USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 9
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Westminster Presbyterian Church .- This church is situated at the corner of Douglass and Graves streets, in the Twelfth ward. The situation is sightly and commanding. The elevation is nearly as great as the summit of James street hill, and the view of Onondaga lake and of portions of the city is very pleasing.
The edifice, designed by Archimedes Russell, is of wood and in the col- onial style of architecture. The tower, with its open belfry, supported on columns is much admired. The seating capacity of the ground floor, when the Sunday school room is thrown open, is four hundred and fifty. The edifice was largely paid for by the generous aid of the First, Park-Central, and Fourth Presbyterian churches of the city, which supplemented the contributions of the congregation. The lot was a free gift from Hon. Nathan F. Graves.
In 1872, the Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, who was efficiently related to the early history of the Centenary and Brown Memorial Methodist Episcopal Churches in the city, felt impelled to devote his attention to the Fourth ward, the upper parts of which were at that time growing rapidly in pop- ulation, but were without churches. From the autumn of 1872 to the autumn of 1876, Mr. Arnold labored strenuously, preaching during the summer often in the open air. He received during the first year not one dollar of support, and during the three following years no adequate remun- eration. His self-denying toils resulted in the organization of the Rose Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, in the autumn of 1875. The disused chapel of the Grace Protestant Episcopal Church was bought and moved across the canal from University avenue to the corner of Douglass and High- land streets. The newly organized church had not long to live. The last recorded annual meeting of the congregation was held October 4th, ISSO. The church had become involved in financial embarrassments and shortly after the date named it was disbanded. The Sunday School, however, was not given up. After a while students from the University were engaged to preach Sunday evenings.
491
MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In the spring of 1885, the Presbyterian Association of Syracuse took the Rose Hill Mission under its care, and gave the pastoral charge of this, with the Scattergood Mission in the Seventh ward, to the Rev. Alfred E. Myers.
On the 15th of November, 1886, the Westminster Presbyterian Church was organized, with fifty-one communicants, by the Presbytery of Syracuse. The new church edifice was occupied for the first time in September, 1887.
Having taken part in the organization of the Memorial Presbyterian Church out of the Scattergood Mission, Mr. Myers now received and ac- cepted a call and became pastor elect of the Westminster Church. In Oc- tober, ISS9, the Westminster Church established a Mission Sunday School at the corner of Butternut and Farmer streets.
In January, 1891, the church numbered about one hundred and ten com- municants and four hundred Sunday School scholars, including both Sunday Schools. The property of the church is entirely free of debt. The Superintendent of the Sunday School is Mr. Maurice A. Graves; elders, M. A. Graves, J. F. Cockings, R. W. Andrews, C. J. Kenline; deacons, R. H. Bendixen, Robert Cruickshank, N. E. Loomis; trustees, M. A. Graves, J. F. Cockings, C. F. Kenline, R. H. Bendixen, Robert Cruickshank, N. E. Loomis, F. D. Clift, Samuel Jackson, O. M. Bailey.
The Memorial Presbyterian Church .-- This church is located on Grape street opposite Munroe. The chuch is the outgrowth of the first Mission Sunday School in Syracuse. The mission was begun in the spring of 1859, when the city had less than one-half of its present population. There was abundant room and abundant need for such work in that vicinity. One Sunday afternoon Mr. James Marshall, then Superintendent of the First Presbyterian Chuch Sunday School, gathered some little Sabbath breakers in the Second Evangelical Church, corner of Grape and Jackson streets, and proposed the idea of a Sunday school. The suggestion met a hearty re- sponse from the neglected children and also from Mr. E. P. Porter and other efficient workers from the First Presbyterian Church. The enter- prise was named the Scattergood Mission Sunday School, which was taken under the fostering care of the First Presbyterian Church. In 1861 Judge A. J. Northrup succeeded Mr. Marshall as Superintendent. During his superintendency Mr. Edward Townsend gave a lot on Munroe street, where a suitable building was erected, the gift of Messrs Harmon W. Van Buren and Thomas B. Fitch. This building was dedicated May Ist, 1863. In October, 1864, Mr. Charles Hubbard became Superindendent and gave energy to the work until succeeded in October, 1868, by Mr. Henry C. llooker. The school soon crowded the room and in ISSI the building was further enlarged through the generosity of Mr. Van Buren, ever the friend and patron of the Mission. Mr. Hooker has continued the efficient and
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
loved Superintendent until the present time, a term of service now more than twenty-one years.
