Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-10-15
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pronounced and well-defned anti.
slavery position of the church and
candidate, the customary council for
Ofolnation was not present. and the
ordination was not recognized by the
Owl law until 1853, neither was he
received IN good standing by his breth-
rem until 1854.
IN 1907 a half acre lot at what is
now the corner Of North Avenue and
Wauwatosa Avenue was purchased for
$4,000, and the erection of church
building begun The buiIdincr-as dedi-
Gated May l, 1853. II cost 80 soo
much labor and material being do
mated, Even this amount was a heavy
burden for the church. The financial
records of the early years are not very
complete, but it is interesting to note
that in 1858 the salary of the nastor
was $4,000 and the contributions To
benevolent causes $500. 90. In Noveu.
Der, 1886. the failing health of Rev.
Underwood made it necessary to re-
heye him of the active duties of the
pastorate, although he was officially
continued as pastor until his death in
1888. For some time before his death
the patriarch pastor had longed for
a more adequate church house. He
secured and presented to the church
the lot at the corner of First Avenue
and Center Street He was privileged
to witness the beginnings of the pres
ent structure, the foundation of which
was laid in the fall of 1887, but it was
not completed until after he had
passed to his reward. The bell now
hanging in the present church build
ing was retained in the old structure
until it tolled the death of the veteran
pastor. The new building was dedi-
Gated Oct. II, 1888. Exclusive of the
lot it cost $1,000 In 1906 and 1907
the church building was thoroughly
renovated and improved. A fine pine
organ was installed, the gift of Mr.
Frederick ID. Underwood, in memory
OF his father and mother. At this time
IT was voted to change the name of
the organization to 1.-THE Enoch d
Underwood Memorial Baptist Church"
thus making it permanent and fitting
memorial of the labors and achieve
ments of that faithful pastor.
The charter members of the church
numbered 81. The present member
ship is 1876. The last of the charter
members to leave us was Deacon John
H. Cushing, who passed to his reward
in March. 1918. The oldest living
member at the present time is Mrs.
VIM. H. Moore, First Avenue, whose
membership dates from 1856.
Pastor Alborn felt the a resent"
needed but little comment, but the
Future" with all its possibilities.
meant much to the present member
ship. He was reminded of the story
of the man who, on being asked about
his ancestors, replied, What do you
care about my ancestors? ] am plan
ming ON being an ancestor myself.
The future is before the church, and
what it shall be depends on what the
present membership and the member
ship in the coming generation makes
it.
During the various services of the
day, letters of greeting and congratu-
lation were read from Rev F A. Hay
ward, who Immediately preceded Rev.
Alborn in the pastorate of the church,
now located at Seymour. Ind, Rev. r.
S. Walker now at Phoenixville, Pa,
who served this churcf. several years
ago.
Several years ago the old church
site was purchased by Mr. Frederick
d. Underwood, and quite recently he
caused the old edifice to be moved to
the Wauawtosa cemetery. There II
stands today, mortuary chapel dedi-
Gated TO the memory of Rev. and Mrs
E. ID. Underwood and Rev. and Mrs
Luther Clapp.
Taken all in all, Sunday, October
TO- 1920, was day long To be remem.
bered by the members Of the Under
wood Memorial Baptist Church and
their many friends. The day was a
perfect October day, baImy and filled
with the brightest sunshine. it would
almost seem in special honor of the
anniversary day. The services
throughout the day were inspiring and
uplifting, a fitting memorial to those
faithful ones gone before. Even the
hymns selected for the various serv-
ices seemed particularly adapted to
the occasion. The auditorium and par
lors were beautifully decorated with
autumn leaves and bright flowers
bringing their message of cheer from