First Churches and Pioneer Clergy--General History of Religious Organizations. Churches and Clergy of Today.
[p. 205] One hundred and forty-one years ago there came to the Indian town of Gosch-gosch-kunk, at the month of the Tionesta Creek, where it debouches into the Allegheny River, in what is now Forest County, Pennsylvania, a solitary German, a minister of the Gospel in the Unitas Fratrum church, usually called Moravians. Accompanied by two converted Indians, he had set out from the Christian Indian town of Friedenshutten, on the north branch of the Susquehanna, which stood near to the present town of Wyalusing. Traversing the unbroken and dense forests of Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York on foot, with but a single pack-horse to carry their baggage, after many dangers and hardships they arrived at Gosch-gosch-kunk, at the mouth of the Tionesta, on the 16th day of October, 1767. The village was only two years old, having been founded after the close of Pontiac's war.
Soon after, the missionary was joined by his wife, and by John Senseman and his wife, and a band of Christian Indians from the Susquehanna, and they attempted to establish a mission at that point.
The results were not altogether satisfactory; owing to the opposition of the natives, the poorness of the land, and other causes, they made but few converts, and a change of location soon became necessary. They accordingly moved across the Allegheny River and built a mission town in what is now the heart of the Oil Creek oil region. The oil was sought for even then, both by the missionaries and Indians, who made use of it for medicinal purposes.
Soon after this the way of the missionaries was made smoother by the conversion of Glik-kik-an, the principal sub-chief and counsellor of the Delawares, or Lenni Lenapi—a man noted for his eloquence, and previously for his opposition to the missionaries. Subsequently receiving an invitation from Pack-an-ke, the principal chief to settle on the banks of the Beaver, on a tract of land that should be reserved for the use of the mission, Zeisberger, the missionary, after obtaining the consent of the Moravian Board at Bethlehem, accepted it, and the migration was effected as soon as the necessary arrangements could be made.
Before they left the oil region the Lord cheered them with some fruits of their toil. Early in December, 1769, the first Protestant baptism in the valley of the Allegheny took place at Lawunakhanneck. Luke and Paulina were then baptized, and Alemani at Christmas; and in the beginning of 1770 several other converts were added.
On their way up the Beaver they arrived it an Indian town on the west bank of the river, a little north of where Newport now stands. Here they found a community of Indian women, all single, and pledged never to marry—an uncloistered nunnery. [p. 206] Though few similar instances, we believe, have been recorded, if any, it is hardly surprising, upon reflection, that such communities should have existed here and there, in view of the degradation and unalleviated drudgery that is the lot of married women in most savage or half-civilized communities.
After proceeding a little farther up, they made an encampment and sent an embassy to Pack-an-ke, whose capital then stood on or near the present site of New Castle. They found the Indians making preparations to celebrate a great feast, but on receiving a statement of the religious principles of his visitors, Pack-an-ke, though it was contrary to Indian etiquette that visitors should retire without taking part in the feast, refused to detain them, but dismissed them with his promise of protection, thus setting an example of religious toleration that has not always been exhibited by those who profess the mild and beneficent doctrines of Christianity. King Pack-an-ke, however, reproached Glik-kik-an with having embraced the doctrines of the Christian teachers. The sub-chief perished a few years later in the wanton and bloody massacre of Moravian Indians perpetrated by the expedition under the command of Col. David Williams.
White traders had early introduced whiskey among the pagan lndians and the curse of intemperance grew rapidly among them. Thus early in the history of the county atrocities were committed that sprung solely from the rum traffic and from that day down to the present atrocities from the same cause have never ceased in our beloved valley.
Western Pennsylvania was largely settled by the Scotch-Irish, who were adherents of the Presbyterian faith. Thus the oldest organizations in the county belong to the two prominent branches of this sect—the Old School and the United Presbyterian, both of which were introduced about the year 1800. Their earliest church organizations were (Presbyterian), Hopewell and Neshannock, in 1800; Slippery Rock in 1801-2, and New Castle (called Lower Neshannock) and Westfield in 1803. The earliest United Presbyterian churches (then known as Associate or "Seceder" and Associate Reformed), were the Deer Creek, about 1800, and the one known as Mahoning Church, about 1799 or 1800, and in New Castle about 1808.
Among the first ministers of the gospel who visited this region was Thomas Edgar Hughes, who settled at Greersburg, now called Darlington. He was the first settled pastor north of the Ohio. He was of Welsh ancestry and a native of Pennsylvania, born in York County, in 1769. Licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio (now Pittsburg) in 1798, he was ordained and installed over the churches of New Salem and Mount Pleasant, August 28, 1796.
Another noteworthy pastor was the Rev. William Wick, who came soon after Mr. Hughes. Born on Long Island, New York, in 1768, he removed to Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1790. He studied theology at Dr. McMillan's log cabin college, was licensed August 28, 1799, and was installed over the congregations at Neshannock and Hopewell, September 3, 1800. He afterwards served the congregation of Youngstown, his labors being largely blessed. His death took place in March, 1815.
The Rev. Samuel Tait was another early minister in this section. He was a native of Shippensburg, Pa., was converted under the influence of a conversation with the Rev. Elisha McCurdy, studied under Dr. McMillan, and was licensed in June, 1800. In the same year he was ordained over Cool Spring and Upper Salem. In 1806 he relinquished this charge and organized a congregation at Mercer, in the pastorate of which he continued until his death in June, 1841.
Rev. William Wood, a native of York County, studied at Cannonsburg Academy [p. 207] and at Dr. McMillan's log seminary. He was licensed October 29, 1801, and was installed over the congregations of Plain Grove and Center, November 3, 1802. He was afterwards—from 1816—pastor of Neshannock and Hopewell, where he labored eleven years. He died at Utica, Ohio, in July, 1839.
Among other prominent pastors, whose labors here or in this vicinity form a part of the history of the denomination, were the Rev. Joseph Badger, Joseph Stockton, Robert Lee, James Satterfield, William Wylie, John, James and Abraham Boyd, Robert Johnston and Timothy Alden, to whom this brief mention only can here be made.
The First Presbyterian Church was originally known as the Lower Neshannock. The exact date of its organization is not known, but it was probably about 1801. In the following years it was reported as able, in connection with Slippery Rock, to support a pastor. Its first pastor was the Rev. Alexander Cook, who was installed in June, 1803. He had been licensed in 1802, and commissioned as a missionary to the Indians, with whom he had labored for a few months near Sandusky, in company with Joseph Patterson; but not meeting with a favorable reception, they had returned. He was followed by the Rev. Robert Sample, who was ordained over the congregations of New Castle and Slippery Rock, April 10, 1811. He served the church at New Castle twenty-seven years, and that of Slippery Rock twenty-four years. At the time of his accession to the pastoral office Crawford White was clerk of the session, the other ruling elders being William Moorehead, Joseph Pollock, William Raney, James McKee and Samuel Wilson.
