The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-12-28

enclosed. The sheep pasturlng upon tle
highways and vacant lots in the neigh
borhood sought shelter within its walls
from the SUMS rays and driving storm
The school boys from the Academy on
Che opposite side of the street played
"antony over" the roof, and the
girls "hide and .go.srek" among the in
terstices of the building.
As the members manifested no dispo'
sltion to make an effort to have the
building completed, Mr.. Morrow became
discouraged and left, settling in New Phil
adelphia, where no subsequently died.
After his departure the church contln'
ned TO decline-the Sabbath school ceas-
ed to exist, and spiritual barrenness and
stupor prevailed. A travelling minister
in search of charge would occasionally
stop over Sunday and give them dis.
course, but he had little encouragement
to come again. Among the number was
Rev. 7. M. Hopkins, from New York
State. When it became known that he
and Mrs. Hopkins were both experience
ed teachers, several of the more intiuen-
tial citizens of town were urgent that
they should come and open a school,
and that Mr.. H. should preach. 1t was
stimulated that for teaching he should re-
ceiye S40O a year, and for preaching $500.
Mr. II. came with his family, opened a
school and commenced preaching in the
Court House. He was then in the prime
of manly vigor. enthusiastic and devoted
to the cause of Christianity. he gather,
ed few faithful workers about him and
re-establshed the Sabbath h-school. In
the church service he was his own Choir
ister When he took charge OF the
church the membership did not exceed
%, Some of the old members had mo-
we'd aways others had grown cold, and
still few stood aloof from the church,
regarding Mr.. II. as too strongly tinctur-
ed with what was then known as new
school doctrines. Robert Latmer, the
only remaining elder, refused to serve on
thisaccount, and gloried in his blue-stock-
ing orthodoxy. The church was in a
sense re.organized Almon Sortwell and
DR.. G. C. Haddock were chosen elders
On the day of their installation, May IL,
1884, the sacrament was administered to
2S communicates. About this time the
question of completing the long untin-
ished church edifce was being agltated |
The walls we're examined by Eli Sewers
master mechanic, and decided to be in |
satisfactory condition. Thong! money |
was scarce and friends few, the members |
toiled on, the women nobly lending their |
aid, and in the summer OF 1888 the
church was dedicated to the service OF
God. The external appearance OF the
building was plain and unpretentlOus-
The seats were narrow, with per2endlcu-
lar backs, and so uncomfortable, as to |
suggest the idea of penance rather than
ease. The pulpit floor was some five and
half feet above that of the body of the |
church, and the desk so high that short
man could with difficulty overlook the
congregation. There was gallery ex'
tended on three sides; that fronting the
pulpit was occupied by the choir. Sew
eral members made cushions OF cheap |
material for the pews they occupied,
which added much to their comfort
Others coveted the same luxury, but
were deferred from having them, not SO
much on account of the expense, as that
they might be suspected of pride. The
Sabbath school was removed from the
Court House to the church, and had an
average attendance Of 81. The church
audience usually varied from 70 to 100
Protestant Christianity was not popular
nor church going fashionable. A few
citizens of town occupying influential po'
sitions, did much harm by the dlssemln-
alton of infdel doctrines, the influence
of which has not yet entirely disappear
ell.
Mr.. Hopkins preached twice on the
Sabbath, exec pit one year, when he
preached in Massillon in the afternoon;
his Iabors there, resulting in the organiza-
ton of Presbyterian Church. He con-
Quoted a weekly prayer meeting in the
school room, but it is remarkable fact
that none of the members would lead in
prayer, though often urged by him to do
so. Mr.. Hopkins used to pray and sing, |
and talk, and pray again, but never heard
a voice in audible prayer in that room
except his own, until Thomas Goodman,
then young man, was the first to break
silence. He had hardly closed when Al
mon Sortwell, lawyer and Supt of the
Sunday School, lose and confessing his
derelction in duty. with voice tremu
lous with emotion, said, "let Us pray" and
poured forth touching prayer of peni-
tence and faith, The prayer meeting OF
that evening was the beginning of new
epoch in the church. The attendance on
Wednesday evening, and at church in
creased. A protracted meeting was held
in which Mr., Hopkins was assisted by
Rev Carlos Smith, Of Painesville. The
church members were quickened, and
some 16 were added on profession
Among them, John Saxton aud Hiram
Griswold. The work moved for ard
with power, and through that year, there
were such encouraging manifestations Of
the Divine presence that it was thought
best to hold another protracted meeting
in the early part of 1885, Rev. Doolitt Q of
Hudson, assisting. During this revival
"a additions were made on profession.
Mr.. Hopkins continued in charge of the
church until 1887, when an unhappy con-
troversy arose among the members about
matters of little consequence, Aliena-
tions followed, and he left for another
field of labor.
In stature Mr.. Hopkins was tall, in form
slender: socially, ne was genlal, WIN all
inexhaustibe fund of humor. He was
fond of fishing, and INDUCED 'in it fire.
auently as a source OF pleasure as well as
recreation. AS student, he was dill
gent; and as a preacher, able and inter-
esting In illustrating the great truths
and doctrines of the Bible, he had few
equals. In the prayer meeting, he was
peculiarly happy, and here gave utter
ance to many of his choicest thoughts.
He was deeply solicitous for the souls of
the impenitent, and was man of earnest
prayer. He was among the first in town
to advocate the cause of temperance. He
was forcible in depicting the evil effects
of the liquor traffic, and his efforts in that
direction, in and out Of the pulpit, was
"bread upon the waters" Mr.. Hopkins
is the author of a religious work of con-
siderable merit, entitled "Spots on the
d..