USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > A history of the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton, Ohio : from 1845 to 1880 > Part 2
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In September, 1827, Rev. F. Putnam was requested to supply the pulpit for a time, and he remained until April,
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EARLY HISTORY.
1828, and was then engaged as stated supply for one year at a salary of $400, and continued as supply from year to year until 1836. In 1830 the Presbytery called the atten- tion of the Church to the propriety of settling ministers as permanent pastors, and, as Mr. Putnam had preached for the congregation two or three years, they thought it would be well to make his relation to the Church more definite. The reply of the session was that there was peace under Mr. Putnam as stated supply, and this might be disturbed if a pastoral relation was attempted. The question was not further agitated until the meeting of Presbytery in April, 1835, when the question was again mooted, and, after consideration, the pulpit was declared vacant, with the understanding (Mr. Putnam and the session consent- ing) that Mr. Putnam might continue as supply until the meeting of Presbytery in April, 1836, at which time, if a call had not been extended to Mr. Putnam to become pastor, his ministry to the First Church should cease.
The congregation met subsequently aud authorized a call to be extended to Mr. Putnam to become pastor, but ' for some reason it was not made out, nor was it presented to him; hence, in accordance with the direction of Pres- bytery, his ministry ceased in the spring of 1836.
In the later months of 1828, and continuing on through 1829, a gracious revival was enjoyed, and the result was an ingathering to the membership of 65 by examination, 14 by certificate, and 44 by infant baptism; in all, 123.
The whole number added to the Church during Mr. Putnam's ministry was, on examination, 128; on certiti-
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
cate, 103, and by infant baptism, 111; in all, 342. It is probable that the questions which were agitating the entire Presbyterian Church, were being felt in this Church, and may have had some influence in closing Mr. Put- nam's labors at this time.
Rev. James C. Barnes, of Kentucky, was invited to visit the Church in May, 1836. Mr. Barnes came and preached two Sabbaths and returned to his home. The congrega- tion held a meeting on the 30th, and authorized the session to invite Mr. Barnes to preach for the Church, as stated supply, for one year at a salary of $800. The invitation was accepted, and Mr. Barnes entered upon his ministry on the second Sabbath of July. In the following March he was requested by the congregation to accept the pas- torate, to which he assented, and was installed as pastor of the Church on April 28th, 1839, and so continued until the April of 1845 meeting of the Presbytery, when, with the assent of the congregation, he applied for a dissolu- tion of the relation and the request was granted. Dur- ing the ministry of Mr. Barnes there were added to the Church on certificate, 85 ; examination, 139, and by infant baptism, 190; making in all, 414; with adult baptism, 40.
Several special seasons of revival graces were granted to the Church under Mr. Barnes' preaching; the most marked being in 1843, the result of which was an in- gathering of 4 on certificate, 66 on examination, and 24 by infant baptism; total, 94. And in this work the preaching of Rev. W. Cox, who assisted, was greatly blessed to the whole congregation.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Built 1841 ; taken down 1867. CORNER SECOND AND LUDLOW STREETS, DAYTON, O. The third Church built by this Congregation.
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EARLY HISTORY.
The prosperity of the congregation in its spiritual and temporal interests demanded a new and enlarged house of worship, and hence the congregation authorized sub- scriptions to be taken to erect a house upon a plan sub- mitted, of 50 by 70 feet, with a basement-story, and steeple.
The old house was taken down and the new one erected in its place at a cost of $14,213.08, and the congregation worshiped in it for more than twenty-seven years, when it gave place to the present plain, substantial, more costly, enlarged, and beautiful edifice 145 by 72 feet on the base.
Although the absorbing questions incident to the con- troversies agitating the entire Presbyterian Church, were having their influence in the First Church at the time of Mr. Barnes' coming, yet such was his character as a man and minister of peace and love, as not to have his influ- ence for good much interferred with by reason of the Old and New School division.
The session having been reduced by the withdrawal of two members, a meeting was called and an election held October 4, 1840, and James Steele, David Osborn, Samuel King, and Charles Spinning-all of whom, excepting James Steele, were duly ordained and installed in their offices.
