Adams County, Nebraska - Chapter 16: Some Adams County Churches, 1916

Chapter 16: Some Adams County Churches

It is probable that the first public religious service conducted in Adams County was that held on the third Sunday in January, 1871, at the home of William Kress in Little Blue Township. About twenty pioneers assembled for this meeting, notice of which had been passed from mouth to mouth for several days. The service was conducted by the Rev. J. W. Warwick, a Baptist minister. All around the little shantj' stretched the desolate prairie, and not a few shed tears as the first hymn was sung. "The ever mindful care of God" was the appropriate theme of the minister.

Some of the difficulties attending spiritual ministration in the early days appears in the records of the county commissioners, where it is recorded that in 1872, the Rev. Mr. Warwick applied to the commissioners for aid, stating that he and his family were in dire need.

The first religious service held in Hastings was conducted in the sample room of Charles Kohl, early in 1873. The Rev. J. F. Clarkson, who had come to Hastings with the English colony in the spring of 1871, conducted the service. JNIr. Kohl laid aside all glasses and concealed the distinguishing features of the sample room. The proprietor did this voluntarily to contribute to the success of the first meeting.

The churches of the county have grown with the community. In 1891 there were sixty-four Sunday schools with a membership of 4, .51 4. The growth of the religious life of the comminiity will be indicated in the history of the churches that follows.

Hastings Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church began its activities in Adams County almost as soon as the county was organized, and the growth of the movement has kept pace with the develo])ment of the county. Fires and other discouragements have served only to strengthen the faith and stimulate the work of the denomination.

It was on August 1, 1873, that the Rev. James A. GrifRs visited Hastings and found here a number of Presbyterians who were without a church liome. The Rev. Gritiis lost no time in complying with their wishes, and ten days later a church was organized. The first services were held in the building then being erected for the Methodist Church. A bundle of shingles laid across the top of an empty barrel served as a pulpit, and in these unfavorable surroundings, the churcli was organized. The charter members were Mr. A. L. Wigton and wife, Samuel Alexander, H. M. Robinson, H. M. Palmer and wife, and W. jM. Snodgrass, and the first officers of the church w^ere Samuel Alexander and A. L. Wigton, elected elders. On September 3, 1873, the church was received under the care of the Nebraska City Presbytery, and, in connection with the church at Kearney, Rev. James A. Griffis was engaged as supply.

As soon as the church became firmly established, and had a sufficient membership, steps were taken toward the building of their first church. TJie building was located on the southeast corner of Third Street and Lincoln Avenue, and was dedicated entirely free from debt, the total cost being approximately $3,000. The church was erected under the supervision of Samuel Alexander, A. L. Wigton. and Ij. B. Palmer. The congregation held their services in this building until 1888, when the lot on the corner of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue was purchased at a cost of $2, .500. ^Vork was begun on this building in the sjjring of that year. The building committee were Samuel Alexander. Rev. George T. Crissman, D. D.. C. P. Webster, L. B. Palmer. A. J. Neimeyer, and L. M. Campbell. The Rev. George T. Crissman held the first services in the new church in .January. 1889. The building was planned by the famous Presbyterian architect, L. B. Valk, of Los Ajigeles, and followed the usual Presbyterian style, being more or less irregular in outline and having a large tower room. The total cost of the liuilding. pipe organ, and furniture inclusive, was $49,982.24.

On September 2.5, 1910. this beautiful edifice was com])letely destroyed by fire. W. F. Raney, at that time a deacon of the chui-ch. was killed while assisting in removing some records from the study. A large stone on the corner of the building became loosened by the lieat. and fell on him, killing him instantly.

Plans were made inmiediately for the rebuilding of the church, and tlie result is the present building, also designed by INIr. Valk, which was erected at a cost of about $.52,000, exclusive of the salvage from the old building. The building committee were W. F. Buchanan. F. L. Pease. A. H. Jones. J. H. RifFe, C. A. Heartwell. and W. T.

The dedication services lasted all day, and in the evening, the sacred cantata, "The Nazarene," by William JNladoc, was given under the direction of Prof. John Rees. The dedication was on Sunday, January 14, 1912.

The following ministers have served the church: Rev. James A. Griffis, Rev. John Rutherford, Rev. D. S. Schaff, Rev. E. S. Williams. Rev. W. F. Ringland, Rev. G. T. Crissman, Rev. Harry O. Scott, Rev. E. A^an Dyke Wight, Rev. C. W. AA'eyer, and the Rev. J. W. Eean, who is the present pastor.

Methodist Episcopal Church

September 23, 1872, the first ^Nletliodist Episcopal church was organized in Hastings in the section house of the St. Joe k Denver City Railroad, by the Rev. R. PI. Crane, who continued for some time to minister to the little flock. Of the flrst ^Methodist class the following were members: William Hudson, JNlaria Hudson, Benjamin Blown. Rebecca Brown, Richard Rainforth, Lizzie Rainforth, and IMarv E. Rose. After the organization of the class, services were held in different homes, and in business houses, which were kindly opened for the preaching service. The cottage of John Gillespie IMoore, 1122 West Second Street (exact location not agreed u])on by the early settlers still living in Hastings), was the principal house of worship until the erection of a church became possible.

