USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of the Presbytery of Erie : embracing in its ancient boundaries the whole of northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio : with biographical sketches of all its ministers and historical sketches of its churches > Part 12
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In 1861 there were few changes. On the 8th of May, Rev. James Hilliar Spelman (99) was received from the Presbytery of Hudson of the other branch. On the same day, John Haskell Sargent (101), a licen- tiate of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, was received under the care of Presbytery, and on the 26th of June, ordained as an evangelist. On the 8th of May, Robert Taylor (102), a member of the Mercer County Bar-
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was licensed to preach the gospel, and on the 13th of November ordained and installed as pastor of the con- gregation of Warren, Pa. On the 20th of June, Mr. Condit was ordained as an evangelist. Both Mr. Con- dit and Mr. Sargent were ordained with reference to missionary work in the bounds of Presbytery. On the 26th of June, the name of the Fairview church was changed to Westminster. Fairview church had been gathered by Rev. Johnston Eaton, and was one of the oldest churches on the roll of Presbytery. But the changes of the times had placed it wholly outside of Fairview Township, and the name was consequently changed. On the 8th of April, Mr. J. M. Condit was dismissed to the Presbytery of Canton, China.
It was during this year that the Presbytery first placed upon record its deliverance on the state of the country, in connection with the war of the Rebellion. After approving of the conduet of its commissioners 1 to the General Assembly, in sustaining the . Spring Resolutions," they further say : " Presbytery, moreover, desires to express its hearty concurrence in the action adopted by the General Assembly, declaring it to be the duty of the Presbyterian Church, loyally to support the Government of the United States in its present struggle, regarding said action as being consistent with the patriotic devotion to the principles of civil and re- ligious liberty, which said church has never failed to manifest, and which said government is so well and wisely adapted, as its organization was designed, to secure.
" Looking upon the present conflict as being, substan- tially, for the maintenance and preservation of what our revolutionary struggle was waged to establish (for
1 Rev. S. J. M. Eaton, and Elder Elias Alexander, of Mercer.
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the success of the present rebellion would go far, we believe, to endanger republican institutions themselves, by destroying confidence in them), we would be unfaith- ful to our noble record as a church, if now we should fail, in every proper way, to show our attachment to those institutions, to help to give us which, its ministers, ruling elders, and members, were amongst the first in offering treasure and blood, together with their prayers to the God who giveth the victory to whom He will." 1
In 1862 there were the usual changes. On the 10th of June, Mr. Scott was released from the pastoral charge of the congregations of Greenfield, Evansburg, and Harmonsburg, and Mr. Junkin installed at Greenville. On the same day, Newell S. Lowrie (103), a licentiate of the Presbytery of Saltsburg, was received under the care of Presbytery, and on the 27th of October, ordained and installed as pastor of the congregations of Conneautville and Harmonsburg. At the same time, James Hervey Gray .(104), a licentiate of the Presby- tery of Alleghany City, received under the care of Presbytery the preceding day, was ordained as an evan- gelist. On the 26th of September, Mr. Taylor was re- leased from the pastoral charge of Warren, Pa., and dismissed to the 2d Presbytery of Philadelphia.
In 1863, the Presbytery added one to the number of its ministers, and dismissed three to other Presbyteries. On the 26th of September, Rev. William Porter Moore (106) was received from the Presbytery of Clarion. On the 15th of April, Rev. William T. Hamilton, D. D., (105), was restored to the functions of the ministry. On the 23d of September, Mr. Sargent was dismissed to the Presbytery of Londonderry. On the 26th of September, Mr. Scott was dismissed to the Presbytery
1 Min. vi. 201, 202.
11
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of Steubenville, and on the 22d of December, Mr. Black- burn was released from the pastoral charge of the con- gregation of Park Church, Erie, and dismissed to the Presbytery of New Brunswick. On the 20th of Octo- ber, the second church of Mercer was organized. This was a colony from the first church of Mercer, and con- sisted of forty-eight members, with three ruling elders.
