Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-09-02
Hanov or ST. Presbyterian Church.

-REv. GEO. E. J)NEs's PAMPHLET.
Rev Geo. Edward Jones, pastor of Lower
Brandywine Presbyterian church, (Green
Hill,) preached a memorial discourse, on
Sunday, July End, and at the request of
members of his congregation, it has been
printed in pamphlet form, under the title
Glover BrRndywine and its Pastors for One
Hundred and Fifty-Sx Years." Mr.. Jones
has made thereby an interesting and valua-
bic contribution to our collections of local
history We extract what he says of Han
over Street Presbyterian church
Another progressive step in the cause of
religion in this vicinity, as one of the re-
suits of Mr.. Smiths labors while pastor of
Lower Brandywine, was the organization Of
the Second Presbyterian Church of Will.
mngton. Ard we are not to infer that be-
oluse there is no church in that city now,
known as the Second Presbyterian Church,
that the fruits of his labors were not as
permanent there az in the building of the
Old Log, and in the existence of this
church (Lower Brandywine) to-day. The
success of his ministry there is to be sought
for in the history of the present vigorous
Hanover Street Church organization,
though its age and origin are obscured un-
der a comparatively recent and less appro-
pirate name. This obscurity is increased
IfOLu lu6 buDSouuonU IlsbUIN Vi Juhb COu-
gregatiop not being as readily traced, RS of
many other churches, so that it has some.
times been gravely asserted that the pres
ent Hanover Street Church is of compare
lively recent org 9nizaton. We must be per-
mitted, as an independent witness, TO give
the result of our investigation into this
sometimes disputed point.
In April, 1929 "a communication from
some members of Christian church (the
charter name of the old Second church)
was presented, praying to be formed into
church to be entitled the Second .Presbyte-
rian Church of Wilmington"
This petition was referred to commit
tee of Presbyterv who reported that the Pc
tioners represented "that they had lately
purchased the house formerly occupied by
said congregation. procured an lncorpora-
ton act from the State Legi stature, which
they have accepted under the name Of the
Second Presbyterian Church of Whining
tOn,' and now request Presbytery to organ
ize them as such and receive them under
their care" They were so organized, and
in August, 1929, we have member Of Pres
bytery from "the new Second Presbyterian
church. Wilmington"
Rev. e. w. Gilbert was psstor of the Old
Second Church congregation at that time,
the congregation having recently occupied
their new church. Mr.. Gilbert's congrega-
ton had long been known popularly,as ''the
Second Presbyterian Church." He and his
people were unwilling to be summarily
robbed Of their good name, as would result
from calling tho new organic alton "the
Second Church.
At meeting of Presbytery, November
| 1929, held for the purpose of installing the
| first pastor OF the new Second church, it
was ''unanimously resolved chat rhe oongfe-
CATION organized III Wilmington by an act
of Presbytery at their late meeting by the
| name OF the 'Secoud Presbyterian congre
CATION OF Wilmington, be known in future
on the records OF Presbytery by the name
of the Third Presbyterian congregation, OF
| bv anv other winch said congregation may
assume, which shall not interfere with the
ecclesiastical name of the congregation un
der the care Of Mr.. Gilbert After this ac-
| tion we have the names Second church, DIR.
| Gilberts, aud Third church, the new organ
ization, occurring side by side in the rec
ords of Presbytery.
There must have been something in a
name in those days. A few months after
and the new organization informed Presby-
| terry fthat they have assumed the name Of
the Second Presbyterian Church of Will
| mington at the corner of Walnut and Queen
streets" 1t was decided that this would
still interfere with the name OF DR.. Gilbert
church.
In April, 1881, the old Second church ap
pears on the records under the new charter
name they had secured by an act of the
Legislature, as "The Hanover Street Pres
byGerian Church" This now becomes the
name used in the records of Presbytery
while the new organization previously
called the Third, now takes and enjoys il
peace, while it survived, the name 'Second
Presbyterian Church, but was not the Sec
ond church, organized by Mr.. Joseph
Smith. The present Hanover Street Church
is the old Second church organized under
the ministry of MIR. Smith while pastor oi
Lower Brandywine. The new seoono
church after an existence Of few years
became extinct as separate organization.
Copies of MIR. Jones's pamphlet, which
is neatly printed and we'll gotten up, may be
had at the bookstore of Messrs. Porter q
Co, 400 Market street, this city.