Church History: Presbyterian
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Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Volume I, pages 152-161, submitted by Janine Crandell
PRESBYTERIANISM AND PRESBYTERIANS IN PEORIA COUNTY
The identity of a church may be established or distinguished by, or discovered
from its form of government or its system of doctrine. The Presbyterian church
has both marks and takes its name from the governmental conception of the church
as outlined in the New Testament and exemplified in Jewish worship maintained in
the synagogue services. Presbuteros or elder is the "office" that gives the name
to the church. Presbyterians have a definite scriptural creed and a
constitutionally defined and equitable form of government and a consistent
history. Denominationally considered, a Presbyterian church is defined as a
church constructed on the Presbyterian polity or form of government whose creed
is in harmony with the consensus of the Reform church. That consensus lies in
the confessional agreement in five fundamental features: First, the supremacy
of the Holy Scriptures as the only rule of faith, doctrine and duty; second,
election by free grace; third, atonement by the blood of Christ; fourth,
justification of faith alone; and fifth, the doctrine of the sacraments.
The polity of the Presbyterian church is defined by a written constitution, by
the terms of which the government of the church is administered by chosen
representatives of the people. This polity clearly distinguishes three great
principles: First, the parity of official equality of the clergy;
second, representative government by the people; and third, the unity of the
body of Christ.
The soul requirement for admission to membership in this church is an open,
honest confession of allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. No creedal
test or obligation is met at the door of the Presbyterian church by one who
would enter. That door of entrance is as wide as the gate of Heaven and as
narrow as Jesus' declaration makes it, "No man cometh unto the Father but by
me."
The Presbyterian church stands today, as of yore, for important Christian
principles essential to the formation of sturdy character, vital to Christian
citizenship--two things for which the world has real need. It is also a church
most catholic, most fraternal in its spirit, most cordial and courteous in its
attitude toward and treatment of other communions of the Lord's people. It
cultivates an irenic spirit and temper and extends to the Christian world the
right hand of fellowship by reason of its equmenic creed, and with confident
hope prays for and seeks to anticipate the reunion of Christendom.
Having been reared in this faith, early settlers coming from the south or east
and across the seas brought with them to this region their religious habits and
fond desires to enjoy after their wont divine services and to rear their
children in the Presbyterian faith. Accordingly, they founded churches in every
community where they found any considerable number of people of like religious
training with themselves. This favored generation has small appreciation of what
it owes to the early settlers, who as Christians maintained their integrity,
worshiped God, planted churches, created and left over and handed down to their
descendants a rich religious legacy for which they endured privations and made
sacrifices in this, then new country, in order that they might provide houses of
worship, estated ministry, and gospel privileges for themselves, their neighbors
and their children.
In the following sketch it is purposed to trace the early history and later
developments of what may be called the pioneer churches and to give a brief
statement concerning the organization and growth of the later churches
established in Peoria county. Some of these early churches answer perfectly to
that description of the patriarchs who "served their generation and fell on
sleep," for a changing and complex population. Removals by death and immigration
have depleted to exhaustion some churches that early in their history flourished
and gave religious tone and moral vitality to the communities in which they were
planted.
The task of one who essays to write of the early churches of Peoria county is
made difficult by reason of the fact that the early records kept of the
organization of the churches and their subsequent transactions were very few
and scant in the first place, and many of them through lapse of time have been
lost or destroyed. It is a great pity that they were not made more complete or
had been better preserved and that resort for data need not be made to such
civil records as may be found for incidental reference, in order to present a
historical narration. The attempt is here made to describe the main items of
interest and importance connected with each congregation.
The earliest Presbyterian church planted in the county of Peoria, whose history
remains unbroken from its beginning till now, is the Princess Grove, or
Princeville church, founded August 16, 1834. At the organization of this church
under the leadership of the Rev. Robert Stewart and Theron Baldwin, we find such
names enrolled as White, Morrow, Garrison, Peet, Miller, as charter members;
indicating that they were of English and Scotch blood. We see them living
through the dangers of the Black Hawk war of the two years before, guarding
their flocks and herds from coyotes, wolves, lynxes and wild cats, while
building their huts of logs cut from the grove, and then having raised small
crops of wheat or corn, hauling it to Chicago and on their return trip bringing
back with their ox team, shingles and finishing lumber for their church house,
for we are told that they built the first house of worship from stone gathered
near by and
sawed walnut siding by hand from the trees of the grove and hewed the dimension
timbers and erected the building by volunteer labor.
