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 9
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JOHNNY WILLIAMS.
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MISS ALICE EDDY, 1854.
shut your eyes when you pray." "Ah," replied Johnny, "but the good book says that we must watch as well as pray.")
Then there were other meetings, where Mrs. Watson, Cooper, Fair- banks, Cochran, Davenport, Par- ish, and the Misses Cornelia Cros- by, Nancy Houston and Carrie Clark were busy upholstering cushions and making carpets, of- ten repairing to Wood's Hall or their near neighbors Mrs. Dear- born's or Houston's, for lunch. The latter place, next door south of the church, was a sort of Mecca for all Presbyterians, where for years fire and water were always patiently and willingly supplied.
Then the grand suppers at Han- chett's and Murray's halls, where among others were to be seen Mrs. Stocking and Tattershall, the latter or- dering the youngsters to set the tables in true metropolitan style, all chat- ting and laughing in their happy work.
Then there were the socials in the country, at Mr. Peck's, Burchard's, Watson's, Parish's, Fairbank's and Jack's, which Nancy and Tom, John and Lucretia, George and Louise, and oth- er couples, now so happily married, will remem- ber. Each time we were laying by a few dol- lars while also the bond of fellowship was broad- ened and deepened for the church and all it re- presented.
NELLIE BROWN, 1853. MRS. E. W. PORTER, d. 1865.)
We have still with with usour first bride, Mary Clark Helm, and with her the years have dealt very gent- ly; but many of the faithful of those ear- ly days have gone home. A few are even now lingering, almost on the edge of "Jordan's bank," "only waiting for the boatman." God has not forgotten these ; in due time He will bring them safe on Canaan's side.
MRS. A. DAVENPORT. 1809-1886.
MISS CYNTHIA GORDON.
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To our beloved Mr. Alexander, in 1865, I think, we are in- debted for our first constitution, drawn up in parliamentary style. This was re- vised and much im- proved in 1885 by our efficient pastor's wife, Mrs. Bill.
Among those who have served as offi- ALLEN PARISH. Died Jan. 4, 1871. cers I find the names of Mrs. Pentland, MRS. PARISH. Stocking, Waterman, Bailey, Johnson, Cole, Messer, Miller, Abbott and Fos- ter, and many others who represented the eight committees. These have all served from one to eleven years each.
We would not forget some who I know are still with us in thought, the faithful sisters Sarah and Jennie Watson, whose sweet voices so unselfishly given, hallowed that old gallery for all time.
Our willing sexton, Jacob Hadden, ever ready night and day to respond to every call, has his counterpart in the present incumbent, Dennis Burns.
There are others who have left the old church never to return, having joined the " church on high," but their memory is always dear. There was the first Mrs. Pentland, eight years our president, working, toiling, sweep- ing even the " cobwebs out of the sky," if necessary for our comfort. Mrs. Stocking, ever faithful friend, night and day, in sickness or death, ever
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THE EDDY FAMILY ABOUT 1855. Alfred Delavan.
FROM A DAGUERREOTYPE. Katy. Alice. Ida.
Cora.
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found watching. Mrs. Hutchison, one of the "little girls" of the old donation party, who opened wide her heart and door to all the dear ones in the old church she loved. I think of them there, in the " Home above," waiting for the "ladies to come in the afternoon, and gentle- men expected to tea."
What has the society accomplislı- ed? Much, in every way. It has helped build chapels, church parlors, buy organs, repair churches, buy carpets, and encourage the poor "weaker" brethren, when they felt a little too weak and poor 'to carry their share of the burden ; while of- ten at our simple suppers, heart and hand have met, all for the glory of God.
MRS. WILLIAM COCHRAN.
As we listened to the address giv-' en in our behalf by Professor Hol- den, we all felt sure no one would doubt his assertion that the women had been character builders. Who but a woman could have trained him to so reverence women as was shown in his praise of our own? Who taught him that smile and grip of the hand, which always opens the stoutest pocket book? Who but the la- dies of the Presbyterian Church could so beautifully have rounded and polished him ?
