Washington County, Ohio - Chapter 14: History of the Churches, 1902 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 14: History of the Churches

Report to the Ministerial Trustees - Baptist Churches - St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church - The Central Christian Church - The Christian Union Church - Congregational Churches - St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church - St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church - Methodist Episcopal Churches - The African Methodist Episcopal Church - The Wesleyan Methodist Church - The First Presbyterian Church - The First Unitarian Society in Marietta - The Universalist Society - The First United Brethren Church.

The following report presented to the "Ministerial Trustees," of Marietta, township (Dr. George O. Hildreth, J. P.Ward and W.A. Patterson) October 7, 1901, shows the numiber of church members o\'er 12 years of age who reside within the township. In the distribution of the "M!inisterial Fund," mem'bers who do not reside in the township are, according to law, not to be counted.

Was organized on the 5th day of September, 1818, under the name of "The First Baptist Church in Marietta Township." The first record on the Church Book reads thus : "On Saturday, the 5thi day of Septeirjlj-er, A. D. 181S. we, Epbraim Emerson, \Villiam Churchill, John Thorniley, Bain Posey and Maiy Case, met in the easterly part of Marietta, and formed ourselves into a church by suljscribing to the fo'llowing articles of Faith and Covenant."

meeting, together witli Simon ]\]1er\vin. Phebe JNJerwin and Anna Bivrnham, wlio became meiribers in October following. Then follow the rules of the order, and the next record is on tlie day following, Septemlber 6 :

"On the Lord"s Daj-, SqjtenAer 6th, i8i8, we received the right hand of fellowship of the. Baptist Church of Ghrist in Parkersburg'h, Va., at which time Elder MtAboy preached and broke bread to the church."

For a numiber of }-ears the membership was scattered over a good deal of territorj', along the Ohio on both sides, along the Muskingums, &c., from Newport to Cat's Creek; and. as the church had no house of worship, its meetings were held in the houses of members, "in the school house at the mouth of the Little I\Iuskingun\," "in the school house up the Little Muskingumii" "in the meeting house below the mouth of the Little Muskingum," at Lower and Upper Newi>ort, "in the Dye Settlement," and at Cat's Creek.

In Marietta for some time there were fev>' members ; and, though a center of territor}-, no mjeeting wlas held here for several years after the constitution of the church.

' The first record of a church meeting in town is dated May 24, 1823, Caleb Emerson and wife and others ha\'ing become members. Alfter that, meetings were quite frequent in to\\in, generally for son-ie time, at the house oif C. Emerson.

In the meantime, and subsequently, tlie n^embership continued to increase in all the branches, and the several branches were acquiring sufficiait strength and numljers for separate and distinct churches.

The first pastor, as we ha\'e seen, was Rev. James Mc.'\lboy, who began his labors for the church with its first origin - preached the first sermon, and administered the first communion. During his connection with the church there were frequait accessions, by letter and by baptism! ; and the number of members was greatly increased. He ^^-as the pastor for seven years. On the 19th of Xo\-em'ber, 1825. he

At the same meeting an invitation was given to Rev. Jeremiah Dtile. who had already been laboring successfully within the territory occupied by the church, to assume the pastoral charge. He accepted the call and sustained the relation until his death. He was a man of fer\-ent spirit, devoted indefatigably to his work ; and his labors were greatly blessed in each branch of the church, as well as in other places where he preached, on both sides of the Ohio. During his ministr}' the church was in an almost continual state of revival. He was pastor for about six years, and died on the 4th of September, 183 1, in Danvers, Massachusetts, his native place, whither he had gone on account of his waning health.

Soon after this sad event. Rev. Alfred Dana was chosen pastor. He ser\-ed fcu" about two years, during which period quite a number were added to the church.

The name of Rev. Allen Darrow appears first in the minutes, under date of January 18, 1834. He took up his residence in Marietta, and commenced preaching here regularly. On the 22d of February, following the last date, it was "Resolved, That it was expedient to hold church meetings here [in JNIarietta] as a branch of the JNIarietta Ciiurch. once in every m'onth."

Rev. ]\Ir. Darrow, having accepted the pastoral charge, applied himself to the interest of the church with characteristic energ}' and activity. At first the meetings were held "in the old," and "in the new Court House," "in the Library Hall," &c. But a building committee w'as, soon after, appointed, and measlU'es taken to erect a house of worship. And by the persevering eft'orts of the pastor, the house on Church street was finished, and opened for worship in April. 1836. That house the church occupied until it was destroyed by fire in 1855. The present edifice on Putnam street, which was already in process of erection when the other was burned, was occupied in the same year. I port Church \\?.s cijiistitutecl, and took charge of t'.iat churcli. His faithful labors at M'arietta, at Newport, and throughout the wide field, were owned by the Master. Large accessions, especially at Newport, were made to the niembership.

During the year 1837 letters of dismission to members applying were voted for forming out of the mem'liership three new churches, Little Muskingum, Newport, and one in Wood County, Virginia. The Cat's Greek branch had been dismissed, on aoolication, to form the Adams Church, in 183J.

Rev. Hiram Geair, the next pastor, was chosen by the church in January, 1838. From that time the church enjoyed regular preaching every Lord's Day. LTnder his faithful labors and judicious conduct, the church prospered, and was increased in numhers and inrtuence, and vvas instructed and confirmed in the doctrines of the Ciospel. No minister was e\-er more beloved by his people; and by his kind temper, liis friendly manner and his Christian deportment in all his intercourse, he Won the favor of all the citizens. He died on the 20th of February, 1843. -^ monument standing in the cemetery, erected by the citizens, testifies to their regard for him.

He was succeeded by Re\-. Eljer Crane, w!ho ministered faithfully to the church a little over a year, and resigned August 7, 1844. On the' i6th of October, 1844, Rev. Ira Corwin was called to the pastoral charge. He labored sitccessfully with the church for over eight years. During the whole period the church was edified, and at peace, and enjoyed a g"Ood degree of spiritual prosperity, and was steadily increased in its numbers. His resignation was reluctantly accepted; not until a committee had asked him to withdraw it, December 8, 1852. Under his pastorate a Young People's m,eeting was organized, which has existed ever since. It is now in the form of a Christian Endeavor Society.

In the next September the church obtained the services of Rev. J. P. Agenbroad. He was ordained by a council called by the JNIarietta Church, and held his first pastorate here. He preached with acceptance to the church for

Rev. L. G. Leonard entered upon the pastorate in Sqitember, 1855. Tokens of refreshing attended immediately upon his ministration ; and during the following winter occurred the great revival of 1856, the greatest the church had ever enjoyed, and, indeed, that Marietta had e\-er witnessed. Its influence was felt all through the community ; converts were multiplied ; and the blessed results will be seen, in their full extent, only in eternity. By his devotion and faithfulness to his charge, he gained the hearts of all his people; and by his gentleness and afifability of a Christian spirit, he won the confidence and esteem of "those without." 'He sustained his relation to the church for nearly eight years, and resigned on the 15th of Alay, 1863.

During his pastorate the church enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity. Som/e of its most efiicient members were brought in.; and the membership ^\'as more than doubled ; and the church took a new position, with greatly iricreased influence in the community.

Rev. I. N. Carman became pastor in 1864. He remained with the church until 1868, when he resigned on account of ill health. Mr. Carman w'as a very successful pastor and a preacher of much ability. His ministry was one full of good fruits. He was highly esteemed by the community, as well as by the church.

Rev. Marsena Stone, D. D., began his pastorate December i, 1869, and continued with the church for four years. Dr. Stone was an able man. As a preacher he was logical and clear to a marked degree. In 1873 he resigned to enter upon the work of "Freedman Education" in training ministers.

Rev. J. W. Riddle became pastor in 1874. In February of that year he was oi-dained by a council oall'ed by the church. Under his niiinistry of five years there were many accessions to the church.

b'Ut dill not tVirnially enter upon the pastorate until Alay i, 1S79. His pastorate was over a church in which his whole life had been spent. He continued for upward of 20 years. There were many seasons O'f notable revivals. There were accessions by baptism during the pastoirate. Some Si, 800 was spent in church repairs. Dr. Gear closed his pastorate July i, 1899.

Re\-. L. Kirtley, D. D., became pastor in November, 1899, and still occupies that position. His pastorate has been eminently successful. The congregations are large, and the membership of the church has increased by baptism and by letter, until now it numbers considerably over 500. Recently there has been erected a fine chapel in Norwood, at an expense of some $'2, 500.

Out of the five members who constituted the first church have grown six churches, and the original five constituent members have increased more than one hundred fold in the jNIarietta Church alone.

On Sunday, July 2/, 1902, the new Baptist Chapel in Norwood was formally dedicated under the auspices of the mother clun-ch, of which Rev. L. Ku'tley is pastor. The comjiletion of the building, which Sunday's service signalized, is the ou'.come of the zeal of tie Norwood Bible Sdiool.

The new chapel is located on the corner of Poplar and Oakwood avenues, is brick veneered, ^^ by 50 feet in size and will seat 330 people. The furnishings are in light wood, and the ceilings of steel, the interior of the building being light and cheerful and exceedingly tasteful. It can be divided into- two rooms, for Sunday-school use, the larger of the two being made 35 feet square, while the smlaller room is to be used for the primary department.

