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AFTER
1865
THIRTY FIVE
1900
YEARS
SOUVENIR EDITION
LLUSTRATED
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01232 5590
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GENEALOGY 976.902 L93af
#24.00
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After Thirty-Five Years
1865-1900
A HISTORY OF
Trinity
Methodist
Episcopal
Church
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.
DEDICATION SOUVENIR.
ILLUSTRATED.
.. .
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
Proemial
7
Trinity M. E. Church 9
Preface II
First Quarterly Conference 12
Rev. J. H. Bristow . 13
Rev. W. H. Ongley
14
Copy of Original Charter 15
Chapter I .- Organization
16
Rev. W. H. Black
22.
Chapter II- Second Year Activities
23
Rev. Duke Slavens 26
Chapter III .- Assets and Liabilities 27
Rev. J. McKendree Reiley . . . 32
Chapter IV .- From Market to Third Street 33
"Old Trinity" Church and Chapel 38
Chapter V .- A new name "Trinity' 39
Financial Report of Trustees 41
Rev. D. Stevenson, D. D. 42
Rev. J. S. Chadwick 46
Chapter VI .- A period of Progress 47
Rev. C. A. Holmes 51
Chapter VII .- Spring to Fall Conference 52
Rev. William Macafee 54
Resolutions on Death of Hon. Joshua F. Speed 56
Rev. I. A. Pearce 58
Chapter VIII .- Parsonage and Wesley Church 59
Trinity Parsonage 61
5
Rev. J. Reid Shannon 62
Wesley Meth. Episcopal Church 65 Rev. Isaac Crook .. 66
Chapter IX .- Social and Spiritual Growth 67
Rev. J. W. Turner 69
Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church 72
Rev. W. B. Collins
74
Historical Sketch of New Church 79
Dedicatory Program 82
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua F. Speed 85
Biography of Joshua Fry Speed 86
Mrs. Fanny Henning Speed 92
Biography of Fanny Henning Speed 93
Rev. H. H. Monroe 98 Abraham Gunther. 99
Sunday School Reminiscences IO0
Epworth League No. 277 III
History of Trinity Junior League. 118
Woman's Home Missionary Society I20
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society 123
Ladies Sewing Society I26
Memorial Window I36
Addendum I39
Specifications of Organ I4I
Official Board of Trinity M. E. Church I44
Presiding Elders I44
Benevolent Record of Trinity M. E. Church. 145
Names of Pastors and term of service 146
6
"I love thy Church, O God ! Her walls before thee stand, Dear as the apple of thine eye, And graven on thy hand."
7
KLAUBER, PHO
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH.
9
١
PREFACE.
I N CALLING your attention, dear reader, to "After Thirty-Five Years," as outlined in the History of Trinity Methodist Episco- pal Church, we feel that we are giving you an insight to one of God's households of faith, and pointing out men and women who, by their works demonstrated their faith, and attained to the apex of the apostolic injunction "workmen that need not to be ashamed."
The book itself is the result of an idea, promulgated in the Epworth League Chapter, No. 277, "to collect and collate the his_ tory of our church; " and with this idea in view, a committee on Historical Research was appointed. Later on the idea of making this book a real work of art and a souvenir incident to the dedica- tion of our new church developed, and was sanctioned by the Quar- terly Conference, and the book in its present form is the result of our labor.
The work of the committee, while it has been arduous in col- lecting photographs, carrying on correspondences, gathering mate- rial, etc., has, nevertheless, been a "labor of love," and if, dear reader, you shall feel from the reading of these pages that "Trin- ity" is a vine of God's own planting, and you, dear fellow member, because of this record of the past, shall feel a quickening loyalty to the church of your choice, we, as a committee, shall feel amply rewarded.
To all who so kindiy loaned photographs and assisted us in any way, we return our thanks.
To EPWORTH LEAGUE CHAPTER, NO 277, which honored us with the important work of placing before you this Souvenir History, this book is dedicated. May the lives portrayed, and the remi- niscences of the past, be ever an incentive to Christian activity on the part of every reader. Faithfully yours,
C. B. NORDEMAN, CLARA J. MCLAUGHLIN, F. S. COON,
September, 1900.
Committee on Historical Research.
11
FIRST QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.
ORGANIZED MAY 3, 1865, REV. C. B. PARSONS, D. D., PRESIDING ELDER.
OFFICIAL BOARD.
REV. J. H. BRISTOW, Pastor.
REV. W. H. ONGLEY, Local Preacher, Leader and Secretary.
REV. H. H. MONROE, Local Preacher and Leader.
STEWARDS.
