USA > Missouri > Presbyterianism in the Ozarks : a history of the work of the various branches of the Presbyterian Church in Southwest Missouri, 1834-1907 > Part 23
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Mr. Hanna was president of Carthage Collegiate Institute September '90 to '92, and served the Westminster church as stated supply and pastor September 6, 91, to January 28, '96.
The Presbytery has never had a more efficient chairman of young people's work than was he and he was also quite efficient as a helper in evengelistie services.
HENRY MARTIN CAMPBELL.
The stay of this brother in our bounds was all too brief for the good of the Presbytery. Born, Congress, Ohio, 1861. Wooster U. B. A. '87, M. A. '90. Princeton T. S. '90. Ordained by the Pres- bytery of Ozark September 11, 1890. Served the churches of Monett and Lehigh. Dismissed to the Presbytery of Kansas City August 7, 1891.
JOHN ROSS GASS.
In the inner circle of my ministerial friends whose portraits hang on the walls of memory I am glad to find the genial face and manly form of that manly man and friendly friend, John R. Gass. How often we have taken sweet counsel together! The following sketch is taken from La Aurora, published at Las Vegas, New Mexico, September 1, 1906.
"We have the privilege this week of presenting a brief sketch of the life of our energetic and greatly esteemed Synodical Missionary, the Rev. John Ross Gass, of Albuquerque, who is now nearing the close of his first year of service in that important office. Like his predecessors in this synodical position, Mr. Gass is descended from 'true blue' Presbyterian stock, his ancestors on both sides of the family having been Presbyterians as far back as the traditions of the houses can trace their origin. He was born in Tennessee, where his ancestry had lived for three generations back; the Gasses coming from Ireland and the Blackburns and Caldwells from England by way of Virginia, passing over from the Old Dominion across the Alleghanies into Tennessee in the famous pioneer days of "The Cross- ing." As in many such families, there has always been a distinct strain of ministerial blood in the Gass race, and at present four grandsons of his mother's father, who was a sturdy and typical Presbyterian elder, are in the active ministry. From this same race came the famous preacher, mis- sionary and educator, the Rev. Gideon Blackburn, D. D., once President of Centre College, Kentucky, and founder of Blackburn University in Illi- nois.
J. R. GASS
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Mr. Gass' father, who died when his boy was but six years old, was a firm believer in the covenant-keeping God. He named the son after a minister whom he admired greatly, and on the day of his baptism conse- erated the boy to the gospel ministry, although the boy himself was never told of this until he had decided to prepare for the ministry. His college course was taken at Greenville and Tusculum, the oldest college in Ten- nessee, founded in 1794, from which he was graduated in 1881. After studying theology two years at Lane Seminary he took his final year at McCormick Seminary, Chicago, graduating in the class of 1884.
"Mr. Gass' first parish was the old Kingsport Church, Tennessee, where he had supplied during seminary vacations, the church founded and served for many years by the Rev. Dr. Ross, for whom he was named. After two and a half years he accepted a call to the pastorate of the church at Sigour- ney, Iowa, and remained in that field over four years. Here on January 8, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Elsie Brinton Lowe, whose uncle had previously been pastor of the Sigourney Church for many years, and whose family has had the distinction of supplying the Presbyterian Church with many ministers. From Sigourney Mr. and Mrs. Gass went to the charge at Greenfield, Mo., the oldest church in the Ozark Presbytery, and, as he himself describes it, 'one of the most delightful charges a minister ever had.' When they had given eight years of service in this parish, it became evident on account of Mrs. Gass' health that a sunnier climate must be sought, and in the fall of 1898 they came to Silver City, Mr. Gass taking the joint charge of Silver City and Deming. When in the year fol- lowing the charge was divided Mr. Gass elected to serve the Silver City Church, in which he filled a most successful pastorate for the next six years. At the meeting of Synod in Las Vegas in October last Mr. Gass received the appointment to the office of Synodical Missionary, becoming thus the third to serve the Synod of New Mexico in that capacity. In this position, so exacting in its nature, Mr. Gass has shown high executive ability and has accomplished a fruitful year's work. Possessed of earnest sincerity. quick sympathies, genial and courteous manners, ready tact and unfailing considerateness and patience, he wins friends for the church and its work wherever he goes. Mr. Gass is an able and attractive preacher, gladly wel- comed to all pulpits. This together with his record as a faithful ane suc- cessful pastor warrants us in predicting for him wide and increasing useful- ness in his present synodical capacity."