Mr. Sample's successor was Rev. Wells Bushnell, who had been a missionary to the Wea Indians in Kansas, then a remote post, which he had been obliged to leave on account of failing health. He was installed in the church at New Castle in April, 1839, and labored there for fifteen years and a half. Toward the close of his pastorate troubles arose in the congregation owing to the dissatisfaction of some of the brethren with the attitude of the General Assembly on the subject of slavery, and a part of the membership withdrew and organized the Free Church, one of the earliest congregations of which afterwards became the Second Church. With this organization Mr. Bushnell united and was afterwards pastor of its churches at Mt. Jackson and New Bedford, until the close of his earthly labors, July 16, 1863. He was succeeded by Rev. Elliott E. Swift, who was installed September 27, 1854, and who continued in charge until February, 1861, when he was called to the co-pastorate of the First Church at Allegheny. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph S. Grimes, a native of Ohio, and, it is believed, a graduate of Franklin College, who was installed July 9, 1861, and who was pastor until September 27, 1865. He was a man of earnestness and ability, and his labors were attended with valuable results. He was pastor, however, during the troublous times of the Civil War, and the dissensions which then arose among the congregation resulted finally in his resignation. In May, 1866, he was followed by the Rev. David X. Junkin, who was not installed, however, until the 13th of September. The church has since enjoyed a prosperous existence, and under subsequent pastors has taken a leading part in promoting the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
This church was organized as the "Free Presbyterian Church of New Castle," on the 15th day of February, 1851. In the Free Church organization, it was connected with the Presbytery of Mahoning and the Synod of Cincinnati. The Free Presbyterian Church owed its origin to the agitation of the slavery question. As the Republican [p. 208] party was a political, so the Free Church was a religious protest against the iniquities of American slavery. As the early records of the church plainly indicate, there was no little dissatisfaction among the Presbyterians of New Castle with the decision of the Assembly of 1845, "that slave-holding is no bar to communion." But when President Fillmore signed the Fugitive Slave Bill, in September, 1850, the attitude of Church and State towards the slave-holding power seemed no longer tolerable. Opposition to slavery was greatly intensified. Action was immediately taken looking to the organization of a Free Church in New Castle, which object was accomplished only a few months after the Fugitive Slave Bill became a law. Twenty-nine persons united in the organization.
The growth of the church was quite moderate for the two and one-half years following the organization.
Preaching services were held at irregular times and in different places. In February, 1854, Rev. A. B. Bradford accepted a call to this church, and his relations with it continued (with the exception of one year, during which he was United States consul in China), until the summer of 1867. During his ministration a commodious church edifice was erected, and the membership increased to near two hundred. The last important act of Mr. Bradford's administration was the withdrawal of the congregation from the Free Church organization, and its union with the New School branch of the Presbyterian Church.
Immediately after his resignation, the congregation extended a call to Rev. W. T. Wylie, of the Covenant Church of New Castle, organized by Rev. Josiah Hutchman, in 1847, expecting him to bring his congregation with him. This expectation was realized, and Mr. Wylie remained pastor of the united congregations until September, 1869. In 1871 Rev. B. M. Kerr accepted a call to this church, and was installed June 14 of that year. Mr. Kerr's pastorate was brief, but during his administration this church passed through another change of ecclesiastical relation in the union of the "Old" and "New School" bodies. Thus, inside of twenty-five years, the original members of this church had come back where they started from, and that without change in their principles on the subject for which they went out from the "Old Style" church. In the abolition of slavery their principles had been justified before the world.
Mr. Kerr resigned his charge at the end of one year and six months, leaving a membership of about two hundred. In about one year from the date of his resignation, Rev. M. H. Calkins was installed, in July, 1873. Under subsequent pastors this church continued in earnest Christian work and has taken a prominent place among the religious organizations of the city.
The history of the United Presbyterian Church includes, in the first instance, a union so early as 1782, and during the Revolutionary War, of certain Presbyterians in the United States, intensely loyal, who had belonged to two distinct offshoots from the Established Church of Scotland, the one being the Associate or Seceder, and the other the Reformed Presbyterian or "Covenanter," both of which bodies had resisted governmental intrusions in their native land in their church affairs, and therefore refused to remain in "the establishment." The body formed in the United States in 1782 took both names, and became the "Associate Reformed Church," but failed to embrace the whole of either church. The more general, if not absolute, union was, however, affected by the formation of the United Presbyterian Church in 1858, including almost the entire forces of the Associate and Associate Reformed churches.
[p. 209] At first, and for years, the hamlet of New Castle was itself only an inconsiderable part, ecclesiatically, of the territory of the Associate Reformed Church of Shenango. No Associate Reformed congregation was organized in New Castle till 1849, when the town had become a manufacturing center, included a population of 2,500 persons and was soon to be erected into a county-seat. The Presbyterian, Associate and Methodist churches had, however, long occupied the place, and, more lately, the Reformed Presbyterian and Baptist. The Associate Reformed people had an occasional sermon from the pastor of Shenango, or from passing ministers, on Sabbath or week-day evenings.
In 1814 or 1815 Rev. James Galloway preached in the house of Dr. Alexander Gillfillan, on Jefferson Street, and administered baptism in the family of John Frazier, justice of the peace. Both these citizens were members of Shenango Church.
In 1823-4, during a space of six months, Rev. James Ferguson, pastor at Harmony and Center, took in New Castle as a preaching-station for a small portion of his time, but at the end of this period his pastorate and service ended, and no further regular preaching was had until Rev. J. M. Galloway was settled, in 1837, in Shenango Church as his sole charge. New Castle was once more made a preaching station for a part of the time. By courtesy of the Associate Congregation the stone church was temporarily granted Mr. Galloway and his people; and, so encouraging were the prospects of forming a congregation, that Joseph Kissick and Ezekiel Sankey purchased for its use a lot of three acres, lying between the residence of R. M. Allen and the Shenango, the consideration for the three acres being $300. But Mr. Galloway resigned his charge and removed in August, 1838. The project was abandoned and the land returned to the former owner.
Rev. Thomas Mehard, pastor of Shenango, Eastbrook and Beulah, located in the borough in 1844, but his time was as yet too fully occupied for him to assume any new labors, and he suddenly died, July 16, 1845, before any new work was attempted at this point. Rev. Robert A. Browne succeeded him in Shenango and Eastbrook, taking up his residence at New Castle. Under his ministry, within a few years, three new organizations were formed inside his pastoral charge—one in New Castle in 1849, one about the same time in New Wilmington, and, two years later, one at the Harbor.
In December, 1848, when there were as yet but twelve members in the town belonging to Mr. Browne's charge, a subscription was started by which the sum of $832 was raised on the spot for the erection of a church. A few days before the same persons had subscribed $600 to buy the lot lying on the east side of Jefferson Street, 180 feet north of the public square. The first stone was laid in the following May in the presence only of the pastor and elder. The building was a plain brick, 50 by 65 feet, with a basement containing a lecture room and three smaller rooms. The first cost of the church in 1849-50 was $4,609, but it was worth much more, Mr. Kissick's judicious supervision being of great value, and the work being well done by the contractors. Of the amount mentioned, needed to be paid before the infant congregation had an unencumbered title to their property, more than one-half was contributed by Mr. Kissick. His object was to have a place of worship convenient for his old age, for himself and others. The other devoted men and women who shared in the service deserve remembrance by those who come after, but none more than Joseph Kissick and Margaret Kissick, his wife.
The Presbytery of the Lakes granted an organization for the congregation, and the appointment was carried into effect on Christmas Day, 1849, thirty-two members being enrolled. Joseph Kissick and James [p. 210] D. Bryson were elected elders. James Gilliland, Thomas Alford and Samuel F. Cooke were elected elders April 17 following. Mr. Gilliland declined to serve. Mr. Cooke soon removed and afterwards Mr. Alford, both to Illinois. These were the elders who served at the first communion.
Early in 1850 the new congregation extended a call to the Rev. Robert A. Browne, who began his formal pastorate April 1, from which time he was released from the charge of Eastbrook entire, one-fourth only of his time being given to Shenango, while New Castle engaged him for one-half, but really received from the first three-fourths of the pastoral service. In April, 1857, the arrangement with Shenango ceased, and all Mr. Browne's time was given to New Castle.
