A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN CONGREGATION, I— atx turn WITH AN ABSTRACT OP CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING FUND FOB THE NEW CHURCH, AND A IJST OP CONTRIBUTIONS PROM STRANGERS AND PROM ABROAD. PREPAKED BY THE PASTOR'S COMMITTEE AND PUBLISHED AT THE KEaUEST OF THE CONGEEGATION. BEYROUT : PRINTED AT THE AMERICAN MISSION PRESS. MDCCCLXXIII. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN PROTESTANT CONGREGATION The Anglo-American Congregation, which now worships in the church of which a woodcut is annexed, had its origin immediately after the arrival of the Revd. Messrs. William Goodell and Isaac Bird, Missionaries to Syria of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, who landed at Beyrout on the 16th. of November 1823, and were cordially welconaed and temporarily entertained by Mr. Peter Abbott, then H. B. M's Consul for St. Jean d'Acre, Beyrout, and Dependencies. At its first meeting for worship the Congregation probably consisted of Mr. Consul Abbott, his wife and daughter, his nephews Messrs. Gabriel and Jasper Chasseaud, Mr. and Mrs, Goodell, and Mr, and Mrs. Bird. During the lifetime of Mr. Abbott the service was held in his house, and was conducted by one of the Missionaries. For some time the prayer-book of the Church of England was used for the devotional part of the service, but the Presbyterian form was eventually adopted as the rule, the Episcopalian 4 form being reverted to as an exception on particular occa sions. On the death of Mr. Abbott, in the year 1 834, the place of meeting for worship was changed to the house of Mr Jasper Chasseaud, who had been appointed United States Consul for Syria; and the service continued to be held in his house till the year 1841. Here it was that a pulpit, the gift of the young men of the Congregation, was first provided for the use of the preacher. It was rather a rude structure, the handiwork of a Moslem carpenter, made light enough to be stowed away in a closet during the week, but it answered the purpose, and now answers a similar purpose in the native Chnrch at Merj Ayun. By that time the American Missionaries had found it neces- sary to set apart two rooms in the dwelling house of one of them, (that which is now the Armenian Convent,) for the ac- commodation of the attendants at their service in Arabic, one room being for the men, and the other for the women, with a reading desk placed in an opening in the partition wall be- twixt the two. By that time also dwelling houses outside the walls of the city had begun to be multiplied, and it was found more convenient that the service in English should be held in the same place as that in Arabic, one of the rooms being large enough for the purpose, and in it the primitive pulpit was placed. In the year 1 843 the London Jewish Missionary Society sent to Beyrout the Revd. Horace Winbolt, to act in the double capacity of British Chaplain and Missionary to the Jews. A chapel was fitted up in an outer room of his house; and as the two morning services were held at the same hour, and the Episcopalians naturally preferred to worship in their own form, a separation took place which continued until the year 1849, when, in consequence of ill health, Mr. Winbolt returned to England where he survived only a short time. His place was not refilled, and thus the congregation again became a unit. 5 la the year 1845 jthe Presbyterian section, together with the native congregation, removed to the American Mission House, occupying at first one, afterwards two, and eventually three of the vaulted rooms on the ground-floor, to meet the growing wants of the native congregation. A more becoming pulpit was imported from the United States, and pews were substituted for chairs and forms; and there the two Congrga- tions continued to worship until their final removal to the present edifice. The service had thus been maintained for forty years * by the voluntary efforts of the American Missionaries, often at no small tax upon their physical strength, when, in the year 1864, the Jewish Mission Committee of the Church of Scot- land, after a preliminary understanding between a deputy sent for the purpose and the American Missionaries of the Beyrout station, entered into an arrangement with theAmeri- can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions by which the charge of the Sabbath service in English was transferred to the Scottish Mission; and the Eevd. James Robertson, the