History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc, Part 40

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Baltimore City > History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc > Part 40

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

ST. BARNABAS CHURCH, CURTIS BAY.

In 1889 a new work was started in the public school house of this growing suburb, under the supervision of the Rev. T. C. Gambrall, D. D., then Archdeacon of An- napolis. As soon as a suitable brick house was erected for a rectory, in 1891, he ar- ranged the lower floor for church pur- poses, and there gathered a congregation and a Sunday-school. In 1893 a neat church was erected on the corner of the lot. When almost finished, and greatly in need

of funds, Mrs. William E. Woodyear, a member of Grace Church, donated several thousand dollars to complete it, as a mem- orial of her late husband. A mural tablet was erected within the edifice bearing his name. The edifice was consecrated June 4, 1894. The growth has been very slow, owing to the depressed condition of the business interests represented there. The Rev. Dr. Gambrall died while in charge in 1897, after a long and useful ministry in Maryland. At present the church is admin- istered by clergymen appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese.

CHAPEL OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

When the suburb of Walbrook was added to the city, a neat frame church was located at its very center. It is under the care of Emmanuel Church, but its growth has been so steady that it will doubtless become in- dependent in the early future. The Rev. Henry T. Sharpe has been the minister in charge since 1893.

CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION.

The rapid growth of the suburb of West Arlington warranted an attempt to establish an Episcopal Church there about ten years ago. After unsuccessful efforts it was ac- complished in January, 1892, under the charge of the Rev. William Rollins Webb. rector of St. Mary's Church, Franklintown. An unoccupied cottage, owned by Mrs. Charles A. Oakford, was offered for ser- vices, free of all charge. The Rev. Mr. Webb gave his ministrations without salary, and the West Arlington Improvement Com- pany donated two city lots. The first ser- vice was held on January 17, and the ser- vices were continued uninterruptedly in the cottage until the following May, when

332

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

transfer was made to Belvidere Hall, Gar- rison avenue, where the growing congrega- tion worshiped for three years. In the fall of 1893 it was decided to build a church. The building committee consisted of the Rev. Mr. Webb, and Messrs. C. C. Rhodes, B. H. Bittle, I. L. Newman and W. P. Oak- ford. On August 6, 1894, the Feast of the Transfiguration, the ground was broken with appropriate exercises. On December 12, the same year, the corner-stone was laid by the Rev. Mr. Webb. On Easter Day, April 14, 1895, the church was opened for public worship. The total cost was $5,860. It is built of stone. The church has pur- chased an additional lot to the two donated, at a cost of $1,050, and it has been enriched by several beautiful memorials. The mem- bership is thirty-four. The Rev. Mr. Webb is still in charge.

ROLAND PARK MISSION.

On Sunday, November 28, 1897, the Bishop of Maryland, Rt. Rev. William Paret, D. D., LL. D., opened this mission in the hall of this beautiful suburb, at 4 p. m. It is under the special care of the rector of St. Mary's Church, Hampden, who is aided by the men of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew of that church. Various clergy- men from the city have given their services. The congregation is fast growing in size and strength, and a new church edifice will doubtless be erected in the near future. The Sunday-school numbers seventy scholars.

The other places of worship of the Epis- copal Church in the city are: St. Clement's Chapel, Philadelphia road; chapel in the Church Home and Infirmary, Broadway near Baltimore street; St. Catharine's Mis-

sion for Colored People, Mt. Calvary Church; mission of Church of St. Michael's and All Saints, near Hampden.

EPISCOPAL INSTITUTIONS.

From the very dawn of the history of the city the Episcopal Church has been fore- most in charitable work. There is one no- ble institution, the Church Home and In- firmary, on Broadway near Baltimore street, which, though most largely maintained by St. Paul's Church and Grace Church, re- ceives valuable aid from many others. It was founded in 1855 by Rev. Dr. Coxe, rector of Grace Church, and others. Sev- eral large bequests have been left to it, so that its endowment fund is assuming large proportions. It now amounts to about $300,000. A chapel is situated in the centre of the building, in which daily ser- vices are held by a regular chaplain. The number of patients treated during the year 1897 was 315, and the number of persons permanently residing in the home was fifty. There are numerous other charitable insti- tutions maintained by the various congrega- tions. St. Paul's Church has two-the Girls' Orphanage (incorporated 1799), a beautiful building surrounded by ample grounds on Charles and Twenty-fourth streets, and the Boys' School (1845), on East Franklin street. Christ Church has an Asylum for Female Children (1840). St. Peter's Church also maintains an Asylum for Female Children (1849). St. John's, Waverly, has an Orphanage for Boys. Mt. Calvary, through its Sisterhood of All Saints, maintains a Home for Colored Boys and an Industrial Home to train girls for domestic service. There are also several parochial schools maintained in connection

333

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

with the different churches of the city. The Sisterhood of All Saints has a handsome house on Eutaw street near Madison. St. Martha's Home, on West Lexington street, was opened in 1896 and incorporated in January, 1898. It is to afford a home for self-supporting women.

