USA > North Carolina > Historic sketch of the Reformed Church in North Carolina > Part 5
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During the interval of separation efforts at union with the Reformed Dutch Church and the North Carolina Synod of the Presbyterian Church claimed the attention of Classis. In 1855, during its sessions at Bethany in Davidson County, petitions were laid before Classis from the Newton and Catawba Charges, asking that a union with the Dutch Reformed Church be effected. Two commissioners were appointed to attend the next meeting of the Synod of that Church. The movement did not materialize. In 1857 the North Carolina Synod of the Presbyterian Church overtured Classis to effect a closer union with that body. The subject was referred to a committee for further conference with a similar committee represent- ing the Presbyterian Church. The plan agreed upon was then to be submitted to the congregations of Classis. The terms offered by the Presbyterian Church were liberal and generous. But such was the affection of a majority of the Reformed in North Carolina for the Church of their fathers, and so strong was their unalterable attachment to the doctrines of the Heidelberg Catechism, that union with the Presby- terian Church was an impossibility. In these many years the Reformed people in North Carolina have stood faithful to the standards of their Church.
8. The Civil War Period.
The Civil War was in every way a dark period for the churches in the South. When the Classis met at St. Paul's Church, Rowan County, in April, 1862, a cloud of gloom hung over the entire country. There
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was sadness in the hearts of ministers and elders. The seat of Rev. Samuel J. Fetzer, the beloved pastor of West Rowan Charge, was vacant; he had answered the roll-call in heaven. Rev. P. A. Long wrote the report on religion and morals. In that report is the first reference to the Civil War. "The many calamities which excite our country have greatly affected the Church. Many of our brethren have been called by our rulers to leave their homes and thus made vacant their places in the church." This was early in the war. Next year the story was sadder. Rev. John Lantz in his report on the state of the church, said: "In looking over the reports from the several charges in connection with Classis, we have observed with profound sorrow the desolations of the war with its concomitant evils in our beloved Zion. It has brought death and gloom in many a once happy fam- ily, made vacant many places in the sanctuary for- merly vocal with the praises of God, and borne away from time to eternity many of our most promising and excellent young men. Among them were youths of high literary attainments and mental culture, as well as devoted piety, which fitted them for eminent use- fulness in the Church and the world and made them the hope of the future prosperity of our Reformed Zion in the South." Thursday, July 16th, of that year was appointed a day of fasting and prayer. The records of 1864 say: "Amid the calamities which have afflicted our country and the sorrows whose bitter waters have rolled their dark waves through all our churches, we have cause of devout gratitude to God
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for His great mercy vouchsafed to us. Our churches without perhaps a single exception are mourning over the death of members to whom they looked with hope for the future. Our hearts are pained at the remem- brance that so many loved ones have been taken from us." July 21st was appointed as a day of fast- ing and prayer.
The place appointed for the meeting in 1865 was Daniel's Church, Lincoln County, Tuesday before the second Sunday in May. But Classis could not meet at the time and place designated, on account of the presence of hostile armies. Accordingly the President and Stated Clerk issued a call for a meeting at Grace Church, Rowan County, November 3, 1865, to transact all business that would come up at a regular meeting. The war was over, but its effects were to be felt through many coming years. It left the treasury of Classis literally bankrupt. Col. George Barnhart, the treas- urer, reported in hand a Confederate bond for three hundred and nineteen dollars in Confederate currency. The archives of Classis contain the three hundred dollar bond, one ten-dollar bill, one five-dollar bill and two two-dollar bills. All the funds in the treasurer's hands had become worthless through the collapse of the Confederate government. The Classis had to begin its financial business anew. The records of that year say: "It is under unusual circumstances we meet as a Classis. The events of the past four years have been such as greatly to depress our churches and to impoverish them. Many of our most pious and active members have fallen, and our number is greatly re-
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duced. Many of our youths have been swept away by the floods of iniquity from their safe position in the bosom of the Church. . . . Poverty, too, like an armed man, is upon us. All these things cause deep gloom to rest upon our Church. Yet we owe great praise to God that our churches have so much escaped the corrupting influences of the war, and still maintain their existence. As a general thing, the churches are rapidly rising from their late depression, are beginning to look hopefully into the future, and are laying plans to preserve their spiritual inheritance to their children. In most cases, they hope to do something for the sup- port of their pastors as the business of the country shall be resumed."
