USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York > Part 18
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John M. Austin assumed the pastoral care of this church in October, 1844, and discharged those duties till June 29, 1851, when he resigned and became editor of the Christian Ambassador, a de- nominational journal of this persuasion then published in Auburn, when after twelve years as editor, he was appointed paymaster in the army with the rank of major. At the close of the war he re- turned to Auburn where he engaged in literary and missionary work until his death in the 80's.
It was during his pastorate that the present church edifice was erected, which for over two decades was one of the leading attrac- tions of Auburn church architecture. During Dr. Bartholo- mew's pastorate a re-modelling took place resulting in a stately new front, with the tallest and most graceful of Auburn's many spires.
After Rev. Austin came W. R. G. Mellen, who served them four years and was succeeded by D. P. Livermore, who remained from November 1855 to October, 1856. He was the husband of the late Mrs. Livermore who later became a distinguished public lecturer.
Rev. D. K. Lee, D. D., took the pastoral charge in July, 1857. He remained eight years and removed to New York in 1868. He
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was succeeded July 7, 1865, by Richmond Fisk, D. D., who remained till the fall of 1868.
Rev. J. G. Bartholomew, D. D., commenced his labors October 29, 1868, and remained three years; J. J. Twiss, February 1, 1872 to October 16, 1872; J. W. Keyes, April 6, 1873 to September 30, 1876; Lewis L. Briggs, February 1, 1877 to April 25, 1880; T. E. St. John, June 11, 1880 to September 26, 1881; M. W. Tabor, February 26, 1882 to March 25, 1883; J. J. Brayton, June 11, 1883, to June 3, 1888; John M. Bartholomew, a son of J. G. Bartholomew, D. D., October 7, 1888 to May 3, 1891; Ora M. Hilton, March 6, 1892 to July 31, 1902 ; Arnold I. Yantis, present pastor, September I, 1902.
The Sunday school connected with this church was started in 1834, by Rev. G. W. Montgomery, in the old red brick church, opposite to where they now are. Mr. Montgomery was superinten- dent during his pastorate of ten years and had with him as teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Ethan A. Warden, Mrs. Bacon, Mr. Sheldon and others. The Sunday school has not only sustained itself but in many instances it has contributed liberally towards supporting the church.
Here is a church unique in many ways, for it has able men among its members who do not believe in leaving the pastor to do much that is not within his province to do, but are willing workers in Sunday school work, and are firm believers that the Sunday school is really the backbone of a church.
Here Sabbath after Sabbath can be seen classes of many of Auburn's brainest young men lined up for instruction in many lines not obtainable in Sunday schools of other denominations.
WALL STREET METHODIST CHURCH.
At a session of the Oneida Conference held in July, 1854, Rev. B. I. Ives was appointed to the First Methodist Church then located on the corner of North and Water streets with the understanding
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that a mission be started in the northwestern part of the city. He held the first services for this purpose in an old stone school-house on Division street. The meetings were held in this building for some time. The school trustees were requested by the teacher in charge to stop these meetings, which was immediately done. For a time after this, services were held in Alonzo Munsell's dwelling on Wall street. Brother Ives was appointed to the Wall Street Mission in July, 1856.
On August 25, a meeting was held at the above-mentioned place and a Board of Trustees was chosen consisting of the following members: William Barnes, A. Munsell, T. J. Francis, W. H. Holi- day and J. W. Haight; the last two mentioned were members of the First Church. In September, Rev. Ives and Munsell were chosen to procure a place for public worship. They obtained the use of the old brick building on the corner of Washington and Seymour streets. They had thirty-seven members to start with. At the conference held in the following April, eighty-one members were recorded. In the meantime Rev. Mr. Ives had been appointed chaplain of the prison, and at this conference Wall street was left to be supplied. The Rev. Fitch Reed had been presiding elder for the first year, but now the Rev. William Reddy was appointed. Rev. Ives was secured to supply the church. During that year forty-five names were added to the church roll. He was again appointed at the next conference but at the first quarterly conference, owing to Mr. Ives being unable to supply the church on account of his duties at the prison preventing, the Rev. E. Owen of Wyoming Conference was invited to become pastor. This change was a dissatisfaction and members divided into parties, and remained so until the next con- ference which was held in Auburn with Bishop Simpson presiding. Rev. William Reddy brought him down to look over the territory and the result was that the Rev. E. C. Curtis was sent to Wall street church. Shortly before this the congregation had been turned out of the old school-house; Rev. Mr. Curtis made his first move by
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buying the building and moving his congregation back to their old quarters. The trustees had already bought the lot where the church now stands. There were then one hundred and twenty members.
