The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-19
FIFTY YEARS.
The Second Baptist Church CeIe-
brates its Jubilee Anniversary.

brates its Jubilee Anniversary.
Commencing Sunday September 9th, the
Second Baptist Church, celebrated its 5Oth
anniversary by series of meetings which
were interesting in the extreme, and which
ended on Sunday the 13 inst.
The preliminary service of prayer was
held in the lecture room at 030 o'clock Sep
9th; the regular exercises of the morning
Sunday school being omitted to unite in the
afternoon in grand Sunday School meet
ing with the afternoon school.
At 1890 o'clock sermon by the Rev. VIM.
Cathcart, D. D., an eminent divine of Phla-
delphia, and having a national reputation
among Baptists. A more ably delivered
sermon one seldom hears.
The Lords supper was celebrated at the
close OF the sermon.
At 2.3O o'clock in the afternoon the Sum
day Schools held their celebration of the
event by singing, led by H. W. Zimmerman
and addresses by Washington Jones and
VIM. II. Gregg, (hoth former superintend-
ents of the afternoon SCHOOL, the Rev. II.
L. Wayland, D. D., and DR.. C. R. Blackall
of Philadelphia.
Sunday evening the Rev. DR.. Cathcart
preached to large audience.
On Monday afternoon the fifth service
of the series was held, and addresses were
delivered by Hon. H. G. Jones of Phiadel-
phia, the Rev DR.. L. Marks and the Rev.
W. L. 6. Murray of Wilmington, and the
Rev. @. L. Williams of Upland, Pa. At the
conclusion of this service grand reunion of
all members of the church both former and
present and their friends, was held in the
| lecture room in the shape of social tea
drinking
The tables which were arranged in the
lecture room were taStefully and handsome
| ly LAID with edibles, and the members con-
| Quoted to seatG at the same. About 300
persons partook of the supper. The strang-
ers and speakers who were present pronoun-
ced it the handsomest entertainment Of the
kind that they had ever experienced,
At 7.30 p. M, services were resumed in
the man audience room by music from the
choir assisted by the Old Trinity choir Of
this city. The music rendered on this oc-
casion was especially pleasing and epjoya-
Bile,
| An historical address by the pastor, the
Rev. R. i. Cook, d. D., of the church,
from its inception, was delivered, which
proved of espeelaI interest -UoCfI --ssa- o.
younger members, who for the first time
heard of the struggle and successes OF
the church in its younger days and to the
older members as it recalled to them events
which transpired years ago and in which
they probably had taken an active part.
Dr. Cook stated that the first Baptist
| church in America was founded in 1901 by
| parties who came from England and Wales,
and who after some moving about from
place to place settled and located their first
meeting house on what was called the
Welsh tract, at Iron Hill, in this county.
Old Swedes Church had been built but five
years wheh the first Baptist meeting house
was located in Delaware and America.
The first church of this denomination in
Wilmington was built in 1885, and is 100
years old now. Referring to this church
and congregation, the meeting house on
King street opposite the court house, Mr..
Cook said the house still stands, and the
| church stands still.
The founding of Second Baptist Church
was the result of the auti-mission move
ment in the old church, which first cropped
out in 1880, and which when it was finally
successful blasted the church and set it back
many years. The only successful effort to
overcome the effect of this movement was
| that which created the Second Church. In
1885. IS members of the First Church, who
were in favor of missions, withdrew and or
ganized the Second Church, which organi-
cation was completed on September 7th Of
that year.
The Sunday School was established in
1886, and was first held at a place on Hano-
yer street, now Sixth, and afterward III the
building now occupied by the Historical So
ciety, until the new congregation grew
strong enough to build a church of its own
which it did at Fifth and Walnut Streets
the building now occupied by the German
Baptist congregation. In this building the
church grew nightly The church entered
the Philadelphia Baptist Association, and
in 1S42 reported 200 members. About 1913
tue choir was given permission to use a
base viol, if any could be purchased.
In 1859 the Baptist Church at Dover was
founded; it sprang from this the mother
church. The debt upon the old building
was cancelled in 1S40 by the payment of
81, 600, and one of the first things done
thereafter was the purchase of lot for the
building of new church. The old house
was not offered for sale until 1856, but the
present Second Bantist Church building WAS