USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > Beloit > Past made present : the first fifty years of the First Presbyterian Church and congregation of Beloit, Wisconsin together with a history of Presbyterianism in our state up to the year 1900 > Part 1
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PAST MADE PRESENT
Presbyterians in Wisconsin
1830-1900
Gc 977.502 B41br 2026490
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
A ur 6/78
25-
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01715 8889
With The Compliments ofthe Author, William Fiske Brown.
PAST MADE PRESENT
An Illustrated History of Sixty Years in Beloit and Wisconsin.
Errors.
Page 35, for "Turtle, now Main," read "now State."
Page 52, for "October 20," read "'22nd."
Page 109, for "June 3d," read "11th."
Page 133, for "possing" read "passing."
Page 149, for "mind mill" read "wind mill," and in line 8, after the word "rude, " insert "self-regulating." Page 152, for "1646," read "1846."
Page 153, for "Aaron A. Lindsey," read "Aaron L. Lindsley."
Page 158, for "1660," read "1665," and for "1699," read "1669"
Page 160, for " Mr. Satterlee," read " Mrs."
Page 170, for "July 1st, read " June 1st."
Page 174, for " Collego," read "College."
Page 177, for " by," read " beside."
Page 184, for "two and a half years," read "four years," and for "church," read "society."
Page 185, line 5, for " church," read "society."
Page 271, for " Hudebras," read " Hudibras."
Page 272. Note, for "latest years," read "year."
1
To the memory of Rev. Alfred Eddy, and of Catharine H., his wife, and to the Eddy family, because of our friendship during the past fifty years and especially because Rev. Mr. Eddy came from Chicago to Beloit and greatly com- forted my dear mother during the last week of her earthly life, this book is dedicated by the author and editor.
WILLIAM FISKE BROWN.
"Heaven seems very near to me; my hair is white, eyes dim, heart worn. I long to be there, not chiefly because I am tired, but because I want to get rid of sin, to be pure and right and holy. I want to see the Savior highest of all. It will be wonderful and blessed. And then I want to see those I have loved here. We will have a blessed meeting up there of those who have grown to us in the years that are gone."
A. EDDY.
Extract from a private letter, by permission.
8
In Memoriam.
ALFRED EDDY, born in Williamson, N. Y., March 1st, 1815 ; died on March 5th, 1883, at Niles, Michigan. Forty-eight years he had been in the Christian ministry, laboring through all those years with earnest zeal for his Master's cause. Life to him was a reality, its great responsibilities were ever present to his mind, and his daily walk, as those who best knew him can well testify, was as true to truth as is the needle to the pole.
At an early age he consecrated his life to the service of the Christian church, and the souls won to his Master in the different pastorates in which he ministered, are eloquent witnesses of his faithful service.
A man of great sympathy, his hand was always ready to aid, and his heart was easily touched with a feeling for the infirmities and sorrows of his fellow-men.
ALFRED D. EDDY.
His mirthfulness and genial humor were ever present, lighting up even the dark, dreary days of his last painful illness, and evidencing to those about him that he had no dread of death, but that it was simply the portal to his Father's Mansion, where he would be at rest from pain.
To the writer, who, a few days before his demise, asked him whether he had any fear of death, he earnestly replied: "Oh, no! Oh, 110! aside from leaving your mother and you, my children, it would be bliss."
His faith was complete, was perfect and, literally, all fear was cast out.
To his wife and children, to whom he was nearest and dearest, the loss is irreparable. A loving husband and father, and to his children a more than father,-an intimate friend and companion, from youth to manhood and womanhood, life seems dark without his sympathy in their joy and sorrow. But we would not call him back to a life of pain. Content are we in the belief that he is with his God, and on that great day when the dead shall rise, we shall again see him.
CHICAGO, April 19tl1, 1883.
A. D. EDDY.
9
ROCK RIVER, BELOIT, WIS. LOOKING NORTH-EAST FROM THE CENTRAL BRIDGE, JUNE, 1900.
PAST MADE PRESENT
The First Fifty Years
OF THE
First Presbyterian Church and Congregation OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN.
