USA > Washington DC > The chronicles of Georgetown, D.C., from 1751-1878 > Part 10
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" After ' serving his generation by the will of God,' he calmly fell asleep, in the eighty-seventh year of his life, September 22, 1833, gathered ' as a shock of corn cometh in its season.'
" I shall now proceed to notice such other incidents in the history of the church and congregation as are of general interest.
" It has been already intimated that the congrega- tion in its beginning was small, consisting, it is said, of not more than ten members ; but it was composed of the most respectable, intelligent, and worthy citi- zens of the community, who were not only the fathers of this church, but also the fathers of this town. They were, for the most part, of Scotch, German, and New England extraction.
" The corporation was not incorporated till 1806. Up to that time, it appears its temporal affairs were managed by a standing committee of the members ap- pointed for that purpose; at least, this appears to have been the case as early as 1802.
" By certain deeds of that date, the property of the grave-yard and adjoining lots was conveyed to 'Rev. S. B. Balch, pastor, and Thomas Corcoran, George Thompson, William Whann, Jas. Melvin, John Cruik- shank, James Calder, Christian Kurtz, John Peter, David English, and Henry Knowles, members of the Presbyterian congregation of Georgetown, for the ex- clusive use of the Presbyterian Church in Georgetown,
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adhering to the confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and to her Presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies.'
"I have not seen the deed for the lot on which this church stands, but it is probable that it contained a similar condition ; so that it would seem that the title of this congregation to the property held by it depends upon their 'adhering to the confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and to her Presbyteries, synods, and general assem- blies.'
"In 1806, the trustees of the congregation were in- corporated by act of Congress ; they were Stephen B. Balch, William Whann, James Melvin, John Maffit, John Peter, Joshua Dawson, James Calder, Geo. Thompson, Richard Elliott, David Wiley, and Andrew Ross.
"To show the changes which the congregation has undergone, I find that of those who are recorded as having been pew holders from 1805 to 1808, all are dead or removed, as far as I can learn, but three. Of those recorded as pew holders in 1822, one year after the present edifice was erected, all are dead or re- moved but fifteen .* From this period on to 1827, the congregation seems to have been greatly weak- ened by deaths, and removals from town caused by the continued decline in the business of the place, and other causes; so that, in October, 1823, accord- ing to a statement of that date found among the papers, there were thirty-four pews and five half pews reported
*After that date ninety-five were recorded as pew holders.
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as vacant; and in 1827, as appears by a report made to the board of trustees, by Daniel Bussard, the collector, that from 'removals by death, and otherwise,' the funds of the trustees from pew rents were lessened by the amount of four hundred and forty dollars per an- num. The prosperity of the congregation subsequently revived; but these changes in the materiel of the con- gregation have continued to take place up to this time. Since my connection with it as a pastor, at least one- third if not one-half of the congregation have changed -that is, at least one-third have been removed by death or emigration, and that in the space of about nine years. But, while many have thus been removed, others have come in to take their places, so that the congregation has been enabled to hold its own. And, as far as I can gather from its past history, the con- gregation is about as numerous and prosperous now as it has been, upon an average, at any period since the present edifice was erected, for I find there never has been a period since its erection when it was filled. Ever since it was built, the house has been too large for the congregation, and this has been a great disad- vantage every way. All are now agreed that a great mistake was committed in erecting so large a building in so small a community, divided as it is into so many different denominations, all provided with places of public worship. I believe this house would accommo- date pretty comfortably all the church-going people in this place. It is true, that when the plan of this edi- fice was projected, this congregation was at the height of its prosperity, and the town was prosperous and
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promised to increase. Moreover, the old church was not sufficient to accommodate all who at that time wished to rent pews in it, and these considerations no doubt led your fathers to plan this building on so ex- tensive a scale. But it was to be regretted on another account : the estimated cost of the building was twenty thousand dollars, a burden which, as the result showed, was greater than the congregation was able to bear, for the walls were scarcely up before the building com- mittee had to borrow money to carry on the building. This and subsequent loans laid the foundation of a debt, under the weight of which the church long stag- gered, and from which it has been entirely relieved, owing, in great part, to the liberality of its creditors, and the exertion of the Rev. John C. Smith, the late pastor, only within a few years past. Such debtrested as an incubus on the congregation, and was the occa- sion of the most disastrous consequences to its pros- perity, and, indeed, jeoparded at one time its very ex- istence, for, in 1823, a deed of trust, I find, was actu- ally given on all its property to secure the payment of its debts; a most painful and humiliating sacrifice indeed, but an act of justice for which it deserved all honor, for churches, like individuals, should 'owe no man anything.' I allude particularly to this part of the history of the congregation first, as explaining much of the adversity and difficulties with which it has had to contend with; and, second, as a warning against church debts, which have been well termed church curses.