The Official Board at a meeting held June 27, 1859, decided to commence the erection of a house of worship and elected the follow- ing building committee: Alexander Thompson, chairman; Horatio Hamlin, J. H. Hoskins, Myron Cowel, James Maltbie, A Munsell, L. Coons, and I. T. Davis. The building cost $3,000 and was dedi- cated in the spring of 1860. Bishop Taylor preached the sermon, and Rev. Ives made the prayer dedicating the house to the worship of God.
Rev. Hiram Gee was appointed presiding elder and the Rev. M. I. Kearn was the new pastor. At the close of his pastorate the Rev. Kearn united with the Episcopal Church.
The Rev. William Cobb followed in 1863. The Rev. R. Town- send came next and gave the church two years of hard and suc- cessful work. Rev. J. T. Wright was then the presiding elder liv- ing on Wall street and his family were members of Wall Street Church.
The years 1867-8 gave them two preachers, the Rev. S. Stocking and Rev. S. M. Fiske.
The Conference of 1869 was held in Auburn and was the first session of the Central New York Conference. Rev. U. S. Beebee united with it at this session. It appointed the Rev. B. I. Ives for presiding elder and Rev. I. H. Barnard was assigned as pastor.
Next on the list was Rev. T. B. Sheppard. During his third term he was transferred to fill a vacancy at Ilion, and Rev. Daniel Cobb of the Minnesota Conference was secured to fill out the term. The time of holding conference was changed to fall, and Rev. T. R. Green was sent to Wall street. The Rev. B. Shove became presiding elder in 1873. Rev. Mr. Green was released owing to poor health and Rev. William Searles preached during the summer, and at the
THEODORE P CASE
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next conference Rev. U. S. Beebee was appointed pastor. After a term of two years he became presiding elder.
The next pastor was Rev. T. Stacy. During his pastorate the church was enlarged. Rev. Stacy stayed three years and was followed by Rev. H. B. Cassavant, who remained one year.
Next came Rev. Theron Cooper for presiding elder, and Rev. R. D. Munger for pastor. Mr. Munger was followed after two years by Rev. I. T. Brownell who was obliged to relinquish his charge on account of poor health; his wife died during the first year. The Rev. H. A. Crane of the Syracuse University was secured to fill out the year. Dr. L. C. Queal was the next presiding elder. Dur- ing his time the old church was remodeled, 1887, and a practically new church with a graceful spire and three thousand-pound bell was resultant. Dr. Queal had charge and Bishop Andrews and Dr. C. J. Little were preachers at the dedication. The church complete at that time cost $14,000.
The Rev. Mr. Sharpe was here for three years. Rev. M. S. Wells came in 1888, and remained five years. This brings us down to 1893, when Rev. R. D. Munger was appointed presiding elder and Rev. H. C. Moyer pastor. The Rev. C. E. Jewell, E. Brooker, H. C. Mayer, two years; A. N. Broadway, two years. The present pastor, Rev. Mr. Cooper, a newcomer.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Auburn, was organized April 24, 1819. Auburn was then included in the "Cayuga Circuit;" in 1820 it became a separate charge and its first pastor was Gardiner Baker. The society then comprised fifty-one members and they erected a plain wooden chapel on the site of the parochial school building on Chapel street, in which they worshipped until 1834. In 1832 John Seymour and Tallmage Cherry erected with their own funds a substantial stone church on the corner of North and Water streets at a cost of $13,000, which was dedicated February 6, 1833. Rev. John Dempster officiated. The society bought the building
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one year later. In April, 1867, the church edifice was destroyed by fire and the loss was a serious one to the society as they had just completed extensive repairs, and paid off all indebtedness upon it. Rev. William Searles had just been assigned to this charge and he found his people without a place of worship. The loss was promptly remedied, a lot was purchased on the west corner of South and Exchange streets, and a church edifice erected upon it at a cost of $40,000; the new church was dedicated January 7, 1869.
After removal to the new stone church on North street, the the Chapel street property was sold to the Roman Catholics.
Of the early history of the church but little can now be obtained as the records have been lost.
