Second Baptist Church

The very First Baptist Church was built in 1841 on the SE corner of Washington and LaSalle streets. A new church was erected in 1854 on the same location. This building was replaced by the Chamber of Commerce building in 1864. The First Baptist congregation built a new building on the SW corner Wabash and Hubbard Court Streets. The previous First Baptist Church building was purchased by the Second Baptist congregation and was moved to the SE corner of Morgan and Monroe streets.

Chicago Tribune, April 27, 1864

Fair Division. —The West Side and South Side members of the First Baptist Society have agreed upon a fair division of the old church building and its contents. The latter take the inside, and the former the outside—that is the members from the South Division take the fixtures and inside work while the-members from the West Division take the building. The work of demolition is proceeding in a most careful and systematic manner; in a few months the entire church will be reconstructed upon a lot in the West Division.

Chicago Tribune, January 9, 1865

Dedication.—The dedicatory services of the Second Baptist Church, corner of Morgan and Monroe streets, were held on Sunday morning. Reverends Nathaniel Colver, D. D., of the Baptist Tabernacle church, John C. Burroughs, D. D., President of the University of Chicago, S. M. Osgood, Agent of the American Baptist Missionary Union, and E. J. Goodspeed, the pastor, officiating. The house was very largely filled, and the occasion is represented to have been one of exceeding interest. The rite of baptism was administered at the close of the morning service. In the evening there was a joint communion service, in which members from most of the Baptist churches in the city participated. It was a solemn and interesting occasion. The sermon was preached by Rev. E.J. Goodspeed, and addresses were made by several of tho Baptist clergymen of the city. The attendance was large, and the exercises were of interest.

Chicago Illustrated, July, 1866

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH is located at the south-west corner of South Morgan and Monroe Streets, in one of the most rapidly-increasing locations in the West Division. The view is taken from the corner of Sangamon and Monroe Streets, looking west.

The building is of red brick, with stone trimmings, and in size measures 64 by 103 feet. It is conveniently arranged. The audience room is reached by spacious stairways ascending from the vestibule, and is admirably adapted to its purposes. The basement story, all of which is over ground, is divided into various rooms, such as Sunday School, Lecture and Class Rooms, Pastor’s Study, Library Room, and several Offices. The main auditorium will seat 1,250 persons, and by the use of benches and chair in the aisles, 250 more can be seated.

The original Society, under the name of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, was organized in August, 1843, and was composed of members formerly belonging to the First Baptist Church. In 1851, the Society, which had been worshipping in a building on the south side, erected a new edifice on Desplaines street, in the West Division. The First Baptist Church Society continued to worship in the brick building on the corner of La Salle and Washington Streets, where now stands the Chamber of Commerce. The number of Baptists residing in the west division became large enough to justify a separate organization, and when, in 1864, the original or First Baptist Society concluded to sell their site to the Chamber of Commerce, they donated the building to a portion of the members to found the Second Baptist Church in the West Division. These offered terms of union to the Tabernacle Baptist Church, which terms were accepted, and a new Society, or re-organization of the original, was established under the name of the Second Baptist Church. The building was taken down carefully, every portion marked, and was removed to the west division, where they were again put together and the building re-erected, preserving its original shape, dimensions and arrangements; and with the result of a careful application of paint, the building of the First Baptist Church was renewed upon a new site.

The Rev. E. J. Goodspeed was inaugurated as Pastor of the Church in December, 1864, and is the Pastor now. Personally one of the most amiable and accomplished clergymen in the city, his high intellectual gifts and indefatigable zeal have won for him the strongest respect and veneration from his congregation. The unity between the Pastor and his flock is not only admirably sustained, but strengthens with time and experience.

This Church is noted for the attention paid to its Sunday Schools. It has 1,184 scholars enrolled, and the average attendance each Sunday is 812. Over $2,200 was expended for Sunday School purposes the past year.

The Officers of the Church, in addition to the Pastor are:

Deacons.—Samuel Hoard, E. S. Albro, T. B. Bridges, B. J. Rundell, W. C. VanOsdell, N. R. Lyman, N. K. Whitney.
Trustees.—C. N. Holden, C. B. Goodyear, N. K. Whitney, C. C. P. Holden, J. M. VanOsdell.
Clerk.—L. J. Swift.
Superintendent Sunday Schools.—C. N. Holden. Assistant Supts.—M. R. Bortree, L. J. Swift. Secretary and Treasurer—O. W. Barrett.

