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The 
 
 First One Hundred Tears 
 
 of 
 
 Second Presbyterian Church 
 Bloomington, Illinois 
 
COPYRIGHT 1956 
 BY SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 All rights reserved. No part of this book 
 may be reproduced, in any form, without 
 permission in writing from the publishers. 
 
 LITHOGRAPHED IN U.S.A. 
 
*%£ 1*7735*1 ' 
 
 Foreword 
 
 I have no illusions as to my qualification or training as 
 an historian. I claim neither. It was quite by accident that 
 some years ago I interested myself in the early records of the 
 Second Presbyterian Church. From that reading I have se- 
 lected, out of a mass of material, portions which I hope may 
 have value to those interested. Whether or not my choices 
 are wise must remain for others to determine. 
 
 There are many to whom I am indebted for assistance. 
 First of all I have had the co-operation and help of Dr. Mar- 
 tin and the entire Church staff. Dr. Martin, in the face of an 
 otherwise heavy schedule, has taken time to read my manu- 
 script. I appreciate his help and suggestions. 
 
 Mrs. Breen and Miss Abraham of the Wither's Public 
 Library have been most helpful. The Chapters on Women's 
 Work, Missions and Christian Ministry were prepared al- 
 most entirely from material furnished by Miss Abraham. 
 Parts of these chapters are very nearly in her words. 
 
 For references to and quotations from minutes of early 
 meetings of Bloomington Presbytery, I am indebted to the 
 Virginia Library of McCormick Theological Seminary in 
 Chicago where these records are on file. Letters and reports 
 written by early mission pastors such as Lemuel Foster, 
 David I. Perry, and others, I was privileged to read in the 
 Hammond Library of the Chicago Theological Seminary. 
 Both Mr. John F. Lyons, now librarian emeritus of Virginia 
 Library, and Mrs. Eva 0. Kincheloe, librarian of Hammond 
 Library, were most co-operative. 
 
 From Mrs. Charles T. Stevenson I received much of the 
 information contained in the chapter on Music. 
 
 Data concerning families whose names appear has been 
 obtained largely from members of those families. 
 
 Much as I have tried to avoid it, I suspect errors of fact 
 may appear. For those I assume responsibility. Should this 
 history prove to be of value, it is the result of the fine co- 
 operation and the help of many people. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/firstonehundredyOOrams 
 
Contents 
 
 Preface 9 
 
 I. The Old School— New School Schism . 11 
 
 II. The New School Society Organized . 15 
 
 III. Early Families 23 
 
 IV. Growing Pains 29 
 
 V. Rev. John W. Dinsmore .... 37 
 
 VI. Rev. W. P. Kane 41 
 
 VII. Rev. Henry K. Denlinger .... 45 
 
 VIII. Dr. Frederick. W. Hawley .... 49 
 
 IX. Dr. Joseph N. Elliott 51 
 
 X. Dr. William Blake Hindman ... 53 
 
 XI. Dr. Charles Tupper Baillie ... 57 
 
 XII. Sunday School 61 
 
 XIII. Buildings 67 
 
 XIV. Women's Work 73 
 
 XV. Men's Work 85 
 
 XVI. Music 89 
 
 XVII. Christian Ministry 95 
 
 XVIII. Missions 101 
 
 XIX. Dr. Harold R. Martin 107 
 
 XX. Centennial Celebration . , . .113 
 
 Postscript 117 
 
 Ministers 119 
 
 7 
 
Preface 
 
 The author of this book, Mr. Roy A. Ramseyer, has been 
 an Elder in the Second Presbyterian Church for many years. 
 Aside from the many duties and responsibilities which he 
 has assumed over the years in connection with his local 
 church, he has given of his time and strength to many posi- 
 tions of service. He is a member of the Board of National 
 Missions of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. He holds a 
 position on the Executive Committee of the National Coun- 
 cil of Presbyterian Men. He is a trustee of Bloomington 
 Presbytery and a member of the Presbyterian Foundation 
 of the Synod of Illinois. Not only has he been the President 
 of the Board of Directors of the Bloomington Y.M.C.A., but 
 has held several offices in the state executive committee of 
 the Illinois Y.M.C.A., including the position of President 
 of the Board. He is one of the leading attorneys of the Mc- 
 Lean County Bar Association with his office in Bloomington. 
 His interest in the work of the church in its many depart- 
 ments is a well-known fact among his acquaintances. He 
 has had a great interest in the history and development of 
 the Second Presbyterian Church. We are grateful for his 
 research and diligent work in the preparation of this volume. 
 
 — Harold Martin, Minister 
 
k 
 
 10 
 
CHAPTER 
 
 The Old School-New School Schism 
 
 The organization, in the summer of 1855, of the New 
 School Presbyterian Society in Bloomington (now Second 
 Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, Illinois) , was the local 
 manifestation of a movement national in its scope. 
 
 During the latter part of the 18th Century and the early 
 years of the 19th Century, thousands of people emigrated 
 from the Atlantic coast to new settlements in the West. Our 
 General Assembly, wishing to serve the needs of these 
 people, sent out missionaries. Thus these Presbyterian mis- 
 sionaries came into contact with Congregational ministers 
 from Connecticut. The increasing number of churches need- 
 ing ministration made it impossible for either denomination 
 to satisfy the requirements of its churches. To help meet 
 this situation in 1801, the Presbyterian General Assembly 
 and the General Association of the Congregational Churches 
 of Connecticut agreed upon a Plan of Union for joint work 
 in pioneer fields. 
 
 The Plan provided that Congregational ministers might 
 serve Presbyterian churches without transfer of relation- 
 ship. Representation of the General Association in the meet- 
 ings of General Assembly was granted. Not less than five 
 Congregational Associations became official parts of the 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Dr. William E. Lingle writes that 
 
 "for thirty-five years after this plan the Presby- 
 terian Church in America had the most remark- 
 able growth it has ever had in the same length of 
 time" 
 
 11 
 
Many new Presbyteries and several new Synods were or- 
 ganized. Boards of Home Missions, Foreign Missions, Edu- 
 cation, and Publication were established. It was a period of 
 rapid growth and organization. 
 
 But all were not happy with some of the consequences. 
 The Plan of Union resulted in a great deal of looseness in 
 government. Newer Synods in the Presbyterian Church be- 
 came more and more Congregational in church government; 
 in fact sometimes it was disparagingly referred to as the 
 "Presbygational Church." To aggravate the situation, it was 
 contended that some of the Congregationalists who came 
 into the Presbyterian Church brought "a looseness of doc- 
 trine." 
 
 The opposing factions within the Presbyterian Church 
 separated into two groups — the Old School and the New 
 School. The former advocated the abrogation of the Plan of 
 Union and the establishment of denominational agencies. 
 The New School opposed both these policies. The conserva- 
 tives of the Old School even challenged the orthodoxy of the 
 New School leaders. 
 
 The New School group had the majority in the Presby- 
 terian General Assembly of 1836. This alarmed the Old 
 School contingent and in 1837 they had a majority in the 
 Assembly. Resolutions were passed declaring the Plan of 
 Union with the Congregationalists unconstitutional, abro- 
 gating the plan, and declaring all that was done under it 
 null and void. Each group became, in 1838, a separate and 
 distinct denomination. 
 
 The respective attitudes toward slavery on the part of 
 the two groups accentuated their differences. Those of the 
 New School were predominately Northern and unsympa- 
 thetic to slavery. The New School Assembly of 1846 passed 
 some very drastic resolutions condemning slavery as being 
 opposed to the principles of the Law of God, the precepts of 
 the Gospel, and the best interests of humanity. The As- 
 sembly of 1857 passed resolutions even more drastic than 
 those of 1846. 
 
 In the meantime, in 1845, the Old School Assembly had 
 passed resolutions concerning slavery which the anti-slav- 
 ery group denounced as being pro-slavery documents. 
 
 12 
 
First Presbyterian Church, organized here in 1833, as 
 its name indicates, was the first Presbyterian Church es- 
 tablished in Bloomington. In 1838, the year during which 
 the separation into two groups occurred, the Bloomington 
 church attached itself to the New School organization. Thus 
 it continued until 1848, when, with the consent of Presby- 
 tery, it withdrew and attached itself to the Old School de- 
 nomination. It so continued until 1865 when, by a large ma- 
 jority of the congregation, it voted to sever connection with 
 the Old School organization and return to the New School 
 group. 
 
 Throughout the central West, and particularly in Bloom- 
 ington, one must understand the close interrelationship be- 
 tween the Presbyterian and Congregational churches to un- 
 derstand how vitally they were concerned with the Old 
 School — New School division. 
 
 Carrie Prudence Kofoid, writing for the Springfield, 
 Illinois state JOURNAL company on the Puritan influences 
 in Illinois, remarks, 
 
 "It is well, however, to emphasize the fact 
 that up to 1860, during the formative years for 
 Illinois, Congregationalists and Presbyterians did 
 work together in Illinois in such a way that it 
 would be impossible now to divide the results of 
 their work and ascribe them to either body as a 
 definite source. Moreover, the results aimed at 
 were the same and sprang largely from the same 
 body of ideas. ff 
 Lemuel Foster, a Congregationalist minister, in his His- 
 tory of Missionary work writes of his coming here to Bloom- 
 ington in 1833 and meeting Mr. A. C. Washburn and "his 
 excellent wife" and of meeting Mr. McGeoch who preached 
 at the Presbyterian Church "but soon sickened and died." 
 Foster reports further, 
 
 "Early in the spring I organized a church in 
 Bloomington of eight members; & being aware 
 that Congregationalism would be misunderstood, 
 except by Bro. W- & his wife, & neither of us car- 
 ing for the ism, but the cause; I formed it Presby- 
 terian, with Bro. Washburn the only elder. This 
 
 13 
 
being done, the little Church made an application 
 for aid, & my second commission from the Home 
 Missionary Society, after an interval of 6 months, 
 was obtained to labor there" 
 It must be evident that all angles of the relationships 
 between the Congregationalists and Presbyterians and, con- 
 sequently, between the Old School and New School factions 
 had real meaning for these people. As a result they felt 
 deeply on whichever side of the question their sympathies 
 lay. Moreover they were of pioneer stock. They were not in- 
 clined to take orders. Neither would they let other people do 
 their thinking for them. 
 
 The original building of Second Presbyterian Church, torn down to make way 
 for the present Church building in 1895 
 
 14 
 
CHAPTER 
 
 The New School Society Organized 
 
 It would be interesting and certainly enlightening could 
 we know more of the earlier negotiations and meetings 
 which preceded the actual organization of the New School 
 Presbyterian Society of Bloomington in June of 1855. 
 
 The first recorded minutes are those of June 3rd, 1855. 
 Their importance justifies quoting them in their entirety: 
 "From several incidental meetings and con- 
 ferences between several members of the 1st Pres- 
 byterian Church (0. S.) and of the Congrega- 
 tional Church of Bloomington it was believed that 
 the time had fully come — in the Providence of 
 God — the necessities of the rapidly growing pop- 
 ulation of this city and the elements in readiness 
 for the enterprise — for the organization of a 
 Constitutional Presbyterian Church. 
 
 "In accordance with this conviction, a request 
 was sent to the Rev. Alfred Eddy of Beloit, Wis- 
 consin to visit the place preparatory to the forma- 
 tion of such a church. — He complied with the re- 
 quest and public services were first held by him 
 in Major's Hall, June third A. D. 1855.— 
 Charles L. Capen, in his history presented on the oc- 
 casion of the seventieth anniversary of our Church wrote: 
 "Early in 1855 a small meeting of certain 
 members of the local Presbyterians who insisted 
 that slavery was a sin and should be so treated 
 was held with William Wallace as chairman. He 
 was one of our leading citizens, the mayor, upon 
 
 15 
 
whom more than any other the new project 
 leaned. His death a few weeks later was a severe 
 blow to the enterprise." 
 William Wallace heads the list of charter members of 
 the new church. However, he came by letter not from a 
 Presbyterian Church but "from the Congregational Ch. 
 Bloomington." 
 
 Mr. Wallace's church affiliation is probably explained by 
 the fact that in 1844 a group withdrew from First Presby- 
 terian Church to form a Congregational Church. It has not 
 been possible to find the minutes of 1844 to determine the 
 names of the group who withdrew for this purpose. How- 
 ever, Dr. Edward K. Strong, then pastor of First Presby- 
 terian Church delivered an address, May 12, 1895, entitled : 
 "A Souvenir, Being a History of the First Presbyterian 
 Church of Bloomington, Bloomington, 111., 1833-1895." The 
 occasion was the last worship service in the old church build- 
 ing prior to its being torn down to make way for the new 
 building which is now the home of First Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 Speaking of his church, I quote from Dr. Strong's 
 treatise : 
 
 "Soon after the organization, the slavery ques- 
 tion came into prominence. Bloomington lay on 
 the border between the two great sections which 
 favored and opposed slavery. In this church were 
 gathered these two elements, and more than once 
 the struggle became intense. It was the anti-slav- 
 ery sentiment which led to the formation of the 
 Congregational Church, which, according to pro- 
 test against such organization in the records of 
 the Session, occurred in 18 UU" 
 The Rev. David I. Perry, who came to First Presby- 
 terian Church as its pastor the latter part of January, 1844, 
 writes : 
 
 "/ found that there had long been unpleasant 
 things existing in the church. That some few in- 
 dividuals had been dissatisfied with the rest, and 
 that they had succeeded in raising a party of 
 about a dozen members who had concluded to pre- 
 
 16 
 
fer Congregationalism to Presbyterianism. These 
 had procured the aid of a minister belonging to a 
 neighboring Presbytery to organize them into a 
 church. This was done without consulting the 
 main body of the church, and that too after they 
 had offered, to avoid a separation, to change the 
 form of government to Congregational. Nothing 
 it would seem but a separation would answer." 
 Also included in the group coming by letter from the 
 Congregational Church was the Washburn family. Amasa 
 C. Washburn had been one of the organizers of First Pres- 
 byterian Church in 1833 and its first elder. I have not been 
 able, by available records, to establish this as a fact, but it 
 is quite probable that the dozen members who withdrew 
 from First Presbyterian Church in 1844 were desirous of 
 getting back into the Presbyterian Church. It is equally 
 probable that they led in the negotiations which resulted in 
 the formation of the new church. The fact that there were 
 these preliminary negotiations is evident not only from the 
 statement in the quoted minutes but also from the fact that 
 at the meeting of June 3, 1855 they had arranged for the 
 presence of the Rev. Alfred Eddy who was there prepared 
 to proceed with the organization of and ministry to the new 
 church. 
 
 One would assume that the Session of First Church was 
 not happy about the formation of the new church. Perhaps 
 there is significance in the very brief minutes of that Ses- 
 sion on June 23, 1855. I quote : 
 
 "At the call of the Mod. Session convened at 
 this hour. Pres. - F. N. Ewing, Mod. - Elders Ja- 
 cob Smith & William Gillespie - constituted with 
 prayer. The following persons requested letters 
 of dismission from this Ch. with the view to unite 
 with Presbyterian Ch - (New School) about to be 
 formed in this place - viz - (here follow the names 
 of persons who came into the new church by letter 
 from First Presbyterian Church). Adj. Wm. Gil- 
 lespie C. S." 
 Some years ago Frances Perry Bond, now deceased, told 
 me much of what she had heard from her forebears in First 
 
 17 
 
Church. David I. Perry, former pastor of First Church, was 
 her grandfather. 
 
 The Rev. Fielding N. Ewing, she stated, had come to 
 First Church as its pastor in 1850. He and his family were 
 Southerners with reputedly strong Southern sympathies. 
 Mrs. Bond recalled that one evening at prayer meeting Mr. 
 Ewing read approvingly from an article in the NEW YORK 
 observer. The article commended slavery. It told how well 
 slaves were treated and how much better negroes fared as 
 slaves. Following his talk, Mr. Ewing called on Mr. More- 
 house to lead in prayer. Here I quote Mrs. Bond : 
 
 "Bro. Morehouse arose and prayed that the 
 Lord would hasten the day when no minister of 
 Gospel would stand in the pulpit and uphold slav- 
 ery," and continuing with the quotation, "Right 
 there the seed of what is now Second Presbyter- 
 ian Church was sown. Mr. Ewing' s attitude was 
 too much for those abolitionists to take." 
 
 Dr. John W. Dinsmore in his Historical Sketch of Sec- 
 ond Presbyterian congregation of Bloomington, Blooming- 
 ton, Illinois, published in 1886, writes: 
 
 "I suppose that differences of opinion on this 
 question (slavery) had at least something to do 
 with the movement which resulted in the organi- 
 zation we now know as the Second Church." 
 
 In this connection, however, it is only fair to quote again 
 from Dr. Strong's treatise, previously referred to : 
 
 "Our Church (First Presbyterian) , however, 
 continued to grow and thrive, until the congrega- 
 tion became too large for the home, and in 1855 
 fourteen drew out, and with twelve from the Con- 
 gregational Church, and some others, organized 
 the Second Presbyterian Church. This was a per- 
 fectly peaceful separation, and yet I have been in- 
 formed the opposition to slavery had considerable 
 influence in determining these persons to leave 
 the parent church." 
 In any event the group proceeded with steps leading to 
 the new organization, — 
 
 18 
 
"On the 13th of June a special meeting was 
 called, consisting of all those who proposed to be 
 formed into the new church. At which the Rev. 
 Alfred Eddy presided and Mr. Stephen P. More- 
 house was chosen Clerk. An Abstract of the Arti- 
 cles of Faith and Covenant & form of Admission 
 to the Church were unanimously adopted and set 
 forth in full in the records. 
 
 "On motion it was resolved 'That we proceed 
 to organize a church - to be called the New School 
 Presbyterian Church of Bloomington.' 
 
 "In fulfillment of this purpose on the Sabbath 
 of the Twenty- fourth of June, 1855 after sermon 
 by the Rev. Alfred Eddy thirty-four persons 
 were received into the church, twelve from the 
 Congregational Church, fourteen from the First 
 Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, seven from 
 various churches outside of Bloomington, and one 
 by profession." 
 
 Four of the persons listed, it is indicated, were absent from 
 the meeting. 
 
 The minutes recite that 
 
 "After remarks and prayer by Mr. Eddy the 
 above named persons gave their assent to the 
 Articles of Faith and Covenant" 
 Wm. A. Elder and A. Hosford Brown were chosen elders for 
 two years and David Brier and Pierson Morehouse for one 
 year. 
 
 The Church seems to have prospered from the start. 
 There were additional accessions at almost every meeting 
 of Session. The first copy of a report to Presbytery appears 
 in the meeting of April 26, 1860, which gives the member- 
 ship, as of that date, 146. 
 
 Actually, the organization of the new church seems not 
 to have been recognized by Presbytery until December 22, 
 1857. On that date, The Presbytery of Bloomington, which 
 had been created by Act of the Synod of Peoria but two 
 months previously, met in the home of the Rev. J. R. Dunn 
 in Wenona. I quote from Presbytery's minutes : 
 
 19 
 
"The Rev. Alfred Eddy presented a letter of 
 dismission from the Presbytery of Belvidere with 
 the request to become a member of this body 
 which was granted and his name ordered to be 
 entered upon the roll. The New School Presby- 
 terian Church of Blooming ton presented a re- 
 quest to be taken under the care of this Presby- 
 tery - and their confession of faith being the same 
 as adopted by the Synod - the request was granted 
 - and L. W. Capen, Elder & Delegate from said 
 Church presents himself and took his seat as a 
 member of this body." At this same meeting "Rev. 
 Eddy was elected Stated Clerk - and he was ap- 
 pointed to preach the opening sermon of this Ses- 
 sion at tf!/2 o'clock this evening." 
 For approximately two years, until they were able to 
 
 move into their new church, the group continued to meet in 
 
 Major's Hall. 
 
 While the new church is, in a number of instances, in 
 quoted minutes referred to as the new school Presbyter- 
 ian church of BLOOMINGTON, in the affidavit of incorpora- 
 tion its name appears as the new school Presbyterian 
 society of bloomington. Thus it remained until January 
 2, 1877 when, at a congregational meeting, the name was 
 changed to second Presbyterian church of bloomington, 
 ill. The affidavit of Henry Capen evidencing that fact was 
 filed on January 5, 1877 in book 101 of the Deed Records of 
 McLean County, pages 266-7. That is its correct corporate 
 name today. 
 
 Major's Hall was on the third floor of the building which 
 still stands at the Southwest corner of the intersection of 
 East and Front Streets. It was an important meeting place 
 of the early day. Here on May 29, 1856 was held the con- 
 vention at which Lincoln made his now famous "Lost 
 Speech." It was at that convention that the Republican 
 party of the State was organized. Whether the Republican 
 party, as such, actually originated there or at a meeting in 
 Wisconsin is, of course, a matter of controversy. At Major's 
 Hall, too, Illinois State Normal University held its Sessions 
 for the first three years of its existence. 
 
 20 
 
Some years ago a fire destroyed the Hall and the third 
 floor of the building. To date it has not been restored. The 
 lower two stories continue to stand though they have been 
 repaired and somewhat modernized over the years. 
 
 The sanctuary in the original Church building 
 
 21 
 
The laying of the cornerstone tor the new 
 Second Presbyterian Church building on October 15, 1895 
 
 22 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 Early Families 
 
 Space and time limitations make it possible to mention 
 only a few of the families in the very earliest years of the 
 church. 
 