The trustees prospered and had the building up and enclosed, and the basement room ready for occupancy and worship on the 26th of October, 1839, at which time the place was formally dedicated to the worship of God, who had so manifestly watched over the efforts for good through the two years of most severe trial.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The trustees made report on April 18th, 1842, that the church building was completed at a cost of $14,213.08; that the appraised value on the pews was $16,080, and re- commended that sale of the pews, according to the terms of subscription, be made on the building, on the 30th. The sale took place, and 47 pews were sold for $12,011, and the main audience-room, having been carpeted, up- holstered, etc., was occupied for the first time on the following Sabbath. Upon the resignation of Mr. Barnes, in 1845, the congregation was called to meet, and determine the question of giving Rev. W. H. McGuffey a pastoral call; it was determined, but Mr. McGuffey declined.
HISTORY OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OF DAYTON, OHIO.
FROM 1845 TO 1880.
REV. JAMES C. BARNES.
Rev. J. C. Barnes was, in his day, one of the most remarkable men in the Presbyterian Church. Before his call to Dayton, he had acquired much distinction as an evangelist and revivalist. The want of any system of pub- lic schools in Kentucky, left a large portion of the people of that State wholly destitute of education, secular or relig- ious, especially in the sparsely-settled counties south of the Kentucky River.
Mr. Barnes, on completing his divinity course, was im- bued with an earnest desire to carry the gospel to the heathen, and his attention being directed to the destitu- tion in his own State, he entered on that field of duty with the utmost devotion, and his labors were attended with extraordinary success. His massive form, earnest delivery and powerful voice contributed greatly to his influence over an audience.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The people listened to him with enthusiasm; multitudes were converted under his preaching, and many schools and churches were organized through his instrumentality.
In this work he was encouraged and liberally aided for many years, by leading men of Kentucky, but, at length, failing health, and the necessity of educating his children obliged him to withdraw from this arduous field. He left two sons in the ministry, J. Loton and George O. Barnes, now of Kentucky. Some years ago the younger son, George O., claimed to have received a special commission from heaven; and in obedience thereto he began his evan- gelical career, preaching six days in the week wherever the spirit might lead him. His methods being at variance with the standards of the Presbyterian Church, he was suspended from the ministry of that body, but the suspen- sion did not diminish his ardor. Unawed by church cen- sure, and untrammeled by ecclesiastical law, he now moves in his eccentric orbit, as a blazing comet among the cleri- cal constellations of Kentucky. The Rev. George O. was received upon examination to the membership of the First Church, of Dayton, in 1844. It is not improbable that he owes much of his popularity in Kentucky to the esteem and veneration that is still cherished there for the memory of his father.
NEW AND OLD SCHOOL DIVISION.
During the early period of Mr. Barnes' ministry, the harmony of the Presbyterian Church in the United States was disturbed by a controversy that arose among its lead-
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NEW AND OLD SCHOOL DIVISION.
ing members, and resulted, 1838, in separating the Church into two branches, known as the New and Old School.
The issue involved certain abstruse theological points which the great body of Presbyterians never fully com- prehended. Indeed it has been said that no formulated statement of the issue was ever made that both parties could agree to pronounce correct. After the division, these branches adhered to the same standards of doctrine as taught in the "Westminster Confession of Faith," and " Church Catechisms." They adhered to the same form of worship and government, and each professed to be "The Presbyterian Church of the United States"-the only mark of distinction in their thirty years of separate existence being the parenthetical appendix of O. S. and N. S.
To some it will appear strange that a body of intelligent Christians, embracing hundreds of thousands in its com- munion, should divide so evenly upon an issue so trifling as that above represented, an issue involving no tangible or real heresy, as was subsequently proved by the voluntary reunion of these branches. The only plausible explana- tion of the schism is, that during the hot and protracted discussions of the vexed questions on the floor of the general assembly, and in the newspapers, the members of the Presbyterian Church throughout the land became divided, not in creed or sentiment, but in personal sym- pathy with one or other of the distinguished combatants. Those of conservative temperament were satisfied to fol- low the lead of such men as Breckenridge, Wilson, and Alexander, while many sympathized with Lyman Beecher,
4
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Albert Barnes, and others who refused to accept, as a new test of orthodoxy, the private interpretation of certain mys- tical doctrines, which their adversaries sought to impose.
