USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester Presbytery from the earliest settlement of the country, embracing original records of Ontario Association, and the presbyteries of Ontario, Rochester (former), Tennessee River, and Rochester City > Part 18
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July 14, 1869, the Brick Church Sunday school purchased of Hiram Davis, a lot at the corner of Hudson and Wilson streets, for $2,600, now occupied by the Memorial Church. Subscriptions to the amount of more than $7,500 were paid by members of the Brick Church congregation. Until the Memorial Church became self-sustaining, the Brick Church and its Sunday school paid $20,661, for building and supporting the Memorial Church.
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At different times the Brick Church Sunday school has paid toward the education and support of 10 children in heathen lands through the American Board of Foreign Missions, to whom they gave names. Since the commence- ment of the Sunday school, November 25, 1825, it has con- tributed towards Home and Foreign Mission, Education, Church Erection, Freedmen, etc., $25,847.55.
For a few years past the school has paid to Mrs. Agnes B. Rowland $500 per annum salary, to work as a city mis- sionary, mostly in the interests of the Brick Church and Sunday school.
The Dorcas Society, or an association of similar kind has existed more than 50 years. Its object has been to clothe poor Sunday school children. Last year they aided 135 children, furnishing to them 458 articles of clothing and 59 pairs of shoes, at a cost of $287, besides labor.
A " Girls' Missionary Society," has existed four years. They at first worked to aid Miss Emma Cochrane and a hospital in Persia. The present year's earnings and receipts have amounted to $229, which has been contributed to the Women's Board.
" Cheerful Workers," an association of about 20 young ladies, have realized $200, which has been used for Home and Foreign missions.
A few ladies hold a sewing school, called the Young Dorcas Society, which meets in the afternoon on Saturdays, and is attended on an average by 50 little girls, most of whom are from families of the poor. Such as are able, con- tribute one cent per week, which is used for materials.
The "Society of Christian Endeavor," has 150 members. and hold their meetings on Tuesday evenings. They have contributed $80 to missions, besides using what they needed for their own work.
A "Boys' Mission Band," of about 60 meinbers, meets every alternate week in nine months of the year, to
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systematically study missions, taking up one country after another, to learn their characteristics, condition, customs, religion, needs, progress and results of mission work. They have contributed in various ways this year to missions, $45.
The " Ladies' Missionary Society " meets monthly in con- nection with a church sociable. They have contributed this year to mission purposes, $1,271, besides sending packages to Home missionaries valued at $289.
Plate collections have been taken for more than seventeen years. on Sundays, both at morning and evening services, for Board or benevolent purposes. They amounted in 1888, to $3,813. Collections are also taken every Sunday in the Sunday school. They amounted in 1888, to $1,854. The following persons who have been members of this church or its Sunday school, have been licensed to preach : Horace H. Allen, David Ames, Charles R. Benedict, Peter H. Burkhardt, Elisha M. Carpenter, Nathan C. Chapin, Lemuel Clark, Henry Cherry, Darwin Chichester, Hiram W. Congdon, Philos G. Cook, Henry Cooper, David Dickey, Mowatt Evarts, William C. French, John K. Fowler, Merritt Galley, Corliss B. Gardner, T. Dwight Hunt, Alanson Curtis Hall, Augustus F. Hall, Gavin L. Hamilton, Parsons C. Hastings, Alvan Ingersoll, Thomas H. Johnson. Jonathan Ketchum, George M. Mackie, Amos D. McCoy, David E. Millard, David Henry Palmer, James H. Phelps, James S. Pierpont, Augustus C. Shaw, Robert B. Stevens, John Spink, Ansley D. White, William C. Wisner, Edwin S. Wright, Worthington Wright.
Eight who have been teachers or scholars with us, have been, or now are Foreign missionaries under the appoint- ment of the American Board : T. Dwight Hunt, to Sandwich Islands ; Edwin O. Hall, to Sandwich Islands ; Fidelia (Church) Coan, to Sandwich Islands ; Alanson Curtis Hall, to Ceylon ; Henry Cherry, to Madura ; Maria (Preston) Johnson, to Siam ; Elijah F. Webster, to Bombay, and Harriet Seymour, to Turkey.
