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 47

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 47

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The faithful pastorate of the Rev. Lewis Richards continued until 1818, thirty years, when he was compelled to retire on account of the infirmities of old age. He remained connected with the congregation, however, until his death in 1832. Under him the Sunday-school was organized in 1814 or 1815. The Rev. Edward J. Reiss, who had been assistant pastor for three years, was elected to succeed the Rev. Mr. Richards in 1817. On the 22nd of March of the next year a new edifice was dedicated on the northeast corner of Sharp and Lombard streets, at a cost of $50,000. It was long known as "The Round Top Church." In 1821 the Rev. Mr. Reiss seceded from the First Church and, taking a goodly number of personal followers with him, founded the Ebenezer Baptist Church, which became extinct after a short existence. The Rev. John Finlay was called from Albany, N. Y., to succeed to the pastorate in 1821, and re- mained in charge for thirteen years, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Stephen P.

Lastwith-

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Hill, in 1834, who was pastor for sixteen years. In October of 1839 a noted revival- ist-Elder Knapp-held a series of services in the church which awakened so great an interest that two hundred and twenty-nine persons were converted and baptized, and twenty-seven were admitted to membership by letter. By this effort the congregation was greatly strengthened. The Rev. Mr. Hill continued in charge until February 15, 1850, when he was succeeded by the Rev. John W. M. Williams, D. D., of Lynchburg, Va., whose able administration continued until his lamented death, August 28, 1894, forty-four years. During his administration many improvements and changes were made. The Sunday-school was reorganized in 1852. An organ, the first in a Baptist Church of Baltimore, was obtained and is still in use. The church was repaired and embellished. In 1853 a colony left the First Church and established a congregation in the southern part of the city, which finally became the Lee Street Baptist Church. In 1866 the church reported 616 members. The gradual encroachment of business ren- dered the old site undesirable and it was decided to sell it and move elsewhere. A lot was purchased at a cost of $10,000 on Townsend street (now Lafayette avenue) near Fremont. The old property (valued at $60,000) and $5,000 in cash were given for the present church edifice, which was erected for their special use. On January 6, 1878, the new church was first used for divine worship. It is a large marble build- ing, with all modern conveniences. In 1894 the present efficient pastor, the Rev. Curtis Lee Laws, entered upon charge of this very important congregation. His labors have

been abundantly blessed. The membership is 512.

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.

The origin of this congregation is re- markable. The first pastor, the Rev. John Healy, gives the following record of it: "In the year 1794, three families of us, viz: John Healy and wife, Matthew Hulse and wife, William Lynes and wife, all members of the Baptist Church, England, which was called "The New Connexion,' determined to emi- grate to the United States and remain to- gether as a religious community. We ar- rived in New York October 5th, and stayed till February following, when we embarked for Baltimore." Besides the above there were twelve children and a sister of Mrs. Hulse, making nineteen persons in all. Be- fore leaving England they had chosen Mr. Healy their minister, but he received no ordination until 1798. Leaving their des- tiny in his hands, he chose to settle at Fell's Point, then the commercial part of the city. The use of a sail-loft, which had been fitted up as a mission by the Rev. Dr. Bend, rec- tor of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, was ob- tained free of rent. Soon the congregation moved to larger quarters, above "The Watch House," on the corner of Broadway and Aliceanna street. Here they held a weekly prayer meeting. The Rev. Mr. Richards, pastor of the First Baptist Church, gave them such attention as he could. On the IIth of June, 1797, they or- ganized and adopted a constitution. They also ordered "that Brother John Healy do preach the gospel statedly among us, in season and out of season, and administer the ordinances of God unto us regularly as our pastor." In the same year they began to