Shortly after its organization, the Hastings Town Company, in 1873 donated three lots to the JMethodists at the corner of Kansas Avenue and Second Street, and on July 13 of that year a site for a church was selected by Presiding Elder White. Funds had been collected for the building of a church, and August 10, 1873, the partially completed building was formally dedicated. The Rev. James GrifRs. pastor of the Presbyterian Church, officiated. The dedication of the ^Methodist Church by the Presbyterian pastor came about tlirough a misunderstanding. This, however, has not proven to be nnpropitious, for the church has enjoyed remarkable growth. In 1880 the church property was sold to the German Evangelical Association, and the ^Methodists acquired a site on the northeast corner of Burlington Avenue and Third Street. August 12, 1880, the corner stone of a new church was laid. Rev. A. C. Crosthwaite officiating. The building was completed at a cost of $6,000. During the process of construction, the services were held in Germania Hall, then known as

Liberal Hall. During the pastorate of Rev. G. W. Isham the church was practically rebuilt. The remodeled church served its j^urpose satisfactorily for a number of years, but eventually the growth in membership forced upon the JNIethodists the necessity for erecting a new church. On INIarch 5, 1912, the official board authorized the l^astor, Rev. A. A. Brooks, to appoint a plan committee to begin preparing jilans for the erection of a new church to be erected upon lots acquired at the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Hastings Avenue. The committee appointed was: D. P. Jones, A. J. Gaymon. Dr. J. W. Straight, John Snider, J. W. Plummer, ^Nliss Grace Sylla and JNIrs. George Kimball, Sr. Of this committee, ]Mr. Jones was the chairman and Doctor Straight the secretary. The committee held fifty meetings and consulted with many achitects, and after three years of consideration i)resented plans which ^^ere unanimously ado])ted by the board. These plans were prepared by Fulton & Butler of Uniontown, Pa. The finance committee was: C. G. Lane, U. S. Rohrer, W. A. Taylor, H. B. Cornelius, J. C. Hedge, W. A. :Martin and N. H. Jones. The campaign for raising the money was begun Januaiy .31st, under the leadership of Dr. T. C. Iliff of Denver, and within forty-eight hours $37,000 had been pledged. The total cost of the church, including chime, lot, furnishings and parsonage, is about $80,000. The j^arsonage and church are under one roof.

The chime of ten bells was presented to the community by ]Mr. W. H. Lanning and installed in the church building with the jNIethodist organization as trustee. The bells have a total weight of 9,200 pounds, and were presented by Mr. Lanning as a memorial of his mother, Mrs. jNIary Lanning. The bells were first rung upon the morning of June 23, 1916, about 7 o'clock, upon the occasion of the dejiarture of Company G of the National Guard, of Hastings, for Lincoln, to mobilize in response to the call of President Wilson for guardsmen for service on the ^Mexican border.

The auditorium of this church is 56 by 66 feet. Other rooms on the main floor are pastor's study, choir room, choir loft, large Sunday school room with large and small classrooms, mothers' rest room, etc. The church was dedicated with a series of exercises beginning at 10 o'clock, July 30, 1916, and ending with a pipe organ recital by William JNI. Jenkin of St. Louis, assisted by Rollin INI. Pease of St. Paul, on the evening of August 4th. Bishop Homer C. Stuntz was among those who delivered addresses, also a former pastor, Dr. George W. Isham. The following pastors have served the church: R. H. Crane, 1872; Hiram Hersey, 1873; E. J. Willis, 1874-75; Richard Pearson, 1876-77: Edward Thompson. 1878; A. C. Cros-

Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church of Hastings was organized April 29, 1873, by the Rev. I. D. Newell, who was the first general missionary of the denomination to carry on work in this section of Nebraska. The Rev. ]Mr. Newell, who died in Glenville in 191.5, organized in pioneer days, and subsequently, a large number of Sunday schools in Adams and Clay counties. At the organization of the Hastings chiu'ch there was present the Rev. J. N. Webb, general state missionary, who assisted Reverend Newell. The members present at the organization were D. S. Cole, J. W. Holt, James Purdy, Hiram Starr, Mrs. Purdy, Lulu Purdy and Christine Starr. Mrs. I. D. Newell was also present. Among the very early members of the Hastings chiu'ch were Jacob Wooster, J. H. Vandemark, N. T. Eckles, Frank Talmadge and J. R. Sims, ]Mrs. Talmadge, ]\Irs. Allison and ]\Irs. Vandemark. For a number of years the congregation met for worship at the residences of different members. On Jime 7, 1879, the congregation worshiped in the Congregational Church, which edifice they used for about a year. At this time the membership was thirty-four. The next year they leased the hall of the Good Templars and subsequently arranged with one of the German churches for the use of their building.

January 21, 1880, the congregation decided to buy lots upon which to erect a church, and upon February 7th they acquired three lots adjacent to the southwest corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street. July 7, 1881, a committee composed of Jacob Wooster, J. H. Vandemark, C. H. Felt, ]Mrs. Allison and ]\Irs. Vandemark was appointed to receive funds for the erection of a church. The Home INIission Society promised to advance $.500 if the committee could raise $1,000. The building committee was: J. R. Sims, Jacob Wooster, Frank Talmadge and L. C. Gould.

September 22, 1881, the contract to erect the new church upon the site already purchased was let to J. R. Sims for $1,66.5. The record shows that a business meeting was held in the wing of the new church December 18, 1881. but the church was not dedicated until January 31, 1882. Upon January 23, 189.5, the Baptist Church acquired a lot on South Lincoln Avenue and erected thereon, subsequently, the South Side Chapel. Successful missionary work was carried on in the chapel for a number of years, but of late the work has been discontinued, though the iJroperty is still held by the church. The names of Dr. E. T. Cassell and wife should be associated with the work of the chapel.

It was upon December 7, 1900, that the Kev. ^Mr. Cloyd began securing subscrijitions for the erection of the present church, and on March 20, 1901, the contract was let to C. D. Ricliey to erect a church after the jjlans and specifications prepared by Turnbull & Jones of Elgin, 111. Some changes and additions were made, so that the total cost of the building was about $12,000. C. P. SheafF was chairman of the building committee and W. S. French secretarj'. The church was dedicated in December, 1901, by Dr. H. O. Rowlands, then pastor of the First Baptist Church at Lincoln. The church has a total seating capacity of about five hundred, and is free of encumbrance. The site of the old church was sold in 1900 and the present site acquired in July of that year. The church owns, altogether, five lots. The membership at present is 409. Among the active workers of the Bajitist Church in Hastings may be enumerated Jacob Wooster. J. R. Sims, William Huxtable. John Owen, Dr. E. T. Cassell and wife. C. P. SheafF, W. L. SheafF, Samuel Roger, J. H. Rodgers and Uvs. H. J. Prather.

