Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 112

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 112

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The First Associate Church was organized in 1801, and the following year Rev. Ebenezer Henderson was assigned as its pastor. Hc continued to serve until 1808, when he was succeeded by Rev. Robert Bruce, who ministered to the congregation with great satisfaction and success for nearly forty years. The Second Associate Church was organized in 1815, and the following year Rev. Joseph McElroy was assigned to the congregation.

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The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Allegheny County was fully organ- ized in 1799, and the pastor, Dr. Black, was installed the following year and con- tinued to serve until 1849. At the time of the disruption of the church in 1833 he became an adherent of the New-lights. The Reformed Church was first estab- lished about 1789 or 1790, and its first building was known as the Smithfield church.

The Protestant Episcopal congregation was established in 1790 and was the first Episcopal organization west of the mountains. The Nevilles and Isaac Craig were among the first members. The building was commenced in 1790 and finished in 1791. In 1797 Rev. John Taylor was called to take charge of the congregation, and in 1805 a regular parish was organized and a charter obtained. Among the members at this time were the Nevilles, Samuel Roberts, Nathaniel Irish, James and Jeremiah Barber, Dr. Andrew Richardson, Dr. Nathaniel Bedford and Oliver Ormsby. This congregation, now known as Trinity, became the mother of all Episcopal churches in Western Pennsylvania. During the first twenty or twenty-five years the church was not prosperous, and was supplied by various rectors for short periods. In the twenties it was greatly strengthened by the Rev. John Hopkins.

The Methodist Episcopal Church had a small beginning in Pittsburg, as early as 1784, when Mrs. Mary Gaut and the three daughters of Thomas Wilson, her brother, held services by reading Wesley's sermons, and singing and praying. After a few years these few Methodists left Pittsburg, but in 1785 Rev. Wilson Lee held services in a tavern on Water Street. In 1788 the Pittsburg circuit was organized and Rev. Charles Conway was appointed preacher in charge and was reappointed in 1789, at the close of which year he reported in Pittsburg and vicinity a total of 97 members, only a few of whom resided in town. Rev. Pemberton Smith took charge of the congregation in 1789; Revs. George Callan and Joseph Doddridge succeeded in 1790, and Rev. Charles Conway again in 1791. The Methodists received their first impor- tant accession upon the arrival here of John Wrenshall in 1796. He was a man of considerable ability, great piety, and had been a Methodist Episcopal minister for sixteen years. He had a large family and followed the occupation of merchandising. He joined the congregation and regular services were there- after held; first in the old log building of the Presbyterians on Wood Street near Sixth, which had been deserted, and later, when they were locked out of that building, in the room furnished by Peter Shiras in the old barracks of Fort Pitt. At this time the principal members were Wrenshall and wife, Shiras and wife, Robert McElhenney and wife, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Chess and James Kerr. Mr. Shiras was a great addition to the Church, and when he left in 1802 his loss was a serious blow to the congregation; however, the following year Thomas Cooper, Sr., joined the church, and its former prosperity thereupon returned. In 1807 Nathaniel Holmes and Edward Hazleton became members, still further strengthening the class. They occupied various rooms, and finally, in about 1810, their first church, a brick structure, was erected. In 1817, so great had become the membership, a new church was commenced at Smithfield and Seventh streets and completed the following year. In 1819-20 a revival held by Rev. Samuel Davis greatly increased the membership, and thereafter its exist- ence and prosperity were assured.

The Baptists were not represented in Pittsburg with an organization until 1812, at which date the first congregation of that denomination west of the moun- tains was established. They remained attached to the Monongahela Association until 1839, when the Pittsburg Association was formed. At the time this con- gregation was formed they withdrew from the Redstone Association, of which they had previously been a part. The first congregation consisted of six families,

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comprising a membership of about twelve. Rev. Edward Jones was the first pastor, and the first services were held in houses and later in halls, until finally the congregation was chartered in 1822. Sidney Rigdon was one of the charter- members. He afterward attained fame by his connection with the Mormon Church. Mr. Rigdon was a printer by trade, and in some manner came into possession of Solomon Spaulding's work, "Manuscript Found," which afterward, it was claimed, became the new part of the Mormon Bible. Mr. Rigdon was pastor of this congregation from 1822 probably until 1827, at which time he was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Williams, who afterward became prominent as an active Anti-Masonic leader. By 1843 this congregation had a membership of 314, and had dismissed several congregations. Their brick church was built in 1833 at Grant and Third streets. In 1841 the Grant Street Baptist Church was organized; in 1835 fifteen persons from the First Baptist Church of Pitts- burg organized the First Baptist Church of Allegheny. In 1826 the Welsh Baptists effected an organization as a branch of the First Baptist Church.