These were days of devoted self-denial on the part of both ministers and people.
The Princeville pulpit was occupied in the early days by Rev. C. W. Babbit,
George D. Sill, Robert Breese, and Robert Campbell, all able, consecrated men,
and they have had their successors of like attainments and consecration, who
have proved themselves by their service to Christ and the church. To this church
such men as Dr. Robert Henry, George Rowcliff, Lemuel Auten, B. H. Weir have
devoted themselves in the ruling eldership, serving in an unstinted and loyal
way the church of their love. This church celebrated its seventy-fifth
anniversary, and the historical sermon preached by the present pastor, the Rev.
Max B. Wiles, is replete with interesting reminiscences and may be found in the
"Princeville Telephone" of August 19, 1909.
The first Protestant church founded in Peoria was what is now known as the
First
Presbyterian church. It owed its existence largely to the devotion and
determination of one Samuel Lowry, who was its earliest ruling elder, with
considerable emphasis on the adjective. But neither his rugged faith nor
unflinching adherence to what he saw fit to call "principle" are to be spoken of
lightly. That he was intensely human, an active member of the church militant,
there is no doubt, and from his appearance as shown in a daguerreotype one
might conclude that had he lived a little earlier, he would not have been an
unequal antagonist of the rather famous, or infamous, Claverhouse, but making
due allowance for his fighting spirit, when it is known that it was his
privilege to have been born on Londonderry battlefield, much might be said to
his credit. Mr. Lowry, cooperating with the Rev. John Birch, gathered in Peoria
a congregation and on the 22d of December, 1834, the First church was organized
by Mr. Birch, as "The Ohio Missionary," in Mr. Lowry's home, and it was in all
probability the last church organized by this devoted and heroic soldier of the
Cross, for he perished on Delavan prairie the night of the awful Friday,
December 16, 1836, when the temperature fell rapidly without warning and he was
overtaken by the storm while making his way on horseback to his appointment in
Peoria, and was found next day frozen to death.
Succeeding him, came the Rev. Isaac Kellar from Hagerstown, Maryland, who served
and brought faithfully in this church—encountered the opposition of the
world—the flesh, and Elder Lowry. But all the mistakes made that became steps
leading up or down to unhappy contentions over church property—litigation in the
church courts—could not have been all on one side, and it is quite possible that
Samuel Lowry was about half right and half wrong, the other contending parties
dividing the burden with him in about the same proportion. However, time,
changing circumstances, and the coming of new people affected changes in the
church life, and out of controversy and division, and by the dissolution of a
sporadic organization, the First church persisting came to inherit "all the
rights and privileges to the title appertaining," and is therefore the "First
Church in Peoria" with its Presbyterian complexion, historically and
continuously since 1834 to the present.
The Rev. Isaac Kellar was first in the succession of such able, scholarly and
worthy pastors as Addison Coffey, Robert Johnston, Jonathan Edwards—all of whom
"wrought nobly in the work of the Master," and have been called to meet their
reward. Surviving in this succession are John H. Morron, Jesse C. Bruce, Newell
D. Hillis, Thomas A. McCurdy, Chauncey T. Edwards and Hugh Jack, each of whom
has contributed his particular part in building this Zion, having had the
earnest cooperation of the people of the First church, who have always had "a
mind to work," and from their ranks have furnished such able men and women as
Christian workers as the Weises, the Griswolds, McCoys, Powells, Reynolds,
Schneblys, Batchelders, Johnstons, Louckes, Mcllvaines, McKinneys, Fishers, and
others whose names are in the Book of Life.
[Note: There has been little change to the exterior of the structure and it is
still serving the community over a hundred years later]
The First church has been the mother of churches. Through her activity
from her membership the Second, Calvary, Grace, Arcadia and Westminster churches
of Peoria and the Pottstown church were formed, each in succession being
developed from a mission Sabbath school established and conducted by active and
devoted men and women from the First church. This church has given to the
Presbyterian ministry eight of her sons, namely: John V. C. Nellis, James M.
