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 9
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 9
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
Daniel Stahl, elder at Somerset, for many years attended communions at Jenner.
Abram Biesecker, one of the present session, was ordained in '71 or '72. Worth J. Picking and Wm. Klein were ordained and installed during the pastorate of Rev. C. C. B. Duncan.
TENT.
BY REV. M. C. BAILEY, PH. D.
It is probable that the earliest Christians of this region wor- shiped in a sanctuary known as Union Church. It was located near the Morgantown road, on the land now possessed by Mr. Samuel Robinson. The location was then known as "the Cataba War Path." People came here to worship from Uniontown and the surrounding country. They were chiefly Presbyterians and Baptists. Some items of this account are disputed. Whatever may be the exact history, it is certain that the Presbyterian body worshiped at a very early day at a place about a mile north of this. They came long distances, bringing their tents with them and remaining from Friday till Monday. A special tent was provided for the speaker and from this the place came to be known as the Tent, which name it still bears. It appears to have been called also for a long time afterwards the Union Church, probably on account of the old church, referred to above, bearing that name. The services held at the Tent seem to have been somewhat of the nature of the modern campmeeting. Services were had continuously from Friday till Monday. It appears that some of the worshipers were seized with "the falling sensa- tion," as it was known in the South.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
In 1780 the old log church on the Cataba war path was burned down and in 1791 or '92 a meeting house was erected at the present site of the Tent. It was a log structure, thirty-five feet square, had a gallery on three sides and a bird's nest pulpit on the fourth side.
So far as can be known, this church was organized about 1792 or '93. Previous to this time, members of the church liv- ing within the bounds of the congregation were connected with the churches of George's Creek and Laurel Hill. The Union- town church was not organized till thirty years later. At the time of the organization the number of communicants was small. Three elders were ordained, viz .: James Orr, Joseph Hadden and John Bell.
In October, 1793, the church united with that of George's Creek in presenting a call for the ministerial services of Mr. Da- vid Smith, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Redstone and a son of the Rev. Joseph Smith. In 1794 he was ordained and in- stalled pastor of these churches. He continued his labors here only about three years and a half, when he was compelled to re- sign, through failure of pecuniary support. He was a man of deep piety and respectable literary ability, and his sermons were rich and instructive, but his delivery was not engaging, nor were his manners prepossessing. The congregation was not greatly enlarged during this short period of his labors.
During the summer of 1798 the church was visited by Mr. James Adams, a licentiate of Redstone Presbytery. After a short acquaintance with him, the people were so well satisfied with his ministrations, that in October following, they united with the churches of George's Creek and New Providence, in calling him to be their pastor. After some delay, he was in Oc- tober, 1799, ordained and installed pastor of these congregations. He served this church till the year 1814, when he removed to Ohio. Mr. Adams was a man of piety and unassuming man- ners, but his delivery was not good and he attracted few to the house of God who did not love religion for its own sake. He ordained Samuel Salisbury and Hugh McClelland elders and re- ceived and installed Benjamin Laughead.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
There is now a long vacancy, during which time the church is left in a very destitute condition. But few supplies could be granted by Presbytery.
The Rev. James Dunlap, during a short residence at New Geneva, preached frequently for this church.
In 1819 the Rev. Wm. Wylie having accepted a call and settled in Uniontown, the Tent congregation obtained one-fourth of his time as a Stated Supply, which they continued to enjoy till his removal in 1823. Mr. Wylie's preaching was of a very popular cast and under his ministry the congregation was strengthened and several accessions were made to the church. But the seed sown by his instrumentality afterwards yielded more abundant fruit than was visible during his ministry. Mr. Wm. Nixon was ordained an elder by Mr. Wylie in 1820.
