The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-04
CITY INTELLHGENCE Re.
ANOTHER LANDMARK GOING.


dencd- sketch of its BIstory-The Graveyard
Belonging TO the Church = Interesting
Rpitaphs.
The old Scots Presbyterian Church, on Spruce
street. above Third, is now advertised for sale, and
within twevemonth from the present time It win
m all probability have passed into other hands, and
perhaps be among the things OF the past. The con-
xregation at the present time consists Of about
ninety souls, all OF whom are willing and anxious to
mold 70 the old church and building, but various
circumstances render it necessary that some change
should be made. The church has been without
settled pastor for some time, but 1t 10 not the inten
tien OF the congregation to disband They expect
"a soon as circumstances will permit to alter their
Nocatiep and build new ediHce. No definite plan,
howeyer, has yet been decided upon. The want OF
n suitable minister who will build up and resusci-
tate the church. and the impossibity OF 1ndng such
one at the present time are the Immediate causes
fer the sale. II such person could be found, the
building would be withdrawn from the market, and
ahe church would again open its doors to the people,
Though the church is known as the Scots
Presbyterian Church, there are not probably more
than one or two persons at the present time con-
nected with ii who are OF immediate Scotch descent
It was formerly composed entirely of persons Of
Scottish birth and parentage.
This ancient church WAS first founded about the
wear 1850, but was not then known as the Scots
PRESBYTERIAN Church. That was the title it took
when the act Of incorporation was granted in 1870.
The frSt formation took place on q lot in Shippen
gsreet between Third and Fourth, which is still in
me possession of the church. Here building
erected u feet in width by 40 feet in depth. This
has long since disappeated.
The title-deedB OF the present property on Spruce
street are dated 1771. The building then erected
was entirely altered and enlarged in 1S43 so shat
sraee Of the old structure remains The tablet on
Hhe front OF present building bears the two
tened dates and gives the year 1771, in which the
ttedeeds were executed, as the date OF foundation
but the church itself was in existence at much
earlier period.
The REV Mr. Proudns from Scotland, was the
nrst minister connected with this church of whom
there is any record but the Rev. Mr. Gellatly is sup
posed to have been the nrst pastor David Telfair
whose remains lie buried In the Shippen street
ground formerly occupied by the church, was sup
posed to be the second. The minutes OF the church
meetings, which are now in the possession OF its
0icers do not 20 back far as the date OF forma-
tion. They only embrace the period subsequent to
1en1 far enough to give many interesting particulars
Other minutes are in existence, but 1t is not known
me dates Of the terms OF service of Telfair Gel
htly and Proudft cannot be stated with any de-
gree Of th01gh an a S can be
have been pastors OF the church, complete as far
back as the year 1T79:-
Robert AMMAN, from 1855 to 1902.
James Gray, D. D., from 1904 to 1916
Robert McCartee, from@1s1S @ to 1921.
James Arbuckle, from 1922 to 1924
William L. McCaila, from 1924 TO 1885.
Alexander Macklin, from 1885 to 1869.
N. w. Conklin, from 1861 to 1868.
David A. Cunningham, from 1864 to 1866.
Since that time the church has had no settled
This church is also known as the Eighth Presby-
as se FIFTH and SIKH This accounted for By the
fact that this corporation did not join the General
Assembly Of the PRESBYTERIAN Church in America
buckle, when it received its number. Previous TO
that time it had been in correspondence with the
Associate Synod OF Edinburgh.
The records show many curious and interesting
noidents connected with its history In the revoll-
Ii.,a. al q toI txy% %to
British during their occupation OF the city,
The damages done by the soldiers appears to have
been considerable, for in the minutes OF meeting
0f the CORPORATION held about that time find that
a committee was appointed to wait upon Dr. Morgan
and Jasper Carpenter, and that the committee were
ampoWered to settle damages done the meeting
house and ground. This Morgan and Carpenter are
supposed to have been referees put forward to settle
the claim. In the minutes of a later meeting we
md that report was made, stating that q lawsuit
had been commenced against this Jasper Carpenter
for damages done by him to the peWs, and the fence
around the Westinghouse The minutes OF ameet-
ing held December IA, 1T79 state that at a former
samuel Mcclure and Frazer Kinsley, had been ap-
pointed by the corporation TO assess the damages on
the church property, and the following formidable
account then folows:-
To so yards frame divisions, at Gl0A G502 4s.
TO so yards and feet of quarter round
To T4S feet of seats at 10s........ ........ 374
To 3O6 feet OF brackets at 131as s......... 1876 13
To 4s feet OF under boards at los, "a
To 801 feet of coping at 13s 4d., ..,.,... 200 13
To s42 feet moudings, at 6s. Sd. ........... ia
To 2S2T feet pine boards at -e350 u 1000 IT,. $50
To 400 feet cedar do, at G10O u 1000 feet. 100
Toso pounds nails and glue. 142
TO 40 pairs hinges. ................ 472
10 fence, 9O4 feet cung boards at e9OO y
1OOe feet ............................. 610 4
To 9S red cedar posts at CO u post. ia
Te pairs hinges at G3 % pound. .......... 12o
TO 26 pounds nails at G3 los. u pound. 80 Is
Total. .........................e e55OO 1888.
Ia this account the frame divisions mentioned Ia
the first item the partitions between the pews.
The 4s feet of under boards are the boards which
were Mt the time laid directly the ground in place
OF regular built neoring. The 30l feet OF coping
were for the resting boards which placed In the
front of the old high-back pews below the top, for
the greater comfort OF the worshippers. The old
The culing boards were for the fence, and are the
roughest Kind OF unpaned boards. The pairs OF
large hinges supposed, OF course, TO have been
wanted for the gate. Carpenters and hardware
merchants will notice the great difference in the
price OF nails between that time and ours The diff
ference is decidedly in our favor.
A careful search Of the minutes does not reveal
the fact that any payment was ever made Of this
elaborate account
The congregation appears to have had a good
record in reference TO the struggle for American in
depence. There was certainly no waverlng or neu-
trality in its loyalty. Ia the minutes of meeting
held in May, 1885, motion was passed that emo
man (natives eXcepted) can vote or be elected
member of the corporation until he presents his GER
tinoate of his having taken the oath OF allegiance to
the State-a royal precedent this for our Southern
brethren.
About the same time trouble took place with Mr.
Marshall one of the pastors account of the same
sentiment. The story Is doubtless partly legend
only, but 1t has a good foundation, as the records
show. Some Of the Incidents are plainly matters of
congregation which resulted in the resignation N
such 1t might be called, of Mr.. Marshall.