USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > The Old stone church; the story of a hundred years, 1820-1920 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
222
THE OLD STONE CHURCH
College from Hudson to Cleveland, there to become the nucleus of a far greater institution.
The sudden death of Leonard Case, Jr., January 6, 1880, at once brought the whole educational problem to a head. There came now the opportunity of locat- ing the academic college and the polytechnical school in such proximity, in the eastern part of Cleveland, that the nucleus of a great educational center might be established. The services rendered by Dr. Haydn in this important movement came as a fitting climax to his first pastorate in the Stone Church, but in time it proved to have been only the beginning of greater educational influence exerted during his second settle- ment in Cleveland.
Dr. Haydn delivered on January 25, 1880, a "De- cennial Sermon," dealing with the work of the Stone Church from 1870 to 1880, including his eight years of service. Reference was made to religious and chari- table work, such as the formation of the Friendly Inn, the new Huron Street Hospital, the appropriation of the Marine Hospital for the basis of what developed into Lakeside Hospital, the Home for Aged Women on Kennard Street, the new Protestant Orphan Asy- lum, the promised Industrial Home, and the Uni- versity, in all of which charitable enterprises members of the Stone Church had been leading patrons.
During the decade new edifices had been dedicated by the First Methodist Episcopal, St. Paul's Epis- copal, Second Presbyterian, and Woodland Avenue Presbyterian Churches. The old Central High School,
223
HIRAM COLLINS HAYDN
on Euclid Avenue near East Ninth Street, had entered in 1878 the new building on Willson Avenue.
Narrowing his view to the life of the church he served, Dr. Haydn stated that at the beginning of the decade there had been five hundred seventy-four members. During the ten years Dr. Goodrich, the senior pastor, Dr. Aiken, the pastor emeritus, and eighty-eight members had passed from the com- munion of saints on earth to that above; while three hundred twenty members had been dismissed to other churches. On confession of their faith three hundred sixty-eight had been received, and two hundred ninety-seven by letters, making a total of six hundred sixty-five welcomed during the decade. This left the membership of eight hundred six whose residences were known, or eight hundred eighty-seven, including non-resident members. During the decade one hun- dred forty-six thousand two hundred ninety-seven dollars had been raised for benevolences, and one hundred thirty thousand one hundred seventy-six dollars for congregational expenses, or a total of two hundred seventy-six thousand four hundred seventy- five dollars. In addition Stone Church members had made special gifts whose amounts could not be statistically exhibited.
Having dwelt upon the encouraging side, Dr. Haydn concluded :
But there are also wounds and bruises and putrefying sores which we do not care to parade. From recent police reports there are at this time in this city 1,288 saloons, and other organized establishments devoted to the ruin
224
THE OLD STONE CHURCH
of life and character make a total of 1,464 demoralizing institutions. In 1870 the saloons outwardly respected the Sabbath, but they show now no respect for the Lord's day. But what of the church of 1890? The growth of population is eastward beyond Willson Avenue [East Fifty-fifth Street]. This is what was to have been ex- pected. Nothing can stay this tendency. I wish to ask whether our outlying constituency inheriting a history of sixty years, linked with the growth of this city, wish to drop like so many pebbles into the deep of other com- munions, or will they hold together till, at some day not far distant, they can perpetuate their connection with the First Church, in another strong, self-sustaining organi- zation. To me it seems a far grander thing to build a light- house than to fall like so many pebbles into the deep. This church has been the mother of churches, and her record of this sort ought not to be finished. It is altogether a mistake to imagine that in any probable event this church is to dwindle on this site. The work to be done here is not growing less, but constantly increasing. The call of providence seems to be clear and well-defined. We have only to hold together on two sites [Old Stone and Calvary], instead of one, loyal to Christ and the truth as it is in Him, with full faith in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit to give the increase, to see yet more blessed fruits of our labors, and to make ourselves more widely felt for good.
To the Presbyterian Union organized in 1870 for the purpose of fostering financially new Presbyterian church enterprises within the city, both Dr. Goodrich and Dr. Haydn gave much time and inspiration.
During the earlier pastorate of Dr. Haydn the Stone Church Session was composed of Elders George Mygatt, Francis C. Keith, Dr. Norman Sackrider, Warren G. Stedman, John A. Foot, Edward H. Mer-
225
HIRAM COLLINS HAYDN
rill, Joseph Sargeant, Reuben F. Smith, George H. Ely, Henry M. Raymond, Henry M. Flagler, Lyman J. Talbot, and Edwin C. Higbee. Elders Reuben F. Smith, Lyman J. Talbot and Henry M. Raymond served successively as clerks of session during the decade.
