Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 113

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 113

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Schools. Teachers. Scholars.

Sabbath-school Association of the Second Presbyterian Church

190

Pittsburg Sabbath-school Association.

476

Sabbath-school Association of the First Presbyterian Church. 2

170

Allegheny Sabbath-school .

I20

Lawrenceville Sabbath-school

African day-school

African Ewing school.

Beavertown Sabbath-school

Total auxiliary. 13

1,336

Not connected with the Union were the follow- ing:

Episcopal Sabbath-school.

IO0

Rev. Mr. Tassey's church.

Phoenix Sabbath-school, Bayardstown

Total

236

1,526

At this time the officers of the Sabbath-school Union were as follows: M. B. Lowrie, president; John Hannen and Charles Craig, vice-presidents; Luke 'Loomis, corresponding secretary; Isaac Harris, recording secretary; John McKee, treasurer. The Pittsburg Sabbath-school Union celebrated July 4, 1827, in a locust grove at the south end of the Presbyterian church. There were present not less than 1,200 children. Rev. Mr. Cook opened the services with prayer, and addresses were delivered by Revs. Francis Herron and Elisha P. Swift. Many songs and hymns were sung and a fine dinner spread out under the tiees was enjoyed. Rev. Joseph Stockton closed the services with prayer.

In 1827 the Pittsburg conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church num- bered about ninety ministers. The adherence of this conference to the organic principles of lay delegation came near causing the bishops to dissolve that body about this time. In 1828 the Methodist Church in Pittsburg was formally incorporated. In April, 1828, action was taken by the Christians of all the different denominations toward the formation of a national society, which should have for its object the promotion of the sanctification of the Sabbath. Of the meeting taking this action Rev. Dr. Black was chairman and Thomas Fairman secretary. In 1829 the Pittsburg Sabbath-schools took united action to establish here a permanent depository for Sunday-school funds. Of this meeting Rev. J. J. Janeway, D. D., was chairman. He announced that it had been determined to raise $400 for the branch depository, and a committee of twelve was appointed to solicit donations. This committee consisted of Messrs. Laughlin, Douthett, Kerr, Black, Leech, Hart, Beer, Childs, Wilson, Huston, Greenough and Lowrie. A committee of six persons was appointed to reestablish the colored Sunday- school. The members of this committee were Messrs. Williams, Torode, Reed, Beer, Marshall and Albree.

In 1830 the extraordinary spread of Catholicism over the United States began to be seriously considered by the Protestant denominations. It was

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HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

observed with alarm that many of the principal officers in the service of the Government were adherents of that faith, and the various denominations of Pittsburg held numerous public meetings in which the question of limiting the power of the Catholics and the spread of the influence of that church were discussed with becoming gravity. Later in the thirties, the influence of the Catholics having been still further extended, a newspaper war was waged against the appointment of Catholics as such to any office of trust under the Govern- ment. The appointment of Roger B. Taney, a Catholic, to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States aroused an indignant protest from the Protestants throughout the country, and particularly in Pittsburg. At that time a bishop of the Catholic Church was here, and that religious body had greatly increased in numbers, and had already gained a strong foothold in the political circles of Western Pennsylvania. Many citizens and county officers were adher- ents of that faith, and for many years the danger of the spread of Catholicism was painted in lurid colors by the Protestant and secular press. On the other hand, the Catholics quietly and persistently pursued the inscrittable rites and ceremonies of their organization, and continued greatly to increase in numbers and. in civil and political influence and prominence.

In 1831 the Sabbath-school Association of the First Presbyterian Church embraced eight separate schools, with a total scholarship of 600, and with twenty- eight male and thirty-two female teachers, thirteen superintendents and four secretaries. At this time there was introduced into at least one of the Sunday- schools the infant monitorial school system, the first of its kind commenced west of the mountains. In a short time it numbered from 80 to 100 children, ranging in age from two to ten years. This infant school was conducted in the lecture-room of the church. One of the schools was located at the lower glass- works, and another, consisting of colored children, was held in the African church. No. 8 was held in the Welsh church in Pipcstown.