In the eleventh year of his pastorate he obtained a temporary leave of absence from his congregation, during which time he was for twenty-eight months chaplain of the One Hundredth or "Round Head" Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. From this service he returned, partly disabled by disease, January, 1864. In the sessions of 1866-67 he was a member of the Pennsylvania Senate. Except during his brief visits home, the congregation was at these periods served by supplies, engaged by the pastor and session. In September, 1867, Mr. Browne resigned the charge of the congregation and became president of Westminster College. He was succeeded as pastor by Rev. John W. Bain, who was installed November 16, 1868. Mr. Bain had graduated at Westminster ten years before this, and had been ordained pastor of the United Presbyterian Church at Cannonsburgh, in September, 1861, but at the time of his call to New Castle, and for a year or two previous, had been pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Sidney, Ohio. He resigned the charge of New Castle April 15, 1873. Shortly after his release from New Castle the congregation made out a new call for Mr. Browne, who was then engaged in pastoral work in Titusville. The call was accepted and on the 1st of November, 1873, Mr. Browne entered anew upon the charge of the New Castle congregation. He subsequently remained in the pastorate until his death in 1902. Rev. James M. Ferguson was ordained and installed June 24, 1902, and will continue as pastor until November 1, 1908.
The present church structure was dedicated June 29, 1902. The church membership numbers 375. The officers of the church are at present as follows: Pastor, Rev. James M. Ferguson; elders, George A. Caruthers, Samuel Hanna, J. Frank Edgar, Frank Geiger, George W. Hartman (clerk), S. C. McCreary, Samuel D. Robinson and M. E. Miller; board of trustees, J. Lee McFate, president; George Loudon, Clyde Lockhart, J. Fred Warrock, John Moore and W. J. Ewing; officers of the Sabbath-school, J. Clyde Gilfillan, superintendent; Miss Hattie Smith, secretary.
The Third United Presbyterian Church was organized July 13, 1899, by a commission appointed by Beacon Valley Presbytery, and held its first meetings in a store room on Lathrop Street. There were sixteen charter members received August 8, 1899, and W. R. McClaren, H. L. Palmer and W. J. Kildoo were elected trustees. W. S. Taylor was appointed treasurer. On February 8, 1900, the first building was dedicated. On account of rapid growth an auditorium was built in 1906, seating about 400. The Rev. T. L. Rose canvassed the field and after the organization became its first pastor, and so continued until his death, which occurred October 7, 1905.
On December 7th of the same year J. Elmer Campbell was called and began work on the first Sabbath of January, 1906, and is the present pastor. The congregation now numbers about 420 members, with a Sabbath school of almost 300. It has the largest "W.M.S." in the Presbytery, with Mrs. J. Elmer Campbell as [p. 211] president, and the "Y.P.C.U" is second in numbers in the Beaver Valley Presbytery.
There are four adult Bible classes fully organized, and the Wednesday evening prayer-meeting is one of the largest in the city. During the last ecclesiastical year 153 persons were received into membership, and the future is bright for great work for the Master and his cause. The present session consists of W. J. Kildoo, clerk; Major L. C. Brinton, William E. Reed, A. L. Black, Thomas J. Gordon and A. M. McConaghey.
This church, situated at the corner of South Jefferson and Chartes Streets, was organized on the 14th of October, 1902. The committee of the Shenango Presbytery to organize was Rev. H. S. Jordan, D.D., Rev. H. C. Foster, Rev. M. W. Keith, P. J. Watson and J. L. Welch. The first elders were A. E. Yoho, James Yoho and J. A. McCay. The first trustees, Ralph Swisher, William Yoho and Sidney McCay. The first treasurer was Mrs. Agnes Everett; the first secretary, Mrs. Ida McCreary.
The organization was made possible by the labors of W. G. McConnell, of Leesburg, Pa. During the spring of 1902 a Committee of Presbytery, composed of Dr. H. S. Jordan, Rev. M. W. Keith and Rev. H. C. Foster, appointed to look over the field, secured the services of W. G. McConnell, who had completed one year's work in the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pa. Taking charge of the work on the 21st day of May, 1902, he labored under the appointment of Presbytery for three months. The nucleus from which the church grew was a small Sunday school conducted in the Gaston school house in Shenango Township. Here Mr. McConnell preached each Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the Sunday school until his commission from Presbytery expired on the 21st day of August, 1902.
Conscious of the needs of the many boys and girls who had never heard of the Gospel, of the men and women who had no church home, those most interested shouldered their responsibility and engaged Mr. McConnell's service for an indefinite period, assuming the responsibility of his salary. At the September meeting of Presbytery these petitioned for an organization. The petition was received by Presbytery with favorable action. A committee composed of Dr. H. S. Jordan, Rev. H. C. Foster, Rev. M. W. Keith, J. L. Welch and P. J. Watson met for organization October 14, 1902, at 8 P.M. At the conclusion of a sermon by Dr. Jordan the church was organized with the following members: Mr. John A. McCay, Mrs. Mary E. McCay, Mr. Albert E. Yoho, Mrs. Ida Yoho, Mrs. Agnes Everett, Mrs. Alice Blucher, Mr. Sidney McCay, Mrs. Nannie McCay, Mrs. Martha Gaston, Mr. James Yoho, Mrs. Christina Yoho, Mrs. Ella Ablett. Having no regularly appointed place of worship the next step was to secure a place of worship. At a congregational meeting held November 10, 1902, plans were adopted for a new building and the committee in charge instructed to proceed with the work. A new place of worship was dedicated to the service of God on October 18, 1903, at a cost of $7,367, not including the work of the congregation. At the close of his work in the seminary Rev. W. G. McConnell, who had labored among this people for two years while a student in the seminary, received a unanimous call to become the pastor of this church. The call was accepted and he continues to be the pastor of this people. In the six years of its organization the church has increased in membership to 135, with an enrollment in the Sunday school of 210. On the 14th of October, 1906, a mortgage on the property was burned and the church cleared of all its indebtedness. The present elders are: A. E. Yoho, James Yoho, D. M. Bell and A. R. Kerr. [p. 212]
As early as 1825 a little band of "Society People," or "Covenanters," met in houses in the vicinity of New Castle. In 1834 the Rev. James Blackwood became their pastor or spiritual overseer in connection with the pastorate of neighboring similar organizations.
In 1852, shortly after the death of the Rev., Mr. Blackwood, the Rev. Thomas Hanna became their pastor and continued so for nine years. In 1863 the Rev. J. Calvin Smith became their pastor. In 1871, while under the pastoral care of Mr. Smith, they were organized into a separate congregation—January 9, 1871. The membership then was forty-one.
The Rev. S. J. Crowe, now D.D., was installed the first pastor of the new and independent organization—the first organization as a church or congregation—in 1872 and resigned in 1881. Rev. J. M. Wylie, now D.D., was installed in 1883, and resigned in 1887. He began with a membership of 101 and left 109. Rev. W. R. Laird was installed in 1888 and left in 1892, leaving a membership of 131. Rev. J. S. Martin was ordained and installed in 1893, and is still pastor, with a membership of 220. The present Sabbath attendance is 200.
Present officers: Elders—Robert Speer, T. J. Blackwood, M. W. Leslie, William McClelland, T. E. Smith, J. R. Speer and O. C. Orr. Deacons—William Allen, I. C. Allen, Samuel Saklem, D. A. Byers, R. T. Galbraith, R. I. Orr, W. C. McCawn, Thomas Pattison, Mrs. D. C. Pattison, Mrs. J. R. Speer.
In 1900 a new $25,000 church building was erected, having a seating capacity of 400. The congregation is in good working order. with a junior and a senior "Y.P.S.C.E.," a Junior and a Senior Ladies' Missionary Society, and a Men's Christian Organization.
