USA > North Carolina > A history of the development of the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina, and of the Synodical home missions, together with evangelistic addresses by James I. Vance and others > Part 4
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Thus synodical Home Missions was launched, and it was ordered that a committee of five, consisting of Revs. D. E. Jordan, L. Mckinnon, C. M. Payne and Elders A. G. Ncel and S. C. Rankin, be appointed to nominate the first synodical evangelists or home missionaries.
This committee reported recommending the Rev. D. E. Jordan and the Rev. W. E. McIllwaine. The report was adopted, and these brethren were duly elected as the first synodical missionaries.
In 1882 the synod met in Asheville. The Rev. C. M. Payne, chairman of the new Synodical Evangelistic Com- mittee, made his report, which seemed to forecast a com- plete failure of the scheme of the synod. For the past year the success of the scheme depended upon the raising of $3,000 before the evangelists could enter upon their work, and a more serious question was to arrange for a
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similar amount from year to year. Both the Finance and .. .. Evangelistic Committees used every means possible and labored faithfully to secure the required sum immediately after the last meeting of synod, and a considerable amount was raised, but not the whole amount. And in the meantime the Rev. D. E. Jordan had accepted and the Rev. W. E. McIllwaine had declined the position of synodical missionary. The committee met in Salisbury February 7, 1882, and elected the Rev. L. Mckinnon in the place of Mr. McIllwaine, and resolved to renew their efforts. The committee met again in Raleigh Feb- ruary 24, 1882, and in the mean time the Rev. Mr. McKinnon had declined to accept the position of mis- sionary, and the Rev. Mr. Jordan had been hindered from entering the field on account of the failure to raise the required $3,000, and the Finance Committee reported that the amount already pledged had been promised con- ditionally, and that there was no prospect of raising the required $3,000 under the present plan. This committee claimed that another plan must be devised, which would provide for the future, and enlist the co-operation of the Presbyteries and the churches. It was said that the scheme had failed to enlist the endorsement and co-opera- tion of the Presbyteries, and had met with "decided oppo- sition all over the synod, as being inexpedient and imprac- ticable."
The Evangelistic Committee, after calling attention to the greatly increased interest and activity by the Presby- teries in the work during the past year, which was rightly attributed to the synodical movement, with deep regret asked to be discharged. The "movement" at present seemed to be a dismal failure, and its promoters were keenly disappointed and greatly discouraged, but it was not a failure-it had been born, and, like an infant, it
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must needs be helpless and dependent for a time, but it .. had been born and born to live.
In 1883 the synod met in Wilmington. The Rev. C. M. Payne tendered his resignation as agent of Evangelis- tic Labor, and the Rev. James C. Alexander was elected as his successor.
Dr. Payne did a splendid work during the time of his being agent of Evangelistic Labor, and indeed he never ceased to be, as long as he lived, a man of power and a. brother beloved in the synod. He was a man of com- manding personal appearance, endowed with fine intel- lectual qualities, and possessed a voice and manner as soft and gentle as a woman, and through his untiring efforts by preaching, visiting, letter-writing, persuasive manners, and general popularity, many souls were won for the Master and much was done in awakening the minds of the people and arousing interest in the great cause of missions. IIe was a staunch friend of the great Synodical Movement, which he helped to launch in 1881, until the time of his death, which occurred September 13, 1900.
During the time of the agency of the Rev. J. C. Alex- ander, after the retirement of Dr. Payne, the synod for several years was occupied largely with other things than the cause of Home Missions, especially with judicial mat- ters.
Mr. Alexander was a man of great executive ability, and he worked faithfully and zealously for the great cause, which temporarily had received a backset, but which was destined to arise again, in due time with re- newed vigor and power.
In 1884 the synod met at Winston, and the agent's report showed that of ministers were employed as evan- gelists by the Presbyteries for a part of their time; and
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that a net gain of eight churches and 270 members had been made during the past year; but there still remained 29 counties in which there was no Presbyterian church, and 24 counties in which there was but one church each.
In 1885 the synod met at Reidsville, and this meeting was largely occupied with a judicial case. The agent of Evangelistic Labor, Rev. J. C. Alexander, was the Mode- rator of this meeting, and his report this year showed the work to be "prosperous and encouraging."
