THE
HAMPSHIRE
COLONY
CHURCH
ITS FIRST
HUNDRED
YEARS
LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
285.8 P93h
iwnqk HisrosiMi mm
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
http://www.archive.org/details/hampshirecolonycOOhamp
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
<The
Hampshire Colony Congregational ■ Church ft?
Its First Hundred I] ears
<The
Hampshire Colony Congregational
Church—
Its First Hundred Ijears
1831 — 1931
A RECORD ASSEMBLED BY THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE
ELLA WARREN HARRISON
PAULINE SCHENK
JESSIE A. PHELPS
CARRIE DUNBAR
OLIVE PIERCE
F. W. STEWART
S. T. BRIGHAM
Published March, 1931, Princeton, Illinois
PRESS OF
The Bureau County Record, Princeton, Illinois
&>
Foreword
In collecting material for this history much use has been made of papers written for various anniver- saries by Mrs. Julia R. Phelps, Mrs. Clara R. Norton, Mrs. Emily S. Colton, Dr. Flavel Bascom, Rev. E. G. Smith and Mr. Elijah Smith, an old diary of Mr. Chaun- cey D. Colton and a few old letters. The authors of these have long been dead. The record books of the Church have furnished definite dates and present day knowledge has brought the work up to date.
All of those who preached and prayed in the old days have gone to be with the Lord. Most of the next generation have followed them. What they won with toil and tears we have inherited, but surely death did not destroy their interest in and love for the old church. If Heaven rejoices over a repentant sinner, then heavenly citizens must know something about earthly events.
"Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sins that so easily beset us and run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith", and be able to say to them some day, "We have faithfully carried on the work that you began."
I 008225
^cknoipledgments
There is no enterprise which has not behind it some guiding mind. This volume owes its exis- tence principally to the vision of one who has long been a vital force in the church. To Ella W. Har- rison the church gratefully acknowledges its in- debtedness for the greater part, both spirit and substance, of this volume.
To the Historical Committee sincere thanks are expressed for the careful research that makes this record authentic.
To T. A. Fenoglio, who has successfully man- aged the financing of this publication, the church owes a debt of gratitude.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to those who have given of their time and service transcrib- ing page after page of manuscript: Edna B. An- derson, Gerda Bouxsein, Vivian Conkling, Helen Eastman, T. A. Fenoglio, Gilbert Oberschelp, Edith Sharp, Ethel Sharp, Frances Spaulding, Hazel Wickey.
Table of Contents
|
In the Beginning |
Page 1 |
|
The Faith of Our Fathers |
- 33 |
|
The House of Worship |
43 |
|
The Work of the Kingdom |
57 |
|
The Secular Affairs of the Church |
99 |
|
Laborers in the Vineyard |
107 |
|
The Members of the Church |
141 |
|
Echoes of a Century - |
171 |
In the Beginning
EARLY HISTORY
THE INDEPENDENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
THE DOVER CHURCH
THESE ALSO SERVED
DONATION PARTIES OF YORE
MEMORIES OF AN OLD MAN
PRAYER OF OWEN LOVEJOY
IN THE BEGINNING
EARLY HISTORY 1831 - 1835
In the early years of the nineteenth century New Eng- land people were greatly interested in the little known west. Men who returned from investigating tours told wonderful tales of fertile soil unencumbered by stones or trees, government land that could be purchased unbelieve- ably cheap. Young men were advised to "go west and grow up with the country." On February 9, 1831, the fol- lowing notice appeared in the Hampshire Gazette:
"ILLINOIS COLONIAL ASSOCIATION
A meeting of the above association
will be holden at
WARNER'S COFFEE HOUSE,
Northampton, (Massachusetts)
on Wednesday, the 16th at 10:00 A. M.
Persons desirous of uniting with them are invited
to attend this meeting.
Per order of Committee.
D. B. Jones, Sec'y."
February 23, 1831, this meeting is reported: "At a meeting of the Illinois Colonial Association held at Warner's Coffee House, last week, it was agreed by a number of as- sociates to remove to some part of that state in the ensu- ing spring. Some of the principles of the association by which its members are governed may be understood by the
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
following preamble to their constitution adopted at this meeting :
'Whereas the subject of settling the valley of the Mississippi by colonies of industrious and moral men from the Atlantic States is viewed to be of vast importance to the future of the inhabitants of that valley and to the common good of our country by many of the sons of the Pilgrim Fathers of New England, and —
'Whereas a number of persons in the old county of Hamp- shire are desirous of emigrating to some part of the State of Illinois for the purpose of better providing for themselves and their families, provided the privileges of a social, moral and relig- ious character which they have now, and which they highly value, can be made secure to them in their future residence;
'Now, Therefore, for the purpose of accomplishing the above objects, the undersigned do form themselves into an association and adopt the following constitution.' "
Unfortunately the constitution has been lost. The idea of organizing a church before going west had taken strong hold of some minds. Ebenezer Strong Phelps, a deacon in the Northampton church, was prime man in this. Cir- culars were sent out stating that "it was not so much to promote the private interests of its members as to advance the cause of Christ by planting religious institutions in the virgin soil of the west and aiding the cause of Christian education in its various departments." When a number of people had offered themselves as candidates for member- ship in this emigrant church a council was called to act upon the proposition. The following are the minutes of the council :
"Northampton, March 23, 1831. "An ecclesiastical council was convened at the house of Dea. Ebenezer S. Phelps by letters received from certain persons desir- ous of being organized into a Congregational church previous to their removal to the Western Country. Rev. S. Williams and Rev. I. S. Spencer, pastors of the church at Northampton, and brother Lewis Strong delegate. Rev. Lyman Coleman, pastor of the church at Belchertown, and Deacon I. Towne, Delegate, and Rev. Benj. H. Pitman, Pastor of the Church at Putney, Vt., were present as members of the council. Rev. H. Pitman was chosen
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Moderator and Rev. L. Coleman, Scribe. Prayer was offered by Moderator. The following persons there presented letters cer- tifying to their regular membership with their respective Christian churches and recommending them to be received into the church proposed to be organized by this council. Deacon Ebenezer S. Phelps and Anne, his wife, from Northampton, Amos C. Morse and Lucinda, his wife, Elisha Woods and Abigail, his wife, and Samuel Brown and Daniel Brown from the church at Belcher- town. Doctor Nathaniel Chamberlain from the church at Putney, Vt., Levi Jones and Louise, his wife, from the South church at Amherst, John Leonard from the church at Warwick; Alvah Whitmarsh and Naomi, his wife, from the first church at Spring- field; Maria Lyman from the first church at South Hadley; and Elijah Smith, Clarissa Childs and Sylvia Childs from the church at Conway. Daniel Brown and Louisa Jones were absent. The others then present submitted to the council a Confession of the Faith and Convenant which were approved by the council where- upon, it was voted to proceed immediately to the house of public worship to organize the proposed church and that the services be performed as follows: that Rev. Mr. Coleman offer the introduc- tory prayer; that Rev. Mr. Spencer deliver the Sermon and that the Confession of Faith and Love must be presented to the church; that the fellowship of the churches be expressed and the concluding prayer be offered by Rev. Pitman.
"Proceeded to the house of worship where the services were per- formed according to announcement and the above named persons there present were duly constituted a Church styled the Hamp- shire Colony Church. Voted to adopt the above as the record of the doings of this council and adjourn.
Benj. H. Pitman, Moderator. (A true copy.) Attest: L. Coleman, Scribe."
This council was held in the forenoon. In the afternoon, after the organization of the church, the Rev. Ichabod Spencer preached a sermon on the text "Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." After the sermon the Lord's Supper was ad- ministered to a large congregation of communicants. It was a session of peculiar solemnity and called forth deep sympathy from all who attended the long session. A col- lection of $54.00 was taken to supply the new church with vessels for the communion table. The Hon. Lewis Strong,
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
delegate from the Northampton church to this council, said, "The meeting house, at the organization was thronged and the public services, conducted mainly by Dr. Spencer himself, were of the most thrilling interest. Never shall we entirely forget the wise counsels he imparted to that little company of believers, nor the earnestness with which he implored, in their behalf, the blessing of God, nor the melting of hearts throughout every portion of that great assembly, as in their name and with deep devotion he bade the departing ones a final and most affectionate adieu."
The spiritual influence of this movement was very evi- dent when one hundred and thirty newly converted young people met in the pastor's home for a last good-bye to the Pilgrims. Quoting from Dr. Bascom's and Rev. E. G. Smith's papers written for the fiftieth anniversary: "They did not all come west at the same time or by the same route. The main body of the colony met in Albany and embarked in a canal boat, the 7th of May 1831, with Cotton Mather of Hadley, for Captain." We are not surprised that such a company of passengers and a captain with a name so ven- erable and historic should enter into contract not to travel on the Sabbath.
The first Sabbath they spent in Amsterdam, probably without any design of imitating their Pilgrim Fathers, who made Amsterdam, in Holland, their first resting place after leaving Old England. They held religious services on board their boat, which attracted the attention and excited the curiosity of citizens. The captain's explanation to curious inquiries was that he had a company of missionaries on board. The next Sabbath found them in Buffalo. They had expected to find a schooner there, bound for Chicago, but were disappointed. Taking a steamboat to Detroit, they there found a schooner about sailing for Chicago, but could not find room on board for themselves or their goods. They contracted for their goods to be taken on the next trip, two or three months afterwards, and they set out by land with
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
hired teams for Chicago. Leaving Detroit Monday morning, May 25, they spent the next Sabbath at Sturgis' Prairie. While there, one pair of their hired horses died, compelling the eight young men of the company to travel on foot. Having journeyed half a day in this manner, they all arrived at Mottville, on the St. Joseph river.
Up to this time they had no definite locality selected for their future home. A Mr. Jones had come out the autumn before to explore the country and find a suitable place, but no definite report from him had reached them. But now meeting a traveler from Illinois they learned that Mr. Jones was at Bailey's Point, on the Vermillion River, where he had built a double cabin for the reception and temporary accom- modation of the colonists. Knowing now that their destin- ation was near the Illinois River, the young men conceived the plan of finishing their journey by water. They accord- ingly purchased two canoes, lashed them together, put their trunks aboard and embarked themselves for a trip down the St. Joseph. It is a rapid stream, and they reached the port- age, a distance of sixty-five miles, in twelve hours. Here they hired an ox team to transport themselves, their canoes and baggage five miles to a swamp or lake which is the source of the Kankakee, one of the branches which form the Illinois river.
From that point to Ottawa, they were told, was 160 miles. They expected to make that distance in three or four days, and laid in provisions accordingly. Reembarking on Tuesday afternoon, they soon found navigation on the Kankakee Swamp and River much less rapid than on the St. Joseph. Saturday night overtook them some distance above the point where the Kankakee and DesPlaines unite to form the Illinois. An appearance of rain induced them to tie up to a tree for the night. When they awoke Sunday morning they found themselves lying in several inches of water in the bottom of their boats. After building a fire and drying their clothes, they reluctantly decided to travel that Sabbath
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
day, for the first time on their journey. Their provisions were exhausted, and their only rations for some time had been slippery elm and bass-wood bark, and they knew not how distant might be a human habitation, where food could be obtained. Sunday night they spent on shore in a drench- ing rain. Monday morning they embarked again under a clear sky, and soon reached an Indian encampment. There they applied in vain for food. Pressing onward, they heard a cow bell in the distance. Leaving the river and ascending the bluff, they found a cabin occupied by a white family, who could give them nothing but mush and milk. To prepare this the woman shelled some corn and ground it in a small hand mill. When the mush was made the young men did not relish it, and they ate just enough to increase rather than appease their hunger. Learning that it was now twen- ty miles to Ottawa, they pushed forward, expecting to find a hotel where they determined to rest and make up in good fare for all their privations. About sunset they saw a cabin on the south side of the river, and on inquiring how far it was to Ottawa, they were told, "This is Ottawa." And all the luxuries that that city could supply were mush and milk with some honey, and a puncheon floor for a bed ! Proceed- ing down the river, the next day, they arrived at a point opposite the present city of LaSalle. It was called Shipping Port or Crosier's Ferry and was a distance of only eight miles from Bailey's Point, their destination. That distance they soon traveled on foot and at Mr. Jones' double cabin they found the other part of their company, from whom they had separated in Michigan. These last had arrived the same day, only a few hours in advance. This was the nineth day of June, five weeks and two days from the commencement of the journey. The portion of the colony that had contin- ued with teams found the journey to Chicago exceedingly dreary and fatiguing. With much difficulty and vexatious delay, they procured other teams at Chicago to take them the remaining 100 miles to Bailey's Point. Nothing occurred
8
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
to break the monotony of this stage of their journey till they reached the Vermillion River. It was so swollen by rains that the passengers dared not ford it in their wa- gons. They found a ferry man with a log canoe or dug-out who took them across one by one, requiring them to recline on the bottom of the boat lest he upset it. At the Jones cabin they all remained some time to recuperate and gain such information as should decide the question of their future homes.
On the twelfth of June, the first Sunday after their ar- rival in Illinois, a meeting was held in a log cabin in a set- tlement called Lowell, near the Big Vermillion Creek. On July 2, 1831 having agreed, finally, in accordance with the advice of their agent to locate on the prairie east and south of Bureau Creek they set out for that place across a trackless prairie. Dr. Nathaniel Chamberlin and Eli and Elijah Smith joined in buying a horse and two yoke of oxen, to re- move their families and goods across the Illinois River to Princeton (then called Greenfield). The second day they found the prairie, west of where Peru now is, so wet as to be almost impassable. Finally leaving their wagon stalled in a creek their guide undertook to pilot them to Epperson's cabin, to spend the night. Failing in the darkness to find it, they spread their blankets in a hazel thicket on East Bureau, near Maiden and slept under the open sky. The next day they started again. The order of their procession is said, by Elijah Smith, to have been thus, — Dr. Chamberlin took Mrs. Eli Smith on the horse behind him, Elijah Smith mounted on an ox with his wife behind him, Eli Smith on another ox with Major Chamberlin behind him. Thus they made their way to the log cabin of James Foristall, about two miles north of Dover.
The first entry in the old church record book reads as follows: — "The Hampshire Colony Church of Christ founded at Northampton, Mass., March 23, 1831, settled on the Bu- reau River, County of Putnam, State of Illinois, July 6th,
9
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
1831 and named the town Greenfield. The only members of said church that arrived at the above time were Nathaniel Chamberlin, Elijah Smith and his wife, Sylvia, and Mrs. Eli Smith." Other detachments came later by different routes. Deacon Phelps and family and Mr. Moore and family came the latter part of the summer by way of the Ohio Canal, down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, sending their goods by way of New Orleans. Deacon Phelps and family spent seven years in Springfield before they came to Princeton. Mr. Morse located in Jacksonville, Illi- nois. He died in October, 1831. Elisha Wood came to Illi- nois in 1832 and spent two years in Tazewell County be- fore making a home here. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmarsh did not come until 1841.
At the Fiftieth Anniversary Elijah Smith said: "After arriving on the Bureau we were located some miles part. We had no way of traveling except by a cart made of the four wheels of a wagon with a small platform, drawn by the patient ox, so we did not have meetings regularly, even on Sunday. In October 1831, as I was at work building my log cabin, two or three miles north of Princeton, about two o'clock P. M., Deacon E. S. Phelps and Dr. N. Chamberlin came to hold a church meeting for the transaction of busi- ness and prayer. After electing a deacon to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Morse, we had a session of prayer. While kneeling on the cold damp ground, interceed- ing with our Heavenly Father for his blessing to accompany our feeble efforts in planting the standard of the cross, on this virgin soil, we could almost hear our dear Saviour say Tear not, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' At a meeting on November 21, 1831, a letter was granted to one of the colony who for a time located else- where. Four members were present but only one voted, since women did not then have the privilege. On the first Sabbath in May, 1832, services were held in the cabin of Eli and Elijah Smith and at the same time a concert of
10
The following record supports the opinion of many that this wood cut shows in the background the rear view of the first church.
The Hampshire Colony Church as described in "The Tax Payers and Voters of Bureau County, Illinois", published in 1877 by H. F. Kett & Co.:
"In the fall of 1835 the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church was built on the public square south of where the courthouse now stands. This was a two-story frame structure raised high above the ground on wooden blocks, painted white, and made an imposing ap- pearance. Deacon Elijah Wood built this church under a contract for six hundred and fifty dollars, completing the outside only, and for two years it was not plastered. A rough board pulpit and slab seats were used. This building was a great curiosity to Indians, who styled it 'the big wigwam', and it was equally so to travelers passing through the country, it being the only church on the road between Peoria and Chicago; and if we except a small one at Ottawa, it was the only one west of Chicago. This building paid a double debt, being used not only for religious meetings, but for a school, a town hall, a court-room and a place for holding abolition state conventions, etc. In 1848 this building was moved to the southeast corner of the public square, now belonging to Justus Stevens and used for a barn."
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
prayer for the conversion of the world. Before time for an- other meeting the Black Hawk War had begun and we were obliged to flee to a place of safety."
The Home Missionary Magazine for February, 1834 contains this item : "Rev. Theron Baldwin on a tour through northern Illinois visited the Bureau settlement. When he preached a sermon he found the people desirous of having a a minister. They agreed to circulate a subscription paper and see how much they could raise for the support of one. Bro. Farnham starts Monday to visit the places."
The same publication for May, 1834, contains a letter from the Rev. L. Farnham at Bureau Settlement. He says : "On the first of last month (Feb. 1834) we had a com- munion session. Brother Kirby assisted me. Six were ad- mitted to the church on certificate and others would have united but had not letters. This was the first session of this kind which the little church has enjoyed in this remote land. God had indeed spread a table for them in the wilderness."
In the fall of 1834 Mr. Farnham again visited the church and says : "We found the little church alive and they received us gladly. In many ways they have been highly favored of the Lord. The settlement has greatly increased and has been remarkably healthy. They had not had a ser- mon from a preacher since I left, but they had regularly kept up a meeting on the Sabbath, the monthly concert for prayer, and the Sabbath school. We had communion session in December. Fourteen more were added to the church so that the membership is now twenty-four. We are making an attempt to build a meeting house and I am confident the Lord will help us through. We meet now in a private house and it is crowded every Sabbath. Many more would come if we had a house large enough to accommodate them. The church is doing all they are able to do and some who do not belong to the church have shown commendable liberality."
The "frame church" was built by 1835 and Rev. Lucian Farnham was called to be pastor of the church. At last the
11
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
"colony church" was established in the "far west", with a meeting house, a pastor and a growing membership. While the Kingdom had not yet been given it, the future looked bright with promise.
The following is quoted directly from a paper prepared and read by Rev. Edwin G. Smith, D. D., on the Seventieth Anniversary of the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church, Princeton, Illinois, March 28, 1901: "After the Black Hawk War war cloud had passed over, Febru- ary, 1834, the church held its first sacramental sea- son, Rev. Lucian Farnham had commenced his good work with them; six members united with them. Among them Deacon Reeve of blessed memory, and Joel Doolittle and Nathaniel Chamberlin, Jr., and their wives brought strength and cheer to the little flock. Soon afterward Asher Doolit- tle and family, C. D. Colton and others came. The next year brought quite a reinforcement to their numbers and strength. Deacon Alby Smith and family and other Gouver- neur colonists were a great help and encouragement to the church in July, 1835.
"That season the first Congregational house of worship in Illinois was built and with it an academical school building in true New England and Pilgrim style. From this date the church and school took on new beauty and strength. From Mr. Triplett's hotel the church graduated to its new and commodious home and from the log cabin the school house ascended to the lower story of the church building. Other interests kept pace as usual with church and school, and these pioneer enterprizes were but the forerunners of many good things.
"It is no small honor to the pioneers of such a house- hold of faith as now greets us in the Congregational Year Book. At least two thousand Congregational Churches of the Pilgrim Polity in and west of Chicago are following the wake of the old Colony church. Says Dr. Bascom in his his- torical sketch (alluded to in the part not quoted.) 'Let it be
12
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
remembered that this fragment of the Hampshire Colony church, so afflicted yet not forsaken, cast down but not de- stroyed, was for two years of its history, all there was of or- ganized Congregationalism in Illinois.' And if in Illinois, surely in the west and northwest. This is honor enough for this occasion. But we have more to our credit near home. This church is preeminently a 'mother church/ She has a beautiful daughter near by that we heard from last night. One especially dear to us, viz, Dover, doubly dear to me as my first pastorate, and numbers near by and farther away that we have mothered. And we have a dear sister near by evolved from that little 'family jar.' None the less dear be- cause in the evolution she became a strong Presbyterian church. It has been a Congregational habit to do this in the past.
