Guide to the Records of the Second Methodist Protestant Church of Pittsburgh, 1901-1940
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- The Records of the Second Methodist Protestant Church of Pittsburgh
- Creator
- Second Methodist Protestant Church of Pittsburgh
- Collection Number
- MSS#268
- Extent
- 1 cubic feet (2 boxes)
- Date
- 1901-1940
- Abstract
- The congregation of the Second Methodist Protestant Church was organized in 1852 by the Reverend James Robinson. This collection consists of primarily financial records of the congregation, through the records of the Board of Trustees and Board of Stewards.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History of the Second Methodist Protestant Church of Pittsburgh (1852-1939)
The congregation of the Second Methodist Protestant Church was organized in 1852 by the Reverend James Robinson, known to his followers as "Uncle Jimmy." Mr. Charles Avery gave the congregation a lot on Fifth Avenue at Marion Street for the construction of a church building and also contributed substantially toward building expenses. Upon completion of the structure, on which the Reverend Robinson himself is said to have labored, the church was consecrated in 1856, and, on June 12, 1858, the Second Methodist Protestant Church was incorporated under Pennsylvania law. In addition to the main building, the church property included a parsonage at 1603 Watson Street and four adjoining rental units.
At the turn of the century, with a membership of only 160, the congregation, under the leadership of the Reverend I.A. Barnes, focused attention on increasing membership through testimonial services. Originally, only men comprised the membership roster, but in 1911, the church officials granted women of the congregation rights and privileges equal to those of male members. In the same year, the officers established the Men's Visiting Committee to make formal visits to the entire congregation. In 1915, a volunteer chorus joined the paid soloist as accompaniment to religious services. Other auxiliary groups included the Ladies' Aid Society and the Women's Foreign Mission. The Sunday School classes, which started early in the formation of the congregation, reached an enrollment of 145 by 1918.
A monthly bulletin publicized these numerous church activities. In addition, quarterly conferences documented all church matters. Trustees and stewards submitted progress reports on specific areas, and the pastor provided detailed records of attendance, sick calls, special services, and deaths and baptisms.
In April, 1939, at a United Conference held in Kansas City, the Second Methodist Protestant Church merged with the Methodist Episcopal Church North and the Methodist Episcopal Church South to form the Methodist Church.
Scope and Content Notes
The Second Methodist Protestant Church records consists of primarily financial records of the congregation, through the records of the Board of Trustees and Board of Stewards. There is also some documentation of the activities of the Church through minutes contained in the financial ledgers; however, these minutes do not give a complete picture of the various committees are mentioned as having produced income, little is recorded of their activities or purposes. One exception is the Ladies' Aid Society, whose cash book (1910-1933) gives a more detailed indication of this group's activities.
Through these records, one can get an insight into the religious pursuits of the congregation by studying the Minutes of the Quarterly Conference (1901-1918). One can also learn of the scope of the property of the Church from the Board of Trustees records, including such items as the maintenance and upkeep of the four horses owned by the Church. There is also some documentation of the 1939 merger of three branches of Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Methodist Protestant Church) into the Methodist Church. These records also provide the names of both congregational members and the church's leaders between the years 1901 to 1940.
Arrangement
The Second Methodist Protestant Church records are housed in two archival boxes and are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were received in two accessions in 1989.
Acc. #89.2 Gift of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (Records).
Acc. #89.145 Gift of James B. Richardson III (Minute Book of the Board of Stewards, 1902-1911).
Preferred Citation
Records of the Second Methodist Protestant Church of Pittsburgh, 1901-1940, MSS#268, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Corey Seeman and Dorothy Kish on August 19, 1997.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Sherry Kowalski on January 27, 2000.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Ladies Aid Society (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Methodists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.