1853-1903 
 
 THE RECORD OF FIFTY YEARS; 
 
 HISTORICAL SERMON 
 
 DELIVEEED BY 
 
 Rev. Franklin L. Graff 
 
 AT THE 
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 OF THE 
 
 First Congregational Church 
 
 CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS 
 Sunday, November 1, 1903 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2018 with funding from 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 https://archive.org/details/recordoffiftyyeaOOgraf 
 
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 THE RECORD OF FIF'TY YEARS. 
 
 ^*And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year.—A jubilee shall that 
 fiftieth year he unto you." Lev. 25:10-11. 
 
 Fifty years ag^o today, November 1st, 1853, a little 
 group of men and women met by appointment in the 
 private residence of Moses P. Snelling, Urbana, Illinois. 
 A Congregational missionary, the Rev. W. M. Blanchard, 
 had called that company together to transact important 
 business. A record of the meeting says that the fol¬ 
 lowing named persons were present and shared in the 
 transaction: Moses P. Snelling, Caroline Snelling, John 
 Rankin, Mary A. Rankin, Alsetha Snyder, Tamer Camp¬ 
 bell and Jane Higgins. The exact spot on which the 
 Snelling home was located cannot now be determined, 
 but it was within a short walk of the old county court¬ 
 house and immediately south of the present site. 
 
 Before the meeting, thus referred to, is called to 
 order, there will be time to glance at some facts which 
 will afford an idea of the times in which this gathering 
 occurred. Twenty years previously, in the year 1833, 
 Urbana had been made the county seat. As early as in 
 1822 the first settlers had arrived at that place. This 
 choice of location was determined by its proximity to 
 the “Big Grove”, whose southern point was at the pres¬ 
 ent Crystal Lake, and whose great length stretched 
 away a distance of fully twelve miles. In those days the 
 early residents of this section of the state seemed ready 
 to take to the woods,because their choice was invariably 
 (3 near a “piece of timber”. An early map of Illinois, 
 issued in the year 1835, shows Urbana, Sidney and 
 
 
Homer, but no indication as yet of the town of Cham¬ 
 paign. At that time the country immediately west of 
 the Urbana site was one great prairie, while that por¬ 
 tion of it which is now the business section of Cham¬ 
 paign was one vast impassible ‘‘slough”. 
 
 At the time of the meeting, our state had long been 
 settled at its southern end. The stirring events sur¬ 
 rounding the history of Kaskaskia are long since past. 
 In the northern section,that tier of counties which fringe 
 the lake and the territory now known as Wisconsin, had 
 been occupied by colonies from New England, and had 
 furnished the character and spirit that saved Illinois for 
 the Union. The census of 1850 indicated the population 
 of the United States to be 23,000,000, while our state had 
 but 851,470, or fourteenth in the number of inhabitants. 
 At that date but 111 miles of railway were in operation 
 in this commonwealth. Franklin Pierce is now, Nov¬ 
 ember 1, 1853, defining his new policy as president of 
 the United States. Jefferson Davis is Secretary of War, 
 Abraham Lincoln is an obscure country lawyer, while 
 Queen Victoria is just in the teens of her reign. Cham¬ 
 paign is not dreamed of, as yet its territory is but 
 part of a sparsely settled prairie whose great wealth has 
 but now begun to disclose itself to the minds of men. 
 
 A movement was headed herewards, however, that 
 was destined strangely to affect this locality, and to play 
 an important part in the history of this growing state. 
 The Illinois Central railway was rapidly pushing its way 
 southward into this section. Subsequent to the above 
 date, in February 1854, it delivered passengers as far 
 south as the present town of Loda, while on the 25th 
 of July, in that same year, it reached the point now 
 known as Champaign. The coming of this promoter of 
 
 2 
 
civilization was immediately felt here in the rapid en¬ 
 trance of many settlers into this reg’ion. This section 
 of the state, therefore, was in a beginning" of a vigorous 
 and influential life. The air was full of the prophecy of 
 great events to come. There was promise already of 
 the important function which this district was to have 
 in the entire history of the state. 
 
 The little group, to which we now return, had not 
 gathered to form a land company, to invest in railway 
 securities, to discuss affairs of state, or to engage in 
 social enjoyment. A far more serious and important 
 purpose had drawn them together. It was nothing less 
 than to form, under the guidance of God, as they con¬ 
 fidently believed, a Congregational church. Their aim 
 was to plant here an institution dedicated to civil and re¬ 
 ligious freedom. Their hope in organizing such a church 
 was that the faith of the Pilgrims could flourish in the 
 land of the prairies. “A democratic church for a demo¬ 
 cratic people.” And so, under the direction of God and 
 immediately led by the missionary pastor, a simple 
 creed and covenant were adopted by them, thus consti¬ 
 tuting a Congregational church. 
 
