Woodstock Illustrated; Being a Brief Resume of the Early History, Social and Educational, Industrial, and Business and Professional Interests of the County-seat of McHenry County Illinois, Page 11

WOODSTOCK'S CHURCHES. Catholic. Presbyterian. Baptist. Methodist Episcopal, Congregational. Free Methodist. German Presbyterian. social and educational 15 SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL. Woodstock's Churches, Societies and Schools. THOSE residing in, or contemplating residence in, any city are deeply interested in the various social, religious and educational advantages to be enjoyed. In these respects Woodstock stands second to no city of its size. Eight church societies and a recently organized Young Men's Christian Association look after the spiritual welfare of her citizens. Her schools, both public and private, are of a high degree of merit; her lodges are numerous and flourishing; and the prestige of the city as county-seat brings to it frequent entertainments of the better class. A fine public library and reading-room, established with the proceeds of home-talent entertainments, indicates that her citizens are of the cultured sort, and offer decided advantages for intellectual improvement. But let us consider our subject somewhat in detail. the churches. Baptist. The Baptist church of Woodstock was organized in the old court house, May 12, 1847, Elder Adams officiating. The society started with about twenty members. Meetings were held at first in a room over what is now known as the Red Front drug store. A house of worship was erected in 1858, but in the building of it the society was heavily involved in debt. The edifice after a few years passed out of their hands, being sold to the Methodists, who in turn sold it a Universalist society, now defunct, and after doing duty for a time as an armory, it finally came into the possession of the German Lutherans. This church stood opposite the southeast corner of the public square, and was destroyed by fire in 1893. In 1866 the Baptist society built their present church edifice west of the court house. It is a neat frame structure capable of seating 250 persons, and cost between six and seven thousand dollars. Improvements to the amount of $1,800 have been added within the past year. The present pastor of the church is Rev. John A. McCaw, who has been with the society since November, 1892. Membership is between 70 and 80. The pastor is also superintendent of the Sabbath-school, which has an attendance of