USA > Missouri > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County Missouri, early and recent history and genealogical records of many of the representative citizens, Volume I > Part 65
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Mount Carmel .- This church was organized by Rev. O. M. Martin and in 1890 a house of worship of wood was erected on the west side of the National boulevard, a little north of Bailey street. A parsonage in connection with this church, valued at one thousand eight hundred dollars, is located on Prospect avenue. This church reports 105 members, with 200 in Sunday school and 35 in the Epworth League. The value of the church building is estimated at one thousand eight hundred dollars. Rev. C. L. Oswald serves this church in connection with that on Vesta avenue.
Vesta Avenue .- On Vesta avenue, a little west of Grant street and at the corner of Chestnut, was maintained for several years a mission Sunday school and in 1902 a building of wood was erected at that place. The organ- ization of a class is credited to Rev. Harvey .\. Jones when he was pastor of Grace church, but the exact year is not stated in the report. It is now yoked with Mount Carmel church, having one service a Sunday by the pastor there. Rev. C. L. Oswald. and maintaining a weekly prayer meeting. An enroll- ment of 40 members is reported with 60 in Sunday school and 32 in the Epworth League. The property is valued at one thousand eight hundred dollars.
In addition to these churches the minutes of St. Louis conference report Hagerty Memorial as the name of a future organization to be formed some time, with a house of worship to be erected on a lot which is now the only visible asset of things to be hereafter realized. Rev. Thomas H. Hagerty, D. D., the Nestor of St. Louis conference, is now enjoying in his home at St. Louis a happy and vigorous old age, having entered the itinerancy in 1855. Dr. Hagerty was at one time presiding elder of Springfield district.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
As in other states in the near and further south, Congregationalism has always been more or less an exotic in Missouri, not even yet ceasing to be so, either in the state at large, or in Greene county. But estimated by achieve-
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ment this comparatively small denomination has rendered service of which a body numerically much larger would have no reason to be ashamed.
With the pronounced attitude of opposition to slavery of a large number of its ministers and members, this body had naturally but few representatives south of Mason and Dixon's line in times before the Civil war. The First church of St. Louis was its earliest representative in Missouri, of which the able and eloquent Truman M. Post was for many years pastor. Another ante bellum church was that at Hannibal since reorganized. After the close of the war many churches were organized, some destined to a brief and pre- carious life, others to a longer struggle before ultimate extinction, still others to live. more or less vigorous. One of these is the First church of Spring- field.
This body owes its beginning to the coming to Springfield of the Har- wood family, originally from the Greene Mountain state, three brothers, James, Charles and Alfred. with a sister, Mrs. Mary Louise Durham. All these moved later to California.
Having held Sunday school and preaching services from the beginning of the year 1869. a number of persons met on February of that year and voted to organize a Union Evangelical church. There were eleven original mem- bers, Dr. E. T. Robberson, Stephen and Charles Burton and eight members of the Harwood family. Rev. James H. Harwood was chosen pastor, con- tinuing in that relation for over three years. None of the original members are now connected with the church, Mrs. Susan Denny, Alanson M. Haswell and wife (nee Loretta Butler ) and Mrs. Mary A. Wightman being early mem- bers still in the church.
In December. 1870, it was voted to change the name to Congregational. On May 21. 1872, a house of worship, costing five thousand dollars, was dedi- cated at the northeast corner of Jefferson and Locust streets, Doctor Post of St. Louis preaching the dedication sermon. This church was the first of many churches in what was then North Springfield. It took the lead in the establishment of Drury College and Doctor Harwood gave much time and effort to secure money to meet the pressing needs of that institution in its early days, as well as to the work of evangelism and the establishment of other Congregational churches in Missouri, having served for some time as home missionary superintendent. In the pastorate of the church he was fol- lowed by president Morrison, J. C. Plumb, twice pastor, who died in March, 1915, Oliver Brown and other members of the faculty of Drury College. In March. 1875. the church received 50 members at one time, 7 by letter, 43 by confession of faith, with three adult baptisms.