"Methodism was planted, so to speak, in this section of country, as it has been in every rural district on this continent, by pioneer settlers. Its first appearance in the Erie Conference was in Mercer County, in the Leach settlement, in 1798. A class was formed there by two local preachers, Thomas McClelland and Jacob Gurwell, both natives of Ireland, of such persons as had come to that neighborhood and brought letters of membership with them. A settlement had been commenced there two years before by Robert R. Roberts (the father of Methodism in this part of Pennsylvania), and others. These local preachers labored in word and doctrine, in the rude log-cabins, in groves, and wherever a little group could be collected together. Soon after the formation of the class in the summer of 1798, a second class was formed, a little South of the first (of which R. R. Roberts was leader). Thomas McClelland was a member of the class first formed, and Jacob Gurwell of the second, which latter was joined by John Leach, Sr., and wife, who arrived in that settlement in 1802. The two local preachers named above took the entire watch-care of these classes and supplied them regularly with preaching for several years before the regular itinerant preachers reached them.
"In 1800 the Baltimore Conference appointed Rev. P. B. Davis to the Shenango circuit; he did not, however, embrace the classes in the Roberts neighborhood within his circuit, but left them still under the care of the two local preachers residing in the place. There were eight annual conferences held in the year 1800, but there were no fixed boundary lines between them, and each preacher being at liberty to do so, attached himself to the Conference most convenient to his work.
"In 1801 the Baltimore Conference appointed Thornton Fleming to the Pittsburg district, and Joseph Shaw to Shenango Circuit. Asa Shinn was appointed to the Shenango Circuit in 1802. He will be remembered as a leader in the secession [p. 213] movement from the M. E. Church, out of which grew the Protestant Methodist Church, in 1828. George Askin was appointed in 1803, Joseph Hall in 1804, and R. R. Roberts in 1805. The latter, by permission of his elder, exchanged circuits with David West, in charge of the Erie Circuit, for the reason that the appointments immediately around the old log cabin built by Mr. Roberts in 1796, and into which he had taken his family and goods, were connected with the Erie Conference. Mr. Roberts had made arrangements to erect a grist-mill the next year near his rustic log farm-house, and it was on this account that he was this year sent to the Shenango Circuit. In 1806 James Reed was on the Shenango Circuit. In 1807 James Watt and Thomas Church were in charge. In 1808 James Charles. In 1809 Jacob Dowell and Eli Towne. In 1810 James Watt was appointed, he being the first preacher who extended his labors thus far south on this circuit, where the first class was formed by him that year."
"This country, as far north as Lake Erie, was embraced in the Baltimore Conference. A district of country, bounded on the east by the Allegheny Mountains, on the south by the Greenbrier Mountains of Virginia, on the west by the limits of the white settlements in what is now the State of Ohio, and on the north by Lake Erie, constituted the Monongahela District."
In 1804 William Richards, a member and licensed exhorter of the M. E. Church, moved his family from Center County, Pennsylvania, and settled them on a farm near "King's Chapel," some three miles north of New Castle, and commenced holding religious meetings in his own house, where, soon after, a class was formed composed of William Richards and wife, Robert Simonton and wife, Arthur Chenowith and wife, Mary Ray, Rachel Fisher, John Burns and wife, Michael Carman and wife, William Underwood and wife, Robert Wallace and wife, Philip Painter and wife, and Rebecca Carroll. This is believed to have been the first Methodist class organized in the neighborhood of New Castle. William Richards was its first leader. At that time there were but two circuits in what is now the Erie Conference—Erie and Shenango —the former with a membership of 349, and the latter with 206—making a total of 555. The first class organized within the territory comprising the present Erie Conference was the one already mentioned at the Roberts or Leach settlement, in Mercer County, by Jacob Gurwell and Thomas McClelland, in 1798, of which Robert R. Roberts was the class-leader. The itinerant ministers were first introduced here in 1800.
The Pittsburg district of the Baltimore Conference then embraced the settled portions of West Virginia and what are now the Pittsburg and Erie Conferences; and the Erie and Shenango Circuits emnbraced all the country west of the Allegheny River and from the Ohio to Lake Erie.
There was but one quarterly meeting held on the Shenango Circuit in 1801, at which Robert R. Roberts was licensed as an exhorter, and the next year the Quarterly Conference gave him a license to preach, and he was received on trial by the Baltimore Conference, which convened in Baltimore April 1, 1802. From 1800 to 1816 the annual salary of a traveling preacher was $80 and traveling expenses, and the annual allowance of the wife $80; each child, until seventeen years of age, an annual allowance of $16; those from seven to fourteen years, $24; and no support from the Church in any other way. In 1802 the membership on the Shenango Circuit was sixty-five. No trace can be found of an organized Methodist society in New Castle prior to 1810. In that year Jacob Gruber was appointed presiding elder in the Monongahela District, and James Watt the preacher on the Shenango Circuit, who during that year formed the first class in New Castle, the members of which were Michael Carman and wife, John Bevins and wife, James Squier and wife, and [p. 214] Nancy Wallace, with Michael Carman as leader. At that time there was not a Methodist meeting-house in the territory embraced by the Erie Conference, except a small one built of round logs and covered with clap-boards, called "Bruch's Meeting-house," in West Springfield Township, Erie County.
The time when the first Methodist meeting-house was built cannot now be ascertained with certainty, but it is believed to have been in 1815 or 1816.
New Castle was made a preaching appointment on the Shenango circuit in 1810, by Rev. James Watt, the preacher on the circuit, and who organized the first class, as before mentioned.
In 1811, Abel Robison was appointed to Shenango circuit by the Baltimore Conference, at its session March 20, 1811. Jacob Gruber was presiding elder.
In 1812 the districts were changed, and this section of country was embraced in the Ohio District (named after the Ohio River), Jacob Young presiding elder, and William Knox appointed to Shenango Circuit, in which New Castle was an appointment.
The General Conference, which met in May of that year, transferred the Ohio District to the Ohio Conference with its incumbents.
In 1817 the Shenango Circuit was divided between the Erie and Beaver Circuits, and the name no more appears in the Minutes of the Conference. The Minutes do not show whether the New Castle appointment was on the Erie or Beaver Circuit from 1817 to 1821, in which latter year the New Castle Circuit was formed.
In May, 1824, the General Conference, which met at Baltimore, formed the Pittsburgh Conference out of portions of Baltimore, Ohio and Genesee Conferences.
In 1832 the Meadville District was formed, and Zerah H. Gaston appointed presiding elder and D. C. Richie and Ahab Keller to New Castle Circuit. In 1833 Alfred Brunson was elder in the Meadville District, and Thomas Thompson sent to New Castle. (At the session of 1833 of the Pittsburg Conference the Allegheny College was placed under the control of the Conference, and opened in September of that year).
In 1834 the Warren District was formed and Wilder B. Mack appointed elder, and R. B. Gardner, and one to be supplied, to New Castle. In 1835 the Ravenna District was formed, and William Stevens appointed presiding elder, and William Carroll and Thomas Thompson preachers on the New Castle Circuit.
The General Conference, at its session in Cincinnati, in 1836, formed the Erie Conference, which held its first session in Meadville, August 17, 1836. The session was composed of fifty-five members, of which Joseph S. Barris was appointed presiding elder on the Meadville District, and E. B. Hill and Thomas Graham to the New Castle Circuit.
In 1840 Warren District embraced New Castle Circuit, with Hiram Kinsley presiding elder, and T. Stubbs and D. W. Vorce on the New Castle Circuit.
We have been unable to obtain a complete historical sketch of the First M. E. Church. The society now has a fine edifice, at the corner of Jefferson and North Streets, and is one of the active religious organizations of the city. The present pastor is Rev. E. E. Higley.
