USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > The New church and Chicago; a history > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
89
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
and let others do the same. In useful works you can meet each other and the Lord. If all had done this, if all would do this, I cannot doubt the state of the Church would be better than it is.
A few words to my dear lay brethren. As of first importance, care for your children. You love them. Every one of them will be saved or lost. That you may care for them you must care for yourselves. Read the Word daily. Read the writings. Do this in your families with daily prayer. Learn the doctrines yourselves and teach them to your children. Don't trust the old Church nor the old Church Sunday-schools to do it. Provide your own ministers, the best you can, and your own Sunday-schools. If you cannot do that, teach them at home yourselves. Don't neglect regular Sunday worship and instruction for them. Your children must have it to form their religious habits of mind and life. Think more of feeding and clothing the souls of your children .than of feeding and clothing your bodies and theirs. Think more of "laying up treasures in heaven than upon earth." One endures, the other perishes. How my heart goes out towards you as I write. Some of you-a few of you- are old friends. Many of you, as children, I baptized. I think of you as struggling against the evils of your own hearts, as striving to walk in the truth, as shunning evil as sin. In doing this the Lord comes to you and to your children.
I can think of but one who was at the organization of your Association fifty years ago who will be likely to be with you when you meet. Another fifty years and all the middle aged and elders will be in the spiritual world. May we all so live as to be in some society in heaven. We can if we will.
Remember me kindly in your prayers, and may "the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you Peace." [Signed ] J. R. HIBBARD.
Paris, France, Aug. 21, 1889.
90
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
The foregoing, it is hoped, represents Mr. Hibbard as history is expected to represent him. To show his aims, efforts, and achievements, which in a few years will be all that will be looked for. It is possible that at this time there are some who demand more; who are not satisfied with a picture of the physical, but want to see the inner man-that which none of his fellows knew, which they could not know, and which could not and cannot be represented.
There are, quite likely, some who ascribe to Mr. Hibbard thoughts, ambition, and qualities of character that may have no place in him, for which the only foun- dation is in their own uncurbed propensity to find fault.
Some see him under a strain of enthusiasm for the New Church, resulting from its filling to overflowing the one want of his early years, proselyting, and rushing to make laymen and ministers ; see him impatient and snappy with his parishioners because he thinks they are indifferent and learn slowly; as appears in his report to the Conven- tion, when, as Presiding minister of the Michigan Asso- ciation, he wrote of Rev. George Field, "He is too sound in the doctrine of the Church and practice of it for the New Church people whom he meets."
There are others who will think of certain declar- ations and evidences which indicate an undue assertion of the rights of the priesthood, of his connection with the Academy, and his final official association as Co- adjutor Bishop of the General Church of Pennsylvania. But in thinking of such a man it is just and charitable to give emphasis to the evidences of his ripening in old age, and it should be remembered that he withdrew from the General Church of Pennsylvania because he was unable to follow the extreme development of its doctrine of the priesthood. His subsequent letters from Paris to the
91
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
Messenger, and his letter to the Illinois Association quoted above, breathe the spirit of love and charity for all who are faithfully trying to live the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem, and are full of exhor- tation to humility, and loyalty of life to the essentials of the New Church, the acknowledgment of the Lord from the heart and conjunction with him by a life in accordance with the commandments of the Decalogue. These things must be gratefully acknowledged as wit- nesses to the spiritual ripening of a naturally strong and self-assertive, but sincere and inwardly gentle and loving spirit.
CENTRAL CHURCH HOMES PRIOR TO 1871.
Moving with Mr. and Mrs. Scammon, in 1838, from their home in the City hotel, the place of worship was again their parlor, on Clark street opposite the square ; thence with them again to their new house, Michigan avenue and Randolph street; thence to Mr. Scammon's office "City Saloon"* (Directory of 1844).
Following this, the important meetings of 1847 and 1849 were held in the residence of Mr. Scammon, al- though as shown by the report to the Association October, 1846, there was an established place of wor- ship in the Saloon building which, as is learned else- where, was Room No. 10, and there was held the annual meeting Jan. 14, 1850.
