USA > Missouri > Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. I > Part 109
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113
605
CHRISTIAN COUNTY CAVES- CHRISTIAN FEMALE COLLEGE
Christian County Caves .- Christian County abounds in caves. One of them. two and a half miles northeast from Ozark, has an arched entrance fifty feet wide and eighty feet high. At a distance of four hundred feet from the entrance, the avenue is so narrow that a person exploring it must crawl through on hands and knees. A beautiful stream of water flows through the cave, and it is a favorite resort for picnic partie .. Twelve miles from Ozark, on the Forsyth road, there is an opening in the top of a high hill which forms the entrance to a chamber thirty feet high and one hundred feet long. with the ceiling and sides enriched with beautiful stalactites.
Christian Endeavor Union. - This organization, which has attained a wonderful growth throughout the workl. was founded with the object of promoting "a Christian spirit among young people, to increase their mutual acquaintance, make them more useful in the service of God and more closely identi- fied with the various activities of the Church." The first Christian Endeavor Society was or- ganized and founded about 1882 at Williston, Maine, by Rev. F. E. Clarke, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in that place, and from that start the Christian Endeavor Union has grown to what it now is, having a member- ship in the world of three and a half million and numbering forty thousand societies. with floating societies on battleships. Societies now exist in every civilized country of the world except Russia. The organization is strong in England, and in the year 1900 the International Convention of the World's Christian Endeavorers was held in London, at the time of the World's Fair in Paris. The headquarters are now in Boston, Massa- chusetts. The motto is. "For Christ and the Church." The St. Louis Christian Endeavor Union is composed of young people's socie- ties in ninety Protestant Churches, having a membership of about 3,500. The Union was organized about 1885. They send out evan- gelical committees, who hold meetings at the workhouse, jail and various other places. The St. Louis Union is a part of the Mis- souri State Union.
Christian Female College .- The first charter ever granted by the Legislature of Missouri for the collegiate education of
Protestant women, was that which incorpor- ated the Christian College at Columbia, Mis- souri, January 18, 1851. In November, 1849. Dr. Samuel Ilatch and Professor Henry H. White came from Kentucky to Columbia to assist D. P. Henderson, then pastor of the Christian Church, in founding a school of the highest order for women. James Shannon, L.L. D. the newly elected president of the University of Missouri, was an carly and ardent friend of the school. The following are the names of the corporators: James Shannon. Dr. T. R. H. Smith, T. M. Allen, D. P. Henderson, W. W. Hudson. Robert S. Barr, Thomas D. Grant, Levi T. Smith, Dr. Wm. Mcclure. Flavil Vivion, Jolm Jameson, W. F. Birch. J. J. Allen, J. C. Fox. Lewis Bryan, Elijah Patterson, John S. Phelps, Wayman Crow, S. S. Church, and Moses E. Lard. A small residence was first used as a temporary home for the college, but in AAugust, 1851, a handsome brick manor house with twenty-nine acres of ground, well set with bluegrass and forest trees, was pur- chased, and in September school opened in this building. In 1871 wings were added to the building, largely increasing its boarding capacity: in 1884 the original building was raised one story, and in 1800 a new brick chapel was built. The following are the names of the presidents and the years of their election : John Augustus Williams, 1851 ; L. B. Wilkes, 1856; J. K. Rogers, 1858: Geo. S. Bryant, 1877: W. A. Oldham. 1883: F. P. St. Clair ( May). 1803 : Mrs. Luella Wilcox St. Clair (November), 1803: Mrs. W. T. Moore, 1897. During the school year of 1898-9 the increase in the boarding department fully demonstrated the need of more room, and at a meeting of the curators in January arrange- ments were made for a larger future. Plans were adopted for new buildings, including a large dormitory accommodating 150 stu- dents, a conservatory of music, art studio, gymnasium and a new chapel with a seating capacity of 1.500.
These buildings of brick and stone are now in process of construction. The curricula of study have all been recently raised and en- larged. In the academic courses the degrees of B. I ... B. S., and A. B. are granted. all articulating with the University of Missouri. Courses leading to graduation are also of- fered in music. art and elocution. In April 1899. Mrs. W. T. Moore and Mrs. L. W. St.
