, 1874-07-19
Comparison Of the Religious Develop
ment of Chicago and St.
Louis.
Complaint Of the Singular Con-
duet Of Lutheran A1In-
lister.
OnIntons Of the Religious Press on Pulpit
Preaching, Beecler, Etc.
Hoteo and Personals at Home and
Abroad.
Church Services To-Day.

THE FIRE.
In the fire Of Tuesday five religious bodies los'
their houses OF worship,-the First Baptist, the
Olyct Bantist (colored) tho Bethel Methodist
(colorea), the German Methodist, and the Jew
ieh Synagogue, OF these, the greatest sinsle
loss Was that sustained by
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,
whose elegant building, one Of the finest in the
citr, fell before tho flames. This Society was
organized in October, 1888, under the Rev.
Allen 3. Freeman, sent ont by the American
Baptist Home Mission Society. It Vas the first
Baptist church organized in the Northwest
anywhere north OF Peoria. From that time IN
til October, 1852, some four different pastors
occupiedthe pulpit Of the church, chief among
whom vas the Rev. Elisha Tucker, D. D.. OF
New York. In 1852 the Rev. J. c, Burroughs was
chosen pastor, and re manned in that Office until
MEy, 1885,.
He was followed bv the Rsv DR.. Howard. who
removed to New Orleaus in 1852 from which lat
tc- year tho Rev. ". n. Eyerts, D. D., has held
tnn pastoral relation.
It would perhaps bo difficult to find in this
country . religious society which had done more
to spread its OVID doctrines than this church. It
hiss seemed to possess missionary epirit from
tile FIRST the aim Of which to spread the
Goctrines and increase the number OF adharents
OF the whole body, rather than to build up simply
3 strong eing1e church organization. In 1856:
the Edna Place Church, now the Michigan Ave-
Eue Society," was organized almost exclusively
from members Of this church. In September,
1856, the Union Park Church Was organized,
principally from members of this church.
The First Church early commenced the
n s&'se sneh po1s;ons 81 tRe esy Ss'as rs
were destitute OF religions instruction. In this
way the North Star Mission WAS formed, which
has become an independent church, owning
valuable lot in the North Division, on which it
has commenced building block. some shat
similar to the Methodist Church Block, which
shall contaiu, with hall for public Worship,
some six fine .tores. Tie Hhic1.is AIeslon, es-
tablished in 1ass, has now became tie Tneuty-
Gfth Street Baeast Church. With pastor OF its
OWL, and 3 sePA:ato church organization. This
mission IL not, however, pecuu'arly independent
Of the First Church. The Indiana Avenuo
Church, now CO. ordinate branch Of tho First
Church, was also Al outg.owth OF the church.
In addition to these enterprises, tho Baptist
churches at Evanston aud at Highwool,
now both thriving organizations. are the
Icsuits Of the enterprise Of tie members OF the
First Church. And the Coyentyy Street Church.
formerly called the Rcl:ng-4lill Mission, is still
another branch Which has grown into IN inde-
pendent aud thriving churc!:.
When, in 1sG4, tho church moved from the
corner ot Lasa.le and Washington streets to the
building just destroyed by fire, it signalized the
removal BY an instance OF Gberality rarely to be
equaled. It gave its old chuzch building, valued
et III, 600, to the Second Church, and gare in
money to other Baptist churches tue following
named sums: North Baptist Church, SC, ,5GO;
Enlon Park, $4,000; Wabash Avenue, S3,00U;
Bcrean (row the Temple church,, $1,000;
Ol:yet {colore'D $500. This aid to tho churches,
which MeIe thea struggling in much adyersity,
gave the Eaptists new impetus.
notwithstanding all these depletiona, the So
ciety Lad, il 1871. just before the great fire, q
total ct almost .0uo members. At the present
time owing to the fact that that event scsttered
the membership considerably, the membership
Is not us large.
There is a good deal Of dissatisfaction ex-
pressed among the mo1nbers that tho officers
whose duty it should have been to look after the
Insurance allowed it to run down so low that At
The time Of the fire it only amounted $30, 600,
on q valuation of at least vl25. 200.
But the Society will probably very soon set
about the work Of rebuilding, and it il certain
that the first thing to be attended to will be the
construction Of q cl'1lrch-edihce for the accom-
ucdation Of the membership. This building
will necessarily be situated somewhere
sCuth OF Twenty r-second street. ard it l,ay be
Us far Us Ihrteth street. in which -: i vii.
no doubt. be erected upon the large lut :!:Is::.
il possession of the church. Oh the coruer ii
nunber OF the members, probably majority,
also wish to see church built upon the old site;
knd it liz not improbable thEt building about |
the size Of the old lectuse-Ioom will be b ut on
the rear Of the lot, leaving the main portion of
tile lot to be hereafter built upon Us the de-
mands OF business and the church may seem to |
decide. Ultimately, something like the Boston
Temple may be built there, depending upon the
course winch the city ebal take in its develop
ment for tic ucxt few years. The material In
tle walls OF the old church s comparatively un-
injured aI:d can easily find place in the
walls OF 1he new structure. The Church has
OH its roll Of members many cnterprising per-
sous, who are not at all despondeut over the
present aspect Of affairs.
oL1vET BAPTIST.
1hls vas the oldest and strongest colored |
iE17>i4 III the city. 1t was formed il 1862 from
consolidation OF the Zoar aud Mount Zion |
dre was 60 Tho building destroyed ty the IRE
on Tuesday was completed in 1867. It WAS 4 |
Sooa structure, yAlued at SCI 900, and nccommo-
dated about 500 people. The Society has been |
under the pastoral care Of the Rev. Richard De-
Bartlste Eince June, 1868, aud has grown from q |
small church of about 100 members then, to its |
present large proportions. About half the FAM |
lies connected With the church lost their homes !
also But they are thrifty, Woodworking people,
and will not be easily discouraged by tA,s
hard disaster. Plans for tho chutch's future |
have not yet been perfected; but it is quite !
probable that they will rebuild their house Of !
worship Oh the old site, the insurance money on |
the builtias destroyed being sufficient to give |
them l. good start
THE pETuEL CHURCH
WAS co!ored church OF the Methodist denomi- |
Nation. Tnis church had, only few years ago |
built very respectable building on Third ave.
u muck smaller than that Of the Olvet Church.
no dcInl.o plans for the future have yet been
made.
HISTORICAL.
ano IN the Ne.o Enqlander for July very
4 rJ~o1n