USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 10
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1 See Brumbaugh's "History," p. 509.
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108
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
When in 1817 it came to the question of building a meeting- house in Philadelphia, the members in Philadelphia held council meetings, seemingly apart from the members at Ger- mantown, kept minutes, and appointed a treasurer. But it does not appear that this meant more than permission from the general Germantown congregation to the members in Philadelphia to go ahead for themselves in the matter of erecting a convenient house of worship for themselves and for the purpose of extending the borders of Zion; in other words that Philadelphia was at this time anything more than a mission of the Germantown church. But congregational lines, both from the point of view of territory and of organi- zation, were not so sharply drawn in those days. A gen- eral oneness with Germantown, however, seems to have been recognized till after 1860.
For a local history of the church in Philadelphia all the minutes recorded relative to building the Crown Street church would be in place, but for the history of the church in Eastern Pennsylvania, only an abridged form is in place.
" NEW CHURCH ON CROWN STREET.
" Minutes of the First Meeting Held in regard to Building a Church in Philadelphia.
"At a meeting of the subscribers and contributors for pur- chasing a lot of ground, and building a meeting-house for the use of the Church of Christ in Philadelphia (commonly called German Baptist) held March 19, 1817, for the purpose of con- sidering the expediency of progressing in the undertaking. When after hearing the report of the Funding Committee, stat- ing that nearly Five Thousand Dollars are already subscribed, and considerably more is calculated on, it was resolved unani- mously that it is expedient to proceed in the undertaking. Whereupon James Lynd, George Gorgas, Jacob Ziegler, James Gorgas, and John Rink, were appointed a committee to procure a lot of ground suitable for the purpose, and report at our next meeting.
" Adjourned."
If the heading of these minutes is to be taken strictly, that this was the " first meeting " relative to this project held
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THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCHES.
in Philadelphia, then the " Funding Committee " mentioned in the Minutes must have been appointed at a council held in Germantown, and the claim that the Philadelphia organi- zation was effected in 1813, seems without foundation.
Five days later, March 24, the Philadelphia Brethren again met in council. The committee for procuring a lot of ground reported that they had purchased " from Jesse Still- waggon a lot of ground situated between Crown and Fourth streets, a little south of Callowhill Street, 45 ft. front on Crown Street, and running that breadth to Fourth Street, say from between 75 and 86 feet deep, for Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars."
It was unanimously agreed that it is expedient to proceed without delay to the collection of the subscriptions, or so much of them, as to enable the lot committee to meet their engagements with Jesse Stillwaggon. After considering the matter it was deemed expedient to appoint a treasurer to receive the amounts collected from time to time. James Lynd was the unanimous choice of the meeting.
It was deemed expedient also to appoint trustees, to whom the lot of ground might be conveyed in trust. The trus- tees appointed were : Peter Keyser, Jacob Ziegler, Sr., James Lynd, John Heisler, John Fox, Jacob Ziegler, Jr., Chris- tian Lehman, George Gorgas, Joseph Gorgas, Christopher S. Langstroth, Michael Keyser, and John Leibert-twelve in all.
A Building Committee was also appointed at this second council meeting of March 24, which consisted of the fol- lowing persons: Jacob Ziegler, Sr., James Lynd, George Gorgas, John Heisler, James Gorgas, Peter Keyser and John Rink-seven in all.
Cost of materials and what different contractors and busi- ness men contributed is mentioned in the minutes. There is however no mention of the cost of lumber. Inasmuch as Peter Keyser was a lumber merchant, we shall take the lib- erty to conjecture that he furnished the lumber free, and that he had learned how to keep the doings of his right hand from the knowledge of his left.
There was a gallery in the church, built after the pattern
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
of the one in the Friend's Meeting-house on 12th Street. The meeting-house was dedicated on October 12, 1817.2
How many members lived in Philadelphia at the time of the building of the Crown St. meeting-house we have not learned. Those whose names are given in the preceding pages were certainly at least the most prominent ones, and may have constituted a large percentage of the male mem- bers. Peter Keyser was the preacher living in Philadelphia. He was elected already in 1788
The first minister elected in Philadelphia after the erec- tion of the church on Crown St., which election was held April 2, 1826, proves conclusively that at that date yet, Philadelphia and Germantown were one congregation. The church record of this election is as follows :
"At a church meeting held in Germantown, April 2; 1826, all the members present; our Brother Timothy Bangor was duly acknowledged and approved as a minister of the Gospel in the church of German Baptist. And on the following Sabbath evening, the church in Philadelphia, in convention ratified the proceedings of the Church at Germantown, and acknowledged and approved in like manner Timothy Bangor as a minister and helper in the Gospel of Christ.