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

build a meeting house. It was 27x40 feet and very plain. It still stands on the corner of Bank and Eden streets. Before their church was fully completed a frightful plague of yellow fever visited the city, and of this little congregation one-half died, in- cluding every male member except Mr. Healy. Still they persevered. On July 20, 1798, Mr. Healy was ordained elder by Joshua Jones and John Austin, "elders of the Baptist Churches of the City of Lin- coln and Bessel's Green, near Seven Oaks, Kent, Great Britain." The congregation continued to use the old church until 1811, when a new edifice on Fleet street (now Canton street) was built. The membership grew rapidly. In 1807, after several years' opposition, the church was admitted into the Association; but in 1836 it withdrew. In 1848 it was affiliated with the Maryland Union and so continues. The Rev. Mr. Healy remained pastor until his death on June 17, 1848, at the age of eighty-four years. His long life and noble character had endeared him to the whole community so that he was publicly styled "Father Healy." The Rev. George F. Adams was called to succeed him in 1848 and remained in charge twelve years. He found just one hundred members enrolled. In 1853 it was decided to move to a more suitable loca- tion, so the Fleet street lot was sold and the present lot was leased and the church erected thereon at a cost of $16,600, 011 Broadway near Pratt street. This new edi- fice was opened in November, 1854, and an earnest congregation rejoiced to make it its ecclesiastical home. In 1860 the Rev. Mr. Adams resigned, and the following year was succeeded by the Rev. A. G. Thomas, of Pennsylvania. He resigned eighteen

months later to become a chaplain in a United States Army hospital. For the next ten years the pastorate was filled by as many men. In 1884 the Rev. George W. McCul- lough, a young man of Baltimore, became the pastor and advanced the condition of the congregation in every way. The interior of the church was remodeled and decorated. The Rev. J. A. Fletcher was elected pastor in 1897. The membership is 114. The Sunday-school of this church was organized in 1797 and is thus one of the oldest in the land. A large part of the accessions to the Second Church have come through its Sun- day-school.

FOURTH BAPTIST CHURCH.

This church has had several titles accord- ing to its location. So rapid has been its growth that it has outgrown two edifices and has but recently erected a third. Its interesting history began in 1835 under the name of "Calvert Street Baptist Church." Its founding was a marvelous work of faith, entirely due to the zeal and consecration of two brothers, Messrs. William and James C. Crane, who moved hither from Rich- mond, Va., the former in 1834 and the latter in 1837. Mr. William Crane, upon his ar- rival, set about to organize another Baptist congregation. In 1834 he purchased a meeting house on Calvert street near Sara- toga, which had formerly been occupied by the Ebenezer Baptist congregation, which was now extinct. He paid $4,000 for it, and at once began to look for a suitable man as pastor. The congregation was publicly recognized February 15, 1835. The first pastor was the Rev. Joseph G. Binney, but discouraged by its slow growth, he resigned charge of the church after four months' in-

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

cumbency. During his short stay only one person was baptized and she was a Jewess, Miss Cohen, of Richmond. A Sunday- school was also organized. The Rev. Wil- liam Richards served temporarily, adding a few members to this "feeble folk." In January, 1836, the Rev. George F. Adams assumed charge and did faithful work for seven years. In 1837 James C. Crane moved to Baltimore and gave life and in- terest to the Sunday-school and congrega- tion. Large accessions were now made to the church; in the years 1840 and 1841 a gain of 254 was reported. In 1842 the Rev. Mr. Adams resigned to become the State Missionary and was succeeded by the Rev.

Jonathan Aldridge in July, 1843. In May, 1844, the congregation decided to change its location. For a time they occupied a va- cant chapel on the southwest corner of Bal- timore and Exeter streets, but in 1845 they opened their new church edifice on High street near Low. It cost $17,000 and only $4,000 could be raised toward this sum, leav- ing a heavy debt which long burdened the congregation. The Rev. Mr. Aldridge served but a year, during which 104 addi- tions were made to the membership. Next to him succeeded one of the best and ablest men the Baptist Church of Baltimore has ever known, the Rev. Franklin Wilson, D. D., who entered upon his duties April II, 1847. He at once attacked the debt, and reduced it one-half during his pastorate of three years, and added 167 persons to the congregation. The loss of his voice caused his resignation in 1850, when he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. H. J. Chandler. He re- duced the debt to $2,000 and admitted fifty persons by baptism. Though virtually in charge of the congregation, the Rev. Mr.

