Tower Hill Township

Tower Hill Township

The First Presbyterian church of Tower Hill was organized by Rev. A. T. Xorton and Rev. William P. Teitsworth, February 17. 1867. with these members ; Sylvester L. \*an Dyke. Airs. Lucy .A. A'an Dyke, Thomas B. Johnson. M'illiam AIcKittrick, Mrs. Alargaret McKittrick,

His Tor 1C Skt Tci I.

Mrs. Susannah ll. liaines. Dr. (leorge W'. Krinj^er, Mrs. Martlia Ih Printer, Mrs. Caroline li^veritt, Perry McDowell, Miss Celestia A. \'an Dyke, Francis McKittrick, Sanuiel McKittrick, Miss Mary A. Paines, Miss Francis J. Paines, and Janies M. Cook. The church came under the care of W'ahash Presbytery, althonj^h tem- ])orarily received by that of Alton. The elders have been, Sylvester L. \ an Dyke, 'riionias P. Johnson, Dr. Georj>^e W. Fringer, Janies J. Wiley, Frederick Stnnipf, IT H. R. Paines, S. P. Powers, Dr. John Morgan, PI. F. Fang-ht, Roht. h'leniing, Jacob Teighty, Steidien Richards, A. .\. Filer, A. A. Leighty and William McKittrick. 'I'he jiresent session is composed of Messrs. Fleming, Filer and Stnngif.

'J'he following ministers have preached for this iieople, O. A. Pollock, one year: Xathaniel Williams, one year; J. D. Jenkins, one year; Johnston, eleven years; Leonard Keeler, two years; Thos. S. Park, five years; X. C. (Preen, two years; and C. D. Smith, who is now on his second year. The house of worship is a substantial frame hnilding, erected in 1867, at a cost of $1,800. An addition has since been built at an expense of $600. About 1896 a parsonage was built at a cost of $1,500. So that the plant is a good one. The membership is now about 80. The difficnlty in the way is the continudl removal of members to other points, thus keep¬ ing the church weak. Its inflnence in the conininnity is fully e(|nal to any other and its Sunday School, Young People's and Woman's Mission¬ ary Societies well sustained.

organized May 18 and 19, 1867, by a committee consisting of Rev. S. W. Alitchell, Rev. Clark London and Elder S. H. Wilson. There were thirteen members in the organization. The el¬ ders chosen were Lewis Long and F. M. Cham¬ berlain. During the fir.st four years of its exist¬ ence, it may truthfully be said that the promise was to "the little flock." With no house of wor¬ ship, with only a small band of workers, yet with the Spirit of Cod in their midst, they labored to¬ gether. The only regular service was a weekly prayer-meeting, held in the homes of the faith¬ ful few. Those who were ])rivileged to be ])iesent at the services bear testimony to the presence of the Lord and gracious benedictions which came upon them all. An occasional lu'eaching service was held in the M. E. church. Put in 1872, this little band, assisted by the Poard of Church Erection, rejoiced in the erec¬ tion and dedication of a neat and comfortable frame church home, at a cost of $3,500. Im¬ mediately after this forward stej) a gracious re¬ vival was experienced, and the church was very pros])erous, being as strong as any in the com¬ munity. Put a period of decline followed. Family after family of the Presbyterian household of faith left the city, and the church has never re¬ gained its former footing. Still with a mem¬ bership of about 40, tried and true, there is main¬ tained a flourishing Sabbath school, prayer¬ meeting, Christian Endeavor and Woman's Mis¬ sionary Society. The church is surely of the Lord's own planting, and can know no such thing as death. The present elders are Thomas Tiudson and R. P. Wilson.

situated near Yantisville, seven miles directly north of Tower Hill, has taught Calvinism in that part of the county. Never a strong organi¬ zation, during its thirty years of existence, averaging about 30 to 40 members. It too, has sent out to the towns and cities various addi¬ tions to their working force. An excellent brick building, erected some years ago. affords a com¬ fortable church home, and a band of devoted members, mostly women, keep up a steady effort for righteousness. Brighter prospects, under the Illinois plan of Home Missions, are in view for this faithful little band of loyal workers.

Thus no small part was played by Presbyter¬ ians in this county's history. The names of those associated with the beginnings of the churches and their official bodies are names of persons prominent in the forces which counted for development along the best lines. The ministers laboring in these fields have been men of God, and-their infiuence has been almost measureless in these formative days of the past. Building on such a history there surely is a future for Presbyterianism in Shelby county.

