USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 44
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Mr. Locke has truly said: "The Baptists were from the begin- ning the friends of liberty, just and true liberty, equal and impar- tial liberty .. " Yet, until the Quakers arose, in 1660, the Baptists stood alone in its defense amid universal opposition. In the time of Cromwell they first gained a fair hearing, and under the lead of Milton and Vane, would have changed the whole system of the church and the state but for the treason of Monk.
In the time of Charles II, the prisons were filled with their con- fessors and martyrs. Yet their principles gradually gained ground in the public mind, and hastened the revolution of 1688. "The share which the Baptists took," says Dr. Williams, " in showing up the falling liberties of England, and infusing new vigor and liber- ality into the constitution of that country, is not generally known. Yet to this body English liberty owes a debt it can never acknowl- edge. Among the Baptists, Christian freedom found its earliest, its staunchest, its most consistent, and its most disinterested cham- pions."
Nor less powerful has been the influence of the Baptists in the United States. Introduced into Rhode Island with Roger Williams and John Clark, in 1638, their history for more than a century, in
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most of the colonies, is that of proscribed and banished men. Yet, persecuted themselves, it was their glory to have never persecuted others. "In the code of laws established by them in Rhode Island," says Judge Story, " we read for the first time since Christianity as- cended the throne of the Cæsars, the declaration that conscience should be free, and should not be punished for worshiping God in the way they were persuaded he requires." From that declaration Rhode Island has never departed, and in it she was followed first by Pennsylvania and New Jersey, afterward by Virginia, and since by all the United States. The article on religious liberty in the amendments to the American constitution, was introduced into it by the united efforts of the Baptists, in 1789. (See Howell's Ad- dress before the American Baptist Historical Society, 1856.)
The First Baptist Church of Washington was formed by eleven persons, namely: John Franks, William Harper, Z. W. Baughn, Samuel F. Yeoman, Asenath Yeoman, Bethiah L. Yeoman, N. K. Dickerson, Mary Franks, Rebecca Baughn, Rebecca Blue, and Mary Curry. These were the constituted members of the church.
For many years Asenath Yeoman was the only Baptist in Wash- ington ; but in all these days she was thoroughly grounded in the belief that a brighter day would dawn upon her vision.
The church was organized in due form on the 21st day of Feb- ruary, A. D. 1840.
Revs. Azel Waters and Albert Wedge, ministers, consecrated to the cause of the Master, acted as moderator and clerk. The ses- sion was held in the Presbyterian Church.
On the 24th day of December, of the same year, Rev. A. D. Freman, who was of a well known Baptist family for centuries back, was called to the pastorate.
The first protracted meeting held after the organization of the church commenced on Wednesday, January 27, 1841, in the Pres- byterian House.
Rev. A. D. Freman assisted by Revs. W. D. Woodruff, and I. K. Bronson, preached the gospel earnestly and efficiently. Many in- quired the way of life.
On the 30th day of the same month, Frank Closa, George Heag- ler and wife, were received members by letters from sister churches.
On Wednesday, the 3d day of February, of the same year, Dr. Jeptha Davis, Lydia Davis, and Josiah Heagler were baptized.
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In the year 1842, Elder W. D. Woodruff came to visit the church, and held an interesting meeting of days.
On the 24th day of August, 1844, the church through her deli- gates, Pastor Thomas Goodwin, E. F. Yeoman, Dr. J. Davis and J. W. Poff, with letters from the church, applied for admission into the Straight Creek Association, held at Winchester, Adams County, Ohio, and duly admitted a member of that body on date above named.
During this year, two or three members of the church were car- ried away by Mormonism. These are the first expulsions noted in the records of the church. After more calm deliberations they were convinced that it was a delusion. Some of them returned.
During this year, Rev. Thomas Goodwin was called to the pas- torate of the church.
In 1847, Rev. W. D. Woodruff came to Washington to live, and . was called to the pastorate in place of Elder Goodwin, resigned. Being without a house to worship in, the meetings were held in the court house.