Doctor Cassell and wife are the composers of many hymns, words and music. Two hynms are widely sung throughout the United States - "Loyalty to Christ" and "The King's Business." A sermon by the Rev. INIr. Cloyd preached in the Hastings churcli was the inspiration for one of these hymns. Doctor Cassell removed to Colorado in 1902, and while thei-e "Sirs. Cassell came to her death by accident.

First Coxgregatioxal Church

The Congregationalists of Adams County enjoy the distinction of perfecting the first church organization in the county and of liohling tlie first rehgious services in Hastings. The Rev. J. F. Chirkson, \vlio reached this vicinity in 1871 with the British colony, was a Congregationalist, and upon the arrival of the wagons he conducted services the first Sunday, standing in a wagon while he spoke, and using a spring seat for his pulpit. When sod houses were built, services were held in them by the Rev. INIr. Clarkson.

Services M^ere conducted in the residences of members until the completion of the first school building, which served until 1875, when the congregation moved their church home to JMillet Hall, located on the corner of First Street and Hastings AAcnue. They remained here for about three years, and in the fall of 1878 once more transferred their church home to the Presbyterian Church, which in the meantime had been erected and dedicated. Through these years the congregation grew slowly, but had increased from thirteen to a few more than twenty. In 1888 the membership had grown to 110.

]March 29, 1879, is a red letter day in the history of the Congregationalists in Hastings, for on this date the first church building was dedicated. This w-as a frame structure and was located at the corner of I^incoln Avenue and Third Street. The cost of the building was $2,100. In the steeple of this church a bell was hung, and its tones were those of the first church bell to be rung in the town. In 1887 a site was secured on the northeast corner of Sixth Street and Lincoln Avenue, and on September 27th of that year the church building was moved to what is still the site of the Congregational house of worship. The first frame edifice was 56 feet long by 34 feet wide and had a A^n'ng addition 22 feet long by 18 feet wide. This chvu'ch building was used until the dedication of the present brick edifice.

First Christian Church

The First Christian Church of Hastings ^\'as organized imder the auspices of the Nebraska Christian ]Missionary Society by R. C. Barrows, a pioneer evangelist, in 1885. Until 1887 the denomination had no pastor. During these two years, a few months of each year tlie church was served by the Rev. Mr. Elliot, a student at the Christian college at Fairfield, Nebraska-Fairfield College. The Rev. Mr. Tucker followed ]Mr. Elliot, preaching for a few months. The first regular pastor was Rev. W. T. ^Nlaupin, the father of the well-known Nebraska newspaper man. Will jMaujjin. ]Mr. jNIaupin's pastorate continued through the winter of 1888-9. At this time services were held in the Presbyterian Church. H. J. Kirchstein was pastor for two i^eriods, the first extending from 1891 to 1893, and the second from 1901 to 1902. Short pastorates were held by H. J. ]\IcSparren and N. A. Stull. H. G. Wilkinson was the pastor in 1898, and Rev, H. S. Gilliam served from 1903 to 1906. The Rev. INIr. Gilliam did much to organize the Sunday school upon modern lines, giving it a place among the leading schools of the state, which place it still maintains. During the pastorate of Rev. Robert A. Schell, 1906 to 1912. the church increased very largely in menibershi]). Following a very successful evangelistic meeting by Dr. Charles Reign Scoville of Chicago, the old frame building became entirely inadequate and a l)uilding project was launched which resulted in the erection of the present splendid brick edifice upon the site of the old frame church. The cornerstone of the present building was laid in 1910, and in June,

1911 it was dedicated by Chancellor William Oeschger of Cotner Universit}'. The cost of the chui'ch was $30,000. The church now has a membership of 596 and a Bible school enrollment of 475.

J. E. Holly was called to the postorate in December, 1913, but on account of ill health was forced to resign the following spring. The jjresent jjastor, Clarence E. Lemmon, has been in charge since September, 1914.

The present elders of the church are M. M. Haynes, A. B. Crawford, R. T. Eller and Lee H. Haggard. The trustees are M. JNI. Haynes, J. W. Turpit and F. N. Addleman. The deaconesses are Edith Hart, Rhoda Scott and jNIargaret Caton. Ira Scott is chairman of the following board of deacons : L. W. Belknap, E. J. Spieth, Elmer Corbin, E. H. Lange, Sam Stewart, J. W. Turpit, F. N. Goudy, C. E. Chadwick, L. P. Mills, Charles Dyer, Frank Long, G. L. Straight, R. C. Carter, F. O. Steward, Charles Smiley and C. L. Egbert.

Grace United Evangelical Church

The Grace United Evangelical Church is located on the southwest corner of Denver Avenue and Sixth Street. It is a neat frame building, that in its architectural i)lan does not follow the strictly modern type, but has tjie pleasing outlines of the spiral church of an earlier style.

This church was organized in 1894. It had at that time a membership of about twenty. It enjoyed a satisfactory growth and by 1906 the membership had increased to 120. The first house of worship was a small frame edifice moved in from the country, and valued at not to exceed $200. This building was located at the southeast corner of Kansas Avenue and Seventh Street. The congregation continued to worship in this church vmtil 1904, when the present chinch was erected at a cost of $9,500. It was dedicated in the same year.

^\ loss of membersliip to the number of about forty Avas sustained by this church in 1911, when there was a withdrawal folloAving a revival in which the doctrine of holiness was emphasized. It was from the members who withdrew that the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene Avas organized.

While this reverse imposed unlooked for hardships upon the congregation, it has survived and services have been held continuously in the chin-ch. The first pastor. Rev. T. W. Serf, in whose pastorate the chiu'ch was organized, remained with his congregation through the trying times attending the drought, removing to Aurora shortly before the erection of the building. He is still located in Aurora. The i^resent membership is seventy-five.

