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 5
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After the adoption of the report of the Committee on the Memorial of the Convention the following evangelistic committee, provided for in the report and to serve as a special committee for one year, was then appointed-viz. : Rev. Messrs. J. W. Primrose (chairman), Alexander Sprunt, R. B. Anderson, H. G. Hill, P. H. Hoge, W. E. Mclllwaine, and Elders A. M. Scales, M. W. Hill, J. W. McNeill, B. F. Hall and Rufus Barringer.
The memorial from Orange Presbytery was referred to this committee to report at the next meeting of synod.
Thus ended, so far as synodical missions were con- cerned, the most notable meeting of synod perhaps, ever held in the history of the church. The great question, " How shall we overtake our destitutions?" which had been discussed so long, had now culminated into a definite plan and purpose, and the great Synodical Movement or "effort," which had been paralyzed and slumbering for a number of years, had now become a reality and had be- gun its career, to move onward and upward for the glory of God and the salvation of multitudes in the old Northi State.
But it now remained to put the work into practical operation, and to place the whole scheme upon a perma- nent basis. This necessarily would require time and labor,
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as well as the profound study and wisdom of the con- mittee charged with this most important duty.
One of the leading and active members of synod at this time, and until he left the synod in 1899, especially per- taining to all matters connected with Home Missions, was the Rev. P. Il. Iloge, D. D. Soon after the meeting in Goldsboro the special Evangelistic Committee met in Raleigh. Dr. Hoge was made the secretary of the com- mittee, and continued to be after the committee became permanent, and it devolved upon him to conduct an ex- tensive correspondence and to decide many matters of importance.
The memorial of Orange Presbytery had been carefully studied in connection with the distribution of territory, and at this meeting of the committee in Raleigh, Dr. Hoge proposed an overture to the synod to erect two new Presbyteries, to be named Raleigh and Asheville. The Mecklenburg members did not think the time had come for the formation of Asheville Presbytery, but the other new Presbytery was agreed upon, and was formed by the next synod, and named "Albemarle." At this meeting of the committee Dr. Hoge strongly advocated the election of the Rev. W. D. Morton as synodical evangelist, which afterwards resulted in his election. Owing to the illness of Dr. Primrose, chairman of the committee, Dr. Hoge prepared and presented to the synod of 1889 at Char- lotte the report of the committee, outlining the plan of future work and recommending that the committee be made a permanent organization. He also prepared for the synod of 1801 an elaborate report on the future "Work, Policy and Organization" of the Synodical Home Mission Committee.
It will be noted in the minutes of the synod that each of the first three articles of that report was adopted on
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a different day. Between the lines of that fact is to be- read the unrecorded history of a great debate, in which the whole policy and plan of the committee was assailed and sternly fought by a strong but small minority of the synod. It largely devolved upon Dr. Hoge to defend the report before the synod, and as a result of the debate the policy of the committee was sustained by an overwhelm- ing majority.
The first article of that report was as follows :
" Synod recognizes that upon it and its Presbyteries is laid the responsibility for the evangelization of its terri- tory, so far as it can be done by the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and in humble reliance upon the Head of the Church receives this trust from His hand and pledges itself to its faithful prosecution."
The adoption of this article firmly nailed to the mast- head the purpose of the synod to evangelize its territory without outside aid. When the General Assembly con- sidered the reorganization of its plan of Home Mission work, Dr. Hoge was sent by the committee to the Assem- bly at Macon, Ga., in 1893, to present the North Carolina plan before the Standing Committee of the Assembly ; and although the Assembly's Special Committee presented a different plan, the Standing Committee recommended the North Carolina plan to the Assembly, and by the courtesy of that body Dr. Hoge was heard in explanation of the plan. It was adopted by the Assembly, and remains the essential policy of Home Mission work in the South- ern Presbyterian Church to this day. Again, in 1885, a Presbytery in Virginia overtured the Assembly to revert to the old plan of conducting Home Mission work. Dr. Hoge was a member of that Assembly, and was made chairman of the Standing Committee on Home Missions,
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and both the committee and the Assembly again sustained the North Carolina plan, which remains the plan of the Assembly to the present day.
