History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 88

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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As intimated in the title of the library, the in- stitution is entirely free, being one of the very few of this class within the corporate limits of Philadel- phia. It is solely maintained by voluntary contri- butions.

Wilson's Circulating Library was established Dec. 1, 1875. At the opening there was a collection of only three hundred books. At present there are over twenty-two thousand volumes in the library. The main library is located at No. 111 South Elev- enth Street. There are branches, however, at No. 2039 Ridge Avenue, and at No. 3902 Market Street, and also at Long Branch, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, and Cape May, N. J. These latter stations are, of course, chiefly utilized in the summer season, a trans- fer system being in vogue, whereby any subscriber at the main library can obtain books at the branch at any one of the summer resorts mentioned. In addi- tion to these sub-stations, the library has a system whereby subscribers temporarily sojourning at Media, Chestnut Hill, Bryn Mawr, Germantown, Fernwood, and other places are supplied with books by means of weekly deliveries and by messenger service.

Books are taken out upon the following terms : By subscription, three dollars per annum, one dollar and seventy-five cents for six months, one dollar for three months ; for two books at a time, the additional charge is fifty cents per quarter or two dollars per annum. To non-subscribers, on receipt of deposit, the charge is two cents per day, or ten cents per week. No fines are levied for keeping books longer than a specified time.

Although the quarters of Wilson's Library are unassuming in architectural appearance, yet it carries on a very heavy business, considering the time it has been established. As an evidence of this it is stated that seven thousand dollars' worth of books were purchased in 1883, and that over three thousand vol- umes were in constant circulation, representing about two thousand subscribers.

The Mutual Library was founded in 1879, as a circulating library. Since its institution it has made substantial progress. It now possesses about twelve thousand volumes, besides a considerable number of duplicates.

The following system prevails relative to the use of books by subscribers and others : Quarterly and an- nual subscriptions are received on the following terms: three books at a time, three months, one dollar; twelve months, three dollars ; six books at a

1229

time, three months, one dollar and fifty cents ; twelve months, five dollars.

There are no fines, penalties, or liabilities imposed on subscribers, except for the value of a lost book, on failure to return it after ten days' notice.

In addition to this subscription plan is the check- register system, on the basis of one hundred books for one dollar. Each subscriber, on payment of one dollar, is furnished with a check-register, good for one hundred books, from Class A, being composed of bound copies of standard works and popular novels, or a proportionate number of books from the other classes. The check-register is good for two books at a time from any class until exhausted.

One of the main distinctions of the Mutual Library lies in the fact that it has upon its tables and shelves many copies of all the current magazines, temporarily bound in cloth, which are lent out, as are any other volumes.

When instituted, the Mutual Library was located in the massive granite building of the Mutual Life Insurance Company, at the northwest corner of Tenth and Chestnut Streets. For over a year, however, the library has been located at No. 1104 Walnut Street.

With two or three exceptions, these libraries, of which an historical sketch has been given, contain over ten thousand bound volumes each. In addition to these, there are in the city of Philadelphia a large number of libraries of fair size, some of which have a distinct corporate existence, while others are simply bibliographical collections, owned by various reli- gious, educational, literary, charitable, and penal in- stitutions. These libraries are as follows, each one con- taining from one thousand to ten thousand volumes :

Name.

Formed.

Class.

Academy of Notre Dame.

1858

Academic.

American Sunday-School Uniou

1824

Theological.

Broad Street Academy

1803

Academic.

Bard Orphan Asylum.

1862

Byherry Library

1793

Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous.

Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia ....

1736

Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous. Academic.

Christ Church Library

1695

Theological.

Fifth Ward Grammar-School

1831

George Institute

1872

Germantown Library Company ..

1848

Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. and A. M.

1787

Hahnemann Medical College.

1867

Hospital of the Protestant Episcopal Church ..

1865

House of Refuge (Colored)

1850

House of Refuge ( White).

1826

Miscellaneous. Academic.

Institute for Colored Youth ..

1837

Institution for the Blind.

1833

Academic.

Institution for the Deaf and Dumb.

1833

Academic.

James Page Library Company of Kensington

Miscellaneous.

Kensington Institute ..

1853

Miscellaneooe.

Keystone Public Grammar-School.

1831

Academic.

La Salle College.

1868

Collegiate.

Library and Reading-Room Association

1857

Lincoln Institute ...

