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 7
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CORNELIUS E. DICKINSON."
The church was harmonious, well organized and cordial in welcome of the new pastor. The only new organization needed was a Young Peoples' Society of Christian Endeavor, which was formed three years later, but it had for its foundation a young people's prayer meeting, which had been well sustained for sev- eral years. During the years which followed, the church en- joyed a reasonable degree of prosperity. Some special revival efforts were made each year either by a series of meetings, or by making the Sunday evening service evangelistic. As a result
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there were several seasons of refreshing, and additions were made to the church each year. Some of these are among the most active and faithful members. In the spring of 1891, this church, in connection with other churches of the city, enjoyed a season of revival under the lead of the evangelist, Rev. B. Fay Mills. After ten days of union services, the pastor conducted services in the church for three weeks with gratifying results; 86 were added to the church at this time. The total additions during thirteen years, were 283, and the net increase in membership about thirty per cent. There was also a good degree of pros- perity in the material affairs of the church. The total benevo- lent contributions were about $12,000, or a little more than $900 per year. The amount raised for current expenses, re- pairs and improvements, was about $36,500. Add to this, $8,000 paid by the members of the church and society to Marietta College for the erection of Andrew's Hall, we have a total of $56,500, an annual average of nearly $4,350. In 1889, an organ was purchased, and the church enlarged, so as to place the or- gan and choir behind the pulpit. In 1892, the chapel was re- built, and enlarged at a cost of$2,000, making convenient and commodious Sunday School rooms. Other improvements were made on the church and parsonage as they were needed. It was the aim of the pastor during all these years to lead the church in aggressive Christian work. The marching orders which Christ gave to his church, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation," were not intened to be applied alone to foreign missionary contributions, but as tru- ly refer to the duty of evangelizing the community in which we live. We may send our money to do missionary work abroad, but we should give individual labor at home. Some of the mem- bers of the church proved to be efficient helpers in church work. During the heated term for several summers, out door services were held in Camp Tupper in the north part of the city, and in a grove in the east part of the city. These services were well attended, and reached some who were not regular church- goers. During the winter of 1888-9, Miss Nettie M. Barker was employed for several months as a church visitor. She labored faithfully in neglected portions of the city, visiting and minis-
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tering to those in need. A room was secured on lower Front Street, where services were held Sunday afternoons, and Thurs- day evenings; and a sewing school for girls Saturday afternoons. In connection with this work, and during the following years, religious papers were circulated among the destitute, and cot- tage prayer meetings held with good results.
In the summer of 1893, several members of the Christian En- deavor Society secured a room in the north end of the city, corner Eighth and Warren streets, and organized a Bible school. This proved to be a part of the city where such work was need- ed, and the school flourished for a time, and frequent evening services were held. It was difficult to secure a room suited to the work, and a majority of the church took very little interest in it; and after a little more than two years, the school was re- luctantly abandoned.
During nearly the whole of this pastorate, occasional services were held during the summer months in the Putnam school house near Devol's Dam. Several members of the church have rendered efficient aid in this work. The people in this neigh- borhood have sustained a flourishing Bible school, and since January, 1896, a very interesting Christian Endeavor prayer meeting. In the Rainbow school house a Bible school and Christian Endeavor Society were sustained for several years, mostly by members of this church. For a portion of the time, preaching services were held every alternate week. A branch church was organized there June 14, 1896, and the people are expecting soon to build a chapel.
In the summer of 1893, two members of this church organ- ized a Bible school at Unionville school house. The school prospered from the start under the lead of the brethren, R. G. Berry, and Paul T. Barth. The following winter a series of meet- ings were held resulting in several hopeful conversions, and the organization of a Young Peoples' Society of Christian Endeavor. The people were moved to "arise and build." As a result, with a little aid from friends in the city, a neat edifice, Trinity Chap- el, was erected at a cost of about $800. In this chapel are held each Sunday, a Bible school averaging about 65, and a Christian Endeavor prayer meeting with occasional preaching.
Pres. I. W. Andrews, D. D., LL. D.
