USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > A brief history of the Third Presbyterian Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Gc 977.202 F77cha
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/briefhistoryofth00cham
EEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01976 9659
Gc 977.202 F77cha Chambers, J. D. A brief history of the Third Presbyterian Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
by
J. D. Chambers
Fort Wayne, Indiana
1900
Allen County Publir "brary Ft. Wayne, Indiana
a Brief History of The Third. Force by brian Church .
be giving an account of The origin and of our church , one must for rucharteable for what he leave unsaid , rather Than for what he says; since it much bu largely made up of personal no- collections, tied together with the clevedior fibre of documentary record which romaine from The changes and vineri ludes of the . accident , and cardbretruer .
It has been a labor of love , of internet . beck also , one of Radweek , delving into The pack , to- unrarthe the circuitduce which brought about the birth of The organization, and led to The creation Of The building which we now know as the Third Verseby Perian Church of Fort Hayne Mediana. So sheary who won active int it's Erection and support are now no longer among us, an sleeping with their fatture , or harit disappeared from among ut . to take other peranteone, ! Rad to see how few of therer who are now with he won among Those who aided in The Building
2 of the procent Edifice, and was an involucra vily minded of the account , in the Book +
If legra , at the building of the second Simple, Though for a somewhat different cause .
after The close of the civil war y
itt b. - inridicat is meaning of The meuncture of The tis I Prvebitivian church , of which , ' r . Lowry was there factor , That a great field for remission
to was opening afe i. Real portion of the city There Levure ar The Hamilton fields and the Hilliame Addis- tion. Vor little building had been done
south of Hamilton Streit Each of Calhoun Strict, and a great portion wist of Calhoun
Street was still occupied by The Williams' orchard . :
Much of Theat portion now occupied by Brack'- zuredge and Baker Street was a swank , and . au lopen streame poured down Baker Street. The Theme mount building of the Pittsburgh . and the Habache railwoude , with The retab- listwach of Their shope here, together with other shops of manufacture wear, ruedered it Evident that a large influx of laboring pertre. would Room occupa This portion of Thecity, and would recenta fines of worship wear,
:
Early in , in spring of 1865; The factor of The timet church our Sabbath sicoming annonces in That all children, and their parents, NE. Riding in that portion of The city, worse requested to asermeuble, at two schock, in The chapel There clouding on the site of The third imeby terane church , nor the rack corner of Cal tous and Stolucon straiti, form. vided for the bounty of the late Are . C . I. Hamilton, and otherno, to organize a dice. ion Sunday school, to be held in the after noor, this france shaped was afterward word to the lot across the street , when The new street car bare now stand , and was purchased by The Opiecopaliane . The session of The Sunday school of The Siret Inaby terian church were the held during The wieder months in the of timoou , audit dur The summer months in the
wehost. Thees organized, was the machine of The third Party timian church , though it Church propel was not organized witil Lie- Exeter 1867. When The agitation regardice the retablissement of a mission Sunday school
I was buques. The late How, Jeeen 2. Williams ---
bring live The spring 2 1865 at a wertung Guaral Dressurbler at Cincinnati , mit the late Rev. Dr. TaThan S. Smitte Pour, and persua did time To come to Fort thoyou to Engage in city missionary work , which was just
of works in which the delighted.
Ito come on and buy . work , organizing , peru mission schorle in direct parts of The city. there were what were bevise ". Quand" Chapel on Hill Str. Hanna Mission on East Low's St, South Laplay the Str, mission. Bear's Chapel , out at what was the Bearsn's Will near the Broadway vivir bridge , The Third St. Chapel, in Bloomingdale, bud The Third Smobytrian school. This is The one which most interests we now . It was organized wish De late farmers B. He Donald superintendent and . Lowry, Row of The pastor of the
First church as assistant. Many of The mene fire of the First church volunteered, or win induced to take placee , as teachers , and The school was a flourishing one , In The spring . 218', it is ! leceded to Establish a church" organization . Here , and stakes win Fatur & if- fach euch organization. Dr. Mathan S. Swish
:
:
" was induced to take charge of the organization and become The boston to order that you ; may know how The finances wires tale car of at that time , I shall quote you a copy of a doc remb , which I curartiund from The heap that had Escaped The ravages of the. It was headed "Copy ," and no doubt the original paper was Fuld by The tradice of the First church, It skade as follows ! of a suitable minister can to procured to occupy the new field, preaching regularly, in The chapel on The Sabbath, pledge,
.- for The Ensuing year . The Run R$900,00 pay able quarterly, provided That $ 1200,00 shall bu racked from all pour ces , on this salary. "
This was dated March 186%, and was Regner J. L. Hillraus. Do This was apfucked a subscription list , pledging to pay certains amounts , by various necentre of the times Church , and ultimately bringing the amount. we do The required $ 1200.00. this paper had facce folded in the folder, and, infortune tity for over crowfesti walebfaction, the town fold, containing the reaus of all the subscribers bu.