"But we have other things to glory in. This church was the pioneer in the anti-slavery reform. The Princeton Con- gregational church was a city set on a hill in this regard and its clear light shone far and wide. Its pastor was the Tlumed Knight' in this great struggle. Here also the Emanci- pation Proclamation had its inception and its first public advocates from the pulpit and from the pen, according to Rev. H. L. Hammond. Here the township high school had its origin in our state. Such men as Bryant, Bascom and Boltwood pioneered it. Then Knox College had some of its first students from abroad from here. A member of the first graduating class was from this church and of the sec- ond and of many subsequent classes. But I forbear lest we should glory over much. It behooves us on this joyous an- niversary occasion at the dawn of the new century with grateful hearts and earnest purposes to gird on anew the armor and to strive for greater and better things in the future. God grant that we may be 'steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord'."
13
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE INDEPENDENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (NOW THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PRINCETON.)
In the early days of this church, slavery was a much discussed topic. Mr. Farnham was a strong abolitionist, as were many of the church members. From the pulpit on the Sabbath, and the pews in the prayer meetings, the "rights of man" were continually advocated. This at last became un- bearable to a number of pro-slavery members, and on Oct. 24, 1837 twenty-four of them asked for letters to form an- other Congregational Church. After mature deliberation the church adopted the following preamble and resolution: "Whereas, the above named persons, members of the Hamp- shire Colony Congregational Church at Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois, being desirous to go out from us, not consider- ing themselves of us, have this day asked dismission from our church, not giving any scriptural reason why they thus ask dis- mission from our church, and as they have already associated themselves with another body of men to build up a church and society more congenial with their views and feelings than what they now enjoy in our church, as they say,
Therefore, Resolved that the aforesaid members have their request granted them and whenever they shall form themselves into a church of Christ founded on the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, we shall no longer consider them as under our watch and care and will conduct ourselves toward them accordingly."
For long months a coolness existed between the two churches, but on May 2, 1840, it was voted "that we receive the First Independent Congregational Church of Princeton into fellowship with us agreeable to a discussion of the Association". On January 13, 1841, Deacon E. S. Phelps, Deacon L. Reeve and C. S. Allen were appointed a com- mittee to confer with the other Congregational Church about uniting the two churches. The records contain no further reference to the matter. Many times this union has been discussed in both churches, but as yet no definite action has been taken. They have worked in perfect har- mony for years and there seems to be no valid reason why they should not sometime become one strong church,
14
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE DOVER CHURCH
"March 14, 1838. "To the Pastor and Members of the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church, at Princeton. Greetings: —
"Reverend and Beloved: — We the subscribers living at such a distance from your place of worship as to render it very inconvenient to attend regularly, on the means of grace with you and believing that the Glory of God, the interests of Christ's Kingdom and our own individual good would be promoted, do hereby respectfully request letters of dismission and recommendation from your particular watch and care for the purpose of such an organization.
Yours,
Sylvester Brigham Joseph Brigham Eliza Brigham W. Pool 0. A. Smith Lyman Stowel Amanda Stowel"
These were charter members of the Dover Church, an unusually spiritual and benevolent body of believers. It has sent out many efficient workers and its contributions to church work have been surprisingly large. The Dover church enjoys the reputation of being a "Model Church".
15
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THESE ALSO SERVED
When the Union Army invaded the Old South during the Civil War, it was related that a negro boy stood peer- ing through the tumbledown rail fence by the roadside, listening spellbound to the tramp, tramp, tramp of the Boys in Blue. Dazed and mystified by their numbers, as the long line vanished in the hazy morning light, the negro boy was heard to murmur, "Has you all got names?" Names of the Christian soldiers of the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church of Princeton, Illinois, not enumer- ated in this record and known by too few of the rapidly depleting ranks, who, by word of mouth can tell us of the lives of comrades — many names omitted here will be en- rolled as "the blessed angel turns the pages of our years."
Before it is too late this occasion furnishes an oppor- tunity to place among the records of the First Congrega- tional Church of Princeton, Illinois, some few of these names. Those mentioned may not have known "what argument their lives to their neighbors' creed had lent," but they also served.
As an appropriate setting for this record, I have chosen to quote from a letter written for publication to the Bureau County Republican, in 1905, by Lewis Colton, son- in-law of Ebenezer Strong Phelps, with whom originated the idea of forming the Hampshire Colony Church in old Massachusetts, to be transplanted to the prairies of Illinois. Mr. Colton writes from Leavenworth, Kansas, and uses as his subject:
HOW THE CONGREGATION WAS SEATED IN THE OLD CHURCH
"As a child I had my seat up in the old gallery from which vantage ground, Sabbath after Sabbath, I watched the moving panorama below. In those days the pews were sold and usual- ly to the same one, year after year. I could have told it was wrong if the Leepers and Deacon Lazarus Reeve had gone into the pews on the south of and facing the end of the pulpit,
16
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
while Cyrus Bryant's, James Everett's and John Bubach's families took those on the north side of the pulpit. I looked for those to take seats in the south wall pews in the order of Doc- tor Anthony, Egbert Norton's, Sidney Smith's, Mr. Egbert Colton's, Deacon Caleb Cook's, Edward Winship's and Elijah Smith's families. Across the aisle I could see the families of Doctor Converse, Mr. Curtis, Sr., John Crittenden, John De- lano, Stephen G. Paddock, Rufus Carey, Seth Clapp, Cyrus Col- ton, McCayga Triplett. Occupying the other half of the body seats came always on the very front seat, Mrs. Keyes and daughters, and back of her, Deacon Ebenezer Strong Phelps, Charles Phelps, Chauncey Colton, James Smith and the Har- risons, Hinsdale Phelps, Egbert Curtis, Sr., Otis Dunbar, Joel Doolittle, the Pendletons and Proutys.
"On the other wall seats there were first, Horace Winship's, Noah Wiswall's, the Lovejoy family, Elijah Dee's, John Bry- ant's, Lewis Colton's, S. D. Hindale's and Sam Dunbar's fami- lies. Other regular attendants were seated more promiscuous- ly but, in the main, you could go into the church any Sabbath morning in the fifties and early sixties and find them all seat- ed the same.
"In those days the men all attended church. The doors of the pews bore the name of each one and opened and closed for the right families only. Not often did they admit an outsider. Each Sabbath morning two tall, slender men rose from each side and passed the hat. I wondered, in my child mind, if it were be- cause these two men were so near alike, so dignified and sober that they must needs preside at the communion table. Doctor Anthony and James Smith might have been brothers."
From the cursory records available we glean that Deacon Ebenezer Strong Phelps brought seven children with him, four girls and three boys. He and Mr. Morse came by way of the Ohio canal, Ohio river, up the Missis- sippi and Illinois rivers, to Springfield, Illinois. They sent their goods by way of New Orleans. They arrived in Springfield, July 26, 1831. Deacon Lazarus Reeve was deacon from 1840 to 1887, deacon emeritus from 1887 to 1893 — a period of fifty-three years. Regarding him I quote from a paper written by Mrs. Emily Colton to com- memorate the sixtieth anniversary of this church : "I can
17
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
see Deacon Reeve as I saw him first on the third of July, 1835, sitting on a board with a little child on his lap. He was very modest, so much so, that when appointed deacon in 1840, he requested to be excused from serving, quoting several pasages of scripture to show his reasons for declin- ing. The church, after postponing the matter for a week, voted to give him lief to withdraw his request." Louisa Reeve, wife of Deacon Lazarus Reeve, was a member from 1836 to 1901, sixty-five years, and their daughter, Clara Reeve Norton, from 1841 to 1906, sixty-five years. She was a strong character and an energetic worker in the church and vigorously upheld its traditions.
Again quoting from Mrs. Emily Colton's notes: — "Brother Eli Smith, as we called him, was one who was always at meeting and ready to testify for Christ. Doctor Chamberlin always had his own views and express- ed them decidedly, but if the brethren differed from him he acquiesced gracefully, saying, 'Very well, very well, do as you think best.' Doctor William C. Anthony was deacon thirty-eight years. When the seventieth anniversary of the church was observed not one of the original charter members was living. One child of a charter member, the youngest of Deacon Ebenezer Strong Phelps' children, Mrs. Lucinda Bubach, only one and one-half years old at the time of the journey from Northampton, was living in Princeton when the seventieth anniversary was commem- orated. She had been a member of the church fifty years at that time. The eldest son, E. Hinsdale Phelps, was a member sixty-four years. (Died 1899). Mrs. Elijah Bry- ant, mother of Sue Bryant Ferris, was a granddaughter of Asher Doolittle, who united with the church in 1834, dur- ing the pastorate of Reverend Farnham. Several in the church at the seventieth anniversary were children of those who united in 1835. Alby and Sally Hyde Smith and their son, Edwin G. Smith, and their daughter, Emily Smith Colton, were among the number."
18
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Edwin G. Smith, a graduate of Knox College in its first class, 1846, served the American Bible Society for years and was a well known figure in this church; he fre- quently addressed the congregation from its pulpit in be- half of his life work for the Kingdom. Emily Smith Col- ton and her husband, Chauncey D. Colton, — who served the church as clerk for twenty-six years, also as deacon and trustee for many years, — were untiring in their work for both the church and the Sunday school. Theirs was a home of Christian culture, their sons were college bred, and the staunch Christian influence of the Colton fireside per- meated the community life. Another daughter of Alby Smith, Mrs. Sarah Harrison, united in 1836. Her son, Richard Harrison, is now a deacon of this church. Mrs. Lucia Bascom was a daughter of Egbert Colton, who joined this church in 1835.
Mrs. Julia R. Phelps, historian for the seventieth anniversary celebration, says: "Her husband, Charles P. Bascom, is held in grateful remembrance for his cheer- ful readiness to do whatever he could for the church, whether as trustee or Sunday school teacher for a class of young ladies or in supporting one part in the choir while Clarence Delano carried the opposite side. John Leeper's name was found in our list in 1835 and his son, Harvey B. Leeper, was made deacon in 1878 and was pronounced a very handy man to have around when the prayer meeting lagged. Mrs. Louise C. Olds belongs with this list; she was the only sister of John Howard Bryant and her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Mathews, was a guest of the church on its seventieth anniversary. I haven't dared begin the list of those who joined this church in 1836 least I weary your patience and therefore some highly honored names must be content to remain for the future historian to mention."
From memory and from some definite facts gleaned from meager records, I again present a picture of the con-
19
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
gregation as it regularly assembled during the pastorate of Doctor Richard Edwards, 1875 to 1884, — years which witnessed a working community church at its best. In this grouping we do not have the advantage of the regu- lar seat holders year after year occupying the same seats to guide us, though many of the congregation did keep their regular pews. Many descendants of the families enumerated in the fifties and sixties were regular at- tendants through this period. Here gathered Sabbath after Sabbath, John Walters, father of Mrs. Egbert Cur- tis, whose prayers were a part of his very being and pour- ed from his lips as easily as gather the dews of evening; Deacon Lazarus Reeve, father of Mrs. Clara Norton, modest, considerate, dependable, was still here. In Novem- ber 1833, Clara Reeve, afterward Clara Norton, came with her parents to the Bryant cabin. She writes : "The Cham- berlin family with Mrs. Flint and her daughter were here then, and the Moseleys and the Musgroves on the prairie were our neighbors. I remember that our mother thought she had found good company."
Remember when you walk down old South Street, now Park Avenue West, that the large elms there were set by Egbert Norton, son-in-law of Deacon Reeve, and by A. J. Haviland, in the spring of 1847. Remember also that we owe the trees in the Congregational church yard to Betsey Crittenden, mother of Mrs. Ella C. Dexter. The trees from the Eckels home to the Court House on the east side of the street are due to the energy of Mrs. Curtis, Sr., mother of Egbert and Jennie Curtis and to Mrs. Mar- tha Delano, mother of the late Clarence Delano. Both Mrs. Curtis, Sr., and Mrs. Martha Delano died in the late 70's.
In an article entitled "Historic Review of Princeton" written by Mrs. Clara Norton in 1879, we find the above information, also the following: "Harriet Wiswall, one of our sisters, applied for a position during the Civil War as nurse and was accepted. She followed up the battles
20
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
with her wine and stores, sent to her from our Princeton Society, nursed soldiers in the barracks and hospitals, — in fact, gave her life for her country. It is fitting to add that before the next summer, 1862, Dr. S. A. Paddock, Captain F. B. Ferris, Lieutenant Wright Seamon and Major N. B. Page were brought home and laid in our beautiful Cemetery."
To return to the Sunday congregation: Here were Mrs. Elijah Bryant and family, Mrs. Bryant — a daughter of Sidney Smith. With her calm, winning smile she was beloved by all the people. The Everett girls were staunch and intellectual and highly appreciated for their genuine worth. The last of the family, Miss Mary Everett, died just recently (1930). Mrs. Mary Jones, the mother of Mrs. Louise J. Mosely, was a regular attendant and was always a liberal supporter, not forgetting to assist the younger groups to meet their quota on church pledges. She was a remarkable woman with a very unusual memory and lived to the age of 101 years. Mr. and Mrs. Egbert Curtis always welcomed strangers and stood for the best in the church and community life. Mrs. Curtis' work lives on in the worthy activities of the Elizabeth Curtis Guild. What a noble tribute! Few were the Sunday mornings that found vacant the pews occupied by Mrs. Worthing- ton, also a Curtis, or Miss Jennie Curtis, who was for years a teacher and long the secretary of the Sunday school. A regular attendant also was Nan Walters, whose rich alto voice will be remembered by many. Regular attendants also were Mrs. Seth Clapp and Mrs. Lemuel Carey. They were sisters and practical saints who liberally contributed to the church and with equal liberality gave themselves to rearing and educating several young people whose ma- ture lives are doing noble credit to their early Christian environment. Mr. and Mrs. Nat. Simons were helpers with the music and Mrs. Simons was long a quiet worker in the women's organizations. Some still remember Mrs. Mary
21
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Talbot Dunbar, mother of Camilla Dunbar Richardson and Mary Dunbar Ferris, also mother of Charlie Dunbar, a figure in the church and community life for over fifty years. Charlie Dunbar was known and appreciated, far and wide, by young and old alike. His Sunday school class in the Congregational Church was historic. The John Richardson family, the Harry Ferris family, the Parker Newells, the Gilman T. Smiths were present regularly. Their devoted activities permeate the history of the various church organizations through many fruitful years.
No mention of the organization, during these years, would be complete without the following: — Mrs. Lydia An- thony, a worker and staunch believer, whose responses in the church services still reverberate in the memories of many of us ; Mr. and Mrs. Catlin Cook, who gave and pray- ed and gave still more to the work of the Kingdom ; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. R. Phelps, whose church life always came first; Dr. and Mrs. E. J. Schenk and family, liberal givers and earnest helpers in all needful enterprises; Mrs. Lydia Smith, mother of J. Clyde Smith — in later years she be- came Mrs. Solomon Robinson. Her faith never failed and her helpful interest in her church never flagged.
We recall, also, Mrs. James Ellis and daughters, one of whom, Miss Orpha, so faithfully and quietly helpful, is still carrying on. Miss Mary Denham, daughter of Mrs. Owen Lovejoy, was ever loyal to the family traditions and to the support of the Congregational Church of Princeton.
Always faithful prayerful workers and regular attend- ants were the Winships, the Pendletons, the Porters, the Morrises, the Hinsdale Phelps — not leaders, but thinkers and doers, everyday Christians whose places are hard to fill. We would not omit the family of our pastor, Dr. Rich- ard Edwards — his loyal, well-poised wife, his gifted daugh- ters, the Misses Nellie and Mary, fine minds and personali- ties; his sons, Nicholas and George; all were workers in their father's church and parish, while the two younger
22
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
children, Florence and Owen, loved their childhood in Princeton and have returned occasionally to visit their old haunts.
Remembered among the congregation, though not members of the church, but generous contributors and fre- quent attendants, were Mr. John H. Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Bates, Mrs. Mary Latimer and daughters, the Misses Mary and Alice Latimer, the Whipples, the Charles Bald- wins, the Richard Skinner family and others. The children from many of these families attended the Sunday school and their lives have been fondly followed by many faithful workers in the Princeton Congregational Church.
I can, in memory, see Dr. Edwards in the pulpit on Sunday mornings as he stood before his congregation, em- phasizing his scholarly well written sermons with an occa- sional "so I think, brethren and sisters, so I think," as he rose for an instant on his toes then came firmly down on his heels for still further emphasis. It was a stirring sight and a thrilling experience for the young people to mingle with this fine audience as it touched elbows in the wide center aisle, ushered out by the strong, almost martial music of Sam Bowlby's pipe organ postlude. More recent history is largely covered by the reports of the various church or- ganizations and is better classified. As I record the above mentioned names, some of whom I am gratefully thankful to have known, they seem to say to us who still work on:
"Let us do our work as well,
Both the unseen and the seen,
Make the house where God may dwell
Beautiful, entire and clean."
Jessie A. Phelps. September, 1930
23
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
DONATION PARTIES OF YORE
In our church a donation party was a celebration of yearly occurrence, and usually in the fall after the har- vest had been gathered and the crops brought in. These parties were looked forward to with great anticipation and interest. They were planned during Indian summer be- fore the fall rains set in to make the roads all but im- passable, which they often were either from mud or dust which made the effort of getting to town a real under- taking.
All details for the coming festival must be made on the previous Sabbath for there were no telephones nor other quick and convenient method of communication. To spare a working horse, even if there was an idle boy around, was not to be thought of. The committee had mat- ters well in hand. What each family would bring in the way of food to be eaten for supper the night of the gath- ering, was definitely set down and a slip given to the head of the families who had promised, because there must be no mistake. A lack of food would be an eternal disgrace. There are some amusing traditions of a certain woman who knew how to squeeze a ham-bone, but didn't her hus- band water his barrel of whiskey? Another tale, — though I for one never believed it — was of one sister who took the minister's wife a shirred plaid silk bonnet covered with a green veil. But the veil was not thick enough to conceal the combinations of colors underneath. If the dainty and fastidious wife of the pastor found it difficult to be grac- ious in her thanks, the children of the family could use it in private theatricals.
What cooking was put into these feasts ! That is what they were: Headcheese, sausages, ham, pork-roast with applesauce, pies, cake, especially dough cake, and raised doughnuts. Surely none such now a days! The Deacon brought the apples, pop-corn and cider. More than his
24
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
share? Of course, but that was his way. And, if during the year he neglected to leave his frequent supply of ap- ples, nuts, especially black walnuts, at the parsonage, the children did not hesitate to drive to his house to remind him of the omission. Dear kindly Deacon! His reward should be great and doubtless it is.
Ample as the supper was, there were packages mark- ed 'Tor the minister to take home." In addition to food, there were specimens of dainty needle work on night-gown, chemise, and sometimes on those superfluous articles known as pantalettes. Jokes and games were allowed on the occasion of these parties. The writer remembers one occasion when she was thoroughly frightened by what was intended as only a pleasantry. She, a child of five or six, was sitting on the floor munching one of the good deacon's apples when another deacon called out: "Clear the track!" At the same time he threw a large doll dressed as a negro with a purple calico dress and a yellow turban directly in- to the face and lap of the child, who gave forth shriek after shriek, and refused to be comforted until the sister, who was always first to help a child in trouble, gathered the frightened youngster in her arms to be comforted by a piece of loaf-sugar, that unusual treat. It was consid- ered a rare joke that the child of a pronounced abolitionist should be afraid of a negro in any shape.
Throughout the year these people were bound together by the spirit of helpfulness. All the neighbors knew which family was butchering; who was to have those unusual guests, visitors from the east; whose turn it was to have the dressmaker for the yearly sewing; who needed help to get the hay under cover before the rain should spoil it. In all emergencies the neighbors were on hand, but perhaps sickness brought out the greatest amount of sympathy and helpfulness. It was expected that the immediate family could care for the patient during the day, but for night service the neighbors would volunteer, and during long
25
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
sieges of fever the neighbors for miles around would con- tinue this service. Appreciation for such kindness has been handed down to the second and third generation.