 At that time but a few other religious organizations 
 existed in this locality. The Methodist church had been 
 in the community for some years, and was worshiping in 
 a small meeting house in the eastern part of Urbana. 
 The First Presbyterian church, now of Champaign, 
 had been created in the year 1850, but it does not ap¬ 
 pear to have grown in membership or as yet, Novem¬ 
 ber 1, 1853, to have secured a house of worship. In the 
 region were representatives of other denominations, but 
 none of these had been gathered into churches of their 
 faith and order. The present Baptist and Methodist 
 
 3 
 
churches in Champaig*n were organized in about the years 
 1855-8. It will be seen, therefore, that neither comity 
 nor courtesy was violated in the establishment of this 
 Congregational church. 
 
 A westward movement of the population of Urbana 
 occurred at once after the completion to this point of 
 the Illinois Central. Homes were built east of the rail¬ 
 road in the year 1854-5, and it was in these modest 
 dwellings that the little church often met. Mr. Snelling, 
 who had built a new residence on east University Ave., 
 where is now the “Way” house, again welcomed the 
 young organization to his home. Previous to this, the 
 church had met frequently in the court-house in Urbana. 
 This new settlement was at first known as Urbana De¬ 
 pot. Later it was called West Urbana, and about the 
 years 1861-()2, the name of the County was applied to 
 the town, and it is henceforth styled Champaign. 
 Here a confusion seems to have arisen over the use of 
 the name “Depot”, Some of the old church records 
 speak of services being held in the “Depot”. From such 
 references it has been concluded that religious meetings 
 were actually held in the railroad building. Yet it is 
 just possible that such is not the case. Our own records 
 speak frequently of meeting in the “Depot”. But they 
 also say,“In the home of Brother Snelling”, or “Urbana 
 Depot—Church met in the home of Brother Barnes.” 
 The“Depot”was a term, therefore, commonly applied to 
 the settlement, and,while it may be true that the railroad 
 buildings have been used for worship, such a conclusion 
 appears to be a wrong inference from records similar 
 to those which I have examined. 
 
 The early struggles of the church to maintain its 
 life and to secure a permanent home are fascinating and 
 
 4 
 
not a little touching’. Rev. Mr. Blanchard continued 
 his relation with the church as missionary until Janu¬ 
 ary 1855, after which time the church was without pas¬ 
 toral care. But during- this interim earnest effort was 
 being- put forth to secure suitable location and build a 
 house of worship. The Illinois Central kindly g-ranted 
 a piece of g-round on the eastern edg-e of its rig-ht-of-way, 
 and here the enthusiastic young- church proceeded to 
 erect its first meeting--house. Its site was at the pres¬ 
 ent location of the Commercial bank, at the corner of 
 East University avenue and First street, and at that 
 time was far from an ideal spot. Substantially the 
 whole plat was a watery hollow where for g-enerations 
 wild birds had flocked and bred. Hence almost immedi¬ 
 ately the church was facetiously called “The Goose 
 Pond Church”, and is now best known to the older resi¬ 
 dents by that euphonious title. About two hundred 
 dollars were g-iven by the Cong-reg-ational church build¬ 
 ing- society, and this tog-ether with g-ifts of money, labor 
 and material made possible the erection of a house, 
 which was roug-hly finished in the fall of 1855, at a cost 
 of about one thousand dollars. According- to a vote, the 
 house was to be in size 25 by 40 feet, not including- the 
 belfry. Its accommodations were not eleg-ant. For 
 pews there were sawed planks supported on wooden 
 blocks. Little plastering- had been done those first few 
 months, and only such other finishing- as was deemed 
 absolutely necessary to shelter the little flock. For a 
 while a dry g-oods box served as a pulpit. Yet I cannot 
 doubt that the spiritual feast spread before that con- 
 g-regation was wholesome and sweet. In those early 
 days their Communion services were notable occasions 
 and the annals of that little band do not fail to tell us. 
 
 5 
 
for example, that, “Father Rankin of Ohio was present 
 and administered the Communion—an interesting and 
 precious season’’. 
 
 Preserved among old documents is the remnant 
 of a subscription paper under date of 1859, which was 
 circulated to finish some needed work on the church. 
 It shows signs of wear, and is indeed so worn at the 
 bottom that nothing is now legible of the names except 
 Mr. Vandyke and Daniel Rugg. Some saint had car¬ 
 ried this “cross” for the Master’s sake. The paper is 
 an eloquent witness of the toil and service of those days. 
 
