USA > North Carolina > Sketches of North Carolina, historical and biographical : illustrative of the principles of a portion of her early settlers > Part 35
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" It would be a severe and ill-natured reflection on the religious taste of the present age to be making apologies for publishing the above memoirs ; and, therefore, no apology shall be made. It is a debt due to an amiable character, and may not be without its use to the public.
[" The above is published at the request of the Rev. Samuel E. M' Corkle."]
About the year 1785, Dr. M'Corkle commenced a classical school at his house, which stood on the great road from Salisbury to Statesville, in an eligible situation, with the avenue leading to it, so common in the western part of North Carolina, at a moderate distance from the meeting-house, which is about nine miles west of Salisbury. In connection with his classical school was a de- partment for preparing school teachers. Poor and pious young men were taught free of expense for tuition, and were also assisted by him to books necessary for their instruction. If young men of good talents were wild or not studious, his rule was to talk with them in private, and if the desired reformation did not take place, to avoid any exposure, he would write to their parents or guardi- ans to withdraw them. And if he, upon mature deliberation, judged the children committed to his charge, to be below medio- crity, in point of talents, he invariably discouraged their being trained to a classical course. On account of these principles
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which he carried into action, he sent out a less number of classical students, but a greater amount of piety and talents.
The first class, that was graduated at the State University at Chapel Hill, consisted of seven scholars ; six of these had been pupils of Mr. McCorkle. His students were, in after life, found on the Bench, in the chair of State, and forty-five of them in the pulpit. The number of ministers is given on the authority of Mrs. McCorkle, who survived her husband about fifteen years.
It appears from the North Carolina Journal that at a meeting of the board of trustees of the North Carolina University, Dec. 8th, 1795, the board, after resolving that the state of the funds did not permit the choice of a president, and that his duties must be fulfilled by the first professor, made choice of the Rev. Samuel E. McCorkle, Professor of Moral and Political Philosophy, and History, and the Rev. David Kerr, Professor of Languages, and Charles W. Harris, Professor of Mathematics ; Mr. Delvaux, and Mr. Holmes, tutors in the preparatory school. On account of some objections made by General Davie, one of the board, which led to a correspondence between him and the Hon. John Steele, brother-in-law of Mr. McCorkle, and which were followed by an apology, the appointment was not accepted. Mr. McCorkle's desire for the advancement of the University, in opposition to every selfish feeling, led him to desire harmony in the board, in preference to the honor of being the first and presiding Professor. His attachment to the University was undoubted and unwaver- ing ; he made excursions to raise funds for its use ; he attended the laying the corner stone of the first building erected on the University grounds, and delivered an address ; his pupils com- posed the first class of graduates, almost entire, and he was on the list of the first named board of trustees. His declining the office of first Professor made way for the exercise of talent by that successful man, under whom, by the blessing of God, the university arose to its influence and respectability, of late so widely spread by his successor.
The bounds of Thyatira were, like all the other congregations whose limits were settled by Messrs. Spencer and McWhorter, very extensive, embracing many settlements that had desired preaching, and had engaged the labors of missionaries. This congregation bordering on the Yadkin northward, and southwest- ward on Centre, which reached the Catawba, westwardly on Fourth Creek and Bethany, in Iredell, and southwardly on Poplar Tent, and eastwardly without limits, presented an abundance of labor
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for a pastor. Third Creek was soon formed from the middle ground between the churches in Iredell and Thyatira, and has been from the first a flourishing congregation. Under the pastoral labors of Rev. Joseph D. Kilpatrick, whose name appears on the roll of Synod as ordained by Orange Presbytery, 1793, it enjoyed numerous times of refreshing from on high. While McCorkle stood in doubt about the great excitement which began in 1801 in Orange, Kilpatrick's heart grew warm, and with many of his people went to take part in the great meeting in Randolph, the effect of which was great upon the churches "beyond the Yadkin." He found no difficulty in welcoming the revival on account of the irregularities accompanying. In fact, it is not now easy to determine whether in his later life he considered " the exercises " a necessary part, or only an accidental appendage of the work. But it is evident they never gave him any trouble. If he could but see his people cultivating what he esteemed a proper religious feeling, it mattered little to him what external motions came with it. Some little time before his death, at a communion service in his congregation, a great excitement pre- vailed ; and as cries for mercy and prayers arose on all sides of the house during an interval of preaching, the old gentleman wit- nessing the excitement for a time, turned to a young gentleman from Virginia, "it does my heart good to hear these young people pray so."
