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 21
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NOTE BY W. F. B .- The original records of that church having recently come to hand, the following transcript of the first few pages is given here, rather than in an appendix, as containing a model confession that was adopt- ed by many other of the early churches,* and also as a monument of that first church, which is worthy both of preservation and of prominence.
RECORDS OF THE SESSION AND CHURCH.
April 11th, 1837.
Several professors of religion convened at the Court House in Milwau- kee, Milwaukee county, Wisconsin Territory, for the purpose of consulting upon the propriety of forming a church. The Rev. Moses Ordway, of the Rochester Presbytery, being present was chosen Moderator, and the Rev. Cutting Marsh of the Stockbridge Mission was chosen Clerk.
After much deliberation the following resolutions were passed :
1st. That it is expedient to form a church in this place.
2d. That the government of this church shall be Presbyterian, accord- ing to the Confession of Faith of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of these United States.
3d. That this church shall be known by the name of The First Presby- terian Church of Milwaukee
Adjourned to the 13th inst. Closed by prayer.
C. MARSH, Clerk.
April 13th. Mett agreeable to adjournment and opened with prayer, after which the following resolutions were passed :
*Although Marsh was Clerk, the main author of the "Confession" seems to have been Ordway. It is very much like the one adopted previously by the Green Bay Presbyterian Church, whose early records are in the hand-writing of Moses Ordway. their first resident minister. In the many other churches also, which Ordway founded, the recorded Confes- sion of Faith and Covenant are similar to this original.
+This is a literal transcript.
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1. That this church be established upon the principle of total absti- nence from intoxicating drinks.
2. That all members coming from other churches and wishing to unite with this church, be received not only by letter but by examination.
3. That in the choice of elders, both males and females be called upon to vote.
4. That when members are to be admitted to this church, that both the church and session be called upon to vote.
5. That the following be the Articles of Faith and Covenant of this church :
ARTICLE 1. Do you believe there is only one living and true God, infi- nite in all his attributes, and that this one God exists in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, who are infinite and equal in every divine perfection ?
ART. 2. Do you believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ment; that they were given by the inspiration of God; and are the only infal- lible rule of faith and practice ?
ART. 3. Do you believe in the total depravity of the human heart ; that in consequence of the fall of Adam all are sinners by nature and at enmity against God ; so that were we left to our own choice, we should never repent or believe, and being thus left our damnation would be just?
ART. 4. Do you believe that in order to Salvation, the sinner must be born again, and that regeneration is a moral change, produced by the influ- ence of the Holy Spirit ?
ART. 5. Do you believe that God cannot consistently forgive sin with- out an atonement, and that he has by the death of his son, Jesus Christ, who offered himself a sacrifice for sin, made complete satisfaction to divine Jus- tice, so that salvation is freely offered to all mankind upon the terms of Faith and Repentance ?
.ART. 6. Do you believe that faith in Jesus Christ, and Repentance towards God are exclusively the acts of the creature, that all who exercise them will persevere to eternal salvation?
ART. 7. Do you believe that God, as moral Governor of the Universe has a perfect plan of operation, in which all* possible events are immutably fixed or predestinated according to the counsel of his own will ?
ART. 8. Do you believe, although we are justified by Christ's righteous- ness, and saved by grace, that the moral law is in full force, and that belie- vers and all others, are under obligation to obey it upon the penalty of eter- nal death ?
ART. 9. Do you believe that although the Doctrine of Election is true, still that all mankind are free moral agents, and fully responsible for their own souls?
ART. 10. Do you believe in the divine appointment of the Christian Sabbath, and the sacraments of the New Testament, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and that baptism is to be administered to believers and their house- holds, but that believers only may receive the Lord's Supper?
ART. 11. Do you believe in the Resurrection of the dead, a final judg-
*They probably meant all actual events. W. F. B.
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ment, and that Christians will be forever happy in Heaven and that the finally impenitent will be doomed to endless misery in Hell?