 The Rev. Alfred Eddy, the first minister, was born in 
 1815 near Marion, Wayne County, New York. His father, 
 David Eddy, had moved there from Middleborough in 1805 
 to become a circuit judge of the State of New York. From 
 youth Alfred Eddy had felt drawn to religious work and 
 toward the ministry. He went first to Palmyra Academy in 
 New York and then to Brockport. In 1835, at the age of 
 20, the Congregational Association of Genessee granted him 
 a license to preach. In later years Union Theological Semi- 
 nary conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree upon 
 him. In 1840 Alfred Eddy was ordained by the Presbytery 
 of Geneva, N. Y. and became minister of the Presbyterian 
 Church of Bellona, N. Y. In 1849 he accepted a call to the 
 First Presbyterian Church of Beloit, Wisconsin. He, of 
 course, came to Bloomington in 1855. On the organization 
 of the Fourth Regiment of Illinois, made up largely of vol- 
 unteers recruited in and around Bloomington, he became its 
 Chaplain. From Bloomington Dr. Eddy went, in December, 
 1863, to the Olivet Presbyterian Church and from there to 
 the newly organized Ninth Presbyterian Church, both in 
 Chicago. Here he remained as a successful pastor until 1869. 
 Dr. Eddy seems to have been admirably qualified to take 
 over the new church. Mr. Capen, in his history previously 
 referred to, writes of him, 
 
 23 
 
"The founder was a man of rare eloquence and 
 of most engaging qualities as a pastor. Under him 
 the little church prospered." 
 
 Amasa C. Washburn, one of our charter members, was 
 one of the founders and the first elder of the First Presby- 
 terian Church here in 1833. However, he came into the new 
 church by letter from the Congregational Church. One can- 
 not but wonder if he was one of those who left First Presby- 
 terian Church to form the Congregational Church in 1844. 
 
 Mr. Washburn was born May 25, 1807 on a farm in Put- 
 ney Township, Vermont. His ancestors had come from Eng- 
 land. He arrived in Bloomington on June 17, 1831, and 
 
 "by the 20th he had obtained enough scholars 
 at $2.00 per quarter to commence teaching and on 
 that day opened school." 
 
 On June 26th he opened a Sabbath school in Mr. Lucas' 
 home. It was the first ever held in Blooming Grove. He also 
 organized the first Temperance Society in the community. 
 In December, 1831, he began teaching in Bloomington. On 
 April 30, 1835 he married Ann Packard, his first wife hav- 
 ing died the previous year. Mr. Washburn had one daughter, 
 Mary Frances, the result of his second marriage. She and 
 her husband, John Hull, were members of the first gradu- 
 ating class at Illinois State Normal University. In 1861-2 
 Mr. Hull taught mathematics at I. S. N. U. From 1862-64 
 he was principal of Bloomington High School. Mr. Hull was 
 a member of the Bloomington Board of Education and 
 School Examiner of the city schools from 1865 to 1869. From 
 1869 to 1875 he was County Superintendent of Schools. 
 Later Mr. Hull was connected with the* Normal School at 
 Carbondale. Mr. Washburn died at the family home in Car- 
 bondale in 1890. In the early days of Bloomington he was 
 active in many noble causes, one of Bloomington's outstand- 
 ing citizens. He figured prominently in the early cultural and 
 religious life of this community. 
 
 Since the question has been asked so many times it seems 
 wise to explain that Amasa C. Washburn was not part of 
 our present Washburn family. Andrew Washburn, father 
 of George A. Washburn and grandfather of Dorothy, P. A., 
 
 24 
 
and Helen, came into this church from the Presbyterian 
 Church of Danvers, Illinois on November 3, 1882. 
 
 So far as I have been able to determine, Stephen P. More- 
 house is the only charter member who has descendants in 
 our church today. Isabel Vandervort Hallam and Marion 
 (Mrs. Harry) Stubblefield are his great granddaughters. 
 Stephen P. Morehouse, with several others of the More- 
 house family, came in by letter from the First Presbyterian 
 Church. His son, Pierson, was one of the first elders, he 
 having been so elected at the organization meeting of the 
 church on June 24, 1855. 
 
 Stephen P. Morehouse, as will appear in another chapter, 
 was a member of the building committee which built the 
 original church. 
 
 John Morehouse, son of Stephen P. Morehouse, and his 
 wife, Jane Morehouse, joined this church on April 5, 1857. 
 Their daughter, Hattie E. Morehouse, joined the church 
 on March 1, 1873 in the same group with Mr. C. C. Marquis. 
 
 Hattie E. Morehouse later became the wife of Dr. F. C. 
 Vandervort, long a prominent physician of this city. Dr. 
 and Mrs. Vandervort were the parents of Mrs. Hallam and 
 Mrs. Stubblefield. 
 
 Mary Jane (Mrs. Robert J.) Willman, daughter of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Harry Stubblefield, and Carol Sue Willman, daugh- 
 ter of the Willmans, are also members of our Church. 
 
 The Morehouse family is unique in that it has six gene- 
 rations and spans the entire first century of this Church. 
 
 The following families, though not charter members, 
 came into the church shortly after its organization : 
 
 Luman W. Capen and his wife, Eliza Capen, the first 
 members of a family prominent in the activities of our 
 church through almost all of its history, were admitted by 
 letter from the church of Union Springs, New York on May 
 3, 1856. His ability and devotion were immediately recog- 
 nized. Within three months he was elected and qualified as 
 elder. Except for a brief period, which will be mentioned 
 later, he continued an active elder until his death on De- 
 cember 24, 1883. He was also Church treasurer for many 
 years. Henry Capen, a son, was also prominent and active 
 in the affairs of this church and for many years its treas- 
 
 25 
 
urer. Charles L. Capen, who wrote the history of this church 
 on the occasion of its seventieth anniversary, was another 
 son. Charles was long a prominent lawyer, recognized as 
 one of the cultured men of this community. Henry Capen, 
 son of Luman W. Capen, was the father of Fred B. Capen, 
 also long treasurer and otherwise prominent in the affairs 
 of this church. Henry W. Capen, currently our church treas- 
 urer, is the son of Fred B. Capen. He, too, worthily carries 
 on the Capen tradition. He is the fourth generation of the 
 Capen family to serve this church as its treasurer. 
 
 It should also be said of Luman W. Capen that in addi- 
 tion to apparently being the first elder to represent this 
 church at Presbytery, he was further honored by that arm 
 of the church some ten years later. On October 2, 1867 the 
 Presbytery of Bloomington named Mr. Capen and the Rev. 
 Mr. John McLean as its representatives to a convention in 
 Philadelphia "for prayer & conference to promote union and 
 communion among the various branches of the Presbyterian 
 family." Coming when it did, it is probable that this was 
 one of the meetings which looked forward to and finally 
 resulted in the reunion of the Old School and New School 
 factions in 1870. 
 
 The Moore family entered into the life of this church on 
 June 3, 1857 when M. L. Moore and Joanna Moore, father 
 and mother of our John W. Moore, were received by letter 
 from the First Presbyterian Church of this city. Session 
 minutes show Mr. Moore to have been "a ruling elder." He 
 had been an elder in First Church. He was elected and in- 
 stalled an elder in our church on April 25, 1858. Mr. M. L. 
 Moore, except for the two year period when Mr. Capen was 
 also off the Session, continued an active member of Session 
 until his death on March 28, 1915. Thus he holds the dis- 
 tinction of having served in that capacity longer than any- 
 one else in the history of our church. During the major por- 
 tion of his service as elder he was also Clerk of Session. 
 John W. Moore was elected and installed an elder on June 
 10, 1900. The Moores hold the distinction of having served, 
 father and son, together on Session for almost fifteen years. 
 Louis W. Moore, son of John W. Moore, has also been active 
 in the life of this church, having served for sometime as one 
 of its trustees. 
 
 26 
 
Miss Ruth Moore, daughter of M. L. Moore and Joanna 
 Moore, and formerly a member of this church, had a long 
 and honorable career as a teacher in the Bloomington and 
 Chicago schools. She now resides there in well-earned re- 
 tirement. 
 
 Another son of M. L. and Joanna Moore, James S. Moore, 
 after attending Illinois Wesleyan University, was graduated 
 from Washington & Jefferson College in the class of 1886. 
 He was graduated from Princeton Seminary in 1889. Enter- 
 ing the ministry he held pastorates in Seneca Falls, Alden 
 and Downsville, New York. He died in Buffalo, N. Y. in 1919. 
 
 The Marquis family first appears in our records on De- 
 cember 1, 1869. At that time Mrs. Mary D. Marquis, with 
 three of her children, Miss Laura Betta Marquis, William S. 
 Marquis, and F. D. Marquis, were received by letter from 
 the Presbyterian Church of Elmwood, Illinois. The family 
 had moved from Ohio to Elmwood in 1856 when the husband 
 and father, the Rev. Mr. James Edgar Marquis, became the 
 pastor of the church at Elmwood and two nearby country 
 churches. He continued in this pastorate until his death in 
 1863. 
 
 The youngest child, Chalmers C. Marquis, was received 
 into the church on March 1, 1873, as one of 125, with the 
 largest single group ever to come into the church at a single 
 time. Mr. Marquis informed me that this was largely the 
 result of a very successful revival meeting held in old Dur- 
 ley Hall by a Rev. Mr. Hammond. Others included in that 
 same group are Jerome Elmer Capen (son of Luman W. 
 Capen, who a few years ago remembered this church in his 
 Will), J. Dickey Templeton (for many years an elder and 
 prominent in the missionary activities of this church and 
 the community) , his sister Miss Maggie M. Templeton, Hat- 
 tie E. Morehouse, James S. Moore, Charles T. Stevenson, 
 and Aaron Will. 
 
 The members of the Marquis family have long been 
 prominent in the church and in the community. William S. 
 Marquis was graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University 
 in 1873 and from Princeton Theological Seminary three 
 years later. His first charge was the Presbyterian Church at 
 Minonk. From there he went to Rock Island, Illinois, where 
 
 27 
 
for thirty-one years he was pastor of the Broadway Presby- 
 terian Church. He held a special interest in missions both 
 home and foreign. As a delegate from the United States, he 
 attended the International Missionary Conference in Edin- 
 burgh, Scotland. At the close of that conference he continued 
 his trip around the world, visiting our missions in many for- 
 eign lands. Dr. Marquis was best known as the author and 
 promoter of the Every Member Canvas plan of helping 
 churches improve their financial systems. He spent his last 
 fifteen years in New York City assisting in the work of our 
 Boards and of Presbyterian churches in various parts of the 
 United States. He died at his home in Montclair, New 
 Jersey, on August 29, 1929. 
 
 F. D. Marquis, long a member and officer of this church, 
 was President of- the Peoples Bank. He was the father of 
 Chester D., Dr. Vincent, and Gertrude, our Director of 
 Christian Education, all now members of this church. 
 
 Chalmers, or C. C. Marquis, as he was generally known, 
 was Business Manager of the pantagraph. He was actively 
 connected with that institution for more than sixty years. 
 Serving as Sunday School Superintendent, an elder, Clerk 
 of Session, etc., he was long one of the outstanding leaders 
 of our church. Included among his five children are Mrs. 
 J. N. Elliott and Mrs. Adlai Rust, now active members in 
 this church. Mrs. Marquis and their daughter, Laurastine, 
 both deceased, were in charge of the Beginners Department 
 of this church for many years. 
 
 These are only a few of the many families who, through 
 the years, have contributed much to the church and to the 
 community. However, if one were to start commenting on 
 any except those who have been in the church from its 
 earliest years there would be no knowing where to stop. 
 
 28 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 Growing Pains 
 
 The early Presbyterians of this community were indi- 
 vidualists. They were not inclined to compromise. Nor was 
 there much evidence of a willingness to conciliate. 
 To quote from Dr. Dinsmore's Historical Sketch : 
 
 "The Presbyterian Church in this community, 
 during a good part of its history, was a veritable 
 church militant. It verified and illustrated its tra- 
 ditional genius for war. And its battles were not 
 always with its enemies. Like a growing youth, it 
 has come through the diseases and dangers inci- 
 dent to childhood. . . . 
 
 "There was one question which for more than 
 thirty years was a very troublesome one in our 
 Israel here. It was at the bottom of all, or nearly 
 all, the strifes that for years marred our history. 
 I mean, of course, the question of slavery. No 
 other question ever vexed and tore asunder our 
 American churches like this." 
 Everything seems to have gone smoothly under Mr. 
 Eddy. It seems natural, therefore, that a unanimous call was 
 extended to the Rev. John W. Bailey on March 20, 1864. 
 Mr. Dinsmore wrote concerning Mr. Bailey's pastorate: 
 "During this time a pipe organ, the first ever 
 brought to the city, was placed in the church. 
 There was also a revival of considerable power, 
 and a goodly number were added to the church. 
 During the latter part of Mr. Bailey's ministry 
 there were serious troubles in the church, which 
 
 29 
 
need not be recounted here. It is enough to say, 
 that in consequence quite a number of persons 
 withdrew from the church at the time Mr. Bailey 
 retired from the pulpit.' 1 
 Mr. Bailey kept his own Session minutes starting with 
 the minutes of the meeting of March 20, 1864, which states 
 that he received a unanimous call, and continued through 
 December, 1866. There is nothing in his minutes which in- 
 dicates any trouble. He is the only minister in our history 
 who wrote his own Session minutes. M. L. Moore was again 
 elected Clerk on January 23, 1867, the same meeting at 
 which the resignation of Mr. Bailey is reported. In the 
 months following, letters were granted to a considerable 
 number of persons: In several instances the letters were "to 
 any evangelical church where God in His Providence may 
 cast their lot." 
 
 Apparently members of Session either offered or were 
 asked to resign. For at the meeting of May 29, 1867 a peti- 
 tion signed by 131 members is presented asking that they 
 not resign, urging 
 
 "We believe Peace and Harmony can best be 
 promoted by your continuance in office and we 
 respectfully ask you to reconsider your proposed 
 resignation, praying that your decision may be 
 for the best interests of the church and that God 
 will speedily grant us Peace, Unity and Pros- 
 perity." 
 Session met again on May 31 to consider this petition. 
 "It was freely discussed by all the members of 
 Session. A committee consisting of Bros. Wash- 
 burn & Moore was appointed to converse with 
 persons who do not concur in the prayer of the 
 petition and report at our next meeting." 
 The committee reported back on June 7. Session voted 
 "that, the question be submitted to the church at the annual 
 meeting to be held on June 10th at 8:00 P. M." At this meet- 
 ing it was first voted, by a vote of 60 Ayes to 19 Nays, 
 "That in our opinion the best interests of the church will be 
 maintained by the continuance in office of the present 
 Elders." Following this it was 
 
 30 
 
"Resolved that we now determine, That the 
 term of office of Ruling Elders shall be in accord- 
 ance with Presbyterian Rules as laid down in the 
 Confession of Faith. A m.otion to lay the resolu- 
 tion on the table was lost, and the Resolution was 
 adopted by a vote of U6 Ayes to (35) Thirty-five 
 Nayes." 
 More letters of dismission were asked and granted on Au- 
 gust 14 following. 
 
 Session minutes recorded that "Rev. A. M. McDougall 
 entered upon active service as stated supply of this church 
 Sept. 8, 1867." 
 
 But his coming seems to have aggravated the situation. 
 Members continued to ask for letters. Trouble now arose be- 
 tween First Church and our church. 
 
 On January 17, 1868 "The fact was brought before the 
 Session that a number of the members of this church was 
 reported to have been received as members of the 1st Church 
 in this city without letters." 
 
 A committee was appointed to investigate. The pastor 
 of First Church told the committee that, "only two were re- 
 ceived who said they had not applied to us for letters, and 
 said he advised them to call upon the Clerk of this Session 
 and make known their action & state reasons." 
 
 "Thereupon the Moderator (Mr. McDougall) was ap- 
 pointed a committee to draw up a remonstrance to the pro- 
 ceedings of the Session of the 1st Church" 
 
 The remonstrance appears in Session minutes of March 
 18, 1868. I pass it with the comment that it was not couched 
 in terms which would normally promote pleasant relations 
 between the two churches. 
 
 On April 8, 1868 Session of First Church replies regret- 
 ting the order of procedure and comments "a moment's re- 
 flection will show you that your decision puts the two Ses- 
 sions on very unequal terms and therefore interposes an 
 obstacle which so long as it remains makes consultation im- 
 possible." Our Session voted "That we ask the advice of 
 Presbytery." 
 
 At the meeting of Presbytery on April 19, 1868 it was 
 asked what to do about members received into Bloomington 
 First Presbyterian Church without letters. Presbytery in 
 
 31 
 
answer recommended "that the names be left off the roll on 
 the ground that they have united with another church." 
 
 There was thereupon "An overture proposed by Rev. 
 A. M. McDougall, viz: 'Has one church a right to receive 
 members from another without letters, when primary steps 
 have been taken to discipline such persons by the church 
 to which they belong' was answered in the negative." 
 
 But trouble seems to have been increasing within our 
 own church. On December 8, 1869 Session voted "in compli- 
 ance with a request from the Trustees and leading members 
 of this church that a meeting of the church and Society be 
 held on Friday evening, Dec. 17th, in this church to decide 
 whether the present supply of the Pulpit shall be continued 
 the notice to be read from the pulpit on next Sabbath." 
 There were two negative votes, one of them being by 
 McDougall. 
 
 The congregational meeting was held with the result 
 that the congregation voted 13 for to 130 against Mr. 
 McDougall's remaining. 
 
 But Mr. McDougall did not give up easily. On December 
 28, 1869 "A memorial signed by seventy-seven 'members of 
 the 2nd Presbn. Church and Congregation of Bloomington 1 
 calling the attention of the P.b.y. to the matters specified in 
 the call of the Moderator, & asking redress, was read by 
 Rev. A. M. McDougall, the representative of the memorial- 
 ists before Presbytery." 
 
 At 10 A. M. on the following day the Judicial Commis- 
 sion, to which the matter had been referred, asked for more 
 time and Presbytery recessed until 2 P. M. The Rev. Mr. 
 M. P. Ormsby presented the report which was amended and 
 adopted as follows : 
 
 "Report 
 
 "The undersigned members of the Judicial Committee of 
 the P.b.y. of Bloomington, to whom was referred certain mat- 
 ters of complaint, in respect to the affairs of the 2nd P.b.n. Ch. 
 of Bloomington, would respectfully report: 
 
 "That after a full hearing of the parties interested, they rec- 
 ommend the following action to the P.b.y., viz: 
 
 "That in view of all the facts in the case & as a measure of 
 mutual concession for the sake of the peace of the Church, the 
 
 32 
 
P.by.y. docs hereby recommend to said Church & congregation, 
 & to their stated supply. Rev. A. M. McDougall: 
 
 ""1st — That at the annual meeting of the Church, on the 4th 
 Monday of January next, the official relation of Rev. A. M. 
 Mt Dougall to the 2nd P.h.n. (h. of Rloomington shall cease, and 
 that the congregation shall continue to pay his salary until the 
 first of June next. 
 
 "2nd — That the members of Session shall resign their office 
 at the said annual meeting in January next, & that they be not 
 reelected for at least two years: also that notice shall be given 
 publicly from the pulpit, tiro successive Sabbaths, of said annual 
 meeting, of the resignation of the elders, & the election of 
 others." 
 
 "The follouing written pledge was then presented to the 
 P.by.y. and on motion was made a part of the adjustment of 
 this case: 
 
 "''The undersigned hereby guarantee the Rev. A. M. Mc- 
 Dougall, that in case he shall resign his charge, at the annual 
 meeting on the 4th Monday in January next, his salary shall be 
 paid until the 1st of June next: and we hereby pledge ourselves 
 for the amount quarterly at the rate of two thousand dollars per 
 annum. 
 
 L. W. Capen 
 Henry Capen 
 Colin Robinson 
 G. H. Read 
 Hudson Burr 
 M. L. Moore/" 
 
 Rev. J. McLean, at that time pastor of First Presby- 
 terian Church, was appointed to represent Presbytery in 
 presenting the matter and recommending same to the 
 church, proposing to the congregation that "the vote to be 
 taken without debate or remark." 
 
 The meeting was held on January 24, 1870. The incum- 
 bent elders resigned and an entirely new Board of Elders 
 was elected. The congregation regretted the situation which 
 necessitated the action and commended the retiring elders 
 for 
 
 33 
 
"their faithfulness in the performance of duty, 
 and we believe that their devotion to the cause of 
 Christ and their Christian forbearance exhibited 
 on so many occasions, proves them to be men on 
 whom the eldership was worthily bestowed, and 
 their magnanimity in voluntarily laying down 
 their office for the space of 2 years in order to 
 secure the peace and harmony of the Church chal- 
 lenges our admiration, and that we are happy to 
 say to our Elders 'Well done good and faithful 
 servants'." 
 This was adopted as a motion and "ordered published in the 
 daily papers of the city! 1 
 
 On April 11, 1870 there was a congregational meeting 
 to call a new minister. However an attempt was made to 
 delay action. Finally a vote was taken resulting as follows : 
 J. W. Dinsmore of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, 55 ; Rev. 
 Brooks of Decatur, 11; Blank, 3. The situation was quite 
 apparently not healthy. Two days later on April 13th Ses- 
 sion "thought best to defer action on making a call to Rev. 
 J. W. Dinsmore of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin" 
 
 On May 25th a petition with 45 signatures requested 
 delay in calling "the Rev. Mr. Dinsmore." Session voted to 
 call a second congregational meeting. At this congregational 
 meeting held May 31, 1870 a motion to reconsider the call 
 carried. A motion to table the motion calling Mr. Dinsmore 
 lost 20 to 34. The motion to call carried 42 for Dinsmore ; to 
 postpone, 9; blank, 22; Gulic, 2; Brooks, l.'Then a motion 
 "that we indefinitely postpone calling Mr. Dinsmore" was 
 lost 25 to 27. Mr. Dinsmore was invited to supply the pulpit 
 for one year. He countered with a "proposition to make the 
 time shorter, and the arrangement more temporary" sug- 
 gesting three months. They finally agreed on six months 
 "believing that is as short a time as is practicable and pru- 
 dent to employ and supply at this time." 
 
