USA > Ohio > Lorain County > Elyria > Manual of the First Congregational church in Elyria, Ohio, September 1, 1880 > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02279 8000
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FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ELYRIA, OHIO.
MANUAL C
OF THE
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
IN
ELYRIA, OHIO.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1880.
" Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generations following."-Ps. xlviii : 12, 13.
" And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth, say come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let himn take the water of life freely."-REV. xxii: 17.
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CLEVELAND, O. SHORT & FORMAN, PRINTERS AND STATIONERS. 1880.
CONTENTS.
I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, - - 3
II. GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH, - -
- 18
III. FORMULAS OF THE CHURCH, - - 29
IV. STANDING APPOINTMENTS OF THE CHURCH, - 34
V. CATALOGUE OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS, -
37
ERRATA.
In the table headed "Growth of the Church," page 17, the last line for the year 1880, in the column of Renewals, under the head of "Deaths," 3 should read 4; under column of "Loss" 67 should read 68 ; and in Total column 301 should read 300.
In Chronological List of Members, page 47, under the year 1839, in connection with the name of John Hewitt, the date of his death should read Sept. 14, 1873, instead of May 5, 1872.
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I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
"We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God, we will set up our banners." Ps. xx :5.
The first settlement in Elyria was made March 18th, 1817. During the early years, the growth of the town was slow, and among the early settlers there were very few professing christians. Notwithstanding this the Sabbath was from the first observed, not only as a day of rest from ordinary vocations, but religious services were regularly held on that day.
With one or two exceptions no Congregational or Presbyterian Churches had been organized in that part of the Connecticut West- ern Reserve lying west of the Cuyahoga River, at the time of the first settlement at Elyria, and for more than seven years, Missiona- ries of the Connecticut Missionary Society ministered to the little company accustomed to meet for Sabbath worship. Reverends Alvan Hyde, Jr., William Hanford, Joseph Treat, Caleb Pitkin, Alfred H. Betts, Lot B. Sullivan and Asahel Gaylord may be men- tioned as those who most frequently ministered to the people during those early years, and when no minister could be obtained, a sermon of good old Dr. Joseph Lathrop, of West Springfield, Mass., was read on the Sabbath, provision having been made for such lack of preaching, by bringing from Massachusetts six or seven bound volumes of the Doctor's sermons.
On the 30th day of October, 1822, a Church was organized in the adjoining township of Carlisle, consisting of seven members, six of whom (one was dismissed to unite with another Church) and one who had been admitted, subsequently united with this Church, as will appear from the following copy of a record of the organiza- tion of a Church of Christ in Elyria.
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History of the Church.
" ELYRIA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, 1824.
Agreeably to previous notice a number of the inhabitants of this place met after public worship, to consider the propriety of organ- izing a Church of Christ. Present Rev. Alfred H. Betts (a minis- ter of the Presb'y of Huron) and Rev. Daniel W. Lathrop, Joseph Treat and Caleb Pitkin, Missionaries from the Missionary Society of Connecticut.
The following persons presented themselves for examination, viz: Luther Lane, Celia Ely and Pamela Beebe, from the First Church in West Springfield, Mass. Abby W. Lathrop, from the First Pres- byterian Church in Brooklyn, L. I. William Smith, from the Church in Sheffield, and Harriet Hamlin, Julia West, Pearly Douglass, Ann Palmer and Pamela Manter, who had never made a public profession of religion. After prayer for divine direction, the examination was commenced and continued 'till the time . for public worship in the evening. Adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. Concluded with prayer."
" THURSDAY MORNING, 9 O'CLOCK, NOV. 25TH, 1824.
Met agreeably to adjournment. After prayer the examination was resumed and concluded. All the individuals above named were approved, and it was judged expedient that they should be constituted a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. After sermon by the Rev. Alfred H. Betts, these persons presented themselves before the congregation, made a public profession of their faith, and entered into covenant with God and with each other, in the form of the Confession of Faith and Covenant adopted by the Presbyteries of Grand River, Portage and Huron for the Churches under their care.
They were then declared to be a regular Church of Christ, charged to walk worthy of their high and holy vocation, and commended to God in prayer.
ALFRED H. BETTS, Ministers of the Gospel." DAN'L W. LATHROP, S
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History of the Church.