COVENANT.
You do now in the presence of God, angels and inen, in the most sol- emn manner, affirm Jeliovah to be your God, supreme and everlasting good, engaging that you will pay an evangelical obedience to all his commands, seek his glory, and perform all the christian duties, walk in fellowship with the saints, observing all the institutions and ordinances of religion in Christ's church ; and especially you promise to take the Holy Scriptures for your guide and to comply with all their injunctions ; such as secret prayer, family worship, reading and praying night and morning in an audible voice ; strictly observing tlie Lord's Supper, a seasonable dedication of children to God in baptism, public worship on the Sabbath and other days appointed by the church, total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks, and strenuously to avoid all sinful amusements and associating with the wicked. And finally, you covenant to watch over the members of the Christian Church, and espe- cially the members of this church of Christ, and to submit, with christian meekness to its discipline, so long as you are a member of the same, endea- voring in all things to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace and love.
6. Resolved, that a church now be formed of the following individuals, agreeable to the above resolutions : Mr. William P. Proudfit and Mrs. Maria his wife, from the Presbyterian church, Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y .; Mr. James H. Rogers and Mrs. Emily his wife, from Congregational church, Keeseville, N. Y .; Mr. James S. McFadden, Presbyterian church, Chicago, Ill .; Mr. Ebenezer H. Marshal, Congregational church, Bradford, N. H .; Mr. Jacob M. Rogers and Mrs. Betsy his wife, Congregational church, Keeseville, N. Y .; Mr. Samuel Brown, Presbyterian church, Chicago, Il1 .; Mr. Henry W. Venderen, First Presbyterian church, Detroit, M. T .; Mr. John Ogden, Second Presbyterian church, Elizabeth Town, N. J .; Mr. John W. Balch, Presbyterian church, Plattsburgh, N. Y .; Mr. Justin P. Fordham and Mrs. Roxaline his wife, Presbyterian church, Renselaerville, N. Y .; Mr. Samuel Hinman and Mrs. Lucy his wife, Presbyterian church, Plattsburghlı, N. Y .; Miss Ruth P. Fletcher, Miss Mary L. Perry, Congregational church, Rochester, N. Y.
After the formation of the church the following individuals were chosen Elders : Samuel Hinman, Samuel Brown, John Ogden.
7. That there be a stated meeting of this church and Session on every Tuesday at 2 o'clock P. M.
Closed by prayer.
C. MARSH, Clerk.
In the meeting of April 25th, 1837, is tlie record :
Resolved also, that Elder Samuel Hinman and Wm. R. Longstreet be a committee to present a call to the Rev. Gilbert Crawford. of the Niagara Presbytery to become the pastor of this church. Also that there be a stated weekly prayer meeting of this church to be lield on Wednesday evening, at early candle light .*
M. ORDWAY, Mod.
At the meeting of May 13th, 1837, it is recorded, Samuel Brown, Justin
*The italics are my own.
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P. Fordham and William R. Longstreet were appointed a committee to pro- cure a site and build a convenient temporary house of worship for the Pres- byterian church of Milwaukee, and that it be done forthwith.
Closed with prayer.
M. ORDWAY, Mod.
May 16th, 1837, it was resolved, that this church have a Sabbath School under the direction and supervision of this church. Resolved, that Mr. Vanderan be Superintendent of the Sabbath School.
JOHN CGDEN, Moderator.
July 4th, 1837. Resolved, that the teachers have a right to elect their own superintendant officer, provided such person or persons be members of this church. Resolved, that we will collect classes and commence a Sabbath School Sabbath after next. Resolved that Mr. Hinman be a committee to purchase books for the library to the amount of $10.
July 11th, 1837. Session met this afternoon at 2 o'clock, at Samuel Hinman's. Samuel Brown, foreman of the committee, reported that the house built for the Presbyterian church was completed, and the bill of cost was $616.91.