 But there was a brighter side looming up, if not locally, 
 certainly in the church at large. At about the time that all 
 this trouble was taking place locally, "The two branches of 
 the Presbyterian Church having reunited, the General As- 
 sembly, at its meeting in Philadelphia, in May, 1870, made 
 
 34 
 
a new arrangement of the bounds of synods. This Presbytery 
 of Blooming ton fell within the bounds of the new synod of 
 
 ILLINOIS CENTRAL." 
 
 "The General Assembly also directed the Synods to take 
 action for the reorganization of the Presbytery s within their 
 bounds. The Synod of Illinois Central therefore, at its first 
 meeting, in the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomington 
 July, 1870, designated the bounds of a new 'Presbytery of 
 Bloomington' which is to be the legal successor of this 
 Presbytery." 
 
 "This Presbytery of Bloomington (N S) having 'lost its 
 organization' by the reconstruction, therefore held no fur- 
 ther meetings." 
 
 At the first meeting of the new Presbytery of Bloom- 
 ington in Urbana, April 5, 1871 three Bloomington churches, 
 1st, 2nd and Old School, were present. "Rev. W. R. Glenn 
 requested to be released from pastoral charge of the 0. S. 
 Church in Bloomington. The elder representing that Ch. 
 made a statement that the Church acquiesed in that request. 
 The pastoral relation was then dissolved by vote of P.b.y." 
 
 By action of this same meeting of Presbytery, twenty- 
 four members of the Old School Presbyterian Church were 
 transferred to our church. Several had come earlier in- 
 cluding Adlai E. Stevenson, who was received on February 
 5, 1871. 
 
 35 
 
REV. JOHN W. DINSMORE 
 1870—1891 
 
 36 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 Reverend John W. Dinsmore 
 
 Mr. R. F. Evans, Clerk of the congregation, after mak- 
 ing the customary entries relative to Mr. Dinsmore's com- 
 ing, comments, "May his coming, bring peace and harmony 
 & result in drawing us closer to God". 
 
 Dr. Dinsmore later wrote concerning it : 
 
 "The engagement was but a temporary one, 
 as I was unwilling, owing to the circumstances of 
 the congregation, to consent to supply the pulpit 
 for more than six months. Probably it was not ex- 
 pected by the congregation, as it certainly was 
 not by the minister, that the service would sur- 
 vive the brief period at first provided for. But, 
 in God's mercy, difficulties that were feared be- 
 gan rapidly to disappear; the congregation soon 
 filled the church, confidence and good feeling soon 
 took the place of distrust and alienation, and the 
 Lord gave the blessing. 
 
 "At the close of six months the call was 
 promptly renewed regularly and formally, and 
 with great cordiality, and was accepted. The pas- 
 tor-elect went on with his work, but at his re- 
 quest, the installation was deferred, and it was 
 not until June 13, 1871, that the existing pastoral 
 relation was formally constituted by Presbytery. 
 The church had never before had an installed pas- 
 tor, the preceding ministers having all sustained 
 the relation known as Stated Supply." 
 
 37 
 
The temporary engagement originally contemplated by 
 Mr. Dinsmore continued for twenty years. Excepting only 
 the present pastorate, his was the longest in the history of 
 the church. Under Dr. Dinsmore's leadership, the church 
 quickly took on new life and it grew in numbers, power, and 
 spirit. 
 
 Charles L. Capen, who personally knew Dr. Dinsmore, 
 writes of him in his historical treatise, 
 
 "He was a remarkable man, an able preacher, 
 efficient pastor, of lovely social qualities, energetic 
 in every undertaking that tended to the general 
 welfare, many not immediately connected with 
 the church, and enjoyed a high degree of popu- 
 larity and esteem throughout the entire city. He 
 had an unusual influence owing to his zeal and 
 practical good judgment in Presbytery, Synod 
 and General Assembly and ivas effective in con- 
 stantly increasing the growth of the church." 
 During Dr. Dinsmore's pastorate, Session was particu- 
 larly vigilant in the matter of social practices and the every- 
 day lives of our church members. Resolutions were adopted 
 condemning "the practice of dancing, whether social or pub- 
 lic, to be incompatible with the Christian profession." A 
 committee was appointed to call on a member of the church 
 who, it was reported, had accepted a position in the choir 
 of the Unitarian Church, to "remonstrate with him if such 
 be the case." Members who neglected attendance at church 
 and communion services were called on. Disciplinary action 
 was taken not infrequently, charges being such as immor- 
 ality, bad business practices, failure to attend church serv- 
 ices, etc. 
 
 On July 7, 1890 a public reception was held and special 
 recognition given to Dr. Dinsmore and his wife on the 20th 
 anniversary of his pastorate. Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson was 
 chairman of the meeting. Special music was presented, vari- 
 ous officers and prominent members spoke, "After which 
 personal greetings were extended by a large concourse of 
 people." 
 
 But the happy pastor-congregation relationship with Dr. 
 Dinsmore was nearing its end. On March 29, 1891 he re- 
 
 38 
 
ported to Session on his plans to visit California. On June 
 29th Session joined with the Pastor in requesting a con- 
 gregational meeting to take the necessary steps to dissolve 
 the pastoral relationship. The meeting was held on July 6, 
 when it was resolved, "That with great reluctance we in- 
 struct our delegates to the Presbytery of Bloomington to 
 cast our vote in favor of granting the request." Charles L. 
 Capen, in manner such as he could well do, presented reso- 
 lutions, most appropriate and meaningful, stating among 
 other things that 
 
 "we assure the citizens of San Jose that they 
 will find in Dr. Dinsmore and his wife earnest 
 Christians of broad sympathies, rare devotion not 
 only to the Master and his church but to all. 
 .... And that in Dr. Dinsmore they will find a 
 man of ripe scholarship, persuasive eloquence, 
 earnest piety; unflagging zeal, large public spirit 
 and practical judgment; in a word, of most at- 
 tractive and precious qualities of mind and 
 heart." 
 Dr. Dinsmore stated that he wished it understood that the 
 health of his family was the only reason for his resignation. 
 His concluding service was held on August 23, 1891. 
 
 Thus ended one of the most successful pastorates in the 
 history of our church. It could hardly have started with less 
 promise. Would that there were a yard stick by which the 
 growth of the church could have been measured. Under the 
 leadership of Dr. Dinsmore, a young struggling church made 
 up of individualists and dissenters had grown and matured 
 into a united church consecrated to the advancement of the 
 Kingdom of God on this earth. We are eternally indebted to 
 Dr. Dinsmore. 
 
 39 
 
REV. W. P. KANE 
 1892—1898 
 
 40 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 Reverend W. P. Kane 
 
 Following a congregational meeting on February 17, 
 1892, a call was extended to Dr. W. P. Kane of Lafayette, 
 Indiana. In due course the call was accepted. Apparently 
 there was an understanding and a purpose in the call not 
 otherwise apparent from the minutes. On March 4, 1892, 
 even before Dr. Kane had formally accepted the call, a con- 
 gregational meeting was held "in regard to building a new 
 church or any other business of interest to the church." Dr. 
 Kane's presence is noted first in Session minutes of June 1, 
 1892. He was installed on Sunday evening, October 16, 1892. 
 
 The last meeting was held in the old church on June 3, 
 1895. The annual meeting of the congregation on January 
 27, 1896 was held in "The Independent Church." The com- 
 munion service on July 7, 1895 was held in the Opera House. 
 
 Formal dedication was on December 13, 1896. A lovely 
 souvenir program is attached to the Session records and by 
 reference made a part of the minutes of meeting of Session 
 on December 7, 1896. The program is set out in detail. Dr. 
 J. W. Dinsmore of San Jose, California made the principal 
 address. Officers and committees are listed including pictures 
 of all the members of the Building Committee as follows: 
 Robert F. Evans, Chairman, Col. D. C. Smith, Henry Capen, 
 Charles J. Northrup and T. M. Bates. The program included 
 a historical sketch as follows : 
 
 "This Church was organized June 21+, 1855, 
 in Major's Hall, with thirty-four members. Rev. 
 Alfred Eddy ivas the first minister and served the 
 church until December 1, 1863. The original 
 
 41 
 
building was commenced in 1856 and occupied in 
 1857. In March, 186b, Rev. John W. Bailey took 
 charge of the church as stated supply. He was fol- 
 lowed by Rev. A. McDougal in September, 1867. 
 During the two years and four months of this 
 ministry, the tower was completed and the large 
 bell placed in it. Rev. J. W. Dinsmore, D. D., came 
 to the church as a stated supply July 10, 1870. 
 He was installed as its first pastor June 13, 1871, 
 and filled that position most acceptably to the con- 
 gregation until August 23, 1891. In 1877 the old 
 church building was altered and enlarged. Our 
 present pastor, Rev W. P. Kane, D. D., began his 
 labors May 1, 1892, and was installed as pastor 
 October 16, 1892. The last service in the old 
 church was held May 19, 1895. Work was com- 
 menced on the foundation of the present building 
 August 22, 1895, and the corner stone was laid 
 October 15, 1895." 
 
 Mr. Hasbrouck, in a paper read before the Men's Club 
 on February 11, 1943, comments with reference to the dedi- 
 cation : 
 
 "At the dawn of dedication day pledges for 
 the building fund were $18,000.00 below the ac- 
 tual cost of the building. Pledge cards were 
 passed at the morning service, and $12,000.00 ob- 
 tained, still $6,000.00 below the requirement to 
 assure dedication without debt. It was announced 
 that dedication would be postponed until the night 
 service. At that time a last minute surge of 
 pledges which meant sacrificial giving by many 
 members, brought the sum sought. The dedica- 
 tion ceremony then followed, with no debt cloud 
 over the proceedings." 
 The statement that there was no debt requires explana- 
 tion. On October 16, 1896 the Church Trustees had, pur- 
 suant to direction of the congregation, given a mortgage to 
 the Northwestern Life Insurance Company securing $15,- 
 000.00 This mortgage was later released on November 6, 
 1899, co-incident with a new mortgage to Abraham Brokaw 
 
 42 
 
for $7,000.00. This latter mortgage was released on Decem- 
 ber 29, 1904. 
 
 Mr. Hasbrouck gives the contract figure for the building 
 as $65,000.00, exclusive of the two great art glass windows 
 which cost approximately $2,500.00 each. 
 
 At its meeting on March 26, 1898, Dr. Kane notified the 
 Session that the Winona Association had entered upon an 
 educational enterprise and had invited him to take charge 
 of it. He believed it to be the leading of Providence and was 
 the field opened for him. He stated that it was his intention 
 to announce his resignation at the close of the service the 
 next day and asked that the necessary steps be taken to dis- 
 solve the pastoral relation with this church. The pastoral 
 relation was severed with great reluctance and deep regret. 
 Appropriate resolutions were adopted at a meeting on April 
 6, 1898. 
 
 I shall let Mr. Hasbrouck, who knew Dr. Kane person- 
 ally, give his appraisal of the man, 
 
 "Dr. Kane was in some respects quite a con- 
 trast with his predecessor. His talents ran more 
 to the administrative side; hence his building 
 campaign. However, the spiritual needs of the 
 congregation were ever on his mind, and in his 
 own way he studiously promoted them. He urged 
 the organization of the men of the church to in- 
 crease interest and attendance at the Sunday 
 evening services. Much time and thought was 
 given to the problem of the Stevensonville mission 
 in its financial and personal requirements." 
 After approximately two years with the Winona edu- 
 cational program, Dr. Kane became president of Wabash 
 College, Crawfordsville, Indiana. He died while holding that 
 position. 
 
 43 
 
REV. HENRY K. DENLINGER 
 1899—1906 
 
 44 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 Reverend Henry K. Denlinger 
 
 The Rev. Henry K. Denlinger, of Caldwell, New Jersey, 
 was called following a meeting of the congregation on Feb- 
 ruary 6, 1899. He appears first officially at a meeting of 
 Session on April 12, 1899. At this meeting he announced 
 his motto, which he asked the members of Session to share, 
 "A Living Christ" and suggested as a further theme to be 
 adopted by the whole church, "For me to live is Christ." He 
 asked for the daily prayers of all. 
 
 The church celebrated its 50th Anniversary during Dr. 
 Denlinger's pastorate. Three days in October, 1905, were set 
 aside for the celebration. Drs. Dinsmore and Kane returned 
 to participate. 
 
 I am told that Dr. Denlinger was of a philosophical bent, 
 — that "his sermons were polished, instructive and delight- 
 ful." He appears to have had the hearty co-operation of the 
 congregation from the start. Those who remember state 
 that worship services were quite formal. Ushering and other 
 details were performed with very nearly military precision. 
 
 On December 24, 1905, he tendered his resignation to 
 accept a call to New Castle, Penn. 
 
 At the congregational meeting December 27, 1905, many 
 people spoke most complimentarily of his work. Resolutions 
 stated that during his pastorate of nearly seven years 
 
 "Dr. Denlinger's zeal has been such as to at- 
 tract marked attention. As a watchman set upon 
 the wall he has encouraged his people to earnest 
 and active effort and has been an ensample to the 
 
 45 
 
outside world winning them toward the Christian 
 Life. 
 
 "That not only those of his own flock but the 
 community at large have appreciated his talents 
 and have been profited by his messages of light 
 and helpfulness which he has brought to them 
 through his insight and his communion with 
 higher things." 
 
 The Chancel in the original Church building, 
 as completion of two decades is celebrated 
 
 Mi 
 
Second Presbyterian Church, then — and now 
 
 47 
 
FREDERICK W. HAWLEY, D.D. 
 1906—191 1 
 
 48 
 
CHAPTER VIM 
 
 Dr. Frederick W. Hawley 
 
 On May 23, 1906 the congregation voted to call the Rev. 
 Frederick W. Hawley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dr. 
 Hawley accepted and he began his ministry in September 
 of that year. His was an effective pastorate. 
 
 Dr. Hawley was a leader of the ministerial group who 
 sponsored the Billy Sunday meetings held in a specially 
 built tabernacle on South Main Street, and running six 
 weeks, early in 1908. Commencing February 5 there was a 
 marked increase in accessions due largely, no doubt, to the 
 Sunday meetings held at about that time. 
 
 Dr. Hawley's pastorate here ended on September 1, 1911, 
 the fifth anniversary of his coming. He resigned to become 
 President of Kendall College in Oklahoma. Later he served 
 for twenty-five years as President of Park College where 
 he did a most effective piece of work. 
 
 The resolutions adopted at his leaving indicate well the 
 high character of his ministry, — 
 
 "In this separation we part with a true Pastor- 
 Evangelist ivho presents the claims of the Gospel 
 with true evangelistic power and with personal 
 appeals most earnest and convincing, and we de- 
 sire to bear testimony to his superior worth in all 
 Christian work; to his uniform kindness and 
 Christian charity. 
 
 "To his sympathy in the hour of trial and sor- 
 row and to his readiness to offer the consolations 
 of the Gospel as the sovereign remedy for all the 
 ills of life." 
 
 49 
 
JOSEPH N. ELLIOTT, D.D. 
 191 1—1.24-7 
 
 50 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 Dr. Joseph N. Elliott 
 
 On September 18, less than a month after Dr. Hawley 
 left, the congregation met and extended a call to Dr. Joseph 
 N. Elliott, of Muscatine, Iowa. Dr. Elliott accepted the call. 
 He is first in attendance at a meeting of Session on Novem- 
 ber 5, 1911, following his first sermon at the worship serv- 
 ice that morning. 
 
 Dr. Elliott was greatly loved by our members and the 
 community alike. His ministry was marked by deep spiri- 
 tuality. Mrs. Elliott also furnished unusual leadership in the 
 Sunday School and among women's organizations. The Ma- 
 bel Elliott class named for her is still in existence. 
 
 Dr. Elliott had an unusual interest in the better things 
 in the community. He was particularly concerned with youth 
 and their activities. He was a regular attendant at school 
 and college sports. 
 
 Dr. Elliott was an outstanding pastor. He was a Chris- 
 tian gentleman of the highest order. 
 
 Two of his children, still members of this church, are 
 now highly respected citizens of this community. Edith 
 Elliott Kuhn is on the staff at Illinois Wesleyan University. 
 Dr. J. N. Elliott is an outstanding physician practising here 
 in Bloomington. 
 
 On April 8, 1917 Dr. Elliott requested that Session call 
 a congregational meeting. He had decided to accept the posi- 
 tion of Secretary for Home Missions for the Synod of Illi- 
 nois outside of Cook County. 
 
 The congregation at its annual meeting expressed re- 
 gret at Dr. Elliott's leaving and voiced deep devotion and 
 sincere appreciation of his splendid work among us during 
 the past six years. 
 
 51 
 
W. B. HINDMAN, D.D. 
 1917—1921 
 
 52 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 Dr. William Blake Hindman 
 
 On June 20, 1917 a call was extended to the Rev. William 
 Blake Hindman of Worthington, Ohio. He accepted the call 
 and began his ministry in September. Mr. Hindman, now 
 Dr. Hindman, was only 30 when he came to our pulpit. He 
 was forceful and energetic. 
 
 He came to our church at a time when it had been ac- 
 customed to depend largely on a few big givers. He made a 
 real contribution in teaching our members the necessity of 
 consecrated and sacrificial giving. It was under his leader- 
 ship that the Forward Movement Plan was carried out in 
 1920 and $20,000.00 spent on the purchase of a new organ, 
 re-decorating the church, etc. 
 
 Mr. Hindman came to us at the time of World War I. 
 He, "feeling it to be his patriotic duty to offer his services 
 to his country " informed Session on June 24, 1918 that he 
 had made application for appointment as Chaplain in the 
 army or navy. Members of Session informally expressed 
 their approval. On September 20th Session unanimously 
 recommended to the congregation that Mr. Hindman be 
 granted a leave of absence to take the Chaplaincy training. 
 The war having ended on November 11th he was back in 
 attendance at Session meeting on November 25, 1918. He 
 had, too, failed to pass his physical examination. 
 
 It was during Dr. Hindman's pastorate that Bethel Mis- 
 sion, previously under German Baptist auspices, came under 
 the Presbyterian jurisdiction. This is now Western Avenue 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 53 
 
Our Session on June 2, 1918 dismissed thirty-four per- 
 sons "ivho ivish to withdraw from our church and the Bethel 
 Mission on W. Locust St. into a regular Presbyterian 
 Church, the organization to be effected June 30th, 1918 
 under the direction of a com. composed of Rev. Hindman, 
 Rev. Vernon and Rev. Abraham appointed by Presbytery 
 for that purpose." 
 
 The newspaper account concerning the organization, 
 naming the Bethel Mission, reports that 
 
 "The Mission was under the direction and 
 guidance of the Second Presbyterian Church, and 
 certain members of the latter congregation were 
 most active in promoting the mission. An organ- 
 ized Sunday School has been carried on there for 
 some time, and periodical preaching services by 
 Rev. Mr. Oesch were also held. Messrs. W. E. 
 Protzman and J. N. Hilton were most energetic in 
 carrying on the mission work in connection with 
 Mr. Oesch." 
 Messrs. Oesch, Protzman and Hilton were all former 
 members of our church, the latter two having also been 
 elders. Several of the Protzmans are still in the Church. 
 Mrs. Leslie Ernst is a daughter and Grace Stappenbeck, of 
 our Church staff, is a granddaughter of Mr. Hilton. ■ 
 
 The New Era Movement in the Presbyterian Church 
 also occurred during Dr. Hindman's pastorate. 
 
 Dr. Hindman resigned from our pulpit effective De- 
 cember 1, 1921 to accept the pastorate of the Presbyterian 
 Church at Aurora, Illinois. He is now retired, living in 
 Pennsylvania. He is the only living former pastor of this 
 church. He comes from a family of ministers. His father and 
 grandfather were ministers. His brother, Ralph B. Hind- 
 man, is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, 
 New York. 
 
 54 
 
• ■■■ ": 
 
 The Men's Brotherhood Bible Class on Sunday, February 7, 
 Attendance that day was 107 
 
 921 
 
 55 
 
CHARLES T. BAILLIE, D.D. 
 1922—1929 
 
 50 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 Dr. Charles Tupper Baillie 
 
 On April 3, 1922 a call was extended to Charles Tupper 
 Baillie, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Plattsburg, 
 New York. He accepted the call. 
 
 On October 8, 1924 the congregation voted to raise 
 $15,000.00 to retire indebtedness; $8,300.00 of which had 
 been incurred in connection with the purchase and repairs 
 on Manse; $2,500.00 on repair of memorial windows; 
 $500.00 to purchase a new furnace; accumulated indebted- 
 ness $3,100.00 and accumulated interest $550.00. The Manse, 
 which was located at the Southeast corner of Washington 
 and Kreitzer, was purchased for the use of the Baillies and 
 has since been sold. 
 
