History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 107

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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Davis, John Morgan, Grace Lloyd, William Jenkins, Joseph Moulder, Sarah Moulder, Sarah Neaves, Eliza- beth Holton, Thomas Shields, Ann Ruxby, Margaret Emmet, Rebecca Wilson, Charles Wilson, Abel Gib- bon, Sarah Thomas, Martha Mason, James Hunter, Sarah Harper, Lydia Shields, Jonah Thomas, Mary Robison, Mary Jones, Joan Thomas, Susanna Rose, John Rose, Hannah Drinker, Pollydore and Nelly, Jacob Levering, William Harper, Sarah Powell, Elizabeth Shewell, Ann Bray, Thomas Fleeson, Samuel Olden, Elizabeth Morgan, Sarah Briding, George Ingles, Joseph Gilbert, John Stow, Rebecca Barger, Mary Richey, Judith Fulton, Evan Jenkins, Thomas Dungan, John Flintham, Samuel Wood- bridge, Isaac Powell, Elizabeth Morris, Sarah Mege- tegan, Matthias Mairis, Margaret Levering, Susan- nah De Nyce, John Drinker, Euoclı Morgan, Erasmus Kelly, Sarah Marsh, Mary Fox, Mary Rush, Mary Evans, Mary Powell, and Charles McDonald.

In 1760, or before, the First Church bought land at the foot of Spruce Street, on the Schuylkill, for use in summer as a "Baptisterion." Ten years later Rev. Morgan Edwards describes it,-

" Round said spot are large oaks, affording fine shade. Under foot is a green, variegated with wild flowers and aromatic herbs." ... "In the midst of this spot je a large stone, rising about three feet above ground, around which I have often seen the people kneel to pray after baptism had been administered. The top is made level by art, and steps are hewo to ascend. On the top stande the minister to preach to the people, who resort thither to see baptiem performed, and a multitude of hearers be commonly has. I have ouce reckoned here thirty-two car- riages, and often seen present from one hundred to one thousand people, all behaving much better than in some other places."

1308

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Joseph Bull was elder, and represented it in the Association.

The Baptist Association, in 1756, decided to " raise a sum of money toward the support of a Latin Gram- mar School for the promotion of learning amongst us, under the care of brother Isaac Eaton, and the inspec- tion of our brethren, Abel Morgan, Isaac Stelle, Abel Griffith, and Peter Peterson Vanhorn." Next year it was resolved to request the churches to contribute their mite toward the support of the grammar school, and in 1758 the resolution was repeated, it being re- solved " that what has been done hitherto in that way appears to have been well laid out." In 1762 the Association met in the Lutheran Church, Fifth Street below Race, " where the sound of the organ was heard in Baptist worship."

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, Phila- delphia had three congregations, numbering two hundred and sixty members, and owning two small buildings. The territory of the Association reached from Stamford, Conn., to Virginia, and west to the unbroken forest. Within these bounds were only forty-two churches and three thousand Baptists. Rev. William Marsh, of New Jersey, had been the pioneer along the Susquehanna, and was slain in the Wyoming massacre. Pittston organized a church in 1776, and Southwestern Pennsylvania founded several that year. The difficulties and dangers that the pio- neer preachers underwent in establishing new soci- eties were enormous. And the financial weakness of these churches is worth a moment's thought. Their seanty resources made the smallest gift a boon. We read of a formal vote of thanks over the gift of a wooden settee, and elders debate whether to buy tallow-dips by the box or the pound. A legacy of twenty-five dollars is spoken of as a great benefaction. To-day, instead of three weakly churches, with a mem- hership of two hundred and sixty, there are sixty-one churches and sixteen missions, with a membership of nineteen thousand, connected with which there are Sunday-schools with twenty-one thousand six hun- dred teachers and scholars. These communities own church property worth between two and three million dollars, nearly entirely paid for. Many of their church edifices are among the finest ecclesiastical structures io the State. Their benevolent contributions amount to about four hundred thousand dollars yearly. The seed planted by the early ministers has proved fruitful beyond measure.

During the Revolution, Rev. Samuel Jones was in charge of the Pennepek Church, and remained there until his death, in 1814. While the British army was in Philadelphia services were probably suspended. Between 1774 and 1800 there were thirty-seven per- sons baptized, and the number of members varied from fifty-eight to seventy-four. Deacons were as follows: James Dungan and Joseph Ingles, elected March 30, 1775; John Wright, elected Feb. 3, 1776; Benjamin Dungan, elected March 30, 1782.

