History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 102

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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1287

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

The Cohocksink Presbyterian Church was estab- lished as a mission about 1824, in a frame building situate on Germantown road, above Camac Street. Services were performed by missionaries, and occa- sionally by the pastors of other churches. This first organization did not succeed, and was soon given up.

The first religious meetings held under Presbyterian auspices in Southwark, except those under the control of the Covenanters, were stimulated and assisted by the Evangelical Society of Philadelphia. Paul Beck granted to that society, for free use, a small one-story frame house of which he was the owner, situate on Passyunk road, near its junction with Sixth Street. Services were maintained regularly here for some years. Jacob Mitchell, a ruling elder of the old Pine Street Church, had a prominent agency in keeping up the worship there hy procuring such preachers | on the south side of Locust Street, west of Eighth, and exhorters as could be obtained.

The First Presbyterian Church of Southwark was established about 1824. Worship was held for a time in the Southwark Commissioners' Hall, and subse- quently in the church building belonging to the Ebenezer Methodist congregation, on the east side of Second Street, between Catharine and Queen, which had been vacated by that congregation after their removal to the new Ebenezer Church, on Christian Street, between Third and Fourth. On the 10th of For some time Mr. Burch's congregation was success- September, 1825, the First Church bought, at sheriff's ful; but he became unpopular through various causes, so that his usefulness was gone, and he re- moved to some other locality. This congregation was recognized as the Fifth Presbyterian Church. sale, a lot of ground on the south side of German Street, between Second and Third, formerly a part of Richard Brockden's estate. It was eighteen feet front and one hundred and thirty-six feet deep, sub- ject to an annual ground-rent of twenty-two dollars. On the same day the Catholic Church of St. Mary's conveyed to the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Southwark another lot on German Street, adjoining that before mentioned, and of the same size, subject to a ground-rent of twenty-two dollars, thus giving a front of thirty-six feet. The lot was subsequently increased in size by other purchases. The first pastor was Rev. Truman Osborne.

In 1816 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church by vote authorized the opening of a seminary in Philadelphia to educate African youth to the gos- pel ministry by giving them a classical and scientific education preparatory to theology. Before that time the Africans of the city had established such an in- stitution themselves. It was called Augustine Hall, and the Rev. Nathaniel Snowden was the principal. In that school Richard Allen, son of the Rev. Richard Allen, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Jeremiah Gloucester, afterward pastor of the Second African Presbyterian Church, and son of the Rev. John Gloucester, William Gordon, William Thomas, and Philip Perkins were educated. It does not appear that this plan of the Presbytery was ever carried out.

After the resignation by the Rev. Archibald Alex- ander of the pastorship of the Third Church, the

congregation for two years was without a perma- nent minister. Rev. James K. Burch filled the pulpit for some time, and by several members was preferred as successor to Dr. Alexander. But there were others who did not favor the selection; and, after remaining for some time, Mr. Burch withdrew from the service of the church, and a number of the congregation went with him. They met for a time in the county court-house, corner of Sixth and Chest- nut Streets, and at this place, in June, 1814, Rev. Archibald Alexander preached to them. The meet- ings there were not frequent. Mr. Burch and his friends withdrew to the old academy on Fourth Street, below Arch, where he preached with accept- ance, succeeding in forming a congregation. For the accommodation of the members a lot was purchased and upon that ground was erected " a queer, circular building," according to one writer; " an odd, horse- shoe-shaped house," according to another, which was intended for a church edifice. The front portion of the lot was appropriated for the graveyard, and on the west side, at the southeast corner of Blackberry Alley, was erected a two-story brick house, intended for the parsonage. The corner-stone was laid in May, 1814, and the building was finished in the next year.

