USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > The New church and Chicago; a history > Part 12
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and from that time until he was fourteen lived on a farm. The next two years were spent in a printing-office, learn- ing to set type. He then commenced to prepare himself for college, attending Burr seminary, at Manchester, Vt., afterwards entering Middleburg college, from which he was graduated with honor in 1864.
Thinking that his family had been ably represented in the ministry in the persons of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he determined to devote himself to a literary life. To that end he accepted the post of assistant editor of the historical paper, the Vermont Record, which he resigned after a year for that of liter- ary editor of the Houston (Texas), Telegraph. Besides his editorial duties, he found time to contribute several articles to various magazines, some of which were after- wards published in some of the European Journals.
Had his health allowed him to continue his literary career, he would no doubt have acquired eminence in a field for which he has so many of the elements of success. But his failing health interfering with his labors and lit- erary projects, he left Houston and went to Cleveland, Ohio, to spend a year in rest and recuperation.
Mr. Noble had, since his college days, been a Sweden- borgian, and after he had somewhat recovered his health, in 1867, yielded to the earnest solicitation of friends and entered the ministry of that Church. Or was it only the triumph of the inherited tendency to preach that had come down from all his Puritan ancestors? He imme- diately went about the organization of a Society in Cleveland, which was soon strong enough to build a house of worship. He remained as their pastor three years, in October, 1870, coming to Chicago as the col- league of Rev. Dr. Hibbard. Since Mr. Hibbard's departure for Europe, Mr. Noble has had the entire charge of the two Swedenborgian congregations in this city, preaching in the morning in the church on South Park avenue, and in the afternoon in Carr's hall, corner of West Lake and Wood streets.
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At the time that Mr. Noble resigned the pastorship of the Second Society (which is noticed farther on in the book) and went to Georgia in search of health, his family went to Waltham, Mass. He, having tried differ- ent places, finally, in the autumn of the same year, 1874, took his wife and children and settled at Riverside, Cal. Here he devoted the time to the care of fruits on his few acres, and in contributing in prose and verse to magazines.
Mrs. Noble died April 22, 1885, and he July 25th of the same year, both of consumption. He was then in his forty-fifth year.
[From the Waltham (Mass.), Free Press.]
Gifted in person and in mind, with rare appreciation of all that is beautiful in nature and art, endeared to a wide circle of friends with whom they were in frequent correspondence, hand to hand and heart to heart, they bore not only uncomplainingly, but with patient and loving submission to the Father's will, years of suffering, and pain, and deprivation occasioned by scanty means. Four children, one son and three daughters, are left orphans by the bereavement.
There being an impression prevailing to some extent, that Mr. Noble was, at one time, under the influence of spiritism, the following is given:
Immediately preceding the great fire, an article was published in a Chicago paper, written by a spiritist, which stated that Mr. Noble was in full sympathy with spiritists.
In the meeting of the executive committee of the Chi- cago Society of Sept. 20, 1871, Mr. Scammon read a communication from Mr. Noble, following which, a sub- committee, consisting of Messrs. Scammon, Small, Offi- cer, and George F. Root, being, in fact, the church
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committee, with Mr. Root added, was instructed to have an interview with Mr. Noble, the committee being given authority to act as it might deem best.
After this, there is not any signed record, but there is a memorandum pasted in the record, which seems to be in the handwriting of the secretary, which says: "The papers having reference to the interview between Rev. C. Day Noble and the special committee were lost in Mr. Scammon's office, in the Marine Bank building in the conflagration, Oct. 9, 1871, and could not be duplicated, as duplicates of some of the documents were refused by the writers." We quote further: "Mr. Noble was in- formed that the committee must insist on a positive declaration, and promise, that he would in future give up social intercourse with a class of people that would lead him astray, poison his mind, and unfit him for the holy office of a minister of the Lord's New Church."
There is not anything to show that Mr. Noble complied with the demand of the committee, but as he remained in the employment of the Society as acting pastor, and as it seems nothing further occurred, the conclusion is that his association with spiritists ceased then, and it is likely that he gave the pledge asked for.
1872.
