The following committee was appointed to work up a history of our church: Wasson Lawrence, Joe Merritt, Lyndal Bunting, Leah Burgess, Allen Johnson, Tom Dickey, Lila Stonemetz, Rev. Robert Krause, R. W. Hayward, Chairman. All previous historical sketches, available church records, History of Wayne and Clay counties 1884 and back issues of the Wayne County Press were consulted along with information furnished by individuals. Wasson Lawrence did the writing.
The portion about the Educational Building was written by Francis Feiger, who donated the legal work and many hours of supervision while the construction was in progress.
The sketch of the first church building, later used as the Uptown School, was by Allen Johnson and Wasson Lawrence.
We realize that many dedicated people have served the church well in many capacities for many years but time and space will not permit us to mention all of them in this history.
ROBERT W. HAYWARD, 1969
Just before the turn of the nineteenth century civilization began to move into the Illinois Territory, and with it, or even ahead of it, moved the various churches. This history attempts to follow the course of the life of the First United Methodist Church of Fairfield, Illinois, from the founding of the state to this sesquicentennial year of 1968.
With the settlers who first moved into Southern Illinois the early clergymen had much to endure because the frontier was not religious. As Ver Lynn Sprague states: "A Methodist, Joseph Lillard, arrived in 1793. He was followed in 1803 by the first circuit rider, Benjamin Young, and more came along, including Peter Cartwright, who once said that the frontier settler 'had scarcely got into his crude cabin before here was the Methodist preacher, preaching hell, fire and damnation, as they always did.' Cartwright and others, according to the historian Theodore Calvin Pease, 'could sway the multitudes like fields of grain in the wind, until sinners by the hundreds, with shout and cries, were torn by spiritual agony to find at length spiritual peace'."
Joseph Lillard had been a circuit rider in Kentucky before coming to Illinois. 'What has been written of Joseph Lillard is probably more legend than fact, but it is written "that after preaching to the people (there could not have been many) he organized the first class" in the Illinois (Crawford County) Territory, and appointed (Capt.) Joseph Ogle class leader." Such classes were the first starts of the Methodist Societies in Illinois.
It is written that "Joseph Lillard was afflicted mentally and suffered periods of aberrations," but it is also said he was a good man of moderate ability." His aberrations must have been a periodical recurrence of amnesia, for history states that during one of these periods, while wandering aimlessly through the woods, he was shocked into reality upon discovering the mangled remains of a man murdered and scalped by Indians. Little else is known about him, other than that he was first in Illinois, and possibly the first Methodist preacher in Wayne County. Never-the-less, he is a link in history. Joseph Lillard evidently left Wayne County soon after his arrival but came back thirty years later to leave for history to ponder, the unremarkable statement that "things were much improved."
Fairfield seems to date from November, 1819, when the first lot was sold as a building site. But there must have been some sort of a settlement some years before that date. Isaac Harris is credited with building the first house in Wayne County, but the house was not in Fairfield, and the time must have been some years before 1819. It was some ten or twelve miles south-east in the corner of the county. Sometime soon after that the Barnhill brothers, John, Harden, and Audley, while patrolling the country with Captain Willis Hargraves' Company of Rangers, selected the White Oak covered hill beside Johnson Creek as their future home. They were the founders of Fairfield, and a member of their family is buried, almost in the street, just south of the North Side Grade School. Of John, Harden, and Audley Barnhill, we have no record. They did build the first house in Fairfield, but here again we have to guess at the date.
The Wayne-Clay County History of 1884 states: "with in a few weeks after the first settlers had come, John Harris, the Methodist circuit rider came in 1816 and preached at the home of Alexander Hamilton to a congregation of five persons." Alexander Hamilton did not live in what is now Fairfield. He lived about eight miles south and west of town. His home served not only as a church but also as the first court house. The first grand jury met there at his invitation, and the first man indicted by that grand jury was Alexander Hamilton himself for assault and battery. However, he came clear at his trial later.
The next link in the history of Methodism in Fairfield came about 1817 when "Archy Roberts, a talented local preacher, settled and organized the first Methodist Society at his home." History does not tell us where Roberts' house was located or even if it was in Fairfield.
In the same year, "Daniel McHenry, on his rounds, found the (John) Gillison family, and established preaching at their home near Liberty (now Burnt Prairie). He also preached regularly at the Hugh Stuart home."
In Hugh Stuart we find the first direct link to the First United Methodist Church of Fairfield, Illinois. Hugh Stuart can truly be called the founder of the Fairfield Methodist Churches. He came to Wayne County about the same time as the Harris family and must have lived in that vicinity.
The early preachers were not often pictured, hence there is no photo
of Hugh Stuart.
In 1819 or 1820, he helped organize a Methodist Society known as Ebenezer. Meetings were held in the homes of Andrew Crews and Matthew Crews, and in 1840 it was decided to build a church, which though not the same building, still bears that name. It is located east of Fairfield. It was "a substantial log building with two glass windows, a large stove, and five broad plank seats, made bench fashion." such was the log building which was Ebenezer Church as described in the Wayne-Clay County History of 1884.
Most of these men and their families who made up these new Methodist Societies came to Illinois looking for new land. Some were hunters. Most all were veterans of the War of 1812 and some of the Revolutionary War. When the Sac Indian Chief, Black Hawk, recrossed the Mississippi River in June, 1831, after having ceded the land east of the river to the whites in 1804, he precipitated the Black Hawk War. Many of the new settlers answered the call, and Hugh Stuart was one of them.
Up to that time Hugh Stuart had lived in the southeastern part of the county; (for that part was settled first) but upon his return from the Black Hawk War, in 1832, he removed to Fairfield. His home was in the 100 block on North First Street on the west side of the street. "As a consequence, regular, circuit preaching was commenced and has been maintained to the resent time." (1884) Hugh Stuart's own home, a log building, was used as a meeting place in the beginning. Johnathan Douglas, living five miles in the country, came regularly and attended to the duties of class leader.
We know little of what Fairfield looked like in 1832, but most likely, all buildings were of native logs. Even the court house was a log building on the site of the present county court house building. The first brick building was not erected until 1836.
S. E. 4th St., in Fairfield Over 125 Years Ago.
The little band of Methodists met in this log court house for a time, "but there came into office men who were indignant at the public building being desecrated by gospel preaching." Then, to quote from the Wayne-Clay County history: "Mr. Stuart entertained preaching at his own residence, often supporting the quarterly conference, laboring and rusting, with persistent courage, laboring and trusting, with persistent courage, amidst embarrassments that would have made less stout-hearted men quail, until a few additional members were added to their little band." Nowhere are we enlightened on the trials of Hugh Stuart or how they were settled.
But, "an attempt was made to build a church house and a log pen was raised for that purpose." However, "they were unable to finish it, and the enterprise was abandoned." It was not until 1850 that a church building would again be considered.
However, in 1832, the Illinois Conference established what was called the Fairfield Circuit with James Hadley (or Handley) as pastor. The next year, 1833, the Fairfield Circuit was merged into the Wabash Circuit and so remained until 1842 when it was designated as the "Fairfield Charge."
At the Quarterly Conference on February 18, 1843, the stewards appointed a committee to solicit donations of cattle for the purpose of buying a horse for the preacher's use. In that year, 1843, the preacher was James M. Massey. Even though the Fairfield Circuit was renamed a Charge, it was still a circuit; and Reverend Massey was still a circuit rider, and for many years afterwards the preachers assigned to this charge tended the various small communities around Fairfield on horse back. Twenty years later, Massey's son, Reverend R. H. Massey, was still riding the circuit.
Hardly more than seventy years intervened between the first conference in America and the first conference in Illinois. Methodism had moved westward as a series of societies, organized by itinerant preachers who appointed "class leaders" for every ten or twelve converts or members. Where the clergy was absent, the laymen always seemed to fill the void. The societies usually met for services at the home of the class leaders, they, performing the functions of worship when there was no minister present. As membership grew, stewards were appointed by the ministers to handle the monies; but it was not until 1850 that a board of trustees was appointed for the Fairfield Society, and a church building was considered. By that time the Fair field Charge had had twelve preachers in succession, all preaching to Methodist Societies in private homes and public buildings and all still riding circuit. No conference had been held in Illinois, and it was not until 1872 that laymen were admitted to vote in the general conference. Before that date annual conferences were attended by ministers only.
In the 1840's the discipline of the Methodist Societies was strict and
austere. The practice of personal adornment was considered improper for
members of the societies, especially in the new midwest. The eastern churches
were not so strict at this early period. There is a story - quoting again
from the Wayne-Clay County History of 1884 - that "in 1840 a lady came
in from the east, who had been accustomed to wearing brass ear bobs. She
had been a member of the M. E. Church, but was denied admission here until
the holes in her ears had grown up." We note that the statement does
not say who the woman was or who objected. But at the time, as to propriety
of conduct, preachers were enjoined by the bishops, and also by the conference,
to cultivate simplicity in dress and manners, and to abstain from the use
of tobacco. There was no room for doubt as to the hostile attitude of the
conference toward the tobacco habit, nor to any other foolish, fashionable
extravagance. With typical Methodist zeal the conference spoke plainly
and acted decisively on moral questions. And ministers echoed these same
disciplinary rules from their make-shift pulpits in homes and
sometimes in public buildings - long sermons against "indulging in
the drinking habit, sinful amusements, timber cutting on government land,
defrauding creditors through the use of bankruptcy law, (which had just
been enacted) and voting immoral men into office.". It was a time of
sternness which ushered in the division of the Methodist Church, North
and South, over the question of slavery. It must be noted that a double
standard of discipline developed within the Methodist Societies over this
question.
