Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 92

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I > Part 92

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eight months he was appointed teacher of the preparatory department, hold- ing that position for four years and pursuing his studies as he could, with very infirm health, as the result of overtaxing himself.

During the great revival of 1826 he made a profession of religion, in the Presbyterian church; studied theology with Rev. Gideon Blackburn, D.D., then president of the college; and in 1828 was licensed to preach the Gospel, and ordained in 1833. Shortly after uniting with the church he began, in conjunction with Greenbury D. Murphy, to hold meetings for prayer and exhortation, in his father's neighborhood. The feeble church was greatly strengthened, built a comfortable house of worship, and was Mr. Rice's first charge, for a year after licensure. In 1829 he entered Princeton seminary to . extend his course of theological study-returning, in the spring of 1832, to Kentucky. He had preached quite regularly, while in the seminary, and de- clined an invitation to settle in Philadelphia-preferring the unanimous call from the Bardstown church, where his pastorate continued for nine years. Thence, in 1841, he went to Paris, Kentucky, as pastor for three years, preach- ing part of the time in Woodford county. Indeed, during these twelve years, he preached in almost every part of the state, laboring in many powerful revivals.

In July, 1844, he removed to Cincinnati and took charge of the Central Presbyterian church-which had been organized with only thirty-three mem- bers, with a view to his becoming its pastor-and began his labors in an old Methodist church, on the corner of Fourth and Plum streets, known as "Brim- stone Corner." The next spring a house of worship was erected on Fifth street. The church increased rapidly, and soon became the largest in num- bers and most efficient Presbyterian church in Cincinnati. After nine years labor here he accepted, in the spring of 1853, a call to the Second Presbyte- rian church in St. Louis, remaining four years and a half; his pastorate was much blessed, the large edifice being filled to its utmost capacity, and the membership greatly increased.

In the fall of 1857, at the urgent solicitation of friends who believed him a chosen instrument for strengthening, in Chicago, the interests of Old School Presbyterianism, then in a feeble condition, he accepted the pastorate of the North Presbyterian church there-a small church, worshiping in a small frame house. After three years and a half his health broke down so com- pletely as to compel a change; during this time his congregation became large, and erected a new and handsome church edifice, capable of seating 1000 persons.

The death of Rev. James W. Alexander, D.D., made a vacancy in the pas- torate of the Fifth avenue and Nineteenth street Presbyterian church in New York city, probably the most influential and important charge in the whole church. To this Dr. Rice was called in the spring of 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War. The church and congregation were made up of very heter- ogeneous material-differing widely in their views of the exciting questions of the times. The field was a trying one; and efforts were made more than once, by outsiders, to disturb the peace of the church. The position was the more delicate and difficult, because Dr. Rice took ground in opposition to the action of the several General Assemblies on "the state of the country" and the war. He maintained that the church of Christ ought not to be identified at all with such a war; preaching to his people on this subject three sermons, which were pub- lished. He did not hesitate to declare what he believed to be the whole coun- sel of God, and, as a result of the faithful preaching of the word, the peace of his church was not disturbed. The large house in which he preached was crowded during the whole period of his ministry there; and the number of members in the church became greater than at any previous time.

But his struggles when a young man to get an education and to overcome, by severe study and by a persistent overtaxing of his physical powers the dis- advantages under which he labored, had so undermined his constitution as to forbid too long continued exertion anywhere. At the end of six years in New York, the entire failure of his health compelled him to resign his pastoral charge and cease almost wholly to preach. The church acquiesced with sin- cere reluctance, adopting strong resolutions of sympathy, confidence, and love,

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and giving other substantial and decisive testimonials of their appreciation of his labors; and the Young Men's Social and Benevolent Society of the church did the same thing. Dr. Rice retired to a small farm in New Jersey ; but, continuing to grow worse, was persuaded, in the winter of 1868, to go to St. Louis and place himself under the care of his son-in-law, Dr. E. S. Lemoine- whose skill and. attention were rewarded by a visible and steady improvement in the health of his patient. Such talents, and such willingness to spend and be spent in the service of Him who withholdeth not, could not long be per- mitted to rest. Westminster college, at Fulton, Missouri, had been exceed- ingly crippled by the war, and had lost most of its endowment. Dr. Rice was urged to accept its presidency. The change of climate, of occupation, and of responsibility proved just the relief he needed; and, with returning health, he was permitted to see the work of the Lord again prospering in his hands. He is now (January, 1874) discharging the duties of president, and of profes- sor of theology, and is preaching twice on every sabbath. A great deal has been done, during five years, to place the college on a secure basis; much good has been accomplished, and the field of usefulness is steadily extending.