The Gazette of August 26, 1786, said that "a clergyman is settled in this town of the Calvinist Church; some of the inhabitants are of the Lutheran or Episcopal church, but the distinction is brought little into view. . .

A clergyman of the German Calvinist Church also occasionally preaches in this town, and it is expected from the increase of inhabitants that a clergyman who can deliver himself in this language will, in a short time, be supported here alto- gether. . In laying out the town of Pittsburg five lots have been assigned for churches and for burying grounds; this comprehends the former burying ground, which is adjoining the ancient cemetery of the natives, being one of those mounds before mentioned and which, from the height of the earth in this place, would seem to have been a place of scpulture for ages. These lots are about the center of the town as it is laid out, and at an intermediate distance between the two rivers. A church is on the way to be built of squared timber and moderate dimensions, which may accommodate the people until a large building can be erected." In January, 1787, Mr. Brackenridge wrote as fol- lows from Philadelphia: "A bill is published to incorporate trustees for a religious Christian society in Pittsburg, and when passed into a law I shall take a conveyance from the Mr. Penns of a number of lots for the use of the church or churches and the burying grounds." About a month later Mr. Brackenridge wrote as follows in a letter addressed to the people of Pittsburg: "There are those who tell me that many of you are greatly dissatisfied with my having repre- sented you in the House of Assembly as Christians only and not of any particular sect; and with my having proposed taking a charter of incorporation of our church, without any distinguishing characteristic of Episcopal or Presbyterian or otherwise. Now, I am of the Christian faith, as you are, but with respect to mode of church government or mode of worship they are with me of no moment. Having the same good opinion of your undertaking that I have of my own, I had believed you would have thought so likewise. I had hoped that, seated on the utmost verge of the inhabited globe and separated from the old world by a great mountain, you would have taken up things on the same principles, and presented a church like those in the time of the first apostles, distinguished by the name of 'Christian' only, and have left it to divines in futures times to dispute, as they now do, about those of Smyrna or Ephesus, whether you were Presbyterian or Episcopal. But since this cannot be, so far as I can accomplish it, you shall have your wish in all things. If it is your desire that a church be incorporated under the name 'Presbyterian,' you will signify it by instructions to that effect, and I shall obey them. It will also be necessary that you transmit mne a list of the names of trustees, for I do not know who are Presbyterians amongst you, at least with certainty, and would not wish to take upon me in

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these church affairs, which are of a nature extremely delicate, more than is abso- lutely necessary."

