CHURCHES
"It (the church) is a living thing. When you enter it you hear a sound, a sound as of some mighty poem chanted. Listen long enough, and you will learn that it is made up of the beating of human hearts, of the nameless music of men's souls. It is yet building. Sometimes the work goes forward in deep darkness: sometimes in blinding light: now beneath the burden of unutterable anguish: now to the tune of a great laughter and heroic shoutings like the cry of thunder." - KENNEDY.
Mrs. Austin, almost as soon as she arrived in the woods in 1876, began driving about with her old lean mule and cart to collect subscriptions for a Methodist Church. She had four hundred dollars pledged in money and lumber, when my father met her and suggested the plan of the school house. The subscribers were willing that the money should be turned to this purpose and the building was put up and used for a time by all denominations. The Methodists did not postpone their origmal plan long. They were the first to organize, Aug. 1, 1880, Rev. J. T. Lewton of the St. Johns District Conference officiating. There were seven members: Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Austin, Dr. and Mrs. M. N. Voorhis, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Kirk and Mrs. Addie Hinkle (Hill). The first building on the corner of the Boulevard and Howry Avenue was dedicated on Feb. 23, 1883 by Rev. E.T. Cunick of New Albany, Indiana. The lot was donated by J. W. Howry and aid was given by the Methodist Church Extension Society to which Mrs. Austin made an appeal, when at the Centennial. Rev. J. T. Lewton, the first pastor, worked faithfully for the building of the church as long as his health permitted. Rev. M. S. Leete was pastor in 1886. He had conducted the first religious services in DeLand ten years before. He has left the following comment: "I am able to record for the church temporal and spiritual prosperity. Never loved any church more truly, was never more kindly sustained."
His son, Bishop Frederick DeLand Leete, dedicated the new church in 1921. The fine building was made possible by the generosity of Mrs. Charlotte 0. Glover, a faithful member of the church for years. At Bishop Leete's suggestion Mrs. Glover and he wrote the Official Board a joint letter, making a conditional offer, provided the Church as a whole would respond generously. This was done and a beautiful Spanish Mission Building was erected. Mr. James N. Gamble gave a considerable sum for the parsonage. In this way the society was furnished with an adequate equipment. The work grew so fast that recently it became necessary to enlarge the auditorium. There are now three hundred and forty-eight members on the roll. The names of the ministers follow:
Rev. J. T. Lewton 1880, Rev. William Fisher 1884, Rev, M. S. Leete 1886, Rev. E. I. Getman 1889, Rev. M.J. Hawley 1890, Rev. M. E. Bramhall 1891, Rev. J. J. Edwards 1892, Rev. J. G. Bennett, Rev. C. F. Green 1896, Rev. J. J. Edwards 1898, Rev. J. B. Hawk 1899, Rev. L. L. Fisher, Rev. Addyman Smith 1902, Rev. M. L. Townsend 1905, Rev. W. J. Harkness 1906, Rev. H. H. Bowen, Rev. H. W. Dodge 1917, Rev. S. O. Smith 1917, Rev. L. Radcliffe 1918, Rev. J. J. Treadwell 1924. On Oct. 31, 1880, the Baptist Church was organized with thirteen members. They were: Mr. and Mrs. 0. P. Terry, Mollie Terry, Mrs. Mary Dean (Smith), Mrs. Jennie Hildreth, Henry Hildreth, Mrs. Mary J. Lamb, Mr. and Mrs. J. Y. Parce, Adda Parce, E. 0. Painter, M. J. Jewett, Judson R. Cheney. Mrs. Adda Parce Truesdell is the only one now living. Rev. A. L. Farr of Sandwick, Illinois, was called to be their pastor the following year. Plans for building were made. This involved sacrifice on the part of the members and would not have,been possible, had it not been for Mr. DeLand's generosity. April 16, 1882, the new building was dedicated, Dr. Griffith preaching the sermon. At the services Mr. DeLand moved that any surplus left in the building fund be turned over to the Methodists for their church. In 1893 the erection of the present house of worship was undertaken. Mr. Stetson pledged one third of the $15,000 to be spent. It was built on the same site, the old building having been sold to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. When well begun, the freeze came and many of the subscribers could not redeem their pledges, but it was completed and dedicated by Dr. J. B. Bambrell, April 21, 1895. It had cost $20,000. There was a debt of $7,000 paid after a struggle Recently a new lot has been bought on the corner of Clara and Michigan Avenues. A remarkable group of preachers and laymen have been workers in the church. Among them, "Dr David Moore of Brooklyn, rare in all the qualities of mind and heart; Dr. Sidney Dyer of Philadelphia, a minister and author of distinction; Dr. D. J. Johnson, a minister