USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County : from its first settlement to the present time, first under Virginia as Yohogania, Ohio, or Augusta County until 1781, and subsequently under Pennsylvania > Part 22
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In memory of Rev. Richard Henry Lee, LL. D., Reetor of this Parish from A. D. 1858 to A. D. 1865. Born in Fairfax County, Virginia, A. D. 1794. He received a elassieal education at Dickinson College, Pennsyl- vania, and graduated with high honors at an early age. Devoting himself to the legal profession, he practised in the courts of his native State until the year 1834, when he accepted the Professorship of Ancient Languages in Washington College, Pennsylvania, a position which he exchanged in 1837 for the chair of Belles Lettres and Political Economy in the same institu- tion. In 1854 he resigned his connection with the college, and was shortly afterwards commissioned Lay Reader by the Bishop of Pennsylvania. He was ordained Deaeon, February 10, 1858, and became Rector of this Parish, which owes to him, under God, its origin and organization. On Sunday, October 31, 1858, he was ordained Priest. He labored in his holy office faithfully and lovingly until the elose of his life.
He died January 3, 1865, aged 71 years, and was gathered unto his fathers, having the testimony of a good conscience, in the communion of the Catholic Church, in the comfort of a reasonable religious and holy hope, in favor with God, and in perfect charity with the world.
It is proper to remark that during the rectorship of Rev. Dr. Lee, the church edifice had been found so defective that it became neces- sary to erect another, more durable and more commodious. In con- sequence thereof the congregation, with commendable zeal, erected the present beautiful Gothic church, at an expense of $3697 20,
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which is now estimated worth $10,000, which was consecrated by Bishop Potter November 17, 1863. During the time of its erection church services were held in the court-house.
The suceessor of Rev. Dr. Lee was James McIlvaine, who was commissioned lay reader until Rev. James A. Brown became the rector, December 22, 1865, and served until December 23, 1867, when he resigned, to enter upon a larger field of labor. His succes- sor was Jacob B. McKennan, Esq., who was commissioned as lay reader by the Bishop on January 1, 1868.
The present vestry of the church consists of Wm. McKennan, Wm. W. Smith, James McIlvaine, Jacob B. McKennan, Jr., Wm. B. McKennan, H. H. Reynolds, Hugh Q. Miller, and Samuel Hargraves.
On October 17, 1869, Rev. J. K. Mendenhall preached his first sermon in Trinity church, and was ordained November 5, 1869, Rector of the parish, by Rt. Rev. Bishop J. D. Kerfoot, Bishop of the diocese. The church purchased a bell weighing 2040 pounds ; the tenor bell of a peal of bells, which was placed in its proper position in the bell-tower, between the church and parish school- house, and first rung January 16, 1870.
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
On June 9, 1844, a Sunday school was established, with Professor Lee as its superintendent, having four male and five female teachers. This school has an excellent library.
PARISH SCHOOL-HOUSE.
The congregation resolved, on August 29, 1868, to erect a parish school-house on the church property in the rear of the church. This praiseworthy objeet, through the liberality of its members, was completed, February 27, 1869, at an expense of nine hundred and twenty-three dollars and sixty-six cents.
BEQUEST TO TRINITY CHURCH.
On the 11th of May, 1865, Wm. L. Bowman, son of James Bow- man, Esq., of Brownsville, died in the 26th year of his age. When a student of law in Washington, he became a communicant in this church; and so greatly attached was he to the church in which he devoted his life, his heart, his all to his Redeemer, that he manifested his love for it by providing in his will that his executors should pay the legal representatives of the church two thousand dollars, the in- terest of which should be annually applied to the rector's salary, and the principal invested for this purpose.
GERMAN CHURCH.
The German Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed church is bound- ed by Walnut Street on the north; lot No. 262 on the east ; Spruce Alley on the south, and lot No. 265 on the west; the church own-
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ing lots Nos. 263 and 264, upon which is a frame meeting-house and attached thereto is a burial-ground. These lots were sold by John and William Hoge to Thomas Woodward August 29, 1786, and conveyed by him to Peter Snyder September 12, 1787. On May 5, 1812, P. Snyder and wife sold to Jacob Weirich, Lewis Hewitt, David Sedicker, and Christian Hornish, trustees and managers of the German Lutheran and Presbyterian Church.
On October 13, 1840, they procured an act of incorporation from the court, authorizing the election of nine trustees, and incorporated as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church.
We shall give the respective ministers of the church as far as we have been able to ascertain them; although the records of the church are very unsatisfactory, we must depend alone upon oral testimony.
