Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-29
..soBp 1NGERsoLns FATHER.
his Career Closed by a Dispute Over the
New York style of Eating Mush and

MADISON. OEtlAs y pm -ls--lh tliN y NeAl
1872 the Rev. John Ingersoll, bhe father of
Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, was called TO the
First Congregational Church ofthis place,
where he preached for about three years
This church is one of the oldest in the
State OF Ohio, having been established IN
the year 1914. The meeting to organize
the church society was held in a barn
near Madison, or Centerville. as 1t was
then called. a station on the Lake shore
Railroad about 30 miles east from CleFe-
land. For twenty years after the society
was organized The sturdy pioneers OF
Madison, OF whom there were at that time
but few. worshiped in barns or houses,
as best suited their convenience. until
the wear 1854 when a church edlhce, a
frame building, say 80 feet wide by 100
feet deem and capable of seating 800 TO 500
,orsops. was erected at North Madison,
and in il from that time to this day the
society has Worshiped. 1t was In this
edifce that Mr.. IngeTsOll preached. 1t
was nearly new then, quite an imposing
building for that day and generation and
place. with its tall steeple, and the iron
FISH that swung at its top, an ornament
and weather-vane combined, and with the
bigbell which for more than halfa century
has called the villagers TO worship ana
tolled the are OF many a SAINT who now
lies in the nelghbOring churchyard. In
those DAYS not many societies could AFFORD
so great an extravaganza as bell, ana
hence this building became known and is
stiu called the Observation-Disclosures. 1t
stands there Just the same as it did fifty
years ago, except the steeple ls CHANGED,
and the WeatheF-Vane at which Bob
used to shy stones and the lightning rod
upOn which he used to execute gYmnas-
tics, are both gone. The principal change
that has been made in the interior OF the
church since Mr.. Ingersoll Numbered
anathemas at intidels and intdelity IN
general during mis- three years passionate
there, is in the pulpit. At that time 1t
occupied place at the rear of the church
between two windows, and was perched
high upon the wall. "A square pancIed
box with mouldings around 1t, which
looked like a small fortress bmlt to pro-
tect the person Of the minister, and which
was assembled by stairs which led up on
either side. 1t was made with narrow
alcove in which he.preacher stood facing
The congregation while preaching, and so
contriyed as TO admit Of none of that the
atricnl gesture and posing at which Col.
Ingers0ll is so skihful and which cOns'i-
tutes one of the chief charms of his oratO-
~. The interior ARRANGE ment Of the aV-
craze country Presbyterian edlhce OF fifty
years ago was eminenuv suggestive OF
the doctrinal beliefs and dOgmas TO which
the church held. II was plain, severe,
std. cold. Once seated in a narrow pew
vVIfh.its high, perpendicular back, there
asnething TO do bat 70 lift ones eyes If
ne wished Ia. see the face of the preacher,
whose head and shoulders. if he were Of
average heIght. would barely rise above
the Bible which lay on the pulpit desk
before him. Everybody has heard the
story Of the unfortunately short clergy
man who exchanged pulpits with a broth
er minister. When he rose to begin the
services only the top Of his hald head was
visible to his audience. He, however.
managed to get along very well with the
preliminary services, although himself
deeply conscious of a suppressed merri-
ment ia the congregation, but when he
took his text cit is l. be not afraid the
righteousness of the situation was too
much for the piOus reserve OF even the
average deacon. and the audience broke
into an unmistakable litter. There are
living witnesses who viii tell you that
this incident occurred in the old 'bell-
meetinc house" 1t is also said that Dea-
con Salisbury, shocked at the levity and
indec0rum of the congregation, immeai-
ately arose, and going out to his wagon
brought in a stool, which one of the boys
a
pulpit politely handed it to the minister,
who, without change Of countenanCe,
placed IL beneath his feet, and from il
delivereda powerful and impressive SER
mon.
'Do you remember Mr.. Ingersollg" l
inquired of an old lady who lives near the
old church.
''Yes, indeed,' she replied, 81 shall
never forget him. DE was the smartest
Al afalro
not much she could tell me ofhis methods
and manner OF preaching. That he was
forcible, logical, eloquent, stern, uncom-
promising In presenting his views, there
is nc doubt. In personal appearance,
though much stouter, Robert resembles
him strongly; the same ruddy face,
smoothly shaven; the same full, large,
round head. Mr.. IngersOn often preached
eXtempOraneOusly, but usually from
notes. His manner was nervous, quick
impassiOned. In the middle of a sentence
he would place his glasses on his nose,
and giving quick glance at the notes,
would snap them of again. and dropping
or tossing them on the desk would pass
from.one point TO another in his discourse
without breaking the flow Of words. He
had way also when deeply interested in
his subject Of quickly throwing his coat
collar back and thrusting his thumbs into
the arm-holes Of his vest, as if he felt a
restraint and wanted greater freedom.
This wasa signal Of the OncOming storm
ofimpassiOned elOquence that swept over
his hearers and uprOOted the oaks of inf
delfty and twistedthe saplings Of unbe-
lief into shreds.
At the time he preached in Madison he
was living with his third wife. He had
i've children, two daughters and three
sons, by has first wife. John was a ply
sician; Robert and Ebenezer became en-
lnent lawyers in Peoria, ILL.,, long before
Robert gained his present nOtoriety. Eb-
eneZer, il will he remembered, succeeded
Owen Loveioy in Congress. He died a
few years since. and the touching address
which Robert delivered at his grave is
f4th'iiar % many. When Mr.. Ingersoll
canfe TO Madison. Robert was about nine
years of age. Many will be surprised Ia
learn that he attended Sunday-schooi al
the old church, and presumably had early
religious training and instruction. There
are those who attribute his extreme anti
religious views to overwhelming and the
severe orthodox opinions Of his father.
A. that time DE had taste for discussion
aud debate, and IL is recorded in the mem
cry Of an old resident that Robert az this
early age organized "a debating clul
amoug the ncighborlng boys, and thai
some Of thoir meetings We're held in hel
kitchen. She well remembers one IL
which Robert took part. Mr.. lrgersol