Grace M. E. Church of New Castle was organized in December, 1899, by Rev. A. O. Stone of the Erie Conference, who was assigned to this work by Rev. J. C. Schofield, who was at that time presiding elder by the New Castle District. During the first three years of its existence services were held in a small building rented from the Welch Congregational Church. During his pastorate a lot was purchased at the corner of Reynolds and Agnew Streets.
Rev. Stone was succeeded by the Rev. C. W. Foulke, in September, 1900, who [p. 217] served the church one year. In the autumn of 1902 Rev. J. C. A. Borland was appointed pastor. During his pastorate the present church was completed and dedicated, the dedication services being held on February 8, 1903. The cliureh—a substantial buff brick structure containing an auditorium, lecture room, parlor and class rooms—was erected at a cost of $15,000. Mr. Borland continued as pastor for three years, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. M. Burns, who also served three years, closing his pastorate in September, 1908, when G. S. W. Phillips took charge. The present membership of the church is 135, with a Sabbath-school enrollment of 150. The officers for 1908 are as follows:
Trustees: Thomas A. Long, H. W. Castle, W. T. Etter, L. M. Buchanan, H. T. Thompson, C. F. Shoenfeld, Dr. E. H. Perry.
Stewards: Dr. W. A. Womer, William Lang, J. F. Greer, Charles Fletcher, J. C. Pherson, George Pearson, Mrs. L. V. Carson, Mrs. J. H. Nelson.
Class leaders: J. H. Reed, Thomas Francis, John McGaughey, J. H. Nelson, Mrs. T. A. Long. Sunday school superintendent, Thomas Francis. Epworth League president, Scott Greer. Ladies' Aid president, Mrs. C. T. Schoenfeld.
This church was organized in 1867, the first pastor being J. H. Bennett, who served two years. Succeeding pastors have been as follows: D. A. Cowell, two years; B. F. Johnson, one year; J. H. Crawford, three years; Richard Baer, John Crum, W. S. Shepherd, John Eckels, two years; J. K. Mendenhall, two years; J. C. Rhodes, five years; J. M. Foster, two years; F. R. Peters, five years; C. W. Foulke, three years; J. F. Black, four years; T. W. Douglas, two years; J. B. Espy, one-half year (died suddenly while serving the church, April 23, 1907); R. N. Merrill, one and one-half years.
The present membership of the church is 375; membership of Sabbath-school, 250. Trustees, J. Y. Sheehy, S. A. Barnes, F. Patterson, F. F. Smith, Charles Artman, Joseph Clark, Joseph Gilmore; stewards, Roy Miller, Mrs. John Waddell, Mrs. F. F. Smith, Mrs. Sadie Smith, E. H. Grace, John Louer, I. R. Zahniser, Mrs. C. H. Thompson, J. H. Kelly; superintendent of Sunday-school, I. R. Zahniser. The building now in use was erected in 1894.
The Primitive Methodist began in this city about forty-one years ago with a few members. When the church was organized there were only about six members. A small church was erected at a cost of $1,300. During the erection of the church the services were held in the home of Mr. William Nightengale, and the members were Thomas Kimberly, Henry Blues, William Blues, Charles Boals, Samuel Simon and Bryan Teech. A Sabbath-school was organized and the work started out. The church was built on the corner of South Jefferson Street. It was a two-story structure and built of brick. It was considered one of the best two-story structures in the city at that time. The congregation worshiped in this building for many years and then decided to erect another new and beautiful church, which was done in the year 1901. From the little frame building the church has advanced until they have one of the prettiest church structures in the city.
The pastors have been as follows: Rev. Thomas Dodds, Rev. B. Barar, Rev. T. Bateman, Rev. R. Forthgill, Rev. C. R. Roscamp, Rev. S. Penglase, Rev. G. Lees, Rev. H. J. Buckingham., Rev. G. J. Jeffries, Rev. R. W. Wilson, Rev. W. Bently, Rev. G. J. Jeffries (second term). The present membership is 275; Sabbath-school, 200. The officers are: Rev. Jeffries, pastor; T. Kimberly, D. Pitzer, T. Morseley, B. Dyson, C. Ashton, W. Reck, A. Sands, J. Bath and D. Williams. [p. 218]
The first resident Baptist in this town was Mary Craven, of New Jersey, who, at an advanced age, "came," as she said, "to visit her son and to build a Baptist church in New Castle." In a short time William and Ann Book, members of the Zion Church, Butler County, removed to this place, and these were soon aided by Edward Griswold, Giles O. Griswold, and Maria Griswold, of Connecticut, who had emigrated to Ohio. A prayer-meeting was commenced, and here prayer was offered to God for the outpouring of the Spirit and for success in their efforts to build up a Baptist church. These six were afterwards joined by John C. Davis and Jane, his wife, of Philadelphia. The prayer-meetings were first held in an old log-house in which Richard Craven then resided. This house was on North Street, a few doors west of East, and it is worthy of remark that the meeting-house, located at the corner of North and East Streets, is but one-half a square from the place where the first prayer-meeting was held. The first sermons were preached by Rees Davis and John Winter, and these ministers were followed by William B. Barris and George I. Miles. The church was constituted November 27, 1843. Rees Davis and John Winter, invited by those about to organize, were present. They numbered seven at their organization. Their first meetings for the preaching of the Gospel were held in vacated shops and "upper-rooms," and occasionally in other houses of worship. When the Protestant Methodist house was built, the Baptists furnished a small capital, and after this used at times that building. They had a claim on that house until 1848, at which time A. G. Kirk removed to the place and preached in a school-house on North Street. During the summer of 1848 their house of worship was begun, and dedicated the fourth Sabbath of February, 1849.
The first religious interest was in a series of meetings held by George I. Miles. The church being revived and strengthened by the addition of converts, then called Edward Miles as their pastor for one-half his time. He remained as pastor from 1845 until 1847, residing at Freeport, Pa. In 1848 A. G. Kirk was called as the first resident pastor; he remained eleven years. In 1859 Jesse B. Williams became pastor; he remained three years. D. W. C. Hervey was their next pastor, who remained three years. Since that time William Cowden, Samuel Williams, William Leet and George G. Craft and others have been pastors. Intervals between the resignation of one pastor and the settlement of another were filled by A. G. Kirk in 1863 and 1875, and by John Parker in 1868.
Since those days the denomination has made good progress and there are now five Baptist churches in New Castle, namely: First Baptist Church, corner of East and North Streets, Rev. John Snape, pastor; Second Baptist Church, 258 West Falls, Rev. A. M. Patterson, pastor; Emmanuel Baptist Church, corner of Jefferson and Reynolds Streets, Rev. W. J. John, pastor; Union Baptist Church, 71 West Lawrence, Rev. Pleasant Tucker, pastor; Hungarian German Baptist Mission, 600 Moravia, John Leber, pastor.
About 1831-32 Catholic priests began to visit New Castle, where they ministered to the wants of a few scattered families. One of the first Catholics in the county was probably a Mr. Doran, who was buried near Bedford before 1810. Nicholas Brian, another adherent of the Catholic faith, was also in the county at an early date. It is said that he came to America with Lafayette during the Revolutionary War. The date of his settlement in the county is not known. James Mooney lived about one mile north of Mount Jackson and the old man Brian used to attend mass at Mr. Mooney's whenever a priest visited the vicinity.
