USA > New York > History of the Presbytery of Redstone : organized by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1781, and under its care till 1788 : a part of the Synod of Virginia, 1788-1802 : of the Synod of Pittsburg, 1802-1881 : and now of the Synod of Pennsylvania, 1881-1889 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > History of the Presbytery of Redstone : organized by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1781, and under its care till 1788 : a part of the Synod of Virginia, 1788-1802 : of the Synod of Pittsburg, 1802-1881 : and now of the Synod of Pennsylvania, 1881-1889 > Part 12
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The semi-centennial anniversary of the church's history was appropriately celebrated in October, 1881.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
MCCLELLANDTOWN.
BY ELDER GEORGE PORTER.
In the upland county of Fayette, in Western Pennsylvania, a short mile almost due west from the little village of McClel- landtown, in sight of the picturesque hills of the beautiful Mon- ongahela, stands the Presbyterian church of McClellandtown. It is surrounded by a rich farming community. The land is rolling, well-watered and fertile and the people are industrious, prosperous and happy.
Regular Presbyterian preaching dates as far back as 1812 or 1813, where Van Emon first, and after him Beeber, preached in the log school-house, which stood on the farm of Elias Par- shall. The school-house has long been torn down, and the little company who worshiped there has almost all been called home by the Master. Preaching was held in the school-house, and the communion in the woods near by, on the farm now owned by James A. Weltner. Two sermons each day of preaching were had, morning and evening in winter, and in summer in daytime, with an interval of two hours between. The preacher came from the old Glade Church in Greene county.
This arrangement continued until about the year 1837, when Rev. Samuel Wilson, then a young man, preached for the peo- ple in the old brick Baptist church, which stood hard by the old stone school-house, within easy view of our present church. He preached here and at Masontown and taught school at Union- town, but soon added Dunlap's Creek to his charge and then dropped Masontown.
The interest deepening and members increasing, it was deemed not only expedient, but necessary to organize a church in this place, for which object thirty-nine members petitioned Presbytery. In accordance with this request, Redstone Presby- tery appointed Revs. William Johnson, A. G. Fairchild and Sam- uel Wilson to organize a church. This committee on the 23d of November, A. D., 1839, executed the will of Presbytery and
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elected Thomas Wilson, Samuel Gettys, William Grove, Joseph Deffenbaugh and Elisha Laughead as elders. Thus the present church was organized, founded and started on its grand and glorious mission as part of the great army of churches, to "fight the good fight of faith."
Rev. Samuel Wilson was installed pastor, May 19th, 1814, over the large charge of Dunlap's Creek and McClellandtown. He entered into the work with all the energy of his nature and for a period of more than thirty years ministered acceptably to the people "in season and out of season." He was a man who prided himself on punctuality, a large man, of commanding presence, and was loved and respected by all who knew him. The congregation could rest assured on the morning of preach- ing that he would be in the pulpit, ready to begin the service promptly at eleven o'clock. If a little early, he might be seen sitting upright in the saddle and coming in in fine shape; or if time pressed him, leaning forward and tapping his horse at each step with the old-fashioned cowhide, which every one carried who rode on horseback at that time. Mr. Wilson's style of preaching and his manner in the pulpit were looked upon at that time as being perfect. He always read his sermons from full manuscripts. They were well prepared, deep, searching and thoroughly Presbyterian in all their details. Whatever he did was always well done.
It soon became evident that a church ought to be built for the growing congregation. Accordingly, at a meeting of Presby- terians which was held in 1843, it was resolved to build a church and the north-west corner of Jacob Deffenbaugh's farm was fixed as the site for the new edifice. David Coffman, John Wilson, Isaac Core and John Weltner were appointed to collect funds and superintend the erection of the building. There were two doors in the south end of the church. The male portion of the congregation, with commendable pride and safety, entered by the upper door with the easy step, and left the female portion to get in as best they could over the rickety logs which served as an approach to the lower door.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
The congregation was very Puritan and exclusive when once in the church, the males occupying one side and the females the other, with a strong division between. If, by chance, a stranger entered the wrong door and seated himself with the opposite sex, the gravity of the congregation was disturbed and it was looked upon as a good joke. The pulpit was at the north end of the house and was very much "stuck up." It was reached by a flight of three or four steps and a small door shut the preacher in from the people. The roof of the old house was supported by six wooden columns, on which hung tin candle-holders, for the common "tallow dip." More style was displayed in the light for the pulpit and glass candlesticks were used. The janitor's duty was to tiptoe around by the pulpit and by the wooden pil- lars, and snuff the candles carefully and solemnly with a pair of old-fashioned snuffers, generally snuffing out about half the candles and lighting them at their nearest neighbors. Of course every one watched the snuffing operation and laughed when a candle went out.
