■ ■■ —. . ■■ — m -i— ~»«™»n»»»Wll»»m^.->.T.'OTi.
 
 R0BE8I J> SiBBkK
 
 A CENTURY 
 
 OF 
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 By ROBERT THOMAS. 
 
 PRESS I 'I 
 
 GERMANTOWN INDEPENDENT. 
 
 [895
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1895, by 
 
 ROBERT THOMAS, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C
 
 THE REV. FRANCIS ASBURY.
 
 ROBERT THOMAS.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 To the Members and Friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 Gemtantown: 
 
 At the request of many members of the "Methodist Episcopal 
 Church" in Germantown, I shall endeavor to give you a brief his- 
 tory of the rise and progress of Methodism in this place; as I have 
 gathered it from the records of the churches and other sources, 
 as well as from my own knowledge and experience as a member 
 of the Church from the year 1827 down to the pit-sent time; together 
 with some of the incidents connected therewith; and some of the 
 more striking traits or peculiarities of its ministers .\n<\ members. 
 
 January, 1895. ROBERT THOMAS.
 
 METHODISM 
 
 IN 
 
 GERMANTOWN. 
 
 The first sermon preached in Germantown by an ordained minister 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which we have any record, was 
 hy the Rev. Francis Asbury, on Monday, March 31st, 1773, in the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, on Market Square, on the site now occupied by the 
 "Market Square Presbyterian Church." Prior to that date there had 
 been occasional preaching in Germantown by Local Preachers. In the 
 year 1704. or in the early part of 1795, the Methodists were granted the 
 privilege of holding meetings in the Academy Building, on School-house 
 lane, and continued to worship there for several years. 1 See minute 
 book of the Academy.) 
 
 On the eighteenth day of May, 1796, Ezekiel Cooper preached in the 
 Academy, and again on June 4th, of the same year. He then organized 
 a class, consisting of about eleven members, and appointed Joseph 
 Jacobs (a Weslevan from England) leader. Prior to this date there had 
 been class meetings held in Germantown; but this was the first regularly 
 organized class of which we have any record. (See "Lights on Parly 
 Methodism," more properly, the biography of Ezekiel Cooper, pao e 230). 
 
 Brother Jacobs continued to be 'the leader of said class for a short 
 time only, and was succeeded by Jacob Butcher, who continued to be a 
 leader tor many years. The writer of this has frequently attended the 
 meetings of the class led by Brother Butcher, which, tor several years, 
 nut in the house- oi Elizabeth Thomas (mother of the writer), on the 
 Mam Street, between Mill street and Armat street, as now opened. 
 
 In the year [799, Jacob Reger, a resident ol Germantown, desired 
 to take unto himself as his wife, Dorothy Shrader, daughter of Hannah
 
 4 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 Shrader; both mother and daughter were members of St. George's Church, 
 and lived in the city of Philadelphia. The mother objected to the mar- 
 riage, on account of there being no Methodist meetings held in German- 
 town; the Academy building at that time being closed against them, Mr. 
 Regar promised the mother that if she would consent to her daughter 
 marrying him, and they making their home with him in Germantown, 
 he would take both mother and daughter to St. George's Church on 
 Sundays until there should be regular services by the Methodists in 
 Germantown. Upon this promise, the mother gave her consent, and on 
 the twelfth day of November, 1799, Jacob Reger was married to the 
 daughter, Dorothy Shrader, by the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper. (See Church 
 record of St. George's Church.) 
 
 At this time Jacob Reger was not a member of the Church. Mother 
 and daughter moved to Germantown. Brother Reger kept his promise, 
 and soon after that date opened his house for public worship. The house 
 is still standing on the southeast side of Haines street, about midway 
 between the Main street and the present parsonage. From that time on 
 until the year 1803, the Methodists, whose motto was, and ever should 
 be, "Onward and Upward," held their meetings in private houses; 
 sometimes in the house of Brother Reger, sometimes in the house of 
 Brother Joseph Jacobs, a frame house which stood at the corner of 
 Main and Mill streets (the site now occupied by Ebeiie's drug store); 
 and at other times in the shop of Frederick Axe, on the southwest 
 side of the Main street, below Washington lane. (The property now 
 belongs to Mrs. Ann Keyser.j 
 
 In the year 1803, Henry Boehm, who had occasionally preached in 
 Germantown, as his father had done before him, feeling a deep interest 
 in the cause of Methodism, and believing this field to be ripe for the 
 harvest, determined to see what could be done towards securing a lot 
 and building a House of Worship thereon, and for that purpose started a 
 subscription; and in part of one day (February 3rd, 1803), received 
 subscriptions amounting to over one hundred dollars ($100), which was
 
 MhTHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 5 
 
 at that time considered a wonderful success. Several hundred dollars 
 
 more were soon added to the list, and the Society then purchased a lot oi 
 ground from Jacob Reger, adjoining his residence- on Haines street, and 
 to the northeast of the same. 
 
 About this time, Jacob Reger, who had been converted, joined the 
 
 Church. 
 
 Haines street was then known as "Pickius" or "Bickius Lane," and 
 afterwards commonly called "Methodist Lane" or "Meeting-House 
 Lane," which latter name it maintained until after the incorporation of 
 the Borough of Germantown, when it was named Haines street. Upon 
 this lot the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Germantown was built. 
 On the twenty-first day of May, A. D., 1804, Jacob Reger made a 
 deed to Thomas Allibone, Thomas Hoskins, James Dougherty, Samuel 
 Harvey, John Hewson, Jr., John Hood, Lambert Wilmer, Dr. William 
 Budd, and Caleb North, Trustees, and their successors, in trust, for the 
 use of the Methodist Congregation, in Germantown, etc. (see Deed 
 Book E. T., No. 16. page 518, etc.), for a lot or piece of ground, situate 
 on the southeast side of Pickius lane, in Germantown. on which said 
 lot there had been erected a stone building or Meeting-house for public 
 worship. Consideration $266.66. Said lot had a frontage on Pickius 
 Lane (now Haines street), ol sixty (60) feet, and extended in depth, 
 southeastwardly, fifty-one (51) feet. The first Meeting-house was 
 about twenty (20) feet front on Haines street or Pickius lane, by about 
 thirty (30) feet in depth. The lot was situate about midway between 
 the Main street and the present church building. 
 
 An incident occurred in connection with the erection ol this Meeting- 
 house which is worthy of record, and shows what a woman can do when 
 she will. When the day and hour arrived for the laying of the corner- 
 stone, Brother Ezekiel Cooper, who was to have been present for that 
 purpose, did not put in an appearance; the congregation, after having 
 waited some time for Brother Cooper's arrival, determined to wait no 
 longer, and proceeded with the services. An appropriate address was
 
 6 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 made by Daniel Pastorius, a Dunkard, who had taken an active part 
 in the raising of funds for the erection of the building, and who was one 
 of the Building Committee. A hymn was then given out by Sister 
 Dorothy Reger; and after the singing of the hymn, she offered up a 
 prayer, and proceeded to lay the corner-stone. Doubtless, this is the 
 only instance on record in this city wherein a woman took so prominent 
 a part in such a ceremony. The cost of this first Meeting-house, accor- 
 ding to a memorandum made by Samuel Harvey, then Secretary and 
 Treasurer, was $1276.05. 
 
 In this year (1804) Germantown was taken into and became one of 
 the regular appointments, of Bristol Circuit, which, at that time, 
 extended from the city of Philadelphia to the Blue Mountains. For some 
 years the circuit was travelled, sometimes by two and at other times by 
 three preachers, and it took them from four to six weeks to make the 
 round of the circuit. Most of the appointments had regular preaching 
 but once in two weeks; but those nearer to the city had service every 
 Sunday, the alternate Sunday service being conducted by Local 
 Preachers or Exhorters. The circuit, although formed as early as the 
 year 1789, appears not to have been under the especial care of a Presi- 
 ding Elder until the year 1804, when the Conference appointed the Rev. 
 William Corbet, as Presiding Elder, and the Circuit Preachers for the 
 year were David Bartine and David James. 
 
 The first Quarterly Conference of which we have any record was 
 held at Bristol, Bucks county, June 8th or 9th, 1805. The conference 
 was composed of Solomon Sharp, Presiding Elder; Asa Smith and Daniel 
 Higby, Travelling or Circuit Preachers; William Wetherill, Local 
 Preacher; and Joseph White and Joshua Vanzant, Class Leaders. It 
 being found upon inquiry, that there was no book belonging to the 
 circuit in which to record the proceedings of the Quarterly Conference, 
 Brother Asa Smith was requested to procure a book for that purpose. 
 
 A book was procured and the minutes recorded therein; the hand- 
 writing was that of Brother Solomon Sharp, and the minutes of the sub-
 
 DOROTHY REGER.
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 9 
 
 sequent quarterly conferences, down to the year [808, appear to be in 
 the same hand-writing. The recorded minutes from [808 down to the 
 year [816, appear to be in the hand-writing of Samuel Harvey. 
 
 In the year 1S16, Samuel Harvey was elected secretary of the 
 Quarterly Conference. Prior to that time the minutes were very meagre, 
 but from that time down to the year [831 they are very full and com- 
 plete, being made by Brother Harvey, and include full statements in 
 detail of the finances, showing how much money was received from 
 each charge on the circuit; and how expended. Some of the reports made 
 by the estimating committee as to how much the Circuit Preachers 
 would need for the support of themselves and their families, would sound 
 almost like a romance to some of the Brethren in the ministry at the 
 present day. There is also recorded in the minutes referred to, several 
 trials of Local Preachers and of private members, for violating the rules 
 or discipline of the Church; showing clearly that the official boards 
 cared more for the good of the Church and its moral standing in the 
 community than for the good will or friendship of persons of doubtful 
 morality. Brother Harvey also recorded in said book a tabulated state- 
 ment of the preachers, Presiding Elders and membership of the circuit, 
 beginning with the year 17^4, and ending with the year 1S18; and con- 
 tinued the list of preachers and elders down to the year 1S41. 
 
 On March 27th, 1812, Brother Samuel Harvey, having been recom- 
 mended by the Quarterly Conference, was ordained 1 leacon. He 
 served the Church faithfully for main- years as preacher, class leader 
 and trustee, down to the time of his decease. He was a strict discipli- 
 narian, of a conservative nature, yet very liberal, and gave largely of 
 his means towards the Church and her enterprises; and to his financial 
 aid in times of need and his general liberality, the Church is largely 
 indebted for her success. 
 
 When the Bank of Germantown was chartered in the year 1S14, he 
 was elected President of the same, and continued to hold that office 
 down to the time of his death. Under his judicious management the
 
 io METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 bank was enabled to pull through many financial and commercial 
 crisises, coming out of them all with her capital unimpaired and her 
 credit as a banking institution always standing A No. i. 
 
 Brother Harvey was born on June 16th, 1770, and after a very 
 short illness, died on March 3rd, 1848. 
 
 In the year 1818, an addition was built on the northeastern side 
 of the Meeting-house twenty by thirty (20x30) feet, thus making the 
 whole building thirty by forty (30x40) feet. 
 
