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 53
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Cemetery, July 13, 1839, he delivered a beautiful and impressive prayer, of which the following extract is given as an evi- dence of its ornateness and eloquence: "Here in this quiet retreat, from the tur- moil of the world, teach us, O our Father, the fruitlessness of discord, and the little- ness of ambition. Looking into the noise- less chambers of the tomb, where once angry partisans lie down together without strife, and rival heroes find a calm resting place by each other's side, may our hearts be touched with the vanity of the feuds which disturb the peace of the world. See- ing here the end of glory, and the emptiness of triumphs, may we shun the vain conflicts of life, and seek supremely those things which are spiritual and eternal."
On the 4th of July, 1828, at the laying of the corner-stone of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Doctor Wyatt officiated in prayer. The death of Andrew Jackson, the Ist of July, 1845, was observed as a solemn funeral occasion by the people of Balti- more, an immense meeting was held in Mount Vernon Place, where Doctor Wyatt's supplication of the Deity was reverently heard by a multitude bowed in the attitude of devotion.
As a speaker he was persuasive. His sermons were replete with benevolence and amiability; his appeals were to the affec- tions. Earnestness and dignity belonged to him; he did not use many gesticulations, but was careful to speak in well modulated tones, so that apparently without vocal ef- fort he could be heard plainly through the entire space within St. Paul's Church.
Doctor Wyatt frequently presided over the Episcopal State Conventions, House of Lay and Clerical Delegates in the General
Convention of the Church. He was chap- lain at "Camp Baltimore" and preached to the troops; his sermon possessed great merit. In the University of Maryland he held the chair of Professor of Divinity.
He was an author of ability, modest and unpretentious. Among his works may be classed an obituary discourse on General Harrison; one on "Episcopacy," which in- volved him in controversial discussion with Jared Sparks; "Family Devotion," "Chris- tian Altar" and "A Departed Spirit's Ad- dress to its Mother."
The missionary spirit dwelt in him, and for years he visited regularly the peniten- tiary and preached to the prisoners.
All that was mortal of this worthy rector was laid to rest, until the sound of the trum- pet, near the Fremont street wall of St. Paul's church-yard, where friends and strangers frequently resort to stand by his grave.
HENRY VAN DYKE JOHNS, D. D., was born in Delaware on the 13th day of Oc- tober, 1803. His family was not of Dela- ware origin, having settled in Maryland in 1717. Henry was a graduate of Princeton College, and received his theological equip- ment at the General Theological Seminary in New York. He was made a deacon in the Protestant Episcopal Church during the year 1826, and a presbyter in 1828. He was a chaplain in the navy, and served on board the vessel that conveyed Lafayette from the United States to France on the occasion of his departure after his last visit to this country. He was subsequently rec- tor at Frederick, Md., Trinity Church, Washington, and Christ's Church, Cincin- nati.
In September, 1843, he was called to
16.06. Bieden 16.8
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Christ Church, Baltimore, succeeding his brother, Rev. John Johns, who vacated Christ Church pulpit on being elected As- sistant Bishop of Virginia. Henry re- mained there until 1854, when Immanuel Church was opened for public service, and he became its rector, which relation he sus- tained to that congregation until his death, which happened April 22, 1859.
During a week in October, 1852, a num- ber of meetings were held in the Eutaw Street Methodist Episcopal Church, at which sermons were preached in the morn- ing at 10.30 o'clock by Dr. Augustus Web- ster of the M. P. Church, Mr. Stockton, Doctor Plummer, a Presbyterian, and Mr. Johns. Bishop Whittingham undertook to prevent Mr. Johns from filling his appoint- ment, but was not successful. A wordy cor- respondence took place between the Bishop and the clergyman, which excited interest in the public mind. Henry Winter Davis, him- self an Episcopalian, whose father was a clergyman of the same faith, came to the de- fense of Mr. Johns and "roasted the Bishop alive," to the confusion and mortification of the reverend prelate and his supporters.
Doctor Johns was a preacher who when in the pulpit had something to say and knew how to say it; he was profound and earnest, "full of the power of godliness." He cared nothing for denominational lim- itations; his brave spirit of Christian lib- erality brought him into repeated conflicts with Bishop Whittingham, but the bold clergyman never flinched, holding true to his convictions to the end.
