USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > The centennial celebration of Springfield, Ohio, held August 4th to 10th, 1901 > Part 5
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THE FIFTH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In speaking of the tenth anniversary of the Fifth Lutheran Church, which was observed on the 7th of last month, the follow- ing statements were made :
On the third day of July, 1891, the Sunday school and church was organized, and meetings were first held in a private residence on Mound street. At this time the congregation num- bered twenty-five faithful workers in the cause of Christianity. Then a store-room at Mound and East streets was rented, and church services were held there.
Several months of worship were enjoyed in the old store- room, when the members awoke one mornng to find their goods stored in the street and the doors barred against them. The lease held by the gentleman from whom they were renting had ex- pired, and the owner had taken this method to have his property vacated. Not to be prevented from gathering together in the name of the Master, the little band went just across the street and fitted up a chapel. Here peace and tranquillity reigned.
In 1893 the lot at High street and Greenmount avenue was purchased and the pretty church edifice which now graces it was erected. The house was dedicated in 1894. In the Spring of 1898 the auditorium was dedicated.
Rev. Fred G. Gotwald, the present pastor of Calvary Luth- eran Church, was the first pastor of the Fifth Lutheran. Rev. Baltzly was his able assistant, accepting the pastorate upon Rev.
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Gotwald's resignation. He continued the work until December I, 1899, when he resigned and took charge of a church at Mansfield, Ohio, where he is now located. Rev. Harvey S. Lawrence, the present pastor, was installed on May 1, 1900. From the meagre beginnng of 25 members the congregation has grown until over 350 souls are now identified with it.
The charter members of this first beginning on July 3. 1891, were Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gerhardt, Mr. and Mrs. F. Danforth, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Gerhardt, Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Miller, Mr. and Mrs A. E. Colt, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Balser Yonker, Mrs. M. L. Sise and daughter, Addie Tice, Emma Catlin, Henry Yonker, L. E. Miller and F. G. Gotwald. At the end of the first year the membership reached 53, and has now increased to almost 200.
ST. LUKE'S EVANGELICAL LUTHIERAN CHURCH.
St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, corner of North and Race streets, was organized May 20, 1888, by Rev. C. W. Knuth. The church edifice was purchased of a sister denomina- tion, and I do not know when it was erected. It was dedicated May 20, 1888, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Dr. J. D. Severinghaus, of Chicago, Ill. This church has had the fol- lowing pastors : Rev. C. W. Knuth, from 1888 to 1893; Rev. Arthur Gringel, 1893 to 1894; Rev. C. A. Koenig, 1894 to 1900; Rev. J. G. Trefz, from 1900 to the present time. The member- ship numbers 140, and the Sunday school 138.
CALVARY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHI.
This congregation was organized April 15, 1900, with twenty-seven charter members, among whom were William H. Lohnes, Leroy E. Miller, George W. Gladfelter, H. L. Souders and Samuel P. Miller. This action was taken in a small store- room, No. 409 West Main street, and was the outgrowth of an afternoon Sunday school, which some of the Lutherans of the West End of Springfield had carried on for the preceding year. After worshiping in this store-room until December 9, 1900, they took possession of their new building, on the southeast cor- ner of High and Shaffer streets, December 16, 1900. Services
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were held in the smaller room until March 24, 1901, when the entire building was completed, and finally dedicated in due form, the sermons for the ocasion being delivered by Rev. David H. Bauslin, D. D., of Wittenberg Theological Seminary, and Rev. Charles F. Steck, President of the Miami District Synod.
The act of dedication was performed by Rev. Prof. S. F. Breckenridge, D. D., then President of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church of the United States. From the organization of the congregation, April 15, 1900, to July 29th, the same year, Rev. S. M. Lutz, a senior in Wittenberg Seminary, was acting pastor. Since July 9, 1900, Rev. F. G. Gotwald has been pastor. The church has now a membership of seventy persons. The Sun- day school, in officers, teachers and pupils, numbers 140. The church property is valued at $5,000, and is free of debt. The fu- ture of the work seems bright and cheering.
CATHOLICS.
