Delaware County, Indiana - Chapter 13: Churches of Delaware County, 1924

Chapter 13: Churches of Delaware County

The history of the settlement period of this country shows that wherever men gathered in settlements their first thought after getting themselves housed was of church and school, temples for worship and temples for learning. As has been shown, church and school more often than not were the same, for the little log house which served as a place for the schooling of the youth not infrequently served for the time as a place for the worship of the elders.

The church, architecturally, at least, in this county has been a gradual evolution, even as has been the school. It's a far cry from the humble log church in the wildwood to the handsome and substantial edifices in which the people of the county today gather for worship, but no one will dare say that the worship of the fathers was any less sincere or fervent, the service of the heart any less deeply felt that was rendered in the cabin than that rendered in the stately edifices of today; or that the quavering voices pitched to the vibrant tones of the old "tuning fork" of the pioneer precentor fell less short of the Throne of Grace than those of today attuned to the deep and reverberant notes of the costly pipe organ. The heart behind it all remains much the same.

At first the pioneers were content - perforce - to erect their church buildings in much the same fashion as they erected their homes and their school buildings - following the lines of least resistance in woodscraft architecture. After a while, as saw mills came in or brick kilns were established, these log houses gave way to the humble frame or modest brick structure, ample in size for the needs of the congregation. As settlement advanced, these houses became too limited in dimensions and others, a little better in style and more commodious, were erected to supplant them. Then, during the practically reconstructive days of the '80s and '90s of the past century, when all forms of human endeavor hereabout were being accelerated, many of the present handsome and imposing edifices were erected - proper symbols of the growth and increase of the community. Others were rebuilt even as late as the early years of the present century, but church building in this county, for this generation, practically was completed twenty years ago. And the same tearing down and rebuilding process will no doubt be carried on by the succeeding generation and by each succeeding one. While the saying that each generation makes its own religion is not one of common acceptance, it has been proved practically true that in this country each generation does make its own churches. Will another generation, fifty years hence, smile at what they perhaps may regard as the "humble" proportions of the churches of today, even as this generation is wont to smile at the "humble" proportions of those accommodations which served so well the needs of the fathers?

Such is the impulse of the missionary spirit that the church generally is found in advance of government. It therefore may be taken for granted that formal religious services had been held in various parts of the territory now comprised within the confines of Delaware county some time before this county had been constituted as a separate civic unit. As has been pointed out, there were numerous settlers in the southeastern part of what is now this county some years prior to the date of organization and it is undoubted that these settlers had been enjoying, at least periodically, the ministrations of the ministers of the gospel, for the local missionary spirit was strong in those days and the itinerant preacher occasionally would be found wherever "two or three" could be gathered together to hear the message he had to bring. In mild weather meetings would be held at a convenient point in the woods at the crossing of the trails and in inclement weather some settler would be found who gladly would open his cabin to such of his widely separated neighbors as would come to hear the gospel upon notice that some missioner was due to be heard in that neighborhood.

It was these early meetings in the cabins that have created confusion regarding statements with relation to the first church in the county, the claim to this distinction being made by several communities in the county. There is a difference, however, between these neighborhood meetings held on the call of the itinerant missioner of the period and a formal church organization with a settled pastor and officers of the church, a definite meeting place and a recognized connection with a ruling body, and this difference ought to be taken into account in a consideration of the several claims along this line.

However, it is certain that the church was early in evidence. The people would not have had it otherwise. The pioneers of this community were - with an occasional exception to prove the rule - a godfearing, upright people with proper impulses toward the right and their rules of conduct were based upon the book of discipline of the church of their fathers. While they differed widely and sometimes fiercely in matters of minor interpretation of the Book which was their general guide, the same book guided all and was the foundation rock of the church, whatever the denomination or sect thus represented.

While unhappily there are no fixed dates or definite records to establish the circumstances, there is a pretty definite traditional belief that the first religious services held in what is now Delaware county were held in the settlement effected along Prairie creek, on the promising loam lands there in what presently came to be the New Burlington neighborhood in Perry township, in the early '20s by the Vanarsdals, the Lees, the Blunts and the Richardsons, who were among the first permanent settlers of the county. This party came in in the spring of 1820, when it became known that the lands here presently were going to be opened for settlement and were thus here, maintaining their "squatter sovereignty' when the survey was being made of the lands preparatory to being placed on the market. Cornelius Vanarsdal was a man of deep religious convictions and training and according to neighborhood tradition lost no time after the settlement had been established in seeing that religious observances were maintained in the new community. It has been written that it was he who "conducted the first religious services, soon after the arrival of the little colony. His house was the temple in which they assembled for worship, and denominational preferences were forgotten in the interest each one felt in hearing the gospel expounded in a region so lately the home of darkness." It was in this same settlement, on the land then occupied by Aaron Richardson, that the first schoolhouse in Delaware county was erected, and thus Perry township with apparent propriety may lay claim both to the first school and the first church in the county. Cornelius Vanarsdal later was the leading factor in the formal organization of a congregation of the Christian church at New Burlington and was its first pastor.

