USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > Centennial of Court Street Baptist Church of the city of Portsmouth, Virginia > Part 3
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When the city fell into the hands of the Federal forces he was again tendered the pastoral care of the Church, but wisely declined.
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COURT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
He subsequently filled pastorates in New Jer- sey and Maryland. On a visit here soon after the war he aided the Fourth Street Church in a meeting and was tendered the pastoral care of that Church also, but declined. His health, which was for many years precarious, soon failed, and on September 28, 1877, in the city of Balti- more, he died and was buried in the cemetery of the Baptist Church in Pemberton, N. J.
In the records of the Court Street Church a page has been devoted to his memory suitably inscribed.
The Civil War was now in full blast-the Church could find no one to succeed to the pas- torate. The pulpit, however, was supplied until February 28, 1862, by Elders T. Hume, Jr., Jos. F. Deans and C. E. W. Dobbs, when Elder I. B. Lake was called. He served, however, only a month, owing to the evacuation of the city by the Confederate forces, May 10, 1862, and being unwilling to remain in Federal lines.
For about a year the Church was without a pas- tor. In April, 1863, Elder C. E. W. Dobbs, a licentiate of the Church and who had spent two sessions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, acted as a supply. Of this pastorate, he says :
" The pastor, Rev. M. R. Watkinson, had left
HISTORICAL SKETCH. 49
on the last Federal steamer and Rev. Jos. F. Deans and myself preached for the Church alter- nately (by the invitation from the deacons) from time to time until the evacuation of the city. After that I continued to supply the pulpit alone. My plan was to preach for the white brethren at I I o'clock and for the colored people in the base- ment at 4 P.M. This continued until the summer of 1863, when I gave up the appointment for the colored people, they becoming restless and having made complaint to the military authorities that they were denied their rights in the Church, that they were in the majority and desired to call a loyal minister as pastor.
" Up to this time I had been preaching without any formal agreement. On September 20, 1863, I was formally elected pastor. The Church offered me no salary, and indeed, I received noth- ing for my services during the entire time I supplied the Church, except a generous gift of books from brother Jas. T. Borum and a $20 Con- federate (Virginia) note from sister Binford. On March 6, 1864, I was ordained to the full work of the ministry, and in two days afterwards I was · arrested and imprisoned in Camp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroe, on an order from General B. F. Butler. He told me that frequent complaints 4
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COURT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
had been made against me as a rebel preacher, and that the colored members had corroborated these things. I do not believe my arrest was because of my preaching, but because of a busi- ness rivalry between two newspapers, in one of which I was interested, and the other conducted by a member of General Butler's staff."
The matter of interference on the part of the colored people referred to above, grew out of their minds being poisoned by political partisans. They laid their grievances before the Provost Marshal, who summoned the officers of the Church before him. On hearing the true state of affairs, and seeing it was solely a religious question, he decided to have no jurisdiction in the matter and left it to the Church to adjust.
As a matter of history it should be stated that the Church had always given special attention to the spiritual instruction of its colored members. There were regularly appointed two of the best brethren to conduct services for them. They were given the use of the basement of the Church for meetings early Sunday mornings and after- noons, and one of the galleries in the main audience-room was also set apart for their use. Just before the breaking out of the war, a move- ment was begun, looking for the erection of a
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meeting-house for their especial use, and after the war this movement culminated in the erection of the Church on the lot given by one of the mem- bers of the church already referred to above.
Elder Dobbs was liberated August 12, 1864. He did not preach at the Court Street Church again until after the war, but did fill the pulpit of the Fourth Street Church during the year 1865. He is at present the popular pastor of the First Baptist Church of Columbus, Miss., and has for several years worn with honor the title of Doc- tor of Divinity. His eldest son is now a student for the ministry at our Theological Seminary.
Soon after the arrest of Elder Dobbs the Church edifice fell into the hands of the Federal authorities, who converted the upper room into a military hospital, and continued to use it until December 15, 1864. About this time Elder S. B. Gregory, a missionary of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, was sent here and took charge of the Church. Elder Dobbs says : "He was very kind in his expressions to me and assured me that he was trying to secure enough from the United States Government to put the house in good condition, when he intended to turn it over to the white brethren."