Like all things else in this life, the NoiAvood Bible School had a beginning. This beginning assumed tangible form November 11, 1900, and has now passed into history, which if chronicled in detail would read something like this : "On Sunday afternoon, Novenfber II, A. D. 1900, a company of seventy-four persons met in what is known as the Fultonburg school liouse in the easterly end of the city of ^Marietta, Ohio, for the purpose of organizing a Bible school. Some oif these were earnest Christian men and women fronn the First Baptist Church in the city ; others were rqjresentatives from the homes in the immediate vicinity of the school house. Harry Cogswell was chosen superintendait ; H. L>. Babson, assistant superintendent : Miss Emma Wilson, secretary; Miss Elizabeth Johnson, superintendent of the primary department; Miss Bernice IMason was put in charge of the junior department, and of the music ; and after a few Sundays Enoch Johnson was secured as teacher of the Bible class. Great interest was manifested in 'the school and the attendance increased until on Sunday afternoon, December 9, the school numbered 115."

(By George K. Gear, D. D.) There is always a great interest clustering about the beginnings of any institution that has been to hunianity a source of blessing. The beginning of cur national life; the beginning of our Constitution ; the beginning of the settlement of the great Northwest - we all know how deep is the interest we feel in such events. As Baptist churches, associates together in what is known as Alarietta Association, we feel a deqj interest in the beginning of our associational history. Having come to the 75th vear of our age, it is fitting to glance backward and inquire of the past.

It was in the delightful month of Juile, 1823. that delegates from six Baptist churches met w ith the Bristol Church in :\Iorgan Comity to consider the matter of forming a Baptist Association. What church was it that proposed that meeting? Who were the men and womlen who took the initiati\-e in the matter? These questions we cannot answer. Much of interesting history is unwritten. We see clearly effects, but cannot always discern the causes. That there was an association fonned at Bristol we know, and the names of the seven churches that constituted tiie union have come down tO' us. They were : Zanesville, Marietta, Cambridge, Brookfield. Bristol, Salt Creek, and Salem township I now Adamsville). These churches were young in years. The oldest was Salt Creek, a child of 13 years. JMlarietta was seven years old ; Zanes\-ille, four ; Camlbridge, two; Brookfield, one. The se\'en ^\'ere also \\leak in num'bers. Their combined membership was only 350. But they were strong in faith, and strong in purpose. They were not confined in their sympathies, and not content to be shut up in themselves. Tliey sought fellowship in the work O'f the Lord. Xor were they content to have that fellowship confined merely to associational bounds. When the Association was less than one year old, a call canii^ for a State gathering of Baptists at Zanesville, at which the Ohio Baptist Convention was organized. At that first meeting three of the new churches were present by delegates, and a fonrth, Marietta, had a delegate appointed, who failed to be present only because the day^ of meeting was mistaken. So practically four of these young churches became constituent miembers of the new mlissionary organization. The horizon of responsibility was no narrow one.

Attending the Associations was no easy matter in those early days. The world had no knoAvledge of such a thing as railroads. On the Ohio there \\-ere a fe\\- steamboats, but none on the Mbskingum, for it was not then a navigable stream. Roads were rough, and out of the beaten lines of travel scarcely more than openings through the woods. Much of the country w'as a wilderness. Delegates usually camje on horseback. Some who were not fa- ^'ored enough to own a horse, and, too poor to hire one, walked, sometimes 50 miles, so eager were they to attend the Association. Those were days when men were not afraid to make sacrifices to be present at the annual gathering. A little more of like interest upon the part of the miemlbers of our churches of to-day would much increase the interest in our associational meetings.

The new Association formed at Bristol was called Meigs Creek. This name was givai it because Meigs Creek, which rises in the upper part of Morgan County, and empties into the Muskingaim near Beverly, was nearly a central line between the chin-ches. Bristol Church was on Meigs Creek. For 46 years the name continued. Like most names it suiwived many years after it ceased to have any appropriateness. In 1 87 1 the name was changed to Marietta, which it has borne ever since.

There were five ministers present at the organization of the Association : George Sedgwick. \\'illiam Sedgwick, \\'illiam Spencer, William Rees and Jeremiah Dale. Long since they all passed to the General Association above. The last one died in 1871. At the 50th anniversary held with the New Harmony Church there \\-as but one survivor of the constituent members - Deacon David Greer, of Brookfield.

The new Association grew rapidly in its earlier years. New churches were added nearly every year, and the boundaries of the Association were considerably enlarged. Woodsfield and Coshocton were among the new churches. In 10 years the original seven churches had become 30, and the membership had increased from; 350 to 1,502. The field so widened that in 1839 a division was made and the Wills Creek Association - now Cambridge - was formed. The number of churches wias then 39, and 19 of them were dismissed to form the new Association. Other divisions came later, and churches were dismissed to Coshocton and Zanesville associations. Our Association bounds have so narrowed that now we have no churches in Morgan or Muskingum counties, where formerly some of the best churches were found.

The Association originally met on Saturday and continued o\-er the following Monday. Sunday ^^-as the great day. Great crowds gathered from every quarter. There "was preaching morning, afternoon and evenin,g. Certain evils, however, grew up in connection with the Sunday services, such as led, in 1865, to a change of time. Ever since the meetings iiave been near the middle of the week. 1

The total number of churches that have been connected w'ith the Association from its beginning up to the present time is 89. Many of them liave been dismissed to other associations. Several of the number have ceased to exist. One of these is the Bristol Church, where the organization meeting was held. Some of the dead churches have had but a brief life; for example, Belpre rqjorted but one year. We have never gained any permanent foothold in that part of Washington Coun ty west of the Muskingum Ri\'er. At one time there were churches rqDOrting at Wesley, Watertown and Belpre, but all of them seemed to have a feeble life. We ha\-e but one small church in the extreme western part of the county, Little Hocking, organized a few years ago. Within the last 25 years Beverly, Bethesda, Corinth, Cow Run and Hockingport have become extinct. We know not all the causes that have brought about this loss. Doubtless in somf; cases it is due to the decay of the communities, or to the shifting of population. In some cases the church was organized unwisely. Be the cause what it may, it is always a sad thing to be compelled to furl our Baptist flagwhere once it has waved. Expansion, and not contraction, is the true order of church life.

It would be impossible in the limits assigned to this paper to give anything like a history of the individual churches. Some of than, such as Marietta, Zanesville and ]\IcConnellsville, because larger in numlbers and stronger financially, and centers of influence, ha\'e occupied more prominent parts in associational life. Marietta furnished an efficient moderator in the person of Judge T. \\\ Ewart, wllioi held that office for a quarter oif a centur\-. McConnellsville for nearly an equal period gave us a treasurer in the person O'f Charles H. Barker. Both of these men have rested from their labors. Brother Barker having survived imtil Januan,-, 1899. Marietta is now the only city church in the Association. It has been a m/other of churches, seven others having spnmg from it. It is growing in numbers and in influence, and in spiritual power, under its faithful and efficient pastor. Dr. L. Kirtlev.

Sunday-schools were early encouraged. In 1827 a circular letter was written by Rev. William Sedgwick. It contains these words : "Tlie great utilit}- of Sunday-schools xtxy few at the present da}- doubt. Tlie sweet showers O'f descending grace on so many Sundayschools proclaim the approbation of Heaven. We sincerely hope that all will take great pains in forwarding their introduction into every neighborhood." In 1834 the churches w'ere called upon to reiwrt their Sunday-school work. Next year Marietta reported 10 schools wlith 400 scholars. Reports, however, were at first imperfect and incomplete, and were not embodied in the table of statistics until 1843. It was felt that some organization was needed to a.rouse niore general interest in the work. In 1857 a Sabbath School Convention was organized at Zanesville. For many years the convention met the day before the Association. In 1874 the plan of making the Bible school wlork a department of the work of the Assocition was adopted. That plan has continued ever since.

There were many efficient Sunday-school workers in those early days. A prince among them; was T. \\''. Ewart, wlio for 40 years was superintendent of the Marietta Sunday-school. He visited the diff^erent churches and neighlx>rhoods, and helped in organizing many new schools. He was full of aithusiasm and energy and was a very efficient talker on Sundayschool topics.

Sunday-school Institutes ha\"e been one way of stirring up interest, and promoting greater efficiency in the \\ork. These Institutes have been conducted by a Sunday-school Board appointed by the Association. They have been in the past very helpful. At many of these Institutes \-ery efficient aid \\-'a? gi\-en by the State Missionarv Secretary, Charles Rboads, appointed by the Publication Society.

iMarietta Association has always had an active interest in ever\- form of mission work. I have already alluded to the fact that the Association wlas less than a vear old a ma- jority of the churches forming it hatl a part in the organization of the Ohio Baptist Con- A^ention, whose oljject was to promote missions in the State. In 1827 resokitions were adopted reconhnjenihng foreign missions, especially the work in Bunrtah and among the Chinese in Siam. Five years later Rex. Allen Darrow carried to the Triennial Missionary Convention, meeting in New York, an ofifering of $100, of w>hich $50 \\1as from Marietta baptist Association. He traveled in his own carriage, w'hich A\as then the only way of communication. The journey txcupied two weeks. Mr. Darrow handed the money to the president of the Convention, Dr. Herman Lincoln, in a $100 bill. Dr. Lincoln waved the note before the audience, exclaiming: "This is the first sheaf from Ohio." Thank God that first sheaf proved the forerunner of many bountiful harvests for missions in this Ohio field.