" Another cause which, doubtless, tended to weaken
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this congregation, and retard its growth in times past, is found in the fact that the several denominations of christians who, in the early history of the church were identified with it, and united in its support, at differ- ent periods, erected houses of worship for themselves, and, of course, retired from this congregation ; thus, in 1805, the first Episcopal Church, St. John's, was erected ; and it may be mentioned, as a pleasing evi- dence of the liberality and good feeling that prevailed at that day, that Dr. Balch not only encouraged the enterprise, but contributed, along with other Presby- terians, to its funds; and this was but right, as the Episcopalians had contributed heretofore to the Pres- byterian Church. In 1818, the second Episcopal Church, Christ Church, was erected. And here it ought to be mentioned, as an additional evidence of the liberality and good feeling of those times, that these two congregations courteously tendered the use of their respective churches to each other while their's were being erected ; and I find that the pastor of that church united with Dr. Balch in the dedication ser- vices of this. I will also add that at one time all the pastors and their people were in the habit of holding a union prayer meeting in their respective churches, where they mingled, in christian fellowship and cath- olie communion ; their prayers and praises at the altar of the author of their " common salvation." In 1828, the Methodist Protestant Church was organized, and their organization took place in this church. The use of this church was also tendered to the Methodist Epis- copal Church while the present edifice was in process
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of erection. Indeed, the Presbyterian Church here may be considered in some sort the " mother church " of this community, for it preceded all others in point of time; and while the others were without houses of their own, they found a welcome asylum here, and en- joyed here the ordinances and ministrations of God's house. It appears, from this history, that the Presby- terian Church here has ever pursued none other than a liberal course of conduct towards her younger sisters of other denominations, and in this it has but acted in the liberal spirit of its Catholic principles towards other bodies of christians.
" Of the church proper-that is, the communicants- I have but little to say, for the records of the church session were consumed when the house of Dr. Balch was burnt; the present records go no further back than 1831. Tradition has it that the church was or- ganized about the latter part of 1780; and at the first communion that was celebrated, there were but seven members with the pastor. It seems that for a long time there was but one ruling elder, viz., James Orme, who was the son of the Rev. John Orme, formerly the pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church of Upper Marlborough, Maryland, which is now extinct. Those who were rul- ing elders in this church, besides, at different periods, but who are now deceased, were John Peter, James Melvin, John Craven, John MeDaniel, Robert Munro, John S. Nevins, William Williamson, Samuel Hawley, and James McVean.
" The present number of communicants is one hund- red and seven, and about seventy families. To show
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the changes that have taken place in the last nine years, there have been added during that period up- wards of sixty to the communion of the church, while rather more than that number have died or removed ; none have apostatized. Well may we ask, in view of these changes-
'Your fathers, where are they ? The prophets, do they live forever ?'
" Having finished our inquiries about your fathers, we return upon our path, and ask a little further of the prophets who have spoken unto you here the word of God. This church has existed sixty-six years ; and during that period it has had but three installed pas- tors : Dr. Balch, who presided fifty-two years; Rever- end J. C. Smith, who presided about seven years ; * and the present incumbent, about nine years.t Rev- erend T. B. Balch assisted his father as minister for awhile. In 1822, Reverend R. R. Gurley was invited as an assistant minister, and, in 1828, Reverend John N. Campbell, now of Albany. Reverend Dr. Cox was invited, in 1829, to become assistant pastor, but did not accept the call. I ought, also, to mention that, about the time, or soon after the building of this edi- fice, an unhappy schism occurred in the church-the only one, I believe, that ever afflicted it. A few- but those some of the most respectable members- withdrew, under the lead of a Rev. Mr. Baldwin. They worshiped for a time in the Lancasterian school- room, but failing in their effort to organize another church, after awhile they melted away.