At this meeting the Rev. J. Henry Smith, D. D., was appointed to deliver an address next year on the "Rise, Progress, and Prospects of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," and the Rev. W. E. McIllwaine was appointed to deliver an address on "The Duty of the Church in Securing a Larger Number of Ministers."
The next year, in 1886, the synod met in Concord, and was still occupied with judicial matters.
The Rev. Dr. Smith delivered his address on the " Rise, Progress and Prospects of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," and the Rev. Dr. Hill delivered an address on "Ministerial Support," and both of these brethren received the thanks of the synod.
At this meeting the Rev. J. C. Alexander laid down the work as agent of Evangelistic Labor, and the Rev. J. W. Primrose was elected as his successor.
On November 15, 1886, soon after this meeting of synod, the Rev. J. C. Alexander suddenly passed from earth to heaven. He was a faithful preacher and a zeal- ous workman-practical, pointed, earnest and judicious. In Orange Presbytery, especially, he was a wise and trusted counsellor and a brother beloved. He was a man of deep convictions and steady purpose, and untiring in his efforts for the spread of the Gospel. For many years he was entrusted with the conduct of Home Missions in
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Orange Presbytery, and the additional work of the synod, .- together with the cares of a large pastorate, were thought to be by his friends too heavy a burden to bear, and pos- sibly shortened his days. He did a noble work, and left behind him a noble record. He loved his God and his people, and his people loved him, and his end was perfect peace.
In 1887 the synod met in Fayetteville, and continued to be much engaged with judicial matters.
The Rev. W. E. McIllwaine at this meeting, according to appointment, delivered his address on "The Duty of the Church in Securing a Larger Number of Ministers," and he received the thanks of the synod for the address.
The closing words of the report of Dr. Primrose, now the agent of Evangelistic Labor, were as follows: " There is gratifying evidence of progress and increasing zeal in this department of labor throughout the synod."
This being true, and yet no action being taken, and no effort being made to revise the plan and carry out the great principle adopted in 1881, was calculated to dis- courage many of the members of the synod, and conse- quently some of them, particularly the Rev. W. E. McIll- waine, went away, from this meeting of synod much dis- satisfied on account of what was not done, and deter- mined that something should be done at the next synod, looking to the evangelization of the State, either by Synodical Home Missions or by some other possible and feasible plan. And the next meeting of synod was des- tined to be a memorable one in North Carolina.
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CHAPTER V.
THE INAUGURATION OF SYNODICAL HOME MISSIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE MEN OF THE TIMES.
The meeting of synod held in Goldsboro in 1888, in many respects, was unquestionably one of the most re- markable meetings of the kind ever held in the State.
It was remarkable from the fact that a ruling elder, for the first time in the history of the church, was elected Moderator, the Hon. A. M. Scales, who at this time was the Governor of North Carolina, was the Moderator of this meeting. It was remarkable from the fact that it was freighted with an unusual number of memorials, praying for relief and demanding great and important changes, and laying the foundation for great enterprises. It was also remarkable from the fact of the able and memorable speeches that were made, the amount of work accomplished, and last, but not least, the inauguration of. Synodical Home Missions.
Another thing in connection with this meeting which was remarkable, was the calling of a convention in Golds- boro on the day before the synod met, October 23, 1888, to consider the interests of Home Missions.
There is no record of this convention in the minutes of synod, but the facts are these: The Rev. William E. Melllwaine was one of the brethren who went away from the last meeting of synod at Fayetteville, feeling much discouraged on account of what was not done for the
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cause of State evangelization, and it was he who con -.. ceived the thought of calling this convention. He wrote to the chairmen of the Home Mission Committees -of the Presbyteries, he himself being the chairman in Mecklen- burg Presbytery, and sent to them the following call for the convention, which was duly signed by each of them.
SYNODICAL HOME MISSIONARY CONVENTION.
