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 8
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H. B. JOHNSON.
The Church Bell.
According to the Associations of many centuries of christian life, the new church without a bell in 1850 seemed incomplete. It was a building
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without a voice of its own to in- vite people. In fact the absence of a bell appeared to indicate that only those were desired who car- ried watches, and that the gene- ral public were not wanted. But a bell of good tone seems to say, "Whosoever will may come." Come ! Come !
These or similar thoughts led the Sunday School Superintend- ent, Dr. Elijah N. Clark, in 1855, to wish for a bell and try to get one. Only one man objected, all the rest willingly contributed, and July 3d, 1855, he was enabled to order it of that still existing and well known bell firm, A. Meneely's Sons, of West Troy, N. Y. July 18th, 1855, they STEEPLE REBUILT AFTER TORNADO. wrote : " Dear Sir-We have this day forwarded bell of 1550 1bs., key of F sharp, and hangings." The price was 32 cents per pound besides the hangings. The old faded letters are before me. August 16, 1855, they write, crediting the Doctor with a New York draft for $250, received on ac- count, and giving directions about hanging the bell, saying that during all the first year the tone would improve, only the bell must be well rung. Sept. 19th they acknowl- edged receipt of $200 more on account, and Dec. 22d, credit the remaining $46 00 due and paid as balancing the account.
NOTE .- For other infor- mation about the first building see pages 49 and 50. A view of the present interior is given on page 20.
The first steeple was se- riously injured by a wind storm in 1858, and rebuilt by carpenter Hunt I think, in connection with the ex- tension of 1859. This sec- ond steeple shows a clock face on each side, but no clock was ever placed there. This was the steeple de- stroyed by that tornado of June 3d, 1883, which de-
PRESENT BUILDING, 1899
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molished the railroad bridge, Brown's blocks and the east side paper mill, and tore off also the Baptist and the Congregational church steeples. The view of our building, which shows the bell uncovered, was taken only a day or two after that sudden storm. In that same year we built enough steeple to enclose and protect the bell, and that condition continued until the changes of 1889, which Dr. Johnson has described.
During Mr. Alexander's pastorate were made the stained glass windows, most of which are still in position. We should remember the several emblem- atic devices there pictured, one in the circular upper sash of each window, the Lamb, the Dove, the Anchor, the all-seeing Eye, an open Bible, the Shield of Faith, Alpha and Omega, the Cup and Bread, and Noah's Dove with a branch. I do not know that they have yet suggested a series of window sermons.
The large memorial window at north end of the auditorium reads, "In memory of Fred. Messer. From Beloit Iron Workers." The one north of the pulpit is inscribed, "In memory of Dr. Asahel Clark. A true Elder." The inscription on the window south of the pulpit recess is, " In memory of Mary A. Allen. Born May 7th, 1815. Died July 19, 1882."
The Organ.
In regard to the new pipe organ with its polished oak case and pure tone, Dr. Helm remarked, "Our present church organ, of which we are justly proud, was largely the outcome of a sermon. There had been some talk of purchasing a second-hand pipe organ. One bright Sabbath morning when the church was full an innocent and confiding audience were startled out of their wonted repose by a sermon on church music and the organ from our pastor, Rev. Charles D. Merrill. It was truly an organ serinon, and no one who heard it doubted that we would have a fine organ as soon as it could be built. Under the energetic guidance of Prof. L. E. Holden and George P. Bacon, the people took hold with a united will, and the organ, costing with motor $3,000, was soon in place and paid for."
new Church Parlors and Session Room.
These were added at the south end of the church in the latter part of 1896. The report of the Building Committee, presented January 21st, 1897, says, (condensed) :
"Your Committe were directed to make a new Chapel with parlors and kitchen, at a cost of not over $2,000. We engaged architect C. W. Bradley, of Rockford, Ill., to draw plans and specifications for two per cent. on con- tract price. After competitive bids by five firms, ranging from $2950 to $1946, we let the work to Mr. A. L. Dearhammer, who completed it to our satisfaction for $1945.75.
" Respectfully submitted,
"L. WALDO THOMPSON, Chairman. " Louis E. Holden, E. R. Robinson, A. P. Waterman, Wm. F. Brown, Mrs. John Foster, Mrs. Matie Messer, Committee."
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The Anniversary Banquet and Addresses.
