USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > A Century of history of the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Indiana : with sketches of it's [sic] pastors, officers, and prominent members and reminiscences of early times > Part 3
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At the time of the division of the Presbyterian church into Old and New school, "Father Chute," as an Elder, at- tended the Vincennes Presbytery, and in the language of a beloved pastor, the incident is given : to question the Pres- byterianism of Daniel Chute was like questioning the Pres- byterianism of John Calvin himself." Mr. Chute loved the doctrines of the church and loved the polity of the church, and when the Vincennes Presbytery turned its rebuke upon him it was not for heresy-it dared not do that-it was for not approving the excinding act of 1837 and because he was not willing to accord with the almost unanimous vote of the Presbytery thanking the great Head of the church that the once united church in our land was divided." In the face of all this opposition he dared boldly to stand up in defence of his own principles, which at this late day and in view of the reunion that has since taken place shine out in their true light. With a prophetic eye he saw without doubt the harsh and unkind feelings such a separation among old time friends might engender, and his kind heart rebelled against such estrangement, and the wisdom of his judgment and right feeling in this matter will always be respected and ap- proved. It is to be hoped that the brotherhood will never
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again be disturbed by such dissension and we shall see how these Christians "love one another."
This good man, like Eli of old, had his trials. His ex- ample was always all that it should have been before his family, gentle and kind and in the simplicity of his heart and true faith he dedicated his children to God with im- plicit faith that He to whom he confided all his dearest in- terests would in His own good time gather them into his fold. With the memory of that blessed father they ought, with grateful hearts for such a parent, to devote the remain- ing days of their life to the service of Him whom their father loved and served. His daughters were exemplary women. His youngest, Miss Charlotte Chute, married Gov- ernor Baker, who was a prominent member of Walnut Street Church. "Father Chute' for many years led the choir and, though time somewhat changed the melody of his voice, he always pitched the tune, and he is without doubt singing with the Seraphs today.
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CHAPTER VIII.
REV. SAMUEL K. SNEED.
Rev. Samuel K. Sneed became pastor of the church in 1846, remaining until 1848.
He was an earnest and faithful preacher, never failing to declare the whole counsel of God in no unmistakable terms, telling the sinner and reprobate what would become of them if they did not make haste to "flee from the wrath to come." He quoted his Master's words to them, calling them a "generation of vipers," "children of the devil." He could describe all the wicked feelings of the human heart, more perhaps than a great many of the people of his church ever heard about or experienced. In fact he had a very poor opinion of human nature generally. His sermons made an impression upon the hearer than could never be forgotten. There was more that could be remembered in them than in most discourses one hears. He was careful to impress everyone with the idea that the soul of a rich man was no more value in the sight of God than that of a poorman,and the oft repeated text, "your sin will find you out," went straight to the conscience of the hearer.
His explanation of faith was new and impressive. The Christians' faith he compared to a man walking in the dark with a lantern. It did not give him light beyond a certain distance. When that point was reached the light still shone as far beyond as it had done before. So the person who walks by faith just goes by the light given him from above, knowing that for all his journey his light will be sure, guid- ing his footsteps as he needs it till he reaches his home in Heaven.
In the lives of good and pious men there are sometimes amusing incidents, and the reader will perhaps excuse the relation of such a one, as this book is not purely a religious one. Mr. Sneed was a man of uncommonly nervous temper- ament and he sometimes found himself in circumstances where it was exceedingly hard to control his nervousness. A very funny incident occurred one Sabbath during service,
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which will illustrate how much one may suffer from that cause. During the service a dog, which had perhaps fol- lowed his country owner to church, remained outside, and as time seemed to pass wearily to him waiting for his master, he began to bark in a most furious manner. The parson's face grew red-and redder. He cleared his throat and used his handkerchief in a most sonorous manner and seemed to lose the thread of his discourse, and as he found himself less and less able to recover from the annoyance, he said: "Brother Orr, will you please see if any arrangement can be ruade for the accommodation of that dog."