In the year 1849, the church deeming the Cæsar's Creek Asso- ciation (now Clinton) more conveniently situated, took a transfer from Straight Creek Association and united with the former body.
In many of its deliberations, among other matters of business, a meeting house to worship in was presented.
In 1854, Deacon Claypool offered to sell a lot, on which to build, for the sum of three hundred dollars, donating fifty dollars of the amount ; S. F. Yeoman, Hugh Campbell, James Zumalt, A. M. Ogle and Dr. Allen, each gave fifty dollars and paid for the lot.
In 1856, Rev. J. W. Heistand was called to the pastorate of the church in place of Elder Woodruff, resigned.
On the 8th day of March, 1859, J. B. Tuttil, a young man of rare ability, was chosen to labor as supply for six months.
On May 18, 1861, the church called a council of messengers from several churches of the association to ordain Brother J. B. Tuttil to the ministry. Elder James Sargeant was chosen moderator, O. A. Allen clerk. After a satisfactory examination, the council set him apart to the ministry.
On December, 1862, Rev. C. T. Emerson was called to the pas- torate. His energy was directed principally towards raising means to build a church.
In 1868, Rev. J. R. Powell was called to the pastorate, and he
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was installed on July 19, 1868, in our new house of worship erect- ed at a cost of eight thousand dollars. Ministers present, Pastor Rev. B. Bedell, Chambers, and J. W. Heistand, a former pastor.
The first summary of membership recorded in the minutes, is given in the meeting of February 4, 1870.
A committee had been previously appointed to revise the records, and ascertain the numerical strength of the church, which revision showed that there were seventy-seven members in good standing. The church having in thirty years increased from the original number, eleven, to seventy-seven.
In December, 1870, Rev. Winham Kidder was called to the pas- torate of the church, and having served three years was called to the church above. His loss was a severe affliction to the cause.
In 1873, Rev. Armstrong was called to the pastorate.
The church took an active part in the temperance crusade during his stay with us.
In 1874, Rev. W. W. Sawyer was called to the pastorate. He was the most scholarly minister of the place.
In February 1879, Rev. S. T. Griswold was called to the pastorate, the ablest of all.
In 1880, Rev. C. A. McManis was called for six months to supply the pulpit of the church.
The report to the association this year (1881) shows a membership of ninety-one.
Thus we note that the church has been in existence almost forty- two years, and that it has ordained one minister; that it has ad- mitted by baptism about one hundred and thirty persons; that it began with eleven members, and has now ninety-one; that it has had but twelve pastors.
Church Covenant .- Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in presence of God, Angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk to- gether in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort ; to promote its pros- perity and spirituality ; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline
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and doctrines ; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the sup- port of the ministry ; the expenses of the church ; the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion ; to re- ligiously educate our children ; to seek the salvation of our kin- dred and acquaintances ; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling and back-biting, and ex- cessive anger ; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love ; to remember in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress ; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech ; to be slow to take offense, but always ready to reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior ; to rescue without delay.
We morever engage when we move from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's word.
The above history of the Baptist Church was kindly furnished by Dr. Allen, of Washington Court House.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, COLORED.
The Second Baptist Church of Washington C. H. was organized June 12, 1855, by Elder George W. Bryant, with three members : Jordan Kelly, James L. Thornton, and Boswell Kelly, Jacob Em- mons, a licensed preacher, was called as a supply, and preached for them until the year 1858, when Elder A. Carter was called to the pastorate. In the latter part of 1858 he departed this life in full triumph of the faith. He was succeeded by Elder R. Allen, who continued in charge of the church till 1860, when he was suc- ceeded by Elder A. Pratt, who continued pastor till 1866. He was succeeded by Elder H. Cox.