The first minister was the Rev. Mr. Monesmith ; his successor was the Rev. Henry Weygandt, who officiated for sixteen years. In 1832, Rev. Abraham Winters, of the United Brethren, filled the pul- pit; his successor was Rev. John Brown, a Lutheran; after him was Rev. Charles Swissler, a Reformed German preacher. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Mr. Doubert; his successor Rev. Mr. Beckerman, a Lutheran. Then followed the Rev. H. B. Miller, from 1830 until March 14, 1836, when Rev. Abraham Weills occupied the pulpit for eighteen years, or until 1854. His successors were Rev. C. G. Fred- ericks, Rev. T. Hartley, Rev. P. Sweigert, and Rev. Z. H. Gable.
This church has lately been refitted, and although the people have been scattered, our German population are uniting in the noble effort of resuscitating the waste places of this branch of Zion, so that the church of their fathers may again take its place among those of our ancient borough, dispensing evangelical truths.
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
On the 9th day of December, 1860, a meeting of the First Pres- byterian Congregation of Washington was held in the church to consider the necessity of enlarged church accommodations, and ap- pointed the following Committee to report at an adjourned meeting on December 27, 1860. The Committee consisted of Collin M. Reed, D. S. Wilson, Thomas Mckean, Robert F. Strean, Jackson Spriggs, Dr. J. W. Wishart, J. D. Chambers, and William Hughes. The congregation met at the time appointed to hear the report of the Committee. A majority of the Committee reported that the only feasible plan for increasing church accommodations was another church organization, and suggested the following preamble and reso- lution :-
Believing it to be our duty to furnish the means of hearingto all who may desire or can be constrained to listen to the preaching of the divine mes- sage ; that said accommodation is not furnished at our present church, and any increase of sittings is impracticable and inexpedient, and that the size of our congregation justifies the recommendation of the formation of a new congregation as the only effectual remedy in the present exigency, therefore
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Resolved, That in the opinion of this congregation the interest of religion would be promoted by the organization of a Second Presbyterian congregation in Washington, and whenever any number of persons will signify their willing- ness to engage in a new church enterprise, this congregation will lend them all the aid, comfort, and encouragement in its power, and to that end do now appoint a committee to co-operate with them in the accomplishment of this object. The Committee appointed were Collin M. Reed, Thomas McKean, John Grayson, Jr., H. H. Clarke, and W. B. Cundall.
This committee had a conference with the session of the First Presbyterian church on February 2, 1861, for the purpose of fulfil- ing the above-mentioned wishes of the congregation, and requested the session to designate two or more members of their number who may favor the project, and carry out the desire of the congregation. In view, therefore, of the congregation's action in initiating the move- ment, a movement prompted by a sincere regard for the interest of religion and the advancement of Presbyterianism in this community, the session unanimously
Resolved, That as the Committee requested the session, if in accordance with their views, to designate two of their number to go off, and the session having learned that the two members desired by the persons favorable to this movement are Dr. John W. Wishart and H. H. Clarke, therefore, if these brethren should feel themselves assured that such is their duty, whilst retaining unabated and unqualified confidence and Christian affection for them as brethren, and also expressing our sorrow at the thought of their separation from our number, yet we cannot withhold our consent, and will follow them with our prayers for the blessing of the Master upon themselves individually, and upon the enterprise with which they are to be connected.
Resolved, That we recommend to the members of the church and con- gregation, so far as they may severally feel enabled and inclined, to lend this movement all the aid, comfort, and encouragement in their power.
An application was accordingly made to Presbytery on March 12, 1861, for the organization of a Second Presbyterian church, which held a pro re nata meeting in the First Presbyterian church, Rev. Dr. John W. Scott being moderator, and Rev. W. B. Keeling clerk.
Dr. John W. Wishart, representing one hundred petitioners, of whom thirty-six were communicants, presented the necessary papers, when, on motion of Rev. James I. Brownson, the prayer of the petitioners was granted.
On motion of Rev. N. B. Lyon, the new organization was styled the Second Presbyterian church.
On motion of Collin M. Reed, the following persons were desig- nated as ruling elders, viz : Dr. J. W. Wishart, H. H. Clarke, Wm. B. Cundall, and John Grayson, Jr.
On motion of H. H. Clarke, David Aiken and Wm. J. Matthews, were elected deacons.
A constitution was adopted and the following gentlemen were elected trustces, viz: Collin M. Reed, Andrew Brady, Norton McGiffin, William Blair, and John Baird.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The Rev. R. V. Dodge, of Wheeling, was unanimously chosen the pastor, and the trustees directed to procure the college hall for the meetings of the congregation, until more satisfactory arrangements could be made.