The good brother went down the aisle in the most quiet manner possible, and whether he read the riot act or the commandments to the dog or not we never knew. The noise, however, subsided and the excitement ceased.
Mr. Sneed had been reared in affluence in a slave state, and the close economy and comparatively straightened cir- cumstances of an Indiana preacher were very unsuited to his taste or requirements. He was really a pious man, but he often confessed with sorrow that he was obliged to wage a continual warfare with the old natural self that was still in him. He was an excellent pastor, sympathizing with the afflicted, dispensing the consolations of religion to the sick and distressed at all times and seasons.
REV. E. A. LORD.
The Rev. Mr. Lord took charge of the church in 1848 and remained until 1849.
He was a young man, earnest and faithful and very am- bitious to see the church prosperous and he knew enough of human nature and the world at large to know that success was sure to attend even the appearance of prosperity, and it was through his influence that the little primitive Church on the Hill was improved. The particular object which he seemed most desirous to accomplish was the removal of the gable-end of the church and extending its dimensions, but for some reason, probably the want of funds, the church was only remodeled in the interior. The portico was prefixed and the small belfry with a neat spire surmounting it. A bell was introduced and, sixteen years after the erection of the building
"The sound of the Church going bell
These valleys and rocks never heard."
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now rung out in silvery tones, calling the people to the wor- ship of the living and true God. The taking out of the gable- end of the church which Mr. Lord so devoutly desired, was reserved for the good Pastor McCarer's day. In 1851, the church then being quite too small to accommodate the grow- ing congregation, it was extended twenty-nine feet, and the little gallery occupied by the choir was introduced, which increased the capacity of the church in a very satisfactory manner.
Rev. Mr. Lord preached very fine sermons, he was a thorough student and gave most of his time to his books. His visits, as a pastor, were not considered as necessary by him as good, strengthening, spiritual food for his con- gregation. His placid countenance showed peace of mind and contentment, the world never failed to look bright to him. This conclusion was arrived at by the fact that when- ever he made a visit he never failed to make the same re- mark. After greeting his friends in the usual manner, he always said: "It's very fine today." This he was known to have said when it was even raining. His mind always seemed to be upon subjects on which he failed to speak in social intercourse; in other words he was absent minded, but his sermons indicated thought and study which were highly creditable to him. His ministrations were rewarded by the interest taken in improving the church, and the ad- ditions to its number of members during his stay, which was only about one year. He removed to New York and very little is since known of him, except that like the man in the old times who was bidden to a feast and could not come, he had "married a wife."
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REV. WM. H. M'CARER.
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CHAPTER IX.
REV. WM. H. M'CARER.
The next minister who filled the pulpit of the "Little Church on the Hill" was the Rev. W. H. McCarer. He con- tinued to be a most acceptable pastor for eighteen years and a half, and as all his words now seem to those who knew and loved him "like apples of gold in pictures of silver," a ser- mon of his appears on the next page, which was delivered in the First Avenue Church after he dissolved his connec- tion with the Walnut Street Church, and it was afterwards repeated by request in the church of which he had formerly been pastor.
"This discourse reviews his thirty years' service in this city and is replete with reminiscences of great inter- est to the reader and is full of pathetic reflections."
SERMON BY REV. W. H. MCCARVER.
Also, now, behold, my witness is in Heaven, and my record is on high -[Job 16; 19.]
On the last Saturday evening of the month of October, 1849, with my wife and three children, I landed at your wharf; and on the next morning, 28th day of October, the Sabbath, began my public ministry, as pastor-elect of the old Presbyterian Church, whose edifice was called then by the old residents, by the various epithets: "Church in the Woods," "Church on the Hill,' and "Little brick Church," oc- cupied a site on Second street, where are now located the offices of the Demokrat and Courier. It was still "on the Hill," but the street was graded some ten feet below, so that the place of worship was reached by flights of stairs on either side, admitting you to a pillared portico, which was surmounted by a pretty spire, neither of any special preten- tions, and yet giving some conspicuousness to this temple of the Lord.