In 1814 Baltimore became the See City of the Diocese of Maryland and the bishops have had their residence here ever since, except in the case of Bishop Pinckney, who preferred to retain his country residence in Prince George's county. The Episcopal residence is at IIIO Madison avenue, though an attempt is now being made to secure a new site for a more suitable house and neighbrohood. In connection with the Episcopal residence is the famous Whit- tingham Library, which was presented to the diocese by the late Bishop Whitting- ham, and numbering 20,000 volumes. Two other libraries have recently been left to the Diocese, that of the Rev. Dr. Walter Wil- liams, numbering 2,000 volumes, and that of the late Rev. Dr. Dalrymple, numbering 8,000. It is now proposed to erect a suit- able building to receive all these books and the sum of $25,000 was appropriated at the last Diocesan Convention for this purpose. The Whittingham Library is one of the fin- est theological libraries in the world. There is nothing in this country to com- pare with it and few abroad.

The bishops of Maryland have been as follows: Rt. Rev. John James Claggett, 1792- 1816; Rt. Rev. James Kemp, 1814-1827; Rt. Rev. William Murray Stone, 1830-1838; Rt. Rev. William Rollinson Whittingham, 1840-1879; Rt. Rev. William Pinckney, 1870-1883; Rt. Rev. William Paret, 1885 to present time.

THE GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.

The sturdy sons of Germany were among the very earliest to come to these shores. First at New Amsterdam (New York) and then in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and even farther South, they made their settlements and won their success. Not a few of their sterling characteristics have entered into the manhood which we call American, and all of these are largely the products of that faith for which their forefathers, under Lu- ther and the first Reformers, were willing to yield their very lives. Out of the Refor- mation in Germany have sprung two great religious bodies, which may be likened to twin sisters, though of later years they have strayed somewhat apart. They are the Lu- theran and German Reformed denomina- tions. Here in Baltimore their history was one and the same for several years, until each grew strong enough to exist alone; then they separated. But they first existed under the name of the German Reformed Church. . In Europe this body is very strong, numbering at least twenty-five mil- lion adherents. But in America it is com- paratively weak. Its doctrinal system is contained in the Heidleberg Confession, while its ecclesiastical polity is fashioned after the model of the Dutch Church of Holland, by which the German Reformed Church in America was early nurtured and fostered.

The German Reformed Church in this country was founded by emigrants from Germany and Switzerland, about the year 1730. Its stronghold at first was in east- ern Pennsylvania, but its adherents were scattered also throughout the other colo- nies, the more especially toward the South.

334

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Just when the first congregation was form- ed in Baltimore is not definitely known. There is good reason to suppose it was about twenty years after it was first organ- ized in America, or about 1750. This was also twenty years after Baltimore Town was laid out. There are two historical witnesses to establish the fact that the adherents of the German Reformed and of the Lutheran bodies had their religious interests in com- mon and worshiped in the same church. One of these is an old German manuscript, preserved in the archives of the First Ger- man Reformed Church, which states: "In the year 1756 or 1757 the congregation purchased a lot on which to erect a church of Mr. Croxall, for nine pounds, besides making him a present-After this the con- gregation appointed a committee to super- intend the building of a church, which con- sisted of Andrew Seiger, Frederick Meyer, Jacob Kuhbord, John Soller, Valentine Loersch, and Conrad Smith. These men made preparation to build and with the means they had they built the best church they could. We then called the Rev. John Christopher Faber to become our Pastor, and we were all in peace and love." The second witness is found in the records of the First Lutheran Church, where it is stated: "Up to the year 1758 both Luther- ans and German Reformed worshiped to- gether, and great friendship and harmony prevailed. In the year 1758 they resolved to erect a house of worship in common, as each party was too weak to build alone; and it was at the same time determined that a Pastor should be called by either church as might best suit."