At first, Elder Gregory's coming was not ac-
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ceptable to the Church, because the Church had no voice in the choice, but he proved himself to be a good and true man, and the brethren, upon reflection, saw that it was best for the Church at large that he came as he did, and on January 6, . 1865, by formal action in conference recognized Elder Gregory as the acting pastor of the Church. He succeeded in securing the upper room of the Church, and had it repaired at the expense of the government, kept the membership together, re- ceived several by baptism and letter, and thus rendered most valuable aid to the Church. His labors closed in May, 1865, having been pastor about six months.
On February 10, 1865, upon their own request, the colored members were formally given letters of dismission for the purpose of forming a separ- ate Church, known as the Zion Baptist Church. Elder E. G. Corfrew became their pastor, and re- mained as such to the close of his life.
The next pastor of the Church was Elder J. Lipscomb Johnson, who entered upon his duties October 1, 1865. The Church was considerably divided politically, but gave the pastor their sup- port, and he did a good work. In the spring of 1866 a revival of religion came over the Church, and more than fifty were added to the member-
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
ship, and the white membership of the Church reached 419.
He inaugurated a series of lectures by eminent divines, and some $200 were raised as a nucleus fund for the erection of a baptistery. Elder John- son closed his ministry with this Church Septem- ber I, 1867, occasioned by the inability of the Church to give him adequate financial support- one effect of the late war.
During his pastorate two young men were re- cognized as having been called of God to the ministry-Jos. S. Anderson and the writer of this paper.
For three months the Church was again with- out a pastor. Several were called, but with no success, until December 1, 1867, when Elder Har- vey Hatcher consented to serve in that capacity, and remained as pastor until March 1, 1870-two years and three months. He did much to bring about a reconciliation between the political fac- tions in the Church. Forty-one were added by baptism. The baptistery was built at a cost of $1225, and it is remarkable to state that the first persons baptized in its waters were Pedobaptists, one a Presbyterian and the other a Methodist. Elder Hatcher subsequently served pastorates in Missouri and elsewhere, and is at present the
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manager of a branch house of the American Bap- tist Publication Society in Atlanta, Ga.
As already referred to, the Church was still suffering from the debilitating effects of the war. Several things had occurred to awaken bitter political feelings among some of the members, and a pastor who sided with either wing was nec- essarily unpopular with the other. In view of this, a compromise was thought to have been made when, on May 1, 1870, Elder C. Wilson Smith, an Englishman, who had been but a short time in this country, was chosen pastor. It was thought in him, a stranger, all political elements could meet. But his methods were in many respects very peculiar, and, while he was sincere in them, he never succeeded in rallying the membership around him. Dissatisfaction soon displayed itself, and a strong element was opposed to the pastor. At first Elder Smith was not disposed to heed these tokens of dissatisfaction, but persistently held on until it was ascertained in an election for pastor that out of a ballot of eighty-two votes only twenty-seven were in his favor. He resigned July 16, 1871. He is now living in Pennsylvania, and is pastor of the church at St. Clair.
Finding that instead of healing all internal dif- ferences in the selection of Elder Smith as pas-
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
tor it had introduced others in addition, the Church was deeply grieved, and, seeing that God could not and would not bless them in such a state, resolved to bury the past and let no politi- cal differences exist in the Church again. In this respect Elder Smith's pastorate was a blessing to the Church, and paved the way for the Church to be in a far better condition for its next pastor than it had been for several years past.
After praying and waiting for about six months, on the Ist of December, 1871, Elder A. E. Owen became pastor, which position he still holds, covering a period of nearly eighteen years, the longest pastorate, save that of Elder Hume.
His presence among us checks us from saying many things complimentary of him, but, as we history, facts are facts, and need to be recorded.
The Church very soon recognized Elder Ow- en's ability as a preacher and pastor, and gave him their hearty support, and he has had the honor of raising the Church to a plane of usefulness and influence far exceeding any other period in her history, and in evidence of this appreciation she has more than once raised his salary, and cared for his comfort in many other ways. Under his ministry the Church has enjoyed ten gracious re. .