present pastor, entered upon his duties in the autumn of that year. At a meeting of the Anglo-American Congregation, held on Jany 25th. 1866, "to consider the ways and means neces- sary to build a church," after a statement by the Pastor of the intentions of the American Board and of the Committee of the Church of Scotland on the subject, a Committee was appointed to carry the object of the meeting into execution; and at a subsequent meeting this Committee adopted the following STATEMENT AND APPEAL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS. ' The apartment in the Mission House of the A. B. C. F. M., 'in which for many years diyine services have been maintain- * During one year only the Congregation engaged the Kev. Samuel Healy, an English Methodist, to supply the pulpit when required by the Missionaries to do so. 6 'ed in the Arabic and English languages, for the benefit of tha ^Arab congregation, and of English and American residents 'and travellers, had already become too small for the accom- ' modation of the native congregation, and has been assigned 'by the American Board to form a part of the Native Female 'Seminary now in course of erection. 'To provide another place of worship for the native congre- 'gation the Board has set apart a convenient site on the Mis- 'sion property, and has besides made a grant of money, on 'condition that the native congregation contribute according 'to its ability towards the erection of a new edifice. The Church 'of Scotland Mission, which has for about a year had the use 'of the present chapel for the service in English, is also to con- •' tribute towards the building. 'The Anglo-American Congregation, glad of an opportunity 'to show their appreciation of the pastoral services of the Mis- 'sionaries for so many years, and of the free use of the chapel, 'and desirous that the union hitherto subsisting should be main- 'tained, have therefore cordially agreed to co-operate with the 'American and Scotch Missions, and with the Native Protes- 'tant Community, by making and soliciting contributions in 'aid of the building fund, in order that the plan for the new 'edifice may be modified to suit the wants of both congrega- 'tions, and to be more in harmony with the general improve- 'ments of the city. 'The cost of such a building has been estimated at £, 2000 < Of this sum about the half will be contributed by the Ameri- 'can and Scotch Missions and the Native Congregation; and to 'aid in providing the remainder contributions are earnestly so- 'licited from the friends of Protestant Missions in Syria. The 'appeal for help from abroad is the more reasonable consider- 'ing that, during a part of the year, no smairproportion of the 'a,ttendance at the service in English consists of travellers and 'temporary residents. I 7 ' Contributions may be sent to the British or American Con- 'sulate, to the Imperial Ottoman Bank, or to any member of 'the Committee whose names are subjoined. ' Beirut, February, 1866. ' COMMITTEE, 'Rev. James Robertson, Chairman. * James Black, Treasurer. W. P. Goodwin, Secretary. 'Rev. W. M. Thomson, D. D. Rev. C. V. A. Van Dyck, M. D_ 'J. Aug. Johnson. U. S. Consul. Rev. H. H. Jessup. D. D. This appeal was generously responded to, as will be seen by the abstract recorded in the appendix, and the founda- tions of the new church were commenced on April 1st. 1867. The Corner stone was laid on June 5th. of the same year, and Mrs. Dr. Thomson, being the oldest member of the An- glo-American Congregation, and having also, as Mrs. Abbott, been present at the first meeting for worship before mention- ed, was appropriately selected to lay the stone. In it was im- bedded a leaden box containing the following articles :- A copy of the Scriptures in Arabic. Constitution of the Evangelical native Church in Syria. List of Church members in the Arabic Evangelical Church Beyrout, from its commencement. Photograph of the Pev. Dr. Jessup, Acting Pastor of the Arabic Congregation. Photograph of the Rev. James Robertson, Pastor of the Anglo-American Congregation. 'Henry Heald. 'R. Somerville. 'R. G. Barclay, M. D. 'Edward A. Van Dyck. F. H. Smith. A. Walker. H. Whittington. Henry E. Thomson.' 