USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > East Liberty Presbyterian Church : with historical setting & a narrative of the centennial celebration, April 12-20, 1919 > Part 9
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The two other organizations, however, were the direct re- sults of congregational and of sessional action, in endeavors to establish churches where the necessity for them existed and to afford relief to our own overtasked capacity.
In the case of the Westminster Church, a committee of the congregation secured the site, purchased the lot and took steps for the erection of a temporary building.
In the case of the Park Avenue Church, the session of this church, by consent of Presbytery, undertook the work of or- ganization, first in securing a lot on lease with the privilege of purchasing in a given time; and second in contracting for the erection of the building in which the new congregation was to worship. In both cases the organization of Sabbath schools was begun and controlled by this church; it furnished superintendents and teachers for both, until the new churches were established. To both, members of this congregation gave liberally of means for the erection of buildings, and watched with tender regard the early steps of these their children.
Of the three first named churches, two continue to flourish, and are worthy rivals of the parent church in works for the
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extension of the Master's kingdom. One, the Westminster Church with fair beginnings, at length sank beneath a cloud and ceased to be.
DEMAND FOR ENLARGEMENT
But, notwithstanding the numbers which thus went out to form other bodies within the bounds of the territory we called our own, the railroad continued to empty new families into the lap of our valley, and in such an increased ratio, that for a long period it was evident that these were not properly cared for. This was the burden of talk at annual meetings as well as at special ones called to consider so important a matter, but it was not until within the present brief pastorate that some- thing besides talk was resorted to.
THE NEW STRUCTURE
The renewed determination of session, supplemented by the energetic words and acts of the pastor, at length culminated in subscriptions of money, by which the present graceful structure has arisen. Its entire cost, including the improvement of the grounds, has been, as close as can be estimated, the round sum of $100,000; exclusive, however, of furniture and upholstery, results of the labors of ladies, amounting to an addition of about $4,000.
SUPERINTENDENT OF CHURCH ERECTION
Before beginning the erection of the present church edifice, the congregation placed the matter of deciding upon plans in the hands of a joint committee, consisting of the trustees, a building committee and a finance committee ; with instructions, that after contracts had been entered into by the trustees, the conduct of their cxecution should be in the custody of the building committee; and that the finance committee, upon the receipt of warrants drawn and approved by the former commit- tee, should countersign the same and issue vouchers for pay- ments. The committees appointed have thus far performed the labors assigned them, and their work will shortly terminate. Their names are here given: Building Committee-Wm. N. Frew, Chairman; Thos. S. Bigelow, Secretary; James B. Lyon, Geo. Singer, Jr., J. H. McKelvy. Finance Committee : Wm. G. Johnston, Chairman; John C. Alrich, Secretary ; Jacob B. Negley, Chas. B. McLean,* E. M. Bigelow .*
*Chosen in place of Hon. Thos. Mellon and B. H. Peabody.
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The finance committee chose as treasurer of the building fund Mr. Andrew W. Mellon, and as a place of temporary deposit the City Deposit Bank.
REFLECTIONS
As you look about you, my hearers, first upon the outer gray walls, and the beautiful cloisters, reminding you of mediaval architecture and of a time when men in holy orders planned and builded what are accounted high expressions of religious thought and feeling; or when your eyes rest upon these inner walls, where mellowed colors blend in quiet har- mony; and upon the massive arches overhead, where is that combination, which to the psalmist suggested the thought,
"Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary,"
let me remind you, that all these are evidences, not alone of an expenditure of money, but on the part of those having the immediate control of the erection, much of valuable time and constant, prolonged thought.
THE SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
Wherefore, in conclusion, has this structure arisen? If but to meet the requirements of cultivated tastes, or to adorn one of the many avenues fast becoming studded with luxurious suburban homes, then might these very stones in agony cry out, "For what purpose this waste?" But, day by day, silently, grandly, a temple is rising, far excelling any conception of Hiram or of Solomon; and upon which at length the Master builder, bringing forth the capstone thereof, shall place it, amid shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it! These that we erect are but as so many stones lifted into place, and forming the walls great and high, of that celestial, spiritual temple, whose chief adornment is the glory of God; "Whose light is like unto stones most precious, even like jasper stone, clear as crystal." "It hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
"For the Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel's land."