The wider fields of mission labor - State, national and foreign, have not been cultivated to the neglect of associational needs. At different periods there have been special _ efforts to assist and build up the weaker churches. In 1855 Rev. J. H. Barker was appointed Associational JMissionary at a salary of $500, of which $200 was con^tributed by the othor churches. In 1880 Rev. J. L. VVyly was appointed a missionar}^ in co-operatioii with the State Convention. Such special missionary W'Ork has alternated with the plan of giving assistance to individual churches in the support of a pastor. The latter plan has been the more comlmon one. The axerage yearly amount spent for associational missions from 1855 to 1875 was $235. Since 1877 the average amount has been nearh- $150. The aggregate sum spent in 43 years is $9,717.

The question miay be asked, "What are the results ? What have we to show for this large expenditure?" It may be truthfully said that we cannot know all'the results. There is history of this work that is written only in the Lamib's Book of Life. How many souls have been led to Christ? How many brethren have been cheered and .encouraged and helped to a better life no one can tell. As regards particular churches we may point to Valley and Caldwell as showing part of the permanent results. One thing is certain : No earnest work attemt^ted for Christ's sake ever falls fruitless. Results may not meet ow anticipations, but the labor is not in A-ain.

There is no class of men who have so n-Juch to do with shaping associational life as do the ministers of the Gospel. If they are in the main broad-niinded, intelligent, self-sacrificing; wise in planning and active in execution ; if they be godly in life and discreet in deportment, and unblemished in character; then will the associational life take on many of the same features. Marietta Association has had in its 75 years of history many such miinisters. In the early life the name of Jeremiah Dale is one that is remembered because of his ren>arkably devoted and efficient pioneer work. The two Sedgwicks were men of promnence in early Ohio Baptist history. Allen Darrow) is another name remembered for his works' sake. He wtis a nian of much force of character, and of indomitaljle energy. He was closely associated with my father, Hiram Gear, who died in Marietta in 1843. J. D. Riley was probably longer in point of service than any other paster in the Association. About 43 years he filled with different pastorates. He was a true servant: of Christ and loved to preach His Gospel. Henry Lyons also had a long period of service. Father Pearce was for many years a prominent factor in associational nistory. Other names Oif prominence in days past were Hervey Dale, son of Jeremiah Dale, B. Y. Siegfried, L. G. Leonard, J. D. Leonard, S. G. Dawscn, first pastor of the Valley Cluu-ch, and afterward superintendent of State niissicjus, T. C. Johnson, L. B. Moore, W. N. Wyeth, C. H. Gunter, Nathan Crooks, and many others whom, there is not time tO' mention. Of these who long have been connected with our Association, and who survive to the presait day are brethren E'. W. Daniels and Watson Dana. Brother A. K. ]\IcCall Iras also spent much of his ministerial life in this Association. In the semi-centennial year there were 16 ordained ministers in the Association. Of that numlber only two are memibers of the Association todav, the venerable father William McPeak, and

Watson Dana. ]\fore than halt of the numl^er are dead. One of tliat i6 was J. S. Covert, who wrote the historical review of the tirst 50 years. To his carefully prepared paper, printed in the minutes of that year, I am indebted for many of the facts of oar early history.

Many laymen have there heen who were wise in planning, liberal in gifts, and forem.ost in every good work. There will readily occur such nan-jes as Ephraim Emerson, Caleb Emerson, Joseph Barker, Deacon Ira Hill. Thomas W. Ewurt, Luther D. Barker, Charles Barker. W. P. Sprague, Stephen Dana, George W. Dye. John Pool, J. M. Amos, Tohn Miller, and I.'K. Asdkins.

This is by no m.eans a full list. Others w!ill probahly come to the minds of the older ones, who have done good ser\ice in years past, as well as inany who are still active in every good work.

In 1843 ^ young man about 18 years of age was present as a delegate from the Zanesville Church. His name was William' Aslimore. In i860, 17 years later, he was again present, but not as a delegate. He was just home from China on a \'acatioai tour. A few months ago some of us had the privilege of hearing this same Dr. Ashmore at the missionarv conference in Parkersburg. Doubtless no one expected in 1843 that the young man who sat with them v^ould become so widely famous in connection with the Lord's work in China.

One of the most prominent features of moilern church life is the greater activity of the yi >ung people in church work. It has doubtless alwa\s been true that th.e younger members of the church ha\'e had some share in church activities. But the proportion of cliildren and young people was not so great in our earlier history as it is now. Early conversions were rather the excqition. And yet some of the early pastors learned to see wisely in this matter. Rev. Ira Corwiin, who was pastor O'f the Marietta Church from 1844 to 1852, received into the church so many young people that he felt the need of some special service for their development. He organized a Young People's prayer meeting, which has continued in the { ^Marietta Church for about 54 years. The or- I ganization of the young people into a Society of Christian Endeavor came much later. So- I cieties of young people were organized in other churches oi the Association. The thought of an associational Young People's Union soon engaged attention. In 1891, the youngpeople a-kcd tlie approval of the Association for such a Ciiirm. It was cordially and unanimously given. The Union was organized during- the same session at Lower Salem. Tlie [ name a,cVopted was "The Yoiung People's Union of the M'arietta Baptist Association." The first ofticers wiere : Fred Fisher, president; ^Miss Eva Hill, vice-president; J. Ernest Hutchings, secretary and treasurer; Miss Selina Pearce, corresponding secretary. In the Association program of that year a place had been given to the tojiic "Young Ptople's Societies," which was discussed under three heads : "Their Relation to the Church," by the pastor of the Marietta Church; "What' Should Be Their Aim)," by the nnich lamented E.. U. Snhth; "What 'Can They Do for Missions?" by Fred Fisher.

The first statistical report appears in the minutes of 18912. There were six societies with a total membership of 252. ' That the voung people felt some special responsibility in the line of missions is shown in their offerings, which amounted to $119. The statistics of 1899 give the present number of societies as nine, with a membership of 356. The mission offerings were $126. j So far the Young People's Societies lia\'e proved a valuable feature in church work. It would seem as if they had come tO' stay. Conducted wisely, they are a great help to the pastor. With right church and pastoral encouragemjent, oversight and direction, they can do much to help in the cause of Christ.

Olrganization is the characteristic of the age. It is a day of many societies of all sorts, and for a great variety of purposes. We have seen the young people forming a special associational organization in 1891. It was many vears earlier than this that the women of the Association began to band themselves together in mjission circles. The importance of the work wlas early recognized. At the semi-centennial meeting in 1875 there was offered by T. W. Ewart the following- resolution, \\lhich was unanimously adopted : "Wc hail the Woman's Missionary Societ}", the object and work of which has been presented to the Association today, as an important field opened before the wlomen O'f this Association for usefulness, and cordially recontaend the organization, if possible, in each of the churches of this Association of a Woman's Missionary Circle, auxiliary to the Woman's Society of the West." Mrs. Riddle, Mrs. Ewart and Mrs. Stone were appointed a committee to take the matter in charge. In the minutes of 1879, °^ -^^^ meeting held at Lower Salem, appears the first report of circles. McConnellsville, Marietta, Valley and Good Hope reported organizations. The mission offerings of these circles was $62.16. Ever since, women's work for missions has has a place in the associational program and in the statistical tables. The number of women's circles in 1899 was 13. The offerings for home and foreign work am/ounted to $230.87. Great good has come out of these organizations. They have tended to inspire and make more active the missionary spirit, and to enlarge the offerings. If it be always kept in mind that each circle is but a department of church work, and that its offerings do not take the place of the regular church collection, but only serve to swell it to larger proportions still larger usefulness is in store for the women's circles.

It is a matter of no small importance that a church should have a suitable house of worship. The biu'ilding should be one large enough to accommodate the people, neat and attractive in its appearance, comfortable in its seating and suited to the localitv, and in expensiveness to the ability of the people. Several new church edifices have been built within the past 25 years. Among them are the church buildings at Troy, Little Hocking, Matamoras, Liberty and Lawrence. Other churches have been so remiodeled and impro\'ed as to be practically new.. There has been decided progress along the line of church edifices. As a whole our church buildings are much in advance of what they were 25 years ago. Neat and comfortable houses of worship have taken the place of some \-ery shabby structures.

I have already spoken of the fact that some churches ha\-e becon-ie nearly or \\holly extinct. Some of these churches had houses of worship, which other churches of the Association had helped to build. It was felt that it was important to get possession of these abandoned buildings, and sell them for the benefit of the Association. Accordingly steps were taken in 1884 to secure for the Association articles of incorporation, which would enable it to hold property. The legal steps were announced as complete at the session of 1886, and six trustees were appointed. Under the authority given to- theni by law three church buildings have come intoi our possession, and ha\-e been sold for the benefit of the Association. These buildings were those belonging to the churches of Beverly, Bethesda and Hockingport. From the money recei\-ed by the sale of these, considerable contributions have been made to the edifices at Lawrence, Liberty, Little Hocking and Matamoras. So it has come to pass that these abandoned edifices have been m.bved, as it were, to commiunities where church life still exists.