Returning to the donation parties: When the evening closed it was with music, which began with secular music but ended with the grand old hymns with which all were familiar. And last when the signal was given each bowed his head to listen to a suitable and comforting prayer. Who that ever heard that voice can ever forget its sweet, strong magnetic and convincing quality? We of the family have often heard of the Lovejoy eye, which was blue or black according to the degree of excitement and the demands of the occasion, but to me memory comes forward with echoes of the most lovable, loving and far reaching voice of all memories.
"And so beside the silent sea
I wait the muffled oar; No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.
"I know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care."
Sophia Lovejoy Dickenson.
26
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
MEMORIES OF AN OLD MAN January, 1930
The three buildings that I remember have stood on the site where the present church stands; I have no recol- lection of the building that stood somewhere south of the Courthouse.
My first recollection of going to church is this: Some member of the family said, "This will be the last Sunday." That was good news to me. But no; it was only the last Sunday that Father was to preach. I was greatly disap- pointed to know that the Sabbath was to continue forever. The opinions of a six year old boy are not weighty.
Every one went to church: none were too old, none were too young; the old ones coughed, the young ones cried.
This church was oblong. The pulpit was at the west end, the choir at the east end. The musical instrument was not musical, only a melodeon. During the singing the congregation rose, turned around facing the choir. The principle feature of the choir was the Smith girls, daugh- ters of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Smith. These sisters lived in the country and were called "the prairie birds". One of the pupils — a boy, of course — said, "It's a dull day in school when the prairie birds are absent."
The box-stoves furnished what heat there was. In winter these stoves became so hot that no one could get near enough to warm himself. Stove pipes ran the length of the room and dripped creosote. Many a good bonnet was spoiled thereby.
The church service began at 10:30 and lasted till 12 o'clock. The sermon was sixty minutes long; a minister who did not preach an hour did not earn his salary, which was $600 a year. After the morning service there was an intermission of an hour for lunch — there was no luncheon in those days — then Sunday-school, then another sermon and home for dinner. Everyone knew he had been to church and that he had had enough. Later an evening serv-
27
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
ice was substituted for the afternoon session.
In this church each pew had a door which was nar- row, too narrow. At this time hoop-skirts were becoming fashionable; they were not adaptable to the narrow doors. While these skirts were collapsible, they were not compres- sible. The difficulty that a man might have getting into Heaven, or a camel getting through the needle's eye was nothing compared with getting a hoop-skirt through a pew door.
There was one phase of going to church in which the boys were active participants. At the west of the church was a yard where the teams were hitched. With some of these teams were young colts, and when the teams were driven from the yard preparatory to going home, the colts would get mixed up. The mares would whinny, the colts would whinny and run in the wrong direction, and there was confusion worse confounded. Then the boys were ordered out as an emergency corps to chase, to separate, and to return the colts to their respective dams; no easy task, nor one suitable to Sunday-school teachings and a divine service. The feelings, the thoughts of every boy who has chased those colts cannot properly be described: nor will the boys ever forget the incident. If the adults had given less thought to theology and more to biology, and had driven mules to church, what a means of grace it would have been to the boys who chased those damless colts !
The minister's salary was six hundred dollars a year. The standard of living was not too high, and provisions given to the minister's family could be deducted from the amount pledged toward the salary. Deacon Reeve used to give the Lovejoys many apples, but no deduction on his dues was expected or accepted: indeed we children used to go to the Deacon's and boldly announce: "Well, Deacon, we've come for some apples." If the Lord loveth a cheer- ful giver, so do children.
28
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
The bell that hung in the spire was manipulated by a rope that came through the ceiling into the lobby. The end of the rope reversed and spliced into the body of the rope forming a loop, in which the sexton could put his foot, thus adding his weight to the pull on the bell. One sexton would allow the boys to climb into this loop and ride back and forth; another sexton was not interested in the uplift of the boys, neither was he popular with them.
The main purpose of the bell was, of course, to call the people to church, but it had several other interesting uses : a certain number of strokes denoted the death of some member of the congregation ; other strokes denoted the sex of the deceased ; others gave the age of the departed. This last use of the bell was later discontinued, possibly due to the women members who did not wish their age broad- cast.
The use of the bell had romantic and heroic phases, when at times it would clang forth a warning to the initiat- ed that a negro was caught in the meshes of the law. At this important signal the farmers would stop their teams in the furrow, strip the harness from one horse and away to the rescue, leaving the other horse to stand in the fur- row or make its way to the barn to be taken care of by the wife. In those days the women, too, were "Minute-men."
This building that I've been talking about, was later rebuilt, remodled and much improved. In part it was car- peted, some of the seats were cushioned, and above all it was heated. The church was lighted by a kind of gas that would sometimes explode, but that was only an added interest.
The choir was now established in the west end of the church and a pipe-organ was installed. The tunes and the hymns were majestic, heart-filling, and soul inspiring. The entire congregation used to sing — perhaps they could not sing, but they did.
The authors of these hymns must have been inspired
29
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
like the prophets of old. A prayer, a hope, a faith were never more sweetly phrased than in some of these hymns:
"Father, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sov'reign will denies, Accepted at thy throne of grace,
Let this petition rise.
"Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free: The blessings of thy grace impart,
And make me live to Thee.
"Let the sweet hope that Thou are mine
My life and death attend; Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end."
— Mrs. Steele (Plymouth Collection.)
"We are living, we are dwelling
In a grand and awful time, In an age on ages telling;
To be living is sublime. Hark! the waking up of nations,
Gog and Magog to the fray. Hark! What soundeth is creation
Groaning for its latter day.
"Will ye play then, will ye dally,
With your music and your mine? Up! It is Jehovah's rally!
God's own arm hath need of thine. Hark the onset! will ye fold your
Faith-clad arms in lazy lock? Up, up, thou drowsy soldier;
Worlds are charging to the shock.
"Worlds are charging, heaven beholding;
Thou hast but an hour to fight; Now the blazoned cross unfolding,
On, right onward, for the right. Oh! Let all the soul within you
For the truth's sake go abroad! Strike, let every nerve and sinew Tell on ages— tell for God."
—A. C. Coxe (Plymouth Collection.)
30
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
I wish you might have heard the singing of these hymns. The lofty vault gathered and rolled back the sound of anthem after anthem until no one, not even a youth, could hear these anthems and not be wrought to a plane of enthusiasm and caused to see a vision.
Not incidents, not events, but people are the most cherished memories and the dearest; words, deeds, man- ners of older people impress and influence those who are younger more than anyone realizes. The impressions of youth are apt to be correct and lasting.
Of the men of the church little need be said ; probably they were convenient and necessary adjuncts.
Much more should be said of the women. There were two whose personality is indelibly impressed on my mem- ory: Aunt Emily Colton and Camilla Dunbar Richardson. They were good women and no celestial halo could be brighter than the one wrought by their good deeds, kind thoughts and gentle ways. Need, not name or position was the open sesame to their kind hearts and generous hands.
Good people have made the Church; the Church has not made good people. A good life may pass, but the in- fluence, the goodness, the benedictions are eternal; they are the attributes of God himself, they cannot pass. "Good deeds and kind words are the flowers that bloom in the Garden of Life."
E. Parish Love joy.
31
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
PRAYER BY OWEN LOVEJOY
The following excerpts are from the last public prayer made by Owen Lovejoy, M. C. The occasion was the second celebra- tion of a National Thanksgiving, held at the church, Novem- ber, 26, 1863, at which time Mr. Lovejoy also made his last speech to a Princeton audience.
"We render thanks to Thee, merciful Father, that Thou hast inclined the heart of our chief magistrate to call upon the people of the United States as one people to render thanks to God for His manifold benefits. We thank Thee that we are thus for the first time, with one exception, called together to praise Thee as a Nation. - -
"We thank Thee, our Heavenly Father, for the blessings of a civil nature which Thou hast bestowed upon us as a people. We thank Thee that Thou hast planted this nation ; that Thou didst sift out the just seed from the Old World and scatter it upon these shores ; that Thou didst bring our fathers across a difficult and stormy sea; and that though many of them perished through wants and privations and the emnity of the savages, Thou didst not allow them to be exterminated, but that Thou has multiplied their number and extended their border from the river to the end of the earth, from ocean to ocean. We thank Thee for our speedy and unparalleled growth among the nations of the earth. We thank Thee that the forest has disappeared before the axe of the laborer, and that beautiful and happy free homes have sprung up in the path of our progress. We thank Thee that so large a portion of this land has been culti- vated, and that it has poured forth such abundance for men and beasts. We thank Thee for that freedom of thought which we have enjoyed and which is so essential to individ- ual and national development. We thank Thee that we have been permitted to worship Thee under our own vine and fig tree, that we have been permitted freedom of the lips, and that the church and school house have arisen wherever settlements have been made. We bless Thee for all Thy kindness to us." -
32
The Faith of Our Fathers
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH— 1831
THE COVENANT— 1831
THE PRESENT CONFESSION AND COVENANT
ON ADMISSION TO CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
THE WEEK-DAY PRAYER MEETINGS
SLAVERY
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS
THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH (As Adopted In 1831)
I. Do you believe there is but one God, in three per- sons, The Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and that these three are the same in substance, equal in power and glory, and that this God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, in His wisdom, power, knowledge, justice goodness and truth ; that He is the maker, upholder and the righteous governor of the world?
II. Do you believe that God made man upright in His own image and that man continued not in his first es- tate, but that in consequence of Adam's first transgres- sion, death hath passed upon all men, for all have sinned and that so long as we are in unbelief we are under con- demnation and liable to everlasting misery and that of ourselves we cannot purchase eternal life, merit the favor of God or prepare ourselves for the enjoyments of Heaven ?
III. Do you believe that God so loved the world that He gave His own Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, that through the substitution, incarnation, obedience and death of Christ, the law is fulfilled and magnified and made honorable, justice is satisfied and redemption purchased and a new and living way is opened into the holiest place and that God can now be just and the justifier of him that be- lieveth on Jesus Christ and that He justifies freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ — that he adopts into His family of His own free and sovereign grace — that He sanctifies by the washing of regeneration
35
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
and the renewing of the Holy Ghost and that He keeps all believers by His mighty power through faith unto salva- tion and admits them to glory through Jesus Christ?
IV. Do you believe that repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and a life of new and holy obedience are our reasonable and indispensable duties, and that the means of grace are to be humbly and dili- gently and faithfully used for spiritual nourishment and growth in grace?
V. Do you believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, that they are the only all sufficient rule of faith and practice and that you are bound to receive them as such, to search them carefully and obey them entirely?
IV. Do you believe that the sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord's Supper, that be- lievers in regular church standing only, can consistently partake of the Lord's Supper, and that they and their chil- dren only, can consistently be admitted to the ordinance of baptism ?
VII. Do you believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead and a general judgment according to the deeds done in the body and a future state of eternal reward and punishments?
These questions being answered in the affirmative, the persons admitted solemnly enter into the following covenant with God and his church:
THE COVENANT
We now, in the presence of God and His people most solemnly and sincerely surrender ourselves, bodies and spirits to God as a living sacrifice and we do renounce the world, the flesh and the devil, fully purposing in the strength of the grace of God to abstain from every evil way and to live a life of new obedience, making the word of God our only rule and with the solemn belief that our vows are heard on high and will be received in the day of judg-
36
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
ment. We do most solemnly covenant and promise that we will constantly endeavor to promote the peace and har- mony and prosperity of the church of Jesus Christ gen- erally, and of this one especially, walking with the mem- bers in Christian faithfulness and love and that we will submit ourselves to every divine ordinance for the Lord's sake; that we will be punctual and prayerful in our attend- ance on all the worship of God's house; that we will never undervalue, despise or renounce, nor in any way neglect the seals of God's covenant, baptism and the Lord's Sup- per, but that we will renounce the sinful pleasures of the amusements of the world ; that we will strictly observe the Sabbath as holy unto the Lord; that we will lend our in- fluence to the cause of temperance and sobriety; that we will constantly observe secret devotions and so far as God may give us opportunity, family worship also; and in all things earnestly endeavor to perfect holiness in the fear of God, relying on the grace and spirit of Jesus Christ as we shall answer it, to Him at the last day. Amen.
THE PRESENT CONFESSION AND COVENANT
You confess your faith in God as your Heavenly Father, and in Jesus Christ as your crucified Saviour and risen Lord, and in the Holy Spirit as your divine Helper and Guide?
You receive with implicit trust the promises of for- giveness and cleansing which God has made through Jesus, His son?
Thus confessing, you covenant to give yourselves to the Lord Jehovah as your God, the object of your supreme promised help of His Holy Spirit, you engage to walk in affection and your portion forever; and trusting in all His way, as it is or shall be made known to you by His word or providence.
Do you thus confess and covenant?
Answer. I do.
37
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
ON ADMISSION TO CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
May 30, 1835—
Resolved, That it is expedient to examine those who have come among us, without letters, and who think they have been converted while residing with us. They shall inform the church to which they belong, confessing their sins and procuring let- ters of dismission, before being received by us.
November 27, 1835, and again January 8, 1840 —
Voted that three members be associated, with the deacons, to examine candidates for membership.
April 2, 1873—
Discussion — (laid on table). Committee to assist the pas- tor in examining candidates for membership, but this not to take the place of the usual relation of Christian experience before the whole church, unless the church so orders.
November 4, 1876 —
A committee of six, with the pastor, to examine candidates for church membership.
January 2, 1895—
Prudential Committee to examine candidates — (no other record about the method of receiving candidates).
In the early days candidates were carefully examined by pastor and deacons. They were expected to attend the Preparatory Lecture, before Communion Sunday, and give something of their religious experience. They were then voted on by the Church, each candidate separately. On Communion Sunday they appeared before the Church, gave their assent to the confession of faith and were covenanted with by the church. Those who had been baptised accept- ing that ordinance as their own and those who had not, being then baptised.
As time went by different methods of examination were tried. The candidates more and more often did not come before the church. They were recommended by the examining committee, and, if so recommended, were ac- cepted. Of late, one desiring church membership makes it known to the pastor of the church. He alone recom- mends him and the church receives him, nothing what- ever being stated as to religious experience.
38
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE WEEK-DAY PRAYER MEETINGS The twelfth standing rule of the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church reads as follows: —
"There shall be a church prayer meeting on Wednesday of each week at two o'clock P. M., at which meeting any business not requiring previous notice may be transacted. A concert of prayer for the conversion of the world shall be held on the evening of the Lord's Day next before the first Monday of each month; and a concert of prayer for the enslaved of our Land on the evening of the Lord's Day next before the last Monday of each month."
In 1868 a daily prayer meeting is spoken of. In 1886 the first Wednesday in each month, prayer for prohibition was made. In 1899 the time of the meeting was changed to 7:30 P. M. Twice on election day, in 1903 and 1904, an all day prayer meeting was held pleading for the aboli- tion of the saloon. On both days prohibition won. In 1906 the day was changed from Wednesday to Thursday "to accommodate the business man."
The Reverend V. Le Roy Lockwood writing of the early forties says : "The old church in these days was a live church, in all things greatly prospered, and a source of great spiritual power and usefulness. Well do I remem- ber the precious and most profitable early morning prayer meetings we enjoyed which I attended regularly, going nearly half a mile before breakfast."
During Mr. Howard's pastorate, 1870-1875, there were three prayer meetings a week: Wednesday, 2:00 P. M., Thursday, 7:30 P. M., and a young people's meeting Sun- day afternoon until 1906 or a little after. On Saturday, 2:00 P. M., just before the communion service, a prepara- tory lecture was given. At this service candidates for church membership presented themselves and were voted into that membership. Later the Thursday evening meet- ing was made to do that service. At last the preparatory lecture vanished. In 1929 the mid-week meeting followed it and a monthly church night was substituted.
39
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
SLAVERY
The question of slavery was a particularly live one in the early days of this church. Mr. Farnham and a ma- jority of the members were abolitionists. Mr. Love joy was also a fiery advocate of the liberation of the slave. Various recorded resolutions, found in the old books, show how strong the sentiment was.
February 5, 1840, voted that the pastor be requested to appoint the monthly concern of prayer for slaves.
May 10, 1843, after discussion the following resolutions were passed:
December 20, 1842, voted that the money collected during 1843 are in bonds as bound with them and that all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. Therefore, Resolved, that we highly approve of the frequent presentation of the subject of Human Rights from the sacred desk as a part of the Gospel of Him who came to preach deliver- ance to the captive and to set at liberty them that are bound.
The subject of church fellowship was taken up, and May 24, 1843, these resolutions were discussed and finally passed:
Resolved, That to be guilty of slave-holding is to be guilty of man-stealing every day. (Gen. 39:25-28 and 40:15).
Resolved, That as a Christian church we can have no fellow- ship or communion with slave-holders or with those who justify the holding of men as property. (Eph. 5:11; I Cor. 5:9, 11; II Cor. 6:14; II Ths. 3:6-14; Lev. 19:17; I Tim. 5:20; II John 9:11).
December 20, 1842, voted that the money collected during 1843 at the monthly concert for the conversion of the world be for- warded to the Union Missionary Society to be appropriated for the support of those missionaries at the Sandwich Islands who have withdrawn their connection with the American Board of Foreign Missions on account of its connection with slavery.
December 20, 1843, also voted that the clerk be a committee to present a resolution expressing the sense of the church on the subject of cooperating with those Boards of Missions which do not receive the price of blood.
February 7, 1844.
Whereas: the requirement of the word of God is "Be not part- takers of other men's sins, also to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them there- for;
40
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Resolved that it is the duty of Christians to bear decided testimony against the sin of slavery by refusing to mingle their contributions with those procured either from unpaid toil or the sale of our fellow men.
Resolved, that we view with deep regret the course present- ed by the American Board of Foreign Missions in reference to slavery which makes it our duty to break away from our long cherished attachment to the Board and seek some other channel through which we can consistently communicate with the perishing heathen.
Resolved, that we will cooperate only with those Boards of Missions which refuse money procured by extortion and robbery of heathen at home when offered for the purpose of sending the Gospel to the heathen in foreign fields."
(A copy of these resolutions was sent to the Western Citizen to be published. The A. B. C. F. M. was also informed of this action).
August 13, 1845. Voted to unite with all the churches to meet together in concert for prayer for the slave on the last Sabbath evening of each month, meeting in different churches alternately.
After this the records show nothing more about slavery — but since Owen Lovejoy was the pastor of the church from 1839 to 1856, it follows that the pulpit was not silent. It is said that he talked and preached and pray- ed about Human Rights. When some of his indignant hearers walked out of church during one of his strong anti- slavery sermons, he stopped and said to their retreating forms, "I shall preach this doctrine till you like it and then I shall preach it because you like it", and he did. His home, as well as other homes of the church people, was a station on the "underground railroad". More than once the law laid heavy hands on him and his church members. In the published covenant and standing rules July, 1851, is the following:
The Lord's Supper shall be administered every two months be- ginning with the first Lord's day of January. No one who justi- fies the holding of property in man shall be invited to partake with us.
41
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS
May 20, 1835.
Resolved, That the first and second steps of discipline be taken with members of other churches residing within our bounds who live in open violation of their covenant vows, and if they refuse to hear, that their case be reported to the church to which they belong.
Resolved, That we highly disapprove of the practice of Christians, or others, travelling on the Sabbath and that spe- cial notice be taken of offenses of this kind whenever they oc- cur in the church.
January 13, 1841. A committee was appointed to confer with the other Congregational Church about uniting the two churches: E. S. Phelps, L. Reeve, C. S. Allen.
January 14, 1846. On motion church took up a resolution presented December 31, 1845 (but not recorded) on the subject of peace which had been laid over. After some discussion, it was adopted. The substance of the resolution was that the church set apart the Sabbath evening before the 3rd Monday in each month for special united prayer for peace.
January 5, 1853. Voted that the citizens of the town have the privilege of ringing the bell three times a day provided they employ a person to ring it who shall be approved by the trustees.
February 13, 1867. Voted that the Communion Service be held at the close of the morning service instead of the afternoon as has been the custom.
January 6, 1886.
Resolved, That the rule of action of this church touching the question of divorce shall be the words of Jesus Christ, as record- ed in the 5th of Matthew, in accepting persons to church mem- bership, and also in dismissal of members who have united with the Church subsequent to the adoption of this resolution.