Among the first pastors of the North street Church were: Rev. John Dempster, Rev. George Peck, Gardiner Baker, Joseph Cross and Thomas Pearne, but the exact dates of their respective pastor- ates cannot be given.
The Rev. A. J. Crandall was appointed in 1844, to the charge, and remained two years. During his pastorate a great revival of religion occurred under the labors of that remarkable man, Rev. John N. Maffit. The revival affected not only the interests of the Methodist Church, but all denominations became united in the services and several hundreds were converted and united with the various churches of Auburn.
Rev. D. W. Bristol followed Mr. Crandall in 1846, remaining for two years, until July, 1850, when Rev. David Holmes was appointed at the session of conference as his successor. Mr. Holmes served two years and during his pastorate, revival services lasting several weeks were conducted by Rev. Benoni I. Ives, whose splen- did singing and earnest exhortations attracted and held the crowds of people who attended and gained for the church nearly one hun- dred additional members.
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After the two years' pastorate of Mr. Holmes was closed, Rev. A. J. Dana was appointed to succeed him and occupied the pulpit from July, 1852, to July, 1854.
As his successor came Rev. B. I. Ives, who during his second year of service organized the Wall Street Methodist Episcopal Church. This was in 1855, and Mr. Ives remained until the follow- ing year when having received the appointment of prison chaplain, Rev. Wm. Reddy was appointed and assumed the care of the church in July, 1856.
At the end of nine months Mr. Reddy was made presiding elder of the Auburn district in April, 1857, and Rev. A. S. Graves was appointed by the bishop presiding at the annual conference to fill his place.
After a pastorate of three years, Rev. D. W. Thurston was appointed and served from 1860 to 1862. Rev. D. A. Wheadon, D. D., was sent to the church in 1862, and served until April, 1864, when Dr. William C. Steele became the pastor of the church. Mr. Steele remained three years and left in April, 1867.
It was during the session of conference of this year and month that the old North Street Church was burned, and the news having been wired to Conference the presiding bishop made some changes in his appointments. that were just completed that he might send Rev. William Searles to the aid of the afflicted church, which was without a place of worship. Under the leadership of Mr. Searles the present fine church was erected and dedicated in January, 1879.
The pastorate of Mr. Searles extended over a period of two years, and he was then succeeded by Rev. E. Horr Jr., who served the church from April, 1869 to October, 1872.
Rev. William H. Annable was at this time sent as shepherd of the flock and served earnestly and faithfully for a period of three years, when Rev. William Searles was sent again to the church for a second period of service and remained two years.
In October, 1877, Rev. John Alabaster succeeded Mr. Searles
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and remained as pastor for the next two years, when John F. Clymer was appointed to fill the place. He served most acceptably until October, 1881, when Rev. H. F. Spencer became pastor and served during the next two years.
In October, 1883, the Rev. Dr. Luke Queal came to the church as successor to Mr. Spencer and served for two years, when he was succeeded by Rev. George Avery, who came in October, 1885, and remained until October, 1887, when Dr. O. H. Houghton came to the church and remained until October, 1892, a pastorate of five years, which was the full time limit as extended by recent act of General Conference.
At the close of Dr. Houghton's pastorate the church was without a pastor until February, 1893, when Dr. H. R. Bender was trans- ferred from a Pennsylvania conference and filled the pulpit for another five years.
The next incumbent was Rev. C. M. Eddy, who came in 1898.
Along in the 80's, Thomas Jones of the firm of Jones & Merritt Biron, contractors, then one of the leaders of the church workers, erected at his own expense a twelve-thousand dollar addition in the rear of the already spacious edifice, thereby giv. ing increased facilities especially for Sunday school work.
TRINITY METHODIST.
In the month of August, 1885, Rev. I. C. Queal, D. D., then pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church on Exchange street, Auburn, consulted with the official members as to the propriety of purchasing the property on the corner of East Genesee and Evans streets for the purpose of building thereon a chapel for Sunday school work and occasional services in connection with the First Church. A committee was appointed consisting of Thomas Jones, John F. Driggs, C. A. Porter, and C. E. Parker, and the property was bought September 2, 1885, of F. A. Sloan for $4,000.
The house was finished for a double tenement. About the first of May, 1886, work was begun upon the chapel under the super-
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vision of Mr. Thomas Jones and the same was completed the follow- ing October.
