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 7
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The ministerial accessions of this decade who left a permanent and prominent impress on the Presbytery were Drs. Marks and Putnam, Rev. G. H. Williamson, J. G. Reaser, D. D., T. H. Cleland, D. D., and R. W. Ely. Dr. Marks and Mr. Williamson were pre- eminently the field workers, serving .the Presbytery with marked efficiency as Presbyterial evangelists at different times. Mr. Wil -ยท liamson has probably erected more houses of worship in the Pres- bytery than any three or four other ministers. The preaching of sermons seems to have been a passion with him. He usually steered clear of the city churches and acepted a pastorate in a group. To these separate churches he would go during the week and hold one or more services before the Sabbath day. Drs. Put- nam and Cleland brought to the Presbytery wise counsel and marked executive ability in the administration of the Home Mis- sion Chairmanship. Dr. Reeser, one of the most scholarly men who has graced the annals o fthe Presbytery, brought forth fruit in old age first in educational endeavors connected with Carthage College and later in rehabilitating the church of Webb City. To- ward the close of this decade Mr. Ely began that remarkably efficient bishopric of Neosho, if not of the Presbytery. With added years few things Presbyterial ever escaped the attention of Ely.
1890-1907.
For fifteen of the last seventeen years of the Presbytery's existence I have been a member. I therefore write from personal
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
observation. This period marked the growth of the city churches. Note the following :
Church
Year
Communicants
Year
Communicants
Calvary
1890
375
1907
555
Carthage
1890
346
1907
523
Joplin
1890
53
1907
450
Webb City
1890
30
1907
325
Monett
1890
*17
1907
162
Neosho
1890
65
1907
208
Young people's work received specific Presbyterial oversight for the first time about the beginning of this period. The first committee on young people's work was appointed in 1892.
The need of an awakening from the spiritual lethargy into which the churches of the Presbytery, in common with the church at large, had fallen was felt in this Presbytery several years before the Assembly appointed its Evangelistie Committee. As early as 1898 Presbytery appointed a special committee, of which Rev. H. O. Scott, D. D., was the efficient Chairman year after year, to awaken an interest in the evangelization of those at our doors. This committee was called the Committee on Aggressive Work until some time after the Assembly had appointed its com- mittee, after which the name was changed to harmonize with that used in other parts of the church.
Conferences on evangelism were held in connection with the meetings of Presbytery and evangelistic services were arranged for various churches under the supervision of the committee. The first report recorded noted "the wisdom of the plan and showed a gain of sixty-five confessions above last year." The increase the next year was even greater, and although this con- dition was not steadfastly maintained, Presbytery never entirely lost the evangelistic stimulus it had received.
The bone of contention in the Presbytery for a number of years was constitutional rule No. 1. i. e., relative to local evan- gelists. The need of ministers, the dearth of candidates, and the meager support offered conspired to induce Presbytery to regard practicalaly every comer an "exceptional" case. The Presbytery came to be known far and wide as exceedingly lax in its educa- tional requirements for the ministry. Some of us realized that this situation was impoverishing our churches and making them chronically weak and dependent. Hence we began to insist that those who sought ordination as exceptional cases and those who came from other denominations that had not received the educa- tional advantages required by our standards should first try their gifts and prove their "aptness to teach"-and their aptness to study. For the most part the elders were against us and enough
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
of the ministers were on that side to make the contest exceed- ingly spirited. As an entering wedge, September 21, 1898, the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That hereafter this Presbytery will not enter upon the examinations of ministers de- siring to come in our church from other denominations, and par- ticularly from non-Calvinistic bodies not in correspondence with us, unless Presbytery has first had the assurance the candidates have studied at least one year the following works: . Dr. Shedd, Dr. Hodge or Dr. Henry B. Smith on theology in connection with the Confession of Faith and the Shorter Catechism, the Form of Government, Sacraments and Directory of Worship as set forth in our standards."