The early thirties witnessed an extraordinary growth of local churches. In three consecutive years, from 1831 to 1833, inclusive, there were built a total of seventeen new churches. Previous to 1831 ten church buildings had supplicd the spiritual wants of the inhabitants, but commencing with the growth of the city and its wonderful prosperity at the time of the construction of the canal, the churches, like every other feature and interest, underwent a complete trans- formation, and enjoyed a degree of prosperity unparalleled in the previous his- tory of this community. The new churches erected were as follows: One Methodist Episcopal church, 56 by 74 feet; Methodist Protestant, 62 by 76 fect ; Reformed Presbyterian (rebuilt), 50 by 65 feet; Presbyterian church in Northern Liberties, 50 by 60 feet; Methodist Protestant in Allegheny, 44 by 60 feet; Methodist Episcopal church in Allegheny, 35 by 58 feet; Associate Reformed in Allegheny, 45 by 60 feet; Presbyterian in Allegheny, 56 by 96 feet; two small Baptist churches; one fine Catholic cathedral; Third Presbyterian, 66 by 92 feet; one large Baptist, 48 by 56 feet; Cumberland Presbyterian, 36 by 60 feet; German Evangelical Protestant, 50 by 69 feet; one Presbyterian and one Epis- copalian in Lawrenceville. This immense growth of churches was caused by the influx of new inhabitants, and, to a large extent, was confined to Allegheny, which borough was then growing at an astonishing rate. It is safe to say, in the absence of exact figures, that the church membership of Pittsburg, Allegheny and vicinity increased 100 per cent. The influence of this development was immcdi- ately felt in the great increase of the number of Sabbath-schools and in the attend- ance thereto, as well as in the increase in the number of tract, Bible and other auxiliary church societies. This infusion of new material, so to speak, caused a complete transformation in church methods which had previously prevailed. Many new ministers came, whose influence soon began to be felt among the

930

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

discordant and vicious elements which gathered here during the early years of the canal. Taken as a whole, no period in the history of Pittsburg of so short a lapse of time ever witnessed such a phenomenal development in the fields of religion. It was at this time that the first Unitarian Church was organized in Pittsburg.

While it is true that the Christians made such advancement, it is likewise true that atheism and infidelity began to publicly manifest themselves in this community. The Pittsburg Manufacturer espoused the cause of atheism and infidelity, and openly advocated the principles of Thomas Paine concerning religion. The paper gained many adherents, and soon an organization was effected on the lines of opposition to Christianity. Frances Wright, who was then fast coming to the notice of Pittsburgers for her iconoclastic lectures, was sus- tained by the Manufacturer, though ridiculed in unsparing terms by nearly all the other newspapers here. Her arguments against religious societies and government met a warm response from the friends of the Manufacturer. The result was a three-sided war between the newspapers of Pittsburg on the subjects of Infidelity, Catholicism and Protestantism. In May, 1831, a public meeting of the friends of Infidelity, the supporters of Frances Wright and the subscribers to the Manufacturer was held, and the following resolutions were adopted: "Resolved, That however good the intentions or sincere the zeal of the promoters of the Bible, tract or religious educational societies may be, in the opinion of this meeting their tendencies are pernicious and must be in their consequences detrimental to the welfare of the Republic; and that if these objections were not above the reach of refutation, from the difference of opinion that exists in relation to the objects contemplated by their advocates, they are wholly inade- quate to the wants of the people and tend to the destruction of constitutional liberty. Resolved, That we regard the conduct of the members of Congress and the other public functionaries, who attended a meeting at Washington on the 16th of February, for the purpose of promoting a Sunday-school crusade against the inhabitants of the Mississippi Vailey, as an indirect violation of their con- stitutional duties, as the establishment of a dangerous precedent and an insult offered to the character of the nation. Resolved, That we regard the defeat of the petitioners for stopping Sunday mails and the arrest of the missionaries in Georgia as happy illustrations of that spirit of generous liberality which pervades the councils of the country and which a system of equal and rational education can alone preserve."

In speaking of the course of the Manufacturer, the Gazette of February, 1835, said: "We have for a long time refrained from noticing this infamous sheet. It is one of those vehicles of vile and detestable principles which can scarcely be referred to without loathing and abhorrence. Its position heretofore has been comparatively obscure. Being one out of the four Jackson papers in this city and vicinity it moved along less conspicuously and was scarcely to be noticed except by the filthy, slimy trail which it left in its progress."