606
CHRISTIAN ORPHANS' HOME-CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
Clair were elected co-principals of the college. Christian College draws a large part of its patronage from the membership of the Christian Church, but is in no narrow sense a denominational school. This college has an alumnae of 542.
Christian Orphans' Home .- This orphanage, in St. Louis, was established by "The Benevolent Association of the Chris- tian Church," a national organization com- posed of the women of that denomination. In February, 1889, a small house was rented and a "Home" opened for orphan children, par- ticularly, though not exclusively, those of the Christian Church, both sexes being admitted. Thirteen were cared for during the first year. In February, 1894, a handsome and commo- dious building, erected by the association, at a cost of $30,000, was opened for occupancy. This structure, situated at 915 Aubert Avenue, is of red brick, three and one-half stories high. It has accommodation for 150 children, and numbered, in 1898, 109 occupants. The cost of running the Home with its present number of inmates is $5,000 yearly. Since the Home was founded 600 children have been accommodated, coming from twenty- two States. The Home is managed by com- mittees appointed by the Executive Board of the Benevolent AAssociation of the Chris- tian Church, whose officers were, in 1898: President, Mrs. H. M. Meier : vice president, Mrs. J. H. Garrison ; recording secretary, Mrs. O. C. Shedd; corresponding secretary. Mrs. J. K. Hansbrough ; treasurer, Mrs. R. D). Patterson. It is supported mainly by con- tributions from churches of the Christian denomination in St. Louis and Missouri, as- sisted largely by the churches in other States, as its doors are open to any child sent by any Christian Church, provided such church, if able, assists in the support of the Home. The age of admission is from three to four- teen years. Those under ten years of age are instructed in the Home school and kinder- garten ; the older children attend the public schools. Half-orphans are admitted for such small and varying remuneration as the parent can afford. Children, when given wholly to the Home, are placed while young -- in most cases by adoption-in good homes, when opportunity affords and the happiness and welfare of the child is served. Otherwise they are educated in the Home, care being
taken to develop any marked aptitude. At present two talented little girls are being in- structed in the fine arts, one in music and the other in drawing : and the Home is seeking special patrons among the wealthy for in- dividual children gifted by nature. A monthly paper called "The Orphans' Cry" is ably edited by Mrs. Hansbrough in the interest of the Home, and will, under a new name, be- come at an early date the organ of the asso- ciation.
Christian Science .- Christian Science in Missouri was first established in Kansas City, and its origin and development there, as elsewhere, is inseparably connected with the work of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, and necessitates a retrospective view. The growth of rationalism, or demonstrable knowledge, was slow, for the reason that at a certain stage in its development the human mind rejects reason, and is satisfied with dogma and superstition. That cast of thought which subordinates theory to demon- strable truth is an outgrowth of advanced civilization. The first effect of this mental development was to lead men away from the spiritual, as it was then understood, and into the material, wherein they were able to furnish some proof of their teachings. Miracle was repudiated, and the church was left a thing apart from science, because her teachings were undemonstrable. A theory of God, man, and a future state of existence which was purely hypothetical, neither offer- ing or affording proof of its truth, was in- sufficient to satisfy a growing thirst for a certainty on these all-important subjects. To apply the scientific cast of thought to spiritual salvation, and to afford a demonstrable re- ligion, was a new idea in the field of science and religion, and the mother of this new idea was Mary Baker Eddy, who, in 1866, discovered the fundamental principle of her teaching, and gave it to the world under the name of Christian Science, viz .: All is mind ; there is no matter : and that mind is God, the only creator. The place of Mrs. Eddy in the growth of scientific knowledge is a unique one. She has reconciled the hitherto irrecon- cilable, united reason and revelation, made science and religion one, and founded a new system of medicine and therapeutics, on the long lost element of the Christian religion, apostolic healing. It was she who organized
607
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
