Selections from the 1916 A Brief History of The First Presbyterian Church
by Rev. George Taylor, Jr.
The aim of this little volume is to perpetuate the story of a noble and useful Church. It attempts in a humble way to preserve the memory of those charter members and early workers who have played the drama of life within her walls, and who have contributed to her present strength the elements of stability and faith. It also strives to conserve in a general way the work, the records, and the inner life which have determined the stable type of manhood and womanhood in her midst.
. . . .
This volume which has been called forth by the celebration of her Fiftieth Anniversary, reveals her worth to the world. She has had fifty years of rapid growth in the community years of progressive policies in the religious life of her members, and years of true nobility in the spiritual base of her characters. She has been an essential help to others; but through all her progress, through all her contributions to the spiritual uplift of the community, through all her missionary activities which have issued in independent churches, she has maintained her own effective work and organization with an ever increasing strength and dignity. Her one great lesson has been kindness—that kindness which is linked to the larger life of God.
As we follow her history step by step we feel she has incarnated the truth of a great Hindu maxim: “I shall pass through this earth but once: any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
. . . .
G. T., Jr.
The Study First Presbyterian Church
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
May, 1916
The Birth of the Church
The First Presbyterian Church of Wilkinsburg is the fourth child of Beulah Church. She is the natural outgrowth of a progressive and Christian community. For more than thirty years prior to the organization, the faithful workers of the mother Church planted the seeds of God’s truth in the district of Wilkinsburg by means of a Sabbath School Mission; thus keeping alive, amid many hardships and interruptions, that spark of faith which became the nucleus of a large and important congregation. In this little mission there were developed those sturdy traits of religious character which have been continued in a more effective way in the present organization. For in those days the building of such institutions, as John Ruskin reminds us, was not for present delight alone, not for present use only, but forever. Each living stone placed there then bears today a sacred memory which is rich in simplicity. The very power and purity of their sacrifice, of their piety, and of their labors have created a fragrance which endures to the present day, stamping the personnel with an indescribable gentility and worth. So that from the very incipience there have persisted in her midst those true deeds of service and those rich acts of kindness which bring to light undeniable greatness, not only in the character of her members but of her pastors also.
The memories which gather around those early days explain much of her present power. She was born at a time when Beulah was the center of religious interest for miles around, when in spite of the distance the family pew was actual history every Sabbath, when the Church was the focus of all life in the community, and when the minister was reverenced as a man in holy touch with God Almighty. It was a time when Wilkinsburg was only a scattered hamlet, when the Presbyterian interests were represented by a small but healthy Sabbath School of about two hundred adherents, and when the home-makers who came to settle the community, to create its institutions, and to give it permanence could not build homes and at the same time enjoy the privilege of conveyances. It is, therefore, not surprising that, as the inclement weather and other trials continued to break the continuity of worship at Beulah for the Wilkinsburg people, their point of interest in religious life changed from the mother Church to the little mission at their door.
The foundation for this work was laid in the little carpenter shop which had been converted into a day school. Such sainted workers as Dr. James Carothers and his assistant, Dr. Kuhn, Mrs. James Carothers, John Horner, Mrs. Mary Horner, and Superintendent Nelson made this spot the hallowed retreat for divine instruction. Out of this early Bible study there grew the desire for prayer meetings in the homes of the people; and many a dwelling was made the chancel unto God by its hymns, its prayers, and its testimonies of faith. But with the coming of the Academy in the early fifties, and its leaders who played an important part in the history of this Church, the prayer meeting interest centered there; so that Wednesday evening became a season of joy for those families who found shelter and refreshment in these mid-week services. With such a religious foundation as a background, it is not strange that Friday afternoon in the public schools was given over to a catechumen class conducted by the Reverend James Hastings; thus making such instruction a vital part of education, and the catechism a rich possession of each young heart. The loss of this thoroughness in God’s Church has been partially responsible for the lack of loyalty among many Christians to her doctrines.
It was in one of these catechumen classes in the old Academy building that the Reverend Hastings, looking squarely at a little girl sitting with her father and mother in the back seat said, “Mary Semple, what is sin?”" Amid confusion and embarrassment because her committing had not reached that question, she stammered, “I haven’t got that far.” The minister gave a true prophecy when he said, “I hope you never will.”