 Shortly after the erection of the first Meeting-house, the mother of 
 the writer of this was a passenger in the stage coach going from Ger- 
 mantown to Philadelphia. Colonel Forest, a reputable gentleman, was 
 also a passenger in the same coach. He addressed the lady, with whom 
 he was very well acquainted, as follows: "Well, Betsey, they tell me 
 that you have joined the Methodists," and upon her replying in the 
 affirmative, he replied, "I am sorry to hear that, for if the Methodists 
 once get a foothold in Germantown, all the devils in hell will not be able 
 to root them out." She replied that he was paying the Methodists a 
 great compliment; and that she hoped they never would be rooted out. 
 This incident shows the feeling entertained at that day by many other- 
 wise good and respectable citizens in regard to the Methodists. 
 
 in those days it was no uncommon thing for the religious services 
 of the congregation to be disturbed by disorderly persons, some of whom 
 were from respectable families, and the preachers annoyed and insulted 
 whilst passing along the streets of the town. Sometimes the offending 
 parties received more than they bad calculated upon. An amusing inci- 
 dent of this nature occurred during the time that Brothers Asa Smith and 
 Daniel Ireland were on the circuit. One day Brother Smith was pass- 
 ing along 1 the Main street, near where Armat street is now opened, when 
 he heard some one calling out, "Brother Smith, Brother Smith." He 
 looked around but saw no one. Presently, the head of a young man by 
 the name of Wolf, bobbed up from behind a board fence, when Brother 
 Smith called out: "Well, what do you want?" The young man
 
 JACOB REGER.
 
 METHODISM IN GFRMANTOWN. 13 
 
 answered, "They tell me the devil is dead, is it true?" Brother Smith 
 replied, "How natural it is for children to inquire after their parents," 
 and passed on. 
 
 In the spring of 1819, the number of members on Bristol Circuit, as 
 reported to the Annual Conference, was five hundred and sixteen (516) 
 whites, and twenty-six (26) colored ; total, five hundred and forty- 
 two (542), composed as follows: 
 
 Germantown, five classes 152 
 
 Union 14 
 
 Bethel 17 
 
 Smith's 8 
 
 Mufley's 20 
 
 Pursell's •••... 12 
 
 Doylestown 13 
 
 St. James I now OIney), two classes ^4 
 
 Holmesburg 27 
 
 Langstroth's 27 
 
 Pennsville ■ ■ 20 
 
 Dolington 17 
 
 Swamp 20 
 
 Attleborough 19 
 
 Fatsington 29 
 
 Joseph White's 26 
 
 Bensalem 45 
 
 Bristol 16 
 
 Milestown 6 
 
 In February, 1828, the membership, as reported, was six hundred 
 and thirty-four (634); this did not include a class at Montgomery Square 
 and one at Frankford, which were then regular appointments on the 
 circuit; as was also Supplee's, Morrisville, Falls of Schuylkill and Mana- 
 yunk. A full report of the membership was made to the Quarterly 
 Conference, held at Bristol on May 17th, [828. 
 
 On May 13, 1809, a sister was expelled from the Church, the
 
 i 4 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 charge against her being slandering a brother by calling him a ''cut- 
 throat," which charge was fully proved. 
 
 At a Quarterly Conference held at Bensalem, on March 27th, 1812, 
 a charge was preferred by a brother, a Local Preacher, against 
 another brother, also a Local Preacher, charging him with 
 gross immorality and falsehood. The charge contained eleven 
 counts. 1. Falsehood in selling land; 2. Prevaricating in the purchase 
 of wood; 3. Deception in overrating his goods for sale; 4. Withholding 
 lawful hire from an employee; 5. Improper language at a prayer meet- 
 ing by repeating audibly three times during a prayer by a sister, "Death 
 in the pot," and at the conclusion of the prayer saying, "Well done, 
 Betty;" 6. Speaking irreverently of prayer meetings, saying, "He did not 
 know but what he would as soon be in hell as in our prayer meetings;" 
 7. Purchasing, without necessity, goods on the Sabbath-day; 8. Decep- 
 tion in selling goods by short weight; 9. Taking stone belonging to 
 another person without permission of the owner; 10. Improperly 
 endeavoring to separate his son from his wife; 11. Knowingly selling a 
 piece of land for a quantity more than it contained; also representing 
 the number of shingles in the roof of a house to be much greater than 
 the actual number. Said charges having been investigated by a com- 
 mittee appointed for that purpose, and witnesses examined by them, the 
 committee reported that nearly all of the charges were fully sustained, 
 and recommended that the brother be expelled from the Church; and in 
 conformity with said report, he was expelled. 
 
 At a Quarterly Conference, held on the twenty-third day of Novem- 
 ber, 1810, Nathan Supplee, Stephen Wright and Samuel Harvey were 
 appointed a committee to make an estimate of the amount necessary to 
 furnish fuel and the table expenses for the families of the preachers; and 
 at a Quarterly Conference, held at Germantown, February 22d, 1817, 
 said Committee reported as follows, viz: For the family of each preacher,. 
 
 Five cords of wood, @ $9 $ 45 00 
 
 Four hundred pounds of pork (& gc 36 00
 
 SAMUEL HARVEY.
 
 MHTHOD1SM IN GHRMANTOWN. 17 
 
 Two hundred pounds of beef, (2 8c $16 00 
 
 One hundred and fifty pounds of fresh meat, ('' 8c 1200 
 
 One hundred and twenty pounds of sugar, (»> i=;c 1800 
 
 Fifty-two pounds of coffee, (" 2t;c 13 co 
 
 One hundred pounds of butter. (» 25c 25 00 
 
 Ten bushels apples, (" ^cc 5 00 
 
 Milk, $6; soap, candles and salt, $20 26 00 
 
 Twelve cwt. of flour, @ $5 60 co 
 
 Five gals, of Molasses, $q; eighteen bushels of potatoes. $g . . 14 00 
 
 Total $270 00 
 
 Said report was accepted and laid over for future action, and at a 
 Quarterly Conference, held September 5th, 1817, said report was taken 
 up, when a resolution was passed in accordance with the recommenda- 
 tion of said committee, that the married preachers on the circuit shall be 
 allowed each, two hundred and seventy (270) dollars, for family expen- 
 ses; said amounts to be raised by the stewards by such means as they 
 may devise; but not to be taken from the moneys collected for the 
 regular quarterly allowance of the preachers. 
 
 The allowance at that time was, for each preacher, $100 per year; 
 for his wife, $100 per year; and for each child under the age of sixteen 
 years, $6 per year. This continued to be the rate of compensa- 
 tion down to the year 1831, when an additional allowance was made for 
 house rent, not to exceed $60 per year, and feed for a horse. And this 
 amount remained the same down to the year 1836. 
 
 In December, 1812, the Society purchased from the heirs of Casper 
 Heft, a lot or piece of ground, situate on the southeast side of Pickius 
 Lane (now Haines street), on which lot the present Church building 
 stands (1895). The lot was about 132 feet front, by 172 feet in depth. 
 (See deed from Mary Heft et al. to Samuel Harvey, Alexander Provost, 
 George Dannenhower, Samuel Keyser, and Samuel Harmer, Trustees, 
 in trust for the Methodist Church. Deed dated Decembor 31st, 1812, 
 recorded at Philadelphia, in Deed Book I. C, No. 27, page 621, etc.)
 
 18 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 In the years 182 1 and 1822, Manning Force and Phineas Price were 
 the preachers in charge, and were very much liked. They were Pas- 
 tors in every sense of the word. Brother Force was one of the most 
 lovable men that ever entered the ministry. The children would run 
 after him on the street, and would call out, "Brother Force, Brother 
 Force, how do you do?" And for years after having removed from 
 Germantown to other fields of labor, the doors of almost every dwelling 
 in Germantown, whether they were professors of religion or not, were 
 thrown open to him. He would enter, converse with them for a few 
 minutes, offer up a prayer and pass on. 
 
 In the years 1822 and 1823, Jacob Gruber and Daniel Fidler were 
 the Circuit Preachers. Brother Gruber was a very peculiar man, and 
 many anecdotes of his peculiarities and eccentricities might be related. 
 He continued to make his home in Germantown for a number of years 
 after his appointment to other fields of labor. He was ever ready with 
 an answer to any question propounded or addressed to him. On one 
 occasion, after leaving the circuit, he was passing along the Main street, 
 when a man who was somewhat intoxicated, called out in a maudlin 
 voice, "How are you, Brother Gruber?" He turned around, and seeing 
 no one, asked, "Did anybody call me?" The reply came, "Yes, 1 did." 
 Then Brother Gruber asked, "Who are you?" and received for an 
 answer, "Don't you know me?" He said, "No, I don't." Then came 
 the reply, "You ought to, for you converted me." Brother Gruber 
 replied, "Ah, ah, it looks like one of my jobs; for if the Lord had con- 
 verted you He would have made a better job of it." 
 
 At a camp meeting, at which Brother Gruber was present, the 
 preachers were much annoyed by men and women standing on the seats. 
 They appealed to them to get down. The men generally complied; the 
 women did not. Brother Gruber, after addressing them as young ladies, 
 young women, and gals, said, in a loud voice, "If those gals knew what 
 big holes are in their stockings, I think they would get down." This 
 had the desired effect. Afterward a brother preacher said to Brother
 
 
 THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH IN GERMANTOWN.
 
 METHODISM IN GHRMANTOWN. 21 
 
 Gruber, "How did you know that there were holes in their stocking 
 
 "Well," he replied, "1 guess there must be, or how did they get their 
 feet in them?" 
 
 On one occasion a person by the name of John Neil, who worked 
 for Brother Samuel Keyser, and who would frequently get drunk', 
 appealed to Brother Keyser to know if he could not do something that 
 would cure him of this had habit. Brother Keyser referred him to 
 Brother Gruber, saying, "He will give you something, which, if you will 
 take it, will cure you." John, who knew Brother Gruber well, went to 
 Brother Gruber, who had frequently talked to him about his habits, and 
 told his errand. Brother Gruber said to him, "Well, John, 1 don't know 
 about it. I am afraid you will not do as I tell you." 
 
 "Will it hurt me?" asked John. 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Will it make me sick?" 
 
 "No; well, yes, maybe you will feel a little sick for a short time; 
 but it won't hurt you. It is not dangerous." 
 
 "Well, Brother Gruber, give it to me and I'll try it." 
 
 "Well, John, when you see a cup, or a tumbler, or a bowl that has 
 beer, wine, cider, or whisky in it, and you take it up to drink, lift it 
 towards your mouth, and do so" — suiting the action to the word, and 
 opening wide his hand. 
 
 In the year 1823, the Society, finding their Meeting-house too 
 small to accommodate the congregation, determined to build a new 
 church on the lot last above-mentioned, and proceeded to erect thereon 
 a stone church building. This building was about forty-five by fifty-five 
 (45x55) feet in the clear, the corner-stone of which was laid in the 
 same year, at which time Brothers Jacob Gruber and Daniel Fidler were 
 the preachers. The new edifice was dedicated to the worship of 
 Almighty God early in the year 1824, at which time Brothers William 
 Williams and Thomas Davis were the Circuit Preachers. 
 
 In November, 1823, the congregation instructed the Trustees to sell
 
 22 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 the old Meeting-house and lot of ground upon which it stood, and on 
 March 27th, 1827, the legislature of Pennsylvania authorized the Trus- 
 tees of said church to sell the same. 
 
