USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > History of Savannah, Ga.; from its settlement to the close of the eighteenth century > Part 17
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1861 when Rev. Charles H. Coley was called to assist him. Bishop ' Elliott died in 1866. He was a man of fine mental attainments, of great piety, and thoroughly beloved for his exalted Christian character.
Rev. Mr. Coley remained in charge of Christ Church, after Bishop Elliott's death, until the fall of 1868 when he accepted a call to another field of labor. The church was temporarily supplied for some months thereafter, when Rev. J. M. Mitchell was ordained rector. The present pastor of the church is Rev. Robb White.
St. John's Church .- St. John's parish was organized in 1840 and for some time services were held in a building on South Broad street west of Barnard street. This church is contemporaneous with the creation of the Episcopate of Georgia, and was consecrated on the 28th of February, 1841, five weeks after the consecration of the first bishop of Georgia, Rev. Stephen Elliott, who became the first pastor of the church. The present church building was erected in 1853 and dedicated by Bishop Elliott. It is a gothic structure, built after the style which prevailed in England in the thirteenth century of the Christian era. During the war the members of this church were particularly active in benevolent work. St. John's Aid Society being organized in December, 1861, and St. John's Hospital being opened in January, 1862, the latter being the first in the city to receive sick and wounded Confederate soldiers. The following rectors have officiated in this church : Revs. Rufus M. White, George H. Clarke, C. F. McRae, and Samuel Benedict. The present pastor, Rev. Charles H. Strong became rector in 1878, and under his labors the church has enjoyed a remarkable degree of prosperity. There are nearly five hundred families in the congregation and about the same number of communicants making St. John's the largest Episcopal parish in the State and one of the largest in the South.
Congregation Mickva Israel .- A few days after Oglethorpe's arrival on the site of Savannah, thirty or forty Israelites arrived direct from London. Most of them a few years later departed for the older and more prosperous town of Charleston. But three of the original families remained, the Minis, Sheftall and DeLyon families. This small number of Jews however brought with them two scrolls of the Law and the Ark, and soon after organized the congregation of Mickva Israel. It is impossible to ascertain with reasonable certainty the exact spot where the Hebrews
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first assembled for the purpose of divine worship, but tradition has it that a room near the market in the neighborhood of Bay street lane was the place. Here they worshipped until the congregation was tempor- arily dissolved by the removal of most of the Hebrew families to Charles- ton in 1740 or 1741. Several years later an effort was made to reorgan- ize the congregation. Mordecai Sheftall fitted up a room in his own house on Broughton street where services were held until the Revolu- tionary War caused their suspension. In 1786 the congregation was re- established and two years later a charter of the congregation was granted by Governor Edward Telfair.
It was not until 1815 that the first synagogue was erected on the site of the present building on the corner of Liberty and Whitaker streets. The lot was granted by the city council for the purpose. In 1829 this wooden structure of small dimensions was destroyed by fire, but fortu- nately the building was insured, and the Seraphim and Ark were saved from injury. A brick building was erected on the same site in 1838 and here the congregation continued to worship until the present Gothic temple was erected. During the early history of the congregation no regular clergyman was engaged to perform divine services which, added to the fact that the laws of the congregation prevented foreign Jews be- coming members, caused the organization to make little progress. When the latter restriction was removed in the middle of the present century, new life was infused into it. In 1852 Rev. Jacob Rosenfeld the first regular minister was appointed. He continued until 1861, when he resigned and the congregation was again without a minister until 1867, when Abraham Einstein having been called to the presidential chair, Rev. R. D'C. Lewin was secured Rev. Isaac P. Mendes the present pastor belongs to a family of ministers, his uncle Abraham P. Mendes presiding over the Hebrew congregation of Newport, R. I., and his cousin H. Pereira Mendes over that of Shearith Israel, New York ' city. The present pastor of Mickva Israel began his labors in Savannah in 1877, and has been very successful in promoting the interest of the con- gregation.
The Congregation of B'nai B'rith Jacob was founded in September 1860, and owes its origin to a society bearing the name of B'nai B'rith which existed prior to the formation of the congregation. In 1861 it
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was chartered and commenced holding services in Armory Hall. The first president was Rev. J. Rosenfeld who officiated as minister until 1865 when Mr. Simon Gertsman commenced officiating as lay reader. In 1867 the corner-stone of the present building was laid by Rev. R. D'C. Lewin, and in September of the following year the synagogue was dedicated. In January, 1868, Rev. J. Rosenfeld was elected the first paid minister of the congregation.
The Congregation of Chebrah Talmud Torah was organized in re- cent years. B. M. Garfunkel is president.
