USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > Kansas City, Missouri : its history and its people 1808-1908 > Part 33
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"The women of the First church have been effectually organized and are constantly active in every form of practical effort. This practical char- acter of church life has held the congregation to a down-town position, re- mote from the homes of nearly all its people. The church has always ac- tively and generously fostered the younger organizations. In 1899 the mem- bership of the First church was 516."
Dr. Henry Hopkins resigned as pastor of the First Congregational church in 1902, and was followed by Dr. J. W. Fifield. He resigned De- cember 25, 1904. His successor was Dr. Alexander Lewis, the present pas- tor. The property of the First Congregational church at Eleventh and Mc- Gee streets was sold in 1908 and a large new church building was erected at Admiral boulevard and Highland avenue.
"Clyde Congregational church was organized June 25, 1882, with nine members. September 24th, following the corner stone of the present church edifice at Seventh street and Brooklyn avenue, was laid with appropriate cer- emonies, and the building was completed in November following at a cost of $7,000. In November, same year, the Rev. J. H. Williams, of Marble- head, Mass., was called to the pastorate. During his ministry, continuing for nearly eleven years, the original church building was greatly enlarged, and the membership increased to upwards of 250. The Rev. John L. Sew- ell served in the pastorate from the autumn of 1893 until September, 1896. The Rev. Wolcutt Calkins was for fifteen months stated supply, and was helpful in the adjustment of the financial obligations of the church. In April, 1898, the Rev. E. Lee Howard entered upon a pastorate which con- tinued for two years and one month. Following his removal from the city the Rev. Albert Bushnell was called, and entered upon pastoral duty July
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1, 1900. The church was the first west of the Mississippi river to organize a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, and the second in the world to organize a Junior Christian Endeavor society." Clyde Congregational church united with the First church in 1905, and is now under the leader- ship of Dr. Lewis.
"Olivet Congregational church was organized in 1883, and the Rev. Henry C. Scotford was the first pastor. For a number of years the congre- gation occupied a small chapel at Eighteenth street and Lydia avenue. The Rev. George Ricker succeeded the Rev. Mr. Scotford, and served for some months. He was followed by the Rev. Robert L. Layfield, under whose care the church did constantly a strong evangelistic work, and established several missions in neglected neighborhoods. During his pastorate, the site at Nine- teenth street and Woodland avenue was purchased, and the basement to the present edifice was built. The auditorium was completed during the pas- torate of the Rev. Mr. Layfield's successor, the Rev. H. L. Forbes, to whom much credit is due for the completion of the building project. The Rev. R. Craven Walton succeeded Mr. Forbes and served until 1900, when the Rev. G. E. Crossland was installed. The church property is valued at $10,000.
"The Southwest Tabernacle Congregational church at Twenty-first and Jefferson streets was organized November 27, 1888. About a year previously a few members of the First Congregational church opened a Sunday school with D. R. Hughes as superintendent, in a hall at Twenty-first and Sum- mit streets. At that time the southwest portion of the city was practically without churches. The Sunday school soon resulted in a call for preaching. The first service was held Sunday evening, November 29, 1887, when the Rev. W. E. Woodcock, a retired pastor residing upon the field, conducted the meeting and delivered the first sermon. The work having outgrown its quarters, in the summer of 1888, the congregation occupied a tent with the Rev. Howard H. Russell (now national secretary of the Anti-Saloon league), then serving as city missionary under the City Congregational Union, in charge. His service continued for three years. In the summer of 1889 the site of the present church edifice was secured by the City Congregational Union, and the building was erected, its cost at completion being about $25,000. In 1891 the Rev. Charles L. Kloss, now of Webster Grove, Mis- souri, was called from Argentine, Kansas, and remained as pastor for seven years. During this time the membership of the church steadily increased, and the Sunday school work was extended, and in the latter part of the period mission schools were organized and buildings were erected at Penn Valley and at Genessee. June 5, 1898, the Rev. J. P. O'Brien entered upon his work, called from St. Louis. Under his leadership the church grew stead- ily, and fully maintained its active, aggressive character. It has always kept
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in touch with the working people, and has been the church home of many people of Welsh descent." Mr. Frank L. Johnson is now at its head, and the church is known as the Metropolitan Tabernacle, its work being institu- tional in character.