In the meantime it was suggested that there were Methodists enough in this part of the city to organize as a church, so with the approval of Dr. Queal a meeting was called at the house of C. A. Porter on Franklin street, at which time the following trustees were elected: C. E. Parker, C. A. Porter, A. S. Martin, W. D. Tuller, and R. T. Broad.
A charter was at once filed in the county clerk's office, the society taking the name of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church of Auburn, N. Y.
Rev. Arthur Copeland was appointed by the conference, October 15, 1886, the first pastor and his work was crowned with success. At the end of the first year the number of members reported was one hundred and forty.
Rev. Copeland was followed in 1889, by Rev. Charles E. Babcock according to the plan of the Methodist itinerancy that did not allow a minister to stay more than three years on a charge. The east half of the house was used as a parsonage.
Rev. Mr. Babcock held the pastorate for two years which also did Rev. Levi Bird as he came in October, 1891, and left in October, 1893, after a three years' successful pastorate, the latter staying two years, the work of the church progressing meanwhile in all its branches.
After a decade of itinerary with several of the ablest preachers of the denomination, "Little Trinity around the corner" (on Evans street) is placed in charge of the Rev. Mr. Skinner, a more than energetic pastor, who during a three years' pastorate has rushed to completion, from the laying of the cornerstone to dedication, one of the most beautiful and unique up-to-date temples of worship in the state, at the dedication of which on Sunday, September 29, 1907, the Methodists of this locality during Conference Week had "the time of their life."
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The total cost of the church and parsonage, outside of the site, was $55,000, and the cash and subscriptions before the dedication amounted to $34,000, leaving a balance due of $21,000. Of this amount there was still due when the evening service came $9,500 but when the last gift had been made at the close of the night, not long before the midnight hour, the balance needed to free the church and start it clear had been subscribed.
ZION M. E. CHURCH.
Over in the middle distance of the landscape as viewed from Fort Hill and other high places of observation in the city appears most conspiciously the graceful spire of one of the most picturesque and best equipped church edifices outside of the larger cities, wherein the colored population of Auburn can worship in "a church of our own."
A little over a half century ago the Afro-American race of Auburn had no permanent plan of worship and no regular pastor. It was their custom to hold meetings at some house, and perhaps some travelling preacher would come and hold a sort of revival meeting.
This church was organized in the late 40's, by the Rev. Mr. Johnson with a few families and began worshipping in an abandoned wooden school house on Washington street which was erected by the then village of Auburn for a separate school for colored children, and later turned over by the new city authorities to the colored people for church uses. After Mr. Johnson, came as pastors, Rev. Joseph Johnson, John Thomas, Rev. Inskip, Rev. Anderson, William Cromwell, James Green, Rev. Bosley, Solomon Jones, and Singleton H. Thompson, each of whom served them three years, and Revs. Phenix, Lacy, and Wright one year. Later, we find Biddle, C. A. Smith, Gibbs, Castor, Walker, Daingerfield, Thomas, King, Ely, Cephas, and again C. A. Smith, and others whose names are not at hand.
During the history of this organization they have been blessed with some noted ministers and bishops. With the influence of
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prominent leaders this society was able to honor God with a new house and August 9, 1891, they laid the cornerstone of the new M. E. Zion Church on a new site on Parker street, Bishop Thomp- son presiding and Rev. J. R. Daingerfield as pastor. On the twenty- second day of November, 1900, with Rev. C. A. Smith as pastor, they celebrated the fifty-third anniversary of the church.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES. BY LOCAL PASTORS.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY.
The Holy Family Church of Auburn, N. Y., was the cradle of Catholicity in this part of the state. The first Catholic settlers in Auburn were John O'Connor (a man of means and of much mental vigor, grandfather of the present pastor of the Holy Family Church, Rev. John J. Hickey) and Hugh Ward. They came in 1810. They lived here six years without seeing a priest, and then the Rt. Rev. Bishop Connelly of New York, at their request and expense sent them Rev. John Gorman who journeyed from New York by stage in 1816. For a number of years after this mass was celebrated at the O'Connor home on Water street which stood next to the Watson homestead near the site of the Burtis Auditorium. Catholics came from Geneva, Seneca Falls, Waterloo and Ithaca to worship here.
In 1820, Father Gorman came to Auburn and said mass in the Court House, baptized children and performed other ministrations.
