History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 93

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

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ferred to the latter when it should be organized. The church was organized, the building was dedicated, and the first pastor, Rev. J. S. Cleveland, was ordained on the same day, August 25, 1885. At the time of the organization, the membership consisted of the following, all of whom had been dismissed from the First Baptist Church to unite with the new one: Cyrus M. Roberts, Mrs Cyrus M. Roberts, Grace T. Roberts, Mary W. Roberts, R. R. Hooper, Mrs. R. R. llooper, Simeon 11. Hooper, Anna B. Hooper, Mrs. D. L. Auld, Mrs. Rose A. Moore, William T. Rob- bins, Charles L. Dolle, Sophia R. Russell, Nellie C. Russell, Mrs. C. Moores, Mrs. A. J. Bidleman. Soon afterward, their number was increased by the admission in a similar manner of George A. Quimby, Mrs. George A. Quimby, James Timms, and Mrs. William Brain. The first deacons were R. R. Hooper, George A. Quimby and C. M. Roberts. The first board of trustees was composed of E. A. Hildreth, Charles Atcheson, William T. Robbins, C. M. Roberts and George A. Quimby. The first church clerk was Osman C. Hooper. Rev. Mr. Cleveland continued as pastor for about four years, being succeeded in October, 1889, by Rev. J. A. Snod- grass, who was in turn succeeded in 1891 by Rev. Adam Fawcett, the present pastor.

The Memorial Baptist Church, which now occupies its own edifice at the cor- ner of Sandusky and Shepherd streets, West Columbus, had its origin in mission effort put forth by the First Baptist Church. The earliest result of this effort was the establishment of a Sundayschool which was organized on Sunday afternoon, October 18, 1885, in an upstairs room of a frame business house on West Broad Street, known as the Telephone Building. Prominent among those who helped to organize this school and gave to it their efforts during its early existence were : Mrs. M. Bickner, who was at that time the regularly employed city missionary of the First Baptist Church ; Mr. Brice Ellis, who was the first superintendent of the school ; Miss Lillian J. Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brown, Mr. Z. P. Gilmore and Mr. W. J. Dawson.

The school soon outgrew its quarters and a larger room in the same building was secured and occupied until the heat of summer made it untenable. Then the school was a second time moved, this time to a large and wellventilated storeroom on the ground floor. This change proved to be a wise one, for increased comfort brought a larger number of persons to the services and encouraged the older work- ers in a longcherished ambition to found a Baptist Church on the West Side. In furtherance of that plan, Sunday evening services were begun and conducted for several months with good results. These were finally abandoned, however, because of the large amount of labor they entailed upon a few workers. In the fall of 1888, Rev. C. C. Haskell came into the work and conducted the services during that winter. Another effort was made to organize a church, but the num- ber of persons who could be counted upon to give it support was still small and the organization was postponed. After the departure of Rev. Mr. Haskell, the services were continued afternoon and evening under the leadership of Mr. Z. P. Gilmore.

In July, 1889, the Telephone Building, in which the services had been held continuously during the four years since the organization of the Sundayschool mission, was destroyed by fire. The Methodists, who had erected a temporary building which they called the Tabernacle further west on Broad Street, tendered the use of their edifice to the homeless mission. The offer was gladly accepted and the Tabernacle was used for preaching and Sundayschool services until the organization of the Memorial Baptist Church and the occupancy of the structure at the corner of Sandusky and Shepherd streets, which was the gift of Abel Hil- dreth in memory of his deceased wife, Elizabeth Williams Hildreth. This building is a substantial one of brick which had been erected a number of years before by the United Brethren. That society became financially embarrassed and the build-

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ing passed into private hands. It was for a time used by the Catholics and was afterwards vacant until purchased by Mr. Hildreth and given as previously stated. The building was renovated, remodeled to some extent and made practi- cally as good as new. In the wall of the church near the pulpit has been placed a tablet inscribed to the memory of the good woman whose life in domestic and church relations had prompted the benefaction.

The meeting for organization of the Memorial Baptist Church was held October 18, 1889, on the fourth anniversary of the founding of the mission Sunday- school. Rev. C. C. Haskell presided and Z. P. Gilmore was chosen clerk. On the call for membership, it was developed that the following persons held letters of

C. A.TERRY & CO CON'S O

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

dismissal from the churches named to the Memorial Baptist Church : From the First Baptist Church, Columbus, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Dawson, Howard Dawson, W. Ellsworth Dawson, Sarah Ritter, Susie Ritter, Mrs. Flora Williamson, Mrs. George H. Moores, Effie Beckett, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brown, Florence Cook, Grace Upton, Katie Schwartz, J. N. Young, Mrs. J. N. Young, J. P. Gilmore, Susan Schwartz, Edith Gray, and Mrs. L. S. Upton; from the North Baptist Church, Mrs. Clara Showers, Myrtle Showers, Mrs. Lizzie Myers, Bertha Myers and Etta Schaffer; from the Baptist Church, Zion Hill, Texas, Rev. and Mrs. C. C. Haskell.

