USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Centennial volume of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, PA., 1784-1884 > Part 6
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In the general life of the denomination, this period was signal- ized by the re-union days of November, 1869. The never-to-be- forgotten scenes of enthusiasm and hope will be a cherished part of the history of this church forever. They cannot now be de- scribed. In the general life of the city, this period is marked by the sadly-contrasting scenes of the riots of 1877. On that "black Sunday" of JJuly we worshiped here and commended the cause of public justice to the God of all our rights, and the pulpit theme was the "Supremacy of Law."
During these years the traditional connection of the First Church and the Theological Seminary was maintained by your contributions, by the Presidency of the Board of Trustees, held by one of our most esteemed members, by your pastor's member- ship throughout in its Board of Directors, and by his service for two years as Instructor in Hebrew. It is likely to be maintained in the future by the elders who represent you on its Boards, and it is affectionately commended to your prayers and benefac- tions " throughout your generations."
Within this period the custom of annual sermons has been in- augurated and observed, and this review so steadily made and once, at the fifteenth year, extended over the whole previous portion of the pastorate, renders unnecessary more detail now. Along with this, and both, I hope, will be permanent, we have adopted the old Moravian custom of a year-text. I believe, upon careful review, that some of these year-texts exercised a consid- erable influence and gave coloring to the spiritual life of the
,
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year. The whole purpose of annual review and year-text com- bined was so to remember our past as rightly to build our future. The " heartiness" of Hezekiah, 1872-3 ; the "Bible year," (text from Ezra, 1878,) and the year of progress-( text, "Go forward,") are instances, I think, all will remember.
The crisis of this fifth pastorate seems to have been past with the first months of 1867. Then came to the church (as to most of the churches of the city,) a season of sustained spiritual inter- est and activity, specially characterized by its result in a large ingathering into all the churches of converted young men. A. new impulse was felt to have been secured and preparation for the advanced work which followed was thus made. The move- ment went steadily forward until, in the review of 1872, it was noted that now it had been settled by God's goodness that the First Church was not to become a church of the past. It was re- corded then that our membership was increasing; that the Sab- bath School was enlarging ; that the net gain of the year (without unusual meetings,) was greater than ordinary ; that our organiza- tion was more complete, our interest in the poor and adapta- tion to work for them, was more evident; that our communion contained more young people, and that more work than ever was being undertaken for Christ. The prophecy was then also an- nounced, which is now fulfilled, that it was "certain, with God's blessing, the church will reach its centenary (in twelve years) more vigorous than ever." As in the review of 1866 it was recognized that the church life was becoming more aggressive aud more in- terested in young men, and then the blessing came in the conver- sion of young men : so the next revival, in 1876, was character- ized especially by interest in our Sabbath School, and a large accession of the young of both sexes. Families within and with- out the church were blessed, and the fruits yet remain. Those were scenes of great tenderness and solemnity in the prayer- meetings after Sabbath School and in the inquiry-meetings. The pastor had uttered the key note in the year-text, "go forward"; the Session had re-echoed it in a stirring appeal, printed and sent to every member of the church ; the Sabbath School teachers felt the glow of endeavor, and we were probably then more nearly a whole church at work for Christ than ever before in our history, unless in 1827. It was emphatically a revival of the member- ship and it was specially their work that was blessed, the lesson
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of encouragement in which fact will never, I trust, be lost from the memory of the church.
There were other scenes of interest which cannot now be par- ticularized [especially that one of 1879, when the faithful evan- gelists, Wishard and Johnson, labored with us,] and in general the additions to the membership continued. No communion, I think, occurred without some accessions, and but one, if I re- member correctly, without any addition by confession, though there were several at which only one came to our Lord's table for the first time. The fact is to be recorded with profound grati- tude, that notwithstanding our common infirmities and repeated negligence and coldness, the dear old church, in spite of all that has been untoward and difficult, has reached the century mile- post of her journey with enlarged membership and undiminished resources of every kind.
The termination of the fifth pastorate is too recent to allow- so fresh are the feelings of six months ago-of anything more than the bare record that it took place in connection with what seemed an imperative call to a different service for the Master, which came, singularly enough, almost simultaneously with the similar call which carried the fourth pastor from the pulpit to the professorial chair; and with this record the most grateful and heartfelt acknowledgments of your abundant kindness when the hour of separation came. May the blessing of God descend upon this church for its unvarying trust in, co-operation with, and provision for its pastors.
