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HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Most of the information in this history is taken from the book The
Archives Tell a Story by Charles D. Bates, Executive Secretary
of the Church, 1959. When the Americans acquired Mobile from the Spanish during the War of 1812, the community seemed unimpressive. There were less than a thousand inhabitants, who were a mixture of French, Spanish, Blacks and Indians. They dwelled in squalid, rotting cottages. Streets were muddy, and only one or two wharves jutted out into the river, evidence of the deadening effect of the royal monopoly on trade. The population was largely male, and many frequented the numbers of bars and gambling houses on the river. The town was overwhelmingly Roman Catholic in faith. This changed as large numbers of American protestants arrived during the teens and twenties.
Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state in 1819. The
Presbyterians were not a significant presence in early American
Mobile. In 1821 the Presbytery of Alabama was organized with only
three churches and fifty members.
In the winter of 1822 the Rev. John B. Warren, a licentiate of the
Salem Association of Massachusetts, was sent by the New York
Evangelical Society of Young Men to Alabama to establish a church.
He became the second man to be ordained by the Presbytery of
Alabama. He set about building a church two blocks east of the
present structure, which is now the site of the LaClede Hotel.
During his amazing and prodigious efforts to build this church his
wife and daughter died in a yellow fever epidemic. He continued
his work undaunted, soliciting funds from friends in the north.
With his own hands he chopped logs and floated them down the river
to Mobile. Once he was swamped in Pole Cat Bay, where he remained
several days. Selling two houses and his meager household effects,
he used the proceeds in the construction of the church. Seven
difficult years were spent building the first sanctuary before it
was dedicated in May of 1829.
Meanwhile, a small group of Presbyterians had formed a union
protestant church with local Episcopalians. In 1828 the
Presbyterians informally organized under the Rev. Murdock Murphy,
as a Presbyterian Church in Government-Street.
John Warren, evidently an eccentric man who was never fully
accepted by the majority of Presbyterians in the area, preached
the first sermon in his new sanctuary. An extract from that sermon
illustrates his feelings:
An early historian reports that Warren, "having preached the
dedication sermon, gave it (the new building) up to the
Presbyterian Church which had been organized the preceding year by
Reverend Murdock Murphy, and took his departure from Mobile."
[i]
Mr. Murphy’s diary reveals that he had financial troubles due to
"a want of punctuality on the part of my congregation in
paying my salary. Sometimes, I received but little more than half
of the thousand dollars promised me." In February of 1831 he
left Mobile. He died in 1833.
The church was formally organized in January of 1831 with 22
charter members [ii] under Rev. James R.
Johnston, Pastor. In 1834, Dr. William T. Hamilton became
minister. The congregation grew, and in 1836 land at the corner of
Jackson and Government Streets was purchased.
Mobile’s fortunes began to take an upturn, due to King Cotton.
As Alabama’s only port, the city experienced tremendous growth
as a cotton market. Mobile burgeoned with new residents; fortune
seekers, bankers, lawyers, land speculators, cotton factors,
slaves, and workingmen. From about three thousand in 1830, the
population grew to over thirty thousand by the eve of the Civil
War. Mobile was the third busiest port in the nation. In 1837 the
Bank of Mobile had more money on deposit than any other branch in
America.
During this time a local businessman of remarkable energy and
talent emerged, without whom the construction of Government Street
Presbyterian Church might not have been possible. Henry Hitchcock,
a grandson of the revolutionary hero Ethan Allen, was born in New
England in 1795. He came to Alabama in 1817 and began the practice
of law. He was appointed territorial secretary by Governor William
Bibb, he helped prepare the state constitution, and was attorney
general from 1819 to 1823. He was elected to the Alabama Supreme
Court in 1835.
Hitchcock began to shift from law to business, acquiring an
interest in several local companies. He became Mobile’s first
millionaire. Despite his wide ranging personal interest and
investment in Mobile’s commercial life, Hitchcock was
spiritually troubled. He was disturbed by a lack of deeper meaning
to his life. During 1834-35 the new Presbyterian minister in
Mobile, William Thomas Hamilton, boarded with the Hitchcocks. The
two men became close friends, and the association had a profound
affect on the businessman/lawyer. Hitchcock accepted the salvation
of Jesus Christ, was baptized in 1836, and became an elder later
that year.
Henry Hitchcock was just the man to facilitate construction of a
church for his new-found faith. He had the capital, he had the
business, legal and construction contacts, and he had the desire.