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After adoption of the covenant and articles of faith, officers were elected as follows : Deacons, W. J. Dawson, Z. P. Gilmore and Thomas Brown; trustee, W. J. Dawson ; treasurer, W. Ellsworth Dawson ; superintendent of the Sunday- school, Mrs. M. Biekner. At a subsequent meeting other officers were chosen as follows : Trustees, Thomas Brown, Z. P. Gilmore, L. S. Upton and George H. Moores; anditor, Mrs. George H. Moores, thus completing the first roster of offi- cers of the new church.

At a business meeting held November 13, 1889, a eill to the pastorate was extended to Rev. H. A. Nixon, his services to be continued after January 1, 1890, if the church should be successful in its efforts to obtain aid from the Ohio Bap. tist Convention. The eall was accepted and, under the direction of the pastor, arrangements were begun for the dedication of the remodeled church edifice. These services were held Sunday December 8, 1889, at 2:30 o'clock P. M. Rev. George B. Simons, of the First Baptist Church, by invitation, preached the dedi- catory sermon ; others, including the new pastor, spoke, and a large male chorus under the direction of Prof. J. F. Ransom, sang. The attendance by Baptists from all parts of the city and by the people of the immediate vicinity was very large, and the occasion was a marked event in the history of the West Side.

The Council of Recognition of the new church convened at the church build- ing, Thursday, December 19, 1889. The delegates were as follows: Rev. J. S. Goff and Doctor J. H. Gearheart, Sunbury ; Deacon George A. Boekoven, Berlin ; Rev. J. V. K. Seeley, Centrai College and Jersey ; Rev. J. C. Baldwin, Granville; Dea- con John Evans, North Baptist Church, Columbus; Rev. G. B. Simons and Deaeon E. D. Kingsley, First Baptist Church, Columbus; Rev. J. A. Snodgrass, Hildreth Baptist Church, Columbus. Rev. G. B. Simons was chosen moderator of the coun- cił and Z. P. Gilmore, clerk. In the evening the concluding exercises were held. Rev. H. A. Nixon served as moderator, Rev. J. C. Baldwin preached the recogni- tion sermon, Rev. J. V. K. Seeley offered the prayer of dedication, Rev. G. B. Simons delivered the charge to the church and Rev. J. A. Snodgrass the charge to the pastor. Rev. H. A. Nixon continued as pastor until June, 1892.

The first missionary effort of the North (or Russell Street) Baptist Church was made in 1890 when a Sundayschool was established in a vacant storeroom at 1547 North High Street, near Tenth Avenue. The school grew so rapidly that it was decided late in the year to organize a church, and the meeting for that purpose was held on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1890. E. F. Roberts pre- sided and F. W. Sperr was Secretary. The constituent members, most of whom had been dismissed from the Russell Street Church, were as follows: Mrs. Abby Bunker, Miss Kate Bunker, Miss Addie Bunker, Mrs. Cora Coulter, Dolly Engle- hart, Mrs. W. F. Englehart, Mrs. Lucy Englehart, Travis Englehart, Gertie Engle- hart, Edwin C. Green, Mrs. Allie M. Green, George Gibbs, John Grove, Mrs. Susie Grove, Lemmit Gilmore, J. H. Good, Mrs. Emma Good, Charles Gilmore, Mrs. L. B. Hayward, Charles M. Jaynes, Mrs. Harriet M. Jaynes, Carrie Knight, Grace M. Knopf, James Kennen, Mrs. Mollie Kennen, Catharine Lynas, Nina Long, Rose A. Moore, Mand Moore, Mrs. Mary Maxfield, Miss Anna E. Mehurin, Miss Ella G. Mehurin, S. B. Nichols, Mrs. Jennie Nichols, Harry Nichols, Mrs. Clemen- tine Ogle, Mrs. Nancy Outealt, Mrs. Alice Robinson, Wm. H. Robinson, Miss Florence Rees, Daniel G. Snyder, Henry Snyder, Mrs. Ann Snyder, Mrs. Anna C Snyder, Mattie B. Simpson, F. W. Sperr, Mrs. Julia S. Sperr, Mrs. Francis L. Stephens, Miss Sarah Throckmorton, J. D. Warner, Mrs. Laura Warner, Hayward Warner, Mrs. Mary Williams, Kittie Williams, Mrs. Emma Williams ; - total, fiftyfive.

