Newspaper archives tell history of Peoples Church

Data assistant Diane Langton compiled the following from archives of The Gazette and other newspapers. The excerpts detail the history behind People's Church, a property on the National Register of Historic Places, which was demolished Monday in Cedar Rapids to make room for  a new office building:

Aug. 8. 1875

TO CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS – Sealed proposals will be received at Dr. Bliss' drug store, until August 10, for the building of the Universalist Church. Plans and specifications can be seen at Bliss' drug store. The Committee reserves the right to reject and and all bids. (The Weekly Times)

Jan. 20, 1876

Although not yet completed, we understand the basement of the new Universalist Church will be used for Sabbath School service next Sunday. It is one of the best lighted and most cheerful Sunday School rooms in the city. (The Weekly Times)

Nov. 28, 1878

The new organ for the Universalist Church is on its way, and will be opened Dec. 19 This organ is from the manufactory of Hook & Hastings, Boston, one of the oldest and best organ manufactories in the country. On the evening of the 19

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there will be a concert given in the church by Professor and Mrs. Louis Falk, organist and soprano, of Union park Congregationalist Church Chicago, assisted by the best home talent of our city.   (The Weekly Times)

June 20, 1878

The dedication services of the new First Universalist Church of this city took place on Sunday last. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. J.H. Tuttle, of Minneapolis, from Proverbs xxxii-7. The discourse was plain and practical, replete with evidences of careful thought and study. The church was very tastefully decorated with flowers. The music for the occasion was very fine, the voices having been selected from the various church choirs in the city. (The Weekly Times)

August 12, 1914

Replete with new decorations and furnishings the Liberal Christian Church will be thrown open to the public on September 6.

The subject of the discourse for that day will be “The Sanctuary” and the male quartet, composed of Allen H. Metcalf, first tenor; Bruce W. Metcalf, second tenor; James F. Cowden, baritone, and Carl C. Shaefer, bass, will furnish the music. This quartet has been engaged for the year.

Mr. Newton writes from his retreat at Spirit Lake: “Already I am looking forward to the opening of the new church, anxious for the new year to begin. And may it be a good year for us all, rich in the best things.” Again he writes: “I am getting eager to get back to work.”  (The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette)

October 7, 1914

The Iowa Unitarian conference and the Iowa Universalist convention held their business sessions during the morning hours today, the former at the public library and the latter in the rooms of the Liberal Christian church. …

At the conclusion of the business sessions the two conferences held a joint session at the Liberal Christian church where a sermon was given followed by a song service. At noon the meeting adjourned to attend a dinner given by the women of the church.

Convention notes

This is the second time the conference has been held in Cedar Rapids, the last time being five years ago. At that time the Rev. Joseph Fort Newton had been pastor of the Liberal Christian church but a few months. His congregation then numbered twenty. Today its membership has reached 350.

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One of the oldest members present is William N. Pierce of West Union. He has been attending the conventions for years. Twenty-five years ago he attended the state meeting in Dubuque when the Rev. Mr. Crum was pastor of the church. Mr. Crum was a former pastor of the local church and was killed in a bicycle accident some years ago at Webster City. After his death Mrs. Crum occupied his pulpit.

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Both societies now in session have among their members quite a number of women who are ministers in various parts of the state. These two churches believe that the pulpit is the place for both women and men.   (The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette)

December 2, 1918

Dr. E.R. Burckhalter, pastor emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church, preached at the Liberal Chirsitan Church (“The Little Brick Church”) Sunday morning memorial service for the Rev. Harold B. Drew, who died Nov.25 after a brief illness with pneumonia.

August 12, 1919

The Rev. Dr. E.H. Gelvin's acceptance of a call to the pastorate of the Liberal Christian Church was announced Aug. 11. Dr. Gelvin's  resignation as vice-president and financial secretary of Coe College would take place Sept. 1. No services are held during July and August. “Dr. Gelvin is a worthy successor of the Rev. Joseph Fort Newton and the Rev. H.B Drew, who have made the Little Brick Church so famous.” (The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette)

March 11, 1920

The fellowship dinner at the Liberal Christian church last evening was one of the most delightful occasions in the history of the institution.

