USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > After thirty-five years, 1865-1900; a history of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Louisville, Kentucky. Dedication souvenir > Part 7
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In going to Dr. or Mrs. Crook with a problem of any kind, it was not always as going to a pastor and wife, but rather as friend going to friend, for we were always inet more than half way.
A decade has gone, since then history has been made by our chapter. The leaves have been turned, bearing on them opportunities improved and unimproved. It is pleasant to turn back, and see what by the grace of God, we have been enabled to do, and towering over all other things, we note that as a result of our league work, we have a memorial in "Epworth Church," in the southern part of our city, property worth $4,000, a membership of 150, largely gathered in from the world, saved primarily through the labors and faithfulness of Trinity Epworth League.
The personnel of the young men, who have been our chief executives, are today leaders in the Epworth League move- ment. We turn with pride to the administrations of C. B.
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Nordeman, C. G. Norris, F. S. Coon, Wm. J. Von Behren,. O. F. Dolfinger, J. F. Richardson, J. O. Duncan, A. L. Ander- son, D. A. Stoll, S. Thurstonson, and the present energetic incumbent, Mr. Lindsay, who bids fair to give us one of the very best years we have ever enjoyed in the League. Each of these presidents, in turn, have had the privilege of selecting their own vice-presidents, and in every case this has been done with reference to their fitness for the several departments, and in almost every instance the work has been done in the best possible manner.
It is well-nigh impossible to estimate the influence which has gone out from our spiritual work department, under its different leaders, every one consecrated men. Services have been held in the hospital and in the jail. Cottage prayer- meetings have been held in the homes of the sick and the aged.
Under this department, also, revivals have been carried on successfully both in our own church and in other weaker churches, who have appealed to the League for help in this way. Our Sabbath evening League service comes under this department, and it has been truly a school where our Leaguers have learned to testify, to lead in public prayer, and to con- duct the devotional meetings; besides a number of other things, which they might possibly not have learned, had it not been for the Epworth League, and who shall say where this influence will end.
Under the Mercy and Help Department, suffering of almost every nature has been relieved. We have gone into the homes of sickness and poverty, and have been able to take the sun- shine in with us. Material help has been given wherever needed. The sick have been cared for with doctors, medicines, nurses and delicacies. The hungry have been fed. Coal has been sent to those without fire. Shoes and clothing of all kinds have been provided for those who otherwise would have had to remain at home.
In our Literary Department we have had some excellent leaders, who have given liberally of their time and talents, to elevate the standard along literary lines among our Leaguers.
Our Social Department, though last, is not least in impor-
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tance, for very much depends on the sociability of any church, and this department has not been slow to see the need and apply the remedy. And it has spread like a contagion through the entire church. We have added to our list of officers a "Statistician," whose duty it is to report every devotional meeting with regard to attendance, and also any part taken in the meetine by the Leaguers, so that it would be possible at any time to refer to the books, to any particular meeting, and find out exactly, what part, if any, any individual Leaguer, had taken in that meeting.
Our Cabinet and Business Meetings, which are held every month, have been no small factor in bringing our League up to its present standard of usefulness. In them every phase of our work is discussed. Every financial question or recom- mendation for membership must first pass through the Cabinet. Each vice president presents his or her plans for work to the Cabinet to be approved, or rejected by them, before present- ing them to their respective committees. All work done by the departments is reported to the business meeting each month, by written reports, which are kept on file by the Secretary. In this way all work is done in a systematic and business-like way.
It is modestly claimed, that the organization of the "Falls Cities Union," which has done so much in magnifying a real fraternity, and narrowing the Ohio river, and enkindling such warm friendships, is due to the conception of Trinity League, which gave that organization birth.
Drs. Crook, Turner and Collins, all bear testimony to the fact, that during their several pastorates, the Epworth League could be depended on for any service, for a vital piety, and a loyal acquiescense to the demands of Methodism.
