History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 54

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 54

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The Congregational Church of Lowell and Rainbow was organized November 13. 1857, with the following members: Cyrus Spoon- er, Thomas Ridgway, Charles T. Wetherby, Simeon Blake, William C. Balentine, B. F. Dyar. Almon Blake, Hannah Blake. Sophia Davis, Mary C. Blake, and Eliza A. Wetherby. George Spooner was elected clerk: C. T. Wetherby, S. N. Merriam and Amasa Blake. trustees. Rev. Charles Wetherby was the first pastor of the church and considerable prosperity attended his labors. The congre-

gations were large and services were held for a time in the Methodist Episcopal Church. A house of worship was erected in 1858 and 1859. This is a substantial brick structure 40 by 50 feet, and cost $1,600, exclusive of the lot which was donated by Dr. Cyrus Spooner. Of this amount $300 was donated by the American Congregational Union. The community was much interested to sustain the new church. A little later a festival was held to raise money for a bell which was liberally patronized and $125 realized. More was raised by subscription and a bell was pur- chased, costing something over $150.

In 1865 the services of that venerable. good man, Rev. C. N. Ransom were secured who preached in the morning at Lowell, and in the evening at Rainbow. Following him, the church was supplied by Rev. G. V. Fry, Rev. M. Moore, Rev. M. Noble, and Rey L. L. Fay. In 1873 Rev. George W. Wells served the church and in 1874, Proi. J. L. Mills, Rev. Samuel Lewis ( Methodist ) preached for about two years commencing in 1876. In 1879 Rev. E. B. Reed labored with great earnestness and five were added to the church. About this time an organ was se- cured for the use of the church and Sunday- school. Rev. C. S. Irwin commenced labor here in 1881 in connection with three other churches, his labors continuing for about two years. The pulpit was subsequently supplied by Rev. S. Lewis, R. R. Sloyd and D. D. Da- vis, students in Marietta College. Rev. Ed- ward Mirick and Rev. G. W. Wells. There has been no regular preaching since 1883. The house of worship was injured by the flood of 1884 and repaired at a cost of $46.50, and in 1887 a tin roof was put on the church at a cost of $150. The kind hearted people of Marietta churches have liberally aided this church from time to time. A Sunday-school was sustained for many years with a good at- tendance but the church has been weakened by death and removals until there are only four members in Lowell, and five others living at some distance in the country. The Sun- day-school was finally closed for want of per- sons to sustain it, and the house of worship

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is now closed. The population of the place has greatly changed,-there are now in the village of about 300 people, three other church- es, Campbellite, Baptist and Lutheran, and some have thought it may be best to sell the church structure. For 35 years this has stood as a house of worship where many have been instructed in righteousness and have been strengthened in their purpose to live and la- bor for Christ. Some of these are now faith- ful laborers in other places.

St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church.

Rev. Philander Chase, Bishop of the dio- cese of Ohio, visited Marietta in August, 1820. He says he was well recived and treated with kindness and hospitality, and that "a considerable number of persons in town and vicinity, of great respectability and worth, expressed themselves sincerely attached to the church." He held two meetings in Marietta and one in Harmar on Wednesday, August 8th, and on the following morning adminis- tered the right of confession to seven persons. Incipient steps were taken at this time toward forming a parish by the name of St. Luke's Church.

In April, 1822, Philander Chase, Jr., then a deacon, preached several times in Marietta. In 1825, Judge Arius Nye, a zealous member of the church, returned to Marietta, and im- mediately undertook to effect an organization, and his efforts were successful among people whose sympathies were with the church, the original members being Arius Nya, Billy Todd, Daniel II. Buell, John J. Jolim, James English, A. V. D. Joline, and Edward Rector.

Meetings were occasionaly conducted by misionaries in the Court House, and in the old brick school house in Harmar. In 1829 the parish had Io communicants. In 1832 Rev. John T. Wheat was elected rector, and on the 13th day of December, the sacrament was ad- ministered to 14 persons.

The church was incorporated by act of the Legislature on January 9. 1833, Rev. Mr. Wheat preachinig his inaugural sermon on April 14, 1833.

