History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 103

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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The history of the establishment of the Mariners' Church in Philadelphia is a record of the earnest- ness of purpose and the untiring efforts of one man. Although the congregation, when established, was not, by formal proceeding, a Presbyterian Church, yet the circumstances attendant upon its foundation were such that Presbyterians were most active in the cause, and the congregation eventually went under the control of that sect. Joseph Eastburn, a mem- ber of the Second Presbyterian Church, was the founder of the Mariners' Church, and his life was one of simplicity, thorough work, and devotion, He was the son of Robert Eastburn, an Englishman, who came to America in 1714, when he was but four years old. He married Agnes Jones, of Germantown, in 1733, and Joseph, his sixth child, was born in Philadelphia, Aug. 11, 1748. He was put apprentice to a cabinet-maker at the age of fourteen, and became thoroughly accomplished in his trade. He was im- pressed with religious feeling in his youth, and after he had attained the adult age he commenced a weekly prayer-meeting in his father's house, reading sermons to the people who attended. He was finally induced to go to Pequea, where he entered the grammar-school of Rev. Robert Smith, with a view of accomplishing himself for religious service, His education had been limited, and, feeling his disadvantages, he addressed himself earnestly to study. Indeed, he devoted night and day to the acquisition of learning with such per- severing and absorbing attention that his health broke down, and his physician ordered him to give it up. Returning to Philadelphia, he resumed working at his trade as a cabinet-maker. 1Ie was married to Ann Owen, June 12, 1771. During the Revolution Mr. Eastburn served two or three times in the army, and was in the battle of Princeton. One son was born to Joseph Eastburn and his wife, who, when a boy, took to the sea, and became mate and then com-

mander of a merchant vessel. He was killed by a cannon-shot when returning from the West Indies as a passenger, being twenty-five years old. The cir- cumstances connected with the history of this boy and his death no doubt aroused in Mr. Eastburn an interest in the welfare of seamen, a class of men who had been neglected by all denominations. After some years' connection with religious service as an exhorter, Mr. Eastburn's ambition to be an ordained minister increased. There was no doubt of his sin- cerity and piety, but the difficulty which at all times stood in his path was the want of a liberal education.

In the year 1801, Joseph Eastburn entered into partnership with Peter Lesley in the business of cabinet-making, and they established their shop on the north side of Arch Street, above Third, next door to the Second Presbyterian Church. Lesley was sex- ton of that church, and Eastburn was a member of it, and as it was part of the cabinet-makers' duties at that time to make coffins, Mr. Lesley's position in the church and the large acquaintanceship of both part- ners served to bring in a great deal of work. They were diligent about the shop, and although persons came in to converse on religion, they did not neglect the claims of industry. While they talked they worked. Mr. Eastburn's desire to get into the pulpit was finally gratified by his introduction as a lay reader to the Northern Liberties Presbyterian Church, which was under the charge of the Second Church. Necessity compelled the adoption of this course on the part of Dr. Green, who was pastor of the Second Church, and who could not devote as much time to the Campington Church as he desired. Mr. East- burn, he considered, would be of valuable assistance at the weekly meetings, and they were generally con- ducted under his charge. There were hymns, exam- inations in the catechism, and addresses. Dr. Green had no expectation at the time that Mr. Eastburn would be anything more than a teacher and assistant. But the satisfactory manner in which he performed his duties gradually led to an enlargement of his sphere of service.

In 1805, the Presbytery of Philadelphia authorized him to "fulfill the duties of missionary in the jail, almshouse, and hospital of the city of Philadelphia, and also, as occasional opportunities might offer, to speak to collections of people in other places on the concerns of their souls." This was the only license Mr. Eastburn ever received. It did not make him an ordained clergyman, but it gave him much more free- dom of action than he ever had before, and in time the people conferred upon him the title of " Rever- end." As "Rev." Joseph Eastburn he was generally known in later life, although he had no claim to the title. For several years succeeding, Mr. Eastburn carefully attended to his business, which was man- aged with thrift and a steady increase in his means. Beside his labors in the hospital, jail, and almshouse, he was a ready and welcome assistant to religious

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congregations, which temporarily or otherwise needed supplies for their pulpits, Beside week-day services, he generally, on Sunday, had some engagement. Ile preached in Presbyterian, Baptist, German Reformed, and Dutch Reformed Churches, and was called upon at meetings of societies connected with all religous denominations. His services were not confined to Philadelphia, but extended through various parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

The foundation of the Mariners' Church in the port of Philadelphia was effected by the publication of the following notice in the United States Gazette, Oct. 23, 1819 :

" The mariners of the port of Philadelphia, and all others who shall ! « transiently in port, are affectionately invited to attend on the public worship of God, at the large room used by Mr. Jacob Dunton as a sail Inft, No. 6, frouting the water, and second wharf north of Market Street, where a flag will be suspended. This is to be the place for worship until a permanent marmers' church can be erected."