Two of his sons entered the ministry. One, Josiah, a preacher of acceptable talent, came to an early grave in Fayetteville, being cut off after about one year's service. The other, Abner W., died in Tennessee in the year 1844.
Back Creek was set off in 1805 as a separate congregation. The revival of 1802 had great effect upon the neighborhoods form- ing this congregation, and made them desire a separate church ca- pacity ; and times of refreshing have been granted them since in the kind providence of God. Activity in religion has been one of the characteristics of this church, which at its organization pos- sessed an eldership of peculiar excellence. It has sent out some ministers of the gospel who have been blessed from on high. One of McAden's resting-places was with a family in this congregation.
Mr. McCorkle preached frequently in Salisbury, but had no separate congregation there. About the years 1803 and 1804 Dr. McRee preached in that place statedly once a month. From the year 1807 to 1809 the Rev. John Brown preached here statedly, and was principal of the Academy. He removed first to South
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Carolina and then to Georgia, and there closed his useful life. A memorial of him belongs properly to the South Carolina and Georgia synod. Till the year 1821 the people of Salisbury had no stated Presbyterian preacher, having only the occasional ser- vices of missionaries ; in that year a church was gathered under the labors of Rev. Jonathan Freeman, D.D., consisting of thirteen members, three of whom were appointed elders. In the year 1826 the Rev. Dr. Freeman laid the corner stone of the present Presbyterian house of worship. In 1831 the Rev. Thomas Espy became stated supply of this church ; his health failing, he gave up the charge, and soon rested from all his labors.
The memory of such a man as Thomas Espy demands a more extended notice than the limits of the present article will admit ; a brief notice, however, will bring it to a close. Being engaged but a comparatively short time in the ministry, he was blessed of God both to do good, and to stir up others to do good, in an unu- sual degree.
Mr. McCorkle was indefatigable in his efforts to improve his flock in the knowledge of divine things. Besides his usual ser- vices of preaching, he conducted a Bible class on a somewhat peculiar plan. In a note to a sermon printed in 1792, he says- " Here I beg leave briefly to suggest to my brethren, the plan of catechising from the Scriptures, as the platform or ground of a Catechism. I have proceeded from Genesis to Job, and through part of the four Evangelists ; and I design, if God permit, to pro- ceed on to the end, asking questions that lead to reading and re- flection. I have found it profitable to myself and my people, and can venture to say that as far as I have proceeded, there is not a congregation on the continent better acquainted with the Scrip- tures."
" The congregation I have divided into a number of divisions of ยท fifteen or sixteen families each, assigning to each division a set of written questions, from one part of one or two books, as they may be long or short, in each Testament ; catechising in the morning from the Old, in the afternoon from the New Testament, and closing by calling on the youth to repeat the shorter Catechism."
" This set of Scriptural questions, thus examined, we pass to the next division of the congregation, who often attend as specta- tors, knowing that they are next to be examined on the same ques- tions. Thus in rotation every individual will be examined on every part of the Bible."
His daughter says, the divisions were eight in number ; and that
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an elder was attached to each division ; to this elder, he gave the copy of questions, and the elder supplied the division. In the ex- amination he never publicly questioned the elders, they met him at his own house. The children were early brought to say their catechism ; and the parents were reproved or commended accord- ing to the proficiency manifested in the examination.
In his preparation for the pulpit, he made-free use of his pen ; but did not confine himself to his manuscript, or notes ; and some- times did not even use notes. In a note to a printed sermon, he says, "He would never be seen in the pulpit without full notes, when he was to treat on a disputed or argumentative subject ; on other occasions, he would use his discretion, whether to preach from notes or without." In this, he is to be imitated.
