Pettis County, Missouri - Chapter 34: Sedalia Churches, 1919

The Christian Church was originally located on the corner of Sixth and Massachusetts streets, where Robbins Business College now stands. The present church is one block south on Seventh and Massachusetts streets. The church was organized by Elder George W. Longan in May, 1861. Gen. G. R. Smith and daughters, J. W. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Logan Clark, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Dobyns, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Read were among the charter members. Elder George W. Longan, then a citizen of Benton County, preached the first sermon ever delivered in Sedalia, and organized the first congregation. He preached in the store house built by A. T. Hodge, adjoining the old "Sedalia House" on the west, the last Sunday in April, 1861, and in May, following, organized the first congregation. A house of worship was not built till 1866, when a brick structure was erected under the superintendence of John DeJarnett, Henry Cotton, Dr. Logan Clark and G. R. Smith. Henry Cotton was the treas¬ urer. The original building was remodeled and repaired by Elder S. K. Hallam. At the present time there are but two of the charter members of this church living. They are Mrs. Sarah E. Cotton, daughter of Gen. George R. Smith, and Mrs. Melvina Rogers, both of whom reside in the city of Sedalia. Rev. A. W. Kokendoffer is the present minister. The membership at present is 800, with Sunday school attendance of 450. The building is a brick structure with a large auditorium which will seat about 600 people. In addition it has three other rooms on main floor besides pastor's study. These rooms are used for Sunday school pur¬ poses, and with upstairs rooms and parlors easily cares for a Sunday school of six or seven hundred. Besides the church also owns, as a gift from Mrs. S. F. Cotton, a small cottage on Seventh street just west of the church building. The main auditorium has cushioned pews, pipe organ and four pianos in the various rooms of the church. Officers are as follows: Elders, George W. Barnett, Peter Courtney, Dr. W. M. Carter, E. H. Weinrich, A. J. White and W. U. Crites; deacons, T. R. Melton, C.

The First Baptist Church. - The individual history of the First Bap¬ tist Church begins upon October 20, 1865, when, at the call of Rev. Mr. Brown, a meeting wTas held in the house of worship of the O. S. Presby¬ terian Church, on the corner of Second and Lamine streets. Rev. E. T. Hiscox, D. D., of New York City, general superintendent of the Home Mission Society's work in the West, spoke. The organization was then for¬ mally recognized as the First Baptist Church of Sedalia, Mo. The follow¬ ing are the names of those who entered as constituent members: John Q. Bridges, Mrs. Martha Bridges, George Galliher, Mrs. Melinda Galliher, Rachel A. Bridges, Melinda J. Jennings, Mrs. Sabina Boyer, Barbara A. Kean, Elizabeth Tapman, John McKennan, Sarah J. Hansford, James

M. Patterson, Mrs. Sallie Patterson, John Hubbard, Jennie Hubbard, J. A. Mitchell, Miles W. Barnard, Mrs. Elizabeth Barnard, Rev. E. T. Brown. The new church elected Rev. E. T. Brown pastor. Two lots were obtained on the corner of Fourth and Lamine streets - one lot being a present from Gen. George R. Smith, and in May, 1866, the house was completed. The dedication services took place May 13, 1866, Rev. A. C. Osborn, D. D., of St. Louis, preaching the sermon. The present church building, corner Sixth and Lamine avenues, is a large, pressed brick structure. The main auditorium will seat 700 people and the new Sunday school room will seat 400. Membership of the church is 1,130, with Sunday school at¬ tendance 600. No history of the First Baptist Church would be complete without mentioning, prominently, the name of Dr. J. B. Fuller, who was a great church builder and organizer and who was, for twenty-five years, the pastor of this church. Dr. Frank Campbell succeeded Dr. Fuller as pastor and served for six years and was succeeded by Dr. Robert Lee Davidson, who is now with the U. S. Army in France. The present pastor, Dr. S. M. Brown, of Kansas City, is filling the pulpit until Dr. Davidson returns. Officers : A. E. Wood, Louis Hoffman, E. M. Moser, Roy Melton, A. E. Cotton, E. L. Calvert, W. 0. Stanley, J. M. Potter, Logan C. Thomas, M. H. Morris, Dan Dean, Frank Williams, Ralph Manker and Will Russ. The First Baptist Church has a mission church, Lawnsdale Mission, at 2601 South Ingram avenue. The officers of this church are the same as those of the First Baptist Church. The church and Sunday school attend¬ ance is good. E. L. Calvert is the Sunday school superintendent. The church building is a comfortable one and the church property is valued at $2,000.00. This mission was organized in 1915.

