Churches Of  Beatrice

An Interesting Account of the Birth and Growth of God's Houses

A Nebraska City Which Is Well Equipped to Do Battle for Religion  --  Churches and Pastors

Beatrice, Nebraska, February 3 --  Probably the first thing that would attract the attention of a stranger in Beatrice, and especially were he of a religious turn of mind, would be the large number and general thrifty appearance of its churches, some of which already completed and others in course of construction will compare favorable with those of many larger and older cities, and are unexcelled in costliness and grandeur in any city of an equal size in the west.

It occurred to the writer that it would be interesting to many readers of the World Herald to know who was responsible for this good order of things and it is the purpose of this article to give a history (tried and incomplete as it must in the limited space of a newspaper) of the leading churches of the "Queen of the Blue," yet complete and explicit enough that all may know something of the early history and possibly learn for the first time to whom they are indebted for the vast amount of labor and planning necessary to organize, build up and maintain in the present degree of prosperity and thriftiness

in which they find their respective church organizations today.

That the people of Beatrice are proud of their churches is evened by the throngs of citizens that attend the meetings of the several different denomination from Sunday to Sunday.

Business man, mechanics and laboring men all assist in the degree that they are able, in the support of the different churches, thus keeping them on a sound financial basis, which to turn gives added encouragement to their ministers, who are the best, and, in point of intellect, knowledge and godliness, will compare favorable with those of any other city.

First Baptist Church

Among the foremost of the religious organizations of Beatrice is the First Baptist Church, which occupies a conspicuous place and wields a potent influence in the community.  The history of the church dates back to January 29, 1873, hence it is but a young church.

At the time of organization the Baptists were but few in number in the city, yet, which characteristic, Baptist zeal, which has been peculiar to this people throughout the ages, and has played such a prominent part in the religious of the world since the days of the apostles, four men and four women of the faith availed themselves of the use of the Presbyterian Church, which was kindly tendered them, and with the aid of Rev. J. N. Webb, general missionary of "The Baptist Home Missionary Society" for the state, they organized the First Baptist Church.

From the date of the organization until October the church was supplied with pastoral work by Rev. Webb and other  ministers who came occasionally to minister to their spiritual wants.  Conspicuous among those was Rev. W. H. Elier of Ohio, who was settled as pastor of the church.  He remained in the office two years, during which time was erected their first church building, and many new members were added.

Rev. S. P. Masone succeed Rev. Elier and remained in the pastorate about one year, and was himself succeeded by Rev. D. B. Wharton, who labored on the word and doctrine until August 1885, and was in turn succeeded by Rev. Goerge Scott.  Mr. Scott resigned in February, 1882, and Rev. E. D. Bewick was invited to take his place.

During the term of Mr. Bewick's pastorate the first property which the church owned was sold to  C. A. Emery for the consideration of $600, and steps were taken toward the erection of a new and larger building, as the society had become too large for the chapel in which they worshiped.

The church made great progress under the labors of Mr. Bewick, the new building was erected and, though with much hard work and self-denial they dedicated the building, free of encumbrance, as it often the case with ministers.  Mr. Bewick, after succeeding in building up the church numerically, and stimulating the membership to the erection of a new and better house, reargued the care of the church, and, they believing the time had come for a greater power behind the sacred desk, called Rev. I. W. Powell of Colorado Springs at a salary of $2,000 per year.  Mr. Powell remained about one year and was followed by Rev. S. B. Randall, who soon left a vacancy, which was filled by Red. I. S. Leonard for a little more than two years, when Rev. L. A. Mitchell was called.

Mr. Mitchell resigned, December 1892, and was succeeded by Rev. A. B. MacCurdy, the present pastor, who, by his eloquence and graceful manner succeeds in attracting large audiences of such citizens of Beatrice as know how to appreciate a good sermon when they hear it.

This church, though having somewhat of a checkered career and many "ups and downs," during the short history, has done a grand work in the Lords Vineyard, having counted among their membership many leading men and women of the city.   Judge Bush, whose family are members of the church, though himself not a member, has always been regarded as a Baptist, having presided at the meeting of its organization and ever since has proved a true friend and liberal contributor, and is yet a regular worshiper at the church.  When we take into consideration the fact that such

prominent men as:

E. H. Ambler

S. K. Davis

M. C. Stelle

N. W. Brumback

W. H. Barringer

Dr. A. H. Felch

W. D. Perry

James Edmunds

have their names on the Baptist church books, together with their families and more than 250 of the leading men and women of Beatrice, whom it is known that ardent devotion to the cause of Christ and zeal for the salvation of souls is what characterizes this people, no one any longer wonders at the throngs that fill their beautiful house of worship on each succeeding Sunday.  No one wonders at the magnificent progress the church makes as the years go by.  No one questions the statement that the First Baptist Church stands high among the institutions of the proud "third city;" a benefactor to men and a source of glory to  God.

