BAPTIST, METHODIST AND BRETHREN MISSIONARIES

The religious influences and the Christian missionaries were active at the settlement of the Forks several years before the worshippers had gathered in sufficient numbers and in any special The Baptists, the locality to divide their forces according to sect. Methodists and the United Brethren sent their missionaries to Elkhart Prairie as soon as the first log cabins of that region commenced to be reared for the shelter of men and women and their families. Isaac McCoy, from the Carey Baptist Mission ventured from Niles, Michigan, and named Christiana Creek before there was anything suggestive of either Pulaski or Elkhart. He came afterward when the signs were many. Felkner and Robinson, Methodist circuit riders, and John Denham, the United Brethren Missionary, held forth in exhortation, prayer and song after Doctor Beardsley It has even been claimed that Mr. Denham had platted his town. was there before him and preached the first sermon within the present bounds of the city. However that may be, it is known that one of the first meeting-houses for those who were religiously inclined at the mouth of the Elkhart River was the house of Mrs. Samuel P. Beebe, whose husband opened the first store in Elkhart. Having conducted their simple services at Mrs. Beebe's, or in some other cabin, the missionary would usually mount his horse and ride along toward Goshen, where the courthouse could be depended upon for a place of meeting, in case no settler's cabin was available.

FIRST METHODIST CLASS AND CHURCH

But the Methodists seemed to gather the greater momentum during this very early period, so that in 1832 they were able to organize a class, with John Baring as leader. Their meeting-place was the hospitable log cabin of James Bannon, corner of Second and Jefferson streets. In 1835 Elkhart became the head of an oldfashioned circuit embracing not only Elkhart, but much of the surrounding counties.

When the first schoolhouse was built, services were held there, in common with the pioneer preachers of other denominations, until 1839, when the second story of what was afterward known as Old Tammany and Bee Hive was leased. Later the society met in the Good Templars' Hall, Presbyterian Church and Masonic Hall. In

1853 a subscription was started for a church building. On February 4, 1854, the first board of trustees was formed and on August 20, 1855, the first brick was laid. Three times before completion the roof was blown off by terrible wind storms, but finally the church. was dedicated (September 9, 1862), Rev. T. M. Eddy, editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, officiating.

Progress was now more rapid. A successful revival occurred in 1864, the congregation increasing in membership so that, in 1865, Elkhart became a station. A Sunday school had been organized in December, 1853, with Henry Neal as first superintendent. An organ was not placed in the church until 1869, and then not without strenuous opposition. The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was organized in July, 1871, by Miss Kate Drake. The first parsonage was erected in 1874, and the North Indiana Conference. entertained in 1875. Many yet remember in those days, Mahin, valiant in debate, Simpson, thrice the beloved pastor, and Mendenhall, the towering preacher. A modern era of development was ushered by Rev. W. D. Parr, who led in the erection of the handsome church dedicated February 9, 1890, by Rev. C. H. Payne. Its location is on the corner of Second and Franklin streets. A net gain of 350 in membership was made during the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Jackson and the conference again entertained, Rev. C. H. Brown, pastor; while the renovation of the church and the erection of the fine parsonage marked the pastorate of Rev. S. Light. The following members were connected with Trinity continuously for more than half a century: Mrs. Sarah Hay joined in 1855; William Barger, class leader and trustee for fifty-eight years, in 1859, and Alexander Airsman and J. Guipe, in 1860. The present membership of the church is 1,135.

Following is a list of pastors who have served the church: S. Ball, and others, 1832-41; C. W. Miller, 1841-42; Warren Griffith, 1842-43; E. Holdstock, 1843-44; B. Winans, 1844-45; O. V. Lemon, 1845-46; J. H. Bruce, 1846-47; James Farnsworth, 184748; A. Salsbury, 1848-49; H. B. Ball, 1849-50; David Reeder, 1850-51; E. Holdstock, 1851-53; Isaac Ayers, 1853-54; E. S. Preston, 1854-55; E. S. Preston and J. Hall, 1855-56; W. S. Birch and A. Martin, 1856-57; W. S. Birch, 1857-58; J. H. Hutchinson, 1858-60; J. Johnson, 1860–61; J. Johnson and F. Simpson, 186162; T. Comstock and C. Hover, 1862-63; T. Comstock and R. Oden, 1863-64; V. W. Beamer and F. T. Simpson, 1864-65; V. W.