8 List of Protestant Institutions at Beyrout. List of Publications issued by tlie American Printing Press, Beyrout. Constitution of the Syrian Protestant College, Beyrout. Copy of the Arabic Journal of Beyrout. Copy of the Arabic Journal ofB'teddin. Within two years the new church, although still very in- complete, particularly in its interior fittings, was sufficiently advanced to be available for worship; and as the old premi- ses had already been incorporated into the Female Seminary, and were urgently needed for their new purpose, the old pews were moved into the new church, which was solemnly dedicated by a service in English on Saturday evening the 27th. March 1869. The Rev. Dr. Thomson, Senior member of the American Mission offered the dedicatory prayer; Mr.Eob- ertson delivered an address ; and the Eev. Mr. Wright of the Irish Mission at Damascus also took part in the services. A similar dedication service in Arabic was held the next morning, which was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Van Dyck and Rev. Dr. H. H. Jessup, of the American Mission, and the Rev. Dr. Wortabet, of the Syrian Protestant College. In the course of the three years which have elapsed since its dedication, the church has been gradually approaching com- pletion, according as the receipt of funds has enabled the Building Committee to prosecute the work; but additions have still to be made to the interior fittings, and the grounds are yet imperfectly laid out. Meanwhile it is felt that appropriate acknowledgment of the liberal aid in the work received from passing strangers and from abroad, ought not to be longer withheld : considering that such aid has enabled the Commit- tee not only to provide accomodation for the present wants of the native Congregatioji, with some reserve for future in- crease, but at the same time to erect an edifice in a style of 9 architecture consistent with the growing influence of Protes- tantism in Syria, and with the advance of the modern city. The new church occupies a central and commanding posi- tion, affording from the top of the tower a charming panora- mic view of the city and its picturesque suburbs. Its dimen- sions are 75 feet in length by 50 feet in width, the tower being 15 feet square at the base and 81 feet high; and at the south end is an addition 16 +25 feet consisting of the vestry and other accessories. The work has almost all been executed by native workmen under the direction of Europeans connected with the Anglo-American Congregation ; and the Committee have satisfaction in stating that no part of the money has been expended for plans or for professional assistance. * It will interest Contributors and others to learn, by way of conclusion to this brief sketch, that, while the new Church is the exclusive property of the Presbyterian Board of Missions of the United States, the use of it is secured to the Jewish Mission Committee of the Church of Scotland, according to the agreement before alluded to, for the regular Sabbath morning Service, and for such other services in English as do not in- terfere with the Arabic seiwiccs; that, as the Anglo-American Congregation is composed of members of various evangelical denominations, the modes of conducting public worship, and of administering the affairs of the Church have always been, and continue to be, maintained free from sectarian exclusiv- ness, the ministers of all evangelical Churches being invited to officiate when occasion offers, and members of all such Churches being cordially invited to unite in the celebration of the Lord's Supper; and finally, that to the blessing of God * A plan gratuitously furnished by Mr. D. Burgess of Now-Vork, although not adopted, was found exceedingly useful for many details. The building seen to the left in the woodcut is the Mission Press, including a Bible Depository recently erected at the [expense of the American and the Britsh and Foreign Bible Societies, and the American Prsbyterian Board of Missions, at the suggestion and with the liberal assistance of Mr. Booth of New-York. Abstract op Contkibutions to the Building Fund. Sources of Contributions To the General Fund For the Tower For the Pulpit For the Organ For Lights For the Inclosure Totals J.UC j\ mci ly^diU. xxJarU 01 iVllbiSlonb. . 25,245 I? • • • 25,245 i> 63,199 15 63,199 15 ^iigiu-iiinericau ^congregation. 0,'ivU QQ ICO O 1 hp INJ Q tlXTA t^f\rt e~fy>r\rfn 4-i f\y~t i isdnvt! ijongregaLion . . 25 1,674 5 14,130 30 The Prussian Congregation. . . • l;5l6 20 • 1,516 20 Jjadies of the Anclo - Amprioan rinn- eregation. • * • • 6,768 30 6,768 30 Native Protectant TH^pmnlp ftpminnrv 2,000 J? 2,000 Boarders ife Orrihfmci T*rnc!«! T^innnnpacj )' Institute 600 600 Resident & Native Non-Protestants. 