During the ten years all the church organizations flourished. In 1873 the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society became an auxiliary of the general Presby- terial Society. Miss Sarah Fitch was chairman of the committee to draft the constitution. Mrs. H. C. Haydn became the president of the new society and served for seven years. Mrs. Proctor Thayer served as secretary eight years; while Mrs. John A. Foot was treasurer for fourteen years, or almost to the time of her death. This missionary society gave Miss Sellers a farewell reception in 1874, and a substantial outfit as she went to China.
Miss Mary Goodrich organized in 1875 "The Young Missionaries," a society of boys, and the same year her sister, Miss Fanny Goodrich, formed a girls' missionary society, known as "The Helping Hands." which finally became the "Haydn Circle." Later the "Sarah Fitch Band" was organized.
The Young Ladies' Missionary Society continued to flourish. Under the counsel and inspiration of Dr. Haydn, the Ladies' Society was led to even greater activity; while the Sunday School and the Young Peoples' Society were strengthened.
Between 1870 and 1880 the mother church of Cleveland's Presbyterian churches began to see her
226
THE OLD STONE CHURCH
children beget in turn new religious enterprises. The Second Church fostered, mainly through the gener- osity of Elder Dan P. Eells, a Sunday School which grew into the Willson Avenue Presbyterian Church. A slight friction arose between the session of the Second and that of the Stone Church, over the pro- posed moving of the North Church from Aaron Street to its present site, but this ended in amicable under- standing, the Willson Avenue Church moving farther south away from Superior Street. The Woodland Avenue Presbyterian Church was organized in 1872 with fifty-four charter members, twenty-eight from the Second Presbyterian Church.
The Euclid Avenue Presbyterian Church, another child of the Stone Church, had been fostering a mis- sion Sunday School, which became a church first known as the Memorial, and then the Case Avenue Presbyterian Church. The first regularly installed pastor was the Reverend Francis Allen Horton, who came to the field early in 1874.
On June 19, 1880, Dr. Haydn presented to the Stone Church Session his resignation. He had been called to the district secretaryship of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions of the Congregational Church. The district included New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and a part of Connecticut, with head- quarters in New York City. The invitation had come wholly unsolicited, and all who knew Dr. Haydn's zeal for foreign missions readily understood how
227
HIRAM COLLINS HAYDN
natural it had been for the American Board to have sought him.
One reason, however, for the acceptance of the secretaryship was that Dr. Haydn felt that his health was in danger of becoming impaired unless there came release from pastoral cares. The Stone Church pro- posed a long leave of absence, but at a joint-meeting of the session and board of trustees, held July 5, 1880, in the office of Mr. Amasa Stone, Dr. Haydn insisted upon the acceptance of his resignation, mentioning at the same time a suitable successor. This was the Reverend Arthur Mitchell, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Ill. The officers ac- cepted Dr. Haydn's resignation and appointed Elders John A. Foot, George H. Ely and Reuben F. Smith to cooperate with a committee of trustees, in select- ing a minister who might receive the congregation's approval. At a meeting of the congregation held July 28, 1880, there was formal acceptance of Dr. Haydn's resignation, and a committee was appointed to invite Dr. Arthur Mitchell to become pastor.
During the last three years of Dr. Haydn's pas- torate, or from 1877 to 1880, Mr. B. F. Shuart, a layman of rare fitness for assisting in church work, had been employed. He had charge of an afternoon Bible class in a mission among the waifs of St. Clair Street near Dodge Street, and continued this work two or three years, without any hope that there would develop any permanent organization. Mr. Shuart afterwards became a pastor at Billings, Montana, but by reason of ill health he turned to business pursuits,
228
THE OLD STONE CHURCH
in which he was successful. He was a typical lay- worker of the best type.
Having had this assistance, Dr. Haydn thinking of the success of his successor recommended that Mr. Rollo Ogden, a recent graduate of Union Theological Seminary, be brought to the field in July, instead of August, as had been contemplated. This would enable the younger minister to become acquainted with the field prior to the installment of a new pastor, and so prove of extra value to the latter at the outset of his service in a strange congregation. There must have been an additional purpose in the mind of the retiring pastor of the Stone Church, namely the for- mation of the East Madison Avenue Mission, the beginning of Calvary Church as an auxiliary congre- gation. To the latter the new assistant might minis- ter, in addition to his duties at the Stone Church.