The council for the formal recognition of the new church was held January 20, 1891. In that body there were pastors and delegates representing the Baptist churches of Columbus, Delaware, Central College and Sunbury ; Rev. J. Hawker,

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J. B. Sehaff, J. S. Wrightnour and George E. Leonard, of the State Convention Board ; Rev. T. G. Field, Distriet Secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union, and Mr. B. J. Loomis, of Jefferson, Ohio, one of the founders of the Rus- sell Street Mission. The Council organized by the election of Rev. Mr. Wright- nour as moderator and J. S. Gough as clerk. After the usual formalities of exam- ination, a resolution of recognition was adopted. Rev. J. Hawker extended the hand of fellowship to the church, and Mr. E F. Roberts, the prospective pastor, responded on behalf of the church. Rev. G. E. Leonard delivered the charge to the church. Other participants in the exercises were : Rev. H. A. Nixon, Rev. P. J. Ward, Rev. C. H. Haas and Rev. J. V. K. Seeley.

The first offieers of the church were as follows: Trustees, Theophilus Reese, S. B. Nichols, C. M. Jaynes, D. J. Burnett, D. G. Snyder, J. D. Warner and F. W. Sperr; treasurer, F. W. Sperr; clerk, C. M. Jaynes; deacons, J. D. Warner, E. C. Green and D. G. Snyder. Mr. E. F. Roberts, who had decided to enter the min- istry and who had been working for some time with the mission, was called as pastor, March 22, 1891. In the following June, Mr. Roberts was ordained and formally entered on the discharge of his duties as pastor. The ordination serviees were held in the Russell Street Baptist Church, Rev. B. F. Patt being moderator and Rev. II. A. Nixon clerk. The other ministers participating were: Rev J. V. K. Seeley, Adam Fawcett, Dr. Colby, George E. Leonard, P. J. Ward, C. H. Haas.

About this time a room for services was leased at 1413 North High Street, a short distance south of the first site, and there the church is still worshiping, while awaiting the completion of its edifice on Tenth Avenue, a short distance west of High Street. At the end of his year's pastorate, Rev. Mr. Roberts declined to be a candidate for reelection and on May 11, 1892, Rev. E. E. Wil- liams, of Toledo, was called to the pastorate. He accepted and preached his first sermon June 12.

As related elsewhere, the Second Baptist Church (colored) was set off as a branch from the First Baptist Church in 1836, although it was not organized as an independent church until October 18, 1839. The original membership of this branch, according to the records of the First Baptist Church, numbered sixteen, as follows: Ezekiel Fields, Letha Fields, Miles Fields, Patsy Booker, George and Mary Butcher, Pleasant and Catherine Litchfield, William Gardner, Sarah Wood- son, Priscilla Flood, Phoebe Randall, Shubal Fields, David and Susan Sullivant and Susan Watson. Rev. James Poindexter, pastor of the Second Baptist Church, furnishes the following sketch :

The first pastor of the Second Baptist Church was Elder Ezekiel Fields. In a short time after he was chosen, quite a revival occurred, resulting in additions to the church which raised its membership to forty. At the end of three years, Elder Fields resigned the charge and Elder Wallace Shelton, then the ablest colored Baptist preacher in the West, was chosen pastor. In a year from the time he took charge the membership increased to over a hundred. Elder Shelton held the pastorate four years, and during that time the church purchased the lot and erected the building in which it now worships, at the southeast corner of Gay and Lazelle streets. The next pastor was Elder Allen E. Graham, whose administration was unfortunate. The church divided ; forty members left in a body and organized the First Antislavery Baptist Church of Columbus. [Note by O. C. H .: This was in 1847. A few years after the separation, the Antislavery Baptists erected a brick church on Town Street between Fifth and Sixth. In 1858, they reported their membership at 104. Rev. James Poindexter was for a time the pastor.] The next pastor was William P. Newman, who served six months ; the next Elder Charles Satchel, six months ; then Elder F. N. Stewart, four years ; then Elder Allen Brown, two years and six months. Several years elapsed between the end of Elder Stewart's administration and the election of Elder Brown and, during that time, the Antislavery Baptists disbanded and united with the Second Baptist Church. On the resignation of Elder Brown, Rev. James Poindexter, the present pastor, was called to the charge which he has held continuously for the last twentyeight years. In 1871, sixty mem - bers of the church obtained letters of dismission and organized Shiloh Baptist Church,

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whose house of worship is on Cleveland Avenne, between Long and Spring streets. In 1888, sixteen other members obtained letters of dismission and, with four others from other churches, organized Union Grove Baptist Church, whose house of worship is on North Champion Avenue.