The Saloon building, situated at the southeast corner of Lake and Clark streets, was erected in 1836, there being at that time in the West no building of more elegance. It contained a hall, very fine for the time, which was the popular place for public meetings, and many that are in history occurred there. Mr. Scam- mon had his office there for many years, and became owner of the building in 1842, when he remodeled and improved it. It was the first home of the City Council, of our Church, of the Unitarian Church; the Chicago lyceum met there, the U. S. court under Judge Drum- mond was held there for years; the Daily Journal issued from it; and it was the meeting place of different societies, and the location of different offices, public and private. As seen in a picture representing it as fifty
*NOTE .- "City Saloon," as above, was often used; meaning Saloon building.
92
SHLVOM SITI
MILIAR'S JOB PRINTING!
THE SALOON BUILDING. By Permission of the Chicago Historical Society.
95
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
years ago, it was three stories high, devoted to stores, offices, and the hall. As we understand the word Saloon, its name is a misnomer.
The human family is prone to the cultivation of legends, and in an incident which occurred while the meeting place was in the Saloon building, there are fine legendary possibilities. Nothing prevents the growth more effectually than to put the foundation story in type, consequently we will record this one.
Some goats, by their presence about or in the entrance to the building, became disagreeable to the attendants at worship. Dr. Charles V. Dyer, whose name appears very frequently as a committeeman and worker in the Society, was quite well known as a wit, and to be ready in repartee. On the occasion in mind, the doctor was driving the goats away, when some person remarked, "You have goats in your congregation." "No, sir, ours is the only congregation in town which turns them out."
Before leaving the Saloon building the congregation had grown until finally, having occupied different rooms, the service was held in the Saloon hall.
During much of the time while meeting here, the service was conducted by Mr. Joseph K. C. Forrest, as leader, though there were lectures delivered by the Rev. George Field, and possibly others.
While there was the recognized home in the Saloon building for five years, the Society had not the responsi- bility of a tenant until it occupied the succeeding home, for until that time Mr. Scammon had borne the respon- sibility of furnishing a place of worship, and of keeping on sale the writings of Swedenborg, to a very large extent bearing the expense.
In 1851 the meeting place and place of worship was changed to rooms fitted for the purpose, in a building
96
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
built by Mr. Harrison Newhall, at the northeast corner of Randolph and Dearborn streets, said to be the first build- ing with flat roof constructed in the city; there was a large congregation, the result of the effective work of Mr. Hibbard. The General Convention met June 8, 1853, and conducted its deliberations in this place.
In 1855 the place of worship was established in a school building in which had been conducted The Garden City Institute, a preparatory school, situated on Adams street, the Society purchasing the building. Besides worshiping here, a school was conducted in the build- ing, under control of the Society.
During the autumn of 1857 fire destroyed this build- ing, and a wooden church building, then considered old, which had been owned by the Second Presbyterian Church, and moved to Harrison street, between Wabash avenue and State street, was bought, and there were established the Church home and library, where they remained until moved to the long-anticipated, beautiful new temple on Adams street, completed in 1862. This wooden church building, called old in 1857, is now the comfortable station-house at Sixteenth street, Illinois Central Railway.
The Convention of 1860 met June 20th and held its sessions in that building.
In his charming "Reminiscences of a Pioneer," Mr. Hibbard relates an amusing incident which occurred in 1850 or '51, at a Wednesday afternoon meeting of the ladies' society in the Saloon building, as also another from which we quote:
"It was a rainy afternoon; ladies came carrying umbrellas and holding up wet, trailing dresses. One young lady, a teacher, came wearing skirts some shorter than the rule. The bloomer fad was working in the
97
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
mind of womankind at that time, and the weather and short dress of Miss A. S. immediately started the dis- cussion of 'Bloomer Costume vs. Draggled Skirts.' It grew animated, and concluded, finally, bloomers carrying the day, by nearly all the ladies present agreeing to appear the following Wednesday wearing that costume. A good deal of talk on the subject went through the Society. Some were indignant, and some half angry; a good many feared injury to the Church. The women did not adopt bloomers, and for a year or two very few wanted to talk about the subject."
