USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > A history of the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton, Ohio : from 1845 to 1880 > Part 5
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The present choir of the First Church consists of four singers, with a parlor organ accompaniment. The singers occupy a position in the front of the church, and face the Nono audience while singing. Most of them are volunteers, who take no pay for their service. The cost of the music is therefore very light, not exceeding $15000 year.
DISCIPLINE. 1
To err is human; and so long as human nature is subject to its present infirmities, so long will the exercise of disci- pline be necessary to good order, in Church or State. The special duty of Church sessions is to guard the purity of
70
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
the Church in the lives of its members. In dealing with offenses, the elders possess both judiciary and executive power; but their most important function is to watch over the flock, of which they are under-shepherds-guarding, counseling, comforting, instructing, encouraging, and ad- monishing, as circumstances may require. The penalties imposed on wrong-doers are, censure, suspension from the communion of the Church, and excommunication.
The writer has observed but one case of excommunica- tion on the Church minutes since February 14th, 1817- which is the date of the first entry in the session book.
A good many were suspended from the communion of the Church, on account of specified transgressions, and of these, many were afterward restored, upon satisfactory evidence of true repentence and reformation.
A large proportion of the delinquents were young per- sons who yielded to the influence of improper associates, and the temptations of city life, A few adults had become victims of intemperance, and only a small number were guilty of grosser offenses.
It would be impossible for any one to read the sessional proceedings, without being profoundly impressed with the wisdom, moderation, firmness, and patience of the primi- tive elders. At their second meeting, May, 1817, a charge of slander was preferred by one Church-member against another. The elders present on the occasion were-John Miller, Henry Robinson, John McKaig, and Wm. King- the Rev. Peter Monfort acting moderator. The aggrieved brother was asked whether he had sought reconciliation
7I
DISCIPLINE.
in accordance with the scriptural injunction-" If thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone," etc. This had not been done, and the session declined to consider the charge. They counseled complainant to exercise a spirit of brotherly love, and Christian charity, in any further steps he might take towards reconciliation or redress. At a subsequent meet- ing of the session, the parties in controversy appeared, and informed the elders that their difficulty had been amicably settled.
It was formerly the custom of the elders, and may be the custom at present, to so divide the parish that each of the elders had supervision of a particular precinct. Regu- lar visits were made; each elder visiting at least one of the families in his respective charge every week, and offer- ing a prayer with the family, "unless prevented by peculiar circumstances." When it was observed that a member was absent from public worship or from a communion service, he would receive a visit from one of the elders or pastor in the course of the week, and if the absence was not due to some providential hindrance, the delinquent was affec- tionately admonished of the danger of neglecting his duty, and urged to a more careful discharge thereof. Similar private visits were made to persons who were guilty of any immoral practice. The elders would visit refractory cases alternately, and, if these private efforts failed to accomplish reform, the offender was cited to appear before the session, who prayed with and for him, and kindly endeavored to impress him with a due sense of his danger and duty.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Great prudence and delicacy were practiced in dealing with these cases; and a professed desire to reform, however faint, was sure to meet with long suffering and encourage- ment. By these means some of the young men who had lapsed at intervals, eventually became consistent and exem- plary Christians.
Dancing and attending the theatre have always been a source of grief to the pastors and elders of the First Church. Like the use of instruments in praise worship, the practice of dancing and theatre-going has long been deprecated, by the Presbyterian Church, as inconsistent with a Christian profession.