!
6 Two, in ยป. p. He Minfans are unable to give the reacted of the other hunfactors, are justice for all , skaber at wishtold the seaune of The two heading the list below Dr. William The church was not formally organized wild , several months later, but the Sunday school was kept in active operation, and is work vigorously prosecuted Elder face. B. Si Dowald, and a son of im pastor the First church taking charge of 4
work , and the succuture of the time First church Engaging as teachers,
the first official seccional record of The ser church That wo tan is dated DEeun- bar od 186%, where thirty four persons wir rend into The third inaby teman church tomaty of whom came out of the First to force the new church . She pastor was the Rev. Dr. Mattina S . Swish , who lead comes from Southern Ohio. to Engage in city missionary work here .
Of that oriqual Thirty- four mecbure. two necesite with we get More. Christina Sauce, and lime tra billa a. Difficederfor. It would on peculiarly interesting to give the reause of The
1 Charlin recruiters, and The name of those com in in processing years, but our lives is brief , and war ruckt follow The church , raster Than The individual remembers . Suffice it & say that vives of The turnity svou returned of The mother church; but others came to take Their place , and , in the spring of 1869, The concernstour of The Theme suw chara was laid, the late woher Cocknous was the
contraction and builder. Only the max portion. was completed The first year, and, for many months The Sabbath school was held Pie
our church parlare; roughe
what an now. our
boards trives laid are stringErs for seats.
The braystructure room , or as it was ong ically Intended and used, The Sabbath-school roduce above, was finally finished and serv. ice conducted them for pouce months with The audience room was completed. It was rest There , as now , a square soon . but include Ed what is now The pastor's study, and we
Enetural by what is now The study door, whit a smallfroome , where siver is stund door , was for tilimed off for a library room for the Same " and school. It was seated with long solid buches,
-
. Every Third one of which had a revolving back, so as to Throw seats together for class ze in Sabbath school.
The audience room was not finished une. tilf The following year , or in 1870. and some These , was not ready for occupancy. The walls wore calcolimed a kill fueroou color , and remained enfrrecord nearly the years. The place when The choir no. is was seated with pure, just as the of- borili side is now, and then wir no bar gets for The bucofit of The Gulfoch or Choir after a few years Roule of The seats were ramos Ed, zecalciatore re for are organ , The floor was raised one step , and The back lights wir added for fulfait and chair. Some years later . The muraining seats wir recuerded , and The platformce raided another steps, but sich until about 1884 was The platforme raised in with The pulpit platform, The space salary . Ed to accommodate a prawo, and the side lights added.
See The spring of 1873 the New Dr. Smith resign Ed his pastorali and returned to Ohio, bud The Rev. Soler Hoods because a stated supply muracing only one year, the church fad hace growing Petradelly in excueberstiefe Straugh
I under Dr. Smith, The Sabbath school was lang and flourishing, and The prospects for The future bright at The Expiration of Rer. woods year. the church was without regulier per Flor until The beginning of 1895 , when the Per Starlaw &Herudekall ta student at the north western theological Summary , allegheny come , and wake called to that pastoratet THE was ordained and installed Balay isto- 1875 . The church had bonne at Theto twee several months without a factor, and when he came it took an instant new life , and began to increase, thirty win added to the membership The first year rainy of we will inumber the cottage prayer mutigs.
