The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 55

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1081

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The Presbytery found the accused guilty on this charge. Mr. Brown afterward wrote: "I maintained that our Lord Jesus Christ is a Savior pro vided for and sincerely offered in the Gospel to all who hear it, but the Presby tery held that He is provided for the elect only." There were charges of erro on other points than the atonement, but these either were not sustained or onl' sustained in part. The last of the charges was: " With an indulgence in hi: writings and public teachings, in novel, unprofitable and dangerous specula tions on many points." This charge was divided and the Presbytery found th accused guilty of "indulging in novel and unprofitable speculations," but the word dangerous as applied to these speculations was not sustained.

In the minute adopted by the Presbytery in the case, great dissatisfaction was expressed with some of the doctrines preached and some of the phraseolog. used by Mr. Brown, and he was solemnly admonished in future to abstain fron using such language and introducing such sentiments as the Presbytery had jus decided to be injudicious and not in accordance with the standards of the church Mr. Brown refused to comply with the admonition and gave notice of an appea to the Synod. He was finally suspended by the Presbytery from the ministry and became a minister of the Congregational Church. It is but justice to th Presbyterian Church at large to say in this connection, that at the time of thi trial, the Miami Presbytery had fallen under the control of ministers who wer incapable of a large and liberal construction of church standards, but alway placed the narrowest and most literal interpretation on every article of thei creed. Whatever their merits may have been, they were the men under whos leadership a church was least likely to be improved. Probably at no subse quent period would a minister have been condemned on such charges as wer preferred against Mr. Brown.

The trial of Mr. Brown was continued through three sessions of the Pres bytery in December, 1855. and January, 1856, and occupied eight days in all In the argument, the prosecution occupied over ten hours and the accused ove eleven. The sympathy of the public, as is usual in such cases, was chiefly wit the accused. The members of the Lebanon Presbyterian Church were almos all on the side of their pastor, but when Mr. Brown determined to separat from the Presbyterian Church without waiting for an appeal to the Synod, onl a minority of his congregation followed him. This trial for heresy led to th formation of the Lebanon Congregational Church.

The congregation has owned a parsonage since February 18, 1845. Th ministers who have served the congregation as pastor or stated supply are a follows:

Rev. Archibald Steel, from 1806 to 1808; Rev. William Robinson, fror 1810 to' 1814; Rev. William Gray, from 1814 to 1829; Rev. Daniel V. M. Lean, from 1830 to 1832; Rev. Simeon Crane, from 1832 to 1836; Rev. Addiso Coffee, from September, 1837, to January, 1840; Rev. Samuel Newell, fror March, 1841. to January, 1853; Rev. Robert T. Drake, from August, 1833, t August, 1854: Rev. Simeon Brown, from January, 1855, to January, 1857 Rev. W. W. Colmery, from October, 1857, to March, 1866; Rev. John Haight from October 1, 1866, to September, 1871; Rev. David Clark, from March 2( 1872, to January 3, 1876; Rev. L. H. Long, from July 16, 1876, to 1882.

The following are the names of the Ruling Elders from the organizatio: nntil 1869:

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Jonathan Tichenor, elected December 3, 1807; Abner Smith, elected De- cember 3, 1807; James Gallaher, ordained 1808; Silas Hurin, ordained 1808; John Parkinson, ordained August 11, 1815; Daniel Skinner, ordained April 12, 1816; Abraham Van Vleet, ordained October 25, 1818: Jeremiah Smith, or- dained October 25, 1818; Daniel Voorhis, ordained October 25, 1818; William Lowry, ordained May 19, 1826; Joseph J. Johnson, ordained May 19, 1826; David Dunham, ordained May 19, 1826; John Meloy, ordained May 17, 1833; Charles Cowan, ordained May 17, 1833; James M. Fisher, ordained June 14, 1841; James K. Hurin. ordained January 10, 1849; Edmund B. Monroe, or- dained January 10, 1849 ; Joseph Anderson, ordained September 9, 1855; John M. Hathaway. ordained September 9, 1855; George W. Frost, ordained April 3, 1859; William B. Irwin, installed April 3, 1859, James M. Smith, or- dained February 13, 1863: Ichabod F. Anderson, ordained November 15, 1863; William Tait, installed May 9, 1869; Edward J. Tichenor, ordained May 9, 1869.

