History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 103

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

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thinker and a strong preacher. He joined the Ohio Conference in 1838. When the Cincinnati Conference was created, he fell within its territorial lines. He was transferred to the New York East Conference in 1852 and to the New York Conference in 1866. He filled the most important charges in the conferences with which he was connected for over thirty years, and in 1872 was elected to the chair of Systematic Theology in Drew Seminary, which position he still fills. He is author of a work on The Atonement, and other books.

Granville Moody, clarum et venerabile nomen, comes next on the list of Town Street's illustrious pastors. He served it two years, from the fall of 1845 to that of 1847. He had great success and reported a membership of 644 the first year, and 600 the second year. Encouraged by this growth, the society felt strong enough to divide. William Neil gave them a lot on the west side of High Street, between Gay and Long Streets, 62} feet front and 187} feet deep, on which Wesley Chapel was built. This location was then considered the northern part of the city. A colony of 190 members went out of Town Street to inhabit this new hive, whose history will be duly given. As an interesting item in the value- growth of real estate we may note the assessed worth of Wesley Chapel lot when it was given and its selling price in 1883. When William Neil gave the lot be said it was worth 8800. Before his death, perhaps in the year 1850, John F. Bartlit and Isaac Aston persuaded him to give a quitelaim deed, releasing the reversionary condition on which it was granted. Mr. Neil at that time said : "The lot will be worth $2,500 some day." " Fudge," replied Mr. Bart- lit, "it is too far up the Worthington road for that. It may be worth $2,000 sometime." In 1883 it sold for $62,500. Bishop Simpson's objection to the lot as a church site was that it was too far out in the country.

Before pursuing these threads of history farther we must give our concluding notice of Granville Moody. He was of Puritan stock, born in Portland, Maine, January 2, 1812. He was baptized by Rev. Dr. Payson. He settled in Muskingum County, Ohio, when eighteen years old, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. While teaching in a Methodist Sabbathschool he was converted, and then aband- oned his Calvanistic faith for the Arminian belief. He joined the Ohio Conference in 1833. At the organization of the Cincinnati Conference, in 1852, he became one of its members, filling its most important charges, serving as presiding elder on two of its districts and representing it four times in the General Conference. At the out- break of the great Rebellion, Governor Dennison invited him to take the command of a regiment. He was appointed colonel of the Seventyfourth Ohio Infantry and assigned by Secretary Stantou as commandant of Camp Chase, five miles west of this city, where five thousand Rebel prisoners were confined. The Government complimented him on his efficiency at this post, and when he went to the front the prisoners passed the following resolutions : "Should Colonel Moody at any time become a prisoner of our Confederate government, we hereby earnestly request for him the highest consideration and treatment, as a proper acknowledgment of his kindness and care of us as prisoners of war, having given us every comfort, liberty and indulgence at all consistent with our position and with his obligation as com- mandant of this military post."

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Colonel Moody was actively engaged in the Stone River and other battles and in the pursuit of John Morgan. He preached regularly every Sabbath to his soldiers when circumstances permitted. He was compelled by physical disability to accept an honorable discharge in the summer of 1863 and received high testimonials from Generals Rosecrans, Thomas and others. He did much on his return by his war speeches to secure recruits for the government. He was a fine orator and as bold as a lion. The soldiers loved and idolized him. He re-entered the pastorate and closed his long, honorable and remarkable career at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, June 4, 1887.

After the division of Town Street and the organization of Wesley Chapel, Cyrus Brooks was appointed pastor of the former, in the fall of 1847, serving two years. He reported 360 members the first year and 387 the second. He was a faithful shepherd to whom the flock which he served was greatly attached. Town Street, or Old Zion, as it was still called, now began to agitate the matter of build- ing a new and more commodious church. A large and more sightly structure was felt to be a necessity, but the means were not in sight. The hope, however, was not abandoned, but only deferred. David Warnock was next appointed pas- tor, by Conference of 1849, remaining two years. He reported 345 members at the close of his first year and 405 the second. Clinton W. Scars, an active, zealous young man, was appointed pastor for the year 1851-2. He left a membership of 365.

