USA > Indiana > Contributions to the early history of the Presbyterian Church in Indiana : together with biographical notices of the pioneer ministers > Part 14
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WHEREAS, Mr. Brown has been under the care of the Louisville
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Presbytery and examined on experimental religion and his motives for seeking the sacred office, likewise on the Latin and Greek lan- guages, geography and astronomy, which examinations were sus- tained, and he was directed by the Louisville Presbytery to prepare a lecture on Matthew v .: 17-20, and a sermon on ist John ii .: 2; but while attending to the above parts of trial he was dismissed at his own request on account of ill health; therefore
Resolved, That Mr. Brown be received agreeably to his request and that he prepare a lecture and a sermon on the subjects assigned him, against the next meeting of this Presbytery, and that he at- tend also to theology and other studies under the direction of Mr. Crow, with a view to his licensure.
The committee to prepare a standing docket presented their report, which was approved and adopted and is as follows : Ist. The choice of a moderator and clerk. 2d. The reading of the general rules and by-laws. 3d. The reading of the minutes of the last stated sessions. 4th. Calls and supplications. 5th. The appointment of committees : (1) to examine the sessional records ; (2) to prepare a Presbyterial report ; (3) to prepare a narrative on the state of religion ; (4) to settle with the treasurer ; (5) to report to the Board of Education. 6th. An inquiry into the state of religion within our bounds. 7th. An inquiry respecting educa- tion of youth for the ministry. 8th. A call for sessional records. 9th. A call for congregational reports. roth. Unfinished busi- ness of last Presbytery. 11th. Appointment of commissioners to the General Assembly. 12th. A call for monies collected (1) for the education fund; (2) for the commissioners' fund; (3) for the missionary fund ; (4) for the Presbyterial fund; (5) for the theo- logical seminary. 13th. Appointments to supply. 14th. The time and place of the next meeting of Presbytery.
William W. Martin was chosen stated clerk of Presbytery and John M. Dickey treasurer. The committee to prepare a system of by-laws made their report, which was amended and adopted and is as follows: Ist. The Salem Presbytery shall have two stated sessions in the year, one in April and one in October, and these shall be in rotation in the churches. 2d. Presbytery shall carefully inquire into the state of the churches under its care and particu- larly that church in the bounds of which the Presbytery may meet. 3d. Presbytery shall establish a fund to defray its inci- dental expenses, to which at each stated meeting each member shall contribute fifty cents. 4th. The Presbytery shall take measures to defray the expense of their commissioner to the
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General Assembly, and shall require the churches under its care to take up collections and forward the money to the spring meetings of Presbytery. 5th. The Presbytery enjoins it on all the churches under its care to make some pecuniary compensa- tion for missionary labors spent among them or occasional sup- plies sent them by Presbytery. 6th. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall be administered at each stated meeting of Presby- tery, under the direction of the moderator with the sessions of the church where the Presbytery may meet. 7th. Presbytery shall spend a part of the first day of its meeting, if convenient, in stated prayer to God for the outpouring of his spirit on the churches, for unanimity and harmony in the efforts of the Pres- bytery in promoting the divine glory by the salvation of souls ; and the moderator shall direct in these exercises. Sth. This Presbytery shall use vigorous exertions to educate poor and pious youth for the gospel ministry, and in this way endeavor to supply the vacant churches with the means of grace. 9th. Presbytery shall require the churches to forward their congregational reports to the spring meetings of Presbytery and their sessional records and reports to the fall meetings. 10th. Presbytery shall at each spring meeting consider the expediency of addressing a pastoral letter to the churches under its care. 11th. A missionary sermon shall be preached at each stated meeting and a collection for the purpose of missions within our bounds shall be taken up. 12th. Presbytery shall require the churches under its care to assemble regularly for social prayer on vacant Sabbaths, under the direc- tion of the ruling elders of the several churches. To this profit- able exercise the Presbytery call the attention of their beloved people. 13th. Presbytery most earnestly recommend to the elders of vacant churches to attend to catechetical instruction of the youth of the congregation and that they particularly impress on professing parents to pray in their families and to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Resolved, That each member take a copy of the two last articles of the by-laws and that the stated clerk furnish with a copy the churches not represented at this meeting.