On October 20, 1880, or twenty days after the pul- pit had been declared vacant, Dr. Mitchell signified his acceptance of the call. At an adjourned meeting of Presbytery held on Saturday, October 30, 1880, Dr. Mitchell was formally received, and the next Sunday evening the installation service was held. The Reverend Anson Smyth, D.D., presided; reading of Scriptures, the Reverend Rollo Ogden; prayer, the Reverend John A. Seymour; sermon, the Reverend Charles S. Pomeroy, D.D., of the Second Church; prayer of installation, the Reverend Francis A. Hor- ton, of the Case Avenue Church; charge to the pastor, the Reverend Eleroy Curtis, D.D., of the Miles Park Church; charge to the people, the Reverend J. Love-
229
HIRAM COLLINS HAYDN
joy Robertson, of the Euclid Avenue Church; bene- diction by the Reverend Arthur Mitchell, D.D.
With great reluctance the Stone Church, the Pres- bytery of Cleveland, Western Reserve College, soon to become Adelbert College of Western Reserve Uni- versity, Lake Erie Seminary, and other institutions bade farewell to Dr. Haydn, as with his family he removed to New York City. In all of his friends, however, there was implicit confidence that the de- parting minister was highly qualified for the special duties to be assumed. The youngest child of Dr. and Mrs. Haydn, the daughter Ruth, now the wife of Dr. F. W. Hitchings, was born just prior to this change of residence to New York City. The discovery was also made that the Stone Church had found in the Reverend Arthur Mitchell, D.D., a pastor whose flaming zeal for the task of prosecuting the work of Christ's kingdom, at home and abroad, was scarcely second to the enthusiasm of his predecessor.
To the centennial church historian the relatively brief settlement of Dr. Arthur Mitchell in the Stone Church of Cleveland seems to have been a most provi- dential binding together of the shorter and longer pastorates of Dr. Haydn, and in such continuity of spirit that there was practically no interruption in the rounded service that the Reverend Hiram Collins Haydn, D.D., LL.D., rendered both to the religious and educational welfare of Cleveland, and of the whole world.
VIII. PASTORATE OF THE REVEREND ARTHUR MITCHELL
1880 - 1884
The comparatively short pastorate of the Reverend Arthur Mitchell, D.D., in the Old Stone Church united the two pastorates of Dr. Hiram C. Haydn in pecu- liar continuity of spiritual results. Dr. Mitchell served the Cleveland parish only four years, and like one of his predecessors, the Reverend William H. Goodrich, D.D., he died before sixty years of age. Born at Hudson, N. Y., August 13, 1835, he repre- sented to a rare degree that gentle, charitable spirit of his Quaker ancestors. His boyhood days having been passed at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., he entered Wil- liams College when a mere lad, and graduated before eighteen years of age.
From earliest life his peculiarly frank, open coun- tenance won the confidence of all, and the almost boyish face was his to the end. Even when a grand- father he had neither wrinkles nor gray hairs, and upon first meeting, strangers were wont to express surprise that this "dark-haired young man" was Dr. Mitchell.
Notwithstanding the blessings of a religious birth- right, he treasured a very distinct Christian experi- ence received during college days, and when he turned from what seemed to have been a tinge of skepticism
232
THE OLD STONE CHURCH
there was no half-way surrender in his acceptance of Christ. At once he asked his Master, "What wilt thou have me to do?" For professional preparation he did not wait, in order to enter true Christian serv- ice, a good field for immediate action having been found within the college itself. Although the youngest member of his class, small of stature and boyish in appearance, he sought earnestly to win souls. A sen- sitive conscience prompted his resignation from a Greek letter fraternity, lest any limited relationships impair his Christian influence.
No better field for practical Christian life and serv- ice could have been found than Williams College, during the presidency of Mark Hopkins, assisted as that famous educator was by his brother, Professor Albert Hopkins. Throughout life Dr. Mitchell ex- pressed gratitude for having enjoyed the influence of the noted college president, whose balanced intellec- tual and moral greatness continued to all Williams graduates a grand inspiration.
Although having the ministry in view young Mitchell, after graduation from college in 1853, tutored at Lafayette College. He was young enough to wait, and wholesome discipline was received through the teaching experience. With his intimate college friend, Charles A. Stoddard, afterwards editor of the New York Observer, an extensive tour in the Levant was enjoyed, and many Biblical scenes and mission stations of Egypt and Syria were visited.
Such early observation of practical missionary work was a splendid beginning of the fervent support of
ARTHUR MITCHELL
235
ARTHUR MITCHELL
foreign missions, exhibited during the four pastorates of his ministerial career. While residing with his parents in New York City, Arthur Mitchell attended Union Theological Seminary, and combined study with most practical service in Sunday School, revival and other church activities. Having always been fond of music he led the choir in the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church, under the pastorate of the Reverend Joel Parker, D.D.