While in this Presbytery Mr. Gass served as chairman of the committee on publication and Sabbath School work ; and devoted to that work his characteristic zeal and efficiency. His Alma Mater conferred on him the title of Doctor or Divinity in 1906. Two incidents are characteristic of the man: While pastor of the Greenfield church he supplied the Lockwood church for a time on Sunday afternoon. One Sunday a young minister came by train to that town in order that he might call on a young lady. This riding on the train on Sunday was considered by Mr. Gass such a reproach on the ministry that he gave the young brother a sound lecture, and expressed his indignation that his own efforts to build up the kingdom of righteousness should be so neutraliz- ed. The last time I met him was in the corridor of the building where the Assembly of 1908 was held. While we were talking a minister whom he had known in boyhood came along. He threw
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his arms around the Tennesseean's neck and exclaimed "the last time I saw you-you were wearing aprons; lets go and play a game of marbles."
JAY C. HANNA.
This brother of Dwight C. Hanna followed Dwight throrgh Wooster (1888) Princeton (1891) and to Southwest Missouri. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Ozark July 14, 1891, served the Ash Grove, Willard and Mt. Zion churches and was dismissed to the Presbytery of Platte April 12, 1893.
JOHN I. HUGHES.
A native of Wales, the subject of this sketch came to America in 1869 and was ordained in 1875. For a time he served Welsh Calviristic churches but entered the Presbyterian church in 1887. His ministry in this church was confined to various churches in the Synods of Missouri and Kansas. He was received by the Presbytery of Ozark July 14, 1891. Served the churches of Lock- wood and White Oak and was dismissed to the Presbytery of Neosho September 12, 1893, and died at Burton, Kansas, Nov- ember 28, 1906.
GEORGE H. DUTY.
George H. Duty studied in McGee and Westminster colleges for a time and read theology under Dr. Bowen of the Presbyter- ian church U. S. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Kirksville (Cumberland) and united with the Presbyterian church Sept- ember 1887.
After service of four years in Iowa he entered Ozark Pres- bytery September 15, 1891, and acted as S. S. of the Bolivar church. From there he went to a mission in South Joplin where he led the people in the erection of a house of worship. He was dismissed to the Presbytery of St. Louis October 18, 1893.
HENRY B. JOHNSON.
Received October 20, 1891, from the Presbytery of Aberdeen. Served the church of Golden City, dismissed to the Presbytery of Larned September 14, 1892.
E. E. STRINGFIELD
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FRANCIS M. IHICKOCK.
This valiant soldier of the cross counted not the obstacle of blindness a barrier to a finished education as a preparation for the ministry. Born in Nelsonville, Ohio, May 28, 1844, he gradu- ated at the Iowa college for the blind in 1870 and at McCormick Seminary in 1873. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Chicago in '72 and ordained by the Presbytery of Nebraska City '75. After serving various churches in Nebraska he came to Southwest Missouri, was received by the Presbytery of Ozark April 12, 1892, and faithfully and acceptably served the churches of Salem, Irwin and Preston. His sermon preached before Presbytery on the text: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith" made such on impression on my mind that I remember it to this day. He was dismissed to the Presbytery of New Albany Sept- ember 18, 1894.
EUGENE EDWARD STRINGFIELD.
Write me as one who loves the Presbyterian Church. If in accordance with the merits of their subjects this sketch is out of proportion to those that accompany it, let it be bourne in mind that this deals with ideals, they with realities. For, as a man usually lacks the rare discernment to estimate at its true worth his own contribution to the world's weal or woe, it seemed best to me either to say nothing about the part I have had in making the history herein given and (with compliments to Sir Christo- pher Wren) to say to the reader: "If you would see my monu- ment look within;" or else to tell the unadorned story of my life and to present the ideals I have striven with many shortcom- ings to realize. Out of deference to my family and friends (per- haps to myself also) I have chosen the latter alternative.