The immersion of converts to the Baptist faith, a rite which has always proved interesting to the eurious, was, until 1858, when the baptistery was con-

MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH.

structed in the First Church, administered in the Scioto River. Crowds invaria- bly gathered and the early records show that it became necessary for the church to protect itself from the ridicule of unbelievers by the appointment of officers to keep order. There is, however, no record of violence, but the annoyance of the crowds, as well as the inconvenience of outdoor baptism made an indoor arrange-

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ment for the administration of the rite desirable. The baptistery in the First Church was used for the first time on Sunday evening, July 18, 1858, in the immersion of John Williams and Catherine Decker.

The most remarkable outdoor baptisms in the history of the city were. those conducted by Shiloh Baptist Church from 1879 to 1882. The place where the rite was administered was the Scioto River just north of the Broad Street bridge, and the time was in February or March. The announcements were made publicly, in advance, and great crowds were attracted to the river bank. The newspapers gave long and graphie accounts of the unusual spectacle, from one of which the following is taken :

The bridge was packed with spectators and the west bank was thronged, while shops, foundries and other buildings were black with humanity, and the entire sweep down the river to below Town Street was crowded with people, gazing from every available point, some with opera glasses. Others. more fortunate and daring, had secured boats and rowed near to the scene. The converts and congregation arrived soon after 12 o'clock noon and were hemmed in so closely that those in front were crowded into the water. The sun shone, but the wind was cold and the spectators were chilled through. The old-time melodies of Shiloh rang out in immense volume to be heard by all. Then prayer was offered, no less dis- tinctly, the aged gentleman having a powerful voice which was heard for a quarter of a mile. The novel part of the exercises, from the standpoint of the curious, next took place, the con- gregation singing the while. A gentleman was immersed first, when the work was rapidly continued, the majority of the candidates being women. There was considerable demon- stration on the part of some of the women who, after being immersed, were with difficulty conducted to the shore. In one instance the reverend gentleman who was administering the ordinance was thrown down, and assistants who came to his rescue were likewise pushed under by superior physical force. Although in nowise to the credit of the immense gather- ing, these demonstrations were greeted in their turn with unmuffled applause, extending up and down the river to an extent which would have made it difficult under ordinary circum- stances, to determine whether the enthusiasm was in recognition of the victor on the home- stretch at a National regatta or, as it was, an observance of the holy rite of baptism.

Another feature of Shiloh's activity which, like the public baptisms, was well meant but of questionable influence on outsiders, was the series of campmeetings held in 1880-1-2 at what is now Franklin Park. One of the purposes of the campmeetings was to raise money with which to secure a new church home. A small lee was charged at the gates aud the general public was attracted by pro- grammes announcing " The Killing of the Fatted Cali;" " The Midnight Sermon : Behold the Bridegroom Cometh ;" " The March Around the Walls of Jericho," etc. Thousands of people flocked to the park, many of them with no thought that there was anything sacred about the grotesque demonstrations. The first year, so boisterous and excited was the crowd that the march around the walls of Jeri- cho was dispensed with, but the second year, it was given, the worshipers carry- ing lanterns and blowing horns and being followed by the rabble with hooting and jeering. The experience of the first two campmeetings taught the wiser ones that such demonstrations accomplished no good, if they were not actually dangerous, and in 1882, the services were more soberminded, though crowds aggregating 5,000 to 7,000 persons continued to attend. The campmeeting lasted each year for fifteen or twenty days and the net profit to the church for the three years was about three thousand dollars.

With this money Shiloh Church which had, since its organization in 1871, worshiped in a building on the south side of Long Street between High and Third, paid in part for their present house of worship (formerly Christie Methodist Epis- copal Chapel) on Cleveland Avenue. The dedication of the building to its new use occurred August 10, 1884, the services being participated in by Revs. Mitchell, Green, James Poindexter and the pastor, Rev. James Shewcraft. The

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work of Shilob has progressed without notable incident since that time, until now it has a membership of 340 members. Four pastors have served since Rev. Mr. Shewcraft retired, as follows: Rev. L. B. Moss, Rev. G. W. Scott, Rev. W. E. Nash and Rev. W. P. Cradic, who is now in charge.