The First Baptist Church in the city had for its pastor Rev. William Rogers, D.D., who was a strong patriot, became chaplain in the American army, and served from 1776 to 1781. Rev. Samuel Stillman supplied the church during a part of this time. Rev. Dr. Rogers returned to Philadelphia after the war, became professor of belles-lettres at the University of Pennsylvania, and occupied the chair until 1812. His death took place March 31, 1824. In 1782 the First Church, having no pastor, elected Rev. Thomas Ustick, a native of New York, and a graduate of Rhode Island College. He took charge in July, that year, and remained there in active duties till his death, in April, 1803. Rev. William Rogers and Rev. Morgan Edwards preached occasionally. Rev. John Stancliffe was assistant after 1789, and Isaac Carlisle was also a licensed preacher. In 1775 the church had one hundred and seventy-four members, but in 1781 there were only eighty-six ; these increased by 1800 to one hundred and forty-five.

The Philadelphia Association was required, in 1781, to consider the case of Rev. Elhanan Winches- ter, who preached to the First Church the year before, and proclaimed Universalist doctrine in his sermons. Dr. Abel Thomas says that Winchester had only "accepted an invitation to preach" tempo- rarily, attracted great crowds, and preached eighteen sermons at St. Paul's Church, the Baptist building proving too small. Winchester then formed his "Universal Baptists" (see article on Universalist Church), and all his adherents were expelled. In 1781 the Association made a formal excommunica- tion, and solemnly warned all the churches against Winchester and his doctrines.

During the war the Association was thoroughly patriotic. In 1775 they recommended "to continue the four quarterly days of fasting and prayer, as the distresses of the nation continue;" also in 1776 and 1778 a similar request was made. British occupation of Philadelphia prevented the Association's session in 1777. George Westcott resigned the treasurership in 1788, and Samuel Jones was appointed. In 1780, "letters from twenty-one churches complained of great declension in religion," and of "such tokens of Divine displeasure as do loudly call for deep humili- ation of spirit." Quarterly fasts were again ordered. In 1782 thanks were voted to printer Aitken, of Phila- delphia, for his edition of the Bible. In 1788 the Association left each church to decide whether fasting and prayer were proper on account of the Hessian fly. The Association was chartered in 1797, with Rev. Samuel Jones, president ; Rev. William Rogers, sec- retary ; and George Ingolls, treasurer.

The following messengers represented the Philadel- phia Church in the Baptist Association between 1775 and 1801 : Joshua Moore, George Bright, Benjamin Shaw, Thomas Fleeson, George Ingles, David Bowen, Thomas Shields, John McKim, Thomas White, Joseph Watkins, Samuel Davis, Sr., Samuel Davis,

1309

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

Jr., Elisha Gordon, Richard Reily, Samuel Miles, John McLeod, Hugh Gorley, Aaron Vanhorn, Joseph Keen, Nathaniel Davis, Heath Norbury, George Allen, Samuel Oakford, and John Peckworth.

The messengers for Roxborough were Abraham Levering, Charles Nice, Michael Conrad, Cornelius Holgate, Anthony Levering, Wickard Jacoby, Nathan Levering, John Levering, John Walraven, and Titus Yerkes.

The messengers and representatives from Penne- pek were Rev. Samuel Jones, Alexander Edwards, Peter Smith, John Pitman, John Stancliffe, Jesse Dungan, John Holmes, Benjamin Dungan, Isaac Hongh, George Guthrie, John Wright, George Ed- wards, Thomas Webster, William Rooper, Joseph Green, Joseph Evans, Joseph Miles, Joseph Wright.

The Association added to its long list of memorable deeds in October, 1781, when this ancient and hon- orable body was in session. The news of the York- town surrender was cried through the streets of Phila- delphia at midnight, and at sunrise, October 24th, the Association met and passed patriotic and rejoicing resolutions.

The Roxborough or Ridge Baptist Church was or- ganized Aug. 23, 1789, with thirty-two members dis- missed from the First Church. Their names were Abraham Levering, Anna Levering, John Levering, Hannah Levering, Anthony Levering, Mary Lever- ing, Nathan Levering, Sarah Levering, Samuel Lever- ing, Rebecca Levering, Sarah Levering, Catharine Standeland, John Righter, Cornelius Holgate, Mary Holgate, Hannah Coulston, Sarah Mathias, John Howell, Elizabeth Howell, George Sinn,' Margaret Sinn, Dorothea Sinn, William Holgate, Mary Hol- gate, Wigard Jacoby, Michael Conrad, Jane Conrad, Charles Nice, Elizabeth Yerkes, Sarah Gorgas, Sarah Lobb, Mary Stout. Nathan Levering gave a lot on a lane leading from the Ridge road for a church building. The structure was of stone, two stories in height, and was dedicated, free of debt, Oct. 24, 1790. It cost six hundred pounds. The collection the first Sabbath was £7 15s. Rev. Thomas Angier, Dr. Rogers, Rev. Thomas Ustick, and others, supplied the pulpit. In January, 1791, Rev. Curtis Gilbert was ordained pas- tor, but he died in April, 1792, aged but twenty-three. Rev. Thomas Fleeson and William White were "sup- plies" till 1800, when the former became permanent pastor. During this period the church averaged from forty-six to fifty-two members. Rev. Thomas Flee- son was white-haired and blind long before his death, in 1828, and became widely known as the "eloquent old blind preacher."

