[Picture courtesy of Cincinnativiews]
History of the Linwood Baptist Church
Hamilton County, OH
By Harold E. Byron, 1901
History of the Linwood Baptist Church
Hamilton County, OH
By Harold E. Byron, 1901
Members of the Baptist churches, residing in Linwood, met December 30, 1882, to consider the propriety of organizing a church in Linwood. At that time Linwood was an incorporated village of Hamilton County, and remained so until it became a part of Ward 1 of Cincinnati, January 2, 1896.The meeting above referred to was presided over by Rev. B. F. Harmon, and Brother Samuel M. Ferris moved that "we proceed to organize a Baptist church at Linwood," said motion bringing forth much discussion and creating deep interest; also, a feeling of the responsibility such action would entail upon each one interested. But the motion was carried unanimously, and committees were chosen to procure letters of dismission from Columbia church, and to prepare Articles of Faith and a Church Covenant. The New Hampshire Articles of Faith and Church Covenant were later adopted.
The history of the Linwood Baptist Church really dates its beginning back to the year 1854, when Duck Creek was the center of religious work by the Baptists of this locality, with colonies at Pleasant Ridge, Walnut Hills, Madisonville, Columbia and Linwood. At that time Father Lyon had been the pastor for 25 years, and, being about to close his relations with the church, Rev. B. F. Harmon was called to this field, and thus entered upon his first pastorate - at Duck Creek.
It was at Linwood, in the same building (then a schoolhouse), 47 years ago, that a protracted meeting was commenced - a meeting beginning under great difficulties and having very few supporters, yet, during its progress, such a display of the Spirit's presence has seldom been witnessed, and will never be forgotten by those who felt its power. Over fifty persons professed conversion, thirty-two uniting with this branch of the Duck Creek church, the others going to other churches nearer their homes. Revivals continued through many years, and meetings were held until 1865. During these years about one hundred persons were converted.
The Columbia church was organized at this time, and the brethren in Linwood threw their force into the work in Columbia, allowing the Linwood field to lie idle for a time. The Columbia church grew in strength rapidly, and was self-sustaining from the first. In 1880 a branch of the Columbia church was formed at Linwood with the full consent of the Columbia church. The ultimate object of this was to provide for public worship in the village, a want long felt by many who could not go to Columbia; also, to form a separate church should the experiment warrant such a step.
Rev. T. C. Probert was called to serve the church one-half of his time. The one-story brick school-house, where the revival meetings of 1854 were held, was secured for the use of the church. The meetings were held but a short time before the duty of holding meetings every Sabbath day was pressed upon the attention of the brethren, and it was found necessary, in order to meet the wants of the people, to call a pastor for the full time. Pastor Probert resigned in July, 1881. Then a call was sent to Rev. B. F. Harmon, which was accepted, and the
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spectacle was presented of this veteran in the church returning to organize a church on the field of his first labors in the ministry.New life now came to the organization, and on January 11, 1883, a church called the Linwood Baptist church, was duly organized, with twenty-nine members, drawn mostly from the Columbia church, as follows: Mr, and Mrs. Samuel M. Ferris, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. DeArmond, Mr. and Mrs. Silas W. Huls, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac T. Simpkins, Mrs. Elizabeth Sprague, Mrs. Lizzie Bush, Mrs. J. P. Sollenberger, Mrs. Harriet Smith, Mrs. Charles G. Waters, Mrs. Emma McClure, Misses Elizabeth Sprague. Fannie Smith, Harriet Langdon, Florence Ferris, Ella DeArmond, Jennie DeArmond, Sarah Sprague, Minnie Sollenberger, Anna Huls, Frances Huls, Messrs. Howard Ferris, Clarence Huls, Thomas DeArmond, and William DeArmond.
The newly organized church found much friendliness and hearty support from members of the Methodist, Presbyterian and other denominations having no church home in Linwood.
The Linwood church was admitted to membership in the Miami Association in September of 1883.
Early in 1884 efforts were directed toward securing funds to purchase a lot and erect a frame church edifice. In all $5,100 was raised, and the work on the foundations well advanced by summer. On May 10, 1885, the church was dedicated. Dr. Lasher preached the morning sermon, Rev. Kerr B. Tupper (now of Philadelphia) the dedication sermon, and President Owen, of Denison University, the evening sermon.
It was not till October, 1886, that a Baptist Sabbath-school was organized, because of the existence of a Union Sabbath-school, with which the Baptists were identified. During its life of fifteen years our school has had much to contend with, principally withdrawals to form four more denominational Sabbath-schools, which sprang into existence during different periods of these years.
Previous to the organization of the church the women of Linwood, many of whom were interested in the progress of the Baptist faith, formed, in January, 1882, a society whose object was to perform such duties as would promote the advancement of the church interests in Linwood. The membership, large comparatively at the time of its inception, has been diminished in time by the withdrawal of many to other fields of church work. The organization, however, is still living, one of the strong elements in the activities of the church life. When the church decided to build its present edifice, the society undertook to make the payments for the lot, which undertaking was successfully carried out in the subsequent years, by investing its earnings in a building association, thereby affording a prompt meeting of the indebtedness when due. During these nearly twenty years this woman's society has handled between five and six thousand dollars, and has helped in the growth and adornment of the church in ways numerous and varied.
Some six years after the organization of our church, to remedy the lack of system that pervades most churches, an Executive Committee of ten was organized, upon which devolved the initiative and execution of the secular work of the church; of course, with the final concurrence of the church membership. It meets once a month, and has shown its worth in solving questions of finance, and guiding the church organization out of the rut of neglect and indifference.
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The Woman's Missionary Society was organized September 19, 1889, with twelve members, and has increased in numbers and interest until it has become one of the strongest branches of the church work.We have the Junior and Senior B. Y. P. U. The Senior society was organized in 1890, and has proved one of the most pronounced helps in the church, most of the new members of recent years being traced from the meetings and resultant good influences of this live arm of the church.
After the formal organization of the Linwood Baptist church, Rev. B. F. Harmon served it as pastor from February, 1883, to December, 1888. Bro. Charles L. Collins, then a student at Granville, O., came in January of 1889, and labored with us till September of the same year. Brother Collins was followed by Rev. H. W. Childs, from Spurgeon College, England, who ably filled the interim between September, 1889, and December 31, 1890. Again Mr. Collins returned to us for a short period - February - September of 1891. Rev. Gerald R. Richards, of Springfield, O., took up the Lord's work in Linwood December.1, 1891, and relinquished it June 1, 1894, to be succeeded by Rev. Willis O. Shaw, of Churchville, New York, who came to the Linwood church in November of 1894, and resigned in February, 1899. Then for over a year we had no pastor, but confined our attention to candidates for the pastorate until June 1, 1900, when Rev. Charles E. Stanton began his ministry here, in response to a unanimous call from our people.
Linwood, Cincinnati, September 18, 1901. ============== [From the Miami Baptist Association Minutes, 1901, pp. 25-27. Document from the Miami Baptist Association Office, Cincinnati. Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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