Up to the year 1867 there had been no special revival of religion, but the church had gradually grown from three members to thirty. In the winter of 1867, under the administration of Elder Cox, an interesting revival took place, and thirty persons were added to the church. Elder Cox remained pastor till 1872, when he was succeeded by Elder John Powell, who remained pastor till some
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time in the year 1873. Elder Powell was succeeded by W. A. Meridith, a licensed preacher, who was ordained in 1875, and re- mained pastor till about the year 1877. During his pastorate a very interesting revival was held, which resulted in the addition of twenty-seven members to the church. Elder Meridith was suc- ceeded by Elder Benjamin Smith, who took charge of the church in 1878, and remained pastor till June, 1879, when he was succeed- ed by Elder E. M. Marion, in September, who is the present in- cumbent. On the first of January, 1880, a revival of religion was begun, and resulted in fifty additions to the church ; making in all about one hundred and sixty members who have been received into the fellowship of the church. The present membership is about one hundred and ten.
In the year 1857, the church purchased a lot on North Street, opposite the Central School building, and built a frame house, in which they held services till about the year 1868, when the old house was torn down, and a brick building erected, costing about two thousand five hundred dollars.
For Church Covenant, see First Baptist Church.
There has been a Sabbath-school connected with the church since the year 1858.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian Church of Washington Court House was or- ganized October 10, 1813, three years after the county was organ- ized. There were thirteen members, and James Clark, William Blair, Samuel Waddle, Annences Allen, and Col. James Stewart, were chosen elders.
The Rev. Mr. Baldridge had charge of the church for a time. . After him the pulpit was supplied by several different ministers, till Rev. William Dickey came to be pastor in 1817. The church had no house of worship, and meetings could not be held very regularly.
In 1817 part of the church was set off to form a separate con- gregation at Bloomingburg, and Thomas MeGarraugh and Henry Snyder were chosen elders. Mr. Dickey supplied the church at Washington, and also the one at Bloomingburg, which was now the larger. Shortly after he seems to have given all his attention to Bloomingburg, and there are no records of the Presbyterian Church of Washington for fifteen years.
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In 1834, the church took a new start. Nine of the old members were still on the ground, and seventeen were received. James Pollock, John Wilson, Isaac Templeton, and Joseph McLean, were chosen elders, and S. F. Kerr was made clerk of the session.
About 1835, Rev. John C. Eastman took charge of the church, and the church seemed to progress nicely. They undertook, for the first time, to build a house of worship, and soon it was con- structed and dedicated.
In 1840 Mr. Eastman left the church, after six years of faithful and successful labor. The next eight years passed with very irregular ministrations. Rev. James Dunlap, and Rev. J. A. I. Lowes, preached for a time.
In the winter of 1847-8, the church was incorporated. About this time J. G. Hopkins came, as a licentiate, to supply its pulpit. James N. Wilson and Eliphas Taylor were chosen and ordained elders. Mr. Hopkins, some time after, was chosen pastor and or- dained. A division in the church grew out of this. Robert Rob- inson and Joseph McLean, two of the elders, and others, left the church; among them Col. S. F. Kerr. This was a great loss to the feeble church. Mr. Hopkins soon left, and in the spring of 1851 Rev. S. J. Miller, was called to the pastorate, after which church affairs ran along more smoothly .. A new church edifice was built about 1856. Rev. Miller continued pastor for fifteen years, leaving the church in 1866 with seventy-five members.
In January, 1867, the Rev. George Carpenter was called to the pastorate, and is still at his post, in the fifteenth year of his labors.
The church has had some very precious seasons of revival, and has a membership of two hundred. The house of worship has lately been enlarged, improved, and greatly beautified, and has a competent corps of elders and deacons, and a good Sabbath-school. During the pastorate of Rev. Miller, James Allen, Henry D. Ritter, and Joseph Bryan, (perhaps others,) were made elders. During the last pastorate, in 1867, I. C. Van Deman, William Robinson, Joseph Parrett, and William H. Devalon, were made elders. In 1871 J. P. Robinson, and P. E. Moorehouse, and in 1879 Dr. S. S. Salisbury and W. A. Ustick, were made elders. Some have gone to their reward, and some have moved away. The present session are: William Robinson, I. C. Van Deman, J. P. Robinson, Dr. S. S. Salisbury, W. A. Ustick, and Rev. George Carpenter, pastor.
