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 52

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 52

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CALVARY M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.

The Sunday-school Society of the Cen- tral M. E. Church, South, started a mission school in 1869. The Ingraham Chapel in South Baltimore was first rented and ser- vices were begun there. The first pastor

was the Rev. Samuel H. Parrish. In 1871 a lot was purchased on Hill street, near Hanover, and it was dedicated on February II, 1872, by Bishop Doggett. The mem- bership increased rapidly so that a new building was necessary. In 1874 the con- gregation purchased the Presbyterian Church on the southeast corner of German and Greene streets, and owned it until March, 1879, when this property was sold. For a period Calvary congregation wor- shiped with the congregation of the Sec- ond Lutheran Church, the pastors preach- ing alternately. In 1876 it built a new edi- fice on the corner of Greene and King streets. Afterwards the Methodist Protest- ant Church edifice, on the southeast corner of Lombard and Greene streets, was pur- chased and is now owned by this congre- gation. It is a plain brick structure. A parsonage is owned at the rear of the church on Greene street. The present pas- tor is the Rev. C. R. Harris, and the mem- bership is 283.

FREDERICK AVENUE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.

In 1871 this congregation was organized. The church edifice was erected in the same year on Frederick avenue. It has known a slow growth and now numbers eighty-one members. The pastor is the Rev. L. W. Haslup.

ARLINGTON M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.

This congregation was organized in the suburb of Arlington several years ago. The present church edifice was erected in 1895. The building is of stone. The growth has been steady until the membership is now 190. The pastor is the Rev. J. S. Engle.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ST. PAUL'S M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.

This congregation was organized in 1861. It met first in Sharf's Hall, southeast cor- ner of Booth and Carey streets. Somewhat later it secured the use of a house known as the "Winan's Soup House," on Balti- more street, opposite the Winans' residence. The name of "Winans' Chapel" was given to this. Subsequently the congregation moved to Hollins' Hall, but in 1868 a lot was purchased on Fayette street, near Re- publican, and thereupon the present large brick edifice was erected in 1868-1869. It was built a: a cost of $45,000, and was dedi- cated on December 3, 1871. It is a build- ing having a basement suitable for Sunday- school and class rooms, and a large audi- ence room above. This church has known a prosperous history, and is the second strongest Methodist Church, South, in the city, ranking next to Trinity Church. Its membership is 621. The parsonage is at 1050 W. Fayette street, almost opposite the church. The present pastor is the Rev. H. M. Whaling, Ph. D. The Wilkens Avenue M. E. Church, South, is a mission of St. Paul's and its membership is included in the above number. The pastor is the Rev. Wmn. Stevens.

CENTRAL M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.

A large number of persons, who had separated themselves from the General Con- ference of the M. E. Church, organized a new congregation in 1862 and took the name of the "Central M. E. Church." It met first in the New Assembly Rooms for a year, then it removed to a hall on Paca street. Next it worshiped over the old Eutaw Savings Bank until the year 1867, when the old Church of the Ascension on

Lexington street, near Pine, was purchased from that congregation. Six years later this property was sold and the congregation occupied a hall on N. Schroeder street, un- til its new church was built on the south- east corner of Edmonson avenue and Stricker street. The lower room of this edi- fice was occupied in December, 1874 and the entire building was dedicated on Octo- ber 21, 1877. The cost was $23,000.

This congregation is in a flourishing con- dition, under the charge of the Rev. J. A. Anderson. It also maintains a Mission Chapel, called the "Carnaervon Church," of which the Rev. W. H. Best is pastor. The membership of both is 322.

NORTH BALTIMORE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.

This church is situated on East Lexing- ton street, near Aisquith. As this portion of Lexington street was formerly named Holland street, this church was called the Holland Street Church. The extension of Lexington street was the occasion of the change of the name to the present title. The congregation was organized in 1866 by a number of persons who withdrew from the Methodist Church because of circumstances which at that time rendered it impossiblefor them to remain in that body. The church was dedicated on January 5, 1867, by Bishop Doggett. The first pastor was the Rev. David Thomas, for many years an honored member of the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Church, South. The years of 1868 and 1869 were times of revival, growth and prosperity, under the pastorate of the Rev. I. W. Canter, at present the Presiding Elder of the East Baltimore District. The membership has become very much scat- tered in recent years, owing to changes in

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

the neighborhood of the church; and at present numbers about one hundred. The present pastor is the Rev. A. D. Kern.

INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCHES.

There are certain congregations, in and about Baltimore, which have at different times and for different causes left the Me- thodist Church and assumed an independ- ent position. They have no organic unity, each styling itself an Independent Metho- dist Church. The chief of these (the Chats- worth Church) severed its connection be- fore the war, but most of the others took an independent attitude either during or af- ter the war. When the Baltimore Confer- ence of the M. E. Church met in 1861 the majority of the members resolved not to "submit to the authority of the General Conferenc :," and declared themselves "in- dependent of it." When the Baltimore Conference met in 1862 those who sympa- thized with the Southern cause and the posi- tion taken by the Southern element of the Conference in 1861, declined to recognize its authority. Some of these congregations united themselves a little later with the M. E. Church, South, while the others decided to maintain an independent position. All of these have been served by ministers of the Methodist Church, so that some vital connection is still retained with the parent body.

CHATSWORTH INDEPENDENT M. E. CHURCH.

This is an off-shoot of the Eutaw Street M. E. Church. In March, 1859, a lot was purchased at the southwest corner of Franklin and Pine streets, on which stood

an old two-story frame building. In this a Methodist Sunday-school was organized in the upper rooms, which were fitted up for the purpose. The school was organized on April 22 with twenty-two scholars. The name "Chatsworth" was given it because a large tract of land, on which the frame building stood, originally bore that name. The work prospered until in 1861 the Bal- timore Conference was requested to appoint a minister to have charge of it. The Rev. John A. Williams was appointed and en- tered upon the pastorate on April 7, 1861. There were then seventeen members. In 1862 the congregation refused to acknowl- edge the authority of the Conference and in October, 1863, determined to assume an independent position as a church. The Rev. Mr. Williams was elected the pastor on March 1, 1864. A church edifice was dedicated on March 27, 1864. It was a plain brick structure, having two stories. It remained unchanged until a few years ago, when a stone front was erected to the old building and numerous improvements made. In the early part of 1898 the ques- tion of reunion with the Methodist Church was thoroughly discussed and it was de- cided to abandon the independent position and to seek relations with the parent or- ganization. So that this congregation will soon lose its title of "Independent" which it has had for almost forty years. The present pastor is the Rev. Thomas O. Crouse. Membership, 300.

WILLIAM STREET INDEPENDENT M. E. CHURCH.

The Rev. Thomas W. Lowe began a missionary work in a tent on the corner of Williams and Gittings streets, in 1875. A congregation was organized in that year.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Four months after the inauguration of these services the present edifice was be- gun. It was dedicated on February 6, 1876. It is a two-story brick building and seats 540 people. The church was incor- porated August 19, 1875. The Rev. Mr. Lowe is still in charge.

ST. JOHN'S INDEPENDENT M. E. CHURCH.

This congregation occupies a stately old brick edifice which was erected in 1818 on Liberty street near Fayette. It is a two- story building, and though now far down town, the congregation possesses much life and energy. It is under the leadership of the Rev. John S. Bowers.

MADISON AVENUE INDEPENDENT M. E. CHURCH.

The congregation of St. John's Inde- pendent Church built a beautiful stone chapel on the rear of a lot at the corner of Madison avenue and Wilson street. It was dedicated on April 29, 1877, and was for some years called the "St. John's Chapel." It has now a vigorous growth, owing to its favorite location.

OLIVE BRANCH INDEPENDENT M. E. CHURCH.

On the southwest corner of Charles street and Fort avenue a plain and small chapel was erected in 1880 and dedicated on April 28th. The congregation is not large.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Though the Congregational body had no distinct history in Baltimore until i865, there is an interesting fact in the records of Maryland which will bear narration. Among the early settlers of the eastern counties of Virginia, south of the James river, was a band of Puritans. The peace