 In the year 1825, Edward Stout and Samuel Grace were the Circuit 
 Preachers, and for part of the year, Robert Gerry was their assistant. 
 In the year 1826, Edward Stout and Samuel Carey were the Circuit 
 Preachers. Brother Stout was a strict disciplinarian and was much 
 grieved over the apathy and apparent want of spiritual life and activity 
 on the part of many of the members; and believing this state of affairs 
 to be due in a great measure to the neglect of the members to attend their 
 class meetings, which at that time was a duty enjoined by the discipline, 
 and having endeavored during the greater part of his pastorate to 
 awaken the membership to a sense of their duty, and the deleterious 
 effects of their luke-warmness and neglect of duty, without any or very 
 little apparent success, he began to apply the pruning knife with a liberal 
 hand, and dropped from the roll of membership the names of many who 
 at one time had been prominent and active members of the Church. This 
 course gave great offense to the friends of the members whose names had 
 thus been dropped, and they, through sympathy, withdrew from the 
 Church. This course, on the part of Brother Stout, was warmly com- 
 mended by some and condemned by others, but the good effects thereof 
 were soon made apparent. 
 
 In 1827, Henry G. King and Robert Lutton were appointed to the 
 circuit, and the spirituality of the Church began to show signs of improve- 
 ment; and in the year 1828, under the ministry of Henry G. King and 
 James B. Ayers, a gracious revival broke out and many new members 
 were received into the Church; and nearly all of those whose names 
 had been dropped, or who had withdrawn through sympathy for them, 
 were again received into the Church. 
 
 The writer of this has frequently asked himself the following ques- 
 tion: "What has the Church gained by abolishing the rule making 
 attendance on class meetings a test of membership?"
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 23 
 
 In the year 1829, Thomas Neil and Nathaniel Chew were the circuit 
 
 preachers; and in 1830, Thomas Neil and Manlove Hazel were the 
 preachers. Brother Neil was a muscular man and a strong preacher; 1 
 know of no other term that so nearly expresses my opinion of the man. 
 He had the happy faculty of explaining the Scriptures and applying them 
 to every day life. 
 
 The following is an illustration of his manner of preaching : On one 
 occasion, after he had left the circuit, he visited a camp meeting held on 
 the circuit. He was invited to preach and consented; but before the 
 hour arrived for him to speak he asked to be excused until the next day, 
 and was excused. At this camp we had, for the tisrt time, a large tent, 
 made for the purpose of holding prayer meetings; on the front were 
 the words "Union of Germantown." 
 
 The next day Brother Neil was ready to keep his engagement. After 
 the singing of the opening hymn and prayer, when he arose from his knees, 
 and before announcing his text, he stated that whilst on his way to the 
 grounds he had determined, if called upon to preach, to speak from a 
 certain passage of Scripture, which he then read, and stated that he had 
 selected the opening hymn with the intention of using the passage just 
 read for his text, but that he could not do so; and the passage as 
 recorded in the 26th chapter of Numbers had made an impression upon 
 his mind which he could not remove. The passage referred to the 
 encampment of the Israelites. He then said: ''What 1 have to say will 
 be founded on this passage. 1 will not attempt to divide it, for I do 
 not know how." Then looking around the encampment, he remarked, 
 ''This is the first camp meeting that I have ever attended where the 
 tents were pitched in squares, and not in circles; and in that respect, 
 this resembles the Israelitish 'amp.'' He then described the arrange- 
 ment of the Israelitish camp by tribes, with the tabernacle in the centre; 
 then pointing first to one tent and then to another, he said, "There I see 
 the tribe from Bensalem, there from Busselton. there from Frankford, 
 there from Holmesburg, and there from Germantown, with the sign out,
 
 24 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 'Union.' How is it brethren? You have union on the outside; have 
 you union inside?" And then, pointing to Brother Ralph Byram, he 
 addressed him thus: "Brother Byram, don't you remember when I 
 preached at Germantown, years ago, how you would stretch out your 
 long arms and open wide your mouth to catch the blessing? How is it 
 now?" The response was, "Hallelujah! Glory! Ihaveityet!" "And 
 here in the centre is the Tabernacle." He then described the manner of 
 service, the blowing of the horn in the early morning, and the gathering 
 of the manna, and gave the essentials as follows, viz: "First, every man 
 must gather for himself; no one could gather for his neighbor, and each 
 gathered according to his needs or capacity — every man having an omer, 
 but not all of the same size. So with our hearts. Second, the vessel 
 or omer must be clean and pure, not tainted, or the manna would be 
 spoiled, lost. So with the hearts of the hearers; they must be cleansed 
 from all sin and defilement, or they would not hold the heavenly food. 
 Third, they must come to the feast prepared for them and sent down 
 from Heaven, with their vessels right side up. Fourth, they must be 
 humble and willing to get down on their knees, as little children, in order 
 to gather up the manna." 
 
 Then, branching out, he said, "Suppose that Moses had sent out his 
 assistants during the night time, whilst the people were asleep, and 
 ordered them to chain a part of the multitude fast to the posts of their 
 tents, with irresistible decrees and the lock and key of fore-ordination 
 and pre-destination, and then in the morning, when the horn blew for 
 them to come out of their tents and partake of the food which God had 
 provided for them, and they did not come because they could not, he 
 had said to them: 'If you do not come you shall surely die,' what would 
 you have thought of Moses? And now, do you think that God can be 
 so unjust as to say to all the world, 'Come unto Me and you shall be 
 saved,' when He had fore-ordained that a certain part of mankind should 
 be doomed to eternal banishment from His presence? No, no, God is a 
 just God, and good. He so loved the world that He gave His only
 
 FIRST M. E. CHURCH, HAINES STREET, GERMANTOWN.
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 27 
 
 begotten Son to die for us, in order that whosoever will come to Him 
 shall be saved." 
 
 At a Quarterly Conference held at Bristol, on June iSth, [831, a 
 resolution was offered, declaring it to be the sense oi said Conference 
 
 thatthe circuit should be divided; and at a Quarterly Conference, held 
 at Germantown, March 10th, [832, said resolution was approved, and a 
 
 memorial prepared to the Annual Conference, requesting them to divide 
 the circuit, and at their next session they did divide it. Germantown 
 Circuit was then formed, embracing the following appointments: ( Jer- 
 mantown, Chestnut Hill, Manayunk, St. James (Olney), Smith's, 
 Montgomery Square, Milltown, Frankford, Holmeshurg, Bustleton, 
 Goosetown, Bethel, Union and Jenkintown. In all fourteen 14) 
 appointments. 
 
 The first Quarterly Conference for Germantown Circuit was held 
 .it Manayunk on the nineteenth day of May, 1832. There were present 
 at that conference Manning Force, Presiding Flder; John Finley, 
 preacher-in-charge; John Nicholson, assistant preacher, and nine class- 
 leaders and stewards. 
 
 In March, 1S34, the Society at Germantown was incorporated by 
 the Supreme Court of the State of Pennsylvania, by the name of "The 
 Methodist Episcopal Chlrch in germantown." The charter was 
 signed by James Trimble, Deputy Secretary of State, under Governor 
 George Wolf, on the eighth day of May, [834. (See Charter Book, No, 
 5, page 183, &c, at Harrisburg.) 
 
 ( )n August 30th, 1834, the Trustees deeded the property on which 
 the old church stood, to the Church, by its corporate name, Jacob Reger 
 and Dorothy, his wife, joining in the Acc<\, for the purpose of supplying 
 an omission in the original deed, and thus perfecting the title. (See 
 [)wA Book, S. H. F., No. 6. page 691, Sec.) 
 
 On December 20th, 1836, the Church sold the old building .\n^\ lot 
 ot ground above-mentioned to Ann Haines for S650.
 
 28 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOL. 
 
 In connection with the history of the Sunday-school, I find, in notes 
 made by Brother Joseph Mason, the following: 
 
 "In the year 1818 or 1819, the Rev. John Price, one of the Circuit 
 Preachers who lived in Germantown, was accustomed to catechise the 
 children on 'Saturday Afternoons,' and appointed as assistants, John F. 
 Watson for the boys, and Ann Bowman for the girls;" and this, he 
 claims, to be the first organization of the Sunday-school. 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1827, John Acuff and John Flynn con- 
 ceived the idea of forming a Sunday-school in connection with the 
 Methodist Church of Germantown; and Brother Acuff opened his house 
 on the Main street, at or near where Mr. Livzey's hardware store now 
 stands (just below Centre street), for that purpose. The interest in 
 said movement and the attendance at the school was so gratifying that 
 the Society determined to have a regularly organized Sunday-school; 
 and at a meeting of the members and friends of the Church, held on 
 May 28th, 1828, in the church, for the purpose of considering the expe- 
 diency of forming a Sunday-school, it was resolved to organize a school. 
 A form of constitution was read and approved, and the name adopted 
 was "The Sunday-school of Germantown, Auxiliary to the Sunday- 
 school Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church." The following 
 officers were then elected, viz: Samuel Keyser, President; Samuel 
 Harvey, Secretary and Treasurer; William Flynn, John Acuff, Ralph 
 Byram and Harmon Osier, Managers. The said Board of Managers 
 and teachers met on the following evening, Thursday, May 29th, and 
 adopted a set of rules and by-laws for the government of said school. 
 They also made the following appointments, viz: John Acuff, William 
 Flynn, Ralph Byram and Samuel Keyser, as Superintendents. 
 
 According to the by-laws, two of these Superintendents were to be 
 present at the opening and closing of every session of the school. The 
 following named teachers were also appointed: Harmon Osier, Samuel 
 McDowell, John Bowman, Horatio Roop, George Wilson, James Harmer,
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 John G. Wolf, Isaac Glackins, Joseph Reger, William Glackins, John 
 Mankoff, and Richard Sharpless; in all twelve males. Females — Ann 
 Peasley, Mary Byram, Louisa Sharpless, Elizabeth Butcher, Sarah 
 ( ilackins, Elizabeth Shackelton, Marian Ferguson and Clarissa Koop; 
 in all eight females. Total, twenty teachers. 
 
 The school being thus fully organized, they commenced their regular 
 sessions on June 15th, ix_\s, with fifty-five male and twenty-nine female 
 scholars. 
 
 At the present time (January, 1895), the Church has three Sunday- 
 schools, viz: One at Blue Bell, one at the East Side Mission, Chelten 
 avenue and Stenton avenue, and one at the Mother Church. The 
 number of officers and teachers of the three schools combined is 78 
 officers and teachers, and 650 scholars of a 1 ages. 
 
 In the year 1 S ^ 5 , the Church purchased from George W. Rose .1 
 stone messuage or tenement, and lot or piece of ground, adjoining the 
 lot purchased from the Heft estate, to the southwest. This lot was one 
 hundred and thirty-two (132) feet front, on Haines street, by one hun- 
 dred and seventy-seven (177) feet in depth. Thus, the entire church 
 lot, at that time, had a frontage on Haines street of two hundred and 
 sixty-four (264) feet, and a depth of one hundred and seventy-seven 
 1 --) feet. 
 
 In [837, Caleb Lippincott was preacher-in-charge, assisted by M. D. 
 Curts; and in 1S38 Brother Lippincott was preacher-in-charge, assisted 
 by Silas C. Palmer. Brother Lippincott was a large man, possessed of 
 great physical strength and ureat force of character, a natural orator and 
 a sweet singer. Many anecdotes might be recorded showing his strength 
 of body and will. His physical strength assisted him greatly in preserv- 
 ing order at camp meetings and other places where the rowdy element 
 was inclined to be troublesome. 
 
