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 6
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 6
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old hives, we are encouraged to believe these very churches are deserving our most tender care.
The church of Long Run is said to date as early as Red- stone Presbytery, 1781. Very soon after the organization of the Presbytery, Long Run appeared and asked for supplies, and thereafter for eleven or twelve years this church was supplied with the Gospel without having a pastor. It is not strange they were so long vacant, in view of the great scarcity of ministers in those days.
The Rev. Jas. Finley was, probably, the first supply. Men- tion is made of Revs. Jno. Clark, Jno. Brice, Jno. McFerrin and John McMillan, as supplies.
On Thursday, April 21st, 1790, there appeared a young man before Presbytery by the name of Wm. Swan, who asked to be put upon trial with a view to be licensed to preach the Gospel. He was examined on Experimental Religion and Theology and the Presbytery being satisfied, assigned him subjects on which to prepare. He passed the various parts of trial assigned him to the satisfaction of Presbytery, and on the 22d day of December, 1791, Mr. Swan was licensed to preach the Gospel. He was then appointed to supply at Long Run on the fourth Sabbath of March, the first Sabbath of June and the second Sabbath of Au- gust, 1792. The services of Mr. Swan seem to have been much demanded, for at the meeting of Presbytery, held at Pigeon Creek, on the 16th of October, 1792, he had four calls put into his hands, viz .: From the united congregations of Bethel and Ebenezer, Mingo and Horseshoe Bottom, Long Run and Se- wickley, Mill Creek and King's Creek.
At the meeting of Presbytery held April 17th, 1793, Mr. Swan accepted the calls from Long Run and Sewickley. Pres- bytery assigned Mr. Swan Rom. 3:31 as a subject for ordination sermon, and at a meeting of Presbytery held at Long Run, Oc- tober 15th, 1793, he was ordained to the full work of the Gospel Ministry and installed pastor of Long Run and Sewickley. Dr. McMillan preached the sermon from the text, Is. 62:6: "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night, ye that make mention of the
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Lord, keep not silence. And give him no rest, till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth;" truly, a happy theme for such an occasion. Of these united congregations, Mr. Swan remained pastor for a period of twenty-five years.
At a meeting of Presbytery, held at Polk Run, June 30th, 1818, the sacred ties that held pastor and people in intimate union for a quarter of a century were severed, but it is recorded that at the spring meeting of Presbytery the following year, April 20th, 1819, Mr. Swan was recalled to the pastorate of Long Run alone. Being in poor health he was not able to do full work and was aided somewhat by supplies sent by Presbytery. Declining health compelled him to resign, April 16th, 1822. The first pastor of Long Run, therefore, served them during a period of twenty-eight years. Mr. Swan was a native of Cum- berland, now Franklin county, Pa. He received his education at Canonsburg. What the growth of the church was under his ministry we can not ascertain. But no doubt his work was a good one and his labors acceptable. Dr. Smith, in "Old Red- stone," says: "In the year 1804, and for some time afterward, Mr. Swan's congregations were visited with special outpourings of God's Spirit, and considerable numbers were added to the church. Mr. Swan's health continued to decline and on the 7th of November, 1827, he fell asleep in Jesus in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was buried in the Long Run graveyard and 'his sepulchre is with us to this day.'"
The church now remained vacant for a period of three years, during which time it was supplied, in part, by the Presbytery and in part by ministers from other Presbyteries.
At a meeting of Presbytery, held at Beulah, October 19th, 1824, the congregation presented a call for the ministerial ser- vices of Mr. Alexander McCandlass for two-thirds of his time, at a salary of $300. At the same meeting the congregation of Mckeesport presented a call for one-third of Mr. McCandlass' time, offering him a salary of $150. These calls were accepted and at the next meeting of Presbytery, April 19th, 1825, held at Long Run, he was ordained and installed over these congrega- tions. Mr. McCandlass served these people for twelve years.
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In October, 1837, he resigned the charge of Mckeesport and leave was granted the congregation of Long Run to employ him the whole of his time. But the following year, owing to the state of his health, Mr. McCandlass asked to be released from Long Run. His request was granted, but at the meeting of Presby- tery held, October 2d, 1838, the congregation asked and obtained leave to employ Mr. McCandlass as Stated Supply for six months. And after an experience of twelve years as pastor and six months as supply, the congregation concluded to recall Mr. McCandlass. He accepted the call and Rev. Messrs. Johnson and Montgomery were appointed a committee to install him. This relation continued till April 8th, 1845.