 It was during Mr. Baillie's pastorate that we celebrated 
 our seventieth anniversary. This took place on April 12, 
 13, 14 and 15, 1925 and combined with a meeting of Synod. 
 Four former pastors; viz, Drs. Henry K. Denlinger, Fred- 
 erick W. Hawley, J. N. Elliott and William Blake Hindman, 
 returned to participate in the program ; also the Rev. George 
 Sutton, former Y. M. C. A. Secretary and member of our 
 church. There was special music, including an organ recital 
 by Mrs. James Reeder, marking her Twentieth Anniversary 
 as our organist. Henry W. Capen spoke for the Younger 
 Generation. Charles L. Capen presented the Historical 
 Sketch of the Second Church. 
 
 The congregation met on December 16, 1925 to "con- 
 sider the closer co-operation between this church and the 
 First Congregational Church/' A committee was authorized 
 to confer with a similar committee from the First Congre- 
 
 57 
 
gational Church to consider "the feasibility of a union or 
 consolidation of the two churches and report back its find- 
 ings and recommendations to this congregation." 
 
 On December 21, 1927 Mr. Baillie 
 
 "reported that the contemplated plans for 
 merging the 1st Congregational Church with our 
 2nd Presbyterian Church had been consummated, 
 that more than one hundred (100) of their mem- 
 bers desired to unite with our church and that our 
 trustees had unanimously decided to employ Rev. 
 Mr. Breen for half his time to assist our pastor in 
 his work, his salary of $1,800.00 having been more 
 than covered by subscriptions made by members 
 of the Congregational Church." 
 
 On January 30, 1928 a list of 124 members of the Congre- 
 gational Church was presented for membership with a 
 statement that more were to be added later. 
 
 When Dr. Baillie resigned his pastorate here, on April 
 22, 1929, Session designated the Rev. Frank L. Breen of- 
 ficially as Associate for Educational Work and instructed 
 him to spend a larger part of his time with the Sunday 
 School. Mr. Breen resigned from this position on Novem- 
 ber 23, 1931 to devote his full time to the work of the 
 Western Avenue Church. 
 
 At Session meeting held February 28, 1927, a letter from 
 the Board of Sustentation and Ministerial Relief was read 
 explaining the proposed Service Pension Plan and the cam- 
 paign to raise $15,000,000.00 in the church at large. This 
 amount was necessary to establish the proposed Pension 
 Plan. 
 
 "Mr. Ramseyer was, on motion, also appointed 
 by Session to represent our Church and Session 
 in the appeal to be made this spring." 
 Perhaps 1 should explain that I was absent from this meet- 
 ing. Suffice it to say, the Second Church raised and con- 
 tributed its quota. 
 
 During his pastorate here, Illinois Wesleyan University 
 conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity on Mr. 
 Baillie. 
 
 58 
 
Dr. Baillie resigned June 15, 1929, so that he might ac- 
 cept a call to the Fullerton Avenue Presbyterian Church in 
 Chicago. 
 
 Dr. Baillie was an outstanding preacher, highly educated 
 and a great reader. During his stay here Miss Parham, then 
 Librarian of the Withers Public 'Library, said he remained 
 consistently the largest user of the library facilities. He 
 read widely but his sermons were not bookish. They were 
 always eloquent and appealing. His was an outstanding 
 pastorate. 
 
 We learn to love Jesus and to mold our lives in His way 
 
 59 
 
Sunday School lessons that never grow old 
 
 m 
 
CHAPTER Xil 
 
 Sunday School 
 
 Doubtless some form of Sunday School or Bible School 
 has been in existence since the organization of the Church. 
 The McLean County Directory for 1859-60 lists our Church 
 with the Rev. Alfred Eddy, Pastor, and Gilbert Thayer, 
 Superintendent of the Sunday School. We know, therefore, 
 that there was a Sunday School as early as 1859. This 
 directory shows that Gilbert Thayer was city Superintend- 
 ent of Schools and that his address was 23 E. North (now 
 Monroe) Street. The only other early reference that I have 
 been able to find is in the minutes of the Congregational 
 Records on June 30, 1867. J. W. Compton is then listed as 
 Superintendent of the Sabbath School. Rare references are 
 found in later Congregational and Session minutes. How- 
 ever, these are too brief to have historical value. 
 
 Consequently, the facts with reference to the early years 
 of our Sunday School have come from people whose mem- 
 ories of this Church go back thru the years. Many have con- 
 tributed. In addition to those mentioned in the Foreword, 
 Mrs. Edith Muxfeld and Mr. Lee McClure have been es- 
 pecially helpful in collecting this information. 
 
 Reference will be made to the infant class taught by Miss 
 Kate Hamilton in the chapter on Women's Work. Earlier 
 this class had been in charge of Mrs. B. P. Marsh. Mrs. C. J. 
 Northrup assisted. In the old Church this group met in the 
 basement. When the present building was completed, Miss 
 Hamilton met with her group in what is now the Presby- 
 Wed room. Later Mrs. C. C. Marquis and her daughter, Miss 
 
 61 
 
Laurastine Marquis, assisted. They took charge when Miss 
 Hamilton retired. Mrs. B. S. Green played the piano. 
 
 Other early teachers in the Sunday School were: Mrs. 
 Louis Howard, Mrs. Lottie Stevenson, Miss Grace Cheney 
 (now Mrs. J. F. Wight), E. M. Hamilton, T. J. Williver, Dr. 
 Robert Conover, Dr. Richard Edwards, J. Dickey Temple- 
 ton, Miss Julia Scott (now Mrs. Vrooman), Jennie Thomp- 
 son, Miss Florence and Miss Ellen Edwards. 
 
 Minnie Saltzman (later Stevens) taught a class of girls, 
 afterward taught by Frances Perry. Miss Flora Jones also 
 taught a class of girls after they came from the infants 
 class. When Miss Jones married, Mrs. Marsh became the 
 teacher. So far as possible boys' classes were taught by men. 
 
 At that time there were no promotions. The teacher and 
 class stayed together from the grades thru high school. The 
 entire Sunday School, except for the infant class, met to- 
 gether for the opening and closing exercises. It afforded an 
 opportunity for all to become acquainted and generated a 
 friendliness recalled with pleasure by those then in the 
 Sunday School. 
 
 Early in the century, probably in about 1905 or 1906, a 
 Sunday School Orchestra was organized. Its members in- 
 cluded Charlotte Nelson, Chalmers H. Marquis, DuBois Mar- 
 quis, and Lewis Kessler, violins; Louise Kessler, cello; and 
 Frances Kessler, piano. The orchestra was under the leader- 
 ship of Miss Nelson, who was a niece of Charles L. Capen. 
 It played for the opening and concluding exercises of the 
 Sunday School, when all classes met together in the Sunday 
 School Room, now the Fellowship Room. 
 
 There was singing too. Henry Blackford was the chor- 
 ister. Mr. Blackford resigned in July, 1912. Roy Atkinson 
 was then appointed. Mr. Blackford later served as song 
 director for the Men's Brotherhood Bible Class. 
 
 Special gifts at Thanksgiving and Christmas is not a 
 recent idea. The annual report of the Woman's Home Mis- 
 sionary Society for 1882 says, 
 
 "at the suggestion of the Sunday School Su- 
 perintendent, Mr. Compton, the scholars and 
 teachers brought Christmas offerings of money, 
 fuel, provisions and clothing. Instead of being the 
 
 62 
 
recipients, as formerly, they verified the truth 
 that it is better to give than to receive, gaining 
 for themselves the enjoyment of making happy 
 some whose hearts were tried for the lack of 
 those things which God had put into the hearts 
 of these generous teachers and scholars to give." 
 
 There were classes in addition to those within the Church 
 building itself. The Stevensonville Mission School was or- 
 ganized in 1894 with Mr. George Knapp as superintendent. 
 The teachers met at the Church on Sunday afternoons. 
 From here they were taken by a horse-drawn hack to the 
 Mission School. Included among these teachers were Henry 
 Blackford, Mrs. T. J. Willi ver, Miss Grace Cheney (now 
 Mrs. Wight), Miss Jennie Thompson, and C. C. Marquis. 
 This activity was later abandoned. Sale of the Stevenson- 
 ville Chapel was authorized on December 1, 1897. 
 
 There was also a class for Chinese men employed in local 
 laundries. Chan Pon, one of their number, was a popular 
 speaker before many Church meetings. Mr. John M. Mur- 
 ray, father of our A. M. Murray, was superintendent. 
 Among the teachers were Mrs. Mary Dubois Marquis, Mrs. 
 B. P. Marsh, and Miss Jennie Thompson. Mr. Murray was 
 greatly loved and respected by the Chinese. He was the re- 
 cipient of many gifts from them. They recognized him as a 
 warm personal friend, and looked to him for advice and help. 
 They came to him in trouble. A number of people who well 
 recall the facts testify as to the outstanding work Mr. Mur- 
 ray did with these people. One informant tells of seeing 
 these Chinese walking, single file and in their native cos- 
 tume, out to Mr. Murray's home on East Douglas Street. Mr. 
 Murray also invited them out for meals. 
 
 Mr. Murray was otherwise active in the Church. With 
 Henry Capen, C. J. Northrup, 0. A. Shaw, and R. F. Evans 
 he served as usher. He also was Sunday School Treasurer. 
 Mr. John M. Murray's father had been a Presbyterian min- 
 ister and professor of Ancient Languages at Washington 
 and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. Both Mr. Murray 
 and Mr. Dinsmore were born in West Alexander, Pennsyl- 
 vania. Consequently they were friends before Dr. Dinsmore 
 
 63 
 
came to Bloomington. Mr. Dinsmore, as a boy, delivered 
 milk to the Rev. Mr. Murray's home in West Alexander. 
 
 At the congregational meeting on January 24, 1894, Mrs. 
 Charles Robinson reported for the Southeast Mission Sab- 
 bath School, indicating an apparent additional outside ac- 
 tivity. 
 
 Classes were sometimes held in the homes of members. 
 Mr. A. M. Murray recalls going with other pupils to the 
 home of Dr. Richard Edwards for Bible study. The Apos- 
 tles Creed and the Shorter Catechism were also so taught. 
 
 A Sunday School was organized in Bethel Chapel in 
 1916. It later became Western Avenue Church as elsewhere 
 reported. 
 
 I wish it were possible to list all who have served the 
 Church as Superintendent of the Sunday School. But that 
 information . is not available. J. W. Compton has been 
 named. Others who served are : R. F. Evans, F. Y. Hamilton, 
 J. Dickey Templeton, Dr. Richard Edwards, C. E. Row- 
 cliff, C. C. Marquis, Prof. George H. Howe, George A. Wash- 
 burn, Charles D. Guy, Mrs. Harry E. Riddle, Chas. J. Huxel, 
 and Ralph Osborn. Mr. Washburn apparently holds the 
 record for length of service, twenty-five years. Mr. Marquis 
 also served for a long time. From 1939 to 1942 there was no 
 superintendent. A committee of four persons acted instead. 
 Mr. Osborn, the incumbent, has been superintendent since 
 1949. Mr. C. J. Northrup long acted as assistant superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 Among those who were secretaries of the Sunday School 
 are: E. M. Evans, Carl Messick, Lee McClure, Charles S. 
 Kirkpatrick, Ralph M. Green, A. M. Murray, C. 0. Hamil- 
 ton, and C. H. Marquis. Oldtimers will recall the faithful- 
 ness of Miss Emma Onstott in keeping the Sunday School 
 records. 
 
 Treasurers during the last twenty-five years include 
 Miss Bess Cash, Miss Ella Robb, and Miss Louise Muxfeld. 
 Miss Muxfeld has been treasurer since April 1, 1944. 
 
 By way of contrast, the average attendance in 1889 was 
 300. The total of collections for the year was $315.55, with 
 an average per Sunday of $6,065. The Church School en- 
 rollment has grown from 391 in 1931 to 1,114 in 1954. The 
 average attendance in 1936 was 203. In 1954 it was 600. 
 
 64 
 
The School, as well as the Church, has shown a gradual 
 growth since Dr. Martin's coming in 1930. 
 
 On January 1, 1948, we changed to the Youth Budget 
 Plan. The Youth Budget includes all persons from 3 to 23. 
 Pledges cover Bible School, Church, Youth Societies and 
 Benevolences. In 1955 seven hundred envelopes were issued. 
 For some years our Church has been among the top ten in 
 the amount of our youth budget for the entire Presbyterian 
 Church U. S. A. For the year 1954 we ranked fifth in the 
 Church with a Youth Budget of $10,295.87. Of this amount 
 $4,183.00 went to benevolences. Adult classes either give 
 thru a loose collection or make pledges. College people from 
 out of the city are not given envelopes. 
 
 A number of classes have been organized carrying spe- 
 cial names. The Men's Brotherhood Bible Class and Mrs. 
 Robinson's class have previously been mentioned. There was 
 also the New Eras Class taught by Miss Florence Edwards. 
 
 Then too there was the Friendship Class taught at one 
 time by Miss Jennie Kidd. It was the outgrowth of the class 
 taught in the Old Church by Mrs. G. H. Read. Members of 
 the Friendship Class still in the city are Miss Carrie Bishop 
 and Mrs. S. F. Kessler. 
 
 The Mabel Elliott Class was started during the ministry 
 of Dr. J. N. Elliott. Mrs. Elliott was the teacher until her 
 death. Succeeding teachers have been Mrs. Elizabeth Cash, 
 Mrs. Mattie Wickoff, Miss Mae Steele, and Mrs. Flora Hen- 
 ninger. Twenty-one members attended a reunion of this 
 class at the home of Mrs. Wikoff in September, 1955. Mrs. 
 Wikoff is now 84. She passed away in the spring of 1956. 
 
 The Tuckabatchee Class was organized in 1920. Mrs. 
 Kathleen Marquis has been teaching this class for some 
 twenty years. 
 
 The Presby-Wed Class was organized in 1938 with Mr. 
 Carl Vrooman as teacher. Miss Bess Hibarger, his suc- 
 cessor, has taught since 1940. Over six hundred different 
 persons have been members of the class over the years. 
 
 Mr. Leslie D. Park has had a large class for several years. 
 Miss Bernice Frey and Mr. Dwight Bracken have also 
 taught young people's classes. 
 
 Mrs. W. E. Protzman made an unusual contribution as 
 superintendent of the Home Department for the period of 
 
 65 
 
some 31 years. She visited the sick and the shut-ins taking 
 lesson materials and cheery greetings in her monthly calls. 
 In February, 1938, for example, she reported 288 as having 
 studied under the Home Department. Of these 103 had died ; 
 45 had removed from the city; and 21 had transferred to 
 the main Sunday School. 
 
 In September, 1944 Miss Gertrude Marquis became our 
 Director of Christian Education. She has been most diligent 
 and capable in promoting the Church School. The School 
 has certainly increased in effectiveness as well as numeri- 
 cally. The high quality of work done has doubtless helped 
 to increase attendance. Currently our enrollment approxi- 
 mates 1,125 with an average attendance of a little over 700. 
 It commences to look as if our new educational building 
 will be taxed to capacity by the time it is built. 
 
 The Faith and Life Curriculum, published by the Board 
 of Christian Education of our Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., 
 is used as our course of study. We have an excellent corps of 
 volunteer teachers. Would that it were possible to name 
 them and to give an appropriate expression of appreciation 
 for the work done by each. Suffice it to say that they to- 
 gether constitute a splendid team which is doing a great 
 work here in Second Church. 
 
 We also have a library of approximately one thousand 
 volumes. It has particular value for the Sunday School, but 
 was bought for the use of the whole Church. It has been 
 carefully planned and selected ; including study books, ref- 
 erence works, fiction, devotional literature, etc. Beginning 
 with the nursery and running thru each class, young people, 
 parents and teachers, it provides for every age. The books 
 have all been carefully catalogued by Miss Louise Muxfeld. 
 
 It is indeed unfortunate that records of the early years 
 of the Church School are lacking. But of this we are con- 
 vinced — the influence of that school has been written in- 
 delibly into the lives of the generations that have come and 
 gone since June, 1855. We believe that the cause of Christ 
 has been advanced thruout the earth. We are indebted to 
 those who have served so well. The excellence of our present 
 program for Christian Education is due, in no small part, 
 to the fact that they builded well in those early years. 
 
 66 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 Buildings 
 
 The group continued to meet in Major's Hall for ap- 
 proximately two years. But they early considered plans for 
 a home of their own. On January 14, 1856 "on motion it was 
 ordered that the board of Trustees examine & report to the 
 Society in relation to purchase of a site for the church edi- 
 fice proposed to be erected by the Society. " A committee was 
 appointed "to Report a form for subscriptions for church 
 building." The meeting adjourned to reassemble in two 
 weeks. 
 
 They did meet "at Major's Hall on Monday Evening, 
 J any. 28, 1856." "Messrs. S. B. Hance & S. P. Morehouse 
 were appointed as committee to act in concert with the 
 Trustees in selecting a site for church edifice with instruc- 
 tions to recommend some locality at the next meeting of the 
 Society. Messrs. Eddy, S. P. Morehouse & Brier were ap- 
 pointed a committee on plans for church edifice." 
 
 It is of interest to note in passing that at this meeting 
 an amendment to the constitution that, "The name & style 
 of this society is hereby changed to that of the Second Pres- 
 byterian Society of Bloomington," was rejected, "Ayes, U; 
 Noes, 5." Statutory incorporation — formal Statement of 
 Election of Trustees of The New School Presbyterian So- 
 ciety — was placed of record in the Recorder's Office, Feb- 
 ruary 14, 1856, in Book 27 of Deeds, page 221. 
 
 On January 31, 1856 "The Committee for Church re- 
 ported favorably to accepting the ground proposed to be 
 donated by Messrs. Allin, Davis & Flagg which report was 
 accepted and adopted unanimously." 
 
 67 
 
"The Trustees were instructed to accept said donation 
 on the part of the Society & to negotiate for the purchase 
 of the James Allin interest." 
 
 On February 11, 1856, a committee on plans of church 
 building and mode of subscription, consisting of W. F. 
 Flagg, S. P. Morehouse, A. Eddy, S. B. Hance and Geo. 0. 
 Robinson was given "full power to fix upon a plan for 
 church building and mode of subscription or if they see fit 
 to refer the subject to a meeting of the society" 
 
 David Davis, William H. Allin, and William Flagg (to- 
 gether with their respective wives), by deed dated Sep- 
 tember 30, 1856, recorded December 1, 1856 in Book 29 of 
 Deeds, pages 587-8 for $1.00 and other valuable considera- 
 tions, conveyed the North portion of the premises now oc- 
 cupied by our church to James H. Robinson, Elihu Rogers, 
 and Sylvanus B. Hance and their successors in office, Trus- 
 tees of the New School Presbyterian Society in Bloomington. 
 The South portion of the ground on which the church stands 
 was conveyed by deed dated February 17, 1858, recorded 
 September 9, 1858 in Book 35 of Deeds, page 16, from Elihu 
 Rogers and Hannah, wife, to Elihu Rogers, Henry Spencer, 
 
 Washburn, Trustees of New School Presbyterian 
 
 Society of Bloomington and successor in office for a con- 
 sideration of $600.00. 
 
 The Society was anxious to get on with the building of 
 a new church. Construction of it was in progress on the 
 above lot when the Panic of 1857 struck and stopped the 
 work. It was so severe that the very existence of the church 
 was threatened. 
 
 Mr. John W. Evans, the builder, recalls in a note written 
 38 years later that 
 
 "About this time in Mch 1857 we were be- 
 ginning to clear away the tvreckage of a hard 
 winter to begin the work of finishing the original 
 church, the walls having stood as silent monitors 
 over the town, without roof or windows from 
 early December until now." 
 
 But the work was finally completed. Mr. Hasbrouck 
 quotes from an article in the pantagraph describing the 
 new church as 
 
 68 
 
 
"Standing on the east side of East Street be- 
 tween Jefferson and North (now Monroe) Street. 
 It is of Bizzantine or Romanesque architecture, 
 built of brick. Its dimensions are 82x4-6 feet, ex- 
 clusive of the projection for the tower. The audi- 
 ence room is 70x1*3 feet in the clear, with a gallery 
 at the opposite end from the pulpit. There are 
 90 'slips' or pews. Five large windows light the 
 building by day. A handsome gilt chandelier of 
 15 gas burners suspended from the center illu- 
 mines the place at night. The entire cost of the 
 building is $15,000.00." 
 The cost in modern dollars sounds small but it was a real 
 burden to the young congregation. Dr. Dinsmore recalls that 
 the Panic of 1857 placed a heavy burden on the struggling 
 group. 
 
 "Nothing but the faith, courage and self-sacri- 
 ficing spirit of two or three men, who became 
 personally responsible for the debt, saved the 
 church from falling under the hammer of the 
 Sheriff." 
 It was twenty-seven years before the church was fully paid 
 for. 
 