COMPRISING ALSO A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE LIVES OF ITS MEMBERS DURING TIMES OF PEACE AND OF WAR; TOGETHER WITH
A HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM
In our State up to the Year 1900.
In Two Parts-Amply Illustrated.
PART I. Presbyterians of Beloit, Wis. PART II .- Presbyterianism in the State and Synod of Wisconsin.
FOR SALE BY THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 37 RANDOLPH STREET, CHICAGO AND BY FOSTER AND THE COLLEGE BOOK STORE AND THE AUTHOR, IN BELOIT, WIS.
COPYRIGHT, 1900, by WILLIAM FISKE BROWN.
FRINTED AND BOUND BY THE MARSH & GRANT COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILL.
Introductory Rote.
Pliny says that the historian, Varro, having inserted in his volumes the portraits of seven hundred individuals, was thus the inventor of a benefit to his fellow men .* The president of the Pan Presbyterian Council, which met at Washington, D. C., in the summer of 1899, urged delegates to form illus- trated histories of their churches, presbyteries, and synods. This the writer had already begun to do for the Beloit church, not in order to benefit those represented so much as to make a more living record for the reader.
The work as first planned was nearly all completed and printed by the Fall of 1899. Fuller investigation led to the belief that a more thorough illustrated history of Presbyterianism in Wisconsin would be of interest and value, and that the best time to get the facts and faces was now. And as the two parts were not meant to be bound separately, Part I was therefore kept unbound, awaiting the completion of Part II. The amount of time and labor which that part will yet require, however, makes it necessary to bind Part I and a portion of Part II without further delay as Volume I. (Much valuable material and many illustrations have already been gathered for Volume II. )
2026490
The writer having been born and brought up in Beloit, and having kept in touch with it, has personally known the twelve successive ministers of the First Presbyterian Church, and indeed the whole progress of church and town from almost the very beginnings. Of a thirty years public ministry twenty-eight have been spent in Wisconsin, including, since his thirteen years pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of Janesville, one year of service (1894-1895) as the Synodical Missionary for this State. He has written, therefore, from original as well as secondary sources of information, and has aimed to produce a record which might be interesting but should be accurate and manifestly reliable. Place is given to the experiences of our young people so that the work may be of more interest to them.
The writer desires to especially acknowledge here the encouragement and material aid in the production of Part I, which he has received from Hon. William B. Strong.
The photogravures and other illustrations of Beloit scenery are from ori- ginal negatives, several of which were taken expressly for this book by Herman P. Dailey. The steel engraving frontispiece, made in New York, is a very natural likeness of Mr. Eddy.
The author has sought to introduce only such pictures and portraits as really illustrate the text, and has tried to place each where it would best serve that object. The expense of this feature of the work has been large, and the difficulty of carrying it out does not need to be stated. If, however, to the reader the Past of our church is thus in some measure made Present, and if by this means also our Present when it becomes Past shall more clearly live in the minds of those who come after us, the chief object of this work will have been gained.
Beloit, Wis., August, A. D. 1900.
W. F. B.
* Natural History. Book XXXV, Chapter 2.
13
Contents, Vol. I.
PAGE.
In Memoriam, A. D. Eddy, 9
Programme of Semi-Centennial, 21
Historical Discourse, 27
The Sunday School, Dr. E. N. Clark and Mrs. O. P. Smith, 75
Communion Service and Letters, Rev. T. T. Creswell, 80
Christian Endeavor Society, L. Waldo Thompson, . 82
The Duty of Young People, C. W. Watt, . 85
Recollections by a Charter Member, David Merrill, 85
The Old Time Eldership, John E. Houston, 87
The Choir, Augustus R. Peck, 99
The Successive Church Buildings, H. B. Johnson, M. D., 106
Church Bell, Organ, Parlors, 109
Banquet, Welcome, Rev. T. T. Creswell, 111
Greetings of a Stepfather, Rev. Dr. Leavitt,
112
Remarks, President E. D. Eaton, . 114
Linda Vista, Rev. C. D. Merrill, 114
The Women, Prof. Louis E. Holden, . 115
The Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. John Foster, 119
The Ladies' Guild, Mrs. Porter B. Yates, 127
The Woman's Missionary Society, Mrs. L. E. Holden, 128
Presbyterianism, East and West, Prof. Guy A. Tawney, 131
Anecdotes of Pastors, A. P. Waterman and others, 133
Letters from Former Pastors, 134
Resolutions and a Glance Forward, The Pastor, 137
A Telepathic Communication, 138
PART II. The Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin.