"After conference with a number of the friends of this cause in the synod, we the undersigned chairmen of the Home Missions Committee in our respective Presbyteries do hereby call a convention to meet in Goldsboro, N. C., on Tuesday the 23d of October (inst), for the purpose of giving this subject a more thorough consideration than it usually receives in the synod. The following pro- gram has been agreed upon :
" The opening address-Rev. F. HI. Johnston, D. D .; addresses by each of the chairmen of the Home Missions Committees in the different Presbyteries, setting forth as briefly as possible the extent, needs, and prospects of their respective fields ; addresses of evangelists of Presbyteries, with the map of synod before them, in reference to their special work; a general discussion of the following sub- jects, in which all present shall be invited to participate-
"I. Ought there not be a more equal division of the synod among the Presbyteries ?
"2. Would it not be advisable for the synod, at the approaching meeting, to take steps to place at least one evangelist in its mission field ?
"3. What are some of the hindrances to this work in the Presbyteries and synod, and how can these be re- moved ?
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"4. What should be done to secure a thorough consid- eration of the subject of Home Missions at each regular meeting of synod? -
(Signed ) ALEXANDER SPRUNT, Orange Presbytery ; R. B. ANDERSON, Concord Presbytery ; H. G. HILL, Fayetteville Presbytery ; P. HI. HOGE, Wilmington Presbytery ; W. E. MCILLWAINE, Mecklenburg Pres'y."
The convention was held, and the foregoing program was fully carried out. A memorial was adopted to be presented to the synod the next day. And a paper was prepared for this convention by the Rev. P. H. Hoge, D. D., on the "constitutionality of synodical evangelists." This paper was afterwards published in the "North Carolina Presbyterian," and it was a most able, con- vincing and unanswerable argument in favor of the great cause at issue in these times. But Dr. Hoge, perhaps, was not as familiar as some other members of this con- vention with the fact that this question and kindred topics had been discussed in the synod for years, and that the great principle touching these matters had been settled in 1881. Dr. Hoge and Dr. Sprunt became members of the synod in 1885, and at the present time they ranked with Drs. Hill, Marable, Johnston, Primrose, McIllwaine and others as leading spirits in the great Synodical Move- ment.
Dr. McIllwaine had spent much of his time as a most successful evangelist, and, like Dr. Primrose and others, knew from personal experience and observation the great need of evangelists, and he had the joy and the satisfac- tion of seeing the convention which he had called a great success, and destined to be far reaching and blessed in its results, as one of the means of reviving and putting
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into operation the paper which he had signed and the .- plan adopted in 1881 for overtaking the destitutions by "synodical effort." He did a noble work for the synod, and especially for Mecklenburg Presbytery before leaving the bounds of his native State. He was intimately asso- ciated with almost every forward movement of the church. He was personally connected with the first steps taken at this meeting of synod and afterwards in founding the synod's Orphans' Home. He left the synod in 1892 for wider fields of usefulness, and at the present time is the president of the Alabama Presbyterian College for Men at Anniston, Ala.
On the next day after this convention the synod met, and the following memorials were presented: One from the Evangelical Alliance of Wilmington, in regard to the State laws concerning temperance; one from the Chapel Hill Church, touching the interests of Presbyterianism at the University; one from the Presbyterian Lady Man- agers of the " Home and Hospital" in Charlotte, N. C. This memorial was referred to a commission of which the Rev. J. Rumple, D. D., was made chairman, on the adoption of the following resolution offered by Rev. W. E. McIllwaine:
" Resolved, That in the judgment of this synod the time has come to take steps looking to the establishing of an orphans' home within our bounds, and that a commis- sion be appointed to take the whole matter in charge, to consider and execute whatever may seem wise and practicable in putting such an enterprise on a permanent basis."
Thus it will be seen that the great enterprise of the Orphans' Home, now the joy and pride of the synod, was launched at this meeting.
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The two other memorials presented related to the burn- ing and vital questions which had burdened the minds and hearts of some of the brethren for so many years- "How shall we overtake the destitutions of our State?" One of these memorials was from Orange Presbytery, and the other one was from the Synodical Convention, and it is noted that both these memorials embodied the same thought, looking to the division of territory.
