USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Harrisburg > Centennial memorial, English Presbyterian congregation, Harrisburg, Pa. > Part 10
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
On December 3, 1874, Rev. John R. Paxton was called to the pastorate. He was installed Sabbath evening February 28, 1875. The Rev. Dr. D. C. Marquis, of Baltimore, preaching the sermon ; Rev. T. Il. Robinson, of the Market Square Church, giving the charge to the Pastor, and Dr. Cattell the charge to the people.
On the 7th of April, 1875, the new Sabbath-school build- ing was dedicated. Addresses were made by Rev. S. A. Mutchmore, D. D., and Dr. Cattell, and the Pastor, Mr. Paxton.
The church edifice was remodeled this year and altera- tions made, which completely changed the interior and added largely to the comfort of the congregation.
On the 18th of June, 1878, Mr. Paxton announced his intention of asking Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral rela-
-
BETHANY CHAPEL. CORNER CAMERON AND CUMBERLAND STREETS. ERECTED 1892-93.
Address by Jacob F. Seiler, Ph. D. 155
tions. He had received and accepted a call to the New York Avenue Church, of Washington, D. C., following his predecessor in the Pine Street Church to the same pulpit in the capital of the country. On June 20th the request was acted upon by the Presbytery, and for the fourth time in twenty years the congregation was without a pastor.
BETHANY.
As early as 1875, the initial year of Mr. Paxton's pas- torate, an experimental Sunday-school was located on Herr street, above Eleventh. Their first sessions were held in an unused church building owned by a society of United Brethren. This was located beyond the canal in a com- munity notorious for disorder and immorality, and had some features of a foreign missionary enterprise. Success began to attend the effort, and in the year 1881 a substantial brick building was erected at the corner of Eleventh and Herr streets. The society was incorporated under the name of Bethany Presbyterian Sabbath-School, and the title to the property was vested in the trustees of the Pine Street Pres- byterian Church. Mr. Samuel C. Donovan was the prin- cipal promoter of this last and very successful enterprise. Since December, 1884, Mr. Henry MeCormick, jr., has been the acceptable superintendent. Prosperity attended the enthusiastic devotion and constancy of its officers and teachers to such a degree that it was necessary to erect a larger building. A new and beautiful edifice was built on the corner of Cameron (formerly Eleventh) and Cumberland streets. The last official report places the number of officers, teachers and scholars at 175. As yet there is no church organization.
156
Centennial Memorial.
The present Pastor, Rev. George S. Chambers, was called September 11, 1879, accepted the call in October,. and installed November 11th of the same year.
During Dr. Chamber's pastorate there has been added to the church upon confession 427 persons ; by certificate, 185; a total of 612 accessions. The present membership, on the 1st of January, 1894, was 724.
Since May 22, 1858, to this date, 867 persons have been admitted to church membership upon confession ; and 631 by certificate; a total of 1,498. The amount of money con- tributed during these thirty-five years by the Pine Street Church is as follows :
To Home Missions, $53,012 41
" Foreign Missions, 43,772 21
" Education, 14,437 01
" Publication, 3,314 50
" Church Erection, . 12,450 56
" Ministerial Relief, 13,712 10
" Freedmen, . 6,074 52
" Sustenation, 11,077 89
" General Assembly Fund, 1,015 00
" Congregational Purposes, 227,096 27
" Memorial Fund in 1871, . 12,380 00
" Aid to Colleges, 36,881 46
" Miscellaneous Charities, 161,615 02
Total, $596,868 95
Thus in accordance with the request of your committee, I have endeavored to set forth the past work of the line Street Church. Of the present work something ought to be
157
Address by Jacob F. Seiler, Ph. D.
briefly said. In the city of New York and elsewhere cer- tain ecclesiastical societies have been called " Institutional Churches," a designation which characterizes a religious society which conducts not only purely spiritual exercises, but which also operates other agencies, such as educational, or physical, or which administers to merely pleasurable emotions by furnishing food to the hungry and amusement to the restless temptable crowd. It may be that Pine Street will get there in time. But at present she employs such agencies for her improvement, and that of the community at large, as Missionary Societies, Mission Bands for Home and Foreign work, Sewing Schools for the betterment of our neighbors' children, Mothers' Meeting for comfort and encouragement of over-worked mothers, Choral Societies, and a Boys' Choir to lend their trained voices on occasions ordinary and extraordinary, and of course a well organized and enthusiastic Christian Endeavor Society, a Beneficial Society for the promotion of thrift and honorable support against the day of adversity, besides her Home and Branch Sabbath-Schools in which Pine Street feels a proper pride. These agencies leave little talent unemployed. The Sewing Schools of Pine Street and Bethany have on their rolls 300 scholars, and the "mothers " of the two societies number 200, an aggregate of 500 to be instructed, cared for and com- forted. All this imposes a great responsibility upon any church committed to such enterprises. But good organiza- tion and capable management, developed by gradual expe- rience, has secured happy results under the blessing of God.