As our boat neared the wharf, the sun had just hid- den itself beneath the crimson West, and the bell of the little
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Little Church on the Hill.
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spire was chiming its evening call, and, to the question of my young wife, "what bell is that?" my answer was, "that is our bell calling the choir together for rehearsal."
I wish I could give the history of that choir .*
By invitation of the church I had spent some three weeks in the city in the spring of the year, which visit led the church to extend me a call to become its permanent pas- tor, the delay to entering immediately upon my work being determined by prudential considerations connected with the health of my family. .
There is a popular impression that the time of my com- ing here marked my ordination to the ministry. This is not so; for six years and a half previously "I dwelt among mine own people," constituting one of the strongest rural con- gregations within the boundaries of the Philadelphia Pres- bytery.
It may not be amiss here to say that the correspondence which resulted in my settlement in the West was carried on by Ex-Governor Baker. My name had been suggested to the church by the distinguished Albert Barnes, whom I had known from my youth, and who recommended me to the church.
Governor Baker was the first man to take me by the hand when I stepped upon the shore of your city, inviting me to his humble cottage-still standing in its simplicity, but the flowers and woodbine gone with her who twined them and made it a home of beauty. There I ate my first meal, being subsequently entertained by Mr. Samuel Orr and his excellent family. These two men-I name it with pride and gratitude-were among my first friends, and they have been among the finest and best friends I ever expect to have on earth.
Well do I remember the smiles of that beautiful Sab- bath morning, that, together with the smiles of my people, gave me a welcome to my work. This work began by mak- ing my way first to the Sabbath School, where I announced to the children that I had come to be their pastor, and then,
*It is deserving of mention that it was then, and for years after, under the conduct of the late Col. C. K. Drew, of the old Exchange, on Lower First street; where, in its then seemingly spacious Dining Room, nearly all the Churches of the city, through the generosity of "mine host," held numerous festivals and concerts.
Colonel Drew's son was then quite young, but presided over the Me- lodeon, and for years after entering the larger edifice, he was Church organist. For services during the war he was brevetted, and is now known as his father was, as Colonel C. K. Drew, being still, with his accomplished wife, members of the Church and efficient members of the Choir. Thirty years in this good service of the Sanctuary.
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afterward, to the general congregation, where I delivered my inaugural discourse from the text: "For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified," and here, after these many checkered years, ! find myself meditating the inquiry that has protruded it- self a thousand times-"Have I been faithful to my avowal and my pledge? Have I sought to know, among the people of this city, nothing but Jesus and Him crucified?" As I ponder the simple but momentous question, I am silent, re- membering that God only knows-that the One only infal- lible witness is in Heaven-that the only infallible record is on high.
It were natural, and if there were time, it would be in- teresting to dwell upon what the city then was, its dimen- sions, its appearance, and this in contrast with its present showing.
It was then a city of perhaps less than 6,000 inhabi- tants. It was seemingly "in transitu," and from being a somewhat pretentious village, with some little notoriety, was stepping forward to challenge a place among the stal- wart cities of the State. Its proportions and weight were very modest. It had a quadrisected square, at one intersec- tion of which was a little green Court House, at another a wooden jail building with its annexed Sheriff's residence (Mr. Terry its occupant.) Opposite the Court House was a diminutive market house and just as diminutive a school edifice, and the remaining fourth, where the Court House now stands, was, I think, the resort or stand for country wagons.
Our noble wharf-with no superior along the whole Ohio's length-was just completed, the grading of the con- tiguous streets in progress. Telegraphic communication, I think, had just been established with Louisville, and as yet a novelty. There was no railroad, but the construction of one I think, to Mt. Carmel via Princeton, was enthusiastically discussed. But the consummation most devoutly wished for of all things was the canal ; that was to make all things new and particularly great, and our city metropolitan. There was but one railroad in all the State, from Madison to In- dianapolis.