 An incident connected with the conversion of Brother Lippincott, as 
 related by the Rev. Thomas Neil, at the house of Sister Elizabeth 
 Thomas (mother of the writer), in_the presence of several ministers of
 
 30 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 the Gospel, of whom Brother Lippincott was one, will serve to illustrate 
 the whole-heartedness of the man. 
 
 Brother Neil was preaching at or near Mt. Holly, N. J., during a 
 season of revivals. A lady of that neighborhood, a cousin of Brother 
 Lippincott, who, like himself, was of Quaker parentage, presented her- 
 self at the altar for prayers. Mr. Lippincott vowed that if she did so 
 again he would take her from the altar and out of the Meeting-house. 
 And with that object in view, he, with several of his companions, went 
 to the Meeting-house one evening and took seats in the gallery. After 
 the sermon, and at the commencement of the prayer-meeting, some of 
 the brethren informed Brother Neil of what Mr. Lippincott had threat- 
 ened to do. Upon the invitation being given, the young lady went for- 
 ward to the altar. Brother Neil said to the brethren: 
 
 "Go on with your singing, and leave Mr. Lippincott to me." 
 
 Shortly after, Mr. Lippincott arose from his seat, descended to the 
 main floor, and marched up toward the altar. Brother Neil saw him 
 coming, and stepped in front of the rail to meet him. Mr. Lippincott 
 dodged him, and knelt near the end of the altar, and began to pray in 
 great earnestness for his own salvation. In his excitement he got flat on 
 his back, with his feet toward the altar and sometimes on top of the 
 altar rail, and in a loud voice cried out: "Now, Lord, do your best; con- 
 vert my soul if you can!" And continued to pray in that strain until he 
 was happily converted, his after life proving that his conversion was 
 genuine. He had the happy faculty of interesting his hearers, children 
 as well as grown persons, and securing their attention whilst he was 
 speaking. 
 
 On one occasion our Sunday-school had their Fourth of July cele- 
 bration in the woods near what is now known as Scatchard's Mill. 
 When Brother Lippincott arose to address the children, after a few 
 remarks, which the children all enjoyed, he pointed toward the edge of 
 the woods and called out, "Boys, what kind of a tree is that?" Many 
 of them answered, "A cherry tree."
 
 Ml I IK >hlS.\\ IN < iERMANK >WN. Jl 
 
 "Are you sun?" 
 
 "\ o," was the ans\A er. 
 
 "How do you know that it is a cherry tree?" 
 
 "Why, we see cherries on it." 
 
 "Yes, that's so. 'By the fruit you know it.' Arc they 
 cherries and tit to eat?" 
 
 "No, sir; not now." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 •• Because they are not ripe." 
 
 "Well, do you think when they get ripe that they will be as sweet 
 and as good as the cherries that grow in Grandfather Keyser's garden?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Why not?" No answer. 
 
 Then he explained to them that it was for want of proper cultivation 
 and care and because the tree was surrounded by forest trees and that 
 the warm rays of the sun and the fresh breezes had not the same effect 
 on it as they would have if it stood in a more favorable position. He 
 then asked, "How do you think that tree got there?" and not getting a 
 satisfactory answer, he asked them whether they thought a crow or 
 hawk or buzzard had planted it there. They answered "No." He then 
 went on to say, " Well, boys, I'll tell you how I think it got there. 
 Perhaps a blue bird, or a robin, or a Tom-tit or a Jenny wren may have 
 plucked a cherry from a tree in your grandfather's garden, and flying 
 away with the cherry, it rested on the fence, or one of those cedar 
 bushes, or tall forest trees, and after eating the pulp, dropped the seed, 
 and from that seed sprang up the tree. Now boys, one more question, 
 I s.iul that a wren, a Tom-tit or a robin may have dropped the seed. 
 Now, tell me, how many little birds or crows or hawks or buzzards would 
 it take to pull that tree up by the roots?" 
 
 "They can't do it." 
 
 He then compared the teachers ol the Sunday-school to the little 
 birds dropping the seeds of the fruit of the Gospel into the hearts of the
 
 32 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 children, saying for their encouragement, that although the children 
 might wander away from churches and religious influence, and be sur- 
 rounded by forest trees of wickedness in every shape, still, the marks of 
 their training would be felt and seen, and might result eventually in pro- 
 ducing good fruit; and that all the crows, hawks and buzzards of 
 infidelity, atheism and scepticism would not be able to pluck up or 
 destroy the seed thus planted by them. 
 
 During Brother Lippincott's ministry there was the greatest revival 
 ever known in Germantown, and a large number were converted and 
 added to the Church, some of whom are still living and are members 
 of the Church in good standing in Germantown and elsewhere. 
 
 In January, 1844, the Church determined to sell the house and part 
 of the lot of ground which they had purchased from George W. Rose, 
 and appointed Jacob Ployd and Samuel Y. Harmer a committee to 
 make sale of the same, and on the twenty-sixth day of February, 1844, 
 said committee reported that they had agreed to sell to Mr. John Smith 
 the house and a lot of ground, being sixty-five (65) feet front by one 
 hundred and four (104) feet, six (6) inches in depth, for nine hundred 
 ($900) dollars; which report was accepted and the sale approved; and 
 in May, 1844, t ne president of the board reported that the sale had been 
 consummated, the deed executed and delivered, and that the treasurer 
 had received five hundred ($500) dollars in cash, and Mr. Smith's bond 
 for four hundred ($400) dollars, being in full of the consideration money. 
 
 In the spring of the year 185 1, Germantown was set apart as a sta- 
 tion, and a new circuit formed, called Chestnut Hill Circuit, and Gasoway 
 Oram was appointed preacher for Germantown. At that time the 
 
 station had 12 class-leaders and members. The Sunday-school 
 
 comprised officers and teachers, and 293 scholars. 
 
 In the spring of 1852, George D. Bowen was appointed preacher, 
 and served two years. In the spring of 1854, Newton Heston was 
 appointed preacher, serving two years. 
 
 In the latter part of Brother Heston's ministry, the subject of form-
 
 METHODISM IN Gl V \\ \\ TOWN. 33 
 
 ing a second Methodist Church in Germantown was agitated; and just 
 before the close of the Conference year, a general meeting of the mem- 
 bership was called fur the purpose of considering the expediency of form- 
 ing a new church, and it was resolved by an almost unanimous vote that 
 the time had arrived when there should be a second Methodist Church 
 in Germantown; and a call was made for volunteers to form the new 
 church. To this call forty of the brethren and sisters responded. There 
 was quite a length)' discussion, in regard to the selection of a locality 
 for the new church enterprise. It was finally determined that it should 
 be located in the lower end of the town, inasmuch as there had been, 
 for a number of years, a Sunday-school in Spring Alley, and other 
 places in the lower end of the town, conducted by members of the 
 Haines Street Church. 
 
 At the Annual Conference, held March, 1856, the new organization 
 was recognized, and Newton Heston was appointed pastor of the same; 
 and on April 1, 1856, the new church was fully organized, with a mem- 
 bership of ninety-six, most of whom had been members of the Mother 
 Church. This was the commencement of what is now known as 
 "The St. Stephen's Methodist Episcopal Church." 
 
 On May 10th, 1858, at a meeting of the male members of the 
 church, the Trustees were authorized to have the old church torn down 
 and a new one erected on the site. And on June 2nd, of the same year, 
 the Trustees decided to build a new church of brick, to be fifty-five 55 
 feet in width by eighty (80) feet in depth, with an end gallery in the 
 same; and awarded the contract for the building to Messrs. J. A. 
 & G. Binder, for, the sum of twelve thousand 1 Si 2,000) dollars, which 
 contract was subsequently amended on account of the addition of side 
 galleries, &c. 
 
 The corner-stone of this building was laid July mth, [858. The 
 services were conducted by the Revs. William McCoombs, preacher- 
 in-charge, Janus Cunningham and William H. Brisbane. The lecture 
 room was opened tor religious services on Sunday, January 2nd,
 
 34 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 1859; the morning serv i ce being conducted by the Rev. Alfred Cookman, 
 afternoon service by the Rev. Solomon Higgins, and the evening service 
 by the Rev. J. H. Alday. 
 
 The Trustees held their first meeting in this church on February 
 nth, 1859, m tne basement. 
 
 The main audience room was formally dedicated to the worship of 
 Almighty God, on Sunday, March 14th, 1859. The morning service was 
 conducted by the Rev. Bishop Scott, the afternoon service by the Rev. 
 Joseph Castle, and the evening services by the Rev. D. W. Bartine. 
 
 BLUE BELL MISSION. 
 
 On Saturday evening, June 30th, 1877, Brother John T. Walker, 
 a class-leader of the Haines Street Church, had his class to meet at the 
 house of Brother Leadbeater, in the village of Blue Bell Hill, just west of 
 the Township Line, near Walnut lane. The class continued to meet 
 in that neighborhood until the interest manifested by persons in that 
 vicinity was such that on the thirteenth day of June, 1879, a committee 
 was appointed, consisting of Brothers Daniel L. Keyser, R. W. P. Goff, 
 William Benner, William Shelmerdine, and William McArthur, for the 
 purpose of securing a lot and erecting a chapel thereon. They secured 
 a lot on the southwest side of Wissahickon avenue above Walnut lane, 
 upon which they had a frame chapel erected, which building was opened 
 for religious services and dedicated on Sunday, October 19th, 1879; tne 
 proper dedicatory services being conducted by the Presiding Elder, Rev. 
 William Swindells, in the Haines Street Church. Thus, the Blue Bell 
 Mission was formed, and is to-day in a fairly prosperous condition. 
 
 EAST SIDE MISSION. 
 
 On Sunday, July 18th, 1886, a Sunday-school was started in the 
 house of Mrs. Wm. Walters, on Haines street, near Stenton avenue; 
 and shortly afterward, it was removed to and met in the house of 
 Brother Chadwick, on Stenton avenue, above Haines street, and in
 
 CHELTEN AVENUE MISSION, EAST SIDE, GERMANTOWN. 
 
 FORMERLY HAINES STREB1 MISSION.
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOVW. ;; 
 
 November of that year, William C. Tullv was appointed Superintendent. 
 
 It was called the Forest Hill Sunday-school. The average attendance <>t 
 scholars at that time was forty-five. 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1886, a lot was secured on Haines 
 street, near Stenton avenue, and a chapel building erected thereon. This 
 building was formally dedicated on May 22nd, [887; and Brother William 
 Mullen, a Supernumerary Preacher, was requested to take charge of 
 the Mission, which he did, preaching there every Sabbath-day, morn- 
 ing and evening, for some months. 
 
 On September 28th, 1887, a class was formed in connection with 
 this Mission, and Brother Henry Hudson appointed the leader. 
 
 On September 26th, 1890, a committee which had been previously 
 appointed for the purpose, reported that they were nogotiating for a lot 
 at the corner of Stenton avenue and Chelten avenue; and on December 
 26th, 1890, the committee reported that they agreed to purchase a 
 lot, having a front of ninety (90) feet on Stenton avenue by a depth of 
 one hundred and fifty ( 150) feet on Chelten avenue, for the sum of three 
 thousand ($3000) dollars; and on April 16th, 1891, the committee reported 
 that they had closed the bargain and obtained a AcvA for the lot, by 
 paying one thousand (Si.oocn dollars in cash, and giving a mortgage on 
 the lot for the balance, two thousand (£2,000) dollars. 
 
