USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Mount Morris > Mount Morris : past and present, an illustrated history of the village of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois > Part 31
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Hon. Robert R. Hitt was the owner of the lot on which the church stands. At that time he was secretary of the legation in Paris, France. In response
HORACE E. ZIMMERMAN was pastor of the Mount Morris Lutheran Church from 1911 to 1918. He was the son of Dr. Luther M. and Louisa A. (Saltzgiver) Zimmer- man and was born April 20, 1867, at Johns- ville, Md. His boyhood days were spent at Myersville, Md., where his father prac- ticed medicine. After completing the grade school, he attended Avis Academy at Middletown, Md., and entered Roanoke College, Salem, Va., in Sept., 1885. Next he attended Gettysburg College, Gettys- burg, Pa., graduating in 1889, and then received his theological training at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Get- tysburg, and graduated in 1892. He served charges at Tannersville, Pa .; Clarion, Pa .; Bolivar, Ohio; Dillsburg, Pa .; Dickinson, Pa .; New Haven, W. Va .; Mount Morris, Ill .; and Kansas City, Mo. He then gave up ministerial work because of impaired hearing, and since has been in the employ of Kable Brothers Company in an edi- torial capacity. For a number of years he has been a contributor to a wide range of periodicals. His hobbies are music and the collection of curious photos from all over the world, many of which are used to illustrate his articles. Rev. Zimmerman was married in 1893 to Anna E. Doub, who died when she gave birth to their son, Milo D., in Oct., 1894. He married again in 1899 to Lillie L. Saunders and they have a daughter, Anna Lee ( Mrs. John Reich). The Zimmermans are now living at 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.
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THE LUTHERAN CHURCH as it now appears after the steeple was removed and other extensive improvements made.
to a letter written by Mrs. Harriett Middour, he donated the lot and sent the deed from Paris dated September 24, 1878. The deed was certified by Edward F. Noyes, U. S. Minister to France.
Rev. J. W. Henderson served the church from 1879 to 1881. This pastor- ate was followed by that of Rev. H. Max Lentz, 1881-1884. It was during this pastorate that the first missionary society was organized and the church pulled itself out of debt. This event was celebrated by a jubilee service that brought several church notables to the community. After Rev. Lentz had re- signed and during the subsequent va-
cancy, the congregation was served by Dr. Bartholomew, the president of Car- thage College, and now serving as pro- fessor emeritus at Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill. Then came in some- what rapid succession Rev. Eichel- berger, Rev. Edward S. Hoffman, and Rev. L. Ford. Rev. Hoffman in reign- ing had encouraged the congregation to unite with another congregation or disband as they were unable to support a pastor. What Rev. Lipe had been to the earlier congregation, Rev. Ford was to prove himself to be to the congre- gation now. It was with the beginning of the Ford pastorate that we may reckon the modern era of the church's
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REV. CLARENCE H. HIGHTOWER has been the popular pastor of the Lutheran Church in Mount Morris since July, 1924. He was the only son of William L. and Sarah (Dees) Hightower and was born Nov. 29, 1886, at Coffeen, Ill. He was edu- cated at Carthage College and was or- dained in the Lutheran ministry in 1916. He held a pastorate at Mt. Carmel before coming to Mount Morris. Rev. Hightower married Kathryn Betebenner in 1910 and they have three children: George Keller, Bernice W., and William W.
development. The parsonage lot was donated by the Hon. Robert R. Hitt and the first parsonage built. From 1886 to 1889, Rev. Ford served the churches of Oregon and Mount Morris. In 1890 he became full time pastor. It was at this time that the parsonage was built.
Rev. L. L. Lipe came to the church in 1897 and served until 1903. He was followed in turn by Rev. Frank S. Delo and Rev. L. Ford, who came for a sec- ond pastorate.
Rev. H. E. Zimmerman came as pastor in 1911. He remained until 1918. It was during his service that the parson- age was repaired and the church gen- erally renovated. The church at this time showed a large increase in mem- bership.
Rev. George P. Kabele, the president of the Northern Illinois Synod, became pastor in 1918. Under his leadership the church as we know it today began to emerge. His leadership was con- servative and his building sure. The congregation became a great influence under the guidance of Rev. Kabele. The building soon became too small for the congregation and a program of re- building and enlargement was set in motion. The cost of the remodeling, including a new pipe-organ was $20,- 000.00. All this was subscribed before the work was started.
