Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-19
ACHERISHED.
"reminiscences of the Late Bishop
Simpson and His Noble Work.
HIS CAREER WHILE In PITTSBURG.
Sketch of the Old st. Clair United Presby'
terian Congregation.
GLEANINGS FROM CHURCH FIELDS


tract general interest in the religious world
is ''The Life of Bishop Simpson," from the
hands of DR.. George r. Crooks, of the Drew
Theological Seminary. DR.. Crooks, who is
now among the foremost men Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, and who was cotem-
porary with Bishop Simpson during large
part Of the latter's eventful career, has per-
formed labor of love in behalf of his de-
parted friend which will stand as per-
manent monument of our religious litera-
ture. There are few Pittsburgers who do
not cherish the memory of Matthew Simp-
son. In this city he won his first lsurels as
pulpit orator. It is now nearly three
score years since he took charge of the
church on the corner of Smithfeld street
and Seventh avenue, popularity known as
Birthstone corner.
There are few still living who were
present when Bishop Simpson, then a mere
youth, entered upon his ministerial career.
Joseph MCDOWELL was among those who
welcomed him here in the early thirtes,
and who treasures the memories of Simpson
as among the most precious of the long gone
years. Here young Simpson found the
partner, who for half century, divided his
sorrows and doubled his joys. Miss Werner,
daughter of one of Pittsburg's pioneers,
and sister of james Werner, who still
occupies a prominent place among our
citizens, was welded to young Simpson
about 1885. From that time until his death
in 1884, Bishop Simpson was not only
power in the Methodist Church, but in the
land. On the questions which led up to the
great Civil War, he was
EVER STAUNCH AND TRUE.
and was no small factor in keeping his
countrymen on freedoms side against the
encroachments of slavery. When the con-
1ict came he was one of President Lincoln's
mainstays. II is doubtful if any other man
did 30 much to strengthen the heart OF
Father Abraham in the time of the great
crisis as Bishop Simpson. Not long after
the surrender OF Fort Sumter he visited the
President and found him in deepest gloom.
Mr.. Lincoln expressed great Tears as to the
financial ability OF the Republic in the great
crisis. Bishop Simpson told him of the gold
OF California, and how Providence had
planned that the conflict should not come
until those mines were ready to furnish the
sinews of war which were to be the saliva
tion of the Republic in the day of its need.
MIR. Lincoln was cheered by the facts and
figures as pressed by Matthew Simpson, and
begged him to 90 out and tell his country
men what he had told him. He accepted the
commission OF our martyr President and went
all over the land enlistiug the hearts
of the people in the good cause.
An old gentleman, who was. a member Of
young Simpsons flock when he first came to
Pittsburg, and who still lives at the East
End, said recently: "During all those four
years of war, from 1861 to 1866, heard no
such thrilling words as those of Bishop
Simpson in the Opera House on Fifth ave-
nue. when he spoke in behalf of the flag, as
Lincoln had urged him TO do"
THE BISHOPS PATRIOTISM.
A veteran Methodist minister, who re-
ceived his title to preach at a conference
held in ChiIlicothe in the dark time of the
war, recently said: ''At that conference in
Chillicothe, which will be ever memorable
to me, all hearts were turned to the boys at
the front, who we're facing the enemy of the
Republic. Bishop Simpson presided at the
conference. Our churches and appoint
ments were secondary thoughts that awful
time. A war meeting was called on one of
the evenings of the conference. The largest
hall in the city was secured. It was packed.
Standing room was at Q premium. Bishop
Simpson made his great speech Tor God and
messed before and never expect to again. In
the midst of one of his appeals the audience
rose spontaneously and cheered and wept
for at least ten minutes in response to the
speaker. I would have never known the
power of eloquence in swaying human
hearts if had not heard Bishop Simpson as
he spoke Tor the country in those dark days
of Manassas and the Wilderness"
In calling up these war memories it is re-
membered to the credit of the Episcopal,
Roman Catholic and Methodist Episcopal
Churches that all were represented on the
right side by men who were at the front in
their respective denominations. Bishops
McIlvaine, Hughes and Simpson are names
that will live in American history as de-
tenders of the Republic in the day of its
sorest need.
HISTORIC CHURCH.
On the old Washington pike, four miles
south of Pittsburg, is the old St. Clair
United Presbyterian Church, to which DR..
j. .. Boyd has preached since 1858. The
church was founded about the beginning of
this century, and its first pastor was Rev.
Joseph Kerr, father of the late DIR. David
Kerr, editor of the. United Presbyterian.
The pioneer Kerr entered upon the field as
a sort of foreign missionary, having been
sent out to the work by a Belfast Presby-
terry Immediately after his licensure. In
In the course of time ne was transferred to
this city, and was the founder of the United
PRESBYTERIAN Theological Seminary, of
Allegheny.
The old church founded by the young
Irish missionary still prospers under the
ministry of j. C. Boyd, who is still hale and
hearty, and gives fair promise of enjoying
his semi-centennial with his first and only