I was born in Whitesboro, Texas, November 12th, 1863-the seventh of nine children born to Perry and Emnor (Dishman) Stringfield. The third child-a son-died in infancy. Five sis- ters are older and one sister and brother are younger than I am. My parents were Kentuckyans who migrated to Missouri, then to Texas and after the war returned to Missouri. They were slave owners and had amassed a competence but were strongly union in their sentiments and sacrified their earthly possessions to the exigencies of the war. At its close in a devastated land. they found themselves stripped of earthly resourees save faith and courage and industry, and rich only in traits of heart and mind and in the possession of eight non-prodnetive children. In time the older girls became proficient school and musie teachers
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and contributed materially to the support of the family. A "lit- tle brother," as I was called, in a large family of large girls and of a delicate mould I was shielded from the temptations and pit- falls that beset the pathway of many boys. Notwithstanding all these precautions, from the farm hands I heard profanity and vulgarity of which my parents never dreamed of until I came to that age when I had as soon a man would slap me in the face as to tell an obscene story in my presence. I have sometimes thought that perchance the national troubles at the time of my birth and the extra precautions that were taken to shield me from the temptations that fall to the lot of other boys were in part respon- sible for two traits of character of which I have always been con- scious, i. e., a partially abnormal seriousness in countenance and views of life, and a timidity in social relations with men. My mother was so familiar with the language of the Bible that when a mistake was made by one reading it aloud she could correct the reader without looking on the book. While privileged to attend school less than a twelve month, my father often worked "by head," and in a few minutes problems in arithmetic that puzzled the older girls in high school for an hour, and if, as was often the case, he was half asleep in one room and one of the girls practicing on the piano at the other end of the house made a mistake the discord would instantly arouse him. The influence of my mother was so silent and so much a part of myself that I am scarcely more conscious of it than I am of the time of my birth. I do not remember the time I did not love the Lord. But some how or other the impression was made on my mind that church membership was not for children; and therefore I did not publicly profess my faith in Christ until I was in my sixteenth year. An older sister asserts that from infancy I was dedicated to the ministry; but I do not remember that the work of the ministry was ever presented to me until I had concluded my first year in college. When I was on the eve of making a personal profession of faith in Christ the first and only person who ever spoke to me on the subject of accepting Christ was my father- and by his sick-bed I said, I will. During my first summer vaca- tion from college I was plowing, for a few days I had been think- ing that probably I ought to be a minister. There was no con- scious resistance, but rather a perplexity as to whether or not this was the call of duty. Father came out to the field, took hold of the handles of the plow and while I followed made known his desire-but asked me to take time for reflection. I replied, No, I have been thinking about it; I will enter the ministry. In 1882 the Presbyterians started a school in Sedalia known as the Sedalia University. I was one of the earliest students on the ground and remained there the entire period of the history of
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the institution-five years. A full college curriculum was adopt- ed at the beginning and at sundry times the school bid fair to be a large and important one. But internal dissensions oft recur- ing and the lack of financial support led to its downfall. At the Christmas holidays of my senior year a change in the faculty re- sulted in my two class-mates leaving the institution and I was left to graduate alone-June, 1887-the first and only college graduate the institution ever had. It did not survive the shock ! The school never opened its portals again. The buildings were converted into a railroad hospital and subsequently burned. Two under-graduates, Wm. Sickles and George Keithley, completed their course at Westminster College and after graduation at Me- Cormick Seminary entered the Presbyterian ministry. I had preceded them at McCormick. My father wanted me to go to Danville, Ky. That institution numbered but ten students at that time. And I suspected that father had ulterior motives. In his estimation no women were quite equal to those reared in Old Kentucky. And I was approaching marriageable age! But I said that I had spent five years in a small institution and that now I wanted to come in contact with a larger student body- and for once father gracefully yielded to my wishes. "All is well that ends well." I married a lady of Kentucky birth and father lived long enough to lavish on her the wealth of affection Jacob held for the sons of Joseph. The small schools and the large schools each have their advantages, and I am glad that I passed through both. In the former special opportunities were afforded in the realms of composition and oratorical work, and for personal contact with the teachers. In the latter broader views were gained by contact with more varied intellectual activ- ity. In later years I have frequently seen nominal members of large churches transplanted to small churches where they devel- oped unthought of powers of usefulness. And some of these have afterwards taken important places in large churches to which they subsequently removed.