In complying with the committee's request to " represent
15S
Centennial Memorial.
the Pine Street Church in an address in which the work of that church, past and present, should be set forth," it seemed necessary to enter into such details of statement as to fur- nish a historical narrative, based upon reliable records of figures and facts. The sketch may savor of vanity, but it is written in no such spirit 'I am aware that spiritual results, which are the most valuable, cannot be expressed by figures. Bible study, power in prayer, a faithful ministry, modest service, and true consecration cannot be placed in tabulated columns. If the Pine Street Church has not manifested these graces, she has learned little of her Master and failed to' catch the spirit of the mother church, which has set her a noble example of liberal giving, pure devotion, and mani- fold works of love and zeal which have adorned the history of the Market Square Church throughout the hundred years of her sturdy and fruitful existence.
NOTE .- The writer of this article is entitled for many of the facts to a discourse prepared and delivered by the Rev. George S. Cham- bers, D. D., on May 20, 1853, on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anni- versary of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church.
Mr. West announced hymn No. 93, vs. 1, 3, and the con- gregation, having risen, joined heartily in the singing.
Saviour, blessed Saviour, Listen whilst we sing, Hearts and voices raising Praises to our King. All we have to offer, All we hope to be, Body, soul, and spirit. All we yield to thee.
159
Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown.
Great and ever greater Are thy mercies here, True and everlasting Are the glories there, Where no pain, or sorrow, Toil, or care, is known, Where the angel-legions Circle round thy throne.
The PRESIDENT OF THE EVENING. Notwithstanding the loss sustained in the burning of its church edifice and the outgoing of the Pine Street Church in 1858, the Market Square Church addressed itself to missionary work in the city and was principally instrumental in the organization of the Elder Street Church. Though it has never been large in number, that church has always exercised great power and influence among the people of that race in our city. Mi. Cassius M. Brown, an elder of that church, will now ad- dress us.
ADDRESS BY Mr. CASSIUS M. BROWN.
We are glad to unite with you, and to bring gratefully to you, our garland of praise at this Centennial celebration, as we recollect what you have been and are to us as a race and church in the city of Harrisburg, as you review your seed-times and harvests, your summers and winters, your warfare and victory. In His name have you gone forth into this community to do, to dare, to die, if need be, for His work and worth. In His name you come rejoicing with all of your offspring, bidding them welcome, asking them to bring some signs of the coming of Ilis kingdom. Our presence here
160
Centennial Memorial.
is a sign, suggestive, helpful; founded upon principle instead of policy, far reaching in its bearings and conse- quences, awaiting greater reproduction to the glory of God, our Father and Friend, and to the better Christian develop- ment of many of his sons and daughters in many communi- ties within the territory of our Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly. And if our presence is a sign of the coming of Ilis kingdom, surely the origin, growth and present outlook of the Elder Street Presbyterian Church and Sabbath-school are equally and even more significant to this end. A church founded upon the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice must produce the very best type of Christianity in many of its members. It is not surpris- ing, therefore, that as early as 1828 God put it into the heart of a Christian hero, in the person of Mr. Alexander Sloan, of precious memory, a member of your church, to begin teaching a class of boys in the old Methodist church, which then stood upon the corner of Third and Mulberry streets. Three years later, in 1831, this class was removed to the Presbyterian church, on Second street, and there the work was continued until 1836. For nearly twenty years longer there was no organized effort to teach the colored people of this community.
The unsettled condition of the Church brought about by the crisis of 1837-38 may have diverted the attention of many of God's children from more important work. The Methodist Church having removed to the corner of South street and Tanners avenue there had been some effort put forth to organize a Sabbath-school, but it resulted in failure. This fact came to the ears of some of the former teachers,
ELDER STREET CHURCH. CORNER CAPITOL AND FORSTER SRTEETS. ERECTED 1881.