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ROCHESTER THIRD.
Residents of the east side of the Genesee river in the village of Rochester, feeling the need of a place for worship nearer to their homes than those located on the west side, decided to organize a Third Presbyterian Church and to locate on the north-east corner of Clinton and Main streets.
The Rev. Joel Parker, a graduate of Auburn Seminary, was employed to begin their services in a school house on the corner of Clinton and Mortimer streets, Dec. 31, 1826. Very soon the room was found to be too small, and they resolved to build on the north part of the lot selected for their permanent locality, a temporary house of worship, and their efficient leaders started on a Monday morning in January and had trees cut down, hewn, drawn to the site, raised, covered, floor laid, seats made, all ready for use be- fore the next Sunday. Its size was 24 ft. by 60 ft. Later in the same year they commenced building a brick church, having a steeple and supplied with a bell, which was com- pleted for use in 1828, on the ground now occupied by Washington Hall. The society was incorporated January 17, 1827, as the Third Presbyterian Church and Society of Rochester. Its first trustees were Obediah N. Bush, Ashbel W. Riley, Judson Booth and Isaac Waring.
By appointment of Presbytery, Feb. 4, 1827, a com- mission consisting of Rev. Joseph Penney, Rev. William James, Rev. George S. Sill, and elders Silas Hawley and Zolved Stevens, met on Feb. 28, 1827, and organized the Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, containing twenty- two members, as follows: Louisa Allen, Lucy Allen, Maria Allen, Pliny Allen, Sarah Allen, Philip Allen, Henrietta Bissell, Josiah Bissell, Jr., Esther Calhoun, John T.
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Calhoun, Asa Carpenter, Mary Carpenter, Elisha Ely, Hannah Ely, Harriet Moore, Harriet Parker, Hezekiah B. Pierpont, Mary Pierpont, Eliza Pratt, Persis Scofield, Salmon Scofield, and Lydia Ann Smith.
They elected Josiah Bissell, Jr., and Salmon Scofield for elders.
Rev. Joel Parker, as before stated, commenced his ser- vices for them Dec. 31, 1826; was installed over the church, June 14, 1827, and was dismissed to New York, June 17, 1830. The growth of the church under Mr. Parker's ministrations was very rapid.
In 1827, when the church occupied its temporary house of worship, the scheme of supplying every family in the county of Monroe with a copy of the Bible was proposed by Josiah Bissell, Jr., and was extensively carried out. The county was canvassed and Bibles given to all families who would receive them, or were not disposed or able to pay for them.
From Sept. 10, 1830, to March 6, 1831, Rev. Charles G. Finney, supplied their pulpit most of the time. In this period he preached ninety-eight sermons in the First, Second, and this church.
Under the preaching of Mr. Finney the church received large and influential additions. Dec. 12, 1830, there were eighty-three added to this church. Jan. 16, 1831, there were thirty-seven, and on 27th March following, thirty-nine more.
July 13, 1831, Rev. Luke Lyons was installed pastor of this church. Soon disaffection was manifested in the con- gregation which resulted in his dismissal, and he together with forty-six members of the Third Church were organized into the First Free Presbyterian Church in Rochester.
February 7, 1832, William C. Wisner, a licentiate, who had studied theology with his father at Ithaca, was employed. He was installed Oct. 24, 1832 ; he continued the charge until June 25, 1833 ; he resigned on account of
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failing health. A season of depression followed for many months.
In December, 1834, the church extended a call to Rev. William Mack, who became their fourth pastor and was installed February 3, 1835. He labored successfully till July 22, 1839, when he resigned the pastorate, and was dis- missed from Presbytery, February 6, 1844, to Columbia, Tenn.
