USA > Georgia > Liberty County > History of the Midway Congregational Church, Liberty County, Georgia > Part 5
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46
HISTORY OF MIDWAY CHURCH.
REV. MOSES ALLEN.
Mr. Allen was born in Northampton, Mass., September 14, 1748, graduated at the college in New Jersey in 1772, licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick Feb. 1, 1774, and recommended by them as "an energetic, prudent and pious man." On his way south he spent some days with his friend, James Madison, of Virginia, afterwards president, where he was solicited to pass the winter. He was ordained pastor of the Independent or Congregational church at Wap- petaw, Christ's Parish, South Carolina, March 16, 1775, by Rev. Messrs. Zubly, Edmonds and William Tennent. Af- ter two years he preached his farewell sermon to that peo- ple June 8, 1777, and removed to Midway and died as above stated after a short pastorate of only a year, at thirty years of age.1
Concerning his gift and power as a minister I have been unable to find out anything. He married Elizabeth Oding- sell, whose sister, Mary, was the wife of Gen. James Screven. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Allen married Mr. Elisha Lee, of Great Barrington, Berkshire, Mass., and died December 11, 1843, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. One of the family descendants of Rev. Moses Allen, Mrs. H. H. Dyer, a grand neice, is still living in Rutland, Vermont.
1. Howe's His. P. 377 and Church Record.
47
THE DISPERSION.
CHAPTER V.
FROM THE DISPERSION TILL THE DIS- MEMBERMENT.
We here pause a moment, to call attention to the fact, that up to this time we see nothing worthy of note in the history of this people, except the element of trouble. Like their an- cestors and many of themselves, who were driven from their old homes in England, with the sea passage, both to Caro- lina and from thence to Georgia, stormy and tempestuous, they too were driven from their homes after years of hard- ships and trials attendant upon settlement in a new coun- try, pre-occupied by a savage and hostile foe. In addition to frequent sickness and death, occasioned by the malarial character of the country, they lived in constant dread of their Indian neighbors, the records showing that some of them being actually put to death by these heartless savages. Following upon all this was the invasion of the British ar- my, the subjugation of the country, the desolations of their homes, the destruction of their crops and property, the burn- ing of their house of worship, the dispersion of the people, only a few being left and they constantly subject to the in- sult and violence of marauding bands of Tories and lawless men, and all ending in the complete devastation of the coun- ty for four long years. These were the principal ingredients in the cup thus far, eloquently but pathetically set forth in the naming by one of the members, of his son, "Ichabod," "the glory has departed." But like Israel of old in the wil- derness, and afterwards in their dispersion; like the Cove- nanters of Scotland, the Huguenots of France, or like Moses at Midian, and Paul in Arabia, this was but the prepara- tory stage. All this was part of the training necessary to prepare them for their grand mission. Humiliation always
48
HISTORY OF MIDWAY CHURCH.
precedes exaltation. The cross first, the crown afterwards. God's plan is usually to prepare His people by a baptism of suffering for every great work. Thus it was in the case of this people, as we shall hereafter see.
THE RETURN.
The smoke of battle having passed away and peace de- clared, after a long and sanguinary struggle lasting for sev- en years, and resulting in the independence of the American Colonies, these people began in 1782, after four years, dis- persion and oppression, to return to their old homes and commenced rebuilding their houses, which had been burned, and repair their farms, which had been desolated. They were not unmindful, however, of their spiritual interest, for this had always been first with them, as with their ances- tors. Continuous and coextensive with suffering we have always perceived an ever constant and accompanying stream of piety in the life of this people: as prayer and fast- ing before leaving Plymouth, England, daily religious ser- vices on board the ship while crossing the Atlantic, prayer and fasting before the ordination of Mr. Lord, prayer on the beech before leaving for Carolina, day of special prayer and fasting on board the brigantine Friendship, frequent days of fasting and prayer before and after their departure from Carolina, as well as numerous seasons of thanksgiv- ing. True therefore to this instinct of their nature, they began very early looking around for a minister to break to them the bread of life. In the year 1783, and before the re- building of the church, a number of the members having re- turned, it was agreed that a call should be given Rev. James Gourlay, a native of Scotland, and a Presbyterian minister about fifty years of age, and at that time settled at Stoney Creek church, Carolina; and though in a crippled and em- poverished condition, they offered a salary of one hundred and fifty pounds. The call being presented, an encouraging answer was received. Mr. Thomas Quarterman was ap- pointed to wait upon Mr. Gourlay and urge him to accept the same. Upon his return Mr. Quarterman reported that
49
SEEKING A PASTOR.