J. Asbury Bruner was his successor, serving two years. He also was young, zealous and deeply pious. Though but a moderate preacher, he always had revi- vals in his work. During his first year the long talked of church building enter- prise began to assume definite shape. Old "Zion " was torn away and a new church - the present one (1891) - was erected in its stead. But like its two predecessors it had to remain nufinished because the necessary funds could not be raised. Only the ceiling of the lecture room was plastered, the walls remaining bare. The auditorium was not occupied at all. The society worshiped in the City Hall while the church was being built. During this year, also, a few members withdrew from Town Street for the purpose of founding a new society farther south in the city, which will be duly described as Bigelow Chapel.

John W. White was next pastor of Town Street, serving two years. No special effort was made to complete the church. The society remained deeply in debt, but much good was done. White was a man of pathos and fine imagination. Always hopeful and buoyant, he was for many years a popular pastor and presid- ing elder in the Ohio Conference. When he became superannuated he made his home in Worthington, and afterwards at Delaware, where he died, May 1, 1886. Mrs. Ann White, his widow, still resides in that city, while their son, John, is Pro- fessor of Greek in Harvard University. James M. Jameson next served Town Street for two years, being appointed at the Conference of 1856. Ile raised the necessary means and had the audienceroom finished and occupied. But the pro- verbial " Town Street debt " still hung over them. The society applied to Con- ference for an agent to travel through the Conference territory, and, if possible, raise sufficient money to pay their debts and finish the lectureroom also. Rev.

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Uriah Heath was selected for this work, but he was not successful in raising the necessary amount, and the financial embarrassment continued to drag its weary length along. Doctor Jameson is a man of excellent parts and sweet spirit. He has served the church to its great profit and his own credit in many varied fields. He is now living in honorable superannuation at Los Angeles, California.

At the Conference of 1858, Barzillai N. Spahr was appointed pastor, continu- ing two years. He left 371 members and reduced the indebtedness somewhat. Brother Spabr died June 4, 1890, from the results of a surgical operation per- formed at the Hawkes hospital two days before.

In the fall of 1860 Joseph M. Trimble was again put in charge of Town Street, remaining two years. He found a debt of $3,500, but by heroic and persistent efforts during his term he had the class and lecturerooms finished and paid for and reduced the standing debt to 81,000. He reported 435 members at the close of his first year and 395 the second, having contributed some members toward establishing Christie Chapel, a mission charge on Eighth Street. This church proved to be poorly located. It had a struggling existence for a few years, but after the organization of Broad Street Church Christie Chapel was sold and its membership distributed to other charges.

In 1862 D. D. Mather was made pastor of Town Street. He remained two years, rendering acceptable services, and, following out the plan left by Doctor Trimble, the church was at last freed trom its incubus of debt. During these dark years of the sixties Town Street, like every other Methodist Church, furnished many soldiers for her country who were also soldiers of the Cross. Doctor Mather is yet living, spending his closing years in Delaware, Ohio. Carmi A. Vananda served Town Street from 1864 to 1867, rendering three years of good service. Dur- ing his last pastorate the church was improved interiorly and the rented pew sys- tem adopted. The plan did not prove successful and a debt was again incurred. Doctor Vananda was greatly beloved by his people. He has since leaving the Ohio Conference filled many fine charges, being at present the pastor of Roberts Park Church, Indianapolis. His successor at Town Street was W. H. Scott, who served two years, leaving a membership 375. Doctor Scott was for many years President of the Ohio University at Athens and for the last eight years has filled the same position in the Ohio State University and Agricultural College at Columbus, with honor to himself and to the prosperity of the institution. During his pastor- ate Town Street returned to the free pew system, and her temporary trial of rented pews was the only instance of the kind, so far as the writer knows of, in the history of Columbus Methodism. President Scott was followed in 1869 by Earl Cranston as pastor of Town Street. The failure of his wife's health occasioned his resigning his pastorate before the close of the year, and going to Minnesota. Doctor Cranston filled various important charges throughout the West, and in 1884 was elected by the General Conference as the head agent of the Western Methodist Book Concern, at Cincinnati, which position he continues to fill with great efficiency. In 1870 B. N. Spahr was the second time appointed pastor of Town Street, remaining one year and then becoming presiding elder of the Colum- bus District In 1871, at the earnest solicitation of the charge, Doctor Vananda was