From its earliest history, the church as had a warm friend and a most useful and faithful member in John A. Forbes, the banker, who glories even in its prosperity and "rejoices with exceeding great joy when it is well with Zion."

Centenary M. E. Church

From "Solitary Places Made Glad," and interesting monogram of the history of Nebraska and Nebraska Methodism, written by Rev. Henry P. Davis of the Nebraska conference, we extract the following sketch of the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Beatrice.  At the third session of the Kansas and Nebraska conference held at Topeka, K. T., April 15 to 19, 1858, Beatrice was placed on the conference minutes as one of the appointments of the Nebraska City district, and left to be supplied.  At the next session of the conference held in Omaha, N. T. , April 14 to 18, 1880, no members were reported.  At this conference J. W. Foster was appointed pastor.  During the year

Brother Foster, organized a class at Beatrice.  For a number of years the growth of the church at Beatrice, as well as at other points, was slow.  In 1870 a small stone church was erected, and on November 13 of that year I had the honor and privilege of preaching the dedicatory sermon and of consecrating the house to the worship of Almighty God.

"Brother William Presson was the successful pastor at the time.  The dedicatory services, throughout, were attended with the divine presence and power, and the people were greatly rejoiced in having a beautiful and comfortable church in which to worship God."

In 1881, after having been on district work for ten successive years, I was appointed to the Beatrice station and served the church two years.  During the first year God gave us a most gracious revival of religion, and over 120 were converted.

In 1886, under the labors of Brother W. K. Beans, a beautiful edifice was erected and named "Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church of Beatrice."  Soon after the West Beatrice church was built, and now there are two thriving Methodist Churches in the rapidly growing city."

Besides the two churches named by Mr. Davis in the above sketch, Beatrice Methodism now embraces a German Methodist Episcopal Church and an African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

Centenary church now numbers 450 members and thirteen probationers.  Its Sunday School is, at present and has been for a number of years, under the superintendence of Mr. J. S. Grable, and is in a very prosperous condition.  The church also sustains a Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. A. W. Nickell, president; a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Mrs. Mary L Wagner, president; a Woman's Home Missionary Society, Mrs. Joseph Hollingworth, president; a Pastor's Aid Union, with four district presidents, J. E. Mesdames, Julla M. Enlow, Alma Chipperfield, Charlotte Fry and Mrs. Harding; an Epworth League, J. B. Hollingsworth, president; a Junior League (Epworth Guardes), Misses Fanny Frye and Fanny Hershey, leaders, and a Young Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society, Miss May Campbell, president.

The financial budget of the church for the current year foots up $3,500, and notwithstanding the prevailing hard times is being cheerfully and successfully met.   Mr. J. B. Parker is treasurer.

The music is under direction of Prof. Calvin, teacher of vocal music in the city schools; Miss Florence Maloney is organist.  The choir consists of forty trained voices.  The singing is unexcelled in Southeastern Nebraska.

The present pastor of the church is Rev. Duke Slavius, who is also the presiding elder for this circuit.  The church is in a prosperous condition and a gracious revival is anticipated.

The church building is a handsome structure of brick, comprising audience room, lecture room, class rooms and basements.  There are sittings for an audience of 700.  The church is valued at $30,000.  Adjoining the church is a parsonage valued at $5,000, making the total of church property $35,000.

The Second Methodist Church

The Second Methodist is situated on the corner of Ella and La Salle Streets.  It was erected in the summer if 1887, at a cost of $3,000.  The following autumn a class of thirty members was organized with John Shellabargr as leader.  At the next session of the Nebraska conference Rev. J. K. Maxfield was appointed as pastor, and under his prosperous administration the society grew until over sixty members were enrolled upon the records.  At the close of the second year the pastor by his untiring energy succeeded in clearing the church of a protracted financial embarrassment.  He was also proficient in building up an increased membership despite the constant loss from a transient population.  As the close of the third year Rev. J. Fowler was appointed as his successor, but was compelled to leave the field of labor ore the year closed, on account of ill health.  Rev. B. G. Willcox, graduate of the Nebraska Wesleyan University, was called to fill the vacancy.  The appointment of this young and energetic minister proved a timely blessing, as a recent revival with an increased membership of over forty has resulted.  The La Salle Street Methodist Episcopal Church has been a great blessing to the inhabitants of West Beatrice, an is destined to rapidly increase in spiritual power and influence.

Christ Church

The first service of the Episcopal church was held in Beatrice, by Bishop Clarkson, in the spring of 1889, in the room then used for the village school, since which time services have been maintained with more or less regularity.  In 1889 a magnificent stone church building was erected at a cost of $30,000.  The different societies of the parish furnished pews, chancel furniture and organ (which is the only organ in the city) at a cost of almost $6,000 more.