among the objections made by Mr. Gourlay, the most ma- terial was the probable division in the church upon the question of location of the church building, which had al- ways been an occasion of divided sentiment, but gave it as his opinion that if the question of location was settled at once he would immediately accept the call, whereupon the society was called together and the vote taken, and by .a majority of one it was determined that the house should be built upon the ground where the old one stood. The call was renewed, accompanied with the statement of the fact that the question of location was definitely settled. But a letter was soon received from Mr. Gourlay, "wherein he ab- solutely refused accepting our call."1 The question was then at once raised whether they should make application to Scotland or the northern states for a minister. "Carried by a majority that application be made to the northward." Wherefore it was agreed that the select men should write a letter to the Rev. Mr. Hart asking him to endeavor to in- fluence some young minister to come and settle among them. In the meanwhile hearing of a young man, Mr. Abiel Holmes, intending for the ministry and teaching school in Carolina, the select men were authorized at a meeting in May, 1784, to open correspondence with him with a view to his settlement among them to preach for one year.
Mr. Holmes having signified his acceptance of the call, in August following (1784) commenced preaching among them, and being only a licentiate, in the following year, September 15, 1785, was, upon the request of the church, ordained in the chapel at Yale College, Rev. Levi Hart preaching the ordination sermon, from Galatians I:10, Rev. Dr. Ezra Stiles offering the ordaining prayer, Rev. Dr. Wil- liams giving the charge, and Rev. Warham Williams the right hand of fellowship.
After preaching one year, Mr. Holmes' health · becoming impaired, he went to the north and instead of returning in the fall, as he intended, he made arrangement with his friend, Mr., afterwards Rev. Dr. Jedidiah Morse, then a tutor in
1. Mr. Gourlay, it seems, visited the church, as the Record shows he baptized some children August 28, 1783.
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HISTORY OF MIDWAY CHURCH.
Yale College, by which an exchange of duties and place was temporarily effected, Mr. Holmes taking his place in the tu- torship and the church agreeing "to pay the salary of Mr. Holmes to the time of his arrival to the northward," and that of Mr. Morse from the time he set off to go to them, and to continue one month after leaving.1 Mr. Morse was ordained November 9, 1786, and next day set sail for Geor- gia, where he remained six months. Mr. Holmes remained tutor for a year and then returned to his charge in Novem- ber, 1787, where he remained four years more, (six in all) till 1791, when he returned north and accepted the pastor- ate of the church at Cambridge, Mass., and installed pastor January 28, 1792, and continued in that relation for forty years, till his death, which occurred June 4, 1837.
In connection with the call and acceptance of Dr. Holmes, the society resolved to erect a house of worship in place of the one that had been burned. Not yet being in condition to put up such an one as they desired, they resolved to erect a coarse building, which was intended to be only temporary, forty by thirty feet, with posts in the ground and the sides filled with poles, with three doors, with them the prevailing style. It was in this house Dr. Holmes spent his entire min- istry of six years. At the same time it was agreed to have the Vestry house rebuilt. It was also found necessary the following year(1785) to build an addition of twelve feet to the east side and a shelter of the same width on the south end for the negroes. The parsonage was erected in 1789.
In 1790, six years after the erection of the coarse struct- ure above mentioned, the question of a more commodious house of worship was considered and determined. This building, however, was not erected till two years after- wards(1792). The resignation and removal of Mr. Holmes, their pastor, the year following doubtless had much to do with the delay, and this the more so on account of the some- what hurried and precipitate manner of his leaving. From the tone of the correspondence the church seemed somewhat aggrieved at his leaving. Having determined to go, he
1. Howe's His. Vol. II, P. 40, and Church Record.
REV. ABIEL HOLMES, D. D.
51
REV. ABIEL HOLMES, D. D.
called together as many of the church and congregation as he could, and submitted his resignation, giving the health of his family as the reason for the request, and asking his dis- missal, which those present could but feel bound to grant. Upon writing to them afterwards and offering to return and fill out the unexpired year and make a formal leave, the se- lect men were instructed to reply that he was released from further obligations, it being adjudged unnecessary and un- wise to impose such a burden and expense for such a short service.