During the year 1864 there was a slight gain in the membership of Presbytery. On the 23d of February, Mr. Shields was released from the pastoral charge of the congregations of Georgetown and Fairfield, and dis- missed to the Presbytery of Alleghany City. On the 13th of April, Rev. George Fairies Cain (107) was re- ceived from the Presbytery of Newton, and on the 11th of May, installed as pastor of Park Church, Erie. On the 13th of April, Mr. Spelman was dismissed to the Presbytery of Washington. On the 12th of May, Dr. " Hamilton was installed as pastor of the church of War- ren, Pa. On the 13th of April, Mr. J. G. Condit was released from the pastoral charge of the congregation of Sandy Lake. On the 14th of June, Rev. William M. Robinson (108) was received from the Presbytery of Washington, and the next day installed as pastor of the congregation of the Second Church, Mercer. On the same day, Mr. J. R. Hamilton was released from the pastoral charge of the congregations of Sturgeonville, Girard, and Westminster, he having accepted the office of chaplain in the army of the United States. On the same day Rev. David Waggoner (54) was received from the Presbytery of Beaver, and on the 24th of June in- stalled as pastor of the congregation of Georgetown for three fourths of his time, and on the 1st of July for the remaining fourth as pastor of Greenfield. On the 26th of September, Mr. J. G. Condit was dismissed to the
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Presbytery of Fairfield, and on the 13th of December, Luther Martin Belden (109), a licentiate of the Pres- bytery of Redstone, was received under the care of Presbytery, and on the next day ordained and in- stalled pastor of the congregations of Sturgeonville and Westminster.
In the year 1865, delegates were appointed to the Presbyteries of the other branch, Erie and Meadville, to convey the fraternal salutations of the Presbytery, and to endeavor to inaugurate a more friendly and sociable feeling between the bodies. The delegate to the Presbytery of Meadville, Dr. Reynolds, was pre- vented by ill health from fulfilling his mission. The delegate to the Erie Presbytery, Mr. Eaton, met with that Presbytery, was kindly and affectionately received, and assured of the fraternal regard of the brethren. A delegate was appointed to return the compliment. This delegate, Rev. William Grassie, met with the Presbytery, and expressed the kind wishes and Christian salutations of his brethren. The interchange was kind and feeling, and was regarded as the harbinger of better things to conie.
On the 26th of April of this year, Rev. John Rice (110) was received from the Presbytery of Saltsburg, and Mr. Howey released from the pastoral charge of the congregations of Sugar Creek and Mill Creek. On the 29th of September, Mr. J. R. Hamilton was dis- missed to the Presbytery of Washington. . On the 8th of November, Sammuel M. Glenn,1 a member of the church of Mill Creek, was licensed to preach the gospel. Mr. Glenn was a son of Rev. Robert Glenn (14), one
1 Graduate of Jefferson College; Western Theological Seminary. Dismissed to Presbytery of Columbus. Pastor of the Church of Lithopolis.
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of the valued members of Presbytery, who now rested from his labors. On the 24th of September, the church of Petroleum Centre was organized. This church con- sisted of fourteen members with two ruling elders, and was made up of new material in a new town, in the oil region of Venango County. On the 26th of April, Dr. Hamilton was deposed from the ministry.
On the 26th of April, of this year, the following deliverance was made on the state of the country : -
" Whereas, in the great and desolating war waged to divide and destroy our government, which has con- tinued now more than four years, during the first two or three years with varying success, often apparently to the advantage of the insurgents, our arms have in the course of the last year, and especially during the past few weeks, met with extraordinary and uninterrupted suc- cess, so that at present our government is in possession of every important harbor and seacoast city and town, from Maine to Eastern Texas, and our flag again floats over the fort, against which the first shot of the gigan- tic rebellion was aimed, and from which it was removed after having been lowered by its heroic garrison at the close of a gallant defense; and whereas, we are in possession of the capitol of the so-called confederate government ; and whereas the general-in-chief of the rebel military forces has surrendered himself, and the principal army of the rebellion, to our armies, and the other armies of the rebellion, with few and compara- tively insignificant exceptions, have surrendered and been destroyed as organized bodies ; therefore ---
" Resolved, That our thanks and praises are due to Jehovah of Hosts, whose right-arm, we would distinctly acknowledge, has given us the victory.
" Resolved, That the wisdom and goodness of the
HISTORY. 165
Providence of God are now clearly discernible in the light of events, in the long dark period of our disasters, in that, whilst afflicting, He has humbled us, and by trib- ulation, was leading us to a more full realization of what we are so slow to learn - our dependence on Him alone, the necessity of earnest prayer to Him with confession of our national sins with contrite hearts, the evil and guilt and barbarism of slavery, and the need of its utter re- moval from the land.