After Mr. Burch's departure the congregation might have been dissolved had it not been for the contro- versy between Rev. J. J. Janeway and Thomas H. Skinner, of the Second Church, on doctrinal points, the discussion of which resulted in the withdrawal of the latter and his friends. The Fifth Church al- ready had a building and property ; Skinner's party was without such accommodations. Mr. Burch being about to retire, or having already retired, negotiations were easy. A meeting was called through the news- papers, July 15, 1816, for those members of the Pres- bytery and Second Presbyterian Church " who are of opinion that a separation under existing circum- stances is expedient." The next day an advertise- ment was published, stating that the notice of the previous day was unauthorized. It was a manifesta- tion of what was about to take place. Mr. Skinner with about fifty members of the Second Church with- drew, and, it is believed, found themselves ready to go at once into the building of the Fifth Church, on Locust Street. During the controversies between Skinner and Janeway, Mr. Burch took sides with Skinner, and, according to understanding at the time, he made an offer to vacate the pulpit of the Fifth Church, and transfer the organization and property to Skinner's party. The transfer was effected, and Skinner's party, united with Burch's congregation, became the Fifth Church. They re-

1288

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

mained in Locust Street for four or five years ; but the situation was not considered a pleasant one, the surroundings being objectionable, and a large number of members of the congregation who had belonged to the church at Third and Arch Streets lived in the upper part of the city, and they complained of a loca- tion which at that time was so far down town. A de- sire to gratify appearances also had something to do with the determination to seek another location. The church burying-ground and parsonage on Locust Street was sold to the Musical Fund Society, which took down the circular church building, removed the bodies from the graveyard, and erected thereon the elegant Musical Fund Hall, which, so far as adapt- ability to the purposes intended is concerned, has never been exceeded.

On the 23d of March, 1822, Elizabeth M. Schell granted to William Montgomery, Thomas Fitch, and Thomas B. Fitch, a lot of ground on the south side of Arch Street, eighty-four feet three inches westward of Tenth Street, which was fifty feet front and one hundred and fifty feet deep, subject to ground-rent. A lot adjoining, of the same dimensions, was bought of William Stolland and wife on April 6th of the same year. The whole lot was one hundred feet front, and Montgomery, Fitch, and Darrach executed a declaration of trust, reciting that they held ninety feet of the breadth of the lot, "for the purpose of erecting thereon a Presbyterian Church for the use of , posed, that the reasons for her leaving might be com- subscribers to articles of association, dated Jan. 22, 1822." Ten feet adjoining were reserved for the pur- poses of a burial-place. A church-building was com- menced on this lot withont delay. The corner-stone was laid on the 18th of May, 1822. Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Romeyn, and an address was made by Rev. The Sixth Presbyterian Church owed its origin to discontent in the Third Church, during the period after the resignation of Rev. Archibald Alexander. A party went out in 1814 because the Rev. James K. Burch was not elected pastor, and another party with- drew because Rev. Ezra Stiles Ely was elected pastor. Sixty-five pew-holders of the Third Church withdrew rather than sit under the preaching of Mr. Ely. They were led by four dissenting elders, Benjamin Wickes, William Haslett, John McMullin, and Robert Me- Mullin. The Third Church transferred to them twelve thousand dollars in cash, two hundred and fifty dollars Mr. Lansing. The house was of brick, the style was rather more showy than was usual in church-building at that time, and the edifice was made very conspicu- ous by the construction of a wooden steeple, hand- somely proportioned and ornamented, which was one hundred and sixty-five feet high. Before the building was finished the congregation was compelled to remove from Loenst and Eighth Streets, in order to allow the Musical Fund Society to improve the property. The place chosen for service, in the meanwhile, was in Wagner's Alley, below Race Street, in a large build- ing suitable for meetings. The church in Arch Street | for communion-plate, and ground on Lombard Street was first opened for worship in June, 1823.

In 1817 a small choir of singers was started in Dr. Skinner's church, then in Locust Street above Eighth. There was some difficulty in establishing it, because the custom of choirs was unknown in Presbyterian Churches.

" In all the Presbyterian Churches in Philadelphia the singing-leader stood in front of the pulpit, at a table or desk placed on a little elevation from the church floor. The congregational singing consisted generally of a simple melody, and a bass or octave or solo in the same strain. llere and there might be

heard parts of the harmony, sung by those venture- some enough to make themselves conspicuous. When the leader had sung his first note, and was about to begin his second, down at the farther end of the church they were about commencing to sing the first note, pretty much in the style of a falling row of bricks set on end."

