USA > Illinois > Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. II > Part 49
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1445
14
50,000,000
46,266,000
7,653,832
503,416
3,321,291
Louisville & Nashville [op. S .- E. & St. L.
208
ISO
1,000,000
6,500,000
396, 548
42,929
53,618
Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis, Con. ..
296
93
5,086,009
7,890,375
461,804
45,486
69, 108
Louisville, New Albany & Chicago .
537
20
5,900,000
10,000,000
965, 549
84,277
101,867
Michigan Central .
1608
49
19,038,204
10,800,000
4, 326,519
315, 162
1, 518,436
Mobile & Ohio [op. St. Louis & Cairo ..
160
160
6,500,000
4,000,000
188,694
28,755
43,426
New York, Chicago & St. Louis.
523
18
31,500,000
19,784,000
1,336,317
135,932
319,213
Ohio & Mississippi. .
628
375
24,092, 692
15,842,000
1,445, 147
142, 16I
185,515
Pawnee ..
6
6
29,600
670
489
Pennsylvania Co ..... [op. P., Ft. W. & C.
480
26
32,279,285
12,598,000
4,518, 115
359,850
1, 019, 507
Peoria & Pekin Union .
18
18
1,000,000
2,994,000
186, 165
22,936
6,074
Peoria, Decatur & Evansville. .
256
213
8,380,000
4,845,000
362,379
40, 228
25,240
Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City.
137
2
1,623,240
1,739,240
106,323
12, IIO
32,937
Rock Island & Peoria ...
I13
113
1, 500,000
600,000
350,881
23,296
285, 584
St. Louis, Alton & Springfield ..
96
96
1, 500, 000
818,692
8, 184
8,655
470
St. L., A. & Terre Haute, and leased lines.
432
423
9,830,000
13,439,000
1, 002, 488
36,92I
17,499
75,974
St. Louis & Peoria.
14
14
280,000
182,000
3,540
800
10, 682
Terminal R. R. Ass'n of St. Louis.
3
2
10,681, 200
10,000,000
1,240, 120
81,079
209,936
T. H. & Indianapolis [op. St. L., V. & T. H.
158
158
3,924,058
4,499,000
658,750
54,520
108, 852
Terre Haute & Peoria .
172
166
5,400,000
1,800,000
93,552
14,996
11,444
Toledo, Peoria & Western
247
247
4,500,000
4,800,000
285,238
34,836
430
Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City
450
180
17,055,000
9,800,000
506,352
36,000
470,352
Wabash. .
1921
731
52,000,000
78,000,000
3,952,086
396,490
237,791
Wabash, Chester & Western
42
42
250,000
300,000
14,649
3,025
3,375
Wisconsin Central Lines
867
60
5, 118, 237
12, 709, 642
1, 810,21I
35,321
1,247,349
Totals.
$847,488, 296 |$920, 683, 061 |$98, 081, 368
$8,467,080 |$29,591,581
$1,384, 172
1067
RAILROAD STATISTICS.
443
20,959
Illinois Central . .
28 2279
I285
132
149,168
31,354
187,078
Ohio, Indiana & Western.
35°
St. Louis & Chicago.
53
53
2,800,000
1,400,000
11,755
3,730
...
CHAPTER LIII
The Religious Denominations in Illinois-Their Classi- fication, Growth, and Strength-Secret Benevolent Societies, Masons, Odd-Fellows-Knights Templars -Knights of Pythias.
LLINOIS is not peculiar in constitutional guarantees of I religious freedom; the same rights having been preserved in all the states. The article on that subject in the first con- stitution was almost literally copied in the second, and with some slight modifications was incorporated in the present instrument. It is as follows: "Sec. 3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimi- nation, shall forever be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege, or capacity, on account of his religious opinions; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State. No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship."
As will be seen by the following tables, the principal churches in this State have kept pace in their growth with the increase of population. Whether there has been a corresponding spiritual growth, is another question, an answer to which the figures do not disclose. The changes which time has wrought in the habits'and manners of the people, have not been without their effect upon religion. These are seen in the largely-increased cost of church buildings; the great improvements made in. church architecture; the immense value of property; and the large amount of yearly contributions. But while the days of simplicity in worship, attire, and communication have passed away, it is a gratifying fact that the old-time asperities, contro- versies, and jealousies between different denominations have also, in a great measure, ceased to exist. This result has been largely brought about by a general union in Sunday - school work. Here in county and state conventions, all have found a
IO68
1069
METHODIST-EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
common ground for religious effort. And with increasing knowl- edge, and freedom of intercourse, have come more liberal inter- pretations and broader views.
