USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the sesqui-centennial of Paxtang Church, September 18, 1890 > Part 7
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On the 5th of July Rev. John H. Groff was released from his pastoral work, to devote his entire time to the work at Middletown, where he has since been laboring. This, in brief, is the history of the first Presbyterian church at Steelton, so far as the facts have been ob- tained by me. [Applause.]
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Moderator STEWART. That history ought to be com- pleted by saying that the Rev. Mr. McKeehan has been called, and accepted the call, and will probably be installed within a few weeks.
The Harrisburg Westminster church will be repre- sented by the Rev. George S. Duncan, who will now address us.
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ADDRESS OF REV. GEORGE S. DUNCAN.
Mr. MODERATOR AND FELLOW WORKERS FOR THE MASTER: This great gathering brings to our minds vividly the words of our Saviour about the mustard plant-from a tiny little seed a great tree comes forth. As we look back to-day over a century and a half, how wonderfully have our Saviour's words been fulfilled ; for, during these long years, good men and women planted the seed in the souls of men in this beauti- ful valley, until the increase, after one hundred and fifty years, has attained such magnificent proportions. And true, indeed, the church has been bearing seed which has been scattered far and wide in counties and in States the nation o'er. What a grand illustration this gives to us all, how the small things can become, and do, the the mighty and the great things; how seed planted in the name of the Master, may afterwards flourish and bring forth much fruit long after we have been gathered to our fathers. What a grand inspira- tion it gives us to go forth and do what we can, no matter how small the amount of work to be accom- plished, or whether we survive until the gleaning time. We are only to plant the seed, and it will become in due time a great tree.
I am to speak a brief word for a seed planted by Paxtang, viz: the Westminister seed in Harrisburg. In
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the year 1866 a little Sabbath-school was started in the northwestern part of that city, manned and governed chiefly by the Young Men's Association. The little Sabbath-school gathered impetus and strength year by year, until 1872, when it was thought desirable to put it under the care of Pine Street and Market Square. Those two churches felt also that some preaching should be provided for the people living in that sec- tion. So my beloved predecessor at Westminister, who is present to-day, the Rev. William A. West, was se- cured, and he labored there from 1872 until April of the present year. The little Sabbath-school organiza- tion was followed by a church organization in 1873; and steadily from that period, under his heroic and noble, and self-sacrificing work, the seed has grown there until to-day there are about one hundred and thirty-two members, a Sabbath-school of about four hundred, two Christian Endeavor associations, a wo- man's organization, and other associations doing work for the Master. So Westminister may be called a granddaughter of Paxtang, this relation being held through the Market Square and Pine Street churches, and I am sure that I represent the granddaughter, Westminister, to-day, when I bid good cheer to the grandmother Paxtang. May she see many happy, joyous birthdays, and, as in the past, so in the fu- ture, may she often have reason to take pride in her children, her grandchildren, and her great grand-
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children, and so on through countless generations. [Applause.]
Moderator STEWART. The Harrisburg Covenant church is represented in the person of its pastor, Rev. I. Potter Hayes, who will now address us.
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ADDRESS OF REV. I. POTTER HAYES.
Mr. MODERATOR, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN: It af- fords me pleasure to come before you this afternoon. What I shall have to say will be purely historical, and I have gathered most of it from the records of the church which I represent.
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Carlisle, held in the Big Spring church, Newville, Pa., April 11, 1866, a committee was appointed to visit Harrisburg, and if the way be clear, organize a Second Presbyterian Church in this city. That committee consisted of Rev. James Harper, D. D., Rev. J. C. Bliss, Rev. S. S. Mitchel, Rev. A. D. Mitchel, and Ruling Elders, H. M. Graydon and James Elder. All the members of this committee, ex- cept Rev. J. C. Bliss and James Elder, met for this purpose on Saturday, September 8, 1866, at 4, P. M., just twenty-four years ago on the 8th instant. The com- mittee organized for the discharge of their duties by appointing Rev. James Harper, D. D., as chairman, and Rev. A. D. Mitchel as secretary.