* From 1831 to 1838.
+ From 1838 to 1848.
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" It ought also to be mentioned, as a part of the history of the church, that during the years 1837-'38 it was agitated and distracted not a little by the doc- trinal and ecclesiastical questions which occasioned the schism which occurred in the Presbyterian body at that period, and which resulted in the secession from the Presbyterian church in the United States of America of a considerable number of its ministers and members. But this congregation wisely and happily determined, to use the language of the deed which I have recited, to adhere, as there forefathers did, to the confession of faith of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America, and to her presbyteries, synods and general assemblies, with which it had been in communion for half a century ; concluding very justly that it was best ' not to meddle with them that are given to change,' and that, ' no man having drunk old wine straightway desireth new; for, saith he, the old is far better.' "
APPENDIX.
" A .- Extract from journal of board of trustees:
" June 11, 1806 .- A report being made of the ex- penses incurred in the improvement of the church, and a deficiency appearing, Ordered, That the members individually take the subscription, and get any further moneys; and that Messrs. Maffit and Elliott be a com- mittee to superintend the repairing the roof and the removal of the pulpit; Messrs. Ross and Elliott a committee to have the plastering measured, and Mr. Peter to contract for the washing and cleaning the church.
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" August, 1806 .- William Whann, collector of the grave-yard, offered to advance the money for the painting of the church, to be reimbursed from the funds of the grave-yard, to be retained by him as col- lector. Agreed to by the board. Messrs. Ross and Melvin, appointed the committee to superintend the painting. Mr. Melvin proposed, in conjunction with Mr. Balch and Mr. Ross, to erect a new pulpit, not to cost more than fifty dollars, provided the Sunday col- lections were pledged for that purpose. Agreed to.
" April 11, 1807 .- Messrs. Elliott and Wiley ap- pointed a committee to get the roof of the church made tight and have tables and benches made for the communion. Funds of the grave-yard pledged to Mr. Whann for the money advanced. Mr. McDaniel appointed to collect the pew rents. He and Mr. Elliott a committee to get doors put on the pews, and draw on Mr. Whann for the money.
PEW HOLDERS IN 1805-'8.
" James Calder, David English, Jonathan Finley, Eleanor Curlan, William Knowles, Benjamin Better- ton, Clephan & Makie, Joseph Wheaton, Mrs. Tem- pleman, Alexander Carmichael, William King, John Baltzer, William Thompson, Jasper M. Jackson, Christian Kurtz, John Banks, Sarah Cruikshanks, Nathan Loughboro', Francis Clarke, Robert Ober, Nicholas Hedges, Richard Elliott, Jeremiah Mosher, John Craven, Daniel Reitzel, Daniel Bussard. Joseph Bromley, John Heugh, Francis Dodge, Whet- zel, Ezekiel King, John Maflit, Andrew Ross, William Crawford, John Laird, Sarah Suter, Edgar Patterson.
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James A. Morsel, C. P. Polk, Joshua Dawson, George Thompson, Mrs. George French, Thomas Beall (of George), David Peter, John Peter, William Whann, James Melvin, Jane White, Charles Love, James Dunlop, Sr., David Wiley.
" B .- The first movement towards building a new church was made as early as April 21st, 1815, as ap- pears from the following resolution of the board, adopted at that time :
" Resolved, That Messrs. Peter, Ross, and McDaniel be a committee to make inquiry respecting an eligible site for a new church, and, also, of the means of ob- taining money for the purchase of the same, and re- port at next meeting.
"This committee reported accordingly at the next meeting, and the report was filed.
" April 3, 1817 .- Resolved, That Messrs. Peter, English and McDaniel be a committee to ascertain what can be obtained by subscription towards building a new church.
" Resolved, That Messrs. Laird, Ross, Whann, and Peter be a committee to consider and report a plan for a new church. This committee reported April 20, 1817, a plan of a building-probable cost twenty thousand dollars.