The following paper was prepared by the session, on the 26th of January, 1844, and read to the congregation on the following Sabbath, after sermon:
" The session of the First Presbyterian Church, of Day- ton, feeling in some degree the obligation that rests upon them, faithfully to warn the members of the Church, in an affectionate manner, against conformity to the vanities of a world lying in wickedness, against its allurements and deadly snares, which, in our view, are calculated to injure the spiritual interests of the real believer, and to entice to destruction the thoughtless, and unconverted, would particularly enjoin upon the members of this Church to discountenance the worldly amusement of dancing, seeing that our Church, in her highest ecclesiastical court, has again and again condemned this amusement, in all its forms, as inconsistent with a creditable profession of religion, and have declared it a censurable practice, and
78
DISCIPLINE.
seeing that it is 'laid down in the inspired word, as a characteristic of the wicked, that 'they send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance' (Job 21: 11), we would therefore not only entreat our brothers and sisters personally to refrain from this worldly folly, and to set their faces as a flint against their baptized house- holds being instructed in this seductive art, but also to refuse any countenance to those social parties where it is introduced, as we believe that the presence of the pro- fessors of religion at such scenes is calculated to wound the hearts of the pious, harden the impenitent, and greatly injure the cause of our Redeemer."
Notwithstanding this edict, it does not appear from the records, that any dancing-member was ever suspended from Church privileges, on account of this indulgence; and the reason no doubt is, that the word of God contains no express prohibition against it, and that the sin of dancing does not consist in the mere act, but in the evil tendencies of this amusement, when indulged in promiscuously and to excess.
The Rev. Dr. Thomas, referring to discipline during his pastorate, says (April, 1870) :
"It may be recorded with gratitude to the Father of Mercies, that, of the two hundred and eighty persons, old and young, received into Church fellowship, during the past twelve years, for whose reception your pastor is re- sponsible, not one has been the subject of discipline, or has deserved the censure of the Church."
10
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CHURCH FIRE.
On Tuesday, August 15th, 1876, about 1 o'clock P. M., our house of worship was discovered to be on fire. The entire building was thereby rendered unfit for occupancy. The fire commenced in the organ and consumed it. Thence it extended to the ceiling. A part of the roof was de- stroyed, also some of the pulpit furniture. "The pews were much injured and defaced. The upper and lower rooms were deluged with water. The damage from both fire and water was so great, that it was evident we could not occupy any portion of the building for several weeks. In this dilemma we were met on all sides, by the most cor- dial sympathies of neighboring Churches, and offers of accommodation for all our regular services of Church and Sabbath-school. The first regular Baptist, the German Reformed, and the Third Street Presbyterian Churches, were especially prompt and cordial in these offers. We united with the latter Church in the regular Sabbath services, during the absence from town of their pastor. Rev. Leigh Richmond Smith, whom we had invited to Dayton, preached in their pulpit August 27th, September 3rd, and 10th. We also made use of their chapel for our Sunday-school, for several weeks, and afterwards, owing to a change of hour, we availed ourselves of the use, kindly tendered us of the lecture-room of the German Reformed Church."
The expense for repairs was fully covered by insurance.
75
SABBATH SCHOOL.
In the original construction of the house, there was a serious defect in the acoustic properties of the main audi- torium. In repairing the building after the fire, the ceiling was lowered some twenty feet. Since the change, the voice of the preacher is heard with much greater distinct- ness than before.
The building, including the Sabbath school room, the ladies' parlor, infant class room, library and pastor's study are heated by steam.
Thorough ventilation is provided for, by flues in the walls, extending from the base to the roof.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
In the early history of the First Church it is stated, by Mr. Brown, that " In March, 1817, some citizen of Dayton made the inquiry : 'Do we need a Sunday-school ?'" Im- mediately following that statement Mr. Brown has left a blank space of two pages in his manuscript, indicating his design of returning to the subject, but as death prevented the fulfillment of this purpose, it will be necessary to devote a chapter to the early Sabbath-school work of the Church.
The citizen who propounded the above inquiry must have been surprised with its speedy and remarkable solu- tion, for, according to our best information, the following month witnessed the organization of a flourishing Sabbath- school in Dayton, under the superintendence of Mrs. Sarah
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Bomberger, and a record of the scholars for 1818, shows an aggregate of over two hundred on the roll for that year.