Rev. Kabele closed his pastorate in 1924 and was succeeded by Rev. Clar- ence Horatio Hightower, at that time the general secretary of Carthage Col- lege. He came as pastor in July, 1924. Building on the foundations already laid, the congregation has increased greatly in numbers and in influence throughout this part of the state. The confirmed membership is now well over five hundred souls. The church inte- rior has been greatly changed and a new pipe-organ has been purchased. The financial record of this congrega- tion today is an outstanding one in the Illinois Synod. As pastor of the church and the writer of this article, I will say that she or any church is great not be- cause of a long line of devoted and capable pastors but because of the con- secration of her people. This consecra- tion makes for life. Without it is death no matter what or who the pastor.
THE BRETHREN CHURCH
TN point of numbers the Church of the Brethren is the strongest de- nomination in Mount Morris. It dif- fers little in point of faith and practice from the other three. The first church of this denomination in Ogle County was at West Branch, about seven miles northwest of Mount Morris in Lincoln Township, where the few members in
Mount Morris Township worshiped for a number of years. Finally, in the year 1867, the territory of West Branch Church was divided and a new church established in Mount Morris Township about four miles northeast of Mount Morris, known as Silver Creek Church. Elder D. E. Price was put in charge of it and continued its elder until 1903.
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From 1867 until about 1879, the Breth- ren residing in the Village of Mount Morris attended services at this church in Silver Creek.
In the year 1879, as previously men- tioned, the old Rock River Seminary, which had been conducted by the Methodist denomination for many years, became the property of several mem- bers of the Brethren Church and al- though it continued the property of individuals it became a strictly Breth- ren school conducted in accordance with the rules of that church, which in those years were quite strict. The members of the faculty selected were nearly all members of the church and, together with their families and other people of the denomination who were drawn
ELDER DAVID E. PRICE was born near Waynesboro, Pa., Sept. 7, 1832, and died at Beatrice, Nebr., Aug. 9, 1923, aged near- ly 91 years. At the age of 20 he came to Illinois and a year later he was married and settled on the Price homestead two miles south of Mount Morris. His wife was Helen E. Rowland and they had ten children, of whom the following survived the father: Franklin J., Chas. H., Harvey E., and Nannie E. Sommers. The mother died in 1893 and six years later he was again married to Mary E. Hicks. Mr. Price was a very religious man and served at the head of the Mount Morris Church of the Brethren from 1867 until 1903. It was said that he could repeat the entire New Testament from memory.
ELDER J. H. MOORE was a prominent member of the Church of the Brethren in Mount Morris for many years until the removal of the Brethren Publishing House to Elgin in 1899. He was born Apr. 8, 1846, at Salem, Va., and died at Sebring, Fla., in December, 1935, aged 89 years. In 1876 he founded the "Brethren at Work" at Lanark, which was moved to Mount Mor- ris, and for 39 years he was editor of the Gospel Messenger.
here to educate their children or for other purposes, soon formed quite a colony of the Brethren living in the village. They began immediately to hold religious services in the old semi- nary chapel and soon formed a strong church with many members.
As a result of the increased number of members living in the village and of the presence of faculty members who were able to fill the pulpit in an able way, services more and more came to be centered in Mount Morris to the neglect of both Silver Creek and Salem. When College Hall was built in 1891, a new chapel was added to take care of the increasing church needs. By 1900 regular services in both of the country houses had been discontinued, although it was not until 1910 that the name of the congregation was changed to Mount Morris.
In keeping with the practice of the Brethren Church, there was no paid ministry until 1917. The work of the church was carried on by men set apart by vote of the congregation and their
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service was without pay. It was de- mocracy and free-will service carried to the extreme. How well and why the church grew and prospered in the years that the college was in operation is seen from the following extract from "Mount Morris: Past and Present," published in 1900:
"The members of the Mount Morris Brethren Church are far ahead of the great majority of churches in the way of religious advantages for their spirit- ual advancement. The presence of the college adds many individuals of ability to its ranks who can readily take promi- nent part in services of all kinds. Among the professors are always a number of ordained ministers of the gospel and together with an exceptionally large number of resident preachers who have been drawn to Mount Morris by its exceptional religious and educational advantages, give the church much pres- tige. Regular attendants at the Col- lege Chapel have opportunity to hear a great variety of sermons, as no man preaches there oftener than once in two or three months. Then, too, it is very frequent that visiting ministers, some of the best in the Brotherhood, preach in the chapel on Sundays or hold long revival services during the winter time. The attendance during the school year, while the students are here, nearly equals that of all the other three churches combined, especially on Sun- day evenings in the winter.
