The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-20


War he was chaplain in the American army. In
1859 ne was appointed professor in the University
Of Pennsylvania which once he held until his resg
nation In 1912. Or. Rogers was extensively known
among the Baptsts in America, Europe, and India
The church remained without pastor during the
Revolutionary War, but was served for short time
by the Rev. Elhanan winchester from 1850 to 17sl.
In 1882 Rev. Thomas Ustick was elected Mr. Ustick
labored for this congregation for twentyone years.
until his death, which took place In 1S03 In the nfteth
Ia 1906 Dr. William stoughton was invited to sup
ply the place Of Mr.. Ustck. After six years OF no
unfrutful labor, he resigned to take charge OF the
new church on SAMSON street.
The formation OF this new church waa caused by
the secession OF 81 members from the Second Street
Church, who were dissatisfied on account OF the
iatIon to political matters Il took place lust previ-
GUS to the war of 1912, when partisan feeling ran
high between adherents OF the different sides. The
pastor, DIR. StOughtOn was native Englishman, as
were many OF the congregation, and consequently
their sympathies were with the mother country.
has never before been published, is OF some in
terest as showing the feeling of the
held in the Second street building previous
to the secession, at which both parties were
In each corner. Suddenly, during the progress OF
the meeting, one OF the stoves commenced to smoke
most voluminously, so much 80 that business had TO
be suspended, and the several members were obliged
to betake themselves TO coughing for occupation.
The utmost scrutiny could discover no cause for the
mysterious action Of the stove. The sexton at the
time, MIR. George Muslin who was of tie American
party, was applied to. He could give no relief, and
after several lnetlCCtual attempts B0lemnly an
nounced to the assembly that he could account for
1t in no other way than by Supposng that there
an Englishm0n in the stOveppe. This explanation
appears TO have been satisfactory, to one side at
least.
The troube ended with the withdrawal Of the
English element who with the pastor built the
church on SAMSON street. The popularity OF DIR.
StOughton a pulpit orator was such that i'm
mense church had to be built to accommodate the
crowds which hocked to hear him. II was @ circular
building, 90 feet In diameter, with galleries all
around, and costing with the lot $4,000, large
sum for that time. This church has since removed
TO the northwest corner OF Eighteenth aud Spring
Garden streets. The circular building, which stands
SAMSON street, about half way between Eighth and
Ninth, used as riding school, is the same build
ing, but the interior had been entirely altered some
years previous to the removal. After Dr. Stoughtons
resignation the old form was found much too large
for the congregation What had originally been the
galleries was 6oored over, and became the body OF
the church. and other and smaller galleries were put
in above the old ones. The ground floor OF the Old
auditorium became the basement and lecture
room.
In Dr. stoughton's time the large amphitheatre was
crowded to excess every Sunday. He was one OF
the most successful preachers that Philadelphia has
ever had, and his dscourses were listened to alike
by Baptists and members OF other denominations
by worldly men and church members, rich and poor
fashionable and humble alike. He was not merely
preacher to congregation, but one OF the attrac
tons of the city. Three services were held every
Sunday and members OF the church attending in
the afternoon who wished to come ut night also
were accustomed to bring their suppers with them
and remain in the church. II they did otherwise
they stood poor chance OF getting TO their peWs In
great at this time that every Sunday evening Sam
som was crowded from Eighth to Ninth streets, 80
that person coming late could not even get near
the building. The ike has not been heard OF In PHI
ladelphia since that time.
After DIR. Stoughton and his party had left to form
the new organization, the Rev. Henry Holcomb was
called to take charge OF the Second street First
Church, with which all the loyal MEMBERS or those
with strong American sentiments continued their
connection. He commenced his ministry in 1911,
and served for fifteen years, until his death in 1926
Mr.. Holcomb was a captain In the American army in
Revolutionary vh
the United States Constitution was adopted by
South Carolina he was member Of the convention.
IL during the pastorate of Mr.. Hocomb that this
church erected baptistery on the banks of the
Schuykill, near Spruce street. on spot which had
from the earliest times been used for baptsma
monies by this denomination. II was of brick, two
stories high 36 feet by IS Thelower story was lifted
up with pulpit and seats, and the upper story was
divided into two dressingrOoms for the candidates.
II on this spot that the "5tone of witness" for
merly stood, around which the candidates knelt to
pray, and from which the preacher addressed the
Mr.. Holcomb was succeeded in 1926 by Rev. Will
liam I. Brantly, who remained in connection with
the church until 1887. Mr.. Brsntly was in turn
succeeded by Rev. George Burton Ide, VINO labored
faithfully until 1853 His successor was the Rev.
James ii. Cuthbert, whose term OF service extended
from 1855 TO 1861. The present pastor, Rev. George
Dana Boardman, succeeded Mr.. Cuthbert. He is
Boardman, but was educated in this country, at
Brown University and at the Newton Theological
School, near Boston.
In 1852 measures were taken to build new
church in different location In 1885, during the
pastOrate OF Mr.. Cuthb0rt, the congregation moved
INTO the building, at the northwest corner OF
Broad and Arch streets, which is the same they now
occupy 1t is in the Byzantine style Of architecture,
built of brown stone, and has tower and spre OF
stone on the southeast angle 226 feet high.
Though the church is one of the Oldest in the city,
1t only chartered in 1929 while under the pasto-
raj care OF Mr.. Holcomb. The Sunday School con-
nected with it OF the first OF those enter
prises, and was founded in 1915. Both church and
school are now in a fourishing condition.
LA CoTERIE CARNIvAI.-The annual Coterie Car
nval and Bal Masque took place last night at the
Academy of Music, and was witnessed by a large