«• »: LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON, N. J. Purchased by the Mrs. Robert Lenox Kennedy Church History Fund. Dwision.3A5^ 2.6 Section...\..\....iDL..^ ^ h8 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://www.archive.org/details/sermonatsemiceOOmorr SEJtM ON SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION CON SKC RATION SAINT LUKE'S CHURCH, (iERMANTOWN. AUGUST 27, IB6B. WITH A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OK THE PARISH FROM ITS ORIGIN. REV. B. WISTAR MORRIS, Rector. ai^RMAN'l OWN : HMVIi. I'ltlMKlS. MAIN STUKKI', BKI.clW K. K. HF.POT. lt:t)S. PREFACE The Rector having reminded the Vestry at their May meeting, that the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Consecration of the Church would occur on the 27th of August, and suggested the propriety of some notice of the period, a Committee consisting of Messrs. James R. Lambdin, Charles Magarge, Thomas H. Mont- gomery, and George R. x\rnold was appointed, to act with the Rector in providing for a suitable observance of this in- teresting event. It was subsequently determined by the Com- mittee, to celebrate the occasion by a public service and sermon, with the Holy Communion, to be followed by a " social reunion" in the Parish Building. The willing aid of the ladies having been called in, due preparations were made, and clerical and lay friends invited to join in the celebration. Remembering that all the Rectors of the Parish for the period of more than half a century were still living, and that they had signified their desire and purpose to be present on this interesting occasion, much pleasure and profit were anticipated by all the members of the wongregation. The following account of the services is taken from the Evening Bulletin of the 28th of x\ugust : — " The venerable Parish of St. Luke's Church in Germantown was the scene of a deeply interesting series of services on Thurs- day last. The occasion being the celebration of its golden wed- ding, it having attained its fiftieth year from tlie date of its consecration by Bishop White. The occasion was one that, with all its attendant circumstances, will not readily be forgotten by any who were present, and by the members of the Parish, old and young, will b(i treasured as a landmark in its history. A printed invitation having been addre^sed to the clergy of the 4 city and to all others in more remote sections who had in any way been connected with the Parish and its history, an immense concourse assembled and completely filled the sacred edifice. Owing to the admirable arrangements made by the Rector and the lay officers of the Church, all the services were conducted with perfect order, and without the slightest confusion. Besides the Rector, the iiev. B. W. Morris, there were present the Bight Bev. Bishop of the Diocese, the Bev. Edward B. Lippitt, (formerly a Bector of the Parish,) Bev. Drs. Beasley, Clerc, Mombert, Suddards, Yarnall and Huchanan ; the Bev. Messrs. Clark, Davis, Evans, Newman, Boberts, Watson, (of St. James the Less,) Getz, Littell, Murphy, Perry, J. H. Brown, Matlack, Greene, (of Illinois,) White, Coleman, Harris, (of Chestnut Hill,) Bobbins, Lundy, Childs, Field, Colton, Spackman, Stewart, Turner, Ely, Barrow, Diehl, Brooks, Bonnell and Newton. " Twenty-four of the clergy, besides the Bishop and Bector, occupied the chancel, in surplices. The procession moved from the Parish Building, headed by the Bishop and the Rector, and flanked by the laymen, who were led by the officers of the church. An appropriate selection from the Psalms was alternately recited as a processional chant. Morning prayer was said by Rev. E. Y. Buchanan — (the lessons by Dr. Yarnall and Mr. Diehl) — and the prayers by the Bev. Dr. Beasley. The ante-connnunion was read by the Bev. Mr. Spackman, the Epistle and (lospel by the venerable Prof. Lippitt. "The sermon, by the Bector, from Genesis, xxxii. 10, was a deeply interesting summary of the historical events connected with the early effiirts to organize the Parish, and of many of the incidents which the progress of fifty years will always cluster around a congregation. We regret that our space will not per- mit us to give even an outline of the eloquent sermon which was listened to throughout with the most marked attention. " Descending from the pulpit, the Bector took from the altar a beautiful silver alms-basin which he said had been given to the Parish as a memorial of this anniversary, by members of the Con- gregation, and that it was to be used on that occasion to receive the first offerings for tlio first stone (whether the stone should be large or small) for the foundation of a new, large and more beautiful ehurcli. It was to be the first contribution towards a buildin"' fund. A generous contribution piled up the two alms- basins used on the occasion — we trust enough to furnish several stones. Bishop Stevens stepped forward at the close of the Hector's remarks, and in a strain of simple eloquence, touched upon some of the many pleasant and some of the sadder memories of the Parish. The Holy Communion was then adnunistered by the Bishop, assisted by several of the Clergy. The benediction was pronounced by the Bishop. The music was under the direction of Professor A. Gr. Eiuerick, who presided at the organ with his accustomed skill. The volunteer choir trained and led by him, gave the nuisical selections in the very best manner. Mr. Emerick's participation in the services was ot the most acceptable and pleasing character. When the choir sang ' Jerusa- lem the Golden,' the Bishop and Clergy retired to the new Parish house, followed by the laity of both sexes, who, witli the children, were cordially invited to be present. "The building was the scene of other incidents, no less in- teresting than those of the morning, though somewhat different. The spacious room was found to be beautifully decorated with flao-s, flowers of excpiisite form and fragrance, portraits of men connected once with the Church, and, last, but not least, a feast of cood things, which the indefatigable and hospitable members of the Parish had supplied with counnendable taste and abun- dance. The ladies certainly acquitted themselves with admirable taste ill the provision and the arrangement, and their faithful attendance upon tlu'ir guests. After all had been served, the Hector introduced successively Rev. Messrs. Lippitt, Buchanan, Bonnell, Beasley, Spackman and Davis, and James M. Aertsen, Es((., who ehxpiently addressed the meeting, chiefly in recollec- tion of incidents connected with the Parish history. The spark- ling wit and happy allusions of some of the speeches elicited considerabh' api)lause. Rev. Mr. Morris then proposed a vote of thanks to the venerable Bishop of Wisconsin, (Right Kcv. 6 Dr. Kemper,) whose early services, (given gratuitously, for he refused all compensation,) and contributed largely to the pro- motion and growth of the Parish. The I\ev, Mr. Coleman moved a vote of thanks by the guests for the privileges and entertain- ments of the occasion. Both of these motions were responded to with heartiness. " At night the Church was again filled, when, after evening prayer, addresses were delivered by Rev. Messrs. Eonnell, Wm. W. Newton, and Phillips Brooks. This service closed a day that will be long remembered by all the parishioners especially. It was the happiest celebration in its conception, arrangement and development that it has ever been our privilege to attend. There was but one shadow over the day and its cele- bration, and that was the absence of its late Rector, the vene- rable J. Rodney, during forty years in charge of the Parish, (now Emeritus Rector,) who was detained with his family at Lewes, Delaware. " We can but hope that this Parish, which having reached the grand climacteric, has now begun to renew its youth, will go forward, richly profiting by the lessons of the past. May its future be one of brightness and prosperity, and may a new and more churchly structure soon witness to the untiring zeal and earnest piety of those upon whom now devolves the character of the future of the Parish." Interesting letters were received from the Bishop of Wiscon- sin, the Rev. C. M. Dupuy (the first Rector), Dr. Muhlenberg, the Rev. C. F, Knight, and also one from Judge Conyngham, whose parents were among the earliest members of the Congrega- tion. The presence of these brethren would have added still to our pleasure, but they were unavoidably prevented from being with us. Tiie " silver alms-basin" spoken of above, was a me- morial of this occasion, and also of deceased members of the Parish, and bears an inscription giving its history and purpose. It was first used as stated, to take the Offerings at this Semi- centennial service for the beginning of a building fund for a new church. No previous notice had been given of such a jmrpose, and a very large contribution was not looked for or desired. It was more, however, than was expected. The object was to an- nounce the jiurpose to make a beginning, to take the first step, believing that in due time we should have the faith and courage to resume the enterprise, and by God's blessing carry it to a successful end. The importance of our having a larger church is every day growing more and more manifest. There are now constant demands for sittings in the Church which can not be met, and with the rapid increase of our population these demands will increase also. Several months since the Vestry took action in this nuitter, which has yet to be carried to any result. When the late Rector, in the Vestry meeting of October 21, 18G7, signified his intention of resigning, and a committee was appointed to tender the Rectorship to the Assistant Minister, a resolution was also oftiired by Mr. I). 11. King appomting a committee to inquire into the feasibility of enlarging the Church, and to suggest a plan for raising the means. The heartiness with which this resolution was passed, had great influence in determining me to accept the proff"ered Hectorship, and 1 refer to it here to remind the Vestry of their action, and to exhort the congregation to a cordial co-operation in this eiiterprise whenever undertaken. It is believed that a plan can be presented, by which a moderate outlay will furnish all the additional room needed at present, which shall be at the same time the beginning, and portion of a new, substantial, and fitting Church, that shall occupy in part the same site as the present building, and shelter and bless within its ample walls, many generations of those who are to come after us. May God hasten it in His time ! SERMON. " 1 ;im not worthy ol the least of all the morcips. and of all thi> truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan : and now I am hecome two bands."