The present sanctuary was begun in 1836 and completed in 1838 at a
cost of $60,000. Dr. Hamilton and Judge Hitchcock closely
supervised construction. J.S. Buckingham, author of Slave
States of America (London 1842), visited Mobile in March of
1839, and described the church: "Of churches, the
Presbyterian is the largest and most beautiful...its interior is
unsurpassed in chasteness of style and elegance of decoration in
the United States. There is...a very happy union of the Egyptian
and Greek purposes of the pulpit;...the rich diagonally-indented
ceiling, and luxurious sofa-like pews make this interior
altogether the most strikingly beautiful I ever remember to have
seen."
The building had a steeple which housed a large clock imported
from Liverpool. It also contained the city’s first fire bell.
During a storm in 1852 the steeple was struck by lightning and had
to be removed. Although a Ladies’ Society for the Restoration of
the Steeple was formed, it was never replaced.
Government Street in those days was paved with wooden blocks. The
loud clopping of the passing horses drifted through the open
windows and disturbed worship. During heavy rains blocks floated
away and had to be rescued and replaced.
The panic of 1837 prostrated business enterprises, and generally
caused much havoc. The members of the church who had been so
liberal in giving were mostly bankrupted, and the financial
condition of the church became much embarrassed. A terrible fire
broke out in 1839, and burned out a large section of downtown. But
Mobile rose Phoenix-like from the ashes, and the church was
relieved from its financial troubles by a satisfactory settlement
of all existing claims.
The Sunday School building was completed in 1904 and dedicated to
the memory of Dr. J. R. Burgett, minister of Government Street
Presbyterian Church for 40 years.
Throughout its history, the church has had a two-fold mission: the
nurturing of the flock and outreach to the community.
The Session Minutes record many instances of elders and/or
ministers visiting with members and prospective members, examining
them as to their faith, or admonishing them for actions which were
perceived as injurious to the faith. The officers sought to
emphasize the fact that church membership is an important step -
not to be taken lightly - and should mean something to each
individual. Varying forms of "worldliness" received
special emphasis from year to year, and these would find their way
into the questioning regarding membership, as for example,
"round dancing," "temperance," and
"theater attendance." But basically and at all times,
the fundamental requirement has never varied - a public profession
of faith in Jesus Christ.
In 1884, however, the Session Minutes read: "It was resolved
that hereafter, in the examination of candidates for church
membership, the session will not require them to answer questions
which disclose their intentions as to their future action in
attendance upon theaters, dancing, and other amusements; but that
they be left to decide such questions according to their own
interpretation of the Word of God and their own consciences;
further, that they be advised not to allow these or any other
pleasures to habitually interfere with their attendance upon the
stated services of this church."
In 1864, the Minutes record: "The contributions of our church
to beneficent objects have been remarkably good for the
times...Besides assisting in the support of over a thousand
families in this city, they have attended liberally to their own
poor. They have helped to clothes our soldiers by voluntary
contributions. They have sent two missionaries into the field to
labor among our soldiers for three months each. They have helped
to distribute Bibles and religious readings to our army. They have
sent a monthly contribution of from $450 to $500 to our Domestic
Board for army missions. They have supplemented their pastor’s
salary in a private way until they have made it almost double what
it was. Wherever liberality of this kind is needed they are never
wanting, and in this regard partake of the Spirit which pervades
the whole community."
The more things change...from 1864: "Besides the
Sabbath services, we have had a weekly lecture on Thursday evening
which consists of an exposition of some portion of the Scriptures,
a weekly prayer meeting on Saturday evening and also on Sabbath
afternoon. The attendance on these has been variable - sometimes
respectably good and at other times indifferently so. The lecture
seemed, in general, to draw out more hearers than the prayer
meetings, which only seems a confirmation of what has often been
remarked, that the more spiritual the exercises the less enjoyment
do even professing Christians at large experience in them."
From 1874: "The Sabbath school has never been interrupted,
although in the summer it is sometimes difficult to keep it going.
We use the International Series of Lessons, and prefer them to any
other series."
1877: "The Sabbath school is greatly reduced in numbers
during the summer months because of the scattered condition of the
congregation and the removal from the city of many families."
And from 1878: "Attendance upon the services of the sanctuary
has been generally about the same as in former years. Although not
crowded, the church is pretty well filled on Sabbath mornings when
not hindered by unfavorable weather. The evening services are
usually small and discouraging. Weekday services are generally
well attended."