" Signed on behalf of the church. PETER KEYSER, Sec'y."
On October 12, of this same year in which Timothy Ban- gor was made a minister, the first love-feast was held in Philadelphia. From now on Philadelphia had the spring feast, with the exceptions of 1834 and 1843, when both were again held in Germantown.
Sometimes the Philadelphia feast was omitted altogether. In 1858 Philadelphia for the first time had both a spring and an autumn feast. This however was only an excep- tion, and did not occur again until 1866. After 1867 we find the feast in Germantown neglected. The first com- munion service in the new church on Marshall Street was held October 9, 1873.
2 Elder Peter Keyser preached three sermons on that day, from He- brews 9: 1-5; Luke 19: 46; and Acts 26: 22, 23. The meetings were largely attended. On March 5, 1818, Elder Keyser presented to the congregation a beautiful pulpit Bible. Brumbaugh's "History," p. 509.
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THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCHES.
The first fruits of the new church were Christian Flower and Catherine Evans, baptized on Easter day, April 6, 1817, by Peter Keyser. Catherine Evans became one of the saintly characters of the Philadelphia church. "Her works follow her in the living members she brought into the fold by her religious ministrations, who are endeavoring to walk in the footsteps of her holy example."
Not very much is recorded of the Philadelphia church from 1817 to 1854, or to about the time that Dr. Henry Geiger was elected to the ministry. . Some church officers were elected in this interval. John Righter and Thomas Major were elected to the ministry, November 18, 1841, in the Crown St. meeting-house, the former receiving twenty- nine votes and the latter twenty-seven. They were likely the first ministers elected in Philadelphia, for while Tim- othy Bangor was received here, he was elected in German- town. James Lynd and John Heisler are on the list of Philadelphia preachers, following Peter Keyser and com- ing in before Timothy Bangor, but these two were likely also elected at Germantown. John Fox was "elected elder," September 28, 1844. But, as in New Jersey, the terms elder and preacher seem to have been synonymous. John Fox was ordained to the eldership in the regular order of the Brethren, November 16, 1867.
On May 4, 1854, two more ministers were elected: Dr. Henry Geiger, who received thirty-one votes, and David Harley, who received twenty-five. Christian Custer was elected December 24, 1861. Had the old custom of receiv- ing the one with the next highest number of votes prevailed when these votes nearly equalled the first choice, there would have been another dual election, for Jonathan Eisenhower had thirty-three votes to Custer's thirty-six. The last elec- tion from the membership of the Philadelphia church was the one held on the removal of Elder J. P. Hetric in 1882, when Joel Reiner, son of Elder Jacob, of Pine Run, was the choice. These last two elections made a lot of trouble for the Philadelphia church.
A very interesting entry is found in the books of the Phil- adelphia church, which is herewith copied :
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
"Names of Elders of the German Baptist Church in Ger- mantown and Philadelphia from the year 1793 down to this date, February 22, 1865.
Alexander Mack
James Lynd
Philip Weaver
John Heisler
Peter Leibert
John W. Price
Thomas Langstroth
John Righter
Charles Hubbs
Thomas Major
Justus Fox
Sara Righter John Fox
John Weaver
Peter Keyser
Amos Crowell
John Sellars
Henry Geiger
Peter Bruster
David Harley
John Van Lashett
Christian Custer
Timothy Bangor
" I have heard all these Brethren preach,
"Your Brother in the Lord, " JOHN Fox, Elder."
There were also some deacons chosen during this period :
I. Peter K. Gorgas, elected January 13, 1842.
2. John Fox, elected January 13, 1842.
3. John Goodyear, elected February 23, 1858.
4. Christian Custer, elected February 23, 1858.
5. John Fry, elected January 31, 1863.
6. Isaiah G. Harley, elected January 31, 1863. We now come to what might be called
The Constitutional Period
of the Philadelphia church-a period of reorganization, of readjustments to meet changing conditions, a period of transition from the old-time church preachers to the modern pastorate. During this time the Sunday School gained ad- mission. The church began keeping regular, systematic records. Poor funds were developed. The Trustees were organized. The church was incorporated as a legal body with a corporate seal. The struggle was begun for the de- velopment of a church edifice that would properly house her manifold activities. And she formulated a constitution.