The membership of the church at the close of Dr. Holmes' ministry was one hundred and forty-seven.
REV. ABIEL HOLMES, D. D.
Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D., was born in Woodstock, Conn., December 24, 1763. His father was a physician and served as captain during the war in Canada. He graduated at Yale College September 10, 1783, and for six years was pastor of Midway church. It was during his pastorate that Presi- dent Washington visited Georgia, and the church and socie- ty appointed a committee to address him a letter. Dr. Holmes was one of the committee. It was also under his ministry that the Library society was revived, of which he was president, Thos. Stevens librarian, Wm. Quarterman treasurer, and Jno. Elliott clerk. Dr. Holmes was twice married. His first wife was Mary, the daughter of President Ezra Stiles, married August 29, 1790. His second was Sarah Wendall, daughter of Oliver Wendall. Of this marriage were five children born, of whom the celebrated Oliver Wen- dall Holmes, novelist and writer, was the third, born in Cambridge, Mass., August 29, 1809, and died in Boston October 7, 1894. After the death of President Stiles, his father-in-law, a great many of his manuscripts were placed in his hands for publication. But his Annals, contained in two volumes, the work of his later years, will ever remain a monument to his erudition and research.
52
HISTORY OF MIDWAY CHURCH.
REV. CYRUS GILDERSLEEVE.
After the departure of Mr. Holmes, the church being with- out a minister applied to the church at Sunbury for part of the services of Rev. Reuben Hitchcock, a Congregational minister, who was at that time a teacher in the town and preaching to them. According to agreement entered into, he was to supply the Midway church once in three weeks. He began preaching to them July 31, 1791, and continued through the rest of the year. In the mean time Mr. Cyrus Gildersleeve visited them, doubtless upon the recommenda- tion of Dr. Rogers, of New York, to whom they had written, "requesting him to use his endeavors to prevail with some gospel minister to come and settle among them." Mr. Gil- dersleeve was a native of South Orange, New Jersey, a grad- uate of Nassau Hall, and a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. He commenced preaching to them Decem- ber 11, 1791. At the annual meeting in March of next year a regular call was extended to him and upon the solicitation of the church, he went north and was ordained by the Pres- bytery of New Brunswick, with special reference to the work at Midway, to which place he returned in the fall, and where he remained laboring successfully for more than nine- teen years. During this long pastorate the church grew gradually in numbers, but more in influence and strength, the work of Mr. Holmes being in a great measure prepara- tory to it. Having taken charge just after the dispersion, at the close of the war, with everything in a broken down and dilapidated condition, he spent his ministry principally in repairing the ruins and getting ready for the work of his suc- cessor. When Mr. Gildersleeve came, therefore, he found ev- erything in readiness for an onward march. It was about this time the people began to discontinue the culture of rice, and also to remove to summer resorts for health, which ma- terially reduced the rate of mortality. It was during this time the large and more comfortable house of worship was erected, which still stands, though rapidly going to decay, the preparatory steps, however, having all been taken the year before, Mr. Holmes having spent his entire ministry in
REV. CYRUS GILDERSLEEVE.
53
MR. GILDERSLEEVE'S LETTER.
the coarse temporary building put up during the war. The records of the church show large and yearly accessions to the membership. We see, too, mention made of the addition of a bell and lightning rods, working upon the gallery, paint- ing the house, and other signs of improvement ; also increase of pay of sexton, precentor, and clerk, as well as salary of minister, which was raised from £130 to $800, exclusive of the rent of the glebe. It was during his ministry that the project of establishing a County Academy was considered and determined upon; also towards the close of his ministry that the church took action looking to the enlargement of the cemetery and inclosing the same with a substantial brick wall, the work, however, not completed until after he had left, and during the ministry of his successor. Thenum- ber of church members at the close of the ministry of Dr. Holmes was one hundred and forty-seven. The number re- ported in 1797, five years after, was one hundred and fifty- nine. According to the same rate of increase, the number of white members at the close of his ministry could not have been less than one hundred and eighty.