In 1833 a house of worship was built on the corner of Fourth and Scammel streets, where the new Lutheran Church now stands. 111 1857 the church sold its old house of wor- ship and removed to their present home on Second street. Rev. Mr. Wheat's rectorship continued until October, 1836. and Rev. C. L. F. Haensel was his successor. Since Rev. Mr. Haensel resigned, the successive rectors have been : B. J. Bonner, D. W. Tolford. Edward Winthrop and John Boyd.

Rev. John Boyd, D. D., was elected June II, 1850, and continued in active service until April, 1892, -the longest pastorate in this county. On the gth of September, 1900, on his 50th anniversary. Dr. Boyd preached a sermon which contains so much of general in- terest to the public that a large part of it is given below. Of the original members of his church but five were present on this annivers- ary occasion, Mrs. MeIntosh, Mrs. Ralston, Mrs. Rhodes, Mrs. Charles Hall, and F. A. Wheeler. The church have elected Rev. W. H. K. Pendleton as their rector, but he has not yet entered upon his duties.

Extracts from the sermon of Red. John Boyd, D. D. delivered at St. Luke's Protestant I piscopal Church, September 9, 1900.

This parish was organized March 27, 1826. October 17, 1834, the first church was for- mally consecrated by Bishop Mellvaine. Sep- I tember 20, 1857, we bade the old church fare- well. In those 31 years there were six rec- tors, 100 baptisms; 64 were confirmed; there were 48 marriages, and 65 funerals. I am running hurriedly over these items. But there are memories which will not be hurried. Each item touches magic springs of association, and joys and sorrows are moving back in review. While I am giving figures some are recalling images ; sitting again in the old-time seats, and sitting beside them are the forms of - friends and kindred who have passed into the unseen. To strangers, to the eye of sense, that old building is but a meeting place of worshipers. To our eyes it is a hallowed chamber in Christ ; gallery of grace, filled with living images of Himself. That church is sa-

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cred with sacred memories. In it, hearts ached, and hearts rejoiced; around it cluster the sweetest and the saddest associations of many a life. It holds in it the echoes of Te- Deum and Miserere; the records of baptism,- baptisms of sorrow, baptisms of the spirit. Bridal parties have joyously entered it; fun- eral trains have moved mournfully out of it; "Till death us do part' echoed back by "dust to dust." He who consecrated the old church, and five who ministered in it are walking to- gether in white. Yet the outer form is valuable only for the life which it conserves. Shall the mother-bird flutter and cry over the emp- ty shells from which her fledglings have flown? The church is builded not of the stones in the walls, but of the souls in its com- munion. The Holy Spirit dwells not in the material, but in the mystic house. Let the old scaffoldings give way to the new, if only the mystic temple be builded and adorned. An artist of this city took a photograph of the new church, and, without himself knowing it, so placed his camera that far in the back- ground is the distinct picture of the old one. It is a parable in art. Even when this new church is in the foreground of our thoughts and activities, in the background, transfigured in the perspective, is the church of the first love, with all its hallowed memories and asso- ciations. All that in passing was painful is now dissolved in the haze of the distance; and the heart holds only the endearments; the rose remains in full fragrance without the thorns.

The ministrations of the old church I di- vided with five others, all of whom rest from their labors. The new church knows no min- istry but mine. Wednesday, September 9, 1856, the corner-stone of the new church was laid, in the hopes and prayers that it might mark an era in our spiritual history. In this stone we placed the Bible, significant of our faith, built up on the foundation of the apos- tles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself be- ing the chief corner-stone, and also the Pray- er Book, as our distinctive, in which the spir- itual substance of the Bible is assimilated for purposes of devotion. Standing on the cor-

ner-stone your minister spoke as follows: In the spirtual temple, of which this house is the symbol, we recognize One God,-Father, Son and Holy Ghost ; One Gospel,-"The glad tid- ing of great joy-a Savior ;" One aim and ob- ject,-the glory of God in the salvation of men; One day of grace in which to seeure this, --- this life only ; One Name given among men whereby they may be saved, the Name above every name; One Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness,-the blood of the new covenant ; One Altar,-the cross of