One hundred and fifty persons enjoyed the four course dinner served by the members of the Van Vechten guild, assisted by the younger set.

The decorations consisted of bowls of nasturtiums and yellow candles in crystal candle sticks.

An orchestra played during the early part of the evening.

C. N. Jenkins presided as toastmaster, introducing the speeches in a witty and graceful manner.

The program opened with the staging of songs written for the occasion to the familiar airs of "The Long,

Long Trail" and "The Little Brown Church in the Vale."

W. B. Metcalf rendered two vocal solos, which were greatly appreciated.

John  Redmond responded to the toast "The Little brick church; its meaning and purpose." He said that its great mission is to open the doors of the church to all regardless of creed. It has a place in the community and a field of service that no other church can fill. Only as its members are consecrated to the ideals of freedom and fraternity in religion and are willing to give unselfish service to these ideals will the work of the "little brick church” grow and its influence become effective.

Major C. B. Robbins gave a stimulating talk on the service of the church to its community. He said that the field of service is unlimited. There are no barriers of tradition or prejudice to hamper its efforts. The good it can do in the community depends entirely on the vision of service and the efforts put forth

Joseph Mekota spoke of the name of the church and expressed his belief  that  the name "Liberal Christian” does not signify to the stranger and the general public the basis of the church fellowship and its purpose. He suggested some broader  term like the "People's church" or some name that would more adequately express the ideals for which the church stands.

Miss Emma Fordyce responded to the toast, "The pulpit and the pews." She urged cooperation of the members in every way possible to make the work of the church a spiritual force in the community

The 'Rev. Dr. E. H. Gelvin concluded the program with an eloquent appeal to exert every energy to realize the ideals for which the church was organized. "We cannot all think alike," he said, "but we can all love alike." Unity of spirit is better than uniformity of theology. The little church has a mission in this community.  It is making a practical experiment in  bringing about  that union of people of different needs and denominations which the leaders of the denominational churches are hoping to see in the future. The success of the experiment rests with the members of the church. Loyalty to its ideals find faithful service in its behalf will determine its future."

The meeting closed with the singing of a fellowship song to the air, “Keep the home fires burning.”  (The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette)

February 16, 1921

The Rev. Dr. Joseph Fort Newton, former pastor of the Little Brick church, now the Peoples church of this city, later of the London City Temple and at present minister of the Church of the Divine Paternity, New York, addressed the Rotarians at Hotel Montrose on Tuesday night, Feb. 15.

January 23, 1954

East Iowa Churches

On a bright Sunday morning in July, 1875. a small army of 600 men assembled in Cedar Rapids.

They  formed a procession which marched down Park (now Third) avenue, under a triumphal arch beautiful with flowers, to the site of a new church.

The date was July 1. The men were Masons who had come from Davenport, Dubuque, Monticello, Anamosa and Marion to participate in the laying of the cornerstone of the First Universalist church of Cedar Rapids.

That building, now the Peoples church, still stands at the corner of Third avenue and Sixth street SE. It is believed to be the oldest original church building in the city.

Six years before, in 1869, the new church had been formally organized and had called its first minister, the Rev. W.C. Brooks. Building plans were warmly debated, some members feeling that the church should not go "so far out into the sandburrs and sandhills."

At first only one story of the church was built. Then in 1878 the remainder of the building was finished. The entire value of the property, including lot, was appraised at $11,000.

Among the original or early members of the church, prominent in the city at that time, were Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Allison, C. W. Burton, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Buser, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Coe, Mrs. L. G. Cooper, A. G. Plumb, Mrs. Louisa Plumb, C. D. and Ada Van Vechten, and G. F. and Emma Van Vechten.

For the next three decades a succession of ministers served the church, notable among them being the  Rev. J. H. Palmer and the Rev. W.A. Pratt.

In 1908 the church called as its minister a man who was to become one of the most distinguished clergymen in the history of the American pulpit.

Dr. Joseph Fort Newton served for nine years, leaving in 1917 to begin his ministry at the world famous City Temple in London.