In 1875, the membership was 210.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Lebanon .-- The first Methodist society in Lebanon was organized at the house of Thomas Anderson, which stood where Gov. Corwin afterward resided, in the year 1805. The little society at first was composed of only four members, viz., Thomas Anderson, Hetta Anderson, his wife, Abner Leonard and his wife. Abner Leonard was the first class leader; he afterward became a minister. George Foglesong and wife, Henry Miller and wife, George Duckworth and wife and others were added in the year 1806. Before this, however, there had been occasional Methodist preaching at Lebanon. John Kobbler, in 1798, had preached at the house of Ichabod Corwin, and John Col- lins preached at Lebanon in 1804. The house of Thomas Anderson was a com- modious one, and the class-meetings and preaching of the new society were held at his house until Rev. John Collins, afterward long known among Methodists as Father Collins, preached at Lebanon as one of the places on the Miami Circuit. A revival took place under his preaching, in 1811 and 1812, and the Methodist Church, which, up to this time, had been small, became the strongest in Lebanon. Mr. Collins' congregation soon became too large for a private house, and the society rented and fitted up for their meetings a frame building which stood near the northwest corner of Mulberry and Mechanic streets. It was known as the " Old Red House," and was used as a meeting-house for two or three years.

Among the young men who joined the church under the preaching of Rev. John Collins was John McLean, who was soon after elected to Congress; and later, became Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. A number of young men of education and talent at Lebanon, who were inclined toward Deism, were brought into the Methodist Church by Rev. Mr. Collins. In after years, whenever Father Collins preached at Lebanon, he commanded full houses.

In 1821, the society numbered 183 members, and at this time it was con- stituted a station. In 1823, Rev. J. P. Durbin, D. D., was appointed to Leba- non. He began and kept in his own hand-writing "Church Records " for this society, which are said, by Rev. Maxwell P. Gaddis, Sr., who examined them, to have been model records. They gave a brief minute of the operations of the church, and, instead of the simple announcement of deaths, short obituaries of the deceased members. These records, unfortunately, have been lost. Dr. Durbin was then a young man but a fine preacher. His oratory was altogether different from that usually heard in Methodist pulpits at that day; he was calm. deliberate and argumentative.

In 1824, the society was again placed in the Union Circuit; it was then the largest and most influential society on that circuit, which included Dayton

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and Xenia, and was then considered one of the best appointments in the gift . the conference. Bishop Asbury presided at a conference held at Lebanon i 1815. He is reported to have said that the Lebanon Church was the stronge Methodist Church intellectually, morally and financially, in the Mississip Valley. In 1867, A. H. Dunlevy wrote: "I seldom attend public worship this church without being saddened by the vivid recollection of that array . strong men I used to meet in that congregation, now all, or nearly all, gon Among them was Judge McLean, his two brothers, Nathaniel and Williar George Foglesong, John Reeves, Tobias Bretney, Samuel Nixon, Matthias Co win, Jr., and many others I might name."

In 1812, the society purchased the ground upon which its present house ( worship stands. The first church was a small one-story brick building, erecte about 1813 and taken down in 1837, and a two-story church erected. In 186 the present convenient edifice was erected on the same ground, at a cost of $8 000. The building committee consisted of Rev. John W. Mason, Dr. Ada Sellers and Robert Duckworth. The church was completed without incurrir a debt upon the society. An organ has been used in public worship for the la fifteen years. The society is in a prosperous state. The number of membe at this time is 320. The pastors of the church have been so numerous that complete list of their names cannot be well given. The policy of changin pastors every one or two years gave this society the opportunity of hearir nearly all the eminent preachers of former days in the conference to which belonged. In 1825, Bishop Joshua Soule made Lebanon his residence. E afterward became connected with the Methodist Church South, and, about 184 removed to Nashville, Tenn.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Lebanon .- This church was orga ized March 20, 1836, by Rev. Jacob Lindley, D. D., a member of the Pennsy vania Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The organizatic was effected in a room occupied by Mrs. Ruth Parshall as a school-room, c Mulberry street. They worshiped during the first year of their history in th old court house, corner of Main and Broadway. Their present house of wo. ship, on Mechanic street, was built in 1837, with an addition in 1848. TI organization was entered into with the following members, viz., Amos Smit and Micajah Reeder, Mary H. Smith, Lydia Cowen, Ruth Parshall, Abraha Van Doren, Julia Lawson, Elizabeth Van Note, Eliza M. Lawson, Maria Va Doren and Ann Lawson. The first-named two were Ruling Elders. Re' Matthew Huston Bone, D. D., of Anderson Presbytery, Ky., was the first pasto serving one year-1836-37. Rev. Felix G. Black, of Logan Presbytery, Ky entered upon the pastorate and served about fourteen years, or, from 1837 t 1850. He was succeeded by Rev: J. H. Coulter, of Miami Presbytery, who re mained with the congregation four years, or, from 1851 to 1855. Rev. J. M Edmiston, of Tennessee, took charge of the church in 1855, and continued unti 1858. Rev. E. K. Squier, D. D., of the Muskingum Presbytery, Ohio, we called to the pastorate in November, 1858, and continued in said office unt: November, 1865. He was succeeded by Rev. S. Richards, D. D., of Illinois who remained one year, or, from 1866 to 1867. Rev. S. F. Anderson, D. D of the Pennsylvania Presbytery, served about two years-1868 to 1870. Rev J. P. Sprowls took charge of the church in 1871, and is still in the pastorate The following members have been elected to the office of Ruling Elder in th congregation, viz., Amos Smith, Micajah Reeder, Aaron Van Note, Williar Russell, John Conrey, John Pauly, Samuel Kell, Francis B. Howell, Willian F. Parshall, J. M. Conrey, William Evans, James D. McCain, Amos S. Ber nett, Martin A. Jameson, William F. Dill, Jacob M. Sellers, David P. Bennett David F. Colbert. William Huston Bone. The last five named on the abow

