USA > Illinois > Massac County > History of Massac County, Illinois with life sketches and portraits > Part 9
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He then moved to New Richmond, Ohio, where five large distilleries were in full force, and some of the owners mem- bers of the church, but were not long allowed to hold their names there, after he took charge. At the same time he preached at Batavia, Morrow and Munro, Ohio, moving to Ba- tavia in 1847, where he remained seven years. He also preached at Anderson, Ind., seven years and spent seven more years at Mishawaka, Ind., being there from 1861 to 1867.
He was thoroughly imbued with the missionary spirit, and in the early years of his ministry did much successful and last- ing work in the organization of churches and building up feeble
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congregations. In his ministry of thirty-nine years, God not only blessed his ordinary labors, as a means of the salvation of souls, but also crowned his efforts, in permitting him to en- joy ten extensive revivals in his fields of labor.
Besides many articles for periodicals, he published treat- ises on "Family Government," of which there was a second edition, and a translation of the same in Aramaic; "Civil Gov- ernment and the Rebellion;" and "The Solar Heavens-a New Theory."
The Ninth Indiana Regiment, which went from that place, wanted him to go as chaplain, but he could not leave a sick wife and a large family of young children. He composed hymns, which were sung in the regiment, and his "Civil Government and Rebellion" was distributed by the Christian commission.
He came from Lena, Ill., to Centralia, then to Metropolis, and last to Somonauk, Ill. He died in the parsonage at Somo- nauk, Oct. 12th, 1878, surrounded by all his children, members in his beloved church. His last words to his wife were: "The gates are open; Blessed Jesus, I am coming." Two sons-in-law and four grandchildren, supported his faithful wife, who had been partner in all his joys and sorrows for thirty-eight years, and who died March 5th, 1899, at the same place. They lie side by side in the beautiful cemetery midway between Somo- nauk and Sandwich, Ill. They had ten children, three of whom died in early infancy, and Charles Scofield, who will be rement- bered in connection with Towle & Co.'s saw mill, who resided three years with his sister, Mrs. R. W. McCartney, of Metrop- olis, Ill., died May 27th, 1894, at Somonauk, Ill.
The children yet remaining are Mrs. R. W. McCartney, Me- tropolis, Ill .; Mrs. Geo. H. Sisson, New York; Mrs. Frank N. Earlle, California; Miss Sudie Scofield, Metropolis; Rev. Ed- ward Scofield, Movers, N. Y .; Rev. William H. Scofield, Bona- parte, Iowa.
REV. J. H. SCOTT.
The Rev. Joseph H. Scott, served the Metropolis Presby- terian church from July 6, 1866, to October, 1878, except the time during which the church was supplied by Rev. Edward
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Scofield; i. e., July 1st, 1872, to April, 1873. Thus he served this church about eleven years and six months.
He was the son of Linus and Minerva Scott, and was born in Becket, Berkshire county, Mass., March 22nd, 1825, and de- parted this life, Feb. 26, 1879. April 20th, 1850, he was mar- ried to Miss Ellen E., daughter of Rev. Veron D. and Charlotte H. (Curtis) Taylor, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His fields of labor were seven years in Givensburg, Sum- mit county, Ohio, and three years as a home missionary in West Liberty, Ia. His health having failed, he sought a milder climate, and moved to Mineral Ridge, Ohio. On ac- count of continued ill health he gave up his cherished work, and served as quartermaster clerk for two years in the South during the Civil War. He resumed the work of the ministry, coming to Metropolis in July, 1866.
Rev. Scott was a man of most amiable disposition, con- sistent Christian character, good natural talents, education, general scholarship, and very self-sacrificing disposition. Without apparent defect he combined in a high degree many excellencies, and appeared as a most consecrated ambassador of Christ.
This history of the Presbyterian church is closed with the following reflections:
I. The illustrations of the power of the faith of the Gos- pel as brought to view in this history. Paul says of such, Heb., 11:32-39: "These all obtained a good report," and "of whom the world was not worthy." Here we have before our eyes, glorious illustrations of the transforming power of the Gospel, not only in the work and personal character of the ministry, but also the membership of this church. How wonderful it would appear could we see it as it is in reality! If those who are glorified could be brought to view as they now are, after their conflicts in this life with the powers of darkness, how ex- alted would they appear!