Author of more than 30 books, Dr. Newton was acclaimed both here and abroad for the brilliance of his writing and for his superb preaching style.

During Dr. Newton's pastorate the church gradually became recognized as a creedless, nonsectarian organization, and the name Liberal Christian was adopted. Now the primary identification was with the local community, rather than with a denomination. In the words of a church spokesman, "What men do with religion was emphasized more than what they believe about it.”

In 1920 the name currently used, Peoples church, was adopted. In 1921 the present minister's father, Dr. W. Waldemar W. Argow was called as  pastor and served until 1930. Under his ministry  the church grew and flourished; the building was completely modernized and rebuilt. In 1926 the congregation affiliated with the American Unitarian Association.

Dr. Argow's column. "Outspoken Thoughts", appeared for years on The Sunday Gazette's editorial page.

From 1931 to 1940 the Rev. Melvin Welke served as pastor. The present minister, the Rev. Waldemar Argow, has occupied the pulpit since 1944. His has been the church's second longest pastorate.

The church today has the largest budget and membership in its 85-year history. In the last decade the budget has more than doubled and the church attendance has quadrupled.

Officers of the church are Dr. Vernon E. Lichtenstein, president;  Sidney B. Clark, vice-president; Mrs. Manning Morrill, secretary; Mrs. Frederick Fluegel, treasurer. Miss Betty Low is church Secretary.

The following statement, written by Joseph Fort Newton, still stands as a concise definition of the purpose of the church:

The aim of this society is to cultivate freedom, friendship and fraternity in religion, in behalf of all that makes for private nobility and public welfare. Believing that a unity of spirit is better than a uniformity of theology, we welcome to our fellowship everyone who is seeking truth and righteousness, whatever his faith or opinion may be, leaving each one free to think and act for himself.  No creed or ritual is imposed as a requisite of membership, but simply a desire to help forward the cause of spiritual culture and the higher life.”

June 28, 1959

GERTRUDE JAMES, whom many of us knew as a a teacher at old Washington high school, has written an interesting history of the Peoples church, and it has been published in book form. The public library staff was kind enough to call it to our attention. Having been a devotee of Dr. Newton's literary lectures at Peoples, we enjoyed reading about this pioneer institution. "A small group of young men and women, in 1869, met in Brown's hotel on Commercial (First) street and organized the First Universalist Society of Cedar Rapids, Iowa." That was the beginning. … With the coming of the railroad, CedarRapids had grown from 1,600 in 1860 to 6,000 in 1869. First meeting place of the church was Universalist hall, a room vacated by the growing Baptists. In 1874, F. J. Upton deeded to the church the corner at Third avenue and Sixth street SE where the Peoples church now stands. He had bought it from Dr. John F. Ely. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1875. . . . The structure became famous as the Little Brick Church under the pastorate of Joseph Fort Newton (1908-1917). Dr. Newton went directly from this church to the City Temple of London and became one of the leading churchmen of the century. About 1920 the name of the institution was changed to the Peoples Christian church. Later it became known simply as the Peoples church. Always closely allied with educational interests, this church has had other scholars besides Dr. Newton as its pastors. Outstanding, of course, were Dr. W. Waldemar W. Argow (1921-1930) whose Gazette newsroom chats were always enriching and inspiring,and his son, Waldemar Argow {1944-1957). . . . Like most liberal churches, the Peoples has had its share of problems. Miss James' history is a guidepost because it charts the path taken by its members in solving those problems. (The Cedar Rapids Gazette)

May 17, 1969

An eight-day program of activities planned to commemorate the 100

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anniversary of the Peoples Unitarian Church will begin Sunday (May 18) with “An Old-Timer Reminisces” at the 10 a.m. forum.

Speaker will be Allen G. Thurman, who was president of the congregation in the early 1940s as it regained momentum after near-collapse.

First Universalist church of Cedar Rapids was organized in May of 1869, and a short time later members began debating the location of a permanent church building.