The Methodist-Episcopal Church, although younger in years than the Congregationalist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and other denominations, is the most numerous protestant organ- ization in the United States or in this State.
The first one of this denomination organized ir. the United States was in John Street, New-York City, in 1768. Francis Asbury, afterward the first American bishop, came to this coun- try by direction of John Wesley in 1771. He was the great leader of this church in the United States for forty-five years.
The first Methodist preacher who came to Illinois, while it was yet a part of the Northwest Territory, was Joseph Lillard, who formed a class of which Capt. Joseph Ogle was the leader in 1793. Rev. Hosea Riggs was the first local preacher, who settled in the American Bottom in 1796 .* In 1803, the Illinois mission was formed, of which Rev. Benjamin Young of Kentucky was the preacher; and the following year, it was made a part of the Cumberland, Tennessee, circuit. Dr. Joseph Oglesby was the preacher on this circuit in 1804-5, who was followed by Rev. Charles R. Matheny.
The early western conferences were presided over by Bishop William McKendree. By 1820, Illinois had seven circuits, which had increased to twenty - eight in 1830, with a membership numbering 10,318.+ Rev. Jesse Walker visited Chicago as a presiding elder, and probably preached there the first Methodist sermon in 1826. The first society of this name in that city was organized in June, 1831, by Rev. Stephen R. Beggs-who is still (1891) living. In 1835, there were 61 circuits in Illinois, 369 ministers, and 15,097 members.
Among leading and well-known preachers in Central Illinois, contemporary with Peter Cartwright and succeeding him in the work, were Peter Akers, George Rutledge, W. D. R. Trotter, James Leaton, I. C. Kimber, W. S. Prentice, Wm. J. Rutledge, Hiram Buck, and William F. Short-the last three of whom still survive.
" Reynold's "Pioneer History of Illinois," 260.
+ Rev. James Leaton's " Methodism in Illinois."
# Rev. John M. Peck.
1070
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
The preachers and members of this church were conspicuous during the late civil war for their enthusiastic and self-sacrific- ing loyalty to the old flag. They were among the first to rally to its support, and from their pulpits were constantly heard inspiring appeals to the patriotism and courage of their hearers to stand by the Union. Their preachers had a large repre- sentation among the chaplains, and some of them, like Rev. James F. Jaquess, Jesse H. Moore, Peter Wallace, Allen Buck- ner, and Milton L. Haney, were in command of regiments.
The following table shows the growth of this church in Illi- nois, in decades, during the last half-century :
YEAR MINISTERS* MEMBERSt VALUEİ YEAR MINISTERS MEMBERS VALUE
1840,§ 192 29,704 1870, 772 110,956 $5,106,525
1850, 276 49,683
1880, 869 118,811 4,903,448
1860, 715 98,982 $1,919,835 1890, 937 151,000 7,246,120
The whole number in the United States in all branches of this church in 1890 was 4,980,240.
The value of church property in 1890, including parsonages, was estimated at $110,800,752; and the total amount of con- tributions for benevolent purposes was $2,073,923. The number of local preachers in the State is 851; the number of Sunday- schools, 2013; Sunday - school teachers, 23,300; and scholars, 186,549.
The Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston-a theological seminary, of which Rev. H. B. Ridgaway, D. D., LL. D., is president - has about 160 students and property valued at $550,000. The Northwestern Christian Advocate, Chicago, now in its 'thirty-ninth year, with a circulation of over 30,000, of which Arthur Edwards, D.D., is editor, is the organ of this denomination in Illinois.
The Baptist Church, in its various branches, claims a member- ship in the United States of 4,292,291. The first protestant
* Itinerant. + Members including probationers and local preachers. ± Church and parsonage property.
§ Before 1840, some of the circuits embraced portions of different states; the mem- bership was reported by circuits; and hence the exact number belonging to Illinois can not be ascertained.
The thanks of the author are due to Rev. James Leaton for the information con- tained in the foregoing table.
