USA > Kentucky > Franklin County > Frankfort > A history of the First Presbyterian Church, Frankfort, Kentucky, together with the churches in Franklin County, in connection with the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America > Part 7
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In 1844 Dr. Halsey was married to Miss Caroline A. Anderson, of South Carolina, a granddaughter of Gen- eral Robert Anderson, one of the soldiers of the Revo- lution. She is yet living, at the advanced age of eighty years, with her children in Chicago, in the enjoyment of a good degree of health, and able to attend upon the stated services of her church.
REV. JOHN H. NESBITT.
Rev. John H. Nesbitt was born August 20th, 1834, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He received his pri- mary education in Saltsburg Academy, of the same county, and graduated from Jefferson College, Can- onsburg, Pennsylvania, in the class of 1858. His theological training was received at McCormick Theo- logical Seminary, from which he graduated in 1861. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Chicago in April.
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1861, and labored as evangelist and home missionary until January, 1864, when he became pastor of the church at Macomb, Illinois, remaining there about six years. In November, 1869, he was called to the Frank- fort Church, and ministered with great acceptance to this congregation until June, 1876, when on account of the precarious state of the health of his only child, a very bright and attractive boy of ten years of age, he was led to resign the pastorate in order to seek a change of climate. After a few years' residence in the moun- tain regions of Pennsylvania, during which time he min- istered to the Mingo Church, Presbytery of Pittsburg, his son's health seemed to be entirely restored, and Mr. Nesbitt, in October, 1881, accepted a call to the church at Owensboro, Kentucky, where he remained as pastor until April, 1886. His next field of labor was Oxford, Ohio, from April, 1886, to 1892, and he then returned to Illinois, and served as stated supply to the church at Prairie City from January, 1893, to April, 1896. Since that time he has been incapacitated for the active duties of a pastor by reason of ill health, but as opportunity offered and his health permitted he con- tinued to preach in the vicinity of his home at Rockford, Illinois.
Mr. Nesbitt was married in May, 1864, to Miss Agnes R. Ross, of Rockford. Mrs. Nesbitt is very pleasantly remembered by all our older members for her many graces of mind and heart, and during her residence here was universally esteemed and beloved.
In the dealings of our Heavenly Father, at times so mysterious, with his children, they are sometimes called upon to pass through the severest affliction. Such was the case of these faithful servants in the death of their
Solo E ugh.
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only son, George Arthur Nesbitt, who had attained man- hood, completed his theological course and entered the ministry from McCormick Seminary in the class of 1892. He was at once called to the pastorate of the First Church, Appleton, Wisconsin, but died in Chicago in October of the same year. He was a young man of great promise for usefulness in the Church, which always is in need of such well-equipped and consecrated young men. His death, which to our finite vision appeared so untimely, was a crushing blow to his devoted parents and a personal bereavement to a wide circle of friends and associates.
REV. JOHN W. PUGH. D.D.
Rev. John W. Pugh, D.D., was born in Hardy County, West Virginia. He was educated for the pro- fession of law, and obtained license therefor while yet under age. He entered into partnership with Judge Seymour, of Hardy County, with whom he engaged in the practice for two years. Feeling constrained, how- ever, to enter the gospel ministry, he relinquished the very promising partnership of the law, and entered Union Theological Seminary, Virginia, in which he took a full course. Upon graduation he was called to the pastorate of the church in Warrenton, Virginia, where he was ordained and installed in October, 1859. He continued as pastor here until December, 1869, when he accepted a call to the Second Church of Owensboro, Kentucky. In April. 1877, he came to the Frankfort Church, and was installed pastor May 29th following. In December, 1882, he resigned, and was pastor in suc- cession of the churches at Hopewell, Indiana, and Philo, Illinois. In January, 1899, he became the pastor of the
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church at Fountain Green, Illinois, where he now labors in a successful work of steady development.
During his pastorate in Frankfort Dr. Pugh was called upon to mourn the death of a beloved wife and the mother of his children. She was a lady of most estimable traits of character, a loving and devoted wife and mother, and a happy and consistent Christian. She died February 20th, 1880, in the triumphs of the Chris- tian's faith. Mr. Pugh's present wife was Miss Harriet D. Todd, of Frankfort, the daughter of the late Captain Harry I. Todd.
