The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-06

terrain church was opposed to uniting with
the presbytery, and after considerable dis
cussion the prayer of the petitioners was
granted, and it was decided that a new
Presbyterian church should be formed in
this city. The presbytery then proceed
ed to an examination of the persons from
whom the application had been received,
as to their piety and fitness TO form a
church. Fourteen of them were passed
upon favorably, this number including all
of those who signed the original petition
to the Independent Church.
These persons then. entered into a SOL
emn covenant with God ana with one an
other, as the records state, and formed a
religious association under che title of the
First Presbyterian Church of Savannah.
Mr.. Harden referred especially TO the
great care exercised by the presbytery in
considering this matter and 20 the earn
estness with which the founders went into
it.
The congregation began to worship in a
frame building on the southwest corner of
Bull and Broughton streets. 1t was
known as Lyceum hail. Within about nine
months the congrega ton found itself suffi-
GENTLY strong to secure the services of a
pastor, and invited Rev. John Boggs to
preach for them with a view to becoming
their pastor. A Sunday school was or
gained and Mr.. Joseph Cumming became
superintendent of it.
At the end of a year the congregation lost
its pastor and nearly two years elapsed
before Ii secured another. The church,
however did not lose the services of a
pastor it is believed, as Rev. DR.. VIM. Nc
Whir was at that time engaged as an
evangelist and it appears that he preach
ed for the congregation. The second pastor
was Rev. Charles Colcocl1 Jones, who sub
sequently devoted his life to the evangeH-
cation Of the negro. He served the church
as pastor for a year and half, and then
devoted himself entirely 10 his work among
the negroes 1T is believed that 1t was dur
ing his passionate that the church under
took the matter Of the erection of a house
of worship Rev. Joseph l.. Jones became
the next pastor, and his pastorate was end
ed by his death after serving four years,
in 1871.
Mr.. Harden next gave an account Of the
Dastorate of Rev. Benjamin NJ. Palmer
He was followed by Rev. John b. Ross Sc
lected at the meeting Of the 'Presbytery at
Darien in 1874. At a meeting of the Pres
bytery at Bryan Neck, in 1855 Rev. David
H. Porter was chosen as pastor, there
having been two pastors for short periods
between the pastorates of DR.. Ross and
Dr. Porter. Dr. Porter continued pastor of
the church for eighteen years, and ia the
fall OF 1863, he entered the Confederate
army as chaplain of the Fifth Georgia
Regiment, TttullililS " tHe cHuIcn at IS
close with his health improved. HIS death
on Dec. q, 1873, was a serious blow to the
church.
The lot upon which the church now
stands was purchased in 1854. The nucleus
of the fund left for that purpose was be-
queathed by Mr.. VIM. G. Foote, who died
in the Island of Madeira. in 1862. The
amount bequeathed was $4,000, but by rea-
son OF The depreciations Of the stocks and
bonds left. IL realized only $4,000. The
building was finished and dedicated In 1872
about year and half before DR. Porter s
death.
Rev. Daniel X. Mcfarland was the next
pastor, and he remained with the church
from 1874 to 1851. Air. Harden then gave