. In what one of those who advocated raising the standard considered an evil hour the writer induced the Presbytery to temporarily dispose of one case by applying constitutional rule No. 1. Thenceforth this expedient was ordinarily resorted to, but the Presbytery was again divided into strict and lax con- structionists. The elders began to change front somewhat as one of my old friends expressed it: "I used to say, 'There is a poor fellow who wants to preach.' I would not listen to him, but maybe somebody will; let him try it.' Now. I say, 'There is a poor church; my church could not survive under such feeble minis- trations; I must guard that weak church.'" By patience and persistency the local evangelists were required to pursue a regu- lar course of study while exercising their gifts. Those who re- fused to do so either left the Presbytery or were discontinued; the others were ordained in due time. In an observation of fifteen years in this Presbytery I have never known anything to be gained by hastening the ordination of an applicant who was unprepared. But I have known several who because of delay and the requirement of preparation were put on their mettle and became quite efficient under shepherds. Such a change was ef- fected in the Presbytery that from being the most lax in the State the requirements were doubtless as rigid as any in the State at the time of the union. So far as the new Presbytery of Ozark is concerned, I have no doubt the standard will be maintained. The Cumberland Church in Southwest Missouri had been, if anything, more lax than the Presbyterian. This condition of affairs had sapped the pioneer efficiency of that body. For ten years it had made practically no progress. Here, too, is the key to the situa- tion as to the strong opposition to the union. These statements are based directly on the testimony of intelligent ministers who came into the union from that side. One of the most discrimi- nating ones assured me that so far as this region is concerned there would have been a division in their ranks had the union never taken place. In September, 1906, Presbytery co-operated
-
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
with representative C. P. men in a ratification of the union, and from thence forward until the reorganization of the Presby- teries the two bodies co-operated in home mission endeavors, first by the employment of Rev. W. C. Hicks as pastor-evangelist and then by the grouping of churches. In January, 1907, the Home Mission Committee of Ozark Presbytery held a conference in the Second Church of Springfield with Synodical Missionary J. B. Hill, D. D., Field Secretary B. P. Fullerton, D. D., and home mis- sion representatives of the four C. P. Presbyteries in Southwest Missouri, that practically covered the territory of the Presbytery of Ozark, U. S. A. It was decided to administer the home mis- sion interests of the various Presbyteries, in part at least, as though the consolidation had been effected. Rev. E. E. String- field was made tentative Chairman for the Eastern and Rev. J. F. Shepherd for the Western Section.
In the subjoined report on home missions taken from the minutes of April, 1907, I have placed in parenthesis the churches in the Westeru Section that were formerly Cumberland since they were not indicated, as were those of the Eastern Section.
"In view of the fact that Synods Committee on Presbyterial Readjustments incident to the union had appointed Rev. E. E. Stringfield, Ph. D., temporary Chairman of Home Misions for the Eastern Section of the Presbytery, and Rev. John F. Shep- herd, Ph. D., for the Western Section, the report of the Home Mission Committee was presented in two sections by the respective chairmen. The reports were received and the clerk cast the bal- lot of Presbytery for the several recommendations :
For Eastern Section (showing appropriations made for for- mer Cumberland churches as well as our own) :
.
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
Groups
Aid recommended- Cumb. Pres.
Groups
Aid recommended -- Cumb. Pres.
Fordland $ 75
Crane
250
-
Marionville
Brookline
100
1 Burnham $150
Bolivar
50
Pomona
150
Fair Play
75
Willow Springs. 250
Conway
100
Mountain View .. 100
-
Willard
50
Liberty
50
- Stockton
50
Mt. Carmel 50
New Providence
75
Walnut Spring ...
75
Everton
Dadeville 50
Bellview
100
Ray Spring
Buffalo
100
Spring River
Evans 100
Mammoth Sp'gs 100
r Mt. Olivet. 100
Spring Creek 150
Oak Grove
Rondo
75
That Rev. W. C. Hicks be commissioned as Presbyterial Evan- gelist at a salary of $1,200 and traveling expenses, it being under- stood that all funds collected by him for services rendered shall be turned over to the Home Board; and it is guaranteed by the Springfield ministers that these funds will equal $400 for the year.
