The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-20

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Methodist Church.
This is = movement. in the right direction
and we hail all such advances towards har
mony and unity as hopeful indications Of the
prevailing sentiment amongst christians, and
as favorable augurics Of . more spread move
ment in the same direction in the future.
Oar Charehes and Their Pastors.
Resuming our notice of our city churches
after vacation, we give sketches to. day o
the First Baptist and Chsthsm Square and
Exchange street Methodist churches Oh
these alone could We collect the material and
data for this issue. and for that We are able to
give these now, we have to thank our kind
friends. Rev. Mr.. MISSIONER, Of the Baptis,
Church, Rev. Mr.. WARIxG, Of Chatham
Square Church. and Rev. Mr.. BcRcEss. oi
Exchange Street Church, whose carefully
prepared resumes furnished us for memoran-
da We use, almost verbatim.
It ls only lately that authors have learne
tha, descriptions of ca mrs and seiges Of bat.
ties and campaigns, Of civil administraiicn
and diplomatic intngues, are not all Of his,o-
ry. Through all the centuries. since Sanco.
niathon. Phenician Father of History. before
Heroaotus, chronicers. confined themselvs Q
to snch descriptions solely, and Thought their
work was done. or a time. 90 late a. the
Engli h Revolution, Macauley says, {. Hino.
tory was too much occupied with courts and
csmns, To spare a line for the hut Of the
peasant. or for the garret Of the mechanic !"
Religious movements, far reaching in their
Influences. and really the true source or ex.
PLANTATION of contemporary and succeeding ma
tionsl nhenomana. we're handed over to &c.
clesiastical writer's. unnot,ced by historians, or
fortunate il hnnored with paragraph. We
have, in part. learned better now. In com.
mencing his great historical work, Macauley
says he would but lily do his work. unless he
should endeavor to :elate the history Of the
people. as we'll rs the history Of the govern.
ment. to trace the progress OF useful and or
nanental arts. to describe the rise of ,eliginus
sects. and the changes of literary tastes, to
portray the manners of successive genera-
tons, and not to pass by with neglect even the
revolutions which have taken place in dress
furniture. repssts and public amnsements."
To the delineator Of American society. to our
historian. if he would be at all faithful and
accurate. comes the duty of giving promi.
nence to the rse and progress of churches. Of
religious ideas in the United States Taking.
for example. representative men Of the two
denominainns whose churches in this city
are now to receive notice. the faithful histori-
an cannot pass by Roger Williams, and Fran
els Asbnry. Widening and deepening. and
growing 90 on their lahors and the results ;
moulded into the ideas and lives Of the peo-
pie. and hence giving shade tonational
character. So of other representatives Of
other churches.
But we turn to our task. and while there ia
no literary merit claimed for these sketchs .,
and matter much more readable might be
found we many hereby preserve facts, useful
and interesting in the future.
The FIRST B,rrIsr CHURcH. of Keoknk,
was constituted February 5th. ls47, with
elcren members. none Of whom are now con.
nected with this church. On the I'D OF
pastor, to commence his labors on the lst OF
April following. He preached only portion
OF his time. and resigned the charge Of tie
church on the I'D Of December of the same
year During this time the church secured q
lot on Third street. between Main and John
son, where they erected small house Of wor.
ship November 18th, le49, Rev. E.ihu
Gum settled With the church "a pastor. and
missionary of the American Home Mission
Society. Having disposed OF their old house
Of worship. the church commenced worship
ping in their present one on Third street, be
tween Concert aud High. in June. 1852 Rev.
Elihu Gum closed his pastorate September
lst. 1857. In April. 1853, Rev. VIM. W.
Allen entered upon the pastorate. which he
resigned in February, 1859. The Rev. T. s.
Griffith settled With the church rs pastor in
September. 1859. and resigned September /,
1868. The present incumbent, Rev. ]. T.
We-tover, settled with the church. September
1st, 1854. There have been received. in all
into the fellowship Of the church. since its or
ganizalion-hy baptism, 2l9; by letter. 25s
total, with the eleven constituent members
of 1873. The present membership is 1856. The
society is now just commencing vigorous pre-
parafions to build = new, commodious and
tasteful house of worship. on the corner o
Blondeau and Eighth streets. The house viii
be decided ornament to the city. and vii
cost about $4,000. We have seen the de
sign Of it, prepared by Burlington arch;tect
We will,,otice it hereafter. It will be, VII .
completed the han lsomest eh lrch in the ci =
-exteriorly. at least. Rev. Mr.. Westo, er
the present pastor, is from Nashsille. Tenn
and although not long in the pastorate, hal
become thoroughly identified with his people
here, in feelings and spirit, il lsborions. &C
tive, faithful pastor, fine preacher, admirs-
Die as . citizen, a minister and . christian
gentleman We consider the church fortu
nate in having secured him.
CHATHAM SQUARE N E. CauRcH. the second
Methodist Episcopal organization in Keokuk
was formed as q society by Rev. j. p I.;naer
man, in 1855. At the conference held !,
Dubuque, Iowa, September 81, 1854, Rev. F
w. Evans Was appointed to the c,arge; bn
the charge Was subsequently filled by Mr.
J;,dermap The first effort tovnrd the e,.c