IO7I
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
minister in Illinois was elder James Smith of this church, who preached in the New Design in 1787; and Rev. David Badgley and Joseph Chance, Baptist ministers, formed the first protes- tant church in the State in that locality in 1796, as heretofore related .* The first association of five churches, four ministers, with III members, was formed in 1807. A division, growing in the first instance out of the slavery question, occurred in these churches in 1809. Other causes of difference resulted in the formation of three parties of Baptists, which existed for ten years, and two of them much longer.+ The most numerous branch of the church, the one here considered, is denominated the Regular or Missionary Baptists. Of this church, Rev. John M. Peck, as heretofore mentioned, was the great missionary and organizer in Illinois from 1822 until his demise, March 15, 1858. Under his leadership, aided by the Lemens and others, up to 1835, 22 associations had been formed composed of 260 churches, 160 ministers, with 7350 members. He found worthy successors in Central Illinois in Rev. Justus Bulkley, D.D., Dr. D. Read, president of Shurtleff College, and Rev'ds Washington Leverett, LL.D., Alvin Bailey, James Lemen, and B. B. Hamilton. The Rev. Isaac McCoy, a Baptist missionary to the Indians and founder of the Carey Mission near Niles, Michigan, and other schools, visited Fort Dearborn, and preached there the first protestant sermon, October 9, 1825. The first Baptist church in Chicago was organized by Rev. Allen B. Freeman, October 19, 1833.
The following table, furnished by Dr. Bulkley of Shurtleff College, gives the growth and strength of this body in Illinois:
ASSOCIATIONS
CHURCHES
MINISTERS
MEMBERS
1 840,
I7
151
I50
5,736
1850,
27
347
320±
15,382
1860,
36
613
431
36,062
1870,
39
797
733
57,594
1880,
41
88 1
730
61,395
1 890,
40
IOIO
891
88,884
The present value of church property in Illinois-leaving out
* See Vol. I, p. 233-4.
+ Rev. John M. Peck in "Reynold's Pioneer History of Illinois, " p. 272.
± Estimated.
1072
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
14 associations not reporting-is $2,862,598. Home expenses -15 associations not reporting-$359,463. Benevolent con- tributions $98, 138.
The Baptist Union Theological Seminary, at Morgan Park, has over 100 students and property valued at $450,000. The leading paper of the Baptists in Illinois is The Standard, Chicago, now in its thirty-eighth year, published by Edward Goodman, E. R. and J. S. Dickerson, and edited by Justin A. Smith, D.D.
The various organizations in the United States under the name of Presbyterian-a name familiar here prior to 1700- are computed to number 1,229,012. Two Presbyterian mission- aries, Samuel J. Mills and Daniel Smith, who had been sent from the Massachusetts Missionary Society to the West, visited Illinois in 1814, but no church of that name was organized until 1816, when Rev. James McGready of Kentucky, came into White County and formed a church at Sharon. The members were mostly from Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, whose families were of Scotch-Irish extraction. The second church was organized in Illinois at Shoal Creek, Bond County, in 1819; and the third at Edwardsville, the same year. But three ministers resided in the State in 1825, namely, John Brich, B. F. Spilman, and Stephen Bliss. Among other distinguished pioneer preachers of this church, who entered the field prior to 1835, were the following: Gideon Blackburn, Hugh Barr, Thomas Lippincott, William G. Gallaher, George C. Wood, Jeremiah Porter-the first Presbyterian minister at Chicago- John M. Ellis, A. T. Norton, and William D. Sanders .* Albert Hale, who was pastor of the Second Church in Springfield 27 years, and whose pure and useful life was prolonged to the age of 92 years, died in January, 1891. Long pastorates in this State have not been usual but have been better sustained among Presbyterian than other churches, that of Dr. Livingston M. Glover, at Jacksonville, extended from 1848 to his decease in 1880; while that of Rev. Robert W. Patterson, D.D., was main- tained in Chicago-that city of marvellous changes-for over
* Dr. Sanders subsequently established the Young Ladies Athenaeum at Jackson- ville, and originated and put into successful operation the Central Illinois Conser- vatory of Music in that city.
1073
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
a quarter of a century. In 1835,* there were 80 churches in the State, 60 ministers, and 2500 members.
The controversy between the old and new school branches of this church culminated in a division into two separate organi- zations in 1837-8, and was continued until the meeting of both general assemblies in Pittsburg in May, 1870, when the meas- ures, previously agreed upon to effect a reunion, were adopted.
The subjoined table shows the growth of this denomination in this State, including the old and new school branches, since 1840:
DECADES CHURCHES MINIST'S MEMBERS
DECADES CHURCHES MINIST'S MEMBERS
1840, 120 89 3,819
1850, 199 172
9,372
1880, 487 420 43,987
1860, 306 242 15,810
1890, 478 405 52,495
The amount contributed by this church in 1890 was $14,- 373,589-the amount expended in Illinois being $1,151,485.
There are two theological seminaries within the bounds of the synod of Illinois, namely, the McCormick at Chicago with 152 students and property valued at $1,248,133; and the Black- burn University at Carlinville with IOI students and property valued at $150,000.
The representative paper of the Presbyterians in Illinois is The Interior, Chicago, founded by Cyrus Hall McCormick, and published by McCormick (C. H., jr.) & Gray (Wm. C.). Wm. C. Gray, Ph.D., is the editor.