United Brethren Church

The United Brethren Church in Hastings was organized during IMarch, 1892, with a class of thirty-five members, by the Rev. ^^''illiam Thompson, who had come to Hastings in December, 1891. At that time there were only a few United Brethren families, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. C. Austin, ]\Ir. and JNIrs. J. S. Winey, INIrs. Anna Garver, IMrs. J. H. CofFman and some others. The organization of the church followed a revival meeting conducted by tlie Re^'. JNlr. Thompson. The first building used by the denomination was a small building wliich they rented at the corner of Second Street and INIinnesota Avenue. The cliiu'cli rented was the property of the "Come- Outers," a denomination who carried on services for about two years, but finally disbanded. The church was originally moved upon the location at the coi-ner of Second Street and JNIinnesota Avenue. Before the close of 1892 the United Brethren bought this church propert_y for $200. In 1894 this property was sold by the church, and Germania Hall, at the corner of St. Joseph Avenue and Third Street, was purchased for $1,000. October 1.5, 1908, the property on St. Joseph Avenue was sold for $3,000 to the Knights of Columbus, and the United Brethren purchased the site for the present building upon the southeast corner of St. Joseph Avenue and Sixth Street for $1,.5.50. The contract for the erection of the present church, a handsome brick structure with a seating capacity of 300, was let to C. E. Coblentz of Hastings, November 19, 1908. upon liis bid of $7,875. This bid did not include the heating plant, windows or furnishings. The plans were drawn by INI. X. Bair of Hastings, and tlie brick work was done ])y Lou Ellis. The church was dedicated July 25, 1909, by Bishop W. M. Weekly. The building committee was: The pastor. Rev. L. O. Sanderson, W. F. Dunbar and J. S. Winey. The trustees were W. F. Dunbar, X. W. Coleman, J. V. Hess, J. S. Winey, C. E. Smith, V. A. Palm, Ira Hickman. The following ministers have served the church: W. H. Thompson, 1892 to 1896;

In 1892, at about the time that he organized the church in Hastings, tlie Rev. INIr. Thompson conducted a series of revival meetings in a sclioolhouse three miles south of Hastings, and as a result of these meetings the Bethel class was formed, with a membership of fifty. In the pastorate of the Rev. S. ]M. Zike a frame church was erected at Bethel at a cost of $2,044. Bethel Church now has a membership of about thirty, and "West Nebraska jNIemorial," at Hastings, eightyfive. Before the erection of their chiu'ch, the class at Bethel worshiped in the Wallace schoolhouse, in District No. 60.

Tlie present officers of the church at Hastings are : Trustees, li. W. Smith. C. E. Smith, C. M. Fuller, Ira Hickman, Earl Hickman, Mavy Thompson and Ada Garver.

The Pentecostal Chui'ch of the Nazarene was organized in Hastings March 14, 1911. The first members, for the most part, withdrew in that year from the United Evangelical Church following a revival meeting held in that church Avhich laid particular emphasis on sanctification, Avhicli is a cardinal doctrine of the Pentecostal Church.

The first meetings were held in the home of Thomas Varah. The fii'st organization was a missionary one, but on the 23d of jNIay of the same year, encouraged by the growth in numbers, a church organization was formed. JNIeetings were held thereafter in the hall occujDied'by the Salvation Army until the conflict in the times of services of the two organizations determined the new congregation to erect their own church home. Dm'ing 1912 the present church building was erected at the southeast corner of Lexington Avenue and Fifth Street, at a cost of $4,100. A parsonage was also erected adjacent to the churcli u])on the east.

The church was organized bj' the Rev. Q. A. Deck, who before the formation of this church was the pastor of the United Evangelical Church in Hastings. The pastors who have served this church have been the following: Rev. Q. A. Deck, 1911-13; Edward Silverbrand, completed 1913; J. E. Wigfield, came in 1914 and is still the i^astor. The first trustees were Thomas Varah, H. X. jNlartin, Frank Frink, John Lans, Jack Reynolds and O. N. Kemiedy.

AMien the cliurch was organized the membership was twentj'- seven. The jjresent membershii) is sixty, and the seating cajjacity of the building is 300.

Seventh Day Adventists

The Seventh Day Adventists of Nebraska have had their state lieadquarters at Hastings since 1907- For many years previous to that date the headquarters had been maintained at Lincoln, the change to Hastings being made in order to locate headquarters more centrally, and the excellent railroad facilities was a factor in making the selection. Elder Robinson was one of the prime movers in making this change.

The denomination purchased nine 100-foot lots in 1907 in the northeast quarter of Hastings and at once began to erect buildings. In the fall of 1907-08 the Nebraska Sanitarium, the church building, conference office and Bible supply house were ready for occupancy. Subsequently intermediate school dormitories were erected, and in 191.3 an annex to the sanitarium was built. The sanitarium is connected Avith a similar institution conducted by the denomination at College View, near Lincoln. The building is of brick and was erected at a cost of $30,000. INIuch surgery is done at the sanitarium, which also emphasizes hydriatic treatment. The sanitarium is properly one of the church activities.

A colony of Seventh Day Adventists followed the headquarters to Hastings, and at the present time there are about forty families who live in the vicinity of the denomination's property. A school is maintained independent of the Hastings public schools. Classes are conducted in the church, and the enrollment in the school this year is .50.

in a public liall. Among the principal members concerned in the movement of establishing this church were Charles Cameron, L. H. Tower, I. M. Norton, Oswald Oliver, J. C. Ideson, F. J. Benedict, A. R. Ideson, H. ]M. Ohver. A church edifice, 28 by 60, was erected in 1881, iqjon the southeast corner of Burlington Avenue and Fifth Street, at a cost of $3,000. The church was dedicated March 26, 1881, by Rishop Clarkson of Omaha. The parish house was added during the rectorshi^J of Rev. Edward D. Irvine, and tlie rectory was bought in 1909.