"Wednesday evenings, meetings, religious and social, occurred. There would be short devotional service, fol- lowed by dancing and conversation. Near the rooms in a Baptist church, a noted sailor preacher, Edwards, was conducting a revival. Hearing tramping on the sidewalk he said, 'There go the Swedenborgers to their pray and dance meeting,' and that 'Those who went there were on the road to hell.' His remarks excited curiosity and some of his young men came to our meetings ; one of them at least, whom I now have in mind, became one of the most intelligent and useful lay members of the Church in this country."
FIRST SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY.
COPY OF THE RECORD.
At a special meeting of The Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem, held at the church room Monday eve- ning, Aug. 26, 1850, the following business was trans- acted :
After reading a portion of the Word and prayer, the chair was taken by Rev. J. R. Hibbard, who stated the object of the meeting to be to appoint delegates to attend
98
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
the Illinois Association of the New Church, to meet at Peoria the 13th day of September, and to hear the report of the secretary to be presented at that meeting.
The following delegates were then chosen to represent the Society: Rev. J. R. Hibbard, Alexander Officer, Dr. James Beach, Eliphalet Strong, John E. Wheeler, Dr. Charles V. Dyer, Lyman D'Wolf, Dr. James V. Z. Blaney, John Sears, Jr., Franklin Fulton, Joseph K. C. Forrest.
The secretary read a report from the Society to the Association for the past year, which was approved and accepted.
Voted, that the sum of ten dollars be forwarded for the uses of the Association .*
Voted, that the delegates from this Society be instructed to invite the Association to hold its next annual meeting at Chicago.
[Signed] J. R. HIBBARD, Chairman.
THOS. L. FORREST, Secretary.
FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING.
Jan. 13, 1851, the fourth annual meeting of the Society was held, at which Mr. Henry L. Fulton acted as chair- man and Mr. George R. Bills as secretary.
The business transacted, requiring consideration, was the election of officers, resulting as follows: Trustees, J. Young Scammon, Charles V. Dyer, George R. Bills, William E. Jones, James V. Z. Blaney, John E. Wheeler, and John Sears, Jr .; secretary, Alexander Officer ; treasurer, Franklin Scammon; and auditor, Henry L. Fulton.
Rules of order presented by the executive committee were adopted.
In this same year was held the first recorded meeting *NOTE .- The expense of the Society for 1850 was about $950.
99
1
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
of the executive committee, occurring Jan. 22nd, at the office of Mr. Scammon; the subjects disposed of being as follows :
The appointment of a committee consisting of Franklin Scammon, John Sears, Jr., and George R. Bills, to have charge of the secular affairs of the Society ; and a church committee consisting of James V. Z. Blaney, J. Young Scammon, and Henry L. Fulton, to provide for worship in the absence of the minister, also a library committee, consisting of George R. Bills, John Sears, Jr., and Alex- ander Officer.
The secular committee was requested to take up with the officers of the Mechanics institute the subject of re- renting, jointly with that body, the rooms occupied by the Society .*
For the library committee there was voted fifty dollars to be expended for books.
Each member of the executive committee was re- quested to prepare and circulate a subscription paper to raise money for the Society.
The chairman and secretary of the committee, and the pastor of the Society were instructed to jointly prepare, publish, and distribute the articles of faith, together with the rules of order adopted by the meeting of the Society.
The first Wednesday of every month, at ten A. M., at the office of Mr. Scammon, were appointed as time and place for the meeting of the committee.
Another meeting of the committee convened March 5th, adjourning, after doing some routine business, until
*NOTE .- The Mechanics institute was an incorporated insti- tution, its object being the diffusion of knowledge among the mechanical classes. It gave lectures and held fairs for the exhibition of mechanical appliances and operations. It was a tenant in the Saloon building, the meetings, lectures, and fairs occurring there.
100
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
Wednesday evening, March 26th. At this adjourned meeting the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved, whenever an application is made to the Society for membership, it shall be the duty of the pastor or some member of the executive committee, to have a personal interview with the applicant, and report the result of the interview to this committee ; and that no ap- plication shall be submitted to the Society until after such report is made.