Christ; One Sacrifice, once offered all, of which the sacrament is

for

the memorial; One Priest,-Ife who offered Himself for the expiation of sin, and who ever lives to make intercession for us; One incense,- the sweet savor of Christ, making fragrant our persons and our prayers ; One Book,-the Bible as our rule of faith and life; One Interpreter,-the Holy Spirit who guides us into all the truth; One distinctive faith,-Jesus Christ and Him Crucified ; One Church,-the mystical body of Christ which is the blessed company of all faithful people, whose union in Christ is the Communion of Saints: One Baptist,-the baptism of the Holy Ghost, symbolized in the baptism of wa- ter; One Confessional,-the Mercy-seat of Christ ; One Absolution,-Him hath God ap- pointed to give repentance and remission of sins ; One Assurance,-the witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirits that we are the sons of God; One Motive-power,-the love of Christ constraineth us ; One Heaven, -- the inheritance of holiness in the Presence of our Father and Savior.

These words were sealed in the corner- stone of the new building, with the hope and prayer that at each service they might be the inspiration of the message of the pulpit and the devotions of the desk and the pew.

September 24, 1857, the new church was consecrated by Bishop Mellvaine in due ritual form. Since then it has been receiving oft- repeated spiritual consecrations in fact ;- consecrated in baptisms of the Holy Ghost; in souls new born to God; in sighings of contrite

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hearts; in concerts of penitential confessions : in jubilant songs of captives delivered from bondage into the glorious liberty of the sons of God; in refreshings from the Presence of the Lord: consecrated in the fountains of joy and song welling up all along the Sabbaths .- Sabbaths of the week, Sabbaths of the soul: consecrated in our home memories of birth and death, and of the new birth of that which dieth not: in associations of friendships and fellowships, formed in Christ, never to be sundered: in hours of communion of saint with saint, and saints with the Savior. We thought the church beautiful when first we entered it. Now it has new, associated beauty. Pulpit and chancel and choir and pew hold each its fragrant secrets. Memory touches the magic spring, and the inner life of each one comes up in review before him. Under the fading frescoes are memories that shall never fade. From every panel come up associations that gild and glorify the time- stained walls. In the soul's vision its ceilings are enameled with the beauty of holiness inlaid with jewels of grace; its tablets are transpar- encies and the Spirit as a lamp within illumines the letters of the Covenant of love. Here we have heard the voice of the Lord, and "seen His goings in the Sanctuary." Here Jesus has come in and supped with us and we with Him. Fathers have seen their children taken up in the arms of Jesus, mothers have had their sons and daughters received with them into the covenant and communion of grace. Wives have seen their husbands bending low their heads and hearts to receive the benediction of the Savior. Six who kneeled here in youth to join in our communion have since ministered in this pulpit and at this chancel. distributing here the elements which they had here received. three of them holding the sacramental cup to the mothers that gave them birth : two of them to mothers now translated : one of them a Mis- sionary Bishop, administering confirmation here in this parish from which he had gone out. laying apostolic hands on the head of the now sainted grandchild of his own sainted mother.

old in endearing associations,-associations with the heart experiences of well-nigh half a century ; the birth-place of the Spirit to the many, the spiritual home and nursery to all. Were the building gone it would still abide in the memories, in the associations, in the annals of the soul's life. Would that every one who helped to build and decorate and sustain it were himself a living stone in the mystic tem- ple, and that every one who joins in its re- sponses and anthems were a voice in the orches- tra of the saved.

In recalling our long relation you will par- don me if I record with satisfaction one expe- 1 rience. Never once in all these 50 years has there been one unpleasant word between the rector and his choir, never once in all this half century has there been a conflict or even a jar between the rector and his vestry and congre- gation. Disappointment there may have been, but no collision, no controversy. They may have desired better ministrations. He may have desired fuller attendance, deeper interest, yet there has been no alienation, no friction. If there has not been power there has been peace. If there has not been wisdom, there has been love. This pulpit has never once given vent to a personality, never spoken a bit- ter word. "a word which dying I would wish to blot.'