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THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCHES.
This period we may say in a general way extended from 1850 to 1870, from the death of the old founder, Peter Keyser, to the coming of J. P. Hetric, the first pastor. And yet this evolution was felt before and after these dates.
The Church Property.
In a meeting on January 15, 1850, the surviving trus- tees were empowered "to remove the discrepancy between the deed and the article of agreement " (whatever this was), and the following new Board was elected, to whom the sur- viving trustees of the original deed were authorized to con- vey the legal title now standing in their name. The second Board of Trustees, elected on the motion of John Fox, was as follows :
I. John Righter,
2. John Fox, only old trus- tee,
3. Joseph E. McIlhenny,
4. John Hagey,
5. John Harley,
6. John Dismant,
7. John Goodyear,
8. George H. Spencer,
9. Jacob Harley,
IO. Benjamin Lehman,
II. Peter K. Gorgas,
12. James Lynd, Jr.
A meeting was called February 20, 1862, in the meeting- house, for the purpose of taking into consideration the in- corporation of the property belonging to the said German Baptist Church, located on Crown Street, below Callowhill, east side. Thirty members were present, the names of all of whom are given in the minutes. Bro. Geiger read the legal writings drawn up for the above named purpose, in which the following named persons were named as Trustees :
I. John Fox,
7. Isaiah G. Harley,
2. Stephen Benton,
8. Jacob Harley,
3. James Lynd,
9. Joseph A. Price,
4. Henry Geiger, 10. Samuel Hershey,
5. John Goodyear, II. John Fry,
6. Jonathan Eisenhower, 12. John Hagey.
The act of incorporation as read was unanimously adopted.
9
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
At this same meeting, on Bro. Fox's own motion, a com- mittee was appointed to examine the church books, city bonds or loans, etc., in his possession, for the purpose of having them transferred to Bro. Goodyear. This matter involves the poor fund, which we shall consider later.
" PETITION TO THE COURT FOR INCORPORATION.
"To the Honorable, the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia.
" The Subscribers, citizens of the State of Pennsylvania have agreed to associate themselves for the purpose set forth in the annexed Article, Constitution of the Society of the Church of Christ (worshipping in Crown Street, city of Philadelphia) commonly called German Baptists, and are desirous of acquir- ing and enjoying, in accordance with the articles, conditions and objects, and under the name, style and title in said annexed articles, set forth the powers and immunities of a corporation and body politic in law, and they pray that your Honors may examine the said articles, and if the objects and conditions therein shall appear lawful and not injurious to the Community, may direct the same to be filed in the office of the prothonotary of the Court aforesaid and also direct the necessary advertise- ment of this application.
"And as in honor bound your petitioners will ever pray, etc. (Signed)
" JOSEPH A. PRICE SAMUEL HERSHEY
JACOB HARLEY JOHN FOX
JAMES LYND HENRY GEIGER
ISAIAH G. HARLEY
JONATHAN EISENHOWER
JOHN HAGEY JOHN FRY
JOHN GOODYEAR "
The trustees figured very prominently in this work, as much as to call forth protest. A meeting was held July 5. 1864, to reconsider the Constitution and By-Laws. Bro. Custer objected to Art. III, Sec. 2, on the ground that too much power was vested in the trustees, and thought that the word "Church" should be substituted in place of " Trustees." No motion was made to this effect, but the protest went on the minutes.
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THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCHES.
It seems that a Constitution is necessary to present to the Civil Court in order that the church may be recognized as a corporate body in law. It, therefore, has to do with the temporal side of church work, and rightly falls within the sphere of the Trustees. The entering of the protest on the Minutes seems to indicate that the church recognized the danger of the Trustees feeling their power, to being led to usurp authority in the church not belonging to them, but not recognizing any such usurpation as having taken place. The Church in her spiritual functions is above, not subject to Civil Courts, but where she has dealings in the affairs of this life, she recognizes the Civil Courts as of God to look after these matters, and submits to their regulations in matters temporal. The submission of such a Constitution is not to be interpreted as the Church subscribing to a con- fession or Creed. The creed of the Church of the Brethren is as always the New Testament.