If we except the old warehouse on Water street, below Pine, there were but three buildings at all conspicuous. The State Bank, still standing on Main street, and the then im- posing brick residence of Hon. Willard Carpenter, not fully completed, and with a deep slough between it and the main
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portion of the city; and that now known as Barnes' resi- dence on Water street, contiguous to Sunset Park. These large buildings, at that time among the humble dwellings and cottages around, had a very formidable appearance.
The city was indeed of contracted and indefinite extent. There was but little of it beyond Third and Fourth streets from the river. Where you now go to the depot of the E. & T. H. R. R., you then went to the country, although very near to the now depot, stood the folly and failure, entitled at that time, "The Bulls' Head Tavern," in that part of the city entering upon Main, and a few blocks thereupon I still meet with old "land marks,' but practically, I can say I have seen the whole city rebuilt and built. Of the old part the then old buildings have given place to new, and where there was nothing, we have now either massive buildings for com- merce and manufacturing, palatial homes or multitudinous cottages. The church buildings were all small and of simple style. The most pretentious so far as an attempt at church architecture proper is concerned, was the building known as Viele Hall. And there were only eight of these plain struc- tures-one of them only still used for divine worship, though greatly transformed-St. Paul's Episcopal Church, corner of First and Chestnut streets .* I now call to mind twenty- eight new church edifices that have been dedicated to public worship since my coming, and in the consecration of not a few of which I have taken some formal or informal part.
Only two clergymen beside myself. who were here in 1849, are here now. Rev. J. V. Dodge had just then dissolved his connection with the Vine Street Church, of which he was the first and for some ten years the very acceptable pastor. Rev. J. A. Saupert, of the German Lutheran Church is the oldest resident pastor in Evansville. He was on the ground when I came.
A few words as to the then state of religion and the work of evangelism and reform at that early date.
The church of which I became pastor, now the Walnut Street Church, was small in numbers, perhaps not more than thirty actual members, but a most sterling and faithful nucleus to commence with. The church had been in exist- ence twenty-eight years. We had, with the church and con- gregation, such men as Ex-Governor Baker, John Shanklin, Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Morgan, Daniel Chute, Judge Olmstead, Dr. Lindley, Myron Safford, Alanson Warner, General James E.
*Where this church stood is now a new and elegant church .- 1891.
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Blythe, J. H. Maghee, Judge Battell and Judge Matthew Fos- ter.
It is the impression that the last few years have been marked by a surprising breaking down of denominational prejudices. Yet I bear witness of no such prejudice when I came among the Christian people of Evansville. I found confiding Christian sympathy in all the denominations, and there was earnest co-working on the part of all. Practically, the feeling was, "let us help one another."
This was exhibited in a marked degree in social and religious gatherings and entertainments at which, so general was the gathering together, that no matter which church spread the banquet, it was a puzzle to know which was the most fully represented by its good people. Christians then made common cause with one another. You "beheld how good and how pleasant it was for brethren to dwell together in unity."
There was an epoch in the temperance work thirty years ago. A large part of the sterling men of the city were active "Sons of Temperance," holding at the time very live meetings. The youth of the city were organized into "Ca- dets of Temperance." Foremost amongst the earnest pro- moters of these youthful clans was the late John Ingle, Jr., president of the E. & C. R. R. Popular monthly meetings were held, with never a lack of speakers, in the old Locust Street Church, and in my own, where the enthusiasm was often hardly less than is now witnessed in our Red Ribbon Halls. How I should love to have the walls of oid Locust Street re-echo the fiery eloquence that thundered from some of the Nestros of that day !*
Nor was there a lack of zeal in Sunday School work. The ideal school of today throws the school of former years into insignificance, but twenty-six or twenty-eight years ago in this city a larger proportion of the children of outsiders were in our schools than are to be found there today. I know what I say.
For several years monthly meetings were held and by a system practically carried out, committees semi-annually
*As an evidence that, at an early date, the friends of temperance had some earnestness and not a little pluck, it is worthy of commem- oration that on an election day, the friends of one of the candidates pro- cured a barrel of whisky, and knocking in the head and supplying a suitable supply of tin cups, advertised to the free voters in general and the friends of their candidate in particular that there was not only a supply of tickets but of free whisky. also, John Ingle, Jr., the moment he heard it, declared that that thing should not be, and, forthwith started for the barrel, and with the help of a friend or two, emptied its contents upon the ground amid the plaudits of the friends of temperance, and the anger and chagrin of its enemies.