Received for the commissioners' fund from the church of Indianapolis $4 ; from Bethany church, $3; from Bloomington, $4.25 ; from New Lexington, $2.50. Received from the members for the Presbyterial fund, $7.50.
Resolved, That the committee on the state of religion also pre-
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pare a pastoral letter to be addressed to the churches and that the Rev. Isaac Reed be added to that committee.
Presbytery then proceeded to a free conversation on the state of religion within the bounds of the Presbytery. Mr. Henry Rice, an elder in the church of Corydon, appeared in Presbytery and took his seat. Adjourned till to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock. Concluded with prayer.
April 3d. Presbytery met according to adjournment and was constituted by prayer. Members present as on yesterday. The committee to make a narrative of the state of religion reported, which was approved and adopted. The committee to prepare a Presbyterial report reported, which was approved. The stated clerk was directed to forward the Presbyterial report and the narrative of the state of religion to the stated clerk of the General Assembly in due time, and also to the Society of Inquiry in Princeton Theological Seminary.
Messrs. Crow, Dickey, W. Reed, Walker, and Ford were appointed a committee of education to devise ways and means for the education of poor and pious youths for the ministry, and that they report at the spring meeting of Presbytery. The committee to prepare a pastoral letter was ordered to have it printed and sent to the churches in the bounds of this Presbytery.
Mr. Scott was appointed to supply one Sabbath at Washington, one at Carlisle, and one at Hopewell ; Mr. Todd, three Sabbaths, one in New Albany, one in Graham church, and one in Mr. John Martin's neighborhood; Mr. Dickey, one Sabbath in Nazareth church ; Mr. Martin, one Sabbath in Corydon, one in Blooming- ton, and one in Terre Haute; Mr. Reed, one Sabbath at New Albany, one at Indianapolis, one at Crawfordsville, and one in Shiloh church ; Mr. Crow, one Sabbath at Dartmouth, one at Bloomington, one at Washington, and one at Jefferson church.
Resolved, That Presbytery aid as far as possible Samuel Gregg and James Crawford at the Princeton Seminary, now prosecuting their studies, and that contributions be made in the churches for that object.
Mr. Martin was appointed to preach the missionary sermon at the next stated meeting of Presbytery.
Saturday, II O'clock, Mr. Martin was installed pastor of Salem church .. Presbytery then adjourned to meet at Charlestown the second Friday of October, 12 o'clock. Concluded with prayer.
JOHN F. CROW, Moderator. JOHN M. DICKEY, Clerk.
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These are the records of a small beginning indeed, but -every line has life in it. There is only a handful of people, but the men are good and true, and the great harvests that have grown from the seed they sowed will surprise no intelligent student of Christian history.
TILLY H. BROWN, the young man who at this first meeting of the first Presbytery applied for licensure, and whose studies had already been delayed by feeble health, never sufficiently recovered his strength to endure the hardships of the frontier ministry. A native of Fitchburg, Mass., he was licensed October 9, 1824 (the first Presby- terian licensure in Indiana); was ordained and installed over Bethlehem and Blue River churches June 25, 1825 ; served them one year, found his health again failing, ·engaged in teaching, and died in 1849, at the age of fifty- four. He showed a remarkable degree of conscientious .devotion to the Master's work.
JOHN T. HAMILTON, in 1823 receiving licensure from Muhlenburg Presbytery, came to Indiana in July of the year following and connected himself with Salem Presby- tery, October, 1826. He was another of the Presby- terians preordained to teach a school, but on alternate Sabbaths until February, 1828, he also occupied the pulpit of the New Albany church. This society had suffered greatly since the death of Mr. Day in September, I823. They were in a condition to receive gratefully even a partial dispensation of the Word. "During this period it is worthy of being recorded to the praise of God's grace that the members of the church were generally bound to each other in Christian love, liberal in their contributions, active in the promotion of benevolent associations, and considerably regular in their attendance on religious meet- ings, both public and social."
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While engaged at New Albany Mr. Hamilton for two years gave a part of his time to the Charlestown congrega- tion. In the following note to the pastor at Madison, dated Charlestown, September 30, 1826, he briefly alludes. to a "peril" which St. Paul must have omitted, from his famous catalogue only because he had never en- countered it :
Dear Brother : I have appointed a sacramental meeting in this place on the third Sabbath in October and I earnestly desire your assistance on that occasion. Since I made the appointment I have taken the fever and ague, and am unable to do anything. My family are all sick. Do come if possible.
