USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > A century of church life. A history of the First Congregational church of Marietta, Ohio, with an introduction by Rev. John W. Simpson > Part 5
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During the period when the pastorate was vacant two colonies went out from this church: May 17th, 1838, nine members were dismissed to organize a Presbyterian church at Newport, Ohio, and December 19th, 1839, twenty-six, to organize the Congregational church of Harmar. During this time the church received very efficient aid from the members of the College fac- ulty, not only in the pulpit but also in the social and other meetings. President Linsley supplied the pulpit for about one year, during which time there was one of the most extensive
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revivals in the history of the church. As already stated, this was a period of unrest in the churches of Ohio on the subject of Polity and this church shared somewhat in the discussion. The majority of the church heartily sustained the original form of organization, and that the discussion was entirely friendly and fraternal is shown from the following communication, addressed to this church about this time by six brethren of Presbyterian preferences :
"DEAR BRETHREN : As the church has in time past been somewhat involved in the "Plan of Union," there is prob- ably some difference of feeling among us with regard to church government and probably some difference of opin- ion and wish with regard to our future course. We, there- fore, who have signed our names to this paper, having had some consultation on the subject, feel desirous in some suitable way to make known to our brethren our feel- ings and wishes with regard to this matter; and we must say that we have a decided preference for the Presbyterian form of government and we hope that the day may not be far distant when our church may feel it to be her duty and for the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom to send out a colony (as they are called ) to form a Presbyterian church. Should the Lord spare our lives until that day comes and his Providence lead the way, we should be willing to engage in the enterprise, but we think that time has not yet come. We therefore wish our brethren to be assured that we are cordially united with them in this Con- gregational church, and we are perfectly happy and at home among them, nor do we wish to see any part or feature of Pres- byterianism introduced or retained in the church for our sakes. In the meantime we hope that our minister and our people will always manifest a fraternal feeling towards the Presbyterian churches and ministers around us."
This church has always manifested such a fraternal spirit and for many years rendered more aid to establish and main- tain Presbyterian than Congregational churches.
CHAPTER IV. 1840-1869.
PASTORATE OF REV. THOMAS WICKES, D. D.
Rev. Thomas Wickes, son of Van Wick and Eliza (Harriman) Wickes, was born at Jamaica, Long Island, October 31st, 1814. As a boy Thomas was active and energetic, a good scholar, and the best player at marbles and ball. He was also conscientious. When but a boy he was led to reflect upon the practice of play- ing marbles "for fair" (or for keeps). He decided that this was wrong because he received that for which he did not return an equivalent; as a result he gave back all the marbles he had won, and never played again on that principle. He was fitted for college at an academy in his native town and entered Yale College in 1830, from which he was graduated with honors in 1834. While in college he made a public profession of religion and consecrated himself to the work of the Christian ministry. In the autumn of 1834 he entered upon a course of theological study at Princeton, New Jersey. He remained there two years, and as a ministerial candidate was under the care of the Pres- bytery of New York. During this time he decided to enter upon the work of a foreign missionary and asked the A. B. C. F. M. to appoint him, to labor among the Zulus of South Africa. In the autumn of 1836 Mr. Wickes left Princeton and went to New Haven that he might be under the instruction of Dr. Nathaniel Taylor. He graduated at New Haven in 1837 and soon after applied to his Presbytery for licensure. This was a time when the theological war between the old and the new school factions waged about as warmly as the famous Arian controversy in the fourth century. And this old Presbytery hesitated to give a license to a pupil of Dr. Taylor. Mr. Wickes observed their hesitation and to relieve them from embarrassment withdrew his application and applied for and received licensure from New Haven West Association (Connecticut). In this period of con-
Rev. Thomas Wickes, D. D.