— (tE>esir xxxii: 10. With this reminiscence of his early loneliness and poverty, and this grateful acknowledgment of his present prosperity and abundance, the Patriarch Jacob turns to the God of his fathers, imploring him to remember His promise to Abraham and to Isaac, and to orant him deliverance from the violence he leared at the hand of his own brother Esau. A pilgrim and stranger, with nothing but the staff in his liand, he had at first gone forth a wanderer upon the iace of tlie earth, but was now returning to the land ol' his own people increased exceedingly in all that' in that age constituted wealth and power, " and had much cattle, and maid servants, and men ser- vants, and camels, and asses." This prosperity he attributes to the mrirn and truth of God, while he confesses that he was unworthy of the least of all His favors and blessings. This reminiscence of the grateful Patriarch — this ccmtrast between his first humble and lonely passage of the ,lordan and the signs ol" wealth and power with which he returned 10 to its banks, with the confession of his own nn- worthiness and God's unmerited goodness, suggest thoughts not inappropriate, it is hoped, to the pre- sent occasion. All this is true of the history we are about to relate, in the contrast between the first beginnings of this Parish and its subsequent growth and prosperity, and in the fact that all is due to the mercies and to the truth of that God who keepeth his promise from generation to generation. Any Christian congregation must, in the course of fifty 3^ears, gather about it a history of lively interest to all in any way connected therewith. The hopes and fears, the discouragements and diffi- culties which invariably attend the beginning of such an enterprise, the zeal and labor, the faith and per- severance requisite to any good measure of success, will ahwiys make a history worthy of record in their estimation, who appreciate the blessings that centre in and cluster around the House of God. Though, as is as well known, this is one of the oldest towns in Pennsylvania, having been settled in 1683, (only one year later than Philadelphia itself,) it was by a German population, among whom there would be little occasion for any religious ser- vices in the English tongue. Consequently, it is not till after the lapse of nearly a hundred years, that Ave find any history of even an occasional ser- vice, })y any of the missionaries of the Propagation 11 Society who were settled in neighboring parishes. In the year 1760, however, the Rev. Mr. Neill, who was Missionary at Oxford and Whitemarsh, was compelled hy the hnrnini;- of his "Glebe Honse," to seek a residence in Gerniantown, and this led to the opening ol what were doubtless the first services of the Clinrch of England ever held here. The account of this is best given in his own words He thus wi'ites to the Society: " Germantown, May Tith, 176U. " I have an invitation from some of the English people in (lermantown to preach for them, as there is no kind of English worship in the town, except a Quaker meeting-house : and, in- deed, this is something extraordinary, as I don't know a family of the (Miurch of England in the town but one, although it con- tains three hundred houses ; but as they are divided into so many sects that no single sect is able to support a minister — I mean the English people — and as I have offered to preach for them for nothing, Sunday evenings after the service is over, of my other churches, they readily embraced the offer. The use of the Lutheran Church of the upper end of Grermantown, and of the Calvinist Church in the middle of the town, are both offered to \ne by their respective ministers and people, as they appear more willing to have a minister of the Church of Eng- land to preach to their people that understand English (as most of the young |)eople do) than any other denomination. Since I have had the misfortune of having the Glebe House, at Oxford, and the best part of my valuable effects destroyed by lire, I have removed my family to Germantown."* In kee])iiig with this letter the Society's Keport lor 1701 says; '-Mr, Neill otficiated last summer, * MSS. IJofiiiiicul.-? of tlip Q^>lU'l•al (,'on vi'uliou. 12 the Siinda}' evenings, in Germantown, where the rising: g-eneration of the Dutch, who understand English, are well affected to the Chui^ch of Eng- land." We suppose there is little doubt that these ser- vices were held in the old church on Market Square, where now stands the church of Dr. Helffenstein, and where subsequently the services of our own church were regularly held for several years. There is no record of any services after those of Mr. Neill for a period of many ja^ars — though we may conjecture that if there were any number of families members of the Church of England then resident hi Germantown, they would not have been neglected l)y the neighboring clergy. Mr. Neill was succeeded at Oxford l)y the Rev. Dr. William Smith, who officiated here after the Revolution and may possibly have done so at this earlier date. In the year 1777, as is well known, the liritish ti'()0])s occupied Germantown and vicinity — (xeneral Howe living some time at Stenton, and some time in the Morris House, on Main Street, opposite Church Lane — and it is quite probable that some English chaplain of the army otficiated in the Dutch Church almost directly opposite to General Howe's head- (piarters. This is known to have been the case with the chaplains ol the Hessians, who j)reuched also in the Lutheran (Jhurch in the upper end of IS the town. 1 have been informed by the grandson of the Ilev. Dr. Smith, that he is in possession of a letter from General Washington, inviting Dr. Smith to officiate at Whitemarsh while the army lav in that neighborhood; but it was not till fully ten vears after the establishment of peace, and in the year 1703, that we hear of any renewal of the services of the Church of England in this place. The events of that year, however, made a great change in this hitherto quiet, and strictly, German- town. The yellow fever of 1793 brought out here the officers of the General and State Govern- ments, and of the City Banks, filling the houses with new inmates, speaking a new language. Gen- eral \Yashington took up his residence in the Morris House previously occupied by the British Comman- der. Thcmas Jefferson, Secretary of State, and John Randol])h, Attorney General, lived in the house now used by the Germantown Bank. The three-story house two doors above the corner of Main Street and School Lane was occupied by the United States Bank, and every house and lodging- place that could be procured, was taken possession of by the citizens of Philadelphia fleeing from that dreadful plague. It was proposed that Congress should also come here, and upon some incpiiry made by General Washington, of the Trustees of the Academy, it was resolved that they would take measures to accommodate the Congress of the United States, in their building, at its next Session. It was 1.4 during this sad period that the services of our Church were again comnisnced in this place. They were held in the same old Dutch Church, on Market vSquare, where among the regular attendants were General Washington and his family. We have the name of no clergyman connected with these services but that of the Ilev. Dr. Smith, of whom we have al- ready spoken. He resided at the Falls of Schuyl- kill, and was doubtless more frequent in his attend- ance here than any other clergyman. The late Samuel Breck of this city, remembered being at the house of Dr. Smith, at Schuylkill Falls, of a Sunday morning, and seeing him, dressed in gown and bands, waiting rather impatiently the tardy movements of his coachman, who was to drive him to German- town, wdiere he was to officiate in the services of the Church. But with the return of the officers of the Govern- ment and other citizens to Philadelphia, these services seem to have been discontinued, and we have no record of their being resumed again for a period of eighteen years. After the yenv of the yellow fever, simdry families from the city ))egan to make this neighborhood the place of their sum- mer residence, and the probabilities are that the services of our Church were occasionally held here, at least in tlie summer season. But we have no record of any such services until the yeai- 1811, when tlie}' weiv regularly established.* * Th" nariativf wliicli toUows tlii.< sermon coutiiins a skotcli ol tlir liistury 15 Mr. Kodiiey's rectorship, beginning in 1825 and covering a period of over forty-two years, would alone rurnisli ample materials for an entire discourse, but it will be impossible to enter into details here. During that period the Church has been tw^ice en- larged, the tower and spire erected, the basement titled and furnished for the Sunday School, the oTOunds enlarired by the addition of land on the south side, a llectory and large lot purchased on the north, and a handsome and substantial parish build- ing erected near to the Church. The report of the Parish to the Convention shows that at the begin- ning of Mr. Rodney's rectorship there w^ere fifteen connnunicants, while the last report shows three hundred and sixty communicants, ii\\<\ collections and contributions amounting to $18',782. While there are few clergymen, in these chang- ing times, that have been connected for so long a period with any one congregation, there are also few who, during a rectorship of any duration, have witnessed such changes, such growth and enlarge- ment in their own parishes. The tide of popula- tion that has made a steady drain upon older and larger parishes in the lower parts of the city, has brought increasing numbers and strength to this, and many others in the northern and w^estern sec- tions, until not only has this Congregation so much of St. Luke's Parish from this period, portions of which were introriueed in the delivery of the sermon, but are omitted here to avoid repetitions. IG outgrown its first proportions, but four other Epis- copal Churches have been built within the limits of the old borough of Germantown. The recent change which closed a rectorship of forty-two years, and committed the oversight of the Parish into the present hands, might seem to claim a more extended notice. But personal considera- tions will excuse any enJargemmt on this point, while it shall not be entirely passed over. The Eector's desire and purpose to resign had been so long in- dulged and so repeatedly expressed, that no one at all familiar with the existing state of affairs could have been surprised, though its public announce- ment — as was most naturally to have been ex- pected — kindled the deepest emotions of regret in the hearts of his parishioners at the proposed change, and prompted the liveliest expressions of regard and affection for one they had so long and so deservedly loved. The relations of confidence be- tween the Rector and his Assistant had been so complete, and he had been pleased to confide the conduct of the affairs of the Parish so much to the Assistant for years past, that no one could have anticipated any marked change or revolution in its teachings or practices. But though our former re- lations have been changed, your old Rector remains still with you, in a position at once exjiressive of your conlidenCL; and regard, and the \'estry did surely but repeat your sentiments when they as- 17 sured him of their "earnest prayer that God might long spare him to go in and out, and worship with his old parishioners, and that He would, in his declin- ing years, pour upon him His choicest blessings."