"Ivanhoe Park church had its beginning in the labors of workers from Olivet church. It was organized October 12, 1895, with about twelve mem- bers, and the chapel at Thirty-ninth street and Michigan avenue was first occupied December 8 following. The first minister was the Rev. William Sewell, who was succeeded in 1896 by the Rev. Martin Luther, the first in- stalled pastor. In 1898 the Rev. Leroy Warren became pastor; he served until September 1, 1900, when he resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev. Alfred H. Rogers." Later, Horace F. Holton, the present incumbent, was installed. The church numbers fifty members, and the property is valued at $3,000.
"Beacon Hill Congregational church was organized in the summer of 1896, through the efforts of members of the First church, who recognized the necessities of people of their denomination in that portion of the city. The organizing membership was about sixty in number, which afterwards was greatly increased." The first pastor was the Rev. J. H. Crum, S. T. D. Services were held in Ariel hall on Twenty-fourth street near Troost avenue. A new stone church building was erected in 1905 at a cost of $30,000. "The church strives to keep itself in touch with its sister churches by co-operating with them in the work of missions, and in all benevolent causes, as well as in other ways in which there can be mutual helpfulness." The Rev. Wal- lace Short is now in charge.
"The Congregational churches of Kansas City are not religious clubs, but are working organizations seeking to save men. They have made them- selves felt for righteousness and progress in municipality, and are known as believing in an applied Christianity, in the Kingdom of God that is to come in this world."
Among the early settlers of Kansas City were a number of English speaking Lutherans, mostly from Pennsylvania. Early in 1867 an organ- ization was formed and incorporated as the English Lutheran church of Kansas City. It evidently was the intention of the incorporators to have the name styled "The First English Lutheran Church of Kansas City, Mis- souri," the name, by which the organization since has been known. But by neglect or oversight, the word "First" does not apear in the title given the church in the articles of incorporation. The first pastor was the Rev. A. W. Wagonhals, later a partner in the great publishing house of Funk, Wagnalls & Co., of New York city, he having changed the spelling of his name. Only a limited number of English speaking Lutherans came to Kansas City,
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hence the growth of the church has been slow and has consisted in no small measure of people whose religious training had not been Lutheran, but who found a congenial church home among the Lutherans. A plain board tabernacle was the first building used. Later a lot was bought at 1020 Bal- timore avenue, where a brick building was erected at a cost of about $10,000. Following the Rev. Mr. Wagonhals in the order named, and each averaging about four years, came the Rev. W. H. Steck, the Rev. T. F. Dornblazer, D. D., and the Rev. S. S. Waltz, D. D., bringing the church down to the year 1884. The several panics in Kansas City seriously hindered the pro- gress of church work.
Hundreds of Lutherans have gone further west from Kansas City. In May, 1884, the Rev. J. M. Cromer, at the time holding the chair of English in the Lutheran college in Carthage, Ill., became pastor and served for nearly sixteen years, almost one-half of the life of the congregation. In his pas- torate the old property was sold, and a corner lot bought at Fourteenth and Cherry streets, where a handsome edifice beautifully furnished and equipped, and a parsonage were built, the former at a cost of about $45,000 and the latter at a cost of $5,000. This work was completed in 1892, and this date marks the period of the greatest growth of the congregation. The Rev. Mr. Cromer resigned the pastorate in September, 1899, and in February, 1900, the Rev. Holmes Dysinger, D. D., formerly president of Carthage col- lege, Illinois, became pastor.
The Mission Sunday school established by members of the First church, in 1885, organized a congregation under the title of the Children's Mem- orial Lutheran church. The first pastor called was the Rev. Millard F. Trox- ell, D. D., who was instrumental in organizing the church and in erecting the first building at a cost of about $5,000. The succeeding pastors were the Rev. Frank D. Altman, D. D., later president of the Western Theolog- ical seminary at Atchison, Kansas; the Rev. J. S. Detweiler, D. D .; the Rev. Edward P. Schueler, and the Rev. Jesse W. Ball. Under the pastorate of Dr. Altman the main building was built at an additional cost of about $10,000. On the resignation of the Rev. J. M. Cromer from the pastorate of the First church, about fifty members withdrew therefrom and organized Grace church. This was effected early in January, 1900, and the Rev. Mr. Cromer was elected pastor. A church building at 1418 Oak street was leased, and became the home of the congregation.
The history of the German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel church of Kansas City, belonging to the synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states, be- gins in 1879. In that year Arnold Sutermeister came with his family. Through his untiring effort, in 1880 the Mission Board of the Western Dis- trict sent the Rev. J. H. Rabe to begin work among the resident Lutherans.