But while Dr. Rice was thus signally blessed and popular in all his pastoral charges, he felt it his duty to "occupy " his ten talents. For more than twenty years he used the religious press as an handmaid to the pastoral work. In 1836 he established and edited, for more than five years, at Bardstown, "The West- ern Protestant," or "The Protestant and Herald " (as it was called after "The Presbyterian Herald " of Louisville was united with it, and Rev. Wm. L. Breek- inridge, D.D., became co-editor for twelve months). This was patronized by the different Protestant denominations, and was extensively useful. During a large portion of his pastorate in Cincinnati he edited "The Presbyterian of the West," either alone or in conjunction with its publisher, Mr. John D. Thorpe- who died in the spring of 1870, after a long life of infirm health and suffering, and yet of singular usefulness and remarkable labor-as elder, Sunday-school superintendent, editor, publisher, bookseller, agent of the Young Men's Bible Society, and of all the Boards of the Presbyterian church, and trustee of many special trusts for religious uses. At St. Louis Dr. Rice found "The St. Louis Presbyterian " already established, and was its editor until the fall of 1857. At Chicago he published for two years a monthly periodical, "The Presbyte- rian Expositor ;" and then, in deference to the wishes of others, but contrary to his own judgment, changed it to a weekly, and continued to edit it until his removal to New York in the spring of 1861.

While thus engaged in regular editorial labor his pen was busy in the more permanent field of authorship. During his residence in Cincinnati three of his works were published: " Romanism not Christianity," "God Sovereign and Man Free," and " Phrenology and Mesmerism," each 12mo. While in Chicago he delivered three discourses on slavery, which were published; and in New York three other discourses were published, viz. : on "The Doctrine of Justifi- cation," "The History of the Sabbath," and "The Relations of Science and Revelation." In St. Louis he published two small works, one on Baptism.

When Dr. Rice settled at Bardstown, in 1832. many Protestants were edu- cating their children in the Roman Catholic college and nunneries there and in the vicinity. He saw the necessity of counteracting this influence, and so established the Bardstown Female academy, under the control of the Presby- tery of Louisville-the first Protestant female institution in the West under ecclesiastical control, and which still lives and has been greatly useful. He then proclaimed the truth, since so generally recognized, that it was as im- portant to found permanent female colleges as colleges for males. About the same time he became involved in controversy with the Romish clergy, who commenced publishing a weekly paper called "The Catholic Advocate." 'Though without a dollar to start with, Dr. Rice immediately began the publi- cation of "The Western Protestant," which proved self-sustaining. In this paper, in answer to inquiries made of him by an Eastern religious paper, he published the facts relative to the case of Milly McPherson, a nun who left the nunnery of Calvary, near Lebanon, of which she was an inmate, in the fall of 1831, charging the presiding priest with immoral conduct; and who soon after disappeared in a mysterious manner. The president of St. Joseph's

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college, as agent of the priest, but in his own name, sued him for libel, claim- ing $10,000 damages. This suit was pending for ten months, and produced great excitement through the country. The array of counsel on both sides was remarkable for legal ability, eloquence and shrewdness-Charles A. Wickliffe, John J. Crittenden, Nathaniel Wickliffe, and T. P. Lynthicum for Dr. Rice, and on the other side, Judge John Rowan, Ben. Hardin, Ben. Cha- peze, and Messrs. Hite and Tucker. The trial lasted over a week. The jury gave the priest one cent damages-and nine of the jurymen published a card, saying that not one of the jury was in favor of giving damages higher than one cent, and that "under all the circumstances, but for the instruction of the court, they would have been compelled to find a verdict for the defendant." The missing nun has never been heard of. The testimony was taken down, signed by the judge, and in 1837 published at Louisville in book form.

