The Lexington intelligencer. [volume], November 30, 1901, Image 3

About The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO

                
RESTING HISTORIC STORY
LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
BY W. 0. M C 8 0 R O V E.
'field boRr1 oI lhe CbriwtilJn
liitorj i rapidly being lost,
Sizing 114 lnler1 ttna ""P,jr-
inif J com unites consisting
Musgrove, Elder E. .1. Fens
i., Han. M. Catron mil
If, -
1 jlcCausland, to collict all
, obtaiDoble, and put them in
D spread upon the church
Xhe committee made report
;obi'r nifi'iintf of the oflkial
Dd as the report showed lack
ction from 1844 to 1888, tlm
re was continued, with inslrue
aiaKe aa effort to secure the
oformatioD.
oiuuiittte, lo giving out this
r publication, does so with the
it tbose who have items of
connected with the history,
iihem out, and band tbem to
berof the ooiumiltee.
port, as read to the official
s been corrected and extended,
follows:
eeiing of the official board of
in
tim church at Lexington,
lhe first Lord's day in Augustt
committee of four was ap-
L collect all the facts obtain-
liiiig to the history of the
ai to put such information in
to be spread upon the miuules
rob.
ur committee, respectfully
if following report:
mat much of the early his
church has been utterly lost.
litre si'cnn to have been no
rk, nod no records wi re
find thai Hro. John K.
wioif a aliorl history of tin
Meh wan read (o the church
tmi -centennial, in April, 1886
ucorporated in this article all
maiion we could secure, in-
much which was in liro.
etter.
t lecord we buve of the
in tliu handwriting of Wiu.
who j lined by letter in May,
irre ii nothing to show thai
ii record was kept previou
ijl he wrote such facts as In-
sin f i oiu the older members,
jrcii was organized on the
cl April, 1830. at the resi
to. Levi Vau Camp, two miles
bis city, lhe first record we
elollowing:
iiose names are hereunto sub
laving rirst given ourselves to
by obeying the Gospel, being
zjns with the saints, and of
bold of God, built upon the
a of the apostles and
Jesus Christ Himself heme
corner stone, now agree lo
fter as a church of Christ; lo
ir faith and practice." The
eetnent was signed by 20
follows :
!b Mutby,
orter,
K- Heutou,
nlon,
Poller,
n Camp,
Van Camp,
Vim Camp,
1 V:in Camp,
m Camp,
Van C imp,
' Tlmrn.
ManjuU,
W. Marquis,
on,',
Stone,
,! Hounds,
liCJllDtlu.
I
iulejobn,
Mauiing.
'all of 1830 Elleu Waddell,
U AVaddell, latsy Waddell,
Burden) John J. Waddell
! Waddell .were added by
Mayshck, Ky. In October,
' Whittlesey, Saluda Wlnt
I. Stone and Dorcas
''received by letter, aud in
Carr Ii. Waddell and
lo August, 1838,
'"urauy and M. W. Flouruoy
r'rt by immersion. This is
'cd of bapiisoj. Aube same
Kluabeth WaHHnll
p 'ier. June 16, 1839. O.
p was received by letter, aud
rv,aiup was recolvod bv ira
1 December 15. 1830. Hiram
rnd wiH were received by
P 1ltri!!. Ky. Dro. Levi Van
U11 taken an uctivo part in
p church, was the first
,,,l. W. Marquis llio first
'"O llio. Van Cnmn name
i4"'1" IH.'I5. bo found Hro.
Hi '.i ..
- "Ming in worn ana
''I IN llin llri , 1 of
DK Ho HflVa (iltrn Yniinir
i the . only public teacher of note i
our counties."
I be little band of dimples grew
"lowly, but steadily, lhm hl,
record ot date, givn. Among the
mmben w"'any colored men and
women, nod the older members will
yet remember "Simon, servant of J.
T. Wditell,w!.o so long acted as
Jnor. His nauio is recorded as the
5'd member.
July 1 183K, Lvi Van Camp, J. T.
Waddell, l.tt.VhiulMeyf C. 11 Wad
dU nd Dr. M. W. Flournoy were
appointed by the church M a building
committee, ,md J. T. Waddell, Levi
Van Camp and P. U. Whittlesey were
selected as trustee in or(ier to
receive the deed in behalf and for the
benefit of Ub Christian church, for land
on which to build a meeting house."
Uo the 15th nt December. 1839. Bro.