The church at the Northern Liberties in 1775 had fifteen members, but decreased so by removals that it was dropped from the Association after 1776.

In the year 1800, the First Church proposed a Do- mestic Mission Society, which the Association organ- ized, and ten years later it had seven men in the field. That church, after Mr. Ustick's death, was supplied

by Rev. John Peckworth and Thomas Billings, but in 1805, Rev. William Stanghton was called. Dr. Staughton was then one of the leading ministers of the denomination, and became one of its greatest educators. From the first his eloquence attracted large assemblages. Professor Thomas D. Mitchell wrote of him,-

" No pastor of any denomination in Philadelphia retained 80 large a popularity in so long a period of years. Many a time have I seen the enlarged housa moat uncomfortably packed, and many more compelled to go away for lack of room. The people came from avery quarter of the city, and thi- laid the foundation for numerous places distant from the church edifice, where prayer-meetings were held statedly for many yeara. The Tuesday-night meeting was at Mrs. Bright's, on Lombard Street, betwean Second and Third Streeta, and that in Carson's school- bonae, on Gaskill Street, naar Fourth. The sunrise Sabbath meetinga at Beasley's, near the navy-yard, under the wide-spreading willow, and favored by the breezea from the Delaware, attracted hundreds to the pranching of the gospel, who, but for that device, had perhaps nevar listened to the herald of salvation. Oftan have I aeen a great gather- ing at the latter place, which the benches could not accommodate, and yet the most perfect order prevailed while the eloquent Staughton preached Christ and Ilim crucified. The affectionate manner of Dr. Staughton had the effect of sacuring the attention and respect of the young, and from that class vast numbera were added to the First Church. . . . It may be added as a thing of history that before he was settled in Philadelphia very little attention was given to the religions instruction of the young. He began a good work in this respect that is felt to this day. He was among the most ardent advocates of the Sunday-school canaa at a time when it needed powerful and influential friends."

But Dr. Stanghton and some of the congregation were English, and though he had been naturalized the heated condition of politics affected his influence. A story is told that shows the absurd side of this prejudice. It was at a meeting of the congregation, when one of the stoves began to smoke so volumin- ously that there was no enduring it. "The sexton, . .. who was of the American party, could give no relief, and after several ineffectual attempts, solemnly announced to the assembly that he could account for it in no other way than by supposing there was an Englishman in the stove-pipe." The natural result was a separation, and in Jannary, 1811, Dr. Stangh- ton withdrew with ninety members, organizing the Sansom Street Church. Rev. Henry Holcombe was his successor in the First Church, when he preached till his death, May 22, 1824.1 The church during this period built a brick baptistery on the Schuylkill at Spruce Street.

Dr. Staughton's Sansom Street Church was strong and united. John Mills, architect, educated under

1 Rev. Henry Holcombe, born in Virginia, became a captain in the patriot army, and before the age of twenty-two preached his frst Bap- tiat sermon on horaeback to his command. Ile was a member of the South Carolina Convention that ratified the United States Constitution. He founded the Savannah Female Orphan Asylum, organized the First Baptist Church in that city, published the first religions periodical in the South, founded Mount Enon Academy, the firat under Baptist an- spices in the South, and helped to organize the germ of the "Georgia Baptist Convention." Dr. Cathcart speaks with admiration of his " her- culean physique" and "immense intellectual and moral momentum." During Dr. Holcombe's brilliant pastorate four ladies-Mra, Ann Rhees, Mrs. Sarah Ogden, Miss Mary Halman, and Miss Emily Ramtage -estab- lished the first Sabbath-school in Philadelphia, beginning with twenty pupils, o beginning that has grown to a Baptist Sunday-school army over a thousandfold greater.