the work on its present basis, united her forces, and now directs and leads them in the work of the physical, mental and moral re- generation of the race. She began. in 1867. by teaching one student. In 1875 she pub- lished hertext book,"Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures." In 1881, she estab- lished the Massachusetts Metaphysical Col- lege, where students were educated in the science of healing, and sent out to various fields of labor. It was by one of its grad- uates, Mrs. Emma D. Behan, that Christian Science was founded in Kansas City. Mrs. Behan said of herself: "I was a great suf- ferer, having been an invalid for fourteen years, but after being healed in Christian Science, I have never had a return of my former ills." She at once entered upon the work of healing, and has recently said : "I have been in the work fifteen years, and have witnessed the healing of every form of sickness and sin. Indeed, there is no form of error that I have not seen go down before the Divine might of Christian Science." Mrs. Belian came in 1886, and opened an office in her home at 913 East Fourteenth Street. Her first patient was a woman seventy-eight years of age, said by her physician to be in the last stages of consumption; she was healed after three weeks' treatment, and lived for fourteen years with no return of her former complaint. Another sufferer from the same disease had been told by her phy- sician that she had but a few weeks to live : she was completely healed in five treatments, and afterward healed her physician of a disease pronounced incurable, with the re- sult that he gave up the practice of medicine. A gentleman living across the street from Mrs. Behan at this time said: "I do not know what the Christian Scientists teach. but I have seen some remarkable cures by Mrs. Behan. I saw a little crippled boy go up the steps to that house on his crutches, and day after day I saw his limbs straighten, and the boy grow more and more erect until the crutches were gone, and he went about as well as any child on the street. I saw an invalid who had not walked for three years. carried into that house, and in a few weeks go to her home well and strong." The suffering ones of earth want a present, not a future, salvation. and such healing work rapidly made converts to the new. vet old. faith. Patients thronged to Mrs. Behan and
hier associate practitioners Some, longing to know more of the truth which had healed them, went to Boston for instruction from the Founder of Christian Science. One. Mrs. Amanda J. Baird, has ever since been an untiring worker as a healer, teacher and church organizer. She has said that her ex- perience was not different from that of thou- sands, who after years of suffering and fruit- less search for health and happiness, through material means, turn as a last resort to God. After a course of instruction from Mrs. Behan, she entered upon healing work. Her joy was great in being able to heal those suffering from what materia medica pro- notneed incurable diseases, and desiring a higher understanding of the science of heal- ing. in 1888 she entered the primary class of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, fol- lowing it with the normal course. and receiv- ing the degree of C. S. D.
In 1888 the converts to the faith, mostly students and patients of Mrs. Behan, met weekly at her home. Later the scope of the work so enlarged that rooms were procured in the Gibraltar Buikling, and in 1800 the charter of the present First Church of Christ. Scientist, was obtained, by the following charter members: (. D. Hall. Mrs. A. D. Belcher, Miss M. Demner, Mada Koons, S. C. Orton, H. S. Dunbar. Mrs. A. J. Baird, Miss Jennie Baird, Mrs. M. E. Dunbar, Mrs. Hattie Graybill, Mrs. J. W. MeCool. Mrs. Margaret Howlett. Mrs. William Lloyd, William Lloyd, Mrs. J. W. Nothstine. Mrs. F. B. Nelson. M. A. Franklin. Mrs. E. H. Kienzle, Mrs. O. D. Hall. J. W. Nothstine, Mrs. R. L. Falls, Mary A. Anderson. Emma D. Behan. There were now in the city seven of Mrs. Eddy's students in the field, five of whom were active in the work of healing and of church organization, From this point, the history of each branch church is measurably written in that of the parent church in Boston, and the conditions which now appear exerted a great influence over the work in Kansas City. Misguided students had at- tempted to corrupt the teachings of Christian Science as given by Mrs. Edkdy. In many in- stances, the errors were doubtless the honest mistakes of ignorance or misapprehension. Even the most advanced students but feebly grasped these teaching- in their higher sig- nification. Mrs. Eddy had not only to teach the principles of the science, but she had the
.