1866

Locust Street Grammar-School

1831

Mechanics' Institute of Southwark

1852

Miscellaneous.

Moyamensing Literary Institute ..

1853

Miscellaneous.

Northern Ilome and Associated Soldiere' Or- phans' Institute.

1868

North western Grammar-School

1831

Miscellaneous. Academic.

Name.

Formed.

Class.

Odd Fellows' Librery Company

Penitentiary, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

1829

Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane 1841

Philadelphia Almshouse 1808

Philadelphia City Institute ..

1851

Miscellaneous.

Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.

1821

Medical.

Philadelphia County Prison ..

1844

Miscellaneous.

Philadelphia Divinity School (Protestant Epic- copal).

Theological.

Presbyterian Board of Publication.

1838

Roxborough Lyceum.

1857

St. Joseph's College ..

1851

St. Vincent's Seminary

1868

Shakespeare Society.

1851

Sixth Ward Public School

1831

Soldiers' Orphans' School

1866

Southwestern Grammar-School ..

1831

Tabor Mutual Library

1860

Miscellaneous.

Teachers' Institute ...

1867

Miscellaneous.

Theological Seminary (Evangelical Lutheran) United States Mint.

1793

Miscellaneous.

University of Pennsylvania, Medical Depart- ment

1765

Medical.

University of Pennsylvania, Philomathean Society.

1813

Miscellaneous.

University of Pennsylvania, Zelosophic Soci- ety.

1829

West Philadelphia Institute .....

1853

Women's Hospital.

1863

Young Ladies' Institute .. 1855 Academic.

Young Men's Christian Association

1854

Miscellaneous.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

THE SWEDISH CHURCH.

CHRISTIANITY in Sweden and Norway dates back to the days of the viking, King Olaf, and Bishop Sigfrid, who, in the year 1000, planted the "Cross of the White Christ" in the domains of Odin and Thor. Early in the sixteenth century the church was reformed by the hero-king, Gus- tavus Vasa, at the famous Diet of Westeräs, adopt- ing the Lutheran faith in spirit, but retaining still the traditional Episcopal form. This was the begin- ning of the modern Swedish Church, and therefore it is that, as to the form of church government, they stand in a certain affinity to the Protestant Episcopal Church, while in doctrine they are unequivocally Lutherans. From the middle of the last century up to the war of independence the Swedish pastors and congregations were in nearer intercourse with the Lutherans and participated in their Synodical Cou- ventions. Swedish immigration and language more and more disappearing, the influence of the Episcopal Church increased under the assumption that there was between Episcopalians and Lutherans no differ- ence as to doctrine.

The carly establishment of the Swedish Church in America is due to the far-sighted policy of King Gus- tavus Adolphus, the great Protestant soldier and statesman, whose death at Lutzen probably changed the political and religious history of Northern Europe. King Gustavus gave a charter in 1626 to the first

Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute ..

1856

Central High School

1838

Christ Church Hospital.

Miscellaneous.

Christian Hall Library (Chestnut Hill)

1870

Miscellaneous. Academic.

Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous. Academic.

Girard College,

Miscellaneous. Medical.

Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous.

(Twenty-third Ward).

Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous. Academic.

1865

Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous.

Collegiate. Academic. Miscellaneous.

Academic. Miscellaneous. Academic.

1864

Theological.

Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous. Medical.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous. Medical.

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

West India Company, and arranged for a colony in America where religious and political freedom should be enjoyed. Efforts were to be made to Christianize the savages. In 1638, after the king's death, the first party of immigrants were sent out by Chancellor Ox- enstiern in the "Griffin" and the " Key of Calmar." They settled on the Delaware River, huilt Fort Chris- tina (Wilmington), and a church within its inclosure. Rev. Reorus Torkillus was the clergyman. He seems to have gone to Virginia soon after, and was absent four years, was married and then returned, preaching at Fort Christina till his death, in 1643. Governor John Printz built the " hemlock log fort"' on Tinicum Island, and brought as chaplain Rev. John Campanius (February, 1643). The latter's instructions read,-

"He must labor and watch that be renders in all things to Almighty God the true worship which is his due, the glory, the praise, sod the homage that belong to him, and take good measures that the divine ser- vice is performed according to the true confession of Augsburg, the council of Upsal, and the ceremonies of the Swedish Church, having care that all men, nod especially youth, he well instructed in all the parts of Christianity, and that a good ecclesiastical discipline be observed sud maintained. With respect to the Dutch colony which resides and is established in the country of her majesty and the crown, the govero- ment must not disturb what has been obtained in the aforesaid Court of her majesty, with regard to the exercises of the reformed religion."