 In June, 1891, the Presiding Elder requested Brother Rawlings to 
 look after the interest of the Mission, which he did, and the building 
 was removed from the Haines street lot to the one last purchased, and 
 an addition built to the chapel for infant school purposes, which was 
 completed and opened for the infant school on Sunday, February 27th, 
 1892. 
 
 At the Annual Conference, held in March, 1892, Brother H. A. 
 ( ireaves was appointed assistant pastor of the Haines Street Church; 
 his special business was to take charge of this Mission. 
 
 At the Annual Conference, held in March, [893, Brother A. h. 
 Shields was appointed junior pastor to succeed Brother Greaves.
 
 38 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 The Mission had, on January ist, 1895, a Sunday-school with 
 20 officers and teachers and 250 scholars. It is now in a flourishing con- 
 dition and the probabilities are that at the next Annual Conference, 
 which will meet in March, 1895, it will be set apart as a separate and 
 distinct charge. 
 
 Before proceeding with the history of the other Methodist Churches 
 in Germantown, it will not be out of place to say, that among the many 
 useful members of the Haines Street Church, no layman was more 
 prominent than Samuel Keyser, who from early manhood, down to the 
 day of his death, was a faithful member and served the Church well as 
 a Trustee, and in whatever capacity he was called to act. He was 
 generous and hospitable; his house was always open to the preachers 
 and to the members from other places who would visit Germantown on 
 Quarterly Meetings and other special occasions. He was ever ready to 
 help the needy; he was, physically, a strong man, very out-spoken when 
 occasion required, and enjoyed a good joke, even at his own expense. 
 
 On one Sunday morning, after a long and not very interesting 
 discourse by the preacher who occupied the pulpit, and who, after the 
 close of the regular service, was about to make some "further remarks," 
 Brother Keyser arose from his seat and was about to leave the church, 
 when the preacher said, "Just one minute more." 
 
 Brother Keyser stopped, took out his watch, and looking at it, said, 
 addressing the preacher, "Hurry up, for you've been talking a long 
 while; it is now past twelve o'clock; 1 want my dinner, and I think the 
 other members of the congregation want their's, too." The preacher 
 then brought his remarks to a close, and dismissed the congregation. 
 
 Brother Keyser was of great service in maintaining order in and 
 around the Meeting-house. (At that time it was not considered orthodox 
 to call the Methodist Meeting-houses "Churches.") 
 
 On one occasion, upon entering the yard of the old Meeting-house, 
 Brother Keyser found quite a number of young men there, among whom
 
 SA.WUH Kl 'i -1 R.
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 41 
 
 was Thomas Lister, Sr., then in his teens, and a comparative stranger in 
 Germantown, who had entered the yard out of curiosity. Brother 
 Keyser, supposing that they were there for the purpose of disturbing and 
 annoying the congregation, as was their custom, ordered them off the 
 premises. Young Lister, not moving as quickly as Brother Keyser thought 
 he should have done, he picked him up bodily, and gently landed him on 
 the other side of the fence. 
 
 A few years after this, Brother Lister was converted and joined the 
 Church, and remained a member of the same and a consistent Christian 
 down to the day of his death, which occurred on March 19th, 1886. He 
 served the Church faithfully in many official positions. 
 
 A number of Brother Keyser's children joined the Church; promi- 
 nent among them was Daniel L., who joined in early manhood, and 
 remained an active and prominent member until the day of his death, 
 which occurred on March 27th, 1884, having been a member for a period 
 of nearly fifty years. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for 
 twenty-eight years, and president of that body for seven wars, which 
 position he held at the time of his death. 
 
 For many years it was the custom for a member of the Church who 
 was a good singer, to lead the singing. The preacher would announce 
 the hymn, and then read it, two lines at a time, the congregation all 
 joining in the singing. This custom was afterward modified by the 
 selecting of a leader, whose duty it was, after the reading of the hymn 
 by the preacher, to take his place in front of the altar railing, select a 
 tune, and lead the singing. This duty was performed for many years 
 by Brother Joseph Channon, who was a class leader, and one of the 
 earliest members of the Church. 
 
 In the year 1803, instrumental music, in the shape of a melodeon, 
 was introduced into the Church. To this, some of the older members for 
 a time objected; among the objectors was Brother Francis D. Tull, an 
 earnest working Christian, and for many years a Local Preacher. On 
 one occasion he said to the writer of this, "Brother Thomas, if I could
 
 42 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 hear a good hearty 'Amen!' or 'Glory to God!' come out of the mouths 
 of the people whilst the organ was playing, I would not object to the use 
 of an organ in the Church." A short time after this remark Brother 
 Tull was present in St. Stephen's M. E, Church, when Brother Kenney, 
 the pastor, was preaching a memorial sermon. His subject was, 
 "Heavenly Recognition." Just as Brother Kenney closed his remarks, 
 the choir, accompanied by a melodeon, sang "We shall know each other 
 there." The presence of the Lord seemed to fill the house, and many 
 of the members began to shout. Brother Tull caught the infection, and 
 with tears streaming down his cheeks, and his whole body shaking with 
 emotion, cried out, "Hallelujah! Glory to God!" This ended Brother 
 Tull's opposition to instrumental music in church service. 
 
 Brother Jacob Ployd, who died on the eleventh day of May, 1885, 
 was another faithful member of the Church and served it for many 
 years as a Trustee and class-leader. He was of a very conservative 
 nature, modest and unassuming; not hasty in forming an opinion, but 
 very firm in maintaining his views and position as to what he regarded 
 the right. He was ever ready to assist the Church in any way or 
 manner that he could, and contributed largely toward the church 
 improvements and its finances generally. 
 
 Quite a number of others might be named who were prominent in 
 the Church and have passed from labor to reward. 
 
 The Haines Street Church had its charter amended in the spring of 
 1893; and is now known as "The First Methodist Episcopal Church of 
 Germantown." It has furnished the itineracy with quite a number of 
 preachers, among whom I can recall the names of James Y. Ashton, 
 James Harmer, William Mullen, Thomas C. Murphy, William C. Robin- 
 son and Samuel Y. Harmer, some of whom are still living. 
 
 On January 1st, 1895, the First Church had a membership of 650; 
 three Sunday-schools with 78 officers and teachers, and 650 scholars. 
 
 For a full list of the preachers serving in this charge, see Appendix.
 
 ••?pf|, jn "*•'"" 
 
 JACOB PLOYD.
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 4; 
 
 HISTORY OF ST. STEPHEN'S M. E. CHURCH. 
 On Sunday morning, March 23rd, 1856, an informal meeting of the 
 following named brethren (members of Haines Street M. H. Church), 
 
 was held at the house of Jacob B. Thomas, on the west side of Wain 
 street, opposite Centre street, Germantown, viz: 
 
 Jacob B. Thomas, William Spencer, Sr., Charles Spencer, Jonathan 
 Wolf, William G. Spencer, Joseph Barrett and Robert Thomas. 
 
 At this meeting the expediency of starting a second Methodist 
 Church was discussed; and those present at the meeting, having 
 pledged themselves to contribute funds sufficient to pay a preacher 
 for one year, should the Conference send us one, it was determined 
 to call a meeting of the membership of Haines Street Church, to 
 take the matter into consideration; and a notice for said meeting 
 was read from the pulpit the same day. 
 
 In pursuance of this call, a meeting was held in the church on 
 Monday evening, March 24th, 1856; at which meeting there was 
 a very large attendance of the membership, both male and female. 
 Brother Jacob B. Thomas was called to the chair, and Jonathan 
 Wolf appointed secretary. 
 
 After a full and free discussion, it was, by an almost unanimous 
 vote, determined that the time had arrived when it was the duty of the 
 Church to furnish the people of Germantown, desiring to enjoy the 
 privileges and blessings of Methodism, with greater church accommoda- 
 tions; and it was the opinion of those present that a new Church should 
 be established in the southern part of the town, where, for a number of 
 years, there had been, in successful operation, a Sunday-school under 
 the care of Haines Street Church, on Spring Alley, near Manheim street; 
 and subsequently at other places in the lower end of the town, under the 
 care of Brother James Tat low*. 
 
 \ all was then made for volunteers to form a new organization to 
 which about forty responded — some of whom, however, did not join the 
 new organization.
 
 46 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 The following brethren were then appointed a committee on organi- 
 zation, viz: Rev. William Mann, Charles Spencer, John Campion, 
 Robert Thomas and William G. Spencer. 
 
 This committee laid the matter before the Annual Conference, which 
 met at Philadelphia in March, 1856. Their action was approved by Con- 
 ference, and the Rev. Newton Heston, whose second year at Haines 
 Street Church had just expired, was appointed Pastor. 
 
 Brother Heston was a very popular preacher, and drew large 
 congregations. 
 
 The committee then secured the large room in the Town Hall for the 
 use of the congregation. The opening services were held in said hall on 
 Sunday, April 6th, 1856. 
 
 The morning service was conducted by the Rev. James Neil. His 
 sermon was from the text contained in II Timothy i. 10. 
 
 In the afternoon, sermon by the Rev. G. Dixon Bowen, from Heb., 
 vi. 19. 
 
 Sermon in evening by the Rev. Penal Coomb. 
 
 The Church was thus fully organized with a membership of ninety- 
 six, a majority of whom had been members of Haines Street Church. 
 
 The first Quarterly Conference was held at the house of Brother 
 Charles Spencer on April 22nd, 1856, composed as follows: Rev. James 
 Cunningham, Presiding Elder; Newton Heston, Pastor; and the follow- 
 ing brethren, viz: William Spencer, Robert Thomas, William G. Spencer, 
 Charles Spencer, Jonathan Wolf, John D. Caldwell, and Jacob B. 
 Thomas. 
 
 At this conference, the following brethren were appointed Trustees: 
 Jacob B. Thomas, Jonathan Wolf, Robert Thomas, Charles Spencer, 
 William G. Spencer, Samuel H. Collom, Joseph Barrett, George Jaggar 
 and John D. Caldwell. 
 
 The name of "St. Stephen's Methodist Episcopal Church" was then 
 adopted. 
 
 At a meeting of the Trustees, held July 2nd, 1856, it was announced
 
 ST. STEPHEN'S (OLD) CHURCH.
 
 METHODISM IN ( ihRMANTOWN. 49 
 
 by the Pastor that Brother Charles Spencer had resigned from the 
 Board, and John Campion was appointed to till the vacancy. 
 
 At a meeting of the Trustees, held August 9, 1856, it was resolved 
 
 to build a brick chapel, situate on the northeastern side of the Main 
 street, between Jefferson and Bringhurst streets, purchased from Michael 
 Trumbower, as per dte^, dated June 4th, 1856, recorded in Deed Book, 
 R. D. W., No. 81, page 393, &c, the title to the same being taken in 
 the name of Joseph Barrett. 
 
 A building committee was appointed, consisting ol Rev. Newton 
 Heston, Samuel H. Collom, John L). Caldwell. Jacob B. Thomas and 
 Jonathan Wolf. And on August 1 6th, 1856, the committee reported that 
 they had a proposition from Brothers Samuel H. Collom and John D. 
 Caldwell, to build a chapel in accordance with the plans and specifica- 
 tions prepared by Edward Heston (father of the Pastor, the Rev. New. 
 ton Heston); the dimensions to be forty-six by seventy (46x70) feet; to 
 be set cross-wise on the lot, with the view of building at some future 
 time the main edifice in front of the same, thus forming a "T." The 
 building to be two-stories in height above the cellar; the first, or main 
 floor, to be the audience room; the second floor to be divided into school 
 and class-rooms, for the sum of six thousand nine hundred and thirty- 
 seven dollars and fifteen cents ($6,937.15), exclusive of the cost of 
 furnaces and pipes for heating. 
 