I. New School, . 147
II. Old School, Rev. T. S. Johnson, 153
Wisconsin Synod, 1870-1895, 156
The Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of 1840, . 158
Rev. Cutting Marsh and Wife, 169
Rev. Moses Ordway, by Rev. T. S. Johnson, 170
Rev. Stephen Peet, by Prof. Joseph Emerson, 170
Rev. and Mrs. Jeremiah Porter, 174
Rev. Daniel T. Conde, . 177
Rev. S. R. Riggs, . 178
Our War Record, 181
The Log of the Gypsy, 199
An Ocean Voyage, 1861, Mrs. Julia S. Twist, 221
The Old White Church, William W. Wight, LL.D., 239
The Synodical Sabbath School Missionary, 263
The Presbytery of Milwaukee, . 269
14
APPENDIX, VOL. I.
Puritan Ancestry of Beloit Pioneers, V
Williams Library, Hackett Fountain, XV
Gridley Chapel, . XV
Fac-simile of Letters, from Church Record,
xvi
Young D. K. Pearsons and the Wagon,
The Tornado of 1883,
Recent Change in West Broad Street,
xxi
Several First Things,
xxii
Prof. J. J. Blaisdell,
Albert Dennis Burns.
xxiv
The Olympians and Present B. B. B. T.,
XXV
Getting Pearls in Sugar River,
xxvi
The Eclipse Wind Mill, .
xxix
Description of View on page 41,
XXX Names of Group, page 74,
XXX
The Church and Home Mission Aid,
XXX1
Old Manuals and Present Officers,
XXX1
Rev. John McLean, July, 1900,
xxxii
The Vacant Chair,
xxiii
Description of Riggs Group, page 180, . First Presbyterian Preacher in Wisconsin, .
XXXIV
The Stockbridge Indians, XXXV
Charles F. Gammon, of China,
XXXV
The Early Times Band,
XXXVi
A Fish Trust,
xxxvi
That Dillingham Law Suit, .
XXXVi
XX
XX
President L. E. Holden, the Eleventh,
xxiii
xxiv
XXV
15
List of Illustrations, Vol. 1.
(Whole number, 251, including six duplicates.)
NAME. PAGE.
Steel Engraving, A. Eddy 6
A. Eddy
8 Mrs. Eddy 53
Charles P. Bush, D.D. 56 Prest. A. L. Chapin, D.D., LL. D. 57 Prof. J. J. Blaisdell 58
William Alexander, D.D. 60
Prof. Henry M. Whitney 62
Rev. John McLean 62
Group of Six Ministers
63
Rev. T. T. Creswell 66
Prof. J. Emerson, D.D., LL D. 66
Prof. Wm. Porter, D.D. 67
R. C. Hecox . 67
F. B. McCuskey 67
Chester Clark
68
Rufus Clark
69
Henry Pentland
69
Mrs. A. P. Waterman
70
Hon. Anson P. Waterman 71
Etching, "Near the Tavern 73
A Child's Sampler . 73
Sunday School Group 74
Elijah N. Clark 75
For the S. S. Group 76
Mrs. O. P. Smith 76
Oscar Foster .
77
Mrs. Key
77
The Oldest Sabbath School
Scholar .
78
L. Waldo Thompson 82
Rev. Dexter Clary . 37
Mrs. Clary
37
David Merrill
86
Hon. S. T. Merrill .
37
Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Strong 38
328 and 330 State Street . 39
40
Dr. H. P. Strong
40
View S. W. Across the Dam 41
William B. Strong 42
Old Map of Beloit . 43
Old Cent's and Arrow Head 45
Old Middle College 45
J. J. Bushnell
47
Mrs. Battin 47
Mr. and Mrs. Culbert
48
O. A. Smith
48
Mrs. O. A. Smith
48
Jesse Burchard
49
Miss Harriett Burchard
49
Louisa, Mrs. H. D. Converse 49
Berman Clark
50
The First Building, 1850 50
T. L. Wright 51
Prest. A. L. Chapin, 1866 51
George H. Stocking 52
Mrs. Stocking
52
NAME. PAGE.