Between 1840 and 1850 the disciplinary allowance for a preacher was $100.00 a year with a like sum for his wife and a small stipend for each child under fourteen. To this was added by the "estimating committee" what ever sum was thought necessary for feeding the preacher's family and horse, fuel, etc. It was a sort of cost of living figure that varies with the times and conditions. In 1851 the committee reported $70.00 extra as "table expense" for Reverend Moses Sheperd and family. Later, in 1855, this committee reported $140.00 as necessary for John Gilham but he stated that it was more than necessary; so the committee reduced the amount to $128.00 to oblige. It was an unusual transaction, for money was a scarce commodity in those days. The preacher would not take more than enough.
This First Quarterly Conference reported that "the public collection was $1.52 1/2 and the entire sum in cash, gathered from 17 appointments footed up to $5.62 1/2, and cash receipts for the year for Elder Randall and the pastor was $87.85 1/2 at a little later period." This last amount so they said, was "evidence of the improvement in the times, and more liberal ideas among the people." While Elder Van Cleve and Reverend Joy were "conducting the meeting, the public collection amounted to $2 even."
It was also reported at that time "in 1843 James M. Massey was assigned 23 appointments or charges on the Fairfield Circuit. This involved not less than 300 miles of travel each month." The travel was, of course, on foot or horse back.
The year 1850 was the beginning of a formal church in Fairfield. The name, Methodist Society, would slowly be dropped and the church would be called the First Methodist, then the First Methodist Episcopal Church, the First Methodist (1939) and finally, the First United Methodist Church (1968).
Religion played a key role in early American life.
In 1851 the first board of trustees was appointed, we suppose, by Reverend Moses Sheperd, the preacher in charge of the Fairfield Circuit, at the direction of the conference, after discussion of the need of a church building. The Fairfield Methodist Society had about 40 members at the time.
Fairfield Main Street
The trustees purchased a lot on the northwest corner of the intersection of ir East Delaware Street and South East Second Street and contracted with a carpenter (or builder) to construct a building 32' x 45' in size. There is no other description available, but the church 32' x 45' in size. There is no other description available, but the church building was to last some twenty-five years and more than that many preachers. This was residential area at that time. Dr. Richard Lee Boggs lived just across the street to the east. The new building was simply called the "Meeting House," and it cost $700.00.
Two years later at the second Quarterly Conference, Reverend Hiram Sears reported that "ninety have joined the church since (the last) conference, eleven by letter, and seventy-nine on probation, seventy-five have professed religion; three have been expelled for dram drinking; two have been received into full connection and one died and gone to heaven." Hiram Sears was minister of the Fairfield Circuit during 1852 and 1853. This reported gain in membership must have been on the circuit, not in Fairfield, for in 1855 the reported membership of the Fairfield Society was 44, and Ebenezer 42. The total for the Fairfield circuit was listed as 287 members. During the assignment or Reverend Sears to the Fairfield Charge, the Fairfield church seems to have been in the Mt. Vernon District. Sears served two years.
The "Meeting House" must have been a building of nondescript architecture, as severe and devoid of adornment as were the ministers and the members of the Methodist Societies of that period. It had a stove, a clock, and chandeliers; and it must have had a belfry, though not a steeple, for it had a bell. A few members of the present congregation (1968) can remember the building but not as the "Meeting House." It had long degenerated to other uses at the time they were born.
In 1855, Fairfield had no communication with the outside world other than a stage coach line which ran from Grayville to Xenia, which was a station on the B. & O. Railroad. The stage coach way-station was just one block east of the Meeting House. The only other transportation was by horse back or horse and buggy. The southern city limit of the village was Delaware Street. Main Street was known as South Street and First as Church Street. But the town was growing slowly. The population numbered about 500. Wayne County had a new, brick courthouse on the north-east corner of the square, and a "fireproof" storage for county records on the southwest corner.
The lot of the preachers who toiled with the new churches in the 1850's was improving financially. Hiram Sears, J. Knapp, and J. Gilham were furnished a parsonage. As an example of the improvement the Wayne-Clay County History refers to the year 1832 and the hardship endured then: "We will state here, but that the matter be forever lost, that many years ago a man named Owen donated the lot where F. M. Woolard's barn now stands, to the M. E. Church. On this was a shanty of some kind, fit for no one but a Methodist preacher to live in. There is a tradition that James Hadley lived in this shanty when his wife died. The lot was sold by the church." James Hadley (or Handley) was, of course, the first preacher assigned to the Fairfield Circuit in 1832. Just at what period Reverend Hadley lived in this shanty is not clear, or if exposure of the shanty caused his wife's death.
And as to the "Meeting House" - it later became the Fairfield Public School and was used as such until the new combination grade school and high school was built on Center Street in the late 1800's. However the "Meeting House" was not abandoned as a church until 1874.
In 1855 the laymen were as critical of their minister as the preacher was critical of his flock. One "William Crews entered a com plaint against the preacher in charge at the Quarterly Conference, for not attending his appoinments. After much discussion the subject was left. Bro. Knapp giving for his reason a want of support." This complaint, of course, was against John Gilham who had requested that his "table expense" be reduced from $140 to $128 that year and the "estimating committee" had obliged.
That same year at "the fourth Quarterly Conference, proceeded to examine the character of twenty individuals." In fact it was a common practice in the 1850's. "Character examinations were reported extensively in numerous minutes of the quarterly conference. These examinations were to determine the individual's qualifications for receiving Local Preacher's Licenses. Occasionally the license would be renewed or revoked" if the need be. But probably the main reason for the character examinations was the "practice of appointing a committee to counsel a member who had strayed from the way of life laid down by the Methodist doctrine. If the individual did not change his ways, he would be dropped or expelled" or "churched", as some called it. These were the days of sternness and religious enthusiasm which earned the little band of Methodists the nickname, "shoutin' Methodists," which they resented and no doubt was part of the agony and embarrassment of Hugh Stewart.
The story, circulated in 1855, concerning Reverend James Hadley, who was the first pastor of the Fairfield Circuit, having to live in a shanty unfit for human beings where his wife died, we assume, from exposure, had its effect. The congregation decided to own its own parsonage. In 1863 at the First Quarterly Conference a motion was made to build a parsonage. The motion evidently passed but action was slow. Not until 1864 was a committee appointed to take action. When this committee reported to the conference, it was authorized to purchase the property of a Mr. Baker for $650 "or any other suitable property not exceeding this sum."
At the Annual Conference of Southern Illinois, held at Olney that year. Fairfield was made a "station." There had been ten different preachers on the Fairfield Circuit since 1855 when Reverend John Gilham was in charge, but they are little more than names to us now. The next Pastor was R. H. Massey, whose father served in 1843, and these were the war years. It is surprising that so much was done in improving the church property with no mention at all of the Civil War. History tells us that all the young men were gone from Fairfield; only the old men, the women, and the children were left behind. But they had built a parsonage, repaired the church to the amount of $837 besides the regular church expenses.
Reverend R. H. Massey came in 1864 and served three years; the longest of any preacher up to that time, save James Hadley, the first pastor. Unless records are missing, Reverend Hadley rode the Fairfield Circuit for ten years when Wayne County was little more than great stretches of prairie grass and deep forest. But Reverend Massey came in the war years and he did something that no other preacher, before or since, had done. He left a day to day diary of his activities as a Methodist minister and it gives us a vivid picture of life in Fairfield and Wayne County a hundred years ago. It gives the names of the various appointments he attended and the names of the people he ministered to. These people are ancestors of many of the people who sit in the congregation today.
Reverend Massey's diary covers the period from January 1865 to the following September. That year was a momentous year in the history of the United States. The Civil War ended with Lee's surrender and Lincoln was assassinated; yet the diary skims over these facts in short, terse sentences with little or no comment, but the conpassions of the man show through, even the disappointments and frustrations. His Journal begins Sunday, January 1, 1865.
That Sunday Reverend Massey "Preached at Jeffersonville at 10A. M. from Psalms 66 - 18th" (If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.) "Class meeting after preaching. At Brier Thickett at 3 P. M. Same text Went home with Br. Bradshaw. Small congregation today. Rather pleasant meeting. Cold day." All through the diary, whenever he preaches a sermon, he makes a note of the text he used, but seldom does he list more than the last names of his friends or where they lived. Most of the names, however, are familiar to today's congregation; and the reader can recognize his ancestors.
Skipping to January 5th, he writes: "Studing today. Attended the burial of Mr. Flemmings child. Burned to death yesterday. Sad affair. Parents much afflicted." Reverend Massey did not preach the funeral for at the time the Flemmings were Presbyterians.
Friday, Jan. 6, 1865. "At home. Snowing, very disagreeable day. Went to Union. Only Br. Day came to meeting. Prayed and returned home for dinner- Expecting to meet the local preachers in association. Not one of them came and of course, no association."
The next day he complains of a shortage of wood but "Br. Bonham brought us a drag & Berry a load. Wood plenty," he states. He spent Sunday night, the 8th with Br. Sloat and on his way home, called at Br. Jas. Hearn's for some tobacco. Br. Sloat came to town with him to get his horse shod and his buggy `reparred'."