"The committee, to obtain subscriptions, reported that little progress had been made, and asked further time. On 24th April, 1817, the same committee reported that a sufficient sum could not be obtained, and asked to be discharged. Report adopted. Messrs. English, Peter, and Ross were appointed a committee to keep
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the subject in view. Messrs. Bussard, McDaniel, and English were appointed a committee to provide pews for the accommodation of applicants.
" April 14, 1819 .- A committee appointed to ex- amine the church reported that it was becoming un- safe, and that steps ought to be immediately taken to build a new one.
"June 19, 1819 .- Messrs. Thomas B. Beall, Robert Ober, John Kurtz, L. G. Davidson, and John Peter were appointed a committee to obtain subscriptions for a new church.
" July 6, 1819 .- Messrs. John Laird, Andrew Ross, Lewis G. Davidson, and J. Kurtz were appointed a building committee, and authorized to contract for the same. They accordingly contracted with William Archer to build a church for twenty thousand dollars. " Lewis G. Davidson was appointed treasurer of the funds for the erection of the new church in 1821. The subscription having, in a great measure, failed, the building committee were authorized to borrow three thousand dollars to carry on the building. This amount was advanced by John Laird, deceased.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN 1821.
" John Laird, John Peter, William Whann, Daniel Bussard, Andrew Ross, Richard Elliott, David Eng- lish, James Calder, John McDaniel.
" C .- The Rev. John C. Smith, at that time the pas- tor, offered to collect funds to extinguish the debt ou the church, provided the creditors would relinquish one-half of their claims, to which most of them agreed ; 21
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and the thanks of the congregation were tendered to Mr. Smith for 'his diligent and successful exertions' in accomplishing the object. The principal creditors were the heirs of John Laird .*
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
" Pastor's salary, from 1812 to 1825, was one thou- sand dollars. In 1825, it was fixed at eight hundred dollars.t In 1827, owing to the great falling off of the revenue from pew rents (alluded to in the sermon) at that time, it was reduced to six hundred dollars. # It was subsequently fixed at eight hundred dollars, and has so continued to this time; though, in 1834, the amount available for the payment of the pastor's sal- ary, after paying other expenses, was only six hundred and thirty-two dollars and fifty cents, and the balance had to be made up by voluntary subscription. Il
TRUSTEES AT THIS TIME (1848).
" David English, Hon. James Dunlop, John Kurtz, Robert Dick, Robert Barnard, William H. Tenney, George Bohrer, Marinus Willet, R. S. T. Cissel.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH AT THIS TIME (1848).
" Ruling Elders : David English, Sr., O. Z. Mun- caster. Deacons: Jacob Ramsburg, Edward Myers. Until within a few years past this church was without this class of officers, provided for in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church; and it appears that, in the early history of this congregation, the duties of
* Sce Journal of the Board, page 112.
t See Journal. pages 37 and 90.
t See Journal. page 96.
| See Journal, page 110.
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this class of officers were performed by a committee of the trustees .*
"There has been, since 1822, and perhaps earlier, a Sunday School connected with the church, which was held, in 1822, in the Lancasterian school-room, as ap- pears from a letter addressed to the trustees, by Miss Russell, in behalf of the teachers, requesting that more comfortable accommodations might be provided for them. Over this school, the late Rev. James Mc Vean presided, with eminent ability and success, for more than twenty-five years. Its present officers are R. S. T. Cissel, superintendent; Samuel II. Howell, secre- tary; Jacob Ramsburg, treasurer, and William E. Myers, librarian."
