USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Jamestown > History of the First Baptist Church of Jamestown, New York : 1827-1915 : organized as a branch church December 25th 1827 : organized as an independent body May 24th, 1832 > Part 7
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Trustees-Frank W. Bigelow, Charles I. Moore, Otto L. Bloomquist.
Advisory Committee-Pastor, deacons, trustees, clerk, John F. Dearing, Joseph Hartley, Alton E. Page.
Church Clerk-Axel E. Anderson; assistant, Iva B. Hollenbeck.
Treasurer-S. B. Burchard; treasurer Benevol- ence, G. R. Butts.
Missionary Committee-George R. Butts, Mrs. C. B. Clover, S. B. Burchard, L. J. Warren, Miss Iva B. Hollenbeck, Carl A. Anderson, Miss Sarah J. Griffith.
Chief Usher-Charles A. Sandburg.
Church Custodian-Jay W. Storey.
Chorister-John Hartley.
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Organist-Miss Leola Fairchild.
President Dorcas Society-Mrs. Mary J. Gra- ham; secretary, Mrs. Clara Walker.
President Women's Missionary Society-Mrs. A. L. Furlow; secretary, Mrs. Edward Swanson.
President Social Circle-Melvin Patchen; secre- tary, Mrs. Guy L. Trantum.
President Farther Lights-Mrs. A. F. Purkiss; secretary, Miss Bertha Tweedale.
President Baptist Young People's Union-Har- old Stoddard; secretary, Miss Audry Bronson.
President Light Bearers-Mary Agnes Burch- ard; secretary, Ernestine Pulver.
President Baraca Brotherhood-Albert S. Price ; first vice president, Harry Ingleson; second vice president, Harry Kimberly; secretary, Sylvester Pelton; treasurer, C. E. Bradley.
BIBLE SCHOOL.
Superintendent-John F. Dearing; assistants, Frank Tweedale, L. R. Drake; secretary, Miss Nel- lie C. Dyer; treasurer, Claude E. White; superin- tendent primary department, Mrs. Maude White; superintendent missions, Mrs. C. B. Clover ; super- intendent home department, Miss Louise Geer.
Teachers-Mrs. Jennie Burchard, Mrs. J. A. An- derson, Miss Bertha Tweedale, Ellen Unsworth, Iva Hollenbeck, Susan Berry, Marion Thompson, Inez Gregg, Mrs. Grace Keopka, Claire Bradley, Miss Jessie Clark, Sarah Powell, Mrs. Helen Butts,
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Mrs. G. W. Thompson, Mrs. Elizabeth Patchen, Milo Harris, Paul Turner, Miss Grace Anderson, L. J. Warren, A. E. Thompson, Mrs. Inez Drake, Mrs. W. G. Thomas, L. M. Butman, George R. Butts, Miss Martha Tweedale, Rev. A. F. Purkiss, Harold Stoddard, Miss Clara Blackmar.
Supply Teachers-Mrs. A. F. Purkiss, Mary R. Crissey, Mrs. Edith Anderson, Mrs. Bernice Wil- son, Albert S. Price.
Several young men have entered the ministry who first found a church home here. George F. Woodbury was one, and he has proved the wisdom of his choice of a profession in the faithful and ef- ficient work he has done as missionary, colporteur and preacher in the sparcely settled portion of the northern part of the State. Herve Georgi also, though he soon transferred his allegiance to the Presbyterian Church, has done good work in North Dakota and Minnesota. James Lawson demon- strated the heroic material of which he was made in preparing for the ministry, only to be called to the Church Triumphant, just as he was ready to enter into a larger, and we believe, a very useful career. Charles Kingman, another son, prepared for the ministry, and entered upon a work of teaching and preaching in Illinois. Frank Kidder, in the first decade of the church, and Duey L. Martin in the fifth, were converted and baptized into the James- town church, while they were attending school. They subsequently took their letters to their home church at Busti, and entered the ministry from that
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church. Both subsequently became pastors of the home church, and both again came to reside in Jamestown, and worshipped with the church which first piloted them into the Kingdom.
Another promising young man, Fred Laidler, died in Brooklyn, N. Y., while serving as assistant Y. M. C. A. Secretary there. He had lived in Jamestown since childhood, had been converted un- der the preaching of Dr. Peltz, and taught a class in the Sunday School most successfully. One at a time he concentrated his labor, thought and prayers upon his unconverted pupils, until he saw them all received into the church. He also conducted the choir for a few years. He passed away in 1887.