 The creed, covenant and standing rules were re¬ 
 vised and enlarged in November 1854, just one year af¬ 
 ter the organization of the church. Previous to this 
 annual meeting, among others who had joined the mem¬ 
 bership from eastern states there had come M. A. 
 Barnes and A. O. Howell, two men whose service and 
 convictions were destined to deeply affect the life of the 
 church. It was under the ardent leadership of these 
 and similar men that the organization adopted principles 
 that have now become historic. These laws were 
 adopted as the basis of fellowship and were vigorously 
 advocated and maintained. Because of their importance 
 and uniqueness three of them richly deserve reference 
 here. And the tenth standing rule related to “Mutual 
 Aid,’’and is as follows: 
 
 “We believe the Christian Church to be paramount 
 to all other (so called) benevolent organizations. And, 
 wishing to supercede the necessity of the members of this 
 church applying to them for aid, we mutually obligate 
 ourselves not only to aid every member of this our ‘house¬ 
 hold of faith’ in every laudable pursuit, but especially to 
 supply the necessities of the poor and destitute of this 
 
 6 
 
church and if necessary, a tax may be levied at any time 
 on our property (on the advalorum system) to alleviate 
 their wants.” 
 
 The eleventh rule was devoted to temperance, its 
 severe requirments are given herewith: 
 
 “This church, for reasons too apparent to require 
 mentioning, cannot receive into its communion any one 
 who manufactures, buys, or uses as a beverage intoxica¬ 
 ting drinks, whether they be distilled or fermented liquors. 
 Nor can this church fellowship any one who owns tene¬ 
 ments and rents them for the purpose of the sale or the 
 manufacture of liquors. Nor can we receive into or re¬ 
 tain within our communion any person who sells corn or 
 other grain to a distiller or his known agent, (and breth¬ 
 ren are expected to make suitable enquiries respecting 
 that matter) or who in any other way directly aids and 
 co-operates with dealers in or manufactures of ardent 
 spirits in their unrighteous traffic.” 
 
 The third rule to which reference ought to be made 
 concerns anti-slavery and reads as follows: 
 
 “Believing that no apology whatever can be found in 
 the word of God” or His character for such an institution 
 as American slavery; and that this sin into which a por¬ 
 tion of the Church of Christ has fallen is eminently a re¬ 
 proach to His cause and subversive of the interests of 
 His Kingdom, we therefore, cannot receive to our com¬ 
 munion any individual who by example or precept, per¬ 
 petuates or sustains the system of American Slavery.” 
 
 Upon the question of opposition to slavery, few if any 
 churches in this part of the state dared to take such posi¬ 
 tive ground. Most of them were made up of men of both 
 views, and must therefore handle this very delicate sub¬ 
 ject with gloves. An inadvertent word by an unwise 
 
 7 
 
preacher in those days, would have precipitated a church 
 division. By most of the churches, the only method of 
 treating the subject of slavery was to ignore it altogether. 
 It is, hence, a notable matter of history that the First 
 Congregational church in 1854 boldly proclaimed its 
 definite conviction that the institution of American slavery 
 was contrary to the character and the Word of God. Such 
 attitude was the occasion of no little derision and hostil¬ 
 ity. Not infrequently was it called “The nigger church.” 
 It involved the loss from its possible membership of many 
 of those who were true and worthy men, but whose con¬ 
 victions on this question were not in accord with this posi¬ 
 tion. But what it lost from the one side was more than 
 made good upon the other, for the little band drew to it¬ 
 self not a few of the new arrivals who held progressive 
 and harmonious views on this great theme. Down to and 
 through the war this church persistently and consistently 
 refused to contribute towards any missionary society which 
 countenanced the institution of American slavery. 
 
 When these rules were adopted by the church a spirit 
 was shown that reflects great credit upon these early mem¬ 
 bers, which spirit has characterized the church to this day. 
 That is, the congregational readiness to yield to the will 
 of the majority and surrender ones owm opinion in the 
 laudable desire to maintain harmony. The account says: 
 “During the whole of this long and protracted sitting (of 
 nine hours including a short intermission) the members 
 of the church exhibited a spirit of love, unanimity, affec¬ 
 tionate regard and Christian forbearance but seldom wit¬ 
 nessed. Before the vote was taken (on the Covenant) 
 the whole church bowed down and offered up their united 
 silent prayer to Almighty God for his direction. When 
 the vote was taken, a covenant, that had been recom- 
 
 8 
 
mended by the committee, lost by a minority of one, and 
 another was substituted. Brother Barnes, who had made 
 the recommendation and who had voted with the minority, 
 immediately moved that the vote be made unanimous, 
 which was passed without a dissenting voice.” Strong in 
 their convictions, these members nevertheless were in¬ 
 fluenced by the finest spirit of sacrifice and desire for 
 unity. 
 