On the first of February, Rev. Albert Gallatin Hall began his labors as pastor. He was installed Nov. 10, 1840, and continued such till Sept. 10, 1871, when his spirit was called to take its place with the redeemed. His influence for good was great. He was greatly beloved by the community as well as by his own congregation. See the biographical sketch on a preceding page.
Rev. George Patton, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and of Newburg Theological Seminary, after ministering to the church of Seneca for fifteen years, was called aud installed pastor of this church, Dec. 21, 1871. His labors have been greatly blessed, and he continues to enjoy the confidence and esteem of his people to the present time.
The elders of this church are William F. Cogswell, David Copeland, David Cory, Edward Harris, Joseph Harris, John H. Hill, Charles D. King and William S. Little. After the organization of the First Free Presbyterian Church and the death and withdrawal of influential members, the society found themselves burdened with a debt of $7,000 in 1834. They surrendered their house of worship to the newly organized Second Baptist Church, they, in consid- eration, assumed and paid the debts of the houseless church, which soon found shelter in the hall of the High School building at the corner of Temple and Lancaster streets. This they occupied while they were erecting a stone church on the south side of Main street, a few rods west of Stone street, in 1837. Here they found rest and prosperity until
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the church was destroyed by a sweeping fire, originated by a rocket on the occasion of celebrating the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable, Aug. 17, 1858.
The church in its homeless condition next obtained shelter in " Palmer's Hall," fronting the south end of North avenue, until they bought the High School lot and erected a stone edifice and chapel costing $38,000. This was completed and dedicated for use in the fall of 1859. They occupied this place until they sold it to the Unitarian Society in 1883, and till they had erected their present chapel at the corner of East avenue and Meigs street. This property is valued at $50,000.
Twelve members of this church have entered the ministry, viz. : Samuel M. Baylis, T. Reave Chipman, Jonathan Copeland, Eugene Cheeseman, Richard DeForest, Albert G. Hall, Gavin Longmuir, Hezekiah B. Pierpont, Charles Ray, Edward Ray, Charles W. Wood, and James White.
The Ladies' Missionary Society was organized in 1876; this raised in the past year $628, and their social society, $124. The church also has an efficient working society of Young People's Christian Endeavor.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN FREE CHURCH.
"The First Presbyterian Free Church and Society in Rochester " was organized in the school room of Franklin House, Rochester, March 28th, 1832.
On April 19, 1832, the Presbytery of Rochester, appointed a commission consisting of Rev. Alfred E. Camp- bell, Rev. Charles E. Firman, Rev. Silas Pratt and Elders Levi Ward, Jr., and Selah Mathews, who met in the Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, April 25, and organized the following 46 persons into a church : Amelia Brown, John Calhoun, Rufus Colton, Henry Camp-
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bell, Francis Dana, Jr., Hannah Dana, Phineas Danforth, Nason Danforth, Ann Danforth, Mary Dobbin, Mary Ann Dobbin, Sarah Deming, Elisha Ely, Hannah Ely, Alexander L. Ely, Caroline Ely, Jolın Gorton, Caleb K. Hobbie, Clarisa Hobbie. Maria Hobbie, Aaron Hall, Betsey Hall, Sally Aun Hall, Ruthy Hall, Nathaniel Hayward, Rachel Hayward, Adeline L. Hayward, Joanna Hammond, Lucinda T. House, Nathan Lyman, Phebe Miller, Maria McDonald, Ann Moore, Saralı Newcomb, Hosea Pratt, Lucinda Pratt, Eliza Padden, Ashbel W. Riley, William Stebbins, Jr., Jolın Tompkins, Maria Vallette, Jane Voorhis, Manly S. Woodbury, Amelia Woodbury, Esther Willard and Sarah Willson. Caleb K. Hobbie was elected as elder.
Soon after the society was organized, a house of worship was built for their use by Ashbel W. Riley on the north- east corner of Court and Stone streets, which was dedicated Jan. 1, 1833. Rev. Gilbert Morgan preached on the occasion from the text John 8, 36. March 1, 1833, Marcus Holmes and Nathan Hayward were elected elders. On the 12th of that month, Rev. Luke Lyons was installed pastor of this church.