The slight disparity of dates is of no ma- terial moment, while the testimony is most

distinct as to the common interests of these two German denominations. While at this time the town could not have numbered more than a few hundred inhabitants it is to be remembered that Baltimore county was by no means sparsely populated and that the various congregations would have a representation in the country districts. The town gradually became the "Jerusa- lem" to which "the tribes went up" to wor- ship. This was found true among the Eng- lish churchmen. So likewise the zeal of the Germans led them to travel far to attend religious worship. Hence it need not be a matter of surprise that they were the sec- ond body of Christians to build a church in Baltimore Town. The first German church was erected on North Charles street, corner of Saratoga, on a lot almost opposite St. Paul's Church, so that the two places of worship in the town were located on opposite sides of the same street. One of the worshipers in this old church has left the following account in a letter to the Rev. Elias Heiner, who was one of the later pastors of this congregation : "Our first church was located up North Charles street and was approached with dif- ficulty, especially by the aged and infirm, on account of the steep hill of sand they were obliged to climb every Sabbath in or- der to reach their humble place of worship. At that time we had no cushioned seats: no carpeted aisles : no-not even a stove to warm the body. The cold North West wind would pierce through the tender weather- boarding and almost blow the light fabric off."

While there seem to have been several ministers of German birth and ordination, who made occasional visits to the German

335

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Christians, the first regular pastor was the Rev. John Christopher Faber. Just when the German Reformed and the Lutherans separated is not definitely known; but cer- tainly early in the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Faber, who continued to serve as pastor of the German Reformed congregation until 1771, when he resigned. Much opposition to him sprang up in the later years of his administration and quite a goodly portion of the congregation desired his resignation; but he declined to present it. These mal- contents withdrew from the First Reformed congregation and organized the Second, and built a church in 1771. Soon after this secession Mr. Faber resigned and was suc- ceeded by the Rev. George Wallauer in 1772. This minister espoused the cause of England in the Revolution, deserted his congregation some time during the war and joined the British army, in what capacity it is not known.

The next pastor was the Rev. Charles L. Boehme, who after a short administration was involved in trouble and was dismissed from the ministry. He was succeeded by the Rev. Nicholas Pomp, whose success was so marked that it became necessary to erect a new and large church at the north- west corner of Baltimore and Front streets. This church was built in 1785 and cost $20,000.

In 1791 the Rev. George Troldenier was called from York, Pa., to succeed the Rev. Mr. Pomp. In 1795 the congregation was incorporated by an act of the State Legis- lature. In 1796 the church was sold to the vestry of St. Paul's Church and was sub- sequently given to the old Christ Church congregation. A new site was selected on Second street, near the intersection of the

present Holliday street, and a new church was erected thereupon. It was dedicated in 1797 and was fifty feet broad and eighty feet long.

In 1802 the Rev. John H. Dryer became pastor, in succession to the Rev. Mr. Trol- denier, who died in 1800. To him succeed- ed the Rev. Dr. Christian L. Becker, of Lancaster, Pa., in 1806. His marked elo- quence as well as gracious personality made him exceedingly popular with his people. His ministry here and elsewhere was ren- dered notable by the large number of young men whom he prepared for the ministry, one of them being his own son. Toward the end of the Rev. Dr. Becker's administration an attempt was made on the part of some to introduce the custom of having the ser- vice and sermon in English every other Sunday. To this Dr. Becker was unalter- ably opposed, and in the midst of the ex- citement which the movement created, he died. For a short time the attempt was abandoned, but was revived and was so per- sistently urged that a new pastor was called, with special view to his ability to use both the German and the English language. This was the Rev. Albert Helfenstein, of Carlisle, Pa., who assumed charge of the congregation in 1819. At first the services were rendered in both languages; but great dissension arose, and during his whole pas- torate of sixteen years he was in trouble because of the contention between the Ger- man and the English parties, into which the congregation was divided. Gradually, as was to be expected, the English party pre- vailed; in 1827 the German language was abandoned and all the services conducted in English. This has continued to the pres- . ent day.

336

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

The Rev. Mr. Helfenstein resigned in 1835, and afterwards entered the ministry of the Episcopal Church. The next pastor was the Rev. Elias Heiner, who succeeded to the charge in 1835 and faithfully filled his office until his death in 1863. He was succeeded by the Rev. E. R. Eschbach. When Holliday street was opened the re- moval of the church was necessary to an- other site, as the old lot was intersected by the new street. A lot was chosen on Calvert street near Reed and the present edifice built in 1867. The present pastor is the Rev. Joel T. Rossiter, D. D., whose faithful ministrations continue to maintain the First Church in a prosperous condition.