Lutheran Church .- The early population of Savannah was largely composed of Salzburgers, who during the period between 1736 and 1744 fled to Georgia to avoid religious persecution. Those who remained in Savannah formed the nucleus of a church organization in 1744. For several years the members had no regular minister and only occasional services were held. A small church was built on the site of the present church on the eastern side of Wright square, where in 1759 Revs. Raben- horst and Wattman officiated. Some time prior to the Revolutionary War Rev. Mr. Bergman took charge of the church. In 1787 the church was reorganized, but the services were conducted in the German language of which the younger portion of the congregation was ignorant and in con- sequence a want of interest was manifested, and the church was closed. No effort was made to revive the organization until 1824 when Dr. Back- man of Charleston gathered the families of the Lutheran faith and suc- ceeded in resuscitating the congregation. Rev. Stephen A. Mealy took charge of the congregation in this year and conducted the services in English. He remained until 1839 when he accepted a call to Philadel- phia and was succeeded by Rev. N. Aldrich in 1840. In 1843 a brick edifice was erected, upon the site of the original church at a cost of $15,- 000. In the last few years a new church building has been erected, which is the third edifice built on the same site. In the rear of the pul- pit is a memorial window to Thomas Purse, a member of the church for more than half a century and one of Savannah's most respected citizens. In 1850 Mr. Aldrich was succeeded by Rev. A. J. Karn who remained until 1859, from which time the church was closed until 1861, when Rev. J. Hawkins took charge, but he remained only a few months. After his departure the church was again closed until June, 1863, when Rev. D. M.
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Gilbert was installed pastor. The present pastor is Rev. W. S. Bowman under whose efforts the church has become much strengthened.
Independent Presbyterian Church .- The following history of this church is compiled from a sketch which appeared in the May number of the Old Homestead : " The congregation of this church it is reasonable to suppose was organized some time previous to 1756, as in this year it is ascertained the congregation obtained a grant of a lot upon which to build a church from the Colonial government trustees. The grant was made to James Powell, Robert Bolter, James Miller, Joseph Gibbons, William Gibbons, Benjamin Farley, William Wright, David Fox, and James Fox. This lot upon which the first church was built is between Bryan and St. Julian streets, facing west on Market square and extend- ing east to Whitaker street. After the completion of the church, a brick edifice, a call was extended to Rev. John J. Zubly who accepted and re- mained pastor until 1778. He took charge of the church in 1760 and in 1770 the degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by the college in New Jersey.
" After Dr. Zubly, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr. Phillips until 1790, and by Rev. Mr. Johnston until 1793. Both of these gentlemen were sent out to Savannah by Lady Huntingdon, to have especial charge of the orphan asylum established by herself and Whitefield at Bethesda, whose one hundred and thirty-ninth anniversary was celebrated Tues- day, April 23, 1889. Rev. Mr. McCall was called in 1794, but died in 1796. Rev. Walter Monteith came in 1797, and left in 1799, but it is uncertain whether he was the regular pastor or not. During his stay, in 1796, the church was destroyed by fire, and until a new one was built the congregation worshiped in the Baptist church, the Baptist congrega- tion having no pastor until they called Dr. Holcombe ; after which the Presbyterian congregation used the Baptist church half of each Sunday until the new church was finished, in the year 1800.
"This second church was built on a lot purchased by the congrega- tion and situated on St. James square or Telfair place, between York and President streets. It was a frame building and was blown down during the great storm in 1804.
"In 1800 Rev. Robert Smith was called to take charge of the church. He died in 1803 and was succeeded by Rev. Robert Kerr who also died
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soon after. Rev. Samuel Clarkson then discharged the duties of pastor until 1806.
" In 1806 all the original trustees being dead the Legislature passed another act chartering the church and appointed nine new trustees. In the fall of this year Rev. Henry Kollock became pastor. This distin- guished divine was born in New Jersey in 1778 and at the early age of thirteen was licensed to preach. Under the administration of Dr. Kol- lock the congregation grew rapidly and in 1817 the corner stone of a new church was laid and two years later the building was completed. This edifice, recently destroyed by fire, stood on the corner of South Broad 'and Bull streets. It was one of the handsomest in an architectural sense in the country. It was described 'as a poem in architecture, a dream in stone, and a petrified religion.' The total cost of the building, not including the five lots, was $96,108.67}. The proposed width of the middle aisle was 12 feet, but was afterwards reduced to II. The side aisles were 52 feet, the width of pews on broad aisle 3 feet 2 inches, length 12 feet ; width of pews on side aisles, next the wall, 6 feet 4 inches, length 5 feet 6 inches, being nearly square, with seats on two sides. The other pews on the side aisles were 9 feet long and 3 feet 2 inches wide. The galleries were 13 feet wide. The size of the main building was 80 by 100 feet, and accommodated 1,350 people. The height of the steeple from the ground to the top of the lightning-rod was 223 feet. Inside the building, from the center of the dome to the floor was 44 feet.