42
The House of Worship
THE CHURCH BUILDINGS
THE BELL
GIFTS
THE COMMUNION SERVICE THE PULPIT BIBLES OAKLAND OTHER GIFTS
I fV f - / Ft, T
These sketches were made under the direction of Miss Orpha V. Ellis, long a member of the Congregational Church. The details were furnished by Miss Ellis and by a few who recollect clearly the appearance of both church buildings.
THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP
THE CHURCH BUILDINGS
The first meeting of the church in Illinois was held in the unfinished cabin of Elijah Smith, October 20, 1831. On November 21, 1831, a business meeting was held at the same place. The first Sabbath in May, 1832, services were held in the cabin of Eli and Elijah Smith. In the sum- mer of 1833 two Sunday-schools were started: one met in Dr. Chamberlin's cabin south of town, the other in John Ament's cabin, north of town. Later the two schools united and met in Mr. S. Triplet's tavern. Early in 1834 Rev. L. Farnham visited the Bureau settlement and found them very desirous of having a minister and a meeting house. By the fall of that year the settlement had so increased its numbers that a place of worship was imperative and pledges of money, labor and material made it possible. The first church edifice stood south of the west end of the courthouse and for years served as church, courthouse and academy. Elisha Ward was its builder and with Asher Doolittle, Butler Denham and Elijah Smith served as build- ing committee. The timber used was cut on Bureau Creek and hewn into sills, posts and beams after the manner of the Berkshire hills. A rude saw mill on Bureau Creek saw- ed rough boards that were used for floors, roofing boards and cornice. It was a square building with a basement in which school was held. Unshaded windows gave plenty of light in day time. Evening meetings were unusual, but, if they did occur, candles furnished the light. No mention is found of any way of heating this house. Court was held here until 1845 when the present courthouse was built.
45
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
This building was used until the summer of 1848, and in December of that year was sold at auction for $200.50 to Mr. Noah Wiswall, and was moved from the site just south of the courthouse to a lot on the south side of Park Avenue East, where it served as a barn until the summer of 1921 when it was torn down. In June, 1847, a com- mittee was appointed to present a plan for a new church. L. Reeve, Dr. Anthony, Dr. Convers and C. D. Colton were the committee. Their first report was for a building 40x58 feet to cost $2800.00. They were asked to enlarge the plan to 44x65 feet, which they did and estimated the cost at $4000.00. They were told to proceed on this basis, which they probably did, for the next entry directs the trustees to have tin eave troughs and conduits put upon the meeting-house. This was a rectangular building of brick. John H. Bryant furnished the brick. There were three windows on each side, without curtains or blinds; the walls were plastered and undecorated. Two front doors furnished entrance into the vestibule over which was the gallery where the singers sat. There were three tiers of pews, with a middle and two side aisles. The pews had doors. Two stoves, one on each side of the east end of the house, furnished heat ; the stove pipes ran the whole length of the room and entered chimneys at the west end. Wooden troughs were hung under these pipes to catch the cresote drippings that collected from burning wood. In 1864 the wood-stoves were replaced by coal-burners. By the early seventies a furnace had been installed. After candles came kerosene lamps, then for a time the church manufactured its own gas, but in 1875 began using city gas. A bell had been purchased in 1850 and the building committee was told to finish a belfry as soon as possible. After some delay this was attended to and the irreverent youngsters referred to it as the "chicken coop".
In 1864 an alcove 22x12 feet was added to the west end of the building to make room for a pipe organ. This
46
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WITH THE SPIRE
1868
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
alcove had an arched top, a window on each side, and seats for the choir.
In the spring of 1868 Mr. Romanus Hodgman was en- gaged as architect to enlarge the house. As a result an addition to the east end of the church was built. This gave one more window on each side and a central entrance into the vestibule, on the north side of which a stairway led to the basement, and, on the south side, a small room furnished a place for the Sunday school library. A steeple provided a place for the bell and added much to the beauty and dignity of the building. Stained glass windows with circular tops were put in at this time. The estimated cost was $7000.00. Many remember the church as it now was with great pleasure. From the red carpet on the floor to the chandelier over-head, from the clock on the entrance (where the public could see it) to the high backed chairs on the pulpit platform there was an atmosphere of wor- ship. The messages of Godly ministers, the prayers of good men and women, the inspiration of consecrated Sun- day-school teachers had hallowed its walls. It served as a house of prayer and its memory is still dear to many hearts.
In the spring of 1881 the floor of the basement had been lowered and commodious rooms for social and devo- tional meetings had been finished. The removal of so much earth from the support of the foundation caused the walls to crack and in 1904 the building was pronounced unsafe. Sometime before this $3000.00 had been given by the Drake legacy for a new church ; this had been added to in various ways until at the annual meeting, in January, 1902, $4000.00 was reported available for use. $5070.00 was added to this by pledges, and plans began to mature. In March, 1905, the brick building was demolished.
The corner stone for the new house was laid October 22, 1905. The first service was held March 18, 1906, when more than one hundred new members were received, re-
47
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
suits of the "Sunday meetings." This house was dedicated October 11, 1908, free of debt. Its cost was about $28,000. It is built of concrete blocks, has a seating capacity of 300. Folding doors into the prayer meeting room give space for 100 more. A sloping floor leads to a corner pulpit, with a choir loft at its left. Rooms at each end of the choir loft are used for Sunday-school classes, the one at the south end having a gas grate being called the pastor's study. There are two memorial windows, one on the north given by Mr. E. P. Lovejoy in memory of his father, the Reverend Owen Lovejoy, and one on the south given by the Reverend E. G. Smith in memory of his father and mother, dear Alby and Sally Hyde Smith. Small stained glass windows furnish plenty of light by day and elec- tricity makes daylight at night. Furnace heat gives com- fort in winter. The prayer meeting room on the east side of the church is a most inviting room and is also used for the Junior Department of the Sunday-school. In the basement there are dining rooms and kitchens that are also used for Sunday school classes. The small rooms are fitted up for the Primary Department of the Sunday- school. The bell tower on the northeast corner of the church was made higher in 1911 and the Minnie Coles- berry clock installed. A bronze tablet on the north wall of the vestibule records the date and donor of the clock.
A bronze tablet on the west wall gives the date of the organization of the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church and the names of the eighteen charter members. A marble tablet on the right of the pulpit platform is in memory of Lora Simons Carey, a daughter of the church who died in Turkey while in the service of the A. B. C. F. M.
The pulpit that stood in the brick church was kept as well as the three tall backed pulpit chairs. An old horse- hair sofa that now stands in the pastor's study was at one time the pulpit seat. The communion table of the brick
48
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
church stands in front of the platform and is still used for that service. In the summer of 1929 the outside of the foundation walls were waterproofed to insure more sani- tary conditions.
For thirteen years the frame church sheltered the brave men and women who had sacrificed so much to es- tablish it in this new country, then, the membership having increased in number and wealth, the brick church was built, this too called for sacrifice. Some who borrowed money that it might be financed paid interest on that money as long as they lived. For fifty-eight years it stood, a monument of loyalty to freedom, temperance and the gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
For a little more than a quarter of a century this third house of worship has called to the children and grandchildren of its pioneer members, urging them not to forget the faith of their fathers.
HOUSES OF WORSHIP CHANGE AS THE YEARS
GO BY BUT THE MESSAGE IS
ETERNAL.
49
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE BELL
Through Mr. Love joy's efforts a bell was purchased in 1849. Mr. Justus Stevens was commissioned to buy it and Mr. Love joy himself went on to Troy, New York, to make sure its tone was satisfactory. It was shipped to Hennepin by boat, Captain Warren in charge, and was hauled by wagon to Princeton. It was not hung at once and a quar- tette of fun loving young men decided to hasten matters. The bell stood on the platform in front of the church and one dark night these boys took it out to the edge of town. By methods unknown they managed to mount it, and, at four o'clock in the morning the startled citizens heard the first ringing of the Congregational bell. In January, 1850, the trustees were instructed to furnish a bellfry. One who saw this structure many times said "it looked like a chicken coop."
On January 5, 1853, it was voted that the citizens be permitted to ring the bell three times a day provided a ringer satisfactory to the trustees was found. It was long known as the "Lovejoy bell".
Early in the nineties the bell was cracked and in 1897 it was recast. When it was again hung in the church tow- er, the Ladies' Aid, through whose efforts it had been re- stored, gave a reception. For this program Mr. John H. Bryant wrote the following poem:
0, brave Old Bell! for many a year, Thy voice rang out in music here, Rang out against oppressions wrong, Rang out for Freedom bold and strong.
Within these walls, for truths Divine, A voice in harmony with Thine, Rang like trumpet wild and free, Against the curse of slavery.
50
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
And shall their memory be lost, Who chose the right at fearful cost, When contumely, scorn and wrath, And prison walls beset their path?
But years passed on, until at last, The Avenger's lightning bolt was cast, And the foul monster prone in death, Lay blasted by the Almighty's breath.
O, Glorious Bell! Thy power renewed, With pristine tone again imbued, Long may thy voice deep, bold and clear Ring out for Right and Freedom here.
— John Howard Bryant.
Three times the bell has called men to arms, 1861, 1898 and 1917. When Lee surrendered and on Armistice day it sounded a jubilee. It tolled off the years of many of the old members as well as the briefer days of many soldier boys.
When the clock was installed in 1911 the bell was called upon to report the message of its dial, and today every hour and every half -hour it speaks:
"as if like God, it all things saw, It calmly repeats those words of awe, — 'Forever — never ! Never — forever' ! "
51
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE COMMUNION SERVICE
At that first meeting, in Northampton, Massachusetts, a collection of $54.00 was taken to supply the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church with a suitable communion service. Doubtless it was purchased before they came west for Matson's History of Bureau County says that "during the Black Hawk war it was left in the cabin of Elijah Smith and was stolen. After the war, when the prairie had been burned, one part of the set was found on West Bureau Creek much damaged by the burning of the grass." It must have been repaired, for so far as is known it was used until 1874 when it was given to the African M. E. church of Princeton. All efforts to trace it since then have proved fruitless.
In 1874 a new service of two ewers, four goblets and four plates took its place. These, with the exception of one goblet, are in the deacon's box in the church. Since 1906 individual cups have been used.
A table "suitable for the communion service" was pur- chased in 1851. This table with a chair used by the Rev- erend Owen Lovejoy was given to E. P. Lovejoy on March 19, 1914. There is no record of the purchase of the table now in use. It was used for some years in the brick church.
52
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
PULPIT BIBLES
In July, 1839, Deacon Winship was appointed "to as- certain whether there were any funds in the old Bible So- ciety to defray the expense of a Church Bible." No other mention is made of this, but we have an old Bible that shows much use and was published in 1834. It is probably the Pulpit Bible used by the Hampshire Colony Congrega- tional Church.
Another Bible in our possession has this inscribed on the fly-leaf:
"Presented to the Congregational Church of Princeton by the ladies of the congregation, Apr., 1850."
There must have been other Bibles, but they and their history have vanished. In 1921 the book in use was very shabby, and Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Harrison put another in its place. In December, 1929, Mr. Edwin Chamberlin sent to the church, a fine large Bible that had belonged to Mrs. Rufus Carey, his aunt, a devoted member of this church for many years. It bears this inscription:
"December 10, 1919.
This Bible is presented by Edwin C. Carpenter
of Chicago, Illinois
To the Princeton Congregational Church
in memory of
Estella Eliza Carpenter
Born in Princeton, Illinois, September 20, 1859
United with this church in the year 1872
Entered into rest February 2, 1883."
53
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
OAKLAND CEMETERY
On December 30, 1836, a little son of Rev. Lucian Farnham died and was buried on land belonging to his father. His grave was the first one made in Oakland cemetery. On October 26, 1842, Mr. Farnham deeded* two and half acres of land, including the little grave, to the church for a burying ground. On April 22, 1852, he added** one and a half acres to this gift. The care of this property is often referred to in old record books. On October 4, 1848, the trustees were instructed to "lay off lots" and offer them for sale.
In June, 1862, they were to confer with the town coun- cil about the burying ground, and on November 11, 1863, the church leased it to the City of Princeton for fifty years. In July, 1869, deeds to lots were given and a list of early deed holders can be found in the trustees' records for 1847-1863, page 154.
On November 19, 1914, the church voted to ***deed the cemetery to the City of Princeton for the consideration that it be always maintained as a cemtery with the further provision that the lot on which the Rev. L. Farnham is buried be placed under perpetual care.
With the passing of the years scores from the many who have at some time made Princeton or Bureau County their home, have been returned to rest in beautiful Oak- land. Among the numbers are six former pastors of this church. They are:
Rev. Nathaniel Abbott Keyes, 1856.
Rev. Owen Lovejoy, 1864.
Rev. Lucian Farnham, 1874.
Rev. Flavel Bascom, 1890.
Rev. Elihu Hillis Votaw, 1902. - Rev. Harold E. Parr, 1918.
* Deed recorded in Deed Book D, p. 381. ** Deed recorded in Deed Book C, p. 539. *** Deed recorded in Deed Book 167-572, May 13, 1915.
54
THE PRESENT CHURCH 1906
THE COLESBERRY TOWER CLOCK 1911
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
OTHER GIFTS 1895 Catlin Cook — $300 on parsonage lot.
1901 The Louisa Reeve Estate— $100. Inter- est for Flower Fund.
1902 The Drake Estate— $3000 for new church building.
1902 The Edwards Family— Portrait of Dr.
Richard Edwards.
1906 The Prouty Estate— $3000 for new church
building.
1906 Edwin G. Smith— $500 for Smith Memor-
ial Window.
1906 Parish Lovejoy and Mary Denham — $500
for Lovejoy Memorial Window.
1911 Mrs. Naffziger— $500 for Minnie Naff-
ziger Memorial. Interest for the Sunday school.
1911 The Minnie Colesbury Estate— $1609 for
clock in church tower.
1911 Edward Carey — Memorial tablet for Lora Simons Carey.
1912 Captain Duncan — Four gas arc lights.
1916 The Lovejoy Family— $500 for Mary Den- ham Memorial. Interest for Flower Fund.
1917 Mrs. S. J. Smith— $100 for the Mission- ary Society.
1917 The Lydia Anthony Estate— $100. Inter- est for Flower Fund.
1918 Flag for pulpit platform.
55
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
1920 The Lucia Bascom Estate— $300. Inter-
est for church expenses.
1924 The Harriet Keyes Estate— $500. Inter- est for church expenses.
1925 The Mrs. John Delano Estate— $1500. Interest for church expenses.
1925 Emma Farnham Hurr — Portrait of Rev.
Lucian Farnham.
1927 Agnes Robinson. A piano.
1928 The Grandchildren of Eli and Elijah Smith and The Ladies' Aid— $97 for memorial tablet for Charter Members. (Unveiled March 23, 1928.)
56
The Work of the Kingdom
THE LADIES' AID
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL
THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY
THE ELIZABETH CURTIS GUILD
THE DELTA ALPHA SOCIETY
THE CHOIR
THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM
THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY
"In work you bore a noble part; Your feet were foremost in the race; Your deeds shall dwell in every heart; Your Womanhood glorified your place."
A century is not long as history views it. But a sketch of a society existing for the greater part of a cent- ury would be difficult to write, were the records available.
Yet it is interesting to go back in thought a hundred years, — to the days of romance in northern Illinois, in which this church played a prominent part, when our pioneer women did a noble work, along with their many tasks and responsibilities.
So quickly did time fly, and so busy were the lives of these women, that they had no time to write of the history they were making. But due to their faith and pioneer spirit, a work was begun, out of which grew the Ladies' Aid Society, the oldest society in this church.
We have only a few old letters and records from which to glean, now and then, a glimpse of a faithful and im- portant work they were doing in the very early days, when they worshiped in the ittle white frame church. So, re- lunctantly we pass on, to the building of the old brick church in 1848. Soon afterwards, in 1850, the women purchased and presented a pulpit Bible to the church. Al- so we find that about this time the women earned the money to purchase a melodeon for the church, this more modern instrument to replace the tuning fork.
59
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
During the years 1884 to 1869 these women were busily engaged in helping with the many improvements made in the church, from time to time, in which they did their share in the work and expense, or, often assumed the entire burden. In 1864 they purchased the first pipe organ, which was set up in a recess twelve by twenty feet, built into the west end of the church.
In an old record of 1877 we learn, "An iron fence was erected around the church yard, which was entirely paid for by the Ladies of this Church". E. S. Phelps and G. P. Richardson composed this committee, who reported the cost to be $220.90. This sum was paid the Committee by Miss Jennie Curtis and Mrs. Worthington.
The first president, according to earliest available records, was Mrs. Burr, under whose wise counsel the so- ciety grew and accomplished much. During this time was earned enough money to pay for the first carpet, dishes, silver and stove, in the old brick church. The so- ciety also put cushions in every seat, and upholstered the pulpit chairs.
As the name of the society implies, it has aided in all departments of the church work. No need or call from the church went unheeded. During the early days, when a tent was used as a dining hall at the county fair, these faithful women would be at the tent as early as four o'clock in the morning, to serve the public breakfasts of hash or sausage, with pan-cakes and coffee.
In the early seventies Mrs. Burr realizing it was best to have something definite to work for was instrumental in presenting the church with a Communion Set consist- ing of goblets, pitchers and plates. Mrs. Burr continued to act as president for many years, during which time the Ladies met at the church on Friday of each week to quilt, and also served a dinner on that day. In those days one could have quilting done for $1.25 per spool, and din- ner served for twenty-five cents. The membership fee
60
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
was twenty-five cents a year, and those who came bring- ing their own work paid ten cents. From this fund pro- visions were purchased for the dinner, while members fur- nished a hot dish.
After many years of service, which covered a period of over fifty years, Mrs. Burr felt she was no longer able to carry the burdens of the presidency, and begged that some member be chosen to take her place. Mrs. Burr's unselfish devotion to the Ladies' Aid through the long years of her service, was indeed commendable.
Mrs. Eli Smith, Jr., was then chosen to act as presi- dent, and was followed by Miss Mame Pettee . Then Mrs. Smith was again chosen president, and during this time, as in former years, the Ladies continued to quilt and serve dinners, ever faithful in their work for the church. Many beautiful quilts have been made for residents of Princeton. Elaborate quilts have been sent to Chicago, Los Angeles, and to far distant Japan.
In estimating the quilting done by the Aid, for a period of twenty-five years, we find from the records, they have quilted 225 quilts, and tied 250 comforters. Surely this work would make a wonderful display, could all the quilts and comforters of varied hue and design be as- sembled.
But the Ladies' Aid has not confined itself to this work alone ; it has helped along other lines of church work. We will mention a few of these endeavors in which they have helped or assumed the entire expense: the purchase of flowers, an organ stop, Chautauqua tickets; the re- decorating of the dining rooms; church calendars; Mis- sions; church budget; Liberty bonds. They shared in the privilege of helping with the expense of the Taber- nacle built for special services.
The Ladies' Aid has also enjoyed a social side in its work of special dinners and receptions. In April, 1927, a banquet was given to the church officers and their wives,
61
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
which gave as much pleasure to those who sponsored it, as to the guests. On March 23, 1928, when a pageant was given to commemorate the ninety-seventh anniversary of the organization of this church, a tablet was erected in memory of the eighteen original members, which was paid for by the grandchildren of Eli and Elijah Smith, with the valuable cooperation of the Ladies' Aid.
On Friday, May 30, 1930, a Committee from the Ladies' Aid Society, served a dinner to the Ferris Post No. 309 , G. A. R., who invited as their guests, the wives, widows and daughters of the Ferris Post.
During the past few years Mrs. Eli Smith has again served the Aid as its president. Mrs. Ida White was then elected president, followed by Mrs. T. C. Cowley, who has not only served the Aid as its president and a valuable member, but for many years has faithfully given her serv- ices to the church choir. The Ladies' Aid is still carry- ing on its work under the guidance of its president, Mrs. C. E. Parker, who, with her band of faithful workers, will doubtless begin the work of the new century upon which the church is entering, with a new purpose and a high hope.
What the Ladies' Aid have lacked in money, they have made up in courage and vision, and have left to this church a priceless heritage, in memory of their faithful- ness and devotion to the cause of aiding in the Master's work.
Grace Smith Elder.