608
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
more difficult task of preparing the thought to grasp the absolute science of their proof. The honest awaited light, with obedient de- sire to learn more. The more ambitious, seeking personal leadership, attempted to use their teachings for selfish purposes, and here- in lay the animus of the movement against the mother of Christian Science. Prior to 1866, little was known of the workings of mesmerism, beyond that shown in isolated and phenomenal exhibitions, and it requires some understanding of the sin of mesmerism, or mental suggestion, to understand the ap- parent workings of good and evil through personality during those days. Mrs. Eddy had taught the creative power of mind as God, declaring man as in and of himself able to do nothing, but as the reflection of God expressing all truth. She placed all might and true phenomena in the spiritual discern- ment of God's power and presence, but lent no sanction to the doctrine of thought trans- ference, will power, or magnetic influence of one personality over another. Christian Science healing now passed through its crucial test, for to attain to this form of heal- ing one must be very near the source of all goodness. It became evident that the moral demand upon healers and teachers for high Christian character, self-abnegation, humility and brotherly love was in most instances far beyond the demonstration. The teachings of Mrs. Eddy were steadily in opposition to mesmerism, and students were constrained to choose one of two ways-to demonstrate spiritual growth sufficient to heal on the truly scientific basis, or to drop to the level of necromancy. Mrs. Eddy forced each point to the issue, and sought every means to guard truth against the contamination of erring human opinion. Students who could not discern the moral force of her position, openly or silently rebelled, and set up sys- tems of their own wherein the spiritual re- quirements were not so high, and false teachers went about teaching various forms of mesmerism under the name of Christian Science. It became necessary to publicly point out error, and to separate right from wrong teaching, in order to establish truth upon its truly scientific basis. Only future ages can appreciate the magnitude of this work and the moral courage and God-given power required to carry it through. The world owes Mrs. Eddy much for the dis-
covery of Christian Science, but it will never discharge its debt of gratitude for the bravery, devotion and martyrdom of those years of struggle to keep this truth pure, and to establish it upon the basis of scientific mind-healing, to the destruction of the claims of necromancy, magic or hypnotism. Here- in was the great labor of her life, and during this period of separation, when students everywhere had to stand for or against their leader, was done the real work of founding and building up the cause in each field. In Kansas City, the students stood bravely by Mrs. Eddy and her teachings. But to hold others to the right line of principle, to ag- gressively defend the truth and condemn wrong, and at the same time endure with patience the antagonisms, censure and mis- judgment such effort ever provokes, required a strength and wisdom that few had demon- strated, and mistakes were made.
It was at this period that the Second Church was founded. Several false teachers had come into the field, and their students and followers attended the services and Bible class of the First Church, and gave out their false teachings, and for a time it seemed that the church was in possession of their thought. Those awake to the error steadily resisted it. The antagonism of the mental conflict re- flected itself through the personalities. The thought was so confused and discordant that many were unable to make the demonstra- tion of church organization, and withdrew entirely. Some, feeling that the First Church was given over to false teachings, unwilling to appear to support the error, also, withdrew and established the Second Church. This has been condemned as a mistake, but judg- ment as to the wisdom of the act is to be withheld. It might have been more scientific to remain and overcome error with truth, but God's ways are not man's ways, and there is example wherein Mrs. Eddy ordered the formation and continuance of more than one church as a source of strength to the cause. So it may have been in Kansas City, that the formation of the Second Church at this time saved the First Church. It may be said to every student of those days, who amid the darkness and strife kept unswervingly to the right line of Mrs. Eddy's teachings, that those of a later birth owe to them a debt of gratitude that should withhold judgment, and question, would they have done so well?