Our minds turn to the thought of a summary of the work actually accomplished by the church in all the years of its activity. At the fiftieth anni- versary of the church in 1882, the total number bap- tized was stated to be five hundred eighty-three, thirty-three received upon experience and former baptism, and five hundred five received by let- ter. And at that time $6,159.66 had been contri- buted for benevolence according to the records, which it was admitted did not contain all of such contributions.
At the seventy-fifth anniversary in 1907, the number baptized had grown to one thousand and seventy-seven, received upon experience, eighty- one, and by letter nine hundred forty-seven, and the total gifts for benevolence recorded, was $21,121.80.
And at the present writing we are able to record
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thirteen hundred forty-four baptized, one hundred twenty-one received on experience and eleven hun- dred fifty received by letter, making a grand total of twenty-six hundred or more people who have been members of this church, and the total offerings for benevolent purposes have been $54,500 and more.
Thus far this history has been a reproduction of the secrets recovered from musty records and frag- ments of stone. But that is not all of the history of this church. In closing his sketch of the first fifty years of this church, Dr. Harvey did not for- get the other part of the history, unwritten, unre- corded upon perishing material, and un-ascertain- able for present purposes. He said :
"Statistics cannot measure growth of souls and development of Christian character. No record has been kept of the progress of individual lives toward complete sanctification and righteousness, the un- numbered acts of charity and brotherly love, the sacrifices and toil of the saints in the service of Christ. Between the lines we must read of the temptations that have been resisted, the dark crook- ed paths that have been made straight and light, the burdens of sin and sorrow that have been lift- ed from weary, aching hearts, the living grace to live by, and the dying grace to die by. The pic- ture of the past is not complete unless you catch a thought-glimpse of the colorless incense of prayer that has been rising day by day to the throne of God and calling down the blessings of heaven upon the church and the community; unless you detect
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the silent pervasive influence of the divine Truth and the divine Spirit, upon the lives of the thou- sands who have thronged this sanctuary in all the Sabbaths of the past-men and women, many of whom have not chosen Jehovah as their God, but who have nevertheless, in the atmosphere of the church, grown to be better men and women and therefore better citizens. You must note also the power of Christian truth, incarnate in the lives of Christian men, who in the daily walks of business, social and political life, have been a mighty agency for moral uplifting. All these invisible forces must be recognized and measured before we can form a correct estimate of the power for good and God, that has been wielded in this community by this Church of Christ. They, too, are pulsations of that vital current which constitutes the Church's life. These, as well as the baptisms recorded and the dollars paid, are among its active agencies for securing the complete establishment upon the earth of the kingdom of Christ, and thereby enhancing the glory of God.
"Oh, this unwritten history! You and I can not reproduce it all. Only the eye of omniscience can read it. On the records that are kept in heaven it is written. Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things that are written there. They are reserved for the ken of angels and of the saints made per- fect. They will furnish unto us matter for rejoic- ing on the day of that greater jubilee, when the
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Church Triumphant shall gather about the throne of God the Father, Son and Spirit, and join in songs of praise and thanksgiving over the way in which through all the centuries the Lord hath led his people. If for a moment we could look into God's book of history, if we might be granted a vision of the past of this church as He sees it, from profounder depths of our hearts would arise songs of gratitude for the goodness of the Lord, more sincere and hearty would be our thanksgiving for the establishment of the Church of Christ on earth, more glad and joyous would be our jubilee."
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CHAPTER VIII.
The Sunday School .- Women's Missionary Societies .- Dor- cas Society .- Young People's Societies .- The Baptist Faith.