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vivals, in which the pastor was aided by Elders J. Wm. Jones, C. Tyree, J. E. Hutson (twice), M. S. Read, F. M. Jordan, A. G. McManaway, Julian M. Luck, A. B. Dunaway and H. M. Wharton. The most conspicuous of these were those held in 1880 by J. E. Hutson, where 140 persons pro- fessed faith in Christ, and 80 were added to this Church. In 1886 the meeting conducted by J. M. Luck resulted in a great awakening of the spir- ituality of the Church, and some of the best members of the Church came in. But the great- est meeting of all was that held in the early part of this year, conducted by H. M. Wharton. Its power was felt all over the city, and for fifteen days and nights great throngs eagerly sought to hear him, and in response to his appeals very many gave themselves to the Saviour. Of the fruits of this meeting all churches shared, and to this Church eighty-eight additions were made.
During Elder Owen's pastorate four young men have been led into the ministry : E. B. Mor- ris, C. A. G. Thomas, W. P. Hines and Jno. W. Dougherty.
In 1878 the Church entertained the General Association of Virginia, composed of 333 dele- gates-the largest for years-in a very handsome
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
manner, meeting all its expenses and with a bal- ance in the treasury.
In 1881 the main audience-room of the church was thoroughly repaired and improvements made at a cost of $3286.90. The Church, through aid rendered by a legacy of James Carney, bought the property on the corner of Court and London Streets for a parsonage, for which $3250 was paid. In 1883 the Scott's Creek Chapel was erected for the benefit of members of the Church residing in that vicinity, and cost $1500. A Sun- day-school has been maintained there ever since and occasional preaching, from the fruits of which the Church has received valuable additions to its membership .*
For several years the question of establishing a mission in the south-western part of the city was discussed, and during the present year a neat brick building has been put up at a cost of $4500, including the lot. It was dedicated July 21, and a flourishing Sunday-school of over 100 scholars is maintained. At this place and the Scott's Creek Chapel Elder John W. Dougherty, the youngest of the licentiates sent out by this
* On to-morrow night, September 9th, they will be constituted into a regular Church and begin their career with a membership of eighty-six.
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Church, preaches regularly, and there are already manifest marks of the Divine favor upon his labors.
In addition to these things a chapel has this year been added to the Church on Queen Street, to accommodate the increased growth of the Sun- day-school. It is one of the handsomest Sunday- school rooms in the State, and is both an orna- ment to the city and a monument to the zeal and liberality of the Church. The cost of this build- ing and lot is about $9500.
These achievements are enough to grace any man's pastorate and will ever stand as monuments to pastor and people-to the faithful ministry of the one and the generous liberality of the other.
Nor has the Church confined her liberality to home purposes. She has ever lent a listening ear to brethren who have appealed to her for aid in erecting houses of worship elsewhere, and none have gone away empty-handed. In addi- tion still, during the present pastor's charge of the Church there have been contributed $7126.12 to the various benevolent objects of the denomi- nation-a record that needs no comment at our hands.
During his stay Elder Owen has baptized 643 into the fellowship of the Church and the member- ship has increased from 308 to 472, not taking
HISTORICAL SKETCH. 59
into account the two colonies sent out, and the pastor, we may say in conclusion, together with all the honor due him for such a glorious record in his ministry here, has another in which he stands alone, viz. : he is the first and only pastor the Church ever had upon whom his brethren have conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity -an honor he wears with becoming modesty and appreciation, and his Church shares it with him.
In preparing this sketch many facts of impor- tance and interest have been necessarily omitted in passing, which, however, deserve to be mentioned as matters of history, and we have reserved them for this paragraph. The subject of church music has been one of interesting and gradual develop- ment. As early as November 5, 1835, we find that Brother William Forbes was appointed to line out the hymns and lead in the singing, and in case of a failure on his part Brother F. Garrison was to take it up. This was the first beginning of organized singing in the Church. It worked well, for in the very next year, February 12, 1836, the choir was formed and granted the exclusive use of the two front benches. In 1836 the " Vir- ginia Selection of Hymns" was adopted. In 1839 permission was asked for to put book-racks on the backs of the pews occupied by the choir
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-singing by note, you see. In 1841 the choir, increasing in number, asks for a third bench for their use. The choir was then led by a flute in the hands of the leader, and forty-eight voices sang in unison to its pitch. In 1847 the pastor was allowed to organize a choir for the gallery in front of the pulpit in the new Church, and John F. C. Potts was elected the leader. In 1853 the Baptist Psalmody was adopted. January, 1857, Mr. John Clark was, after some discussion as to the propriety, allowed to place his melodeon in the Church for the use of the choir. The same year the Church appointed a committee to secure a competent instructor for the choir. The year following one of the members of the Church paid the tuition of a young lady studying music so as to fit herself for becoming Church organist. In 1858 the Church purchased a pipe-organ for $425, and in 1883 substituted another and better instru- ment, costing over $1000, which still is in ser- vice.