 The report was approved and the committee instructed to enter into 
 a contract with the said biethren for the erection of the building. The 
 corner-stone of this new building was laid in the afternoon of Saturday, 
 September 6th, 1856. 
 
 On September 15th, 1856, the Church was incorporated under the 
 n ame of "St. Stephen's Methodist Episcopal Church of Germantown.'* 
 On October 1st, 1856. an election was held for nine Trustees, being the 
 first election held under the charter, when the following brethren were 
 elected, viz: Jacob B. Thomas, Robert Thomas, Jonathan Wolf, John
 
 5 o METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 Campion, Joseph Barrett, John D. Caldwell, Samuel H. Collom, 
 William Carr and Charles W. Howe. 
 
 The church was opened for public worship on Sunday, December 
 21st, 1856. Sermon in the morning, by Bishop Levi Scott. Text, Psl. 
 cxxxvii. 5 and 6. 
 
 Sermon in the evening by the Rev. William P. Corbit. The amount 
 raised in cash and reliable subscriptions during the day was $1325. 
 
 At the Annual Conference, held at Wilmington, Delaware, March 
 25th, 1857, Brother Heston reported, full members, 100; probationers, 68. 
 At this conference, the Rev. William H. Elliott was appointed Pastor of 
 the church. 
 
 The first church building of St. Stephen's congregation was so 
 exceedingly plain and unlike a church edifice in appearance, that it was 
 mistaken by strangers passing by for a factory or mill building. When 
 Brother Elliott first brought his family to Germantown, his young 
 daughter, catching a view of the church, exclaimed, " Oh, papa, what 
 factory is that?" 
 
 "That, my daughter," he replied, "is the factory that 1 am going to 
 work in." 
 
 In 1866, under the pastorate of the Rev. John Thompson, it was 
 determined to erect a new church building; and at a meeting of the 
 membership, held on the evening of June 21st, 1866, it was unanimously 
 resolved to erect a new church building in accordance with the plans 
 prepared by Samuel H. Collom, and the Trustees were authorized to 
 proceed with the work, with power to make such alterations or improve- 
 ments as they might deem advisable. 
 
 At a meeting of the Trustees, held July 10th, 1866, Robert Thomas, 
 Samuel H. Collom and Edwin Markley, were appointed a committee to 
 make arrangements for the renting and fitting up of the Market House, 
 situate on the southwest side of the Main street, above Linden street 
 (now Penn street), for the use of the congregation, pending the erection 
 of the new church edifice. At the same meeting, Samuel H. Collom was
 
 REV. NEWTON HESTON.
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 53 
 
 awarded the contract for the digging of the foundation and doing all the 
 
 masonry, and to furnish materials therefor, for the price or sum of seven 
 thousand six hundred and fifty ($7,650) dollars, lie to have the material 
 in the old building. He was also authorized to employ carpenter-, and to 
 oversee and attend to the other parts of the work, upon the best possible 
 terms; the Trustees to furnish the lumher and hardware for the same; 
 and Brothers William Hodson, Smith E.Hughes and Edwin Markley 
 were appointed a committee to superintend the building. 
 
 At a meeting of the Trustees, held August 7th, 1866, the committee 
 on renting Market House reported that they had taken a lea^e of the 
 same, at a rental of forty ($40) dollars per month, with the privilege of 
 removing therefrom all the lumber and other material placed therein by 
 the Trustees when they should vacate the premises; and that the place 
 was then ready for the congregation. The first public service was held 
 in the Market House in the same month. 
 
 The corner-stone of the new church building was laid on Wednes- 
 day, October 7th, 1866, at three o'clock in the afternoon. The follow- 
 ing brethren took part in the exercises, viz: Revs. T. A. Fernlev. J. W. 
 Barnhard, Curtis F. Turner, and the Rev. Bishop Matthew Simpson, 
 who announced that the exxxii. Psalm would be read by the Bishop and 
 congregation responsively. 
 
 The Psalm commences, "Lord, Remember David, in all his afflic- 
 tions." Then followed the reading of the third chapter of tirst Corinth- 
 ians by the Rev. James E. Meredith, beginning at the ninth verse, "For 
 we are laborers together with God." This was followed by short 
 addresses by Brother Alfred Cookman .\n^.\ Bishop Simpson. 
 
 The congregation continued to worship in the Market House until 
 the latter part of November, 1867. They then took possession of the 
 new building, although it was in an unfinished condition. The services in 
 tlie Market House were well attended, and many persons were converted 
 therein, and joined the Church, and it was not without feelings of regret
 
 54 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 that we vacated the place. The music rendered by our choir was very 
 attractive, and added very materially to the success of the Church. 
 
 The new building was dedicated to the service of Almighty God on 
 Sunday, December ist, 1867. The morning services were conducted by 
 the Rev. Jacob Todd, the afternoon services by the Rev. James Neil, 
 and in the evening the Rev. John S. Inskip, of the New York Confer- 
 ence, preached a sermon. 
 
 In the morning, Brother John Thompson announced that the Trus- 
 tees needed five thousand ($5,000) dollars to pay the cost of the building 
 up to that date. At the close of the evening service, it was announced 
 that five thousand two hundred and sixty-four dollars and sixty nine 
 cents ($5,264.69) had been secured in cash and reliable subscriptions. 
 After this announcement, Brother Thomas W. Dyott, in behalf of the 
 Board of Trustees, presented the building for dedication. The dedica- 
 tory services were conducted by Brothers John Thompson (our Pastor), 
 John S. Inskip, J. E. Meredith and Charles Karsner. 
 
 At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, held April nth, 1871, it was 
 resolved to finish the church building, and a committee was appointed 
 for that purpose; and on December 17th, 1871, the Trustees made an 
 agreement with Smith E. Hughes, to complete the building (including an 
 end gallery) as suggested by Brother Cunningham (who was at that time 
 Pastor-in-charge), for the sum of four thousand and sixty-five ($4,065) 
 dollars. 
 
 During the year 1881, under the pastorate of Rev. T. T. Everett, 
 the lecture room and class rooms in the basement were rearranged and 
 furnished at a cost of about four thousand ($4,000) dollars. 
 
 In the year 1889, a Mission was formed and a Sunday-school estab- 
 lished on the west side of Germantown, at the corner of Penn street and 
 Patton avenue, which is chiefly under the care of the young people of 
 the church, and has been self-sustaining. The Sunday-school at 
 present meets at No. 405 Queen street. For some time past the prayer 
 meetings have been discontinued.
 
 - 
 
 T. STEPHEN'S NEW 
 
 CHURCH.
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 57 
 
 A lot has been leased for the use of the Mis-ion at Penn and Morris 
 streets, and they contemplate erecting thereon a temporary building 
 early in the coming spring 1895 1. 
 
 At the Annual Conference, held at Philadelphia in the ( Jre< n Stit et 
 M. E. Church, March nth, 1892, Brother A. L. Urban reported the 
 strength of the Church as follows, viz: Number of Sunday-schools, 2; 
 officers and teacher-, 69; scholars, of allages, 505; number of probation- 
 ers, 6; full members, 430. At that conference, the Rev. A. C. Kynett 
 was appointed Pastor. His pastorate, up to the present time, January 1 st, 
 1895, has been very successful, and the Church has to-day on her rolls 
 23 probationers and 528 full members; 2 Sunday-schools, 55 officers and 
 teachers and 469 scholars of all ages. 
 
 St. Stephen's, from the day of its organization down to the present 
 time, has been favored and blessed with an excellent choir, most of 
 whom were and still are communicant members in good standing and 
 faithful workers in the church and Sunday-school, and from their knowl- 
 of music and the aptness of their leaders in selecting hymns and 
 tunes appropriate to the occasion and the subject selected by the Pastor, 
 they have been and still are a great help to the Pastor, and add ma- 
 terially to his success. In the estimation of the writer, there is no more 
 efficient and spiritually-minded choir within the limits of the Philadelphia 
 Conference. 
 
 Some of the former leaders and members of the choir have none to 
 their reward in heaven, to join with the angels and redeemed spirits in 
 ascribing "(dory to God in the Highest." 
 
 St. Stephen's M. h". Church has furnished the itineracy with a num- 
 ber or preachers, viz: William Macatee, James McFarland, George W. 
 1 • Gi it. Joseph B. ( .raff, Cornelius Hudson and Edson W. B. Tatlow. 
 
 For a list of the preachers serving this charge, see Appendix.
 
 5 8 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE HOUNT PLEASANT AVENUE M. E. CHURCH. 
 
 In the year 1854, the Rev. Newton Heston, pastor of the Haines 
 Street Church, Germantown, formed a class and Sunday-school at Mt. 
 Pleasant; their place of meeting was a second-story room in a frame 
 building, the first floor of which was used as a cabinet-maker's shop by 
 Andrew Graver. The building belonged to Erasmus Pierce, and stood 
 on the lot of ground on the northeast side of the Main street, next 
 southeastward to Jacob Derr's property. For a time the class and 
 Sunday-school were well attended, and arrangements were made for 
 preaching services to be held on Sundays in the afternoons, and public 
 prayer-meetings one evening every week'. These services were well 
 attended, being conducted generally by Local Preachers or Exhorters 
 from Germantown. The prospect at that time was very good, and the 
 membership looked forward to the time when Methodism at Mt. Airy 
 would be permanently established and which they thought would be at 
 no very distant day; in this for a time they were disappointed. 
 
 In 1856, the Church at Germantown was divided and a new con- 
 gregation formed, known as St. Stephen's, and Brother Heston was 
 appointed to that charge. From that time forward the pastors of the 
 churches in Germantown seemed to have lost their interest in the Mt. 
 Aiiw Mission, and it gradually declined, until finally upon the sale of 
 the lot and the building in which their meetings were held, the Mission 
 was abandoned altogether. 
 
 In the year 1874, the Rev. Joseph Mason, pastor of the Haines 
 Street Church, formed a class of the members residing at or near Mt. 
 Airv, and appointed Brother Gavin Neilson leader. The class met at 
 the house of Brother Neilson on Franklin street. 
 
 On the fourth day of April, 1875, the class changed their place of 
 meeting to the large room on the second floor of the Odd Fellows' Hall, 
 at the corner of Mt. Airy avenue and the Main street. 
 
 A Sunday-school was then formed to meet at the same place, and 
 known as the Mt. Airy Mission of the Haines Street Charge. Brother
 
 REV. \. F. I)(i| || R] R
 
 MPTHOhISM IN GERMANTOWN. 61 
 
 Charles M. Dungan was appointed as the Superintendent of the school, 
 and Brother Christian Smith was selected as the leader of the class. 
 Arrangements we're also made for regular Sunday services, to be con- 
 ducted by laical Preachers and Exhorters, who from time to time might 
 
 be selected to fill the appointments. The services were conducted in 
 this hall for about two years, but the congregations were frequently 
 disappointed by reason of the brethren who were appointed to conduct 
 tlie services, not putting in an appearance. 
 
 In the summer of 1876, the brethren at .\\t. Airy felt that it was 
 necessary to secure a permanent place for worship, if they desired 
 Methodism at that point to be a success. 
 