REV. H. H. MONROE,
REV. W. H. ONGLEY,
JOSH R. BROWN,
J. E. VANSANT,
G. M. RHODES, J. C. WOOD,
WILLIAM JAMES.
TRUSTEES.
REV. H. H. MONROE, J. E. VANSANT,
JOSH R. BROWN, WILLIAM JAMES,
J. C. WOOD. REV. W. H. ONGLEY, Recording Steward.
12
REV. J. H. BRISTOW, FIRST PASTOR. 1865-1866.
13
REV. W. H. ONGLEY, FIRST LOCAL PREACHER, SECRETARY AND CHARTER MEMBER.
14
COPY OF ORIGINAL CHARTER AS DRAWN UP BY REV. W. H. ONGLEY.
FIRST OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
LOUISVILLE, KY., March 19, 1865.
A respectable number of the people of God, and members
TIME OF OUR of the different societies in this city, connected ORGANIZATION. with the M. E. Church, South, having mnet for religious worship in the public Hall of the Relief Engine House, Market Street, near Eighth, several Sabbaths, were to-day organized at the close of religious worship into the PREACHER METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Rev. J. H.
IN CHARGE. Bristow, officiating, he having been appointed at the Kentucky Conference just closed at Newport, Ky., by Bishop Morris for the purpose, and as pastor for the ensuing year.
In answer to the invitation to join, the following named NAMES OF brethren and sisters, by letter and otherwise, MEMBERS. united, and subscribing cheerfully to the present discipline, answering the questions propounded affirmatively, the right hand of fellowship was given, andthey were received home to the bosom of the Mother Church, viz:
I. Rev. H. H. Monroe, IO. George M. Rhodes,
2. Eliza Monroe, his wife,
II. Elizabeth Rhodes,
3. Betsy Sanford, his mother, 12. P. H. Bonham,
4. Rev. W. H. Ongley,
13. Mary A. Bonham,
5. Mary B. Ongley, his wife,
6. Elizabeth S Ongley, daughter,
14. Winn Gunn, residence in the country,
7. Hannah E. Ongley, daughter, 15. M. B. Gunn,
8. J. C. Wood, 16. J. E. Vansant,
9. Eliza Wood, his wife,
17. Ann E. Vansant,
18. Lewis B. Force, of the Ky. Prov. Mar. Gen. Office.
J. H. BRISTOW, Pastor. W. H. ONGLEY, Secretary.
15
"For the Lord hath chosen Zion: he hath desired it for his habitation:
"This is my rest forever: here will I dwell: for I have desired it.
"I will abundantly bless her provision: I will sat- isfy her poor with bread.
"I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy."-Psa. 132:13-16.
CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION.
C. B. NORDEMAN.
M ETHODISM was divided on the question of slavery in 1844, and in the succeeding year became two distinct denominations, known as the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the M. E. Church, South. The Methodist Episcopal Church was, of course, very strongly opposed to slavery, and the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, being in the Southern States, as the name indicates, countenanced slavery. There were many, however, as individuals, in the Southern States, who did not share in the views promulgated by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and were loyal to the teachings on the subject of the mother church, although they were compelled to hold their membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, because of the fact that the Methodist Episcopal Church was not established in the South at that time. Later on the Civil War settled the question of slavery once for all, but was also instrumental in intensifying the feeling of bitterness between the two Methodisms, and during the closing days of the war a little company of eighteen people, members of different societies in the city of Louisville, and connected with the Methodist
13
Episcopal Church, South, whose sympathies were with the views held by the Methodist Episcopal Church, and having fellowship one with another, met several Sabbaths for relig- ious worship in the public hall in what was known as the Relief Engine House, on Market Street near, Eighth. We would be glad could we have secured a picture of this En- gine House, but after diligent search none could be found, although many of the veteran firemen remember the building and the religious services which were held in their hall from time to time.
The Kentucky Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being at that time a Spring Conference, was held at Newport, Ky., during the month of March, 1865, Bishop Morris presiding; and the good Bishop, feeling that the little flock whose sympathies were with the Methodist Episcopal Church, ought to have pastoral supervision and be received home to the bosoni of the mother church, appointed the Rev. J. H. Bristow to Louisville, and Bro. Bristow and his beloved wife came and entered upon their work and organized eighteen faithful souls into the Methodist Episcopal Church, on Sunday, March 19, 1865, and meetings for regular Sabbath worship were agreed upon to be held at Relief Hall at 11 A. M. and 4 P. M until a better house could be obtained. Of the orig- inal eighteen charter members of what is now Trinity Meth- odist Episcopal Church, we know of but two who are still members of the church militant, viz., Mrs. Elizabeth S. Riley and Mrs. Hannah E. Matthews, nee Ongley, daughters of the Rev. W. H. Ongley. These sisters reside in Louisville to-day, and are members in good standing of Wesley M. E. Church, Twenty-third and Jefferson streets.
