U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES 
 
 University of California Berkeley 
 
 ELIZABETH AND JAMES ABA JIAN 
 COLLECTION OF AFRO- AMERICANA 
 
SEMI-CENTENARY DISCOURSE, 
 
 DELIVERED IN 
 
 THE FIRST AFRICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 
 
 ON THE FOURTH SABBATH OF MAY, 1857 : 
 
 WITH 
 
 A HISTORY 
 
 OF THE CHURCH FROM ITS FIRST ORGANIZATION; 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 A BRIEF NOTICE OF EEV. JOHN GLOUCESTER, ITS FIRST PASTOR. 
 
 BY EEV. WILLIAM T. CATTO, 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 AN APPENDIX, 
 
 Containing sketches of all the Colored Churches in Philadelphia. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 JOSEPH M. WILSON, 
 
 No. Ill SOUTH TENTH STREET, BELOW CHESTNUT. 
 
 1857. 
 
SEMI-CENTENARY DISCOURSE, 
 
 DELIVERED IX 
 
 THE FIRST AFRICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 ON THE FOURTH SABBATH OF MAY, 1857 : 
 
 AVITH 
 
 A HISTORY 
 
 OF THE CHURCH FROM ITS FIRST ORGANIZATION: 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 A BRIEF NOTICE OF REV. JOHN GLOUCESTER, ITS FIRST PASTOR. 
 
 BY REV. WILLIAM T. CATTO, 
 
 PASTOR. 
 ALSO, 
 
 AH APPENDIX, 
 
 Containing sketches of all the Colored Churches in Philadelphia. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 JOSEPH M. WILSON, 
 
 No. Ill SOUTH TENTH STREET, BELOW CHESTNUT. 
 
 1857. 
 
NOTICE. 
 
 On motion of REV. DR. BOARDMAN, it was 
 
 Resolved, "That the Presbytery have learned, with satisfaction, 
 that the Rev. Wm. T. Catto has prepared for publication an account 
 of the FIRST AFRICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, and cordially recom- 
 mend his historical sketch to the patronage of all who feel interested 
 in the religious welfare of the colored population of our country." 
 
 A true extract from the Minutes of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, 
 at their session in West Spruce Street Church, Philadelphia, July 6, 
 185T. 
 
 Attest: DANIEL GASTON, 
 
 Stated Clerk. 
 
 \ 
 
DISCOURSE. 
 
 Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward. Ex. xiv. 15. 
 
 I HA YE chosen this subject for the occasion on account 
 of its scope. What to the children of Abraham under 
 their peculiar situation, may to the people of God, in 
 this day, be as important. 
 
 Go forward, as a command from the mouth of God, 
 is worthy of our deepest consideration, and should be 
 regarded as worthy of all acceptation by a nation, a 
 community, a sect, or a church, and should by the indi- 
 vidual man, in his life, practice, example, faith, grace, 
 knowledge, wisdom, truth, and holiness. 
 
 What I purpose upon this occasion is 
 
 I. To notice the circumstance that gave rise to the 
 text that briefly. 
 
 II. The command as it affects the individual. 
 
 III. The command as it touches a church, and the 
 history of this church. 
 
 I. It is known to you all that the children of Israel 
 were in captivity in Egypt, and remained in that condi- 
 tion upwards of 220 years. The sequel of their bondage 
 shows that their condition was one of affliction and dis- 
 tress: their repeated cries and supplications to God 
 make this assertion as clear as a sunbeam. To such 
 an extent did their oppressors torment them by exacting 
 
the severest labor and most cruel demands, that their 
 cries ascended to God, and he determined to deliver 
 them. 
 
 To this end Moses was raised up as a leader and de- 
 liverer of this people. Now the circumstance of Moses 
 being raised up is as singular as it is interesting: a brief 
 sketch of it in this discourse may not be out of place, 
 as there seemingly are some points of it analogous to 
 the life of Mr. Gloucester, the founder of this church. 
 
 Moses was of a family of the oppressed, and as far as 
 human estimate considers it, was of humble origin: still 
 he was chosen by the Almighty as the future instrument 
 to bring about a deliverance for these bondmen. The 
 miraculous manner of his preservation from the cruel 
 and heartless order of Pharaoh is a peculiarity worthy 
 of notice : his being placed in an ark of bulrushes a 
 very fragile vessel and then set upon the margin of the 
 river among the flags, and there found by Pharaoh's 
 daughter. His preservation and education by the prin- 
 cess is also worthy of thought, and will show that God 
 chooses instruments, ways and means to bring about his 
 purposes which to human speculation is the most impro- 
 bable : yet is it true, simple and improbable as it may 
 appear; but they are sure in their results, and fail not. 
 
 So it appears in the case under consideration. Israel 
 was to be delivered from bondage ; a leader was wanting ; 
 that leader was, and must be a man possessing peculiar 
 traits of character a peculiar man, necessary and fitted 
 for the work every feature of character was to stamp 
 him as the man for the occasion and the business. 
 
 And how well did God produce in Moses these pecu- 
 liar traits; how completely did he regulate, direct, and 
 control every event in order to accomplish the end ; 
 brought up in Pharaoh's house, under the parental 
 
[ 5 ] 
 
 watchings of his own mother, wittingly introduced as a 
 nurse, his education perfected, through the king's daugh- 
 ter, and that education a liberal and finished one, are 
 surely very remarkable. Then consider his meekness, 
 the softness of manners, the inflexible integrity of his 
 heart, his great firmness, his courage and boldness, his 
 deep love for his people, and his faith in God, are so 
 many proofs by which we conclude the man was fitted 
 for the work. It does not require much insight into 
 human affairs to determine that the above traits of cha- 
 racter must exist in a man who would lead in a measure 
 of importance. The rise of empires, kingdoms, and 
 republics are proofs in point. It requires a stout heart, 
 strong arms, and much firmness to grasp the helm of 
 affairs and steer forward amid dangers and liabilities 
 until success shall crown the effort. 
 
 Arrived at the age of manhood, God informs Moses 
 that he is chosen as a leader of his people. The subse- 
 quent message to King Pharaoh ; the wonderful things 
 done by God to bring the king to his senses in order to 
 restore the people their liberty, to undo their heavy bur- 
 dens, &c., you are informed of, and how faithfully their 
 leader performed his duty. You have knowledge of 
 their final departure from Egypt to a land of freedom, 
 the land of Canaan, where they could worship God 
 under their own vine and fig-tree, none to molest or 
 make them afraid, and we can well imagine what their 
 hopes and anticipations were when they found their 
 journey toward the promised land really begun, as in 
 their tribes and families they take up the line of march. 
 
 During their journey Moses, at the command of God, 
 caused the people to turn in before Pi-hahiroth, between 
 Migdol and the sea, &c., and there encamp themselves. 
 It was during this encampment that Pharaoh regretted 
 
having liberated the Israelites, and he determined to 
 pursue them and drive them back to Egypt, which he 
 accordingly attempted: his horsemen and chariots and 
 his army were soon gathered, and he went in pursuit of 
 the Israelites. Seeing the Egyptians pursuing, they 
 began to murmur and complain against Moses; they 
 became very uneasy at the sight of their enemies, and 
 regretted having left Egypt. 
 
 Now it is true God commanded them to encamp, and 
 it was during that very time that the enemy appeared ; 
 hence it may be inferred that their dilemma was not 
 brought about by any act of theirs; so that they being 
 found resting when t.hey should have been journeying 
 was not their fault. To this, in view of the text, we 
 find no objection; the only exception is their mistrust 
 of God, and want of confidence in their leader, by com- 
 plaining and reproaching Moses for the danger in which 
 they were placed. Moses too, though not mistrustful of 
 God, sought in the first place to allay their fears, and so 
 check their murmurs and reproaches- an evident delay 
 that might have been better employed, for it is plain 
 that it was a time for action, a time that should have 
 been employed in fleeing from the pursuer, and extri- 
 cating themselves from their trouble. This will appear 
 still more evident by tracing further the course taken 
 by Moses, and the order he received from God. After 
 first trying to quiet the fears of the people, he next ad- 
 dresses himself to God. Whereupon the Lord said unto 
 him, " Wherefore criest thou unto me ? speak unto the 
 children of Israel that they go forward." As though 
 it were said, Lose no time, improve every moment, cry 
 as you go forward, the enemy is behind you, your. course 
 is before you, though it be through the sea go forward, 
 and lose no time, and look to me for deliverance and 
 
success. The sequel of this incident in the history of 
 this people you all know: they did go forward, their 
 difficulties were removed, for the sea was made to part 
 at the lifting up of Moses' rod over it, and the people 
 went through safely; which their pursuers essaying to 
 do, were overwhelmed and destroyed. 
 
 II. I call your attention to these words as they affect 
 the individual man. I adopt this course as you can 
 plainly see that a community or an army, a nation or a 
 church, are comprised of individuals, each man making 
 up the aggregate, and therefore upon the life, conduct, 
 and action of each man depend, in a greater or lesser 
 degree, the power and influence of the whole, whether 
 it be a nation, an army, or a church. 
 
 Now as it regards individuals, we assume that no man 
 in the great world of life and action can be idle and 
 indifferent to the callings and claims of government; 
 regarding men as citizens, members of society, heads of 
 families, or in the relation of friends, it cannot with any 
 show of truth be said upon him there are no claims. 
 Every man, more or less, has some part to perform in 
 the drama of life; there can be no stand, no rest, no 
 indifference on this active, busy, working stage; the 
 world is ever moving, and everything around shows life, 
 activity, energy, commotion; the world goes forward in 
 numerous almost countless operations; its motto is for- 
 ward. As individuals we must go forward upon the 
 broad bosom of this ocean life and contribute our some- 
 thing towards the press of interests that impels forward: 
 who moves not will be pushed aside, or irresistibly borne 
 forward, uncared for and unhonored: we all must strug- 
 gle in this race of active life, and add our quota to the 
 universal use. The command is a good one, Go forward, 
 and wise is the man who obeys it. Observation with its 
 
[ 8 ] 
 
 keen eye, attentive ear, comprehensive intellect, and 
 sound judgment, attests the fact that in order to accom- 
 plish any purpose or attain any end, the individual man 
 must go forward to insure success and grasp his desire. 
 Xo aim in life can be successful without it. If in quest 
 of wealth or position, science, literature, or anything 
 else, earnest perseverance as well as strong resolution, 
 activity and energy, are necessary forces, and must be 
 brought out for the struggle. Is the aim intellectual 
 greatness, the command Go forward holds good ; atten- 
 tion, assiduity, application, are elements necessary to 
 crown the effort. In the life of each man the command 
 is good ; to him it is as essential as any law of his being. 
 Old habits, if they are injurious in their tendency by 
 corrupting the heart in any way, must be broken off, and 
 a sound morality, virtuous and upright deportment, must 
 mark the general character. 
 
 Particularly is this command good in the Christian 
 man's life. The commandment of the Lord is pure, 
 enlightening the eyes. Every professing Christian must 
 grow in grace and in knowledge knowledge of himself, 
 of his God, of his obligations to the world around him, 
 and as to matters of faith grow therein. Paul says 
 " Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but 
 this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are 
 behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are 
 before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high 
 calling of God in Christ Jesus." 
 
 Viewing the principle plainly taught in this text as 
 it bears upon the individual man, we must admit its 
 importance and necessity, as it enters into every arrange- 
 ment introduced for his government by Jehovah himself. 
 He writes it in fairest lines drawn upon every effort to 
 benefit the moral or the Christian world progress, pro- 
 
[ 9 ] 
 
 
 
 gression, is the seal of God itself, whereby is stamped 
 the likeness and image of that Being who gave to Moses 
 the command Go forward. It does seem that God, 
 through every progress made, whether in the arts or 
 sciences, whether in the church or state, only reiterates 
 what he said to Moses whilst they were resting before 
 Baal Zephon. And from amid this world of life, where 
 all are in commotion, and each one agitated upon its 
 troubled bosom, pushing his way through the laboring 
 multitudes, shall we single out the Christian man and 
 say to him as the representative of a class of that busy 
 world, you are an exception, whilst others should go for- 
 ward you may stand still : this can never be ; the Chris- 
 tian man can no more stand idle amid the conflicts of 
 life than the earth on which he dwells can cease its re- 
 volutions and exist. Every one of us has work to do, 
 around us as well as within us. We begin in childhood 
 to act our part upon the stage of life: as we grow in 
 age, in size, in strength, so grows our labor ; as we de- 
 velop our physical and mental man, so must we produce 
 qualifications necessary for the employments and engage- 
 ments of life, every man for his calling, as Paul records 
 it. "But* the manifestation of the spirit is given to 
 every man to profit withal : for to one is given, by the 
 spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of 
 knowledge, by the same spirit; to another faith, by the 
 same spirit; .to another the gifts of healing, by the same 
 spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another 
 prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another 
 divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation 
 of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the self- 
 same spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 
 There is therefore an obligation upon every Christian 
 professor, a necessity of going forward in every calling, 
 
whether of faith or practice ; to make progress plain, 
 unmistakable progress, such as will be seen, felt, and 
 acknowledged by all. These should be so plain as to 
 mark the Christian in his life and efforts to advance the 
 interest of humanity and the glory of his God. This is, 
 in fact, the chief end of man. 
 
 III. The command in its scope touches governments 
 and communities as well as individuals, they too must 
 go forward in the march of life. It is as necessary in 
 all that concerns their interests as the individual. They 
 should go forward from a state of barbarism to enlight- 
 ened civilization, from heathen superstition to a know- 
 ledge of the Christian graces : these steps mark the 
 greatness of a nation, and the ever growing, enlighten- 
 ing, civilizing, and Christianizing progress are plainly 
 seen by their greatness and their power. 
 
 What is true in these instances is true in relation to 
 a church, which brings us to our third consideration. 
 The church is comprised of any number of individuals 
 for the service and worship of God ; it may be regarded 
 as a community or government a kingdom if you please 
 Christ, however, is its head. The church is com- 
 manded to go forward ; it must not, cannot tarry on the 
 plain of human progress. The church has its aim and 
 its end; it is an intelligent intellectual body; it has 
 something in common with other intelligent agencies to 
 do; whatever it is must be done; to accomplish which 
 it must go forward. Is the church itself small and 
 diminutive, it must swell and increase until its huge 
 form can be seen like a great mountain away in the dis- 
 tance. The handful of corn planted must produce the 
 wavy field, rich for the harvest. The stone cut out of 
 the mountain must roll on and roll on until it fills the 
 earth. The church of Christ has an interesting work 
 
[ 11 ] 
 
 to perform, and in that work there must be progress. 
 Righteousness through it must be established, truth 
 maintained, justice advocated, mercy pleaded; love, free, 
 full, universal love to all, among all, contended for, with 
 a zeal and fervor and sincerity that should know no 
 abatement; to this end every available means must be 
 used, every effort made ; hearts and heads and hands of 
 men must be enlisted to work out the redemption of the 
 world ; sin of every kind, cast, or color must be destroyed ; 
 against them all the church must fight, though it be 
 against principalities and powers or spiritual wickedness 
 in high places; every instrumentality must be seized 
 upon to carry forward the interesting work of Chris- 
 tianity, civilization, redemption, reformation revolution 
 if need be ; sin must be slain. The church must do its 
 part, and do it well; discouragements and opposition 
 should be no barriers, we must go forward, it is God's 
 command. A body of godly working Christians is a 
 sight which angels can contemplate with delight, and 
 which God himself approves. The church must move 
 on; from what we see it must move on, there is no en- 
 camping here, amid this battle-field of life. Men and 
 nations and communities are heeding the command and 
 moving forward: science is holding up its magic lamp, 
 and by its light athwart the pathway of men and nations 
 does she throw a broad glare to guide them in their on- 
 ward course, and along its brilliant pointings is the 
 world moving forward. The church must not lag be- 
 hind lest she be pushed aside, to be passed by unnoticed 
 and unhonored; it must go forward towards perfection 
 in every good work; it must increase in efficiency, to 
 benefit the world; it must be diligent and active in the 
 pursuit of every enterprise which claims its attention 
 and care ; its efforts abroad, like its efforts at home, must 
 
[ 12 ] 
 
 be attended to; its great heart should throb for the 
 world's salvation, and its broad arms should encircle all 
 mankind that is its business, its duty, and should, must 
 be its aim; to this end the church must go forward in 
 might and in power, put on strength and grow in grace, 
 in knowledge, wisdom, purity, and holiness; for the 
 church there lies the life struggle, the aim of the church. 
 Let us of this church see to it that we move forward, 
 that we make progress onward and upward. Our fathers 
 went forward in their day, nobly forward ; they did their 
 duty, and they did it well ; so that we now looking back 
 upon those early times, though fifty years have rolled 
 away and balled up all the doings of those long, long 
 years, still can we of this later day, in view of what we 
 now know and see, truthfully exclaim, " Well done, good 
 and faithful servants." 
 
 What was commanded the people by the mouth of 
 Moses was commanded by a greater than Moses to our 
 fathers; they did go forward; they have finished their 
 work, crossed over Jordan, and are now in Canaan and 
 at rest. The same God, by the mouth of his son, calls 
 upon every man and woman in this church to arise and 
 go forward. The labors and example of our fathers 
 show we are resting, positively snugly encamped before 
 some Baal Zephon. My brethren, I call upon you arise ; 
 God commands you to go forward; why stop to com- 
 plain, why to lament and say O Lord, look upon us in 
 our low estate; oh, pity our condition; help us in our 
 leanness] Moses did this very thing. God said to him, 
 Why cryest thou to me] command the people that they 
 go forward. And now if you would succeed, work 
 work while you pray ; for God will help no man, nor 
 any church that will not help themselves. 
 
 If we would insure success we must first be diligent 
 
[ 13 ] 
 
 in what our hands find to do ; we must make progress 
 if we desire the church tcr prosper, and to travel in the 
 greatness of her strength; you, my brethren, elders of 
 this church, must walk around Zion, view her bulwarks 
 and her towers, examine her walls, and see that all is in 
 order, like those fathers who once occupied the position 
 you now fill: you must repair every breach, guard every 
 pass, secure every gate, and keep a watchful eye all 
 around you: you are the officers of this army of our 
 King; lead on the people; say to them Go forward, we 
 are in an enemy's country, and our foes are pressing hard 
 upon us; we must be up and doing; there must be less 
 complaining and more laboring; less resting and more 
 action; more of the vital and practical workings of 
 Christianity than its desirings; more of the spirit's 
 working power among us than forms and conventional 
 formulas; in short, we must go forward in every good 
 word and work. 
 
 And what is true of us as office bearers is true of the 
 individual member for we are after all members, one 
 of another, all one in Christ, all journeying along the 
 same pathway in life ; we have the same hopes and fears, 
 the same common enemy to fight, the same conflicts with- 
 in us and without, the same aim and end in view, the same 
 heaven in prospect, the same God to serve, and withal 
 the same road to travel to reach our journey's end. Each 
 member of this Zion, then, is called upon to go forward, 
 to throw aside every weight and every burden, and the 
 sin that doth so easily beset them, and run with patience 
 the race that is set before them, looking at the same 
 time to Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of our 
 faith. The membership of a church must have a mind 
 to work if they would see the salvation of God, in many 
 souls being delivered from the power of sin and Satan 
 
and ushered into the marvellous light and liberty of 
 God's children. May I call upon each one to-day to 
 dedicate himself afresh for this desirable, nay necessary 
 end] But how are we to do this] Can it be done alone 
 by praying] Often this proves a delusion. Prayer of 
 course must be used, by all means ; yet are there other 
 essentials necessary in this work; there must be an ear- 
 nest, serious, and manifest interest evidenced in us all 
 for the glory of our God, the conversion of souls, the 
 prosperity of this church. And what evidences this] 
 Why, the temper and spirit in which we enter and labor 
 in it; the sacrifices we are making of our time, our 
 means, and of our ability to do, in any way or manner, 
 what the cause of our Redeemer demands of us. We 
 must let our light shine before men ; not our words, our 
 professions, or our formality, but our Christian princi- 
 ples, Christlike to do good, and to communicate forget 
 not. We must be the salt of the earth; our example 
 in life and practice must show to men that we have been 
 with Christ and have been taught of him : this we must 
 evidence by our daily life, daily conversation, in our 
 intercourse with our fellow men, whether in the house 
 or by the wayside, in the workshop, or anywhere else. 
 We must be willing to do the will of our heavenly 
 Father, by doing whatever our hands find to do; we 
 must go forward ; in God's work there can be no resting 
 point. In our travels to the promised land we must go 
 forward; God commands, it is ours to obey. 
 
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
 
 OUR Saviour upon one occasion gave this command 
 to his disciples : " Gather up the fragments that remain, 
 let nothing be lost." Taking this command, then, in 
 its strictest meaning, we can easily conceive that in 
 matters of public interest it should be religiously ob- 
 served. 
 
 "Waiving every other subject that has a bearing upon 
 this precious and necessary command of our Lord, we 
 take up the church as one of the most interesting and 
 important institutions of public concern. The Church 
 in all of its branches, considered in their individual or- 
 ganizations, however widespread it may be, in whatever 
 part of the habitable globe located, is one harmonious 
 whole, forming a unit, a oneness, with Christ as its 
 head. I do not think that I will be charged with any 
 far stretched idea in making the above assertion ; who- 
 ever reads the constitution which Christ has caused to 
 be published for the government of his church on earth, 
 must necessarily conclude with me, that his church, his 
 visible or universal church, is one : this follows from that 
 constitution, which is the Bible one in its aim, one 
 in its end, and one in its use. To gather up the history 
 of each individual church, then, should be the aim of 
 each disciple of the Lord Jesus, in order that its exist- 
 ence may be known. 
 
 If the church on earth is one, Christ being its head, 
 there is, therefore, a common interest binding them to- 
 
[ 16 ] 
 
 gether as a common brotherhood. As one of our poets 
 beautifully expresses it 
 
 "Our heavenly Father calls, 
 
 Christ and His members one; 
 "VVe the young children of his love, 
 
 And He the first born son. 
 We are but several parts 
 
 Of the same broken bread; 
 One body hath its several limbs, 
 
 But Jesus is the head/' 
 
 That the history of every church should be known 
 seems equally clear from the relation they sustain to 
 each other. That was a significant remark made by 
 Paul to his brethren when he said: "Ye are members 
 one of another ;" how forcible and expressive is this re- 
 mark members one of another. There must be some- 
 what of a family fie existing between the churches. If 
 it be so, and we cannot show why it should not, then is 
 it clear that, as in every well-ordered family, a know- 
 ledge of each of its members is desirable and necessary, 
 so is there reason for a knowledge of each church by 
 every member of Christ's mystical body, the church; and 
 however humble and weak it may be, whatever peculiar 
 circumstance surrounds it, so much the greater reason 
 for a knowledge of it. Upon the same principle that 
 our sympathies are moved rather toward the weakest 
 and most unfortunate member of a family, in like manner 
 our interest in and anxiety for these weaker and smaller 
 members of the Christian family should cluster around 
 to watch over and be mindful of, simply on account of 
 what has been already stated. 
 