Some time after the school was opened, a Board of Directors was constituted, and consisted of the following named ladies: Mrs. Crane, Mrs. Ayres, Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Haynes, and Mrs. Hannah George, who was secretary of the Board, and performed her duties as such, in a very business-like manner. The earliest records of the school, as well as of the directors, are missing, but there is posi- tive evidence that Mrs. Bomberger held the position of superintendent for nearly twelve years, when Mr. David Osborn was elected to the office.
The following ladies also served as directors until March, 1830, when a new Constitution and By-Laws were adopted, making the Dayton school an auxiliary to the "American Sunday-School Union," viz .: Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Hildreth, Mrs. Irwin, Mrs. Eliza Smith.
At the first election under the new Constitution the following officers were chosen: Mr. David Osborn, superin- tendent; Mrs. Sarah Bomberger, assistant superintendent; James H. Bacon, secretary ; Dr. John Steele, treasurer, and John W. Van Cleve, librarian.
Since the above election the following gentlemen have filled the office of superintendent in the order given : S. M. King, Wm. Davie, E. M. Burr, Mr. Spence, Ira J. Fenn, David Osborn, L. F. Claflin, H. L. Brown, T. J. Smith, E. A. Moore, Dr. T. E. Thomas, T. O. Lowe, F. Mul- ford, Geo. L. Phillips, Jno. H. Thomas, Chas. Raymond, F. Mulford.
77
SABBATH SCHOOL.
David Osborn was the first male superintendent. He was re-elected nine times, and labored with great zeal and efficiency, not only in the Sabbath-school of his own Church, but in the organization of similar schools in the new settlements of the county.
Dr. Steele held the office of treasurer till he went out with the New School colony in 1839, when his brother, Judge Steele, was elected, and filled the office till 1841-the year of his death.
The other subordinate officers of the Sabbath-school were -- Mrs. Putnam, George Bomberger, Joseph Davison, Mrs. Broadwell, Mrs. Barnes, Judge Holt, Mr. Hughes, J. W. Dickson; Isaac Augenbach, Mr. Spinning.
We present below an "Alphabetical List of Scholars entered at Dayton Sabbath-school, commencing August 2d, 1818." It is copied from the "sere and yellow leaf" of Mrs. Bomberger's original record, and will no doubt interest a large number of our citizens :
Ayres, Isaac Bomberger, William Berthards, Thomas
Ayres, Stephen
Bimm, Jacob
Brown, Robert P.
Armstrong, John
Bimm, Isaac Bomberger, George
Andrews, James
Brady, Joseph
Boyer, Levi J.
Ayres, Henry Boogher, Gideon Brown, Thomas
Boal, William
Anderson, Thomas Boogher, Jessie Alspach, William Bowen, Robert Belloe, John Ayres, David Boal, Robert Belloe, Peter
Anderson, Henry
Boyer, Tho. W.
Bowen, David
Atkins, John Broadwell, Eben Bowen, Nathaniel
Anderson, Lewis
Bacon, Henry
Broad well, Simeon
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Boogher, David
Cain, Ingham
Davis, James
Brown, Patterson
Collins, Gilbert
Davis, Martin
Brown, Kirkum
Cooper, Daniel C.
Davis, Daniel
Brier, George Conover, Harvey
Dolly, Joseph
Bradson, James
Crane, Wilbur
Dolly, William
Blake, John
Casner, Joseph Conover, Alex. G.
Dolly, Samuel
Brown, Henry L.
Clegg, John
Darst, Napoleon B.
Biers, Joseph
Clegg, James
Emmrick, David
Bimm, Joseph
Clegg, Joseph
Este, David
Boyer, Eli
Clegg, Samuel
Eaglisfield, William
Boyer, Isaac G. · Conover, Bachus W. Emmons, William
Brabham, Charles
Collins, Stephen Eaker, William
Broadwell, William Carney, Absalom
Eaker; Charles
Bourne, William
Clark, George
Edgar, John F ..