A class was also organized which met every Thursday at the home of Rev. W. H. Ongley, 512 East St. On the follow- ing Sunday after the organization of the church six additional names were added to the original eighteen, and Dr. C. B. Parsons, Presiding Elder, and Superintendent of the Central Kentucky Mission, preached a thanksgiving sermon to a large audience at the Masonic Temple in the afternoon. We also note that in the early life of the church good spiritual help
17
was afforded by brethren of the Christian Commission-Meth- odist preachers from the state of Michigan.
Hardly had the little flock been launched into the world as a church, when the news came that Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, had been struck down by the bullet of a cowardly assassin, and on Sunday, April 16, 1865, Rev. J. H. Bristow, with spirits crushed, appeared before the sable-draped desk and read a chapter from the Lamentations of Jeremiah and preached a very effective discourse, taking as a text, Lamentations of Jeremiah, third chapter and twenty-fourth verse: "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."
Although the nation mourned and the church could not see what the outcome would be, they hung their faith upon God and at this time began casting about for a better house of worship. A social meeting was held, and temporal and spir- itual matters concerning this new move were freely talked of and many subscribed to the enterprise, and a house and lot on Market Street near Eighth, which had been occupied by the Baptists and owned by the Universalists, was purchased. Before removing from Relief Hall the following resolution was unanimously passed:
"Resolved. That, as a society, we offer the Mayor of the City, Wm. Kaye, Esq .. our sincere thanks for the use of this Hall for the past few weeks. J. H. BRISTOW, Pastor. "April 16. 1865. W. H. ONGLEY, Sec'y."
The opening services in the new church were held on April 23. 1865, and the Pastor, Rev. J. H. Bristow, preached in the morning, taking as his text, Nehemiah, tenth chapter thirty-ninth verse. In the evening of this same day, Rev. Copeland, from the Michigan Conference, preached to a large and respectable congregation. Thirteen substantial members united with the church on this day, among whom we notice the name of our beloved brother, Wm. James, who is, at this time, still living, and an honored member. On the following Sunday, April 30th, a Sunday-school was organized, and Rev. H. H. Monroe was elected its first Superintendent. The his- tory of this Sunday-school is unbroken and constitutes a sep-
18
arate chapter in this book. On this day, also, the new house was formally dedicated by the Presiding Elder, C. B. Parsons, and following the discourse a collection was taken to defray expenses and pay for fixtures purchased of the Baptists, and in response thereto $162.55 was raised, and in the evening Dr. Parsons discoursed to the congregation from the words, "All things are now ready." · Several additions are again noted on this day.
Financial obligations rested heavily upon the little flock, and it was decided that the pastor, Bro. Bristow, should visit the Erie Conference and points in the State of Ohio, on a collecting tour in behalf of the church, and it is fitting that this history should record the financial assistance bestowed by the brethren elsewhere for the furtherance of the standard of the Methodist Episcopal Church. We therefore append such contributions as were realized, giving due credit to the donors. If any of them are still living and are permitted to see this history, it must be a source of great satisfaction to them to know that their investment in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Kentucky, has yielded such a fruitful harvest.
From the Erie Annual Conference $202 00
From the citizens of Jamestown, N. Y. 128 00
From Father Bancroft, Meadville, Pa. 5 00
Collected at M. E. Church at Meadville, Pa. 110 05
From citizens of Warren, Ohio. 63 05
From a few persons at Youngtown, Ohio. 8 00
On a subsequent trip to New York City we note that Brother Bristow collected $1,641.40, and among the contributors we find J. C. & W. F. Havemier, whose names of late have become quite familiar through the current dailies. Handsome dona- tions were received from the following churches: Beckman Hill, Willett Street, John Street, Kipp's Bay, and Washington Square, and the Board, upon Brother Bristow's return and report, passed the following resolutions:
Resolved, first, That we hereby tender our sincere thanks to Rev. J. H. Bristow for his unwearied efforts in raising funds for the liquidating of our church debt, and that we heartily sympathize with him in his present illness, brought on, probably, by these exertions.
Resolved, second, That we owe a debt of gratitude to those
19
brethren and friends in the North and East who so nobly heeded the call of our pastor, Rev. J. H. Bristow, and have so materially aided us in this our time of need.