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DEDICATION HYMN By WILLIAM G. JOHNSTON Tune-MEAR.
"The Lord our God be with us as He was with our Fathers." Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple.
Lord God of hosts! the heavens above, Nor earth can Thee contain ; Yet Thou, O Lord, with wondrous love, To dwell with man dost deign.
E'en on this consecrated ground Our fathers walked with Thee;
May we within their steps be found,- Their faith ours ever be.
Of all Thy promises, no word Of Thine did ever fail ;- As thou their cry didst hear, O Lord, So may our prayers prevail.
Thine eyes be toward this house of prayer ; By day, by night draw near ; O'ershadowed by Thy watchful care, Our hearts shall know no fear.
That joy and peace may here abound,- Our fervent cry we raise ;
Salvation through these courts resound, These gates be filled with praise !
May hallelujahs to Thy name In loftiest strains ascend ; While songs which shall Thy love proclaim, With those of angels blend !
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MORNING SERVICE Commemorative of the Sixtieth Anniversary.
PRELUDE-Andante
Beethoven
DOXOLOGY.
INVOCATION. HYMN-Tune, Rosehill.
"The groves were God's first temples."-Bryant.
The perfect world, by Adam trod, Was the first temple-built by God; His fiat laid the corner stone, And heaved its pillars, one by one.
He hung its starry roof on high- The broad, illimitable sky;
He spread its pavement, green and bright,
And curtained it with morning light.
The mountains in their places stood, The sea-the sky-and "all was good;"
And when its first pure praises rang,
The "morning stars together sang."
Lord, 'tis not ours to make the sea, And earth, and sky, a house for Thee;
But in Thy sight our offering stands-
An humbler temple, "made with hands." -N. P. Willis.
READING OF SCRIPTURE . Rev. H. T. McClelland, D. D. QUARTETTE-"The Lord is in His holy temple" . . . Lob
PRAYER . Dr. McClelland QUARTETTE-"O come, let us sing unto the Lord" . Wilson OFFERTORY-Sweet and Low Barnby SERMON (Text 2d Cor. v. 18) . Rev. James D. Moffat, D.D.
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SUBJECT: "The Ministry of Reconciliation." POSITION MAINTAINED: That the most important event of past history was that by which God effected reconciliation, and the most important work carried on today is the work of making known to the world what God has done to reconcile sinners to Himself. For this work men are ordained, and churches are erected. Attention, therefore was fixed upon the central fact of Christianity. The need of reconciliation, and the way God had prepared for pardon and perfection of sinners, was then explained and illustrated. In conclusion, the position was taken that a church building is not to be considered as primarily a place of worship. Worship has its place, but the primary object is to make known what God has done for mar's salvation, and to work to remove the distrust of God, which naturally arises in the minds of conscious sinners. The ministry of reconciliation is the primary work of the church in all its forms of labor and self-sacrifice.
DEDICATION
The Elders standing in front of the pulpit; the Deacons on their right, the Trustees on their left, and the Congregation standing in their pews; the Pastor, Rev. J. P. E. Kumler, D. D., proposed the questions as contained in the Presbyterian Manual, respecting the dedication of a house of worship; and to which all gave assent by elevating their right hands. This service was followed by :
DEDICATORY PRAYER . Led by the Pastor The Congregation then united in singing
THE DEDICATION HYMN
Written for the occasion .
BENEDICTION. SILENT PRAYER.
POSTLUDE-Priests March (Eli) Costa
QUARTETTE COMPOSED OF
MRS. ANNA LUCAS-TENER, Soprano. DR. W. T. ENGLISH, Tenor. MRS. JENNIE WOOSTER-NISBET, Alto. MR. W. F. BEARL, Bass. SIMEON BISSELL, Organist
AFTERNOON SERVICE
ORGAN PRELUDE
QUARTETTE, "I.o, my Shepherd is Divine,". ... . Concone READING OF SCRIPTURE-Rev. J. M. Richmond.
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HYMN 569-"Oh, where are kings and empires now." Announced by Rev. G. W. Chalfant. PRAYER-Rev. Richard Lea, D. D. HYMN 435-"Our God, our help in ages past." Announced by Rev. Wm. P. Shrom, D. D. HISTORICAL SKETCH-Wm. G. Johnston, Esq. ADDRESS-Rev. E. P. Cowan, D. D.