Preaching services were begun in June, 1869, on Sunday evenings, con- ducted by students in Syracuse University and others. This part of the work was mostly sustained by the liberality of Mr. Henry C. Hooker, to whom in no small degree is due the continued success of the Mission. The work grew until the need of a more commodious building became evident.
Friends of the enterprise in the First Presbyterian Church came to the rescue again. A large lot on Grape street opposite Munroe was procured and the present Memorial edifice completed upon it in 1885. The building and lot cost about $20,000. Of this amonnt the larger share was given by immediate friends in affectionate remembrance of Mrs. Harmon W. Van Buren, Mrs. Elias W. Leavenworth, Mrs. Philander W. Fobes, and Mr. Lewis S. Phillips. In the tower swings a bell which was used in a chapel used for the soldiers near Fortress Munroe during the late war. It was the only bell in southeastern Virginia that tolled the requiem at the death of the immortal Lincoln. The Memorial edifice was dedicated to the worship of God May 6, 1886.
The Presbyterian Association of Syracuse took charge of the spiritual interest of this promising Mission and in April, 1885, called Rev. Alfred E. Myers to labor in Scattergood and Rose Hill Missions. The work pros- pered under his ministrations and on September 8, 1887, Scattergood Mission was organized into a church, under the name it now bears, with 87 charter members on its roll. Soon afterward the First Presbyterian Society deeded the property to the new organization, free from all indebtedness. Later on Rev. Albert J. Abeel was called to the pastorate of the new church. Mr. Abeel began his labors October 16, 1887. The church has grown to a total membership of 193. The number of members at this date, October, 1890, is 196. The present officers of the church are as fol- lows: Elders, Edwin F. Smith, Jacob Stevens, Lucius M. Kinne, Thomas Hooker ; Deacons, Henry Eager, Thomas R. Frost, and William L. Con- way; Trustees, Henry C. Hooker, Charles Pratt, Lucius M. Kinne, S. Van Antwerp, John M. Darrow, Milton Broughton, P. E. Garlick, George Hesley, William Cannon ; President of Trustees, Peter E. Garlick; Treas- urer, Lucius M. Kinne.
Reformed Presbyterian Church .- This is otherwise known as the Cove- nanter Church, being made up of members of that church in Scotland and Ireland who came to this country in the early part of 1840. They had preaching by supplies for a number of years. In the early part of 1849 the congregation was formally organized with some forty-five members. The officers who were elected at this time were : Elders, John Service, John McChesney, James McChesney, son of John; Deacons, William Faulkner,
493
PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
John Scott, Joscph McClure. The congregation first had a pastor in the year 1851. Mr. John Newell, licentiate, was ordained and installed as pas- tor May 6, 1851. He continued as pastor two years when he demitted his charge. The congregation was without pastoral care for some years.
The first church building was located at the junction of Salina and Warren streets. After a few years this was sold and the people worshipped in the school house in what was then New Brighton. Rev. J. M. Johnson was installed pastor in 1859. At the beginning of the war there was some feeling between one of the trustees of the school building and the people on the slavery question ; the people all being abolitionists. This led to the building of a church on South Salina street, now Eleventh ward. Mr. Johnson remained for some six years, when he resigned. In 1867 Rev. J. M. Armour was installed as pastor. He resigned after serving some six years. On December 8th, 1874, the present pastor, Rev. S. R. Wallace was ordained and installed as pastor. He has been with the congregation over . sixteen years.
The present officers are: Elders, John McClure, sr., James McClure, sr., Hugh Scott ; Deacons, Charles Dougall and Renwick W. McClure. The building is of brick with a chapel in the rear, well adapted to church work. The church uses the same form of worship as the Church of Scot- land.