Batchelder, Wellington E. Loucks, Charles M. and Herbert H. Fisher, Charles E.
and Chauncey T. Edwards and A. W. McCurdy, who all have done, and the surviving
members of this band are still doing faithful and fruitful work for and in the
church in which they were reared and to which they have devoted their lives.
Places of worship occupied by this church were first, the county court house, a
small and insignificant building; then the First church building in Peoria
county at the corner of Adams and Jackson streets; then a frame building on
Fulton street, between Adams and Jefferson; the brick building now standing at
the corner of Main and Madison; and the present commodious structure on Hamilton
boulevard and Crescent avenue.
This church celebrated its seventy-fifth or "Diamond Anniversary," December,
1909, with attractive, appropriate and impressive services, participated in or
contributed to by all the former living pastors, and with greetings from the
children of the church unable to be present, a full account of which may be
found in a booklet called the "Diamond Anniversary" of the First Presbyterian
church, Peoria, Illinois, and which may be consulted at the Peoria library.
It appears that from 1849 to 1854 a number of churches were formed in the
county, namely: La Marsh, Rochester, Orange Prairie, West Jersey, etc., all of
which served a good purpose, flourished for a time and because of the incoming
of the railroads and the shifting of the population to the new towns erected on
these highways, were abandoned and became physically and legally extinct.
An early church was that of
Brunswick, organized by the Classis of the Reformed
Dutch church, September 19, 1840, and was then known as the Protestant Dutch
church of Copperas. After the establishment of the Brunswick postoffice, the
name of the church was changed to Brunswick and in 1844 the church was admitted
to Presbytery, and is still connected therewith and maintains stated services
and a Sabbath school.
The location is beautiful for situation, commanding a view of some of the best
farms in Peoria county and magnificent scenery for miles around in either
direction. Among the early workers and later laborers in this old church are to
be found the names of the Ramseys, Wellses, Fahnestock, Erford, Love, Graham,
Wilson and Eslinger, and it has had as its ministers the Revs. Sill, Fraser,
Marquis, McFarland, Ferguson, Johnston, Scott, McMillan, Keiry, Mullen and
Smith.
The influence of the church on the community life was for years very marked and
its fragrance lingers still. On the east slope between the highway and the
church lies one of the most-cared-for country cemeteries and in it sleeps the
dust of former pastors of the church and members of the Brunswick flock. Once a
year the Cemetery Association of Brunswick holds a reunion, at which the ancient
traditions are discussed and the holy memories of the things done by the fathers
and mothers are revived and the fund replenished, and service of grateful love
goes on in care bestowed on the grounds that enclose those beds of green,
beneath which rest the mortal part of those who "served till set of sun" and
entered into the "rest that remaineth."
Brunswick Community
Church
Picture taken on Dec. 8, 2004
After Brunswick comes the Salem church, organized in 1849 by Revs. S. C. McCune
and William McCandlish, William Stewart and James H. Patterson, were its first
elders, and their successors have been such men as John L. Clark, R. W. Francis,
C. H. Northrup. This church has been ministered to by the Revs. McFarland,
Hanna, Cameron, Marquis, Johnston, Scott, McMillan, Flemming, Keiry, Mullen and
Smith. In the removal of the church to Hanna City,
and the building of a new and attractive house of worship, steps were taken to
change the name to the Hanna City church, by which name with Presbyterial and
legal sanction that church has become the successor of all the historical and
ecclesiastical rights and prerogatives of the old Salem church.
Since its removal to Hanna City the church has taken on new life and activity
and gives good promise of ministering successfully to the spiritual and social
needs of its community.
The Prospect church was organized by the Revs. Addison, Coffee and R. F. Breese
in 1850, its first ruling elder being Joseph Yates. "The Prospectors" who knew
the meaning of the family altar and the worth of worship came from West
Virginia, near Wheeling, and were of that thrifty sort who made farming a
business and a success, and they built their first "church house" on a hill in
the year 1854, near what is now Prospect cemetery on "a parcel of ground"
belonging to Adam Yates. In that building they worshipped until the church was
removed to Dunlap, one mile east, after the completion of the Peoria and Rock
Island railroad, where they dedicated the present building in 1877.
Prospect church has been served by the following ministers in succession, viz.:
Revs. Hervey, Turbit, F. F. Smith, Cairns, Simpson, Gardiner, Winn, Cooke,
Nevius, H. Smith, Townsend, Randall, Thomas, Jones, Campbell, and the present,
the Benjamin of the band, L. H. McCormick.