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The Rev. Mr. Rabe's labors were of short duration, terminating late in 1881. During his ministry services were held in the Old Central Presbyterian church at the corner of Eighth street and Grand avenue. In 1882, Mr. Sutermeister bought the old Methodist chapel property, at Sixteenth and Cherry streets. At his solicitation, the Mission Board sent another pastor, the Rev. E. Jehn, who held his first service January 28, 1883. About two years later the congregation was organized, with thirteen heads of families. The Rev. Mr. Jehn continued his labors until 1893, when he removed to Iowa. He was succeeded by the Rev. Louis J. Swartz, July 23, 1893. In 1895 a church edifice was completed at a cost of about $10,000. The paro- chial school maintained in connection with the church was organized in 1885 with nineteen pupils. The Rev. Mr. Jehn taught the school until the following year, when A. L. Wendt, a graduate from the Normal school in Addison, Illinois, becamo the teacher, and in 1891 the school was so in- creased in numbers that an assistant teacher was engaged. In February, 1900, Mr. Wendt was called to Trinity church, St. Louis, and he was suc- ceeded by John Sebald, of St. Clair, Michigan.
The first Swedish Lutheran church was organized by the Rev. A. W. Dahlsten, D. D., January 9, 1870, and was incorporated the same year. In 1872 a small church building was erected on Fifteenth street between Wash- ington street and Broadway. The early history of the church was marked by trials and vicissitudes, but the congregation increased. In 1884, the church building and site were sold, and two lots on Thirteenth and Penn streets were bought. Several members of the congregation subscribed $500 each to the building fund, and P. D. Armour made a contribution of $1,000; other Americans also contributed generously. In 1886 a church edifice was com- pleted. This is a substantial brick structure, seating about 700 people, and contains a $3,000 pipe organ. Included in the church building are church parlors for society meetings and social gatherings, a school room, a library and rooms for the janitor. The value is $37,000. On the adjoining lot is a parsonage erected at a cost of $8,000. The first settled pastor was the Rev. S J. Osterberg.
Christian Science in Missouri was first established in Kansas City. In 1881 Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy established the Massachusetts Metaphysical col- iege, where students were educated in the science of healing and sent out to various fields of labor. It was by one of its graduates, Mrs. Emma D. Be- han, that Christian Science was founded in Kansas City. Mrs. Behan came in June, 1886, and opened an office in her home at 913 East Fourteenthi street. Patients thronged to Mrs. Behan. Mrs. Amanda J. Baird went to Boston for instruction, and became an untiring worker as a healer, teacher and organizer. In 1888 she entered the primary class of the Massachusetts
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Metaphysical college, following it with a normal course and receiving the degree of C. S. D.
The converts, mostly students and patients of Mrs. Emma D. Behan, met weekly at her home in 1888. Later the work enlarged so that rooms were rented in the Gibraltar building and in 1890 the charter of the pres- ent First Church of Christ, Scientist, was obtained by the following mem- bers : O. 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. Dun- bar, Mrs. Hattie Graybill, Mrs. J. W. McCool, Mrs. M. Howlett, William Loyd, Mrs. William Loyd, Mrs. J. W. Nothstine, Mrs. R. L. Falls, Mary A. Anderson and Mrs. Behan. There were now seven of Mrs. Eddy's students in the field. Later the Second church was founded by members of the First church who withdrew from that organization. James A. Neal, later of Bos- ton, Massachusetts, was a charter member of the Second church. Mrs. Baird was its founder and first reader. Mr. W. E. Benson was the second reader for many years. It was organized as a society in 1890 and in 1893 it ob- tained a charter as the Western Church of Christ, Scientist. In 1895 the name was changed to Second Church of Christ, Scientist. In 1892 Al- fred Farlow, C. S. D., came from Topeka, Kansas, and opened offices in the New York Life building with his brother, William S. Farlow, C. S. B., and sister, Sarah Farlow, C. S. B. They had services without organization in the Pythian hall on Grand avenue.
William S. Farlow removed in 1895 to Lyceum hall and organized the Third Church of Christ, Scientist, with a congregation of about 400. The Second church moved into the Auditorium of the Pepper building and swelled its congregation to 300. Under the leadership of Mrs. A. J. Baird, of the Second church, at a meeting called for the purpose, in 1896, a build- ing fund was started, and an effort made to unite with the other two churches in building. As a result the Second church proposed to disorganize, unite with the First church, and erect a building to be known as First church. The union was effected, but the building project delayed. The Third church refused to enter into the union and began to build. In 1897 the three churches finally were united under the charter of 1890, and work was con- tinued according to the plans and specifications already begun by the Third church. A. E. Stilwell was an active, spirit in the enterprise. A church at Ninth street and Forest avenue was dedicated on Christmas day, 1898. It is a beautiful structure with terra cotta roofings, and low, square towers of early Gothic style. The cost was nearly $67,000.