In the latter part of this year, a division in the Congrega- tional Church of Brighton, resulted in 31 of their members withdrawing and uniting with this church at one time ; others followed later.
July 7, 1834, the following persons were elected elders : Samuel Beckwith, Phineas A. Danforth, Asahel Fitch, John Gray, Richard B. Huntley, Ashbel W. Riley and W. G. Squires. On 20th of that month, Messrs. Fitch, Gray, Huntley and Riley were ordained, and on the 16th of Nov., Messrs. Beckwith and Squires were ordained.
Sept. 4, 1836, the Presbytery of Rochester dissolved the the pastoral relation between Rev. Luke Lyons and the First Free Presbyterian Church. On the 1st of April, 1836, the church reported to Presbytery, 425 members (which
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report corresponds with their session book). Soon after that a spirit of discontent prevailed, resulting in many cases of discipline and much agitation on the subjects of slavery and intemperance. At short intervals elders resigned and new ones were elected. There was a constant drawing off of members, many returning to the Third Church, and to the Brighton Church from which they had come. March 19, 1838, the session authorized elder Richard B. Huntley to give letters of dismission to all those who were known to be members in good and regular standing ; and the last record made by the clerk was, that with a number of others he had given letters of dismission to elders William Shepard, Nathaniel Hayward, Samuel Beckwith, Asahel Fitch and himself. The church was disbanded, June 26, 1838.
The society records cannot be found. No names of trustees at the organization of the society are in the session book. In 1834, Richard B. Huntley and Ashbel W. Riley are mentioned as trustees.
Mr. Riley had given the society a deed of a lot with a framed church on the northeast corner of Court and Stone streets, which was afterward sold on the foreclosure of a prior mortgage made by Mr. Riley. The building was closed against the society, and during the latter part of their existence they met in the chamber of a wagon shop on the west side of South St. Paul street and south of Court street.
ROCHESTER CENTRAL.
The Bethel Free Church was organized August 4, 1836, with 39 members, who presented certificates from the First Church. It was organized on the following basis: "A Missionary Church established upon the principles of
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Christian consecration and devotedness." " A free church, embracing also a Bethel interest." " Open for discussion on all moral topics, such as temperance, slavery, etc." " The control of the church in its secular as well as its spiritual relations to be vested in the church exclusively."
The names of the original members were as follows : George A. Avery, Frances Avery, Thomas Adams, Cornelia S. Adams, Michael B. Bateham, John Priden, Jr., William S. Bishop, John F. Bush, William Cook, Lydia Cook, Mary M. Cook, Spencer Davis, Eliza Davis, Joseph Farley, Walter S. Griffith, Elizabeth S. Griffith, Henry D. Griffith, Theodore B. Hamilton, Julia M. Hamilton, Lydia Hatch, Fanny E. Hatch, Ebenezer Knapp, Polly Knapp, Apollos Luce, Josiah Newell, Mary Newell, Mary Jane Porter, Preston Smith, Eliza N. Smith, William P. Smith, Eunice Smith, Henry F. Smith, John Still, Louisa Still, Newell A. Stone, Joseph Stone, Nancy Stone, Richard P. Wilkins and Mary P. Wilkins. The first elders ordained were George A. Avery, Walter S. Griffith and Preston Smith.
The present elders are Lewis H. Alling, William Alling, Henry Churchill, Darius L. Covill, Frank M. Ellery, Heman Glass, John N. Harder, William A. Hubbard, William A. Hubbard, Jr., Alonzo L. Mabbett, Samuel Sloan and Henry Wray.
The first pastor was Rev. George S. Boardman, who began his labors, 7th of May, 1837, was installed Oct. 19, 1837, was dismissed June 28, 1842; under his charge the church grew to a membership of 239 on Jan. 1, 1842.
June 28, 1843, the church withdrew from the Presbytery and became independent. June 3, 1844, it voted to return to Presbytery, and was received July 20, 1844.