After a successful ministry of over nineteen years, Mr. Gil- dersleeve tendered his resignation in the following communi- cation :
DECEMBER 15, 1810.
My Dear Brethren :- I have to communicate only that which must al- ready be known to you in an individual capacity : that is, my expectation of a permanent removal, in the ensuing spring, from the dear people of my charge, with whom my best days have been spent, and my union to whom hath become strong by the growth of my days. My one and only reason for this arrange- ment is that I may be with my dear children and have them in a healthy clime. Whether the reason be sufficient or not before God, is more than I am able positively to determine. It has been the subject of many sober thoughts for some months past, and it seems to be one of those cases in which the path of duty is less plain than I could desire. I would have been willing to have deferred this communication a few weeks longer, but it being possible that you may have to take immediate steps to obtain a supply, that there may be no intermission in the ordinances of religion among you, have judged it proper to delay no longer. While doubts, whether my own health will be as good in another climate, in connection with the consideration of the many strong ties that must be broken by a removal, compel me to hesitate, it is
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HISTORY OF MIDWAY CHURCH.
my desire that you will neglect no measures, that may seem meet to your wisdom to procure a gospel minister, for I cannot at this time promise a continuance with you. May Heaven direct in answer to your prayers and bless you in a matter so important to your religious welfare. I am with great regard, your brother and obedient servant in a precious Christ,
CYRUS GILDERSLEEVE.
To the Select Men of Midway Church and Society.
In the above letter the only reason assigned is that "he might be with his dear children, and have them in a healthy clime." As he seemed himself to have some doubt in his own mind whether the reason would be sufficient before God, we might be allowed to express some doubt in this same direc- tion.
Upon the reception of the letter, a meeting of the church was called, a committee was appointed to wait upon Mr. Gildersleeve and see if he could not consent to return the next fall and continue as their minister, but declining to make any such promise, the church reluctantly accepted the resignation. Mr. Gildersleeve, after the relinquishment of his charge, removed to New Jersey, and soon after was set- tled over the church in Bloomfield. He died in Elizabeth- town in that state in 1838, aged about sixty-nine years.
He was twice married, first to Mrs. Renchie Elliott, Jan. 1, 1793, formerly Miss Renchie Norman, who had herself been twice married before, first to Thomas Quarterman, March 29, 1787, and secondly to Senator John Elliott, July 1, 1790. His second marriage was to Mrs. Frances C. Wil- kinson, nee Kennedy, May 12, 1805, and who died Feb. 1, 1856, and was buried in Bloomfield.
REV. MURDOCH MURPHY.
Upon the resignation of Mr. Gildersleeve, the church invi- ted Mr. Murdoch Murphy to preach to them for one year. Mr. Murphy at the time seemed to be preaching in the up- per part of the county at Cannouchee, and within easy reach. Hence the proposition of some to accede to the offer of Mr. Gildersleeve to remain and preach to them till May or June of next year, leaving it an open question whether he would
55
REV. MURDOCH MURPHY.
return or not in the fall, which being negatived, the second proposition was adopted, that Mr. Murphy be invited to become their minister, and that Mr. Gildersleeve be requested to preach to them until April next, "as Mr. Murphy's en- gagement at Cannouchee would not expire until that time."
At first, the choice of Mr. Murphy did not seem to give en- tire satisfaction. He was chosen only by a vote of twenty- eight to thirteen. At the regular meeting in March, 1811, as there was dissatisfaction on the part of a considerable portion of the congregation, it was agreed by a majority that the select men "take timely measures to procure a min- ister from Scotland to officiate in this church, commencing on the second Wednesday in March, 1812," the time to which Mr. Murphy had been called. This action, however, was rescinded at a called meeting held two months later. In a short while all opposition to Mr. Murphy seemed to have subsided and he continued minister for nearly thirteen years, the people in the meantime showing their apprecia- tion of his services by voting an assessment of seventy-five cents upon each seat, to raise $200 to procure a library for him, and their willingness to sell the glebe land in the lower part of the county, and for his better accommodation to in- vest the proceeds in the purchase of the plantation of Gen. Stewart in Goshen swamp, for a glebe for the use of the min- ister, and the increase of the salary from $800 to $1,000 per year, and that too in view of his intimation that he was about to leave them, and as an inducement for him to re- main. At the annual meeting in 1818, he stated his inten- tion to remove at the end of the year. The church voted to continue him for six months, and appointed a committee to wait upon him and induce him to remain, and also increased his salary as above stated. The committee reported in a few days to a called meeting and stated the terms upon which he would remain, to which they cheerfully agreed, viz : "that they would allow him the privilege of visiting his friends six or eight weeks once in every two years, and this absence to be at a season when the church and society are at their respective summer resorts." Mr. Murphy continued four years longer, and again tendered hls resigna-
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HISTORY OF MIDWAY CHURCH.