Immanuel Evangelical Church. - In 1875 the Rev. Charles Krafft, a member of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, of Warrensburg, Missouri, visited Sedalia and commenced the work of gather¬ ing a sufficient number of people to constitute a congregation. He was a tireless worker and his work bore fruit. In a short time a number had been gathered in and organized as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sedalia. Rev. Krafft occupied the pulpit evei'y altei'nate Sunday. A lot on the southwest corner of Main sti'eet and Washington avenue was purchased, and in 1876 the cornerstone was laid. In due time the house was finished. It was only a modest little church sixty by twenty. Rev. Krafft was chosen pastor and l'emoved fi'om Wai'rensbui'g to Sedalia and entered upon the duties of his new field. For four years he continued in this work, and under his ministration his chai'ge became well organ¬ ized. In July, 1880, he severed his connections with the church. The Immanuel Evangelical Church was formeidy the Gei'man Evangelical Church. In 1890 the present bi'ick structure, on Fourth and Vermont streets, was completed and dedicated. At the same time the pai'sonage, adjoining the church, was completed. The present minister, J. F. W. Helmkamp, has five sons in the Army and Navy. Membership of chui'ch is 300 with a Sunday school attendance of 125. Boai'd of officei's: Fi'ed Grote, pi'esident; L. Bi'ohnstrup, treasui'er; F. Schultze, secretary.

The Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Sixth and Lamine avenues, was organized in 1862. Its pi'esent membership is ninety with a Sunday school attendance of sixty five. The present minister is Rev. E. C. Paustin. The present church was built in 1877 and is of brick. One large room will seat 250 comfoi'tably. Has lai'ge platform, good piano. Acoustics are very good. The parsonage stands dii'ectly west of the church. 115 East Sixth street. Its board of officers consists of the following: Hennan Bremer, Coi'd Brandt, Peter Brandt, Dr. Bohling, Ed Zoellig,

The Jewish people have no synagogue in the city. The orthodox, Russian and Polish Jews hold regular weekly services in the Smith and Cotton building, in the hall in the third story. The Reform Jews hold services in the Powell-Crawford building on Fifth and Ohio streets. Their membership is about forty, with Rev. Moses Cohn, of Warrensburg, as their rabbi. Their Sunday school is held each Sunday at Union school for both orthodox and reform believers. The Sunday school attendance is about sixty.

Second Congregational Church, located at 702 East Fourteenth street, was organized August 16, 1891. The present building is that one used by the First Congregational Church, was located on Sixth and Ohio avenues and moved to its present site when First Congregational Church erected its new building. The first officers of the church were as follows:

First Church of Christ, Scientist. - Services are held on the fifth floor of the Powell-Crawford building. Sunday morning services are at 11 o'clock. Sunday school at 9:30 a. m. Wednesday evening services at 8 o'clock. Reading room on the fourth floor of same building, room 403. This church has had a wonderful growth in the last few years and num¬ bers among its members some of the best people of Sedalia.

The First Congregational Church was organized April 12, 1866, with the following original members: Rev. J. M. Bowers, J. H. Mei'tz, Aaron Brown, Mrs. Aseneth C. Brown, Thomas Tracy, Mrs. Sophia Tracy, H. L. Maynard, Mrs. Sylvia Maynard, Mrs. E. R. Newcomb. The call for a council to aid in the organization of this church was made March 10, 1866, and articles of faith were adopted at that meeting. The following named ministers and delegates responded to the call and aided in the organization: Rev. T. M. Post, D. D., St. Louis, also Mr. S. B. Kellogg and Mr. C. M. Saxton; Rev. L. Bartlett, Kansas City; Rev. E. B. Turner, Rev. M. H. Smith, Warrensburg; Rev. L. Newcomb, Syracuse, and Rev. L. Jones. Rev. J. M. Bowers was ordained the first pastor of the church on the evening of April 12, 1866. A house of worship was built and dedi¬ cated in the spring of 1867, and its whole cost, including the lot, was $8,- 000. When this church was built, if the entire wealth of its members had been estimated in one sum, it would have fallen far below the cost of the church. The bell, the first in the city, made by Jones, of Troy, New York, weighed 1,100 pounds, and cost $600. The First Congregational Church of today has a membership of 250 and a Sunday school attend¬ ance of 150. The Rev. Raymond C. Swisher is the present minister. The present church is a substantial and attractive edifice built of Warrensburg stone, in 1899, at a cost of about $30,000. The pipe organ in the church cost $3,000. The building is thoroughly modern. The church officers are as follows: W. H. Van Wagner, clerk; Arthur Hoffman, treas¬ urer; W. E. Hurlbut, superintendent Sunday school.