B Y appointment, Hon. A. P. Waterman presided on Tuesday evening, March 21st. The exercises began with a banquet in the church parlors and session room. That flower crowned feast, shared by about two hundred guests, was provided by the ladies under the direction of a committee con- sisting of Mrs. L. Porter Cole, Mrs. P. B. Yates, Mrs. L. D. Forbes, Mrs. L. E. Holden, Mrs. G. E. Kendall, Mrs. Geo. Ackley, Mrs. C. S. Gregory and Mrs. Fred Messer.
Having enjoyed together the rich material supper, all passed into the adjoining auditorium, where a large audience had al- ready gathered for the mental and social feast.
After Prof. Werder's impres- sive organ prelude the Chair- man remarked :
When this building was dedi cated in 1850, singers from other choirs assisted our own. The principal solo on that occasion was given by a member of the Baptist choir, Mrs. Almon Ben- nett, who is still living here. For our first musical number we will now have a solo, “ Ring
ANSON P. WATERMAN.
on sweet Angelus," sung by Mrs. Bennett's grandson (who is also a grandson of the late Benjamin Brown), Master Benjamin Warren Brown.
Following the song, which was given with a clear soprano tone, came these
WORDS OF WELCOME, BY THE PASTOR.
Some one said to me he regretted that it would be necessary for us to leave the supper tables in order to reassemble in the main auditorium, because that would result in the toasts being reduced to a series of set speeches, without the flavor of the banquet. There is no question but that any speech rightly flav- ored with banquet viands has its
MRS. L. PORTER COLE. PREST. LADIES AID SOCIETY.
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enjoyment greatly enhanced. This is so even if the imagination can hardly discern the flavor. If you will kindly stretch your imagination so that you will hardly discern the absence of this flavor, we may be able to get into that comfortable after-dinner feeling so necessary to the right appreciation of after-dinner speeches.
The Committee have requested me to make you feel at home-a most absurd position for me to occupy, even though pastor of the church. Before I forget, let me say that we have named our new daughter. This is an event worthy to be mentioned among the notable happenings of this 50th anniversary, we think. We shall call her "Gladys Fletcher Creswell." If she had been born with the full power of intelli- gent utterance of speech, and if she had looked up in my face and said, "Father, I hope that you will make yourself at home," I should not only have thought her precocious, but very presumptious. I have no feeling of precocity, but I do have some feelings of presumption. With my short sojourn MRS. ALMON BENNETT. among you, for me to say to Mr. David Merrill, Dr. E. N. Clark, Mr. Beman Clark, Mr. A. P. Waterman, Mr. J. E. Houston and many others, who have for years borne the burden of the work of this church, Feel at home, is the very height of presumption. It is like a young bride marrying an old widower with a large family, and saying at the very first meal that she sits down to, "I hope you will all feel at home." The threadbare adage "I am at home and I wish you were," has to be changed to-night. "You are all at home and I hope to be."
The Chairman happily introduced the pastor of the First Congregational church, Dr. George R. Leavitt, who re- sponded with
THE GREETINGS OF A STEPFATHER.
Your old mother and I rejoice to be with you this evening. We knew how it would seem, a party of just our own folks. My heart is very warm toward this church. When I came to Beloit my welcome was scarcely more cordial from my own people than from you. When you set up housekeeping by yourselves your old mother church was a young mother and I was about the same age as she, born in the same year. And such GEORGE R. LEAVITT D. D. PASTOR, 1ST CONG. CHURCH. occasions as this make me realize anew how venerable both are getting to be. At the parsonage we once had a literary servant who asked my dear wife if she remembered that fine quota- tion from Ruskin, beginning " Antiquity, where art thou ?" She was quite advanced herself. And afterward, whenever we missed her we would call
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in subdued tones. " Antiquity, where art thou ?" It seems to me as though someone were now calling to your old step father and your mother, " An- tiquities, where are you ?" I feel a good deal as I felt at one time in my Cleveland parish when a good aged Methodist explained why he and his wife wished to unite with the Congregational church. After going about from church to church he found himself saying on Sunday mornings, "Polly, let's go and hear the old man."
Well, if we are antiquities we are pretty lively ones and feel wonderfully at home here. We often buy Presbyterian *cake for our parsonage.
On this fiftieth birthday we congratulate you, my dear step daughter, and you also my dear step-son, who have now a daughter of your own. We congratulate you and your church on having paid off all debt and indeed on all your noble history of fifty years. Upper Broad is a distinguished street but there's a good deal to be said for Lower Broad while you are on this historic corner. Your church is the glory of Broad street.
