History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 101

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I > Part 101

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Doctor Morris's pastorate continued for twelve years, closing with the last Sabbath of December, 1867. It covered the stormy period of the Civil War of 1861-65. But the church was of one mind and one heart as to the issues then under the discussion of the sword. It enjoyed profound peace. Many of its members were in the field, and of these several laid down their lives. Its mem- bers were active and efficient in all the works of Christian charity which the sick, the wounded and the prisoner demanded of Columbus in no stinted measure. Doctor Morris resigned his pastorate in the Second Church to accept the profes- sorship of Ecclesiastical History and Church polity in Lane Theological Seminary

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at Cincinnati. He was succeeded at once by Rev. John F. Kendall, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Baldwinsville, New York. Mr. Kendall was a graduate of Hamilton College and of Auburn Theological Seminary. He received the degree of D. D. from Wabash College in 1870.

Doctor Kendall's pastorate extended from the beginning of 1868 to April, 1871. It was a period of many changes in the business community growing out of adjustments entailed by the close of the war and the depreciation of an inflated currency. During Doctor Kendall's ministry the bell which for more than twenty years had tolled ont the alarm in case of fire was purchased by the society and hung in the tall northwest steeple. On May 5, 1887, during a violent storm, the steeple was blown down, but the bell, which was the chief object of solicitude, was found to be uninjured and was restored after a few months to its place in a belfry quite as useful if less pretentious. The interest of the firemen in its restoration is shown by a subscription of $410 secured by them for that purpose. For nearly a quarter of a century it has been used in sounding the alarms of fire.

During the pastorate of Doctor Kendall the reunion of the Old and New School Presbyterian assemblies took place. The reconstructed Presbytery of Columbus met and was organized in the Second Church July 11, 1870, and on the following day the Synod of Columbus was organized in the same church ; and so the breach of thirty years was fully healed, and whatever traces of distrust between the Presbyterian churches may have lingered was wiped out. Only the anomalous position of two great churches with but a street between remains to recall the sad fact that there were days when ecclesiastically " the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans." The last traces of the independency of the Second Church were removed by the action of the ehnreh April 2, 1870, conforming its constitution in all things to the form of govenment of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

Doctor Kendall resigned his pastorate in February, 1871. The pulpit was vacant for a year - the only real vacancy in its history. On February 22, 1872, it gave a unanimous eall to Rev. William E. Moore, then pastor of the First Pres- byterian Church at Westehester, Pennsylvania. Mr. Moore was born in Lancas- ter County, graduated at Yale College in 1847, and received the degree of D. D. from Marietta College in 1873, and that of LL. D. from Lake Forest University in 1891. Doctor Moore entered on his pastorate in April, 1872, and was installed by the Presbytery of Columbus, October 30, of that year. The elders of the church at that time were Ebenczer McDonald, Chauncey N. Olds, George L. Smead, Raymond Burr, John J. Ferson, and Alfred Ritson. The trustees were Alexan- der Houston, Charles Baker, L. S. Ayers, Alfred Ritson, and Nathan B. Marple. The church membership was 264. In the summer of 1872, the andienee room was thoroughly renovated and carpeted at an expense of about $6,000. The next year the chapel was similarly treated at a cost $1,500. In the spring of 1874, the house at Number 122 East State Street was purchased for a parsonage at a cost of $10,000. Few further changes were made in the church property until 1882, when the church and chapel were frescoed and changes were made in the east end of the church to provide room for a new organ, the gift of Mrs. Caroline M. Fer-

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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CORNER OF STATE AND THIRD STREETS. From " After Eighty Years," by Rev. F. E. Marsten.

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son, as a memorial of her husband, John J. Ferson, who was an elder of the Second Church from 1868 until his death January 4, 1879. The great pulpit, a marvel of beauty for its symmetry of design and elegance of workmanship, was superseded by a platform and desk. The total cost of these improvements was $8,881. The church grew steadily in numbers and in influence.

The phenomenal growth of the eastern and northern portions of the city, and the building of new churches began, about 1887, to draw on the membership of the Second Church, as also of the First. In 1885 many of the Second Church members were found north of the railway tracks, and a mission was established on High Street, near Fourth Avenue, with a view to the establishment of a church further north at no distant day. A large Sabbathschool was gathered and preaching services held in the afternoon were largely attended. In February, 1887, this mission was united with the Hoge Church to form the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. To this organization the Second Church contributed thirtytwo of its members, including two of its elders and two deacons.

