USA > Nebraska > Congregational Nebraska > Part 4
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Mrs. Goddard was with her brother the last nine and one-half years of his life and heard much from his lips of his experiences in Nebraska.
Traveling over the state was more difficult in pioneer times than it is to-day with our splendid railroad systems, but even now a sixty-mile drive over sandhills and prairie is by no means uncommon.
*Letter dated June 29, 1904.
63
REV. C. W. MERRILL, SUPERINTENDENT
XIII
REV. C. W. MERRILL, SUPERINTENDENT
Superintendent Gates was succeeded in 1881 by the Rev. C. W. Merrill of Waseca, Minnesota, as State Superin- tendent of Home Missions, and with his advent we may date
TIIE MODERN DEVELOPMENT OF CONGREGATIONALISM IN NEBRASKA
When Superintendent Merrill made his first report he found, out of the "136 nominal organizations 132 de facto churches"; of these fourteen were self-supporting. Sev- enty-four churches were supplied with regular services ; fifty-one a part of the year; and eleven had no regula" services.
The German Association, which has such an interesting history, had come into being with eight churches, and Rev. J. D. Stewart was soon to enter upon his duties as State Superintendent of Congregational Sunday School Work, so that Superintendent Merrill had the help of his valuable assistance, for the cultivation of a Sunday school mission field was often the most valuable preparation for vigorous church extension. The problems of the field were very similar to those which confront us to-day.
During the first six and one-half months of Superin- tendent Merrill's service he traveled 12,595 miles, 580 of these by team. It was no sinecure office which he filled.
He had a strong conviction that there was need of "a better understanding of the relation of the church to the A. H. M. S. The idea of some seems to be to get all that can be secured from the society, and the church make up
REV. C. W. MERRILL Fourth State Superintendent of Home Missions
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REV. C. W. MERRILL, SUPERINTENDENT
the rest of pastor's salary; the idea of others, to ask and get a certain amount from the society and raise a certain amount themselves.
"What is the true idea ? Simply this : the Home Mission- ary Society is a helper. A thorough, careful canvass should be made of the church, the field, all who will give to sup- port the Gospel, and then an honest answer given to ques- tion twenty in the form of application, 'The least amount that will suffice from the A. H. M. S.' Pardon the blunt- ness, but in many cases that question is not honestly an- swered."1 The Board of Directors of the Nebraska Home Missionary Society in their monthly meetings appreciate the application of these plain words to present-day condi- tions. Too many times a thorough canvass of the local field has not been made. This may be natural, but it is not Christian.
The association this year-1881-recommended to the churches the Congregational paper "Church and Village," established and owned by Rev. H. A. French, then pastor at Milford. This paper was established in July, 1880, and in July, 1882, its name was changed to "The Nebraska Congregational News." It has held a unique place among the state Congregational papers of the country and is placed in the very front rank. It has been a valuable medium through which church and school news, secured in no other way, comes to our homes and has been published in Lincoln where Mr. French resides.
The association in 1882 was able to record a marked in- crease in benevolences and conversions, and a "kindling enthusiasm in Bible study and Sunday school work." It also took measures to organize a State Home Missionary Society to take the place of the State Central Home Mis- sionary Committee. This organization was completed at
1 Minutes, 1881, p. 29. 5 .
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67
REV. C. W. MERRILL, SUPERINTENDENT
the meeting in York in 1883 with the following officers : President Rev. W. S. Hampton, Recording Secretary Rev. L. Gregory, Treasurer Rev. C. W. Merrill; Board of Di- rectors : Rev. H. Bross, Leavitt Burnham, Rev. L. Greg- ory, Pres. D. B. Perry, Rev. W. Scott, Rev. A. F. Sherrill, and Charles West.
With this organization Congregational Nebraska came into line with the older states in the aggressive work of the churches.
At the meeting of 1883 Superintendent Merrill reported that he had traveled during the year 27,173 miles, visited 130 churches and fields, and delivered 123 sermons and addresses. The churches had increased to 147. Fourteen churches had been organized during the year, five of whom were German. Omaha now boasted its second church, St. Mary's Avenue, organized May 8, 1883. Omaha has now, 1905, eight churches, the First, St. Mary's Avenue, Ply- mouth, Saratoga, German, Cherry Hill, Hillside, and Park Vale.