The annual meeting of the Society for 1872 was held at the residence of Mr. Henry H. Babcock, 11 Eighteenth street, Monday, January 15th. Mr. Ragatz conducted the devotional service, and Mr. Dyer N. Burnham acted as chairman. There were forty-four present.
[A letter to the Messenger.]
The contributions for the relief of the New Church friends in Chicago have been so extended and ample, that I feel it to be my duty to advise our friends that for
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the present there is no occasion for further contributing. In making this announcement, I desire, on behalf of our people, and many others who have been relieved by this great charity, to return to all the contributors our grate- ful acknowledgment and most hearty thanks.
[Signed] J. YOUNG SCAMMON,
Trustee of the New Church Relief Fund. Chicago, Feb. 3, 1872.
[From the Messenger.]
We clip the following paragraphs from the Chicago Pulpit of February 24th:
The West side Swedenborgians meet together next week, dressed in calico, in order to address themselves to the circulation of books. Their New Church is to have a library.
While the fire was consuming the Rev. Dr. Hibbard's house in Chicago, he was recklessly marrying a wife in Germany to grace and adorn it. He is now with his accomplished bride visiting the Eternal City, which they expect to leave soon for Egypt and Canaan.
SOME OF THE WORKERS.
The constant effort of Mr. Hibbard and the executive committee to extend knowledge of and to increase mem- bership in the Church is very marked, and should have thorough appreciation. To this end additional workers were all the time wanted, and Mr. Hibbard was ever try- ing to make and obtain ministers.
Rev. Calvin Day Noble was ordained by Mr. Hibbard in the temple in Chicago, on request of the Ohio Asso- ciation, Nov. 1, 1868.
Rev. Cyrus Scammon, a brother of the Hon. J. Young Scammon, continued in the religion of his father, the Methodist, until fifty-six years of age, when, on Oct. 16,
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1870, he was ordained by Mr. Hibbard in the temple in Peoria. His Methodist charge had latterly been in Janesville, Wis., and there he preached the New Church to a small Society. Leaving Janesville he preached and served the Church in different places within the Illinois Association, Chicago among them, finally settling in La Porte, where he was pastor for thirteen years, three of which he was president of the Association. He died Sept. 25, 1884, very highly respected as a truly good man.
Rev. Berry Edmiston, ordained in 1870, also by Mr. Hibbard, served in different towns in Illinois and other places.
Rev. Leonard G. Jordan performed work in Chicago.
Rev. John I. Herrick, ordained in 1860, did not follow the ministry continuously. He served in Chicago some, where he gave talks and held services in the house of refuge and in the bridewell.
Rev. William N. P. Dillingham, ordained in 1870, had been a minister in the Universalist Church, and to which he returned. He preached the New Church in Chicago.
Rev. William M. Goodner, ordained Feb. 8, 1871, in the temple at Wilmington, Ill., by Mr. Hibbard, served the Church in Chicago a considerable time.
Rev. Orson L. Barler will be noticed farther on; and it is quite likely that there are others for whom the Church in Chicago and the West is to some extent indebted to. Mr. Hibbard.
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THE SALE OF THE ADAMS STREET LAND.
Record of April 10, 1872, notes the arrangement to exchange the Adams street lot, in accordance with au- thority voted Nov. 22, 1871, for the lot belonging to Mr. Scammon, southeast corner of Eighteenth street and Prairie avenue, 140 feet on Prairie avenue and 150 feet deep, Mr. Scammon being required to pay, in cash, a difference of $67,733. The value of the two pieces was established by a board of appraisers. Pursuing the sub- ject, we find the deed from Mr. and Mrs. Scammon conveyed to the Society land, 122 feet on Prairie avenue by 150 feet on Eighteenth street, the consideration being $46,267, which added to the cash difference, as above, makes $114,000 for the Adams street lot, which amounts to $1,500 per foot; 18 feet of the 140 feet frontage were given by Mr. Scammon for a private alley.
This result of $114,000 is from the meeting held in Mr. Scammon's house, twenty-nine years before, when the legal organization of the Society was effected by the three New Church people, under which the lot of land was obtained as a gift from the state.
At the time when it was arranged to dispose of the Adams street lot, it was decided to purchase a piece of land at the southeast corner of Washington street (now Washington boulevard) and South Western avenue (now Ogden avenue) for forty thousand dollars, on which to build a temple, which soon after was consummated.
