The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-03-25
CHURCH HISTORY.
First Cumberland Presbyterian
Church of Sedalia.

Cumberland Presbyterians are indigenous
to this soil. The missionaries of the church
were among the first to cross the Missis-
sippi and preach the gospel in Missouri
The organization in this city is the young
est English church here, being reOrganizs
July 18th, 1881
The first organization was effected by
Rev. r. $. Reed about the year 1860. The
congregation languished for sever years
In 1875 Rev. J. w. higgins held pro
lracted meeting in Georgetown, which re
suited in a great awakening and the resus-
citation of the old organization and its re-
moval to Georgetown.
The work of organization was accom-
plished by Revs. III. K. Smith and David
Hogan; Elders DIR. III. f. Depp, w. NJ.
RItchey, Milton Hume; DeacOns, Clark
Bouldin. J. HI. Kuykenda.l and Samuel
Sprecher. TIE congregation urder the
new administration seemed TO prosper for
few years, and then the period of depres
sion came again.
Rev. W. s. Davis, now of Kansas, was
the next minister to assume control, hr
having been called by the feeble church
for only short time. Hopes Of final sue
cess seem to have been almost abandoned,
until the year 1873, when Rev. d. L. Hen
ierson. then residing in KnObnOster, sue
cesded. in gathering up the scattered
flock. His labOrs were eminently sue.
cessiul in every particular aud from
that time forward the congregation
seemed To promise success Good audi
ences attended his services and the
lost confidence was restored.
In no hn fol irlTr
were made officers: Elders: Capt :. w
Ritchey, DIR. ii f. Depp, Milton Hume,
DIR. j. T. Gray; Deacnns: l.. NJ. Trum
bull, j. f. and W. II. Ritchey. AT this
time there were about twenty five members
from the old organic ition. The present
pastor was called June 1st, 1881. The
Sabbath school was organized January 1st
1881, with DIR. j. =, Gray superintendent.
A Ladies' Aid Society was Organized iii
the summer OF 1881, Mrs. ID J Temple,
president The Womens' Foreign Mission
AIRY Society was formed in September, 1881 +,
Mrs. A. H. Stephens president
The building now occupied by the con
gregatiOn ON Lafayette avenue was deli
Gated October 24,h, lSS Revs. w. III.
Black, OF St Louis, and z y. Rea OF Slater,
Mo, officiating.
Since the organization two elders have
died, Capt. s w. Ritchey, and Milton
Hume. Messrs. j. +. Rotor and w. K.
Heath have been elected TO take. their
places.
The membership has increased TO so.
many of them, the most substantial of our
citizens. The property on LAFAYETTE ave
nue. was sold in December, 1888, TO the
German Lutheran congregation with a
view to building on the lot owned by the
church on the corner of Seventh and Usage
streets.
Mr.. j. E. Ritchey was made superinten-
dent OF the Sunday school in January 1884
Under his administration the school has
prospered and is now one Of the best in the
city.
The church is in good condition and
bending all he- energies on the early com
pletiOn of their new building, the plans of
which are elegant in every particular.
This church is scarcely three years old
and yet when the new building is complet
I'd will have one Of the most elegant edi-
fees in Central Missouri.