William M. Paxton.
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CHARACTERISTICS.
The history of a hundred years would only be baffling to in- terest by its multiplicity of detail and equally void of spiritual profit were there not distinguishing characteristics which give unity to details and point spiritual lessons. Such characteristics are sure to emerge in any history, and the record now before us seems to be more than ordinarily rich in them. They become most clearly visible when seen in vista, or when arranged as similar beads may be on a single thread. In describing the charac- teristics of the church all the scaffolding is taken down and the building becomes visible from foundation to spire. There have been variable pecuniary conditions and different currents of popular estimation traceable in the history as there have been changes of pastors, and many influences from without, and all these have their importance; but now we turn to look more closely into the products of the church's life and at its outworkings rather than at its outward conditions.
The First Church has naturally, and by reason of intelligent zeal also, been a place of beginnings. Influences have originated here of measureless extent, and enduring institutions have been born on this spot. It was the place of the first meeting of the Synod of Pittsburgh, in the year 1802, and we have seen the grasp of that body on great questions and great territories. The " Moral Association," about 1812, was formed here, for the city. The "Sabbath School Association" began here in 1817. The first temperance meetings were held here. The Western University was inaugurated here in 1819. The "Western Missionary So- ciety" was formed here in 1802 by the Synod, and the "Western Foreign Missionary Society" had its beginnings here in 1831, in
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the counsels of the little Session room between Swift and Herron and like-minded ones ; the first to do faithful work for our own land for twenty-seven years and be merged into the Assembly's Board of Missions, with the full consent of its originators ; and the second to present and represent the great principle of church action in the conversion of the world, until it became triumphant in 1837, and the " Western Foreign Missionary Society" became, "as it was always intended it should become," (said Dr. Swift,) "the Board of Foreign Missions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." Here the first mission- aries were commissioned, and Pinney lived to speak from the same pulpit from which fifty years before he was sent to Africa. The Western Theological Seminary had its beginnings here likewise, (1825-7,) and its first classes recited here. The General Assem- bly met in the First Church at its first venture West of the Mountains, in 1835-again met there in 1836, then in 1849, then in 1865, then gave it (with the Third Church) the hallowed asso- ciations of re-union, with its communion in 1869, and met here again-the first meeting in the new series of Assemblies which pay their own expenses-in 1878 ; and it was made the place of the first effective gathering of Western Presbyterianism's precious memories by the Memorial Convention of 1875, with its admirable resultant volume. Some of these ten beginnings will have no endings.
2. A second characteristic is, that the First Church has always been a church of the people.
It was apparently suggested by the people, (see the statement of John Wilkins' diary, ) and came to the Presbytery as a child desiring motherly care. Indeed the need of the church came to be felt, because the need of the people was so evident. It was altogether a noble origin.
Moreover, our church history emphasizes the same character- istic in its proving to be the place of combination for city and country forces. At the very first this did not exist. Pittsburgh as a military point, was the key to the surrounding country. When in the enemy's hands the people fled from the frontier- when in rightful possession they returned to their homes. But communication with the city seemed to be small, (there was little at first, even of trade, ) and religiously the neglect seems to have been perfect. McMillan either could not or would not find
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hearers there (though preaching once in 1775,) while others seemed to stay away as though afraid of "ill-treatment." [Wil- kins.] Thus the beginnings were feeble and thus misunderstand- ing could easily arise between the country Presbytery and the first city ministry. But Providence provided the link in sending Dr. Herron to preach beside McMillan in the revival of 1798-9, and bringing him years afterward to the city church. Then the immigration from country to city began to find the First Church and it began to find the immigrants. Ever since it has been fed and strengthened by these streams from without. Many are the illustrative incidents which might be but cannot now be given.
