The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-07-28
United Presbyterian Church.

seph Mcdonald, Samuel j. Walker
John p. Walker, VIM. s. Glenn, J. M
Baugh. Geo. Gilchrist James Laugh
ridge, NJ d. Giichrist, T. A. Kervahan
Robert Blair, Robert Boyd, Francis
Carnahan, Mr.. Harris, David Nc
Gune, D., It. Nichol, Samuel Tennis
James A.. Walker, James Stephenson
VIVA Al Laughridge, Sidney Tough
James Glasgowy Harlin Carnahan, al
bert Lauehridge, T. e. Mcdonald
Thos. Laughridgc, Cary Coryell, VIM
Cowan, Jesper Gordan, Matthew
Robb and Mr.. Hawkins. OF these
men M. %. Gilchrist died in battle at
Helena, Ark, and Geo. Masteller and
Jonathan Walker starved to death in
Libby prison Several died from ex.
posture Of camp life.
The pastor went tc the war in Sep
TENDER, 1862, In the capacity of chap
lain of the 33rd regiment, Iowa Infan-
try. He remained only about year,
because of illness being forced to re-
turn home. During his absence the
Rev. Mr.. Thos. Dysart supplied his
pulpit. gaA
In 1864 the elders were, Joseph
Jones, VIM. McCulley, James Walker,
Joseph Blair, Thos. Nichol, ID. q.
Kernahan, T. r. Gilmore Hugh Cub
bison, VIM. Martin, Finlay Fraser
and Joseph Wright.
When the pastor returned from the
war he infused new life into the con-
erection and the church was too
in 1856 it was sold to the Friends"
or "Quakers," and the present site,
Second avenue and Fourth street was
purchased. While the church was
being built the congregation worship.
ed in the city hall, in the second story
of the building ON the east corner Of
High avenue and Market street.
In 1868 the church building was
completed and occupied by part OF
the former congregation, for after the
selling of the old church a part of
the members had withdrawn to form
Unity Congregation, seven miles
southeast of town. They withdrew
because they had become numerous
enough to form an organization Of
their own and they found it difficult
to attend services so far away in Sc
we're winter weather. ~. -sr. r..
This greatly weakened the power
and financial ability of the Oskaloosa
congregation, but nevertheless their
church was dedicated free OF debt.
When the Rev. Mr.. McAyeal accept
ed the pastorate there were seventy.
three members, and at no time were
there more than 800. Many of these
were transcients, as people were al
ways going farther west in those days,
where land was cheaper. For at least
fifteen years of his pastorate he suf.
tered much and was hampered by
poverty The people were very poor
and his salary was paid in pork, po-
tatoes, squash and cabbage. The pay.
ment in squash was so liberal that
frequently in the spring he had to
bury the decayed pile, as he had no
place of winter storage for them. In
the panic of 1873 his salary was six
months in arrears. His boots were
in holes and his wedding overcoat
was past mending. At the shoe store
they refused to trust him for pair
of boots, but a lawyer who was a
near neighbor, gave him pair that
he had cast off and another friend
who dealt in horse blankets gave him
one, which he wore two winters in
place of an overcoat. ,..
He was well known and loved
throughout the country and he organ
lied twelve churches. 1t was he who
gathered together the scattered mem.
bership into the first United Presby-
terrain church in Chicago and secured
pastor for it. For six years he was
member of the senate of Monmouth
College and did much to build up that
school and Seminary. He was mod
orator of the General Assembly of the
United Presbyterian church in 1871.
The Rev. Mr.. McAyeal left 0skaloo.
sa in November, 1873, having accepted
call in Lawrence, Mass. For over
twenty-five years he had been the
faithful friend and advisor of the peo.
pie. Often he had received calls to
easier and better paid fields Of labor
but he preferred to sacrifice himself
as long as he thought the field before
him needed his work.
The third pastor, the Rev. Mr.. w
A. Spalding, was installed June, 1879
The Oskaloosa congregation was his
first charge and he labored with eff
| ficiency for about two years. During
his passionate the question OF instru
mental music came up and at q con
gregationaI meeting the people decid
ed to have an organ In their regular
worship. At meeting Of the session
Jan. 23, 1881, they appointed a com
mittee to tell the congregation tina
the matter of the organ was not done
with their approval and that the con
gregational motion had been carried
over and above their authority. Never
theless the organ was put In and at /
meeting OF the session on Feb. TN
committee was appointed 70 brint
the matter before the next meeting o
the Presbytery. IN April Of that yea
4 - ahar s.r,