USA > North Carolina > Sketches of North Carolina, historical and biographical : illustrative of the principles of a portion of her early settlers > Part 43
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In the convention that met in Charlotte, May 19th, 1775, there was one minister of the gospel, Hezekiah James Balch, of Poplar Tent. That he was active in the preparatory steps for that con-
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vention is evident from the fact that he was one of the members that prepared resolutions to be submitted to the convention, which resolutions, after consultation, were amended and adopted by the committee, and by the convention, and published to the world. This gentleman was reported by the Presbytery of Donegall as a licentiate in the spring of 1768. In the year 1769 the minutes of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia have this record : " The Rev. Messrs. John Harris, John Clark, Jeremiah Halsey, James Latta, Jonathan Elmore, Thomas Lewis, and Josiah Lewis a licensed candidate, are appointed to supply the vacancies in Vir- ginia, North Carolina, and those parts of South Carolina under our care, to set off as soon, and spend as much time among them, as they conveniently can on this important mission."
" Mr. Hezekiah James Balch, a licensed candidate, under the care of Donegall Presbytery, is appointed on the same mission, and the Presbytery to which he belongs are authorized to ordain him, if upon trial he acquits himself according to their satisfaction, and accepts a call from Carolina."
" Ordered, that our stated clerk give these missionaries proper testimonials."
What time Mr. Balch first visited Carolina is not precisely known. But from the records of Synod it appears that he had been ordained by the Presbytery of Donegall previous to the meeting of the Synod in 1770. At the meeting of the Synod in that year the Presbytery of Orange was set-off, by taking from the Presbytery of Hanover Rev. Messrs. Hugh McAden, Henry Pattillo, James Criswell, Jo- seph Alexander, and Hezekiah Balch,-and from the Presbytery of Donegall, Hezekiah James Balch. This Presbytery embraced the ministers in the entire State of North Carolina ; and until the year 1784, those ministers in connection with the Synod residing in the state of South Carolina. At that period the State lines be- came the boundary.
Mr. Balch served the two congregations, Rocky River and Pop- lar Tent, during his life, which was brought to a close some time in the year 1776. He saw the commencement of that war which ended with all the honor and independence to his country he ever desired ; but before the strife of blood and plunder that followed the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776, reached Caro- lina, he slept with those whose sleep shall not be awakened till the resurrection. His time of service was about six years.
Rocky River congregation is prior in point of time to Sugar Creek, and the first of all the churches of Concord Presbytery.
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Poplar Tent was organized about the year 1764 or 1765, when the resolution of Synod was carried into effect by Messrs. Spen- cer and McWhorter, and the boundaries of the congregations as- certained and agreed upon.
Poplar Tent Meeting-house may be found about seven miles from Concord town, in Cabarrus, on the road leading to Beattie's Ford, and about fourteen miles eastwardly of Davidson's College. From the papers of a venerable old lady, who was born, lived all her days in the bounds of the congregation, and died at the age of 90, in the year 1843, the following is an extract : "I had a brother born April 25th, 1764, and I was ten years old the March before he was born; and I do not remember of hearing, at that time, of any other place of public worship but at Rocky River." (Rocky River Church is about 9 or 10 miles east from P. T.) " But I had another brother, born October 25th, 1766, and I re- member very well of being at a meeting at Poplar Tent the sum- mer before he was born; and at that time there was a more ele- gant Tent than I ever saw on that ground since, but no meeting- house. But between '66 and '70, there was a good meeting-house built and tolerably well seated. And the Rev. Hezekiah (J). Balch was a placed minister between Rocky River and Poplar Tent."
Another tradition related by Dr. Robinson, adds to this account. without contradicting it-and says a Tent was erected and an oc- casional service was obtained from the missionaries and other min- isters, for some years before regular preaching was obtained.