Doctor Johns was the recipient of univer- sal respect, and his death was widely re- gretted. The Tract Society of which he was a member requested the Rev. Joseph
T. Smith, of the Presbyterian Church, to preach a discourse on his life and character, which sermon was published and exten- sively circulated.
One of Doctor Johns' children was the late Henry V. D. Johns, a well-known mem- ber of the Baltimore bar.
GEORGE D. CUMMINGS was a native of Delaware, who spent long and useful years of his life in the ministry in Baltimore. He was a graduate of Dickinson College, and in 184I entered the ministry of the Metho- dist Church. In 1845 he left it, being or- dained deacon, and in 1847 priest, in the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was for many years rector of St. Peter's Church, and was noted for brilliancy and eloquence. He preached to crowded houses and was one of the leading pulpit attractions of the city. He remained at St. Peter's until the year of 1866. On the 15th of November of that year he was elevated to the office of Assistant Bishop of Kentucky. After he entered upon the duties of his office the claims of the ritualists offended his notions of right and he could not admit their pre- tensions. In 1873 he surrendered his of- fice and set about establishing "The Re- formed Episcopal Church," and was made its first bishop. His case was called to the attention of Right Rev. Benjamin B. Smith, who under a canon deposed him from the ministry of the Protestant Epis- copal faith. Bishop Cummings labored zealously to the day of his death to build up his church, but its progress has been slow.
JOHN PRENTISS KEWLEY HENSHAW, D. D., was a noted clergyman in his day in Baltimore. He was born in Connecticut in June, 1792; he graduated at the Middle-
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town College and received his A. B. at the age of sixteen years; he afterwards spent a year at Harvard and was confirmed an A. M. and subsequently a D. D. He was a lay reader in the church at Cambridge and while so occupied organized two congrega- tions in Northern Vermont, at the time of doing so being nineteen years of age. On the day of attaining his twenty-first year he was ordained and became rector of a Protestant Episcopal church in Marble- head, Mass. After a short pastorate he was installed rector at St. Ann's, Brooklyn, re- maining there three years, when in the spring of 1817 he made his home in Bal- timore on accepting a call to St. Peter's Church. Under his pastorate the church gained constant accessions to its member- ship. His style of preaching is represented as being "exceedingly persuasive." The same authority says, "when in the pulpit his countenance gives evidence that his soul is enlisted" in the cause of the Master.
Doctor Henshaw filled delegated posi- tions in the State and general conventions of the Episcopal Church and in its benevo- lent associations; he was also a director in the American Bible and Tract Society.
He was an author of distinction; some of his works are entitled "A Minister's In- structions to His People on the Subject of Confirmation," "A Selection of Hymns," "The Communicant's Guide," "Sheridan's Elocution," "Theology for the People," "Lectures upon the Second Advent of the Redeemer" and "Life of Bishop Moose, of Virginia.".
Shortly after General William H. Har- rison's death Doctor Henshaw delivered an oration upon his life, which was greatly ad- mired; it abounded in felicitous expressions
of which the following quotation is an ex- ample: "Alas! how poor a thing is immor- tality upon the earth, if it proceed not from such a character as will secure immortality in heaven? The name of Voltaire will per- haps be remembered in the annals of the world as long as that of Fenelon; but one will be remembered as a recreant to virtue and a blasphemer of God-while the other will be venerated as a meek example of devotion and a useful minister of Jesus Christ."
In his discourse on Bishop Moore is this poetical gem: "We live in a world which has many attractions. Whether we look upon the august and sublime scenery of nature-upon the lofty mountain-the foaming cataract-the rolling ocean-at the heavens-now agitated and blackened by the wild fury of the tempest-and then in the mild lustre of a summer midnight, lifting its sparkling canopy above us; or, whether we look upon the calm and seduc- tive landscape, as it spreads before us in the verdant meadow, with its smooth stream or gurgling brook-upon the gently swelling hills-the noble forest clothed in the mellow tints and variegated hues of its autumnal foliage-here a field waving with golden harvest, and there a pasture redolent with flowers of surpassing beauty-we see on every hand loud calls for gratitude to the Author of our being, and much to at- tach us to the fair plant which he has al- lotted us for a habitation."
