The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-10

By order Of the Lee County Republican Central Com.
mlstee' I'M BECK
May zs,h, 1866 ch,;r,r.,
Our CHURCHES AND THEIR
PASTORS.
II IS to the parent church society of the
city we come now. One old in the years of
It's local life, bat vigorous still and strong and
destined to grow again unto ample proper
tlons among its kindred. We speak Of the
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN Church, Of which Rev.
ar. Crittenden is at present Pastor So
lmperfectly was the early records kept that no
skill of adopts, no amount of ANTIQUARIAN
research has been as yet able to deduce
therefrom anything intelligible as chronicles of
the, Society. One only of the original eleven
forming the first organization of the Society
in the Spring of l843 remains and from her
we gathered the facts that the meager church
records fail to show. We refer to Mrs.
HorGn, still member of the Society and q
most estimable lady. Mrs. II. came here
ritl ner husband in the Fall of ls42 The
following Spring eleven persons organized
the Society. Ten of these are dead or have
moved away The services were held in a
little cabin on Johnston street near Third
There was the first communion and the FIRST
sermon preached by Presbyterian minister
This was by Rev. Mr.. Clark, of Fort Madison.
The first Pastor of the Society was Rev. Mr..
sanes, VINO came from New York He was
fyNlt n l,.D II
sets. After the close of his Passionate Rev.
William Williams and Rev. c. A. Williams
suceessively filled temporarily the pulpit, in
the absence Of any regularly installed minis
tiers. VI regular Pastors then followed Rev.
Messrs. De Long, Aspinwa1l, now Of Kansas
Care;, and DR.. Gillett. The latter, still an
snle member OF the Iaeu.y OF the Medical
University at this place and one of the most
honored, learned, and estmabie of our citi-
zens, resigned last year and Rev. Mr.. Critten-
den was called We have noticed that the
first services of the Society were held in
cabin. Then for time the house of Mrs
Acueh Was made a preaching place. again i
was transferred to the cabin. Then large
oak tree on the corner Of Blondeau and Sec.
ond was made temple, and under its shade
gathered the worshippers. The ladies of the
Society now determined to build Church
aud with sewing circles, &c, they went to
work. We say the ladies Of the Society
because, foremost in every good work, they
composed it almost exclusively. 1t was in
early days called the " Female Church. y
There were only two men in it to be taken for
elders. Under the active administration of
the ladies', their church scheme succeeded
finely and in ls4- their first Church. near the
corner of Concert and Second streets was
bultt. 1t was 30x45 feet in extent. In 1855
il was enlarged by an addition of 15x30 feet.
In 1857 the present substantial and pleasant
Church was erected. Latterly the old Church
was occupied by the colored Society. Within
short time it has again changed hands and
will be located on and streets,
for the benefit Of the consolidated Scatter
Good and Banner Mission Sabbath Schools.
The First Sabbath School ever started in
the city was by this Society and it met under
the old oak, before mentioned. 1t was not
strictly denominational, and there in 1874
gathered all the youth and children Of the
unpretentious town, who would observe the
Sabbath and the foundation of the present
extended Sabbath School system of the city
was laid
While this Society was meeting in its cabin
Il Il ,., Il l..
ship the itinerating Methodists came along
and joined labofs for the moial and religious
elevation of the squatter sovereigns who So
journed in this part of Lee county. Mrs
Hongh tells us with much earnestness in the
recital how, in those early days the Methods,
meetings were held in grove below Ex
change street. in the edge of Irshtowu
Thither, on Sabbath, came men and women
aioot or in wagons drawn by oxen and coming
for miles. It was a homely linsey- -woolsey
that composed the dress of the women thei
sun bonnets would appear sadly by contras
with Miss Araminta Grundy's head gear, ane
the mems Jeans pants, and coonskin or wolf
skin caps, were not greatly in Metropolitan
style. But they were in earnest and though
it less trouble TO go miles to church thar
people now days will 60 blocks. And how
they would shout! On an lily constructed
platform stood the preacher and delivered hi
message to willing hearers.
But this is getting away from the FIRs1
PREsBYTERIAN Society. 1t grew with th.
growth of Keokuk. At length it became
strong enough to form another Society, and
in 1855 the Congregational Church here wa,
formed out of its membership. This reduced
it largely but ii still holds good rank among
the other churches of the city. Under thu
pastoral supervision of Rev. Mr.. CRITTENDEs
the Society is growing. He is an earnest
eloquent, able preacher, and working Pas
tor. Fitted for his place, wearing armor tha
is his own and that he can do his work in
alive TO the interests of the Church, and will
force and ability 10 infuse his earnestness int
others, the Society cannot do other thar
prosper under his ministry.
The Sabbath School is under the superin
tendence of II. 8. HOWELL, Esq. is one o
the best in the city; indeed, We don't knou
know how it could be improved. There ar,
one hundred and thirty Eve pupils and thir-
teen teachers. Thus in its younger branches
so vigorous, the Church viii flourish.
TEE health Of Charles Sumner and Thad
stevens j. such - 70 excite The Apprehension