Owing to some differences of opinion, into which the present writer has never taken the pains to inquire, Central church was organized in 1883, taking several members of the First church, including the pastor, Rev. H. C. Crane
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and president N. J. Morrison of Drury College. A house of worship was erected at the southeast corner of Walnut and Market streets, where services were maintained for several years, with the aid of appropriations from the home missionary society of the denomination, until the winter of 1898-99, when, by advice of a council duly called, the church was disbanded and letters granted to the First church, which in turn issued letters to others churches to those desiring them. The former house of worship of that organization is now used for secular purposes.
A mission Sunday school, conducted for some time north of the present freight tracks of the Frisco railway was succeeded by the organization of Pilgrim church, for which was erected a large brick house of worship at the northwest corner of Benton avenue and Dale street. Always financially weak, this church maintained a precarious existence until the fall of 1908. when it was disbanded by advice of council duly called and the house came into possession of the Church Building Society, loans from which were long overdue. A Sunday school is still maintained, together with occasional preaching services under direction of the First church. The distinction enjoyed by the First church of being the only church in North Springfield could not be permanently retained. The intimate relations between the church and Drury College made it seem desirable in the opinion of many that the church building be located nearer to that institution. As early as 1889 steps were taken looking to such a change of location. But a strong conservative element opposed the change, and before any decided steps could be taken in that direction came the panic of 1893, making any change inexpedient, if not impossible. After many efforts in that direction, steps were taken in 1901 looking to the acquisition of a new site and the erection of a building thereon. The spacious brick building now occupied, on the northeast corner of Calhoun street and Benton avenue was completed so as to be occupied for worship in 1904. The old church building and parsonage were sold to Mr. F. B. Taber and by him remodeled into dwelling houses. In 1912 a fine and commodious brick parsonage was erected on Calhoun street in the rear of the church building.
The erection of their new house of worship taxed severely the limited resources of a church in which were but few members in more than moderate circumstances. They would have thought it utterly impossible to achieve the work of erection, but for the aid of the denominational building society, partly as a gift, more as a loan for a long time at a specially low rate of interest. By another special effort during the year ending March 1, 1915, the pupils in the Sunday school aiding with generous contributions, it was possible at that time to cancel the debt and also the heavy expense of paving on Calhoun street. This achievement was duly celebrated a little after Easter.
Pastors later than those already named have been, among others, John
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P. Sanderson, Einion C. Evans, Pearse Pinch, IL. Paul Douglass, now a secretary of the American Missionary Association, and Robert B. Blyth, present pastor, who has just completed five years of laborious and faithful service, laboring especially for the spiritual upbuilding of the church and seeking to extend its influence by ministering to the religious needs of points outside the city. Under Doctor Douglass, a man of uncommon intellectual force, the new church building was erected and he has since done work of great value for the colored people of the south.
By latest reports the church had 379 members, 129 male. 250 female, this denomination being, so far as the writer is aware, the only one reporting each sex in different columns. There were 200 members in the Sunday school. AAuxiliary societies are Christian Endeavor, senior and junior, a Women's Missionary Society, for both home and and foreign gifts, Ladies' Aid and Monday Circle, each aiding efficiently in the financial work of the. church and a Men's Brotherhood. The church property is valued at thirty- five thousand dollars. The plan of an every member canvass has lately been tried with encouraging results.
Through this church Drury College came to be, and it has had, as it might rightly claim, valuable service from men and women connected with the college. Especially notable has been the long and faithful work of Dean Arthur P. Hall. as clerk, trustee, precentor and teacher: of William C. Calland, long time treasurer of the college, as deacon, trustee and capable financial adviser and of president Homer T. Fuller, whose widow, a woman of rare graces and helpful spirit in college, church and society, passed into the Great Unseen late in March, 1915. As a builder of institutions, Doctor Fuller will long be remembered in Springfield. Among his services the church should long remember the efficient and valuable services rendered by him in the building of their present house of worship.
German .- Holding special services in German in Stone chapel. Rev. Philip Steinhage, assisted by Rev. George Albrecht, of Chicago, superintend- ent of German work for the Home Missionary Society took the first steps in 1884 to organize a German Congregational church. The organization was not, however, fully effected till the following year, when Rev. John Frederick Graf, a devoted and faithful minister, came to the pastorate of the church. Services were still held in Stone chapel and a Sunday school was organized.