On the left of the picture is a view of one of the City Reservoirs. There has not been much pains taken to make the building ornamental. Its capacity is 500,000 gallons.

Between the Reservoir and the Church is a distant view of the costly private residence built by the late Peter Schuttler, Esq.

James W. Sheahan, Esq.,
July 1866.

Chicago Tribune, October 29, 1906

Three influential Baptist churches of the west side have devised a plan to consolidate for the purpose of solving the “city problem ” which has made the existence of some of the churches nearest the heart of the city a question of a hard struggle.

Believing that in union there la strength and deeply conscious of the encroachment factories and a foreign and unchristian population are making on the church territories, the consolidation plan was discussed freely and favorably in the three churches yesterday by pastors and congregations. Representatives of each church prophesied the early materialization of the plan and stated that as yet no opposition to the proposed merger has appeared on the surface.

Churches in Merger Plan.
The churches are:
Second Baptist, Monroe and Morgan streets, the Rev. John Roach Straton, pastor. Founded 1860. Membership, 1,500.

Fourth Baptist, Ashland boulevard and Monroe street. Built in 1882, founded in the late ’60s. Membership. 400. No pastor since the resignation of the Rev. J. Kirk Bryce, June 1 last.

Centenntal Baptist, Jackeon boulevard and Lincoln street, the Rev. John M. Moore, pastor. Founded 1876. Membership, 418.

Although he does not claim the authorship of the plan, the Rev. John Roach Straton is recognized as its leading spirit.

“I believe no opposition will arise from our church, because it will simply make the fulfillment of our plan to establish an industrial center at our church all the more possible,” said Dr. Straton. “The movement, however, is only in embryo. The other two churches have appointed committees to confer with a committee from our church to be appointed at a congregational meeting next Wednesday night.

“It is a plain case of “the city problem” which the churches near the business section of the city have to struggle with. The problem has reached proportions in the vicinity of our church that demand new conditions. For that reason we have had on foot plans for a year or so to establish an industrial center there to be named after “Aunt Lizzie” Aiken.”

Significance of City Problem.
As an example of what “the city problem” has meant to his church, Dr. Straton said, “It was in the center of one of the most fashionable residence districts in the city twenty years ago, but now it is surrounded by factories, and there are eighty-three saloons within half a mile of it.”

The Second Baptist church is a landmark. Originally it stood on the site now occupied by the Chamber of Commerce building, La Salle and Washington streets, when it was called the First church. At the breaking out of the war the church body divided on the slavery question, the present Second church being anti-slavery.

When the church moved to Morgan and Monroe streets in 1864, it took the edifice along, moving the tall steeple intact. The rest was torn down and rebuilt, stone for stone, as it stood in the former location.

Regarded as an Advance Step.
The proposed merger is not looked upon by the churches as a confession of defeat.

“It is an advance movement.” said Dr. Straton. “Not a case of necessity, but a voluntary union for better work. The Second church will become a mission. The hundreds of persons of a class that the church cannot interest as a church will become uplifted through its industrial center. It must be understood that we pastors are in the background and are ready to abide by whatever decision the church members reach. It is entirely their proposition.”

A number of complex questione are bound to arise if the merger is agreed upon formally by the churches. The consensus of opinion seems to be that they will take the church farthest from the business district for a permanent meeting place, which would be the Centennial church. The question of an arrangement for the pastor and other church officials also will have to be settled.

Origin of the Merger Idea.
The merger idea is said to have gained its inception shortly after the pastor of the Fourth church resigned and went to South Bend, Ind., last June. Informal conferences of committees from two churches have been held and definite action will be taken in keeping with the agreement reached at the meeting, the time for which will be set next Wednesday night. The chairmen of the committees representing the three churches are:

Fourth—A. E. Wells of the Wells Bros, contracting firm.
Centennial—A. M. Searles, 236 Oakley boulevard.
Second—F. K. Tracy and Dr. John H. Byrne.

Thinks Consolidation Feasible.
“The consolidation looks feasible, and I belleve it will be put into effect.” said Mr. Searles. “It is an unprecedented venture in church history in Chicago, but I think it will be successful. Undoubtedly the work under the union would be more effective than that of the three churches at present.”