It is to be remembered that in 1865 Fairfield had no railroads. The only public transportation was by stage coach and privately, one either drove a horse or walked. Also, there were no electricity, no telephone, no street lights, no pavement, no water-works; Fairfield was just 46 years old. The country was at war and many boys were in uniform. Reverend Massey mentions soldier now and then. January 12th - "met Lieut. Murphy in the Morning." Jan. 14th - "Soldier took my horse to ride."
"Sunday, January 15, 1865. At home. Preached in Fairfield at 11 A. M. from Act 1-11 funeral sermon, of Br. O. H. Owen. Br. & Sister George took dinner with us. Collection for Sexton $4.00. Paid over to Br. Sibley. Preached at Ureka at 3 P. M. front Psalms 85-11. Good congregation. Returned home, pleasant day."
"Tuesday, Jan. 17. At home. Lieut. George visited us in the morning having started on his way to his command. Up in town saw him leave in stage at one. Cold day. Spent afternoon reading and choping wood."
The next day he writes that Br. George brought two loads of wood, and on the 19th, he sent his watch to Xenia. This might mean that there were no watch repairmen in Fairfield, or there was a better one in Xenia. The watch went by stage coach of course. Friday he had to call Dr. Adams; Massey's wife was unwell. On Saturday, the 21st, Reverend Massey tried to trade horses. He says he was "Disappointed in getting horse."
Monday, Jan. 23rd, was uneventful except at the end of his entry, he says he "Smoked but once today."
"Sun., Jan. 29 - At home. Wife sick. Went to Browns. Preached at 10 o'c A. M. from Rom. 14-17. Held class meeting. interesting meeting. Sister Gillison joined the church. Took dinner at Br. Cratens. (Probably Creighton). Went to Oregon S. H. (Probably Organ School House). Preached at 3 P. M. from Rom. 6-22. Came home. At night wife still very sick. Used no tobacco." This was considerable traveling for one Sunday, especially by horse and buggy, and it seems that no service was held at the "Meeting House" in Fairfield. The next day he reports his wife still poorly and that he used no tobacco. There was much excitement over a street fight in town. Wednesday, Br. George brought another load of wood.
"Thursday, Feb. 16 - At home in Fairfield, reading till noon. Br. Wheeler came for me to go to Mill Shoals. Went to Br. Owens to have him go with me but failed to get him. Went alone. Got down in time for meeting. Preached at night from 2nd Kings 5-13th. Large congregation. Noisy meeting. 2 conversions. Br. Young came in at the close of the meeting. He and I went to Br. Harlans. Used no tobacco."
"Fri. Feb. 17 - At Br. Harlan's. Started to my appointment at Union. Got lost. Didn't get there till near 1 oclock. Br. Reed was preaching but gave way and I preached from Matt. 11-30. Large congregation and good meeting. 3 mourners. Went to Br. Jessup's for dinner. Came home at night. Pleasant day. Used no tobacco. Late getting home."
"Mon., Feb. 20, 1865 - At Br. Wrn. Statens. Br. Crews & Br. Young & self came on to town at noon. Br. Young took dinner with me. Muddy traveling. Kentucky soldiers came to town. Create some alarm. Pleasant day." (These Kentucky soldiers had come to Fairfield in search of one, Dick Feather, who had deserted from the Union Army search of one, Dick Feather, who had deserted from the Union Army under pecular circumstances. As it turned out they never did find the boy for the people hid him from the soldiers.)
"Tues., Feb. 21 - At home. Up town in the morning. Br. Crews called on his way home, took dinner. Still muddy traveling. Soldiers left town this morning. `Goodeal' of excitement about then. Pleasant day."
Skipping to Tuesday, April 4th, Reverend Massey writes: "At home in Fairfield. Reading and studying. Pleasant day. Attended Township Election. Voted for unconditional Union men and no others." Now the beginning of the end of the Civil War starts, and the next day he says: "At home in Fairfield. Good news. Richmond evacuated. Rain. Disappointed prayer meeting at night." And on the 7th of April more war news reached Fairfield. "Pleasant day. Much good news. Lee surrenders."
"Saturday, April 8th, 1865 - At home in Fairfield. Pleasant day. Good news increased. Great demonstrations and Illumination in Fairfield. At night speeches by W. H. Robbinson, by F. Lamp and Dr. Ellis. Fine time. Preached at Hardscrabble at 11 A. M. from Psalms 66-18." It was the same text he used on the day he made his first notation in his diary. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." There is Reverend Massey's description of the celebration that took place in Fairfield at the end of the Civil War. The text for his sermon was a favorite - he used it several times - and it must have seemed appropriate for the occasion and symbolic, for he was a strong Union man and believed deeply in the wrong of slavery. To him slavery and iniquity must have meant the same thing.
The news of Lincoln's assassination reached him a day late, for it had to come by stage coach from the nearest telegraph office, and he says he is "much depressed in feeling in consequence of the assassination of the president."
Wednesday, the 19th, he preached from Psalms 42-11, no doubt because of its theme of hope. "Large congregation,`" he writes, "solem and attentive. All seemed to mourn the loss of the president. A great man has fallen. Had garden plowed."
Here we have put down only a few of the highlights of Reverend Massey's diary. It carries through one of the most historical periods of the United States - the close of the Civil War and the re-uniting of the nation. From this time on Reverend Massey does not mention these stirring events. On the 20th of April he plants some popcorn and potatoes and says: "the Buffalo gnats are very annoying." He continues to preach some seven or eight times a week and often travels twenty miles by horse and buggy between appointments on the same day.
In the days of Reverend Massey it seems that church services were very irregular. The time depended upon the ability of the minister to get to the church and the church bell was the most important means of announcing the event. Thus its ringing called the people, no matter the day of the week or the time of the day. There was no other means of communication.
After Reverend Massey there followed several years of uneventful progress. Reverend C. J. Hout, as preacher in charge, followed R. H. Massey. Then came James Johnson in 1867; William Bruner, 1868; J. S. Barnes, 1869; and Simon P. Groves in 1870-71 with R. H. Massey listed as Presiding Elder. From this we must presume that Reverend Massey had retired as an active minister.
The "second church" building . . .
at the corner of First and
Delaware, now the Masonic temple.
Many Souls were saved here.
At the Fourth Quarterly Conference in 1872 the board of trustees reported that the parsonage had been improved at a cost of "near $1,000," and they estimate its value to be "now worth $1,800" but they still have a debt of $65. The church has
grown in membership and influence in the city, and the old "Meeting
House" is neither appropriate nor of sufficient capacity for the growing
congregation. The Fourth Quarterly Conference in 1873 then voted to erect
a new church and instructed the Board of Trustees to purchase a site. And
at about the same time the First Methodist Church of Fairfield was incorporated
under the laws of the State of Illinois. (1874).
The board was made up of the influential citizens of the town. John Wilson, a member, was active in politics; Edward Bonham, a banker and lawyer; Thomas C. Stanley operated the knitting mills which later became the Sexton Manufacturing Company; Charles W. Sibley was a doctor; Robley Adams dealt in real estate, and John L. Handley, Joe V. Baugh, Allen H. Baker and G. J. George were active in various businesses. These men were well qualified and able to undertake the building of a new church.
The records available state that the board secured Lot No. 55 for the amount of $650 as a building site, but the new church was actually built on Lot No. 53 in Fiddemans' First Addition to Fairfield. This lot was located on the south-east corner of the intersection of Delaware and South First Streets. By June, 1874, the plans for the new church were almost complete.
In preparation for the sale of the old "Meeting House" the Board of Trustees reported to the Fourth Quarterly Conference that the building was worth $1,000 and later contracted with George Chittenden to find a buyer. They stipulated that possession was to be given to the new owner on reasonable notice within two years. They further stipulated that the seats, stove, chandeliers, clock, and personal property were to be retained but the bell would go to the purchaser. One might ponder on the chandeliers of 1874 and what sort of lights they held - candles or coal oil lamps? The board must have valued them highly although they were not used in the new building as we shall see later.
The new lot measured 111 1/2 feet by 1121 1/2 feet and the plans for the new church, furnished by John Barlow of Olney, Illinois, called for a building 101 feet by 45 feet. Thus the church would cover almost half of the lot. The south half of the lot was to be used as a parsonage at a later date. The foundation for the new church was laid in the fall of 1875 and the building was completed by July, 1876, for a total cost of more than $14,000. Like all buildings it cost more than was anticipated when the contract was let to John Barlow of Olney and Wells T. Clark of Fairfield. Their bid price was $9,455, but the Board of Trustees added a slate roof and a bell. And before they were done, they discarded the old chandeliers from the old church and purchased new ones. These, no doubt, were coal oil lamps and probably were tended by Zebina Bean. If Bean was the first janitor, he worked at the job for twelve years. We have a record of his resignation in 1889. The board of trustees added further to the cost of the new church by installing a new organ, some new furniture, and carpets in the aisles of the sanctuary.