The Presbytery of Redstone received under its care, April 2Ist, 1818, Mr. A. G. Fairchild, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Jersey. Previous to this he had spent some time in mis- sionary work, having been licensed by his Presbytery, April, 1816. On the Ist of July, 1818, he was ordained as an evan- gelist by Redstone Presbytery, then in session at Pittsburgh. We have been informed by one who heard the first sermon he preached in Fayette county, that the service was held in a pri- vate house, in the place known as Haydentown. Word had been sent out to come and hear the boy-preacher. He was very modest and at the close of the sermon was advised by a friend to take his eyes off the ceiling and look the people in the face. It is believed that he was characterized by this modest peculiarity all his life. April 21st, 1819, he was stationed at George's Creek and Greensboro, at a salary of $175 for the half of his time. In July 2d, 1822, he accepted a call to George's Creek, Greensboro and Morgantown, for five-sixths of his time. The support prom- ised was $333.33. In October, 1823, he supplied the Tent one Sabbath. In April, 1824, he was appointed Stated Supply at the Tent for the one-sixth of his time. The following year one- fourth of his time was taken. He says, "down to this period no records had been kept of the church; it was, therefore, with some difficulty that the number of the communicants was ascer-
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tained to be about fifty-two, of whom only six were free-holders." Among the number thus referred to, we find the name of Jane Watt, who died, October 16th, 1882, aged one hundred years, lacking one month. In 1825 a delightful refreshing was experi- enced, which resulted in the addition of thirty persons to the church on examination. Among the number were F. Hughes Oliphant and Jane C. Oliphant.
In 1826 Mr. Fairchild was installed pastor of the Tent for one-half of his time. The blessed results of the revival con- tinued to be felt and we find among the number of conversions to the church, between the years 1827 and 1830, the names of James Snyder, Mary Snyder and Alexander Deyarman. In April, 1827, Mr. Fairchild asked leave to resign the charge of Morgan- town and Greensboro. In October the request was granted and at the same meeting of Presbytery a call was accepted to labor at the Tent one-half of his time, the support promised being $200. In 1825 Mr. Fairchild ordained John Core and Abraham Stewart elders ; in 1830 he ordained Eliel Freeman; in 1831 re- ceived John Kennedy Duncan and in 1832 ordained Alex. De- yarman and Thos. Madden. Mr. Fairchild was settled over the Tent congregation, November 2d, 1827, for one-half of his time, by a committee consisting of Geo. Vaneman, who preached the sermon, and Wm. Johnston who gave the charge.
In 1830 and '31, there was another revival, which resulted in the addition of about fifty persons to the church. Still, Mr. Fairchild says, "the peculiar circumstances of this church pre- vent its becoming strong. In 1824, out of fifty-two members, ยท only six were free-holders, and at present, among 152 communi- cants there are but ten. The greatest part of the members hav- ing no permanent abode and compelled to shift their residence, and thus the church loses the greater part of its increase."
Among those received by certificate in 1835, were Josiah S. Vankirk and Matilda Vankirk; by examination, January, 1838, Mrs. Ann Humphreys; May, 1841, Wm. Costead; January, 1843, Alfred Stewart; January, 1845, John Oliphant, Joshua V. Gibbons, and Humphrey Humphries.
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The following elders were ordained or received by Mr. Fair- child: Benjamin Blackford, in 1834; F. Hughes Oliphant, in 1838; John Richards, Josiah S. Vankirk and Thos. Towle, in 1843; Wm. Pastoris and John T. Smith, in 1850 and at the same time, Samuel Duncan was received by certificate; Humphrey Humphreys, in 1857. Mr. Samuel Robinson was installed, No- vember; 1880. It is worthy of note that Dr. Fairchild's last offi- cial act was that of moderating the session, August 15th, 1863, for the purpose of receiving Mr. Lewis Snyder into the church.
Mr. Fairchild was not long a pastor of the Tent before he began to preach at Fairchance. This he continued to do as long as he lived-Fairchance being regarded as a part of the Tent congregation. In 1845 the present church building was erected at Fairchance, chiefly through the liberality of Mr. F. H. Oli- phant to accommodate Mr. Fairchild. In 1854, Dr. Fairchild re- signed the charge of George's Creek, that he might devote the whole of his time and strength to Tent and Fairchance. This he continued to do till the event of his death.
The old log structure which was placed on the present site of the Tent in 1791 or '92, was replaced by a brick structure in 1832-'33, at a cost of about $1,700. It is a sad fact, that two men, viz .: Elder Thomas Madden and Henry Dimond were killed in the work of removing the roof of the old log church.