In 1889, at Charlotte, N. C., the Special Evangelistic Committee reported to synod the election of the Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., as the first synodical evangelist in North Carolina, and that he had entered upon his work June 7, 1889. This was a happy selection-one that gave universal satisfaction-and was crowned with wonderful success. Dr. Morton himself made a report of his labors, which thrilled the synod, and was received with profound gratitude. He showed that from June the 7th to October the 7th, a period of exactly four months, he had visited 130 families, held 200 services, witnessed 114 confessions and renewals, added to the church 82 persons, baptized 17 adults and 17 infants, ordained I elder and I deacon, and had collected $189 for the work. This report made a profound impression, and Dr. Morton was commended to the people for their support, by their contributions and their prayers.
The plan submitted by the committee for re-districting the whole territory, after a few changes, was adopted. By this plan the Presbytery of Albemarle was formed, and its first meeting was held in Goldsboro, N. C., November 20, 1889.
The plan for the permanent conduct and support of the work was adopted-namely : "That a permanent commit- tee on synodical evangelization be constituted, the chair- man of which shall be the synod's agent of Evangelistic Labor, and which shall be composed of the chairmen of the Committee of Home Missions from each Presbytery, and one ruling ekler from each Presbytery." For the support of the work it was recommended that a certain amount of money be apportioned to the Presbyteries an-
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nually, to be raised quarterly, and that an annual collec- .. tion be taken by all the churches for the cause.
Under this plan the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., was elected agent of Evangelistic Labor, and he was therefore chairman of the committee, and the committee thus constituted was composed of the following members : Rev. Messrs. Alexander Sprunt (chairman), D. I. Craig, C. A. Munroe, H. G. Hill, P. H. Hoge, W. E. McIllwaine, and Elders Hon. A. M. Scales, I. H. Foust, Dr. J. W. McNeill, B. F. Hall, Gen. R. Barringer and Samuel Watkins.
The work of the Special Evangelistic Committee ap- pointed at Goldsboro was now completed, and the com- mittee did their work wisely and well-all honor to them !
The great cause of Synodical Home Missions was now fully inaugurated, and having arisen to a permanent position in the economy of the church, we will attempt in the future pages of this book to trace its development and progress.
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CHAPTER VI.
THE PROGRESS OF SYNODICAL HOME MISSIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND THE MEN OF THE TIMES.
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In the Book of Wisdom it is written: "There is a time for every purpose under the heaven." God has His purpose, and His own time for every purpose; and not only so, but He has the right men in the right place, and at the right time, to meet every purpose. The eyes of the Synod of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1900 were turned toward the Rev. Egbert W. Smith, D. D., Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., and others, as the right men who had appeared upon the scene of action at the right time. The efforts of the church had been crowned with wonderful success, and this meeting was characterized by intense enthusiasm. It will be remembered by the eloquent and stirring addresses made by these brethren and others, which were followed by the raising of nearly $2,000 on the floor of the synod for the cause of Synodical Home Missions! The synod sang the long-metre doxology in grateful acknowledgment to God for His rich blessing.
On motion of Dr. Morton the Rev. E. W. Smith, D. D., was immediately and unanimously elected General Synodical Evangelist, in addition to Dr. Morton. The Rev. Dr. Sprunt was re-elected agent of Evangelistic Labor and chairman of the committee.
The report showed that there had been eight Presby- terial evangelists in the field during the past year, and cheering reports came from all parts of the synod. There
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was much cause for thankfulness, and in the Address to the Churches, written by the Rev. Jacob Henry Smith, D. D., it was said: " We think that the present meeting of synod will be admitted to be one of the best and most encouraging ever held, and that it will mark an era in our North Carolina Church for progress and blessing in the matter of spreading the Gospel at home and abroad."
It was indeed a great meeting, but we must remember, however, that at this time there were 96 counties in the State, and a population of more than a milion and a half, and in 27 of these counties there was no Presbyterian church, and in 19 of them only one church each, making 46 counties and a vast population almost entirely without the influence of the Presbyterian Church. The number of Presbyterian communicants in the State at this time was something more than 26,000, and the contributions to Systematic Beneficence was nearly $56,000-a gain of $13,000 over the last year.
