285.1773561 
 IF5190 
 
 First Presbyterian Church of 
 Springfield, Illinois. 
 
 The One-Hundredth Anniversary 
 
 of the Organization of the 
 First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 isgi . 
 
 .: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ILLINOIS KI3KRICAI CURVEY 
 
35. 177356 
 190 
 
 
 The Centennial 
 
 of the 
 
 First Presbyterian 
 Church 
 
 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 
 
 
The Actual Cost of ** hooklet is 50 cents 
 
 the copy (and postage if 
 
 needed). We are asking all who are willing , to send 
 that amount to MISS LOUISE JACOBS, care 1st Church. 
 Any member or friendmayhave as many copies as desired. 
 
 The Session. 
 
 ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY 
 
t 
 
 January, 1828 January, 1928 
 
 The One'Hundredth 
 Anniversary 
 
 of the organization of the 
 
 First 
 Presbyterian Church 
 
 Springfield, Illinois 
 
 Sunday, January Twentywinth 
 to Sunday, February Fifth 
 
 JOHN T. THOMAS, D. D. 
 MINISTER 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/onehundredthanniOOfirs 
 
11 f. 
 
 
 Foreword. 
 
 This booklet is the product of no one, but rather of a Century of 
 time and an organization of people. Without a splendid tradition, a 
 loyal, and earnest congregation it could never have been written. Indeed, 
 the best of the "Centennial Celebration" can never be committed to 
 writing. It was rather seen and felt. Not only the church but the city 
 responded to the occasion. The program as outlined elsewhere was car- 
 ried through without a hitch. The church was thronged with people 
 not only for the announced public events, but at all hours for the week. 
 Each speaker made a distinct contribution and each event was complete 
 and inspiring. There was no single occurence to mar what was surely 
 a great celebration. But we missed many who could not return. Some 
 had joined the "Church Triumphant," and we felt their interest and 
 presence. Others we thought of and heard from; that was no small part 
 of the pleasure of the week. 
 
 The Minister feels totally unequal to the task of adequately and 
 properly thanking the host of people who by letter, telegram, message, 
 presence, handshake, smile, kindly word, and hard work made it a most 
 memorable occasion. 
 
 We are not sure of the orderly arrangement of this material. We 
 are sure that everyone will not be alike interested in all articles. But 
 for the sake of the permanency of record, and of those who take up the 
 burdens we will all some day lay down, we are glad to make it fairly in- 
 clusive. We are profoundly grateful to our distinguished speakers not 
 only, but to members of our own congregation who gave unstintedly of 
 time, talent and money that we might fittingly observe our One Hundred 
 Years of history. 
 
 The present Pastor has been here one-tenth of that time, and 
 Is reminded anew of the heritage of the past and the responsibilities and 
 opportunities of the future. 
 
 We breathe a prayer for God's blessing upon all to whom this book- 
 let shall go. 
 
 JOHN T. THOMAS, 
 "Centennial Minister." 
 
The History of Our Church. 
 
 This ''Historical Address" was read by the Minister Sunday morning, 
 February the 5th, the last service, but one of the series. It is largely taken 
 from the historical address delivered by the Rev. Thomas Logan, D. D., de-' 
 livered on the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the church. This was followed by 
 a Vesper Communion Service, in which the Ministers of Presbytery took part, 
 and the Session of the local Presbyterian churches assisted. A memorable 
 service and one which fittingly marked the close of the Centennial Celebra^ 
 Hon of the First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Illinois. 
 
 ONE HUNDRED YEARS is but a short time in the history of the 
 older nations, but 100 years in the history of Central Illinois 
 covers almost the entire period of its settlement. Along the river 
 borders the Territory had been settled to some extent at the beginning 
 of the Nineteenth Century; but the Sangamo Country, with its broad 
 prairies, was a vast wilderness which but few had explored when the 
 Territory became a State in 1818. Those who cross these prairies today 
 in palatial railroad trains, running nearly a mile a minute, have but 
 slight conception of the hardships of pioneer travel. There were no 
 roads, and with the grass growing higher than the head, there was con- 
 stant danger of losing one's way . The early immigrants felt their way 
 much as the ancient mariners sailed from headland to headland along an 
 unfamiliar coast. The groves were the landmarks, and where the edge 
 of the timber stood out in bold relief against the sky, there was a 
 "point" of direction to guide the traveler as he rode across the prairies, 
 some of them more than twenty miles wide. This method of direction 
 was learned from the Indians, and the name "Indian Point" still clings 
 to the edge of one of these groves of timber north of us. 
 
 The first settler in the vicinity of Springfield was Elisha Kelley, who 
 emigrated from North Carolina about 1818, and built his hunter's cabin 
 somewhere in the northwestern part of the city, the Kelley Branch of 
 Spring Creek being called by his name. His father and four brothers 
 followed him and with other families of his acquaintance, and soon a 
 frontier settlement had sprung up. Sangamon County was created by an 
 act of the legislature in 1821, embracing its present territory and that 
 of five counties, and parts of six others, to the north and east of the 
 present boundaries. 
 
 The Kelley Settlement was located about Jefferson and Second streets. 
 In 1823, the town site was surveyed for Pascal P. Enos, Elijah lies, 
 Thomas Cox, and John Taylor, each one of whom had entered a quarter- 
 section of land. The point at which these quarter-sections came together 
 was not the public square, as some new-comer might imagine, but a few 
 feet south of Washington street, between First and Second streets. 
 Around this center, near which a log court house was built, there grew 
 up a rude settlement, most of the houses and stores being built of logs. 
 For a time the place was known as Calhoun, but when the Southern 
 statesman for whom it had been named opposed the grant of public lands 
 for canals, he lost the affection of these western pioneers, and Spring- 
 field, as it had been called by the county commissioners, when it was 
 located, became its permanent name. Nor was the suggestion an inap- 
 propriate one at that time. The few early settlers who are still living 
 tell us that there were a number of little branches issuing from springs, 
 
and meandering into the larger "Town Branch," which is now the main 
 outlet of our sewerage. 
 
 It may well be imagined that Springfield early made its reputation 
 as a muddy place, and that between 1820 and 1830 there was little to 
 attract the eye. Peter Cartwright, the sturdy apostle of Methodism, 
 first saw it in 1823. In his autobiography he says: "There were in this 
 place, now the seat of government, a few smoky, hastily-built cabins and 
 one or two very little shanties called "stores," and with the exception of 
 a few articles of heavy wear, I could have carried all that they had 
 for sale on my back." Dr. Bergen describes the town when he came here 
 in 1828 as numbering about two hundred inhabitants and thirty-five 
 log houses, with a few frame dwellings, not more than four or five, 
 painted in front only. The court house was a small frame building 
 standing on the east side of the public square, with broken door, broken 
 windows, broken benches, a high seat in one end, a floor almost as dirty 
 as a pig sty, the whole elevated on blocks as if to give free rein for the 
 hogs to root under the floor. (Biographical Discourse preached after Dr. 
 Bergen's death by Rev. Dr. F. H. Wines.) 
 
 The whipping-post stood at the northeast corner of the public square, 
 and the log jail near at hand. The lash was the punishment for petty 
 larceny and small offenses, but the use of it was soon abandoned. 
 
 They had a strong prejudice against an educated ministry, and on 
 all occasions spoke disparingly of their labors. But while the ministers 
 graduated from "Brush College" had had an important part in the re- 
 ligious development of Illinois, there was from the first a demand for 
 .an educated ministry, and the people looked to the Presbyterians as one 
 of the bodies that must meet this demand. 
 
 The 'first Presbyterian minister who is known to have preached in 
 Springfield was Rev. Eldridge C. Howe, a native of Massachusetts, who 
 was graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1824, and after 
 being ordained, made his way to Illinois in December of the same year. 
 He preached for a short time at Kaskaskia, and in other churches. In 
 a letter written to the church at Paris, 111., in 1874, he says, writing of 
 his experience in the year 1824, "I held worship in Springfield and other 
 places in Sangamon County; no Presbyterian Church being yet gathered. 
 In the spring of 1826, it seemed expedient to make Springfield my resi- 
 dence. There, and in one or two other places in Sangamon County, were 
 materials for churches, as I found by my labors of this year. Pecuniary 
 pledges were made for me in Springfield in 1827." Mr. Howe was a man 
 of scholarly ability and piety, but he had but little adapt ibility for fron- 
 tier work, which he attempted on quite a large scale, undertaking to 
 supply three large counties, Greene, Morgan, and Sangamon, in a three 
 weeks' circuit. Greene had two preaching stations. Morgan had three 
 appointments, while Sangamon had three stations, Sangamontown, Spring- 
 field, and a small station on Sugar Creek, which he attempted to supply 
 on the same Sabbath, la 182(5, he opened a school in a building that had 
 been used by the Masons, on the corner of Third and Jefferson streets. 
 
 Up to this time the prospect of establishing a Presbyterian Church 
 in Springfield was not encouraging, but in the year 1825. there came to 
 
Rev. John M. Ellis. 
 
 Illinois a minister to whose zeal, not only this church, but many others, 
 are indebted for their organization. While he never served us as a 
 paster, it is fitting that we should pay a tribute to that devoted servant 
 of the Lord, Rev. John M. Eilis. He was born in Keene, New Hamp- 
 shire, in 1793, of Welsh origin, 
 and was graduated from Dart- 
 mouth College in 1822, and from 
 Andover Theological Seminary 
 in 1825, and was ordained in the 
 old South Church, Boston. When 
 he came to Illinois, he found 
 but three Presbyterian ministers 
 in the entire state. He settled 
 for a year in Kaskaskia, and 
 labored for an equal period in 
 Missouri. In 1823, he made a 
 tour of the Sangamo Country, 
 and located in Jacksonville, 
 where he took the first steps 
 towards the organization of Illi- 
 nois College. The Jacksonville 
 Female Academy was organized 
 in his home. He served the Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville as 
 pastor till 1831. After this he engaged vigorously in planting churches 
 and educational institutions in this and neighboring states. As an in- 
 stance of the hardships and trials of these pioneer ministers, we may 
 
 note his sad experience dur- 
 ing the prevalence of the 
 cholera in 1833. He was at 
 that time Secretary of the 
 Indiana Educational Society, 
 and was engaged in laying 
 the foundation of Wabash 
 College, at Crawfordsville, 
 his family meanwhile resid- 
 ing at Jacksonville. Hearing 
 that that town had been 
 visited with the cholera, he 
 started home immediately 
 alone and on horseback. In 
 passing through Canton, he 
 stopped at the home of Mr. 
 Nathan Jones, who asked 
 him whether he had heard 
 from his family. Mr. Ellis 
 replied that he had not; 
 whereupon Mr. Jones found 
 it to be his painful duty to teli him that his whole family, wife and two 
 children, were already dead and buried. Mr. Ellis continued to take an 
 active part in educational work until his death, which occurred in 1855. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Smith. 
 
While the organization of our church was effected by this devoted 
 minister the impetus was given by an elect lady, Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Smith, a daughter of Col. John Nash, of Prince Edward County, Virginia, 
 and widow of the Rev. John Blair Smith, D. D., who was made President 
 of Hampton-Sidney College, when his brother, Samuel Stanhope Smith, 
 resigned that position to accept the Presidency of Princeton College. 
 She came west with her son-in-law, Dr. John Todd, and after remaining 
 five years in Lexington, Ky., removed to Edwardsville, 111., where Rev. 
 Salmon Giddings organized a church in her house. She wrote a letter 
 setting forth the spiritual needs of the west, which was laid before the 
 General Assembly, and in consequence two missionaries were sent out in 
 1820. Dr. Todd came to Springfield in 1827, Mrs. Smith still being a 
 member of the family; and they occupied one of the few two-story frame 
 
 House in Which the Church Was Organized. The Door Has Been 
 Changed From the Front to the End. 
 
 houses in the village. It was situated at the meeting-point of the four 
 quarter-sections, the exact spot being now covereed by the brick dwelling 
 house on the south side of East Washington Street, between First and 
 Second Street, and now numbered as 116 East Washington Street. This 
 brick dwelling was built by Dr. Todd in 1844. 
 
 The original members were Mrs. Elizabeth Smith. John Moore, 
 James White, Elijah Scott, John N. Moore, Samuel Reid, William 
 Proctor, Andrew Moore, Isaiah Stillman, Mary Moore, Jane Reid, Phoebe 
 Moore, Jane Scott, Mary R. Humphreys, Ann lies and Olive Slater. 
 These were gathered from the region round about, nearly half of them 
 living near Indian Point, twentv miles north. 
 
The following is a copy of the original record of the organization of 
 the church: 
 
 At a meeting held in the town of Springfield, Sangamon County, 111., 
 on the 30th day of January, 1828, for the purpose of forming a Presby- 
 terian Church, the Rev. John Ellis, Chairman, and Isaiah Stillman, 
 Clerk. After the meeting was duly opened and the object of it made 
 known by the Chairman, it was unanimously resolved that a church be 
 formed to be known by the name of the Sangamo Presbyterian Church. 
 The following brethren were duly elected elders, viz., John Moore, Samuel 
 Reid, Isaiah Stillman, John N. Moore, and Isaiah Stillman, Clerk. After 
 which it was resolved that the Rev. J. M. Ellis, and Samuel Reed, or 
 either of them, represent us in Presbytery on the third Thursday of 
 March next, and that the subjoined covenant and profession of faith be 
 adopted : 
 
 We, the subscribers, anxious to secure to ourselves and others the 
 privileges and ordinances of the Gospel, do solemnly agree to receive 
 each other in the love and fellowship of JESUS CHRIST, and walk 
 together as heirs of the grace of life, taking the word of GOD as the 
 rule and guide of our faith and practice, building only on the foun- 
 dation of the Prophets and Apostles, JESUS CHRIST Himself being the 
 chief Corner Stone. We engage to aid each others' growth in grace and 
 knowledge, to watch over each other in Christian affection, in faithful- 
 ness to reprove and exhort with all long suffering. Relying on the grace 
 of God, we will strive so to live and walk before the world as becomes 
 the children of the Most High; and we will endeavor to promote the 
 cause of vital godliness in the place where we live, esteeming like Moses 
 the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, hav- 
 ing respect to the recompense of the reward. We will seek first the 
 Kingdom of God, the Kingdom which is not of this world. Admonishing 
 one another daily, lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, 
 and stirred up each other's pure minds by way of remembrance to be 
 faithful unto death, that we may receive the crown of life, "looking unto 
 Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was 
 set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down 
 on the right hand of the throne of God." 
 
 "And we adopt for our Constitution, Confession of Faith, etc., that 
 of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, 
 regarding that, as every other summary of Christian doctrine and 
 discipline drawn by uninspired men not as absolutely perfect, but as 
 being more conformable to the doctrine and precepts of the Gospel than 
 any other within our knowledge." 
 
 None of the elders lived nearer Springfield than three and a half 
 miles. There were in fact but six members residing in the town, all of 
 them women. The outlook was not encouraging, except to those who 
 walked by faith and not by sight. A feeble church had been organized, 
 but it was a flock without a sheperd. 
 
 The services appear to have been held alternately at Springfield and 
 Indian Point The Springfield services were held in a log school house 
 which must have been built about 1827. It was located in the midst of 
 
10 
 
 a hazel thicket at the intersection of Second and Adams streets, but a 
 few feet from the new Arsenal. 
 
 The first pastor was the Rev. John G. Bergen, D. D. He was born 
 at Hightstown, N. J., in 1790, and was graduated from Princeton College 
 in 1808, subsequently acting as tutor in the same institution for two 
 years. His theological training was under the Rev. Dr. Woodhull of 
 Monmouth. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Bruns- 
 wick in 1811, and the next year took charge of the Presbyterian Church 
 at Madison, X. J., being ordained to the ministry February 17, 1813. His 
 ministry at Madison continued untnil September 10, 1828, being blessed 
 with several revivals of religion, and a large ingathering of members to 
 the church. His congregation opposed his request for a dissolution, but 
 he felt that he had a strong call to work on the frontier, and the Presby- 
 tery consented to release him. On 
 the 22d of September, 1828, he left 
 his home in Madison, with his wife 
 and five children, in two light car- 
 riages, his library and other goods 
 having been shipped previously by 
 heavy wagons to Wheeling. The 
 journey occupied forty days of 
 actual travel, not including stop- 
 pages. Finally they reached Rock 
 Springs in St. Clair County, 
 eighteen miles east of St. Louis. 
 Here Mr. Bergen found a letter 
 from Rev. John M. Ellis, urging 
 him to come at once to Sangamon, 
 which he did after leaving his 
 family for a short time in Morgan 
 County, where his relatives had 
 settled. When Mr. Bergen reached 
 Springfield, he was hospitably en- 
 tertained by Major lies, one of the 
 four original proprietors. The next morning Dr. Gershom Jayne helped 
 him to get one of the six frame houses of the town raised from the 
 ground and prepared for his family. On the third Sabbath of December, 
 he preached at the school-house and administered the Lord's Supper. At 
 the close of the service he announced that he had come with his family 
 to seek a home here, not to make an experiment, but to plant with their 
 planting, and to grow with their growth. He thought they ought to do 
 one thing without delay: "Let us rise up and build a house for God." 
 This announcement was made with the concurrence of the session at their 
 meeting December 15th. 1828, when the following was adopted: "Re- 
 solved that the citizens of the place be invited to meet in the school- 
 house at early candle-light on Monday evening to take into consideration 
 the expediency of undertaking to build a Presbyterian meeting-house, 
 and that Mr. Bergen give notice at the preparatory Lecture this after- 
 noon." Peter Cartwright claims that there was an understanding that 
 
 Rev. John G. Bergen, D. D. 
 
11 
 
 the first building was to be the joint property of Methodists and Presby- 
 terians until one church became strong enough to buy out the other; 
 but this announcement shows that the purpose to erect a Presbyterian 
 House of Worship was made plain from the start. The Methodists were 
 afterwards given the let en the corner of Fifth and Monroe streets, where 
 the Franklin Life Building stood. There they built a frame church which 
 was completed a short time after the Presbyterian Church, which they 
 were invited to occupy till their house of Worship was finished. 
 
 At the meeting held in accordance with Dr. Bergen's invitation, a 
 building committee was appointed, consisting of John Todd, Gershom 
 Jayne, Washington lies, David Taylor, John Moffatt, Samuel Reid and 
 Elijah Slater. In a few days over $1,200 were subscribed, to which was 
 added $200 received in answer to an appeal published in the Home 
 Missionary. 
 
 It was determined that the church should be built of brick, and 
 Thomas Brooker. a brick-maker and stone-mason, was sent for from 
 Belleville to do the work. The burning of the brick and other prepara- 
 tions occupied the summer of 1829. The corner-stone was laid August 
 loth of that year, and the building dedicated to the worship of the Triune 
 God on the third Sabbath of November, 1830. It was by no means the 
 "shanty" described by Cartwright, but a substantial structure, 30 by 45 
 feet in dimensions. It had circle-headed windows, a raised ceiling, sup- 
 ported by one or two rows of pillars, a pulpit with a balustrade, and 
 black walnut seats. It was the first brick church erected in Illinois, 
 there being at that time two stone Roman Catholic churches in the 
 vicinity of St. Louis. The location was on the east side of Third Street, 
 midway between Washington and Adams streets. It was occupied till 
 the completion of the second House of Worship in 1843, after which it 
 was known as the Mechanics' Union. A dwelling house was built in 
 front of it and occupied by the Rev. Francis Springer, who conducted 
 a school. 
 
 Many interesting incidents are connected with this old church. The 
 bell was hung in a belfry standing on the east side of the church and 
 separate from it. One who attended services in the old church states 
 that the sexton was accustomed to ring the bell for a time and then to 
 loll it till Dr. Bergen's hat was placed in the east window as he entered 
 the pulpit. 
 
 Mr. Rague was leader of the choir. The tune book was Mason's 
 Missouri Harmony with patent notes. Edward Jones was the accompan- 
 ist on the flute, and Henry E. Dummer on the violin. It is said that 
 one night, when the hymn "Sweet is Thy Works, My God, My King, To 
 Praise Thy Name, Give Thanks and Sing," was announced, before Rague 
 could pitch his pipe to "Kingsbury" to which it was set, Dummer started 
 it to "Ye Banks and Braes of Bonny Doon." The first church wedding 
 was solemnized by Dr. Bergen in 1832, the contracting parties being Mr. 
 William Porter and Miss Margaret Klein. The use of the church was 
 freely accorded to different religious denominations. 
 
 The Episcopal Church held its first public service there on the 28th 
 of June, 1835. Bishop Philander Chase was the guest of Dr. Bergen, and 
 arraying himself in his surplice at the house on the corner of Fourth and 
 
12 
 
 Washington streets, the ministers walked to the church on Third Street. 
 Astonished at the unaccustomed sight, the small boys raised the shout, 
 "Look at the man with a dress on," and soon there were numerous com- 
 panions following in the procession, thus insuring a large congregation. 
 Bishop Chase administered communion, giving an invitation to Dr. 
 Bergen to partake of the elements, which he readily accepted. 
 
 The building of the church was but the beginning of arduous labors 
 on the part of the first pastor. The original organization included 
 members gathered from a wide region of country. On the 24th of 
 May, 1832, "after mature deliberation, it was resolved by the elders and 
 members of our church living at Indian Point and Irish Grove, in con- 
 sideration of the distance from Springfield, and in hope that God may 
 crown the measure with his blessing and send them a minister, to be 
 organized into a church known by the name of the North Sangamon 
 Presbyterian Church, which was accordingly done, John G. Bergen, 
 minister officiating, and all the members belonging to the Springfield 
 Church living on Indian Creek and Irish Grove were attached to it." 
 This first colony depleted the church of thirty-three of its members, leav- 
 ing fifty-one on the roll. Two of the elders went with the new organiza- 
 tion. The vacant places in the eldership were supplied by Ebenezer S. 
 Phelps and Elijah Slater. The former of these in a biographical sketch, 
 given on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his wedding, describes 
 the religious situation at that period: "We arrived safely at Springfield, 
 111., on the 26th of July, 1831. There was a Methodist Church, a Baptist 
 Church and a Presbyterian Church. * * * We united with said 
 church, and I was soon after chosen an elder. At that time there were 
 but three male members living in the town, one of whom, an elder, lived 
 about three miles from the village. There were more female members. 
 Members were gradually added by letter and some by profession. A 
 few months, perhaps more than a year after, the Rev. Mr. Bergen, with 
 Rev. Messrs. Hale and Baldwin, held a protracted meeting of about a 
 week, which was greatly blessed to the church, and quite a number of 
 young people were hopefully converted, and united with the church. 
 Amongst them were our children, Ebenezer and Jane. In 1834 or 35 
 there was a difficulty in the church, which was finally settled by form- 
 ing another church, taking the name of the Second Presbyterian Church, 
 with which we united. The number of the members of the First Church 
 who left to form the Second Church was, I think, about thirty. Of that 
 church I was chosen an elder." 
 
 This early division of the church, but seven years after its organi- 
 zation, was due to the differences of opinion which, two years later, in 
 1837, led to the division of the Presbyterian Church into the Old School 
 and New School branches. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the causes 
 of this division, which were removed long before the reunion of 1S69. 
 Suffice it to say that, while there was much misunderstanding of each 
 other's views, there was some honest difference of opinion upon doctrinal 
 questions, and as to the administration of missionary work by inter- 
 denominational societies instead of the church. This was a very practical 
 question on the western frontier, where new churches were being or- 
 ganized. Under the circumstances, it was hardly to be expected that 
 
13 
 
 there would be entire harmony in a church composed of elemennts drawn 
 from all parts of the country. Yet neither political questions, nor even 
 the subject of slavery figured in the division. This is evident from the 
 fact that, in 1837, when excitement ran high at the time of the murder 
 of Lovejoy, a resolution was introduced in Presbytery demanding that 
 slave-holding should be a bar to communion. This was opposed not only 
 by Dr. Bergen, but also by Rev. Dewey Whitney, the pastor of the Second 
 Church; and they agreed in supporting a milder resolution looking to 
 the ultimate extinction of human slavery. The difficulties in the church 
 came to an issue in 1835, when it was proposed to issue a call for the 
 pastoral services of Dr. Bergen, who had previously sustained the rela- 
 tion of stated supply. At the Congregational meeting which formulated 
 the call, all the supporters of the church were allowed to vote. Against 
 this action, a complaint was taken to Presbytery, which met at Bloom- 
 ington, April 3, 1835. 
 
 When the First Church was organized in 1828, it was within the 
 territory covered by the Presbytery of Missouri. On the 9th of Jan- 
 uary, 1829, a Presbytery was constituted in connection with the Synod 
 of Indiana, covering the entire state, and known as the Center Pres- 
 bytery of Illinois, so-called because the other Presbyteries of the Synod, 
 Indiana and Missouri, were east and west of it. Rev. John G. Bergen 
 united with this Presbytery at its second meeting, March 19, 1829, and 
 Samuel Reid was present as elder from Sangamo Church. In 1831, the 
 three Presbyteries of Kaskaskia, Illinois, and Sangamon, called for the 
 three principal rivers of the state, were constituted and organized into 
 the Synod of Illinois. This church, whose name, without any formal 
 action, was changed from Sangamo to Springfield, fell into the territory 
 of the Presbytery of Sangamon. In the disruption of the Presbyterian 
 Church in 1838, the Presbytery of Sangamon adhered to the Old School 
 Assembly, and the First Church remained in this connection. The Second 
 Church became connected with the Presbytery of Illinois, New School. 
 In the reunion of 1870, the Presbytery of Springfield was constituted. 
 embracing most of the territory of the Old School Presbytery of Sanga- 
 mon and the New School Presbytery of Illinois, and from that time all 
 our Springfield churches have been in the same ecclesiastical body. 
 
 In 1841, the congregation had so increased that a new church 
 building was needed, and steps were taken to erect one on the corner of 
 Third and Washington streets. The corner-stone was laid May 23, 1842. 
 It is on the northwest corner of the building. In 1842, the congrega- 
 tion moved into the basement of the new house, and the main audience 
 room was dedicated November 9, 1843. Many interesting circumstances 
 are connected with this building, which is still used as a house of wor- 
 ship, having been sold in 1872 to St. John's German Lutheran Church. 
 The contractor was Mr. Henry Dresser, and the cost was between $15,000 
 and $20,000. 
 
 The organ was built in Rochester, N. Y. There had been some ob- 
 jection raised to the bass-viol previously in use, one very conservative 
 member calling it an "ungodly fiddle." Dr. Bergen enjoyed good music, 
 and succeeded in overcoming the scruples of those who objected to the 
 organ. James L. Lamb was chosen elder in 1835, Joseph Torrey and 
 
14 
 
 Edmund R. Wiley in 1837, James M. Duncan in 1S39, and Asahel Stone 
 in 1842. 
 
