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The history of the Universalist church at Sharpsville
is a record compiled from Sunday to Sunday by T. M. Ford, who until
December, 1908, was clerk of the church from its organization, and
whose successor is Frank Pierce. The First Universalist church (Church
of Our Father) at Sharpsville is the only church of this denomination
in the county. In the fall of 1870 or early winter of 1871, Rev. B. F.
Hitch cock of Conneautville, Pennsylvania, mainly through the influence
of Gen. James Pierce, preached two or three sermons at Sharpsville that
made the beginning of Universalist church influence here. Rev. C. L.
Shipman preached occasionally and in June, 1873, was engaged to preach
each alternate Sunday. This arrangement continued until January 31,
1875, when a parish was organized with twenty-eight members. These
members were: Hon. Nathan Morford, Aaron Fell, Jonas J. Pierce, Mahlon
Fell, Andrew Fell, T. M. Ford, Henry Phelps, S. W. Johnston, R. J.
McDowell, Seth Hofius, Alex. LaMont, Walter Pierce, J. W. Fuller, Frank
Pierce, J. L. Weaver, Charles Wilson, Jesse Fell, I. N. Lynch, A. C.
Andrews, T. O. Hazen, Mrs. Kate (J. J.) Pierce, Mrs. Mary A. Mortord,
Mrs. Emeline Fell, Mrs. Susan Phelps, Mrs. Chloe Pierce, Mrs. Ursula J.
Fuller, Mrs. Sarah M. Meecham. Mrs. Julia Ann Fell.
The
church organization was effected February 27, 1876, under Rev. Shipman,
who up to that time had continued preaching alternate Sundays. The
first resident preacher was Samuel Hough, who held regular services
from June, 1877, until April, 1880. Several months later Rev. Shipman
again became minister, and was spiritual head of the church when the
cornerstone of the church home was laid in October, 1882. All the
services had been held in a public hall up to this time, but with the
donation by Mrs. Chloe Pierce, widow of Gen. James Pierce, of a lot on
Mercer avenue, the movement was started for the erection of a church.
The officers of the church at the laying of the cornerstone were: C. L.
Shipman, pastor; T. O. Hazen, moderator; J. J. Pierce, Aaron Fell, S.
W. Johnston, trustees; T. M. Ford, clerk. The building committee were
J. J. Pierce, Aaron Fell, S.
W. Johnston, T. O. Hazen and Frank Pierce. Services were held somewhat
irregularly by Rev. Shipman until January 20, 1884. His successor was
W. A. Pratt, who preached the first sermon in
the new church building on January 27, 1884.
The
following incident of the dedication sermon, of Sunday, February 10,
1884, is told in the clerk’s record: “As the pastor finished the
sentence of dedication with these words, ‘Henceforth this church stands
devoted to the unchanging love of the father of all spirits,’ the sun,
which for more than a week had hardly pierced with its rays the thick
black clouds which had obscured the sky, shone forth with noonday
splendor, filling the whole auditorium with light. The circumstance to
many was very impressive.”
The
successive ministers who have held this pulpit have been: C. L.
Shipman, 1876; Samuel Hough, 1877; W. A. Pratt, 1884; DeWitt Lamphere,
1885; W. S. Williams, 1887; W. M. Backus, 1889; James Gorton, 1892; L.
J. Richards, 1900; C. L. Harris, 1905.
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County, 1909, pages 283-285.
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