Beamer, 1865-66; H. J. Lacy, 1866-67; E. Hall, 1867-70; C. P. Wright, resigned, E. Holstock filled out the year, 1870-71; S. H. Rhodes, 1871-74; A. E. Mahin, 1874-77; F. T. Simpson, 1877-80; M. H. Mendenhall, 1880-81; R. D. Robinson, 1881-82; E. F. Hasty, 1882-85; C. E. Disbro, 1885-88; W. D. Parr, 1888-93; J. H. Jackson, 1893-97; J. H. Jackson and L. C. Poor, 1897-98; C. H. Brown, 1898-1901; S. Light, 1901-1906; L. A. Beeks, 1906–1909; J. A. Beatty, 1909-1910; R. J. Wade, 1910-1915; John C. White, 1915-.

CASTLE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH

The first missionary of the United Brethren Church in Elkhart County was Rev. John Denham who, as early as 1830, was preaching at various points in the St. Joseph Valley. He was succeeded in 1833 by Rev. Joseph Davis. John Griffith and William Davis preached at Elkhart in later years, and two small churches were finally formed. The church in East Goshen was erected in 1879 under the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Eby, father of Rev. J. A. Eby, who served the present church in 1898-1900. The North Elkhart Church was completed in 1880. In the fall of 1889 Rev. William M. Bell was called to the field and consolidated the two churches under the name by which it has since been known, the Castle Church, United Brethren in Christ. The house of worship now occupied, corner of Middlebury and Monroe streets, was completed and dedicated December 7, 1890, under Doctor Bell, who is now bishop of the Pacific Coast district. Rev. A. Maynard Cummins succeeded him as pastor of the Castle Church in 1892; Rev. J. L. Parks came in 1893, Rev. R. P. Burton in 1897, Rev. J. A. Eby in 1898, and since the conclusion of Mr. Eby's pastorate in 1900, the following have served: Revs. R. J. Parrett, two years; J. E. Grimes, four years; C. S. Parker, two years; D. Robinson, two years, and J. W. Lake (now in his fifth year). The present membership of the church is 472.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The First Presbyterian Church, one of the pioneer religious bodies of Elkhart, was organized in 1840. After its members had struggled along for a few years, they were joined by a number of

Congregationalists on what was called the Plan of Union. They worked together until the year 1869, when the Congregationalists organized the present Congregational Church. A peculiar and interesting incident connected with the pastorate of the church is that two of the ministers who remained longest were upon their second term of service. Rev. W. J. Essick, after serving the church for ten months, resigned, but was recalled and remained pastor for nearly four years. Rev. Edward Barr, after six months' service, went to another field, but was invited to return, and remained pastor for nearly six years. Rev. H. B. Townsend began his pastorate in 1888 and after over ten years of faithful service resigned in July, 1899. He was succeeded by Rev. F. H. Gwynne. The present pastor is Rev. Charles M. Herrick.

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

It is more than seventy years ago that the first Episcopal services were held in Elkhart, and the story leading to the event is thus told: In 1843 Mrs. Caroline Chamberlain, wife of Dr. Joseph W. Chamberlain and mother of Capt. Orville T. Chamberlain, came to Elkhart with her family. Soon afterward she sought to hold prayer book services at her home, and was rewarded by finding two families besides her own adhering to the Episcopal communion. These families were those of Eliel Farr, of Cleveland Township, and Chester Gore. Thus the first Episcopal service in Elkhart was held in the house of Dr. Joseph Chamberlain about 1845.

On Easter Monday, 1868, a meeting was called to choose the first vestry and to take steps for the legal incorporation of the parish. Ground for the first church edifice was broken in May, 1873; first service in the church held on the second Sunday in Advent, December 14, 1873. Service of breaking ground for the present beautiful church held May 14, 1895. The cornerstone was laid July 1, 1895; first church reconsecrated November 11th of that year; and the first service in the chapel of the present church was held July 5, 1896, and in the present church itself, Sunday, August 30th following. Rev. William Galpin assumed charge in 1894 and continued as rector for a number of years; since his term of service Rev. C. S. Champlin and Rev. W. W. Daup have been in charge of St. John's parish.