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troversy, the year of the disruption of the Presbyterian church, the American Board was unwilling to offend its Presbyterian constituency, and to relieve them from any suspicion of Taylor- ism, Mr. Wickes withdrew his application for appointment as a foreign missionary. A little later he was called to take charge of the First Presbyterian Church of Troy, New York, during the absence of its pastor, Rev. N. S. Beman, D. D., who was making an extended tour in Europe. He was ordained by the Troy Presbytery, February 19th, 1839. He labored successfully and acceptably with this church for about sixteen months, closing his engagement in the winter of 1839-40. At that time the Marietta church had been without a pastor for two and a half years, and a member of the church, Col. John Mills, had written to his cousin, Mr. T. B. Bigelow, an elder in Dr. Beman's church, asking if he could recommend to them a candidate for their pulpit. Mr. Bigelow recommended Mr. Wickes, who was invited to visit Marietta as a candidate. He accepted the invi- tation and preached in Marietta for the first time March 1st, 1840. His preaching here was so acceptable that he was invited to continue to supply the pulpit for three months, and May 21st he received a call from the church and Society to become their pastor. This call was accepted and he was installed by an Ecclesiastical Council, July 28th, 1840. The public exercises of installation were as follows: Introductory prayer, Rev. L. G. Bingham; sermon, Pres. J. H. Linsley, D. D., from I Peter II, 21; installing prayer, Rev. L. DeWitt; charge to the pastor, Rev. Francis Bartlett; right hand of fellowship, Prof. D. H. Allen ; charge to the people, Rev. L. G. Bingham; concluding prayer, Rev. B. Roberts.
When Mr. Wickes entered upon this pastorate there were cir- cumstances which rendered the place a difficult one for a young man. The College had recently been established, principally by the efforts of the members of this church, and had secured able men for the faculty, and the President, Dr. Linsley, had supplied the pulpit with great acceptance during the previous year. Most of the faculty and students were members of the congregation. In addition to this there was an element in the church which preferred the Presbyterian form of organization
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and made efforts a short time before to make the church Pres- byterian, and were then waiting for a favorable opportunity to withdraw and organize another church. But Mr. Wickes united all these elements and took rank as the peer of the members of the College faculty, both as a thinker and a preacher. His pastorate here continued twenty-nine years. He received into the church nearly one-third of all who have been members of it from the first. Here was the life work of Dr. Wickes, and his pastorate was the longest and most important in the history of the church. He found the church well organized, strong and influential, but it gained both in strength and influence during his pastorate. The pastorate of Dr. Wickes was marked as a period of church colonization. Only a few months previous to his installation here, twenty-six members were dismissed to organize the Harmar Congregational Church. October 21st, 1841, nine persons were dismissed for the purpose of or- ganizing a Presbyterian church (O. S.) in Marietta. May 6th, twelve persons living in the county were dismissed to organize the Little Muskingum or Cornerville Congrega- tional Church. January 31st, 1852, five were dismissed to organize the Congregational Church of Fearing (now the Stan- leyville Church). In 1865, forty-six were dismissed to organize the Fourth Street Presbyterian Church of Marietta. (For more extended account of these churches see chapter on Colonies). The members of the Mother church rendered material aid to all these churches, especially the last. Though somewhat weakened by these removals the church continued to increase during these years. This period was also marked by Congregational organi- zations, in which the pastor took a leading part. From 1816 to 1834 there was, in this State, no organization to promote Con- gregational fellowship. All Congregational churches were either independent or connected with presbyteries. The Marietta church held on to the Congregational polity, but at the same time was friendly to Presbyterian churches. Dr. Wickes, in an anniversary sermon preached December 6th, 1846, says: "Al- though we have adopted Congregationalism as our form of gov- ernment and been attached to it, we have built up, fostered and generously sustained Presbyterian churches in all this region of
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country." After this church withdrew from presbytery in 1837 many members felt the need of congenial fellowship, and after mutual consultation, January 20th, 1841, A. T. Nye, Esq., in- troduced resolutions to invite other neighboring churches to unite with this church in the organization of a Consociation, or some other form of union. These resolutions were adopted and March 1st, 1841, the Washington County Consociation was or- ganized. The name was subsequently changed to Marietta Association. The organization is now known as Marietta Con- ference and is the oldest Congregational Conference now exist- ing in the State. Dr. Wickes was a leader in the deliberations of this body and the author of its Confession of Faith. In 1851, several members of the Marietta and Harmar churches felt the need of an organization between the Congregational churches of the State. After mutual consultation the matter was brought before the Consociation at a meeting held at McConnellsville, in October, 1851, the matter was fully discussed and the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, that in the view of this Consociation it is desirable that a convention of the friends of orthodox Congregationalism in this State be called to consider and promote the interests of our churches and that a committee of five be appointed to correspond with the friends of Congregationalism, to secure this object and to appoint such time and place of meeting as may be found expedient."