While Major Cole was conducting revival services here in 1887, a special effort to raise funds for the erection of a house of worship secured from churches of different denominations funds which made possible the erection of a building located on Robberson avenue, between Chestnut and Pine streets, the Congregational Church Building Society aiding with a loan of seven hundred dollars. This house was dedicated in 1888.
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Since the property embraced two lots, the pastor proposed to build on the lot south of the church, giving the rent of his house on North Main street to repay the loan from the building society. The parsonage was built at a cost of $goo, of which $500 was contributed by members and friends in other churches in the city. The debt was paid at last in 1898.
At this time the pastor resigned to accept a call to a church in Ansonia, Connecticut, where, after several years of service he returned to make his home in Springfield. A daughter, Johanna, has been a missionary teacher at Mardin, in eastern Turkey, more than twenty years. Rev. P. Burkhardt followed, serving five years and Henry W. Stein for two years. Rev. Gott- fried Grob succeeded, remaining eight years, till the spring of 1914. Rev. J. Hirning is the present pastor.
The church property is valued at three thousand three hundred dollars. Sunday school enrollment is reported as 16, with average attendance of 10. The church reports 51 members.
Swedish .- This church was organized in 1886, and the same year a house of worship was erected of wood on the north side of Chestnut street. between Boonville street and Robberson avenue. Beginning soon after its. organization, Carl A. Jerberg served as pastor of this church for more than twenty years. After his removal to California the church was for a time pastorless, but was later served for a time by G. S. Hawkinson, a student in Drury College. It has now no regular church services. Latest accessible statistics report a membership of 14 with 16 in Sunday school. The value of the property is estimated at one thousand eight hundred dollars.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHIES.
Christ .- In the spring of 1859 Rev. T. L. Holcomb, assistant in Christ church, St. Louis, organized here a church consisting of the following mem- bers: Mrs. Wade Burden, J. A. Stephens, H. B. Farmer, Laura J. Berry, Royal Greaves, Sue Ware, Mrs. Dixon, Mrs. Sanford Peck, Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Steele. Mr. Holcomb used the Presbyterian church building on his first visit baptizing several persons there. Later services were held in Tem- perance Hall, on the east side of the Public Square, after that in the Baptist church.
The Civil war came before plans for the erection of a house of wor- ship could be put into practical form, and it was not till 1868, Rev. William Charles being then rector. that the work could be effectively prosecuted. During the war services were held only occasionally, and there was need of a reorganization, which was effected in 1866. The house was of wood located at the northeast corner of Walnut and Kimbrough streets, and was dedicated on New Year's Eve, 1870, by Rev. C. T. Robertson, LL. D., the rector being
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Rev. J. H. Waterman. A guild room has been added since. There is also a rectory located north of the church buikling.
A Parish Ladies' Aid Society has rendered very efficient help in the raising of money for uses of the church. The church has always been noted for its excellent choir.
Christ church has had in recent years, as rectors. J. S. Morrill. F. F. Beckerman and Paul R. Talbot, the latter being yet in the first year of his in- cumbency.
A membership of two hundred is reported, with fifty in Sunday school, and five officers and teachers. The church property is valued at seventeen thousand dollars.
St. John's .- This church was organized in 1886 by Rev. Melville M. Moore, services having been held for a time previously by the Ollis brothers, prominent members of the church. In 1888 a small, but very neat house of worship was erected of stone on a lot at the northeast corner of Benton avenue and Division street, at the rear of the lot and facing the latter street. A beautiful and sweet toned organ, well suited to the capacity of the church, - was added a few years ago. In 1892 a rectory was built of wood, facing Benton avenne, large and well provided with modern improvements.