THE SECOND REFORMED CHURCH.

In 1770, as noted above, a secession from the old First Church took place, through dissatisfaction with the pastor, the Rev. Mr. Faber. These seceders formed another con- gregation and called the Rev. Benedict Schwope, who had recently come from Ger- many and attached to himself the affection of many of the old flock. He accepted the call. The Second Church was erected in 1771 on Conway street near Sharp. It was a wooden structure. He was succeeded by the Rev. Philip William Otterbein in 1774, who remained in charge until 1813. In 1786 a new brick church was erected on the old site. The old First Church censured Messrs. Schwope and Otterbein for the di- vision that took place at this time in the original congregation, and made efforts to heal the breach, but in vain. This Second congregation erected three different houses of worship during Mr. Otterbein's long ad- ministration. In his last years he gave his influence to the formation of a new sect and

partially ceased to be active in the synod of the German Reformed Church. This sect is the "United Brethren in Christ" de- nomination, by which the Second Church is now held and used. It is now called the Evangelical German Reformed Otterbein Church.

AISQUITH REFORMED CHURCH.

When the mother Reformed Church was compelled to change its location in 1867 . this new congregation was formed to ac- commodate those members who lived in an- other part of the city. The corner-stone of the present church was laid in 1876 and the church was dedicated in the next year.

THIRD REFORMED CHURCH.

This church was an offshoot from the First Reformed Church. At the northeast corner of Paca and Saratoga streets the new edifice was dedicated February 2, 1845. The Rev. Dr. B. C. Wolff, of Easton, Pa., was the first pastor. The present pastor is the Rev. C. Clever, D. D. The congregation is strong and vigorous under its present faithful minister. The church, at its erec- tion, cost $11,000.

ST. JOHANNES GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.

This congregation was organized in 1845. In the next year it purchased a sub- stantial edifice from the Baptists for $5,500. It is situated on North Calvert street, be- tween Lexington and Saratoga streets. The first pastor was the Rev. John F. Kessler. The Rev. P. Weinand is now in charge. The church is in a flourishing condition and doing a good work, though it is surrounded by business interests.

337

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ST. PAUL'S REFORMED CHURCH.

This church is a daughter of the Third Reformed Church. A Sunday-school was organized on Pennsylvania avenue near Townsend street on May 19, 1872. A little later the school moved to Cook's Hall, southeast corner of Baltimore and Calhoun streets. Here the congregation was organ- ized on October II, 1878, with fifty-six members. On May 23, 1879, the congrega- tion authorized the purchase of the present church on Lexington street near Carrollton avenue from the Methodist Protestant Church, and on July 7, 1879, the purchase was reported. The congregation has en- joyed a substantial growth and now num- bers about four hundred members. There have been four pastors: the Rev. M. L. Firor, the Rev. W. J. Johnson, Rev. Frank Lambadder and the present pastor, the Rev. Lloyd E. Coblentz. This church has taken active part in establishing four missions.

FIFTH REFORMED CHURCH.

In 1858 the Fifth Reformed congregation erected an edifice on Canton avenue east of Broadway. This was damaged by fire in 1866. The present building was erected the next year. The present pastor is the Rev. Marcus Bachman, under whose faith- ful administration the church is enjoying marked prosperity.

EMMANUEL OR SIXTH REFORMED CHURCH.

This is an offshoot of the Fourth Re- formed Church. It worshiped for a time in China Hall, West Baltimore street; but in 1868 it removed to its present situation at the southwest corner of Saratoga and Schroeder streets. The first pastor was the Rev. John Voegeling. The present pastor is the Rev. J. Conrad Hauser, whose earnest

efforts maintain this church in a vigorous condition.

ZION REFORMED CHURCH.

This congregation was organized in 1874. The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Neff. The present pastor is the Rev. Mr. Nerger. The church is located at the corner of Aisquith and Edward streets and has known a quiet but gradual progress.

TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH.

