USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > After thirty-five years, 1865-1900; a history of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Louisville, Kentucky. Dedication souvenir > Part 4
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To the Official Board of Trinity M. E. Church:
Your Committee, to whom was committed the drawing up an appropriate memorial relative to the late departure of Brother Abraham Gunther, respectfully report for record as follows:
WHEREAS, our lamented brother and friend, Brother Abraham Gunther, who, from the organization of Trinity M. E. Church Official Board, served so faithfully all these years as Trustee, Stew- ard, Leader and Sunday-school Superintendent, was called suddenly away from labor to reward, on the 24th March, 1888;
Therefore, be it Resolved, That owing to this afflictive dispensa- tion,-death following speedily a terrible hemorrhage of the lungs on the above date,- we condole with his wife, our Sister Gunther, in this her great loss, and bow submissively to the inscrutable Prov- idence of God who does all things well, believing that our dear brother now rests in the hope of the Resurrection of the just.
Resolved, That his sincere attachment to, and usefulness in, the
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various capacities of Trinity Church, where he served so long, will be remembered by us all, and to this end we here record our testi- mony; and the hope that his uniform piety and Christian endeavor as well as his frequently-delivered religious experience, expressed in our official and social means of grace, be an incentive to us all to live in reference to the Life Eternal.
Resolved, That this Preamble and Resolutions be recorded with our regular proceedings, and a copy of same be furnished to Sister Gunther, with whom we heartily sympathize in this her great loss, commending her to the sustaining grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is able to keep her to that great day. when a happy re-union shall take place with those we loved.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES B. SENIOR, CHAS. P. FINK, W. H. ONGLEY, Committee.
Brother Gunther had the distinguished honor of holding the position of Superintendent of Trinity Sunday-school longer than any other person before or since. He was succeeded in this position, after sixteen years of service, by J. B. Senior. It was during the pastorate of Brother Shannon that Mr. C. P. Fink, the present chorister, was invited to take charge of the choir, which position he holds still, to the satisfaction of the entire church. At this time Methodism took an ad- vance step in the building of Wesley Chapel, at Twenty- third and Jefferson Streets. Wesley Church formerly held their services on Nineteenth and Main. This church is the first off- spring from Trinity, and has a splendid church edifice and a membership, though not large, still thoroughly loyal.
Rev. Shannon, after his ministry terminated in Louisville, spent a term as pastor of Grace Church, Denver, Colo., and several years abroad in post-graduate study and is now serv- ing the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Toledo, O. A recent letter from him states that it will be impossible for him to be present at the dedication of the new church.
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Đây Hệ
WESLEY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, TWENTY-THIRD AND JEFFERSON STREETS.
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REV. ISAAC CROOK, ELEVENTH PASTOR. 1888-1891.
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CHAPTER IX.
SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
0 N THE recommendation of J. Reid Shannon, Dr. Isaac Crook was requested to assume the pastorate of Trinity Church, in the Fall of 1888. Bishop Vincent presiding at the Sixty-second Annual Session of the Kentucky Conference at Wesley Chapel, Louisville, appointed Dr. Crook to Trinity Church, and within three weeks thereafter he brought his family from Ohio to Louisville to begin his pastorate. About the first burden Dr. Crook had to assume was the repairing of the parsonage and church at an expense of about $500. This money was borrowed from bank, and other indebtedness added from time to time, made the matter of raising this debt quite a task, and the solution of the problem came by way of Mrs. Crook offering to canvass the membership and see what she could do toward collecting money to liquidate the indebted- ness. Mrs. Crook was the ideal pastor's wife and so well beloved by the entire membership and congregation, that in a short time she had the entire amount subscribed, and so rejoiced was the Board at her success that a vote of thanks was extended her for the consummation so devoutly wished for. In this connection we might safely say that during the occupancy of the parsonage by Dr. Crook and his family there were more socials held than at any other time before or since. Mrs. Crook was the ideal hostess and knew just how to make every guest feel welcome. At the same time she was one of the few who knew how, in the hour of trial and distress, to go into the home and give motherly consolation to the afflicted, and with- out any assumption of authority to bring order out of chaos. So considerate was she of the feelings of one and all in connec- tion with Trinity Church, that before she was here but a short time, she was called "Mother" Crook, and is, to this day, spoken of by many in this way. During the pastorate of Dr.