Resolved, that we adjourn to meet in two weeks at 2 o'clock, at our house of worship.
Closed by prayer. JOHN OGDEN, Moderator.
July 22d, 1837. Rev. G. Crawford being present was chosen Moderator.
Sept. 5th, 1837. The ladies determined to have the next female prayer- meeting at Doctor Proudfit's, and afterwards at Mr. Cone's. It was deter- mined to organize the Sabbath School by electing officers on Thursday eve- ning, and a meeting of the teachers was appointed at Mr. J. H. Rogers', at 7 o'clock P. M., for that purpose.
Sept 26th, 1837. Session and church met. Brothers Smith and Hinman added to committee for purpose of furnishing stove, lights, sexton, and such other things as are missing to comfort in house of worship ; also side-walk from ferry.
Meetings. 3 discourses on Sabbath. Lecture Monday evening half past 6. Sabbath School Teachers meet and bible class Thurs. Evg. 7 o'clock. Singers Friday Evg.
Sabbath, Nov. 5th, 1837.
Communion this day. Publicly received into the church, John Y. Smith, Anna W. his wife, Lucius A. Donaldson, Miss Alice Smith, Miss Mary K. Field, Mrs. Mary B. Bird, Miss Mary Jane Corbett, Ira Rowe and Miss Lu- cretia M. Taylor,
Sabbath, Nov. 19th, 1837.
Mr. and Mrs. Weed's daughter, Hannah Palmer, baptised this day.
Rev. Mr. Ordway, after remaining for a short time as stated supply, seems to have gone to Prairieville, now Waukesha.
In July, 1837, as recorded, camne Rev. Gilbert Crawford from *Albion, Orleans county, N. Y. He was a short, stoutly built man, lame from some hip difficulty, a very earnest preacher, and lived at the south-west corner of
*Buck's Milwaukee, II, 287, says Lockport, N. Y., and that he returned in the Fall of 1839 to his former charge. Mr. Wight states that Crawford went to LeRoy, N. Y., and died in 1848.
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Fifth and Sycamore streets. He was not installed but remained two years, organized churches at Waukesha and Kenosha-both now Congregational- and helped form the Presbytery of Wisconsin (p. 153).
The small chapel, which was ready for religious services upon his arri- val, he assisted to dedicate. It was a one-story frame, painted white, situa- ted near the north-west corner of Wells and Second streets, was built by Samuel Brown as chief builder, and cost as stated, $616.91 .* "This little church on the west side was the scene of many triumphs of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the words of life from its pulpit and prayer-meeting gave many a lonely young man comfort and strength."t
This humble sanctuary was used until 1840 and then converted into a two story dwelling, which no longer exists. It was the first church building erected in įMilwaukee and apparently the first Protestant church (excepting those at the early Indian missions) built in Wisconsin.
The First Church in Milwaukee was also the first Presbyterian church organized in this state, except the church in Green Bay, which is not now under Presbyterian government.
The following copy of the earliest record of this First Church as a legal society explains itself and should be perpetuated :
Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the church and congregation statedly worshiping in this church will take place on Tuesday, the 12th of December, 1837, at two o'clock P. M., for the purpose of electing trustees and doing such other things as are necessary to a legal organization of this religious society, according to the statute in such cases made and provided.
This notice was published from the pulpit of the Presbyterian house of worship, corner of Second and Wells streets, in the village of Milwaukee, west side of the river, three successive Sabbaths. Pursuant to the above notice the church and congregation inet.
On motion Daniel Brown was appointed to supply the place of an elder to preside at the election.
On motion it was resolved that "this church and congregation have three trustees;" whereupon they proceeded to ballot for the same, and it was found that John Y. Smith, Jas. H. Rogers and Albert Fowler were duly and unanimously elected.
On motion it was resolved that the name and style of this religious body be The First Presbyterian Society of Milwaukee.