The building was constructed in the style and materials of the times; native, red brick secured with lime mortar. High, buttressed walls formed its slim sides with a bell tower at the west end through which the church was entered. Two limestone steps formed the stoop. Stairways right and left from the first floor just beyond the bell tower, switched back on themselves to lead to the entrance of the sanctuary on the second floor, and two more sets of steps, over the first, led to the balcony. A wide aisle led from under the balcony to the chancel rail which extended across the east end of the sanctuary; the choir on the right, and the pulpit in the center. Behind the pulpit a small alcove extended beyond the wall of the main sanctuary and from this alcove a steep stairway led to a small room below, which was intended as a study but little used for that purpose. At times it was used as a Sunday School class room; and at Christmas, Louis D. Barth who nearly always played Santa Claus, used the room to don his red suit and made his entrance to the platform by climbing the narrow stairs to the alcove behind the pulpit.
A loveable, Christian character
Before passing the year 1876, we must note that Aunt Maria Jane White joined the First Methodist Church that year. She was 49 years old and had come to Illinois from Ohio in 1855. Aunt Maria Jane White became an active member of the church and taught a Sunday School class most of the rest of her 98 years. During the Civil War, upon hearing that her husband had been wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, she wrangled her way alone through the Union lines to nurse her husband until he was well enough to travel and brought him home, an invalid. She is one of only 120 women (1954) of Illinois who has a figurine in her honor on display in the Historical Library at Springfield, Illinois. On her 97th birthday she was honored by the First Methodist Church. She was led to a place of honor by her pastor, Dr. J. W. Flint, and was presented with an arm-full of roses and carnations by Mr. T. H. Creighton with the love and honor of the church. Then Mrs. White sweetly expressed her thanks to all. Later, in 1924, a memorial window was placed in the new (third) church in her honor.
About the time the old "Meeting House" was converted into a two room school and Aunt Maria Jane White joined the church, she was also hired as one of the two teachers. The building was then called the "Uptown School." Mrs. James A. McCartney was the other teacher. Eunice McCartney, like Maria Jane White, had also come from Ohio, and her husband would later become Attorney General of the State of Illinois. But Eunice McCartney was cantankerous and selfish, and she believed that of the two rooms in the school building, Mrs. White's was the better. According to the late Charley Johnson, (father of Allen Johnson) Mrs. McCartney decided "to trade rooms", Mrs. White, learning of the contemplated room switch, seated the boys in the front row. Each boy had a club or a ball bat. Mrs. McCartney came in to press the issue, (but) after surveying the situation, decided she didn't want to trade anyway." In her later years, it is said that Eunice McCatrney used to rise in the congregation and dispute the minister in the middle of a sermon.
On Sunday, July 16, 1876, the new church was ready; and the congregation abandoned the old "Meeting House." The high walls had the bell was in place and an octagonal spire, higher than any other building in town, had been placed on the bell tower. Miss Lou Brown had practiced on the new organ. The church was ready for dedication.
There was just one thing -- there was still a debt of $4,000 against the new building. But Bishop Thomas Bowman solved that problem cleverly on that Sunday moring.
We have only the description of the newspapers as to the actual ceremonies that took place at the dedication, so it is best to quote directly from the Wayne County Press of July 20, 1876.
"The dedication of the new M. E. Church in Fairfield was performed by Bishop Bowman on Sunday last. The large room was comfortably filled -- the friends from surrounding country costituting a considerable portion of the audience. The bishop preached a most able sermon from the text: 'It is more blessed to give than to received.' At the Close of the sermon he announced that he was ready to dedicate the building as soon as the indebtedness of $4,000 was provided for. (This includes about $800 for building material and labor which have not been paid by the contractor, Mr. Barlow.) The following subscription paper was presented to the congregation:
"In consideration of the completion of the M. E. Church at Fairfield, Illinois, and that it may be dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, we each of us agree to pay for the purpose of extinguishing the debt remaining against the church, the sums set opposite our respective names; which suns we agree to pay to the trustees of said church as follows: One third January 1st, 1877, one third June 10th, 1877, and the remaining one-third September 10th, 1877. And we agree that our names and the amounts subscribed, may be transferred to the record containing the original subscription to such building.'
"On this basis the following accounts were subscribed:
| 20 $100 subscriptions. . . .
. . . . . . $2000
1 $ 75 subscription. . . . . . . . . . . 75 7 $ 50 subscriptions. . . . . . . . .. . 350 40 $ 25 subscriptions. . . . . . . . . . 1000 14 $ 15 subscriptions. . . . . . . . . . 210 27 $ 10 subscriptions. . . . . . . . . . 270 40 $ 5 subscriptions. . . . . . . . . . 200 ______ Total Amount $4105 |
"Also a basket collection amounted to $24.20.
"During Saturday and Sunday morning fears were expressed that the deficit could not be raised, but Bishop Bowman's splendid sermon and management and the great liberality of the congregation made the occasion a grand success.
"The morning services being quite protracted, the dedication ceremonies were postponed until evening, at which time the church was formally dedicated to the worship of God by Bishop Bowman, assisted by Elder Leeper, Revs. J. A. Baird, Pastor J. H. Hill, former pastor, J. B. Rat'enscroft, J. C. Baldridge and James Crews.
"After the dedication services the Lord's Supper was taken.
"The day was pleasant and the exercises passed off in a most agreeable and satisfactory manner. The Methodist Brethren of Wayne County can congratulate themselves upon having at Fairfield one of the most substantial and beautiful church edifices in Southern Illinois, and that the cost has been provided for."
According to the record this final debt of $4,000 was not paid quite as pledged. The trustees must have borrowed on the pledges for it was not until the summer of 1883 that the remainder of the debt - $2,350, principal and interest, was finally paid.
In the August 3rd issue of the Wayne County Press, 1876, the editor reports: "We regret to learn that Miss Lou Brown has handed in her resignation as organist at the M. E. Church. For almost a year Miss Brown has most faithfully presided at the organ, often coming through very inclement weather to fill her engagements." No reason was given for her resignation.
Caloway Nash is listed as the Preacher in Charge for the years 1876-1877, but according to the newspaper report, he was not present at the dedication of the new church. The next minister was Reverend James L. Waller, followed by William F. Davis, who reports that during his pastorship 170 persons joined the church.
The Union Temperance Society held its first meeting in the new church building Sunday evening, September 3, 1876, and it was reported that the meeting was well attended. This was a new society in Fairfield and the newspaper states: "The opening address was made by Rev. R. C. Galbraith of the Presbyterian church, who spoke more especially on the damaging effect of liquor physically, mentally, and morally." He said, "Liquor drinking degraded manhood and was wholly inconsistent with man's duty to labor for the Glory of God.
"Rev. J. A. Baird, of the M. E. Church, next presented a formidable array of figures showing the frightful money cost of liquors drunk in the U. S., to say nothing of the misery and crime caused thereby.
"Prof. J. C. Youngken spoke of the great damage to character by the use of liquor and urged action to save the young from acquiring habits of drinking. He thought the ladies might successfully use their influence in this good work.
"Mr. Baird offered the following resolution which was adopted almost
unanimously:
"Resolved: That we will use our influence in favor of the execution of
our excellent temperance law, and against the sale and use of intoxicating
drinks as a beverage in our town." It might be noted that Eunice McCartney's
husband, James, a lawyer, and a member of the Union Temperance Society,
wrote the ordinance governing the sale of liquor in Fairfield (and for
Grayville too) which is still in force.
It was proposed that the meetings of the Temperance Union be held monthly during the remainder of the year and the newspaper commented that The suggestion is a good one and should be carried out. The cause of sobriety can win and maintain its deserved high place in public opinion only by constant and persistent agitation."
September 10, 1876, a Sunday School Convention was held in the new church building. The new O&M Rail Road had just been completed so delegates from as far away as Shawneetown were able to attend.
Early in November 1876, a vote was taken by the congregation changing the hour of meeting of the Sabbath School from "3 o'clock to 2:30 o'clock P. M." The report states that the school is well attended and an increasing interest manifold. The teachers' meetings, which are held at the parsonage each Friday, are a great auxiliary to this good work and should be attended by a greater number of male teachers.
The letters, S. S., in 1876, stood for Sabbath School where later, they indicated Sunday School; and in this year, 1876, the organization of the Sunday School for children was just getting under way, and it met in mid-afternoon on Sunday.
Up to the year 1877 there were no hymnals or song books available to the congregation. It was the custom for the song leader to "line the hymn" and then the congregation would sing the words after him. A good song leader could "line a hymn" without a break in the music and it was very effective. January 15, 1877, the church was supplied with cards containing a number of choice hymns. These cards were distributed through the congregation and were to be left on the seats at the close of each meeting. They were to encourage the congregation to a fuller participation in the service of song.
There is no record of just when the first song books were provided but in February 1884, new book racks were placed on the back of the seats. Sexton Sloan reported several books were taken the first Sunday the racks were in use.
It seems that by the year 1877, the minister of the Fairfield church had discontinued serving the Fairfield circuit as part of his charge. For there is an item that says: "The Rev. Mr. Tolle, M. E. preacher in charge of the Fairfield Circuit, was recently the recipient of a generous and most welcome donation visit fron the brethren in Jasper. The example is worthy of imitation by other portions of Mr.Tolle's charge as the regular quarterly payments to him have not been promptly made and he needs all the material support that is due him - the laborer is worthy of his hire, especially the circuit rider." The Reverend Mr. Tolle seems to have had no connection with the First Methodist Church. At the time, Caloway Nash was minister.