Doctor Henshaw was repeatedly placed in nomination for Bishop of Maryland, but always failed of election. In 1843, Rhode Island being constituted an Episcopal dio- cese, he was made its Bishop. In 1852 Bishop Whittingham visited England and
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during his absence Bishop Henshaw pre- sided in his stead. He was stricken a sec- ond time with apoplexy, having previously had a stroke in Rhode Island, and suc- cumbed to the disease.
DOCTOR JOHN G. MORRIS was for years the popular and esteemed pastor of the English Lutheran Church on Lexington street. He was born in York, Pa., No- vember 14, 1803. He was a student for a while at Princeton, leaving there and going to Dickinson College, where he graduated. He developed into a Hebrew scholar and a fine theologian and was urged to become the president of Pennsylvania College, which position he would not ac- cept, and upon being elected Professor of Hebrew and Sacred Literature in the Theo- logical Seminary at Gettysburg, he declined that honor, preferring to be the pastor of a flock. Doctor Morris was a fine German scholar and translated Leonhard's treatis on Popular Geology and many other works. He has produced a variety of English works of merit and for two years edited the Balti- more Lutheran Observer. Apart from its editorial work, he at all times during his long and useful life was a contributor to its columns. Doctor Morris had gifts that fitted him for the lecturer's platform and rendered him serviceable at literary enter- tainments. He was fond of obliging young people who wished his assistance on such occasions. He was greatly sought after in consequence of his being a polished elocu- tionist. He was once heard to say, when reading before an audience, "that the two greatest books in the world were the Bible and Shakespeare." Natural history was a favorite field for his researches. It was his pleasure to discourse upon it before the
Philomathean Society of Pennsylvania Col- lege.
He remained in charge of the Lexington Street Church until 1860. His success was unmistakable; many were added to that church and it greatly prospered under his guidance. He was talented and popular; his rugged, plain common sense always helping him to win his way to the people's hearts.
On resigning his charge he was three years librarian at the Peabody; his position was rendered unpleasant, so he retired. He was a member of the Maryland Historical Society, where he spent hours of his time- delving in the rich lore of the past. He was also a member of the German His- torical Society and contributed to its suc- cess. He died in Baltimore, October 10, 1895; his remains were taken to York and buried by the side of his wife.
REV. PETER STANISLAUS SCHREIBER Was born in Baltimore in 1804. His father was a German who in youth reached this coun- try; his mother was the daughter of Fred- erick Yeiser, one of the earliest settlers of Baltimore; he was a soldier in the Revolu- tion and present at Brandywine and York- town. The mother was a Protestant, but became a convert to the faith of her hus- band.
The son graduated from Mount St. Mary's College at Emmitsburg in 1820. He received the order of priesthood in Sep- tember, 1828. Among the churches he served were St. Patrick's, Washington; a. church in Richmond and later the Cathe- dral in Baltimore.
St. Vincent de Paul Church, Baltimore, was consecrated in November, 1841. In its steeple, which is one hundred and thirty
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feet high, hangs a bell taken from a Spanish chapel in Spain, during one of its wars. At this church the Reverend Mr. Schreiber was stationed on the death of its first pastor.
It is an interesting fact worthy of pre- servation that Frederick Yeiser received a visit from George Washington and he en- tertained him in his home, close by the site of the church in which his grandson after- wards officiated as a priest.
The Rev. Mr. Schreiber's friends claimed that he was the most attractive speaker of his faith in Baltimore. His congregations were large and attentive, his popularity be- ing unbounded among them. The follow- ing portrait was drawn of him sixty-eight years ago: "His style is easy and fluent- denoting the man of lingual refinement and extensive reading. His gesticulation is graceful, while the matter of his discourses plainly indicates careful thought in their preparation, and the workings of a heart of benevolence."
He was an ardent temperance advocate and among the first of the clergymen of his church to form Catholic temperance asso- ciations in Baltimore. He broached the subject in a sermon which he preached in St. Peter's Church; his efforts directed the movement to success.
Mr. Schreiber was a gentleman of pol- ished manners and pleasing conversational powers. He died in 1845, leaving pleasant memories surviving him. A tablet bearing his name and that of its first pastor is in the vestibule of St. Vincent's Church.
