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 43

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 43

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FOURTH OR FRANKLIN SQUARE PRESBY- TERIAN CHURCH.

Several devout laymen purchased several lots on Baltimore street near Schroeder street in 1833, which they dedicated to church purposes. These men were Messrs. Alexander Brown, George Brown, Alexan- der Fridge. Largely by their aid an edifice was partly constructed. The first pastor was the Rev. S. Guiteau, who gathered a small congregation and Sunday-school, but who relinquished the enterprise after six months. The church was closed for several years, when the Rev. George D. Purviance took charge and completed the building. furnishing it in a neat and tasteful manner. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. A. Le- fevre, D. D. In 1866 the church on West Baltimore street was abandoned and the present edifice on Franklin Square was erected. This congregation severed its ec- clesiastical relation to the Presbytery of Bal- timore in 1865 and united with the Presby- terian Church South in 1867. The present pastor is the Rev. W. H. Woods. The mem- bership is 185.

AISQUITH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church was organized on January 9, 1844. Its existence is due to the efforts of the Rev. Dr. Robert J. Breckinridge, D. D., the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Dr. Backus, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. These pastors advised certain members of their respective congregations, living in the neighborhood of Aisquith street, to organize themselves into a new church. A lot was secured on Aisquith and Edward streets and a brick edifice erected in 1844. The congregation originally consisted of forty-seven mem- bers, but it grew rapidly. A pastor was elected on March 29, 1844, in the person of the Rev. Robert W. Dunlap. He was installed on October 10th, and continued pastor until June 25, 1850. For eighteen months the church was without a pastor, after which the Rev. Thomas Warren serv- ed from December II, 1851, to June 21, 1853. There was another vacancy of about a year, when the Rev. David T. Carnahan was installed on May 4, 1854. He remained until October 1, 1861. He added 203 per- sons to the church. The Rev. J. G. Ham- ner, D. D., served as a supply for a year, until the Rev. J. S. Stuchell was installed on November 20, 1862. He served the con- gregation with great acceptance until Feb- ruary 27, 1867. The Rev. J. S. Ramsey was next in charge from July II, 1867, to De- cember 19, 1871. He added 112 persons to the church. For a year the church was without a pastor, but on May 20, 1873, the Rev. S. D. Noyes was installed and con- tinued as pastor until July 29, 1879, adding 96 persons to the church. Next in charge was the Rev. George D. Buchanan, who greatly advanced the prosperity of the con-

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

gregation. Early in 1880 a proposition was made by the "German Reformed Zion Con- gregation" to the Aisquith Presbyterian Church to exchange properties. This was done and the first sermon in their new home was preached by the Rev. Dr. Backus on November 14, 1880. It is situated on Aisquith street near Orleans street, and is a fine brick edifice. In March, 1889, the present pastor, the Rev. J. Addison Smith, D. D., assumed charge and continues the prosperity of the congregation. The mem- bership is 260. The congregation also owns a Manse, which is situated on Aisquith street.

BROADWAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Like many other congregations this was the natural outgrowth of a Sunday-school, which was started in a house at the south- east corner of Ann and Lancaster streets, at Fell's Point, in January, 1834. Several attempts were made to organize a church, but these were not successful until October, 1843. At this time the Second Presbyterian Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Breckinridge, began to manifest a deep in- terest in the setting up of a new congrega- tion at Fell's Point. This was so successful that on August 13, 1844, the corner-stone of a new Presbyterian Church was laid at the southwest corner of Market and Gough streets. While the new church was being built it was popularly called the "Fell's Point" Church; but upon completion the new congregation was organized under the name of the "Broadway Church." Seven- teen members enrolled themselves as mem- bers at a meeting held in the new church on March 29, 1846. The church was in- corporated May 7, 1846, and was opened