The memorial from Orange Presbytery had its origin at the spring meeting of Presbytery, six months before the convention, and the meeting of synod, when a com- mittee of three-Dr. Johnston, Dr. Sprunt and Mr. W. S. Primrose-were appointed to draft said memorial to the synod. It was presented to the Presbytery at the fall meeting by the Rev. Dr. Johnston and adopted. This Presbytery had felt for many years its deep responsibility, and its utter inability to overtake its destitutions, owing to its vast unoccupied territory, and much time and labor were spent at each meeting of Presbytery in discussing these matters. The Rev. Dr. Johnston had been elected, and was now serving as general evangelist for the Pres- bytery, and he, with others, was thoroughly convinced that old Orange ought to be divided, and that in some way the synod ought to share the responsibility in sup- plying the needs.
The following is the memorial from Orange Presby- tery :
" The Presbytery of Orange respectfully memoralize the Synod of North Carolina to take into consideration the subjoined statement of the extent and present need of the evangelistic field within the bounds of the Presby- tery, and to take such action as its wisdom may suggest for the assistance and relief of the "Presbytery in the prosecution of this great work :
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"I. The Presbytery of Orange, the oldest existing Pres -. - bytery south of the Potomac, and mother of all the Pres- byteries which now compose this synod, is in territorial extent nearly as large as all the others combined. It em- braces about one-half the population of the State-not far from 700,000 souls, 482,000, or nearly two-thirds, being white. There are 44 counties and parts of coun- ties in the Presbytery, in 20 of which there is not a single organized church of our faith and order. With three exceptions, these counties are massed together in the eastern part of the Presbytery, between the Atlantic Coast Line Railway and the Ocean. The Presbytery thus presents to view a territory about evenly divided by the railway mentioned, one-half of which, as to Presbyterian- ism, is missionary ground ; and this ground, occupied by our church, is nearly, if not quite, two-thirds of the en- tire missionary field of the synod-that is to say, Orange Presbytery has twice as large an evangelistic field for her share of labor as the other four Presbyteries together have. This disproportion in the extent in their respective fields of Home Mission labor and enterprise, is felt, justly, as we believe, to be a burden far beyond her strength by the mother Presbytery; and this synod, the only court which has, according to the constitution of the church, authority to determine the metes and bounds of the Presbyteries within her bounds, is respectfully asked to consider this matter, and, if it be possible, to cqualize the shares of the Presbyteries respectively in the work of Home Evangelization.
"2. The Presbytery is moved at this time specially to present this appeal to the synod for the reason it has for believing its large unoccupied field to be one which in- vites a far more extensive planting of our church than it is possible for the Presbytery to accomplish with the
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resources at its command. Recent special exploration of the eastern district of the Presbytery has shown open doors which should be entered at once, and would be, if it were in the power of the Presbytery. It has done some- thing in this region in the last fifteen years. Half a dozen churches have been organized at promising points, one of which is already self-supporting, and two or three new fields of hopeful labor are at this moment being entered in counties which, until lately, had not heard the voice of a Presbyterian preacher. But other fields also remain to be occupied, and will remain thus, because of the sheer inability of the Presbytery to occupy. It has reached apparently the limit of its strength in keeping as it does now four or five evangelists in the field, and yet four or five more are sorely needed, if the Presbytery is to keep apace with the widening area of labor. The Presbytery therefore earnestly desires that the synod give this subject the consideration to which it seems to be en- titled, and, in its wisdom, suggest or initiate some mode of procedure which may relieve the Presbytery in the present emergency. Whether it shall be by a readjust- ment of the boundaries which define the existing Presby- teries, or by the erection of a new Presbytery, or by a scheme of synodical evangelistic labor, or by a consensus of the Presbyteries, by which a practical co-operation in the work may be secured; whether by any one, or by all these, or by any other feasible method, the Presbytery does not venture to say ; but it does desire, and it hopes, that some way may be found for removing the dispropor- tionate and unequal burdens of the Presbyteries, and so far the more effective prosecution of the great work of State evangelization.
(Signed)
F. H. JOHNSTON, Stated Clerk."
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On the same day, immediately after the noon recess,. .. the memorial from the Synodical Convention was pre- sented as follows :
" The committee appointed by the convention lately held in this city, in the interests of Home Missions, re- spectfully memoralize the synod to take suitable action in regard to the following matters :
"I. That a committee be appointed to thoroughly con- sider the question of the more equal division of the terri- tory of synod among the Presbyteries, to report at the next meeting of synod, and to publish their report in the " North Carolina Presbyterian" at least two months be- fore said meeting of synod.