REV. J. McCLUSKY BLAYNEY, D.D.
Rev. J. McClusky Blayney, D.D., now pastor of this church since 1884, was born February 21st, 1841, in Ohio County, West Virginia. His father, Charles Blayney, was one of four brothers who came to Vir- ginia from Ireland about the close of the eighteenth century. J. McClusky received his academical train- ing at West Alexander, Pennsylvania, and graduated at Washington College in the class of 1860. His theo- logical training was received at Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, from which he grad- uated in 1863. In his second year at the Seminary he was selected by the Faculty, with one of his classmates, to go to the Army of the Potomac, to conduct religious services under the auspices of the Christian Commis- sion, which was his first experience in religious work, preaching in the camps, on transports and in the hos- pitals. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Wash- ington in the spring of 1862, and preached about a year as stated supply to the church at Ontario, Ohio, from which work he was recalled by his Presbytery
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Finelebusking Blaypray
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and sent to Charleston, West Virginia, to take charge of the church there. This was just after the opening of the Civil War, and this church was much disorgan- ized and scattered. The congregation at first consisted largely of Union soldiers, who at that time occupied the city. The church under his ministrations soon became harmonious and united, and continued thereafter in a prosperous condition. The Charleston Collegiate Insti- tute was organized by Mr. Blayney, opening the first year with one hundred and eighty pupils, and he acted as Principal one year, owing to the inability of the Board of Trustees to procure elsewhere a suitable man for the position. Owing to the agitation of the question of the ecclesiastical relations of the Charleston Church, North or South, he concluded to leave the place, which deter- mination he carried into effect, although a strong remonstrance against this course was presented him, signed by a large majority of the citizens of the city of all denominations. When leaving Charleston with no other definite place in view, not knowing where Provi- dence would lead, he met on the gangway of the steamer, coming ashore, a gentleman from Frankfort, Kentucky. This man, whom he had previously known, opened up the way and directed his steps to Frankfort, thus under the guidance of Providence bringing him to this field of labor. He served the Frankfort Church as stated supply for about two years, 1867 and 1868, and upon the eve of his departure from Kentucky he was invited to preside as moderator of a congregational meeting, called by the session to elect another minister as his successor. Contrary to the expectation of the session, a large majority of the votes were cast for the moderator of the meeting, who declining to allow his
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name to be used in connection with the pastorate, the meeting adjourned without an election.
In the spring of 1869 Mr. Blayney went to Albany, New York, having been called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of that city. While pastor there he received the degree of D.D. from the Univer- sity of New York. Dr. Blayney resigned the pastorate in Albany in 1880, owing to the ill health of his family, they not being able to withstand the rigors of that northern climate. He then went abroad with his fam- ily, where they remained nearly two years traveling in Europe. In 1870 Dr. Blayney had been united in mar- riage to Miss Lucy W. Lindsey, of Frankfort. She died while abroad, at Mentone, France, leaving two sons, T. Lindsey Blayney and J. McClusky Blayney, Jr. After returning to America Dr. Blayney was again providentially directed to Frankfort. He was on the way with his children to spend the winter in the far South, when he came by Frankfort for a short visit to his wife's relatives. He found the church, which he supposed was supplied with a pastor, had been vacant for a year, and was greatly in need of the ministrations and care of a pastor. He yielded to the invitation of the session to stay and preach for a time to the con- gregation, beginning his ministrations in January, 1884. In February he was called by unanimous vote to the pastorate, and, accepting the call, was installed in the following June. He now enters upon his eighteenth year of his ministrations to this congregation.
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W. H. AVERILL, Ruling Elder and Clerk of Session.
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FIRST CHURCH, FRANKFORT.
THE SESSION.