1310

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Latrobe, planned an amphitheatre-like building of wood and brick, upon a lot bought on Sansom, be- tween Eighth and Ninth. The walls were fifty feet high, and the rotunda ninety feet in diameter, and the church with its galleries seated two thousand five hundred persons. Building and lot cost forty thou- sand dollars, and the pew-rents and collections brought in four or five thousand dollars a year, that would soon, it was believed, pay the debt. Aug. 16, 1812, the church was dedicated. Its location was then con- sidered a choice one. Dr. Mitchell says,-

" There were very few dwellings or houses of any description within the immediate vicinity. Standing on the steps of the University building on Ninth Street, we could see the whole front of the church edifice. No one could have anticipated that places for public amusement-and neces- sarily noisy-would have been located in such near proximity to the new house of worship, else another site would have been preferred."

Of the assemblages he says,-

"The largest church gatherings I have ever seen under roof were there, and regularly, too, for many years. The annual discourses to the young, preached on New Years' nights, werealways given to the most densely-crowded assemblies, and with the most happy results. It had been predicted that the occupancy of the new house would be followed by a waning of ministerial influence; but the prophecy proved to be an idle conjecture. The aged, the middle-aged, and the young of all de- Dominations, and of no denomination,-professional meo, and those of all occupations, habitnally found their way to the Sansom Street Church, especially on Sabbath night."

In 1823 Dr. Staughton became president of Colum- bia College, at Washington, and devoted the re- mainder of his life to educational work. His death occurred Dec. 12, 1829. The congregation diminished, and in July, 1824, the meeting house was sold for debt. John Welsh bought it for three thousand five hundred and fifty dollars, subject to liens of nine thousand dollars, and a new church was organized August 9th, as the Fifth Baptist, the Rev. John L. Dagg becoming pastor. In 1825 they bought a lot for a burial-ground on the south side of Sansom Street [or George] between Eleventh and Twelfth. During Dr. Stanghton's pastorate this church was noted for its fine musical talent. Albert G. Bird, a famous tenor, was one of the choir.

The Third Baptist Church, in Southwark, was es- tablished in 1809, by a colony of thirty members of the First Church. Rev. John H. Peckworth became pastor, and Rev. John Coxe assistant. They bought a lot on Second Street, east side, north of Catherine Street, and built a stone edifice fifty by sixty feet, dedicated in February, 1811, when there were one hundred and twenty-six members. Rev. William Ashton succeeded Mr. Peckworth.

During the closing years of Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones' pastorate of the Pennepek Church, he was assisted by David Bateman, John Boozer, and Alexander Dennison. In December, 1815, Rev. Jacob Grigg took charge, but in 1817 was called to the New Market Street Church. Joshna P. Slack, a theo- logical student, was pastor till October, 1821, and Rev. David Jones became pastor in January, 1822. During the period between 1800 and 1825 there were

two hundred and six members added; in 1825 the members numbered one hundred and eighty-eight. Benjamin Dungan, Thomas Holme, Joseph Wright, Thomas Miles, and John Foster were deacons during this period.

Roxborough Church after 1815 was partly supplied by Rev. J. C. Murphy and Rev. Henry Keeling, owing to the infirmities of Rev. Thomas Fleeson. They organized a Sabbath-school in 1817. James Patterson and Samuel Levering were also licensed preachers of this church. It was incorporated in 1812. In 1818, Sarah Levering, Horatio Gates Jones, and George W. Riter gave three lots of ground to the trustees for the church.

Blockley Baptist Church was dedicated in 1804. The ground on which it was built, on Meeting-house Lane, between the Lancaster and Haverford roads (now on Fifty-third Street, above Wyalusing Ave- nue), was a gift from John Supplee and wife, who also gave the burying-ground, and a lot for a parson- age. The church began with sixteen members, and Rev. John Rutter as pastor; in 1805 there were thirty-three members. Mr. Rutter was excommuni- cated in 1807, and no settled pastor is on record till 1813, when Rev. Daniel I. Swinney was called. In October, 1823, Rev. Joseph H. Kennard, once known as the " boy preacher," assumed charge, and greatly built up the church during his nine years' pastorate.

A new church was established in the Northern Liberties by a colony of twenty persons from the First Church. They built upon a lot on Budd Street [now New Market], north of Poplar, and Rev. John Ellis, a licentiate, was the first preacher. Rev. Wil- liam White was called to the pastorate in 1804, but in 1816, owing to dissensions, he resigned. Rev. James McLaughlin was pastor till 1822, when Rev. Thomas J. Kitts was elected. Samuel Harris was one of the licensed preachers. The first grave in the adjoining cemetery was that of William White, aged fifteen, son of the pastor, who died in 1805. Pro- fessor Mitchell gives the following description of this church site :

"There were then nlmost Do houses of any des ription to be seen. An open country presented in almost all directions, divided into fields of grass or grain, with ditches on either side of the great highways. There are those now living in the region who can remember when the whole of Laurel Street, from Second to Budd Street, was an immense elevated gravel-bank. It is scarcely needful to say that there were no pavements in all the region at the time referred to. The streets were dirt roads, which in the wet season were almost impassable. What is now Poplar Street, immediately south of the church, was occupied to a large extent as a ropewalk."