"Besides the advantage of an endless change in ministerial appointments the frequent occurrence of enlivening re- vival meetings, and the vim and vigor of all doings of the church due to the presence of the large ministerial force, the Mount Morris congregation has ac- cess to a two weeks special Bible term at the college. Frequently the church has the pleasure of entertaining a large gathering of the Brethren, such as the District meeting, Sunday school and ministerial meetings, etc., with dele- gates from all over Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, which add much to the interest in church work.
"Prominent among those who have served the church in its ministerial work and helped to build it up to its present strength are Elds. D. E. Price,
D. L. Miller, J. H. Moore, J. G. Royer and Joseph Amick. Elder Price is al- ready mentioned as having served the church as the presiding elder for thirty- three years. During this period he has devoted much time to the duties of his office, and deserves much credit for the harmony and the standard of loyalty which he has preserved among the members. Elder D. L. Miller is an- other to whom the church is deeply indebted. He has spent over twenty years in Mount Morris connected with the Brethren Publishing House and Mount Morris College. His travels in Europe and Bible Lands make him one of the best informed men in the Broth- erhood and one of their very best preachers. When it comes his turn to preach in the chapel he is always greeted by a very large audience. Elder J. H. Moore, while pursuing his work as one of the editors of the Gospel Mes- senger, preached his turn and took active part in the affairs of the church. He is a deep thinker and presented weighty sermons. His removal to Elgin with the Brethren Publishing House was much regretted, as was also that of Eld. Joseph Amick, business manager of the Publishing House, and Galen B. Royer, secretary of the General Mis- sionary and Tract Committee. Both of these gentlemen were able preachers and were prominent in the church here. Prof. J. G. Royer still remains with the church to continue his long term of usefulness. His sermons are second to none in point of excellence to any clergyman in Mount Morris.
"The spiritual vim of the members of the church is kept from flagging by two praver meetings, one Sunday eve- ning and one Thursday evening. On Sunday evening there are senior and junior sections, the latter being at- tended by the younger members of the church and students. Among the stu-
dents are always a considerable number of men who are preparing for the min- istry and young ladies who expect to do missionary work, and together they have very enjoyable and profitable meetings. In the senior sections there is also plenty of talent to discuss the questions adopted for each week's con- sideration. On Thursday the two sec-
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FOR MANY YEARS the Church of the Brethren held all their religious services in this chapel which is built on the west side of "College Hall." After the new church building was erected, this chapel was used by the college for lectures, recitals and concerts.
tions combine. The church also has a sister's aid society, a missionary so- ciety and a missionary reading circle. The future of the church is very en- couraging."
While the new chapel for a time served the needs of both congregation and school, in the course of time there developed a conflict of interests that made it seem advisable for the church to have an edifice of its own, separate and apart from the college. An effort in this direction was first made in 1903 by a committee appointed to raise the necessary funds, but was unable to do so, hence the matter was dropped.
In 1910, the question of a new church house was again revived and a solicit- ing committee was appointed, but it was not until 1920 that the necessary amount was pledged. A building com- mittee consisting of J. P. Holsinger, Joseph Rodeffer, W. Price Stouffer, W. E. West and Elmer Snowberger was appointed. This committee started to work on actual building operations early in 1921 and, having purchased a corner lot at West Front and Seminary Streets, the cornerstone of the new edifice was laid with appropriate ceremonies July 14, 1921.
The walls were constructed in 1921
and were put under roof, but owing to money stringency, building operations ceased, although the lathing was done during the winter, money for which was raised by subscription and labor donated for the most part. In the sum- mer of 1922 the way opened up for building to begin again and the work from that time was pushed to comple- tion. The dedication of the church was on March 18, 1923, with President Otho Winger of Manchester College preach- ing the dedicatory ceremonies.
