USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 51
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 51
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THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
Gray, of Easton ; and F. A. Strale. Each of these took part in the exercises, Mr. Gray delivering the address. A copy of the paper deposited in the corner- stone is preserved, whielt gives in detail the whole proceeding of this most interesting occasion. Wil- liam Holdridge, of Rensselaerville, N. Y., was the architeet, and the honse was finished in the latter part of December, 1830. It was dedicated to the Triune God on the first Sabbath, the 2d day of Jan- uary, 1831, by appropriate serviees. Mr. Heberton preached the sermon from 1 Kings viii. 28th, 29th, and 30th verses.
About the time that the house was finished Mr. Strale's connection with the enterprise ceased. The Presbyterian Church had not yet been constituted, and the first organization that found a home within the walls of the new building was the Sunday-school.
A meeting was soon convened to inaugurate the building of the spiritual house. The following is a copy of the minutes of that assembly :
" At a meeting of the citizens who have contributed to the erection of the English Church, convened the sixteenth day of February, 1831. at the office of Mr. Runk, on motion, Mr. Charles Davis was chosen Chairman and Mr. John D. Roney appointed Secretary.
" Whereupon, on motion, it was
" Resolred, That the Rev. Mr. Heberton be invited to take charge of the First English Presbyterian Church in this borough, for the term of seven years, leaving it at his option to remain that length of time, or not, ns he shall think proper; nud that Messrs. Runk and Davis be a Committee to call upon the citizens to ascertain how mitch they would be willing to contribute toward the support of Mr. leberton; and to forward to Mr. Heberton a copy of the foregoing resolutions, and to confer with him generally in relation to his call."
Mr. Heberton immediately accepted this eall upon a salary of two hundred dollars, and began his labor as the first settled Presbyterian minister in Allentown in April 1, 1831.
On Friday, Sept. 30, 1831, the Rev. Alexander Heberton and James Kennedy, an elder in the church at " The Settlement" in Allen township, convened in the session-room, with others, for the purpose of con- stituting a Presbyterian Church. Five persons were received on examination and profession of faith, and three by certificate, and these were constituted a church under the title, " The First Presbyterian Church in Northampton." The names of these tirst members are as follows : On examination, Mrs. Lydia Roney, Mrs. Ellen Davis, Miss Sarah Marks, Miss Rachel Engle, and Mr. Charles Davis; on certifieate, Mrs. Elizabeth Heberton, Miss Catherine De Berthold, Miss Sarah De Berthold.
On Sunday, October 2d, the Lord's Supper was first observed in this church. The next day, October 3d, the church thus organized convened and elected Charles Davis as ruling elder, and at the same time he was duly ordained and installed by Mr. Heberton. The church was under the care of the Presbytery af Newton.
region. Some churches were far from being favorable to those revivals at that time, which are now using similar means and receiving like accessions. Mr. Heberton received, during his ministry of two and a half years here, eighteen members, one of whom, the Rev. Andrew Tully, became a successful minister of the gospel. Mr. Heberton left here in August, 1833, and now (1881) resides in Philadelphia. He was the father of this church, and is remembered with great respeet by all who knew him.
He was immediately succeeded, on Sept. 1, 1833, by the Rev. Joseph MeCool, who was regularly called by a congregational meeting on the 30th of the same month. Mr. MeCool remained here until August, 1835. The subscription for his support, dated Dee. 10, 1834, amounts to $312.12, to be paid annually. During his ministry the first sexton, John Mason, was appointed.
After a short vacancy the pulpit was again supplied during the winter of 1835-36, for six months, by the Rev. Moses Floyd, and was then for about the same length of time without any regular occupant.
On the 9th of October, 1836, at the invitation of the congregation, the Rev. Jacob Helfenstein came, as its temporary supply, from the First Free Presby- terian Church of New York. His ministry here marked an epoch in the history of this church. Dr. Helfenstein's preaching was characterized by a clear and forcible exhibition of the leading truths of the Bible. During Dr. Helfenstein's time infidelity as- sumed considerable strength, and frequent meetings were held at "Free Hall," but nevertheless many persons were added to the Presbyterian and other churches. When Dr. Helfenstein returned to his former charge, Sept. 3, 1837, an effort was made to procure the services of the Rev. Dr. John C. Guldin, of the German Reformed body, which were to be divided between this church and the Reformed Church at Lower Saucon, but the arrangement was not effected. After Sept. 3, 1837, the church was supplied for about two months by Rev. J. M. Bear. In the winter of 1837-38, the Rev. Jacob T. Field supplied this pulpit. He had been before this a suppdy of the churches of Stroudsburg and Shawnee, in Monroe County. Two persons united with the church while he was here, and he left in the latter part of March, 1838. He was afterward installed as pastor in Stronds- burg and Shawnee, in Monroe County, June 26, 1838. lle died May 17, 1866, and was buried at Shawnee.