Boyer, Abraham
Crampton, Joshua E. Ensey, Peter
Boogher, Samuel
Casy, Amos
Folkerth, Russel
Broadwell, Josiah
Carney, Ansom
Folkerth, Emil
Bruen, David
Cutshaul, Ely
Fairchild, Chris.
Baily, John Carpenter, Volin C. Fairchild, Eddy
Cooper, David C.
Carpenter, David Fairchild, Francis
Collins, James Carpenter, Wm. D. Fairchild, Este
Carpenter, Hopkins Cain, Stacey
Fuller, William
Crane, William E. Duncan, John
Folkerth, Hamilton
Conover, John
Duncan, David
Fairchild, Wilbur
Conover, Obediah
Davis, Job
Fennemore, Brazilla
Conover William
Davis, James
Golliday, Uri
Conley, Fountain Davis, William
Hatfield, George
Curtner, Henry Davis, William
Hanna, Joseph
Coleman, Edward Denny, James
Hatfield, Israel
Clark, Robert Dicks, George
Hanna, Amos T. Hildreth, Lewis
Deihl, Joseph
Blodget, William
79
SABBATH SCHOOL.
Humphreyville, W. McCollum, Ethan S. Ritchie, Charles Humphreyville,I.A. McDean, Thomas Richardson, David
Huston, Paul Mussleman, Samuel Shaw, Scott
Houston, William P. Mckinley, James Schoonover, A.
Huntsinger, Eli Mc Whiney, William Smith, George W. Hollan, Horatio Mc Whiney, James Simpson, Stephen
Hamilton, Thomas
McDennick, James Shaw, Nelson
Hollingsworth, A. Morrison, David
Shaw, David
Houston, H. G. P.
Munday, William
Shaw, John
Henry, John
Morgan, William
Scott, Samuel
Hizer, John
Minton, William
Stibbins, James
Hatfield, William Minton, Samuel
Shaw, Andrew
Hawthorn, William Murry, John
Smith, John D.
Hudson, Harrison Regans, Jeptha
Spinning, Joel
Hollis, George Robins, William
Shaw, Addison Sullivan, William
Hudson, Harrison Rue, Taylor
Stansifer, Ephraim Shoup, Joel
Henderson, William Rogers, William
Henderson, Charles Ryan, Joseph
Sullivan, Nicholas
Smith, Jacob
Sullivan, Joseph
Myers, Benjamin Rhea, Robert
Michael, Philip Reed, Adgate M.
Munday, Benjamin Ryan, James
Sullivan, Absalom
Sullivan, Thomas
Munday, Madison
Sullivan, John Stansifer, Francis
McCoy, Rice Rossiter, John
McCoy, Josephus Rossiter, Samuel
Snider, George
McDennick, James Ritchie, Matthias
Shearer, George
Mussleman, Peter Rouzer, Samuel
Sullivan, Lorenso
Hollingsworth, H. Mount, John
Shaw, Nicholas
Hawthorn, John Rue, Nicholas
Henderson, William Robbins, Eli Hoon, Jacob Ryan, William
Stansifer, Americus
Shaw, Westley
Millar, George Reed, David L. Rinebarger, Adam
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Stutsman, Peter Shaw, Elihu
Simpson, Benjamin
Smith, Stephen
Stutsman, Grove
Scott, William
Smith, John C.
