Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-16
How Presbyterianism Has Flourished
in This Busy Section.
SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS
And Brief Review of the History Of this
Powerful Denomination.
FIFrY.FIYE CONGREGATIONS COUNTED

Presbyterlan pastor. speaking OF Jns
growth of Christianity and the rapid spread
of fthe gospel, DR.. Lea said: ''The church
has grown more in 25 years than in any one
century heretofore, and if 1 might be al
lowed to express my mind in q single word
ere 1 step from an active ministry, thai
word would be Hallelujahl'
DR.. Lea served as the pastor of the Thirty
ninth Street Church for so years, and is fond
of telling the young people of his congrega.
ton such story as this one: Eyes, A,
will marry you. baptized you, married
your mother, / baptized her mother and
married her grandmother" These sacred
services have endeared the Doctor to the
hearts of large congregation, of which the
small church he now serves is but branch.
1t is not an easy thing to realize in the
teeming industries of our two cities, with
their rapidly increasing population and
great wealth, with their institutions. OF
learning and their fine churches, that but
100 years have passed since one modest
structure supplied the demands OF the
church-goers, and that that one was built
under discouragements and at the risk of
personal favor, for societies calling them
selves religious" were not popular at that
time, nor the people noted for piety.
THE FIRST EDIFICE.
The first Presbyterian Church in Pitts
burg was organized in 1855, with Rev.
Samuel Barr as pastor, although there had
been preaching prior to that time by other
pioneer Presbyterians. The church was in
corporated by act of Legislature in 1877.
The first building, Church of squared
timber and moderate dimensions" was
IA I. IL. L.
burg, and the only one for several years.
Thus history grants to Presbyterianism the
honor of establishing the first Protestant
church in Pittsburg. In 1857 the heirs of
William Penn decided lots to three denomi-
nations for churches and burial grounds
the Presbyterian, Protestant Episcopal and
German Evangelical. The deed to the
Presbyterian church conveyed the lot where
the First Church now stands. Mr. Barr re-
signed the pastorate in 1889. In 1893 Rev.
Robert Steele was chosen pastor. He died
in 1910. In 1911 Francis Heron was
chosen to be the pastor of the First Church,
and his long pastorate endeared him not
alone to his people, but to all who were so
fortunate as to come under the force of his
influence. Presbyterianism in Pittsburg
received its greatest impetus under
the ministrations of this great man.
with the people, and although suffering
some discouragement in its earlier history,
with so commanding leader as DR.. Heron
it soon compared well with other religious
societies both in the character of its Ueach-
ings and greater spiritual growth. Added
to this was the fact that DR.. Heron had re-
deemed it from debt.
The Second Church originated from the
First, and became a separate organization.
Other churches were formed, but no true
record of the membership of churches was
kept. Organizations multiplied, however,
and at the beginning of the century three
other branches of
THE PRESBYTERIAN FAMILY
came to Pittsburg, namely, the Associate.
the Reformed and the Associate Reformed,
The Associate was on the corner of Seventh
avenue aud Cherry alley; the Reformed
Presbyterian on the corner of Cherry alley
and Oak alley, and the Associate only half
a square distant on Sixth avenue and Cherry
alley. The Associate is now the First o. P.
of Pittsburg, and was organized in 1901 with
Rev. EbeneZer Henderson pastor. They
worshiped first in the Court House. The
church was not erected until 1913. That
was the day of small things with the q. P.
Church, which is to-day SO great power in
in the city, which are second to none in in
fuence and good work.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church( known
sometimes as Covenanters) was under the
care and guidance Of Rev. John Black. He
came to the city in 1899 and continued as
pastor until 1849. In 1888 split occurred
in DR.. Blacks church. The original Cove
nanters did not vote, but DR.. Blacks faction
thought that privilege was not denied them
and so organized a new church. Only Is
were left who adhered to the principles, and
they were poor but true to their convictions
In 1886 they erected church in Allegheny,
at the corner of Lacock and Sandusky
streets This was the true beginning, and
the church prospered and is to-day well sus-
tanned and interested in every line of
Christian work.
The educational work of the Presbyterian
Church in the city has not been small. hav-
ing under its special care the Western Theo-
logical Seminary of Allegheny. Here, too,
we find the theological schools of the y. Z.
and Reformed Presbvterians, making Allie
gheny a center for those preparing for the
active ministry in these denominations The
Female College, located at
Shadyside, is another child of the Presbyte-
rian Church. Its reputation for scholarly
attainment is too well known for comment.
Rev. James Black was its first President, in
1870. He resigned, after serving five years,
to accept the Char of Greek in Wooster
University. DIR. Strong, of Aurora, n. Y,
was his successor. Miss Helen Pelletreau
is at the present time its popular President,
having under her immediate care some 200
young ladies. Thus has the Presbyterian
Church contributed its part to the religious
and educational interests of the city. There
are IS Presbyterian churches in the two
cities at the present time. The appended
summary shows the number of communi-
cants and Sunday school scholars. together
with the location of the edifces and the
names of the pastors:
PRESBYTERIAN STATISTICS.
Pittsburo
First Church-Rev George F. Purvess, pas.
tor; congregational expense, Sl0,7 church
membership 420; Sunday school, 40.
Second Presbyterian-No pastor at present;
expense, S8622; church mem
bership, 6l7: Sunday school, 40.
Third Church-Rev E. P. Cowan; congrega-
tional expense, SlS,27l; church membership,
593: Sunday school, 634
Fourth Church-Rey; W. p. shrom; congre-
gational expense. SS.3ll; church membership,
Us. Sunday school, $50 .-- 'F .,t
Sixth Presbyterian Church-Rev. ]. Patter-
son; congregational expense, $500; church
membership, 32s; sunday school, 575.
Bellefield Church-Rev. W. II. Holland; con-
gregational exI ense. s4s9s; church member
ship, 33S; Sunday school, 375.
East Liberty Church-Rev. J. P. E. Kumler;
expense, s.. .4Sl; church mem
bership, 20; Sunday school, 403.
First Birmingham-Rev. Fontaine, Farran q;
expense. S2.258; church mem.
bership, 30; Sunday school, 645
Grace Church (colored)-Rev. W. F. Brooks;
expense, Si0l7; church mem
bership. 20; Sunday school, l54- .t5
Hazelwood-Rev. John Plumer; congrega-
tional expense. S2,5l4; church membership, i95;
Sunday school, lS4
Jawrenceville, Thirty-ninth Street Church:
"a ". oh