We accept your thanks, Beloit College, and will lend him to you awhile, but you must return him to us with brothers Bacon and Tawney. We shall hope soon to welcome into our ranks a Mrs. Bacon and, if we live long enough, a Mrs. Tawney.
I cannot now speak of the ma- ny faithful, efficient workers who are still with us; but we all know them. Some there are whose hearts and homes have ever been opened wide for every call. Year after year we have seen them as they toiled up life's hill- side. Let me only mention Mr. and Mrs. Waterman, and Dr. and Mrs. Clark, the first two,
MRS. J. P. HOUSTON.
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MRS. TERESSA PECK, WIFE OF CHARLES.
CHILDREN OF MR. AND MRS. PECK, 1854. ALL LIVING, 1899. Charles C. Julia S. Augustus R. Emily C. Burritt. Anne Jeanette.
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MRS. AARON WATSON.
MRS. H. B. JOHNSON, Prest. Ladies' Aid Society, '93-'96.
hand in hand; the other gently lean- ing on the partner of his later years. They have almost reached the summit with mind still bright, but not quite the elastic step of youth. Sometimes we imagine we can catch a glimpse of the crown that seems to encircle each dear head. May their twilight hours be lengthened in the land which the Lord gives them.
These are a few fragmentary legends and memories of the Ladies Aid Soci- ety of the Presbyterian Church which is growing, and we hope ever will in- crease in numbers and usefulness for efficient work.
*MRS. JOHN FOSTER.
MRS. A. P. WATERMAN.
*NOTE BY W. F. B .- The shoe factory of John Foster, Esq., employing about two hun- dred operatives, which ranks as one of the best four factories in the UnitedStates for quality of work, has the honor just now of being engaged to make the shoes of Mrs. Pres- ident William Mckinley.
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LOOKING NORTH UP ROCK RIVER FROM THE TOP OF MIDDLE COLLEGE, BELOIT, WISCONSIN.
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The Ladies' Guild.
BY MRS. P. B. YATES.
URING the summer of 1896, the need of a new carpet for the church was keenly felt. Some agitation of the matter en- suing, resulted in Mrs. Henry Pentland asking all women interested to meet at her home and discuss the subject. At this meeting which took place in early July, it was decided that each woman start independently in any business her talents or tastes might lead her to choose, and the proceeds should be devo- ted to getting the new carpet. One woman undertook to do darning and patching ; another to press and clean pants ; another to bake cookies, etc. Mrs. Pentland was elected general manager, and the society was called "The Ladies' Guild."
After some time. as most of the ladies seemed to have a culinary bent, it was decided to have a weekly sale of home made cookery, to be held Sat- urday afternoons. Mr. Gregory generously offered the use of his office on School street as the place of sale. The plan was to pay each woman the cost of the materials used and turn the profits into the treasury.
Mrs. Pentland was sales-lady in chief the first year, doing a generous share of the baking, being manager, treasurer and book-keeper besides. No wonder she tired out, and at the annual meeting held in July of 1897, she retired from office, the ladies giving her a hearty vote of thanks.
It was then decided to elect three directors who should take charge of the business. Mrs. Porter B. Yates, Mrs. L. D. Forbes and Mrs. C. S. Gre- gory were elected. Mrs. Key offered to take charge of the sales if she be permitted to conduct a small matter of personal business at the same time. Her offer was accepted. Thus matters ran on until the next annual meet- ing, when Mrs. Key felt she could no longer sell. The three directors were re-elected and divided the work among themselves as follows : Mrs. Grego- ry was to find women to take charge of the sales, Mrs. Forbes to attend to the advertising and supplies, wrapping paper, bags, etc., and Mrs. Yates to keep the books, take charge of the money and pay off the ladies who baked.