REV. JAMES DOLAN was a prelate who honored his calling and served mankind by usefulness and goodness. It was his for- tune to have had but one field of duty, and
to have served none other. His unremit- ting services were such as to have obtained for him from his admirers the title of "The Apostle of the Point." He was a broad- minded man, with no touch of intolerance to narrow the range of his mental faculties.
Between Rev. Henry Slicer, the "wheel horse of Methodism," and him there were striking points of resemblance. They were tall and commanding in person; the shape of their heads was much alike, as well as their faces. They were equally of imperial wills and immovable firmness. They were business men who did not have to advise with others in order to form correct judg- ments and they were Godly men who were honored in the section in which they lived.
On the "Point market days," it was a scene often witnessed, Mr. Slicer, with his large, well-filled market basket on his arm, standing on the rectory pavement of St. Patrick's Church, in close proximity to Father Dolan, and the two in earnest con- versation. They were great friends and ad- mirers and respected each other as honest men always do. Their intimacy was availed of by the story tellers and wags to unite their names in witticisms and jokes provok- ing side splitting mirth.
Rev. James Dolan was the son of Richard Dolan and Bridget O'Donnell, his wife. He was born in "the Emerald Isle," on the Ist of July, 1814, and died in Baltimore the 12th of January, 1870.
His mother was a woman of excellent qualities; after her death the people of Cas- hel, where she resided, were deeply affected and paid her remains marked honors. Her son was destined in the great future to re- ceive similar ones.
His devotion to his parents was sublime;
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both of them left their impress forever on his mind.
Of his mother he pathetically wrote: "Sainted mother, the recollection of thy de- parture presses heavily upon my heart." The subject was freshened by his reflec- tions on the 20th of December, 1844, when he said: "Dear mother, I will by the grace of God do all in my power to promote His glory and obtain my own salvation, so that when I leave this world of sorrow and care I may meet thee in heaven." Of his father he wrote: "His strong and holy love guard- ed me with every affection."
He was sent to school in Cashel, and when sufficiently advanced afterwards to a Greek and Latin institute under David O'Neill. The surroundings of Cashel are impressive. The ruins of a pagan temple and fortress which exist there are famous the world over. It was amid such scenes that the imagination of young Dolan was nurtured; he could not fail to be deeply im- pressed by his early associations.
His mother died, and in 1832 he left Navan College and embarked for America with a colony of sixty people and two priests. They left Cork on the 18th of Feb- ruary, 1834, and arrived in New Orleans; from that city journeyed to Texas, settling amid its wilds. Death visited the colony and most of its people died. James O'Don- nell, a cousin of James Dolan, resided in Philadelphia, and to that city to visit him the cast down immigrant concluded to go. He made the journey and remained in Phil- adelphia until Friday, the 18th day of De- cember, 1834, when he came to Baltimore and entered the Seminary of the Sulpicians; he was admitted to minor orders in 1838; to sub-deacons orders in September, 1839;
in the same month, in the following year, he was ordained a priest, and on the 20th of December, 1840, he entered upon his du- ties as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Church.
The church originally stood on Wilk street and Happy alley ; it was abandoned in 1805, and the church edifice which has re- cently given way to the imposing one which takes its place, was substituted.
Father Kearney was pastor in charge of St. Patrick's when Mr. Dolan became as- sistant pastor. On his death Father Dolan, the 28th of February, 1841, succeeded to the pastorate.
It is not possible to recall from that date to the time of his death the amount of good which he accomplished. It lives behind him and enlarges the ever expanding circle of its influence. In 1847 a body of immi- grants introduced the yellow fever in Bal- timore; it proved a dreadful scourge and many valuable lives were consumed by it. Father Dolan was constant in his vigils of mercy and displayed the humane side of his life in splendid actions. In December, 1849, Rev. Theobold Matthew, Apostle of Temperance in Ireland, on a visit to this country, was entertained by Father Dolan. The presence of so eminent a man was not overlooked. December 14th sixty mem- bers of the Hibernian Society proceeded to the house of Father Dolan and paid their respects to his visitor. The occasion was one of cordiality, equalled by the hospitality of the host, who warmly welcomed his guests.
His active brain was always exercised for good; in it was evolved the plan that brought into existence the Orphan Asylum near Govanstown. After his death it was
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found that one-third of his estate was left to the support of that benevolent founda- tion.