J UST when the Sabbath School was organized is not known so far as any record shows, or that any one is able to tell. That it was organized at the same time as the church, or im- mediately afterwards is believed to be true and this belief is well maintained by several records. First, in a report made to the State Missionary Board by Rev. Asahel Chapin in 1837, five years after the church was organized, he says, "The num- ber in the Sunday School and in the Bible Class has been greatly augmented." And again the next year he makes a similar report. The minutes of the organization and first session of the Harmony Baptist Association, held in 1839, give us the in- teresting information that the Sabbath School scholars from the Jamestown church gave $.66 for foreign missions. In the minutes of the church meetings it is recorded that in 1845 a committee consisting of Deacon John C. Breed, Harmon Co- vey and R. D. Warren was appointed to nominate officers for the Sabbath School. This is the first item found in the records of the church itself con- cerning the school. No report from the committee is recorded. In 1848 at a regular church meeting a committee was appointed to nominate officers for the Sabbath School and reported Rev. Levant Rath- bun for Superintendent and Eliphlet Mitchell for Assistant Superintendent. This report was accept-
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ed and adopted. So Rev. Rathbun is the first Su- perintendent mentioned in the records of the church, but some one must have preceded him in that office. Tradition has it that Deacon John C. Breed was the Superintendent for some time. He is supposed to have been the organizer and the first Superintendent of the school. The account of Deacon Breed's efforts in Sabbath School work as given in Hazeltine's History of Ellicott strongly favors this belief. The school seems to have pros- pered under the care of Elder Rathbun and his successors in office until 1860. In that year Jerome Preston was elected Superintendent and served five years, and was again elected in 1867 and served until 1895, twenty-seven consecutive years. Then on account of failing eyesight he felt that he could no longer continue the work and resigned. During all but five years of that long period, Mrs. Preston was the Superintendent of the Primary Depart- ment, resigning her position also in 1895. In the first part of Dr. Hellings' pastorate, Mrs. Hellings organized the Junior Department and maintained among the young children a strong interest in the school, which was continued under her successor, Mrs. W. J. Ford, and ever since then the Junior Department has been an important feature of the school. In 1897 the office of Treasurer was added to the official force and soon after, under Mrs. Martha Meads' superintendency, a constitution was adopted for the government of the school.
The school maintained a mission in the old Buf-
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falo Street School House for a number of years during Dr. Harvey's pastorate, but finally turned it over to another organization. It also did its part in aiding the Women's Christian Association to maintain a Sabbath School on the south side, which continued for several years.
One Sabbath afternoon in 1891, forty members of the school including Dr. Waffle, then the pastor, went over to the "West End" and organized a Sabbath School. Four children from that locality were all that were in attendance that first day. From that day until the Calvary Baptist Church was organized the school was assisted by contri- butions of money and teachers from the First Church.
Dr. Waffle also organized the men's Bible class which he taught, and which later became the Senior Baraca Class, and has been taught by every pastor since, except Dr. Adams, to the present time.
The lessons studied by the school at first were portions of some chapter assigned to be committed to memory. These verses were recited to the teacher and a reward of merit was given when a certain number were committed to memory. The International Lessons were probably not intro- duced until about 1874, but have been used con- tinuously since.
The Cradle Roll was organized in 1904 and has been continued with varying success until now, under the faithful and wise management of Mrs. S. B. Burchard, the enrolled members have attained
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large proportions and is a recruiting body for the Primary Department.
The Home Department was organized in 1898, and has proved to be a helpful part of the school.
Of the many excellent teachers who have served the school during its history, a few stand out con- spicuous for long, faithful and efficient service. Mrs. Polly Kimberly in the early days organized the Primary Department, and Mary Laidler, Mrs. Preston, Louise Geer and Mrs. Maude White, have ably continued that work. Mrs. Jane E. Clark, Mrs. Sarah Coates, Mrs. Eliza Windsor, Prof. S. H. Albro, Dr. A. E. Waffle and A. Dickson, taught in the Senior Department, and Mrs. O. B. Butler in the Mission schools, with equal distinction.
The Library was at first a very important feature of the school, and at one time contained nearly six hundred volumes, but owing to the increase of pub- lic libraries in the city, it was not thought advisable to continue it, and it became extinct when the church burned.
In 1901 a system of benevolence was adopted by which the school gave to every object for which the church made regular contributions, and prac- tically the same system has been continued, only the collections are now taken every week instead of once a month.
On February 9, 1902, memorial services were held for Mr. Preston at which time the school en- deavored to express its appreciation of his services, and on the re-currence of the anniversary of his
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death for ten years thereafter, the event was ap- propriately observed.
In 1903, after very full discussion and an extend- ed investigation by a committee, the school adopted a system of grading. This plan strengthened con- siderably the organization of the school. The re- port from that committee appears in full in the Secretary's book.