Mr. and Mrs. Helm . 53
A. D Eddy . 9
Rock River from Central Bridge 10 Photogravure, E. Broad Street
Interior 1st Pres. Church 20
Exterior
21
Boney's Island
25
The Mouth of Turtle Creek 26
Old Bible and Records 27
R. P. Crane
29
Site of Blodgett's Cabin
30
Mrs. Crane
31
Wm. Jack
31
Mrs. Jack
A. L. Field
32
Mrs. Samuel Cooper 32
John P. Houston
33
Rice Dearborn
33
Mrs. Dearborn
33
Benjamin Brown
34
Mrs. Benj. Brown 34
L. G. Fisher, Esq. 34
Hon. Horatio C. Burchard 35
Frances B. Burchard 35
John Burchard
35
Charles Peck
36
Photogravure, Rock River Above Lower Bridge
Asahel Clark, M.D. 88
Aaron Watson 88
Aaron Davenport 88
Benjamin Brown 89
90
E. S. Padgett
90
Fred Messer . 91
Prof. S. Pearl Lathrop 92
Albert Thompson, M.D. 93
John A. Holmes 94
W. H. Beach
95
Presbyterian Church Choir, 1866 98
Mrs. Fred Messer 99
Augustus R. Peck
99
A. W. Hannaford
100
Mrs. Hannaford
100
Mr. Sam Fassett and Children 101 Mrs. Fassett . 101
J. B. Dow, Esq. 102
Mrs. J. B. Dow . 102
Mrs. F. W. Oakley 103
Mrs. I. W. Thayer .
103
Mrs. Calista L. Bennett
103
Salina Hanaford
104
16
A. J. Battin
47
William Cochran
Ernest C. Helm, M.D. 85
John E. Houston
87
Prest. James W. Strong
The First Stone Church 37
32
NAME, PAGE.
James T. Watson 104
Miss Sarah Watson, Mrs. Seward 105
Nellie Watson, Mrs. Robinson . 105 H. B. Johnson, M.D. 106
The First Steeple
106
The Clock Steeple .
107
After the Tornado
108
Steeple Rebuilt .
109
Present Building, 1899 109
Anson P. Waterman
111
Mrs. L. Porter Cole 111
Mrs. Almon Bennett
112
George R. Leavitt, D.D. 112
Edward D. Eaton, D.D., LL.D. 113
Prof. Louis E. Holden
115
Mrs. Lucy Ann Brown
115
Mrs. Andrew C. Hutchison .
116
Mrs. H. Pentland
116
Mrs. Asahel Clark
117
117
Working Group
Mrs. Catharine H. Eddy 118
Mrs. John Foster
119
Mrs. Chester Clark
119
Mrs. Rufus Clark
119
Mrs. Elijah N. Clark
120
Johnny Williams
120
Miss Alice Eddy 121
Nellie Brown
121
Miss Cynthia Gordon
121
.
Mrs. A. Davenport
121
Allen Parish . 122
Mrs. Parish
122
The Eddy Family, 1855 122
Mrs William Cochran 123
Mrs. J. P. Houston 123
Mrs. Teressa Teck .
124
Children of Mrs. Peck, 1854 124
Mrs. Aaron Watson
125
Mrs. H. B. Johnson 125
Mrs. A. P. Waterman
125
Up Rock River From Middle
College .
126
Mrs. A. Eddy 128
Mrs. L. E. Holden 128
Mrs. Anna Williams
128
Miss M. K. Brown
128
Mrs. Bill, Mrs. Barr,
Mrs.
Alexander, Mrs. C. D Merrill, 129
Mrs. Wm. H. Beaclı
Miss Billings .
