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Methodist |
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| Organized [1820] |
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In the early days of Kirtland the Methodists
were more numerous than all the other denominations put together. There
were the Standard, Hoffmans, Farleys, Blairs, Hitchcocks, Saterlees, Beardslees,
Parks, and many others. The meetings were held at private homes. The Rev.
Mr. Hitchcock, a very good speaker, often preached. Father Ward occasionally
preached; he was rather eccentric, a man of much ability, and often called
upon to officiate on funeral occasions. Their church was organized about
1820. They erected a small building on the corner of Kirtland cemetery.
This was burned, and afterwards rebuilt on the same foundation. |
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Crary reminiscence, 20. |
| Sidney Rigdon preaches |
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Sidney Rigdon preached on alternate Sundays
in Mentor and Kirtland. In Kirtland his meetings were held in the Methodist
chapel. |
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¶ Missionaries
in Kirtland, 1830 |
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Presbyterian |
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| Organized [1818] |
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The Presbyterian Church (now Congregational)
was organized about 1818 at the house of Thomas Morley, Sr., and consisted
of twelve members, namely: Levi Smith, David Holbrook, Thomas Morley, Russell
Hawkins, and their wives, Mrs. John Morse, Mrs. Christopher Crary, Mrs.
A. C. Russell, and Mrs. I. N. Skinner. The Revs. Treat and Humphrey officiated.
Meetings were held at private houses and in the school building until 1822,
when a log church was built on the site of the present Congregational Church.
This was burned and a commodious frame church was built on the east side
of the road. In 1842 this stood in the path of a cyclone, which raised
it from its foundation, turned it a quarter of the way around and dropped
it. … In 1859 the present church was built,
the old one sold to the Universalists, taken down and removed to Willoughby. |
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Crary reminiscence, 20–21.
Two of Thomas (Mar. 26, 1758–Feb. 14, 1783) and Editha Marsh Morley's nine children
joined the Church of Christ in 1830–1831: Isaac,
whose farm was home for the common stock family; and Dianthy/Diantha
Morley (1796–1879), who married Titus Billings. FamilySearch
Ancestral File v.4.19. |
| Ministers |
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The first settled minister was the renowned
and very devout missionary, the Rev. Joseph Badger. He was a blue-blooded
Presbyterian—held that our birth, actions, and destiny were known
and foreordained by the Almighty from the beginning. He left at the end
of the year, whether from the want of sufficient support or from preference
of a traveling missionary life, I do not recollect. Up to 1831, except
that one year, there was no settled minister. |
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In 1831 Rev. Truman Coe was settled as pastor
over the church, and remained with us up to the time of his death. He was
a man of much learning and ability, beloved by his people and respected
[21] by all. He died about 1856. |
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| Presbyterian school |
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… finally went to
school to Rev Truman Coe at his own house the Parsonage in South
Kirtland and boarded with Oliver A. Crory [Crary] in
that neighborhood …
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Reuben Harmon autobiography, 25–26. Reuben and Ruth Harmon of Vermont purchased most of what became Weathersfield Township, Trumbull, Ohio in 1801. Source |
| [1833–1834] revival |
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During that Winter A man by the name of Foot
held a protracted meeting in the Presbyterian Church the old members of which were arroused and trembling with a fearfull
looking for of judgment made many confessions of their misdeeds
and promised to do better in future New articles of faith were
suggested for the reformed church A very pious old lady was
interogated in reference to her faith and she declared that
she did not know what she believed for their articles of faith had
not come on from the East.
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| Hurlbut lectures |
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During that Winter a cranky man by the name
of Philastus Hulburt who had been employed to go East
and secure testimony concerning the origin of the Mormon
Book and the character of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the
Smith family reported to a large meeting of citizens in the
Presbyterian Church in South Kirtland |
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Said Hulbert began his little speach with high
sounding
meaningless words and lofty radomontade and read a
number of affidavits concerning the manuscript of Solomon
Spaulding and the finding of the plates by Joseph Smith
Col. John F. Morse was engaged to address the audience and
after said Hulbert had subsided thus began |
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Fellow Citizens from what you have heard it
is evident that Mormonism
is a delusion You all know that the Mormons have allways been
treated well in Kirtland His voice then faltered pale and trembling
his knees smote together and he retired under a violent attack
of stage fever and this was the conclusion of this meeting |
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Ohio
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