Serving as ruling elders we have such names as Yates, White, Dunlap, Hervey,
Jones, Berry, Hitchcock, Harker, Gray, and of noble women not a few, Kelly,
Parks, Dunlap, and such church workers as the Keadys, Parks and others. Prospect
gave also of her sons to the Presbyterian ministry—George Dunlap, Thomas C.
Winn, William Jones and Frank F. Brown.
Prospect celebrated its Jubilee in 1900 with fitting services, and a souvenir of
the occasion may be found in the homes of many of the older members. (Jubilee
report)
French Grove church was organized in October, 1851, by the minister who
performed the same services for Prospect. Its early ruling elders were William
Reed, and George S. Pursell, and after them came the Alwards, McDonald, Warner,
Moore, Coe, Todd, Slocum, McRill, McCune and the Reeds, either as elders or as
church workers—devoted, self-sacrificing and efficient.
The ministers serving the French church were the Revs. McFarland, Fraser, Smith,
Carruthers, Boyd, Hillman, McClelland, Butter, Jones, Sturm, McCluer and others.
The days of its early history were days of prosperity and for years it gave out
an increasing and helpful influence to its community that made for its moral and
spiritual betterment, but removals westward and heavenward, coupled with the
changing racial and religious character of the population have depleted this old
church, which still stands a silent reminder of the better things, while near by
in the beautiful little cemetery, so well kept and cared for, repose the mortal
remains of former ministers, elders and members of the French Grove church.
Among the churches planted in the county, flourishing for a time but now
extinct, are New Scotland, Brimfield, Valley Ridge, and Elba Center, which were
in their time once the soul and life of their communities.
Upon the petition of parties for the most part connected with the First church,
and evidently with the concurrence of the pastor and session of that church, the
Presbytery organized the Second church of Peoria, December 7, 1853, with a
membership of twenty-eight, and John L. Griswold and John C. Grier were elected
elders. The Rev. Robert P. Farris was their first minister. Contrary to the
usual order here, the Second church was first and the Sabbath
second, in point of organization. The first house of worship erected by this
congregation was built on the present site, corner of Madison and Jackson
streets [now Spalding Street] and dedicated in 1855, and here Mr. Farris was installed. He continued
to serve the Second church until failing health compelled him to relinquish the
charge in 1858 and the remainder of the life of this devoted servant of Christ
and the church, was spent in educational and editorial work, largely in
connection with the publications of the Presbyterian church in the United States
(Southern Presbyterian), of which body he was from its beginning till his death,
the permanent clerk of its general assembly and once or twice its moderator.
The Rev. Samuel Hibben came next, succeeding Dr. Farris in 1859 and was
installed pastor December 4th, the sermon on that occasion being preached by
that stalwart and versatile scholar and eloquent biblical preacher, the famous
Nathan L. Rice, then professor of theology in the Seminary of the Northwest (now
McCormick). Under his leadership the church prospered, for Mr. Hibben was an
exceptional man and minister, scholarly and saintly, modest and frank, gentle
and faithful. Here he married Miss Elizabeth Grier, the daughter of that worthy
elder, John C. Grier, a man thrice honored by the Presbytery of Peoria with a
commission to the general assembly. To this worthy couple was born a son, John
Grier Hibben, president of Princeton University. Declining health led Mr. Hibben
to resign his charge and in the hope of recruiting it by outdoor life, he
accepted the chaplaincy of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, but he continued to
decline and returned to Peoria, where he died in 1862. His successor was the
Rev. W. E. McLaren, afterwards bishop of the Episcopal church, who was
installed pastor May 8, 1864, and remained in this pastorate upwards of two
years.
The Rev. Henry Van Dyke Nevius, succeeded Bishop McLaren, in 1867, and served
this charge until 1872. He was a preacher of power and a man of God. Of him one
has written, "Few men were better equipped mentally for their work and hence he
was a workman that needed not to be ashamed; few men lived more in sympathy with
God's word and Son--hence his spiritual power." After him the Rev. William L.
Green came to this pastorate and remained until 1875. Mr. Green, like his
predecessors, was a well furnished man, of strong mental calibre, clear in his
conceptions of related truth, versatile and virile in his statement of it.