In September, 1887, the Broad Street Presbyterian Church at the corner of Garfield Avenue, was organized. Fortysix members of the Second Church, includ- ing two of its elders and two deacons, were dismissed to unite with this church. Others of the Second Church members have united with churches in their immediate neighborhood. Its membership, after all these deductions, is (1892) 520.

The Second Church, like the First, has always been influential in all matters of public concern pertaining to education, morals and benevolence. Its large audienceroom has been the favorite gatheringplace of conventions on behalf of the Bible, the Sabbath, temperance and other moral reforms. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions held its annual meeting there. It has furnished from its officers and members two presidents of colleges, three professors in theological seminaries, ten principals for institutions for deaf mutes, four prin- cipals for institutions for the blind, and many prominent teachers in public and private schools. Nine of its sons have entered the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. Two of its pastors have been Moderators of the General Assembly - Rev. Dr. Morris in 1875 and Rev. Dr. Moore in 1890. The present officers of the Second Church are: Pastor, Rev. William E. Moore, D. D., LL. D. ; Elders, David E. Putnam, David N. Kinsman, M. D., Edgar T. Thompson, J. Wendell Cole, J. Edward McCarty, Z. F. Guerin, M. D., William Hughes, John C. Hanna and Wilson C. Buchanan ; Trustees, Charles Baker, William G. Dunn, S. C. Bailey, M. D., John W. Lilley and George S. Peters.

Westminster Church. - The Westminster Church is a colony of the First Pres- byterian Church. In the month of December, 1850, Rev. Josiah D. Smith, who, since 1841, had been pastor of the Churches of Truro and Hamilton, was installed as colleague pastor of the First Church and at once took place among the first as a pastor and preacher. The First Church was full and strong. It had been greatly strengthened by the revivals of. 1853. In the spring of 1854 it was thought best to organize another church with Mr. Smith as its pastor. Fiftynine members of the First Church, with its full approval, petitioned the Pres- bytery to organize them into a church. The request was granted and a com-

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mittee of the Presbytery appointed in April, 1854, which reported to the Pres- bytery July 3, 1854, that on June 1 it had organized " the Westminster Pres- byterian Church." At that meeting a call was presented to Mr. Smith, who accepted and was installed by the Presbytery of Columbus September 7, 1854. Its first elders were William Blynn and John Y. Cowhick. The congregation wor- shipped in the amphitheatre of the Starling Medical College for some three years, until the completion of their house for worship in August, 1857. Its growth was rapid. Its pastor was popular and its congregation included many of the younger and most active families of the First Church. Among them were such men as Samnel Galloway, Henry C. Noble, Judge J. W. Baldwin, David Taylor and Thomas Moody. By the time the church entered on its new home its number of communicants was more than doubled and its congregation fairly filled the house, the seating capacity of which is about five hundred. The cost of the building, exclusive of the tower, was $16,000. The death of Doctor Smith on May 29, 1863, was a great loss to the church and the city. He was in the fortyeighth year of his age and in the prime of his usefulness. He had already come to occupy the place in his denomination and in the city which had so long been accorded to the vener- able Doctor Hoge, who, six months later, followed him in death.

On November 17, Henry M. MeCracken was ordained and installed as pastor of Westminster. IIe continued in that office until July 9, 1867, when he was released from his charge and became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Toledo, Ohio. He is now (1892) Vice Chancellor of the University of New York. Doetor McCracken was succeeded by Rev. Henry M. Robertson who was installed October 16, 1867, and was released from his charge July 14, 1870. For nearly two years the church which had suffered very greatly from deaths and removals, was without a regular pastor. It was, however, supplied with stated preaching - a large part of the time by the late Professor E. B. Andrews, then a resident of Co- lumbus.

Mr. Rob Roy MeG. McNulty was ordained and installed November 11, 1872. He resigned October 25, 1875. Mr. McNulty was succeeded by Rev. Stephen G. Hopkins, who was installed May 9, 1876, and continued in the pastoral office until December 9, 1879. After a vacancy of two years, in which, however, regular services were maintained, Rev. Nathan S. Smith, D. D., was installed April 20, 1882. Under the ministry of Doctor Smith the church has grown steadily. Its building has been thoroughly renovated and handsomely decorated. All indebted- ness has been removed. Its pastor was a soldier during the Civil War and holds a prominent place in Grand Army circles. Westminster Church has always been noted for the devotion of its members to their church and to every good cause at home and abroad.