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At times the singing has given the Church some trouble, not because there were no good voices in the Church, but because, there being so many, it was difficult to select some without slighting others.
In 1831, and earlier, parcels of land, enough
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for a single grave, were sold in rear of the Church for burial purposes.
In 1833 there were three Sunday-schools in connection with the Church, the aggregate num- ber of scholars being 380.
In 1834 a general temperance movement swept over the country, and nearly every member of this Church was enrolled as a member. John B. Gough spoke on several occasions in the Church.
On April 3, 1838, Thomas C. Godwin, the father of our brother, T. W. Godwin, of Norfolk, met with a sudden and distressing death, occa- sioned by the falling of the wall of a house, which stood where Maupin's Hall now stands. He was an officer in the Church and was universally loved by all who knew him. Elder Hume says of his funeral : " At his grave many eyes wept that never wept before."
We cannot close this paper without emphasiz- ing the fact that this last year of the Church's his- tory has in many respects been the best of all the hundred. The simple narration of the facts is eloquent.
Built the South Street Chapel at a cost of $4500, organized a Church there with fifty-five members and furnished them a preacher, Bro. Jno. W. Daugherty, who has just been ordained.
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Enjoyed perhaps the best revival of religion the Church ever experienced, more than eighty being added to the Church. Erected a handsome, com- modious and durable Sunday-school room at a cost of $9,500. Contributed to benevolent and charitable objects $785.92.
Not yet satisfied, to-morrow the second colony will be organized into a Church at Scotsville with a membership of seventy-eight.
What a noble ending to the first century of her history ! What a rich legacy she hands down to posterity ! And now, dear brethren and friends, you who have so patiently followed me through this paper, my task is about done.
Brethren, such has been the earthly record of the Church; the record on high cannot yet be known. There are some few before me whose memory goes back over much that I have said, and a tear of joy has now and then been wiped from your eyes. You have no reason to regret, dear brethren, that your lot has been cast here. As you soon must cross over the river and receive your reward, let your heart be cheered now at what your Church has done, and be proud that you too have borne a part in this accomplishment.
Young brethren, and the majority now are young, the future history of the Church will be
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what you make it. You have a rich legacy en- trusted to you; the veterans who give it to you are only waiting for their summons to "come up higher," and then you must go alone. Stand by the old mother, cheer her with your strength, comfort her with your prayers; provide for her with your means, and as she enters upon another centennial let her feel that her youth has returned and that with God's blessing she has yet a higher and nobler mission before her, and when she sends forth her annual reports to the gatherings of God's people and tells them what she has done, let each one of you be able to say, " in that result I bear a part," and then when you lay your armor down, the Master will say : " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
LIST OF BRETHREN WHO HAVE SERVED AS DEACONS.
Michael King,
Shepherd, Burke,
William F. Higginbotham, . James A. Davis, William P. Guy,
William Drury,
J. A. Tabb,
George Barrett,
Wm. D. Robertson,
James Williams,
Thomas J. Rudd,
William Brooks,
T. F. Deans, Charles E. Jenkins,
Thomas C. Godwin,
William B. Forbes,
E. C. Brooks, James T. Borum,
Moss W. Armistead, William H. Morris, John D. Cooper, John C. Kaufman,
Robert H. Barrett, Benjamin F. Culpeper, R. A. Hutchins,
Geo. W. King.
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COURT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
CHURCH CLERKS .*
I. William Forbes, from Jan. 8, 1830, to Feb. 10, 1837. 2. Jno. F. C. Potts, from Feb. 10, 1837, to May 8, 1840. 3. Jno. D. Cooper, from May 8, 1840, to Oct. 16, 1840. 4. Wm. Gleason, from Oct. 16, 1840, to Nov. 13, 1850. 5. A. M. Tabb, from Nov. 13, 1850, to Oct. 10, 1853. 6. Saml. J. Staples, from Oct. 10, 1853, to Sept. 8, 1854. 7. Jas. T. Borum, from Sept. 8, 1854, to Jan. 12, 1866. 8. Geo. M. Turner, from Jan. 12, 1866, to Dec. 7, 1866. 9. F. R. Benson, from Dec. 7, 1866, to Jan. 10, 1868. IO. C. S. Sherwood, from Jan, 10, 1868, to Jan. 6, 1871.