The first service was performed on the third Sun- day of October, 1819, by Mr. Eastburn, who took for his text the 3Ist and 32d verses of Psalms cvii .: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men ! Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders." Rev. Mr. Joyce assisted with an address. There were from five hundred to six hundred persons present, fully one-half of whom were mariners and masters of vessels. On the next Sunday a Sunday-school was opened. On the 21st of January, 1822, a new Bethel flag was hoisted at the Mariners' Church, at Dunton's sail-loft. It was procured through the ex- ertions of Miss Elizabeth White, a sister of the Rev. William White, of the Northern Liberties. It was painted by Mr. Woodside, and was thirteen by eight feet, having an azure field and a white border. The symbols were, the morning and evening stars at the top, a dove in the centre, an anchor below, and the inscription, " Mariners' Church." Mr. Eastburn preached from the four last verses of Hebrews, and a hymn written for the occasion was sung. The con- gregation continned in Dunton's sail-loft until July, 1822, when the place of meeting was removed to the lecture-room of the Second Presbyterian Church, in Cherry Street near Fifth. This change, while it may have interfered with attracting those who had not previously attended the meetings, still held control over those who had been gathered in. Mr. Eastburn continued to preach here nntil a suitable church building was erected.

few weeks ten thousand dollars had been collected, sufficient to pay the cost of the lot, and to compen- sate the tenants for vacating the premises, leaving twelve hundred dollars in hand. The deed was made to Richard Dale, Samuel Archer, and Robert Ralston, in trust for the mariners of the port of Phila- delphia. In April, 1824, William Strickland, archi- tect, undertook to erect a brick building for the use of the church, for the sum of ten thousand five hun- dred dollars, and which was to occupy the full di- mensions of the lot. The first story was divided into warehouses, with cellars. The church-room ocen- pied the whole of the second story, being lighted by large windows. In the centre of the front was a tablet bearing an anchor in relief. The entrance was by a stairway at the south end of the building. The ceiling was eighteen feet high. The pulpit was in the north end, and the gallery in the south end. The building was covered with slate, and there was an observatory which rose twenty feet above the roof. The funds for building the church were partially raised by subscription, the revenne from the stores being devoted to a sinking-fund for the purpose of pay- ing off the balance. The corner-stoue was laid April 19, 1824. On the 17th of October, 1824, the New Mar- iners' Church was opened. Mr. Eastburn and Rev Mr. Patterson, of the Northern Liberties Church, preached in the morning, and Rev. Dr. Broadhead in the afternoon. Mr. Patterson read Solomon's dedi- cation of the temple, and made some remarks upon it. Mr. Eastburn took for his text, "This is none other but the house of God; this is the gate of heaven" (Genesis xxviii. 17). Mr. Ralston read an acconnt of the commencement of the meetings, and of the formation of the congregation and church. Rev. Dr. Broadhead preached from 2 Chronicles, vii. 16. In 1825, Mr. Eastburn was still in charge of this congregation.

One of the most important movements of the Pres- byterian Church toward the dissemination of its principles and doctrines which took place in the period between 1800 and 1825, was the formation of a board of education. The first movement in that direction was made at the session of the Synod of Philadelphia held at Baltimore, in November, 1818, at which it was resolved to recommend the formation of a society " for educating poor and pious youths inclined to devote themselves to the work of the holy ministry." Rev. Jacob J. Janeway, D.D., Rev. Wil- liam Neill, D.D., and Rev. James Patterson, were appointed a committee to mature a plan for the or- ganization of snch society. They called a meeting of the friends of the project in the Third Presby-