Though this movement started among laymen, Dr. Wickes fell in with it and as chairman of this committee bore a leading part in its work. This committee consisted of Rev. Thomas Wickes, Rev. Wm. Wakefield, Rev. David Gould, Bro. Douglas Putnam, and Bro. A. T. Nye. This committee issued a circular letter under date of December 2nd, 1851. This letter stated the action of the Consociation and asked for an expression of opin- ion concerning the proposed plan. This circular was as follows : "MARIETTA, Dec. 2nd, 1851.
At a meeting of Marietta Consociation held at McConnellsville, Oct. 28th, 1851, the following resolution was adopted :
"That in the view of this Consociation, it is desirable that a convention of the friends of Orthodox Congregationalism in this state, be called to consider and promote the interests of our churches; and that a committee of five be appointed to
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correspond with the friends of Congregationalism to secure this object, and to appoint such time and place for meeting as may be found expedient."
In pursuance of the duty devolving upon us as the committee of Consociation, we transmit to you the above resolution, and solicit your interest and co-operation in the attainment of the object therein stated. We believe that the desire is extensively felt on the part of the Congregational ministers and churches of Ohio to become more intimately acquainted with each other, and to secure a closer bond of union, and that the time is come to take the necessary steps to this end. Having learned, also, through various sources, that the desire has been expressed to no inconsiderable extent on the part of the friends of Congrega- tionalism, that a state convention should be held, we believe that we are not going in advance of, but acting in accordance with the sentiment of the churches in taking measures to the at- tainment of this object.
We believe, also, that such a convention will have an impor- tant influence on the future interests of Congregationalism in the state, in bringing the churches into closer sympathy and more united action, as well as leading them to value more their own simple and scriptural organization.
The month of June in the coming year would perhaps be a favorable time for the holding of said convention, and we would be glad to have it held in this city, but would cheerfully con- sent that it should be appointed in any more central place, and at any time, that would most generally accommodate the churches.
We earnestly solicit from you an expression of opinion on this subject, and the most suitable time and place of meeting. We request you also, that you will bring this matter before the association, if such there be, with which you are connected, or before the individual ministers, and churches around you, in order that a general interest may be awakened, and the co-op- eration of all secured.
If a suitable response is made by the churches to this propo- sal, we shall proceed at as early a day as possible to fulfill their wishes and those of the Marietta Consociation in designating the time and place for the said convention, as may be found most convenient, and give due notice of the same.
Yours most respectfully,
THOMAS WICKES, WILLIAM WAKEFIELD, DAVID GOULD, DOUGLAS PUTNAM, A. T. NYE."
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The responses to this circular letter were nearly all favor- able, showing that the churches of the state were ready for the movement; and the same committee issued a call for a conven- tion to be held at Mansfield, Richland county, June 23d.
This call was as follows :
"MARIETTA, April 26th, 1852.
DEAR BRETHREN : At a meeting of the Marietta Consociation, held at McConnellsville, Oct. 28th, 1851, the question of holding a convention of the Orthodox Congregational churches of Ohio (viz., those adopting the Westminster Shorter Catechism), in order to secure a closer bond of union, become more intimately acquainted with each other's condition and wants, and consult for our general welfare, was discussed and unanimously ap- proved, the undersigned being appointed a committee of corre- spondence to ascertain whether the churches generally would unite with us in the accomplishment of the proposed object. Said committee were also authorized, in case of a favorable expression of opinion from other portions of the State, to carry out the views of the Consociation and take the necessary steps to the calling of the convention. The committee have performed the duty assigned them of corresponding with the ministers and churches as above designated, so far as known to them through the state, and, having received numerous replies unanimously and cordially approving of the object, expressing the opinion that the time has come for the holding of such convention, and that it may be productive of good, we now proceed in the name of the Marietta Consociation, and in behalf of the churches of Ohio, sympathizing with them, to designate the time and place of meeting, which will be at Mansfield, Richland county, on Wednesday, the 23d day of June next at two o'clock, P. M.