During the '20s there also came to be a considerable settlement in what is now Liberty township and it is known that itinerant preachers visited the settlements there prior to the date of the organization of the county in 1827 and the establishment of the county town, Cor- nelius Vanarsdal's influence also being felt there in the Smithfield settlement along the river, south of the present town of Selma, and thus religious services had been held at various places in the county prior to the establishment of the Muncietown settlement.

Development Of The Church In Muncie

It is commonly accepted that the first formal attempt to effect a church organization in old Muncietown was in 1829, two years following the location of the county seat at that point, when the Rev. Charles Downey held services in the then newly constructed court room, in the county building erected just north of Main street on the west side of High street. Other "circuit riders" continued to make this a point for intermittent service until in 1836 the Muncie circuit was formed. In 1839 the Methodists erected a small frame meeting house (30 by 40 feet in dimension) at the northwest corner of Washington and Elm streets, a picture of which building is presented in this volume. It is said that the cost of this first church building erected in Muncie was $450. An early reminiscence has it that the pulpit of this church occupied the north end of the room and was of the then customary "box" type, with two steps leading up to the enclosure, and a bench against the wall. The preacher entered the box pulpit and closed the door, thus separating himself from the people. On either side of the pulpit were benches, these constituting the two 'amen corners." The seats were in four rows, a double row in the center, two aisles, and a single row next the walls. The men occupied the west half of the room, the women the east half. A door on each side gave entrance. Candles lighted the room at night. The preacher "'lined out" the hymns and Job Swain led the singing. During prayer all kneeled on the bare floor.

At the quarterly conference held in this church in 1851 the Sunday school (said to have been the only one then in the county) reported an average attendance of fifty pupils and seven teachers. The entire claim on the Muncie station, including the preacher's salary, was $434. In 1853 the congregation bought the lot at the northwest corner of Mulberry and Jackson streets and began the erection of a two-story brick church, with stone basement. The lower part was finished and occupied that year. Two years later the auditorium was completed and the edifice was dedicated, July 20, 1856. This was historic old Simpson chapel. The cost of erection was $4,467.80. This edifice served the congregation until the erection of the present High

Street (northwest corner of High and Adams streets) Methodist Episcopal church in 1888. This edifice, which cost $26,000, was dedi- . cated on June 2, 1889, and in 1901 was remodeled to meet the growing demands of the congregation.

It is said that the first service held in Muncie in behalf of the Baptists was in 1835, when itinerant Baptist preachers began their ministrations here, the best remembered of these having been Elder Robert Truesdale. The followers of this faith apparently were not strong numerically and did not become sufficiently well organized to form a "class" until in 1859, the date of this organization having been September 11 of that year. There were twelve members of this class and arrangements were made for the holding of services once a month in the court room. Two years later they had developed to a point requiring a meeting house of their own and their first church building was dedicated on June 8, 1862. This building, a plain structure, 38 by 48, cost $2,131. The church became self-supporting and the congregation grew until in 1889, under the pastorate of the Rev. L. S. Clevenger, the present First Baptist church edifice at the southwest corner of Charles and Jefferson streets was erected at a cost of $27,000.

Presbyterianism was introduced into Delaware county by the Rev. Robert Irwin, of excellent memory, who in the spring of 1838 held meetings in the southeastern part of the county. He then came on to Muncietown and on Thursday, April 5, 1838, held a meeting in the court room. His message was heard with attention and on the 14th of July following he was able to constitute a formal band of Presbyterians, nine in number, and in the following October moved here with his family and settled down to a pastorate which continued for twelve years and which left the impress of "Parson" Irwin's personality indellibly stamped upon the consciousness of the growing community. At the first communion service held by Parson Irwin seven were added to the congregation and at the second, twenty-one. Concerning the first sermon he preached in Muncietown, there in the court room of the first court house, a reminiscence of Parson Irwin printed many years ago says that ''as I was standing on the old rickety bench used by the judge, presenting, with a good deal of earnestness, the claims of the gospel, my attention was drawn particularly to a noble-looking, intelligent man sitting on a chair in front of and near me, down whose hard cheeks the tears were trickling. He said to me afterward that his early religious training was so forcibly brought to his mind as to produce this unusual effect nvon him. This was Samuel Collier, the county surveyor, whose subsequent sudden and unexpected death was greatly lamented by his family and friends."