How much we have in common. Under the standard of a common Lord and Savior, in comnion con- secration we began together; in outward separation we have still been together. Your hopes have been our hopes, your trials our trials, your burdens our burdens and your problems our problems. During all this half century those things, common to both and to all true churches of our Lord, and es- pecially the common ministry of the Holy Spirit, have been your power as they have been ours.
These are the greetings of a step- father and they are also fraternal greetings. Jesus seems to me to EDWARD D. EATON, D. D., LL. D. PRESIDENT OF BELOIT COLLEGE. stand again among us and to say : " One is your Master even Christ, and all ye are brethren." Yes, my dear step children we are all brethren in the one household of faith.
God bless you every one, pastor and family and people, the old and the young, and Dr. E. N. Clark, who is both. May the new fifty years to which you now pass fulfill the brightest auspices of your fruitful present. Come up and bring your choir and help us dedicate our new organ, and we will have another good time.
The president of our college, invited to be present, had not expected to be in the city at this date, but being in the audience he was noticed by the chairman, who remarked :
During the pastorate of Dr. Alexander one of the Congregational stud- ents was, I believe, a very regular attendant on our Sunday morning ser-
*Explained by the paper on the Ladies' Guild.
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vices and seemed to profit by the doctor's logical sermons. I see that same young man here this evening, am confident that he feels friendly to us and will therefore ask him, President Edward D. Eaton of Beloit College, for a few remarks. Amid encouraging applause the President came to the plat- form and spoke briefly but cordially to this effect :
President Eaton brought the greetings and congratulations of Beloit College whose life, he said, synchronizes so nearly with that of this church. He pointed out how close have been the relations between our church and the college ever since the earliest days of both. He also suggested that the college's estimate of the value of Presbyterian staunchness is indicated by the fact that one elder of the church, Mr. Waterman, has for many years handled the funds of the college; that another, Prof. Tawney, gives shape to the students' thinking along the lines of Philosophy, and to yet another of this church, Prof. Holden, is entrusted the training of the college in the expression of thought by public speech. In these vital functions, he con- cluded, the life of this church is proving itself also the life of the college.
In regard to the next response on the programme given as LINDA VISTA, the Chairman remarked that he didn't know whether it meant a near view or a distant view or something else, but was confident that the speaker, their former pastor, would make it plain.
|Rev. Charles D. Merrill then said :
On the slopes of the California mountains, a league from the sea shore, just below fog line, just above frost line, on the small table lands called Mesas, which represent the richest soil and finest view of mountain, valley and sea, the old Spanish padres built their missions over a century ago and there sat down to worship and to dream. The Mesa is the ideal view point for all the valley before and below you and for the near grandeur of the great mountains that loom behind and above you. It is a place of clear air, clear water and rich gardens. No spot on earth has more charm or gives more of the "blessedness of nature " in gentle, glorious vision of sky and land and sea. On such a mesa, in a former parish, we used to celebrate on a March day the birthday feast of three families of friends, whose natal days were three consecutive days of that month, one friend a military leader, one a legislator, one a pastor. Knee deep amid flowers, inspirited with the crystal air and warm, wine-like sunshine, we looked down over the valley where we had lived and toiled and it was a distant and dreamy de- light. We saw the streams of water flowing among gardens and fields, giving them life, and we thanked God for his goodness in the past; we looked up to the great purple mountains above and thanked Him for royal hopes of the future. It was a day of God on the mesa, that vantage point of gentle, charming vision, which the Spanish call Linda Vista.
On this March day in the history of this church, this birthday, we stand at such a view point, looking backward with delight and forward and upward with hope. I see in this avenue of fifty years agone five streams of power whereon the light shines and flashes, revealing their course through the irrigated garden of this church where you have wrought. These are the steady streams of devoted money, of constant prayer, of unwavering stead- fastness, devoted loyalty to fellow Christians, and undying consecration to Christ.
+His portrait is on page 63, in the group of six ministers.
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The speaker here gave particular proofs of each of these influences on the past of this church and especially as he experienced them during his own pastorate, and closed by saying, " These are streams that make glad the city of God, the holy place of the Tabernacles of the Most High. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so may the Lord be round about this people henceforth and forever."
After a delightful interlude of song by the Ladies' Quartette, Mr. Waterman remarked in regard to the next topic that on such a subject even a professor of elocution might be expected to become enthusiastic, and introduced Prof. L. E. Holden, who thus responded to the toast :
The Women of the First Presbyterian Church of Beloit.