That same year the Mission Board of Classis reported itself practically bankrupt, since it had in hand but seventy-nine cents in good money, while five hundred and thirty-two dollars and seventy cents had perished with the Confederacy. The outlook of the mission field was gloomy. There were numerous inviting opportunities, but there were no funds. In 1866 Classis found itself in debt twenty-six dollars. The condition of the treasury was but little more favorable in the three following years. In 1870 all bills had been met, and there was a small balance (twenty cents) in the treasury. That year a plan was devised to inaugurate an aggressive method to secure largely increased benevolent contributions. The plan pro- posed by the committee appointed for the purpose, which was reported in 1871, favored the organization of "A Board of Systematic Benevolence." The plan
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was adopted, and that system had an honorable and successful history of many years.
While those years during and succeeding the war formed a period of darkness for the Reformed Church in North Carolina, yet the pastors and people did not lose heart. At the close of the war Classis addressed a pastoral letter to the churches under her care. "The times," says the letter, "in which it has pleased God to cast our lot are such as seem to heighten the interest of the followers of Christ in each other. The intimate relation we sustain as brethren in the same communion will permit us to undertake this act of watchfulness and care without presumption. . . . In these days when the bonds which unite the Christian household have in so many cases been sundered, we would remind you that these sad events should not cause neglect of family religion, and the great covenant duty of training up the children for Christ in the knowledge of the truth. There is danger of the re- ligious duties of the household falling into disuse when the head of the family has fallen. We urge upon Christian mothers to preserve the character and service of their families as required by the Word of God. In every case where the baptism of children has been deferred, awaiting the father's return, see to it that the child does not grow up without the mark of Christ. Attend strictly to the catechization of the children, and thus make your homes Bethels, where your little ones do not only grow in stature, but also in the fear of God and the knowledge of His Word. As we love the Church of Christ and with deep solicitude look
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into the future, we entreat Christian mothers, in this day of calamity, overwhelmed with care, who are widows, not to neglect to train their ‘household treasures' in the way of life, so that the Church in days to come may reap of the fruits of your labors, tears and prayers a rich harvest of increase. Should not the consistory of the Church make it a solemn duty to watch over such families and encourage wid- owed mothers in their holy and arduous work? Should not the Church assume a parent's place for those, alas so many, who are doubly orphaned? Are they not the children of the Church by baptism, and does not the covenant bind the Church to watch over, love and care for them? We have almost as many orphans in the Church as are the children whose parents yet live; almost as many widows as wives. Here a sad and pious work is set before you by the Father of the father- less and the widow's God. Let parents and the Church see to it that the young are well catechized and brought up in the fear of God and the love of the Church and our Zion shall soon flourish. . . . We as a Church occupy a noble position. We have calmly kept our- selves from strife and divisive words or counsel, and there is not a word in all our records to divide us or offend a Christian brother. We may then dwell in peace and unity. Neither, so far as we can see, is there one act or word in the records of our Church North that is marked by bitterness; but our churches have been hailed with delight on the return of peace, and all brethren speak to us words of love and kindness. Let us then as a Church maintain the unity of our whole
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body, and let it be our task to cement the bonds that shall make our country one. . . . A large number of those formerly slaves are now cast upon the country uneducated, without the means of life. Their condi- tion makes an appeal to all Christian men. Some of you formerly sustained the relation of masters. The change in civil relation has not changed the Christian relation. It is now demanded of us all to ask what God requires of us in respect to them. . .. Let all men seek to be faithful in this new relation in which we are placed to the colored race. Let Christian kind- ness mark our treatment of them. Let all men be patient and forbearing, as God is towards us, and let us seek to turn to a blessing what now seems a burden."