He was followed by the Rev. Lewis O. Thompson, who was pastor from 1876 to 1882.
Mr. Thompson was an able man, a painstaking scholar--a historian of no mean
ability, who did the church great and good service in many ways through his
books, "Nineteen Christian Centuries," "The Prayer Meeting," etc. He met a
tragic death by drowning at Henry, where he was pastor of the First Presbyterian
church.
The Rev. Thomas X. Orr came to this pastorate and served for ten years, when
impaired health led him to seek rest for a season. During his administration
the present unique, churchly and commodious house of worship was erected. Since
his retirement from the pastorate of the Second church, Dr. Orr has resided in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his services are continually called for, he
being always an acceptable preacher, a genuine man, genial, kindly, obliging,
"a man greatly beloved."
Dr. Orr was succeeded for a brief time by the Rev. Samuel M. Moore, a large man
in many ways and whose pastorate, though brief, was not unmarked with interest.
The present pastor the Rev. Arthur M. Little, Ph. D. D. D., came on in the
apostolic succession, being installed in May, 1900, and after twelve years of
service continues to hold the affection of his people of the Second church and
is named among the progressive men of the city.
This church has been served through the over half century of its life by such
able men and church workers as the Griers, the McCoys, the Ruggs, the Clarkes,
the McCullochs, the Rices, and by noble women, not a few, whose names are set
down in the "Impartial Record," kept at present from mortal eyes.
This church celebrated with appropriate services its semi-centennial in 1903.
The "Semi-Centennial" of the Second church of Peoria, a pamphlet attractively
arranged, contains matter of special interest to all connected with this
congregation and to any others who would know just in what manner the Second
church has been used of God, for the good of men, and it may be found in the
homes of the members of the Second church and should be also found in our city
library.
The above 1906 postcard is the second building of the Second
Presbyterian Church, built in 1889. It still stands at Madison
and Spalding Street. In 1937, First Congregational Church and the
Second Presbyterian merged together to form the First Federal Church.
The Elmwood church was organized June 5, 1856, with fourteen members. John
Rodgers served as its first elder. Its first church building was purchased from
the Congregational church and removed from its then country site to the town of
Elmwood. During the ministry of the Rev. William H. Mason the present building
was erected at a cost of something over $6,000, and in architectural effect and
adaptability for its purposes it is a model.
Among the men who have served in the eldership of this church we find the names
of J. B. Stewart, N. B. Love, S. M. Coe, Castor Patterson, and after them the
present efficient elders. The ministers serving Elmwood church have been J. A.
Marquis, J. H. Smith, J. R. Reasoner, Wilson, Duncan, and the present scholarly
and able pastor, the Rev. Benjamin Y. George. Messrs. Reasoner, Mason and George
each served the church for a period of upwards of ten years. The present
incumbent has served faithfully and acceptably since 1895 in this pastorate.
The Limestone church was founded in 1859 with fifteen members, with John Cameron
and William Jones as ruling elders. It has had as its ministers such men as Dr.
T. G. Scott and John Fleming, and is at present served by one of the younger men
of the Presbytery, the Rev. H. L. Todd. Names appearing among its ruling elders
are C. Greenwood, William Cameron and William Taylor.
This church has stood as a beacon on a hill, a perpetual invitation to worship
the Lord God Almighty, and a constant reminder that "It is not the whole of Life
to live, nor all of Death to die."
Calvary church was organized in 1867 and had as its first minister the Rev. John
Weston, D. D., who after years of service was called to other fields, and again
recalled to the pastorate at Calvary church. Its successful pastor, whole-souled,
kind-hearted and helpful preacher, the flexible, sympathetic and generous friend
of every member of the flock, passed from the scene of labor to his eternal
reward while still pastor of Calvary church. Dr. Weston has had follow him in
this pastorate such men as Dr. A. Z. McGogney, Andrew Christy Brown, D. D., and
after the latter's death, for a time, Dr. A. L. Howard. The church is now
ministered to by the resourceful, active and modest Alexander Lewis.
Its eldership has been adorned by such men as that efficient Sabbath school
worker. William R. Reynolds, William Schroeder, William Guyer, A. Waterhouse,
T. J. Love, Peter Hulsibus, James McGill, and the younger men who now constitute
the present efficient session. [Note:
The first church was on Walnut and Washington; the second on First and Fisher
which was dedicated in 1879. In 1958, the congregation merged with Arcadia
Avenue Presbyterian at this site. Then the Morning Star Baptist moved there.]
