History of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of the City of Lancaster, Pa., from 1807 to 1893 McConnell, John S. Janes, D.D.

Title page ; page: 1 (15K)
Front matter ; pages: 3-4 (36K)
Part I. Methodist preaching in Lancaster prior to A. D. 1807 ; pages: 5-21 (703K)
Local historians; the latest history of Lancaster county; sketch by the Rev. J. T. Satchell; the Rev. John Lednum's reference to Lancaster, Pennsylvania; two circuits named Lancaster in 1794; Chester and Lancaster in 1795; Strasburg circuit mentioned in 1796; the minutes of 1797; the Conference for 1797; the Journal of the Rev. Wm. Colbert; Cheater and Strasburg circuit; extent of the circuit; preaching appointments; the first record of regular Methodist preaching in Lancaster; the first Methodist sermon in Lancaster said to have been preached by, the Rev. Henry Boehm sketch by John B. Good, Esq.; a brickbat for the preacher; newspaper articles by the Rev. G. W. Lybrand; Journal of the Rev. Joseph Pilmoor; mention of the Rev. Joseph Pilmoor; the oldest record of Methodist preaching in Lancaster; two beginnings for Methodism in Lancaster; Bishop Asbury's reference to Lancaster: the first sermon by a Methodist preacher in Lancaster attributed to the Rev. Joseph Pilmoor; the old court house; the Rev. William Colbert's first sermon in Lancaster; Chester and Strasburg circuit in 1799; Lancaster abandoned by Methodist preachers in 1798; appointments in 1807; the translation of the Discipline of the M. E. Church into the German language; the Rev. Henry Boehm and Doctor Romer the translators; Henry and Benjamin Grimler the printers; the Rev. Henry Boehm's meeting with Philip Benedict and wife; the date of the meeting; the formation of a class; the house of Philip Benedict.
Part II. From organization of class to dedication of the first church, 1807-1809 ; pages: 22-28a (311K)
The first lot of ground; date of deed; trustees; ground rent assumed; extinguished by payment of $50.54; the first church; size; location; description; began in August; dedicated in December; notice in Lancaster Journal ; preachers on the circuit; presiding elder; the Rev. Henry Boehm; the Revs. Thomas F. Sargent, Michael Coate and Ezekiel Cooper; population of Lancaster borough; names of members unknown; worthy of everlasting remembrance.
Part III. From 1810 to 1843 ; pages: 29-50 (930K)
Preachers on the circuit in 1810; Lancaster Town a station in 1811; the Rev. Thomas Ware the first stationed pastor; a part of the circuit in 1812; preachers and presiding elders in 1812 and 1813; the Rev, Henry Boehm and Bishop Asbury; the Plow Tavern in Lancaster; preachers and presiding elders from 1814 to 1827; more ground secured; statistics in 1827; the "Liberty People;" petitioned to be made a station; the petition granted; the Rev. Joseph McCool appointed to Lancaster; a station ever since; members of the quarterly conference in 1828; pastors and presiding elders from 1829 to 1840; presiding elders from 1841 to 1846; the need of a new church felt in 1837; a committee to ascertain the cost; the pastorate of the Rev. James Neill; a committee to procure a lot; a cemetery established; a name given to it one year and a half afterward; committee on lot make a purchase; committee on estimate heard from one year after their appointment; trying times; appeals heard; the society incorporated; the Rev. D. D. Lore appointed in 1840; division of sentiment; a second lot purchased; trustees resolved to begin digging; male members favor the site on East King street, which was the first purchase; three months after they favor Duke street, and agree to sell the lot on East King street; appeal to the churches in Philadelphia; the first election under the charter; a change of five trustees; last session of the quarterly conference in the old church; effort to secure the session room of the Presbyterian Church; effort not successful; Mrs. White's home; a place of historic interest; prayer meetings and preaching services held there; the new church ready for the roof; pastoral term of the Rev. D. D. Lore expired; the Rev. Samuel H. Higgins succeeded him in 1842; the old church demolished against the pastor's advice; his release a happy one; the appointment of the Rev. $. H. Higgins "a powerful auxiliary;" the trustees promise to sustain him; preparation for dedication; dedication; the basement to be finished; effort to fund the debt; the Rev. S. H. Higgins only remained one year.
Part IV. From 1843 to the close of 1862 ; pages: 51-69 (782K)
Pastor in 1843 and 1844; the indebtedness ascertained; Presiding Elders from 1845 to 1869; pastors in 1845; Newton Heston's efforts to secure aid for the church; pastors in 1848; Andrew Manships's efforts to secure aid; an incident; James Black, treasurer; trying times; pastor in 1847 and 1848; claim of Trinity M. E. Church, Philadelphia; efforts to relieve the financial embarrassment; lot purchased on German street; building erected for the Sunday School in the southern part of the city; pastor in 1819 and 1850; the German street building dedicated; movement to have preaching and other services in the German street building; quartly conference action’s new society organized; two preachers sent to Lancaster in 1851; statistics at the close of the year; mode of electing trustees a new charter obtained; more ground needed for the cemetery; time to pay off debt believed to be at hand; effort made in 1853; improvements to the property; sale of old cemetery grounds in 1854; parsonage lot reserved; large missionary offering; conference held in Lancaster in 1855; pastor in 1855 and 1856; parsonage completed; debt reduced; pastor in 1837 and 1858; mite society organized; debt increased; a fair held by the ladies; membership reduced; a gracious revival; pastor in 1859 and 1860; debt reduced, a large missionary collection; finances still demand a large share of thought; attempt to reestablish the pew system; another fair held; pastor in 1881 and 1862; finances improved; two good years; collection for the Sunday Schools authorized.