62
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 1833—1930
During the summer of 1833 Mr. McCoy, a Sunday- school agent, came to this settlement and organized two Sunday schools, one north in Dr. Chamberlin's cabin, of which he was superintendent, the other south in John Ament's cabin, with Elijah Smith as superintendent. In 1834 these schools were united and met in the town, first in Rev. L. Farnham's house and later in the tavern kept by Mr. S. Triplet. Deacon Alby Smith was the first super- intendent. The school was held between the two preach- ing services at noon. When the afternoon service was discontinued the school still met at 12:00 o'clock until about 1906 when the hour was changed to 10:00 A. M.
In the beginning the school was an independent or- ganization, selecting its own officers and teachers and paying its own expenses. The first Sunday of the year was devoted to the election of officers and teachers. Each class was at liberty to select a new teacher. Since the members of the school were mostly children, this method left much to be desired. There was a fixed idea in some minds that this training was good for the children. Many reforms were suggested and much discussion indulged in until 1890 when the church voted to elect the superintend- ents and gave them the authority to select teachers. In January, 1930, the church voted to elect annually a Board of Education consisting of five members, who should have entire charge of the Sunday school. For many years the whole school met in the audience room of the church.
63
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
In February, 1863, an Infant Class was formed and in 1869 a class "came up from down stairs" which seems to indicate that the little ones met in the basement.
There has been no recording secretary for the Sun- day school for many years and it has been impossible to find definite facts concerning dates and leaders. So far as is known, Mrs. J. W. Welsh organized the Primary De- partment about 1908. At first it included all the child- ren under junior age. They adopted the graded lessons at once. As time went on other departments have been organized until now the school is thoroughly graded from Cradle Roll to Home Department. Until 1866 collections were taken the first Sunday of the month; since then the collection has been taken by classes every Sunday. The duplex envelopes are now used by the older classes. Be- fore they were introduced the collection of the first Sun- day of the month was for Missions. Many special collec- tions were taken. Rev. Chas. Winship, one missionary at Dondi, Africa, and his protege Barnabas Root were of early interest. Money was given for testaments and tem- perance tracts for soldiers in the Civil War and again for testaments for soldiers in the World War. The freedmen and contrabands were helped. A room was furnished at Tugaloo, a scholarship at Fisk University. The Home Mis- sionary Society and the Bible Society were each remem- bered. The school had a library for many years and there was always a demand for new books. Collections, sub- scriptions and entertainments afforded a precarious source of income for that object. The Wellspring, mentioned first in 1859 and the Child's Paper called for money. Sing- ing books were bought: The Sabbeth Bell, The Golden Chain, The Charm, and later, the various editions of Gospel Hymns.
The birthday offerings began in 1908 and go to the American Bible Society. For a long time the Bible salute has been given during the opening exercises. Excelsior
64
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
membership is encouraged, when one is present, with his Bible, an offering, a studied lesson, and a previous church attendance. Two thirds of the membership of a class con- stitute an excelsior class; two thirds present without credits make a star class. In early days the lesson, a pass- age of scripture, was assigned the Sunday before, memory work was emphasized and sometimes the school repeated together the scripture for the day. In 1869 the Inter- national Lessons were adopted with lesson leaves and quarterlies. Old record books indicate that the lesson was not considered very important. Many times it was omitted and a story or a soldier's letter or a message from a mis- sionary was read. An evangelistic talk was often given and once it is recorded, "Lesson omitted — sermon too long". This was when the school met after the morning service.
The social side of the work has not been neglected. Picnics in Bryant's woods and at Second High Banks used to be annual events. Christmas always brings the lighted tree and the appropriate program, with candy for the little ones. Records tell of one glorious New Year's Day when twelve bob-sleds took the children for a ride in the country and brought them back for a bountiful dinner at the church. Children's Day and Promotion Day, with diplomas and Bibles bring all the parents as well as the children. Rally Day also sees all the classes together in the audience room, a united body working together for the bringing in of the Kingdom of Heaven.
There are several organized classes in the Sunday- school. One that came up with the Primary Department in 1869 has kept its identity all the years and four of the original class are still active members. This class has had the same teacher since 1894.
65
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
CHARLES P. HALL
Few men in their capacity of teacher have left a more abiding impression upon the hearts and lives of their pupils than Charles P. Hall.
I do not know if what Emerson calls his ' 'daily con- duct of life" emanated from his natural temperament or was acquired by grace; but I do know, as his pupil for many years, with the opportunity of intimate observation under varying experiences, that his law of life was that of Jesus brought into the common round of daily living; and that so far as humanly possible, he sought to ex- emplify within himself the teachings of the Divine Master.
It is said that a nickname is a sure test of the stu- dents' reaction towards the teacher. Whatever the orig- in, "Pa Hair' was the affectionate and familiar sobriquet nine years of his life in our midst. Sometimes even a parent was heard to use it inadvertently. That it was a term of true affection is evidenced by the correspond- ence and papers of that period.
As assistant principal of the Princeton Township High School, his efficiency and many admirable qualities both of head and heart proved of inestimable value to Mr. Bolt- wood in those early formative years of the school, in shap- ing the character and policy which later brought to it so much distinction.
He was an extremely able teacher with a fine seren- ity and dignity of demeanor which never wavered under the most trying circumstances; he possessed an un- wearying patience with the dull and backward pupil, and an exquisite consideration for the physically handicapped which was the more readily remarked because he him- self was of the hardy, spare New England type, which personifies perfect health and balanced nerves.
More than sixty years have passed since he lived with taught among us both in church and school. Very few
66
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
are left who knew him or ever heard his name; most of his pupils are gone. It comes as a solemn privilege to one of these last surviving to frame this Immortelle to his memory.
As an evangel he came to many of his pupils to awaken for the first time their consciousness of the in- ner life within the soul as contrasted with the material things of the outer life; and to arouse within them a hunger for the spiritual food with which to feed these sacred fires.
"And they that turn many to rightousness shall shine as the stars forever and ever."
Darlene Stevens Reeve
HENRY L. BOLTWOOD
In the late summer of 1867 a young man full of the enthusiasm and energy of youth came to Princeton from Griggsville, Illinois, to establish the first Township High School in the State.
This man was Henry L. Boltwood, who later became known as the "Father of the Township High School."
Upon their arrival in Princeton, Mr. and Mrs. Bolt- wood united with the Congregational Church and immed- iately entered upon its activities in the Sunday-school, prayer meeting, missionary society and its social life. For seven years Mr. Boltwood served the church as a deacon, and there are still a few persons who can remember the earnest and efficient Sunday-school teacher whose out- standing purpose was the inspiration and building of Christian character. His own strong moral and religious character indelibly stamped itself upon those with whom he came in contact, and it was with a feeling of deepest regret that the church bade farewell to these valued friends and co-workers in 1878.
67
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Henry L. Boltwood was born in Amherst, Massachu- setts, January 17, 1831, and belonged to a family of eleven children. His father owned a small New England farm and found it hard to support this large family. While New England farms were often the homes of large families, they did not remain so long, for those who could must get away to more fertile fields or else go hungry. The Bolt- wood farm was located near Amherst and Amherst was a college town. The boy worked hard and finally made his way through the academy there. Then he entered the college and had to work still harder. During vacations he toiled upon the farm doing his share to coax from the rocky soil a few puny products. In the winter he taught school not far from the college town. For this service he received $4.00 a week and was permitted to board with the parents of his pupils, each family giving three days board for each child in school. Out of school he indulged in what he called a pastime. He chopped wood, a hundred cords of it every season. He didn't get much money out of this diversion, but he got from it strong arms and a sound pair of lungs, a clear head and bright eyes. Young Bolt- wood was as earnest a student as he was a wood chopper and he made a splendid scholarship record. He was one of the best students and when graduated in 1853 he be- came one of the charter members of the Amherst Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Upon graduation the young man intended to begin studying for the Congregational ministry, and a Congre- gational society had advanced him sufficient money to carry on his studies.
He began teaching in an academy, however, and soon returned the loan and gave up the idea of becoming a clergyman. For a period of ten years he taught in sev- eral academies and high schools in Maine, New Hamp- shire and Massachusetts. And his long career as a teach- er extending over a period of over fifty years was inter-
68
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
rupted but once when he entered the service of the United States Sanitary Commission in April, 1864, and was sta- tioned with the Gulf Department until June, 1865.
At Fort Blakely, opposite Mobile, he saw the last fight of the Civil War. This was when Steele's command took the fort by assault on the evening of April 9, 1865, just after Grant and Lee had arranged terms of sur- render.
Prof. Boltwood's educational career really began with his coming to Illinois in August, 1865. He was influenced to come West by an army friend and had been in the state but a short time when he took charge of the school sys- tem of Griggsville, Illinois. After two years there he ac- cepted a call to organize after his own idea, the Princeton Township High School. Referring to this call, Mr. Bolt- wood said, "I was attracted to the new school principally because I thought I saw a chance to realize a long cher- ished ideal of a successful combination of the grade school with the academy. I was also strongly impressed with the willingness of the Board to give the school at the very outset the requisites for successful work."
Due to his guiding spirit the enterprise was a success from the start. Both the school and its principal quickly achieving a wide reputation. For a long time it was the only school of high grade within a radius of fifty miles of Princeton, and at one time ninety pupils outside of the township were enrolled.
Prof. Boltwood remained in Princeton eleven years, a longer period of service than that of any principal since. In 1878 he went to Ottawa, Illinois, to organize the town- ship high school there and remained at its head five years. During his stay in Ottawa, Prof. Boltwood be- came an institute lecturer throughout Illinois and Iowa. He also became a member of the State Board of Education and in turn president of the Illinois Principals' Associa- tion.
69
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
In 1883 he decided to accept the principalship of the Evanston High School, remaining there until his death in 1906, a period of twenty-three years. It is said that dur- ing his entire career as a teacher he missed but four days of service.
Prof. Boltwood was a man of tireless energy and de- termination of purpose. Besides being a distinguished educator and contributor to many educational journals, he was the author of several text books. His favorite studies were languages and history. He read German, Italian, Spanish, French and Greek, and began the study of Bohemian.
Prof. Boltwood was an ardent supporter of athletics and waged a continual warfare against high school fraternities. He travelled much, often taking groups of students with him on his trips abroad. He also took an active interest in community and public affairs, and dur- ing political campaigns was a frequent speaker.
The life of this worthy and progressive pioneer in education suddenly terminated in 1906, when he had reached the age of seventy-five years, but his work goes on in the lives of the thousands who have passed out from under his influence, bearing the indelible impress of his spirit, to "carry on" in the communities now claiming them as citizens. His representatives may be found in nearly every state in the Union, as well as many lands afar.
Pauline Schenk April, 1928
70
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
SCOTT R. COPPINS
Scott R. Coppins was born November 7, 1861, in Hud- son, Michigan. He came in childhood to Providence, Ill- inois, where he went to the district school and attended the village church. To this church in the late seventies came Rev. George Paddock under whose winsome preach- ing Scott Coppins, with many others, made his decision for Christ, a decision from which he never varied. He was an enthusiastic Bible student and believed the Bible to be the very word of God.
He was in Oberlin College for a year, then went to Beloit for two years. In the latter place he taught pen- manship, his own writing showing that he was a past master of that art.
In 1892 he was married to Carrie J. Evans. For ten years Mr. and Mrs. Coppins made Chicago their home, but in 1902 they came to Princeton and at once united with this church. Mr. Coppins served twelve years as deacon, eighteen years as Sunday-school superintendent in which office he was indefatigable. As superintendent of coun- ty Sunday-school work he visited every Sunday-school in the county. He was sent as a delegate to the World Sun- day-school Convention at Washington, D. C. From the Bible Conference at Winona Lake, Indiana, he brought back many helpful ideas. One of them, the Bible salute, was in use as long as he served in the Sunday-school.
Mr. Coppins was interested in his town and commun- ity in many ways not strictly religious. Young people were his joy. Two generations of Boy Scouts knew him as Drum Major and were always ready to cheer for him. He also drilled the Drum Corps of the American Legion. For ten years he was manager of our Chautauqua pro- grams.
On December 5, 1930, he went to be with the Lord he loved. The funeral services were held in the church and he was laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery.
71
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
SUNDAY SCHOOL Lucian Farnham Elijah Smith Alby Smith E. S. Phelps Jas. H. Smith E. S. Phelps Caleb Cook C. S. Allen
E. S. Phelps I. B. Smith L. J. Colton John Charlton Curtis J. Lyons John P. Richardson L. C. Barrows Albert Ethridge
W. C. Stacy Chas. P. Hall
F. W. Waller -
E. F. Dunbar R. D. Harrison A. M. Swengle
G. T. Smith
J. R. J. Anthony S. S. Evans Reeve Norton J. 0. Craig S. S. Evans J. 0. Craig -
F. W. Stewart S. R. Coppins T. P. Gunning C. V. Field
Clara Allen Harris Jos. Findley S. R. Coppins
SUPERINTENDENTS
1834
1836
1841
1842-1849
1850
1851-1853
1854-1855
(6 months) 1856
1856-1857
(6 months) 1858
1859
1860-1863
(6 months) 1864
July, 1864-1866
- 1867-1868
1869
1870-1872
1873-1876
1877-1883
1884-1888
1889
1890-1891
1892-1894
1895-1897
1898-1899
1900
1901
1902
(died in June 1903) 1903
1904-1907
1908-1916
1917-1919
1920
1921-1922
1923-1925
1927-1930
72
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
STATISTICAL SECRETARIES OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
At first the Statistical Secretary served also as His- torical and Recording Secretary. In 1887 the Historical Secretary became a separate official.
L. J. Colton; E. S. Phelps; John P. Richardson; Cal- vin Winship (1858) ; Lucian Smith and Miss Sophia Love- joy had served before 1862, but their terms of service are not indicated.
|
G. T. Smith |
1862-1864 |
|
? |
- 1865-1870 |
|
Parish Love joy |
1871 |
|
Lucy H. Smith |
- 1872-1873 |
|
Mrs. Boltwood |
- 1874-August-1878 |
|
Clara Allen (Harris) |
1881-1887 |
|
Jennie Curtis |
September, 1878-1880 |
|
Jennie Curtis |
1888-1891 |
|
Mrs. Geo. Harrington |
1892 |
|
Lottie Sickles |
- 1893-1894 |
|
Grace Phelps (Sisler) |
- 1895-1896 |
|
Lottie Sickles |
1897 |
|
Bertha Evans |
1898 |
|
Lottie Sickles |
1899-1902 |
|
Minnie Naffziger |
1903-1909 |
|
Edward Prior |
1910-1917 |
|
Mary Uthoff |
1918-1920 |
|
Marjory Garvin |
1921-1922 |
|
Eva M. Greener |
- 1923-November, 1928 |
|
Grace M. Hoover, December, 1928-October, 1930 |
|
|
T. A. Fenoglio |
November,1930- |
In 1887 Mrs. Julia Phelps was elected Historical Sec- retary. In 1899 this was made a church office with a report at the Annual Meeting. Mrs. Phelps held the office until 1908 when she moved from the town.
73
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
The First Congregational Church of Princeton, Illin- ois, was really born a missionary church when it was or- ganized in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1831 and its band of Christian workers sent upon its way to the untrod- den wilderness and boundless prairies of Illinois, with this parting and comforting message, "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." It is recorded in circulars published at the time that "the main object of the colony was not so much to promote the private interests of its members as to advance the cause of Christ by planting religious institutions in the virgin soil of the West, and aiding the cause of Christian educa- tion in its various departments."
Amid discouragements which would have dishearted less loyal standard bearers, the work ultimately grew and prospered, and its first foreign missionary achievement was marked by the going out of two of its members, Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Winship, graduates of Knox College, as missionaries to Mendai Mission, West Africa.
Its first great home missionary accomplishment was the active part the church took in freeing the slaves. All this was done long before any missionary society was or- ganized, for it was not until 1870 that the women of the church banded together in an organization to be known as the "Woman's Missionary Society of Princeton", auxil- iary to the W. B. M. I., which should have for its object the enlisting of earnest and sympathetic aid for women in foreign lands. Ladies paying two cents a week or $1.00 a year were considered members of the society. Meet-
74
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
ings were to be held every two months, or oftener if de- sirable.
The first officers recorded in 1871, were President, Mrs. R. B. Howard Vice President, Mrs. Mary Keys Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Converse.
In 1881 Mrs. R. D. Harrison organized a young ladies foreign missionary society known as the "What-so-ever Band", and in 1884 a juvenile missionary society was formed, called 'The Samaritan Band" of which Mrs. J. H. Strock was the leader. Both of these organizations did good work for a number of years.
Mrs. E. H. Votaw was the mother of the Home Mis- sionary Society in the Church, when some time in 1892 the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society decided to devote each alternate month to the study and work of home mis- sions. Separate treasurers were elected and the work of the two societies successfully functioned together from that time on.
Deserving of especial mention in the Home Mission- ary field is the wonderful work of Prof, and Mrs. G. By- ron Smith at Iberia, Missouri.
The first event of especial interest in the Woman's Missionary Society was the meeting of the Northern Illin- ois Branch of the W. B. M. I. with the Princeton church February 12, and 13, 1879. The church again entertained the Illinois Branch of the Woman's Board in 1900, 1914 and 1925.
A social event of general interest was the beautiful church wedding of Miss Lora Gale Simons and Mr. Edward F. Carey, August 14, 1901. After a period of seventy years the church was celebrating its first missionary wedding. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Carey left for their new home and chosen field of labor in Harpoot, Turkey.
75
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
That the church is not outgrowing its missionary in- terests is evidenced by the fact that the treasurer's record shows that during the five years from 1878 to 1882 in- clusive, $336.73 was collected and disbursed by the so- ciety, while in 1925, $292.00 was collected and disbursed by the foreign treasurer and $268.00 by the home treas- urer, a total of $560.00. At various times large amounts have been raised for special projects, largest of which is the Lora Simons Carey endowment fund, now totaling about $800.00.
After the death of Mrs. Carey at Harpoot in 1906 the Missionary Society furnished the children's ward in the missionary hospital at Harpoot, in her memory. Then arose the question of maintenance and upon the sugges- tion of Mrs. Arthur Seelig, through whose leadership much of the money was raised, it was decided to create an en- dowment fund of $500.00, the annual income from which was to be used for the support of the ward. Before the goal was quite reached, the Turks requisitioned the hos- pital during the World War, and the missionaries were driven from that field. Since then the fund has been in- vested and constantly increasing, awaiting the time for re- investment in another memorial for Mrs. Carey.
Among the women whose consecrated service in the society most strongly inspired and perpetuated its growth, are Mrs. Mary Keyes, Mrs. Lydia Anthony, Mrs. Chauncey Colton, Mrs. Catlin Cook, Mrs. R. D. Harrison and Mrs. F. W. Stewart.
"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."
Pauline Schenk June, 1928
.76
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
A TRIBUTE TO MR. AND MRS. E. F. CAREY MISSIONARIES TO HARPOOT, TURKEY IN ASIA
One bright March morning thirty years ago, in an elm shaded cottage in quiet old Princeton, a plump, rosy, blue-eyed little girl opened her eyes to the light of day. This delicate early spring blossom received a joyous wel- come into the home and hearts of loving young parents, and was christened Lora Gale Simons. A few years of happy babyhood slip by, and we see a sweet-faced, smiling little lassie trudging along to the public school, often accom- panied by a slender fair-haired little lad named Edward, who came from his grandmother Carey's spacious, old fashioned home, beside whose long front walk Jnue breezes scattered the blossoms from the old apple trees, and peonies, snowballs, and flowering-almonds vied with each other in blooming time beckoning one on and up to the broad piazza and wide front door where pine trees cast their shadow ever and anon.
Summers came and summers went, and many happy care free years were spent in this dear old home, aften enlivened in vacation times by Edward's sister and other friends.
The little lass has developed into a winsome maiden universally beloved by her companions, and the lad into a youth whose bright keen intellect has already attracted the attention of the teachers; and always and everywhere they are known as Ed and Lora. Princeton High School days are followed by teaching, normal and college training for Miss Simons; and Ann Arbor and Andover for Mr. Carey, where at each place fine scholarship records were obtained.
August 14, 1901, there is unusual stir about the old home church. Happy young people are hurrying about, quanities of flowers and garlands green are being carried in, and the inquiring passer by is informed that it is Mr.