1 and The trufrance markings, the image. ratedy and our church can chaine the two or unchallenged , of bequiming , weder twine , and perpetuating, The Dunferance moment i tort chaque, he the waiter of security sig security-shore, the made a visit to Pittsburgh Allegheny , and Philadelphia, and on this nature brought The finch copies of the Moon and Sautury Styennale , "Tes. I . Gospel tynne and a long peries of temperance rallies succeeded , and many hundreder siguen The pledge .
:
10. The subscription auctioned ofon had for heeft up , with some shrinkage , during the twee of the building of the church , and up to the time when Dr. M. S. Scritte , who had breve EmployEd from year to year. br cancer The regular faktort and was in - Hallo, when he informed The people That he would not remains unless they freance self-supporting. From the theque. ring of the church. The pews head burn declared from , and any one attending could pay what he chose , and tan a favor , or setting, where he chose . are effort was made to raise The salary by mitting the pes, but its facture caused the masters I soon not to The original place of four seats.
Dr. Siste resigned and left The church in 1873, having fun wish it is capacity of organizer stated supply, and pastor, six years , Following out this wishes the church had bucour self- supporting , including some voluntary subscriptions forfour individual me bure of bolu tinct church , and the salary was net bir full where he left. During the internal after time , where The Rev . Sothe Goods was Stated
11 supply, and The recouthe succeeding, before The Rovere- of The "Tev His fire ances had begun to dray, and the
The tired church, Pheaded by Yh favor . Williams, again came to the discurs was oriquente what was known as The "Three Years Taper" which provided for The salat .. of The racister for the year. leaving. The church itself to take care of The incidental express. Hun was now a recebersite of two hundred or more win . The burgert Sabbath school in the city During the second and the Hund years of That Rev. Hunden hall's pactorate, the raised sufficient funds to than the auditorium freecard. Hu muncainel pastor of the chura three years, and was greatly orloved. Juni. The theory years, one hundred and Thirty fin were added & The church , Failing health however , and other reasons , necessitatil the migration, and the left in The fall of 18%. The Rev. Milliane B. Menton was Extended a call February 26th , 898 , and began this latore Marchio" During his factorate the tradice succeeded in carrying along the br du d'elles sucing behind .
1. The increase in mere versteit was sent so lang and the pastor lanoticialy said that he found in secereeaton bot force the cracks the flur way , and gofind out manny who had Ince ground ich in serrer prosperous twees . Its francii factor nearly four years, or to the spring of 1881. After him , or in 1881, came The Rad episode
in the history of The church , the calling
) The Rev. wow Dr., S. V. Stock love of Var Wert, Ohio , He was called in funce , and began her pastoral work August the 1881 Everything wreck ou satisfactorall wetil The new year where tivo of his little children with Falun down wirte diplitterin, and died in a fo wiska of Each other, and he was suittur with the same dieware , which left time paralyzed and incoperable- of assuming two patrol duters. Que. april 16th 1882 lico resequation was accepted, he never Leaving bree installed. In the spring of 1882, The presion wrote to- Dr. Hilsone of The northarating theological Sec. inars, allegheny, to leave a young graduate. Ruft to de abil he sent us the Rev. S. S. Ma be These juch graduated after trial he was passed walk and breare factor check isty was in- 11
13 Stalled: October 8th frac previously or- drived. Nie pastorale Extended from" 1882, to 1885, or future them and four years. It wie during This time that a school thing Year' Paper" was orequated Ihr. +mele .. Creesler having transferred their receber ship to the tinkt Church , signified Their willingness to pledge two hundred dollars a year for Hver years toward our support. provided we would , from other sources , in Crease The subscription to turder hundred dollars. By systematic canvass , the amount. was pledged, and the pastor's salary made certain in This way.
On How. 18th , 885, The pulpit again torcaces vacant by the MERiquations of The Rev. Maria and an interval of two or stem mouths occurred, in which was extended a call to our former pastor , The Rev, Now Dr , Har lan & Mandur hall , which was declined, He There heard many students from the Cormick Summary Chicago, and many candidates , now for.
from various place, David Steeds. a suncor student at Me Connecte Theology''at B's . .. . .. a.r. " wii sent to me and after hearing
!