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In addition to the enterprises mentioned, the church made itself useful to several neighboring churches, either by assisting in special meetings, or in granting financial aid.
The death list during these years includes many beloved mem- bers of the church, a few of whom should receive special mention.
President Israel Ward Andrews, D. D., LL. D., died April 18, 1888. President Andrews was born at Danbury, Conn., January 3, 1815. He was educated at Amherst and Williams Colleges, graduating from the latter institution in 1837. The following year he came to Marietta, and was connected with Marietta Col- lege for 50 years, for 30 years its honored President. He was a ripe scholar, and enjoyed a national reputation as an educator and author. He was a very useful member of this church for half a century, always devoted to its interests, and intimately connected with the Christian work of the community. He was for many years a Corporate member of the American Board, and preached the sermon at the annual meeting at Chicago in 1875.
He was a member of the committee appointed by the National Council in 1880 to prepare a statement of doctrine. Hon. Wm. P. Cutler, a life long friend, wrote of Dr. Andrews : "If duty called him to any place, he filled it, filled it completely. The appella- tion thorough bestowed upon one of England's greatest states- men was a characteristic of Dr. Andrews. He was thorough in personal attainments, both mental and moral; he was thorough in the discharge of official duties; thorough in dealing with all social problems; thorough in business relations; thorough in historical investigations; a thorough patriot and Christian gen- tleman, and as modest and unassuming as he was thorough. 'Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?' Such a life never dies, it lives on. It may be rounded up like a shock of corn fully ripe, and be gathered into God's granary, but the riches of past service, of deeds well done, come back to us from the tomb and will travel on in a widening sphere of influence through coming ages."
Prof. Oscar Howard Mitchell died March 29th, 1889. Prof. Mitchell was a graduate of Marietta College in 1875. He took a post graduate course at Johns Hopkins University, securing the degree of Ph. D. He was a man of rare promise as scholar
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and teacher, and always maintained a consistent Christian char- acter; and was devoted to the interests of the church. His death was a great loss both to the college and the church, but for such we are confident God has a wider sphere of service in the beyond.
Asa B. Waters died Feb. 14th, 1886. At the time of his death, the senior Deacon of the church. A wise counselor, esteemed by all who knew him.
Deacon John Newton died July 18th, 1886. A man of wide in- fluence, a pillar in the church. Always ready for every good work.
Mrs. Caroline W. Barnes died Nov. 3d, 1889. She was for more than 50 years the faithful helper of her husband, Rev. Jeremiah R. Barnes. Much of this time their work was that of pioneer home missionaries. She was a devoted Christian woman, faith- ful in every good work.
Mrs, Jane S. Preston died Oct. 1, 1890. Mrs. Preston shared with her husband, Rev. Ira M. Preston, in seventeen years of arduous missionary labor in the Gaboon Mission in Western Africa, and returned home with broken health. She was greatly interested in missionary work, and was for several years the President of the Ladies Missionary Society of this church. Though for many years an invalid, her "shut in" life was a benediction to all who knew her.
The church also lost during this period, the widows of three former pillars of the church: Mrs. Deacon Samuel Ship- man, Mrs. Deacon Anselm T. Nye, and Mrs. Col. John Mills. These beloved mothers in our Israel are not, for God took them, but the fragrance of their lives, as of many other dear departed ones, still lingers in the church and community.
May 12-14, 1896, the Ohio State Association, and the Ohio Church History Society, held a joint meeting with this church, commemorative of a century of Congregationalism west of the Alleghany Mountains, which commenced with the organization of this church. This was a meeting of great interest at which nine important historical papers were presented. These papers have been published as the seventh volume of the Ohio Church History Society's papers, and are a valuable contribu-
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tion to our Congregational literature. Mr. Dickinson prepared the paper on the early history of Congregationalism in Ohio.