Lawrence O'Connor, who lived on the [p. 219] Mahoning in Union Township, had four sons and six daughters baptized by Father Rafferty, during one of his visits to this region. A colored man named William Arms, who lived in Union Township, a mile above Mahoningtown, had all his children baptized by Father Gibbs about 1840. Among the sponsors were James Mooney, Walter Flinn and Charles Kelly. The parents of William Arms always attended mass opportunity afforded at Mrs. O'Brien's. They were formerly slaves of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Md., who manumitted them before his death. When the canal was put under contract from Beaver to New Castle, there was naturally a great increase in the Catholic population of Lawrence County, more particularly in and around New Castle.
The following are the names of the priests who visited New Castle and vicinity in early days, with the dates of such visits, so far as known: Rev. Father Rafferty in 1834, or perhaps a few years earier; Father Garland about 1837; Father Gibbs, 1840; Father McCullough, 1843; Father Reed, 1845; Father Garvey, 1854; Father O'Farrell, 1856; Father Farren, 1860; Father Welch, 1862; Father Carnahan, 1863.
Catholics erected their first church in New Castle in 1852. It was a frame church located west of the town, and was erected by Father Reid, one of the pioneer priests. Father Reid was succeeded in 1854 by Rev. Peter McGarvey, who was the first resident pastor. In June, 1855, the latter was succeeded by Rev. Thomas O'Farrell, who continued to minister to the congregation and missions until August, 1859. He was followed by Rev. John C. Farren, and after the latter's withdrawal, in 1862, the congregation was visited monthly by Rev. Thomas Walsh, of Brady's Bend, Armstrong County. The next resident pastor was Rev. James Canevin, and it was during his incumbency that, on account of the development of the iron industries of this section and the consequent settlement here of laborers from other points, many of whom were Catholics, a new church was found to be an absolute necessity. Accordingly Father Canevin purchased a lot situated on the corner of Beaver and North Streets, and began the erection of a church which was completed in 1871. It is a brick structure, 110 feet in length by 45 feet in width; it has a well proportioned tower in the center in front and is of a modified Gothic style of architecture.
Father Canevin was succeeded by Father Hayes, who in April, 1871, opened a school, and in the following month purchased a large frame building for a pastoral residence. The affairs of the church and parish went on thenceforward in a prosperous manner until the panic of 1873 affected the iron industries of New Castle, and many of the employees of the great works were forced to seek employment in other sections. This threw many unexpected burdens on the members of St. Mary's, but under the guidance of wise priests the congregation weathered all storms.
Father Hayes was succeeded on February 8, 1879, by Rev. Joseph Gallagher, who served faithfully and well until his death, which took place August 11, 1906. On October 31, 1907, Rev. Florence F. O'Shea was appointed rector of St. Mary's and took charge on the 15th of November following.
The first Catholic school in New Castle was opened by the sisters from the Sisters of Mary Orphan School near New Bedford, in the frame church in West New Castle, about 1871. In 1876 the present school building was erected. During 1907 Father O'Shea built additions to the school building, which was necessitated by the large number of students, there being at present 475 on the roll. The school is under the charge of eight sisters of the order of Sisters of St. Joseph, and their convent adjoins [p. 220] the pastoral residence on North and Beaver Streets. The work of the school includes, in addition to the subjects taught in the primary grades of the public schools, a complete course in stenography, typewriting, bookkeeping and two years of instruction in Latin. Father O'Shea has under his spiritual care 550 families, comprising 3,000 souls.
For many years St. Mary's Church was the only Catholic place of worship in New Castle. With the city's increase of population there was a corresponding influx of Catholics from other points, and the accommodations afforded by the old church were discovered to be totally inadequate. The German Catholics in particular began an agitation for the erection of a new church. After giving the matter careful consideration, Bishop Phelan approved of the plan, and selected Father Francis J. Eger, formerly assistant priest of the German Catholic Church at Allegheny City, to take charge of the organization. After looking over the ground, Father Phelan purchased for the sum of $4,000 the First Methodist Episcopal Church property. Under his direction the building was put in order and was dedicated December, 1888, by Bishop Phelan. Services were established, a school was founded, and the little congregation had made a fair start, with plan under consideration for further improvements, when, on April 29, 1892, the church was totally destroyed by fire. This discouraging circumstance, however, was not sufficient to dampen the ardor of Father Eger and the congregation under his spiritual guidance, but rather inspired them to greater efforts. Immediate action was taken towards the erection of a new building, and after a large amount of energetic labor on his part and theirs, it became an accomplished fact, and it now stands as one of the handsomest church edifices in the city. It has a seating capacity for 600 people. The interior is finished in Wisconsin oak, the altars, the choir loft and confessionals are of beautiful architecture and fine finish, while a subdued light falls softly upon the worshippers through the beautiful stained glass windows, which represent the offerings of piety and self-sacrifice on the part of members of the congregation and of the Sunday-school. The church is also provided with a fine pipe organ, said to be the largest in this section of the state.
The school attached to St. Joseph's is under the charge of three sisters of the order of Divine Providence, and they have 160 pupils, 125 of these being residents.
This church, which provides for the spiritual wants of the Italian citizens of New Castle, is under the charge of Rev. Nicholas DeMita, and was dedicated August 15, 1907, by Bishop Reges. It is a fine brick structure and was erected at a cost of $70,000, the corner stone being laid August 15, 1906. School accommodations are provided in the basement for 400 pupils, under sisters of a Catholic order, and the church has a seating capacity of 700. It is of a tasteful style of architecture and finish, and is an ornament to the city. The pastor, Rev. Father DeMita, is a native of Italy, and was educated to the priesthood in his native land, where he first assumed the duties of the pastoral office. After coming to America he located in Pittsburg, where he organized the Italian mission, which he conducted for eighteen months, showing courage in braving the threats of a certain class of his countrymen who were opposed to anything like moral or religious restraint. He originated the Catholic Anti-Black Hand Society, which now has a membership of 300 or more, including many prominent Italian citizens. Father DeMita was appointed pastor of St. Vitus in September, 1905, and now has 400 families under his spiritual direction.
This church, which has been established [p. 221] a few years, is situated on Maple Street and is now under the care of the Rev. John Andrzejewski, who has had charge of the parish since 1905, having under his care 250 families or about 1,400 souls. In connection with the church there is a prospering parish school, which has an enrollment of sixty pupils. Father Andrzejewski was born in Milwaukee of Polish parents. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ireland, at St. Paul University, and before coming to New Castle was assistant pastor of Butler parish, in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
The first society of this denomination in New Castle was organized by Rev. C. Brown on the 28th of August, 1848, with twenty-seven members. Mr. Brown was located at Beaver and preached the first Lutheran sermon in New Castle on the 10th of September of the same year. The first services of the congregation were held in the West schoolhouse. The first church officers were elected October 8, 1848, and installed November 5th following. The first celebration of the Lord's Supper in the German language was on the 5th of November, 1848.
On the 1st of January, 1849, a constitution was adopted, and on the same day Rev. C. Brown was elected as pastor for the ensuing year. On the 28th of January, 1849, a sabbath school was organized and superintending officers appointed. The first meeting of the Church Council was held on the 29th of January, 1849. The first meeting of the congregation was held December 23, 1849, to take action upon the resignation of Rev. C. Brown. At the meeting of the Church Council on the 22d of March, 1851, it was resolved to build a church, the dimensions of which should be 40 feet in length, 30 feet in width, and 18 feet in height. The second pastor next following Mr. Brown was Rev. H. Manz. Following him was Rev. H. C. Kahler, who continued until 1857. At a meeting of the congregation, held on the 15th of February, 1857, Rev. W. Grobel was elected as pastor; and by the same authority, at a meeting held on the first of March, it was resolved that divine service should be held every alternate Sabbath at 10:30 o'clock in the forenoon and 3 o'clock in the afternoon. At a meeting on the 28th of February, 1858, it was resolved that the pastor's salary should be $250 for the year, to be paid quarterly, and that every person on becoming a member shall pay an initiation fee of three dollars. Those who are already members and have paid nothing toward the pastor's salary shall have their names stricken from the church rolls. At a congregation meeting held on the 3d of April, 1859, Rev. F. Zimmerman was elected pastor for the ensuing year.