 Both public and private records prove that the 
 church displayed a broad and fraternal spirit, and that 
 the activities and social relations of this body were neither 
 narrow nor exclusive. Almost immediately after the com¬ 
 pletion of the new house of worship, which had been se¬ 
 cured by the greatest sacrifice and devotion, it was grant¬ 
 ed for the use of the Baptists who were not yet formed in¬ 
 to a religious body, for worship on Sunday afternoons. 
 Again the membership of the church deeming it wiser to 
 join in a union Sunday school, than to form one of their 
 own, declined, even after strenuous effort by its mission¬ 
 ary pastor, to make an exclusively Congregational school, 
 and were leaders in effecting a union school that flourished 
 for years. Later, after the New School Presbyterian 
 church of Urbana was brought into being, our fathers 
 again manifested this broad fellowship by generously 
 sharing with that church the use of our own minister. 
 
 Still again, in 1858 Baptists and Methodists were cor¬ 
 dially welcomed to a series of special meetings conducted 
 by the Rev. Mr. Vandyke who was now the pastor of the 
 church. And, last of all,a rule was adopted by the church 
 welcoming into fellowship others whose points of belief 
 in the ordinance of baptism differed materially from its 
 own. While deep in their convictions of truth and duty, 
 they were broad in their spirit of tolerance. 
 
Meantime the community had been undergoing a very 
 marked change. Land boomers had located on both 
 sides of the Illinois Central right-of-way. Each diligent¬ 
 ly exploited his own section. Rapid increase in the pop¬ 
 ulation occurred. Sales of land were numerous and with 
 constantly increasing value. Houses multiplied. They 
 were not palatial, but serving for the time the needs of the 
 expanding community. Better ones were to come by and 
 by. Then appeared the rivalry and bitterness that has 
 scarcely died out in these later years. Each locality, that 
 on the east and that on the west side of the track, strug¬ 
 gled for supremacy. Each thought itself the choicer lo¬ 
 cation and deemed the other a rival which it was right by 
 various methods to defeat. The entire town was still 
 called West Urbana, it possessed a weekly newspaper and 
 had entered upon a vigorous and growing selfconscious¬ 
 ness. 
 
 The church entered actively into the social and civic 
 life of the town. Old documents show that the Congre¬ 
 gational church was very much alive and participated in 
 the movements of the day. It was a strong factor in 
 moulding the community in ways other and in addition to 
 the usual religious work. I have recently examined old 
 files of the “Gazette”, which was called at that time the 
 Central Illinois Gazette, and found an interesting and 
 suggestive picture of the life of that time and the promin¬ 
 ence of our church. The most early file to which I had 
 access was issued in 1858, and a hasty glance over the 
 news items from the winter and fall of that year, elicited 
 the following: 
 
 “The Lyceum meets every Friday night in the Con¬ 
 gregational church, the debates are interesting.” 
 
 “The West Urbana Temperance Society meets every 
 
 10 
 
Tuesday night at the Congregational church. The meet¬ 
 ings are well attended. The choir discourses music, hea¬ 
 venly in its character, to us almost every night.” 
 
 “The Young Men’s Literary Association will discuss, 
 “License or No License”, on Friday night, March 19, 1858, 
 at the Congregational church.” 
 
 “The Congregational church has been conducting a 
 series of meetings. The Baptists and Methodists have 
 united with them.” 
 
 “Educational meeting”, Friday, April, 1858. “The 
 school commissioners call a meeting to consider the ques¬ 
 tion of public schools, to be held in the Congregational 
 church. The meeting is for both sides of the track.” 
 
 School meeting next Monday night, April 19, 1858, at 
 the Congregational church.” The same column devotes 
 much space to the educational meeting on the preced¬ 
 ing week at the same place. 
 
 “Citizens of West Urbana and vicinity are called to 
 convene at the Congregational church on May 14, 1858, to 
 petition the Illinois Central authorities to open a crossing 
 on Main street at the Doan House.” 
 
 On June 13, the Rev. Mr. Vandyke announces a ser¬ 
 ies of lectures on “The Evidences of Christianity.” The 
 first lecture will be, “Man’s Responsibility for His own 
 Belief.” 
 
 “Dr. Cutcheon will lecture on the subject of graded 
 schools,” Later considerable space was given to an ac¬ 
 count of this meeting at the Congregational church. 
 
 “Republicans of West Urbana and vicinity are re¬ 
 quested to assemble at the Congregational church, next 
 Saturday evening for the purpose of organizing a Lincoln 
 Republican club.” Notice dated July 31, 1858. 
 
 “J. W. Summers will address the Republican club, 
 
 11 
 
next Tuesday evening August 7 , 1858 ,” at the same inevit¬ 
 able place. 
 
 Later, a meeting was called to take steps to reor¬ 
 ganize for the winter the Literary Club, and to provide 
 for a library of<semi-public functions. And this, too, at 
 the well known place. The last paper which was exam¬ 
 ined, announced that “The editor is glad to state that 
 the people of the Congregational church have succeeded 
 in raising the salary of Rev. Mr. Vandyke. This 
 ensures his presence for another year in this prairie 
 section.” He further expresses his pleasure in retain¬ 
 ing the eminent minister by saying, “We regard Mr. 
 Vandyke sound on all the leading questions of the day.” 
 Good for Mr. Scroggs! Happy minister! What pastor 
 today would not covet such complimentary remarks 
 in an influential public paper? 
 