 But as Dr. Dinsmore wrote : 
 
 "When once the congregation was housed in 
 its own building, it grew rapidly and continued 
 to do so under Mr. Eddy's ministry. . . . Mr. Eddy 
 was in many respects admirably suited to the 
 work he had to do here. He was attractive as a 
 preacher, genial as a man, . . . ." 
 In 1871, during the second year of Dr. Dinsmore's pas- 
 torate, a manse was built to the North of the church at a 
 cost of $4,000.00. It was remodelled and enlarged in 1884. 
 At a congregational meeting, held on March 10, 1873, a 
 new church was suggested as the first order of business. On 
 motion by M. L. Moore, the congregation voted, "That a 
 committee of five be appointed to raise this subscription of 
 $30,000.00 and that said committee consist of: I. R. Krum, 
 Henry Capen, B. F. Hoopes, human Burr, and J. Y. Cal- 
 houn." On March 17, $24,000.00 was reported as having been 
 
subscribed. By March 24th, $25,000.00 was reported and 
 sale of the present church property suggested. On April 14, 
 the minimum of $30,000.00 having been pledged, seven dif- 
 ferent locations were suggested. They were voted on at a 
 meeting held April 21. On April 28, a site was agreed upon 
 and the trustees authorized to close the contract with Con- 
 over and Smith. Then the record becomes ominously silent. 
 One cannot but wonder why. Was it due to the fact that the 
 crash which started the Panic of 1873 occurred in Septem- 
 ber of that year? In any event a new church was not built 
 at that time. 
 
 Dr. Dinsmore in his Historical Sketch does report that 
 extensive alterations and enlargements to the existing build- 
 ing were made in 1877, thereby doubling its capacity. 
 
 But the time again arrived when the need for a new 
 building was brought to the attention of the congregation. 
 At a congregational meeting on June 6, 1889 Dr. Dinsmore 
 urged that immediate steps be taken looking toward a new 
 church building even if it took 3 or 4 years before it could 
 be completed. A motion carried unanimously directing the 
 appointment of a soliciting committee to procure funds for 
 the purchase of grounds on which to build a new church, the 
 committee in co-operation with the Trustees then to select 
 and purchase such grounds. 
 
 On March 9, 1892 the Trustees were authorized to select 
 a suitable lot to which the "parsonage" could be moved. A 
 lot was purchased and manse moved to the Southwest cor- 
 ner of Washington and Clinton Streets, where it still stands. 
 It has, of course, long since been sold. 
 
 On February 15, 1895 after Dr. Kane had come as pastor, 
 a meeting of all the officers of the church was held. They 
 determined on a congregational meeting for March 5, and 
 recommended that immediate steps be taken to erect a new 
 church at a cost of not to exceed $50,000.00 ; subscriptions 
 to become binding when $30,000.00 had been subscribed. 
 The meeting was held and the recommendations were ac- 
 cepted by an "enthusiastic audience." Appropriate com- 
 mittees were named. At the congregational meeting held 
 January 27, 1897 the report of the building committee was 
 accepted with commendation and appreciation for the com- 
 
 70 
 
pleted structure. The congregation expressed its "satisfac- 
 tion with the admirable and convenient arrangement of the 
 building." Dr. Kane "expressed his gratification that we 
 were able to hold the annual meeting in our new church." 
 
 On January 7, 1920 a congregational meeting was called 
 to bring before the congregation "a Forward Movement 
 Plan which had been considered by the various officers of 
 the church." It was explained that this would require about 
 $20,000.00 to be spent for a new pipe organ, redecoration 
 of the church, etc. This was done during Mr. Hindman's 
 pastorate. 
 
 In 1939, under Dr. Martin's pastorate, approximately 
 $66,000.00 was raised and expended on the church building. 
 Included in this work was the re-arranging of the Sanctuary, 
 removing the big lifting doors at the back, closing bal- 
 conies, lowering the ceiling, and treating the back walls of 
 the Sanctuary with accoustical material, correcting the ac- 
 coustics which had been a problem ever since the church 
 was erected. The chancel was rebuilt, a new organ screen 
 installed, and remodeling done, which now provides for the 
 Youth Choirs. New rooms were provided for offices and 
 classrooms. What was previously the office was built into a 
 small Chapel. The building in general was cleaned, re- 
 vamped and redecorated. 
 
 The work on this remodeling program began June 21, 
 1939 and was completed in January, 1940. The program of 
 rededication continued from January 7th thru the 14th, 
 1940. Dr. Martin spoke each Sunday morning. The Act of 
 Rededication used on January 7th was the same as the dedi- 
 cation used December 13, 1896. Dr. Baillie spoke Sunday 
 evening, January 7th, and Dr. George A. Frantz of the 
 First Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis spoke on the fol- 
 lowing Sunday evening. Dr. Henry Greist, of Point Barrow, 
 Alaska was the special speaker for the five missionary 
 societies on Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Hawley spoke at the 
 Thursday night dinner given under the auspices of the 
 Men's Club. 
 
 As this is written we are well toward our goal in a drive 
 for $750,000.00 This will be expended in the construction 
 
 71 
 
of a modern educational building, making some changes in 
 the Sanctuary and installing a new Aeolian-Skinner organ. 
 
 Our Bible school has completely outgrown present quar- 
 ters. As a temporary measure we are using the Jefferson 
 School building but this cannot continue and in many re- 
 spects is unsatisfactory. 
 
 This campaign for a large amount of money is note- 
 worthy in that it is being done without the help of a pro- 
 fessional money raising agency. Under the able leadership 
 of the pastor, Dr. Harold Martin, and in the spirit of prayer, 
 consecration and, above all, dependence on Divine Aid, we 
 shall succeed. 
 
 The Session, with their wives, enjoy a garden party at the Ramseyer home 
 during the summer, 1931 
 
 72 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 Women's Work 
 
 Early congregational and sessional records are brief 
 and give little detail. This may explain, at least in part, the 
 fact that they are silent so far as women's work is con- 
 cerned. Moreover, one hundred years ago they were not 
 granted the right to vote in congregational meetings. Item 
 3 of the Articles of Faith and Covenant provide that "All 
 male members of the church and all who contribute regu- 
 larly for the support of the gospel in said society shall be 
 qualified to vote in its meetings." 
 
 The women of Second Presbyterian Church have, never- 
 theless, played a very important part in the history of the 
 church. Not only have they cared for the well being of its 
 members on many occasions and the physical church prop- 
 erty under their care, but to them also must be given much 
 credit for the broadened outlook which has taken the fruit 
 of their labors to the far corners of the earth. Their activi- 
 ties have been legion. They have been carried on under many 
 names and in many forms but to one purpose; i. e. to carry 
 out the mission of the church and to co-operate in carrying 
 out and implementing the suggestions coming from the 
 Boards and Agencies through which the Presbyterian 
 Church, U. S. A., operates. We honor these women who have 
 labored so valiantly. 
 
 Very shortly after the church was organized in 1855 in 
 Major's Hall, the women began their efforts to raise money 
 for the new church building. In the Bloomington panta- 
 GRAPH of July 21, 1857, we read the announcement of a 
 festival to be held in Major's Hall for the benefit of the 
 
 73 
 
church. The paper of July 23, states that the "women are 
 making assiduous arrangements and evince a commendable 
 zeal by their efforts to raise money to be expended upon the 
 interior of their beautiful church." The success of their 
 project is noted on July 24th for "Major's Hall was pretty 
 well filled." 
 
 One of the names outstanding in the early work of 
 women in this area is that of Mrs. Margaret D. Templeton. 
 She was the daughter of the Rev. J. H. Dickey, a Presby- 
 terian minister. Her brother, Judge T. Lyle Dickey, was 
 well known in early Illinois history. He was a member of 
 the Illinois Supreme Court. Her husband, the Rev. S. M. 
 Templeton, was a Presbyterian minister and pastor of the 
 Delavan, Illinois church at the time of his death. Following 
 her husband's death, Mrs. Templeton moved with her family 
 from Delavan to Normal in 1868 and later to Bloomington. 
 She joined Second Presbyterian Church on October 30, 1872. 
 The missionary zeal of this family was carried down through 
 the children, J. Dickey Templeton and Margaret Templeton. 
 They, too, were for many years active members of this 
 church. The Templeton family placed more than one thou- 
 sand missionary books in Withers Public Library, the Dela- 
 van Public Library, and the Library of Illinois State Normal 
 University. 
 
 On December 9, 1873 the Women's Foreign Missionary 
 Society of Bloomington Presbytery was organized in Peoria 
 with Mrs. M. D. Templeton as President. Sixteen societies 
 were organized in the area during her three-year presidency. 
 One of these organization meetings took place on December 
 15, 1873 when the ladies of Bloomington and Normal met 
 for the purpose of organizing a society auxiliary to the 
 Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church. 
 Mrs. Rhea, formerly missionary to Persia, was present and 
 gave a short address concerning the work and manner of 
 the organization. It was decided to organize separate so- 
 cieties in each church. 
 
 The women of Second Church organized and elected 
 President, Mrs. G. H. Read; Vice-President, Mrs. Robert 
 Conover; Secretary, Mrs. J. W. Compton; and Treasurer, 
 Mrs. Mary D. Marquis. 
 
 74 
 
Mrs. Read was the wife of G. H. Read of the Read Hard- 
 ware store. Both Mr. and Mrs. Read were active in the 
 temperance movement. Mrs. Read was connected with the 
 W. C. T. U. from the time of its organization in 1874. 
 Frances E. Willard and many others of prominence in the 
 temperance movement were always welcome guests in the 
 Read home. Mr. Read served as Trustee in this church. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Read were the parents of Harry Read, long an 
 active member and an elder in this church. His children are 
 William G. Read, the third generation to carry on the hard- 
 ware business in that name, Eleanor (Mrs. J. J.) Wetzel, 
 both now members of this church, and Mary Elizabeth 
 (Mrs. Robert) Baldwin. 
 
 Mrs. Conover was the wife of the Rev. Robert Conover, 
 Presbyterian minister who, with the assistance of his wife 
 and other teachers, operated a school for young ladies from 
 1856 to 1875. Later they removed to Towanda where he 
 served the Towanda Church for nearly twenty-two years, as 
 stated supply. After that he served the Lexington church, 
 moving back to Bloomington in 1898. Mrs. Conover was 
 active in both the local missionary society and in the Presby- 
 terial. Mr. and Mrs. Conover died in 1908 within twenty- 
 four hours of each other. They left their estate of approxi- 
 mately $8,500.00 in equal parts to the three Boards of the 
 Presbyterian Church of the U. S. A. — regarding their 
 property as a loan from God to be used and disposed of to 
 His Glory. 
 
 Mrs. Compton was the wife of J. W. Compton. Her 
 father, the Rev. J. C. Hanna, was a Presbyterian minister. 
 Mr. Compton was active in business here. Among his in- 
 terests was the J. W. Compton Company, operating an ab- 
 stract and loan business. He was active in the church, and 
 Superintendent of the Sunday School. For fifteen years prior 
 to his death he served as elder. 
 
 Mrs. Marquis, about whom more appears in another 
 chapter, was the mother of Laura Betta (Mrs. B. S.) Green, 
 Dr. W. S. Marquis, F. D. Marquis and C. C. Marquis. She 
 died in 1910 at the home of her son, Dr. William S. Marquis, 
 in Rock Island. 
 
 The first meeting of the society reports a fair attendance. 
 Eighteen were present. Originally the programs consisted 
 
 75 
 
of assigning one lady a subject one month in advance. She 
 would then prepare an essay to be read to the group. The 
 annual report in 1885, twelve years later says, 
 
 "This we would not now think the best method 
 of increasing interest and adding to our member- 
 ship. We have learned from experience, that in 
 order to have a live missionary meeting every- 
 thing must be short, to the point, and with as 
 great a variety as time will admit." 
 
 Substantial amounts were given to missionary causes. 
 
 In 1885 the officers were Mrs. Dinsmore, president; Mrs. 
 Marsh, vice-president; Mrs. Krum, recording secretary; 
 Mrs. Henry Capen, treasurer; and Mrs. Winchester, cor- 
 responding secretary. Money was raised by giving suppers 
 and soliciting members in alphabetical order. There was a 
 praise service at the end of 1885 when the opening of en- 
 velopes, with appropriate exercises, netted an additional 
 $113.50. The report closes with the question, "Are we 
 women of this privileged land awake to our responsibilities, 
 to our duties, to our privileges ?" 
 
 Miss Melinda Rankin, a pioneer in missionary work, 
 must have been a great inspiration to the women of our 
 church. In 1875 she moved to Bloomington where her 
 nieces, Mrs. George F. Dick and the Misses Kimball re- 
 sided. She remained here until her death in 1888. Fifty 
 years of her life had been devoted to Christian work in 
 Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and Mexico. She 
 gave twenty years to Mexico, building educational institu- 
 tions and teaching. Commenting on her work, the 42nd An- 
 nual Report of the Board of Foreign Missions says, "This 
 church will not forget that in Monterey the very first stand- 
 ard of Presbyterianism tvas reared and that by a courageous 
 and self-denying woman." She was the author of TWENTY 
 YEARS among THE MEXICANS. She kept her membership in 
 the church which she organized in Mexico. She was buried 
 from Second Presbyterian Church, December 8, 1888. To be 
 noted in the General Reports of the Presbyterian Church, 
 U. S. A., under specific endowments is the Melinda Rankin 
 Fund of $5,000.00. 
 
 76 
 
When the Foreign Missionary Society of the Presby- 
 terian Church, U. S. A. found itself unable to care for much 
 of the work to be done in the newly opened areas of the 
 South and West, the women were called on to take over the 
 responsibility for educational and medical work. As a result, 
 the Women's Board of Home Missions was organized in 
 1878. The first meeting of the Women's Home Missionary 
 Society of Bloomington Presbytery met in Onarga April 12, 
 1883. Mrs. M. T. Scott of our church was chairman. Among 
 the officers elected were the following from our church : Mrs. 
 M. D. Templeton, Vice-President; Mrs. M. T. Scott, Cor- 
 responding Secretary; and Mrs. J. W. Compton, Recording 
 Secretary. The names of other women from Second Church 
 who soon followed as officers include Mrs. S. N. King, Mrs. 
 Charles W. Robinson, and Mrs. T. J. Williver. Miss Frances 
 Perry is listed as Superintendent of Young People's Work 
 in 1905. 
 
 The local Women's Home Missionary Society was or- 
 ganized here in 1881 with Mrs. S. Noble King as President. 
 She was unable to serve a second year, "because of inability 
 to cover the long distance from home in inclement weather." 
 Included among the officers that second year were Mrs. 
 Sudduth, Mrs. H. Allin, Mrs. Withers, and Mrs. Lyman 
 Ferre. Each woman was responsible for visiting homes in 
 her district and reporting their needs. On occasion they 
 cared for families other than our own church families, say- 
 ing "they were not so narrow that they could not see beyond 
 their own borders." Their first outside field was Utah. A 
 barrel of clothing was sent there. They were also interested 
 in work among the Indians. 
 
 Membership approximated one hundred, each paying 
 annual dues of fifty cents. Included in the membership were 
 Mrs. Adlai E. Stevenson, Mrs. George F. Dick, Mrs. Henry 
 Capen, Mrs. G. H. Read, Mrs. Eversole, Mrs. Ela, Mrs. 
 Templeton, Mrs. D. Funk, Mrs. Withers, Mrs. Luman Burr, 
 Mrs. McNulta, Mrs. Rowell, Mrs. M. T. Scott, Mrs. Giles 
 Smith, Mrs. Hanna, Mrs. I. R. Krum, Mrs. Perry, Belle F. 
 Goudy, and Mrs. Sarah Read. Men could qualify as honor- 
 ary members by paying dues. Among those who so qualified 
 were G. H. Read, L. W. Capen, and I. R. Krum. 
 
 77 
 
In addition to contributing money to the Sunday School 
 and similar agencies, the society distributed Christmas 
 baskets locally. They also made quilts and carpets. They 
 made a carpet for their meeting place in the old church. The 
 generosity of Mrs. Withers is the subject of comment in the 
 early minutes. Our local society provided the salary for Miss 
 Hartford in Utah for the first two and one-half years in 
 1883-6. "In 1886-7 Miss Elizabeth Craig's name appears in 
 our books as teacher in New Mexico. Payment of her salary, 
 excepting one year, continued to 1908." Actually her sup- 
 port was continued until 1926. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the congregation on January 
 24, 1894, Mrs. S. N. King reports for the Ladies Foreign 
 Missionary Society and Mrs. Charles W. Robinson for the 
 Southeast Mission Sabbath School and as President of the 
 Home and Foreign Missionary Society. Likewise, there is 
 noted a report by Mrs. H. D. Spencer, as President of the 
 Women's Church Furnishing Society. The nature of these 
 reports is not indicated. One wonders, however, if the latter 
 Society may not have looked forward to providing furniture 
 for the new church. 
 
 Union meetings of the Women's Foreign and Home Mis- 
 sion groups were sometimes held. In April, 1894 a new 
 organization was formed. Its constitution states that, "it 
 shall be called the Women's Missionary Society of the Sec- 
 ond Presbyterian Church." Contributions in 1895 include 
 boxes to Miss Craig in New Mexico and to Freedmen's So- 
 ciety, particularly in Arkansas, and financial assistance to 
 Mr. Tracy in India in 1901. 
 
 Frequent mention is made in the minutes of the Society 
 to reading letters from Dr. Bradford. Dr. Mary Bradford, 
 of Selma, near Lexington, was born of Presbyterian parents. 
 She was graduated from Illinois Wesleyan. The first medical 
 work for women in Persia (now Iran) was begun by her. 
 Her work among cholera victims in Tabriz, a city of over 
 120,000, when she was the only doctor, was given high 
 praise in a Chicago paper. Harriet Pease, our missionary 
 now stationed in Tabriz, is located near the site of Dr. Brad- 
 ford's work and has heard many references to her work. 
 
 78 
 
In September, 1895 Mrs. Adlai E. Stevenson told of 
 visiting stations in Alaska. She gave the ladies a "Map 
 exercise" on Alaska. She said that all the visitors on the trip 
 were so interested in the work there that they left a dona- 
 tion of $230.00 at Sitka. 
 
 The women of the church were saddened by the death 
 of Mrs. Sarah B. Withers; but her will, probated January 
 11, 1897, was an inspiration to them because of her gen- 
 erosity. A farm sold under the provisions of her will es- 
 tablished the "Sarah B. Withers Scholarships" now admin- 
 istered by our National Board. Some of the income from 
 this assists students at Warren Wilson Junior College. 
 
 By her Will Mrs. Withers also devised to the Trustees of 
 the Second Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, Illinois 
 and their successors in office, land on West Locust Street, 
 Bloomington, Illinois where the Jessamine Withers Home 
 is located "in trust to found and establish therein and there- 
 on and to maintain a home for aged and indigent women 
 to be called The Jessamine Withers' Home." The Trustees 
 are further given full power "to use such means as in their 
 judgment will best carry out the above design." She also 
 gives additional land to the Trustees "for the purpose of 
 more fully carrying out and more amply supporting and en- 
 dowing the trust specified in the first clause of this Will." 
 The first clause of the Will is that which establishes the 
 Jessamine Withers Home as above. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing, she devises other real es- 
 tate to the Trustees of Second Presbyterian Church and 
 their successors and directs "that the same be rented, 
 leased, and managed in such manner as to produce the 
 largest practicable revenue and, the entire net income so 
 produced to be devoted, in the discretion of the said Trustees 
 or their successors, to the relief and aid of the worthy poor 
 of the City of Bloomington." 
 
 Mrs. George P. Ela was well known for her interest in 
 Women's Work. She was one of the group who came to our 
 Church when the North Presbyterian Church closed. She 
 was credited with a large portion of the success of the cam- 
 paign which resulted in liberal contributions of money by 
 women toward the original cost of our present church build- 
 
 79 
 
ing. She was an active worker in all phases of women's 
 work. 
 
 Mrs. Charles W. Robinson was distinguished as a leader 
 in women's work and especially missionary work in the 
 annals of our church. For twenty-five years she was Presi- 
 dent of the Synodical Home Missionary Society and served 
 the local organization in the same capacity. For ten years 
 she gave much time and study to the teaching of a class of 
 devoted women in our Sunday School. Her membership in 
 this church extended from January 7, 1887 to the date of her 
 death, July 13, 1923. In October, 1924, following Mrs. 
 Robinson's death, her daughter, Margaret Robinson, pre- 
 sented a library of Mission books to the church. This she 
 frequently supplemented with new titles. 
 
 The name of Miss Kate W. Hamilton stands out in the 
 history of Second Presbyterian Church. For forty years she 
 was Superintendent of the Primary department of the Sun- 
 day School. Miss Hamilton held many offices and was long 
 active in the Women's Missionary Society. Her missionary 
 interests carried over into her children's groups. For many 
 years her articles and poems appeared in Presbyterian pub- 
 lications. Her best known book parson's proxy was pub- 
 lished in London, many years ago. The influence of her 
 wholesome Christian character is still felt by those whom 
 she taught as well as by those with whom she came into 
 contact. 
 
 Through the years the Women's organizations have 
 maintained an active interest in the work of missionaries 
 to whose support our church has contributed. These mis- 
 sionaries include Mr. T. Tracy and A. G. McGaw in India, 
 and Elizabeth Craig, Esther Dehler, Sarah B. Sutherland, 
 Minnie Cook, and others at Embudo Presbyterian Day 
 School, Dixon, New Mexico. 
 