130
Mrs. W. F. Brown . 130
Prof. Guy A Tawney 131
Rev. Jolın McLean 134
Rev. T. T. Creswell, 1869
137
The Kind Voice
141
William Fiske Brown
145
Rev. B. G. Riley
151
Rev. T. S. Johnson
153
Rev. Cutting Marsh
159
NAME. PAGE.
Rev. Moses Ordway 161
Rev. Stephen Peet 163 Photogravure, Looking N. W. From Cong. Steeple .
Rev. Jeremiah Porter, 1859. . 165
Mrs. Cutting Marsh . 169 Jeremiah Porter, D.D., 1844 175 Mrs. Eliza Chappell Porter, 1884 175 Chaplain Porter, 1872 . 176
Rev. Doctor Porter, 1889, 177
Daniel T. Conde, D D. 178 S. R. Riggs. D.D., LL.D. 178 Riggs Company Fleeing, 1862 . 180 Beloit in War Time 182
Martin Luther Cochran
183
Capt. Frank W. Oakley
184
Hon. F. W. Oakley
185
Lieut. David Shirrell .
185
Major James T. Watson
186
A Hundred Days Man 187
Alfred L. Field, Q.M . 187
Chaplain J. J. Blaisdell, 1864 : 188
Camp Randall, 1864
189
Gridiron Picket Station, 1864 . 191 On Picket, July 2nd, 1864 192 Tent Scene, Delavan Lake, Wis. 195 Co. E Going to Spanish War, 1898 196
Hart, Maltpress, Molestead, In- gleby, Lieut. Beach 198
Gypsy Club, Helm Group
199
The Keeper
201
The Steward .
202
The Captain .
203
Snap alias Leo
204
The Chaplain
207
The Gypsy Club
210
Squaws
213
Indians Making Birch Canoes . 214 The Wild Swan, etching 216
Rattlesnake Skin, Bone Cup.
Cedar Spoon
217
Fish, Tail Piece, etching 220
Julia S. Twist
221
Wm. W. Wight, Esq.
LL.D. . 239
John Ogden
250
Aaron Lucius Chapin, D. D.,
LL D.
251
John M. Buchanan, D.D. 255
Silas Chapman
256
The Old White Church
258
Rev. Hiram Eddy, D.D. .
260
Rev. Joseph Brown
263
Map of Milwaukee Presbytery . 270 First Presbyterian Church, Beav- er Dam, Wis. 274
Rev. J. J. Miter, D.D. 275
Moses Stevens
275
Photogravure, Rock River From Big Hill
17
Mrs. T. T. Creswell 130
Appendix Illustrations.
NAME. PAGE.
New England Puritans Going to Church iii
Rev. Alfred Eddy, 1860 iv
Portrait, Benjamin Brown, 1853 vii
Portrait. Mrs. Lucy A. Brown 1855 . viii
Miniature William Brown, 1837 xi
Facsimile of Records, four page xvi
N. W. R. R. Bridge Ruin, 1883 XX S. Side of E. Bridge Street, 1883 xxi N. Side of W. Broad St., Jan. 1900 . xxii
Miss Lucy Ann Brown
xxii
NAME. PAGE.
Rev. Lyman Johnson xxii
Miss Bessie Clark xxiii Louis E. Holden. M.A., D.D. xxiii
Prof. J. J. Blaisdell . xxiv
Albert Dennis Burns xxiv
The Olympians, 1867 XXV
The B. B. B. T. of 1900 xxvii
Beloit Coll. Nines of 1898 xxviii
Getting Pearls in Sugar River xxix Rev. John McLean, 1875 xxxii
The Vacant Chair xiii
Riggs Company, 1862 xxxiv
note on Appendix, page xxviii.
In the group of the Beloit College Nine and substitutes of 1898, the names, read from left to right, are-
Upper row, Frank H. Meadows, 1900, Assistant Manager ; M. T. Adkins, p .; E A. Kinsley 1b .; Dr. Charles M. Hollister, Physical Instructor ; E. S. Merrill; E. B. Brown c.f .; R. L. Blewitt r.f. and p .; Louis R. Moore), 1898, Manager.
Lower row, Beaumont s.s .; C. Jacobson ; Robt. Brown 3b .; W. H. Mc- Master, c. and captain; Fred. J. Jeffris, 2b .; Faris, 1.f .; M. Strothers ; Boy " Mascot."
