The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-20
C1TV HNrELLIaEN X.
EARLY BAPTIST HISTORY.

tho Foundation to the Present TIme-Tse
First RFeeGin -house.
The First Baptist Church Of Philadelphia, at pre-
sent worshipping in their church building at the
Of Broad and Arch Streets s one OF the Oldest
churches, and the very first OF Its denomination, as
its implies in the city, Its early history dates
back far as the year 1896, when Philadelphia was
IN its insancy.
The very first church OF this denomination in the
State was formed at place called Cold Spring, In
Bucks county, between Bristol and Trenton In 1884,
only three years after William Penn obtained his
patent from Charles III. All that now remains to
call to mind this organization is graveyard where
the founder Thomas Duncan, lies buried.
The second was founded in 1856 at Pennepek
(spelled also Pennepack), Lower Dublin, which Is
now the oldest church Ia the State and was the
mother OF the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
The country the neghborhood Ofb0th Of these early
churches was at that time little more than wilder
ness The second pastor Of the Pennepek Church,
Rev. John Watts, was also preacher for the First
Philadelphia church during the early years Of its
existence.
In the year 1928 q mere handful OF Baptsts nine
IN number, came together in Philadelphia, and met
for worship in q small building known as the Barba-
does-lot store which had been used as store-house
by the Barbados Company, formerly situated at the
northwest corner Of Chestnut and Second streets.
This building was frame structure, with one
story and loft, having door in front and
mat John Watts preached as often as he could con-
yenentiy come from Pennepek to the i'great towp.n
az philadelphia was then called.
Owing TO some trouble with the Presbyterlans the
Baptiss left the Barbados building, after having
occupied it for about three years. and held their
meetings in what was known Anthony Morris
BrewhOuse, the east side OF Water street, little
above the drawbrdge on the river side. Here they
continued TO worship until 1907 when they again
removed to take possession, by invitation, OF the
Kethan Meeting House, on Second street, near
Mulberry (now Arch street, This was small
wooden building, erected in 1892, by the Keithians
a sect of the Friends, followers OF the seceder
This Westinghouse was torn down I'm 1871 bv the
Baptists, and new brick building AZ by 30 feet was
also taken down in 1902, and on the same ground a
more spacious one was raised, which was 81 by AZ
feet This was also built of brick, at an expense OF
c22OO. Another enlargement was made in 1slS
which made the dimensions OF the church building
81 by Is feet The old lot was 43 feet front on Second
street and 1903 feet deep towards Third street. The
additional ground purchased at the time of this last
enlargement extended 3713 feet from the old lot to
a court then called Frcmbergcr's, on which il had
front of 130 feet This ground, with the enlargement
OF the house, cost $4,000. The site then occupied
and other buildings, but the appearance OF the Old
ediace as stood after the last alteration il still
fresh in the memory of many, and of some not very
old inhabitants Previous TO the removal OF this con-
Rregation TO their present building, the Second
street and Arch street fronts OF the lot had been
built up with stores that entrance to the church
could only be had through Lagrange place which
is a small court running west OF Second street,
lust below Arch.
A trouble in 1874 came very near deprIyiur the
Baptsts Of their church and lot 1t seems that one
Thomas Pearl died after having made conveyance
OF the premises TO the Church OF England Possess
sion was demanded which was refused 10y the Ban
tists lawsuit commenced, which brought the
matter to n hearing before the Provincial Assembly,
The claimants becoming discouraged, offered to re.
lnqush all rights to the property IL such they ever
the contention ceased.
During the early years OF its history the pulpit was
supplied almost entirely by the ministers from PEN
nepek. The first Baptist meeting in the Barhadoes-
lot store his store was at first held mutually with
the Presoyterians and meetings were held by both
nor Opult htnin
tis or Presbyterian clergymen was held by the Rev
John Watts. the second pastor OF Pennepek. But il
also appears that Elias Reach, the first Pennepek
PASTOR preached in the Barbados store but at what
time is not Known 1t was not, probably while he
gan his ministry an impostor and the founding of
the church OF Pennepek grew out of freak OF his in
passing for minister on first coming to this country
from England He however, afterwards became
consistent Chrlsgan ana pastor, was baptized and
ordained by MIR. Duncan, of the Cold Spring church
and eventually reared and took charge of a chufch
on the spot where he had originally prsctsed his
deception.
The Philadelphia church experienced paipful
division in 17l1 occaaoned by the turbulent spirit
OF an Irish preacher named Thomas shelby Mr.
Burrows was then pastor OF the church, in connec-
ton with that at Pennepck. Shelby formed party
and shut Mr.. Burrows out OF the meeting-hous
The friends OF Mr.. Burrows were obliged TO meet
Tor worship In the house of the pastor, on Chestnut
street Mr. Abel Morgan became the pastor of the
two churches after MIR. Burrows, and he obliged
Shelby to quit the town In 17l8 when the bresch
wasquickly healed
Besides these preachers the church, through
period of forty-eght years prior to the wear I746
minlstered TO by some twelve Others all OF
whom had charge also or the Pennepek or other
churches The first who may properly be called
pastor OF the Philadelphia church was Jenkin Jones
They had called the Rev. George Eagesheld In 1723
TO be their exclusive PASTOR contrary to the wishes
OF the church at Pennepck, but Ia 1926 he left them
and went TO Middleton. la the year 1746 question
arose whether the Philadelphia church was NOT a
branch OF that at Pennepek, aud whether the
former had not right to part OF the legacies be-
slowed upon the latter. From that the designs
OF benefactors should be perverted, the Phlladel-
phLa church, then consisting OF 90 members, was
formally constituted an independent body ON May 10
OF the same year.
Rev. Jenkin Jones, native Welshrnan had been
pastor OF the two churches prior to their division
from the year 1928, and at the time OF its reconstrnc
tian took charge OF the Philadelphia church. Mr.
Jones was q hard worker and did good service for
thediscOvery of tribe Of Welsh indians which were
supposed TO exist IN region westward OF Lake
Superior. He was also instrumental iD securing 10
the,0hurch the possession OF its house and ground
He the cause OF changes in the marriage llcense
regulations, which enabled dissenting ministers to
perform marriages under conditions which had
before been Illegal. He buit parsonage partly al
his own expense. Among other handsome donations
ne left legacy towards purchasing silver cup for
the Lords table which cost upwards OF eco. This
cup is in ase TO this day log the congregation. II
Legacy OF JenkIn Jones. 1883"
Mr.. Jones died IN Philadelphia July 1G, 176i lie
was buried in the Old Second street ground and his
body has probably been removed along with others
Rev. EbeEezer KiEaersey wag contemporary with
MIR. Jones' He was q native OF England. He
had charge OF the church, and preached in
professorship In the then College OF Phila-
delphia- lie Was q companion OF Or. Franklin in
Phlosophieel fesearcnei ana lmmoEtalized his name
IN connection with electricity SoMe letters In the
Doctors peculiar style we're written by Franklin in
relatCA TO DIR. IIlnersey, but none OF them are OF
p8rtcHar interest In this connection One Is letter
from Franklin 10 james Bowdoin in Boston, intro
ducing Mr. kinlersley, who then on a tour
thropga 9,e county, as an interesting lecturer on