Resolved, third, That, not forgetting whence all our blessings flow, and that He disposes the hearts of men to give of their abund- ance to aid in the extension of His kingdom, we hereby acknowl- edge the munificence of these brethren beloved as the almoners of His bounty, and our thanks to God and prayers for them shall rise in unison at the Throne of Grace for their continued prosperity and usefulness, and that they may abound in every good word and work.
Resolved, fourth, That the New York Methodist papers, the West- ern Adrocate, and other of our papers, be requested, if they please, to copy these resolutions.
Before this chapter closes our readers will be interested to know that at the Official Board meeting held October 28, 1865, it was announced that Sister Fanny Speed had united with the church by letter. It is worthy that special mention be made of this fact, inasmuch as Sister Speed has been of such mate- rial help in the establishment of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Kentucky. As we take a retrospective view of the assistance rendered to the cause of Christ by Joshua F. and Fanny Speed, your historians deem it fitting that a sketch of these two chosen vessels of the Lord be presented to our readers introducing them in chapters apart. Sister Speed's interest in the church was intense from the very beginning, and we note that on January 8, 1866, the Official Board passed the following resolution:
Resolred, That the very neat and beautiful sacramental service presented by Sister Fanny Speed, is highly appreciated, and that a hearty vote of thanks be tendered her.
The fourth Quarterly Conference, in January, 1866, found the Market Street Church in quite a flourishing condition. The pastor reported a gain in membership for the quarter of 34, and a total membership of 90, with the notation of the fact that "some were not doing as well as could be desired," and that therefore not more than 70 or 75 should be reported to the Conference as members of the charge. At this conference, after due examination in doctrines, etc., according to the Dis- cipline, Revs. W. H. Ongley and H. H. Monroe, as local
20
preachers, were severally recommended for ordination as Dea- cons at the ensuing Annual Conference, and the Rev. W. H. Black, who had been acting as pastor de facto during the absence of the Rev. J. H. Bristow while on a collecting tour, offered his resignation, and he was tendered a vote of thanks and salary to the end of the conference year. And thus ended the work of the first conference year, a partial year only-a work of which the little congregation might well feel proud, and for a time the charge was in the hands of the Annual Conference, and as to what the Annual Conference did with them must make another chapter in this book. Of one thing we are sure, that such energy and zeal as were displayed by the little handful which originated the work, must meet its reward, and the Spring of 1866, found them in a position to achieve yet greater and more glorious results for the cause of Christ and the doctrines of Christianity as set forth in the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. J. H. Bristow died March 1, 1870, and was buried in beautiful Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Ky. Sister Bristow survived him thirty years, and was a member in Trinity Church until her death, April 22, 1900, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Carrie Troxler.
21
REV. W. H. BLACK, SECOND PASTOR. 1866-1868.
CHAPTER II. SECOND YEAR ACTIVITIES.
THE Annual Conference sent the Rev. W. H. Black, who had been pastor de facto part of the previous year, as the regu- lar pastor, and also made a change in the Presiding Eldership, the Rev. J. Foster succeeding the Rev. C. B. Parsons. Dur- ing the first quarter the records show that two persons removed without letter, two by letter, and that seven were discontinued, but after all a net gain for the quarter of nine members.
In the pastor's report it is noted that the church is in a healthy state with promise of good ahead, but that the class- and prayer-meetings were broken in upon by improvements going on in the church. These improvements consisted of papering the walls, painting the wood work, cushioning the seats, working over the windows. putting up Venetian blinds, new platform and palpit, new doors, new front fence, sodding the yard, painting the front and sides with composition, put- ting in new carpets, new chandelier and gas fixtures; showing that with the increase of membership there was a desire for better things, and no doubt the congregation of that day en- joyed their new surroundings as much as does the congregation of to-day the beautiful structure which is the outgrowth of all these years of toil and labor.
The salary of the pastor was fixed at $1,200 per year, and the salary of the presiding elder at $20 per quarter. During these years the old-fashioned class-metting was still in vogue, and it was the duty of the class-leaders to collect these salaries from their classes, which numbered four, in the church at that time.