First Temperance Meeting In The Village

"About this time," continues the Irwin reminiscences, "the first temperance meeting was held in the old court house. The attendance was very large and the subject was one of thrilling interest to the people, for those in the opposition were in as great earnest as its friends. Three clergymen were the orators of the occasion. Brother Posey of the Methodist Episcopal church and I were its advocates, but the third, whose name I forbear to mention [Abraham Buckles], a Hard-shell Baptist, spoke at some length in opposition to the cause of temperance. I recollect one of his arguments was that St. Paul recommended Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach's sake; the second was, that our fathers had fought, bled and died for liberty and, for one, he would not let us take his liberty away. Warren Stewart presided and Dr. Kennedy was secretary. Jack and Russey (the millers), Dr. Garst and other leading men were among its most active friends. Aaron Corey, for whom nature had done much in giving him a genial heart, was there, but feared a downfall for his craft, for he kept a continual buzzing around among the opposition. He kept a whiskey shop or doggery."

In April, 1843, Parson Irwin carried on a "revival" in the old court room. "On the second Sabbath of this revival," he wrote, "the influence of the Spirit was so powerful, even at the introduction of public worship, that the clerk, T. 8S. Neely, was overcome and could not proceed, and Colonel Sayre, attempting to raise the tune, immediately filled to overflowing and failed. After a moment's calm I commenced a tune. Frequently, through the services, not only on that day but that whole occasion, I observed the tearful eye and heard the groans of the sin-sick heart."

It is evident that the pioneers took their religious "revivals" seriously, at least while the emotion persisted. Along this same line, and referring to an earlier revival in Muncietown, Minus Turner's reminiscences (1880) have it that ''there were two preachers came here about the year 1830, during the winter. They held a couple of meetings and were solicited to remain here and preach. They were on their way West and after some persuasion they agreed to come back, which they did in a few weeks, and one of them, Babcock, re- mained and conducted a series of meetings that captured the town in toto - or nearly so. About everybody over sixteen years of age joined church except Goldsmith Gilbert and myself. These preachers were Methodist itinerants and their meetings were held in a little log building on the north side of Main street, between Liberty and Cherry, near a little brick building which I built."

Difficulties Attending Church Building

In consequence of the revival held by the Presbyterians in the spring of 1843 quite a number of new members were added to the roll of the congregation, which thus was enabled to see itself clear to the erection of a meeting house. Thomas Kirby, whose wife was a member of the congregation, donated the four lots now occupied by the church and manse at Charles and Mulberry streets, and four years later the first church edifice, a square frame building, forty feet in dimensions, was erected. This edifice served the congregation until in 1857, when the old frame structure was torn down and a brick church building was erected at the point now occupied by the Johnson block in Walnut street. In 1868-9 a two-story brick parsonage was built at the point now occupied by the Presbyterian church. The old brick church in Walnut street served the congregation for about thirty-five years, or until 1892, when contracts were let for the erection of: the present monumental stone edifice. This edifice and the adjoining manse (now used for church institutional purposes) were completed in June, 1894, at an aggregate cost of near $40,000.

In connection with the erection of the first church building put up by the Presbyterians in the early '40s it will be interesting to recall something of the difficulties which attended church building in "the good old days." <A very interesting narrative of this church written by Thomas S. Neely, one of the founders of the church, more than forty years ago, sets out that after the Kirby donation of lots was made "a solicitation of subscriptions for the purpose of building the church was immediately commenced with the following result: Charles F. Willard, $100; Russey & Jack, $100; Dr. S. P. Anthony, $30; George W. Garst, $35; G. C. Gilbert, $25; John Guthrie, $40, with many others, almost everyone who was asked subscribing cheerfully to the popular enterprise, in amounts ranging from $20 down, but few being less than $5." Work then was begun on the building, but unforeseen difficulties confronted the project. A fire in the building contractor's drying kiln destroyed the finished lumber laid up for the purpose and the contractor's financial loss and other causes delayed the job, "which was accomplished, but in a very indifferent and unworkmanlike manner, after a lapse of about four years from the date of commencement."