Hoge Church. - In 1868 a mission of the First Church was established on Park Street at the corner of Spruce. A lot was proenred and a very comfortable frame church with tower and bell was provided by the First Church. At first it was known as the Hoge Chapel and was sustained by the parent church. In April, 1870, it was enrolled by the Presbytery, having been organized on January 22, with twenty members. Its elders were Warren Jenkins and Joseph C. Noyes.

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Within the year its membership more than doubled in number. The Rev. J. C. Tidball was the chief instrument in gathering and organizing the church. He was a good man and peculiarly fitted for the work he undertook. His health was frail and he died November 10, 1870, aged thirtysix. After the death of Mr. Tidball the church was supplied for a year by Rev. David Kingery. On April 18, 1872, Mr. John M. Richmond was ordained and installed as pastor. Mr. Richmond was a faithful and laborious pastor, a good preacher and popular with the people. Under his ministry large additions were made to the communion of the church. An addition was built for lecture and Sabbathschool purposes, and the house was thoroughly renovated. The number of communicants had increased to 142 in 1876 when Mr. Richmond was called to the church at Ypsilanti, Michigan. He was released from the charge of Hoge Church October 4, 1876. Mr., afterwards Doctor, Richmond was succeeded by Rev. J. Frank Hamilton, who was installed May 10, 1877. He continued in the charge until April 5, 1881. On October 25, 1881, a call was given to Rev. David R. Colmery. He was installed January 10, 1882, and on account of declining health was released from his charge September 21, 1886.

Although comparatively large additions were made year by year, especially under the ministry of Messrs. Richmond, Hamilton and Colmery, the net growth was small owing to the frequent removals of a shifting population. The encroach- ment of the railway yards on the territory nearest the church and the removals of many of its permanent members northward and eastward, had made the loca- tion of the church an undesirable one, giving little promise of growth. The question of removal northward began to be agitated. In 1885 the Second Church had planted a Sundayschool and mission on High Street near Fourth Avenue, occupying a vacant storeroom. Its ultimate purpose was to build a chapel and organize a church further north on High Street, but when the Hoge Church was made vacant by the removal of Mr. Colmery, a proposition was made by it to unite with the mission of the Second Church and form a new organization. At the meeting of the Presbytery in April, 1887, the congregation of the Hoge Church asked the Presbytery to change its name to the " Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church," the court having given its assent. This was a part of the agreement with the mission of the Second Church by which the congregation of Hoge Church sold its house of worship, which it had occupied for nearly twenty years, and united in the purchase of a lot for the new church on Fifth Avenue, west of High, whence the new name. The elders of Hoge Church at the time of the reorganization were Z. F. Guerin, M. D., Rowland Vance and Willard B. Carpenter, M. D. Its trustees were Z. F. Guerin, Willard B. Carpenter, Ephraim Harris and William S. Sackett.

Fifth Avenue Church - Reference has been made under the history of the Hoge Church to the circumstances which led to the sale of its property on Park Street and its union with the mission of the Second Church with a view to organi- zation and a new name. In January, 1887, some forty members of the Second and other churches united by letter with the Hoge Church, which at once proceeded to reorganize under the name of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. A new Session and Board of Trustees were chosen. The Elders were Z. F. Guerin,

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Charles A. Covert, E. M. Doty, William B. Carpenter, W. H. Hughes and Josiah R. Smith. On April 1, 1887, the church reported to the Presbytery 180 mem- bers, and a lot had been purchased on Fifth Avenue, between High Street and Dennison Avenue, on which a beautiful and convenient house of worship was erected at a cost of about $9,000. The situation is central to the population of the North Side, which was increasing with great rapidity, very many of the new- comers being Presbyterians. The church grew steadily in numbers and in strength. In 1888 a unanimous call was given to Rev. John Rusk, at that time pastor of the Sixth Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati. Mr. Rusk was installed as pastor by the Presbytery of Columbus and yet continues in office. The present elders are E. M. Doty, Thomas McKee, and James H. Puntenny. The trustees are Messrs. Darling, Whipps, Megahan, Hotchkiss, McKee and Jackson.