* And here, in the presence of so many of the breth- ren who have known and esteemed him for long years, I would take occasion to say, as I have said before in this same place, that " I think it has fallen to the lot of few Assistant Ministers to accomplish a service of eleven years, with such unvarying kind- ness and confidence as was here bestowed, and that few Rectors have retired from the active labors of their office, or been called away by the Master, with a stronger hold upon the affections of their people, or the regard and esteem of the whole community. The record of a life thus pure and 'unspotted from the world,' through all its past years, is a precious heritage to friends and family. Happy might we be with the thought that we could leave such to those who are to come after us."t How marked the change, my brethren, that has come over our Church — how great the growth and prosperity God has given her since that venerable patriarch and his few clergy stood here, fifty years ago to-day, to consecrate this House of God for the little band of churchmen that had erected it. They * See Appendix A. t Quoted from the Rector's Sermon on Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, being the first occasion of his occupying the pulpit after his election. 18 were as -Facob, going forth into the world lonely and poor, with only his stafi' in his hand. There was perhaps less prejudice in this community then against our Church than is common where her services and system are unknown. The doctrines and prac- tices of" the Lutheran and German Reformed bodies of that day were not so dissimilar to our own as to excite any prejudices or suspicion against liturgies, vestments, and a calendar of festivals and fast days. The larger portion of the people then resi- dent here, had been accustomed to all these things in their homes, and looked with no special disfavor upon the effort to establish the Episcopal Church among them. Some, indeed, we know — members and ministers of these communions — did the very opposite, and gave it a cordial welcome. Still it was a work of great difticulty to establish and maintain the services of our Church in this place. How ihat work has been blessed and prospered, we of this day })ear witness. The lapse of half a cen- tury finds now not two, but ten bands within what were at first the natural bounds of this single Parish. 71/? Congregations have risen up under the eye of the last liector witliin those geographical limits which for many years were left to him alone, in the formation and support of most of wliich, former parishioners of his, and in many cases mem- bers of his vestry have taken a leading and impor- tant part. Not only is this true of the Congrega- tions nearer by, but it is also true of St. David's, 19 St. James the Less, the Church of the Resurrection, and the younger parishes of St. Timothy and the House of Prayer. All of these stand within the field once occupied Ijy this Parish alone, and in almost every one she may recognize her children, or her children's child- ren. If she should look out with pride and rejoic- ing upon this goodly increase to the common fold, she should still take to herself the words of the grateful Patriarch — " I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which Thou hast shewed Thy servant." The blessing and pros- perity which God has given his Church is all of his own grace and goodness, and not of our deserts or efforts. May these tm bands only prove themselves worthy of His continued favor and jjrotection, and so' dwell together in peace and harmony, that while they carry forward the work of the Church with all lawful zeal and emulation, they shall be in all eyes like Jerusalem of old, "even as a city that is at unity in itself." No more remarkable, however, is this growth and increase than that which has been given to the (Jhurch at large, and which should not here be for- gotten. One purpose of such services as these, would seem to be to awaken our attention to the condition and interests of the wdiole Church — to renew and deepen our sentiments of sympathy and 20 affection for the whole brotherhood. At such times we do well to look not only upon our own things, but also upon the things of others, and to remember what God has done for the common faith, as well as for any individual congregation or section of the Church. It was the day of small things for our Church in this Diocese, and in our whole country, when the history of this Congregation began. When in the year 1811 some ten or twelve per- sons met together to devise the ways and means of establishing the services of the Church here, we had in the city of Philadelphia but five churches — we have now more than sixty. There were then in the whole United States eight Bishops and one hundred and seventy-five Clergymen — there are now forty-four Bishops, and more than twenty-six hundred Clergymen. At the later date of 1818, when this Church was consecrated, there were in all of Pennsylvania about twenty-five Parishes, with the same number of Clergymen — we have now in this same territory, two Dioceses, each with its Bishop and two hundred and seventy-five Clergy- men, more by a whole hundred than we had in all of the United States when this Congregation was established, and these surpliced brethren within our chancel rail, this morning, number more by nearly one-half than Bishop White could gather in his Convention In the year he consecrated this Church. God surely then has blessed and prospered his work 21 among us. Those fathers of ours wlio stood here fifty years ago to-day, never anticipated such growth and increase for their beloved Church in their most sanguine moments. Not one word of this, however, by way of boast- ing. Not onl}^ do we say fwn nobis, but w^e say that this is but a portion of the increase and enlargement w^e might have had if we had fully realized the blessed heritage God has given us, and fully felt our own responsibilities. We have been many times slow and laggard, weak in faith and faltering in our efforts, when we should have been bold, confident and aggressive. Commerce, arts, improvements, enterprise, in every purpose of the "children of this w^orld" have far outstripped us. They make the boldest ventures, they lead off in schemes of the sublimest grandeur, seeming to delight in difficul- ties, and to conquer their way as they go. The Church stands still, or follows w^ith timid and halt- ing steps in the easy path they have prepared for her. What her history and achievements shall be for the next half century remains under God's fa- vor and blessing, largely with us, my brethren, and such as we. 1 shoukl take little interest in the ser- vices of this day if I were without the hope that some who participate in them, while the}' deepen their gratitude to God for all His past mercies, will also take new resolves here for more earnest and thorouuh devotion to the cause of their Master. For 22 ourselves, I indulge the hope that this will be a marked period in all the future history of this Parish, and that the children and youth who witness these services, will be inspired with sentiments of vene- ration and gratitude for the labors of their fathers in the Church, and will be made read}^ and v\dlling for the responsibilities which the flight of a few more years shall lay upon them. I am, also, not without the hope that the suggestion dropped in reference to a substantial memorial of this occasion, in the shaj^e of a new and suitable church, worthy this place and of this Congregation, will not be al- lowed to sleep and be forgotten. But, that planted to-day in grateful and generous hearts, but few years of the coming fifty shall have passed, till we shall be in the full enjoyment of the complete and perfect fruit. When I witness the private homes of beauty and elegance that are so rapidly possessing the va- cant spaces our fathers were accustomed to — homes every year becoming more elegant and costly, 1 cannot believe you wdl long continue satisfied with these narrow walls, with this dilapidated dwell mg- place for the "Ark of the Lord." This outline of fifty years' history, culled from registers and minute books, furnishes, after all, but the smallest and least important part of the real history of a parish. This all concerns things out- ward and visible, which are easy to record and easy to repeat; but its real history, its heart history, the history of its joys and sorrows, who could write that. The history of the souls now animating the flesh, or waiting the end ni the world of spirits — which would be its true history — what human pen w^onld undertake that task? That concerns prayers, and tears, and yows, niotiyes, deeds, and secret struggles of the soul, which shall be known only when the judgment is set and the books are opened. Our story is but the yeil and coyering of that which if it could be read in full, would move all hearts. The history of half a century, in those things which per- tain to the House of Cod, is a history of the deepest and dearest things in man's breast. The hopes and expectations that haye swelled the hearts of parents as they brought their children here to "the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Hoh' Ghost;" the searchings of heart and solemn yows of those wdio haye stood here for the "laying on of hands;" the deep contrition and yet the sacred joy that haye filled the soul in the Eucharistic feast; the mingled tears and smiles tliat haye greeted and blessed the bridal, and the sad and heayy weight that has fallen upon the heart as the dearest objects of earth haye been borne hence to their long rest, oh, what themes are these to reyiye the most sacred reminiscences of your h"\'es, and to hallow this place and all things connected therewith in your best affections ! Well may you say — " I love the Church — the Holy Church — That o'er our life presides, 24 The birth, the bridal, and the grave, And many an hour besides ! Be mine through life to live in her. And when the Lord shall call, To die in her — the Spouse of Christ, The Mother of us all." We surely will not forget this thought on an oc- casion like the present, that she is the mother of "us all — that " Angels, and living saints and dead, But one communion make." And while we come to feed upon the spiritual food here offered us, the sacred memories of those who have so often knelt here in past years, wdll carry our thoughts on to that better state where they rest in peace and blessedness, and give ardor to the prayer that "we, with all those who are departed in the true faith of God's Holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in his eternal and everlasting glory." And while we mark a day midway in a century, let us remember that so we stand in the " One Army of the living God," that " Part of the host have crossed the flood. And part arc crossing now." « Multitudes that no man can number, of all ranks 25 and conditions, frrm all lands, and all kindreds and churches, stand safe and sure oi: the eternal shore. A noble army, men and l)oys. The matron and the maid, Around the Saviour's throne rejoice In robes of white arrayed. They climbed the steep ascent of heaven Through peril, toil and pain — O, God ! to us may grace be given To follow in their train. HISTORY OF ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, GERMANTOWN. Subsequently to the services of Dr. Smith, spoken of in the preceding discourse, there is no record of any efforts toward a permanent estabhshment of the Episcopal Church in Germantown until the summer of 1811. On the 9th of June of that year, which was Trinity Sunday, a public service was held in the Old German Reformed Church on Market Square by a clergyman, supposed to be a Rev. Mr. Scott, temporarily sojourning here. The first entry in a ledger or cash account, kept with great care and attention to details, by Mr. James Stokes, an early and earnest friend of the Church, is on the IJth of June, 1811, "cash paid the Rev. Mr. Scott, $5,00." From