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Crook a proposition for the purchase of the church property for $25,000 was submitted and rejected by the Board, but Mr. Fink was authorized to make a counter proposition of $30,000, but the deal did not go through. Special attention was given to canvassing the territory incident to Trinity Church at this. time, and Brother B. H. Cox, the evangelist, who did his work by visiting from house to house getting pledges to attend the services the following Sabbath, and calling for those who made such promises, assisted by the young people of the church, was employed for five weeks at an expense of $206. Quite an increase upon the attendance of the Sunday-school was noted because of this work and directly thereafter a committee was appointed by the Quarterly Conference to look into the advis- ability of opening a Mission Sunday school in South Louis- ville, but the committee never reported, and a Sunday-school in South Louisville was not organized until some years later. A few services were conducted by Dr. Crook in Parkland, and had the judgment of the younger element in the church been heeded, we would have had a Methodist Episcopal Church there today. The prospect at that time for a church there was very fine, for Trinity had some six or seven families living in Park- land. The same statement is applicable to the Highlands, where we could have had a large and influential membership. Some of the younger brethren went so far as to pick out a lot and petitioned the Quarterly Conference for the privilege of buying the same on the installment plan and also of opening up a mission Sunday school, but the consensus of opinion of the Board was that Trinity Church had all she could do to attend to her own needs. When, a little later on, there was an exodus of several of the best families to Clay City, Ky., in fact enough to form the nucleus of a new church at that point, things began to look a little dark as to the future of Trinity Church, but Dr. Crook, realizing that if Trinity Church was to have a future it must be brought about by a careful guid- ance, direction and salvation of her young people, proceeded to organize a Y. P. S. C. E. which, in a short time merged into an Epworth League, and a special history of this organi- zation comprises a chapter in this book. The wise judg-
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REV. J. W. TURNER, TWELFTH PASTOR. 1891-1896.
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ment of this move by Dr. Crook is apparent to one and all, even unto this day. Dr. Crook remained as pastor for three years, with the exception of one month, and left to accept a call to the Presidency of the University of the Pacific in California, and until recently he has been engaged in educational work, but is now the pastor of Wesley Chapel, Ironton, Ohio. Dr. Crook will preach the final sermon in connection with the dedi- catory services.
After the ministry of Dr. Crook terminated, the Board, hearing of a very eloquent man filling the pulpit of Trinity Church, Madison, Indiana, appointed a committee to go to Madison and hear for themselves, and upon their report that he was all that had been rumored, a request was made of Bishop Foster for the appointment of Rev. J. W. Turner to Trinity, Louisville. Bishop Foster acquiesced in the request, and the Rev. Turner served the charge for five years, the limit of the Discipline. His is the longest pastorate up to this time. Brother Turner proved to be a man of extraordinary pulpit ability and under his ministry the church prospered. He had the happy faculty of encouraging undeveloped material to bet- ter efforts. All departments of church work were active, and during his ministry a mission Sunday school was organized in South Louisville and later on approved by the Quarterly Con- ference of Trinity Church, which resulted finally in building a handsome chapel in South Louisville, at a cost of some $2,600 and the acquisition of a church property worth, at least $4,000, and the organization of Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church. C. B. Nordeman who was licensed as a local preacher during the ministry of Brother Turner, and under the authority of the Quarterly Conference of Trinity Church, supplied the pulpit of Epworth Mission for one year, and then supplied Epworth Church for another year by appointment by the Presiding Elder of the district. Epworth Church at this time is an independent, self-supporting congregation, and if nothing more had been accomplished during the five years term of Rev. Turner than the organization of this church, we feel his pastorate would have been noted as a success. Possibly of all the transfer preachers who have filled Trinity pulpit, none have
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been as popular in the Kentucky Conference as Rev. Turner. He was much sought after for dedication occasions and gath- erings of a similar kind throughout the State. Many of the younger preachers itinerating on the hard circuits in the moun- tains and throughout the bounds of the Kentucky Conference, even to this day, speak of the kind words of encouragement and substantial help received from Brother Turner. He was transferred at the end of his term to the Indiana Conference and appointed to Trinity Church, Evansville, which charge he is serving at this writing.
