USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Fifty years in the Lombard Street Central Presbyterian Church > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/fiftyyearsinlomb00jone_0
GEN
3 1833 02588 2892
Gc 974.802 P53JOH JONES, ROBERT. FIFTY YEARS IN THE LOMBARD STREET CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
FIFTY YEARS
IN THE
LOMBARD STREET
Central Presbyterian Church
BY
ELDER ROBERT JONES
PHILADELPHIA 1894
SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY LIBRARY 2825 LEXINGTON ROAD LOUISVILLE, KY ..
6
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF SESSION AND TRUSTEES.
EDWARD STERN & Co., INC., Philadelphia.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
DEDICATION.
TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE LOMBARD STREET CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA.
Dear Brethren and Sisters !- This history of fifty years I dedicate to you, praying, that as you read the doings of your predecessors, you will avoid their errors and emulate their virtues. I have tried to be plain and truthful, commenting only as I felt it my duty to God and to you. We have much to thank God for,-the mind and spirit that influenced us in withdrawing from the Mother Church, His blessing to us, under the differ- ent Pastors, Elders, and Trustees, and the laborers in Sabbath-school, Dorcas, Young People's and Willing Workers' Associations. Mark the men and women that have made our history glorious in the sight of God and man, and kept us as a Church free from the corrupt and vile; and when another fifty years shall have passed, may those then living say, as we do now, " Hitherto the Lord has helped us." ROBERT JONES.
62023 285.174811 L 838j
PREFACE.
PRESBYTERIANISM with the colored people of Philadelphia began in 1807. John Gloucester, Sr., a native of Tennessee, was employed by the Evangelical Society (Presbyterian) to labor as a missionary. He commenced his work by preach- ing in private houses, but such was the number of people that attended his ministry, that in a very short time no private house could be found to contain them that flocked to hear him explain God's word. This led to street preaching. The people were notified that in clear weather he would preach at Seventh and Shippen (now called Bainbridge) Street, and when it was not favor- able he obtained the use of a shoolhouse near by. Mr. Gloucester was a sweet singer, holding his audience spellbound by the melody and rich tones of his voice; in prayer he was mighty: such was his fervor and energy, such his wrestling, that souls have fallen under its power deeply con- victed of sin. An anecdote is related of him: When he came to Philadelphia he boarded with a man named Jacob Craig, whose wife was a very
. 6
pious woman, and attended the ministry of Mr. Gloucester in his open-air preaching. Mr. Craig was a sailmaker, and at the same time a great fiddler, which was a source of unhappiness to his wife. After his daily toil was over, and Mr. Craig became rested, he would invariably while away the evening by playing his fiddle, to the annoyance of his wife. Jacob was not like Jacob of old; he knew more of his fiddle than of his God, and per- haps loved it more. Things went on in this way until Mr. Gloucester proposed to Mrs. Craig to have a series of prayer meetings at her house. It was accepted, and Mr. Jacob Craig was duly informed. At first he objected ; but his wife, true as steel to her purpose, and faithful to her God, pressed her cause so earnestly to her husband that he consented, determined, however, to hire a room adjoining the prayer meeting, and so annoy them by continuing to play his fiddle. This he put into practice, so that while there was praying in one apartment there was fiddling in the other. Here there was a difficulty as to who should yield in this. Mr. Gloucester's advice was sought. He replied that he was con- tented to remain where he was; it was an open field and a fair fight, and that was all he asked. From that decision there was no appeal-God approved it. In a few nights after there was no sound of a fiddle heard. A few evenings after,
7
Mr. Jacob Craig came home and attended for the first time the prayer meeting ; a very little while after he was seen to weep, then heard to exclaim: "God have mercy on me, a poor miserable man." The battle was fought-the prize was won. The Lord had mercy on the man; he was converted, and afterward set apart as an elder in Seventh Street Church, under Mr. Gloucester, through whose instrumentality he was brought into the fold of Christ, and into the marvellous light and liberty of the children of God. Mr. Craig con- tinued in the church, a pious and devoted Christian, until the day of his death, and entered into that rest that remains for the people of God. Mr. Gloucester's deep piety and earnest devotion to his calling made him very many friends among the rich and influential citizens of Philadelphia; not only such men as Rev. Drs. Alexander, Green, Janeway, Potts and others, but Dr. Rush, the world-wide-known philanthropist of Philadelphia, was almost a regular attendant wherever he preached. Messrs. McMullen, Markoe, Ralston, Jenkins, Sawyer, and other citizens of influence, encouraged his heart and strengthened his hands by their presence and support, and under God lightened his labors and cheered him in his duties. Mr. Gloucester's motto was to "wear out; to rust out, never." As early as 6 o'clock in the morn- ing, he would take his stand on the corner and
8
sing, drawing a large crowd together ; then he would preach the word of Life to the people; and such was the moral effect, that persons keeping dramshops in the neighborhood for the sale of that soul-and body-destroying agent, ardent spirits, would not open their groggeries until "meeting," as they called it, was over. Mr. Gloucester's manner was bold, his voice clear and loud; in his invitation to the trembling mourner and earnest inquirer, he was interestingly mild and inviting; but to the careless sinner, in his denunciation he was terrible. The flashes of his eye, his tall, commanding figure, his gestures at the same time giving a cast to his earnestness of soul, at once struck and awed the most wayward and in- considerate. It has been said of him he was wise to win souls.
