Shelby County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 6 of those read), 1887 (part 2 of 2)

Seven Day Adveiitists. - hi the year of 1878, J. W. Johnson, of Boggstown, had after thorough investigations, become an advocate of the doctrine of the Adventist's Church, and began the observance of the Seventh day of the week as the true Sabbath, hi the doctrines he so much cherished he felt it a duty incumbent to make an earnest effort to interest his neighbors, and to this end secured the assistance of Elder S. H. Lane, vvho in 1879, delivered a series of lectures on Bible subjects, touching the faith of this religious sect. Services were held under a tent the following year by Elders W. W. Sharp and J. P. Henderson, but the seeming indifference of the people caused a discontinuance. Elders A. W. Bartlett and O. C. Godsmark preached occasionallv, and in 1887, twenty-four of the citizens of Boggstown and vicinity had become converted to the faith, and were organized into a church by Elder W. Covert. Within a few months from date, of oro-anization a neat frame building 30x42 feet in dimensions w'as completed at a cost of $1,500. The church is now prosperous and in a healthy working condition.

Waldroii Class. - To Elders Hoffman and Godsmark is due the credit of first preaching, to the people of Waldron and vicinity, the doctrines of what they believe to be the true church. In

August, 1 886, they pitched their tent in the suburbs of the little village, and after seven weeks of earnest, conscientious work the}'- were rewarded by results which were most satisfactorv, the organization of a church of their own faith, Twentv-h\'e had sio-ned the covenant, to observe the Seventh day as the true Sabbath. In conjunction with other denominations the Adventists have erected a commodious frame building which when completed will probabl}' cost $1,000.

Christian Union Church. - This somewhat peculiar religious sect was the outgrowth of the late rebelHon, and had its beginning in a convention held at Columbus, Ohio, in Februar}-, 1S64. The delegates were from the various religious denominations of the countr}-, who had become aggreived at and had withdrav.-n from their respective churches because of the real or fancied intolerance and fanaticism of its members and ministers. This new sect was organized on the basis declared by the convention as follows: Having a desire for a more perfect fellowship in Christ, and a more satisfactory enjoyment of the means of religious edification and comfort, we do solemnly form ourselves into a religious societv, under the style of The Christian Union, in which we avow our true and hearty faith in the received scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the word of God and the only sufficient rule of faith and practice, and pledge ourselves through Christ which strengtheneth us " to keep and observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded us." Mr. A. M. Hargrave returned from the convention thoroughh^ in sympathy with the teaching of the new church, and with the following named members of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church withdrew and established what has since been known as Blue River Chapel: Henry Wolfe and wife, August Handv and wife, Alexander Smith and wife, Mrs. William Handy, John Jackson and wife, Mrs. Dallas Smith, Charit}' Wolfe, Simpson Chandler and wife and Mrs. A. M. Hargrave. These were all Democrats and all the early accessions to the church were from the same party, consequently the class was for many years known as the " Democratic Church." Indeed, the same was true of all the organizations of this sect - it was at first composed almost exclusively of members of that part}'. The first preliminary meeting with a view to organizing a class was held at Gales' school-house in Hancock County, in the summer of 1864. An organization was soon perfected and meetings were held in said house until the erection of the present frame church in the early part of the seventies. The church building is 40x52 feet in dimensions, and was completed at a cost of $1,000. Rev. O. H. P. Abbot, now of Indianapolis, was the first regular pastor and served the church for many years.