 As the membership of the Church increased, in order to 
 encourage interest in the missionary work of the Church 
 among the younger women, and in line with National 
 Church policies, a new organization called the Westminster 
 Guild was organized in 1915. This became a very active 
 group, diligent and successful in raising its missionary 
 quota. Its presidents since 1916 include Miss Jean Hamilton, 
 
 80 
 
Miss Florence Evans, Mrs. W. B. Hindman, Mrs. 0. B. 
 Newell, Mrs. Feme Wakefield, Mrs. Blake Leach, Mrs. 
 William Fink, and Mrs. Harry Riddle. Soon other mission 
 groups were formed. 
 
 When on January 27, 1939 the entire women's mission 
 groups of the Church met for a praise service, they included 
 the following: 
 
 Woman's Mission Circle. .Mrs. F. H. Petrie, Pres. 
 
 Presbyterian Guild Mrs. R. W. McLean, Pres. 
 
 Lena Noble Guild Ella Robb, Pres. 
 
 Baillie Guild Mrs. R. W. Mette, Pres. 
 
 Junior Women's Guild . . . Mrs. John Temple, Pres. 
 Young Women's Guild. . .Dorothy Nafziger, Pres. 
 Around the 
 
 World Mission Band. . .Hazel Jean Sloan, Pres. 
 
 Moreover, through the years the women of the Church 
 were not indifferent to the claims of the home Church. 
 Commencing in 1899 there were occasional references in 
 the minutes of annual meetings of the congregation to a re- 
 port by the Ladies Aid Society. Many stories could be told 
 of suppers, dinners, penny lunches, and bazaars held to as- 
 sist in raising finances for the local Church and of women 
 who gave hours of service in performing these tasks. Some- 
 times they were called the Ladies Aid and sometimes the 
 Women's Aid Society. Serving for many worthy causes was 
 an important activity. Names remembered by church 
 women are Mrs. J. M. Ranney and Mrs. Andrew Washburn ; 
 and later Mrs. George Knapp, Mrs. George P. Ela, Mrs. 
 Mary Dubois Marquis, Mrs. Anna E. Merritt and Mrs. E. 
 M. Hamilton. 
 
 By 1916 this group included one organization with four 
 auxiliary sections or circles, with Mrs. E. M. Hamilton, 
 President; Mrs. R. W. Evans, Secretary; Mrs. J. W. Moore, 
 Treasurer; and Mrs. J. H. Burrows, custodian. All day 
 meetings were the order of the day for many years and there 
 is a record of bazaars as late as 1925. 
 
 However, in 1930, under the ministry of Dr. Martin, a 
 new organization for all women of the Church was an- 
 nounced, called the Women's League. Names for member- 
 ship in its circles were no longer to be chosen geographically. 
 
 81 
 
The first President was Mrs. F. H. Petrie. This form of 
 organization was carried on until 1943. The circles at one 
 time carried such Biblical names as Dorcas, Esther, Mary, 
 Naomi and Ruth. The following women served as President 
 of the Women's League : Mrs. F. H. Petrie, Mrs. W. E. Cleve- 
 land, Mrs. Charles Hamilton, Mrs. John Good, Mrs. Herman 
 Perschall, Mrs. Harry Blix, Mrs. William Mundt, Mrs. 
 Marguerite Blumenschein, Mrs. Arthur Bienemann, Mrs. 
 E. W. Chrisman, and Mrs. W. H. Stiegelmeier. 
 
 Among the many pleasant occasions of this group was 
 one in the nature of a spring luncheon in March, 1941 when 
 Mrs. W. E. Protzman, Mrs. James Reeder, and Mrs. Roy 
 Ramseyer were honored. Mrs. Protzman had completed 25 
 years of service in the Home Department of the Sunday 
 School and had a perfect twenty-year attendance at Sunday 
 School. Mrs. Reeder had been the church organist for 
 thirty-five years and Mrs. Ramseyer was retiring after 
 twenty-five years in the Church quartet. 
 
 In 1943 the decision was made to organize the women 
 of the church in the form suggested by the National 
 Women's Boards of our church. This called for one organi- 
 zation of all the women of the church — so that all might 
 become interested in all the branches of our church work. 
 Mrs. W. H. Stiegelmeier was elected President of the new 
 organization. Two hundred women attended the initial meet- 
 ing. Since then all efforts in the missionary field as well as 
 local activities have been carried on in the one organiza- 
 tion. As the membership has increased, new groups have 
 been added so that today we have a woman's association 
 central organization and eleven circles. Four of these meet 
 in the evening for the benefit of business and professional 
 women and young mothers. 
 
 For some years the women have carried on no money- 
 making projects but have engaged in such activities as the 
 care, the upkeep and modernizing of the kitchen, the prepa- 
 ration of meals for our many church functions, sending of 
 clothing and parcels to Church World Service and gifts to 
 our missionaries and mission stations. They have also 
 helped with the church nursery, the home visitation, and 
 
 82 
 
many church and community projects, as well as serving on 
 the Board of Deacons of the church. 
 
 Contributions from these groups have steadily increased. 
 The amount for the last fiscal year, 1954, was Missionary 
 Pledges $3,666.41; Miscellaneous $363.00; and current ex- 
 penses $600.02. The following have served as Presidents of 
 the group : 
 
 Mrs. W. H. Stiegelmeier 1943-4 
 
 Mrs. T. J. Lancaster 1944-6 
 
 Mrs. Elias Rolley 1946-9 
 
 Mrs. Russell (Merle) Palmer. . .1950 (Deceased) 
 
 Mrs. Harry Riddle 1950-1 
 
 Mrs. J. J. Glass 1952-3 
 
 Mrs. George N. Wells 1954- 
 
 Their interest in the Church at large is shown by the 
 fact that many of our women have served as Synodical and 
 Presbyterial officers. Their names are : 
 
 Synodical — 
 
 Mrs. B. P. Marsh, President of the Illinois Synodical Society 
 for Foreign Missions — 1880-1884. 
 
 Mrs. Charles W. Robinson, President of the Illinois Synodi- 
 cal Society for Home Missions — 1884-1908. 
 
 Mrs. Matthew T. Scott, Vice-President of the Illinois Synodi- 
 cal Society for Home Missions — 1883- ? 
 
 Presbyterial — 
 
 Mrs. M. D. Templeton, President, 1873-1875 — Woman's 
 Foreign Missionary Society of Bloomington Presbytery. 
 
 Mrs. B. P. Marsh, President, 1878-1890 — Woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Society of Bloomington Presbytery. 
 
 Mrs. Feme Wakefield, President, 1924-1929 — Women's 
 Presbyterial Society of Bloomington Presbytery. 
 
 83 
 
Women Who Have Held Other Presbyterial Offices: 
 
 Mrs. M. D. Templeton 
 
 Mrs. H. H. Conover 
 
 Mrs. A.D.F.Compton (J.W.) 
 
 Mrs. M. T. Scott 
 
 Mrs. Charles W. Robinson 
 
 Mrs. S. N. King 
 
 Mrs. T. J. Williver 
 
 Mrs. F. Y. Hamilton 
 
 Miss Florence Evans 
 
 Miss Laurastine Marquis 
 
 Miss Jennie Thompson 
 
 Miss Frances Perry 
 
 Mrs. E. W. Chrisman 
 
 Mrs. C. Hayden Foster 
 
 Mrs. W. R. Mette 
 
 Mrs. Feme Wakefield 
 
 Mrs. Everett Kent 
 
 Mrs. Don Smith 
 
 Mrs. A. P. Kaye 
 
 Mrs. Russell (Merle) Palmer 
 
 Mrs. Wayne Townley 
 
 Through the years our women have been a vital part of 
 our on-going work. More will appear in a following chapter 
 concerning their contributions to missionary work. 
 
 Wherever and whenever the opportunity affords, 
 women's work grows and seeks to adapt itself to the ever 
 changing needs of the world. They will continue to carry the 
 Christian Message to the ends of the world. 
 
 84 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 Men's Work 
 
 It is unfortunate that there is nothing in either con- 
 gregational minutes or Session records to indicate what ac- 
 tivities men had in the church other than the church or- 
 ganization itself. They did participate actively within its 
 official framework. This is most evident throughout the 
 history of the church. 
 
 The earliest reference that I have been able to find 
 which indicates there may have been an organization of men 
 as such, is in the minutes of a Session meeting on January 
 7, 1897. There had been the effort on the part of the "Men's 
 Club" to "increase the interest and attendance on the Sun- 
 day Ev. Service" and "requiring a small expense fund to 
 procure extra music &c." It was ordered "that a Sunday Ev. 
 collection be taken for that purpose." 
 
 The Men's Brotherhood Bible Class which long was an 
 effective organization was organized February 9, 1908. The 
 interest which resulted in this organization was a direct re- 
 sult of the Billy Sunday meetings. Dr. J. Whitefield Smith, 
 a prominent eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, was chosen 
 teacher. He taught the class for twenty-one years. 
 
 The class met regularly every Sunday in the large room 
 to the right of West entrance to the church which included 
 all of what is now the coat room and offices to the rear of 
 the Sanctuary. It was partitioned into separate rooms when 
 the church was remodeled in 1939 and 1940. Dr. Smith gave 
 a great deal of study to the preparation of his lessons. The 
 class attracted men both inside and outside the church. 
 There is no doubt that a goodly number of men are now 
 
 85 
 
members of Second Presbyterian as a result of interest first 
 stimulated by this class. 
 
 Until the formation of the Men's Club, the Men's 
 Brotherhood was the men's organization of the church. 
 Men's activity centered around it as a nucleus. As a group 
 it underwrote and promoted men's activities within the 
 church. Fellowship dinners brought together the men of the 
 church, including many who did not regularly attend class 
 sessions. Speakers of note were brought to the city. On oc- 
 casion the group co-operated with other men's groups of the 
 city. At other times attendance contests were held com- 
 peting with other similar groups. Through most of its his- 
 tory the Men's Brotherhood had one of the largest men's 
 classes in the city. Most of the time it was the largest. 
 
 Early in 1929 when Dr. Smith announced his resigna- 
 tion, a committee called asking me to take the class. One 
 member of that committee was Dr. Baillie. He assured me 
 that if I would accept the appointment he would help with 
 promotion and get the attendance back where it should be. 
 I began as the regular teacher on March 3, 1929. In the class 
 that morning were members of the committee from Fuller- 
 ton Avenue Presbyterian Church who had come to hear 
 Dr. Baillie. In due course a call was extended, he accepted, 
 resigned and became pastor of that church. However, due 
 to the loyalty, the support and the promotion of the class by 
 the many wonderful men in the church, the group took on 
 new life. The attendance for some years continued most 
 gratifying. The number of younger men who became in- 
 terested was likewise encouraging. I continued with the 
 class until July 7, 1940. 
 
 In the meantime the Men's Club had been organized. I 
 have not been able to determine the exact date. Dr. Martin 
 thinks it was in the fall of 1936. With the organization of 
 this group new life was instilled into our men's work. Fel- 
 lowship dinners are held. Speakers are brought in. One of 
 the big achievements each year is the solicitation of funds 
 which underwrite the maintenance of the youth work in the 
 church, and more particularly the youth choirs. 
 
 Our local organization is an affiliate of the National 
 Council of Presbyterian Men. Its charter is dated February 
 
 86 
 
11, 1949. Each year our representatives attend the annual 
 council meeting in Chicago. We have an outstanding group 
 of active men who stand ready to help wherever they can in 
 the work of the church either in the Men's Club organization 
 or otherwise, as occasion may demand. 
 
 The Second Presbyterian Church Quartette occupied the Chancel during the 1930's. 
 
 Members, left to right — Mr. Harry Admire, Mrs. Roy Ramseyer, Mrs. James Reeder, 
 
 organist, Mrs. Harry Admire, Mr. DeWitte Miller 
 
 87 
 
The first Youth Choir, under the leadership of Miss Mary Jane Carothers, 
 in May 1938 
 
 88 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 Music 
 
 Presumably such special music as there was in the early 
 days consisted of a volunteer chorus choir with occasional 
 soloists. On February 21, 1875 J. W. Whipp was employed 
 as a chorister at $200.00 per year. He was the father of 
 Mrs. C. J. Northrup, who in turn was the mother of Julia 
 Johnson and C. B. Northrup, now members of our church. 
 Mrs. Northrup sang solos. 
 
 In the late Seventies, Prof. Mueller played the organ and 
 conducted the volunteer choir. He was succeeded by Prof. 
 A. Beuter who was the organist and choir director. His wife 
 was a soprano and a local voice teacher. Mr. Beuter was the 
 director on August 14, 1883 when our new organ, built by 
 the Moline Organ Company, of Moline, Illinois, was dedi- 
 cated. 
 
 Featured in this program of dedication were numbers 
 by Prof. Louis Falk "the most distinguished concert organ- 
 ist of Chicago, assisted by the best local talent." Besides 
 Prof. Falk there was an organ number by Prof. F. Mueller. 
 An anthem was given by the Second Presbyterian Church 
 Choir. There was one number by a male quartet and two 
 solos ; one by Arthur Harris and the other by Lucy Reeves, 
 later Mrs. Jarmin. 
 
 Following Prof. Beuter, Arthur Dunham, a local boy of 
 promise, took over the organ and directed the choir. Mr. 
 Dunham later moved to Chicago and became a famous or- 
 ganist. He came down from Chicago and played the dedi- 
 catory recital at the time our present organ was dedicated 
 
 89 
 
on April 29, 1921. For many years, and until his death, he 
 was the organist at the Methodist Temple in Chicago. 
 
 After Mr. Dunham, Walworth Marsh was organist and 
 choir director. He was the son of Dr. and Mrs. B. P. Marsh 
 who had long been active in our church. Dr. Marsh was an 
 elder for many years. Walworth, or Wally, as his friends 
 knew him, had but recently returned from studying in 
 Vienna, with diplomas in both violin and organ. 
 
 Our Mrs. Charles T. (Lottie) Stevenson was long a 
 member of these choirs. Another member was Minnie Saltz- 
 man, later Minnie Saltzman-Stevens, famous Wagnerian 
 Opera star. They frequently sang duets. 
 
 In 1895 at the last service in the old church before it 
 was vacated to permit the building of our present edifice, 
 there were antiphonal choirs conducted by Mr. Walworth 
 Marsh, with hired soloists. 
 
 Services were held at the Opera House while this church 
 was being built. A quartet furnished the music. Mrs. Frank 
 (Mae) Capen played a reed organ. 
 
 With the return of the congregation to the new building, 
 volunteer chorus choirs were again used. Later choir di- 
 rectors were Prof. Arthur Bassett, of the Wesleyan School 
 of Music, Prof. Beard, and Mr. Leavitt. 
 
 Mrs. James Reeder succeeded Mrs. Capen at the organ, 
 beginning in April, 1905. 
 
 Lucius W. Ades was employed as choir director on Oc- 
 tober 11, 1906. The Ades were related to the Hawleys. Mr. 
 Ades continued as choir director and otherwise assisted Dr. 
 Hawley, especially in working with boys, until July 26, 1909, 
 when his resignation was accepted with regret. 
 
 Mrs. Lottie Stevenson then became the choir director, 
 serving as volunteer without financial remuneration. It be- 
 came increasingly difficult to get the required number and 
 quality of voices for the chorus. Mrs. Stevenson retired in 
 the spring of 1911. 
 
 Commencing in 1911 there was a solo quartet of trained 
 voices. The members of this first quartet were Mrs. Har- 
 riet Thomas, still a member of our church, soprano; Mrs. 
 Olive Vandervort, contralto; C. Roy Atkinson, tenor; and 
 Homer Arnold, bass. Solo quartets continued to furnish the 
 
 90 
 
music until our youth choirs had developed to the point 
 where they were able to carry the responsibility for the 
 music. Through the thirty years that our church was served 
 by a quartet, most of the best singers in the community, at 
 various times, were members. 
 
 Under the direction of Mrs. Reeder, our church was 
 known for its outstanding music. People came especially for 
 the high, quality of spiritual uplift which it afforded. Prob- 
 ably no one locally knew the special days in the church year 
 and the music appropriate for each occasion as did Mrs. 
 Reeder. She was thoroughly acquainted with the works of 
 the Masters in sacred music. She used her knowledge to good 
 effect. With her quartet she was frequently asked to give 
 concerts throughout central Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Harry F. 
 Admire and Mrs. Ramseyer were members of the quartet 
 for more than twenty years. During much of this time 
 DeWitt P. Miller was the tenor. Other tenors were Charles 
 E. Sindlinger, Lyle F. Straight, and Frank W. Phillips. Har- 
 old Dale Saurer succeeded Mr. Admire as bass. 
 
 Mrs. Reeder retired on June 15, 1946, at the age of 76, 
 after having been our organist continuously for forty-six 
 years. The church honored itself in promptly naming her 
 organist emeritus. She will always hold a place of honor in 
 the history of this church. It never had a more willing and 
 capable worker, ready to serve as opportunity afforded. 
 
 Mrs. Reeder had for more than a half century been a 
 leader in musical activities in the community. She was a 
 member of the Illinois Chapter of the American Guild of 
 Organists and of the Chicago Club of Women Organists. 
 
 She died in Brokaw Hospital on August 12, 1952. 
 
 Mrs. Pauline Eiff became organist following Mrs. Reed- 
 er's retiring. She served most acceptably until September, 
 1947. Then Charlotte Goodrich, later by reason of her mar- 
 riage to Douglas Englehart, Charlotte Englehart took over 
 the organ. She, too, was an excellent organist. Mrs. Engle- 
 hart played the organ until the fall of 1950. Stanley Tagg, 
 an Illinois Wesleyan Music School student, was our organ- 
 ist from the fall of 1950 to the fall of 1952, when he had 
 completed his work at Wesleyan. He is now a student in 
 music at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Bob 
 
 91 
 
Anderson, another Illinois Wesleyan Music Student, suc- 
 ceeded Mr. Tagg, continuing until commencement, 1955, 
 when he too finished at Wesleyan. He also followed Tagg to 
 Union Theological Seminary where he is doing graduate 
 work in music. Both were good organists. Esther Unsicker, 
 who grew up in the church and in the choirs, played for us 
 during the summer just passed. Daniel Abrahamson, a fresh- 
 man at Wesleyan, began as organist on September first of 
 this year (1955). 
 
 A new era began in our church in September, 1937, when 
 Mary Jane Carothers (now Mrs. Carper) began as director 
 for youth choirs. A young woman with an attractive per- 
 sonality promptly enlisted the interest of our youth. The 
 choirs developed rapidly in numbers and in ability to sing. 
 The interest of parents in what their children were doing 
 attracted the parents. Thus through the years our youth 
 choirs have increasingly aroused the interest of both youth 
 and adults. The youth choirs have afforded a real oppor- 
 tunity to work with youth. Miss Carothers continued as 
 director until June, 1941. 
 
 Mr. Ray Bayne and Mrs. Glenn (Mary) Ogden each 
 served for two years; Mr. Bayne from September, 1941 to 
 September, 1943, and Mrs. Ogden from September, 1943 
 to August, 1945. Under each of these directors the choirs 
 continued to grow and to develop. The program with youth 
 was also growing in effectiveness. Miss Betty Kerr was 
 youth choir director from August, 1945 to January, 1946, 
 when she resigned to return to her home in the South, to 
 marry Rev. Jack Ware, a Presbyterian minister. Betty Lou 
 Palmer filled in on a part-time basis after Miss Kerr's 
 leaving. 
 
 Mr. Roger Fee, a baritone and a member of the Illinois 
 Wesleyan Music School faculty, directed the choirs from 
 January, 1946 to July, 1948, when he resigned to teach at 
 Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He was well liked 
 and did an excellent piece of work. 
 
 Mr. Lloyd Pfautsch, just graduated from the Music 
 School of Union Theological Seminary, came to Wesleyan 
 in the fall of 1948. He directed our choirs from September, 
 1948 to June, 1950. The choirs continued to do well under 
 
 92 
 
Mr. Pfautsch. He, however, found it necessary to resign 
 since his work at Wesleyan did not allow for the time needed 
 by our choirs. 
 
 We were most fortunate in the coming, as director of 
 Youth choirs, of Mr. Richard Hoffland in the fall of 1950. 
 Both he and Mrs. Hoffland are graduates of Concordia Col- 
 lege in Minnesota. They are excellent musicians and fine 
 Christian young people. Since coming to Bloomington Mr. 
 Hoffland has taken additional work at the American Con- 
 servatory of Music in Chicago and has received his Master's 
 degree in music from that institution. 
 
 Mr. Hoffland has a lovely tenor voice, directs well and 
 has made a wonderful contribution to our young people's 
 work. Doubtless his influence has encouraged several of 
 them to go on with the study of music as a career. The in- 
 creased interest in music and the beautiful rendition of high 
 quality numbers speak well for Mr. Hoffland. We hope that 
 he will long continue our director. 
 
 Mrs. Wilbur Ball is assistant to the minister of music. 
 For some five years she has been in charge of the younger 
 choirs. The Cherub and the Angel Choirs, directed by her, 
 do beautiful work. 
 
 Good music contributes much to an effective worship 
 service. Our people appreciate the fine sacred music which 
 it has been their privilege to enjoy through the years. 
 
 93 
 
Young lives are dedicated to Jesus Christ 
 
 94 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 Christian Ministry 
 
 Reference appears hereafter to those who have gone 
 from or have otherwise received financial support from this 
 Church and whose work is in the field of missions. There 
 will, therefore, be no occasion to name them here. 
 
 So far as I have been able to learn, Dr. William S. Mar- 
 quis was the first person to enter the ministry from this 
 Church. What has previously been stated in Chapter III con- 
 cerning him need not be repeated here. Dr. Marquis had two 
 pastorates. On graduating from Princeton Theological Sem- 
 inary he went to Minonk, Illinois. He was pastor of the Pres- 
 byterian Church there from 1879 to 1884. 
 
