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 8
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Its members numbered but six, one less than when it held its first meeting in 1802. Samuel Tait was settled at Salem and Mercer; Johnston Eaton at Fairview and Erie ; Tra Condit at Fairfield, Big Sugar Creek, and Sandy ; Amos Chase without charge ; Timothy Alden, President of Alleghany College ; and Phineas Camp at Westfield, New York. At the next meeting of Synod, they reported twenty-nine congregations, the names of which, in addition to the pastoral charges given above, are : Westfield, Poland, Springfield, North East, Ripley, Conneaut, Waterford, Middlebrook, Cussawago, Gravel Run, Union, Oil Creek, Great Brokenstraw, Lottsville, Beachwoods, Warren, Tidioute, Alleghany, Conneaut Lake, Harmonsburg, and United Christian Society.
The circumstances under which the Presbytery were now situated, were somewhat discouraging. There
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were but four pastoral charges, leaving over twenty vacant churches to be supplied and nurtured. And these vacancies were generally weak. With the exception of Meadville, not one, or even two combined, seemed able to support a minister. Still the Presbytery do not seem disheartened, but give themselves to the work, and set forward as though they meant to accomplish the work set before them.
The first meeting of Presbytery, after bidding fare- well to the brethren who were to set up the gates of the Presbytery of Alleghany, was at Gravel Run, Penn- sylvania, on the 17th day of April, 1821. Mr. Tait was chosen moderator, and Mr. Alden clerk. John Van Liew (30), a licentiate of the Classis of New Brunswick, being present, was received under the care of Presby- tery. Mr. Van Liew was a licentiate of the Reformed Dutch Church. He was licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick, N. J., and had preached but a short time before coming into the bounds of the Presbytery. The prospect was promising for his settlement at Meadville, and he was willing to change his ecclesiastical relation in order to enter this field of usefulness. He was a young man, and while in the dew of youth, entered zealously upon the work.
As a part of the minutes of this meeting of Presby- tery, the narrative of the state of religion is recorded. It is the first instance in which this was done. It is reported that " there is an increasing attention to the means of grace. Our vacancies are earnestly soliciting ministerial labors. Several congregations have been organized during the year, and some are preparing for, and are uncommonly anxious to settle, a minister."
"Our benevolent societies have felt the general pressure of the times; but, unwilling to relax in their
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exertions, have, in some cases, given their mites in clothing and books for the Indian schools.
" In some congregations, there have been a number of hopeful additions. The most general awakening has been in Mercer and Salem, which were visited last sum- mer with the special influences of the Spirit of God. The fruits of these gracious influences have been sixty added to the church."
"The number of Sabbath-schools has been increasing, and their efforts flattering. The monthly concert of prayer is attended, and in some of our churches the pious are in the habit of spending Wednesday evening for the effusion of the Divine influence on the ministers. and churches with which they are in connection."
This is the first mention of the Sabbath-school enter- prise. It is not probable that schools were organized generally through the country churches. The people generally were scattered over a large extent of country, and could not conveniently meet for that purpose. But in the towns and villages the matter seems to have been generally attended to. Mr. Alden was the great apostle of Sabbath-schools in the Presbytery. When not engaged in his Indian missions, he spent his available time in going through its bounds, organizing schools, visiting those already organized, and encouraging the enterprise by his counsel and his efforts. The facilities for carrying on schools were not good. Books were scarce and un- suitable in character. The Bible, the Catechism, and oral instruction must be the chief dependence. And these, with an earnest prayerful heart on the part of teachers and superintendent, were blessed to great good by the Head of the Church.
On the 21st day of August, 1821, John Van Liew was ordained and installed as pastor of the congre-
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gation of Meadville. In these services Mr. Eaton preached from these words: "How shall they hear without a preacher ?" Rom. iii. 10; and Mr. Chase pre- sided and delivered the charges.
This settlement of Mr. Van Liew was the dawn of better days to the church of Meadville. For the last three or four years they had been dependent mainly on ' supplies. During a portion of that time, by a private arrangement, they had enjoyed the labors of Mr. Al- den and Allan D. Campbell,1 then in connection with the Associate Reformed Church. These brethren sup- plied on alternate Sabbaths. But there was dissatisfac- tion in the church. At one time they were on the eve of calling Mr. Campbell, and putting the church under the care of the Associate Reformed Presbytery. But this intention failed. The people became united in Mr. Van Liew ; the feeling of dissatisfaction with the Pres- bytery ceased, and the church began to prosper. The whole of Mr. Van Liew's time was taken, and the con- gregation was thenceforward self-sustaining.