The bishop of the diocese changed his residence from Kearney to Hastings in 1913, and since that time Hastings is the "See City," the bishop being in residence, and is the center of the Hastings Deanery, that portion of the Diocese of Western Nebraska lying south of the Platte River, and over which the rector is the dean. The Rt. Rev. George Allen Reecher lives in the Episcopal residence located at 920 North St. Joseph Avenue. Tlie rectory is located at 820 West Fifth Street. The first rector was the Rev. John W. Greenwood, who divided his time between Hastings and Grand Island. The succeeding i-ectors were: Rev. Henry C. Sliaw, 1883; J. W. Gillman, 1886 to 1890; William Lucas, 1891 to 1895; Edward D. Irvine, 189.5 to 1897; John Power, 1898 to 1904-; Lee H. Young, 1904. to 1916. In 1882 the membership was about seventy-two. The communicant list at the present time contains 114 names. Rev. J. S. Rudlong became the rector in the summer of 1916.

Interest in Christian Science became active in Hastings in 1893. The first services were held in various residences and later in the rooms of the public library. A Christian Science Society was formed in 1898 and a room rented and furnished in which services were held. This society grew and in 1900 a church was formed. The church was incorporated in jNIay of that year, the signers of the articles being Frank C. Woolley, Florence I. Woolley, ]Mrs. Nellie I. Zinn. Rertie M. Parmenter, ]Mrs. Emma Parmenter, J. R. ^McLaughlin, ]Mrs. Marie IMiller, JNIrs. Amelia Scanlan, INIrs. ]\Iary Adalin Rruce, Mrs. Susan M. Oliphant. Francis A. Smith. William INIaurice Rruce, Eva Clara Heartwell, Russell S. Rruce, INIrs. Fred Renner, JNIrs. Rosa INIcLaughlin and INIrs. Angie H. Raney. After the formation of the church a children's Sunday school, was formed and regular Sunday services and Wednesday evening testimonial services were held.

A few years ago, anticij^ating their future growth, the church purchased two building lots on the northwest corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street, which they now hold for the time when they shall decide to erect a church building. For several years services have been held in the Carnegie library, where they maintain a free reading room and loan library which are ojien to the public every afternoon. The ])resent officers are R. A. Blake president, M. H. Baker, clerk, Arthur JMuchow treasurer, Mrs. Nellie I. Zinn and Mrs. Georgiana Brownell directors. The five named constitute the lioard of trustees.

Catholic Churches

Tliere are four Catholic churches in Adams County. One, St. Cecelia's Catholic Church, is located at Hastings; St. Patrick's stands on the southwest quarter of section 5 in Highland Township, and the Church of the Assumj^tion of the Blessed Virgin is located on the southwest quarter of section 4 in Roseland Township, and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church is in Kenesaw. St. Cecelia's and Assumption are mucli older parishes than St. Patrick's, and tlie Sacred Heart Churcli is the youngest of the four.

In ]March, 1878, Rt. Rev. John O'Coimor, bishop of Omaha, made Hastings the residence of a priest and Rev. G. Glauber was appointed rector- of Hastings and the sin-rounding country. There were, however, a mimber of Catholics resident in Hastings and in the German settlement near Assumption, at that time called Roseland. TJntil 1878, the nearest priest resided at Crete. Before churches were organized. Rev. Lechleitner and Rev. B. Kuppenbender of Liberty Creek, Nuckolls County, Ansited the settlers several times and celebrated mass and administered the sacraments. The first records of the missions in tliis part of the state form a part of the parish records of Crete.

In the years between 1872 and the comijletion of the first Catholic chiu-ch in Hastings, in the spring of 1879, services were held in tlie residence of Thomas E. Farrell. Among the first Catholic families to settle in and aroimd Hastings were those of Thomas Farrell, John ^Nlalone, Peter Horrigan, George Brannon, Thomas ^Nlonahan. P. Z. Gauvreau, Michael M. INIcKenna, B. J. Kernan, Thohias Kernan. Tliomas Keimedy. Dol])hus INIitchell, Ezra Langevin, E. Paris, and a number of Frencli Catliolics who settled here in 1873.

It stood on Second Street, at about the location of the present gas plant. It was a frame structure, the main part 32 feet by 50 feet, and with an extension in the rear 12 feet by 18 feet. This church was moved to the location of the present church, on the corner of Kansas Avenue and Seventh Street, early in the postorate of Reverend English. It was enlarged at that time to a seating capacity of 500, and ser\ed as a house of worship until its removal to Colorado Avenue to make room for the present structure. It is now used as a parochial school building. The present house for the jjriest was acquired, with the six lots which now form the church property, at the time the church was moved.

The ]n-esent church is among the beautiful churches of Nebraska. It was erected at a cost of $70,000, including the price of the organ. It occupies a space 148 feet by 72 feet. The nave is 95 by 58 feet and the transept in front of the sanctuary is 74 by 30 feet. The apex of the ceiling is 42 feet. The sanctuary is 30 feet by 30 feet in front of the main altar and 11 by 12 feet in front of the side altars. The apex of the roof is 65 feet from the grade, the corner tower 95 feet and the smaller tower 75 feet.

The church has a framework of steel and the exterior facing is brown Persian tapestry brick, the first to be used in Adams County. All windows and lower traceries are of American art stone. The roof is red tile. The design is Gothic throughout. The feature that distinguishes it from most buildings of its type is the absence of obstructing columns between the nave and the side aisles. From the vaulted ceiling at the places where columns ordinarily are used, hang pendants which form a part of the indirect lighting system.

The church was dedicated December 22, 1912. The dedication mass was said by the Rt. Rev. J. Henry Tihen, bishop of Lincoln; the sermon was by His Grace, J. J. Keane, archbishop of Dubuque. Tlie singers were: Sopranos, INIay Brennen, Alice Goodwin, Stella Kernan, Philomena Stevens; altos, Kathryn Farrell. Alice Fisher, Aimee Kealy, Gertrude Kealy, Agnes Uerling; tenors, Frank Cantwell. Howard Helms, Frank Hoffman. Joseph Kealy, Leo Hissenbaugh: basses, Frank Kealy, Charles Kroutwick, A. Siren and Director Father Patrick, O. S. B. Organist. Dorsey D. Baird.

