The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-03

was the last of the charter members to
die, a few months ago.
PASTORS AND CHURCH GROWTH.
For the first nine years the Central
Church had no regular pastor, or evangelist
as called by this denomination, but in Sep
TENDER, 1872, the Rev. Love II. Jameson, the
oldest brother of DIR. z. II. Jameson, be-
came pastor and served until 1853. Previous
to 1912 many ministers visited the church
and held meetings which resulted in the adj
dition of members and a considerable
growth of the. organization. John l.. Jones
held meetings in 1884 that resulted in ten
additions, John O'Kane conducted meetings
the next year and twenty-three members
were added. In June, 1886, ovid Butler and
wife, COrdelia, became members and repre-
SentativeS of their family have been enrolled
among the membership all the years since.
John OKane and Love II. Jameson held
meetings in 1896 that resulted in many prom
lnent families becoming Identified with this
organization. About this. time the mem
bers began TO consider the ~advisability of
erecting a house of worship. They had been
using the courthouse and the seminary
building as they had opportunity. The first
house was located on Kentucky avenue,
between Tennessee and Mississippi streets,
and the trustees consisted of John H. San
ders, Ovid Butler, Butler X Smith, Benja-
min Emerson and James Sulgrove, jr. These
trustees conducted the work or building.
This was a year of prosperity for the young
church. In the year 1888 many ministers
visited the church and the meetings brought
about forty new members. 1t was about
this time that great trials came to the mem
bershlp as the result of one mans influence
In stirring up strife and divisions: Many
members were lost to the organization and
but for the heroic efforts of John ii. san
ders, Ovid Butler and Butler X. Smith, 1t
seemed all would have been lost. John
O'Kane also exerted very valuable help at
this time. 1t was many years before the
Central Church fully recovered from the
effects of this strife. Following this year
of division a number of resident ministers
served the church, presumably without
compensation. In fact, in those days much
service of this kind was rendered. 1t was
also in this year, 1893, that Chauncey But
Ter, sr, became a member. He preached
for this church, as did also 5. h. Hoshour.
No record is given OF when the church trst
occupied it's new house of worship on Ken
lucky avenue, but there is a record that
about this time James Sulgrove, ST., was
employed as sexton at a salary of $50 a year.
About thirty members were added in the
year 1889. In the year 1910, Elder Butler
and his wife both died, and about thirty
new members were added. The membership
had reached an enrolment of one hundred,
although up to this time there had been
169 persons baptized. and almost half as
many added by letter.
In September. 1872, Love II. jameson re-
moved from Madison TO Indianapolis and in
October became the first settled pastor
this church had. Previous TO this time was
called the era OF struggle. and from lSi2
there has been continued growth. The
church agreed to board Mr.. Jameson and
family and pay him $500 per year. He was
also granted the privilege of holding meet
ings with other churches. and thus, per-
haps. increased his income. Mr.. Jameson
continued to serve the church for ten years,
and in the latter years they increased his
salary a little, but il was never more than
500. With the coming of the railroads to
the city in the 'forties." the population in
creased rapidly, and consequently the
church enjoyed greater prosperity. During
the ten years Mr.. jameson served the
church about fifty members per year were
added and when he closed his work there
we're 375 members.
PERIOD OF GROWTH.
In April. 1853. the church dedicated its
second church building, at the southwest
corner OF Delaware and Ohio streets, where
the Indiana Dental College building now
stands. On this occasion the sermon was
by Samuel X. Hoshour. James NJ. Mathes
was pastor of the church for one year, and
Love II. Jameson again became shepherd
and Continued for one year. Elijah Goodwin
succeeded Mr.. jameson and served from