II. What lessons the history of the past suggests to us. Like us, once "they were toiling here below," Heb. 12:1. Such
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
(See page 113).
ELDER J. L BRANDENBERG. (See page 119.).
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examples of faith should encourage us to faithfulness and self- consecration. To endure the trials, keeping in view the great eternity to which we are hastening.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
(MRS. ARCHIE STERLING.)
On Friday, May 17, 1889, Rev. Roland W. Purdue, State Evangelist of the Illinois Home Missionary Society of the Con- gregational church, arrived in Metropolis City with a Gospel tent for the purpose of holding a series of evangelistic meet- ings. The tent was pitched on a vacant lot in the western part of town and on Saturday evening, May 18, 1889, the first ser- vice was held. On Sunday evening the congregation was large and the interest which became so general, seemed to begin with the first service. On Tuesday, May 21, Rev. F. A. Miller of Villa Ridge, arrived and took charge of the music, and was an important factor in the success of the work. Large numbers attended these meetings from evening to evening, the average attendance reaching about 500 persons. Though at times it was much larger than this number, some meetings probably reaching 1,000, it is impossible to properly estimate the whole number of conversions during these meetings. Certainly hun- dreds resolved upon a Christian life, and scores made a con- fession of their faith in Christ. As these meetings continued and grew in interest numbers expressed a desire for the or- ganization of a Congregational church, and in accordance with this desire a meeting of all those interested in such a move- ment was called on Saturday evening, June 29th, 1889. Rev. James Tompkins, D. D., of Chicago, Superintendent of the Illinois H. M. S., was present to assist in the meeting. After prayer and conference together, it was unanimously voted as the sense of the meeting that a Congregational church be or- ganized in this city and steps to effect the same be immediately taken. Many having carefully read the manual for churches prepared by Rev. Dr. Tompkins, it was voted to make said manual the basis of organization, and that the covenant bind-
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ing them together be taken publicly Sunday, June 30, 1889, at 10:30 a. m. At the appointed hour a large congregation as- sembled in the gospel tent. After devotional exercises a suit- able sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Tompkins and fifty-four persons stood and entered into covenant as charter members.
The meetings were continued one week longer, and July 7th there were ten accessions at the morning service and the young church held its first communion service that afternoon. A Sunday school was organized and started with the church on its work and mission. At the mid-week meeting July 10th, the name Trinity Congregational church was proposed by Mrs. A. P. Oakes, and readily adopted by the church. After cont- pleting the organization the next consideration was a building to worship in. However, the regular Sunday services were held sometimes in the tent, and sometimes when the weather was not favorable, services were held in the court house, while the mid-week meetings were held generally at the home of some member. About August 1st, a suitable lot having been found, Brother R. G. B. McKee advanced the money and bought it for the church. August 26th, the trustees were elected a building committee, and the church voted to erect a house of worship to be built of brick with stone trimmings. In October work was begun and progressed favorably. January 24th, 1890, the church called its first pastor, the Rev. J. Wesley John- son of Joplin, Mo.
By March, 1890, the building was enclosed and prepara tions were made for holding first services therein some time in April, but on March 27, a terrible storm, since known as the cyclone, passed over this community, and among the losses the young church was at first thought to be a complete loss. Like the Israelites when they came to the banks of the Red Sea and could not turn right or left or backward, they had apparently reached the end, when the good pastor came to the rescue with the advice "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord." Soon the sister churches of the state rallied grandly to the rescue and the work of taking down and rebuilding the walls was begun June 29th, 1890, the floors being laid, a small space was cleared of lumber and work benches, &c., and the
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first service was held just one year after its organization. By the kindness of Mr. Ed. Brauer services had been held upstairs over his store during April, May and June. The So. Asso- ciation having been voted to Metropolis for September, 1890, and the church being well-nigh completed, it was thought that Sunday, Sept. 21st, would be an appropriate time to dedicate the church to the cause for which it had been erected. Revs. Dr. Tompkins, R. W. Purdue and F. A. Miller, all of whom had been instrumental in effecting the organization, were pres- ent and participated in the dedicatory services. The property thits consecrated, having cost $9,200. Dr. Johnson served the church faithfully and well as pastor until Oct. 28th, 1891, when he resigned the pastorate, being called to another field of labor. On Feb. 28th, 1892, the Rev. Frank B. Hines of Carthage, Mo., accepted a call to become the pastor of this church. He proved to be a most excellent pastor and the church grew and pros- pered grandly under his pastoral guidance and in the two and one-half years of his pastorate, ninety-four persons were added to our membership. One prominent feature of his work was benevolence. He never wearied of giving and stimulating oth- ers to give to missions. He severed his relations with this church in June, 1894, to accept the Presidency of the Southern Collegiate Institute, located at Albion, Edwards county, Ill., in which capacity he is still serving.
