, 1876-07-03
HISTORICAL.

TIE FIFTH PRESBYTERIAN CHCRCu-sERMoN
BE THE REV. c. L. THOMPSON
At the last session Of the General Assembly
OF the Presbyterian Church it was, by vote,
recommended that all pastors Of churches pre-
pare Us full histories possible Of their several
churches and deliver the same on the first Sab
bath in July. It WAS also provided that these
discourscs, which, in the aggregate, covered the
whole history Of the denomination In the United
States, should he transmitted to Philadelphia
for preservation in building to be there erect
ed for the purpose.
In accordance with the Recommendation re-
ferred to, the Rev. Charles L. Thompson, pas
tor Of the Fifth Presbyterian Church Of t1hs
city, yesterday delivered wc1l-written and
thorough historical sketch CT the three churches
which were merged into the Fifth. The audit
orium was profusely decorated with flags On the
walls, around the choir and the pulpit. The
speaker took for his text the following:
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he
will be our guide even unto death-Psalias.,
Xviii, IA.
alr. Thompson began his discourse by sketch
ing TIVE progress OF the denomination from the
besinniilg Of the last century, when It COM
pHsed only few scattered congregations In New
York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, up to the
present, when its 5000 ministers weekly pre-
fn1ta fea 9ysr tS great conversations During The in
te-'0A "AAs S"@'A ACpt up u 6LE1uF Ef0Wt6.
though three times divided and twice rtllnitcd'
After alluding briefly to The !rorress If The
Church in the items Of seminaries, churches,
missions, literature, and religious nross res
Church in Chicago BY referring to the Presbyte-
fian Churches on the South Side when, nineteen
years ago, he was attending college here. There
were then III existence in the South Division
the the First Church H. on Washington near Clark;
avenue; and the South Church, corner Edna
place and Jackson street.
From that time to the date OF the Great Fire
the building Of churches and organization Of
congregations was so rapid that at the latter
date there had been no less than ten On the
South Side. This number had now been re-
duccd to FIVE and the contraction was wise and
necessary; church extension had been on a
balloon basis and the Icsscning in number was
effective attack.
The South Presbyterian Church, one Of the
three which we're eventually merged In the
Fifth, WAS founded December - 1854, by four
teen members from the North Church.
sprague and Thomas A. Beebee,
and the first pastor, the Rev. R. ". Henry, who
continued in that relation three and oue-llalf
years, during which time 40 members were re-
ceiyed, n on profession OF faith. Following
Mr.. Henry, the Rev. 7. II. Cunningham assumed
the pastoTate and continued it one year. In
1852 the Rev. ". ". Harsha was called, and re-
manned with the church until 1868! After the
latter date the interest in the church began to
fall of and it was merged with the Twenty
eighth Street church.
During the year 1s67 twenty-four members
from the United Presbyterian Church, and some
others from Calvary, united in the formation of
church n the southern portion OF the city, and
ths Rey. EosnezeF p Erskine joined in the work
Connen was called to the passionate in 1868, but
not long afterWard dismissed and in the fol-