The field in which Dr. Rice became most widely known is that of contro- versy. In the years 1842-3 he met the celebrated Baptist editor and contro- versialist, Rev. John L. Waller, D.D., in public debate twice-once at Nicholas- ville, which was an accidental meeting. The other debate, at Georgetown in the summer of 1843, on the mode and subjects of baptism, was to have been published; but Dr. Waller was delayed in writing out his part of it until after the more celebrated debate, at Lexington, between Dr. Rice and Elder Alex- ander Campbell, of Bethany, Va., which overshadowed, if it did not destroy, all interest in the debate with Dr. Waller.

The debate with Mr. Campbell was brought about (without any agency of Dr. Rice) by an agreement between Mr. Campbell and Rev. John H. Brown, D.D., then of Richmond, Ky. It began November -, 1843, and continued sixteen days, consuming about seventy hours-the great statesman, Henry Clay, Chief Justice George Robertson, and Hon. John Speed Smith, modera- tors. It was attended throughout by very large and highly intelligent audi- ences-many persons going several hundred miles to hear it. The subjects discussed embraced a wide range of theological investigation. No debate in the country ever excited so great interest, or was attended by so many edu- cated or distinguished men. Dr. Rice and his friends were more than satisfied with the expression of the public sentiment at the time, and with the opinions expressed by editors and reviewers after the debate was published in book form.

While living in Cincinnati Dr. Rice held two public debates; one on slavery-specifically, whether slaveholding is in itself sinful-to which he was challenged by Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase and nine other gentlemen, and who selected the Rev. Dr. Blanchard to represent them; the other on Universalism, with Rev. E. M. Pingree. Each debate continued several days, exciting much interest, and was published in book form.

In 1845 the Presbyterian General Assembly (Old School) met in Cincinnati. The abolition excitement was then at its height; and as one result a number of anti-slavery petitions were sent to the Assembly. Dr. Rice, as chairman of the committee to which those petitions were referred, wrote the Report, which was almost unanimously adopted, and which stamped the Assembly and the church as conservative, and terminated the agitation of the slavery question in the Presbyterian church until the late civil war. In 1855 he was chosen moderator of the General Assembly, which met that year at Nashville, Tenn. The subject of slavery was introduced by the visiting delegates from several Congregational bodies in the East. This induced Dr. Rice to address to those delegates "Ten Letters on Slavery," which were published in pam- phlet form. The same Assembly appointed him the visiting delegate to the Consociation of Rhode Island, in 1856; in which body the subject of slavery was earnestly discussed, and Dr. Rice had the honor of defending the doctrine and the position of the Old School Presbyterian church on that subject. 'T'he discussion was reported for the "New York Observer," and awakened much interest.

In 1845 the venerable Rev. James Hoge, D.D., of Columbus, Ohio (since deceased), Dr. Rice, and others, took steps to found in Cincinnati a theological seminary; for the reason that the Presbyterian theological seminary then in New Albany, Indiana, was likely to prove a failure, or to be used for the dissemination of abolitionist doctrines. Their purpose was to secure

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a permanent seminary at Cincinnati; or, failing in that, to place the sem- inary for the West in the hands of the General Assembly-in which last they finally succeeded. Dr. Rice was professor of theology in that seminary for two years, when they passed it into the hands of the Assembly; and that body shortly after established the Danville theological seminary. Just before his removal to Chicago, in 1857, a movement was made to establish in that city a Presbyterian theological seminary under abolitionist auspices, by means re- garded as unfair. Dr. Rice succeeded in arresting that movement, and in securing the seminary in Chicago under the control of the General Assembly- his personal friend, Cyrus H. McCormick, giving $100,000 as endowment. The Assembly chose Dr. Rice the professor of theology, which office he filled for two years, when his health failed. We have already mentioned that, in addi- tion to the duties of president, he is now (January, 1872) filling the chair of theology, in Westminster college, Missouri.

In October, 1832, Dr. Rice was married to Miss Catharine P. Burch, eldest daughter of Rev. James K. Burch, then of Danville-to whose many excellen- cies he is largely indebted for the singular usefulness of his life. They have had seven children, four daughters (three married) and three sons (one died in 1846). His youngest son is professor of English literature in Westminster college.