On the 21st of August, 1821, Mr. Camp's pastoral relation to the church of Westfield, N. Y., was dissolved. The pastoral work was not so congenial to him as the work of an Evangelist. He felt most at home when travelling from place to place, and seeking out destitute points, and preaching the Word of Life.
In February, 1822, Presbytery, after considering the destitution of the vacant churches under its care, sent a pastoral letter to each vacant church, proposing a plan for their relief, and stimulating them to exertion on their own part. After reminding them of their delin- quencies in the matter of remunerating their supplies, they say : "The plan we have adopted for the pur- 4 1 Born in England, 1791; licensed, 1815; ordained, 1818; died, 1861.
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pose of remedying this defeet, is as follows : Every vacant congregation shall become responsible by its proper officers, or otherwise, for as large a sum as can be raised with certainty within the bounds. The sum thus raised, with the aid expected to be obtained from missionary societies, will probably be sufficient for the support of a missionary the whole year. As an induce- ment for exertion, we hold out the assurance that every congregation shall receive its quota of missionary labor in proportion to the moneys raised within its bounds. Let it be also understood that the service of the missionary in each place will, with the expected aid from abroad, be nearly double the amount subscribed."
This appeal was responded to at the next meeting of Presbytery by eleven churches, reporting in the aggre- gate two hundred and eighty-two dollars and fifty cents.
In the autumn of 1822, Mr. Tait was appointed by Synod as superintendent, pro tem., of the mission fam- ily about to be located among the Ottowa Indians on the Maumee River, and the Presbytery was directed to supply his pulpit during his absence. This position he held for about seven months.
In the mean time trouble was brewing in Springfield, in Erie County, Pa. A Presbyterian church had been organized there by Mr. Eaton in the year 1806. Of this church he had been the pastor for many years. About the year 1821, a Congregational church was formed. The consequence was, that the efforts of the people were divided. Biekerings and heart-burnings were engendered, and the matter was brought to the notice of Synod. The Congregational wing of the church had applied to the Presbytery of Grand River to be taken under its care. This Presbytery was advised by Synod not to take the church under its care, and
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a committee appointed to visit Springfield to endeavor to reconcile difficulties, and recommending the two con- gregations of Springfield to observe the 15th of the fol- lowing November as a day of fasting and prayer.
The committee, consisting of Thomas Edgar Hughes, an old member of the Presbytery of Erie, E. T. Wood- ruff, and Randolph Stone, visited Springfield, held a " free conversation " with the people of the two congre- gations, and heard statements from both parties. The Presbyterian brethren were then requested to withdraw, when the committee proposed to the Congregational brethren a union with the Presbyterians, on condition of being present at the examination of candidates for membership in the church, and asking such questions as conscience might dictate, and also of attending all cases of trial and discipline. This was agreed to. The Congregational brethren then withdrew, and the Pres- byterian brethren were called in. The terms of union on the part of the former were laid before them and agreed to, and the Congregationalists were called in, when the following resolution was mutually adopted : -
" Resolved, That the present ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church, namely, Charles Manly, Isaac Miller, James Blair, Robert Porter, and Allen Law, and the present acting deacon in the Congregational church, namely, William Branch, be, and are hereby consti- tuted, the standing committee of the United Church of Springfield, according to the principles of union recom- mended by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and the General Association of Connecti- cut." 1
Against this action of the committee, the Presbytery complained. The elders of the church at Springfield
1 Minutes of Synod, 1823.
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wrote to Presbytery for advice in the matter. After discussing the action of the committee, Presbytery re- solved that said committee had "assumed a stretch of power not authorized by the constitution or usages of the Presbyterian Church, in setting aside the eldership of the Presbyterian Church of Springfield, as the said Synodical committee virtually did, by appointing a com- mittee that was to supersede the elders of that church ; and therefore that the act of said Synodical committee, and thus setting aside the eldership of that church, is null and void." 1
They further resolved that the elders of said church were the constitutional officers.