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list constitute the present session of the church. About 600 persons have been connected in membership, a vast majority having joined on the profession of their faith. The present membership is 150.

The Methodist Protestant Church at Lebanon .- The Methodist Protestant Church in the United States was formed in 1830 by a secession from the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. The primary cause of the secession was dissatisfaction with the Episcopacy and the organization of the conferences whereby all author- ity in the church was placed in the hands of the Bishops and ministers, to the exclusion of the lay members. The church holds the same doctrinal views as the parent body and differs from it in but few points of ecclesiastical government though rejecting the Episcopacy.

The Lebanon Methodist Protestant society originated in a secession from the Methodist Episcopal Church. The society was organized September 14, 1846, at a meeting in Masonic Hall, forty-six male members being present. The first trustees of the society were Henry Howry, Amos Barr, Michael Peck- inpaugh, Asbury Frazier, Joel G. Rockhill, Jacob Smith and Peter Farner. The church edifice on Mulberry street, upon which the town-clock is placed, was commenced immediately after the organization of the society, and was dedi- cated May 30, 1847. At the time of the dedication, the membership was about 120. The first pastor was Rev. R. M. Dalby. Among the original members were many active and influential men. For several years the new society flour- ished and it was an important body. In later years the membership has been small. Among the pastors have been Rev. T. B. Graham, Rev. J. M. Young, Rev. W. R. Parsons, Rev. J. E. Snowden, Rev. A. P. Powelson and Rev. William Hollinshed.

Congregational Church at Lebanon (1857-74). - This church was organized in Washington Hall on Sunday, July 19, 1857, by a council of representatives from neighboring orthodox Congregational Churches. The church at its or- ganization consisted of twenty-six members, nearly all of whom seceded from the Presbyterian Church on account of what they deemed unjust and oppressive proceedings on the part of the Miami Presbytery in the trial and deposition of Rev. Simeon Brown. In connection with the church was organized a Sunday school, consisting of fifty scholars and thirteen teachers. Rev. Simeon Brown was the first pastor. The society for some time worshiped in Washington Hall. Within a few years, the members erected a handsome church edifice. It was a frame structure with a tall steeple, and stood on Main street east of the old court house. In a wing of the building were a lecture-room, Sunday school rooms and pastor's study. This church was entirely destroyed in the great fire of September 1, 1874. This disaster ended the existence of the society, most of the remaining members returning to the Presbyterian Church. During the last years of the Congregational Society, its membership was small. Among the pastors of the church were Rev. Simeon Brown, Rev. B. F. Morris, Rev. J. H. Jenkins and Rev. E. B. Burrows.

St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church .-- This church was organized in 1866 by Rev. Mr. Servus, now deceased, as a German Reformed Church. In 1874, it became an Evangelical Lutheran Church. At the time of its organiza- tion. there were in its membership twenty-two families and seventy-five persons. In 1868, Rev. Carl Cast was called to the charge of the church, and during his pas- torate the society purchased two lots on Cherry street, between Warren and Silver, at a cost of $1,500, upon which they erected a one-story Gothic brick edifice, 40x 65 feet. The building cost $5,500. In 1872, Rev. Heinrich Muller became the pastor and remained until 1874, when Rev. Charles Straut was called and remained until 1879. During the pastorate of Mr. Straut, the entire church debt was paid. Rev. Mr. Suors supplied the pulpit for a short time, in 1879,

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SOCIETIES.