Especial care was also to be shown toward the Indians to instruct and civilize them. Campanius preached in the fort, and also in a room of the Gov- ernor's mansion. In 1646 the first Lutheran Church on this continent was built on Tinicum Island, below Philadelphia, of wood, and was consecrated September 4th. The first cemetery of the colonists was laid out adjacent. Meanwhile, Campanius, zealous and capa- ble, had studied the native language and begun the translation of Luther's catechism, the first translation of any sort into any Indian dialect. This he finished after his return to Europe. His capacity for this work is shown by the fact that he adapted his phrases to the Indian customs, requirements, and understand- ing. For instance, in the Lord's Prayer, instead of writing " give us our daily bread," he paraphrased it, "give us a plentiful supply of venison and corn." The Rev. Reorus Torkillus had made no effort to in- struct the Indians, but the first sermon of Campanius had a curious effect upon those children of the forest. The story is told by his grandson, Thomas Campanius Holm :

" When for the first time he performed divine service in the Swedish congregation, the Indinns came to hear him, and greatly wondered that he had so much to say, and that he stood alone and talked so long, while all the rest were listening In silence. Thisexcited in them strange quapiclone. They thought everything was not right, and that some con- epiracy was going forward amongst us, in consequence of which my grandfather's life and that of the other priests were for some time in consbilerable datiger from the Indiane, who came dnily to him and asked many questiotie."

The other priests alluded to were Rev. Lars (Law- rence) Carolus Lokenius (Lock) and Rev. Israel Holgh. The latter took the place of Campanins, who left New Sweden May 16, 1648. Holgh only remained a short time. Lokenius made a bad record. In 1660

he was fined by Director Beekman fifty guilders for marrying a couple without the usual proclamations, and against the will of their parents. In 1661 his wife eloped with one Jacob Jongh, carrying off some of the goods of her husband. Precisely one month afterward he applied to Director Beekman to marry again, his intended bride being a blooming Swedish girl of seventeen. Beekman refused, but three weeks afterward Lars appeared again for approbation of his marriage, " as the situation of his family imperiously required it." Two months later permission for a di- vorce was granted by Governor Stuyvesant at New York. No sooner did Lokenius learn this than, an- ticipating the official action of the Court of Magis- trates, which had not yet allowed the divorce, he put an end to his doubts and uncertainties by " marrying himself!" Upon this the court at Altona declared the marriage " null, void, and illegal," he was fined, and an appeal was disregarded. Lokenius appears again in 1663, in violent and successful opposition to the preaching of Rev. Abelius Zetscoven, who had been called from New York. About this time two Swedish clergymen, whose surnames are unknown, visited the colony. Lokenius retired about 1668. His successor was Rev. Jacobus Fabritius, a turbu- lent character, of uncertain nationality, who had arrived in New York in 1669, and was suspended from preaching in Albany. About 1670 he went to the Delaware.

In 1674 he made himself amenable to the law for marrying a couple without previous proclamation, and by committing an assault and battery upon a woman in her own house. He begged Governor Colve and the Council for mercy. The marriage was declared void, and for the assault he was fined "two beavers and expenses" and suspended for one year. He begged liberty to baptize during his suspension, and the Albany Record says he was " excused." In 1675 a warrant was issued against him as one of the ringleaders in a riot at Delawaretown, and he was again suspended. This disqualification was after- ward taken off, and we find that in 1677 the Rev. Jacobus Fabritius became the first clergyman who exercised sacred functions in Philadelphia. He was called to Wicaco Church, where he first preached in Dutch on Trinity Sunday, 1677. In the "Conspiracy of the Long Finne," 1679, it is said that " the little dominie," supposed to be Fabritius, was concerned. Until 1675 there had been no church within the present boundaries of Philadelphia. Crainehook, New Castle, and Tinicum were the only churches west of the Delaware. Governor Andros promul- gated an order from New Castle in 1675, directing that a church, or place of meeting, be built at Wicaco, by authority of the court, to be paid for by general tax. This order does not seem to have been complied with by the erection of a new building, nor is there anything to show that a tax was levied for the pur- pose. The congregation was therefore compelled to

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CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN

MEMORIAL BAPTIST

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FRIENDS MEETING

CHURCHES.