which it is inferred that the said service was held by Mr. Scott on that day. There were resid- ing in and about Germantown at that time some twelve families connected with the Episcopal Church, and this single service of Mr. Scott's seems to have determined them to put into execution their long- indulged desire for regular services, according to the established order of their own Church. The German Reformed Congregation, then worshiping in the old stone church on Market Square, having kindly offered it to the Church people, they held a 27 meeting on the 28th of June, at the house of Mr. Thomas Armat, tor the purpose, as the record states, "of taking into consideration the propriety of hav- ing Divine Worship pertbrmed according to tlie rules and regulations of the Protestant Episcopal Church." Ml-. Armat acted as President of this meeting, Mr. Daniel Lammot as Secretary, and Mr. James Stokes was appointed Treasurer. Several resolutions were passed providing for a subscription to defray the expenses of the services, and appointing officers to superintend the undertaknig. A subscription was immediately opened, which amounted to the sum of one hundred and ten dollars. From this time, services were held on Sunday afternoon, and occasionally on an evening in the week, as often as a minister could be procured. These services, for the first year, were chiefly per- formed by the Rev. Jackson Kemper, one of the Assistant Ministers of the United Churches in Phila- delphia ; and the early minutes bear the record of the " "rateful thanks of the congrecation for his very frequent and friendly visits, which were often made at the risk of injuring his health." No stated engagement was made with any clergyman before the 3'ear 1812, but in the month of Juh' of that year the Uev. Mr. Warren, Rector of a Church in South Carolina, residing here during the summer, was enoaiied for the term of three months. After Mr. Warren's departure, in the month of October, 28 the services were kept up by different clercyraen from the city as before, until the month of March, 1813, when the Rev. Mr. Ward, then settled in Trenton, was engaged to take charge of the congre- gation as their first stationed minister. Mr. Ward remained here, however, but about five months. He resigned this charge to become Rector of a Church in Lexington, Kentucky, and preached his farewell sermon on the 29th of August. In the month of December of this year, (1813,) the Rev. J. C. Clay took charge of this congregation in con- nection with thai of St. John's Church, Norristown, where he resided. Previous to the engagement of Mr. Ward, the services had Vjeen held only in the afternoon, as the German Reformed (^ongiegation occupied the church in the morning; but having now a settled clergyman, it was determined to establish morning- service as well as afternoon. H'or this purpose, Mr. James Stokes offered a vacant house which stood on Market Square, opposite to School House Lane, and now occupied by the back buildings of the residence of Mr. James S. Jones. The morning services con- tinued to be hekl in this house until it was found too small for the growing congregation, when the same gentleman offered a larger and more conve- nient place ill the house still standing at the corner of Market S((uare and Church Lane. B} opening a communication between the two lower rooms. 29 space enough was provided for the accommodation of two hmidred persons, and here the morning ser- vices were continued until the erection of the church, while the afternoon or evening services were still held in the old German Reformed Church near by. On a few occasions the mornino- services were also held in that church, when the pastor chanced to be sick or absent. The removal from the first house 10 the "brick buildings," as they were called, was in the spring or summer of 1814. The rooms w^ere fitted up with comfortable sittings, a pulpit was erected, and the wdiole made a fit and seemly place of worship, and given free of rent to the congrega- tion until they were ready to occupy their church. Mr. Clay's engagement was for alternate Sun- days, but with the assistance of several of the clergymen in the city, the services were kept up Avith great regularity on every Sunday. The first Confirmation was held on the 13th of November, 1814. Eighteen persons were then confirmed by Bishop White — one of them having received baptism at the same service. From the 1st of January of the next year (1815) to the con- secration of the present church, on the 27th of August, 1818, a careful record w^as kept of every service, which gives the name of the officiating clergyman, the place in which the service was held, whether in the "new church" or the "old church," and many other minute and interesting particulars. :}() Mr. Clay continued his connection with the con- gregation until the month of February, 1817, when he was called to Newbern, North Carolina. The expenses of these services were provided for by a subscription made at the beginning of each year. The organist and sexton of the old church received a stated sum for every service, and one of the reso- lutions passed in the first meeting held in 1811, was to the effect that every clergyman who performed divine service should be paid the sum of four dollars if he would accept it. It seems, by the Treasurer's account, however, that the sum almost always paid was five dollars. There are many entries in this account of the Treasurer, which show a thoughtful and commendable spirit in the dealings of the con- gregation with those whom they called upon to serve them. Many of the clergymen declined the offered fee, but they were not allow^ed to remain longf without some token of the obligation the con- gregation felt themselves under. The (xcrman l\e- formed pastor, to whose kindness they were much indebted, was also made the frequent recipient of " some token of esteem," and the humble coach- men who from time to time brought the bishop and other clergymen to ofhciate, were not left to go with- out fee or i-eward. The^-e may be thought to be little things, .but they are the little things that sliow a liberal and commendable spirit. There is no record from which to obtain the names 31 of all the clergymen who ofTiciated previous to Janu- ary 1st, 1815, but beside those already given, we have incidental mention of the Rev. Mr. Turner, junior, Rev. Mr. Wiltbank, Rev. Mr. Beasly, Rev. Mr. Milnor, and Rev. Mr. Bayard. After that date the record referred to supplies this inibrmation, and we find that beside the names given above, the fol- lowing clergymen also officiated in conjunction with Mr. Clay: the Rev. Mr. Bedell, Rev. Mr. Boyd, Rev. Mr. Clay senior, Rev. Mr. Weems, Rev. Dr. Anen, (Mr. Clay's grandMher,) Rev. Mr. Mont- gomery, Rev. Mr. Brentnell, and Rev Mr. Dou- glass. This brings the record down to the month ot June, 1817, when the Rev. C. M. Dupuy was chosen to be the successor of Mr. Clay.* During the vacancy occasioned by the resigna- tion of Mr. Clay and the election of Mr. Dupuy — a period of four months — the services were chieHy supplied by Messrs. Montgomery, Kemper and Brentnell. After Mr. Dupuy took charge of the congregation, and while the services still alternated between the "old church" and the "brick build- ings," Bishop Moore, of Virginia, Bishop White, Rev. Messrs. Walker and Muhlenberg also preached. In the mouth of January, 1818, a short time before the engagement with the Rev. Mr. Ward, there is the following entry in the Treasurer's account: — * SiM' Apixnilix |{. "Cash paid the Rev. Mr. Noble, for his expenses from and to Long Island and preaching twice, $25 ;" from which it may be inferred that Mr. Noble had come here with a view of taking charge of the con- gregation, which arrangement, for some unknown reason, was not completed. A similar entry is made on the 28th of March, 1814 — "Cash paid Rev. Mr. Plumb for travelling expenses, $55." Mr. Plumb was a clergyman from Connecticut, afterward settled at Northumberland- What was the occasion of his visit to this congregation is un- known; but the inference is a natural one that he came with the view of becoming; their rector. ■& There are many incidental notes and memoranda in this record of public services, which are worthy of repetition in this connection, as they serve to give further information of current events, while they also illustrate the spirit of the congregation. On Sunday, February 12th, 1815, Mr. Kemper offi- ciated in the evening, to the record of which is added these words: "Glorious news of peace came this afternoon." On the 5tli of March following, when Mr. Milnor preached, a "charity collection for the poor was made amounting to $47,11. In the month of January of the previous year, a col- lection had also been made of $70, on a "snowy and stormy night," for the sufferers by a fire in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Thursday, the 13th of April, has the entry, "Thanksgiving evening, 33 Kev. Mr. Clay," which was a thanksoivinij; service for peace. On SiuKlay, the sixteenth of the same month, Mr, Kemper and Mr. Clay were both in at- tendance, and administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to fourteen communicants. This is the first explicit record of the administration of the Lord's Supper, though on the 8th of April, of the previous year, there is an entry in the Treasurer's account, of mc^ney paid for "Wine lor the Com- munion," and also for the purchase of a "plated goblet" costing six dollars, which, how^ever, w^as afterwards returned. It is probable, therefore, that the Holv Communion was frequently administered before this record. On the 16th of July, 1815, the Rev. Mr. Milnor i^reached "an excellent sermon in favor of building a church." On the 20th of Au- gust, the Holy Communion was administered by Mr. Kemper to sixteen persons. On the 27th of the same month, when Mr. Milnor officiated in the evening, there is the following note: "Mr. Milnor was ordained priest this day, in Philadelphia." On the 18th of February, of the next year, 1816, when Mr. Clay was kept from coming by stormy weather, there is this entry: "J. S. read Family Prayers, and the Epistle and Gospel for this day."" On the 81st of March there is this memorandum: "Kev. Mr. (/lay was ordained ])iiest, at Nori'istown, this day by ]5isho]) AAliite." On the 4th of August there is this entry: "In the afternoon, at three o'clock, met at the new l)uildinir, near the Falls of Schu\l- 34 kill. Mr. Clay performed Divine serviee and preached the .sermon, Mr. AVack concluded by prayer. Mr. Wack's lull choir of dingers -were there also. There was not room for near all the people, although the weather was rather unfavor- able." This service must have been held in the old School House on the hill, near the Falls village, at one time used bv the congregation of St. James the Less. There is clear evidence that these services at- tracted considerable attention and Avere well at- tended. This is frequently stated in the minutes from w^hich we have quoted. Although it was before the days of pavements and gas lights, ladies still walked from Nicetown and from the neighborhood of Chestnut Hill to attend the evening services. Con- sidering the number of Church people then residing here, their arrangements for the support of the ser- vices were liberally made, and all the means pro- vided by themselves, with the exception of one hun- dred dollars given by the Advancement Society, in the year 