New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-26
"BOBn INGERSOLL'S FATHER
MEMORIES OF HIS MINISTRY.

IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE lh'boNI
MADISON, Ohio, April 2l.-In the year 1917 tho
Rev. John Ingorsoll, the father OF Coionei hooerc
b. IngersoIl was called to the First CongreSaIonai
Church of this place, where he preached Tor ABOUT
three years This church is OF the Oldest III Ihc
State of Ohio, having been established In thc year
1914. The meeting to organize the chnrch Society
was held in barn near Madison, or CentsrVliie as
il was then called q station on the Lake Shore
Railroad about thirty miles east from CIeVeihhu.
For twenty year, after the society was organized
the sturdy poneers of Madison. of whom there were
az that time but few worshipped in barns or houses
rs best suited their convenience until the year
1894. when a church ediGce. frame building say
Gfty feet wide by 100 feet deep and capaoio
of seating 800 TO 500 persons, was erected
at North Madison. aud in it from that time to TINS
day the society has worshipped. 1t was IN TINS
edifice that Mr.. IngersoI preached. Ii was nearly
new thcn, quite an imposing building for mat DAY
and generation and place, with its tall steepie anu
the iron fish that swung at It's top. an ornament
and weather vane combined. and with the big bell
which for moro than half a century has called the
villagers to worship and tolled the age of many
saint who now lies in the neghboring churchyard
In those ,ys not many societies could afford so
great an extravaganza as a bell, and hence this
building became known and is still called the bell
meeting house. 1t stands hero just the same as III
did fifty years ago. except the steepe is changed,
and the weather vano at which" BOD used 10 shy
stones and tho lightning rod upon which ne usou
to execute gymnastics are both gone. Inc prin-
cpal change that has been made in the interior OF
the church since Mr.. lngersoll thundercd anath-
emas at infdels and inidety in general during his
three years pastorate there, is Ill the pulpit NJ
that time it occupied place at the rear OF inc
church, between two windows, aud was perched
high upon the wall square panelled box with
mouldings around it. which looked like n small
fortress built to protect the person of the minister
and which was assembled by stairs which led up on
either side 1t was made with n narrow alcovc in
which the preacher stood facing the congregation
while preaching and so cOntrived as to admit OF
none of that theatrical gesture and posing at which
Colonel Ingersoll is so skful and which constitutes
one of the chief charms of his oratory Tho interior
arrangement of the average country PRESBYTERIAN
edice of fifty years ago was einncntiy suggestive
of the dOctrinal beliefs and dogmaS TO when inc
church held. 1t was PLAN, severe. stu cold once
seated in narrow pew with lts hgl, perpenuicular
back tn ere nothing TO do but TO hit ones eyes
il he wished to the face OF tho preacher wnose
head and shoulders. if he were of averaYe height
would barely rise above the Bible which lay on the
pulpit desk before him. Everybody has hoarl the
It DRY OF the unfortunately short clergyman VINO
exchanged Dulpts OF u Sunday with brother MIN
lister. When he rose to begin the services only the
top of HIS bald head was visible to his audience.
lie, however, managed to get along very well with
cOnso of suppressed merrlment IN the c0ngre-
CATION, but when lie took his toxt 1t IS L. be not
afraid the righteousness of the situation was too
much for the pOus reserve of even the average
deacon and the audience broke into an unmlstaka-
bic litter. There are living witnesses who VIII tell
you that this incident occurred IN t hso cd IGl
bury, shocked at the lcylty and lndecorum OF the
congregation. Immediately arose and going out to
his wagon brought III a STOOL which one OF the boys
used for a seat. and walking mp TO the pulpit
politely handed it to the minister who, without a
change of conptenance placed u beneath nus ieet:
aud from it delivered powerful aud Impressive
DO you remember Mr.. Ingersoll r inquired of
an old lady who lives near the old church
"Yes, indeed" she replied; " shall never forget
him. he was the snartest man that ever preached
here" 1t was not much she could tell me Of his
methods and manner OF preaching That he was
forcible, logical. eloquent, stern. uncoInprOmisng
in presenting his views. there is no dou6t. In
personal appearance. though much stOuter, Robert
resembles HIM strongly the same ruddy lace.
smoothly shaycn the same full, large. round head.
mr IngersOll often preached eXtempOraneOusly,
but usually from notes. Ills manner was nervous,
quick impassioned. In the middle OF sentences he
would place his glasses on his nose and giving
tuck glance at his notes. w0nld snap them on
again, and dropping tossing them on the desk
would pass from one point to another IN his dis
course without breaking the flow of words. lilo
had a way also when deeply interested in his
subject of quickly throwing his coat collar pack ana
thrustng his thumbs into the arm-hoes OF ms vest
az if he felt restraint and wanted greater freedom
This was signal of the onc0ming storm OF I'M.
FASHIONED eloquence that swept over his hearers and
uprOOted the OAKS OF lOHucIltY anu tWlhlcu
saplings of unbelief into shreds.
At the time he preached in Madison he was living
with his third wife. He had five children, two
daughters an three sons, by his first wife, John
was a physician; Robert and Ebenezer became
eminent lawyers in Peoria. Ill., long before ROBERT
gained his present notorety. EDenezer u VIII Dc
He died few years since, and the touching address
which Robert delivered at his grave is familiar to
many. When Mr.. IngersOll came TO Madison,
Robert was about nine years OF age. Many VIII DC
| surprised to learn that he attended Sunday-school
at the old church and presumably had early early
who attribute his extreme anti-religiOus views to
over teaching and the severe orthodox opinions of
his father. At that time no mad taste for dis
memory of old resident that Robert at this early
age organized debating club among the neghbor,
ing BOYS and that some of their meetings were held
| in her kitchen. She well remembers one in which
Robert took part Mr. Ingersol was himself fond
Of discussion pIbc debate wh ih me sa
of the Bible created much excitement and tho ease
| with which he vanquished his opponent was long
| talked of in the neghborhood.
| The third wife of Mr.. lngersoll made him deal
of trouble. She preferred charges against him IN
| the church and trial was had which lasted several
| DAYS and caused dissenson among the members:
| The charges were in writing and predicated OF
common fame" They were. perhaps, the most
frivolous charges ever brought against clergyman,
| vet the church fit to investigate them. and ne
| was tried before committee OF minister's The
now living in Chicago. defended him. He was
| charged with prevarlcaton and unmlnisteral
| conduct. TO sustain the charge OF prevaricaton ms
| wife testified among other things that he one day
| went to q neighboripg village when Mr. Swan Ia
merchant who attended his church, gave him
dress pattern for Mrs. Ingersoll; that when ne
returned home he tossed the cloth INTO her lap and
| SAID, See what nice dress I've bought YOU,
without telling her it was present. lie denied
| that he used that language, and testified that he
/ said, See what nice dress Pve brought you
The charges of unministeral conduct were stu
| more frivolous. For instance. her bread was one
day over-baked "Whats the matter with tins
| enough to shoot dog with" Again Mrs. Ingersoll
prepared some mush and milk for .supper;, she
placed pan of milk the table together with the
| mnsh and some plates. Looking at the plates and
milk pan, Mr. IngersOll gave 1t as his opinion that
| it was a queer way to serve mush and milk q Its
| the way they do in New York" she said. swell"