Near the close of his term of service at New Albany Mr. Hamilton removed his family to Louisville, where he en- gaged in teaching. He was dismissed to Louisville Pres- bytery April 4, 1828. " The members of the church were much distressed after his departure, and while they sought in various ways to obtain assistance they gave themselves unto prayer that God would succeed their endeavors and send them a minister of his own choosing."1 "A modest, retiring man he preached the truth in the love of it, and the congregation was warmly attached to him." ?
1 Cf. "Records of New Albany Session."
2 Conn's MS. " History of Presbyterianism in New Albany."
CHAPTER XIII. HELP FROM PRINCETON. 1824.
WITH the establishment of Salem Presbytery a new and more hopeful prospect opens. Thus far the work had been too transient and uncertain. A considerable number of men, thirty-five or forty in all, had come and gone as itinerants. Of the actual settlers Baldridge had removed to Ohio, Proctor to Kentucky, and Balch, Hickman, Searle, Day, and Trimble, more than one third of the entire com- pany of residents, had died. All except the first of these in youth or early manhood had yielded to the violent maladies of the new country. Of the seven remaining to form the Presbytery, two, Scott and Robinson, were near the end of their journey. John Ross was settling at Rich- mond just about the time of the Salem meeting, but he was east of the Presbyterial limit, within the bounds of Miami.
The little band immediately received, however, most val- uable accessions. With the exception of SAMUEL TAYLOR, sent to Morgan County by the Assembly's committee, those who arrived in 1824 became residents. Tilly H. Brown and John T. Hamilton have already been mentioned. The remaining five constitute a remarkable company of enthusiastic Princeton fellow-students. Bush, the com- mentator ; Hall, first principal of the Bloomington State Seminary ; Williamson, from Cumberland Valley, Pa .; Young, an early victim of the prevailing disease ; and Johnston, for Indiana the most notable name of all.
GEORGE BUSH was a scholar whom the world now claims. Born in Norwich, Vt., June 12, 1796, educated at
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Dartmouth, whence he graduated in 18181 with the highest honors, completing the theological course at Princeton ; serving as tutor in Princeton College; licensed by the Presbytery of New York," preaching for a time at Morris- town, N. J., he came to Indiana, taking charge of the congregation at the capital. At Dartmouth, Dr. Marsh, subsequently of the Vermont University, Professor Thomas C. Upham, of Bowdoin, and Rufus Choate had been his. classmates, the latter his roommate and friend. Mr. Bush brought with him from Dartmouth and Princeton not a little distinction for classical and oriental scholarship, and for graces of style in literary composition,3 a reputation which his subsequent career fully justified.
On the 9th of July, 1824, Mr. Bush arrived at Indian- apolis, having obtained a commission apparently from the Assembly's Committee of Missions.4 He at once began to preach in the court-house, the meeting-house being still incomplete. September 6 the congregation "voted unani- mously by ballot that they are desirous to settle Mr. Bush as their pastor, and appointed Daniel Yandes, Obed Foote, and Isaac Coe a committee to circulate a subscrip- tion for his support." At the schoolroom in the church, Saturday afternoon, September 18, at 3 o'clock, a meeting of the society, of which the Rev. Isaac Reed was modera-
1 David C. Proctor, his predecessor at Indianapolis, was a classmate.
2 " Minutes Salem Presbytery," Vol. I., p. 16. Dr. Coe's MS. " History of the First Church, Indianapolis " agrees with the above. According to Dickey's history (p. 16) Mr. Bush was a licentiate of New Brunswick Presbytery.
$ See an appreciative notice of Bush in Griswold's " Prose Writers of America," pp. 354-6.
4 This is the statement in Coe's MS. It seems to be implied in Gillett's reference to the matter, Vol. II., p. 409. The next year his commission was from the United Domes- tic Missionary Society of New York, " for twelve months from May 16, 1825."-" Fourth Annual Report of U. D. M. S.," p. 25.
5 The congregation had previously, after Mr. Proctor's removal, made unsuccessful overtures to the Revs. Samuel D. Hoge and Wm. W. Martin, the latter, however, not receiving the invitation from the irregular post until months had elapsed and negotiations with Mr. Bush had begun.
