The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-11-23
The Churches Of Richmond.
Pearl Street Methodist Episcopal Church.

The second religious society organ
lied in this city, was of the Methodist
denomination, and Pearl Street is the
continuation of that early society. In
1922, the Rev. Russell Bigelow was in
charge of what was called Whitewater
Circuit, and made an effort to form q
Methodist society in Richmond. He
preached a sermon in q small school
house, and small class was organized,
which met at the house of a Mrs. Pier
son, but after her removal from the vii
lage, it was discontinued.
Until 1925, there were no meetings,
but in the fall of that year, Rev. James
Ravens, famous pioneer itinerant, sue
ceeded in forming society which has
remained permanently since.
In 1888, frame building of good
size was erected near the site Of Pearl
/ Street church This building was 9
great cost to the little society in those
days, but was finally finished after
much labor and many sacrifices. That
year, Richmond became q station, with
sixty five members. The increase of
the society was continuous throughout
the succeeding years, and in 1851, was
commenced the erection Of the present
edifce.
The building was finished in 1858,
aud dedicated by Bishop Ames. The first
use to which the auditorium was appro-
priated was for the sessions of the
North eastern Indiana Con ference,which
met here during the fall Of the above
mentioned year.
The following have been the regular
appointed pastors, taken in their order:
John w Sullivan, j Harrington, H
Hull, r D Robinson, A Conwell, W
Wheeler, J NJ Stagg, C w Miller, Fl
Hull, second time, w H Goode, T
Webb, j W Stafford. T Cooper, A Ed
dy, V NJ B Gamer, II N Barnes, J COL
clazer, W T McMullen, Dr.. I S John
son, Sims, N H Phillips, R Tobey, and
J V r Miller, in charge at the present
! time.
! This building is about seventy feet
| y
! and basement. The auditorium is
sixty feet by forty, and capable of
seating four hundred persons. 1t is neat
| " furnished and frescoed in taste
full manner. The lower story is used as
Sunday school rooms and pastors office
The first separation in the church
took place in the year 1858. Mr.. II N
Barnes was pastor at that time. The
cause of this separation was family or
promiscuous sitting. Tie custom of
the church was separate seats for the
male and female portions Of the eongre-
cation. About the time mentioned
there was desire on the part Of some
members for promiscuous sitting. Those
in favor of the change were in tire mi
nority at that time, and withdrew from
this church and organized the ore
which worshire in Union Chapel and
is now Grace Church. Though, at that
time, those who remained were oppos-
ed to promiscuous sitting, the church
has progressed in later years, and
since its rcfitting some two years ago,
the distinctions have not been observed
1 Tie church has one other feature, to
which its success is owing more than to
any other one influence, namely, it's
seats are free-there has never been a
pew system in this church.
| A second separation occurred in 1867,
Mr.. Tobey was pastor at this time. The
cause of this separation was question
Of instrumental music. The members
Withdrawing this time, secured the
small meeting house on South Marion
street, and, after the congregation of
Union Chapel left it for the new edifice,
they (known as Third Charge) pur-
chased the Chapel and took the name
of Central M K Church.
All three churches are now in flour
ishing condition. Methodism, startin e
with sixty five adhcrents in this place,
thirty enc years ago, now numbers
nearly one thousand m mbers, Of whom
over four hundred are members of
Pearl Street Charge, Notwithstanding it
is the parent of the other two.
Pearl Street Church has, for many
years past, enjoyed the reputation of
having the largest average attendance Of
the churches OF Richmond. At the close
of Rev. DIR. Tobey term in May, 1867,
the following statistics were taken:
Number of members and probationers
in 1866, 325. Received during the fol-
lowing three year, 1862 Deaths during
that period Is Number of removals, verv
great, and of tiscontinuance, small in
proportion to the membership, leaving
the total membership, over 400. Since
that date, many received on probation
during the late revival. have been Ia
lcoY, into fI,ll mo borah;x, Tnol.xa