Another year rolled around and found the society pretty well tired out, and in August of 1898, a meeting was called and it was decided to give the work up. The ladies who regularly baked were :
Mrs. George Ackley.
Mrs. James W. Abbott.
Mrs. Herbert D. Bishop.
Mrs. L. Porter Cole.
Mrs. L. D. Forbes.
Mrs. C. S. Gregory.
Mrs. H. B. Johnson.
Mrs. Isadore Kendall.
Mrs. Mary L. Messer.
Mrs. C. D. Merrill.
Mrs. A. Thompson. Mrs. L. Waldo Thompson
Mrs. Porter B. Yates.
Mrs. T. T. Creswell.
Now as to what was accomplished. In the summer of 1897 the church was thoroughly cleaned and a new carpet bought and put down. The old carpet was cleaned and made over for the chapel. The vestibule was pa- pered, painted, and new matting bought. The expense of all this was about $300, and besides this the ladies paid $128 toward the building fund of the chapel.
FLORENCE ARGALL YATES.
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The Woman's missionary Society.
MRS. L. E. HOLDEN, SECRETARY. HIS organization, known as the Wo- nian's Missionary Society of the First Presbyterian Church of Beloit, Wis., dates from the year 1874. In an old account book kept bythe first church treasurer is the following entry : "1850. Church contribution to Foreign Missions, Sept. 6th, $4.06, Oct. 28th, $5.00." This indicates a monthly offering and evidently records that which was regularly given at the Monthly Concert the first Thursday evening of each month. At this prayer meeting our pioneer women, including Mrs. Eddy,
MRS. A EDDY.
were all in the habit of contributing to Mis- sions, and the habit was continued. Finally this society was formed by about a dozen of our ladies, after their usual Wednesday after- noon prayer meeting, February 18, 1874, as an auxilliary to the Woman's Presbyterian Board of Missions for the Northwest. Its first and
very efficient president, Mrs. Anna Williams, filled that office nine years and MRS. I. E. HOLDEN. Secretary, 1895-1899. gave the society an impetus which is still felt. This society combines the interests of both Home and Foreign Missions under one set of officers, the secretary being also treasurer. Its meet- ings have been held monthly with much reg- ularity, usually at some private house, for the study of the work carried on by our mis- sionaries whether at home or abroad. All late news and items of interest concerning MRS. ANNA WILLIAMS. First President, 1874-1883. the several fields are brought before the society by the different members appointed, thus keeping all in close touch with those who are our substitutes in missionary service. At cer- tain times the society gives a Missionary Tea, to which gentlemen friends are invited. A specially full and interesting program is provided and we then usually receive some masculine contributions as a return for the supper.
In 1875, by our contributions we made Rev. John McLean a life member of the National F. M. Society. In 1876 a Young People's Missionary Society, and also a Sunday School Mission Band were organized, but their records seem to have disappeared with them- MISS M. K. BROWN. First Sec.and Treas. 1874. selves.
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MRS. A. W. BILL. President 1886.
MRS. THOS. E. BARR. President 1888.
MRS. WILLIAM ALEXANDER. 1865-1869.
MRS. CHARLES D. MERRILL. President 1894.
MRS. T. T. CRESWELL. President 1898.
SOME OF OUR MINISTERS' WIVES WHO WERE PRESIDENTS OF THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
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Our offerings, quite unequal in amount for different years, have been given not only to Home and Foreign Missions, but also to the Freedmen. The largest annual contri- bution was that of 1878-$172.72. Our lar- gest membership was 32, in 1882. For the last ten years it has averaged about twenty. The meetings have been well maintained by a "faithful few," who consider that the work broadens their own lives besides being a du- ty to those on the field.
The successive presidents have been : Mrs. Anna Williams, 1874-1883.
Mrs. Wm. H. Beach, 1883-1884 and 1892 1893.