 There may be many other reasons given why the 
 knowledge of no single church of our Redeemer should 
 be lost to the great family of Christians for the want 
 
[ n j 
 
 of a history. But they are too numerous to mention 
 in connection with the present matter we have in hand. 
 I intend in this publication, briefly, though I trust to 
 the satisfaction and comprehension of all who will favor 
 me by perusing these pages, to give a history of the first 
 African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and in 
 fact, the first established, and consequently the oldest in 
 the United States. 
 
 In giving the history of this church, permit me, kind 
 reader, to say, that not only the above reasons stated in- 
 fluenced me to write out the history of this branch of 
 Christ's Church, but another reason induced me to un- 
 dertake it. I will state it. 
 
 When Luke was about to write his Gospel, he pre- 
 faced it with these words to Theophilus : " Forasmuch as 
 many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declara- 
 tion of those things which are most surely believed 
 among us, even as they delivered them unto us which 
 from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of 
 the Word ; it seemed good to me, also, having had per- 
 fect understanding of all things from the very first, to 
 write unto thee, in order that thou mightest know the 
 certainty of those things wherein thou hast been in- 
 structed." 
 
 Herein, the Evangelist was more fortunate than my- 
 self, for others had taken in hand a declaration of those 
 things necessary to be known. In the case of the first 
 African Church, no one had undertaken even a brief 
 sketch of the rise of this member of the Christian family : 
 my readers will at once see the reason why I have un- 
 dertaken to write its history that it may not be lost. 
 Taking the command of my Saviour, then, " Gather up 
 the fragments, let nothing be lost," I throw myself upon 
 your indulgence, and pray my Heavenly Father to repay 
 2 
 
[ IS ] 
 
 you amply for the time you may appropriate in the peru- 
 sal of these few pages, which shall be condensed as much 
 as possible, without destroying the information necessary 
 to be obtained, and of monopolizing too much of your 
 time, which, for aught I know, may be more profitably 
 engaged in this age of reading. 
 
 About the beginning of the present century, it be- 
 came a subject of considerable conversation among the 
 few colored people in Philadelphia whose preferences 
 were Presbyterian, of raising a Presbyterian Church. 
 This idea seemed to be general among them ; but how to 
 proceed was a matter of no small difficulty, for at the 
 time there were very few Presbyterians in Philadelphia. 
 There was one thing, however, that was in their favor, 
 and it was their firmness and determination not to per- 
 mit their smallness of number to prevent their making 
 the effort ; they were Christians from principle, and their 
 hearts were in the work; their zeal and energy gave 
 springs to their determination : with them there was no 
 such thing as fail. The only question was, Who shall 
 lead in the movement] Here was the true difficulty. 
 There were true and faithful men ready to give their 
 countenance and influence to the work, but who would 
 sacrifice his business, his temporal prospects in life, his 
 time, his means, his all of self] Here was the difficulty 
 to grapple with and overcome ; one that not only every 
 new enterprise of like character, but one that the Church 
 has ever had to contend with. Of the justness of the as- 
 sertion Christians can judge; of its correctness I am sure. 
 There were men of acknowledged ability, and other pre- 
 requisites,but it required a man who would be willing to 
 make every sacrifice of his own time and worldly interest, 
 to lead in the movement. For such a man they must wait 
 patiently. It is not in the course of this brief history, 
 
[ 19 ] 
 
 to discuss the question whether it was necessary to form 
 a separate Church for the use of colored worship- 
 pers ; that is a question I take as not forming any part 
 of a Church history proper, unless there arose some cir- 
 cumstance by which a separation would be forced upon 
 the receding party. Let it suffice the reader for me to 
 say, there was no cause of ill-treatment upon the part of 
 existing organizations or Churches, to drive the colored 
 membership to seek a separation ; they could have re- 
 mained in connection, no doubt, with the churches, and 
 been respected as members of it. Presbyterians are re- 
 markable for their regard to each other, without respect 
 to distinctions it is a characteristic of God's people. 
 In the case, then, of raising a colored church, the pre- 
 vailing opinion seemed to be, 'an organization of colored 
 people where church government could be committed 
 to, and governed by them, and that without separating 
 from Presbyterian bodies, or alienating themselves from 
 their fellow Christians. A church was accordingly 
 formed, and measures adopted to supply it with preach- 
 ing, which will be stated in its proper place. There 
 seems to be a providence in these movements sometimes 
 very remarkable, and it proved so in this case. God 
 often " works in a mysterious way His wonders to per- 
 form" for at this particular and interesting time, Dr. 
 Gideon Blackburn, a Presbyterian clergyman, arrived in 
 Philadelphia, bringing with him a body servant or slave 
 called John Gloucester, and about whom much will be 
 said during our notice of the history of the Church. 
 This man was of deep piety, and well instructed in the 
 doctrines of the Presbyterian faith. Seeing that his 
 servant was a man of no ordinary character, that he 
 possessed gifts and graces that evidently qualified him 
 for the ministry, Dr. Blackburn, it will be seen in the 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 course of this history, concluded to seek a place where 
 Mr. Gloucester could exercise his gifts and graces in 
 preaching the Gospel, for which he was so eminently 
 qualified. To this end Dr. Blackburn left Tennessee, 
 where he resided, and visited Philadelphia. What a 
 providence is here seen ; not merely a coincidence, as 
 some would say, but a special providence. How does 
 this visit, at this time, remind us of the question of 
 Isaac to his Father, on Mount Moriah, "My Father, 
 here is the altar and the wood, but where is the sacri- 
 fice 1" and in keeping with our present subject is equally 
 significant the words of Abraham, " My son, God 
 will provide a sacrifice." In our case it was truly a 
 special providence, and it seems clear, for God surely 
 does watch over the interests of Zion, and are we not 
 told "that no good thing will be withheld from them 
 that walk uprightly." So we may safely argue that the 
 visit of Dr. Blackburn, at this juncture, was providen- 
 tially ordered, and no good reason can be adduced to the 
 contrary. However, it was regarded as a favorable in- 
 dication that God was leading in the matter, and by his 
 own mysterious operation was producing the materials 
 for establishing a church in Philadelphia. In order, 
 therefore, to show more fully the leadings of the Most 
 High toward this end, I will direct attention more par- 
 ticularly to the history of Mr. Gloucester. 
 
 A BRIEF REVIEW OF MR. GLOUCESTER, FIRST PASTOR OF 
 THE FIRST AFRICAN CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
 
 I am led to call the attention of the reader to Mr. 
 Gloucester's history with the Church for several reasons. 
 Among the most prominent are : first, he is worthy of 
 notice ; another is, he was chosen by the Most High, 
 
[ 21 ] 
 
 through His Church, to lead this people ; one other is, 
 that considering his labors in the church, it necessarily 
 becomes interesting ; the last I shall offer is the exhorta- 
 tion of Paul, " Kemember them which have the rule 
 over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God." 
 
 The first intimation had of Mr. Gloucester was de- 
 rived from the minutes of the Presbytery of Union, 
 Synod of Tennessee, to the General Assembly, in 1807, 
 presented to that body by the Committee of Overtures, 
 requesting advice in relation to the licensure of Mr. John 
 Gloucester. The case was handed over to a committee 
 appointed by the General Assembly, consisting of Messrs. 
 Clark, Miller, and Samuel Brown, with instructions to 
 report as early as possible. After due time the Com- 
 mittee made the following report : 
 
 " Whereas, From the communication of the Presby- 
 tery of Union, it appears that John Gloucester has been 
 for some time under the care of the Presbytery of Union, 
 that in the opinion of Presbytery he possesses promis- 
 ing talents and eminent piety ; that he has been for seve- 
 ral years engaged in the study of literature and theology, 
 but has not yet obtained all the literary qualifications 
 required in candidates for licensure. and if he were 
 licensed there is much reason to believe he might be 
 highly useful in preaching the Gospel among his own 
 people ; and Whereas, said Presbytery requests the ad- 
 vice of the General Assembly, therefore 
 
 " Resolved, That the General Assembly, considering 
 the circumstances of the particular base, viz., the evi- 
 dence of unusual talents, discretion, and piety, possessed 
 by John Gloucester, the good reason there is to believe 
 that he may be highly useful in preaching the Gospel 
 among people of his own color, and the various difficul- 
 ties likely to attend a further delay in proceeding in this 
 
[ 22 ] 
 
 case, the General Asjembly did and hereby do author- 
 ize the Presbytery of Philadelphia to consider the case 
 of John Gloucester, and if they think proper, to license 
 him to preach the Gospel." Extr. Min. 1807, pp. 381, 
 387. 
 
 The communication from the Presbytery of Union 
 (Tennessee), that elicited the above action of the Gene- 
 ral Assembly, as deduced from the resolution of the 
 General Assembly, may not be unimportant, as it shows 
 clearly the reasonableness of the action of the Assem- 
 bly under the circumstances, and will go far to recom- 
 mend to the favorable notice of the general reader, the 
 character of Mr. Gloucester. 
 
 It will not be out of place here, to bring before the 
 reader the action of the Philadelphia Presbytery, sitting 
 in the second Presbyterian Church, in the City of Phil- 
 adelphia, July 7, 1807, the following members of Pres- 
 bytery being present: Dr. Wm. Tennant, Archibald 
 Alexander, George C. Potts, Jacob T. Janeway, and 
 James P. Wilson, Ministers; Messrs. Benjamin Weeks, 
 Hugh Henry, and John Harris, Elders. The Presby- 
 tery having ascertained that this meeting was agreeable 
 to constitutional rules, summoned with a view to take 
 into consideration the case of John Gloucester, referred 
 to them by the last General Assembly, chose Mr. Alex- 
 ander for Moderator, and Mr. Janeway for Clerk. 
 
 The case was then taken into consideration, when, 
 after reading the document laid before the Presbytery 
 relative to Mr. Gloucester, and having maturely delib- 
 erated on the circumstances in his case, the Presbytery 
 were of opinion that as he has been educated under care 
 of the Presbytery of Union, and as they are fully com- 
 petent to decide on his case, and will be able to decide 
 with more understanding than this Presbytery could 
 
[ 23 ] 
 
 without having more time than his circumstances will 
 allow, it was, on motion, Resolved, Not to take said 
 John Gloucester on trial with a view to licensure. Or- 
 dered, that the stated clerk furnish Mr. Gloucester with 
 a copy of the above minute. 
 
 This seeming discouragement did not, however, cool 
 the ardor of Mr. Gloucester's zeal, or determination to 
 labor for the salvation of souls. He understood the mo- 
 tive of this presbyterial course was to put the case where 
 it properly belonged, and that in view of all the facts in 
 his peculiar case, it was the proper course. He at once 
 yielded to the decision of Presbytery, and returned to 
 Tennessee, within the bounds of his Presbytery, and 
 awaited their action. Here we may gather a reflection, 
 and at once decide that there was an excellent spirit in 
 the man; there was a patience and resignation that 
 would grace the character of any professing Christian. 
 
 It will be perceived that the action of the Philadel- 
 phia Presbytery was on July 7, 1807, and on April 16, 
 1811, the Philadelphia Presbytery, sitting in Philadel- 
 phia, in the Second Presbyterian Church, Dr. Alexander, 
 Moderator, we obtain the following information : 
 
 " The testimonials of Rev. John Gloucester were exhibited to Presby- 
 tery, and ordered to be recorded on the minutes, as follows : 
 
 ''Extract of a minute of the Presbytery of Union (Tennessee), Ba- 
 ker's Creek, April 30, 1810. Immediately after the ordination sermon, 
 Mr. Gloucester having satisfactorily answered the questions usually put 
 to candidates on such occasions, the Presbytery proceeded to set apart, 
 and did solemnly ordain the said John Gloucester, by prayer and the 
 laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. The right hand of fellow- 
 ship being duly given, and he solemnly charged to the faithful discharge 
 of his duty, he was ordered as soon as possible to repair to the City of 
 Philadelphia, and directed to join the Presbytery of that city, whereby 
 he is recommended as a man of fair morals and upright conduct, both 
 
[ 24 ] 
 
 as a man, a Christian, and a minister, and is recommended to the faith- 
 ful care and Christian attention of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. 
 
 GIDEON BLACKBURN, Moderator. 
 JOSEPH B. LAPSLEY, Clerk. 
 " Dated May 1st, 1810." 
 
 Whereupon, the Presbytery of Philadelphia 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. Gloucester be and he is hereby 
 received as a member of this Presbytery. 
 
 It is not to be understood that, during this time, 
 the interesting effort of organizing the church was in 
 any way abated or suffered to flag for the want of care 
 or attention from friends favorable to the movement. 
 In the proper place I shall show that during the time 
 that intervened between the action of the two Presby- 
 teries and the ordination of Mr. Gloucester, he riot 
 only labored himself, assisted by the ministers of the 
 Presbytery, but that the infant church was raised, or- 
 ganized, and progressing very encouragingly. I make 
 this digression from the regular record of proceeding in 
 the course of a history, from the fact that this case of 
 Mr. Gloucester, from its peculiarity, warrants it. His 
 peculiar condition prevents me from a regularity in re- 
 cording much of his history, and the state of things at 
 that early time in relation to him, prevented the Pres- 
 byteries from acting as they would in ordinary cases 
 coming before them ; hence the seeming discrepancies 
 that appear in the narrative. In view of keeping this 
 record clear, I must refer back to Mr. Gloucester's case 
 from the time that it was first brought before the Gene- 
 ral Assembly, in 1807, and sitting, as I have shown, in 
 Lexington, Kentucky. 
 
 In several of the general assemblies it was a matter 
 of considerable interest to many of the members as it 
 regards the religious training of colored people ; it was 
 
[ 25 ] 
 
 most generally conceded that it should be done through 
 missionary effort. To this end, a Mr. John Chavis, a 
 colored man, was brought to the notice of the assembly, 
 and recommended as a man of good literary acquire- 
 ments ; he was subsequently received, licensed, and 
 ordained. This was in the year 1801. {Gen. Assembly 
 Digest, page 206.) Mr. Alexander sought to obtain his 
 service for Philadelphia, but failed. Lexington claimed 
 and obtained his service to labor within their bounds. 
 
 The General Assembly sitting in Lexington, Kentucky, 
 in 1807, John Gloucester was recommended to the Assem- 
 bly, by the Presbytery of Union Synod of Tennessee, as 
 a candidate for licensure to labor as a missionary among 
 colored people. Dr. Alexander at once seized upon the 
 circumstance as a favorable opportunity of securing the 
 services of Mr. Gloucester in forwarding and carrying 
 out his long cherished desire of raising up a church in 
 Philadelphia. He lost no time in communicating with 
 Dr. Blackburn, the owner of Mr. Gloucester, who at 
 once acceded to the proposal, and consented that Mr. 
 Gloucester should, as the incipient step to his future 
 labors, visit Philadelphia as soon as possible. 
 
 Accordingly, Dr. Blackburn, attended by Mr. Glou- 
 cester, arrived in Philadelphia immediately after the 
 rise of the General Assembly. Drs. Alexander and 
 Green were not long arriving at a conclusion in view of 
 so favorable an opportunity. 
 
 As the Evangelical Society (which will be noticed 
 more particularly hereafter) had taken, or adopted 
 measures for organizing the colored people into a Pres- 
 byterian Church, Dr. Alexander proposed to Dr. Black- 
 burn, that Mr. Gloucester be employed by the Evangelical 
 Society to labor as a missionary among the colored people. 
 I am credibly informed by a gentleman conversant with 
 
[ 26 ] 
 
 the facts, and who is one of the very few remaining who 
 remember the doings of those early times, that Drs. 
 Green, Janeway, Potts, and Alexander, together with 
 Messrs. McMullin, Markoe, and Ralston, joined their 
 earnest importunities in favor of obtaining the services 
 of Mr. Gloucester. To these importunities Dr. Black- 
 burn yielded, relinquishing, on his part, all pay or 
 emolument from any labor that Mr. Gloucester might 
 perform as a missionary among the people, and freeing 
 him at the same time from " any service or labor which 
 to him (Dr. Blackburn) may be due." Mr. Gloucester 
 was not long in Philadelphia before a wide door was 
 opened unto him for preaching the Word of life to many 
 anxious people ; he, too, was not long deciding upon his 
 proper course of action ; he saw the field white for the 
 harvest, and few laborers therein ; looking to God, he 
 stripped himself for the work, and cheerfully entered 
 upon his duties. He first commenced his missionary 
 efforts by preaching in private houses ; but such were the 
 number of people that attended his ministry, that in a 
 very short time no private house could be found to con- 
 tain the people that flocked to hear him expound God's 
 Word. It was very evident that the time had come 
 when it must be said This place is too narrow for us. 
 The result of this success led to street preaching. He 
 notified the people that, at least in clear weather, he 
 should preach at the corner of Seventh and Shippen 
 Streets; and, when the weather was not favorable, he 
 had obtained the use of a school-house near by. To 
 these places his hearers resorted, and there each con- 
 secutive Sabbath, this devoted servant of God preached 
 the Gospel 'to a large number of serious hearers. 
 Through these meetings this branch of Christ's Church 
 was gathered, and, from the most reliable information 
 
[27 ] 
 
 derived from one who was interested in raising this 
 church, did Drs. Alexander and Green, assisted by other 
 friends of the cause, in the latter part of May, 1807, 
 organize this church to be known and distinguished as 
 the First African Presbyterian Church, and as such was 
 received by the Assembly's Committee on Missions, and, 
 as in other cases, provision made and provided accord- 
 ingly. 
 
 From this time, Mr. Gloucester had to labor almost 
 alone in this arduous work. Nor are we to understand 
 that he was without opposition it would be an anomaly 
 in Christian enterprise sectarian bigotry is the same 
 bitter, malignant enemy to all that is not of its cast, and 
 knows no change. Like its father, the devil, it goes 
 about, seeking whom it may devour. And not only in 
 that particular respect, but, as it were, he had princi- 
 palities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high 
 places to contend against. There were influences brought 
 to bear directly upon him that were intended to crush 
 in the bud the least appearance of establishing a Pres- 
 byterian church. It can be seen that Mr. Gloucester 
 did not have a free wind and full tide to waft him gently 
 onwards; but otherwise, there were those around him 
 who professedly were friendly, and seemingly much in- 
 terested in his welfare, but whose real designs were 
 selfish and mean, and who persuaded him that it was a 
 waste of time for him to attempt, in Philadelphia, to 
 raise a Presbyterian church, that the people in heart 
 were Methodist, and would finally all be received into 
 Methodist churches. 
 
 With many, the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church 
 were in bad odor, and they failed not to make capital of 
 it ; others were " careful for none of these things." So 
 it can be perceived that it required a man of no ordinary 
 
[ 28 ] 
 
 nerve and large share of the grace of God in his heart 
 to battle with and overcome these opposing forces. Mr. 
 Gloucester was the man for the occasion and the time ; 
 opposition could never deter him from duty ; if God was 
 for him, he cared not who was against him ; in Christ 
 lay all his strength and hope of success. Naturally, he 
 was of a strong mind, as well as of stout, athletic frame, 
 with a voice the deep tones of which fell powerfully on 
 the ear he preached the Word. He was also a very 
 sweet singer, and it is said of him that such was the 
 melody and rich tones of his voice that, whenever he 
 sang, a volume of music would roll from his mouth, 
 charming and enchaining, as by a spell, the listening 
 audience, and holding them in sweet suspense until he 
 would cease to sing, when the spell would be broken and 
 the people relieved, determined upon the first occasion 
 to return and enjoy the labors of this devoted man as he 
 broke unto them the bread of life, and sang again ano- 
 ther of those songs of Zion. In prayer he was mighty ; 
 such was the fervor and energy, such his wrestling 
 when engaged, that souls have fallen under its power, 
 deeply convicted of sin. An anecdote is related of him, 
 soon after his arrival in Philadelphia, that ought not to 
 be lost. I will take this opportunity of relating it : 
 
 Mr. Gloucester boarded with a man whose name was 
 Jacob Craig, and whose wife was a very pious woman, 
 and who attended the ministry of Mr. Gloucester in his 
 open air preaching. Mr. Craig was a sailmaker by 
 occupation, but at the same time was a great fiddler, 
 and being such, was a source of unhappiness to his wife. 
 After his daily toil was over, and Mr. Jacob Craig be- 
 came somewhat rested, he would invariably wile away 
 the evening by playing his fiddle, to the annoyance of 
 his wife. Jacob was not like Jacob of old; he knew 
 
[ 29 ] 
 
 more of his fiddle than of his God, and perhaps loved it 
 more. Things went on this way nntil Mr. Gloucester 
 proposed to Sister Craig that they should hold a series 
 of prayer meetings at her house. It was accepted, and 
 Mr. Jacob Craig was duly informed. At first he objected, 
 but his wife, true as steel to her purpose and faithful to 
 her God, pressed her cause so earnestly to her husband 
 that he consented, determined, however, to hire a room 
 adjoining the prayer meeting, and so annoy them by 
 continuing to play his fiddle. This he put into practice, 
 so that whilst there was praying in one apartment, there 
 was Mr. Craig fiddling in the other. Here there was a 
 difficulty as to who should yield in this. Mr. Glouces- 
 ter's advice was sought. He replied, that for his part he 
 was contented to remain where he was ; it was an open 
 field and a fair fight, and that was all he asked. From 
 that decision there was no appeal God approved it. In 
 a few nights after, there was no sound of a fiddle heard. 
 A few evenings after, Mr. Jacot^Draig came home and 
 attended, for the first time, the prayer meeting ; he had 
 given up the room and stopped playing ; a very little while 
 after he was seen to weep, then heard to exclaim : " God 
 have mercy on me, a poor miserable man." The battle 
 was fought the prize was won ; the Lord had mercy 
 on the man he was converted, and afterwards set apart 
 as an elder in Seventh Street Church, under Mr. Glou- 
 cester, through whose instrumentality he was brought 
 into the fold of Christ, and into the marvellous light and 
 liberty of His children, and continued in the Church a 
 pious, devoted, and faithful Christian until the day of 
 his death, and we hope has entered into that rest that 
 remains for the people of God. 
 