The East Broadway Christian Church was organized during the ministry of Rev. Meyers of the First Christian Church and by him and Rev. Cook. The present church building was built in 1897, is strictly modern and one of the best church buildings in the city. It is a large brick with main auditorium and lecture rooms adjoining, seating 400 people. Present membership is about 300 with a Sunday school enroll¬ ment of 200 and an average attendance of 135. The elders are: R. F. Truman, chairman; T. V. Money, clerk, and Jack Davis.

Broadway Presbyterian Church, on Broadway and Kentucky avenue, represents an amalgamation, or union, of the First Presbyterian Church, The Old School Presbyterian Church and The First Cumberland Presby¬ terian Church. The last named organization, a few years ago, sold their church building on Seventh and Osage streets to the Masonic organiza¬ tions of Sedalia, turned the proceeds over to Broadway Presbyterian Church and transferred the membership there. The Broadway Presby¬ terian Church has also furnished the nucleus for the remaining Presby¬ terian Churches in the city. Some years ago there was some dissatisfac¬ tion in the Broadway Church and about 120 of its members asked the right to withdraw and form an organization of their own. They did withdraw and organized the Central Presbyterian Church, now located on Fifth and Lamine streets, the Broadway Church giving the new or¬ ganization the lot where the new church now stands. A few of the members withdrawing from the Broadway Church to form the Central Church did not enter the latter organization but organized another church now known as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 1608 South Har- rison avenue. Hence the three Presbyterian churches in the city at the present time, the Broadway Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian and Cumberland.

The First Presbyterian Church. - Soon after the beginning of the war, in 1861, Rev. John Montgomery, D. D. (father of Attorney J. T. Montgomery), walked from Georgetown to Sedalia and1 preached one of the first sermons ever delivered in the town, in a small wooden house that had been brought up on the Missouri Pacific railroad, then being constructed. Dr. Montgomery continued to preach occasionally in Se¬ dalia as did also Rev. Mr. Barbee. The latter induced the friends to buy a house that had been used as a church in Syracuse, and remove it to Sedalia. This building was moved and rebuilt in the spring of 1865. This was the first house of worship erected in the town, and was on the comer of Second and Lamine streets. It was built for a Presbyterian Church, but for several years was occupied by the different denominations. The First Presbyterian Church was not formally organized till August 11, 1865, Dr. Montgomery presiding. The following persons were enrolled as members: Dr. Thomas J. Montgomery, John S. Brown, J. J. Monahan, Abram Meyer, Julius Huffman, Mrs. R. Monahan, Mrs. Adaline Meyer, Joseph P. Landes, Mrs. Sarah E. Staley, John F. Philips, P. G. Stafford and William B. Wallace. The following were elected elders: Abram Meyer, W. B. Wallace and J. S. Brown. Dr. Montgomery continued to preach for the church till February 25, 1868, when Rev. C. H. Dunlap was em¬ ployed and began his labors, April 5, 1868, and closed them March 3, 1872.