" Notwithstanding the large capacity of the building, old members of the congregation say that during the services held by Dr. Kollock the building could not comfortably contain the congregation. John H. Green, of New York, was the architect, and for grandeur of design and neatness of execution it was not surpassed by any in the United States.
" On May 11, 1818, the pews on the lowest floor were sold at public auction for sixty thousand dollars, and that same year the church raised Dr. Kollock's salary to four thousand dollars and sent him to Europe for the summer. In May, 1819, the church was finished, and the services were deeply and solemnly impressive.
"On December 29, 1819, Dr. Kollock died very suddenly at the par- sonage, aged forty-one years. His remains were surrendered to the
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trustees at their earnest solicitation by his widow, on condition that her body should be placed by his at her death. A vault was erected in the old cemetery, in which his remains were deposited. A monument was placed over the vault, surrounded by an iron railing. The memorial tablet placed in the church was destroyed by the recent fire. At the death of this great man the city was draped in mourning, the stores were closed, and universal grief expressed. All the city officers, members of the bar, societies, judges, children of the schools, and citizens generally attended his funeral.
" The organ was finished in 1820, at a cost of $3,500, and Lowell Mason, the well known composer of church music, was engaged. It was during this engagement of Lowell Mason's that he composed the well- known tune of ' Missionary Hymn,' and set it to the words of the hymn ' From Greenland's Icy Mountains,' written by Bishop Heber, for use at a missionary meeting in the church where it was sung for the first time.
" After the death of Dr. Kollock the pulpit was supplied by Rev. William Wallace and Rev. Mr. Capers for one year. In January, 1821, Rev. Mr. Otterson was engaged to supply the pulpit, at a salary of $125 per month, and after him Rev. Mr. Magee preached for a short time. Rev. Daniel Baker was called, but declined. Rev. Dr. Snodgrass was called January, 1822, from North Carolina as regular pastor, at a salary of $2,500, but remained only until June, 1823. The Rev. Samuel B. Howe D.D., of New Brunswick, was then called and remained until the summer of 1827.
" Rev. Dr. Baker temporarily filled the pulpit after Dr. Howe's death until the winter of 1831, when Dr. Willard Preston was called from Mad- ison, Ga. He was a Congregational minister, who never had any con- nection with the presbytery. He preached his first sermon on Christmas, 1831, and received his call, at a salary of twenty-five hundred dollars, on January 14 following. He found two hundred and sixty-eight commu- nicants when he took charge.
" The old organ, upon which large sums had been expended, was ruined by the great storm of September 8, 1854, and it was concluded to procure a new one by subscription. It was finished in 1856, at a cost of $6,000. In this same year a furnace was placed in the church at a cost of $522. Previously the church had never been heated.
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"Dr. Preston's health being very feeble at this time, he applied for leave of absence, stating that he had served the church for twenty- four years and had been absent but four times. Leave was granted, and $650 raised to defray his expenses. His health declined, and on April 26, 1856, he died, at the age of seventy-two, having been pastor for over twenty-five years. A tablet to his memory was placed in the church, and a monument to his name in Laurel Grove cemetery. In 1857 a lot was purchased in this cemetery to be kept as a burial spot for the pas- tors of the church who die in its service.
" After the death of Dr. Preston several ministers preached at different times. Those who remained the longest were Rev. W. M. Baker, from August 3, 1856, for six weeks; Rev. D. H. Porter, pastor of the First Church, for three months. That church was unfinished then. Dr. Har- denberg, of New York, filled the pulpit from November, 1856, until June, 1857; Rev. C. W. Rogers from June, 1857, until November, 1857, at which time Rev. I. S. K. Axson, D.D., was called from Greensboro, Ga., at a salary of three thousand dollars. He accepted the call in Novem- ber. In 1863, on account of the fabulously high prices caused by the war, the congregation presented him with $1,000, and in 1864 with $3,- 500 more. In the latter year the trustees added $1,500 to this amount, in addition to his regular salary. In 1866 Dr. Axson's life was insured for $5,000 by the trustees, for the benefit of his family.