Grace church was organized in 1868, with George H. Mcllvaine and Theodore Higbie
ruling elders. Among the devoted workers in this church from the beginning of
the enterprise we find the names of Bush, Lyons, Linsey, Baldwin, Coe, Voorhees,
Angier, Andrews, Isele, and Eakin.
Grace church has had among its ministers Levi C. Littell, Dr. Farris, A. F.
Erwin, and the sainted James Alvin Sankey, whose successor, Rev. Walter M.
Elliott, gives promise of doing a great and good work in its congregation and
the city of Peoria. [Note: the church,
located at Madison and Wayne, was built around 1873. It was originally named
Grace church and then renamed Grace Presbyterian in 1883. The church was
destroyed by fire in 1890 and replaced by a brick building at the same corner.
The church moved to Knoxville and Forrest Hill in 1957.]
This church was organized September 29, 1887, by a committee of Presbytery, composed of Revs. I. A. Cornelison, Rev. A. F. Irwin and Elder David McKinney. The organization started with fifty-nine members and elected Henry Marmine and Ireneus E. White, elders. Mr. White has remained in continuous service ever since and has rendered the church devoted and self-sacrificing service in almost every capacity, in which one might serve his church. The church has been ministered to by the Revs. Andrew Christy Brown, D. D., C. W. Whorrall, George A. Phlug, W. W. Tait, D. W. McMillan, W. E. Edmonds, but is at present without a pastor. The church has always maintained an interesting and growing Sabbath school and has been of great help to many in its vicinity. Being situated in a growing part of the city, it has a mission to perform in that neighborhood, ministering moral and spiritual help and comfort to the coming generation.
ARCADIA AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Arcadia Avenue church was organized October 6, 1896, with twenty-three
members, with Isaac Kellar and Robert E. Lauren, elders.
This church grew out of a flourishing mission Sabbath school instituted and
conducted largely by members of the First church, and in 1897 called as its
pastor, the Rev. James Benson, who has continued to serve the church with signal
ability and devotion. The harmony of mind and action in this congregation is
witnessed by the beautiful and serviceable building at the corner of Arcadia
and Bigelow, by the flourishing condition of both Sabbath school and church and
last but by no means least, the growing liberality of the members shown in the
increased offerings to the boards of the church and in general benevolence.
Situated as it is, in a beautiful and growing residential district of the city
and meeting as it does the religious needs of its vicinity, Arcadia church may
be expected to grow in influence as well as in numbers and continue to be an
important factor in the moral and social life of the city.
[Note: A fire destroyed this church in
1945 and a new church was dedicated in 1948.]
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Out of Westminster chapel and the Sabbath school meeting there grew Westminster church. It was organized by the Presbytery June 1, 1897, with twenty-four members, who elected Messrs. P. W. Petrie, Theodore Higbie and C. R. Kuhn, elders. The Rev. William Parsons, the first pastor, has been followed by Revs. J. B. Farrell, Theodore H. Allen, D. D., and the present minister the Rev. Clinton J. Greene, a young man, who enters upon the work in Westminster under circumstances that augur success. While still in the active service of this church, Dr. Allen was suddenly called to higher service in the Church Triumphant, leaving behind a precious legacy to his children, in a life of devoted service, even that of "a good minister of Jesus Christ." With a splendidly equipped and beautiful house of worship, situated on the West Bluff on Moss avenue, with a growing Sabbath school and a devoted membership, Westminster should "make good" to its constituency and do excellent work for God and men.
Westminster Presbyterian Church on 1420 Moss Avenue
The building burned on January 21, 1985, and was
rededicated at the same site on April 2, 1989.
Postcard circa 1923
TWO FEATURES OF THE GENERAL WORK OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
ACCREDITED
TO THE CHURCH IN PEORIA COUNTY
The first of these was the meeting of the general assembly in the First church
Peoria, in 1863, amid the stirring and critical scenes of the civil strife. This
meeting was presided over by that justly celebrated, scholarly and devoted
pioneer missionary to India, John Hunter Morrison, D. D., of the Presbytery of
Lodiana. The assembly listened to stirring debate and united in earnest prayer
over the questions that were uppermost in both the civil and religious life of
the country and besought the God of our fathers for his special favor in those
trying times and that he would most graciously bring an early end to the awful
strife and send peace and prosperity throughout all our borders. In many
respects this was a most remarkable assembly and a recital of some of its
deliberations and conclusions might properly be made here did space admit or
judicious selection of matter out of such a mass of good things were an easy
task.