In October, 1894, the church extended a call to the Rev. P. M. France of Lyndon, Ill. The call was accepted and Mr. France served the church until June, 1895, when he accepted the pastorate of the church at Seward, Ill. In September, 1895, Rev. A. H. Chittenden of Vermillion, S. D., assumed the pastorate of the church who together with his family proved in- deed an acquisition not only to the church but to society in general. Owing to a great financial depression which pre- vailed at that time the church felt unable financially to retain them longer and in October, 1896, they accepted a call to a church at Sac City, Iowa, which church they are still serving. January 1st, 1897, Rev. R. W. Purdue (who had first introduced Congregationalism into Metropolis and this entire section of Southern Illinois, assumed the pastorate), but the wave of
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financial depression was still on and there was hanging over the church an indebtedness of some seven or eight hundred dollars and this together with the fact that many of our most active members had removed their residences to other places had somewhat discouraged the remaining membership and though Mr. Purdue worked with that same energy which had hitherto characterized his ministry, yet things were not in that prosperous state which had blessed the early history of the church, and Mr. Purdue, after twelve months' service, re- signed the pastorate to enter again the evangelistic field. The first eight months of 1898 was spent without a pastor in an effort to economize, it being agreed among the members to maintain the Sunday school and prayer meeting services, and make our regular weekly contributions, the same to be applied on our indebtedness, and to continue until all indebtedness was cancelled. This plan as may be supposed proved some- thing of a failure, for those who urged this method most strong- ly, forgot to make their contributions and after the lapse of a few months four of our strongest and most active men resolved themselves into a committee to make a personal canvass of the church membership first, and then the friends of the church for pledges for free-will offerings to be used to cancel the church debt. Their efforts were crowned with a brilliant success. At the close of the year the pledges were redeemed and the entire indebtedness was found to be $91.46, which was not bearing in- terest.
In September of this year, 1898, Rev. C. A. Bruner of Val- paraiso, Ind., having previously been tendered and accepted a call, assumed our pastorate. His ministry has been marked with that degree of success that at the conclusion of the first twelve months' service the church unanimously voted to retain him our pastor indefinitely. June 30th being the tenth anni- versary of the organization of the church, it was voted by the inembers to celebrate the occasion in an appropriate manner. There being but $91.46 indebtedness, the pastor resolved that that amount should be cancelled and accordingly took the mat- ter in hand with the satisfactory result that not only this amount was secured, but enough additional was added to re-
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insure the church building, which policy was just expiring. It was furthermore, decided to invite all former pastors, together with those who were instrumental in bringing about the or- ganization, to be present and participate in the commemora- tive exercises, but each showed good and sufficient reason for their hon attendance and all sent congratulations and a hearty, "God bless you."