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returned to them as pastor, remaining until November, 1873, when he was trans- ferred to St. Louis. Bishop Ames appointed Doctor Trimble to take charge until a permanent supply could be obtained, and then in April following transferred James Hill from Indiana as pastor of Town Street Church. He remained two years more. During his first year the celebrated holiness evangelists, Reverends J. L. Inskip and William McDonald, held a tendays meeting in Town Street, beginning January 18. These services attracted wide attention and doubtless did good. Doctor Hill's last year was also marked with a great revival, conducted by himself. After fill- ing various other charges in the Ohio Conference he again joined the Indiana Con- ference in 1887. The next pastor of the Town Street Church was Isaac F. King, who was appointed in 1876 and remained three years. During his term the church was beautifully repaired and all debts were paid off. He left 484 members. Brother King remains a member of the Ohio Conference, held in highest esteem. In 1879 Charles M. Bethauser was appointed pastor. He served two years and then retired from the active ministry to enter upon the practice of medicine in Columbus, where he still resides In 1881 A. C. Hirst, at the end of his third year as pastor of Wesley Chapel, was appointed to Town Street. He was an eloquent and attractive preacher and at the end of his second year was transferred to Christ Church, Pittsburgh. Doctor Hirst reported a membership of 611. He now fills the presidency of the Pacific University, California. W. M. Mullenix was the next pastor of Town Street, having charge from 1883 to 1886. He reported a mem- bership of 650. W. D. Cherington was appointed pastor in 1886, remaining one year, and then taking charge of Second Street, Zanesville, which, after another year, he was called to leave to succeed Doctor McConnell, of Third Avenue, Col- umbus, where he is now closing his third successful year. The next pastor of Town Street was S. D. Hutsinpiller, who remained one year, and, like his predecessor, was then stationed at Second Street, Zanesville, one year, at the close of which he was transferred to Toledo. In 1888 W. H. Lewis wasappointed to Town Street, where he is now filling his third year with efficiency. The membership of this church is now over 500, many of whom will be too remote from the location of the new church to remain with it, but their vacancies will be filled by others who await its coming to their vicinity.

Thus we have followed the history of the parent church of Columbus Methodism through its life of seventyeight years. Few, if any, charges of Methodism have had a nobler or more illustrious line of pastors, and we pray that its future may continue to increase in honor and usefulness as the years roll on. We now turn to the his- tory of the other charges of Methodism, which must necessarily be less in detail.

Wesley Chapel .- Wesley Chapel was organized as a society, and its first church edifice was built, in 1845-6, while Granville Moody was pastor of Town Street. The cost of the church was from seven to eight thousand dollars Robert Raior dan, William Armstrong and Ezra Booth were the building committee. Francis Minor was the contractor. The lot was given by William and Hannah Neil under circumstances narrated elsewhere in this history. When completed the church was dedicated by Bishop E. S. Janes, in September, 1847. Its first Quar- terly Conference was held October 30, 1847, when appear the names of Abran

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Wambaugh and Lovett Taft as exhorters, both of whom afterward became minis- ters.

The records of this period seem to be lost and many things which we would like to know are for that reason inaccessible. The society seems to have started out with an unusually strong force - about 197 members. Of these a few are still living in this city, among them being Isaac Aston, William Arnold, Ruth Bartlett, William Barton, Ezra Booth, Henry Booth, Jane A. Harvey, Truman

CATERRY.& CO CILD

WESLEY CHAPEL, 1892.

Hillyer, Richard Jones, Chester Mattoon, Thomas Aston, Mrs. George M. Peters and Matilda Rudisill.

Rev. George C. Crum, the first pastor, was appointed in the fall of 1847 and remained two years. He was a superior preacher. Among his accessions was William Neil. The Sundayschool records date back to December 14, 1848. At this time we find M. Gooding superintendent. Lovett Taft assistant and Isaac Aston secretary. In addition to most of those whose names have already been given, we find as signers of the constitution, Brainard; Dickinson, Daniel Miner,

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Luther Hillery, Julia Creed, Mrs. E. B. Armstrong and Hannah Neil. At the close of his second year Rev. Mr. Crum reported to Conference 214 members.