The Rev. ROBERT WILSON was descended from ancestors whom persecution had driven from the north of Ireland to western Virginia. He entered Kentucky as a missionary in 1798, and on the expiration of his engagement, married and set- tled in Washington, Mason county, where he remained till his death, October 31, 1822, in the fiftieth year of his age. He was an amiable and estimable man, possessing great equanimity of temper, and remarkable throughout his whole ministerial career, for his active, humble and devoted piety. While his labors were signally blessed among his own flock, it was through his unwearied exertions that the churches of Augusta and Maysville were organized ; and those of Smyrna and Flemingsburg owed to him their preservation when languishing without a pastor.

The Rev. JOHN LYLE was a native of Rockbridge county, Va. born on 20th October, 1769. He was licensed to preach the gospel in 1795. In 1797, he came to Kentucky as a missionary, and in 1800 took charge of Salem church, where he remained for several years. Mr. Lyle subsequently removed to Paris, where he established a female academy, which became one of the most flourishing in the state, embracing from 150 to 200 pupils. In 1809, he declined teaching. but con- tinued in the active discharge of his ministerial labors until 1825, on the 22d of July of which year he departed this life. He bore a prominent part in the trying scenes through which the church was called to pass during the early period of his ministry. He was a man of sound judgment and studious habits; his manner, in the pulpit, feeling and earnest, and his matter sensible. As an evidence of the blessed fruits of his faithful, earnest and affectionate style of preaching, on one occasion, at Mount Pleasant, the Rev. William L. McCalla noted the names of thirty-three persons impressed by the sermon, thirty-one of whom afterward became respectable members of the church.

In the year 1820, died the Rev. JAMES MCCHORD. He was born in Baltimore in 1785, and removed to Lexington when five years of age. His education was liberal, and at an early age he proceeded to read law with the Hon. Henry Clay. Becoming pious, he devoted his life to the ministry. He was chosen the first pastor of the second Presbyterian church of Lexington in 1815, which situation he held till the year 1819, when he removed to Paris. His published writings were considerable, among them two volumes of sermons. Mr. McChord was a remarkably brilliant man-possessing a rapid and comprehensive intellect, a glowing and gorgeous style, and an exuberant imagination. His successors in the second or McChord church, were able and eloquent men-the Rev. John Breck- inridge in 1823; Rev. John C. Young in 1829; Rev. Robert Davidson in 1832 : Rev. John D. Matthews in 1841 ; and Rev. John H. Brown, in 1844; and Rev. Robert G. Brank in 1852.

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Rev. THOMAS CLELAND, D.D, an able and useful Presbyterian minister in Kentucky for fifty-five years, 1803-58, was born in Fairfax co., Va., May 22, 1778, and died in Mercer co., Ky., on Sabbath evening, Jan. 31, 1858, in his 80th year. His parents removed to Maryland in 1781, and in the fall of 1789 to a farm in Washington co .; Ky. His education was quite limited until he was 17; then under James Allen, a lawyer and clerk of the court at Greens- burg, and in 1796, at Kentucky Academy, at Pisgah, Woodford co., his facil- ities were excellent, and most faithfully improved ; and continued, for a few months, in 1799-1800, at Transylvania University, Lexington, until broken off by the death of both parents, within two months and nine days of each other. At 24, at the great camp-meeting at Cane Ridge, in June, 1801, he - exhorted for two hours-several persons tracing their conversion to his ap- peal; and his exhortation, at a camp-meeting at Hite's Spring, near Harrods- burg, two months later, was similarly blessed. Circumstances soon led him to frequent exhortations and conducting of meetings, in a circuit of some miles around his home; and at the time of his marriage, Oct. 22, 1801, the Presbytery of Transylvania being in session in the New Providence church, that body pressed upon him the duty of entering the ministry-a matter he was long undecided about. He was licensed, at Danville, April 14, 1803, and began preaching near Springfield, and at Hardin's creek, now Lebanon; in 1813, was ordained over New Providence and Cane Run (Harrodsburg) churches-continuing to preach to the latter for 26 and to the former for 45 years. During these ministrations, he received to the latter church 240 and to the former about 700 members; and solemnized 712 marriages (for which his fees were $2,8753). His house was a "school of the prophets," before the establishment of theological seminaries-fifteen young men in all having studied theology, from six months to two years each, under his care. At the division of the church in 1838-40, he took sides and continued with th New School. His principal published writings, twenty in number, were all but one before 1837-several of them controversial and important. His great forte was in the pulpit, where he had extraordinary control over the sympathetic feelings of his hearers; and although he preached much on doctrinal subjects, he was for more years than any other man probably the most popular Presbyterian preacher in Kentucky. Of his four sons, two, and a grandson, are Presbyterian ministers.