It was generally the privilege of the association at its annual meetings to welcome representative Congregation- alists from the East and from other state associations. In the earlier days delegates from other state bodies were re- ceived, and the association appointed delegates to their state meetings. This pleasing custom gradually went out of use, but our missionary secretaries continue to visit us from time to time, and in these later days enterprising business committees have secured the presence of some of the most noted missionaries from the foreign field. They have thrilled us with their addresses, and have given us a larger vision of the world-wide work in which we all have a common interest. We shall not soon forget the visits of such men as Dr. W. S. Ament of China and Dr. R. A. Hume of India.
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CONGREGATIONAL NEBRASKA
THE NEBRASKA SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
In the '8os we find the Nebraska Sunday School assem- bly established, with Rev. A. E. Dunning, D.D., of Boston, as conductor. A Chautauqua assembly for some years was conducted at Crete with superior programs, which at- tracted visitors outside of the state, but the enterprise was not a financial success, and was, after some years' trial, reluctantly given up. It is a matter of sincere regret that this movement, which gave prestige to the denomination and was developing a Congregational consciousness, should have failed for want of financial support. The reasons for this it is not our purpose to discuss. Opinions vary. The loss to the churches, however, is evident.
THE GERMAN WORK
The German work was so rapidly expanding that a general superintendent, the Rev. George E. Albrecht, was appointed with headquarters at Davenport, Iowa. Dr. Al- brecht, in the interest of the German work, visited the asso- ciation at its Norfolk meeting in 1884. Dr. Dunning was also a visitor, speaking in the interest of the Sunday School Assembly, and Dr. Wm. M. Barrows, Secretary of the A. H. M. S., represented that society. At this meeting Superin- tendent Merrill closed his work in the state, having been enticed to resume pastoral labor in Minnesota.
Mr. Merrill is now in Saratoga, California, and in re- sponse to a request for some reminiscences of his experi- ences in Nebraska sends the following characteristic letter :
"SARATOGA, CAL., June 4, 1904.
"DEAR BROTHER-I send in this some crude material for you to work over if you can make use of it. I have left it in 'the rare' because I had but little idea how much room you would wish to give, if any, to what I send.
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REV. C. W. MERRILL, SUPERINTENDENT
"I preached one Sunday in the First Church of Omaha ; the next Sunday the same sermon in a sod schoolhouse in northern Nebraska, the insects so thick I could hardly breathe without swallowing bugs; yet cultured and college- educated people in the schoolhouse could appreciate the best sermon as well as the people in the Omaha church. When the church at Arlington was organized there was not an original Congregationalist in the organization. Congrega- tionalism is the solution of such a situation. Church or- ganized at Phelps Center, the county seat. New railroad went through, and town of Holdrege started four miles away. Phelps Center in winter time was put on runners, every building, stores, schoolhouse, residences, and all and 'slid' over to Holdrege, four miles.
"Student employed on one field of three points for the summer ; preached every Sunday morning at one point, and in the afternoon alternated between other two points. I went on the field and wished to visit all three points in one day; rode forty miles; preached three times; held three communion services; held three church meetings; reached home at midnight, or rather reached starting point; strong, hot south wind, mercury 107 degrees above zero; student used up riding around and looking on while superintendent next morning started on for other work.
"Church building put up at Freewater in the Republican valley. Foundation had to be in by a certain time or largest subscription lapsed; delayed in getting brick; they came right in height of harvest, when the men could not be spared from the fields for a single day ; women took teams and went twenty-four miles to railroad, loaded the brick on wagons, drove them home; foundation put in at night, subscription saved; and building dedicated free from debt. These wo- men were of finest culture and education.
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"Had correspondence with persons in Beatrice about church organization; one night by telephone arranged for services the next Sunday ; conducted the services, completed the arrangements, laid the plans, called the council, and in- side two weeks the church was organized and services, regular services, established.
"When I closed my work as superintendent, I received a call from this church, signed by every member, some over forty, in the church.
"When I began my work the First Church in Omaha was the only Congregational church in the city; their idea was to have one strong central church. They saw their mistake afterward.
"I secured Rev. Geo. Hindley to work in the neighbor- hood of the St. Mary's Avenue Church. In about a year effected an organization ; secured Rey. Willard Scott from New York; had to give $750 from the missionary society on salary of $1500. Committee thought it very unwise ; in third year the church came to self-support, and soon be- came one of the best churches in the state.