In June, 1823, an agreement for the purchase of a snitable lot was made with the directors of the Bank of North America. It was situate on the east side of , terian Church, Philadelphia, on Dec. 9, 1818. On Water Street, between Chestnut and Walnut Street. that occasion, Revs. Dr. Janeway, Neill, Wilson, Green, Alexander, and Miller, with Rev. James Pat- terson, were appointed a committee to draft a consti- tution for the proposed society. At the next meet- seventy-five feet front on Water Street, and sixty-one and a half feet deep, to a passage or court. The price was eight thousand dollars. Subscriptions were at once solicited, and with so much snecess that in a | ing, held December 17th, in the Sixth Presbyterian

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Church, the constitution was adopted. Robert Ral- ston was elected president ; Rev. William Neill, D.D., corresponding secretary ; and Alexander Henry, treasurer. Ashbel Green, D.D., was elected president in 1824, and held the office until 1829. Rev. Ezra Stiles Ely was corresponding secretary from 1824 to 1829, and John S. Stille was treasurer from 1823 to 1831. Between the years 1819 and 1824 the board had one hundred and eight candi- dates for the ministry under its care.

The Second Associate Reformed Church, in Thir- teenth Street above Market, was opened for worship on the 26th of November, 1815, the sermon being preached by Rev. John Mason Duncan, of Baltimore, grandson of the founder of the church. The house was of plain brick, without the least trace of orna- ment, and for many years was one of the gloomiest- looking churches in the city. The dimensions were fifty by sixty feet.

After the Second Associate Reformed Church was built, there was much difficulty in procuring pulpit . garet Duncan's Church," not in the Second Associate service. The Associate Reformed connection in the United States was weak and poor, and the number of ministers within the communion was scarcely suffi- cient for the work to be done. Add to this the fact that " Margaret Duncan's church" was in a part of On the 7th of October, 1824, Robert A. Caldcleugh and wife conveyed to Robert Fleming and the heirs and representatives of Thomas G. McInnes, Moses Reed, and fifty-two others, a lot of ground on the south side of Race Street, between Schuylkill Third [Twentieth] and Schuylkill Fourth [ Nineteenth] Streets, for the purpose of a burying-ground. The lot was eighteen feet by six inches wide, and one hundred and twenty-nine feet deep, to a thirty-feet wide street. The burial-lots were conveyed to each member of the church in separate and distinct divisions. The width of fourteen feet six inches from the west line of the lot was devoted for graves, and a passage four feet wide on the east side was laid out for the use of owners of lots, and of those attending burials. the city poor and thinly inhabited, and also that, although Mrs. Duncan provided for the building, she left no fund for its support, and it may be understood why the congregation struggled on against adverse influences. Indeed, had it not been for the assistance of the Presbyterians, who frequently gave supplies to its pulpit, it would probably have been closed for con- siderable periods of time. Among the supplies most frequent was John Welwood Scott, an elder of the Third Presbyterian Church, who at a subsequent period was ordained as a minister. The first regular pastor of this church was Rev. Thomas Gilfillan Mc- Innes, who was called to the service early in 1822. He was received as a member of the Philadelphia Presbytery, but was soon after transferred to the

In 1831, Mr. Chambers' congregation removed to Associate Reformed Presbytery. He died on the , their new church edifice at the corner of Broad and 26th of August, 1824.

This church, by the action of the Associate Re- formed Synod and of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1822, like the Scots' Church, suddenly found itself outside of the Associate Re- formed persuasion, and a member in full authority of the Presbyterian Church. By the process which effected this unexpected change, the Second Asso- ciate Reformed Church became the Ninth Presby- terian Church.

After the death of Mr. McInnes, the congregation of the Ninth Church, in March, 1825, called to the pulpit Mr. John Chambers, of Baltimore, to preach as a candidate. He accepted the invitation, and preached two Sundays in April. When he presented his papers for admission to the Presbytery of Phila- delphia he was objected to on account of his want of

soundness in reference to certain doctrines of the Presbyterian Church. He was refused admission, and in October, 1825, the pulpit of the Ninth Church was declared vacant. The members of the Ninth Church took up Mr. Chambers' cause with great energy. By a vote of four to one they declared themselves independent of church courts, and by an equally heavy vote resolved to retain Mr. Chambers as their pastor. The minority, headed by Moses Reed, went away, and meeting in a room in Race Street, declared themselves to be the Ninth Presby- terian Church. By advice of Revs. J. P. Wilson, Thomas H. Skinner, and John Mason Duncan, Mr. Chambers went to New Haven in December, 1825, made application to the Association of Congrega- tional ministers of the Western District of New Haven County, and was ordained in Middle Church, Professor Fitch, of Yale College, preaching the ordi- nation sermon. Mr. Chambers then came back to Philadelphia, and again began his services in " Mar- | Reformed Church, nor in the Ninth Presbyterian Church, which succeeded it, but in what was called the Independent Church, a congregation which had no connection with any regular sect.