The Second church re-organized February 18, 1898, with a member- ship of 53, which by the July following had increased to - After the re-organization of the church, services were held in the auditorium of the
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Pepper building until a congregation of 350 members outgrew those quart- ers. Meetings were held in the Willis Wood theatre until the church build- ing at Thirty-first street and Troost avenue was completed. The church was built at a cost of $227,000. The seating capacity of the main auditorium is 1,052. The church was opened December 28, 1904.
The Third Church of Christ, Scientist, was reorganized in July, 1903. Church services were held in a rented hall until July, 1906, when the old building of St. Paul's protestant Episcopal church on Westport avenue, be- tween Baltimore avenue, and Wyandotte street, was leased and remodeled. From the original Christian Science churches two others have been estab- lished-one in Independence and the other in Kansas City, Kansas.
It is estimated that between 700 and 800 persons are daily under Chris- tian Science treatment in Kansas City. There are about fifty regular prac- titioners, twenty of whom are established in offices. There are two public reading rooms, one under the auspices of the Second church, opened in 1893, and the other under the auspices of the First church, opened in 1899 and situated in the church parlors.
The Hebrews of Kansas City, previous to 1868, met for worship only twice a year in small rented halls. The first congregation, under the name of B'nai Jehudah, was organized in the fall of 1870. The Hebrew Burial association, organized in 1864, was made a part of the new church. This association had bought a piece of ground at Eighteenth street and Lydia avenue, but at the end of six years the ground was found to be too small and thirty-seven bodies were removed to Elmwood cemetery. B. A. Feine- man was at that time president of both the Elmwood cemetery association and the board of the temple.
In June, 1872, the congregation received its charter, the first service by Rabbi M. R. Cohen having been held in Masonic hall, Fourth and Walnut streets, in 1870. Succeeding Rabbi Cohen came Rabbi E. L. Hess, Rabbi D. Burgheim, Rabbi A. Grossman and Rabbi Eppstein for terms of two or three years. The first temple, a frame building at Sixth and Wyandotte streets, was completed in 1875. The congregation soon outgrew the first temple- in a few years-and another temple was erected at the corner of Eleventh and Oak streets. The new temple was dedicated in September, 1884. Rabbi Isaac Schwab of St. Joseph, Isaac M. Wise of Cincinnati, S. H. Sonneschein of St. Louis, Joseph Krauskopf of Kansas City, Henry Berkowotz of Mobile, Ala., and. others took part in the impressive ceremonies at the dedication. Rabbi Krauskopf was the first of a trio of rabbis who were taken from the Kansas City congregation one after another to become church leaders in the East. Rabbis Henry Berkowitz and Samuel Shulman were the second and third. All were brilliant lecturers and keenly interested in the welfare of
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the city. The present rabbi, Henry H. Mayer, has shown a similar interest in civic affairs, and has the honor of being organizer of the Kansas City Pure Milk commission, pledged to save the babies. In the nine years he has been here, the congregation has doubled its membership. A new temple for B'nai Jehudah congregation at the southeast corner of Linwood boulevard and Flora avenue, valued, including the ground, at about $150,000, was com- pleted in 1908. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 1,000. The building is constructed of Bedford stone, in Grecian style.
The First Universalist church was organized in Kansas City, October 3, 1892, under the supervision of Dr. Q. H. Shinn, western organizer of the General Universalist convention. Services were held in a hall until the church built by the Reformed Episcopals on the southeast corner of Tenth street and Park avenue was purchased and fitted for regular use. The Rev. Charles R. East was the first regular pastor, serving the church two years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Luther F. Mckinney, who remained one year. The society was without a regular minister until October, 1902, when the Rev. Mary Elizabeth Andrews began a pastorate which still continues.
Various philanthropic institutions have been furthered by this church. Classes in the study of Emerson, Plato and Browning are conducted by the pastor each week. The church has no creed, but the principles around which closer co-operation is obtained, are as follows: The universal fatherhood of God; the spiritual authority and leadership of His son, Jesus Christ; the trustworthiness of the Bible as containing a revelation from God; the cer- tainty of just retribution for sin; the final harmony of all souls with God.