The first deacons were selected in 1840, the session having
decided they were needed. However, in 1886, it was noted that
there had been only three meetings of the deacons since 1863!
In November, 1842, the Second Presbyterian Church was organized by
a committee of presbytery in response to a petition signed by
eighteen who were members of Government Street, and who were
dismissed to be enrolled members of the new church.
The Third Presbyterian Church was organized in 1853. By mutual
agreement, the Second and Third churches united, and were joined
into the Jackson Street Church. This later became known as the
Central Presbyterian Church.
In 1852 Government Street Church built a frame edifice at the
corner of Broad and Dauphin Streets, beginning a mission which
became the Fourth Presbyterian Church. This church has since been
dissolved, and the building later burned down.
The South Franklin Street Church was organized in 1872. Broad
Street Presbyterian was organized in 1890; Spring Hill
Presbyterian Church in 1944; Community, in 1946; Westminster, in
1955; Cottage Hill, in 1958; Grace, 1959. Many of the charter
members of these churches were former members of Government
Street.
In 1859 this church contributed $1,000 for the building of a large
Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. (presumably the National
Presbyterian Church). It also answered a request for contributions
to help build a new sanctuary for the Central Presbyterian Church
in 1908.
For many years the ladies of the church maintained the Carr Social
Room, where ladies who worked downtown could come to have lunch.
It was in operation from 1913 through the fifties, and many
working women prepared and ate their lunches here in the building.
In 1893 a Chinese Sabbath School was organized at the request of
some Chinese citizens of Mobile. It was well attended for some
years.
A number of great and well-known evangelists and religious leaders
have conducted meetings in this church. Among these are Dwight L.
Moody and his song leader, Ira L. Sankey, Billy Sunday, Dr. George
Mueller of England, Whittle and Bliss, Dr. G. Campbell Morgan,
Gypsy Smith, Dr. Robert E. Speer, Dr. Charles Erdman, Dr. Kagawa
of Japan and others.
From the year 1842 to the beginning of the war in 1861, the
Presbyterian Churches of Mobile took an active and leading part in
carrying on a mission among the sea-faring men. This work was
conducted almost exclusively among them; and for a time, "The
Bethel Church" was enrolled in the list of churches belong to
the South Alabama Presbytery. A society of Presbyterian ladies
contributed largely to its support. A chaplain regularly conducted
services in a chapel, and a Sabbath school was held there in the
afternoon. They also provided a sailors’ home, with comfortable
quarters for seamen while in port, with a library and reading
room.
It is interesting to follow the development of the women’s
movement through actions of the session. In 1893 the following
resolution was offered before the session, and passed at the next
meeting: "It is the desire of the session in the conduct of
the spiritual affairs of the church, to conform to the teachings
of the sacred Scriptures and the deliverances of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Inasmuch as the teachings of
the former and the deliverances of the latter are positively and
emphatically against the conducting of promiscuous meetings and
the leading in prayer in promiscuous meetings by females, the
session hereby prohibits such practices in the weekday prayer
meetings, the young people’s society of Christian Endeavor, or
any other meetings called or authorized by the church, except such
meetings, only, as are held by ladies with only ladies in
attendance."
From the Minutes of 1894 we read: "Notice of the session
being called to the fact that a lady was in the habit of
expressing her views in meetings of the Christian Endeavor
Society, the moderator was requested to call her attention to the
resolution adopted by the session with regard to the part that
should be taken by females in promiscuous meetings of
worship."
However, by 1917: "A request having been made from the
president of the Christian Endeavor Society that lady members be
permitted to lead the meetings, a motion was unanimously adopted
that ‘we encourage ladies to lead or take part in any meetings
that they see fit.’"
In 1837 and ’38 yellow fever plagued the city of Mobile.
Disastrous fires broke out in 1839. Many people died, leaving
scores of children orphaned. The women of Mobile organized
together to nurse, feed, shelter and clothe the sick, homeless and
bereft. Mrs. William T. Hamilton, wife of our church’s minister,
led a group of women to organize the Protestant Orphan Asylum
Society in 1840. They bought a lot and built a home which was
completed in 1850. The building still stands, although it is not
used as a home for children now.
The first woman to speak from the pulpit of the church was Miss
Francis E. Willard. Sometime in the 1880s she gave a ringing
message for prohibition. A Miss Millard of Australia was probably
the second, and Commander Evangeline Booth spoke here in the
1890s.