And in the same direction it is to be noted that this has ever been a church for all classes and conditions within the city itself. The people were always welcome here. Very cruel and hindering misapprehensions have been extant in later years on this point, but whoever will take pains to investigate will find the truth to be as I state it. The church has always contained many who had no worldly possessions to tempt them to BUY heaven with contri- butions and obtain dispensations from conscience for easy com- pliance with the fashions and follies of the times. Undoubtedly, for a church in a populous manufacturing centre, it has had far too few laboring men and mechanics in it, but this has never been more than a sin of omission. That there have been and are in it so many that are poor in possessions and rich in faith, is an evi- dence that the way has always been frankly open for all who wished to hear and obey the gospel, to enjoy its services and make part of its membership. The foundation for upbuilding largely here from all classes, and for all classes, is found in the whole history of the church. Its way among men can never be blocked but by forgetfulness of its record, added to criminal departure from the spirit of Christ its Master.
3. A third characteristic, is the engagement of the church in all the organized Christian work of the community.
It began very early in the Pittsburgh " Moral Society," the admirable "proclamation " of which deserves now to be repub- lished. It was formed in 1809, and Ebenezer Denny was its President. [See MeKnight's Sabbath School History, p. 19.] This care for the morality of the community was further evinced in an early share in the movement for temperance. The first meetings were held here, and they were needed even within the
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church ; for at the point of the beginning of our Sessional records, (1818,) there are three cases of discipline for intoxication within one year. In 1816 it was resolved by the Synod of Pittsburgh, that ardent spirits ought never to be used, except as a medicine -that the habitual use of ardent spirits at " entertainments and social visits," is "one of the fashions of the world to which Christians ought not to conform," and is " training up thousands for poverty, disgrace, the prison, the gallows and eternal misery." [Min. p. 121.] This was heartily reiterated when the Synod sat in this church in 1817. Ah ! how much would Pittsburgh have saved if it had heeded that voice of warning! There is immense propriety in the First Church being decidedly given to the tem- perance reform. Not only does the early stand of effort and discipline beckon its members in this direction, but the record of suffering through the drink during the church's century, is fearful to contemplate. There are spots on the church's reputation which it has left. There are scars on wounded hearts that are painful yet, and there have been scores of them on hearts that nothing could soothe but the rest of heaven, into which they have now passed. The heaviest burdens, the most crushing sorrows of the century, have been due to intoxicating drinks. Ruined and broken homes there have been. Days and nights of terror have been spent by helpless women. Long anxieties and sickening vibrations from hope to despair, silent tears and public shame. Oh! no one can read the inner and unwritten history of this dear old church, and not see what a world of anguish and disap- pointment, and baffled endeavors of parents and pastor's and teachers, and of nameless suffering for the poor victims them- selves, lies hidden in the cup. For God's sake, and for man's sake, let there not be another century's history like it in this regard. There ought to be really no bounds to the determination and zeal with which this church should fight that curse. Not a member but should be a faithful opponent by legislation sought, and influence used, and spotless example maintained.
In regard to the maintenance of the Sabbath, the influence of the church has always been pronounced. Curiously enough, among the few sermons preserved from the pen of the first pastor, (Barr,) there is a series of three on the observance of the Sabbath. They are excellent, orthodox, determined. Dr. Herron's influence was so felt at this point, that one of Pittsburgh's most useful and
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honored citizens (General Howe,) told me in his later life, that he counted it a crisis passed in his life when he resolved to heed the Doctor's earnest protest against Sabbath-driving-out by the young men. No public movement in behalf of the Sabbath has ever been made without our participating in it.
When the American Bible Society was formed we were early in the field, and at the formation of the Allegheny County Aux- iliary in 1818, Harmar Denny was chosen its first President. The same was true of the Sunday School Unions, both local and American. Nor less was it true of every organization for the supply of the wants of the poor, the widow and the orphan, whether they were temporal or spiritual needs.
And such is the record in educational enterprise. The Western University was first inaugurated in 1822, with flattering and brill- iant expectations. "It was a public pageant in which the people and the civic authorities participated, and was attended with more than ordinary pomp and ceremony. There was a procession with music, banners and badges, in which the city fathers, the judici- ary, gentlemen of the different learned professions, the trustees and students marched to the old First Presbyterian Church, where the venerable and accomplished Dr. George Stevenson, the then President of the Board, delivered the inaugural address to the faculty, which was happily responded to in the solid, massive eloquence of the Rev. Dr. Bruce, the Principal." [Judge McCandless.]