Rev. JOSHUA LACEY WILSON, D.D., was born in Bedford co., Va., Sept. 22, 1774; brought to Kentucky in 1781; raised to the trade of a blacksmith, and until he was 22, had no education except what his mother gave him; sold his little patrimony, and spent the proceeds in acquiring an education at Kentucky Academy, at Pisgah, Woodford co. ; taught school for two years at Frankfort, during which he began reading law, but abandoned it for theology ; at 28 years of age, was licensed, 1802; ordained pastor of Bards- town and Big Spring churches, 1804; sat as a member of the commission of synod in the Cumberland difficulties, 1805; was called to the First church, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1808, where he remained for 38 years, until his death, Aug. 14, 1846, in his 72d year. During a portion of this time, he taught a classi- cal school; and edited the Pandect, and the Standard. He prosecuted Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, and successfully, for heresy, 1835; was prominent and active in several controversies ; was very tall, and of commanding presence; always impressive, dignified, and weighty as a speaker ; firm and unyielding for the truth; a power in the church, and in the moral, educational, and A social growth of Cincinnati.

His son, and successor in the pulpit of the First church, Rev. SAMUEL R. WILSON, D.D., is now (1873) pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Louisville-one of the ablest men in the pulpit and one of the greatest in controversy, in the state. He and his co-laborers in the same city, Rev. STUART ROBINSON, D.D., and Rev. EDWARD P. HUMPHREY, D.D., with others, have made the Presbyterian pulpit of Louisville, for years past, by far the ablest in any city in the United States, New York possibly excepted.

[The plan and limits of this work have excluded, with one exception (and he a non-resident), extended biographical sketches of living ministers.]

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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The Rev. GIDEON BLACKBURN was one of the most eloquent divines of the west; and his early history presents a most remarkable instance of perseverance in the face of difficulties. Left an orphan and penniless when about eleven years of age (being defrauded out of the handsome patrimony of twenty thousand dol- lars), a kind school-master gave him instruction gratuitously ; and he obtained a situation in a saw-mill, where he tended the saw from dark till day-light. study- ing by a fire of pine-knots. In this way he earned a dollar every night, and made rapid proficiency in his studies. Thus he struggled on till ready to enter college. To defray this new expense, he labored as a surveyor for four months ; frequently sleeping in a cane-brake to avoid the Indians, and having no shelter from the rain but a blanket. He received for his pay fourteen horses, valued at forty dollars a-piece. These he took to Maryland and sold for fifteen hundred dollars ; with which he discharged all his debts, and went through Dickinson college. Thus early enured to hardships, he was admirably fitted for the arduous duties of a missionary to the Cherokee Indians, to which he was appointed by the general assembly in 1803, when 31 years of age. In 1827, he was appointed President of Centre College at Danville, which situation he filled till 1830, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Young. The last years of his life were spent in Illinois. He died in 1838, aged 66.

The Rev. JOHN MCFARLAND and the Rev. DAVID NELSON were clergymen of a high order of talent. The former died, while pastor of the Paris church, in 1828; the latter departed this life, in Illinois, in 1844.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF THE

EARLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, IN KENTUCKY;

WITH BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THE PRINCIPAL CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES, WHO HAVE SUCCESSIVELY LABORED IN THIS STATE.

THE glowing accounts of the surpassing beauty and fertility of Kentucky, fur- nished by the early pioneers on their return to the bosom of their families in North Carolina and Virginia, created a deep sensation throughout the western borders of these states, and awakened a spirit of adventure, which soon extended to Maryland and other adjoining states. Large bodies of emigrants began to pour into the newly discovered and but half explored wilderness, inhabited till then only by wild beasts and by roving bands of savages. The daring spirit of . Boone, Harrod and Logan was soon communicated to large masses of popula- tion ; and the consequence was, that in less than a quarter of a century from its first discovery or exploration, Kentucky had a sufficient population to be admitted as one of the independent states of this great confederacy; the second that was added to the venerable THIRTEEN, which had fought the battles of independence.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 92

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452