 Of Mr. Gloucester's early history very little is known ; 
 this is not surprising, considering the peculiarity of his 
 
[ 30 ] 
 
 condition, being once a slave, but having been converted 
 to God under the preaching of Dr. Blackburn, and evi- 
 dencing after that such piety and devotion, that Dr. 
 Blackburn, struck with the excellency of the man, and 
 the intelligence of one in his condition, he was induced 
 to purchase him, it is said, and we have every reason to 
 believe the assertion true, that Dr. Blackburn took par- 
 ticular pains to educate Mr. Gloucester, and so prepare 
 and qualify him as a minister of the Gospel. In this 
 respect Dr. Blackburn deserves all credit, for Mr. Glou- 
 cester was indeed a " workman that needed not to be 
 ashamed," for he knew well how to divide the Word of 
 life, giving to each his portion in due season. This no 
 doubt accounts for the number of persons that waited 
 or attended upon his ministry and it is a fact that his 
 deep piety and earnest devotion to his calling made 
 him very many friends from among the rich and influ- 
 ential citizens of Philadelphia; he not only had the 
 warm and abiding friendship of such men as Drs. 
 Alexander, Green, Janeway and Potts, and the mem- 
 bers of the Presbyterian churches then in Philadelphia, 
 but Dr. Rush, the world-wide known philanthropist of 
 Philadelphia, was almost a regular attendant wherever 
 he preached, and many other citizens of influence were 
 frequent visitors upon his stated ministry. Messrs. 
 McMullin, Markoe, Ralston, Jenkins, Sawyer, and 
 lady, encouraged his heart and strengthened his hands, 
 and by their presence and support under God lightened 
 his labors and cheered him in his duties. The various 
 Presbyterian churches in the city were also interested 
 in his favor, and took a deep interest in his efforts to 
 raise this church. 
 
 Mr. Gloucester was also diligent in his calling, and 
 of fervent spirit necessary qualities for a minister of 
 
[ 31 ] 
 
 Jesus, who, like his master, would leave his footprints 
 on time, and his impressions on the world the laborer 
 in the field must work if he would glean the harvest 
 he must, like the racer, stretch every nerve to reach the 
 goal if he would win the prize and take the crown so 
 thought this humble servant of the Most High. He 
 lost no time whatever; to wear out was his motto, to 
 rust out never. He knew, as he often said, his days 
 were few, and he would spend them to the best advan- 
 tage and to the glory of his God. He had a presenti- 
 ment that his day was well spent, and the night of his 
 death was at hand. Thus we find him only living 
 to live again in regions of light, life, and immortality 
 beyond this vale of tears, this land of suffering and toil. 
 It is said by one of the remaining few left from those 
 long years long fled in the past, that each succeeding 
 Sabbath as early as 6 o'clock in the morning would Mr. 
 Gloucester come and stand at the corner of Seventh and 
 Shippen Sts., and there, by a hymn of praise which few 
 could sing so sweetly as he, draw together a large con- 
 course of people ; then, taking advantage of the circum- 
 stance, would take some passage of Scripture and preach 
 the Word of life to the people ; and such was the moral 
 influence acting upon the minds of the persons keeping 
 dram shops in the neighborhood for the sale of that 
 soul and body destroying agent, ardent spirits, that 
 they would not open their groggeries until meeting, as 
 they called it, was over, and Mr. Gloucester retired. I 
 do not presume too much when I say that from the time 
 he first commenced his labors in Philadelphia to the 
 time when that fell destroyer of ministers, consumption, 
 laid hold upon his vitals, and which terminated his 
 useful life on the 2d May, in the year 1822, he 
 labored with the same zeal and diligence as made him 
 
[ 32] 
 
 the ever faithful pastor. As it regarded his manner of 
 preaching it was remarkable. He abounded in anec- 
 dotes, for he was a close observer of everything that 
 was transpiring around him, and having travelled ex- 
 tensively and gathered much information therefrom, 
 he could illustrate his subjects to the comprehension of 
 all classes of his hearers from things seen, and, like his 
 great teacher the Lord Jesus, whose life and example 
 he sought to imitate, he had the peculiar faculty of 
 drawing abundantly from the book of nature a variety 
 of subjects, and adapting and applying them to some 
 text of Scripture so easily comprehended as to give a 
 point and edge to his subject that convinced and cut 
 into the consciences of sinners, convincing them of 
 the truth of God's Word. His manner was bold, his 
 voice clear and loud. In his invitations to the trembling 
 mourner and earnest inquirer he was interestingly mild 
 and inviting ; but to the careless sinner, in his denun- 
 ciations he was terrible. The flashes of his eye, in con- 
 trast with his tall, commanding and noble figure, his 
 gestures at the same time giving a cast to his earnest- 
 ness of soul, at once struck and awed the most way- 
 ward and inconsiderate ; it has been said of him " he 
 was wise to win souls." 
 
 Mr. Gloucester was not only a faithful man in his pulpit, 
 but out of it; he visited extensively among his people, not 
 only among his own followers or members, but wherever 
 he could find access. The poor, the lowly, the outcast 
 found in him an adviser, a friend. In this he was the 
 reformer as well as the Gospel minister. He became, so 
 to speak, all things unto all men, that by all means he 
 might save some. He had the peculiar gift of entering into 
 the feelings of the people. If he saw anything wrong 
 among the families he visited, in their domestic matters 
 
[ 33 ] 
 
 Whether it was in person for the want of care and 
 attention to cleanliness to? never failed to impress upon 
 them how necessary, in order to health and respectability, 
 this necessary observance. If they were careless of 
 their children, not training them properly and taking 
 care to keep them in becoming attire, and sending them 
 to school regularly and punctually to time, he would 
 never leave that house until he had given a lecture upon 
 parental duties to children ; and so wherever he went he 
 instructed the people on moral training, and preached 
 to them the Gospel of the Son of God. " In labors there- 
 fore he was abundant." I will take occasion here to 
 remark that Mr. Gloucester during his life, and in the 
 discharge of his pastoral duties over the Church, kept a 
 day school for the education of children, and in which 
 department of labor he took considerable delight. It 
 was not to him the least interesting part of his duties, 
 for he was fond of children, a peculiarity by no means 
 discreditable to him. From it in connection with the 
 Sabbath school a nursery was in training wherein was 
 to be reared trees of righteousness that in God's own 
 time were to bloom in the garden of the Lord, and 
 be established in the mountains of his house. 
 
 What an auxiliary, also, to the Sabbath School. 
 Many now living can attest, that through this school 
 they were brought under the direct training of the min- 
 ister. So it can be perceived, in this case, that being 
 taught each day, they became habituated to his instruc- 
 tions, in his manner and mode ; thus, in a large majority 
 of cases, pupils learn to reverence and honor the teacher. 
 By this course there is laid up in the youthful mind the 
 buddings of future confidence and respect, that time nor 
 influence can never completely eradicate, but will more 
 or less exert a beneficial control over the conduct of the 
 3 
 
[ 34] 
 
 mature man ; and besides this, the early impressions of 
 youth linger around the memory, and delight to cluster 
 in old age the memories of its youth ; hence our paren- 
 tal love, our strong affection for early friends, and so far 
 are we influenced by it, that even inanimate objects have 
 a degree of importance and regard attached to them ; 
 whether it be a stone by the wayside, or an old oak tree, 
 are memory's treasures dear and precious. For our 
 Christian teachers this is remarkably true, children ever 
 retain for their instructors a regard little short of pa- 
 rental affection; hence the veneration that the young 
 entertained for Mr. Gloucester. 
 
 I once before intimated, that during Mr. Gloucester's 
 ministry, he was not without his troubles. I will take 
 the occasion now, however, to say that he had the pecu- 
 liar trait or tact of restraining within bounds the turbu- 
 lent dispositions of men, controlling within proper limits 
 those unnatural flashes that sometimes gleam out of re- 
 ligious assemblies in murmurings and complaints. In 
 this peculiar quality he was fortunate. His situation 
 \vas a trying one, particularly when we consider that his 
 congregation was a mixed one, made up of some who 
 had come from other churches, each holding more or 
 less peculiar views of his own, others from a convic- 
 tion of duty to God and the exceeding sinfulness of sin ; 
 these were from the world, snatched from the very jaws 
 of the lion ; still they were unacquainted with govern- 
 ment, and had to be broken in to the rule and order of 
 the church. In a new organization such as the one I 
 am now treating on, there cannot be much wonder that 
 discordant elements among them should exist, and it can 
 be seen, also, that no small amount of wisdom and pru- 
 dence, as well as grace, is required to govern and guide 
 a congregation thus constituted ; still it is true, that if 
 
[ 35 ] 
 
 men would consult God's will and word, more than they 
 do their own predilections and passions, none of these 
 things could possibly exist. 
 
 Another view of Mr. Gloucester's history may not be 
 uninteresting, upon which I will direct attention. Mr. 
 Gloucester had considerable labor to undergo during his 
 brief ministerial career: not only the care and burden of 
 the Church, not only the hopes of the people confiding 
 in him filled his heart and soul with much anxiety, but 
 there was his wife and four children in slavery ; it was 
 not possible for him to rest quiet and at ease under such 
 a circumstance as that ! O no, these must be redeemed 
 from bondage, and hence we account for the reason why 
 it was that he was so often absent from his Church and 
 Presbytery. 
 
 He travelled extensively in the States of the Union, 
 in nearly every principal city north and south, raising 
 collections or contributions in order to purchase the 
 freedom of his family, and he met with kind friends who 
 afforded him every assistance, and so near his heart did 
 this matter lie, and to such an extent did it excite him, 
 that when he found that all the means necessary for the 
 redemption of his wife and children could not be ob- 
 tained in the United States, he crossed the ocean and 
 landed in England, and plead for money to buy his 
 family. He was successful, and returned to America, 
 purchased them, rejoiced to have them free, to call them 
 his, to see them settled in Philadelphia, happy and 
 cheerful, and then to give himself again to the labors 
 of the ministry in building up the church: surely, like 
 the great Apostle to the Gentiles, "HI labors he was 
 abundant," and in comparison to many ministers, he 
 " labored more abundantly than they." Contemplating 
 him from this standpoint, I might ask did he not de- 
 
serve the respect as well as sympathy of every Christian 
 and enlightened heart ? and he possessed it, and I am 
 pleased to record that many were the testimonials he 
 received from such. Among the many that might be 
 inserted in this biography of him, I will take the liber- 
 ty of asserting, that the success attending his efforts 
 to obtain the freedom of his family, in Europe and the 
 United States, is unmistakable proof of a deep and 
 abiding sympathy in his favor. 
 
 In closing this brief history of Mr. Gloucester, I must 
 not permit to escape the notice of an instance of deep 
 concern felt for him by a lady of Philadelphia, a mem- 
 ber of the Society of Friends, and which, if duly con- 
 sidered, will go very far" to show that his labors were not 
 only approved, but a decided mark was made on the 
 public mind, through the course pursued by him in his 
 instructions to his people. The letter herein inserted 
 is from Mrs. Grace Douglass, the wife of Mr. Robert 
 Douglass, one of the original founders of the Church so 
 frequently alluded to in this history. The letter was 
 written to Rev. John Gloucester when in Europe. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 28th, 1819. 
 
 DEAR FRIEND : Being in meeting this morning, I felt a little ex- 
 ercised that I might be useful in promoting the glory of our Master 
 and the good of my fellow-creatures. The professing part of your 
 congregation in particular, seemed to be upon my mind, and Oh, 
 thought 1, if they would be persuaded to try a little of my experi- 
 ence it might do them good in a temporal way, as I do not feel quali- 
 fied in spiritual things. It has been said by our enemies among the 
 whiles, that it is doing us harm to set us free : we cannot, say they, 
 maintain ourselves decently arid respectably. Some of them must 
 manage for us. To. prove which, they bid us look around and see 
 the many poor distressed objects of our color with which this city 
 abounds, where we have every encouragement to do well for ourselves 
 overlooking the manner in which most of us have been brought up. 
 Very many, in great families where they live on the best, dress in the 
 
[ 37 ] 
 
 finest and most fashionable clothing. They have had everything pro- 
 vided for the body without their thought or care. Man being an 
 imitative animal, of course they carry these customs into their own 
 families. They work hard, therefore they have money to spend, and 
 must enjoy it in the way they have seen others do. And they are 
 apt, too, to think they have a right to do so, as they have worked for it. 
 When I was first married I found myself precisely in this way. We 
 had our parties and tea-drinkings ; we must have the best wine and 
 the best cake ; our friends had it and we must give them the same 
 they gave us, or be considered mean. But when it pleased the Lord 
 to open my eyes, these things became a burden to me. I remembered 
 He had said " When thou makest a feast call in the poor, the lame 
 and the blind, those who cannot bid thee again. n When I became 
 more engaged to follow Christ I remembered that when on earth, he 
 went about doing good. I thought I would assist the poor too if I 
 had the means some people had, but I have no more than I want my- 
 self; how can /help the poor? Then it occurred to me that Christ 
 lived a self-denying life, and I began to think how I might deny 
 myself, take up the cross and follow him, when dress presented itself 
 to my view. Now a pair of morocco shoes cost one dollar and 50 cts. : 
 a pair of leather will do just as well, and I shall have 50 cts. for the 
 poor. A fine muslin dress costs five dollars : I can buy a very good 
 calico one for three, and have two dollars to spare. I reasoned in this 
 manner till my dress was reduced to the standard which you see. I 
 wore a plain straw bonnet with a white ribbon. The ribbon often soiled 
 and required to be changed. I thought if I wore a plain silk one the 
 strings will last as long as the bonnet, and here will be something saved. 
 
 These things were very trifling in themselves, but oh ! the peace of 
 mind and the liberty I gained by it more than doubly compensated 
 me for the mortification I at first endured in seeing others who could 
 not afford it so well, better dressed than myself. I could now go to 
 meeting let the weather be as it would, I was not afraid of spoiling 
 my shoes or any part of my dress. I no longer felt disturbed as to 
 whether my appearance was better than my neighbor or not, and I 
 always had something for the poor. 
 
 Now, dear friend, if you please, read this in one of your select 
 meetings to those dear professing friends of yours, and beg them to 
 try my plan for one year, and I think they cannot fail to be much 
 benefited by it. 
 
 I remain your friend with 
 
 much regard, 
 
 GRACE DOUGLASS. 
 
[ 38 ] 
 
 The design of Mrs. Douglass becomes very evident 
 when we reflect upon all the circumstances by which 
 Mr. Gloucester and his people were surrounded, for it 
 must be observed that their labors to establish and build 
 up the Church, to redeem from bondage his family, re- 
 quired no small amount of anxiety on their part; but the 
 assistance of kind friends whether it be in a pecuniary 
 way, or which, in some cases, may be as valuable the 
 counsel and suggestions of those whose mature judg- 
 ment and observation qualify them to render advice 
 wholesome and good. In this instance, surely, it was a 
 very opportune time in this Christian lady to interpose 
 her advice, gathered from close observation of things 
 around her as they existed. Evidently it was a time to 
 retrench every indulgence, whether of dress, eating, 
 pleasures of any kind, save those where some practical 
 good would ensue, in favor of their efforts. Of Mr. 
 Gloucester's subsequent labors in the Church, I have 
 not much to record. His failing health, which for some 
 time gave unmistakable evidence that his day of pilgrim- 
 age was wellnigh spent, gave no small uneasiness to his 
 flock and anxiety to friends. Consumption had settled 
 fairly upon him, and making a wreck of the once strong 
 man. It was a heart-rending sight to behold the faithful 
 venerable pastor, wasting away gradually but surely for 
 the tomb ; it was crushing to behold him, in the strength 
 of manhood, weakened and wasted away by the destroyer, 
 and no possibility of escape. To him, however, it was 
 a very little matter to decay and die ; but his anxiety 
 lay in another direction it was towards his Church 
 the people, the object of all his anxieties, these lay near 
 his heart ; to them, during the latter part of his life, he 
 gave the remaining energies of his mind, without much 
 regard to anything else ; hence his petition to his pres- 
 
[ 39 ] 
 
 bytery on the 27th June, 1820, stating his weakened 
 condition and failing health, and requesting supplies for 
 the pulpit, and also, knowing that the day of his stay on 
 earth was wellnigh over, why, one year before he died, 
 he took the occasion to address a letter to presbytery, 
 dated April 18, 1821, recommending his son Jere- 
 miah as a candidate for the Gospel ministry. Previous 
 to this, however, Mr. Gloucester, through the concur- 
 rence of the Church, had brought forward Samuel Cor- 
 nish and Benjamin Hughes to presbytery, to be received 
 under their care as candidates for the ministry; and, 
 from what I have gathered from the Minutes of Presby- 
 tery, these young men sustained themselves creditably 
 in the parts of trial assigned them by presbytery, from 
 time to time as they were examined. In this, also, Mr. 
 Gloucester's qualities for perception were conspicuous. 
 It will be perceived that his vision was not circumscribed 
 within the narrow limits of his own immediate wants or 
 interests ; he was, as I have once before stated, a man of 
 extensive observation ; he threw his furtive glance far 
 away into the future, and contemplated the Presbyterian 
 Church, in the States of the Union, rising in the distance 
 as in miniature, and still later looming up in greater 
 magnitude, until he fully recognized its swelling propor- 
 tions, from every point of view, spreading out and ex- 
 tending itself far and wide. Hence, as can easily be 
 perceived, he took the timely precaution to have pre- 
 pared the proper material in these young candidates for 
 the ministry, in due time to supply the growing wants 
 of these rising churches ; and it is mainly to him and 
 to this First African Presbyterian Church that the now 
 respectable number of Presbyterian churches in this 
 land are supplied with ministers. 
 
 During the fifteen years of Mr. Gloucester's ministry, 
 
[ 40 ] 
 
 the Church increased rapidly in numbers this can be 
 seen from the increase reckoning from the number of 
 those admitted to the Communion of the Lord's table 
 immediately after the people were organized into a 
 church the number admitted on the occasion being 
 twenty-two ; at the time of his death they numbered 
 over three hundred communicant members surely this 
 was an encouraging feature of his labors. 
 
 There were, during his ministry, six elders in the 
 Church, to wit : Messrs. James Prosser, Cato Freeman, 
 Quammany Clarkson, Peter McNeal, Jacob Craig, and 
 Francis Webb. Of this band of faithful men, every one 
 of them have passed away for God took them only 
 one remains, and that one is Mr. James Prosser, the first 
 acting elder appointed by the people and pastor at the 
 rise of the Church ; and, is it not also a singular fact that 
 of the ministers of the Presbytery who took an interest 
 in the rise and organization of the Church, consisting of 
 Rev'ds Ashbel Green, Archibald Alexander, J. Janeway, 
 and George C. Potts, not one remain until this day ex- 
 cept Dr. Jacob J. Janeway : all the rest, we hope, have 
 entered into that rest that remains for the people of God. 
 And I add further, that of the elders that were engaged 
 in this .interesting work, consisting of Messrs. McMullin, 
 Markoe, Nassau, Ralston, and Capt. Moore, but one 
 remains alive now to tell us of the struggles of that early 
 time, and that one is Mr. William Nassau ; all the others 
 " do rest from their labors, and their works do follow 
 them," and how interesting must it be to these aged 
 brethren to wander back in their contemplations to these 
 early days, and draw to their minds the companions of 
 their youth the veteran followers of Jesus who so 
 devotedly gave themselves to the Lord, and labored so 
 earnestly in behalf of this Church. 
 
[ 41 ] 
 
 It pleased the great Head of the Church to remove 
 Mr. Gloucester from his earthly toils and labors, on the 
 2d day of May, 1822, in the 46th year of his age. This 
 solemn event was expected, from the known nature of 
 his disease, and though it shrouded the hearts of his 
 people and friends in mourning and sorrow, still they 
 were prepared for the sad announcement; in fact, he 
 himself, though feeble and weak, daily exhorted them 
 to resignation to the will of God. I need not inform 
 the reader of the gloom that his death cast over the 
 community where he was known, and he was extensively 
 known to the religious community ; they all felt that 
 not only a great man had fallen that day in Israel, but 
 a father, a light in the church, a shining light was ex- 
 tinguished. 
 
 His death was a peaceful one, full of hope ; it might, 
 perhaps, more properly be said that he fell asleep in 
 Jesus. Could it be otherwise] His life was Christ- 
 like, that was his life to be like Christ ; for this he lived, 
 for this he labored. I close the life of this devoted ser- 
 vant of God by a remark or two. That there were 
 other colored men in Philadelphia laboring for the reli- 
 gious elevation of their people, is known, but if there 
 ever was a man in Philadelphia of Mr. Gloucester's 
 position, whose upright and Christian walk and general 
 character, considered from every point of view, that won 
 for him the respect and esteem of the great and good 
 men of his day, that man was Mr. Gloucester. 
 
 His Christianity knew no partiality it was univer- 
 sal, embracing all mankind there was a sacred feeling 
 embedded in his devoted heart towards all God's chil- 
 dren, that was not confined to denominational distinc- 
 tions, much less sectarian bigotry: his constant teach- 
 ings to his flock were founded on God's universal law to 
 
[ 42] 
 
 man, " Love God, and your neighbor as yourself." This 
 universal law he carried out in his life and practice ; 
 this he handed down to posterity, and this law is to this 
 day observed by his church, and though for the main- 
 tenance of it the church be censured and proscribed by 
 those who would have them violate that universal law 
 of the Most High, yet are they content to follow in the 
 footsteps of their leader in the maintenance of it, until 
 they shall see some good reason why they should, by 
 any act of theirs, set up a separate and distinct organ- 
 ization, bounded by a distinction not at all warranted in 
 God's Word, nor yet even in a sound morality. Ac- 
 knowledged now, as in the days of Mr. Gloucester, as 
 one of the family of Presbyterians, this old church is 
 content to abide by the landmarks laid down by the 
 Apostles, and which we know is the only true principle 
 taught by the Saviour, the opinions of other persons to 
 the contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 THE RISE OF THE CHURCH, AND THE INSTRUMENTALITY 
 BY WHICH IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED. 
 
 I am under obligation to Mr. William Nassau, one of 
 the few surviving Christian men now alive of that constel- 
 lation of godly men who devoted their time and energies 
 in rearing the Church, for much of the information here- 
 in recorded. Mr. Nassau was an elder of the church of 
 which Dr. Alexander was pastor, at the time the effort 
 was made to establish the church. Also, to Mr. James 
 Prosser, the first elder elected under Mr. Gloucester, and 
 the only one living at present among the colored elders 
 that were engaged in the enterprise ; and to Mr. Samuel 
 
[ 43 ] 
 
 Bass, who, though not one of the original actors in the 
 work, yet may be regarded as one of the Fathers of the 
 Church, as he is one of the three survivors of that early 
 time who joined the church whilst yet in its infancy: 
 all the rest have departed this life, and I trust have 
 joined the Church triumphant above, and enjoy rest 
 from their labors. 
 
 In the year 1806 Rev. Archibald Alexander, D. D., 
 universally known as a ripe scholar and devoted servant 
 to the cause of his Saviour, was Pastor of the Third 
 Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. About this time 
 he recommended to his Christian brethren the formation 
 of an Institution in the city, to be comprised of all per- 
 sons desirous of advancing the interests of Christianity, 
 and in order to carry out the object to a practical pur- 
 pose, an institution was organized subsequently known 
 as the " Evangelical Society of Philadelphia." 
 
 At first but eight or nine persons responded to the 
 recommendation, and from this small number a very im- 
 portant institution was established, which, under the 
 approbation of the Most High, proved instrumental in 
 doing much good. But a short time had elapsed before 
 it was seen that this Society would be as a right arm to 
 the Presbyterian churches in the city and its vicinity ; 
 thereupon a large increase of ministers and laymen gave 
 their hearts and their influence to the objects of the So- 
 ciety, which insured success. 
 