Thus the exercises were confined to our own people, the choir, the pastor and the clerk. The choir certainly did their part well and not only satisfied but highly gratified the audi- ence. The pastor talked briefly on the future of the church, which though wholly conjectural, was in perfect keeping with the capabilities of the church only ten years old and owning a property costing more than $9,000 with no incumbrance was, he thought, a record of which the church might feel justly proud, while truly thankful. The clerk gave a statement of the work done by the church as shown by the records in the ten years just ending, in which these facts were developed that the church had been organized with fifty-four charter members. that she had since provided a church home for 192 individuals, making a total membership of 246 persons, fifty-six of whom were admitted from the Sunday school. Of this number thir- ty-eight have been granted letters to unite with other congre. gations, seventeen have transferred their membership to the congregation in heaven; others have fallen by the wayside, but 120 had withstood the test of adversity and financial depression and that God had heard and answered their prayer, that the tenth anniversary might find the church free from all indebt- edness. There has been gathered little by little from the La- dies' Society, the Christian Endeavor Society, personal and par- ish contributions and from the H. M. S. until we find the total amount paid into our treasury has reached more than $23,600, a sum which places us out of debt. Out of debt so far as finan- cial obligation is concerned, but deeply indebted to heaven. We also find the church to have been served by five efficient pastors, all of whom have rendered faithful service, which has been characterized with an earnest endeavor to promote the spiritual, intellectual, moral and social growth, not only of
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our own household of faith, but of creating feelings of Chris- tian fellowship and good will among other denominations and we're now being served by a young though consecrated and zealous pastor, who is leading on to victory, and thus Trinity Congregational church in launched on the second decade of its existence delivered of all its hampering limitations, with great possibilities before her and Divine favor upon her. And after recounting the mercies of the Lord toward us and the great things which He hath wrought through His church in the past, we are resolved to press forward in this grand move- ment, marching ever under the motto which chimed over Beth- lehem: "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men."
ST. ROSE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. (MISS VITA MULKEY.)
It is universally admitted that the pioneer of civilization in the present State of Illinois was a Catholic missionary. A Catholic priest was the first European who stood on the soil of Illinois. And there is also hardly any doubt that a French Catholic missionary was the first one to offer public service to the God of Christians within the boundaries of the present county of Massac. The sources from which its early history is compiled warrant this assertion. Still many years elapsed be- fore Massac county was to have a Catholic church. This was owing not to any religious indifferentism, but to the small number of Catholics residing therein. For several years the Catholics of Metropolis and vicinity had assembled in a hall for their Divine worship when in the spring of 1896 they re- solved, encouraged and urged on by their energetic and zealous pastor, Rev. John Duffy, to build a church, in which the differ- ent ceremonies of their religion could be executed with more ease and splendor. Work was begun at once, and in the fall of the same year the edifice, a substantial frame structure, was completed. On the 7th of October it was formally dedicated by the bishop of the diocese, in the presence of a large con- course of people. The church was placed under the patron-
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age of the first American saint, Rose of Lima, hence the name St. Rose's church.
Soon after the dedication of the church Father Duffy re- signed as pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. Francis Pieper, who is still in charge. During his pastorate the church has been practically cleared of debt and much has been done to beautify its interior, several improvements being yet in petto. Considering the small number of Catholics that reside in Me- tropolis, it must be said that the church they have erected speaks well for their religious zeal, devotion and liberality.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
For years the good people of what is known as East Me- tropolis felt the need of a house of worship in their midst, and one in which they could "worship God according to the dictates of their consciences." Accordingly by the pious and zealous assistance of Rev. Mrs. M. W. Lennox, a powerful preacher, a class of 153 was organized Jan. 8th, 1895, and set in order. So earnest were these Christian workers that on Aug. 18th, 1895, the same year, a neat, commodious house of worship was dedi- cated by Bishop Castle under the most favorable circum- stances.
Rev. J. L. Brandenburg, whose likeness appears elsewhere, was the first presiding elder; Messrs. James Tomlinson, de- ceased, John Kennedy, Hiram Brown, W. H. Hailey, and James A. Annis were the first trustees; James A. Annis was the first class leader; William Travelstead and Robert Shaw, stewarts; James Tomlinson and Frank Ogden, finance committee; George Woodward was the first Sunday school superintendent.
During the succeeding years the presiding elders have been Revs. S. Mills, 1895-96; J. L. Brandenberg, 1896-97; T. D. Spy- ker, 1897-98; J. L. Brandenberg, 1898-99; J. B. Connett, 1899- 1900. The pastors have been Revs. Mrs. Lennox; W. F. Prout; J. C. Fowler, two years; W. L. Duncan, and W. L. Hall, two years.