 Dr. Bergen was now sixty years of age. He had been preaching 
 to the people for twenty years. Mr. Dodge's (who had come to Spring- 
 field as an Evangelist) preaching had given great acceptance, and many 
 felt that it would be well to call him a co-pastor. The trouble so wrought 
 upon the mind of Dr. Bergen that he was led to resign his pastoral 
 charge. The majority of the congregation stood by the pastor; but, 
 hoping to prevent a division. Dr. Bergen placed his resignation in the 
 
 Second Building. 
 First Pbesbyteriab Ciiubch. 
 
 bands of the Presbytery. After twice refusing to accept it, the Presby- 
 
 t< ry at length consented to dissolve the pastoral relation, after passing a 
 resolution expressing the highest regard for his Christian character and 
 his efficiency as a minister. The division, however, had irone too far to 
 he prevented and the Third Church was organized February 6, 1849. 
 
 This second division, like the first, proved helpful to the cause of 
 Presbyterianism in Springfield. The Third Church prospered under the 
 pastoral care Ol Rev. R. V. Dodge, Rev. C. P. Jennings and Rev. George 
 
15 
 
 W. F. Birch, D. D. During the last of these pastorates the building 
 which the First Church new occupies was erected. The Third Church 
 was situated on the northwest corner of Sixth and Monroe streets. The 
 property having become valuable for business purposes was sold to ad- 
 vantage, and the building was transferred to the Second Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and moved to North Fifth Street. 
 
 The building was completed and dedicated April 12, 1868. 
 
 The entire cost of the building and two lots was $69,108.09, of which 
 $3,620 was expended for the organ. 
 
 In the year 1872 the First Church paid the indebtedness of the Third 
 Church and made improvements to the building, together amounting to 
 
 Present Building. 
 First Presbyterian Church Before Remodeling. 
 
 about $20,000, and entered upon the possession of the property. At the 
 same time a majority of the members of the Third Church were trans- 
 ferred to the First. A nucleus however remained, to whom the sum of 
 $3,000 was paid for their interest in the property. The organization of 
 the Third Church was continued, and it is now enjoying a high degree of 
 prosperity in its location in the northern part of the city. 
 
L6 
 
 On March 26, 1849. the Rev. James Smith, D. D.. was invited to 
 become Pastor and on April 11 he had accepted and was installed. 
 
 At the installation services, Rev. A. Todd presided and gave the 
 charge to the pastor; Dr. Bergen preached the sermon and gave the 
 charge to the people. Dr. Smith was a native of Scotland, a man of 
 scholarly ability which attracted to the church many able men. He was 
 the author of a noted book against infidelity. Among those who became 
 connected with the congregation during his pastorate was Abraham 
 Lincoln and family. His wife. Mrs. Mary Tcdd Lincoln, became a com- 
 municant April 13. 1852. Mr. Lincoln never made a profession of re- 
 ligion, but there is abundant evidence that he exercised a Christian faith 
 during his term of office. In his earlier lite Mr. Lincoln had skeptical 
 tendencies, which were overcome by the influence of Dr. Smith. The 
 entire subject of the religious views of Mr. Lincoln is ably discussed by 
 
 Rev. James A. Reed. D. D., late 
 pastor of this church, in two 
 articles, the first in Chiistian 
 Literature, Vol. XIV. p. 641, 
 ^SF- jJJ-* and tne second in Scribners' 
 
 Monthly, 1873, p. 333. A letter 
 from Rev. Dr. Smith to W. H. 
 Herndon. which appeared in 
 the State Journal in March, 
 lSQ"t, forcibly expressed his 
 opinion of those who were try- 
 ing to create the impression 
 that the martyred President 
 was an unbeliever. Herndon 
 states that Mr. Lincoln seldom 
 attended church. I have taken 
 particular pains to inquire as 
 to this matter from many per- 
 Rev. James Smith. D. D. song who attended cnurch at 
 
 that time, and the uniform testi- 
 mony is that his attendance was quite regular, and that he was an 
 attentive and respectful worshipper. He occupied Pew No. 20 in the 
 church on the corner of Third and Washington streets, and is credited 
 in an old treasurers' book with paying an annual subscription of $36. 
 The Pew of Abraham Lincoln and family was for a number of years the 
 property of St. John's Church, but as shown by the inscription on it, and 
 given on another page it was purchased by Mr. Lincoln's friend. Mr. John 
 W Bnnn and returned to the church. Mr. Lincoln had a warm regard for 
 Dr. Smith, whom iie afterwards appointed Consul in Dundee, Scotland. 
 Dr. Smith died and was buried with high honors in Scotland. 
 
 One of the additions to the church property during this pastorate 
 was a new bell, which was bought by the ladies at an expense of $1,300. 
 
 The original bell had been cracked, and the trustees allowed the 
 ladies to use it in trade for a new one. The bell bears the inscription, 
 "Presented by the Ladies of the First Presbyterian Church." It was 
 the only piece of property n served in the sale of the building to St. 
 
17 
 
 John's Lutheran Church, and it now hangs in the spire of our present 
 edifice. 
 
 Dr. Smith resigned his charge in October, 1856. A special meeting of 
 the Presbytery was called November 1st to consider the resignation. 
 The congregation was cited to appear by commissioners on the 17th of 
 December, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. 
 
 A call for the third pastor, Rev. John H. Brown, D. D., was pre- 
 sented in Presbytery April 3, 1857. It was accepted and shortly after 
 he was installed. Dr. Bergen presided and gave the charge to the people, 
 Rev. H. R. Lewis preached the sermon, Rev. R. V. Dodge delivered the 
 charge to the pastor. Dr. Brown was a man of commanding presence, 
 of pleasing countenance, gentle and genial in manner, exceedingly com- 
 panionable in social life, strong in courage, lecided in conviction, wise 
 in counsel, and was accorded by his contemporaries a place in the very 
 front rank of the preachers of the day. His pastorate was characterized 
 
 Interior of Second Building— The Draped Pew Was Occupied 
 by Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 by a strengthening of the church along all lines. The church began to 
 take a high rank in contributing to benevolence. There were large in- 
 gatherings of members in 1859 and 1864. The disturbing influences of 
 the Civil War were felt in its first two years. Fifteen of the young men 
 of the church left for the scene of strife. Their names are as follows: 
 Henry VanHoff, Fred Sprigg, John C. Sprigg, B. H. Ferguson, Robert I. 
 Ferguson, Fred J. Cotton, Marshall Mclntire, John G. Buck, Henry 
 Jayne, Alvin French, John Bergen Lewis, Robert Allen, Andrew Camp, 
 Henry Sanders, Watson Penman. On one occasion, when the sufferings 
 of the soldiers in the field were very great, Dr. Brown came down from 
 the pulpit and in a few minutes raised $800 for the work of the U. S. 
 Christian Commission. In 1863 and 1864, the church was in a more 
 prosperous condition than ever before. Thomas H. Bergen, William A. 
 
18 
 
 ^« 
 
 Bennett, and Josiah Waddell were ordained elders October 31, 1857, and 
 Dr. Thomas Hening, February 8, 1861. Two hundred and four members 
 were added to the church, 106 by profession and 98 by certificate; $9,722 
 
 was raised for benevolence 
 and $18,405 for congregational 
 expenses. 
 
 Failing health led to Dr. 
 Brown's resignation in 1864. 
 The matter was brought before 
 the Presbytery June 29th, at 
 which time Dr. Brown stated 
 that in consequence of physical 
 inability to discharge his duties 
 he had asked the congregation 
 to unite with him in requesting 
 a dissolution of the pastoral re- 
 lation. The action of the 
 church consenting to a dissolu- 
 tion from a desire for the wel- 
 fare of their beloved pastor was 
 presented, and the church de- 
 clared vacant. Dr. Brown was 
 subsequently a pastor in Chi- 
 and his remains were interred at 
 
 t 
 
 Rev. Johx H. Browx, D. D. 
 
 cago where he died February 23, 1872 
 Oak Ridge Cemetery. 
 
 There was no pastor at the time when the 
 Lincoln were brought to Springfield for burial. 
 
 when the sympathies of the en- 
 
 tire world were centered in 
 Springfield, Dr. Henry A. Nelson 
 of St. Louis occupied the pulpit, 
 preaching an eloquent sermon 
 which made a profound impres- 
 sion. 
 
 The next minister, Rev. Fred- 
 erick H. Wines, LL. D., was 
 the first and only pastor or- 
 dained at his installation. The 
 theological course of Dr. Wines 
 had been interrupted by the 
 Civil War, in which he served 
 as Chaplain. He was received 
 by the Presbytery of Sangamon 
 as a Licentiate from the Pres- 
 bytery of New Brunswick, 
 October 2, 1865. A call for his 
 pastoral services was presented 
 
 remains of President 
 In that solemn hour 
 
 Wine 
 
 LL. D. 
 
 by the First Church, and after the usual examination had been sustained. 
 he was ordained and installed October 29, 1865. 
 
19 
 
 jf09^ 
 
 One hundred members were added to the church during that year, 
 seventy-eight on profession of their faith. There was also much activity 
 in Christian work at this period. A mission school was begun in the 
 northwestern part of the city, near the cemetery. Subsequently services 
 were held in a grove east of the brewery, and in 1868 an octagonal build- 
 ing was erected on the corner of Carpenter and First streets, in which a 
 Sunday-school was conducted successfully for a number of years. The 
 chapel on the corner of Fourteenth and Douglas streets (now Lawrence 
 Avenue) was built about this time, and a Sunday-school carried on effi- 
 ciently for about thirty years. Several revivals occurred at this place, 
 and many were led to the Saviour. The First Congregational Church 
 was organized about this time. It was made up in part of members of 
 the First Presbyterian Church. In its establishment Dr. Wines took 
 an active and friendly part. 
 
 Dr. Wines was led to give up his pastorate, after four years of 
 effective services, by an appeal to accept the position of Secretary of the 
 State Board of Charities, for which he displayed a special fitness in the 
 reorganization of the various institutions for the afflicted in body or 
 mind. The matter presented itself to him as a duty, and when he so 
 presented it to the congregation, they consented to his resignation, and 
 the pastorate was dissolved by 
 the Presbytery June 12, 1869. 
 
 The fifth pastor was Rev. 
 James A. Reed, D. D. He was 
 received by the Presbytery Jan- 
 uary 11, 1870, from the Presby- 
 tery of Dubuque, and a call 
 presented by the First Church- 
 was placed in his hands. The 
 installation took place the first 
 Sabbath of February following. 
 
 Dr. Reed's pastorate was a 
 long and useful one, continuing 
 eighteen years, nearly approach- 
 ing the length of the first pas- 
 torate. After two years' labor 
 in the building on the corner of 
 Third and Washington streets 
 the First Church agreed to take 
 the property and liquidate the 
 
 indebtedness of the Third Church. About 100 members of that organiza- 
 tion were enrolled in the First Church, and a practical consolidation 
 effected which has done much to secure the prosperity of the church. A 
 mission chapel was built at Starne's West Coal Shaft, and a Sunday 
 school maintained for some years. The Woman's Missionary work was 
 organized and made effective in raising funds. The Woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Society was organized May 12, 1871. From the early history 
 of the church there had been a society of Christian women who fre- 
 quently sent boxes of clothing to Home Missionaries. On June 22, 1882, 
 
 Rev. James A. Reed, D. D. 
 
20 
 
 a Home Missionary Society was organized to support the special school 
 work of the Presbyterian Church. These societies were subsequently 
 consolidated. They continue in a highly prosperous condition. Miss 
 Alice Schumucker, a member of the family of Dr. Reed, gave herself to 
 missionary work in the foreign field. 
 
 A Young Ladies' Missionary Society was organized December, 1873. 
 After the death of Mrs. Elizabeth J. Brown, who had been a zealous 
 worker in the missionary cause, this organization was called by her name. 
 A children's band known as the Busy Bees was organized a few years 
 later. A Young Mens Society was organized, which became a Young 
 People's Society of Christian Endeavor shortly after that movement was 
 begun. 
 
 In April, 1888, Dr. Reed resigned his charge on account of failing 
 health. The congregation at his request concurreed in asking a dis- 
 solution of the pastoral relation, which request was granted by the 
 Presbytery April 11, 1888. Dr. Reed's pastorate was a fruitful one. Six 
 hundred and ninety-one members were added to the roll, 328 by pro- 
 fession of faith and 362 by certificate; $34,418 was contributed to the 
 benevolence of the Presbyterian Church, and $41,986 to miscellaneous 
 benevolence, much of it to the Y. M. C. A. The congregational expenses, 
 including the debt paid for the Third Church propertv was $113 200 Dr 
 Reed died February 7, 1890, in Chicago. His remains were brought to 
 Springfield for burial. 
 
 (The above is largely, as before stated, taken from the 75th anni- 
 versary sermon of the Rev. Thomas Logan, D. D., who became the sixth 
 minister.) 
 
 He was called June 29, 1888, and began his labors on the 7th of the 
 following October. He was received by the Presbytery of Springfield 
 from the Presbytery of Erie October 10, at which time the call from the 
 Springfield Church was placed in his hands and accepted. He was in- 
 stalled November 13, 1888. In this service Rev. D. C. Marquis, D. D., 
 LL. D., of Chicago, preached the sermon, Rev. Gerrit Snvder, pastor of 
 the Third Church, delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev D S 
 Johnson, D. D., pastor of Second Church, presided and delivered the 
 charge to the people. 
 
 In 1890-91, the congregation contributed liberally to the erection of 
 the Third Presbyterian Church, giving about $4,000 in addition to the 
 lot which was donated by a number of the congregation. In 1892 the 
 Sunday-school room and adjoining class rooms were built and extensive 
 alterations were made in the church building at a cost of about $7,500. 
 After occupying these buildings for but nine months, by the burning of 
 the adjoining building they were almost entirely destroyed October 19, 
 1893. They *ere rebuilt at a considerable expense beyond the amount 
 of the Insurance. At the same time the lot north of the property was 
 acquired. The third of the following August, 1894, while workmen were 
 employed in repairing the roof underneath, the building was set on fire, 
 and uarrowly escaped entire destruction. Tnis time repairs were made 
 -1) an extensivee scale. The roof was replaced, a panel-oak ceiling sub- 
 stituted tor the former one of plaster and stucco, and an entirely new 
 
21 
 
 action placed in the organ at an expense of $800. The entire expense 
 of the improvements made at this time was very heavy, but was cheer- 
 fully borne by the people. It is an interesting fact that not a single 
 service of church, Sunday-school or prayer meeting was omitted by 
 reason of the injury to the building in either fire, the uninjured parts 
 being used until the damaged portions were restored. The main audience 
 room was reopened January 5, 1895. The tribulations of the church did 
 not end. however, with the restoration of the building. In 1899 it was 
 discovered that some of the important timbers of the spire were de- 
 
 Rev. T. D. Logan, D, D. 
 
 fective and must be replaced. This involved the tearing down and re- 
 building of seventy-five feet of the upper part of the spire. This spire 
 was again deemed unsafe and finally removed in 1916. rebuilt much 
 lower, as rectangular tower in 1926. In 1894 a handsome window in 
 memory of Mrs. McKee Holmes was placed in the church by the gradu- 
 ates of the Bettie Stuart Institute of which she was the principal for 
 many years. On account of its very delicate coloring it was placed in 
 a northern light. Subsequently two other handsome windows were 
 placed on the south side, one in memory of Mr. Benjamin S. Edwards, 
 and the other in memory of Mrs. .Sarah Irwin Ferguson, Mrs. Elizabeth 
 
Ferguson Bunn. and Mrs. Sarah Bunn Jones, grandmother, mother and 
 daughter, who had been faithful members of this church. Still later 
 other windows in keeping with the first, and rarely beautiful, were in- 
 stalled and dedicated to the Stuve and Brown families. A complete list 
 of the windows is found en another page. 
 
 In the year 1892-3, the lot on which the mission chapel stood 
 on the corner of Fourteenth Street and Lawrence Avenue, was sold, and 
 with the proceeds, and other contributions, the building was moved to 
 a lot donated for the purpose on the corner of Capitol and Wheeler 
 avenues in East Springfield. This is now the Fifth Presbyterian Church 
 of which the Rev. Abram G. Bergen. D. D., is Minister. 
 
 In closing his comments on his own pastorate Dr. Logan said- 
 "The earlier records of the church have many omissions, and doubt- 
 
 Interiob of the Present Beildixg. 
 
 less many names were never recorded; but so far as reported. 2,057 
 communicants have been enrolled, 1,054 received by profession of faith 
 and 1,003 by certificate. The aggregate contributions reported for Home 
 Missions have been $2o,19o. for Foreign Missions $26,875, for the other 
 benevolences of the Presbyterian Church $40,114, for benevolence outside 
 of the church $59,942. a total of $147,121. The congregational expenses 
 were not reported till 1852. Since that time $240,582 have been raised 
 and expended for ihe support of the church. The grand total of money 
 reported i and with unreported offerings must be considerably 
 
 more than $400,000. 
 
 Figures, however, give but a slight idea of the real work and in- 
 fluence of a church. We are not here to boast of ourselves. We have 
 no disposition to claim an undue share in the religious work that has 
 been prosecuted in Springfield in three-quarters of a centurv. We 
 
23 
 
 rejoice that we have been workers together with our brethren of our 
 own and other denominations, and trust that we have all been workers 
 together with God. If this historical review has the effect of showing 
 to the generations to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, 
 and the wonderful works that He has done, we feel confident that, 
 trusting in the same Divine power, far more efficient work will be 
 done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be all the glory. 
 Amen!" 
 
 The above is, as has been said, largely from Dr. Logan's own hand. 
 Following this, he completed twenty-five full years as pastor. He has 
 well said that "figures give but. a slight idea of the real work and influ- 
 ence of a church." Of no one is this more strictly true than of Dr. 
 Logan and his pastorate. The impress of his unusual character is mani- 
 fest in the life of the church, not only, but of the city and Synod. Daily 
 are those encountered who pay tribute to the power of his example and 
 the strength of his pulpit work. He was sturdy and unwavering in his 
 faith, but charitable toward all. The writer deems it an inestimable 
 privilege to have "entered into his labors." He laid a foundation not in 
 stone, but in Christian faith. He erected "Temples within" which will 
 endure for all time. 
 
 Xo word said of his work would be in any sense complete, without 
 including a reference at least to the high esteem in which his family was 
 and is held. Mrs. Logan, with Miss Elsie, makes her home in Springfield; 
 Elizabeth and Howard live in Chicago and Marjorie in Milwaukee. 
 Rarely is it given to a group to hold a more sacred place in the hearts of 
 others than that held by Mrs. Logan and family. 
 
 Dr. Logan died April, 1921. His funeral was from his own pulpit 
 
 and his body laid to rest with his honored forefathers in Pittsburgh, Pa. 
 
 Following Dr. Logan's resignation, the church called the Rev. Donald 
 
 C. McLeod, D. D., another Scotchman, who had for fourteen years been 
 the aggressive pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Washington, 
 
 D. C. Dr. McLeod was born in Nova Scotia, graduated from Western 
 Seminary and had held pastorate in Meadville, Pa. (Dr. Logan's former 
 pastorate.) He came to Springfield in the vigor of a splendid, well- 
 rounded manhood; entered most actively into the entire life of the 
 church and city. His work cannot be wisely appraised by the present 
 incumbent, but is gratefully appreciated. It may be safely said, however, 
 that his greatest emphasis was in the Sunday School, not only in his 
 own church but in the city and county. He not only enlisted the en- 
 thusiastic support of an able corps of officers and workers, but himself 
 taught a splendid class of younger men. 
 
 Among the material changes which may be recorded during his 
 pastorate are the rebuilding of the gallery and the installing of the 
 matchless organ. 
 
 Resigning in December, 1917, Dr. MacLeod accepted the pastorate of 
 the Central Presbyterian Church, Saint Louis. From there, he went to 
 the Dundee Church, Omaha, from which by invitation of the Session, he 
 came to occupy the pulpit on Home Coming Sunday. The writer in 
 studying the pictures, reading the records, coming to understand some- 
 
24 
 
 thing of the viewpoint and characteristics of the seven men who have 
 preceded him, is impressed with their marked dissimilarity. Each made 
 his own indelible impression; met the problems of his "day and gen- 
 eration" with insight, peculiarly his own. Each could well be called an 
 "unusual personality." But, truly, while the work, the emphasis, the 
 method of each was markedly different, each from the other, all were 
 servants of the Lord. 
 
 But nothing impresses one more in publishing this than its total in- 
 adequacy. This, in spite of the fact that so much of it is the work of 
 
 Dr. Logan (and no one of all 
 could do this work so well as 
 he). 
 
 What of the officers and mem- 
 bers! Only the fact that the 
 Pastors have been few in num- 
 ber and the brief record of their 
 life's work possible, makes the 
 publishing of this booklet justi- 
 fiable. Certainly, no one of 
 them would claim a larger share 
 in "This Ministry" than that ac- 
 complished by a host of men 
 and women, who have been 
 worthy "yoke-fellows." Each 
 Pastor loved the church dearly. 
 That can but mean that each 
 one saw many noble Christian 
 people, loyally and lovingly 
 striving to do his part. What 
 an army has been in the hun- 
 dred years, in the language of 
 the fathers "transferred to the 
 Church Triumphant;" men and 
 women having completed a long 
 and useful life; others taken in 
 the midst of the fray, when they seemed so necessary; still others wnen 
 it seemed all of life was before them. The suffering it has all meant! 
 And the comfort 
 not a homily. 
 
 In approaching the task of completing the booklet by reference to 
 the present pastorate; the writer is humbled indeed. This, it seems is 
 the uppermost thought, "I wonder if when life is done and the final 
 record made it will all look like that!" The cheering thing, however, is 
 the splendid hope that He will have a few facts, not elsewhere recorded. 
 A few things which the historian of one hundred years hence may 
 be mildly interested in is that the Pastor of the church when the church 
 celebrated its Centennial was a Welshman on his father's side and Scotch- 
 Irish on his mother's; that he was born in Tennessee, educated in Sweet- 
 water Prep School, King College and McCormick Seminary, Chicago. Held 
 pastorates in First Presbyterian Church, Canon City, Colo., Westminster 
 
 Rev. Doxald C. AIcLeod, D. D. 
 
 But this must be an attempt at least at history and 
 
25 
 
 Presbyterian Church, Grand Rapids, Mich.., and First Presbyterian 
 Church, Louisville, Ky.; that he was called to Springfield in March, 1918. 
 and began his work in the following September. During this period, 
 under the able leadership of the officers, the entire plant, with the ex- 
 ception of the auditorium, was razed and rebuilt, improvements were 
 made in the auditorium; the Manse was purchased; a church secretary 
 was employed (Miss Mary Murphy, 1920-1925, and Miss Louise Jacobs. 
 1925-1928) and for one year the Rev. Abram G. Bergen, D. D., great- 
 nephew of Dr. Bergen was assistant pastor. The great spires, which had 
 
 Dr. John T. Thomas. 
 
 previously been taken down were rebuilt, much lower. The budget more 
 than doubled. With all gratitude, it may be said, we do not feel that we 
 have reached the decrepitude of old age. We are living as a Christian 
 church must ever live, with the self renewing vigor of eternal youth. 
 Our task is perhaps somewhat different, our faith may find its own ex- 
 pression, but it is the same faith; that God has revealed Himself and His 
 will to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In the light of His 
 revelation, the strength of His spirit, the joy of His companionship, we 
 begin the new century. 
 
 JOHN T. THOMAS, Minister. 
 
26 
 
 Woman's Work* 
 
 The newest woman's organization in the First Presbyterian Church 
 is the "Woman's Auxiliary" and the membership consists of every 
 woman in the church. The following officers, circle leaders and chair- 
 men of committees form the executive council: 
 
 President — Mrs. Charles D. Wright. 
 
 First Vice President — Mrs. Henry Child. 
 
 Second Vice President — Mrs. Frank Ide. 
 
 Recording Secretary— Mrs. E. C. Whittaker. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary — Miss Alice Orendorff. 
 
 Treasurer — Mrs. W. L. Laird. 
 
 Circle Leaders— Mesdames Leigh Call, George Williams, E. R. Tal- 
 bott, Hazel Larrimore, Lauretta Booth, James A. Day, Frank Partridge, 
 Homer Macnamara, Albert T. Rankin and John T. Thomas. 
 
 Chairman of Committees— Mesdames William McKenzie, Edward 
 Brown, A. D. Mackie, Alexander Macpherson, A L. Bowen, Alonzo Hoff, 
 J. A. Lindquist and Mrs. Arthur Kuster. 
 
 The Woman's Auxiliary took an important part in the celebration of 
 the One Hundredth Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church of 
 Springfield, Illinois. 
 
 On Monday evening a "Homecoming Reception" was held in the 
 newly decorated parlors of the church. The following were in the re- 
 ceiving line: Dr. and Mrs. John T. Thomas (present pastor and his 
 wife); Dr. and Mrs. Donald C. MacLeod (only former living pastor, and 
 wife); Mrs. Thomas D. Logan (whose husband was pastor for 25 years); 
 Mrs. Laura Carson and descendants of pastors' families. 
 
 Descendants of Dr. Bergen: Harry Allen. Miss Fanny Allen. Rev. 
 Abram Bergen, Miss Addie Bell. 
 
 Descendants of Dr. Wines: Miss Mary Wines. Miss Emma Wines. 
 Mr. and Mrs. William St. John Wines, William St. John Wines, Jr., Edna 
 Frances Wines. Mrs. William S. Little, Frederick Howard Little. 
 
 Descendants of Dr. Smith: Brainard H. Smith, Miss Jeannette 
 Smith. Mrs. Ninian Wirt Edwards, Leigh Bruce Smith. Miss Helen Janet 
 Smith. Edward C. Smith. 
 
 Descendants of Dr. Brown: Mrs. Harry B. Owsley. Howard Brown, 
 Mrs. Stuart Green, Mrs. Robert Stevens, Mrs. Edward Fishwick. Mrs. 
 W. B. Bus worth, Miss Sally Brown, Mrs. Harriet Gait, Miss Mary E. 
 Brown, Mrs. Harrison Foster, John Howe Brown, Miss Harriet J. 
 Brown, .Mrs. Ann Simpson. Mrs. Charles TalDOtt, Harmon Brown, Mrs. 
 Frank P. Ide. Owsley Brown, Grafton Brown. 
 
 Descendants ol Dr. Logan: Mrs. Thomas D. Logan, Howard Logan, 
 Miss Elizabeth Logan, .Miss Marjorie Logan, Miss Elsie Logan. 
 
 Special guestfl of honor were the following descendants of the first 
 members of the church: Mrs. May Grimsley Donaldson, great grand- 
 
27 
 
 daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, in whose home the church was 
 organized. 
 
 Descendants of Mrs. Washington lies: Kate L. Herndon — Lewis 
 Herndon, Richard F. Herndon, John W. Herndon; W. T. Lewis, Mary 
 Lewis. Philomen Lewis, Mrs. A. S. Hay; Stuart Broadwell — Dr. Stuart 
 Broadwell, Norman Broadwell, Latham Broadwell; Mrs. Harris Hickox — 
 Mrs, P. Pickering, Mrs. O. Moor, H. Hickox, Norman Hickox, Mrs. Fran- 
 ces Biedler, Robert Loose, Mrs. Carrie Barrick. Mrs. John Norris, Mrs. 
 Charles Clark, William lies, B. lies, Betty Broadwell, fifth generation 
 of Latham family in church; Sarah Bunn, fifth generation; George W. 
 Bunn, third generation. 
 