Tlie early history of Catholicity in Marietta connects itself with the tinselfish zeal of the pioneer m^issionaries of the church, who traveled frofn place to place, for miles and miles, on horseback, and, where\'er they foutid scattered fam'ilies of the faith, brought them together and arranged them into .missions or small congregations - which served as the

However, before we come to record the connected incidents of the church in Marietta, it is of interest to note the historic fact that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass zcas the very first instance of Christian worship ez'cr offered hi what now constitutes the oldest citv of the Northwiest Territory. The French government, which held possession of the Xorthwest Territon,-, often sent out troops for the purpose

Oif inspecting and examining their large domain. In the year 1749 Roland ]\Iichel Barin, Marquis de la Gallissoniere, governor general of Canada, sent out Celeron de Bienville with' 300 men, accompanied by Rev. Father Joseph Peter de Bonnecamp, a Jesuit missionary, as chaplain, on a tour of inspection.

Coming down the river Ohio from Fort Duquesne, they pitched their cam'p at the confluence of the Ohio and Afuskingaim rivers, where they also buried a leaden plate, found in 1798. During this journey the chaplain would h^^ld services for the troops and would also preach to the Indians. \\'\\t\\ successful it was Wjont toi establish an Indian mission. From the records sent to Rome by Father Bonnecamp, it is evident that here also, on August 16, 1749, he offered, in the presence of the troops and the Indians, \\\vy had assembled from the neighborhi)od, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Long after this event nothing is of record as to the growth of the church until we learn that the early missionaries again offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the little brick house of one Felix McGuire, on the corner of what is now called Hart and Fifth streets, which served as the place of worship, where the early pioneers gathered. A Father Lee and Russell, as tradition has it, used to come, som,etimes b}- boat, sometimes on horseback, presumixbly from Wheeling, and instructed the little tlock in the faith of their fathers and attended their spiritual wants. It is also of record that in the year 1S30 Father Russell, who came from Wheeling, gave a lecture on "The Church," in the Court House. The lecturer drew a large crowd. In those days and long years afterward a Catholic priest Was looked upon, by outsiders, as a \'ery strange kind of animal. They used to flock to the boat landing of the Ohio' to- see him come and gO' very much like the Indians used to view the first advent of Columbus and his comipanions, excepting that the Catholic priest was not considered as belonging to the gods or angelic choirs, but rather was supposed to be horned and tailed. To get a glimpse of these appendages was the incentive to the curiosity exhibited. Alas, for

Just prior to 1838, Rt. Rev. JohnB. Purcell, encouraged and assisted by the co-operation of the few zealous Catholic people of Marietta, bought the present church grounds from Mrs. Maiy Brophy, at a very reasonable price - Mrs. Brophy herself being a Catholic. The house which occupied part of tlie lots (there were two, 180 by 180 feet) had been erected by John Brough, father of the war goa'erno-r (1863) of the State of Ohio. He sold it to Mjrs. Brophy, and when it fell into the hands of the then Bishop of Cincinnati, he placed Patrick Waters in charge of the property. By him the biiilding was used as a grocery store. Being a two-story brick building, one room on the second floor was used, at intervals, as a chapel, where the visiting priest said Mass and preached the Word of God to the little Catholic flock of Marietta.

Such was the state of affairs prior to June, 183S. In that year Rev. James McCoffery was made the first resident pastor. He converted the store-room of the building into the first church and occupied the second floor as a parsonage. He remained in charge for 1 1 years, and besides the little flock at homfe he attended the widely scattered Catholic people along the shores of the Mtiskingum River, as far as Mc- Connelsville, and also at Xewirort on the Ohio, at Fleming, Vincent and Cutler, going north also as far as Cambridge. In the month 01 October, 1849, h^ ^'^''^s folloA\'ed hy Rev. Roi> ert I. Lawrence, w'ho remained until April, 1850.

Rev. Peter Perry was appointed pastor and took charge, in the month of April, 1850. By this time, in consequence of the Muskingum RSver improvement, many additional Catholic people came to jNI'arietta, and the necessity of a larger and more commodioiis church became the problemj that presented itself for solution. Hugh Brennan and Jolm Burke - the uncle of D. B. Torpy - interested themselves \ery much to the end of erecting a new church. Cnder the leadership of Father Perry, the new church was begun.

At that timte, however, the agitation was coiTumenced to change the location. The objection then, as now, was that the church would be too near the river and and in a district where the floods would inevitably reach it. The contest grew warm - many contending that the church should be built farther up the street - nearer to the cemetery, which had been located at the other and upper end of Fourth street. Under the leadership of Hugh Brennan, who from selfish motives wished to retain the present locality, he having a grocer\- and salgon near by, on Greene street, Rt. Rev. John B. Purcell was prevailed upon tO' decide in favor of the first chosen church location. The fear of a flood accounts for the height of the church floor from the street le\'el. The year 1884, however, the flood rose above the altar table.

The church was begun in 1850, and after three years completed. The greatest amount subscri'bed by any one inchvidual wias $100, and that amorint was gi\-en b\- but three persons, i. e., Father Perry, Hug-h Brennan and John Burke.

^^'hat may be of interest to state is tlie fact that the clay out of which the bricks for the new building were made, was taken from an old Indian mound - supposed to be an old prehistoric fortification, situated about where now passes Sacra Via street.

Rev. Peter Perry remained in charge for five years. Owing to the poverty of the individual members of his flock, he wias unable to meet the total indebtedness incurred and hence, when in September, 1855, he w^s succeeded by Rev. R. P. O'Neil, the church debt of some few thousand dollars was one of the heavy burdens with which the new pastor had to contend. The new building, as yet unfurnished, had cost something like seven or eight thousand dollars - four of which had been paid. Father O'Neil, however, bravely faced his new duties and it is during his short admiinistration that we find the first attempt made to commence a parochial school. A school society was established, the members of which paid a monthly fee of 2z, cents, which, placed in the treasury, was the beginning of a school

Father O'Xeil was succeeded in the pastoral charge of St. Mary's Church by Rev. R. B. Hardy, April, 1856, and he remained only a year, was succeeded in Alarch, 1857, by R'ev. O. A. Walker.

Father Walker had temporarily severed his connection with the Dominicans, owing to the filial duty that devolved solely upon him to support his aged father and mpther. Accompanied by his parents, he took possession of the old grocery btiilding, which had served its time as both church and parsonage, and used the second floor as a parsonage. The first floor - the old storeroom - ^the first chapel - he immediately converted into a school room.

The action taken was as commendable as it was necessary. John Sheridan, a brother of Gen. Phil Sheridan, was engaged as teacher and served in that capacity for a very meagre salary - $15 per month - for several years. In the meanwhile the thought of converting part j of the church basement into a school room was I ripening. The year 1858 saw the change effected. The basement of the church was partitioned off and the school was continued under the new arrangement. John Sheridan was followed as teacher by I\Mss Elizabeth Griffin ; she in turn by Airs. C. H. Bukey, who was succeeded by Miss Rose Minor.

The school did not give entire satisfaction and during its lease of life of albout five years - ^from 1857 to 1862 - was continually struggling for its very existence. The pastor in charge. Father Walker, did his utmost to- bring the school up to the necessary standard of excellence, but being continually hampered 'by a want of proper assistance, on the part of his flock, unable in consequence to pay a teacher the proper salary and, above all, his care mostly taxed for the purpose of liquidating the church debt, it is not at all to be wondered at that, when the Civil War distracted the country, the increasing difficulties soon determined

In the meanwiiile Father Walker had the old church (parsonage; school building taken down and used, as much as feasible, the old material in the construction of the present parsonage. He placed the new parsonage in the rear of the lot so as to make the pastor's entrance to the church direct from the house, in immediate connection with the church building. The chtu'ch debt was now paid, the elegant center altar procured, a school attempted and, against mountainous difficulties, carried on for five years, the new parsonage erected and completed - when in June. 1862, Father Walker was succeeded by Rev. J. D. Ryan.

' During the latter's administration the church building was condemned as no longer safe for public meetings. The increasing w'eight of the shingle roof began to spread the walls outward, and hence, for some time, \\-liile the necessary repairs were being made, church services were held in the Court House. At this time the agitation for a new location, out of reach of high water, again forced itself to the front. Not understanding the principle that "present sacrifice secures future enjoyment," the majority of the congregation contented themselves with doing only what, at that very moment, was absolutely necessary, and repaired the church b}- tying the walls with iron "hog chains," and b}' supporting the roof with two rows of pillars.

Father Ryan was the first resident pastor died in the parsonage. The sad event occurred in the month of .\ugust, 1870. The body of the beloved pastor was liuried in the Catholic Cemetery of Sidney. Oliio. His parents had made Sidney their h'ime and. in accordance with their wishes, the remains were placed in the fanfih- liurial lot of the cemetery at that place.