With the completion of the new church building the activities of the members within the congregation increased. Besides the regular worship services, other organizations within the congregation were started. The Women's Foreign Missionary Society was organized September 21, 1879; and next to the Sunday School, it is the oldest organization in the Fairfield Methodist Church. The conference Secretary of Southern Illinois, Mrs. Slade, organized the Society and Mrs. A. H. Baker, wife of the owner of the Woolen Mills, was the first president.
In 1894 a second missionary society was formed among the young women of one Sunday School class. Mrs. Ravenscroft was the teacher of the class and also the organizer of the society. Her husband was Reverend J. B. Ravenscroft, who held the pulpit from 1893 to 1895. The new society called themselves the Daughters of the Covenant, and Miss Theo Sibley was the first president. Later they were called the Standard Bearers, and finally the Young Woman's Society. To distinguish the two missionary societies, for a time, they were designated as Jr. and Sr. but now they are all combined in one organization known as the Women's Society of Christian Service, or the W.S.C.S.
There were many protracted meetings held during these years, some lasting as long as five weeks with sermons to match and many conversions. Reverend W. F. Davis reported 160 at one meeting in 1878.
The Sunday School Association again held its annual convention in Fairfield Oct. 27 to 29, 1879. This time the O. & M. Rail Road sold tickets to the delegates at 1 1/2 fare. (Round trip.)
September 2, 1880, the Southern Illinois Annual Conference met at Fairfield. Delegates began arriving on Tuesday and again the O. & M. Rail Road, now the B. & O. Railway, offered excursion rates. It was reported that accommodations for thousands were provided, which seems a little exaggerated for a town of 2,000 people. But there was an immense congregation and Bishop Foss presided. Services were held on the Green lots east of the church with Dr. C. H. Fowler as the main speaker. He later became editor of the N. Y. Advocate.
As mentioned before, a debt of $2,350 still hung over the church in unpaid pledges and since 1876 the debt had been reduced only about S250. In February, 1882, the Board of Trustees resolved to do something about it, but what they did is not clear. However, on August 3, 1883, at the M. E. Church "Jubilee", where Rev. "T. F. Hoots of Carbondale preached a grand sermon for 1 hour and 10 minutes," Reverend N. M. Powers, after the sermon, announced that the debt had been provided for. Again there is no record of how it was provided for but the debt was paid.
Students from far and wide attended here
Of all the extra projects sponsored by the congregation of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, the most ambitious was probably the establishment of the Hayward Collegiate Institute. No one knows or can imagine what economic effect the college might have had on the City of Fairfield and Wayne County had it not met with heartbreaking catastrophe, and few can remember the valiant effort of the church to save the college from oblivion. Never-the-less the effort failed and only a monument on the site marks the fact that it ever existed.
Robert Hayward, born in England, November 9, 1826, and brought to this country by his parents in 1831, was the principal force and largest donor to the college that bore his name. Robert Hayward was a farmer and owned several large farms near Fairfield. In 1880 he built a large, brick house on South First Street which his son, also named Robert, still occupies. But up to that time he had spent much of his life in Ohio near Delaware College, (now Ohio Wesleyan University) and thus had a chance to know the advantages of higher education. Before the land grant colleges were founded, most all colleges were church schools. Hayward Collegiate Institute was a Methodist college.
When Reverend Milo M. Powers (minister 1882-1884) was pastor, Robert Hayward made it known that he expected, at some time, to give some of his property to an educational institution. Dr. C. W. Sibley, then a trustee of the church, hearing of this benevolent design, proposed that he should give it to a school to be founded in Fairfield. The proposal met with Robert Hayward's approval and a substantial sum was subscribed. The building was completed in 1886 and the first class of fifty-one students started attending classes September 20 of that same year.
Dr. Sibley formed the first board of trustees of the college with D. W. Barkley as the first president of the board. Future vacancies were filled by nominations by the Quarterly Conference and elected by the trustees.
Hayward College belonged to the Methodist Church of Fairfield and was truly Methodist in "that earnestness and energy shall characterize her entire career; that she shall serve all the people; that the spirit of the Divine Teacher shall be cherished; that the influence of the school shall be always for Christian purity and excellence. Sectarianism and narrowness will not be allowed."
Thus, with this high-minded purpose the new college started. The building was a brick structure with ten large rooms, conveniently arranged. It contained a beautiful chapel, numerous recitation rooms adapted to large and small classes, an office, library room, and society room. It was well furnished and ventilated, and was heated with a furnace.
During the college's existence over ten thousand students attended. Hayward College was rated high in music and business courses.
But one Tuesday morning in November, 1898, a small fire was discovered in the roof of the college building. The fire could have been extinguished readily with a long ladder and a little water, but there was no water and here was no ladder and a strong wind was blowing. The fire department tried to get their hand pump working but to no avail. When those efforts failed, all hands turned to removing the furnishings. They carried out the pianos, the desks, the tables, the chairs, and the library books, before the raging fire buldged the brick walls until they tumbled down.
Robert Hayward was in the barber shop when the news of the disaster reached him, and he rushed to the college in his horse and buggy, with lather still on his face, to watch, tearfully, his dream fall in a smouldering heap.
After the Fire.
In the church records dated February 16, 1885, the minutes of the official board set forth the duties of the sexton. No where else have such duties been listed in such detail, and for all the things to be done and the tools and fuel to be furnished by the sexton; he was to receive a compensation not to exceed $175.00 per year. But this was a few years before the time of Louis D. Barth, who did the job for nothing.
To quote from the minutes: "Once a year - say the first of May, the yard to be cleaned up all around including a space 10 feet wide along the north side of the building." This, of course, was along Delaware Street which was not paved, and from May to the first frost, the weeds probably got pretty high. The board minutes further instructs the "Sexton to examine the furnace as often as necessary and if anything is found wrong, he is to report at once to the Official Board."
These minutes have historical value for they tell us how people lived in 1885 and what was considered necessary for physical comfort at that time. The minutes state that: "the sexton shall furnish all fuel, coal oil, lamp chimneys, brooms, dust brushes, and everything needed for keeping the church clean and comfortable. He shall sweep well the audience room every two weeks; the basement, including halls and furnace room, and study every Saturday."
"In the event of rainy weather and muddy roads or protracted meetings, the room or rooms used at such times are to be swept every two services and dusted twice; once soon after sweeping and again just before service. Furnace room to be mopped once a month during the season for firing as long as used for Sunday School purposes.
"Once a year, say the first of May," the minutes continue, "the audience, gallery, basement, including furnace rooms, and study and all halls and windows, upstairs and down, floors and carpets and woodwork, in short everything, is to have a thorough overhauling and cleaning. Stoves to be left in place and blackened. All flues in use to be cleaned out from top to bottom. This annual cleaning must include a thorough wiping off and oiling of the pulpit furniture and all the book racks on the seats. The lamps to be kept well filled and the lamps and chimneys cleaned every time they are filled. Piece of flannel sufficiently large kept in each lamp bowl and occasionally handled to prevent dripping. In starting fires there must be no fire carried from one stove to another. The temperatures of the rooms to be 60 to 66 on the end of seats, near middle of room."
Those were the maintenance instructions for the sexton, and it seems that the board covered every item imaginable. The next paragraph covers the rules of operation of the building.
It states that "The house (is) to be opened at all regular services and any other time authorized by the board or pastor. Standard time to be used and bell to be rung twice - first time for a period of five minutes, commencing 30 minutes before time for service to begin. Second time for a period of two minutes commencing five minutes before time for services to begin. The Pastor to have charge of the ventilation of the rooms." And as an after thought the minutes state: "Every time the halls are swept the walk in front of church to be swept."
But in the last paragraph the Board relents slightly "In the matter of repairs. If a slate has to be replaced with tin, (on the roof) or if anything requiring but little time or skill," needs to be done, the board agrees to furnish the materials. Yet in all other matters "The compensation for this skill not exceed $175.00 per year. And the sexton is urged "to cooperate with the board in making our house noted for cleanliness and comfort at all times."
In the 1890's there was a Mission School in the west side of Fairfield operated under the sponsorship of the First Methodist Church. It was interdenominational. All the other churches in the city were huddled within a few blocks near the east side of town and it was a long walk from the B. & O. Railway track. By 1901 the Mission had outgrown its quarters and a series of events created a second Methodist Church in Fairfield.
Ellen Moore, the little daughter of Daltie and Mollie Moore, after a long illness, died at the age of seven, December 20, 1900. Ellen's mother remembered how her daughter, during her illness, had watched the children pass their house going to Sunday School and had remarked, "Oh, Mother, I wish I could build them a church." It was so far to walk to the east part of town and Ellen couldn't go at all.
So when the need for a larger Mission School arose the Moores, wishing to establish a memorial for their daughter, offered a donation of $500 toward the building of a new church. The idea caught on immediately amongst the congregation of the First Methodist Church. Mr. Land Wall gave another $500. Mrs. J. Q. Rapp, grandmother of Mr. Peter G. Rapp, gave $100. She had just lately retired as a storekeeper in Geff and moved to Fairfield. Many others gave smaller amounts. The lot was purchased from Mr. Sam McAtee for $50, half of which he returned as a donation toward the new building. The title to the property was held by the First Methodist Church for some time.
A brick building, 40' x 26', was erected at 706 W. Main St. It had a slate roof and bell tower, a steeple, and a stone cap over the main door bearing the inscription: "Ellen Moore Mission." The building cost $1,643.00. Most of the labor was donated and the pulpit stand was given by Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Bonham in memory of their son, William.