161
Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown.
and, the Holy Spirit leading them forward with some others, upon the 17th of April, 1855, they organized The Union Sabbath-School Association of Harrisburg. At the end of two years' labor the basement of the church was too small for the work, and a room, belonging to the German Reformed Church, corner of Third and Chestnut streets, was secured. In the autumn of the same year, 1857, the colored public school building, upon West avenue, was occupied by the school; and in 1858 they removed to the old armory, on West Walnut street, at the northeast corner of the Haldeman property.' Up until 1871 the school re- tained the name of Union, since which time it has been known as the Sabbath-school of the Second, or of the Elder Street Presbyterian Church.
From a little pamphlet written by one of the elders of the church, Mr. George HI. Ines, who departed this life about two years ago, we are indebted for the following compilation and words of commendation of the men and women to whom, above all others, we are indebted for religious train- ing, as founded upon the word and works of Christ. At the head of this list of teachers who gave their time and talents to this work stand Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Sloan, Messrs. John C. Capp, George Capp, Alexander Graydon, Sr., John A. Weir, Mordecai MeKinney, R. Jackson Fleming, Alfred Armstrong and Mrs. Alfred Armstrong, Mrs. Dr. W. W. Rutherford, Mrs. R. Jackson Fleming, Mrs. Harriet L. West- brook, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Bucher, Mrs. Rachael Fenn, Mrs Lydia Ingram, Mrs. Devout and Rev. A. G. Simonton and sisters, Miss Agnes Crain, Miss Matilda Elder, Miss Boyd, Miss Bucher and Miss Graybill. Others may have labored
-
162
Centennial Memorial.
in this part of the Lord's vineyard whose names we have not mentioned. They were all, whether mentioned or not, a noble army of martyrs, doing their duty as unto Christ and not unto man. For, in speaking of the conditions under which this work began and continued, Mr. George H. Imes says: "It is to be remembered that this work began in the midst of the terrifie conflict over slavery. The courage that led and the fortitude that sustained these noble men and women command our highest admiration and praise. The hate toward them was quite as bitter as against those whom God saw fit to make of a different color. These lov- ers of Christ and of men taught amid this madness lessons of religion and true liberty. God's messengers were they in the gloom of the slave and the peril of the free, shedding holy rays from the inextinguishable light of the world." During the period from 1828 to 1876 the total enrollment of pupils was 3,250, the amount of money contributed $2,300. A large number have become teachers, and the most accurate record we could obtain shows nearly 1,500 who are active members in some church. Since 1876 the work has been kept up in the Sabbath-school, and many have been added to the kingdom of God through the precious truths of the Bible by which they know in whom and what they have believed. At present there are twelve officers and twelve teachers in the Sabbath-school, with an average attendance of about one hundred.
In 1858 the work in the Sabbath-school had produced a Presbyterian church. In the " Annals of Harrisburg " we have the following record : " About the 10th of September, 1857, Mr. Joseph C. Bustill, at the instance of Hon. Mor-
163
Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown.
decai MeKinney, of Harrisburg, called the attention of Rev. Charles W. Gardner, of Philadelphia, to the necessity of forming an additional Presbyterian church in Harris- burg. Induced by this representation Rev. Mr. Gardner, visited Harrisburg on the 20th of September and conferred with Rev. Dr. W. R. De Witt and Rev. Thomas H. Robin- son, and the Presbyterians of the first church upon the subject, who experienced a lively interest in the matter, and promised to extend liberal aid to the enterprise, pro- vided a suitable place for worship could be procured." The great financial troubles which at this period prevailed throughout the country, however, caused a suspension of the project until the spring of 1858, at which time several members of the proposed congregation rented the large and commodious room in the second story of the brick building at the southwest corner of Walnut street and River alley which was fitted up as a place of worship for the congregation. Therein divine services were held every Sabbath under the direction of the Reverend Doctors De Witt and Robinson.
The congregation thus formed invited the Rev. Charles W. Gardner, who had returned to Philadelphia, to under- take charge of the work. This gentleman accepted the invitation and arrived in Harrisburg April the 9th, and preached his first sermon on Sabbath, April 11th, 1858. On the 1-4th of October of the same year, the congregation sent a petition to the Presbytery of Harrisburg asking to be regularly organized, which was granted. On the 27th of the same month a committee of the Presbytery met at the church in Walnut street to perform that duty. The Rev.