9. Special Objects of Benevolence.
Classis has not been the recipient of any large gifts. The work has been carried on principally through the free-will offerings of her people. Within the last sev- eral years the Board of Missions has treated the Classis generously in the support of missionaries. In 1856 the Classis received a donation of fifty dollars from an unknown friend in New York "for the spread of the Gospel in the South." In 1860 the Classis gave its endorsement to a plan to raise a fund of $60,000 for the endowment of Catawba College. Considerable of the amount was received in bonds, which the Civil War rendered worthless. In 1863 Mr. John Hileman, an elder in the West Rowan Charge, donated to Classis the sum of $220.50. In 1864 the Classis decided to increase the amount to $5,000.00, to be invested for
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the benefit of indigent widows of deceased ministers of the Classis, and agents were appointed in each charge for the purpose. But the war also rendered this worthy cause of no avail.
The Classis, while unable to give large sums in sup- port of any particular cause, has always done its best to help along places that needed assistance. There are but few congregations in the Classis that have not in some way been her beneficiaries. In the early years assistance was rendered rather in giving assistance in the support of missionaries, and in later years in helping to build houses of worship. In 1860 the sum of $200.00 was appropriated to assist in supporting the pastor of the church at Newton. At the same time provision was made to supplement the salary of the pastor of the Grace Charge (Grace, Bethel and the mission at Hickory Tavern). When Classis met at Emanuel Church, Davidson County, in 1871, one of the items coming up for consideration was an appeal in behalf of the Reformed Church at Hickory. Classis took favorable action, as follows: "Whereas, the prospects of the Reformed congregation at Hickory Station are of unusual promise, and as the effort at that place deserves support, Resolved, that this Classis approves of the effort to erect a house of worship at this place, and will do all it can to encourage the im- portant work; that this enterprise be recommended to the Church and people under the care of Classis as worthy of the bestowment of their means upon it; that the ministers of Classis be not unmindful of this claim and bring it to the notice of their people; that
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the appeal of our brethren abroad be endorsed by this Classis as an urgent one and a worthy object of liber- ality."
In 1872 the Classis undertook to establish a "Mis- sion House" for the training of students for the min- istry. A committee was appointed to draw up regu- lations for the conduct of such an institution, and to receive proposals for its location and funds for its support. The enterprise proved impracticable, and was dropped the next year. But the effort shows the anxiety of the people to secure ministers. In 1891 the Synod of the Potomac, in session at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, appointed a committee to confer with the Classis of North Carolina and the Trustees of Catawba College on the subject of establishing a theo- logical department in that institution. This action was in answer to a request from the executive com- mittee of the Trustees that such a department be estab- lished. That committee reported to the next Synod in favor of the work, and the Synod pledged the sum of $1,000.00 annually for five years for the support of¡a professor of theology. The Synod also agreed to ra se an endowment fund of $25,000.00, and ap- pointed a committee to mature a plan. The several Classes of Synod had in the meantime assumed the amounts apportioned for the support of the professor. Rev. Wm. C. Schaeffer, Ph.D., was elected to the position and provision was made for his inauguration. The Rev. Dr. Schaeffer, however, declined to accept the position. The Synod in session at York, Pennsyl- vania, the next year took the following action: "Re-
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solved, that because of the changed condition of affairs in the Classis of North Carolina, making the election of a theological professor at this time unnecessary, the election of such professor be indefinitely postponed. Resolved, that the agency for securing an endowment fund be discontinued. Resolved, that the several Classes contributing this fund be requested to turn the same over to the Trustees of Catawba College for the use of the general endowment fund." The theological department was dropped by the Synod. The time given to its consideration was not lost. The attention of the Church in the North was called to the great mission field offered by North Carolina to the Reformed Church. The Classis of North Carolina made far more substantial progress in the years when the great sub- ject of Christian Education for her people was before the Synod than during any previous similar period. Wider publicity was given to the consideration of the work in the Classis of North Carolina.