He published a number of sermons ; four on the subject of Infidelity, as it was brought out in the United States, during the French Revolution ; feeling with his brethren, that all that was dear to man was at stake ;- one on the principle and practice of giving to charitable and benevolent objects ;- one on the terms of Christian communion ;- and one on the death of General Wash ington. The latter is one of peculiar excellence, abounding with sound morality, pure philosophy, and true religion.
In person, he was tall, about six feet one inch ; finely formed ; light hair and pale blue eyes ; mild, grave, and dignified in his appearance ; cheerful in his disposition ; and of fine conversational powers. Firm in his opinions, and devotedly attached to the doc- trines of the Presbyterian church, he never attacked, unnecessarily, the opinions or forms of others. In appearance and gait, he is said to have very much resembled Mr. Jefferson. During a visit to Philadelphia, while Mr. Jefferson was there, this resemblance, noticed by many, led to an introduction ; and both parties retired from the interview, with expressions of satisfaction.
The pulpit instructions of Mr. McCorkle abounded with argu- ment and observation founded upon common sense, and were enriched by his historical and literary reading ; and the people that grew up under his care, were well instructed in religion and morals. His care in attending the judicatories of the church, is worthy of imitation ; and his respect for the decisions of his brethren, when pronounced judicially, was such as to make him especially careful in selecting delegates to the Assembly. If but one delegate were to be sent, he preferred a brother of age and experience ; if two were to be sent, he desired that there should be one of the older and one of the younger members of Presby-
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tery, that experience might be gained by the one, and might grow under the influence of the other.
At the commencement of the great revival in 1802, in Orange, Mr. McCorkle was disinclined to believe in its purity, on account of the " exercises" that accompanied. Being persuaded to attend the meeting in Randolph, his mind underwent a change, as ap- pears from the letter published in the pamphlet prepared by Dr. Hall, which makes a part of the twenty-seventh chapter of this volume.
Although brought to believe in the revival, as a work of God, he ever looked upon these " exercises," and some accompanying ex- travagances, as profane mixtures, against which he bore open testimony. He rather tolerated than approved camp-meetings ; and sometimes was opposed to them, especially as standing, regular means of instruction or excitement. It is probable that the ministers of the Presbyterian church, in Carolina generally, now look upon them, much in the light that he did, as being matters of prudence and discretion, and possessing no peculiar sanctity in themselves, or special efficiency for growth in grace and divine knowledge ; that their use or disadvantage must be judged of by circumstances.
The pastor of Thyatira received his death-warrant in the pulpit, being struck with palsy while conducting the services of the sanc- tuary. His labors as a minister ceased, but his services as a suffering man were continued for some years. For a time, his disorder affected his mental powers ; and though his mind became clear, his body never regained its tone and vigor. In 1807, the Presbytery required the congregations of Thyatira and Back Creek to pay a proper attention to the circumstances and condi- tion of the man, who had given the strength of his manhood to their service. Whether this was altogether as a mark of respect, and for a good example, is not now easily ascertained, nor of any practical importance. The example of Presbytery, in the case of aged and infirm ministers, is truly commendable ; should the aged servant die unhonored by his brethren or his people ?
On the 21st June, 1811, he ceased from his trials. His funeral was conducted according to directions left by himself in writing. The text for the funeral sermon was Job xix., 25, 26 : " For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth ; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." The nineteenth Psalm- " Through every age Eternal God "-and the sixty-first Hymn of
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Watts's second book-" My soul, come meditate the day," were sung in the church. The elders, attired in black, sat together by the corpse before the pulpit, which, out of respect, was also attired in mourning. As the body was borne to the grave, the congrega- tion sang, "Hark ! from the tombs a doleful sound."
Thomas Espy was born August 1st, 1800, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Ere he saw the light, his pious parents had besought the blessing of God for the child; and it was espe- cially the wish and prayer of the mother that the child might be a son, and he a minister of the gospel of Christ. Sprightliness of mind and activity of body characterized him from his early infancy till his death. But with it, also, from his very early years, a thoughtfulness and a disposition to inquire and ponder on religious things, which was ripened into deep seriousness in his 10th year, during a revival of religion in the congregation in Beaver County, to which his parents belonged, under the care of the Rev. Thomas E. Hughes. His convictions at this time were deep and sorely distressing, and accompanied with some strong temptations, but were not followed by those exercises of faith and hope that satis- fied his mind in more mature years, though the sense of religious things did not leave him, nor was he guilty of outbreaking sins.
