Historical souvenir of Greenville, Illinois : being a ... - University Library

56 Historical Souvenir of Greenville, Illinois.
Rev M. D. Bkvan, D. D., Deceased,
Pastor of the Greenville Baptist
church from 1870 to 1875 and
from 1881 to 1884.
was compelled by ill-health to resign
his charge, he was temporarily
replaced by Rev. A. Hochmiller. On
October 1, 1902, Rev. William A.
Pachlhofer, the present incumbent,
was appointed rector of the church.
Since his arrival, it has been his endeavor
to continue, with the assistance
of his flock, the work performed
by his predecessors in furthering
the spiritual and material progress
of the congregation. During
the last two years the congregation
has secured additional church furniture,
renovated the interior of
the parsonage, notably reduced the
church debt, and added, in September
1904, a commodious sacristy to
the church.
Although comparatively small and
with the majority of its members
living at considerable distance from
church, St. Lawrence congregation
has, especially during the last ten
years, slowly but steadily progressed
and, as the Catholic population
of the seat of Bond county is increasing,
bids fair to contribute
even more in the futvire to the honor
of God, the salvation of souls,
and the general welfare of the community.
Grace €pt8copal Church.
By The Reverend .1. G. Wright.
'THE Greenville papers of 1877
* announced that the Reverend
W. M. Steel of Rantoul, a pioneer
missionary of the Protestant Epis-
^copal church, held services in this
Rev. W. D. H, Joh.nsux, Deceased.
Pastor of the Greenville Baptist
Church from December, 1851, to
October, 1858.
city in the summer of that year.
He was, in all probability, the first
Episcopal minister to visit our community.
On July 20th, 1S7S, Messrs.
W. S. Ogden, C. K. Denny, M. B.
Chittenden, Henry Howard and
Henry M. Chittenden, (now Archdeacon
of Alton) met at Esjuire
Howard's office and there decided to
organize a mission to be known as
Grace Church. To the above named
gentlemen, seventeen others, who
had been baptised in the Episcopal
church, and twelve, who were not
connected with any religious organization
in the city, may be added
as constituting a part of the nucleus
of the mission.
The Reverend Mr. Van Duzen, of
Paris, Edgar county, visited Green-
ville in August 1S7S, and held services
in the Congregational church.
\V. S. Ogden attended the Diocesan
convention of that year held at
Springfield and conferred with
Bishop McLaren about the mission.
He carried with him the petition for
admission, and this being accepted,
the mission was canonically established.
W. S. Ogden and C. K. Denny
were selected as Wardens; M.
B. Chittenden, Treasurer and H.
A. Stephens, Clerk. At the same
time Henry M. Chittenden received
a license to act as lay reader. Morse
Hall was rented and fitted up for use
and Mr. Henry Chittenden conducted
for a while, the Sunday services,
his sister, Miss Hattie Chittenden,
playing the organ. In the same
year the Reverend R. E. G. Huntington,
of Collinsville took charge and
began fortnightly services. He remained
in charge until May, 1881.
The first list of communicants of
the church is as follows: W. S. Ogden
and wife, C. K. Denny, C. R.
Jones and wife, M. B. Chittenden,
Henry M. Chittenden, Hattie E.
Chittenden, Mrs. S. M. Hoiles, and
H. F. Stephens. To these were added
in the first confirmation Henry
Alexander, Mrs. W. H. Williams,
and Misses L. E. Daniels, Hattie E.
Ogden, May Ellis, Emma Jones and
Louisa Jones. At the following visitation
of the Bishop, Mmes. W. S.
Smith, S. Blanchard. C. K. Denny
and the Misses Minnie Blanchard,
C. j. \ViGHrM.\N, C.J. \ViGHTM.\N, Deceased.
One of the first teachers in Alniira, One of the founders of the Greenville
and one of the founders of the Baptist church and a prominent
Ladies' Library .Association, citizen for many years.