From July, 1842, until Feb. 1, 1845, the church was sup- plied by Rev. Messrs. John T. Avery, George W. Bassitt, George R. H. Shumway, Frederick W. Graves and Parsons C. Hastings.
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The second pastor, Rev. Milo. J. Hickok, began his labors Feb. 1, 1845, was installed Feb. 25, 1845, and continued until March 15, 1854.
The third pastor, Rev. Frank F. Ellinwood, began his work Nov. 4, 1854, was installed Jan. 9, 1856, and continued until Jan. 24, 1866.
The fourth pastor, Samuel M. Campbell, D. D., began his labors March 1, 1866, was installed June 14, 1866, and was dismissed April 11, 1881.
Rev. Theodore W. Hopkins was elected pastor Sept. 5, 1881, and labored as such until June 12, 1887, when he withdrew. From that date till the 1st of March, 1888, the pulpit was supplied mainly by Professor James S. Riggs of Auburn Theological Seminary. March 11, 1888, Henry H. Stebbins, D. D., began his labors, and was installed April 17, 1888.
The Sunday school of 18 scholars was organized in the Crane school house on Sophia street on the first meeting of the church, Aug. 12, 1836, and has continued in vigorous existence. It has supplied to the church a majority of those who have united with it on confession. Its first superin- tendent was Walter S. Griffith. Its present one is Joseph T. Alling. The present membership is 750.
In the spring of 1856, a Sunday school was organized by William S. Bishop in a hall on the south side of Buffalo street (now West avenue), fronting Canal street, in a block owned by Joel B. Bennett. It was manned by teachers from several churches, but mostly from this church. Dec. 25, 1859, this school was discontinued to unite with a school from the Champion district in forming the school organized Jan. 8, 1860, in a brick chapel, which is now a part of West- minster church. Sept. 2, 1862, a society was incorporated called " The West Avenue Chapel." Its trustees were Joel B. Bennett, Samuel Dix, Stephen Coleman, Henry L. Churchill and Lewis H. Alling.
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In 1869, a Mission Sunday school was organized in Dis- trict No. 7 school house on Lake avenue. William A. Hubbard was its first superintendent. A chapel was built by the members of Central Church, at the corner of Fulton avenue and Locust street, at a cost of $7,000. It was dedicated Aug. 11, 1874. It was in this chapel that the North Church was organized Feb. 12, 1884.
A Woman's Missionary Society of the Central Church was organized Sept. 30, 1872, which has contributed annually from $300 to $700 for Home and Foreign Mis- sions.
The " Jenny Lush Missionary Society," organized in Feb., 1876, was organized for the special purpose of supporting hier while a missionary in Africa.
The "Do What You Can Mission Band," a children's society, organized Dec., 1884, contributes to mission work generally.
The Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in March, 1882, and has grown into great influence and use- fulness. It has a membership of 256. Its contribution to benevolence in 1888 was $885. It also has a branch of " King's Daughters."
In the winter and spring of 1842, Rev. Charles G. Finney, in connection with the pastor, Rev. George S. Boardman, conducted a series of revival meetings resulting in large acquisitions to the church. In the winter and spring of 1857, this church united with the Brick and Plymouth churches in revival meetings under Mr. Finney's preaching, which were also greatly blessed. In the spring of 1860, special efforts, under the pastorate of Rev. Frank F. Ellinwood, were greatly blessed, resulting in the addition of 63 at the April communion and a total of 91 in the year, mostly from the Sunday school.
In April, 1863, Rev. Edward P. Hammond engaged in a special effort in connection with this and the Brick Church.
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It resulted in an addition to this church at the June commun- ion of 136 on confession. Again in 1869, a similar effort under Mr. Hammond resulted in an addition of 65 new members. In the spring of 1886, this church engaged in a union effort with the First and Brick churches under the ministrations of Rev. Edgar E. Davidson, of Newtonville, Mass. He preached daily in each of the three churches, two weeks. As a result 110 new members were added to this church. A similar effort was made in the spring of 1887. It terminated suddenly on account of Mr. Davidson being called home by sickness in his family. As the fruit of this effort 58 new members were added.