Chandler was really only the assistant of the Rev. Dr. Wilson, who occasionally preach- ed. The latter received no salary at all, at any time, from the congregation In 1853 the Rev. John Berg took charge and la- bored successfully for two years. The Rev. L. W. Seely served for two years, resigning in 1857. In 1858 the Rev. E. R. Hera was called. The following year such a serious difficulty arose that he resigned, and taking with him about fifty members formed a new congregation, which had a very short his- tory and then disbanded. From 1859 to 1866 the Rev. George P. Nice was pastor of the church, and, largely by the liberality of the Rev. Dr. Wilson, the remainder of the debt was paid. The building was improved at a cost of $2,000. The Rev. R. B. Kelsay was pastor from 1867 to 1870. The Rev. M. R. Watkinson served from 1871 to 1873. During his administration a mission was established in the northeastern part of the city, which afterwards became the Shiloh, now Grace Baptist Church. Following him came the Rev. John T. Craig for seven years, in whose day the church building was. thoroughly repaired and a steeple erected, at a total cost of $4,000. In May, 1881, the Rev. W. S. Penick assumed charge and re- mained until 1885, when, on July Ist, he was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. O. F. Gregory, D. D. He found a membership of about 400, but the neighbor- hood of the church had become so invaded by foreign population that it was decided to move elsewhere. The High street property was sold to the Bishop of Maryland and converted into the St. James First African Church (Episcopal), by which it is now used after much improvement. Ten thousand dollars were obtained by this sale. A lot

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

was purchased on Broadway and Jefferson street for $11,000 and on the rear of this lot a chapel, to form a part of the main edifice when erected, was built in 1891-1892 at a cost of $14,000. It was dedicated on March 20, 1892. The congregation is gradually growing under the wise leadership of the Rev. Dr. Gregory, whose zeal and devotion have gained him a good name throughout the city. The present membership is 345.

FIRST COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH.

The early history of this congregation is unknown, but it is clear that in 1818 a col- ored Baptist preacher came to Baltimore and for a year preached in a private house on Potter street near Fayette. There is no record that a congregation was organized. As the race was in slavery both the laws and public opinion were against separate con- gregations for the black man. Some few were members of the First (white) Church. When Mr. William Crane came to Balti- more in 1834 he made an effort to gather the colored Baptists in a distinct organiza- tion. He secured the services of Moses Clayton, who had been a slave, and he formed a Sunday-school on the corner of Young and Thomsen streets. He was a man of very limited knowledge but of boundless enthusiasm, and soon gathered a little band of converts. A congregation was formed on February 20th and Moses Clay- ton was ordained pastor. The growth was very slow. In 1841 it was received into the Association. For the next twenty years there is nothing special to chronicle. In 1860 the pastor, Rev. Moses Clayton, died at the age of seventy-seven years. The Rev. J. Carey and the Rev. John Whyte and the Rev. J. Underlue served for short periods.

The last resigned in 1864 to enlist in the Union Army. At this time the congrega- tion had about eighty members. In 1865 the Rev. Lewis Hicks assumed charge and remained for five years. Despite the fact that he was an illiterate, he was gifted with great fluency of speech and met with marked success. He collected sufficient funds to build a meeting house in the place of the old school house. In 1872 the pres- ent pastor, the Rev. J. C. Allen, a student of Iberia College, Ohio, assumed charge of the church. His administration has been most prosperous. In a short time he in- creased the membership from one hundred to three hundred, until a new and larger place of worsip was found necessary. In 1875 a lot was secured at the corner of Caro- line and McElderry streets, at a cost of $3,500. In 1880 a handsome edifice was erected by the Church Extension Society, to be deeded to the congregation when fully paid for. The church and ground cost about $16,500. The new edifice was dedi- cated on the last Sunday in January, 1881, and during the first month fifty converts were baptized. In 1885 its membership had reached 371. The present membership is 406.

SEVENTH BAPTIST CHURCH.

This most important congregation had its origin in a meeting held on October 17, 1845, in the old meeting house on Calvert street. About one hundred persons were present, all of whom were members of the First Baptist Church, who had withdrawn from it owing to differences of opinion upon matters of church government. It was here decided to organize a new congregation at once and to purchase the Calvert Street

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Church from Wm. Crane for $6,000. On October 27th their constitution was adopt- ed. On November 3d the Council of the city churches recognized the new congre- gation as a "Regular Baptist Church under the name of the Seventh Baptist Church of the city of Baltimore." Ninety-seven mem- bers of the First Church seceded to join it. The public recognition service was held on Tuesday, November 4, 1845. The Rev. Dr. E. L. Magoon, of Richmond, was elect- ed but declined. The Rev. O. W. Briggs served as temporary pastor until Sep- tember 3d, 1846. The Rev. Dr. Richard Fuller, of South Carolina, was elected permanent pastor, and on July 5, 1847, connected himself with the congregation and became its pastor. He had made it conditional upon his acceptance that a larger house of worship should be at once erected. A lot on the northwest corner of Paca and Saratoga streets had been pur- chased in 1846, and the work of erection be- gun. The Calvert street property was sold and while the congregation was without a home it worshiped in the Madison Street Church (now owned by the Madison Pres- byterian Church, colored). On the third Sunday of June, 1847, the new church was dedicated and the congregation entered upon that remarkable history which has characterized this church from that time to this. Only the more prominent events can be enumerated. On September 9, 1856, "The Young Men's City Mission Society" was organized to hold weekly meetings in the church and in private houses, to dis- tribute tracts, and to visit the poor and sick. In 1864 this organization collected $500 to purchase a dilapidated chapel on Pierce street, near Fremont, where they started a