Reference could be made to many other instances in which the spirit and life of the school have been manifested, good times at picnics, varieties of Christmas celebrations, happy childrens' days, the serious, earnest decision days when the most im- portant choices have been made, the teachers' gatherings when lessons and plans for the school have been earnestly considered, and the sad days when bereavements have come.
We will only add that the history shows that the great object of the school has been maintained, namely : the salvation of the unsaved, the diffusion of knowledge of the Scriptures, and the building up of the Christian life.
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WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETIES
T HE charter members of the church were "Thirteen males and seven females," and if the same proportion of men continued long, it may account for the lack of records of any dis- tinct women's work in the early days. For the lack of such records only a glimpse can be given of the work of the women, all through the years, whose eyes were opened to see the most wonderful of all visions-the news of Christ's Salvation car- ried to every human soul.
Mention is made in the church records of 1842, and also in the Harmony Association minutes of 1846, of the existence of a "Female Missionary So- ciety" in the church. Mrs. John C. Breed was the earliest president of the society known, and a few years later, Mrs. Levant Rathbun was president. Elder Rathbun, during his pastorate made Missions the topic of prayer meetings once each month, and during that time a Young Ladies' Missionary Band was organized, of which Miss Sarah Bush, (later , Mrs. Sarah Coates) was the first president.
Nothing more is known about these organiza- tions, except that they continued to exist until 1867, when they were merged into the new "Dorcas Society," which was more distinctly an aid society, though some foreign missionary work was done through it.
We should remember that the denominational Women's Foreign Missionary Society was not formed until 1871. The Missionary Union had
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learned early in its work, that the beliefs and cus- toms of Asia would not allow women to be taught by any foreign or native men missionaries. At the same time, the customs of our country in those years, did not sanction the going out of unmarried women to aid those down trodden millions. The wives of the missionaries did their utmost, and a few women went out, drawn away from the re- straints of custom by the gospel bonds. Without doubt the early local organizations sent their funds for this women's work to the Missionary Union.
In 1871, the Baptist women of the North arose to forward this special work by a special effort, and organized to find, send out and support women workers, to meet the needs of women, girls and children, in the heathen countries. Mrs. J. H. Clark was secretary of a women's meeting held in connection with the Association in 1874, called for the purpose of interesting women in the plans of the newly organized society, and she soon after or- ganized a circle in Jamestown, which sent $19.50 to the Women's Foreign Society in 1879.
In 1877, the National Women's Home Mission- ary Society was organized and began its work in the South, and in a few years, had demonstrated to the denomination the necessity and efficiency of its work. In October, 1882, a Women's Home Mis- sionary Society was formed with Mrs. Clark as president. She also organized the Young Ladies' Mission Band of which for a year she was leader.
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The Ruthians, a society for girls and boys en- thusiastically began work this year also.
Mrs. Clark saw the greatest opportunity and privilege for herself and her Christian sisters in this women's missionary work, and she was a real pioneer. We gratefully remember her "For what she has done." The Women's Home Missionary Society is the only disbanded missionary organiza- tion which preserved all its minutes, and we record here a complete list of the presidents: Mrs. J. H. Clark 1882, Mrs. Electa (J. D.) Berry 1883, Mrs. O. B. Butler 1884, Mrs. J. H. Clark 1886, Mrs. Louise Shaver 1887, Mrs. Mary Houghwout Breed 1890-94.
The contributions of this society varied with the interest of the women during the years, the largest yearly offering being $114. The Young Ladies' Mission Band sent $20 to the Home and $30 to the Foreign Missionary Societies and gave $30 to the church the first year. When the members began to feel-or shall I say look-less girlish they adopted the less descriptive name, "The Mission Circle." The Circle decorated and fully furnished the room at the hospital known as the Baptist Room, and when the organization voted to join the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Societies in form- ing the present Women's Missionary Society, it was with the proviso that the Hospital Room should be kept in good condition by the new so- ciety. This society always delighted to forward the work in Burma conducted by Miss Putnam who
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went out from Mayville and was a personal friend of some of the members.
Not a record of the work of the Ruthians remains. Mrs. George Breed had charge of this group of young people for the first years, and Mrs. A. E. Waffle ably led them during her stay with us. Ac- cording to a long established custom, many of the girls married or went away to school or work. The honorary young men did likewise, and the organi- zation ceased to exist in 1893.