The clerk stood meekly in front of the pulpit ready to "start the metre" and "line-out" the hymns. The minister read the first two lines and then handed the book over and down to the clerk, who then started the music and did the rest of the "lining- out."
A Sabbath School was started in 1846, with Samuel Gettys as superintendent, and without a single failure a school has been held every summer since. Sometimes the school has almost died out and then again it has revived and taken on new life and energy and it is now in a flourishing condition. After Samuel Gettys came Jacob Deffenbaugh as superintendent, then Joseph Deffenbaugh, then Hugh J. Gilmore, then the writer of this his- tory. The amount of good this school has done and is now do- ing, can only be known when eternity shall reveal all things.
The old church was accidentally destroyed by fire in the fall of 1865. This was a severe loss, but with a firm reliance on the Divine Blessing, the little congregation set vigorously to work to rebuild the church. At a regularly called meeting of the con- gregation, April 12th, 1865, it was resolved to rebuild on the
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same site. A committee consisting of John Wilson, Hugh J. Gilmore, Conrad Deffenbaugh, John Coffman and Isaac P. Ken- dall was appointed to superintend the erection of the new church. It was dedicated, on the 15th of February, 1867, and now we have this present solid, commodious and beautiful house of wor- ship, the high old pulpit and the tin candle-holders gone.
Rev. Samuel Wilson resigned the pastorate in 1869, lamented by all. He had been the spiritual father of nearly the whole congregation and his memory will always be green in the hearts of his people.
Rev. James P. Fulton was called in the fall of 1869. Dur- ing his pastorate the same charge continued, Dunlap's Creek and McClellandtown. Mr. Fulton was a man of deep piety and earnestness. He generally read his sermons, but was seen and heard to best advantage when he spoke without notes. His great theme was a personal Saviour, the certainty of punishment for sin and the all-powerful love of Christ for a world lost in wickedness.
At the close of Mr. Fulton's pastorate the church of Dun- lap's Creek notified the church of McClellandtown of their in- tention to ask Presbytery to dissolve the relation of the churches, as they had concluded to employ a minister the whole of his time. This was a cruel blow to the struggling little church, as it was emphatically the legitimate child of the old Dunlap's Creek Church. Nourished by the mother church, the bounds of each meeting, the members mingling together, theirs was a com- mon interest and together they grew and prospered. This un- natural act of a natural mother casting out her offspring left the little church again out in the cold, with dissolution staring her in the face. But determining not to be destroyed thus ruthlessly, she soon formed a connection with Tent and Fairchance. Al- though this was not a natural union, as the churches were in no way identified, the connection has proved harmonious and the churches are all prosperous and happy.
April Ist, 1879, Rev. S. S. Bergen was called to take charge of the new-made pastorate, Tent, Fairchance and McClellandtown. Mr. Bergen was a popular man in the congregation. He was an
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
earnest talker and expounder of the Scriptures, almost invariably reading his sermons. His strong points were, the punishment of men for ingratitude, carelessness, listlessness, and allowing them- selves to drift unprepared into eternity, knowing better. Mr. Bergen was most active in burnishing up the church outside and in. Through his exertions the present roof was put on the church and the modern and beautiful lamps hung in the inside. He was dismissed at his own request, by Presbytery, April, 1882.
In October, 1882, our present pastor, Rev. M. C. Bailey, was called, and has continued ever since to minister acceptably to his charge. Mr. Bailey's style of oratory differs from all who have preceded him. He speaks on all occasions without notes, throws his whole soul into his theme and when fully aroused fairly pounds his thoughts into his hearers. His great idea is that prophecy is being fulfilled at this time and in this country. That this is the limit of "Westward," that the "Star of Empire" can go no farther, that here God intends to display His power and that the history now making and to be made in the very near future, will be momentous in import and more wonderful than all that has gone before or will come after.
The growth of our church has been slow but sure. During the last part of Mr. Wilson's pastorate, a special outpouring of God's Spirit brought scores into the fold. At the dedication of the new house there seemed to be a feeling of deep interest and the meetings were continued from the day of dedication, Febru- ary 15th, to April 14th, when forty were publicly taken into the church and acknowledged Christ as their Saviour. This was, indeed, a day long to be remembered in the history of the church and the good effects are still seen and felt in this community. Quite a number united with the church during Mr. Fulton's charge and under our present pastor over twenty have been added to the church, we hope of such as shall be saved.