It was during this year, 1838, that the relations of this church were changed from the Presbytery of Newton to the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia. | The year 1838 was marked by other changes. A great wave of commercial disaster had just rolled over the country, embarrassing the wisest financiers, and this church had its share of the general trouble. Its house of worship was inconvenient and nnattractive, with its audience-room in the second story, and only
Iu the fall and winter of 1832 the first protracted meeting in this place was held, and was attended by many conversions. It was the first revival in this forty by fifty feet in size, while the whole was badly
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
built. For several reasons it was deemed advisable to build another. A better location was selected, and the body of the present building was therefore erected in 1838, and the old house passed into the use of the school authorities of the town. The corner-stone of this second building was laid with appropriate cere- mony by Charles Davis, Esq., on Saturday, July 28, 1838, at ten o'clock A.M. A large audience was pres- ent, and an excellent address delivered by the Rev. William Sterling, then of Reading. The trustees then were C. Davis, Joseph Gross, Isare Erdman, John Rice, and J. Jameson.
The new house was dedicated to the worship of the triune God on Sunday, Dec. 30, 1838. The services were conducted by Revs. Robert Adair and John L. Grant, D.D., of Philadelphia. The sermon was preached by Dr. Grant, and service was continued for several days. A bell, weighing two hundred and sixty pounds, said to have been used in Spain, was hung in the tower, and was used there for eighteen years. It was sold in 1856 to the church in Cedarville, where until recently it ealled the people to worship.
It was near to twelve o'clock on Saturday night before the dedication that the ladies succeeded in arranging the carpets and other furniture of the new church. At that late hour Mr. Rice was anxious and undecided as to which side of the house the females should occupy, and he consulted Dr. Grant, who re- plied, " Let them sit on both sides with their hus- bands, brothers, and friends." Mr. Rice insisted that that would not answer ; it would give rise to scandal, was contrary to custom, ete. Dr. Grant insisted that the old custom was heathenish, unchristian, and finally refused to have anything to do with the dedi- cation if the fentales were seated together only on one side of the house. With fear and reluctance Mr. Rice yielded, and from that day the custom began to pass away, and now it is no more improper for the sexes to sit togetlier in church than at their own tables at home.
In April, 1839, the Rev. Robert W. Landis became the stated supply of the church, and in June of that year the renting of the pews was adopted, Mr. Landis continued here three years, and preached with much ability and success. Forty-five persons were added to the church during the ministry of Mr. Landis here. This was the third revival in this ehreli.
In December, 1839, Charles Davis, the only elder in this church for eight years, and its principal sup- porter, removed with his family to Reading. His loss here was deeply felt, and not less was the loss of the wisdom and efficiency of his excellent wife. For nearly four months after the removal of Mr. Davis, the church was without any ruling elders. On the 8th of April, 1840, Isare Erdman and James Jame- son were elected by the church, and duly ordained and installed by the pastor. Mr. Landis left in the spring of 1842, and on April 1st of that year the Rev. I
Richard Walker began his work as pastor, and in the first twenty months of his services sixty persons joined the church. He was regularly installed by the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia in May, 1844.
The financial affairs of the congregation in the winter of 1844-45 were very unpromising. For a short time in 1845, during the summer, the trustees had lost control of the house, and the congregation met in the Odd-Fellows' Hall for the first time on April 6, 1845, and on July 6th, the same year, re- turned to the church. There was a debt on the prop- erty of more than six thousand dollars, which Mr. Walker was largely instrumental 'in raising. A new board of trustees was elected June 30, 1845, consist- ing of John S. Gibbons, Henry King, and Richard Walker. Mr. Walker spent some six weeks in Phila- delphia and other parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, in going from church to church and house to house collecting funds.
It became necessary by the removal of Messrs. Erdman and Jameson to Reading to elect other ruling elders, and accordingly on Oct. 3, 1845, John Romig, M.D., William S. Young, and Charles Eckert were elected to be ruling elders, and on Sunday, November 16th, were duly ordained. These, with the pastor, constituted the session for twenty-seven years, up to 1872. The ruling elders of this church up to that date had all been the spiritual children of this church, and with filial love, sincerity, faithfulness, wisdom, and prayer they watched and guided her religious affairs.