Open ground at Third Avenue and Sixth Street SE was “too far out into the sandburs and sandhills,” some members contended. Despite this opposition, construction of what ultimately became Peoples Unitarian Church began at that location in 1875, when Cedar Rapids had about 7,000 residents.

Peoples Church still occupies the building, which is believed to be the oldest original church in Cedar Rapids. The second story was completed in 1878. Original red brick later was covered with tan stucco and an addition was built in 1957.

Outstanding among the 19 ministers to serve the church was the Rev. Joseph Fort Newton, who began a nine-year pastorate in 1908 and went on to author 30 books and achieve recognition as a brilliant speaker.

During Dr. Newtons' tenure, the name of the church was changed to Liberal Christian. In 1920, it became the Peoples Christian Church, but was not affiliated with any denomination. Affiliation with the American Unitarian Assn. began in 1930.

… The Rev. Walter Kellison has been pastor of Peoples Church since 1962. Present membership totals about 270.

(From cutline of photo taken by Gazette photographer Tom Merryman: The tan stucco building of the Peoples Church is believed to be the oldest original church in Cedar Rapids. The congregation Sunday will begin an observance of its centennial. The church's cornerstone was laid July 1, 1875, in a ceremony that brought 600 Masons from Davenport, Dubuque, Monticello and Marion.) (The Cedar Rapids Gazette)

Sept. 9, 1978

The First Universalist Church, now Peoples Church at 600 Third Ave. SE, has been entered in the National Register of Historic Places.

The announcement was made this week by Adriand D. Anderson, director of the Division of Historic Preservation in Iowa City.

Admission was based, in part, on the work of Dr. Joseph Fort Newton, minister for the church from 1908 to 1916.

The National Register is designed to bring to the attention of the public those structures and sites which have been recognized as significant in history, architecture and archaeology.

National Register properties are eligible for federal matching restoration funds and they are protected to some degree from any federally assisted or licensed projects that might adversely affect them.

The nomination to the National Register was made by Peggy Hedlund of Coe College on the basis of a Newton's work.

Newton who died in 1950 at the age of 73, served the church from 1908 to 1916 when he was called to the pulpit of London's City Temple, the pre-eminent non-conformist church in England at that time.

Newton won national recognition for his call to London, and for a series of sermon-articles, many of which originally appeared in The Gazette, and which in 1924 led to his selection as one of the 25 "outstanding preachers of the American pulpit."

A 1939 poll of 25,000 ministers voted him one of the five foremost Protestant clergymen in America.

The following is a sample of Newton's copyrighted articles, "Everyday Living" printed daily in The Gazette. It appeared Nov. 16, 1938.

THE LESSON

What is the greatest lesson life has taught you, good reader?

Life teaches us many things as we go along, one thing in youth, a different lesson in middle life, and a deeper truth  in old age.

What is the best fact or faith you have learned from life with its joys and sorrows, its knocks and shocks, its days and years? It would help all of us if you would tell me plainly and candidly.

A friend of mine put this question to a number of famous people in England and received most interesting answers.

The replies were very different, but the variety added to their interest and value.

Sir Oliver Lodge said that the greatest lesson he had learned is the reality of the spiritual world. As a man of science he began as a materialist but he had learned a higher, finer truth.

Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts, said that the one thing he has learned, above all others, is that Jesus was right - to give is a finer thing than to get; to be is nobler than to possess; to serve is happier than to be served. Surely that is a great life-lesson.

Maude Royden, my old friend and colleague at the City Temple in London, says that her life-lesson is that all things work together for good to them that love God. How frail she is, never taking a step without pain, yet what an intrepid and useful life she has lived.

Robert Horton, scholar, poet, preacher - now, alas, gone - said that the greatest lesson he learned from life was that people who set their minds and hearts on money are equally disappointed whether they get it or whether they do not. Money does not give happiness or peace.

What is your deepest lifelesson, good reader? Not what you think you ought to have learned, but what you have actually learned, and know to be true and rely upon in your duties and dealings.

After all, life is a school in which we ought to learn what life is, what it means to us, and how to live it or endure it.

Happy is the man who finds the truth and beauty he was sent to seek.