After prayer for Divine direction and blessing, cer- tificates of dismission and recommendations were pre- sented to the committee by several persons, with a view to their being formed into a new organization. Dr. John Curwen, Mrs. Martha P. Curwen, Annie Stuart, Mary Stuart, Mary McCollum, and Eliza M. Todd,
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presented letters from the Presbyterian Church of Har- risburg, Dr. Graydon B. Hotchkin and Mrs. Sara I. Hotchkin presented letters from the Presbyterian Church, of Middletown, Delaware county, Pa., and Miss Margaret Carriday from the Presbyterian Church of Letterkenny, Ireland. These certificates being found in order, it was resolved by the committee that the nine persons named be and are hereby constituted into a church, to be known by the name of the Seventh Street Presbyterian Church of the City of Harrisburg, to be connected with and under the government of the Presbytery of Carlisle, Synod of Baltimore, and General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
The little church being thus organized at this same meeting, unanimously elected Dr. John Curwen to the office of ruling elder, and on the following day, Sun- day, September 9, he was ordained and installed in con- formity with the Presbyterian form of government.
Through the preservation and guidance of an all- wise Providence, Dr. Curwen, the first ruling elder of the church, is not only still with us, but has been dur- ing all these twenty-four years an active officer and gen- erous supporter of the church.
A church edifice was erected for the new congrega- tion when the church was organized.
A Sunday-school was also opened soon after the · church was organized.
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After its organization in 1866, the church was served successfully until 1868 by Rev. Stephen W. Pomeroy, Rev. A. C. Smith, of Galena, Ill., and Rev. W. A. Mac- atee, now of Madison, Wisconsin.
In the spring of 1868, Rev. Charles A. Wyeth, re- moved from Huntingdon to Harrisburg, Pa., and be- gan his ministry in this church as stated supply. This continued for about two years. When a meeting of the congregation worshiping in Seventh Street church was called to meet March 5, 1870, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of calling a Pastor, and if the way be clear, to enter into such an election. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. A. D. Mitchell, who acted as moderator, Dr. John Cur- wen serving as clerk. At this meeting the congrega- tion unanimously agreed to call Rev. Charles A. Wyeth to be their first regular Pastor, (at an annual salary of $300, payable in January, April, July, and October.)
Dr. John Curwen was also appointed as commis- sioner to carry up the action of the congregation to the next meeting of Presbytery. Rev. Wyeth, who had been licensed by the Presbytery of Carlisle in October, 1840, served the Master as a licenciate all these years. That the call might be properly put in his hands by the Presbytery, and be accepted by him, it was necessary that he be ordained. He was therefore ordained by the Presbytery of Carlisle June 15, 1870, and duly in- stalled as pastor of this church on the twenty-sixth of
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the same month. This relation continued until June 12, 1883, when it was dissolved by Presbytery. Imme- diately after this Rev. J. H. Groff, then a member of the Market Square Presbyterian church, now pastor of the Presbyterian church of Middletown, took charge of the Seventh Street church as a stated supply, serv- ing it very acceptably until the spring of 1886. After Mr. Groff left, Rev. Matthew Rutherford, a student from Allegheny Seminary, came and ministered to the congregation during the summer of 1886. From that time until the present pastor took charge of the work, the church was served by various supplies.
In September, 1881, in view of the fact that the pas- tor and Dr. John Curwen constituted the session of the church, and that Dr. Curwen was about to remove to Warren, Pa., having been elected superintendent of State Lunatic Hospital at that place, it was judged expedient that a meeting of the congregation be called for the purpose of electing two additional elders. Such a meeting was called, and met September 25, 1881, and elected to that office Messrs. John S. Olsen and John M. Stewart. On the following Sabbath, Mr. Stewart was solemnly ordained and installed, Mr. Olsen declining to accept the office. The session continued in this way with Dr. Curwen at Warren, and Mr. Stewart in Har- risburg, till the autumn of 1887, when a congregational meeting was called, and met October 19, 1887, at which Mr. W. M. Wolfe, was unanimously elected to the office
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of ruling elder. Mr. Wolfe was solemnly ordained and installed on Saturday evening, November 5, 1887.