ADDRESS-Rev. Geo. T. Purves, D. D.
REMINISCENCES-Rev. J. G. Brown, D. D. PRAYER-Rev. W. J. Holland, Ph. D. SOLO-"Flee as a Bird."
BENEDICTION.
Rev. Samuel H. Moore.
POSTLUDE-"Festival March" . Mendelssohn
MISS BELLE TOMER, Soprano. MRS. JENNIE WOOSTER-NISBET, Alto.
MR. JAS. W. GERMAN, Tenor. MR. W. F. BEARL, Bass. MR. SIMEON BISSELL, Organist.
EVENING SERVICE IN REGULAR FORM. SERMON-Rev. James D. Moffat, D. D. TEXT: Acts, xxIV, 25-27. SUBJECT, "CONSCIENCE"-Paul and Felix Contrasted.
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THE REV. J. P. E. KUMLER, D.D., LL.D. Fourth Pastor.
HISTORICAL SERMON
DELIVERED OCTOBER 9TH, 1894, ON THE OCCASION OF THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASTORATE By THE REV. J. P. E. KUMLER, D.D., LL.D.
"Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following."-Psalm 48:12, 13.
HIS is a call to consider the history of the church and to publish it to the generations following. "Mark ye well her bulwarks," the decrees, the covenant, the oath, the wisdom, love and power of God that are round about her for buttress and rampart. Born at the gates of a blasted paradise, she has come down the ages through the patriarchs, and priests, and psalmists, and prophets, and apostles, and reformers, changing only as the morning changes into the full noonday, she is the only thing on earth that flourishes with the vigor of immortal youth. Why? Be- cause she is allied with God, who is ever pouring His own perennial life into her. Church history is a narrative of human activity inspired and directed by the Divine Spirit. The church is a divine institution, springing unlike other institutions from political necessity, or moral instinct, or civil enactment, but directly and supernaturally from God. The truth that con- stitutes her intellectual basis is given by supernatural inspira- tion. The experience issuing from this truth is likewise of the supernatural operation of God. And when men had been brought into saving relation with God they were not even then left to themselves to come together into an organized body, the church, or not as they might choose, but under divine direction those who were reconciled to Him were required publicly to confess His name and to acknowledge Him as their Lord and His wish as their law, and to this end, under the Christian dispensation, He inaugurated two rites, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which for all time should separate His people from the world and bind them together in a compact and visible body, who were commanded to go into all the world
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and make disciples of all nations. And yet, though the church is a divine institution, through the malignant action of sin it is often repressed and perverted, but where sin abounds grace does much more abound, and the church continues despite all human antagonisms. Though depressed it has never been de- stroyed. In telling her history to the generations following there is no place for human boasting, since all the evil comes from us, and all the true spiritual life and progress from God ; not unto us but unto God be all the praise of her blessed achievements.
By request of the session of this church your attention is called to a brief sketch of its history during its present pas- torate of ten years now past, and that the generations follow- ing may have a continuous history of the East Liberty Presby- terian Church from its organization, I am requested also to take up the thread where the pastor, the Rev. John Gillespie, D. D., dropped it in his published historical sermon, delivered September 28, 1878, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of this church. Dr. Gillespie continued to be the vigilant and faithful pastor of this flock of his first love for over three years longer. The session at that time consisted of John Barr, William N. Burchfield, Robert Dickey, James B. Lyon, Lem- uel Spahr, William G. Johnston, Francis B. McConnell and Thomas C. Lazear. The congregation, spreading over a large territory, necessitated a greater oversight than they could give, and they were reinforced by the addition of four new elders: William C. Stewart, Albert A. Gettys, Thomas D. Davis, M. D., and Henry W. Fulton, M. D. In 1880 the Park Avenue Mission was started in Armory Hall on Frankstown avenue, this church assuming the expense and control of the mission. The work so prospered that the way soon opened for the organization of the now flourishing Park Avenue Presby- terian Church. May 29th, 1880, William N. Burchfield fell asleep in Jesus, after having served this church with great acceptance as Precentor, Trustee, Sabbath School Teacher and Superintendent, and for forty years as ruling elder.
