USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > The New church and Chicago; a history > Part 4
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REPORT FROM THE RECEIVERS IN CHICAGO TO THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION, 1845.
To the Illinois association of the New Jerusalem Church.
On behalf of the readers and receivers of the heavenly doctrines residing in Chicago, we submit the following report:
Since the last meeting of the Association, nothing particularly interesting has transpired with regard to the prospects of the Church here. The number of readers has not materially increased, nevertheless we continue to receive gratifying assurances that the truth is silently, yet surely, working its way, and preparing the mind of the world for the coming of the Lord's New Church.
"The readers and receivers meet for worship in the office of Mr. J. Young Scammon, in the Saloon building, Lake street, each Sabbath, at eleven o'clock. At each meeting a selection or selections from the book of worship are read, together with portions of the Word from the Old and New Testaments, and one of the chants sung; the Lord's prayer is said, a sermon read, and the worship concludes with the reading of a selection from the book of worship, which is afterwards chanted.
"There are six receivers and a very few other known readers of the doctrines in Chicago, from four to five of whom meet regularly for worship in the place above designated, also for social intercourse occasionally, on Sabbath evenings, at the residence of Mr. Scammon."
[Signed]
J. YOUNG SCAMMON,
J. K. C. FORREST,
57.
OBSERVATIONS.
In the list of places where there were known to be New Church people, published in the journal of the General Convention, Illinois appears for the first time in 1838, the Convention held in New York, June 14th. Alton, Chicago, and Springfield are named, and J. Young Scammon is named as correspondent for Chicago.
The first report to the Convention from Illinois is a letter of Mr. Scammon's to the meeting held in Boston, June 12, 1839, which gives the names and location of receivers of the doctrine in the state. Mr. Scammon reported that there were not any receivers in Chicago at that time but himself and his wife. He notes a depos- itory for New Church books at the book store of Mr. S. F. Gale, "where they can be purchased at the Boston price, and amount of freight added." He advises mis- sionary work in Illinois, and says, "A considerable con- tribution might be made in Chicago to help defray the expense of a missionary."
The Illinois Association was first represented in Con- vention at the meeting held in Boston, June 11, 1845, and by Mr. Scammon.
The dates of societies in Illinois as per journal of Con- vention are, Canton, Sept. 10, 1841; Springfield, Oct. 23, 1842; Peoria, Jan. 3, 1847; and Chicago, Feb. 25, 1849.
It will be seen from this that the Church did not take physical form as rapidly in Chicago as it did in towns and rural districts, though the work was commenced first in the city, and we must believe that the vigorous efforts of Mr. Scammon to interest readers were ever going on. The Chicago Society was the fourth to be formed in the
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state and it was years following the organization of the Association.
Though it may seem to have been slow in showing results, the Scammon era in the history of the Church in Chicago was a glorious one, as may be noted from the faithful, devoted, and active twenty-four or twenty-five New Churchmen and New Churchwomen who formed the society at the time of consecration, notice of which is to come. Further, it should be borne in mind that Chi- cago was the center of effort, and but reasonable to con- clude that, but for the effort and assistance from there, growth in other places would have been much slower.
1
CHICAGO REPORT TO ILLINOIS ASSOCIA- TION, OCTOBER, 1846.
To the Illinois Association of the New Church.
In behalf of the readers and receivers of the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem of Chicago, I am happy to be able to state that an increased interest is manifested on the part of individuals to investigate the revelations of Swedenborg. Since the last year's report from the receivers at this place our meetings for public worship have had considerable accessions. There are some fifteen persons, all males except three, who may be said to be decided receivers of the doctrines. Also three or four others who attend at the meetings, and who are more or less interested.
The readers and receivers now meet regularly for worship, every Sabbath afternoon at three o'clock, in the Saloon building, in the room formerly occupied as city council room .* This is fitted up so as to make a small, though comfortable place of worship. The form of worship is as reported at last meeting of the Association, one of the receivers officiating as reader. At these meetings from twelve to twenty usually attend.
In the country, dependent in a great measure on Chi- cago as a center, there have also been several interesting instances in which the apparently accidental, but in real- ity providential, introduction of New Church truths have been followed by fruits in the reception of them by indi- viduals. One is the case of the Rev. Mr. Strong, of the Fox River Union of the Congregational churches. This gentleman, who is much respected by his orthodox
*NOTE .- The Chicago directory, 1846-7, gives the place of worship to be in the old Common Council room, Saloon build- ing, Lake and Clark streets, and the time as three P. M.