Rev. Mr. Moore continued as rector of this church for several years. a zealous and faithful worker for the principles of the Protestant Episcopal church. aiding much in its growth and prosperity. He removed to Califor- nia, where he died some two years since. After an interval of brief services by other rectors. Rev. W. S. Trowbridge succeeded, remaining for some years. . Among his successors may be named Robert Nelson Spencer, now of Kansas City, an able and eloquent preacher, highly esteemed in other de- nominations, and much sought as a platform speaker on various occasions. Later came G. C. Rafter and the present rector, Frank H. Weichlein.
The present church membership is reported as one hundred and eighty- nine, with eighty-four in the Sunday school. There are various auxiliary organizations for missionary and parish work, reporting an aggregate of eighty-two members. The church property is valued at twenty-eight thou- sand dollars. At the beginning of the present year the plan of an Every Member Canvass was adopted for the raising of church expenses, with gratifying results.
GERMAN CHURCHES.
In addition to the Congregational church already mentioned, there are two other German churches in Springfield.
St. John's Evangelical .- Originally connected with the German Congre- gational church, this church was organized as a separate body in 1896. A frame building was erected near the northeast corner of Main and Scott
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.streets, to the rear of which a parsonage was attached. Quite recently a new and commodious house of worship of brick veneer has been erected near the corner of the two streets, the former church building being at present used as a school room. Here morning services and Sunday school are held, but no evening service, a large part of the congregation residing in the country. There are seventy-six families connected with this church. The present pastor is Rev. Gustav Hehl, who has previously served the church in the same capacity, Rev. Oskar Luthe having served in the interim.
Evangelical Lutheran Trinity .- This body of believers to whom min- ister Rev. Emil Recknagel, reports a total membership of 82, of whom 55 are communicants, the voting members, men over twenty-one, being 10. There is a Ladies' Aid Society of nine members and a Young Peoples' Society of thirteen. Services are held each Sunday in the house formerly occupied by Westminster church at the northeast corner of Jefferson and Elm streets, the morning services being in German, the evening in English. The Sunday school reports 27 members.
THE CHURCH OF GOD.
This church was organized in 1904 by Elder W. J. Henry and a frame house of worship was erected the same year at 920 North Campbell street, the property being valued at one thousand five hundred dollars. Services are held twice each Sunday and a prayer meeting weekly. There are about twenty members, no roll being kept, with about thirty in the Sunday school. Elder A. L. Hutton is at present the acting pastor, his address being at Forbes, Missouri.
It may be added that Elder Henry began preaching in 1899 or 1900. but the organization dates from the election of trustees. This body endeavors to act in a very strict sense on the truths revealed in the Bible.
REORGANIZED LATTER DAY SAINTS.
Disclaiming affiliation with the body of a similar name in Utah, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints trace their origin to the same founder, Joseph Smith. An organization was effected in Spring- field in 1896, erecting a house of worship in 1901 on the north side of East Dale street. near Kellett avenue. Improvements were made on this building in 1908 by the Ladies' Aid Society, members of the church also giving labor for the same purpose.
A system of tithing is adopted in this church, the sums contributed going to the presiding bishop for the relief of poor and sick of the church,
(39)
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as also for the support of the families of missionaries, the local ministers giving their service without a salary.
J. W. Quinley has been local pastor of this church for some fourteen or fifteen years past. while Henry Sparling, also residing in Springfield, is a missionary-at-large for the denomination.
The present membership is reported as two hundred and twenty-eight, with a Sunday school enrollment of about seventy-five. Auxiliary to the church is a religio-literary society. The estimated value of the church prop- erty is two thousand dollars.
FIRST CHURCH OF CIIRIST SCIENTIST.
'The first meetings of this church were held in July, 1897, but the real organization of the body dates from December, 1899, the time when the charter was granted.
The regular church services are held, like those of other churches, at II a. m. and 8 p. m. every Sunday, with a Sunday school of forty to fifty attendants. On Wednesday evening of each week are held testimonial meetings. the meeting place being Martin's Music Hall, in the Masonic building. A reading room is also open cach day in the Woodruff building. on the seventh floor.
This church has ninety members and reports property valued at two thousand five hundred dollars. Having neither church building nor pastor, there is no parsonage nor need of one.
Instead of a pastor the church has first and second readers. chosen at least every three years from the membership. These offices are at present held by Mr. A. N. Torbitt and Miss Mabel Reed.
