The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-10
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
ron ADDITIONAL LOCAL ITEMS SEE THIRD PAGE

EVH ADDlFIoNAL LOCAL ITEMS SEE THIRD PAeE.l
REV. A. A. WmLrrTs, PAsToR. .FLRcr OF WEsr
ARCH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.-In
answer ans we, 10 a correspondent, we give the follow
Ing sketch OF the Pastor-elect Of the West Arch
street Presbyterian Church,
The Rev Mr.. Willitts was born in New Jersey
Dut early "emigrated" to this city, where his
parents resided many years (his mother is still
Lying in Philao elphia), and received his early
euucauon under the care of Rev. James Good
Fellow, with many of the now in1 dental and
leading men of the city. subsequently, he
entered the Classical and Theological Seminary
in Pennington, N j., and after graduating with
the highest honoTs, was for three years one of
the most efficient teachers In that Institution.
From the seminary Mr.. Willitts went into
the pulpit, and 1.-THE first seven years of his
ministry was spent in the Methodist Church.
IN the leading churches OF that denomination
called to the Reformed Dutch Church, in Crown
street, above Race, which was then in a very
embarrassed condition, To work successfully
IN TINS cnurch was severe struggle but by
hard labor aud the faithful cooperation OF the
pews were all filled within three years, and the
church prGspered so much that the float
ing debts were paid of, and the con-
ing was afterwards sold to the city for a
market site, and the Dutch Reformers OF Crown
street began their noble enterprise at Seve nth
and Spring Garden streets with some $4,000.
This magnificent church was built at a cost of
left IL in 1860 the only debt remaining on 1t was
about $4,000 Our readers will remember how
rapidly the church on Spring Garden street
and for a long time prior to his separation from
that people, the editice, large it was, was too
small for the crowds that visited it on Sundays.
Ine income Oh Jhe chuTch was annually from
one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars IN ex-
cess of the current expenses.
In 1860, at the earnest solicitation of the late
Rev, DR.. Bethune Mr.. Wilitts left the Re-
formed Dutch Church here. and took charge of
the First Reformed Dutch Church in Brooklyn,
New York. That was the oldest church of that
denomination in Brooklyn, and contained
several prominent and wealthy men. but was
very slimly attended. HIS ministry there, like
here, was greatly blessed, and soon after his
1abors commenced the congrega tlon increased
and the church filled up The building and
church were remodelled at heavy expense, and
in 1884 the church contributed ten thousand
dollars for the endowment of Rutgers College
one-tenth OF the entire endowment of that In
In 1866 Mr.. Willitts left this strong, healthy,
and wealthy church, and took charge of the
celebrated Lee Avenue Reformed Dutch
Church, which had been nearly two years
without pastor, and whose people had become
scattered from various causes. During the two
years he was at the head of Lee Avenue Church
IT has been magnificent success. Nearly every
sitting is occupied on the Sabbath, and all the
floating debts have been paid off. The Sunday
schools nave largely increased and now num-
Der upwards of 1900 in regular attendance.
Some seventy persons were added to the COM
munion of the church in the same period.
Such is the history, in brief, of the distiu-
gulshed clergyman whom the people of west
Arch Street Church have had the good sense to
call. to their elegant edifice Already several
OF the pews have been sold and rented to we'll
known citizens, and by the time Mr.. Wilitts
that will be on the last Sunday in this month),
1t will be difficult to purchase or rent very
desirable pew in the church. We glad to
welcome Mr.. Willitts back to Philadelphia, and
we predict for him career of great usefulness
During his ministry in this city before Prince
ton College, In recognition Of his talents and
services, bestowed upon him the degree of A. NJ,
and while in Brooklyn, Rutgers College gave
him the title OF ID. ID.
The PENNSYLVANIA BIBLE SOCIETY has lust
entered on the sixtieth year of its organization.
The following officers and managers were
elected on Tuesday last to serve during the
P'estdent-Rev, Albert Barnes. 1ce-Prsstdents-
Rev. 9: r Krauth, D. D., Rev, B. S, schenck, Rev
John Pressly D. D. Rey aOgaTd var MaS MaGom J D. D.
yens. D. d. co,1'espondtng SecretarV-Joseph II. DG
Secretary ot Eastern District REV: ITyq il Terrence
les, j. Fisher Leaning, William shpPen ND M D.. ! Her
Henry Hen j. Williams, Thomas Watson, Rev: Joseph
Castle, D. D.. w. ILytteton Savage, Rev. j. Il; A;
Newton D. D., Rev. Charles P. KTaut6s p p, Rev.
sGd 5e%e Rev w. Guer ReV J. Howard sSy
dam RT1 sn Wa% strong SShn oSpaes Wee
The receipts OF the Society last year amounted
70 S5l 648'45; the payments to So, 1896: There
was circulation of 96,lS Bibles and nd Iesta-
ments, amounting in value to S43 3OO9S2 In
addition to this, the Society deposited with the
American Bible Society $4,000 to pay for 10000
Testaments, with Psalms, to be distributed In
the Southern States. This is a large increase of
the circulation over last year.
The Society has nearly 100 Oauxiliaries through
out the State and are prosecuting their work
vigorously. They also receive and appropriate
money for the circulation of Bibles Ia foreign
lands or wherever the donor may wish.
Their Depository has all the publications OF
the American Bible Society, and many OF the
British Bible Society, comprising nearly one
hundred languages, from the smallest 10 Cne
largest type.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO LITTLE BoY.-About
seven o'clock last evening, couple OF little
boy s. one named Henry BaltZ, aged four years,
were playing upon q lumber pile standlng In
the street at Third above ButJonwood In Q
playful mood the other boy pushed Henry OF,
and he fell upon the track OF the Second and
Third Streets Railway, just as car No ~ came
along, and Notwithstanding efforts were macs aSt5
to stop it, the car wheels passed over his LETT
arm, seriously injuring It, Amputation is
Thought necessary. The driver and conductor
were both exonerated from all blame.
ELEGANT COUNTRY SEATS AND FARMS, RESI-
DENOEs. STORES, ETC.-Those of our readers
seeking Investments, or delightful nome IN
the country would do well by getting Thomas
& Sons catalogue of twenty-eight pages Ioi
their sale on Tuesday next, at the exchange
comprisinR upwards of fifty properties, In
cludinR elegant country seats, farms, stores
desirable dwellings,, building lots, stocks, etc
See their advertisements under auction heao'
DIsoRpRRLY CoNDUcT.-Samuel Hance, an
Englishman, manifested his supreme contempt
Tor his neighbors in and about Randolph ano
Master Streets by using as ~ is aeseg IN
disoIderly conduct. When arrested and taken
before Alderman Shoemaker, he used such dis
respectful and disgusting iangnage 10 ~ tht az
magistrate, that he was committed III ueIaulI
$1,000 bail TO answer at Court
JAMEs K. MURDooH's LAST APPEARANCE
The special programme arranged for the las
Of r. Mnr0OCh.