Notwithstanding all these preliminary movements, the church was not at that time organized, but the members returned to the first church, as the following minutes of the church record show. A meeting of the session of the first church was held September 7, 1861, and adopted the following preamble and resolution :--
WHEREAS, On the 12th day of March, 1861, the session dismissed a num- ber of members of this church to be organized into a Presbyterian church ; AND WHEREAS, in the present disturbed state of the country and the depressed condition of money matters, there would seem to be no possibility of such organization being carried forward ; and whereas, the present church rela- tions of the persons so dismissed are peculiar and embarrassing to all par- ties, therefore it was unanimously
Resolved, That this session do most cordially invite the persons thus dismissed to renew their former relation to this church, assuring them of a most hearty welcome to our fellowship and to a participation in the cares and responsibilities of private and official membership, as heretofore.
The hindrances being removed, the members generally composing the Second Presbyterian church held a congregational meeting on April 7th, 1864, and unanimously resolved to proceed at once to carry out the object originally contemplated by their organization. A unanimous call was given to Rev. R. V. Dodge, who accepted the same, and on the 15th day of May, 1864, he preached his intro- ductory sermon in Smith's Hall, the present place of worship, but was not installed as pastor until October 4, 1864.
On June 26, 1864, the first communion was administered.
During the pastorate of the Rev. R. V. Dodge, H. H. Clarke, Esq., was installed ; and W. B. Cundall and John Grayson, Jr., were ordained elders on June 19, 1864 ; H. J. Vankirk and Wm. Blair were installed as deacons. April, 1868, Freeman Brady, Jr., and Morgan Hayes were installed as deacons.
Rev. R. V. Dodge resigned his charge May, 1868, and the Rev. J. C. Caldwell was elected June 1, 1868, and installed August 1, 1868.
February 14, 1869, Robert Boyd and Hugh McClelland were in- stalled elders; and Freeman Brady and John B. Vowell were or- dained elders.
Rev. J. C. Caldwell officiated as minister until December: 28, 1869, when he resigned. On April 12, 1870, Rev. Henry Wood, Professor in Washington and Jefferson College, was elected.
SABBATH SCHOOL
The 2d Presbyterian church has a Sabbath school connected therewith, having an excellent library. It was organized July 17, 1864, by a vote of the congregation, which was held May 23, 1864.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The first officers of the school were John Grayson, Jr., superintend- ent; H. H. Clarke, assistant-superintendent ; John Baird and W. Blair, librarians ; H. J. Vankirk, treasurer and secretary. Its pre- sent officers are Robert Winters, superintendent; H. H. Clarke, assistant-superintendent ; J. B. Vowell, Charles Butts, and James McCollum, librarians; H. J. Vankirk, treasurer; B. McCollum, secretary. The school has ten male and ten female teachers, with 150 scholars. It has also an infant school, under the care of Miss Anastasie Morgan, having upon the roll 82 members.
The Board of Trustees consists of Col. W. Hopkins, Charles Hayes, A. B. Caldwell, A. Winters, and M. G. Koontz.
The number of members connected with the church is two hun- dred and fourteen.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first account we have of preaching by this denomination in Washington was on February 1, 1824, at the house of Matthew Blake, by the Rev. P. Rafferty, although preaching was held pre- viously at Williamsport, now Monongahela City, in this county. After an interval of ten years, or in 1834, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick, who had already established a chapel near West Alexander, on the 27th of March, 1825, and to which the members of this church were attached, on account of the distance, made Washington a missionary station, and sent the Rev. S. Maz- zuchelli as the first missionary. He preached at the Old Good tavern, the sign of the black horse, south of Catfish Run. The property is now owned by Dr. F. J. Lemoyne. In this house mass was celebrated for the first time in Washington, and also preaching.