Steele, Robert
Scott, David
Ayres, Elizabeth
Bailey, Hester
Doxen, Mary Ann
Ayres, Julia Ann
Burch, Electa
Darst, Mary
Arnold, Kitty
Curtner, Cassander Doris, Hephsida
Ayres, Mary Crane, Maria
Dicks, Elvira
Alspach, Harriet
Cox, Mary Ann
Emmrick, Peggy
Boal, Martha
Calhoun, Eliza Emmons, Louisa
Bachus, Harriet Collins, Maria
Eaglefield, Jane
Brown, Sidney
Connolly, Cassander Folkerth, Louisa
Boyer, Mary Eliza
Carson, Jane
Folkerth, Rebecca
Bruen, Precilla
Cotton, Mary
Foster, Caroline
Bomberger, Ann
Cottingham, Mary
Flook, Elizabeth
. Broadwell, Mary
Cipher, Mary
Gibbs, Mary Ann
Brubecker, Maria
Clark, Elizabeth
Greene, Eliza
Batson, Anna
Cain, Mahala
Gay, Enesha
Burns, Jane
Combs, Nancy
Greene, Edlira
Brier, Cynthia
Casner, Charlotta
Grimes, Eliza
Bella, Mary
Cooper, Harriet
Griffin, Charlotta
Bowen, Lydia
Crampton, Ruth
Grimes, Betsey
Burr, Sarah
Clyde, Julia Ann
Golliher, Jane C
Bateman, Mary
Doris, Eliza
Hatfield, Eliza
Bourne, Mary
Duncan, Anna Jane Hess, Betsey
Baly, Mary
Darst, Julia Ann
Hildreth, Elizabeth
Bacon, Jane
Dawson, Sarah
Huffman, Kitty A.
Bacon, Susan
Darst, Christiana
Hollingsworth, S.
Brown, Eliza Jane Day, Mary
Harden, Deborah
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SABBATH SCHOOL.
Hiser, Barbara
Smith, Sally
Williams, Susan
Hyde, Letitia Ann
Shaw, Sarah
Williams, Anna
Hanly, Caroline
Stoneberger, Polly Wilson, Betsey Summons, Innocence Walter, Eleanor Swisher, Rachel
Windsor, Deborah
Peirce, Mary
Stibbins, Mary Ann Woodrow, Ann
Peirce, Mary Ann
Slaught, Mary Jane White, Polly
Perrine, Hannah
Taswell, Barbara
Williams, Elizabeth
Parks, Louisa
Tull, Jane Eleanor
Wooderman, M. S. Walton, Elizabeth White, Ruth Ann Washburn, Anna Willison, Jane
Patton, Susan
Thompson, Nancy
Wilson, Mary Jane
Patton, Nancy Van Cleve, Eliza
Withrow, Sarah Bell
Patterson, Clarissa
Volentine, Abigail
Wilson, Mary Ann
Porter, Mary Patton, Eliza
Vagus, Mary Ann
Withrow, Jane
Van Tyle, Elizabeth Withrow, Mary
Spencer, Cynthia
Wolfe, Kitty Wanger, Catharine
Squier, Phebe
Wilson, Malinda Wigley, Eliza
Squier, Eliza
Worman, Margaret Wollfe, Rosanna
Syfers, Mary
Walton, Juliet
Windsor, Susan
Witman, Lydia *
* NOTE .- Although the above list is correctly copied from the original, the author will not vouch for its accuracy. He is inclined to think it contains the names of some persons, especially of some ladies, who were not born at the date of the list, 11
Haines, Catharine Henderson, Mary Henderson, Jane Jenks, Martha
Sourbray, Mary Ann Warner, Helen Shartle, Nancy
Westerhann, E.
Price, Rachel Tyler, Sarah Talbert, Elizabeth
Phillips, Elizabeth Phillips, Marianna Thrall, Eleanor
Parrot, Elizabeth
Toman, Lavina
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
MEMBERSHIP.
The total number of members received into the First Church, since its organization, is over 1700. There is no record of the names of Church-members prior to February 14th, 1817. The record of membership begins at that date, and the admissions to Church communion, under different pastors, by examination and by letter, are as follows :
PASTORS.
Period of service.
Received on examination.
Received on certificate.
Total.
Yrs.
Rev. James Welch
13
66
Rev. Backus Wilbur
23
28
51
Rev. Ahab Jencks
2
41
15
56
Rev. William Graham
3
28
25
53
Church vacant.
2
Rev. Franklin Putnam
8
129
92
221
Rev. James C. Barnes.
