The public organization of this church occurred Wednesday, November 14, 1849. Previous to these formal exercises Mrs. Sarah J. Clark, Mrs. E. W. Spaulding and Mrs. Jane C. Houghton, who had been included in the original letter of dismission from the First church, but were not present at the first meeting, were received; also Mrs. Mary Haskell and Miss Eliza Holmes.

The Congregational council was composed of the following gentlemen: Rev. Hutchins Taylor, moderator; Rev. Dexter Clary, Beloit; Rev. Lewis Benedict, Rockton; Rev. R. M. Pearson, Grand DeTour; Rev. Lansing Porter, Rockford; Horace Hobart, delegate from Beloit. Rev. R. M. Pearson was chosen scribe of the council; prayer was offered by Rev. H. Taylor; and Rev. L. Benedict preached the sermon. The covenant and articles of faith were read by the clerk, and publicly approved by the church. An address to the church and deacons was delivered by Rev. Dexter Clary. The council then formally declared the Second Congregational church of Rockford to be duly and orderly organized.

November 18th Asher Miller, who had been included in the original letter of dismission, was received, upon the same. The new church continued to receive accessions from time to time from the older society, as the West side increased in population.

Since the mother church had vacated its first house of worship on the corner of Church and Green streets for the new brick structure on the East side, the former had been unoccupied. The Second church now returned to the house which many of its members had abandoned less than four years previous. Messrs. Kent and Brinckerhoff had failed in business, and the old edifice was sold by their assignee to the Second church. It was placed on a rock foundation and refitted for worship.

The first pastor of the new church was Rev. Lansing Porter. This gentleman had served the First church as its pastor a little more than two years. The records of the Second church do not show that any formal call was extended to Rev. Porter. But he assumed this position as soon as the organization had been effected, November 7, 1849, and served four years.

Mr. Porter pursued two years of his college course at Hamilton, and two years at Wesleyan college, and was graduated from the latter in the class of 1839. He then took the full three years' course in Yale theological seminary, and a year of postgraduate work at Auburn theological seminary. Mr. Porter

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went to Chicago in 1843, and from there he came to Rockford, when he was less than thirty years of age. Mr. Porter's first pastorate was that of the First Congregational church, Rockford. Mr. Porter is now living at Hamburg, New York.

In 1851 the church was found to be too small, and its capacity was increased by the addition of forty feet to its length. Thus improved, it continued to serve its purpose for seven years. During Rev. Porter's pastorate the church was blessed with temporal and spiritual prosperity. A high standard of Christian living was maintained, and the obstinate backslider was promptly "excommunicated." Two examples from the records of 1852 may be cited. In April the prudential committee reported on a certain case "that in the absence of all evidence of her repentance for her sin, notwithstanding repeated labors with her, and the extension of her suspension, the committee recommend that she be excommunicated. Therefore the church recommend that she be excommunicated from this church." A few months later this resolution was adopted: "Whereas,

was suspended from this church for immoral and unchristian conduct, for the term of six months from January, and whereas he has given no satisfactory evidence of repentance, therefore resolved that he be and hereby is excommunicated from this church." In this day the word "excommunicated" has a peculiarly solemn and ecclesiastical sound.

On one occasion there was quite a serious discussion over the problem whether the congregation should "face the music" during that part of the service. The pulpit was in front of the congregation, and the choir in the rear. There was a difference of opinion as to whether the congregation should face the minister during the singing, or turn around and look at the choir. It sometimes presented a ludicrous appearance when the occupants of one pew would rise and face the minister, and others in front might be turned in the opposite direction, facing the choir. Finally a vote was taken, and by a small majority it was decided to face the minister. Every one accepted the situation, and peace prevailed. Mr. and Mrs. Dickerman and G. A. Sanford sang in the choir.

December 31, 1853, Rev. Porter severed his pastoral relation. At a meeting held December 16th of the same year, it was voted to extend a call to Rev. Joseph Emerson. This call was accepted. May 21, 1854, a Congregational council convened in the church for the transaction of business incident to the

settlement of the pastor. The installation services occurred on the following day.

Rev. Emerson was a son of Rev. Daniel Emerson; a cousin of Ralph Emerson, of Rockford, and a second cousin of the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson. Joseph Emerson was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, in 1806, and died at Andover, Massachusetts, in 1885. Mr. Emerson was graduated from Yale college in 1830, and from Andover theological seminary in 1835. He received his ordination in 1836. His pastorate in Rockford was eminently successful. He built the house on North Church street, where Ralph Emerson now resides. Some of his friends thought he was building his home too far from the village—away up in Dr. Haskell's orchard.