As the meeting is designed to be one for mutual counsel, and more extended acquaintance, it is thought desirable that the churches should be represented by their membership. We ac- cordingly invite a lay delegation. As this will be the first gen- eral convention of orthodox Congregationalists in the state of Ohio, we express the hope that as large a portion of the minis- ters and representatives of the churches as possible may be as- sembled on the occasion, and may the Great Head of the Church be himself present, to smile upon and direct all our counsels, and make the assembling of his people to redound to his glory, and the advancement of his own cause.
Yours in the bonds of the Gospel,
THOMAS WICKES, WILLIAM WAKEFIELD,
DAVID GOULD,
DOUGLAS PUTNAM,
A. T. NYE."
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This convention was held June 23-25, 1852, and consisted of seventy-three pastors and delegates, representing forty-two churches. This convention organized the Ohio State Confer- ence, now Association, after the general plan of the State Con- ference of Maine. At that time the theology of Oberlin was regarded with suspicion by the churches of New England and there was considerable warmth of discussion between the Old and New School parties. Many thought it would be difficult for the Congregational churches from the various portions of the State to agree upon a doctrinal basis for the organization. The business committee was instructed to report a Confession of Faith. This committee was supposed to represent the various shades of theological belief in the different parts of the State. Prof. Henry Cowles, of Oberlin, was invited to meet with the com- mittee for consultation, and after carefully reading the creed of the Marietta Consociation, he remarked that he could subscribe to the whole of it without mental reservation. As this creed was considered sufficiently conservative for New England Congrega- tionalistś or Western Presbyterians, it was adopted as the creed of the State Association. Thus, notwithstanding all the sus- picion which had been aroused, when these brethren from different parts of the State came together and looked each other in the face, they found themselves in essential accord both in belief and in ecclesiastical practice and were happily united in their deliberations. The creed which Dr. Wickes had compiled for the Marietta Consociation is still the creed of the Ohio State Association. This church was one of the largest and most in- fluential in the State and its pastor was a leading man. He was twice Moderator of the State Association and preached the opening sermon at its first annual meeting. Dr. Wickes was a member of the important convention held in Albany, N. Y., October 5th, 1852, and took an active part in its deliberations. The committee having this matter in charge were invited to hold this convention at Marietta, but Albany was finally chosen. Dr. Wickes also prepared for the church its present brief and comprehensive Confession of Faith as a substitute for the longer creed, introduced by Mr. Robbins. The years of this pastorate included the years of anti-slavery discussion and of the Civil
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War. The church was on the border of a slave State and repre- sented a variety of sentiments, but the preaching of Dr. Wickes gave no uncertain sound on this subject and many of his ser- mons were ringing indictments of time serving rulers. During the Civil War the church and congregation were well repre- sented in the Union Army, and those who remained at home took an active interest in the prosecution of the war. Dr. Wickes was an able preacher and a diligent student of the Word. In the later years of his ministry here he became very much interested in the prophecies which related to the Second Coming of Christ and this study gave character to his preach- ing. He was the author of several books; one entitled "The Son of Man," was published by the American Tract Society. He also published "An Exposition of the Apocalypse," and a work entitled "The Economy of the Ages," besides several pamphlets and minor works. He took an active interest in the College and was for many years a trustee. Not less than thir- teen seasons of special revival were enjoyed during his ministry, and nearly three hundred persons were added to the church on confession of faith. The work in these revivals was usually under the direction of the pastor with the assistance of the members of the College faculty and of neighboring pastors as was necessary. Of the revival in 1845 Dr. Wickes wrote: "This was a time of deep interest, when God was in the midst of us in very deed, searching and sanctifying his own people, and gath- ering in many from the world. In the College the revival was marked with great power, all of the students excepting two or three being hopefully converted. The piety of the church was, as we have reason to believe, really and permanently advanced."