St. Paul'S Reformed

Saint Paul's Reformed church, located five miles northwest of Shelbyville. was organized about 1850, by Rev. John McConnel. L'ntil 1859 the congregation had a struggle for an existence. In 1859. Rev. H. K. Baines was elected pastor. The church has been served by the following pastors: Rev. (). E. Lake. Rev. H. Wilson. Rev. S. P. Myers. Rev. J. F. Butler. Rev. J. W'olbach. Rev. J. W'. Alspach. Rev. L. C. Summer, Rev. R. F. Oplinger and Rev. J. F. Bair.

For many years the congregation faced many discouragements, but like their brave founder, Ulrich Zwingli, they did not give up in despair, but pushed bravely on. Lender the leadership of Rev. J. W'. Alspach from 1892 untd

W hen the present pastor. Rev. J. F. Bair took charge of the field in the spring of 1898, he found it in good condition. The membership numbered 75. and there was a good Sunday School which was progressing rapidly under the earnest care of Sujierintendent John F. Runkel.

During the pastorate of Rev. Bair 21 mem¬ bers have been added to the congregation, and a neat, new church edifice has been erected which was dedicated Dec. 17. 1899. debt.

The oldest member of the congregation is Mrs. John Runkel. now in her 86th year. Other old members who have made this their church home for niany years are: John Runkel. Sr.. Joseph llish, Sr., Mrs. Joseph Hish, A. J. Tice. Mrs.

The statistics presented at the last regular meeting of Illinois Classes show the following figures: Members. 95; communed during year, 87; unconfirmed, 50; infant baptisms, 6: adult baptisms, 1: confirmed. 15; contributions for benevolence. $93.47; contributed for congrega¬ tional pur])oses, $1,330; church ])apers taken. 40; Sunday school officers and teachers, 16; schol¬ ars. 75 ; total. 91 ; average attendance, 61 ; num¬ ber of months school is open, 12; scholars in full membership of the church. 63 ; baptized scholars. 69; scholars received into full membership of the church during the year, 14; contributions to all purj)oses. $34.

The Church Of Christ His Toric Ske Tch

scendent link that l)in{Ls us irrevocaltly to the ])ast. Webster says that "tliere is a moral and ])hiloso])hical respect for our ancestors which elevates the character and improves the heart. .\ext to the sense of reli<Tious duty and moral feeling I hardly know what should hear with stronger obligation on a liberal and enlightened mind than a consciousness of alliance with the excellencies of the past." In no one phase of human activity can this sentiment he more true than in the conscious alliance with the excellence of the religion of our Lord and Master. This alliance or the lack of it enters into every com¬ munity life, sha])es its character and determines its destiny.

True religi(m is of (lod. In fact we get the word "religion" from the word "ligio," which means "to hind," to bind hack again to God. In other words religion is the link that "binds" man to (lod.

The fundamental princi])les of the Chris¬ tian religion are found in the Xew Testament revealed by the Christ, the Son of God, and "confirmed unto us by them that heard Him." 'I'hese fundamental principles (divinely author¬ ized) made unprecedented progress during the early centuries : and happy and fortunate indeed would it have been for the human race had no man, "humanly wise," endeavored to bind man to man and man to God above that Which is Writ¬ ten. This "humanly wise" tendency of man re¬ gardless of "what is written," to radiate out into self-formulated theories, into philosophic specula¬ tion, superstition, skepticism and corruption ciowded out the light from the word of God and brought the Dark Ages. The Dark Age will come into the life of any individual or nation when it shall supercede the Word of God, the "salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" with the theories, philosophies and speculations

To eliminate corruption and vice and re¬ establish the spiritual life of the church was the attem])t of the Reformation. Luther's efforts are valuable to the world ; not so much for the re¬ forms which he attengited, as in the restoration (jf the llible, the true council and standard of religion. The giving of an open Ifible into the hands of the i)coi)le was to the Dark .Ages what the rising sun is to the darkness of night.

The value of Calvin's effctrt lies mjt in the reforms he attempted, or in the doctrines he so ably discussed, but in the restoring to the \\ Ord of (jod its divine authority which had so long been usurped by the l'o])e.

d'he estimate to be placed on the Wesley movement is not in the attempt to, reform the Church of England, for that in itself was a fail¬ ure, but its value lies in what they restored of primitive iriety, zeal and devotion. This will live to bless humanity long after the creed that thought to formulate them shall have jrassed away forever.

Every attemiit at reform proved a failure, in whole or in jrart. While it restored at times scjinewhat of faith and life, it failed in the refor¬ mation attemjrted, and every effort to formulate into a creed the things in which the reformation failed, but added to the divisions of Christendom. Thus while the Reformation was striking blow after blow at corruption and vice it multiplied divisions and strife.