Little Fort is now the city of Waukegan, and Henry W. Blod- gett was the distinguished and highly respected jurist who for many years presided over the United States court, and was, until he retired, the senior officer of the government in Chicago.
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friends, was induced to investigate the writings of Swedenborg on the representations of his nephew, Henry W. Blodgett, Esq., of Little Fort, who became acquainted with thern in Mr. Scammon's office, where he was pursu- ing his studies as a law student. Mr. Strong is now a decided receiver. There are also three other persons liv- ing on the Fox river, two of whom have become receivers, and the other, if not a receiver, is interested in the writ- ings.
On the whole, there is a gradual though sure spread of the light of the New Church in the horizon of this part of the West. The visits of a missionary would much help to fix and concentrate the rays to a focus which would dispel the clouds that now intercept them to the minds of many, especially isolated readers and receivers, who are entirely thrown on their own resources, and being in most instances almost destitute of the ministerial teachings of the Church, are in danger of falling into a state of unconcern as to its doctrines, and consequently as to their effect upon the life.
At Little Fort, thirty miles north of Chicago, are three or four receivers.
In behalf of the receivers in Chicago,
[Signed]
J. K. C. FORREST.
FIRST ANNUAL MEETING AND FIRST COMPLETE ORGANIZATION.
Following the legal organization and declaration of principles, 1843, is recorded as follows:
1847.
At a meeting of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem, held at the dwelling house of J. Young Scam- mon, in Chicago, March 25, 1847, in pursuance of notice published by him in the Chicago Daily Journal, he being one of the trustees of the Society, and authorized to call future meetings:
J. Young Scammon was elected chairman, and Joseph K. C. Forrest, secretary.
On motion of Mr. William E. Jones, * voted, that a book be provided in which the proceedings of this and former meetings of the Society shall be engrossed and that the members of the Society enroll their names in said book.
On motion of Mr. Hugh G. Clarke, voted, that seven trustees be elected, three to be designated by the Society to act as an executive committee.
On motion of Mr. William E. Jones, voted, that a secretary and a treasurer be elected. ?
On motion of Mr. J. Young Scammon, voted, that a leader of the Society be elected.
On motion of Mr. Joseph K. C. Forrest, voted, that the hours of worship be changed to half-past ten o'clock Sabbath morning.
On motion of Mr. William E. Jones, voted, that the
*NOTE .- Referring to the motion of Mr. William E. Jones, as above, it will be seen that the book had been provided, that in it the "platform" had been written, and it signed under date of Sept. 7, 1843, by Mr. and Mrs. Scammon and Mr. Lovell.
¡NOTE .- A subscription list for missionary purposes in 1847 shows $145 paid, and one for 1848 to meet expense of the Society shows $379 paid by ten people; in 1848, $50 was given the Illinois Association.
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executive committee be authorized to lease the church lot for a term not exceeding five years.
On motion, voted, that any person invited by the executive committee may become a member of this Society, upon signing the declaration containing an acknowledg- ment of the three essentials of the Church as contained in No. 259 of Emanuel Swedenborg's treatise on the Divine Providence.
On motion of Mr. William E. Jones, voted, that the executive committee be authorized to act in behalf of the Society in the recess between the meetings of the Society, and to take measure to establish a New Church library.
On motion, voted, that the fiscal year end on the first day of April, and that the annual election be held on the second Monday in April.
On motion, voted, that the executive committee be empowered to call future meetings of the Society by advertising in some newspaper published in Chicago, by notice given at a meeting for worship, or posted on door of the room occupied by the Society for a church.
The following persons were then elected as officers of the Society: J. Young Scammon, William E. Jones, George R. Bills, Executive Committee; J. Young Scam- mon, William E. Jones, George R. Bills, James V. Z. Blaney, John Sears, Jr., John E. Wheeler, Hugh G. Clarke, Trustees; Thomas L. Forrest, Secretary; Frank- lin Scammon, Treasurer; Joseph K. C. Forrest, Leader. [Signed] J. YOUNG SCAMMON, Chairman. J. K. C. FORREST, Secretary.