In 1901 there was one colored family in Fairfield. Governor Foster and his wife (Governor was an affectionate nickname) were devout members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a barber, (and a slave as a child), and for many years he and Mrs. Foster occupied the front bench at every Sunday service. They donated the pulpit Bible for the new mission church.
The church was dedicated October 17, 1901. In January of 1909 a Methodist minister, Mr. N. S. Lanter, came to conduct a revival. He was a powerful preacher, and great crowds came to hear him. The church was not large enough to hold the crowds who stood outside at open doors and windows to listen. There were many conversions, and many of the converts wanted to join the new church. But it wasn't a church as yet; so application was made for membership in the Southern Illinois Conference, and the Mission Church broke away from the mother church, so to speak, and became a separate congregation, October, 1909, known as the Ellen Moore Memorial Methodist Church.
Reverend Lanter returned as the first minister and remained in the pulpit for six years.
In the last quarter of the 1800's and the first twenty years of the 1900's the church had reached a level of influence and affluence not before matched. More than ten preachers had filled the pulpit. Some we have mentioned and some we have overlooked - simply from lack of recorded information. We do many laymen injustice by not mentioning them here, for an indeterminate number have labored long at some tedious assignment, like John Wilson who resigned as Recording Steward in 1886 after 34 years of service.
In 1898, Fairfield built its first light plant and the church installed electric lights in its coal oil chandeliers. It cost $400.00 to convert the lights and wire the building, and electricity first lighted the church building Thanksgiving night, 1893.
This was a period of stability. The Missionary Societies met regularly along with the Temperance Union. Chicken pie suppers preceded every Christmas program while the children played hide and seek in the dark gallery and the spooky belfry. Epworth League met until 1940. And the Methodist choir was regarded by many as the best in town.
On any Sunday morning they made the rafters ring.
Before leaving the 1800's we must assume that there was some dissension as to the length of time a minister should be assigned to a pulpit, for at the quarterly conference in 1884, Mr. E. Bonham was elected lay delegate to the annual conference with instructions to vote only for delegates to the General Conference who would oppose removal of the time limit on pastoral terms. The records do not tell us why such instructions were issued. We only know that Milo M. Powers had served as pastor for three years ending in 1884. He was followed by Reverend L. W. Lacke under whose pastorate the fund raising drive fcr Hayward Collegiate Institute started.
After almost fifty years in the second church building the congregation again felt that they had outgrown their quarters and there was agitation to erect a new and bigger building. The old building was showing its age. The steps were worn and rickety; long cracks were showing in the brick walls and the foundation uncertain; a dingy dustiness pervaded the whole building and nothing could wipe it away. The spidery steeple, struck by lightening in 1903, stood unsure above the bell tower.
It was in 1922 or 1923 that plans and estimates were presented to the congregation for a new church building to cost approximately $50,000. The board of trustees were instructed to proceed with the project, trusting on faith that the money could be raised. The trustees appointed from among their members, a building committee, with Frank Heidinger as chairman, H. K. Johnson, secretary, and Dr. T. J. Hilliard, L. A. Blackburn, and A. J. Poorman as additional members. Of all the able men on this committee, one man stands out and must be remembered in the history of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Frank Heidinger gave nearly all of his waking hours and personal labor to the construction of the new building. Instead of costing $50,000 it cost more than $80,000. The new church was built on a lot catercornered across the street from the second church; and the old church building, sold to the Fairfield Masonic Lodge, was soon denuded of its steeple and bell tower, yet stands, drab red and forlorn, defiant of the rushing traffic past its very door step.
During the planning and preparations for the construction of the new church scandal struck the pulpit of the First Methodist Church for the first and only time. Reverend C. B. Latimer was removed from his charge and his credentials revoked by the conference as a result and Reverend J. W. Flint was recalled. He had served as minister from 1915 to 1920. In fact it was the third time that he had filled the pulpit at Fairfield. The first time was when Reverend Flint was a young man in 1887 and 1888. But in 1923 he was just the man to reassure a shocked congregation.
The third church building is a gothic structure, solid and heavy. It was a year in building and was completed in March, 1924. The walls are of chocolate colored, vitrified, paving brick, trimmed with Bedford limestone. The roof is black slate. There are three floors, the first, or basement, contains equipment for social and recreational gatherings of the congregation, a stage, a baptistry under the stage floor, ladies' parlor, rest rooms and some Sunday School rooms.
The present church building
The main floor has the auditorium, choir, Sunday School rooms, pastor's study and chcir room. The auditorium is square with high ceiling supported by great arches with a dome effect. There are galleries on each side. The pulpit is on a wide and roomy platform at the south end of the auditorium with choir loft and pipe organ to the back. The north end of the auditorium is a vast arch opening into the Sunday School rooms, and closed as desired by a rich, dark red, velour curtain.
Great chandeliers hang from the high ceiling providing indirect lighting. Under the galleries on either side are cloistered pillars and aisles, adding to the effect of the sanctuary. The key board of the pipe organ is in the choir loft directly behind the pulpit and above, decorative organ pipes reach up to fill the arch. The pipe organ cost $4,000. Nearly 1,200 people can be seated in the auditorium with unrestricted view of the pulpit.
The congregation moved into this new church building some ninety-two years after the founding of the first Methodist Society in Fairfield. And they rejoiced greatly in the consummation of their work, and there was an expression of very deep and sincere appreciation of the work of the building committee.
The dedication ceremonies of the new church were set for March 16, 1924. The day dawned bright and spring-like and for the occasion small dedication pamphlets were distributed to the arriving congregation. The pamphlets opened with the gentle admonition that:
| "Whoever thou art that entereth this Church Remember that it is
the house of God;
Be reverent, be silent, be thoughtful, And leave it not without a prayer to God For thyself, for those who minister, And for those who worship here." |
The dedication ceremonies lasted four days, ending March 19. Bishop Charles Bayard Mitchell, of St. Paul, Minn., delivered the Sunday morning sermon followed by the dedication ceremony; and he preached again at the evening service. Mrs. Charles Edwin Wilson, a former member of the church, was imported from Wauwatosa, Wiscosin to play the new pipe organ. The following evening, she gave an organ recital. The admission charge was fifty cents. And on Wednesday there was a dedication ceremony for the memorial windows donated by various families in memory of their loved ones. Dr. J. W. Flint, the pastor, presided at this Wednesday evening ceremony and for those who were there, it was impressive.
And lest we forget whom these stained glass windows were dedicated to, we list here after the names, and regret that we can not tell the story of each person named on the little brass plate below each window.
It was a proud time for the members of the congregation. As Mrs. T. J. Hilliard wrote fifteen years later: "The surprising thing that we were enabled to dedicate with only a debt of $29,000." And as some one else remarked, "this church was built to last a hundred years," and it is well along on that assignment in this Sesquicentennial Year of 1968.
Dr. J. W. Flint only served a part of a year on his last call to the pulpit in Fairfield. He was followed by Reverend J. W. Fahnestock and Reverend J. M. Adams.
In 1929 Reverend Roy N. Keen took over the pastorate and under his leadership the membership of the church presented a Christmas operetta that was more elaborate than any before or since. All age groups were involved and the operetta was presented on two occasions with the cast in costume. The adults sang the story of Joseph and Mary, the shepherds and the wise men, and members of the Epworth League formed an "angel choir." People from all over town came to see and hear this Christmas story. All the seats of the church were filled and people stood in the aisles. Later, after Reverend Keen left Fairfield, the choirs of the Christian, Presbyterian and Methodist churches combined to give a cantata of Christmas music under the direction of Miss Corine Jessop of the Christian Church. The programs were presented in the First Methodist Church, but after a few years the custom was discontinued and each church decided to present its own Christmas musical program.
The 1932 General Conference of the Methodist Church was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from May 2 through May 25. Mrs. T. J. Hilliard was the only member of the Fairfield Methodist Church ever elected as a delegate to the General Conference. The key issue of the conference that year seemed to center around an Amendment to the Constitution which would allow lay participation in annual conferences. This was debated and finally approved; so Mrs. Hilliard was not only the only person from the Fairfield Methodist Church to be elected a voting delegate to the General Conference, but also among the first to be allowed to vote in an Annual Conference.
The time crowded into these pages has now covered a span of one hundred years since Hugh Stewart had established regular circuit preaching in his home and organized the first Methodist Society in Fairfield. The congregation took note of the fact and celebrated its Centennial in November, 1932. A week of special services was held and all former ministers, living were called back to take part in the ceremonies. W. H. Whitlock was the minister in charge at the time but he surrendered his pulpit to the honored visitors. Reverend Fahnestock (1924-25) delivered the sermon on Monday night, November 28. Then followed L. W. Porter, (1912-15), J. M. Adams, (1926-28), J. G. Tucker (1901-04), and R. N. Keen (1929-31). On Sunday night, December 4, a new-comer, Dr. Cameron Harmon delivered the sermon. He was president of McKendree College at the time but would return to pastor the Fairfield Methodist Church some seven years later.
For the centennial services the church was decorated with one hundred yellow chrysanthemums, and at vesper services the altar was lighted by one hundred yellow candles.