The division of 1838 was in keeping with the past his- tory of Presbyterians, whose ancient and deep-rooted love · of civil and religious liberty, makes them perhaps mor- bidly sensitive to any show of arbitrary authority in mat- ters of conscience. Hence it is that this branch of the true Church has suffered more from schism than any other Protestant denomination.
A hopeful effort is now being made by the various branches of the Presbyterian family in this country and Europe to remove the reproach. The plan is to so modify the terms of fellowship that Presbyterians of every shade and name may come together as one body, and thus secure for the Church the inestimable advantages of corporate unity with true Christian liberty.
When men can agree upon a creed so comprehensive and minute as the Westminster Confession of Faith, embrac- ing, as it does, all the essential points of Bible truth, and many non-essential doctrines, they ought surely to be allowed some liberty of opinion on minor points, especially on those verbal subtilties of theology, which have dis- . tracted the Church in past ages, and filled the world with angry and unprofitable disputations. The people of the First Church warmly favor the Pan-Presbyterian move- ment; they do not believe that God has been pleased to specify in his word, every particular rule of ecclesiastical government and worship, but that, on the contrary, he
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NEW AND OLD SCHOOL DIVISION.
has left many things to the discretion of his people, and if his people differ with each other in charity, there can be no ground offense.
· The First Church of Dayton contributed a colony to the New School organization. This colony consisted of seventy-three members under the lead of Peter Odlin, Esq., and Dr. John Steele, both elders of the First Church. It does not appear that any letters of dismissal were given or asked for by the outgoing party, who organized the New School, now the Second Presbyterian Church of Dayton.
The seceding branch, after its withdrawal, claimed an interest in the property of the parent Church, which gave rise to a serious disagreement. This was, however, amica- bly adjusted-the First Church agreeing to pay the claim- ants $1500. It may be added that this compromise was brought about chiefly through the wisdom and moderation of Drs. Job Haines and John Steele.
Referring to this settlement Dr. Haines, in his Historical Sketch of the Church, says:
"This sum was paid by individual subscription, with- out touching the property of the corporation and without any acknowledgement by the trustees or corporators, that the claim was a legal one. As we were then circum- stanced -the old house torn down, and contracts made, and materials collected for a new edifice-we chose rather to procure peace by such a compromise, than to be hin- dered in the erection of a house by a lawsuit, and all its unpleasant consequences upon the feelings of neighbors who had heretofore worshiped together in the same place."
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
REV. DR. ANDERSON'S PASTORATE.
The Rev. William C. Anderson, D. D., the successor of Mr. Barnes, began his ministry on the 1st of February, 1846. This gentleman was highly esteemed as a preacher, pastor, and friend. Being of a genial nature he formed acquaintances readily, and the charms of his conversation and manners seldom failed to impress those with whom he came in contact. Brevity was a characteristic of his ser- mons. It was often said that no hearer ever slept under the sound of his voice.
He took more pleasure in outdoor work than in his study. It interested him to mingle with the common people, and to aid and encourage them in their temporal as well as their spiritual embarrassments.
Another prominent characteristic of Dr. Anderson's was his kind attention to strangers. This he held to be one of the cardinal duties of religion. It was his practice to call upon all strangers that came to settle in Dayton, and many will remember his Saturday custom of being at the old National Hotel, when the afternoon stage coaches arrived, in order to learn what passengers intended to stop over for the Sabbath. These were sure to receive a cordial invitation to his church on the next day, and the invitation was usually accompanied by the promise of a cold dinner, should the sermon prove tiresome, or other- wise unsatisfactory.
Before the close of Dr. Anderson's connection with the Church, there arose a very general sentiment in favor of
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REV. DR. ANDERSON'S PASTORATE.
establishing a new colony in the eastern part of the city. A committee consisting of Dr. Job Haines, Herbert S. Williams, and Henry L. Brown was appointed to raise funds for the purchase of a suitable lot, on which to build a house of worship for the new congregation.
At this time, February, 1849, Dr. Anderson's health had become much impaired, and feeling himself incapacitated for preaching, by reason of chronic disease of the throat, he determined to make a visit to Europe, of some months duration. The session readily assented, and unanimously agreed to continue the pastoral relation, hoping the Doc- tor's visit might be the means of his restoration to health.