If the destruction of any building in our town was to be deplored, it was the tearing down of the old Pres- byterian Church, situated at the corner of Washing- ington and Bridge Streets. It was most substantially built; and all the brick and wood-work was in as good state of preservation as when erected in the year 1821. It was a large and noble church, and every way suita- ble for the worship of any religious congregation. It was one among the principal landmarks, and attracted the attention of all strangers who visited our town, as a noble building. Its destruction is to be regretted, because it was the only church in that section of the town; and since the Methodist Episcopal Congrega-
* See Journal, page 13, where, in 1809, Rev. Stephen B. Balch, John McDaniel, and Richard Elliott, were appointed a committee to distribute what funds may be obtained for the relief of the poor, and render their accounts quarterly. There are other entries of subse- quent dates to the same effect,
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tion had sold their church on Montgomery Street, in 1850, to the town for a public school, a church was more needed in that section of the town than formerly, and the reason of its being originally built there, was to accommodate the citizens of Washington and Georgetown. If the chronicler had been a wealthy citizen, he would have purchased the building and dedicated it for religious worship to any congregation, and to the meeting of the Sabbath School children of our town, where all the schools formerly assembled to celebrate the birthday of American liberty; but as the noble edifice is now gone, the chronicler will here give an account of various articles found in the corner-stone and transferred to the new church on West Street.
The following are the articles found in the corner- stone of Bridge Street Church, and afterwards depos- ited in the corner-stone of the new church on West Street, laid in 1873 :
" Medallion of Washington. Silver quarter of 1820. Two silver ten cent pieces of 1820. Five one dollar silver pieces of 1818; and one of 1820.
"Statement of the number of inhabitants of George- town and Washington : Georgetown, in 1800, two thousand nine hundred and ninety-three; in 1810, four thousand nine hundred and forty-eight; in 1820, seven thousand five hundred and nineteen. Washington, in 1800, three thousand two hundred and ten; in 1810, eight thousand two hundred and eight ; in 1820, thirteen thousand four hundred and seventy-four. To- tal number of inhabitants of the District in 1820, thirty- three thousand five hundred and eighty-nine.
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" Forty years have passed and gone, and but few tongues now remain to tell, that on this lot of ground a small building was erected for the worship of the true and living God, being the first raised in this town.
" The Rev. Stephen Bloomer Balch setting out to la- bor in the vinyard of the Master, was directed to this people, then not more than fifteen in number, who called for his services, and the congregation was or- ganized in connection with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. At the first celebration of the Lord's Supper in this house, seven persons only made a public profession of the Lord Jesus Christ. By this ambassador of Christ, the message of reconciliation was preached, and thence forward proclaimed with silent success, and the visible members of the church militant have greatly increased in number.
" The congregation at the present time (1821) num- bers eighty families, and one hundred and nine com- municants. They continued under the pastoral care of the Reverend Stephen B. Balch, D. D., assisted by David English, John McDaniel, and Robert Ober, ruling elders.
" On the 28th day of March, A. D. 1806, the Con- gress of the United States passed an act incorporating nine persons, under the style and title of the 'Trust- ees of the Presbyterian Congregation in Georgetown, D. C.,' to whom John Laird, Andrew Ross, John Peter, William Whann, Richard Elliott, James Calder, David English, Daniel Bussard, and John MeDaniel, are now successors.
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"To the original building small additions were made, which, being found insufficient for the conven- ient accommodation of those who attended as wor- shippers, and, withal, fast falling to ruin and decay, it was determined in general meeting of the congre- gation that a suitable house should be erected in its place by means of voluntary subscriptions. The erec- tion of the contemplated new building was committed by the trustees solely to John Laird, Andrew Ross, Lewis Grant Davidson, John Kurtz, and Francis Dodge, commissioners, who chose William Archer as their architect."
A silver plate, with the following inscription carved upon it, was deposited in the corner-stone of the Pres- byterian Church, laid April 6, 1821 :
" This corner-stone of the Presbyterian Church was laid on the 6th day of April, 1821, Anno Mundi 5821, and in the forty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, by William Hewitt, M. W. G. M. of Freemasons in the District of Columbia; James Monroe, President of the United States; John Peter, Mayor of Georgetown, District of Columbia ; Rev. Stephen B. Balch, pastor; David English, John McDaniel, Robert Ober, ruling elders; John Laird, Andrew Ross, John Kurtz, Lewis G. Davidson, Fran- cis Dodge, commissioners for erecting the building."
A silver plate, with the following, was deposited in the corner-stone of West Street Church with contents of the old stone :
" Building moved from corner of Bridge and Wash- ington Streets to this place June, 1873. U. S. Grant,
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