609
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
James A. Neal, now of Boston, Massa- chusetts, a student of Mrs. Eddy, was a charter member of the Second Church, but Mrs. Baird may be properly called its founder. It was organized as a society in 1890, with seven members, all students or patients of Mrs. Baird. July. 1893, they obtained a charter as the Western Church of Christ, Scientist: in 1865 the name was changed to Second Church of Christ, Sci- entist. In 1892 Alfred Farlow. C. S. D .. came from Topeka, Kansas, and entered upon work with his brother, William S. Farlow. C. S. B .. and his sister, Sarah Far- low. C. S. B. They opened offices in the New York Life Building, and began services. without organization, in Pythian Hall, on Grand Avenue. At this time Mrs. Eddy's Church in Boston was building its temple. and the burden of the demonstration was felt everywhere. In Kansas City the cause seemed at a point of stagnation, and the heal- ing was protracted and difficult, and teachers and healers were burdened and discordant. In 1894 the church at Boston was dedicated, and the event marks a milestone in the progress of Christian Science, ending the conflict of separation, and giving distinction and permanence to the principles of Christian Science as taught by Mrs. Eddy. The con- sequent impulse was everywhere manifest in better healing, greater harmony and marked increase in numbers. Until now, scarcely a church had grown beyond the embryo state and there were none large in the West. In Kansas City the effect was marked. It ended the struggle for existence, and gave an im- pulse to the work which made the Christian Science Church one of the largest religions denominations in the city. Mr. Farlow re- moved in 1895 to Lyceum Hall, and organ- ized the Third Church of Christ, Scientist, with a congregation of about four hundred. The First and Second Churches, which had borne the heat and burden of battle for the purity of Mrs. Eddy's teachings, now entered calmer seas. Second Church moved into the Auditorium of the Pepper Building, and swelled its congregation to three hundred. Both the early churches bore scars in the prejudices and antagonisms of those unable to rise above the sense of personality in the discord and confusion of the past ; to those who understand the workings of mesmerism,
it is evident why these early churches suffered most.
First Church, representing the birth of Christian Science in Kansas City, was the special object of error's attacks. Every means was used to annul its charter : even loyal scientists became agents to work its ruin, and it was argued that the charter of 1800 must be surrendered, and the church again founded by the united churches. So great was the effort that at one time the church was disorganized, and the charter all but lost under the statute of limitation. Under such circumstances, its growth was slow, and it was all that its loval leader and members could do to save it from destruction. The Third Church, with no burden of past conflict, prospered and soon outnumbered both the other churches.
The first effort toward the erection of a church edifice dedicated to Christian Science was made by the Second Church, under the leadership of Mrs. Baird, in 1896. At a meet- ing called for the purpose, a building fund was started, and a commitee was appointed to confer with the other two churches, with a view to united effort in building. As a result. the Second Church proposed to disorganize and unite with the First Church. and erect a building, to be known as First Church. The union was consummated, and some additions were made to the building fund, but the build- ing matter dragged. The Third Church re- fused to enter into the union, and began the erection of a church building. In 1897 the three churches were finally united under the charter of 1800. The plans and specifica- tions for the building already begun by the Third Church were adopted, and work was continued. under the following named di- rectors and building committee : Alfred Farlow, 1I. P. Childs. John 11. Wheeler, J. Wm. Merrill, Henry Goss and Emma D Behan: William S. Farlow was treasurer. 1. E. Stilwell, an ardent Christian Scientist. was an active spirit in the enterprise. not only giving generously of his means, but with characteristic energy losing no opportunity to forward the work. The demonstration was not an easy one: the work had been begun in disunion, and the resulting discord caused much unnecessary suffering. The church was completed and was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1898. It is located at Forest
39
610
CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY.
Avenue and Ninth Street, and is a beautiful structure, in gray stone, with terra cotta roofings, and low square towers of early Gothic style. It differs from the prevalent new style of church edifice developed in the Christian Science thought, in that it partakes of the dark and gloomy interior of the medieval ecclesiastical architecture. The cost was nearly $67,000. In membership the church is the largest of its denomination in Missouri.
In 1898 the Second Church reorganized with a membership of fifty-three, which by July following was increased to 137. This church has again entered upon the demon- stration of building, which it abandoned as all individual work in order to bring about the union of the churches and the erection of First Church. A lot has been purchased at Troost Avenue and Thirty-first Street, and a building fund has been opened. Work is expected to begin in the spring of 1901, and the cost is estimated at $100,000.
In 1900 the membership of the First Church was 664, and of the Second Church, 143. It is estimated that between 700 and 800 people are daily under Christian Science treatment in Kansas City. There are some fifty regular Christian Science practitioners, twenty of whom are established in offices, and devote their entire time to the work. There are two public reading rooms, one under the auspices of the Second Church, opened in 1893, and located in the Keith & Perry Building, and the other under the auspices of the First Church, opened in 1899, and located in the church parlors. It is estimated that thirty-five Christian Science text books, "Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, are sold each month. Every department of Christian Science work in Kansas City is prosperous, and shows marked activity. Their people are everywhere met by a spirit of tolerance and respect hitherto not ac- corded this new sect.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.