"Went to Ogalalla; no church, Sunday school, or any- thing of the kind. Just before I was there a fire burned down most of the business part of the town ; some men were gambling in a saloon; saloon took fire, men moved their table into the street and went on with their gambling by light of the burning buildings.
"I secured a man to go there as teacher and preacher, and in a short time had council called to organize a church.
"But I think I better 'say amen and quit.'
"I don't know as I have come within forty rods of what you wish, but have at least shown my good will.
"Most cordially yours,
"C. W. MERRILL."
71
REV. J. L. MAILE, SUPERINTENDENT
XIV
REV. J. L. MAILE, SUPERINTENDENT
Rev. J. L. Maile, formerly of Michigan, was chosen state superintendent in place of Mr. Merrill.
During Mr. Merrill's service in the state the work had so expanded that we find in his last report that in this time, three years and eight months, he had traveled 93.712 miles : by team 2,666; by railroad 91,046, and had given 534 sermons and addresses. Forty-two churches had been organized with a membership of 646, and forty-three meet- ing-houses erected.1 A general missionary was also ap- pointed, Dr. H. Bross, for several years pastor at Crete, entering upon the work.
Superintendent Maile's first report, given at Beatrice, 1884, shows that the list of churches had increased to 168. Seventeen of these were self-supporting. Nebraska was still a missionary state, and its history largely of home missionary work. The development of church and school was largely dependent on the fostering care of the Na- tional Home Missionary Society.
The state itself is a large debtor to the generous aid of the home missionary societies connected with the different denominations represented within its borders. It has not yet, nor can it easily, cancel its obligations.
The churches in this period believed in the installation of pastors, and the year 1885 witnessed the following in- stallations by councils : Rev. W. P. Bennett at Crete, Rev. S. H. Harrison at York, Rev. C. E. Harwood at Fairfield, Rev. William O. Wheeden at Beatrice, and Rev. W. D. Page at Cowles. There were also ordained that year Rev.
1 Minutes, 1884, p. 24.
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REV. JOHN L. MAILE, M.A. Fifth State Superintendent of Home Missions
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REV. J. L. MAILE, SUPERINTENDENT
George C. Hall, Rev. John Lich, Rev. George W. Mitchell, Rev. A. B. Show, Rev. W. D. J. Stevenson, Rev. W. O. Wheeden, Rev. W. D. Page, and Rev. J. W. Hadden.
The following churches were dedicated that year: Be- atrice, Cambridge, Cumminsville, Doniphan, Emanuel, Franklin, Fremont, Gloversville, Indianola, Liberty, Mar- tinsburg, Milford, Newcastle, Omaha Third, Pierce, Rich- mond, and West Cedar Valley. Chadron, Cowles, Lincoln, Norfolk, Ogalalla, and Stratton had houses of worship nearly completed.2
Such lists from year to year were not infrequent. These are noted as an illustration of the ecclesiasticism of the period ; the development of a Congregational consciousness. There was "something adoing" in the state all the time.
The five years of Superintendent Maile's service in the state represents a time of marked interest in the develop- ment of the educational interests of the denomination and in questions of church polity. At the Beatrice meeting 1885, Rev. W. P. Bennett read a strong paper representing the old view, "The second principle in our polity," which was published in the Congregational News, and was spoken of as "especially timely in our own state," which indicates the conservative trend of thought at the time in reference to the fellowship of the churches.
The centralizing tendency in church polity of the present day would have been vigorously opposed then. In 1888 Rev. L. F. Berry of Fremont gave a masterful paper on "What constitutes a quorum of a council?" and by vote of the association it was ordered printed in the minutes.3
It was this year that Dr. A. F. Sherrill closed his long pastorate in First Church Omaha and removed from the state, to the great regret of all the churches.
2 Minutes, 1885, pp. 18, 19.
3 Minutes, 1888, pp. 15-33.
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CONGREGATIONAL NEBRASKA
LETTER FROM DR. SHERRILL
In response to repeated and urgent requests Dr. Sherrill sends a jubilee message to the Nebraska churches :
"LEE, MASSACHUSETTS, August 18, 1904.