The Welsh Church. - The body to which the Welsh Presbyterian Church belongs was formerly known as the Welsh Calvanistic Methodist, but inasmuch as it was always Presbyterian in polity its name was changed to the Welsh Presbyterian Church. Its General Assembly, formed in 1870, meets triennially. It has five synods and eighteen presbyteries. Its strength lies chiefly in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Its services are chiefly in the Welsh language. The church in this city was organized in 1849 by Rev. John Williams with twentyeight members. Its first house of worship was built at the corner of Fifth and Long streets, largely through the liberality of Richard Jones and David Price. For several years after its organization it had no regular pastor but depended upon occasional supplies. In 1855 Rev. David Williams was installed ; he served until 1858, in which year he was succeeded by Rev. William Parry, who, with Rev. Joseph E. Davis and Hugh Roberts, served the church until October, 1860, when Rev. R. H. Evans was installed. Mr. Evans continued in the pastoral office until 1869. On December 21 a unanimous call was given to Rev. David Harries, of Ironton, who was installed March 11, 1870. The church had at that time eightyfive members. Their house of worship had been materially enlarged a little before, and the congregation was in a flourishing condition.

Mr. Harries served the church about four years when he resigned to accept a call in Chicago. He was succeeded by Rev. Robert V. Griffith, who remained until 1885, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. P. Howell, D. D., the present pas. tor. In July, 1887, a new church edifice was begun on Long Street, between Sixth Street and Grant Avenue. When the walls were nearly ready for the roof they were blown down by violent storm. This accident called out the substantial sym- pathy of other churches and of individuals. The damage was speedily repaired and the church was dedicated in September, 1888. Its cost, including the lot, was about 825,000. The present membership of the church is about 375.

United Presbyterian Church. - The body with which this church is con- nected was formed May 26, 1858, by a union of the Associate and Associate Reformed Presbyterian churches which owed their origin to Scotland. Members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, popularly known as "Covenanters," and of the Associate Presbyterian Church, known more commonly ax " Seceders," were among the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania and of the region lying south of it,

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They and their fathers had been the victims of the fierce persecutions arising out of the attempt of the Stuarts in 1617, to impose upon the Church of Scotland the cere- monies of the Church of England and the headship of the crown over the church of Christ. In 1782, these two bodies, the Reformed and the Associate, formed a union under the name of the " Associate Reformed Church," but a number of the Associate ministers and congregations did not accede to the union. There was still an Associate and an Associate Reformed church. In 1858, these bodies eame together and formed the United Presbyterian Church of North America.

Early in the fifties there had been an Associate church in Columbus worship- ing on Sixth Street. It was probably small in numbers and withont a house of its own. It had disappeared before the union of 1858. On February 5, 1887, the present United Presbyterian Church was organized with twelve members. Messrs. F. J. MeKnight and Robert Livingston were ordained and installed as its ruling elders. Rev. R. B. Patton began his work as its pastor on September 17, 1887. A site for a church edifice was chosen on Long Street, east of Washington Avenue, and a chapel for Sabbathschool and present church purposes was erected on it at a cost of $10,200, including the lot, all of which was paid at once. The chapel was dedi- eated October 7, 1888, and steps were at once taken to accumulate funds to build the main edifice. The church is in a prosperous condition and located in a por- tion of the city where a church with its appliances is greatly needed.

Broad Street Church .- For some time after the settlement of Rev. Francis E. Marsten as pastor of the First Church, his attention had been turned to the region lying northeast from Washington Avenue and Broad streets and extending to the Panhandle shops. A Sabbathschool was organized on Long Street, east of Garfield Avenue, and preaching services were held in Gospel hall. In a little while it was seen that the rapid growth of population in the eastern part of the city demanded a church in that quarter. Many families of the First, Second and Westminster churches had, within a few years, removed east of the old city limits, and new families were settling there. The question of the removal of the First Church which was so largely represented in the East End was earnestly canvassed and was decided in the negative; but at the same time the old church resolved to favor the organization of a new one .. A lot was secured on the corner of Garfield Avenue and Broad Street and a beautiful and commodious chapel was erected on the rear of the lot at an expense, including the ground, of $31,000. At the meeting of the Presbytery of Columbus in April, 1887, the incorporation of a society to build a Presbyterian church at the corner of Broad Street and Garfield Avenue was reported, and a committee was appointed to organize the church. This committee reported to the next Presbytery that, on September 19, 1887, it had organized the Broad Street Presbyterian Church with four elders, two dea- cons and 105 communicants. At the meeting of the Presbytery October 17, Rev. Franeis E. Marsten was released from the pastoral charge of the First Church and a call from the newly formed Broad Street Church was presented to and accepted by him, with permission to hold it for the time being. On October 17, 1887, Mr. Marsten was duly installed by the Presbytery. The enterprise was eminently successful. In 1891 it reported to the Presbytery 409 communicants.