The Ladies’ Aid Society seems to have been the first organized
women’s work in Government Street Church. The minutes of the
period following the war have been lost, but it probably came into
being during reconstruction, when the women felt that it was time
for them to take a hand. In the early years they sponsored ice
cream suppers, bazaars, concerts and such to raise funds for the
church. It was the Ladies’ Aid which removed the doors from the
pews that seemed to keep strangers out (about 1893), who replaced
the old-fashioned square panes with stained glass windows, who put
new carpet on the floors, and who made many other changes that
would not have been possible without their assistance.
In 1908, a meeting was held at Government Street to organize the
Alabama Synodical, the women’s parallel to the Synod. Later a
local Women’s Auxiliary of Government Street was formed, with
the plan of dissolving the old societies and fusing them into one.
Circles were organized in neighborhoods.
Music has always been a large part of worship in the Presbyterian
Church, and no less at GSPC. In 1854 the Minutes record, "It
was decided that an election should be held to fill the vacancy of
organist and leader of the choir at a salary of $400.00 per year,
with the clear understanding that the organist will keep the
instrument in tune after it has been repaired."
In 1861: "Since the new organ was placed in the gallery, very
little room has been left for the choir." A committee was
appointed "to ascertain and report whether any alterations
could be made to give additional room for the choir." In 1865, the Minutes record: "It was unanimously resolved that John S. Holmes be appointed organist of the Government Street Church, and a committee was appointed to wait upon our present organist, Mr. Boulcott, and notify him of the change." John Holmes served as organist over 40 years, until his death in 1908. Then Miss Bertha Emery of Tennessee was chosen to take his place, at a salary of $600.00 per year.
In 1910, a new organ was bought,
and dedicated to the memory of John Holmes. This same organ, an
Estey, served the church until 2001. The old organ, from 1860,
was sold to the Dauphin Way Baptist Church for $500.00, and was
destroyed by fire along with their building in 1935. In 2002 a new
Rieger-Kloss organ, built in the Czech Republic, shipped to New
Orleans, and brought from there to Mobile by 18-wheelers, was
installed. The old Estey organ was sold for parts.
In 1869 a motion was passed that the congregation would begin
using the Assembly’s New Hymnbook, and that the members of the
congregation were "requested to supply themselves with the
book." Mrs. Graham Stone wrote a letter to the session in
1911, "suggesting the advantages to be gained by having the
word, ‘amen’ sung at the close of hymns." After
discussion, "a motion was passed requesting the choir to sing
‘amen’ at the close of each hymn." (With the advent of
the new Presbyterian Hymnal in 1990, that practice ceased.)
A Committee on Singing was appointed by the session in 1880,
"with the understanding that one of its members shall take
charge of the singing at the weekday meetings, and all matters
pertaining thereto."
The chairman of the music committee reported to the session in
1882 that a complaint had been made by the organist of disorderly
conduct among the young men seated in the gallery during morning
worship, so much so as to prevent the choir from hearing the
sermon. The moderator was requested to state from the pulpit on
the next Sunday morning that such a complaint had been lodged, and
"to ask for an immediate discontinuance of such noises."
However, in 1908, the choir was admonished for talking during
services!
And in 1883 a motion was passed "requesting the pastor,
hereafter, to select as far as possible the tunes to be sung at
the public services of worship as well as the hymns and Psalms and
that the organist be notified of the action."
An effort was made in 1884 to persuade the choir to sit up front,
but evidently, they did not wish to do so, and continued to sing
from the back balcony.
A Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in
1893, and the next year a Junior Christian Endeavor Society was
also begun. By 1905 they were supporting one of the church orphans
in the Talladega Home (now the Presbyterian Home for Children).
The names for these groups has changed several times, having been
"Youth Fellowship," "Senior High Fellowship"
and now the "Presbyterian Youth Connection."
The church has hosted the General Assembly of the former
Presbyterian Church in the United States (the Southern church)
three times - in 1869, only a few years after the organization of
the southern branch, 1904, and 1969.
Eighteen ministers have served the church:
Dr. Burgett was the first minister married in the church. He and
his wife, married in 1860, occupied the manse longer than any
other family - forty years. (The second and only other such
wedding where the minister himself was married in this church was
that of Dr. Henry Wade Dubose and Miss Marie Webb on April 14,
1915.) Several of Dr. Burgett’s descendants are members of the
church today.
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