When about ten years of age, he commenced the study of the languages with Mr. Hughes, his pastor, and, after pursuing these to some length with him, he was sent to the academy in the neigh- borhood, and then went through the usual academical classic course, together with some branches of the mathematics. Here his edu- cation was, for a time, suspended by adverse circumstances in his father's situation ; and for some two or three years he labored on the farm, and ultimately engaged in teaching a small school, at the same time reading medical books under the direction of a physi- cian in the neighborhood.
While thus engaged, he was led by the grace of God to a good hope in Christ ; and as soon as he obtained a comfortable assur- ance of acceptance in Christ, he longed to preach the gospel to others. Hc united with the church by a public profession, about the year 1820, desiring to preach the gospel, but not secing any way by which he might come into that desirable labor.
After pursuing the study of medicine about two years, he re- ceived from an uncle whom he had gone to visit, a proposition of assistance to complete his college course. Delighted with the prospect, he immediately entered Washington College, then hav-
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ing for its president the Rev. Matthew Brown, D.D., and pursued his studies with vigor, looking forward to the ministry.
He was graduated in the year 1824, taking the second honor from a competitor who had been taught in the Westminster school. In the month of February, 1825, he went to Romney, Hampshire County, Virginia, and taught school, and commenced reading the- ology in preparation for the ministry. In the fall of that year, he removed to Jefferson County, in the same State, and lived in the family of Mrs. Dandridge as tutor : with this lady he continued about two years, teaching her children and pursuing his theologi- cal studies. On the 11th of April, 1827, he received license to preach the gospel, from the Presbytery of Winchester, which held its sessions in Middleburg, Fauquier County. In the November following, he became a member of the Theological Seminary, Princeton.
During his residence in Romney and at Mrs. Dandridge's, his conscientious walk and Christian conversation made a deep im- pression in favor of his simple-hearted piety. Without ostenta- tion, without knowing the fact himself, he produced a deep con- viction on the young people of his acquaintance of two things, viz. : that there is a reality in experimental piety, and that he pos- sessed the reality. He exhibited a happy mixture of modesty and independence, that won the favor of the community, never thrusting himself forward as for praise or ostentation, and never shrinking from duty through alarm, or withholding a frank avowal of the truth and his opinion what was truth, through any sinister motive.
While at Princeton, his letters to his friends in Virginia breathed a spirit of exalted piety and unaffected devotion to the cause of his Lord and Master, which endeared him still more to their hearts. Like as his prayers had been in the prayer meetings, his letters touched the heart and drew it out in earnest desires for more grace, and knowledge of God. Were there space for the admission of a few of his letters, his friends in Carolina would recognize the future preacher, in the sentiments which fell from his pen, unstu- died and in rich abundance ; no scintillations of genius, but sparks of true celestial fire ; no aspirations of a lofty mind, but the feel- ings of a lively faith.
In the spring of 1828, he received a commission from the " Young Men's Missionary Society of Concord Presbytery," and served as their missionary in Burke county for about a year. His labors are not yet forgotten. After his term of engagement ex- pired, he was invited to preach in different congregations, and
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commenced his labors in Centre, in Iredell, and Bethel, formerly a part of Centre, in Mecklenburg county. On the 10th of May, 1830, he was ordained evangelist at Centre, having declined being set apart for the services of a particular congregation. For a time his services here were much blessed ; but unhappily a collision of opinions and practice on the subject of baptism broke up his pros- pects of usefulness to that degree, his friends judged a removal prudent. The congregation had been accustomed, under their for- mer pastor, to see the ordinance of baptism administered to chil- dren of parents who had been baptized, whether they had made public profession or not. To this custom Mr. Espy felt strongly opposed, and expressed his opposition with his usual frankness and decision, believing that the ordinance ought to be administered to children of professors only. There were some unhappy circum- stances attending this collision which distressed him greatly both in body and mind, which need not be repeated ; their interest was local.