In January, 1790, the Presbyterians of Pittsburg assembled in their meeting- house for the purpose of extending a call to a minister for the congregation. It was announced that all who had been members thereof, and others wlio should actually become members by subscription, should be eligible to vote. At this time David Duncan was president of the board of trustees. The lots granted by the Penns to Trinity Church were numbers 435, 436, and a half of 437, of the general plan of the town. These lots were conveyed to John Gibson, John Ormsby, Devereaux Smith and Nathaniel Bedford in trust for the benefit of the Protestant Episcopal Church (Trinity). In March, 1806, the Legislature con- firmed the ownership of the Church to these lots. The Presbyterian meeting- house stood on Wood Street at the upper end. In 1798 the Gazette said "that fast day was observed by all except four persons, two of whom were supposed not to be entitled to citizenship." The examinations of the columns of the old newspapers of about that date indicate that there existed here a strong element of atheism. Thomas Paine and his works were often referred to, and it is evi- dent that his principles had several followers in this vicinity. In September, 1803, there were four religious congregations in Pittsburg, as follows: Pres- byterian, Dutch, Lutheran and Covenanter or Seceder." By act of April 13, 1807, the Legislature commissioned John Wilkins, Sr., John Johnston, William Boggs and William Porter to raise by means of a lottery a sum not to exceed $3,000, to be used in finishing the Presbyterian church at Pittsburg, and it was further provided that before the tickets should be drawn the plan of conducting the lottery should be laid before the Governor, to be by him approved. The commissioners were required to enter into bonds to conduct a fair drawing, and each was required to take oath for the faithful discharge of his duty, and two or more of the commissioners were required to attend the drawing each day and to publish the fortunate numbers in the papers and to pay prizes within six months; and it was also provided that in case any prize should not be drawn at the end of one year, the same should be turned over to the church. This lot- tery scheme was a total failure. The congregation became involved in debt and the church was sold under the hammer in 1811, Rev. Mr. Herron buying it in his own name. Under him it greatly prospered. By 1814 the church had $150 surplus in its treasury, and wings were added in 1817. Regular weekly prayer meetings were added in 1817. Mr. Cuming said "that in 1808 there were seven societies of Christians in Pittsburg, as follows: Presbyterian, Episcopal, Cove- nanter, German Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Methodist Episcopal and Anabap- tist." The Catholic church was erected on ground at the north end of Liberty Street, donated by General O'Hara. In 1810 the Methodists were busy collecting subscriptions to be used in building their church. In 1810, according to Mr. Cuming, there were here one Episcopal church, three Presbyterians, one German Lutheran, one Covenanter, one Methodist and one Catholic, the latter having an "excellent organ." The Episcopal church was an octagonal building, constructed of brick, which stood at the upper end of Wood Strect and across the street, nearly opposite, was the Presbyterian brick meeting-house. The octagonal church was long a familiar landmark. On a remote street, near Grant's Hill, stood a small brick Presbyterian church, which was used by a branch organiza- tion. Near the latter stood the German Lutheran meeting-house, and in the northeastern part of the town was a "very good brick meeting-house for a large congregation of Covenanters." Outside of the town, near the residence of Mr. Woods, "a handsome brick church is building for a society of Roman Catholics." Mr. Cuming says: "A respectable society of Methodist Episcopals meet at each other's houses, not having yet any meeting house;" and also that "the Court-

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house is well built of brick, is spacious and convenient for judiciary purposes and serves for a place of worship for the Episcopal Society until their own church is finished, as also occasionally for itinerant preachers to display their oratory, and the jury-room upstairs is sometimes converted into a very good theater where private theatricals are practiced in the winter by young gentlemen of the town." In 1808 Mr. Steele ministercd to the Presbyterian congregation, Mr. Taylor to the Episcopal, Mr. Boggs to the Second Presbyterian, Mr. Black to the Covenanters and Mr. Sheva to the German Lutherans. About this time the Synod of Pittsburg was constituted the Western Missionary Society, for the purpose of spreading education and Christianity among the Indians. In 1814 the Pittsburg Bible Society was organized in the First Presbyterian church. What the society accomplished during its early existence cannot be stated. Dur- ing 1824 Rev. Joseph Patterson reported that the society delivered 150 Bibles, IOI Testaments, and that during the seven years ending with the close of 1824 it had delivered 2,382 Bibles and 1,180 Testaments. The Niles Register of April, 1815, states that there were eight places of worship in Pittsburg, as follows: "Two Presbyterian, one Episcopal, one Seceder, one Covenanter, one German Lutheran, one Methodist and one Catholic." That journal also stated that Pittsburg's permanent library consisted of about 2,000 volumes. The Bible Society was organized, as before stated, March 18, 1814, in the Academy building, pursuant to a call emanating from the Philadelphia Auxiliary Bible Society through the instrumentality of the Rev. Francis Herron, who called the meeting for that purpose. In October, 1817, the Pittsburg Synod of the Presbyterian Church reported against the use of ardent spirits, except as a medicine; this was a confirmation of previous action of the same import by that body. The synod also discountenanced "attendance upon balls, dances, routs, theatrical exhibi- tions and other vain amusements by the members of our church." In the report of the committee on the state of the presbyteries in October, 1817, appears the following passage: "In the city of Pittsburg and elsewhere there are a number of praying societies and Bible classes which have been formed in several of their congregations and are well attended." In October, 1817, the Western Mission- ary Society of the Synod of Pittsburg assembled, and Matthew Brown was chosen moderator and Francis Herron clerk. Missionaries to all of the Indian districts of the West were appointed, among whom were Revs. Michael Law, Robert Johnston, Abraham Boyd, John Munson, Lyman Potter, Thomas Hunt, John Matthews and A. G. Fairchild. In 1818 the church building for the Asso- ciate Reformed congregation was opened and dedicated. In 1818 General O'Hara presented to the First Presbyterian Church a beautiful chandelier, which had just been imported.