Soon after graduation from Union Seminary in 1859 ยท he married Miss Harriet E. Post, daughter of Dr. Alfred Post, and became pastor of the Third Presby- terian Church, Richmond, Va., where he remained until May, 1861. The outbreak of the Civil War forced a return to New York City. In the task of conveying his family across the lines he reached the Union Army, just as it was entering Baltimore on that famous April 19, 1861. To his southern parish he then returned, but the issues of the war soon forced him, not without considerable peril, to press through the lines northward.
The Confederate government confiscated all house- hold goods, but that did not prevent his returning to Richmond at the close of the war, with relief for former parishioners whom the conflict had impover- ished. In the brief Richmond pastorate zeal for mis- sionary endeavor at once manifested itself in the formation of organizations which increased many fold congregational benevolences.
The Second Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N. J., was Dr. Arthur Mitchell's next pastorate. There
236
THE OLD STONE CHURCH
similar results were produced, without unwise dis- proportion in pulpit ministrations. Hearty support was given every form of benevolence, and his preach- ing aimed at both the winning of souls and the edi- fication of believers; still the pastor felt that the world's complete redemption was broad and sublime enough to be made a ministerial hobby.
After seven years' service in the New Jersey field, Dr. Mitchell was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. In accepting the call he wrote:
Upon one point allow me a frank word: I fear that in a congregation of the size of yours I shall not be able to maintain that system of general visitation which some pastors have strength to observe, and which I know is of the utmost usefulness.
While yet a young man for such a charge he rose to commanding influence not only in the parish, but also throughout the city. His foreign missionary zeal surprised many business men in his congregation, but a church shepherded by Dr. Arthur Mitchell had but one of two things to do, either to become a mission- ary force at home and abroad, or to secure a different pastor. So impressed became he in one sermon by the thought of the wealth and luxurious equipages of cer- tain parishioners that by way of climax he exclaimed, "Why, some of you drive a missionary down town every morning as you go to business." This assertion caused one startled capitalist to whisper to another, "Let us unite in sending that missionary."
Let it not be thought that Dr. Arthur Mitchell played on a "harp of one string." To the city's
237
ARTHUR MITCHELL
neglected classes he gave attention and the frontier home fields did not escape scientific scrutiny. While only five feet six inches in height, with dark-brown hair and eyes and a kindly face, which fairly glowed with enthusiasm whenever interested in a theme, and while aptly termed "the gentle Prince Arthur," in fighting wrong he could exhibit the courage of a lion.
Keen interest in municipal affairs was shown by his regular attendance upon primaries, by personal work at the polls, and by sermons dealing with the respon- sibilities of good citizenship. At an election held in Chicago April 4, 1876, three disreputable candidates for office, by means of illegal votes, had declared themselves elected. When the result was contested by a citizens' committee, Dr. Mitchell gave such posi- tive testimony regarding the ballot-box tampering that the election was declared invalid. The Chicago Tribune at that time mentioned him as the "little dominie of admirable resources, a clergyman who knew how to act and how to preach about an emer- gency."
With this admirable record the Chicago pastor was recommended by Dr. Haydn, and in 1880 with scarcely any break in pastoral leadership the work of the Stone Church continued to prosper under the guidance of this little giant.
At the commencement of Dr. Mitchell's Cleveland pastorate, Calvary Mission had developed to such an extent that Joseph E. Upson and L. W. Bingham were added to the Stone Church Session, with partic- ular reference to their connection with the mission,
238
THE OLD STONE CHURCH
the Reverend Rollo Ogden continuing as assistant pastor in charge.
Although the North Presbyterian Church had be- come independent, it still received fostering advice from the Stone Church Session. The latter met with the session of the North Church to discuss the calling of the Reverend William Gaston from Bellaire, Ohio. The North Church obligated itself to furnish seven hundred dollars of the pastor's annual salary of twelve hundred dollars, and the Stone Church Session recommended to the Presbyterian Union the pay- ment of the additional five hundred dollars.
The Stone Church in April of 1881 reported to Cleveland Presbytery eight hundred forty-six mem- bers; congregational expenses ten thousand three hundred eighty-five dollars, and miscellaneous gifts amounting to eighteen thousand two hundred eighty- two dollars. The Sunday School, of which Elder Edwin C. Higbee was superintendent, had four hun- dred forty-seven pupils; Calvary Mission, Elder L. W. Bingham, superintendent, three hundred fourteen; while the St. Clair Mission, A. H. Potter, superin- tendent, had one hundred sixteen, or a total of eight hundred seventy-seven pupils in the three schools.