As to the Theological Seminary we know that it came hither through Dr. Herron's influence and casting vote, and all testi- monies.corroborate Dr. Brownson when he says, "His (Dr. H.'s) faltering at any time during these early years would have been certain death. His moral influence in sustaining the sinking spirits of others, and the foree of his name and efforts abroad, in securing contributions, were only less than the power wielded among his own people." [Mem. vol. p. 152.] The early elders nobly sustained their pastor. The Rev. Richard Lea was the Seminary's agent, and elder Allen paid his entire expenses. We have been always represented in its Board. Dr. Paxton served it as Professor of Homiletics, and without salary from 1860-65, and your last pastor as Instructor in Hebrew, the compensation being. given to benevolent objects.
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This educational work was continued also in the upbuilding of and large contributions to the Pennsylvania Female College. Not less than $50,000 were given to this institution within the first ten or twelve years of its existence, and valuable time of pastor and officers contributed to its management.
The benefit which has accrued to the community and to the church through this work isincalculable. It has been most marked, of course, in the history of the Theological Seminary. The whole succession of noble men who have lived and prayed and preached and taught in this community and church, has been one of the most signal powers for good ever enjoyed here. But call the names of Drs. Nevin and Halsey and Plumer and Jacobus and Wilson and Hornblower, and instantly it is seen that the Semi- nary has been an unspeakable blessing to this community. And that is saying nothing of the missionary and Sunday School labors of a continuous body of devoted young men. More would be lost if all this influence were subtracted than can well be expressed.
The same general interest has found expression also in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association. Its re-organization in 1866 was encouraged. A sort of installation took place in this church in December of that year. Such words as these were then used by your pastor : "Henceforth the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation takes its place as a recognized organ of Christian activity. This shall be an honorable place. The institution shall be cherished. Redeem your early promise. You speak of 'live' associations and 'live' meetings. You know that money and furniture and membership will not (one or all of them) make real life. Keep up your spirituality. Keep near to Christ. Write the Christian in your name in large chirography." How well the charge has been kept, and how carnestly we (and other churches) have co-operated with them, and how much of blessed influence in the revival of 1867 and other seasons of grace came to the community through this, many of you remem- ber well, and the beautiful building just completing proves abundantly.
In all these ways the church has taken active part in the organized Christian work of the community.
4. The First Church has always been benerolent. The very first instance was in 1791-3 in the contributions of our member- ship to the building of the German Church, which has been
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handsomely acknowledged in their recent centennial celebration and volume. Mrs. Eichbaum remembered Mr. Ebenezer Denny and Mr. JJohnston (her father) sitting, about the opening of the century, at the door to receive the contributions given as the worshipers entered the church-a custom still observed in Scot- land. The church led the columns of the first missionary societies and leads them still in purely church subscriptions. At one time Dr. John Breckinridge, Secretary of the Board of Ed- ucation, asked and obtained in a meeting in Dr. Herron's parlor, $10,000, most of which came from the First Church. Materials from its manufactories (donated) and money from its gains have gone into hundreds of houses of worship in the West. Its bene- factions to the Theological Seminary equaled "all the rest of the Synod" (Brownson ) not withont some "decided protests" of the benevolent Michael Allen at the "parsimony of the churches." [Mem. vol. p. 132.] One honored member, Mr. James Laugh- lin, whose courage sustained the whole Board in one of the Sem- inary's many crises, and whose generosity equaled his courage, gave also $5,000 to the Western University and $25,000 to the Pennsylvania Female College, really saving (with another dona- tion of $10,000 by another member, Mr. John Moorhead,) the property and life of that noble institution. Generous plans as to its own property and support have sometimes created debts, even in later times ; but well directed appeals (as in 1866, 1868, and 1874) always sufficed to remove them. Grounds for Orphan Asylum, in Allegheny, and North Presbyterian Church, were given by Gen. William Robinson. Mrs. E. F. Denny gave ground for West Penn'a Hospital and for many churches. Mr. John Arthurs left a large legacy to the Bible Society. The methods of benevolence have been simple and direct. Even in fairs and festivals, older or later, no overcharge or resort to chance was ever permitted. In the Memorial Year, $24,000 were con- tributed. To the Chicago fire, and all great calamities, contribu- tions were made. In 1875 I marked the growing liberality of the church, noting its aggregate benevolence as $50,000 subscribed. A grand total was reached, of actual payments, in 1875-6, of $40,- 000. The defect has been in too great dependence on the gifts of a few large contributors and in neglect of systematic gather- ing up of the smaller amounts. Attention has been again and again called to this and measures debated to correct the evil ; yet, 6
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save in the women's collection for Foreign Missions, without sue- cess. The church has been careful of its own poor, first by the Sessional fund, and latterly by the Deacons' Board, and always by private charity. The Deacons were established to do a work, also, outside of the church, through its benevolent care for the temporal necessities of the poor, and have clearly vindicated this conception of their office. From $700 to $900 has been actually expended, annually, through this ageney, besides the support of the City Missionaries, whose main work has been in finding and caring for those who needed help.