For the Western Section :
(1) That Carterville be constituted a station with Rev. O. C. Cude as supply. (2) North Heights, Joplin, Rev. Samuel Wiley, supply. (3) Grace and Salem, Rev. J. S. Stapleton, supply. (4) That Madison and Preston be grouped with (Red Oak) and (Bowers Mill), Rev. T. S. Brown, supply. (5) Irwin, (Hopewell), (Ianthe), Rev. A. E. Faust, supply. (6) That Waldensian Church be made a mission station. (7) That Seneca and White Oak, or (Pierce City), be made a charge to be supplied.
Appropriations : To Carterville, $500; North Heights, $500; Grace, $125; Salem, $100; Madison, $75; Preston, $75; Irwin group, $125; Waldensian, $100; Seneca, $100; White Oak or
-
Mt. Zion 100
Hickory Grove .... 50
- - Pleasant Divide. 75
Stockton A
100
S Walnut Grove 100
S. Greenfield
- Bethel 100
-
Mountain Grove$150
Cabool
50
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
(Pierce City), $100; Bethany, $150. Hoberg to be supplied by J. L. McCauley."
It is worthy of note that in every town in Southwest Mis- souri where both branches of the church had organizations the Cumberland churches entered the union. In some of these places tentative consolidations were effected, whilst in others perma- nent consolidations were effected before the Presbyteries were united.
The C. P. Church of Joplin was received by the Presbytery in September, 1904, that it might unite with the First Church. Presbytery ratified the union that had been effected at Webb City by resolution passed September, 1906, and in April, 1907, formal union was Presbyterially effected of the two churches at Neosho and at Mount Vernon. The churches at Ash Grove, at Greenfield and at West Plains contented themselves with tenta- tive consolidations until the reorganizations of the Presbyteries, whilst the two organizations at Carthage and the four (two of each branch) at Springfield have remained separate. At the time of the union Ozark Presbytery had apparently entered upon the period of its most substantial prosperity. The statis- ics were somewhat affected by the consolidations alluded to above, yet apart from this the progress was indeed encouraging, as a comparison of the two years will show:
Ministers
Churches
Added on Ex.
Added by Cert.
Whole No.
S, S. Members
Home Mis.
For. Mis.
Education
S. S. Work
Ch. Erec.
Relief Fund
Freedmen
Colleges
Temperance
Congregations
29 45 361 533 4069 4264 3440 2309 112 326 2186 182 269 1343 128 33913 year 1907 26 42 318 224 3454 3527 2478 1797 71 141 128 137 240 395 26478 year 1906
The Arkansas churches and ministers by the terms of the enabling act fell to the Presbyteries in that State, whilst Vernon County was added to our territory, and Ozark Presbytery was divided into two-Ozark and Carthage.
On the 29th of September, 1870, the first Presbytery of Ozark was organized at Greenfield, and on the 18th of June. 1907, its legal successor was organized at the same place. On the same day the Carthage Presbytery was organized at Webb City.
Rev. J. T. Bacon was elected Moderator of the Presbytery of Ozark and Rev. E. E. Stringfield Stated Clerk. The sub- joined extracts from the minutes will suffice for a glimpse at the origin and prospect of the new Presbytery.
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE .OZARKS
(From the Minutes of Ozark Presbytery.)
GREENFIELD, MO., June 18, 1907.
Pursuant to the Enabling Act adopted by the General Assembly May 23, 1907, the Presbytery of Ozark met for organization in the Presby- terian Church at 11:30 a. m., a quorum not having arrived until that hour. Devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. J. T. Bacon.
