History of Linn County Iowa Part 82

Catholic--This church commenced holding meetings in Cedar Rapids in 1853. Rev. Fr. Hannah officiated here at monthly intervals until 1857, in which year the church was formally organized. Ma.s.s was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Emmons this same year in the home of Alexander Hager. When first services were held, 1853, there were but three adherents to the faith in town. The church edifice, 2450 feet, located at the south corner of Jackson and Market streets, was erected in 1857-8. Rev.

Emmons served three years and was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Gillespie, and he by Rev. Uhlenbrock. The fifth and present priest of this parish is Rev. Fr. Cannon. The congregation now has about 300 members, most of whom live in the surrounding country. Last year (1863) a mission was conducted by Rev. Father Weniger.

Episcopal--The organization of this church took place in 1851, with but ten members. James Keeler was the first rector, then followed Revs. C.

C. Townsend, Samuel Goodale, Samuel Starr, William Fulton and C. S.

Percival, the present pastor. The corner stone of this church was laid by Bishop Kemper in 1851, and was consecrated in 1856. It now has about 80 members and the Sabbath school over 100 attendants. The church building is situated on the south side of Linn street, between Madison and Monroe streets. The exterior is not yet completed according to original designs.

Baptist--The present church was organized by Rev. W. Eberhart, the first settled pastor, June 3, 1860, with a members.h.i.+p of twenty-eight.

He continued in charge until November, 1861, resigning to take chaplaincy in the Twelfth Iowa Infantry Volunteers. Rev. N. F. Ravlin followed and remained with the church until April of this year (1864).

The society is at present without a pastor. The congregation now numbers nearly 140 and the Sabbath school has about 100 attendants. The society has no church edifice but has purchased a lot on Eagle street and will build soon.

In addition to these there are scattering members of other religious denominations, among which are Universalists, Christians, Lutherans, New Jerusalem adherents, Spiritualists, and perhaps some others are represented. None of the church edifices are of the first cla.s.s. In fact each society is too feeble to erect a church creditable to the city. We might hope for a more perfect Christian union and with that would come the ability to sustain a sufficient number of churches, without the necessity of appealing for foreign aid to enable them to drag along an existence of doubtful value.

ESTABLISHMENT OF LODGES

Masonic--The Masonic lodge was inst.i.tuted in November, 1850, by a warrant of dispensation from Grand Master McCord, and its charter was issued June 4, 1851, being the twenty-fifth lodge of that fraternity organized in Iowa. George Greene was the first Wors.h.i.+pful Master; John Vardy, Senior Warden; Isaac Cook, Junior Warden; Thomas Downing, Treasurer; N. B. Brown, Secretary; Stephen L. Pollock, Senior Deacon; J. H. Kelsey, Junior Deacon, and Samuel Hook, Tyler. Seymour D.

Carpenter was the first person made a Mason in this lodge. The following have been Masters to this date: James Keeler, Thomas Downing, John Vardy, Hiram Deem, S. L. Pollock, Jacob H. Camburn, and James L.

Enos. James C. Adams is the present Master. The lodge numbers about 75 members and has the reputation of being one of the best working bodies of Masonry in the state. It was first organized as Cedar Rapids lodge, but has changed its name, being now known as Crescent lodge No. 25.

Odd Fellows--A lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was inst.i.tuted December 28, 1850, about a month after the Masonic lodge was organized. It was known as Hope lodge No. 30. It continued its existence until some time during 1860, when it became defunct. The original charter members were George Greene, John F. Ely, Absalom Sines, Joseph Greene and John H. Kelsey. Those who have been honored with election to office of n.o.ble Grand in this lodge are: George Greene, Absalom Sines, John P. Ely, W. W. Smith, Joseph Greene, F. A.

Wilmans, L. H. Keyes, Homer Bishop, D. M. McIntosh, Hiram Deem, Charles Weare, Samuel Milligan, George Livensbarger and C. Fordyce. At one time the lodge was in a flouris.h.i.+ng condition, but through some unfortunate circ.u.mstances it declined, and finally surrendered its charter.

Various minor orders (Good Templars, Sons of Temperance, etc.) have had a temporary existence in the city from time to time, but none of these now have a local being.