Rev. Charles F. Shelhamer became pastor on the demise of Father .Ryan and coutinuel the administration for five years, i. e., from August, 1870, to November, 1875. During his incumibency, the church was handsomely frescoed and stained glass windo\\s replaced those of the ordinary glass. Father P. Thurheimer succeeded Father Shelhamer in the administration of affairs and during his pastorship of three years (November, 1875, to September, 1878) he tried his utmost to revive the parochial school. He realized very keenly the necessity of such a school, but the apathy of the church members checked every effort made in that direction. In September, 1878, Father F. J. Campbell was appointed pastor of the church and he, too, at the earnest injuncton of the then Bishop Rosecrans - the first bishop of the Columbus diocese, which had been established in ]March, 1868 - endeavored to resurrect the parochial school. The same apathy, the same indift"erence that made every zealous effort of his predecessors abortive, in that direction, pre- \-ailed again on this occasion. Discouraged, he asked for and obtained a new charge, and in November, 1879, the next year, was succeeded by Rev. John B. Kuelui.

The administration of Father Ivuehn proved the longest of any in the history of this parish. Taking charge in 1879, he continued to zealously labor in the interest of the flock entrusted to his care until July, 1892, w!hen. after three weeks of serious illness, fortified by the sacraments of the church, he peacefull}- died. At his own request he was buried in tiie cemetery of his bereaved flock. He had said: "I want to be buried among my people."

During Father Kuehn's administration the church spire was completed, a chime of bells procured, the interior of the church again beautifully frescoed, and, under his paternal guidance, the flock seemed to take a new life and Catholicity, in Marietta, seemed to be rejuvenated, breathing forth its spirit of pristine vigor.

Father Kuehn was succeeded by Rev. F. M. Woesman. He found also, shortly after his advent, the absolute necessity of establishing a parochial school. The catechism hour of a Sunday, the meager and irregular attendance, on the part of the children, seemed to him to be far from sufficient to meet satisfactoril}- the urgent needs of a moral training, which constitutes the sacred right of the little ones of the flock. To insure the future spiritual well-being of the flock, to fix the in- fluence of the church on a more permanent basis, to properly meet the demands of the rig'hts of "the little ones," the establishment of a school for Christian education long, longago has proved itself one of the most essential adjuncts to attain the end which our Lord has marked out for his church, i. e., the salvation of immortal souls. Encouraged by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. John A'. Watterson, Bishop of Columbus, who on the occasion of his visit to [Marietta on May 19, 1895, earnestly advocated the design of the pastor of erecting a parochial school, - the rector immediately took the initiative and on June 14th of the samte year the first step toward carr}-ing out the long projected design was taken. Though, at first, the mem)bers of the congregation seemed to be in a hesitating mood, as to helping on the work, this apathy was soon pushed aside by the earnestness displayed and the great majijrity generously assisted with their monied contributions. As nearly everywhere, so also here, there wiere a few who on other occasions were loudest in their professed zeal, for the spiritual advancement of God's church, on this occasion became not only eloquently dumb in encouraging the work as it was progressing, but were suddenly stricken by imaginary dire poverty and contributed nothing or very little toward the great object in view. But this did not impede the work in the least, and it is confidently asserted that the shirkers in the ranks did not enrich themselves by deserting the standard of duty. "God always blesses the cheerful giver and is not to be outdone in generosity." It is also worthy of record to state, that, on this occasion also, as several times before, in the history of the parish, a futile effort was n-|ade to change the locality of the church edifice - to seek a mbre central location - out of the reach of future probable floods. In fact an option was secured on a piece of property situated on the corner of Fifth and \\'hite streets, above Putnam. It could ha\-e been purchased for $5,000. Rt. Rev. John A. Watterson approved of the project of erecting a temporary cliurch and school combination building on the newly selected site, but the outlay of probably $.20,000 deterred the people from entertaining the project. They had occasion, however, soon to regret their shortsightedness, when, on March 28, 1898, three years after their school building had been completed, the Ohio and Muskingum rivers rushed out of their banks and the water rose to the height O'f four feet and a half above the first floor of the new building.

The new parochial school edifice was erected in the year 1895 and dedicated by Rt. RIev. Bishop John A. Watterson, September 6, 1896. On the occasion of the dedication, the Buell G. A. R. Post and Knights of St. George presented the school with "the flag of the stars and stripes." The beautiful parade that preceded the dedicating ceremonies was headed by a platoon of the city police. They had just received their new uniform and for the first time in the history of the town, its police graced a public parade with their presence. The then acting mayor w:as said to be conveniently indisposed and did not honor the occasion with his presence. Such events, however, som'etintes occur and in small places are expected.

The white-robed nuns of St. Dominic were invited to take charge of the school. It opened September 7, 1896, w^ith three class rooms, preparatory- to fitting the pupils for a high school course. Sister Frances Lilly was the superioress, of the little band of five Sisters who inaugurated this new venture, in the interest of Christia:! education.

1 Associated with the Superior were Sister M. Austin (Rush), Sister Constance (Keelty), Sister Isidore (Bennett) and the housekeeper, Sister Augustine (Lawlor).

Sister M. Austin became the prefect of the sch(X>l and it is o-wling to her ability and unselfish zeal, next to the blessing of God, that I the new undei-taking is thus far crowned with success. Slie succeeded Sister Frances Lilly as superior of the community, and for the last three years, acting in that capacity, besides continually advancing the interest of the High School Department in particular and the entire school in general, she has displayed an executive ability of no inferior order.

a most decided success and at this writingcounts an attendance of more than 200 pupils, with four class teachers, two music teachers and one art teacher. The blessing of God surely rests upon this undertaking.

The new parochial school building was enlarged two years after its erection as to the convent part, giving an additional large dormitory and fo'Ur additional music rooms, bringing the financial outlay of the structure to nearly $10,000. Since then, however, the congregation has finally taken the first step toward procuring a ntw church site, by the purchase of the "Putnam H'all" property. It is the most central location to be found in ^Marietta for a Catholic Church. It is unsurpassed for the beauty of its location and it comprises a tract of land I So feet scjuare. It is situated on the Northeast corner of Fourth and Wooster streets. The price paid is $15,750, and was bought from Fidelio S. Henry.

This closes the little sketch in these school annals. May God bless his church and shower down his benediction upon this portion of his flock, so that !\Iarietta m'ay indeed worthily bear the name of iNIarv, the mother of Jesus Christ. Our Lord and God.

Note : - There is a large Catholic church at Churchtown, St. John's; Ave Maria, not far from Lowell : St. Ambrose at Vincent ; and a chapel at Belpre.

Purchased the house of worship on Fourth street, formerly occupied by the Presbyterians. This building was badly damaged by the tornado which passed over ^Marietta in the sum- - nuer of 1902, and for the present the congregation is meeting in the new Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon. The pastor of the Central Chrisian Church also ministers to a congregation at Reno.

in a large degree to the acti\-e religious work accomiplished in the city. Work was begun by this congregation first as a mission, and under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Risden, a large number of spirited revivals were held, giving great encouragement for the organization of the church.

The organization was accomplished in 1895, 'in'^ work was begun on a church edifice. The present church building is a neat and attractive frame structure, and is a great credit to the members, through whose unaided efforts the necessary funds were raised.

The church society is non-denominational, and is accomplishing a vast amount of good in the locality in which it is situated. Connected with the church is a well organized Sabbath-school which is in a very flourishing condition.

Coxgreg.A.Tioxal Churches

The pioneers, whose advance guard floated do'wn the Ohio and landed at the mouth of the Muskingum River, April 7, 1788, were men who took a deep interest in religious and Christian education. The mo\-ement which broug-ht them into the Western Country was not distinctively a religious nto\-ement, as that earlier one had been, whicili brought our fathers to Plymouth Rock, but many of theinl were worthy descendants of noble sires, who had inherited a strong l0'\-e for the institutions of religion and edircation, and not a few were men of marked religious life. Among the prompters oi the Ohio Comtpany was a prominent New England clergyratan, Riev. M'anasseh Cutler, LL. D., who visited the colony at Marietta during the first summer and preached to the colonists, althoug-h he never becan-ie a resident; in the charter of the company, proi \-ision was made for the cause of education and I religion by setting aside certain sections of land in every township to their support. In coming ' into this Western world, the pioneers had no idea of leaving behind the institutions whose benefits they had enjoyed in the East, and \\'hich had contributed so much to the worth of the civihzation which they hoped to transplant to the valleys of these beautiful rivers. In July, Rev. Daniel Breck, a Congregational clergyman of Topsfield, ]\rassachusetts, visited M'arietta, coming either in company with the second deputation, who landed Julv 13th, or a few days behind them, and on the following Sunday, July 20th, he began public worship in the Northwest Territory, preaching in a "booth" on the banks of the Muskingum, probably nearly opposite this church. Said booth had been erected a few da}-s before for the first Fourth of July celebration. Mr. Breck spent five Sundays in Alarietta and it is probable that he conducteil religii^us services on every Sunday. Immediately on his departure, came Rev. Manasseh Cutler, who conducted worship in the Northwest Block-house at the Campus Martins, on the three following Sundays. Being thus well started, services w^ere regularly conducted by laymen for several months, and ever afterward in the brief intervals wlhen the colony was without an ordained clergyman, until the coming of Daniel Story, on March 19, 1789. Until 1797, Mr. Story was in the emjploy of the Ohio Company and looked to them for his salary, although there is evidence that part of his salary was raised by subscription. December 6, 1796, the church was organized with 31 menil>ers, and 16 months later Mr. Ston,' was asked to become the first pastor, although it is probable that he had acted in the capacity of a religious teacher up to this time, since his name appears among the charter members. In the spring of 1797, Mir. Story left Mtirietta for the East, and it was not until the spring of 1798, nearly a year later, that the matter of salary and other perplexing c|uestions were settled, and Mr. Story accepted the call and wlas ordained to the gospel ministry in the East, on August 15, 1798, before returning to his ^^'estern parish. Rev. Manasseh Cutler had been instructed to act for the church in co-operation wdth Mr. Story, in calling the ordaining council, which convened in Hamilton, Massachusetts. In April of the following year, two years after the call had been extended by the church, l\e\-. Mr. Story returned to the young church on the banks of the Muskingum, which had been patiently awaiting the return of their pastor.