A lot has been secured on Center street opposite the Public Library, on which a house of worship is being erected.
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST.
.A congregation of this denomination, whose headquarters are at Battle Creek, Michigan, worshiped for many years in a small building at the northwest corner of Florence and Locust streets. Later a neat and substan- tial frame building was erected at the southwest corner of Lynn and Main streets, having in the rear end a room for school uses and behind it a parish house and office, occupied until the fall of 1914 by Elder R. L. Carson, an officer of the State Conference, as well as leader and minister of the local congregation, but since his removal to another field occupied as a family resi- dence.
There is another congregation of the same faith at Turner station.
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Other organizations that may be named are the Church of Christ, meet- ing at the northwest corner of Dale and Johnson streets and the Holiness Christian church at 701 Dale street, corner of Union. The Pentecostal Tabernacle is located at 1153 Boonville street. The Spiritualists have a con- crete house at the southeast corner of Main and Webster streets.
COLORED BAPTIST CHURCHES.
Washington Avenue .- This church is said to be the mother church of the different organizations included in the Southwest Baptist Association. It was organized in 1867, but few facts are found to be accessible concern- ing its early history.
For several years this church worshiped in a building at the southeast corner of the Public Square. In 1872, in connection with the Cumberland Presbyterians, they erected a frame structure at the corner of Benton avenue and Water streets, where they worshiped for several years. Later a lot was purchased on the west side of Washington avenue, south of Sycamore street, on which a brick house of worship was erected in 1884, the Presbyterians . buying their interest in the first building.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1913, the church building caught fire and the interior was so damaged as to be unfit for occupancy. But, aided by in- surance money and in other ways, it was repaired and reoccupied, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. The present value of house, par- sonage and grounds is estimated at fifteen thousand dollars.
Rev. J. S. Dorsey was pastor of this church for a number of years. He was succeeded by Rev. D. A. Holmes in 1913, who remained but a year, accepting a call to a church in Kansas City. Early in the present year Rev. W. H. Young came to the pastorate.
This church reported last year a membership of two hundred and forty, with a Sunday school of one hundred and twenty members and a B. Y. P. U. of forty members. A Woman's Missionary Society of thirty members and an Art Club of thirty-five, are auxiliary to the church. There has been a Teachers' Training Class, from which six persons have been graduated. A Men's Club of twenty-two members has recently been organized.
Mount Eagle .- This church was organized in 1886 by Dr. Border A. Franklin. In 1891 a house of worship was erected on Minor street, a little to the east of Dollison, in which they worshiped for the next fifteen years. In 1906 the building of concrete now occupied was erected, the one pre- viously occupied being moved back and used as a parsonage. The South- west Missouri Association was entertained here in their thirtieth annual meeting in August of last year.
This church reports a membership of forty-five, with a Sunday school
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of thirty. There is also a Woman's Missionary Society. Rev. A. McBride is pastor.
The church property is valued at two thousand three hundred dollars.
Metropolitan .- This church was organized with nine members in No- vember. 1905, by Rev. A McBride, who continued to be pastor till 1908. The first house of worship was located at the north end of Vernon avenue, close to the northern limits of the city. A new house of concrete, erected at the northwest corner of Vernon and High streets, was so nearly completed that the Southwest Missouri AAssociation convened in it in August, 1910. Elder McBride was followed by Elders Anderson, Pendegrast, Howard and the present pastor, P. C. Campbell, who ministers to this church alternately with a church in Clinton.
The present membership of this church is reported at thirty-two, with an average attendance of fifteen at Sunday school and of twelve at B. Y. P. U. A literary society, held in the church building, has an attendance of twenty-five to thirty. The Woman's Missionary Society reports thirteen members.
Mount Zion .- This church, whose members reside at Westport, on the west side of the city, was organized in 1912 by Elder J. M. Givehand, and was duly recognized in August of that year by the Southwest Association, meeting at Joplin. W. S. Price. Jr., is pastor, and this little organization, reporting six members, meets in a private house at the corner of Broad and Center streets.
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