The Sabbath-school was large and efficient, and a demand existed for better and extended accommo- dations. Hence, in 1855, the present chapel was built, and the recess in the east end of the church made for the pulpit, which before had been in the west end between the doors. The seats were taken from the church and put in the chapel, and new seats were put in the church. While these things were being done the congregation worshiped in the Methodist Church, but occupied the chapel as soon as it was completed. On Feb. 4, 1856, a charter of incorpor- ation for this church was granted by the court. During the following summer, 1856, an extension was added to the front of the church, comprising the present vestibule, choir, and tower. The old Spanish bell was disposed of, as before stated, and one of Me- neely's celebrated bells, of much greater weight, was placed in the tower. The walls of the audience-room were also elaborately frescoed. Mr. Walker's ministry here continued sixteen years and nine months, during which one hundred and forty-five members were added to the church, and ouly twenty-five of them by certificate. He resigned his pastorate Dec. 16, 1858. He still resides in Allentown, and preached several years at Alburtis, in Lock Ridge Church. After a vacancy of two months and a half, the Rev. Benjamin Judkins began to preach Here on March 6, 1859. On the 1st of the following May he was in-
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THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
stalled as pastor. The Rev. Dr. Brainerd, of Phila- delphia, preached the sermon, and Rev. Cornelius Earle, of Catasauqua, gave the charge to the pastor. Twenty-six were added to the church by profession and ten by certificate during his ministry. His pas- toral relation was dissolved Oct. 14, 1862, after a service of three and a half years.
In the following November, 1862, the Rev. Samuel McClellan Gould became the stated supply, and labored here about seventeen months, leaving in the spring of 1864. The Rev. William II. Thorne, then a licentiate, immediately succeeded, and was soon after ordained and installed. Mr. Thorne's introduc- tion of partisan politics in the pulpit greatly dis- traeted and rent the church. Several improvements were, however, made upon the property of the con- gregation. The walls and freseo-work, having been damaged by water, were repainted, and an excellent slate roof was laid over the whole church, through the liberality of Samuel Lewis, Esq. At Mr. Thorne's request the pastoral relation was dissolved by Pres- bytery at its meeting in April, 1865.
On the 23d of April, 1865, the present pastor, Rev. James W. Wood, preached his first sermon in this church. He had been pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Chester, Orange Co., N. Y., seventeen years, and left that church October 1, 1862. Mr. Wood was installed as pastor on the evening of Oct. 25, 1865, by order of the Fourth Presbytery of Phila- delphia. The Rev. Robert Adair presided, preached the sermon, and put the constitutional questions. Rev. Richard Walker, formerly pastor of the church, gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Cornelius Earle, of Catasauqua, charged the people. Under Mr. Wood's ministry many persons have joined the church, and improvements of the house of worship have kept apace with the growth of the church spirit- ually.
At a meeting of the church July 17, 1872, an addi- tion of four elders was made by clection to the session. The session had consisted of but two elders since the resignation of Dr. John Romig, on the 15th of Feb- ruary, 1sos. This election resulted in the choice of Dr. John Romig, James P. Barnes, Peter Smith, and Alfred J. Breinig. The last three brethren were or- dained and the whole four installed on Aug. 18, 1872.
An undenominational Sunday-school was begun in this place either in 1819 or 1821. That it was in ex- istence and operation in the last-named year there is indubitable evidence. Mrs. Isabella MeKeen, of Easton, taught a day-school in Allentown in that year, and in June visited Easton. The Bachelors' Club, in Easton, made the following record of that visit: "June 21, 1821. Pro Bono. Mrs. Isabella McKeen arrived from Allentown. We are happy to hear of the advancement that Allentown is making towards civilization. She states that the Sunday- school is in the full tide of success." The records of the above club were, published in the Free Press of
Easton, in the issue of Jan. 19, 1869, and in other numbers, The date of 1821 is also corroborated by some of the older people now living.
Whichever of the two was the exact time, all agree that Miss Elizabeth Baum, of Reading, was the prin- cipal mover, assisted by Mrs. MeKeen, and in 1824, at least, was joined by' Charles Davis, Esq., an at- torney-at-law, and his excellent wife. It was wholly undenominational. It was kept in operation for sev- eral years only, from April to October, and was there- fore reorganized each spring. In a minute left by Mr. Davis, he says of June 1. 1828, "School organized in the academy ; L. F. Leake, minister; teachers, Mrs. Davis, Miss Boas, Mrs. Hyneman, and Miss Hyneman. Scholars, nineteen." The school was first started in the court-house, and from its meeting in the academy we inter that it had no abiding-place until it moved into the basement of the Presbyterian Church. It was a new enterprise, and the churches in town were not at first prepared to adopt it.