At the close of the communion service on Sunday, June 7, 1896, the pastor read the following communication :
To the Members of the First Church and Society in Marietta:
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS : Thirteen years ago, at the earn- est and unanimous request of both organizations, I became pas- tor of this church and Society, and since that time I have en- deavored, to the best of my ability, to fulfil the duties of that office. I most sincerely regret my short comings, and wish I had done better. During these years the church has done effi- cient work, and the membership has considerably increased. In this age when so much nervous energy is required to perform the duties of a large parish, it is not usually well for a man to remain pastor of as important a church as this, more than ten or twelve years. I have for some time felt that it would be an advantage to myself, and perhaps not a great disadvantage to the church to have a change in the pastorate.
The reason I have not presented this matter to the church be- fore, is that I was so intimately connected with the preliminary arrangements for the important meeting of our State Association held here this spring. My work in that connection is now completed.
Another reason why I have been more willing to move in this matter is that many members of the church have been unwil- ling to encourage the aggressive work, which, by the Saviour's commission, belongs to every church; and especially as it seems to me, in God's providence, to this.
For the reasons just stated, which I hope you may consider valid, I hereby resign the pastorate of this church to take effect Aug. 1st, inst.
Wishing you grace, mercy, and peace, and much greater pros- perity in the future than in the past, I am
Fraternally Yours, C. E. DICKINSON.
At a subsequent meeting, called for the purpose, both the church and Society voted to accept the resignation, subject to the action of a council. This council was called and met in the chapel July 28th. After organization the council heard the let- ter of resignation and statements from the pastor and clerk of the church. They then uanimously passed the following
"Resolutions. I. That inasmuch as the action toward dissolv-
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ing the pastoral relation has been taken with due deliberation, we concur therein.
II. That whereas Dr. Dickinson has for thirteen years been unwearied in his labors for the kingdom of Christ, not only in connection with the First church, but also in the other churches of this vicinity, we hereby express our sense of loss in his depar- ture, and we cordially commend him to any church desiring nis services, as an able, faithful, and successful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.
III. We further specially note with commendation his valua- ble service to the churches in historical research.
IV. Furthermore, in view of his unselfish devotion to the in- terests of the church, we suggest that the church should treat him with due generosity in respect to the further use of the par- sonage, and in all other ways.
V. That we trust the church will take immediate steps to pro- cure another pastor, who will lead them in aggressive work for the Master.
The following is the action of the church with reference to pastor's resignation :
It having seemed wise and best to our pastor to sever the ties which for a number of years have bound us together in the work of the church, and the service of the Master.
We desire to express
First. Our full appreciation of the earnest, devoted, and self- sacrificing work of the retiring pastor, Rev. C. E. Dickinson, D. D., who has "endured hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," always at the front, ever ready to lead the way in "every good word or work," he has been a constant invitation to higher, and better things in Christian service, in loving ministry, in spiritu- al attainment.
Second. We desire heartily to express our appreciation of a pulpit service, which has fulfilled Paul's injunction to Timothy, "Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine," pointing those who had named the name of Christ to lofty ideals, to con- secrated service; those who had not accepted the Saviour, to his finished work, the precious salvation purchased at such infinite cost. A pulpit service in which he has not forgotten the Mas- ter's command to 'feed my lambs.'
Third. We remember gratefully his large hearted, loving in- terest in the varying experience of his people, ready to rejoice when they rejoiced, to weep with them when they wept. Kind and tender will be the memories of this loving service in all the changing paths in which this people have been called to walk,
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He has lead them to Christ, the Saviour of men; he has mar- ried them, baptized their children, buried, their dead, and will be long associated in memory, tenderly, and lovingly with the heart experiences of this people; and as is justly her due, we de- sire to include in our kindly thought and remembrance, the faithful wife, who has so loyally, and helpfully stood by her husband's side during his pastorate.
Fourth. For him and his family we have only the kindest words, and the pleasantest memories. We shall earnestly pray that the Divine Shepherd will graciously lead him and his, not alone into "green pastures, and beside still waters," but also into a large field of service, to which we would most heartily commend him, and for which we believe he is abund- antly qualified, with ripened powers, and rich spiritual endow- ment, to do a great work for the Master and his church.
