^JjJW OF PRINCt PRESBYTERfANISM. ITS RELATION TO THE NEGRO. ILLUSTRATED BY The Berean Presbyterian Church, PHILADELPHIA, WITH SKETCH OF THE CHURCH AND AUTO BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR MATTHEW ANDERSON, A.M., MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, AND THE AMERICAN NEGRO ACADEMY FOR THE PROMOTION OF LETTHRS, ART, LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. WITH INTRODUCTIONS FRANCIS J. GRIMKE, D. D, PASTOR OF THE FIFTEENTH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D. C, JOHN B. REEVE, D. D„ PASTOR OK THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LOMBARD STREET, PHILADELPHIA. PHILADELPHIA, PA. : JOHN McGILL WHITE & CO., 1328 Chestnut Strebt. Copyright, 1897, BY JOHN McGILL WHITE & CO. Thi sunshine Phiss. In compliance with current copyright law, LBS Archival Products produced this replacement volume on paper that meets the AN5I Standard Z39.48-1984 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. 1992 (So) DEDICATION MY FRIEND TO , JOHN McGILL, WHO FOSTERED AND SUSTAINED THE BEREAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOR OVER FOURTEEN YEARS, AND TO THE FRIENDS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE GENERALLY, IS THIS BOOK MOST GRATEFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. Philadelphia, Jul}', 1897. INTRODUCTORY NOTE. Presbyterian I have known the pastor of the Berean Church, the Rev. Matthew Anderson, for a number of years. We were in the Theological Seminary at Princeton together, since which time our friendship has deepened with increasing years. From the inception of his work in Philadelphia I have watched his career with the deepest interest, loo much cannot be said in praise of his self-sacrificing and indefatigable efforts in pushing forward the work to which, in the providence of God, he was called shortly after the completion of his Semi- nary course. What he has accomplished has simply been marvellous. No one knows but those who have been most intimately associated with him, what this work has cost him in care and toil. By day and by night, for years, he went up and down the city of Phila- delphia in search of means to help to pay for the beautiful building in which the congregation now worships. Often, I know, he must have been discouraged, often depressed and cast down, but his faith was in God, and so he kept on in the full assurance that success would ultimately crown his efforts. And success has crowned his efforts. The beautiful structure on South College avenue will ever remain a monument to his faith, and zeal, and earnestness, and a witness to the generosity of the many noble friends who came to his assistance, and who cheered him on by their gifts and kind words. When the last dollar was paid on the building, I remem- ber how I was thrilled by the joyful announcement which came to me, from him, and how my heart rejoiced with him in the glorious consummation. I said then, well done, and I say now, a hundred times over, "Well done." Francis J. Grimke. Washington, D. C, January 10, 1897. 5 Philadelphia, Pa. Having had the privilege of hearing read from manu- script what the Rev. Matthew Anderson, pastor of the Berean Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pa., has written concerning that "work of faith," and having had full knowledge of it, from its inception as a Mission Sunday School, until now, I take great pleasure in commending this sketch of local church history to all who are interested in the advancement of our Redeem- er's Kingdom. It witnesses nobly to the possibilities which lie before Presbyterianism among the so called "peculiar people." Had the Reverend Gloucesters, father and son, found- ers of Presbyterian Churches in this city left similar sketches of their noble work, such records would now be invaluable. J. B. Reeve, For more than thirty years Pastor of Central Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pa. January, 1897. PREFACE. The motives which led to the writing of these pages were not to write a book, but simply a re- port of the Berean Presbyterian Church for the Presby- tery of Philadelphia, and to give a short historical sketch of the enterprise from its inception, together with an Autobiography of the writer for the benefit of the mem- bers and friends of the church. It was thought that as there had never been given to the Presbytery a comprehensive report of the church, that such a report should be given now, especially since the debt on the church proper had been cancelled, to- gether with one-half of the debt on the parsonage, and since the whole property, church and parsonage, has been turned over to the Trustees. It was thought also, that inasmuch as the writer has been most intimately con- nected with the work, almost from the very inception of the mission,, that