There arose out of this atmosphere a demand for a Sabbath afternoon service in the old Academy building, which was conducted by the leaders of the Academy, the pastor of Beulah, and other friends. The interest in this service grew each week until the people were convinced that the time had come for a church in their midst. Thus necessity was prophetic of a near day when their interest and their faith should culminate in the organization of a Presbyterian Church.
The preliminary meetings which led to the organization of the Church were the center of interest in the town. All the leading citizens were back of the movement, the most active part being taken by Edward Thompson and the Reverend John M. Hastings, a former pastor of Beulah. In the month of April, 1866, John W. Milligan presented the petition to the Presbytery of Blairsville which met at Donegal, and the request for the organization of a Presbyterian Church in Wilkinsburg was granted. The committee on organization consisted of the Reverend Adam Torrence, the Reverend Benjamin L. Agnew, and the Reverend James Davis, together with Ruling Elders Duncan Hamilton, D. H. Shryock, and John Haymaker. On May 10, 1866, this representative committee met in the old Academy building on Center Avenue—between North and Wallace Avenues—and effected an organization of the Presbyterian Church. The sermon was preached by the Reverend Benjamin L. Agnew. At the close of the sermon the Reverend Adam Torrence, who was presiding, received the twenty-seven members who were regularly dismissed from Beulah and organized them into a church.
. . . .
Two elder were elected by the congregation: Ruling Elder Dr. John Semple who was installed, and later became Clerk of the Session; and John W. Milligan who was ordained and installed by the Committee. It was a day of great satisfaction to those charter members who had realized in this event their heart’s desires and constant prayers. They left that meeting with a quiet determination to endure as a Church at any cost. That this determination has been carried out may be understood from the records, which show that the Church has never received financial aid from any Boards of the Presbyterian Church but has contributed to them as well as to other benevolent objects ever since the day of her organization.
For the first three and one-half years the Presbyterian Church worshipped in the old Academy building which had been the scene of her Sabbath School struggles and growth. In the early part of 1867, a call was presented to the Reverend Thomas K. Davis, but he did not see his way clear to accept. Thus she remained without a pastor for about eighteen months, during which time the Reverend Littell was a frequent visitor to the pulpit. This lack of a leader, however, hindered the growth to some extent; for during this period only thirty-seven members were added to the roll, thirty received by letters from other churches and seven welcomed on confession of their faith in Jesus Christ. But it was in this beginning of her history that she learned the discipline of struggle and anxiety which gave her strength to endure.
The portraits of those early workers ought to have a sacred place of affection in the gallery of this Church. No casual spectator could have missed from that little Sabbath School the faithful presence of Dr. John Semple, Mrs. Nancy Semple, Mary Horner, Matilda Horner, Eliza Horner, Lydia Thompson, Mrs. Mary Milligan, John Milligan, Reverend Shriver, and Professor Levi Ludden, as they earnestly set about their task of bringing God’s truth home to the hearts of the scholars; or Mary I. R. Semple, as she sat at the little organ directing the music of the School. It was in these days that the shorter catechism was a sacred possession of many Sabbath School scholars, and not a few, like Elizabeth Miller, won their Bibles by repeating its answers without the correction of a single word. We can also picture with smiles and reverence the weekly canvass of the congregation which was made by Mrs. Nancy Semple, Mrs. Luke B. Davison, Mrs. Robert Milligan, Mrs. I. G. Macfarlane, Mrs. John Horner, and Mrs. Hannah Rea in order that they might raise money enough to pay the supply of the pulpit for the following Sabbath. We can understand, too, the people’s patient waiting for one whom they could love, respect, and call their own. And beneath all this struggle and patience we can feel that warmth of heart which fused souls into incandescence and causes obstacles to fade away before their ardent zeal.