 His only other pastorate was at the Broadway Presby- 
 terian Church, Rock Island, Illinois. Here he was most suc- 
 cessful, continuing for 29 years from 1884 to 1913. He was 
 known particularly for his having conceived and developed 
 what was known as the Every Member Plan. It had to do 
 with contacting and soliciting the support of church mem- 
 bers financially and otherwise. After retiring from his pas- 
 torate at Rock Island he served in the General Offices of the 
 Church in Chicago and New York. From 1914 to 1918 he 
 was Western Representative of Presbyterian General As- 
 sembly's Committee for the Every Member Plan. In 1918 he 
 became Associate Secretary for the New Era Movement of 
 the Presbyterian Church. He died August 19, 1929. 
 
 The Rev. James S. Moore has also been mentioned pre- 
 viously. He, too, is the son of one of the early families of 
 this church. Following his being graduated from McCor- 
 
 95 
 
mick Theological Seminary in 1889, he served churches in 
 Seneca Falls, Alden, and Downsville, New York. He died in 
 Buffalo, New York and is buried in Washington, Pennsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 George S. Sutton had been General Secretary of the 
 Young Men's Christian Association from 1901 to 1906. On 
 August 16, 1901 he found our local Association with a mem- 
 bership of 87. By December 31, 1906 the membership had 
 increased to some 770. The indebtedness when he came was 
 $1,200.00. It was during his incumbency that the thirty-day 
 campaign for money to build our present building was car- 
 ried on. As a result the Association had assets of more than 
 $100,000.00 on December 31, 1906. 
 
 Mr. Sutton came to our Church from the Methodist 
 Church of Decatur on September 7, 1909, during Dr. Haw- 
 ley's pastorate, with the purpose of entering the Presby- 
 terian ministry. 
 
 He had been graduated from Illinois Wesleyan Uni- 
 versity with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He holds an M. A. 
 and a Ph. D. from the University of Dubuque, Dubuque, 
 Iowa. He also did graduate work at the University of Chi- 
 cago. 
 
 Dr. Sutton held pastorates at Tahlequah, Oklahoma 
 (State Teacher's College Town) 1911-1915, and Western 
 Highlands Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, Kansas, 1915- 
 1920. Among his other pastorates were Paseo Presbyterian 
 Church, Kansas City, Missouri and First Presbyterian 
 Church, Lincoln, Illinois. He also taught at Dubuque and 
 Omaha Seminaries. 
 
 Following his retirement from the ministry, he served 
 for a time as Executive Secretary of the Boston Seaman's 
 Friends Society, Boston, Massachusetts. He is now a resi- 
 dent of the Memorial Home Community, Penney Farms, 
 Florida, and minister of the Rio Vista Presbyterian Church 
 (U. S. A.) of St. Petersburg, Florida. 
 
 Chester D. Marquis, Jr. was graduated from McCormick 
 Theological Seminary in May, 1950. He is the son of Chester 
 D. and Kathleen Marquis (members of Second Church). 
 
 96 
 

 After having received his degree in Mechanical Engineer- 
 ing, he decided upon the ministry. 
 
 Chester was ordained in Second Presbyterian Church 
 on November 30, 1949 after having completed his work 
 but prior to receiving his degree from Seminary the fol- 
 lowing May. From August, 1949 to January, 1953 he served 
 as pastor of the Presbyterian Churches at Pleasant Ridge 
 and Sherrard, Illinois. Since January, 1953 he has been Di- 
 rector and Pastor of the Westminster Foundation at Ohio 
 University, Athens, Ohio. 
 
 Graduated in the same Seminary class with Chester 
 Marquis was James Payson Martin, a son of the Manse. His 
 parents, of course, are our pastor, Dr. Harold R. Martin and 
 Mrs. Alice Martin. "Jim," as we know him, had grown up in 
 the Church. He was Youth Director here during the sum- 
 mers of 1948 and 1949. From April 30, 1950 to April, 1955, 
 he was pastor of the Riverside Farrington Memorial Church 
 (Presbyterian), Minneapolis. He resigned to accept a call 
 to the First Presbyterian Church of Bismarck, North Da- 
 kota, where he is now pastor. This is the largest Presby- 
 terian Church in that State, with a membership of 1,400. 
 
 Leroy William Yolton is the son of the late Dr. Leroy 
 W. Yolton and Helen Norton Yolton. He, too, grew up in the 
 Church. During the summer of 1950 he was Youth Director 
 and part-time Choir Director of our Church. He was gradu- 
 ated from Union Theological Seminary in New York with 
 the class of 1954. "Bill" was ordained here in Second Pres- 
 byterian Church on June 6, 1954. Since June 20, 1954 he 
 has been co-pastor of Greystone Presbyterian Church, Eliz- 
 abeth, New Jersey. 
 
 Raymond W. Protzman, son of William E. and Grace 
 Will Protzman, served as Youth Director of College Hill 
 Presbyterian Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 1939 to 1941 
 and as Supply Pastor of Irving Place Presbyterian Church, 
 Tulsa, from 1940 to 1941. In April, 1941 he was ordained 
 to the Christian Ministry. Following his ordination he 
 served Christian Churches at Mannford, Owasso, and Tulsa, 
 all in Oklahoma. Since September, 1952 he has been As- 
 
 97 
 
sociate Minister of the First Christian Church, Midland, 
 Texas. 
 
 Gertrude Marquis, the daughter of F. D. and Caroline B. 
 Marquis, is a long-time member of this church. Following a 
 successful career as a high school teacher she resigned from 
 the Bloomington High School Staff in June, 1944, to become 
 Director of Christian Education at Second Presbyterian 
 Church. She was examined by Bloomington Presbytery and 
 became a Commissioned Christian Worker on May 13, 1951. 
 Gertrude has attended numerous Leadership Summer Train- 
 ing Schools. On February 6, 1952, sponsored by our Women's 
 Association, she was enrolled as an Associate in Christian 
 Education by the Board of Christian Education of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, U. S. A. She continues on our Church Staff 
 as Director of Christian Education. 
 
 June Yolton (Mrs. Carl) Cusey is the daughter of the 
 late Dr. Leroy W. Yolton and Helen Norton Yolton. Follow- 
 ing her graduation from Illinois Wesleyan University in 
 1949 she entered the College of Christian Education, Mc- 
 Cormick Theological Seminary, Chicago. She was graduated 
 in 1951 with degree of Master of Education. She was Di- 
 rector of Religious Education of the First Presbyterian 
 Church of Decatur, Illinois from 1951 to 1953. Since 1953 
 she has been Director of Christian Education of the First 
 Presbyterian Church, Roswell, New Mexico. 
 
 William H. Shelper was a Billy Sunday convert. His con- 
 version took place in the McLean County Circuit Court room 
 early in 1908. He joined our church on July 12, 1908. Billy, 
 as he was known to his friends, founded the Home Sweet 
 Home City Rescue Mission on November 25, 1917. He con- 
 tinued with the Mission for the balance of his life. During 
 his last thirty years he was also Chaplain of the McLean 
 County Jail and held regular Sunday afternoon prayer meet- 
 ings. He was always ready to help the homeless and down- 
 trodden. In recognition of his services, he was given the 
 Community Service Award by the PANTAGRAPH in 1928. 
 
 As appears in the Chapter on Music, Ray Bayne resigned 
 as choir director to enter the ministry. He was a member of 
 our Church while here. When he left Bloomington he en- 
 tered McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He was 
 
 98 
 
graduated from Seminary and ordained. His first charge 
 was the Southfield Presbyterian Church in Detroit. Mr. 
 Bayne is minister there now. 
 
 At the time of this writing in the spring of 1956, William 
 Babbs, son of Mr. and Mrs. 0. L. Babbs, is a student at 
 Louisville Theological Seminary. 
 
 James Rossie, son of Mrs. Fred Rossie, graduates from 
 Illinois Wesleyan University in June and plans to enter a 
 Theological Seminary. 
 
 A section of the Youth Choir pictured for a McCall's Magazine article 
 in the February 1950 issue 
 
 99 
 
An overflowing sanctuary for morning worship, in the late 1940's 
 
 100 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 Missions 
 
 Much of the missionary work of this church has been 
 covered by the chapter on Women's Work. While it does 
 not seem feasible to comment on all the missionaries to 
 whose direct support our church has contributed through 
 the years, a few require comment. 
 
 A. G. McGaw has previously been mentioned. It has not 
 been possible to determine when we started to contribute 
 to his work. His daughter, Mrs. Miriam McGaw Benade 
 says she remembers contacts with Second Presbyterian 
 Church on the part of her father as far back as 1910. She 
 states that he and Dickey Templeton carried on active cor- 
 respondence and that Mr. Templeton often sent extra gifts 
 of money for the work in India. The records show that Dr. 
 McGaw visited our church as early as the fall of 1914. When- 
 ever it started, we contributed to his work at Etah, India 
 until he retired May 19, 1930. Mr. McGaw died January 16, 
 
 1938 and is buried in Lahore, Pakistan. 
 
 Our support to this station continued after Dr. McGaw's 
 retirement until 1934. We contributed to the work of the 
 Rev. M. S. Pinkerton at Etah, India from 1934 to 1939. He 
 visited this church once. 
 
 Since 1941 we have contributed to the work of the Rev. 
 Edwin Graham Parker in India. He was assigned to North 
 India, began in Fatehgarh and was transferred to Etah in 
 
 1939 to take charge of evangelistic work of that area. Since 
 1948 he has lived at Fatehgarh. He is in charge of mission 
 property improvements and development. He serves on im- 
 
 101 
 
portant mission committees with administrative responsi- 
 bilities. 
 
 For a short time we supported Rev. John P. Emig, a 
 missionary working in Colombia, South America. He is now 
 a pastor at Edwardsville, 111. 
 
 Louis F. Zelle served at Ebolowa, Cameroon, West Af- 
 rica. He was supported by our church in his work from 
 April, 1946 to November, 1949 when he resigned from the 
 work there. He now resides in Texas. 
 
 Mary Agnes Marquis, now Mrs. Paul Lincoln Smith, 
 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester D. Marquis, and a former 
 member of this church, was commissioned by the Board of 
 Foreign Missions in 1946 for work in the Philippines. In 
 January, 1947 she established the School of Nursing at 
 Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines. She was Di- 
 rector of the School of Nursing, Silliman University, from 
 July, 1947 to December, 1949. She was supported by Second 
 Church during her stay there. 
 
 Since 1950 we have contributed to the support of Dr. 
 Clyde E. Heflin at Silliman University. In 1946 he received 
 the degree of Doctor of Education from Columbia Univer- 
 sity, New York. He was Dean of the Graduate School of 
 Silliman University at Dumaguete. He retired in 1954. 
 
 Since 1950 and 1952 we have contributed to the support 
 of the Misses Wilma Elizabeth Pease and Harriet B. Pease, 
 respectively, in Iran. They are daughters of the late Rev. 
 William Pease who, in his later years, resided in this com- 
 munity. Both are members of this Church. Wilma is sta- 
 tioned at the Christian Hospital in Meshed, Iran and Har- 
 riet at the American Mission, Tabriz, in Iran. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Urquhart were at 
 Pusan and Andong, but are now at Taegu, Korea. Mr. Urqu- 
 hart served most effectively as assistant minister here in 
 Second Church for three years after being graduated from 
 Seminary. However, he was looking forward to the mission 
 field. His wife, Jean, was born in Haichow in central China, 
 the daughter of missionaries working under the Presby- 
 terian Church, U. S. We are happy as a church for the privi- 
 lege of contributing to the support of the Urquharts on the 
 Foreign field since April, 1952. 
 
 102 
 
Over the years we have contributed to the work of a 
 number of missionaries under the National Board, many of 
 these at Embudo Presbyterian Day School, Dixon, New 
 Mexico. Several have been named in another chapter. 
 
 The one in the National Field in whom we have a special 
 interest is Miss Elena Law. For fifteen years she was our 
 minister's secretary. In August, 1945 she resigned to become 
 a part of the secretarial staff of Dr. Arthur Bannerman, 
 President of Warren Wilson Junior College, Swannanoa, 
 North Carolina. She has become a most valuable member of 
 that staff. A quote from missionary profile, a National 
 Missions publication, indicates something of the regard in 
 which she is held : 
 
 "Anyone who has been around Miss Laiv any 
 length of time is amazed at her unusually keen 
 memory. Out of her file of knowledge comes a 
 desired address, a telephone number or the name 
 of some former visitor barely remembered by 
 others. What she enjoys about her work, she 
 says, is the variety of her responsibilities." 
 A large portion of her salary is paid by the Women's As- 
 sociation of Second Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The Dr. Leroy W. Yolton Memorial Fund was established 
 in memory of Dr. Leroy W. Yolton, an Elder of Second 
 Presbyterian Church, who lost his life in the Philippines in 
 World War II on February 3, 1945. Much of the credit for 
 this work is due Miss Elizabeth Abraham, who through the 
 years has evidenced an ever increasing interest in missions. 
 Second Church and the cause of missions generally is 
 greatly indebted to her. Miss Abraham has been acting as 
 Chairman and Miss Louise Muxfeld as Treasurer of the 
 Yolton Fund. From this fund books, magazines, equipment 
 and housing facilities for the Dr. Leroy W. Yolton Memo- 
 rial Library and Scholarships at Silliman University have 
 been supplied. From December, 1947 to September 20, 1954, 
 a total of $7,960.35 was expended. 
 
 In 1954 the sum of $2,500.00 was invested with the 
 Board of Foreign Missions of our Church to be designated 
 as the Dr. Leroy W. Yolton Memorial Fund to provide 
 scholarships for nurses in the College of Nursing at Silli- 
 
 103 
 
man. Both of these funds are still being enlarged and are 
 providing assistance to this nursing school. 
 
 The College of Nursing at Silliman University opened 
 with twelve students in 1947. By February, 1955 the enroll- 
 ment had grown to one hundred forty-six. Of the forty-nine 
 nurses who had been graduated from the School since 1951, 
 fourteen have been helped by the Yolton Scholarship Fund. 
 Miss Vevina Gesite is the first Yolton Scholar to have 
 been graduated. On August 28, 1955 she was commissioned 
 at the Ellinwood Church, Manila, as a missionary nurse to 
 Thailand. Miss Maria Roble, Dean of the College of Nursing, 
 writes under date of October 6, 1955 : — 
 
 "So far there had never been one Filipino 
 nurse who had been commissioned by any religi- 
 ous group to go out of the Philippines as a mis- 
 sionary nurse. Vevina Gesite is the first. There 
 have been Filipino nurses who went abroad as 
 scholars and at the same time they felt it their 
 duty to be missionary nurses during that time. 
 Here in the Philippines, we have some nurses 
 doing missionary work in the unreached areas of 
 the Philippines. These nurses are commissioned 
 unlike those scholars. So I still feel and by records 
 believe that it is safe and right to say that Vevina 
 is the first of her kind. 
 
 "It seems that in a short time the fruits of 
 peoples' interest in the Silliman University Col- 
 lege of Nursing are really being shared not only 
 within the country but also reaching beyond the 
 country. It is to be noted that all these are made 
 possible because of the kind and generous interest 
 of all of you." 
 This, therefore, constitutes another mission field in 
 which Second Church has had a vital part. 
 
 104 
 
Comfort — a smile, a cheerful word and prayer 
 
 105 
 
HAROLD R. MARTIN, D.D. 
 1930 — 
 
 106 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 Dr. Harold R. Martin 
 
 On March 31, 1930, almost a year after Dr. Baillie's resig- 
 nation, Mr. George Washburn, Chairman of the pulpit com- 
 mittee, reported to Session that he held a letter from the 
 Rev. Harold R. Martin, of the 43rd Avenue Presbyterian 
 Church, Gary, Indiana, accepting the call from this church. 
 Mr. Martin requested that May 15th be the date for the be- 
 ginning of his ministry. He was formally installed on May 
 28, 1930. 
 
 At its initial meeting, the pulpit committee had deter- 
 mined that it must first decide upon what kind of man 
 should be sought. The committee was unanimous in the 
 opinion that, along with other qualifications, the new min- 
 ister must be an organizer. It felt that in Harold Martin 
 the right man had been found. The committee chose even 
 better than it knew. 
 
 I fear there was a time when he was not too happy with 
 the new field. He did not get the response that he felt he 
 should. We needed to be aroused. 
 
 I well remember Dr. Baillie's telling me of his plans be- 
 fore his resignation was announced publicly. I did my best 
 to get him to reconsider. I argued that his work here had 
 not been completed, that the feeling in the church was ex- 
 cellent, and that there was no reason why he should not 
 stay on. He replied that while he was sure that everyone 
 did not feel as I did, he liked Second Church and its people. 
 However, he had not succeeded in getting the response 
 there should be. He was particularly disappointed in that 
 he had not been able to get the church to give to missions 
 
 107 
 
and benevolences as it should. He thought that someone else 
 would be able to succeed where he had failed. Mr. Martin 
 apparently sensed the same problem. 
 
 Perhaps the first major forward step occurred when, on 
 December 29, 1930, Session appointed a committee consist- 
 ing of Moore, Washburn, Marquis, and Dr. Martin, ex 
 officio, to revise the membership roll. On March 24, 1931 the 
 committee reported that its work was nearly completed and 
 that, after careful and thorough investigation, they were re- 
 moving from the active roll about 200 names of persons 
 moved from the city or otherwise out of touch with the 
 Church. A total of 257 names was placed on the suspended 
 roll during the year ending March 31, 1931. This left us 
 with a net membership, as of April 1, 1931, of 819. But new 
 members were being added. There was growing activity 
 within the church. 
 
 At the meeting of Session, September 26, 1932, 
 
 "Mr. Martin talked at some length about his 
 own recent religious experiences, stating that he 
 had come to the realization of a vital religion such 
 as was never his before. That the great need of 
 the church was that its membership should take 
 Christianity seriously and that in so doing the 
 church would accomplish results hardly conceiv- 
 able now. He especially requested prayer each 
 Sat. night on the part of all church members for 
 the service the following day." 
 The depression had hit. He stated that earlier in the year 
 Mrs. Martin and he had voluntarily reduced his salary from 
 $5,000.00 to $4,800.00. He now asked that it be further re- 
 duced to $4,500.00 and that they would continue their con- 
 tributions as heretofore. 
 
 On October 31, 1932, the occasion of its one hundredth 
 anniversary, Wabash College, his alma mater, conferred the 
 honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity on Mr. Martin. 
 
 Dr. Martin worked early and late. The results of his 
 efforts were beginning to show. There was increased ac- 
 tivity and growing interest. Youth choirs were organized. 
 This stimulated interest among youth. Parents became in- 
 
 108 
 
terested because of their children. The men's club was or- 
 ganized, having as one of its objectives, securing the neces- 
 sary financial support to maintain the youth choirs. 
 
 It became necessary to add to the office staff. Signifi- 
 cantly with each addition to the staff, congregational income 
 has increased sufficiently to take care of the additional ex- 
 pense. And, of course, the effectiveness of our program has 
 advanced with each addition to the staff. In June, 1944, 
 Gertrude Marquis became Director of Christian Education. 
 Our Bible School has increased in numbers and effective- 
 ness under her direction. Mrs. William F. Anderson served 
 on the staff from January 1, 1944 to September 1, 1946. 
 Her husband, William F. Anderson, came to the staff on 
 September 1, 1948 as Youth Director and otherwise as- 
 sisted where needed, continuing in that capacity until March 
 15, 1950, when he accepted a position with the Illinois State 
 Normal University. In September, 1946, the Rev. Donald C. 
 Smith came as assistant pastor. He greatly added to the 
 effectiveness of our work. In February, 1949, he left us to 
 accept a call to the House of Hope Presbyterian Church at 
 Elgin, Illinois. 
 
 The Rev. Robert C. Urquhart became our Assistant Pas- 
 tor in August, 1949. His fine Christian spirit and his de- 
 votion to his work soon started to produce results. But Mr. 
 Urquhart's heart had long been in the mission field. After 
 three years of fine service, he left us to study the language 
 and otherwise prepare himself to work in Korea. We are 
 happy now to have a part in supporting his work in Taegu, 
 Korea. 
 
 In July, 1952, the Rev. W. B. Edwards came to us from 
 San Francisco Seminary. He, too, had a real contribution to 
 make to our work here. In September, 1954 he resigned to 
 become pastor of the Church at Milan, Tennessee. 
 
 The coming of the Rev. John S. Shew in June, 1954 has 
 proved a real addition. Just out of Princeton Seminary, he 
 has taken hold beautifully and made himself invaluable as 
 an assistant to Dr. Martin. 
 
 The devotion of our staff and their loyalty to Dr. Martin 
 is, of course, a tribute to him. But, more important, they 
 work together as a loyal team. 
 
 109 
 
While not officially a member of the staff, Mrs. Martin is 
 invaluable in the life of the church. Quiet and unassuming, 
 but always willing to do her part, she fits perfectly into the 
 program. And well may they be proud of their family. Jim's 
 work as a Christian Minister has already been told. Susie, 
 appropriately, carries on the family tradition as a most 
 capable wife of our assistant minister, John Shew. 
 