In 1895, at the Synod in session at Frederick, Mary- land, the delegates from the Classis of North Carolina presented an overture from the executive committee of the Trustees of Catawba College asking that Synod's action of last year in regard to the theological profes- sorship be reconsidered and reversed. The Synod did not grant the request, but instead invited the Classis of North Carolina to consider the propriety of placing Catawba College under the care of the Synod of the Potomac. Rev. Dr. J. O. Miller, Rev. Dr. E. R. Esch- bach and Gen. John E. Roller were appointed to confer with the Classis and formulate a plan for this purpose.
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The Classis met in Newton December 9th, 1895, and appointed Rev. J. C. Clapp, D.D., Rev. J. L. Murphy, Rev. J. C. Leonard, Col. M. L. McCorkle and Maj. S. M. Finger as a committee to confer with Synod's commit- tee. These committees agreed upon a plan which was submitted to both the Classis of North Carolina and the Synod of the Potomac, and the plan was ap- proved by both bodies. By this plan Classis con- ceded to Synod the nomination of the Trustees of the College, and the Synod agreed to provide the College with an additional endowment fund of $17,000.00, and to pay the interest on the same until the principal was paid. The College remains the property of the Classis of North Carolina, but is under the fostering care of the Synod of the Potomac.
In 1903 an anonymous friend, who had at heart the interest of the Reformed Church in North Carolina, donated to the Trustees of Catawba College a fund of $15,000.00 (afterwards increased to $20,000.00) to establish a theological professorship at such time as the Trustees may deem this step necessary. In the meantime the accrued interest on the fund was to be used in assisting to build mission churches in North Carolina. In 1905 this fund was changed to a "Bene- ficiary Education Fund." From the interest on this fund a student for the ministry pursuing his course at Catawba College and a Reformed Theological Semi- nary is entitled to one hundred dollars annually. Any part of the interest not so used goes into another permanent fund, to be loaned to mission churches in the South at a low rate of interest on easy payments.
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In 1899 a friend in the State of Virginia established the "William Wirt Roller Scholarship" in Catawba College and endowed the same in the sum of $500. The same year Rev. Geo. B. Russell, D.D., LL.D., of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, gave to the college a deed for 880 acres of land in Somerset County of that State.
The urgent necessity for funds for mission work in the Classis has been felt from the first. In 1832 Classis appealed to the Missionary Society of the Reformed Church for a missionary to labor in the "destitute places" of its territory; that is, they wanted a man to serve Reformed congregations already or- ganized, but which had been for years without min- isters. This appeal was answered by the Society sending Rev. Wm. C. Bennet, a young minister just from the Seminary. He was commissioned for four months and was to be under the direction of the Classis of North Carolina, and supported in part by its people. In 1835 Rev. W. C. Rankin was appointed the Classical missionary. His first duty was to visit the South Carolina churches, and he was accorded a letter of introduction to them. He was also appointed agent to carry out the purpose of the newly-organized Mis- sionary Society. Emanuel's, in Davidson County, was resuscitated in 1836. In 1837 two new congrega- tion s were reported, St. Matthew's and Lower Smyrna. The former was placed in the charge served by Rev. J. G. Fritchey, and the latter was to be served by the traveling missionary. Lile's Creek congregation, in Lincoln County, was reported in 1839. Friendship, in Caldwell County, was reported in 1844. In 1848
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Classis selected the Reformed Church of Newton, Catawba County, as the next place of meeting, but no congregation is reported until the meeting in 1850. Bethany, in Davidson County, was re-organized in 1848 or 1849. Mt. Carmel, in Davidson County, was reported in 1850, and St. Paul's, in the vicinity of Salisbury, in 1851. The mission work of the Classis progressed remarkably well under the circumstances. The pastors were not afraid of additional work, and all the new congregations were organized and served by neighboring pastors. The work was mostly in the country. St. Paul's Church was intended to accom- modate the Reformed members living in Salisbury as well as those living near by in the country. Newton was the county seat of the new county of Catawba.