By tent, was meant a place for the preacher to occupy during public worship, very similar to the stands that are erected for the convenience of congregations in summer, in places where there are no church-buildings, or where the conveniences for seating a congregation in summer are not sufficient. All traditions agree, that this tent was the most showy in the country, and soon became a place for a large assemblage on the Sabbath. The Scotch and Scotch-Irish emigrants to the Carolinas used these tents in all seasons of the year, till they could build a house ; and afterwards, during the warm season ; and when the congregations were large, irrespective of the season ; sometimes, as Dr. Hall tells us, standing in the rain and snow, in crowds, to hear the gospel preached. The first sermons by the famous Robinson, in Charlotte county, Virginia, 1742, were delivered from a stand near the site of Cub Creek church, and to a Scotch-Irish colony,
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led there by the maternal grandfather of John Caldwell Calhoun, of South Carolina.
The name of the Ridge, the meeting-house, and the congrega- tion, originated in the following manner, according to the manu- script of Mr. Alexander :- " That hill, on which the meeting-house now stands, was called Poplar Ridge, long before there was any tent there, from some very extraordinary large trees, that grew a small distance west from where the meeting-house now stands. But after the tent was built some time, there were some men col- lected, for some purpose, at that place, and, as I understood, there was some proposition made, 'what are we to call this place ?' One said, call it Poplar Springs ; another standing by, having a cup of water in his hand, threw the water against the tent, and cried out, 'Poplar Tent !' And I do not remember that I heard of any one making objection at that time, against the name ; and it has been called Poplar Tent ever since, and was taken by that name on the missionary papers into the northern States. Now Poplar Tent went on regularly, friendly, and religiously ; no dis- pute nor discontent between them and their minister, he taught them carefully, both in his preaching and examinations, and they appeared to hearken with attention."
There is nowhere a monument or tradition to direct to the grave of Hezekiah James Balch ; or anywhere a living mortal to claim him as ancestor. But his deeds live after him, and claim for him a name and place amongst those who have well done for their country and the church.
Previous to the time of Mr. Balch there were three elders of Rocky River Church living in the bounds of Poplar Tent, who were continued as elders after the separate organization of Poplar Tent, of which they formed part, viz : Aaron Alexander, Nathaniel Alexander, and David Reese. The latter gentleman was a mem- ber of the Mecklenburg Convention.
To these were added in the year 1771, by the choice of the church, James Barr, Robert Harris, James Alexander, George Alexander, and James Reese.
After the death of Mr. Balch, Poplar Tent was for a time va- cant, and received such supplies from missionaries as could be obtained until Mr. Robert Archibald became the regular preacher. Of the early life of Mr. Archibald little is known. He received his Degree of Bachelor of Arts at Princeton, in 1772 ; and after studying medicine was licensed by the Presbytery of Orange in the fall of the year 1775. In the year 1778, on the 7th of Octo-
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ber, he was ordained and installed pastor of Rocky River, and continued to hold this office till he was brought into difficulties for preaching erroneous doctrines, about the year 1792, for which, in 1794, he was suspended from the work of the ministry by the consent and with the advice of Synod, and in 1797 solemnly de- posed.
Mr. Caruthers states that he was ordained pastor of Poplar Tent at the same time that the connection was formed with Rocky River. Mrs. Alexander dates his connection somewhat later. All she says of him by way of dates, is comprised in these few words : "Until Mr. Archibald came and took the charge of Rocky River and Pop- lar Tent, which was somewhere about '87 or '88, and in a few years he left Poplar Tent."
From two certificates given Mr. Humphrey Hunter in the year 1785, and signed by Mr. Archibald, it appears that Mr. Archibald was connected with the church of Poplar Tent at that time ; and had been teaching school for some time previous within its bounds. It is probable that Mrs. Alexander mistook the date, not being anx- ious to recall the errors of one whose sins had been visited heavily upon him personally, and whose fall had grieved the congregation that loved the truth more than the minister.