The pastorate of Rev. Emerson was signalized by the erection of the second house of worship on South Church street. July 19, 1855, the society voted that it was expedient to take action toward building a new church. A committee, consisting of D. G. Clark, G. A. Sanford, T. D. Robertson, John Edwards and John S. Coleman, was appointed to carry out the same. In 1856 subscription papers were circulated. A building committee was composed of John Edwards, D. G. Clark, J. G. Manlove, G. A. Sanford, Ralph Emerson, and T. D. Robertson. A correspondence was opened with Renwick & Auchmuty, a firm of architects in New York, and from them was received, in the summer of 1856, plans and specifications for the structure. The committee invited proposals. The most favorable response was received from David and James Keyt, of Piqua, Ohio. The committee, before letting so large a contract, desired to obtain definite information concerning the character and standing of the bidders. John Edwards was sent to Piqua to make an inquiry. The result of his mission was so satisfactory that the contract was let to the Messrs. Keyt for the sum of twentythree thousand four hundred and seventy-eight dollars and seventy-eight cents.

There was some difference of opinion on the choice of location. Certain members strongly urged the erection of the church north of State street; but it was decided, by a vote of eleven to two, that it should be built on the corner of South Church and Chestnut streets. The lot was purchased from L. H. Rood for three thousand dollars. Work was begun on the building May 17, 1857, and was completed in the autumn of 1858. The plans provided for a stone porch in front, and a lecture room in

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the rear. Upon signing the contract, the rear extension was omitted, because the committee could not depend upon obtaining money to pay for the same; and still later the porch was also abandoned, which reduced the expense about fourteen hundred dollars. The building committee met great difficulty in prosecuting the work, and during its progress the financial panic of 1857 came upon the country. It was one of the most severe strains in the money market in the history of the country. October 13th of that year the New York banks suspended specie payment. The committee had fortunately negotiated a loan for six thousand dollars, with a gentleman in New Jersey, on the 1st of October. This loan was made, as were nearly all the loans, on the personal notes of the building committee. The loan of four thousand dollars was also secured by a mortgage given by G. A. Sanford, T. D. Robertson and W. A. Dickerman, on their individual property. This document was preserved for many years as a memorial of the courage of the builders. Under these circumstances, there were some who favored the suspension of the work; it was proposed to leave off the spire; but the committee continued the work to completion.

Farewell services were held in the old church on Sunday, November 28th. After this little sanctuary had outlived its usefulness in a growing city, it was donated to the people in Owen township, where it was again used as a house of worship.

The new church was dedicated Thursday, December 2, 1858. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the pastor, from Isaiah 66:1, 2: "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." This church continued to be the house of worship for nearly thirty-four years, until the spring of 1892. It has been said that P. P. Bliss, the famous gospel singer and composer, wrote his best known song, Hold the Fort, in this church. Among the distinguished persons who have entertained Rockford audiences from its pulpit are Rev. Lyman Abbott, D. D., and Mrs. Julia Ward Howe.

July 30, 1859, Rev. Emerson tendered his resignation; and on August 23d an ecclesiastical council convened at the church, and dissolved the pastoral relation. The church did not long

remain without an under-shepherd. At a regular meeting of the church December 7, 1859, a call was extended to Rev. Jeremiah E. Walton. This call was accepted, although there is no record of his installation. This pastorate continued until December, 1863.

Mr. Walton graduated from Williams college, in 1853, and from Hartford seminary, in 1856. He came to Rockford from Troy, New York, when a young man, full of hope and enthusiasm. Mr. Walton entertained religious views similar to those held by the late Horace Bushnell, and especially those concerning Christian nurture. After his removal from Rockford Rev. Walton took orders as a priest in the Episcopal church. He subsequently returned to Rockford, and became the rector of Emmanuel church. Mr. Walton resides at Marshall, Michigan.

The pipe organ was constructed in 1863, at a cost of about two thousand five hundred dollars. Rev. M. P. Kinney was called to the pastorate August 10, 1864; and an ecclesiastical council was convened Nov. 29th. Rev. Frank P. Woodbury, D. D., was called November 23, 1870. He was succeeded in 1888 by the late Rev. Walter Manning Barrows, D. D. His successors have been Rev. Wesley C. Haskell and Rev. Peter Snyder.

Of the constituent members, eight are still living: Thomas D. Robertson, Mrs. Caroline M. Dickerman, Mrs. Emily G. Sanford-Dodd, and Mrs. Rebecca Alling, of Rockford; Judge Henry C. Hyde, Mrs. Sarah D. Hyde-French, and Miss Esther A. Hyde, of Freeport, Illinois; and Mrs. Hannah L. Gorham-Weldon, of Santa Barbara, California. Mrs. Emily Sanford-Dodd was the wife of Albert Sanford, who died in 1854. In 1877 Mrs. Sanford married Jacob S. Dodd, and removed to New Jersey. After the death of Mr. Dodd in 1884, Mrs. Dodd returned to Rockford. Mrs. Rebecca Alling is the widow of the late David D. Alling. She was born in December, 1813, and came to Rockford in 1837 with her husband. The last death among the charter members was that of Mrs. Harriette Platt-Cotton, which occurred April 9, 1900, at her home in Rockford. John Platt died in 1880. Mrs. Platt married Robert Cotton, and was again left a widow.

The accessions to the church in 1850 were twenty-nine; 1851, thirty-five; 1852, fifteen; 1853, sixteen; 1854, twentyfour; 1855, fifteen; 1856, twenty-seven; 1857, twenty-nine.