 At this time there were but four Presbyterian 
 churches in the city, and if documents of that early 
 date can be relied upon, there were not over one thou- 
 sand communicant members of the Presbyterian Church 
 in all the city, yet it was no bar to the godly few to la- 
 bor for God. In this Dr. Alexander took the lead. He 
 recommended that the members of the Evangelical So- 
 
[ 44 ] 
 
 ciety form themselves into companies, and that each 
 company hold prayer meetings as best suited them as to 
 time and place ; to gather children wherever they could 
 be obtained, form them into classes, teach them the 
 truths of the Bible, assist them in every possible way by 
 storing their minds with useful Christian instruction, 
 such as committing to memory passages of Scripture, 
 selections of hymns, and sacred poetry. In this true 
 labor of love they were successful, and from what has 
 been known to result from this effort, we assume not 
 too much when we say that it was the future in embryo 
 of the Presbyterian churches in the city, and in many 
 places contiguous to it, and from which many precious 
 jewels of God have been brought into the fold of Christ, 
 who in their day were to fill up the waste places in 
 Zion, and, like their fathers, labor diligently in the vine- 
 yard of the Lord. 
 
 Among the objects brought before the Society by Dr. 
 Alexander, was the religious training of the colored 
 people. He pointed to them as special subjects of at- 
 tention from the Society. He regarded this class of the 
 community with deep interest. Surely it was Godlike 
 in him to look after these sheep of the house of Israel ; 
 it was a consideration worthy of him, and it was one 
 toward which he gave his powerful influence, and lent 
 the powers of his giant intellect. Considering the 
 times and the circumstances that then surrounded the 
 colored people, I would say it was a great undertaking ; 
 but Dr. Alexander was a great man. He did not stop 
 " to confer with flesh and blood" upon the matter ; he 
 saw his duty plain, and knowing it, he did it. His God 
 and his own large heart sustained him in his effort. 
 From his known interest toward the welfare of the 
 
[ 45 ] 
 
 colored people, Dr. Alexander has earned for himself the 
 name of a Christian philanthropist. Our church honors 
 him as its patron and advocate indeed, as its founder 
 and he will ever live in their memories as one of the no- 
 blest specimens of the Creator's production of a Chris- 
 tian and gentleman. I must by no means omit other 
 gentlemen who took similar views and entertained kin- 
 dred feelings with Dr. Alexander, in behalf of the 
 colored people. Prominently with him were Rev. Ash- 
 bel Green, D. D., who, to the latest period of his life, 
 always regarded this African Church (whose history I 
 am recording) with much interest, as will be seen when 
 I come to treat more particularly upon it. Dr. J. Jane- 
 way, likewise, with Rev. George Potts, regarded the re- 
 commendation and gave it their sanction. Of the laity, 
 Messrs. McMullin, Ralston, Markoe, and Nassau, accord- 
 ed to the views of Dr. Alexander, and were not slack in 
 their efforts to advance the measure ; and I am happy to 
 record among the advocates of our welfare, gentlemen 
 from other bodies of Christians. Messrs. Jenkins and 
 Sawyer, of the Baptist Church, and Dr. Benjamin Rush, 
 of the Society of Friends, gave their influence and sup- 
 port to it; in fact, with but a very few exceptions, not 
 by any means necessary now particularly to designate, 
 all the churches over which Drs. Alexander, Green, 
 Janeway, and Potts were pastors, encouraged them in 
 the affair and strengthened their hands particularly 
 the ladies of the first, second, third and fourth Presby- 
 terian Churches : it would prove an anomaly in this 
 case were it otherwise, for they are ever foremost in every 
 good work. 
 
 Whilst this subject was under consideration before 
 the Evangelical Society, and they were discussing the 
 
[ 46 ] 
 
 subject of forming in Philadelphia a colored Presby- 
 terian congregation, Dr. Gideon Blackburn, a Presby- 
 terian minister from Tennessee, arrived in the city with 
 his body servant or slave John Gloucester, as I have 
 once before shown. In regard, however, to this Church 
 of colored people, here was a favorable indication, to say 
 the least of it, and the friends of the movement did not 
 intend that it should slip by them without an effort to 
 secure it. They were determined to do something for 
 the religious benefit of the people. In this they were 
 of one mind and heart ; is it cause for wonder that they 
 were successful in securing from Dr. Blackburn the 
 services of Mr. Gloucester for this interesting field of 
 labor ? nay, in union there is strength, is a truth clear 
 as it is trite. The reader will pardon me for calling 
 attention to another fact not perhaps generally known 
 in order to show that Dr. Alexander and the friends 
 that acted with him in seeking to raise a Presbyterian 
 congregation among colored people pursued a justifi- 
 able course. 
 
 At this time (1806) Philadelphia contained a numer- 
 ous colored population. 
 
 Among this vast body of people at this time there were 
 in all the city and vicinity for miles but one Episcopal 
 church, under the rectorship of the -Rev. Absalom 
 Jones, a colored Episcopal clergyman ; and I will take 
 this occasion of saying that Mr. Jones was ever the 
 firm and abiding friend of Mr. Gloucester. That 
 church contained a membership of about one hundred 
 and fifty persons. Bethel and Zoar Churches, under the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, contained between them 
 about one thousand members, making in all about eleven 
 hundred and fifty colored communicant members. 
 
[ 47] 
 
 There were no other colored churches of other denomi- 
 nations. It can be seen at a glance that to raise up 
 and establish a Presbyterian Church in the city was a 
 movement as judicious as necessary x and wise as desir- 
 able; thus we may conceive them laboring to this end. 
 In the brief notice I have taken of Mr. Gloucester and 
 of his labors I called attention to the method at first 
 adopted of gathering up the people, by preaching and 
 holding prayer meetings in private houses, and often in 
 the street. These meetings, or, as they were more pro- 
 perly regarded, religious gatherings, were not without 
 interest, and to a considerable extent successful. Many 
 who were heretofore careless of their souls' spiritual well- 
 being were alarmed, and convicted under Mr. Glouces- 
 ter's preaching ; others were converted unto God under 
 the hammer of the Word as it fell from his lips. Not a 
 few connected with other churches were struck with 
 the intelligence of the man, and the power of his 
 preaching, the unction that attended his appeals, and 
 the ability with which he handled his subject, so 
 that in a comparatively short time, taking everything 
 into consideration, it became very evident that a favor- 
 able impression upon the minds of the people was being 
 made. The large number of persons that attended upon 
 his stated ministry, whether in the house, or in his 
 open-air meetings the deep attention paid to his dis- 
 course as being delivered, together with the healthy 
 influence he was creating all around him. are so 
 many points in proof that he was gaining rapidly, 
 into the good graces of the community, and working 
 himself into the affections of not a few. An offer 
 was made, and a very strong inducement held out to 
 Mr. Gloucester to relinquish his efforts of raising a 
 
[ 48 ] 
 
 Presbyterian Colored Church, and give the weight of 
 his influence, the energies of his mind in another di- 
 rection, and ample provision, &c., should be afforded 
 him ; but Mr. Gloucester was a man who could neither 
 be bought nor discouraged in his favorite plan of organ- 
 izing a Presbyterian Church. He was a Presbyterian 
 in principle, and could not be Arminian through policy ; 
 however others might act, and besides he had com- 
 menced a great work among the people, sustained and 
 upheld in it by godly and disinterested men, and having, 
 as he believed, the sanction of the Most High. He 
 would not, he could not come down from his work and 
 stoop to such paltry littleness as was proposed. From 
 that time to the day of his death I am informed no man 
 dare approach him with any such miserable offer. In 
 this attempt we conceive that there were some in the 
 community who were regarding this Presbyterian effort 
 with a jealous if not an evil eye. No doubt they saw 
 the impressions made through the labors of Mr. Glou- 
 cester, and hence the attempt to crush in the very bud 
 the entire thing. Some, no doubt, were like the Ephe- 
 sians at the preaching of Paul, conceiving, if he was 
 not checked, their gains would be gone, and would, did 
 they dare do it, stir up the whole city against him, see- 
 ing their " craft was in danger to be set at naught, &c." 
 In a brief period of time about twenty-two persons 
 were obtained from among the number that statedly 
 attended upon the ministry of Mr. Gloucester ; these 
 were nine women and thirteen men, all hopefully con- 
 verted to God, and with these he commenced his church 
 by organizing them as a Presbyterian body. This was 
 done, as near as we can arrive at the facts, about the lat- 
 ter part of May or early part of June in 1807. Mr. 
 
[ 49 ] 
 
 Gloucester did not labor -very long before there was a 
 still further increase to membership. 
 
 During the first three years of Mr. Gloucester's labors 
 in Philadelphia, he had very frequently to be absent in 
 order to prepare himself for examination and ordina- 
 tion, as will be seen in a subsequent part of this narra- 
 tive. During his absence, however, the wants of his 
 little flock were attended to by his abiding friends, Drs. 
 Alexander, Green, Janeway and Potts, one or the other 
 of these gentlemen would watch over them and find 
 time from their arduous labors to attend at least once a 
 day on each Sabbath to preach to the people. Some- 
 times they would have to do as did Mr. Gloucester, go 
 first to one place and then to another to meet the people 
 and dispense the word of life to them ; for at this time 
 there was no " foot of ground they could call their own, 
 nor cottage in this wilderness." They were without a 
 house of worship of their own, and consequently they 
 worshipped God wherever they could conveniently do 
 so. Sometimes it would be a large room in Gaskill 
 Street, at other times in the school-house in Seventh 
 Street, near where the church now stands; however, 
 wherever the people pitched their meeting in the ab- 
 sence of Mr. Gloucester, these benevolent Ministers of 
 Christ would be found, and God rewarded them for 
 their self-sacrificing spirit. 
 
 Such was the rapid increase at this time, 1809, that 
 it was soon found necessary to adopt some plan or mea- 
 sures whereby a piece of ground could be obtained, and 
 a house erected thereon, where the people could congre- 
 gate, and their increasing numbers accommodated; hence, 
 only two years after Mr. Gloucester entered upon his 
 labors in Philadelphia such was the success that followed 
 his efforts ; and, abundantly blessed by the Most High, 
 4 
 
[ 50 ] 
 
 that it was found necessary to make a strong effort to 
 secure a building. Consequently, on July 31, 1809, 
 the congregation appointed a committee to wait upon 
 the Evangelical Society, and confer upon some plan 
 whereby a house of worship could be secured. This 
 committee met the society, and made their business 
 known. With a promptness truly Christian the society 
 at once appointed a similar committee to meet the com- 
 mittee from the colored people on the subject. After 
 due consideration was had upon the matter, the com- 
 mittee from the Evangelical Society made to that body 
 so favorable a report that the society ordered the fol- 
 lowing address to be signed by the President and pub- 
 lished, and which I now insert not only because it may 
 be regarded as a relic of that early day of Presbyte- 
 rianism in Philadelphia, but of the excellent and Christ- 
 like spirit that it contains. 
 
 At a meeting of " The Evangelical Society of Phila- 
 delphia," held July 31st, 1809, the committee appointed 
 to confer with a committee from the people of color on 
 the subject of erecting a house of worship for their use, 
 made a report which was approved, and the following 
 address ordered to be signed by the President and pub- 
 lished. 
 
 TO THE PIOUS AND BENEVOLENT. 
 
 The attention of the pious and benevolent is now called to a con- 
 sideration of the condition of the people of color, in this city, as it 
 relates to the means of religious instruction. The population of this 
 description of people has of late become very numerous amongst us, 
 and is daily rapidly increasing. The education of most of them has 
 been extremely defective ; and many have come here with habits very 
 little compatible with the peace and good order of civil society. 
 Your officers of police, your guardians of the poor, your justices of 
 the peace, your criminal courts, your prisons and work-houses, can 
 
[ 51 ] 
 
 all attest, how much need there is of a reformation among the blacks 
 of this place. This degraded state of manners cannot justly be at- 
 tributed to any national inferiority, but must be entirely ascribed to 
 the circumstance of a great part of them having so lately emerged 
 from a state of abject slavery calculated to paralyze every noble faculty 
 of the mind, and extinguish every moral sentiment ; but every day 
 furnishes us with increasing evidence, that the African race is not 
 inferior to the inhabitants of the other quarters of the world, either 
 in the natural endowments of the understanding or the heart. 
 
 It cannot be denied that there are many exceptions to the general 
 remarks which have been made, respecting the degraded state of the 
 people of color in this place. It is well known and must afford 
 pleasure to every benevolent person, that there are some of them, 
 who, in respect to intellect and moral improvement, rank high among 
 their fellow citizens : but these are among the first to acknowledge 
 and deplore the wretched situation of a large porportion of the 
 people of color. And it deserves to be mentioned to their praise, 
 that they have lately instituted a society, the express object of which, 
 is to ameliorate the condition of their brethren according to the flesh, 
 by the suppression of vice and the communication of moral and re- 
 ligious instruction among them. And will not every friend of virtue 
 and good order among the whites, lend his aid in promoting this 
 good work? Are we not bound by every consideration, of justice, 
 of charity, of humanity, and of self-interest, to give our best assist- 
 ance towards civilizing and reforming this numerous and increasing 
 class of inhabitants ? And what means so effectual for this purpose 
 as the faithful preaching of the Gospel? The restraints of civil law 
 are acknowledged to be salutary and necessary, and the influence of 
 public opinion on the conduct of men is not to be despised ; but 
 after exhausting all our ingenuity in planning schemes of reforma- 
 tion, the preaching of the Gospel will maintain its importance, as the 
 most successful and only effectual means of producing radical refor- 
 mation among men. But in speaking of the good effects of the 
 Christian religion, it would be unpardonable to confine our viws to 
 the present world. Its chief praise, is, that it is " able to make men 
 wise unto salvation." Shall we, then, who profess "a religion whose 
 very essence is benevolence, be indifferent to the eternal salvation of 
 our fellow men ? Shall we suffer them to perish through " lack of 
 knowledge," when it is so much in our power to supply them with 
 the means of instruction ? And that too when we have been acces- 
 sary, as a people, in bringing them into their present wretched situa- 
 
[ 52 ] 
 
 tion. The injury which has been done to this race of people by 
 tearing them away from their friends and native country, and subject- 
 ing them and their posterity to a heavy yoke of bondage, cannot now 
 be fully repaired ; but that which was originally a crime of the most 
 crying injustice and oppression, may, under the direction of a gra- 
 cious Providence, prove eventually to be a blessing of the first mag- 
 nitude, by bringing them in reach of the Gospel of Christ. But let 
 us as far as it can be done, by acts of benevolence and charity to these 
 people, wipe away the stain of our injustice ; or at least obliterate 
 the remembrance of it. 
 
 There are already, it is true, several African churches occupied by 
 different denominations ; but these are by no means sufficient for the 
 accommodation of the thousands of people of color who now inhabit 
 this city. It is believed, after some examination of the subject, that 
 more than one-half of them are in no connection with any religious 
 society, and seldom attend any place of public worship. 
 
 Besides, there are many, who, from education or principle, are at- 
 tached to the Presbyterian Church. These find it to be inconvenient 
 and unpleasant, for reasons which need not now be stated, to attend 
 the houses of worship frequented by the white people. They are 
 anxious to form a Presbyterian congregation among themselves, and 
 they ought to be assisted and encouraged (particularly by those who 
 are connected with that denomination), to carry their wishes into effect. 
 And now a most favorable opportunity for accomplishing this object 
 has occurred, which if suffered to pass without improvement, may not 
 soon return. There is at this time in Philadelphia, a man of color, 
 who is a licensed preacher of the Presbyterian Church, and has been 
 employed by the committee of missions, to labor for some time among 
 thB blacks of this place. This man appears to be eminently qualified 
 for extensive usefulness among the people of his own color. He has 
 already attracted their attention and affections in a high degree. 
 And if a place of worship sufficiently large, and conveniently situated, 
 could be obtained, there can be very little doubt but what, in a short 
 time, he would be able, by the divine blessing, to collect and organize 
 a large society. 
 
 This object is so important, and the opportunity of carrying it 
 into effect so favorable, that it is deemed unnecessary to add anything 
 more by way of recommendation. There are many, it is believed, 
 who need no stimulus to excite them to step forward with their aid : 
 and it is confidently expected, that very few to whom application 
 shall be made, will refuse their contribution ; and although it be but 
 
[ 53 ] 
 
 a mite, yet it will not be overlooked by Him who appreciates a gift 
 not so much by the amount bestowed, as by the willingness of the 
 giver. 
 
 It is contemplated, as soon as sufficient funds can be collected, to 
 purchase a convenient lot in the southwest part of Philadelphia, and 
 to erect on it a house of worship, either slight and temporary, or 
 substantial and permanent, accordingly as circumstances may dictate. 
 
 The public are therefore informed that within a few days, some 
 persons duly authorized by the people of color, and others interested 
 in their behalf, will begin to solicit the aid of the pious and benevo- 
 lent to carry the object above stated into effect. 
 
 Resolved, That the money to be subscribed for the foregoing purpose 
 shall be made payable to Messrs. ROBERT RALSTON, JOHN M'MULLIN, 
 and FRANCIS MARKOE, who will stand pledged to the contributors for 
 the faithful application of the funds to their destined object. 
 
 ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER, 
 
 President. 
 
 The subscribers, Pastors of Presbyterian churches in the city of 
 Philadelphia, cheerfully and cordially concur with the president and 
 their fellow members of the Evangelical Society, in earnestly recom- 
 mending to the pious and liberal, the patronage of the design set 
 forth in the preceding address, of erecting another church in this 
 city for the accommodation and spiritual advantage of the people of 
 
 color. 
 
 ASHBEL GREEN", 
 
 JACOB J. JANEWAY, 
 JAMES P. WILSON, 
 GEORGE C. POTTS. 
 
 In view of the circular being published, permit me 
 to remark that this congregation was not a wealthy one, 
 there were but few persons in it who were able to con- 
 tribute any very considerable amount of money. The 
 larger part by far could do but little in a monetary 
 point of view; they wanted a house of worship, and 
 they felt the necessity of it; they were willing, it is 
 true, to do what they could, but willingness, however 
 commendable, is not ability. All were ardent to have 
 
a piece of ground and the building erected; but ardency, 
 though not condemnable, is not money ; and however 
 anxious the people might have been in their disposition 
 towards the object, there was still wanting the available 
 means to put the machinery in motion, the dollars were 
 needful. This to them was the motive power only through 
 which the work could be carried on or even commenced 
 here was the dilemma. Whilst they were at their wits' 
 end, and everything looked lowering and dark, when no 
 ray of encouragement illumined their hearts, the faith- 
 ful pastor's voice was heard in accents of encourage- 
 ment, exhorting them to rely on God and be of good 
 cheer, for God who had been with them thus far would 
 be with them to the end. It was at this time that he 
 recommended a committee from the church to wait upon 
 the Evangelical Society, as we have seen. 
 
 The publication of this circular proved so successful 
 as to warrant the society and congregation at once to 
 proceed in the matter. The lot at the corner of Shippen 
 and Seventh Streets, where Mr. Gloucester so often 
 stood and preached on Sabbath mornings, was secured. 
 In less than one year from the publication of the cir- 
 cular, the corner stone was laid by Rev. George Potts, 
 for a substantial brick church in 1810, and on May 31, 
 1811, it was dedicated to the service of God. This 
 speedy progress was surely the Lord's doing, and it is 
 marvellous in our sight, taking everything into the ac- 
 count. I must leave the reader to draw his own con- 
 clusions from this entire enterprise from its origin to 
 the completion of the house in its rise and progress, if 
 every step taken, and feature of it be considered. It 
 will be remembered that in 1806 the matter was first 
 agitated before the Evangelical Society. In 1807 the 
 work of organizing the people into a Presbyterian 
 
[ft* T 
 00 ] 
 
 Church or body was commenced under the missionary 
 labors of Mr. Gloucester. In 1810 the corner stone 
 was laid, and in 1811 the church was dedicated to the 
 service of God. All this was accomplished in four 
 years, through the assistance of kind friends and the 
 blessings of God. 
 
 Before passing on to a further notice of the history 
 of the church, permit me to call the attention of the 
 reader to one or two interesting things connected with 
 the dedication of the church. It would seem upon 
 so interesting an occasion, that Dr. Alexander should 
 lead in the exercises of the day. He had previously 
 removed to Princeton, and was one of the Professors at 
 the Seminary. The people, encouraged and strength- 
 ened no doubt by Mr. Gloucester, made so unanimous 
 and earnest an appeal to Dr. Alexander, that he con- 
 sented to be present and preach the dedicatory sermon, 
 assisted in the other exercises by Drs. Green and Potts. 
 I am unfortunate in not being able to give the passage 
 of Scripture on which the discourse was founded. I 
 am equally so in not being able to give even a faint 
 outline of the discourse, there being no record of the 
 church upon which I can lay my hands to obtain the 
 information. Of one thing we may be assured, it was 
 appropriate and to the point. 
 
 Previous to the day of dedicating the house, Mr. 
 Gloucester had the following address circulated among 
 the people, and a copy sent to all friendly to his cause. 
 For the address I am under obligation to Mr. Jacob C. 
 White, Sen., who, very fortunately for the church and 
 posterity, kept this relic in his possession, and which is 
 now through his kindness given to all who may read 
 these pages. It is the production of Mr. Gloucester's 
 own brain. 
 
[ 56 ] 
 
 I make no comment, but leave the reader to make 
 his own inference of the man and his mind. 
 
 ADDRESS OF JOHN GLOUCESTER IN 1811, TO THE FIRST 
 AFRICAN CHURCH. 
 
