John C. Hay.

      Was born at Geneva, New York, May 6, 1842. His father. Philip C. Hay, was a leading minister in the New School Presbyterian Church, and served as moderator of one of its General Assemblies. Mr. Hay attended the academy at Newark, New Jersey, and Princeton College. Interrupted in his college course by ill health, he was commissioned by the American Sunday School Union, of Philadelphia, to found union Sunday Schools in a part of Iowa, with headquarters at Davenport. Here he first made the acquaintance of the plea for the restoration of primitive Christianity, through the preaching of Elder James Challen and Jonas Hartzel. After careful investigation of the issues involved he heartily accepted the position and plea of the disciples of Christ, and was baptized by Elder James Brownlie, of the Sugar Grove Church, in the autumn of 1864.

      Mr. Hay's first ministry was at Iowa City, Iowa, beginning June 1, 1865. He evangelized much in the vicinity, and the churches at Tiffin and West Liberty are results. William Bayard Craig aided him in caring for these young churches.

      In 1871 and 1872 Mr. Hay served as state evangelist of Iowa, and gave earnest and efficient aid in establishing co-operative work among the churches. While in this work he discovered John B. Vawter, and secured his appointment as state evangelist. Mr. Hay then took up the ministry of the church in DesMoines.

      In 1874 and 1875 he evangelized ten months in England, being invited and supported by Timothy Coop and James Marsden. Preaching one year at West Liberty, Iowa, upon his return from England, the ill health of his wife caused the family's removal to California. Here Mr. Hay did pioneer work in Los Angeles, preaching to the little band in the court house.

      Returning from California, his next ministry was in Minneapolis, from 1881 to 1883, during which time Portland Avenue Church lot was purchased and the first building obtained, largely through the liberality of Charles Evans Holt, whom Mr. Hay had baptized. Sunday afternoon visits to St. Paul led to the revival of the work in that city. Charles Evans Holt gave $500, and Leander Lane was installed as the first minister of the resuscitated little band.

      In 1883, Mr. Hay came to Colorado, serving the church at Colorado Springs two years. During this time the indebtedness upon the chapel, which had been purchased from the Southern Methodists, was paid. In 1885 he removed to Pueblo. This marked the beginning of an enlarged and prosperous era for the disciples of Christ in that second city of the state. The church was then meeting in a store room. Their condition was described by a member of the little band as almost desperate, and the congregation in danger of dissolution unless help came speedily. Isaac Errett had visited the city in 1883. Mr. Hay sought his advice, and Mr. Errett encouraged him to accept the work, as be believed the city had a good future. The ladies had accumulated $250 toward a lot and building. Mission Sunday Schools were established in the southern, the southeastern and the southwestern parts of the city. The latter resulted in a church at Bessemer, which later was merged into the [471] Broadway church, which has just become self-supporting, and has a splendid future. By the autumn of 1887 centrally located lots costing $4,000 had been purchased, and a brick chapel, costing also $4,000, erected thereon. This was a great gain in a little over two years. By April, 1891, the audience room was built, the whole house, seating 450 persons, and costing but $15,000, but really worth $24,000. The church had risen to a place of influence in the city, and had 250 members. A marvelous change from the conditions eight years before. Although Mr. Hay's work has been successful wherever he has been yet his work in Pueblo, his longest ministry, covering a period of twelve years, is perhaps the greatest monument to his usefulness. He speaks most gratefully of the aid his good wife gave him in that work. Practicing medicine, she aided in the family's support, while her husband worked upon a very moderate salary, and by her life she commended the church and its work as she came in contact with all classes of people outside of the church.

      In addition to his busy life as a minister, Mr. Hay evangelized much while at Pueblo. At Denver, Colorado Springs, Canon City, Trinidad, La Junta and Manzanola he did special work. In 1895 he held a meeting and organized a church at Roswell, New Mexico, which, as yet, is the only church we have in that Territory.

      In 1896 Mr. Hay did special work under the direction of the American Christian Missionary Society at Phoenix, Arizona, which resulted in a new era in the life of that church. In 1897 a special work called him to Woodland, California, and similar service was performed soon afterward at Clarksville, Tennessee. He spent 1900 in the ministry at Honolulu. During this year a church property was secured and missions in the city inaugurated. In 1901 he took work at Imperial, California, where W. F. Holt had built a chapel and parsonage. The church organized here by Mr. Hay was the first of any kind in the valley, and he also preached the first sermon in the valley. He has recently been appointed a missionary of the Central Church of Des Moines, Iowa, under the American Christian Missionary Society, and is now engaged in establishing a church in Hollywood, one of the most beautiful and promising suburbs of Los Angeles, where he resides.

[COC 471-472]