We, the undersigned, having presided at an election of trustees this day holden by The First Presbyterian Society of Milwaukee, do hereby certify that John Y. Smith, Jas. H. Rogers and Albert Fowler were duly elected according to the statute, and that a division by lot of said trustees into three classes, according to Sec. 4 of said statute, for the purpose of determining the period of service of each of said trustees resulted as fol-
*In his " Unnamed Wisconsin," Davidson (p. 218) makes the cost $619.91.
+Chicago Interior, February 5th, 1891.
#In the Wisconsin Puritan (1866) which in 1867 became a part of the Chicago Advance Rev. Solomon Ashley Dwinnell, a pioneer of 1836, gives his remembrances of those days. He says that the chapel stood on lot thirteen, block fifty-six, and was the first painted church building in the Territory. Davidson, p. 223.
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lows : That the said John Y. Smith is to serve three years ; Albert Fowler, two years, and James Rogers, one year; each from the date hereof.
SAMUEL HINMAN. DANIEL BROWN.
Dated Milwaukee, 12th of December, 1837.
Monday, Jan. 1st, 1838.
This day having been previously set apart by vote of the church was observed as a dày of fasting, humiliation and prayer. Services commenced at 11 o'clock A. M. and continued until 3 P. M., after which the monthly concert of prayer for the conversion of the world was held.
January 16th, 1838,; John Y. Smith was elected elder.
Mr. Crawford's successor was Rev. Stephen Peet, who served from Oct. 1, 1839 to June 1, 1841. (See pp. 164 and 170-174. )
At a meeting of the congregation held Feb. 6, 1840, the following action was taken :
Resolved, that a committee be appointed to investigate the statutes of Wisconsin relative to the organization of religious societies; to examine the previous formation of the First Presbyterian Society of Milwaukee and to consider the propriety of a reorganization; and if deemed expedient to draft a constitution and to report at an adjourned meeting; the committee to con- sist of A. Finch, Jr , Rev. S. Peet and W. P. Proudfit.
This committee, at an adjourned meeting held February 10, 1840, reported fatal defects in the organization of December 12, 1837, in failing to comply with statutory requirements as to the election of trustees. The committee recommended reorganization and presented a constitution. This document was considered section by section and adopted and the following persons selected to serve as trustees until the next annual meeting : Andrew G. Miller, George D. Dousman, Samuel Brown, Edward Vinton, Asahel Finch, Jr., W. P. Proudfit and Harrison Reed.
· Among other early members were Daniel Brown and Cordelia, his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. McDougall, Mrs. Jane E. Ogden (who in January, 1855, was dismissed with her husband, John Ogden, to the North Presbyterian church, Mil.), Henry Powers and his wife, Antoinette, and Lucius A. Don- aldson (three received in 1837 and dismissed Dec. 17, 1840, to Prairieville Presbyterian church), and Willard B. Johnson who took his letter of Oct. 4, 1851, to Plymouth Congregational, Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Ely and Mrs. Margaret Murray united in 1840.
(Of these early members, Mr. Ogden died at his home, No. 117 Thir- teenth street, Milwaukee, January 23, 1891, aged ninety years, and is now
tJohn Y. Smith and his wife, Anna W., received Aug. 22, 1837, were dismissed Dec. 17, 1840, to the Presbyterian church of Prairieville, Wis. He removed to Madison, Wis., and died May 5, 1874. Mr. Fowler died in Rockford, Il1., April 12, 1883, aged eighty-one years. Mr. Rogers died in Milwaukee, April 30, 1863. George D. Dousman was born at Macki- nac, May 28, 1809, and died in Wauwautosa, Wis., March 15, 1879. His wife (Martha A. Chappelle), was born in Pittsfield, Mass., Oct. 21, 1818, and died at Wauwautosa Feb. 14, 1873. Their children surviving in 1894 were, Henry M., George P., Edward W., Kirby C. and Catherine E. (Mrs. Eugene S. Elliott), Judge A. G. Miller, born Sept. 18, 1801, died Sept. 30, 1874. Dr. Wm. P. Proudfit died in Milwaukee, March 18, 1843. His widow and their son, William H. Proudfit, were residing in 1894 at Jamestown, N. Y.