 Glad tidings of great joy to the African Race, and particularly 
 to the infant Church, in which the hand of God has been so visible 
 in collecting so many of us from the dark mountains of ignorance, 
 sin and woe, to the bosom of the visible Church. The ground of our 
 joy being somewhat similar to that ancient branch of God's Church 
 who had been so long enslaved under the Babylonish yoke, but having 
 accomplished the years of their suffering bondage, they were permit- 
 ted to return to the land of Canaan and rebuild their temple. After 
 they had begun this building they met with great discouragement 
 which stopped the work of the Lord's house for eight years, after which 
 time Ezra and the friends of Zion began and finished the temple, 
 which was a subject of great joy to them and to all the well wishers 
 of Zion, but terminated in the grief and confusion of their opposers. 
 In like manner many of us have accomplished the years of our cap- 
 tivity, and returned to the land of blessed light and liberty. In the 
 year 1810, a building was begun for the poor and afflicted sons and 
 daughters of Ham, in Moyamensing district at the corner of Seventh 
 and Shippen Sts., which was patronized by many of the worthy in- 
 habitants of this city ; we had the honor at the commencement of the 
 building to have the following gentlemen go before us as the chief 
 agents and planners of the work : Messrs. Ralston, F. Markoe, 
 Captain Moore and John McMullin. By the pious exertions and in- 
 fluence of these gentlemen, united with many of the well disposed and 
 benevolent inhabitants of this place, this house of worship was raised 
 and made comfortable for use in the same year in which it was begun, 
 but left in an unfinished state for two reasons : first, many of those 
 who were free from temporal bondage were still willing to be slaves 
 to sin and Satan, the worst of masters, however faithfully served, and 
 the wages eternal death. Secondly, The number of those that seemed 
 to be sensible of the invaluable blessings of the Gospel, and that of 
 Christian liberty, were but few that attached themselves to this place 
 of worship, and for them there was sufficient room, but since that 
 time the Lord has increased us in number, and I hope somewhat in 
 heavenly wisdom, so that many of those in years past who have un- 
 dervalued the blessings of Gospel privileges have now learned how to 
 
[57 ] 
 
 appreciate them. As more room was wanting to accommodate those, 
 which could be had by putting np the galleries in the church, this we 
 took as a call from God to finish His house, which we attempted, some 
 of us I hope like the builders in Ezra's day not by might or power, 
 but by the spirit of God, hoping he will raise up for us unexpected 
 friends to aid in carrying up the last stone of the temporal building 
 as he did for them, for King Darius was made a nursing father to 
 the church in his day, being overrated by the superintendent provi- 
 dence of God. He had the house of the rolls searched (wherein the 
 treasure was laid up in Babylon), and there he found the decree of 
 Cyrus, which he made in the first year of his reign, respecting the 
 building of the house of the Lord, that it should be paid out of the 
 King's treasury ; this decree was enforced by King Darius, and the 
 house was finished accordingly. In doing this, he fulfilled the 
 prophecy and vision of Daniel respecting the Jewish Church. (Dan. 
 Ch. 9th.) Now let the friends of Jesus look into the records of his 
 decrees and see what he has said respecting the accomplishment of 
 the Gospel church, and they will see his promises fulfilling in this day 
 particularly as it respects Ethiopia, for she is now stretching out her 
 hands to God or heart, through the means of Grace which she is now 
 enjoying, and many of her sable sons and daughters are hopefully 
 gathered in the bosom of the visible church, and as we are among that 
 number glory is due to God from us, and humble thanks to that pub- 
 lic spirit of benevolence which we have witnessed in this place. Hav- 
 ing finished our building, we have set apart next Friday the Slstinst. 
 as a day of thanksgiving to God for the innumerable blessings con- 
 ferred upon us. The mode of spending this day will be in our private 
 families in the morning, and at 3 o'clock in the afternoon we shall 
 repair to the new finished building to present our public thank-offer- 
 ing to God, at which time there will be a sermon preached by a Rev. 
 D. D., of Princeton, whose name I am not at liberty to mention, 
 after which there will be a collection taken up to assist in defraying 
 the expenses of this building, and we hope that those who gave us 
 birth as a visible church will help this poor branch of God's vineyard 
 in putting up the cap stone of this building, which is too high for our 
 circumstances. Believing there is enough in the King's treasury, we 
 throw ourselves at the feet of those with whom he has intrusted it, in 
 hopes of receiving aid to finish a house which will stand as an eternal 
 monument to the glory of God, the honor of the Christian religion in 
 this place, and finally, we trust, will prove a blessing to many souls. 
 
 J. G. 
 
[ 58 ] 
 
 We cannot very easily conceive of the deep throb- 
 bings of the people's hearts, and the intense interest 
 felt by them, as the day broke in from amidst the gloom 
 of night, when the building or edifice was to be dedi- 
 cated to God; the time of their anxieties, the object of 
 their hope, the finale of their fears, and the consumma- 
 tion of their desires, on that day were all to be realized 
 what thanksgivings to God in their families what 
 praising and rejoicing. Writing from this distant period , 
 we can almost feel with them as we contemplate them 
 around their family altars in their heartfelt gratitude to 
 God, from whom came this good gift, and who enabled 
 them to succeed in their undertaking. Surely there must 
 have been a sacred joy springing up in every heart in 
 that vast assembly of people, as they sat within those 
 walls on that interesting occasion. That was a memor- 
 able day, made memorable, too, because heaven's God 
 smiled upon them, and gave them tokens of approba- 
 tion that he approved their labor of love, and accepted 
 their offerings of praise and thanksgiving. 
 
 It is true the building was not in any way remark- 
 able for architectural taste ; it was a plain brick, sixty 
 feet long by thirty-three feet wide, without any orna- 
 ment about it either inside or out, but in this respect 
 the people did what they could, with this assurance to 
 encourage them, "that God does not require what a man 
 hath not, but what he hath;" the offering, then, to God, 
 of a plain, simple constructed edifice, is valued accord- 
 ing to the ability of the people, and the spirit in which 
 it is given to Him hence the offering, though it might 
 by many be regarded as insignificant, yet to Him who 
 is God over all and blessed forevermore, attaches an im- 
 portance to it that may not be entertained for a more 
 costly and magnificent superstructure. 
 
[ 59 ] 
 
 As we have seen, this building was dedicated to the 
 worship of God in the year of our Lord 1811. It has 
 four rows of pews, numbering seventeen deep, with two 
 aisles three feet wide each, and will seat on the lower 
 floor, very comfortably, 370 persons. It also has a gallery 
 on each side and one on the end ; these can accommodate 
 280 persons without discommoding each other. The 
 ceiling is very high, which gives the audience-room a 
 light and airy appearance. After the Church was 
 finished and dedicated, the elders, trustees, and people, 
 petitioned Presbytery to be taken under their care and 
 inspection, to be considered in full standing as a Pres- 
 byterian congregation "Whereupon, the Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia did, on the 16th day of October, 1811, and 
 sitting in Norristown, Pa., Dr. Janeway Moderator, and 
 Dr. Green Clerk, receive under their care, according to 
 their request, the African Church." 
 
 I will take this occasion to remark, now that the 
 Church was received by the Presbytery, that Mr. 
 Gloucester's relation with the Committee on Missions 
 during his life, was never broken by his receiving a call 
 from the congregation of the African Church, and con- 
 sequently was never installed over them as its pastor, 
 although he was all to them that a pastor could be, and 
 was regarded by the people as a pastor beloved until the 
 day of his death, and lives in the memory now of those 
 who were children and youth at that time, with consider- 
 able veneration. His not being installed over the 
 Church perhaps arose from the inability of the infant 
 Church to provide for him as they could possibly desire, 
 and to insure him such support as they desired to be- 
 stow if they could; hence to leave him in the hands of 
 the Committee on Missions, and to assist the Committee 
 as far as they were able of their ability, appears to be 
 
[ 60 ] 
 
 the reason why the call was not formally made out and 
 put into his hands by his Presbytery. 
 
 The Church being now received under the care of the 
 Philadelphia Presbytery, may be considered as forming 
 one of the Presbyterian family, and as such, claims to 
 be regarded in that light. Holding in common with all 
 Presbyterian Churches their distinctive doctrines, which 
 they are devotedly attached to from a conscientious be- 
 lief of their Scriptural validity, as well also as Christ 
 as its head, God blessed forevermore, and all his minis- 
 ters as one in Him, and among whom none may claim 
 any superiority over another, for all are brethren, Jesus 
 himself the elder brother the chief and only Bishop 
 of the Church universal. 
 
 From the most reliable information that we are in 
 possession of, the Church, at the time it was dedicated 
 and received under care of Presbytery, comprised a 
 membership of 123 persons. Mr. Gloucester has, in 
 his address, assigned the reason why it was that the con- 
 gregation, in its communion members, were so few; but 
 there may be another reason, and that one is common to 
 all Presbyterian Churches: as a general thing, they 
 grow slowly, for the evident reason that the claims of 
 the Gospel as preached by Presbyterian clergymen, are 
 addressed more to the conviction of the conscience and 
 understanding of the people, than to the prejudices and 
 passions ; hence, it may be presumed, that they are not 
 very successful pioneers in a new enterprise : they are, 
 however, good cultivators, and though their growth may 
 be slow, yet they are sure and steady, striking root deep 
 down in the virgin soil, that no rude blast nor passing 
 storm can uproot nor tear from the regenerated sinner's 
 heart, the doctrines of grace once implanted therein by 
 power divine. Thus we account for the seeming tardi- 
 
[ 61 ] 
 
 ness of a great increase in a short space of time. As it 
 is in nature so in grace : it is not the torrent of rain, as 
 it comes pouring from the clouds, deluging the earth 
 with its rushing waters, that invigorates, revives, 
 strengthens, and vivifies vegetation, but rather the gen- 
 tle shower or the soft falling dew that accomplishes this 
 end, and to these agents in nature we more hopefully 
 look for blooming fields, in their freshness and beauty so 
 cheering to the eye and grateful to the heart. We are 
 more than ever confirmed in this view of the subject, 
 when we contemplate the ability, the zeal, the deep 
 piety of the men engaged in preaching the Gospel to 
 this people their names alone convey the idea that 
 each one was a host in himself eminent for learning, 
 remarkable for piety, and " not slothful" in Christian 
 labors, is an attestation of the fact that the work, 
 though slow at first, was still gradual and sure in its 
 progress, as we shall see hereafter. 
 
 I must here remind the reader of what I asserted in 
 the commencement of this history, that this African 
 Church was the first and only Presbyterian one in Phil- 
 adelphia, and in the United States. There were other 
 African Churches, as I have stated, but not of this de- 
 nomination. Being a new enterprise or effort in the 
 face of older and established organizations, our wonder 
 if any should cease, when I say that the people took 
 considerable time to weigh well its claims before they 
 gave in their adhesion to it : they could not be blamed 
 for this caution, when we reflect that it is wise and 
 commendable to weigh well in every point of view every 
 proposition made as a matter of faith and practice, and 
 in the light of reason and revelation pass judgment 
 upon it before we decide to make it the object of our 
 faith the rule of our life. When this is done, then, 
 
[ 62 ] 
 
 like Dr. Young's good man, we may say with, him, 
 " Here is firm footing solid ground," and so far as our 
 belief and reception of the truth is concerned, may also 
 add with him, " All else is sea beside ; his hand the good 
 man fastens on the sky, then bid earth roll nor feel its 
 idle whirl." 
 
 We now regard the Church as fairly under way, 
 launched forth upon the ocean of life, freighted with 
 immortal souls bound for the shores of immortality and 
 heavenly bliss. Oh, what a thought is this, an infant 
 Church, to go out on the ocean of life to contend with 
 the furious storms incidental to life, and the manage- 
 ment of it intrusted to mortal hands. Well might the 
 minister exclaim with Paul, " Who is sufficient for these 
 things V 9 With John Gloucester and his faithful few, 
 in view of all their difficulties, from this time there was 
 one determination, and that was, to " work while it was 
 day," to work amid every opposing force, each one 
 adopting the Christian's decision : 
 
 "In every trouble sharp and strong, 
 
 My soul to Jesus flies ; 
 My anchor hold is firm in Him 
 
 When swelling billows rise." 
 / 
 
 The first two elders elected by the people to assist 
 Mr. Gloucester in the spiritual wants of the Church, 
 were Messrs. James Prosser and Cato Freeman. These 
 continued to labor until the growing wants of the Church 
 called for more laborers in this particular department of 
 the Lord's vineyard, when Mr. Quamany Clarkson, a 
 member of Dr. Janeway's Church, a man of piety, was 
 importuned, and finally consented to join the African 
 Church, and give himself to the work as an Elder there- 
 in : he was accordingly set apart for the office by Mr. 
 Gloucester, through the call of the people. For years 
 
t 63 ] 
 
 afterward we find Mr. Clarkson punctually representing 
 his Church at the Presbytery, and seldom absent. His 
 promptness in every duty was said by his contemporaries 
 to be proverbial truly, he was a shining light in Zion. 
 The next Elder elected by the people, was Jacob Craig, 
 mentioned in the early part of this work : he, too, was 
 a faithful servant to his God and to his calling. These 
 brethren continued to officiate in the Church during the 
 whole period of Mr. Gloucester's life and ministry, and 
 like him, labored earnestly to advance the glory of their 
 Lord, and the best interest of his Church. 
 
 Of the time and circumstances of Messrs. Prosser and 
 Freeman's election and setting apart for the office and 
 duties of elders, we have no record. Unfortunately, a 
 circumstance arose in the Church, which will be stated 
 hereafter, that deprived the remaining session of the 
 book of proceedings, and which, if their election and 
 setting apart be therein recorded, I know not ; the books 
 until this day, not being in the possession of the present 
 session. This is lamentable, for much useful informa- 
 tion might have been gleaned from it, and the brief his- 
 tory I am now necessarily compelled to record, for the 
 want of dates, &c., to say the least, might have been 
 made more satisfactory. 
 
 It is gratifying, however, to look back upon the early 
 labors of these Christian fathers, and behold their labor 
 of love, and how they wrought in their Master's ser- 
 vice. May it not be truthfully said of them, " Well 
 done, good and faithful servants V 9 
 
 Before passing on to other matters connected with 
 this Church, I must call attention to the interest taken 
 in the Church by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, at the 
 time when the property was being purchased. The 
 Evangelical Society addressed a communication to Pres- 
 
[ 64] 
 
 bytery upon the subject, to which they responded favor- 
 ably by the following resolution, dated April, 1810: 
 
 " Resolved, That all the Churches within our bounds 
 be recommended, so soon as convenient, to take up col- 
 lections for the said purpose, and transmit the same to 
 Mr. Isaac Snowden." 
 
 These collections were made, and through these 
 sources, together with those already alluded to, the peo- 
 ple and their friends were able, as has been seen, to col- 
 lect at least the largest part of the money required in 
 order to a commencement. 
 
 In reviewing the past, it is a pleasing reflection, and 
 reminds the people of this Church of the good King 
 Hiram of Tyre, who, when Solomon would build the 
 Temple of the Most High, "rejoiced greatly, and sent 
 to Solomon saying, I have considered the things which 
 thou sentest to me for, and I will do all thy desire, con- 
 cerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 
 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto 
 the sea, and I will convey them by floats unto the place 
 that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be 
 discharged there, and thou shalt receive them, &c., and 
 Solomon's builders, and Hiram's builders did hew them, 
 so they prepared timber to build the house." The Pres- 
 bytery has ever taken a deep interest in this Church, 
 and ever been watchful of its interests. As a proof of 
 this, I will direct attention to a fact. Before the build- 
 ing was completed, Mr. Gloucester was on his mission 
 to raise money to purchase his wife and four children : 
 during his absence the Presbytery became a nursing fa- 
 ther to the Church. In their supplies for other Churches 
 within their bounds, they were not unmindful of this 
 Zion. Messrs. Neill, Ely, Paterson, Skinner, Engles, 
 Chandler, Steel, and Wilson, were appointed by Presby- 
 
[ 65 J 
 
 tery to supply the pulpit ^at regular stated times ; in 
 short, this has ever been done by Presbytery, and the 
 pastors have ever come cheerfully when circumstances 
 arose to make it necessary. 
 
 Having traced the church from 1807 to 1811, when 
 it was taken under care of Presbytery, we may now 
 consider it as fully established and occupying a position 
 among the Presbyterian Churches of the United States. 
 In reviewing the struggles of this church during these 
 four years, we cannot but be struck favorably with the 
 perseverance and industry of the people amidst every 
 discouragement growing out of their pecuniary condi- 
 tion ; and particularly would it be so where, on the 
 other hand, we reflect that with the major part it was 
 something new to be thrown upon their own efforts, 
 their own reflections and ideas ; and how well they sus- 
 tained themselves under it may be seen from the short 
 time through which they accomplished so much. It 
 should be remembered that their pastor, upon whom 
 they depended to a considerable extent, could not remain 
 very long with them at a time to strengthen their hands 
 and encourage their hearts ; for it was during these four 
 years that he travelled extensively in order to purchase 
 his wife and children. Surely we must admire the spirit 
 that impelled the people, and the mind that determined 
 them in pushing on this enterprise. Then if we con- 
 sider the opposition encountered at the commencement 
 of it, as I have already alluded, we must conclude that 
 their determination was not only a mark of their sin- 
 cerity, but a proof that their religious principles were 
 founded in their duty to God, and a conviction that 
 what they had undertaken was well pleasing to Him, 
 whose sustaining hand upheld and strengthened them 
 to the end. 
 5 
 
[ 66 ] 
 
 There are some things in close keeping with Christian 
 enterprises upon which I have written but little, and 
 before I close this part of our history I shall avail my- 
 self of the opportunity of directing the attention of the 
 reader. I do this for two reasons : the first is because 
 it is due to our fathers, as showing a feature of character 
 in them which we, their children, should not only pos- 
 sess, but diligently cultivate, and religiously impress 
 upon our children. The second is to show the principle 
 upon which they acted in every effort. These two rea- 
 sons, when maturely considered, will be found to be more 
 important and weighty than at first sight appears. 
 Christian enterprises, unlike those of other characters, 
 are not so much determined because necessary to be 
 done, however essential and commendable this may be, 
 but the views entertained of its importance, the principle 
 that governs, and the motive that impels in their accom- 
 plishment, are the true elements to be regarded as the 
 basis of action. This I conceive to be the true Chris- 
 tian view entertained, whether it relates to the giving 
 an aim to the beggar in the street, or sending across the 
 wide ocean, through missionary labors, the Gospel of the 
 Son of God to the daily perishing heathen, or the rais- 
 ing of a congregation of religious worshippers, building 
 a church edifice for the service of the Most High, or 
 any enterprise whatever where Christian effort is re- 
 quired; unless the above element predominates, and 
 enters into all of our actions, our efforts will, to every 
 honest mind, be divested of its most intrinsic value. 
 Our fathers acted upon the principle of religious or 
 Christian duty to God, and the good of humanity, when 
 they undertook to establish and build up this Zion ; there 
 was a conviction in their minds that what they were 
 doing was for the advancement of God's glory among 
 
[ 67 ] 
 
 men to unborn generations, and conceiving it to be con- 
 ducive to God's glory, they saw it was their duty to 
 enter upon the work with all their heart, and soul, and 
 strength. The question may arise to some, as it did to 
 me, From whence those ideas I The answer is a ready one, 
 and can be traced through every act during their life : 
 it is " love to God." Upon this heaven-born principle 
 were their motives based; hence their perseverance, 
 industry, zeal, and success. Could they fail] Could 
 they be discouraged I Upon this principle we determine 
 the character of each man and woman associated with 
 Mr. Gloucester. It is said by a writer that we are "imi- 
 tative creatures ;" in the matter under consideration, at 
 least, I shall be willing to accept the assertion, and reit- 
 erate it, and say truly our fathers did imitate the blessed 
 Jesus in this Christian effort. Jesus wrought his works 
 from a principle: that principle was deep love for 
 humanity ; he had no selfishness in all he did, no other 
 end in view but another's good, and not his own. Love 
 was the principle that impelled him. In this our fathers 
 were "imitative creatures;" hence their piety, Christian 
 fortitude, and glorious success, and, as I firmly believe, 
 their felicity^and joy in the Kingdom of Glory. Another 
 thought upon this subject before I pass on. It is not 
 perceived in all or any of the measures proposed during 
 the time of raising means for the building of this church, 
 that any one thing was done not in perfect keeping with 
 Christian principle, or one that would inv the least inva- 
 lidate or compromise any of its divine teachings. Our 
 fathers were too well instructed in the nature and re- 
 quirements of their holy religion to be led away by any 
 extraneous appendages that may be hitched on to Chris- 
 tian profession; if anything was to be accomplished, 
 they obeyed the Christian rule, and gave of their sub- 
 
[ 68 J 
 
 stance, as God had blessed them ; they contributed them- 
 selves as they were able, and when they failed, after 
 every effort on their part was expended, they then felt, 
 as all Christians should feel, that they had claims on 
 the universal Church of Christ for help ; and wherever 
 among God's people access can be had, there they had 
 a right to make their wants known, and their case felt ; 
 conventional rules, regulations, and laws to the contrary, 
 notwithstanding these should be pushed aside when 
 charity is needed, and Christian embarrassments made 
 known. Theatrical shows, feasts, and entertainments 
 (now extensively practised in the form of suppers and 
 dinners), and all this train of paraphernalia, should be 
 most religiously avoided, as tending to divert from Chris- 
 tian principle to the gratification of sensual pleasure, 
 what else is it but taking the very livery of the wicked 
 one to serve the God of glory with I This is not Christ- 
 like, neither, indeed, can be : to be Christian, all our 
 efforts must spring from Christian principles. 
 
 SEPARATION OF THE CONGREGATION INTO TWO DIS- 
 TINCT BODIES, AND ITS CAUSE. 
 
 It is not a pleasant task for me to record the misun- 
 derstanding that took place in the Church, whereby it 
 was divided into two separate bodies ; it was, and is still 
 to be regarded as deplorable, but as a matter of his- 
 tory connected with the first African Church, it has to 
 be put on record. In doing so, however, it shall be my 
 conclusion to give the simple truth without partiality, 
 and, I will take the occasion to remark, that whatever 
 views I may express herein upon divisions and dissen- 
 sions in churches or religious bodies, will be understood 
 
[ 69 ] 
 
 as having a general allusion, and will, I hope, be so en- 
 tertained by the reader. 
 
 The congregation, as we have seen, was supplied by 
 Presbytery with preaching from the death of Mr. 
 Gloucester, and now feeling desirous of calling a minis- 
 ter to take the pastoral oversight of the Church, con- 
 cluded to do so. Consequently, on the 1st May, 1823, 
 the session met at the house of Mr. Francis Webb 
 present, Elders Jacob Craig, James Prosser, Peter Mc- 
 Neal, Quamany Clarkson, and Francis Webb. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Neill having been invited to moderate, the 
 session proceeded to business by taking into view the 
 wants of the congregation for a pastor. It was decided 
 that as the growing wants of the Church demanded a 
 settled pastor, therefore : 
 
 Resolved, That the congregation be notified on the 
 next Lord's day, from the pulpit, to convene on the 
 Thursday following, at 4 o'clock P. M., in the church, 
 for the purpose of electing a pastor, if such be their 
 wish. 
 
 It was agreed by session, that the names of all per- 
 sons entitled to a vote in the election be enrolled in a 
 book, and each name called out as recorded, in order, 
 and each person at liberty to vote as they may think 
 most proper. And further, the session, to prevent all 
 complaints and misunderstandings, recommend the trus- 
 tees to notify all pew holders who are indebted to the 
 Church, and desire to vote on this election, to meet the 
 Pew Committee on Tuesday next, in the church, in 
 the morning from 9 to 1 o'clock, and in the afternoon 
 from 3 to 6 o'clock, for the settlement of any claims 
 against them by the corporation, whereby they might be 
 prevented from voting. It was also determined, that all 
 persons producing receipts in full up to January 1, 1823, 
 
[ 70 ] 
 
 will be entitled to a vote in the election. (Min. book, 
 pages 2-3.) 
 
 On Thursday, May 8, 1822, agreeably to public no- 
 tice, the congregation met in the church, Dr. Jane way 
 presiding. He opened the meeting by addressing the 
 throne of Grace for direction in the business that called 
 them together ; after which, he gave a suitable discourse 
 to the occasion, and informed the congregation that if it 
 was their wish he would proceed to take the votes for 
 the election of a pastor. A motion was here made for 
 an indefinite postponement of the election. This mo- 
 tion was put, and lost, 53 voting for, and 79 against it. 
 