Mr. McCandlass' pastorate extended over a period of twenty years. It is impossible to ascertain what was the condition and growth of the church during the time it was united with Mc- Keesport. The statistical tables for that period, included both congregations, just as if they had been one. But during the time Mr. McCandlass was pastor of Long Run alone, the church seems to have been in its most prosperous condition. This is the period when the membership reached the highest number and when the contributions of the church were the largest. In 1839 the membership was 228. From that to 1844, there was a steady growth, when the number reached 272. Upon one or two occasions during this period, there were added as many as twenty on examination. Long Run was Mr. McCandlass' first and only charge. After his release from his pastoral work he spent some time in New Jersey, after which he went to Monroe county, Ohio, where he died on the 10th of April, 1848.
Mr. McCandlass was succeeded as pastor of this church by Rev. W. D. Moore. Indeed, the congregation could hardly be said to be vacant at all; for at the same meeting at which the pastoral relation between Mr. McCandlass and this church was dissolved, a call was presented for the services of Mr. W. D. Moore, then a licentiate, under the care of the Presbytery of Ohio.
This call was accepted and Presbytery met at Long Run, June 11th, 1845, to ordain and install the pastor elect. In this
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service Rev. Jos. B. McKee preached the sermon, Rev. Saml. Wilson presided and delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Jas. I. Brownson gave the charge to the people. The pastorate of Mr. Moore continued a little over four years and then termi- nated, neither at his own request nor that of the congregation. This unusual transaction is explained in the following manner : Mr. Moore received, in the year 1849, calls from the united churches of Greensburg and Mt. Pleasant, and not being able to decide what his duty was in the matter, left the question in the hands of Presbytery to answer; they assumed this responsible duty and advised Mr. Moore to accept the calls, and at once dis- solved the relation existing between the Long Run congregation and Mr. Moore. Against this action of Presbytery, Long Run remonstrated. Mr. Moore had a hold on the hearts of the peo- ple, which but few pastors are able to gain. He was a man of scholarly attainments, an earnest and eloquent preacher.
The congregation now remained vacant about one year and a half, when they gave a call to Rev. F. A. Shearer. Mr. Shear- er remained with this people less than one year. He was in- stalled, June 19th, 1851. Rev. Jas. R. Hughes preached the sermon, Dr. Jos. Smith presided and charged the pastor and Rev. W. D. Moore charged the people. The following Septem- ber, 1851, Mr. Shearer was released from this charge. It seems this pastorate was entered upon with a good deal of opposition and for this reason so soon terminated. The difficulties in this church had assumed such proportions it became necessary, in the judgment of Presbytery, to take some action; and this the Presbytery did in writing a letter to the church and also holding a meeting of Presbytery in the church. Their efforts seem to have been blessed.
On the 22d of September, 1852, the congregation called to be their pastor, Mr. J. A. Means, and on October 19th, of the same year, Mr. Means was ordained and installed over Long Run Church. The ministry of this brother was brief. His work for the Master was, however, done, and he said: "It is enough." Mr. Means died, June 3d, 1854, not quite twenty-six years old, having been ordained to the full work of the ministry
1
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and having served this church as its pastor not quite two years.
The November following the death of Mr. Means, the con- gregation extended to Rev. S. M. C. Anderson, a call, which Mr. Anderson declined to accept.
The congregation remained vacant till March 19th, 1855, when they called Mr. Alex. McGaughey, who accepted the call, and at a meeting of Presbytery, held at Long Run, May 16th, 1855, Mr. McGaughey was ordained and installed. He opened Presbytery with a sermon on the subject assigned him, Eph. 3:8. Rev. Jas. R. Hughes preached, Rev. Dr. West presided and charged the pastor and Rev. C. C. Riggs gave the charge to the people. This pastorate continued about eight years. Mr. Mc- Gaughey offered his resignation in April, 1862, but the congrega- tion refused to accept it and he remained pastor till near the close of the following year, when he felt it to be his duty to resign, which he did and was released from the pastoral labors of this church.