The one peculiar thing about the Christian religion that nmst not be forgotten is that while it is a great reformer, it can not itself be re¬ formed. Every addition or subtraction but cumbers or weakens and divests of Divine au¬ thority. It becomes the duty then of every Christ and His inspired Apostles. All this re¬ life and faith as they come from the lips of

Historic Sketch

The divisons and isms and cisms and here¬ sies and jealousies at the beginning- of the 19th century, a resultant of the corru])tion of the church, and the attempted reformation set men to thinking and searching of the scrijitures to see if these things e.xisted with divine approval. They soon learned from the scriptures and found from e.xperience that ''.A House divided against itself can not stand that the Master prayed for Cnion. that the inspired .Apostles to the (lentiles rebukes the division in the church and that there is "one I'ody. one Lord, one Faith, one Spirit, one bajitism. These and many other similar truths constantly kejit ringing in the cars of llible readers. Soon they began to teach and proclaim them. To steer clear of all the errors that had crei)t into the church they said, "we will go back of all creeds and confessions and councils into the llible. the Divinely authorized standard. Where it speaks we will s])eak. and where it is silent we are silent."

They thought to go back to the X. T. church, its ordinances, its life and jiractice in order to bring about Christian union, the one thing needful. Ci)on the Divine basis and under Divine .Autbority their prayers and pleading began to be "back to Christ."

Prominent among those who had learned the lesson of the Reformation and saw the need of Christendom were the Campbells. Stone. Scott, and others - men of learning and great piety. Simultaneously this movement sprang up in Pennsylvania. Kentucky and \'irginia. Who first inaugurated the movement no one knows. It seems as if the Spirit of God was brooding over the virgin soil of the Xew \\ orld. and the movement was born out of the chaotic condi¬ tions of Christendom. \\'ith remarkable unanim¬ ity came the cry from every cpiarter. "P>ack to Christ." Christan union on the Ilible." "The Ilible the only hope of Christendom." The one cherished jewel was now placed in the Divine setting which alone could give it vitality and life.

1 he movement spread like "wild-lire every opposition only added fuel to the dames destined to burn iij) the "hay and stubble" - the divisions and isms of Christendom. Ministers and laymen alike who were in travail by reason of the divided state of things heartily entered into the movement and looked upon it as the one balm to beal the broken body.

So rapid has been this movement that to¬ day. less than 80 years froiii its inception, the disciples number nearly one and a half million with no creed but the Ilible. united in one great family under the one I^ord ; wearing no names but those divinely recognized in the W ord. W hat a powerful demonstration of their plea. In nearly every state in the Cnion and in every country on the globe the seed is being sown and the leaven is working. Shall we not hope and pray for the glorious consummation when the prayer of our Lord shall be answered and the church shall be united to go forth in one solid phalanx to take the world for Christ?

W e have dwelt at some length upon the history of this movement, for the reason that its history practically enters into the history of every "Christian church" organization. We shall now endeavor to speak more particularly of this movement in Shelbyville and Shelby county.

Shelby Couxtv

In 1832 down the famous Kaskaskia came the venerable elder. John Storms, scattering the seeds of the new movement. He was soon joined by Elder Tobias Grider, and. in 1830. by Elder r>. A\'. Henry. From this trio of venerable work¬ ers goes forth and dates the l>eginning of tlie Cliristian movement in Shelhy and adjoining counties. So inseperately is tlieir labor of sacri¬ fice and devotion connected with nearly every organization in the county that to give an ade- (juate history of the church in the county we must write a biography of each of these faithful followers of the Lord. Ikit space forbids and we must content ourselves with a few brief state¬ ments of the work in each place. Suffice it to say that the names of these men are household words, and their devotion and loyalty to the Master ought to be an ins])iration to the on-com¬ ing generation.

In 1830 lUishrod \\'. Henry moved to the county and began preaching for the I>ai)tists. In 1832 he organized the "First Laptist Church of Christ." He soon found himself in harmony with the new movement. In 1836 the pastor and congregation met and resolved to strike the w(jrd "Laptist" from the style of the church, and the body was ever afterward known as the "Church of Christ" in Shelbyville. They pro¬ ceeded at once to ef¥ect the new organization by the selecting and setting a])art as elders, !>. \\'. Henry and J. J. Page.

Next to Elder Henry, who remained as the faithful and zealous shepherd of the flock for 12 years, stood Elder Page, who remained elder for 35 years. Truly the work of the church never fell into more willing hands nor devoted heart than during his eldership.