Lutherans-followers of Martin Luther-called themselves "Evangelical," in distinction from the followers of John Calvin.
"The 'Evangelical Lutheran' church has well-defined charac- teristics, not indeed a perfect unit on all questions of faith and polity, nevertheless one undivided body of believers in the word of God, as the only infallible rule of faith and practice. All Lutherans hold tenaciously to the name that distinguished them from other evangelical christians; all agree on the use of Luther's small catechism-composed in 1529-as the proper manual for the religious instruction of the young; all practise infant bap- tism, and confirmation at an early age of maturity; all acknowl- edge the Augsburg confession-1530-as an exponent of their faith, and all observe the church-year with more or less rigidity,
* Rev. J. M. Peck.
1870, 460
436 35,169
1074
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
making use of liturgical forms in public worship and maintain- ing an identity with the church of the fatherland, although modi- fied necessarily to a great extent by their new surroundings.
We should fail to appreciate the somewhat complex condition of the Lutheran church in this country, if we did not remember its foreign origin and international character. Every nation develops pecularities of its own and the church participates in them. The Lutherans, preaching the gospel in twelve different languages, are the most cosmopolitan of all churches in America. Very early, the reformation found adherents in Holland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Danubian principalities. These countries sent, of their crowding population, ever - increasing representatives to the newly - discovered shorcs, and, already, the year 1642 records the presence of Lutherans in New Am- sterdam-New York. The French Huguenots settled in South Carolina and Georgia, the Swedes along the Delaware, Germans are heard of from Virginia, Ohio, and even beyond the Rocky Mountains before the close of the seventeenth century. The first Lutheran minister arrived here in 1657, a church was built in 1671. It has been shown from what may be regarded as a correct exhibit, that the Lutherans of this country are ahead of all others in the rate of increase, it having been 64 per cent during the last decade. With such growth, it will soon stand well up toward the head of the list, whilst it has already reached the fourth place in the line of protestant denominations.
The obvious explanation of this rapid growth of Lutherans in the United States and especially in the large cities thereof is found in the unabating stream of immigration from northern and central Europe. Germany and the Scandinavian provinces are largely under the control of the Lutheran faith, and it is from there that the West and Northwest is receiving an un- equalled contingent of its population. There are in the whole world some 30,000 Lutheran ministers, with 40,000 churches, and about 55,000,000 baptized members, two-thirds of whom are German and Scandinavian. In the United States and Canada, the Lutherans have in round numbers 5000 ministers, 8000 churches, 1, 100,000 communicant members, of whom one- fifth speak English, one-fifth the different Scandinavian tongues, and three-fifths German. In Chicago, the proportion of the
IO75
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
English-speaking Lutherans is to the whole number of adherents of that church as I to 20; in St. Louis, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, and Minneapolis, the comparison is still more unfavorable to the English language.
There are at least 400 Lutheran clergymen in Illinois, repre- senting the different synodical parties of the church and making use of the English, German, Swedish, Dano-Norwegian, Fin- nish, and the Hungarian languages. The earliest Lutherans of this State were Germans and Swedes, mostly representing the general synod. The ministers of the first session of the evan- gelical Lutheran synod of Illinois held in Hillsboro, October 15, 1846, enumerate 7 ministers, 15 congregations, and 685 communicant members.
At present, the following synods are represented in the state of Illinois, the northern, central, southern, and Wartburg synods of the general synod; the Illinois - Missouri district of the synodical conference; the synod for the Norwegian, evangelical, Lutheran church; the Swedish-Augustana, and the Indiana synod of the general council. There are at present 63 Lutheran churches in Chicago, 4 of which use the English, 37 the German, 10 Swedish, 9 Norwegian, and 3 the Danish language. Of these, 24 are in connection with the Missouri synod, 8 with the general synod, 14 with the general council, 3 with the United Norwegian church, 6 with the Norwegian synod, 3 with Ohio, 2 with Iowa, and 3 are independent. The Missouri synod, hav- ing been organized in this city and being one of the earliest on the ground, is most numerously represented here. In connec- tion with its 24 churches, it sustains 107 parochial schools, numbering 8000 pupils. The whole number of communicants in Illinois is estimated at 90,000.
The general synod has its German Theological Seminary located at Chicago of which Rev. J. D. Severinghaus, D. D., is president. To him, the author is indebted for the matter con- tained in the foregoing review.
The number in the United States is placed at 1,086,048.
The Congregational Church, which came with the Puritans in 1620, and whose membership is composed largely of people from New England, did not secure a foothold in this State until immigration began to pour in from the East. Rev. Julian M.