77
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Carey's and Miss Simons' wedding day, and that after sev- enty years the church is celebrating its first missionary wedding. Mr. Carey has chosen a foreign field, and the woman of his choice with true loyalty responds, "Whither thou goest, I will go ; and whither thou lodgest, I will lodge ; thu people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
The rose-tinted memory of that beautiful ceremony still lingers with the church full of friends who bade them God speed as they started away full of enthusiasm and good cheer to that far away field of usefulness, Harpoot in Eastern Turkey. A fortnight was spent in visiting fam- ily friends among the green hills of Vermont, and August 28, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Carey sailed away from the home- land shores to their new home and strange new life in the Orient. The voyage was safely made. About six weeks of great pleasure and profit were spent in visiting inter- esting places on the European continent, and then came the hard but no less interesting journey from Constan- tinople to their destination, which was also successfully accomplished about November 1.
The study of the Armenian tongue was immediately taken up by both; and Mr. Carey at once entered upon his work of teaching in Euphrates College. He astonished all of his co-workers with his remarkable ability at ac- quiring the language, and in a few months was able to make himself understood in the native tongue. Full of energy, enthusiasm and the spirit, he also began at once to go to the neighboring villages with an interpreter to speak and preach on Sunday.
A new theological seminary building, to replace the one burned in the massacre about ten years before, had been planned, and soon after his arrival he entered into the work of assisting President Riggs in the supervision of its construction with great earnestness, performing many hours of manual labor himself. Many of you are familiar through Missionary literature with this comfortable new
78
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
building of which department Mr. Carey is the head.
Much of his vacation time has been devoted to touring, and he has been eminently successful in this line of work, as well as in that of teaching.
Of him, Miss Bush said here two years ago, that he had proven himself a true winner of souls.
Very early in her life as a foreign missionary Mrs. Carey was put to the sore test of invalidism, being con- fined to her bed nearly a year, and despairing of ever be- ing able to walk again. Of these trying days Mrs. Knapp wrote, "She taught us all a lesson by the ever sweet patience which was always manifest." But the Master had work for her to do, and in His own good time she was restored to comparative good health. The orphanage work appealed to her tender sympathetic heart, and be- fore her illness she had became a valuable assistant to those in charge of that department. Then the degradation and poverty of the poor half-starved mothers who had no work to do to provide for their little children wrung her heart, and she determined to do something to help them.
Many of you are familiar with the history of the lace industry founded at Anitab by Mrs. Shepherd, and at Oorfa by Miss Shattuck, nearly ten years ago, just after the great massacre in which hundreds of Armenian men were killed, and their homes robbed, and the wives and daughters left to suffer the indignities of lustful soldiers and hardships of an inclement winter. The American missionaries promptly appealed to American Christians, and thousands of dollars were sent there as a relief fund. Hundreds of poor women were given employment making garments and even carrying stone and mortar for the buildings which had to be put up again. The work for the children soon grew into permanent establishment for orphans where over a thousand boys and girls receive up to the present time, clothes and education, and prom- ise to become leading citizens when they are again sent
79
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
out among the people. But this relief money and relief work were both soon exhausted. The shirts were all made and the missionary houses all rebuilt.
What was to become of the hundreds of poor women., and daughters too old to go to school, and too poor to marry? There is absolutely no way for a lone woman in this part of Turkey to earn her own livelihood. How could these women save their virtue or their lives? This harrowing question Mrs. Shepherd and Miss Shattuck solv- ed. They determined to revive among the women the lace industry. This making of lace, which in the olden time had been the fancy-work and delight of rich and noble families, was now to be made to earn bread and cheese for the needy. So with great difficulty, undaunted courage and a stupendous amount of labor a lace industry was started in Anitab and Oorfa which met with immediate success, and has now grown to such proportions as to give employment to over 2000 women. Such an industry Mrs. Carey determined to start for just the same kind of women in Harpoot, and in November, 1903, the beginning was made. A teacher was procured, and money enough secured, mostly from the private funds of missionaries, to enable seven women to begin the work. Mrs. Carey then wrote to many of her friends in America, and to her home church for help, and glad responses were made, but the amounts of money were small. At the end of one year the number of workers had increased to forty, and at the close of the second to nearly 100, with many eager ones on the waiting list, and there she had to draw the line fearing she had gone too far. Many times she had to go down on her knees and tell the Lord that she didn't know where the money was coming from to pay her women, but it always came, and sometimes in most unexpected ways.
But for lack of capital, 200 women could have easily been provided with work as 100. As the skill of the women
80
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
increased, the amount paid out each week reached the sum of one and a half English pounds. A skillful worker can earn fifteen piasters a week, which in purchasing power er is equal to more than $5.00 in American money. So you see that the suffering and idleness already alleviated in these women's homes are a guarantee of the value of this form of industrial mission. At the close of the second year Mrs. Carey began to feel that the work had reached a good financial basis, and the third year opened with a most encouraging outlook, when suddenly a great sorrow over- cast the mission.
Mrs. Carey was dangerously ill, and after a few days of intense suffering the precious benefactor of so many, laid down her labor of love. And now,
"Where the Orient sunshine falleth Where her golden crown was won, In that far-away mission garden She is resting, her work is done."
I cannot attempt to describe the grief of the native women, among them, the "Brides' Class' which had also been one of her especial charges, when their great loss became known; but loving hands have taken up the lace industry which is now under the supervision of Mrs. At- kinson, wife of the missionary doctor, and in memory of our sainted friend, shall not we of our abundance give generously to carry on the work so well begun?
Written for Bureau Ass'n. Meeting 1906
by Pauline Schenk
81
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
G. BYRON SMITH
Some years ago there appeared in the American Maga- zine an article by Bruce Barton entitled ' 'Smith of Iberia." It was the story of an unusual piece of educational work that was being carried on among the Ozark hills in Mis- souri. Far from any large city, twelve miles distant from a railroad, in the small village of Iberia in the fall of 1890, a young man by the name of Smith, assisted by his wife, had opened an academy in order that the young people of the surrounding country might have the opportunity to secure a higher education. Both Mr. Smith and his wife were graduates of Knox College, and were imbued with the idea of the value of the classical and cultural studies as the best foundation for the building of sound charac- ter and a broad citizenship. After more than three decades of effort so notable a work of education was being accom- plished that it came to the attention of the American Maga- zine and the story of "Smith of Iberia" found a place in its pages.
"Smith of Iberia" was none other than G. Byron Smith who grew to young manhood in Princeton. He was born here June 7, 1865, being the only son of Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Smith, for many years residents of this place. His mother was a devoted member of the Princeton Congre- gational Church, a spiritually minded woman who cherish- ed the highest ideas for her son. Byron, too, held his membership in this church for some years; and he inherit- ed the traits of lofty idealism of his mother.
He was graduated from the Princeton High School in 1884 and a year later found him enrolled in the Freshman class of Knox College, at Galesburg, Illinois. He chose the classical course and made an excellent record therein. Dur- ing his college course he became devoted not only to the pursuit of the classics but equally devoted to the pursuit of a fellow student of the classics, Miss Mabel White, a
82
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
member of his own class. And the picture of Byron and Mabel strolling leisurely under the elms between "Old Main" and "Whiting Hall' is still vivid in the memory of the students of those days. Each graduating with the de- gree of B. A. from Knox in the class of 1889, news of their marriage a short time after brought no surprise to their friends.
However, some of their friends were surprised in the fall of 1890 when it was reported that Byron and Mabel had gone into the back woods of Missouri and were try- ing to start an academy. "One of Byron's dreams", said some, "too visionary ever to become a reality." But Byron was a man not only of vision, but of faith also ; and such a combination always brings results.
Forty years have passed since that opening day. What a contrast is presented between conditions then and now! On that first day of October, 1890, among the stu- dents that presented themselves for admission, only one was found prepared to enter upon the proposed course of study; so that it was necessary to offer a year of prep- aration for the regular academic course. Today two years of junior college work are offered in addition to the regu- lar academy courses and the annual combined enrollment in the academy and junior college is about one hundred twenty students. Then there was but one meagerly equip- ped building. Now there are five good buildings on a campus of twenty acres; a library of seven thousand vol- umes; an endowment of $100,000.00; a property valued at $150,000.00 and not one penny of indebtedness. Then there was not a single high school within ten counties around; and many of the public schools had terms of from three to six months' duration. Today the schools of central Mis- souri are going much higher grades of work, and many high schools have sprung into being in the surrounding counties. Who can say how much Iberia College has done to stimulate the educational life of that entire region?
83
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
During the academy's existence more than two hun- dred have been graduated from its courses, and of that number seventy-five per cent have gone on to complete a college course. And former students of the academy are ' 'making good" in all walks of life through all the region round about. The thought and life of the local community have been deeply influenced by the academy during its forty years of steady expansion. Many were the obstacles to be surmounted especially in the early years of the school life. But with the backing of loyal friends in the Congregational churches of the state, particularly in St. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. Smith held steadfastly to their pur- pose with the result that their names deserve to be hon- ored among the true builders of a better world.
During these two score years, crowded with activity in the class room and with administrative work, Mr. and Mrs. Smith always kept in touch with progressive ideas in the field of education, but were never swept off their feet by the clamor for vocational courses as over against the so-called cultural subjects. Twice during different sum- mer vacations they were enabled to go abroad and thus bring added interest to their classes, by linking modern Greece and Rome with those ancient civilizations.
On different occasions Mr. Smith filled the pulpit of the local Congregational church, and his name has at times appeared on the programs at the State Conferences of that denomination.
Enthusiasm for his work has enabled this man to achieve success in his chosen field of labor attained by only a few. The inspiration for the service he has ren- dered he attributes to his mother, to the Princeton Con- gregational Church and to Knox College.
The Princeton church is proud to place the name of G. Byron Smith on her roll of honor, and will always be glad to welcome this modest unassuming man who still calls Princeton his home. E. B. Cushing.
84
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
TWO HOME MISSIONARIES
In January, 1890, Miss Carrie Segar and Miss Emma Harwood joined the church coming to Princeton from Can- ada, Mississippi, where they taught colored children under the charge of the Freedman's Bureau. Miss Harwood had been a nurse in the Civil War. While working together in Mississippi, they became fast friends and there began the copartnership in their lives which continued unbroken un- til the death of Miss Segar, September, 1920, a period of over fifty years. Service for others was their life aim. Both were highly esteemed by the Ladies' Aid and by their associates in fellow church work. Their memories will be cherished by many to whom they gave needful and timely Christian assistance and direct help in extremity. Their Princeton home is still known as "Saints' Rest."
MARCIA M. SMITH
Miss Marcia Mi Smith was born in Burlington, New York, September 20, 1806. She joined the church in Gou- veneur, New York, April, 1824. She went out to the Sand- wich Islands as a teacher in the seventh reinforcement from Boston in December, 1826, and arrived there the fol- lowing April.
She was stationed at Kaneohe, on Calu, September 1, 1837. She was transferred to the school at Punahon in 1842 where she remained until her return to the United States in 1853. She united with the Princeton Congrega-. tional Church in 1853. She spent her last days in the home of Joseph Allen of Dover, Illinois and is buried in the old Cemetery at Dover. She was a sister of Mrs. Lorenzo Lyons, a missionary in the Sandwich Islands, and her nephew, Curtis Lyons, was for a time superintendent of our Sunday school.
85
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
CHARLES FREDERICK WINSHIP
Charles Frederick Winship was born in New Hart- ford, New York. He came to Illinois with his father's family in 1833. He united with this church in 1836 on confession of faith, and was graduated from Knox College with an A. M. Degree in 1853. September 18, 1859, a Coun- cil ordained him for a missionary to West Africa. He must have gone out at once for in June, 1860, a letter from him was read in the Sabbath school, which was written at Don- di, Mendai Mission, West Africa. About 1861 Mr. Winship
was married in Africa, to Sarah , a Scotch woman,
probably a missionary. His health failed and he with his wife came to Princeton in 1863. He bought a home here in which they lived until his death in 1865. He and his wife are buried in Oakland Cemetery.
February 3, 1861, the Sabbath school received a letter from Barnabas Root, a protege of Reverend Chas. F. Win- ship. He was a native of the locality of the Mendai Mis- sion in which Mr. Winship labored and is spoken of as "an African youth about five years from the bush." When Mr. Winship came home he brought this young man with him. July 5, 1863, Barnabas Root was present at the Sabbath school and it is recorded that he was in Mr. James Smith's class. Where he got his preparatory education is not now known but he entered Knox College in 1866 and graduated with an A. B. Degree in 1870. He also secured a medical education and returned to Africa a full fledged M. D. with high hopes of serving his people. He died in 1877 in Africa
86
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
The young people of the Princeton Congregational Church have always been interested in the work of the church. A young people's prayer meeting was inaugurat- ed and carried on under the personal direction of Dr. Ed- wards during his pastorate. His own family contributed largely to the success of this helpful service and the young- people enthusiastically upheld this meeting. When Dr. Stephen A. Norton came to be pastor in 1884, the Christian Endeavor Movement was in its fourth year and was rapid- ly increasing in popularity. Miss Emma V. White had be- come interested in the workings of this society from per- sonal knowledge in other places, and at her suggestion Dr. Norton called a special meeting of the "Young People's Prayer Meeting" to consider forming a Christian Endea- vor Society here. The call that was sent out for this meet- ing was dated December 28, 1887, and was as follows:
"At the Young People's meeting on January first 1888 we will consider the 'Society of Christian Endeavor' and if best will organize at once. May not I count on your presence and help? Let us begin the New Year with a new endeavor. Sincerely yours,
(Signed) S. A. Norton."
In response to this call the Christian Endeavor Society was formed on January 1, 1888. Its first officers were J. Clyde Smith, President, E. A. Stem, Vice President, Ed. Mercer, Secretary-Treasurer, Bertha Forbes, Chairman of Lookout Committee, M. Elizabeth Reed, Chairman of Pray- er-meeting Committee, and Emma V. Khite, Chairman of Temperance Committee. The slogan "For Christ and the
87
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Church" fired enthusiasm amongst the young people and by the second half of the first year many new names had been added to the membership. It was the policy of the secretary to change officers every six months so that all members took responsibility. This proved a strong point in the training for service.
In the days of the C. E. Bureau County Union large delegations were sent to the conventions and the banner for the largest numbers was often brought home to Princeton.
From time to time new committees were added to the original three. The Missionary Committee raised quite large sums of money and sent barrels of clothing to needy places. The Social Committee tried to carry out the ob- ject of the Society's existence, "to promote an earnest Christian life among our members and to increase their mutual acquaintance.,, Many good times resulted and life- long friendships formed.
In 1910 an attempt was made to promote missionary study by the purchasing of ten missionary volumes. This began the Library which was added to for a number of years. It contained many standard volumes on missionary topics.
In the Historical Secretary's annals we find allusion to the helpfulness of the young people. We find her say- ing: "Christian Endeavor means work. Leaders of the weekly meetings have no slight task to make them bright and helpful. The Church appreciates their help."
Sometime during the presidency of Mrs. Charles J. Morris (1897-1898) the Society sponsored a concert given by the Ladies' Symphony Orchestra of Boston. One hun- dred dollars had to be guaranteed. This venture was en- thusiastically supported. Hard work was rewarded, for when the profits were counted they found two hundred dollars to their credit.
88
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
The first Junior Christian Endeavor Society was form- ed during the pastorate of the Rev. E. H. Votaw in 1892. Miss Agnes Robinson was its first superintendent. After some years of usefulness it was merged with the Senior Society. (Records are not found concerning this). It was re-instated during Rev. Lee's pastorate and was a lively organization for a few years under Mrs. Lee's magnetic in- fluence.
The ebb and flow of young people's work during the years has been interesting to study. Now the effective method seems to be that of merging with other denomin- ations of City and County. Large and enthusiastic gath- erings are held and groups attend Summer Conferences at Tower Hill where the spirit of devotion to the Church is kindled and training for service imparted to the earnest young people who attend. Thus God-given impulses are carried into action and the old slogan, 'Tor Christ and the Church" is carried on and efficient service rendered.
Carrie Dunbar.
89
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE DELTA ALPHA SOCIETY
In the year 1903 the Rev. John W. Welsh was chosen pastor of the Congregational Church. Shortly after Mr. Welsh began his pastorate, his wife, Mrs. Mary W. Welsh, organized a Sunday school class already in existence into what is now known as the Delta Alpha Society. The group as organized consisted of about twenty-five high school girls. Mrs. Welsh was a diligent worker and did her utmost to interest the girls in the Sunday school and the church itself.
The aim of the Delta Alpha organization is not only to learn to be Heavenly-minded, but to grow in grace through exercising the spirit of grace toward one another. Our objective is the cultivation of the spirit of friendship. This is given its highest and holiest interpretation, — that of pure, self-forgetful love. An oriental water pitcher, such as is used for bringing water from the common well — a fitting reminder of the daily toil and servitude of women of the Bible lands — is the emblem of the class, and this token is also found on the class pin.
Since the time the Rev. and Mrs. Welsh left Princeton the Delta Alpha Society has had a number of teachers. All of these teachers have been most helpful and loyal, and the class feels indebted to them for their efforts to help the class members to put First Things first in their lives.
The years have come and gone, but the Delta Alphas have steadily progressed, not only in membership, but in the work of the Church. They have now a membership of sixty. The meetings are held the second and fourth Tues- days in each month. Officers are elected each year and committees appointed.
90
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
It can truly be said of the Delta Alphas that a splendid feeling of friendship exists among the members and a deep feeling of loyalty.
During the World War the Delta Alpha Society work- ed diligently. In the year 1917 the class met each week at the church and Needlework Guild rooms making band- ages, garments, pillows, slings and various surgical dress- ings, as well as knitting socks, helmets, sweaters, and other articles.
The Delta Alphas have suffered losses in their ranks when Death has entered and taken some of the loved mem- bers. The following are members who have been called to meet their Saviour face to face: Madge Ennis, Marjorie Vaughan, Bess Morgan, Olive Lee, Louise Bryant, Ruth Norton and Helen Williams.
The Delta Alphas have given generously of their time, ability and finances in aiding the church to accomplish and perform Christ's work in the world. The financial assist- ance has been made possible by the untiring efforts of the entire organization in the serving of market days, dinners, suppers, luncheons, etc. The class members in many in- stances have contributed the greater part of the food for the dinners and the members have been helpful in both the preparation and the serving. A small annual class fee is also charged each member, which eventually finds its way into church activities.
"There's richest joy in serving,
Thro sun and wind and rain; In friendship's name to do and care
Makes life a glorious gain. 'Thro darkness and thro danger,
Unharmed we move along; Tis friendship's light that safely leads
And makes our lives a song."
Ethel M. Sharp.
91
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE ELIZABETH CURTIS GUILD
In the year 1906 many of the women of the church began to realize that there should be another woman's so- ciety to help bear the burden of church work. The Ladies' Aid which had labored so long and faithfully should have their labors lightened by a new society which should in- clude all the women not members of the Aid and all those who were members, who cared to join both societies.
Mrs. Wilson Warfield suggested that a Guild be or- ganized, and a meeting was called on February nineteenth at the home of Mrs. John Delano, and officers were elected.
Just at this time one of our most dearly loved mem- bers, Mrs. Elizabeth Curtis, was standing
"Beside that ancient gate way built up
in years gone by, Upon whose top the clouds in eternal shadows lie — "
looking wistfully back on her dear church where she had spent so many happy hours, had worked so hard and sac- rificed so much. It had been home to her and she had made it home to others. And so these women, all of whom loved her as a friend and fellow-worker, drew up a set of by-law, beginning:
"This society shall be known as the Elizabeth Curtis Guild. Its object shall be to continue in the First Congre- gational Church of Princeton, Illinois the work Mrs. Curtis so loved and to which she so faithfully gave her time and strength — namely, to make the church helpful, homelike and inviting to all who come to our town."
When Mrs. Curtis was told of this she was able to ex-
92
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
press her appreciation and pleasure, and the next day pass- ed to that Home, where we cannot but feel that she was welcomed as she had welcomed so many to her church home here.
Lack of space prevents a list of officers, of deaths, of marriages, nor can all that has been accomplished socially and financially be told. Only a few outstanding items can be given such as:
The decoration of the church and parsonage at var- ious times and $200 paid on the church building debt. Plac- ing a gas grate, mantel, window and radiator in the pas- tor's study. Buying new dishes and silver. The new kitchen and Sunday-school rooms in the basement. $150 toward the new roof for the church. A tablet placed to the memory of M/iss Minnie Colesbury, donor of the church clock and a contribution to the memorial fund for Lora S. Carey. $200 toward furnishing a Church room at the hos- pital. Five Christmas boxes sent to Mr. Day's school for Mountain Whites in Tennessee. The yearly bazaar and luncheon. The banquets on Mother's and Dad's Day, also to such organizations as Rotarians, Lion's, City Beautiful delegation, District Federation of Woman's Clubs, M. E. Conference, W. B. M. I. and G. A. R.