Plans and specifications were made by Architect C. W. Way. and the contractor was John Hemple. Rev. William INIcDonald, John V. Helmann and John D. iMcKenna were the building committee. jNIr. Helmann was overseer of the work.

James Simeon, August, 1881, remaining until July 2, 1888. Father English succeeded Rev. Simeon and remained until the appointment of Rev. William ^McDonald, September 1, 1894. With the appointment of Father English, the Hastings priest was designated as the dean of the Hastings Deanery. The deanery embraces that part of the Diocese of Lincoln lying M'est of Hastings, as far as the Colorado line. There are about fifteen priests in the deanery. Hastings is in the Diocese of Lincoln and the Province of Dubuque. The Hastings church has about one thousand communicants.

Assumption

About 1873 several Catholic families of German descent settled in the southwestern part of Adams County. Among these were John Baech, Theodore ShifFerence, JNl. Widert, Thomas Trausch, John Gerten and John Scholl. A little later came John Lorang. P. Schneider, John Gussenberger, X^. Goedert, JNL Diedrech and others. When Rev. George Glauber became the resident priest of Hastings, iNIarch 2.5, 1878, he soon afterward made arrangements for holding a monthly service in a schoolhouse in the settlement.

The building of a church for the mission was in contemplation for a number of years, but the settlers were unable to agree among themselves as to the location. At length, upon the advice of the bishop, five acres were purchased at the present location for $2.5. A building committee composed of ]M. Beiringer, John Scholl, Theodore Weber and X^ick Lorentz solicited funds and a little church, 24 by 36 feet, was erected. Shortly afterward an addition, 10 by 20 feet, was built for sanctuary and sacristy. In 1889 the church was again enlarged. The church was named the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin JMary, the fourth Siniday in October, 1883.

The services were administered l)y the priests from the Hastings parish until April 27, 1888, when Rev. F. Schraffle was made resident rector, continuing until August 1, 1888, when he was succeeded by Rev. X^. Stoltz. The successor of Reverend Stoltz was Reverend Petrasch, who came in December, 1889, and remained until ]May, 1891. Rev. A. C. Rausch followed Reverend Petrasch. l)ut remained only a few months before being succeeded by Rev. B. Sproll. The next rector was the Rev. B. Kuppenbender, who assumed charge in April, 1892. It was in this rectorship that the parochial school was erected. For several months following Reverend Kuppenbender's rectorship the parish was attended by Rev. J. J. I^oughran of ]Minden, until July, 1900, when Rev. E. Boll was appointed rector.

Reverend Boll was the rector for many years being succeeded in 1913 by Rev. Anthony Lutz, ^\ho was succeeded in the summer of 1916 by the present priest, Rev. Joseph Fleckinger.

The cornerstone of the present church M-as laid by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Bonaciim, bishoj) of Lincoln, and dedicated bj' him October 28, 1903. The edifice is of brick, the extreme length being II7I/2 feet and the width 48 feet. The tower is 100 feet high. The cost of the building is $1.5,000. The plans were drawn by James Craddock of Lincoln, and the contract for building was let to Fred Butzirus and John Saucerman of Hastings. The building committee was: Nick Streff. IMatt Scholl. Christ Loskill, Peter Bohr, Gust Bourg and 3Iath Plein. The general merchandise store of Matt Scholl opposite the church was erected by him in the fall of 1899. Assumption has now about seven hundred and fifty communicants.

The Catholic Church in Highland Township, St. Patrick's, is an outgrowth of the Hastings parish and Avas for a time attended by jiriests from Hastings. The church was organized in 1890 and a house of worship was erected in that year. The building, enlarged several times, is still in use. The church and furnishings cost about $3,000. The building committee was: Tom Winne, Bart Kernan, Thomas Kennedy and ^Michael ]McKenna. At the time of organization there were about seventy-five communicants ; at present there are about three, hundred. The resident priests have been the following: Reverends Carriher, Fitzgerald, Dumphy, Gilroy, Luhno, Higgins and the present rector, Reverend Bernard.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

This church was organized in 1909 with about thirty-five charter members. A house of worship was erected that year at a cost of about four hundred dollars. Among the charter members were John ]Martin, James Robinson, INIrs. John Ramsey. G. R. Gale, John Cain, Mr. and INIrs. N. Schunk, Peter ^Martin. Thomas Cain, INIrs. ]Mary Davis and Timothy Quinn. The building committee of the church was the Reverend ]Mr. Cronin, John Cain and John INIartin. Following Reverend Cronin the church has been in the charge of Reverends Luhnot, O'Brien, Hunt, Gilroy and the present pastor. Rev. R. J. Dowd of Minden. The church is operated as a mission, there being no priest in residence. Reverend Gilrov attended the church

This church was organized on ]\Iarch 15, 1890, by a council of Congregational churches called for that purpose. The church is located at the corner of New York Avenue and B Street. The church property is valued at $12,000, including a parsonage located at 324 South Baltimore Avenue. The first church building Avas erected in the year the church was organized. In 1904 this building was enlarged and in 1909 the enlarged church was torn doA\n and the present church building erected, which seats about 750 people. The first pastor of the church was Rev. John Lich. After him the following ministers served tlie church : Treiber, Grob. Quarder, Gelletz, Wurschmidt, Thiel, SuflPa and Anient. Since October 1, 1914, Rev. John D. Crrosz has been pastor of tlie church. The congregation now has 350 members. Two hundred and fifty children belong to the Sunday school. The Christian Endeavor Society consists of fifty members.