The Old School Presbyterian Church. - The organization was affected February 18, 1870, and from that date Sedalia had, besides the Cumber¬ land, two Presbyterian Churches. William Groesbeck, Dr. T. J. Mont¬ gomery (father of John Montgomery, Jr.) and Col. Philips were elected elders. The following named persons constituted the original member¬ ship, enrolled February 18, 1870: William Groesbeck, Harriet Groesbeck, Mary E. Groesbeck, Annie Groesbeck, Mrs. Mary Philips, Mrs. Mary A. Barrett, J. F. Jenkins, Adam Ittel, Mrs. Ellen M. Ittel, J. R. Stewart, Mrs. Mary H. Stewart, Miss Mary E. Shannon, Mrs. Mary Sneed, J. A. Wallace, Mrs. Minnie Wallace, N. S. Henry, Miss M. C. Bush, Mrs. S. E. Staley, Miss Anna J. Leet, Mrs. S. M. Cronks, John F. Philips, Mrs. Fleecie Philips, Louis Kumm, Mrs. Rosalie Kumm, Mrs. Madora Willis, M. M. Lampton, Mrs. E. M. Lampton, Miss Augusta Lampton, A. B. Barrett, W. H. Alli¬ son, Dr. W. C. West, Mrs. W. C. West, Mrs. Stella Wood, Mrs. A. J. Mont- gomery, Dr. T. J. Montgomery, Miss Mollie Smith, Miss Cammie Mont¬ gomery, Mrs. Emma Arnold, George R. Keill, Mrs. A. E. Keill. All the foregoing were by letter from the First Presbyterian Church of this city. Mrs. George G. Vest and Mrs. Mary Hogue were received by letter from Danville, Kentucky, and Platte City, Missouri, respectively. The first pastor was the Rev. John Montgomery, D. D., one of the pioneer preachers of this county. He had aided in the organization of many churches in the vicinity, having preached the first discourse delivered in this city, and was a prime mover in the organization of the First Pres¬ byterian Church. Dr. Montgomery was pastor about two years, when he resigned and Rev. J. E. Wheeler was installed pastor in the fall of 1872.

First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. - This church was first organized by Rev. R. S. Reed about the year 1869. In 1875 Rev. J. W. Riggins held a protracted meeting in Georgetown, which resulted in the resuscitation of the old organization and its removal to the town of George¬ town. The work of reorganization was accomplished by Revs. H. R. Smith and David Hogan; Elders Dr. H. E. Depp, W. M. Richey, Milton Hume; Deacons Clarke Bouldin, J. H. Kuykindall and Samuel Sprecher. The congregation under the new administration seemed to prosper for a few years and then the period of depression came again. In June, 1881, Rev. A. H. Stephens was called to the pastorate of this church, it then being a mission under the care of New Lebanon Presbytery. The church was reorganized July 17, when Capt. S. W. Ritchey and Dr. J. P. Gray were elected additional elders, and Messrs. L. M. Trumbull and J. E. and W. H. Ritchey were elected deacons.

Broadway Presbyterian Church building is in every way modern and up to date. The furnishings are of oak. Church has an excellent pipe organ. The new building, just south of the church on Kentucky avenue, was completed a few years ago. It is a large, two story brick, with fin¬ ished basement, called the Social Service building and is used for Sunday school, social service and physical development. Church membership, April 1, 1918, was 376 and the average Sunday school attendance is 160. Rev. W. B. Chancellor is the present minister and the following gentle¬ men constitute the board of officers: William B. Chancellor, moderator r John Montgomery, Jr., clerk ; S. P. Johns, R. F. Harris, Robert M. Johns, Dr. F. M. Fulkerson, John Baker, John A. Collins, William S. Sneed, F. F. Combs, P. L. Deweese, C. A. Shaeffer.