Sunday-school, which in 1880 was removed to a large building on the corner of Schroeder and Pierce streets, which cost, together with repairs, $3,000. This is still in the care of the Society, which was legally incorporated in 1866. On September 28, 1851, Rev. Isaac Cole, formerly a Methodist minister, was publicly immersed, at his own request, in the Spring Gardens. Thousands of spectators witnessed this act. In the same month Mr. Alexander Butcher and twenty-two other members were received by letter from the First Baptist Church. Mr. Butcher gave much time to the organ- ization and management of a Sunday-school called the West End school, situated on the southeast . corner of Fayette street and Stockton alley. From this, four years later, the Franklin Square Baptist Church was organized. To this new congregation twenty-two members of the Seventh Church were dismissed. A new mission was begun under Mr. Butcher on Fremont street be- low Pratt. It was commonly called Elbow Lane school. It lived but a short time. In 1856, 183 persons were added by bap- tism, the membership was over 1,000. The church was thoroughly repaired in 1858, during which the congregation met with the First and Franklin Square Churches. It was again repaired in 1867 at a cost of $5,000. In this year beginnings were made to establish a new congregation in the northwestern part of the city. Mr. Hiranı Woods started the movement by offering to give a lot of ground and $5,000 for this object. In a few months $36,226 were sub- scribed, and the erection of the present Eutaw Place Church was begun. It was completed in 1871, when the Rev. Dr. Ful- ler and one hundred and thirty members of

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

the Seventh Church, took letters of dismis- sion to move to the new church. The resig- nation of the Rev. Dr. Fuller produced profound sorrow, which was expressed to him by a series of tender resolutions.

On April 17, 1871, the Rev. Dr. W. T. Brantly was unanimously called to the va- cant pastorate, but it was not until Sep- tember 23d that he assumed charge. His administration also was a remarkable one, full of good works in all directions. In 1873 the Pierce Street Chapel was enlarged and improved. In 1874 a parsonage was bought. In 1880 the new chapel on Schroeder street was purchased for the Pierce Street Mission. The sudden death of Doctor Brantley on Monday, March 6, 1882, shocked not only his people, but also the city, in which he had already made himself a power for good. On November 17, 1882, the Rev. Thomas D. Anderson, Jr., D. D., of Portland, Me., assumed charge of the be- reaved congregation and served with great acceptance until he was succeeded by the Rev. Wm. Harris, D. D. To him succeeded the Rev. N. A. Tupper, Jr. On January I, 1896 he was succeeded by the present pas- tor, the Rev. W. J. E. Cox. The member- ship is 417.

HUNTINGDON BAPTIST CHURCH, WAVERLY.

This congregation owes its origin to the zeal and piety of Mr. Frederick Harrison, who in 1835 started a Sunday-school in an old building at one time used as a barracks by the soldiers of Fort McHenry. It was situated on the old York Road, near the first toll-gate, and was occupied by the sol- diers in the summer to avoid the malaria of the Fort. Mr. Harrison was a member of

the First Baptist Church and a United States civil engineer. Several Baptist min- isters held services during the summer of 1835. In the winter the school was dis- missed, but public meetings were held at night and were conducted by city pastors, mostly Baptist. About 1843 several young men from the High Street Baptist Church greatly aided in the establishment of this mission. Among these was Franklin Wil- son, who subsequently became pastor of the First Baptist Church, and did such a splen- did work there and elsewhere. The first house of worship was dedicated October 20, 1844. In 1845 and 1846 revivals added so many to this little flock that it was de- cided to organize a separate congregation. This was at once effected, and in November the new church entered the Association, with a membership of twenty-one persons. The first pastor was the Rev. F. Wilson, who remained three years, when he was elected pastor of the First Church. The growth was very slow, under various pas- tors. In 1872 a new church was erected at a cost of $13,000, modelled after Talmage's Tabernacle in Brooklyn. The Rev. John Berg was then pastor (from 1865 to 1873). In 1882 a parsonage was erected in the ad- ministration of the Rev. E. B. Morris. The present pastor is the Rev. E. E. Ayres. The membership is 231.