3,513 5 3,513 )' 5 Mr. J. Abcarius, Bey rout . Missions & Local Contributions. 10,000 > 173,382 25 26,984 To 9,368 30 10,000 n 11,400 231,135 25 Strangers, & from abroad, in money pr. list. ^ 141,213 5 10,050 2,600 158,763 5 Proceeds of photographs of the Church 445 25 It >i 445 25 Interest ..... 3,566 20 3,566 20 Piasters 318,607 35 37,034 10 |9,638 "30" [10,000 i> 2,500 11,400 u 388,910 35 not including the value of the Clock & Bell, for whii;h see list. 13 List op Gontetbutions from Str angers and from Abroad. Names & domicile of Donors Amonnt in Foreign I money Amount in Beyrout currency Anonymous, per Dr. Brigstoclce. — do — , Dr. Jessup. — do — , ,, Mr. Somerville. . Blaclc, Mr. & Mrs. W. , Manchester. Blair. George B. Manchester. Collected as under. George Barbour Esq., Manchester £5. ■ William Thorburn Esq., —do.— 2.- Thomas Aitkin Esq. , —do.— 2.- John A. Beith Esq. , — do.— I.- George B. Blair Esq. , — do. — 10.- £20. Booth. W. A. Esq. , New-York Booth. Mrs W. A. , — do.— , for lights Brown. James. Esq. — do. — $ 50 Brown. John Crosby, Esq. do. - $ 50 Church. F. E. Esq. , — do. — . Collection-box in Chapel, at various times Eddy. Rev. W. W. Sidon, . Egleston. D. S. Esq. , New-York . Ewerdine. John, Esq. , Lonmay Faruum. Henry, Esq. , Chicago Freemason's Lodge, Beyrout Hordern. W. G. Esq. , from friends in England Hunter. Miss E. collected as under Rev. R. T. Lancaster, Cheltenham^ 2 Misses Lancaster, — do. — 3 Rev. J. & Honble. Mrs. Mont- gomery, Edinburgh. . 1 Mrs. & Misses Montgomery, Edinb 2 Mrs. Johnston Edinburgh. . . 1 Mrs. Robertson, Bridge of Allen . 1 Miss Burnett, — do. — J. Cuthbert Esq- , Ayr . . -.10 Miss Ayton . . . . -.6 Smaller sums .... -.15 £ 12, 10 Hunter. Mrs. & Misses, Weston-super-Mare Jesup. Morris K., New-York £ . JO Fr. 20, £ 1.10.0 50. 0.0 20. 0.0 Fr. 1500. 500. £ n. 0,7 Fr. 200. i 5. b.o Fr. 150. £ 1. 0.0 100. 0.0 Fr. 100. £ 20. 0.0 £ 12. 10.0 £ 15. 0.0 Fr. 250 Carried forward Piasters. 63 100 189 6,312 2,512 7,500 2,500 2,150 1,000 334 631 750 126 12,675 500 2,525 1,578 1,893 30 1,250 44,591 >> 14 Names & domicile of Donors Amount in Foreign money Amount in Beyrout currency Brought forward Jones & Fox, Messrs Lunt. — , Esq. Cicago Marquand. F. Esq. , New- York. Morse. Professor S. P. B. Parker. Mrs. W. S. Brooklyn . Phelps. George D, , Esq. New-Yoi'k itiyjS^ Powell. David, Esq. , London . Pye-Smith. — , Esq., Alexandria . Rattray. Mrs. , Karak R. H. L Robson. Rev. Smylie, Damascus Rogers. E., T. Eaq, —do. — Ship's Company of H. M. S. "Cruiser" (sur- plus of collection for a tombstone). Taylor. Miss, Bhamdun. Thaw. "William, Esq., Pittsburg. Pen. Thompson. W. S. Esq. , New-York. Van Dyck. Honble. H. H.— do.— . Vermilyee. W. R. Esq. Walne. Miss ... Wellwisher. Whillden. A, Esq., Philadelphia . Whish. Miss E. E. , Cheltenham, col- ected as under. Miss Whish. . . Milford. £ 1 Mrs. Brigstocke. . — do.--. . .10 R<,v. F. H. J.Brigstocke ... .10 Mrs. Lowman. . . Miss Clunes. . Mrs. C. B. Ker. . Miss B. E. Whish . Miss Williams . . Mrs. Lamb. . . Miss Brown. . . Mrs. Savary. . . Miss Crooke . . Mrs. Lewis. . . Mr. & Mrs, Sessions. Clipton . Cheltenham, —do.— - —do.— . — do.— —do.— . —do.— . - do.— . —do,— . —do.— . —do. - . £ 10. 5 ft- Fr. . P 100. 100. 2000. 2500. 100. 2500. 5. 5.0 5. 0.0 Fr. 40 £ 10. 0.0 20. Q.o Fr. 100. £ 1. 0.0 71.10.10 Fr. 1000. £200.10.3 Fr. 1000. 30. £ . 5.0 100. 0.0 10. 5.0 Caried forward Piasters 44,591 500 500 10,000 12,500 500 18,331 662 631 200 1,262 2,525 500 211 126 9,032 5,043 25,278 5,025 150 31 12,512 1,294 151,409 15 Names & domicile of Donors Amount in Foreign money Amount in Beyrout currency Brought forward Willats, Mrs, , Cheltenham. Collected as under. . .... Mrs. Hawkshaw 10s Gen. & Mrs. ~ Poleohele 10s. Mrs. Garstin 7s6d Mrs. AVyley 5s. Miss Douglas 5s. i o a Miss Baillie 5s. Mrs. Venobles 5s. f^'^-'^-^ Eev. G.&Mrs,Thamberlain 10s. j Col. Willats 53. J Wynkoop. F. S. Esq. New-York . . Wynne. Richard, Esq. . . . . Total in Money Donors to Tower Clock, value Mr. ilotchkiss, maker, in giving the clock for . . . .$600.- Alfred Hand, Scranton, Pa ,, Joseph Scranton, - ,, — , ,, ,, Charles Hebard, Williamsport, Pa „ Charles C. Dodge, Jersey city, N. J. „ Benjamin Meigs, — do. — , „ Norman W. Dodge, New-York. Donors to Bell, value Homer Morgan 0. E. Wood M. K. Jesup E. Marquand Fisher Howe Charles E. Beebee Theo. Roosevelt. B. S. Walcott J. R. Ford Amos J. Dwight Thomas Dewey F. H. Cossett H. J. Morgan all of New-York City, £ 3. 2.6 £ 15. 2.0 Fr. 10. Piasters $ 1000. — $ 1200.- I