The building is strictly modern in its equipment and style of architecture. It is 56 feet by 90 feet in size, built of Shelltex brick and trimmed with Bed- ford stone. It contains a basement with ample room for primary and junior Sunday school needs. A well-appointed kitchen, heating plant, and toilet rooms likewise are on the basement level. The main floor contains an auditorium 50 x 54 feet with a balcony along the rear end. Also there are nine Sunday school rooms. A baptistry is located at the right of the pulpit, entrance to which is from the rear from two dressing rooms.
In 1927, the Gigous property on West Front Street was purchased and a well- arranged and commodious parsonage was erected. Like the church, it is
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THE CHURCH of the Brethren erected this fine brick building in 1921-1922. It is 56 by 90 feet in size and strictly modern.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
325
REV. L. H. ROOT was the first regular pastor of the Church of the Brethren in Mount Morris. He came to Mount Mor- ris from Rockford in 1919 and served the church for two years.
completely free from debt.
It was not until 1916 that a pastor was secured in the person of L. H. Root who served the church for two years. He was followed by Frank E. McCune who remained pastor until 1924. It was dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. McCune that the present building was built, evidence of his successful leadership. In 1924 Elder G. E. Wine assumed the pastorate. In 1928 he resigned to accept a call from the college church at Bridgewater, Va. The church again recalled Rev. McCune who served for 8 years. After searching the field for more than a year the church unanimously extended a call to F. B. Statler, who had served the college church at Huntingdon, Pa., for eleven years. He began his ministerial duties in September, 1937, and has proved himself to be a splendid leader and an able sermonizer.
In accordance with the general prac- tice of the Brethren Church, musical instruments were not permitted in church services until recent years. Singing was strictly congregational without organ or choir. However, the development of a strong music depart- ment in the college and the influence of a new generation gradually created
sentiment in favor of the use of both instrument and choir. At first a piano was introduced for use in the Sunday school; later a reed organ was added with both instruments used in all serv- ices. Recently a Hammond electric or- gan has been purchased. Both a junior and senior robed choir now serve the church under the able direction of E. R. Henricks.
During the seventy years of its exist- ence the church has been served by a large number of very able men, most of whose connection was primarily with the college and whose mention would be made in that connection. However, it is fitting that mention should be made of those men who served as elders of the church, for in a very true sense they were leaders of the church. Elder David E. Price had charge of the Silver Creek congregation from the time of its founding in 1867 until 1903. He was
REV. F. E. McCUNE, pastor of the Church of the Brethren in Mount Morris for 12 years, was born near Lanark, Ill., Aug. 15, 1882. He was the son of Robert F. and Mary Ellen (Rowland) McCune. He graduated from the Dallas Center (Iowa) High School in 1901 and from the Ottawa University at Ottawa, Kans., in 1907. He also attended Bethany Biblical Seminary for two years and was ordained to the ministry in 1906. He held pastorates of Brethren Churches as follows: Muncie, Ind., 2 years; Lawrence, Kans., 3 years; Mount Morris, 5 years; Kitchel, Ind., 5 years; Mount Morris, 7 years; Kitchel, Ind., since 1936. He married Ona May Ho- gan, of Norborne, Mo., in 1913, and they have two children: Robert F. and Samuel E. Rev. McCune is a fine pulpit orator and made a fine record in Mount Morris
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BUILDING COMMITTEE of the new Brethren church erected in 1921: Front row, left to right, Ira Rodeffer, Joseph Rodeffer, J. P. Holsinger, Leslie Johnson; back row, Daniel Miller, Prof. Levi S. Shively, Price Stouffer, W. E. West and Elmer Snowberger.