Soon after this meeting the committee met in Greens- boro, November 25, 1890, to determine the work of Dr. Smith as General Evangelist. It was decided that his especial work should be the raising of funds for placing more laborers in the field.
The committee met again in Greensboro February 3, 1891, and Dr. Smith reported a subscription of $2,000 secured for the work. On the basis of this subscription it was agreed to elect one other general evangelist, and that further elections should be local or district evange- lists. The Rev. W. E. McIllwaine was elected general evangelist, and the Rev. John C. McMullen was elected district evangelist, and subsequently the Rev. R. P. Pell was added to the force as district evangelist.
At this meeting of the committee, also, the Rev. Dr. Morton gave notice that he would retire from the work
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some time during the year, and the Rev. John M. Rose, D. D., was elected general evangelist to take Dr. Morton's place when he retired. The committee met again in Fayetteville June 26, 1890, Dr. Smith having given notice of his resignation, owing to an affection of his throat. The committee declined to accept Dr. Smith's resignation, but granted him a vacation of six months with the earnest hope that his strength might be regained and that his almost marvellous success in the work of raising funds might be continued.
In order that the work might not suffer in the mean- time, the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., was elected, for all his time, to take Dr. Smith's place, to superintend the work and act as secretary, treasurer and evangelist. The Rev. Dr. Smith, however, resumed his special work before the meeting of the next synod, and his efforts were crowned with great success.
Thus it will be seen that the committee had been very active and faithful, and had made many very important moves since the last meeting of synod. When the synod met at Durham in 1891 a full report was made; and, as already stated, an elaborate report on the " Work, Policy and Organization" of the great "Movement" was sub- mitted to synod and adopted, and it remains essentially the same until this day, as well as being the plan and policy adopted by the General Assembly.
The committee was authorized "for the ensuing year" to set apart a financial agent, whose whole time might be devoted to the work of laying the cause upon the hearts and consciences of the people, in order that local evange- lists might be multiplied. This office of financial agent was in its nature temporary, and was due to the desire to retain the service and utilize the gifts of both Dr. Smith and Dr. Sprunt. During the year this office was merged
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into that of superintendent, which has remained perma- nent, and which was constituted at this meeting by the following article :
" The offices of agent of Sustentation and agent of Evangelistic Labor shall be discontinued, and synod shall annually elect a superintendent of Synodical Missions, who shall be ex-officio chairman, secretary and treasurer of the Synodical Committee."
The duties of this office were clearly set forth and defined in the report, and the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., was unanimously elected the first superintendent.
The committee, as now constituted, was composed of the following persons: Rev. A. Sprunt, D. D., superin- tendent; Rev. E. W. Smith, D. D., financial agent ; Rev. D. I. Craig, Rev. C. A. Munroe, Rev. H. G. Hill, D. D., Rev. P. H. Hoge, D. D., Rev. W. E. McIllwaine, D. D., Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., and Elders J. M. Rogers, J. G. Hall, Dr. J. W. McNeill, B. F. Hall, John E. Oates and J. R. Young.
In October of this year ( 1891) the Rev. Dr. Morton and his assistant, the Rev. C. W. Maxwell, retired from the work, and soon after the Rev. John C. McMullen retired from the work. Mr. McMulllen was a pioneer evangelist in the eastern territory of the State for nearly a year. He was a faithful and untiring worker, and did a splendid work in a short time, in laying the foundations and preparing the way for others who were to follow him. Mr. Maxwell, for eight months, was the faithful assistant of Dr. Morton, and for some time after Dr. Morton re- tired from the field he continued in the Home Mission work. It was his custom to be on the ground, where a meeting was to be held, at least a week ahead of Dr. Morton, and by his daily services and faithful visiting
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and general activity the people were prepared for a great -- meeting. The results of the labors of such men as Messrs. McMullen and Maxwell and others who go before and prepare the way can never be tabulated, but they are very great and of a lasting character, and to such men the church should ever be grateful.