1932 was a fairly good year. Although the congregation had not got all of the $29,000 debt against the church building paid, collections and donations were meeting the payments on the principal and interest. But 1933 was something else. The crash came, the banks closed, and people were out of work. Reverend Whitlock was transferred to Springfield in November and Reverend A. R. Ransom took his place. Reverend Ransom had hardly been at the First Methodist Church a month when the treasurer reported to the Official Board, "a deficit of $150 on pastor's salary and $60 on a coal bill and only $34 in the treasuery." Money was the main topic of discussion through all the minutes of the Official Board throughout the year 1933. In December, a committee consisting of D. L. Garrison, Ira A. Brown, L. A. Blackburn, Mrs. Frank Heidinger and Mrs. T. J. Hilliard, was appointed to meet with the pastor, A. R. Ransom, "to work out plans to raise all indebtedness due by April 1," 1934.
This was the story for the next five years. The names on the
committee changed and the amount of the deficit changed, but the
main discussions in all the board meetings was money. The commit tee
was always trying new methods of collecting money and during this period
the "every member canvass" was initiated. Although no one could
possibly understand the finances of the church from reading the minutes
of this period, it seems that Reverend Ransom bore the brunt of the deficits;
his salary was seldom paid in full. But on and on until 1939 the quest
for money to meet the bonds and interest continued. The finance committee
had many schemes; one was "dollar day" and another, "the mile of pennies."
The women's organizations did their share in the quest for money in these hard times also. The Lady's Aid Society, which dates from about 1900 to the 1940's, pledged themselves to provide about $2400 per year. In order to make this money the women were divided into four groups. Each Friday for several years, the groups took turns offering a noon dinner to the public for 25 cents. Each group had its own menu and most of the food was donated so the money taken in was almost entirely profit. These dinners averaged $25.00 per week and for a year totaled about half of the $2400 pledged. The other half was made by serving extra meals as requested by out side organizations such as the Rotary Club, Woman's Club and others. The annual turkey dinners and bazaars also helped.
Then things seemed to get better. There was not so much talk of money. New hymnals were purchased and the old ones donated to the Merriam Methodist Church. The furnace was repaired and the ladies' parlor redecorated.
In 1939 the First Methodist Church had about 410 members and Dr. Ransom was popular with all of them. They felt he had guided them through a difficult time. In August "The board voted unanimouslly to ask for the return of Dr. Ransom for the year 1939-40, and the secretary was instructed to write Dr. F. E. Harris, District Superintendent, to that effect."
Never-the-less, Dr. A. R. Ransom was moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, and Dr. Cameron Harmon, the man who had preached the Centennial Sermon in 1932, took his place.
Cameron Harmon was probably the most colorful minister who ever occupied the pulpit of the First Methodist Church. He was a big man with a heavy, authoritative voice and an easy flow of language. He was known by his intimates as "Cap" Harmon - the nickname stemming from his days as a soldier in the Spanish-American War.
Reverend Harmon was a dignified gentleman, but his dignity was pierced with a sense of humor and an unsurpassed wit. He had a joke for every occasion - in fact he was the only minister able to tell a joke at a funeral and yet have the joke have the flavor of a benediction. In 1934, Reverend J. B. Cummins, a retired Methodist preacher, came to Fairfield to settle and live out the rest of his years in retirement. He was sixty-six years old but very active. He attended every service, taught a Sunday School class, attended every board meeting, assisted in the pulpit, and whenever he could, led the singing. As a matter of fact he was proud of his voice and couldn't understand why everyone could not sing out as he did. Reverend Cummins died in 1955 at the age of 87; and Dr. Cameron Harmon, who had served as minister from 1939 to 1943, returned to preach his old friend's funeral. Reverend Cummins was an old man - he had lived a long and complete life and had out-lived most of his relatives and friends. Thus he passed away in dignity and without tears and Cameron Harmon paid his last respects with a sermon of tribute. In it he presumed, in deference to Reverend Cummins' love for song, that when Reverend Cummins got to Heaven, he would surely organize a choir. There would be a thousand alto voices, a thousand sopranos, and a thousand tenors, but Brother Cummins, himself, would sing bass.
Dr. Harmon left Fairfield in 1943 and served a few small churches in the district and soon retired. But he was always in demand by various organizations as a speaker up until the time of his death.
There were other - you might say - remarkable funerals held in the First Methodist Church. One of the largest was that of Congressman James V. Heidinger on March 22, 1945. Over 2000 people attended along with ten or twelve senators and congressmen from Illinois and adjoining states. The Attorney General of Illinois also attended. Loud speakers were set up in the basement for those who could not get into the auditorium.
And when Carl Shelton was murdered in a regular gang-war style, the First Methodist Church was the only church that would allow his funeral to be held under its roof. This was on October 23, 1947. The newspapers said 5000 people tried to attend this funeral. Every seat and aisle in the building was filled and the remainder of the crowd stood outside in a drizzling rain while the rites were performed. It was not a congregation of mourners but a crowd of morbid curiosity seekers. Reverend C. L. Peterson pronounced a prayer and the sermon was preached by Elder L. Lewis Curneal from near Merriam, Illinois. Curneal preached for more than forty minutes while the rain fell and darkness came. A funeral procession of forty cars made its way to the cemetery after night-fall and thousands of people lined the streets all the way, some even on building tops. It was a gaudy show with expensive trappings and, no doubt, the board afterwards felt that the whole business was unwise. Yet the church has a duty to the dead as well as the living; and it still stands for the purpose of good, unaffected by the events that have taken place under its roof.
Dr. C. L. Peterson followed Cameron Harmon in 1944. During Reverend Peterson's pastorship the new Fairfield Memorial Hospital was constructed and the congregation donated $1000 to this project. And in 1947 the church received an anonymous donation for a set of electronic chimes. The donor, however, could not keep her secret; she was Miss Marion Bothwell, a long and faithful member of the congregation. Also about this time the use of the pipe organ was discontinued in favor of an electronic organ. The old pipe organ is still there but the pipes behind the pulpit are now used; a loud speaker, tucked away behind them, furnishes the music. There have been many organists whom we have not mentioned, but we must note the many years Miss Mabel Norris performed behind the pulpit.
During the mid 1950's the members of the First Methodist Church of Fairfield began to dream about building an educational addition west of the existing sanctuary. The lot west of the church owned by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond T. Bryant was needed for the building, and the lot immediately west of the Bryant lot owned by Mrs. Hamilton and the lot west of the Hamilton lot which was owned by Robert Hayward and wife and T. O. Mathews and wife, were needed in order to provide an adequate parking lot. The trustees negotiated for several years with Mr. and Mrs. Bryant and finally on January 28, 1958, they contracted to sell their lot, with certain reservations, to the church. About the same time the Hamilton lot became available and the church purchased it. It was not until 1964 that the church was in a position to purchase the Mathews-Hayward lot.
By 1958 the thinking of the church had crystalized, and a decision was made to build an educational unit. The trustees roughly estimated that the cost of the building, necessary real estate and improvements to the existing sanctuary, would amount to approximately $160,000.00. It was an addition to the main church building which had cost $80,000.00 some thirty-four years before. A plan was adopted whereby a contract would be let for the new building upon the church raising the sum of $80,000.00 in cash with the remainder to be financed by selling first mortgage bonds. This $80,000.00 was raised by taking three year pledges with emphasis being placed on an annual Christmas offering. The $80,000.00 was raised by Christmas, 1960.
The trustees had employed Gatewood & Fields, architects of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and they had drawn several different sketches. Finally, in 1961, the plans for the new educational building were approved. On May 14, 1961, the Quarterly Conference approved the final budget as follows:
| Estimated cost of building. . . . . . . . . . . . . $130,000.00
Equipping building. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . 5,000.00 Carpet for existing church. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 5,000.00 Decorating and repairing existing church. . . . . .5,000.00 For miscellaneous expense and blacktopping parking lot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000.00 Total budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$151,000.00 |
On May 29, 1961, bids were opened. Joe P. Boyle of Mt. Vernon was the successful general contract bidder; H & H Plumbing Co. of Mt. Vernon was the successful electrical bidder, and Miller and Son of Fairfield was awarded the plumbing, heating, and ventilation contract.
The total contract price amounted to $128,275.00. With a few extras not covered by the contract, the building of walks, and the planting of shrubbery, the total spent on the new building and site amounted to $300.00 or $400.00 less than the $130,000.00 estimated cost as listed above. The cost of the equipment placed in the new building amounted to approximately $5,000.00.
The Quarterly Conference of the church met on the 14th day of May, 1961, and authorized the execution of a mortgage securing 580,000.00 worth of bonds amortized over a period from January 1, 1963, to July 1, 1975. However, it was only necessary actually to issue and sell $60,000.00 of this authorized bond issue.
Construction started in the summer of 1961 and the building was completed at Easter time in 1962.
The parking lot could not be fully completed until the Mathews-Hayward lot was purchased and the old house removed. This occurred in the summer of 1964. This lot was rocked, leveled and surfaced with chat after entrances had been made and the parking lot had been curbed and guttered.
After the lot had settled, Dwight Gardner of Fairfield was employed in 1966 to blacktop the lot and the alley leading to Main Street at a cost of $4,500.00.
The members of the church were generally pleased with the appearance and utility of this new improvement. The building committee consisting of F. S. Feiger, D. T. Bunting, Fuhrer Dickey, L. A. Blackburn, T. O. Mathews, D. L. Garrison, R. W. Hayward, Emmitt E. Hoffee, Wasson W. Lawrence, and Reverend W. A. Smith, enjoyed the whole-hearted support of the church membership in the planning and construction of this building. This spirit and desire exhibited by the congregation made this difficult job an enjoyable, spritual experience for the whole church membership.
