Third Presbyterian Church

Dr. James Elkana Rogers became the Pastor in 1895. He had been a missionary in Persia and had served as the president of Blackburn College. He was a scholar and a mighty preacher. He excelled in every way. During his ministry, the membership reached 555 communicants. Among the evangelists who gave fine leadership in those days was Dr. Elmer P. Loose. The church, in every department, was enjoying the finest leadership. Night after night there were Bible classes; at least three of the elders were outstanding Bible teachers. These were the men who were the leaders in the County Sunday School Association in the Sangamon County Bible Society and in every form of Christian Service: Elder John S. Vredenburg II was one of them. The manse was the Vredenburgh Memorial, and it was built in 1902 with money bequeathed by him. Elder Vredenburg was ordained to the eldership in 1873 and was the son of Elder John S. Vredenburgh I, who was ordained as an elder in our church in 1856. The churches in Mason City and Petersburg are among those who remembered his ministry in Bible conferences. In 1908 Dr. Rogers accepted a call to the professorship of Bible and Philosophy at Carroll College.

From 1908 until 1914 the Reverend Frank H. Given was Pastor. He came from Cincinnati, Ohio and was a native of Paxton, Illinois. He was a man of prayer. During his ministry, the Sunday evangelistic meetings were held in the city, and two hundred converts were added to the church. In those days, as many people attended the midweek meeting as the Sunday morning service. At the beginning of his pastorate, there had been considerable dissension. But at its close, the church was unified. When his work was done, Rev. Given went to Kirkwood, Missouri, his last post.