Masonic -The Lebanon Lodge, No. 26, F. & A. M., was chartered Jan- uary 3, 1815. The charter members were Thomas R. Ross, John Sheets, Nathan Kelly, David Roe, Martin Earhart, Daniel Cushing, George Kesling and Charles Stow. From the organization, the lodge had among its members a number of men of talent and influence. For some time after the Morgan Anti- Masonic excitement culminated, the lodge held no meetings. It was afterward put in working order. In 1844, the lodge built a third story on the old court- house, then used as a town hall, where its meetings were held for some time. In 1859, the present Masonic building of the lodge was erected. The present number of members is 115.

The Lebanon Royal Arch Chapter, No. 5, was chartered December 12, 1821. The charter members were Phineas Ross, Jephtha F. Moore, John Sat- terthwaite, George Kesling, Thomas R. Ross, William M. Wiles, Abner B. Hunt, Wallace Bratton and John Sheets. The present membership of the Chapter is seventy-nine.

The Miami Encampment, No. 2, K. T., at Lebanon, was chartered March 14, 1826. The charter members were Thomas Corwin, John Satterthwaite, Jonathan K. Wilds, Samuel R. Miller, John T. Jones, John Ross. William Greene, Charles Conoly and J. P. Reynolds. After a few years this Encamp- ment ceased to exist.

The Lebanon Council, No. 21, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered March 15, 1855. The charter members were Horace M. Stokes, Allen Wright, William Frost. John Van Harlingen, Ira Watts, William Adams, Jacob Koogle and others. The present membership is forty-two.

The Miami Commandery, No. 22, K. T., was chartered October 15, 1869. The charter members were John Kelly O'Neall, James S. Totten, Albert H. Kelsey, Alfred E. Stokes, Jehu Mulford, Josiah Hough, Abijah P. O'Neall, William J. Collett, James Frank Benham. Richard Lackey, William E. Frost, Sylvan B. Morris, Martin Brown, William Young, John Bone, Moses Harlan, Ambrose Taylor and William Jones. The present membership is eighty-eight.

Lebanon Lodge, No. 15, I. O. O. F .- The charter of this lodge was granted June 25, 1842. The charter members were P. K. Wambaugh, Robert Nelson, T. S. Lamden, J. G. Rockhill, Otis Stanford, John C. Skinner and Amos Barr. The charter states the object of the lodge to be "the encouragement and sup port of brothers of the order when in sickness, distress or on travel and for purposes of benevolence and charity." The lodge held its first meetings in a third-floor room extending over three buildings, which were situated on Mul- berry street, near the crossing of Mechanic and Mulberry. This room was oc- cupied until the erection of the present Odd Fellows building, on Broadway, which was commenced in 1859. As shown by its number, this lodge was the fifteenth of the order in the State. It was the second in the county, the lodge at Franklin being the first in the county. When the Lebanon Lodge was insti- . tuted, the number of Odd Fellows in Ohio probably did not exceed 700; in January, 1882, the number of lodges in the State was 699, and their total mem- bership 44,572. This lodge from its commencement increased rapidly in mem- bership, and, while there were but two lodges of the order in the county, it had members in distant parts of the county. As new lodges were instituted in different parts of the county, they necessarily drew largely from the Lebanon Lodge. For several years past, the membership has averaged about 110. The property of the lodge is valued at about $12,000. The lodge has, by frugal and judicious management of its means, been able to respond to all calls upon its treasury, has paid considerable sums for the relief of those distressed by great calamities and assisted in railroad and other public enterprises.

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Cheyenne Tribe, No. 53, Improved Order of Red Men, was instituted by the Great Sachem, Robert Hedger, Chief of the Great Council of Ohio, Febru- ary 25, 1869. The charter members were A. L. Ross, Jr., Joseph N. Turner, Ed M. Hale, James Brown, W. H. Mead, Isaac Smith, J. C. Hoover, Clayton Palmer, J. M. Vawter, E. H. Maple, O. T. Bone and J. C. Simonton. The first officers were: A. L. Ross, Jr., Sachem; J. N. Turner, Senior Sagamore; W. H. Mead, Junior Sagamore; Ed M. Hale, Keeper of Wampum; James Brown, Chief of Records; E. H. Maple, Prophet. There are now forty members.