According to the best authority, there was not a single Cath- olic family living in Clark County before the year 1830, but we ascertain about the year 1835, and for ten years afterward, quite a number of Catholics located in Springfield and immediate vi- cinity. Among them were Patrick Rockett, William Giblenhoff, Francis Criegton and twenty others. most of whom had families. From 1845 to 1850 came the Hennesys, the Lynches, the Mc- Breens and about fifty other families, and in the next five years, the Gallaghers, the Bolans, the Tenans, the Maddens and twenty- seven other families. The first priest was Rev. Henry Juncker, who afterward became the Bishop at, Alton, Ill. The Catholics had services at irregular intervals, but only averaging about once or twice per month, generally at private homes ; and occasionally in some small public hall, when such could be had. The next priest coming to Springfield was Rev. Joseph O'Marley, who died here, and was succeeded by his brother, Patrick O'Marley. The latter was followed by Rev. Father Cahill, who came here from Piqua, Ohio.
In August, 1840, the Catholics of Springfield had their first resident priest, the Rev. James F. Kearney, who remained about one year, and then resigned, on account of failing health. Some-
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time before Mr. Kearney's pastorate, the present central and in every way valuable lot was purchased, upon which was built a neat church, largely by the liberal aid of Mr. Michael Cassily, a wealthy Catholic of Cincinnati. Services were for a long time held in the basement of this building. The first parish register was opened in August, 1849, by Father Kearney. The last-named priest was followed by Rev. Maurice Howard, in May, 1850. He remained in charge for thirteen years. The Rev. T. J. Cogan became pastor in 1863, and remaining but a few months, was fol- lowed in January, 1864. by Rev. J. N. Thisse, a French priest. On the 10th of May, 1873, Mr. Thisse was instantly killed by a runaway team of frightened horses. Then the following priests came successively and officiated, each for a short while, to fill up intervals between the regular pastors from 1847 to 1873; Revs. Father Duffy, in 1848; Thomas Blake and Thomas Boul- ger, in 1850; C. A. Doherty and C. F. Shellhamer. in 1858; N. B. Young and J. H. Dutting, in 1869, and Rev. D. Carle, in 1873.
In the year 1868. and from that on, the priests in charge of the St. Raphael Catholic Church have had necessarily a regular assistant. to aid in the work of the parish. Up to 1881, the assistant pastors have been the following, in their chronolog- cal order: Revs. J. S. Mahoney, J. A. Burns, C. M. Berding, T. A. Conway, Francis Mallon. J. L. Dickhons, Michael Ahern and W. B. Miggeal.
In June, 1873. Rev. W. H. Sidley, a native of Ohio, became the principal incumbent of the priestly office for St. Raphael's Church, and is reckoned as the fifth regular pastor. He has ably held the position till the present. On taking this charge he found a debt of $7.000, a small frame school house' and no residence for the priest. He commenced the erection of a priest's house, which was completed June 1. 1874, at a cost of about $7,000. In 1876 he began to build the present fine school house, which is 45x82 feet and three stories high. containing eight school rooms, besides a large hall in the third story, the full length and breadth of the entire building, for lectures and other purposes, to suit the wants of the congregation. This school house was finished in Septem- ber, 1877,and together with the lot upon which it was built, cost $19,000.
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In the Spring of 1892, the work of taking down the old brick edifice was commenced, in order to erect their present splendid stone church building, which was finished and the joyous event signalized by a golden jubilee on the 17th day of July, 1898, in which. Archbishop Elder, of Cincinnati, and numerous other clergy of various ranks from different cities took part. The prin- cipal tower is 184 feet in height, entirely of stone, the top being reached by 156 steps. The tower containing the bell is 135 feet high. From either of these towers can be seen the whole city of Springfield and the entire surrounding country for many miles in every direction. This building, costing $75,000, is quite impres- sive on account of size and architectural beauty, and is a fine or- nament to the city. Father Sidley has been pastor of St. Raphael's Church for twenty-seven years, during which, as authoritatively stated, he has raised and paid out for buildings and the various kinds of furnishings for the church, about a quarter of a million dollars, every cent of which has been completely and satisfactorily accounted for. Were Springfield not situated so near to Colum- bus, it might, sometime in the not distant future, become the seat of a Bishopric. At all events, the citizens of Springfield would be glad to have Father Sidley remain here as a resident for life.
ST. BERNARD'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
In September, 1861, the Germans of Springfield organized a congregation at 166 and 168 East Main street, and were minis- tered to for a few months by Rev. Messrs. Volmer and Manclerke. but the first regular pastor was Rev. William Dieters, who re- mained till 1866. and in February of that year was succeeded by Rev. J. Weissenberger. In 1868. Rev. J. H. Jutting became pas- tor, and was succeeded in 1869 by Rev. John Schugart, who im- mediately commenced building the present large and commodious edifice, which was finished in 1870, and was dedicated in July of that year by the Rt. Rev. Sylvester Rosencranz, of Columbus, Ohio. This church is 60x130 feet, located on the corner of Colum- bia street and Lagonda avenue, seats about 900 persons and cost $24,000.