Mr. Olaf Benson reported to the executive committee May 15th, that the North side Sunday-school had grown beyond the capacity of his residence to accommodate it, and steps were initiated to provide a place for the school. This resulted in renting a place in the neighborhood.
May 29th Mr. Scammon reported to the executive com-
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mittee that it was his intention to give to the Society any profit that he might realize from the purchase of the Adams street lot, and that he was prepared to furnish the money in accordance with the terms of purchase, to pay for land bought by the Society, and to build needed houses of worship, by mortgaging the Adams street lot. The proposition was received and accepted by unanimous vote.
A leave of absence having been granted to Rev. Mr. Noble from June 2 to July 7, 1872, Mr. George F. Root was invited to conduct the service at the Thirty- third street temple, and Mr. Charles C. Bonney for those in the West division at homes of members.
Under date of Waltham, Mass., Aug. 9, 1872, Mr. Noble wrote to the secretary of the Society, Mr. Carl F. W. Junge, that he had been hurriedly called, there on account of his sick child, and asked that he be released from the two unexpired months of his engagement. The request was granted, terminating his service for the Society.
Rev. Mr. Hibbard, having returned from Europe on ยท his vacation of more than a year, occupied the house which stood on the land obtained of Mr. Scammon at the corner of Eighteenth street and Prairie avenue, and met with the executive committee September 4th.
During July, August, and part of September, Revs. Chauncey Giles and John Goddard performed ministerial service, for which six hundred dollars was paid.
[Some paragraphs from the annual report of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem to the Illinois Association, October, 1871, to October, 1872.]
Our beautiful temple on Adams street, the scene of delightful reunions of our General Convention, the material evidence of the growth and prosperity of the
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Lord's New Church and our own dearly loved home, was occupied for the last time by us Oct. 8, 1871.
It was a most charming day and the sphere of the morning service was delightful. Ere the next revolution of our mother earth upon her axis was completed, the destroyer had laid low in dust and ashes this temple made with our hands. But the temple of God in our hearts gained strength and grew. The material decreased for a time, while the substantial increased, and the new growth of a soul required a new body. We were con- fined before and needed room. This loss of our central place of worship made apparent the fact that we were not keeping pace with the growth of our city.
Many friends and members, from necessity or choice, had located their homes at long distances south and west of the central part of the city in which our temple was located. To enable them all to have the benefit of reg- ular Sabbath services, and their children the Sunday- school, so near that they could have no excuse for non- attendance, it was deemed advisable to form two congre- gations to be known as the South side congregation and the West side congregation, but all one Society as here- tofore.
The project of forming two Societies was broached by some, but the home tie was so strong and the principle so fully acknowledged that in union is strength, that the happier counsels prevailed. Following that decision came the selection of suitable sites for erection of houses of worship. Our lot on the corner of Wabash avenue and Adams street was advantageously disposed of through the kindness of our zealous Brother Scammon, to whose activity and forecast we are indebted for its original possession.
With the proceeds of that sale we were enabled to pur- chase for the South side congregation the large and beautifully located lot on the corner of Eighteenth street and Prairie avenue, on part of which the chapel in which we are now assembled is located; and for the West side congregation the lot on the corner of Washington street and South Western avenue, fronting on Union Park, and
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probably the finest and most central church site in the West division of the city. On that lot we have also nearly completed a chapel very similar to our lost temple on Adams street.
Meanwhile our members and friends have been wor- shiping at the chapel, corner of Thirty-third street and South Park avenue on the South side. The gatherings on the West side were first in the private houses of mem- bers, afterwards in a hall on the corner of Wood and West Lake streets; and since last April, through the influence of our esteemed Brother Bonney and the gener- osity of our friends of the Union Park Congregational Church, we have had the use of their beautiful church at a merely nominal sum.
The ripeness of the field in the West division is mani- fested in the large and increasing attendance upon our Sabbath-school. Favored with the ministrations of Mr. Giles and Mr. Goddard during July and August, we had numerous attentive audiences, which continue with small abatement at the present time under the ministration of our beloved pastor, now again at home.