Thomas N. Games was ordnined as an
evangelist by fasting, prayer and the
imposition ot the bands of the elder
ship. Tnis is probably the first and
the last evangelist ever ordained bv
this churcb, though it is possible that
tlder Hiram M. Iiledoe was also
ordained as evangelist, though there is
no record of ii. On the dav that
Brother Gainus was ordained as an
evaugelist, Bro'.lier Hir.im M. Bledsoe
became a member by presenting his
letter from iliu church at Talis, Ky.
Soon alter ward Id was .chosen as an
elder. We luve no record of his first
election, but we I'm d tint on lhe 7th ot
January, 1843, lbs church met to eleci
two bishops, or elders, the former
elders, Levi Van Camp and Hiram M.
Bledsoe having resigned their ofiiceH on
the precedius; Lord's ilay. On ihe limi
ballot Bro. Uledwe received a majority
ofallfhe voles east, and was declared
duly elected. After some unsuccessful
balloting, no one receiving a majority
vote, ii was ordered Unit the election ol
another elder be postponed for the
present. Brother .Bledsoe and Brothei
iiBines ai once iook prominence in
church work. Thuy were known and
loved to all the regions round about,
and by their work and example maii,
souls werd added unto the church.
In June, 1840, Ihere had been G3
names on the church roll, several ol
whom had moved away; bui at ihu,
dale quile a number of new names were
added, among them Samuel Hudson
Pency B. Hudson, Martha G. Grtrnt,
Aon Rayburn, Lewis Kayburc, Win
Nichols, Cyuthia Nichols, George E
Taylor, Mary (Mo by) Flournoy, Bun
edict Thuruas, Nancy Tnomns and
Mary Buchanan. At the tame lime
there were nine names of colored
people added to the roll. From Juue,
1840, till May, 1841, there seems to
have been no additions. Od May 2,
1841, William Musgrove and Ann Ii
Musgrove were received by letter from
Maj slick, Ky.; on June 16, 1841,
Alfred Jones and Sarah Jones came in
by letter from Lexington, hy. June
20, 1841, Henry Fisher was received
by letter from Liberty, Mo , and Muiy
Catron was received by immersion
July 24, 1841, William Gordo.i was
received by immersion.- April 15
1842, Surah Donden and John Flour
noy were received by nuiueiioii, and
Martha Gordon's name was also added,
but we are not told w heiher by leiter
or immersion.
June II, 18411, Surah 0. (Musbi)
U 'gi.-rs was recked by immersion.
July 10, iHl:t, Anna Barnes, Aery
Billies aid Thomas Waller Bmnes
p'esenii'd letters from IVtliol, Ky., and
F. Moititnore llnrncs presented Ins
littler from Mayslick, Ky, September
17, 1843, Dr. Joseph G. Chin n, Bur
ba ry Chiiin, Joseph (J Cbiiai, John
P. Bowman und K. M. Bowman were
received on the presentation of their
letters from the elunch at Lexington,
Ky. On the 7th of April, 1844, J nuts
S. Muse, Jane Mine, Mariiu Slaughter
and Margaret Slaughter were received
by letter from Dry Run, Ky.
Ou lhe 7tu day of January, 1813,
the following order was eutered of
record :
"Ordered That the) Saturday pre
ceding the 3d Lord's day iu this mouth,
and the Saturday preceding the 3d
Lord's day in every mouth hereafter,
till otherwise ordered by the church,
be sol apart for the trausiictioii of
churob business."
Auguil ti, 1H43, it Is ordered that V.
Musgrove, A. Jones and V. Wilmot
bo nppoltiteJ to suttlo with the build
ing committee. On the ltiih of Sep
tember following the committee re
ported, and l he report was accepted
by the churcb. The b.iilding 'com
mittee had bi-en appointed in July,
18311, and four years B id ono month
later the matter seems to have been
amieahlv settled. At that Unto the
"burch on the corner of Main aud
Eleventh streets was considered a very
pretentious structure, and was prob
ably the best church- building in the
city. Brother Bascora says: "This
old building, which in its youib was
regarded as a marvel of church archi
tecture and large dimensions in those
primitive times, has now sadly dwindled
in its age. Time was when i.s audi
ence room rang with eloquent sermon,
convincing logic and powerful exbor.
tation of snch men as Alexander Camp,
bell, John Smith, Jacob Creath, John
T. Johnson, T. M. Allen, Moses E.
Lard, Benjamin Franklin, Allen Wright
and a host of others whose voices are
now bushed in death." We would
also add the name of Bro. William
Henry Hobinson, "the blind preacher."
to the abeve list of illustrious names.