 The host and hostesses were the officers, deacons, trustees and their 
 wives as follows: 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Isaac R. Diller, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Thrasher, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Harry P. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. W. Edgar Sampson, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Julian Vallette, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Pickering, Thomas Condell, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Shelby C. Dorwin, Mr. and Mrs. Frank McKelvey, Mr. and Mrs. 
 E. N. Majors, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hanna, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Rankin, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Alexander MacPherson, C. G. Todd, Mr. and Mrs. C. 0. 
 Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Cassiday, Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Whit- 
 taker, Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Woodworth, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pickering, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Butts, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Fox, Robert Hudson, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Herman C. Helmle, Harold George, Dr. and Mrs. C. B. Stuart, 
 Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Boyd, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Stoddard, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ross Weller, Dr. and Mrs. Ogden Munroe, Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Krog- 
 dahl, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Bunn, Mr. and Mrs. Corwine Roach, Mr. 
 and Mrs. John H. Sikes, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Troxell, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Emmett V. Poston, Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Barber, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. 
 Lanphier, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Catron. 
 
 A special feature of the evening was an historical display of docu- 
 ments and relics connected with the hundred years history of the 
 church. Miss Alice Orendorf, Mrs. John C. Cook, Miss Sallie Brown and 
 Mr. Isaac Diller were in charge of the display. 
 
 HISTORICAL EXHIBIT. 
 
 One of the attractive features of Centennial week was the Historical 
 Exhibit held Monday evening at the Home Coming Reception, and on 
 Tuesday afternoon, when the Woman's Auxiliary officers and representa- 
 tives of all the woman's organizations of the church, received as their 
 guests the members of other churches as well as our own congregation. 
 
 Many interesting articles and documents were collected from the 
 families who had long been connected with local church history. A 
 closed glass case was furnished by Mrs. R. F. Herndon, one of the com- 
 mittee, in which was placed the miniatures, daguerreotypes, and some 
 of the rare pieces on exhibit. The communion service used in our 
 church for over ninety years was shown, it consisted of a tray, a tall 
 silver pitcher and two silver cups on which the date 1837 was marked 
 three silver cups were added at a later date. 
 
28 
 
 The Session books containing church history from the earliest times 
 down to the present were on the table, also three programs of dedica- 
 tion services are worthy of mention. 
 
 The Soldiers' Memorial Tablet was unveiled November 16, 1919. On 
 the Roll of Honor are one hundred and five names of young men and 
 women, who gave their service to their country in the Worlds War. 
 Gov. Frank O. Lowden made the address. The committee on Memorial 
 Tablet were Mr. G. W. Wilson, chairman; Mrs. Stuart Broadwell, Mr. 
 Stuart Brown, Mr. J. F. Macpherson, Mr. George Bunn, Mrs. Arthur 
 Prince. 
 
 The dedication of Logan Chapel took place Sunday, February 22, 
 1920. The Memorial Tablet on the north wall of the church was pre- 
 sented on January 21, 1922. In responce Dr. Thomas said: "This slab 
 of marble on which are engraved the names of the ministers of this 
 church for these nearly one hundred years, will be held and valued 
 as a sacred memorial for all time." 
 
 LIST OF ARTICLES. 
 Foot stove used by President J^incoln when he attended church. 
 Picture of Mrs. Lincoln's funeral, held in this church in 1882. 
 
 Lent by State Historical Society. 
 Mrs. Lincoln's black lace shawl and comb worn at Inaugurial Ball. Mrs. 
 
 Lincoln was a member of this church from 1852 to 1882. 
 Miniature of Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, in whose house the church was or- 
 ganized. 
 
 Lent by Mrs. May Grimsley Donelson. 
 Miniature of Mrs. Caroline Owsley Brown, and two pictures of Mr. C. 
 C. Brown. 
 
 Lent by Mrs. Frank P. Ide. 
 Photograph of Mrs. John T. Stuart and her lace fan. 
 
 Lent by Mrs. Edwards Brown. 
 Painting on glass of Mrs. James L. Lamb. 
 Lent by Mrs. Susan Cook House. 
 Autograph book and picture of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 
 Church held in Springfield in 1882. 
 Photographs of Mrs. B. S. Edwards and Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Ferguson. 
 
 Lent by Miss Eliza Condell. 
 Church Directory of 1864. Photograph of Mr. Roland Diller. 
 
 Lent by Mr. Isaac Diller. 
 Church Year Books, published by Dr. T. D. Logan from 1891 to 1912. 
 Two Church Directories, 1867 and 1878. 
 
 Lent by Miss Clara Miller. 
 Picture of North Sangamon Church at Indian Point, which congregation 
 
 joined with Springfield in the organization of the church. 
 Photograph of Dr. D. G. Carson, for twenty years pastor of this church. 
 
 Lent by Mrs. D. C. Carson. 
 Daguerreotypes of Mr. John \V. Dalbey and Mrs. Hannah Dalbey 
 Elijah lies 1 book on Early Times in Springfield. 
 
 Lent by Miss Alice Dalbey. 
 Photograpli of Mrs. Ann lies and five generations of the Lewis family. 
 Lent by Mrs. Herndon and Miss Mary Lewis. 
 
29 
 
 Mrs. Stuart Broadwell and Mr. Jacob Bunn's families also have five gen- 
 erations of church members on the records. 
 Scrap Book of church history, kept by Mr. George Hemenway and Pho- 
 tograph of Mr. Hemenway. 
 
 Lent by Miss Nelie Hemenway. 
 Photographs of Dr. and Mrs. James Reed, Rev. and Mrs. John Howe 
 Brown, and Mrs. Elizabeth Grimsley Brown, his second wife, and also 
 picture of Mrs. Catherine Bergan Jones taken on her 87th birthday. 
 Lent by Miss Sallie Brown. 
 Sunday School Record, 1868. 
 
 Lent by Mrs. Alfred Booth. 
 Deguarreotype of Dr. John G. Bergen. 
 
 Lent by Mr. Henry Allen and Miss Fanny Allen. 
 Photograph of Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, one of the church organizers. 
 
 Lent by Mrs. Edna Orendorff Macpherson. 
 Miss Jeanette E. Smith and Mrs. N. Wirt Edwards lent the following 
 
 articles: 
 List of Church officers and members in 1843. 
 Deed of William Harrower of perpetual ownership of pew No. 58, in the 
 
 old church dated 1849. 
 Deguarreotype and Sunday School class book of Miss Agnes Harrorer, 
 
 1863. 
 The Christians Defense, by Dr. James Smith, 1843, a book which influ- 
 enced President Lincoln. 
 A letter from Willie Lincoln to Henry Remann, dated 1861. 
 Lent by Mr. N. Wirt Edwards. 
 Committee on Historical Exhibit: 
 Miss Alice E. Orendorff, Chairman. 
 Mrs. John C. Cook. 
 Mr. Isaac Diller. 
 Miss Sally C. Brown. 
 Miss Jeanette E. Smith. 
 Mrs. May Grimsley Donaldson. 
 Mrs. R. F. Herndon. 
 Miss Eliza Condell. 
 Miss Mary Brooks. 
 
 The program consisted of reminiscences and readings by Miss 
 Margaret Brooks. 
 
 Logan Chapel, which served as the dining room, was transformed 
 into a bower of beauty. The walls were decorated with flags draped 
 between the pictures of former pastors. Tall yellow candles in silver 
 candelabra furnished the light and from tables adorned with rosebuds, 
 Mrs. Robert C. Lanphier, assisted by the Executive Council of the 
 Woman's Auxiliiary and others, served delicious refreshments. The 
 George Killius Orchestra, concealed behind a bank of ferns and palms, 
 furnished music throughout the evening. 
 
 Tuesday was observed as "Woman's Day" by a tea in the parlors of 
 the church. In the receiving line were Mrs. C. D. Wright, President of 
 the Woman's Auxiliary; Mrs. John C. Hanna, President of the Presby- 
 rerial; Mrs. John T. Thomas, the pastor's wife and President of 
 
30 
 
 Woman's Missionary Society; Mrs. Donald McLeod, former pastor's wile; 
 .Miss Lavinia Smith, President of the Dorcas; Mrs. W. C. Hoover, 
 President of Mizpah, and the following Past Presidents: 
 
 Woman's Missionary Society — Miss Hackney, Miss Mary Lewis, Miss 
 Clara Miller, Miss Sallie Brown, Mrs. Arthur Prince, Mrs. E. S. Scott, 
 -Mrs. John E. George and Mrs. A. L. Bowen. 
 
 Busy Bees— Mrs. R. M. Baker, Mrs. Hattie Brown Gait, Mrs. Cath- 
 erine Palmer Todd, Mrs. Maud Morgan Ruth, Miss Alice Orendorf, Mrs. 
 May Brown Knapheide, Mrs. Clementine Talbott Stuart. 
 
 Mizpah— Miss Mabel Southwick, Mrs. Edith Pickering Williams. 
 -Mrs. Edna Orendorf Macpherson, Miss Virginia Prince, Miss Clare Stahl, 
 Mrs. Clara Willett Gullett, Miss Bertha Edwards, Miss Anna Hannon, 
 Miss Nealie Hemenway, Mrs. W. B. Holmes, Mrs. Ruth Wright-Carter, 
 Mrs. Albert Rankin. Mrs. W. E. Sampson, Mrs. Wm. Sprinkle, Mrs. 
 Lawrence Flynn, Mrs. Henry Bengel, Miss Margaret Deyo. 
 
 Mrs. John T. Thomas brought greetings as follows: 
 
 MRS. THOMAS' GREETINGS. 
 
 The women of the First Presbyterian Church, welcome as our guests 
 today, former members of this church and friends, together with repre- 
 sentatives of our sister churches in Springfield and in Sangamon. We 
 are claiming this proud privilege as the mother of Presbyterianism in 
 this county, and as such we greet you. 
 
 In looking back over those long years of service— years and times 
 when service meant something far more real than our church work does 
 today, made pleasant by every convenience — we are disposed to say, all 
 honor to those good women who did the pioneer missionary work in 
 church as well as in home life, and to earnestly hope that the mantle of 
 their unselfish example may fall on us. 
 
 We are proud of those who have gone before us, we are proud of 
 our church of today, and if you suspect us of being a bit childish in 
 the feeling that all Springfield should doff her hat to us this week, 
 please pardon it; perhaps we are childish, for are we not one hundred 
 years old. and what else could you expect? 
 
 But we have a warm welcome in our hearts today for all our friends 
 and guests and I would bring it to you in the old phrase so often heard 
 in the sunny southland where to welcome is a habit, "We are mighty 
 glad to see you all." 
 
 MRS. DONALD C. MacLEOD'S GREETINGS. 
 
 Knowing that only a few minutes of this precious time belongs to 
 me— lest I should transgress, I have put my words on paper. It is a 
 rare privilege to put one little flower in the golden vase of the memories 
 Of 100 years. I count it no little honor to be a link in the Golden 
 Chain of the Membership of this Church reaching across the most 
 wonderful century iii history. The memories of this Centennial occa- 
 3ion will ever hv migrant with us. Were there no limit to my time, 
 all that I could say :<> this dear Old First Church would be loving con- 
 
31 
 
 gratulations upon your century of devoted service to Christ — Loving God 
 Speed as you sail out upon the wider sea of another century. 
 
 The past one hundred years have been important ones in the history 
 of our church and our nation. Of all the wonderful changes that have 
 taken place and the marvelous things that have been accomplished in 
 the past century none are more important than the part played by 
 women. 
 
 Mrs. John C. Hanna, Presbyterial President, spoke as follows on: 
 
 THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN (IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES) IN 
 THE 19TH CENTURY. 
 
 The 19th Century has been called the Women's Century. The or- 
 ganized women's work began with the period of the Civil War. But this 
 movement was preceded by a number of unorganized efforts for religious 
 expression on the part of women. We wonder if these were sporadic — 
 a single group here and there, or was there one group in the beginning, 
 from which others sprang — We will never know; the one essential fact is 
 that women as early as 1811 were doing their bit— quietly and efficiently 
 — earning a bit here and there to promote the Father's work. 
 
 Female Cent Societies (penny societies) — with no money except the 
 bit saved by self-denial, egg money, butter money, rag money — to use in 
 mission work as they chose. And their efforts and their prayers have 
 been the force through which these devoted, consecrated Christian 
 women secured recognition from the powers that were, namely the men. 
 
 In the minutes of the General Assembly of 1811, we find this state- 
 ment: "It has pleased God to excite pious women to combine in As- 
 sociations for the purpose of aiding, by their voluntary subscriptions, 
 one or more of the above institutions" — referring to Missionary and 
 Bible Societies. 
 
 One of the oldest missionary societies w r as that of the Pencader 
 Church in Delaware, organized in 1813. This society was called at 
 various times "Association;" "Missionary Society;" "Bible Society;" 
 "Female Educational Society;" — its aim being to help students for the 
 ministry — and for "heathen youth," as they termed them. They became, 
 in 1871, an auxiliary of our Women's Foreign Board. 
 
 In 1835 the "Female Missionary Sewing Society" was organized in 
 Washington. Penn., and has continued, it is stated, without break to the 
 present time. 
 
 It is interesting to read from their Constitution — early formulated, 
 the following extract, i. e.: "That they were to meet at 2 o'clock every 
 Tuesday and from that hour to nine were to sew w T ith diligence." Their 
 work, the Constitution states, was of "infinite importance and serious 
 concern" — and it further advised that "a corresponding seriousness should 
 pervade our conversations and actions during the times of these meetings, 
 and all levity should be banished as far as possible." 
 
 At 9 o'clock, it seems that the young men were admitted — whether the 
 Constitution w r as in force after that is not on record. 
 
32 
 
 Another Society, organized in Newark, N. J., in 1835, chose for its 
 name, "Society for the Evangelization of the World." It is still in ex- 
 istence. In the first ten years of its organization— 1835-1845, it con- 
 tributed $23,000 to the American Board of Missions. 
 
 In 1870 the "Ladies Board of Missions came into being thru the union 
 of some of the early societies, which carried on double work of Home and 
 Foreign Missions. 
 
 It is interesting to note that in this year of 1870, it was something 
 of a shock when the Board of Foreign Missions (then only men) heard 
 that some Philadelphia ladies were about to organize themselves into a 
 society because there was work in the Eastern World that only women 
 could do. 
 
 The Board looked on in alarm — yet with open mind. Pastors, with 
 a few exceptions, were so suspicious that one pastor insisted on being 
 present at a meeting in his church. "Because," he said, "no one knows 
 what these women would pray for, if left to themselves." 
 
 In 1875 men had so advanced in intelligent understanding of the great 
 work that women were doing that the Board appointed a committee to 
 prepare a plan for the cooperation of women with the Board. 
 
 There are today seven Women's Auxiliary Boards. 
 
 Today we know that women have been the strongest supporters of 
 both Foreign and Home Missions, and have full recognition on the Boards 
 of the church. 
 
 The General Assembly of 1923 passed the following resolutions in the 
 expression of their appreciation of the many years of faithful service 
 rendered by the Women's Boards: Be it resolved, "That the Board of 
 Foreign Missions should emphasize and strengthen in all possible ways 
 the local, presbyterial, synodical organizations of women and young people 
 in order that these organizations may continue to recognize their responsi- 
 bility for the support of their own missionaries and stations — and the 
 operation of their own budget for which they, as women's organizations, 
 are responsible." Further, be it resolved "That the pastors and the 
 church at large be asked to cooperate in this effort, conserve and 
 strengthen the specific and valuable work carried on for so many years 
 by the women's organizations." 
 
 Looking down today thru the membership of our Boards, we find the 
 names of some of our great and consecrated women workers, — Mrs. Bur- 
 nett, Mrs. Kerr, Mrs. Swearigen, Miss Shafer, Miss Hodge, Mrs. Silver- 
 thorn, Mrs. Roys, Miss Schultz, Miss McKenzie— and a host of other as 
 well known names. 
 
 Truly and justly can it be said that the 19th Century is the Women's 
 Century, the full fruition of which is crowding over abundantly into the 
 20th Century. 
 
 MRS. IDE'S REMINCENCES. 
 
 In every organization and every community there are interesting 
 things take place that are not written in histories. Mrs. Bessie Brown 
 Ide, a descendent of one of our former pastors, and daughter of Mrs. 
 Christopher C. Brown, gave "Reminicences or Childhood Recolections of 
 Earlier I);iys in the Church." 
 
33 
 
 Forty-five years ago I sat in the same pew of the First Presbyterian 
 Church that I now sit in, then known as Major Stuart's pew. It was 
 deeded for the use of the Stuart family so long as members' of the family 
 paid a certain amount toward the support of the church; and the deed 
 is still in the possession of the children of Stuart Brown. 
 
 As I think back to that time I recall certain things — not the most 
 important, of course, but things that impressed a child. I remember that 
 in front of us sat the Griffith family and Aunt Lizzie Brown (Mrs. John 
 Howe Brown), and further forward Mr. and Mrs 1 . Brice, Miss Carry Tozier, 
 the Wines family, Mrs. Goin Sutton and Mrs. Nutt, Mrs. Reed and Miss 
 Jennie Hamer. Behind us sat Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Thomas Smith, the Lewis family, the Warren family, Mr. and Mrs. Hemen- 
 way, and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Brooks and family. On the opposite side, 
 I remember the Dalby family with a pew full of children, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Benjamin Edwards, the Bunn family, the Lambs, Mr. George Black and 
 the Remans; also the Orendorffs, the Lathams, Senator and Mrs. Cullom, 
 the Cook family, the Brainerds, the Hudsons; and further over, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Thomas Vredenburgh, and Mr. Roly Diller; all of whom are living 
 in my memory as I speak of them. 
 
 In those days there were no children's societies. It was expected 
 as a matter of course that the children would go to Sunday School and 
 to church. No one ever thought of such a thing as the service being too 
 long for them to sit through, and it was a much longer sermon than we 
 now have; and no child was supposed to look inside her Sunday School 
 book or glance at her Sunday School paper during church. 
 
 As I look back, it seems to me it must have been a great happiness 
 to those fathers and mothers to see the line of children in the pew — most 
 families had at least four children — and to feel the children were being 
 prepared to meet life in the church they loved. 
 
 I wonder how many of you recall what a joy the Sunday School 
 library was. There was only a small private library in the town then, 
 and getting a Sunday School book was a great delight. 
 
 The children also were taken to the church sociables, held always 
 in the homes. Wonderful suppers — everything cooked at home and 
 donated; chicken salad, escalloped oysters, cold ham, tongue and turkey, 
 ice cream and cake. Think of that, you housekeepers who now go to the 
 telephone and order a cake for the church supper. No charge was made, 
 as everyone who went had already donated liberally. 
 
 At that age I w r as un-social and was discovered by my mother, as 
 we were departing for a church sociable, to have a big book under my 
 arm. "What is that," she demanded. "Oh, just a book to read at the 
 church sociable," I replied. It is unnecessary to state, it was removed 
 at once. 
 
 Some of my very pleasant recollections are of sociables as I became 
 older — and what a thrill some of us experienced in taking part in Tenny- 
 son's "Dream of Fair Women" given at Mrs. Ferguson's hospitable home. 
 
 The church music always gave me pleasure. I remember when Mrs. 
 Knapp played the organ and Mrs. Henkle's lovely voice charmed me. I 
 recall Mr. Frank Jones and Fred Fisher, and cousin Will Grimsley — I 
 never hear "The Palms" or "There is a Green Hill Far Away" without 
 thinking of him. Then the Lehmans — Mr. Lehman was given to impro- 
 
34 
 
 vising and often played something especially for some member of the 
 church. Many of you probably remember how he always played the 
 wedding march when a bride came to church the first time after her 
 marriage. 
 
 I wish I had time to tell more about some of the women of the church 
 whom I recall. Mrs. Katherine Jones, Dr. Bergen's daughter, was a great 
 friend of my grandmother's 1 , and I can't remember the time when I did 
 not know her or her sister, Mrs. Lamb. It gave me a thrill as a little 
 girl to know someone whom Lafayette had kissed; and she could recite 
 for us the little poem that she recited with twelve other little girls in 
 welcome to Lafayette on his visit to America in 1825. "The loss of our 
 Washington still We regret but almost behold him in thee, Lafayette," 
 was a line that pleased my fancy particularly. 
 
 Mrs. Jones had a delightful personality. I recall asking her some 
 twenty-five years ago when visiting her one day if she thought women 
 gadded a good deal more than in her day. Her reply was, "Why, my 
 dear, we went all we could, but there was so much to be done we had 
 to stay home and do it;" and I thought of the old English proverb, "She 
 will stay at home, perhaps, if her leg be broke." 
 
 One thing Mrs. Jones told me that I remember was about the first 
 orange she ever saw. One was sent her father as a great curiosity, and 
 he divided it into sections and gave a section to each member of the 
 family. In my own childhood, oranges were a treat. My father always 
 bought a crate at Christmas and we could indulge in them, but we were 
 pleased to get the oranges and candy at the Sunday School Christmas 
 tree. Very few families had Christmas trees at home, and it was a 
 pleasure to see the lovely tree at the church trimmed with paper chains 
 and pop-corn strings made by ourselves, and covered with cotton and 
 tinsel and tiny candles that made a fire often part of the program. 
 
 I wonder how many of you remember Mrs. Lincoln's funeral. I was 
 not usually allowed to go to funerals, but my father, on my representation 
 that I wished to tell my grandchildren I had been to Mrs. Lincoln's 
 funeral, allowed me to go. I was greatly impressed by the funeral sermon 
 preached by Dr. Reed. In it he compared Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln to two 
 lofty elm trees struck by the same bolt of lightning. One was felled to 
 the ground, the other, though shattered, lived on. I could hardly wait 
 until Dr. Reed's next visit to our house to ask if he really sow those trees 
 or if he just made it up. 
 
 In closing. I want to speak a word about Mrs. Mary McKee Holmes, 
 the teacher in whose memory the first of the memorial windows was 
 given. She was an honored member of our church for years, and many 
 of the women of Springfield who attended her school remember her with 
 affection. 
 
 It has been impossible in five minutes to mention many of the friends; 
 so I ask you to recall them to yourselves and realize that while "they 
 rest from their labors, their works do follow them." 
 
 Elizabeth Brown Ide. 
 
 No history of the church in the last 100 years would be complete 
 without a history of the women's work. Mrs. Arthur Prince gave a his- 
 
35 
 
 tory of the "Woman's Missionary Society" — the oldest woman's organiza- 
 tion in the church. 
 
 THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY— 1871 TO 1914. 
 
 It is appropriate for us, gathered to celebrate the one hundredth birth- 
 day of our church, to look back upon the beginnings of our woman's work 
 for missions, when the foundations were being laid for the larger use- 
 fulness that is our privilege today. 
 
 The Presbyterian Womans Foreign Mission Board of the Northwest 
 was established in Chicago in December, 1870. The great purpose of this 
 board was to create and stimulate an interest in foreign missions among 
 the Women of these western churches and to encourage the formation of 
 societies for organized work. One of the first societies to be formed was 
 that of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield. 
 
 On May 12, 1871, a called meeting of the women of the church was 
 held, presided over by Dr. Bergen. A Constitution was adopted and offi- 
 cers elected. Mrs. James A. Reed, wife of the minister was chosen to be 
 President; Mrs. S. A. Bergen, Vice President; Mrs. Sybil Jayne, Treas- 
 urer; Mrs. B. S. Edwards, Corresponding Secretary, and Mrs. Henning, 
 Recording Secretary. Also, a committee was appointed for each ward of 
 the city, to call upon the church women in the interest of the new' or- 
 ganization. The society was then adjourned to mee the following Tues- 
 day. 
 
 At this second gathering, eleven ladies were present. The meeting 
 was opened by the reading of scripture and prayer. Reports of the com- 
 mittees in the four city wards were handed in, showing the names of 
 thirty-five women who had become members. The meetings of the society 
 were to be held quarterly and the plan was adopted of having one or more 
 ladies read some account of the work that was being carried on in the 
 various mission field. 
 
 After several months of suspense and uncertainty as to the best way 
 to use the funds gathering in the treasury, it was finally learned that a 
 Miss Dickey from Illinois was to be sent to Siam as a missionary by the 
 Ladies' Board of New York, and as a result of much correspondence, 
 our society decided to contribute to her support. On December 13, 1871, 
 the first check was sent out,— and so the work of the society was begun. 
 
 It is fascinating to read the priceless records of this group of earnest 
 women. In spite of such discouragements as must be met in establishing 
 a new' undertaking, obstacles were met and overcome with unfailing 
 patience and perseverence, although the secretary sometimes expressed 
 regret at the small numbers in attndance and that subscriptions were 
 slow in coming in. It was soon found a better plan to hold meetings 
 monthly. These were frequently held in the church on Sunday afternoon. 
 After a few years, reports from home missions shared the time of the 
 afternoon program. 
 
 In the meantime, under the advice of the Board of the Northwest, 
 Presbyterial Societies were being formed, and we find the Womens Society 
 of the First Church largely instrumental in organizing that of the Spring- 
 field Presbytery. The officers of our own society at this time were: 
 President, Mrs. James Beveridge; Vice President, Mrs. Jayne; Treasurer, 
 
36 
 
 Mrs. S. M. Cullom; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Ellen Jayne; Record- 
 ing Secretary, Mrs. B. M. Griffith. Delegates came to Springfield to the 
 Presbyterial meeting in October, 1877. The woman's organization was 
 effected and two of the members of the Springfield First Church were 
 elected to office. Mrs. Elizabeth J. Brown as President and Mrs. B. M. 
 Griffith as Recording Secretary. 
 
 Again, when the Synodical Society was organized, officers were chosen 
 from our church, Mrs. C. C. Brown for President and Mrs. Griffith for 
 Recording Secretary. 
 
 An event of more than ordinary interest occurred in 1880, when the 
 Women's Societies of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches enter- 
 tained the six hundred delegates who came to attend the annual meeting 
 of the Board of the Northwest in response to the invitation extended by 
 our society. This was quite an undertaking, but was successfully accom- 
 plished. The societies of both churches were efficiently organized and 
 were ably assisted by the men. 
 
 In 1882, the General Assembly met in Springfield and was made most 
 welcome. Our secretary was too busy to enter a report in her ledger, 
 but we know that it must have been an inspiring occasion. 
 
 In 1896, the society celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary by furn- 
 ishing a program for the regular Friday evening prayer meeting and giv- 
 ing interesting reports. During the twenty-five years the annual enroll- 
 ment had been about sixty, with an average attendance at meetings of 
 twelve. In the ten years just past, $4,205.26 had been given to the cause 
 of missions. The silver offering upon this occasion amounted to $54.25. 
 
 These facts and figures have been gathered from the books filled with 
 reports of the Recording Secretary, but in turning the pages, we gain 
 much more. They breathe the very spirit of the splendid women of 
 earlier days who seem to live again. We see the ladies of the Jayne 
 family, faithful workers as long as health permitted, gentle Mrs. Reed 
 who was afterwards Mrs. D. C. Brown, Mrs. Beveridge who was chosen 
 President, year after year, Mrs. P. C. Latham at whose home manv 
 pleasant meetings were held, Mrs. Goin Sutton, Treasurer, ever ready 
 with scripture lessons and prayer. Many are the times when we read, 
 "The meeting was closed by prayer with Mrs. Sutton." Then there were 
 Mrs. Spear, Mrs. Jacoby, Mrs. Melvin, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Fox Mrs 
 David Allen Brown, Mrs. George Connelly, Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Bryce! 
 whose names occur frequently. 
 