Mr. McGaughey was succeeded by Rev. W. D. Moore, who had served this congregation as its third pastor. Mr. Moore was elected February Ist, 1864, but was not installed and served the church as Stated Supply. This was owing to the disturbed con- dition of the country. Mr. Moore could not get his letter from the Southern Presbytery, where he had been preaching, and in addition to this Long Run had granted him leave of absence for one year to serve as chaplain in the army. Mr. Moore preached for some time after his return from the army, but soon drifted into politics and being defeated in his early aspirations he entered the practice of law, and to this day practices his profession in the city of Pittsburgh.
The next pastor of this church was Rev. N. H. G. Fife, who was installed, June 23d, 1868. At this service Rev. Watson Hughes, presided; Rev. O. H. Miller, preached; Rev. J. M. Bar- nett, charged the pastor, and Rev. W. W. Ralston, the people. Rev. Mr. Fife was pastor of this church a little over five years. He offered his resignation, September 25th, 1873, which was at first declined by the congregation, but upon the urgent request
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of Mr. Fife, the congregation reconsidered their action and grant- ed his request. The pastorate of Mr. Fife is said to have been very harmonious.
Rev. John W. Little became the next pastor. He was in- stalled, May, 1874. Rev. J. W. Wightman preached the ser- mon, Rev. J. B. Dicky charged the pastor and Rev. Henry Ful- ton the people.
March 2Ist, 1875, Mr. Little offered his resignation. With his request the congregation complied and the church was once more vacant and remained so till November 25th, 1875, when the con- gregation extended to Rev. W. P. Moore, a call, which he ac- cepted and was installed, June 13th, 1876. Rev. W. F. Ewing preached, Rev. J. W. Wightman delivered the charge to the pas- tor and the Rev. R. T. Price the charge to the people, Rev. W. P. Moore was pastor of this church seven years.
April 20th, 1883, the congregation made out a call for the services of the present pastor, C. P. Cheeseman, who was ordain- ed and installed, June, 1883. Rev. J. D. Shanks presided ; Rev. J. C. Meloy preached the sermon; Rev. A. Z. McGogney charged the pastor and Rev. Geo. H. Johnson, the people. This congregation has had ten pastors, which is truly a good record, when we remember the circumstances. One fact is worthy of re- mark; they recalled the first three-Swan, McCandlass and W. D. Moore. Six of these ten, namely : Swan, McCandlass, W. D. Moore, Means, McGaughey and Cheeseman, came to this field as their first charge and were here ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry. Four of these have been called from earth, namely-Swan, McCandlass, Means and McGaughey.
We have heard it remarked, and for some time thought it true, that Long Run changes pastors very frequently. Let us see-three of the ten remained as long as health would permit- almost to the end of their lives; two more could have remained as long as they wished, it would seem. Indeed, the people of this congregation are slow to part with the pastors whom they have chosen.
The following is as correct a list as could be secured of those who have served as ruling elders in this church: Jos. Collins,
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John Barns, Adam Kuhn, Jas. Cowan, Robt. Fulton, David Fleming, Jas. Caldwell, John Gray, Jas. Gray, Boyd Ward, Saml. Fleming, Andrew Christy, Saml. Black, R. M. Cavett, J. J. Cow- an, Wm. Weston, Mathew Hawkins, John Lynch, Jas. Simpson, David Kuhn, Jos. Perkins, Jas. Black, Finley Byerley, Wm. Ford, J. M. Brown, J. M. Shaner.
The records bear witness to the faithfulness of the eldership. They have been men of real worth, who dared to do right. True, they were not always right, but their aim was to keep pure the church and advance the cause of Christ. Their names will go down to their children's children in honorable mention.
The Sabbath School was organized about 1823, by Mr. Jas. Cowan, and has been kept up, in the summer season ever since. Mr. Swan organized in his day a week-day Bible Class, which he taught as long a's health permitted.
Our duty would not be done in this brief work, should we fail to mention the organization and maintenance of the Ladies' For- eign and Home Missionary Societies. In the work of the Lord they have taken a lively interest and are adding year by year to the motive power of the church. Their work is the quiet kind that tells for good.
The church of Long Run has passed through about one hundred and seven years of recorded time. How great the changes and how many, in both church and state ! The first preaching was out of doors, under the shadow of the great oaks. There Finley and Clark and McMillan preached Christ to anxious souls, burdened with the same infirmities that hinder our pro- gress in our journey to the promised Canaan.
The first meeting house was a log building, the second was of brick, near the site of the present house of worship. The present church building was erected during W. D. Moore's second ministry among the people.
