Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 1904)
i , IT 3 . Story of First Baptist Church v ' ' "' 1 ' ' " : 7 r Vl . ftJJ - $X F "J i , .. . .:. r ii AS X j lAYTNO TTTR CORNERSTONE FOR THE NEW FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, OMAHA RESPONSIVE READINO WI11I.K T1ILJ WORKMEN LOWERED THE TO ITS PLACE.-Photo by a Stuff Artist. STONIi HE laying of a cornerstone by any organization is always a most important event, and one which, makes a point in its histo.'y. end ing one epoch und beginning an other; an event standing forth In its past aa significant as some monument placed on the Held of a great battle. The First Baptist church has reached a milestone in its his tory, and Friday, January 15, laid the cor nerstone, of the handsome new church that is to rise at Twenty-ninth avenue and Har ney street. This event brings back the his tory of the church, which has grown from the smallest struggling congregation to a united and numerically strong body. Tho First church Is the mother of all the Baptist congregations in the city and had Its beginning In 1835. Rev. Mr. Stephens during that year gathered a few pioneers of the faith and began a mission and Sun day school at Fifteenth and Capitol avenue. He continued in this work until 1857, and there was no spiritual head to the little mission until the fall of the following year, when came Rev. G. W. Rarens. He went during the next year and the work was discontinued for several years, the Kansasj Nebraska troubles and other political mat ters having a bad effect on church work. In 18C5 new arrivals and some of the old members met In the courthouse and or ganized the First Baptist church and a mission Sunday school. None of the char ter members are alive today., Services were conducted until 18C6 without a pastor, and then came Rev. W. J. Ker mott. Prosperity followed and the Omaha association was formed. In 1817 at a direc tors' meeting, at which Darius Pearce, W. II. Churchill, Thomas Bonner and Watson B. Smith were present, a church was de cided on to be built at Fifteenth and Daven port streets. It was to be of brick, 40x80 feet, two stories high and to cost $10,000. On advice from Chicago the ground plan was enlarged by one-half. A temporary frame chapel was put up on the foundations for use until tho building was finished, this later being sold to the Scandinavian Bap tist congregation. In 1870 the church be came divided against Itself, and Rev. Mr. Kermott resigned. The First church called Rev. J. W. Daniels and the same year Rev. J. T. Sunderland became leader of tho branch, which was called the Tabernacle Church. He felt that two churches were I I - : . v CROWD WATCHING THE EXERCISES AT HAVING OF THE CORNERSTONE OF OMAHA. Photo by a Stiff Ar.lst. - not needed, and, resigning, effected a recon ciliation. During 1870 the church had many accessions, but In tho following year Rev. Mr. Daniels went to Cedar Rapids. From that time until lS7ti the church made little advance and hud the following pastors r.d supplies fur its pulpit: E. C. M. Humhani. J. II. Ruby, J. V. Donrelly, O. T. Conger. I.loyd Moigan and H. K. Jameson. I'm'.er the latter many strangers came to the church and an attempt was m ule to pay off Its del:t. J. V. Daniels being made u finan cial acent in the eaft. Rev. J. V. Hun is carr.e to the church In October of 1ST'), and during his services the congregation trew from 150 to 40i. In 1S85 the church became free of debt, the building having ctFt -!3.000, $j0,0O0 of which had been subscribed I y the American Raptlst Home Missionary society. The mlsKlonary spirit first began to grow at this period and Rev. C. H. KeeU r be came assistant pastor and a cliaix'l costing $1,300 was built on Twenty-f.iurtli st e.n near Cuming, and he was put li charge. In 1886 Rev. F. A. Genius and otbers v.-eie given letters to found the German Baptist church und In November of the same yeir forty-nine members In the Hanscnm park district were given letters to found l'eth Ktlen church. These put up the building on Park nvenu? near Leavenworth, which li the present home of the unite! conprojj.i t Ion. In lCS'i letters wire given to members who founded the First church In Council Bluffs und in November of tho following car forty-clj-ht members brand el off und formed Culvary rurlKhlS being given tha ehajcl on Twent y-fo art h street. In Rev. Mr. Harris rcs'g; ej and was followed by Eev. A. W. Lamar, who ie malre.i until March, 1M2. Five thousind dollars was stent In repairs. Dr. W. P. lieUings c-ame during this yeur froai M 1 wuukiNV In IT 0 J members were jlven let ters ti fou:al Grace church. Dcce.nber 4, V'J, lh- church building was burned, being a total loss. Insurance to the umount of !U,n0) v.'us re -elved and Kerlccs conducted In tho Young Men's Christian ussuclution loomu for a yeur. Finally lot. costing $7,ii0 at Thirty-fifth and Furnum streets were Lought ur.d un oil i T j. ' ULTIMO THE CORNERSTONE O?" TUB FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, OMAHA AFTER THE STONE WAS IN POSITION. Photo by a Staff Artist THE FIRST BAPTIST CHl'RCir. building repaired at a cost of $.1,C0) mnre as a temporary chapel. In 189,1 Bev. T. Lv Ketman succeeded Rev. Mr. Il'i'H'ng At this time the Idea' of urlling the First church and Beth-Eden congregation urew In favor and August 19, 189.1, a eomnvt'ea was appointcd to meet with a committee from tho other church. Rev. Mr. Ketman resigned and the union of the two was accomplished In the building of the Beth Eden congregation October 2.", 1S9.1. Gi lng back to 18X6 In November of wli.'ch year Beth-Eden church wai authorized, we find the new congiegatlon beginning on the fourth of that month under' the spiritual leadership of Rev. E. L. Ilouso, who was followed in turn by Rev. R. E3. Harris. The new church was fortunate In its location, while the residence part of the city rapidly drew uway from the First church, the new brunch was In the best part of tho new building district. Iaml was purchased and the present church building put up. Dr. I. D. Odell was the third pastor of this half of the present church, und Dr. W. W. Everetls tho f nirtli. Finally Dr. Allcry was calbd and when tha union came ho continued over the two flocks. He was followed by the present pastor, Rev. J. W. Conley. In uniting the government of Beth-Eden was continued and the name of the First church. The agreement reached wus that the property of tho latter tdiuuld be held In a trust fund to be used toward a build ing to be erected ut a point to be selected by tho two congregations. The location on Harney street is the result of this cotn proiplse, being between the two old loca tions. The First church had the lots at Fifteenth und Davenport streets und ut Twenty-fifth and Farnarn streets, with the chupel studding on the latter. Tho Beth Hden church owiu'd the two lots where the church stunds, which had cost $10,000, and in addition a small cottage. The Daven port street property was sold und tho Far liam street lots were given with a bonus of $1,20 for the new location. There re mained on band $:i,000 when the building was begun, and tho church now In use, which will be sold. The new church, Including all furnishings, is to cost $40,000, of whle li $31,000 Is now available, leuving $12,000 to be raised. The Structure bus been designed In the Italian renuissunce by Architect John McDonald. Its architectural features will be loulo stone columns of which there are to bo six on Bulk avenue, and pilasters, large art glass windows at the sides, lighting the auditorium and the Interior dome over tho same with a skylight. Tho exterior will be of gray pressed brick and Bedford utone. The building will be over all 67 V4 by 102 (Continued on Page Sixteen.)