Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-02

Smucker as foreman in charge of the |
work. 1t was due to his Christian !
kindness and helpful advice that the |
completion of the church was brought |
about so promptly. The art glass |
work was done by the Won Gerichter
Art Glass company Of Columbus, Ohio,
and the heating contractors were Allen |
G. Myers of this city.
HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION.
The First or "Old" Presbyterian
church was organized Nov. 27, 1887,
in the Rock Island house by Revs.
John Montgomery and Ithamer Pills
bury and 10 members. The two pas
tors supplied the pulpit till 1888. when
Rev. Michael Hummer was called, the
congregation worshiping in a little
school house at Third avenue and Thir-
teenth street Rev. ]. A. Woodruff
was pastor from 1S41 to 1874. the
place of meeting having been changed
several times. Rev. S. Cleland served
from 1914 to 1s47. and in 1886 small
brick structure was erected at Four
teenth street and Second avenue. ].
H. Cleland, a present member, helped
to build this church. Revs. e. W. Lar
kin, 1S4S-1S53, and E. P. Montfort,
1S53-1S54, and S. T. Wilson, 1s54-1S6S,
served successfully. In 1857 a second
building costing $4,000 was erected
besides that at Second avenue and
Fourteenth street. The last pastorate
Of the old church was that of Rev.
H. A. Newell, 1S69-1S7O.
The Second or New" Presbyterian
church was organized in 1S4S in the
county court house by Rev. A Kent
and S. W. Blanchard in June, 1S4s.
Revs. James Hildreth, 1S4s-1S49; Isaac
] Dwinelle, 1S49-1s50; e. D. Holt, 1850
1853, and II. H Hays, 1S53-1S55, served
successfully. During the latter pas
torate the second building on Second
avenue was erected and remained in
tact till April 1, 1910. In January,
1870, when Rev. H. A Newell was pas
tor of the Second church, the church
property was sold for $4,000 to the
Roman Catholic congregation and is
still used by st. Joseph's Catholic
church Rev. John r. Findley was
called to the passionate IN 1873, and in
1874 a terrific tornado destroyed the
building. A division as to the future
plans of the church arose and the re-
suit was the establishment of Broad
way Presbyterian church and the
changing of the name of Presbyterian
church to Central Presbyterian church
and the rebuilding of the church at
Second avenue between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets. Successive pas
torates were filed by Revs. H. C.
Westwood, 1S7S-1S80; ]. A. P. McGaw,
1SSO-1SS1; S. S. Cryor, 18S1-1SS6. In
1885 Aiken street Sunday school was
organized by Central church members
and ] H. Cleland was for 25 years
active superintendent and is now su.
perintendent emeritus. Aiken street
chapel was built in 1892. Rev. A. b
Medium served from 1887 to 1888, and
Rev. ]. H Kerr from 1890 to 1895, Rev
Ira w. Allen from 1895 to 1900, and
Rev. William Torrance from 1900 to
1905. 1t was during the latter pastor
ate that Bethel chapel at Twelfth
street and Eleventh avenue was erect
ed.
Rev. Marion Humphreys began his
work Aug. /, 1905, and the policy OF
the church from that time was to re
organize and change the location Of
the church. The present beautiful
structure is the outcome of this en-
i5hn c
with a great amount of genuine hare
work, careful planning and at times al
, most despair, but faith and courage tri
, umphed in the final completion of the
house of worship.
, The members of the building com
mittee in whom was vested the re
sponsibility of the work are:
Executive-Rev. Marion Humphreys
chairman; A. W. Coulter, secretary;
NJ Bond, treasurer; E. G. McAloon
R. A Vaughn.
Advisory-John H. Liedtke, s. 7
Bowlby, F. G. Young, Mrs c. e. Kyle
Miss Mary Dixon, F. F. Patterson, J
P. Hazard, Miss Annie Montgomery
Mrs. o. Leonard, Miss Nellie Carpenter
Willard Park.
Members of the session are: F. G
Young, ]. H. Liedtke, H. d. Winbigler
R. A. Vaughn, Orrin Leonard, C. c
Coulter.
The trustees are: ]. G. Hazard
, president; A. w. Coulter, secretary
! Andrew F. Gross, treasurer; John Volk
! H D. Folsom, w. H. Gest, Jr., E. F
! McAloon, W. G. Johnston, Frank F
Patterson.
y Chairmen of the various committee
) and departments Of the church are
Sunday school, e. G. McAloon; home
Miss Blanche Ramskill; Christian Ell
deavor, Miss Mary Robb; Ladies' Aic
Mrs. H. D. Folsom; prayer meeting
]. NJ. Bond; Junior Christian Ell
l. deavor, Mrs. Harry ]. Dawson; intro
{ duction, ]. G. Hazard; invitation, +
D. Winbigler; reception, Miss Ada
Hemenway; entertainment Mis-
, Edith Johnston; public comfort, A. "
Coulter; old folks, ]. H. Liedtke; de,
Il Grafton, Miss Annie Montgomery; usI
ers, E. G. Schurig; cradle roll, Mr.
James H. Stapp; music, Mrs. LOU
. Kennedy; brotherhood, H. e. Sudloy
Z and Young Peoples Social leagu
u Miss Mary Dixon.