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EPWORTH METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, M STREET, BETWEEN FOURTH AND FIFTH, SOUTH LOUISVILLE.
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CHAPTER X.
CLOSING DAYS-TEMPORARY QUARTERS.
THE ministry of Rev. J. W. Turner closed without any action on the part of the Board looking toward a successor for Trinity pulpit, and for the first time in the history of the church, no suggestion or request was sent to the bishop, and the matter was left entirely to the Conference, then in session at Vanceburg, Ky., as to who should be appointed as preacher in charge of Trinity Church. It so happened that C. B. Nor- deman was present at the session of the Conference and was asked by Bishop Hurst to express his views as to the needs of Trinity pulpit, and suggest a man who would be suitable for the work of the charge. Realizing the necessity of the appointment of a man in whom would be found indomitable energy and persevering zeal, blended with business qualifica- tions necessary to the arduous task of the erection of a new church building, and knowing that the requisite qualities could be found in the Rev. W. B. Collins, then pastor of Centenary Church, New Albany, Ind., his name was suggested to the Bishop, and after several telegrams between Bishop Merrill, who was presiding at the Indiana Conference, and Bishop Hurst, as well as telegrams back and forth to the Rev. Collins, his appointment to Trinity Church was made by the Bishop on the platform at the depot after Conference had adjourned. Brother Collins had the novel experience of mov- ing by wagon, transferring his household goods from New Albany to Louisville across the bridge by wagon route, and in a few days was domiciled in the parsonage at 925 Sixth Street. From the very first his plans embodied a new church edifice, and being a man not easily thwarted in his ambitions, he lived to see the consummation of his desires. Your historians have requested him to write a chapter on the "new church," which appears elsewhere in this book.
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REV. W. B. COLLINS, THIRTEENTH PASTOR. 1896-
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Immediately upon the coming of Rev. Collins, the records of the church were carefully pruned and the names of those members who could not be found were dropped, very materi- ally reducing the total membership, but his four years of labor have more than recovered all that were dropped, and there has been a steady and healthy growth in the membership, in fact, some very substantial members have been added to the church, and although the members and congregation have been heavily taxed with subscriptions to the new church fund, the general financial condition of the church is in better shape than ever before and a larger per cent of the membership is contributing to the support of the gospel and the general work of the church than ever before in the history of the charge. In September, 1898, during the session of the Annual Con- ference, the pastor being absent, the farewell services in the old church were held, Bro. C. B. Nordeman reading a synop- sis of the history of the church up to that time, Bro. D. A. Stoll delivering an address on the "Future of Trinity Church," and Bros. J. O. Duncan and Samuel Lighton officiating at the services. One very notable feature of the occasion, was the presence on the platform of Sister Bristow and Sisters Mat- thews and Riley, the first named being the wife of Trinity's first pastor, and the other two the only known living of the charter members. At the conclusion of the services the Board of Trustees was called forward and Brother Nordeman deliv- ered a charge to the Board and placed in their keeping the pulpit Bible, exhorting them to find for it a temporary abiding place and hoping for it a restoration to the present site in more beautiful and modern quarters. The President of the Board, R. R. Glover, received the volume of sacred writ and, follow- ing him, the Board filed out of the church, the congregation rising and singing the doxology, and thus ended the last religious services held at old Trinity. Soon thereafter the walls were torn down, and old Trinity remains only in photograph and memory.
We must not fail to record the sad affliction which came to the parsonage in the death of our beloved Sister Collins, who was translated on Easter Sunday, April 15, 1900, just before
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the session of the Sunday-school. Her memory is perpet- uated in a beautiful memorial window in the new church edi- fice. Her remains sleep in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Ind. The funeral service was largely attended, the sermon being preached by Rev. Dr. W. R. Halstead, who had been for years a very close and intimate friend of Brother and Sister Collins. Her life among us was one of suffer- ing, but her sweet spirit, and gentle resignation to, the divine will rests as a benediction on the church.