" On the same day, November 25th, 1824, the following terms of agreement between the Church in Elyria and the Church in Carlisle were drafted and circulated in the respective Churches.
Terms of agreement between the Church in Elyria and the Church in Carlisle :
Considering the many evils to which small Churches standing alone are necessarily exposed, and the desirableness that christians who live so near each other that they can conveniently enjoy Gospel ordinances together and be under the pastoral care of the same Minister, should be united in one body, and exercise mutual watch and care over each other, we, the members of the Churches in Elyria and Carlisle, having severally adopted the same Confession of Faith, Covenant and Articles of Practice, hereby agree to unite in one Church, and adopt the following :
ARTICLES OF UNION AND COVENANT, VIZ :
I. The united Church shall be known by the name of The Pres- byterian Church in Elyria.
2. It is understood and considered expedient that for the pres- ent, separate religious meetings be statedly held at our several places of social worship as has heretofore been customary, except on communion days, when, as far as practicable we will all meet together.
3. It is agreed that until further arrangements are made, the communion season shall be attended regularly, two-thirds of the time at the place of meeting in Elyria and the other third at the place of meeting in Carlisle, it being understood that the portion of the Church living in Carlisle, will contribute at least so much towards the support of a Pastor, mutually invited to take charge of the united Church, as will naturally entitle them to such share of his labors as this arrangement will necessarily give them.
4. It is mutually agreed that whenever the number of members and other circumstances in this Church shall be such that a separa- tion is considered expedient, those members of the Church who
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History of the Church.
naturally fall within the limits of the present Church in Carlisle, shall be detached from the Church in Elyria and be recognized as the Church in Carlisle, and entitled to all the privileges of a separate Church on the ground of their present organization.
On these conditions, we, the members of the Church in Elyria and of the Church in Carlisle, mutually and cordially receive and embrace each other, as fellow heirs of the grace of God and mem- bers of the same Church, and do hereby solemnly covenant and promise, mutually to watch over each other, and if necessary reprove with christian meekness and brotherly love, and to submit to the watch and discipline of this Church, endeavoring in all things to promote its prosperity and to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.
Members of the Church in Elyria.
Luther Lane. William Smith. Celia Ely. Ann Palmer. Abby W. Lathrop. Julia West Pamela Beebe.
Pamela Manter.
Pearly Douglass.
Harriet Hamlin. Elyria, Nov. 25th, 1824.
Members of the Church in Carlisle.
Samuel Brooks.
Hezekiah Brooks. Lydia Brooks.
Hannah Johnson.
Sophia Brooks.
Hannah Brooks.
Irene Johnson,
Carlisle, Nov. 25th, 1824.
The union of the two Churches under the above compact con- tinued until August 3, 1833, when, at a stated Church meeting, on the request of the members residing in Carlisle, it was voted that they be permitted to withdraw and resume their original Church organization.
After the organization of the American Home Missionary Society in 1826, this Church received aid from that Society for several years, and so soon as it was able to provide for its own support, it commenced making contributions, which have been continued until the present time, to the Society from which it received assistance when unable of itself to maintain the institutions of the Gospel.
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History of the Church.
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A Resolution adopted Sept. 5th, 1832, states the appreciation of the Church at the time of the claims of the A. H. M. S. upon the Churches, and the disposition of this Church to respond to those claims.
" In view of the great benefits resulting from the operations of the A. H. M. Society, and sensibly feeling that its operations have been peculiarly blessed to this people, and considering it not only our duty but our high privilege to be co-workers with it in the great work of disseminating the Gospel in our own land, thereby lending our aid to the preparing it to become eminently instrumental in the conversion of the world-therefore
RESOLVED : That we will use all efforts in our power to sustain and assist in its operations."
This Church has pursued the scriptural course of having settled pastors.
THE FIRST PASTOR, DANIEL W. LATHROP,
was born at Norwich, Conn., June 17th, 1798. While engaged in a course of study preparatory for entering college, his health became impaired, so that his physician peremptorily required his abandonment of study and that he engage in a business requiring more than usual physical activity.
Under this advice, he, with a cousin, enlisted in a joint enter- prise, of clearing 640 acres of land in the township of Ellsworth, Trumbull Co., Ohio, requiring three years of hard labor. His health being then fully restored, he again directed his attention to study, preparatory to assuming the responsibilities of a Minister of the Gospel of Christ.