for service on the second Sunday in Janu- ary, 1847, the Rev. Dr. Backus, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, preaching the sermon. It cost about $14,000. The first pastor was the Rev. Thomas E. Peck, D. D., who served eleven years most suc- cessfully. In 1858 he became pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church and was suc- ceeded, after a year's vacancy, by the Rev. Frederick W. Brauns. He served only two years. From 1861 to 1867 the church had no settled pastor, but was supplied by sev- eral ministers. The affairs of the congrega- tion fell to a low state. On April II, 1867, the Rev. J. J. Cole was installed pastor and advanced the prosperity of the congregation in every particular until 1870, when he was succeeded by the Rev. John McCoy, who was installed July 22, 1871. In December, 1872, he resigned. On April 9, 1873, the Rev. John L. Fulton became pastor and re- mained four years. During his administra- tion a parsonage was bought and paid for, principally by a member of the First Pres- byterian Church. On July 1, 1877, the Rev. George E. Jones, D. D., entered upon the pastorate. He found only eighty members, but his faithful ministry soon instilled new life and introduced a new era. In 1883 the Sunday-school rooms were remodeled and improved. The growth of the congregation was so marked that by 1887 a new church was necessary. A lot on Baltimore street, just east of Broadway, was pur- chased for $9,500, and the corner-stone of the new edifice laid on July 9, 1887. Subscriptions were received from the Pres- bytery, from various churches and from in- dividuals. It cost $32,000, and was ready for use in April, 1888. The Rev. Dr. Jones was the pastor for seventeen years and built

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

up a, strong self-sustaining congregation. Its present marked prosperity is largely due to him. He ceased his duties on the last Sunday of December, 1894, and became stated clerk of the Presbytery of Baltimore. He died in the early part of 1898. The present pastor is the Rev. William J. Rowans, and the membership is quite large. FRANKLIN STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This very important congregation was in- corporated April 3, 1844. Its members came chiefly from the First Presbyterian Church. Upon the election of its trustees they purchased the present lot on the north- west corner of Franklin and Cathedral streets, and proceeded to erect a church edifice. On the 22d of February, 1847, it was dedicated. The first building was about two-thirds of the length of the present edi- fice. On the 25th of March the Presby- tery of Baltimore formally organized the new church. It began with a membership of fifty-one persons. The Rev. William S. Plumer, D. D., of Richmond, was elected pastor the following month and entered at once upon his duties. The congregation grew so rapidly that when a new enterprise, to be known as the Westminster Church, was started in 1852, thirty-five members of the Franklin Street Church were dismissed to render that movement successful. The Rev. Dr. Plumer resigned in 1854 and there was a vancancy in the pastorate for one year, when the Rev. N. C. Burt, D. D., of Springfield, O., was elected and installed on the 18th of July. In 1859 the Manse was erected at the rear of the church. In 1860 the Rev. Dr. Burt resigned and was suc- ceeded, nine months later, by the Rev. J. J. Bullock, D. D., of Kentucky. In 1866 the congregation decided to sever its ec-

clesiastical relations with the Presbytery of Baltimore, and the Session was directed to form a connection "with other Presbyterian churches in the United States having the same faith and belief, and adopting the same standards of the Presbyterian Church." This resulted in the union of the congrega- tion in a movement to organize a new Pres- bytery, called the Synod of Patapsco, in connection with the Synod of Virginia and the General Assembly of the Southern Pres- byterian Church. In 1867 the Synod of Virginia erected a new Presbytery, known as the Presbytery of Maryland, with which the Franklin Street Church is now related. In June of 1869 the Rev. W. U. Murkland, D. D., of Virginia, was elected to become assistant pastor and entered on his duties the Ist of January, 1870. Two months later the Rev. Dr. Bullock resigned. The Rev. Dr. Murkland was immediately elected pas- tor, and on the 4th of June was installed. He has remained in charge of this promi- nent congregation ever since and has served longer than any minister now on duty in the city, having been pastor for twenty- seven years. This is practically the only charge he has ever had. During his ad- ministration the church edifice has been greatly enlarged and embellished, and the congregation increased to a membership of 667 members, notwithstanding the many dismissals to other churches, to the number of at least four hundred. The congregation is by far the strongest and most important one attached to the Southern Presbyterian Church, not only in Baltimore, but in the country.

In 1887 this congregation purchased a lot from the Methodists, on which was a

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

church building, on the southwest corner of Maryland and Huntingdon avenues, and there was organized in October, 1887, the "Maryland Avenue Presbyterian Church." The new congregation was composed of thirty members of the Franklin Street Church, who were dismissed for that pur- pose, and a few others. Subsequently twen- ty-two more were dismissed to the same congregation. The property of the Mary- land Avenue Church is owned by the Franklin Street Church.

