Lexington, Illinois Christian Church
(November 2004)
This article is from The Lexington Unit Illustrated Souvenir Edition January 1893
Picture courtesy of Madeline Jones
The Christian church was organized in 1859 by B. H. Smith, with Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Long and Mr. and Mrs. John Franklin and Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Dement as charter members. The first house of worship was erected by them in 1860.
In the early history of the church a debate was conducted by Benjamin Franklin, editor of the Christian Review and Rev. John Luccock. Mr. Franklin was an expert in discussion and his efforts on that occasion and his preaching afterward greatly strengthened the church.
The records, if there ever were any, have been either lost or destroyed so that it is impossible to give a very accurate and full account of this body. But there seems to have been a lack of some necessary elements of strength and after a number of uneventful years the church completely disbanded.
Such noted preachers as Theodore Brooks, Joseph and Samuel Lowe, J. F. Ghormley, M. F. Ingraham and others whose names are not at hand have preached here regularly.
About four years ago some of the faithful and loyal women, yearning for a better state of things organized and conducted a Sunday School, whish was a harbinger of the prosperity of these later years. In November, 1890, T. A. Boyer, then State evangelist but now known and loved in all the churches was sent here by the co-operation of the Illinois Christian Missionary Society and the Fourteenth District Board, to hold a meeting. He preached the truth lovingly and ably for nearly two months in the face of much discouragement and opposition but succeeded in reorganizing the church, with a membership of a little more than one hundred. He is loved here for his work’s sake. Since then the congregation has continued to prosper. At the close of this meeting the congregation with rare good fortune secured J. H. Reece, of Bangor, Michigan, who remained only about ten months but did a vast amount of useful work. He was a wise counselor and an able and faithful teacher both in the pulpit and from house to house.
In March, 1891, State evangelist, Oliver W. Stewart, conducted another meeting which added about eighty-five to the church. He supplied the pulpit with great acceptance up to September, when W. H. Cannon, of Lincoln, the present minister was located here. His coming was conditioned upon the building of a new house which has been accomplished at the cost of $8,000. It was dedicated January 1, 1893.