Mrs. M. Lilly, 1885. Mrs. A. W. Bill, 1886. Miss Kate Billings, 1887.
MISS KATE BILLINGS. (Mrs. Bird) President 1887.
MRS. WM. H. BEACH, President 1883-'84, 1892-'93.
Mrs. T. E. Barr, 1888.
Mrs. M. L. Messer, 1889-1892.
Mrs. C. D. Merrill, 1894.
Mrs. Wm. F. Brown, 1895-1898.
Mrs. T. T. Creswell, 1898-1899.
The secretaries : Miss M. K. Brown, 1874.
Mrs. L. B. Clark, 1875.
Miss Lucy Conde, 1876. Mrs. W. H. Beach, 1877-1882.
Mrs. M. L. Messer, 1882-1885.
Mrs. C. Gregory and Miss Bailey, 1885.
Mrs. A. W. Bill, 1886.
Mrs. O. P. Smith, 1887-1895.
Mrs. L. E. Holden, 1895-1899.
The contributions of our society with
those of the young people and the Sunday School to Missions during the past twenty-four years have been, by the Society, to Foreign, $784, Home Missions, $527; amount, $1,311. By the Young People and Sunday School, For- eign, $495, Home Missions, $101; amount, $596. We have also during that time sent Home Mis- sion boxes valued at $462. During the past year our society gave to Foreign Missions $22, and to Home Missions $36.
MRS. WM. F. BROWN. President 1895-1898.
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NOTE .- The programme of Tuesday evening, March 21st, is here re- sumed, the speaker being Professor Guy A. Tawney of Beloit College, sub- ject-
Presbyterianism East and West.
My friends, this is an historical oc- casion, and naturally belongs in the hands of those men of the church who have served her much longer than Mr. Creswell, Prof. Holden or myself. We young men had the fear, very natu- rally, that we should have no part in it. I was myself reminded of a boy who came home hatless, crying and covered with dirt, and who, upon be- ing asked by his father whether he had been in a fight, replied that he had had a fight but that he was not "in it." Not wishing to find ourselves in any such predicament, we three persuaded the programme committee to put us PROF. GUY A. TAWNEY, of Beloit College. on. Prof. Holden got them to let him speak upon "The Women," and Mr. Creswell was put down to speak on " Words of Welcome"-that yarn about naming his new baby, which he told us. They gave me for a topic, " Pres- byterianism East and West."
I was glad to be permitted to speak on something, and this topic would have been as welcome as any other, but, really, there is no official Presby- terianism on the west side. I am told that there was some at one time, way back in the sixties ; but that was long since translated or moved over to this spot. I was anticipating an easy time, considering the fact that one-half of my theme pertained to a church gone to glory, where the historian is not expected to follow it; but our honored Toast-Master has just interpreted the theme to mean Presbyterianism in the eastern part of America as con- pared with Presbyterianism in the western part; and that reminds me of an Irish lad whose mother called to him, "Mick ! Mick ! stop scratching your head !" The lad roared back, "I won't, marm, they commenced on me first !" So I do not propose stopping here.
They have wealth back there in the East, behind the organ, although I never got any of it while there. I do not know whether the Presbyterian church of Beloit ever got any of it ; but the Presbyterian church of Wiscon- sin owes a great debt of gratitude to the eastern church for their manifesta- tions of christian philanthropy, among other things ; and the eastern church owes a debt of gratitude to Wisconsin for a great opportunity. I was think- ing a moment ago of how it would feel to be an elder in some of the eastern churches in which I have had the privilege of worshiping. In coming to church, I should probably look up at the front of the building, and, if its condition were like our own, I should say to myself, "Elder T., you just walk your face down to elder Waldo Thompson's office to-morrow and re- quest him to refront the church at our expense." In the eastern church, I
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suppose, he would do as requested without asking me for any of the pay. As it is, I look up at the church front, think about it in one hemisphere of my brain, then in the other hemisphere, and then mentally kneel down and pray-but perhaps that is just as well. Perhaps the prayer is worth as much to you, to the world and to me as a handsome church building would be.