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

By the union of several families of the First Presbyterian Church and several from the Franklin Street Church this congrega- tion began its history in 1852 in its present edifice, which is situated at the southeast corner of Fayette and Greene streets. It has been wisely and successfully adminis- tered from the first, though it is now be- ginning to feel the effect of the removal of many of its members to other parts of the city which are more attractive. Business is beginning to encroach upon its neighbor- hood most seriously. An unusual interest has been attached to this church because its large burial-ground, formerly the burial- ground of the First Presbyterian Church, contains the bodies of many of the most prominent citizens Baltimore has had in the past. Among them is Edgar Allen Poe, whose tomb is at the front corner of the lot. The first pastor was the Rev. Dr. Wil- liam Hoge. He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Cyrus Dickson, the Rev. Dr. Marquis, the Rev. Dr. Wilson. The present pastor is the Rev. John L. Allison. Membership, 343.

CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Among the strongest Presbyterian churches of Baltimore is to be ranked the Central Church. Its history covers almost half a century, its organization having been effected in 1853. The first pastor was the Rev. Dr. Stuart Robinson, who had been pastor of the old Associate Reformed Church on Fayette street. After a short pastorate there he resigned to return to work in the Presbyterian Church. About seventy members of the Associate Reformed Church went with him and, together with thirteen others, formed themselves into a new Presbyterian congregation. A com- modious hall on Hanover street was pro- cured for temporary use, and steps were taken to erect a church immediately. This was done on the corner of Saratoga and Liberty streets, and in 1855 the edifice was ready for use. The entire expenditure for lot and edifice amounted to $63,000. In 1856 Doctor Robinson resigned to accept a professorship in Danville Theological Semi- nary. Under his ministry the membership increased from 83 to 257, a remarkable growth. After several fruitless calls the congregation secured the Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Peck, who had been pastor of the Broad- way Church, as its pastor. After two years' incumbency he resigned in 1860 to accept a professorship in Union Theological Semi- nary, Virginia. The membership had de- clined under his pastorate to 179. The Rev. Silas G. Dunlap next served for only one year. The congregation was burdened with a heavy debt and greatly discouraged, and dissolution was openly debated. But by heroic effort the floating debt was dis- charged and the permanent debt fully pro- vided for. Whereupon the Rev. Dr. Joseph

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

T. Smith assumed the pastorate and con- tinued to serve the congregation with sig- nal success until 1894, when he was com- pelled to resign its active duties owing to the increasing infirmities of old age. In 1873 the General Assembly of the Presby- terian Church in the United States met in the Central Church. In July of that year the church was destroyed by the great fire which swept over that section of the city. A public hall was used for a time. It was determined to seek a new site, and the Third Presbyterian Church united itself with the Central Church on this condition. The present lot on Eutaw Place, near Dol- phin street, was selected and a handsome chapel erected in 1874. The beautiful and stately church was erected subsequently and a strong congregation has gradually been gathered into it. The Rev. Dr. Smith was so beloved by his people that they would not dissolve the relations which had so long bound them, but made him Pastor Emeritus upon his resignation in 1894. He has been highly honored for many years throughout the whole Presbyterian Church of the land, and has received an election to the Mod- eratorship of the General Assembly and to other positions of trust in this body.

The Rev. Hugh K. Walter was pastor from 1894 to 1897, when he resigned to ac- cept a call to Los Angeles, Cal. The pres- ent membership of the congregation is about four hundred.

THE MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

In May, 1881, the Rev. J. Wynne Jones, then pastor of Tome Street Presbyterian Church at Canton, organized a Sunday- school and established preaching at High- land with gratifying success. The demand

for larger church accommodations became apparent. A large lot was selected for a church at the corner of Bank street and Highland avenue and purchased through the liberality of Mr. John S. Gilman and Gen. George S. Brown.

In 1882 a beautiful church building of large dimensions was erected through the liberality of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Abbott, at a cost of about $29,000, and was named Abbott Chapel in honor of the donors. On the evening of November 30, 1882, the church was organized by the Presbytery of Baltimore, with twenty-six members from Tome Street Church. On December 10, 1883, the Rev. J. Wynne Jones was in- stalled as pastor by the Presbytery of Bal- timore. Since then the church has increas- ed rapidly in numbers and influence, and for many years it has been self-sustaining. The present membership is 240; Sabbath- school about 400. It has also a library and reading room of 7,000 volumes and 118 cur- rent periodicals, and the rooms are open daily till 10 p. m. for the benefit of the com- munity without regard to sect or creed.