Dr. Fairchild preached his last sermon in the Baptist church of Smithfield, May 22d, 1864, from the text, Song of Solomon, 5-16: "This is my friend." While preaching this sermon he was seized by his last illness, remitting fever. He died the last hour of June. An old scholar standing by his bedside at this time, exclaimed: "My Father, my Father, the Chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." The Rev. H. O. Rosborough, the successor of Dr. Fairchild in the pastorate of George's Creek and his warm personal friend, preached the funeral sermon, from Ps. 74-24: "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and after- ward receive me to glory." The service was closed with an elo- quent address by the Rev. Samuel Wilson, D. D., of Dunlap's Creek, a life long friend of the deceased. After these services, which were held in the Old Frame meeting house, the four el-
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ders of the Tent, viz .: F. H. Oliphant, Humphrey Humphreys, John T. Smith and Alex. Deyarman, bore the precious dust of this great man to their final resting place.
Singular injustice has been done to the memory of Dr. Fair- child by the historians of Fayette county and of Redstone Pres- bytery. His worth as a man-his greatness as an author-his phenomenal work in the history of the church in this region, have all been overlooked, not to say slighted. In the Providence of God, Dr. Fairchild was raised up to beat back the tide of fanaticism and false doctrines, and well did he do his work. He was naturally modest and retiring and was almost forced into this position by his brethren. His works have an almost world- wide circulation and are of standard value. Dr. Fairchild, though slighted by history, is sustained in the hearts of his people and his friends. A professor of the Western Theological Seminary missing Dr. Fairchild from Synod that year and learning the cause, remarked: "The archer has been looking over the mem- bership of this Synod and has selected the most shining mark for his arrow."
For a number of years the church was served by supplies and pastors who remained a short time. Among these were Rev. Messrs. Wycoff, Hench, Perkins, Dickey, Martin and Rogers.
On the morning of April 14th, 1878, the church was burned down, having taken fire from a defective flue. Every member of the congregation who came to church that morning was sadden- ed in heart by the sight of the heap of ruins. This was a heavy blow to the church, which was weak already from deaths and re- movals of its members. Some predicted that the church would not survive this loss, but they did not know the spirit of the men to whose hearts the Tent was a sacred place. With characteris- tic promptness and energy they went to work to repair the loss. $1,500 was raised for this work and we have as the result, the present neat and comfortable structure.
The building was rededicated on August 4th, '78, and the Rev. S. S. Bergen was installed pastor of the congregation at the same time. He continued to serve the congregation in this ca-
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pacity nntil March, 1882, when the pastoral relation was dis- solved.
In May, 1882, the Rev. M. C. Bailey, a member of the Pres- bytery of Carlisle, supplied the pulpit and received a call to serve this church, in connection with the churches of Fairchance and McClellandtown, giving the church the morning service of every alternate Sabbath, the remuneration for these services being $300. Mr. Bailey accepted the call and assumed the work, June 22d, and in October 30th, of the same year, was installed by a committee, consisting of the Revs. H. O. Rosborough and A. S. Milholland. The winter following this installation the church experienced a delightful work of grace. December 2d, 1883, the following elders were ordained, viz .: Joseph Thomas, Chas. L. Smith and Sam'l P. Custead, and Jared Burchinal was installed at the same time with them.
MCKEESPORT.
BY REV. J. J. M'CARRELL.
The town of Mckeesport was laid out in 1795. The earliest record of Presbyterian services therein bears date of 1801. At this time commissioners from "Mckeesport and vicinity," ap- peared before the Presbytery of Redstone and made application for the services of Rev. Boyd Mercer one half of his time. The Presbyterians of Mckeesport united with people of like faith, in Pitt township (since Beulah Church), in supporting the Gospel. Mr. Mercer continued his ministrations as "Supply," at intervals, until 1822. To him belongs the honor of laying the founda-
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tions of organized Presbyterianism in this vicinity. The first formal organization at this place, by the election of elders, was in 1819. The first house of worship was erected the same year. Until this time the congregation worshiped in different buildings, in the houses and on the "grounds" of the members.