During the ministry of Mr. Archibald, the discussion respecting the Psalmody of the Church was carried on with vehemence in Poplar Tent. Mr. Archibald favored the introduction of Watts's Psalms and Hymns ; with him many of the congregation concur- red ; but many were violently opposed, preferring the Psalms in which their ancestors had worshipped God, with all their deficien- cies of rhyme, to the smoother versification of Watts. The major- ity of the congregation, after some acquaintance with the produc- tions of Watts, preferred them for private worship and favored their use in the public service of the house of God, and proposed that they should be introduced into the worship of the congregation and used part of the day. This compromise was rejected, says Mrs. Alexander, and " when Mr. Archibald saw there was no hope of getting Watts's Psalms introduced into public worship peace- ably, he went up into the pulpit and told them he was determined to have them made use of for time to come ; and he did so. And at times when these psalms were sung, some would go out of hear- ing ; and some others left the Tent and went and joined other churches that despised Watts's Psalms. Another time, at the Tent we met for public worship, the minister had just begun, and when he began to read the psalm one man was so presuming as to
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get up and say to him-' give us none of your new lilts-give us the Psalm the Saviour sung at the Supper.' The minister stopped and commanded him to sit down and not disturb the worship of God, and then went on. The man turned about and went out of the house, and never was in that house again at public worship." This person lived near the church in a house still standing. This may be considered as a specimen of the excited feeling that was manifested in some places about the introduction of Watts's Hymns to the displacing of the Psalms of David in Metre, which had been devoutly used by all the Presbyterian congregations in Carolina.
Previous to this time the different classes of Presbyterians in their clustering settlements had united in congregations, and the various names known in the mother land were losing their dis- tinctive influence, and the minority were inclined to fall in with the majority, and in their American feeling lose the difference they had once cherished. The discussion about psalmody brought about a new state of feeling, which after some heated discussions resulted in a separation, that remains unsettled to this day. Those that preferred Watts's Psalms held their connection with the Phi- ladelphia Synod, from which has since been formed the General Assembly ; and those that preferred the Psalms of David in Metre, separated in their church connection from their brethren, still re- taining the same creed and Presbyterial forms, constituted a Pres- bytery, and are called Associates, and sometimes Seceders. The congregations are intermingled, and, with characteristic persever- ance, maintain their peculiarities to this day. The asperity of the division having subsided, the congregations live in peace and mu- tual respect, and cherish in their bounds much devoted piety.
The Revolutionary war was commenced in the lifetime of Mr. Balch, and had his life been spared we should in all proba- bility have found him in the camp, like Hall and McCaule. Of his successor, Archibald, there are no traditions of a military cast. His congregations, particularly that of Poplar Tent, were com- paratively free from the depredations and inroads of the enemy, and not disturbed by the collisions of divided neighborhoods, from which some of the greatest sufferings of the war had their origin. Says Mrs. Alexander, " They had peace in their neighbor- hood ; there was no contention among them relative to the war; they were all of one mind as a band of brothers, and were faithful one to another, and could sleep peaceably in their houses, while other settlements not far off were greatly distressed by their cruel
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treatment of one another, killing some, banishing others, and even shooting some little boys, while they were pleading for mercy, because their fathers were of a different opinion from them in re- spect to the war."
Mr. Archibald was a man of talent, of an amiable disposition, and considered a good classical scholar ; but was careless in his manners, and extremely negligent in his dress and general appear- ance. Some domestic afflictions, fancied or real, preyed upon his spirits, and were the occasion of indulgence to an unwarrantable degree in intoxicating drinks. About the year 1792 he openly taught the doctrine of Universal Salvation ; having first changed from Calvinism to Arminianism, and from thence wandered on to the universal restoration of all men. His connection with the con- gregations was at once dissolved, and his authority to preach soon taken from him by the advice and consent of Synod ; deposition followed ; and the remainder of his life was a tissue of unhappy events. He never returned to the communion of the church, or retracted the errors for which he suffered its discipline. Mr. Ca- ruthers tells us, on the authority of Mr. McIver, that continuing to preach wherever he could obtain hearers, in one of his rambles through South Carolina he encountered a shrewd old lady who in her younger days had lived in the north of Ireland, and the follow- ing dialogue ensued : Lady .- " I'm tould, Sir, you preach that a' men will be saved. Is that your opinion ?" Mr. A .- " Yes ; I think that after enduring some punishment, all will at last be saved." Lady .- " D'ye think that some will gae to hell, and stay there a while, and then come out again ?" Mr. A .- " Yes, that is my opinion." Lady .-. " And do you expect to go there yoursel' ?" Mr. A .- " Yes ; I expect to go there for a time." Lady .- " Ah, man ! ye talk strangely ; ye're a guid man, and a minister. I wad think ye could na gae there. But what will ye gae there for ?" Mr. A .- " I expect to go there for preaching against the truth." Lady .- " Ah, man ! that's an unco' bad cause. And hoo long d'ye expect to stay there ?" Mr. A .- " Just as long as I preached against the truth." Lady .- " And hoo long was that ?" Mr. A .- " About fifteen years." Lady .- " Ye'd be a pretty singed deevil to come oot, after being in sae lang !"