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING.
1849.
Two years followed the meeting of March 25, 1847, and then occurred the following:
The annual meeting of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem was held at the residence of J. Young Scam- mon, Esq., on Monday, 9th day of April, 1849, when the following resolutions were adopted:
The meeting was opened by reading a portion of the Word, and prayer by Rev. J. R. Hibbard; after which the chair was taken by Mr. John Sears, Jr.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and ap- proved.
The following invitation of the members of this Society to the Rev. J. R. Hibbard and his return thereto were read by J. Young Scammon, Esq., whereupon it was voted that the same be entered at large in the minutes of the Society:
"To the Rev. J. R. Hibbard, an Ordaining minister of the New Church, in the United States, and Presid- ing minister of the Illinois Association.
"The undersigned, members of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem, a legal society formed at Chicago, under the statute of the state of Illinois, request you to consecrate said Society as a Church, in order that it may be recognized as a Society by other Societies of the New Jerusalem, and entitled to representation in the more general bodies of the Church, and entitled to have the Sacraments administered to it, and to the other privi- leges of Societies of the New Jerusalem in the United States.
'Dated February, 1849, and signed as follows:
"J. YOUNG SCAMMON, FRANCES E. BLANEY,
EMMA LUCY WHITING,
HARRIETTE M. WHITING,
WILLIAM E. JONES, CHARLES V. DYER, LOUISA M. DYER, JOHN E. WHEELER, CHARLES SHARPE,
MARY A. WHEELER,
HENRY L. FULTON, THOS. L. FORREST,
MARY E. WHITING,
MARY A. H. SCAMMON,
JOSEPH K. C. FORREST,
FRANKLIN FULTON,
GEO. R. BILLS,
JAMES V. Z. BLANEY, JOHN SEARS, JR.,
FRANKLIN SCAMMON, AUGUSTA SHEPARD.
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"I do hereby certify that on the twenty-fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, and of this second advent the ninety-third, I met The Chicago Society of the New Jeru- salem, according to the above request (three members only being absent) at the house of J. Y. Scammon, Esq., in the city of Chicago, and state of Illinois, and then and there by appropriate services, consecrated the same as a religious Society; and by the authority committed unto me as an Ordaining minister of the New Church in the United States, did acknowledge it as a regularly initiated Society of the New Church; and do hereby commend it to the fellowship of all kindred Societies in the United States, and throughout the world.
‘[Signed] J. R. HIBBARD, Ordaining Minister. "Chicago, Feb. 26, 1849."
Voted, that Rev. J. R. Hibbard be invited to take part in the proceedings of this meeting.
Voted, that the old trustees be reelected with the exception of Mr. Hugh G. Clarke, and that his place be filled by Mr. Henry L. Fulton.
Voted, that the secretary and treasurer of last year be reelected for the ensuing year.
Voted, that a church committee consisting of three be elected, whose special duty it shall be to provide for pub- lic worship by this Society, and in the absence of a min- ister, one of its members shall officiate as leader of the Society.
J. Young Scammon, Joseph K. C. Forrest, and Alex- ander Officer were elected said committee.
Voted, that the several resolutions adopted at the last meeting be readopted with the exception of that relating to the leader of the Society, and that the office of leader be abolished.
Voted, that the executive committee consist of J. Young Scammon, William E. Jones, George R. Bills, Charles V. Dyer, and James V. Z. Blaney.
Voted, that the next election of officers shall take place on the second Monday of January, 1850, and that the fiscal year hereafter commence the first day of January.
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Voted, that the executive committee be authorized to write Rev. J. R. Hibbard to take the pastoral charge of this Society, and make such provision for his support as may be deemed necessary.
Voted, that a record be kept of the baptisms and mar- riages in this Society, and that all the children baptized into the Church by the minister of this Society, or clergy- man officiating in that capacity, and all baptized children of members of this Society, be considered as junior mem- bers thereof, for whose spiritual education it shall be the duty of this Society to provide.
[Signed]
JOHN SEARS, JR., Chairman.
THOS. L. FORREST, Secretary.
A PARAGRAPH WRITTEN BY MR. HIBBARD.