.\mong the charter members of blessed memory may be mentioned Reuben and Martha Wright, Mrs. Enfield Tackett, Aunt Polly Smith, IMr. Wright, father of the large Wright family, who died within a year after the organiza¬

Few women have been more devoted than she, and in 1875 she died in the triumphs of her living faith. Sister Tackett was the worthy Christian mother of our townsmen and fellowcitizens, Messrs. John .\. and William Tackett. She often ])repared her own house for the meet¬ ings of the little hand of disci])les. She worthily stood for and su])])orted the work until her death. .Aunt "Polly" Smith had learned of the new movement from Elders Rodgers and Stone in Kentuckv. She remained a faithful and devoted hel))er until the end came in January, 1880.

During the early days their meetings were held in the homes, the school house and some¬ times in the old court house. In 1843 Kkler .\lc\'ey, from Indiana, held a meeting for them which greatly strengthened them and resulted in the building of a "meeting house" diagonally across from their irresent building. In this house thev met to >vorshi]) for more than 20 years. Many splendid meetings were held. In 1848 Elder A. I). Xorthcott, of Kentucky, was em- ])loyed as County Evangelist. More than 300 ])ersons were added to the church that year. The next year he labored successfully for the church in Shelbyville.

It was at this time that Wm. Prown and Elder Lewis of the M. E. church held their friendly discussion in the Christan church in which General Thornton was chairnran. As a result of this discussion many delusions and nrisconceptions were dispelled and the chrrrch great¬ ly strengthened.

In 1865 the present large and commodious brick edifice was built at a cost of $15,000, which stands as a monument to self-sacrificing zeal and whole-hearted devotedness to the cause of the restoration of pure primitive Christianity among the people. The lower floor contains lecture room, study and kitchen. The auditorium will easily seat 600 people, althoug'h a thousand have often been within its walls. At present an effort is on foot to repair and refurnish the whole huilding.

The regular ministers who have served as ])reachers and i)astors to the congregation are as follows: Elders Henry. Xorthcutt. Young. Eth¬ ridge. Bostion. Gains. Brinkerhoof. Kellar. Har¬ ris. Long. Lane. Allen. Brooks. Stewart, W aggoner. Brutt. Edwards. Bell. Williams. Collins. Homey. Slator. Jewett. Groves, and the ])resent ])astor. Wm. H. Drummet.

The present elders, each deserving of special mention, are "Uncle" Mike Freyharger. Judge Kelley, Capt. Turney and Samuel Wright. The deacons are. Roberts. Lumpp, Stewart, Eraker, Triece. Bennett, Klauser, Storm. Carr. Terry, J. 1).. Elias and James E. Miller.

The present membership of the church is 400; number in Sunday school is 150. with (). I'. Wright as superintendent ; number in C. E.. 50. d he church has had many trials and has over¬ come great difficulties. She is now in a prosper¬ ous condition, ready to enter in a still larger measure into the spreading of the Master's mes¬ sage and the extension of His kingdom. May the good Lord guide and direct their every effort.

W. H. Bales, in ( )ctober, 1896, with 55 mem¬ bers. In January of tbe next year be held another meeting, with 73 additions. He was fol¬ lowed by Elders Doughty. Hostettler, Williams and Henry. The writer recently held a meeting for them, resulting in 45 additions. They have a splendid church edifice erected at a cost of $2,000. They have a splendid Sunday school of 70. and C. E. society of 30 members. The present elders are J. T. and \\ . E. Killam and Charles Smith. They are in good condition and the field is ripe for a larger work.

There is a strong organization here. Elder A. R. Spicer, while yet in college, gathered to¬ gether a few disciples and i)reachcd for them every two weeks. Eour years ago Elder J. P. Lichtenberger, then of Canton, held a meeting with 137 additions. Since then Elders Spicer and Golden have served the congregation. Thev have erected a splendid brick tabernacle. Tbeir ])iescnt membership is 268. with 60 in the Sun¬ day school, with a Senior C. E. society of 33. and a Junior society of 30 members. They are in a good way to do a splendid work for the Master.

This congregation was organized some three or four years ago. They have recently dedicated a s])lendid new church edifice. In January, of this year ( 1901 ). Elder Brown, under the co-operation of the District Board, held a meeting for them, resulting in 36 additons, making their total mem¬ bership no. Hattie Montgomery is the church correspondent, and Elder Brown, son of Evange¬ list Leland T. Brown, is their present preacher. We look for a larger and more aggressive work for the Master.