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tor, formally extended him a unanimous call, and Isaac Coe, Caleb Scudder, James Blake, Alexander Frazer, William W. Wick, and James M. Ray were directed to sign the call for the congregation. Mr. Bush was accord- ingly ordained 1 and installed by Salem Presbytery, March 5, 1825, his examination and trials having been unani- mously, and, as the record suggests, with unusual cordiality, sustained. Crowe, Dickey, and Reed con- ducted the service. Immediately after Mr. Bush returned to the East, to attend the General Assembly, bringing back with him in July his newly-married wife, an accom- plished daughter of the Hon. Lewis Condict, of Morris- town, N. J.
The settlement of such a man in the aguish little hamlet, surrounded by bogs, overshadowed by the " forest prime- val," and overgrown with dog-fennel, was a great event. He immediately drew about him the most thoughtful and prominent citizens. He easily made friends. Tasks laid upon him by the Presbytery he cheerfully assumed. Frequent calls for aid at "sacramental meetings" he willingly accepted. The literary work that controlled his later activity was already taking possession of him. Under his leadership the prospects of the Indianapolis flock seemed most flattering.
It could not be expected, however, that his original and erratic genius would long be satisfied with the old paths. Some of the more intelligent listeners occasionally heard a sentence that startled them. The session, representing a good deal of Scottish fervor and possibly a very little Caledonian obstinacy, were alarmed. About December 1, 1826, Mr. Bush declared from the pulpit that there was not a shadow of scriptural authority for the Presbyterian form of church government .? This led to numerous conferences 1 This was the first Presbyterian ordination in Indiana. Reed's " Christian Traveller," p. 200.
2 See Coe's MS. history.
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1
between the pastor and the elders, and Mr. Bush pre- sented in writing a statement of his opinions concerning the questions in dispute. This statement refers to eight separate points, as follows :
(I). . . It is not clear that there is any other visible church besides this on the earth. I cannot therefore at the present time agree to the definition of the church given in the confession, as it would seem to exclude all who have not made a profession though they may all belong to the spiritual body of Christ.
(2) The great objection I have to the Presbyterian scheme lies in this, that it holds forth a vast visible body which is said to be in the order of nature prior to single or particular churches, · with jurisdiction over the component parts. I object to it because I do not find Scripture warrant for the existence of such a body, and moreover because I perceive it is precisely on that foundation that the kingdom of anti-Christ was erected. For if the united body of Christ is to be considered as visible, it will naturally lead to a visible head, the fountain of church power, and whether this be in the shape of a pope or General Assembly the principle is the same, and for aught I can see the consequences will be likely to be the same. Both are opposed to the supreme headship of Christ; not but the Presbyterian system may be carried on for a length of time without any very great abuses, but I conceive the tendency is such as I have intimated.
(3) I hold to associations of churches and pastors for purposes of mutual edification and cooperation in advancing the interests of truth and godliness. But I object to them being regarded as stated tribunals, and would abolish such terms as "courts " and "judicatories," as tending insensibly to beget wrong ideas of the true nature of such councils of Christ's servants ; neither would I have them organized in several grades.
(4) I object to that feature of the confession which insists so strenuously on complete uniformity in this respect ; nor does it appear to be consistent with other parts of the system, as may be shown.
(5) It appears that the Presbyterian view of the visible church leads to great laxness in the admission of members, this right of admission not being grounded upon the evidence of reality of conversion, but upon a profession of it.
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(6) As to a single church I hold that the government is vested in the proper officers of the church, which are elders and deacons, although I consider that it is the duty of the whole church to judge of any important business in the church, and that every affair of moment should be done with their knowledge and concurrence, and generally in their presence.
(7) I hold that in every rightly constituted church there should be a plurality of elders, that these constitute what is properly called the "eldership" or "presbytery" of a church, which I conceive is all the presbytery spoken of in the Scriptures. These elders I regard as all pastors, whose duty it is to feed the flock of Christ and to rule in it by his word, not lording it over God's heritage, but being ensamples; that they are all of equal authority ; that they are all equally the clergy ; that the title " lay elder" is improper ; that although the officer is the same, yet there are different departments, among which "laboring in word and doctrine" is the principal, and entitles the incumbent to pecuniary support. Though cases might occur in which even all the elders in a church might properly receive maintenance from the church. All that is here asserted I conceive may be fairly proved from the word of God, and also that the practices and ' notions now prevalent respecting the elder's office may be traced to the ambition of the clergy.