We are small and isolated, off in a remote corner, 75 miles from the nearest parish in the cliocese, practically cut off from parochial and ministerial fellowship. Yet, our little out-of- the-way parish has been remembered and hon- ored by the diocese, in twice holding its annual convention here : and in choosing its minister to represent it in general conventions four several times. We have had here three ordi- nations :- one to the presbytership, two to the diaconate, one of whom had here been baptized and confirmed, a son of the parish. And re- mote and quiet as is our little parish in its eddy, it is vet made to feel the currents of change. It has been in two dioceses, under five bishops, two of whom are not, and one is laid aside. Still we keep our identity. You And thus this church, new in the calendar, is | are worshiping in a church which was conse-

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crated by Bishop McIlvaine, and are minis- give back no response. Seven thousand times tered to by one who was baptized, confirmed, ordained deacon, and ordained presbyter by the bishop who consecrated both of your churches.

Looking over the congregation I see some still out of Christ : so many years farther from God and life. Some contribute to send the Gospel to the heathen, while their own souls are dying under the sound of its glad tidings. Some liberally subscribe to sustain the preach- ing of the Word, whose preaching condemns them. They support the ministrations of him who is constrained to tell them that they are strangers from the covenant of promise. They welcome to their homes the one whose pres- ence is a reminder that their names are not in the parish register, nor in the Lamb's Book of Life. They attend here where saints com- mune, while they are not in the communion of saints. I see friends to me who are not friends to my Savior ; who kindly regard the messen- ger, yet accept not the message, It bewilders me that I can have place in a heart that has no room for the Lord ; that the poor services of a human friend are more than appreciated, while the sacrifice of the divine Friend is treated lightly.

But coming out from under this shadow, I see faces radiant with spiritual light, getting brighter as they near the coming glory. If it has been graciously given me to put new glad- ness into the glad tidings, to remove from be- fore the vision a doubt or a shadow, to glorify the Savior in their eyes, to transfigure the cross, to throw light upon the new and living way into the holiest, to fix the faith when it would waver, to bring to them the Comforter in moments of sorrow, to break to them the living bread as Jesus had blessed and broken it to me, it is ministry enough. We shall re- joice together when our pilgrimage is ended, and we lay our staff and sandals down at home with the Lord.

Nearly all the old familiar faces are gone, they turn no more to listen to the message, they are in the beatific Presence, new faces are here in their stead. Some kindle at the word; some

I have here told the old, old story; told it to hearts that drank it in as life; told it to ears that hearing heard not; told it to some who have gone beyond its sound, gone where it is told nevermore.

To one portion, far the largest portion, of the congregation of days far past, I have not yet spoken ; nor could they hear me now, nor need they. Their lesson of grace is learned; their work of faith and labor of love is finished. They have gone up from the fellowship of the saints below to the saints above. Our little church has a stairway to the skies; and one by one as the night comes down and the angel calls, the tired ones go aloft where He giveth His beloved rest. All of you have kindred there. Our several families are represented in our Father's family on high, knowing as they are known, loving as they are loved. Many who here have sung with us our faint anthems, often in the minor key, now swell the tumultu- ous chorus of the harpers on the sea of glass. May your voice and mine in due time join them in the glorified song which none but the ran- somed from sin can sing.

Fifty years of ministry. How long, and vet how brief. The ministry of your present rector reaches over a little more than two- thirds of your history. Half a century have his interests been identified with yours, his life bound up with your life. He has contrib- uted to shape your views and experiences. His impress is on you. You are the better or the worse for his ministry.

Five still on our roll, and now present, were here when I came. Fifty years in Christ ! How much must they have known of the divine com- munion : how much learned of the fullness of Christ for his people ; how many promises many times proved in the experience. How ripe the character should be. Fifty years make of an infant a matured man, strong of sinews, broad of thought; make of a "babe" in Christ a "young man." strong to overcome the wicked one, and make of the young man a "father" rich in the knowledge and love of God. If, to any one, all these years have been lived out of

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Christ what irreparable loss ; years of orphan- age without Father, without hope and home. Here we reckon by days and years and centu- ries. Within the veil in the ineffable Presence the only calendar is consciousness,-one abid- ing consciousness of home, Father, Savior, ministry, unwearing; joy unspeakable, com- munion the same yesterday, today, and for- ever. Our sun goeth no more down.