Continuing, the Neely narrative sets out that "thus a debt of more than $600 had been accumulated and the means to liquidate it were not at hand. The principal claimant, Dr. Anthony, becoming anxious for the return of his money, grew impatient and threatened execution and sale of the property." Thus confronted by the necessity of action, the officers of the church armed their pastor, Parson Irwin, with an open letter 'to our brethren in the East" pointing out the distressing fact that '""we are exposed to the disgraceful and uncompromising requirements of the law;" that 'we have exerted ourselves and we are unable to collect money that is absolutely necessary to save a tottering, feeble church from ruin and disgrace," and that ''now, dear brethren, in view of the above facts, we turn our attention to you, whom God hath blessed with riches of this world, hoping you will put forth a benevolent hand and save a tottering, feeble church from ruin and disgrace." This letter was signed by Thomas S. Neely, Jonathan Wachtell, John Galbraith and John C. Helm, as elders, and Benjamin Sayre and Thomas Barnes, as deacons. Armed with this appeal, Parson Irwin visited the churches at Cincinnati, Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore and came back with about $500, enough to see the work through and release Doctor Anthony's claim. This was in 1845. Three years later, in 1848, the congregation got into a row over the contemplated use of a new hymn book, the differences of opinion, according to the Neely narrative, becoming serious and almost savoring of open rupture. In October of the next year (1849) Parson Irwin resigned his pastorate. ''Whatever may have been the causes that induced this step,' wrote Mr. Neely, "the pleasant memories clustering around the experiences of the pastoral relation are sufficient guaranty of the high appreciation of this people for an honored pastor."

In 1913 the late John C. EHiler, one time postmaster of Muncie and for some years a newspaper man in that city, compiled and published an interesting and informative pamphlet, the "History of the First Presbyterian Church of Muncie," from its organization in 1838 to 1918, which has definitely preserved for the congregation of that church all the essential data relating to the days of the church's beginnings and to its development and which therefore is treasured in many households in that congregation.

Development Of Other Church Organizations

The Disciples of Christ or "Christians," then popularly known as ""Campbellites," in deference to Alexander Campbell, founder of the sect, introduced their doctrines here in 1848, when Elder Benjamin Franklin was given consent to hold a series of meetings in the hall of the old county seminary building, which occupied the present site of the Jefferson school building. Some converts to the new doctrine were made and further ministrations were carried on here by apostles of Campbell, but no attempt was made to effect a formal organization until in the summer of 1865, when under the direction of Elder George W. Thompson the nucleus of the present congregations of this faith in Muncie was formed. Meetings at first were held in the homes of local Disciples and during the middle '70s for a time in old Walling hall. In 1875 a lot was bought at the corner of Jackson and Council streets and a building was erected at a cost of about $4,000, this edifice being dedicated on November 21, 1875. Twenty years later it was found that the congregation had grown to such proportions as to demand new quarters and the present church lot at the southeast corner of Jackson and Elm streets was purchased and in 1894 the Jackson Street Christian church was erected at a cost, including lot and furnishings, of about $30,000.

In 1892 a congregation of Christians (American Christian Convention) differing slightly from the Disciples was formed at Muncie, the meeting being held in a public hall, where services were held until in 1896 when a temporary church building was erected at the northeast corner of North and Elm streets, to which was given the name of the First Christian church. This edifice served the purposes of the congregation for about six years, or until in 1903, when the present edifice of the First church was erected at a cost of something like $20,000.