"DEAR BROTHER-You ask me to give the relative status of the Congregational churches in Nebraska when I went there in 1869, and when I left in 1888. At the former date there were about twenty of our churches in the state. Some of them had a very plain frame meeting-house, more had none, and all depended on the Home Missionary So- ciety for help. In 1888 there were 168 churches in the state. Forty-seven were self-supporting, generally with good, modern buildings, some of which had cost $50,000 or more. The early churches, though few and small, cor- responded well with other growth and conditions in the state, and with their pastors were useful, and regarded well by the people.
"The superintendents succeeding Mr. Gaylord kept pace with frontier progress, and preserved our good reputation as pioneer churches. Our first pastors were followed by younger men, as President Perry. Rev. Lewis Gregory, Superintendent Bross, and others, who came to the state to remain and do permanent work, and their services to the churches, to education, and other interests can not be overstated. When I left Nebraska, our denomination was in the forefront as to number and activity of churches, and Doane College with affiliated academies, illustrated our reputation everywhere for interest in Christian education.
"In those earlier days we tried to plant churches only , where they were plainly needed, avoiding sectarian ambi- tion, and keeping the responsibility for too many churches in the town where it belonged. In closing, let me pay a hearty tribute to the laymen of both sexes, whose worth,
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REV. J. L. MAILE, SUPERINTENDENT
generosity, and devotion contributed so largely, not only to the growth of the churches but also to all that enters into the foundations of a good commonwealth."
Supt. J. L. Maile closed his labors with the Nebraska churches in 1889 at the Ashland meeting of which he was moderator.
The Home Missionary Society expressed by vote its "high appreciation of the consecration and devotion he has mani- fested, and the efficiency he has shown in his five years of service with us; and we heartily commend him for the work he has done, and bid him Godspeed in the work which lies before him."+
Mr. Maile has kindly furnished recollections of his work in the following letter :
"LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, June 18, 1904.
"DEAR SIR-In line with your request for some recollec- tions of the events of my work in Nebraska, I send you the following :
"As Superintendent for the Congregational Home Mis- sionary Society in Nebraska, I began my labor in October, 1884, attending the State Association at Norfolk, as a be- ginning of my work.
"I relinquished my superintendency of state Sunday school work in Missouri to accept this appointment. Dur- ing the two previous summers I taught in the normal de- partment of the Crete Chautauqua assembly, directing the program during the second season. My previous acquaint- ance with the Rev. J. D. Stewart at Chautauqua, New York, led to these engagements.
"From the acquaintance thus formed in the state, I was asked to succeed Rev. C. W. Merrill, resigned. He had successfully led the home missionary work for a number
4 Minutes, 1889, p. 24.
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CONGREGATIONAL NEBRASKA
of years, following Superintendent Gates. I may say that as Secretary of our National Sunday School Committee, formed at Chautauqua, New York, in 1878, I there met Brother Stewart, and thus one contact and friendship led on to another.
"The work of this national committee led to the holding of a Congregational congress at Chautauqua in 1879, at which Joseph Cook, Lyman Abbott, Dr. J. O. Means, Dr. Hutchins, and others addressed our Congregational people. Our agitation of the need of an advanced movement in our denominational Sunday school work culminated in the ap- pointment by the directors of the Sunday School and Pub- lishing Society of Rev. A. E. Dunning, D.D., as National Secretary.
"Under the reorganization, Rev. Jno. L. Maile was ap- pointed first on the list of superintendents to serve in Colorado, Rev. J. D. Stewart was next assigned to Ne- braska, and Rev. H. P. Case succeeded Mr. Maile in Colo- rado, the latter being transferred to Missouri.
"These successive steps in the development of our general Sunday school work are interesting and important because the prosperity of our home missionary work has been much assisted by the aggressive life of our Sunday school enter- prise.
"My five years' work as superintendent of home missions in Nebraska occurred during a period of energetic expan- sion and occupancy of many communities on the advanc- ing of settlements.
"Some sixty-one churches were organized during this period; not all of these organizations were due to my initiation. I recall as having little to do with starting the work at Beatrice and Seward; the German churches were not recipients of my care, although I cooperated for their welfare as best I could.