(8) I hold that ordination confers no office power whatever, but merely recognizes such power or character already conferred by the Holy Ghost. Hence the presbytery of a single church might lawfully ordain an elder without the concurrence of any other person. Although I would esteem it most prudent and becoming, whenever it was practicable, to obtain such concurrence.
This statement was not calculated to reassure the minds of sturdy Presbyterians. They thought Mr. Bush's system "agreed with no other on earth, was erroneous in theory and unattainable in practice, as well as inconsistent with itself."1. They thought it, however, desirable to retain their minister, if he would refrain from the public ex- pression of his peculiar opinions. This, of course, Mr. Bush would not consent to, and the negotiation was terminated where it began by the departure of Mr. Bush
1 Dr. Coe's manuscript.
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for the East in April, 1827, to attend the Assembly and to advocate in that region the claims of the Home Missionary Society. 1
He writes to a friend from Princeton, June 3, as follows :
As our session, that of the Assembly I mean, has just . closed, and I have a little leisure, it will not probably be unacceptable to receive a little sketch of our proceedings. . And, imprimis, the petition of the Synod respecting the boundary line between us and Ohio failed. . . . The next matter of moment is the busi- ness of the Western Seminary. This is to be located at Allegheny and Dr. Janeway is to be professor ; at least he is chosen, though he has not signified his acceptance. There was a strong pull and a strong vote for Walnut Hills, and if the vote had been taken again, an hour after it was, Walnut Hills would have got it. The votes were 44 to 42. I gave my voice for Allegheny on the ground that it would be better supported at that place than the other. The grand objections to Allegheny were that it was not central and that it would interfere with Princeton-serious difficulties, I acknowledge, but I am not sure that we want such a seminary as is contemplated any farther west, and therefore did not plead hard for Charlestown,2 which would have stood no chance against the formidable bids of the other two sites.
And now a few words for myself. It is uncertain whether I return to the West. This I say, not because I have secretly resolved not to return, but to pre-intimate to you not to be sur- prised in case I should openly resolve in this way. You will at once inquire, What has happened to make it uncertain ? I answer, Nothing new. The old sore still runs and the symptoms are worse. Shall I return to Indianapolis merely to tear a peaceful church to pieces, and stand in such a peculiarly unpleasant rela- tion to my former brethren, whom I dearly love, but who could not act with me on any other ground than that of strict Presbyteri- anism? What shall I do? I am willing to go to the West and live and die there. But I could not live at Indianapolis except as a Presbyterian, and where else in the state would you as a friend
1 At the first anniversary of the society, in May, he presented one of the resolutions in an important address. See first report of A. H. M. S., p. 6.
2 Clark County, Ind., would seem to be rather a feeble rival of Allegheny and Walnut Hills, as a site for a divinity school. There was no audacity of faith of which these pioneers were incapable, however. And three years later they sent off Dr. Crowe to Virginia for Dr. Matthews, and successfully opened the Theological School at Hanover.
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advise me to go? How am I racked with a troubled mind. And among the worst of all thoughts is this, that you and others will think the cause insignificant. But whether little or great, it is with me purely a matter of conscience, and its dictates I must follow. Pray let me hear from you. Direct to Morristown. My work1 is now in the press at this place. The system and plan of the questions is highly approved, so far as it has been examined. As to my agency2 I am thinking of setting out immediately or of getting released.
The following day from New York he writes to a member of the session,3 and after alluding again to the possibility of remaining in the East, and assuring his cor- respondent that it is "not from any dissatisfaction with the place or country," he continues :
I am perfectly willing to live and die in Indiana. I am strongly attached to the dear people with whom I have lived and labored. Indeed I knew not till since I have left them how much I loved them. But the reason of my hesitation about returning is I cannot hope to serve God according to those rules which I conscientiously believe he has laid down in his word for the government of his people. I wish, therefore, to be placed in a situation where I can act upon those principles of church order which the great Head of the church has instituted and enjoined. In several important points I do not regard the Presbyterian polity as being that which Christ has established, or which I can properly, countenance even by the slender influence of my example or practice.
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