" Resolved, That our most hearty thanks are due to God, that through all our troubles and distresses, Ile has sustained the hope and confidence and courage of this great nation, so that the hearts of the people have not fainted, nor their strength failed.
" Resolved, That we record with deep gratitude the disposition of the loyal people of our country to see and confess the good hand of our God in our victories, and the unanimity with which, as under a common strong impulse of religious emotion, they showed forth their joy by acts and words of devout adoration.
Resolved, That we heartily rejoice at the prospect of early peace - a peace, the result of the triumph of the arms we were required by duty to God and our country to take up, in behalf and defense of right and justice and true liberty. May God, who has helped us hitherto, ,grant that these hopes of early peace may not be dis- appointed." 1
With reference to the assassination of the President of the United States, the following paper was passed : " Whereas, in his providence, always wise, often mysteri- ous, God has permitted the removal of our late honored Chief Magistrate, by the hand of an assassin, connected with a band of conspirators having in view the disorgan- ization of our Federal Government: Therefore -
1 Min. vii. 94-97.
1
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" Resolved, That it becomes us as a people to bow in humble though sorrowing acquiescence under the heavy affliction, while declaring our abhorrence and condemna- tion of the enormous crime against the government, in which we see the spirit of barbarism, begotten out of the same iniquitous system out of which also sprang treason and rebellion, with all the cruelties inflicted on prisoners in Southern prisons, massacres of surrendered garrisons, lawless guerrilla warfare, etc.
" Resolved, That in the assassination of our late President, and attempted assassination of Secretary Seward, and the no-doubt purposed assassination of other high officers, we discover a legitimate fruit of the evil and dangerous tendency of the abuse of the great acknowl- edged American rights of the freedom of speech and of the press, showing itself in vituperation, threats, violent and intemperate denunciation, etc., of officers of the government, an evil confined to no particular time or class of persons, although of late it has been specially prevalent and intensely virulent.
" Resolved, In view of its tendency to demoralize and pervert the judgment and conscience, as made manifest in this rebellion, in conspiracies to burn and destroy cities and towns ; to commit robberies ; to put in jeop- ardy the lives of women and children, and other non-com- batants, by attempts to hurl trains of passenger cars from railroad tracks, far away from the seat of war, and when such acts can have no possible influence in its progress favorable to the cause in the interests of which they are professedly done ; and in encouraging assassina- tions of officers of government - a mode of warfare long since condemned by the civilized world as illegiti- mate and abhorrent to every human sentiment; and in view of its numerous evil effects on the white population
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wherever brought into contact with it, as well as in view of the monstrous wrong it is to the black race : That we rejoice in the prospect of the speedy, utter dis- appearance of slavery from the land; and to seek to hasten that disappearance, by all legitimate means, we regard to be the duty of all good men.
" Resolved, That it is the duty of all, to render a hearty support and sympathy to President Johnson, with prayers for divine counsel in his behalf, as now the head of this government.
" Resolved, That Presbytery recommend to all churches and church-members under our care the ob- servance of Thursday, June the Ist (1865), next, as a day of humiliation and prayer, in compliance with the recently issued proclamation of President Johnson." 1
In 1866, the changes were few. On the 25th of April, Mr. Gray and Mr. Howey were dismissed, the former to the Presbytery of Clarion, the latter to the Presbytery of Columbus ; and on the same day Mr. Belden was released from the pastoral charge of West- minster. On the 11th of July, Mr. Lambe (111) was ordained and installed as pastor of the congregation of Milledgeville for one half of his time. On the 23d of October, Mr. Glenn, licentiate, was dismissed to put himself under the care of the Presbytery of Columbus, and Rev. James Junius Marks, D. D. (112), was re- ceived from the Presbytery of Ohio. On the 13th of December, Robert Stansbury Van Cleve (113), a licen- tiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, was received under the care of Presbytery, and ordained as an evan- gelist.
