The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-21
THE FIRST UNIvERsALIsT CHURCH
BUILDING IN ILLINOIS.

Through the kindness Of the publish
ers of the Valley Chronicle, of ST. Charles,
Ill, and Mr.. G. s. Knapp, of No. 296
Belden avenue, Chicago, we are enabled
to lay before the readers of The UNI
vERsALIsT the following facts in regard to
the first church edifce for Universalist
worship built in the State of Illinois--that
in St. Charles.
From investigations made by these gen.
tlemen, it appears that the Universalist
society of st. Charles, ILL.,, was organized
about December, 1888, or January, 1889,
and the stone church ediice, still stand
ing, was erected in the winter and spring
of 1912 by subscription. The original
subscription sheets are now before us,
giving names and amounts of subscrib-
ers, and the credits in cash, lumber, stone,
wheat, labor, etc. This subscription pa
per is now the property Of the Chicago
Historical Society. The church building
is 33 by "A feet in dimensions, and cost,
according to the original subscription
list in the handwriting of Elisha Free
man, one of the members of the society,
in the neighborhood of $4,000, estimat-
ing materials and labor at the low prices
then prevailing. The number of contrib
utors to the church fund, according to
the same list, was something over one
hundred. Among the most prominent
of these were Rev. William Housewife,
pastor of the society, Horace Bancroft,
Stevens s. Jones, Elisha Freeman, Asa
Hazeltine, Ohio W. Perkins, A. r. Wheeler,
T. Adams Wheeler, Leonard Howard, Da-
vid Howard, Daniel @. Marvin, Timothy
Baker, Natha4 Pierce, Joseph NJ. Flint,
Job s. Randall, Craig Duncan, Richard s.
Sargent, Merrill Randall, James Bancroft,
Nathan Ell. Dearborne, l.. d. Randall,
Henry Stevens, Charles A. Brooks, David
Farnsworth, J. Fl. Burley, Ira Minard,
Spalding Eddy, Joel Young, B. F. Hunt,
s. w. Wheelock, P. J. Burchell and
9. A. Wheelock.
Many Of these were outside the socie-
ty, and some, members of other denom-
tons. The church was completed and
dedicated June 1, 1912, Rev. William
housewife officiating. 1t was finished
inside with black walnut, with gallery
across the north end and pulpit in the
form of harp between the doors in the
south end. A tasty tower adorned the
front of the building. The basement WIS
occupied for several years as select
school room. About 1852 the building
was overhauled and completely remodel
ed, the pulpit being set in recess built
in the north end, and the gallery chang
| ed to the south end.
Among the more prominent pastors
were VIM. Rounseville, Andrew Pingree
and J. r. Mack. James J. Strong, the
Mormon leader, assassinated at Beaver
Island, Lake Michigan, once delivered a
discourse in this house.
1t was the first Universalist house of
worship erected in Illinois, and was for
years among the prominent church edi-
| fees Of the Fox River Valley. The soci-
ETY. continued in active existence until
about 1860, when by reason of removals.
deaths and other causes, regular meet
ings were discontinued, though the or
ganization was kept up until recent
date. About 1884 the church property
was sold 10 DR.. Henry M. Crawford, of st
Charles. We place these facts on record
for che future historian of Universalism
in Illinois.