"Resolved, That a committee of three persons be appointed to solicit the cooperation of the several Sabbath-school associations of this city and vicinity to confer on the expediency of forming a general association, to be represented by delegates in quarterly meetings or otherwise, as may best secure a united influence of the friends of the cause" (b).

In June, 1832, upon the appearance of cholera in Pittsburg, the clergy, elders and members of the several religious denominations met in the First Presbyterian church and passed resolutions admitting that there was just cause of alarm, and that the danger was sufficient to demand that every city and com-

(b) Action of Sabbath-school Association of the Second Presbyterian Church.

93I

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

munity should have recourse to religion by an acknowledgment of sin and sup- plications for mercy to God that he might graciously avert his judgments or mitigate their force, and recommended that all should meet in the churches on July 6th and observe that day as one of fasting, humiliation and prayer, and humble themselves and beseech him to interpose his help in this hour of danger. The Governor was asked to issue a proclamation and appoint a special day to be devoted to religious services. The Rev. John T. Pressly was chairman of this meeting, and John M. Snowden secretary.

In April, 1833, the churches, upon investigation, learned that less than one-half of the children of the city were accustomed to attend Sabbath-school, whereupon a union meeting was held and a committee appointed to divide the city into districts and call at every house to urge the necessity of placing all chil- dren under proper religious influences. Of this meeting J. H. McClelland was chairman and H. Newcomb secretary. At this time also union prayer-meetings were instituted and many revival proceedings were conducted. In February, 1834, a Young Men's Society, a religious organization founded upon moral principles similar to the Young Men's Christian Association of to-day, was established, and in a short time had a large membership. Shortly before this date the first thorough and successful movement in the cause of temperance had been com- menced. The young ladies connected with the churches also organized a Young Ladies' Temperance Society.

The most important era of moral quickening in the history of the cities occurred during the early part of the decade of the thirties. The churches greatly increased in numbers and in interest; Sabbath-schools were greatly improved; temperance societies were organized; tract and Bible societies circu- lated many thousands of their publications; the crimes of dueling and slavery were realized, exposed and denounced, and in many other ways this community gave evidences of great moral advancement.

It was about this time that the Universalists established an organization here. Rev. N. G. Collins was probably the first pastor. The doctrines of the Universalists as expounded by Mr. Collins were severely criticised and con- demned as unscriptural by nearly all of the other denominations. Even the newspapers declared that the position of the Universalists on the question of universal salvation was untenable from a Biblical standpoint. It was at this time also that sectarian lines began to be drawn more sharply than ever before in this vicinity, and from time to time the best thinkers and speakers of each church were put forward to champion the doctrine of their denominations. All these important changes and events, coupled with the wave of infidelity and social reform, combined to make the decade of the thirties the most memorable in the religious history of Pittsburg.

In 1833 the Young Men's Society took strong grounds against theaters. Their journal, The Friend, was a strong factor in this movement and as a means of improving the morals of the community. It did not hesitate to attack the theater, which at that time, like everything else connected with Pittsburg, received a great stimulus. A notable argument was conducted upon the subject of the immoral influences of the theater between a correspondent of The Friend and a correspondent of the Gazette in 1833. In this discussion the good and bad tendencies and influences of the theater were revealed and explained.

In May, 1835, the Third Presbyterian Church received from H. N. Hooper, of Boston, a bell weighing nearly 3,000 pounds, which they placed in the belfry of their new church. One of the most important of the early religious features of Pittsburg was the annual meeting here of the General Assembly of the Pres- byterian Church. Invariably on these occasions many prominent divines from

932

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

different portions of the United States attended and conducted services in the various churches of this vicinity.

In 1835 severe charges of immorality were brought against the inmates of Saint Clair Nunnery, situated at Mount Alvernia, near Alleghenytown. They were promptly denied by John O'Reilly, pastor of Saint Paul's Church. Bishop Francis P. Kenrick assisted in clearing up the slander. Suits were threatened and instituted, but time showed the falsity of the reports (d).