Mr. Gloucester had considerable labor to undergo during his brief ministerial career,-not only the care and burden of the church, not only the hopes of the people confiding in him filled his heart and soul with much anxiety, but there were his wife and six children in slavery; it was not possible for him to rest quiet and at ease under such circumstances as those. He travelled exten- sively North and South, raising collections or con- tributions in order to purchase the freedom of his family. He crossed the ocean to England and pleaded for money ; he was successful, re- turned to America, and purchased them, rejoicing to
9
have them free, to call them his, to see them settled in Philadelphia, happy and cheerful, and then give himself again to the labor of the ministry and to building up the church. In order to support his family Mr. Gloucester opened a pay-school in a frame building. near the church, and employed teachers to assist him, among whom were Messrs. Cornish and Hughes, who afterward studied for the ministry; and Mrs. Coperson, Bass, Nelson, Osborne and Pinkerton, a Quaker lady who wanted to take the children to Quaker meeting on Fourth-day morning, but Mr. Gloucester would not consent. With the school, and his children being put to work when they were old enough, he managed to get on toler- ably well, and Jeremiah, his oldest son, was sent to college under the care of the Presbytery. Mr. Gloucester expected that Jeremiah would succeed him in the First Church, but after his death there arose opposition to the son, that resulted in the formation of the Second Church with Jeremiah as pastor. The Rev. John Gloucester did not live to old age; his life was full of toils and anxieties; being a slave, and coming to his freedom through the efforts of the Rev. Dr. Blackburn, and then working for the freedom of his family and trying to do all the good he could for his fellow creatures, he surely did not "rust out," but was called from labor to reward, the 2d day of May, 1822, in the 46th year of his age.
٣
HISTORY.
FIFTY years ago, in the old First African Presby- terian Church, Seventh Street below Shippen (now Bainbridge Street), this congregation began its distinctive work for Christ; and as we look back over all those years, those of us who are still living, how vividly, like a bold, clear picture, come to us many of the scenes of the past. It might not be a continuous history-for we forget much that passes-but there are inci- dents here and there, all through our lives, that are ever fresh, ever green. There are few living that remember the causes that led to the "coming out," few that recollect the admis- sion of large numbers of new converts to the Second Church during the great revival of 1841 and 1842. The part that some of them were con- strained to take in the question then pending as to whether S. H. Gloucester should occupy the pulpit of the Second Church or not, resulted in the following paper being drawn up and presented to the Presbytery, which granted the petition, after much opposition, and in 1844 constituted the new church.
12
PETITION TO PRESBYTERY.
At a meeting of those members of the Second African Presbyterian Church known as the major- ity, it was resolved that to save contention they would not attend the intended congregational meeting of the Second Church, but that a com- mittee be appointed to draw up and present to the next meeting of Presbytery a declaration of their sentiment and intentions. We, the com- mittee, therefore appear before you and ask Pres- bytery to divide us as a congregation.