This pastorate occurred at a time when the churches were beginning to pay more attention to the conversion of the young, and to this work Dr. Wickes paid special attention. In a semi-centennial discourse preached in 1846, he said: "The church is now beginning to imitate its Divine Master in taking the children in its arms and blessing them. This happy change in this church commenced with the revival of 1820. God then began in this community to convert our young men and women and from that time he has been going on with the
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blessed work of saving our children." This work has continued. Previous to 1820 there were only one or two members who had not reached middle life, and when a young lady united with the church it was regarded so unusual an occurrence that it caused . general remark. Now a great majority of those who unite with this, as with other churches, do so before they have reached the age of twenty years.
The following facts respecting revivals are found in the diary of Dr. Wickes: "The church usually held extra meetings during the winter. In 1853 there were several weeks of daily prayer service and preaching."
In February, 1854, he opposed the plan of his advisors for ex- tra meetings, believing the state of his congregation called for different methods, preached sermons prepared with great care on the Sabbath, and made special care to note those interested that he might speak with them in private. "After a few weeks inquiry meetings were held Saturday evening and on Tuesday evening a circle of prayer and conversation for those interested. The result was twenty-one conversions. In 1856 began with extra prayer meetings in January and the second week in Feb- ruary with preaching each evening. In the latter part of the month meetings mostly for conference and prayer. Of seventy- five or eighty inquirers, fifty united with the church.
April, 1858. Union prayer meetings held in the Methodist church 7:30 A. M .; afterwards 7:30 P. M. Much interest; no conversions.
January, 1860. Meetings every evening for two and a half weeks.
July, 1860. Series of meetings at Geo. Maxwell's school, with fifteen or more inquirers.
1861. No extra services; special interest in young people's meeting Sunday afternoon. Inquiry meetings at the parsonage, work quiet and steady, with fifty conversions; striking feature, nearly all interested were brought to Christ."
In January, 1869, after having resolved to resign and receiv- ing assurance of a call from Jamestown, N. Y., he secured the co- operation of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches in the evan- gelistic services of Rev. John Avery, of Cleveland, Ohio, which
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resulted in fifty accessions to the church, forty-four on con- fession of faith.
This record is an eloquent testimony to Dr. Wickes' faithful- ness in pastoral work.
(For improvements in the house of worship during Mr. Wickes' pastorate, see history of the first religious society.)
After an eventful pastorate of twenty-nine years he was dis- missed at his own request March 18, 1869. Soon after he was settled as pastor of the Congregational church of Jamestown, New York, but on account of failing health, he was obliged to resign the work within a year, and November 10, 1870, he was called to his reward. His remains were buried in Mound Cem- etery among the people for whom he had given his life work. The Marietta Register of November 17, 1870, contains the fol- lowing notice of the funeral service: "The funeral of Rev. Thomas Wickes, D. D., at the Congregational church, last Sun- day afternoon, was attended by an immense audience, perhaps the largest ever assembled at a church in Marietta. It was in the house of worship where he, whose body now lay in death, had preached for twenty-nine years, closing his labors with his farewell sermon April 4, 1869, now less than twenty months ago. We printed on that occasion, 'The old church was crowd- ed as it has been but few times in its history of sixty years. Dr. Wickes spoke in a quiet tone, very clear, and every word was heard distinctly. The attention given was extraordinary.' The people then by their large assemblage testified their respect for the faithful worker in Christ's vineyard when living. Last Sunday a much larger number assembled to pay their regard to the dead. The building, large as it is, when we came to it ten minutes before the time set for the service to commence, was already crowded, in the body of the church, all around the gallery, the stairs, in the aisles, and vestibule, and many re- mained outside. The standing room was occupied except in front of the pulpit. * It was all in all a fitting testimony to the long and valued services of the departed."
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