frame church hullding, on the southwest corner of Sixth aud Madison Streets, where the Iliinois Ceutral Railroad depot now stands, a pastor was called, and during the foliowing nineteen years that church maintained its services until 1879, when it was merged into a uew organization hy uulon · with the First Church, under the corporate name of "The Central Baptist Church." Among those who served the North Baptist Church as pastor, two of the more notahle, aud men of ahility, were Rev. Ichabod Clark and Rev. A. C. Huhhard.

Following the resignation of Rev. Dr. Miner, in 1869, Rev. Nehemiah Pierce hecame pastor November 1. 1870, and continued until his death, in March, 1873. Following him, a year later, Rev. M. H. Worrall served as pastor for four years, untii November, 1878, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. J. L. M. Youug, who continued until June, 1879, at which time the church be- came consolidated with the North Church, formu- ing the "Central Baptist Church."

To this new organizatlon Rev. F. D. Rickerson was calied as pastor, commencing his lahors No- vemher 1, 1879. The old First Church building was put in repair for immedlate use and during the succeeding year the unification of Baptist interests became accomplislicd.

In his first anniversary sermon, November, 1880, Mr. Rickerson volced what was the set- tled conviction of many of the members, In urging the necessity of immediate action towards the erection of a new house of worship, in sucia location, style and proportions as would furnish adequate accommodations and fltiy represent the social position, wealth, and influence of the Bap-

tists of Springfieid. Pursuant thereto, steps were soon taken, a new site was purchased on Cap- itol Avenue, and the new church edifice com- menced on the 18th of August, 1881, being com- pleted in one hundred and fifty days, and ded- icated on the 15th of January, 1881, at a total cost of $20,000.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 71

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864