" When Europe's eye is fixed on mighty things, The fate of empires and the fall of kings ; While quacks of State must each produce his plan, And even children lisp the Rights of Man ; Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention, The Rights of Women merit some attention."
It is with great risk of my future inde- pendence that I attempt to respond to this toast. If I say too much the men will boy- cott me, and if I don't say enough the wo- men will toast me to a turn.
You will please remember at the outset, that I positively refused to inflict myself up- on this goodly audience this evening, for I had nothing against you. But when this toast was proposed I saw before me a chance for sudden immortality, translation so to speak, for all who have ever attempted to do women justice died in the attempt. There
PROF. LOUIS E. HOLDEN, Now Pres. Wooster University, O. was Robert Burns for example, who witlı his song exalted woman to the skies, but at thirty-six the nervous strain was too great for him, and the silver cord was loosed and the golden bowl broken. This subject is too much for a man, and those who heard the lecture by Rev. Mrs. Anna Shaw a few weeks ago, should know enough not to attempt it. I was there. I felt a supreme satisfaction that the wo- men were at last getting their deserts. I have been watching the newspapers for a month to see whether Mrs. Shaw was likely to live through it. If she does, it is no sign that a man can.
My task is especially hard because I have to deal with the highest type of wo- man, the Marys and Marthas of the church. My connection with this society reaches over a period of seventeen years, during
MRS. LUCY ANN BROWN, Wife of Benjamin. Died Sept. 1, 1869.
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which time I have held such high office in the church as to be competent to judge as to who does the work connected with the organization. Men are great posers ; they would die under half the load the women have borne for this enterprise.
We have all listened with interest to the history of the organization of this church, but some of us have wondered whether there was not omitted the most important fact of its history, viz : its birth. If this church was born of men, it is the only thing they ever gave birth to worth the mentioning. As I listened to what my dear old friend Ben- jamin Brown did in the early days, it made we want to know Mrs. Brown. When I heard last night the words of David Merrill, I wondered whether Mary Lyon and Mrs. David Merrill were not really the founders of this church. If the women were not really the true mothers of this church, they have taken most excellent care of their adopted child. Tell me what sexton of this church from Melchizedeck down to the fainous Burns ever like these women appealed to the men for nothing more than a broom and an oil-can? Let the man stand up who has given a single moment of his life in these fifty MRS. ANDREW C. HUTCHISON. years to the cleansing of the house of God. Who (Mary Dearborn). D. Aug. 14, 1898. stirred us up to paint the seats and wainscoting in the old chapel ? Mrs. Andrew C. Hutchison, who, busy with her family cares, yet with a heart big enough to take in the whole church, came down with paint and brushes and assisted in the work herself. Who fired our hearts to put a new roof on the chapel? This same young mother in Israel, Mrs. Hutchison. Shall we ever forget her spiritual fervor? Who undertook the great work of replastering the old church and painting it? The first Mrs. Pentland, and though it proved a poor job, it was not. Mrs. Pentland's fault, but the fault of the men who did the work. Shall we ever forget her earnest energetic work in this church, ready at a moment's notice to render service to this church of the most arduous kind.
Time would fail me to begin to tell you, how for the last seventeen years the women have urged the men on as far as they could get them, and when they balked went on themselves, carrying the kingdom of heaven as by storm. Why, my dear brothers, you know that you actually would not have been up in time for church more than half the Sundays, only that your good wives made it compulsory. As it is, very few of you would be out to church at all, unless you were proud of your wives and were willing that they should enjoy good society at least. part of their time.
Let the man stand up who would faithfully and patiently for three years clerk it in a ba- kery shop on Saturday afternoons, gathering
MRS. H. PENTLAND. Died May 25th, 1894.
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a few dollars each week to buy a carpet for this church, yet the women have done that. What man in the church has ever given thought enough to the service to see that there was a bunch of flowers or a living growing plant before the pulpit on the Sabbath. The women have searched and found them some- where, even in the dead of winter.
MRS. ASAHEL CLARK. Died at Beaver Dam, Wis., 1825.
NOTE .- Three supplementary papers on the woman's side of our history, prepared later, are properly inserted here. They present the Ladies' Aid Society, our Woman's Missionary Socie- ty, and the Ladies' Guild.
Some of our girls of those ear- lier days, seeking a fuller educa- tion than Beloit then offered them, attended the Female Sem- inary at Fox Lake, Wis. While boarding themselves there they had a working group picture ta- ken, just for fun. The writer inserts it here to show in present and future days how our girls of that time prized an education and worked for it.