18
Chicago Photo-Gravure Co.
UPPER BROAD STREET, BELOIT, WIS., LOOKING WEST.
1849 $681
INTERIOR FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.
-... .
. 1849 . . ..
. . . . 1899 . . . .
SEMI-CENTENNIAL
-OF THE
First Presbyterian Church
OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN
REV. T. T. CRESWELL, Pastor
AT THE CHURCH, CORNER OF BROAD AND PLEASANT STREETS
MARCH 19TH, 20TH AND 21ST A.D., 1899
21
Programme of Exercises.
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Sunday morning, March 19th, H. D. 1899.
THE PASTOR presides.
10:30. HISTORICAL DISCOURSE,
Given at request of the Session by WILLIAM F. BROWN, D. D. Text : "God requireth that which is past."
At noon.
SUNDAY SCHOOL ADDRESSES, " Old Times in the School,"
By the first Superintendent, DR. ELIJAH N. CLARK "The Later Sunday School," SUPT. JOHN E. HOUSTON
Sunday Afternoon.
3:00. COMMUNION SERVICE. (With some letters from former ministers. )
Sunday Evening.
7:30. ADDRESSES. Subject : "Young People and the Church."
1. What the Young People Used to Do and Do Without,
DR. E. N. CLARK, BEMAN CLARK
2. The C. E. Society, ELDER L. WALDO THOMPSON
3. What the Young People Hope to Do, CHAUNCEY W. WATT
NOTE : The regular choir, Miss Minnie Jacobs, organist; Ernest P. Kepple, basso; Miss Lillian Wherry, soprano; Miss Fanny E. Thompson, alto, and J. Frank Thomas, tenor, will be assisted on Monday evening by Wm. R. Wheeler, tenor of the First Cong. choir; Miss Pearne Peake, soprano, from the M. E. Church, and Miss Amy Peavey, alto. instructor in vocal music for the Beloit public schools.
The Baptist Ladies Quartette, who have kindly consented to sing on Tuesday evening, are Miss Cora Pollock, first soprano; Miss Myrtle Miller, second soprano; Miss Ethel Morris, first alto; Miss Minnie C. Pierce, second alto.
22
monday Evening. DR. ERNEST HELM to preside.
7:30. ORGAN VOLUNTARY, MISS MINNIE JACOBS INVOCATION, HYMN.
ADDRESSES in regard to the First Presbyterian Church.
1. Early Recollections,
By a charter member of the society, DAVID MERRILL
2. The Eldership of Those Former Times, JOHN E. HOUSTON
MUSIC, DOUBLE QUARTETTE.
3. Thirty years in the First Presbyterian Choir, AUGUSTUS R. PECK MUSIC, SOLO.
4. The Building and Its Changes, the Bell and the New Organ,
DR. E. N. CLARK, DR. H. B. JOHNSON CLOSING HYMN.
Tuesday Evening. At the Church. HON. ANSON P. WATERMAN to preside.
5:30-7:00. SUPPER, BY THE LADIES.
7:00. ORGAN PRELUDE, By PROF. WERDER
MUSIC, VOCAL SOLO.
GOUNOD'S "ANGELUS," By MASTER BENJ. WARREN BROWN
BRIEF ADDRESSES.
1. Words of Welcome, By the pastor, REV. T. T. CRESWELL
2. Greetings of a Stepfather,
GEO. R. LEAVITT, D. D., Congregational
3. Linda Vista, REV. CHARLES D. MERRILL, former pastor MUSIC, LADIES' QUARTETTE.
4. The Women of the Church,
REV. PROF. LOUIS E. HOLDEN, of Beloit College ..
5. Presbyterianism East and West,
PROF. GUY A. TAWNEY, of Beloit College MUSIC, VOCAL SOLO, By MISS AMY PEAVEY.
6. Remarks,
7. Presentation of Portraits of Former Pastors, PRES. E. D. EATON
W. F. BROWN, D. D.
8. Anecdotes of Early Pastors, By REV. WM. F. BROWN and ELDERS E. N. CLARK, A. P. WATERMAN, J. E. HOUSTON MUSIC, VIOLIN SOLO, MR. CLAUDE HANNA.