During the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Wilson, Redstone Presbytery held a regular session at our little church, which was quite an event in her history. While Mr. Bergen ministered to us a second meeting of Presbytery was held here, so this little
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
church has had the honor of entertaining two meetings of Red- stone Presbytery.
At a meeting of the congregation held, November 12th, 1852, Johnson Vankirk and Jacob Deffenbaugh, Jr., were ordain- ed Ruling Elders. James Wilson and George H. Core were or- dained and took their seats as Ruling Elders, April 25th, 1862. James Scott, Conrad Deffenbaugh and George Porter were elect- ed Ruling Elders, May 24th, 1868, and ordained, June 13th, 1868. April 22d, 1877, George Dearth, Josiah B. Crow and Henry D. Core were elected Ruling Elders, and on June Ioth, were by prayer and the laying on of hands, regularly ordained. The present elders are Conrad Deffenbaugh, George W. Core, Henry D. Core, Josiah B. Crow and George Porter.
We are glad to say (not boastingly) that this church has been and now is a blessing to the community in which it is placed, not only to Presbyterians, but to the whole community. The Sabbath School-a union one-welcomes all who come; for the great work of the church is to save souls. The great duty seems to be to save the souls of the children, believing that they, well-educated morally, are the anchor to hold our country, not only when torn and rent by political fury or bloody war, but to hold it for God and His Christ.
During all these long years of prosperity, we are glad to know our church has not been distracted and torn by dissensions and quarrels. Free from scandal and complaining, we thank God that we have passed so long without any of these scenes that do so much harm to the cause of religion. Now, while we are thankful for our present peace and good feeling, let us be careful for the future and hand down this little church with her honor as bright and untarnished as we found it and as it is now.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
SPRINGHILL FURNACE.
BY REV. H. O. ROSBOROUGH.
Mr. John Kennedy Duncan, an elder in the Tent Church, purchased Springhill Furnace and moved to the place in 1834. Rev. A. G. Fairchild, D. D., was in the habit of preaching in the neighborhood on week days. In 1836 a frame meeting-house was built entirely at Mr. Duncan's expense. This house had two front doors, with the pulpit between them. In 1879 this building was repaired and remodeled, there being now but one door and the pulpit in the opposite end of the house, at a cost of $507, and the repaired building was dedicated, February 22d, 1880, by Rev. H. O. Rosborough. In 1841 the number of mem- bers in the vicinity had increased to about twenty-five, when a petition was forwarded to Presbytery for the organization of a church. Presbytery granted the request and appointed a com- mittee, consisting of Revs. Fairchild, Stoneroad and McLean, to attend to the organization, the time being left discretionary with the committee. The committee met, June 18th, the congrega- tion having been previously notified. Rev. Joel Stoneroad preached, Heb. 11:24. The following persons were received to constitute the church about to be organized, viz .: Dismissed from Tent Church-John K. Duncan, Mrs. Anna W. Duncan, Eliza Oliphant, Elizabeth Keerns, Mary Osborn, Sam'l Bunting, Nancy Bunting, Matilda Phillips, John Williams, Mrs. Williams, Jas. Huston, Margaret Huston, Jane Shuff, Catherine Biglow, Sam'l Buxton, Ruth A. Buxton, Joseph, James and Rebecca Butler. George's Creek Church: Mrs. Beatie, John Dunlap, Catherine Dunlap, Rosanna Davis, Jesse E. Stentz and Samuel N. Bedford. Uniontown Church: Samuel Duncan and Mar- garet, his wife. The committee then proceeded to organize the church in the constitutional order. Samuel Duncan and James Huston were elected elders and were ordained. Mr. Stoneroad presided, proposed the constitutional questions and made the or- dination prayer, and Mr. Fairchild delivered an appropriate ex- hortation to the people and closed with prayer. Rev. W. W. McLean had been appointed Stated Supply by Presbytery at its
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previous meeting. John K. Duncan was also elected an elder.
Rev. W. W. McLean supplied the church, or as some think was pastor, until 1851, when he was called to the Mt. Pleasant Church.
The church had many supplies from 1851 to 1864, among whom were Dr. Fairchild, J. Mateer, W. A. Fleming, H. W. Biggs, J. Davis, J. McClintock, J. H. Flanagan and H. O. Ros- borough.