1076
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
Sturtevant, president of Illinois College, Rev. Truman M. Post, Edward Beecher, and Horatio Foot were the early promoters of this church in Illinois, of which four were organized in 1833, five in 1834, one in 1835, ten in 1836, and by 1840, the number had reached 48. The first Congregational union, that of Fox, River, was formed in an unused log-cabin at Big Grove in 1835. Since that time, 12 associations have been organized as follows: the Quincy in 1835, Central 1844, Rockford 1848, Central West 1850, Southern 1851, Elgin 1852, Chicago 1853, Bureau 1857, Central East 1861, Aurora 1867, Rock River 1869, Springfield 1886.
The growth of the church is seen from the following table, taken from the minutes of the general association, kindly fur- nished by Rev. Martin K. Whittlesey, D. D., of Ottawa:
EXPENDED -
YEAR
CHURCHES
MINISTERS
MEMBERS
CHARITIES
HOME EXPENSES
1840,
48
60
1,500
No report.
1852,
107
86
6,049
$3,721
No report.
1860,
196
198
12,849
No report.
1870,
244
217
17,689
$33,213
$370,264
1880,
241
247
22,306
61,653
292,800
1890,
280
312
33,126
237,834
467,263
The number of Sabbath-school scholars-which was 15,882 in 1860, had increased to 50,540 in 1890; and the number of com- municants in the United States are reported as being 491,985.
The Chicago Theological Seminary of this church has about 120 students and its property is valued at $650,000. The lead- ing paper of the Congregationalists in this State is The Advance, established in 1867, and edited by Rev. Henry S. Harrison.
The Disciples of Christ, sometimes denominated the Christian Church, and by non-members generally, Campbellites, from the name of their founder, Alexander Campbell, began to flourish in Illinois in the early thirties, and for the following twenty-five years had a remarkable growth in the central portion of the State. They ignored all human creeds, and admitted to mem- bership all those who made what was termed a scriptural con- fession of faith and were baptized by immersion.
Alexander Campbell was a man of pure character, a learned theologian, an eloquent speaker, and an able debater. He fre-
1077
THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
quently met in the arena of public oral discussion, not only the opponents of the Christian system, but the leading divines of other denominations in defense of his own views and in opposi- tion to theirs. This spirit of free discussion was communicated to those who had enrolled themselves as subscribers to the same belief, and for many years discussions on the mode, subject, and effect of baptism, and the operation of the Holy Spirit, were of frequent occurrence in those localities where they had an organization.
As a society, the members had the free and hearty manners of Western people, and maintained the grace and spirit of their Christian fellowship with a warmth of brotherly love seldom witnessed and never surpassed in older churches. Their preach- ers were earnest and off-hand speakers, familiar with the script- ures, which they quoted with effect; and their congregational singing, embracing a higher and more popular class of church music than the people had been accustomed to hear, brought them large and enthusiastic congregations.
With the exception of the one iron-rule in regard to the mode of water baptism, their belief presented the easiest and most simple method of becoming a member of the church to which the people had hitherto listened; and, as appears by the returns in the annexed table, large numbers availed themselves of the opportunity thus afforded.
The sharper points of antagonism between the Disciples and the older church organizations, which were formerly so promi- nent, seem to be wearing away, and although they may not be increasing so rapidly as in former years-especially in the larger cities-they must be regarded as a prosperous and growing religious organization in all the Western and Middle States.
The following table exhibits the growth of this branch of the church since 1840:
YEAR
CHURCHES
MINISTERS
MEMBERSHIP
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS S .- S. SCHOLARS
1840,
60
27
4,000
1850,
125
60
10,000
1860,
260
100
18,000
1870,
420
200
35,000
1880,
575
300
50,000
350
35,000
1 890,
641
368
61,857
550
50,000
1078
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
In 1890, the Disciples owned 552 church buildings in Illinois, the seating capacity of which was 155,625, and the aggregated value $1,117,225. There were only 30 parsonages, valued at $50,400. The whole number of Disciples in the United States is estimated at 750,000.
Eureka College is the only school under this control in the State. Its assets amount to $130,000, and the enrollment for the year 1890-1, is about 400 pupils .*
The Protestant-Episcopal Church in the United States is a continuation of the colonial Church of England, which prior to the Revolution, in some localities, constituted a majority of the population. The first bishops elected in 1785 were consecrated in London. In 1790, a constitution and by-laws for the Ameri- can church were adopted, and the English prayer-book revised and adapted to the altered political conditions of the country. In 1890, it numbered in the United States 489,176 members, a great majority of whom reside in the larger cities.
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