The Jasper Douthit Project
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The Silver Dollar Surprise
Dozens of friends donate
Silver Dollars to pay off
the mortgage on the
Unitarian parsonage at
the invitation of reformer
Mrs. Helen M. Gougar and
Mrs. Josephine G. Cochran,
wife of the man who raised
the money to pay for the
Unitarian church.
Creation of the First Congregational
(Unitarian) Church of Shelbyville
In 1875, one of the founders
of Washington University in St. Louis
was impressed with the need
of a fitting place of Unitarian
worship in Shelbyville. Mr.
Partridge offered to give $500
to aid in building it provided
the cost of the church and seating
not exceed the amount subscribed,
and that it should be free of debt
when completed.
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 But traces of Douthit's legacy do remain. The parsonage stands on the corner of the brick street where it always has. But it has been converted into apartments. |
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| When the church was torn down, the furnishings
were distributed among other congregations. Books were passed on to the
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Decatur (Illinois) or reportedly given to
Meadville/Lombard Theological School in Chicago. The pulpit is still in
use at the UUF of Decatur. This is a very special pulpit and the UUFD should be praised for keeping it in use and treasuring it. The first woman to earn a law degree was also ordained as a Unitarian minister, becoming the Rev. Ada (Miser) Kepley. She was ordained in Jasper Douthit's church at this very pulpit. Suffragist Mrs. Helen M. Gougar and numerous other women and men have enlightened the masses about needed social reforms while resting their palms and their notes on this humble piece of wood.  |
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in a corner of the sanctuary, Douthit's locking wardrobe stands as a beautiful reminder of another era.  |
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The
Jasper Douthit Project is an independent project not affiliated with or
endorsed by any other entity.
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