Rev. J. W. Clarke, the presiding elder during these years, was a man of abil- ity and good report. The next pastor, Rev. William H. Lawder, appointed in the fall of 1849, had been an associate of Doctor G. C. Crum in their boyhood days. Failing health prevented his return the following year, and Rev. John W. Weakly was appointed pastor. Ile was a graduate of Augusta College, Kentucky, and reported at the close of his year 250 members.

We find the Sundayschool of this church wrestling with difficulties which we are apt to imagine are peculiar to ourselves and from which it is supposed the earlier years of city Methodism were exempt. Again and again efforts are made to establish and maintain a teachers' meeting; committees are appointed for recruiting the school. From all of which it appears that people were inclined to neglect important matters then as well as now, and that children were not inore religiously inclined than at present. The former times were not better than these. The treasurer's annual report for 1851, shows that the school that year raised $31.55 and expended $29.35 for books.

Rev. John W. Leavitt became pastor in 1851. He was a son of Judge Leavitt, of the Supreme Court, and served the people with acceptability for two years. Rev. Uriah Heath, one of the eminent, earnest an I saintly ministers of carly Ohio Methodism, was now presiding elder.

In the fall of 1853, Rev. James L. Grover became pastor, remaining two years to the great pleasure and profit of the people. These were the days when the sub- ject of promiscuous sittings agitated the church. The custom had hitherto been for the family to separate by sexes on entering the church door and the mother and daughters to go to the women's side while the father and sons walked in orderly array to the men's side. But the reform in this matter came in due time to Wesley Chapel, and after the usual amount of discussion and division of opinion, promiscuous sittings finally prevailed. The State Journal of October 18, 1854, states as a news item that " a new rule has been adopted at Wesley Chapel allow- ing all male and female members of a family to sit together in the same pew." Also at this time there was great opposition to the use of even a cabinet organ in the church, and it was some years before choirs were admitted. But the progres- sive spirit was irresistible, and choirs and a pipe organ finally came to occupy a permanent place in worship here as elsewhere.

In 1855, Rev. John Frazier became pastor, serving two years. He was a "transfer" to Columbus from the Troy Conference, and was a popular minister. Rev. Zachariah Connell, an able and infinential man of his day, was now the pre- siding elder of this district. Rev. William Porter became pastor in 1857. He was a devout man, and served the charge two years, at the end of which time he reported 167 members, which shows that outside of a few pillars of the church the rank and file were fluctuating. Rev. George W. Brush became pastor in 1869, and served the full time - two years. He was a man of celebrated eloquence and power, but in after years, during a fit of temporary aberration of mind, he ended his own life while the popular pastor of St. Paul's, Delaware. Ilis memory

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always awakens admiration and sadness among those who knew him. Rev. J. M. Jameson was now the presiding elder. He still lives in California, and at the ripe age of 88 years preaches yet occasionally to admiring anditors. Doctor Jameson still has hosts of friends in Columbus. In the fall of 1861 Rev. David D. Mather became pastor, remaining one year, at the end of which time he was exchanged by the Conference powers for Rev. J. M. Trimble, D. D., who had just closed his two years at Town Street. Doctor Mather was an effective and popular preacher. He yet lives, making his home in Delaware, Ohio.

Under Doctor Trimble's pastorate the membership increased in two years from 185 to 225. The Sundayschool records of these years are exceedingly meager, and we find no church records whatever. From Doctor Trimble's pri- vate records we find that the official members now were, J. F. Bartlett, Jas. F. Kelley, Matthew Gooding, Ezra and Henry Booth, E. Hutf, G. W. Manypenny, a Thomas Walker, A. Gardner and Chester Mattoon. I. C. Aston was Sundayschool superintendent and the school was flourishing. From the same source we learn that when Doctor Trimble entered Wesley Chapel for the first time as pastor, he was greeted by an audience which intimidated him. On the platform sat Governor Salmon P. Chase, Governor William Dennison, and others who had never been identified with Methodism, but who undoubtedly came to tender their respect to the son of Governor Trimble, whom they had known. His pastorate was one of popularity and power, but of course these notable auditors were not constant attendants.