As an orator be had few superiors, and
as a logician he bad few equals.
John T. Johnson, one of the leading
men in the reformation, arrived in
Lexingtou on the 23d day of November,
iooo. tie began a meeliug the next
night in the old churcb, and the audi.
ences were always large. He preached
powerful sermons, and 24 additions
were made to the cburob, when be
was stricken with pneumonia and died
December 18, 1856. He bad preached
fifteen sermons, aud after announcing
his text for the following night, retired
to the residence of Bro. Thomas C,
Bledsoe. He was taken sick imme
dialely, and died early the next day
Bro. Johnson had been a lawyer; bad
joined the baptist churcb; and at lhe
solicuaiiun ot Alexander Campbell he
quit the bar and began preuchiDg, aud
joined tho reformation. When a young
man he was a volunteer aid on tlie
staff of Wm. Henry Harrison in the
war with England in 1812, and was a
distinguished soldier. In 1820 he was
elected to congress to succeed his
brother, and In 1822 he was re-elected.
September, 1843, Alfred Jones, Ben
edict Thomas and Wm. S. Van Camii
were appointed to solicit subscription
to aid in paying the church debt, and
also lo aid in completing the house. A
the same meeting Levi Van Camp ami
William Musgrove were appoluted lo
write a letter to the annual meeting It
be held at Mount Gilead, in Clay
county, on Friday before the tirsi
Lord's day in October.
October 14, 1843, the following is ol
record: "Church met for business. It
is agreed to finish the meetinghouse.
Ordered that the gallery betaken dowi
and a part o the lumber sold. Hiram
M. Bledsoe, Alfred Jones and Win
Musgrove appointed to auperinlend the
furnishing of the bouse. VV. D. and
Hannah Waioright received by teller
from Paris, Ky."
In December, 1843, an effort wa
made to secure the services of Bro. I'.
N. Gaines a portiou of his time. The
effort was successful, and one-tout th of
bis lime was secured for the year. A'
this meeting, after deliberate consider
ation, it was agreed that the deacous,
by virtue of their office, have the care
of the meeting house, and are therefore
authorized to appoint a suitable person
for sexton, and to pay him out of the
fuuds of lhe church.1' At this meeting
Dr. J. G. Chinn proposed "that an ad
valorem tax be laid on lhe property of
the members, which will be eullioient
to cover tho expenses of the church "
Tlie motion was discussed by Dr.
Chin u and Alfred Jones in the affirma
tive, and hy Livi Van Camp iu the
negative. The mailer was dropped for
awhile, but was again hroughl before
the church on the 20 ih ot Janu-uy,
if14. Dr. Cliinii submitted in wriiing
the following questions: Firs! "Do
the seiiplurcs teach that it is our duly
to support those who preach lhe
gospel?" This was settled by a unan
imous vote in the allii'miitivu. Second
"For the purpose of raising money for
said support, do the scriptures tench
that all should give agreeable lo their
ubiliiy?'' This question was also set
tled by a unauimous vote in the iiSirm.
ntive. Two days later, on Monday,
Jauuary 22, 1844, the following prop
osition was submitted and unanimously
agreed to: "It Is agreed that for the
support of the Lord's house, including
the Lord's tible, care of meeting house,
sweeping, fuel, lights, &i , quarteily
collectious (in advance) be made, each
member, regardless of circumstances,
paying an equal amount."
It is probable lbat the church look
this uiisuiiptural grouud as a peaje
offering lo those who had opposed the
ad valorem tax. But rhe lax leaven
had been hidden in the meal, and 9 a
lust of the seutimeut, Bio. Levi Van
Cump, who had opposed the measure,
submitted in writing the following
ptiiposiliou:" Whereas, it has beeu
agreed by tins ehtuch that "they who
preach the go-pel i-hould liv of the
gospel," and t!iul their suppoit should
be made up by ni''meis of the church
in proportion to their ability to con.
tribute, therefore it is agreed that a
committee bo appointed; whoso duty
it shall be to estimate, as near as
may be, the ability of each member
to pay, and then to present a sub
scription to each member j and if any
member fall to contribute,, nii propor
tion, according to thnir estimation,
that they should inform him the princi
ples upon which the estimation was
made, and it he consider the estimate
fairly made, they then exhort him to
the discharge of his duty." This
proposition was adopted with but one
dissenting vote, which was probably
given by Bro. Van Camp. In carrying
out the above action of the church the
following members were chosen by the
church as a committee to apportion the
sums agreed to be raised, among the
several members: Hiram M. Bledsoe.