 So much from a hasty perusal of a few numbers of 
 a weekly paper printed in 1858. It is illuminating testi¬ 
 mony to the important place which that church held in 
 the earlv life of the town. 
 
 Mr. B. F. Harris, Sr., tells the following story,which 
 is added evidence of the influence of the church. “In 
 June,1856,the Republican convention, assembled at Phil¬ 
 adelphia, nominated John C. Fremont as its first candi¬ 
 date for president of the United States. Circuit court 
 was then in session in Urbana. Among other lawyers 
 having cases in that court was Abraham Lincoln, as yet 
 but slightly known to fame. News came that John C. 
 Fremont was chosen. Immediately it was announced 
 that Abraham Lincoln would speak that evening at the 
 Congregational church, in ratification of the newnominee. 
 Thither the court and crowd repaired,and listened to the 
 speech given by him who, four years later, was himself 
 
 12 
 
to be enthusiastically elected as the first president from 
 the Republican party. There in that little Congregation¬ 
 al church, dedicated to the cause of freedom, he first 
 spoke for the new candidate, who was himself to become 
 the most eminent martyr for that high and holy cause. 
 
 Much as any church would now welcome this our 
 most eminent and best loved American, at that time no 
 other church in this section dreamed of inviting such a 
 political speech from such a negro sympathizer. This 
 address is said to be the first in Illinois, and perhaps in 
 the Union, in ratification of the new nominee. It cer¬ 
 tainly was the first one, after the nomination, given by 
 Abraham Lincoln for John C. Fremont. 
 
 Nor was the young church without its influence in 
 the councils of its denomination. Numerous items in 
 the records show its presence by delegate at councils, 
 associations, and special gatherings that were to affect 
 the life of the larger body. But one reference must suf¬ 
 fice. In the year 1859, delegates return with the inter¬ 
 esting information that the establishment of a Divinity 
 School in the city of Chicago, is recommended to the 
 churches. This local church gravely deliberates on the 
 subject, and sends back its approval. Later, after due 
 reflection, the Chicago Theological Seminary is created 
 as the instrument of the churches for the education of 
 its ministry. In all of the discussions and in that decis¬ 
 ion,this church took active and cordial part. Still later, 
 by vote, the church accepted its apportionment of twen¬ 
 ty dollars for the baby divinity school. I am informed 
 that at a time subsequent to this, some hundreds of 
 dollars in addition were secured by solicitation among 
 the membership of the church,for that same institution. 
 For the success of that Seminary and for its influence 
 
 13 
 
on the life of our denomination, as well as its continued 
 support therefore, we are in part responsible. 
 
 These old documents are not without their flavor of 
 humor for the modern reader. In May 1855, with evi¬ 
 dent enthusiasm it is announced that the monthly con¬ 
 cert for missions has been established. A mournful 
 note appended later, says: “Died out in July.” It does 
 not appear whether one or two concerts were held. Be 
 careful how you long- for “the g-ood old days.” They 
 seem to have shown the same kind of human nature with 
 which we are not altogether unfamiliar. In the year 
 1856 an emergency meeting called to provide the pastor's 
 salary, raises $350 and a yoke of oxen, total value $450, 
 “and that too,” says the earnest narrator, “within our 
 own immediate membership.” What the preacher was 
 to do with those oxen does not appear. Perhaps they 
 were to be used in making pastoral calls through that 
 almost bottomless “slough.” Or it may be that they 
 were to be employed to pull refractory members into 
 line! A debt appears to have rested heavily on the 
 young church. A member,accordingly,went on a solicit¬ 
 ing tour through the east. He returned and delighted 
 the church by describing the offer of the Young Men’s 
 Christian Association of Troy, New York, to raise and 
 send the amount. After due deliberation the church 
 voted, “to allow the gift to be made.” But the mission¬ 
 ary spirit of New Yorkers seemed to have waned all 
 too soon, for the church later,with chastened and weak¬ 
 ened confidence in the missionary zeal of these young 
 men, raised the money from its own membership and 
 discharged the debt. 
 