This is the first of five congregations to be organized in consequence of the increas- ed missionary activity of recent years. It is located on Third avenue, Woodberry. It was begun in 1883 by the Rev. Messrs. Firor, Zinkham, Clever, D. D., Rossiter, D. D., and Stanley, D. D. The congregation was organized September 14, 1884. The church was erected the same year at a cost of $5,500. There has been but one pastor, the Rev. E. R. Deatrick, who assumed charge May 10, 1884.

CHRIST REFORMED CONGREGATION.

In June, 1889, the Rev. A. M. Scmidt was commissioned by the Board of Missions of the Reformed Church to begin a work in the northern part of the city. A congrega- tion was organized by him on the corner of Druid Hill and North avenue, where a frame chapel was erected. He remained in charge until June, 1892, when he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. W. I. Stewart, who is still the minister in charge. The member- ship is now one hundred and seventy-five. The congregation is making arrangements to build a stone edifice.

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH.

This church was established by the Bi- Synodic Board of Home Missions at the

338

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

earnest solicitation of the pastors of the Reformed churches of Baltimore. The Rev. Charles W. Levan, of Easton, Pa., was called by the Board to become the pastor. He entered on his duties March 1, 1892. On the 22d of May the first public service was held in Smith's Hall on Twentieth street near Charles street. This congrega- tion was first known as the "North Balti- more Reformed Mission." In June, 1892, a lot at the corner of Guilford avenue and Twenty-third street was purchased by a kind friend and presented to the mission. On the 25th of June, 1893, the church was dedicated. The congregation was organ- ized on June 29th, 1893, under the name of St. Stephen's Reformed Church, with a membership of thirty-five persons. The church is built of Port Deposit granite and of brick. It cost $9,855. The whole prop- erty is valued at $16,000. The Mission has a parsonage erected adjacent to the church. The membership is now seventy-five.

GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH OF PEACE.

On March 13th fifty-seven persons or- ganized themselves into a congregation under the above name. The Rev. Henry Wieger has been the pastor from the start. In 1893 a lot was purchased on the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Cumberland street, on which a church was dedicated in May, 1894. The ground and building cost $15,000. The present membership is one hundred and thirty.

GRACE REFORMED CHURCH.

On the 14th of January, 1894, a Sunday- school was organized under the direction of the Reformed Church Extension Society of Baltimore. The school was first held in a room at the southeast corner of Hanover

and West streets, but on January 20, 1895, it was removed to Wacker's Hall on West Hamburg street. On May 12, 1895, the congregation was organized with twenty- four members. A lot, sixty feet by sixty- nine feet, on the southwest corner of Fort avenue and Clarkson street was purchased February 21, 1896, at a cost of $2,500. The Rev. F. W. Bald was installed as the first pastor on May 3, 1896. Immediate steps were taken to raise a building fund and they were so successful that the present stone chapel, of Gothic architecture, was dedicated on December 13, 1896. It seats three hundred people and cost $5,500. As soon as the size of the congregation war- rants the main edifice will be erected. The number of members is now seventy-five. The Rev. Mr. Bald is still in charge.

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.

The brave followers of the brave Re- former came to America first in the persons of the Swedes, who landed on these shores at Lewes, Del., in 1638, and who erected a rude building for religious uses among the very first they constructed. They were supplied with ministers by the Church of Sweden, which has retained the Episcopal form of government, and later on they allied themselves with the Episcopal Church, and most of their churches are held by that body now.

The German Lutherans came much later and never came in colonies until they suf- fered bitter persecutions at home, and then they came hither in large numbers. They found a refuge especially in Pennsylvania, where the peaceable Penn granted them an asylum. But prior to this they came as in- dividuals or in small parties and were widely

Drugaattunk .

339

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

scattered in all the colonies from New York to Florida. Their sterling virtues won them a good name and a warm welcome where- soever they went; but as their mother tongue was so very different from that of most of the early settlers, it set them apart by themselves. Owing to their scattered condition they were very slow in forming themselves into congregations and having their own houses of worship. Moreover, they were sorely neglected by the mother church, and, whereas the English Church sent over duly ordained ministers for her children and the Swedish Church did the same, the German Lutheran Church seemed strangely indifferent to the well-be- ing of her adherents so far away in a foreign land. Doubtless the persecutions at home kept all her thought and energies fixed up- on herself. In some degree the German Reformed Church had a marked advantage over the Lutherans in that the Palatinate Consistorium sent over to them in 1727 the Rev. George Michael Weiss, and inasmuch as the Dutch Reformed Church at New York gave them much assistance.

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.

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1344

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344