1813, to secure the services of the Rev. Mr. Ward. Mr. Dupuy took charge of the congre- gation on the 22(1 of June, 1817. In the month of July, an organ belonging to Mr. Armat was put in the "brick buildings" and played for the first time by Mr. Taws, organist and organ builder ol' the city. An entry in the minutes of the Vestry of this vear states, that the " Female Sundav School ao wa^; commenced in the month of July, in the brick buildings," and a note in the record of services, on the 23d of that month, (the Sunday previous to the consecration of the churcli,) says, "there were, this morning, about GO girls and 20 boys at our Sunday School." The first notice of the congregation in the Jour- nal of the Diocesan Convention, was in the year 1816, when Mr. Clay reported 10 communicants in Germantown; and the Parish was first represented in Convention in 1818, by Thomas Armat and James Stokes. We come now to notice the measures taken by this infant congregation to build a more suitable house lor Divine worship. The Ark of God was still within curtains, but the desire to provide a better place had l)een a long time indulged. The services had been continued for the period of six years with nnich regularity and with great encour- agement, and the time seemed now to have arrived when renewed and vigorous measures should be taken to build a church. The first record of such an intention is in the notice of Mr. Milnor's sermon in July, 1815, and the minutes of the Vestry fur- nish us with a further history of the undertaking. It is there stated, that, in the fall of the year 1817 the subject of l)uilding a church was revived in a very spirited inauuei- I)y Mr. Dupuy. and that com- 8(5 mittees to solicit subscriptions for this purpose were appointed by the A^estry, Mr, Stokes heading the subscription with one iJiousand dollars * On the 12th of February of next year, a meeting, of the persons who had in the meantime subscribed to- ward the building of the church, was held to ascer- tain whether it would be pi'udent to commence building with the amount so far subscribed, Mr, Armat was appointed chairman of this meeting, which was held in the "brick buildings,'" and Mr. Bay ley, secretary. The committees reported that the sum of five thousand and three hundred dollars had been subscribed, and that in all probability from one to two thousand more could be obtained: whereupon it was resolved, "that a commencement should be made," A Building Committee, com- posed of Messrs. Stokes, Armat and Bayley of (Jer- mantown, and Messrs, J, M. Price and Charles Biddle ot Philadelphia, was appointed to carry the object into eftect. Mr, Armat was appointed trea- surer, and the committee authorized to ascertain what suitable lots could be obtained for a site, and to report to a subsequent meeting, on the 2od inst. The report made to this meeting stated, that "a back lot opposite to the Friends' Meeting, and offered as a gift by Mr. Thomas Armat, wa;^ the most eligible, and that it be fixed ui)on ; l)ut iu order to render it more complete it would be neces- * Sec Ai>i>i'ii(lix ('. 87 sam' to purchase a frame house and lot in front, owned by Conrad Miller, which coidd be bought for $1,000. The committee were authorized to make this purchase, to procure a plan for the church, to make contracts for Imilding it, and to proceed in the busir.ess without delay. A })lan was soon ol^tained, and a contract for buildino- the church made with William Lehman and Alexander Armour. The church Avas to be -"^O feet long l)y 43 feet wide, with a vestrv-room at the back end 12 feet square, built of stone, rough-cast, and covered with cedar shingles. The contract- price was five thousand and five hundred dollars. There was subsequently added to this a charge of $004 for extra work, making the whole cost of the building $5,804. The purchase of the lot in front and the expenditures for furniture, made a sum total of $7,507. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop White in the north-east corner of the foun- dation wall, on Monday, the 30th of March, 1818. The Clergy in attendance beside Bishop White, were the Rev. Jackson Kemper, Rev. George Boyd, Rev. W. A. Muhlenberg and the Rector, Rev. C. M. Du- puv. The contract was signed on the 4th of April, and the church was to lie finished ready for occu- pancy by the second week of September. The masons began work on the 7tli of April, and the painting of tlie church was finished on the 20th of Auiiust, four months and thirteen days from the ss time of beginning the worls:. It will thus be seen that the building of the chui-ch was conducted with remarkable energy and dispatch. The stone-work was done up t-o the sv. Mr. Clay, senior, who must have i)een an aged man at that time. Conspicuous among those who rendered these "frequent and friendly" services is the name of the present vene- rable Bishop of Wisconsin, whose virtues and whose Labors slundd ever be held in grateful remembrance not only by this Parish and Diocese, but by the whole American Church. The first Confirmaticm held in the church, and the second m the history ot the Parish, was on the 27th of September — just one mouth from the dav ol consecration. Thirlevn 40 persons were then confirmed. On the 4th of April, ISV?, fourteen persons were confirmed, and on the 19th of December, of the same year, eight persons; malvinji; fifty-three in four confirmations. These were the last Episcopal acts performed by Bisliop Wliite in this cliurcli, thuugli he preached here once after the Rev. Mr. Rodney took charge of the Parish . Tlie records of tlie church sliow thaf the Parisli was now in an encouraging condition. Within .six- teen months from the time of tlie consecration of the church, thirty-five persons were added to the comnuniion by confirmation. In the year 1819, there were forty-one pews and ten sittings rented, (out of the fifty-four pews which the church con- tained,) producing a revenue of $858. In the month of June, 18-!2, Mr. Dupuy was made Assistant Minister in the Swedish Episcopal Churches, which position he held in connection Avith the rectorship of this Parish, continuing to officiate here on Sunday mornings, and at St. blames', King- sessing, twice a niontli, and at Christ Church, Phila- delphia, once a month in the afternoon. Mf. Du- puy was compelled by failing health, the following year, to ask a leave of absence from the duties of the Parish, and i-equested that liis place should be temporarily supplied by some other clergyman cho- sen by the vestry. In compliance with this request. 41 on the 21st of September, 182o, the Rev. Edward R. Lippitt was chosen to take charge of the Parish durinii; the absence of the Rector. In the month of March of the next year, however, Mr. Dupuv feeling himself compelled to retire from the active duties of the ministry by reason of continued in- disposition, tendered^ his final resignation; where- upon Mr. Lippitt was unanimously elected his suc- cessor. Mr. Lippitt continued Hector until the month of August, 1825, having been in charge of the congregation tor a period of two years. On the 5th of September following, the Rev. John Rodney, then Rector of Trinity Church, Easton, was chosen his successor. Mr. Rodney took charge of the Parish on the 1st of October, 1825, officiating for the first time as Rector, on Sunday, tlie second day of that month. It will thus be seen that from 1812 to 1825, a ])eriod of ihirtem years, there were fivt clergymen in charge of the congregation, the Rev. Messrs. Warren, Ward, Clay, Dupu}^ and Lip- pitt. Properly speaking, Mr. Dupuy was the first Rector, the Parish not having ))een duly incorpora- ted until after he assumed charge. Mr. Rodney's rectorship covering alone a period of /or/^-/z(;o years, embraces, of course, the most noted changes and the hirgest. growtii in the history of the Parish. Fourteen years had now passed since the beginning of tlie ser\'ices and seven since the building of the church, with such general success and growth as rarei\- marks the historv ol similar undertakinirs. 42 This year, however, (1825,) found the Parish in a reduced and depressed condition. It was not long, however, until the former prosperity and growth returned again to the great joy. of the zealous and faithful band, who had laliored for the good of the Parish from the beginning. In the month of July, 1826, the Accounting Warden reports to the vestry that "the prospects of the church have evidently brightened;" that within the past three months the income from pews rented had increased forty per cent, upon the previous amount, and that there was an encouraging prospect of a permanent revenue for the support of the Parish. The report made to the Convention the following year, 1827, s>hows that these expectations had been fully realized. It says — " The Rector is enabled through the Divine blessing to report the obviously improved condition of this Parish since he has had charge of it, which has been little more than one year. Those unfor- tunate divisions which had previously existed for manv years, which had rent the peace oi" the church, and had separated from the Holy Altar some of its ardent friends, have happily been healed and those who were sometime afar off, now meet too;ether in harmonious communion. Under these auspicious circumstances, the revenue of the church has been augmented, the numbers in attendance upon its services multiplied, and its outward courts have been improved and beautified." The number of communicants according to this report was 21. 43 The Sunday School had 14 teachers and 150 pu- pils. St. Thomas' Church, \Yhitemarsh, was at this time in charge of the Rector of this Parish, and con- tinued so for two or three years, the services being held in each church, for a time on alternate Sunday mornings, and afterward twice a month. The records of this period up to the 3^ear 1839, furnish little that is of special interest to us now, or necessary to repeat here. The minutes of the vestry for that year, however, contain an interesting record which should not be passed by. The execu- tors of the will of Mrs. Hannah Stokes, widow of Mr. James Stokes, (who had been a zealous and liberal friend of the Parish from the beginning,) re- port to the vestry that Mrs. Stokes had becpieathed to St. Luke's Church a house and lot on the Main Street of Germantown, two doors above the corner of School House Lane. This bequest Avas accom- panied with the condition that the property should be held by the executors of the will, until the sum of $500 should accrue from the rents, to be invest- ed as a permanent fund for the repairs of the house. These conditions having been complied with, the house and lot were subsequently transferred to the vestry of this Parish.* At a special meeting held in the month of April of this year, a committee was appointed to consider the expediency of en- * Thi:^ iJi-opi'i-ty \v;i.-< suld in llip year Isr'liT, to llic G^ennautowu IJaiik, :uul tlip ]iroc'(>i-(lfi applied toward the purchase ol tlie Rectory and lot now owned Ijy the eon^n-et;atioii and occupied by the present Rector. 