Plymouth Congregational Church .- This society was organized Septem- ber 24, 1853, with thirty-one members. On November 6, of the same year, the Rev. M. E. Strieby was called as the first pastor. For a time the soci- ety worshiped in the edifice formerly owned by the First Congregational Society, located on the north side of East Genesee street, on the site of the Convention Block. In 1854, a frame chapel was built on Madison street on the site of the present chapel, and dedicated in February, 1855. Five years after the foundation of the society the corner stone of the new edifice was laid, a part of the walls of which form a portion of the present church. After a faithful service of eleven years Dr. Strieby resigned to accept the Secretaryship of the American Missionary Association. The Rev S. R. Dimmock followed Dr. Strieby as pastor and continued four years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. A. F. Beard, who remained more than fourteen years, leaving in January, 1883, to become minister of the American Church in Paris. During Dr. Beard's pastorate, Plymouth grew to be the largest Protestant church in the city. Good Will Mission was an outgrowth of Plymouth Church in 1871, and since that time has developed into a large and prosperous church. After Dr. Beard's departure Chancellor Sims sup- plied the pulpit for several months, the Rev. Edward A. Lawrence becom- ing the fourth pastor of the church on October 28, 1883. During his pas-
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
torate three new Congregational churches were established, forty-nine mem- bers of Plymouth going to these new fields of work. Since then over one- hundred members have been added to the parent church. After the termi- nation of Mr. Lawrence's pastorate, the Rev. Dr. C. J. Little, of the Univer- sity, supplied the pulpit until September, 1887, when the present pastor, Rev. Edward N. Packard, was installed. In 1871, the church building, as it now stands, was completed and dedicated on the 22d of March. It was done under direction of Architect H. N. White and the following building committee : Peter Burns, H. R. Olmstead, M. E. Carter, James Terwiller- ger, W. E. Abbott, George W. Wilson, Trustees, and J. T. Bon, M. W. Hanchett and A. G. Salisbury. The following are the present officers of the church : Trustees, Wm. B. Davis, Chairman ; H. C. Hemingway, Treasurer; J. William Wilson, Clerk; Jacob Crouse, Wm. E. Hopkins, Ly- man C. Smith ; Deacons, George W. Wilson, Ralph G. Barnes, Stephen Stedman, J. Scott Clark, Edward Smith, William E. Abbott; Clerk of Church, Benjamin F. Stevens; Organist, Miss Lizzie M. Pitkin. Within one year about $18,000 has been raised and expended in remodeling the church, new stained glass windows, and the purchase of a large three manual organ. Membership of Plymouth church, 514; membership of Sunday school, 412.
Good Will Congregational Church .- In the fall of 1871 several members of the Young Men's Association of Plymouth church organized a Sabbath school, which met in the upper room of a private house on Oswego street. There it continued for about six months, when its increased numbers compelled it to remove to larger rooms on Fabius street, just back of the present Pilgrim Chapel. For six months more the meetings were held here, when Plymouth church bought the site and erected the chapel on the corner of Oswego and Fabius streets, which received the name of Good Will Chapel, and to this the Sabbath school removed. For thirteen years the school gathered there, the Superintendents being in the order named : H. A Jordan, three years ; John Dunn, Jr., one year ; W. A. Duncan, ten years.
It had been a favorite idea of Dr. Duncan that a church should be estab- lished from this school, and in the spring of 1884 Dr. C. C. Creegan, then Secretary of the N. Y. H. M. S., effectively co-operated with Dr. Duncan and others to establish it. Rev. D. F. Harris, of the Danforth Church, was sent by the N. Y. H. M. Board to preach for awhile. During this time a Christian Service Society was formed for the purpose of organizing and extending the Christian work, and the summer following Mr. C. H. Small, of Yale Seminary, labored effectively through this society, which continued in existence until the present church organization was effected, and many of its members be- came charter members of the churchi.
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495
GOOD WILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In the fall of 1884 the present pastor, Rev. J. C. Andrus, was invited to examine the field and to undertake the organization of the church. After due consideration he accepted the call and entered upon his duties November 12, 1884. Preaching services were held Sunday evenings, but the first morning service was not held until Sunday, April 12, 1885.
In the afternoon of April 14, 1885, a Congregational council met in the Chapel to advise and assist in the organization of a church. Rev. William E. Park, of Gloversville, was chosen temporary chairman, and Rev. William A. Robinson, D. D., of Homer, was elected moderator, and Rev. J. L. Franklin, then of Lysander, scribe. Twenty-eight persons then formed the church, of whom twenty-four were adults, and these met in the first com- munion service on Sunday, April 19th. Already E. G. Hall, George A. Mosher, W. S. Reed, W. A. Duncan, Charles M. Grannis and Rev. E. A. Lawrence had been chosen as Trustees of the Society, with H. W. Frost for Clerk, and Charles M. Grannis and H. W. Frost as Deacons, with C. W. Cable for Clerk of the Church. Mr. W. S. Reed was elected Church and Society Treasurer, which office he has held until the present time.
The organization being perfected, the present church site was purchased of Mr. M. S. Merriman and the building of the chapel portion commenced in the spring of 1886. The Society entered the new building August 7, 1886, with forty-tree members of the church and a Sunday school with a membership of eighty-four. The building was dedicated the evening of September 24th, with very interesting and appropriate services, the sermon being preached by Rev. William A. Robinson, D. D., President of the N. Y. H. M. B. Since that time the history has been one of steady growth. The Easter following, in 1887, forty-three were received into the membership, and at present the total membership is two hundred and eighty.
