Segment VII of Centennial History Manual
(From the 50th Anniversary Volume)
Fifty years ago today the following minute was entered on record:
WAUWATOSA, March lst, 1842.
At a meeting of several persons formerly connected with other churches, held at the house of Richard Gilbert, in the town of Wauwatosa, for the purpose of organizing a church, Rev. John J. Miter was chosen moderator, and constituted the meeting with prayer. Rev. Hiram Marsh was appointed clerk. The following persons presented evidence of their good standing in and regular dismission from other churches, viz: Richard Gilbert, Nancy, Gilbert, Sylvia. Gilbert, Fanny E. Morgan, Emmerson.C. Maynard, Marcia M. Maynard, Hezekiah Gilbert, Jonathan M. Warren, and Lavinia D. Warren. It was then voted to organize themselves into a church to be called the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa. The following confession of faith and covenant was then adopted. The printed confession and covenant of the Presbyterian.church of Knoxville, Ill., with the following addition to the covenant: "You further Covenant with each other not to use, intoxicating liquors as a beverage, nor encourage the manufacture or sale of them in the community. Also, that you will withhold, fellowship from those who hold slaves and those, who advocate the right of, slave-holding." After the completion of the organization of the church it proceeded to the examination of David Morgan and Ephraim Gilbert with reference to their union with the church; their examination was sustalned.
(Signed) HIRAM MARSH
''This 'first page of the record is a sample of the rest of the record, with the exception of the act of organization. The.Church for several years continued its meetings at the places of Richard Gilbert's house, the log school house nearby, the school house at Hart's mills, and, like Noah's dove, seemed to find no resting place. These years the church was led (under the power of the Spirit) by Rev. Hiram Marsh from Jan..1st, l842, to October lst, 1842; Rev. L. Bridgeman from October 1st, 1842, to October 1st, 1943; Rev. Kitchel from December, 1843, to May, 1845. April 23d, 1842, Richard Gilbert was chosen deacon. During the ministry of the above named there were numbered in the church forty-three members. These men and women were from the states of Massachusetts and New York, inheriting those mental and physical qualities needed to form a basis upon which to erect a perfect structure and, under the provisional care of Him who careth for us, to them we owe, in a very great measure, our present pleasant and beautiful surroundings.
Upon the 19th day of July, 1845, there landed upon these shores a full-fledged young divine, fresh from the college and seminary, seeming to possess more of the college and seminary training than of physical stamina. And upon the 20th of that same month he tremblingly (I imagine) stood before the assembled yeomanry of Wauwatosa, in the newly erected, unfinished barn of Mr. William Fisher, to deliver to them his first sermon (he having in the morning, at the little log school house, conducted a brief service). I have heard how he tremblingly drew the precious roll which contained his studied thoughts, spread it out upon a convenient work bench for a pulpit, and began; but lo! soon a, gentle zephyr, from its native haunts nearby, playfully lifted the precious roll and deposited it beneath the barn floor. I imagine the embarrassment of the young divine, a third of his whole stock of trade swept away from him, seemingly lost forever, when, as agile as the gentle zephyr, a young denizen of the greenwood scrambled under the floor to rescue and restore the vanished wealth to its owner, and all proceeded forward in its usual manner* .
*The report of the Committee is as follows: That we organize under the statutes of the state, the trustees and their successors to be forever hereafter known as the Trustees of the First Congregational Church and Society of Wauwatosa, and presented a code of by-laws which they recommended for adoption by the Society.
August 24, 1845, the Rev. Luther Clapp was, by the trustees of the Society,
invited to preach to this people. October 5, 1845, was a gala day for the church
and community, for upon that day was the young divine to receive from a committee of the Convention, "the setting apart for holy
things," in which exercises
the Rev. Mr. Hart, Rev. Mr. Bridgman, Rev. Mr. Montague, Rev. Mr. Foot
participated. This service was conducted in the school house near Hart's Mills.
The first protracted meeting was held in the winter of 1847, Baptist and Methodist
ministers uniting in the work --- Rev. Mr. Manning, Baptist, Rev. Mr. Wilcox,
Methodist. April 10) 1847, it was voted to adopt the confession of faith and covenant
recommended by the General Convention of Wisconsin, with the following addition
to the covenant: "You promise to withhold fellowship from those who hold slaves
or who advocate the right of slave-holding." Also voted to henceforth celebrate
the Lord's Supper every two months. February 5, 1848, the first committee to visit
from house to house was appointed; that committee consisted of twelve members,
two for each district. The next day being the Sabbath, the Rev. J. M. Weed,
from
Chicago, preached on foreign Missions. A subscription of $30 was raised for this
object. In May, 1848, the church voted to call Rev. L. Clapp to become its pastor,
and on June 29, he was installed as such by the Milwaukee District Convention,
Rev. J. J. Miter, Rev. A. L. Chapin, Rev. E. J. Montague, Rev. D. Pinkerton participating in the installation services.
The church at this time numbered upon its
roll fifty-two members. Upon page 25 of the record we find this minute:
"During
the Spring of 1850 there was much in the state of religion to try the faith and to
grieve the spirit both of the pastor and of faithful church members. This state of
deadness in religion was followed by a season of more sickness than usual, during
which the pastor and his family were absent in the East on their first visit.
Upon
his return an improved state of religious feeling was apparent; the ear of the
congregation was more attentive to the truth. This improvement continued during
the winter." In March, 1851, Rev. Wm. L. Parsons, of Milwaukee, was invited to
come and assist in carrying on a protracted meeting, which resulted in quite a
number being added to the church. About August 7, 1851, the Rev. Stephen Peet
raised from church and society a subscription of $100 for Beloit College.**
**This was the first subscription from any church in the state for that College outside of Beloit. All were then very poor.