 Among this group of devoted women, there were those who served 
 a wider field. Of these, we remember Mrs. George Clinton Smith who 
 was Corresponding Secretary for sixteen years. She had a sweet and 
 cultivated voice and was always the one to lead the singing. She was 
 gifted in many ways and a ready speaker as well as writer. She was 
 greatly interested in temperance work and was a valued leader in the 
 Women's Christian Temperance Union. 
 
 The work nearest the heart of Mrs. Lavinia Beach was the mission 
 and reading room at Ridgely which was known by her name until out of 
 small beginnings has grown the Clementine Memorial Church named for 
 our own Clementine Stuve and given by her husband, Mr. Benjamin 
 Knudson in loving memory. 
 
37 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth J. Brown, wife of the third minister, Dr. J. H. 
 Brown, was recording secretary for several years, then president, and 
 for the first eighteen years of the Presbyterial Society, was its wise and 
 gracious president. 
 
 The last president of our Woman's Missionary Society was Mrs. C. 
 C. Brown. Her name appears upon the records from almost the first, 
 when she came to Springfield as a young married woman. Sbe was a 
 member of the Board of the Northwest and for twenty-five years, presi- 
 dent of the Synodical Society. 
 
 From the year 1871 when the society was organized until 1914 at 
 which time it was merged with the Elizabeth J. Brown Missionary 
 Society, there were comparatively few changes among the officers. The 
 office of recording secretary was held by only four women. The last one 
 to fill the office was Mrs. B. M. Griffith. To many of us it has seemed 
 that she was the only one. Her reports of the Woman's Missionary 
 Society, the Presbyterial and Synodical Societies are proof of her strong 
 Christian character. Her appreciative and kindly spirit and religious 
 fervor are shown in the pages of her ample records. 
 
 I want to read to you from her report of the meeting held February 
 3, 1914. "The Woman's Missionary Society met at 3 P. M. at the home of 
 our president, Mrs. C. C. Brown. Present, Mesdames George Winston, 
 John Dalbey, G. C. Smith, Beveridge, G. B. Hemenway, T. D. Logan, and 
 B. M. Griffith. Our president of the past fifteen years calls for the 
 secretary's report and roll call. The latter was responded to by all 
 the members either in Scripture texts or current events. Mrs. Griffith 
 on the program for devotions, read from the fourteenth chapter of the 
 Gospel of St. John, of the promises so comforting and sustaining to 
 every believer of the 'Home over there with Jesus' who is 'the Way, 
 the Truth and the Life' and giving to the believer, His Peace which the 
 world cannot know. Mrs. Griffith followed the lesson with prayer. The 
 chair then presented an invitation from the Elizabeth J. Brown Society 
 and requested the secretary to read it after which a vote would be 
 taken. 
 
 The note reads: 
 
 "Dear friends, at the last meeting of the Elizabeth J. Brown Mis- 
 sionary Society, held at the home of Mrs. Lewis Miller, it was resolved 
 unanimously to extend a cordial invitation to your society to unite 
 with our organization. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 Bertha Buck Dorwin, Secretary. 
 Sallie C. Brown, President." 
 "The chair then ordered the vote and distributed tickets. Shall we 
 accept the invitation? The result was a unanimous affirmative. So we 
 are now one body of workers in our Master's Vineyard 'to do with our 
 might whatsoever our hands find to do.' The chair then called upon 
 Mrs. Griffith and Mrs. Smith to give some reminiscences of the pioneer 
 history and accomplishments of our society." Then followed an outline 
 of the history. 
 
 She also said, "I have written twelve volumes of missionary reports, 
 seven for the local society, four for the Presbyterial Society, and one for 
 
38 
 
 the Synodical Society. I have served the local church forty-three years, 
 the Presbyterial Society, thirty-seven years, the Synodical Society, the 
 first eight years, making eighty-eight years of service." 
 
 In closing, the minutes record, "Sadness at disbanding, mixed with 
 the satisfaction and comfort of so many years of Labor and Love is 
 brightened by the sunshine of Faith and Love." 
 
 Mrs. A. E. Prince. 
 
 January, 1928. 
 
 SKETCH OF THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE FIRST 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, 
 
 FROM 1873 TO 1928. 
 
 (Written by Miss Clara Miller, and read by Miss Helen L. Allen, on 
 Tuesday Afternoon, January 31, 1928.) 
 
 On a December day in the year 1873, a small group of earnest young 
 women met in the home of Dr. T. S. Hening on South Sixth Street, 
 where Christ Episcopal Church now stands, to form a "Young Ladies' 
 Foreign Missionary Society." 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth J. Brown, widow of Dr. John H. Brown, former pastor 
 of our church, was present. She was the granddaughter of Mrs. Eliza- 
 beth H. Smith, in whose home on the 30th day of January, 1828, our 
 church was organized. Mrs. Brown had become a charter member of the 
 Presbyterian Mission Board of the North West in 1871, while living in 
 Chicago, but had returned to Springfield to make her home after the 
 death of her husband in 1872. It was ever her desire to do all she 
 could to interest people in the cause of Missions, and it was her pleasure 
 to organize the Society on that December day. 
 
 Miss Alice Schmucker, niece of Mrs. James A. Reed, the pastor's 
 wife, had come west to make her home with her aunt. She had been 
 much interested in Mission work for some time and was willing to serve 
 as President of the Society. Miss Hannah Stuart was elected Vice 
 President, Miss Mollie Hening, Secretary, and Miss Jennie Hening, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Of the fourteen people who were members of the Society the first 
 year, we know of two who are now living — Mrs. Emma Diller Ayers, of 
 Butte, Montana, and Mrs. Mary Lynch Shepherd, a member of West- 
 minster Church of this city. 
 
 Miss Schmucker's desire to do more for the cause dear to her heart 
 led her to offer her services to the work in China, where she was sent 
 in due time, and her co-workers here pledged $200.00 a year to her work. 
 But on the way over to China she met Dr. John Davis going to the same 
 Mission; they became interested in each other and were married after 
 a short while. As Dr. Davis was sent out by the Southern Presbyterian 
 Church, his wife's work was joined to his, and our Society took up other 
 responsibilities. 
 
 Miss Mollie Hening succeeded as President for one year. Then from 
 1877 to ISM' AIis. Elizabeth J. Brown was the very efficient leader, giving 
 up only when her health failed. Mrs. James A. Reed took charge of the 
 work lor a short time, then Miss Virginia S. Hackney was eiected Presi- 
 
39 
 
 dent. Through her influence many new members were added, the or- 
 ganization reconstructed, and good results followed. In the records we 
 find the names of succeeding Presidents: Miss Jessie Pond, Miss Carrie 
 Cullom, Miss Mary Lewis, Miss Clara Miller, Miss Adele Warren, Miss 
 Margaret Shutt, and Mrs. Arthur E. Prince. 
 
 On the 4th of December, 1895, the name of the Society, in memory 
 of its founder, was changed to the Elizabeth J. Brown Home and Foreign 
 Missionary Society. 
 
 From 1893 to 1919 Miss Sallie C. Brown was our capable and devoted 
 leader, and when she declined to serve longer Mrs. J. C. Hanna was 
 elected. Under her direction a new constitution was formulated and 
 adopted. By the new rules an officer can not serve in the same capacity 
 longer than two years in succession. So since that time we have had 
 Mrs. E. S. Scott, Mrs. J. E. George, Mrs. A. L. Bowen, and now in Jan- 
 uary, 1928, on our church's one hundredth anniversary, we have Mrs. 
 John T. Thomas, wife of our present Pastor, as our very efficient leader. 
 
 In the year 1914, the membership of the Senior Missionary Society 
 in our church having decreased in numbers, it was invited to unite with 
 ours, and in 1919 at the suggestion of Mrs. C. C. Brown, the name was 
 changed once more to the "Woman's Missionary Society." 
 
 Our church has twice had the honor of entertaining the annual 
 meeting of the Board of the North West, the last, one being held in April, 
 1908. It is always an inspiration to hear the stories of the returned 
 missionaries and to say "God Speed" to those who have pledged their 
 services to the new work. 
 
 The officers of our Society have faithfully carried out the programs 
 planned for our study of Missions, and we have benefited by the addresses 
 given to us by those who have studied the work closely. 
 
 From the beginning, our members have been willing to labor with 
 their hands to earn money for our treasury, often to make garments for 
 some mission school or home charity, not to forget what was done for 
 Belgium and the Near East during the World War, and the "White 
 Cross" work for hospitals in the Orient since that time, — while con- 
 tributions are made regularly in behalf of our present Missionaries in 
 Syria — Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Freidinger. 
 
 In the last few years through the faithful presentation of the sub- 
 ject of Stewardship, we have come to realize more fully our responsibility 
 in supporting our representatives on the field at home and abroad, and 
 the helpfulness of daily prayer for blessings on their work. 
 
 We have been interested to know the total amount of money sent 
 out to Foreign and National Missions from year to year, and we feel a 
 thrill when we read a grand total of thirty-one thousand six hundred 
 forty-one dollars and twenty-six cents ($31,641.26) but we also feel that 
 does not represent the greatest part of the good which has resulted from 
 the earnest efforts of fifty-four years. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE DORCAS SOCIETY. 
 
 The history of the Dorcas Society, until a few years ago, is essen- 
 tially the history of one person, our beloved Sunday School teacher, Mrs. 
 James P. Bryce. 
 
40 
 
 It was in the fall of 1892, that Mrs. Bryce gathered her class of 
 eight young girls about her one Sunday morning and taught them the 
 lesson of Dorcas and her work. Right then our Society was born — I 
 use the word advisedly — for ihough small, it was a living vital thing, 
 never mechanical. 
 
 We met that week at the home of Miss Maud Morgan, now Mrs. R. 
 F. Ruth, and organized. Mrs. Bryce was, of course, chosen president; 
 Lavina Smith, vice president; Carrie Brown, now Mrs. Harrison E. 
 Foster, secretary; and Myrtle Sattley. now Mrs. I. C. Spaulding, treasurer. 
 That was our first and last election in twenty-nine years. The other 
 members were Misses Alice Orendorff, Alice Connelly, Mamie Harts, and 
 Florence Griswold. The last named, died only a few years later. 
 
 Our membership grew in those early days, and among the first to 
 join us were the Misses Jeannette and Annie Smith, Charlotte White- 
 craft, and Fanny Brooks; a few years later Misses Nelie Hemenway, 
 Jemima Connelly and Bessie Brinkerhoff, who are still active members. 
 
 There is no compiled record of our work for our motto was "Let not 
 your left hand know what your right hand doeth," and we were sur- 
 prised and rather shocked to find that if we were a church society we 
 must give an account of ourselves. 
 
 Mrs. Bryce was the heart and soul of the Dorcas. She bought the 
 material, cut out the garments and taught us to sew them. She found 
 the poor people, and in turn, took "her girls" (as we always were to 
 her) with her when she visited them. Her pockets were always full of 
 candy for the little ones. She had words of help and sympathy for the 
 older people. She always tried to lead them to Christ and seldom left 
 a home without a prayer. Those of us who were with her will never 
 forget her prayers. As she grew older, her sympathy increased, and 
 also her bundles of clothes, until it became impossible for her to climb 
 on and off the street cars — and Mrs. Bryce's work was clone. 
 
 The burdens of the Society grew somewhat also. Mrs. Bryce lived 
 for the poor people she helped. The Society existed largely to keep her 
 supplied with material for her charities. During the war, when material 
 was expensive and poor babies numerous, there was some difficulty in 
 paying the bills. The Society is financed entirely by dues — and special 
 collections were the order of the day at that time. 
 
 Mrs. Bryce died February 5th, 1921, at the age of eighty-six years 
 and eight months. She was a happy, willing worker with us for twenty- 
 nine years. 
 
 There was no thought in the mind of any member of the Society to 
 continue the work without our dear leader. So a meeting was called at 
 the home of Miss Whitecraft to finish our sewing, decide what to do 
 with our funds — and disband. But we found that the ties formed 
 through these years were too strong, and the work was sweet, so new 
 plans were made, new officers appointed, and the work goes on. 
 
 We still find a personal contact with those we help principally 
 through the efforts of two of our members, Miss Orendorff and Miss 
 Jeanette Smith, who organized and maintain a Sunday School at Prior, 
 a community composed almost entirely of foreigners and very needy. 
 
41 
 
 They are personally acquainted with all the families and as they go 
 into the homes and distribute the little garments, they too, use their in- 
 fluence to win them to Christ and the Church. So the work of Mrs. 
 Bryce continues and "she being dead yet speaketh." 
 
 Lavinia R. Smith, President. 
 
 THE BUSY BEES. 
 
 The Busy Bees was a missionary society to which for thirty years 
 the little girls of the church belonged, and for which they worked most 
 helpfully and happily. It seems a great pity that such a delightful or- 
 ganization should have had an end, especially as it did not need the 
 lapse of time to enhance its charms. 
 
 The first missionary society in the church was only ten years old 
 when Miss Eloise Griffith, whose mother, Mrs. B. M. Griffith was very 
 active in the Woman's Missionary Society, organized the Busy Bees. 
 This was early in the eighties and her Sunday School class were its first 
 members. They were about ten years old, and chose the name, them- 
 selves. Another Sunday School teacher, Miss Mary Starne, helped Miss 
 Griffith, and the members of her class were among the others who joined 
 the society. They held regular meetings at the homes of the members, 
 making scrap books and sewing for the missionary boxes and the Home 
 for the Friendless. The society grew in popularity and the little boys 
 in the Sunday School wished that they could join, too, and wear the 
 badge on which were the letters, B. B. The children had candy tables 
 each year at the bazaars of the other church societies, and their first 
 leader remembers vividly what good candy they made and how en- 
 thusiastic they were over their work. Their earnings went to foreign 
 missions. Among the early members were Miss Lavinia Smith and Mrs. 
 Frank Ruth. 
 
 After Miss Griffith married Dr. T. J. Pitner in 1889, and went to 
 Jacksonville to live, the work went on under other leaders. In 1892, 
 Miss Hattie Brown (now Mrs. Gait) who had recently moved to Spring- 
 field, was asked to take charge of the society and at that time there were 
 about twelve members, among them, Elizabeth Logan and Nelie Hemen- 
 way. In 1894, Miss Catherine Palmer was the leader. 
 
 The next year, 1895, Miss Alice Orendorff and Miss Maud Morgan, 
 who had been a former Busy Bee under Miss Griffith, took charge of the 
 society. They were both teachers in the Sunday School, and their 
 classes of little girls became enthusiastic members. Catherine Ridgely 
 was the treasurer and Georgie Latham, the secretary. Edna Orendorff, 
 Elsie Logan, Eleanor Ridgely, Edith and Mavis Pickering and Mar- 
 garet Deyo were among the members at that time. The size of the or- 
 ganization increased rapidly to twenty-five or thirty members. Chil- 
 dren joined each year as they beecame old enough, and the older ones 
 took, more responsibility in carrying on the work. After Miss Morgan 
 was married to Mr. Frank Ruth in 1901, she gave up the work, and Miss 
 Eliza Condell became one of the leaders with Miss Alice Orendorff. 
 Later on, Miss Marjory Logan joined them. 
 
42 
 
 The meetings of the Busy Bees were delightful occasions at the 
 homes of the leaders on Saturday afternoons. Twenty-five little girls 
 with paste and scissors made scrap books or sewed carpet rags together 
 busily, and later, their industry was rewarded by popcorn balls and hot 
 chocolate. Each child was given a little bank in the shape of a bee hive. 
 They were very desirable things to possess, but probably added more 
 to the espritde-corps than to the treasury. 
 
 The outstanding event of the year was the Busy Bee Fair, long 
 looked forward to, and never forgotten. The fair was held in the base- 
 ment of the church, on a Saturday afternoon not long before Christ- 
 mas, and several weeks beforehand, the Busy Bees sold five cent tickets 
 of admission, decorated with pictures of bees to all the boys and girls 
 they knew. When the day arrived, all the children in town put on 
 their Sunday clothes and went down to the First Presbyterian Church to 
 spend the afternoon. They found there all that they had anticipated and 
 more — a candy table, a lemonade stand, a fishpond, a grab bag, a fortune 
 teller, a doll table, a fancy work table, and one year, the Old Woman 
 who Lived in the Shoe. Susan Cook, one of the smallest girls was in 
 the shoe. Another year, there was a baby show, and the very youngest 
 children in the church were dressed as dolls while the Busy Bees in 
 charge of this exhibit represented grown up ladies. 
 
 Each Busy Bee worked at some table, and all the children there 
 spent their money, bought their Christmas presents, ran up and down, 
 and had a glorious time. Santa Claus appeared before the afternoon was 
 over and was ready to take any letters that had been written to him. 
 Afterwards, the letters were given back to the parents by Mr. Isaac 
 Diller, and the children probably received some of the things that they 
 asked for. 
 
 The fair was a financial success as well as a social one. In 1896, 
 fifty dollars was taken in and in each succeeding year, more money was 
 made, amounting at least once to one hundred dollars. 
 
 The next best thing to making the money was spending it, and the 
 great endeavor of the leaders was to think of the things that the chil- 
 dren would enjoy doing with their money. Although the Busy Bees was 
 a foreign missionary society, the fact was impressed upon the children 
 that the church building and its furnishing was theirs, to be proud of 
 and to take care of. And so after forty or fifty dollars was sent to Siam 
 or to Mexico, there was always money left to buy something for their 
 own church, and some needed article was thought of that was within 
 their means. One year, they bought the pulpit light that is still being 
 used, one year, a pair of vases and another time, a pair of tabourets for 
 the church flowers. The children made their own decisions (with the 
 assistance of their leaders) and whenever possible, a committee went 
 shopping In search of the desired article. Other gifts were silver for the 
 church, money for repairs, a Sunday School banner, furniture for the 
 parlors, and they also paid for more than half of the communion table 
 that was used for so long, and is now in the parlor. They furnished the 
 flowers for the church services during one summer and also took flowers 
 to the Old Ladies' Home. 
 
43 
 
 The leaders were constantly thinking of helpful things for the chil- 
 dren to do, and Miss Alice Orendorff says that the eager and happy co- 
 operation of the children made it a pleasant task. For a time, some 
 of the Busy Bees went out to the Home for the Friendless every Sat- 
 urday morning and played with the younger children there in a play- 
 room decorated and furnished by Busy Bee funds. 
 
 In 1904, the older members organized the Mizpah Circle, but some 
 of them still helped with the little girls as leaders, among them, Susan 
 Cook, Elsie Logan and Nelie Hemenway. The two societies held their 
 fairs together. Among the officers of the Busy Bees for the next few 
 years were Christine Brown, Elizabeth Booth, May Brown, Virginia 
 Brown, Josephine Munroe, Janet and Clara Belle Baker, Florence Barnes, 
 Dorothy Scott, Ruth Wright and Jeanette Winston. 
 
 Clementine Talbot and Cordelia Caldwell were the last two presi- 
 dents, and in 1913, with the inauguration of a different system for rais- 
 ing money, the fairs were discontinued and the last meeting was held. 
 
 During the thirty years of the life of the Busy Bees, members grew 
 from little girls to big girls, and left the society, to return again as 
 leaders, or to become Sunday School teachers and members of the other 
 missionary societies. Wherever you find them, the mention of the Busy 
 Bees arouses very happy memories of their earliest church work. 
 
 Maby Prince. 
 
 "THE MIZPAH CIRCLE." 
 
 One of the strongest organizations in the church is the Mizpah 
 Circle. The report of the Mizpah Circle which I have been asked to 
 prepare covers a period of twenty-four years, and I am requested to tell 
 all the important events in just five minutes. 
 
 In an old diary of September, 1904, the following notation is found: 
 The older Busy Bees met with me and organized a new Society called 
 the Mizpah Circle. Mabel Southwick was elected President and Edith 
 Pickering, Vice President. Mrs. Elizabeth J. Brown met with us at 
 725 South Second Street and explained to the girls our Church Mis- 
 sionary work and just how to organize a missionary society. The name 
 Mizpah Circle was chosen, the society was for girls from sixteen to 
 twenty years old, no married people were allowed with exception made 
 that when the older members married they could retain their member- 
 ship in the society if they so desired. 
 
 The Mizpah Circle joined with the Busy Bees in the Christmas Fair 
 for the first three years, showing that they were quite a young group, 
 the girls were largely from Maud Morgans, now Mrs. Frank Ruth's and 
 my Sunday School classes then others were added. 
 
 In October, 1906, I find the note. The Mizpah Circle met with Edna 
 Orendorff, Miss Jennie Chapin talked to the girls of China where she 
 was a Missionary for nineteen years. The Mizpah Circle now has 
 twenty-five members. One of the first years Alaska was studied in a 
 Travel Class, visiting all the Presbyterian mission stations, Miss Georgia 
 Osborne spoke at one of the meetings on her trip up the Yukon River. 
 An interesting year was spent in the study of Porto Rico and each mem- 
 
44 
 
 ber was assigned a country to report on Current Events. The first three 
 years I met with the Mizpahs to help plan the programs and assist when 
 necessary, but they were soon able to conduct their meetings without 
 any help and were able to walk alone. 
 
 The charter members who are still active in the society are Elsie 
 Logan, Eleanor Kirby Homes, Mary Bressmer and Edna Orendorff Mac- 
 pherson. Edith Pickering Williams, President in the early years, was 
 one of the outstanding members. 
 
 For the first ten years they were a Home Missionary Society, and 
 always gave some special donation to the church. At one time it was 
 $25.00 for church linen, and at another $25.00 for church silver, and 
 contributions were made for Travelers Aid. 
 
 The Mizpah Circle met once a month in the homes of the members 
 which plan is still followed. The records are missing from 1912 to 1923. 
 During this interim Mrs. Edgar Sampson was President for three terms, 
 and she started the plan of meeting for sewing every other Friday for 
 eight months in the year, to prepare articles for the annual Bazaar held 
 in December. 
 
 Margaret Deyo twice served as President, and many others deserve 
 mention, but we have no record of their good works. 
 
 It was while Mrs. Albert Rankin was in office that the change was 
 made from a Home Missionary Society to both Foreign and National 
 Missions as the Home Mission Board is now called. 
 
 For the past several years the Budget has been about $1,000.00. The 
 banner year of the Mizpah Circle was in 1925, in the Secretaries minutes 
 I find "No report which I could give of the Mizpah Circles activities could 
 express ever in a small degree the accomplishments of the Circle, in 
 holding before the members the high goal and purpose of the organization 
 in developing the spiritual life of its members, as the material work is 
 being done. The membership numbers eighty and the total amount raised 
 was $1,301.65, divided about equally between the National and Foreign 
 Mission Boards. Mrs. Lawrence Flinn was President at this time, she 
 served for three years and when she retired was given by the Circle in 
 recognition of her work, a life membership on the National Board of 
 Missions. 
 
 In the report of 1927, Mrs. Wilber Hoover, President, we read "Our 
 Circle has attained one point on our standard of excellence never attained 
 before, of which we are very proud, that every member in the Circle has 
 the Prayer Book on Missions, and over one-half the members are subscrib- 
 ing for Women and Missions." The Prayer Book has been used before 
 but never by the whole Circle. 
 
 The membership at the present time is sixty, and the plan still used 
 of meeting the second Friday of each month from October to May in the 
 afternoon for a missionary program. And every other Friday from April 
 to December for lunch and all day sewing for the Bazaar. 
 
 Great oaks from little acorns grow, and today Mizpah is a sturdy oak 
 with its branches leading into the National Mission Field, and the far off 
 Foreign Work is near to it's heart. The roots are firmly planted in our 
 own beloved Church. Where all appreciate the beauty and strength of 
 the tree. On one branch we see the Light Bearers and on another the 
 Westminister Guild is just starting to grow. 
 
45 
 
 The Mizpah Circle has attained proportions unthought of in its in- 
 fancy twenty-four years ago. Only a few of the many achievements can 
 be mentioned in this short paper. The success in the past is most grati- 
 fying and the coming days look full of promise. 
 
 Alice E. Orendorff. 
 
 Miss Mary Louise Whittaker, little President of the "Westminster 
 Guild" and Miss Catherine Whittaker, President of the "Lightbearers" 
 were in school and could not be present. 
 
 We were very sorry because they may be the Missionary Society and 
 Mizpah Circle at the next Centennial Celebration. 
 
 Music was furnished by the Church Choir, Mrs. John Black, Mrs. 
 Robert White, Mr. Clinton Brown, Mr. Charles Fetzer, and Miss Helen 
 Nettleton at the piano. 
 
 Dainty refreshments were served in Logan Chapel by Mrs. S. Leigh 
 Call, assisted by Circle Number One and others. 
 
 The following is an excerpt from the splendid report made at the 
 annual meeting of the Woman's Auxiliary, by Mrs. E. C. Whittaker, Secre- 
 tary, Friday, February the 10th, 1928: 
 
 On Wednesday evening the Centennial Dinner was held under the 
 auspices of the Woman's Auxiliary, with the President, Mrs. C. D. Wright 
 and Circles 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3 in charge. Music was furnished by Miss 
 Nettleton, Mr. Orville Taylor and Mrs. Robert White. The dining room 
 was decorated with rainbow colors and baskets' of flowers adorned the 
 tables, and a delicious dinner was served. 
 
 Dr. Thomas, Pastor of the Church and Moderator of the Presbytery 
 presided, and greetings were brought by Mayor Smith from the city; by 
 Rev. W. R. Cremeans, D. D., from Westminster Church; by Rev. H. M. 
 Hildebrand, from Third Presbyterian Church; by Rev. Abram Bergen, D. 
 D., of Fifth Presbyterian Church; by Rev. M. C. Marietta, from Clemen- 
 tine Memorial and Fourth Presbyterian Churches, and the Rev. Jerry 
 Wallace, of the Christ Church Episcopal from the Council of Churches. 
 
 Following the dinner and greetings, Dr. Thomas showed stereoptican 
 pictures, including former Pastors, different church buildings occupied 
 by First Church and a few of the older members. 
 
 Friday was Young People's Day and celebrated in the evening by 
 a dinner for the young people of our church and of as many other Pres- 
 byterian churches as could be accommodated. The dining room was 
 decorated again with rainbow colors and Mrs. William McKenzie assisted 
 by Circles 10, 9, 8 and 2 served a chicken dinner. Leigh Smith, a great 
 grandson of Rev. James Smith, second pastor of the church, acted as 
 toastmaster. Miss Mary Murphy, former secretary of the church, spoke 
 briefly, and Miss Annabelle Harper sang, "Consider the Lillies," by Scott. 
 During the dinner music was furnished by Emmett Gore, violinist, ac- 
 companied by Mrs. J. Orville Taylor. 
 
 The principal speaker of the evening was Rev. J. I. Vance, former 
 moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly and writer, traveler and 
 pastor of First Church of Nashville, Tenn. His subject was "The Thing 
 Which Makes a Church Great," and was a wonderfully inspiring talk. 
 