In asking this we would lay before you the fol- lowing reasons : It is well known that for a num- ber of years two parties have existed in the church, and though quietness might reign for a period, yet when anything important or exciting comes in our midst, we find them true to the disposition of their minds, in hostile array against each other. To enter into detail and endeavor to search the dificulties to their origin, would only be a useless waste of time, and show to the shame of both parties that private affairs have been shamefully mingled with Church business, and individual dif- ferences suffered to intrude themselves in con- gregational matters, until at last that which com- menced in the Board has run through the session, and, like the poisonous nature of disease, dissemi- nated itself through every member of our once beloved Zion. The Sabbath-school, Bible-class,
I3
singing-school, and even families, have not been exempt from the peace- (and we fear if persisted in, soul-) destroying blast. And, brethren of the Third Presbytery, we would here give you to understand that we do not intend to make any charges before you against those brethren ; and God save us from doing it in the community, espe- cially the giving to the winds the private character for years past of any of them ; for the system of ethics that we have been taught gives us to understand that there is no vice more inhuman than spreading the tale of actions which if done by .ourselves we would wish buried in eternal oblivion. But lest you should think we have not sufficient grounds for dissatisfaction we would state a few of the occurrences that bear heaviest on our minds. You are aware that Stephen H. Gloucester has been charged in Presbytery and elsewhere with being the life of contention, in our midst. We do not appear here to vindicate the character of any one, further than it is connected with our own as a portion of the Church ; we therefore state that instead of being the soul of contention, had the Session acted in accordance with a resolution of theirs, moved by Mr. Gloucester, nominating Rev. Mr. Beman for trial and election as Pastor ; and also granted the people an election for more Elders, as they agreed; had they carried out these. resolutions, and not because they were made by a
14
proscribed man, expunged them as they did; we might now, with the blessing of God, be at peace. From this may be dated the endeavor to draw on one side or the other the young that had recently been added to the church. Mr. Gloucester was acting as stated supply, and endeavored to keep the zeal of the young converts alive by encourag- ing prayer meetings among them ; these while he continued were cramped ; as soon as he left, even more license than he gave was offered. Passing over many other occurrences we come to the time when the name of S. H. Gloucester was brought before the people for their approval as stated supply. We had just come from Presbytery, where our affairs, as we fondly hoped, had been amicably adjusted. Mr. Gloucester had acted in accordance with the request of Presbytery in not speaking in the church; but the session would not comply with the injunction of Presbytery in requir- ing of Samuel Nickles his resignation. When the meeting took place the session proposed Mr. Beman, hoping to keep Mr. Gloucester out; but the majority sustained Mr. Gloucester and also carried the election for Trustees. Suit was then brought to keep us out of our rights. We are tired of this contention, and cannot accept the declaration of Mr. Nickles, "that the session is the door of the Church; when they shut none can open, and when they open none can shut." We therefore
1
15
desire Presbytery to form us into a separate Church. Candor demands us here to say that it will be useless in Presbytery to appoint either committee or congregational meetings anymore, our minds are made up, and we believe the other brethren can get along better without us. The session of our Church put themselves above people and Presbytery, and it is useless to keep us with them. We have the names of nearly eighty persons who ask to be organized as the First Central Colored Presbyterian Church.
May God grant that whatsoever is right may eventually come to pass.
Committee :- Jesse E. Glasgow, Wm. Laws, John P. Worthington, William Brown, George Roberts, and Robert Jones, Secretary.
ORGANIZATION OF THE LOMBARD STREET CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Philadelphia, July 22, 1844.
We, members of the Second African Presby- terian Church, Philadelphia, who had petitioned Presbytery for a new organization, to embrace them and others who might be disposed to unite with them, assembled agreeably to notice which had been given in the First Colored Presby- terian Church, at 8 P.M., and were regularly organized by the Rev. John McKnight, the Rev. E. B. I. Richards, and the Rev. Robert Adair,
16
the committee appointed by Presbytery for that purpose. The following articles of association and covenant engagement were unanimously adopted :
(1) We, whose names are hereunto appended, in dependence on Divine Grace, do hereby as- sociate ourselves together, to secure among us the regular administration of the word and ordi- nances ; and do pledge to teach other our individ- ual and zealous exertions to accomplish the great ends of church organization, viz. : the promotion of the glory of the Saviour ; the edification of the people ; the conversion of sinners; and the ad- vancement of the general interests of truth and righteousness.
(2) We agree to be recognized under the title of the Lombard Street Central Presbyterian Con- gregation, Philadelphia.
(3) We receive and adopt, as the confession or our faith and the rule of our government, the con- fession of faith and book of discipline of the Con- stitutional Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
(4) Each individual who shall be received into communion with us, shall be entitled to equal pri- vileges with us, in the choice or dismission of a pastor, or ruling elder; a majority of votes on all such questions shall be decisive.