Mr. Hibbard returned to this city August 27th from his journey to the Holy Land and Europe, in restored health, accompanied by his wife, the much-respected daughter of Rev. Mr. De Charms, who has already dur- ing her short stay with us won for herself the affection of many of our New Church friends. Mr. Hibbard has taken hold of his duties with renewed strength, and the best results are expected from his acknowledged zeal to build up the New Jerusalem on this earth.
With great thankfulness we acknowledge the generous gifts of our friends in money, clothing, and goods, after the great fire had swept over our city.
Though a number of our friends suffered pecuniarily very heavily, by the calamity, we have not lost one by being burned to death and not any was bodily injured.
We are still. disbursing from the bountiful supply of money our friends have sent us.
Soon after the fire the New Church bookstore was started at 281 Cottage Grove avenue, where it is at the
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present time, until more suitable quarters can be ob- tained .*
During the past year ten new members have joined the Society and two former members have been trans- ferred back, making a total of twelve.
The Society contributes two hundred dollars for the use of the Association.
The following delegates are appointed : Messrs. J. Young Scammon, Alexander Officer, Alvan E. Small, Edwin Burnham, Carl F. W. Junge, Orlando Blackman, Edwin R. Burnham, Truman H. Safford, Swain Nelson, and Olaf Benson.
Respectfully submitted,
[Signed] CARL F. W. JUNGE,
Sec. of the Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem. Chicago, Oct. 16, 1872.
TWO CLIPPINGS FROM THE CHICAGO "PULPIT," 1872.
The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem, which lost during the great fire two places of worship-their handsome temple on Adams street between Wabash and Michigan avenues and their Lincoln Park Church-lost none of the energy which made its early history a record of successes and victories. Mention has been made from week to week of the progress of their work, which just now is being carried forward with great activity. Services are being held in three different parts of the city each Sunday-Rev. John Goddard of Cincinnati preaching in the temple on the corner of South Park avenue and Thirty-third street in the morning, while in the Union Park Congregational Church, on the West side, in the afternoon, and in Plymouth Church, on the South side, in the evening, the celebrated Swedenborgian teacher and thinker, Rev. Chauncey Giles of New York, preaches to large audiences. These two Congregational churches are being occupied temporarily until the new churches now being erected by the Society on the West and South sides can be completed.
*NOTE .- The value of the books was one thousand four hun- dred and fifty-one dollars.
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"The Social Life of the Church" was the theme which was earnestly and interestingly discussed at the social gathering of the members of the West side Swedenbor- gian congregation, held last Thursday evening at the residence of Mr. C. C. Bonney. The discussion was made more enjoyable by the genial presence and voice of the Rev. Mr. Giles.
THE SECOND SWEDENBORGIAN SOCIETY OF CHICAGO.
Following are some extracts from the record of the Society as above, Mr. Joseph R. Putnam, secretary.
During the winter and spring of 1872, a considerable number of members of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem, and others interested in the Church, mainly residing in the southern part of the city, having long been dissatisfied with the administration of the affairs of the Society, yet not wishing if it could be avoided to push their opposition to a division and the establishment of an independent organization, met at the house of one of the number to consider what action should be taken by them to effect the reforms they desired.
Mr. Hibbard, the long-time pastor of the Society, was in Europe, the resumption of his pastorate was consid- ered doubtful, and for various reasons not desirable.
The Rev. C. Day Noble was temporarily supplying the pulpit, but there was no prospect of his being invited to renew his engagement or of his accepting such invi- tation.
It was decided to address a communication to the exec- utive committee of the Chicago Society reviewing the condition of affairs and embodying the wishes of those concerned in the movement.
The letter is dated March 27, 1872.
It notifies the committee that Mr. Noble will not renew his engagement except under the full relationship of pastor with his people.
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Reasons are given why he should be employed as pastor, it being stated, "that any circumstance that would deprive us of his presence and valuable services would be a calamity indeed."
It is recommended that the place of Superintending missionary, with a liberal salary, be obtained of the Con- vention for Mr. Hibbard; the committee being told, "that it is said he expressed his conviction that he would never resume his duties as pastor to the Society."
The letter says, "We know and appreciate the earnest wish of a majority of our number, amounting in many cases to a determination to retain Mr. Noble in Chicago."