Rev. Cyrus E. Felton was the next pastor, coming in the fall of 1764, after the General Conference had extended the pastoral term to three years, and remaining the full period. Doctor Felton had bere, as uniformly, a very popular pastorate. Under his labors the church was remodeled and enlarged, its front extended and its towers added to, at an expense of $30,000. The reopening took place under the sermon of Bishop Charles Kingsley. At the close of this pastorate the membership was reported at 286. Some had now left Wesley to organize Christie Chapel. Doctor Felton, in after years, served our best churches in St. Louis, Pittsburgh and other cities, returning to some of them as often as three times. His health failed bim a few years ago and he now lives in retirement in Floridn, engaged in orange culture. Rev. C. A. Vananda was at this time the presiding elder, of whose pastoral labors in this city and his acceptable abilities we have already given extended notice.

Rev. Isaac Crook became pastor of Wesley Chapel in 1867 and remained three years. An absence of church records prevents any notes of importance during this period. Doctor Crook reported 316 members his third year. In after years he served Broad Street Church and is now the President of the Pacific University. In the Sundayschool we find growing in prominence from year to year the name of one who afterwards became, and is now, a successful minister of the Ohio Con- ference, viz: John E. Rudisill. We also find the school manifesting its apprecia- tion of the Superintendent, Isaac Aston, in a recorded motion to " make him a present costing from 840 to 850, and Brothers Ezra Booth, Trimble and Crook to be a committee to make the presentation with a speech."

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In 1870 Rev. David H. Moore became the pastor, remaining two years. He reported 384 members the first year and 462 the second. Doctor Moore filled other important pulpits in the Ohio Conference and then was transferred to Cincinnati, filling its best stations, after which he became the President of the Wesleyan Female College of Cincinnati, and still later the Chancellor of the University at Denver. After the death of Doctor J. H. Bayliss, he was elected editor of the Western Christian Advocate, which position he continues to fill with great efficiency and acceptability. Rev. B. N. Spahr was the popular presiding elder during these years. Rev. Samuel A. Keen became pastor in 1872, remaining three years. He reported 543 members his second year and 408 his third year, n strong colony having gone off for the organization of Broad Street. Dr. Keen's further ministe- rial record in this city is given in connection with Third Avenue. In 1875, Rev. Thomas R. Taylor was appointed to Wesley Chapel and served as pastor three years. He left 518 members. He afterwards served four years as the presiding elder of the Columbus District, and then filled various other important stations of the Conference. In 1890 he was made presiding elder of the Chillicothe District, which position he still fills. Rev. Andrew B. See became presiding elder of the Columbus Distriet in 1876 and served four years. He has been mentioned as a pastor of Third Street Church, and is remembered as a man of unusual urbanity of temperament, and excellent judgment, as well as an able preacher. In 1878 Rev. Augustine C. Hirst became pastor of Wesley Chapel, remaining three years and leaving a membership of 762. His next appointment was to Town Street Church and bis abilities and further record are noted in that connection. In the fall of 1891 Doctor Hirst retired from college work and reentered the pastorate.

In 1881 Rev. Hiram C. Sexton was transferred from the Troy Conference and appointed pastor of Wesley Chapel. During his second year the church was burned. On the morning of May 13, 1883, while the Sabbath congregation was assembling for worship the church was discovered to be on fire. In a few minutes the flames gained such headway that the fire department was unable to save more than the walls and the floor of the auditorium. The fire seemed to originate from a defective flue connected with the north tower. The destruction of this church, which had beld so prominent a location and had been so thronged with public attendance for many years, was witnessed by thousands of spectators and brought tears to hundreds of eyes to whom it was endeared through its sacred associations. But notwithstanding it was attended with great temporary inconvenience and loss, it was proved in the providential outcome that " the Lord was in the fire." The encroachments of business upon this part of the city and the consequent migration northward and eastward of Wesley's resident membership, had caused the thought of a change of location to be discussed for some years. The fire precipitated a decision. There was an insurance of 813,000 upon the church, and twentyfive hundred upon the parsonage which stood on the lot adjoining in the rear but was left uninjured. The insurance was promptly paid and the lot was sold in Decem- ber following for $62,500, the privilege being reserved of occupying the church until May 1, 1885. The trustees took prompt measures for repairing the basement for temporary occupaney until they could build elsewhere. This was done at a

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 103

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202