 About this time, the committee, Mr. Howell, reports 
 to the church that “the best bell that could be sent for 
 
 14 
 
$200” had been ordered from the east. How that 
 church could have spent for a bell an amount equal to 
 one-fifth the'Cost of the entire meeting-house, seems at 
 this distant day little less than amazing. But this 
 preceded the day of Seth Thomas clocks. Before the 
 committee had been authorized to purchase the bell, the 
 entire church had deliberated carefully on the pitch,tone, 
 and quality of the new addition to its ecclesiastical furni¬ 
 ture. The choir seems to have discoursed music other 
 than“heavenly” about this time, for a resolution was in¬ 
 troduced into the meeting, that the choir should be abol¬ 
 ished and congregational singing substituted. The 
 annalist faithfully writes: “animated discussion fol¬ 
 lowed”! The experiment was tried, but for how long a 
 period the historian sayeth not. A resolution of special 
 interest to church treasurers was also adopted by the 
 church, declaring that letters should not be granted to 
 members who were in arrears for their subscription. 
 This constituted a blot on their religious escutcheon. 
 A glimpse into some of their problems is thus afforded 
 us by this resolution. I do not know that the rule was 
 ever rescinded. 
 
 The character of those early members is reflected 
 in their convictions, actions and associations. An 
 occasional visitor to the young church was Father John 
 Rankin of Ohio. This minister lived on the banks ot 
 the river at Ripley, and his home was the traditional 
 place where Eliza, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was sheltered 
 after her thrilling escape across the river on the floating 
 ice. His house, therefore, was the southern terminus 
 of the “underground railway.” His rugged convictions 
 and courage may be judged readily by this fact. But 
 associated with this, was a rich and deep spiritual life. 
 
 15 
 
And, hence, when he appeared on his coveted visits, he 
 ministered to the church in the thing's of the eternal 
 life, as well as to arouse them to fresh devotion in the 
 cause of freedom. He had counterparts in this church, 
 among* whom was his son, John Rankin, who was one of 
 the charter members of the new org*anization. Other 
 kindred spirits entered the membership, drawn by 
 certain strong* affinities. These were ready at any 
 sacrifice, and in the face of any derision, to defend their 
 convictions. However extreme they may have been 
 reg*arded by some at the time, they stood ready at any 
 cost to declare the truth. 
 
 We shall now see that these professions were not 
 empty formulas. Remember what had been already 
 done by the church, to maintain its position on the sub¬ 
 ject of slavery. But far more than this was g*iven in 
 behalf of its principles, by the earnest church. During* 
 the war of the Rebellion, from its scant membership 
 there went to the front, eleven men to serve and suffer 
 for the g*reat cause of freedom. It was said at the time, 
 that this church furnished as many soldiers as all the 
 other churches in the community, combined. These 
 men went to fulfil the pledg*e which the church uncon¬ 
 sciously made to the world, when it first committed it¬ 
 self in favor of liberty. This roll of honor deserves to 
 be cherished by the church, as among* its martyrs for 
 the truth. The names are: M. A. Barnes, A. O. Howell, 
 James Smith, John Rankin, Lewis Allen, Wm. Stewart, 
 Jesse Steel, Henry Dyson, Peter Peters, Frank Fill¬ 
 more and Gilbert Taylor. This list does not include 
 at least two who went from the cong*regation, .but who 
 were not members of the church. Of these eleven 
 members, four g*ave their lives in the service, they are 
 
 16 
 
M. A. Barnes, Wm. Stewart, Peter Peters and Jesse 
 Steel. Truly enough, this brave church paid its pledge 
 of loyalty, by the gift of these more than precious lives, 
 and joined that company of God’s elect, who have suff¬ 
 ered in defense of the truth. 
 
 The record of the church is strangely silent during 
 the years of the war. That great conflict in which the 
 church had such intense interest, and in which it took 
 its full share, came and went, and but four brief lines 
 remain to indicate to the modern reader, that such his¬ 
 toric contest had occurred. The whole written history 
 of the church’s participation in that war is: “M. A. 
 Barnes, died in the army; Jesse Steel, killed in the bat¬ 
 tle of B'ranklin; Peter Peters, died in the army; Wm. 
 Stewart, died in the hospital at Memphis.” Such silence 
 is, after all, eloquent testimony to the part which a 
 church may have in the life of its age, beyond that which 
 ever finds its way into written history. But these terse 
 notations are sufficient to indicate, that in the land of 
 the prairies, our Pilgrim faith was still saturated with 
 hatred of oppression, and warm with a passion for 
 liberty. 
 
 The ministers that have served the church, were 
 earnest, godly and consecrated men, whose service 
 deserves more extended reference than my space will 
 allow. I can give but the most brief statement of them 
 and their work. 
 
 Rev. W. M. Blanchard, as noted above, assisted in 
 organizing the church, and acted as stated supply until 
 January 1855. During this year the house of worship, 
 east of the track, was built at the cost of $1,000. 
 
 In March, 1856, a call was extended to Rev. W. H. 
 Halliwell to become pastor for one year. He accepted 
 
 17 
 
the call, but resigned at the end of eleven months. In 
 the month of May following, 1857, Rev. A. S. Vandyke 
 accepted a call to preach for a period of one year. He 
 continued his services eleven vears, or until Mav 18(»8, 
 at which time he resigned. His ministry was one of 
 the most fruitful in the history of the church. Within 
 this period, the old house of worship became too small 
 to accommodate the increasing congregation, and a 
 building on Park street, immediately west of the Wal¬ 
 ker Opera House, was erected in 1866, at a cost of 
 S16,000. 
 