Just before graduation in 1890 I offered myself to the Board of Foreign Missions. but after conference with one of the secre- taries on account of the condition of my eyes and my general health it seemed best not to enter the foreign mission work. I then turned to the Home Mission field and accepted the pastorate at Unionville. Mo. I was ordained by the Presbytery of Palmyra April 10th, 1890, and remained with that church two years, hav- ing married one of the flock in the meantime-Miss Mary E. Eareckson. In April, 1892. I took charge of the Mount Vernon and Ozark Prairie churches, and was admitted to the Preshytery of Ozark the 14th of that month. For three years I remained as
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stated supply of these churches and then entered upon the work of the pastorate of the Second Church in Springfield, where I was installed as pastor May 9th, 1895. To this work I have given the best years and the hardest work of my life. Progress has been painfully slow, but the sowing in tears has issued in the reaping of at least some sheaves. Frequently we have been made to re- joice by the reports of efficient services performed far away by those who had their training here. The church reached self-sup- port in October, 1900, built a manse at a cost of nearly $1,900 the following year and has spent on improvements and repairs not far from $2,000.
I have always received more commendation for my work in the city and in the Presbytery than for my work in the local church; and I am not sure but that my work as a Presbyter has given me more satisfaction than any other. Certainly it has brought more criticism. ' I think I have received two words of criticism for every word of approbation. The former generally came from those for whose opinions I cared the least, and the lat- ter from those I esteemed the most. This has led some to think that I am immune from such wounds. One with whom I had sev- eral tilts said: "Criticism hurts me, but you can saind up all day and let a man throw briekbats at your abdomen." But, gentler reader, I will confide to yon the secret that I have felt where I have not winced. The Presbytery of Ozark had fallen into the habit of ordaining practically every applicant. The so- called "exceptional cases" far outnumbered the "regulars." Be- yond the confines of the State even it was known that this was an exceptionally loose Presbytery in regard to qualifications for ordination. Ten or twelve years ago I concluded that the wel- fare of the church demanded that we stop letting down the bars so often; that if a man was to be ordained without the standard of education laid down in the book, or if he came from another denomination, he must first give evidence of efficiency, of a will- ingness to get down to study (rather than a pride in the fact that he had never been to college) and of acceptability to our churches. For the most part the elders in our churches felt the need of men to such an extent that they wanted to ordain almost every appli- cant. The change in this respect was voiced by one of the elders in these words: "I used to say there is a poor fellow who wants to preach. I could not stand to listen to him, but maybe some church will. I now think of the poor church first." As to the ministers, I often envied the serenity of those lovely, godly men who had such sweet confidence that God would take care of his own, even though we were not careful. I know they slept more peacefully after Presbytery than I did. But I just could not help
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acting on my judgment rather than my sentiment, and so a small band of us began to say we must exercise more care in admitting candidates to the Holy Ministry. In a Presbytery that changed so rapidly one soon found himself one of the older men in point of service, and if he took a decided stand kindred minds thrust him into a sort of leadership. Many a time and oft have I been told of things that "ought to be done" when the narrator assured me that he could not lead out in the doing of them because it would hurt him worse than it would me. Other helpers came and when the Old Ozark gave place to the new at the time of the re- union we had the satisfaction of knowing that the standard of qualification for the ministry was at least as high in this as in other Presbyteries of the State. In January, 1902, I was elected Chairman of Home Missions, and held that position until I re- signed to accept the Stated Clerkship September 15th, 1904. I had been a member of the committee for some time before I be- came chairman and remained a member after the retirement from the chairmanship. Here, too, I have had abundant opportunities to get my feelings hurt. For my troublesome conscience would not permit me to let things drift along when I saw that a mis- sionary was not serving his field effectively. My archives contain letters that would be a revelation to some in the nature of epi- thets applied to me, but I have come out with a clear conscience and a conviction that it is better for a man to move on than to divide or destroy a church. Through it all as Home Mission Chair- man I never presented a policy or recommendation that was not heartily adopted by the Presbytery. At the request of Mr. Lit- tle. the Chairman of the Committee, I was appointed tentative Chairman during the interregnum between the reunion Assembly and the formation of the new Presbytery, and performed the du- ties of that position for that portion of the Presbytery that be- came Ozark Presbytery, while Dr. Shepherd held a similar posi- tion in the confines of what became Carthage Presbytery. And at the organization of the new Presbytery of Ozark I was elected Stated Clerk and Chairman of Home Missions. My Presbytery has elected me a Commissioner to the General Assembly twice- the last time to the reunion Assembly of 1907 ..