Sansom Streets. It was known as the First Indepen- dent Church until 1873, when Dr. Chambers and his congregation sought to be and were admitted into the Presbyterian body. By order of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, the name of the church was changed, in honor of its pastor, to the " Chambers Presbyterian Church."

In May, 1875, the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Cham- bers' pastorate was celebrated, and he delivered a historical sermon on that occasion, in which, among other items of interest, he stated that he had received three thousand five hundred and eighty-six members into the church, of whom twelve hundred were then in actual membership; that between thirty and forty young men had entered the gospel ministry ; that he had married two thousand three hundred and twenty- nine couples ; attended between four thousand and

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five thousand funerals; and preached more than seven thousand sermons.

Dr. Chambers was a man of commanding influence over the masses. Bold and frank in the expression of his opinions, even those who differed with him could not but respect and admire his courage. He fearlessly attacked the crying abuses, vices, and errors of the day. Ile died Sept. 22, 1875, four months after his fiftieth anniversary. His successors in the , to accept the professorship of Church History in pastorate have been Rev. Henry C. Westwood, D.D., 1876-78; Rev. J. M. P. Otts, D.D., 1879-83; Rev. Thomas A. Hoyt, D.D., 1884.

The Tenth Church, at Walnut and Twelfth Streets, was projected by the late Furman Leaming, at that time in the hardware business on Market Street. The corner-stone was laid on the 13th day of July, 1828, and the church was opened for service in December, 1829. The contributors were John Stille, Furman Leaming, Solomon Allen, George Ralston, James Kerr, and William Brown, all of whom are now dead. The Rev. Dr. Thomas MeAuley, of New York, was the first pastor, but he resigned in January, 1833.

Henry Augustus Boardman, his successor, was born at Troy, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1808. He was graduated from Yale College in September, 1829, with the first honors of his class. On leaving college he spent one year in legal studies preparatory to the bar. But in the spring of 1830 he devoted himself to the work of the minis- try, entered Princeton Seminary in September of that year, and studied there three years. He was ordained and installed pastor of the Tenth Church by the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, Nov. 8, 1833. This was not only his first but his only charge, in which he eon- tinued to labor until released, May 5, 1876, after which he continued, by vote of the church and of the Pres- bytery, to hold the relation of "pastor emeritus" until his death, which occurred in Philadelphia, June 15, 1880, in the seventy-third year of his age. Called to the Tenth Church while yet in the seminary, in this position he performed his great life-work of forty-six years with distinguished ability, learning, and fidelity. From this eminent position he could not be drawn away. In 1853 he was elected by the General Assem- bly to be a professor of Pastoral Theology in Prince- ton Seminary, but he declined. In 1854 he was mod- erator of the General Assembly. In 1835 he was elected a director of Princeton Seminary, in which office he continued until his death. As an author he was able and prolific; as a preacher he was evan- gelical and elevated in his thoughts, and pure, simple, and direct in his style. Ile charmed while he in- structed his people, and bound them to himself by the cords of a reverential love. He was pre-eminently wise in counsel, and to the very end grew in influence among his brethren.

Dr. Boardman's snecessor was the Rev. John De Witte, D.D. He was born in Harrisburg, Pa., Oet. 10, 1842, and graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1861. Like his predecessor, he spent some

time in the study of law. Having coneluded to enter the ministry, he pursued his theological studies for two years in Princeton Seminary, and concluded them in the Union Theological Seminary of New York. The first eleven years of his ministerial life were spent in Irvington, N. Y., and in Boston, Mass. He was installed pastor of the Tenth Church Oct. 12, 1876, and was released from his charge June 5, 1882, Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio. The present pastor is the Rev. William Brenton Green, Jr., who entered upon the duties of this office May 14, 1883. The changes of population have, in a measure, weakened the congregation, but it still holds a promi- nent and influential place among the churches of the city.