" As far as can be ascertained, the following are all the legacies which have been left the church : In 1841 Mr. James Wallace left the church $2,000 for the purpose of erecting an iron railing about the lot. In 1855 the church became residuary legatee under the will of Mrs. Martha Wil- liams, and though not yet in possession of the property, receives there- from a nice annuity. In 1860 Mrs. Susan Couster left half of her prop- erty to the church and half to her son, but the trustees declined to re- ceive it, relinquishing all claim in favor of the son. In 1861 Mr. Hut- chinson left $1,000 to the church. Miss Mary Telfair, who died in 1875, left the church the building on the southwest corner of Bull and Brough- ton streets, with the stipulation that the church should care for her lot in the cemetery, give $1,000 every year towards the support of feeble Pres- byterian Churches in Georgia; that the lot on which are now the ruins of the Presbyterian Sunday school should never be sold, and that neither the pulpit or galleries in the church should ever be materially altered.
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." In 1833 the lot was purchased on the corner of Bull and Hull streets, on which are now the ruins of the once handsomest Sunday-school build- ing in the south. A commodious structure was erected in that year, and Mr. James Smith succeeded Mr. Coe as superintendent. He in turn was followed by Captain Bee, in 1835. The latter died in 1844, and Captain John W. Anderson served as superintendent until his death, in 1866. John D. Hopkins served from 1867 to 1874. during which year William H. Baker was chosen. He was succeeded by Mr. John I. Stoddard, the present superintendent. In 1884 a new Sunday-school building, a source of pride to the people and a credit to the church, was erected, at a cost of about $27,000. It was built from the accumulations of dividends made available under the Telfair will.
"In 1886, on account of the failing health of its beloved pastor, the congregation made Dr. Axson pastor emeritus, and called Rev. Leonard W. Bacon, of New York, to the pastorate. He accepted and served one year, from December, 1886, to December, 1887. He was succeeded by Rev. 'Allan F. DeCamp, who acted as pastor for several months during 1888, and on February of this year Rev. J. Frederick Dripps, of Phila- delphia, was called He began his pastorate on Sunday, March 31, and occupied the pulpit but once before an event took place that fills a page in the history of the church and marks an epoch that will never be for- gotten.
" On Saturday, 6th of April, 1889, a fire broke out in the city, at a point quite remote from the church. No one, at first, thought for a mo- ment that the old structure could be menaced or imperiled by the flames. The building in which the fire originated was several blocks away, and wide streets and a large open square intervened. The wind was high, and the fire department being powerless, embers, sparks, cinders, and other burning material were carried across the area and lodged on the projecting works of the church's tower. No one was expecting a hap- pening of this character, and no one was ready to extinguish it when a trifling blaze was kindled. When first noticed the blaze was so small that a cupful of water could quench it, but that small amount was not ready, and the flames gradually crept up the tower, growing greater in volume and intensity each moment, greedily and hungrily environing it in their baleful embraces and spreading out, over, around, and under it
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and the roof, wrapped the sacred edifice in their destructive coils. The old bell, which for many years called the people to prayer and praise, rang out a mournful signal to the community, and the hearts of thou- sands of people who looked helplessly on were filled with an inexpressi- ble sadness.
"The fire soon devoured the tower, which, tottering fell, and the old bell in its descent rang out its last plaintiff note, which was human-like in its pitiful tones. The falling timber communicated its combustible material to the interior of the church, and the flames remorselessly swept on, leaping from pews to pulpit, from walls to dome, filling the stately edifice with an indescribable awe and horror. The old church was doomed, and in an inconceivable short time the stately edifice was a mass of ruins. Its old mahogany pulpit, its richly stained windows, its memo- rial tablets, its baptismal fonts, its magnificent organ, its records, and other things inseparably associated with it for years, were destroyed.
"The destruction of this church, while altogether inevitable under the circumstances, was a public calamity. It entailed a loss on the congre- gation of near $150,000, and while it may be rebuilt in exact conformity with the original plans, yet the old associations, the venerable history, and the well remembered mahogany pulpit will not be there.
"The handsome Sunday-school building was also destroyed. That was another great loss; not so much in the money value, not so much for the intrinsic worth, but it severed what might have been a connect- ing link which would inseparably keep up the history of the church if the school had been saved and the church lost. The loss on this building and furniture was $35,000. The only insurance on all the property was $39,000, and that amount, with other available means on hand, will leave the trustees with about $55.000 as a nucleus for a building fund.