44 laroing" the churcli. This cominittee did not re- port until the 28th of February, 1840, when they stated that thei-e was a demand for many more pews than the church then contained, and that an enlargement was necessary. It had at first been proposed to extend the church in the rear, but it was now found best to make the extension ni front. This was finally done, by taking down the front wall, and adding fifteen feet to the length of the building. This made room for twenty-four addi- tional pews in the new part of the church, and two otliers were also erected at the chancel end. Many other improvements were made at the same time. The shape of the pulpit and chancel were altered, the old wall replastered, new trimming jjlaced upon the desk and organ loft, the chancel and aisles car- peted, additional lamps and blinds put in the new part of the church, and marble steps placed at the front door, the improvements costing altogether about $1,500. While these repairs v^ore underway the congi-egation worshipped in the lecture room belonging to the Presbyterian congregation on the east side of Main Street, two doors below J3ring- hurst Street, which is now a prixate residence. The enlargement and repairs were finally comple- ted, and the church re-opened for Divine worship on Sunday, July 5th, 1840. Services were held in the morning, afternoon and evening. Bisho]) On- derdonk, was absent on a visitation to the intei-ior of the Diocese, and the congregation were deprised 45 of his services. The Rector preached in the morn- ing, the Rev. N. 8. Harris in the afternoon, and the Rev. II. J. Morton in the evening. The "Banner of the Cross" of the following week, gave an account of the opening services, and stated that the "internal ;irrangeinents of the church were in the best taste, and that they were exceeding]}' neat and convenient." In the year 1 841, a new organ was put in the gallery of the church, at a cost of $()60. The efforts to obtain the money for this purpose, and to discharge the remaining indebted- ness for the recent enlargement of the church, oa\e rise to an association, which became a most useful agent l>c)th in the parochial and missionary work of the congregation. ^This was the "Ladies' Mission- ary Association of St. Luke's Church," which was formed on the lOth of Novendjer, 1841. The minutes of the vestry bear frequent testimony of their appreciation of the important aid received time and again from this Association, in various expenditures they were required to make, in and about the church. Their labors, however, have not been confined to their own Parish, but the}' have extended a helping hand to the work of the Church in other parts of our own Diocese, as well as to our Domestic and Foreign Missions. Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Africa, and China have all received of their benefactions, as well as our zealous and faith- ful missionaries among the Indian tribes of the North West. 46 Previous to the year 184:], the Sunday School had been held in the churcli, but a more suitable and convenient room bemg needed, a part of the base- ment was now prepared and furnished for that pur- pose, by means provided solely by the "Ladies' Missionary Association . '' In the year 1844, a movement was made toward the erection of a belfry over the vestry-room, which then stood at the rear of the church. Various plans were submitted from time to time without any result until the year 1847, when the present spire was erected at the cost of $1,(>00. The bell now in use, was the gift of Frederick Seckle, Esq., and was hung up in its place before the spire was completed. According to the orginal design the spire ^vas to ha^e been without the cross, but through the exertions of Mr. J. S. Littell, then secretary ol tlie vestry, it was determined to finish it with a gilded cross, the cost of which was borne by that gentleman. It was a fitting and pious work thus to surmouut the House of Prayer, with the symbol of our fiiith, to teach the living the source of all hope, while it casts iisconsoliug shadow u[)on (he i:ra,ves beneath. So liow — " The dead in Cfirist — the}' rest in hope And o'ov tlioir sleep snblinio. Tile sliaddW of the steeple moves, l''roin iiiorii to vi'sper cdiime : .47 On every mound, in solemn shade Its imaged cross doth lie, As goes the sunlight to the west Or rides the moon on high." In the year, 1848, the Rev. George P. Hopkins was appointed a missionary at Doylestown, Chestnut Hill and Jenkintown. He labored in these places lor several years, supported by the Ladies' Associ- ation in connection with several gentlemen of the congregation. The church now standing at Doyles- town, is one of the fruits of that mission. The Rector of this Parish preached the sermon at the opening of the church, on Easter Sunday, 1858. In his report to the Convention of 1847, the Missionary says — " Many thanks are due to the Female Association of St. Luke's Church, German- town, and also to several pious laymen, without whose uid and co-operation this mission could not have been sustained." In the month of Februar\-, 1847, an arrangement was made by the Rector, (and subsequenth' ap- proved by the vestry,) with the Rev. W. N. Diehl, then Rector of St. Thomas Church, Whitemarsh, by which Mr. Diehl was to preach in St. Luke's on the first and fourth Sunday evening of every month, and to superintend the Sunday School. He and Mr. Rod- ney were also to exchange services on the morning ol" the second Siniday in the month. Thi.s arrange- ment continued until the month of March, 18-33. 48 The continued increase of the congregation had now rendered a second enlargement of the church necessary, and in the month of February, 1850, a committee was appointed for the purpose of "de- vising measures for the improvement, enkirgement, and repairs of the chnrch." Various plans were proposed, but nothing was accomplished until the fall of 1851, when the work of enlargement was vigorously undertaken. The end wall of the church was taken out and an exten- sion of thirty feet made, which inchides the present chancel, vestry-room and organ chamber. A new roof was put on the whole building, and a new triplet window put ni the chancel. The old win- dows of the nave of the church were replaced with couplets of stained glass. The chancel Avas fur- nished with stalls, chairs, altar, credence table and lectern as they now stand. The present font was procured, the organ then in use was improved and its power gi-eatly increased. The whole church was re-plastered, painted and carpeted, and the Sunday School-room in the basement enlarged and rehtted, at a cost altogether of $5,200. More than one-fourth of this sum was provided by the "La- dies' Asssociation." The stalls in the chancel, the Bishop's and Rector's chair and the font were pro- cured almost entirely by funds raised by an associ- ation of young ladies called the "Ilodney Associa- tion." The beautiful and appropriate Communion 49 Service now in use, was the gift of the ladies of the congreg-ation, through Mrs. King and Mrs. Littell. It was first used on the Festival of Easter, April 7th, 1855. While the enlargement was being made, services were held every Sunday morning, in the Fellow\ship Hall, in Laurel Street. The church was re-opened for Divine service by Bishop Potter, in the presence of a number of clerovmen, and a lari»e cong-reoation of the laity, on Thursday, the 5th of February, 1852, having been closed just five months. The Building Committee, to whose superintendence this important work was entrusted, were Messrs. J. S. Littell, T. A. Xewhjtll, and D. K. King. The plans for the improvements were furnished by Mr. John M. Gries, an accomplished architect and devoted churchman of our own city, who now sleeps in a soldier's grave — a niartyr to his country upon the san- guinary field of "Fair Oaks." In the month of September, 1854, the Rector stated to the vestry his desire to have an Assistant, and nojuinated the Rev. Cjrus F. Knight for that office. This nomination was confirmed, and Mr. Knight entere;] upon his duties early in the month of October, and continued in this relation until the month of May, 1856. At a vestry meeting held in October, 1854, a communication was submitted from the "Ladies' 50 Associaticjii" suggesting the importance of estab- lishing, in connection with this Parish and subject to, its government, a Free Chapel, to be located under direction of the vestry, in some populous manufacturing neighbourhood, where laboring emi- grants and the poor generally, might have oppor- tunity free of all charge of attending the services of the church." In compliance with this suggestion the vestry passed the following resolution : ''Resolved, That the suggesiion of the 'Ladies' Association,' in reference to a Free Chapel, is cordially approved, and that the co-operation of the Association is re- spectfully requested," After frequent conferences between a committee of the vestry and the "Ladies' Association," in reference to the locality of the pro- posed Chapel, and the manner of its support, it was determined finally to begin the services somewhere in the lower end of Germantown, if a suitable place could be obtained. By resolution of the vestry, dated the 11th of April, 1855, the Rector was re- cjuested to invite the Kev. Mr. Dielil to take charge of the chapel, and services were accordingly begun by him in the Odd Fellows' Hall, in Duy's Lane, on Sunday, the 10th of June, 1855, and continued in the same place until the conq^letion of the Church of St. John the Baptist It continued to be a (Jhapel of St. Luke's, and to derive its support from this congregaticm until the month of July, 1858, when it was made a separate and independent Parish. After the connection was severed, $2,500 were con-. 51 trihuted toward the baildiiig of the church by mem- bers of this congregation, several of whom still con- tinue to be systematic contributors to its support. In the mouth of January, 1856, a Parish School Society was tormed by a numljer of zealous ladies of the congregation, for the j^urpose of establishing a school for the moral and religious training of such children of the Parish as might avail themselves of its privileges; for im})arting a knowledge of the doc- trines and usages of the Church, Avith the rudiments of an English education, and for instructing the girls in plain sewing. The school was opened on the 19th of May, in a basement room of the Town Hall with snicn scholars. This number soon increased to twenty -eight, and it has sometimes been over fifty. It was i-emoved, tlie next year, to a rotTm in School House Lane, where it continued until the autunni ot the year 1867, when it was remo\ed to the i;ew Parish Building. Its friends and patrons iuduluc tlie hope that it lias exerted a wholesome and abiding influence upon the characters of the children connnitted to its care. Although its his- tor}' is so brief, not a few ol' its ])upils have already passed from its oversight to the stirring scenes, the responsibilities and the temptations of mature hie. Several of the boys did good ser\ice to their country in the late war, where they not only won the praise of their associates and superiors, but also proved themselves good soldiers of Jesus Christ. 