I Up to this time religious services were held principally in the Northwest Block-house, at Campus Alartius. with supplementary services at ;Munsells" Hall, at "the Point.'" 'Sometimse in the }-ear 1797, the Muskingum Academy was projected, wihich buildmg was completed on the lot adjoining this church early in the year 1800, and became the meeting place of the church for public services until the erection of this building, some years later, and for business and devotional meetings until its removal to Second street, in 1832, where it was used as a dwelling house until 1887, when it was torn down and an ancient landmark was destroyed.

As the comimunity grew and the number attending divine worship increased, the old Academy building became too straitened for a meeting place, and plans were under consideration looking toward the building of a church. In the meantime the First Religions Society of ^larietta was organized. March 2, 1801, and articles of agreement had been drawn up and signed by 127 male citizens, wihich is supposed tO' ha\'e comprised nearly every male citizen in Marietta at that time. The Society seems to ha\-e been formed to secure the cooperation of all the citizens oif the town who were fa\orable to the maintenance of religious teaching and worship, but who for one reason or another were not members of the church, which had been Congregational in spirit, sympathy and in forms of go\'ernment and worship from its formation. This Society has continued unto the present da_\- the efficient organ and helper of this church in looking after its material interests, although the membership of the church and Society lias been practically identical for many years.

As early as February 7, 1803. a committee \\''as appointed by this Society to report "a plan of meeting house, together with the prol> able expense thereof." But owing to differences of opinion, which brought di\isi\e influences into the Society, tliis committee ne\'ei- rendered' a report, or, if so, it was not recorded. Three years later, in 1806, October nth, the Society took steps looking- toward incorporation by an act of the State Legislature, in order that they might own and control property; and such an act was passed in the following Febrnar}-. At the same meeting, which provided for incorporating the Sncietw th.e following resolution was passed: "That Rufus Putnam, Joshua Shipman and Benjamin Ives Oilman be a committee tO' report a plan of a meeting house for the use of this Society, with an estimate of the expense," and they also provided for a second committee to apply tO' the trustees mtanaging the lands set apart for religions purposes for such rents as had accrued to the credit of the First Religious Society for the purpose of building a meeting house or houses. Verysoon after the act of incorporation wias passed, this committee reported to the Society a plan for a meeting ho'use on February 24, 1807.

The scheme for raising funds to build the church was novel. It contemplated raising all mpneys either from rents accruing from lands ^et aside for such pui-jjose or from the sale of pewS, and all subscriptions made for the building were tO' be regarded as a loan to the Society and to draw interest from the time the money was paid. A. suliscriptinn ])aper was dlrawn up and circulated, whicli Ijears the names of various well knuwn citizens of that timte, stating the amounts they agreed tO' pay and the commodity in which they would pay, whether lumber, merchandise, leather, shoes, etc. This very interesting and valuable document has been preserved even untO' this day. One is led to wonder whether such a schane was ever adopt*! for bmilding another church? When sufficient encouragentent had been given to guarantee the success of the scheme, work was begun in the summer of 1807; in 1808, tJie building was enclosed and used for public worship, and in 1809, on M'ay 28th, it was dedicated to the worship of God, amuid the praises and rejoicings of the people. A hymn written for the iiccasion lias been preserved.

and dedicated on that ]\Iay day, 92 years ago. To be sure, it has been repaired man_\- times and somewhat niMditied in its interior arrangements, and yet this church is in its architucture, structure and general arrangement the church which was planned and erected Ijy the pioneers before the comm>unity had completed the second decctde of its history. Tradition has credited Rev. Samnel P. Robbins, the second pastor of the church, with the plans after which the church was constructed, but others have claimed, upon what seem to be good groimds, that Gen. Rufus Putnam was the originator of llie plans. Henry Shipman, the father oi H. B. Shipn;?.n, still living in Marietta, was the master builder, and much of the work was done by his own hands. The entire cost of the chiuxh, wb.en completed for dedication, was $7,349.0 '/S. The half cent probably indicates the accuracy v. it'n u'lich the accounts were kept.

From the best information I am able 'to gather at this dav I conclude that the old high family pew with seats all around, such as were common in Xew England in an early day, were never in use in this church. The first pews were large rectangular pews with a door opening into the aisle. The original plan O'f seating was one center aisle extending from the front entrance toward the pulpit with narrower aisles on either side of the church, and a row of pews extending" the whole length of the church against either side wall simjilar in construction to the body pews. Beyond the side doors on either side were a few pexre facing the pulpit, standing at right angles- to the pe^vs in body of the house. The original pulpit was about on a level with the gallery and was reached by winding stairs from either side. The pulpit was lowered abont t\\1o feet in 1836, and again in 1866 a platform was erected and the pulpit \\-hich has been in use up to the present time was put in. The original columns supporting the gallery and roof were square, co\ered \\-ith \vood, somewhat ornamented and painted to give them an attractive appearance. The singers had seats in the west gallery until the second organ was purchased in 1889, w'hen they were removed to the rear of the platform.

From the two towers the church early came to be knO'Wtn as the "Two Horned" clmrch, and it is within the truth to say that there is no building standing- in Marietta, or Oihio, or the five States \\'hich were carved from, the original Xorthwest Territorv, which fur nearly a century has been Sd closely identified with the social, educational and religious interests O'f the comnuunity in which it stands as has this old church. It occupies a position entirely unique.

The fact that the pioneers were so slow in organizing a church and providing a meeting house has called forth surprise and conjecture. There were enough Christians here before the end of the first year to warrant the organization of a church, and this step had been contemplated by some of them before leaving their New England homes, and yet nearly a decade passed before the churcli was organized. It is also unquestionably true that there was wealth enough to provide for a church building, and people enough to nearly fill it before the beginning of the 19th century, but two decades had passed before this church was dedicated. Other colonies coming later, and which were not sO' strong either financially or numerically, had organized a church and built a meeting house and so gained a historic prestige which belonged by right to the colony on the Muslcingum. But I am persuaded that a careful study of the early records of the church and Society wiill discover the occasion of this delay in their unwillingness to bring any divisive influence into the community. The pioneers were tolerant to a fault. A large majority of those who were professing Chrisians had been members of Congregational churches in Xew England, but they did not desire to force their form of government nor their peculiar beliefs upon those who were not of this way of thinking. The early doctrinal basis of the church was broad and tolerant and' simple. The Society wias formed to enable all those who conld not or did not unite with the church, and who yet believed in the \'alue and importance of religious teaching to unite in supporting public wtorsihip and the ordinances of religion ; and yet it did not wholly accomplish its purpose, for when it became manifest that the Society proposed to do its work in connection with the First Church, a spirit of discontent broke out on the part of some who did not believe in the Cougregational way. To insure peace and harmon\-, the Society proposed to support two religious teachers, and the pastor, Rev. Daniel Story, was asked to share his salary and the pri\ ileges and prerogatives of his office with another, although the stipulated cash salary was only $300 per ) ear. But even this proposal and an honest effort to carry it out, did not bring peace, for in 1803, several persons withdrew and formed a Second Religious Society and employed Rev. Stephen Linsley as a religious teacher. Soon after, a Presbyterian Church was organized, which continued a precarious existence for soiiie years and then came to an end on the w ithdrawal of the pastor. Sevei-al persons belonging to this Second Religious Society also formed a "Religious Meeting House Society" and began the erection of a brick building on Third street, below Greene, which was, ho'we\-er, ne\-er comt[>leted. It is safe to say that but for this unfortunate division of sentiment and forces this building would ha\-e been erected several years earlier. But while there were several persons in this church during all the early years of its history who preferred die Presbyterian form of church government, yet it should be said to their credit that for the most part they put aside their preferences and worked loyally with the people of this church until 1865, when the growth oi the town warranted their peaceable withdrawal and the organizati<in of the Fourth Street Piresbyterian Church, which has been a strong religious factor in the community, meeting the needs of those who prefer this form of go\'ernment.

When the frame of the church wtis up and the building enclosed, the trustees of the Society offered the pews for sale at public auction, in order to raise funds to reimburse those who had advanced mone}- and material for the building. A limit was placed on the value of the pews below- which they could not be sold : all pews below -Xo. 78, on the lower floor, should not be sold for less than $70, and no front pe\\-,B in the gallery for less than $60. The pews were transferred to the purchaser in fee simple to have and to hold and to transmit to his heirs or assigns just as he would transfer any other real property. Copies of the deeds are yet extant. ,The pews were nearly all sold and for years were owned and transferred as a house and lot would be. Gen Rufus Putnami, who was one of the most generous givers toward building the meeting house, Oiwmed about 30 pews at the time of his death, which were disposed of in his will along with other propert}'.