40 
 
 Saturday evening the church auditorium was again thrown open to the 
 general public. The church quartette once more rendered special music 
 and the Rev. Robt. E. Speer of New York City, moderator of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly and executive secretary of Foreign Missions for the as- 
 sembly, gave an address on "Hopeful Elements in the Religious Situa- 
 tion in America." 
 
 The Rev. Donald C. MacLeod, D. D., of Omaha, Nebraska, the only 
 living former pastor, was present and preached morning and evening on 
 Homecoming Sunday, January 29th. We give a brief synopsis of the 
 morning sermon, the theme of which was, "Abiding Realities in a Chang- 
 ing World." 
 
 "God's law of change is universally manifest. In nature we see it in 
 the changing seasons. Today we have spring freshness, summer 
 luxuriance, and autumnal ripenness; tomorrow the scene is changed. 
 Earth's grassy carpet has faded, cloring and fragrance of flowers are 
 only a memory, the leaves are withered and the winter winds are mak- 
 ing naked branches moan and whistle. The life and beauty expressed in 
 grass and flower are shaken, that things that cannot be shaken may 
 remain. 
 
 The great museums of the world are eloquent of the operation of 
 the law of change in the realm of man's material progress through the 
 centuries. The innumerable relics in these museums played their part 
 in some period of human progress, but in the progress of events, were 
 pushed aside by inventions ministering more largely to human need. 
 The Mexican ox cart and the old spring wagon gave way to the loco- 
 motive, the automobile and the airship. 
 
 The history of nations is equally convincing in its testimony to the 
 law of change. Would you read the history of ancient civilizations, you 
 must go to the museums of the world, or take your pick and shovel and 
 open the tombs in which the colossal grandeur of these ancient civiliza- 
 tions have been entombed. God shook the earth and buried these civili- 
 zations that their places might be taken by others more worthy and 
 abiding. Lord Chamberlain recently compared the empire of Britain to 
 the Campanille of Florence; intimating that that great empire upon 
 which the sun never sets, will ultimately yield to the convulsions of time 
 to fall into ruins like the historic Campanille. 
 
 How true the melancholy words of the psalmist, — "As for man, his 
 days are as grass." One generation gives way to another. One nation 
 passes sadly from the stage to make room for the rise and glory of 
 another. The weapons with which we win our warfare today will be the 
 novelties of the museum cabinet tomorrow. The great temples, cathedrals 
 and monuments of the ages are crumbling into ruins. Theories of 
 science, speculations of philosophy, methods of business, customs of 
 society, systems of theology and creeds of religion are becoming anti- 
 quated. Scientists tell us the old world itself is gradually yielding to 
 the ravages of time — true to scripture prophesy, it is growing old as a 
 garment and like a vesture it shall be changed. 
 
 The journey of human life is like a man standing on the bank of a 
 mighty river with anything upon his field of vision in rapid, irresistible 
 and perpetual flow. In flaming letters he can see everywhere upon the 
 
47 
 
 face of history, in naming characters, transitoriness, change. God is 
 ever shaking the world and removing the things that are shaken that the 
 things that cannot be shaken may remain. In the midst of this con- 
 stant change and flow that characterize man's earthly environment, he 
 craves for something abiding upon which he can rest. The text comes to 
 the despair of the soul surrounded by the passing and transitory, with 
 the comforting assurance of the abiding. God has provided a resting 
 place for man's tired and weary soul. All the change and flow of time 
 are a part of God's preparation for the unfolding of the unchangeable 
 and eternal. God is moving the transitory things that the abiding things 
 may remain. What are the ultimate and abiding realities of Chris- 
 tianity? 
 
 First — The God of our Lord Jesus Christ is an abiding reality. 
 Ideas of God are almost as numerous and varied as there are nations 
 and races of men. These ideas of God are the transitory things that 
 God has been shaking and that must eventually pass out of human 
 belief, that the abiding reality of the God of our Lord Jesus Christ may 
 remain as the object of the abiding faith of universal humanity. The 
 ultimate in the revelation of God is given to us in Jesus Christ, who has 
 said, "God is light, God is Life, God is love" Jesus has exalted God so 
 high that the holiest and mightiest can never hope to rise above Him; 
 and yet, has brought Him so near that the poorest and sinfulest can 
 reach Him. His boundless love and compassion sweep down to the 
 lowest depths of sin and out upon the last horizon of human need. He 
 is the eternal, unchangeable, all sufficient, loving Father. As the north 
 star is a fixed point in the sky to guide the path of the mariner in every 
 northern sea, so the God of our Lord Jesus Christ is a polar star in the 
 sky of our humanity upon every sea of joy or trouble. In every anxious 
 hour upon the storm tossed sea of life, we can lift our eyes and hearts 
 in exuberant joy and triumphant hope to Him. Nothing can separate 
 us from Him. "He is able to save to the uttermost." He abideth faith- 
 ful. He cannot be shaken. "That the things that cannot be shaken may 
 remain." 
 
 The second great abiding reality of Christianity is the manhood of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ. "The man Christ Jesus." As the God revealed 
 in Christ is all adorable, all sufficient, unchangeable, eternal; so the man 
 revealed in Christ is unshakable. He is the all sufficient and eternal 
 man. Different types of men have been worshipped in different ages. 
 God has been shaking the earth and one after the other these types have 
 passed into oblivion. The world once worshipped the brute of Theseus; 
 the military genius of an Alexander; the duplicity of a Michavelli; the 
 political strategy of a Disraeli — these all have passed from the stage. 
 Today the money king has the center of the stage. But God is shaking 
 the earth and this type will soon pass into oblivion. Type after type 
 must continue to pass until the stage is prepared for the ideal man. 
 Old Testament prophets saw him in the far future and exclaimed in 
 rapture, "Behold my Servant whom I uphold, behold mine elect in whom 
 my soul delighteth." Socrates, Cicero and other great souls of the 
 ancient world longed for the coming of the ideal man. The great souls 
 of twenty centuries have rendered him enthusiastic obeisance. He 
 
48 
 
 brings great tidings to the poor, comforts the sorrowing, heals the sick, 
 feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, pardons the sinner, and gives hope 
 to the despairing, and life to the dying; and announces to humanity the 
 unending year of Jehovah's favor. All the voices in the universe pro- 
 claim his right to eternal reign. 
 
 "Human thoughts may change ana learning falter. 
 
 Creeds fail, forms perish, systems go. 
 
 but our human needs, they will not alter. 
 
 Christ no other age will e'er out grow. 
 
 Yea, Amen Thou changeless one 
 
 Thou only art life's guide and spiritual goal, 
 
 Thou the guide across the dark path lonely. 
 
 Thou the Spiritual haven of the Soul." 
 There is one goal towards which all humanity moves. Jesus is the 
 end of human destiny. "God appointed apostles, etc. Till we all attain 
 to a full grown man; To the measure of the stature of the fulness of 
 Christ." 
 
 The third great abiding reality of Christianity is the program of 
 Jesus. It is presented comprehensively in the four gospels. Its great 
 notes are sounded in the sermon on the mount. Its quintessence is the 
 golden rule. Humanity has known the communism of uncivilized life, 
 the slavery of ancient civilization, the feudalism of the middle ages. It 
 is in the closing days of selfish individualism of modern times, with 
 dark clouds in the sky presaging future trouble. Human society will 
 never find an abiding place until it rests in faith and love upon the 
 individual and social program for the world ennunciated by Jesus Christ 
 in His gospels. 
 
 The next is that the rewards of God are abiding. The God re- 
 vealed in Jesus Christ is the salvation and satisfaction of humanity. 
 Saint Augustine says: "Thou hast made man for Thyself and he will 
 be restless until he finds his rest in Thee." Man's sense of dependence 
 upon God is abiding. We are children of God and our eternal blessed- 
 ness will be the companionship of a Father's lcve. The rewards of this 
 world are perishing, its hope suffers eclipse, its promises deceive, its 
 pleasures are transcient; the pleasures of Christ are abiding satisfac- 
 tions. His promises are secure, His sun is never eclipsed, His inheri- 
 tance is incorruptible, undefiled and unfailing." 
 
49 
 
 The Centennial Pageant. 
 
 The "Centennial Pageant" was written by Mrs. Velma Shumway 
 Stokes. The costuming was by Mrs. Frank H. McKelvey. The staging by 
 Mrs. Donald O. Needham, all members of our church. The Pageant was 
 staged in the great Auditorium of the High School which was full of 
 interested people from all of Springfield. The editor, deeply grateful to 
 all, feels that only a faint idea of the most remarkable production can 
 be gained by reading it. However, it is included with some of the pic- 
 tures in this, our permanent records. 
 
 The Pageant Committee: Mr. J. L. Pickering, Miss Alice Bunn, Mrs. 
 R. C. Lanphier, Mr. B. L. Catron. 
 
 MUSIC 
 Old Gregorian Chant Quartette (off stage) 
 
 PROLOGUE 
 
 Marquette Brings the Message of Christ to the Land of the Illini. 
 
 Scene: Tableau: Marquette, pale and haggard, stands in center of stage 
 holding aloft a cross. Grouped behind him stand several friars, 
 some in black robes, some in grey, also three or four Canadian 
 voyageurs, in their colorful woodmen's clothes. Seated in a 
 semi-circle before this group are many Indians; braves, bucks, 
 maidens, squaws and children. 
 
 MUSIC 
 
 Blest Be the Tie That Binds (old tune) Quartette 
 
 (Off stage unless in costume.) 
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHORUS 
 
 Citizens and all assembled here, ye shall behold tonight 
 
 The history of our church's growth — 
 
 And yet not history in its stricter sense: — 
 
 A group of episodes that do but hint, 
 
 The struggles stern of early days: — 
 
 A picture painted with a lighter touch, 
 
 Yet here and there, a shadow to depict 
 
 The hardships of the pioneer. 
 
 And then down through the years that come 
 The picture brightens with the shifting times. 
 Life seems less stern. 
 And yet our growth goes on. 
 
50 
 
51 
 
 CHORUS READ BEFORE EPISODE I. 
 
 One hundred years ago tonight 
 
 Our church was born — a tiny thing, 
 
 And yet God gave an inner light; 
 
 A strength to grow, to live, to do. 
 
 A tiny thing, and yet He knew, 
 
 He visioned what this church might be, 
 
 And so He watched with loving care 
 
 As these, His children, tended. 
 
 He gave them Charity, and Hope, and Faith, 
 
 He gave them strength, and Love of Right. 
 
 He guided them, the hand that wrote 
 
 The covenant we read tonight. 
 
 That covenant, our corner stone 
 
 On which we've built this century through. 
 
 Our's is the task of building on — 
 
 Our's, and our children's children, too. 
 
 FIRST EPISODE. 
 OUR CHURCH ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. 
 
 Scene: Curtain rises on dark stage. Later the setting is revealed; a 
 room containing old fashioned furniture, amongst which is a 
 bed; enough benches and chairs to seat twelve persons and table 
 with old Family Bible. Set about the room are several unlighted 
 candles. 
 
 Characters: 
 
 Mrs. Smith Mrs. Edwards Brown 
 
 Rev. Ellis Julian Vallette 
 
 Nancy Humphries Mrs. John T. Thomas 
 
 Olive Slaytor Miss Jeanette Smith 
 
 James White Harold George 
 
 William Proctor Dr. E. E. Hazell 
 
 Isaiah Stiilman Arthur Kuster 
 
 John Moore Do^nel Hudson 
 
 Mary Moore Eva May DeBruler 
 
 Elizabeth Moore Miss Jemima Connelly 
 
 Catherine Moore Mrs. James S. King 
 
 Phoebe Moore Thelma Ramsey 
 
 John H. Moore Axtell Kramer 
 
 Andrew Moore Roderick Antrim 
 
 Samuel Reid Robert Butts 
 
 Elijah Scott S.J. Krogdahl 
 
 Jane Scott Miss Nelie Hemenway 
 
 Ann lies Miss Alice E. Orendorfe 
 
 Mrs. Smith enters, carrying lighted candle, goes about light- 
 ing other candles. 
 
 Loud knocking and stamping of feet — off-stage — Mrs. Smith 
 carries candle to door — holds it high in open door way, to light 
 those who enter: 
 
52 
 
 Rev. Ellis, Nancy Humphries. Olive Slaytor, James White. 
 William Proctor, Isaiah Stillman. John X. Moore, Elizabeth 
 Moore. Catherine Moore, and Margaret Mcore. carrying lighted 
 lanterns and three chairs. 
 
 Mrs. Smith: Welcome, folks. I'm glad the snow didn't keep you at home. 
 Come right in and lay cff your wraps. 
 
 From without loud rapping and stamping of feet. Mrs. 
 Smith again picks up candle and goes to door — enter Phoebe 
 Moore, Mary Moore. John Moore. Andrew Moore, Samuel Reid, 
 Elijah Scott, Jane Scott, and Ann lies, carrying four chairs and 
 lighted lanterns. 
 
 Mks. Smith: Come in neighbors, there's plenty of room for us all, I'm 
 sure. 
 
 Jane Scott: I regret tramping snow on your clear floor, Mrs. Smith. 
 
 Mrs. Smith: Don't you worry about the snow, Jane. I'll scrub up — 
 better snow than mud any day. 
 
 Isaiah Stillman: Kind of blustery cut. but I think the wind from off 
 the prairie is dying down. 
 
 John X. Moore: Yes. it's going to be clear cold and way below zero 
 before morning. 
 
 Olive Slaytor: I didn't lock to see you. Ann lies. What with moulding 
 candles and soap — making both, I allowed you'd not get done in 
 time. 
 
 Ann Iles: Well. I got the wicks all set, and the tallow poured into the 
 moulds, then just left it to harden. As for the soap, I worked 
 hard and fast; where there's a will, there's a way, Mary, and I 
 guess women the world over, can arrange their work, so as to 
 leave 'em time to go. 
 
 Mrs. Smith: How about you folks from Indian Creek? Are you all 
 fixed up for the night? What with these little houses and our 
 big families, it leaves scant room for hospitality. 
 
 Jane S(OTt: Yes. Mrs. Smith, the folks are all to be stowed in some 
 way. in my house, and Ann Iles. — Phoebe Moore's five children 
 are all sleeping crosswise in one trundle bed. while my own. 
 are rolled up in blankets on the flocr in front of the fire place. 
 I sometimes think the Lord has made our hearts bigger than our 
 cabins. 
 
 Johx Moore: Better that than the other way about, Sister Scott, for 
 what good are roomy mansions, where hearts are small? 
 
 Mrs. Smith: That's the gospel truth. Brother Moore, but candles are 
 burning low. and I know you're all anxious to get home before 
 the snow drifts get too deep, so lets set about the business of 
 our meeting. As you well know, it has long been in my heart to 
 have some sort of Presbyterian organization in Springfield or 
 hereabouts, and now. alter tamest prayer and supplication, the 
 Lord has opened the way. The General Assembly has appointed 
 the Rev. John Ellis of Jacksonville, to act as moderator at this 
 organization meeting. Brother Ellis is, as you know, one of the 
 three resident preachers in the State of Illinois, and is located 
 
53 
 
 in the neighboring village of Jacksonville, where he is doing a 
 noble work, not only preaching but in teaching. Already he is 
 making Jacksonville one of the great centers of learning in the 
 West by his work in establishing Illinois College. Jacksonville 
 Female Academy was organized in his home and is indeed an 
 innovation for these parts, and truly we all are praying for his 
 success. Brother Ellis, will you as moderator, take charge of 
 the meeting? 
 Brother Ellis: Sister Smith is indeed generous in her praise of other's 
 work, but says naught of her own. It was she who, by letter, 
 laid our needs before the General Assembly, back East, and be- 
 cause of that letter, the Assembly sent two Presbyterian Mis- 
 sionaries to the West, where for the past eight years, they have 
 spread the gospel and done much to further Christian work. 
 And again it is to Sister Smith, that we owe whatever good we 
 accomplish here tonight. Brother Stillman, I should like you to 
 act as clerk, if you will. Before we enter upon the work of 
 actual organization let us have a full and free discussion of our 
 needs and the possibilities that lie at hand. Let us open with a 
 word of prayer. (All stand.) Oh, Lord, Thou Who seest the 
 vision that lies in the hearts of these, Thy people, may You give 
 them the strength and the wisdom for their task. Not alone the 
 labor of planting the seed of Thy truth on these broad prairies, 
 but also the task of seeing that the seed falls not on stony 
 ground. For it is in the hearts and lives of our youths, that the 
 ground must be made fallow. And so we ask Thy blessing, not 
 alone on this, Thy hand maiden, nor the circle of God-fearing 
 men and women gathered about her, but more especially, Oh, 
 Lord, do we pray you to bless cur little children who lie sleep- 
 ing in their homes, scattered over the prairie. For it is to our 
 children and our children's children that we must hand on our 
 task. Theirs will be the labor and the joy of fulfilling cur vision 
 —a Church of God— its roots planted deep in this prairie soil, 
 its branches wide spreading, and its fruitage abundant. Amen.' 
 Let us hear from you on this subject, Brother. 
 (All seat themselves.) 
 
 Andrew Moore: We feel, Brother Ellis, that there are enough Presby- 
 terians here and at Indian Creek, to form some sort of organiza- 
 tion. Our need is great, how best to fulfill that need, is our 
 problem. 
 
 Samuel Reed: Our need is indeed great, and I thought today, as I 
 passed the log jail, with the whipping post close beside it, how 
 speedily in this new country, we had provided the means for 
 punishing the evil doers in this life; yet how we had failed to 
 warn them of the punishment which follows in the world to 
 come. Should not we, as God fearing Christians, warn these 
 sinners of the danger of hellfire? 
 
 Nancy Humphries: Nor should we neglect to tell them of the glories of 
 the life everlasting promised to them that love the Lord and 
 keep His commandments. 
 
54 
 
 William Pboctor: As in Sister Smith's heart there has long been the 
 vision of Presbyterianism in these parts, so too, it has long been 
 a hope in my heart, that the Lord would spare my life until that 
 day comes, wherein I see, here in Springfield, a resident preacher 
 of our faith to conduct divine service in a Presbyterian meeting 
 house. Not a log meeting house, nor yet frame, but even brick. 
 May the Lord grant my prayer. 
 
 J a. mls White: Amen! but e'er that vision materializes there is much 
 to be done in our village as it is today. Springfield is now a 
 settlement of some 200 inhabitants. 35 or more log cabins and 
 even 4 or 5 two-story frame residences. Can we not then find 
 some door that will open to us, that we may worship God? 
 
 Elijah Scott: Being a close friend of Erastus Wright, the school 
 master, I feel certain that we may have the use of the log school 
 "house which stands in the Hazel thicket. 
 
 Samuel Reid: That will be a worthy meeting house, Brother Scott, and 
 one we will do well to use; but should we expect to hold all our 
 meetings in Springfield? In looking about me, I realize that 
 only six of us. (and those six, women) live within this village 
 proper. The rest of us who call Springfield our home, in reality 
 live within a radius of some five miles. While those others, per- 
 haps one-half of this gathering, live at Indian Creek, twenty 
 miles to the north. Should not Indian Creek have its share of 
 meetings? 
 
 Andrew Moore: You are right brother. We of Indian Creek would like 
 to have our share of the services; and though we have no school 
 house, my home is ever open for the worship of the Lord. 
 
 Elizabeth Moore: And mine. 
 
 Catherine Moore: And mine. 
 
 William Proctor: Why not then let us plan to worship on alternate 
 Sabbaths, here and at Indian Creek. The session could likewise 
 arrange its meetings. For a ride of but twenty miles, be it 
 through snow or mud or the heat of the prairies, is but a small 
 price to pay for the joy of worshipping the Lord. And my 
 horses and my wagon will carry those who could not go otherwise. 
 
 James White: And my wagon too may be used for the neighbors. 
 
 Rev. Ellis: Your willingness of spirit has been proved. Let us therefore 
 set about the organization. 
 
 William Proctor: I have here certain resolutions prepared. May I pre- 
 sent them? Be it resolved that a church be formed to be known 
 by the name of the Sangamo Presbyterian Church. The follow- 
 ing brethren to be duly elected elders, viz: John Moore, Samuel 
 Reid, Isaiah Stillman, John X. Moore, and Isaiah Stillman. 
 Clerk. 
 
 (Men rise, and stand, as their names are called.) 
 
 Brother Ellis: Are you willing to serve. 
 
 John Moore, Isaiah Stillman, Samuel Reid. John X. Moore: I willingly 
 accept these responsibilities. 
 
 James White: I move these resolutions be adopted, as read. 
 
 
55 
 
 Andrew Moore: I second that motion. 
 
 Rev. Ellis: It has been moved and seconded that these resolutions be 
 adopted. All in favor make it known by saying "Aye." 
 
 In Chorus, All: Aye. 
 
 Rev. Ellis: Contrary, "no." The ayes have it. 
 
 Elijah Scott: May 1 present for adoption the following covenant: 
 
 We, the subscribers, anxious to secure to ourselves and 
 others the privileges and ordinances of the Gospel, do solemnly 
 agree to receive each other in the love and fellowship of JESUS 
 CHRIST, and walk together as heirs of the grace of life, taking 
 the word of GOD as the rule and guide of our faith and practice, 
 building only on the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, 
 JESUS CHRIST Himself being the chief Coroner Stone. We en- 
 gage to aid each others' growth in grace and knowledge, to watch 
 over each other in Christian affection, in faithfulness to reprove 
 and exhort with all long suffering. Relying on the grace of God, 
 we will strive so to live and walk before the world as becomes 
 the children of the most High; and we will endeavor to promote 
 the cause of vital godliness in the place where we live, esteem- 
 ing like Moses the reproach of Christ greater riches than the 
 treasures in Egypt, having respect to the recompense of the re- 
 ward. We will seek first the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom 
 which is not of this world. Admonishing one another daily, lest 
 any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and stirred 
 up each other's pure minds by way of remembrance to be faith- 
 ful unto death, that we may receive the crown of life, "looking 
 unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who, for the 
 joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the 
 shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God." 
 And we adopt for our Constitution, Confession of Faith, etc., 
 that of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the 
 United States, regarding that, as every other summary of Chris- 
 tian doctrine and discipline drawn by uninspired men not as 
 absolutely perfect, but as being more conformable to the doctrine 
 and precepts of the Gospel than any other within our knowledge. 
 
 John Moore: I move the covenant be adopted as it stands. 
 
 Andrew Moore: I second the motion. 
 
 Rev. Ellis: It has been moved and seconded that the covenant be 
 adopted as it stands, and those in favor voting "aye." 
 
 Chorus, All: Aye. 
 
 Brother Ellis: Contrary, "no." The Ayes have it. This concludes the 
 business of the evening. May we not before we adjourn rise and 
 join in singing Old Hundred. 
 
 All Sing: 
 
 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; 
 Praise Him all creatures here below; 
 Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; 
 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost — Amen. 
 
 (As they turn to put on wraps, curtain falls.) 
 
5G 
 
 CHORUS READ BY MISS MARGARET BROOKS BEFORE 
 EPISODE II. 
 
 The records of this church, in voting leather tomes, 
 
 A treasure house of ancient love, they seem. 
 
 One turns the pages, lost in thought. 
 
 One glimpse love and sorrow too — 
 
 Weddings and births and deaths. 
 
 The mooted question of the black man's rights 
 
 Throbs through the pages of these tomes. 
 
 Help for the needy and courage for the weak — 
 
 Advice and watchful care 
 
 For those whose footsteps stray. 
 
 All this is chronicled within these ancient books. 
 
 Time changes manners, customs, modes — 
 And, reading through these archives old, 
 These musty books with faded script 
 One watches pictures of the past unfold. 
 
 SECOND EPISODE- 
 CULLED FROM THE OLD RECORDS. 
 
 Scene: Interior of room in church at Third and Washington. Several 
 straight chairs; a large plain table on which lie books and 
 papers. On the wall hangs a map of the Holy Land. Girl's 
 wraps lie on chairs at back 
 
 Characters: 
 
 Mary — a vivacious girl, very merry Dorothy Btjrtle 
 
 Phoebe — Dreamy and romantic; pretty Edith Loefelek 
 
 Amelia — a bit older and more serious minded. . Gertrude Loefelek 
 Members of the session. 
 
 The Elders: 
 
 Rev. Mr. Bergen Dr. John T. Thomas 
 
 Elder Torrey J. L. Pickering 
 
 Elder Stone Isaac R. Diller 
 
 Elder Wiley J. C. Hanna 
 
 Eider Lamb Shelby C. Dorwin 
 
 Mary: (Pushing chair back from table.) There, it's done at last! 
 Wonder what time it is? 
 
 Phoebe: (Going to window and looking out.) Well, the shadows are 
 getting pretty long, I should think it was along toward four 
 o'clock. Almost time for the session meeting. 
 
 Mary: It wasn't really so much work, after all. When Dr. Bergen said 
 we were to hunt out all the baptisms in the church, I said, "Oh, 
 Dr. Bergen, not all those records; why, that's a lifetime job; the 
 church must be at least twenty years eld." And he just smiled 
 and said, "But, Mary child, they've been such short, happy 
 years." 
 
Phoebe: Isn't Dr. Bergen a dear old man? But, twenty years is a long 
 time, nevertheless! I was complaining, too, at the prospect of 
 going through all "those dull old records" and father said, 
 "Phoebe, those books are chuck full of romance, far more inter- 
 esting than any novel, because it's all true." But, of course, I 
 took that statement with a grain of salt, as I always do those 
 homilies of father's. But, would you believe, when I picked up 
 this musty old book, it fell open right to the very page which 
 was the record of the first marriage ever performed in the old 
 church. 'Twas March, 1832, and there, in faded ink, were the 
 names, "Mi. William Porter and Miss Margaret Klein." My own 
 father and mother, and from that minute, I knew Father was 
 right, and there was romance in these old pages! Then, too, 
 finding my own name among the baptisms gave me a thrill, and 
 the name of the little brother who died before I was born. That 
 made me feel sad, but some way, it made me have a sort of iove 
 for the old books. 
 
 Azuelia: And think of their historical interest. There isn't a page in 
 them that doesn't paint a picture of those early days. Our first 
 meeting place, the log school house, built at the intersection of 
 two streets, because nobody would give a lot for the purpose. 
 The contractor burning his own brick for our first church, the 
 first brick church in the whole state of Illinois, just think of 
 that — Notices of services to be held by old Peter Cartwright 
 (Mother remembers him in his big fur hat). And the day the 
 mob marched on the church, demanding the slavery meeting be 
 adjourned, and our old bell ringing to drown out the cries of the 
 mob. Elijah Lovejoy was killed by the Alton rioters less than 
 three weeks later, but he was here that day. I can see him now, 
 as he stood defying that mob of angry men. 
 
 Mary: (Interrupts.) La, La, Amelia, you never saw Elijah Lovejoy in 
 your life, and you wouldn't know him if he walked in this room. 
 this very minute— but it's just like you to see the historical in- 
 cidents and like Phoebe to see the romance in these records; 
 while all I see is the humor. 
 
 Both: Humor? In these books? 
 