UNION BAPTIST CHURCH (Colored).

This is by far the largest colored church in Baltimore and possibly in the South. It began in 1852 with fifty-seven members. It now numbers over two thousand. It first met for worship in a small building on Lewis street near Mullikin. The first pastor was named John Carey, who served until 1854.

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Several men followed him without much success until 1861, when the Rev. William Williams became pastor. He remained eight years and increased the membership to 124. In 1866 the "Saratoga Street Afri- can Baptist Church" (which had been estab- lished by Rev. Noah Davis on October 29, 1848) disbanded and many of its members joined the Lewis street congregation, and by reason of this union the new organiza- tion became incorporated under the title of "The Union Baptist Church." They num- bered 175 souls and began to seek a proper place for their new church. In 1868 the Dis- ciples' meeting-house on North street near Saratoga was purchased by the Rev. Francis Wilson, D. D., Hiram Woods and others and presented to the Union congregation on certain conditions. The Rev. Mr. Williams died in 1869. The Rev. William P. Thomp- son was pastor for two years. He left a membership of 240. He died January 24, 1872, greatly beloved by his people. In October, 1872, the Rev. Harvey Johnson, a graduate of Wayland Seminary, Washing- ton, entered upon the pastorate and con- tinues to this day. His career and success have been remarkable, and he is justly re- garded one of the ablest men the colored race possesses. Under him the congrega- tion has rapidly increased, until now it num- bers over two thousand. This congregation has been the origin of the following church- es: In 1874, the Macedonia Church; in 1879, the Calvary Church; in 1880, the Per- kins Square Baptist Church. It has also established churches at Frederick, Winfield and Westminster. Six men have passed from this congregation into the ministry. The Sunday-school numbers almost a thou- sand.

FRANKLIN SQUARE BAPTIST CHURCH.

From the Sunday-school, known as the West End Sunday-school and superintend- ed by Alexander Butcher, there sprang a new congregation in 1854. The meeting for organization was held in a house on Fayette street near Carey, the persons pres- ent being mostly from the Seventh and the High street congregations. The Rev. Dr. Franklin Wilson opened with prayer, and on his motion it was resolved: "That it is expedient to proceed, at the earliest possible period, to the formation of a Baptist Church at Franklin Square." The new congrega- tion was formally recognized at a public council held in the old "Round Top" Church on Lombard and Sharp streets. Its membership was thirty. The Church Extension Society purchased the present lot for $4,400. The church edifice was erected the following year and dedicated in Novem- ber, 1855. It cost about $20,000. The first pastor was the Rev. G. B. Taylor, who served two years. The membership num- bered eighty-six. The Rev. Dr. Franklin Wilson served for a year or two without pay. On October 15, 1858, the Rev. Fran- cis M. Barker became pastor and numerous additions were made during his short stay of a year. In 1859 the church became in- corporated and the Chuch Extension So- ciety transferred the property to its trustees. During the next ten years the church was served by almost as many pastors. In 1875 the Rev. G. W. Sanderlin became pastor and continued five years. The membership greatly increased, the new organ, costing $3,000, was secured, and the lecture room renovated. In 1876 the Rev. Dr. C. C. Bit- ting entered upon the charge of this con- gregation and remained seven years. In his

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

day the church was increased in its seating capacity and many handsome improvements made, at an expense of $6,000. One hun- dred and seventy-two persons were bap- tized and the membership increased to 496. In October, 1883, fifty-five members with- drew to form the Fulton Avenue Baptist Church, which grew out of the West End Mission. In 1883-4 a second-story addition was made to the lecture room, giving a li- brary and other rooms for social purposes. On March 1, 1884, the Rev. A. Judson Row- land, D. D., became the pastor and con- tinued in office until 1895, when he resigned to accept the charge of the Baptist Publica- tion House, Philadelphia. His administra- tion was marked by great prosperity. He was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Sparks W. Melton. The membership is 554.

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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