The successor of Mr. Archibald was Alexander Caldwell, the son of the venerable David Caldwell, who was ordained in 1773. The cause of his leaving the ministry of these churches is given in the sketch of Rocky River.
Mr. McCorkle, of Thyatira, supplied Poplar Tent for a year
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after Mr. Caldwell's disease rendered him unable to preach, appropriating one Sabbath in four to the instructions of the sanc- tuary in this congregation.
After a short period Poplar Tent secured the services of Mr. John Robinson, and, notwithstanding some intervals of absence, enjoyed his services for thirty-six years-which were ended by his death, December 15th, 1843.
The parents of Mr. John Robinson lived in Sugar Creek con- gregation, and their graves are found near the centre of the old graveyard. They were reputed eminently pious by their neigh- bors, and were devoted members of the Church. Their careful training of their son in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and their concern for his salvation, were often spoken of by him with gratitude and reverence; and the recollection made him more earnest for the salvation of his own household.
Born January 8th, 1768, and reared in the neighborhood of Charlotte, Mecklenburg county, Mr. Robinson was old enough to be a witness of the scenes and a partaker in the troubles and alarms of the Revolutionary war. Too young to engage in the battles, his youthful memory received a vivid impression of the events of those trying days : and in his age he recounted with spirit the things he had seen and heard when a child. The cor- rectness of his memory and the facility of his recollection, espe- cially where dates were concerned, was remarkable. He trusted memory, and she was faithful to him to the last, bringing out her stores at his call with unabated celerity and precision.
This, his remarkable quality, was of immense importance to him in his active, laborious, and varied avocations : but it well- nigh prevented posterity from being the wiser for his knowledge, as he committed little to paper in any period of his life, and left nothing behind of importance in the manuscript form. Having been requested, a little before his final departure,-when, in fact, the symptoms began to appear,-to commit his experience and re- collections to paper, for the use of those that might live after him, he declined the attempt, on account of his infirmity, but cheerfully agreed to dictate to a ministerial friend on any subject concerning which he possessed information. To some extent this was done ; and his dates and information were put to the trial of close examina- tion. Not an important fact was changed, upon an extended in- quiry ; and very few minor statements required any modification or explanation. Preparations had been made to pursue the copying from his lips on some important subjects, and the time fixed. The
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amanuensis arrived at the appointed time,-but it was to sit by his corpse, and attend his funeral. It is but proper to state, that the traditions gathered from him led to the compilation of the facts given to the public in the present volume. And in no case have his statements been discredited by any official documents that have come to the possession or inspection of the writer.
His academic education was received partly in Charlotte, under the tuition of Dr. Henderson, who taught in the College-buildings, and partly in an academy taught by Mr. Archibald, of Poplar Tent.
In recounting the scenes of his youth, he renewed his age ; and with vivacity and delight, described the times and circumstances when the boys gathered with enthusiasm around the soldiers, rendezvousing at Charlotte, where he saw that remarkable man, James Hall, march through the town with his three-cornered hat, and long sword, captain of a company, and chaplain to the regi- ment.
His classical course was completed, and his degree of A.B. conferred at Winnsboro', South Carolina, the seat of Mount Zion College, the flourishing institution that succeeded the College, whose operations were suspended during the invasion of Charlotte. In the various institutions which he attended, he must have been well taught, as throughout his life his correct knowledge of the classics was remarked and appreciated.
His title of D.D. was conferred by the University of his native State, as a just tribute of respect to one who had done much for the moral and religious education of the rising generation.