Other dark hours have come to the church in the death of Sister Bristow, Sisters Gabriella Buckner and C. C. Woods, and Brother Glover. Of these Brother Glover's was particu- larly hard to bear, in that he was chairman of the Building Committee and on his shoulders rested largely the responsi- bility of the erection of the new church edifice, and in order to show the esteem in which he was held, and by the members of the Official Board in particular, we publish in full the reso- lutions presented at the time of the funeral service.
R. R GLOVER.
With bowed and sorrowing hearts we, the Official Board of Trinity M. E. Church, come to offer these sincere, yet withal inad- equate expressions of our esteem, regard and love for our Brother R. R. Glover. so suddenly called from duty to reward.
As President of the Board of Trustees, we felt that in him we had a man who was loyal to the interests of our church and whose very name was a guarantee that our church properties would be ably administered and cared for. So well qualified was he for this self-sacrificing position, that his election thereto was always unanimous.
As Chairman of the Building Committee of our new church, he manifested the noble qualities of a Christian, a business man and a Samaritan. The burden of the arduous labor was upon him, yet uncomplainingly he labored on until the last contract was let, and his "works do follow him." As a monument to his fidelity and wisdom will we always regard our new church which God allowed him, like Moses of old, to view from afar, but not to enter.
As a brother member of our Boards, he was rather a Father, befriending us, and his counsel and keen discernments will be missed more and more as the days go by.
As a Christian he possessed the spirit of the Publican and
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the Samaritan, and many can testify to his consideration and help- fulness; therefore, be it
Resolved, That these sentiments be spread upon the official records of this Board and a copy furnished the bereaved family.
The grief-stricken wife and family we prayerfully commend to the tender care of our heavenly Father who will ever comfort, cheer and sustain even in the sad hour of death and bereavement. By order of the Official Board. C. B. NORDEMAN,
W. B. COLLINS, Pastor.
J. O. DUNCAN,
W. J VONBEHREN, Secretary.
Committee.
LOUISVILLE, KY., June 23, 1900.
Incident to the arduous labors in connection with the new church building and the general work of the church, Brother Collins was granted a vacation at the close of the conference year of 1899, which he determined to spend with his son, a physician in Anderson, Ind., and while there he had typhoid fever and for several weeks the church was denied his ministry. We are glad to record the fact, however, that the church herself is so rich in available material, that the pulpit was supplied by her own local brethren, and upon the recovery of Brother Collins everything was in good shape for him to again assume the reins of responsibility which he did and has held with unfaltering zeal up to this time. Future historians will recognize the fact that a great stride was made by Trinity Church during Brother Collins' pastorate, and that. his labors were certainly abundantly blessed of the Lord.
Wesley Church was the first outgrowth of Trinity and according to the statement of their Treasurer, this conference year is the best in the history of the past decade. Epworth Church, the second daughter of Trinity, is self-supporting, and bids fair to become within the next decade, one of the best charges within the bounds of the conference; so the work goes on and Trinity is now fostering a mission at Thirtieth and Alford Avenue, named after Bishop Haven. Regular church services are held on Sunday evening, a good Sunday-school in the afternoon and a prayer and praise service on Thursday evening. It is to be hoped that before another conference year has closed that this mission can be organized into a Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Brother Collins will, no doubt, be returned to the charge by Bishop Cranston for the next year, and he will rejoice in the glory of all modern conveniences in the new church home. Thus, "After thirty-five years" we may take a retrospective view and with the founder of our beloved Methodism say, "What hath God wrought!" and so, without forecasting the future, and standing in the ever intense and eternal present, your historians, would heed the injunction of the Lord God unto Moses, and say, "Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward."
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NEW CHURCH.
REV. W. B. COLLINS.
THE evolution of a new church edifice is always attended with more or less of difficulty and delay, amounting at times to almost insurmountable barriers.
Trinity Church has had her full share of such difficulties and delays; for, through a number of years, the project of a new building has been discussed at various times and from various standpoints, but always with one ending, that of delay. The time of action came at last, and as a result we have one of the best church edifices within our Methodism.
During the Fall of 1897, Bishop C. H. Fowler, D.D., LL.D., of Buffalo, N. Y., was engaged for services in behalf of Trin- ity Church for January 2Ist to January 23rd, 1898. On the evening of January 21st, he lectured in Library Hall on "Abra- ham Lincoln," to a large and appreciative audience; and on Sunday morning, January 23rd, he preached in Trinity Church to the delight and spiritual elevation of the people.