At a meeting held on the 24th of February, 1861, it was resolved that the pastor should live in New Castle, and that he should receive a salary of $300 per annum. Rev. J. H. C. Schierenbeck succeeded Mr. Zimmerman. On the 5th of May, Messrs. A. Treser, C. Reiber and J. Merkel were constituted a committee to purchase a dwelling for the pastor. In the spring of 1867 Rev. C. Jaekel succeeded Mr. Schierenbeck as pastor, and filled the office acceptably until May 26, 1875, when he resigned.
At a church meeting held August 4, 1867, it was resolved to permit the pastor to hold divine service at the "Bethlehem" church, in Wurtemburg, every fourth Sunday.
At a meeting of the Church Council, January 10, 1869, it was resolved that the pastor should baptize no child of parents who pay nothing for the support of the church in New Castle, or who do not contribute towards the salary of the pastor.
At a meeting of the congregation, November 6, 1870, it was ordered that the pastor should hold services alternately in New Castle and Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania, the latter as a missionary station; and his salary was fixed at $300 per annum.
[p. 222] On the 24th of September, 1871, this arrangement was modified, and the pastor was relieved from holding services at Corry, and gave his whole time to New Castle.
After the resignation of Rev. Mr. Jaekel, the congregation was without a pastor until October 1, 1875, when Rev. J. Fritz was elected for three years, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. The further history of this church has not been furnished us, but we append a brief account of other Lutheran churches, now active in the religious work of New Castle.
The Rev. S. T. Nicholas, missionary superintendent of the Pittsburg Synod, G.S., canvassed New Castle in the summer of 1904 and effected the organization of this church, which was accomplished on December 4 of that year, with thirty-one charter members. The Rev. L. P. Young became the first pastor, his service extending to July 1, 1906. The membership, after running up to fifty-four, fluctuated and on account of heavy removals and losses was reduced to twenty-five in November, 1906. C. G. Leatherman began work November 15, 1906, and has continued to date as the pastor. The membership of the church is now forty-two, with a Sunday-school enrollment of forty. A new church building is just being completed, to be dedicated early in November (1908). The edifice is of buff brick, with a seating capacity of 200, and cost, with lot, $6,000. The present officers of the church are: Pastor, Rev. C. G. Leatherman; elders, John C. Sontag and J. C. Overmoyer; deacons, Jacob Sontag and C. M. Wilson; trustees, Scott Heasley and W. C. Burchfield.
On the twenty-third day of June, 1895, eleven Lutherans assembled in the Y.M.C.A. Chapel, and at 11 a. m., Rev. N. Schaffer, then of Greenville, Pa., conducted services. This was the beginning of what developed into the present St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Until the following spring the Rev. Schaffer conducted services once every fortnight. On June 17, 1896, Rev. J. H. Miller having been called, took charge of the mission and preached to the congregation for the first time June 21, 1896. On June 21, 1908, the congregation observed the thirteenth anniversary of the congregation and the twelfth anniversary of the Rev. J. H. Miller, Ph.D., the first and only called pastor in the history of St. John's congregation. The congregation has a membership of 250, and the Sunday-school has enrolled 200 members. The church is located on North Street and Neshannock Avenue, the property being valued at $20,000, with a small indebtedness. The congregation is noted for its liberality and activity in all lines of benevolence. Officers: Rev. J. H. Miller, Ph.D., pastor; deacons, A. W. Allshouse, George Miles, F. J. Rowle, Henry Eisie, Harrison Ziegler and Frank Alborn.
The above named congregation was organized on the 27th day of February, 1894, and its present church building on Crawford Avenue was erected the following year. Owing mainly to the fact that the Swedish population of the city is comparatively small, the membership from the start was necessarily very small and is so yet. At present there are only something over forty communicant members and about an equal number of children, making the total number about eighty.
This church has never had a resident pastor, but its pulpit has been supplied by pastors or theological students from the nearest sister church at Youngstown Ohio. Services are held only every other Sunday, but the little Sunday school, which has been maintained most of the time, meets every Sabbath. There are two ladies' societies and a Young People's Society, all working in the interest of the church. [p. 223] Financially the church is in a very good condition, there being no encumbrance on the church property; the running expenses are met regularly and without difficulty.
The present officers are as follows: Deacons, Messrs. N. J. Carlson, Cleas Nelson and P. J. Nelson; trustees, Messrs. Christopher Nelson, Bernhard Svenson and B. J. Bengtson; secretary, Carl J. Carlson; cashier, Bernhard Svenson; collector, David Nelson; organist, Miss Jennie Benson; pastor, John A. Johansson. The following pastors, all of them residing at Youngstown, Ohio, have given part of their service to this church: A. G. Olson, 1894-97; Edward Stark, 1900-04; Axel C. Anderson, 1905-06; J. A. Johansson, 1907-.
The first Protestant Episcopal services were held in New Castle in 1843, at the home of Dr. A. Andrews, who had settled here in 1834, by the Rev. Dr. White, of Butler. The parish was organized in 1848, on Easter Monday, the Rev. Richard Smith being the first rector. The first vestrymen were: J. M. Crawford, Jonathan Ayres, Esq., Hon. L. L. McGuffin, G. A. Scroggs, Esq., J. Hamilton, Dr. A. Andrews, George Sloan, J. H. Brown and W. P. Reynolds. The Rev. Mr. Smith was an earnest worker and hunted up all the Episcopal families in Lawrence County and brought many others into the church. Old Trinity Church on Neshannock Avenue was built in 1856, the corner stone being laid by Bishop Potter. The present handsome church building was erected in 1902, and is the only stone church in the city. Of all the rectors of Trinity Church there are only five now living, namely: The Rev. W. S. Hayward, the Rev. J. D. Herron, the Rev. H. H. Barber, the Rev. C. W. Tyler, Ph.D., and the present rector, the Rev. J. E. Reilly, D.D. The present membership of the church is 800; Sunday-schools, 250. The parish maintains a flourishing mission in the south end of the city, known as St. Andrew's Mission.
The congregation of the Disciples in New Castle was organized in 1855 with twenty-four members. They first met with the Covenanter Church. Afterwards they built a house 18x28 feet on a lot donated by Seth Rigby, on North Street, where the residence of Dr. McLaughrey now stands. The little house was afterwards moved to Elm Street and is now used as a tenement. Subsequently they occupied White Hall until the present house was built.
The old minutes show that on entering White Hall a new organization was determined upon on December 10, 1864, at a meeting attended by twenty-four members, presided over by Alex. C. McKeever and served as clerk by J. B. Nicklin, the following officers were chosen: As elders, E. I. Agnew and Thomas W. Phillips; as deacons, Charles M. Phillips, W. C. Harman and J. B. Nicklin. An adequate church building was needed, and through the generosity of the Phillips Brothers the present structure was erected. On the 14th of February, 1868, it was formally opened by the late Isaac Errett, editor of the Christian Standard. The first pastor was B. J. Pinkerton, of Kentucky, who remained one year. He was succeeded in September, 1871, by William F. Cowden, who served until May, 1881. I. A. Thayer was called and took charge July 1, 1881, remaining until October 1, 1887, when he resigned to take the pastorate at Worcester, Mass. On September 1, 1888, Frank Talmage was called to the pulpit, which he occupied until November 30, 1889. On the 1st of May, 1890, I. A. Thayer was recalled and continued to serve the church till January, 1900. He was succeeded by Earl Wilfley, who served four years. Next came W. L. Fisher, who remained three years. The present pastor, C. S. Brooks, came in September, 1907. The present membership of the church is 1,040; that of the Sunday-school, 400.