This denomination at that time were all German Catholics, except Michael Kaine, deceased (the father of C. C. Kaine, formerly one of the editors of the " Examiner"), who was an Irishman. Shortly after this period the congregation was visited by Bishop Kenrick, but the preaching was held in the court-house. In 1836 the bishop made another visit, and confirmed many in the faith of the church- this being the first time the rite was held here. June 21, 1837, Bishop Kenrick preached in the German Lutheran church. In 1835, however, the bishop sent the Rev. Mr. Gallagher to this missionary field, which embraced this place, Waynesburg, and Brownsville. Rev. Gallagher officiated until 1843. His successors were. Rev. James Kearney in 1844, Rev. Mr. Duffy in 1845, Rev. Jerome Kearney in 1846, Rev. Mr. Gallagher in 1847, Rev. Dennis Kear- ney in 1848, Rev. Mr. Reynolds in 1849, Rev. Wm. Lambert in 1850, Rev. Mr. McGowan in 1851, Rev. Daniel Hickey in 1852-who died at West Alexander in 1854-Rev. James Farran in 1854, Rev. Francis Joseph O'Shea in 1855, Rev. Jerome Kearney in 1856, Rev. Francis Joseph O'Shea in 1857, Rev. Dennis Kearney in 1858, Rev. Wm Noland in 1859, Rev. F. J. O'Shea in 1861, Rev. Patrick
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Shehan in 1862, Rev. John P. Tenney in 1864, Rev. John Scanlon in 1866, and Rev. Thomas McEnrue in 1868.
In the fall of 1841 a lot was purchased for a chapel on the na- tional pike, nearly opposite the gas-works, where the house of John D. Martin now stands ; but, after its purchase, so strong was the opposition to Catholicism that several of the purchasers of the ad- joining lots gave the proprietor notice that they would not build upon them if the church was established in that part of the town. The matter was finally adjusted by the Rev. M. Gallagher and Ephraim Blaim, Esq .- the church waiving her interest in the lot.
On the 5th of March, 1842, a lot was bought on the east end of Belle Street from John M. Davis, of Pittsburg (the present site of the chapel), being forty by sixty feet, for sixty dollars. The purchase money was subscribed by the following persons, viz. : Anthony Renz $10, Francis Egan $10, William Erret $10, James Rush $10, Michael Metzner $5, Michael Kirchner $10, and Rev. M. Gallagher $10.
Mr. Anthony Renz and Marie Jane his wife presented an adjoin- ing lot of twenty by eighty feet, on March 22, 1842. Both deeds were made to Bishop Kenrick in trust for the church.
The church was commenced in 1843, and finished in 1844. The carpenter-work was performed by Henry B. Roswell and Wm. Mc- Ilvaine; the mason-work by James Hamilton, at a cost of twenty- five hundred dollars. Although preaching was held in it, the chapel was not entirely completed and consecrated until 1854, when it was dedicated and consecrated by Rev. Bishop Wheelin.
Bishop Kenrick felt a deep interest in the prosperity of this church, and visited it four times ; in addition to the places he preached which we have mentioned, he also preached once in the Lutheran church and once in the court-house.
At the confirmation held in 1836, there were but eight families, consisting of sixteen persons, enrolled themselves under the banner of the church; in 1869 there are forty families, and the church has three hundred members.
It is worthy to remark that Mrs. Carrol, a member of the denomi- nation, died and was buried in the lot, and her grave is beneath the altar of the church.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Rev. Robert Donnell, Rev. Reuben Burrow, and Rev. Alfred Bryan, regularly ordained ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, on the 29th of September, 1831, met in the court-house at Washington, and organized the church, by receiving into its commu- nion Abel M. S. Gordon, William Fleming, Charles Andrew, J. Hu- per, Elizabeth Wiley, Mary Jordan, Ann Jordan, Martha Mahaffey, and Amelia Mahaffey.
On the 30th October, 1831, this church held its second meeting in the Baptist Church, when the Rev. Alfred Bryan was assisted by Rev. John Morgan, and twenty-nine persons were added to the church.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
On the 27th of November, its third meeting was held in the court- house, and ten persons were added. On January 23, 1832, Rev. A. Bryan was assisted by Rev. Milton Bird, and six persons received. February 24, 1832, an election for ruling elders was held. Peter Wolfe, Moses Little, and A. M. S. Gordon were elected and or- dained ruling elders. December 25, 1832, John Hewitt and Andrew Bell were elected and ordained elders. 1835, June 14, the church dedicated by Rev. Alfred Bryan. September 21, 1835, James Mc- Dowell; March, 1838, James Guttery, Ezekiel Tharp, and William Smith ; 1844, Odel Squier; 1851, William Smith, were elected elders.
March 24, 1832, Samuel McFarland, Alex. Ramsey, John Wilson, William Smith, were elected trustees. March 24, 1846, William Smith, Matthew Griffin, Joseph Martin, and Ezekiel Tharp. Janu- ary 11, 1858, Hugh Munnel, John Guthery, James McElree, and H. B. McCollum.
The first Board of Trustees were authorized to procure a house of worship.
In 1834, Samuel McFarland erected the church edifice on Belle Street, from voluntary contributors and his own private funds, and in 1856, it appears the church was in debt to him $970. The reason given on the records why the church did not prosper, was their failing in their contract on this occasion, and also promising preachers more than they gave them.