II. Jesse T. Morris, from Jan. 6, 1871, to Jan. 12, 1872. 12. Geo. M. Turner, from Jan. 12, 1872, to June 12, 1874. 13. E. C. Godwin, from June 12, 1874, to Nov. 12, 1875. 14. Jno. W. Dougherty, from Nov. 12, 1875, to Jan. 10, 1879. 15. D. A. Williams, from Jan. 10, 1879, to date.
HISTORICAL TABLE, STATISTICS, ETC.
No.
PASTORS.
Duration of Pastorate.
Baptisms.
Members at Time
of Resignation.
Contributions to All Objects.
I.
Thos. Armistead
1789-1794 1796 1797
100
113
II.
Thos. Etheridge
III.
Jacob Grigg
1799-1808
100
71
£4 IOS.
V.
Thos. Bunting
1810-1812
I5
66
$5.50
VI
Smith Sherwood
1815-1818
I7
72
8.00
VII.
Stephen Woolford . D. M. Woodson . Thomas Hume
1821-1832
167
234
43.00
IX.
S. M. Carter
Oct., 1854-July, 1856
5
593
184.00
XI.
M. R. Watkinson C. E. W. Dobbs .
Aug., 1856-Aug., 1861
160
497
1,221.02
XII.
S. B. Gregory .
Dec., 1864-May, 1865
9
550
XIV.
J. L. Johnson
Oct., 1865-Sept., 1867
49 4197
XV.
Dec., 1867-Mar., 1870
41
338
571.13
XVI.
.
306
186.71
XVII.
Harvey Hatcher . C. Wilson Smith . A. E. Owen
May, 1870-July, 187 1 Dec. 1, 1871, to date
643
472 52,838.87
4
54
5.00
VIII.
May, 1832-Sept., 1854
800
678
2,952.96
IV.
Davis Briggs
1819-1820
X.
Sept., 1863-Mar., 1864
XIII.
* The existing Church Records do not go back further than 1830.
+ These are all whites, the colored members having withdrawn.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The statistics above have been taken from the minutes of the Portsmouth Association. The pastorates of Elders Dobbs, Gregory and Johnson embrace the war period, and either no meeting of the Association was held or very imperfect reports were made.
5
AN ADDRESS
ON THE PREACHERS WHO HAVE GONE OUT FROM THE CHURCH.
BY REV. JOHN W. M. WILLIAMS, D.D. Of Baltimore, Md.
MINISTERS WHO WERE ONCE MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH.
I AM becoming quite familiar with centennial service. A few years ago we observed the centennial of the First Church in Baltimore. We have a young lady in our church who cele- brated her one hundredth birthday last March. And here I am taking part in the centennial sér- vices of my mother church. I am glad to be here. Have been charmed with all the exercises so far. The subject assigned me is, Ministers who were once members of this church.
We read in I Kings 6: 7, "And the house when it was in building was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither ; so that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron in the house, while it was in building." The arch-
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THE OLD CHURCH, ERECTED in 1800
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GROUND PLAN
QUEEN ST.
COURT ST.
AN ADDRESS ON FORMER PREACHERS. 67
itect of that house knew from the beginning what it was to be. He had his working plan, and the workmen built according to its specifications. Every stone in it was made ready before it was brought to the building and fitted into its proper place, so the house went up without the sound of hammer, or axe, or any tool of iron. There was no guess work either as to the proportions of the house or the place each stone was to fill in it.
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The workmen went to the quarry of nature and took the stones as they found them, and prepared them for the places designed for them according to the specifications.
Many of these stones at first little resembled the places they were to fill. But by patient, skill- ful workmanship they were prepared, and fitted exactly the place for which they were designed.
Many of them were, no doubt, rough, unshapely, ugly and unpromising when first taken from the quarry. But they found their proper place in the building.
In the erection of God's spiritual house it is not a matter of conjecture as to what it is to be. The Great Architect saw from the beginning what it was to be, the material of which it was to be com- posed, and especially the character of the chief workmen.
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God goes to the quarry of humanity to find them, and many of them are rough and unprom- ising in the beginning. But the Great Architect finds a place for them.
All along the ages it has been true that "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things and things despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring to naught things that are."
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