In 1874 Father Schugart built a school house and pastor's residence, at a cost of $3,000. In ISSo this congregation num-
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bered about 800 members. After Rev. Mr. Schugart, who served from December. 1869, to January, 1882, then came Rev. John D. Kress, from January, 1882, to September, 1887; A. J. Fischer, from September, 1887, to the present time, August, 1901. The church has now a membership of 250 families, with an average attendance of about Soo persons. The Sunday school was or- ganized in 1863, wardens, teachers and scholars numbering in all 280.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH (CATHOLIC.)
To accommodate the Catholic residents of Southeast Spring- field, and to furnish greater facilities for the practice of their re- ligion, it was evident that a new church and school were neces- sary. In 1881, three lots were purchased on the corner of Ken- ton street and Central avenue. In 1882 was begun the erection of a large three-story school house. the first story of which provid- ing a commodious room suitable for church service. In Oc- tober. 1883. the school was opened and services held regularly in the church. St. Joseph's, the name of the new church, became independent in 1884, by which time the congregation had a per- fect organization. both in church and school, and were in all things able to work for themselves.
Rev. C. M. Berding was the first pastor, and in a few years afterward he was succeeded by Rev. W. C. Conway, who re- mained in the pastorate from February 1, 1895, till June, 1901, when he was called to take charge of a church in Cincinnati. During Mr. Conway's incumbency the sum of $45.000 had been taken in and expended on the expenses and debt. Furnishings and improvements were $13,000, and interest on borrowed money $8,000. Father Conway then raised sufficient money to build their present magnificent temple, and there was left only à moder- ate indebtedness. St. Joseph's parish consists of 250 families, or about 750 persons. Rev. Mr. Conway was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Mr. Loney, who took charge of the church about six weeks ago.
UNITED BRETHREN.
The first and only United Brethren Church of Springfield, now situated in the Lagonda addition to the city, was organized
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in March, 1843, by Rev. Benjamin B. Wheat, with a membership. of seventy persons. This organization was effected at Newcomer Chapel, a little north of the present city limits. The first building erected in Lagonda was in 1870, Rev. Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner preaching the dedication sermon. It cost $3.500, but was remod- eled and enlarged in 1883 at a further cost of $5,000. In regard to the list of pastors, we find that the records before 1861 are not available, but Rev. Jacob M. Marshall was pastor from 1861 to 1864; Peter H. Davis, from 1864 to 1866; E. A. Hubbard. 1866- 67 ; R. West, 1867-68; defect in the record of 1868-70; Rev. Wil- liam K. Albright, 1870-73; Chester Briggs, 1873-74; Thomas J. Bushong, 1874-77 ; William McKee, 1877-80; R. F. Powell, 1880- 81; D. W. McConkle, 1881-85; C. J. Burkert, 1885-89 ; E. W. Bowers, 188-91 ; Thomas J. Bushong, 1891-94; George W. Ar- nold, 1894-97, and W. J. Pruner, 1897-1901.
The present membership is 321. The Sunday school was or- ganized in 1845, and now has an enrollment of 275 scholars, with an average attendance of about 200, including 15 officers and 24 teachers. From this efficient church have been sent forth thir- teen ministers of the Gospel, of whom Rev. Drs. W. Shuey and Daniel Berger, both now of Dayton, and several other distin- guished embassadors of the Gross might be noted.
CONGREGATIONALISTS.
The next denomination to be noted in our general order is that of the Congregationalists. In 1849 a few persons, mostly from the First Presbyterian Church, after many previous consul- tations, met at the home of Mr. Henry E. Smith on Wednesday evening. February 28, 1850. and resolved that it was expedient to organize a new church, to be called the First Orthodox Congre- gational Church of Springfield, Ohio. Within a few weeks they secured the services of Rev. J. C. White, a man of fine talents and deep piety, who was their first pastor. He remained with them till October, 1854. On the 27th 'of April following, an ec- clesiastcal council was called. and the church was formally organ- ized on the next day.
Early in 1851 a good, eligible lot had been dedicated to the church by W. M. Spencer, the same as now occupied by it, and
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upon this was erected a building at a cost of $3,700. The base- ment of this new edifice was first occupied, October 31, 1851, af- ter having for awhile held their meetings in the City Hall. The church was dedicated, April 28, 1853, by Rev. Mr. Boynton, of Cincinnati.