If the injunction of the apostle, " Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor," be fol- lowed by us at the present time, there would be included in honorable mention the greater part of the eldership of the early years of this church, and not a few of those who served it later on and have also gone to their reward. In those days the duties of the ruling elder, if faithfully performed, were very exacting, calling for the exercise of great wisdom, discretion and patience in dealing with the flock. That was a time of strict rule and oversight. Many cases of discipline occurred, involving judicial trials, terminating in either censure or suspension, and sometimes in expulsion from the church. A large portion of the records are taken up with these proceedings. The effect upon the church, and with few exceptions upon the offenders themselves, appears to have been salutary. Among the more fre- quent causes of offense were the habitual absence from the services of the church ; trials were also had for Sab- bath-breaking, for dancing, for attendance upon the race course, upon the theater or " play-house," and for the intemperate use of "ardent spirits." Nor was the supervision of our session restricted to the members of this particular church, for it considered it to be its duty to exercise watch and care over Presbyterians belong- ing to churches elsewhere, and who might be tempo- rarily sojourning within our bounds. In at least two notable instances action was taken in the cases of Legis- lators, " who, in defiance of public opinion and the force of their example, attended plays at the public theater."
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HISTORY OF FIRST CHURCH, FRANKFORT.
Their home church sessions at Greensburg and Paris were officially notified, with lists of witnesses to sub- stantiate the charges. The records subsequently show that the Paris and Greensburg churches took up the cases and had the testimony forwarded from Frankfort, but the outcome of the proceedings is not known, nor the effect upon the offending Legislators. For many years the names of the deacons appear as being pres- ent and taking part in the deliberations of the session, although they were not entitled to vote, except in a few cases, where the record reads: "Resolved, by unani- mous vote, the deacons concurring." The respective duties of the two branches of the church government do not seem to have been clearly defined and under- stood at that period. The state of the case may doubt- less be accounted for in the fact that among the early deacons there were some men of zeal and ability who had the interests of the church, spiritual as well as tem- poral, as much at heart as did the elders, and, in fact, the greater part of these deacons subsequently became ruling elders.
The records of the session and the unwritten testi- mony of the congregation indicate that, taking them all in all, this church was blessed in having a line of wise, diligent and devoted men in the management of its spiritual affairs. While all were men of exemplary piety, some excelled in intelligence, zeal and faithfulness.
Judge Benjamin Mills, of the Appellate Court, an eminent jurist of that day, was a member of this session from the time of his removal to Frankfort from Paris until his death. He took an active and leading part in
E. L. SAMUEL, Ruling Elder.
.
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church affairs, usually acting as moderator of the ses- sion in the absence of the minister, and presiding over the congregational meetings.
Dr. James J. Miles, one of the first session of this church, after aiding in its formation and serving it about twelve years, removed to Louisville in 1830, and in the house of M. D. Averill, son-in-law of Thomas Paxton, of this session, aided as ruling elder in the organization of the Second Presbyterian Church of that city - that notable body, which, with its colonies and missions, has done a great work for Presbyterianisın in Louisville. After serving that little congregation, as one of its first session, for a brief period, Dr. Miles removed to Paris, Kentucky, where he resided until 1836, when he was again received in the Frankfort Church. In the year 1841 he went West, and the record states that he was given a letter of recommendation to any church within the bounds of which his lot may be cast.
Dr. Luke Munsell, one of the early ruling elders, was a self-made man of the most pronounced type. He was born in Connecticut in 1790; removed to Kentucky and settled at Frankfort, where in 1822 he married Eliza Sneed, daughter of Achilles Sneed. Although Dr. Munsell never attended or graduated from any school of learning, he was a great student and inde- fatigable worker. He accumulated a large library of the best books that could be procured, literary, medi- cal, theological, mathematical and scientific. He was a good Latin, Greek and Hebrew scholar, and in his pri- vate religious devotions habitually used his Greek Tes- tament. He was a skilled physician and a contributor to the medical journals of the day, and was among the
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first to use galvanisin in the treatment of disease, making the model for a battery which he used in his practice. He removed to Danville in 1833, where he became for a time the Superintendent of the State Insti- tution for the Deaf and Dumb. He was later appointed to the Chair of Natural Philosophy in Centre College. He was exceedingly fond of civil engineering, and imported for his own use the best English instruments and appliances, and had made to order special instru- ments which he had devised. He made and published the first large map of the State of Kentucky, which was considered a great achievement at the time, and brought him into wide notice as a civil engineer. From Danville he removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he engaged in his favorite profession as civil engineer. While a resident there he served as ruling elder in the church of which Henry Ward Beecher was pastor. He ulti- mately removed to Jeffersonville, where he died in 1854.