This plan was not peculiar to this church, and it may have been a financial necessity, but it proved here, as it proved everywhere, a source of weakness and a perpetual annoyance. Sometimes the pews came into the hands oi outside parties who rented them as an investm|ent. Those who- o\vned the pews were not alw|ays willing tO' contribute to the current expenses of the church, and the Society was compelled to apply to the Legislature for a change in the articles of incorporation granting them pO'Wer toi levy a ta.x upon the pews,' which was granted in 1836, within certain restrictions. Again and again in the history of the Society, the trustees were compelled to imp(_ise a tax on the pews to pa}' for repairs on the church or provide against a deficit in current expaises. Sometimes those who held pews opposed strenuously all effort to^ levy a tax on the pews to pro\-ide for deficits in the current expaises. They were willing to submiit to taxation for necessary repairs, but not to provide for deficits in current expenses. Some years the trustees were not able to raise the pastor's salary when it was not more than $750 or $800 per year, and sometimes the deficit was permitted to run on year after year, and the records would seem to indicate that there have been times when the deficit was charged up tO' the pastor's account. At times the price of pews was greatly inflated. In 1827 there was a record of a transaction wihereby pew No'. 18, which had come into the possession of the Society and wlhich was appraised at $120, was sold to Mrs. Martha

Robbins, through her agent, John Prune, for $200. As late as 1S48, the trustees were considering the abvisability of selling pews in the gallery to members of the College faculty to raise mone\- to repair the church. The weakness and incon^-aiience of the system of pew ownership was fully realized, but it was not until the }-ear 1867, when the miost thorough repairs were completed which have ever been undertaken up to the present time, that most of the pew owners were prevailed upon to surrender their title to the pews in the house of the Lord, and the pews became practically free, although many families continued to occupy the sam!e pews as before. It was a great \'ictory when mien were prevailed upon to surrender the title to property in the house of God wlhioh the)' could rent otit for a profit and transmit to others without regard to their interest in the progress of the Kingdom of Clw-ist upon earth. The Society has never found it so necessary to raise money, whether for repairs on the church or for current expenses, as since the titles to the pews have come into the hands oif the Society and all revenues are raised by \-oluntary contributions. The experience of this church has proven that a system of pew ownership and taxation is a failure as a means for raising revenues for carrying on the work of the Christian Church.

in 1836, after the first general rqaairs on th-e church were completed, the Society \-oted to niake the gallery seats belonging to the Societ}- free, and on motion of William R. Putnam they were assigned as follows : The north gallery to the faculty and students in jNI'arietta College, the south gallery to general use, while the seats abutting against the east walls were set apart for people of color, men in the north and womlen in the south gallery. This, it is believed, was the first movement for free seats in this church.

For thirteen years there was no pro-vision for heating the church except by means of the sm|all foot stoves such as were common in New England in an early day. There is no means of know'ing whether people were staying away from church because of cold feet and the general discomfort of the room, or whether the zeal of their hearts caused them to forget all bodily discomforts; but, in 1821, a meeting was called to provide the church with stoves and pipes. In 1822 two stoves were purchased and put in the church, but for want of chimneys the pipes passes the whole length of the church under the gallery and passed out thrO'Ugh the windo\\s. Such an arrangement in modem times is reganled as indicating a lack of thrift.

The 'house has been repaired and slight alterations have been made at various times. The fi'rst general oiverhauling took place in 1^6, at an expense of $1,768.64, and the business mjeeting at which arrangements and provisions were made for these alterations, Wias held on Christmias Day, 1835. This is a commentary on the way the fathers kept Christmas. The rqiairs and alterations made at this time consisted in putting in a vestibule and providing stairs and new slips in the gallerj', changing the arrangennent of pews, painting the church within and without and putting on a new roof. In 1858, at the close of the first half century, the question was seriously considered whether the old church should be thoroughly repaired or a new one built, and the tmstees were m-ade a committee to consider and report upon this question. The committee in due time rendered its report that the necessary repairs and alterations would cost $5,000, and that a new church suitable to the needs of the congregation would cost at least $12,000. But action was delayed owing to the discussion which arose concerning the question of securing the "Putnam Trust Fund" pews, and long before this was settled, the disturbed condition of the country and the outbreak oi the Civil War absorbed' the attention of the people until 1865, when the matter was again taken up in earnest, and a system of repairs was undertaken which continued through two seasons and was the most complete the old church has ever undergone. New windows with inside blinds were put in, the old pews with doors gave way to^ modern pews, the old higii pulpit Avas remo\-ed and a recess was provided for the reconstructed pulpit, the side doors were removed to the rear of the church.

the galleries were reseated and the building was painted both outside and in, at a total cost of $5,105.46. This thorough renovating of the church, involving the most radical changes AAlhich have ever been made in the building itself, prepared the way, also, for a decided change in methods and spirit, and miost of the pew-holders were prevailed upon to relinquish their claimi to ownership in the church pews as before indicated. Thus it ever is in the life of an institution that changes in the outward form and structure correspond to changes in the inner life and spirit. It is safe to say that this honored and sacred structure has not changed as much as the spirit and method of the generations who have worshiped here.

The only repairs of any importance besides those already m'entioned were in 1880, when the interior was painted and frescoed, which with some other minor repairs cost a'bout $810, and, in 1889, when the recess at the rear was i enlarged to make room for the new organ and choir, the pulpit was pushed forward and seats were put in the front gallery, occupied up to this time by the choir, at a cost of $450. For the last 10 years very little has been expended in repairs, because the conviction was general that the next overhauling would of necessity be more thorough and complete than any the church has yc't undergone. The total amount expended on the church in repairs and alterations, of which account has been kept, is $9,115.26, which added to the original cost of the church niakes the total cost $16,464.29, a sum only one-third larger than we contemplate for remodeling. This is, of course, exclusive of the cost of the chapel, organ and bell as well as the parsonage, which was purchased, in 1874, at a cost of $8,000. The total amount of these extras is $13,833, which added to the cost of the church and alterations, makes a grand total of $30,297, which the property of this church has cost in the past century. The alterations and additions now contemplated will add fully $20,000 to this total, including the organ, and will give us a property richly worth the $50,000, which it will have cost.

to annoy fcjr many years, was the question of de\-oting- a church to what were regarded as secular uses. Since nearly every one in the community had contributed something to the cost of the church, and it was for years the one auditorium in the city capable of accommodating largd gatherinigs, the trustees were being constantly besieged by parties who desired to use it for lectures, concerts and miscellaneous entertainments. There \vere times when there was scarcely a meeting of the trustees when this questiou did not come up. \Miile ever seeking to be liberal to all worthy causes, the purpose of the trustees as expressed in vairious resolutions has been to exclude everything not in keeping with the spirit and purposes for \\hich the church was erected.

But there is one institution which has ever been accorded the freest use of the church, viz., the College: the founders of the College, and its early supporters were chiefly members of this church and Society. For years every public exercise of the College was held in this church. Tlie six presidents, wilio have in turn presided over the destinies of the College, W/ere here inducted into office; nearly if not quite every baccalaureate address has been delivered from this pulpit, more than 50 generations of students have here completed their course of study, received their degrees and gone forth to assume the duties of citizenship, and here many young men, have made their first appearance on the public platform who have gone forth in later years to move men to action by their eloquent and well framed appeals. Probably more than 600 students have graduated from this platform and gone forth to find their place amid the world's great activities.

Postscript. - At a largely attended meeting of the church and Society held January 16, 1901, a decision was reached in favor of remlodeling and enlarging the present edifice in general harmony \\-ith the plans submitted by Payne & Gardner o'f Springfield, Massachusetts. W. W. :\Iills, J. S. Simpson, J. E. Vander\-ort, Howard W. Stanley and John Kaiser wiere elected a building committee wiith power to raise the means of carrying out the work contemplated in the plans. This committee began' work immediately; more than $18,000 were raised or pledged for the work. The old house was raised, enlarged, and beautified and when completed there Avas placed in it, by the munificence of J^Irs. W. W. Mills, an organ, the finest ever brought to this county. It was g'iven as a memorial to her paraits, Beman Gates and Mrs. Betsey Gates. In the week from January 12, to January 17, 1902, the new house was dedicated with thankful service. Two of the former pastors. Rev. Theron H. Hawks, D. D., of Springfield, Alassachusetts, and Rev. E. D. Dickinson, D. D., of Cincinnati, the historians of the church, were present and added much to the interest of the exercises.

On January i, 1S40, a little company of believers assembled in the Town Hall of the then village of Harmar, known as Marietta, west side, for the purpose of organizing a Congregational Church.

Rev. Joel H. Linsle}-, D. D., President of Marietta College, coaiducted the exercises and preached the sermon. The articles of confession, which had been prepared and previously adopted by those intending to be members, were read by Rev. William Linsley and the covenant by Rev. James B. Walker.

The "constituting" prayer was ofifered by Rev. William Walker and the benediction pronounced by Rev. William Linsley. After the organization, a meeting of the church was held and the following officers elected, - Deacons, Douglas Putnam and Daniel P. Bosworth ; clerk, Douglas Putnam.