When in the latter part of November, 1848, I returned from Peoria to Chicago, it was expected that within a month the Society would be fully organized and consecra- ted as a Church, and the Sacraments administered. But to serve a people usefully, a minister must lead by truth, not drive by will, and to operate this method requires time. Among the twenty or twenty-five who had so fully received the doctrines as to call themselves New Church- men, there were many and variant views in regard to the importance of an external Church, or of its order if in itself desirable. And it was not until February that the most of those who professed to receive the heavenly doc- trines were prepared freely to unite with those already baptized and members of the legal society, be themselves baptized, together partake of the Holy Supper, and enter openly and as fully as possible into the relations, and take upon themselves the duties of members of the Lord's New Church. But the time came at last, and on Sunday, the twenty-fifth day of February, 1849, twenty-two adult persons were assembled in the parlors of Mr. Scammon's residence, then situated in the midst of a beautiful garden on the northwest corner of Michigan avenue and Randolph street. I read an appropriate service of worship and instruction, after which eleven adults and four children were baptized, the sacraments of the Holy Supper admin-
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istered to twenty-two adults, eleven of the adults having been previously baptized, and "The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem," that had previously been regarded as a legal organization only, was declared to be, and thenceforward considered to be a Church. The occasion, as may be supposed, was one of great interest to all pres- ent. Five of that number are still living in Chicago and vicinity, while seventeen have passed into the spiritual world, unless, indeed, a few may yet live in distant places to which they have removed .- [From "Reminiscences of a Pioneer," by J. R. H.]
CERTIFICATE OF 1849.
As a result of the meeting of April 9, 1849, we find the following recorded certificate, which is not exactly in accordance with the record of the meeting. It will be noticed that a resolution was adopted reelecting the old trustees, with the exception of Mr. Hugh G. Clarke, whose place was to be filled by Mr. Henry L. Fulton; yet the old trustees all are signers to the certificate of their election by that meeting, and the affirmation of Mr. Scammon is that the certificate is true. The conclusion is that the resolution, as finally adopted, is not correctly recorded.
STATE OF ILLINOIS, Į COUNTY OF COOK. ss.
This certifies that J. Young Scammon, William E. Jones, George Ralph Bills, Hugh G. Clarke, James V. Z. Blaney, John E. Wheeler, and John Sears, Jr., were this day elected trustees of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem, a religious society in the City of Chicago, for the term of one year and until their successors shall be elected and qualified; that the name of said Society is "The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem," and the same is formed for the purpose of religious worship.
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Witness our hands and seals. Dated at Chicago, this ninth day of April, 1849.
[Signed]
[Signed]
J. YOUNG SCAMMON, [SEAL] JAMES V. Z. BLANEY, [SEAL]
WILLIAM E. JONES, SEAL] JOHN E. WHEELER, [SEAL]
GEORGE R. BILLS, [SEAL] JOHN SEARS, JR. [SEAL]
HUGH G. CLARKE, [SEAL]
Trustees of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem.
STATE OF ILLINOIS, } COUNTY OF COOK. § ss.
J. Young Scammon, one of the above-named trustees, who has subscribed the certificate above contained, doth solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that the foregoing certificate is true and correct.
[Signed] J. YOUNG SCAMMON.
Affirmed according to law before me this tenth day of January, 1850.
[Signed] S. C. KERCHEVAL, J. P.
The above bears evidence of record as follows:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF COOK. ss.
Filed for record January 14, 1850, and recorded in book
1 of certificates, page 124. L. D. HOARD,
[Signed] Clerk of the Circuit Court.
THIRD ANNUAL MEETING.
Pursuant to adjournment to meet the second Monday of January, 1850, the meeting occurred, and the record is here quoted:
The annual meeting of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem was held at the room of the Society, 10 Saloon building, on Monday, Jan. 14, 1850.
After reading of the Word, and prayer by Rev. J. R. Hibbard, the chair was taken by Dr. James V. Z. Blaney.
The report of the executive committee was read by the chairman, J. Young Scammon, Esq., and on motion it was voted that the report be adopted and that the portion relating to the correspondence between the committee and the Rev. J. R. Hibbard be entered at large in the minutes of the Society.
The following is the correspondence referred to:
"Chicago, May 1, 1849.