He left two hundred dollars to keep the graveyard on the Philadelphia road, where lie sleeps, in order. In providing what dis- position was to be made of the money in the event of the ground being put to some other purpose, he wrote: "Graveyards, like old men, when they do not pay, are in the way."
He had genuine sentiment; to Mrs. Thompson and Mary A. Davidson he gave each five hundred dollars, because of their constant attendance on the sanctuary for a number of years.
Two hundred and twenty dollars a year he provided to pay a priest to say mass for Catholics at Bay View Almshouse.
One hundred pounds sterling was left to the parish priest of Cashel, to be divided by him among the poor Catholics of that parish.
His home on Gough street, where he lived and died, he gave to a Children's Aid Society and one-third of his estate he left for its support. Another one-third he set apart for a regular Catholic Free School for boys and girls.
All of his benefactions have blossomed and borne fruit. His eulogist, William P. Preston, said of him: "He was a man of commanding intellect, untiring energy and holy fervor." Father Daugherty, in his fu- neral discourse, said: "If he had not been a priest he would still have been a distin- guished man." That sentiment was un- doubtedly just.
He was practical in preaching, admon- itory; pointing out the path of duty and exhorting to a continuance in it.
In 1840 he was made chaplain of the Hibernian Society. He was at one time chaplain on the staff of Gen. R. H. Carr, a major general of Maryland militia.
It "rained tears" at his funeral, which wit- nessed the attendance of sorrowing thou- sands.
JAMES SHRIGLEY was the pastor of the Universalist Church at the corner of Calvert and Pleasant streets. He was born in Liv- erpool, England, in 1814, and emigrated to this country when quite young; his parents settled in New England, where he grew up to manhood. His national addresses breathed the stalwart spirit of the patriot. One of them which he delivered on the evening preceding the 12th of September, the anniversary of the day of the battle of North Point, was exceedingly effective. Mr. Shrigley was a self-educated man, who by persistence overcame the obstacles that lay in his path in consequence of neglect in his early education. His theological train- ing was under the supervision of Rev. John H. Willis, of Stafford, Conn. He was or- dained in 1835, and took charge of a church in Exeter, N. H., remaining there until 1841, when he was called to Balti- more. He was successful in his ministra- tions at the Calvert Street Church; he preached regularly to a thousand hearers, although he numbered but one hundred and fifty-five communicants. Young men were especially fond of his sermons and attended their delivery in large numbers.
Mr. Shrigley was a man who did not spare himself, but worked untiringly. He is said through one winter to have delivered weekly four sermons, beside attending other church meetings and lecturing once a week before a society. He encouraged
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his congregation to an interest in a literary association called the Murry Institute, over the meetings of which he presided. "Lec- tures, recitations and debates" were con- ducted with spirit and profit "under his dig- nified presidency."
He delivered a course of lectures defin- ing Universalism, which were attractive and by his congregation enthusiastically approved. He had undoubted natural gifts and held respectable rank in the army of the ministry. His delivery was energetic; his voice had fullness of tone and was so distinct as to be audible in the remotest part of the church. His membership was bound to him by cords that were never broken. He was a promoter of harmony and avoided discord. He sought to be use- ful, and that being his chief ambition he excelled in it.
The REV. GEORGE WASHINGTON BUR- NAP was a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1802. He was prepared at Metford, Vt., for Harvard University, and graduated from that school in 1824. He next pursued a course of theological train- ing, and on completing it in 1827 came to Baltimore, as pastor of the First Independ- ent Unitarian Church.
Mr. Burnap was the second pastor of his church. The first was the Rev. Jared Sparks, who left it to devote his talents to literary pursuits, in which he became emi- . nent. It can be said of this congregation, that it has always been served by preachers of the highest order of ability.
Mr. Burnap was an author of note. His "Lectures to Young Men," and "Upon the Sphere and Duties of Woman," were re- ceived with unbounded enthusiasm. They were embodied in book form and sold
readily, their popularity making their au- thor famous. Jared Sparks placed an article by Mr. Burnap on "Leonard Calvert," in his "American Biographies." Besides those named, Rev. Mr. Burnap wrote other works, namely, "History of Christianity" and "Lectures on Unitarianism." Up to 1843, the published sale of his productions exceeded 5,000 volumes. The amount of good done by two of his works no human mind can estimate; they took a hold on the popular fancy that was irresistible.
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