With the opening of the year 1882 the church was greatly surprised by Dr. Gillespie tendering his resignation that he might accept a call to the Westminster Presbyterian Church
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of Elizabeth, N. J., where he intimated the pastoral work would be less exacting, and where he hoped his waning strength would be recruited. The matter was duly laid before the congregation, which reluctantly acceded to his request, adopting at the same time resolutions testifying to the ability and fidelity with which he had served the church as co-pastor for five years, and pastor solus for twelve years, and also to their great sorrow at the separation.
After the resignation was effected a committee was duly appointed to make provision for the temporary supply of the pulpit, who in the discharge of their duty secured the valuable services of Prof. Samuel H. Kellogg, D. D., of the Western Theological Seminary, who not only supplied the pulpit with his accustomed ability, but likewise conducted the prayer meet- ings, and funerals, and visited the sick. By this arrangement they aimed to avoid having their pulpit supplied by candidates.
There now came a new experience to the church. For the first time in its history it was without a pastor. A committee was appointed by the congregation to select and recommend some one for the vacant pastorate. In October, 1882, the committee reported to the congregation recommending the Rev. Benjamin L. Agnew, D. D., of Philadelphia, as eminently fitted to fill the vacancy. He was unanimously elected and accepted the call, and on December 17th, 1882, he was duly installed as pastor of this church, and entered upon his work under the most favorable auspices. February 20th, 1883, death sundered the one remaining link that bound the church to the little band of disciples who on September 28th, 1828, organized it, by the demise of John Barr, who had served the church as ruling elder for forty-six years. September 22d, 1883, Lemuel Spahr joined the church triumphant, having been a communcant for forty years, and ruling elder for thirteen years in this church, leaving behind him the fragrant memory of a devoted Christian life.
George G. Negley was called away March 26, 1884, aged 75 years. He united with the church in 1830, was elected a deacon in 1870, and served faithfully in this office to the end of his life. The Board of Deacons has not been increased by an election nor diminished by any deaths since that time.
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April 6th, 1884, Dr. Agnew requested the congregation to unite with him in seeking a dissolution of the pastoral relation existing between them, and on April 10th the assembled con- gregation, in view of the reasons which he gave, viz .: his suffer- ing health occasioned by the smoky atmosphere of the city, and a call to the Bethlehem Church of Philadelphia, where the climate was more suited to his health, conceded to his earnest request, and adopted resolutions expressing their feelings of kindness and attachment to him, and their prayer that God's blessing might rest upon him in the future. For the second time the flock was shepherdless. And again Dr. Kellogg's esteemed services were called into requisition as before-mean- while the session was delegated by the congregation to select and recommend a suitable person for the vacancy. By letters of inquiry and other methods of getting the knowledge desired, they were led to recommend the pastor of the Third Presby- terian Church of Cincinnati as one qualified for the field. The congregation being called to act did not do so with entire unanimity-the call thus extended was not entertained by the recipient. Afterwards, September 3, 1884, a second call was extended by a unanimous vote of the congregation, accompa- nied with an explanation that the failure of entire unanimity in the first call was owing to a lack of the fuller and more definite knowledge which they then claimed to have, and also with the special assurance that a most hearty and universal welcome awaited the pastor-elect. Though not without mis- givings this call was accepted to a pastorate whose ten years I am now briefly to review.
I began my ministry here the third Sabbath of September, 1884, and soon found myself so enlisted in the work, so grati- fied with the bearing and friendly support of the session, and the cordial welcome given me by all, so pleased with the field, which, as I became better acquainted with it, appeared more and more promising, that my misgivings gave way, and the pain of separation from the beloved and united flock I had left behind began to give place to the pleasure of the new pastorate, into which I was duly installed by the Presbytery of Pitts- burgh, October 9th, 1884. I found 533 names on the church roll. My first effort was to visit them in their homes, which,
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THE REV. BENJAMIN L. AGNEW, D.D., LL.D. Third Pastor.