The entire debt of $3.500 was canceled in July, 1856. This was done during the pastorate of Rev. Hugh McLead, who served as pastor from May, 1855, to December, 1857. His successor, Rev. Edward Roote, served from October, 1859. to 1865. Rev. A. Hastings Ross then served from February, 1866, to January 1873. During this time the bulding was remodeled and in various ways improved, at an expense of $3,000.
The subsequent pastors, with their terms of services, were as follows: Rev. Joseph L. Bennett, from April, 1873, to De- cember, 1874; Rev. William H. Warren, from September, 1875. to February 22, 1887, at which time, the church, which began with thirty-nine persons, had acquired a membership of 350. On March 25, 1887, Rev. S. P. Dunlap, of Hannbal, Mo., was called to the pastorate, and was installed on April 21st, following. Mr. Dunlap served until Attgust, 1895, a period of eight years and five months. During this pastorate. besides the addition of many good, strong and earnest persons to their membership, was the building an equipment of their present fine edifice, one of the most tasteful and convenient, in all its appointments, of any in Springfield.
Rev. E. A. Steiner, Ph. D., a scholarly gentleman, a native of Austria, but more recently from St. Paul, Minnesota, was called as pastor in April, 1896, and served until December, 1898. Rev. C. H. Small became pastor in April, 1899, and fully in- trenched in the hearts of his people. he remains with them to the present. A vigorous Sunday school and a Christian Endeavor So- ciety has for years been kept up in connection with the church, the former with 182 enrolled scholars, and the latter with 56 young people. This church, during its existence of fifty years, has had nine pastors, their terms averaging about five and a half years each.
LAGONDA AVENUE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
A Mission Sunday school from the First Congregational
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Church was organized on Lagonda avenue during the year 1883, and faithfully kept up by the labors of Edgar, Joanna and Lucy Fay, C. E. Folger, the Danforths, A. D. Vischer, J. L. Nelson, E. J. Vose, Jessie Rowe, Emma Catlin and others. Preaching was enjoyed by the little colony from time to time by Rev. W. H. Warren, of the First Congregational Church, and Rev. William E. Fay, of the West African Mission, who was . temporarily home in this city. The work of this Sunday school culminated July 19, 1887, in the establishment of a regularlv constituted Congregational Church. Soon after this W. W. Pierce was chosen pastor byj a unanimous vote, with a salary of $800. Mr. Pierce served until March, 1890, nearly three years.
The pulpit was then supplied for several months by Revs. W. B. Marsh and Talmadge and Mr. Quaife, of Toledo. The next pastor was Rev. Ralph Albertson, who served from Novem- ber, 1891, to November, 1895. Rev. A. B. Woodruff next served as pastor from April 1. 1896, to April 1, 1899. The present pas- tor, W. N. Baker, began his work in April, 1899. Their new and enlarged building on a new lot was erected in 1894, and dedicated in June of that year. The church now embraces about 58 fami- lies, while the Sunday school represents 50 others, in addition.
JEWISH CONGREGATION.
The Jewish Congregation, or Ohev Zedukah, was organ- ized November 25, 1865. with about twelve male members, and worshiped in the Follrath Building, on West Main street, and after two or three removals, finally occupied their present posi- tion in the Johnson Building. on West Main street. The growth of the congregation has been quite slow. Quite a number of Russian Jews arrived here in the early seventies, but finding this congregation "too advanced." they organized themselves into what is called the Old Orthodox Congregation, and they now worship in King's Building, on Limestone street.
The old Ohev Zedukah Congregation now have a male mem- bership of about thirty-two, and an organized Sunday school with about twenty attendants. They employ no regular minister, but have Divine services every Friday evening and Saturday morning, and also on holidays, led by L. Weixelbaum. They
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also have semi-monthly preaching by a rabbi from Dayton, Ohio. The Sabbath school is conducted by Misses Birdie Schoental and Dora Levy. The present officers of the Congregation are: M. M. Kauffman, President; A. Aron, Vice President, and M. D. Levy, Secretary. Among the prominent leaders of this congre- gation in the past have been Rabbis Myers, Strouse, Freedman, Greenbaum and others.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.