It was in 1859 that the Universalists effected an organization in Muncie. In the miscellaneous records of the county carried in the recorder's office there is recorded as of date February 4, 1859, the articles of association of the First Universalist Church Building Association, it being set out therein that 'We, the undersigned, do hereby voluntarily associate ourselves together for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a suitable building for publick worship and such other moral and literary purposes as may be agreed upon, to be located in Muncie, Delaware county, Indiana, to be called the First Universalist Church Building Association. Any person may become a member of this association by signing this article." Then follows a description of the corporate seal of the association and the names of Sam W. Harlan, Jahiel Graham, Thomas Kirby, Adam Wolfe, James Hodge, John Jack, Jacob H. Wysor, Alfred Kilgore, William B. Kline, Peter Fullhart and S. I. Watson, several of these, as will be recognized by those familiar with the traditions of the town, having been among the "leading citizens" of the town at that time. The records of this organization show that under the direction of the Rev. B. F. Foster the congregation was organized on the following February 18. At a meeting held in the following April a resolution was adopted accepting the use of Putnam hall for meetings, the proprietor of this hall having donated its use for that purpose. In October the new congregation "concluded arrangements with Brother Gifford, of Ohio, to preach once a month for an indefinite period of time, or until a suitable person can be obtained as settled pastor." In the meantime two lots at the corner of Madison and Jackson streets (present site of the Universalist church) had been procured from Thomas Kirby and work at once was begun on the erection of a church edifice, which was completed in due time and was dedicated on September 9, 1860. In the following October the Rev. Josiah Davis, of Illinois, was installed as pastor, but difficulties presently arose in the congregation and "it was found necessary for him to sever his connection with the society and seek another field of labor." That was in December, 1861, and it was not until in October of the following year that another pastor was called, the choice falling upon the Rev. E. Case, under whose ministrations ''the church became quiet and peace reigned in the bosom of the church." In 1899 the Universalist church building was extensively remodeled and has since been further improved, with a view to the extension of the institutional activities to which the members of the congregation long have lent themselves.

Development Of Two Memorial Churches

It also was in 1859 that the first service under the direction of a minister of the Protestant Episcopal church was held in Muncie, the Presbyterians opening their meeting house for this service, which was conducted by Bishop Upfield of the Episcopal diocese of Indiana in response to an invitation on the part of two or three persons of this faith then living in Muncie. It is narrated, however, that "no effort was made to organize the few scattered members of the flock into a congregation at that time and, so far as can be learned, the services of the church were not again celebrated in public until about the year 1870, when Rev. George H. Engle came from Indianapolis, at the invitation of Miss Mary Burbank and Mrs. Carrie J. McCulloch, and conducted public worship in the Presbyterian church, preaching on Monday and Tuesday evenings." It then appears that "five years elapsed without any further effort in this direction," and that it was "largely due to the influence and labors of Mrs. J. A. Heinsohn that the organization finally was accomplished." At a meeting of friends of the faith held in the parlors of the Kirby House on an evening in March, 1875, it was decided to effect an organization and a committee composed of Charles F. Willard, J. M. Kirby, A. R. Brown, A. H. Hamilton, J. E. Burson, J. A. Heinsohn and J. D. Williams was appointed to take the initial steps in that behalf. The Rev. Jesse R. Bicknell was assigned to the charge of the mission and meetings began to be held in the Wysor theater and later in the city council room, until presently a small church building was erected on a lot donated by Mrs. J. W. Burson on Walnut street. There the congregation worshiped until in 1881, when a lot at the southeast corner of Adams and Mulberry streets (present site of the Star building) was 'purchased and the church moved onto its new foundation, where it continued to serve the needs of the congregation until the present Episcopal edifice on East Adams street was erected in 1907 by the late George F. McCulloch as a memorial to his mother, Mrs. Caroline McCulloch, who was among the initial movers in the work of the church here and who continued active in that service until her death, and to his wife, who also was one of the most active workers in the parish. This building was enlarged during the summer of 1923, and at the same time J. W. Perkins erected in memory of his wife the Perkins Memorial manse.

It was in 1875 that the Quakers, or Friends, got their start in Muncie, Friends in and near the city and belonging to the Meeting at Winchester sending up a request for the establishment at Muncie of a Preparative Meeting of Friends. This request was granted and the Meeting was organized with eighteen members, twelve of whom were adults, and with Samuel T. Haines and Mary H. Goddard, the latter of whom is said to have been "mainly influential in starting the movement," as overseers. Mrs. Mary Burson gave the new Meeting a small frame building on the north side of the square rent free as a meeting house and presently at a "revival" held at Walling's hall by Nathan and Esther Frame, the first ministers, a sufficient number of additional members were secured to render feasible the projection of plans for a regular meeting house, which was finished, at the southeast corner of Wall (Seymour) and Mulberry streets, and occupied in January, 1880. In 1908 the Friends purchased a lot at the corner of Adams and Cherry street and in 1906 began the erection of the present handsome stone memorial edifice which stands there and which was dedicated to the service of the Friends on February 2, 1908.