SERMONS AND ADDRESSES
owing to the scattered condition of the congregation, the few houses that were numbered, and uncertainty as to the names of many of the streets at that time, and the vain effort to find not a few who had removed from our bounds, made the task a difficult and tedious one, but one that was amply rewarded by the hearty welcome universally accorded me. My next object was to cast about and see how best we might enlist and utilize the church in Christian work. We understood quite well that the first and foremost aim of a minister was to preach the Gospel. Preparation for the pulpit is the most important part of his work; all else must be secondary to this, for this is the chief instrumentality by which the church is to answer its end. But that the principles enforced in the pulpit may be made effective, they must be translated into active life. The minister must aim to bring all the resources of the church into active operation. He must seek to excite the dili- gence, direct the activities, and mutliply the agencies of the church. To this end the pulpit administrations were aimed. We divided the church into as many sections as we had elders, assigning one to each. The willing workers among the women, and a number of the young people also, were called into requi- sition as pastoral aids.
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
But it was found here, as elsewhere, that as a means of bringing out the latent and diversified talent of a congregation there is nothing equal to a Sabbath school. The utmost care has always been taken by the session of this church in the election of superintendents and officers, and in the appointment of teachers. No better evidence of their wisdom in adminis- tering this charge can be asked than has always been found in the conduct and efficiency of our Sabbath school. If there have been ingatherings into the church and into the school itself ; if there has been real study of the Scriptures, training in systematic giving, and catechetical instruction, it is largely due to this agency. The school received a great impetus on coming into the improved accommodations which this new edifice afforded, concerning the erection of which I will speak presently. We have now Samuel E. Gill, superintendent. The
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Infant Department on the second floor is in charge of Mrs. Kumler, the Intermediate Department, the Chinese class and James I. Buchanan's class, with its two hundred adult members, on the first floor, and the Senior Department in the basement in charge of W. P. Potter. There has also re- cently been organized a home department which has its super- intendent, classes and visitors studying the same lesson with the school, and which it is hoped will soon include about all the members of the congregation, who find it impracticable to attend the school in person.
PRAYER MEETINGS
The midweek prayer meeting is always a prime factor in a true spiritual church. While prayer meeting attendance is not synonymous with vital piety, yet neither is a thermometer synonymous with heat, but it is a good indication of heat just as prayer meeting attendance is an indication of the spiritual temperature in a church. The endeavor has been to make this service instructive, devotional, informal and social. Those who have attended with regularity attest that its lessons, exhorta- tions, songs and prayers, with its social benefits, have been most helpful, though it is not all that we could wish or that we hope it yet will be. In this connection I must not omit mention of a faithful band who have continued to hold cottage prayer meetings in different parts of the community, and have thus brought the Gospel to the homes and hearts of many not otherwise accessible. There is also an Italian mission begun and conducted by the Misses Buchanan, assisted by our young people, which has ripened into a church.
YOUNG PEOPLE
The church that expects a future must seek to develop the Christian character and activity of its young people. We shall hear of the Young People's Association of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church this evening at their tenth anniversary. I need not dwell on this important agency of the church, beyond saying that it includes in its aim all that is deemed of special value in the Christian Endeavor societies of the present day. It is reported as the largest young people's society in con- nection with any church in this region. Besides their weekly
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devotional services and cottage prayer meetings, they have frequent business and social meetings and entertainments. They look after young people coming into the congregation and into the church. They regularly conduct religious services at the hospital and Home for Aged Women; are sustaining scholars in missionary schools, and have undertaken to support a foreign missionary.
WOMEN'S MEETINGS
The agency that has probably done more than any other to bring God's blessing upon this church is the women's meeting. They have in charge all the general church socials. They hold devotional meetings every Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The second and the fourth Fridays of every month are of a general character. The first Friday is devoted to home missions; the third to foreign missions, and the fifth, when it occurs, to tem- perance. Succeeding the last week of prayer they continued their meetings for eight weeks, every day of the week, except Saturday and Sabbath. And for these forty meetings not once was the same lady needed to lead the meeting the second time. They have not only been students of all kinds of missionary literature; they have put their faith in practice and cultivated the grace of giving. They gave (with the thirteen foreign missionary bands organized and taught by them) last year, notwithstanding the great stringency of the times, fourteen hundred and ninety dollars and sixty cents in cash to our Board of Foreign Missions. They also gave last year to the Board of Home Missions (with the seven home mission bands organ- ized by them) in cash $1,114.17, and boxes to the freedmen and to scantily supported Home Missionaries, valued at eight hundred and twenty-three dollars, a total amounting to about two thousand dollars to home missions. They have also packed annually most liberal boxes for our city hospitals.
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