"Dear Sir: At the last annual meeting of The Chica- go Society of the New Jerusalem, the undersigned were elected as executive committee, and authorized to invite you to take the pastoral charge of said Society, and make such provision for your support as might be deemed necessary. In pursuance of that authority, we beg to state to you that, for the year 1849, we have ascertained that we can pay you a salary at the rate of five hundred dollars per annum, payable quarter yearly, for so much of the year as you may spend with us, whether it be the whole or only a part of the year, it being understood that whatever sums of money are paid to you, or given to you, as a clergyman by persons attending your meetings or worshiping with our Society, are to be kept account of by you and accounted for to the Society as part of the five hundred dollars, but all other presents which may be made to you, either as clergyman or otherwise, are not to be accounted for by you to the Society. We beg further to state that we desire you and Mrs. Hibbard to
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unite with us as members of our Society, and that you will, if this proposition be accepted by you, consider yourself the pastor of our Society until that relation is changed by the mutual consent of both parties, reserving to either party the right to put an end to the connection whenever either party shall think it useful to do so.
"We cannot say what will be the ability of the Society hereafter, but shall expect to guarantee to you the pay- ment of five hundred dollars per annum until some other arrangement shall be made between us. In case of our inability to support you at home, during any year, we shall expect you to perform missionary services in the vicinity, or at convenient distances from Chicago, during so much of the year as we cannot pay you for, and that the amount received for missionary services will be, in all instances, included as a part of your salary, less your expenses as missionary when acting in that capacity.
An answer is desired in writing, so that in case of the acceptance of this invitation, it, together with a copy of this letter, may be filed among the archives of the Society as evidence of the understanding and contract between us. We are, dear sir,
"Your brethren in the Lord's New Church.
"[Signed] J. YOUNG SCAMMON, CHAS. V. DYER, WILLIAM E. JONES, GEORGE R. BILLS, JAMES V. Z. BLANEY, "Ex. Com. of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem.
"To Rev. John Randolph Hibbard, Minister of the New Jerusalem Church."
Rev. J. R. Hibbard's reply to the foregoing:
"To Messrs. J. Y. Scammon, William E. Jones, Jas. V. Z. Blaney, Chas. V. Dyer, and George R. Bills, executive committee of The Chicago Society of the New Jeru- salem.
"Directors and Brethren: Your communication under date of May 1, 1849, on behalf of The Chicago Soci- ety of the New Jerusalem, inviting me to take the pastoral charge of said Society, has been received and its contents have had due consideration, as I have been able to give and this importance demands.
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"In responding thereto after all that has passed verbally between us upon the subject, I have only to say that, regarding myself as in the Divine Providence of the Lord called as a minister to labor for the upbuilding of his New Church upon earth, and having been led by the same Divine Providence into the field of the Illinois Association, I feel under every obligation to labor therein, where, when, and how that Providence shall still further direct; that after duly considering the circumstances of the Associa- tion and the societies within it, and my relation to them, it appears to me that I am but following the leadings of the Lord's providence in accepting your proposition and assuming the relation of pastor to the Society you repre- sent, upon the terms you propose. But one of them could I wish otherwise than they are, and, under the present circumstances of the Church, I know not that it can be made better. I allude to the one requiring me to perform missionary labor a part of the time, if the Society should find itself unable to give me a full support.
As is now known to you, the state of my health has been such for the last two years as to render it unwise, at least, to engage in so much extra speaking as would be required in the performance of missionary labors. My health in this respect, however, is improving, and with proper care it is hoped may be entirely restored. In accepting your proposition, therefore, I wish it to be understood that I desire for the present to be required to perform as little missionary labor as may be consistent with the circumstances of the Society.
"In accordance with your request, Mrs. Hibbard and I will embrace the first opportunity to become members of your Society by subscribing our names to the platform of your Union.
With a devout prayer to 'Our Father in the Heavens' that the new and more intimate relations which I and the Society you represent are now assuming towards each other may be materially of much aid to us, and to the Church of the Lord upon earth, I am, directors and brethren, Yours in the New Jerusalem,
"[Signed]
J. R. HIBBARD.
"Chicago, May, 1849."
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Resolved, that the action of the executive committee of last year be ratified.
Resolved, that the rules relating to the officers of the Society and the mode of their election, as adopted last year, be readopted.
Resolved, that the officers of last year be reelected, with the exception of J. Young Scammon, Esq., of the church committee, who resigns, and that his place be filled by Henry L. Fulton.
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