Other Church Organizations In Muncie

The Methodist Protestants effected an organization in Muncie in 1872, under the direction of the Rev. J. H. Luse, and took over the church building which had been erected by the Evangelical Association at 614 East Jackson street in 1868, but which had been abandoned by this association by reason of lack of continuing interest, and there worshiped until in 1893 when the old building was torn down and the present M. P. church was erected, at a cost of about $7,000. It was on April 10, 1889, at a meeting held in the old Commercial Club's rooms in the Boyce block on Main street that a number of persons holding to the faith of the United Presbyterian communion effected an organization, under the direction of the Rev. J. T. Wilson, nineteen persons forming the initial membership of the congregation, which in the fall of the following year began the erection of a church building at the corner of Adams and Ebright streets, which building was completed and dedicated on December 7, 1890, at a cost of about $8,000. On January 31, 1892, this edifice was destroyed by fire but was rebuilt in that same year, and in 1906 a parsonage was built at the north end of the church lot.

Though in the days of the beginning of the settlement here an occasional Catholic missioner would. send out word in advance that Mass would be celebrated for the benefit of such of the few persons of that faith as then resided within the confines of the Muncietown trade area, there was no definite effort to establish a mission here until in 1853, when, with the coming of the railroad Father Maloney was sent here from Indianapolis to investigate the field. He held Mass in the home of Patrick Tuhey, the first Catholic to take up permanent residence here, the Tuhey house then occupying the corner now occupied by the public library at the southeast corner of Jackson and Jefferson streets. The families of Nicholas Eyler and Peter Mutch were the only other Catholic families in the vicinity. Father Maloney made this a station on his missionary rounds and Mass was celebrated monthly here by him until in 1858, when he was succeeded by Father Clarke and other missioners until in 1869, by which time there had come to be quite a number of other Catholic families in town and in the vicinity, when Fr. Lawrence Lamour, of the Union City parish, undertook to build a church here. A site was bought at the corner of Charles and Hackley streets and in 1873 the first Catholic church edifice was erected there, a brick building 35 by 60, and dedicated to the honor of St. Lawrence, which name the parish ever since has borne. In December, 1874, the Rev. William G. Schmidt was asigned to St. Lawrence's, the parish at that time comprising something more than forty families. In 1881 he caused to be built the first parochial school, which later was extended to its present proportions, and in 1895 the present church edifice was erected, the - dedicatory ceremonies being conducted under the direction of Bishop Rademacher. St. Lawrence's parish is said now to have a material property valued in excess of $100,000.

And thus the foundations of the present ample church equipment in Muncie were laid. With the coming of the "new era" consequent on the development of the industries growing out of the discovery of natural gas here in the late '80s and the consequent increase in population, church interests expanded with those of a merely material character and have kept fully abreast of development along other lines, until now there are no fewer than forty-nine church or religious organizations carrying on their work in Muncie, these being as follows: Avondale Methodist Episcopal, Beth-El Temple (Jewish), Brethren Mission, Church of the Soul (Spiritualist), Congerville Church of Christ, Twenty-fifth Street Christian, First Baptist, First Brethren, First Christian, First Church of Christ (Scientist), First Methodist Protestant, First Presbyterian, First Unity Spiritualist, Five Points Nazarene Mission, Fountain Square United Brethren, Free Methodist, Friends Memorial, Grace Episcopal, High Street Methodist Episcopal, Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, Industry United Brethren, Jackson Street Christian (Disciples), Madison Street Methodist Episcopal, Muncie Full Gospel Tabernacle (interdenominational), Normal City Methodist Episcopal, Normal City United Brethren, Pentecostal Church of God, Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, Pentecostal Mission, Pilgrim Holiness, Riverside United Brethren, St. John's Universalist, St. Lawrence's Catholic, Second Christian, Separate Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Twelfth Street Baptist, United Presbyterian, Union Home Mission, Walnut Street Baptist, Whiteley Methodist Episcopal, a Salvation Army band and the eight Negro churches, Antioch Baptist, Bethel A. M. E., Calvary Baptist, Church of God, Shaffer Chapel A. M. E., Trinity M. E., Triumphant and Union Baptist, besides active organizations of the Young Men's Christian Association and of the Young Women's Christian Association.

Other Churches And Sunday School Association

No less well organized is the church life in the other towns of the county and from all accounts the various churches are able to report progress. At Albany there is a Methodist Episcopal church and a Christian church. At Cowan the Christians (Disciples), the Methodist Protestants and the Friends have churches. There are churches of the Methodist Episcopal, the Christian and the United Brethren at Daleville. There is a Union Methodist Episcopal church at Desoto. At Eaton there is a Methodist Episcopal church and a Christian church. Gaston has a Methodist Episcopal church, a Methodist Protestant church and a church of the Church of the Nazarene. There is a Brethren church at Oakville and a Methodist Episcopal church at Shideler. Selma has a Methodist Episcopal church, a United Presbyterian and a United Brethren church and Yorktown has three churches, the Methodist Episcopal, the Methodist Protestant and the Christian.