5^ During a part of the summer and autumn of 1856, the Rev. Mr. Gillett, of the Diocese of Texas, acted as Assistant to the Rector, and in the month of Oc- tober, of the same year, the Rev. B. Wistar Morris, Rector of St. David's Church, Manayunk, was elected Assistant Minister, entering upon his duties on the first of January, 1857. The organ now in use — ))uilt by Mr. Knauff — was placed in the church in the month of February, of the same _year, at a cost oi $2,000, and first used on Sexagessima Sunday, February 15th, 1857. The committee express tliemselves greatly indebted for the possession of this fine instrument to the ser- vices rendered by two young gentlemen tlren mem- bers of the choir, in collectino- money lor its piu*chase. And the congregation were indebted, for the excel- lent music which so long characterized this church, chiefly to the members of two lamilies, whose united services, exteuding over a period of twenty-five years, were rendered with great faithfulness and punctuality. In the year 18G2, important im- provements were made to Ijotli the interior and exterior of the churcli, at an ex]ienditui-e of about $1,800; making the whole cost of the church and furniture, up to this time, $18,011. This does not include the $1,500 paid For the front lot. nor the various sums paid foi' additional ground ])ur('hascd on both sides of the clnu'ch, nor yet the expendi- tures for other improvements in and about the build- 53 ing such as stoves, furnaces, fences, sheds, filling up and grading the church-yard and building the out- side wall, etc., Avhich might safely be put down at $5,000 ; making an entire expenditure for the church building and its surroundings of over $23,000 before the purchase of the "Pine Place" property, and the erection of the Parish Building. Before Mr. Rodney took charge of the Parish there had been five Confirmations — the first in No- vember, 1814, and the last in December, 1819 — fifty -three persons in all having been confirmed. Six baptisms are recorded, and fifteen burials The first interment in the church-yard was that of Mrs. Harriet Conway, on the '20th of June, 1818, while the church was beiug built. During the Rectorship of Mr. Rodney there were 736 baptisms, 280 confirmations, 150 marriages and 390 burials ; making, in the whole history of the Parish, up to August 27th, 18(38, so far as recorded, 742 baptisms, 333 confirmations, 150 marriages and 751 burials. The most important additions to the property of the Parisli during Mr. Rodney's Rectorship were in the purchase of the "Pine Place," and erecting thereon the large and handsome Parish Building, now standing beside the church. This undertaking- was inaugurated on Thanksgiving Day, December 7th, 1805. The congregation then undertook the 54 purchase of this property for a Parsonage, and for the purpose of erecting on it this Parish Building, as a " thank offering to God tor the blessings of peace." Ground was broken with religious services for the foundation, on the 2oth of June, 1866, and the finished building was dedicated by Bishop 8teven>, in the presence of a number of clergymen and a large assembly of the laity, on the 21st of June, 1867. Twelve thousand dollars were paid for this pro- perty, and two thousand expended in repairs on the Parsonage. The Parish Building with its furniture, and grading of the lot cost with fire insurance, &c., $19,521 93; making the whole cost of this addi- tional property $33,521 93. The last indebtedness for the building was provided for by a collection and subscriptions on Easter Day, 1868, amounting to $3,567 10. There was thus added to the property of the Parish a lot of ground 77 feet front by 440 deep, with a large double house for a Rectory, the beau- tiful and complete Parish Building, with its sur- rounding yard, and a lot of ground in the rear of these, which m a few years will be a valuable ex- tension of the Cemetery. All this has been done in a way that reflects credit upon the wisdom and liberality of the congregation. The Parish Build- ing will stand for many generations as a testimonj' of their belief, that the Christian training of the children of the church is a work worthv of the 55 best, the most convenient, and the most tasteful appliances that can be furnished. In the month of October, 1867, the Rev. B. Wistar Morris, who had been the Rector's Assistant since the 1st of January, 1857, was called to the Rectorship of St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia. Mr. Rodney not wishing him to sever his connection w^ith this Parish, proposed to resign the Rectorship, in order to have Mr. Morris elected Rector, and to accept for himself the place of Emeritus Rector. Mr. Morris finally accepting this proposition, was duly elected Rector on the 22d of November, 1867. At the General Convention of October, 1868, held in the Cit}" of New^ York, he was elected Missionary Bishop of Oregon and Washington Territory, and acceptiug this office, he resigned the Rectorship of St. Luke's on the 18th of November. By request of the vestry, he continued in charge of the Parish until the 1st of January, 1869, making the whole period of his connection with the congregation twelve years. The following correspondence and resolutions close his official connection with the Parish: Vestry Room, ] St. Luke's Church, Germantown, J- Novemhpv LS, 1868. J At a meeting of the Vestry of St. Luke's Church, Germantown, held this evening, the following pro- 56 ceedings took place and were ordered to be pub- lished. " To THE Vestry of 8t. Luke's Church, German- town : "Ge?itlemen — Having accepted from the General Convention the appointment of Missionary Bishop of Oregon and Washington Territory, it becomes necessary for me to resign the Rectorship of this Parish, which I hereby do. I can but feebly ex- press the emotions under which I thus separate myself from this congregation, in which I have ministered now for nearly twelve years. "I go from them with the deepest regret, and with sentiments of esteem and affection that will survive all separations of distance, and outlast all the vicissitudes of time. Better friends I can never find in life, and for all their kindness to me and mine 1 am deeplj- grateful. The thought that weighs most heavily on my mind is of the short- comings in my high office that may have brought damage to their spiritual interests. "1 can only hope and pray for them, that the Great Head of the Church will soon give them a wiser and Ix^tter ]:>astor, under whose guidance they shall go on in the earnest pursuit of all things that are lovely and of good report; and that the most abundant blessings shall be vouchsafi?d to them by Him from udiom ail liood thiniis do come. 57 "With sentiments of the kindest regard, to 3^ou all personally, " I am very truly, yours, -B. W18TAR MORRIS." Upon the receipt of the above letter the follow- ing Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted. "Whereas, The Rector of this Church, the Rev. B. Wistar Morris, has tendered to the Vestry his resignation of the office to the full duties of which he was so recently called, and from which he now retires to enter upon the more extensive field of the Episcopate of Oregon and Washington, to which he has been elected by the unanimous voice of the late General Convention, therefore, ''Resolved, That the resignation of the Rev. B. Wistar Morris is hereby accepted, and that he be requested to permit it to take effect, not before the first day of January next, until which time the Vestry beg that he will continue in charge of the Parish as heretofore, thus completing twelve years of his incumbency as Rector's Assistant, and as Rector of the Parish. ''Resolved, That the occupancy of the Parsonaire be, an4 is hereby tendered to the family of the Rec- 58 tor until such time as he msiy be prepared to remove them to his future home. '" Resolved, That while yielding to the necessity of sundering the spiritual relations which have ex- isted for so long a period, the Vestry desire to place on record some expression of their deep sorrow for this necessity, and their appreciation of the faith- fulness, earnestness, and Christian zeal, with which Mr. Morris has performed his duties during these years. " They will always cherish a grateful recollection of his godly life, his unwearied patience and indus- try, his gentleness and large-hearted charity and his entire devotedness to the Master's work, in the Church at large, as well as within the bounds of this Parish. "For themselves and for the congregation, in whose name they know they may speak with con- fidence, the Vestry bid him God-speed in the great work to which he has been called. " They assure him that he will carry with him to that fjir-off countrj', their devout prayers that the blessing of Almightv God mav abide with him always; that life and health may be spared to him and his family; that a rich blessing and abun- 59 dant IViiit may follow his ministry in that land of strangers, and that at last he may receive the bene- diction, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.' " JAMES M. AERT8EN, I Pv. P. MrCULLAGH, J. R. LAMBDTN, ^ GEO. BLIGHT, CHARLES MAGARGE, THOS. H. MONTGOMERY, W'M. R. WEBB, ROBERT P. MORTON, JOHN F. BLANDY, SAMUEL V. xMERRICK, GEO. E. ARNOLD, GEO. R. BARKER, S Wardens. ) Vestrymen. APPENDIX. APPENDIX A. PROCEEDINGS IN REGARD TO MR. RODNEY'S RESIGNATION. At a Special Meeting of the Vestry of St. Luke's Church, Ger- mantoxon, [called at the request oj the Rector,) held on the evening of the 'l\st of October, 1867: — The following communication was presented by the Rector : Germantown, Oct. 21st, 1867. To THE Vestry op St. Luke's Church : Gentlemen: — It is known to most of you, that our Assistant Minister, the Rev. Mr. Morris, has recently received a call to St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, and it is feared he may, from prudential considerations, be induced to accept it. This meet- ing has therefore been called to take into consideration the state of the case, and, if it is deemed most expedient to retain his services amongst us, then to suggest and devise the means of securing that result. JOHx\ RODNEY, Rector of St. Luke's, S^c. The Rector then stated, verbally, that he had been for a long time anxious to be relieved from the responsibilities of the office of Rector, provided the Rev. Mr. Morris could be elected there- to, and suggested this as the proper time to carry out this design ; whereupon the following preamble and resolution were, on motion, adopted : Whereas, The Rector of this Church has signified his inten- tion of resigning his Rectorship, provided that the Vestry, com- 02 plying with the usual forms in such cases, elect the Eoctor's Assistant as Rector of the Church ; therefore, Resolved, That a Committee of two members of this Yestry be appointed to wait, in conjunction with the Key* Mr. Rodney, upon the Rev. Mr. Morris, and tender him the Rectorship of the Church when such vacancy occurs, as is above indicated. On motion, the two Wardens were appointed the Committee, to act with the Rector. ^It an adjourned Special Meeting, held on the eimiing of the loth of October : — The following communication was presented by the Rector : To THE Vestry op St. Luke's Church, Germantown : GrENTLEMEN : — As Chairman of the Committee appointed to present to the Rev. Mr. Morris the preamble and resolution passed by the Vestry at a meeting held on the 21st instant, I am happy to report his acceptance of the terms and provisions therein set forth ; and consequent thereupon, I do hereby resign the situation 1 have so long occupied as Rector of St. Luke's Church. It is more than forty-two years since the connection, now officially terminated, commenced. It was on the 27th of August, 1825; and through those many revolving years what a multitude of incidents have occurred, the memory of which can but excite the deepest, yea, the most oppressive emotions in my bosom ; whilst I reflect on the thousands that have been brought under my pastoral care, or have been