After consultation with the pastor and with his advice, the congregation, March 1st, 1849, decided to employ the Rev. F. T. Brown, of Madison, Indiana, to occupy the pulpit. He was informed of the movement in favor of a new church, and the hope was expressed that he would take an interest in this enterprise with a view to accept- ing the pastorate of the new organization, provided the arrangement would be mutually satisfactory to all parties interested.
Mr. Brown accepted the invitation and served the Church from March 1st, to September 1st, when he received a call to another field of labor.
About this time Dr. Anderson returned from Europe and resumed his duties; but, a few weeks later, he sent the following letter to the congregation :
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
" To the First Presbyterian Church, of Dayton :
" Dear Brethren: A return of the malady with which I was afflicted last winter, has rendered it impossible for me any longer to discharge properly the duties of your pastor. I therefore request you to concur with me in an applica- tion to the Miami Presbytery for a dissolution of my pas- toral relation to you.
"In the bonds of the gospel of Christ,
"I am yours, etc., "W. C. ANDERSON."
On the 15th of October a meeting of the members of the Church and congregation was duly convened to con- sider the pastor's letter, which, being publicly read, the following action was taken :
"WHEREAS, The Rev. William C. Anderson, D. D., the pastor of this Church, having, on account of continued ill-health, applied for a dissolution of the pastoral relation between him and this Church; therefore,
" Resolved, That however painful it may be to the mem- bers of this Church to part with a beloved pastor in whom they are all united, yet, in view of the dispensation of Providence which has rendered this application necessary, we concur in the same, and appoint Drs. Job Haines and George Green to communicate this, our action, to the Presbytery of Miami, at its session in this place, on the 16th instant.
"Thereupon the meeting adjourned.
" JOB HAINES, " Attest :
" YOUNGS V. WOOD, Clerk."
Moderator."
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REV. DR. ANDERSON'S PASTORATE.
A short time after his relation with the Dayton Church was dissolved, Dr. Anderson was called to the presidency of the Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, which position he filled successfully for some years. For a time he was a professor in Hanover College, Indiana. He also minis- tered, as regular pastor, at Chillicothe, New Albany, San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Junction City, Kansas. He died at the latter place on the 28th of August, 1870. He visited Europe four times and spent the winter of 1866 in Palestine.
Few ministers of the gospel were more widely known or more generally admired throughout the West than Dr. W. C. Anderson. He was a man of great activity and resources, fond of novelty, and somewhat restless in temperament. He seldom staid more than four years in one place, and for this reason he was jocularly spoken of among his familiar friends as the "clerical knight errant of the West."
The following incident, illustrating certain traits of Dr. Anderson's character, was detailed to the writer many years ago :
The late Col. Berryman, of Kentucky, a wealthy land- holder and prominent Presbyterian, had met Dr. Anderson at a session of the general assembly. Their brief acquaint- ance on that occasion developed a very friendly sentiment which was strengthened by subsequent correspondence. Years afterward Dr. Anderson was paying a visit to an old friend in the Blue Grass region, and learning that the residence of Col. Berryman was but a few miles distant,
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
he decided to call upon him, partly out of personal regard, and partly to obtain a subscription for a frontier mission . in which he was interested. Receiving the necessary in- structions from his friend, he set out to make the journey on foot. After traversing many broad hemp fields and extensive wood pastures, he approached an ancient looking mansion, about which were promiscuously distributed a numerous assortment of log cabins, and other wooden structures, of every size and style peculiar to a southern plantation of the olden time. He did not suppose the house to be Col. Berryman's, as his instructions were that he should see three houses by the way before reaching his destination, and he had passed but two. Near the house before him, he saw a company of men threshing wheat, and was passing them at a brisk gait with his coat over his arm, and a roll on the bottom of his pants, when he was abruptly accosted by a fat, ruddy gentleman, sitting on a stout poney, and evidently superintending the work. This gentleman, in a kindly voice, called out :
" Hello ! do you know where you are ?"
Dr. Anderson -" Hello to yourself! I can hardly say that I do."
Col. Berryman -" If you are hunting a job of work, I can accommodate you ; I am short of hands this morning."