The Classis has a good record for giving assistance direct in building new churches. Stoner's, in Ala- mance, received $100.00. Concord received $500.00. Mt. Tabor received $10.00. Classis appropriated $250.00 for the church at Enochville. Calvary con- gregation received $200.00 for their church. $100.00 was appropriated to Hedrick's Grove. Blowing Rock received $10.00. The church at Crescent received $80.00. Conover received $130.00. $400.00 was given to Thomasville. Mt. Pleasant received $266.66. The appropriation to Salisbury was $900.00. To Whitsett was given $100.00. Burlington was given $400.00. Lexington received $400.00. The appropriation to High Point was $400.00. Bethany and Hebron re- ceived $100.00 each. Greensboro received $700.00. Lenoir was given $300.00.
NAZARETH ORPHANS' HOME, CRESCENT, N. C.
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From members of the Reformed Church in North Carolina have come the "Major Sidney M. Finger Church Building Fund" of $500.00 for home missions; the "Major Sidney M. Finger Foreign Mission Fund" of $500.00 for foreign missions, and the "James Camp- bell Shuford Church Building Fund" of $500.00 for home missions.
For a number of years the need of an orphans' home was felt. Articles were published in the "Reformed Church Corinthian," advocating the cause. In 1899 Classis took the first definite action looking to that end. A committee consisting of Revs. J. M. L. Lyerly, J. D. Andrew and H. A. M. Holshouser was appointed to investigate the matter. This committee was continued in 1900 and 1901. In 1902 Rev. J. M. L. Lyerly was appointed to canvass the Classis to raise in pledges at least $3,000.00, preliminary to establishing such a home. In 1903, that sum having been subscribed, Revs. J. M. L. Lyerly, J. H. Keller and Elder J. C. Lippard were appointed to formulate plans for the proposed home. At a special meeting of Classis in Faith Church, Salisbury, August 13, 1903, this com- mittee made its report, and at this time and place Classis decided to establish Nazareth Orphans' Home, at Crescent, Rowan County. A board of managers was elected, and they secured a charter at once and pur- chased sixteen and two-fifths acres of land for $410. In 1906 the McNairy farm, consisting of 85 acres, was purchased at a cost of $4,100. The home was opened December 2, 1906, with five children, in charge of Miss Mary P. Abbott.
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10. Catawba College.
Rev. Andrew Loretz had so endeared himself to the churches in North and South Carolina by his Hercu- lean labors, eloquent preaching, pastoral care, mission- ary zeal, personal magnetism and sympathy for the afflicted, that when the German Reformed Church in the United States celebrated the centennial of her founding in this country, in 1841, a generation after his death, these churches raised a fund for Beneficiary Education, and called it the "Loretz Beneficiary Fund." Aided by the interest on this fund, a number of young men were educated for the ministry at our institutions at York and Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. This was before the days of railroads, and the young men traveled by private conveyance. This was tedi- ous, tiresome and expensive. While the managers of this fund were discussing these difficulties of travel at St. Matthew's camp-ground, about 1849, in the presence of the late Judge M. L. McCorkle, then a young attor- ney fresh from Davidson College, a young and strug- gling institution of the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina, he suggested: "Why not found a college of our own in our midst?" This was the germ from which Catawba College sprang. The idea was inspir- ing. It took shape at once, and in the fall of 1851 Catawba College opened in the "Old Academy Build- ing" in Newton, North Carolina.
The Classis of North Carolina had been faithful and devoted to the Synodical Schools of the Reformed Church, and had sent her young men North to be educated. In 1843 the Classis went on record as
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attributing her success in securing a supply of preach- ers to these schools of the Church. But Mercersburg was too far away to be reached by the scores of young men in the Reformed Church in North Carolina who wished to secure the blessing of a liberal education. Practically every minister in the Classis was a school teacher. This was a necessity from the scarcity of teachers in those days. A select company of young men crowded around these ministers to be taught English, Greek and Latin. These ministers also con- ducted small theological seminaries; the Classis as- signed students for the Gospel ministry to certain ministers for guidance and instruction in their theo- logical studies.
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