David H. Mason and Charles Deal for a time stood up in front of the pulpit, and led off the singing in the Fifth Church, although there was a choir in the gallery. This was done in order to meet the existing prejudices against choir-singing. In order to give the ene to the choir as to the tune and the page in the music-book where it was to be found, these gentlemen used a blackened card, upon which, with chalk, the tune and number of the page were written. The card could be read by persons in the gallery having sharp eyes, and upon that information the choir was ready to go on as soon as the leader at the other end of the church was ready. After a time a four-stop organ was placed in the gallery, of which Mr. Deal was the or- ganist. To prevent opposition, this movement was quietly resolved upon, and when the organ was first played it excited some feeling in the congregation. "One woman, on the first day it was played, was so much shocked at the profanation, that a rapid exit on her part from the church took place, accompanied by sundry bodily gesticulations, in order, as was sup- prehended by those who remained." In 1824, when the congregation removed to Arch Street, a larger organ was placed there, and a larger congregation was formed. E. E. Ives, Jr., was the leader of the choir, and Mr. Deal was organist.

worth about ten thousand dollars. For a time they worshiped in the court-house at Sixth and Chestnut Streets, where Joseph Eastburn did lay service for their benefit. On the 28th of July, 1814, an agree- ment was entered into by William Leonard, Benjamin Wickes, John McMullin, William Haslett, Conrad Hance, John H. Brown, Thomas M. Hall, Malcolm McDonald, Lewden Sawyer, William Hart, John Dickson, George Thomson, and John Kelsey, who were trustees of the Sixth Presbyterian Church, to the effect that they would obtain a charter of incor- poration, and became legally entitled to hold property.

1289

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

George Latimer, as one of the trustees, purchased for man, a Baptist elergyman in his native country, which, it may be presumed, he left for reasons satis- factory to his congregations. In the city he found no difficulty in gaining admission to the pulpits of Baptist and Presbyterian Churches, preaching during the summer with acceptation and increasing popu- larity. He had a good presence, a fine voice, a showy, oratorieal style, and apparently great earnest- ness of purpose, and his preaching was so different from the grave and formal mannerisms of the pulpit of the time that he secured sufficient followers to justify an attempt in forming a congregation. Not having authority from Presbyteries or Baptist Asso- eiations, Mr. Hey and his followers set up as inde- pendents. His congregation was made up of persons belonging to various denominations, and some who previously had not belonged to any congregation. The Second Presbyterian Church granted letters of dismissal, Oct. 4, 1804, to nine members of that con- gregation,-William Shufflebottom, William Sheep- shanks, Charles Woodward, Robert Murphey, John Lorain, Jr., Gilbert Gaw, Susanna Gaw, John Firth, the purposes of the church a lot of ground on the north side of Spruce Street, between Fifth and Sixth, which was forty-five feet six inches front, and one hundred and fifty-five feet deep, irregular in shape on the sides. Another property adjoining was conveyed to the trustees in the same year by Robert Davis and wife. The two lots gave the church a front of about ninety-three feet on Spruce Street. Upon this ground was erected without delay a substantial brick church. As soon as the building was ready, Rev. William Neill, who was at that time pastor of a Pres- byterian Church at Albany, N. Y., was called to take charge of the Sixth congregation. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born near Pittsburgh in the year 1779. He was educated at Princeton College, where he graduated in 1803, and was tutor there until Octo- ber, 1805, when he became minister of the church at Cooperstown, N. J. He was in charge of that pulpit nearly five years, when he went to Albany, where he remained from 1809 until 1816, when he came to Phil- adelphia. Although the congregation of the Sixth Church was rich at starting in comparison to the and Elizabeth Firth. The congregation was organ- means usually within control of new congregations, 'ized at the old academy, Fourth Street, and Mr. Hey

there was still some debt when Dr. Neill took charge. preached there with great success. Englishmen, most of whom had been connected with regular Baptist congregations, took great interest in Mr. Hey, and aided in his plans. Dr. Mitchell says of his meetings at the academy,- His salary was fixed at two thousand dollars a year, and he relinquished two hundred dollars annually during the lattter part of his term for the purpose of releasing the ineumbranee. There was some ugly feeling between the members of the Third and the "Collections were taken up on every Sabbath day to aid in the erec- tion of an edifice of novel construction, which finally became the reg- ular place of worship for the society, which as yet had no fixed designa- tion. I well remember the disgust excited hy a device of Hey for the purpose of augmenting the funds somewhat more rapidly than the people were disposed to encourage and tolerate. Bags fastened to long handles Sixth Churches at the beginning, and exertions were made by each party to fill up its congregation. The withdrawal of Burch's party and the anti-Elyites made a heavy inroad on the strength of the Third Church. In addition, a matter of disturbance was found in the | had been usually passed through the house to catch the mites ; but many coming of the First Church to Locust and Seventh Streets, in the vicinity of the Sixth Church.