August 9, 1851, Joseph Warren was elected to the office of deacon, arid on the l7th, was publicly set apart to that office.
In April, 1852, the church appointed a committee to see what steps were
necessary to be taken to organize a Congregational Society according to law.
Upon this
committee's reporting, further action was taken to plan and provide for a House
of Worship. Upon Wednesday, May 5, 1852, at 1 o'clock P.M., the committee
made its further report to the church, which report was unanimously adopted, and
the following resolutions were then passed:
The first life member of the A. H. M. S. by the payment of $30, was Mr.
Augustus Blodgett, being voted as such May 2d, 1858. The church, July 3d, 1858,
voted the Beloit scholarship to Dexter D. Hill. Since then many life members to
the different societies have been made, and several of our Wauwatosa boys have
had the benefit of the Beloit scholarship, --- the present incumbent being Robert
Rogers. The church continued on the itinerant system of holding services at
different places, until, in the month of October, 1853, the original of this present
house was dedicated, the dedicatory sermon being preached by the Rev. Z. M.
Humphrey, then of Racine. Pastor Clapp continued in service until January 5th,
1873, being a continuous service of twenty-seven years, four months and eleven
days, when he resigned to become General Missionary of the Milwaukee
Convention. The membership now upon the roll numbered two hundred and eleven names,
one hundred and sixty-five having been added during his ministry. From January
5th, 1873, to November 1st, 1873, our pulpit supply came from the Chicago Theological Seminary, with the exception of the preparatory lectures and Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper, Rev. Mr. Camp, of Waukesha, and Rev. L. Clapp officiating
at different times. On Saturday, November 1st, 1873, the Rev. A. M. Case gave
his first preparatory lecture, and the following Sabbath officiated at the Sacrament
of the Lord's Supper. The Rev. A. M. Case continued his service here until the
29th day of August, 1875, being a service of one year, nine months and twenty-eight days.
Thirty members were added to the church during his ministry. From
this last date until December 1st of the same year, our supply came from the
Seminary, Brother Nelson coming frequently, and at this date, December 1st, 1875, was
invited by the church and society to preach to this people, he continuing as acting
pastor until September 2d, 1876, when he was invited by the church to become
pastor. He accepting, the service of installation was deferred until the 20th of
December, when the semi-annual meeting of the Milwaukee District Convention
would be in session with us, and upon that date he was installed. The Rev. H. C.
Hitchcock, of Kenosha; Rev. A. E. Tracy, of Oconomowoc; Rev. George T. Ladd,
of Milwaukee, and Rev. L. Clapp, took part in the exercises. Brother Nelson
continued in service until the first day of April, 1884, a term of service of eight years,
three months and one day. During his ministry sixty members were added to the
church. From April, 1884, to February, 1885, we were supplied by the Rev. David
Jenkins. Upon the third day of January, 1885, the church voted to extend a call
to the Rev. J. W. White, to become our pastor, which was accepted by him, and
upon the 24th day of February, 1885, a council was convened for the purpose of
installation. Rev. George H. Ide, Rev. Thomas G. Grassie, Rev. L. Clapp,
Rev. C. W. Camp, Rev. George W. Nelson and Rev. Morritz E. Eversz, assisted in the
services. Brother White continued in service until the 19th day of June, 1890, when
his pastoral relation with the church was dissolved by council. Rev. J. W. White's
time of service was five years, four months and five days. There were added to
the church during his ministry, one hundred and three (103) members, making a
total of 405 names upon the roll. From June 29th, 1890, to January 25th, 1891, the
church was supplied by the Rev. John L. Myers, Rev. L. Clapp and President
Merrill, of Ripon College. Rev. W. C. Stinson supplied the pulpit for two Sabbaths
and received a unanimous call from the church and society. He began his service
here January 25th, 1891, and was installed by council.
During the last year of work there have been added to the church roll twenty-six names. Of this last year I need not remind you, it being fresh in your memory. He has found in our affections and sympathies a warm and loving interest and a heart-felt desire that the ties that bind us under the yoke of brotherhood may continue to strengthen in the future, so that whatever may be the fortune that awaits us it shall but increase the love and sympathy for one another.
NOTE—The embarrassment was imaginary, for he was not preaching as a candidate and never expected then to preach to that congregation again.—L, C.
There joined the church January, 1889, by letter, 25; 22 on profession; 1890, 5, by letter; 5, on profession; 1891, 26, by letter; 17, on profession.
There have gone from us by letter 132 members) having been commended to the churches in the following states and foreign countries: Missouri, 4; Wisconsin, 82; Illinois, 11; California, 1; New York, 4; Vermont, 2; New Hampshire, 2; New Jersey, 1; Michigan, 4; Maine, 2; Iowa, 5; Pennsylvania, 1; Minnesota, 4; Kansas, 1; Nebraska, 2; Colorado, 1; Massachusetts, 3; Montana, 1; Dakota, 1; Washington, 1; Indiana, 1; Canada, 1; China, 1.
Those who have left us to return no more number 77, translated to a better --- and we hope to the church triumphant. In the matter of discipline there have been 25 names dropped from the roll by action of the church. The number of marriages recorded are fifty, --- not near all, but this is my idea, --- so as to follow the member's when they move away, and to keep the number of families. Adult baptisms recorded, ninety, of which number three were immersed; of infants baptized they number 147, a total of baptisms, 237.