164
Centennial Memorial.
William R. De Witt, D. D., presided An appropriate ser- mon was preached by the Rev. Conway P. Wing, D. D., from the following text, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it " (Matt. 16: 18). The Rev. James Calder, since deceased, of the Fourth Street Bethel Church, was present and offered an impressive prayer.
At 7 o'clock p. m., the following named persons were duly organized into a church, viz: Jeremiah Kelly, Hannah Kelly, Hiram Baker, Nancy Christy, Matilda Greenly, Zillah Galloway, Sarah Hawkins, Curry Taylor, Sr., Eliza- beth Taylor, William White, Sarah Kelly and Hannah Humphreys, all of whom were received upon profession of faith, except Nancy Christy, who presented a certificate from the Presbyterian church, of Mercersburg, Pa. Jeremiah Kelly and Hiram Baker were respectively ordained as rul- ing elders. The Second Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg was chosen as a name for the new organization. After the organization of the church, addresses were made by Rev. William R. DeWitt, D. D., Rev. Conway P. Wing, D. D., and Rev. John W. Davis. The church made immediate application to the Presbytery to be supplied with ministerial services for the ensuing six months, whereupon the Rev. Charles W. Gardner was selected to supply them.
The history of the Presbytery of Carlisle has the following record of pastors and stated supplies down to the present :
Rev. Chas. W. Gardner, S. S., 1858-1863.
165
Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown.
Hiramı Baker,* S. S., 1863-1869.
Rev. J. II. Cole, S. S., 1870-1872.
Rev. Hiram Baker, Pastor, 1872-1875.
Rev. Isaac W. Davenport, Pastor, 1875-1877.
Rev. George M. Bonner, Pastor, 1877-1883.
Rev. Lawrence Miller, Pastor, 1884-1885.
Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, Pastor, 1886-
The Elder Street Presbyterian congregation has had two church buildings. The first was a frame structure. Not quite as large as the present building, located on the same lot on the southwest corner of Elder, now Capitol, and Forster streets. It was erected in 1866. The second, a substantial stone building with a seating capacity of about three hundred which was built in 1881, a year after the first building was burned. During the interim that inter- vened between the burning of the first and the building of the second structure, the congregation, through the Christian fraternity of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church, worshiped in their lecture room. We record this with most grateful remembrance of the same, and of other substantial and liberal aid extended to our congregation by the above church and many of its most active members.
Feeling that we have probably taken more than our share of your precious time we close with a statement, slightly modified, made by our present pastor upon another ocea- sion. During thirty-six years the Elder Street Presbyterian Church has been preaching the blessed gospel of the Son of
*He was one of the first Elders of this church. He subsequently studied for the Ministry of the Gospel, and in 1863 was licensed by the Presbytery of Harrisburg to preach .- EDITOR.
166
Centennial Memorial.
God to a most needy people, a people that the Presbyterian church can and must reach, both North and South, East and West, if she believes her doctrines to be Biblical, as she does, and is ready to defend. She is a church, therefore, adapted to all people, the rich and the poor, the learned and the illiterate. The Elder Street Church has done a work in this community which can never be fully described nor appreciated in this life. Over two hundred have united with the church, while thousands have been taught in the Sabbath-school, helped, cheered and led to Christ by the min- istry of her pastors and stated supplies, that are not mem- bers of our communion or denomination, but of a greater communion, fellowship with God, with Christ and with the Holy Spirit. We come to you, therefore, with grateful hearts. We come from the field of battle, not upon our shields, but with them in our hands, the Presbyterian shields, which have served us in many conflicts, not less because they are of the blue stocking material, but more because they are Biblical, and are used in His name, to His glory. If we are thankful to God for the past, with its fruitage ; if we rejoice at our present vantage ground, if we are hopeful for the future and will follow where He leads, " keeping close to Jesus all the way," no mind can conceive, no pen can picture what shall be your glory, who gave us being. We rejoice with you, whom our Father has highly honored in this community, and bid you God speed.
At this date, February 14th, 1894, the following are the officers and membership of Elder Street Church and Sabbath-school :
Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, Pastor; Thomas J. Miller,
167
Address by Mr. Samuel H. Garland.
William J. Adore, Cassius M. Brown, Turner Cooper Sr.,, and Walter W. Williams, Elders ; James W. H. Howard, John Zedricks, Henry Coslow, W. W. Williams, Turner Cooper, Jr., Singleton G. Brown, Trustees.