The convener, Rev. J. T. Bacon, constituted Presbytery with prayer. The Clerk, Rev. E. E. Stringfield, read the Enabling Act, which in so far as it relates to this Presbytery specifically is as follows:
III. Ozark Presbytery shall include the counties of Cedar (except Eldorado Springs Church), Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Laclede, Ozark, Polk, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright; and also all the ministers and churches residing within or located in said counties. * * *
* * * * * * * *
V. That all Treasurers and Trustees heretofore acting for or reporting to any of the Presbyteries hereinafter named, in holding or managing general or special funds or trusts, shall hereafter report as directed below; and shall be subject to all orders and supervision of the respective new Presbteries named, to the same extent and in the same manner as they were subject to the Presbyteries to which they heretofore reported, viz., such officers of the Presbyteries of * * * Ozark, Ozark-A, Springfield-A, and West Plains to the new Presbytery of Ozark.
VI. That the new Presbyteries above named, within the limits in this act assigned them, shall assume jurisdiction; that (except as otherwise pro- vided in the foregoing sections) they shall succeed to all ecclesiastical, civil and property rights of the Presbyteries heretofore exercising jurisdiction over said territory; and that they shall, within the said limits, have anu hold the same, with all the rights, privileges and immunities thereto be- longing or in any wise appertaining, so far as they may lawfully do so. * * * * * * ** * *
VIII. That the newly erected Presbyteries of the Synod of Missouri shall meet on the third Tuesday of June, 1907, at the hour of 10 a. m., and at the places named below, to organize, to elect Stated Clerks and Commit- tees, and otherwise to arrange for the further conduct of their business; and that, unless otherwise voted, the persons named below shall serve or act as officers until their successors are elected at the stated fall meetings of their respective Presbyteries, viz:
Presbytery, Ozark; place, Greenfield; convener, J. T. Bacon; clerk, E. E. Stringfield.
Further, the Enabling Act designated the roll of the Presbytery as follows :
Churches-Ash Grove, Barren Creek, Bellevue, Bolivar, Brookline, Buf- falo, Burnham, Cabool, Cave Spring (Mount Zion), Competition, Conway, Crane, . Dadeville, Elk Creek, Evans, Everton, Fairplay, Fordland, Green- field (two churches), Happy Home, Hazel Dell, Heady, Liberty, Lockwood, Mansfield, Maple Grove, Mount Carmel, Mount Comfort, Mount Dade, Mount Moriah, Mount Olivet (Dade County), Mount Zion (Dade County), Mountain Grove, Mountain Home, Mountain View, New Bethel, New Hope, New Providence, Oak Grove, Peace Valley, Phillipsburg, Pierson, Pleasant Divide, Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Ridge, Pleasant Valley (Howell County), Pleasant Valley (Wright County), Pomona, Ray Spring, Rondo, Ross Chapel, Seymour, South Greenfield, Spring Creek, Springfield Calvary,-First C. P ..;- Second,-Springfield Avenue, Stockton, Stockton (Gum Spring, Union Chapel, Walnut Grove, Walnut Springs, West Plains (two churches). White Oak Pond, Willard, Willow Springs, Wilson's Creek.
Ministers-C. J. Allen, J. T. Bacon, J. H. Barnett, John Bell, S. D.
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
Belt, G. M. Bonner, W. J. Bruce, D. A. Collins, J. F. Daughtrey, Joseph Davis, W. A. Denby, J. H. Doran, S. A. Gardner, W. J. Garrett, J. H Glan- ville, J. M. Glick, S. A. Graves, W. L. Hackett, S. S. Hardin, W. C .. Hicks, J. E. Johnston, J. T. Jones, J. B. Lemmon, Henry Little, J. A. MeCroskey, C. C. McMahan, L. J. Matthews, C. H. Mitchelmore, A. B. Moore, T. C. Newman, G. W. Plummer, R. S. Ramsey, E. L. Renick, E. J. Rice, J. E. F. Robertson, H. W. Rose, D. F. Royer, J. A. Russell, W. R. Russell, E. W. Sage, W. E. Shaw, J F. Scherer, R. J. Sims, C. W. Smith, P. S. Smith, E. E. Stringfield, J. M. Vaughn, D. B. Whimster, M. F .Wells, J. D. White, John Wilson. Corrections in the roll were deferred until the fall meeting.