 Mary: Certainly, isn't it funny to think now of dear old Elder Blank, 
 as having been once cited before the session for the sin of pro- 
 fanity. And that meek old man who always sits in the back 
 pew. remember him? (Girls nod.) Well, he wasn't always so 
 meek. Once when he needed some money, he got rid of his team 
 of horses by selling chances. And when the session heard what 
 he was doing, they said he was running a lottery, and he must 
 stop it at once. But he replied that he'd sold lots of tickets and 
 he'd given his word, and he "allowed he'd have to go through 
 with it." And he did, too! That meek old man! (Laugh 
 heartily.) 
 
 Phoep.e: Well, you come pretty near being a back slider, yourself! And 
 some day, if you're not careful, somebody may be reading about 
 
58 
 
 your being cited before the session, too. I never knew anybody 
 
 whose toes itched to dance, the way yours do. 
 Mary: Backslider! Me a backslider, merely because I'd like to go to a 
 
 dance? Why, Dr. Bergen's own daughter, Mrs. Jones, when she 
 
 was a girl, once really went to a ball! 
 Amelia: Oh, no, she didn't go to a ball, she went to a celebration they 
 
 gave when they moved the State Capitol here. And then after 
 
 she got there, they turned it into a ball. But just the very first 
 
 minute she heard 'em tuning up the fiddles for a cotillion, she 
 
 fairly flew out of that hall, fast as she could go! 
 Phoebe: (Estatically.) Just as Cinderella did 
 Maby: (Holds up hands in amazement.) Now T , who, but Phoebe, could 
 
 picture staid Mrs. Jones as Cinderella! 
 
 (Enter members of session and girls rise to go.) 
 Member 1: Sorry to disturb you, ladies, but the session has weighty 
 
 matters to discuss. 
 Amelia: Oh, we were just going anyway. Here is the list of baptisms, 
 
 Dr. Bergen said you wanted. 
 
 (Girls get wraps while Amelia is speaking and exit when she 
 
 finishes. Session gathers about table.) 
 
 SESSION MEETING. 
 (Supposed date March 30th, 1843.) 
 
 (This is to follow immediately after the scene in which three young 
 
 girls talk over what they have discovered from the records regarding the 
 
 early times in the history of the church.) 
 
 Enter three of the elders — James L. Lamb, Edmund R. Wiley, and 
 
 Asahel Stone. 
 
 Elder Wiley: Sorry to disturb you, ladies, but a session meeting has 
 been called for this hour and we have important business to 
 transact. 
 
 One of the Girls: Oh, we are all through and this is our report. 
 
 Elder Wiley: Yes, yes, give it to Brother Stone who is the clerk. 
 
 Elder Lamb: Well, well, I don't know as my feet are in very good shape 
 to come into the church. The mud is pretty bad out our way — 
 but I did the best I could. 
 
 Elder Wiley: I found it mighty bad going as I came up that big hill. 
 I thought my good horse w r as going to be stalled entirely — but 
 he made it, though he was blowing hard when I put him in your 
 stable, Brother Stone. 
 
 Elder Stone: I guess the members of the legislature will have pretty 
 tough going if they try to go home before their session closes. 
 Do you reckon they'll pass that bill about a railroad from Alton 
 to Springfield? I'm afraid 'twill be a long time — hello, here's 
 Brother Torrey— How are the roads out your way? 
 
 Elder Torrey (entering): Bad enough, bad enough. I tell you gentle- 
 men what this Illinois country needs is railroads — and they'll 
 conif! 1 have greal faith in the future of this Mississippi Val- 
 
59 
 
 ley. I believe we will all live to see a real network covering our 
 prairies — a through line from St. Louis clear up to Lake 
 Michigan. 
 
 Elder Lamb: You mean running to that new town She-caw-go? You 
 don't really think that will ever amount to much do you? 
 
 Elder Torrey: Yes, I do. I prophesy that it will be a great city some 
 day — bigger than St. Louis — as big as Philadelphia, with rail- 
 roads going from it in all directions. 
 
 Elder Lamb: Well, well, — you always do see the golden side of things. 
 
 Elder Torrey: You just wait! 
 
 Elder Lamb: I'm a-waiting! Where's the minister? 
 
 Elder Stone: I understand he is visiting the sick and will be a little 
 late — ah! here he comes now! Good evening, Dr. Bergen. 
 
 Dr. Bergen (entering) : Good evening, good evening, gentlemen. I hope 
 I have not unduly delayed you. 
 
 All: No, sir! We have not been here long. 
 
 Elder Stone: And we knew what had detained you. 
 
 Dr. Bergen: Yes, the poor soul! She is very ill indeed, and she feels 
 a need of the comforts of religion. Now, brethren let us come to 
 order as a session. First, let us invoke the Divine blessing. 
 (All rise.) 0, Lord, our Heavenly Father, we look to thee in 
 gratitude for all that we have and all that we hope for; and 
 especially for thy presence which thou hast promised even when 
 two or three are gathered together in thy name. Guide us in all 
 deliberations and may all be for the glory of thy kingdom. 
 Amen. 
 
 Dr. Bergen: Mr. Clerk, you may if you please, read the minutes of the 
 last meeting. 
 
 Elder Stone— Clerk, (reads) : February 15th, 1843. The session met 
 according to due notice. Present, John G. Bergen, minister; 
 Elders James L. Lamb and E. W. Wiley. 
 Absent, J. Torrey and A. Stone. 
 Opened with prayer. 
 
 The following named persons were received members of the 
 church on examination: Miss Mary Johnson, Miss Ann 
 Mahance, Mrs. Bettina Chapin, Mr. Merrick Chapin and Mr. 
 Charles D. Butler; and the following on certificate: Mr. John 
 Mahance, a ruling elder of the church of Pleasant Ridge, Ohio, 
 and Miss Mary K. Mahance from the same; Mr. Andrew John- 
 son and Mrs. Sarah Johnson from the church of Cincinnati; 
 Mr. Calvin Goudy, Jacksonville, and Mr. Charles R. Wells of the 
 church of Yale College; and Mrs. Sarah Margaret Baxter of 
 Pleasant Ridge, Ohio. 
 
 Adjourned. Concluded with prayer. 
 
 Dr. Bergen: Are there any corrections to be made in the minutes? If 
 not, they stand approved as read. Is there any committee ready 
 to report? 
 
 Elder Wiley: Mr. Moderator, Brother Lamb and myself were appointed 
 some time ago as a committee to wait on Mrs. Doretha Grant, 
 
60 
 
(51 
 
 a member of this church who was charged with unchristian 
 conduct by treating a colored girl, bound to her, with undue 
 severity. We have carefully inquired into the whole case and 
 after a free and full conference with Mrs. Grant, we wish to re- 
 port as our finding the following: (Reads) That Mrs. Grant's 
 general treatment of the girl was good and kind; she has uni- 
 formly clothed her and nursed her in sickness and endeavored 
 to give her that intellectual and religious training which duty 
 required of her. The charge of general ill-treatment therefore 
 the committee believe to be entirely unfounded. 
 
 With regard to whipping the girl with a cowhide, Mrs. 
 Grant states that she had been in the habit of correcting the 
 girl, when she thought her conduct required it and did not 
 think she was correcting her any more severely than she had 
 done at other times; she was not aware at the time that any 
 marks were caused on her body by this whipping and can ac- 
 count for it only from its being done with a different instru- 
 ment from what she had formerly used, the severe effects of 
 which she was unconscious. Mrs. Grant acknowledges that the 
 whipping was too severe and not accompanied with that mercy 
 which the Christian should always exercise. For the reproach 
 which has thus been brought on the church through her means, 
 she is sincerely sorry and asks the forgiveness of her fellow 
 members as she does also of her God. (Hands in report.) 
 
 Mr. Moderator, I move the approval of this, the committee's 
 finding by the session and that this be recorded in the minutes 
 of the session and be published to the church. 
 
 Elder Stone: I second the motion. 
 
 Db. Bergen: Is there any discussion before a vote is taken? 
 
 Elder Torrey: Mr. Moderator, I believe the report is made in sincerity 
 and good faith and probably this is the wisest action to be taken 
 and I will therefore vote for it, but I stand here to prophesy 
 that before our children pass from this life, this whole curse of 
 negro slavery and bondage of every kind except as a punish- 
 ment for crime, will be wiped out of this, the land of the free 
 and the home of the brave. 
 
 Elder Lamb: There you go again, prophesying! Is this prophecy to be 
 fulfilled before that wonderful prophecy about the little town in 
 the mud upon Lake Michigan? 
 
 Dr. Bergen: Brethren, let us speak only words of kindness and 
 harmony. All these great forward steps in the advance of civili- 
 zation and righteousness will no doubt be taken in God's good 
 time. May His will be done. Those in favor of the motion will 
 manifest it by saying "Aye." 
 
 All: Aye. 
 
 Dr. Bergen: Opposed, no. The motion is unanimously carried. 
 
 Dr. Bergen: Is there further business to come before the session? 
 
 Elder Stone: Mr. Moderator, I have another committee report. 
 
 Dr. Bergen: We will hear it now, Brother Stone. 
 
62 
 
 Elder Stone: The duty was laid upon me in an informal way at our 
 last meeting of talking with two young women of the church of 
 whom it was said that they had been dancing contrary to the 
 rules of the church. These were Miss Barrett and Miss Davis. 
 I have seen these two young women whose character in all other 
 respects is above reproach, as we all know, brethren, and while 
 they acknowledge the truth of the report, they assure me that 
 they had no consciensness of doing anything wrong at the time, 
 and that they had just looked upon dancing as a form of inno- 
 cent amusement and did not know it was forbidden by the rules 
 of the church as a very dangerous amusement. 
 
 One of them asked me if the Bible does not recount that 
 David, a man after God's own heart, danced publicly before the 
 Lord. I do not believe, Mr. Moderator and brethren that this 
 question was asked in any spirit of frivolousness, but was sin- 
 cere. I told her that David the King of Israel did several 
 things in his day and generation which we cannot approve, and 
 that his performance could hardly be considered an example for 
 young females today. 
 
 Then, Dr. Bergen, she rather stumped me by saying, "Well. 
 David wasn't a Presbyterian anyhow, was he?" I declare I 
 hardly knew what to say but I told her that anyhow David was 
 not a member in good standing of the First Presbyterian Church 
 of Springfield! 
 
 The two young girls professed repentance for what they had 
 done and promised not to offend again. 
 
 Dr. Bergen: I take it brethren, that we may safely record in the 
 minutes the gist of what Elder Stone has reported and if it be 
 your will, we will direct the clerk to make a note to that effect. 
 
 Elders (speaking all at once): "Yes indeed" — "that would be my idea." 
 "I approve that." 
 
 Dr. Bergex : If there is no further business to come before the session 
 a motion to adjourn is in order. 
 
 Elder Torrey: I so move. 
 
 Elder Lamb: I second the motion. 
 
 Dr. Bergex: Those in favor say "Aye." We are adjourned and will 
 close with a word of prayer led by Brother Stone. 
 
 Elder Stone: O, God, our strength in times of old, be with us in these 
 times and guide us always in the light of thy truth, and help us 
 always to dwell together in brotherly love. For Jesus sake, we 
 ask it — Amen. 
 
 Elder Torrey (after the closing of the session meeting) : Dr. Bergen 
 we butchered last Tuesday at our place and had four mighty fine 
 shoats. I thought maybe you could make use of a little fresh 
 pork. 
 
 Dr. Bergen (taking it): Well now, Brother Torrey, that's mighty fine 
 of you and Mrs. Torrey. I thank you for myself and my family 
 and am sure we shall enjoy it. 
 
 Elder Wiley: We hain't butchered yet, Dr. Bergen, but will remember 
 you when we do. 
 
63 
 
 Elder Lamb: Good thing, — haw, haw! — Dr. Bergen, isn't it, that the 
 forbidding of pork is like King David himself — belongs to the 
 Old Dispensation! — haw, haw! 
 
 (Dr. Bergen smiles in dignified manner and the others all 
 go out laughing at Elder Lamb's little joke — except Elder Stone 
 who tries in vain to explain his attitude about King David and 
 his dancing, "No, brethren, that isn't the point — you see I told 
 the young women — that — " 
 
 MUSIC 
 Solo or duet (women in costume) "Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party" 
 
 CHORUS READ BEFORE EPISODE III. 
 
 Let women chatter as they work (for women will!) 
 
 Talk lightens work, and women's tongues are seldom still, 
 
 Tis thus their tasks are done. 
 
 Their talk of common, trivial things 
 
 A knowledge oft, to others brings 
 
 Of times and folk, long gone. 
 
 Let women chatter as they work, (for women will!) 
 
 Talk lightens work, and women's tongues are seldom still — 
 
 'Tis thus the picture's drawn. 
 
 THIRD EPISODE. 
 THE LADIES AID SOCIETY QUILTING BEE. 
 
 Scene: A parlor of the late sixties or early seventies. Two quilting 
 frames; chairs enough for the following characters: 
 
 Characters : 
 
 Mrs. White, a young mother Miss Elsie Logan 
 
 Mrs. Wilson, an older woman, dignified; good voice 
 
 Miss Eliza Condell 
 
 Mrs. Thompson, another older woman of same type 
 
 , Mrs. J. C Hanna 
 
 Lillie, rather large, ccquettishly inclined, gossipy 
 
 Mrs. C B. Stuart 
 
 Sallie, young, pretty, flirtatious Mrs. Josephine McCoy 
 
 Julia, sharp tongued, "catty" Miss Mary E. Brown 
 
 Jessie, strong minded, advanced Mrs. Hazel Larrimore 
 
 Laura Miss Janet Williams 
 
 Jane Miss Katherine Swafford 
 
 Lulu Mrs. Robert E. Smith 
 
 Molly Mrs. Isabelle Cotjtrakon 
 
 Lucy Mrs. A. L. Hereford 
 
 Delia Mrs. Frank Partridge 
 
 Jenny Mrs. C. C. Therrien 
 
 Fanny Mrs. Edna Orendorff Macpherson 
 
64-. 
 
 c 
 
(55 
 
 Martha Mrs. Roy Donaldson 
 
 Johnny, a boy of eight or ten Cutter Therrien 
 
 Mary, his little sister Elizabeth Smith 
 
 Mrs. White: (Giving finishing touch to Mary' sash, and Johnny's hair.) 
 You children do try and behave yourselves, play in the back 
 yard quietly, and, Johnny, remember, you're not to tease Mary — 
 not once — and don't get all dirty. 
 
 Johnny: But, Mother, why do we have to stay in the back yard? 
 Can't we come in when the ladies have ice cream — if we stay 
 nice and clean, can't we mother? please? 
 
 Mrs. White: No, dear, you're not to come in at all — not once. Mother'll 
 give you some ice cream after the ladies have gone. Now, run 
 along, and be good to your sister, Johnny. 
 
 Johnny: Yes, 'am. 
 
 He gives sister's hair a yank and runs out through dining 
 room door. Sister whimpers, Mrs. White pats her, and she fol- 
 lows Johnny, as Mrs. White goes to opposite door, in response to 
 knocking. She opens door, and a woman enters. 
 
 Mrs. White: How do you do. Oh, what a fine new dress, Sallie, who 
 made it? 
 
 Sallie: Why Miss Van Nostrand, of course, she makes everybody's, 
 doesn't she? 
 
 Mrs. White: Turn around, dear, and let's see the back. It sets beau- 
 tifully (patting back of waist) your figure's perfect, Sallie. Such 
 a tiny waist and curving hips. I don't believe you've fallen off 
 — not a pound — in spite of the late hours you've been keeping, 
 this winter. 
 
 Sallie: Well, I do try to eat plenty, for, of course, I would hate to lose 
 my figure! 
 
 (Door opens and a group of women enter.) 
 
 Laura: Shall we walk right in? Oh, see Sallie's new dress. 
 
 Sallie: Well, you look mighty fresh and spring-like, yourself. That 
 bonnet's bewitching. 
 
 Jane: Isn't it? There's nothing like plumes, for style. 
 
 Sallie: Yes, that's what Miss Griffiths says. She told me that when 
 she went to New York to buy her spring stock, every lady on 
 Fifth Avenue was wearing plumes, plumes, plumes. 'Twas all 
 she saw! 
 
 (Enter another group of women.) 
 
 Jessie: Good afternoon, everybody. (Turns to Mrs. White.) As we 
 came in your two darling little cherubs were hanging on the 
 front gate. Mary's so sweet, and Johnny has the face of an 
 angel. 
 
 Lulu: And how do you keep them so spotlessly clean? 
 
 Mrs. White: They are little cherubs, if I do say it, and Johnny's so 
 sweet and gentle with his little sister. 
 (Enter another group.) 
 
 Mrs. White: Hello, girls, everybody's coming at once, go on in the 
 bedroom and lay off your shawls and bonnets. (As they all go 
 into other room, Johnny's head appears in outer doorway.) 
 
66 
 
 Johnny: Mother, Mother, have they eaten their ice cream yet? 
 Mrs. White: Johnny, you go straight out into the back yard, and stay 
 there. If you don't mind what I say. you can't have one bite of 
 ice cream! Not one bite! 
 
 (Johnny's head disappears and ladies enter, without wraps.) 
 Mrs. White: Let's get to quilting — we can talk as we work, you know. 
 (Some place themselves around quilting frames, others sew 
 on small pieces of work. All take thimbles, thread, etc., out of 
 reticules carried on arms, thread needles, etc., while Martha picks 
 up a "spool wagon.") 
 Martha: Oh, what a dear spool wagon. Where'd you get it, Lucy? 
 Lucy: Belle Hawley — cr Belle Brinkerhoff, I should say — brought it 
 to me when she and George came back from the East. She and 
 George did have such a good time. Stopped in Gettysburg to 
 visit the Brinkerhoff family. Belle says they're all awfully nice 
 folks. 
 Mollie: Oh, I almost forgot. I've just heard the most interesting piece 
 of news. I promised not to tell who it is, but there's going to 
 be a big wedding, in this town before long. 
 Chorus: Oh. Mollie — do tell — please — we won't tell — who is it? 
 Delia: Sallie, I just bet it's Sallie! 
 Jennie: Please, Sallie, get the C. & A. to put on a train to St. Louis 
 
 later in the day. I do hate to get up so early in the morning! 
 Sallie: Don't worry about my wedding being early in the morning. 
 I'll probably be a forlorn old maid, all my life, just because I'll 
 never love any man well enough to marry him in time to start 
 on my wedding journey at six a. m. 
 Julia: Well, Sallie, if you do turn out to be an old maid, that'll be a 
 
 grand excuse! 
 Fannie: Nonsense. Sallie'll never be an old maid. Why. Sallie has all 
 the beaux in town. 
 
 Married or single, it makes no difference (counting on 
 fingers) Tom Mather, Joe Perkins, Col. Vredenburgh, Chris 
 Brown, Joe Condell, Dr. Pasfield. George Black, John Bunn, 
 Pascal Enos; they all sigh for Sallie! 
 Delia: Oh, Sallie, do have a grand affair — 
 Mollie: With a macaroon pyramid — 
 Lucy: And a thirty-six egg bride's cake! 
 Jennie: Don't forget the egg nog, Sallie! 
 
 Sallie: Girls, you embarrass me horribly. I really intended never to 
 get married at all, but you make it sound so alluring — well, 
 maybe I will get up early enough some morning to catch that 
 train! 
 MRS. Wilson: You young folks ought to be glad there's a train to 
 catch. In my day, the brides had to go to St. Louis by car- 
 riage — a nd if the roads were too terribly muddy, we simply had 
 to abandon the wedding trip. 
 Chorus: No wedding trip — how dreadful — just think of it. 
 Mrs. Thompson: And all our household goods came overland by wagon, 
 four and six horses to the wagon. When the roads were bad — 
 
67 
 
 and they usually were. I remember well, the time Ninian Ed- 
 wards sold a lot on the east side of the square for $100.00, and 
 he and Mrs. Edwards went to St. Louis to spend that money. 
 They had to stay down there a week or more because it rained 
 so, but when they did get back, they brought a marble topped 
 table. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson: And the excitement it caused. 'Twas the first marble 
 topped table in Springfield.. 
 
 Jennie: The first marble topped table, Mrs. Wilson? Why, I thought 
 they'd always had 'em. 
 
 Laura: Just imagine! A parlor without a marble topped table! 
 
 Jane: Like a bedroom without a bed, how funny! 
 
 Mollie: Say, have you heard that the new Doctor and his wife are com- 
 ing into our church? 
 
 Fannie: Who, Dr. Henning? 
 
 Mollie: Yes, he bore witness in prayer meeting last night. 
 
 Lulu: Oh, and he has the funniest voice, high and squeaky, just like a 
 woman's. 
 
 Delia: Yes, and Mr. John Owsley sat way up in front where he couldn't 
 see who it was talking, and he thought it was a woman. He 
 came out of church fussing and fuming cause "some woman in 
 the back of the church had spoken out in meeting." Or, as he 
 put it, "To think, that a female should raise her voice in the 
 house of God." 
 
 Jessie: And why shouldn't females raise their voices in the house of 
 God? They helped raise the money to build 'em! Why the 
 First Presbyterian Church, itself, was started by a woman. And 
 when the church needed a communion set, it was the ladies that 
 bought and paid for it — solid silver, it is, too, and I've heard 
 my mother tell how they raised the money by giving flower 
 shows in the State Capitol, and tableaux in Cooks Hall, and then 
 when they were still short, they walked mile after mile, col- 
 lecting from the ladies, twenty-five and fifty cents at a house. 
 
 Fannie: Didn't they have any men in the church — men like B. H. 
 Ferguson, to help 'em out? 
 
 Jessie: I don't suppose so. It's not every congregation that has a Ben 
 Ferguson; always willing to make up the deficits. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson: And our old bronze bell, Jessie, don't forget that the 
 young ladies of the congregation paid $1,300.00 for that bell. It's 
 the only thing we brought over from the old church. And every 
 Sunday, as I hear it ringing up in this tall spire, I think of all 
 the sally lun, and pound cake, and beaten biscuits I made to 
 help pay for it, and it's tones sound pretty sweet to me. 
 
 Jessie: $1,300.00! and yet we ladies mustn't raise our voices in the 
 Lord's house! Why, the men — 
 
 Julia: Now, Jessie, don't get off on that hobby of yours. Once you get 
 started on woman's rights — and how you believe that the woman 
 should be allowed to vote in the town elections — 
 
 Lulu: What, women go to the polls, oh, Jessie, how awful! 
 
68 
 
 Jessie: What's awful about it? Not lady-like, I suppose! We're not 
 smart enough? Think of Lizzie Ercwn. I guess she's smarter 
 than lots of the men in this town. Why, she's a member of the 
 Board of the Northwest, and she made the address of welcome in 
 Chicago! 
 Lulu: Well, she's a preacher's wife— that makes a difference, I 'spose. 
 And then, too, she lived with the Lincolns in the White House, 
 for a while. 
 Jane: Don't you suppose Springfield seemed awfully dull, when she 
 
 came back here? 
 Mollle: Dull ? Springfield dull? Why, when Julia Jayne married 
 Lyman Trumbull and went to Washington to live, she said she 
 didn't see a woman there, any handsomer than Lizzie Bunn, no, 
 nor one as sweet as Sue Cook, nor any that could talk as prettily 
 as Mary Todd. 
 Lucy: And as for gaity — why, we have governor's levees, and promen- 
 ade parties, and, surely, no place could be gayer than Spring- 
 field, on New Year's, with everybody keeping open-house. 
 Jane: Oh, yes, our New Years are gay, I'll admit. Why shouldn't they 
 
 be, with all the egg nog that we serve? 
 Mrs. Wilson: You're right, girls, Springfield is gay — too gay, since the 
 war, I think. It used to be that the churches were the social 
 centers of the town. And a church social was a function, not to 
 be missed by any one, be they Presbyterian, Episcopalian, 
 Methodist or Baptist. They all came, and they all had a good 
 time (laughs heartily). We once tried having our suppers free. 
 And, oh, how those young boys ate! W r illie Grimsley, Willie 
 Bunn, Georgie Williams, Charley Starne, and even those two cute 
 little tads, Jimmey and Johnny Cook, down they swept on tin se 
 supper tables like a hoard of locusts! (laughs again). Well, v. cr 
 soon quit having free suppers! 
 Mrs. Thompson: And, Alice, do you remember the supper we had out 
 at the Edwards' home? It just poured all afternonon, and when 
 we got to the Edwards' house, our feet were wringing wet. W T e 
 just dumped our baskets of food on the kitchen table, and came 
 back to the fire, where we all took off our shoes and stockings, 
 and sat in a circle drying our feet. 
 Mrs. Wilson: And we had such a good time sitting there gossiping, 
 that we forgot all about our baskets, and the men came out for 
 supper, hungry as wolves, and the tables weren't even set! 
 (Both women laugh.) 
 Mrs. Thompson: Remember Mr. Lincoln that night? He was so proud 
 of his wife's cake, that he kept urging everybody to take a 
 piece. I can see him now as he said to me "Ann Maria, have a 
 piece of Mary's cake, she calls it jelly cake, but to me it looks 
 like a streak of fat and a streak of lean!" 
 Fannie: How thrilling it must have been to really have known the 
 
 Lincolns! 
 Mrs. Thompson: Well, there was nothing exciting about them at that 
 time. Just kindly everyday folks, they were. After Mr. Lincoln 
 
69 
 
 was elected President, Ave did feel awfully proud of him, of 
 course. 
 
 Delia: And Mrs. Lincoln — did she seem different to you? 
 
 Mrs. Thompson : No, I don't remember that she did. We all watched 
 her clothes a little more enviously perhaps, though Mary Todd 
 always was a good dresser. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson: I remember her one of the last Sundays before she left 
 for Washington. Ashes of roses was the fashionable color that 
 season, and she looked lovely in it. She had on a black lace 
 shawl pinned on the shoulders with geld pins. And her bonnet — 
 well it wasn't so different, really, from the ones we wear now. 
 It was trimmed with three short white plumes. 
 
 Lulu: Did Mr. Lincoln seem more romantic then, too? 
 
 Mrs. Thompson (laughing) : Romantic? No, Lulu, Mr. Lincoln looked 
 just as he always had looked — a tall spare man in a badly fit- 
 ting frock coat. (Thoughtfully.) Though, I believe he did 
 change some way, in those last few months before he left us. He 
 sat in the pew just across the aisle from us, you know, and I 
 remember one of those last Sundays, I sat and looked at him, 
 thinking what a sad face his was— unutterably sad, it seemed, 
 until he glanced down at Tad, asleep beside him, and then I saw 
 the kindly twinkle in his eyes, and I forgot the sadness of a 
 moment before. And I think that's the way I remember him 
 best perhaps, by the kindly gleam of his eyes. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson: I wonder if it wasn't the memories of Mr. Lincoln that 
 made us hate to leave the old church; for we did hate to leave 
 it, some way, even for this bigger, better building. At the end 
 of the last service over there, some one, I don't know who it 
 was, for it was all so impromptu, but some one started to sing 
 in a clear high soprano, "Home, Sweet Home," and then sud- 
 denly we all, men and women, found ourselves hand in hand, 
 marching down the broad center aisle, singing — with the tears 
 streaming down our faces — "Home, Sweet, Sweet Home." Sue 
 Heminway, I remember, was in front of me and Ann Mary 
 Perkins, Sue Chenery and Agnes Smith, and beyond them, I 
 don't know, I couldn't see, perhaps, because of the tears. 
 (Large vivacous woman appears in outer doorway.) 
 