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THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The history of Trinity Episcopal Church is necessarily short, for the simple reason that at this date (August, 1881) it is, as a church, less than two years old.
On Thursday evening, December 4, 1879, a meeting, presided over by the Rev. J. H. Logie, rector of St. Philip's Church, Circle- ville, was held at the residence of Mr. J. M. Love. At that meet- ing all the persons in Washington Court House who were interest- ed in the Episcopal Church were present. An organization was effected by the election of an executive committee, composed of the following gentlemen: J. M. Love, Edwin Bird, R. M. Cam- pion, J. S. Gold, Clarence Snyder, Edwin Proctor, and Charles A. Palmer. These gentlemen were invested with authority to act in the capacity of a vestry; Messrs. Love and Bird to act as wardens.
Previous to this date (December 4, 1879), occasional services had been held by the Rev. Mr. Logie, of Circleville, and the Rev. Mr. Fischer, of Chillicothe, but at this meeting arrangements were made for regular services, and the first of such services was held on Thursday evening, December 11, 1879.
At this service further arrangements were made by which the Rev. Mr. Logie was to take pastoral oversight of the work, and, with the assistance of the neighboring clergy, hold services on al- ternate Sundays in the Baptist Church.
The first Sunday service was held December 28, 1879. In the afternoon the Sunday-school was organized. At first the school met at the residence of Mr. Love; but its growth was so rapid that it became necessary, in the course of three weeks, to take it to the church.
For several months the services were held in the Baptist house of worship, but were removed to the city hall, and subsequently to the court house, where the members are still worshiping God in accordance with the faith and practice of the Apostolic Church.
On the 16th of May, 1880, the mission was placed in the hands of the Rev. Norman H. Badger, who thus became the first rector of Trinity Church. His tenure of office was, however, very short, . he being called to a parish in northern Ohio in January, 1881.
For three months the mission was without a pastor. The Sun- day-school was, however, carried on by the ladies of the congrega-
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tion, of whom mention may be made of Miss Nannie Love, Miss Julia Campbell, Mrs. J. C. Von Buhlow, Mrs. Campion, and Miss Tinnie Cleaveland.
In March, 1881, arrangements were made by which the Rev. George Rogers, a graduate of Bealey Hall Theological Seminary, Gambier, Ohio, and a presbyter of the Diocese of Kentucky, took charge of the mission, and is still pastor of the church.
The growth of the Episcopal Church in the county seat has been rapid and solid. The dignity and beauty of its service; its broad, catholic spirit; its adaptability to old and young, rich and poor; its freedom from partizanship-all commend it to the thinking men and women of the community.
So far from being a new church, it is the oldest of all the relig- ious bodies. It was first organized in the United States in 1784, obtaining its orders from the Mother Church. of England. The student of history will not need to be told that there was an En- glish Episcopal Church long before the Reformation in the sixteenth century, and that what was done at the time of the Reformation was not the making up of a new church, but the cleansing of the old from Romish errors. There was an English Episcopal Church, with bishops, presbyters, and deacons, at the time of the Council of Arles, A. D. 314, and through this church the Protestant Episcopal Church of America traces her lineage back to the days of the apostles. She is the daughter of the Church of England in pre- cisely the same sense in which America is the child of Great Brit- ain. We as Americans are not ashamed to call England the mother country.
The government of the church is both lay and clerical, the secu- lar part of the administration being confided to the care of the vestry, composed of the minister and several laymen, in the case of the parish; and in the case of the diocese, to an annual convention, composed of both clergy and laity, with the bishop as presiding officer. The spiritual government is, of course, committed to the bishop and clergy.
The doctrines of the church are summed up in the Apostles' Creed. She believes in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic (or universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, and does not demand that her children shall believe any more. She does not lay upon men a "yoke which neither we
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nor our fathers were able to bear," but simply asks of them a pro- fession of belief in this creed, and a sincere and honest desire to live a godly life. Being baptized and confirmed in this faith, she helps men to live an earnest Christian life. The non-essentials of religion are left between every man and his Maker. With malice toward none, and charity toward all, she believes it to be especially her mission to preach primitive Christianity, to help the distressed, to comfort the sorrowful, and to lead erring men back into the path that leads to God.