and security they hoped to enjoy there was rudely broken in 1647 by a decree of the Governor and Assembly of Virginia that all ministers "duly upon every Sabbath day read such prayers as are appointed and pre- scribed unto them by the Book of Common Prayer." Banishment was the penalty for non-conformity. The little band of Puri- tans left Virginia and settled in groups be- tween the Magothy and Patuxent rivers in Maryland. Their first meeting house was on the banks of the Magothy. Their numbers increased rapidly, but their sense of independence was suddenly disturbed by a mandate from Lord Baltimore to send burgesses to an assembly to be held at St. Mary's, in March, 1651. Acknowledging no allegiance to Lord Baltimore, they de- clined to do so. The Governor thereupon moved against them, as they were assem- bled at their chief settlement on the Severn, with fourteen boats and two hundred and fifty men. The Puritans, with but two ves- sels and a hundred and twenty men, at- tacked the Governor's party on Sunday, March 25, 1655, and after a desperate en- counter captured him and all his troops. At a court martial held the next day the Governor and nine of his assistants were condemned to death, but only three or four were executed. He was allowed to depart, and for several years the Puritans enjoyed peace. A compromise was arranged in England, and perfect liberty and equality were secured thereby to the Puritan band. Then the disputed territory was yielded up to Lord Baltimore. For two hundred years nothing further was heard of Puri- tanisın in Maryland.

From the day of the founding of the town there were not a few who had some

441

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

connection, near or remote, with New Eng- land. They were not numerous enough to form an alliance, but worshiped with those religious bodies whose polity and principles corresponded most closely to those of New England. Gradually the number increased, but it was not until 1864 that any definite move was made toward the organization of a congregational society. On the 18th of November about ten persons met at the residence of Mr. P. Morton, on Druid Hill avenue, and agreed to inaugurate weekly meetings. No Sunday service was held un- til the fifth of the following February, when their first public service was conducted in the New Assembly Rooms, corner of Han- over and Lombard streets. Two services were held on this day, conducted by the Rev. John P. Gulliver, of Norwich, Conn. Two weeks later, February 19th, the Rev. Lewellyn Pratt, of Philadelphia, preached to a little congregation which met in Ar- mitage Hall, on North Paca street. Other ministers officiated for several Sundays. On the 16th of April a Sunday-school was organized and on May 17th a council was held at the Red Men's Hall, North Paca street. At this council there were dele- gates from Bangor, Me., Boston, Norwich, Conn., New York, Philadelphia and else- where. The new Baltimore congregation was recognized and duly organized on that day at three p. m. The Rev. Edwin John- son, delegate from Bangor, Me. (who had held services previously), was elected the first pastor and entered upon his duties im- mediately. Prior to the arrival of the Rev Mr. Johnson the Prudential Committee had begun to secure a lot. Various sites were canvassed and at length the present lot, on Eutaw street near Dolphin, was purchased

at a cost of $7,000. The church was in- corporated February 19, 1866, the incor- porators being: Edwin Johnson (pastor), Henry Stockbridge, Martin Hawley, L. Beach Platt, R. K. Hawley and W. G. Snethen. The corner-stone of the new chapel was laid on May 15, 1866. It was dedicated December 30, 1866. Its cost had been $24,964.25, and it was free of debt. A year later the upper room of the chapel was completed at an expense of $2,000. A communion service was presented to the new congregation by the "Old South Church," Boston, and an organ by other friends of the same city. In November, 1869, the Rev. Mr. Johnson resigned. For almost a year the church was without a pastor, when on September 20, 1870, the Rev. Leonard W. Bacon entered upon a short pastorate, which terminated in May, 1872. The Rev. Cyrus P. Osborn was the next in charge, serving until 1874. The Rev. Theodore J. Holmes was installed pas- tor December 15, 1875, and continued in office until September 9, 1883. He was succeeded by the Rev. W. F. Slocum, Jr., on the 17th of April, 1884. In 1888 he re -. signed to accept the presidency of Colorado College. On the 21st of November, 1889, the Rev. Edward A. Lawrence became pas- tor and continued to discharge his duties most faithfully and acceptably until his la- mented death in November, 1893. He was followed by the present pastor, the Rev. Henry W. Ballentine, whose installation took place November 30, 1894. The pres- ent church was built in front of the chapel in 1883 at a cost of $28,675.15. It is a beautiful and suitable edifice. The pres- ent membership is 186.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CANTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The first Congregational services in Bal- timore were held in a school house on Cuba street, Locust Point, in 1846. The attend- ants were Welsh workmen and their fami- lies, who were connected with the Balti- more and Cuba Smelting Company. When the Copper Works were moved to Canton in 1850 services were held in a school house on Clinton street, where preaching was conducted by the Rev. Thomas James and the Rev. Benjamin Jones. The first or- ganization took place in a school house on First street in 1855, under the direction of the Rev. Benjamin Davis, of Llanelly, Wales, as pastor. The church was con- nected with the Pennsylvania Conference which met at Pottsville. In 1866 a few en- ergetic men decided to erect a church edi- fice. The Canton Company granted the use of a lot on Toone street and there the church was constructed by their own hands. Often the members labored until after mid- night on the walls. Although the money contributions were small, the church was paid for in one year. The first pastor was the Rev. Thomas Richards, who was or- dained in the church in November, 1870. During his pastorate the membership rose to over 100, and both the church and the Sunday-school were largely attended. He remained in charge until 1871, when the Copper Smelting Company suspended and a number of the members were compelled to seek work elsewhere. There was no set- tled pastor until 1878; but in 1871-1872 the church was rebuilt and the property im- proved by Mr. J. Henry Stickney, whose iron furnaces were situated near by and who was a liberal member of the First Con- gregational Church. These improvements