Character, my friends, makes a church, just as it makes a nation and a home. I have wandered in and out of magnificent cathedrals along the banks of the Rhine, the Rhone and the Seine; I have listened to world-re- nowned scholars, and to men whose names will live long in the annals of the church for their eloquence ; I have heard soft music reverberate among the sculptured colums of splendid aisles-
" Music that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass, Or night-dews between walls of shadowy granite In a gleaming pass,
Music that gentler on the spirit lies
Than tired eye-lids upon tired eyes,"
but I have never worshiped in a house of God where worship seemed more natural or prayer more suitable to the spirit and associations of the place than in this little church of ours here in Beloit. I do not know of a church that can make a greater boast of wealth in that which makes a church great, than would be represented by this platform to-night, if the speaker were not here. I would rather lift my heart and voice in prayer and praise to God here beside these men with "hearts made sore by many wars, and eyes grown dim with gazing on the pilot stars," than be a stranger in the grandest cathedral that mortal imagination ever conceived or mortal hands erected. But I am wandering from my theme.
I was about to say a moment ago, that it seems to be a law of growth everywhere, that physical or material development goes before intellectual. If this be true, we ought to find more push and shove and get-there-Eli in the church of the West than in the church of the East. We ought to find a greater interest in the material aspects of the church-life here than there. This reminds me of an incident which occurred (?) in Mr. Creswell's former pastorate, which illustrates the point I have in mind, and with which I will close. Mr. Creswell once overlooked an announcement preparatory to com- munion service on the following Sunday, until the close of the service. Af- ter the benediction he said, " All those who have babies to be baptized will please to present them next sabbath." This might happen to any parson, and often does happen, but one of Mr. Creswell's elders who was a little hard of hearing, was at the time interested in a new church hymn book which sold at seventy-five cents. Hearing the word " babies" spoken, he mistook it for the word "books" and naturally supposed that the pastor was very thoughtfully endeavoring to assist him in his sales. So he rose hurriedly and said, " All you who haven't any, by calling on me can get as many as you want at seventy-five cents apiece."
G. A. TAWNEY.
After a vocal solo by Miss Peavey the writer presented to the church framed photographs, which he had obtained, of all the foriner pastors except-
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ing Mr. Hawes. These portraits had been hung around the audience room and are meant to adorn the church parlors. The large black framed, india ink portrait of Rev. A. Eddy, was the gift of his children, Mrs. Alice A. Potter of Bridgton, N. J., Mrs. Edward L. Hamilton of Niles, Mich., and Mrs. Lucius G. Fisher, Mrs. Charles S. Cleaver, Alfred D. Eddy, Esq., and Miss Frances Eddy, all of Chicago, Il1. That frame had been hung under the clock at the south end of the room, where the pulpit used to be, and had been kept veiled until this moment. The cover being now suddenly re- moved that noble likeness of Dr. Eddy in his venerable age was received at first with a hush of attention, and then with subdued applause.
Anecdotes of early pastors being next in order, Mr. Waterman re- marked : When Dr. Alexander was one day calling on a pioneer member who had not attended Sabbath service for some time, and asked the reason for his absence, the brother replied to the effect that he found it quite as profitable on Sunday to read his Bible at home. Mr. Alexander commend- ed the reading but added, "Have you yet come to that place in the Bible where it says, 'Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is' ?"
The chairman then called for the writer who said, "When the First Congregational Church was at supper last December, celebrating its sixtieth anniversary, Dr. Leavitt enthusiastically remarked that heaven must be Congregational because 'there the congregations ne'er break up,' or words to that effect. Whereupon I whispered in my wife's ear, what I will now make bold to say aloud, that, according to Paul, heaven is the General As- sembly of the first born. Our Congregational friends will surely excuse this in Paul because he, you know, was a Presbyterian."