Hon. John Brown was elected ruling elder in 1829, but in a letter to the session declined to serve. In this letter we read that the only motive impelling him to decline was a feeling of unworthiness and unfitness for the sacred office. Subsequently he accepted, and was ordained and installed, and served with ability and acceptance until his death in August, 1837. Hon. John Brown was a man of prominence and large influence in State and national affairs. He studied law in the office of Thomas Jefferson, who always kept up his interest in and friendship for his pupil. He removed to Kentucky in 1782, and was its first member of Con- gress, while yet a district and part of Virginia, and
R. K. McCLURE, Ruling Elder.
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when admitted to Statehood was its first United States Senator in 1792.
The following tribute from Rev. J. J. Bullock, his pastor, will be read with interest: "He was a man of the highest order of mind and character, and was a connecting link between the statesmen of the days of Washington and Jefferson and those of modern date, unquestionably one of the greatest men Kentucky has given to the country. He was the immediate product of the Revolution, and all his powers and energies were called forth in guiding the affairs of the State and the nation in the formative period of our country's history." Mr. Brown had at this time retired from public life. From a leader in the affairs of the State and nation he became in his latter days an humble and useful elder in the church. He left to us of to-day, who honor his memory, a beautiful and useful memento of his love for the church in the communion service, which is still being used by the congregation at the present time.
Mr. Joseph Clarke, for length of service in the elder- ship, exceeded all his brethren. He was first a deacon, and was in 1834 ordained elder, and served continuously forty-one years.
Mr. Richard Knott was another elder who is worthy of special mention and commendation. First as deacon, then as elder and devoted Sabbath-school teacher, he served the church with ability and zeal for thirteen years, after which time he removed to Louisville, where for many years he continued in the same office, a blessing to his day and generation.
Judge Ben Monroe, another eminent lawyer and learned judge, served in our session for many years,
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with great faithfulness and acceptance to the church. His high qualifications and wisdom made him a promi- nent actor in the councils of the church.
William M. Todd, who entered the session while yet a young man, grew up with the church, and was one of the most active, zealous and useful men who have ever served it. For many years he was the acknowledged leader in all its affairs, spiritual and temporal. Todd's Bookstore was Presbyterian headquarters during the pastorates of Dr. J. J. Bullock and Dr. Stuart Robin- son, and it was also a place where the leading men of the town did most congregate. Although actively engaged in conducting this mercantile establishment, Mr. Todd was at the same time treasurer of the church, collecting and disbursing its funds, superintendent of the Sabbath-school, leader of the choir and clerk of the session. All these duties he performed faithfully and well, to the entire acceptance of the congregation, and by his godly and consistent life left a lasting impress upon our church and community.
Mr. John B. Temple was also among the most emi- nently useful ruling elders of this church. He united with our church upon profession of faith in September, 1851, and in the following August was made a ruling elder. This unusual and speedy action by the con- gregation is an evidence of the high esteem in which Mr. Temple was held, and the confidence reposed in him by the church. Being a man of education and high attainments, and at the same time zealous for the wel- fare of the church, he at once became the leader in the congregation. Although a man of affairs, occupying a high and responsible position in the State government
FRANK CHINN, Ruling Elder.
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during the critical period at the opening of the Civil War, and also actively engaged as the head of one of our principal banks, in financial operations, he gave his best and loving service to the church, and its unity, purity and welfare were the constant objects of his solic- itude. He was superintendent of the Sabbath-school, clerk of the session, and had charge of the choir and the music of the congregation. In 1870 Mr. Temple removed to the city of Louisville, thus making another very valuable accession to the " Frankfort colony " and the Presbyterian Church of that city, sent them by the Frankfort Church, which has always been a faithful colonizer. Mr. Temple's services in this congregation have always been gratefully remembered. Upon the occasion of his death, which occurred in 1886, special action for record in the minutes was taken by the session, which resolved to attend the funeral in a body.