Rev. E. E. Stringfield, Chairman, presented the report of the Com- mittee on Perfecting the Roll, which was adopted as follows:
The Committee on Perfecting the Roll submits the following report: At the organization of this Presbytery the General Assembly trans- mitted to us a roll composed of those ministers and churches located within our .confines that formerly belonged to the Presbyteries of Ozark, Ozark-A, Springfield and .West Plains. So far as the former Cumberland Presby- teries were concerned the Assembly in this Enabling Act embraced all ministers who were members May 24th, 1906, and who had not been regularly dismissed to some other body. But in view of the fact that these Presbyteries had formed new rolls in the interim, from which rolls those who had formally renounced the action of the Assemblies on the subject of union had been excluded, this committee was appointed. In the dis- charge of its duties your committee gives due credit to the acts of the several Presbyteries and therefore presents for the present roll of this Presbytery the ministers and churches within our bounds on the :unended rolls of the several Presbyteries. As none of the churches were excluded by these Presbyteries we recommend that the Enabling Act govern the enrolling of churches.
As to the Ministers:
The Presbytery of Springfield, in session at Seymour, September, 1906, passed the following resolution:
Whereas, the retiring Moderator, the Rev. T. C. Newman, declared that it is his purpose and the purpose of the brethren whose names are hereinafter given to repudiate the action of the General Assembly of the C. P. Church meeting at Decatur, Ill., May, 1906, on the question of union with the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., resolved that the names of the following ministers. be dropped from our roll: J. H. Barnett, Joseph Davis, A. B. Moore, T. C. Newman, J. A. Russell and M. F. Wells
The Presbytery of Ozark-A, at Golden City, Mo., August 29, 1906, took the following action: "Whereas, the following ministers, to-wit. J. F. Daughtrey, G. T. Jeffers, J. T. Jones, C. G. L. McMahan, R. S. Ram- say, W. E. Shaw and I. V. Stines, have renounced the action of the late General Assembly of the C P. Church at Decatur, Ill., and the authority of the united church, which is the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and organ- ized a separate Presbytery, resolved that their names be dropped from our roll. ''
While the Presbytery of West Plains took similar action, yet as none of the names dropped by that Presbytery appear in the Enabling Act creating this Presbytery it is not necessary to record that action at this place.
We find an error in the initials of Rev. J. A. Graves in the Enabling Act, to-wit: Said act gives them as "S. A.," instead of "J. A."
We also find that the name of R. J. Sims was inadvertently placed on our roll by the Enabling Act, whereas he properly belongs to the Presby- tery of Carthage, where he will be enrolled.
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
Making the correction in Brother Graves' initials and omitting these names and that of Rev. D. B. Whimster, dismissed by this body to the Presbytery of St. Joseph, we recommend that at present our roll is as follows:
C. J. Allen, J. T. Bacon, John Bell, S. D. Belt, G. M. Bonner, W. J. Bruce, D. A. Collins, W. A. Denby, J. H. Doran, S. A. Gardner, W. J. Garrett, J. H. Glanville, J. M. Glick A. J. Graves, W. L. Hackett, S. S. Hardin, .W. C. Hicks, J. E. Johnston, J. B. Lemmon, Henry Little, J. A .. MeCroskey, L. J. Matthews, C. H. Mitchelmore, G. W. Plummer, E. L. Renick, E. J. Rice, J. E. F. Robertson, H. W. Rose, D. F. Royer, W. R. Russell, E. W. Sage, J. F. Scherer, C. W. Smith, P. S. Smith, E. E. String- field, J. M. Vaughn. J. D. White, John Wilson.
As the Enabling Act did not include the names of licentiates and can- didates we enroll them here.
Licentiates-O. H. Campbell, J. C. Bigbee.
Candidates-George Scherer, Riley Van Buskirk.
As to the Churches:
It appears that there is no church by the name of Heady, as given in the Enabling Act, but that this is the postoffice for the church given later under the name of Ross Chapel.