 The Moderator requested a nomination, when the 
 Rev. Samuel E. Cornish was nominated. The Modera- 
 tor asked if there was any other nomination. There 
 being no other candidate offered, the congregation pro- 
 ceeded to ballot, which being done, the votes were 
 counted, when it was found that 78 votes were in favor 
 of Mr. Cornish, and 48 against him. Mr. Cornish was 
 then declared elected. A call for Mr. Cornish was or- 
 dered, and the congregation directed the trustees and 
 elders to sign the call when made out. The following 
 named brethren were appointed as commissioners to 
 prosecute it before Presbytery : Robert Douglas, Ezekiel 
 Harmon, and Quamany Clarkson. (Extract from Min., 
 pages 3 & 4.) 
 
 To say that this election passed off peaceably, would 
 be more than I can venture to affirm. It would be a 
 pleasant duty so to record it, but unfortunately for the 
 church and the cause of the Redeemer, it created an 
 unhappy state of things in the church. The minority 
 (and it was by no means a small one) was opposed to 
 Mr. Cornish, not on account of anything against his 
 character as a man or a Christian ; not because he was 
 
incapable of taking the pastoral charge of the church ; 
 not because his intellectual acquirements were insuffi- 
 cient ; none of these considerations influenced them in 
 voting against him, and, I am truly happy here to insert, 
 for the information of the reader, and in justice to Mr. 
 Cornish, that some who voted with the minority said to 
 me personally, that nothing existed with them against 
 him, either morally, socially, or religiously; that they 
 respected him as a Christian and a gentleman; and their 
 only reason for voting as they did, was, they preferred 
 Mr. Jeremiah Gloucester, he being a son of their be- 
 loved and deceased pastor. However, to resume our 
 narrative, the call was presented to Presbytery on the 
 15th October, 1822, sitting at Doylestown. Presbytery 
 finding a warm opposition by a large minority: 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of three ministers and 
 two elders be appointed to visit the church, and inquire 
 into the state of the congregation, and observe a season 
 of fasting and prayer with them, and report at next 
 meeting of Presbytery. 
 
 Itevs. Boyd, Paterson, and Biggs, and Elders Messrs. 
 Stewart and McMullin, were appointed. This commit- 
 tee attended to the instructions received from Presby- 
 tery, with what success the subsequent action of Pres- 
 bytery will explain, for at a session held by the Presby- 
 tery, in the Second Church, on Nov. 28, 1822, the above 
 committee made a report, that leave be granted to prose- 
 cute the call for Mr. Cornish before the Presbytery of 
 New York, of which he was a member. This was ac- 
 ceded to by Presbytery, but during the session a minor- 
 ity report was received, and as it appeared to the Pres- 
 bytery that there was not sufficient unanimity in the call 
 of Mr. Cornish to render his ministry useful among the 
 people, a committee was appointed to advise with and 
 
[ 72 ] 
 
 try to heal any division that may exist in the church. 
 Dr. Wm. Neill, Messrs. McMnllin and Bradford, were 
 appointed. 
 
 This committee likewise attended to the business 
 assigned them, for on July 1st, 1823, presbytery being 
 in session, and the subject coming up for their action, 
 it was considered, and finally resolved that leave be 
 granted to the congregation to prosecute the call for Mr. 
 Cornish ; but the whole thing was for the present frus- 
 trated by the minority, they appealing to synod against 
 the action of presbytery. To be brief upon this subject, 
 for it is in no way pleasant to dwell upon, the entire 
 matter was taken to synod upon the appeal, and the 
 synod confirmed the action of the presbytery; conse- 
 quently the commissioners were at liberty to prosecute 
 the call. The decision of synod being made known to 
 the minority, they appealed from the decision to the 
 general assembly. Before the general assembly met, the 
 minority concluded to drop the matter, at least so far 
 as any action of the assembly may concern it. 
 
 In the mean time, however, both parties were not idle 
 in their endeavors to obtain their several ends : this was 
 unfortunate. If anything could have been done, at this 
 juncture, to heal the unhappy differences between these 
 brethren, how desirable and blessed would it have been ! 
 what a tremendous blow to the cause of Christianity, 
 the progress of our own denominational interests in 
 Philadelphia, the union and harmony among our people, 
 would have been arrested. But alas the friends of the 
 church were doomed to sad disappointment : that blow 
 fell ; it fell with fearful violence, and its effects are felt 
 even at this late period, from which I am writing. How 
 true it is that great effects from very small causes grow. 
 So in this instance it was but a very little matter in the 
 
[ 73 ] 
 
 beginning, but it kindled a great fire among the people, 
 which no earthly interference could extinguish, as we 
 have, and will still further see. I have said why the 
 minority opposed the call of Mr. Cornish to the church ; 
 I will here give their reasons for so doing more fully, 
 and also their subsequent action. 
 
 It will be remembered that previous to the death of 
 Mr. Gloucester he had written a letter to presbytery, 
 recommending his son Jeremiah as a candidate for the 
 Gospel ministry, and to be taken under care of presby- 
 tery. This young man was received under care of pres- 
 bytery, and prosecuted his studies with energy, and his 
 future was regarded by his presbytery and the church 
 as encouraging and hopeful; the affections of a portion 
 of the church clustered around him, and they regarded 
 him as the future pastor of the church, as soon as he 
 had finished his studies, and was licensed by his presby- 
 tery. In view of this, when the proposition was made 
 to call a pastor to the charge of the church, these breth- 
 ren, who were favorable to Mr. Jeremiah Gloucester, 
 dissented from calling any one to the church ; entering 
 the plea that the presbytery had heretofore supplied the 
 church with the first and most efficient ministers in the 
 presbytery, and had ever entertained toward the church 
 the deepest and greatest concern in all their interests ; 
 and as it would not be very long before Mr. Gloucester 
 would be through with his studies, they would prefer 
 waiting. To this, however, the other party objected, 
 pleading the wants of the church ; its spiritual interests, 
 they said, were waning ; they wanted a pastor to go in 
 among the people in their houses, as in the church, to 
 attend in sickness, and to visit among the families, and 
 so keep up an interest for the church. Here then was 
 the difficulty. Could one or the other of these parties 
 
[ 74] 
 
 have yielded, how much bitterness would have been 
 avoided ! I must be permitted here to record, in justice 
 to the brethren who were in favor of calling Mr. Cornish, 
 that, upon their side, they had no objection to Mr. Glou- 
 cester; they regarded him with much concern, and, 
 indeed, tenderness, for he was the son of their deceased 
 pastor; how else could they regard him but with interest I 
 But as he had not finished his studies, and the spiritual 
 wants of the people called so loudly for the services of a 
 pastor, they felt that all personal partialities should be 
 waived, in consideration of the spiritual wants among 
 the people. Upon these opposite views I make no re- 
 marks ; let every reader weigh them, and decide for 
 himself. Every effort being expended to reconcile these 
 parties, and there being no probable prospect of healing 
 the differences, the minority concluded, after mature 
 deliberation, to withdraw and form another church or 
 congregation. To this end, on the 9th of March, 1824, 
 not quite two years after the death of Mr. Gloucester, 
 a petition, signed by seventy-five persons, was presented 
 to presbytery, requesting to be organized into a Second 
 African Church. This petition was protested against by 
 the session of the church, upon the ground that, as the 
 petitioners were either communicants or pew-holders, 
 their petition be not granted until they shall comply 
 with their engagements to the church, and be regularly 
 dismissed ; whereupon presbytery passed the following 
 resolution : " Having heard the parties fully, and maturely 
 deliberated on all the circumstances of the case, that this 
 presbytery are fully satisfied that the parties which have 
 existed in the First African Church are of such a nature 
 that further attempts to reconcile them are inexpedient, 
 and that it will be for the peace of the church, and for 
 the promotion of the Gospel, that a Second African 
 
Church, of our denomination, be organized in this city." 
 (Min. Presb., p. 366.) 
 
 It would be uninteresting to state what followed upon 
 the division of this church, and it is just at this place 
 we must recall to the mind of the reader what I said in 
 the commencement of this narrative, that not having 
 the early records of the church during Mr. Gloucester's 
 life, prevents me from inserting in this history, no doubt, 
 much that is really necessary to be known, for when the 
 minority withdrew from the church, singular as it may 
 seem, they took the records of the church along with 
 them, and hence, the church was thrown upon the neces- 
 sity of recording, as far as they were able from memory, 
 their early history; and it has caused the writer no 
 small amount of labor to obtain what dates and facts are 
 herein recorded. 
 
 In dropping this disagreeable part of the history of 
 the First Church in its division, and offering our reflec- 
 tions upon it and all other instances like it, I repeat 
 again, that I wish to be understood as having a general 
 allusion. 
 
 As it is in civil communities, so in religious ones. 
 According to the manner in which matters are at pre- 
 sent constituted, divisions, contentions and strife, will, 
 in a greater or less degree, prevail. This state of things 
 need not necessarily exist, particularly in the Church of 
 Christ. It has, indeed, been argued by. some, that in 
 order to purge the church from corruption and error, 
 these elements of discord are necessary and beneficial ; 
 and I have been told repeatedly, that as thunder and 
 lightning purge and purify the atmosphere, so these 
 conflicting elements in the church produce like results. 
 But I think the apostle finds an answer to such an as- 
 sertion, and as I am treating upon a purely religious 
 
[ 76 ] 
 
 subject, it may be in order to lay down his laconic 
 question and answer to this very matter under consider- 
 ation. He asks, then, " From whence come wars and 
 fightings among you I Come they not hence, even of 
 your lusts that war in your members'?" Here, then, 
 could we be permitted to look behind the screen, at the 
 propelling power put into motion by men and parties in 
 the church, or at the machinery that operates with its 
 spur wheels and running gear, we would soon see how 
 far a necessity goes for purging and purifying the church 
 of the Redeemer of its errors and corruptions. I do 
 not deny that God does exercise a moral government in 
 the church, but that government is one so ordered in 
 wisdom as to preclude the possibility of an error in its 
 administration or in its results ; but it is not in confu- 
 sions and strife, for God's government is like himself, 
 of order, as he is of love ; and when, therefore, there 
 are seen contentions and strifes in the church, the God 
 of this world, and not the God and Father of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, has gotten by some means among the peo- 
 ple, and sown these tares therein. O ! that " God's peo- 
 ple were wise," that they would deny themselves of 
 every temper that brings contentions and divisions. 
 There can be no good reason shown why any body of 
 Christians should be divided, unless for prudential and 
 beneficial purposes, and those for the interests of all 
 concerned, founded all in Christian love. As an Apos- 
 tle expresses, " Let all things be done in charity." 
 
 The church is represented in Scripture as the family 
 of God. All who are spiritual members of it are his 
 dear children by adoption, as well as by redemption. 
 It seems clear, then, that they constitute his family on 
 earth, as the angels are of his family in bliss. Can there 
 be shown, then, why the same affection and interest in 
 
[ 77 ] 
 
 each other of the family on earth, should not exist as it 
 does in the family in heaven I It is regarded as a very 
 unhappy state where divisions exist in families, and \ve 
 view it as truly deplorable where there are alienations 
 and separations, and every virtuous and order-loving 
 man regards it in that light. Is the church, then, for 
 which the Saviour poured out his life blood, to be con- 
 sidered less important, less interesting, and less in the 
 eyes of the Redeemer's blood-bought family, than the 
 relations existing among us in our domestic and social 
 ties, however sacred and tender they should be I Well 
 for the church, for the world, and for the glory of Christ's 
 kingdom, could this exceeding and deeply interesting 
 subject be more considered, and receive our undivided 
 attention. When will God's people love like little chil- 
 dren I When will they see eye to eye I When the 
 Saviour was born in Bethlehem, the song of the angels 
 as heard by the wise men, was, " Glory to God in the 
 highest peace on earth, good will to men." When 
 Jesus had grown from a babe to a man, and finished the 
 work he came to do as sung by the angels, and was about 
 to return into the heavens from whence he came, he left 
 this blessed sweet gift to his precious and dear follow- 
 ers, " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto 
 you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you," and 
 yet again he says, "A new commandment I give unto 
 you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that 
 ye also love one another. By this shall all men know 
 that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." 
 What, then, shall we say when disputings and divisions 
 prevail among God's people ] Wo to that man through 
 w r hom they come ; it were better for him that a millstone 
 were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea. 
 It is regarded as a horrid cruel thing to distract and di- 
 
vide our earthly friends and break up family ties, and 
 thus causing separation and estrangement, if not bitter- 
 ness and wrath among them. Will not, does not God 
 so regard it as a crime where a like course is pursued 
 toward His family in the church 1 Will he not visit in 
 sore displeasure any who wilfully, presumptuously, and 
 knowingly divide his people I It requires no stretch of 
 human insight to see the certainty of it, and let me re- 
 mark here, that though for a season or time they may 
 prosper and bid fair, and all their doings may seem clear 
 and bright as a " bright midsummer's day," yet will the 
 displeasure of the Almighty overtake them, and by his 
 own mysterious way by which he governs the universe, sit 
 as with a clear heat on their works and measures, burning 
 and scorching up and producing such drought upon it 
 as to make it evident that the face of the Almighty is 
 set against them. " Though it tarry, yet will it come," 
 saith the Lord. 
 
 Happy for Mr. Gloucester that no division took place 
 in his clay. It would have crushed and broken his 
 spirit, no doubt, and brought him to a premature grave. 
 But the good God spared him the sight of seeing the 
 church of his care the object of his prayers the hopes 
 of his future comfort in his declining years distracted 
 and riven asunder by those who were the companions 
 of his trials, and his partners in his early struggles for 
 the church. 
 
 The church being now divided, the only alternative 
 left to the remaining members was to cast about arid 
 adopt such measures as were best calculated to advance 
 their interest ; in this they were not without the best 
 advisers ; the same friends that always stood by them 
 did not forsake them in this time of their troubles ; the 
 presbytery once more became a nursing father to them ; 
 
[ 79 ] 
 
 they continued the pulpit -supply, and saw that the ordi- 
 nances of the church were attended to. From the time 
 that the church was divided, the troubled waters of 
 contention abated, the storm of confusion was stilled, 
 and peace and order again restored in this house of the 
 Lord ; so that, from March 9th, 1824, when the receding 
 party left, to the subsequent call of Mr. Hughes, every- 
 thing went on as prosperously as could be expected under 
 the circumstances that surrounded them ; of course it 
 must be presumed that, from the withdrawing from the 
 communion of the church of so large a body as the 
 minority was composed, it weakened considerably the 
 church, and their efforts to some extent affected. To 
 their credit, however, be it said, they staggered not at 
 the promises of God ; they knew in whom they believed, 
 and on whose arm they leaned for support ; they took 
 courage from the past, and became hopeful of the future. 
 Their first act, after the division, was to renew the 
 call to Mr. Cornish : they accordingly addressed a letter 
 to him, and received an answer " that, as the matter of 
 a call had been so long delayed, and that, as many 
 changes had taken place since the commencement of the 
 business, and on viewing the whole train of circum- 
 stances together, he thought it to be most prudent for 
 him to decline the acceptance of the call," &c. This 
 was reported in session, April 9, 1824, one month after 
 the division took place. On the 14th April, 1824, the 
 congregation met, Dr. Janeway presiding. After prayer 
 by the chairman, he stated the object of the meeting, 
 and, if agreeable to them, would proceed to take the 
 votes of the electors for a pastor ; they declared it by an 
 unanimous vote. They then nominated Mr. Benjamin 
 Hughes. There being no other person nominated, the 
 congregation proceeded to ballot, when an unanimous 
 
[ SO ] 
 
 vote was given for Mr. Hughes. A call was subse- 
 quently made out, presented to Philadelphia Presby- 
 tery, of w T hich Mr. Hughes was a licentiate, and ac- 
 cepted by him. The Presbytery appointed the 4th 
 May, 1824, as the time for his ordination and installa- 
 tion, and appointed Dr. Green to preside, Rev. Mr. 
 Chandler to preach the sermon, Rev. Mr. Biggs, to 
 deliver the charge to the pastor and people. On the 
 day above specified, the Presbytery met in the African 
 Church, Dr. Green presiding, Dr. Ely, clerk, present, 
 Revds. Drs. Janeway, Potts, Neill, Biggs, Ballentine, 
 Engles, and Scott, Rev. Mr. Arbuckle, of the Presby- 
 tery of Niagara, Rev. Mr. Mclnnes, of the Second Pres- 
 bytery of Philadelphia, being present, were invited, and 
 took seats. Dr. Chandler preached the sermon from 
 Jer. xxvi. 15: "For of a truth the Lord hath sent me 
 unto you to speak all these words in your ears." Dr. 
 Green propounded the constitutional questions, and 
 offered the ordaining prayer, during which the Presby- 
 tery imposed their hands. Mr. Biggs, in accordance 
 to appointment, gave the charge to the pastor and peo- 
 ple. The right hand of fellowship was then given Mr. 
 Hughes, and he took his seat as a member of Presby- 
 tery. The interesting ceremonies being over, and the 
 church, in possession of a new minister, at once assumed 
 a cheerful appearance, for, during the brief period of 
 Mr. Hughes' administration, some who had strayed away 
 from the communion of the church returned, and whilst 
 it may be true that there were none added, yet there 
 appeared a brighter prospect dawning for them. But 
 again was this church doomed to disappointment. Mr. 
 Hughes, after remaining about six months, informed 
 Presbytery that the support received not being sufficient 
 to sustain him, he was compelled to engage in some 
 
[ 81 ] 
 
 mercantile pursuit, in order to sustain himself. The 
 Presbytery appointed a committee to confer with Mr. 
 Hughes upon the subject, and offer their advice and 
 views upon it; the result of the consultation may be 
 gathered from the fact that, on October 31, 1824, Mr. 
 Hughes convened the session, and notified them of his 
 intention to withdraw from the pastoral office he held, 
 and on November 18, 1824, he laid his request of with- 
 drawing before the Presbytery, which, after both Mr. 
 Hughes and the elders of the church were heard, the 
 request was granted, and the church declared to be 
 vacant. Thus again was the church thrown upon Pres- 
 bytery for supplies, and it was cheerfully granted. We 
 have now to pass over a space of three years, during 
 which time many useful reflections may be gathered, and 
 many interesting occurrences observed : it could not be 
 supposed otherwise. Here was a congregation laboring 
 under so many discouraging circumstances, still holding 
 out, and looking forward for better days. And what 
 makes it interesting to the observant mind is that, in 
 a city like Philadelphia, where there were such pros* 
 perous churches ; so many zealous and efficient minis- 
 ters; such progress and prosperity; such extension 
 and addition to membership ; such zeal and energy put 
 forth by the efforts of these several church members to 
 add to their several denominations, we think must have 
 acted with tremendous effect upon this Presbyterian 
 body. The Second African Church also, at this time, 
 was in the full enjoyment of prosperity, with Mr. Jere- 
 miah Gloucester as its pastor, a large and flowing attend- 
 ance on his ministry : all calculated to crush out what- 
 ever of life might have remained in the old church. And 
 again, it becomes more discouraging when we reflect 
 that the prospect of obtaining another minister was com- 
 6 
 
[ 82 ] 
 
 pletely cut off, for at the time of which I am writing 
 there were but three colored clergymen in all the United 
 States in connection with the Presbyterian Church. How 
 sad and gloomy, then, the prospects of this church, when 
 compared with all the rest. Of the three Presbyterian 
 ministers alluded to, Mr. Cornish was interestingly 
 engaged in New York, in an enterprise that has, under 
 God, established many Presbyterian Churches in. that 
 State. Mr. Hughes, as we have seen, not only left his 
 pastoral charge and engaged in mercantile speculations, 
 but left the city, in fact the United States, and when last 
 heard from was in Africa, where, after a brief stay, he 
 died. And Mr. Jeremiah Gloucester was then over the 
 Second African Church. The Methodist churches, at 
 this time, were in full blast. lit. Rev. Richard Allen 
 had recently drawn out from the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and set up an independent organization, go- 
 verned and controlled by black men, whither the people 
 were flocking by thousands, as we shall see at the end 
 of this volume. The fact that preachers in abundance 
 \vere scouring the city with true missionary courage 
 and zeal, and compelling people of all kinds, and of all 
 characters, to come in, pressed also with no small effect 
 upon this First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 St. Thomas' Church, also, with Rev. Absalom Jones 
 as its pastor, the fast friend of Mr. John Gloucester, 
 was in the glory of her. strength, throwing a mighty 
 influence in the city among the intelligent and refined. 
 Casting a steady and intensifying heat in that direction, 
 she drew to her communion and embrace the wealth 
 and talent of Philadelphia; what chance then in this 
 direction for the First African Presbyterian Church. 
 And here I will say that St. Thomas' members (like 
 their pastor) never forsook the old church ; they were 
 
[ 83 ] 
 
 ever friendly, and are so until this day, and it is 
 no uncommon sight at present, on the first Sabbath 
 afternoon of every month, for many of them to be 
 found worshipping in this Church; but, however, all 
 things considered, it must be allowed that the pros- 
 pects of the church were discouraging, to say the least 
 of it; but, my readers, there were strong men in the 
 old church ; there were Boanerges there, men of God, 
 valiant men, men whose hearts were full of love to 
 God, and full of zeal for His glory in the church, and 
 considered no labor too great, no sacrifice too dear, and 
 no discouragement so gloomy, as to deter them from 
 laboring on, and laboring ever, to build up their Zion ; 
 there was that stanch old man, Quamany Clarkson, 
 the early and tried colaborer with Mr. Gloucester, and 
 no less so Peter McNeal, in spirit like unto Peter; 
 there, also, was Jacob Craig, another faithful elder of 
 the church ; and of the trustees, Messrs. Robert 
 Douglass, Ezekiel Harmon, Abr. Depee, Wm. Hollis, 
 with many others, all strong men, full of faith and 
 energy with them labor was no task, duty no load; 
 therefore, they harnessed themselves for the battle, and 
 went forth depending upon the Lord from Heaven for 
 final success. They well understood that Scripture, 
 "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening 
 withhold not thy hand, for thou knowest not which 
 shall prosper, either this or that;" they took courage 
 from the promises of God, and worked on in hope. 
 From the records in my possession there does not 
 appear to have been many additions to the church 
 by persons either through profession of faith or certi- 
 ficate, yet I find everything as peaceable and calm 
 as under the peculiar circumstances of the case we 
 could reasonably expect, if, during these three years, as 
 
t 84 ] 
 
 above referred to, there was no increase of membership, 
 at least, there was no falling off of members, and no 
 waning of spirituality among them, and herein is a 
 peculiarity in God's people evidenced under afflictions 
 and distresses their faith and confidence become strong- 
 est; it appears to be the time when the people of the 
 Most High are aroused up to a closer examination of 
 themselves ; it is then that every grace in the soul is 
 fully drawn out, and from amid the clouds of distress 
 and tribulations they look to God " as their only help 
 in every time of need," and I do not venture too much 
 when I say it appears to be an ordeal through which 
 the Most High brings his people ; at any rate, such is 
 the view that His word holds out ; if any doubt, they 
 have but to turn to that highly interesting passage to 
 be found in Revelations, chapter 7, 14th verse, where it 
 is said to John, " These are they which came out of 
 great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made 
 them white in the blood of the Lamb." Impressed no 
 doubt with the truth of this assertion, consequently 
 resting upon it as the Lord's way in dealing with 
 his children, and following as near as possible the 
 example of their blessed Saviour the Lord Jesus, these 
 brethren, in the midst of every discouragement, rose 
 superior to them all, and held together, awaiting the 
 Master's own time for some favorable change in their 
 peculiar and trying case, of three years' " patient con- 
 tinuance in well doing." About this time, 1827, the 
 Rev. Charles Gardner, a minister of the Methodist de- 
 nomination, in deacon orders, came into Philadelphia, 
 and, being a man of a large heart and extensive liber- 
 ality in his Christian principles, was solicited to preach 
 for the congregation, and such was the effect upon 
 the people, and their appreciation of his manner 
 