Fifty years of ministry to one people. And this is the summary :- Many in Christ, many out of Christ; Some getting daily nearer to God; the light growing brghter, the commun- ion richer, going from strength to strength ; some getting farther from God, self-repelled : the voice of the Spirit growing fainter; the heart emptied of that which satisfieth : full of self-flatteries and promises which tantalize ; promises made to the hopes broken to the heart; holding phantom cups to the lips while the soul is dying of thirst ;- thirst which only Christ can quench. Is such a one here! Brother in AAdam be our brother in Christ. The friend of sinners calls you to his fellowship. We, saved sinners, call you to our communion. Let me record below, let the angel of the covenant record on high, another soul saved ; and let that soul be yours ; and let it be now.

My first text was I. Cor. II, 2: "I deter- mined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." I then accepted this as the one burden of iny ministry. And here at the close of the half century, I call you to witness that I have kept my pledge. Minis- ters are not essayists, offering tentative solt- tions of the problems of life. These are solved in the revelation of grace. Men meet theory with theory and logic with logic. Conscience responds only to the authoritative work of God. We deliver God's message as yea and amen, challenging instant implicit faith and obedience. We are not apologists, but heralds, proclaim- ing pardon to the penitent; pointing the un- clean to the one only Fountain for sin ; offering the Gospel as the specific provision for the soul's specific needs. We are not reformers but evangelists; preaching not culture, but 22

grace ; not reform, but regeneration ; not mor- ality, but holiness. We are ambassadors bear- ing messages of grace ; we are witnesses testify- ing what we do know. This pulpit has studiously kept itself aloof from the passing politics, the current questions of the press, the conventional moralities, the ever-changing philosophies and skepticism. The spirit of the Gospel is the conservative in politics; grace in the heart is the answer to the skeptic ; the love of Christ is the soul of morals. The man sur- charged with the spirit of God will carry that spirit alike into his Sunday devotions, his week day industries, and his political relations. So- cial problems are solved only in the spirit of brotherhood. When we know God as our Fa- ther, we will know man as our brother, and in that brotherhood feeling all social problems solve themselves.

I have indeed sought to keep this pulpit true to all the interests of man as man in all his re- lations, true to logic,- the logic of truth and life and love, logic on fire with grace; true to science,-the science of God immanent and transcendant ; true to philosophy,-the philos- ophy of salvation by grace through faith; true to theology,-theology with the incarnation in the center, raying out the light of life; true to morality,-the morality whose body is the gol- den rule and whose soul is the love of Christ. I have devoutly sought in the fellowship of the Spirit, to glorify Christ, to unfold the unsearch" able riches in Him for us. I have known only a Gospel of glad tidings, a Gospel of grace, a Gospel of holiness, a Gospel of brotherhood, a Gospel of trust and love and loyalty. I have sought to fill myself and you with the gladness of the glad tidings of a Savior. I have longed and prayed for a heart of fire, and a tongue of fire, to give the message in burning words, causing hearts to burn within them, burn with a flame of love; a flame that purifies and in- spires. I shall not have prayed and preached in vain, if I have made spiritual things more real and Jesus more precious ; if I have widened some one's horizon, kindling in the vision fore- gleams of the hereafter ; if I have caused some despondent one to glow with hope; if I have

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manifested the love of God in Christ till hearts responded in trust and love and adoration; if I have held Him up till he fills all the field of vision. 1 shall have fulfilled my ministry, if I have stimulated any to higher ambitions and holier purposes; if I have helped souls strug- gling out of darkness into the light; let in a ray of sunshine into some shadowed life : made the glad tidings a personal gladness ; put a new star-the star of Bethlehem -- into some leaden sky: thrown a gleam of light across the path of some perplexed pilgrim ; quieted a haunting fear ; constrained a bowed heart to lay off its burden on the Burden-bearer ; lifted a shadow from some home; put a jubilant note in some one's Psalm of life ; kindled a redder glow over life's sunset, prophetic of a brighter sunrise be- yond ; taken a thorn from some pillow, resting the restless head ; held the cross before the eye of the dying : given the viaticum to a soul in the last hour, as he passed to the Presence of his God. If I have been privileged to do this, I am content. My Master will graciously own my services done to His little ones as done to Him; and in eternity some hearts will bless God for my little ministries. And the Savior my fill for ne, with the wine of life, the cup 1 have held in His name to thirsty lips.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 54

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490