In the year 1867, there were not many changes. On the 8th of May, Mr. Junkin was released from the pas-
1 Min. vii. 96-98.
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toral charge of Greenville; Mr. Van Cleve was dis- missed to the Presbytery of Buffalo, of the other branch ; Rev. John J. Gridley (114) was received from the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rev. J. Jones Smyth (115) from the Presbytery of Indianap- olis ; and on the 25th of September, Rev. David Patten (116) from the Reformed Presbyterian church. The name of the church of Mount Vernon was changed to Pleasantville, and the church of Tidioute reorganized, out of what had been the church of Deerfield. This church had been anciently called Tidioute, but had been changed to Deerfield, and now changed back to Tidioute. The church of Cochranton was also re- ceived from the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
During the last years of this period, many interesting revivals of religion have taken place. Many of the churches were very greatly refreshed and enlarged. In the year 1859, there were reported two hundred and seventy-six members as added on examination. In the next year, two hundred and forty-eight, and in 1867, three hundred and eighty-six. This latter was a year of the right-hand of the Most High, - a year when God seemed to be opening the windows of heaven in mercy to the children of men. During this year, there was a very general feeling of revival through the churches of the Presbytery, with the largest ingather- ing in its entire history.
CHAPTER VII.
SUPPLEMENTAL.
THE roll of the Presbytery has been constantly changing. This has been owing not only to the com- mon mortality that belongs to the human family, but chiefly to other causes. Since the origin of the Pres- bytery, it has been essentially missionary ground. In some sections of its territory, it is almost as destitute of the means of grace as in 1803, when "Supplications " were made for supplies. Many of its congregations are weak from the circumstances of the country and population. They have always remained weak. Some sections have been weakened by the division of Pres- bytery in 1838. Others, again, have been constantly depleted by emigration to the West. The consequence has been that pastoral settlements have been of short continuance, as a general rule. Some of the early fathers lived and died in the charges in which they were originally settled, but these were rare exceptions, and generally where they had procured property, when land was cheap, and drew a part of their livelihood from the soil. Ordinarily the meagreness of the sala- ries has induced the necessity of frequent changes, and the breaking up of pastoral relations that were other- wise pleasant, and would have been permanent.
There have been upon the roll of Presbytery, since
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its organization, the names of one hundred and six- teen ministers. Of this number, forty-eight rest from their labors, and are now ministering in a higher and sublimer service in the Upper Sanctuary. It can truly be said : " Their works do follow them." The aver- age age of these forty-eight departed brethren was sixty-five years ; if we take the first thirty on the roll, the average age was seventy years, whilst the oldest three, James Satterfield, Josephi Badger, and Amos Chase, reached the patriarchal age of ninety years. Of these only eighteen actually died within the territory of the Presbytery and slumber amid the scenes of their labor in this Presbytery.
The oldest minister now living, whose name is on the roll of the Presbytery, is Daniel Washburn, of the State of New York, now in his seventy-sixth year ; the next oldest is David MeKinney.
It would be delightful to linger over the necrology of these deceased fathers and brethren, to speak of their labor and toil and suffering, in the Master's work ; but time will not permit. Their record is on high. And when the Great Head and King in Zion makes up his jewels, and writes up the number of his people, it will be found that this and that man were born in Zion, through the instrumentality of their labors, until a mighty multitude shall stand before the throne, as the fruit of their ministry. Their record will be bright and beautiful
" When gems and crowns and monuments
ยท Lie mouldering in the dust."
Of these one hundred and sixteen ministers, fifteen were born in foreign lands ; and of these, ten were born in Ireland, two in Scotland, two in Germany, and one in England. Of those who were natives of the
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United States, fifty-six were born in Pennsylvania, nine in Massachusetts, six in Ohio, five in New York, five in New Jersey, four in Connecticut, three in Vermont, two in Delaware, two in Maryland, two in Virginia, and one in Indiana, leaving three whose place of birth is un- known.
The members of this Presbytery have graduated or studied at the following institutions, namely : Cannons- burg Academy and Jefferson College, fifty-one ; Wash- ington College, Pa., six; College of New Jersey, five; Yale, four; Dickinson, three; Western University of Pennsylvania, two; and one each from the following : Alleghany, Pa .; La Fayette ; Marshall ; University of Pa. ; Madison; Rhode Island College; Middlebury, Vt. ; Amherst ; Union, N. Y .; Muskingum, O .; Miamie University ; Hanover, Ind. ; Dartmouth ; Williams, and Glasgow University. In addition to these, a few studied at academies, and of two, the place of study is unknown.