 Mr. Jesse Hinkle ottered to the congregation, through the writer of 
 this, a lot ot ground situate at the corner of Nit. Pleasant avenue and 
 Bryan street, upon very reasonable terms, and Brother Gavin Neilson, 
 when made acquainted with the offer, determined to secure the lot, and 
 took title to the same in his own name, the lot having a frontage <<\\ 
 Mt. Pleasant avenue ot one hundred (ioo) feet and a depth on Bryan 
 street of one hundred and thirty-one (131) feet. Consideration, a 
 yearly ground rent of eighty ($80) dollars. 
 
 At the next Quarterly Conference of the Haines Street Church, 
 Brother Neilson laid the whole matter before them. They approved ot 
 his action, and appointed a committee to endeavor to secure funds to 
 the amount of one thousand 1 Si ,000) dollars or more, and it successful in 
 raising the amount, to proceed with the erection ot a chapel upon said 
 lot. The committee consisted of Gavin Neilson, Edward Savage, Henry 
 Smith, Enos P. Hesser, Mrs. Charles M. Dungan, Mis. Christian Smith 
 and Mrs. Hannah Hesser, with power to add to their number. The 
 committee organized, and then added to their number Thomas B. Cope, 
 R. S. Woddropp, William McArthur and John T. Walker. 
 
 The committee, having met with great success .\\)^\ having secured 
 more than the amount above-named, proceeded to have the chapel 
 erected, the contract for which was given to H. P. Rodd, ot Mt. Airy.
 
 62 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 The building, which is thirty-seven by fifty-one (37x51) feet, outside 
 measurement, and a very substantial frame, was staked out on Tues- 
 day, September 20th, 1876, and was formally dedicated for worship on 
 Sunday, March 25th, 1877, when for the first time the bell, which was a 
 donation from the builder, sent forth an invitation to the people to 
 "Come up to the House of the Lord and worship." 
 
 The following named brethren were present and took part in the 
 dedicatory services, viz. : Revs. Joseph Mason, J. B. McCullough and 
 Andrew Longacre, of the Philadelphia Conference, and Dr. E. H. 
 Stokes, of the New Jersey Conference. 
 
 On Sunday, April 7th, 1877, the services were conducted by the 
 Rev. A. F. Dotterer, junior pastor of the Haines Street Church, whose 
 special duty it was to take charge of this Mission, which was on that 
 day formally organized, with a membership of 24, and a Sunday-school 
 composed of 14 officers and teachers, and 60 scholars. The entire cost 
 of the building, with the improvements, furniture, &c, was three 
 thousand four hundred and twenty-four dollars and nine cents ($3424.09), 
 all of which was raised and paid before the dedication, with the excep- 
 tion of eight hundred ($800) dollars, which was provided for and sub- 
 sequently paid. 
 
 Two of the brethren who took an active part in all church work 
 and labored hard to insure the erection of the building, viz. : Brothers 
 Edward Savage, in his matured manhood, and Enos F. Hesser, in the 
 full vigor of youth and activity, were taken from their field of labor to 
 their reward in heaven before the building was completed. 
 
 On the thirtieth day of March, 1880, Brother Gavin Neilson took 
 title as Trustee, for twenty (20) feet of ground adjoining the church lot 
 on the southwest in trust for the congregation. 
 
 On the thirtieth day of June, 1881, the ground rent was extin- 
 guished by the payment of one thousand three hundred and thirty- 
 three dollars and thirty-three cents ($1333.33), thus freeing the church 
 property from all indebtedness.
 
 MOUNT PLEASANT AVENUE M. E. Mil RCH.
 
 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 65 
 
 On the first day ol June, 1SS5, the congregation was incorporated 
 by the name <>t "The Mount Pleasant Avenue Methodist Episcopal 
 Church of Philadelphia." 
 
 The Trustees named in the charter were : Thomas B. Cope, Robert 
 
 Thomas, Robert T. Laughlin, Richard W. P. Gough, John T. Walker, 
 Gavin Neilson, Charles K. Lippincott, Charles C. Crawford and David 
 Cliffe. 
 
 On the tenth day of September, 1885, Gavin Neilson and wife con- 
 veyed the two lots of -round which he held in trust, to the congregation 
 by their proper corporate name and title. 
 
 In the year 1887, the Church purchased a lot of ground on Bryan 
 street adjoining on the northwest their original lot, thus giving them 
 an additional frontage on Bryan street of eighteen feet, six inches 
 (18ft. 6in.) 
 
 In the year 1893, the congregation built a tine stone parsonage on 
 their lot fronting on Mt. Pleasant avenue, containing fourteen rooms, 
 and furnished with all modern conveniences; the cost of the parsonage 
 and furniture being about eight thousand ($8,000) dollars; and in 
 January, 1884, the preacher-in-charge, Rev. J. E. Grauley, moved into 
 the same. 
 
 The membership of the church on January 1st, 1895, was 200; 
 and the Sunday-school was composed of 29 officers and teachers, and 
 225 scholars. 
 
 For list of preachers serving this charge, see Appendix. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CHESTNUT HILL H. E. CHURCH. 
 
 Prior to the year [821, their had been occasional preaching at 
 Chestnut Hill by the Methodist preachers of Bristol Circuit, it being 
 within the limits of said circuit, but not one of the regular appointments. 
 
 In the year 1821, John Magufrm, a Presbyterian, residing at Chest- 
 nut Hill, built a chapel on his ground, on the road leading from tin- 
 Main streel toward the Wissahickon, called Graver's lane, and now
 
 66 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 known as Union avenue. He named the building "Union Chapel," it 
 being free for Christians of all denominations to worship therein. In 
 1822, Chestnut Hill was recognized as one of the regular preaching 
 places of Bristol Circuit, and the preachers visited it once in six weeks. 
 There was generally preaching there in the chapel every other week, the 
 services being conducted by Local Brethren or Exhorters when the Cir- 
 cuit Preachers were not there. About this time a class was formed at 
 Chestnut Hill, and William Hawes was appointed the leader. The class 
 met at the house of Jacob Hawes, on the Main street, near what is now 
 known as Highland avenue, from the year 1823 down to the year 
 1853, when Jacob Hawes removed from Chestnut Hill. 
 
 In the spring of the year 1832, Bristol Circuit was divided and 
 Germantown Circuit formed, the latter having fourteen appointments, 
 of which Chestnut Hill was one. 
 
 In the year 1844, the congregation at Chestnut Hill determined to 
 build a house of worship for themselves on a lot of ground which they 
 had secured on the west side of the Main street, or Reading Pike, near 
 what is now known as Chestnut avenue, and upon which the present 
 church edifice stands; and the next year they built thereon a stone 
 chapel building, two stories in height, the corner-stone of which was 
 laid in June, 1845, an ^ the building finished and dedicated. 
 
 Among the active members at that time, was Brother Jacob Win- 
 dolph, who is still living at this writing and is an honored and useful mem- 
 ber of the Church. In connection with the history of this church, it seems 
 but just to mention the name of John Schultz, who, although not a 
 member, took great interest in the building of the church, and, shortly 
 after the building was finished, joined the Church, and remained a 
 faithful and liberal member of it until his removal to Norristown, where 
 he still resides, and is now in the eighty-sixth year of his age; and 
 although living at Norristown at the time of the erection of the present 
 church edifice, he was one of the most liberal contributors toward it.
 
 CHESTNUT HILL M. E. CHUHCH.
 
 METHODISM IN GLRMANTOWV 
 
 On May [8th, 1847, the society was incorporated by the name of 
 "The Wesley Methodist Episcopal Chapel of Chestnut Hill." 
 
 In the year [851, Germantown was set apart as a station, and 
 Chestnut Hill Circuit was formed, and in the year [858, Chestnut Hill 
 became a station. 
 
 In the year 1S77, during the pastorate ol the Rev. S. I. Kemble, 
 the congregation erected a substantial parsonage on their lot adjoining 
 the church on the north, at a cost of about five thousand ($5,000) dollars; 
 and through the untiring efforts of Brother Kemble, assisted by Brother 
 Windolph and others, three thousand iS},ooo) dollars of this amount 
 was raised, and the remaining two thousand ($2,000) dollars was 
 secured by jiivin^ a mortgage on the premises tor that amount. 
 
 Sister Louisa Lent/, a member of the Church, in her last will and 
 testament, directed her executors to pay to the Church two thousand 
 
 >oo) dollars for the purpose of wiping out the mortgage. Ibis 
 was done, and the parsonage freed from debt immediately after her 
 
 decease. 
 
 During the year [882, Brother Samuel Irvin, preacher-in-charge, 
 
 raised about one thousand ($1,000) dollars in cash as the nucleus ol a 
 building fund for the new church which they then had in contemplation. 
 In March, 1SS4, the Rev. A. F. Dotterer was appointed pastor, and 
 on August 25th, [884, ground was broken for the new church, the 
 corner-stone of which was laid on September 25th, [884; and on June 
 21st, iS8^, the building being completed, it was dedicated to the service 
 of Almighty God, tree from debt. The old church and the new are 
 connected, thus forming an attractive church and chapel. The entire 
 cost ot these improvements was about twelve thousand ($12,000) 
 
 dollars. 
 
 The Church has at present (January, 1895), 126 members in full 
 standing, and i(> probationers; and a Sunday-school ot 14 officers and 
 teachers, a\\A So scholars. 
 
 This charge is in a very flourishing condition, both church and
 
 70 METHODISM IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 parsonage being well and neatly furnished, the congregations good and 
 the attendance increasing. 
 
 For list of preachers serving this charge, see Appendix. 
 
 THE CENTENNIAL OF METH0DI5H IN GERMANTOWN. 
 
 In concluding this history, the writer desires to state that he has 
 been frequently asked the question, "When will be the proper time to 
 celebrate the Centennial anniversary of Methodism in Germantown?" 
 and in answer thereto says, that in his opinion, the present year (1895) 
 is the proper time, for the following reasons, viz.: 
 
 I find, by referring to the minute book of the Trustees of the German- 
 town Academy, that in the winter of the years 1794 and 1795 the 
 Methodists had the privilege of worshipping in the Academy Building, 
 and about that time a class was formed, of which Joseph Jacobs, a 
 Wesleyan, was selected as the leader. The class met in private houses, 
 and the outlook was so encouraging, that on the fourth day of June, 
 1796, Rev. Ezekiel Cooper appointed Brother Jacobs the regular leader 
 of the class, which, at that time, had eleven members. 
 
 Thus, in my mind, the forming of the class in 1795, which after- 
 ward proved so successful, fixes the dateiforthe Centennial Anniversary 
 in the year 1895. 
 
 ROBERT THOMAS, 
 January, i8g^. Compiler.
 
 Appendix. 
 
 List of Presiding Elders having supervision over the Churches of 
 
 Germantown and Chestnut Hill, from the year 1805 to January, 1895: 
 
 Solomon Sharp. 
 
 805 
 
 806 
 
 807 
 
 808 William P. Chandler. 
 
 809 William Hunter. 
 
 810 
 
 8ll 
 
 812 
 
 813 Henry Boehm. 
 
 814 
 
 815 Robert R. Roberts. 
 
 816 Daniel Hitt. 
 
 817 " " 
 
 818 " " 
 
 1819 
 1820 
 1821 
 1822 
 1823 
 1824 
 1825 
 1826 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 1832 
 
 1832— Germantown Circuit Formed 
 
 1833 George Banghart. [845 
 
 1834 " i' s 4'' 
 
 1835 " 1847 
 
 1836 " " [848 
 
 1837 James Smith. 1849 
 
 1838 " " 1850 
 
 1839 " " *i8qi 
 
 1840 1852 
 
 1841 Solomon Higgins. 1853 
 
 [842 " " 1854 
 
 1843 " " 1855 
 
 1844 
 
 * ( ; eri 11 an town made a station and Cbestnal 11 ill Circuit formed. 
 