The Union Grove Baptist Church had its origin in a Sundayschool of a non- denominational character begun in 1886 under a tree near the corner of Hughes and Baker streets. With about a dozen regular attendants, Mrs. Cordelia Thompson, who was superintendent, teacher and chorister, moved soon to a log cabin, now demolished, which stood on Mt. Vernon Avenue, a short distance east of Cham- pion Avenue. Here Mrs. Thompson and others who came to her assistance labored for some time, but Mrs. Thompson's health failed and the school was turned over to the Baptists. It was in December, 1887, that Jesse B. Ridgway, of the Second Baptist Church, took charge of the school which was then given the name the church now bears by a committee composed of' Maggie Jackson, Fanny Isbell and the new superintendent. The organization of the church was effected April 29, 1888. Rev. James Poindexter officiated, assisted by Rev. Irving W. Metcalf, of Eastwood Congregational Church, Rev. W. E. Nash, of Shiloh Baptist Church, and Elder Meredith. The original membership was twenty, most of which was drawn from the Second Baptist Church. The first business meeting was held on May 10, 1888, and the first officers were then elected as follows: Trustees, John Littleton, Jere- miah Freeland, Thomas E. Isbell, Henry Harris and Lewis Ross; clerk, J. B. Ridgway ; assistant clerk, Maggie Jackson. Rev. W. E. Nash was the first pastor of the church, his pastorate extending from September 2, 1888, to April 26, 1891, during which time the membership grew to 168. A lot was purchased on Cham- pion Avenue near Mann Street, which, after it had been enlarged by a donation from Charles Garnes of four feet frontage, was built upon. The cornerstone was laid July 21, 1889, and the edifice, which is of brick aud now almost complete, will soon be formally dedicated. Rev. A. M. Lewis, the present pastor, began his labors May 10, 1891. The membership is now about 175.

Bethany Baptist Church (colored), which is now worshiping in a building of its own at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street, had its origin in a Sun- dayschool, begun in the fall of 1888 on East Fifth Avenue. It was nondenomi- national, both Methodists and Baptists attending. In the spring of 1889, the Baptists under the leadership of William A. Burk, a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, withdrew from the alliance and began holding services separately at the residence of James Jackson in the same vicinity. Mr. Burk conducted the Sun- dayschool as superintendent and, in the following summer, a public meeting was called to consider the advisability of erecting a church building. Mr. Burk's proposition to give a lease of a lot for three years, if a building was erected, was accepted, and a frame structure was put up on East Fifth Avenue, being first used in November, 1889. In April, 1890, R. C. Minor, a young minister of the Baptist faith, came to Mr. Burk's assistance and later began preaching at the church. The question of establishing an independent church arose, but was opposed by some on the ground that it would weaken the old churches without doing any special good otherwise. In August, 1890, Mr. Burk resigned as superintendent of the school and was succeeded by Mr. Minor, a strong advocate of a separate church. In October, revival services were begun and a number of persons pro- fessed conversion, thus encouraging the idea of independent organization. On January 1, 1891, a meeting was held and it was decided to go ahead with the organization. J. D. Warner of the Tenth Avenue Baptist Church, was modera- tor and Professor F. W. Sperr, of the same church, was secretary. It was decided that the church should be called Bethany Baptist Church. The articles of faith and the covenant were adopted and thirteen persons were enrolled as

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members, actual or prospective. Of these only four were in good standing as Baptists, viz , R. C. Minor, Harvey Johnson, Mary A. Madden and Liddie John- son. The others were received to membership after their baptism a few days later. The church, thus organized, called Rev. R. C. Minor to the pastorate. In November, 1891, the building was moved from the leased lot to the present site which had been purchased for $700. The church has grown steadily and now has a membership of forty-two.

CHAPTER XLIV.

LUTHERAN.1

The earliest settlers in Columbus belonging to the Lutheran Church were Lorentz Hey! and his wife, together with their two sons, Conrad and Christian, a widowed daughter - Regina Pilgrim - and her family, and a grandson named Christian Meyer; all of whom arrived in 1813. At the beginning of the year 1818, about a dozen families of the same denomination had taken up their homes here and about as many more were located on farms in Franklin County, east of the Scioto River. The first steps to gather and organize these members into a congre- gation were taken under the lead of Rev. Michael J. Steek, then of the neighbor- ing town of Lancaster. The first Lutheran service was conducted by him later in the same year, in a secondstory room of Christian Heyl's "O. H. Perry Inn," afterwards known as the Franklin House, on South High Street. Three or four individuals of the German Reformed Faith, who were intermarried with Luth- erans, united with the congregation, the services and pastors of which, however, were exclusively Lutheran from the beginning and throughout its entire history. The name given to the church was St. Paul's, which it still retains.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 93

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196