Help was given to the Deaconess' Home at Dover, and the churches at Cherry and Seatonville. A box of linen was sent to Harpoot, Turkey, and $125 toward a children's ward there. Lastly, the Guild appoints each year com- mittees to decorate the pulpit aided by means of interest from several gifts left for this purpose, thus carrying on the labor of love performed for so many years by Mrs. Curtis.
In the Guild record the names of some officers have been repeated again and again, a number serving three and four years. Special mention should be made of Mrs. Bertha Sherwin who served faithfully ten consecutive years as secretary, and Mrs. Grace C. Norris who is now
93
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
president and serving the ninth year with splendid con- structive ability, both financially and socially.
Filling the offices has meant for these women hard work, anxiety, discouragement, — yes, and happiness. Still there are names not among the officers, of some too mod- est, too self-effacing to accept office, yet whose very names bring a feeling of confidence and respect for their ability whenever they are mentioned, — women who have served as heads of dinner committees many times, who have done their own share of work and that of others on the flower and pulpit decoration committee, who have cut out work and sewed, and whose only reward has been the "well done, thou good and faithful servant" heard in their own hearts.
Such is the history of the Elizabeth Curtis Guild. May the years to come be as profitable, as full of service, and as happy with loving fellowship.
Kate Delano Barrett. 1930.
94
THE ALCOVE AND THE FIRST PIPE ORGAN 1865
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE CHOIR
In the old frame church the singing was by the con- gregation and the only musical instrument was the tuning fork. A letter written in 1898 by Frances Crittenden Burge says: — "In the old days the leading singers occu- pied the seats on either side of the speaker's platform and all who could, joined in the hymns, set to familiar tunes."
On March 4, 1840, a committee was appointed to "pro- pose proper measures calculated to improve singing in the church and to see about a supply of singing books." In July of that year, two dozen copies of "The Manhattan Col- lection of Sacred Music" was secured. In 1843 instruction in singing was discussed. The purchase of a melodeon, by the efforts of the women of the church, was the first innovation upon primitive simplicity.
In the brick church (1848) there was a gallery over the vestibule and the choir sat there. During the singing the audience rose, turned around and faced the choir.
In January, 1849, it was resolved "that singing is a part of religious worship and should be sustained by the church" and $20.00 was voted for that purpose. They also voted to permit the choir to practice in the church and one dozen cheap candlesticks were to be purchased for their use. In December of that year, Homer Winship was paid $3.75 for candlesticks and lard. "The Plymouth Collection of Hymns" was adopted in 1864 and that year Mrs. L. F. Newell began a campaign for a pipe organ. In 1865 an al- cove was added to the west end of the church in which the first pipe organ was installed and the melodeon was used for the Wednesday afternoon prayer meetings. Mrs. L.
95
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
F. Newell was the first organist. Izora Winship was the second. Dr. G. T. Smith and J. Clyde Smith also served. One, who sat in the audience, said "The church always had good music and a fine choir." Another, "Well do I remem- ber the magnificence of 'How Beautiful is Zion' as ren- dered by that old choir. I have heard grand operas but never one made the deep impression upon me which that did". The first pipe organs were supplied with wind by hand-pumped bellows. Usually the "pumpers" were lads of the congregation and many are the stories they told, in later years, of the hardships of that occupation. One of the trustees objected to paying $20.00 a year for this ser- vice. It wasn't worth that. He was advised to try it and see, which he readily consented to do. By chance, a visit- ing organist, intent on making an impression, put on all the power available and by the time the service was over the trustee, a small man, was a wreck. He never again ob- jected to paying any price the boys demanded. A water motor supplied power for a time, but was followed in 1916 by an electric motor. In the early seventies Nat Simons was chorister and for years he with his wife, and Mrs. Cow- ley and changing bassos sang not only at the regular serv- ices but for innumerable funerals. In 1899 the second pipe organ was purchased. Up to 1901 one of the interesting events of the annual meeting was a discussion of music and musicians. Since this did not always lead to the happiest results, it was voted to transfer the duty of en- gaging the choir to the trustees. Since 1917 a music com- mittee has been chosen annually and to them is given the. entire charge of the choir. At times a chorus choir has been tried and in 1912 a male quartette sang. None are left to tell of those early singers who gave their time and talent with no thought of remuneration. Most of their names are forgotten, but who doubts that they are still praising God somewhere. Some still spoken of are Annie Everett, Lizzie Walker, Nan W. Rawson, Bessie Morgan,
96
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Charles Bascom and Clarence Delano. Arvis Chapman is said to have been a good leader, interested in the best music. The list of those, still living, who have given serv- ice in this choir is much too long to be given here, but two of these deserve mention. Mrs. Tom Cowley sang for us eighteen years and Miss Grace Farwell, the present or- ganist, has served for seventeen years.
97
The Secular Affairs of the Church
THE ANNUAL MEETING STATE MEETINGS FINANCES
THE SECULAR AFFAIRS OF THE CHURCH
THE ANNUAL MEETING
On January 6, 1841, it was voted that there be an an- nual meeting of the church on the Wednesday after the first Monday in January at which time trustees shall be chosen and all business pertaining to the church transact- ed and that there be no other stated business meeting.
In October, 1851, it was changed to the first Wednes- day of January. January 1890, at the suggestion of Stephen Norton, pastor of the church, a church-family dinner was served between the forenoon and afternoon ses- sions. The annual meeting convened at 10:00 o'clock A. M.
On January 13, 1892, an "Order of the Annual Meet- ing" was adopted and reports were asked from each de- partment of church work. Sometime between 1916 and 1920 the time of the annual meeting was changed to 5:00 P. M. with dinner at 6:00 P. M. and business afterwards.
On November 3, 1916, it was voted to have a nomin- ating committee before the annual meeting, said com- mittee to represent every organization of the church and Sunday school. From 1917 to 1921 quarterly meetings were held. In January, 1928, the day of the annual meeting was changed to Thursday.
STATE MEETINGS
The second Meeting of the Illinois State Association was held here in August, 1845, 1897 and in May, 1904, the year before the brick church was torn down.
The Illinois Branch of the Woman's Board met here in 1879, 1900 and 1914.
101
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
FINANCES
The first entry about finances is dated October 31, 1838. Subscriptions amounted to only $382.00. Church resolved to raise $600 by a tax on property, the trustees to assess the tax.
July 8, 1840. Voted that trustees report who has paid, how much and to whom, from whom dues should be paid.
December 13, 1843. Voted to elect a treasurer who should serve till a successor was elected. This treasurer to pay salary quarterly and if there is not money enough to cover the amount due, a note be given for the arrears, to bear 10 per cent interest till paid. All members in ar- rears shall also pay 10 per cent interest on their back "dues, also a discount on dues paid before due.
January 1, 1845. Voted that members be taxed for the support of needy members.
July 7, 1847. Subscription paper circulated for money to build the new church.
October 17, 1847. Subscription paper to be circulated outside of the church to raise money to build and that the restrictions in the deed of ownership of pews be inserted in the subscription paper. (Evidently the pews had been sold before this, but nothing is recorded of it.)
January 3, 1849. Voted to offer fifty slips for sale in the new house. Voted Dr. Converse, Sidney Smith, Joseph Campbell, Eli Smith and C. S. Allen be a committee to ap- praise the slips. Voted that the church raise $20.00 the present year by assessment, for the purpose of sustaining the singing. Voted that E. C. Winship, Caleb Cook and C. D. Colton be a committee to appropriate said fund.
February 14, 1849. Voted to offer slips for public sale February 28, 1869 at 9:00 a. m.
February 21, 1849. Voted that slips be sold on credit for three months.
102
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
March 14, 1849. Voted that the trustees be authoriz- ed to rent the ten slips, reserved for sale, at 10 per cent of their relative value, from year to year, except so many as may be necessary to supply families who are unable to pay rent.
January 9, 1850. Voted that $25.00 be added to the assessment for support of singing.
January 1851. Voted that all financial concerns be conducted through the treasurer.
STANDING RULES July, 1851
I. It shall be the duty of the trustees immediately after the annual meeting to make out the assessment for the year expenses and they shall also discharge all other duties devolving on them as trustees.
II. All the ordinary expenses of the church shall be defrayed by an annual assessment on the poll and estates of the members, a poll being valued at $500.00, the trustees having discretionary power, in individual cases, to abate a portion of the assessment, or to exempt from such assess- ment, Provided: it shall be the duty of the trustees, unless otherwise ordered, to circulate a subscription among the members of the congregation for the support of the minis- try previous to making the annual assessment — the amount thus raised by subscription to be deducted from the whole amount to be raised.
III. Any member refusing to pay his assessment shall, at the close of the year, be subject to the action of the church for violation of church covenant without prev- ious labor.
IV. It shall be the duty of each member, subject to be taxed, to prepare and hand to one of the trustees, when de- sired, a list of the real estate and personal property, sub- ject to be taxed, owned by him, on the first day of January
103
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
of each year, with a statement of the amount he is in- debted,, which shall be deducted from his said list in assess- ing. If any member subject to be taxed shall refuse to give in his list when requested, it shall be the duty of the trustees to assess him such amount as they shall believe equitable.
January, 1853. The assessment plan abandoned. Sub- scription paper circulated.
January 5, 1859. Subject of changing method of rais- ing funds debated.
January 19, 1859. Slips to be sold and subscription paper circulated.
January, 1863. A manual was published, with this about finances:
1. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to collect and pay over all the funds to the church, but in no case without an order from the trustees. At the annual meeting he shall make a report of all the receipts and disbursements, his accounts having been previously audited by the clerk of the trustees.
2. It shall be the duty of the trustees to hold the property and manage the pecuniary affairs of the church, according to the laws of this state. Said trustees shall be subject at all times to a directing vote of the church and shall have no power to buy, sell or mortgage or transfer property without a vote of the church. The Board of Trustees shall make an annual report of their doings to the church.
3. Notice of business relating to the raising or disposition of funds shall be given from the pulpit on the Sabbath before any such business shall be finally acted upon.
January, 1876. Collection envelopes were offered for those who would use them.
(For a short time in 1881 no collection was taken at the evening service.)
November 3, 1916. The every member canvas was adopted and Duplex envelopes began to be used. Previous to the canvass, at the annual church dinner, pledge cards are at each plate and many use these, and thus lessen the labor of the canvass.
104
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE PARSONAGE
As early as January, 1859, there was talk of buying or building a parsonage. Not until 1894 did it crystalize into deeds.
On March 25, 1895, Catlin Cook offered to sell to the church a lot on the corner of Thompson and South Church for half its value, $350. The trustees gladly accepted his offer. The parsonage was built at once and was first occu- pied, in 1896, by the Rev. Edwin More, Jr. and family.
THE DINING HALL
A temporary building at the fair grounds, in which to serve meals during the Bureau County Fair, had been put up annually by the men of the church.
In August, 1894, the permanent dining hall was built in which the united membership of the church caters to the gastronomic needs of the crowds who come to the fair, thereby adding each year a tidy sum to the general fund. While this is primarily a money making enterprise, the week's contact, shoulder to shoulder in homely domestic service, is found to reveal abilities not suspected, and cre- ate friendships that are a lifelong joy.
A FEW BUSINESS ITEMS
February 14, 1849. Voted that persons riding to church have the privilege of building horsesheds on the west end of the lot.
July 14, 1869. Voted a deed to Mrs. Keyes, for a house, "as a donation. "
August 1, 1894. Voted to build a dining hall at the fair grounds.
January, 1907. Voted to install a telephone in the church.
May 23, 1907. Voted to abolish horse sheds.
105
Laborers in the Vineyard
THE MINISTERS
THE DEACONS
THE DEACONESSES
THE TRUSTEES
THE TREASURERS
THE HISTORICAL SECRETARIES
THE CLERKS
LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD
MINISTERS Rev. Lucian Farnham, October, 1835-October, 1838 Rev. Owen Lovejoy, October, 1838-December, 1855 Rev. Nathaniel A. Keyes, January, 1856-January, 1857 Rev. S. D. Cochran, - January, 1857-July, 1858 Rev. W. B. Christopher, - October, 1858-May, 1859 Rev. Samuel Day, - February-October, 1860 Rev. H. L. Hammond, - - May, 1861-May, 1862 Rev. D. H. Blake, - July, 1862-March, 1864 Rev. Flavel Bascom, - March, 1864-March, 1869 Rev. Rowland B. Howard, - June, 1870-July, 1875 Rev. Richard Edwards, October, 1875-October, 1884 Rev. Stephen A. Norton, November, 1884-October, 1891 Rev. Elihu H. Votaw, November, 1891-April, 1894 Rev. Edwin More, Jr., - October, 1894-July, 1898 Rev. James H. McLaren, October, 1898-January, 1903 Rev. John W. Welsh, - April, 1903-January, 1910 Rev. Benjamin M. Southgate, - - 1910-1911 Rev. Harold E. Parr, - March, 1912-January, 1915 Rev. Henry J. Lee, - April, 1915-February, 1923 Rev. Robert J. Watson, February, 1924-September, 1927 Rev. H. William Stiles, - November, 1927
109
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
LUCIAN FARNHAM
Rev. Lucian Farnham was the first pastor of the Hamp- shire Colony Congregational church. He was a graduate of Amherst College and Amherst Andover Theological Sem- inary. He came to Illinois in 1830 under the auspices of the American Home Missionary Society. He took charge of the church near the close of 1833 and was installed pastor October 21, 1835. He was a good Bible scholar and was witty and vivacious. He labored most faithfully for the prosperity of the church and community and his minis- try was able and effective, but he dwelt more on the legal aspects of the gospel than upon its invitations and tender appeals. He was therefore to be counted among the 1 'Boanerges" rather than the sons of consolation, faithful and uncompromising rather than winning and conciliatory. He was an outspoken abolitionist and it is suspected that his vigorous pronouncements on the subject of slavery were the cause of the withdrawal in 1837 of twenty-four members to form the Independent Congregational Church, now the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton. Mr. Farn- ham was also a stern disciplinarian and records show that gossip and non-attendance upon the ordinances of the church were summarily dealt with. During his pastorate in spite of privations and embarrasments of pioneer life the church kept up the weekly prayer meeting and the Sunday- school, built a comfortable house of worship and added to their membership, eighty-two by letter and forty on con- fession of their faith.
In the summer of 1838, because of a throat trouble, Mr. Farnham asked to be released for a season and he en- gaged Rev. Owen Lovejeoy to supply his pulpit for six months. In the spring of 1839 not being able to resume his labors, and desiring to go east, the pastoral relation- ship was dissolved at his own request. The last days of his life were spent in Newark, Illinois. On his seventy-
110
REV. LUCIAN FARNHAM DR. FLAVEL BASCOM
HON. OWEN LOVEJOY DR. RICHARD EDWARDS
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
fifth birthday, July 9, 1874, after two days illness he fell asleep, saying shortly before the end, "I shall spend part of my birthday in heaven!" He is buried in Oakland Ceme- tery, two and a half acres of which he himself gave to the church for a burial place.
OWEN LOVEJOY
When it became necessary for Mr. Farnham to find a supply for his pulpit, while he searched for health, Provi- dence seems to have provided one. Owen Love joy was a young minister looking for a position. He had come to Princeton with no definite purpose and was glad to be of service to both Mr. Farnham and the church. He was en- gaged to preach for six months. At the end of that time Mr. Farnham was still unable to take up the work and re- signed. Mr. Love joy was at once asked to become pastor of the church and in August, 1839, he accepted the call. He had not been ordained and a council was called for October 24, 1839, for that purpose. He belonged to the old order of preachers — was what is commonly called "ortho- dox". He believed in a God who guides men and nations, in salvation through the atonement of a Divine Christ; in the rejuvenating power of the Holy Spirit. He had no doubt of the inspiration of the scriptures. He had vitriolic language for the rum seller and the slave holder. He preached what he believed regardless of what the people believed and his grand old mother who sat down in front encouraged him with her deep voiced "amens". He loved people and this was no gesture for the good of the cause. He was truly a great preacher, a great pastor and a great friend. For seventeen years he swayed the hearts and minds of this church and community. Then he listened to the larger call of the nation and Congress heard the voice that always rang true to freedom and righteousness. On April 2, 1864, weeping people followed his body to Oakland Cemetery, but his spirit of uncompromising fidelity to truth has been a blessing to the church.
Ill
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
NATHANIAL ABBOTT KEYES Nathanial Abbott Keyes was the third pastor of the church. He was a native of New Hampshire, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and a student at Andover and Lane Seminaries. September 26, 1839, he was married to Mary Pettegrew and in January, 1840, they sailed for Syria where for four years he was a missionary of the American Board. Health reasons compelled a return to the United States. For three years he was in New England. In 1847 he went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where for eight years he was pastor of the German Reform Church. In 1855 he was en- gaged to supply the Hampshire Colony Church for one year. Mr. Keyes was a typical New England clergyman, austere, spiritual, other-worldly. He seemed too far above ordinary humanity to really touch those to whom he min- istered. He was with them but not of them. After the fiery oratory and great hearted humanity of Mr. Love joy this was too great a change and at the close of the year Mr. Keyes accepted a call to the Congregational Church at Griggsville, Illinois. On the eve of removal to that place he contracted pneumonia and was suddenly removed from earthly labor to heavenly reward. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery as are his wife and two daughters.
In July, 1869, the church deeded to Mrs. Keyes a house in which the family had a home until they one by one went to the Father's House.
S. D. COCHRAN S. D. Cochran, the fourth pastor, came in January, 1857, and was here until July, 1858, when he accepted a call to another church. "His preaching was clear and discrim- inating, enlightening and convincing through understand- ing, quickening the conscience and aiming to turn men from sin unto God and build them up into a true Christian manhood.'' During his ministry fifty-one were added to the church, twenty-seven on confession of faith and twen- ty-four by letter,
113
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
W. B. CHRISTOPHER W. B. Christopher was called in October, 1858, and ac- cepted the call and began work. A church at Galena in- sisted that they had a prior claim and he was obliged to yield to their demands leaving Princeton in May, 1859. Some of the church members resented this and insisted on trying to recapture Mr. Christopher. When other candi- dates were presented they still voted for Mr. Christopher.
SAMUEL DAY
Samuel Day was given a majority call in February, 1860. He accepted and entered upon his labors only to find many disturbing conditions and resigned in October of the same year. Now the Christopher adherents made a strong effort to secure a unanimous vote to call him to the pastorate. He declared he would not accept a "majority call" and it is said the matter came to a vote fourteen times in as many church meetings before it was finally dropped.
During these troublous days Albert Ethridge, princi- pal of the Dover Academy, rendered valuable assistance as a pulpit supply.
H. L. HAMMOND In May, 1861, Rev. H. L. Hammond of Chicago was asked to come to try to smoothe out the difficulties. He came and told the church their differences were "not worth a hill of beans" and that if they would promise not to speak of them even in their bed-chambers, for one year, he would serve them for that time. They promised and doubtless kept their promise. National events soon obliterated local troubles. Lincoln called for soldiers and Princeton gave of her best. Mr. Hammond preached and talked emancipa- tion. The church listened sympathetically and prayed for the downfall of slavery. After the "National Fast Day", Sep- tember 26, 1861, a petition to President Lincoln was drawn up and signed by many urging him to free the slaves, as an
113
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
effort to end the war. This is supposed to be the first communication of the kind he received. Before the year was ended, Mr. Hammond said the last words on more than one soldier's grave. During these stirring days, regular church work was not forgotten and some yet remember the Bible stories, without names, that he told to the chil- dren. They were afterward published in book form. His adult Bible class work was of great worth. After the bat- tle of Shiloh he was called to help the Sanitary Commis- sion; on his return to Princeton he was asked to become pastor of the church, but declined, to accept a larger posi- tion with the Chicago Theological Seminary.