9. Congratulations of a Brother-in-law,
REV. EDWARD H. PENCE, Janesville
10. Reading Letters from Former Ministers, with a Look Forward,
By the pastor, REV. T. T. CRESWELL By the Pastor
CLOSING HYMN AND BENEDICTION,
ORGAN POSTLUDE,
PROF WERDER
23
The organization of the First Presbyterian Society of Beloit was begun at the residence of Benjamin Brown ( now 328 and 330 State street), March 9, 1849, and completed informally, March, 19th.
The First Presbyterian Church of Beloit was organized at the Race Street School House (now No. 439 St. Paul avenue), March 21, 1849, with forty-six members.
The original church building, erected at a cost of about ten thousand dollars, was dedicated July 23, 1850, with a sermon by Rev. A. L. Chapin, President-Elect of Beloit College.
This church has called and welcomed twelve pastors, or pastors-elect.
The total number of members received in fifty years is 1,131. Of these fourteen have become ministers, and the church has now four candidates for the ministry.
The present revised roll of membership is two hundred and eighty.
During the past church year sixty-five new members were added, thirty- six of them on profession of faith.
24
BONY'S ISLAND, ROCK RIVER, LOOKING S. E.
25
THE MOUTH OF TURTLE CREEK, ROCK RIVER, LOOKING N. E.
26
Church Records and Old Family Bible, 1849.
After the usual opening exercises the pastor, Rev. T. T. Creswell, stated that he would read the Scripture lesson from the old Bible used by the church at its original service. It was the family Bible of the late Benjamin Brown, at whose house services were first held. Mr. Creswell also spoke of the presence on the platform of tliree charter meinbers-David Merrill, Dr. E. N. Clark and Beman Clark.
THE HISTORICAL DISCOURSE, given Sunday morning, March 19, 1899. Eccles. III : 15. "God requireth that which is past."
Ps. XLVIII : 12, 13. "Walk about Zion; mark ye well her bulwarks, that ye may tell it to the generation following."
These two passages indicate the general character and the specific pur- pose of this discourse. God requires our past and has himself a complete record of it. The final judgment will be based on what men have done. In now recalling and recording the past experience of this church, therefore, we act in harmony with God's general plan that the past shall be remem- bered. We ourselves also require that which is past, for some remembrance of the past is necessary to real life and right life, both in the present and in the future. This moment is but a point; the next has not yet come. We have extended conscious life only because we remember the past and from it anticipate the future.
We need also the help which natural memory and that later form of it, the art which preserves ail arts, give. The teachings of past experience are trustworthy. Time tells the truth, and it is a shame and loss to human- ity that much of what is called history does not. We should prize every true record of the past both for warning and also for guidance. It is like a mariner's chart on which are noted rocks and shoals where vessels have been wrecked, and also the safe channels, which brave hearts have found. Or it is like the maps of our western country, made from the records and surveys of explorers. Where those early adventurers sought their way slowly amid uncertainties and dangers, we may now go forward swiftly, intelligently and in safety.
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We require the past also not only for enjoyment of the present, but quite as much for encouragement to face the future. What has been done or endured can be again. How the remembrance of what our forefathers did to give us freedom has inspired all to bravely defend that gift and transmit it unimpared not only to our children, but even now to the oppressed in Cuba and to the Hawaiians and Philippines.
So in the church of Christ and within the limits of the life of this church, it is equally true that for our best present usefulness and in order to full hope for the future both God and man require us to have in mind that which is past. As a proper duty and still more as a privilege, therefore, let us this morning go around about our Beloit Zion in a procession of thoughts. As the Psalniist literally enjoins we will "set our hearts to her bulwarks that we may tell it to the generation following."
Successive Stages of Advance .
Our successive stages of advance shall be four:
First, the circumstances which preceded and produced this church.
Second, its organization and first building.
Third, a prompt progress through the successive pastorates, giving most attention to the earlier men.
Fourth, and last, a general glance at the church record with group sketch of the twelve pastors, and conclusion for the children.
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