Immediately after the dedication of the First Pres- byterian house of worship, Jan. 2, 1831, the Sunday- school occupied the building. This was nine months before the organization of the church. After that the school naturally took the Presbyterian name, and Mr. Davis, its superintendent, was elected a ruling elder in the church. In March, 1840, for the purpose of extending the influence of the school, a constitution was adopted in which the name of the school became "The Lehigh Sabbath-School Association," but in 1812 the constitution was altered, and the word " Lehigh" was expunged, and the name became " The Presby- terian Sabbath-School Association," and in 1858 the word " Association" was dropped. The officers and teachers of this school acted the part of pioneer mis- sionaries, and established the first Sabbath-school ever held at the Allentown Furnace, in Hanover, in Salisbury, and on the Lehigh Mountain. As poph- lation and churches increased, these enterprises passed into the hands of other denominations. In December, 1866, the present pastor began to preach once a month at Ballietsville, seven miles to the northwest of Allentown, under the auspices of the Ironton Mining Company, of which Gen. Robert MacAllister, a member of this church, is the general superintend- ent and manager, and a Sunday-school was established there subsequently.
History of the Churches of the Evangelical As- sociation in the City of Allentown.1-1. SALEM'S Cuuren (on Linden Street above Ninth ) .- The first ministers of this denomination who preached in Allentown were Rev. Joseph M. Saylor, who is still living and at present resides in Reading, Pa., and Rev. Jacob Riegel, in 1835. Mr. Joshua Fink was their first convert; however, the opposition and per- secution of this "new sect" was so great that the services, which had been held in a private house,
1 By Bishop Thomas Bowman.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
were abandoned, and Fink was compelled to re- move to Cedar Creek, four miles from the city, where a society had been gathered, in order to have an op- portunity to earn his daily bread. In 1837, Bishop Jolm Seybert and Rev. J. Altemose preached on the market-place, as they could find room nowhere else. Soon afterwards Rev. Charles Hesser, stationed in Philadelphia, visited the city and was allowed to preach in the Presbyterian Church. Soon afterwards Rev. Francis Hoffman, at present stationed in Tre- mont, Schuylkill Co., Pa., organized the first society. In the spring of 1838 this society commenced the erection of a church on the corner of Ninth and Linden Streets. This building is now occupied as a private dwelling. This church was dedicated by the Revs. Hesser and Hoffman on the 26th of November, 1838. The congregation was served by various pastors down to the year 1856 in connection with various country congregations ; in that year, however, the Annual Conference detached all the country ap- pointments, and stationed Rev. John Schell with the city congregation. At this time the society numbered one hundred and sixty-six members.
In 1857 the church in which the congregation now worships was erected. The corner-stone was laid in the spring of that year, and the church was dedicated in the fall by Revs. S. Neitz and J. Breidenstein. The following clergymen have been stationed in this church, in the order mentioned, since 1856: Rev. William Heim, S. G. Rhoads, Thomas Bowman, now one of the bishops of the Evangelical Association, John Koehl, John Schell for a second term, Moses Dissinger, C. H. Baker, Moses Dissinger for a second term, Joseph Stoeltzer, C. B. Flichr, R. M. Lichten- wallner, Daniel Yuengst, H. R. Yost, and B. F. Bohner, the present pastor. The present member- ship is three hundred and seventy-five, and the Sun- day-school numbers three hundred and seventy-five scholars with a proportionate number of teachers and officers.
2. IMMANUEL CHURCH (on Turner Street below Second) .- The first class in what is known as the First Ward of Allentown was organized in 1850 with eighteen members, William Egge and William Tran- sne serving as leaders, however, attending public wor- ship in the Salem Church. In 1853 a chapel, thirty- six by forty-five, was built, Nathan Yohe, William Barr, and Jacob Nagle serving as trustees and build- ing committee. The society remained in connection with the congregation on Linden Street, being served by the same pastors who officiated here in the after- noon of every Lord's day. In 1864, however, it was detached from the old society and organized into a separate congregation. In 1870 the chapel was sokl, and the present church building erected at a cost of eight thousand dollars. For several years the congre- gation struggled under the burden of a heavy debt which at times seemed too heavy to be successfully carried ; however, during the term of service of Rev.
W. K. Wiand, this debt was entirely liquidated. Since its organization as a separate society the fol- lowing ministers have served as pastor : Revs. Eph- raim Ely, Solomon Ely, under whose supervision the present church was built, R. M. Lichtenwallner, C. HI. Baker, D. Z. Kemble, W. K. Wiand, and J. C. Bliem. The present' membership is two hundred and thirty-two, and the Sunday-school numbers three hun- dred and sixty-fonr.