The Pleasant Hope Church was inadvertently omitted from the En- abling Act.
The Presbytery having consolidated the churches at Ash Grove, at Greenfield and at West Plains, there still remain two churches by the name of Mount Zion, two by the name of Pleasant Valley and two by the name of Stockton.
On account of local conditions it is not deemed advisable at present to make any recommendations looking to the change of name where two churches have the same name.
We recommend that the roll of churches at present be as follows:
Ash Grove, Barren Creek, Belleview, Bolivar, Brookline, Buffalo, Buin- ham, Cabool, Competition, Conway, Crane, Dadeville, Ebenezer, Elk Creek, Evans, Everton, Fair Play, Fordland, Happy Home, Hazel Dell, Liberty, Lockwood, Mansfield, Maple Grove, Mount Carmel, Mount Comfort, Mount Dade, Mount Moriah, Mount Olivet, Mount Zion (Dade County), Mount Zion (Greene County), Mountain Grove, Mountain Home, Mountain View, New Bethel, New Hope, New Providence, Oak Grove, Peace Valley, Phil- lipsburg, Pierson, Pleasant Divide, Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Hope, Pleas- ant Ridge, Pleasant Valley (Howell County), Pleasant Valley (Wright County), Pomona, Ray Spring, Rondo, Ross Chapel, Seymour, South Green- field, Spring Creek, Springfield Calvary-First C. P .- Second-Springfield Avenue, Stockton, Stockton (Gum Spring), Union Chapel, Walnut Grove, Walnut Springs, West Plains, White Oak Pond, Willard, Willow E'prings, .Wilson's Creek.
We recommend that the committee b econtinued, with a view to dis- covering what churches are opposed to remaining in the United Church.
E. E. STRINGFIELD J. M. GLICK, W.R. RUSSELL, Committee.
Supplemental Report of Committee on Perfecting Roll:
Inasmuch as it appears that the Ozark Church was inadvertently
71
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE OZARKS
dropped from the roll of the former Springfield Presbytery, we recommend that the Ozark Church be restored to the roll.
(April 15th, 1908.)
Perfecting Roll.
Rev. E. E. Stringfield, Chairman, presented the report of the Com- mittee on Perfecting the Roll. The report stated that there were fifty- four churches formerly Cumberland Presbyterian that were assigned to this Presbytery by the Enabling Act, including the church of Ozark, which the Presbytery restored to the roll; that three of these, Ash Grove, Greenfield and West Plains, had been consolidated with existing Presbyterian U. S. A. churches in these towns; that it is now deemed expedient to consoli- date the Dadeville and Mount Olivet churches under the name of Dadeville, and that of the remaining fifty churches twenty-six report to this Presby- tery and twenty-four have not yet acknowledged our jurisdiction. The strength of the union movement, however, is greater than these figures would indicate, as the opposition exists for the most part in the smaller churches, and even in these respectaable minorities favor the union.
The resolutions of the report were adopted, as follows:
(1) That all the churches be retained on one roll at present.
(2) That the Presbytery send to the General Assembly the following overture :.
The Presbytery of Ozark respectfully overtures the General Assembly to retain the following churches on the roll, but to omit the membership and all statistical information concerning them for the following reasons: (a) While some of these churches are negotiating with us none of them are co-operating with this Presbytery.
(b) All of them are enrolled in anti-union Presbyteries, though at present it does not seem best for us to drop them.
(c) The only available statistics as to membership, etc., are utterly unreliable. The churches are: Barren Creek, Competition, Happy Home, Hazel Dell, Mansfield, Maple Grove, Mount Comfort, Mount Dale, Mount Moriah, Mountain Home, New Bethel, New Hope, Peace Valley, Pierson, Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Hope, Pleasant Ridge, Pleasant Valley (Howell County), Pleasant Valley (Wright County), Ross Chapel, Seymour, Union Chapel, White Oak Pond, Wilson Creek.
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