The First Christian Church and Society, of Henry, were organized the 9th
day of February, 1850, in the Protestant Methodist Church, in Henry, by
Elder S. L. Pervier, with sixteen members, namely : Thomas Harless, Henry B.
Burgess, William Bell, Henry Harless, John S. Scott, S. L. Pervier, Isaac
Rickets, Adna Buckout, Polly Scott, Viletta Bell, Abeliny Wiley, Catharine
Rickets, Polly Burgess, Clarisa Burgess, Rebecca Harless and Philena
Pervier.
Their place of worship was in the Protestant Methodist Church, until they
built a substantial brick 35 by 50 feet (some twenty-five feet from ground
to roof), which was dedicated in June, 1851, Elder Josiah Knight, of Ohio,
preaching the sermon of dedication. Thomas Harless and Richard Garretson
were the principal contributors to the fund for the erection of this
building.
S. L. Pervier was the first pastor; Thotnus Harless, Henry B. Burgess and S.
L. Pervier, the first Trustess; H. B. Burgess, first Church Clerk; Thomas
Harless and B. F. Carpenter, first Deacons; Win. D. Robinson, first
Collector; Richarl Garretson, first Treasurer.
In 1852 Elder Chester Covell, of New York, was called to take charge of the
Church, and in 1860 Elder J. C. Goff, of Irvington, N. J., was chosen, who
remained some thirteen years as pastor.
In June of 1852 this modest edifice was the scene of a nine-days discussion
which attracted wide attention at the time, the subject being The Divinity
of Christ. The participants were Revs. Luccock, of Canton, and Phelps, of
Princeton, Ill., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, affirmative; Rev. Oliver
Barr, of Aurora, Ill., and Revs. H. Summerbell and A. L. McKinney, of Ohio,
of the Christian Church, negative. A reporter was employed with a view to
the subsequent publication of the proceedings and arguments in full, but his
notes were never prepared for the press.
Extracted 23 Feb 2014 from Records of the Olden Time
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
 |
La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