Such is the history, and such are the objects of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Washington Court House.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church is the creature of the fifth missionary district of the Ohio Missionary Society. It is a mission of the district board. They instructed J. C. Irvin, who is still in charge of the mission, to go to Washington and make a reconnoisance. He visited all the members in the city, and established preaching temporarily in the Baptist Church. This was continued for five months.
In December, 1874, Rev. W. W. Sawyer and Mr Irvin, joined in a union service of Baptists and Disciples, which meeting lasted one week ; an intercommunion service was held and friendly relations cul- tivated. This year several sermons were preached in the city hall.
During the next winter, Elder Robert Moffett, state evangelist, of Cleveland, Ohio, held a meeting of three weeks, in the Baptist house of worship, which was well attended. The interest, good from the beginning, increased to the close. At this meeting, two young ladies were added to the church.
The board, encouraged by this meeting, determined to make the mission permanent. J. C. Irvin was continued in the manage- ment. His health failing however, he was not able to preach, and was compelled to abandon active work; yet he never abandoned the idea of ultimate success. During the year 1878, he held Bible services and social meetings in the temperance hall. These meet- ings began as early as November, 1877, and have been held regu- larly ever since.
Organization .- The organization dates from April 6, 1879. There were but six members present, whose names were J. C. Irvin, Mrs. J. C. Irvin, Miss Jennie Davis, Mrs. Maggie C. Hess, Mrs. Julia Benjamin, and S. Eldan Irvin.
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These solemnly covenanted with each other, and with the Great Head of the church, to live as becometh saints, and to keep the ordinances of the Lord's house. This little band has met regularly, and their members have gradually increased.
Benjamin Rankin and family have permanently settled in the neighborhood, and others having moved into the city, so that the number has increased to about twenty.
In November, 1880, a Sunday-school was organized in the city hall, and the meetings removed to that place. The school has suc- ceeded well and is in a flourishing condition at present. The at- tendance is about sixty-five.
The church since its organization has had a slow but steady growth. Since which Elder A. A. Knight of Wilmington, J. S. Hughes of Dayton, and Dr. Oliver Hixon of Iowa, have preached for the organization.
The weekly meetings are conducted by J. C. Irvin, assisted by Benjamin Rankin.
Since the election of General James A. Garfield to the presidency of the United States, public attention has been called to this de- nomination of Christians so prominently, that we feel justified in giving a somewhat extended view of their faith and practice. This will be the purpose of the brief sketch which follows :
It is proper to state that this denomination of Christians prefer the simple term Christian Church, but do not wish to assume a des- ignation that might seem to deny the appellation to others. They are willing to be known as Disciples, or to be distinguished by any term that is applied to the Church of Christ in the New Testament. Their aim is to bring Christianity back to what it was in the be- ginning. They reject all symbols of faith except the Bible, de- siring to restore the primitive simplicity of the Gospel, as preached under the supervision of the heaven inspired apostles of Jesus Christ.
Previous to the inauguration of this movement, the condition of religion in this country was truly to be deplored. The religious parties of those times were extremely selfish, and were the bitter antagonists of each other. The spirit of rivalry and of sect had largely supplanted the Spirit of Christ. Ignorance and superstition were more prized than an intelligent knowledge of the word of God. Human creeds were the standards of faith and practice ; while the Divine creed was regarded as a dead letter. The result
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was that the very life of religion became subject to a selfish des- potism which was cruel and unrelenting.
The careful and impartial reader of the history of these times must see that a reformation was greatly needed. The success of Christianity in the world depended upon a movement that would break down this ecclesiasticism, and bring the people back again to the true knowledge of Christ. Early in the present century an attempt at this was made. But before entering upon a notice of this movement, it is proper to call attention to what had pre- viously been accomplished.
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