There were few Catholics then living between Albany and Buf- falo, and St. John's Church at Utica was built in the 20's to serve them. The first trustees were John and Nicholas Devereaux of Utica, John O'Connor of Auburn, Morris Hogan of New Hartford, Oliver Weston of Johnstown, Thomas Mccarthy of Syracuse, John McGuire of Rochester and Charles Carroll of Genesee River.
In 1825, Father Kelly came from Rochester and ministered to the wants of the few families.
In 1828 Rev. Dr. Farron came from Utica a few times to visit the Catholic pioneers. A few months later Father McNamara dis-
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pensed his labors here. Then came Father Hayes from Salina and said mass in the Court House. In 1829, Father O'Donaghue took up his residence in the village and purchased from the Methodists their abandoned meeting house which stood on the site of the present Holy Family school on Chapel street.
The church was dedicated in September, 1830, under the name of the Church of the Holy Family with John O'Connor, Hugh Ward, James Hickson, Thomas Hickson and David Lawler as the first lay trustees. The Rev. Father O'Donaghue became the first resi- dent pastor. Father Connolly was his successor and he was succeeded by Father Grace who died here in 1844; Father Bradley came next. Rev. Thomas O'Flaherty succeeded Father Bradley and remained here until 1856 when the Rev. Martin Kavanaugh came for one year. Rev. Michael Creedon succeeded him in 1857. In 1861, Father Creedon built the present beautiful church edifice which stands on North street Later he was removed to Elmira and was succeeded by Rev. James McGlew. He remained pastor for two years when Rev. Father O'Flaherty became pastor for the second time. He was succeeded by Rev. Martin Kavanaugh, in 1869, who during his pastorate built the present school-house on the site of the old one and was again appointed pastor. He remained until 1874, and was followed by Rev. Edward McGowan, who served the pastorate until 1877, when he was succeeded by Rev. William Seymour, who remained in charge of the Holy Family Church until his death which occurred in 1895. Father Seymour built the present parochial residence and enlarged the Sisters of Mercy Convent. The deceased was succeeded by the present pastor the Rev. John J. Hickey through whose energy and enterprise most of the improve- ments which have taken place in the church and its surrounding property are due. Father Hickey purchased the property on the corner south of the church, removed the unsightly buildings, and he has one of the finest church lawns seen anywhere. He remodeled the whole interior and exterior of the church edifice and school
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building, including the erection of the two handsome church towers and the large and commodious sacristy. The church interior with its elaborate decorations and furnishings, including a number of mural paintings by Munich artists, the magnificent stations of the Cross in the form of artistic statuary, the extensive system of electric lighting consisting of one thousand incandescent lights, etc., is one of the finest in the state. The installation of a superb chime of bells and Munich stained glass windows will be shortly added by Father Hickey to make the equipment of this beautiful church unusually complete. Numerous other improvements have been made which greatly beautify that part of North street on which the church is located.
ST. ALPHONSUS' CHURCH
In the year 1853, about twenty German families decided to have their own church and a pastor of their own nationality.
For some years the Redemptorist Fathers of St. Joseph's German Church, Rochester, N. Y., visited Auburn about once a month to attend to the spiritual wants of the German Catholics, until in the year 1854, a small wooden church was built on Wall street, near State. The first resident pastor was Rev. Jacob Kunze, who stayed about six months; then the German parish was attended by the Redemptorists of Rochester.
In 1855, Bishop Timon sent as pastor, Rev. Dom Guymer, who left the parish in 1856, and St. Alphonsus parish came again under the pastoral care of the Redemptorists of Rochester until the year 1869.
Of these priests Rev. Van Emstedd deserves special mention. Under him the snug little brick church in Water street (that had been built by the Second Adventists in the 50's and abandoned after being "tired out a'waiting") was bought. In 1866, the sacra- ment of confirmation was administered, for the first time, in the German church by Bishop Timon of Buffalo.
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In 1869, Rev. Charles Vogel, a highly educated and worthy priest, became pastor of St. Alphonsus's parish. With the help of charitable Protestant Americans this pastor was enabled to make many improvements, conspicuously a handsome steeple, from the belfry of which peals forth the pleasant tones of a thousand-pound bell, the bell being paid for mostly by a "chip in" by nearly every business man in Auburn, and when in 1874, Father Vogel left, the church was free from debt and the parish was in a very flourishing condition.
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