no one was as well acquainted with its history, development and prospect as he, and hence no one was as well prepared to write its history, there- fore that he should write a brief sketch of the church while the facts, purposes, and plans, are all fresh in his mind for the benefit of the congregation and the friends generally of the enterprise. It was while writing the report for the Presbytery and the historical sketch of the church that the thought was suggested of showing the relation of Presbyterian- ism to the Negro, using the Berean Church as an illus- tration. Hence the title, "Presbyterianism in its re- lation to The Negro." We have always thought, and we believe rightly, that the Presbyterian Church has an important mission 7 8 PREFA CE. to perform among the colored people of the United States. The doctrines held by the church are the best calculated to correct the peculiar faults of the Negro, his legacy from slavery, and thus give him that inde- pendence and decision of character necessary to enable him to act nobly and well his part as a man and a citi- zen of our great republic. Presbyterian Churches and schools should therefore be established not only in the South but in the North as well, which will require in the main the same methods and means to establish and carry them on, as has been employed in the Berean Church. Hence if there is anything in the history of the Berean Church, which will inspire faith and energy among those who are laboring to establish Presbyter- ism among the colored people, as well as to induce those who are able to give of their means towards such work, we will be satisfied, feeling that we have not labored in vain. Matthew Anderson. Philadelphia, July, 1897. CONTENTS. Page. CHAPTER I. History of the Gloucester Mission—Its Organization, Development and Growth *3 CHAPTER II. The Writer Took Charge of the Gloucester Mission Three Months - on Trial 22 24 Possibilities of the Berean Presbyterian Church 24-25 Examining Thoroughly the Field 25-26 CHAPTER III. Conclusions Reached 26-30 Committee Appointed by the Presbytery 3° The Organization of the Berean Church 3 1 Call Accepted and Pastor Installed 3 2"34 CHAPTER IV. Correctness of the Conclusions Reached 35"3 Church Entered—Month of Exercises 3^-4° Success of the Enterprise 40-46 CHAPTER V. Jubilee Over the Completed Church and Cancelled Debt .... 47"48 Report by Dr. Reuel Stewart 48"5° Resume of the Work Accomplished S^S 1 - 51-62 Dedicatory Services and Address by the Pastor . CHAPTER VI. Advantages of the Berean Presbyterian Church 63 1st.—Church Finely Located 63-65 2nd.—The Church and Parsonage are Beautiful 65-67 . 67-70 3rd.—The Pastor is Thoroughly Acquainted with the Field 4U1.—The Church Will in Time Become Self-Sustaining 70-72 Extract from Report to President Through the Extension Com- mittee 72-78 5th.—The Colored People Take to Presbyterianism 78-81 9 io CONTEXTS. CHAPTER VII. Page. Shall the Protestant or the Catholic Church Occupy the Field Among the Colored People ? 82-83 The Success of the Catholic Church Among the Colored People . 83-84 The Reasons Why the Catholic Church Succeeds Among the Colored People 84-85 CHAPTER VIII. Staunch Friends of the Berean Church and of the Negro .... 86-90 The Board of Trustees 90-91 Accounts Audited 9 I_ 92 CHAPTER IX. Events in the Pastor's Experience 93 1st. — Going to Princeton Seminary 93 2nd.—Writing for the American Missionary Association 93 3rd. —Studying at Yale and Supplying the Temple Congregational Church at New Haven, Connecticut 94 4th. —Taking Charge of the Gloucester Mission 94"95 5th.—The Action of the Presbytery of Philadelphia Central on Taking its . the Mission, and Missionary Under Cate . 95 The Interest Shown by Mr. Jarden 95-96 Almost Ready to Give Up 96-97 6th. —Mr. McGill's Revelation to Mr. Anderson ... ... 97-98 Mr. McGill Took Hold 99-100 Other Friends 100-101 What the Philadelphia Sentinel Said in Reference to the Enterprise of the Berean Presbyterian Church lox-108 Charter of the Berean Church 10S-III Constitution and By-Laws 112-117 Session of the Berean Presbyterian Church 117 Extracts from Report on the Work Among the Freedmen to the Presbytery of Philadelphia Central for 1889 118-124 Extracts from Report for 1S90 125-131 Part Second. Autobiography of Rev. Matthew Anderson. CHAPTER X. Guided by an Over-Ruling Providence 135 Great Desire for an Education .... 135-136 Iberia College, Ohio 137 The Character of the School 137-141 Ambitious to Lead the Class 141-142 1 CONTENTS. 1 CHAPTER XI. Page. Entered Oberlin College ... 143 First Impressions of Oberlin 143-144 Experience as Student at Oberlin .... 144-146 Lecturing Tour 146-147 Sad Experiences 147-150 Unmercifulness 150-152 Walked the Railroad Ties to Berea, Ohio 152-153 Assisted to Oberlin 153-154 Returned Home 154 CHAPTER XII.