 Lillie: Now, please don't tell me I'm too late for the gossip. 
 
 Julia: Impossible, the gessip never starts until you arrive. 
 
 Lillie: Thanks, dear, it's nice to be missed! 
 
 (Mrs. White rises, takes wraps, and stands holding them for 
 part of conversation.) 
 
 Mrs. White. Indeed we have missed you, Lillie. What makes you so 
 late? 
 
 Lillie: Oh, a most exciting experience! I started long ago, but just as 
 I was crossing the town branch bridge at Second and Madison, 
 who should come driving by, but Tom Mather! 
 
 Julia: Oh, a man in the case! I suspected as much. 
 
70 
 
 Lillie: He was in a brand new buggy, and he asked if I'd like to go 
 for a little drive. Well, of course, I couldn't resist Tom Mather! 
 Julia: No, nor any other man! 
 Jane: You'd better look out for Annie Van Bergen. She's making eyes 
 
 at Tom Mather, herself! 
 Lillie: Well, if she wants him, she can probably find him, just where 
 I left him, hub deep in the mud on the east side of the square! 
 Lule: Oh, Lillie, how awful, do tell us all about it. 
 Lillie: Tom suggested we give the horse a try out, on the square, 
 where 'twas paved. And as soon as we reached the paving, he 
 gave the horses a cut with the whip and off they flew! And you 
 know how it is, going fast over those planked roads, especially 
 after they've been warped by the rains! Slop, slop, one end 
 down, the other end up, mud splashing, horses' hoofs clattering, 
 and everybody running to the store doors to see what it's all 
 about! By the time we'd gone round the square once, Tom 
 was so proud of the horses speed, that he hated to leave the 
 pavement, and he suggested we drive around the square again. 
 Fannie: Oh, Lillie, but you didn't, did you? 
 Julia: Hah! Didn't she? 
 
 Lillie: Well, I knew it was unladylike, and I really was going to say 
 no, but 'twas too late. Round we were going again, and by this 
 time the legislators were all sticking their heads out the win- 
 dows of the Capitol and while, of course, I hated to be so con- 
 spicuous, I was glad I had on my ney bombazine, and my best 
 bonnet (preens). But, my dears, my dears, mine was the pride 
 that goeth before a fall! 
 Mollie: Why, what happened? 
 
 Lillie: Just as we got in front of Kimber and Ragsdale's store, Louisa 
 Williams and her little sister Julia came out, Louisa raising her 
 parasol. That frightened the horse next the walk, and he shied, 
 crashed into the post that holds up the awning, and crash it 
 came! Boards flying every which way. 
 Delia: Those long awning boards, oh, Lillie, didn't they strike you? 
 Lllie: No, for by that time the off horse had jumped in the opposite 
 direction; clean off the narrow strip of planked road — right into 
 the middle of the street, where there was nothing but mud be- 
 tween me and China! 
 
 (Lillie walks toward quilt and seats herself.) 
 Sallie: But, Lillie, weren't you frightened to death? Just think of it, 
 
 helpless behind a runaway team! 
 Lillie: Runaway? In Springfield mud? Say, the only way those 
 horses could go was down! (A moment's pause.) No, Sallie, 
 I was no helpless heroine behind a runaway team — I was merely 
 a lady all dressed up and sinking deeper every minute! 
 Laura : But how'd you get out? 
 
 Lillie: (Brightening.) La, child, they do say, there's a silver lining 
 to every cloud! George Pasfield carried me in his arms. And 
 my hoop skirt tilted the tiniest bit and exposed my ankle! 
 
71 
 
 (Complacently.) But then I've rather a neat ankle— even if I 
 
 do say it. (Lifts skirts and sticks out foot.) 
 (All laugh, Oh, Sallie, you're so vain, etc.) 
 Mrs. White: Excuse me girls, and I'll go see about refreshments. 
 
 (Exits through dining room door.) 
 Julia: Well, Lillie, if you're through occupying the center of the stage, 
 
 I'll step before the footlights. 
 
 (All turn eagerly toward Julia.) 
 Julia: My news is quite as thrilling as Lillie's — have you heard about 
 
 last night's session meeting? 
 Chorus: No — what happened? — session meeting? — etc. 
 Julia: They asked Lizzie Bunn and Lina Black to resign from the 
 
 Choir! 
 Chorus: Oh— Ah— Why?— etc. 
 Julia: For unseemly behavior! And personally, I think they deserved 
 
 it. They sit up every Sunday, right in front of the whole con- 
 gregation and whisper and giggle all through the service! 
 Jane: Poor girls, think of the disgrace! What did they do when they 
 
 heard it? 
 Julia: Giggled! 
 Mollle: Well, I'm awfully fond of both of 'em, but they do behave 
 
 scandalously in Prayer Meeting. Sam Jones' little infant 
 
 prodigy, Mabel, plays the organ now, and the child can hardly 
 
 keep her eyes on the notes. Last Wednesday the girls acted 
 
 so nighty that poor little Mabel forgot entirely to pump the 
 
 pedals. 
 Julia: But that was only the beginning of the meeting. Somebody had 
 
 told one of the elders that Chris Brown and Tom Mather had 
 
 taken Bettie Stuart and Amelia Craig to a ball, and they had the 
 
 girls up before the whole session! 
 Chorus: Oh, no, not really — how dreadful — etc. 
 Julia: Yes, Chris is worried to death over it, because of Bettie, you 
 
 know, he doesn't seem to care a bit what they do to Amelia! 
 
 But that's not all, they had Jane Ridgely up, too. 
 Sallie: Poor Jane. When the fiddles tune up, and some one begins, 
 
 "Salute your partners, allemande right, allemande left. Well, 
 
 Jane's feet just won't keep still! 
 Julia: Well, they will now, the elders told her she'd just have to make 
 
 'em behave. 
 Mollle: Poor Anna Hudson, she's always worried over Sister Jane, 
 
 'cause Jane won't go with her to church and prayer meeting, 
 
 and to the Home of the Friendless meetings. 
 
 (Johnny appears in doorway — dirty as can be.) 
 Johnny: Hello! Had yer ice cream yet? 
 Chorus: Oh, Johnny, come on in. 
 Johnny: Mother there? (peering cautiously). 
 Chorus : No. 
 Johnny: Then we'll come — 
 
 (Comes in, leading Mary by the hand.) 
 
72 
 
 Johnny: Mary'll sing if you want her to, and I'll speak a piece. 
 
 (Pushes Mary to front, saying, "Sing now, I Tell You.") 
 (Mary sings— Johnny pushes her away before she finishes, 
 and recites: 
 Johnny: You'd scarce expect one of my age 
 To speak in public on the stage. 
 And should I chance to fall below. 
 Demosthesnes and Cicero, 
 Don't view me with a critic's eye, 
 But pass my imperfections by. 
 
 Mrs. White's voice from dining room: 
 Will you come out to the dining room, please? 
 (Steps to doorway, ushers them in dining room, turns and 
 sees dirty children.) 
 Mrs. White: Johnny ! ! ! 
 Curtain. 
 
 MUSIC 
 
 Solo (or Duet) Patriotic Son; 
 
 (Male Voices) 
 
 CHORUS READ BEFORE EPISODE IV. 
 
 And now the roll of drums is heard, 
 The marching feet of soldier boys 
 The sorrow of whose death is ours — 
 And yet from out this struggle grim 
 A man emerges; 
 Too soon a martyr to a glorious cause. 
 
 The world stands awed, and well it may, 
 
 Before his tomb. 
 
 But we, within this church, we knew him well. 
 
 A kindly, quiet man was he. 
 
 A comrade to us all. 
 
 And this our need of praise. 
 
 What need to add to all that has been said— 
 We knew him well, and loved him well 
 And while he lives within our hearts 
 Can he be dead? 
 
73 
 
 FOURTH EPISODE 
 THE STORY OF THE LINCOLN PEW. 
 
 THE LINCOLN PEW. 
 By W. Edgar Sampson. 
 
 In a recent book entitled, "The Religion of the Presidents," an 
 eminent author has lately told the story of the deep religious nature, 
 and the essential Christian faith of Abraham Lincoln. But here wheie 
 Lincoln lived, where he practiced his profession, where he rose to fame, 
 whence he left to guide the destinies of a nation in its hour of deepest 
 gloom, where he lies buried, and where, within the memory of all, lived 
 men who knew him well, we need not go to books to learn of the faith 
 and hope of that great and immortal man. 
 
 In his early manhood he formed the habit of attending divine serv- 
 ice, and looking for light in the Book of Books, and that habit continued 
 with him through life. His speeches, his letters and his matchless State 
 papers drew their theme, their style and their inspiration from the 
 Christian Bible. 
 
 His close association with this historic church, began when its 
 pastor, the devout and learned Rev. James Smith officiated at the burial 
 of Mr. Lincoln's second son. Oppressed and stricken as he was by this 
 great bereavement, he found comfort and guidance in a book then lately 
 written by his friend Dr. Smith, entitled, "The Christian's Defense." At 
 the conclusion of the reading of that book Dr. Smith tells us — 
 
 "He came forth, his doubts shattered, and his reason convinced, a 
 believer in God, in his providential government, in his Son, the way, 
 the truth and the life. And from that time on his life has proved the 
 genuineness of his conversion to the Christian faith." 
 
 Thereafter, although without formal membership, his devotion, his 
 loyalty and his worship never ended. Broken though that relationship to 
 this church was by his election to the Presidency, his church connection 
 was resumed at Washington by his regular attendance upon the services 
 of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church of that city. 
 
 I stand tonight beside the Pew where Lincoln used to sit, Sunday 
 after Sunday — in the old church — the old First Presbyterian Church that 
 stood at the corner of Third Street and Washington Street in this city. 
 It was then known as Pew No. 20. There, week after week, came the 
 future President with his family. They used to charge pew rent in those 
 days, and among the priceless treasures of this church are the receipted 
 bills for the rent of this pew found among the possession of President 
 Lincoln after his death, and thereafter presented to this church by his 
 son Robert T. Lincoln. And this pew was subsequently removed to its 
 present place in the First Presbyterian Church through the generosity 
 of the late John W. Bunn, one of the last survivors of the close personal 
 friends of Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 Here Lincoln came, here he sat, here he sought, and here he found, 
 hope, inspiration, strength. And to this pew, to this church, to this city, 
 to this last resting place of the Great Emancipator, the world turns 
 more and more — for it is indeed a shrine of one of earth's immortals. 
 
74 
 
 MUSIC 
 Miss Nettleton and Mr. Killius. 
 
 CHORUS READ BEFORE EPISODE V. 
 
 The Hand of God guides as of old; 
 
 His strength, His love still helps us build 
 
 And though the tasks may differ now, 
 
 The tasks are His. 
 
 New needs have come, new problems with new times, 
 
 Yet still we build. 
 
 And you who fear our faith grows dim 
 
 Our strength grows less as time goes on, 
 
 Pause now, and look upon our church; 
 
 Her growth, her work in many paths; 
 
 Her field which broadens with the years — 
 
 Ponder these things, and still your fears! 
 
 FIFTH EPISODE 
 OUR CHURCH TODAY. 
 
 Scene: Reproduction of our Church Office, with stack of primary chairs 
 stacked in corner. 
 
 Characters: Miss Jacobs, Dr. Thomas, Mrs. Edwards, Mr. Todd, Mrs. 
 Gibson, Girl Scout, Virginia Coffield, Thelma Ramsey, Miss 
 Nettleton, Mr. Needham, Mr. Macpherson, Miss Cunningham, 
 Mrs. Thomas, Katie Whittaker, Mr. Cassidy, First Boy Scout, 
 Second Boy Scout, Man (bridegroom), Girl (bride), Mr. Black. 
 (Telephone bell is ringing as curtain rises on church office. 
 Miss Jacobs is at phone.) 
 
 Miss Jacobs: First Presbyterian Church. No, Dr. Thomas hasn't come 
 yet. May I take the message? * * * Oh, yes, you want me 
 to tell him you had a letter from a dear old Aunt who gets his 
 sermons on her radio? * * * Yes, it must be a blessing to 
 a woman of that type, way out on a lonely farm. * * * Yes, 
 it's a comfort to Dr. Thomas to know as he broadcasts, that he 
 has a sympathetic audience, listening in. * * * Yes, it is 
 marvelous, isn't it? Well, I'll tell him. Thank you. 
 
 (Makes a note and sticks it on file, seats herself at desk, 
 telephone rings.) 
 
 Miss Jacobs: First Presbyterian Church. * * * No, not yet 
 * * * The Old Ladies' Home? * * * And she wants Dr. 
 Thomas to come see her? Very well, I'm sure he'll be there this 
 afternoon. Goodbye. 
 
 (Makes a note, files it, and seats herself for work. Tele- 
 phone rings, she answers.) 
 
 Miss Jacobs: First Presbyterian Church. This is Miss Jacobs. You 
 want to sell your fur coat? No, I don't know of anyone who 
 wants one. Advertise it in the Church Bulletin? Well, I could 
 
75 
 
 hardly do that, you know. (Hopefully.) But I'll tell you what 
 I will do. I'll ask everyone who comes in if they know of any- 
 one who wants a fur coat. Oh, not at all, goodbye. 
 (Dr. Thomas enters, coat on, hat in hand.) 
 
 Dr. Thomas: Well, well, so you're going into the second hand business 
 too. Taking on a good many side lines, I'll say. Promised to find 
 a house for a woman yesterday as well as a practical nurse for 
 a small child and now you're selling fur coats. If you've any 
 time left for mere church business, could you tell me if you've 
 any messages for me? 
 
 Miss Jacobs: If variety makes for spice, my job's well seasoned, I'll 
 say. But I have had a few moments for my real work. Here 
 are my notes — and you're not to forget you've a funeral service 
 this afternoon, and a meeting of the ministerial board. 
 
 (Dr. Thomas stands reading notes from file. Telephone 
 rings.) 
 
 Miss Jacobs: Oh, good morning, Mrs. Ide, more names for the Cradle 
 Roll? That's fine, wait till I get paper and pencil, please. 
 (Gets them at desk.) All ready, (writes) Shirley Marie Livings- 
 ston, James Thayer Mohon, Eleanor Muir Smith, Elizabeth 
 Olinger. That all? Yes, we should have another baby party 
 soon. Have to wait till it turns warmer, though. Mothers won't 
 bring 'em out, this kind of weather. Goodbye. 
 (Enter Mrs. Edwards.) 
 
 Mrs. Edwards: Good morning, have the quarterlies for the Home De- 
 partment come yet? 
 
 Miss Jacobs: Yes, they're all there in the closet. 
 
 Mrs. Edwards: It's a little cold in the hall, I'll sort and tie them for 
 distribution in here if you don't mind. 
 
 (She seats herself on lounge, sorts and ties quarterlies.) 
 (Miss Jacobs answers telephone.) 
 
 Miss Jacobs: Yes, he's right here, Mr. Krogdahl. Dr. Thomas. 
 
 Dr. Thomas: Good morning, sir, good morning * * * The ushers 
 want to know about seating visitors? Why, give them the best 
 seats in the church. Make 'em feel they've found a comfortable 
 place to spend all their Sunday mornings. * * * Oh, no, the 
 regular members will be glad to have visitors in their pews, but 
 if anyone should object, you might suggest to them that the best 
 way to avoid such a thing is to fill up the pews with their own 
 families. * * * Fine, goodbye. 
 
 (Mr. Todd has entered while Dr. Thomas is at the tele- 
 phone.) 
 
 Mr. Miller: Good morning, folks. (Turns to Dr. Thomas.) I want to 
 tell you of my wonderful new plan for getting the grown-ups out 
 to Sunday School. 
 
 Dr. Thomas: A plan that's guaranteed to bring 'em out? 
 
 Mr. Miller: Absolutely. 
 
 Dr. Thomas: Don't tell me there's nothing new under the sun! Come 
 up into the study and tell me all about it. 
 
 (As they exit, arm in arm, Miss Jacobs calls mockingly.) 
 
76 
 
 Miss Jacobs: Oh, Mr. Miller, better get that idea patented! 
 
 (Telephone rings and Miss Jacobs answers.) 
 Miss Jacobs: First Presbyterian Church, yes, Mrs. Wright * * * 
 The Woman's Auxiliary— Circle No. 10— Church Supper— Friday, 
 yes, '111 see that the Bulletin prints a nice notice * * * Sure, 
 I'll ask for a large attendance. Goodbye. 
 
 (Makes note and starts to work. Enter Mrs. Gibson and one 
 girl scout in costume.) 
 Mrs. Gibson: We came to get some of the things we left in the kitchen 
 last night. You should have seen that supper the girls cooked 
 for their parents. Everything was awfully good. As for the 
 parents, it was fine to watch 'em. They were all so swelled up 
 with pride. 
 Girl Scout: Swelled with pride, I'll say that wasn't what puffed 'em 
 up. My father ate three pieces of pie — and say, you ought to 
 see Katherine Gibson's father put away the food! Swelled with 
 pride, hah! 
 
 (Mrs. Gibson says, "Come," exits. Miss Jacobs goes to 
 phone.) 
 Miss Jacobs: Main 3628. Hello, Mr. Robert Hudson? Miss Jacobs, 
 speaking. We're ready to make up the annual report. Have you 
 the Sunday School Treasurer's statement? * * * Fine, I'll 
 stop and get it this noon. * * * Practically $500.00! Won't 
 that make Dr. Thomas feel good! Yes, thanks, goodbye. 
 
 Capitol 2174. Mrs. Hoover? Where did you tell me the 
 Mizpahs were to meet this week? * * * Miss Whitecrafts. 
 Yes, I hear ycu made over $400.00 at the Christmas Bazaar. I 
 think you women are perfect wonders, and you certainly do 
 make lovely things. I wanted at least a dozen of those 
 luncheon sets. * * * Yes, goodbye. 
 
 (While Miss Jacobs is at phone Thelma Ramsey and Vir- 
 ginia Coffield have entered.) 
 Virginia: Oh. Miss Jacobs, the Junior Intermediates simply have to 
 have some more magazines with colored pictures. The Crippled 
 Children out at Riverton just loved those scrap books we made 
 'em — and we haven't half enough to go round. 
 Miss Jacobs: I'll ask the ladies at the Missionary Society this after- 
 noon, Virginia. 
 Thelma: And Miss Jacobs — you don't think this cold weather will in- 
 terfere with the Young People's Twilight tea, do you? 
 Miss Jacobs: How silly, Thelma. Why a real cold Sunday Twilight is 
 the very coziest time for tea. The colder the weather, the more 
 sandwiches you'll eat. 
 
 (Telephone rings — girls exit. Miss Jacobs answers phone.) 
 Miss Jacobs: First Presbyterian Church. Yes, Mr. Diller, Dr. Thomas 
 will be so relieved to know you located those people. I don't 
 know what we'd do without you, to help us out. You certainly 
 
know our church history, and as for the old session minutes, 
 why, I believe you know them by heart. Goodbye. 
 
 (Enter Miss Cunningham and seats herself. Works over 
 books while Miss Jacobs is telephoning.) 
 (Enter Miss Nettleton.) 
 
 Miss Nettletox: Good morning. Cold, isn't it? There's the musical 
 program for Sunday's Bulletin. If it's not too cold in the 
 church, think I'll go up and practice on the organ a while. Hope 
 my fingers won't freeze. 
 (Enter Mr. Needham.) 
 
 Mr. Needham: Good morning, Miss Jacobs. 
 
 Miss Jacobs: Oh, Mr. Needham, I'm so glad you came, don't you want 
 a nice fur coat, seal skin with squirrel — 
 
 Mr. Needham: A fur coat? What would I do with a fur coat? 
 
 Miss Jacobs: Oh, I don't care what you'd do with it. I simply want to 
 sell it. You see, I promised a church member I'd speak about 
 it to every one who came, and I forgot it till just now. It's a 
 lovely coat — seal skin with squirrel — 
 
 Mr. Needham: Say, don't you mention that coat to my wife — Anyway, 
 I didn't come to talk fur coats. I came to get some new songs 
 for the Young People's Department. 
 
 Miss Jacobs: The books are all in the closet. (As Mr. Needham exits.) 
 Say, if you should decide to buy that coat 
 
 Mr. Needham: (From off stage.) Not me. 
 
 (Telephone rings, Miss Jacobs answers.) 
 
 Miss Jacobs: First Presbyterian Church. Oh, yes, Miss Winters, the 
 Sunday School supplies are all here. Came yesterday * * * 
 This afternoon? Yes, I'll be out on my calls, and you may have 
 the office all to yourself. Plenty of room to sort them out, and 
 I hope you'll have no interruptions. Goodbye. 
 
 Miss Jacobs: Main 95. Hello, may I speak to Miss Vera Smith? Oh, 
 Miss Smith, this is Miss Jacobs. Does the Dorcas Society have a 
 meeting this week? * * * Oh, I see, the Dorcas has made 
 how many baby garments? * * * flannelette night gowns? 
 
 * * * well, there ought not be a baby in this town that isn't 
 all nice and warm — you certainly are an energetic society 
 
 * * * Very well, thanks. 
 
 (While Miss Jacobs has been at phone, Dr. Thomas has 
 come in, gone over to Miss Cunningham's desk, and stands and 
 talks with her. Enter Mr. Macpherson.) 
 
 Mr. Macpherson: Morning. Here's the financial statement of the 
 Church, all ready for the annual report. They're in fine condi- 
 tion financially, all pledges paid up to date — and our outstand- 
 ing debts not big enough to make us lose sleep over 'em. Of 
 course, it doesn't read like the report of 1919— your second year 
 here. That sure was a banner year, $75,000 pledged. The 
 largest amount ever pledged at any cne time, in the whole his- 
 tory of the Church, wasn't it? 
 
 Dr. Thomas: Yes, I believe so. But I've no doubt that if we needed 
 that much again, we would raise it. This church always 
 
responds, whenever the call's made. That year, our need hap- 
 pened to be greater, that's all. We needed a new chapel, and a 
 better basement, dining room and kitchen. Our old spires were 
 a menace, both to the church itself, and the passing pedestrians 
 and had to be rebuilt. Our debt on the organ was an ever-present 
 worry and so we paid it. And we bought a manse. The first 
 manse our church has ever owned. Yes, 1919 was a banner year, 
 and we'll have a banner year everytime we need one. Don't you 
 forget that. 
 Mr. Macpherson: Well, I'll go back to the bank now, pretty busy there, 
 these days. Miss Cunningham has the rest of the statement. 
 
 (Mr. Macpherson exits, and after he disappears Miss Jacobs 
 calls after him.) 
 Miss Jacobs: Oh, Mr. Macpherson, you don't want to buy a seal skin 
 coat with squirrel — Pshaw, he didn't hear. 
 
 (As Miss Cunningham gathers papers together and starts to 
 leave.) 
 Miss Cunningham: This is the report of church mission funds, Dr. 
 Thomas, and this the current expense report. Everyone is keep- 
 ing up with the pledges, quite promptly. With a resident mem- 
 bership of over one thousand people, it's surprising how few un- 
 pleasant things come up. 
 
 (Dr. Thomas takes reports and glances through them.) 
 Dr. Thomas: Let's see, with all our organizations, we contribute a total 
 of $14,000 to benevolences and our budget runs between $16,000 
 and $17,000. Fine. 
 
 (Miss Cunningham exits and Mrs. Thomas enters. Dr. 
 Thomas makes a low and elaborate bow.) 
 Dr. Thomas: Good morning, Miss Ethel, and what can I do for you this 
 morning? Did you come to talk with Miss Jacobs, or did you 
 wish to see me on a (reaches for pocket-book) little matter of 
 — 'er — home missions? (Opens purse.) 
 Mrs. Thomas: Well, I really came to talk Missions with Miss Jacobs. 
 (Walking toward him with outstretched hand.) But, they do 
 say charity begins at home. (Takes money.) Thanks. (And 
 speaks to Miss Jacobs.) 
 
 (Donna Deal enters, Donna's arms full of dolls.) 
 Dr. Thomas: (Picking up a baby doll.) That's right, Donna, start them 
 to church when they're young. Is this one to be put on the 
 cradle roll? 
 
 (Mrs. Thomas exits.) 
 Donna: She's only a doll, really. The Light Bearers are dressing lots 
 of them to send to Mrs. Friedinger, for the poor little Syrian 
 girls who haven't any. Aren't they dear? 
 
 (Dr. Thomas has left room meanwhile. Telephone rings and 
 girls leave at Miss Jacobs answers.) 
 Miss Jacobs: First Presbyterian Church. * * * Yes, Mrs. Sikes, we 
 were so delighted to hear that you needed more chairs for the 
 little tots. We ordered them right away, and they're here now. 
 * * * They're darling little red chairs, too, and the children 
 
79 
 
 will have to sit still, cause there's not room on 'em to wiggle 
 about * * * Oh, is Mrs. Miller there too? Well, will you 
 please tell her we've some new money boxes for the Primary 
 Department made in the shape of little churches. I don't be- 
 lieve the children can resist dropping in their pennies. 
 
 (While at the phone Mr. Cassicly and two boy scouts (in 
 costume) have entered.) 
 Mr. Cassiday: Br-r-r-r-r, it's cold. I hope the wind dies down before 
 night. Big coon hunt, you know — all the troops in town, and 
 we've asked the ministers to join us. 
 First Scout: Yes, and we're going to have burgoo! 
 Miss Jacobs: And what's burgoo? 
 Second Scout: Food, that's what attracts the ministers. Hope they 
 
 leave enough for us kids. 
 Mr. Cassidy: Come, boys, let's go down and get our paraphanalia. 
 
 (As they exit.) 
 First Scout: I feel awful sorry for you, Miss Jacobs, 'cause you're a 
 girl, you know. 
 
 (Miss Jacobs gets to work at desk. Man appears in door- 
 way. Woman some distance behind.) 
 Man: Er'a hem — is the preacher in? 
 Miss Jacobs: Yes, he's here, but he's busy just at present, anything I 
 
 can do for you? 
 Man: (Hesitatingly.) No, no, I guess not, I wanted to see the 
 
 preacher. 
 Miss Jacobs: Well, if it's important. I can call him. (Silence.) 
 Miss Jacobs: Is it important? 
 
 Man: Er, no, er, rather I meant to say, er, yes, I, er, we came . 
 
 (Man walks in cautiously, leans over desk and whispers.) 
 Miss Jacobs: Oh! So that's it! Well, I'd call that rather important 
 business. Sit down, both of you, and I'll call the preacher. 
 
 (Miss Jacobs walks toward door. Man follows after her and 
 whispers.) 
 Miss Jacobs: Yes, the law requires two, but the sexton's down stairs, 
 I'll call him. 
 
 (Miss Jacobs walks to door on opposite side of room and 
 calls.) 
 Miss Jacobs: Oh, Mr. Black, Mr. Black, there's a couple up here, 
 waiting. 
 
 (Then walks to main door and exits calling.) 
 Miss Jacobs: Dr. Thomas, Oh, Dr. Thomas. Here's a wedding fee for 
 
 your wife. 
 Girl: (Anxiously.) You didn't forget the ring, did you? 
 