At a meeting of the First Congregational Church, held July 29, 1896, the foregoing was unanimously adopted as the expres- sion of the church, and it was voted that a copy be sent to the retiring pastor, and another be spread upon the church records. JOHN KAISER, Clerk.
Marietta, Ohio, July 30, 1896.
CHAPTER VII. AN ACCOUNT OF THE COLONIES FROM THE FIRST CHURCH OF MARIETTA.
When this church was organized in 1796, the members resided not only in Marietta, but in the surrounding settlements, and of the four original deacons, one resided at Marietta, one at Waterford, one at Belpre, and one at Vienna, Va.
Pastor Story so divided his labors that he preached three Sun- days out of five at Marietta, and the other two at Waterford and Belpre. Communion seasons were held and members re- ceived at each of these places. On Sundays when the pastor could not be present, Col. Ebenezer Battelle was accustomed to read a sermon at Belpre, and Maj. Dean Tyler at Waterford. Both of these gentlemen had received a liberal education. Mr. Story also had occasional services at Vienna, Va., and other central points.
WATERFORD.
Fourteen of the early members of this church resided at Waterford, and as early as 1805, Rev. Jacob Lindley, a Presby- terian clergyman, was settled there in the ministry. He almost immediately introduced Presbyterian methods of conducting the business of this branch, for we find in the journal of Rev. Thomas Robbins, who visited there in January, 1806, the following: "The people are mostly from New England, yet Mr. Lindley's church is Presbyterian." While from this time the people of Waterford managed their own affairs, and under a different system, they seemed to have remained a part of the parent church. We can find no account of a separate organiza- tion at that time, nor of the dismissal of the members from the First Church. The two denominations were very closely relat- ed under the plan of union, and at the organization of the
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Muskingum Association in 1809, the Waterford branch was rep- resented by Deacon Robert Oliver. Mr. Lindley continued pas- tor until 1808 or 1809. After his dismissal several pastors were settled over the church, and in 1825 this branch declared its independence, and was formally constituted as the Presbyterian Church of Waterford (Beverly.) This church was without a settled pastor for several years after 1828, and became somewhat weakened. In December, 1832, Rev. Jacob Lindley, the first pastor, returned. During his absence he had become connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he brought with him Rev. Mr. Sparks, of the same connection. These brethren conducted a protracted meeting, which resulted in a large number of conversions. Mr. Lindley offered to again be- come pastor if they would join the Cumberland church. These conditions were accepted, and in 1833 about forty persons were received to the church on confession of faith, and the church had a prosperous existence for several years. During the civil war, the church found that its fellowship was mostly with churches in the Central Southern States and, November 16th, 1867, they withdrew from the Cumberland connection. The church continued independent until April, 1878, when it became connected with the Athens Presbytery.
A few of the members held themselves aloof from the Presby- terian Church, and in 1884 the Cumberland people made claim to the church property. After protracted litigation this claim was confirmed by the court, and since April 21st, 1891, the Cum- berland church has used the house of worship.
The Presbyterian Church erected a neat house of worship which was dedicated May 14th, 1893, and are also prosperous in their work. Thus the community has two churches-a Presby- terian and a Cumberland Presbyterian. We will not attempt to explain the difference between them, and will leave the read- er to judge which is daughter, and which is granddaughter of the First Church.
BELPRE.