We believe our League has achieved one thing for which it has been working, and that is the confidence of our own church. This has been manifested in a number of ways by the members of the church, the most prominent one being, that, today nearly all of the charities of the church passes through the Mercy and Help Department of the League. Nearly every needy case is put into its hands to be looked after, the church also helping with the financial part.
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When the League was first organized, with its many ·departments, and business-like way of carrying on its work, the older members held aloof, or looked on with doubt. Not only those of our own individual church, but of the church in general.
Many warnings were sounded, and much advice given, and we were held in check, as it were; and rightly so; as the youngest child of the church, did we not need a mother's guiding hand, to lead us safely over the rough places, and to draw the reins tighter, when we were about to run away? We believe the discipline has done us good, and we are the more loyal and faithful to the church because of it.
No other organization of the young people in our church, has been so well calculated to fill a long-felt want, that of interesting all of the young people in the church. Each one is sure to find his or her place for work, in one of the four departments.
For several years, the Spiritual Work Department has held a two weeks' revival service in the church during the month of November. The preaching has been done mainly by the local preachers of our own League. They have been very helpful, to the League in particular, and to the church in general.
The following is a program which was used in the meeting last fall:
Program.
SUNDAY, NOV. 11TH. 6:30 P. M .- League Services. "Living Bread"-O. F. Dolfinger. 7:30 P. M .- Sermon-Rev. W. B. Collins.
MONDAY, NOV. 13TH.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service-F. S. Coon. 7:45 P. M .- "Why I Am a Methodist"-C. C. Stoll, of Clifton League. 8:00 P. M .- Sermon-C. B. Nordeman.
TUESDAY, NOV. 14TH.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service. 7:45 P. M .- "Repentance," (a paper) Mrs. A. Shaw, of Portland League. 8:00 P. M .- Sermon-A. B. Davidson.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15TH.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service.
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7:45 P. M .- "Confession"-G. W. B. Olmstead, of Marcus Lindsey Memorial League. 8:00 P. M .- Sermon-D. A. Stoll.
THURSDAY, NOV. 16TH.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service. 7:45 P. M .- "Faith" (a paper) Mrs. A. M. Horn, of Epworth Chapter. 8:00 P. M .- Sermon-J. O. Duncan.
FRIDAY, NOV. 17TH.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service. 7:45 P. M .- "Cleansing"-Will Walts, of Centenary New Albany League. 8:00 Sermon-S. A. Lighton.
SUNDAY, NOV. 19TH.
6:30 P. M .- League Services. "Liberty and Love"-Mrs. J. F. Richardson. 7:30 P. M .- Sermon-Rev. W. B. Collins.
MONDAY, NOV. 20TH.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service. 7:45 P. M .- "Salvation" (a paper) Miss Sappie Gard- ner, of Wesley Chapter. 8:00 P. M .- Sermon-C. B. Nordeman.
TUESDAY NOV. 21ST.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service. 7:45 P. M. - "'Assurance"-Joe D. Bradburn, of Lan- der Memorial. 8:00 P. M .- Sermon-J. O. Duncan. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 22D.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service. 7:45 P. M .- "Adoption"-Patrick Curtis, 20th and Jefferson Sts. League. 8:00 P. M .- Sermon-D. A. Stoll.
THURSDAY, NOV. 23D.
7:30 P. M .- Song Service. 7:45 P. M. - "Sanctification" -S. A. Mullikin, of Wilson Memorial. 8:00 P. M .- Sermon-Rev. W. B. Collins.
C. B. Nordeman, Chairman of Spiritual Work Department, will have charge of the services.
Sermons limited to twenty-five minutes.
Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Duncan will sing each evening at 8 o'clock. Miss Mamie F. Walkup, of Wall Street League, Jefferson-
ville, has kindly consented to act as organist and lead the singing during the revival part of the service.