Communicant members, sixty-five, Sabbath-school mem- bership enrolled, one hundred and twenty-five.
The PRESIDENT OF THE EVENING. In 1866, under the leadership of Dr. Curwen, then superintendent of the Luna- tic Hospital and a member of the Pine Street Church, the church which was known until lately as the Seventh Street Church was organized. For long years Dr. Curwen was the sole elder and almost the sole supporter of the church. On account of the location, it never prospered to any large ex- tent, but since a more eligible site has been secured and the church has been removed, new prosperity seems to find en- trance to those engaged in that work. So that we trust there is before it a prosperous and successful future. God in his providence recently took away the beloved pastor of that church, and this evening the representative of it in the person of Mr. Samuel HI. Garland, an elder, will give us a short account of its history.
ADDRESS BY MR. SAMUEL H. GARLAND.
In the year of our Lord 1865, Dr. John Curwen conceived the idea of organizing a Presbyterian church in the extreme western suburbs of Harrisburg. Accordingly ground was secured and a building erected on the site of what is now known as the corner of Seventh and Peffer streets.
The church building was completed and ready for occu- pancy on July 21, 1866. The vicinity of the church
168
Centennial Memorial.
property was but thinly settled and the congregation con- sisted chiefly of inmates and attendants of the insane hospital of which Dr. Curwen was then superintendent.
This church was then known as the Seventh Street Presbyterian Church, of Harrisburg.
Prior to this at a meeting of the Presbytery of Carlisle, held in the Big Spring Church, of Newville, April 11, 1866, a committee* was appointed to organize a church in Har- risburg, provided the way to accomplish this end be clear. The committee met for this purpose Saturday, September 8, 1866, and an organization was effected, the following persons. presenting letters: Dr. John Curwen and wife, Annie Stewart, Mary Stewart, Mary McCullom and Eliza M. Todd from the church of Harrisburg; Dr. Graydon B. . Hotchkin and wife from the church of Middletown, Dela- ware county, and Mrs. Margaret Cassady from the Presby- terian church of Letter-Kenny, Ireland. These certificates having been found in order, the committee passed the fol- lowing resolution :
" Resulted, That the above persons, nine in all, be and are constituted into a church, to be known as the Seventh Street Presbyterian Church, of Harrisburg; to be connected with and under the government of the Presbytery of Carlisle, Synod of Baltimore and General Assembly of the Presby- terian Church of the United States of America."
A congregational meeting was immediately called for the
* The Committee consisted of Rev. James Harper, D. D., Rev. J. C. Bliss, Rev. Samuel S. Mitchell, Rev. A. D. Mitchell, Elders H. Mur- ray Graydon and James Elder. Mr. Bliss and Mr. Elder failed to serve. - EDITOR.
1
-
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. CORNER FIFTH AND PEFFER STREETS. ERECTED 1894
169
Address by Mr. Samuel II. Garland.
purpose of electing a ruling elder; Dr. Curwen was unani- mously chosen for that office. Of the original members, but one name, that of Dr. Curwen, remains on the church roll. He is still a ruling elder and takes an active interest in the church work at the present time, although having his residence at Warren. Soon after the organization of the church a Sabbath-school was organized ; a corps of teachers coming from the older churches in the city, assisted greatly in making the Sabbath-school a success, and were a power in upbuilding the church congregation.
The church was served by different ministers,* until the spring of 1868, when the Rev. Charles A. Wyeth began to act as stated supply, serving in that capacity for two years, when a meeting of the congregation was called March 5th, 1870, at which he was unanimously elected regular pastor.
Accepting this flattering vote of the church for a con- tinuance of his labors, he was duly installed on the 26th of June, 1870, serving for thirteen years in this capacity. The Presbytery dissolved the pastoral relation at his request, June 12th, 1883. Mr. Wyeth removed to Warren, and died there August 2d, 1889. His name and memory are held in the highest esteem by those of our church who knew him as its pastor.
A memorial window has been placed in our new edifice in his memory.
Owing to the removal of Dr. Curwen to Warren, and to the withdrawal of many of the workers in our church who
* These were Rev. Ambrose C. Smith, now of Fairfield, lowa ; Rev. Stephen W. Pomeroy, now of Mill Hall, Pa .. , and Rev. William .1. . McAtee, now of Danville, Pa .- EDITOR.
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.