found it convenient to escape the carrier's hint by a timely retreat, to prevent which calamity Hey directed certain persone to take their stands at the doors, with open plates in their hands, and in euch num- bers that every passer-out was eure to find a plate thrust at him. The modest parson very plainly certified to the flock that silver was much more acceptable than pennies, and withal vastly more respectable."

Dr. Neill instituted a Bible-class of young girls and lads, which was large, comprising the youthful strength of the congregation. While engaged in this service, quietly discharging his duties, he received an As early as October, 1804, an address was published in the newspapers in favor of building a church for Rev. John Hey. The collections were made from that time, so that in six months enough had been gathered to justify the commencement of the church building. On the 24th of January, 1805, Joseph invitation to become president of Dickinson College, at Carlisle. He left the church in 1824. The posi- tion at Dickinson College was highly honorable, but the place was not agreeable on account of the divided authorities of the institution, and also on account of its dependence on the Legislature of the State. Shotwell and others conveyed to William Sheep- After four years' serviee Dr. Neill withdrew, and | shanks, William Taylor, William Shufflebottom, became secretary of the Board of Education, which position he held for two years. He took charge of the church at Germantown in 1831, and was there eleven years. He withdrew from active pursuits in 1842, and died in 1860, aged eighty-two years.

After the withdrawal of Dr. Neill the congrega- tion was for some months without a pastor. In 1825 they called Rev. John H. Kennedy, and he was in the service of the church for some time.

In the year 1804, Rev. John Hey, a clerical ad- venturer, visited Philadelphia. He was an English-

James Cummins, and Gilbert Gaw, a lot of ground " for the purpose of building thereon a house of worship situate on the south side of Petty's Alley [afterward Greenleaf Court, now Merchant Street] one hundred and thirty-three feet two inches west of Fourth Street, and running south to Ranstead Court." The lot was of irregular shape, and widened on the southern side. It was only nineteen feet in width on Petty's Alley, while upon Ranstead Court [ formerly known as Patton's Alley] it was eighty-eight feet one ineh wide. The distance from Petty's Alley to

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Ranstead Court was one hundred and sixty-three feet four inches. The foundation or corner-stone was laid on the 28th of April, 1805, and the church was finished and opened on Sunday, Jan. 5, 1806. The building was of briek, and was very spacious in comparison with churches then in use in Philadelphia. It was sixty feet in breadth by ninety feet in depth, and occupied the southern and eastern portion of the lot. From the north, on Ranstead Court, there was a pas- sage-way, and west of the church there was a grave- yard, which adjoined the property of the Black Bear Tavern. The principal entrance was from Ranstead Court by a door at the southeast corner of the build- ing. There were two doors also on the east side in the way or passage which extended from Greenleaf Court. West of the Ranstead Court door a semicir- eular recess or bay rose to the roof. In this space the pulpit, which was roomy, stood. The choir was ranged on both sides of the pulpit. The galleries were shallow, and those upon the sides were supported from the wall. The northern gallery was supported by columns. The church was lighted by semicircular windows, which were built in such a manner that the lower sills were a considerable distance from the level of the ground. Above these were large windows with arched tops, which rose nearly to the roof. There were one hundred and sixty-two pews, conveniently arranged, with spacious aisles. The congregation gave to this building the name of the Tabernacle, and adopted for itself the title of the First Inde- pendent Church. Mr. Hey preached for them during 1806 and 1807, and until the close of 1808. During that period his true character became apparent by discoveries of moral delinquencies, and he fled to the West with a female who had formerly stood high in public estimation, leaving his wife in the city.