avenue. - The following sketch has been furnished the author by the Rev. John C. Giffen, present pastor of the church : The history of the Central Presbyterian Church dates back to 1865, in August of which year the First Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. John Montgomery in a little school house, on what is now West Jefferson street. The first church edifice was erected in the year 1865 at the corner of Second and Lamine streets, the present site of the Terry Hotel. The organization pros¬ pered until 1870, when a part of the congregation withdrew to organize what was called The Old School Presbyterian Church, the new organiza¬ tion retaining the old site and building. The first church removed to the corner of Fifth and Lamine streets and there erected the building now used by the manual training department of the Sedalia High School. In this edifice the congregation worshiped until 1888. The Old School Church continued at Second and Lamine streets until it became formally con¬ nected with the Presbyterian Church, South, at which time it received the name of the Broadway Presbyterian Church and removed to Broad¬ way and Kentucky streets and there erected the edifice in which they still worship. The two churches continued their separate work until 1888, when the Broadway Church was transferred to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and the First Church was mei'ged with it - the latter losing corporate name and existence. This arrange¬ ment continued for about two years, until 1890, when another division took place and the Central Presbyterian Church, composed largely of members of the old First Church, was organized. The Presbytery, how¬ ever, declined to revive the name First Church and gave the name Cen¬ tral Church instead. The new organization returned to the old building at Fifth and Lamine streets, which had never been disposed of, and in that edifice continued to worship until 1911, during which year the present beautiful church building was erected. Since 1891 the succession of min¬ isters has been as follows: Rev. Rollin A. Marquie, 1891-1898; Rev. James D. Catlin, 1898-1899 ; Rev. Andrew A. Boyd, 1899-1909 ; Rev. Joseph D. Prigmore, 1909-1917, the latter minister resigning to enter the service of the U. S. Army in Y. M. C. A. work. The present minister, Rev. John C. Giffin, was called in January, 1918, and was formally installed on May 1 of that year. The present membership of the church is 175 with a Sun¬ day school enrollment of about 150.

structure, completed in September, 1911. The building will seat about 350 people. Church membership is about sixty-two with a Sunday school attendance of 123. Rev. G. W. Petty is the present minister. The elders of the church are: George Emo, A. T. Woodson, George Lyon, R. L. Dav¬ enport, R. A. Johnston, and R. L. Owley. W. C. Byler is a deacon. Earle F. Brummit is clerk of the session and superintendent of the Sunday school. Mrs. Emily Withrow is secretary.

Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Sixth and Summitt streets, was organized March 21, 1877. The present building was built in 1895 at a cost of $10,000. Main auditorium is seated with oak pews and all the furnishings are in oak. Auditorium will seat 300 and the annex will seat 150 persons. Basement is finished and used for Sunday school which has an attendance of 250. Rev. W. O. Thompson is the present minister and the church membership is 500. Officers are as fol¬ lows: Trustees, George Berthoux, Oris W. Smith, W. M. Slagle, E. D. Robb,

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, located at 515 South Lafayette avenue, was organized in 1882. The present frame building is the oldest church building in Sedalia and was erected by the Cumberland Presbyterian or¬ ganization, sold by them in the year 1882. The congregation owns the parsonage, a nice frame building near the church. Membership at pres¬ ent is 300 with an attendance at Sunday school of 100. Rev. Charles Baepler is the present minister. J. W. Jochoche, C. Grother, J. H. Bruns, James Heermann, J. Maus, F. Borchers, C. Kueck and C. Traugott are the church elders. The trustees are E. L. Keuper, treasurer; J. Bergmann, auditor; G. Weil, secretary.

Trinity English Lutheran Church, at 910 South Osage avenue, was organized November 28, 1894, with twelve members. The church has been served by the following pastors: Revs. John F. Seibert, D. D. ; J. C. Jacoby, D. D. ; S. M. Lesher and the present pastor, J. A. Koser, D. D. Present membership is 130 and the church, under Rev. Koser, is in a flourishing condition. The following gentlemen constitute the board of officers: Charles Maggard, William Harbaugh, Carl Anderson, Samuel Brown, Carl Borgelt and D. H. Fries.

The East Sedalia Baptist Church was organized under the direction of Rev. E. T. Brown Friday, March 19, 1875. The following persons con¬ stituted its first members: Rev. E. T. Brown, Mrs. E. T. Brown, Elder J.

L. Thomas, sister Emma Hubbard, sister L. Pickard, sister Retta Titus. S. H. Olmsted was the first church clerk and Rev. E. T. Brown the first pastor. April 17, 1875, the church called Elder Brown to its pastorate, and with the exception of one year, in which Rev. John Letts was pastor, Elder Brown continued to minister to the church till 1879. Elder Brown was the prime mover in the establishment and building of the Baptist Church in East Sedalia. He built the church at a cost of $3,000, with his individual means, except about $200 in work and lumber contributed by other parties. Rev. S. D. Fulton was the second pastor. The present East Sedalia Baptist Church building, corner of Fifth street and Summit avenue, was built in 1909 at a cost of $30,000. The building is a com¬ modious brick, modern and is furnished with oak pews and pipe organ. The main auditorium will seat about 600 people and the basement, equippel for Sunday school, will seat a like number. Present membership of the church is 750, with Sunday school attendance of 350. George Smith is superintendent. The boards of officers are : Deacons, R. A. Stanley, chair¬ man; Fred Pierce, R. A. Miller, Joseph Hancock, M. V. Patterson, George K. Smith. Joseph Hancock is chairman of the board of trustees. The East Sedalia Baptist Church has a mission church located at 129 East Saline street. This mission was organized in 1915.

The Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Sedalia in July, 1864, by Rev. C. E. Carpenter. Rev. C. E. Carpenter died at Fairfield, Iowa, in May, 1867, at twenty-nine years of age. In 1862 Rev. Stan¬ ford Ing preached in a school house in or near Sedalia, but the house having been occupied as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers, the preaching was necessarily discontinued. In November, 1865, Rev. George McKee effected a permanent organization in Sedalia, with a- membership of seven, viz: Elizabeth Hulland, Dr. J. F. Tobias, James N. Johnson, A. McAlpine, Eliza McAlpine, Sarah A. Russell and Rachel McKee, the wife of the pastor. Under the direction of Rev. Mr. McKee a church edifice was commenced, the cornerstone being laid in 1865. The building was enclosed and the lecture room was dedicated by Bishop E. R. Ames in March, 1867. Rev. J. W. Bushong succeeded Rev. McKee in the pastorate charge of the Sedalia Church in 1867. The church was located on the corner of Ohio and Fourth streets. The present edifice was built of Warrensburg stone in 1888. Church has been served by many able ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Rev. Leroy Vernon, D. D., was the pastor of this church and was the first missionary to carry the

King James version of the Holy Scriptures into the city of Rome. The church building has the largest seating capacity of any church in the city of Sedalia. The property is worth about $60,000 and is free of debt. Rev. Eli P. Anderson is the present minister. Church has a membership of 685 with a Sunday school attendance of 500. The trustees are: E. E. Johnston, Jacob Brandt, H. E. Carpenter, Earnest W. Dugan, Frank Faulkner, J. L. Butterworth, Harvey D. Dow, W. L. Porter, William Jolly.

The M. E. Church, South. - The services under the auspices of this denomination in Sedalia until 1871 were under the Sedalia circuit, hence the history of this church as a distinct pastoral charge begins on the aforesaid date. During that year (1871) under the direction of Rev. Preston Philips a church building on the corner of Third and Massa¬ chusetts streets was completed at a cost of about $3,500. In August of the same year it was dedicated by the late Bishop Marvin, and the first quarterly conference convened, November 20, 1871, with Rev. Dr. W. M. Prottsman presiding and H. C. Riggs pastor. J. R. Bennett, C. C. Woods, Milton Adkisson, M. M. Pugh and C. L. D. Blevens officiated as the early presiding elders. The first members of the church were J. S. Lingle, Preston Phillipps and wife, A. G. Hudson and wife, Mrs. D. D. Fear, James Dickerson, George L. Bell and Henry Franklin and wife. Meetings were held first in a private room on the second floor of a main street store and in that place the church was organized. The present church build¬ ing, located on the corner of Fifth and Osage avenues, is a good, sub¬ stantial and artistic brick and will seat 400 people. The parsonage in connection with the church is situated at 315 West Fourth street. The church building is valued easily at $20,000. Church membership is 688 with a Sunday school attendance of 300. Rev. W. T. McClure, D. D., is the present minister. The following gentlemen constitute the board of officers: H. R. Camp, E. W. Couey, E. M. Shultz, W. W. Rose, G. D. Malone, S. W. Rickets, A. M. Harlan, who is also superintendent of the Sunday school ; D. H. Hoffman, L. Martin, H. C. Thornton, J. E. Roark, E. H. Harris, B. F. Burford, C. M. Licklider, H. T. Rapp, A. C. Melton, Lon V. Ware and L. D. Mellor.