The Legacy of an Established Labor
Each determined effort for good which is expended by any group of people is a prophecy of great things in any community. It creates an atmosphere which cannot fail to draw those who like to breathe it. Thus it was not long before the Wilkinsburg Church was attracting the attention of ministers who would strengthen the hearts of the people in this effort for an established religion. The initial step in perfecting the organization was effected by calling as the first pastor the Reverend Samuel M. Henderson who began his work on the first Sabbath of October, 1867. The call was made out for him on September 28th after he had spent two weeks among the people. He was graduated from the Western Theological Seminary in 1864, and came to this Church as his second charge from Pigeon Creek of Washington County. The installation service took place on the evening of November 26, 1867. He remained here ten years and nine months, tendering his resignation on July 3, 1878. The Church grew and prospered under the faithful leadership of this servant of God. It developed from a mere nucleus until it became one of the flourishing suburban churches. During his stay two hundred and seventy-two members were added to the roll; one hundred and eighty-two were received by letters from other churches, and ninety welcomed on confession of their faith in Jesus Christ. The increased membership brought an added interest to every department of the Church work. The Sabbath School, which had been organized in 1839 as a mission, and which had taken on new life in 1856 under the superintendency of Professor F. W. Hastings, and later under Dr. John Semple, was the very life of the Church when Reverend Henderson came into the field. During his stay the average attendance more than doubled. This was due largely to the interested Bible Class of about twenty-five taught by the pastor, and the efficient work of the superintendents. Dr. John Semple remained in office until the spring of 1866 when he was succeeded by Professor Levi Ludden who became the very life of the School until 1869. After four years’ faithful leadership under Robert S. Davis the superintendency fell to Professor J. R. Newell for one year, and then to R. P. Barnes. In the year 1875 Professor Levi Ludden again assumed the responsibility of the Sabbath School and remained in that office until after the close of the first pastorate. Each of these men did his part to hold up the standard of the work and maintain a high degree of interest with the result that as much as $125 was given to the Boards of the Church during one year. This is approximately sixty cents per member.
. . . .
The legacy bequeathed to the Church during this period was accumulated by hard labor, that labor which could not fail to leave a permanent impression on its environment. This impression has never been entirely lost. Perhaps it has been forgotten in the rush of advancing years, but its vitality has entered into the lives of the people, has become central in the formation of their characters, and hereditary in the shaping of their institutions. The steps of its growth were simple. A religious impulse was conserved here, an instinct for the higher life was fostered there, and lives began to move about a new center, impressions showed marks of permanency, and the whole trend of personal history was directed into new channels. Thus the labor has given to the members of the Church a legacy in Christian character which can be gained in no other way.
Let us follow this labor as it developed in this pastorate. It lay four square. The first centered in the building of a church on South Avenue near Wood Street. The ground upon which she stood was the donation of Wilkinsburg’s benefactor. Honorable James Kelly. who was given a choice pew in the church. We cannot tell the date when the final plan was adopted by the congregation, or the steps which led up to that action; but we know that the building committee consisted of Samuel Taylor, Robert Milligan, I. G. Macfarlane, Dr. John Semple, Robert S. Davis, Luke B. Davison, and Honorable Moses Hampton, and that the work of the building was overseen and directed by Robert Milligan, the father of our charter elder. In April, 1869, the ground was broken for the proposed church building. Nearly a year and a half slipped by before the brick edifice which cost something over $9,000 was completed. It was sixty-five feet long, forty-five feet wide, and equipped with a very useful basement. The basement was finished the first Sabbath in January, 1869, and was used by the congregation as a place of worship from that time until the superstructure was added. Many conditions arose to delay the work on the superstructure. It was resumed, however, in the following spring, and on August 29, 1869, it was formally dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. The sermon for the occasion was preached by the Reverend S. F. Scovell, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, from a phrase in the Revelation of John 19:10, “Worship God.” All the town ministers participated in the services. The church was filled with people and the only drawback to the full satisfaction of the day was the existence of a considerable debt. No one but those who experienced that siege of sacrifice, of self-denial, and of hard work can ever understand the real value and the true cost of such an undertaking. It is here that the crowns of our noble women were set with precious jewels, for the large burden of that debt rested upon them.
. . . .