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Epworth Church is now in a flourishing condition; it is self-supporting, and is provided with a preacher from the Con- ference. This relieves our League from further work in South Louisville; but not content to be idle, they have found another field of labor in the western portion of the city, and have founded what is known as the "Haven Mission," on Thirtieth and Alford Avenue. Sabbath-school is held in the afternoon, a preaching service on Sabbath evening, and a prayer-meeting on Thursday evening. Brother Nordeman does most of the preaching, and is assisted at times by the other local preachers of the church. Brother Sam Lighton is the superintendent of the Sabbath-school. A few of the Leaguers have taken classes in the school, as have also a few from Wesley Church. The attendance is very good at all the services, and the interest in all is deepening. From the present outlook, the prospect seems bright for establishing a church in this neighborhood in the near future.
As a League we have tried to keep abreast of the times, and also, to keep step with the mighty army of Epworth Leaguers, throughout the land. To this end a goodly number of our young people have attended the four International gatherings, besides the Annual State Conventions, bringing home with them many new ideas of work, which have proven very successful when tried at home.
Besides this, we have had some of the most prominent men of our Church, who are interested in League work, to speak and lecture for us, in our home church. Of these we might mention, Bishop Fowler, who has been with us once, Bishop Ninde, our ex-president, was with us two days at one time, Dr. Joseph Berry has been with us on two occasions, Dr. Edwin Schell has spoken for us once or twice, and will be with us again during dedication week, for our Epworth League Rally.
To the organization of the Epworth League, with all its departments of work, which have been specially mapped out to develop all sides of the Christian character, we owe under God, what our young people of Trinity Church are today.
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CHAPTER III.
THE HISTORY OF TRINITY JUNIOR LEAGUE.
MRS. C. RYAN, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.
UNIOR EPWORTH LEAGUE Chapter 567, better known as Trinity Junior League, was organized in 1891 with twenty-two names enrolled, and for its president, Mrs. C. C. Stoll.
The officers were elected to serve six months, but we find by the record that this organization only existed about four months.
In November, 1892, a Junior League was again organized in Trinity, with Miss Mamie Miller as the superintendent. This League was organized under Dr. Turner's pastorate, with fourteen names enrolled, and the foundation'was so well laid that the Society is not only alive to-day, but is flourishing.
In 1896 we find the League has grown in quantity-fifty-one names being enrolled-and in quality, for the records show that the work did not consist merely of the Sunday afternoon service, but in doing those things that children can so sweetly do-carrying flowers and words of cheer to the sick and bereaved.
Every fourth Sunday Miss Mamie Miller, with her Juniors, assisted the Senior League in the service at the City Hospital.
The records show many deeds of kindness and errands of mercy performed by the children and their beloved superin- tendent. During her five years of service only three deaths are reported-Walter Raymond, Harry Goose, and Carl Bun- nell. These were active Juniors, and their loss is deeply felt. In a letter written by Carl Bunnell to Miss Miller, just a few days before his death, we found the sweetest expressions of love and appreciation, both for his teacher and the League.
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We will quote one paragraph where he says: "The five years I spent in the Junior League work with you were the happiest years of my life."
Is not this lovely tribute to his superintendent worth all the labor and self-sacrifice she may have given ?
In February, 1897, Miss Miller resigned her position and was succeeded by Mr. D. F. King. The following September he appointed two assistants, Mr. J. Coogle and Mrs. C. Ryan. Two years later he added to his corps of assistants a graduated Junior, Miss Vira Duncan. Under Mr. King's leadership the League has progressed rapidly.
The children in 1898 visited the City Hospital and distrib- uted about one hundred and twenty-five bouquets to the sick. They visited each ward and sang and prayed with the suffer- ing ones. Their next trip was to the County Jail, where ser- vice was held and flowers distributed. Our Mercy and Help department was instructed to report all cases of sickness and distress, whether directly connected with the League or not, and this kind of work is what has made the Junior League a power in the community. During Mr. King's administration we have only one death to report. When God's messenger called Ruby King home the Junior League lost one of its brightest lights ; one whose heart and life was filled with love and sweetness. Our ranks were broken, but our loss was her gain. We can not always understand God's providences, but He, in His infinite love for His children, brought good out of this great affliction, and Trinity League enjoyed the brightest spiritual experience ever known in its history.