 Daniel Hitt. 
 James Bateman. 
 
 Joseph Lybrand. 
 
 William Thatcher. 
 
 Manning Force. 
 
 1. \. Massey. 
 
 J. P. Durbin. 
 Elijah Miller. 
 
 J. D. Curtis.
 
 APPENDIX {Continued). 
 
 *i856. 
 
 1857 
 1858 
 
 1859 
 
 i860 
 
 1861 
 
 1862 
 
 1863 
 
 1864 
 
 1865 
 
 1866 
 
 1867 
 
 1868 
 
 1869- 
 
 1870 
 
 1871 
 
 1872 
 
 1873 
 
 1874 
 
 1875 
 
 T. J 
 
 Will 
 
 am L. Grav. 
 
 James Cunningham. 1876 Aaron Rittenhouse. 
 
 1877 " 
 
 1878 " 
 
 " 1879 William Swindells. 
 
 Thompson. 1880 " " 
 
 ! 1881 
 
 ! 1882 
 
 1883 Joseph Welsh. 
 
 1884 " 
 
 1885 " 
 
 1886 " 
 
 1887 John F. Meredith. 
 
 1888 " 
 
 -f-1889 " 
 
 1890 " 
 
 1891 Samuel W. Thomas 
 
 1892 
 
 1893 " 
 
 1894 " 
 
 Joseph Castle. 
 
 Wiliiam H. Elliott. 
 
 St. Stephen's Church organized. 
 
 Mt. Pleasant Avenue became a station.
 
 APPENDIX {Continued). 
 
 List of Preachers in charge of Bristol Circuit, together with number 
 oi members on the circuit from \.jt 4 to 1828, after which date we have 
 no record of the number of members on the circuit. 
 
 Ni. O] 
 II IB. IKK \c BBS. MKM 111 R8 
 
 1794 William Hunter and John Bateman 217 
 
 1 7m; William Hardesty and Joseph Rowen ... 173 
 
 William Colbert and James Whitby 1;- 
 
 1 Charles Cavender and Richard Lyon 153 
 
 1798 James Moore [63 
 
 1 Jacob Egbert 203 
 
 1800 Arming Owen and Joseph Osborn [73 
 
 1801 William P. Chandler and John Fidler 
 
 1 - ■ Eishart McCoy and Thomas 
 
 1- - Henry Clarke and John Bothel 
 
 1S04 David Bartine and David James 2^7 
 
 180;; Asa Smith and h. Hegby 237 
 
 1- Asa Smith, D. Hegby and William Hoyer 24.1 
 
 1807 John Walker and Richard Lyon 
 
 1808 Thomas Dunn and James Polhemus 3co 
 
 i8cq D. Bartine. James Aikens and Joseph Stephens 
 
 1S10 James Aikens, William Fisher and William P. Chandler. . . 531 
 
 [811 Thomas Boring and William Fisher . . . • ■ • . . 469 
 
 1812 Richard Sneath and John Walker 
 
 [813 Thomas Dunn, Charles Reed and James Polhemus 
 
 1S14 Charles Heed and William Torbert 
 
 1815 William Torbert and William Foulke 
 
 Asa Smith and Daniel Ireland 
 
 1817 Asa Smith and John Fox 504 
 
 1818 John Robinson and John Price 
 
 l8ig Samuel Budd 543 
 
 1820 Manning I I PI is Price. ... • 
 
 1S21 " " " •• * 
 
 1822 Jacob Gruber and Daniel Fidler 
 
 l823 " " '• •■ * 
 
 1824 William Williams and rhomas Davis 
 
 [825 Edward Stout, Samuel Grace and Robert Gear) a supply) . . * 
 
 [826 Edward Stout and Joseph Carey 
 
 1827 Henry G. King and Robert Lutton 
 
 1828 Henry G. King and James B. Ayers 634 
 
 1820 Thomas Neil and Nathaniel Chew 
 
 1830 Thomas Neil and Manlove Ha/el 
 
 18^1 Edward Page, lohn Finley and James Long 
 
 * No record.
 
 APPENDIX {Continued). 
 
 1832- Ciermantown Circuit Formed. 
 
 List of Preachers for Germantown Circuit: 
 
 NO. OF 
 
 YE4R. PREACHER. MEMBERS. 
 
 1832 John Finley and John Nicholson * 
 
 1833 John Woolson and William Granvill * 
 
 1834 John Woolson, William Granvill and Henry Sutton * 
 
 1835 William W- Foulk and William H. Gilder * 
 
 1836 " " " " * 
 
 1837 Caleb Lippincott and M. D. Curts (a supply) * 
 
 1838 Caleb Lippincott and Silas C. Palmer (an assistant) * 
 
 1839 George Lacey and J. L. Taft * 
 
 1840 David Daily, J. L. Taft and William H. Gilder (a supernumer- 
 ary) 
 
 1841 David Dailey, David Shields (and James Neil for part of the 
 
 year) * 
 
 1842 John A. Roach and William H. Gilder (a supernumerary) . . * 
 
 1843 James Cunningham ....••.... * 
 
 1844 " " * 
 
 1845 John S. Inskip and Peter Hallowell * 
 
 1846 Mahlon H. Sisty and Samuel Pancoast * 
 
 1847 Mahlon H. Sisty and J. E. Meredith * 
 
 1848 ...... J. D. Curtis (and Alfred Cookman, for Chestnut Hill) ... * 
 
 1849 J. D. Curtis (and J. B. McCullough for Chestnut Hill) . ... * 
 
 1850 Gasoway Oram (and Reuben Owen for Chestnut Hill) .... * 
 
 185 1 — Germantown Made a Station. 
 
 185 1 Gasoway Orum * 
 
 1852 George D. Bowen * 
 
 1853 " " * 
 
 1854 Newton Heston * 
 
 1855 " " * 
 
 1 1856 George Quigley * 
 
 1857 " " * 
 
 1858 William McCoombs * 
 
 1859 J. H. Alday * 
 
 i860 " " * 
 
 1861 ... • . . Charles Karsner * 
 
 1862 " " * 
 
 1863 George W. McLaughlin * 
 
 1864 " " * 
 
 1865 J. B. Maddox * 
 
 1866 J. E.Meredith * 
 
 * No record. 
 
 t St. Stephen's Church formed.
 
 APPENDIX {Continued). 
 
 \ I A K 
 [867 
 
 [868 
 1869 
 
 1870 
 1871 
 
 1873 
 [874 
 1875 
 1876 
 
 1878 
 1879 
 [880 
 [88i 
 [882 
 [883 
 1SS4 
 1885 
 [886 
 1887 
 1888 
 
 i8(p 
 1891 
 1892 
 
 [893 
 
 1894 
 
 ■HI- \<- 111 1 
 
 J. E.Meredith . 
 G. D. Carrow 
 
 Tin unas C Murphy 
 
 loseph Mason 
 
 Robert Whinna I A. F. Dotterer for Mt. Pleasant* . . ■ 
 J. Hepburn Hargis 1 Frank H. Moore for Mt. Pleasant 1 . 
 E. B. Snyder H. R. Robinson forMt. Pleasant ... 
 
 E. B. Snyder 1 G. M. Brodhead for Mt. Pleasant 
 J. H. Hargis I G- M. Brodhead for Mt. Pleasant . 
 
 J. H. Hargis (G. Bickley Burns for Mt. Pleasant 
 
 J. H. Hargis 
 
 R. W. Humphriss 
 
 NO. OF 
 
 MKMUKRS. 
 
 R. W. Humphriss and A. Greaves assistant tor East Side 
 
 Mission 
 
 R. W. Humphriss ( A. D. Shields tor East Side Mission 1 . . . 
 Frank R. Parkins (A. D. Shields for East Side Mission I . . 
 
 List of Preachers serving in St. Stephen 
 
 1856 Newton Heston- (866 
 
 1857 William H. Elliott. [867 
 
 i8<;8 " " ' s "' s 
 
 [859 Samuel W. Thomas. l86g 
 
 •• " 1870 
 
 1861 Curtis F. Turner. 187] 
 
 [86a " " [872 
 
 [863 Wesley Kenny. [873 
 
 
 
 1865 " " 1*7; 
 
 No record. 
 
 Mi .Pleasant A. venue became a Btatlon, 
 
 ■ chai J 
 John rhompson. 
 
 Michael 1 i.i\ . 
 
 lames Cunningham. 
 
 J. B. Maddox.
 
 APPENDIX {Continued). 
 
 1876 ....... Jacob Todd. 
 
 1877 Charles W. Bickley. 
 
 1878 " 
 
 1879 " 
 
 1880 Thomas T. Everett. 
 
 1881 
 
 *i882 
 
 1883 Wesley C. Best. 
 
 1886 
 1887 
 1888 
 1889 
 1890 
 1 89 1 
 1892 
 1893 
 1894 
 
 • S. H. Heilner. 
 
 A. L. Urban. 
 
 Alpha G. Kynett. 
 
 Preachers in charge of Mt. Pleasant Avenue Church after it 
 became a station: 
 
 1889 
 1890 
 1891 
 
 A Heebner. 
 
 1892 Jacob E. Grauley. 
 
 1893 " 
 
 1894 " 
 
 Preachers in charge of the Chestnut Hill Church since its separa- 
 tion from the Germantown Circuit in 185 1, 
 
 George W. Lybrand. 
 J. R. Merrill. 
 
 S. T. Kemble. 
 
 185 1 Andrew Longacre. 
 
 1852 " 
 
 1853 T. Snowden Thomas. 
 
 1854 
 
 1855 Henry Bodine. 
 
 1856 J. L. Heysinger. 
 
 1857 Rich'd W. Humphrys. 
 
 1858 Noble Frame. 
 
 1859 T. M. Griffith. 
 
 i860 • S. L. Gracev. 
 
 1861 S. N. Chew. 
 
 1862 " 
 
 1863 J. F. Reynolds. 
 
 1864 J. Mast. 
 
 1865 
 
 1866 Charles I. Little. 
 
 1867 S. Townsend. 
 
 1868 " 
 
 1869 Andrew Manship. 
 
 1870 
 
 1871 
 
 872 O. L. Haddock. 
 
 1873 
 1874 
 1875 
 
 1876 
 
 1877 
 1878 
 
 1879 
 1 88c 
 1881 
 1882 
 1883 
 1884 
 1885 
 1886 
 1887 
 1888 
 1889 
 1890 
 1891 
 1892 
 
 1893 
 1894 
 
 * In December, 1882, Brother Evere tt resigned the pastorate to accept the position of 
 
 Private Secretary to Governor Pattison, and the Presiding Elder 
 to fill the unexpired term. 
 
 J. B. Maddox. 
 Joseph S. Cook. 
 Samuel Irwin. 
 
 Thomas W. Simpers. 
 Abner F. Dotterer. 
 
 J. P. Miller. 
 
 W. P. Howell. 
 Charles H. Rorer. 
 
 ippointed Joseph Mason
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Santa Barbara 
 
 THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW. 
 
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