cost him $1,300. In 1878 the congregation voted to employ the Rev. J. Wynne Jones as Presbyterian minister and to work under the control of the Presbyterian Church. Up to this time the services had been in Welsh, but now a part of them was conducted in English. After the erection of the Abbot Memorial Presbyterian Church in High- landtown in 1883, of which the Rev. Mr. Jones became pastor, the services were somewhat irregular at the Toone Street Church. Subsequently a dispute arose as to the ownership of the property and this resulted in a legal conflict before the courts, which decided in March, 1891, that the property belonged to the Presbytery of Bal- timore. Hereupon the Congregational ele- ment in the congregation and vicinity formed the Canton Congregational Church of Baltimore county. Services were held in the offices of the Canton Company for six months, when a new edifice was erected at the northeast corner of Elliott and First streets. It was dedicated on October II, 1891. The Rev. T. M. Beadenkoff. has been the pastor of this new church from the time of its erection. In 1893 the edifice was en- larged through the generosity of Mr. J. Henry Stickney. It will accommodate 250 persons. There are rooms in the rear suit- able for the Sunday-school and a night school maintained for working boys. The latter is the special feature of the work of this church. It was opened in March, 1891, first in the Canton public school, but was afterwards moved to rooms built for the purpose by Mr. Stickney. Instruction is given in drawing, reading, writing, arith- metic and printing. About 225 boys and young men attend, and the school is so popular as to attract more than can be ad-

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

mitted. A class for working girls is about to be instituted, for instruction in dressmak- ing and other branches.

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church is situated at the corner of North and Union avenues. It is the outgrowth of the First Congregational Church, which on October 12, 1887, au- thorized the rental of a dwelling at 1841 Harford avenue. A Sunday-school was at once organized there, the first meeting be- ing on October 16th and the Sunday-school being organized on the 23d. Gospel meet- ings were soon added to the work. Sub- scriptions were taken at the First Congre- gational Church to erect a building, and Mr. Robert J. Thompson was secured as pastor. On February 25th Martin Haw- ley, Esq., of the First Congregational Church, presented the present lot, which was valued at $3,000. The edifice was at once begun and the first service was held in it on June 9, 1888. The church was or- ganized with thirteen charter members, and was recognized by the Council on June 29th. The same Council ordained and in- stalled Mr. Thompson as pastor. In 1891 the Rev. Thompson resigned and was dis- missed on September 17th. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Edward T. Root, who entered upon his duties on December 5, 1891, although he was not installed until February 20, 1894. He resigned Septem- ber 1, 1896, and was immediately followed by the present pastor, the Rev. C. H. Craw- ford. The membership is 100. A flourish- ing Sunday-school is maintained and also several literary and charitable organiza- tions.

FOURTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

In 1895 this congregation was organized at Locust Point. It occupies a frame build- ing, which contains audience and Sunday- school rooms, which was purchased from an independent Methodist church now dis- banded. This new congregation is pros- pering well, and is free from debt. Its pas- tor from the first has been the Rev. Mark Wells. The membership is about 100.

REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH- ES IN BALTIMORE.

CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER.