Who have called on the sick, the poor, the despondent, the heart- broken, the erring in this commu- nity ? Is there a man in the church who knows whether there is a struggling family among us? Who attend the prayer-meeting in large numbers? Is there a man in the church who can talk intelligently five minutes on the subject of missions, yet the women can tell you about the Lord's work from Africa to Alaska. These are a few suggestions as to the value of the noble band of Presbyterian wo- men, from Mrs. Benj. Brown and Mrs David Merrill and Mrs. Dr. Asahel Clark to Mrs. Creswell.
WORKING GROUP. THE MISSES CLARK.
MRS. CATHARINE EDDY. DIED OCT. 20, 1893.
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Recollections of the Ladies' Hid Society. BY MRS. JOHN FOSTER.
E have been celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of our church or- ganization and have enjoyed much the account of those identified with its early history. The question comes, were there no Eves in those days toshare in its privations and glory? "When all the morn- ing stars sang together and the Presbyterian sons shouted for joy?" Yes, ev- ery Adam had an Eve, not made from one little rib but from the whole side. Grand women, who said, " We want a church. We will rock and mend, brew and bake, and lay the corner stone all straight; while you the bills may pay, the bell may ring and honors take."
One did not hear, perhaps, the rus- tle of silken skirts or the address of " Madame President," but side by side they stood, each with her David, Ben- jamin, Aaron or Elijah, and the dear old bell as it rings sounds a sweet re- quiem for those noble faithful mem- bers of our first Presbyterian Aid Soci- ety. There were Mrs. Battin, Mrs. Clark, its first directors, and Mrs. Da- vid Merrill, Mrs. Benjamin Brown and "aunt" Lucretia and Jemima Clark, and the many others of that first year, MRS. JOHN FOSTER. (MARCIA DEARBORN.) who patiently worked, stitching, by hand, those shirts (warranted to fit), with which to adorn their husbands and sweethearts.
Among the faithful was Mrs. McElhenny, whom all the elements com- bined could not keep from her post of love on Sabbath morning. I see her now in her quaint costume of quaker hue, ploughing through the snow on a winter Sunday morning.
Many years ago, two little girls dressed in scarlet merino, with gift in hand, were hurrying across the street, when a lady accosted them, saying,“ Where are you going little children ?" The reply was, to Mr. Eddy's to the donation party. I read a story once of a donation par- ty given Saturday night and on Sabbath morn- ing the church members were horrified to see as MRS. RUFUS CLARK. AUNT JEMIMA. they passed the parson-
MRS. CHESTER CLARK. AUNT LUCRETIA.
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age, a little biscuit stuck upon every picket of the front fence, and to hear a mysterious chuckle among the bushes that sounded like the voice of the par- son's wife. The dear minister resigned next morning, telling his congregation he was unable to stand another donation. Well, I did not see any biscuit on the fence, but never forgot the joy of that my first party. There was beautiful Mrs. Eddy, with the charm and fascina- tion which no words of mine could de- scribe. I can see her now, ever busy with her household cares, entertaining all, old and young alike. Unselfish in her devotion to family and to every one. Dear Alice, the eldest of the children, would sometimes boast of her proud an- cestry until teasing Horace across the MRS. ELIJAH N. CLARK. street would taunt her with being of a " mixed race," to see her bright eyes flash. She had two especial cronies, Cynthia Gordon and Nellie Brown, (daughter of Benjamin), but was kind to all. Mr. Eddy was the biggest child among them, playing "Ring Around the Rosy," and then marrying all the little sweethearts " by the point of his jack-knife." Last of all, see and taste the supper, with its ever-present and welcome guest, Methodist "Johnny Williams," who had scented the Presbyterian good things from afar. He would take off his stove- pipe hat, carefully deposit his white gloves within, and then give us his favorite temperance song. which ran, "Cold water, cold water is my song." Poor Johnny ! You were one of Be- loit's first temperance orators, your principles were carved in the rock, and no bad boy could ever erase them. As the Scotch say, you were one of "God's innocents." (Note by W. F. B. And had some head also. Street boys used to plague him. One day they formed a plan to have him say the Lord's prayer, and then while his eyes were closed someone was to fill his mouth with salt. They offered him ten cents for the service, which he accepted, insisting however on be- ing paid in advance. Having received the coin he began to repeat the prayer with his eyes open. "Johnny," remarked the leader, "you ought to
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