On May 25, 1864, the Board of Trustees met and organ- ized as follows: President, Jonathan Eisenhower; Secre- tary, I. G. Harley; Treasurer, John Goodyear. Two days later, on May 27, Samuel Hershey resigned his trusteeship and his membership in the church. Silas Thomas was elected in his place.
A motion is recorded, made likely about this time, the mover being Elder Jacob Spanogle, as follows : " Resolved, that the Society of the church of Christ commonly called German Baptist adopt a corporate seal for the use and pur- pose of said Society, and that we hereby adopt a said cor- porate seal, one of which the following is a true and correct impress."
The first annual meeting of the Trustees was held Jan. 30, 1865. At this meeting it was decided to repair the church, repairs consisted of "painting and fixing up," cost $347.35.
To the Trustees is the credit also due of getting the church to keep regular minutes. The following written report was submitted on the date of the above meeting. The report speaks for itself.
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
" PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 30, 1865.
"TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF THE GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
" Dear Brethren :- Being instructed by the Board of Trustees, at a meeting held May 25, 1864, to purchase a Book for the use of the German Baptist Church, and to record therein the Act of Incorporation, By-Laws, and the Minutes of all meetings held from that date," etc.
The name of the person who secured the book is not given. It was likely I. G. Harley.
Jacob Harley is the first secretary of whom we have record. He served in 1854. Henry Geiger was secretary in 1856 and 1858; and Silas Thomas in 1864. But these seem to have been only appointments pro tem.
We find the treasurer's work also being gotten in shape. In 1865 the treasurer gave reports for several years back, for 1862, 1863 and 1864; also a report of poor funds since 1858. After 1864 he gave a regular annual report of all receipts and expenditures, and also separate annual reports of the poor funds. The total cost of running the church in 1862, including cost of light, heat, water, $150 interest on a mortgage, and $80 sexton's salary for eight months, amounted to $252.97. The next year it was $301.99. In the light of present day conditions, we may well call this the day of small things. But even this burden the mem- bers did not have to bear, the receipts being as follows:
Rents from lot and cellar ($150 and $60) $210.00
Contributions from R. Harley Fund
5.00
Quarterly Collections II.97
From ex-Treasurer John Fox 32.37
Total receipts $259.34
Notwithstanding the low cost of running the church, the congregation had been borrowing heavily from the poor funds. Surely the members had not been taught to give. No wonder that the windows of heaven had not been opened in blessings. The shortage in funds continued to increase; and in order to stimulate the members in giving, shortages for three years were read, being as follows : in 1864, $92.55;
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THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCHES.
in 1865, $213.54; in 1866, $395.84. It being recognized as illegal to use the poor funds, the following action was taken in a special meeting of Trustees at Bro. John Fry's, on the evening of January 28, 1867:
" Resolved, That the proceeds of the legacies to the Crown Street German Baptist Church, be appropriated and used alone for the purpose for which they were bequeathed-to the assistance of the Poor members of said church."
John Goodyear, John Fry and I. G. Harley were ap- pointed a committee to liquidate the debt. The board sug- gested, "that the present debt of the church be subscribed for and paid, that a permanent church fund be raised by quarterly or half yearly subscriptions, from each member of the church in such amounts as each member may feel able and willing to pay."
A meeting of the church was called to present the matter to the members, when it was decided to do away with the quarterly collection of Sunday morning, "and that each member subscribe in a book furnished by the deacons, what they may feel willing and able to give, and that it be pay- able half yearly, on the first of November and on the first of May in each and every year." It will thus be seen that the burden of financing the church devolved largely upon the trustees.
The personnel of the Board has been kept pretty well before us.
The following letter was received by the Board :
" PHILADELPHIA, May 18, 1865.
" MR. JONATHAN EISENHOWER, President of Board of Trustees of the German Baptist Church, Phila.
" Dear Sir,-I hereby tender my resignation as a member of the board over which you preside. Please have my resignation accepted and entered on the minutes of your transactions.
"H. GEIGER."
This resignation was accepted with no little reluctance. Dr. Geiger's influence for good as a trustee, as well as in other lines of church work, was considerable. George Spencer was elected in his place.
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
John Fox resigned as a trustee, February II, 1867, and Jacob Spanogle was elected in his place. Bro Spanogle was a preacher and had moved to Philadelphia a few years before.
Joseph Price having moved to Norristown, resigned as a trustee, July 26, 1869. Isaac Hunsberger was elected in his place.