But one limit to the beneficence of the church seems to have laid (and it is difficult to account for it,) in the direction of per- sonal consecration to the ministry, whether at home or abroad. Two who came from its Sabbath School gave themselves to the ministry, one to become a missionary, the other to die upon the threshold of the work ; and only two sons of the church have reached the ministry and only two daughters of the church have been given to the foreign missionary work. The most precious things, after all, have been somewhat withheld. During the last thirty-three years (since perfect records) the benevolence of the church amounts, in round numbers, to $750,000.
5. The history has been further characterized by harmony. A Session of excellent men grew up gradually, added to generally after seasons of quickened interest and from such men as had been "proved" in prayer and work ; and to this Session the church has always accorded implicit trust. No serious dispute since that with the first pastor, within, and none without, save that at the organization of the Second Church, has ever arisen ; and this was so short in duration, that in 1818 "the Board of Trustees of the Second Church sent a letter to James Ross, President of the Board of Trustees of the First Church, proposing to unite in a collegiate church under Dr. Herron, with a colleague to be chosen by joint vote of the two congregations." Services were sometimes shortened in one church so that its members might commune with the other church. The First has been called the "Mother Church of Pittsburgh. All the other five churches (this in 1854) and the church of Allegheny City and Lawrence- ville, were more or less formed out of it. Two of them were literally colonies from it." [Old Redstone, p. 378.] Those formed since are generally indebted to it. The continual
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exodus from the centre to the circumference has become habitual and the old church is used to it and thrives under it, as, indeed, the other central churches do. And this pleasantness of relation ex- tends to other denominations. There is no so generally recognized "union-centre " as the old church. The older members of all denominations feel at home there. It has always been Christian as well as Presbyterian. Even an exception proves the rule in this case. In 1820 Synod passed some orders about inter-con- munion, counseling against communion with those who deny the "doctrines of grace," but deciding against exclusion of any such as "hold Arminian views," provided they "after conversation " give "satisfactory evidence of piety." [Syn. Min. p. 162.] A case arose. A most godly man communed with his wife in the Methodist Church, to which she withdrew. The Session took action in resolutions, to be read to the congregation, affirming that the "practice of occasional communion with those churches which are known to support doctrines utterly repugnant to those declared in the standards of the Presbyterian Church," was "calculated to divide and distraet the church ; to weaken the con- fidence of its members in the importance of many of the leading doctrines of divine revelation, and to destroy that testimony which the church has always borne for the great truths of Christianity." Appended was the assurance that the Session would take note of infringement of these rules, and the whole was read to the con- gregation. But this excellent man would commune with his wife in the church referred to. When the time came to take up the matter, the Session seemed to hesitate and ended by passing a resolution inviting to communion with us all whom they believed to be "sound in doctrine, subjects of regenerating grace and of life and conversation becoming the gospel of Christ." Then they re- ferred the whole matter to Presbytery, which body conkl scarcely have been as liberal as the church Session, since suspension resulted in January, 1821. So by the mistake of supposing that all private members are pledged to all the doctrinal statements of the Confession, and that we cannot be loyal to them and commune with those that do not hold them, we lost a most excellent member (Mr. Benjamin Page) whose godly walk and high spirituality many remember.
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