In March, 1818, the Pittsburg Union Society for the promotion of Sunday- school work held its first quarterly meeting. The officers were: John P. Skel- ton, president; Mark Stackhouse, vice-president, and James Belden, secretary. The society thus far had met with splendid encouragement, and in March it was proposed to open a free school for the benefit of the poor. General O'Hara offered to donate a lot for the school. Steps were taken to collect funds, and thus the Adelphi Free School, of which an account will be found elsewhere, was established. It was a combined Sunday and public school for the benefit of poor children. Soon after this was organized the Young Men's Auxiliary Bible Soci- ety, connected with which were the following gentlemen: "Harmar Denny, John H. Hopkins, Daniel Chute, H. Sterling, J. H. Lambdin, James Wilson, Samuel P. Bolles, Michael Allen, V. B. McGahan, John R. Stockman, A. Liggett, B. R. Evans, James Belden, John D. Davis, E. Selden and Samuel H. Richard- son. Mr. Denny was president in 1818 and Michael Allen treasurer.

"For Sale or Barter .- The one-half of pew number 44, in the Second Pres-

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byterian Meeting-house. The good old leader who has labored with and for us many years, and who was popular enough to preach in an old carpenter shop until he had strengthened the congregation sufficient to enable it to build a regular meeting-house, which is now finished, who has borne the heat and bur- den of the day, has not been considered worthy to reap the benefit of his labors, and for want of popularity has been discharged and a man more in favor has appeared in his stead. It is now thought a good time to transfer the right of said property to one of the supporters of this favorite, as the owner never went to preaching to hear popularity explained, but rather the truths of the Gospel" (a).

Lieutenant Isaac E. Craig, fourth son of Major Isaac Craig, of Pittsburg, was killed in a duel with Lieutenant Maul, at Bay St. Louis, July 26, 1819 at the age of twenty-two years. Both his father and grandfather had served with distinc- tion in the Revolution. This melancholy event called out an earnest remon- strance from the local churches against dueling.

The first annual report of the Pittsburg Sunday-school Association was rendered in February, 1819. It was shown by that report that previous to the organization of the society several Sabbath-schools had been instituted in Pitts- burg by young ladies and gentlemen, who first went in debt to secure elementary books for the poor children, who were rescued by them from idleness and vice and brought into the school. It was shown that as soon as the association was organized the debts of the various Sunday-schools thus incurred were assumed, and thereafter the affairs of the separate organizations were merged into the Union Society. In February, 1819, the association comprised ten Sunday- schools, as follows: I. In the Methodist Episcopal church, on Front Street near Smithfield; 2. A colored Sabbath-school at the schoolroom of the colored people on Smithfield Street near the weighhouse, adjoining the alley between Third and Fourth streets; 3. In Masonic Hall, on Wood Street above Fifth; 4. At W. and R. Moody's schoolroom, on Fourth Street; 5. At John M. Riddle's schoolroom, on Wood Street; 6. At McElroy's schoolroom, on Sixth street; 7. On Smithfield Street, between Sixth and Seventh; 8. In Bayardstown; 9. In Allegheny; 10. One recently organized in Mr. Bruce's church on Seventh Street. During the first year of its existence the association gathered into Sunday- schools about 550 children and gratuitously taught a colored school. Every church in Pittsburg and vicinity had joined in the movement. The people had been liberal and expenses had been paid as fast as they had accumulated. During the year a total of $178.62 was collected, and $177.77 was spent. It was announced at the close of the first year by the board of management that the association would require for the coming year more funds; they announced that the year 1818 had been an experiment and had proved a most gratifying success, and all advised a continuance of united labor. Joseph Patterson was reelected president of the association, Thomas Davis first vice-president, Charles Avery second vice-president, J. M. Riddle secretary, and Daniel Chute treasurer. The directors were Messrs. Davis, Hannen, Hazleton, Thompson, Hartupie, McGahan, Fairman, Bell, Craig, Hall, Plumb, Church, Hind, Marshall, Wilson, Snowden, Clark, Smith and Hills.

