Merrick County, Nebraska - Chapter 15: Religious History, 1898

^Voing backward now a little, for the sake of connectedness, we dis- |4 cover that the first religious services in Merrick County are associ- \M ated with the name of good old "Father Lemon,*' as he was loving¬ ly called by his disciples. Tall of stature, strong of voice, kindly of countenance, and yet with a gentle dignity which told of the honesty of his own life, Father Lemon was a fit herald for the pioneer days of his western circuit. The first religious society in the county was organized by him at the home of J. G. Brewer, on Sunday, June 24, 1866. The organization was followed by a five days' "revival," of which the outcome was a "class" of the faithful which met regularly with their leader, Jacob Rice.

The first church organization effected in the county was the Methodist, in the year 1871. The first regular pastor was Rev. J. S. Donaldson. He was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Dressier, with whose pastorate we pass into the year of Central City's organization. For some time the Baptists and Methodists worshipped together, in the church of the former on the north side, but in 1876 the Methodists erected a home of their own on the south side and worshipped there for about ten years.

The Baptist society was formed in January, 1872, and the first pastor was Rev. John Gunderman, who remained until 1880. Their church was erected in 1872, and was the first religious edifice in Lone Tree.

In 1872 the Presbyterians organized under the direction of Rev. George W. Newell, who retained the pastorate until 1878. The Episcopalians effected an organization in 1874 - a year before the town's change of name - under the supervision of Rev. H.. C. Shaw, of Silver Creek. Its earlier services, for lack of a church, were held in the court house.

The Congregationalists in 1872 organized under the pastorate of Rev. L. H. Jones, but though meeting regularly had no house of wor¬ ship. They finally, however, merged with the Presbyterians.

The Catholics, during the days of Lone Tree, had held missionary services there, but no organization was effected until after the town's change of name.

Like the frontier life of all organizations, the church work in the earlier Merrick County days was not without its humorous side. As an illustration, true to life, we reprint by permission of Editor Wells the following account of the first revival services held in our county. The original article appeared in the Democrat of August 4, 1893:

In the fall of 1869 Rev. David Marquette, afterwards president of Nebraska Central College, called at Mr. Berryman's store and consulted him about holding a protracted meeting. Berryman's store was the only building to be had and was freely offered for the purpose. Nowadays Methodist preachers would hesitate a little while before holding a revival meeting in a saloon, but at that time Bro. Marquette was mighty glad to get even a saloon. The great question then arose as to whether the saloon attachment was to be closed during the meetings. Mr. Berryman would have been willing to close up the store during the evening meet¬ ings, as he wanted a vacation, but he did not dare to do so without consulting his customefs. He called a mass meeting of the prominent citizens to discuss the great question. The meeting resolved by a unanimous vote that they would all attend the meeting and assist in conducting the services, provided the saloon remained open, but if the saloon was closed they would not attend the meeting themselves nor would the married men permit their wives to attend. It will be noticed that the women were more obedient then than now. In these days the women would go to the meeting without the consent of their husbands and they would commence the devotional exercises by smashing every bottle and emptying every jug in the establisment.

The next important question to be decided was in reference to the song service during the* meetings. There were some good voices among the early settlers but not much musical culture. The boys could sing a drinking song but were not conversant with songs of praise, but they were willing to practice on psalms and hymns and faithfully promised to do the best they could. They immediately organized the first Methodist choir in Merrick County. Sid Bullock, of whom, perhaps, some of our readers may have heard, was chosen by acclama¬ tion as leader of the choir. The only church members in the neighborhood at

The night designated for the first meeting arrived, and the people arrived also. It was by no means a dress parade, for the early settlers did not go to meeting to show their clothes. The preacher took his stand at the open door connecting the store with the hotel dining room, the ladies of the congregation being assembled in the dining room and the men in the store. The services commenced, the first hymn was given out and the congregation sang with spirit and with understanding, led by the sweet and melodious voices of the extempor¬ ized choir. Right here we will give you the names of the members of the choir, for it is possible that our readers may have heard of some of them, and we wish to transmit their names to posterity anyhow. Here they are: Sid Bullock, Hank Martin, Jim Berryman, George Moore, Lo May, Snapp May, Isaac Traver, Ed Parker, Ira Prouty, Wallace Burroughs, Trim Biggs, Frank Parker and Ezra Lisk. And now the names of these illustrious vocalists will be handed down to coming ages as the first Methodist choir of Merrick County.

The preacher announced his text and commenced his sermon; the boys brought out their cards and commenced a game of old sledge, but they played the game very silently so as not to disturb the solemn services, and in those days they also played an honest game. The sermon went on, and so did the game. The minister was faithfully attending to his duty and the boys were giving as much attention to the sermon as they could spare from the game. The card players sat on kegs and boxes and used the top of a whisky barrel for a card table. When the sermon was over the boys arose and sung the closing hymn, and when the minister called the congregation to prayer, they knelt reverently with him and gave close attention to the words of devotion. After the benediction was pro¬ nounced Mr. Marquette would come into the store and compliment the boys on their improvement in singing and their general deportment, and then the choir would practice the hymns for the next evening's service. We are sorry to state that after practicing a hymn in concert the choir would take a drink of whisky also in concert and in consequence each hymn was sung with constantly increasing spirit. These singular meetings were continued for ten days and substantially the same program was gone through each evening. It was literally "Ten Nights In A Bar Room." We are sorry to state that no converts were made at these meetings, but who doubts but that the earnest words and faithful admonitions of the sincere Christian ministe'r sank deep into the hearts of those wild young men and affected their whole subsequent lives. We do not know how this is, but we do know that all of them now living are reputable men and good citizens, dignified heads of families, and in whatever community they now live they are among the foremost of the leading men. They attend church with their families now, and don't play cards over the head of a whisky barrel any more.

Many people now living in this county will think the historian is romancing in the preceding statements but we assure them that it is all a plain, straight forward, truthful tale, just as it was told us by a reliable man who was present at every meeting. We must not judge these men, however, by present standards. Their subsequent lives have proved them to be good men, and the times then were very different from now. They were young men removed far away from the homes of civilization, and they thought they must have some fun, even if that fun was not up to the highest grade of moral excellence and "let him that is without sin cast the first stone." In that case the stone will not be thrown.

There was one convert however made that year and that was James H. Berry¬ man. He was convinced of the sin of the liquor traffic and was converted into a life long prohibitionist. He says that one year in the business was enough for him and that he then made up his mind that all the wealth of the Indies would not induce him to sell another drink of whisky and we all know how faithful he has been to that resolution.