Mr. Hugh Allen deserves mention in this place as one of the godly and faithful elders of our church. He came to us in 1856 from Pisgah Church, and was one of the large family of the name who served that old, his- toric congregation for many years. Owing to his mod- esty and unassuming character, Mr. Allen was not as generally known and appreciated as his worth and serv- ices entitled him. He represented this church at the Presbytery which, in 1866, divided, the majority join- ing the Southern Church. Mr. Allen was one of three elders who, with four ministers, adhered to our General Assembly, and recognizing its authority, at once organ- ized the Presbytery of West Lexington, in connection with the General Assembly North. Had he done other- wise and acted with the majority of the dividing Pres-
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bytery, our church here would hardly have been spared the division which occurred in so many of the churches of the State.
For length of continuous service as officer of our church, first as deacon, then as elder, Mr. G. A. Robert- son exceeded all his brethren, covering the period from 1828 to 1893, about sixty-five years. During this long period of active service, beginning almost at the organi- zation of the church, he was permitted to be an honored instrument in building up and strengthening this church. A high tribute was paid to his worth and long service, at the time of his death, by the session, who in special action bore loving testimony to his faithfulness, exem- plary piety and goodness of heart, which, with his cheer- ful and sunny disposition, had endeared him to the con- gregation and community. The Court of Appeals, in which he had been for many years an honored officer, took special action on his death, and adjourned to attend his funeral in a body as honorary pall-bearers.
The session as constituted to-day has certainly, in the example of those who have preceded it, much to encourage and stimulate it in the work of the Master for the Master's sake. In so far as they were enabled to follow Him, let us follow their example in good works, remembering that those who bear the vessels of the Lord must be men of clean hands, of good report, and consistent in life and conversation, for the useful- ness of the ruling elder often depends more on his character than on his gifts and knowledge.
WILLIAM T. READING, Ruling Elder.
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CHURCH MUSIC.
In the service of song, this church in its earlier years of course had to adopt the prevailing methods of the time, and use a clerk or precentor. This was a neces- sity on account of the great scarcity of hymn books, many churches, more especially those in the country, having only the copy used by the minister, who, after announcing the hymn or psalm and reading it through, would hand down the book to the clerk, who for con- venience sat in front of the pulpit and facing the con- gregation. That important officer would then arise, announce the meter, read the first two lines, and raise the tune, and thus proceed, alternately reading and singing until the psalm or hymn, however long, was finished. The position was one by no means easy to fill, for although the tunes were simple in melody and comparatively few in number, it involved long prac- tice, a good ear and great self-possession to become an acceptable precentor. If a mistake occurred, which was sometimes the case, either in the pitch of the tune or in the meter, the accomplishments of the leader were put to a severe test, as he was for the time being responsible for this part of the service. This system of leading the service of song, however. did not remain long in this particular congregation, for soon after entering their first church building books were procured for the special singers, and seats set apart for their use in front next to the bench of the elders. Thenceforward the singing of the congregation was led by the choir, the precentor and the lining out of the hymns being dispensed with. That was the era of singing schools and singing mas- ters, and the instruction of the singers was a matter of
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importance and solicitude in the congregation, as will appear in the items of expenses, one of which is a bill paid to R. McNutt, amounting to fifty-five dollars, for teaching vocal music in the church. * William M. Todd was the first leader of the choir, and so continued many years. Miss Fanny Phillips, a local singer of note, and a member of the church, was the principal female voice. After the remodeling of the church in 1829, the choir moved to the gallery at the rear of the room, where it thenceforth continued. About 1838 it was proposed by some of the more progressive members to introduce musical instruments to aid in this part of the service, there being at the time a fine band and musical organi- zation maintained in the town. On account, however, of the strenuous opposition of some of the older and more conservative members, and especially of one esteemed elder, the instruments, after a short trial, were dispensed with, excepting the bass-viol as played by the late B. F. Meek, who continued to give his val- uable aid as fundamental bass to the harmony, although the good elder never became reconciled to the " fiddle," and habitually left the church during its performance, returning for the sermon.
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