tion at the annual meeting in 1822. to take place in the fall. The church appointed a committee again to wait upon him as before, but he being persistent in his purpose, the church accepted his resignation and proceeded to elect Rev. Robert Quarterman as his successor.
REV. MURDOCH MURPHY.
Concerning the early life of Mr. Murphy we know little. He came from the Carolinas, but must have been a native of Scotland, or of Scotch parentage, for he could speak the Gaelic, and used to make occasional visits to a Gaelic settle- ment upon the Altamaha river, in the county of Montgom- ery, and conducted the second service in that tongue for their special benefit, the old house used for the purpose standing for a number of years after, and pointed out as a relic of the past. He was a licentiate of Orange Presbytery, N. C., and being appointed in October, 1804, by the Synod of the Carolinas, as a missionary for the part of South Car- olina, was received by the Presbytery of South Carolina March 15, 1805. Having received a call from the Black River church, Georgetown district, was ordained and in- stalled pastor of that church May 17, 1805, Rev. Geo. G. McWhorter preaching the sermon and Dr. Stephenson pro- pounding the questions and delivering the charge to the peo- ple. He was dismissed back to the Presbytery of Orange March 2, 1809,1 and received into Harmony Presbytery at Savannah December 7, 1811. After this he seemed to have returned to Robeson county, N. C., from whence he was called to preach to the Revivalist or Newlight party of the Red Bluff church, Little Peedee River, Marlboro district, N. C., and on a different day from Mr. Colin Lindley's appoint- ment. The congregation being divided over the religious excitement of the times, it is said the Antirevivalist or Old Light party built a wall around the church. The keeper of the key (Mr. John McKay) leaped over the fence and opened the door to Mr. Murphy, who held services and without further interruption. He continued to hold services at pri-
1. Howe's His. Vol. II. P. 74.
57
REV. MURDOCH MURPHY.
vate houses until a new house of worship was erected by the Revivalists, a mile and a half away. The new organization was called Sharon church.1 Soon afterwards Mr. Murphy came to Georgia. It was during his ministry that the brick wall was built around the Midway graveyard, and also a subscription opened for repairing and repainting the house of worship. The only specimen of his preaching that has fallen into my hands, is his funeral sermon at the death of Rev. Thos. S. Winn, Baptist minister, preached at Mid- way church January 28, 1819, which sermon was published. If that be taken as a specimen, he must have been a man of fine parts, for it is replete with fine thoughts strongly ex- pressed. He also preached a sermon before the Presbytery of Alabama on Female Benevolence, which was highly com- plimented by the Presbytery, and ordered published.2 This I have never seen. He must have been a rigid disciplinarian from the following incident told me: "During the lingering illness of Major John Winn, one of the members had a dance at her house, and Mr. Murphy said, 'that will never do, nev- er do,' and upon his suggestion the church dealt with the recalcitrant member, which gave the complete quietus to that amusement for one whole generation." Dr. Howe, in his history, speaks of him as "a man of many virtues." He resigned his charge at Midway in 1823. After leaving Lib- erty county he emigrated to Alabama, that he might spend the remainder of his days with his brother John,3 who was living there, and afterwards governor of that state, from 1825 to 1829. While there he preached in the bounds of Al- abama Presbytery, joining the same November, 1826. About this time he removed to Spring Hill, near Mobile, and continued to preach in and around that place, he being one of the pioneer ministers, whose labors led to the organiza- tion of the Government Street Presbyterian church, March 3, 1831.+ He died February 8, 1833.
1. Howe's His. Vol. II, P, 73. 2. Ms. Letter of Rev. T. S. Winu. 3. Wilson's Nec- rol, P. 255. 4. Burgett's His. Dis.
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HISTORY OF MIDWAY CHURCH.
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