The needs of South New Castle led the church to establish a mission in that part [p. 224] of the city, and on October 12, 1891, a lot was purchased and preparations made for building. On January 12, 1892, the house having been simply inclosed, a Sunday-school was organized. On the following July, W. H. Hanna was employed as assistant pastor with the Long Avenue Mission as his special work. He remained until September, 1893, when he resigned to take the pastorate at Carnegie, Pa.
The Central Christian Church was organized first as a mission Sunday-school of the First Christian Church, in 1894. In 1896 the church was organized and I. H. Durfee was called to be the first minister. His pastorate extended over a period of seven years. He was succeeded by W. D. Trumbull, who ministered to the congregation for two years. He was succeeded by F. M. Biddle, who remained pastor for three years. The present minister, A. H. Jordan, began his work May 1, 1908. The church has a membership of 350 and a Sunday-school of more than two hundred average attendance. The present officers are: Elders, Thomas Sadler, T. L. Lewis, K. E. Smith; deacons, A. W. Bauman, John Spoyde, J. W. Walls, John Boynham, Charles Walls, M. H. Richards, Thomas Johns, C. P. Smith, A. Kildoo and C. E. Sturdevant; clerk, A. W. Bauman; treasurer, Mrs. Samuel Perry.
"The Young Men's Christian Association is the strongest Christian club in the world. Its membership now numbers a half million and is distributed among thirty-four nations. From its very inception it has stood for one thing—the all-around development of man—mind, spirit, body." —Views and Information, Y.M.C.A.
There were two unsuccessful attempts to establish a branch of the "Y.M.C.A." in New Castle, the organization going to pieces each time for lack of interest and support. A meeting was finally held in what is now the Central Presbyterian Church by the then state secretary of the "Y.M.C.A.," a Mr. Taggart, now deceased, and Messrs. Orr and Jennings from the Pittsburg "Y.M.C.A.," and an organization effected. Ira D. Sankey, the world famous gospel singer and evangelist, was present at that meeting. He bought the lot now occupied by the Association with the intention of erecting a building suited to its needs. In 1885 he built the present three-story and basement building at a cost of $40,000, Mr. Sankey realizing the money from the sale of his "Gospel Hymns." It comprises a well appointed gymnasium, bath-rooms, and library, besides the usual class, club, and reception rooms, all well and handsomely furnished. There is a night school carried on in connection with the work, classes being held in mathematics, arithmetic, reading, writing and spelling, mechanical drawing, stenography and bookkeeping, English for foreign-speaking men, German, and elementary physics and chemistry. The library contains about eighteen hundred well selected volumes, and in connection therewith there is a pleasant and cozy reading room. In addition to the regular classes for Bible study, there are practical talks and lectures on various subjects at specially announced dates. A debating club also is now being organized, as well as an Association orchestra. Other branches of the society's work include an information bureau, a boardinghouse register, for the benefit of young men coming to the city as strangers, a committee for the visitation of the sick, etc. There is also a ladies' auxiliary, whose work is of inestimable value to the institution.
This institution during its short existence in New Castle has accomplished much for the welfare of the young women of the community. It had its inception in the minds of some of the city's benevolent and public-spirited women, who relentlessly [p. 225] pushed forth their plans and saw them develop into a thriving organization, in which the people take a great pride. The prime movers in the project, originally, were Mrs. I. B. Griffith and Miss May White and among those who soon became active in the work were Mrs. George Greer, Mrs. Charles Greer and Mrs. C. H. Johnson.
The first public step taken was a meeting held in the Coliseum, October 18, 1907, when a temporary organization was effected with the following officers: Miss L. Jeffery, president; Mrs. T. A. Kimes, secretary, and Mrs. I. B. Griffith, treasurer. At this meeting 220 pledged themselves to become members. At a later meeting a constitution was adopted and a board of directors elected with the following personnel: Mrs. I. B. Griffith, Mrs. J. C. Norris. Mrs. E. A. Donnan, Mrs. A. M. Leohner, Mrs. George Greer, Mrs. E. I. Phillips, Mrs. J. D. F. Newell, Mrs. Edward Ward, Dr. Elizabeth McLaughry, Mrs. J. Q. Roberts, Mrs. W. J. Eroe, Mrs. Charles G. Long, Miss May White, Mrs. J. S. Martin, and Miss Carrie L. Jeffery. One-third of these officers were to retire each year, and their places filled by election. The first permanent officers were: J. S. Martin, president; Mrs. I. B. Griffith, first vice-president; Mrs. George Greer, second vice-president; Mrs. J. C. Norris, third vice-president; Dr. Elizabeth McLaughry, fourth vice-president; Miss Carrie L. Jeffery, secretary, and Mrs. A. M. Leohner, treasurer. Their term of office ran until May, 1908, when at the regular annual meeting the present officers were elected, namely: Mrs. I. B. Griffith, president; Mrs. George Greer, first vice-president; Mrs. J. S. Martin, second vice-president; Mrs. J. C. Norris, third vice-president; Mrs. E. A. Donnan, fourth vice-president; Miss Carrie L. Jeffery, secretary, and Dr. Elizabeth McLaughry, treasurer. At that meeting Mrs. George Ingham was elected to the Board of Directors to succeed Mrs. J. Q. Roberts, who had resigned, and Mrs. Annie Robinson was elected to succeed Mrs. Eroe. The original, Board of Trustees included such well known citizens and business men of New Castle as follows: Percy L. Craig, A. C. Dickinson, J. J. Dean, George Greer, M. S. Marquis, J. G. Nothdurff, T. W. Phillips, G. G. Stitzinger and P. J. Watson.
The maintenance of the association depends upon such donations as are received and its membership fees, it now having an enrollment of 1,200 members. During the winter of 1907-1908, the Board of Directors resolved itself into a committee of finance, with three additional members, each member to secure ten ladies who would agree to collect $10.00 each; it was the aim to collect $1,500 to be used in furnishing the rooms. Miss Grace L. Erhardt was elected secretary of the association on November 25, 1907, assuming charge on January 1, 1908; Miss Christine Amoss was elected manager of the cafetera, February 27, 1908, and Miss Grace Erby has been elected to take charge of the gymnasium, which will open in the fall of 1908, and in which the German and Swedish gymnastic systems will be employed. In April, 1908, the present rooms of the association, on the second floor of the Wood Block, on North Mill Street, were opened with a reception which taxed the capacity of the rooms. Many of the ladies and the business firms of the city contributed liberally towards the furnishing of the quarters. The cafetera has been self-supporting ever since it was started. A splendid reading room has been provided and is furnished by the State Library, with a traveling library of fifty volumes, ten current magazines subscribed for by the association, and about the same number donated by individuals. The educational course consists of classes in French, German, Italian, Higher English, English for foreign girls and Bible study. There are prospective classes in sewing, millinery and home nursing. There is a four years' course outlined, and diplomas will be given [p. 226] those who complete it. The object of the association is to give young women an opportunity to round out their characters, religiously, educationally and socially, and to provide the proper physical training.
In closing the chapter on Religious Development it is proper to state that such omissions as may be noticed therein by the reader are due to our not receiving solicited information in time to be used before the chapter went to press. Enough information has been given, however, to serve as a fairly accurate sketch of the religious history of the city, and to show that New Castle is not behind in the work of upholding those influences that have to do with developing the moral and spiritual nature of man.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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