Difference between revisions of "Bloomington Meeting Room, IL"
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=Locations= | =Locations= | ||
* 402 W. Kelsey St. +1901+ | * 402 W. Kelsey St. +1901+ | ||
| − | * 312 W. Kelsey St., near Roosevelt Ave. +1911- | + | * 312 W. Kelsey St., near Roosevelt Ave. +1911-1969+ |
=Meeting Times= | =Meeting Times= | ||
Revision as of 18:22, 3 February 2023
Contents
Ardent History
By 1891, George Murray Leitch (1867-1946) & Adolphe Engweiler started an exclusive (TW-Lowe) assembly in Bloomington, McLean, Illinois. By 1901, J.L. McFerrin joined in leadership. In 1911, the three were joined by O.W. Macy & F.C. Blount, the latter continued thru 1917.
In 1992, Bloomington Christian Fellowship, IL hived from this meeting, and continues. The original meeting room met thru 2010.
NOI
1914-4
"There has been blessing in Bloomington, Ill. At the close of the gospel preaching one Lord's Day night, about the beginning of the year, two confessed His name. One of these had shown some exercise in the Sunday School, we understand; the other was visiting in Bloomington... came a child of darkness, returned a child of light."
Pantagraph
1901-7-8
On July 8th, 1901 an article ran in the Bloomington Pantagraph newspaper on page 3 with regard to a week-long general conference being held there, with some history of the meeting room, as well as general PB history.
"Commencing on the evening of July 3, a "general meeting", as it is called, of the Plymouth Brethren, convened in this city, and the closing session will be held this evening at the old armory, corner of Monroe & Center streets, although practically the convention closed yesterday. The meetings have all been held in the armory. In the forenoons were bible meetings, in the afternoons open meetings, in which there were short addresses by some of the brethren and at night the gospel preaching.
Attending the convention there have been men from all parts of the country who are evangelists of the sect, among whom are:
- James Pennington (Halifax, N.S.)
- H. Rule (Des Moines, IA)
- Arnett (St. Louis, MO)
- Morse (near Columbus, OH)
- Hart (Canada)
- Owen (Neodesha, KS)
Mr. E.R. Ulbrich, of Springfield, Ill., and other prominent business men of other cities, who are Brethren have also been in attendance.
The Plymouth Brethren, or simply Brethren as they prefer to call themselves, are a peculiar religious people. Their most distinguishing characteristic is their complete rejection of ecclesiastical organization. They have no preachers. They are outside of all sects. They are great bible students and all members are well versed in the scriptures. Their faith is simple, their fervor great, though they are "zealous after numbers". The "general meetings", as they call them, are held for instruction in the bible, which is given by those who are more learned in the scriptures. The Brethren are unobtrusive and do not advertise themselves, though willing, when asked, to talk about their beliefs and meetings.
Apparently there were no leaders at the meetings here. All were seated. A number of a song would be called and then all would sing. After a song, someone would pray. Whenever a man felt moved to speak, he did so. It is safe to say that in proportion to the number who attended the meetings, which perhaps was between 100 and 200 there were never so many bibles at a meeting in this city.
With but very few exceptions every person in the hall had both a bible and hymn book. The latter is an edition especially for the Brethren. In the preface it states that poetry is not desired by them because it is "a creation of the human imagination". Simple in their worship the Brethren endeavor to emulate Christ in their daily lives and to follow to the best of their ability what they believe is His law laid down in the gospels.
There are probably not more than twenty-five Brethren living in Bloomington. At present they hold cottage meetings at 402 West Kelsey street, but intend soon to secure a room downtown and hold regular meetings there. The colony here was established by a Mr. Blount four or five years ago, he being here then as an evangelist. Recently he has moved to Bloomington."
The rest of the lengthy article expounds on a brief history of the PB, and some of its tenets. See the "sources" section to view the original article.
1901-9-14
"Rev. Mr. Blount of this city is in Paxton, where he is assisting Mr. Frank Hathaway in a tent meeting. The denomination to which young men belong to is the Plymouth Brethren."
"Orlando, Florida, June 6, 1913: My dear brother: The nearest gathering to us is in Jacksonville, 145 miles by rail, and we seldom have a visit. Dear bro. Potter, of Chicago, was here three days, about 14 months ago, and our bro. Dr. A.E. Waite, when passing through, going home to Bloomington, Ill., stopped over a few minutes in April. Sister Hovermale of Berkeley Springs, W. Va., winters in Florida, and is with us during the season, but is gone home now. But the Lord is with us in our weakness, and He keeps us, blessed be His holy Name! We are living in hope that He will soon come and not tarry, and we shall all be together, around Himself forever more, to praise Him."
1916-2
With The Lord: Mrs. George Leitch, of Bloomington, Ill. October 20, 1915. Aged 46
1944-3 Service Newsletter
"From St. Francisville, Ill., his brother-in-law writes that "Raymond Macy is in the service and just now stationed in Kentucky... He was breaking bread with the saints in Bloomington." Address: A/C Raymond Macy, Class 1-A, 44 Pct 12, U.S.N.F.P.S., Murray, Ky."
Locations
- 402 W. Kelsey St. +1901+
- 312 W. Kelsey St., near Roosevelt Ave. +1911-1969+
Meeting Times
- MT: Su C 9am, B 10:30am, G 7:30pm; Tues P 7:45pm; Thu R 7:45pm +1911+
Correspondents
- George Murray Leitch +1891-1911+, +1944+
- 1003 E. Front St., Bloomington +1911+
- employed in 1910 as a shipping clerk for a foundry.
- J.L. McFerrin +1901-1933+
- 402 W. Kelsey St.
- Adolphe Engweiler 1891-1933+
- 1226 Wall St., Normal
- O.W. Macy +1911+
- First St.
- F.C. Blount +1896-1911+
- 1214 Wall St.
- Claude E. McFerrin +1944+
- William G. Macy +1944-1966+
- Dr. Arthur E. Waite +1949-1951+
- Raymond Charlett +1949-1966+
- Lawrence W. Macy +1966-1985+
- Raymond N. Macy +1973-1985+
- Arthur L. Zwanzig +1973+
- Merle Weber +1973+
- Lawrence Charlett +1999-2010+
Alumni
- Who's Who at Bloomington Meeting Room, IL +1891-2010+