"The Trustees of the Bethel Free Presbyterian Church and Society " was organized, Aug. 29, 1836. Its trustees were Michael B. Bateham, John Biden, Jr., John F. Bush, Theodore B. Hamilton and Samuel D. Porter. April 23, 1845, the society was reconstructed under the name of "The Trustees of the Washington Street Church in Rochester." Its trustees were Carlton M. Avery, William W. Brewster, Winthrop A. Parker, Samuel B. Stoddard and Edward Terry. March 30, 1858, the Legislature of the State of New York changed the name of the church to "The Cen- tral Presbyterian Church of the City of Rochester." Its present trustees are H. Austin Brewster, Isaac H. Dewey, John W. Goss, Charles S. Hastings, Horace McGuire, Samuel Sloan, Henry F. Smith, Charles A. Vickery and Louis L. Williams.
The Bethel Church was built of stone in 1837, on the west side of Washington street, north of the Erie canal at a cost of $15,000. In 1844, it was repaired and improved at a cost of $3,500. This building was set fire to in the steeple by an incendiary in the night and burned, Nov. 22, 1861. The lot is now a coal yard.
The Central Church building was begun July 21, 1856, and was dedicated April 8, 1858. Its size is 68 by 145 feet. The total cost was $40,000.
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The following members of this church have entered the ministry : George S. Bishop, Frederick Campbell, Willis Clark Gaylord, Dullis D. Hamilton, Simon J. Humphrey, Frederick J. Jackson, Robert McLean, Simon J. McPher- son, Daniel F. Stewart, Charles W. Torrey and Theodore B. Williams.
The following persons have gone from this church as Foreign Missionaries : Miss Isabella Atwater to China, 1847 ; Miss Carrie E. Bush to Eastern Turkey, May 28, 1870 ; Miss Jennie M. Lush to Western Africa, Oct. 12, 1873 ; Miss Fannie M. Nelson to South Africa, Nov., 1846, and Miss Hattie Seymour to Eastern Turkey, 1865.
The present membership is 990. The church is united and harmonious, and under the able leadership of its newly settled pastor, Henry H. Stebbins, D. D., is well equipped for the Master's service.
THE FIFTH PRESBYTERIAN ROCHESTER.
CHURCH OF
February, 1838, the Presbytery of Rochester appointed a commission consisting of Rev. Tryon Edwards, Rev. George S. Boardman, Rev. Richard De Forest and elder Benjamin Campbell, to organize the " Fifth Presbyterian Church in the city of Rochester." On the 15th of that month all the commissioners met in the house of Benjamin Herrick and organized the following twelve persons into a church : Caleb K. Hobbie, Benjamin Herrick, Cynthia Herrick, Relief Thorpe, Mary Earle, Ann Palmer, Richard H. Lee, Sarah P. Lee, Almedia Conkey, Sarah Hutchins, Rachel Janes Chatterton and Elizabeth Doe. The new church then elected and ordained as their elders Caleb K. Hobbie and Richard H. Lee. On May 12, 1840, Reuben Hill was ordained an elder.
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The name of this church was changed Feb. 6, 1844, to the "Fourth Presbyterian Church of Rochester."
Rev. Richard De Forest began his labors with these people before their organization, Jan. 9, 1837, and con- tinued with them till May 12, 1840. Rev. Jacob Burbank moderated the session June 4, 1843, and on the last time Jan. 5, 1845. Rev. David L. Hunn was employed as supply, Dec. 7, 1845, continuing only a short time. During the church's existence 33 members were received on confession and 16 on certificate, but removals to a distance resulted in such a depletion of the church, that Feb. 1, 1848, the Presbytery of Rochester disbanded their remaining 9 members.
In the latter days of the church the Presbytery criticised the " cession " for "incorrect spelling." No entries were made on their session book after Jan. 7, 1846. The book was examined by Presbytery the last time, Feb. 3, 1847.
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