The time of his making a profession of religion is not known ; neither are the peculiar exercises of mind, which preceded that event. But his good hope in Christ never deserted him ; and his determination to devote his life to the ministry of the gospel was unshaken ; and he was licensed by the Presbytery of Orange, April 4th, 1793, to preach the everlasting gospel.
Firm in his purpose, dignified in his deportment, courteous in his manners, commanding in his appearance, above the common stature, and perfectly erect, of a spare, muscular frame, of great activity and personal courage, he went to preach the gospel of our Lord, at the time when the flood of infidelity, that swept over our land, tried men's souls. In Carolina and in Virginia, God in mercy poured out his spirit on his church in precious revivals, just before that deluge of sin and wrath came, and raised up a goodly number of young men of undaunted spirit, who counted not
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their life dear unto them might they win Christ's approbation, and be found to praise and glory in the great day. Of that noble com- pany, few now remain ; few in Carolina, and but few in Virginia,- yet still some are moving on the horizon of life, waiting in feeble- ness of body, and the humility of faith, for their Lord's summons.
The field assigned him by his Presbytery, for his first essay in the ministry, was the ground occupied first by McAden. Under his ministry, the churches, which had been without a settled pastor for a long time, receiving only the occasional services of missiona- ries, were greatly revived and much enlarged. The children of pious parents were confirmed in the faith they had been taught, and " the word of God grew." The climate proving unfavorable to his family, he determined upon removing higher up the country, and in the year 1800, accepted an invitation from the church in Fayetteville, to become their resident minister.
The smallness of the salary, and the necessities of the youth, induced him to open a classical school. He continued with the congregation a little more than a year ; when finding that the labors of the two offices were more than his constitution could bear, he left the congregation in Dec., 1801, and removed to Pop- lar Tent, the scene of part of the instructions of his early life under Mr. Archibald.
After remaining with the congregation of Poplar Tent about four years, preaching and conducting a classical school, which was com- mended by the Presbytery in 1803, as appears by their records, he was induced by the earnest solicitation of the citizens of Fayette- ville, to return to that place, then vacant by the removal of his suc- cessor, Rev. Andrew Flinn, to Charleston, South Carolina; and about the commencement of the year 1806, he removed to that place and re-commenced his pastoral labors and his classical school. In these two offices he continued about three years ; and in the latter part of December, 1818, returned to Poplar Tent, and passed the remainder of his days. During the two periods of his sojourn in Fayetteville, he was eminently successful both as a teacher and as a preacher. The first administration of the sacrament of the Lord's supper, in Fayetteville, was performed by him on the 6th of Sep- tember, 1801. At that time there were but seventeen members of the church in that place. He held four communion seasons during his first residence there, and at each time admitted persons to mem- bership in the church. During his second residence, he was exten- sively useful and greatly beloved. During this period, his preach- ing is described as " instructive, edifying, and truly evangelical ;
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his eloquence was of a gentle and persuasive cast; and in his pub- lic discourses, and in his private intercourse with his people, he was remarkable for the mildness of his address." Some even thought his mildness carried to excess in the matter of discipline ; as his benevolent heart was finding excuses for mild dealing with offenders. Says the author of a sermon preached on occasion of his death, " the fruits of his labors are yet visible there, and ac- knowledged with gratitude, by many witnesses. We have never seen any man move through society, receiving more striking tokens of veneration and affection, than we have witnessed shown to Dr. Robinson in that town." The news of his death having reached that place, a public meeting was held in the town-house on the 23d of December, 1843, and the following preamble and resolutions passed. " Whereas, it is announced in some of the public prints, that it has pleased the Allwise Disposer of all events, to call away from this sinful and suffering world, our venerable friend, the Rev. John Robinson, D.D., the present meeting, consisting of persons to whom he has been long endeared by ties of a most interesting cha- racter, desire, with the utmost sincerity, to give expression to the sentiments which they entertain in the following resolutions, viz. :
1st. Resolved, That in our estimation, the death of such a man as the late Rev. John Robinson, D.D., is an event justly to be deplored, as a serious loss to a community, who have, for many years, been permitted to enjoy the rich benefits of his wholesome instruction, and godly and edifying example.
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