Second German Congregational

The Second German Congregational Churcli was organized by the Rev. A. SufFa. then pastor of the First German Congregational Church, in 1908. During the summer of that year a house of worship was erected under the leadership of ]Mr. J. H. Eckhardt, a theological student of the Chicago Seminary. Mr. Eckhardt served as pastor dui'ing that summer. Rev. Ernst Grams was really the first pastor of the church and served from October, 1908, to October, 1909. He was followed by Rev. August Wiska, who served as pastor for two years. He was followed by Rev. Herman Eiserer, whose pastorate continued for three years. Dining this pastorate a beautiful parsonage was erected, at a cost of $3,000. The church propertj^ is now valued at $0,000, and the membership is about one hundred ; the membersliip of the Sunday-school is about one hundred and twenty. The ]iresent pastor, Rev. Peter J. Thiel, was called to the Hastings charge May 1, 1915.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran

tile Lutheran congregation then already existing in the city separated from that body and together with a few others who had as yet found no cliurch home effected a preliminary organization and called the Rev. H. W. ]Meyer, then of Prosser, to supply them with regular service. Shortly afterwards the Rev. W. F. Schmidt, who had recently been graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at St. I^ouis, was assigned to the charge, and succeeded in bringing about a formal organization September 4, 1900.

In the following year the congregation bought the house of worship which had been formerly used by the German Baptists and stood on South ^Minnesota Avenue and B Street. As soon as possible the l^iesent more favorable location was purchased and the church building moved upon it. In 1903 the Rev. ]Mr. Schmidt resigned because of ill health and was followed by the Rev. L. W. Plehu, who continued as pastor for nearly three years. In 1907 the Rev. K. Kretzschmar was called and is still the pastor in 1916.

It was in 1913 that the splendid brick edifice which is now the church home of the congregation was built. It was dedicated October 2(5tli of that year. The membership in 1915 was upward of two hundred. This church maintains a parish school, the spiritual trainingquarters of the children. Besides the usual school studies courses are given in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church and in German. Tiie children become members of the congregation through confirmation. For several years the school was in the charge of the pastor; since 1909, however, a special teacher has been employed. In 1915 the enrollment of the school was forty pupils and it is situated in a well located property on St. Joseph Avenue and D Street.

The congregation is a member of the Lutheran Synod of j\Iissoui-i. It stands for the jH'inciple of salvation by grace through faith in the vicarious suffering and death of Jesus Christ; of church union only on the basis of a mutual agreement in the essentials of Christianity: of complete and unequivocal separation of church and state, and of the admission of new members into fellowship not by sudden resolution, but thorough instruction.

German Presbyterian

The German Presbyterian Church of Hastings was organized INIay 8, 1887, under the leadership of the Rev. I. Grissman and A. C. Stark. The Rev. INIr. Stark was the pastor until ^Nlarch, 1895. In April of that year the Rev. J. Schaedel assumed the ]>astorate which he retained until 1900. The Rev. A. C. Kruse followed IMr. Schaedel, and continued in charge until 1906, when the Rev. J. W. Rosenau was called. JNIr. Rosenau continued the pastorate until 1913. Following his resignation in that year the pulpit was supplied hy Christ Walter, a student of Duhuque College, for four months. In December, 191-1, the Rev. C. A. ]Maerz, of Iowa, accepted the call, and is the pastor in 1916.

This chuix'h was organized largely through the efforts of Christian Paulick, Jacob Gease, George Bauer and jNIr. Frocheuser. For tlie first few months services were held in the First Ward School Building. In 1888 a site was purcliased at South Lincoln Avenue and B Street, and a church building was purchased from the German Evangelical Association and moved upon the site. This building was formerly the INIethodist Ej^iscopal Church building and stood at the corner of Second Street and Kansas Avenue. In 1903 the congi'egation purchased a half block at the present site at the corner of St. Joseph Avenue and B Street and moved their churcli, which still stands in 191.5. In the same year they erected the parsonage which stands beside the church. The church plant is estimated at $4,000. The church has a membership of about fifty, and dedicated a new church November 26, 1916. At the time of organization the membership was about twenty, and reached 1.50 before the establishment of other German congregations caused some to withdraw. The German Presbyterian Church is a pavt of the general organization of the English Presl)vterian body. The new frame building was erected at a cost of $3,.500. The dimensions of the main building are 30 feet by 40 feet with a wing addition 14 feet by 16 feet and a steeple 10 feet by 10 feet.

The St. Paul's German Lutheran Clmrch. of South Hastings, was oi-ganized in 1904 as the result of the missionary work of the Rev. Henry Sielanan. It began with a membership of fourteen families. The first meetings were held in a private dwelling house rented for church purposes. In the same year that it was organized the congregation erected a church building at a cost of $1,200. Four years later a new churcli home was built, church and parsonage costing $.5,000. In 191.5 the church is in a thrifty condition and has a membership of fifty-one families. The pastors of this church have been as follows: From 1904 to October, 1907, Rev. Henry Siekman: from October, 1907. to April, 1911, Rev. F. Eichorn; from June, 1911, to April, 1913. Rev. H. Techaus; from April, 1913, to April. 191.5, Rev, F. Wiegmann. Following tlie resignation of the Rev. INIr.

German Evangelical Association

Emanuel Church was organized in April, 1879. Among the members at that time were jNIr. and INIrs. Jacob Weingart, ]Mr. and ]Mrs. John Weingart and j\Ir. and INIrs. George Marks. The entire membership at the time of organization was eighteen. The church belongs to the Hastings Mission of the Nebraska Conference.

At first services were conducted in the ]\Iethodist Episcopal Church which stood at the corner of Second Street and Kansas Avenue. In 1880 tliis building was bought from the JMethodists. In 1888 it was sold to the German Presbyterians and a new church and parsonage were erected on Fifth Street and Saunders Avenue, where the congregation worshiped until 1904, when the church was moved to its present location on Fourth Street and Colorado Avenue, and vvliere it was enlarged. In 1906 the parsonage on Saunders Avenue was sold and a new one built at the present location, 731 North ^linnesota Avenue. The parsonage for the presiding elder is located at 749 North Colorado Avenue. The churcli property, including the parsonage, is valued at $12,.500. The Rev. Julius Scherbacher is the presiding elder of the Hastings District in 191a. The membershij) of the Hastings church is about sixty and the enrollment of the Sunday school one hundred. The senior young peoples' alliance has twenty-four members and the junior alliance twenty members.