 (Man hunts in vest pocket, transfers hat to other hand and 
 hunts in other vest pocket. Hands hat to girl and starts hunt- 
 ing madly through all pockets.) 
 
 (Dr. Thomas and Miss Jacobs enter and from other side, 
 Mr. Black, rolling down shirt sleeves.) 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
80 
 
 We include a number of pages of interesting facts and a list of 
 valuable possessions of the church. Many more, of course, might be. 
 We have had in mind, in including some of these items and papers, simply 
 preserving them for posterity. The Roll of Officers; The Memorial Win- 
 dows; Centennial Committees; The Memorials; The Church Bulletin; 
 The Invitations and Program; Soldiers' Memorial Tablet; The Memorial 
 Tablet to Ministers; The Centennial Dinner Picture; Pictures of the 
 Church Secretaries; The Five Generations, and last and most important 
 of all, "The Mistress of the Manse." 
 
81 
 
 Those who have served the Church as Elders or Deacons and the 
 date of ordination of each is given below'. In 1914, the Church voted to 
 adopt the Rotary or Limited Term Plan. Several have therefore served 
 more than once. A complete record of terms and changes are in the 
 hands of the Clerk of the Session. 
 
 ROLL OF ELDERS. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Ordained. 
 
 John Moore January 30 
 
 Samuel Reid January 30 
 
 Isaiah Stillman January 30 
 
 John H. Moore January 30 
 
 Ebenezer S. Phelps January 3 
 
 Elijah Slater January 3 
 
 James L. Lamb June 4 
 
 Joseph Torrey June 4 
 
 Edmund R. Wiley June 4 
 
 James M. Duncan December 1 
 
 Asahel Stone October 16 
 
 Joseph K. Lewis January 1 
 
 Edmund G. Jones January 1 
 
 Henry C. Remann January 1 
 
 John Todd, M. D June 22 
 
 Henry Van Hoff July 11 
 
 Robert Officer April 
 
 Thomas Lewis August 
 
 Thomas H. Bergen October 31 
 
 William A. Bennett October 31 
 
 Josiah Waddeil October 31 
 
 Thos. S. Henning, M. D February 8 
 
 Richard H. Beach October 13 
 
 Christopher C. Brown October 13 
 
 William H. Hayden October 13 
 
 James P. Bryce October 13 
 
 James L. Lamb October 13 
 
 John S. Vredenburgh October 13 
 
 Joshua G. Lamb December 19 
 
 Roland W. Diller December 19 
 
 Daniel C. Brown December 19 
 
 Edward P. Beach December 19 
 
 John W. Dalbey December 19 
 
 George B. Hemenway December 19 
 
 Andrew M. Brooks , December 19 
 
 George White December, 19 
 
 A. A. Patteson, M. D September 14 
 
 Alexander L. Patteson August 11 
 
 Thomas Condell July 3 
 
 George B. Winston July 3 
 
 Walter E. Edmonds July 3 
 
 Lewis S. Miller July 3 
 
 1828 
 1828 
 1828 
 1828 
 1832 
 1832 
 1835 
 1837 
 1837 
 1839 
 1842 
 1849 
 1849 
 1849 
 1849 
 1850 
 1854 
 1854 
 1857 
 1857 
 1857 
 1861 
 1867 
 1867 
 1867 
 1867 
 1872 
 1872 
 1880 
 1880 
 1880 
 1880 
 1880 
 1880 
 1880 
 1880 
 1885 
 1893 
 1905 
 1905 
 1905 
 1905 
 
Name. Ordained. 
 
 Isaac R. Diller July 3, 1905 
 
 Ralph N. Baker June 4, 1909 
 
 Charles M. Bowcock June 4 > 1909 
 
 David A. DeVares June 4, 1909 
 
 Edward R. Talbott June 4, 1909 
 
 Fred S. Brown April 10, 1912 
 
 Robert T. Brown January 28, 1914 
 
 John L. Pickering April 1, 1914 
 
 Warren R. Bailey January 28, 1914 
 
 D. D. Flanner January 28, 1914 
 
 Harry C. Barnes January 27, 1915 
 
 John E. George January 27, 1915 
 
 Charles F. Mills January 28, 1914 
 
 R. Francis Ruth January 26, 1916 
 
 Shelby C. Dorwin January 27, 1915 
 
 John C. Hanna January 26, 1916 
 
 W. Edgar Sampson April 25, 1917 
 
 Barnard L. Catron April 6, 1921 
 
 Grafton Munroe January 28, 1920 
 
 Wilbur C. Hoover January 28, 1920 
 
 George M. Wilson January 28, 1920 
 
 James H. Danley January 28, 1920 
 
 Noah C. Bainum January 28, 1920 
 
 L. ML Cunningham April 6, 1921 
 
 Frank H. McKelvey January 4, 1922 
 
 Albert H. Rankin April 4, 1923 
 
 James M. Furry April 4, 1923 
 
 Berton W. Hole April 2, 1924 
 
 Julian L. Vallette April 1, 1925 
 
 Edward M. Majors April 7, 1926 
 
 Henry L. Child March 30, 1927 
 
 Clarence O. Miller March 30, 1927 
 
 Church G. Todd March 30, 1927 
 
 H. M. Thrasher November 16, 1927 
 
 Harry P. Jones January 11, 1928 
 
 Alex. B. Macpherson January 11, 1928 
 
83 
 
 ROLL OF DEACONS. 
 Name. Ordained. 
 
 Edward P. Beach July 
 
 Edwin A. Wilson July 
 
 S. C. Runyan October 
 
 John T. Stuart February 
 
 R. F. Ruth January 
 
 Frederick W. Sutton January 
 
 Henry Van Hoff January 
 
 George B. Hemenway January 
 
 William A. Turney January 
 
 William C. Cowgill January 
 
 Thomas Condell January 
 
 LaRue Vredenburgh January 
 
 Charles F. Mills January 
 
 Samuel H. Gehlman January 
 
 Joseph B. Perkins January 
 
 George B. Winston January 
 
 Harry B. Allen January 
 
 Austin A. Taylor August 
 
 Ralph N. Baker July 
 
 Albert Carver July 
 
 George A. Farmer July 
 
 Grafton Munroe July 
 
 Charles H. Sutton July 
 
 Edward R. Talbott July 
 
 Warren R. Bailey July 
 
 Thomas L. Jarrett July 
 
 Charles L. Patton July 
 
 Albert H. Rankin July 
 
 Shelby C. Dorwin January 
 
 R. Francis Ruth January 
 
 Samuel J. Willett January 
 
 S. O. Pearce April 
 
 William A. Baker January 
 
 Alex. B. Macpherson, Jr January 
 
 George M. Wilson January 
 
 Harry A. Barnes April 
 
 Ogden B. Munroe April 
 
 Alfred Booth January 
 
 Charles L. Patton January 
 
 John E. George April 
 
 John P. Lloyd January 
 
 Thomas English January 
 
 Otho A. Gillin January 
 
 Carley H. Hoy April 
 
 David Chandler Prince January 
 
 William Harding January 
 
 Benjamin F. M. Cassiday April 
 
 George E. Morton January 
 
 1867 
 1867 
 1867 
 1869 
 1877 
 1877 
 1877 
 1877 
 1877 
 1877 
 1877 
 1890 
 1890 
 1890 
 1890 
 1891 
 1891 
 1893 
 1905 
 1905 
 1905 
 1905 
 1905 
 1905 
 1909 
 1909 
 1909 
 1909 
 1914 
 1914 
 1914 
 1914 
 1914 
 1914 
 1914 
 1914 
 1915 
 1914 
 1914 
 1914 
 1915 
 1915 
 1915 
 1917 
 1917 
 1917 
 1917 
 1919 
 
84 
 
 Name. Ordained. 
 
 Elmer R. Cogswell January, 1920 
 
 Clarence E. Dauner January, 1920 
 
 Allen G. Call January, 1920 
 
 Walter S. Todd January, 1920 
 
 Charles G. Maxwell January, 1920 
 
 Henry H. Jannssen January, 1920 
 
 Louis J. Titus ". January, 1920 
 
 Frederick S. Sperry January, 1920 
 
 Prank H. McKelvey April, 1921 
 
 J. Fleetwood Connelly April, 1921 
 
 Roger E. Chapin April, 1921 
 
 Robert S. Hudson March, 1922 
 
 Harry M. Thrasher March, 1922 
 
 John H. Nims ■ .March, 1922 
 
 Alexis E. Stoddard March, 1922 
 
 Julian L. Vallette April, 1924 
 
 Sven J. Krogdahl April, 1923 
 
 Edgar S. Boyd April, 1923 
 
 Albert C. Millspaugh April, 1923 
 
 Charles M. Fox April, 1925 
 
 Church G. Todd April, 1924 
 
 Donald O. Needham April, 1924 
 
 Elmer C. Whittaker April, 1925 
 
 Clarence F. Brumbach April, 1925 
 
 Robert P. Butts April, 1925 
 
 Paul W. Pickering April, 1925 
 
 W. I. Woodruff December, 1926 
 
 Charles M. Fox April, 1926 
 
 Herman Helmle April, 1926 
 
 Harold C. George April, 1926 
 
 Christopher B. Stuart April, 1926 
 
 Ross L. Weller March, 1927 
 
85 
 
 The church has six memorial windows; each one the highest 
 work of art and greatly admired by a host of visitors. They are 
 dedicated and inscribed as below: 
 
 1. To the glory of God and in loving remembrance of 
 
 Bernard Stuve Mary L. Wilson Stuve 
 
 Wilson Stuve Eleanor Illinois Stuve 
 
 Mary C. Stuve Clementine Stuve Knudson 
 
 Alice Stuve Jarrett 
 
 In memory of a beloved father, 
 
 Benjamin Stephenson Edwards. 
 
 Born 1818— Died 1886. 
 
 Kept by the power of God — Through faith unto salvation. 
 
 Sarah Irwin Ferguson Elizabeth Ferguson Bunn 
 
 1806—1886 1832—1886 
 
 Sarah Bunn Jones 
 
 1856—1892. 
 
 Stuart Brown 
 1860—1924 
 There is a prince and a 
 great man fallen this day. 
 
 Kate Hay Brown 
 1864—1923. 
 Give her the fruit of her 
 hands and let her own works 
 praise her in the gates. 
 
 Christopher C. Brown 
 
 October 21, 1834, 
 
 May 6, 1904. 
 
 To the glory of God and in loving remembrance of 
 
 Mrs. Mary McKee Homes 
 
 For eighteen years principal of the 
 
 Bettie Stuart Institute. 
 
 By her devoted pupils. 
 
86 
 
 CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES. 
 
 1. Homecoming — 
 
 Mr. Shelby C. Dorwin, Mrs. A. E. Prince, Mrs. L. L. Flinn. 
 Mr. Albert Rankin. 
 
 2. Former Pastors — 
 
 Mr. Isaac R. Diller, Dr. Grafton Munroe, Mr. George 
 Brinkerhoff, Sr. 
 
 3. Finance — 
 
 Mr. John E. George, Mr. John H. Sikes, Mr. Thomas C. 
 Smith, Mr. George Bunn. 
 
 4. History — 
 
 Mrs. Frank Ide, Mr. O. L. Herndon, Mrs. W. Edgar Samp- 
 son, Miss Sallie Brown, Miss Jeanette Smith, Miss Elsie 
 Logan, Mrs. St. John Wines, Miss Nelie Hemenway. 
 
 5. Program — 
 
 Dr. John T. Thomas. Dr. C. B. Stuart, Mrs. H. L. Child. 
 
 6. Pageant — 
 
 Mr. J. L. Pickering. Miss Alice Bunn, Mrs. R. C. Lanphier, 
 Mr. B. L. Catron. 
 
 7. Young People's Night — 
 
 Mr. Julian Vallette, Mr. B. F. Cassiday, Mr. Harold George, 
 Mr. Donald 0. Needham. Mr. Roderick Antrim. Miss 
 Louise M. Jacobs. 
 
8? 
 
 OF SPECIAL INTEREST. 
 
 A beautiful baptismal fount given by Mrs. Janet Waring in 
 memory of her son is inscribed — 
 
 WILLIAM SHEPHARD WARING, 1880—1916. 
 
 An elegant Communion table given by the wife and daughter of 
 Mr. Geo. B. Hemenway, elder in this church 1880 — 1922. 
 
 The old bell which is not very accessible, being in the tower, 
 was given by the young ladies of the church in 1853. It has for 
 many years been known for its beautiful tone. 
 
 The great three-manual Austin organ with its chimes was 
 erected in 1915. 
 
 Among the priceless possessions of the church is an old Com- 
 munion Service, given by the ladies of 1837 and still in use. 
 
 The Memorial Tablet to World War Soldiers was dedicated No- 
 vember 16, 1919. The dedication address was delivered by the Hon. 
 Frank O. Lowden, former Governor of Illinois and still a member 
 of this church. 
 
 The Classical Memorial Tablet to the Former Pastors was 
 dedicated in 1923. It is on the northwest wall and is admired by 
 all. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln — Family Pew 
 1852—1861 
 
 This pew occupied during his residence in Springfield, 111., by 
 
 Abraham Lincoln 
 
 Presented by his personal friend, 
 
 John W. Bunn 
 
 First Presbyterian Church 
 
 April 14, 1912. 
 
"The Church that is surrounded by Springfield" 
 
 ORGANIZED 1828 
 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 
 
 CAPITOL AT SEVENTH 
 
 REV. JOHN T. THOMAS. D. D., PASTOR 
 
 Study in Church. P hoiie Main 4T79 - 
 
 Manse, 937 S. Second Phcne Main 3382. 
 
 Miss Louise Jacobs. Church Secretary 
 
 Office in Church. Seventh and Capitol. 
 
 Phone. Main 4719. 
 
 OUR MISSIONARIES 
 
 Rev. W. A. Freidinger 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth March Freidinger 
 
 Zahleh Lebanon, Syria 
 
 The flags in the center of the church indicate pew occupied by 
 Abraham Lincoln and family, 1852-1861. 
 
 We are glad to have visitors sign the Visitors' Register in the vestibule. 
 
89 
 
 THE OFFICIARY— LEADERS OF ORGAXIZAITOXS 
 THE CHOIR— AS DURING "THE CENTENNIAL" 
 
 THE SESSIOX 
 Class 1928 Class 1929 Class 1930 
 
 Isaac R. Diller, Clerk J. L. Pickering J. C. Hanna 
 
 H. M. Thrasher Thomas Condell A. H. Rankin 
 
 Harry P. Jones Shelby C. Dorwin Alex Macpherson 
 
 W. Edgar Sampson Frank McKelvey C. G. Todd 
 
 Julian Valletta E. M. Majors C. 0. Miller 
 
 THE BOARD OF DEACOXS 
 Class 1928 Class 1929 Class 1930 
 
 Benj. F. Cassiday Robert Hudson E. S. Boyd 
 
 E. C. Whittaker C. M. Fox A. E. Stcddard 
 
 W. I. Woodworth Herman C. Helmle Ross Weller 
 
 Paul Pickering Harold George Dr. Ogden Munroe 
 
 Robert Butts Dr. C. B. Stuart S. J. Krcgdahl 
 
 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 
 Class 1928 Class 1929 Class 1930 
 
 Alexander Macpherson, John H. Sikes Clayton Barber, 
 
 Treasurer Robert Troxell Chairman 
 
 George W. Bunn Emmett V. Postim R. C. Lanphier 
 
 Corwine E. Roach B. L. Catron 
 
 Assistant to Treasurer — Miss Ella Cunningham. Office in church. 
 THE CHURCH SCHOOL 
 Director — Miss Louise Jacobs. 
 Secretary — Miss Bessie Winters. 
 Treasurer — Mr. Robert Hudson. 
 
 Superintendent Adult Department — Mr. C. G. Todd. 
 Superintendent Young People's Division — Mr. Donald O. Xeedham. 
 Superintendent Junior Department — Mrs. J. A. Lindquist. 
 Superintendent Primary Department — Mrs. John G. Miller. 
 Superintendent Beginners Department — Mrs. John H. Sikes. 
 Superintendent Cradle Roll — Mrs. Frank P. Ide. 
 Superintendent Home Department — Mrs. Wirt Edwards. 
 THE MEX'S CLUB 
 THE WOMAX'S AUXILIARY 
 Mrs. C. D. Wright, President (With ten circles) 
 THE WOMAX'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY 
 Mrs. John T. Thomas, President 
 THE MIZPAH CIRCLE THE DORCAS CIRCLE 
 
 Mrs. Wilbur C. Hoover, President Miss Lavinia Smith, President 
 
 THE LIGHT BEARERS THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY 
 
 Katie Whittaker, President Thelma Ramsey, President 
 
 JUNIOR-INTERMEDIATE SOCIETY 
 Virginia Coffield, President 
 WESTMINSTER CIRCLE THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 
 
 Mary Louise Whittaker. President James B. Cassiday, Jr., Scoutmaster 
 THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA 
 Mrs. Harold Gibson, Captain 
 THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC 
 Miss Helen Xettleton — Organist-Director 
 Mrs. John Black, Soprano Mr. Charles Fetzer. Teno ' 
 
 Mrs. Robert White, Contralto Mr. Clinton Brown, Baritone 
 
 Violinist — Mr. George Killius 
 Alexander Black. Sexton 
 
90 
 (We give below the Invitation mailed January 19th, 1928.) 
 
 I 
 
 January, 1828 January, 1928 
 
 THE MINISTER AND OFFICERS 
 
 Session, Deacons and Trustees together with the entire membership 
 cordially invite you to share with them in celebrating 
 
 The One-Hundredth Anniversary 
 
 of the organization of the 
 First Presbyterian Church 
 
 Springfield, Illinois 
 
 Sunday, January Twenty-ninth to Sunday, February Fifth 
 Both inclusive 
 
 They are especially eager to have all members, former members 
 and friends present at the 
 
 Homecoming Services 
 
 Sunday, January Twenty-ninth, Nineteen Hundred Twenty-eight 
 
 Morning and Evening 
 
 and the 
 
 Homecoming Reception 
 
 Monday, January Thirtieth, Nineteen Hundred Twenty-eight 
 at Eight o'clock in the Evening 
 
 IN THE CHURCH PARLORS 
 
 Committee on Invitation 
 PROGRAM WITHIN 
 
 Mrs. A. E. Prince 
 Mrs. L. L. Flinn 
 Mr. A. H. Rankin 
 Mr. Shelby C. Dorwin 
 
91 
 
 JANUARY TWENTY-NINTH— HOMECOMING SUNDAY. 
 The Rev. Donald C. MacLeod, D. D., of Omaha, Neb., the only living 
 former pastor, is special preacher. Dr. MacLeod was installed Septem- 
 ber, 1913, and resigned December, 1917. 
 
 MONDAY, JANUARY THIRTIETH— HOMECOMING RECEPTION— 
 
 8:00 P. M. 
 Dr. and Mrs. MacLeod, together with the families and descandants 
 of all the former pastors are to be guests of honor. 
 
 TUESDAY, JANUARY THIRTY-FIRST— WOMAN'S DAY. 
 During the entire hundred years, the Firs. Church has been blessed 
 with a wonderful company of gifted, consecrated women. The program 
 will include an afternoon tea with papers and reminiscences and an 
 evening service open to all with address by the Rev. John T. Stone, 
 D. D., former moderator of the General Assembly, beloved minister of 
 Fourth Church, Chicago. 
 
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY FIRST— CENTENNIAL DINNER— 
 
 6:30 P. M. 
 
 Greetings from "Our Colonies." North Sangamon, Westminster, 
 Third, Fifth and Clementine Memorial Presbyterian Churches. The Coun- 
 cil of Churches. Our older members. Stereopticon pictures of seven 
 former ministers, church buildings, etc. 
 
 Congregational dinner for which reservations must be made. 
 
 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY SECOND— HISTORICAL PAGEANT— 
 
 8:00 P. M. 
 This will be given in the spacious auditorium of the Springfield High 
 School. The organization, history, and work of the church will be por- 
 trayed in a series of episodes. Admission free, public invited. 
 
 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THIRD— "YOUNG PEOPLE'S DAY." 
 "The Hope of the Future" — "The Church of To-morrow." 
 The finest body of young people the church ever had are the Modern 
 Young People. Miss Mary Murphy, Church Secretary, October, 1920 — 
 December, 1925, will speak briefly. 
 
 Address — The Rev. James I. Vance, D. D., ex-moderator of the 
 Presbyterian General Assembly, writer, traveler, lecturer, minister for 
 20 years at First Church, Nashville, Tenn. 
 Dinner 6:30 P. M. 
 
 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY FOURTH. 
 The Rev. Robert E. Speer, D. D., moderator of the General Assembly, 
 Executive Secretary of Foreign Missions. 
 
 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY FIFTH— HISTORICAL SUNDAY. 
 Sunday morning, Dr. Thomas will deliver the Historical Address. 
 Sunday afternoon, 4:30, it is planned to have a Union Communion 
 Service of all the ministers and churches in the Presbytery. 
 
T IS NOT MLKP1JY RW TO' DAY, BUT ) : OK ALL 
 TIME TO GOWK, THAT Yvi- SHOULD rwnmVffiE 
 I OR OUK CHILDREN'S CH1LDKRK THAT GRLAT 
 
 AND I RJ L GOY!-RKM) r KT WHICH V. 
 
 L-NJOY) n A I 1 OUK 1 iYRS" 
 
 hi 
 
93 
 
 The beautiful Marble Tablet on the northwest wall of the Audi- 
 torium is dedicated to the seven former Pastors of the Church. 
 This was placed in January, 1923. The inscriptions are as follows: 
 
 FIRST 
 PRESBYTERIAN 
 
 CHURCH 
 ORGANIZED 1828 
 
 PASTORS 
 
 John G. Bergen, D.D. 
 
 1828—1848 
 
 * * * 
 
 James Smith, D.D. 
 1849—1856 
 
 * * * 
 
 John H. Brown, D.D. 
 
 1857—1864 
 
 * * * 
 
 Frederick H. Wines, D.D. 
 1865—1869 
 
 . * * * 
 
 James A. Reed, D.D. 
 1870—1888 
 
 Thomas D. Logan, D.D. 
 1888—1913 
 
 Donald C. MacLeod, D.D. 
 1913—1917 
 
 * * * 
 
 John T. Thomas, D.D. 
 1918— 
 
94 
 
95 
 
 CHURCH SECRETARIES. 
 
 Mary H. Murphy 1920—1926. 
 
 Louise M. Jacobs 192< 
 
96 
 
 TWENTY MEMBERS ENROLLED OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO. 
 
 Joining First Presbyterian Church June 19, 1858, Miss Susan P. 
 Chenery now of Los Angeles, California, is the oldest living member. 
 
 Following are other members of the Church, living today who 
 joined at least fifty years ago: 
 
 Mrs Mary Coe Sims 
 
 March 3, 1866— City. 
 
 Mrs Susan E. Hemenway 
 
 June 3, 1866— City. 
 
 Mrs. Anne M. Perkins 
 
 June 3, 1866— City. 
 
 Mrs. Hattie B. Harts 
 
 June 1, 1867— Chicago. 
 
 Miss Virginia S. Hackney 
 
 February 24, 1868— City. 
 
 Samuel H. Gehlman 
 
 January 16, 1870— St. Louis, Missouri. 
 
 R. Francis Ruth 
 
 January 14, 1872— LaJolla, California. 
 
 Mrs. Mary B. Harlan 
 
 October 3, 1873— City. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Brainard 
 
 September 11, 1874— New York City. 
 
 John Howe Brown 
 
 March 12, 1877— City. 
 
 Harmon Brown 
 March 12, 1877— City. 
 
 Shelby C. Dorwin 
 
 March 12, 1877— City. 
 
 Miss Lillie Fisher 
 
 March 12, 1877— Ames, Iowa. 
 
 Frederick 0. Fox 
 
 March 12, 1877— Peoria. 
 
 Mrs. Annie Lamb 
 
 March 12, 1877— City. 
 
 Mrs. Alice Shepherd Mitchell 
 
 March 12, 1877— City. 
 
 Charles H. Sutton 
 
 March 12, 1877— City. 
 
 Mrs. Ella Susan Talbott 
 
 March 12, 1877— City. 
 
 Mrs. Addie Warren 
 
 March 12, 1877— City. 
 
 Miss Jennie Hamer Craft 
 
 September 1, 1878— City. 
 
 I. R. Diller, Clerk. 
 
97 
 
 THE FIFTH GENERATION WAS REPRESENTED BY THREE 
 FAMILIES AS FOLLOWS: 
 
 Betty Latham Broadwell on two sides. 
 
 Catherine Tabor — Wife of Philip C. Latham. 
 
 Olive Priest — Wife of George C. Latham. 
 
 Olive Latham — Wife of Stewart Broadwell. 
 
 Betty Bradburn — Wife of Norman M. Broadwell. 
 
 Betty Latham Broadwell — A great, great, grand-daughter. 
 
 Ann Foster — Wife of Washington lies. 
 
 Virginia lies — Wife of Norman M. Broadwell. 
 
 Olive Latham — Wife of Stewart Broadwell. 
 
 Betty Bradburn — Wife of Norman M. Broadwell. 
 
 Betty Latham Broadwell — A great, great, grand-daughter. 
 
 Five generations of the Bunn Family have been connected with 
 the Church. 
 
 Sarah Irwin Ferguson. 
 
 Elizabeth Ferguson Bunn. 
 
 George W. Bunn. 
 
 George W. Bunn, Jr. 
 
 Sarah Bunn and George W. Bunn, 3rd. 
 
 Henrietta Herndon, daughter of Dr. R. F. Herndon, Richard 
 Fleetwood Herndon, his son represent the Fifth Generation of Ann 
 Foster. 
 
 Ann Foster — W T ife of Washington lies. 
 
 Cordelia lies — Wife of Obed Lewis. 
 
 Kate Lewis — Wife of R. F. Herndon. 
 
 Dr. R. F. Herndon — Son of Kate Lewis Herndon. 
 
 Henrietta Herndon — Daughter of Dr. R. F. Herndon. 
 
 Richard Fleetwood Herndon — Son of Dr. R. F. Herndon. 
 
98 
 
 Mrs. John T. Thomas, 
 'The Charming Mistress of the Manse. 
 
99 
 
 Robert E. Speer, D. D., 
 
 Moderator of the General Assembly, Executive Secretary of For- 
 eign Missions; writer, traveler. Dr. Speer delivered an address 
 Saturday evening, February the 4th. 
 
100 
 
 The Rev. James I. Vance, D. D., 
 
 Former Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly 
 (South); writer, traveler, lecturer, minister for 20 years at First 
 Church, Nashville, Tenn. Dr. Vance addressed the Young People, 
 Friday evening, February 3rd. 
 
101 
 
 The Rev. Johx Timothy Stone, D. D. 
 
 Former Moderator of the General Assembly, beloved minister of 
 Fourth Church, Chicago. Dr. Stone delivered an address Tuesday 
 evening, January 31st, in the Church Auditorium. 
 
102 
 
The Editor is indebted to Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Oldfield, 
 
 111 South Fifth Street (Photographers), for a number 
 
 of photographs and pictures used in this booklet. 
 


 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 2 , 8 „ 8 E 1 7 N 7 SiR E DTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORG 
 
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