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256 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
larger majority against them. Mr. M. C. Clarkson, Avho considered
himself as gifted in this line in which the great majority of the society
did not agree, and Mr. P. N Gregg, who felt that his voice and position
should control, with a goodly number of others Avithdrew from the
society, and on September 11, 1853, organized the Second Methodist
Church of Sandusky. Rev. S. M. Beatty was the first pastor; in 1854
it had eighty members. The trustees AA'ere P. Gregg, E. Warren, I. Ward,
"M. C. Clarkson, T. II. Norman, D. C. Morehouse and I. Weston.
Rev. Samuel A. Lee and Rev. J. T. Caples Avere also pastors of this
church from 1855 to 1857 inclusive. They built a neAV frame church
on the Avest side of Decatur Street, betAveen Washington and Adams
streets, but after a feAV years this organization disbanded and the meiribers
mostly returned to Trinity Methodist Church and the building
AVIIS sold to and is now occupied by the (colored) Zion Baptist Church.
The .Methodist society Avas reorganized July 23, 1853, into the Wesleyan
Methodist Church and occupied the Bethel Church on Water
Street until 1856, when it moved into a small stone chapel, which the
society erected just south of the so-called Beatty Church, and which
they had erected with the share of its members from the sale of the
Beatty Church. The society only maintained its organization a feAV
years Avhen its members mostly returned to their first love; others united
with the Congregational Church society. From 1854 the First Methodist
Episcopal Church society Avas not in a prosperous condition; portentous
clouds covered its spiritual and financial horizon, but after the
disruption of the Wesleyan society and the Second Methodist Church,
together with the faithful labors of the Revs, Dr. T. F. Ilildreth, W. D.
Godman, A. J. Lyon, L. B. Gurley and George Collier, better knoAvn
as "Chaplain Collier," and others, the clouds lifted and the society Avas
about to complete the upper story of the church in the West Square,
Avhen negotiations w.ere opened and arrangements made by Avhich the
church building in the West Square Avas to be taken down, as the space
it occupied Avas demanded for our neAV courthouse. Then Avas commenced
the present structure and so well knoAvn as Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church, a beautiful edifice built of brick, on the south'side of
Washington Street, and AVIIS dedicated in 1882; the fourth church erected
by this society in Sandusky.
The society and church is IIOAV in a more prosperous condition than
it has been since the Beatty secessions in 1835.
As part of tin* story of Methodism in Sandusky reference must
be made to the Africahi Methodist Episcopal Church, Avhich AVIIS organizen
in 1879. A franu* church building Avas erected on the south side.
of Neil Street. The society has had to struggle for its existence, and
up to. 1889 Avhenever the society Avas Avithout a pastor, Brother Thomas
Boston Avould officiate. He AVIIS, although somcAvhat illiterate, a most
godly man and zealous in good Avorks. Brother Boston, ajs he Avas called,
came to Sandusky" in 1841, and supported himself by AvhiteAvashing.
He died in 1890.
The Bethel Church at one time Avas a prominent church of the city.