naturally conservative in his tendencies but his mind was broad enough to see the need of changes as the church pro- gressed in its work. He was a self- made man and a profound student of the Bible. His ability to quote Scrip- ture seemingly without end will always be remembered by those who were privileged to hear him preach. He had a prominent standing throughout the entire Brotherhood, serving at least one year as moderator of the annual con- ference. He lived to a ripe old age, dying at the home of his son, Charles Price, at Beatrice, Nebr. Elder D. L. Miller followed Price as Elder, serving from 1902 to 1910. He was a man uni- versally loved and esteemed for his kindness, honesty, and generosity. He proved a splendid leader of the church. After giving up his position of elder, he continued his activity in church work, ending his labors during an evan- gelistic meeting in Huntingdon, Pa., when he was stricken with pneumonia
which proved fatal. Elder Miller was always very desirous that the church not become ecclesiastical in its methods. He believed that all matters of impor- tance should come before all members of the church instead of being decided by committees of the church. He was a well-read man, having at his disposal a very large library and in his sermons he always had something new and fresh for his hearers, gathered from his vast store of information. When he preached members of other churches often at- tended the services to hear the inter- esting messages which he had to bring. In this connection it is interesting to note that he was a fast friend of Hon. Robert Hitt, and the latter always at- tended his services after his return from Congress to hear his friend preach.
Following Elder Miller's resignation in 1910, J. G. Royer assumed charge of the church for one year. He will al- ways be remembered, principally as an organizer and leader of young people.
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WILBUR B. STOVER and wife spent many years as missionaries in India for the Church of the Brethren. Mr. Stover was the son of Jacob A. and Mollie (Lasher) Stover and was born May 5, 1866, in Pennsylvania. He entered Mount Morris College in 1834 and graduated in 1891. He was a minister for several years and in 1893 was married to Mary Emmert. They went to India in 1894 and continued as missionaries for 26 years, returning in 1920. They were home on furlough twice during this period. They were compelled to give up their missionary work in 1920 because of the ill health of Mrs. Stover. There were five children, Emmert, Miriam, James, Daniel and Helen. They were all born in India except Miriam and all were sent to Mount Morris College to be educated. Elder Stover died Oct. 31, 1930, in the State of Washington where he had accepted a pastorate. Mrs. Stover and the children are now living in the West.
MR. AND MRS. WILBUR B. STOVER and family posed for the above picture in July, 1920. The two children in front are Helen and Daniel, and at the rear, Emmert, James and Miriam.
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He took a deep interest in seeking out prospective young students to train them for positions of leadership and re- sponsibility in the church. He fostered many Bible classes and special meetings in which an attempt was made to incul- cate the doctrines of the teachings of the church. He had a finger on every phase of work in the local church and was constantly on the look-out for young men and women to fill places of responsibility and service. He was also especially interested in the local prayer meeting and was most always present and ready to contribute some thought to the meeting. People both in town and college learned to love and admire him. He called on many people, espe- cially the aged and sick, to bring words of comfort and cheer. Although not occupying the position of pastor of the church, he served well in that capacity, in addition to his added responsibilities as president of the college. Following his retirement from the active leader- ship of the church he continued to live in Mount Morris until the time of his death in 1917.
In 1911, M. W. Emmert was elected to take charge of the work and served most efficiently and faithfully as elder until 1915, and then again from 1921 until 1925 when failing health compelled him to give up the work.
During the period between 1915 and 1921, M. M. Sherick had oversight of the church. Since the retirement of
REV. G. E. WINE was pastor of the Church of the Brethren in Mount Morris from 1924 to 1928, when he resigned to ac- cept a call from the church at Bridge- water, Va.
REV. FOSTER B. STATLER became the pastor of the Church of the Brethren in September, 1937. He was born at Windber, Pa., April 23, 1895, and was educated in the Windber High School, Juniata Col- lege, Huntingdon, Pa. (A.B. 1920) and at Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1924). Before coming to Mount Morris, Rev. Statler held pastorates at Morrell- ville Church, Johnstown, Pa., two years; and at Huntingdon, Pa., eleven years.
Elder Emmert the eldership of the church has been in the hands of W. E. West, save only during the pastorate of Rev. Wine who served both as pastor and elder.
There are a number of special or- ganizations within the church, all of which are alive and active. The Sun- day School was first organized in 1887 under the leadership of D. L. Miller. It proved highly successful from the beginning and always has enjoyed a large attendance. It early developed a marked missionary spirit and since 1903 has maintained a missionary on the for- eign field, as well as contributing gen- erously to home missionary needs. The present officers of the Sunday School are: H. M. Knodle, superintendent; M. H. Diehl, assistant superintendent; Roy McNutt, secretary.
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