The last outstanding event was distinctly the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of men and women during the quiet but effective revival of 1875. There has been no manifestation of the Spirit in the congregation for some years. The pastor and Session had grown quite discouraged because of this apparent deadness. The Week of Prayer had come and gone without even an impression upon the church members of the community. The people did not seem to care for their souls, and earnest Christians felt that their work was like “beating the air.” The communion which was to be held the last Sabbath in January had been postponed because of the exceptional cold and lifeless state of the religious feeling during the preparatory services. It was a time of doubt, despair, and suffering, when the earnest workers were leaning heavily on God. Both pastor and Session had felt the need of divine assistance, and had been brought to their knees at the throne of grace as never before. But out of this there came a gracious visitation to the whole community. The quiet unconscious manifestation of the Spirit which had already been at work in the East Liberty churches, and which was being effectively promoted by the Y.M.C.A. services there, burst the confines of locality and penetrated the vicinity of Wilkinsburg. On the very day of communion there began in the Sabbath School a work of grace which stamped this Church with a spiritual impress she has never lost and which produced a mellow richness in the character of her members which she still possesses. For six whole weeks of meetings the church was packed to the door. There had been no time when God’s voice was so generally understood as in this manifestation of the Spirit. Men and women in all walks of life began to think seriously and religiously as never before. The retirement of many an office had become a chapel unto God. The secret place of many a home had been transformed into the Holy of Holies of the Most High. The sacredness of many an experience had brought men and women to the verge of redemption. Something had thrilled the community. Some divine experience had awakened the hearts of men and women. They had been mystically purged, helped, gladdened, directed, and comforted. Careless and indifferent men with tears streaming down their faces openly confessed their sins and sought God’s forgiveness in prayer. One began his confession with the words, “Friends, I am doomed to death and to hell.” Another profane man spent more than one night in a hay-mow struggling with God in prayer. But out of the convictions of that great revival these men found God and were stamped with a final mark of grace which they never lost. It was a rich blessing to the whole community, for all denominations were partners in the activity and sharers of the grace. In fact, it had become so general that the first question after each salutatory greeting was sure to be, “Is it well with your soul?” The next communion after the revival was held in April, and thirty-five adults confessed Jesus Christ as their Saviour. At the close of the public reception of these members the choir had been instructed to sing “More to Follow,” but they were so affected by the scene that the hymn was never finished and scarcely a dry eye was to be seen in the house. But the miracle of it all is that the Church has never lost the impress of that revival, and beneath her quiet unassuming progress there is flowing that stream of religious emotion which now and then breaks through the surface to manifest the warmth of God’s love upon the hearts of the people.
. . . .
The activities sketched above are just the outline of a great work done by a great pastor. The one outstanding characteristic of the Reverend Samuel M. Henderson was a deep spirituality which was manifest both in his preaching and in his life. No one could touch his life even on the circumference without feeling the power of his devout, earnest, sincere character. His preaching was stamped with a mark of simplicity which made it easily understood, and yet it was a simplicity born of a scholarly mind. His thorough knowledge of Latin and Greek, and his ability as a teacher gave him, in addition to his pastoral duties, the chair of Latin in the Pennsylvania Female College for many years, and made him an assistant instructor in the Western Theological Seminary. After the death of Dr. Jacobus he filled the chair of Biblical Exegesis very acceptably in the latter institution until the successor was elected. His office as Permanent Clerk of the Pittsburgh Presbytery gave him a wide acquaintance with the ministers of this district. But during the year 1877 his health began to fail and through the kindness of the congregation he visited the coast of Florida the following winter. The change, however, brought no permanent improvement and he was compelled to give up his pastorate. He took up his residence in the South. At the invitation of the Biddle University, Charlotte, North Carolina, he attempted a professorship, but his health would not support the labor. He returned to his family at Mechanicsburg where he died April 3, 1879. In a letter from Mrs. Henderson we find these words: “His end was perfect peace; so gently and quickly did he pass from the kingdom of grace to the kingdom of glory that the narrow stream which separated them was crossed ere we knew it.” The First Church was spiritually on a higher plane because of his presence in her midst.
George Taylor, Jr., A Brief History of The First Presbyterian Church, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh: Reed & Witting, 1916.