This church, on Thursday, March 18, 1875, dedi- cated their present beautiful house of worship, on Seventh Street below Girard Avenne. The edifice has a front of seventy-six feet six inches, a breadth of sixty-five feet, and a depth of one hundred feet. It cost ninety-three thousand five hundred dollars, and it is free from debt. Rev. William Cathcart, D.D., had charge of the Second Church since April

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1310

HISTORY OF PHILADET DITT .

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1311

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

1, 1857, until 1884. His was the longest unbroken pastorate among the Baptist clergymen of Philadel- phia. In 1807 the Second Church founded a branch at Frankford, and supplied it until 1812, when Rev. David Jones became pastor.

Dr. William Cathcart was born in the county of Londonderry, in the north of Ireland, Nov. 8, 1826. His parents, James Cathcart and Elizabeth Consly, were of Scotch origin, the stock known as Scotch- Irish in the United States. Rev. William Cathcart, D.D., was brought up in the Presbyterian Church, of which, for some years, he was a member. He was baptized by Rev. R. H. Carson, of Tubbermore, in January, 1846. He studied Latin and Greek in a classical school near the residence of his father, but received his literary and theological education in the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and in Horton (now Rawdon) College, Yorkshire, England. He was or- dained pastor of the Baptist Church of Barnsley, near Sheffield, England, early in 1850. From politi- cal and anti-state church considerations he determined to come to the United States in 1853, and on the 18th of November in that year arrived in New York. In the latter part of the following month he became pastor of the Third Baptist Church of Groton, on Mystic River, Conn. In April, 1857, he took charge of the Second Baptist Church of this city, where he has since labored. In 1873 the University of Lewis- burg conferred on Mr. Cathcart the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In 1876, on the retirement of Dr. Mal- com from the presidency of the American Baptist Historical Society, Dr. Cathcart was elected president, and been re-elected at each annual meeting since. In 1875, in view of the centennial year of our national independence, the Baptist Ministerial Union of Penn- sylvania appointed him to prepare a paper, to be read at their meeting in Meadville in 1876, on "The Bap- tists in the Revolution." This paper, by enlargement, became a duodecimo volume, entitled " The Baptists and the American Revolution." Dr. Cathcart has also published a large octavo, called "The Papal System," and "The Baptism of the Ages and of the Nations," a 16mo. Dr. Cathcart's greatest work is his " Baptist Encyclopædia," a large imperial octavo volume, published by L. H. Everts, of Philadelphia. This handsome volume is worthy of the subject; it is a monument to the Baptist faith, and illustrative of the spirit, the enterprise, the industry and zeal, and the book-making genius of the author and publisher. Dr. Cathcart has given his best energies and tried ex- perience to the production of this book, and the Bap- tist Church is fortunate in finding a historian of his qualifications to undertake her annals. The work is so complete and so encyclopædic upon " the doctrines, ordinances, usages, confessions of faith, sufferings, labors, and successes, and of the general history of the Baptist denomination in all lands," that it has superseded all similar publications, and will become henceforth the standard and universal vade mecum of

a religious denomination that has probably about five million adherents in the United States.

The African Baptist Church was organized by twelve persons in June, 1809. They rented a lot on Tenth Street, above Vine, and built a house twenty- six by thirty-seven feet. Henry Cunningham, of Sa- vannah, preached here until 1812, when John King, of Virginia, a white man, was ordained pastor. In 1825 this congregation moved to what is now Havi- land Place, running west from Eighth Street, below Vine, and built a new church.

In 1817 the Second Church again sent out a colony of seventy -six members, which, on September 10th, organized themselves into a church ; they chose Rev. John Grigg as pastor, and secured a lot on New Market Street above Noble. Their plain brick build- ing was dedicated Jan. 1, 1818. Rev. Mr. Grigg re- signed in 1819, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Griffio. The latter in 1825 resigned, and was fol- lowed by Rev. Elisha Cushman. March 20, 1820, the church was incorporated as the New Market Street Baptist Church. The original incorporators were Adam Corfield, George Hacker, Reuben Jarman, Abednego T. Whitton, Enoch Cummings, Peter Street, and others.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 107

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