[ 85 ] 
 
 and mode of applying ^and enforcing the doctrines 
 of grace, that in Oct., 1827, the congregation applied 
 to Presbytery, then sitting at Bridgetown, for leave 
 to employ Mr. Gardner as a stated supply until the 
 spring meeting of Presbytery, whereupon Presbytery 
 authorized Drs. Janeway and Ely as a committee to 
 examine Mr. Gardner as to his qualifications to dis- 
 charge the duties of his sacred office. This was at- 
 tended to, and he was authorized to supply the pulpit 
 until further notice. Mr. Gardner then entered upon 
 the duty, and preached his first sermon in that capacity 
 on Sabbath, Dec. 1st, 1827. Mr. Gardner continued 
 to preach until the spring. At this Presbytery, the 
 church made application for the services of Mr. Gard- 
 ner until the next meeting of Presbytery, which was 
 granted. Qn Nov. 10, 1829, Presbytery being in 
 session, proceeded to examine Mr. Gardner with a view 
 to his licensure ; but before the examination was ended 
 they referred his case to a committee, appointed when 
 the Presbytery adjourned. On April 21, 1830, Pres- 
 bytery being in session, the Committee to whom was 
 referred the final examination of Mr. Gardner reported 
 to Presbytery that Mr. Gardner requested to be 
 dismissed from under their care, which report was 
 accepted. Here was another terrible blow for the 
 church, and one calculated to prostrate, the energy and 
 hope of the people, building their future prospects 
 under God upon Mr. Gardner, believing that a benefi- 
 cent Providence had so ordered it that he should visit 
 and labor among them, and being also delighted with 
 his preaching, for he was certainly no mean expounder 
 of the Word of the Lord, all of these considerations 
 were calculated to discourage and dishearten. Of 
 course, there was no other alternative but Christian-like 
 to yield submissively to this stroke and accept of it as 
 
[ 86 ] 
 
 being of the Lord, and whatever he did was right, 
 marvellous as it might appear; of one thing they 
 were certain, that was, inasmuch as there was no mis- 
 understanding between Mr. Gardner and them, they 
 considered that his motive was pure for making the 
 request of Presbytery, and his reasons, not based upon 
 any disposition to injure the church, from all we could 
 understand, it was simply some points of doctrine to 
 which, for the present, not fully understanding so that 
 he could conscientiously subscribe to them, he required 
 time for reflection and decision; this was' worthy of 
 him, and Presbytery so considered it. 
 
 MR. CLARKSON'S DEATH. 
 
 There are times in the history of a church, as there are 
 in the life of individuals, when afflictions and discourage- 
 ments enter into all their arrangements, prostrating their 
 energies, and often filling the soul with anguish and 
 despair. True, it sometimes happens that they are as 
 dark clouds that flit across the Christian's sky, and hide 
 for a time the brightness of his sun. This is so com- 
 mon in every relation of life, whether as men or as com- 
 munities, that I need say no more upon it, for observa- 
 tion, if not experience, must concede its truthfulness. 
 This was particularly the case with the church at this 
 time. It was not quite three months from the time of 
 Mr. Gardner's withdrawal from the church, when the 
 death of Mr. Clarkson was announced. On July 2d, 
 1830, he closed his eyes in death, aged 65 years. It is 
 true the people knew that from his failing health he 
 could not long survive, but expecting, as they did, that he 
 would shortly be called away from earth, yet they were 
 
[ 87 ] 
 
 not prepared to hear so soon that their elder, their vene- 
 rated father in Israel, would be so suddenly called. Of 
 Mr. Clarkson much might be said, but we have spoken 
 of him in another place ; let it suffice me here to remark, 
 the life that Mr. Clarkson lived he lived by faith in the 
 Son of God, so that when he fell asleep, it was in Jesus. 
 In September, 1830, Presbytery again granted sup- 
 plies for the church, and during this period there was 
 some increase. The number of communicants usually 
 in attendance upon the communion, numbered about 
 forty persons ; a reduced number, certainly, to what was 
 once the communicants of the church, when things wore 
 a brighter aspect, that is, before the division took place. 
 However, they did not disregard " the day of small 
 things ;" they thanked God for present blessings, small 
 though they might be took courage therefrom, and 
 still looked to God and labored on. On July 10th, 
 1831, notice was given that the church was in need of 
 another elder, to assist in the spiritual wants of the 
 church. The old elders were fast failing, and being en- 
 feebled through excessive labors, and younger men were 
 now required. Accordingly, Mr. Thomas Black, a man 
 of piety and strict integrity, with business qualifications 
 such as the house of the Lord required, was the choice of 
 the people as a candidate; whereupon, on July 31. 1831, 
 Mr. Black was set apart, and ordained by the Rev. 
 George Potts, as an elder of the church. About this 
 time, also, the church made another application to Mr. 
 Samuel Cornish, at New York, with a view of obtain- 
 ing his service to supply them with the Gospel. To 
 this appeal Mr. Cornish responded, and on December 
 13, 1831, Mr. Cornish commenced his labors among the 
 people, which he continued to do with considerable suc- 
 cess until the month of June, 1832, when, from circum- 
 
[88] 
 
 stances of an interesting and important nature to him, 
 and his calling to another field of labor, he resigned his 
 care of the church. 
 
 On July 3, 1832, Dr. Green being appointed by Pres- 
 bytery to moderate the session of the church, and ad- 
 minister the communion of the Lord's supper, &c., to 
 the people, entered upon the duties. 
 
 On Feb. 22, 1833, Mr. John Burch being previously 
 offered and accepted by a majority of the people, Dr. 
 Green proceeded and ordained him a ruling elder to 
 serve the church. From the time Dr. Green took the 
 care of the church, as above stated, to the time of his 
 resigning, on April 30, 1835, over two years, there was 
 considerable increase, and much regret was expressed 
 by the congregation on account of his withdrawal. I 
 will here insert, without the least fear of any one soul 
 in the congregation demurring against the assertion, 
 that the church will ever cherish towards the memory 
 of Dr. Green, the deepest regard and reverence 
 " though dead" yet to them " he liveth." 
 
 On July 29, 1835, Mr. Nathan Harned moderated the 
 session and became the supply to the church, and con- 
 tinued faithfully in discharging the duties imposed upon 
 him by Presbytery until May 6, 1836, at which time 
 the congregation met and determined to elect a pastor, 
 according to notice previously given. Whereupon, the 
 Rev. Charles W. Gardner, having returned to Philadel- 
 phia and become a member of the Philadelphia Presby- 
 tery, was unanimously chosen, and the elders and trus- 
 tees were authorized to fill up and prosecute a call before 
 Presbytery. Mr. Thomas Black was appointed to pre- 
 sent the call. The call was presented to Presbytery and 
 put into the hands of Mr.- Gardner, and accepted by 
 him. July 5, 1836, was set apart as the day to install 
 
[ 89 ] 
 
 Mr. Gardner. Dr. Green, was appointed to preside; 
 Rev. Mr. McCalla to preach the sermon ; Dr. Green to 
 put the requisite questions to the pastor elect and the 
 people ; and Mr. Ely the the charge to pastor and people. 
 The text chosen by Mr. McCalla was 2 Timothy, chap, 
 i. 13 v.: "Hold fast the form of sound words which 
 thou hast heard of me." I need not say much concern- 
 ing this highly interesting occasion; it may suffice me 
 merely to remark that the interest seen and felt on that 
 occasion may be gathered from the dense mass of people 
 that filled the house that day. It seemed as if the great 
 Head of the Church opened upon them a day-spring 
 from above ; rays of light broke through the gloom of 
 years, and the clouds of discouragement, that hung so 
 heavily over them and casting their dark shadows across 
 their pathway for the three years that they labored with- 
 out hope of a settled pastor, were dispelled on that day, 
 and light, bright, glorious light, came flooding in on that 
 faithful band of men and women, who for years com- 
 bated so nobly against such fearful odds as I have fre- 
 quently described in this narrative. The installation 
 and its stirring emotions of the day, will long be remem- 
 bered by the church. 
 
 From this time, then, Mr. Gardener must be regarded 
 as the settled pastor of the church. Under his ministry 
 the addition of members was numerous, and the increase 
 of the congregation very large: insomuch that the build- 
 ing could scarcely accommodate the number of persons 
 that attended on his stated ministry. Of the elders 
 officiating at his installation were Peter McNeal, Thos. 
 Black, and John Burch. These brethren labored with 
 Mr. Gardner during his pastoral charge, excepting to 
 some extent in the case of Mr. McNeal, who departed 
 
[ 90 ] 
 
 this life on the 10th January, 1841, at the ripe age of 
 75 years, after serving his Lord and Master, as an elder 
 in the church, for the space of thirty years. He was a 
 man full of zeal for the glory of the Lord's house, and 
 though bending under the weight of years, yet his ardor 
 was not cooled, nor his interest in the church in the 
 least abated. As he lived, so he died : with heaven in 
 his view, the promises of his God to lean upon, and the 
 grace of Christ to sustain, cheer, and lighten up his 
 pathway as he "walked through the dark valley and 
 shadow of death." The church mourned his loss sin- 
 cerely, for they deeply felt " that a great man had fallen 
 in Israel," when death laid its iron arm upon him, ancl 
 laid him in the dust. He is gone, but what is loss to 
 the church is gain to him. We believe, from the life he 
 lived, the death he died, that he has entered into that 
 rest that remains for the people of God. Such was the 
 increase of members that joined the church, arid the 
 press of business upon the pastor and elders, that it was 
 found necessary, about this time, to seek out a man upon 
 whom some of the growing wants of the church might 
 be apportioned. Such a man was found in the person 
 of Mr. Jessie Turner, then a young man of deep piety, 
 sound judgment, and possessed of a large share of dis- 
 crimination, qualities necessary to constitute an efficient 
 elder. Such being the views entertained of Mr. Turner, 
 he was elected to the office of a ruling elder, and 
 ordained by Mr. Charles Gardner, on the 19th day of 
 January, 1840. At the time that Mr. Gardner became 
 the pastor of the church, there were about 130 members. 
 It will be borne in mind that the membership was 
 reduced to the stated number on account of the division 
 that took place, and some by removals to other locations, 
 and a few by death, so that my readers need not be sur- 
 
[ 91 ] 
 
 prised at the meagre number presented. However this 
 might be, Mr. Gardner did not labor very long before a 
 happy and charming change for the better became evi- 
 dent. Many that had wandered away from the fold 
 returned, and not a few from the gay world of fashion 
 and pride earnestly sought the Lord, and found peace in 
 believing on Jesus, and were received into the church. 
 Many were the precious seasons of grace enjoyed by 
 the church, under the ministry of Mr. Gardner, It was 
 a soul stirring time, in these days a time of refreshing 
 from the Lord. The old and the young "came inquir- 
 ing for him of whom Moses and the prophets did write." 
 It was a common sight, on communion seasons, to behold 
 a goodly number sitting around the table of the Lord, 
 for the first time, who, a few weeks before, were indulg- 
 ing themselves in the frivolous and foolish enjoyments 
 of the world, without a thought, scarcely, of those serious 
 and important considerations of death, judgment, and 
 eternity. Now " they were clothed in their right mind." 
 Having professed faith in Christ, "they conferred not 
 with flesh and blood, but took up their cross and followed 
 the Saviour." 
 
 Such was the continued increase of the congregation 
 and its growing wants, particularly in view of the large 
 number of young persons connecting themselves with 
 the church, and also the very encouraging prospects of 
 the Sabbath-school attached to the congregation, that 
 it was thought both prudent and necessary to obtain the 
 service of another elder, possessing qualifications to 
 engage in the evident wants of the church, among the 
 young as well as the old. To this end, Mr. Jacob C. 
 White seemed eminently qualified ; his literary attain- 
 ments, his Christian and consistent deportment, his 
 remarkable zeal and piety, pointed to him as a man for 
 
[ 92] 
 
 the office of an elder, and the finger of providence mani- 
 festly singled him out, and so the people considered it ; 
 consequently the session met, after obtaining the consent 
 of Mr. White, and he was examined, and, giving satis- 
 faction of his qualifications, was accepted by the congre- 
 gation, and ordained on the 18th October, 1842. There 
 were now four elders constituting the session; these 
 remain until this day, with the exception of Mr. Jesse 
 Turner, who, having served the church faithfully, and 
 beloved by the whole church, and by all who knew him, 
 and above all we believe by his God, calmly, peacefully, 
 and full of faith in God, leaning on his Redeemer, closed 
 his eyes in death on the 25th of April, 1853. 
 
 Mr. Gardner remained pastor of the church for near 
 twelve years, when he notified the congregation that, on 
 the coming session of the Presbytery, he should ask a 
 dissolution from the pastoral relation to the church, 
 whereupon, on the 14th day of February, 1848, the 
 application being made to Presbytery, and granted, the 
 congregation consented to the dissolution, by passing 
 the following resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That, although we entertain an affectionate 
 regard for our pastor, yet as it is his desire to be released 
 from the connection which has for several years so hap- 
 pily subsisted between him and us, we consent to his 
 request. 
 
 Resolved^ That it is our sincere prayer that the bless- 
 ings of God may accompany him through life, and 
 render him both useful and happy. 
 
 Thus terminated the ministry of Mr. Gardner over 
 the church, a ministry, to a considerable extent, of use- 
 fulness and improvement. Many are now members of 
 the church who are seals of his ministry, and some bright 
 
[ 93 ] 
 
 and shining lights are now members of it who have been 
 brought from darkness to light, and who will ever regard 
 Mr. Gardner with affection. In reviewing the labors of 
 Mr. Gardner, we are strongly reminded of the interest- 
 ing reviving times of Mr. Gloucester, for during the 
 pastoral oversight of Mr. Gardner the congregation pre- 
 sented a cheering and highly gratifying appearance. 
 The church was not only numerously attended, so that 
 there was not room to contain the congregation, but the 
 press of young people from the respectable and intellec- 
 tual portion of the community, was encouraging. These 
 finally became so deeply interested in his exposition of 
 the doctrines of Christ, that scores of them gave their 
 hearts to God and connected themselves with the 
 church. I assume that no church of color in Philadel- 
 phia, and I omit not one, could compare with this church 
 at this time (1843), for the number of young intellectual 
 persons that were members of it. The frequent revivals 
 that took place in 1842 were soul-cheering and reviving, 
 showers of refreshing from on high came pouring down 
 during the major part of this year. I will give a few of 
 the number received into full communion on an occasion 
 or two: Jan. 5, 1842, 8 received; Jan. 17, 14 received; 
 Feb. 15, 12 received; Feb. 23, 20 received; April 3, 11 
 received; April 6, 3 received; May 11, 27 received; and 
 so during nearly the whole of this year, it was the day 
 of God's power to make willing the hearts of the young. 
 Here in four months ninety-five young interesting per- 
 sons were brought by the power of the Word of Christ. 
 As a matter of course, we are not to suppose that during 
 these twelve years there were no trials to endure by Mr. 
 Gardner and the elders; to presume it, would argue 
 but a very shallow insight into human affairs, and I am 
 yet to learn from the present constitution of things by 
 
which we are surrounded, if there can be any situation 
 in life clear of embarrassments, troubles and cares. The 
 church is no exception, and though we should expect 
 peace, prosperity, love, and harmony to prevail, consider- 
 ing the use, the aim, and the end of it, observation, if 
 not experience, shows that to some extent, at least, these 
 desirable ends are scarcely attained. As long as human 
 nature remains clothed with mortality, so long will im- 
 perfections exist. We cannot close our eyes to the fact 
 that evils exist in the human heart. They are latent 
 for a time, snugly hid away, but ready to leap forth when 
 an occasion offers. How often are we surprised at the 
 sudden springs of these latent evils ourselves. They 
 should be stormed and rooted out from the citadel by a 
 Divine power; like rank weeds springing up in a gar- 
 den, however well attended, they require to be pulled 
 up and cast out by the careful husbandman. So must 
 the pride, passion and lusts of the professor be care- 
 fully watched, and every root of bitterness cast out as 
 soon as it appears. Like David, we should ever pray, 
 " Search me, and try me, and see if there be any evil 
 way in me." 
 
 It will form no part of my duty to venture any remarks 
 upon the motive or reason why Mr. Gardner resigned 
 the pastoral charge of the church. According to the 
 resolutions passed, it can be discerned that the separa- 
 tion was a friendly one, and such should always be the 
 case between a retiring pastor and the people. It often 
 happens that chief friends are called to part, not in bit- 
 terness but in love. Many circumstances may arise to 
 make it necessary, without altering in the least the in- 
 terest and affection existing. Such, 1 believe, was the 
 case in this instance. Mr. Gardner still lives, though 
 well advanced in years, gind very recently visited the 
 
[ 95 ] 
 
 city and preached to the. people, by whom he was re- 
 ceived most cordially. He still retains, apparently, the 
 vigor of a strong man, and although in the 7f3d year of 
 his age, his voice is still clear and strong. In intellect 
 and energy there is no marked difference to what it was 
 years long past. 
 
 But to proceed with this narrative, I must remark, 
 that after the pulpit was declared vacant, the church 
 was once more thrown under the fostering care of Pres- 
 bytery, and they supplied the pulpit, as they had ever 
 done when the wants of the church required it. The 
 church remained without a pastor for about seven years, 
 during which time Rev. Griffith Owen, Dr. Cuyler, and 
 t)r. Joseph H. Jones, not only moderated the session, 
 but took a deep interest in all the affairs of the church, 
 administering the communion or the Lord's supper, bap- 
 tizing the children, advising and counselling with the 
 elders as to every measure whereby the church could be 
 benefited. During this period of the church history, 
 there was considerable exertion made to obtain the ser- 
 vice of a pastor, so as to relieve the Presbytery and the 
 gentlemen appointed by them to moderate the session, 
 from so burdensome a service ; at least, so thought the ses- 
 sion, for I must inform the reader that each of these breth- 
 ren had their own congregations to attend, and their 
 congregations were very large, yet we cannot advance a 
 single proof or any idea whatever, that they were not 
 perfectly willing to do all in their power for the interest 
 of this branch of Christ's church. It was during this 
 time that various and frequent calls were made to pas- 
 tors to take the pastoral charge, but without success. 
 This, no doubt, arose from the fact that there are few 
 Presbyterian colored ministers, and these were all set- 
 tled over their several congregations or churches, and 
 
[ 96 ] 
 
 it must be perceived that the inducements to break these 
 relations must be sufficiently strong ; and so it appeared 
 in the cases upon which we are now treating. The rin- 
 ger of God must clearly point the course a pastor should 
 pursue in such a case. To leave a charge on slight 
 grounds, or simply that a call is made for services de- 
 sired by another congregation, forms no part of a pas- 
 tor's consideration. There may be instances where it 
 may be duty to break these relations, as when a people, 
 from some cause, or source, or rumor, loses confidence 
 in a pastor, or when from some motive or circumstance 
 he is no longer useful among them, or even when his 
 ministry is not blest or of spiritual interest, it may be 
 his Christian duty and obligation to resign his charge, 
 that an opportunity may be afforded some other to take 
 the pastoral oversight, whose labors may be more suc- 
 cessful. But in all such cases, I repeat, God's direction 
 must be sought, and not a step taken until it shall ap- 
 pear clear as a sunbeam that such are the leadings of Pro- 
 vidence. Such, perhaps, may be the reasons we can 
 best produce why these calls were not accepted, and 
 why the church remained so long without a pastor. 
 
 It is not to be presumed, in a city like Philadelphia, 
 a city of churches, and where there are so many enter- 
 prises, influences, and engagements of every color and 
 description, that a church without a regularly installed 
 minister, can hope to retain its membership. We need 
 not be surprised at this statement, when we reflect 
 that we are in an age of the world when proselyting 
 from one denomination to another has become the fash- 
 ion of the day, and particularly among some sectarians. 
 Wherever this is seen and done, it is censurable and 
 condemnable, if not abject, to say the least of it. On 
 
[ 97 ] 
 
 the other hand, in many instances, the glitter and gay- 
 ety of life, with its thousand attractions, prove too 
 strong a current for many to resist. Especially is this 
 so with the young, whose principles of Christianity have 
 not been firmly fixed on Christ, as the rock from which 
 they see things. There are other considerations that 
 may be offered why a congregation may be reduced 
 where there is no settled pastor. These that I have 
 stated may be sufficient for the present, leaving the 
 reader to reflect upon many others that may be adduced 
 for this dwindling away of the church of which I am 
 now writing, as well as if I had been careful to mention 
 more, or describe instances in particular. However 
 sadly the church was reduced in numbers, there was one 
 singular feature always existing in it there were those 
 of its members who were so devotedly attached to their 
 Zion, that no possible discouragement could shake their 
 love for it. Minister or no minister, their affection 
 for their church was deep and abiding, and though 
 at times it appeared that to obtain a pastor seemed as 
 hopeless and disheartening as can well be conceived, yet 
 this small band of men and women remained like faith- 
 ful soldiers at their post, and when through every effort 
 of designing individuals, offers and inducements were 
 held out, and every subterfuge resorted to in order to 
 break up and destroy this branch of the church, there 
 were those in it who, like the disciples of old, were de- 
 termined, though all forsook this mother church, that 
 they would not forsake her; and they did not, as the 
 sequel of this history will show. It is to be regretted 
 that there was such a waning of membership during this 
 period, still the Master was not unmindful of his church. 
 Now and then an application would be made by some 
 to become members, and thus at times the Lord would 
 7 
 
L 98 ] 
 
 revive the spirits of his people, and give theih a refresh- 
 ing shower from on high. 
 
 In the year 1854 the congregation, in view of the 
 antiquated appearance of the church, and the necessity 
 of remodelling it, concluded to enter into some measures 
 for accomplishing so desirable an end. It may not be 
 known to the general reader of these pages why it was 
 that at this particular, and to human probability, dis- 
 couraging period that the congregation should attempt 
 the remodelling of the building. Philadelphia, it is 
 well known, by all who are acquainted with the fact, 
 contains a colored population of intelligence and wealth 
 as can be found in any city in the Union, and possessed 
 of considerable taste. 
 