The work of the Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., as the first synodical evangelist in North Carolina, cannot be estimated. He came to the synod just at the right time, and seems to have been specially fitted for the work. His high standing as a minister of the Gospel, his dignity of manner and scholarly attainments, his zeal for the cause of the Master, his faithful and effective preaching, and his large experience in mission work gave to the work in North Carolina a standing and an impetus which were very necessary in the beginning, and upon which so much depended in the future. Dr. Morton was called to North Carolina from the synod of Missouri, but previously he had been a synodical evangelist in the Synod of Kentucky, and was really one of the founders of the great synodical movement in that State. In a published account of the meeting of the Synod of Kentucky in 1881, it was said "the most important and intensely interesting business that came before the synod was introduced by the Rev. W. D. Morton." He had collected facts and statistics, and elaborated a plan of evangelistic work for the synod, contemplating its prosecution on a larger scale than at any previous period. Its presentation was accompanied by a clear, forcible, powerful speech, which enthused the whole body. A sense of the importance of the work was realized by every one; but members were timid about .. undertaking it. Where was the money to come from? . [ Two gentlemen of Louisville offered to contribute an amount equal to any that synod would raise, up to $5,000.
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The synod promptly accepted the offer, and $10,000 was secured. A plan of operation was agreed upon, an execu- tive committee was appointed, and the Rev. E. O. Guer- rant and Rev. W. D. Morton were unanimously chosen as ,synodical evangelists of the Synod of Kentucky."
Dr. Morton faithfully and successfully occupied this position for three years, when he removed to Missouri. He entered upon his work in North Carolina October 7, 1889, and retired from the work as evangelist October II, 1891. During that time he held 1,291 services, witnessed 806 confessions, and saw 578 persons added to the Pres- byterian Church. He has never ceased to be an influen- tial factor in the great work of Synodical Missions, and "his bow still abides in strength," and he enjoys the love and esteem of the brethren and ministers to a devoted people at Rocky Mount, N. C. The synod is under last- ing obligations to him.
During the year 1891 seven churches were organized, 364 persons were added to the church, and the sum of $13,540 was raised in cash and subscriptions for the work. Of this amount $10,310 was raised by Dr. Smith within seven weeks, and $1,700 was raised by Dr. Sprunt, chair- man of the committee.
In March, 1892, the Rev. W. E. McIllwaine resigned as general evangelist, that he might accept the responsible position of superintendent of Synodical Home Missions in the Synod of Alabama. He served as general evange- list in North Carolina most faithfully and successfully for ten months, giving most of his time to Mecklenburg Presbytery.
In April, 1892, the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., re- signed the office of superintendent, that he might accept a pastorate in Charleston, S. C. Dr. Sprunt was promi- nently connected with synodical missions in North Caro-
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lina for a number of years, having been the agent of". Evangelistic Labor, chairman of the committee, superin- tendent and evangelist. He was an efficient officer, and discharged all his duties with diligence and fidelity, and his labors were abundant and successful.
Dr. Sprunt was the first superintendent of Synodical Missions, and during his administration a great deal was done toward rendering the work permanent and self-sup- porting. The work was carried on largely by an execu- tive committee, appointed by the Synodical Committee, and this committee held many meetings and wisely con- ducted the work. It was composed of Rev. Dr. Sprunt (superintendent ), Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. Dr. Hill, Rev. Dr. Hoge and Mr. B. F. Hall.
On Dr. Sprunt's retiring from the work, the Rev. E. W. Smith, D. D., was elected superintendent, and this office was now made to include the work of financial agent, and this latter office was ever afterwards discon- tinued.
Dr. Smith entered at once upon the combined duties of his office, and at this time the force in the field had been reduced to two men, giving their whole time to synodical work, the Rev. Dr. Rose, general evangelist, and Rev. R. P. Pell, district evangelist. But before the close of the year (1892) three local evangelists, Rev. C. Miller, Rev. W. C. Alexander, and Rev. M. McG. Shields, were added to the force, and Dr. Smith reported $9,806 raised by subscription for the work, and that the spirit of liberality and activity seemed to be widespread and in- creasing.