and teacher from Iowa, a man of commanding personality; Dr. and Mrs. Robert Telford, returned missionaries from India, useful additions to the church." Others to be mentioned active in service are J. B. Law, J. S. May, H. S. Winters, E. L. Hon and H. B. Stevens. The university has contributed much strength; Dr. J. F. Forbes, Dr. C. S. Farris, Prof. J. Archy Smith, Dr. W. S. Gordis, and Dr. Lincoln Hulley. Dr. Hulley's Bible class fills the auditorium each Sunday. People crowd there to hear his practical and eloquent elucidation of the Scriptures. The Southern Baptist Convention in the Seventy-five Million Dollar Campaign alloted $10,000 to the DeLand church, they pledged $15,000. Two members have entered the ministry: William Stones and E. T. Stevens. Mary Walters has gone as a missionary to Japan. The church roll now contains seven hundred and seventy-three names. The list of pastors follows:
Rev. A. L. Farr 1881, Dr. J. H. Griffith 1884, Rev. John McKinney 1887, Rev. H. C. Spellar 1892, Rev. P. F. Jernegan 1895, Dr. J. B. English, Rev. J. E. Oates 1901, Rev. C. H. Owens 1909, Rev. A. C. Colebrook
1914, Dr. C. L. Collins 1915, Dr. R. W. Thiot 1921, Dr. J. H. Thayer 1927, and Rev. E. T. Stevens. The Presbyterian Church was organized at the home of W. W. Cleveland, July 2, 1882, by the Rev. Gilbert Gordon, Evangelist; A. H. Stockton, Elder and Clerk of the Session; W. W. Cleveland and R. N. Seymour, Elders. There were twenty-four charter members, only two of whom are living, as far as can be ascertained: Mrs. A. H. Stockton of Asheville, North Carolina and Mrs. Morris G. Munn of Lakeland, Florida. The present church edifice on the Boulevard was dedicated on March 11, 1888. It was enlarged and remodeled about sixteen years ago. Provision was made by the addition of new rooms for the social affairs of the church and for various classes of the Sunday school. "The aim of the church is to be a factor in the life of the city, a force for righteousness in the activities of men." In 1924, there were seven young men under the care of the Presbytery in the ministry and foreign mission work, or preparing for such service. The membership is now four hundred and sixty-five. The church has been fortunate in the length of its pastorates.
Rev. J. W. Shearer 1882, Rev. H. W. Gelston 1885, Supplies 1900,
Rev. B. B. Knapp 1905 , Rev. C.H. Ferran 1909, Rev. J. E. Abbott 1925. Rev. H. W. Gelston is remembered as the leader who helped people bear the catastrophe of the great freeze and who turned their thoughts to the social application of the Gospel, characteristic of our times. During Dr. C. H. Ferran's efficient ministry five hundred and thirty-four members were added to the roll. Sept. 24, 1882, Rev. Robert B. Wolseley called together all the Episcopalians in the vicinity of DeLand to meet in the school house and proposed the organization of a mission church to be called St. Barnabas. The following officers were elected: Wardens, Capt. J. B. Wood and Dr. Henry 0. Mowers; Clerk, W. W. Hulst; Treasurer, W. C. P. Lord. J. J. Banta and Christopher C. Codrington were charter members. The original subscription list for a building contains the names of H. A. DeLand of Fairport, New York, Dr. G. S. Seymour and T. E. C. Brinley of Louisville, Kentucky, J. B. Wood, W.W. Hulst and C. C. Codrington of DeLand; J. C. Rich of Port Royal, South Carolina. Through the efforts of Rev. Robert B. Wolseley and Rev. C. F. A. Bielby aided by S. B. Wright and J. B. Wood the building fund grew. J. C. Rich donated a lot on the corner of Wisconsin and Clara Avenues. The church was modeled after a parish church in England. The corner stone was laid, Nov. 1, 1883 and the building formally dedicated, April 12, 1884. A parish house was erected in 1911. Both the church and parish house were enlarged in 1922. Prof. Litchfield Colton gave his services as an architect. Many gifts have added beauty to the church, among them the Codrington memorials, the four windows in the chancel, with figures of the four evangelists; the reredos in memory of Mrs. Grace Willoughby Hays; the Baptistery erected to commemorate the love and devotion of Rev. C. F. A. Bielby. The church was not independent until 1923. The rectors divided their time between the mission at DeLand and those at Orange City, New Smyrna and Enterprise. Services begun by Rev. Campbell Gray and continued by his successors were also conducted at the convict turpentine camp near DeLand. Four young men from the parish have entered the ministry: Fred Reeve, Dwight F. Cameron, William B. Hays, Geo. B. Scriven. There are enrolled two hundred and seventy-five baptized persons and two hundred and four communicants. St. Barnabas Church has passed through its period of struggle and discouragement. Its indebtedness is small, its congregations increasing and its interest growing.