The little church which was organized with nine members, has during these twenty four years, received into church fellowship, eighty-seven on profession of faith in Christ and eighty-nine by certificate of dis- mission and recommendation, making a total of one hundred and seventy-six, fifty-two of these have been received since my association with the church. Since the organization of the church nineteen persons have died while being communicant members, seventy-seven have been dismissed, expelled, and withdrawn, thus leaving the present membership eighty.
In giving a historical sketch of this church it is im- possible for me to speak as minutely concerning what was done before my connection with it as I can con- cerning what has been done since. And possibly the history of the near past will also be of more interest to you. When I first saw the church the ceiling and and walls were stained and cracked, with here and there pieces of plastering broken out. The painting was soiled and defaced and the blinds tattered and torn. No carpet was on the floor except a well-worn strip in the aisles and around the pulpit. The gas fixtures were two small to properly illuminate the little room, and the organ was not only too small, but nearly worn out. All these defects were remedied very largely through the efforts of Mr. John Loban before the close
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of 1888. The unsightly walls were reatly papered and painted, the floor covered with a beautiful carpet, the old blinds and gas fixtures replaced by new ones, and instead of the old organ the new one which we now have was purchased.
Sometime about the close of 1888, Dr. John Curwen, who owned the church on Seventh street, and the ground upon which it stood, transferred his right and title to the Presbytery of Carlisle. Not long after this transfer was made the Presbytery appointed a committee consisting of Dr. John Curwen, Messrs. James McCor- mick, and Gilbert M. McCauley to select a new site for the church, and if the way be clear, dispose of the old property and purchase a new one. In accordance with the action of the Presbytery, Dr. Curwen, acting for the committee, purchased our present lot, which for size, beauty, and location is second to none in Harrisburg. This lot, costing $7,500, very largely through the gene- rosity of Dr. Curwen, is practically paid for.
Our chapel has been removed to this new site and refitted for the second time during three years.
On September 8th, 1889, the church was re-dedicated, it being also the twenty-third anniversary of the church. Rev. W. C. Cattell, D. D., a former pastor of Pine Street church, and Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D., a former pastor of Market Square church, were both present on this occasion and took a very important part in the services.
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On August 11th, 1889, a congregational meeting was held, in which it was decided to change the name of the church from "The Seventh Street Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg, Pa.," to "The Covenant Presby- terian Church of Harrisburg, Pa." At this meeting the congregation also unanimously elected Messrs. John James Craig and Samuel H. Garland to the office of ruling elder. Both of these men were ordained and installed on the evening of September 8th, 1889, Drs. Robinson and Cattell assisting the pastor in this service.
During this summer a neat fence has been placed around the lot, which adds very greatly to its ap- pearance.
I may add further that the outlook of the Covenant Presbyterian church is certainly bright. The western end of Harrisburg is growing rapidly, and we look forward to the time when she shall be staunch in her Presbyterian belief, and vigorous in her Presbyte- rian strength; and she sends to you, her blood relation, if I may so call it, and to all her relations the heartiest greetings. [Applause.]
Moderator STEWART. Now we will hear from the Pine Street Presbyterian church, of Harrisburg, in the person of Rev. George S. Chambers, D. D., the pastor.
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ADDRESS OF REV. GEORGE S. CHAMBERS, D. D.
Mr. MODERATOR, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN: I have been asked to say a few words as a representative of one of the "descendants" of Paxton church. The church which I have the honor to represent may be considered as a "grandchild," and speaking on its be- half, I may be pardoned if I place the emphasis on the first part of that designation. For it is a grand child, indeed; a fact which it is too modest to assert for itself, but which it is not out of place for me to declare, inas- much as my relations to it cover only one third of its history. I enjoy a two-fold privilege on this occasion : that of paying the tribute of admiration and reverence to the sturdy men and women of a century and a half ago, who built this old Paxton church, and worshiped within these walls; and that of representing one of their ecclesiastical "descendants," possessing a resolute- ness and fervor which indicate a noble ancestry, and which is popularly and affectionately known as the Pine Street Presbyterian church of Harrisburg.