In May, 1820, he attended the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Philadelphia, as Lay-Commissioner from Hartford, Ohio, Presbytery.
During the sessions of the Assembly he had opportunity for consultation with eminent Ministers of the Church, which resulted in the determination to qualify himself for the Gospel Ministry.
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History of the Church.
He prosecuted both Classical and Theological studies under Rev. Dr. Amzi Armstrong of Bloomfield, New Jersey.
In August, 1823, he was licensed to preach, by the Presbytery of Jersey, and a few weeks thereafter, on the request of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, he was, by the same Presbytery, ordained as a Minister of Christ. Soon after his ordination he received a commission from the Missionary Society of Connecticut as their Missionary in the " Connecticut Western Reserve in Ohio."
He returned to this State, not to resume the labor of clearing away the forests, but to plant Churches of Jesus Christ and labor therein.
The following winter and spring were passed mostly in the counties of Lorain and Huron. On several occasions he preached in Elyria, and was urgently solicited by the people to locate here. He also received invitations to locate in other places.
In the Spring of 1824 he went East to consummate an arrangement made before he entered upon his study for the ministry, and on the 8th of June was married at Brooklyn, New York, to Miss Abby Woolsey Howland, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Coit) Howland, by Rev. Joseph Sanford, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, of which Church she was a member and Superintendent of its Sabbath School. Their wedding trip was delayed for a few weeks after their marriage, when, having provided such articles as could be readily transported, they made the journey from Brooklyn via Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Cleveland to Elyria, arriving here in September, when Mr. Lathrop entered upon his ministerial labors.
He assisted in the organization of the Church as above mentioned in November, 1824, and on June 29th, 1825, was installed as Pastor by the Presbytery of Huron.
After five years of faithful pastoral labor, and when he had firmly established himself in the affections of his people, when all visible aspects of the pastorate were as encouraging as at any time before, in the midst of a Sabbath morning discourse, his life work was suddenly arrested by the failure of his voice, involving for a
ti t I t
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History of the Church.
time an entire loss of the power of utterance and a general pros- tration of strength. This led to his formal resignation on July 12th, 1830, and the dissolution by Presbytery of the pastoral rela- tion August 18th, 1830.
For more than eighteen years subsequently Mr. Lathrop remained a resident of Elyria, being engaged for several years as agent of the American Home Missionary Society in Northern Ohio. In the Fall of 1848 he removed to New Haven, Conn., where he resided until after the death of his wife. The following extract from his own record respecting that event, it is deemed fitting to insert here :
" There (in the New Haven Cemetery) in February, 1872, was placed the " precious form of her, whose spirit departed on the 25th of that month, " who had been to me for so many years, and through so many scenes of "gladness and of sorrow, the one in whom continually, and more and more " with every added experience, my soul delighted, trusted and had sweet "fellowship, the one who was given to me of God, to be in all circum- " stances, my helper and my joy, who while guiding the affairs of the house " withªdiscretion, did also by her kindly, tender and wise counsel-and " above all by her earnest and believing prayer-help me to be a man, to " be a Christian, and to be a Christian Minister."
Mr. Lathrop is still living with his son George Lathrop (his only surviving child) at Jackson, Mich., at the advanced age of 82 years. He spent a Sabbath in Elyria a few months since, occupying the pulpit and preaching an able and impressive sermon, apparently with the vigor of his early years, from REV. III : 20. He died at Jackson Mich Tuesday, March 23 ch /883.
THE SECOND PASTOR, REV. JOHN J. SHIPHERD,
Having been commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society to supply destitute Churches on the Reserve, came to Ohio in 1830, and in October of that year to Elyria. He was installed February 2nd, 1831. His labors were especially blessed in the out- pouring of God's Spirit and in the very large accession of members
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History of the Church.
to this and other churches. After a short pastorate of less than two years, in the hope of more extensive usefulness in establishing an institution for the education of youth of both sexes, he asked and obtained leave to resign, and on the 29th day of Oct., 1832, preached his farewell sermon. Soon after his dismissal, he, with others associated with him, made a settlement in the township of Russia, in Lorain County, to which they gave the name of Oberlin. He was also instrumental and assisted in the founding of a similar institution at Olivet, Eaton Co., Michigan.
He was born March 28th, 1802, at Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., and died Sept. 16th, 1844, at Olivet, Mich.