Calvary Episcopal Church, Broadway and Ohio avenues. The first Episcopal Church services held in Sedalia were conducted by the Rt. Rev. Cicero S. Hawks, D. D., bishop of Missouri, in a frame store room on the old Gallie Lumber Yard site, in the summer of 1865. An organization of the members of the church was effected in December of that year, and the present name of the parish was adopted. The first vestry con¬ sisted of the following gentlemen: 0. A. Crandall, A. H. Thompson, S. M. Vinton, Thomas E. Bassett and Charles A. Meyers. The present church edifice was commenced in 1885 and the cornerstone laid by the Rt. Rev. C. F. Robertson, bishop of Missouri. On July 11, 1886, the Rt. Rev. A. C. Garreett, bishop of northern Texas, dedicated the church. This building is of native stone, completed during the rectorship of Rev. J. J. Wilkins. The new rectory was completed in 1918. The present membership is 200 with a Sunday school attendance of fifty. The rector is the superin¬ tendent. Present vestry consists of the present rector, Rev. H. E. Martin, A. D. Stanley, S. W.; J. W. Mellor, J. W.; C. P. Brown, J. N. Hinman, George Trader, Harvey McFarland, Charles E. Messerly, Jr., C. W. Fry, Col. H. Demuth, Charles D. Guy, Victor Winnberg and Fred Jackson.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church, located at 915 South Vermont avenue, was organized in August, 1879. B. U. Hale is the present Con¬ ference president. Those holding membership are: Mrs. Anna Montgom¬ ery, Mrs. Harry Straler, Misses Mildred and Helen Straler, Mr. and Mrs. S. N. Wilhite, Will Huff, Mrs. Serrell Jenkins, Mrs. Elizabeth Boyd, A. J. Boyle and Mrs. Mary E. Taylor.

The Church of Christ has two congregations in Sedalia. One at 1319 South Stewart avenue and one at Twenty-sixth and Massachusetts ave¬ nue. Their membership is about seventy-five, with Sunday school at¬ tendance of thirty-five. The above church and mission were established in 1905. The church on Stewart avenue is a good frame house twentyeight by forty feet. The mission, on Twenty-sixth and Massachusetts avenue, is a frame construction twenty-four by forty feet. Officers of first named church are: J. W. Hogan, J. D. Powers and W. H. Palmer. Those of the Mission Church are: H. Franklin and L. A. Spellmeyer.

Good Will Methodist Church, three miles southeast of Sedalia, is a Southern Methodist. It is well attended, the membership being about fifty, with Sunday school attendance of forty. Rev. W. 0. Thompson, of Sedalia, is the present minister.

St. Vincent's (now St. Patrick's) is the oldest Catholic Church in Sedalia. The original church building was a small frame, located on the corner of Lamine avenue and Pettis street. This church was organized prior to 1871. The next site was the site of the present St. Patrick's Church. The present building was completed in 1914. The present struc¬ ture is a magnificent church and represents a property value of $35,000.

The name of this parish was changed from St. Vincent's to St. Patrick's when the location was changed to the present location. The following have ministered to the parish: Rev. Fr. Swift (who established St. Vin¬ cent's) and Rev. Frs. Walsh, Graham, Murphy, Scanlon, Haley, McNamee and the present incumbent, Rev. Fr. Jennings.

Sacred Heart Church dates from 1882. In that year Rt. Rev. J. J. Hogan, D. D., bishop of Kansas City, granted the German Catholics, then numbering thirty-five families, permission to found a congregation inde¬ pendent of St. Vincent's Parish of which they had hitherto been mem¬ bers. Father Dickmann, C. PP. S., immediately secured a place of wor¬ ship, first, in Keck's Hall, and then in the vacant Episcopal Church located at the corner of Fourth and Massachusetts streets. In the meanwhile they purchased the lots on the southeast corner of Third and Vermont streets, and the parish contributed towards the erection of the new church, combining church and school. October 1, 1882, the new church and school were dedicated and the Sisters of the Community of the Most Precious Blood took charge of the school which has ever since grown and flourished. The charter members of this church were C. L. Keck, Henry Schaffer, Joseph Burger, H. H. Meier, Frank Lorsbach, Peter Meyers, Alexander Kipping, John Young, Joseph Klink, George C. Deckmann, P. R. Meyers, Caspar Lix, Joseph Lix, Joseph Patt, George Altemueller, Peter Rast, Mrs. Binder, Henry Rottler, Hermann Loos, Caspar Kruse, Mrs. Phil Pfeiffer, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Andler, Michael Neckermann, Mrs. Hampeter, Frank Van Hoff, Mrs. Brockschmidt, Mrs. Wagner.