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After the close of Mr. Mercer's labors, the church enjoyed only occasional supplies for about two years. A call was then extended to Mr. Alexander McCandless, a licentiate of the Pres- bytery of Ohio, for his pastoral services for one-third of the time, the church of Long Run calling him for the remaining part. This call was accepted. Mr. McCandless began his labors in the "Fall" of 1824, and was ordained and installed over the united charge, April 20th, 1825. The membership of the Mc- Keesport branch of his charge, at this time, seems to have been about thirty. During the pastorate of Mr. McCandless the church seems to have been materially strengthened, although the growth in the membership of this part of his charge did not keep pace with Long Run. At the close of this pastorate, in 1837, the roll of communicants numbered only fifty-two. Mr. McCandless was a man of marked ability, fine scholarship, strong convictions and builded well. He organized the Sabbath School work in the church. He may be said to have been the pioneer of the temperance movement in this community. He severely attacked the prevalent drinking customs and the destruction of grain in the still. The first organized temperance society in the community originated in the Presbyterian church during his pas- torate in 1829.
The vacancy following Mr. McCandless' resignation contin- ued about three years and a half, during which time the church was ministered to by Presbyterial and other supplies.
Rev. Mr. Buston, of the Presbytery of Ohio, served as snp- ply during the winter of 1839 and 1840.
In April, 1841, the congregation called Mr. Wm. Eaton, a licentiate of this Presbytery for one-third of his time, the re- maining part given to Round Hill. Soon afterward the pastoral relation was consummated and continued three years, termina- ting, April, 1844. During this pastorate the first church build-
.
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ing was removed and the second, larger and more pretentious, was erected.
The vacancy created by Mr. Eaton's resignation continued one year. In September of this year (1844) Presbytery held its first stated meeting in this church.
In April, 1845, the church secured the services of Rev. Samuel Hill, of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, as Stated Supply for six months. At the end of that time a majority of the con- gregation desired his continuance. A respectable minority dis- senting, Presbytery refused permission to employ him.
Through all these experiences the church enjoyed a measure of growth and prosperity. In 1846 the membership had increas- ed to 105.
In October, 1846, Mr. Prosper H. Jacob, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Beaver, was employed as Stated Supply for six months. At the close of this engagement, he was called to the pastorate and ordained and installed, June 2d, 1847. For the first time the congregation enjoyed the whole of a pastor's ser- vices. This pastorate was fruitful in good works and substantial growth. The weekly prayer meeting was organized. The benefi- cence of the congregation was stimulated and developed. Dur- ing the four years of this ministry the membership grew from I27 to 281. Discipline seems to have been faithfully adminis- tered and the truth ably defended against open assailants. This relation was dissolved, October 3d, 1851.
During the winter of 1851 and 1852 the church was served by Revs. Nathaniel West, Sr. and Jr. The former was called to the pastorate the following April. He entered immediately upon his work, but was not formally installed until May 2d, 1854. Dr. West, a veritable "Son of Thunder," came to the work well equipped in body and mind. A man of strong convictions and imperious will, he was often "a man of war." He would toler- ate none who walked disorderly. His ministry was marked by the discipline of many offenders, often indicating zeal untempered by prudence and love. These frequent disturbances seem to have seriously affected the growth and spirituality of the church. Notwithstanding numerous accessions, the membership at the
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close was less than at the beginning of his ministry. Yet he was instrumental in doing most valuable service. During his incumbency the third and present (1887) house of worship was erected. The people were soundly indoctrinated in the faith of the Fathers. The Sabbath School was reorganized and placed upon a more substantial basis. One sermon was substituted for the primitive double service on the Sabbath and other salutary changes were introduced. The fruitage of this strong but strange ministry will not be known till the "great day of final account." Dr. West's pastoral relation was dissolved, July, 1856.