His Toric Ske Tch

house of worship. Their i^resent membership is 42, witli a flourishing Sunday sehool of 113. Elmer Shumard.is the corresponding member, and Elder Zerr is the present minister.

Ean'Cher

This congregation was organized a few vears ago. 'I'lieir present membersliip is 70, with 48 in the Sunday school. This ought to be l)ut the beginning of a mucli larger work for the Master.

'I'liere is l)ut a small congregation here, numbering at present but 25, witli 25 in the Sun¬ day school. The work liere is new and we shall soon look for larger results for the Master. E). C. Kilev is the corresponding member.

The church at Tower Hill was organized by T. J. Noland, the pastor, and J. W. W. Kelley, in 1883, after a very successful re¬ vival meeting in which a few ])rominent people of the town received the doc¬ trines and ex])erience taught by the Eree Metho¬ dists, i. e., repentance, faith, justification and sanctification.

'I'he church at "the Hill" was built in 1884. and dedicated by \\ . lb W. Colt, with ncjt one dollar of indebtedness at the time of dedication. .At present there are three churches and a par¬ sonage on the circuit. The second church was built at Cold Si)rings. During the labors of .A. J. Smith in 1894 and '95 the church was built at Lakewood and the i)arsonage was enlarged.

'Phe society in the city and the one at Sylvan have been united as a circuit part of the time and the rest of the time divided into two ajipointments. ( )ur work at Shelbyville has suffered from different causes, the principal one being that a certain class was led away with some who denounced all churches and overthrew the faith of others.

members we mention William Bivins, J. W. Johnson, Sister Hart and Sister O'Brien. Dur¬ ing' the labors of Ella AI. Smith, in 1900, and A. J. Smith, in 1901, the work has been greatly strengthened and some improvements made on the church building.

Tbe society is stifl small, but most of the members can be found at class and prayer meet¬ ing, and are liberal in supporting the gospel. -A very prosperous Sunday school is superintended by Airs. Pearl Cox.

The next annual Free Alethodist camp meeting will be held at Shelbyville on the fair grounds, where from fifty to one hundred tents are expected to be ])ut up, and where a number of prominent workers will be present to help make the meeting a success.

The Baptist

The Church of God is one of the primal factors in the development of any county. ^ he hardy pioneer and the itinerating herald of the cross have together entered the wilderness and subdued it ; one by the use of the axe and plough¬ share. the other by ''the sword of the Spirit."

Different denominations have sent com¬ missioned emissaries into these new fields, not to war upon each other, but to vie in holy emula¬ tion that the opening territory might become subjected to our Saviour.

Prominent among tbe great denominations thus sending out forerunners with Gospel tidings of great joy is the Baptist church with its mil¬ lions of communicants.

the jjresent limits of- Shelby county in the inter¬ ests of his church. In the year 1830, three years subsequent to tbe organization of tbe county, he jjreached in the village of Shelbyville. In the course of two years he had baptized over eighty persons and founded a church. He labored with all the energy of an apostle, and became greatly endeared to his people'.

.\ modern house of worship was soon erected and Zion prosi)ered. The pastor, how¬ ever, began to disseminate the doctrines of one -Alexander Campbell, and in a few years boldly declared himself in favor of these views. He ac¬ cordingly, with most of his membership, voted in favor of striking the word ''Ba])tist" from their denomiiiational name, and became by their own act "The Church of Christ in Shelbyville." Thus it happens that the Baptist church is the local ])arent of a child of another name.

The subsecpient work, of the denomination in this city is subjoined below. From the be¬ ginning thus traced, the work has grown until there are now 10 churches within the county, with a total membership of 896, and a Sunday school enrollment of 502. Xo fact speaks better for any section of county than a corresponding development in church and school life with other interests of a secular nature.

We give a list of the churches, their membership, etc., that the reader may under¬ stand how the work has become disseminated through all parts of the county, and the relative importance of the proportions assumed.

Shelbyville - A. A. Todd, pastor; Walter C. Headen, Sbelbyville, clerk ; total membership, 219; Sunday school enrollment, 104; value of church ])roperty, $5,000.

Moweaqiia - Jos. B. Rogers, pastor; Rosella Thomas, Moweaqna, clerk ; total membership, 344 ; Sunday school enrollment. 333 ; value of church property, $5,000.

Richland - G. W. Syfert, pastor; M. Rich¬ ards, Strasburg, clerk ; total membership. 69 ; Sunday school enrollment. 65 ; value of church ])roperty, $1,200.