The present new church was began in May, 1890, and completed during the year at a cost of $20,000 and was dedicated Thursday January 15, 1891. The following gentlemen constitute the efficient Building Committee, Earl Thompson, Frank E. Cable, Edgar C. Dean, James E. Barton, Charles G. Hanchett.
The building is situated on one of the largest church properties in the city, being one hundred and fifty feet on Grace street and one hundred and thirty-two on Ontario street. The main audience room is seated with four hundred and sixty opera chairs, and with the adjoining chapel portion opened will accommodate over one thousand people.
The present officers are: Deacons, George A. Mosher, Edgar C. Dean, Frank E. Cable, W. Henry Roberts ; Trustees, William S. Reed, President; Charles M. Grannis, Vice-President; Frank A. Chadwick, William M. Burpee, Edgar C. Dean, Earll Thompson, Charles G. Hanchett; Clerk, Henry D. Goodell ; Treasurer, W. Henry Roberts; Superintendent of the Sunday School, George A. Mosher ; Pianist, Miss Ada V. Burpee.
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496
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
Danforth Congregational Church .- On the seventh day of January, 1884, the following persons met at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Mann : Rev. C. C. Creegan, John Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. Orrin C. Knapp, Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Butler, Mrs. Mary C. Franklin, Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens, Miss Mary E. Morse, Miss Elma D. Hayden, Charles C. Hall, Daniel E. Hayden and T. K. Fuller. The object of this earnest and productive conference is fully expressed in the following declaration, which was adopted with unani- mity and enthusiasm : "Resolved, That the time has come to organize a Congregational Church in the village of Danforth." Two committees were appointed, and the time and place for the next meeting. This action was timely and judicious. A series of meetings, all at private houses, followed, at each of which unexpected progress was reported. February Ist, only three weeks and four days from the initial gathering, a legal organization was perfected and a constitution adopted. Three days later, February 3d, the first religious meeting of the Danforth Congregational Church was held in Furman Street M. E. Church, the use of which had been, by the Christian courtesy of that society, generously tendered to them. Rev. Edward A. Lawrence, preached to a membership of 36 persons, and a large, animated audience of friends of the new movement. A Sunday School was formed, which grew rapidly in interest and in members. Nathan S. Curtiss was Superintendent and Ebenezer Butler Assistant Superintendent.
The first election of officers was held February 12. Trustees, Orrin C. Knapp, Luke Wells, Gilbert S. Hubbard, Daniel E. Hayden, Charles C. Hall, George F. Hitchcock, Enoch Mann, James Hunter, James M. Rose; Clerk, Ebenezer Butler; Treasurer, Edwin C. Tallcott ; Deacons, S. V. R. Van Heusen, Sr., George F. Hitchcock, Nathan S. Curtis, E. H. Abbott.
An ecclesiastical council, to review and pass upon the steps taken thus far, convened at the Furman Street Church March 3d, at which there was the following unusual attendance of Congregational ministers : Charles M. Tyler, D. D., Ithaca ; Edward, Taylor, D. D., Utica ; William A. Robinson, Homer ; Samuel Johnson, Danby ; Benjamin F. Bradford, Oxford; H. T. Sell, Cortland ; John L. Franklin, Lysander; J. W. White, Berkshire ; A. G. Upton, Norwich ; Charles C. Johnson, Smyrna; Ethan Curtiss, Cam- den ; William Kincaid, Oswego; R. R. Davis, Fairport : B. F. Safford, Spencerport ; Frank S. Fitch, Buffalo; D. F. Harris, Danforth ; Edward A. Lawrence, Plymouth Church, Syracuse.
At this council the proceedings of the Danforth Church were approved, the organization was perfected, memorable sermons were preached and ad- dresses delivered, and the first sacrament was administered.
Wishing to have their Sabbath exercises at the hours when the Furman Street Church was necessarily occupied, the society met at the school-house
497
GEDDES CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
on Kennedy street, Sunday, March 30, where they continued to worship till they had a house of their own. Mrs. D. E. Hayden was removed by death March 22, the first loss of membership. On the 29th day of March the present site on South Salina street, eighty feet front by fourteen rods deep, was pur- chased by the trustees, costing sixteen hundred dollars. A plan, originated by D. E. Hayden, and drawn by Architect A. L. Merrick, was adopted, and ground was broken for the foundations of the new church August 20th. The corner stone, in which was deposited a tin box containing the names of all members and officers of the church and Sunday School, and of each contributor to the building fund, the daily papers, and a revised New Testa- ment, was laid September 5th, with appropriate exercises.