Lutherans. - The first class of this denomination was organized in Jackson Township more than fort}' 3'ears ago. The first meetings were held in the residences of the members and in the district school-house. Early in the forties, what is now known as St. George's Lutheran Church was established, and a frame building probably 36x40 feet in dimensions was erected on the line of the Edinburg & Flatrock pike, tvro miles south of Mt. Auburn, The early members were: George Warner, B. Brooks, A. J. Treaon, Daniel Heck, Peter Borry, Lewis Snepp. The leading early ministers were: Revs. Rudesill, Laudslager and Hinkle. Later the church was served by Revs. Levengood, Graundt, Fairchilds, Wesner and J. H. Link. The old frame church building gave place, late in the sixties, to the present brick edifice, which was completed at a cost of about $5,000. The membership at present is 120.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, at Mt. Auburn, was organized in the latter part of the sixties, with the following families most prominent: Wei-tzes, Stines, Lamberts and Niebels. The first and only church building used by the congregation was bought of the Methodists, remodeled, and is now valued at $1,500. There are now about eighty active members in the church. The ministers who have served are the same as above mentioned. The present pastor is Rev. D. A. Kuhn.

Separate Baptists. - -The only organization of this division of the Baptist Church, is that known as Pleasant View in the Scott neighborhood, Jackson Township. Meetings were held in the school-house until the old Lutheran, which stood two miles south of Mt. x\uburn was purchased in 1868, and removed to its present location. Rev. Martin Layman was probabi}' the organizer of this church, but did not remain long in charge; he was succeeded by Benjamin Stoughton. Other pastors were: Benjamin Whittington and Joseph McQueen. Prominent among the members were: Abner Conner and wife, Joel D. Scott and wife, John Layman and wife, Sarah Davis, John Shauer and wife, and T. French and wife. The church has a membership of sixty-two and is in a fairly good condition.

JVeii^ Lights. - Although there were a few adherents of this particular faith in the county at an early day there was no permanent organization. Meetings were occasionally held in the neighborhood of Marion, and indeed it is claimed that one of the first religious gatherings was of the few New Lights who resided in that vicinitv. '

The prominent members of the church who were active in organizing and sustaining it, are : W. F. Wicker and wife, August Hundredthmark and wife, Abraham Baker and wife. The present pastor is Rev. Thrailkill. The membership has grov.'n very rapidlv and the church is now in a prosperous condition. The present meeting place is in the oki Grange Hall in the north central part of Union Township. The building is a frame and was bought by the church for $ioo, and with the repairs, since made it is now a comfortable building.

African JMcthodist E^iscofal Church. - The colored people of Shelbyville and vicinity enjoyed but few privileges of public worship prior to 1872. The few representatives of the colored race who came here at the close of the war^ \vere illy prepared to pa}- for the services of a pastor, or to provide themselves with a place of public worship. All efforts to organize a class of this denomination failed until the coming of Robert Watkins, to whom credit is due for the establishment of a Methodist Episcopal Church. The first meeting was held b}' Robert Watkins at his own residence, and the only resident mem^ber of the church was Frank Allen, Daniel Morgan's family being at that time members of the white Methodist Episcopal Church. An organization was perfected in the fall of 1872, and after holding meetings in various places Wise's Hall was leased, and this was used as a place of worship until the completion of the present church building. This building which is a small frame was erected at a cost of $250, which was contributed largeh' by the white people of the town. The church belongs to what is known as the Lexington Conference, by which the following ministers have been assigned: Daniel Tucker, Rev. Straws, James Molan, George Zeigler, Daniel Heston, Rev. Steen and C. Nickols. There are at present about fortv-eight active members, and much enthusiasm is manifested at their meetings.

Second Baptist Church of Shelbyville. (^Colored.') - The organization was perfected Februarv 19, 1869. There were present Revs. Wilham Moose, J. Reece, J. B. Shaff, M. Brayles, W. Singleton and William Neal. Rev. William Moore officiated as moderator. The meetings for this purpose, as well as for the general purposes of the church, for the first six years were held in the third stor}- of the brick building now occupied by Julius Joseph. There were seven members that constituted the church as organized, but the church gained rapidly in numbers, and at present there is a total membership of seventy. The present brick building which stands on Hendricks is 33x50 feet in dimensions and was completed at a cost of $2,500. The dedication exercises were held in 1.875, Rev. Moses Brayles delivering the sermon on that occasion.