 Rev. E. N. Andrews followed with a brief ministry 
 of six months. For several months thereafter the pul¬ 
 pit was supplied by Prof. W. M. Baker. On the third 
 Sunday in May, 1870, Rev. T. J. Volentine began ser¬ 
 vices with the church. His labors closed in June 1872. 
 Rev. W. G. Pierce accepted the call of the church, and 
 entered his pastorate here,September 22,1872. During 
 his service, on the evening of September 12, 1873, the 
 the church building on Park street was destroyed by 
 fire. In the year 1874 the present edifice, at the corner 
 of State and Church streets, was built at a cost of 
 $22,000, and dedicated free from debt. Mr. Pierce re¬ 
 mained the pastor of the church until his death. His 
 resignation was read September 19, 1887, just fifteen 
 years from the beginning of his labors. In accepting 
 his resignation to take effect October 1 , the church 
 elected him Pastor Emeritus. He died the day before 
 the termination of his office as acting pastor. His min¬ 
 istry was the longest that the church has had, and was 
 conspicuously successful. 
 
 On April 4 , 1888 , Rev. John Allender inaugurated 
 his work as pastor, and continued until July, 1892 , at 
 
 IS 
 
which time his resignation was accepted. The present 
 pastor, Rev. Franklin L. Graff, began his services on 
 October 15, 1892, and, therefore has just finished his 
 eleventh year with the church. By the above record it 
 will be seen that this church has had but seven pastors 
 during these fifty years. 
 
 Judging from the esteem in which former ministers 
 are still held in this city, the longer pastorates are those 
 which are invariably deepest, in their impression on the 
 community life. 
 
 In the building movements, noted here in connection 
 with the labors of the pastors, the church exhibited the 
 finest spirit of unanimity and self-sacrifice. In the erec¬ 
 tion of the last edifice, this was true, as well as in those 
 earliest days. And, therefore, into these walls have gone 
 gifts, that make the church dear to us and precious to God. 
 And when we entered, as we did with enthusiasm, into 
 the work of remodeling and renovating, which has just 
 been completed, we joined our service with theirs, and 
 thus fitly commemorated our Jubilee year. 
 
 Our rolls include a total of 852 members. According 
 to the accustomed method of computing the direct work 
 of a church—two and one-half persons for each member— 
 we have as a result, a company of 2,130 persons directly 
 affected by the activities of the church, in this community. 
 This,ofcoursecannotincludethelargerinfluence ofa church 
 in the regions beyond its own immediate locality. Further¬ 
 more,he who measures the function of a Christian church, 
 by the number of names upon its roll, misses entirely the 
 great range of its service, for the forces of social redem- 
 tion resident in a church, are scarcely second in impor¬ 
 tance to the work of saving individual men. We ought 
 to regard such influence, as a significant part of the ser- 
 
 19 
 
vice to which the church is called by Jesus Christ. 
 
 No complete account ever can be kept of the life, 
 character and work of those who have entered formally 
 into covenant with the church. Not ‘‘until the pages of 
 the soul are open to our vision” shall we be able to read 
 all the history of those years. Our rolls’contain the 
 names of those who have been honorably distinguished 
 in our community, as well as the names of those who 
 gave service and life for our country. It is a noble com¬ 
 pany of men and women, and well do they merit a place 
 among those who are ever to be esteemed for their work in 
 the Kingdom of God. 
 
 The history of these later years discloses many facts 
 that are full of tenderness and pathos. Here and there is 
 the record of the dropping from the ranks, of those who 
 have been actively engaged in the life of the church- 
 Brief accounts are preserved, of the death and final ser¬ 
 vices of those who have gone to their rich reward. One 
 feels, at this distance, the grief of the church in the loss of 
 such great souls. I dare not attempt to name them here, 
 for fear that I might fail to insert those who were equally 
 valuable to the Kingdom of God, but whose careers did 
 not chance to find a human historian. They are dear to 
 the church, and are now recalled with deepest sentiments 
 of esteem and affection. Not least among those who are 
 now remembered with joy, are those who are still mani¬ 
 festing that same spirit of the Christ, in cities other than 
 our own. They have gone from us, but are not forgotten. 
 
 Not least among the interesting papers that are pre¬ 
 served by the scribes, are those which refer to the resigna¬ 
 tion and death of Father Pierce, who was, for the fifteen 
 years, the devoted and beloved pastor of this church* 
 Here is the last paper prepared by him for the public. 
 