In the preparation of this history the writer is greatly in- debted to the Rev. W. P. Moore, now of Fredricksburgh, Ohio.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
JEFFERSON.
-
BY REV. JOHN M'CLINTOCK.
Of the early history of this church there are no available ma- terials extant. It is supposed to have existed at the time or soon after the organization of Redstone Presbytery.
As early as October, 1783, the South Fork of Tenmile is mentioned in the minutes of the Presbytery, at which time Rev. Thaddeus Dodd and afterward other ministers were appointed supplies. As Jefferson is located on the South Fork of Tenmile and no other church in the Presbytery is mentioned by that name, the inference is that was then the name of the church. This seems the more probable from the fact of the contiguity of Jefferson to Muddy Creek or New Providence Church, the two being often spoken of in conjunction when supplies were appoint- ed. In a statistical report made to Presbytery in April, 1824, the total membership of the church, as stated, was thirty. At the beginning of Mr. McClintock's pastorate, in 1839, there were some twenty-five members : ten males and fifteen females. The ruling elders were Abijah McClain, John Gilland and Henry Black. It was not till April, 1841, a call for the one-third time of Mr. McClintock's time on a salary of $100 was made out, which being accepted, Rev. William Johnson and Rev. Samuel Wilson were appointed to officiate at the installation, which oc- curred on the 29th of June, 1841. This relation continued up to April 11th, 1849, when, at the request of the pastor, it was dissolved, that he might give his whole time to New Provi- dence Church. Being thus left vacant, the church of Jefferson united with Waynesburg Church and was statedly supplied for some time by Rev. J. Y. Calhoun, but again became vacant and had only occasional supplies.
In 1854 application was again made for part of the time of the pastor of New Providence Church, who consented to become
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Stated Supply and continued to serve in this relation till May, 1866. The whole period of service there, including his pastorate and term of supply, was about twenty years.
In 1870, Rev. Asahel Bronson, D. D., then serving the church of Waynesburg, became Stated Supply part of his time. Dr. Bronson continued to supply that church for some three years. He was succeeded as Stated Supply by Rev. John W. Scott, D. D., in 1874. His term of service was about seven years. Being one of the Professors of the College at Jefferson, the Dr. was accustomed to preach only on alternate Sabbaths, which, at his advanced age, he found to be as much as he could well do.
The cemetery ground and the lot on which the church in Jefferson stands, were conveyed by deed of Mr. Thomas Hughes, an old residenter of that place, to trustees, for the use and bene- fit of the Presbyterian congregation.
The building occupied by worshipers in 1839 was a clumsy, antiquated frame, with one door in the side and a broad aisle leading to the pulpit, in front of which there was a stove, only about four feet distant, the steam of which, when heated, was lit- tle less than suffocating to the speaker. As nearly as I can re- member, the dimensions of the house were 25x30 feet, with up- right seats, some of which were claimed as the property of occu- pants. In this house, trying to the flesh, they continued to wor- ship for several years, when at the urgent request of the pastor, it was torn down and the present neat and comfortable brick building was erected at a cost of about $1,100.00. It is some 30x35 feet and stands upon a solid rock. Not a few of the wor- shipers, we trust, who once gladly made it the place of their re- sort, have long since been translated to seats in the upper temple.
During Mr. McClintock's ministrations at Jefferson, there were sixty additions, forty-eight on examination and twelve on certificate.
In Dr. Bronson's time six were admitted on examination and in Dr. Scott's time twenty on examination and eight on certifi-
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cate, making altogether ninety-four. Mr. McClintock's bap- tisms there were: infants, twenty-eight; adults, twenty-five; mak- ing fifty-three; other baptisms, fourteen; total, sixty-seven. The marriages solemnized were eleven. Deaths during his time and the time of others, thirty-eight. Dismissions, twenty. Left without certificate, ten.
During Dr. Scott's ministrations, contributions for benevo- lent objects, in seven years, as reported on the minutes, were $151.00. What may have been done during the ministry of others is not reported in the sessional records and cannot now be stated.
For many years there has been a Sabbath School in con- nection with the church; also a Ladies' Missionary Society. At present, however, the latter, we think, has been disbanded.
From the foregoing narrative, it will be seen that the Jeffer- son Church has at no time been in a flourishing condition. To this result, inconstant supplies and other causes have doubtless contributed. Probably not more than twenty members can now be counted as enrolled. The present elders comprise Mr. James Eaton and Samuel Braden.