The following rectors have served the church :
Rev. R. B. Wolseley 1882, Rev. C. F. A. Bielby 1884, Rev. F. N. Lusson 1884, Rev. C. F. A. Bielby 1885, Rev. C. B. Mack 1885, Rev. C. F. A. Bielby 1886, Rev. B. M. Braiden 1887, Rev. C. F. A. Bielby 1888, Rev. E. R. Richardson 1889, Rev. C. F. A. Bielby 1891, Lay Readers and Rev. J. 0. S. Huntington 1897, Rev. H. W. Little 1897, Rev. C. A. Brewster 1902, Rev. Campbell Gray 1905, Rev. H. H.P. Roche 1909, Rev. F. E. Alleyne 1913, Rev. Luther Pardee 1918, Rev. C. F. Brookins 1919, and Rev. Hough Taylor 1919.
The Church of Christ was organized, March 11, 1883. Charter members now living are: Mary Owen (Link), Lizzie Pearce (Hadden) and Mrs. Meda Douglass. The first Elders were Major J. G. Owen and J. Anderson. They met first in a frame building on the corner of Florida and Voorhis Avenues. In 1894, the present building on the corner of the Boulevard and Wisconsin Avenue was erected. It has always been freely given for any gathering for the intellectual or moral improvement of the place. A Bible school annex containing ten rooms has recently been completed costing about $12,000. The present membership is one hundred and twenty-five. The church is active in all the missionary and benevo- lent enterprises of the denomination. The pastors serving this congregation have been; Rev. W. B. Young, Rev. F. J. Longdon, Rev. E.W. Sears, Rev. J. W. B. Smith, Rev. Clarence Parker, Rev. Don Stewart, Rev. C. E. Wyatt, Rev. R.H. Lampkin, Rev. J. J. Morgan, and Rev. W. Clyde Smith. The first regular Roman Catholic missionary was Rev. W. J. Kenny of Palatka, who in 1883 began to come to DeLand once a month. Mass was celebrated at the home of Mrs. Eva T. Kilkoff. In 1884, a little chapel was erected on West New York Avenue. It was dedicated to St. Peter, April 18, 1884, by Right Reverend John Moore, Bishop of St. Augustine. In this service generous help was given by non-Catholic friends. The choir singing a High Mass was composed of members of other faiths, all having beautiful well trained voices. The organ was a portable melodeon loaned by Mrs. Hettie Austin. In 1907, a fine Estey organ was installed. The next year the church was enlarged and decorated. When Rev. M. F. Curley was appointed as the first resident pastor, a handsome rectory was built. Those helping in this work were: G. A. Dreka, J. T.. Cairns, Con O'Neil, Charles Allen, Joe Ziegler, R. D. McDonald. Father Curley also had charge of the East Coast mission field extending from New Smyrna to Rockledge. “The activities of St. Peter's may be summed up in its endeavor to so instruct its members in the doctrine of Christ that they may become faithful children of their God, loyal citizens of their great country and noble companions of their fellow townsmen." The following priests have ministered to the church :
Rev. W. J. Kenny 1883, Rev. Michael Foley 1885, Rev. John O'Brien 1893, Rev. M. J. Curley 1904, Rev. Wm. Barry 1914, Rev. Wm. Mullally 1917, Rev. T. Coomber 1923, The Methodist Episcopal Church, South was founded February 20, 1895 by Rev. Benjamin S. Hall. The names of charter members living are Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Wilson, W. C. Watts, Carrie Watts. They met first in a small wooden building formerly used for a store on the corner of Rich Avenue and the Boulevard, where the Marsh building now stands. From there they moved into the old Baptist Church, which they had purchased from the Baptists. In 1926, they erected on North Clara Avenue a magnificent brick building of three stories, modern type, adapted to the latest needs of Sunday schools and progressive social church work. The building equipped cost $150,000. It is an ornament to the city.
The number of present members is four hundred and forty. The names of ministers follow:
Rev. B. S. Hall 1895, Rev. E. A. Harrison 1896, Rev. J. E. Mickler 1900, Rev. R. L. Honiker 1904, Rev. C. A. Saunders 1906, Rev. H. F. Harris 1907, Rev. U. S. Tabor 1908, Rev. B. F. Sheffer 1909, Rev. L. D. Lowe 1911, Rev. C. W. Inman 1914, Rev. J. S. Chapman 1916, Rev. G. F. Scott 1918, Rev. E. J. Gates 1920, Rev. 0. E. Rice 1921, Rev. R. F. Hodnett 1925,
The colored people have nine churches. The oldest is the Union Baptist Church, organized in 1888. Their church is on the corner of Clara and Voorhis Avenues. It is thirty-two years old. They are planning to have it remodeled. The membership of the church is four hundred. The pastor is Rev. Elias Jackson. The Church of God and the Saints of Christ is on South Clara Avenue. It was started in 1915. The membership is thirty-five. The pastor is Rev. E. A. Bythewood.
Excerpt from, The Story of DeLand and Lake Helen, Florida
Written by, Helen Parce DeLand
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