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Show Page 23<br><br>[PHOTO: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.] One of this number was a Mrs. Varney, a pioneer, indeed, who came to the city with her Mormon husband in 1856. She had hoped soon to return to the States, but as this could not be done, for fifteen years she stood alone as a Baptist, sustained, as Moses was, by "Him who is invisible." In February, 1872, during a brief visit of Rev. Mr. Brown of Evanston, Wyo., a church was organized, with twenty members, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer. This was the first Baptist church in the Territory, and, excepting that of the Mormons and Catholics, was the fourth regular church organization. After two years, however, Gen. Dodge returned to Washington, others moved away, a few died, and the organization lapsed. Only two of its members, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Paddock, who had been Gen. Dodge's right-hand supporters, remained to connect this work with the new era. Mrs. Paddock is now devoted to philanthropic and rescue work as the honored president of the Woman's Home Association, with headquarters in the Baptist school building. In July, 1882, the Rev. Dwight Spencer, general missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission society, re-inaugurated the Baptist work in the city, preaching his first sermon at the residence of James E. Berkley. Regular services were begun in October in Pendeleton hall, over a, blacksmith shop, now known as No. 60 West Second South street. For some months, during the absence of Mr. Spencer, Dr. G. B. Morse held regular preaching services. In February, 1883, Miss Lydia Paine came as a missionary of the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society of Boston, and added her wisdom and experience to the feeble band. But it was not until August 1, 1883, that a permanent organization was effected, with eighteen constituent members, six of whom are members still. Meanwhile, through help from the field and friends in the East, Mr. Spencer had secured a lot and begun the erection of a church edifice, the cornerstone of which was laid with impressive ceremonies on the 26th day of August, 1883, the Rev. Richard Hartley, then the pastor at Ogden, assisting, and Governor Eli H. Murray presiding. This building is of Queen Anne style of architecture, and will seat three hundred and fifty. The entire property, which is located at the corner of Second West and Second South streets, cost $13,663, $3000 of which was raised on the field. It was dedicated free of debt on March 16, 1884, a result which was due both to Mr. Spencer's arduous labors and also to the untiring zeal of Miss Lydia Paine, who still continues to be one of the most interested workers in the church. The first regular pastor was the Rev. H. G. DeWitt, D. D., who began his term of service in March, 1884. Deacon Estey of Brattleboro, Vt., having taken a deep interest in the work, became responsible for his salary. This pastorate continued about two years, and was marked by quite a large ingathering. During the greater part of this time, Mr. De Witt was assisted by the Rev. M. T. Lamb, who afterwards wrote "The Golden Bible," an interesting criticism of the Book of Mormon. Early in the summer of 1886, the Rev. L. L. Wood became pastor, and continued as such a little more than a year. After a protracted interval, during which Mr. R. A. Smith, then a student at Morgan Park seminary, supplied the pulpit acceptably for five months, the Rev. D. D. Forward was welcomed to the pastorate by glad hearts in October, 1888. His pastorate of two years was the beginning of better days, and was characterized by marked zeal and consecration. It was through his strenuous and self-sacrificing endeavors that in the spring of 1890, the church became self-supporting. From October, 1890, to April, 1891, the pulpit was ably supplied by the Rev. S. G. Adams, who had been appointed In August as a general missionary to the city by the American Baptist Home Mission society. The Rev. Henry B. Steelman, the present pastor of the church, began his work in April, 1891, coming from the pastorate of the First Baptist church of Jersey City, N. J. The missionary spirit of the church, which had already begun to be manifest, has since found vigorous expression. At one time, while its membership was considerably less than 200, it maintained five Sunday schools, in addition to the home school, and the total enrolment reached six hundred. Among the permanent results of this aggressive movement are the two Branches of the First Church, each having commodious brick chapels, and also the East Side Baptist Church, which was organized largely out of the First Church, October 7, 1892. The First Baptist Church has an unusually large percentage of members, who shoulder up nobly under the responsibility, and are strong in their purpose to fulfill the mission of a church. But it has an increasing struggle with serious drawbacks. From the staunch Mormons, as a matter of course, co-operation is not expected. But the majority of the non-Mormons are pronounced in their irreligion; indeed, seemingly, the majority of those formerly members of churches take no active interest after they reach this portion of the country. Added to these obstacles is this other, that many of those who are earnest workers have been so transient that the continuity of what work could be done has been constantly broken. These things make conditions which are both so exceedingly discouraging as quite to paralyze many of the good people who come from different surroundings, and also so peculiar as to be exceedingly difficult of appreciation in places where evangelical work has been long established. This church has also been seriously hampered financially. But while it is not yet able, unaided, to equip itself properly for the mission work which lies at its door, it rejoices that it is able to be self-supporting in the matter of its own immediate current expenses, although the $1500 which the various items require can only be secured at the cost of constant sacrifices and the delay of many needed repairs. However, notwithstanding its constant perplexities, its varied interests and its throbbing energy, let it be said to the honor of the Lord, that the spirit of harmony and brotherly love has continued unbroken. After an interlude of some years, the First Baptist Church has had again for two years the services of missionaries sent by the Women's American Baptist Home Mission society of Chicago. The society thus becomes an invaluable ally. The present missionaries are Miss Erminie F. Eyles and Miss Bertha Moore, the latter having taken the place of Miss Rose G. Clarke, who was recalled after two years of successful service to enter the general work. In all the years before it came to self-support, the church enjoyed the generous fostering care of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. During the last seven years 324 have been received into membership, 137 by baptism, and 167 have been dismissed, leaving a present membership of 208, of whom 178 are resident. The officers of the church are as follows: Pastor, Henry B. Steelman; Deacons, W. W. Randolph, W. N. Cole, J. J. Corum, A. J. Orem, F. W. Metcalf and J. C. Woodward; Finance Committee, J. J. Corum, A. J. Orem, William Wismer, W. H. Skillhorn, J. E. Berkley, J. N. Courtney and N. D. Corser; Trustees, J. J. Corum, J. E. Berkley and J. C. Hanchett; Superintendent of Missions, W. W. Randolph; Clerk, James E. Berkley; Treasurer, L. D. Lee. From only one Baptist place of worship in the city, and one person giving his entire time to the work, as was the case as late as in January, 1891, the history of the First Church shows a steady advance along all lines, which make for the greatest possible service to the community until it has come to the splendid achievements of today. Surely it has been favored by the good hand of the Lord. <br><br>Rev. Henry B. Steelman.<br><br> Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City, belongs to a family of preachers, his father and brothers being also in the Baptist ministry. He was born in Norway, Herkimer county, New York, on the 15th of November, 1855. After being prepared for college in the Union school at Elizabethtown, New York, and accumulating a small purse by teaching two district schools, he entered the graduating class of Colgate Academy at Hamilton, New York, in the spring of 1873, and worked his way to graduation from Madison University, now Colgate University, in 1877, winning the third honor for excellence in scholarship, and capturing the highest prizes of the course in Greek and oratory. After spending a year at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, he returned to Hamilton and was graduated from that distinguished school of the prophets in 1880. Entering at once into pastoral work as an associate of the Rev. Edward Judson, he continued in that delightful relation for three years, one year in Orange, New Jersey, and two years in the beginning of Dr. Judson's notable |