In the spring of 1831 he removed to Salisbury, and about the same time was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Louisa Tate, of Burke county, a lady altogether worthy of him. In Salisbury his labors were greatly blessed, to the building up of the church in faith and in numbers. He excelled in the pastoral office ; his counsels were so plain, his reproofs so kind and direct, his exhorta- tions so earnest, and his example so impressive, he gained his people's love, as he built them up in the most holy faith.
In February, 1832, he was seized with a hemorrhage of the lungs, which put an end, in a great measure, to all his pulpit ex- ercises. Of middling stature, a slender frame, and somewhat delicate constitution, he had permitted his ardent desire to build up the cause of Christ to lead him to efforts in public speaking be- yond his strength. In many places the cause of religion was exciting unusual attention about this time. His ardent heart made him forgetful of himself,-and, in consequence of a cold caught during a series of appointments in the fall of 1831, his lungs gave way, and he was able to preach no more.
His sickness and death preached eloquently. Blessed of God to win souls to Christ in his ministry, his success was continued to his last breath, some being hopefully converted by witnessing his Christian spirit in his last hours. A brother in the ministry, who knew him well, in whose house Mr. Espy endured a part of his last illness, said of him, in a letter some time after his decease, -" I knew him well, perhaps no one on earth knew him better,
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and I feel no hesitation in saying that, in many important respects, I have never known his equal. Mr. Espy was an eminently holy man. I was intimate with him when in health, and a great deal in his company during his protracted illness, and my impression is, that I have never known any one who lived so near Christ. His religion was not enthusiasm, but a tender and unwavering confidence in the Saviour. He repeatedly told me, that, during all his sickness, he never entertained a doubt in regard to his situation. Once, when we thought him dying, and were all weeping around his bed, he said to me, ' these friends are all mistaken-this is the happiest hour I ever saw.' "
The last few weeks of his life were passed at the house of R. H. Burton, Esq., near Beattie's Ford, in the bounds of Unity con- gregation, by whom he was held in the highest esteem. On the 16th of April, 1833, he breathed his last, in full hope of a joyful resurrection. His body was carried to Salisbury, and interred near the west corner of the frame church, on the skirts of the town, a spot occupied for a long time by the Presbyterians and Lutherans for public worship, and still as the place for the burial of their dead. His wife survived him a few years, and passed away, leaving an orphan daughter. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."
" Mr. Espy," says a brother in the ministry who knew him well, "possessed a quickness of apprehension and a patience of inves- tigation rarely found in combination. He was not what is gene- rally called a popular preacher ; but he was something a great deal better. His voice was too effeminate to permit him to have great and immediate power over a large promiscuous congregation, such as we southern preachers have often to grapple with. I do not mean to leave the impression that he was not an interesting preacher. To those who wished to listen to the truth he was emi- nently interesting.
" The most distinguishing features of his preaching were great point, and a prominent exhibition of the Saviour. Emphatically he preached Christ to the people. You will be prepared to be told that he was a successful minister. He was useful wherever he preached any length of time, but more so in Salisbury than anywhere else. There is a people here that will never forget him.
" It is the impression of others, as well as myself, that Mr. Espy did much to raise the tone of ministerial piety in this Pres- bytery."
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REV. JAMES M'GREADY.
CHAPTER XXVII.
1
REV. JAMES M'GREADY, AND THE REVIVAL OF 1800.
THE name of McGready is connected with revivals. He was blessed in being an instrument of a revival of religion in North Carolina, in his early ministry, the salutary effects of which are felt at this day in churches in different States, enjoying the labors of faithful men, that then came in to the visible church of Christ, on profession of faith. Subsequently, he was honored of God to be the first agent, that moved successfully in breaking up the deep sleep that weighed down the Christian public, and was personally active in the com- mencement of that revival that began in 1800, in Kentucky, and soon was felt in Tennessee and Ohio ; in 1802, on to 1804, was enjoyed in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The fruits of this revival remain to this day, and will be felt in their remote consequences for ever, in these United States, and wherever else the Gospel has been preached, by those who may be considered the fruits, more or less direct, of this great display of the Divine Spirit upon the hearts of men.
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