One of the former elders, Charles Gilland, made a donation to the church for the support of the Gospel of the sum of $1,000.00 and Mary Gilland, his sister, left a legacy of $500.00 for the same purpose, the interest only to be used.
We omitted to state in the proper place that Rev. Wm. Mc- Clintock Eaton, one of the sons of Jefferson church, in the year 1884 served the church as Stated Supply several months. In his time, two persons were, on examination, admitted to membership. At sundry times additions were made to the eldership.
In 1843, David Bell and Wm. Cree, having been chosen, were, on the second Sabbath of September, ordained and installed. November 22, 1858, Charles Gilland and Thomas Scott were ad- ded to the number. Again, January 28th, 1872, James Gil- land and James Eaton were inducted into the office of ruling el- der. Afterward Samuel Braden was elected, having previously been ordained to the office.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
NEW PROVIDENCE.
BY REV. JOHN M'CLINTOCK.
The locality of this church is said to be the oldest settled west of the Monongahela river.
In his secular history of southwestern Pennsylvania, the Hon. James Veech says: "Of its river border, that formed by the Monongahela was the soonest settled; and of this, that por- tion which after 1767 was found to be in Pennsylvania was the earliest. This was the settlement on Muddy Creek, in (now) Greene county, spreading out northwards toward Tenmile and southwards towards Whiteley Creeks. Like the early settlers in corresponding parts of Fayette county, they had come mostly from the Potomac borders of Maryland and Virginia, the Kittatinny Valley, a few from the Nursery and some from Ireland. John Armstrong's, where Rev. Dr. McMillan preached his second ser- mon in the West, was on Muddy Creek, and in that vicinity is the oldest Presbyterian church in Greene county, for a while the only one. Mr. Armstrong was, doubtless, an acquaintance of Dr. McMillan. Lower down the river in choice locations and up its large affluents, settlements were easily formed. Old Virginia had for a long time made a special business of persecuting the Baptists. Hence, they took refuge on Muddy Creek, Whiteley and Tenmile, lower down on Pikerun and Peter's Creek, at an early day, when they were ministered to by Elders Corbley and the Sutton brothers."
In this beautiful valley, washed by the waters of the Monon- gahela, our Presbyterian forefathers sought for themselves a home amid the wild woods, set up their altars, planted the stand- ard of the cross and began work, for Christ. Theirs was a dan- gerous, as well as a difficult and laborious task. For many suc- cessive years these border settlements were subjected to trials and hardships, which none but hardy pioneers could well sur- mount. Besides enduring untold privations, they were annoyed
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by a constant feeling of insecurity, arising from the stealthy and frequent incursions of the much dreaded Indian. On assembling for religious services, it was no uncommon thing for the men to carry with them their trusty rifles, ready for defense. If the cul- ture and polish of those early times were less conspicuous and graceful than the present, the defect was more than compensated by a robustness which served largely to give power of endurance and stability of character, qualities indispensable in that formative period.
The early settlers were thus better able to breast the storm and bear the winter's severity when houses of worship were few and far between. In allusion to those early times, Doddridge, the author of "Notes on the Life and Manners of the Western Settlers," says: "It was no disparagement to them that their churches were the shady groves and their pulpit a kind of tent constructed of a few rough slabs and covered with clapboards."
Keeping in mind these things, we shall be better able to comprehend the situation and properly estimate the preliminary work done by our heroic ancestors and feel more sensibly our obligations to them for the precious heritage which, through their toils and prayers, has come down to us.
Prior to the year 1840 there are no available sessional re- cords of New Providence Church, from which materials can now be gathered for historical detail. Up to that date the chief sources of information are fragmentary items gleaned from the records of the Presbyteries of Redstone and Ohio, together with oral statements, the most reliable that could be obtained from persons living and connected with the church.
At the organization of Redstone Presbytery, in September, 1781, Muddy Creek congregation, jointly with the South Fork of Ten Mile, made application for supplies. Being then recog- nized as a church, its informal organization seems to have been several years before that date. On the records of the Presby- tery, it is distinguished by the two names, Muddy Creek and New Providence. It has also been popularly called the Glade's Church. As appears from the Presbyterial records for several successive years, Revs. James Power, John McMillan, Thaddeus
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