In June, 1835, the newspapers noticed especially that Allegheny had under- gone a wonderful transformation. In a half dozen years the place had grown from an insignificant village to a flourishing town of nearly 5,000 people. It had a theological seminary, many church organizations, fifteen Sabbath-schools, about the same number of day-schools, and its big cotton factories were begin- ning to attract the attention of the country. During the years 1833 and 1834 many of the new churches were dedicated. In March, 1835 steps were taken by the united churches to establish a reading-room for the benefit of steamboat men. At the head of this movement was Rev. Mr. Herron. The steamboat men as a class were wild, reckless, improvident and immoral, and the establishment of such an institution was regarded as a valuable accession to the moral influ- ences of Pittsburg. Accordingly, at the corner of Wood and Water streets a room was provided by some benevolent gentlemen, where religious services were regularly conducted for the especial benefit of river men. The leading ministers of the city took turns in conducting the services. In 1837 the Old School and New School Presbyterian organizations separated.

Professor William B. Lacey, who was himself a Protestant clergyman, intro- duced into his female institute in 1837 instruction in dancing. He was severely criticised for this course, the newspapers asking why not introduce cards and billiard tables as well? At this time all the churches conducted a rigid crusade against dancing, card-playing and similar amusements. This movement was carried to such an extent that in 1837 the receipts from a large ball held on Washington's birthday were refused by the ladies of the Pittsburg Orphan Asy- lum. In 1837 the Methodist Episcopal Church had in Pittsburg three Sunday- schools, eight superintendents, sixty-eight teachers, 430 scholars and 940 white and four colored church members. The only two buildings were the Smithfield Street and the Liberty Street churches. Attached to the First Presbyterian Church were five Sabbath-schools, embracing about 500 children. A corre- spondent of the Pittsburg Conference Journal wrote as follows in January, 1838: "Although it is a little more than two years since they (Sabbath-schools) were first established with efficiency in Pittsburg and the West, yet such has already been the happy result that we have sent out devoted and faithful missionaries from our Sabbath-schools to three quarters of the globe. We have

been in meetings where the teachers of eight or ten different denominations have met in union to consult about the best interests of the schools. . . . We have seen in Pittsburg some of the largest and most profitable union meetings of Sabbath-schools and clergymen and parents of almost all the religious denomina- tions to celebrate Christmas, New Year or the Fourth of July together. Never can we forget the Sabbath-school meeting held in Stevenson's grove, near the canal, six or eight years ago, when about 2,500 children, about 300 teachers, about 1,000 parents and spectators and as many as eight or ten ministers of different denominations met together in a most harmonious and happy Fourth of July meeting. Several addresses by Dr. Pressly, Dr. Herron and other clergymen were made."

In 1838 the Pittsburg Female Bible Society, a branch of the New York

(d) Niles Register, August 15, 1835.

933

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

Bible Society, made its seventeenth annual report. In November, 1839, the first meeting of the Presbytery of Pittsburg, which had been recently erected as subordinate to the Synod of Pennsylvania, held its first session in this city. Rev. David H. Riddle delivered the opening sermon. In 1840 the Society for the Sacredness of the Sabbath instituted a system of religious services on the various steamboat lines of the rivers. John T. Pressly, Charles W. Andrews, Robert Dunlap and J. R. Kerr were the publication committee. The first Universalist Church of Pittsburg was incorporated in 1840. Among its charter members were Manning Hull, Ephraim and Josiah Frisbee, Joseph Millinger, John and Henry Hartman, William Miller, Otis Young, Robert Christy, David Jenkins, W. C. Anderson, Washington Irwin and others. The year 1840 was destined to witness another period of extraordinary growth for the religious organizations of this vicinity. Nearly two years previously a revival had started in one of the Meth- odist congregations, and had continued with varying success more or less until January, 1840, when it culminated in the greatest religious awakening this com- munity ever underwent. At that date a wave seemed to sweep over the country and all the other churches of Pittsburg became involved. It was stated by the newspapers that every religious organization was receiving a large increase of membership through the instrumentality of protracted meetings. In every church hundreds of persons assembled for the prayers of the congregations. During January or February services were held in the mornings, afternoons and evenings, and the members appointed committees to visit all sections of the city and all classes of people to kindle still further the work of regeneration. It was not an uncommon thing for scores to join one church in a single week. The revival continued for several months, and no doubt nearly or quite doubled the membership of the churches.