1231

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

make other arrangements, so, in 1677, they took an old log block-house, built in 1669, and fitted it up. It had " loop-holes for defense," and was a very plain structure, so neglected and weather-worn that in 1679 it was necessary "for Upland Court to order that the members of the congregation at Wicaco should be required to contribute their share to the expenses of repairs." The congregation brought fire- arms with them to church, ostensibly to shoot wild game that they might meet on the road. Even after the congregation took possession, the old house was sometimes nsed as a refuge. Tradition preserves the story that an attack upon the settlement was begun by some Indians while the men were away, but the women, then soap-making, fled to the block-honse, and kept them at bay, chiefly with boiling soap, till the men returned from the fields, and the Indians fled.

Rev. Jacob Fabritius, by this time old and feeble, preached here for fourteen years, during the last nine of which he was totally blind. He preached in Dutch, which most of the Swedes understood. Penn's gov- ernment superseded that of New York in 1682, the year that Fabritius became blind, after which An- drew Bengtson acted as reader. Charles Christopher Springer was reader at Christina.1 From all avail- able sources, we must suppose that the religions ceremonials among our early Swedish population resembled, in many respects, those of the Catholic Church. Robinson's account of Sweden, published in 1694, speaks of the ecclesiastical peculiarities of the worship, and says that the churches were deco- rated with sculptures, paintings, and gilding, and with rich altar-cloths, and that the clergy appeared in copes and other vestments. Consett, who traveled in Sweden in 1789, speaks of St. Nicholas' Church, at Stockholm, as being decorated with costly orna- ments of silver and gold, and says, " As the Luth- eran profession is very different from that of the Church of Rome, I was much surprised to find the Popish mode of worship, with respect to external splendor, so much adopted in these churches." Even in the old block-house at Wicaco there probably appeared rich vestments that had first seen the light in some of these old Swedish churches.

The Wicaco congregation was very poor, and illy supported Fabritius. In the colonial records, 19th of Fourth month (June), 1685, is a note of an applica- tion by Jacobns Fabritius to keep an ordinary (tavern). The Council, however, refused to grant the request. The dominie was probably reduced to the necessity of trying some other means of obtain- ing a livelihood. William Penn, in a letter to his steward, James Harrison, tells him that he may procure "fine smoked shads of the old priest in Phila- delphia." There is still in existence a certificate of marriage performed by Fabritius in July, 1687,

" according to the canon of the Church of England," the parties being John Rambo, of Haxburgh, now Hamburg, in High Germany, and Hathawdnah Hadowirk, of Saldazda, in High Germany. His death probably occurred in 1691 or 1692. Before this, however, the congregation wrote two letters to Sweden for another clergyman, and receiving no answers, wrote in 1691 to the Dutch Lutherans as follows :

"Very revered, very lesroed, very honorabla consistorial senators of the unaltered Augsburgian coofession at Amaterdem:

" With s cordial and respectful salutation, we, of the Swedish cation in Pennsylvania, notify that the revered and learned magister, Jacob Fabritina, who, in 1677, in our vocatioo commenced the clerical service, did, during five years, while having his eyeaight, and for nine years suc- ceediog hia loss of sight, diligently and faithfully attend us by preach- ing and administering the sacramenta according to the Orthodox con- fessioo of Augsburg, and by an exemplary life, but must now resigo his trust on account of his blindness and the iofirmities of sge. You will easily judge, venerable sirs, how forloro will then he our situation. Like sbeep without a shepherd, sick without a physician, we shall be exposed to many dangers.

"We therefore applicata you, in consideration of this and our happy fellowship in the Lutherao communion, to provide na with a proper Swedish character, as we know that many students of variona nations Bre at Amsterdam waiting for promotion. And as a laborer ia worthy of his reward, we stipulate for tha comiog minister a yearly salary of one hundred rix dollars, with a house and glebe for his maintensoce. If a qualified persoo is not funod in Amsterdam, we humbly request your kind aid to procure a clergyman from Sweden by letters to the proper authorities."