 The colored churches of this city are confirmatory of 
 this fact ; in their interior as on the exterior they present 
 an appearance of neatness and good taste. Those that 
 have recently been erected have been built in keeping 
 with the latest architectural style of whatever order. 
 As a general thing, all old churches have been re- 
 modelled and made to present a respectable appearance. 
 I do not by any means wish to convey the idea that 
 they have been extravagantly remodelled; simplicity 
 and neatness alone have been substituted for the dull 
 and sombre appearance of the old buildings. To these 
 churches thus remodelled people preferred to worship, 
 particularly that portion of the community which should 
 by some means or other have the Gospel preached unto 
 them. Another reason why the people as a general 
 thing were anxious to alter their churches ; and this 
 was one of the reasons that prompted this church to 
 remodel their house. The old houses were not well 
 ventilated, nor lighted. In order to secure all these 
 advantages, so necessary to health as to comfort, it was 
 
[99 ] 
 
 determined at least to make some necessary alteration 
 to the church. Every colored church in the city pre- 
 sented a very inviting appearance, becoming their means, 
 however, this old church was an exception; it was the 
 same old-fashioned house that it was forty-six years 
 back, only as a matter of course a little the worse for 
 wear ; to change the appearance of things a little, and 
 make this temple of worship more desirable and plea- 
 sant, prompted the people at least to make the attempt 
 to remodel the interior, at this seeming unfavorable 
 time, of which I am now writing as above referred to; 
 the people, with a determination creditable to them, 
 entered with a proper spirit into ways and means to 
 accomplish their desire, under the lead particularly of 
 Mr. Jacob C. White, Sen. ; plans were proposed and 
 adopted, and the operation commenced, and which they 
 very soon accomplished at a cost of $1452 43 cts. 
 
 In this they were assisted by our church extension 
 committee to the amount of four hundred dollars. In 
 the short space of three months the work was accom- 
 plished, and will in point of neatness compare very 
 favorably with any of our sister churches ; not the least 
 interesting part of the effort is the fact that when the 
 work was completed it was paid for, so that the church 
 was relieved from debt, and remains so until the present 
 time. I must, however, say that there was not only a 
 unity of action by the majority of the people to re- 
 model the interior of the house, but a willingness to 
 contribute of their money for the purpose, yet withal, 
 to Mr. White particularly belongs the direction and 
 control of the successful effort. Considering then the 
 motive that influenced the congregation to remodel 
 the house, they cannot be charged with an undue pride. 
 The other churches were commodious and attractive, and 
 
[ ioo ] 
 
 showed improvement ; they wore an aspect so pleasing 
 that it proved an inducement to the young to resort to 
 them. This house alone stood as it does now on the 
 exterior, like an antiquated relic of gone by days, re- 
 membered as a place where amid the musty memories 
 of the past it is remembered however venerated it may 
 be regarded, yet it was not in keeping with the pro- 
 gress of the times when progress is the watchword, in 
 fact " the lamp now that bumeth" and shines so dis- 
 tinctly athwart our pathway. True, the old church 
 always retained a hold upon the respect of the com- 
 munity ; its character for order and consistency unques- 
 tioned, and among the churches none are regarded as 
 retaining more of the simplicity of Christian require- 
 ments in their externals than this old church, for there 
 are many in it whose regular attendance for worship to 
 this house is proverbial, and as it is in attendance, so 
 in everything else; in dress, in general conduct, in 
 temperance, in worship, in conversation, avoiding all 
 show of parade, avoiding all of those trappings and 
 harness lately introduced into the Church of Christ in 
 the forms of bills of fare, such as fairs, mental feasts, 
 suppers, or teas as they are called, and those destructive 
 ones under the significant head of " great attraction ;" 
 then follow theatrical displays, as Sabbath School exhi- 
 bitions the majority of pieces spoken taken from dra- 
 matic writers, not from God's Word, neither Christian 
 writers nor poets ; these are too tame for those training 
 in these schools of Christ. The very dress in which many 
 appear is the drapery of the stage, the glitter and 
 show of the theatre by no means the simple, neat, 
 becoming one of the Christian, which, in order to be 
 consistent and sincere in profession, should be observed. 
 Against all these outrages this old church is set, from 
 
them they have " washed their hands in innocency," 
 against them all it " lifts up its voice ;" within its holy 
 precincts they cannot enter. I have given a reason why 
 the interior of the church was remodelled, and the like 
 reason may be presumed why before very long some 
 alteration should be made to the outside appearance of 
 the building, for it presents anything else than an in- 
 viting one. We are in hope that not many months 
 more and the appearance of the entire superstructure 
 will be changed, but not by any of the trappings above 
 alluded to ; only from Christian principles will it be at- 
 tempted. The remodelling of the inside being com- 
 pleted the place was dedicated to the service of God on 
 the seventh of May, 1854. Rev. R. Happerset preached 
 the opening sermon in the morning. Dr. Joseph H. 
 Jones preached in the afternoon. Both were listened 
 to by large congregations. 
 
 The next course for the further interest of the 
 Church, and, we hope, for the glorious extension of our 
 Redeemer's kingdom, was to call a minister to take the 
 pastoral oversight of the church ; consequently, at a 
 meeting of the session, held March the 20th, 1855, Dr. 
 Joseph H. Jones, Moderator, it was agreed that a con- 
 gregational meeting should be held on Friday evening, 
 the 23d inst., for the call of a pastor. Said meeting 
 was held, when the Rev. Wm. T. Catto was nominated 
 and elected; the call was made out and presented to 
 Presbytery, of which the pastor elect was a member; 
 the call being accepted, Presbytery appointed the 22d 
 April as the time of installation, Dr. Lewis Cheeseman 
 to preach the sermon, Dr. Joseph H. Jones to deliver 
 the charge to the people, Dr. Henry Steele Clark the 
 charge to the pastor, all of which was done. The 
 
[ 102 ] 
 
 sermon on the occasion was from Heb. v. 1, 2 verses, 
 and will never be forgotten by the writer of this 
 history, neither by the dense mass of human beings 
 who thronged the church to its utmost capacity upon 
 that memorable occasion. If the hearty responses and 
 warm greetings of the multitude, if the cordial shake 
 of the hand as the right hand of fellowship was given, 
 if the cheerful smiles of some and the deep emotions 
 of others are any proofs of cordial welcome, and should 
 act as reasons why the relation of pastor and people 
 should be perpetuated, then the strongest reasons exist 
 that the pastor and his flock will dwell together as 
 brethren in Christ, and in the unity of the spirit and 
 bond of faith, which may God grant. 
 
 It is not for me now to say what are the future 
 prospects of the church ; this must be left for the future 
 historian to record when I too shall be called hence to 
 sleep the sleep of death. It remains for me to record 
 that the church at present comprises a membership of 
 one hundred and eighty-two persons who are communi- 
 cant members; these, together with others who are 
 pew-holders and stated worshippers, present, at pre- 
 sent, a very interesting congregation; there are three 
 ruling elders, Mr. Thomas Black, John Birch, and 
 Jacob C. White. Thirteen trustees govern the finances 
 of the church, and they so manage the affairs of the 
 church through the tact of their foreman, Mr. James 
 Clay, that it can be said they " owe no man anything." 
 Connected with the church is a Sabbath-school, num- 
 bering about forty scholars, Mr. J. C. White being the 
 superintendent, assisted by Mrs. Sarah Hawkins. From 
 this school, established by Mr. Gloucester, have risen 
 up and gone 'forth, bearing precious seed, several 
 ministers of the Gospel ; Mr. Gloucester's four sons, all 
 
[ 103 ] 
 
 of whom were ministers, were children of this school. 
 Jeremiah, Stephen, and John have each finished their 
 work, and ere this I hope are with their beloved and 
 honored father resting in peace ; James, the youngest, 
 is still alive and living in New York, a member of one 
 of the New School Presbyteries in that city. Mr. 
 Henry Wilson and Jonathan Gibbs, both pastors of 
 churches, one in New York City, the other in Troy, 
 State of N. Y., were both children of this school ; and 
 there are some now preaching in other denominations 
 who were raised up and trained here. There is now at the 
 Ashmun Institute, established by the New Castle Pres- 
 bytery, and located in Oxford, West Chester County, 
 Mr. Thomas Amos, a young man taken up by this 
 church, and recommended to our Presbytery, who was 
 received after examination, and is now prosecuting his 
 studies with a view to the Gospel ministry. Surely, 
 then, the old church is not without its interest and its 
 history. What may be its future is with Him alone 
 who sees from the beginning and knows the ending ; it 
 is but for the church to labor on in the good work of 
 the Lord, that we review often the past and learn 
 lessons of instruction to guide into the future ; and 
 amid all to look to Him who is head of His Church, 
 and to Jesus, the author of faith, our Prophet, Priest, 
 and King, to whom be glory in the Church forever. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 NOTE. It may not be amiss for me to record, in connection with 
 this history, some instances of pure benevolence shown this church. 
 First, at the time when a claim for debt, said to be due to Mr. John 
 Gloucester, the founder, was laid against the church, and the sheriff 
 was about to execute a sale of the property to p#y said claim, Mr. 
 Chauncy, a gentleman of large benevolence, gave as a donation $100 
 to settle the debt, and this saved the property. 
 
[ 104 ] 
 
 In 1839, Mr. J. Williams, a member of the Sixth Presbyterian 
 Church, Dr. J. H. Jones, pastor, by will left $500 to the church. 
 
 The Demosthenes Society (colored) also gave a donation of $60 
 for the use of the trustees. 
 
 Subsequently, 1849, Dr. Ashbel Green left by will $50 for the 
 church, and an equal sum for Rev. C. AY. Gardner, formerly the 
 pastor. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 CONCEITING that a synoptical history of all the colored 
 churches in the city of Philadelphia, would be of some 
 interest to the reader, I have undertaken to insert in 
 this work when each church was founded, the number 
 of members at present, the size of each building, also 
 the value of each, and a short account of any matter 
 that may be of interest. 
 
 There are in the city 18 churches, to wit: 
 
 1. A. M. E. BETHEL CHURCH. 
 
 This church is located in South Sixth Street, east side, between 
 Lombard and Pine. It was founded in 1816 as an African M. E. 
 Church by Richard Allen ; it is a large brick edifice substantially 
 built, plain, but neat; it is 62 feet wide, TO feet long, with a base- 
 ment story divided into a lecture room, class rooms, and minister's 
 study with a library attached. The church and lot upon which it 
 stands, together with other property owned by the corporation, are 
 at the lowest possible estimate, valued at $60,000 ; the audience 
 room is very capacious, and for neatness is equalled but by few 
 churches in the city ; it is rated to seat about 2500 persons. The 
 church is composed of 1100 communicant members. It has a Sabbath 
 school containing 350 children, 2 superintendents, and 25 teachers 
 (11 males and 14 females). This church was the first African Me- 
 thodist Episcopal Church organized in the United States ; its branches 
 at present extend nearly over the whole Union. The aggregate 
 membership is about 30,000. Rt. Rev. Richard Allen was the first 
 bishop ; since, there have been five more ordained, to wit, Rt. Revds. 
 
[ 106 J 
 
 Edward Waters, Morris Brown, Wm. Paul Quinn, Willis Nazry, and 
 Daniel A. Payne ; the three last are at present the acting bishops, the 
 others being dead. 
 
 2. UNION A. M. E. CHURCH. 
 
 This church is located in Coates St., N. L., between Fifth and 
 Fourth Streets. It is a brick edifice, 68 feet long, by 38 feet wide ; 
 it has a basement in which are a lecture room and two class rooms. 
 The audience room is very tastefully finished, well ventilated, and will 
 compare with any of our churches for neatness. It was founded in 
 1816, and at present contains a membership of 29*7 communicants ; 
 the church is rated to seat 800 persons. It has a Sabbath-school 
 attached, with 160 scholars, 10 male teachers, and 8 females. There 
 is a fine library attached to the school. The building and lot are 
 valued at $14,000. 
 
 3. A. M. E. WESLEY CHURCH. 
 
 This is a neat little brick superstructure located in Hurst St. be- 
 tween Lombard and South, Fifth and Sixth Streets; it will seat about 
 500 persons. The church was founded in 1834 ; there are 300 mem- 
 bers. There is also a basement to this building, in which are a lecture 
 room, three class rooms, and a minister's studio. There is a Sabbath- 
 school of 2*7 children, 3 male and 2 female teachers. The entire 
 property is valued at $6,000. 
 
 4. AFRICAN M. E. MISSION. 
 
 This is a brick building 22 feet long by 18 feet wide. The build- 
 ing and lot are valued at $800, will seat 250 persons. This mission 
 was commenced in 1852 ; at present there is a membership of 120 
 persons. In the Sabbath-school are 68 children. The mission is 
 under the charge of the Rev. Stephen Smith, the city missionary of 
 the A. M. E. Church. The church is located in South Seventh 
 Street, below Dickson St., South wark. 
 
 5. A. M. E. ALLEN CHAPEL. 
 
 A wooden building 20 feet long by 16 wide, and together with 
 the lot is valued at $400. It is situated in Christian Street below 
 
[ 107] 
 
 South Second Street ; it contains a membership of 30 persons, and 
 will accommodate 150 persons with seats. Attached is a Sabbath- 
 school of 28 children. This mission is also under the care of Rev. 
 S. Smith. 
 
 6. ZOAR METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 This church is situated in Brown St., N. L., between Fifth and 
 Fourth Streets, and is in connection with the M. E. Church. Supposed 
 to have 150 members, and Sabbath-school children, 75. The build- 
 ing is of brick ; will seat about 400 persons ; has a basement with 
 lecture room and two class rooms. The edifice is about 60 feet long, 
 by about 35 wide. The audience room is plain and well finished. 
 It has no side galleries, but one on the end. Valued about $12,000. 
 
 7. ST. THOMAS PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL. 
 
 This edifice is of brick, and stands at the corner of Adelphi and 
 Fifth St., between Locust and Walnut. The building is about 60 
 feet long, and about 40 wide. There is a large lecture room and 
 minister's library in the basement. The audience room is a fine 
 specimen of architectural finish, differing materially from the finish of 
 the other churches. Attached to the building is a vestry room. 
 There are 337 adult members in communion. The building in the 
 audience room will seat on the lower floor and galleries, about 800 
 persons. The church has attached an interesting Sabbath-school of 
 145 children, 5 males, and seven females, teachers. It was founded 
 in 1794. Wm. Gray, Absalom Jones, Wm. White, Wm. Gardner, 
 Henry Stewart, and Wm. Wiltshire, were the founders and trustees. 
 The entire property, including the large lot upon which the church 
 stands, together with the parsonage, is valued at $40,000. 
 
 8. WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH. 
 
 This is a neat brick edifice, located in Lombard St., between South 
 Sixth and Fifth Sts.; it was founded in 1820, Mr. Josiah Blue at the 
 time the minister. The building is 60 feet long, 42 wide, and is 
 rated to seat 800 persons. For style and finish it is not surpassed 
 by any of the colored churches in Philadelphia. There are 500 com- 
 municant members. Attached is a Sabbath-school of 165 children, 
 10 males and 12 females, teachers. This building, also, has a base- 
 
[ 108 ] 
 
 ment with class rooms and minister's study. The entire property is 
 valued at $20,000. 
 
 9. ISRAEL CONGREGATIONAL METHODIST. 
 
 This building stands at the corner of South Fifth and Gaskill Sts., 
 between Lombard and South Sts. It is a very old brick edifice, and 
 wears a very antiquated appearance inside and out. It is a large 
 edifice, being 72 long, and 41 feet wide. It has no basement ; will 
 seat about 2,000 persons. It was founded as a Congregational 
 church in 1850. There are about 200 members to this church. 
 Property valued about $18,000. 
 
 10. JOHN WESLEY M. E: CHURCH. 
 
 This church is in Shippen St. between Seventh and Eighth Sts. 
 It is a small brick building 45 feet long by 23 feet wide. The church 
 was founded in 1844, by Rev. Geo. Valentine. There are at present 
 100 members. It will seat about 200 persons. This property is 
 valued at $4,000. 
 
 11. 1st AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, FOUNDED IN 
 
 1830. 
 
 
 
 This is the first colored Baptist Church organized in Philadelphia, 
 Rev. Mr. King being the founder. The house is of brick ; in the 
 interior or audience room it may be said to be beautiful to behold. 
 The building is 48 feet by 40. It will seat about 350 persons. The 
 property is valued at $5,000. It is located in Pearl St. near Eleventh 
 and between Vine and Wood Sts. There are 200 members belonging 
 to this church, mostly young persons ; there are 130 children in the 
 Sabbath-school. 
 
 12. UNION BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 Was. founded in 1832 by the Rev. Daniel Scott. There are at 
 present 260 members, with a Sabbath-school attached of 97 scholars, 
 9 teachers, 4 males and five females. The edifice is of brick, 51 by 
 32 feet ; it has a basement with lecture room and minister's studio. 
 The audience room will accommodate about 500 persons. In appear- 
 ance, either inside or out, this church will compare favorably with 
 
[ 109 ] 
 
 any of our churches. It is located in Little Pine St., between South 
 Sixth and Seventh Sts. The property is valued at $5,000. 
 
 13. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 Located near corner Clifton and South Sts. "Was organized in 
 1842, Rev. John F. Raymond, minister. The building is of brick, 54 
 by 40 feet in dimension ; it has a basement with lecture room and mi- 
 nister's studio. The audience room is of plain,, neat finish, and will 
 seat comfortably about 600 persons. There are 225 members in 
 communion with this church. A Sabbath-school with 85 scholars 
 and 8 teachers, 7 of which are females. The entire property is valued 
 at $11,000. 
 
 14. CHURCH OF THE CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 This church was organized in 1850, and is under the Protestant 
 Episcopal Mission, better known as the Episcopal Mission Station, 
 and under the supervision of the Rev. George Bringhurst. It is located 
 in South Eighth St., between Shippen and South. It is a brick build- 
 ing about 55 feet long by 40 feet wide, and will seat about 500 per- 
 sons. There is no basement ; the audience room being on the first 
 floor, includes the entire inner space from the floor to the rafters, which 
 gives it a very airy as well as commodious appearance. The finish is 
 very plain, though neat ; it has recently been remodelled. This 
 church was originally intended for poor colored people, and was to 
 be considered a free church as it still is ; but such was the increase 
 of white people upon the ministry of Mr. Bringhurst, that it was 
 found necessary to receive white persons to membership. There are, 
 however, in communion with this church 50 colored members, 300 
 colored Sabbath-school children, taught by 20 white teachers, males 
 and females, who have devoted their attention and time to their reli- 
 gious culture. In connection, there is a day (parochial) school, 
 comprising 80 scholars. 
 
 15. UNION METHODIST CHURCH. 
 
 Located in Little Pine St. between Sixth and Seventh Sts. Was 
 founded in 1837 ; contains about 100 members. The house is a 
 small brick building, about 18 feet wide, and about 40 feet long, and 
 valued at $2,000. It was founded by Rev. Peter Spencer. 
 
16. 1st AFRICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 This building stands on South Seventh St., near the corner of 
 Shippen St. The exterior of this building is very plain, the interior 
 very creditable ; as it has been very recently remodelled. It will 
 seat very comfortably about 900 persons. The church was founded 
 in 1807, and at present numbers about 180 communicant members. 
 There is a Sabbath-school attached, consisting of 61 children, 2 male 
 and 3 female teachers. There is a library attached of 271 volumes. 
 The property is valued at $8,000. 
 
 17. SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 This is a fine, modern built brick edifice, 37 by 51, located in St. 
 Mary St., between South Sixth and Seventh Sts., founded in 1824, 
 then Old School, but now under the New School. The interior of the 
 church is very neat ; it will seat about 450 persons comfortably. 
 There is a basement to this church ; it is divided into lecture room, 
 session room, and a minister's studio. Through a division that took 
 place whereby nearly one-half of the members left, there are now but 
 75 persons members of the church. There is a Sabbath-school con- 
 nected with the church, containing 30 children, 3 male and 3 female 
 teachers. The property is valued at $6,000. 
 
 18. CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 This church was founded in 1844 by Rev. Stephen Gloucester, 
 a son of Rev. John Gloucester. The edifice is a very fine brick 
 building, tastily finished externally. Within, it is very handsomely 
 completed in its architecture and furniture. The building is 60 feet 
 long by 38 feet wide, and will seat comfortably about 600 persons. 
 It has a basement with a lecture room, session room, and minister's 
 studio, with a fine library attached. There are 260 members in com- 
 munion. There is a Sabbath-school of 75 children, 6 male and 6 
 female teachers. The property is- valued at $15,000. 
 
 To sum up the aggregate of all these churches, we arrive at the 
 following result : 
 
 18 churches capable of accommodating 11,000 persons. 
 4354 communicant members. 
 
[ 111 ] 
 
 1615 children taught in the sabbath-schools. 
 Value of church property, $221,200. 
 
 When we consider that there are in the city of Philadelphia about 
 30,000 people of color, we see there is still room for further effort in 
 filling up these churches. And may we not hope that God's blessing 
 will still be upon us, and, trusting upon his favor and loving kindness, 
 and with hearts filled with thankfulness for his past mercies, go for- 
 ward, and, with united hearts, do with all our might what our hands 
 find to do. And now unto Him that is able to do exceeding 
 abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power 
 that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Jesus Christ 
 throughout all ages world without end. Amen. 
 
WAITED. 
 
 The undersigned wishes the assistance of COLPORTEURS, to 
 circulate throughout our Church 
 
 THE HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, 
 
 BY REV. RICHARD WEBSTER. 
 
 WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR, 
 
 BY REV. C. VAN RENSSELAER, D. D., 
 
 BYT REV. WM. BLACKWOOD, D. D. 
 
 ftEit!) a portrait of t!)t Eutfcor. 
 Making a large octavo volume of 720 pages, at $3, free of postage. 
 
 (BEING THE FIRST VOLUME OP THE COLLECTIONS OP 
 THE PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY.) 
 
 The great value of this volume is acknowledged in all parts of our country, 
 and the active ministers in the Church are ready to co-operate in its fullest ex- 
 tent with any persons who engage in the work. To licentiates, ministers with 
 or without charge, and to any others wishing to engage in a good cause, this op- 
 portunity is very favorable. 
 
 Arrangements of the most liberal character made, and those who will join 
 us in giving this HISTORY the wide-spread circulation its worth demands, will 
 address 
 
 JOSEPH M. WILSON, Publisher, 
 No. Ill SOUTH TENTH ST., BELOW CHESTNUT. PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 P. S. We would also call attention to THE PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE, 
 ;i monthly religious journal, edited by Rev. C. VAN RENSSELAER, D. I)., pub- 
 lished at $1 per annum. 
 
 IN PREPARATION, 
 Several works of interest to Presbyterians. 
 
Hollinger 
 
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