All Souls' Unitarian church of Kansas City was organized in the sum- mer of 1868, with the Rev. Henry M. Smith, Agnes Smith, E. D. Parsons, Amos Towle, G. S. Morrison, Alfred Pirtle, Ross Guffin and Henry A. White as original members. Meetings were held in rooms over stores and in halls until 1871, when a frame building was erected on Baltimore avenue at a cost of about $5,000. The Rev. W. E. Copeland was the first pastor, and was succeeded in turn by the Rev. C. E. Webster, the Rev. Enoch Powell and the Rev. W. S. King. The work of the church was interrupted in 1880. The Rev. D. N. Utter became pastor in 1881, and under his ministration a large gain in membership was made. In 1884 the Rev. Robert Laird Coll- yer, D. D., was called to the pastorate. While he was in charge was erected the brick church edifice on Tenth street, near Broadway, at a cost of nearly $25,000. The Rev. John E. Roberts withdrew with about two-thirds of the congregation, then numbering some 500 people, and organized the "Church of This World." All Souls' church edifice was then rented to the Christian Scientists for some months, and the Unitarians met in the rooms of the Athenaeum, where services were conducted by the Rev. W. G. Todd.
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Later in the same year the congregation returned to its church home and in- stalled as pastor the Rev. George W. Stone, whose, services continued until June, 1900, when he resigned in order to resume his labors as field agent of the American Unitarian association. During his pastorate the church was re- established and an indebtedness of $10,000 was liquidated, three-fourths of the amount being paid by two friends of Mr. Stone in the East, conditioned on the remainder having been paid by members of the congregation. The Rev. Charles Fergusan became pastor in 1900.
The oldest German Protestant church in Kansas City is St. Peter's German Evangelical church, founded in 1865. In 1867 a frame building was erected on Walnut street, between Ninth and Tenth streets. A substan- tial church edifice was built, Oak street and Irving Place, in 1883, at a cost of $13,000. This had been dedicated only a few days when it was entirely destroyed by a tornado, the calamity occurring only a few minutes after the Sunday school scholars had left the building. The church was rebuilt. The first pastor was the Rev. J. C. Feil, who served from 1865 until 1874, when he removed to Marthasville, Missouri, and was succeeded by the Rev. H. F. Kirchoff. In 1878 the Rev. Mr. Feil again became pastor, and served until May,7 1895, when he retired from active work. His successor was the Rev. John Aauer. About 300 families attend the church.
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CHAPTER XIX.
CHARITIES.
The problem of caring for the poor and neglected in a great city is well worked out in Kansas City and finds its solution in the many charity associations located here. From very small beginnings, many different in- stitutions have developed, endeavoring to keep pace with the manifold and growing needs of the hour. In an age of specialties the work is naturally divided so as to easily meet special requirements.
The federation of Kansas City's charities was effected October 18, 1899, under the name of the "Associated Charities of Kansas City" and active work was undertaken the following January. The first officers and exec- utive committee consisted of W. C. Scarritt, president; the Rev. Henry Hop- kins, D. D., vice-president; the Rt. Rev. J. J. Glennon, D. D., vice-presi- dent; S. A. Pierce, secretary; I. E. Bernheimer, treasurer; H. S. Boice and F. M. Howe. This is a federation, not a consolidation, of the city's char-
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ities and philanthropies, twenty-five in number at the time of its organiza- tion, and, although one or two changes were made, the number was the same in 1908.
Its purpose is to co-ordinate the benevolent forces of the city, in order to promote the better and more intelligent relief of distress and to elevate the standard of living among the poor. Its aims are to secure co-operation among the public and private charitable agencies, churches and citizens ; to pro- cure accurate knowledge of all cases treated; to find prompt and adequate relief for all who should have it; to expose imposters and prevent wilfull idleness; to find employment for the able-bodied; to establish relations of personal interest and sympathy between the poor and well-to-do; to prevent pauper- ism, especially to see that no children grow up as paupers; to collect and diffuse knowledge on all subjects connected with the administration of char- ities. As will be seen by the foregoing, the three most essential features of the Associated charities are co-operation, relief, and prevention. It could accomplish but little without co-operation, and the more the hearty co-op- eration the better the results. Better methods of giving relief are studied and taught, in order that it may be prompt, of the right nature, and admin- istered with the least possible demoralizing effect. Prevention is the ulti- mate goal, and while the working force is entirely too small this federation is doing much re-constructive, preventive, and educational work. Some of the departments maintained by the association are investigation, registra- tion, co-operation, visitation, education, medical and legal. This agency investigates not only the Provident Association, but for all who so desire. It procures relief from the source best equipped for meeting the particular needs. It cares for 1,500 to 1,800 families annually. It does not dupli- cate the work of any other organization, but is the servant of all. The head- quarters of the Associated Charities in 1908 were in the Charity building, 1115 Charlotte street.
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