the subjects of my humble min- istrations, in sorrow and in joy, in sickness and in death, and for weal or for woe eternal. Standing on the verge of time, with its briefest prolongation in anticipation, may I not ask your sympathy and renewed prayers, that my shortcomings may be pardoned, and that my humble services, whether at the altar or 6>] the font, in the sanctuary or at the grave, may be accepted at His hand, whose approving smile is the " i-ichest boon that Heaven bestows?" JOHN RODNEY. October 25th, 1867. The resignation of the Rev. Mr. Rodney having been accepted, and the Rev. Mr. Morris nominated to fill the vacancy, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted, and, with the letter from the Rev. Mr. Rodney, ordered to be printed, and a copy sent to each pewholder : Whereas, The Rev. John Rodney has tendered his resig- nation as Rector of St. Luke's Church, Germantown, (which office he has held for the past forty-two years,) in order that the Rev. B. Wistar Morris, who has ministered in the parish for nearly eleven years as the Rector's Assistant, may be elected Rector ; and Whereas, the Vestry, feeling assured that they reflect the wish and opinion of the congregation, earnestly desire the Rev. Mr. Rodney to retain as close official connection with the parish as is possible under the circumstances, so long as God in His wise providence shall spare him to us ; therefore, Resolved, That in consideration of his long ministerial service, so rare in these changing times, as well as of the strong attachment and affection of the congregation, the Vestry hereby tender to the Rev. Mr. Rodney, and beg his acceptance of, the office of Rector Emeritus, to which they have this evening elected him. Resolved, That the Secretary be, and is hereby instructed, to prepare a copy of the foregoing preamble and these resolutions, to which shall be attached the signatures of the Wardens and Vestrymen, and send the same to the Rev. Mr. Rodney, as a testimonial of their regard and affection, assuring him that their 64 earnest prayer is, that God may long spare liim to go in and out, and worsiiip with his old parishioners, and that He may in his declining years pour upon him His choicest blessing. JAMES M. AERTSEN, ) R. P. McCULLAGH, i Wardens, D. RODNEY KING, J. R. LAMBDIN, GEO. BLIGHT, THOS. H. MONTGOMERY, VVM. H. WEBB, CHARLES MAGARGE, R. P. MORTON, J. F. BLANDY, S. V. MERRICK. APPENDIX B. It appears from the autobiography of the Rev. Samuel Tur- ner, D. D., so long connected with the Gen. Theological Semi- nary, that he was at this time called to the Rectorship of St. Luke's. He resigned his charge at Chestertown, Maryland, with a view of settling in Germantown, of which he speaks as follows : " When I resigned the church at Chestertown, (August 10, I!^l 7,) I expected to go immediately to Germantown, near Philadelphia, to become pastor of a newly-formed congregation in that place. There was, at that time, no church edifice, but it was expected that arrangements for erecting one would be carried into efiect without delay, and these expectations were soon after realized. The situation of Rector had been oifered to me ; but as I delayed for some time to give a decided answer, some of the leading men became dissatisfied, and they called another candidate, the Rev. Mr. Dupuy of Philadelphia, who accepted the invitation." 65 APPENDIX C. FIKST STUSCHIPTIOX LIST. James Stokes $1000 Thomas Armat 500 Sarah Ann Armat 200 Jaue C. Armat 200 Miss Smarts oOO \V. Chancellor 200 Richard Bayley 800 Mary Donaldson $200 Alexander Armor 100 Edward Thompson 100 John M. Price 200 John Perot 100 C. P. Wayne 100 John Ashmead 40 This original subscription book is still in the possession of one of the members of the congregation, and bears as an appropriate heading the first verse of the 84th Psalm in the Psalter version. The amount of the above subscription ($3540) being inadequate to the building of a church, nothing further was accomplished at this time. 1 he subject was revived by Mr. Dupuy, in the fall of 1S17, when additional subscriptions were obtained as follows: John Goddard $200 Dr. Betton 200 Joseph Taggart 200 John Harland 100 Sarah Burson 50 William Schlatter 50 Benjamin Chew 50 Lewis Neill 50 (Je.trge Blight 50 William Cardwell 50 Robert Blackwell 80 James Schott 80 Cash 80 A. Walker, jr 25 F. Chandler 20 John Markoe 20 C. Biddle,jr., $20 Hor. Binney 20 Cash ' 20 William Brown 20 H . Simpson 20 Richard Dale 20 C. Biddle 20 John Stoddart 20 J. H. Brinton 20 L, Burn 20 Henry Pratt 20 John D. Sheaff' 20 John J. Wheeler 20 M. H. Hughs 20 R. S. Moore 20 John Bohleu 10 66 Thomas Astley John Watson 20 John Marklancl 5 Edward Garfield 5 Henry Toland 50 Edward Twells 50 William Hirst 50 Daniel Dupuy 50 A. Konighmaker 50 James Williams 80 Godfrey Twells 30 James Tule 25 Robert Wain 25 C. Comegys 20 C. N. Bancker 20 James Kitchen 20 Charles Watson 20 James Taylor 20 C. W. Hare 20 Cash 20 Cash 20 John McClure 20 T. Camac 20 William (^haloner 20 William Hyle 20 J. G-. Chamberlain 20 Paul Beck 20 John B. Wallace 20 Samuel Kelph 20 L. Hollingsworth k Son. . 20 John Dupuy 20 Joshua Lippencott 10 G. Wilcox 10 J. Strawbridge 10 Cash 80 J. Cooper 10 E. Bronson | 5 S. Nevins 10 Jacob Hall 10 Charles Barrington 10 Daniel Smith 10 William Cramond 10 William Lehman 20 James Ashmead 10 John M. Fry 5 Henry Gravenstine 3 M, .Martin 1 James S. Smith 20 Thomas Fassitt 10 James Fassitt 10 II. Dehaven 5 John White 80 Hon. William Tilghman. 40 Jacob Emhardt 4 Ephraim Clark 20 Peter Keyser 10 Cash 10 F B. Freeman 10 Thomas W. Morris 10 Walter Herr 10 Crook Stevenson 5 Dr. Samuel Betton 100 T. Thompson 20 James Ogilby 10 John Williamson 3 Richard Charlton 1 J. R. Cox 20 Silas E. Weir 20 Stephen North 10 James Musgrave 5 Cash 20 Joseph White 20 67 Wiliiam J. Baker $10 John Lisle $25 Thomas W. Hall 10 John Whittall 5 Cash 10 Richard Milne 20 Note — Thi^ lollowing aro the names of the subscribers to the first sub- scriiitions in 1811, referred to on pape '27:— J. H. Watmough, SID; James Stokes, »10: Daniel Lammot, jr., f 10; Richard Bayley, fill; Mary Donaldson, spin ; Mary Clark, SKI : .lohn Coulter, Sin : Thos. Armat, SlU ; Alexander Armour, S5: James Moyes. !«.5; Mrs. Morris ip.5: T. Bringhurst. iP5 ; M. Conyngham, $5; Mrs. C J. VVistar, $5. APPENDIX D. T.IST OF CLEROYMEN HAYING HAD UHARCIE OF ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, GERMANTOWN. Rev. Mr. Warren, from July 13, 1812 to October 18, 1812. Rev. Mr. Ward, from March 25, 1813 to August 29, 1813. Rev. J. C. Clay, from December 13, 1813 to Feb. 16, 1817. Rev. Chas. M. Dupuy, first Rector^ June 22, 1817 to March, 1824. Rev. Edward R. Lippitt,* March 10, 1824 to September, 1825. Rev. John Rodney, from October 1, 1825 to October 25, 1867. Rev. B. Wistar Morris, from 'Nov. 22, 1867 to Jan. 1, 1869. ASSISTANT MINISTERS. Rev. \Vm. N. Diehl, February, 1847 to March, 1853. Rev. Cyrus F. Knight, October, 1854 to May, 1856. Rev. B. Wistar Morris, January, 1857 to November, 1867. CHURCH WARDENS. James Stokes, Elected March 27, 1815. Thomas Armat, Elected March 27, 1815. John W. Ashmead, Appointed April 14, 1823. John Coulter, Elected April 14, 1823. James Stokes, Appointed March 30, 1826. Samuel Wagner, Elected April 19, 1830. Benjamin Chew, Appointed April 7, 1831. W. H. Stokes, • Elected April 7, 1832. * Mr. Ijippitl was in temporary rharfre of the congregation for a year pre- vious to his election as Rector. 68 Charles M. Stokes, Appointed March 24, 1845. John S. Littell, Elected April 28, 1851. Cor. S. Smith, Appointed April 11, 1850. T. A. Newhall, Elected March 26, 1856. J. M. Aertsen, Appointed May 8, 1860. E. R. Cope, Elected April 16, 1860. R. P. McCnllagh, Elected April 19, 1865. LIST OF VESTRYMEN OF ST. LUKE'S CHTTROH, WITH THEIR TERMS OF SERVICE. James Stokes, 1815-22, 1824, 1826-.31. Thomas Armat, 1815-22, 1824- 25, 1827-28. James Moyes, 1815-19. John Coulter, 1815-29. John ^lathews, 1815. Samuel Betton, M.D. 1815-28, 1836, 1838. D. H. Conyngham, 1815-18. Charles Riddle, jr., 1815, 1824, 1826. Richard Rayley, 1815-20. Cxodfrey Twells, 1818-19. J. M. Price, 1818-25. J. Tagert, 1818-84. P. Baynton, 1818-19. C. P. Wayne, 1818-20. J. Goddard, 1818-23. Edward Twells, 1820-23. Joseph Bullock, jr., 1820-23. John Ashmead, jr., 1820-21. Alexander Armor, 1821-22. Benj. Chew, 1821 -.36, 1838.44. John W. Ashmead, 1822-36, , 1838-43. John Harland, 1823. Dr. P. Tydiman, 1823-29. John Perot, 1823. Rich. R. Baynton, 1824-27. Jona. Williamson, 1824-28, 1830-32. •Joseph Burns, 1825. Thomas Langley, 1825. William Chancellor, 1826. Samuel Wagner, 1826-36. Wyndham H. Stokes, 1827-36, 1838-43. John H. Stevenson, 1828-29. John Bowen, 1829. George P. Giddinge, 1829. Jacob Chrall, 1829-36, 1838- 39. James J. Skerrett, 1830-32, 1844-49. William Botten, 18.30-36. Edward Baynton, 1880. Charles M. Stokes, 1830, 1833- 36, 1838-49. William ('rout, 1S31-.36. J. B. BowuKin, 1831-89. WillianiH. Wayne, 1832-85. 69 E. Littell, 1838-36, 1838. Henry Burchell,183(), 1838.41. John S. Littell, 1838-56. R. N. McClenahan, 1838-40. Benj. Jackson, 1838, 1840-46. Michael W. Ash, 1839. Cornelius S. Smith, 1839-60. Robert Tomlinson, 1839-44. Thos. W. Smith,1840-43, 1851. Chas. Treichel, M.D., 1840-55. John H. Bringhurst, 1841-46. Henry S, Mallory, 1842-43. Henry J. Squire, 1844-54. William A. Potter, 1844-54, 1857-60. John Burchell, 1845-49 James C Kempton, 1845-48. D. R. King, 1847-56, 1860-67. H. L. Carson,1847-5l, 1857-59. Chas. iMagarge, 1849-53, 1857- 60, 1865-68. T. A. Newhall, 1850-59. J. R. Lambdin, 1850-68. John S. Twells, 1850-53. Michael F. Clark, 1852-66. John G. Watmough, 1852-54. R. P. McCullagh, 1854-56, 1860-68. Samuel Cox, 1854-56. E. Otis Kendall, 1855-56. R. S. Newbold, 1855-55. Edwin R. Cope, 1855-65. James M. Aertsen, 1856-68. Thomas W. Evans, 1857-59. J. L. Stellwagen, 1857-59. George Blight, 1859-68. George Strawbridge, 1860-62. T. H. Montgomery, 1860-68. J. Parker Doan, 1861-63. Charles M. Burns, 1861-65. I William H. Webb, 1861-68. I George E. Arnold, 1863,1868. i Robert B. Aertsen, 1864. I Charles VV. Otto, 1864. Robert P. Morton, 1865-68. Samuel V. Merrick, 1866-68. John F. Blandy, 18(i6-68. Charles Treichel, 1867. W. Frank Potter, 1868. George R. Barker, 1868. 70 APPENDIX E. The following table of Collections and Contributions for twenty-five years, taken from the Keports in the Journals of the Diocesan Convention, will serve to show the growth and increase of the Parish during that time : FOR THE YEAK ENDING PEW RENTS.* AMOUNTS. May 1st, 1844, % 600 00 " " 1S4.5, 1,000 00 » " 1846, 2,050 00 " " 1847, 600 00 « " ]848, 1,000 00 « " 1849, 1,000 00 " " 1850, 600 00 " » 1851. No report. " " 1852, 4,000 00 " » 1853, ,300 00 " " 1854, 600 00 " " 1855, 1,050 00 " " 1S56, 1,750 00 " « 1857, 5,547 00 " " 1858, 3,233 00 » " 1859, 5,728 00 " " 1860, 3,200 00 " " 1861, S 3,126 00 4,043 00 " « 1862, 2,770 00 3,376 02 « " 1863, 3,102 00 5,512 49 " •' 1864, 3,058 00 4,971 00 « « 1865, 3 424 00 7.178 28 « « 1866, 3,594 00 16,660 77 » " 1867, 3,909 00 11.940 00 " " 1868, 4,645 00 14,136 62 $27,629 00 $100,276 18 Total, $127,905 18. While these contributions, for twenty-five years, make a sum of something more that $100,000 over and above the pew rents, it will still be seen that over one-half of this amount has been contributed during the last five years. * First year reports of these were culled lor. BX5920 .P5S2 MS Sermon at the semi-centennial Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 1 1012 00050 7329 •^. ,v