Samuel Hudson. Levi V an Damn.
Alfred Joues and Wm. iliisgrove.
ai ine tune ol the above -mentioned
meeting, in January, 1844, about 136
Dames had been placed oo tbe church
roll, but there is no means of knowing
now many were id the communion.
Some bad been excluded; others bad
been granted letters, and some had
'fallen asleep," but there were probably
about 100 members. At this meeting tbe
treasurer submitted a report for the
preceding nine months, which shows
that the brethren were not seriously
robbing themselves to support the
church. Tho toial contribution for
nice months was $ 62.25; and the total
expenditures were $73.86, leaving a
deficit ot $11.01. Of the amount paid
oui y;s had been "paid to
preachers."
April 20, 1844, the church resolved
to unite its efforts with tbe churches at
Dover and .Republican, and employ
two evangelist, and this churcb agreed
to laUe $400, and also agreed to tbe
employment of Henry Thomas as an
evangelist, to work with Thomas N.
Gaines, who had already been em
ployed.
On June 9ih, 1844, Brother Hiram
M. Bledsoe, sole elder of tbe church
complained of the burden upon him.
and requested the church to elect an
additional number of elders, to divide
with him the labor and responsibility
that rested on him alooe. ' Tbe request
was agreed to and tbe 2d Lord's day
in July was appointed for the election
of an additional number of elders. On
the 13th of July, 1844, that being the
2nd Lord's day, the churcb proceeded
to lhe election. Elder Hiram M
Bledsoe was chairman of the meeting
On motion of Bro. P. It. Whittlesey ii
was ordered "that the church now
proceed to the election of two elders.'
After the ballot was taken Bro. Rledi-o
reported to the churob that "Bros. J
G Chinu and Henry Fisher had re
ceived the highest number of , votes
given, aud were duly elected elders o;
ih Christian church."
Al this same meeting, July 13, 1844,
William Musgrove tendered1 his resig
nation as clerk o' '.he Christian church,
and Bro. John P. Bowman was elected
to the position.
From ibis dale your committee has
no written record up to 1888.
In 1847 there arose a personal
quarrel among some of the member.-
of tbe church, which, from our stand
point, should not have been allowed to
be considered. Bui it was considered,
and lhe members took sides this way
ai.d that way until there was a split.
Those who withdrew from the main
body organized themselves aud built
another meeting house, near the corner
ot LlcVtiilh and South streets. Bro
Gaines went with lhe seceders, and
was their first paslor. Bro. Alex
Procior was ulso, at one- time engaged
by this branch of the church. The
two organizations were maintained for
about three years, and then all the
differences were quietly dropped aud
the two bodies united. There were a
few of tlie seceders who never
came back. During the lime of the
division iheic was much hard feel
ing between the two factions, and
there were long intervals when neither
taction had any preaching ser
vice. Bui it can be said to the credit
of both factions tha they had men in
tho eldership who were well quuliliel
to teach and to interest the congrega
tions. Among the brethren were Levi
Van 'Camp, James S. Muse, Dr. J. G
Chinn, H. M. Bledsoe. Geo. W. Mar-
qu'S, Henry Fisher, Martin Slaughter
aud many others. Brother Fisher was
for many ynars u cripple from rheuma
tism, nearly every joint in his body
being drawu, but lie was a faithful
attendant at church, hootiliug in on
his two crutches, and often taking
charge of the service. To hoar him was
like listening to a voice from the grave,
and every body loved liiui because
of his patient suffering us well as for
bis noble christian character.
An article In the Milliminl Harbin
Uur, written by S. S. Churcb, an
evangelist who had just held a meeting
at this pluck', hi speaking ot the con
dition of ihe two Christian churches at
Lexington at that time says that the
old church has about 140 members,
and the new church has about 160.
Tins was in 184(J.
Wffrwv'W'''1 1 t
DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
Getting a pair of new shoes is ; cause of worry to most
people, and tbe following difficult questions naturally arise:
Where can I find a shoe that fits comfortably T
Where can I find the best quality in a shoe
Where can I find the best Shoe for the money
We can answer these questions readily for you. Give us a trial
and we can satisfy you with a comfortable fit,;!uiisiirpassed in
quality and at a price that you must at once acknowledge to be
reasonable. We solicit a liberal share of your patronage.