The first meeting to organize a Reformed Episcopal Church in Baltimore was held April 7, 1875. Twelve laymen were elected vestrymen. Bishop George David Cum- mins, D. D., was elected rector, and the name given to the organization was "The Church of the Redeemer." Services were held in Lehman's Hall until March, 1876, when the present building on Bolton street near Lanvale street was ready for occupa- tion. Bishop Cummins was succeeded in the rectorship by Rev. William M. Post- lethwaite, D. D., who continued in charge for about six years. The present rector, Bishop J. A. Latane, D. D., has been in charge since November, 1891. The mem- bership is 126.

THE BISHOP CUMMINS MEMORIAL CHURCH.

A Second Reformed Episcopal Church, known as "The Church of the Rock of Ages," was organized in February, 1876. The first rector was the Rev. H. H. Wash- burn, and services were held for two years in the old building known as the Young

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Men's Christian Association Hall, on Schroeder street near Franklin street. Af- ter the death of Bishop Cummins the name of the organization was changed to "The Bishop Cummins Memorial Church," and arrangements were made for the erection of a permanent place of worship. In the fall of 1878 the present church, a stone building on the corner of Carrolton avenue and Lan- vale street, was completed, but at such a cost and with the burden of such a debt that in a few months Mr. Washburn re- signed the charge. Bishop Latane became the rector in 1880 and continued in charge until November, 1891. The church is now free of debt and is at present under the charge of Rev. J. Hubert Jones. The mem- bership is 132.

EMMANUEL CHURCH.

The Third Reformed Episcopal Church in Baltimore was organized in February, 1876, and called Emmanuel Church. Rev. F. H. Reynolds was its founder and first rector. The first services were held in a hall near Forrest and Monument streets, and the congregation continued to worship there until April, 1877, when a neat frame chapel, on the corner of Eden and Hoff- man streets, was ready for occupation. The present rector, Rev. W. J. Way, took charge in March, 1893, and during his min- istry the vestry, with some aid from the Church Extension Trust of the general church, has erected a handsome stone church by the side of the old chapel. The membership is 97.

CHAPTER XIII.

SOME SUCCESSFUL PREACHERS WHO HAVE OCCUPIED BALTIMORE PULPITS.

By WILLIAM M. MARINE.

REV. THOMAS CHASE was the father of Samuel Chase, "the Demosthenes of Mary- land," a title bestowed upon him during the days of the Revolution. Samuel was a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. Thomas Chase was a native of Eng- land. He was thoroughly cultured and an accomplished classical scholar. He first lo- cated in Somerset county, Maryland, as clergyman in charge of a Protestant Epis- copal parish. Various locations in that section are pointed out which are hallowed by his memory.

On the IIth of February, 1754, Rev. Benedict Bourdillon, rector of St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, having died, the Rev. Thomas Chase was appointed by Governor Bladen to the vacancy. He not only dis- charged · his pastoral duties with zeal, ef- ficiency and success, but he was a public- spirited citizen and bore his part of mu- nicipal burthens cheerfully as an example to induce others to pursue the same course. An ordinance forbade raising hogs and geese within corporation limits. A number of people agreed to pay to the clerk of the town individual sums to keep the fence of the place in order and to employ some one to look after it. The Rev. Thomas Chase, good naturedly, subscribed ten pounds. For the building of a market house he further subscribed the sum of five pounds. He

was a useful man, energetic, bold and fear- less, with marked individuality of charac- ter. After a ministry of thirty-four years, Parson Chase, as he was often called, died on the 4th of April, 1779.

There formerly stood in St. Paul's burial ground, on the main walk from the en- trance, an old vault with a flat iron door, which had succumbed to the irresistible ravages of time and for many years existed in a ruinous condition, the object of un- favorable remark and criticism. In that vault reposed Thomas Chase, his son Sam- uel and others of the Chase family. The vault was years ago leveled with the earth, having been filled up, and tombstones erected to mark the resting place of the illustrious dead.

THE REVEREND WILLIAM EDWARD WYATT was assistant to the Right Rev. James Kemp, in 1814, when old Christ Church and St. Paul's were one rectorship, and denominated Christ Church and St. Paul's Parish.

When Bishop Kemp died, in 1827, Doctor Wyatt succeeded him as rector. He min- istered at St. Paul's altars for fifty years, and died with the regrets of every class of citizens, June 24, 1864. His popularity constantly brought his talents into requisi- tion outside of his church on public occa- sions. At the dedication of Greenmount

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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