We hold our business meetings the first Tuesday evening in each month, and they are conducted properly and in order. Our President, Miss Louie McDaniell, is an efficient officer and gives promise of greater ability. In no other department of the church is the fruit of your labor more apparent than in the Junior League. The soil is not worn out or overgrown with tares, but is fresh and fertile, and if good seed is sown by an efficient superintendent, who can estimate the harvest? The outlook at the present time is promising, and the work for the new Conference year has been well planned.
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CHAPTER IV.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
MRS. JAMES H. DUNN.
THE Woman's Home Missionary Society is the only dis- tinctively American society of Methodism. Our history carries us back about twenty years, when some earnest, God- fearing women called together by Mrs. Elizabeth L. Rust, our honored founder, who has lately passed to her reward, laid the foundation of our society-the women of the negro race being the inspiring cause. The first officers of the society were:
Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, President,
Mrs. Elizabeth L. Rust, Corresponding Secretary,
Mrs. S. R. Clark, Treasurer. 1
It has extended its work until we now have twenty differ- ent bureaus or departmental organizations, among which the following are prominent:
Industrial schools for training the colored girls of the South. Rescuing Chinese girls in our mission at San Francisco.
Educating the Indian boys and girls.
Educating the Mexicans in our border states.
Americanizing and christianizing the children of foreigners in our great cities.
Taking the girls of Alaska into our Jesse Lee Home and educating them.
Caring for our ministers, preaching the gospel amid fron- tier hardships; giving them garments and providing them with books.
Building Missions.
Maintaining deaconesses in our cities.
The society is striving to aid in every work which has for its object the uplifting of the unfortunate and sorrowing
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women of America. "Our Lord commands us 'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, beginning at Jerusalem.' . America is our 'Jerusalem' and 'every creature' is at our door."
Our Mrs. Fanny Speed has taken special interest in the Industrial schools for colored children in the South, particu- larly the Haven Home Industrial School at Savannah, Ga. Many times the hearts of the teachers and children have been made glad by the boxes from Mrs. Speed, packed at our Ladies' Sewing Society at their Thursday meetings. Another school, the Mary Haven Home, is situated about five miles out from Savannah at Speedwell, a railroad station named by our mis- sionaries at Savannah in honor of Mrs. Speed, who has done so much for the work there.
The minutes of our local society say: On October 13th, 1892, at Trinity M. E. Church, was organized a Woman's Home Missionary Society. The following were elected officers:
Mrs. Fanny Speed, President,
Mrs. J. W. Turner, Vice President,
Miss Callie Booker, Secretary, Mrs. C. G. Norris, Treasurer.
The following is a list of those who were members during the first year:
Mrs. Fanny Speed Mrs. Rebecca McCready
Mrs. J. W. Turner
Mrs. Thomas Douglas
Miss Callie Booker
Miss Clara McLaughlin
Mrs. C. G. Norris
Mrs. J. F. Richardson
Mrs. R. R. Glover Mrs. L. T. Rosengarten
Mrs. J. D. Stilz Mrs. Otis Hidden
Mrs. James H. Dunn Miss Helen Brooks
Mrs. H. G. Knadler
Mrs. A. M. Von Behren
Mrs. James Dugan
Mrs. W. M. Danner
Mrs. Harriet Jones
Miss Eva Sowders
Mrs. Gabrielle Buckner
Mrs. James Rubel
Mrs. E. S. Weishart Miss Ella Gardner
On November 7th, 1892, at the parsonage, was held the first meeting after organization of the society. Meeting was
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called to order by the president, Mrs. Speed. A talk on Home Mission work was given by Mrs. Speed; also by our pastor, Rev. J. W. Turner. At present, August, 1900, we have a membership of thirty. Officers are:
Mrs. Fanny Speed, President, Mrs. James H. Dunn, Vice President, Mrs. Junius C. Klein, Second Vice President, Mrs. E. W. Bentley, Secretary, Miss Minnie Dunn, Treasurer.