At this last service a subscription toward a new church was taken, amounting to $5,000 in round numbers. This was soon raised to a total of some $7,000. To this was added the munifi- cent subscription of Mrs. Fanny Speed, $25,000, thus making a total of some $32,000 for the work. Other amounts were added, but owing to the natural shrinkage attending such sub- scriptions the actual working capital for the new church has never risen above the foregoing amount. Mrs. Speed gave an additional amount for a chime of bells.
The Ladies' Aid Society of the church undertook the car- peting of the entire church; and in addition gave the fine Memorial Window on the Guthrie Street side of the church to Mr. and Mrs. Speed.
Other donations have been inade of various amounts; and the final cost of the church, ready for dedication, will be some $48,000, actual cash.
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Officially the work of the new church was given recogni- tion at the Quarterly Conference held Monday night, January 24th, 1898; at which meeting R. R. Glover, C. P. Fink, J. B. Senior, W. M. Danner and C. B. Nordeman were elected as Building Committee .. R. R. Glover was made Chairman, J. B. Senior, Secretary, and C. P. Fink, Treasurer of the Committee.
W. M. Danner removing from the city was succeeded by D. A. Stoll on the Committee. D. A. Stoll was succeeded by D. F. King, and he by G. W. Morris. When the building was almost completed, on June 21st, 1900, R. R. Glover was called from labor to reward. His place on the Committee was left vacant, the pastor, W. B. Collins, acting as Chairman.
The work of the Committee was onerous in the extreme, but without shirking any burdens they carried their work forward to a glorious completion. The entire Committee are worthy of all praise, but the chief tribute of praise belongs to the honored chairman, R. R. Glover. Without his skill, far- sightedness and consecrated effort success could not have been achieved.
The first work of the Committee was the framing of an "Article of Agreement " governing the financial features of the undertaking. With the assistance of Attorney J. C. Klein, this was done, and all subscriptions were made subject to this "Article of Agreement," bearing date of January 25, 1898.
When the subscriptions were sufficiently advanced, the Committee advertised for an architect with plans and specifi- cations for the building. This was a work of considerable magnitude, and it was not until late in the summer of 1898 that a final decision was reached. Mr. W. R. Brown, of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, was the architect finally chosen, and the com- pleted church speaks for itself. From the time of choosing the architect events moved more rapidly, and the new church soon became a reality.
The last service was held in the old church Sunday, Sep- tember 25, 1898; the congregation moving into temporary quar- ters, Fourth and Chestnut Streets, the following week. The old building was torn down during the Fall of 1898. To the disap-
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pointment of all, no corner-stone was found in the old building.
The contract for the new building was let to Thomas Owen & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, in February, 1899. The excava- tion for the new building was commenced immediately, and on or about April 9th, 1899, the first stones were laid.
The corner-stone was laid June 12th, 1899, by Rev. Lewis Curts, D. D., of Cincinnati, Ohio. The corner-stone contains the current Methodist Episcopal publications, city papers, Bible, Hymn Book, Discipline, list of membership, etc. The services were well attended and the address by Dr. Curts was specially appropriate.
The work on the new building was carried forward with varying degrees of enthusiasm. The completed work requir- ing a total in time of seventeen months.
In the early Spring of 1900, the contractors gave up their contract, and the Building Committee assumed the entire responsibility for the work.
With Mr. E. G. Burgett, of Wabash, Ind., as superin- tendent, the work from the very first has been of the best and most substantial character, and reflects great credit on all hav- ing to do with the undertaking. The organ is the work of Pilcher Bros., of Louisville, Ky., and cost $4,000.
From the first stone in the foundation to the pinnacle of the dome, the workmanship throughout is of the most enduring character. As a finished work the new church is all that could be desired. It is unique in architecture, chaste in its finish- ings, and is specially adapted to the necessities of the congre- gation for whom it has been erected. With the completion of this edifice, Trinity will take a commanding place among the best churches of the city, and will doubtless prove a benedic- tion to all coming under her influence.
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