Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-16
TT IS ONLY A MEMORY.
Members of the Old Home Congre-
CATION Take a Last Farewell.
THE FIRST CHURCH is DESERTED.
Recollections of the Division Of the
Original Church.
NOTES FROM THE CLASS MEETING BOOK

dav school services were held at 9:15 A. NJ.
At 1890 the last baptisms were made. They
were Addison, Mary and Anna Boss,
Hazel A. Zimmerman and Blanch Humph-
ries Wiley. The reception into full men,
bership of the following candidates also
took place: Clara Z. Patton, Elmer d.
Miller, Nellie B. Miller, Clara E. Stewart,
Mary E. Brokaw, Bertha NJ Chantler,
William W. Wilson, Charles C. Rinehart
and a. Kirk Gillespie. The sermon was
preached by Rev. j. j. Murray, of Balti-
more, former pastor of the church.
At o'clock a historical meeting was
held. 1t was presided over by Rev. John
Scott, d. D., e1-pastor of the congregation.
Rev. John Cowl, the oldest living eX-pas-
tor, was to have delivered an address, but
was unable TO be present owing to i'll
health. Rev. David Jones. d. D., the
present pastor, gave a short sketch of the
early history of the church. During his
remarks he said il was singular coincidence
that there had never been any serious con-
troversy in the faith of the church, although
it was represented in almost every nation
on the globe Another kind of controversy
arose That concerning the government
which caused secession. Complaints were
made about the way Wesley ruled according
to his own mind. HIS never surrendered
his power and it was probably the best
method.
Objected to n Division of Power.
When the church was organized in Amer
ica in 1874 and 1892, the bishops were given
the same power which soon caused dissen-
sion Attacks were made on them by the
preachers and in 1S20 change was made.
When this church was organized for some
reason the word episcopal was left out of
the charter and the nine trustees, seven of
whom were retOrmers, accepted the charter.
The congregation then met in the Smitnfeld
street church and it was adopted by vote
OF 100 to 50. When Rev. George Brown was
called to the pastorate in May, 1922,
the minority threatened to prosecute, but
Notwithstanding the threat be was secured
and on June "a the new laws the same as
had been adopted in Baltimore were
adopted. This church was the first one
ever organized in this city, and its history
remains unbroken until the present day.
The old Smithfield street church is a seces-
sion from this one, as the records will show.
Prior to lS2S this was the Methodist
Episcopal. When Rev. George Brown came
the church divided into two parties. The
meetings were held in the old church on
First street at A. NJ. and p. NJ. by one
party, and at IL A. N. and Z. NJ. by
the other Then the church was
taken possession of by the Methodists, and
the NJ. +. brethren brought a suit of eject
lnent. 1t was tried before Judge Rodgers
and went to the jury without argument in
order that an appeal could be taken. The
jury returned in favor of the NJ. E, and
motion for n new trial was made which was
refused and an appeal was taken to the Su-
pTeme Court. In 1881 Chief Justice Glib
SON handed down the opinion that in
favor of the defendants. and the
new trial was granted, but it never
came to a trial, as the proposition made to
the Methodist Episcopal branch to divide
the property was accepted by them-the
Methodist Episcopals to take the Smithfield
property and the reformers the First street
property, the burying ground and 5000;
Then this present property was purchased
and IL has proved good investment.
Only One Pastor Died at His Post.
During Rev. George Browns pastorate the
congregation increased from go to between
500 and COO. Rev. Cornelius Springer was the
next and later Rev. Mr.. Elliott, who served
two years and then one year and died dur
ing the last term. He was the only one to
die while pastor of this church.
Then came DIR. Cowl, DR.. Scott, Drs. Nc
Kcever Murray and others. In the records
OF the class meetings are some curious
things. In Brother Avory's book, opposite
the names OF those who were absent were
written comments, such as Needs to be
looked AFTER absent too often,n and so
on all through the book. On the roll OF men,
ber>hiD opposite the name of q member is
written. Withdrawn in wrath: may God
have pity on him. and 20 years later this
same man was elected Mayor of this city
while incsrcerated in the county Jail.
OF the go members on June "a, 1929, bIt two
are alive and they were both present yester-
day afternoon. One of them sang in the
choir until 1860 The old members are Mrs.
Greenough and Mrs. Mary Miller.
Rev David Jones called the two old ladies
10 the altar where they kissed each other
and their tears flowed freely at the thought
OF leaving the dear old church, where they
had wOrshiped for so many years. The
scene was very pathetic and there was
visable moisture in many eyes and
a hurried application of handkerchiefs.
Remarks were made by John Elliott, son
and Or. Murray. DR.. Scott was pastor of the
church in lS45 and 46 and again in 1861 and
60. He related some amusing incidents that
happened during his early charge, one of
which happened to him. He said: "The as
sistant pastor, Rev. Mr.. Davis, was very
prompt in beginning services on the
exact minute, and on the first Sun
day evening when / took my new
vile to church, after seating her and
ascending the pulpit, Rev. Mr.. Davis
starred the services by reading a very long
hymn in long meter. As the choir had not
arrived | endcavOred to start the tune after
he had read the first two lines. No one
Joined in and he read the next two which
] sang alone, and so on throughout the
ing to me, but l stuck it out The worst of
ii was that the choir had arrived and made
no endeavOr to assist me-"
Last Service in the Old Home Church.
At the evening service Rev. Mr..
Scott preached the last sermon in
the old church. His text was
second Timothy, 4th chaper, seventh
and eighth verses. He said the words of the
text were written when Paul was prisoner
So, 71na ina F,,-H Hso
been set and he was ready to go. He had
fought the fight and was ready They we're
fuEofloying instructions to his son, whom he
eHhorted to be faithful and preach gospel
earnestly, as the time would come when
men woulu not listen to the word of God.
Then he said:
we have heard of the crowned heads of
Europe, but they are nothing to compare
with the crown of glory for those who have
fought the fight and won, and like Paul we
should say at this closing hour we are
ready. At this altar 1 received your present
pastor into the church, and it was here also
We saw the last of our beloved missionary,
Miss Libby Guthrie, but we bid farewell to
TINS sacred place with the feeling that we
will meet with the hundreds. if not the
thousands in our fathers mansion and his
promise 20 us is that we WILL
The following people were then taken into
juli membership in the church, making the
last IN the old edifice: Ada V. and Mable
Gillespie, Mary Boss, Cora Wilson, Nellie
lslnehart, Anna RuJledge, Nellie Perry and
j. II. Palmer. The Lords Supper was then
partakeu OF and the congrega tion dismissed
by singing the hymn, God Be With Us Till
We Meet Again"
Until further notice the services will be
conducted in the lecture room OF the Fourth
Avenue Baptist Church. Secretary Moore
sad that Kaufman Bros. intended having
enough bricks OF the old building enameled
TO present one to each member of the con-
gleSation as a keepsake.