D. H. BLAKE In June, 1862, D. H. Blake received and accepted a unanimous call and was installed July 16, 1862. During the winter of 1862-3 he invited Dwight L. Moody, a young Y. M. C. A. man from Chicago, to come to Princeton and hold some meetings. He came, and Mrs. Camilla Dunbar Richardson told, years afterward, how nervous the young man was over these meetings and how she and her hus- band got down on their knees and prayed with him before they went. It is believed that this was the first time Mr. Moody did any work outside of Chicago. On the first Sab- bath of May, 1863, twenty-one young people united with the church, as the result of these meetings. Mr. Blake started a young people's meeting which was held in the 1 'James Smith Academy" Building. Mr. Blake resigned in March, 1864.
FLAVEL BASCOM Flavel Bascom was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, Jan- uary, 8, 1804. He graduated from Yale College in 1828 and from Yale Theological Seminary in 1832. He was one of the ten men who were called the "Yale Band," grad- uates of Yale Seminary, who came west as home mission-
114
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
aries with the purpose of laying Christian foundations for future building. He was ordained by the Sangamon Pres- bytery in Sangamon, 1833, as an evangelist. In the winter of 1839-40 he came to Chicago and was pastor of a Presby- terian church, thus, until January, 1850. Then until 1855 he was in Galesburg, Illinois, with the "First Church of Christ". After some missionary work he came to Dover, Illinois, in 1859. Here he served the church and was one of the prime movers in establishing Dover Academy, of blessed memory. At Galesburg he had given much wise council to the founders of Knox College. He accepted a call to the Princeton church in March, 1864, and until March, 1869, made the spiritual interests of this community his chief interest. He was influential in the organization of the township high school and served for some years on the Board of Education. Dr. Bascom was a young man's friend and is so remembered today by men who are no longer young. "He was deeply and actively interested in all Christian enterprises, was an earnest promoter of anti- slavery and temperance reform, of strict Sabbath observ- ance, of missions and Bible study. He was an able, faith- ful and successful minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ". Dr. Bascom served as trustee of Dover Academy, of Beloit and Knox Colleges and of the Chicago Theological Seminary. At the close of his life he returned to Prince- ton for the waiting time. He died on August 8, 1890, and was laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery where his wife and some of his children also wait the great day yet to come.
ROWLAND BAILEY HOWARD The tenth pastor of the Congregational church of Princeton, Illinois was Rowland Bailey Howard. He was a brother of Gen D. D. Howard of the Civil War and found- er of Howard University, Washington, D. C, and of Chas. H. Howard, editor of "The Advance." He was born in Leeds, Maine, on October 17, 1834. He prepared for col-
115
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
lege at Yarmouth Academy, graduated from Bowdoin Col- lege in 1856. He attended Albany Law School (1856-57) and was graduated from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1860. On August 21, 1860, he married Mary Ellen Patten of Bath, Maine. He was ordained at Farmington, on October 11, 1860, and was pastor in that church until 1870. In June, 1870, he came to Princeton where he stayed un- til July, 1875. During his pastorate there were three weekly prayer meetings, a teachers' meeting and a month- ly missionary meeting. The latter was held the first Sun- day evening of each month. A little paper published by him is still cherished by some of the members. It con- tains a list of the church members, of the officers of the church and Sunday-school, also the covenant and confes- sion of faith, statistics of benevolences and additions to church membership, and other interesting data with a few devotional and helpful paragraphs. Collection envel- opes were used the first time on January 26, 1873. Horse sheds were built in September, 1874, and proved a joy to the country folk. A new communion service was purchas- ed in 1875 and the old one given to the A.M.E. church of Princeton. Mr. Howard had the sorrowful duty of con- ducting the funeral services for twenty-two of his adult church members during the five years of his pastorate. His own wife died on November 15, 1871. Being a man of deeply sympathetic nature these experiences told plain- ly on him. On September 12, 1873, Mr. Howard married Helen Julia Graves of Farmington, Maine, and brought her here to help care for his three motherless children. After leaving Princeton Mr. Howard held pastorates at East Orange, New Jersey, 1875-1879; Rockford, Mass- achusetts, 1879-1881 ; and Pigeon, Cove, 1882-1885.
He was Secretary of the American Peace Society from 1884 until his death, was a delegate to the Peace Congress in Paris, 1889, in London, 1890, and in Rome, 1891. In Rome, Italy, he was ill and his labors added to
116
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
the troubles. He died there of exhaustion following an operation for the removal of an abcess, January 25, 1892. He was associate editor of "The Advance" from 1875 to 1882. He published two books, "The New Sym- pathy of the Nation" in 1887, and "Electricity of Sermons", 1891.
RICHARD EDWARDS Richard Edwards, the eleventh pastor of the Prince- ton Congregational church, was born December 23, 1882, in Cardiganshire, Wales. He was the eldest of Richard and Ann Jones Edwards' ten children. He came with the family to Ohio in 1833. His early life was full of pioneer hardships, but by strenuous efforts he succeeded in com- pleting the course of study at the State Normal School at Bridgewater, Massachusetts in 1845. Later he graduat- ed from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, with honors. He was engaged in educational work in Massachussets until 1857 when he became president of the city Normal School of St. Louis. In 1862 he accepted the presidency of the State Normal University of Normal, Ill- inois. After a dozen years in that school he had a strong- desire to preach the gospel. Almost weekly he occupied some nearby pulpit. The Congregational church at Prince- ton was without a pastor and gladly availed themselves of his services. In January, 1876, this church gave him a call to become their pastor. He had found the double demand of class room and pulpit too serious a tax upon his strength and so resigned the presidency of the Nor- mal University to accept the Princeton call. He said in later years that he had always thought if the gospel were presented in the right way it would be accepted. He was the more readily persuaded to accept a pastorate because he wanted to try out his own theory of preaching. His sermons were intellectual treats, spurring men to high ideals and right living. They are still remembered by
117
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
some who heard them. In the winter of 1876-77 a great spiritual uplift came to the church in the "Hallenback revival". Many were truly "born again" and forty-eight new members came into the church. Dr. Edward was deeply impressed by the messages given at this time. He himself said he "was converted". Whatever he meant, it is certain that his sermons had a new note of spirituality and consecration that often took his hearer to the very gate of heaven.
Dr. Edwards was a power in the community as well as a leader in the church. He served on the Board of Education. He lent his voice and influence to every good work in the town. As a guest in the home he was de- lightful. To meet him on the street was a pleasure and his friendly handclasp was a thing to remember. The eight years of his ministry made a deep and lasting im- pression on the church and community. Failing eye-sight demanded a change and on September 10, 1884, his resig- nation was accepted with sincere sorrow. No sketch of Dr. Edwards would be complete without some mention of dearly beloved Mrs. Edwards. After her death a friend wrote, "Dr. Edwards belonged to the nervous impulsive energetic, positive, type with tremendous vitality that made the air electric, but what shall we say of the noble woman who stood shoulder to shoulder with him through all the strenous years? She was so well poised, so calm under all circumstances, so self contained at all times. Most justly might she be termed the balance wheel of the family". After leaving Princeton Dr. Edwards did some educational work. He was State Superintendent of Public Instruction for four years at Springfield.
After retiring to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1893 he was president of the Brokaw Hospital trustees, frequent- ly conducted services, was superintendent of the Sunday- school, taught a Bible class, made addresses before relig- ious and educational assemblies, was president of the
118
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
County Bible Society. He died at Bloomington, Illinois, March 17, 1908.
STEPHEN ALISON NORTON Stephen Alison Norton was the eleventh pastor of the church. He was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1854, into a family that claimed a long line of clear thinking men. His father served as chaplain in Sherman's army and at the close of the war went to New Richmond, Wisconsin, with his family, where he was pas- tor of the Congregational church. Stephen Alison Norton taught a country school at the age of sixteen and money earned in this way and by summer work on the farm en- abled him to enter the newly organized school at North - field, Minnesota, known as Carleton College. After five years here with interims of manual labor, to provide the wherewithal for expenses, he entered Amherst College and was graduated in 1878 with Plii Beta Kappa honors. After a year at Hartford Theological Seminary and two years at the Congregational Theological Seminary in Chicago, he received his B. D. from the latter Seminary in 1881. He was ordained at Amboy, Illinois, October 6, 1881, and in June of that year he married his class-mate at Carleton, Therina L. Hunt. He had been three and a half years at Amboy, when his son Paul was born. He accepted the call to the Princeton church in Novemebr 1884. Because of the New England back ground of both Mr. Norton and the church this proved a most satisfactory association. He said in his farewell sermon, " I came determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and Him crucified". God abundantly honored this decision by adding to the church ninety-six members on confession of their faith and fifty-six by letter during his seven years' pastorate. On September 8, 1886, a tiny eight months old daughter died and was buried in Oakland and Mrs. Norton's health began to be seriously threatened. At last in October,
119
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
1891, Mr. Norton resigned in order to seek more kindly climate in the orange groves of California. While he was pastor of the First Congregational Church at San Diego a fine new building was erected. Mrs. Norton's health steadily failed and on March 1, 1897, she finished the earthly life. In 1899 Mr. Norton married Mary F. Pen- field of Rockford, Illinois, and their daughter Dorothy was born in 1901. In 1902 Mr. Norton was called to the First Congregational Church of Woburn, Massachusetts, where he spent twenty happy years. In 1922 he decided to retire from active service and went with his wife and Dorothy to California, but was not yet permitted to rest. The church at Manhattan, California, wanted his help and for three years, during which time a church building was completed, he served them well. At last in 1926 he built him a home in Claremont and laid down pastoral duties. In 1927 Mrs. Norton died. Mr. Norton and his brother, Edwin C. Norton, opened a school for boys in 1927 of which Frank M. Sleeper, Dorothy Norton's husband, is head master. Mr. Norton has made his home with the Sleepers since his wife's death. In 1897 Carleton College honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. While at Woburn he was director of the Congregational Educa- tional Society, the Congregational Publishing Society and a corporate member of the American Board. He also served as president of the Boston Congregational Club. He died while asleep on January 4, 1930. He wrote just a day or so before the end, "If I were to live my life again, I would choose to do it as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
E. H. VOTAW EUCHOLA V. PORTER
Elihu Hillis Votaw was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1836, of Quaker parentage. At the age of two years his parents moved to Jay County, Indiana, where he
120
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
grew to manhood. He was graduated from Amherst Col- lege in 1869, and was ordained a Congregational minister in 1874 at Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Votaw's first churches were in the suburbs of Cleveland, and in 1892, after sev- eral successful pastorates in states of the Middle West, he accepted a call to the First Congregational Church in Princeton, Illinois. Mr. Votaw was an especially gifted and scholarly man; a thoughtful student not only of the Bible, history and literature but of the vital topics of the day. He was in sympathy with modern Biblical scholarship, but used its results with such care and wisdom as to commend the gospel of Christ to all who came under the influence of his preaching. His was a positive message to men of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. During his ministry in Princeton sixty-two names were added to the church roll, twenty of which were on profession of faith. Mr. Votaw was also interested in community life and while in Prince- ton founded and named the Belteonian Club, a literary or- ganization which survived him many years. Reverend Votaw left Princeton in 1896 and after five years of min- istry in Iowa retired from active service and returned to Princeton to spend his remaining days. His death oc- cured after a brief illness upon March 4, 1902, at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. 0. H. Porter, and interment was in Oakland Cemetery. Mr. Votaw was married in 1859 to Miss Harriet Weber, a woman of charm- ing personality and rare Christian character. Ever the true comrade and helpmate of her husband, she played no small part in helping him to achieve success in his pastoral work.
EDWIN MORE
Edwin More, the fourteenth pastor of the church, was
born of Scotch parents in Delhi, Delaware County, New
York, February 21, 1852. Very early his parents moved
to Brooklyn, New York, and here in private schools he had
121
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
his preparatory education. He was graduated from the Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He practiced law in New York City for fourteen years. In 1883 he married Anna Hoyt Reynolds of Aurora, Illinois, and found in her companionship, strength, courage, and comfort all the days of his life. She is still at the home in Seattle.
His father was strongly opposed to religion and pro- hibited any church attendance or reading of the Bible. Af- ter Mr. More was thirty years old he happened, by chance, to pick up a Bible, and, opening to Isaiah, began to read and became so absorbed that he read on and and for hours. From that day he was a constant Bible student. Church at- tendance soon followed and in about a year he made a public confession of his faith in Christ, uniting with the Pilgrim Congregational Church of Brooklyn, New York. The pastor of this church, Rev. Samuel H. Virgin, became his life long friend and adviser. It was his influence that led Mr. More to undertake the work of the ministry. He entered the Congregational Theological Seminary at Chi- cago in 1888 and was graduated in 1891. From 1894 to 1898 he preached a clear and faithful gospel in the Prince- ton pulpit. His sermons showed his fine legal training. He ever threw his whole soul into the doing of any Christian service, be it great or small. Not long after leaving here failing health necessitated a move to the Pacific coast. There for nearly twenty years so far as strength permit- ted, he cared for needy home missionary churches, giving the best he could to the "least of them". After a losing fight for health he gladly answered the call of his Master on January 13, 1924.
JAMES H. McLAREN Rev. Jas. H. McLaren, the fifteenth pastor of the church, was born at Bay Fortune, Prince Edward Island, September 26, 1863. His parents were of Scotch descent
122
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
"with just enough Irish to make it interesting". His education was obtained under difficulties and at various institutions of learning. His first years of preaching were done while carrying on studies in nearby colleges. He was ordained on August 12, 1890, at Phillips, Missouri. He was called to the Princeton church in the fall of 1898 and remained till December, 1902. The slight burr on his tongue made him a delightful reader of Scotch literature. Good audiences came to listen to his messages. While here he published his first book, "Put Up Thy Sword". He wrote several books on history and religion and many poems. A few years after leaving Princeton he entered the larger field offered by the Chautauqua platform where he proved a popular speaker. His home after 1913 was in Pasadena, California, where he died in 1928. His widow, Mrs. Glen- nio Lane McLaren, survives him.
JOHN WALLACE WELSH
John Wallace Welsh was born in Almira, New York, February 25, 1875, and with his family went to Newton, Kansas, in 1882. In the schools of Newton his education be- gan. After a year in Southwest Kansas College he came to Northwestern University where he received his B. A. in 1901 and M. A. in 1902. He had already done home missionary work in Kansas and during his university course he supplied various Chicago churches. He came to Princeton in April, 1903. At once he impressed these people with his fine personality. He preached and prac- ticed a gospel of faith and confidence. His mid-week messages were carefully prepared and were a source of strength to the many who came to hear him. He organized and carried on a children's church and made sure that the children understood the meaning and responsibility of church membership. He was a sympathetic and under- standing pastor. The Billy Sunday meetings in January and February of 1906 found in him a strong supporter
123
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
and later he was associated, for two years, with Mr. Sun- day in his evangelistic work. An insistent call from the California Ave. Church of Chicago won him from Prince- ton in December, 1909. Since then Mr. Welsh has held several pastorates, notably one at Wheaton, Illinois, where he also served as acting president of Wheaton College after President Blanchard's death. He was over seas in Y. M. C. A. work. He has also been associated with Bible Institute wrork and is now field secretary for the Chicago Bible So- ciety.
BENJAMIN M. SOUTHGATE Benjamin Southgate was born in Woodstock, Vermont. His early education was in the school of that town. He was a "Key Man" from Williams College, Williamstown, Massa- chusetts. After teaching a short time he entered the Con- gregational Theological Seminary at Chicago and in 1896 received his D. D. He came to Princeton in January, 1910, from Toledo, Ohio, where he had been for some years Asso- ciate District Secretary of the Congregational Sunday- school and Publishing Society. This connection with Sun- day-school work and being in Marion Lawrence's great Sun- day-school in Toledo, Ohio, gave him an unusual vision of the value of work with young people and the place and power of the Sunday-school in the life of the church. He soon stirred new interest in the Sunday-school lesson by questions on the lesson, which were printed on the last page of the weekly church bulletin. These were to be answered and returned to the teacher. He also introduced the plan of excelsior membership, excelsior and star classes and the Bible salute which still form a part of the opening exercises of the Sunday-school. He was interested and helpful in the young people's organization. The church cabinet composed of the officers of the church met once a month for prayer and council. He was a diligent Bible student and brought to the mid-week meeting messages from the old Book that were comfort and joy to those who heard them. The
124
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
weekly church bulletin contained in addition to the pro- gram for the day items of interest to church people. Some of these have proved valuable in determining dates of certain events. Mr. Southgate accepted a call to Hannibal, Missouri, in January, 1912. During the eighteen years since then he has held several pastorates; at Rochester, Mississippi, he saw a fine new church building completed ; in ten years at Algona he had the joy of receiving two hundred and seventy new members into his church. He is now pastor of the Congregational church at Britt, Iowa.
HAROLD E. PARR Harold E. Parr, the eighteenth pastor of the church, was born in Birmingham, England, February 8, 1887. His early education was in the public schools of Birmingham. He came to the United States in 1908 and entered the University of Chicago, passing from there to the Congre- gational Theological Seminary of Chicago. He was grad- uated from the Seminary in 1912. He was ordained in the Wellington Ave. Congregational Church, Chicago, May 7, 1912, and immediately began his work at Princeton. With his winning personality and the enthusiasm of youth he soon won many friends. He had a remarkable pulpit voice and his singing was a delight. Music was a joy to him and he brought to his people an appreciation of our grand old hymns and tunes that was contagious and last- ing. The young people rallied about him, willing to do whatever he advised. He had a keen appreciation of the best literature and was able to adapt the words of wise men to the every day needs of the people he addressed. In the fall of 1915 a church in Waterloo, Iowa, offered at- tractions he could not resist and he resigned this pulpit, returning in June to claim Ruth J. Makutchan, a Prince- ton girl, as his bride. In February, 1918, he accepted a call to the New England Congregational Church of Aurora, Illinois, and in November of the same year became a vic-
125
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
tim of that scourge, the "flu". His body was brought to Oakland, Princeton for burial, November 27, 1918.
HENRY J. LEE Henry J. Lee, the nineteenth pastor of the church, was born in Liverpool, England, April 9, 1888. His early education was in the Council School and the Evening Con- tinuation School of that city. At fourteen he began to earn his own bread and butter. He was converted in the old fashioned way at sixteen and claims that this exper- ience has never been regretted and gives him sympathy for those who cannot point to the day and hour. At twenty he became assistant pastor of the Protestant Reforms Church in Liverpool. Here he was associated with the Rev. George Wise, a great and good man, whose wise counsel and rich personal influence have ever been a source of strength. Mr. Lee came to the United States in 1910 and entered the Moody Bible Institute from which he was grad- uated in 1912. From there he went to the Congregational Theological Seminary of Chicago and received his B. D. in 1915. (Central University of Indiana gave him his B. A.) He began preaching at twenty and was a "student pastor" during all his student days, financing his education in this way. On May 28, 1914, he was married to Olive Muton of Mayfair, Illinois. He accepted the call to Princeton in April, 1915, and for eight years preached a vigorous gospel of faith. Because he believed what he said his words found lodgment in the hearts of his hearers. His daughter Hen- rietta was born here October 15, 1917, and his wife, gentle Olive Muton Lee, died during the "flu" epidemic of March 1920. In August, 1921, a young woman with whom he had been associated in Christian work in Liverpool, came across the sea to renew that experience. Mr. Lee met her in New York and they were married August 29, 1921. With her charming English speech and her fine cultured mind she has proved a blessed helpmate, Early in 1923 Wo-
126
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
burn, Massachusetts, tempted Mr. Lee to a New England experience but after two years a call of the west was heard and since October, 1925, he has been pastor of the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
JAMES ROBERT WATSON James Robert Watson was the twentieth pastor of the church. He was born in South Shields, England and came to the United States in 1913. He is a graduate of Coulton College, Northfield, Minnesota and of the Congregational Theological Seminary in Chicago. He accepted the call to the church in February, 1924. He had high ideals of a minister's duty to the community and was connected with many of the social circles of the town. He was president of the Lion's Club. During the winter of 1925 he solved the problem of the evening services by conducting a Sun- day Evening Club. He brought to these meetings outside speakers and good audiences came to hear their messages. He listened to a call to the larger field at Lombard, Illinois and resigned his pulpit in September, 1927.
HUBERT WILLIAM STILES
H. William Stiles, A. B., D. B., the present pastor, came of an educated family; his father, mother, aunt, brother, three sisters, wife and her brothers and sister, and his daughter are all Oberlin graduates. His father and mother were members of Charles G. Finney's church in the days of the anti-slavery agitation. His father, a Civil War veteran, and later a Congregational minister, died in middle life leaving his wife with a family of five children