9
169
111
280
Rev. Wm. C. Anderson, D. D.
4
75
78
153
Rev. Phineas D. Gurley, D. D.
4
104
50
154
Rev. James H. Brookes.
4
68
54
122
Rev. Thomas E. Thomas, D. D.
12
173
167
340
Church vacant.
1
1
13
14
Rev. John Mc Vey
24
12
31
43
Church vacant.
1}
4
6
10
Rev. Leigh Richmond Smith.
3
36
45
81
83
RULING ELDERS.
RULING ELDERS.
The roll of ruling elders is as follows :
Before 1817, John Miller, Judge John Ewing, John Ritchie, H. Robinson.
Second List: Jas. Hanna, Robert Parks, John McKaig, William King Sr.
From 1821, Job Haines.
From 1823, Obadiah B. Conover.
From 1829, David Osborn, Dr. Jno. Steele, Matthew Patton.
From 1836, Peter Odlin Esq., Charles C. Patterson.
From 1840, James Steele, Samuel M. King, Charles H. Spinning.
From 1846, Joseph Barnett, Henry Stoddard Sr.
From 1850, Henry L. Brown, John Morehouse, Dr. Geo. Green.
From 1853, E. Anson More, Herbert S. Williams.
From 1857, Dr. Clarke McDermont, Francis Mulford.
From 1864, Judge Youngs V. Wood, Isaac Haas, Leonard Moore.
From 1874, John F. Edgar, William A. Barnett.
From 1878, Charles U. Raymond, Augustus F. Payne.
From 1879, E. A. Parrott, John H. Thomas.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
DEACONS.
The first Board of Deacons was elected on the 13th of January, 1847. It is the duty of the deacons to see that the poor are provided for. Below is a roll of these officers since the above date :
JOHN F. EDGAR,
CHARLES ELLS,
DR. GEORGE GREEN,
GORDON ARNOLD,
HERB. S. WILLIAMS,
LEONARD MOORE,
AUGUSTUS NEWELL,
JOHN RENCH,
THOS. O. LOWE, HENRY STODDARD Jr.,
E. A. MORE,
DAVID OSBORN,
B. F. ELLS,
HIRAM LEWIS,
O. P. BOYER,
YOUNGS V. WOOD,
DAVID W. STEWART,
DR. J. C. DENISE,
G. P. THRUSTON,
JACOB D. DUBOIS, JOHN H. THOMAS,
DAVID BRADFORD, R. I. CUMMIN,
HOUSTON LOWE.
FRANK MULFORD, ISAAC HAAS,
85
TRUSTEES.
TRUSTEES.
The roll of Trustees elected by the First Church, since its organization, is as follows:
MILLER, JOHN LINDSLEY, DAVID
LOWE, P. P.
EDGAR, ROBERT
STODDARD, HENRY
SMITH, T. J. S.
REID, DAVID EAKER, WILLIAM LITTLE, B. F.
MCCABE, JOHN BARNETT, JOSEPH STODDARD, A. P.
EWING, JUDGE JOHN BACON, HENRY FOOTE, W. H.
BROWN, HENRY ODLIN, PETER
STODDARD JR., H.
ROBINSON, HENRY DAVIES, E. W. WAMPLER, JAMES
HOOD, ANDREW
McPHERSON, SAML.
EDGAR, SAMUEL
COOPER, D. C.
PEASE, HORACE
STODDARD, J. W.
WILLIAMS, T. H. BROWN, HENRY L.
DUBOIS, J. D.
HANNA, JAMES
NEWELL, AUGUSTUS WALLACE, W. H.
KING, WILLIAM
LOWE, JOHN G.
PHILLIPS, G. L.
MCCLURE, WILLIAM STOVER, JAMES
MOORE, LEONARD
ROBINSON, H. RENCH, JOHN
STEWART D. W.
PATTON, MATTHEW PHILLIPS, T. A.