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It is now erecting a church adjoining its chapel, at an estimated cost of $50, - 000. It will be composed of buff stone with brown stone trimmings, in the Byzan- tine style. The present elders are Charles A. Bowe, Albert A. Hall, S. G. Ilutch- inson, James C. Gray, A. B. Adair, William G. Harrington, Edwin F. Johnson and Frank Frankenberg. The trustees are M. C. Lilley, president ; William H. Jones, T. J. Duncan, Theodore H. Butler and E. R. Sharp. Rev. Francis E. Marsten, D. D., is pastor.

During the autumn 1891 Rev. Robert H. Cunningham was entrusted by the Home Mission Committee of the Columbus Presbytery with the mission work on the West Side of the city under the auspices of our denomination. A Sunday- school was established, a prayermeeting begun and a preaching service maintained at a meetingplace hired for the purpose on West Broad Street, about one mile from High Street. The work assumed such a shape that at the spring meeting of the Presbytery held at London in 1892 certain petitioners living on the West Side requested the formation of a church organization. On April 11, 1892, the Home Mission Committee met at the mission station on West Broad Street and pro- ceeded to organize such of the petitioners as were present into a Presbyterian church, which began its career with twenty charter members. Efforts are now making to secure for it a regular place of worship in a building of its own. Mr. Robert Graham was chosen elder and the following persons were named as trustees : Christopher Ross, Claude K. Seibert, HI. M. McLarren and Doctor William Edmis- ton. Rev. W. E. Dudley, of the Danville Theological Seminary at Danville, Ken- tueky, was called as the first pastor. Thus the nucleus has been established for what will probably prove to be a strong church not far away from the spot where in 1806-7 Doctor Hoge first planted Presbyterianism in Columbus.

A plan is now on foot, with every prospect of success, to make the mission now worshiping on Euclid Avenue a regularly organized church with an installed pastor.

Presbyterianism is at present represented in Columbus by eight churches, hav- ing an aggregate of about 2,200 communicants.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

METHODIST.

BY REV. JOHN COLLINS JACKSON, D. D.

[Rev. John Collins Jackson, D. D., is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio. His father, Samuel Jackson, was a prominent farmer of that county ; his mother, Elizabeth Collins, was a daughter of John A. Collins, one of the pioneers of Southern Ohio. After a preparatory course at the Fairfield Union Academy he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, from which he graduated in 1874, having supported himself meanwhile by teaching. Having next served one year as principal of the public schools of Lancaster, he entered the Ohio Conference in September, 1875; was sent to the Third Street Church, Columbus; remained with that church three years; was next assigned to St. Paul's at Delaware, Ohio, where he also remained three years ; traveled in Europe in 1879; was married the same year to Miss Eva M. See, of Zanesville; in 1881 became pastor of the Third Avenue Church, Columbus, the new edifice for which was chiefly built under his ministry, which continued three years ; was next stationed for three years at Bigelow Chapel, in Portsmouth, Ohio; in 1886-7 traveled through Egypt, Palestine, Asia Minor, Greece, and portions of Europe; in the autumn of 1887 was chosen delegate to the General Conference of Methodism, and was appointed Presiding Elder of the Columbus District, which position he resigned after four years to accept a second term as pastor of the Third Avenue Church in Columbus ; received the degree of Doctor of Divin- ity from the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1889; was again delegate to the General Confer- ence in 1891. Doctor Jackson has lectured extensively on his travels and other subjects, and is a frequent contributor to the press. He has declined numerous invitations to college pres- idencies and to leading pulpits in cities outside of his Conference.]

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 101

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202