It is the opinion of your historians that closer attention was given to the question in the Discipline, "Are any walking dis- orderly?" in the early days of Methodisin than at the present time, for in looking over the record we find that while the church was very much in need of a substantial membership,
03
she did not, however, countenance having a membership which was not living in harmony with the scriptures and the Discip- line. At the very beginning of the conference year a commit- tee was appointed to wait on Brother -, concerning the- closing of his store on the Sabbath day. This committee re- ported as follows: "Had a talk with Brother - about his- wrong doing, after which he resolved for the future to close his- place of business on the Sabbath." The brother evidently did not keep his resolution, for we note that in August of that same year, notice was sent him from the Board requesting him to withdraw from the church. We find another brother re- ported as having been drunk, "being overtaken in a fault," and so commended to the pastor and leader. What disposition was ever made with the case is not recorded. We find another instance where a brother was recommended for full fel- lowship, and the Official Board becoming satisfied of his. immoral conduct and of his attempting a deception upon the church, the recommendation was revoked; proving, in this instance, at least, the advisability of having a probationary system, as in this case it was not necessary to bring the matter to a trial, as it would have been had he been a full member in this or any other church, and his name was simply dropped.
At the Official Board meeting in May, 1866, quite a num- ber of names were called up under the question in the Discip- line, "Are any wilfully neglecting the means of grace?" and their cases adjudged as proper subjects for admonition.
It is worthy of record to note that John J. Broeg united with the church on probation in May, 1866. Brother Broeg was, for years, the Librarian of the Sunday-school, and is worthy of honorable mention in that he had the honor of lettering the corner-stone of the present new church edifice. He did this work as a labor of love, in the evenings after his regular daily toil was over. Brother Broeg is, at the present time, the effi- cient Superintendent of Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, M Street, between Fourth and Fifth.
Even during this second year of church life we find that at almost every meeting of the Official Board, money was. appropriated for the relief of the poor within the church.
24
The following memoranda will be of interest to those readers who remember the Rev. W. H. Ongley. It is written in his own hand, and the event was a serious loss to the church at the time:
"The undersigned and his family (connected with the organ- ization of this society from the first) spent their last Sabbath (October 14th, 1866,) with this dear people, previous to leaving for the state of Indiana; and gifts of remembrance were made them, through the officers and members of the Sunday-school, for their devotion to its interests.
W. H. ONGLEY,
"Late Sec. of the Official Board."
We are glad to record the fact that Brother Ongley returned from Indiana, and was again connected with the church and died in her communion. His last hours were unconscious to temporal surroundings, but his quotations of scripture and his attempts to sing the songs of Zion, gave evidence of the fact that he was having blessed fellowship with his Lord and Savior, whom he had served so long and so well.
The first watch-night service in the history of the church was held on December 31, 1866, and was a real benediction, and the little flock looked forward into the new year with faith, and hope was resting sweetly in every heart. The pastor espe- ically seemed to be much encouraged by the outlook, but hardly had a month passed until, on the 18th of February, 1867, Rev. W. H. Black, the beloved pastor, was called into the valley of affliction to mourn the death of his son Willie, aged 10 years and to months. Willie was the first fruit gathered home from the Sunday school revival. Since then many Sunday-school scholars have passed through the river of death, and we trust as safely as did Willie Black. Almost the last words he spoke were, "I am not afraid to die."
The close of the year showed seventy-two members in full connection and thirty-eight probationers. Quite a little sum of benevolences was sent to the Annual Conference, and before the Rev. Black left the city for conference his salary was paid him in full, and altogether the charge seemed to be in a pros- perous condition. The Rev. W. H. Black is, at the present time, a resident of Washington, D. C., living at No. 1130 Fifth St., N. W., is well along in years, but is employed in the Gov- ernment service, Pension Department.
REV. DUKE SLAVENS, THIRD PASTOR. 1868-1870.
26
CHAPTER III.
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
HE Spring of 1869 found the Market Street Church with a new pastor, Rev. Duke Slavens, and the first item of interest that attracts our attention is the organization of a Young Peoples' Society, with John Carson as leader. We are unable to give any further information as to the success of this Society, as no record seems to have been made further in the matter; but we do find in August, 1867, that the name of Brother Richard James was recommended for license to exhort, and after some remarks the recommendation was laid over until the next meeting, for the purpose of having Brother James present, and on August 26, 1867, the Official Board met, Brother James being present, and the object of the meeting was stated to be the consideration of the recommendation to license Brother Richard James as an exhorter in the church. Judging from the records, if some of our local preachers had to go through the examination which Brother James did, in order to obtain their license, we fear the representation would be very materially diminished. Brother James was called upon to give his views on a certain point touching the "doctrine of the apostles forgiving sins." But we judge that Brother James must have been orthodox, for after some remarks by nearly all of the Board, a motion was made that Brother James be recom- mended as a suitable person to be licensed to exhort, which motion carried. We notice that on the following week at the Official Board meeting, Brother James was reported as being sick, at which we are not surprised, considering the ordeal through which he passed the week previous.
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