The vacancy following the above dissolution was of short duration. Robert F. Wilson, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, was called to the pastorate, September Ist, 1856. Mr. Wilson was ordained and installed, November 20th, of the same year. The church, at this time, with a membership of 194, a commodious and substantial house of worship in the midst of a prosperous and growing community, was in a condition for do- ing great good. Mr. Wilson entered upon his ministry under favorable circumstances. His pastorate of nearly eleven years was marked by spiritual power and steady growth in every de- partment of the church work. Three revivals occurred during his ministry. Besides these revival times, there were constant accessions as the months went by, making an average of about eighteen on profession of faith each year of his ministry, besides considerable accessions from other churches. At the close of this pastorate the membership was reported at two hundred and seventy. During these years, the benevolent enterprises of the church at home and abroad were systematically cared for. The records of this pastorate indicate a laborer conscientious and faithful, needing not to be ashamed, and through the divine bles- sing, a corresponding prosperity in the church. Those "troub- lous times" of the civil war were assigned to this incumbency. Some seventy-five of the sons of the church were in the army and navy of the Union. The clouds which hung oftentimes so heavy over the country at large, also gathered about this congre- gation of God's people. Under these clouds the sun of this successful ministry "went to his setting." Against the earnest
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protest of friends, Mr. Wilson placed his resignation, in the hands of Presbytery, April, 1867, and was released, May 14th of the same year.
The vacancy following the above resignation continued more than two years. During these years supplies were regularly ob- tained and repeated efforts made to secure a pastor.
In March, 1868, a call was extended to Rev. S. C. Logan, then Secretary of Committee of Missions for Freedmen. The call was declined, but Mr. Logan for a time served as regular supply.
In July, 1868, a call was made for the services of Rev. W. S. Wright, but declined.
In October, of the same year, a call was issued to Rev. W. H. Gill, with like results.
Finally, in April, 1869, a call was made for the services of Rev. G. M. Hair, of Baltimore. This call was accepted and the installation took place, November 9th, following. Prosperity seemed to visit the church once more. A Domestic Missionary Society had been formed among the ladies during the preceding vacancy. A Dorcas Society in the Sabbath School for clothing children in need of such aid was added. The church was, at an early day, free from debt. The church building was lighted with gas. During the first year of this ministry the member- ship increased 242 to 288. The benevolent causes of the church were systematically aided. The congregation acquired fixed habits of worship. The Sabbath School was more prosperous than ever. The outlook seemed bright, indeed. Financial diffi- culties, however, began to appear in deficiencies in the current expense funds. In the spring of 1871 the congregation resolved to build a parsonage and finished it with an almost crushing debt upon them. The people became so disheartened that the pastor felt constrained to offer his resignation. The relation was dis- solved, August 20th, 1872, after a ministry of less than three years.
Rev. J. W. Wightman was called to the pastorate, October IIth, 1872, after a vacancy in the church of less than two months. He accepted and was installed, December 31st, of the same year.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
Mr. Wightman found the congregation burdened with a debt of $8,000 and the church property sadly in need of repairs. Through "great tribulation" this heavy burden of debt was lifted and the church once more enjoyed increasing prosperity. Large ingatherings annually proved the presence of the Spirit in the ministrations of the pastor and the hearts of the people. Not- withstanding the great financial depression, not a blank appears in any of the benevolent schemes of the church at large during this pastorate. The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was organized and the whole work systematically pressed forward. At the close of this pastorate, August 25th, 1877, the church was on a firm financial basis. The membership had increased to three hundred and twenty-seven, the Sabbath School to three hundred and fifty.
After a vacancy of less than a month Rev. Samuel McBride was called to the pastorate. He was installed, November 13th, 1877. This incumbency, of just two years, was an epoch in the history of the church. A man of popular address, Mr. Mc- Bride drew large congregations to hear him preach. In less than two years more than one hundred were admitted to membership on confession of faith, besides a number on certificate. In the spring of 1879 the number of communicants was reported at 412. Difficulties, however, arose in the congregation. The well established members became dissatisfied with new methods intro- duced, and entertained grave suspicions as to the character of doctrine preached. Want of confidence increased. The case reached Presbytery. As a compromise, the pastoral relation was dissolved, November 13th, 1879, Mr. McBride agreeing to leave the bounds of the Presbytery. As a consequence of the whole trouble, a large number of the communicants withdrew from the church. Out of a membership of 412 reported to the General Assembly in 1879, only 204 were reported to Assembly of 1880. Thus weakened, discouraged, almost paralyzed, the congregation was left to begin again. During the winter of '79 and '80 the church had supplies.
April 5th, 1880, a call was extended to Rev. J. K. McKallip and was declined.
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PRESBYTERY OF REDSTONE.
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