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(1894) represented in Calvary Presbyterian Church by his three sons. Elder Samuel Brown died here Dec. 22, 1874, and his wife, Oct. 3, 1887, and they also are represented by descendants in the last named church. She was the *second American woman to settle in Milwaukee and her life, like her husband's, was full of kind and useful service. Samuel and Lucy Hinman were dismissed Dec. 17, 1839, to the Presbyterian church of Prairieville, now Waukesha. Margaret Murray died Oct. 29, 1890, aged seventy-nine, and is still represented in the membership of Immanuel church by daughters and grandchildren. Mr. Ely died August 2, 1873; Mrs. Eliza Minerva Ely (born Hawley) died October 2, 1891. They are survived in Milwaukee by their daughter, Mrs. Lydia Ely. * Daniel Brown, a carpenter, in 1835-36, built for Solomon Juneau the first board structure in Milwaukee east of the river. It was known as the Cottage Inn and stood where the Pabst building is now located. In later years having moved in 1846 to Sheboygan, Wis., he built the first Congregational church building in that city at the rear of where the Mallman building now stands, on the corner of Center avenue and Seventh street. Mr. Brown was the first deacon in that church and was on the retired list of deacons at the time of his death March 23, 1892. August 22, 1899, Mrs. Cordelia Brown, residing with her adopted daughter, Mrs. L. H. Jones, at 1018 Sixth street, Sheboygan, celebrated in good health her nine- tieth birthday. She heard, she says, the first Episcopal sermon delivered in Wisconsin by the Rev. M. Kemper (later a famous bishop), in the year 1835, when he stopped in Milwaukee on his way from Chicago to establish an Episcopal mission at Green Bay. )
About August, 1840, the congregation of the First Presbyterian church, impelled by growing numbers, moved from the little chapel to a hall in the James H. Roger's Block. The official minute of the proposed removal is as follows, under date of August 24, 1840 :
Resolved, that we lease of Jas. H. Rogers the room in his block recently finished off, for the purpose of meeting in the same for worship, etc., on the following terms, viz .: Said Rogers is to lease the room to the society, and for the rent of the same is to have the privilege of renting the slips therein, which are to be set up at auction and sold, under the direction of the trustees, for one year, all the avails of which are to be appropriated for the rent of said room. Adjourned.
A. FINCH, JR., Clerk.
This block stood at the northeast corner of West Water and Spring streets, where now are a restaurant and saloon. In those days the distance between West Water street and the Milwaukee river was less than it now is by about the distance which unsightly wooden buildings at present cover. As a result the river was much wider; it was crossed by a ferry. On Sunday mornings the East Siders starting for service gathered on the hither bank awaiting transportation and were usually conveyed in a large group together.t
*See Buck's Milwaukee I, 66, for a cut of that building, and I, 94, 159, 305. Also the daily paper of Sheboygan, Wis., for August 26, 1899, statement of Mrs. Daniel Brown.
*In 1836 John Y. Smith built his house at the N. E. corner of Biddle aud Jackson streets where he lived, and Carpenter Brown seems to have worked on that building, then the only house in that direction.
+Authority of Mrs. William P. Lynde.
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The singing in the Hall was by a quartette choir, usually consisting of Miss Elizabeth Chappelle,* Miss Charlotte Van Alstinet and Mr. and Mrs. Asahel Finch, Jr .¿ The latter had connected themselves with the church upon their settlement in Milwaukee, in October, 1839.