In 1902 Canaan Church was built by the denomination three miles north of Holstein. This church was organized with about a dozen families as members, and the pulpit was supplied by the jiastors from Hastings. In 191i5 this church was sold, the members uniting with the United Evangelical Church of Holstein. Other charges supplied by the pastors from Hastings for a number of years were located three miles southwest of Ayr and five miles north of Juniata. ]Mectings were held in school houses. These charges have been discontinued. The first pastor to serve was Rev. G. Zellhoefer. In 1880 Rev. ]M. Inlielter assumed the pastorate, and in tlie next year was assisted by the Reverend Althouse. Reverend Inhelter remained until Rev. F. ^V. Schuelzky was sent to the mission in 1883. Mi: Schuelzky served three years and the membership was eighty-six. Rev. J. Schafle came in 1886 and was the pastor for one year; he was followed by Rev. H. Illian, who served until 1889. Since that time the congregation has been served by the following: A. Wichmann, 1889-

St. Paul German Lutheran

The St. Paul German Lutheran Church, located at the corner of Fifth Street and Burlington Avenue, Hastings, was organized by the Rev. Henry Sieknian in 1879. This was the first church organized by JNIr. Siekman in Hastings. The first trustees of the church were August Forcht, Henry Stannner, Sr., Andrew Vieth and H. Biernian.

The first house of worship was a small frame building. The present brick structiu'e was erected at a cost, completed, of $20,000 and was dedicated July 23, 1916. The organizer, the Rev. JNIr. Siekman, ])artook in tlie dedicatory service of the new church. Others participating in the service were the pastor. Rev. F. E. jMotzkus and Rev. C. Goede, of Glenville. The dedicatory procession was led by ^V. S. Dieken, Karl Kauf and Henry Damkroeger.

The exterior of the new church is of matt faced brick and the roof of tile. The main body of the church is 63 feet by 38 feet. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 3.50 and the balcony will accommodate 1.50 additional. Following Rev. Siekman the church has been served by the Reverends Fritze, Bieger, Kronsbaen. Frank, Kar]3enstein and the present j^astor. Rev. F. E. ]Motzkus. At present the church has 110 members.

Dunkards And Mexxoxites

The Dunkards and the ^lennonites are represented in Adams County by prosperous communities located for the most part in the northern portion of Silver Lake Townshij) and the southern part of Roseland Township. The first of the denomination to settle in the county were ]Mrs. AVeidler Grabill and jNIrs. Hargleroad who came in the spring of 1875. JNIrs. Grabill came from Illinois and JMrs. Hargleroad from Pennsylvania, and it is from these two states that botli Dunkards and IMennonites came to Adams County. JMrs. Hargleroad died in 1882 and JMrs. Grabill in 1913. Mr. Grabill, who joined the church at a later period, and was one of the large landowners of Silver Lake Township, died in 1897.

The first ineeting held by the Dunkards in the county was conducted in a tent on the farm of Weidler Grabill on the shore of Silver Lake. This was in Sejiteniber, 1879. Diu'ing this meeting, which began Saturday afternoon and ended the following Sunday night, the first love feast of the denomination was celebrated. The love feast includes the Lord's suijper followed by the taking of bread and wine and the ceremony of the washing of the feet. Between thirty and forty were present at this first public meeting of the denomination, commimicants having come from Kansas, Kearnej' and the western part of Nebraska.

About 1884 the Duukard community was considerably strengthened in numbers by the coming in of new families. Among those settling in the community about this time were Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kindig, JNIr. and ^Irs. Bazzle JNIcCue, J. J. Kindig, Tommy Evans and wife, Peter Evans and wife, the Blankenbillers, George Kistler and wife and ]\Irs. JefF Huffman.

It was the increased number of communicants that led to the building of the present church on what is now, in 191:5, the Christ Hargleroad farm southeast of Roseland, but which then belonged to John Evans who had settled in the community in 1877. It was in the '9()s that the district was divided and a church estal)lished in Juniata which still continues in a flourishing condition.

The Dunkards do not maintain a salaried minister. Instead members of the congregation who feel the call to preach prepare themselves foi- the duties of the minister through prayer, study and meditation. The minister is known as an elder and is elected by the congregation. The present elders in Adams County are Christ Hargleroad and Peter Gi-abill. J. J. Kindig was an elder for a number of years and befoi-e Mr. Kindig Elder Fahrney served for many j'ears.

The Dunkards maintain a plain standard of living, and wear no jewelry, even the wedding ring is not used. The women wear plain black bonnets, but when they attend chiu'ch service these are supplanted Ijy plain white caps. Baptism is by immersion, the body being dipped forward and not backward as with most other denominations that immerse. There is an annual meeting of national scope held in various cities and to this Adams County Dunkards always send a delegate. The greater number of the conununicants are of Pennsylvania German descent though there are members of other nationalities. There are about forty families of Dunkards now in Adams County.

church was huilt on the j^resent location in 1887. Tlie first church was su])i)Linted by tlie present building in the '90s. The church is in a flourishing condition. The general belief of the Mennonites is verj' similar to that of the Dunkards. Plain dress and living are characteristic and the women wear plain black bonnets and no jewelry. jNIennonites, however, do not immerse, the sacrament of bajjtism being administered by sjirinkling. They do not celebrate the Lord's supper in the same manner as the Dunkards. The latter partake of a meal upon that occasion which is followed by the bread and wine. The JNIennonites omit the meal feature.

Dunkards and JNIennonites live on terms of friendship with each other and their large well tilled fields and substantial improvements mark them as among the county's best farmers and citizens.