It should be noted that among the members of the building committee we find the name of Mr. L. A. Blackburn, and we remember that he was also a member of the building committee for the third church building in 1924. In fact he is the only living member of that first building committee. Mr. Blackburn has been a member of the board of trustees since 1922 and in this year of 1968, is still serving as a member of the official board.
And also among the names of the building committee we note that of R. W. Hayward, the son of the man who founded Hayward Collegiate Institute back in 1886, and we are reminded of the continuity of family that runs through the congregation. We remember' the brave plans for the college and without the disaster of the fire - we muse and wonder what might have been?
This new addition to the third church building is a long, two storied structure extending west from the main building. Its walls and mortar were made to match the chocolate colored brick of the old church, but its lines do not, yet they blend. Its walls are splashed with color between its windows and the second floor is so designed that it matches the level of the sanctuary. The two buildings are connected mostly with glass walls so as to preserve the effect of the stained glass windows of the sanctuary. It contains many class rooms and the minister's study, which now bears the name "Church Office."
Reverend Eugene Leckrone was the pastor when this new addition was planned, but little headway was made during his tenure. One of the best religious, singing groups was obtained to perform in the church during Leckrone's pastorate. The group was called "Wings Over Jordan" and was composed of colored men and women. Reverend Leckrone had advertised the choir in the newspapers for at least a month before they came. When the big night arrived, people came from all over the county. Many stood outside during the first performance. The choir members graciously consented to repeat their program, so they sang the same program twice in one evening to a packed church both times.
The next minister was Hilton Longberry who served from 1953 to 1956. He was followed by Reverend William Henderson (1956-1960). Reverend Henderson was a very inspirational leader for the young people of the First Methodist Church. During his years here three young men decided to enter the ministry. They were Walter Scott Lawrence, III, James V. Heidinger, II, and Stephen Hoard.
Now we are too close to events to sort out their effects on history. We can not know what of the present will be important to the future, for it is only revealed a little at a time. We can only state the facts. Reverend Walter A. Smith, under whose leadership the educational addition was completed, followed Reverend Henderson. Next, Reverend D. S. Lacquement served from 1963 to 1965 and the present minister is Robert A. Krause.
In this short history we have covered a period of 138 years since the days of Hugh Stewart's first Methodist Society. The church is now known as the First United Methodist Church of Fairfield, Illinois. It is probably still more a society than a congregation - probably more a family than a society. And it stands solid, quiet and dignified, hardly more than a block from where it started, and it will last the hundred years assigned to it. And maybe it will last more. If not, there will be something better.
And now that we have reached the present in time in this history, we shall conclude with the observations of the present minister, Reverend Robert A. Krause, who is more able to observe the congregation from the outside than we are from within.
The History Committee has asked that I include some insights as to the significance of the church in the year 1968.
"First, let me begin by stating the place of the church in the community. Fairfield is certainly blessed with many wonderful churches and fine buildings. We recognize that a church is no better than its members, and the membership of the churches seem to be made up of people with willing hearts and a love for their Lord. The churches are bound together by a very strong Ministerial Alliance. The Alliance meets monthly with all of the pastors participating. The Ministerial Alliance promotes a "Go-To-Church-Week" series of services in the churches of the community. Different ministers speak and the services are held in different churches each night. They also conduct a Good Friday Service and a Union Thanksgiving Service. All of these services are well attended and usually represent the Christian laity of the church. The Alliance through the blessing of the congregations supports various needed projects within the community.
To speak more directly concerning the congregation of the First United Methodist Church, let me say that I have not labored among any more cooperative people. They are a marvelous congregation to which any minister could address himself. They are active and responsive to the preaching and to the programs of the church. Never does the church lack for support of any of its needed projects.
"No Minister is ever able to achieve 100% cooperation and support of a congregation but let it be written into the record that the First United Methodist Church enjoys a high degree of faithfulness. Many of the civic activities are not only supported by members of the church but have originated within the numbers of the First United Methodist Church.
'Let it be stated again that those who planned and built the building as it now stands certainly had a worshipful eye for the future. Our sanctuary lends itself for worship and certainly we have received many compliments concerning its arrangement. A description of the sanctuary can be found elsewhere in the history; but as the present minister I find that the arrangement is very satisfactory for worship, funerals, weddings and other special activities.
"Certainly we are blessed with two fine musicians in our church who have assumed the responsibility for the choir and the organ. Miss Elaine Bosley, a music instructor in the Public School, is certainly a very fine choir director. She also is our pianist for the Sunday evening and Wednesday services. The choir, although not large in number, is very faithful and adds much to the service of worship.
"Mr. Joe Grubb, librarian in the school system, is our organist. The church is so grateful for the service of Mr. Grubb, and one can not speak too highly of his talent.
The new educational unit, which has been spoken of previously in the history, is of great benefit to the spiritual training of our children and youth. The entire first floor is used by our children's department. The second floor contains the six classes of the youth department, plus the secretary's office and the pastor's study. What a tremendous advantage to have such a unit plus the fact that at the writing of the history only $ 11,000.00 remains to be paid.
In 1953 the parsonage for the minister and his family was changed from the house just south of the second church building, which is now the Masonic building, to the present parsonage which is located at 300 W. Delaware. The present parsonage contains four bedrooms and a family room plus the usual living room, dining room, kitchen, two baths and a full basement: The parsonage is extremely adequate for the family, although at this present time the area is becoming commercial,
"Plans will some day be made to have the parsonage moved from this commercial location. The Trustees of the church are dedicated to making the parsonage adequate and beautiful for their Minister.
"The present parsonage family is extremely happy to serve the First United Methodist Church of Fairfield. We enjoy the cooperating spirit and the eagerness of the church to fulfill its responsibilities in the community. Let it be known to those who shall read this history in the future that the present minister does not feel that the ministry is a responsibility to be dreaded, but rather as responsibility to be fulfilled."
FAIRFIELD CIRCUIT ESTABLISHED 1832 James Handley, Pastor
| 1842 | Robert E. Guthrie |
| 1843 | James M. Massey, Pastor |
| 1844 | Ephram Joy PC
John Van Cleve PE |
| 1845 | Daniel Farbanks |
| 1846 | T. C. Lopas |
| 1847 | Jacob E. Reed PC
W. H. Taylor PE Thomas Parker AP |
| 1848-49 | James Johnson |
| 1850 | James Haley |
| 1851 | Moses Shepherd PC
W. W. Mitchel PE |
| 1852-53 | Hiram Sears
in Mt. Vernon District |
| 1854 | J. Knapp
in Salem District |
| 1855-56 | J. Gilham |
| 1857 | Wesley Williams
John E. Taylor C. W. Robbins PE |
| 1858-59 | Samuel Walker PC
William Cliffe PE |
| 1860 | S. E. Willing
James Burk |
| 1861 | John H. Lockwood |
| 1862 | John Thacker
William M. Owen T. F. Hout PE |
| 1863 | James A. Thrapp |
| 1864 | Richard H. Massey |
| 1865 | R. H. Massey, Fairfield made a station |
| 1866 | R. H. Massey
C. J. Hout PC |
| 1867 | James Johnson PC
Z. S. Clifford PE |
| 1868 | William Bruner |
| 1869 | J. S. Barnes |
| 1870-71 | Simon P. Groves
R. H. Massey PE |
| 1872 | Calvin Gibbs |
| 1873-74 | John H. Hall
William F. Davis PE |
| 1875 | J. A. Baird
John Leeper PE |
| 1876-77 | |
| 1878 | James L. Waller |
| 1879-81 | William F. Davis PC
Owen H. Clark PE |
| 1882-83 | Milo M. Powers |
| 1884 | N. M. Powers |
| 1885-86 | L. W. Lacke |
| 1887-88 | J. W. Flint |
| 1889-90 | J. W. Locke |
| 1891-92 | G. W. Shepherd |
| 1893-95 | J. B. Ravenscroft |
| 1896-98 | W. T. Morris |
| 1899-1900 | J. G. Dee |
| 1901-04 | J. G. Tucker |
| 1905-07 | T. DeWitte Peake |
| 1908-09 | Theodore Cates |
| 1910-11 | N. Crow |
| 1912-14-15 | L. W. Porter |
| 1915 | J. W. Flint (Sent in September) |
| 1916-19 | J. W. Flint |
| 1920-23 | C. B. Latimer |
| 1923 | J. W. Flint |
| 1924-25 | J. W. Fahnestock |
| 1926-28 | J. M. Adams |
| 1929-31 | R. N. Keen |
| 1932 | W. H. Whitlock |
| 1933-38 | A. R. Ransom |
| 1939-43 | Cameron Harmon |
| 1944-49 | C. L. Peterson. Changed to Harrisburg District 1945 |
| 1949-53 | Eugene Leckrone |
| 1953-56 | Hilton Longberry |
| 1956-60 | William Henderson |
| 1960-63 | Walter A. Smith |
| 1963-65 | D. S. Lacquement |
| 1965-72 | Robert A. Krause |
| 1972-76 | Ivan Lirely |
| 1976-85 | Bill Qumnns |
| 1985-90 | Louis Frick |
| Visit Our Neighbors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | Clay | Richland | |
| Jefferson |
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Edwards | |
| Franklin | Hamilton | White | |