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canvassed the whole city with the intent to bring the very least child into some one of our schools, and not a few Chris- tian workers remember the golden age of our mission schools, memorable in Crescent City Hall, and which had its culmination a dozen years ago. Who go now into the deso- late homes and tenants of our city ?
I have seen the whole of our beautiful common school system germinate, bud, blossom and bring forth its benefi- cent fruit. There was no public school system when I came. The present system was inaugurated in 1853, having for its chief champion and as worthy of all honor for grading it to its proud rank, Horatio Q. Wheeler, Esq .- soon seconded as worthy coadjutor, by the Hon. Wm. Baker, for many years the Mayor of the city.
But many think it time to refer to my own special work as a minister of Christ. In the third year of my ministry God so greatly prospered us that it was deemed necessary to enlarge our habitation, which to me then seemed as David expressed it, "The Habitation of His Holiness; that place where His Honor dwelleth."
The rear gable end of the building was removed and so extended that with the construction of a small organ gallery we had additional seating of at least one-third more. The growth of the church continued to be healthy and substan- tial. In the winter of 1856-7 a marked revival was enjoyed and many valuable additions to the church received. Two years after there was another season of awakening and re- freshing.
In 1859 the church decided upon the erection of a new edifice. The foundations were then laid, and in March, 1860, the "Church on the Hill," was no more, its venerable walls were removed, a few of the brick, however, sacredly pre- served and lovingly incorporated in the new building on Walnut and Second streets.
The memorial discourse, the last pronounced in the pioneer church, was published and is now in possession of some of the older members of the church.
The convenient basement of the then new building was entered on the first Sunday of February, 1861. It was a season of deep religious interest throughout the city dur- ing the winter, though, at that time, the excess of interest was abated. It was one of the most remarkable works of grace known in the city. It commenced in the Locust Street M. E. Church, under God, through its pastor, Rev. Dr. Gil- lett, who seemed especially raised up and qualified from on
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high for that great event. The Walnut Street Church came in for its share of the blessing, and some sixty persons were then added to it, at its first communion in the new base- ment. The two years between 1861 and 1863 were spent in persistent effort to complete the edifice, and, on Febru- ary 7th, 1864, the Rev. Dr. Tuttle, of Crawfordsville, preaching the discourse, the building was dedicated to the worship of the triune God, with thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Five years longer I went in and out among my people, breaking unto them the word of life as I was able, at the end of which time I was led to the conclusion that my re- tirement from the pastorate was expedient, and I announced publicly that, at the next meeting of the Presbytery I would ask to be rtired. The Presbytery consented to my request, and in April, 1868, after serving the church eighteen years and six months, my pastorate ceased, my pupit was decared vacant and my official connection with the people of Walnut Street at an end.
How quicky then thronged the memories of those eigh- teen years and more of the best years given to men. Years of ardor and the strength of one's manhood, and to me nat- urally embracing the chiefest of the work of my life. It was then I called to remembrance the years that were past, and there was forced upon my hearing what others did not hear-a voice that said: "Right Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the spirit, for they rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
And I said to myself, through divine grace I hope to "die in the Lord." As to the resting from labor, I have never concerned myself much, for I have loved to work for the Master, and His yoke has never been grievous. But when I die-I said to myself-what will be the result of this very considerable portion of the best days of my life. Will my work follow me? Will anything remain for the genera- tions to come? Will the seed that I often went forth weep- ing, scattering it here and there, will any of it remain and will it go on unfolding and unfolding harvest after harvest, so that, in the evening, I shall come rejoicing, bringing some of the sheaves with me?
My heart's desire and prayer to God is that the Wal- nut Street Church may arise and shine and that the beauty of the Lord may ever be upon her.
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