This resolution follows the consideration by the com- mittee, at its last two sessions, of a considerable number of applicants for membership in the Society.
SECOND SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY.
A special meeting of the Society, held in the church room May 25, 1851, elected as delegates to the Illinois Association to convene in Chicago, May 30, 1851, the members of the executive committee and Franklin Fulton, Thomas A. Stewart, Charles Sharpe, Dr. James S. Beach, and John W. Metcalf.
It was voted, that, until the next annual meeting of the Society, the pastor or any member of the executive com- mittee be empowered to represent the Society in any general body of the Church.
RULES OF ORDER
Of Jan. 13, 1851, as revised, added to, and readopted Jan. 8, 1855; with some small changes, remaining in force thirty years.
ARTICLE I.
Section 1. The officers of this Society shall be a sec- retary, a treasurer, an auditor, and seven trustees who shall be elected by ballot at each annual meeting of the
101
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
Society and who shall have their offices for one year, and until their successors shall be elected.
Sec. 2. Said officers and the pastor of the Society shall constitute the executive committee of the Society. Said committee shall elect its chairman, appoint such subordinate committees as it may deem expedient, and have full power and authority to act for and in behalf of the Society in all matters touching its business, during the interval between the annual meetings, provided that this article shall not be so construed as to authorize said committee to sell or lease, for a longer term than five years, the real estate of the Society.
Sec. 3. Said committee shall hold regular monthly meetings. At any regular meeting of the committee, three shall constitute a quorum, but at all special meet- ings it shall require six.
Sec. 4. The secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the executive committee and of the Soci- ety, and of all baptisms, marriages, and deaths occurring among the members.
Sec. 5. The treasurer shall collect, receive, and safely keep all moneys belonging to the Society, and disburse the same under such restrictions as the executive com- mittee may prescribe.
Sec. 6. The auditor shall examine the accounts of the treasurer and report upon the correctness of the same to the executive committee, when requested by that body.
ARTICLE II.
Section 1. The fiscal year shall commence on the first day of January in each year, and the annual election of this Society shall be held on the second Monday of said month.
ARTICLE III.
Section 1. The pastor or any three members of the executive committee shall have power to call future meet- ings of the Society by advertising in some newspaper published in Chicago, or by notice given at a meeting for public worship. 1
102
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
ARTICLE IV.
Section 1. All the children baptized into the Church by the minister of this Society or clergyman officiating in that capacity, and all baptized children of members of this Society shall be considered junior members there- of, for whose spiritual education it shall be the duty of the Society to provide.
ARTICLE V.
Section 1. Any person desirous of becoming a member of this Society may make that desire known to the executive committee, either through the pastor or some other member of the committee. The committee shall act upon the application at its next meeting, and shall communicate its action to the Society, unless for some good cause it shall deem it inexpedient so to do; and after the expiration of two weeks from the time such application shall be made known to the Society, if no objection be made by any member, the application shall be considered as approved by the Society, and the execu- tive committee may invite such person to become a mem- ber of this Society, and said person may be admitted as a member upon his or her acknowledging the three essentials of the Church, and subscribing the constitution or platform of our Union, as contained in our record book, and receiving the right hand of fellowship from the pastor or chairman of the executive committee, or some other member thereof acting in that capacity by author- ity of said committee.
Sec. 2. Whenever an application shall be made to the Society for membership, it shall be the duty of the pastor, or some member of the executive committee, to have a personal interview with the applicant and report the result of such interview, and no application shall be sub- mitted to the Society until after such report is made.
ARTICLE VI.
Section 1. The executive committee of this Society is authorized to appoint delegates from the Society to represent it in any Association, Convention, or other
103
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
general body of the Church, except in cases where special delegates are appointed by the Society. And in all cases where such delegates are not so appointed, or are not present, the pastor and executive committee, or any member or members thereof, in the absence of the pastor, are authorized to represent this Society in any Asso- ciation, Convention, or other general body of the Church.