(5) We desire to be taken under the watch and
1
17
care of the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia and to subject ourselves to the control of that eccle- siastical body and of the higher judicatories of the Church, in which they are connected, engaging to yield them all due subordination and obedience in the Lord.
George Potter, Robert Jones, John P. Worth- ington, Sarah A. Worthington, William Laws, William Peters, Julia Brown, Margaret Brown, Elizabeth Jones, Belinda Davis, Lucinda Collins, Sampson Holbert, Richard Edwards, Eliza Ed- wards, William Brown, Anna Winrow, John Mat- thew, Rhoda Moore, Martha James, Jane Brown, Mary B. Harmon, Levi Bundick, Martha War- wick, Leah Warren, Anna Reynolds, Sarah Butler, Judah Reese, Jane Potts, Julia Burton, Julia Ann Jackson, Julia Ann Edwards, Marie Thompson, F. B. Thompson, Hannah Burton, Sophia Grey, Ann Maria Grey, George Roberts, Mary Ann White, Mary Salsey, Julia Ann Warren, John Gibbons, Ann Smith, Mary Williams, Hannah Richards, Caroline Freeman, Emily M. Freeman, Elizabeth Clements, Loretto Alexander, Mary Jamison, Sarah Dunmore, Louisa Manleff, Rachel Franks, Mary Bundick, Elizabeth Reed, Letitia Burton, Mary Jones, James Campbell, Maria Jones, Joseph Gardner, Mary Green, Mary Dillen, Caro- line Homer, Sarah Peck, Henrietta Diggs, Emma Porter, Hannah Parker, Elizabeth Bostic, Hannah
2
:
-
1
IS
Loyd, Mary Ann Jones, Elizabeth Roberts, Guy M. Burton, Amelia Carter, Cecilia Holman and Hannah Brown.
An election was then held for elders, and Wil- liam Brown and Robert Jones were unanimously chosen. William Brown not being present, and Robert Jones having affirmatively answered the questions directed by the constitution to be pro- posed to persons to be ordained to the eldership, he was solemnly set apart to the office by prayer. An exhortation was then addressed to the newly ordained elder and to the people; and the meet- ing was adjourned by prayer, singing an appro- priate hymn, and pronouncing the apostolic bene- diction.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MOYAMENSING,
Sabbath afternoon, August 4, 1844.
Wm. Brown, the lately elected elder, being present at this our temporary place of worship, and having answered affirmatively the questions directed by the constitution to be proposed to persons to be ordained to the eldership, he was solemnly set apart to the office, with prayer by the Rev. S. H. Gloucester ; an exhortation was then addressed to the newly ordained elder ; the con- gregation, having affirmatively answered the ques- tions proposed to them, were also addressed, and the services were closed with the apostolic bene- diction.
19
Philadelphia, Friday evening, August 7, 1844.
The session of the Lombard Street Central Presbyterian Congregation met at the home of Mr .. Wm. Brown, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. S. H. Gloucester, who had been pre- viously invited to moderate the session. Wm. Brown and Robert Jones, the lately ordained elders (and who are the only members of session), were present and Resolved, (1) That Robert Jones be clerk of the session ; (2) That the clerk procure necessary books for the use of session.
WHEREAS the congregation passed a vote to worship on the Sabbath at the Free Presbyterian Church of Moyamensing, until the first of Septem- ber ensuing, Therefore
Resolved, That the session concur with them in their vote.
Resolved, That a female prayer meeting be established, to meet on Monday evenings weekly, to be conducted by Belinda Davis (who has been · a conductor of such meetings since the establish- ment of the first colored female prayer meetings) and Eliza Edwards, subject to the control of the session.
Resolved, That a church prayer meeting be held on Tuesday evenings, to be conducted by the elders.
Resolved, That the administration of the Lord's Supper take place on the second Sabbath of Sep- tember, and that notice to that effect be given to the congregation.
20
Resolved, That the session adjourn to meet on Friday evening next. Closed with prayer.
Friday evening, August 16, 1844.
Session met at the house of Robert Jones. Opened with prayer by the Rev. S. H. Gloucester, moderator. Wm. Brown and Robert Jones, elders, present. Mr. Jones laid before the session the fol- lowing extract from a note to the committee of the church in answer to a communication to the trustees of the Second African Presbyterian Church, respecting the division of property :
August 6, 1844.