The second, that of administration, which after an overture sent up to the
general assembly from the Presbytery of Peoria, relative to the erection of the
standing committees of the general assembly, was adopted and known as "The
Peoria Plan."
THE PEORIA PLAN
To that worthy Presbyterian elder, James Montgomery Rice, whose connection as
editor-in-chief of this history of the county of Peoria, and whose sudden
departure for "Home" has left this part of it to less capable hands to finish
that task, together with the justly esteemed Isaac A. Cornelison, D. D.,
pertains the honor of the conceiving and inaugurating the above named plan. It
may be said that the plan was made necessary because of the large number and
importance of the standing committees of the general assembly, which the new
moderator was called upon to appoint immediately after taking the chair, and
being neither ubiquitous nor infallible, could not by any possibility have
personal acquaintance with or knowledge of the fitness of all commissioners for
the tasks to be assigned them; and besides, it was thought the principle of
representation began to be threatened because too much power was found reposing
in the hands of one or two officers of the general assembly.
To avoid the danger lurking in this symptom of centralization of power; to avoid
being "managed;" to reconquer from custom the right to govern themselves out of
the hands of "Ecclesiastical Bosses," this plan was devised and provides a
method at once simple, just and clear for the selection of the standing
committees of the general assembly so that all sections and interests of the
church may be fairly represented.
In brief, the plan conserves the fundamental principle of Presbyterian church
government, viz.: an equitable distribution of administrative power. To this end
the church is geographically divided and grouped by Presbyteries or Synods into
twenty districts, there being twenty-two standing committees consisting of
twenty-two members each—the commissioners from the whole church make up
twenty-two electing sections, which are numbered consecutively in the order in
which the standing committees are numbered. The commissioners constituting an
electing section assigned to it from a certain given territory assemble at the
sitting of the general assembly, elect their own chairman and secretary, vote
directly for moderator, and choose either a minister or an elder, as may be its
province; to each one of the standing committees, from their own number such
persons as may be thought best fitted for the discharge of the respective duties
required of them.
The plan briefly stated is that the odd numbered
sections in odd numbered years elect a minister to the odd numbered committees,
and an elder for the even numbered committees. The even numbered sections elect
the other committeemen
and in even numbered years the committees are reversed and the sections elect reversely. This gives each district a member, either an elder or
a minister, on each standing committee, each year, and to every committee its
proper number of members.
This plan adopted after lengthened discussion and amendment became what is known
as standing rule No. 5, and since its adoption the standing committees of the
general assembly have been named by the commissioners themselves, assembled in
their electing sections and with general satisfaction to the church.
"Women, who labored with us"
Much credit for the many achievements wrought in these regions, by the church is
justly due to the piety, presistence and devotion of the women, who have
''manned" the various aid and missionary societies in the churches of Peoria
county.
They have in many localities, through the drouth of summer and the biting cold
of winter, maintained local religious interest, kept up the church services,
repaired the house of worship and at the same time have been large factors in
promoting the work of the church in other fields and in other lands.
By mutual counsel, by interchange of religious ideas, by social intercourse, by
consecrated womanly ways, by practical efforts to relieve distress among the
unfortunate and the ill-circumstances, they have succeeded in setting forward
the kingdom of Christ.
In their planning and their doing, they have furnished a stimulating example to
the "Presbyterian Brotherhood," a men's organization, for which there is great
and pressing need as well as large room.
EDUCATIONAL
It is a peculiar mark—one of the signal glories of the Presbyterian church— part
of her heritage from John Calvin, that she has favored and fostered liberal
learning and wherever she has gone on her mission to men, she has planted the
school and the college as well as the church and sought to provide every
educational advantage for her constituency.
She has believed in popular and progressive education. She has never sought to
supplant but rather to supplement the early training of our common school, with
the higher and more advanced forms of education.