As to anecdotes, let me confine myself to our first pastor. Mr. Eddy and my father were very congenial friends; each was a good story teller, and both were rather unconventional. One Saturday afternoon he was in my father's store, where among the company of men was a rather stiff stranger from the east. Several witty stories had quite thawed out the new comer who entered into the social encounter with much freedom. Mr. Ed- dy, who was sitting on the edge of the counter, having made his point and joined in the general laughter, sprang to the floor with the remark, "I must go home now and finish my sermon for to-morrow." The face of the stran- ger at once lengthened and in a horrified tone of voice he exclaimed, " Are you a minister ?" Then all the rest had another laugh.
In those early days President Chapin was considered rather stiff and not disposed to notice everybody. Really, however, he was at heart a very gen- ial man. As he has since told me, he was a constant sufferer from dyspep- sia, and that with his ever present burden of college anxieties, sometimes rendered him absent minded so that he did not always see whom he was passing.
One morning Mr. Eddy, walking up Broad street, noticed Mr. Chapin on the other side coming down and showing no signs of seeing him. Whereupon, just for a joke as they were possing, he called out across the street, "Hallo! Mr. President !" "Oh," said Mr. Chapin, "what is it?" "Only wanted to say good morning." Then came the Eddy laugh and the
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Chapin smile. Among all our public men we have never had a richer laugh than Mr. Eddy's or a sweeter smile than that of President Chapin.
Once during my youth while visiting at Mr. Eddy's on Ellis avenue and 38th street, S. Chicago, (and the street cars went through some two miles of open country and hazel brush then before getting there), I was talking with him about the pastor's service and salary and remarked that when a minister made an agreement with a people he was expected to throw in his wife for nothing. Glancing at Mrs. Eddy, who was no light weight, Mr. Eddy with a smile and a shrug as though trying to shoulder a heavy load, retorted, " No, William, ministers don't throw their wives, anywhere. They can't."
During his last few weeks illness at Niles, Michigan, Mr. Eddy required a nurse. The young man engaged for the service went into his room for an hour or two and on coming out remarked, "That man isn't going to die ; he jokes." That was Mr. Eddy, sustained by the comfort wherewith he had so often conforted others. For him, hopeful, cheerful, full of faith, death had no terrors.
An exquisite violin solo was given by Mr. Hanna, after which Rev. Ed- ward H. Pence, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Janesville, Wis., responded to the sentiment assigned him in a witty speech, which he does not permit us to record.
REV. JOHN MC LEAN, D. D.
These portions of letters from former pastors were then read by Rev. Mr. Creswell :
From Dr. Alexander, San An- selmo, California : "It is im- possible for me to say in a letter all that I feel in connection with that dear old church. I have been called to serve in more im- portant positions, but I often refer to my pastorate in Beloit as the happiest of my life. I had the best session there that I ever had or ever knew. My preaching was plain, positive and scriptural. One lady, not of our church, said to me. ' You preach as if you never had a doubt.' 'Well, madam,' I re- plied, ' whatever doubts I may have experienced the pulpit is the last place that I would go to in order to give them an airing.' I never entered the pulpit with- out a message as I believed from God, and I gave it without hesi- tation or doubt. Before I left the church had been completely
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renovated, walls frescoed, mnullions put in the windows, and the old glass replaced with stained glass and new carpets laid. It was then a fine audi- ence room and very easy to speak in. The lecture room was added in my time and was a great convenience."
For Rev. John McLean, now at Del Norte, Colorado, his wife writes, March 16, 1899 : " Mr. McLean has been anxious to answer your letter but is unable to do so. For eight months he has been very sick. He has been working at Del Norte five years and a half without a vacation, part of the time doing double work. He asks you to tell the people of the Beloit Pres- byterian church that his love for them grows with the growing years, and that with joy and gladness he shares with them in the celebration of their jubilee."
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