Receiving no reply to this, Andrew Bengsten and Charles Springer, the readers, were their only depend- ence. About this time Andrew Printz, a nephew of old Governor Johan Printz, of Tinicum, visited the Delaware. On his return to Sweden, he informed John Thelin, postmaster at Gottenburg, of the fact of there being a colony of Swedes settled on the Dela- ware, and also their need of clergymen. Thelin told a nobleman, who laid the matter before the king, and he was soon able to write a long letter to the Swedish colonists, in which he said,-

" Hia Majesty took therein a special sod particular interest, and re- sulved that he would send uoto you, oot only ministers, but also all sorts of godly books, and would willingly have used for an agent in accomplishing these purposea the same man who had related these thinga. But the Lord kooweth what became of that man, for he could not be seao or heard of afterward. Therefore I do now take the bold- dess on myself, being acquainted with an elderly woman here, who says that she has a brother living among you, Peter Gunnarsoo Rambo [settled near Shakataxon, where a stream was named after him, “ Gun- nar's Run"], through whom this letter may be received, that I may kouw from you the truth of what has heen related, and in what way auch ministers may be sent to you, desiring that you would let it be distinctly knowo of what you are in oned.

" We deaire to know the number of mioiaters and books which you desire to bave, and also how many you are in number, and how many churches you have. About eight or ten years ago the Governor, Wil- liam Penn, petitioned the Swedish Ambassador at London for mioisters nod books for you, but for some cause or other the request was not carried into effect. Be not negligent in the things which pertaio to your everlasting happiness, for you may certainly see that the Great God doth as soon help through friends that are humble as those that are great and powerful. I commend you to the holy protection of Almighty God, both in soul and body. I shall expect to hear from you by the first opportunity that may offer, and remuin your most loving friend and servant,

"JEAN THELIN.

"GOTTENBURG, 16th November, 1692."

1 Clay's " Annals of the Swedes."

1232

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

This letter gave the Swedes great pleasure, but they decided to lay the whole matter before Lieutenant- Governor Markham, who approved of the plan, and offered to write to Penn in London to talk the sub- ject over with Lejoncrona, the Swedish ambassador. Charles Christopher Springer then prepared a reply to Mr. Thelin, which was dated "Pennsylvania, 31st of May, 1693," and signed by thirty persons, heads of families. It throws much light upon Swedish life and manners at that time in Pennsylvania, and reads as follows :

"Your unexpected and welcome letter, dated Gottenburg, 16th No- vember, 1692, came to hand the 23d of May, 1693, and made us heartily rejoice that it had pleased Almighty God, through that young man, Andrew Printz, to make known our condition to our friends in Sweden. We rejoice that his Majesty dotb still bear unto us a tender and a Christian cere. Therefore we do heartily desire, since it has pleased hie Majesty graciously to regard our wants, that there may be sent to us two Swedish ministere who are well learned in the Holy Scriptures, and who may be able to defend them and us against all false opposers ; 50 that we may preserve our own true Lutheran faith, which, if called to suffer for our faith, we are ready to seal with our blood. We also re- quest that these ministers may be men of good moral lives and charac- ters, so that they may instruct our youth by their example, and lead them into n pibus and virtuous way of life.

"Further, it is our humble desire that you would be pleased to sead 16 three books of sermens, twelve Bibles, forty-two Psalm-books, one hundred tracts, with two hundred catechisms, and as many primera, for which, when received, we promise punctual payment at such prices 86 you may think fit to order. We do promise, also, a proper maintenance to the ministers that may be sent us ; and when this letter is gone, it is our intention to buy a piece of land that shall belong to the church, and upon which the minister may live.

"As to what concerns our situation in this country, we are for the most part husbandmen ; we plow und sow and till the ground, and, ss to our meat and drink, we live according to the old Swedish custom. The country is very rich and fruitful, and here grows all sorts of grain in great plenty. So that we are richly supplied with meat and drink, and we send out yearly to our neighbors on this continent and the neighboring islands, bread, grain, flour, and oil. We have here also all sorts of beasts, fowls, and fishes. Our wives and daughters employ themselves in spinning wool and flax, and many of them in weaving, 80 that we have great reason to thank the Almighty for his manifold mercies and benefits. God grant that we may also have good shepherds to ferd us with His holy werd and sacrements.

" Further, since this country has ceased to be under the government of Sweden, we are bound to acknowledge and declare, for the sake of the truth, that we have been well and kindly treated, as well by the Dutch as by his Majesty the King of England, our gracions sovereign. On the other hand, we of the Swedes have been and still ere true and faithful to him in words and deeds. We have always had over ns good and gracione magistrates, and we live with one another in peace and quietness." 1

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 88

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