LATER SKETCH OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CHURCHES

The following extracts are from an address on Church Day delivered by Rev. C. W. Maggart, D. D., during the semi-centennial celebration in Cedar Rapids, June, 1906:

Without doubt the first church organization was the St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal. The Rev. John Hodges preached here as early as 1840, but it was not until 1841 that the "cla.s.s" was organized with twelve people, one of whom, Mrs. John Listebarger, is yet living and with us today.

This church was organized in the log cabin of Mr. and Mrs. J.

Listebarger on the west side of the river near the west end of the B avenue bridge. Service was later continued in the first building in town, in which lived Thomas Sharp. At the time of the incorporation of Cedar Rapids this church had 148 members and their own little brick church, built in 1854, and located where the union station now stands.

This church has had thirty-six pastors. Its present church was built in 1873 and is valued at $30,000.00. The number of members is 669.

The second church organized was the First Presbyterian, on July 12, 1847, with nine members, with the Rev. Williston Jones as the first regular pastor.

The first church building to be erected in the town was the "Little Muddy" church, which was on the postoffice site, 2640 feet, and cost $1,200.00. It was dedicated January 12, 1851.

Fifty years ago this church had sixty-seven members. Prior to the organization of this church a union Sunday school was held in the first frame building in the town, in the cabinet shop of John Vardy. This church has had five pastors, was built in 1869, and has property valued at $70,000. It has 477 members.

The Grace Episcopal church was the third church organized in the town.

The organization took place in the school house in the summer of 1850.

The first rector was the Rev. James Keeler. These services were later held in Tisdale's carriage factory. The upper floor was sometimes used for grain storage, and as it would drop through the cracks it would attract the attention of the porkers, which would frequently disturb the meetings with responses not found in the litany. At other times the upper story was inhabited and frequently the service would be carried on to the music of the nurse and cradle above. A great interest was taken in this church when Mr. S. C. Bever and family arrived from the east with a 750-pound bell. But a still greater interest was manifested when Judge Greene presented the church with a melodeon. In 1856 this church had thirty-six members. Today it has 505 members, has property valued at $100,000.00, and has been served by thirteen rectors.

The fourth church organized was the United Presbyterian, on April 19, 1851, with eleven members; and the first pastor was the Rev. Hugh Sturgeon. This is the oldest church now in existence on the west side of the river. Fifty years ago they had about fifty members. Today they have 225 members, property valued at $20,000.00 and have been served by six pastors.

The fifth church was the Second Presbyterian, now Westminster, which was known as the old school Presbyterian church and was organized May 27, 1855, with twenty members. Its first minister was the Rev. R. H.

Morrow. Their first building was located on the east side of Adams street, between Market and Sugar, and the princ.i.p.al thing mentioned by former church historians was that they had a bell weighing 800 pounds and their music was led by a cottage organ. Fifty years ago they reported fifty members. They report today 500 members, with a property valued at $60,000.00, and have been served by twelve pastors. Their present church was built in 1905.

It seems that the First U. B. church was organized in 1855 in the Dairy Dale district, which was probably then in the country. Rev. McWilliams was the pastor. They had thirty-five members at the time the city was incorporated. This church, however, later, went down for some years and was afterwards reorganized. They have today 260 members, church property valued at $25,000.00 and have been served by fifteen pastors.

Their present church was erected in 1879.

The Baptist and Congregational denominations had organizations on the west side prior to 1856 but both were too weak to live.

During the first decade of the city's history two more churches were started, viz., the Roman Catholic and First Baptist. Fathers Hanna and Emmons of Iowa City held services for some time before organization and they only had three adherents. This shows pluck and faith and devotion to their own church. The church was organized in 1857 and Father Gillespie was the first regular pastor. This church has had five pastors. Their present church was built in 1870 and is valued at $40,000.00. They report 1,500 members.

The First Baptist church was organized in Franklin hall, above Kilborn's gallery, on June 3, 1860, with twenty-seven members. Rev. A.

G. Eberhart was the first pastor. They purchased a lot on Eagle street, where their first church was built. Their present church was built in 1894 and is valued at $50,000.00. They have had fifteen pastors and have now 365 members.

The next decade four or five organizations came into existence. The first Lutheran services were held in the winter of 1855-56 and an organization was formally effected in the First Presbyterian church, on March 3, 1856, with about twenty-two members, under Rev. H. F. Ealy, minister, who walked from Iowa City to preach to the scattered Lutherans. Services were irregularly held by Revs. H. F. Ealy, Solomon Ritz, of Tipton, and J. G. Schaffer, of Lisbon, until 1868, when the organization was re-formed in the home of J. A. Hart, 211 Fifth avenue, with thirty members under the Rev. Cephas Baird as regular pastor.