We hold our meetings at 2:30 p. m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The Home and Foreign meet conjointly. At each meeting a literary and musical program is given-appro- priate to the work; the two societies preparing the program each alternate month; Mrs. Eva Milligan, as soloist, and Miss Anna Shelton as pianist, contributing greatly to the enjoyment of the meetings. We meet at the homes of the members. After the program and business, light refreshments are served and a social time is enjoyed. A fee of one dollar per year is paid (this is called dues), which money is sent to the General Treasurer, Mrs. Thompson, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Dues paid into the general treasury since organization-Octo- ber 13th, 1892, to August 1900-amount to $486.00.
Our work as a society since organization has been the aid- ing of needy ministers and families in Kentucky. Many boxes have been sent in response to urgent appeals. Our hearts have been gratified by the letters of thanks and appreciation. The value of boxes sent from October 13th, 1892, to August 1900, is $1, 196.57.
Much could be said of Mrs. Speed's individual work in the State that she has not reported to the society, and has kept no record of herself. Her modesty in this line does not let her right hand know what her left hand is doing. The college at Barbourville, of which Dr. Stevenson, one of our former pas- tors, was for years the honored president, has been largely her beneficiary. And many young men and women are grateful to her for a college education.
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CHAPTER V.
THE WOMAN'S FOREIGN SOCIETY.
MRS. J. C. DUGAN.
BOUT the year 1882 or 1883, during the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Pearce, the Woman's Foreign Missionary Auxiliary Society of Trinity M. E. Church was organized and the following officers elected :
Mrs. Fanny Speed, President. Mrs. I. A. Pearce, Vice Pres. Miss Anna Pearce, Secretary. Miss Grace Brown, Treasurer.
We regret that a complete record of the membership at that time is not available. Many of our members at the pres- ent time were earnest workers in the early years of the Soci- ety's existence. The women of the Church all over the coun- try had been urged to take up the work of aiding and helping women in heathen lands, who could be reached and helped only by the aid of Christian women. The women of Trinity Church were not slow to heed the appeal, and missionary en- thusiasm was thus kindled and has been kept alive during the years to the present time.
The records of the Society for several of the early years of its existence have been mislaid or lost, but we find in the Con- ference minutes reports of the amounts given by the Society during its existence, with the exception of about four years. We also find that as early as 1876 the Church was credited with amounts sent by the W. F. M. S., showing that the mis- sionary spirit.was already alive in the hearts of the women of Trinity. From 1876 to 1900 the records show that about $1,600 has been given by the Society to send the Gospel to heathen lands.
The method of raising funds and prosecuting the work of
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the Society has not been by public collections for special work, but by each member laying aside two cents a week, or the pay- ment of one dollar a year, which constitutes membership.
The W. F. M. S. has met regularly the first Tuesday in the month at the residence of the different members, alternat- ing with the Home Society in arranging a program. The meeting opens with prayer and appropriate hymns. The study of the month is then taken up, after which musical selections are given, papers read, etc. The business of the Society is then transacted and dues collected. A thank-offer- ing service has been held about April of each year, and this has netted a goodly sum to carry on the work.
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From the beginning, unless prevented by sickness, our beloved Mrs. Speed, the first president, has faithfully attended these meetings and generously supported them.
We can not refrain from mentioning former members, whose names we find in the records. Many of them have changed their residences, and others have gone to their reward : Mrs. D. W. Archbold, Mrs. Bryson, Mrs. M. A. Carley, Mrs. L. P. Hieronymous, Mrs. McCready, Mrs. Leggett, Mrs. Mattie Reed, Mrs. Leon Rosengarten, Mrs. Daniel Stiltz, Mrs. Weishart, and Mrs. Vogt.