We notice the names of the parties already mentioned among the officers and also the following known for their good
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work; George W. Hines, who, by the way, is now a preacher of power; Joe Brown, stewart; John W. Blackburn, who also served as alderman, and W. P. Smith, president of the En- deavor; also Mesdames Travelstead, Blackburn, Woodward, Tomlinson, Fowler, and Miss Nellie Bess. The amount of good resulting from this church cannot be reckoned on this earth.
METHODISM.
(REV. W. T. MORRIS).
The history of Methodism opens in the latter part of the year 1829 at the Oxford University, England, where four young men-John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Robert Kirkham and Wil- liam Morgan-had banded themselves together for mutual as- sistance, both in scholarship and piety. There was great needin- deed for such help, for at that day scholarship and piety were the two most unusual attainments among University men. For the purpose of improving their minds, these four young Uni- versity men agreed to spend three or four evenings together each week, in reading the Greek Testament and the Greek and Latin Classics.
On Sunday evenings they studied Divinity. To improve their souls they adopted a set of rules for holy living, including an exact observance of all the duties set forth in the prayer book of the English church, and such other rules as they were able to make for themselves, all of which they kept as strictly as if they had found them in Exodus or Deuteronomy. Their diligence in study, and the remarkable sanctity of their man. ners soon brought upon them a storm of ridicule and abuse, and the name Methodist was applied to them in derision, on account of the regularity of their work and lives. Hence the name Methodist, or Methodism.
This was the rise of Methodism, as given by historians, John and Charles Wesley of Oxford University, and Presbyters of the Church of England. Their evangelical labors were ac- companied by an extraordinary Divine influence. Other min- isters and many lay preachers were raised up to aid them, and
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throughout England, Scotland and Ireland, arose United So- cieties of men having the form and seeking the power of God- liness. These subsequently became the Wesleyan churches of Great Britain.
In 1766 Philip Embury, a Wesleyan local preacher from Ireland, began to preach in New York City, and formed a soci- ety, now the John street church. Thomas Webb, a captain in the British army, also a local preacher, preached in New York City, and vicinity. In 1771 Mr. Wesley sent Francis Asbury and Richard Wright to this country. They came, both Godly men. Francis Asbury became the first American Bishop of the Methodist church.
At the close of the Revolutionary War there were about eighty traveling preachers and about fifteen thousand mem- bers. When the independence of the United States was ac- knowledged by the treaty of 1783, the American Methodists, most of whom had been members of the Church of England, were now, totally disentangled from both the State and the English hierarchy. And Mr. Wesley said that they are now at full liberty simply to follow the Scriptures and the primitive church, and we judge it best that they should stand fast in that liberty, wherewith God has so strangely made them free." Many of the parish clergy returned to England, leaving the so- cieties without a shepherd, or any one to administer the sacra- ments to them. As the spiritual children of Mr. Wesley they sent up an appeal to him for advice and help.
Mr. Wesley responded by sending them two Presbyters (or elders) for the American churches, viz: Thomas Vasey and Richard Whatcoat. These Mr. Wesley set apart by prayer and the imposition of hands; also he set apart the Rev. Dr. Thomas Coke to be general superintendent or Bishop. Mr. Wesley in- structed Dr. Coke to ordain Francis Asbury as joint superin- tendent also, to assist in the work of these societies in America.
At the "Christmas conference," begun in Baltimore, Mary- land, December 24, 1784, sixty preachers met Dr. Coke and his companions. The plan of Mr. Wesley was submitted then, and was unanimously and heartily approved. Thereupon they or- ganized the Methodist Episcopal church, and adopted the arti-
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cles of religion and the Sunday service prepared by Mr. Wes- ley. These articles of religion, twenty-five in number, consti- tute the doctrines of the church. The Methodist Episcopal church does not require of any one, as an article of religion, to be believed and practiced, anything that is not expressly taught in the Word of God. These articles of religion we hold to be an expression of what God's Word teaches upon the several subjects named by them. The sole object of these rules, regu- lations and usages of the Methodist church is that it may fulfil to the end of time its original Divine vocation, as a leader in evangelization, in all true reforms, and in the promotion of fraternal relations among all branches of the one church of Jesus Christ with whom it is co-worker in the spiritual con- quest of the world for the Son of God. There are but two or- ders in the Methodist ministry, namely deacons and elders.
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