ARTICLE VII.
Section 1. This Society regards the payment of a part of the income of each member for the advancement of the uses of the Church as a proper and necessary ac- knowledgment that we receive every blessing from the Lord, and expects that all its members will contribute to the funds of the Society as the Lord shall give them ability.
FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING.
On Jan. 12, 1852, the annual meeting occurred in the church rooms, at which Mr. John Sears, Jr., was chair- man, and Mr. Alexander Officer, secretary.
The election of officers resulted as follows: Trustees, J. Young Scammon, George R. Bills, James V. Z. Blaney, John Sears, Jr., Franklin Scammon, Charles V. Dyer, and Alexander Officer; secretary, Franklin Fulton; treasurer, Franklin Scammon; and auditor, Henry L. Fulton.
It was voted that a collection be taken at Sunday- evening service for the use of the library; that Dr. Charles V. Dyer be appointed a committee to collect money to pay the deficit for the past year; and that the meeting time of the executive committee be following the service 'of the first Sunday of each month.
During the year 1852, there occurred ten meetings of the executive committee, all of which were held on Sunday.
104
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
The meeting of March 7th, resolved, that the salary of the pastor be paid promptly, and if not so paid that ten per cent. be added until paid.
The meeting of March 14th decided to legally proceed to collect rent due for the use of the lot belonging to the Society.
The meeting of March 21st appropriated thirty dollars for use of the Sunday-school library .*
In the meeting of May 2nd a report by the pastor of all baptisms, marriages, and funerals, administered, conse- crated, and attended by him, within the Society, until the present time was read. It was voted that the pastor make such a report to the secretary monthly. It was stated to be the desire of the committee that the pastor attend the General Convention of the Church to be held in Philadelphia, and that his expenses be paid by the Society.
The meeting of May 16th voted to invite the Illinois Association to hold its next meeting in Chicago, and twenty-five dollars were contributed for the use of that body.
REPORT OF THE CHICAGO SOCIETY. TO THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION, 1852.
To the Illinois Association of Receivers, etc.
I am directed by The Chicago Society of the New Jeru- salem to submit the following report :
The whole number of persons who have become mem- bers of this Society is 51. Two have been removed to . the spiritual world, and 12 are non-residents of the city of Chicago, leaving as resident members 37. Two or more families of receivers have recently removed to
*NOTE .- The resolution noted above, appropriating thirty dollars for the Sunday-school library, is the first reference that the records have of a Sunday-school. It is not likely that the starting of the school was much earlier than 1852.
105
THE NEW CHURCH AND CHICAGO
Chicago, who have not yet connected themselves with our Society ; and there are in all, from 75 to 100 adult persons in the city who are inclined to the New Church, and more or less receptive of the heavenly doctrines. Four adult members have been added to the Society since our last report, and 5 adults and 10 children have been bap- tized. Our pastor has officiated at 4 weddings.
The expenses of our Society, for its own accomo- dation and for the special support of the Church at Chicago, for the last year, have been very large in pro- portion to our means and members. A new and more desirable and convenient room for worship has been leased at $200 per annum, and fitted up with pews and other cushioned seats, so as to present the appearance of the interior of a church edifice, at an expense of about $700, besides which we have paid our pastor's salary, $500, and about $400 incidental expenses. We are endeavoring to come into such a state that each mem- ber of our Society and each person who worships with us, will contribute to the uses of the Church as the Lord shall give them ability.
Considerable repugnance was felt by most of us at having contributions taken up in the Church for any purpose ; but on reflection and mature consideration, the executive committee, which has the powers of the Society, except when a meeting of the latter is called, unani- mously determined to have a monthly contribution on the first Sunday of each month for the support of missionary and tract uses ; and a contribution for the increase of our library, which is free, open every Sabbath evening upon which we have lectures. We have raised in this way, over and above the amounts before stated, $75.23, for the missionary and tract fund; and since January 19th last, $59.29 for the increase of the library. We endeavor to make it a point to close our accounts on the first of Jan- uary, and pay off all arrearages at that time, and to keep out of debt.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.