In a little more than nine months from the laying of the corner stone, the church was completed, at a cost of $13,494. The furnishing cost $2,500 more. It was dedicated Monday, June 29, 1885, W. S. Smart, D. D., of Albany, preaching the sermon. The auditorium seats 400, the Sun- day school rooms 200, and the church parlors 200-all of which can be opened up as one audience room.
On this eventful day every seat was filled. D. F. Harris, under direction of the Board of the American Home Missionary Society, served as the first minister, but he was not installed. He resigned in February, 1887, and the October following, a call was extended to, and accepted by, Rev. Ethan Curtis, of Camden, N. Y. In September, 1889, Mr. Curtis resigned, to become the resident agent of the American Home Missionary Society, with head- quarters in Syracuse, which position he still holds. A call was extended to H. A. Manchester, of Auburn Theological Seminary, by this church in Feb- ruary, 1890, which he accepted. He was ordained and installed as pastor of the Danforth Church on the 26th of May following, which he continues to serve. During the past winter 54 people united with the church, making a total membership of 170. The Sabbath school, of which Dr. B. S. Sher- wood is Superintendent, numbers 225.
The present officers are: Deacons, George F. Hitchcock, Nathan S. Curtis, Gilbert S. Hubbard, Daniel E. Hayden, Daniel N. Lathrop, Charles Mead ; Trustees, Enoch Mann, Orrin C. Knapp, Luke Wells, George F. Hitchcock, Gilbert S. Hubbard, Charles C. Hall, James M. Rose, James Tolman, Daniel E. Hayden ; Church Clerk, John E. K. Low ; Society Clerk, Daniel E. Hayden ; Treasurer, Edwin C. Talcott. Mr. Hayden and Mr. Talcott have held these offices from the first.
Geddes Congregational Church .- This church is located on the corner of Willis avenue and Erie street. It was organized on the 15th of November, 1886. The present pastor, Rev. F. A. S. Storer, made the first call on the field on the 9th of September, of that year, and on the date first named the church was formerly recognized by Council and the pastor installed. A 63
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
wooden church was erected and dedicated on the Ist of May, 1888. It is valued, with the lot on which it stands, at about $10,000. The church has enjoyed a steady growth and during the three years of its existence, forty- four have united on profession of faith, and fifty-five by letter. Ten per- sons have been dismissed to other churches and two have died, leaving the present membership eighty-seven. The present officers of the church are as follows: Deacons, Giles H. Stillwell, E. R. Cobb, Willis P. Parsons ; Trustees, George C. Gere, William H. Wetmore, Solon Lane, E. C. Par- sons, Albert R. Gillis; Treasurer, William H. Wetmore.
First Ward Methodist Episcopal Church .- It is believed that Rev. Chas. Giles, of the Old Genesee Conference, preached the first Methodist sermon at "Salt Point" very early in the present century .* This was followed by occasional sermons from itinerant preachers, which continued down to about the year 1829, when a class was formed and a small chapel erected. The little society was few in numbers for several years and poor in purse and the little chapel was not finished for a number of years. Little prog- ress was made by them before 1840, at which time a young man holding a local preacher's license, gave them the benefit of his services a few months ; his name was Ezra C. Squires. During the year 1840 Mr. Squires awakened considerable interest and the society petitioned the Black River Conference to send them a minister who might organize a station and devote himself wholly to their village as a pastor. The Conference was held that year at Pulaski and Bishop R. R. Roberts ordained Rev. Ebenezer Arnold (a man who was to exercise a powerful influence upon Methodism in Syracuse in later years) and sent him to Salina, with instructions to organize, if prac- ticable, the two villages, Salina and Geddes, into a pastoral charge. Mr. Arnold looked over the field and decided to devote his attention to Salina. From now on the society prospered and soon became financially self-sup- porting ; the chapel was finished and furnished ; a comfortable parsonage secured, the class and prayer meeting were well attended and a quarterly conference established. In the course of a year a great change was effected and the Rev. Mr. Arnold left the charge in a prosperous condition, from which it maintained a steady growth. In 1864, the corner stone of the present church edifice was laid, and the building was finished and dedicated in 1865. It is of brick, cost about $13,000, and is located on Bear street. A brick parsonage has also since been built. The following is a list of pas- tors of the church as far as we have been able to obtain it: Revs. Ebe- nezer Arnold, I. N. Murdock, C. L. Dunning, P. S. Bennet, C. Giles, A. Robbins, B. Phillips, I. Turney, M. M. Rice, B. I. Diefendorf, D. Simons, O. C. Cole, D. Chidester, H. M. Church, S. Ball, J. A. Graves, T. B. Shep-
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