At the close of the year 1893, the beginning of the great money panic, the committee said: " The Divine blessing has been doubly and even trebly mawifest ; in the extraor- dinary liberality with which individual churches have
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continued to respond to this cause, in the uniform success of the workers, and the special outpouring of God's Spirit upon some of our great mission country fields, where, until recently our church was unknown and in the cheer- ing fact that notwithstanding the bitter financial strin- gency of the times, your committee is able to report the $1,000 debt with which the year began paid off in full, and all the workers paid up to date." This year 1,300 confessions were reported, 513 additions to the church, and $18,033 raised in cash and subscriptions through this agency for the work. During the year several new men, as local evangelists, were placed in the field, among whom were the Rev. Messrs. C. W. Maxwell, F. W. Farries and William Black, and the reports from all the workers were of the most cheering character. The reports from Messrs. Pell in Mitchell and Watauga counties, Miller in Stokes county, and Black in Union and Anson counties, were almost thrilling.
The fruits of earnest labors were now beginning to be gathered into an abundant harvest, but at this very time the work encountered most serious difficulties and hin- drances.
On April 15, 1893, the Rev. J. M. Rose, D. D., laid down the work as general evangelist, after a faithful ser- vice of about eighteen months, and at the same time the Rev. Dr. Smith tendered his resignation as super- intendent.
Dr. Rose was the immediate successor of Dr. Morton as general evangelist, but the character of his work was somewhat different. The greater part of his time was spent in destitute regions, where there were scarcely any Presbyterians, and where Presbyterian churches were few, feeble and far apart. His work was the more diffi- cult because it was almost entirely pioneer work, in "the
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highways and hedges," and often going under the special .-- directions of the superintendent, to remain only three or four days at a place. He had no assistant to go -before him and prepare the way for a meeting, but every thing depended upon himself. It was not until the latter part of his time in the service that he held a few meetings in the stronger churches, where his preaching was hailed with joy. Dr. Rose, under the circumstances, did a won- derful work. He held 46 meetings and 619 services in 22 counties in three or four Presbyteries, witnessed about 200 confessions, and about 160 of whom united with the Presbyterian Church; organized one church and four Sunday-schools; baptized 43 adults and 21 infants, and collected in cash and subscriptions more than $1,000 for the work. By his clear-cut, logical, scriptural and able presentation of the truth, made so plain and simple that a child could understand, he was the very man in the weaker fields, and where the people knew but little of the Presbyterian Church, to "strengthen the things that re- mained," and in the newer fields to establish the people "in the faith of the Gospel," as well as to lead them to the Saviour.
The synod declined to accept the resignation of Dr. Smith as superintendent, which was offered chiefly on account of a weak throat, but relieved him of all field work, and empowered the committee to elect a superin- tendent when the time and occasion seemed propitious.
The synod said: "In connection with the retirement of Dr. E. W. Smith from active field work as superin- tendent, the synod desires to place upon record its great appreciation of the value of the movement with which Dr. Smith has been so prominently associated, and their appreciation of the labors of Mr. Smith, which have been so self-denying and so exceptionally blessed. We feel that
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both in the past usefulness and future promise, there has rarely, if ever, been a movement of so much importance to the Synod of North Carolina, and a work so benefitted by the personal work of Rev. Mr. Smith, that only in obedience to his fixed convictions of duty could the synod agree to allow the work to be laid down. And, further, that we most tenderly pray for a blessing upon the health and continued usefulness of the loved brother mentioned in this minute."
Dr. Smith continued in the work until February 15, 1894, when he was succeeded by the Rev. William Black, who was elected superintendent by the committee January 15, 1894. Dr. Smith, however, for several years after- wards, was retained on the General Committee, and con- tinued to aid the cause by his personal influence and wise counsel.
It would be impossible to estimate the value of the labors of Dr. Smith in connection with Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina. It is true this can be said of other men with equal truth in the same connection, but Dr. Smith did the work not only of an evangelist to a considerable extent and with marked success, besides the duties attending the office of superintendent, but his great work lay in his marvellous ability and unprecedented success in raising funds for the support of the cause. The Lord seems to have especially guided the synod in laying hands upon him as the one specially fitted for the work-as the man for the time, and at a time when it was sorely needed. It was no uncommon thing for Dr. Smith to visit a church, habitually believing itself unable to sup- port a pastor for all of his time, and, by his gentle man- ners, persuasive speech and burning eloquence, raise at least one thousand from that church for the support of Synodical Home Missions !
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