Lebanon Lodge, No. 49, Knights of Pythias, was instituted March 4, 1873. The charter members were George W. Carey, W. A. Coyne, J. N. Turner, James Brown, A. B. Carey, J. H. Winner, J. E. Colvin, C. E. Sausser, Albert Booth. D. W. Jones, Edward Warwick, S. L. Conklin, G. W. Sausser, J. E. Bundey. W. S. Dynes, R. B. Corwin, George Patterson, J. N. Oswald, Isaac Smith, L. R. Marshall, T. K. kedd, Ed M. Hale, B. Fox, Joseph Perrine and John Per- rine. The officers of the first term were: W. A. Coyne, C. C .; J. N. Turner, V. C .; James Brown, P .; A. B. Carey, M. E .; J. H. Winner, M. F .; J. E. Colvin, K. R. S .; C. E. Sausser, M. A .; Albert Booth, I. G .; D. W. Jones, O. G. ; Trustees, Edward Warwick, S. L. Conklin, George W. Sausser; Clerk, John E. Bundey.

The Mechanics' Institute of Lebanon. This society was chartered by the Legislature in 1837, but the organization dates from a much earlier period. It is known that a meeting for the election of officers of a society in Lebanon named the Mechanics' Institute, was held November 7, 1831, and a lecture be- fore the society was announced to be delivered by James D. Cobb, November 12, 1831, "in the Methodist Meeting-house at early candle-light." The organi- zation is the successor of debating and literary societies of a still older date. The Lebanon Literary Society was chartered in 1811, with John McLean, Jo- seph Canby and Joshua Collett, Directors; Rev. William Robinson, Librarian; and Silas Hurin, Treasurer. Some of the books collected by this old society are now in the library of the Mechanics' Institute. Dr. Daniel Drake, in his "Picture of Cincinnati," published in 1815, speaks of a small but valuable collection of books at Lebanon. Debating organizations existed from the ear- liest times in the history of the town, and were attended by all the young men with literary tastes. The early meetings of the Mechanics' Institute were generally held in the old court house, which, after the erection of the present court house, became known as the Old Town Hall. The exercises consisted either of debates or lectures. The society was composed of the most influential and intelligent men of the town and vicinity. Eminent public speakers, such as Thomas Corwin and Thomas R. Ross, acquired much of their readiness in public discussions by participating in the exercises of the institute and the societies which preceded it. The institute early had a library, which, though not large, contained many excellent books which probably could not have been found in any private library of its members. It contained a copy of Rees' Encyclopedia, which was probably for many years the only large encyclopedia in the town.

For several years preceding the civil war, the institute ceased to hold any public meetings, and its library was suffered to remain neglected. In 1863, chiefly through the efforts of W. D. Henkle, the society was re-organized. The second story of the town hall was fitted up for its library and reading-room and for the lectures and discussions of the society. In 1874, the room of the insti- tute, with a part of its library and furniture, was destroyed by fire. On the 18th of October, 1877, the institute, by permission of the council, took posses- sion of the library-room of the new public hall, where its meetings have since been held.

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THE WOMEN'S ANTI-LIQUOR CRUSADE.

This movement was attended with more intense popular excitement than any other moral or religious work in the history of Lebanon and Turtle Creek Township, except, perhaps, the great religious revival of 1801, 1802 and 1803. A true history of the rise, culmination, decline and fall of the movement will be of interest and value. During its progress, the writer regarding it as a re- markable instance of an epidemical fever-heat of popular feeling, and believing that, like all movements depending on intense popular emotion, it would soon be numbered among the things of the past, preserved the materials for a full history of the work in Lebanon. Only a small part of the materials thus collected can be here given.

Dr. Dio Lewis, of Boston, the apostle of the method of suppressing intem- perance by means of praying bands of women, lectured in Lebanon on the even- ing of February 12, 1874. He was accompanied by J. C. Van Pelt, of New Vienna, Ohio, who then claimed to be a reformed saloon-keeper. The lecture was attended by such numbers that it was a financial success, and, after the payment of Dr. Lewis and Van Pelt, a clear profit remained to the committee under whose auspices the lecture was delivered. On the following morning, Dr. Lewis addressed the friends of the new method at the Congregational Church, where the work of organizing a plan of operations in Lebanon was begun.

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 55

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1081

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1081