 20 
 
Excepting the closing paragraph, it is written, after dicta¬ 
 tion, by another hand. Weary in body, and disquieted 
 by disease, he dictates this, his final message, to his dear, 
 dear church, and tenders his resignation. After relin-* 
 quishing his pastorate, and requesting the church kindly 
 to sever the old relation, he says: “Brethern how many 
 days remain to me here, I cannot tell. Whether few or 
 many, my daily prayer shall be for a blessing on your 
 heads. That this church may become a mighty spiritual 
 power in the place, is the yearning of my heart. From 
 my bed of weariness 1 send you cheerful greeting. Move 
 on Brethren until the gates swung open on their diamond 
 hinges, and we behold the glory which the soul craves, 
 and which God has prepared for them that love Him.” 
 
 Written with apparant pain, and much effort, is this 
 final word from his own hand. “I had hoped to dictate a 
 paper for this occasion, such as its great interest demands, 
 but for some days I have found myself inadequate to the 
 task, and must content myself with this simple resigna¬ 
 tion. I could not guide my feelings if I should try to 
 express them. I cannot express the affection that binds 
 us as brethren. I cannot tell how the sympathy and love 
 of this community (in the recent death of his wife,) has 
 touched my heart. All that is for future reading when 
 the pages of the soul shall be open to our vision.” 
 
 This letter was written September 17, 1887, and 
 was read to the church on the following day, by the 
 Rev. Mr. Fonda, of Rantoul. As indicated above, the 
 church accepted his resignation to take effect October 
 1st, and made him Pastor Emeritus. On September 30, 
 only a few days thereafter, those heavenly gates swung 
 “open on their diamond hinges,” and welcomed him 
 home. 
 
 21 
 
Events, that found no permanent entry in our his¬ 
 tory,nevertheless,have had a large place in the life of the 
 church. Of these we can make only the most brief refer¬ 
 ence. They inclnde, the growth and prosperity of our 
 city,from an open prairie to more than ten thousand peo¬ 
 ple, not to mention the vigor of our sister city and its pro¬ 
 gress; the location here and the evolution of a great Uni¬ 
 versity; the vital relation which this church, from the 
 first,has sustained with the student body and the facul¬ 
 ty; and the mutual service which these have given to the 
 church and which the church has given to them. Nor 
 can we begin to do justice to those noble women, who 
 have labored with us in the work. What cause has not 
 had their tireless support? What project has been in¬ 
 augurated and pushed to success,without their versatile 
 labors? In this church there ever have been worthy 
 successors of those, who were “last at the cross and 
 first at the tomb.” 
 
 Here, therefore, is the transcript from the record 
 of our church, confessedly too short to do justice to the 
 truth. Only fifty years of existence, and yet within 
 that period the organization of this body has been more 
 than justified. After this rehearsal of the facts, I need 
 not ask the question, “did it pay?” “Was the invest¬ 
 ment wise?” While others, in that early time, were in¬ 
 vesting time, money and energy in the soil, does the 
 verdict of time approve their effort for the soul? No 
 real appreciation of the worth of character and spiritual 
 life,can doubt what the proper answer must be. When, 
 therefore, we compare values today, let us not lightly 
 judge the work of those who chose to lay up their 
 treasure in heaven. And let us not overestimate the 
 foresight of those who declined to pledge talent and 
 
 22 
 
posessions for Christ and His church. 
 
 On certain festal days in the Roman ag-e, there 
 occurred g-reat processions, which included striking- 
 memorial features. This element of the celebration, 
 was the g-iving- of honor to those who had disting-uished 
 themselves, in a previous day, by some notable act. 
 Young- men of the city, would carry aloft in the proces¬ 
 sion, the imag-es and busts of famous ancestors, who 
 had well served their ag-e, and who had closed their 
 careers. By this symbol, the young- men declared, in 
 public, the character and spirit to which they promised 
 devotion. This act was not merely a proper esteem 
 paid to departed men, it was also a public pledg-e of 
 readiness to perform a like service for their country. 
 Thus were their immortal dead reg-arded as present 
 with them,and witnessing- this honor and this consecra¬ 
 tion. It was a custom that produced indescribable feel¬ 
 ing- and enthusiasm. We too, are surrounded by a 
 g-reat cloud of witnesses. They are the members of a 
 previous day, who have here borne testimony to the 
 truth. They recall their own hopes and toil and faith. 
 They remember that their work was left unfinished. 
 And they cannot forg-et their trust, that there should 
 arise after them men of like spirit and devotion, who 
 should finish what they have so well beg-un. Out of the 
 distance they speak to us today. By listening- intently 
 we may catch their messag-e. Thoug-h we hear no 
 sound of voice, and see no form of man, yet we feel their 
 presence, and accept the long-ing- of their hearts. There¬ 
 fore, we solemnly respond, in the lang'uag-e of another 
 immortal, “That we here hig-hly resolve, that these 
 
 shall not have toiled in vain, but that the truth, and the 
 church,for which they labored,shall not perish from the 
 earth.” 
 
 23