Kl. D. WILSON.
LUMBER,
LUMBER!
BOTTOM DROPPED OUT OF PRICES.
Here are a few prices that will convince you that the bottom has dropped:
2x4s, 2x0s, 2x8s and 2x10s per thousand ft. 812.50
13 inch box boards per thousand ft. -13.50
Fencing, 4 and 6 ineb, per thousand - - - 14.00
Star A Star red cedar shingles, per thousand - 2.25
6 lnen beveled siding, per thousand - 12.50
If you pay more than these prices for lumber you buy at the wrong place
EC e-t i irra ntc-M Ir-c2l' Given
Before hnylnR see J. J. RHODES,
Manager of the
Harris-Anderson Lumber Company.
GEORGE W. BATES,
WITH S
8 The Equitable Life Insurance Co., S
- Of New York
THE STRONGEST IN THE WORLD I
J When wanting Life Insurance call on or address 8
GEORGE W. BATES, - Lexington, Mo. S
WILLIAM D. KAN KIN
President.
D. W. B. TBVI8
VloePrei.
WALTER B. WAL-UELl,!
Cashier.
LEXINGTON SAVINGS BANK,
LEXINGTON, - MISSOURI.
PAID UP CAPITAL,
$50,000
Dnea a general banking business. Solicits accounts.
Liberal accommodations to oustomera.
B F NICHOLSON
E HOFFMAN
Walter B Wadded
D WBTevIs
W D Rankin
Fannie W Burton
It B Duke. Curator
Jackson Bradley
DIRECTORS
W D RANKIN JOHN B RTLANU WALTER B WADDELL
A G YOCNG D W B TEVIS
STOCKHOLDERS l
M Chapman w O MoCausland
B Hoffman Jno E Hyluud J Q Chambers
Huf us Young MrsSRenick OARrielin
Alice W Wlugnte Bottle W Smith Hunry Hainkel
A O Young C E Cbspmaa E F Nicholson
Henry C Wallace E A Wallace " LO Chapman
V O.KiCAtTSryA.JJD, Pres.
B. It. IRELAND. Cashier.
LES J. SLl'SHEIl, V Pre s.
The Traders' Bank:
TbiRbiink does a general banking business and solicits tbe accounts of corporations, Hrrns
and Individuals Collections will receive prompt attuutlon. Liberal accommodations to
depositors.
RICHARD FIELD, PRE8I 8. J. ANDREW, Cabh
GEO. M. CATKON. Vloe President.
CHARTERED JANUARY 89.1875. Paid Up Capital. $50. COO.
Morrison-Wentworth Bank,
LEXINGTON, - MISSOURI.
Will do a General Banking Business. Liberal Accommodations to Regular Customer.
BOA RD OF DI RECTORS :
Richard Field, 8 J.Andrew, Charles Lyons, G.H.Catron, ".!'. Unit, t
winiaro J. Mnrrimn tsnw. Marks, w. n. Stevenson, Kurus roung.
(To bo concluded next Week.)
Two of 'Em.
Major A. M. Edwards, of the F'aruo,
North Dakota, Forum, tells the fol
lowing story:
"Soon after the civil ar we were
going over the Missouri P;icillc on a
comp' from General Superintendent
Moore for whom we worked before
the war when the conductor said:
'Sir! I know Major Edwards, Ji.e
Shelby's adjutant general, and you
:un't travel oo his pass or under his
name!' and we had to get out at 2
o'clock In the morning at Sedalia and
explain to Wardo Cuiiimings, division
superintendent of the Missouri
Pacific whom we had worked with
before tlie war how it was. When
Wardo told the conductor there were
two Majors Edwards one federal and
one confed -he knew 'em both we
i passed on. "
Kansas Won.
There was a most interesting game
of foot ball on the academy catnpu
Monday afternoon between a team ot
Kansas cadets and one of Missourlans,
embryotln representatives of tho
Jayhawksand Tigers. Kansas, wltk
slightly the heaviest team, won by a
score of ten to nothing. From start
to finish Intere.xt of the spectators
was intense. Kansas made two
touch downs but f tiled to kick goal
in each Instance.
The Intrllioun'cku trusts that
the result of this game is not a rMrc
runner of what will happen to tho
Tigers at Kansas City next Thursday.
August Llmberg shipped a car loafl
of mules to St. Louis Monday after
noon.