The parish owns a quarter block of land upon which the church now stands in the best residence part of the city.  The old church building of wood has been converted in a choir and guild room where the various church organizations hold their meetings.  The music for the Sunday services is furnished by an excellent choir which renders very acceptable the very best class of church music.  The "Atlas Guild" has recently placed a very fine window in the church, and his is but the beginning.  The present glass in the church is only temporary, it is intended to replace it with find glass as rapidly as possible.  The may, and probably will, take years.

It it intended, during the coming year, to have the interior of the church decorated by a competent decorator.

The congregation, however, does not expend all its energy upon itself.  It has always done, and is this winter doing much to relieve the poor and destitute of the city.  The present pastor is Rev. J. O. Davis, who has been in charge of the parish nearly two and one-half year.

St. Joseph Catholic Church

The first Catholic Church in Beatrice was build in the year 1875, on Sixth Street, near Rock Island Depot.  In 1883 the congregation bought a quarter block on Sixth and High Streets for $2,000, an din the following spring moved the old church building to the new site.  The Rev. Father McMally attended to the mission from Tecumseh, during the years of organization.  In 1884 Rev. Father Havestadt was appointed resident pastor by Bishop O'Connor of Omaha.  Father Havestadt built the new pastor's residence at a cost of $2,000.  In May, 1886, Rev. Thomas Quick was appointed pastor by Bishop O'Connor.  Many improvements were made under his administration.  Upward of $25,000 was expended.  The church was enlarged and made ninety feet long, a school building was erected, and a convent building for the Sisters of York, Nebraska, who have charge of the schools, which are attended by about 125 children.  Rev. Quick was succeeded by Rev. R. J. Capelian found a bonded debt of $1,000 and a floating debt of $3,000 more, but under his able administration the floating debt was reduced to $1,000 within tow years.  In !890 the congregation bought ten acres of land north of the city for burial purposes, which, with fencing , surveying and other improvements, cost about $2,000.  Rev Capeilan was very successful.  He filled the pastorate for three and one half years, during which time more than $10,000 was received and expended.  The present pastor, M. M. Merkle, was appointed on September 1, 1893, is very popular with his parishioners and has many friends among those who are not members of his church.  The church today carries a bonded debt of $4,000 and a floating debt of about $2,000.  The congregation numbers about 150 families, or about 600 communicants.  The church property is valued at about $10,000, its location being a beautiful site.

The congregation is very much in need of a new church building, and the project in view is to erect a costly building in the near future.  Joseph Graff alone promise $2,000 toward the building and others will follow the good example.  The Catholic Church in Beatrice has a bright future in sight.

The First Congregational Church

In May, 1884, Rev. Mr. Merrill, state superintendent for Nebraska of the American Home Missionary Society of New York, visited Beatrice to ascertain the feasibility of establishing a Congregational Church.  After consulting some of the leading citizens a public meeting (for the purpose of learning how many there were in sympathy with the movement) was held in the opera house.  The attendance was so satisfactory that a local organization was decided upon, and Rev. M. F. Platt of Lincoln was employed temporarily as preacher and missionary, and with success that in August the First Congregational Church of Beatrice was organized and recognized as an evangelical church by a council of ministers and delegate from the Congregational Churches in the state.

The first preaching services were held by Rev. Plat, in the hall over Gibbs Shoe Store on Court Street.  Early in October the services were hale in the afternoon in the Baptist Church, then situated on Ella Street, between Fourth and Fifth.

Some time in January 1885, Rev. William Weedeu of Providence, Rhode Island, was called, and in July following was ordained and installed as pastor of the new church organization.  During the fall of 1894 plans had been adopted for a new church edifice and early in the spring of 1885 the Building was started and was completed an dedicated in July of the same year, in October of that year the state association of Congregational Churches met with the Beatrice Church, a gathering which was notable for the fact of there being present a very large number of ministers and delegates, both from within and without the state.  Some time previous to the convening of the association Rev. Weeden was taken

seriously ill, and later, to entirely regain his health, was obliged to take a trip abroad. His resignation was tendered and very reluctantly accepted in May, 1886.  In November following Rev. E. M. Ashman of Syracuse, Nebraska, was selected to fill the place made vacant by the resignation of Mr. Weeden, and continued as pastor until January, 1888, when he resigned to accept a responsible pastorate in Denver, Colorado.