In August, 1878, a series of tent meetings was held by the Seventh-Day Adventist people, under the charge of Elders Wag- ner and Stone, at the close of which fifteen or sixteen persons formed a society for the purpose of keeping up regular worship, and they generally met in private houses. On the 11th of Decem- ber, IS78, was effected an organization of the Seventh-Day Ad- ventists of Springfield, with a membership of sixteen persons. They held their meetings for awhile at Allen's Hall, on Miami street, then at No. 25 1-2 East Main street.
1 CHRISTADELPHIANS.
The Christadelphian Society was formed in 1868, with a membership of about thirty persons. They met in various places, mostly in private houses, until they finally selected Central Hall, on the corner of Main and Center streets. They have no regular pastors, but all are free to preach, pray, exhort or sing as they feel inclined, on occasions of public worship. The principle lead- er of this little congregation for many years was Dr. William H. Reeves, then an active practitioner of medicine in this city. These people laid great stress upon the literal second coming of Christ to this earth in order to establish a physical, as well as moral and religious government, and that not many, if any, outside of their order of faith, will ever be raised in the resurrection of the dead. Owing to divisions among them, the number of persons be. longing to this society are less now than formerly. They have never had a church building of their own, but their meetings have been kept up at irregular intervals to the present time.
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GRACE REFORMED CHURCH.
Among our most lately developed religious organizations must be reckoned the Grace Reformed Church, which was formed in Temperance Hall, on West High street, November 19, 1895, with forty-six charter members, including, among others, Alex- ander Baker, Mrs. Susan Printz, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Smith, Louisa Hardcastle, Harry Hardcastle. Sarah Darner, David Garlinger, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Pemberton. They worshiped in Temperance Hall until November, 1896. when the old Trinity Baptist Building on the corner of Limestone and Mulberry streets, was rented and used until December, 1898, when the present building on Plum street was ready for use. This structure cost about $5,000, and was dedicated October 1, 1899, with all the money to pay for it amply provided for. The sermon for the occasion was preached by the General Missionary Super- intendent, Rev. D. S. Fouse, of Lisbon, Iowa. Others who took part in the week's special services were Rev. J. W. Burghalter, of Dayton, Ohio; Rev. J. W. Bechtel, of North Hampton, Ohio; Rev. H. S. Geokler, of Xenia, and Rev. C. E. Miller, of Dayton, Ohio.
Rev. J. C. Horning, then Sunday School Missionary, started the work at first, and remained with it until the final organization in November, 1895. Rev. S. B. Yockey, D. D., served as supply from the last-named date until May, 1896; then Rev. Mr. Horning again supplied from last date until September 1, 1896, when Rev. R. F. Shultz was commissioned by the General Board of Home Missions, to take charge of the church, and he has served till the present time. The church has now a membership of one hundred persons. There are enrolled in the Sunday school, including offi- cers, teachers and scholars, 147. This is the third effort to es- tablish a Reformed Church in this city, and seems to have been successful from the start. The organization is now thoroughly established, with a property worth at least $8,000, and all paid for.
The foregoing sketches include the histories of forty churches, divided among sixteen different denominations.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
Beside the religious work acomplished by the various
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churches mentioned in the foregoing pages, much good has also been done in a similar line, especially of late years, by Christian Associations, Epworth Leagues, Christian Endeavor Societies, most of which have been intimately, if not organically connnected with those churches, but of these auxiliaries in religious work. we shall take ocasion to mention only one, namely, The Young Men's Christian Association.
In August, 1854, but little more than ten years after George Williams led in forming the London ( Eng.) Association, and less than three years after Montreal organized one, Springfield, Ohio, joined this lay movement. Colonel E. M. Doty was the first President. Our Civil War was the occasion of merging many of these Associations into the Christian Commission Work of the Army, and thus was terminated their careers as separate bodies.
The reorganization was effected at the High Street Metho- dist Church in the year 1868, when Dr. Isaac Kay was elected President and in a year or two was succeeded by Mr. E. W. Mul- likin, and who in turn was succeeded by Prof. B. F. Prince.
During this period the special outside work of the Associa- tion was to hold services at the Jail and Station House at stated times, and to secure public meetings in the Summer months on Sunday afternoons in some one of the groves which at that day were found in the city. For three successive winters fine lecture courses were offered. Among those who appeared as speakers were John B. Gough, Wendell Phillips, Frederick Douglass. Rev. Stephen Tyng, Jr., George Kennan, Charles F. Hall, the Arctic explorer, and others of much reputation. There being no gen- eral Public Library in the city then, the Association made a col- lection of books, containing more than eighteen hundred volumes.
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