CRAIGHEAD, WM.
STEELE, JUDGE JAS. MORE, E. ANSON
SMITH, SAMUEL B.
PHILLIPS, H. G. CONOVER, HARVEY HAAS, ISAAC
BURNET, ISAAC G. HARSHMAN, JON. CUMMIN, R. I.
SMITH, G. W. OVERLEASE, ABRA. ROGERS, GEO. W.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
TREASURERS.
Below is a list of Treasurers of the First Church since its organization :
MCCLURE, WILLIAM
MORE, E. ANSON
CONOVER, OBADIAH
LOWE, P. P.
FOLKERTH, JOHN
HARSHMAN, JON.
GEORGE, AUGUSTUS
LOWE, THOS. O.
VAN CLEVE, BENJ.
STODDARD, HENRY
ELLS, B. F.
MARTIN, JAMES A.
NEWELL, AUGUSTUS
MOORE, LEONARD
WOOD, YOUNGS V.
BOOTHE, ELI
PHILLIPS, CHAS. A. DUBOIS, J. D.
CONOVER, HUGH.
87
COLLECTORS.
COLLECTORS.
Below is a list of Collectors of the First Church since its organization :
PATTON, MATTHEW
OSBORN, DAVID
MCFADDEN, A.
NEWELL, AUGUSTUS
WILSON, R.
WONDERLICH, JACOB
KING, JOHN
DICKSON, J. W.
PIERSON, HENRY
ELLS, B. F.
DARST, ABRAHAM
FORSYTHE, E. J.
DAVISON, JOSEPH
WOOD, YOUNGS V.
CLARKE, THOMAS
BOOTHE, ELI
MCPHERSON, SAML.
LEWIS, HIRAM
FREEMAN, SAMUEL
WALLACE, W.
CONOVER, HUGH.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
COLONEL JOHN G. LOWE.
Colonel John G. Lowe was chairman of the Board of Trustees for a long period, also a member of the com- mittee for building the new church.
His services were of great value, and upon his retiring from office, the congregation, at their annual meeting, on the 3rd of April, 1873, unanimously passed the following :
"Resolved, That the thanks of the congregation are due to Colonel John G. Lowe for his long and faithful service on the Board of Trustees."
CHURCH REVENUES.
Áll church enterprises and mission work are inseparably connected with money-and the lack of funds is often as great a source of annoyance to Christian congregations as to individuals in their secular business.
The mode of raising money for church expenses varies in different churches, and in the same church at different periods. Whatever plan meets the necessary requirements most successfully, is usually adopted. In the First Church, the following plan has been practiced with slight modifi- cations for many years :
Every person connected with the congregation is afforded an opportunity of contributing to the support of the gospel.
Each person is desired to state, if practicable, what shall be his or her weekly contribution for the year, and en-
89
CHURCH REVENUES.
velopes for transmitting the amount are furnished by the deacons, who make a collection every Sabbath.
All contributions are voluntary.
If any prefer to pay a specific sum monthly or quarterly, they can do so by paying in advance.
A personal account is kept with contributors, and care taken that no account shall run behind more than one month.
It is the rule that current expenses be paid as soon as practicable, and all accounts closed at the end of each year.
When the present church was built, it was decided to sell every alternate pew, in order to pay the debt. Many of the pews have been thus disposed of, but the purchase of a pew does not exempt the buyer from his obligation to contribute to the support of the Church-the advantage of buying being merely to secure the privilege of occupy- ing the same seat each Sabbath.
The object of reserving the alternate pews was to afford better accommodation to strangers, etc., than had previously been enjoyed.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
Besides the contributions for current Church expenses, special collections are taken up every year for the Board of Foreign and Domestic Missions, the Bible Cause, the Board of Education, and of Publication, Church Extension, Minis- terial Relief, Freedmen, the Church Sustentation Fund, and the Poor. In addition to these, many irregular calls are made on the Church for other benevolent purposes.
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