THE THIRD PASTOR, REV. JAMES H. EELLS,
Was born at Westmorland, Oneida Co., N. Y., August 27th, 1808, graduated at Hamilton College, N.Y., in 1827, and studied Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. In March 1833, he entered upon a term of three months supply of the pulpit, leaving in June and returning and resuming his labors in November.
He was ordained and installed Pastor February 12th, 1834. On the same day the then new house of worship (a frame building on South street) was dedicated. Mr. Eells' pastorate continued until April Ist, 1836, when the Church voted to concur with their Pastor in his request to Presbytery that the relation be dissolved. Soon after leaving Elyria Mr. Eells was installed Pastor of the Presby- terian Church in Perrysburgh, Ohio, and was drowned in attempt- ing to cross the Maumee River on the ice, Dec. 7th, 1836.
From April, 1836, to and including June, 1837, Prof. Henry Cowles and Rev. R. H. Conklin officiated as stated supply, the latter during most of the time.
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History of the Church.
THE FOURTH PASTOR, REV. LEWIS H. LOSS,
Graduated at Hamilton College, N. Y., in 1827, studied Theology with Rev. Abijah Crane of Westmorland, N. Y., was settled over the Presbyterian Church at New York Mills, from which place he came to Elyria in July, 1837, and on Sept. 26th of that year was installed by Lorain Presbytery. Sermon by Rev. Asa Meahan, D.D., President of Oberlin College, Charge to the Pastor by Prof. Henry Cowles, and Charge to the Church by Rev. Alfred H. Betts.
At a meeting of the Church Sept. 13th, 1841, the Pastor stated that his health was such that he should probably be unable to preach for a long time, and therefore requested the Church to unite with him in requesting Presbytery to dismiss him from his pastoral charge, whereupon the following resolution was adopted:
" RESOLVED. That we tenderly sympathize with our Pastor in the afflictive providence which has for the present laid him aside, and that we extend to him the assurance of our continued confidence and kind regard."
At a meeting of Presbytery at Sandusky, the day following, Sept. 14th, 1841, the pastoral relation was dissolved.
For three years after, Mr. Loss was prevented by a throat affection from preaching, when, having regained his health, he accepted a call to a Church in Rockford, Ill.
He was born at Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y., July Ist, 1801, and died at Marshalltown, Iowa, July 10th, 1865.
After the dismission of Rev. L. H. Loss, the Rev. B. Paige labored very acceptably as stated supply, declining a call to the pastorate on account of impaired health.
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History of the Church.
THE FIFTH PASTOR, REV. DAVID A. GROSVENOR,
Graduated at Yale College in 1826, was Pastor of the Congregational Church in Uxbridge, Mass., from August, 1831, to May, 1842. He was installed by the Presbytery of Elyria February 9th, 1843, his brother, Rev. Mason Grosvenor of Hudson, Ohio, preaching the sermon, and the Charge being given by Rev. Dan'l W. Lathrop, the first Pastor.
Mr. Grosvenor's pastorate continued nine years, during which the present Church edifice was erected, and was dedicated May 17th, 1848, being at that time one of the best Churches in Northern Ohio.
On March 28th, 1852, he requested the Church to unite with him in a request to Presbytery to dissolve the relation then existing, and from that date performed no further pastoral labor. No action was taken by Presbytery on this matter until the next November, when that body met in Elyria, and Mr. Grosvenor was dismissed and his successor installed. He was Pastor of the Congregational Church in Medina from March, 1853, to May, 1861.
He was born at Craftsbury, Vermont, July 10th, 1802, and died of Cholera in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 11th, 1866.
THE SIXTH PASTOR, REV. TIMOTHY M. HOPKINS,
Was installed Nov. 4th, 1852, by the Presbytery of Elyria, and was dismissed January 22, 1854. He was born at Pittsford, Vermont, July 8th, 1800, and died at Hannibal, Missouri, April 20th, 1871, his death being occasioned by the falling of a timber on his head, from the roof of a Church which was being erected in that city, by the Society of which he was Pastor.
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History of the Church.