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REV. J. L. MAILE, SUPERINTENDENT
"General Missionary, Harmon Bross, my most efficient and honored successor, started the work at Chadron, Craw- ford, Hay Springs, Hemingford, and other places. I vividly recollect the improvised meeting-house of Plymouth Church in Lincoln, with earth banked well-nigh up to the eaves of the board structure, resultant in comfort during severest winter storm. In the council organizing the church at Burwell, Rev. Lewis Gregory rendered very important assistance.
"Thus I might recall the incidents occurring on many new fields.
"At Curtis the work was started under very primitive conditions. Doniphan required persistent faithfulness on the part of Rev. J. H. Embree. The church at Dustin was due to the energetic efforts of Mrs. Dustin and family. They had come from Boston for the benefit of the health of a son and daughter, and found a marked contrast in the manner of life at the metropolis, and in the distant valley of northern Nebraska. Mrs. Dustin rode her broncho from one isolated ranch home to another, and interested mothers and children in Sunday school and temperance work.
"The work at Farnam was first led by Rev. John Wool- man, whose large family was domiciled in very small quarters, and at that time the people of the congregation were in the midst of the trials incident to pioneering in those days. Our Grand Island church was formed under cir- cumstances which led some good people to doubt the success of the enterprise. Rev. Mr. Comstock was the first pastor, and I judge a succession of efficient ministers have wisely led the church.
"At Leigh I found a Dr. Geer, brother to a former fellow- student at Oberlin, and have since met him here in southern California. This church enjoyed one or two genuine re- vival seasons, and was much strengthened thereby.
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"I think it was at Newcastle that I made my first visit in northeastern Nebraska immediately after the association meeting in 1884. The elderly minister was in a peck of trouble, and the wisdom of the superintendent was drawn upon to solve sundry problems. I trust this work survives in strength.
"At Ogalalla I assisted in dedicating the meeting-house. Mr. L. E. Brown, who was passing from the law into the ministry, was the young pastor. A successful series of meetings was held. The family of the station-master was specially interested and the work received a strong impulse.
"Five churches were organized in Omaha during my administration, and I suppose they have had varying de- grees of success.
"I recall the beginning of the work at Strang and Shickley, under the lead of Mr. Glen A. Taylor, who came direct froni Yale Theological Seminary. Special difficulty seemed to attend these enterprises, but they were in good measure overcome.
"Geneva was started by the Presbyterians, but was changed to our Congregational fellowship by the almost unanimous action of the people concerned.
"At Trenton, well on toward the western line of the state in the Republican valley, Mr. and the Misses Hogg were the pillars in that church. If memory serves, a very ungodly man made a generous subscription toward build- ing the meeting-house, on the ground that he did not wish passengers, looking from the Pullman car windows upon the village, should consider it a heathen community because no church edifice was visible. I have met the Misses Hogg in Los Angeles, as indeed many old friendships have here been renewed.
"My recollections of the details of the work are so im- perfect that I hesitate to write the above. Much more
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REV. J. L. MAILE, SUPERINTENDENT
might be said. A true spirit of consecration and of earnest desire to build up the Kingdom of Christ characterized our ministry and churches as a whole. I enjoyed the hearty cooperation and friendliness of pastors of self-supporting churches. A. F. Sherrill, Willard Scott, Lewis Gregory, President Perry, Professor Fairchild, J. D. Stewart, and many others might be mentioned whose inspiring friend- ship was of greatest value to me.
"Mr. Charles West of Lincoln very efficiently served as Secretary of the State Board of Home Missions. He re- moved to Denver and there passed to the Beyond.
"It was my privilege to serve as trustee on the board at Doane College. The inside views there obtained con- firmed iny sense of the importance of education conducted under distinctly Christian anspices. Much quiet, hard work . has gone into the young life of Nebraska from this insti- tution. The affiliated academies are doing an equally im- portant work, the circle of institutions forming an ideal combination for the attainment of the great ends they represent.
"In my addresses to the churches, I frequently urged the importance of dedicating promising young men to the Christian ministry, and since our churches were served by pastors who had been raised up elsewhere, we should de- velop our proportion of ministers for the time to come. I pressed the importance of sustaining our educational in- stitutions as an effective method of building up our churches in the Christian life.
"The impression was thus unwittingly made that I was specially interested in Christian education, and when the Educational Society at Boston was, in 1889, looking for some one to serve as college field secretary, I was asked to take that responsibility. I accordingly resigned my Ne- braska appointment, and in October of said year began in
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