The theological education of the earlier ministers, was mainly pursued privately, under the superinten- dence of some laborious pastor. No less than twenty of them studied under Rev. John MeMillan, D. D., one of the earliest pioneers, not only in preaching the gos- pel, but in lifting up the standard of education west of the Alleghany mountains. From him they received a system of theology, that they copied out laboriously, and afterwards taught to pupils who studied under them ; so that the influence of Dr. McMillan's teaching did not stop with his immediate pupils, but extended to those who never saw his face or heard his voice.
After the establishment of theological seminaries, Phineas Camp, received in 1819, was the first minister in the Presbytery who had been an inmate of a sem-
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inary. He was a student of Princeton. Since that date, the Western Theological Seminary has furnished forty- one members; Princeton, nineteen ; Andover, two ; Union Theological Seminary, two ; Oxford, one ; and Auburn, one.
Of the older ministers on the roll, three at least, Joseph Badger, Johnston Eaton, and Benjamin Boyd, were regular government chaplains during the war of 1812. Of the younger members, eleven at least served as regular government chaplains during the late re- bellion, and of these, three suffered imprisonment at the hands of the enemy. In addition to the regular service, nine at least were in the service of the Chris- tian Commission for a greater or less period of time.
There is but one permanent office in the Presbytery, that of Stated Clerk. This office has been held by twelve different persons. William Wick was Stated Clerk from 1802 to 1809; Samuel Tait from 1809 to 1811; John McPherrin from 1811 to 1812; Cyrus Riggs from 1812 to 1821; Timothy Alden from 1821 to 1822; Johnston Eaton from 1822 to 1838; Wells Bushnell from 1838 to 1839; Reuben Lewis from 1839 to 1840; Absalom MeCready from 1840 to 1842; John V. Reynolds from 1842 to 1851; David Waggoner from 1851 to 1853; and S. J. M. Eaton from 1853 to the present time.
The early fathers, and many of the younger brethren of the Presbytery of Erie, have passed away, and the angels are now listening to their songs; but they have left impressions behind them that will never be oblit- erated until the new heavens and the new earth shall take the place of those that now are. The record of their orthodoxy, their piety, their burning love for souls, and their self-denying labors, is not only written in God's
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great Book above, but is impressed upon the very hills and valleys that once resounded with their voices. More than this : it is written upon the green prairies of the great West ; in the distant States of New Eng- land, and in the stirring region of Texas. And this record is to be gathered amid the quiet homes of many States ; in the lonely military camp ; amid the rush and storm and crash of the battle-field, where death holds fearful carnival ; in the hospital, amid plague and pes- tilence and dire mutilating wounds ; and amid all the varied vicissitudes of life, wherever sin has brought suffering and peril and danger. This sweet and beau- titul record is to be found, wherever the breaking heart has called for comfort, and tearful eyes have looked for relief throughout all our broad land, and in other lands.
The influence of these men is felt in almost every community in Western Pennsylvania, in the peculiar type of religious faith and practice that prevails. The early fathers began their work when society was in a plastic state. The impressions they made became per- manent. They have been handed down from one gen- eration to another. They still affect the tone and character of society.
In addition to all this, their example is on record. It is a bright and luminous chapter in the history of the church of Jesus Christ. Though dead, they yet speak - speak to the churches ; speak to us, their younger brethren, telling us -
" The vows
Of God are on us, and we may not stop To play with shadows, or pluck earthly flowers, Till we our work have done and rendered up Account."
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BIOGRAPHIES OF DECEASED MINISTERS. " These all died in faith."
BIOGRAPHICAL.
-
(1.) THOMAS EDGAR HUGHES.
1798-1838.
MR. HUGHES, who heads the long roll of the Pres- bytery of Erie, was a notable man in his day. Ile was the first minister of the gospel who settled north of the Ohio River. Ile was of Welsh origin. His grand- father, William Hughes, emigrated from Wales at an early period, and died at the advanced age of one hun- dred years. His father, Rowland Hughes, died January 4, 1779, aged fifty-six years. Rowland Hughes was twice married. By his first wife he had two sons and one daughter. Each of these obtained a good report. Ilis second wife was Elizabeth Smiley, daugliter of Robert Smiley, long an elder in Scotland. By this marriage he had five sons and one daughter. Each of these was of good repute in the household of faith. Three were ministers of the gospel, James, Rowland, and Thomas Edgar. Two were associate judges and ruling elders, and the sister, Mrs. Isabella Anderson, was the mother of two ministers and one ruling elder.
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