In November, 1808, charges were preferred against him by members of the church and he was dis- missed. He died on Aug. 30, 1809, at Chambersburg, Pa. The dismissal of Mr. Hey led to bitter disputes as to who was entitled to the property, which were compromised in 1808. On the Ist of June, of that year, the trustees of the First Independent Church

whatever supplies could be obtained. Not being at- tached to any sect which had strength and popularity, they could not command the services of acceptable preachers for supply. They were an independent congregation, and could gain little sympathy from other sects. This led the members to seek affiliation with the Dutch Reformed Church.

On the 17th of October, 1816, the Tabernacle con- gregation was organized as the Consistory of the Second Reformed Dutch Church in the city of Phila- delphia. At that time the number of communicants belonging to the church was fifty-one. Rev. David Parker was invited to preach to the congregation as soon as the organization was effected, and he held forth every Sabbath evening. He was a native of New England. He went to Europe in 1808, and studied divinity for several years in the seminary of Rev. Dr. Baque, in Gosport, England. He was or- dained in May, 1816, and was sent to preach in the United States. After trial at the Tabernacle, Mr. Parker was regularly elected pastor, and was installed in April, 1817. Rev. Dr. Broadhead, of the First Reformed Dutch Church, preached the sermon. Father Eastburn took part in the services, assisted by Rev. Robert MeCartee of the Associate Church. After the installation of Mr. Parker, some repairs and alterations were made to the building which pre- vented the use of the church. In August of that year it was announced that, the building being "so far completed as to admit a congregation," worship would be resumed. Rev. Mr. Joyce preached in the morning, and Rev. Mr. Parker in the evening.

The congregation did not long continue with the Dutch Reformed Church. For some time a majority of the members were dissatisfied. On the 18th of October, 1819, the pew-holders and communicants re- quested the Consistory to apply to the Classis of the Dutch Reformed Church for the dismissal of the Second Church to the Presbytery of Philadelphia. The Classis was not favorably impressed with this desire. The loss of a congregation from the fold was not to be submitted to with calmness, and there was some opposition to the request. Finally the Presby-

conveyed to the Independent Tabernacle Church the , tery received this church and congregation by vote property on Ranstead's Court, and also four lots of | passed Nov. 9, 1819. Rev. Drs. Neill and Janeway, ground on the south side of Cherry Street, between Schuylkill Fifth | Eighteenth | and Schuylkill Sixth [Seventeenth], having a front of one hundred and thirty-two feet, and a depth of one hundred and forty- four feet. It had originally been purchased by the Independent Church for the purposes of a burying- ground. Rev. Thomas Dunn, who was an English- man, preached for some time after Mr. Iley was dis- missed. He was a Presbyterian clergyman, and was succeeded by Rev. John Joyce, a Presbyterian clergy- man. Mr. Joyce served the congregation for more than five years, when he resigned on account of ill health. The congregation, after Mr. Joyce had left, was obliged to depend for services in the pulpit upon with Elders John McMullin and Robert Ralston, were appointed a committee to organize the church under its new relation. This was done on the 18th of November, 1819, and the congregation received the title of the Seventh Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. Under the new organization, the elders elected were William Sheepshanks, Robert Hamill, and William Shufflebottom; deacons, John P. Shott, Thomas Whitaker, and William Taylor, Jr. Jacob Engles was also clected, but declined to serve. The officers were set apart for their duties on the 28th of November, when Dr. Neill preached the sermon. After some delay, Rev. William M. Engles was elected pastor, who was installed on July 6, 1820. He was

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then in the twenty-third year of his age. He was born in Philadelphia Oct. 12, 1797, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1815, studied theology with Dr. S. B. Wylie, and was licensed by the Pres- bytery of Philadelphia Oct. 18, 1818. He was in charge of the Seventh (or Tabernacle) Church in 1825, and continued in that pulpit until 1834, when he was obliged to resign on account of disease of the throat. He became editor of The Presbyterian, suc- ceeding Dr. James W. Alexander, and he held the position until his death, in 1867. This paper was made the organ of the Old-School party, and under the control of Mr. Engles it achieved high reputa- tion. He was also appointed editor of the board of publication in 1838, and held that position until his death. He wrote many books, which were published by the board. Among these were "Sick-Room De- votions" and the " Soldier's Pocket-Book," of which three hundred thousand copies were sold. He was moderator of the General Assembly in 1840, and stated clerk for six years.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 102

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992