For many years the Delaware County Ministerial Association has been an active body, nominally comprehending all sections of the county in its membership, though practically of late years its active membership seems to be confined chiefly to the ranks of Muncie clergymen. M. W. Butler, pastor of the First Christian church of Muncie, is the present secretary of this body and the other members are as follows: J. H. Mitchell, Walnut Street Baptist; George L. Studebaker, Church of the Brethren; J. L. Kinnell, First Brethren; S. G. Fisher, Jackson Street Christian (Disciples) ; W. G. Everson, First Baptist; C. A. Sanders, Congerville Disciples; Max W. Shaffer, Christian; Marshall M. Day, Grace Episcopal; William J. Sayers, Friends Memorial; Charles W. Sweet, retired; G. S. Albert, Holy Trinity Lutheran; J. J. Fred, Eaton Methodist Episcopal; Heber D. Ketcham, High Street Methodist Episcopal; J. H. Runkle, Madison Street Methodist Episcopal; Dale C. Beatty, Normal City Methodist Episcopal; James A. Beatty (late deceased), district superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal church; J. Walter Gibson, evangelist same; F. W. Stevenson, First Methodist Protestant; C. W. Carpenter, Bethel

A time stained document now ninety years old, held as one of the prized possessions of the Muncie public library, carries a minute of the '""Munseytown Sunday School," as of date June 2, 1834, this brief minute setting out that the school "met at the court house; officers present: George W. Green, superintendent; Samuel P. Anthony, corresponding secretary; teachers - William Fitzpatrick, third class, male class; Elizabeth Killough, first class, female class; Louise Gilbert, second class, female class; Nancy Liston, third class, female class; John Marshall, P. T., second class, male class."" With this is the printed "regulations" of the '""Muncietown Sabbath Union" (without date but apparently contemporary with the above) on a blank form evidently supplied by the State Sabbath School Association. It is interesting to note here the two forms of the spelling of the name of the old town, the '"'seys" and the "cies" apparently for years having been unable to get together on a common form, a point that has been noted elsewhere. This old-time printed form carries thirteen regulations, the ninth of which follows: "The Selected Scripture Lessons shall be used, so that every class shall receive instruction on the same lesson at the same time and the lessons for the next Sabbath shall be announced at the close of the school: it shall be the duty of the teachers to prepare themselves for this lesson by a careful attention to it during the week. An examination on these lessons shall take place quarterly by the superintendent."

The Delaware County Sunday School Association is a continuing body of many years of activity, and the majority of the evangelical churches of the county have affiliation with it. From the best available records, it is apparent that the first organization of this sort was effected at a meeting held at Muncie on August 22, 1870, when the following officers were elected: President, Rev. Robert Irwin; secretary, J. F. Nickey; treasurer, J. E. Langdon. Vice presidents were named as follows: In Muncie, Mrs. James Sparr and Nettie Gallahan, for Center township; in Mt. Pleasant township, James Montgomery; Harrison township, Doctor Morgan; Washington, Mor- ris Jones; Union, J. H. Studebaker; Niles, Amos Wilson; Delaware, James Orr; Liberty, Doctor Black; Perry, A. H. Kennedy; Monroe, D. M. Tuttle; Salem, J. M. Shirey, and Hamilton, N. Shafer. The first annual meeting of this association was held at old Simpson Chapel (Methodist Episcopal) at Muncie on the following October 24 and among others prominently mentioned, besides the above, as taking a part in that meeting were the Rev. O. M. Todd, the Rev. James Heath, the Rev. Mr. Fish, the Rev. J. E. Irwin, Job Swain, Conrad Kuntz, Amanda Fleming, Hattie Cowing, Mrs. John Marsh, David Miller and G. S. Maddy. In the report of this society for the year 1873 it was noted that there were no fewer than thirty-seven Sunday schools in the county affiliated with the body, with an average attendance of more than 2,200 persons. By the year 1877 this body's usefulness had extended until in eight of the county's twelve townships there had been organized township Sunday school associations, reporting to and responsive to the county organization, and a compact organization has ever since been maintained. W. L. Swanger, of Muncie, is the present president of the association.