On the 13th of June, 1864, Rev. H. O. Rosborough was in- stalled pastor for one-third of his time by Rev. J. McClintock and Rev. W. F. Hamilton, who had been appointed for that pur- pose, on a salary of $166 per annum. This pastorate continued for nearly twelve years.
Rev. C. B. Wakefield was installed pastor of this church, in connection with Fairchance, June 22d, 1881. This relation lasted only about three momths.
Some of the supplies since 1876 were Revs. J. B. Dickey, M. C. Bailey and H. O. Rosborough-the latter by appointment of Presbytery, has been for several years Moderator of the Ses- sion.
Total number of members from the organization to July Ist, 1887, is 192 ; about thirty-six of these are now (1887) living in the bounds of the congregation.
Two members became ministers of Gospel, viz .: Samuel Campbell and Jacob Ruble. Henry H. Ryland is now a candi- date for the ministry.
MOUNT WASHINGTON.
BY REV. A. S. MILHOLLAND, D. D.
As but few facts pertaining to this church have been placed upon record and but meagre information can be obtained from those now living within its bounds, we shall be able to prepare
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
but a very brief history. We shall attempt to present, as accu- rately as possible, but a few of the most important facts, as we can gather them from the limited sources at hand.
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Redstone, held at Laurel Hill, on the first Tuesday of October, 1841, the Revs. Joel Stone- road and W. W. McLean, and Mr. Wm. Redick, elder, were ap- pointed a committee to visit Mount Washington and vicinity to inquire into the expediency of organizing a Presbyterian church, and, if they judged it expedient, to organize a church there be- fore the next meeting of Presbytery, to be called the Church of Mount Washington.
After considerable inquiry and deliberation, the committee concluded that the interest of truth as well as the interest of the Presbyterian church required such organization, and accord- ingly appointed the 24th day of March (1842?) as the day upon which the church should be formed. A majority of the com- mittee being present on the day appointed, Rev. Joel Stoneroad preached on the occasion, from 2 Cor. 12:10, latter clause: "For when I am weak then am I strong," and after the preaching of the sermon proceeded to the election of Elders. Messrs, Seth Hyatte and Simon Snyder were elected to that office, after which, Mr. Stoneroad made the necessary remarks on the nature and duty of the eldership and the reciprocal obligation of both el- ders and people, and there, with the elders present, as one of the committee, proceeded by prayer and imposition of hands, sol- emnly to ordain and set apart the elders elected to the office of Ruling Elder in that congregation, the elders and people hav- ing answered affirmatively the requisite constitutional questions. The names of the persons dismissed on the occasion from the church of Uniontown, with a view to form the new organization, are as follows : Mr. Benjamin Elliot, Mrs. Eunice Elliott, Mr. Daugherty Elliot, Mr. Solomon Elliot, Mrs. Susan Kretchman, Mrs. Esther Conaway, Mrs. Long (daughter of Mrs. Kretchman,) Mrs. Shaffer, Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs. Belinda Reynolds, Mrs. Mc- Cartney, Mrs. Mathews, Mrs. Ripple, Mrs. Mary Elliot, Miss Mary Elliot, Mr. John Robinson, Mrs. Rebecca Robinson, Mrs. Gaither, Miss Elizabeth Gaither, Mr. William Gaither (un-
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
der suspension), Mrs. Hill, Miss Christiana Hill, Miss Nan- cy Hill, Miss Jane Hill, Mr. Robert Hill.
The following persons are from the Presbyterian church at Tent, viz .: Mr. Simon Snyder, Mr. Morgan H. Jones, Mrs. Sa- rah O. Stewart, Mr. Seth Hagan and Miss Hyatte.
Previous to the organization of this church at Mt. Wash- ington, there was a church about seven miles distant, known as Brown's Church. Whether this church was ever formally organized we do not know, but the presumption is that it was not. From this time on, for some years, the Brown and Mt. Washington Churches seem to be one organization of one and the same church. The next record after the one concerning the organization of Mt. Washington Church, is as follows :
"The Session of the Presbyterian church of Mt. Washing- ton met at Brown's Church, on the 2d day in May, 1842, for the purpose of examining applicants for admission to the privileges of the church. Present, Rev. J. McClintock, Moderator; Seth Hyatte and Simon Snyder, Ruling Elders. Mrs. Daugherty El- liot was received at this meeting." The next meeting was held at Mt. Washington, August 20th, 1842. The next record reads : "The Session of the Presbyterian church of Mt. Washington con- vened at Brown's Church on the 3d Sabbath of June, 1843." The Rev. Mr. Martin was the Moderator of this meeting. An- other record reads: "The Session of Mount Washington and Brown's Church convened at Brown's on the 3d day of June, 1845. Again, the Session of Mt. Washington and Brown's Church met at Brown's Church on the 4th day of July, 1846."