The Farther Lights Society is the successor of the Ruthians, if not a sequel. In the years of their organization life these young women have collect- ed a good amount of money, much of which has been sent to keep the warning, guiding lights bright in the farther countries. They own quite a section of this beautiful church building, by right of sev- eral substantial payments.
The girls' society, "What I Can," has the best name of all. They have been organized since 1903. They sew and give "What they can," for other children, that they may be Christ's children, too.
There was another group of girls who had the same name for several years, and were helped by Mrs. L. M. Butman and Miss Minnie Hegeman.
The Women's Missionary Society has not proved to be a dangerous "combine," but has accomplished more, with less cost of time, than did the three sep- arate societies from which it was formed in 1896. During the years 1898-1902 under the leadership of
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Mrs. W. P. Hellings, the work became greatly strengthened. Miss Sarah Giffith, Mrs. G. C. Moor and Mrs. A. L. Furlow have proved worthy succes- sors. The organization surely deepens its work a little year by year.
A former member of the society has left on rec- ord the following prophecy as to the future: "The duty of sharing in the building of a beautiful and commodious church edifice having been fulfilled, the women of the church turned with increased zeal and ability to the spreading of the gospel in the city, and in the whole world. And soon, system- atically and in proportion to her income every wo- man of the church was recorded as standing by Christ's mission through the Missionary societies." And why? Let me give you the answer of a mis- sionary worker: "Why should I give money to the heathen abroad, when there are heathen in my own land? Why should I give money to the country when my city needs it so much? Why should I give money to the city when my own church needs it? Why give money to the church when my own fam- ily needs it so badly? Why give money to my fam- ily when I need it so much myself? Why ? Be- cause I am a Christian and not a heathen."
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THE DORCAS SOCIETY
T HE Dorcas Society was organized in 1867 by a merger of all the Women's Missionary So- cieties then existing, into a benevolent sew- ing society, the object of which was more specifical- ly stated to be, "The relief of the poor, especially of our own church and Sunday School, and for the financial aid of the church in any way the society may designate by a two-thirds vote." In casting about for an appropriate name, Mrs. Harman Co- vey suggested the name of "Dorcas," in honor of the faithful disciple at Joppa whom Peter raised from the dead, and the name was unanimously adopted. Mrs. O. S. Lyford was the first president, and the society met in the homes of the members until 1873, after which the meetings were in the church vestry. Besides discharging its self-imposed duties locally, the society assumed many others which were discharged with equal zeal and faithful- ness. In 1874 two barrels of goods valued at $70 were sent to the Kansas sufferers. In 1883, at the an- nual meeting, the gentlemen were invited to tea and the treasurer of the society handed the church treasurer a check for $50, to be applied on the church debt.
After the old church was torn down and during the building of the new, the society met with Mrs. Jerome Preston, and on May 20, 1891, the first meeting in the new church was held in the west parlor. In 1895, the society had its first rhyme so- cial. Each member earned one dollar and told in
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rhyme how she did it, to the amusement of all and to the profit of the treasury. A year later the so- ciety was enriched by $500, through the proposal of Mrs. Clark to give $100, if the society would raise $400 more. Needless to say the money was suc- cessfully and promptly raised. About the same time Dr. Adams, the pastor, gave a Shakespearean lecture under the auspices of the society and for its benefit, whereby a substantial sum was realized, and the same year Martha Mead, one of the mem- bers, gave a talk on Alaska, which she had recent- ly visited and then a friend gave the society $500. The records do not say how this $1,000 was ex- pended, but it doubtless was paid on the church debt. In 1897, four members, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. VanGaasbeck, Mrs. Shaver and Mrs. Doubleday, offered to give $100 each if the society would raise an additional $600. The proposition was accepted and the ladies raised in all $1,150, which was also paid on the church debt.
After Dr. Ford's return from the Holy Land, he gave a lecture for the society, which was very in- teresting and instructive, and netted a substantial increase to the treasury balance.
During all these years the members have sewed, making garments and quilts, giving chicken pie suppers, and maple sugar festivals, earning their money little by little, by hard untiring labor, with a lecture or lawn social thrown in now and then, and when anything extra was needed or desired, the Dorcas Society was looked to as the agency to
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