While worshiping in the Hall arrangements were slowly making for a new and permanent home on the East side. In the spring of 1841, Hans Crocker vested in George D. Dousman and Charles J. Lynde, in behalf of the church, the title to Lot Six and the South forty feet of Lot Five in Block Eleven in the First (now seventh) Ward, being the land at the northi- west corner of Mason and Milwaukee streets .? The deed was dated April 13, 1841, and was recorded April 17, 1841, in Book H of Deeds, page 67. Another deed of the same date between these same parties of the same property, acknowledged before Asahel Finch, Jr. justice of the peace, was recorded January 26, 1842, in Book I of Deeds, page 33. The consideration mentioned in the earlier recorded deed, was four hundred and fifty dollars. Towards this sum Mr. Finch contributed one hundred dollars by selling his watch|| to Levi Blossom, and like amounts were contributed by the brothers William Pitt Lynde and Charles J. Lynde.
The title found its way to the trustees as follows : Charles J. Lynde was lost on Lake Erie in the wreck of the Erie, August 9, 1841; his heirs, Tilly Lynde and wife, and William P. Lynde and wife, and his widow, Mary B. Lynde, quit-claimed the above described property to George D. Dous- man, on September 28, 1841, by conveyance recorded January 26, 1842, in Book I of Deeds, page 34. On November 14, 1842, by quit-claim recorded November 15, 1842, in Book J of Deeds, page 124, George D. Dousman and Martha A. Dousinan, his wife, conveyed the church site to the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, namely, George D. Dousman, William P. Proudfit, James Murray, Edward D. Holton, Alexander Mitchell, Ambrose Ely and John Ogden.T
The resolution of the Society providing for building on the above described lot, antedated these conveyances and was adopted at a meeting held March 2, 1841, in the following language :
*Miss Chappelle, a sister of Mrs. George D. Dousman, married Benjamin Isaacs, and removed to Oswego, N. Y. Both are dead.
+Miss Van Alstine became Mrs. Nelson Ludington and now (May. 1894) resides in Chicago.
įMr. Finch was born in Genoa, Cayuga County, New York, February 14, 1809; His wife was Mary de Forest Bristol, who died July 29, 1855. Mr. Finch preferred the Con- gregational polity and died in its communion in Milwaukee, April 4, 1883.
¿The title to this property reached Mr. Crocker by deed from Soloinon Juneau and Josette Juneau, his wife, to Morgan L. Martin, dated August 18, 1837, recorded August 22, 1837; in Book C of Deeds, page 435, and by deed from Morgan L. Martin and Elizabeth Martin, his wife, to Hans Crocker, dated March 23, 1840, recorded April 10, 1840, in Book G of Deeds, page 3.
| This watch is now owned by a member of the Wardner family. Mr. Finch never after owned another watch. This note delights to say of Mr. Finch that he was a gener- ous giver to the building of churches in this city and to the advancement of benevolent work everywhere. Yet he was unostentatious, or rather, reticent, about his gifts, whose full measure will only be disclosed when all secrets are unfolded. See also for gifts by J. H. Rogers, Geo. Reed and William Payne, Buck's Milwaukee, II, 288.
James Murray died in Milwaukee June 9, 1863; Edward D. Holton died in Milwaukee April 21, 1892; Alexander Mitchell died in New York April 19, 1887.
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Resolved, That we build a meeting house 42 by 60, with a basement story of brick and superstructure of wood with a steeple, and finished according to plans and specifications.
Resolved, That we let the job of building said meeting house to Messrs. Wm. Payne and N. C. Prentiss for the sum of $3,300, they furnishing all materials for the building and to finish it according to plans and specifica- tions submitted.
While still worshiping in the Hall, the earliest branch shot off from the parent tree. The First Congregational Church in Milwaukee, known now as Plymouth Church, was organized May 20, 1841, and held its earliest meetings in rooms on West Water street, to the north of Rogers block. To this new congregation withdrew the brothers Samuel and Daniel Brown and certain others, whose views on the subject of protracted meetings were not concordant with those of the majority in the parent organization. The Rev. J. J. Miter began his labors with the new body in November, 1841, and con- tinued them nearly fifteen years, until May 7, 1856 .*
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