The present well established local branch of the Young Men's Christian Association at Muncie had its start in the summer of 1875 and is thus a development of nearly fifty years of unremitting endeavor on the part of those whose impulses have turned in that direction. At an informal meeting called for discussion of the project on the evening of July 11, 1875, it was decided that there was sufficient interest in such a movement in Muncie to warrant further steps and at a meeting at the Presbyterian church two evenings later (July 13), presided over by A. Hamilton and with J. T. Hensley acting as secretary, a constitution was adopted, the membership fee fixed at $2 a year and a board of directors named consisting of J. F. Nickey, George Andrews, Edward Nutting, Andrew Slinger, D. V. Buchanan, J. T. Hensley, Jonathan Adamson, James Mock, EF. L. Keys, Robert C. Nelson, Thomas Brelsford, Robert Atkins, J. C. Weller, H. Fleming and J. W. Heath. These directors met at the Baptist church on the evening of the following July 19 and perfected an organization which has been maintained. It is understood that for some years the organization was hardly more than a name, but at a reorganization meeting in January, 1881, new life was injected into the movement and the following officers took hold: President, Dr. Hugh A. Cowing; vice president, Henry Marsh; secretary, Edward Johnson; treasurer, Lettie Smith; corresponding secretary, F. S. Tyler, and executive secretary, Albert W. Clancy, who then was county superintendent of schools. A "home" then was secured for the purposes of the association, which was maintained with more or less vigor through the '80s and then was discontinued until in the late 90s, when a meeting was held at the home of A. L. Johnson and a new interest was created which eventually led to the movement which culminated in the erection of the present ample Y. M. C. A. building at the southwest corner of Adams and Jefferson streets, a movement that was carried through largely through the beneficence of the Ball brothers, large manufacturers of Muncie, whose initial subscription to the fund for a building stimulated further subscriptions and insured the erection of a building which is one of the "prides" of the town. This building, which was erected in 1913 at a cost of $250,000, is said to be the largest and best equipped Y. M. C. A. building of any town of less than 100,000 population in the United States and has proved itself to be a valuable center for various forms of social service in behalf of the young men of the city and vicinity. The present directors of this local branch of the Y. M. C. A. are as follows: President, Frank C. Ball; vice president, Joseph A. Goddard; recording secretary, John W. Dragoo; treasurer, Karl A. Oesterle, and Charles A. Wood, Hugh A. Cowing, C. 8. Davis, J. G. Leffler, W. H. Denny, F. D. Rose and Myron H. Gray; general executive secretary, E. Kinney Miller.

In an attractive old dwelling house just across the street east from the Y. M. C. A. building, a well established local branch of the Young Women's Christian Association carries on its activities, these corresponding in behalf of the young women of the community to the activities carried on by the Y. M. C. A. The present officers of the Y. W. C. A. follow: President, Mrs. Harriet Johnston; vice presidents, Mrs. W. C. Stephens, Mrs. Elizabeth Claypool Earl and Lola Jackson; recording secretary, Mrs. Ray V. Sowers; treasurer, Blanche Tuhey; corresponding secretary, Mrs. H. M. Anthony; general secretary, Rennie Sebring Smith; directors, Mrs. G. A. Ball, Mrs. E. W. Barrett, Mrs. Charles Davis, Mrs. Elizabeth Claypool Earl, Alice Fudge, Lola Jackson, Mrs. Ray P. Johnson, Mrs. S. G. Jump, Mrs. J. N. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. J. N. Maring, Mrs. William Sampson, Mrs. William F. Spencer, Mrs. Joseph, Sutton, Mrs. Carl Topp, Blanche Tuhey, Mrs. W. W. Tuttle, Mrs. John Valentine and Mrs. W. C. Stephens. A fund is now accumulating and plans are under way for the erection at Muncie of an adequate building to be devoted to the uses of the Y. W. C. A.

An interesting adjunct of the local organization of the Young Men's Christian Association is Camp Crosley, at Lake Tippecanoe, a reserve created by E. B. Ball, a Muncie manufacturer, and presented to the "Y" as a memorial to his deceased son, Crosley Ball, this camp providing a picturesque and admirable site for the summer outings of the members of the local organization. The local Young Women's Christian Association is also the recipient of a somewhat similar gift from the Muncie Exchange Club, which has deeded to the "Y. W." a beautiful tract on Round Lake, one of the most picturesque bodies of water in the Whitley county lake region, for the summer camp uses of that organization.