A brief statement of the facts in the history of our church is all that the time allotted to me will permit. It was organized in May, 1858, by the Presbytery of Carlisle. On the day of organization, fifty persons pre- sented letters of dismission. At the end of the year,
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on the 1st of April, 1859, the membership of the church was eighty-three.
In the thirty-two years of its history, the church has had five pastors, viz: Rev. William C. Cattell, D. D., Rev. S. S. Mitchell, D. D., Rev. A. K. Strong, D. D., Rev. John R. Paxton, D. D., and the present pastor, who was installed in November, 1879. All the ex-pastors of the church are living, and three of them are still engaged in pastoral work in other parts of the Presby- terian church. The first pastor is now the efficient Secretary of the Board of Ministerial Relief, in which capacity he is doing most valuable work for the church, her disabled ministers, and her Lord.
The elders who were elected on the day of organiza- tion are still in service: Messrs. Francis Wyeth, H. M. Graydon, and James McCormick. The present elder- ship numbers six; Mr. Jacob F. Seiler, who was elected in July, 1863, and Messrs. Francis Jordan, and Daniel W. Cox. who were elected in the fall of 1887, having been added to the original three. The original mem- bership of the church on April 1st, 1859, was eighty- three. The membership on the 1st of April, 1890, was six hundred and thirty-seven.
The Sunday-school membership, April 1st, 1859, was one hundred and forty. On the 1st of April, 1890, it was one thousand seven hundred and twenty-five.
The contributions of the church to all causes during the first year of its history amounted to $12,990.75, of
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which $12,773.44 were for congregational purposes. The contributions that year to benevolent work outside the church were $267.31. The contributions of the church to all causes during the year ending April 1st, 1890, were $31,096.70. Of this amount $23,697.27 went to benevolent work outside the church.
During the thirty-two years of its history the contri- butions of the church to all causes have amounted to $499,421.61, or an average per year of $15,606.93. Of this amount, $293,062.40 have been given to benevo- lent work outside the church.
The additions to the church during these years have been seven hundred and fifty-six on confession of faith, and five hundred and sixty-eight by certificate, or a total of one thousand three hundred and twenty-four ; an average per year of forty-one.
The difference between this number and our present membership is six hundred and eighty-seven, which represents the losses occasioned by death, removals to other parts of the country, and other causes. These losses have averaged twenty-one per year; so that the net gain of membership has been about twenty per year.
During these thirty-two years four hundred infants and two hundred and fourteen adults have been bap- tized.
These figures represent only the external facts in the church's history. The spirit of consecration that
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preceded and pervaded them, the spiritual growth of a whole generation of Christians, the delightful in- timacies of these years in Christian work and worship, the hallowed memories of those who died in faith, the prayers that have been made and answered for the church's welfare-all these are facts which are of un- speakable value; but the record of them is on high. "Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." [Applause.]
Moderator STEWART. I am very sure that some who have left these seats will be sorry for more than one reason for having left before this part of the programme had been reached. Paxtang has always been noted for its hospitality, and it gives me pleasure to say that Paxtang will furnish dinner to us to-day, and a seat can be had at the table by securing a ticket here at the platform, free of charge, just as we get everything else here-free of charge. [Applause.] I hope every one, therefore, will avail himself, after the doxology has been sung, of the opportunity to secure tickets; and then proceed to the tent where we will receive our re- freshments-not but that we have been refreshed all through the morning.
The doxology-" Praise God from whom all blessings flow," etc .- was then sung, and at one o'clock, P. M., a recess was taken.
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On re-assembling, at 2.45 o'clock, P. M., Rev. George B. Stewart presiding, the audience sung hymn 591, as follows :
Rise, O my soul! pursue the path By ancient worthies trod;
Aspiring, view those holy men Who lived and walked with God.
Though dead, they speak in reason's ear, And in example live ; Their faith and hope and mighty deeds Still fresh instruction give.
Lord! may I ever keep in view The patterns thou hast given,
And ne'er forsake the blessed path Which led them safe to heaven.
Moderator STEWART. There were so many descend- ants of Paxtang church that we could not get through this morning. So we will continue this afternoon with this same topic; and the first speaker will be Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, who is the pastor of the Elder Street church in Harrisburg.