In April Rev. E. S. Smith accepted the charge, and remained until July, 1892.  He was followed in September of the same year by Rev. G. W. Brofts, the present pastor, who is pushing the work forward, and is receiving the full support of the members, as well as from many not directly interested in the church.  During this nine and one half years the First Congregational Church of Beatrice has passed through an eventful history, and has met and overcome many obstacles that require much determination and sacrifice to surmount.  Its early membership was not quite twenty in number, but through the efforts of the several able pastors it has been their fortune to secure, and by the earnestness and Christian zeal of the present pastor, as well as of the members themselves, more than 200 are now enrolled on the books of the church.  A splendid church building, with a suitable home for the pastor, has been completed at a cost of more than $10,500.  An effort is being made (and, in addition to regular running expenses, being accomplished) which will put the church proper out of debt.  Truly, the First Congregational Church of Beatrice has accomplished wonders for the cause during the short time it has been in existence.

Trinity Lutheran Church

Trinity Lutheran belongs to that body of Lutheran known as the General Synod Lutheran Church.  The congregation was organized in the early part of 1884.  During the latter part of the year a well-chosen site was secured on the corner of Elk and Ninth Streets.  A neat and commodious brick edifice was erected, 66x40 feet.  The interior is divided into two apartments, an audience room and a lecture room to the rear.  Both rooms are nicely carpeted, papered, well lighted and otherwise well furnished.  The audience room has a seating capacity of 300.  The congregation was organized by Rev. E. H. Allbright, with about twenty members and has gradually increased until at present the membership numbers about 160.

Rev. Allbright served as teacher of holy writ for five years when he was succeeded by the present pastor, R. W. L. Remsberg, who is widely known as the author of the "Choir Devotional," a splendid little book for general use in church choirs.

Services are regularly conducted each Lord's Day, morning and evening.  A weekly congregational prayer meeting is held each Wednesday evening.  A society of Christian Endeaver, consisting of about fifteen earnest and devoted young Christians meet and hour before each Sunday evening service.

There is also a Junior Society of Christian Endeavor having about thirty members who are much interested.  A Sunday school of about 100 members convenes regularly each Sabbath morning before the hour of preaching.  There is also in connection with the church a Ladies' Aid Society and a Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, both of which render material aid to the objects proposed.  During the week previous to each communion service which is held every three months, there are held consecration meetings with a design of deepening the piety of the people, and aiding others to come to Christ.  Catechetical instruction is given at stated periods by the pastor.  The pews are free to the public and strangers who are in good standing in their own churches are welcome to the Lord's table.  The congregation entertains a hopeful prospect for the future.

The First Presbyterian Church

On the 17th of March next, just twenty- five years will have elapsed since the organization of the above church in Beatrice.  There were only five members at that time, all staunch and true to the faith.  Their first pastor was Rev. B. F. MacNeil, through whose efforts were largely due the fact of organization and also the building of the church within a year.  The names of the five original members were:

Miss Anna Griggs

Mrs. Mary Griggs

Mrs. Sarah M. Blodgett

Robert H. Weeden and Mrs. Sarah L. Weeden

Robert H. Weeden was ordained elder.  

H. A. LaSalle, N. Balkeley and R. L. Blodget were elected trustees.  To this small but truly heroic little band of Christians," the citizens of Beatrice are indebted, more than to any other for the founding of a church organization which, although at times without a pastor, has steadily increased in numbers and usefulness and is now one of the leading Churches of a City of Churches."

In 1872 a question arose as to what name should be given the organization, there being and equal number of Congregationalist and Presbyterians, which was decided in favor of the latter, and Rev. J. A. Griffith was employed as supply.  At this time Elder David Hill and wife, Fred H. Hill, J. F. King and wife and many others united with the little band.  In 1874 Rev. T. S. Vail was installed as pastor and continued to minister to their spiritual wants for about three years, at which time he was compelled to resign his pastorate on account of failing health and a partial loss of his eyesight.  He has since been called to sit at the right hand of him whom he served so long and faithfully, and is now enjoying the fruits of his earthly labors.

Mr Hill was followed in the order named by:

Rev. L. B. Shrvock

W. H. McMean

Rev. H. F. White

Rev. A. B. Irwin

Rev. J. N. Mills

who in turn was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. J. D. Countermine, under whose able strides toward the goal of success, and is now just on the ever of completing one of the most beautiful church edifices to be found in the state, with a seating capacity of about 1,000, which, together with a comfortable parsonage, have been build during the present pastorate.

This is now the largest Presbyterian Church in Nebraska, having a membership of 600,200 having been added through the efforts of the present pastor.

Truly the success of Rev. Countermine has been remarkable.  During the seventeen years he has been serving the master he has officiated as pastor of five churches, all of which have nearly and some of them more than doubled their membership, and it is said that he has never officiated at a communion service where there was not some one received into the church.  Dr. Countermine is a man of more than average ability, both as a scholar and as the orator, is a true Christian in every respect, and (in the words of an admirer) is daily "making history for himself."

Arthur Noble

Omaha World Herald - February 4, 1894