"The following is a complete list of the pastors who have served the church :
" Rev. John Joachim Zubly, D.D., called in 1760, left in 1778; Rev. M. McCall, called in 1794, died in 1796; Rev. Robert Smith, called in 1800, died at the north in 1803 ; Rev. Henry Kollock, D.D., called in 1806, died in 1819; Rev. W. D. Snodgrass, D.D., called in 1822, resigned in 1823 ; Rev. Samuel B. Howe, D.D, called in 1823, left in 1827 ; Rev. Willard Preston, D.D., called in 1831, died in 1856; Rev. I. S. K. Ax-
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son, called in 1857, made pastor emeritus in 1886; Rev. Dr. Leonard W. Bacon, called November, 1886, resigned November, 1887 ; Rev. J. Fred- erick Dripps, called in February, 1889, installed April 21, 1889. Rev. N. P. Quarterman, assistant pastor, called in 1869, resigned in 1873. Rev. E. C. Gordon, junior pastor, called in 1875, resigned in 1880; Rev. Rob- ert P. Kerr, junior pastor, called in 1881, resigned November, 1882. The pulpit in the interim from this date until the installation of Dr. Dripps was temporarily filled by several clergymen.
"The early records of session having been lost, all the elders who served from the organization of the church are not known. Thomas Young was an elder during the year 1800, and subsequently John Gib- bons, John Bolton, John Hunter, Edward Stebbins, and George Handle were elected. In Dr. Kollock's time John Millen, Dr. John Cumming. Benjamin Burroughs, and Moses Cleland served the church. Afterwards, and prior to 1829, George W. Coe, John Lewis, and George W. Ander- son were elected, and since then the following served : Judge Law, James Smith, Captain Benjamin G. B. Lamar, John Stoddard, G. B. Cumming, John W. Anderson, John Hopkins, Charles Green, William H. Baker, C. H. Olmstead, T. H. Harden, Randolph Axson, Joseph Clay, W. L. Wake- lee, and D. R. Thomas."
The congregation of the Independent Presbyterian Church have for- mally resolved to undertake the. restoration of their church building to its original form, and the people of Savannah are promptly responding to the appeals of the committee authorized to solicit funds for this purpose.
First Presbyterian Church .- In 1827 George G. Faires, Lowell Ma- son, Edward Coppee and Joseph Cumming withdrew from the Indepen- dent Church, and with a few others organized the First Presbyterian Church of Savannah. Services were first heid in the old Lyceum Hall, on the corner of Bull and Broughton streets. In 1833 the congregation took possession of a small wooden structure on the south side of Brough- ton street, between Barnard and Jefferson streets, where they worshiped until 1856. The present church edifice on Monterey square was com- menced in 1856, but was not completed until June, 1872, when it was formally dedicated. The following have officiated as pastors of this church : Revs. Mr. Bogg, James C. Stiles, C. C. Jones, Mr. Holt, C. Blodgett, J. L. Merrick, T. F. Scott, J. L. Jones, B. W. Palmer, J. B.
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Ross, John Jones, C. B. King, David H. Porter, and the present pastor, J. W. Rogan.
Anderson Street Church completes the list of Presbyterian churches. It is of comparatively recent origin. Rev. R. Q. Way is pastor.
The first preacher sent to Savannah to propagate the doctrines of Methodism was Rev. Beverly Allen, who came in 1785. He was fol- lowed by Revs. Hope Hull, Thos. Humphries, John Major, John Craw- ford, Phillip Mathews, Hezekiah Arnold, Wheeler Grisson, John Bonner, Jonathan Jackson, John Garvin, and Samuel Dunwoody. Notwithstand- ing the efforts of these worthy men, Methodism made slow progress, and it was not until 1806 that Samuel Dunwoody succeeded in organizing a Methodist society. Meetings were held in the houses of the members, and for a few years Rev. Hope Hull preached in a cabinet-maker's shop. In 1813, while the congregation was under charge of Rev. James Rus- sell, a house of worship was commenced on the northeast corner of Lin- coln and South Broad streets. It was completed in 1816 and was called Wesley Chapel. After being enlarged, remodeled and repaired several times it was sold in 1866 and converted into a private residence. The congregation then purchased the building at' the corner of Wayne and Drayton streets, formerly belonging to the German Lutheran congrega- tion. This was used for nearly eleven years. During this time the con- gregation was largely increased, and a more commodious building be- came a necessity. The erection of the Wesley Monumental Church was then undertaken, the corner-stone being laid in 1872 by the late Dr. Lovick Pierce. The church is now nearly completed, and will be one of the most imposing church edifices in Savannah. It is intended as a monument to John Wesley, the father of Methodism, and will be built from the united contributions of the Wesleyan Methodists throughout America, England and Canada.
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