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Gloucester did not labor very long before there was a still further increase to membership.
During the first three years of Mr. Gloucester's labors in Philadelphia, he had very frequently to be absent in order to prepare himself for examination and ordination, as will be seen in a subsequent part of this narrative. During his absence, however, the wants of his little flock were attended to by his abiding friends, Drs. Alexander, Green, Janeway and Potts, one or the other of these gentlemen would watch over them and find time from their arduous labors to attend at least once a day on each Sabbath to preach to the people. Sometimes they would have to do as did Mr. Gloucester, go first to one place and then to another to meet the people and dispense the word of life to them; for at this time there was no "foot of ground they could call their own, nor cottage in this wilderness." They were without a house of worship of their own, and consequently they worshipped God wherever they could conveniently do so. Sometimes it would be a large room in Gaskill Street, at other times in the school-house in Seventh Street, near where the church now stands; however, wherever the people pitched their meeting in the absence of Mr. Gloucester, these benevolent Ministers of Christ would be found, and God rewarded them for their self-sacrificing spirit.
Such was the rapid increase at this time, 1809, that it was soon found necessary to adopt some plan or measures whereby a piece of ground could be obtained, and a house erected thereon, where the people could congregate, and their increasing numbers accommodated; hence, only two years after Mr. Gloucester entered upon his labors in Philadelphia such was the success that followed his efforts; and, abundantly blessed by the Most High,