February 13, 1871, John S. Thomas was elected a trus- tee in place of George H. Spencer, deceased.
Jacob Harley resigned as trustee, January 29, 1872. Christian Custer was elected to fill the vacancy. At the same time John Eisenhower resigned as chairman of the Board, and was succeeded by John S. Thomas.
The Poor Fund.
In the matter of funds for the poor the Philadelphia church holds an enviable position. Up to the end of the period of this congregation's history now under considera- tion, she had three-The Hannah Keyser Fund, the Rudolph K. Harley Fund, and the Christian Lapp Fund.
Hannah Keyser by her will left $1,000 as a poor fund, to the Germantown and Philadelphia churches. The interest was to be divided equally between the two churches and to be given to their poor and needy. The money was invested in City Loan at 6 per cent. By January 1, 1865, the in- come had amounted to $379.23. Of this amount $260.16 had been paid out, leaving a balance on hand of $119.07. The funds seem to be in care of the Philadelphia church, which pays Germantown her share.
Rudolph K. Harley bequeathed to the Philadelphia Church forty-two shares of Northern Liberty Gas Stock, $25 per share, making $1,050. John Fox originally had the care of it, but resigned in 1869. He was succeeded by I. G. Harley. The income from this fund up to October 5, 1864, was $994.12. $522.14 had been paid out, leaving a balance, January 1, 1865, of $471.98. $5 were given an- nually to defray expenses of the church. The Gas Stock paid very large dividends, but in 1865 was likely soon to be paid over to the church.
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THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCHES.
Christian Lapp Fund was originally $470.11. But with 6 per cent. interest by 1864 amounted to $656.23. Of this amount $512.50 were invested. The balance on hand, Jan- uary 1, 1865, was $143.73.
The total balance from the poor funds, January 1, 1865, was $642.33. As already stated the church had been in the habit of borrowing from this fund. Nearly $100 were due the poor fund on the preceding date. When the question of repairing the church came up before the Board of Trustees, May 22, 1865, the President stated that the poor fund could not be used and that the amount owed should be paid back. In 1858 the sole duty of the treasurer seemed to be disposing of the income from these funds.
The Philadelphia Sunday School.
The following account of the Philadelphia Sunday School is the one read at the meeting of the Brethren's His- torical Society at Harrisonburg, Va., in 1909. The infor- mation concerning its origin was received direct from Sister Mary Geiger of Philadelphia, the widow of its founder.
"Dr. Henry Geiger moved to Philadelphia in 1852. About two years later, in 1854, he was elected to the ministry. At this time no services were held on Sunday except preaching, morn- ing and evening. This was in the old Crown Street Church."
The Doctor refused to serve unless a Sunday School was organized. This stand brought the Sunday School, and brought it permanently. Dr. Geiger was elected superin- tendent.
During a trip east James Quinter was with the Philadel- phia church on Sunday, December 28, 1856. He says ::
" The Brethren here have a Sunday School; and on Sunday afternoon our talking was more particularly directed to the teachers and scholars. We were pleased with the interest mani- fested, and hope God will bless all concerned, and make them a blessing. Our meetings here were characterized by solemnity and attention. We felt, I think, that it was good to be together. There are zealous brethren and sisters in this church. And we hope God has blessings in store for them. We enjoyed our-
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
selves very well with our Christian friends here."-Gospel Visitor of 1857, pp. 57 and 58.
The Philadelphia school was purely Brethren at the start; the one at Coventry was union in origin, yet it was securely intrenched in the church with a brother as superintendent before the Philadelphia school was started, so it may rightly claim to be the older school. Many of our church enter- prises were started as individual concerns. If, however, the position be taken that that is not a Brethren school which was not purely one at the beginning, then to Dr. Geiger must be conceded the distinction of standing at the head of our Sunday School work. It would give us great pleas- ure to grant him the distinction, because of the indirect bless- ing he has been to the church. Dr. Geiger did the work of a surgeon in the Civil War. This not only brought an end to his preaching and Sunday School work, but cost him his membership. May the good he has done the church return to him in blessing!
The Philadelphia school was the first to receive notice in our church paper, so that its influence was doubtless more widespread and called into being more schools than did the Coventry school. James Quinter's visit was in mid-winter. He visited Coventry as well as Philadelphia. Coventry is in the country and her school had likely closed for the winter.
So much for the account to the Historical Society.
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