In 1884 a beautiful parsonage was built at a cost of about $8,000, through the great kindness and liberality of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Gilman. The entire cost of grounds, church and Manse was about $43,000.

HAMPDEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

About 1873 a meeting of Presbyterians living at Hampden was held in the house of Mr. Anderson. A congregation was or- ganized. A church was built in 1874 and is still used. It is of stone. The first pastor was the Rev. John Fox. The present pastor is the Rev. Richard L. Meily, and the mem- bership is 170.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The burial-ground of the Second Presby- terian Church was, when originally pur- chased, far outside the city limits to the northeast. It was named after the first pas- tor and called the "Glendy Burying Ground." It was afterwards made over to the Presbyterian Association so as to secure its permanent preservation. The growth of the city in this direction a quarter of a cen- tury ago led the First Presbyterian Church to establish a Sunday-school on a corner opposite the burying-ground on Sunday, February 6, 1876. It was begun in a three- story brick building, and on April 18th the first preaching service was held. The mis- sion was called the "Faith Chapel." It grew so rapidly that a new building was required within a year. Permission was secured from the association to erect a frame chapel on the Glendy Burying Ground. It cost $4,- 000, and on January 6th it was set apart for worship. By this time the Sunday- school had grown to 459. The Rev. John P. Campbell entered upon charge of the mission June 2, 1878, and has continued in office ever since, doing faithful service and seeing marvelous advance. In the latter part of 1879 the chapel was greatly enlarged at a cost of $2,500, and on Sunday, Feb- ruary 6, 1880, it was ready for use. The Sunday-school had grown to 1,250 mem- bers. In 1885 the building was again en- larged. In 1887 the school numbered 1,629 officers and scholars. In 1883 the erection of the present handsome stone church was begun. It was completed in 1884 and the dedication took place on Thanksgiving Day, 1884. It cost $40,000. The beautiful spire was built in 1885 by George S. Brown, Esq., as a memorial to his mother,

Mrs. Isabella Brown. On November 8, 1886, Faith Chapel became independent of the First Church, and organized itself as Faith Church with 265 members. In the fall Faith Church started a mission for the benefit of the Bohemians and Moravians. Services were held in Faith Chapel. In 1890 the Bohemian and Presbyterian Church was organized. In 1895 it began its independent existence and took steps to erect its own church. This was done in 1898. In 1892 the Faith Church was in- corporated, and the Association transferred to it the Glendy Burying Ground in 1896. The membership of the church in 1896 was 587, and of the Sunday-school 1, 154.

TWELFTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

On West Franklin street, in the year 1853, a plain brick edifice was erected by members of the First Church and the Franklin Street Church and the Westmin- ster Church, who lived in that neighbor- hood. It has had a hard struggle and at times bitter strife, so that its progress has not been great in spiritual things. Its pres- ent pastor is the Rev. D. Burchard Greigg, D. D. The membership is 312.

MADISON STREET CHURCH (Colored).

This congregation was organized in 1842 as a mission. For several years it met in what was known as "Werfield Church," which was situated on the rear of the old City Spring lot where the City Hospital now stands on Calvert street. The present brick edifice on Madison street, near Park avenue, was purchased from the Baptists, and after some improvements was named the Madison Street Presbyterian Church. This was in 1853. The congregation is among the strongest colored congregations

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

in the South and has many members con- spicuous for their ability and prosperity. Its first pastor was a white man, but all the others have been colored men. The pres- ent efficient and acceptable minister is the Rev. William H. Weaver. Among its past pastors was the Rev. B. K. Bruce, after- wards United States Senator from Louis- iana and now Register of the United States Treasury. The membership is 212.

SOUTH CHURCH, OR LIGHT STREET PRES- BYTERIAN CHURCH.

A sore need began to be felt for a Pres- byterian church in the southern section of the city, and in 1853 a Sunday-school was opened in Armstrong's Hall on Federal Hill. The first pastor was Rev. J. H. Kauf- man, 1853 to 1860. The church was dedi- cated June 10, 1855, on Light street near Montgomery. It is a neat and substantial edifice of brick. The congregation was in- corporated in 1856 and has experienced a slow but sure growth. On November 3, 1871, the name was changed from "South" to "Light Street Church." It has a wide territory, being the only Presbyterian church in that section of the city. The Rev. William L. Everitt is the present pas- tor. The membership is 207; the Sunday- school has 305 scholars. The congregation owns a comfortable parsonage on William street.

GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Colored).

A mission for colored people was organ- ized in 1870 by the First Church. Its pres- ent brick edifice on the corner of Dolphin and Etting streets was at once erected. The congregation was organized in 1881. Faith- ful ministrations of its pastors have grad-

ually attracted an active congregation. To- day it is in a good condition under the care of the Rev. E. C. Eggleston. The mem- bership is 95.

BROWN MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The most important church erected by the Presbyterians in the last half century is the Brown Memorial on the southwest corner of Park and Lafayette avenues. It was built in 1870-1871 by Mrs. George Brown as a memorial to her husband, who was one of the best and ablest men Balti- more has ever known. The church, with Manse on the south and chapel on the west, is built of white marble, and the whole forms one of the best ecclesiastical properties in the city. The total cost was $130,000. A mural tablet on one of the inner walls bears the name of "George Brown," while on the opposite side of the pulpit a similar tablet has been erected bearing the name of the donor, "Isabella Brown." This church has enjoyed from the very beginning the very greatest prosperity, due chiefly. to the un- usual men who have filled its pastorate. The first was a man of distinguished ability as a preacher, the Rev. J. S. Jones, who served faithfully and well for fifteen years, and who only resigned because of failing health. He was succeeded by the Rev. Frank Gunsaulus, D. D., now of Chicago, whose remarkable powers rendered the pul- pit of this favored church most attractive. His administration was short-about two years-but most successful. The Rev. M. D. Babcock, D. D., the present pastor, suc- ceeded Dr. Gunsaulus and has maintained the church at its usual height of efficiency

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and prosperity, and also won for himself a good name throughout the city. He has re- sisted several tempting offers to go else- where. The membership is now the largest of any Presbyterian church in the city, num- bering 760 communicants. The Sunday- school is also very large.

Under the present administration the Park Presbyterian Church was erected a few years ago on the corner of North and Madison avenues.

KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Colored).

A congregation of colored Presbyterians was organized in East Baltimore in 1877. A church was erected on Aisquith street in that year, but in 1890 the present site on Colvin street between Hillen and Front streets was secured and a new edifice erect- ed. The membership is thirty-one, and the present pastor is the Rev. A. S. Gray.

CANTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church was first organized in 1878 under the name of the "Tome Street Pres- byterian Church," so called from the street on which it is situated. Later it took the present title of the Canton Presbyterian Church. The present pastor is the Rev. Thomas W. Pulham.

LAFAYETTE SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This very important Presbyterian church, situated in the western part of the city on the square from which it takes its name, has known a prosperous existence ever since its erection in the year 1880. The church is a handsome stone edifice, in the Gothic style of architecture, and adds much to the beauty of its surroundings. The first pastor -a most efficient man-was the Rev. Mr.

McLanahan. The congregation is very strong and aggressive, and its Sunday- school is also large and efficient. The nun- ber of communicants is 376. The present pastor is the Rev. Llewellyn Fulmer.

BOUNDARY AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.

On the southeast corner of Boundary (now called North) avenue and St. Paul street a very handsome stone church was erected in the year 1881. The style of archi- tecture is Gothic and the stone is white mar- ble. Both in exterior and interior it is a most pleasing edifice. The congregation is strong and now numbers 378 communi- cants. The first pastor was the Rev. Dr. Purvis. The Rev. F. E. Williams is now in charge and the church is in a most pros- perous condition. Situated as it is in a pop- ular part of the city, and with its very hand- some property, its future seems assured.

THE FULTON AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church grew out of a work begun by the Presbyterian Association of Balti- more. Early in 1886 the Association leased a lot at the corner of Fulton and Riggs ave- nue. The few nearest churches (Brown Memorial, Lafayette Square, Westminster and the Twelfth) undertook the support of a Sabbath-school and the maintenance of such services as might seem advisable. In November, 1886, a church was organized, with twenty-five members and one ruling elder. After May, 1887, Brown Memorial Church alone continued to give financial aid. In June, 1829, the Fulton avenue con- gregation became self-supporting. In 1897 nearly 350 communicants were enrolled, with a Sabbath-school of nearly 450, the

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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