Chicago Tribune, December 20, 1906

At a members’ meeting the Second Baptist church voted unanimously last night to join with the Centennial Baptist church, taking the name of the former and using the building of the latter for the religious services.
This will give the reorganized Second Baptist church a membership of nearly 1,900 and make it the second largest of that denomination in the city.
Following is the standing of the two churches:

The Centennial Baptist church is an outgrowth of the Second church, and was started as a mission in 1876 near its present location, Jackson boulevard and Lincoln street.

The Rev. John M. Moore of the Centennial church has tendered his resignation, and the Rev. John Roach Straton of the Second church will do likewise. The combined congregation will choose its pastor.

Dr. Moore has accepted the double position of educational secretary of the American Baptist Missionary union and missionary secretary of the American Baptist Home Missions society. His headquarters will be in New York after Jan. 1.

Chicago Tribune, September 3, 1931

Famous Church Bell Moved When Belfry Becomes Too Weak
A historic bell was removed yesterday from its belfry atop the old brick church at the southwest corner of Monroe and Morgan streets. The belfry of the building, which dates back to the Forties, was too fragile longer to hold the large 2,200 pound brass bell. In 1864 the building, then the Second Baptist church, was moved brick by brick from the site on which it was constructed at the southeast corner of La Salle and Washington streets and rebuilt on its present site. During the Chicago fire the church served as a hospital for the injured.

In 1906 the Second Baptist church was moved to Jackson boulevard and Lincoln street and the bell tolled only for weekly Sunday school services until 1912. Then Aiken institute, a Baptist organization, occupied the building. The institute is named for Miss Lizzie Aiken, who served as a missionary for the church for 50 years.

Chicago Tribune, August 28, 1949

One of Chicago’s best-known landmarks of the American Civil War era is being torn down to make way for advancing industry. It is the Aiken Institute, which, until recently, stood in all its classical, although weather-beaten splendor on the southwest corner of Morgan Street and Monroe sts.

The Landon Cartage Company, which purchased the institute earlier in the year for $15,000, has started to demolish the building and clear the property for a garage or warehouse.

Original Baptist Church
The institute, which served for many years as a community center, was Chicago’s original Second Baptist Church, which is now located at 1857 W. Jackson Boulevard. The building was designed by Jon M. Van Osdel, according to Herman Kafka, 3551 W. Douglas Boulevard. Kafka selected the building several years ago for his study in art history. Much of the information concerning the structure has been supplied by him.

Kafka’s studies reveal that the building was erected in 1852 on the southeast corner of Washington Street and LaSalle Street, and was called the First Baptist Church. During the decade that followed the congregation split on the question of emancipation. One group withdrew, settled on the South Side of Chicago, and continued to be called the First Baptist Congregation. The remaining members adopted the name of Second Baptists and retained the original building.

In the early 1840s, this congregation—then known as the Tabernacle congregation)—purchased the site at Morgan Street and Monroe Street. They moved the building, piece by piece to the present location, being careful to re-erect it as nearly like the original building as possible.

Largest Church in America
Kafka’s research shows that in 1846, the Second Baptist membership had grown to 1,250, making it among the largest churches in Chicago. The building was one of the few structures that survived the Great Chicago Fire, and it is reported that in 1880 the church had the largest congregation in America.

Through the years, the interior of the building was changed to meet immediate demands. The exterior, according to Kafka, remained as it was originally designed, with the exception of the spire which was removed in 1926.

In 1912, the Second Baptist congregation moved to the Jackson Boulevard address. The building became a joint project of the American Baptist Home Association Society, and the Second Baptist Church. It was named the Aiken Institute for Elizabeth Aiken, a member of the church who joined the nursing corps. during the American Civil War, and later became a social worker.

Served as a Community Center
The institute served as a combination church, mission, and neighborhood center until recent years, when it was used entirely as a community center. Mrs. George Kampfer served as director for many years. Her son-in-law, the Reverend A.E. McKenny of Elgin, Illinois is pastor of the Jackson Boulevard church.

According to Dr. W. Alfred Diman of the Chicago Baptist Association, the institute board, headed by H.B. McElyea, 149 N. Mason Avenue is still looking for a suitable site to carry on community work under the Aiken name.

Second Baptist Church
SE corner of Morgan and Monroe streets
Robinson Fire Insurance Map
1886