It is respectful and dignified, signed by Joseph R. Putnam, Arthur D. Rich, Samuel Holbrook, George Barry, and Joseph Sears.
The answer is as follows:
Chicago, March 28, 1872.
Dear Brethren :- Your communication of the 27th instant has been received by the executive committee, and the members have unanimously directed me to say to you that no such proposition can be entertained dur- ing the absence of our pastor under the leave of the Society. He was given leave of absence for one year, and when he heard of the great calamity which over- whelmed the city and our Society, he at once wrote to know what he should do, return home immediately or continue his travel.
The committee, on consulting with members of the Society, advised him not to let his journey be inter- rupted, but to continue his travel until his leave of ab- sence should expire.
We cannot think of considering your proposi- tion behind his back. We owe him a great deal of grati- tude for his faithful and efficient service, which we do not wish to forget.
Our first duty is to be just and do as we would be
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done by. It we do this, we can well trust Providence for the future.
The Church in this state has prospered in a remarkable degree under Mr. Hibbard, and his counsels and teach- ings have always promoted peace and unity.
Let us do as we would be done by, and by all means avoid every act which could inflict a wound upon our old and faithful pastor while absent in foreign lands.
Your brother in the Lord's New Church,
[Signed]
CARL F. W. JUNGE, Secretary.
The opinion with reference to Mr. Junge's letter is found in the records of the Second Society as follows :
The reply of the executive committee, while expressly declining to take any action upon the subject presented therein, also indicated, unmistakably, entire lack of sympathy with the movement.
The friends of Mr. Noble being thus thrown upon their own resources, resolved that they would not by their neglect and inaction deprive themselves of his serv- ices, and allow him to leave the city at the end of his engagement.
In order to demonstrate beyond a doubt the strength of the movement, a subscription paper was prepared and circulated as follows :
"We, the undersigned members of The Chicago Soci- ety of the New Jerusalem and others, desiring to secure for that Society and ourselves the pastoral services of the Rev. C. Day Noble, beyond the limit of his present engagement, hereby pledge ourselves for the sums set opposite our names for his support during the year beginning Oct. 1, 1872 ; said sums to be paid as shall be determined upon by the combined action of the sub- scribers hereto, in case the Society, through its executive committee, refuses or for any reason, fails to engage him to act as pastor over that portion of the Society in the South division of the city during that year."
It was signed by twenty-six people who pledged two thousand four hundred and seventy dollars.
.
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Following, meetings occurred August 23rd and 28th, and September 1st; the latter at the home of Mr. Arthur D. Rich, on Michigan avenue. At this meeting a provisional committee made up of the following-named persons was elected and given power to employ a pastor, and to conduct the affairs of the Society until the adoption of a constitution and election of officers there- under, namely: Andrew J. Galloway, Arthur D. Rich, Frederick H. Avers, Ezekiel H. Sargent, Francis M. Mitchell, George Barry, Joseph R. Putnam, Franklin Gilmore, Joseph Sears, and Joseph B. Doggett.
At a meeting held at the home of Joseph Sears, Sep- tember 6th, the committee organized by the election of Mr. Galloway as permanent chairman, Mr. Putnam as permanent secretary, and Mr. Barry as permanent treasurer.
Official notice of the organization of the Society was given the executive committee of the parent Society. Mr. Noble accepted the invitation to become the pastor, and returning from Waltham to Chicago, conducted the first service held by the new Society, in the Congrega- tional Church, corner Indiana avenue and Twenty-sixth street (now a Jewish synagogue), the first Sunday in October, at three o'clock in the afternoon, there being about one hundred persons present.
The first annual meeting was held at the home of Mr. Rich, Nov. 13, 1872. Mr. Rich acted as chairman and Mr. Putnam as secretary of the meeting. Religious service was conducted by the pastor.
The following were elected, trustees : Arthur D. Rich, Francis M. Mitchell, Joseph R. Putnam, Sidney Myers, Ezekiel H. Sargent, Andrew J. Galloway, George Barry, Joseph B. Doggett, Frederick H. Avers, and Joseph Sears; president, Andrew J. Galloway ; vice-president,
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