14 hier several times . we decided to extend to him a call to become our factor. This bring down , and accepted, he continued to supply our pulpit, biquining acter work on This field after two graduation in april, He was ordained and installed thay Bd. 1886, Under this vigor one preaching , rie- church , which had base for suouths wistout regular service , look on new life , and by the five execution ability, was soon placed an independent footing . "a closed this par torale November 11the 1888 having bare with we somewhat less than This yeare . The ... mentorship of the church was greatly increased and strengthenEd , and the indicted " ou self-supporting reciacurse . the session after this macquations, dedining to secure an acceptable successor pperdily. decided to avoid , so far as possible , candi dating , and secure a factor without divid . ing The congregation on several after hear. lug several it was decided to invite the New, now Dr. John M. Boggs . There of allegheny who And force oncommand to come for a hearing.
15- HE was accordingly invited, and preached first Decurbed Nih 1 888 . after a second has ug a congregational muting was Fuld, and a vote to Extend a call to time was gone Ouring At our urgent demands , he cancelled after engagements, and came to we speed. ily bequicking his labore famary 6 1889. Under his Pastorali The Velden Ships was in. Created to mine , The deaconate to six , and in Each The rotary system inaugurated. During his pastorali the church because we incorporated body, During The second year of two pastorale The church was ri-free com and fully repaired . It's was the longest fax Forate in the history of the church, Extend ing from The first of Jaumary 1889 to april 24th 1898, or, nearly two years.
The session dreading the Effect of are Extended terms of condidating, Endeavond to secure an acceptable cucumber at the Earliest opportunity ; so she clerk was instrua and to reply to all applications for a hearing. with the Information that The church was not yet ready to call a pastor and while
16 lemping on The alert for The suitable for soin, glow no encouragement to any. Dr. S. M. Boggs preached two farewith serious april 24th, 898, and The Rev. J. C. Breckenridge now of Bethany church occupied the foul. fit the succeeding Sabbath . after hearing two or three of their suivieters all of whome. win Real candidatio. Dr. D. a V. Le Bara was heard, and vilanul two wicke. Plyne que a manemone call on June 251898 . and installed September 6th 1898
the project of selling This product church property, and locating south of the rail- roads, where ther four the of our congregation neide, head bre advocated and contupstate ( for years, But The difficulty of of fanning a clear title to The property confronted et, and set with or. He Saw head burn our pastor nearly a year , was it over come , and we from to go on and plan a removal .
a pile was decided upon and purchased more than a year ago. but no one appear "Ed to purchase the bold property , and it wie if sulit is the writer of the forceet year
If That a buy En appearEd. To we who team biru ow-bookers . The time has secured long since we decided to now and build , and we find it hard not to be inpatients at the seemingly slon movements of the body Empowered with authorit. to ferocecute the work .
To use it seems that The proper way to build a church is to go ahead and build it, not realizing that, at winy tune there is pour obstacle to overcome. It has been The desire of wing number of the church in building , rest to go into debt, but The greater desire , to become settled in peleas . out and handsome quarters , has led us to The determination to order The building Con witte to proceed, without for the delay, Lo Carry out The place , are prepared by The architects for The building which will bu known as The New Third inaby teriam Church of Fort Haine Juliana? there was a time in The die bach , a drie which is like a case of milk sie cris always over in The sugn county, a time which
:
-
18 no one now can Exactly locate, when we were declared from of debt, but it was sie au encore con farting , and lasted so short a time that after diligent search its Ex. act location in our church history is not pension. So bu under a debt sie So & our scormal condition , and we should feel like are invalid who for a single day file perfectly will ; and should begin dreading That Something was going to happen ifwe work from frode debit
There have been many dark days inn ou history, many unpleasant circumstances but this is sert The Sun nor The place to notice The. We have Fun in many surge ciao. but we have always Emerged, HE learn this old building with great nam and our Thoughts will of the mount wirth tuder failing to The Old third Church and The relay happy houre speck there, and it will be long before any other care take its place in our hearts
Written for The lack service held in the old church September 30th, 900. by Elder J. D. Chamburg. Cher! 1
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.