3. EBENEZER CHURCH (on Turner Street below Seventh) .- The East Pennsylvania Conference, at its annnal session in the spring of 1868, located an English mission in Allentown, its work in this city heretofore being exclusively German. Twenty-one members of the Salem Church united with the mission and were organized into a society by Rev. S. S. Chubb, who had been appointed as pastor. Steps were immedi- ately taken to build a church, the following persons being appointed as a building committee: Perry Wannemacher, M. B. Schaadt, and Henry S. Weaver. The church was completed in October of the same year and dedicated by Rev. Thomas Bowman. The first trustees were M. B. Schaadt, P. Wannentacher, II. S. Weaver, George H. Good, and W. F. Christ- man. The Sunday-school was organized immediately after the church was dedicated on Oct. 18, 1868, and P. Wannemacher elected superintendent. The fol- lowing clergymen have served as pastors : Revs. S. S. Chubb, J. G. Sands, J. N. Metzgar, J. O. Lehr, B. J. Smoyer, B. D. Albright, James Bowman, J. A. Fegar.
The present membership is three hundred and five, and the Sunday-school numbers four hundred and fifty.
NORTH ALLENTOWN MISSION (on Liberty Street above Eighth) .- The East Pennsylvania Conference at its annual session, held in the city of Allentown in 1874, located this mission, and appointed Rev. John Shell as its first missionary, and also appointed Revs. J. Shell, Joseph M. Saylor, C. B. Flichr, J. O. Lehr, and Mr. Owen Swartz, a committee to secure a lot and build a church. The location above named was selected, and building commenced immediately. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Reuben Yeakel, and the church formally dedicated on the 24th of Janu- ary, 1875, by Rev. S. Neitz, The Sunday-school was organized some time later, Alfred Bernhart being its superintendent. Rev. John Shell was reappointed as pastor in 1875, but was called from labor to reward towards the close of the Conference year. The fol- lowing ministers served as pastors in the order named since the death of Mr. Shell : Revs. Jesse Laros, B. H. Miller, and Joseph Specht.
Baptist Church.1-Tuesday evening, Sept. 21, 1858, John A. Schulte, from the First German Baptist Church, New York, Emmanuel G. Gerhard, of the
1 From a sketch published in the minutes of The Reading Baptist Association, 1882.
THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
209
Tenth Baptist Church, Philadelphia, and Elizabeth com, an evangelist, was invited to labor with the C. Evans, of the Second Baptist Church, Philadel- : church, and April 27th a call was extended to him to phia, bearing letters of dismission from their several the pastorate for one year. It was accepted, with the I understanding that he, Balcom, should be at liberty to make evangelistie tours as opportunity should offer. Ile found the church with fifteen members, and left it, July 19, 1864, with thirty-three. Just before his resignation, prompted by a gift of five hundred dol- lars from the liberal hand of Deacon William Ilaw- kins, of the Second Baptist Church, Philadelphia, and another of one hundred dollars from Hon. S. A. Bridges, of Allentown, the church procured a charter, and purchased a lot at the corner of Sixth and Chew Streets, ninety-eight by one hundred and fifteen feet, at a cost of fifteen hundred and sixty-eight dollars. July 4, 1864, Messrs. Evans, Hoxworth, and Roth were appointed a building committee, and were au- thorized to expeud three thousand dollars toward the erection of a meeting-house. September 6th the cor- churches, united in fellowship to constitute the Allen- town Baptist Church. This first meeting of the in- fant church was held in Breinig's Hall, Rev. Dr. Catheart presiding. E. G. Gerhard was chosen clerk, the Philadelphia Confession of Faith was adopted, and the meeting adjourned. The three persons em- barking ou this enterprise were natives of Germany, England, and America. October 3d, of the same year, Justus Evans, William J. Hoxworth, Catharine A. Hoxworth, and Mary Barnes were baptized in Jordan Creek, just above Hamilton Street bridge, by Dr. Catheart. The energetie pastor of the Second Bap- tist Church, Philadelphia, preached a stirring sermon on baptism to a crowded audience in the court-house, after which, in large procession, the Baptist company leading the way, they marched to the river, singing as they went. Thousands were present, lining the banks of the stream, filling the meadow, crowding the old stone bridge, gathered from Allentown and all the region round about. A few weeks later Black- ford Barnes was received on experience, and Anna D. Slemnier by letter.
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