Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-11
THE CITY.
OUR CHURCHES.
Seeond Presbyterian Church.
NO. VIII.

Presbyterian Church Is drawn up Dy ChaS.
w. Smith, from facts gathered from its
records, and from a Thanksgiving sermon
by Rev. John S. Hays.
More than thirty years ago, during the
progress of a revival meeting held by Rev.
Daniel Baker in the First Presbyterian
Church, of this city, in the fall of 1871,
the incipient steps towards the eStab-
ment of another church of like faith, were
taken BY a few young disciples whose
energy and zeal for the enlargement OF
Christ's kingdom, forbid their setting down
at ease in the satisfied employment Of the
good things they already pOSSessed-sO, in
looking about for a field TO cultivate to
the honor of the Master, their attention
was at once directed to the northern pOr-
tion Of the city, which was, so far as relig-
iOus privileges were concerned, waste and
desert, but vet where there were to lie
found a few faithful friends of Christ and
his cause. In this field the number of
children, and the great distance from the
nearest house Of worship, rendered 1t an
unusually fine opening for the establish
ment of Sabbath school. Accordingly
after several months of anxious enquiry
and prayerful consideration, they set them
selves seriously to work, and through the
kindness Of Col. Andrew Hynes, they Oh
tanned the use of a room in his large ware
house on Market Street, a room about 20
feet wide by 40 feet in length, which was
used for the storage Of salt.
On the 22d of May, 1912, the OTganiZa-
tiOn Of the Sunday-schOol was completed
by the election Of III. G.. ScOvel Superin-
tendent, Samuel Hill, Assistant; Abram
Stevens, Treasurer, and Charles c. Il.
Thompson, Librarian.
\ library was obtained by a subscription
of forty dollars, and the donation of one
half of the old library belonging to the
First Church Sabbath-schOOl. From that
DAY the march was onward. BY the active
eXertiOns Of the teachers and friends it
soon numbered hundred scholars. a sun
rise PRAYER meeting was established and
vigorously maintained during the succeed
inc winter. In addition TO this, DR.. Edgar,
the beloved pastor Of tie First Church, for
a considerable time held regular meetings
for prayer and exhOuatiOn in the school
room, and in doing so entitled himself to
the credit Of institutiDg the first regular
public service out of which the Second
Presbyterian Church afterwards spOntane-
Ously grew.
BY an arrangement between DrS. Edgar
and Lapsley a regular Wednesday night
prayer-meeting was instituted, but the tenn
POrary character of this arrangement served
only to create the imperative necessity for
something more permanent, but the OBJ
stacleS which lay in the way Of the eStab-
lishment OF another Presbyterian Church,
We're of the most formidable character; that
portion Of the city was sparSely settled; all
that were engaged in the school; were in
moderate circumstances; but one PreSby-
terian in the vicinity who could pecuniarly
assist the enterprise,
Amid these difficulties. none were more
interested or more desirous to overcome
them than Alpha Kingsley and his wife
Mary Kingsley, who were so impressed
that a powerful God often interpOses in be
half of his people in the greatest straits,
that they urged this little band to immedi-
ale action, and Mr.. Kingsley, with the adj
vice of MeSsrS. Hill. Adams, Erwin, and
others. drew up and circulated q paper,
binding the subscribers to pay the sums at
fixed 20 their names semi-annually for two
years, TO procure stated preaching in the
warehouse, and providing for the election
of pastor, as soon as the sum Of $500 was
subscribed.
In the spring of 1913 this sum was Oh
tanned, an organization effected, and ''Ihe
Presbyterian Society began its career.
Upon the 24th of May, 1S43, the "SOci
ETY. elected the Rev. Il. \. Lapsley as their
first pastor, but he declined the call. Rev.
Alexander VancOurt was then unanimously
chosen, but at the end Of about two months
resigned his charge, having accepted an ur
gent call TO the Presbyterian church in
Florence, Alabama.
On the Both day of August Rev. r. y.
Lapsley received a second call, which he ac-
cepted for two years, and about the middle
OfSeptember entered upon his sacred duties.
On Sunday, November II, Rev. John
r. Balm, by appointment Of PreSbyteTy,
completed the organization of what the $50
ciety' was hereafter to be called, viz: 1.-The
Second Presbyterian Church. by the Ordi-
nation of \. q. Adams and James VI. HAM
ilton as additional elders, and Samuel Hill,
Abram Stevens, Foster Williams and John
McCrae as deacons, and James Erwin,
Alpha Kingsley and Pleasant Smith as
trustees of the congregation. In the short
space Of ten days from this time, Mr.. James
Erwin had given the lot on the corner Of
College and Gay streets. on which to build
q CllluNAl. G4lA oAbAAiAlCu q fAAAA VI tAAE
building. which were gratefully accepted.
In the month Of April, 1874, on a bright,
beautiful dav, the corner stone Of the sacred
edifce was laid with appropriate eere-
monies. Rev. Philip Lindsey, ID. D., and
Rev. John L. Edgar making suitable adj
dresses on the occasion.
By the middle Of November the base
ment was finished, and set apart for the use
- :
warehouse. Sabbath services were held in
the same place until the 9Th day of Septem-
Der, 1916, at which time the house Of wOr-
ship was sOlemnly dedicated. With a
Lapsley rs commander, with the purse Of
an Erwin for her motive power, with
faithful corps of officers, with fOrty-nine
church members and one hundred and three
Sabbath-schOOl children for a cargo, the
little vessel lay ut her mOOrings with her
flag aloft, her sails UnfUrled, waiting for
wind and tide to set her atloat. An I'M
mense congregation attended the dedicatOry
services. Dr.. Philip Lindsey preached the
sermon, one of the most eloquent efforts Of
his life. He aroused her officers to 4 sense
of their responsibilities; he invoked the
curse of Heaven on those who would seek
to corrupt her purity or do her harm: i'm
plOred the blessing of God upon her voyage,
and turned her loose.
Rev. L. y. Lapsley continued rs stated
supply till January 1850, when the congre-
CATION invited h IN TO become its permanent
pastor, and on the 9th of May he was in
Stalled as such. This relation continued
with uninterrupted harmony until Decem-
ber, 1855, when his falling health warned
him TO seek dissolution of that relation.
For this step his people were unprepared.
He had endea-cd himself very much to
them; together they had met around the
same communion table; had bowed around
the family altar; together had met in the
enjoyment of festivity; had met around the
diving bed, mingling their tears over loved
ones; together had TeiOiced at the bridal
altar, and together had seen that tendereSt
of all earthly relations dissolved by the
ruthless hand of death; no wonder they
were unwilling to part with him without
the clearest evidence that il was the Divine
will; but neither the offer of a respite from
his labOTs, nor the earnest solicitations of