Part V. From 1863 to 1883 ; pages: 70-85 (743K)
G. D. Carrow appointed pastor in 1863; again in 1864; improved circumstances; earnest efforts made to annihilate the debt; public subscription; thanks to G. D. Carrow and lady; trustees effect temporary loan and pay claims, against the church pending collection of subscriptions; the church regarded as free from debt for the first time in twenty-five years; C. I. Thompson pastor from 1865 to 1868; sympathy with plans of G. D. Carrow; follows them, the church actually free from debt in 1885; good reports; missionary offerings largest in history of church to that time; centennial of Methodism observed; scholarship in Dickinson College purchased; Young Men's Christian Brotherhood organized; property on Charlotte street purchased; visit of Father Boehm ; Henry F. Hurn appointed pastor; died in July, 1868; Edward J. Gray secured as a supply; pipe organ placed in the church; rearrangement of districts; pastor In 1869 and 1870; lot on East King street purchased; attempt to buy lot southwest corner of Duke and Walnut street; Joseph E. Smith's pastorate; need of a new church; plans considered; lot bought; project abandoned; corner stone of East King Street M. E. Church laid; change in Conference Boundaries; rear angement of districts; Presiding Elders from 1873 to 1881; live in Lancaster; pastor from 1874 to 1877; church remodelled; services in the Court House; property mortgaged; lot sold at a loss; effort to have services at the mission; condition of the church; pastor in 1877-1878; assistant pastor; Sunday-school received special attention; pastor unexpectedly removed; pastor in 1879-1880; recommendations to Annual Conference; H. G. Appenzeller; name of district changed; Presiding Elders from 1881 to 1890; pastors in 1881 and 1882; class meetings not well attended; revival Interest; movement to change charter; session of the Annual Conference held in Lancaster 1883.
Part VI. From 1883 to 1893 ; pages: 86-101 (678K)
James T. Satchell and William Powick; success at West Mission; William H. Aspril; Joseph R. Taylor Gray; Albert N. Millison; Francis B. Harvey; good work at West Mission; First Church; excellent congregations; building becoming less suited; Edward W. Burke; subject of new church discussed; work of F. B. Harvey at the West Mission; Philadelphia Conference again in Lancaster; Bishop Merill presided; appointment of Samuel M. Vernon; West Mission a separate charge; on the high seas ; reception, etc; important events; reappointed; revival; large ingathering; the Conference of 1891; appointment of J. S. J. McConnell; numerical strength; Epworth League; reception of probationers; net gain; special efforts in new chapel ; the new organ; visit and sermon of Bishop Fowler; an interesting baptism; Ida Hannah Appenzeller; thanksgiving service; report of the Building Committee; thanks by the Quarterly Conference ; extracts from the report; the Ladies Aid Society; amount given by Ladies Aid Society; the Sunday-school; Willing Helpers; Young People’sAssociation; itemized statement.
Part VII. From September, 1885, to December 13, 1891. The latest new church movement ; pages: 102-112 (483K)
Memorial from Sunday-school Board to Trustees; change of pastors; needs of the church again considered; leadership of J. R. T. Gray; $15,000 pledged; authority from male members to make purchase of ground; lot bought; Thomas P. Lonsdale selected as architect; breaking ground; work on the new church progressed slowly; change of plans; a tower; the corner stone laid; a change of pastors; a feeling of resentment aroused; the new pastor appointed chairman of the building committee; report made in July, 1891; the chapel completed in December, 1891; announcement of dedication; farewell services in the old church on Duke street; four Sunday-schools assembled; a laymen's meeting; synopsis of addresses; church crowded; a memorable occasion.
Part VIII. December 20, 1891. The opening of the chapel ; pages: 113-117 (195K)
Opening of the new chapel; the order of exercises; Sermon by Bishop Foss Sunday-school exercises; addresses by Bishop Foss, Presiding Elder Dr. Hargis and Dr. G. E. Reed; evening sermon by the Rev. Dr. Reed President of Dickinson College; announcements by the pastor; financial results; a surprise to the people.
Part IX. The new church; its dedication; services the week following, June 12 to 19, 1892 ; page: 118 (51K)
The new church described in The New Era; the church and its furnishing; the memorial windows; the builder and furnishers; the building committee; notices in the daily papers; dedicatory services; a great day for the Methodists; the order of the services; sermon by Bishop Foss; abstract of the sermon; the collection; the afternoon exercises; a surprise to many; the gift of the Sunday-school; services in the evening; illness of the Rev. C. C. McCabe; account of the first church owned by the Methodists in Lancaster, given by the pastor, by request; the collection; presentation by the Ladies' Aid Society; dedication by Bishop Foss; benediction by Presiding Rider Dr. Hargis
Services in week following dedication; sermon by the Rev. S. H. C. Smith; sermon by the Rev. J. T. Satchell; reunion of pastors and members; sermon by the Rev. J. R. T. Gray, D. D.; sermon by the Rev. S. M. Vernon, D. D.; Sunday, June 19, 1892; large congregations; sermon by the Rev. Joseph E. Smith D. D., LL.; evening sermon by the pastor; interesting services; climax of the purpose of the fathers; a crown to the labors of Philip Benedict and others.
A grand edifice ; pages: 119-134a (733K)
From the Lancaster New Era, June 11, 1892
Pastors of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of the city of Lancaster, Pa. ; pages: 135-138 (124K)
The Sunday-schools of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Lancaster Pa. ; pages: 139-146 (317K)
Appendix: St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church ; pages: 147-157 (469K)
Former conferences ; pages: 158-164 (291K)
THE SESSIONS OF 1855 AND 1883  “Conestoga” Relates Some Interesting Reminiscences of the Sessions of the Former Methodist Conference Held in This City