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ADDRESS OF REV. REUBEN H. ARMSTRONG.
The Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D. D., has well said, in a small book entitled " The Crisis of Missions, or the Voice Out of the Cloud," that the very watchword of the Christian life is obedience, and our great Captain has left us his marching orders, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." To all climes and to all peoples is the glad tidings of great. joy to be preached. All need it, it is adapted to all, none are what they might be without its quickening uplifting, beautifying power. It is to the soul, to the nations of the earth that have arisen to great eminence and have the elements of perpetuity as fundamental principles, what the warmth of the sun and the gentle showers are to the fruitful fields and forests. The soul is developed, adorned by the gospel, nations become the great centers of Christian education, and others not so highly favored, catch their spirit of activity and en- thusiasm and imitate them. This missionary spirit then, this obedience to our captain, cannot be empha- sized too much, not only to-day, as the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary since the corner-stone of Pax- tang Presbyterian church was laid, but at all times as the great principle of aggressive Christian work, as the proof of Christian doctrine, duty, and high privilege, and that we hear the voice of God calling us to lift up
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the fallen, to cheer the sorrowing, to help those who are dispitefully used and persecuted, to practice as well as preach the precepts of the Word of God, always, every- where, as the whole duty of man. Paxtang church has had, and we are sure still retains a missionary spirit. All of the many churches whose brief histories we have and shall listen to make this statement the more force- ful, and tell us what she is doing through her chil- dren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. And al- though, she has passed through one hundred and fifty summers and winters; although there have been seasons in her history when she was quite sick, breathed feebly, looked pale, and many have said, "She is ready to die, the days of her usefulness are past, the home mission doctor need not come to see her any more;" yet she lives not alone in her offspring, but in her present active helpful ministrations, and the indications are as we dis- cover a city reaching out her arms to her, even the city in which she has several children or grandchildren, yea, we are happy to be able to declare that the indica- tions are that her best days have not yet been witnessed, but are in the future, the morn of which has already dawned. Many of us may not see the day and enjoy what it brings forth, but we rejoice to-day, we come with grateful heart, we come from the fields of battle, not upon our shields, but with them in our hand, the Presbyterian shields having defended us in many bat- tles, not less, because they are and were of this blue
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stocking stripe, but more because they were biblical shields And if we can be thankful to God for all that our rich biblical scholarship has given and is still giv- ing us, if we can trust the Holy Spirit, believing that he will guide us and all who shall have to do with the future of the church dearer to us than the children of our bosom, because it is of God, for his glory and our good, the half has not been told of what Paxtang may be and do, through the gospel for the children, as yet unknown to man. But it is my du.y to indicate by a few sentences what she has already been to what was first known as the Second Presbyterian Church, and afterward the Elder Street Presbyterian church of Harrisburg.
In obedience to the great command of Christ to teach all nations, what was once known as the First Presbyterian church of Harrisburg, and now known as Market Square, having within her communion those who believed in the fatherhood of God and the brother- hood of man, a direct offspring of her to whom we bring praises to-day, in the year 1855 organized a Sab- bath-school to teach those who had been deprived of religious training as well as mental culture, the truths of the Bible. This was then the only school for the colored people. For years it did the work of teaching, finding ready learners and earnest seekers after the truth. To say that great good was done, is far from expressing the fact in the case, as many of you know,
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¿and as scores would testify of the different denomina- tions in the city of Harrisburg, where they now are local preachers and teachers in the Sabbath-schools or foremost in the work of Christ, as their hands find it to do. For through this Sabbath-school they were per- mitted to touch the hem of Christ's garment, as it was worn by his representatives, to sit at the feet of Jesus, learning of his being and perfections, his sufferings and self-denials, his agony and bloody sweat, and his most disgraceful, but beautifully triumphant, death. They point back to the Sabbath-school with great satisfaction, and declare that they owe to this work everlasting praise, as it furnished the foundation upon which their „spiritual building, hath been erected, and shall continue to be made more beautiful and symmetrical, every year making some improvement, until, finally, no touch of the painter's brush, no change of the great architect's skill can add to its beauty or usefulness.
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