One of the elders of Mt. Washington Church informs me that, at an early day the old log meeting house, which stood on or near the site of the present Tent Church, was torn down and removed to the mountains, where it was re-erected and is still standing, though not occupied and is known as the "Old Brown Church." The distance which these logs were hauled is about twelve miles. The name of "Brown" seems to have been dropped about the year 1863 ; it is thereafter known as Mt. Wash- ington. This church has never been strong-never self-support- ing-and so far as I can ascertain, never had a settled pastor.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
The Revs. Joel Stoneroad, H. O. Rosborough, S. S. Bergen, C. B. Wakefield and C. C. B. Duncan have been among its Stated Supplies.
Mr. G. W. Hensel, Mr. James McCann and Mr. S. D. Elli- ott compose the present Session.
The present church building, which is small, is built of logs, weather-boarded and plastered, and was erected soon after the or- ganization of the church.
The membership at this time is not more than thirty.
WEST NEWTON.
BY REV. J. C. MELOY.
Prior to 1851 this church was a part of the Sewickley con- gregation, whose house of worship was located four miles from the town of West Newton, originally called Robbstown. For many years people living in town rode or walked over the hills to worship the God of their fathers in that grand old church, whose history runs back over a period of more than 110 years. It is difficult to tell who preached the first sermon in West New- ton or who planted the seed which has grown and matured into the vigorous plant of to-day. The earliest trace of evangelistic work is a communication in "The Weekly Recorder" of 1822, emanating from the pen of the Rev. A. O. Patterson, D. D., who at that time was pastor of the Sewickley Presbyterian Church. Speaking of eight different Sabbath Schools which he had or- ganized and maintained within the bounds of his charge, he says: "Robbstown Sabbath School, No. I, was organized in March last, under the direction of two superintendents and seven teach- ers and contains seventy-two scholars, one-half of whom recite
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
from memory and had recited on the 27th of October, 6,042 verses of Scripture, 234 pages of Catechism and 226 hymns. This school has been well attended and continues to prosper."
Public worship was held as opportunity presented itself, the services being conducted a few times in a saw mill, on the river bank, which has long since disappeared, and more frequently in the old octagon school-house, once the pride of the town and still permitted to stand as a relic of by-gone days. It is remem- bered that Rev. William Annan, pastor of the Sewickley Church, often held such services in these buildings.
In the year 1835 a few of the liberal minded Presbyterians living in or near the village, prominent among whom were Hon. George Plumer and his sons, Alexander and John C. Plumer, de- termined to erect a house of worship. But being too weak finan- cially to perform the work themselves, a proposition was made to them by the Evangelical Lutherans to join them in this en- terprise, the Lutheran denomination to hold a fourth interest, and each to have a specific part of the time for the holding of public worship. By mutual consent this partnership was dis- solved in the year 1850, the Presbyterians purchasing from the Lutherans, for the sum of $650, their entire interest in the build- ing and grounds.
It was now thought by many that the time had come to or- ganize a church distinct and separate from the mother congrega- tion. The town having taken to itself a new name was growing in size and importance. Presbyterians were gathering in and about it ; the distance to Sewickley was too great for many to at- tend, and there were difficulties constantly arising in the prosecu- tion of co-operative work. Accordingly, a memorial, numerous- ly signed by Presbyterians living in West Newton, was sent to the Presbytery of Redstone, asking for the organization of a church.
The following is an extract from the minutes of Presbytery, viz .: "Sessions of the Presbytery of Redstone, West New- ton, October 2d, 1850. The action expressed in the follow- ing minutes was had, viz .: A memorial from West New- ton and vicinity asking for the organization of a church in
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
West Newton was presented and read. On motion, it was re- solved, that the request of the memorialists be granted and that Messrs. R. Stevenson and J. R. Hughes be a committee to or- ganize said church, on the 8th day of January, 1851. At the Sessions of the Presbytery in Connellsville, April 8th, 1851, the following record was made, viz .: The committee appointed at the last meeting to organize a church at West Newton, reported that they had organized said church with four elders and seven- ty-one members. This report was adopted and the conduct of the committee approved."
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