 Viewed by means of statistics, our church membership 
 has increased from 819 in 1931 to 2,114 at the end of 1954; 
 Bible School enrollment from 391 to 1,114, with an average 
 attendance of 600 ; congregational expenses from $14,656.00 
 to $82,260.00; and benevolences from $4,209.00 to $38,- 
 025.00. The average attendance at the Sunday morning 
 worship services was 200 in 1931. In 1954 it was 847. 
 
 Early in Dr. Martin's ministry all forms of dinners, 
 bazaars, etc., were discontinued at his request. He holds 
 that this is not proper in a church. Consequently, our in- 
 crease in both benevolences and the local expense budget is 
 simply increased giving. 
 
 What is happening now bears out the experience of 
 another of our great pastors. In his Historical Sketch, Dr. 
 Dinsmore comments on the large giving by this church to 
 benevolent and missionary purposes and for local congrega- 
 tional expenses. He explains how this was accomplished in 
 the following words, 
 
 "And this has been done by direct contribu- 
 tion, and not by the use of any of those expedients 
 so common, and sometimes so discreditable, for 
 raising money. We appeal directly to our own 
 people to give directly to the Lord and His church, 
 and this without any device of fair or festival." 
 
 Prayer groups, meeting regularly for prayer, continue 
 to increase in numbers. These include men, women, and 
 youth. Currently there are no less than 18 of these groups 
 within our church membership. 
 
 Most significant is the work among our young people. 
 This continues throughout the year in the choirs, in their 
 youth meetings, counseling groups, etc. Our church is a 
 veritable beehive of youth activity. 
 
 110 
 
Summer youth camps at Conference Point on Lake 
 Geneva, Wisconsin have resulted in spiritual commitments 
 on the part of these fine young people which proclaim great 
 promise for them and the cause of Christ generally. 
 
 The effectiveness of our program has received acclaim 
 throughout the Church nationally. Our youth program was 
 the subject of special consideration in the February, 1950 
 issue of McCall's which followed visits to our Church by 
 representatives of that magazine. Several articles on our 
 Church and its youth program have appeared in Presby- 
 terian life, the official publication of the Presbyterian- 
 Church, U. S. A. 
 
 Dr. Martin is recognized for his outstanding work as 
 one of the leaders in the Church at large. Frequently he is 
 called upon to go on preaching missions and otherwise to 
 appear before churches throughout the Nation. He has been 
 active in the work of Presbytery, Synod, and the Church at 
 large. He is past Moderator of both the Presbytery of Bloom- 
 ington and the Synod of Illinois. He is presently a member 
 of the Board of the Presbyterian Foundation of Illinois. For 
 fifteen years he has been a member of General Assembly's 
 Commission on Evangelism. He has been a member of the 
 joint Hymnal Committee, which recently completed its work. 
 The new Hymnal was published October 17, 1955. The mem- 
 bers of this joint Hymnal Committee was made up of repre- 
 sentatives of five major church groups, viz, The Presby- 
 terian Church, U. S. A., the United Presbyterian Church, 
 The Presbyterian Church, U. S., the Reformed Presbyterian 
 Church, and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Under Dr. Martin's leadership our Church has taken on 
 new life. It is a far cry from the little group of thirty-four 
 who met and organized on June 24, 1855 to Second Presby- 
 terian Church of 1955. Many have contributed to this 
 growth. Our ministers have been outstanding. We were most 
 fortunate in being able to celebrate our centennial with the 
 Church at its present high spiritual level as the result of the 
 pastorate, for slightly more than twenty-five years, of Dr. 
 Harold R. Martin. 
 
 ill 
 
Centennial Committee 
 Mr. John Odell, Mr. John Moore, Miss Bess Hibarger, Miss Frances Pillsbury, Mrs. 
 Leroy Yolton, Mrs. George Wells, Dr. T. A. Rost, Miss Elizabeth Abraham, Miss 
 Frances Kessler, Mrs. R. C. Solomon, Mrs. Elias Rolley, Mrs. Adlai Rust, Mrs. E. M. 
 Evans, Mr. William Griffin, Mr. William Hedgecock, Mr. Roy Ramseyer, Dr. Vincent 
 Marquis, Mr. Walter Oberst. Absent: Mrs. William Griffin, Mr. Henry Capen, Mrs. 
 R. A. Gardiner, Mrs. R. L. Hallam, Miss Louise Kessler, Mrs. Mary Pumphrey, Mrs. 
 Roderic Abbott, Mrs. William F. Anderson 
 
 112 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 Centennial Celebration 
 
 Now that we have completed our Centennial Celebration 
 it seems proper that a brief report of it be included in our 
 Church history. 
 
 Appropriately, we began with the Presbytery of Bloom- 
 ington meeting in our Sanctuary. The popular meeting at 
 7:30 on the evening of September 13th was addressed by 
 the Moderator of our General Assembly, Dr. Paul S. Wright, 
 Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon. 
 Dr. Wright's inspiring sermon was an excellent introduc- 
 tion to our celebration. 
 
 Sunday, October 2nd was World Wide Communion. We 
 joined in that observance and new members were received. 
 The response was gratifying. 
 
 On the following Sunday, October 9th, Dr. Frank C. 
 Laubach, President of World Literacy, Inc., New York City, 
 spoke at both morning services and again at 7:30 in the 
 evening. The community was particularly invited to the 
 evening meeting. He being a Congregationalist, it pointed 
 up nicely that phase of our Church heritage, and more im- 
 portant, he emphasized the missionary outlook which has 
 become so vital a part of our program. Incidentally, approx- 
 imately $2,000.00 was given to the World Literacy program 
 as a result of his being here. 
 
 On the same day the Presby-Wed class held a reunion, 
 and had a potluck dinner. Many former members of the 
 class, now removed from the city, were present. Dr. Lau- 
 bach participated. It was a happy occasion. 
 
 113 
 
The Women's Association honored the work of women in 
 our first century at a meeting held on the evening of Oc- 
 tober 12th. In the dress of their day, and through lines 
 written for the occasion by Mrs. William F. Anderson, the 
 ladies of yesteryear came to life and relived the days of long 
 ago. 
 
 October 18th and 19th brought Presbyterian ministers 
 from all over the Synod of Illinois. This has for some time 
 been an annual convocation meeting in our Church. There- 
 fore, it was fitting that it be given a part in our Centennial 
 observance. The speaker was Dr. William Elliott, Pastor of 
 the Highland Park Presbyterian Church of Dallas, Texas. 
 His is the largest church in the Presbyterian U. S. (South- 
 ern) denomination. We were honored by having these min- 
 isters join with us on this happy occasion. Dr. Elliott's 
 evening sermon was open to the public. 
 
 Dr. William Blake Hindman, the only living former 
 pastor of our Church, now of Farmington, Pennsylvania, 
 preached at both morning services on October 23. This was 
 our Homecoming Reunion. That evening some 115 persons 
 joined in giving the Centennial Pageant, "Our Heritage of 
 Growth." It had been written by Miss Clara Louise Kessler, 
 with appropriate musical settings by her sister, Miss Fran- 
 ces Kessler. It was a really professional piece of work, ex- 
 cellently done. The Dramatic Episodes were directed by Mrs. 
 Leon Yeager and Verse Choir by Miss Margaret Parrett. 
 Living Pictures were produced under the supervision of Mrs. 
 Fred Muxfeld and Mrs. Leon Steele. Richard D. Hoffland 
 and Mrs. Wilbur G. Ball directed the choirs. 
 
 Ninety-five people, all of whom had been members of our 
 Church for forty years or more, were honored by a dinner 
 on November 9th. Three hundred sixty persons were present 
 to participate in a most tasty turkey dinner. The program 
 was as follows : 
 
 Mr. Roy A. Ramseyer, Toastmaster 
 
 Invocation Rev. John S. Shew 
 
 Dinner 
 
 Old Hymns of the Church Led by Mr. Richard D. Hoffland 
 
 Minister of Music 
 Solo Mrs. Vernon Prenzler 
 
 114 
 
Introduction of Oldest Member of the Church 
 
 Mrs. Frank Benjamin 
 
 Presentation of Long-Time Members of the Church — 
 
 Forty Years or More 
 
 Response Mr. Henry W. Capen 
 
 Duet Mrs. Prenzler and Mr. Hoffland 
 
 Centennial Greetings and Announcements 
 
 Introduction of the Speaker Dr. Harold R. Martin 
 
 Address Let Us Magnify the Church 
 
 Dr. Robert Worth Frank 
 
 President, McCormick Theological Seminary 
 
 Chicago, Illinois 
 
 "Blest Be The Tie That Binds" 
 
 Benediction Dr. Martin 
 
 Not appearing on the program was the fact that Mr. 
 John W. Moore, himself an Elder since 1900, was presented 
 and attention directed to the fact that two men — he and his 
 father, M. L. Moore — together had continuously been Elders 
 during more than 97 years of our first century. Mrs. Isabel 
 Vandervort Bfallam and Mrs. Marion Vandervort Stubble- 
 field were presented as the only persons present descendants 
 of a founder. They are great granddaughters of Stephen P. 
 Morehouse. 
 
 The surprise of the evening, so far as Dr. and Mrs. Mar- 
 tin were concerned, came when Henry W. Capen, who had 
 been asked to respond for the long time members of the 
 Church, presented the Martins with a purse of nearly 
 $3,600.00, which had been contributed by their friends. It 
 had been a very carefully guarded secret and it was remark- 
 able that a letter could have gone out to our large member- 
 ship and kept from the Martins so successfully. Mr. Capen 
 emphasized the fact that this money was to be used by them 
 in taking a trip to Palestine. Dr. Frank's address was out- 
 standing. The evening was one which those present will not 
 soon forget. 
 
 Following the second Sunday morning worship service 
 on November 13th ground was broken for our new Edu- 
 cational building. The congregation met on the site where 
 the building will stand. The invocation was by the Assistant 
 Pastor, the Rev. John S. Shew. Appropriate remarks were 
 
 115 
 
made by William W. McKnight, Jr., Chairman of the Build- 
 ing Committee. Dedication of the Ground in Prayer by Dr. 
 Martin followed. Turning of Earth was participated in by 
 the following: Dr. Harold R. Martin, William McKnight, 
 Gertrude Marquis, Director of Christian Education, Robert 
 P. Tate, P. A. Washburn, Everett Kent, Ralph Osborn, Dean 
 Berenz and Adlai H. Rust, members of the Building Com- 
 mittee, Oscar Anderson, President of the Board of Trustees, 
 H. W. Stuber, Clerk of Session and Roy A. Ramseyer, Chair- 
 man of the Centennial Committee. The benediction was by 
 Roy A. Ramseyer. Work in anticipation of the new structure 
 began in earnest on Monday, November 14th. The old Brand 
 Furniture Warehouse formerly standing on a portion of the 
 premises is now gone. Cold weather recently has delayed 
 excavation, but we are in process of building. 
 
 November 20th was Loyalty Sunday. Pledges for the 
 support of the Church and benevolences were taken. A sub- 
 stantial increase in our giving is definitely in the picture for 
 1956. 
 
 Our Centennial celebration ended with a Men and Youth 
 dinner on November 30th under the auspices of the Men's 
 Club. Rev. Franz von Hammerstein of Berlin, Germany, 
 temporarily associated with the First Presbyterian Church 
 of Evanston, was the speaker. Fittingly, we concluded by 
 having our thinking directed to a concern for others. We 
 are now on our way into our second Century. 
 
 116 
 
Postscript 
 
 I have attempted to write a history of our church. Peo- 
 ple are concerned only as they are part of that church. Con- 
 sequently, with rare exceptions, only their church activities 
 are recorded here. 
 
 It is common knowledge that we have numbered among 
 our membership names who are well known. These include 
 a vice-president of the United States, Judges, both Federal 
 and State, Congressmen, those high in the counsel of the 
 Church, poets, authors, leaders in industry, and the like. But 
 most of us have been just "plain run of the mine" people, 
 busy in our everyday tasks. Who dare say that one is more 
 important than another? 
 
 Most of us knew Judge Louis FitzHenry. In addition to 
 other honors, he served this district as its representative in 
 Congress, he was U. S. District Judge and, at the time of his 
 death, was a Member of the United States Circuit Court of 
 Appeals. Many of us have heard him say that the highest 
 honor he ever received was when he was elected a Presby- 
 terian elder in this church. 
 
 Most appropriate are the words of Dr. Dinsmore, "There 
 is a secret spiritual history, known only to God and His 
 Angels, and this is incomparably the greatest of all." 
 
 Often have we heard Dr. Martin say, "this is a great 
 church." It is ! And it is great because of this "secret spiri- 
 tual history." Lives have been changed, the community, the 
 State and the Nation have benefitted by what has happened 
 here. Our missionaries have carried the message to the ends 
 of the world. But who of us can claim credit? Doubtless in 
 
 117 
 
many instances the spark that kindled the flame originated 
 in the heart of some humble individual known only to God. 
 A great work has been achieved here. The history of a 
 congregation is interesting. At times it is pleasant and use- 
 ful to look back. But history assumes importance not so much 
 because of what it reveals of the past as that it points the 
 way to the future. The "secret spiritual history" cannot be 
 written. It must be lived. May we profit from the past and 
 under God's guidance move forward ! 
 
 Property adjacent to the Church was acquired in 1 949, 
 pointing toward expansion 
 
 118 
 
Ministers 
 
 Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, Illinois 
 
 ALFRED EDDY August 18, 1855 to Nov. 16, 1863 
 
 Called from Beloit, Wis. to organize the Church — first 
 known as the "New School Presbyterian Church of 
 Bloomington." In leaving accepted a pastorate at the 
 Olivet Presbyterian Church of Chicago. 
 At the Congregational meeting on September 23, 1861 
 Rev. Eddy requested leave of absence until he chooses to 
 return or during the war. Committee composed of A. C. 
 Washburn and John M. Scott reported that they had in- 
 vited Rev. G. R. Moore to come and he agreed to come 
 for 4 months at a salary of $60.00 per month. He moder- 
 ated meetings of Session from October 16, 1861 through 
 Feb. 2, 1862. Thereafter Mr. Eddy appears to have re- 
 turned to work with the Church. 
 
 JOHN W. BAILEY March 20, 1864 to Dec. 23, 1866 
 
 The call of March 20, 1864 was to Mr. Bailey in Knox 
 Presbytery. Minutes fail to show where Mr. Bailey went. 
 
 A. McDOUGAL Sept. 8, 1867 to Dec. 17, 1869 
 
 Minutes of Congregational meeting of July 1, 1867 ex- 
 tended unanimous call to Mr. A. McDougal for one year. 
 He entered upon his duties on September 8, 1867 and 
 continued until Dec. 17, 1869. 
 
 JOHN W. DINSMORE. . .June 3, 1870 to August 23, 1891 
 He was called from Prairie du Sac, Wis. Entered upon 
 his duties on July 10, 1870 and continued until August 
 23, 1891 when he moved to California and "wished it 
 distinctly understood that the health of his family was 
 the only reason for his resignation." 
 
 119 
 
W. P. KANE April, 1892 to May 2, 1898 
 
 Called from Lafayette, Indiana. The present edifice was 
 built during his ministry, dedication having been on Dec. 
 13, 1896. For two years he worked with the Winona edu- 
 cational program. Resigned from that organization to 
 become President of Wabash College, Crawfordsville, 
 Indiana. 
 
 HENRY K. DENLINGER. . . .April, 1899 to Jan. 14, 1906 
 He was called on Feb. 13, 1899, arrived in April, 1899. 
 Resigned on Dec. 3, 1905 having received a call from the 
 First Church of Newcastle, Pa., leaving Jan. 14, 1906. 
 
 FREDERICK W. HAWLEY. .Sept. 1906 to August 6, 1911 
 He was called from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Accepted 
 the call on June 22, 1906, arriving in September, 1906. 
 He resigned at the annual congregational meeting in 
 April, 1911 to accept a call as President of 'The Henry 
 Kendell College" of Tulsa, Okla. Last Church service 
 August 6, 1911. Later President of Park College. 
 
 J. N. ELLIOTT Nov. 5, 1911 to April 18, 1917 
 
 Called from Muscatine, Iowa by Congregational meeting 
 on September 18, 1911. Dr. Elliott's name first appears 
 in the Nov. 5, 1911 Session minutes expressing "his deep 
 appreciation of the hearty Christian ivelcome that had 
 been extended him and his family on this his first Sab- 
 bath as our pastor." Dr. Elliott resigned on Sunday 
 morning April 18, 1917 to accept a position as Superin- 
 tendent of Home Missions of the Synod of Illinois. 
 
 WILLIAM BLAKE HINDMAN 
 
 Sept. 17, 1917 to Dec. 1, 1921 
 
 June 20, 1917 call extended to Rev. Hindman of Worth- 
 ington, Ohio. He first appears in the Session minutes of 
 the meeting of Sept. 17, 1917. Call to the Presbyterian 
 Church of Aurora announced by Mr. Hindman at Ses- 
 sion meeting of October 31, 1921, to take effect Decem- 
 ber 1, 1921. 
 
 CHAS. T. BAILLIE May 24, 1922 to June 15, 1929 
 
 Call extended Mr. Baillie of Plattsburg, N. Y. on April 
 3, 1922. Mr. Baillie's name first appears as being present 
 
 120 
 
in Session minutes of May 24, 1922. Dr. Baillie last ap- 
 pears as being present at the meeting of June 11, 1929. 
 He resigned, effective June 15, 1929, to accept a call to 
 the Fullerton Avenue Presbyterian Church, Chicago. 
 
 HAROLD R. MARTIN. . . .May 15, 1930 — 
 
 Session minutes of March 31, 1930 note the acceptance 
 by Harold R. Martin of Gary, Indiana of call to service 
 in Bloomington, to begin May 15, 1930. He was installed 
 on May 28, 1930 and continues to serve here most ac- 
 ceptably. 
 
 Alfred Eddy, John W. Bailey and A. McDougal each 
 served as a stated supply. Dr. Dinsmore and those fol- 
 lowing him were installed as pastors. 
 
 121 
 
Board of Elders — Centennial Year 
 Mr. H. W. Stuber, Mr. William Griffin, Mr. Frederick Woodworth, Dr. Harold Martin, 
 Dr. R. A. Chrisman, Dr. Harold McGinnes, Dr. James Brown, Mr. P. A. Washburn, 
 Mr. Harry Riddle, Mr. Ben Arnold, Mr. William Munro, Mr. Roy Ramseyer, Mr. J. J. 
 Glass, Mr. George Wells. Absent: Mr. William Anderson, Mr. Douglass Laudeman, 
 Mr. Eugene Mosbacher, Mr. A. M. Murray, Mr. Leslie Park, Mr. E. C. Fullmer, Mr. 
 Donald Owen, Mr. Paul Snow 
 
 122 
 
Board of Trustees — Centennial Year 
 Mr. Delmar Fuller, Mr. Gene Paxton, Mr. Oscar Anderson, Mr. Robert Tate, Mr. Rob- 
 ert Spry, Mr. Everett Kent, Mr. J. M. Myers, Mr. Elias Rolley, Mr. L. L. Cox, Mr. Adlai 
 Rust, Mr. Russell Myers, Mr. Robert Bischoff, Mr. Martin Behrens, Mr. Max Orr, Mr. 
 Eugene Funk, Jr. Absent: Mr. John Wooledge, Mr. Harold Curry, Mr. Monroe Dodge 
 
 123 
 
Board of Deacons — Centennial Year 
 Miss Joan Straight, Mrs. Richard McLean, Mrs. Ed. Ringer, Miss Elizabeth Burnham, 
 Dr. John Wettaw, Mr. Millard Lloyd, Mr. Hayden Foster, Dr. Harold Martin, Mr. 
 Marion McClure, Mr. Meredith Nelson. Absent: Mrs. Robert Keener, Mr. Ben Sweitzer, 
 Mr. O. H. Bloodgood, Miss Pat Kimler, Mr. Charles Simpson, Mr. Robert Anthony, 
 Miss Catherine Graham, Mr. Charles King, Miss Geraldine Stewart 
 
 124 
 
II 1 
 
 rf 
 
 
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 1" 
 
 *!*■»{ « » 
 
 
 1* 
 
 
 Christian Education Building Committee 
 Mr. Louis Oblander, Mrs. Elias Rolley, Mrs. E. M. Evans, Miss Elizabeth Abraham, 
 Miss Gertrude Marquis, Mrs. Leroy Yolton, Dr. T. A. Rost, Dr. Harold R. Martin, Mr. 
 Eugene Funk, Mr. Adlai Rust, Mr. Robert McCormick, Mr. Everett Kent, Mr. Charles 
 Hamilton, Mr. Don Chism, Mr. Ralph Osborne, Mr. P. A. Washburn, Mr. Robert Tate, 
 Mr. Roy Ramseyer, Mr. William McKnight, Jr., Mr. Walton Isch, Mr. Dean Berenz. 
 Absent: Mrs. W. G. Ball, Mr. Henry Capen, Mr. George Davis, Mr. Ben Hiltabrand, 
 Jr., Mr. R. Douglass Laudeman, Mr. N. B. Morey, Mr. Russell Palmer, Mr. George Wells 
 
 125 
 
t 
 
 Ground is broken for the three-story Christian Education Building 
 that is to adjoin the Church to the east 
 
 I2f> 
 
A Christian Education Building was planned, designed and started building 
 in the Centennial Year — 1755 
 
 The cornerstone is set as Second Presbyterian Church begins its second 
 One Hundred Years 
 
 127