"It was on motion resolved, that we deem it to be inexpedient to take any action on your com- munication, as we deny the right of any Presbytery to interfere with the temporal affairs of our Church.
SAMUEL HARRISON, Secretary.
To Messrs. Potter, Roberts, Jones, Laws and Bundick."
The session thereupon Resolved, That the com- mittee be requested to appoint their commissioner in accordance with the direction of Presbytery, and communicate again to the session.
WHEREAS The session and trustees of the First African Presbyterian Church kindly granted the use of their house to this congregation to organ-
21
ize in, Therefore Resolved, that a vote of thanks be tendered them for their kindness and the sexton be compensated one dollar for his extra trouble.
Resolved, That the first Sabbath in September be a day of fasting and prayer.
Resolved, That the clerk furnish the session with tokens, to be distributed to communicants, to en- able the session to tell who absent themselves from the Lord's Supper.
Resolved, That it be a standing rule with this session in connection with the pastor, to visit the communicant members previous to the adminstra- tion of the Lord's Supper.
Resolved, That the Rev. Robert Adair be invited to moderate the congregational meeting on the 23d inst. Adjourned with prayer, to meet on Friday, August 30th.
Extract minutes of congregational meeting regularly called by session, August 23, 1844, opened with prayer by the Rev. Robert Adair, who was invited by session to moderate the meet- ing. The object of the meeting was stated, viz. : to express how their pulpit should be supplied until a regular pastor could be obtained.
It was Resolved, That the Rev. S. H. Gloucester be elected stated supply for one year from the present time. After a short address from the moderator, the meeting adjourned with prayer.
Attest, ROBERT JONES, Clerk of Session.
22
August 30, 1844.
Session met according to adjournment. Mr. Brown not being present, nothing but an examina- tion of candidate took place.
September 3, 1844.
Session met at the house of Robert Jones, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. S. H. Glou- cester, moderator ; Wm. Brown and Robert Jones, elders, present. The following persons appeared before session and after a careful examination were admitted to the communion of this church : Mary Ann Nugent, Henry Smith, Sarah Ann Carter, Jno. Winrow, Joseph Smith, John Hepson, Susan Boon, Cecilia Lang and Margaret Palmer from the First Colored Presbyterian Church of Reading. Certificate dated August 11, 1844.
Resolved, That the session procure plate and elements for communion, and that the communion collection be appointed to defray expenses. Ad- journed to meet on Sabbath next to receive appli- cants that could not attend this evening. Closed with prayer.
September 8, 1844.
The session met in the church and was opened with prayer by the Rev. S. H. Gloucester, moder- ator. Wm. Brown and Robert Jones, members, present. Thomas Lloyd and John Gloucester
23
personally appeard before session, and after exam- ination were duly admitted to the ordinances of the church. Adjourned with prayer.
September 30, 1844.
The session met at Wm. Brown's house, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. S. H. Glou- cester, moderator; present, Wm. Brown and Robert Jones. Resolved, That Robert Jones be appointed delegate from this church to the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, to present the records and desire to be taken under their watch and care. Closed with prayer.
1844.
THE first place of worship in 1844 was a small brick church, back from Eighth Street above Car- penter. The building is still standing; it was built by the Rev. Dr. Ely for a Mission, and was after- ward bought by Mr. Harding, an undertaker, who used the ground on the west side for burying the dead. The locality was so far for many of the members that when they went to church in the morning they took a lunch with them, and spent the day in the building dedicated to God. On one side were the green fields with the fresh balmy air of summer blowing over them ; on the other the
-
24
quiet little burying ground (not as large as "God's acre" in the olden time) with the sleeping dead. God's holy Sabbath, with such surroundings, was uplifting and comforting, bringing one so near to heaven, while yet on earth. The memo- ries of those days are precious to the few that remain-precious to the many in heaven :
Where on some green and flowery mount, Our weary souls shall sit ; And with transporting joy recount, The labors of our feet.
During this year twenty-nine were added to the communion. The Sabbath-school was started with Robt. Jones, superintendent, and Joseph Gardiner, Mary Green, Henry Clark and others as teachers. The Rev. S. H. Gloucester was chosen stated supply for one year. The following brethren were trustees in 1844: John P. Worthing- ton, president; George Roberts, treasurer; Wm. Laws, collector; Levi Bundick, secretary; John Winrow and Thomas Loyd, wardens ; Richard Ed- wards, sexton; George Potter and Henry Smith, committee.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.