Great good was accomplished in 1818-19 by the Sunday-school Association of Pittsburg, which rescued from vice, idleness and crime several hundred of children. "There is no place perhaps where institutions of this kind are more necessary than in this city. The great mass of our population consists of people who are apt to be careless of the minds and morals of their children, and the constant influx of strangers, to which we are subjected, must still further unsettle

(a)' Gazette, October 13, 1818.

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our habits" (c). On Christmas, 1818, Rev. Francis Herron preached to these children, whose number and deportment under their teachers excited surprise and pleasure.

In February, 1819, there were in Pittsburg eleven religious societies, of which seven owned their own churches. The latter were as follows: Presby- terians, Seceders, Covenanters, Union Association, Methodists, Baptists, Roman Catholics; and the following were without buildings of their own: Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist and German Protestant. It was noticed by the Gazette in March, 1819, that the Episcopal church and the Catholic chapel each had a small but serviceable organ, and that several of the houses were large and comfortable buildings, with no pretense to architectural excellence, except that the Episcopal church had a "pretty cupola."

In May, 1820, the United Foreign Missionary Society, composed of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, the Associate Reformed Church and the Reformed Dutch Church, addressed a letter to Rev. Francis Herron requesting him to take steps to obtain a subscription of provisions and articles to be used in building for the missionary family of twenty-five persons, who were soon to pass through Pittsburg on their way to establish a mission among the Osage Indians on the Arkansas River. This was the first effort made by the society and the three churches above mentioned to spread the Gospel among the Indians of the West. Through the efforts of Dr. Herron $1,209.85 in cash and a large supply of provisions and building materials were collected and turned over to the missionaries upon their arrival in Pittsburg.

In 1820 Mr. Patterson was reelected president of the Sabbath-school Asso- ciation, Thomas Davis and Matthew B. Lowrie vice-presidents, James Hall secretary, and Daniel Chute treasurer. In January, 1822, Trinity Church was given authority to sell the triangular lot and building thereon at Wood, Liberty and Sixth streets. In 1822 the first Welsh congregation was established. In 1822 the Pittsburg Recorder, the first religious newspaper west of the Alleghany Mountains, was established in Pittsburg by Rev. Mr. Andrews.

The Sunday-school Association which was organized in 1818 and which started out auspiciously seems to have become extinct early in the twenties. At least in 1825 a Sunday-school association of the Presbyterian Church was organized and placed on a substantial footing. Annually thereafter anniversary services were held for many years. In 1836 this society held its eleventh anni- ·versary meeting, and at that date James Wilson was elected president, Samuel Beatty treasurer, and O. P. Blair secretary. The society reported that during the previous year it had collected $259.90 for the Sunday-school house at Arthurs- ville and had received from various sources for the benefit of the seven Sunday- schools under its care a total of $123. Of the seven Sunday-schools connected with the association six reported 456 scholars in attendance, sixty teachers and 873 volumes in their libraries.

In April, 1827, at a general meeting of all the Christian denominations of Pittsburg strong action was taken against dueling and intemperance. Dr. Black delivered a powerful lecture against dueling to a crowded house in the First Presbyterian church. He declared openly that every duelist was a violator of the sixth commandment, and in case he caused death was unquestionably a murderer. The meeting passed resolutions recommending Congress to pass a law prohibiting dueling and to disfranchise all duelists.

In 1821 the first distinctive Female Bible Society was organized, and in 1826 the first Auxiliary Tract Society was formed. In 1827 the General Assem- bly of the Presbyterian Church formally decided to locate the Western Theo-

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logical Seminary in Alleghenytown, as it was then called. By 1827 the Female Bible Society of Pittsburg, the president of which was Mrs. E. F. Denny, was in a flourishing condition and doing most excellent work.

In April, 1827, the Pittsburg Sabbath-school Union made its first annual report, embracing among other important events the following statistics:

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Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 112

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192