In September, 1840, a movement was commenced which resulted in a union of all Sabbath-school associations of the city'into one general association under the management of a board of directors. The first board consisted of J. D. Williams, B. McLain and J. McCurdy. At this time the churches were united in a desperate fight against intemperance and many associated vices. While each church worked for its own individual prosperity, it joined the others in a general movement to increase the interest in religious practices and observances, and to expand the influence of religion into every field in need of spiritual revival. At this time a persistent effort was made by the Sunday-school Association to pre- vent steamboats from running on Sundays so far as a conveyance of passengers and merchandise was concerned. So great had become the extent of gambling and drinking on the steamboats down the Ohio that the Sabbath-school Associa- tion of this city held a large meeting in the Reformed Presbyterian church in Allegheny to form in conjunction with other cities on that stream a line of temperance steamboats between Pittsburg and Louisville for the better ob- servance of the Sabbath. A committee was appointed to investigate and report at an adjourned meeting held August 18, 1840, in the First Presbyterian church of Pittsburg. This committee announced that they had secured from ninety-nine of the leading commercial houses here a pledge to patronize such a line should it be organized, giving it the preference providing that the service and rates were equally as good. A resolution recommending the organization of such a line and pledging it the influence and support of the meeting was unanimously adopted. The publishing committee of the association were John T. Pressly. Charles W. Andrews, Robert Dunlap and J. R. Kerr (e).

On September 28, 1840, the following action was taken here: "Believing that it would be highly beneficial to Sabbath-schools and very useful toward the

(e) Gazette, August 25, 1840.

934

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

moral and mental improvement of Sabbath-school teachers to form a general association, having for its principal objects arrangements for public lectures before all the teachers and friends of Sabbath-schools, monthly meetings for the discussion of subjects relative to religious education, and hearing addresses from members previously appointed, originating measures of general- benefit to the schools, and by friendly discussion and interchange of sentiment and promote more union, sympathy and intelligence among the many laborers in the Sabbath- school cause in this city and vicinity; therefore, Resolved, That we do now form ourselves into such an association to be governed by the following rules: First- The name of this association shall be the Sabbath-school Teachers' Union and shall be composed of all Sabbath-school superintendents and teachers" (f).

It was noted in August, 1841, that several ministers of the city had begun to preach in other buildings than churches and in the open air, one of them being Rev. Mr. Bryan of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Favorable comments were uttered. The Second Street market-house was thus used (g).

In 1842 there were in Pittsburg, Allegheny and environs fifty-five church buildings and the following number of congregations: Presbyterian, 40; Asso- ciate and Associate Reformed, 6; Episcopal, 5; Baptist, 4; Catholic, 3; Lutheran, 2; Congregational, 2; Disciples, 2; Welsh, 3; colored, 4; and Unitarian, German Reform, German Protestant, Church of God, and Universalist, I each; total, 76. It will thus be seen that in twelve years the number of church buildings had been increased from 10 to 55, and the number of congregations from about 15 to 76. The increase in membership, although exact figures cannot be given, may be concluded to have been in proportion to the increase in the number of congre- gations; in other words, an increase of probably 400 per cent. This increase was proportionately greater than the increase in the growth of the cities and was not without its important effect in subsequent years. On the other hand the growth of infidelity, and particularly of Fourierism and various doctrines more or less antagonistic to religion, likewise found here a more or less fruitful soil. There grew up a class during the decade of the forties who professed to be purists, a class which sought to destroy the customs and views that had been in vogue for centuries on the subject of sociology and morals, and to substitute therefor communistic principles with a hope that society and civilization would be benefited thereby. Many of the best thinkers joined this movement, and among them was Mrs. Jane G. Swisshelm, who a little later led the reform move- ment in this vicinity. The reformers began a system of street preaching and a concerted attack on established institutions in so violent a manner as to bring down upon themselves the antagonism of the churches, and in the end edicts of the civil authorities to prevent their meetings. The Commercial Journal of Oc- tober 12, 1846, said: "We heard no less than four street preachers yesterday. We believe this to be a very excellent practice and it should be encouraged. Thousands would never hear a word of moral instruction were it not for street preaching."

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Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 113

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