The original members of the First Church residing in Belpre, like those in Waterford, retained their connection with the par- ent church, but were allowed to manage their own internal af-
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fairs. About the year 1802, an ecclesiastical society was formed, and, probably the same year, a convenient log church was erec- ted on the bank of the Ohio river, opposite Blennerhassett Island, and a little above the old burying ground. The site of this house, and also a part of the old burying ground, have been carried away by the river. In 1806 an effort was made to secure Rev. Thomas Robbins, then a missionary in the Wes- tern Reserve, to settle as pastor at Belpre, but he declined the call. Rev. Samuel P. Robbins, who was settled at Marietta in 1806, also supplied this branch at Belpre, preaching there once a month, and administering the sacrament of the Lord's supper once a year. On Sundays when they were without preaching, services were conducted, and a sermon read by the brethren of the church. In 1819 steps were taken to erect a house of wor- ship. This was built of brick in what was then known as the middle settlement, and was located in what is now the ceme- tery. This building was occupied in 1821, though it was not completed until several years later. On Friday, November 25th, 1826, at a preparatory lecture held in this church, the members of the Marietta church residing at Belpre, resolved to request letters of dismission for the purpose of organizing a separate church. It was also voted that the articles of faith and cove- nant of the parent church, should be adopted by the new church. These members were formally dismissed from the Marietta church, December 14th following, and January 1st, 1827, the Belpre Congregational Church was organized. This church had no settled pastor until 1829, when Rev. Addison Kingsbury be- came joint pastor of this church and the Presbyterian Church of Warren, a position which he held with great acceptance for ten years. Since that time, the church has had several pastors, and a prosperous and useful history. It has been harmonious, and has done faithful work at home, and in outlying neighborhoods. At times it has sustained two branch Sunday Schools, and has also been a generous contributor to benevolences. In 1858, ser- vices were commenced in Belpre village, and in 1869, the pres- ent house of worship was erected. Services were also held in the old brick church until 1880, when a church was organized in Centre Belpre (Porterfield Station,) which has since built a
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comfortable house, and the old brick church has disappeared. Though the Belpre church has suffered from deaths, and remov- als, it is still in a flourishing condition, and doing excellent work for the Master. The same pastor usually ministers to this and the Centre Belpre church.
WARREN.
The settlement in the town of Warren, between Marietta and Belpre, was at first called Nogglestown, from some of the early inhabitants. This was an outpost where the pastor of the Ma- rietta church held occasional services. It was situated opposite the settlement known as Vienna, Va., and the two neighbor- hoods were accommodated by the same services. February 23d, 1828, the members of the Marietta church, residing at Vienna, and a number of Scotch people, who had settled at Warren, were organized as the Presbyterian Church of Warren. For ten years, Rev. Addison Kingsbury ministered to this church in connection with the church at Belpre. Since that time the church has been a vigorous country church, with a good house of worship, and is still doing faithful work in the community.
NEWPORT.
June 19th, 1838, nine members of the First church, residing at Newport, about fifteen miles above Marietta on the Ohio riv- er, having been dismissed for that purpose, were organized as the Presbyterian Church of Newport. This church never had a house of worship, nor a settled pastor. After its organization it was irregularly supplied by various clergymen for three years. In 1841, President Henry Smith, D. D., of Marietta College, commenced to supply the church on alternate Sundays. This was continued regularly for about five years, and at intervals until 1855. It was also supplied by others for several years la- ter. The church never enjoyed a special revival season, nor did it sustain a distinct Sunday School, or prayer meeting, but members were received from time to time on profession, and by letter. The whole number of members was thirty-three. The church was dissolved in 1869.
HARMAR.
For many years there was no bridge across Muskingum river at this point, and persons residing on the West, or
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Harmar side, were compelled to cross on a ferry. This was often found inconvenient, and with the growth of this commu- nity, it was felt that the cause of Christ would be promoted by a church on the Harmar side of the river. December 19th, 1839, the following communication was presented to the church : "To the Members of the Congregational Church in Marietta:
The members of the church residing on the West side of the Muskingum river, have for several years been impressed with the importance of having a church organized in Harmar, dis- tinct from the church in Marietta. To their view, a field of influ- ence is presented in the increasing population, and the growing importance of their own immediate neighborhood, which duty to the cause of Christ calls them to occupy. The church in Ma- rietta has been numerous, and a portion can be spared without detriment. It may even be hoped that the interests of religion will be promoted by a separation. With this view, the undersigned respectfully ask letters of dismission and recommendation for the purpose of forming themselves into a Congregational Church in the town of Harmar. They make this request not from any want of attachment to the church, or of interest in its welfare, but simply because they believe their usefulness will be promo- ted, and the cause of religion advanced by the steps which they propose to take."
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