The early Peoria county Presbyterians were not remiss in this particular. In the
early 'fifties, they planted academies at Brunswick and Princeville, projected
Peoria University in 1857. Here on the Bluff they began the erection of a brick
building, which when all ready for the roof, was wrecked by a tornado in 1858.
Because of the general financial depression prevailing throughout the country at
that time, the stress of which fell heavily on the west, the refinancing of the
project was too heavy a burden for the limited means of its promoters, the local
enterprise was therefore abandoned and the attention and the means of the church
were turned to the larger institutions, like Knox College and which ever since
have had a fair share of the patronage and financial support of Peoria county
Presbyterians. In the west as in the east, Presbyterians have sought to bind
together thorough scholarship and practical religion, that thus they might do
their share in the development of the moral and religious character of men and
make as large a contribution as possible to humanity's uplift. That in this
undertaking they have made a creditable showing, is witnessed by deeds of loving
and notable service to men and a loyal allegiance to Jesus Christ, the
changeless, eternal Head of the church.
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Backward Glance: Church Clash Over Slavery Issue
(written by
Janine Crandell & published in the Jubilee Advocate in 2005)
It is not a moral dilemma for us today when regarding the
pros and cons of slavery. We understand clearly the concept of “all men are
created equal”. But back in 1843, the people of Peoria were deeply divided.
The Main Street Presbyterian Church, later known as the
First Congregational Church, was at the center of the controversy. One of
Peoria’s earliest churches, it was founded on December 28, 1834. Some of its
founding members were Moses and Lucy Pettengill and Dr. Enoch and Charlotte
Cross. At the time of the church’s first roll call of thirteen people, Peoria
was just a small village of 20 to 25 log cabins and 8 to 10 frame houses
scattered in a small area at the foot of a beautiful bluff. Moses Pettengill and
Dr. Enoch Cross were elected the first elders of the church and during the next
nine years, the church prospered.
Then a singular incident on February 13, 1843, made
tempers flare and caused lines to be drawn. A notice was published in the Peoria
Champion, calling for people to attend the first meeting of Peoria’s
Anti-Slavery Society which was to be held at the Main Street Presbyterian
Church. This location was the only place in town where the meeting was allowed
to take place. The leaders of the church, including Moses Pettengill, were
abolitionists. Mr. Pettengill was said to be a tall and angular man and his
facial features bore a strong resemblance to Lincoln. For years, people mistook
him for Lincoln and said they “looked enough alike to be brothers”. It only
seemed natural that the Pettingills help form an anti-slavery organization and
attend its first meeting considering they often hid slaves at their home (where
the Civic Center now stands) until safe passage was arranged for the next
station on the Underground Railroad.
However, before the historic meeting took place, a mass
meeting of “respectable citizens” met at the court-house and a long list of
resolutions was issued denouncing the abolition meeting. In spite of this
outburst, Moses Pettengill, the pastor, Reverend William Allen, and 18 other
people met in the church that cold winter’s night in 1843.
Their meeting was interrupted by about 200 citizens who
forced themselves into the church and broke up the proceeding. Seeing that the
situation was volatile, Mr. Pettengill and his group disbanded for the night.
Violence perpetuated by the mob did occur that night, including running the
preacher’s buggy into the lake. Afterwards, about 400 Peorians, a good portion
of the town’s population, met at the court-house and adopted a resolution that
they would boycott any newspaper which published reports of any abolition
meeting.
In response to this turn of events, the Peoria
Democratic Press wrote: “We think the spirit manifested on this occasion showed
the determination of the citizens of Peoria that its fair name shall not be
tarnished by a public organization of a nest of Negro stealers.”
Scathing comments did not deter the members of this church nor alter their
stance against slavery. That the church suffered greatly for their anti-slavery
views is apparent from the records. Their membership dwindled down to a precious
few and what was once a self-supporting church, now had to depend on the Home
Missionary Society for support.
With perseverance, the anti-slavery sentiment prevailed
in Peoria. It’s interesting to note that the first church bell in Peoria which
hung in the First Congregational Church (lineal descendant of the Main Street
Presbyterian Church) rang every time there was news of a Union victory in the
Civil War.
Main Street Presbyterian Church built in 1835
Submitted by your Host
Any contributions, corrections, or suggestions would be deeply appreciated!
Copyright © Janine Crandell
All rights reserved
Updated March 21, 2005