Dr. Anderson-"I'm afraid your wages wouldn't suit me; what do you pay ?"
Whether Col. Berryman suspected that the stranger's reply contained a sly allusion to the cost of slave labor, is
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REV. DR. ANDERSON'S PASTORATE.
not known, but there was a slight change in the tone of his voice as he responded :
"Oh! I'll pledge myself to pay as much for your work as your last employer gave you."
Dr. Anderson-"That's fair enough; I'm your man," said the Doctor, and taking off his necktie and collar, he put them carefully into his coat pocket, laid the coat over a fence rail, and announced himself ready for business, at the same time requesting the "boss" to make a note of his time.
It should be stated that when this colloquy began, Dr. Anderson chanced to glance in the direction from which he had come, and noticed for the first time a small house standing near the edge of the grove he had last traversed, and which a slight deviation from his course had kept out of view. He instantly concluded that the gentleman in the saddle was none other than Col. Berryman himself. A nearer approach fully verified this conclusion, and gave him an advantage in the engagement above narrated, as well as in the subsequent proceedings.
Dr. Anderson did not believe in a regulation uniform for the clergy. He thought a man, and especially a clergy- man, should be known by his works, and not by the works of his tailor; or, by any rigid restraint of manner. To find himself mistaken for a workingman, in search of employ- ment, was, therefore, not offensive, and he decided, if possi- ble, to remain incognito, for a time, and trust to circum- stances for a favorable denouement. He had an idea that the mistake would turn to his advantage; at any rate, 5
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
thought he, "it is a novel adventure, and a few hours work will not hurt my digestion."
He tossed the straw from the thresher as gracefully as if he had been bred on a farm (which, in fact, was the case), and when the dinner bell chimed, the Colonel com- plimented him on his good work, and told him to go with the white men that managed the machine, and the housekeeper would give them dinner. "Do they not dine with you ?" said the Doctor ; the Colonel smiled, and re- plied, "No; that is not the custom with us." "Well," said the Doctor, "I have always been accustomed to eat at the table with my boss; I am a citizen of Ohio, and if I were to work for a man who is too proud to sit at the table with me, on week days or Sabbath, I would be ashamed to look my old neighbors in the face." The Colonel was struck with the Buckeye's speech and bear- ing. He regarded him as an extraordinary specimen of the northern mudsill, and promptly rejoined, "It is not a matter of pride, but of convenience, and although we have some company to-day, yet if you prefer it, you shall dine with us; get your coat and shirt collar and I will send Tom to brush you off in the wash-room."
The Doctor was directed to the wash-room, where Tom soon appeared with brush and blacking.
It used to go hard with a southern slave to be obliged to wait on a white laborer, and Tom was proceeding with his work very doggedly, till his eye caught the shining rim of a silver quarter, between the Doctor's finger and thumb, which the holder made no effort to conceal. This
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REV. DR. ANDERSON'S PASTORATE.
glimpse of the coin acted like a galvanic battery on Tom's muscles and so stimulated his energies that, when Col. Ber- ryman returned, the Doctor was looking quite respectable.
The Colonel led the way to the dining-room and had his hand on the knob, when he halted, and turning about, said, hurriedly, "I have forgotten your name. I must introduce you. What may I call you ?"
"You may call me Smith, if you choose, sir, but my name is Anderson."
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The Colonel had expected his new employee to betray some degree of embarrassment at the near prospect of an introduction to company far above his station in life, and was puzzled by this display of extreme self-possession and pleasantry. Had there been any coarseness in the fellow's behavior his easy nonchalance might have been attributed to that bold spirit of independence common to men who have been inured to frontier life, but the stranger's manner and language were courteous and even bland.
On entering the dining-hall the guests were making their appearance at the opposite side. "Mr. Anderson" was introduced to Mrs. Berryman-the Colonel quietly adding, "this is the gentleman I said would take dinner with us to-day ;" he was then introduced to the company collectively as "Mr. Anderson, from Ohio." The chair assigned to him was next to that of Col. Berryman's nephew, Major J., who afterward became a general in the Union army, and to whom the writer is chiefly indebted for the particulars of this episode. Opposite the Major was seated Judge M., a lawyer and politician, whose charming
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