In 1842 several members of the Tenth Church, in- fluenced by a desire to do something for the spiritual good of the poor and neglected, established a Sab- bath-school in Christian Street below Tenth Street. Of this school the Rev. Andrew Happer, D.D., then a student of medicine, and now an honored mission- ary in China, was the first superintendent. At a sub- sequent date the school was removed to Carpenter Street. From the first it was a cherished plan of those interested in the enterprise to establish a church, when the way should be open to do so. This was accordingly done Oct. 11, 1858. The Rev. Wil- lard M. Rice was installed pastor of the infant church Oct. 18, 1858. The church and Sabbath-school con- tinued to hold the same missionary relation to the Tenth Church as before, the principal support of the enterprise being contributed thereby. In 1863, Dr. Rice was transferred to the pastorate of the Fourth Church. Subsequently the church organization was dissolved, but the Sabbath-school continued its good work. By the will of the late Harriet Holland, a pious and benevolent lady of the Tenth Church, a legacy was left to the school, with which a beautiful chapel was erected on Federal Street above Thir- teenth, to which the school was transferred in 1874. Here the Holland Memorial Church was organized March 24, 1882, with two hundred and thirty mem- bers, and the Rev. James R. Miller, D.D., was in- stalled its pastor April 23, 1882. Dr. Miller's edi- torial duties in connection with the Presbyterian Board of Publication compelled his resignation, September, 1883. His successor, the Rev. William M. Paden, was ordained and installed, Nov. 20, 1883.

In 1852, the Tenth Church had become so large and prosperous that a plan was formed for the establish- ment of another church. It originated in the mind and heart of Dr. Boardman, and its success was owing in large measure to his lead and co-operation. A lot was secured on the corner of Seventeenth and Spruce Streets. The congregation was incorporated as the West Spruce Street Presbyterian Church March 29, 1854. A commodious church edifice was erected.

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The lecture-room was opened for worship May 18, charges, the case was carried by appeal to the Synod 1856, and the church was dedieated Jan. 4, 1857.

The church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, of which Dr. Boardman was chairman, April 3, 1856, with thirty-four mem- bers, all of whom were members of the Tenth Church. Messrs. James Imbrie, Jr., John S. Hart, and Morris Patterson were elected ruling elders, and John McArthur, Jr., deacon. The Rev. William P. Breed was unanimously called to the pastorate.

The Rev. William P. Breed, D.D., was born at Greenbush, N. Y., Aug. 23, 1816. At an early age he removed with his parents to the city of New York. He was graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1843, and from the Princeton Theologi- cal Seminary in 1847. He was ordained and installed pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Steuben- ville, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1857. After a pastorate of eight years he was released from this charge, May 7, 1856, and installed pastor of the West Spruce Street Church June 4, 1856. The installation services were held in the Tenth Church. The quarter-century anniversary of the organization of the church and pastorate of Dr. Breed was celebrated April 3 and 4, 1881. The church has steadily grown and prospered. Dr. Breed has given himself faithfully and industriously to pastoral and pulpit work. But his labors have not been con- fined to these. He has frequently represented his presbytery in the General Assembly of the Church. For many years he has been a member of the Presby- terian Board of Publication, and zealously devoted to its interests. Twice he was elected moderator of the Synod of Philadelphia, and at the meeting of the Synod of Pennsylvania, in 1883, was elected to the same office. To him belongs the honor of placing the statue of John Witherspoon in Fairmount Park, the funds for which were mainly raised by his perse- vering efforts.

Dr. Wilson's successor in the First Church was Al- bert Barnes, who was born in Rome, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1798, and graduated trom Hamilton College in 1820. | When he entered college he was decidedly skeptical, but during his college course his religious views uu- derwent a change. He gave up his previous inten- tion of studying law, and entered Princeton Theologi- cal Seminary immediately after his graduation. He pursued the full three years' course, and remained several months after its termination as a resident graduate. He was ordained and installed pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N. J., Feb. 8, 1825. His ministry there continued five years, and was very successful. June 10, 1830, he accepted the call of the First Church of Philadelphia, and was installed in the face of violent opposition from some members of the presbytery. Party feeling between the Old and New School became very bitter, until 1835, when charges were begun against Mr. Barnes, and he was tried for heresy by the Presbytery of Phil- adelphia. The presbytery refusing to sustain the

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 103

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