"2. In order to bring the subject of Home Missions prominently before the synod, to make a standing order to consider the subject embracing the causes of Susten- tation and evangelistic work, at II o'clock A. M. on the second day of its sessions, and to give this subject prefer- ence over all other subjects.
"3. We also memoralize the synod to take the neces- sary steps at its present meeting to place at least one evangelist in its missionary field."
The first and second sections of this memorial were placed upon the docket, and the third section, which in- volved the very heart of the matters at issue, was referred to a special committee, consisting of the Rev. Messrs. J. W. Primrose, P. H. Hoge, Alexander Sprunt, H. G. Hill, J. M. Wharey and W. E. McIllwaine.
This was a strong committee of representative men, each Presbytery being represented, with Dr. Primrose as chairman, and on the morning of the next day-Octo- ber 26, 1888-the following report was submitted to synod :
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" Your committee appointed to take into consideration and to report suitable action on the memorial of the Con- vention of Home Missions, touching the placing of at least one evangelist in the mission field of the synod, beg leave to report the following action for synod's adoption : "I. That synod grants the petition of the memorialists and agrees to place at least one evangelist in the field.
"2. That a committee be appointed, with instructions, if the way be clear as to support, to select such evangelist or evangelists, to fix his salary and direct his labors until the next meeting of synod.
"3. While laboring within the bounds of any Presby- tery he shall be under the direction of the Home Mission Committee of that Presbytery.
"4. His powers within the bounds of any Presbytery, with reference to the reception of members, organizing churches, ordaining and installing elders and deacons, shall be only such as are conferred upon him by said Presbytery.
(Signed) " J. W. PRIMROSE, Chairman."
A battle royal was now on. The infant which had been born in 1881, and which had been asleep and gaining strength, had now awakened with increased strength, and almost matured vigor, and was demanding its right to exercise its powers. The same old questions of the con- stitutionality of synodical evangelists, the right of the synod to elect evangelists, and to elect evangelistic com- mittees with powers to act, had to be met, and they were met in a masterly debate. The opposition was strong, and the end of the conflict was not to be seen until 1891, but, for the present, the battle was fought and the vic- tory was won.
No one who was present at this meeting of synod will
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ever forget the masterly speeches delivered by many of - the brethren who participated in the debate, especially the notable speech delivered by the Rev. Dr. B. F. Marable. At this late date it would be impossible to give a synop- sis, or even an adequate description, of that wonderful speech. It was full of wit, humor, pathos and sarcasm, and it bristled with illustrations, ludicrous and otherwise, and it was delivered with rare eloquence and telling power. It came spontaneously from a massive brain and a big heart, overjoyed at the prospect of synodical mis- sions becoming a reality, and it made a profound impres- sion.
Dr. Marable was no ordinary man. He was notably an independent and original thinker, and possessed the power of concentrating his thought upon a subject in a remarkable manner, and of reaching conclusions step by step through a masterful power of analysis, which, when the conclusion was reached and the thought projected, seldom failed to convince his hearers. Some one, writing of him after his death, said: " Dr. Marable added to his analytical and logical powers a loftiness of conception that came from a lofty soul, and that lent a glow of fire to all that he said. He was not only a man of great intellect, but a man of great heart, and the heart warmed the speech that the intellect created. He thought great thoughts about God and eternity, about sin and retribu- tion, about grace and redemption, but these great thoughts were not the speculations of the mind, nor the imagina- tions of fancy, but the teachings of the Holy Spirit to a soul that was truly humble, because its thoughts and aspirations were turned upward to that which was greater. than itself. He received the things of God with the faith of a little child. And while his intellect cut through the shallow sophistries that were urged against Divine truth
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and revelation, yet when it came to that which was above the grasp of human comprehension, he simply wondered and adored." He became a Presbyterian from the Baptist Church in 1864, and it is said that the change wrought in his views was the result of a long and painful struggle, and having reached conclusions satisfactory to himself, he was always tolerant to those who differed with him, and he supported the principles he avowed most manfully unto the end. He calmly and painlessly passed to his reward on April 14, 1892.
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