The following names are on the roll of the Society for the present year (1900) :
Mrs. Edward Bentley, Mrs. D. A. Stoll,
Gabrielle Buckner,
A. M. Von Behren,
Bennet, S. D. Wood,
I. C. Brooks,
A. Williams,
Mary E. Collins,
J. R. Masters,
J. H. Dunn, R. W. Rollins,
W. J. Von Behren,
J. C. Dugan, J. O. Duncan, W. M. Bauer,
R. R. Glover, N. Glass,
F. S. Coon, Minnie Wilson,
66 Holden,
Junius Klein,
Jennie McCready Olvey,
Fanny Speed.
66 George Post,
Rev. W. B. Collins, 124
Harriette Jones,
C. McClelland,
During the year three of our number, Mrs. Buckner, Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Woods have passed into higher service and larger blessedness.
PRESIDENTS.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
1882-, Mrs. Fanny Speed.
1882 -- , Mrs. I. A. Pearce.
1888-89, Isaac Crook.
1888-90, " H. W. Barr.
1888-90, Mrs. D. C. Brown.
1891-92, Rodecker.
1890-92, Miss Emma Thruston.
1892-93, Mrs. Rodecker.
1894-95, Mrs.
1895-97, J. H. Dunn. 1897-1900, " J. O. Duncan.
SECRETARIES.
TREASURERS.
1888-90, Mrs. J. B. Senior.
1882 -- , Miss Anna Pearce. 1888-89, " Grace Brown. 1890-92, " Carr. 1889 ---- , Stella Barr.
1892 -- , Miss Ella Gardner.
1889-90, Mrs. L. Rosengarten. 1892-93, Mrs. C. C. Stoll. 1890-93, Mrs. J. C. Dugan. 1893-95, J. C. Dugan.
1893-94, Miss Eva Sowders. 1895-97, R. R. Glover.
1894-95, Mrs. J. B. Senior. 1897-98, 66 J.B. Senior.
1895-96, " W. M. Danner. 1898-99,
Jennie Olvey.
1896-1900,“ J. C. Dugan.
1899-1900," D. A. Stoll.
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1889-91, R. R. Glover.
1892-95, R. R. Glover.
1895-97, 66 J. C. Dugan.
1897-1900 " R. R. Glover.
CHAPTER VI.
THE LADIES' SEWING SOCIETY.
MRS. JAMES H. DUNN.
THE Ladies' Sewing Society of Trinity M. E. Church was organized in 1870, during the pastorate of Rev. J. McKen- dree Reiley. To Mrs. Fanny Speed, who was one of the first members, we are indebted for the following: "We commenced in the old church at Eighth and Market Streets. Dr. Reiley was our pastor, and Mrs. Reiley was our president. We met at the parsonage. The object was to make clothing for the poor children who came to the Sunday-school. We furnished them shoes and whatever was needed to give them the advantages of our Sunday-school. Brother Barker, of the New York Store, gave us most of the goods that we made into clothing."
Mrs. W. O. Williams, who joined the church under Rev. Reiley, says: "I could not attend the meetings of the Sewing Society very often on account of my family of small children, but I remember seeing at the meetings when I did go, Mrs. Speed, Mrs. Buckner, Mrs. Ongley, Mrs. Richard James, Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Barker, Mrs. Johnston and daughter Lettie, Mrs. Barr, and two or three others whom I cannot recall."
In 1872, under the pastorate of Rev. D. Stevenson, after the purchase of the church at Third and Guthrie, our present location, the society began working as we do now-raising funds for the benefit of the church; in which they were emi- nently successful. They had the support and encouragement of such influential persons as Mr. Joshua F. Speed, Col. James Buckner, Gen'1. James Ekin, Gen'1. Eli H. Murray, and others. The first recorded report of their work now in preser- vation is for the year from March 17, 1875 to March 9, 1876,
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