The ministers who have been ordained as pastors were Rev. S. M. Aaston, Rev. J. Shook, Rev. J. Eddy, Rev. Milton Bird, Rev. A. T. Reese, Rev. W. E. Post, Rev. S. E. Hudson, Rev. S. Mur- dock, Rev. P. Axtel, Rev. Robert Martin, Rev. J. C. Thompson, Rev. A. S. Robertson, Rev. Frederick Wall, Rev. John R. Brown, Rev. Weaver, and Rev. John Edmiston.
In 1867, from a variety of causes, the church did not meet, there being no pastor, and the people united with other churches. The. building is rented to the Disciple Church.
" DISCIPLES OF CHRIST."
Before giving a history of the different church organizations in this county, we would prefix the following account of this religious: denomination :-
In their associated organization they are called the Church of Christ, or the Christian Church, but in their individual religious ca- pacity " Disciples of Christ." As early as 1803 a church was con -- stituted in the Pigeon Creek settlement, under the labors of Rev .. Matthias Luce, the Rev. Speers, and others, taking the Holy Scrip -. tures for their rule of faith and practice. The record itself styles this organization "The Gospel Church." This church was after- wards called the Baptist church, the cause of its origin being brought about by Rev. Charles Wheeler, who, in an effort to introduce the creed of that denomination, said, "Those that subscribed to the creed
13
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
would be known and recognized as the regular Baptist Church of Pigeon Creek, those who would not, as Campbellites."
In 1807, Rev. Thomas Campbell emigrated to the United States (a member of the General Associate Synod of Scotland) and was received by the Presbytery of Chartiers. So zealous was he in the advocacy of the all-sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures designed ex- pressly for the edification and perfection of the Christian church, that he felt it to be his duty to remonstrate against the doctrines and commandments of men in the form of creeds, confessions, and cate- chisms, arguing therefrom that Protestant denominations had usurped more or less the forms, the teachings, and the preachings of the divinely commissioned apostles. This teaching was opposed by his co-presbyters, and on the 17th of August, 1809, a meeting was held on the head waters of Buffalo, in this county, in which a declaration and address of the Christian Association of Washington was adopted "for the sole purpose of promoting simple evangelical Christianity, free from all mixture of human opinions and inventions of men." In its declaration, this society "by no means considers itself a church, nor does it at all assume to itself the powers peculiar to such a society, nor do the members as such consider themselves as standing connected in that relation, nor as at all associated for the peculiar purposes of church association, but merely as voluntary advocates for church reformation. Notwithstanding these principles as announced in the declaration and address, we find here, on the 4th day of May, 1811, organized a number of those who belonged to the (Buffalo) Christian Association, into a church with no other creed but the Bible.
While upon this subject, we may remark that at a meeting of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church, held October 4, 1810, Rev. Thomas Campbell, formerly a member of the Associate Synod, but representing himself as a member of the Christian Association of Washington, applied to be taken into Christian ministerial standing. The records show that Rev. Mr. Campbell was heard at length, but the Synod unanimously resolved that however specious the plan of the Christian Association, and however seducing its professions, as experience of the effects of similar projects in other parts has evinced their baleful tendency and destructive operations on the whole in- terests of religion by promoting divisions instead of union, by de- grading the ministerial character, by providing free admission to any errors in doctrine, and to any corruptions in discipline, whilst a nominal approbation of the Scriptures as the only standard of truth may be professed, the synod are constrained to disapprove the plan and its natural effects. It was also resolved that Rev. Mr. Camp- bell's request to be received into ministerial and Christian communion cannot be granted. . The Synod's disapprobation was not on account of moral character, but on account of his peculiar views, as being inconsistent with the standards of the Presbyterian church.
Afterwards Rev. Thomas Campbell sought to persuade his breth- ren to a stricter observance of the literal teachings of the New
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Testament. Meeting, therefore, with opposition, and being driven to a closer examination of the Scriptures, he continued to impart the light which dawned upon his own mind to his hearers, and following out their own convictions they soon found themselves drifting away, not only from church standard, but from every other organization built upon what they styled a human platform. He found all his proposals to his Presbyterian friends as embodied in the Buffalo de- claration and address rejected, and himself and friends cut off from all church privileges, hence they sought a closer union to Christ, by announcing that they believed that the primitive apostolic mode of worship could be attained without the embittered feelings of selfish- ness engendered by sectarian strife. Consequently, on the 4th of May, 1811, a number of those who had belonged to the Christian associ- ation were organized into a church with no other creed but the Bible.
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