The membership of the new church was made up of those who transferred their membership from the following places : Marietta Congregational, 2}, ; Warren Presbyterian, 5 ; WatertO'wn Presbyterian, 2 ; Belpre Congregational. 2 ; Sandusky Congregational, i ; Waterford Cumberland Presbyterian, i.

parsonage, the fonner being built in 1847. The dedication services of November 27th w-ere conducted b\- Rew Gideon Dana, then pastor and by Rev. WilHam Wicks.

At various times the church has undergone repairs and been enlarged, - when in 1868 under Rev. William Wakefield a lecture room was built and again in 1894, during the pastorate of Rev. Silas Smith, when a Sundayschool room was erected on the side of the building.

For some months after the organization of the church, the pulpit was supplied by Dr. Linsley when on May 4, 1842, Rev. Milo Hickock was ordained and installed as first pastor. By request of himself, the pastorate terminated April 8, 1844.

In October, 1845, ^.^v. Gideon Dana began his labors with the church but not until January, 1847, a call extended to him to become settled pastor. This was accepted, the installing services occuring October 20th, the same year. The pastorate terminated March I, 1850.

The summer following, Rev. David Gould accepted an invitation to supply the pulpit and a call was subsequently extended to him. He was installed pastor May 28th, the following year, and continued his labors until January 16, 1855, when health compelled him to cease work.

Within a week a call was extended to Rev. Williaiu Wakefield which was accepted the following March, and in April he began a long and fruitful pastorate. This pastorate of nearly 17 years, which terminated February 20, 1872, is the longest in the history of the church"

Rev. Mr: Haskell was led to believe that his work was in the foreign field and at the termination of the pastorate he resumed missionary work in Bulgaria where he is working today.

On October ist, the same year. Rev. D. F. Harris began a pastorate of five and one-half years, which terminated May 31, 1893. The pulpit was then supplied for some time by Prof. John Mills.

Rev. Silas Smith was called to the pastorate August 28, 1893. He labored energetically and as a result many members were added to the roll and the church throughout greatly strengthened and built up. It was during this pastorate the Sunday-school room adjoining the church was built. In the summer of 1895, Rev. 3ilr. Smith was stricken with typhoid iexer and after a hard struggle the end came October 6th.

Rev. Virgil Boyer accepted a call from the church and began a faithful pastorate April 11, 1897. His work continued until August 7, 1901, when after a period of five months Rev. Lee J. Travis began work.

Was organized ]\Iarch 3, 1859, by Rev. V. G. Fry. During the summer of 1858, Rev. Mr. Fry had been preaching at the Presbyterian Church, Cedar Narrows Congegational Church, Stanleyville and Lynch Methodist Church. Upon invitation, he included School District No. 8, Marietta township, in his appointments. In February, 1859, a protracted meeting- was held in this church' which resulted in the formation of the society with 24 members, 21 by profession and three by letter.

Rev. Mr. Fry acted as pastor until 1863, but having a wide field his visits were necessarily infrequent. Rev. John Noble was associated in the pastorate in 1873. and this church was supplied once each Sabbath. Rev. Mr. Noble was soon forced bv ill health to resign the charge, and at the close of the j-ear, Rev. Mr. Fry accepted a call to Lexington, Ohio, and the society was left without a pastor. Up to this time, there had been ii additions to the membership. During 1864 and 1865 Rev. L. L. Fay and Prof. J. L. Mills preached occasionally. During 1866 Professor Mills preached regularly. During 1867 there was no pastor and the society maintanied a doubtful existence. In the winter of 1868, Rev. George Athey, of the United Brethren Church held an awakening revival in ^vhich the members of the Congregational Chiuxh joined. A flourishing United Brethren class was organized, and both bodies w-orked together for nearly a year, when the United Brethren removed their services to Jennings" school house where they cultivated a much neglected field. J. H. Jenkins, then tutor in the College, preached for the Second Church once each Saljbath until 1872, when Rev. G. W. Wells became regular pastor in connection with the Little Muskingum Church and served until 1876. He was succeeded by Rev. Eugene S. Reed, who remained until 1880, when Rev. Mr. Wells was recalled.

A comfortable frame church was built in 1869. A Sunday-school has been maintained during the summer months, since the date of its organization.

The Congregational Church of Lowell and Rainbow was organized November 13, 1857, with the following members : Cvrus Spooner, Thomas Ridgway, Charles T. Wetherby, Simeon Blake, William C. Balentine, B. F/. Dyar, Almon Blake, Hannah Blake, Sophia Davis, Mary C. Blake, and Eliza A. Wetherby. George Spooner was elected clerk; C. T. Wetherby, S. N. Merriam and Amasa Blake, trustees. Rev. Charles Wetherby was the first pastor of the church and considerable prosperity attended his labors. The congregations were large and services were held for a time in the Alethodist Episcopal Church. A house of worship was erected in 1858 and 1859. This is a substantial brick structure 40 by 50 feet, and cost $1,600, exclusive of the lot which was donated by Dr. Cyrus Spooner. Of this amount $300 was donated b_v the American Congregational Union. The community was much interested to sustain the new church. A little later a festival was held to raise money for a bell which was liberally patronized and $125 realized. More was raised by subscription and a bell was purchased, costing something over $150.

In 1865 the services oi that venerable, good man. Rev. C. N. Ransom were secured who preached in the morning at Lowell, and in the evening at Rainbow. Following him, the church was supplied by Rev. G. V. Fry, Rev. M. Moore, Rev. M. Noble, and Rev L. L. Fay. In 1873 Rev. Geo-ge W. Wells served the church and in 1874, Prof. J. L. Mills, Rev. Samuel Lewis (Methodist) preached for about two years commencing in 1876. In 1879 Rev. E. B. Reed labored with great earnestness and five were added to the I church. About this time an organ was se- : cured for the use of the church and Sundayschool. Rev. C. S. Irwin commenced labor here in 1881 in connection with three other churches, his labors continuing for about two years. The pulpit was subsequentlv supplied by Rev. S. Lewis, R. R. Sloyd and D. D. Davis, students in Marietta College, Rev. Edward Mirick and Rev. G. W. Wells. There has been no regular preaching since 1883. The house of worship was injured by the flood of 1884 and repaired at a cost of $46.50, and in 1887 a tin roof was put on the church at a cost of $150. The kind hearted people of Marietta churches have liberally aided this church from time to time. A Sunday-school was sustained for many years with a good attendance but the church has been weakened by death and removals until there are only four meml)ers in Lowell, and five others living at some distance in the countr}-. The Sunday-school was finally closed for want of persons to sustain it, and the house of worship is now closed. The population of the place has greatly changed, - there are now in the village of about 300 people, three other church" es, Campbellite, Baptist and Lutheran, and some have thought it may be best to sell the church structure. For 35 years this has stood as a house of worship where many have been instructed in righteousness and have been strengthened in their purpose to live and labor for Christ. Some of these are now faithful laborers in other places.

Rev. Philander Chase, Bishop of the diocese of Ohio, visited Marietta in August, 1820. He says he was well recived and treated with kindness and hospitality, and that "a considerable number of persons in town and vicinity, of great respectability and worth, expressed themselves sincerely attached to the church." He held two meetings in Marietta and one in Harmar on Wednesday, August 8th, and on the followmg morning administered the right of confession to seven persons. Incipient steps were taken at this .time toward forming a parish by the name of St. Luke's Church.

In April, 1822, Philander Chase, Jr., then a deacon, preached several times in Marietta. In 1825, Judge Arius Nye, a zealous member of the church, returned to Marietta, and immediately undertook to effect an organization, and his efforts were successful among people whose sympathies were with the church, the original members being Arius N}'e, Billy Todd, Daniel H. Buell, John J. Jolim, lames English, A. V. D. Joline, and Edward Rector.

Meetings were occasionaly conducted by misionaries in the Court House, and in the old brick school house in Harmar. In 1829 the parish had 10 communicants. In 1832 Rev. John T. Wheat was elected rector, and on the 13th day of December, the sacrament was administered to 14 persons.

The church was incorporated by act of the Legislature on January 9, 1833, Rev. Mr., Wheat preachinig his inaugural sermon on April 14, 1833.

In 1S33 a house of worship was built on the corner of Fourth and Scammel streets, where the new Lutheran Church now stands. In 1857 the church sold its old house of worship and removed to their present home on Second street. Rev. Mr. Wheat's rectorship continued until October, 1836, and Rev. C. L. F. Haensel was his successor. Since Rev. Mr. Haensel resigned, the successive rectors have been: B. J. Bonner, D. W. Tolford, Edward Winthrop and John Boyd.

Rev. John Boyd, D. D., was elected June II, 1850, and continued in active service until April, 1892, - the longest pastorate in this county. On the 9th of September, 1900, on iiis 50th anni\-er-;ary, D'r. Boyd preached a sermon which contains so much of general interest to the public that a large part of it is given below. Of the original members of his church but five were present on this anniversar\- occasion, Mrs. Mclntfish, Mrs. Ralston, Mrs. Rhodes, Mrs. Charles Hall, and F. A. Wheeler. The church have elected Rev. W. H. K. Pendleton as their rector, but he has not yet entered upon his duties.