The Reverend Rollo Ogden, who had married the eldest daughter of the senior pastor, resigned June 10, 1881, in order that his bride and he might enter foreign missionary work in Mexico. At the same time Elder George Mygatt, who had served thirty-four years as a member of the session, and who had also been for twenty years treasurer of the church, re-
239
ARTHUR MITCHELL
signed both official positions on account of advancing years. The resignation as treasurer was accepted, but the church insisted upon this honored official con- tinuing an elder until the time of his death in April of 1885.
He was one of the most faithful members and offi- cials ever connected with the Stone Church. Born in Connecticut in 1797, his parents removed in 1807 to northern Ohio. After having engaged in the banking business at Norwalk and Painesville, Mr. Mygatt became cashier of the Merchants' National Bank of Cleveland during the depression that followed the panic of 1857. The late Judge Samuel E. Williamson, speaking at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration, termed Elder Mygatt a
High Church Presbyterian who believed that nearly every good end which reform organizations sought to do could be better reached through the Christian church. Is it sure that he was altogether wrong?
Soon after this beloved elder's resignation had been declined, he added at his own expense twenty feet to the length of the wooden structure used by Calvary Mission, in order to relieve its crowded condition.
In 1882 Elders George Mygatt and Francis C. Keith were reelected; while Sereno P. Fenn and George I. Vail were chosen for the first time to mem- bership on the session of the Stone Church. Elder S. P. Fenn has served, since that time, a period of thirty-eight years. The other elders at the beginning of Dr. Mitchell's pastorate were John A. Foot, Edwin C. Higbee, Reuben F. Smith, George H. Ely, E. H.
240
THE OLD STONE CHURCH
Merrill, and Henry M. Raymond. Elders Joseph E. Upson and L. W. Bingham had special supervision of Calvary Mission, and in addition Messrs. R. J. Fuller and Seymour F. Adams were in 1883 elected elders from among the Calvary constituency.
The Reverend John W. Simpson succeeded Rollo Ogden as assistant pastor, and as early as September, 1882, this assistant presided over meetings of the elders at Calvary Mission when candidates for church membership were examined, their action to be ratified by the full session.
Some time in 1881 the Ladies' Aid Society cele- brated its Silver Anniversary, and there was published "The History of the Ladies' Society," by Mrs. A. W. Fairbanks. Copies of this anniversary souvenir are preserved in the Western Reserve Historical Society. Among the many interesting statements are these:
As we turn back the leaves of this record, it is as if we are drinking at the fountain of youth. The stately mothers and silver-haired grandmothers of today were the vigorous women of earlier time. Tenderly do we remember those who have entered upon that day that no evening ever closes. The simple calling of their names will touch the hidden spring in many a heart. Mrs. James Gardner, Mrs. Robert Lauderdale, Mrs. Louis Stetson, Mrs. Mary Carson, Mrs. Henrietta D. Aiken, Mrs. Frances Sizer, Mrs. Esther Bingham, Mrs. Cleopatra Stedman, Miss Martha Stair, Mrs. Celia Bur- gart, Mrs. Mary A. Raymond, Miss Mary L. Raymond, Mrs. Betsey Wooden, Mrs. Laura W. Sargent, Mrs. Par- melia Sackrider, Miss Mary Goodrich, Mrs. Orlando Cutter, Mrs. Elizabeth Spencer, Mrs. Emeline Compton, Mrs. Emeline Sizer, Mrs. Melissa Nyce. The sum total
241
ARTHUR MITCHELL
that this society has distributed in twenty-five years has been not less than $25,000. Perhaps one of the most signal undertakings of this society was the opening in 1863 of a temporary home for the protection of friendless women, and known as the Strangers' Home. It would be interesting to follow step by step the great chain of charities unfolded into a Woman's Home, a Retreat, a Hospital, a Young Women's League, an Old Ladies' Home, and an Open Door, and how this church and notably this society has given to two of these charities the noble woman, Sarah Fitch, whom they honor as their president. For fifteen years she was the honored banker of this society. It has not been possible to gather the entire list of those officially connected with the society. Mrs. Ursula Andrews, Mrs. John A. Foot, Mrs. Samuel Williamson and Miss Fitch measured their terms of service as presidents by years. The duties of secretary were successively assigned to Mrs. J. E. Lyon, Mrs. A. G. Cogswell, Mrs. A. W. Fairbanks, Mrs. Proctor Thayer, Mrs. Henry Raymond, Mrs. Geo. H. Ely, Mrs. Henry Johnson, Mrs. Charles Whitaker, Mrs. E. C. Higbee and Mrs. H. K. Cushing.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.