In the city my brethren have elected me thrice to the Presi- dency of the Ministerial Alliance, thrice to the Chairmanship of the Springfield Lecture Course Committee and twice to the Chair- manship of the Committee on Union Evangelical Campaigns. One of these campaigns was under the auspices of the Presbyterian churches of the city; the other was more general. I have had predilections for research in history, literature and theology, but have sacrificed these to a large extent to my conceptions of gen-
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eral usefulness. Other men have had the ability to be students and yet accomplish as much along general lines of usefulness as I have, but I have not had strength for both. Friends have often wondered why I stay here so long. I reply in general to maintain my ideals. I am neither brilliant nor meteoric. If I accomplish anything worthy a minister of the gospel it must be along the lines of persistent and toilsome service and sacrifice and the main- tenance of a name above reproach.
I have seen something of a tendency in the ministry to sur- render difficult fields, to seek easier and more lucrative or more prominent positions. I have seen some of the evils of constant changes in the pastorate of our smaller churches. And I have tried to throw the weight of my life and influence against these tendencies.
NOICE. D. BRISTOL
Received from the Presbytery of Corning April 12, 1893. Supplied the churches of Conway and Buffalo. Dismissed to the Presbytery of Central Dakota Sept. 19, 1894.
C. A. BUFFA
Of Italian birth and education, Mr. Buffa was ordained by the Presbytery of Ozark April 12, 1893. He supplied the Wal- endsian church and was dismissed to the Presbytery of Montreal Canada Sept. 18, 1895.
CLARENCE E. FOWLER
Born at Wabash Ind. May 1, 1862. Graduated from Wabash, College 1890; McCormack Seminary 1893; licensed and ordained May 12, 1893; received by the Pres. of Ozark July 18, 1893; S. S. of Bolivar, Mount Zion and Willard churches; supplied the Second Church of Springfield during the summer of 1894. Dis- missed to the Presbytery of Muncie April 16th, 1895.
WILLIAM F. VANDER LIPPE.
This son of the manse was born in St. Louis May 2d, 1869. He received his degrees at Westminster College and McCormick Seminary. From the seminary he came direct to the Second Church of Springfield and was ordained and installed July 18th, 1893. Here he gave great promise of usefulness, but the recent
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trials through which the church had passed prior to his coming discouraged him and his pastorate was all too brief.
The pastoral relation was dissolved May 29th, 1894, and Mr. Lippe was dismissed to the Presbytery of St. Louis April 16, 1895.
GEORGE HENRY HEMINGWAY.
Born in Yorkshire, England, February 4th, 1858. Educated in the institutions of his native country and by private teachers. Mr. Hemingway began his ministry in the Methodist Church and entered the Presbytery of Fargo in 1889. After serving various churches in Dakota and Iowa he was received by the Presbytery of Ozark October 18th, 1893, and was installed pastor of the First Church of Carthage September 20th, 1894. The pastoral relation was dissolved and Mr. Hemingway was dismissed to the Presby- tery of Northumberland February 2d, 1897. Hastings College conferred on him the degree of D. D. in 1899. Mr. Hemingway is remembered in the Presbytery as a man of no mean pulpit attainments, and was specially strong in condemnation of sin and on subjects of moral reform.
P. P. BRIOL.
Received October 18th, 1893; dismissed to the Presbytery of Solomon September, 1894. Mr. Briol has since lived in the bounds of the Presbytery and has done supply work in the Waldensian and other churches, but for the most part has been engaged in secular work. 1
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