The first church was built on the lot now occupied by the Cedar Rapids Savings bank, Third avenue and Third street, but this congregation refused to permanently locate there on such an expensive lot, which was then worth $300.00. This church has now 368 members and has been served by eight pastors. The present church was erected in 1881 and is valued at $20,000.00. A new church costing $35,000.00 is now in course of erection on the corner of Third avenue and Tenth street. It will be occupied early in 1911.

The Universalist society was organized in 1869 and the first pastor was the Rev. W. C. Brooks. For nearly seven years their services were held in a hall. Their present church was built in 1875 and has been served by eight pastors. They have approximately 100 members and property valued at $16,000.00.

The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1870, and the first pastor was the Rev. J. W. Lewis. They have had sixteen pastors and have now seventy-nine members. Their church was built in 1874 and is valued at $5,000.00.

In 1874 St. Wenceslaus church was organized and its first pastor was the Rev. Francis Chmelar. They began with a church family of sixty.

They have now 1,200 members, a church property erected in 1904 valued at $50,000.00, and have been served by five pastors.

On July 1, 1874, the Second United Presbyterian church was organized with the Rev. W. J. McCallister as minister. It continued in existence for about twenty-four years and its property is being used today by Suns.h.i.+ne Mission.

The First Christian church was organized August 1, 1875, with thirty-four charter members. Its first pastor was the Rev. N. A.

McConnell. Since the organization there have been eight pastors. The present church was built in 1882 and its value is placed at $15,000.00, although the original cost was $22,000.00. They have a members.h.i.+p of 350.

The Second United Brethren church was organized in January, 1876, under the Rev. Father Bookwalter, and did good work for a number of years, but has ceased to exist.

The German Evangelical church was organized April 30, 1877, and its first pastor was the Rev. C. C. Pfund. They have had twelve pastors and have now sixty members. Their church was built in 1888 and they have property valued at $12,000.00.

The Free Methodist church was organized in 1877 and they have had eighteen pastors. The first pastor was Rev. W. C. Thompson. Their church was built in 1878, is valued at $4,000.00, and they have forty-seven members.

The First Congregational church was organized on May 13, 1879, and its first pastor was the Rev. A. T. Reed. They have had seven pastors and have now 350 members. Their present church was built in 1889 and their property valuation is placed at $35,000.00.

The Zion Evangelical church came into being February, 1880, through the work of Rev. Ilion. The Rev. J. E. Stauffacher was the first regular pastor. They have had nine pastors and have now 175 members. Their church was built in 1905 and is valued at $23,000.00.

The German Lutheran church was organized August 24, 1884, with twenty charter members. Revs. Studt from Luzerne and Aron from Atkins, Iowa, preached for nearly one year on alternate Sundays when the Rev. J.

Denckmann, its present pastor, became the first regular pastor. They have a members.h.i.+p of 350 and a church property valued at $10,000.00.

The Swedish Lutheran church was organized November 8, 1885, and its first pastor was the Rev. C. E. Cesander. They have had six pastors and have now fifty-four communicants. The present church was built in 1891 and they have property valued at $10,000.00.

St. Patrick's church was organized April 18, 1886, with twenty-eight members. The Rev. T. F. Richardson was the first pastor. This church has had but three pastors. Its present church was erected in 1892 and the value of their property is $50,000.00. They report at present 1,000 members.

In the decade 1886-1896 the first church organization was that of Trinity Methodist Episcopal in 1887, with the Rev. Frank P. Shaffer as first pastor. The present church was built in 1890, and the value of all property held by this society is estimated at $20,000.00. They have 450 members and have been served by seven pastors.

Sinclair Memorial Presbyterian church was a growth out of a Sunday school fostered by Mr. T. M. Sinclair. Its organization was effected October 14, 1887, and its first pastor was the Rev. Alfred K. Bates.

They have had four pastors and now enroll 215 members. Their present church was built in 1902, the gift of Mrs. T. M. Sinclair, and is valued at $30,000.00.

The Bohemian Presbyterian church was organized in 1889. Its first and only pastor was and is the Rev. V. Hlavaty. They have now 257 members.