THE SEVENTH PASTOR, REV. FRANCIS A. WILBER,
A graduate of Wabash College, Indiana, and of Lane Theological Seminary, came here as a Licentiate of Cincinnati Presbytery in April, 1854, and after supplying the pulpit one year, was ordained and installed as Pastor, April 4th, 1855, by Elyria Presbytery. Ser- mon by Rev. Mr. Cole, Charge to the Pastor by Rev. Ansel R. Clark, and to the people by Rev. Alfred H. Betts, who assisted in - the organization of the Church and had been present at the installation of every Pastor.
On this occasion he said he had several times before delivered charges to the people of this Church on the installation of their Pastors, and desiring to make this charge emphatic, he said, " now you have a good Pastor, I charge you to keep him." The good man was never called to perform that duty again to this people. He closed his labors and entered upon the reward of the faithful ser- vant, at his home in Brownhelm, Sept. 8th, 1860, having been actively engaged for forty years in organizing and ministering to the Churches, and was known throughout this part of our State as Father Betts.
Mr. Wilber sustained the relation of Pastor for a longer term than any one who had preceded, or has thus far succeeded him. He preached his farewell sermon on Sunday, Aug. Ist, 1866, and soon after removed to Wabash, Indiana, where for several years he and his estimable wife had charge of a Female Seminary. From Wabash they removed to Franklin County, Ohio, to assume the charge of an Educational School with which they are now con- nected. He was born at Barnard, Vermont, Dec. 12th, 1823.
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History of the Church.
THE EIGHTH PASTOR, REV. FERGUS L. KENYON, Was born Dec. 4th, 1834, in Scotland, graduated at the Hartford Conn. Grammar School, studied Theology at Princeton, N. J., was settled for a short time over a Presbyterian Church at Orange, N. J. was installed Pastor of this Church by Cleveland Presbytery July 2nd, 1867, and was dismissed January Ist, 1870.
After the dismission of Rev. F. L. Kenyon, the Pulpit was occu. pied on the Sabbath by Prof. Judson Smith most of the time for fourteen months, then for several months by Rev. Charles H. Wheeler.
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THE NINTH PASTOR, REV. EDWIN E. WILLIAMS.
Sept. 10th, 1872, in accordance with a vote of the Church that "the Trustees of the Society be requested to correspond with Rev. E. E. Williams, (then Pastor of the Congregational Church at m CI ye ar Warsaw, N. Y.,) and if possible secure his services for the term of ar one year, with a view to permanent settlement," a call was extended. en
which was accepted, and he entered upon his labors Sunday, No- vember 24th, 1872.
Dec. 9th, 1873, at a regular quarterly meeting of Cleveland Presbytery, held at Elyria, Rev. Edwin E. Williams was installed Pastor of this Church. Sermon by Rev. Hiram C. Hayden, D. D., Charge to the Pastor by Prof. E. P. Barrows, D. D., and to the people by Rev. James A. Skinner.
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Gather the people together, men, women and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law ; and that their children may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land .- DEUT. XXXI:12, 13.
A Sunday School was organized in Elyria before the organiza- tion of any Church, as appears from the record of a " Meeting of
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History of the Church.
the Sunday School Society in the Township of Elyria on the 9th rd|day of May, A. D. 1824," at which meeting "Mr. Clary and Luther Lane were chosen Superintendents of the School." This school thus organized was connected with this Church when the Church was organized Nov. 25th, 1824. A Library, consisting of books contributed by the families of the township, was provided at the opening of the school, which from that time to the present has been maintained. It has been impossible to obtain the records of the school for the first twenty years, nor is it known whether they are in existence; the names however of those who have served as Superintendents are known, and the terms of service can be given, not with absolute certainty during the early years, but approxi- mating so nearly as to be sufficiently reliable. Deacon Elijah Clary, one of the first Superintendents, resided here only about one year after his appointment, when Rev. D.W. Lathrop was appointed, and he and Deacon Lane served until Nathan Stevens was chosen, and from the time of entrance of the latter upon the Superintend- ency until 1867 there were no Assistants.
An Infant class was formed in 1858, Miss A. M. Crandall, Teacher, which was continued until the completion of the Chapel in the Fall of 1864, when it became a separate Department, most efficiently and successfully conducted by Miss Crandall and her sister, Miss Caroline Crandall, until near the close of the year 1879.
After more than twenty years of continued and faithful service, Miss A. M. Crandall, was compelled, on account of impaired health, to surrender her charge, still retaining a deep interest in the pros- perity of the school with which she was so long connected.
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