At the next meeting of Synod the matter was com- promised and settled by Synod declaring that the action of the committee did not affect the standing or position of the session, but simply added Deacon Branch to their number.
On the 8th of April, 1823, Rev. William Kennedy was received from the Presbytery of Huntington, and at the same meeting dismissed to the Presbytery of Alleghany. He seems to have passed from that Pres- bytery to some other the same year or the next, as his name does not appear on the roll after the next meet- ing of Synod.
On the 1st of October of the same year, John Bar- rett, a licentiate of the Andover Association of 'the Congregational Church, was received under the care of Presbytery. He labored for a time in the vacant churches, but was never settled, and was eventually dis- missed to the care of the Presbytery of Grand River, in 1826.
At this meeting also, Presbytery received under its
1 Min. ii. 142.
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care three candidates for the gospel ministry, - Thomas Anderson (37), a graduate of Washington College, and Absalom McCready (36), and John C. Tidball, graduates of Jefferson College. The first two were eventually licensed and ordained by the Presbytery ; the latter was dismissed to another Presbytery. Mr. Judah Ely, a [ licentiate of the Presbytery of Niagara, was permitted to labor for a time within the bounds, but was never received under the care of Presbytery.
On the 13th of April, 1824, Bradford Marcy (31), was received from the Presbytery of Long Island. He had been living for some time in Crawford County, but had turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In these he was successful. He had no pastoral charge in the Presbytery. Although a man of some learning and zeal, yet his success in the pastoral work was confined to his earlier fields of labor at Islep, on Long Island, and in New Jersey.
On the 21st of June, 1824, the pastoral relation be- tween Mr. Van Liew and the church of Meadville was dissolved. Mr. Van Liew's health had been feeble for some time, and feeling that it might be improved by returning to the sea-board, asked to be released for that purpose. On the following day he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Jersey.
On the 9th of February, 1825, Mr. Camp was dis- missed to the Presbytery of St. Lawrence ; and on the same day David McKinney (32), a licentiate of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, was taken under the care of Presbytery, and accepted calls from the congregation of Erie, Pa. At this meeting Presbytery assigned to Mr. McCready, as a theme for a Latin exegesis : " Non ignari mali miseris, sucurrere disco;" and to Mr. An- derson : " Auri sacra fames."
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On the 2d of March, 1825, Nathan Harned (34), a licentiate of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and Giles Doolittle (33), a licentiate of the Presbytery of Oneida, were received under the care of Presbytery.
On the 13th of April, 1825, David MeKinney was ordained and installed as pastor of the Ist Presby- terian congregation of Erie. In these services Mr. Alden preached, and Mr. Tait delivered the charges. This was the first pastoral settlement in the church at Erie. Mr. Patterson had first labored statedly for a time, and a call was made out for his pastoral labors in connection with North East and Middlebrook, but he was never installed. Afterwards Mr. Eaton labored for some five years from one third to one half of his time, but it was simply as a stated supply. They worshipped at this time in the " Yellow Meeting-house." Mr. Colt was the principal ruling elder and prime patron of the church. He had been converted under the ministra- tions of Mr. MeCurdy of Cross Roads, and had con- nected with the church at Upper Greenfield, on Middle- brook, and was always a consistent, earnest Christian and efficient ruling elder. Now a pastor was called, and the church began to gather strength, and has since exerted a most important influence in the com- munity. The session of the church had been in corre- spondence with Dr. Archibald Alexander in relation to a student of Princeton. The doctor states in a letter dated June 3, 1823: " We are not able to meet the demands for missionaries; not more than a tenth of the calls can be answered." Dr. Alexander had first recommended to Mr. Colt, Joseph II. Jones,1 speaking of him as " a graduate of Harvard University, of re- spectable talents and acquirements, and very amiable in
1 Now Dr. Jones of Philadelphia.
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his manner and disposition." The salary spoken of was " thirty-three dollars per month." Mr. Jones vis- ited Erie, travelling on horseback, and spent some weeks, making a most favorable impression. He after- wards declined the call to Erie. Dr. Alexander then wrote under date of January 16, 1824 : -
" I have concluded to advise that David Mckinney, now in the seminary, should pay you a visit in the Fall. Ile is a young man, not of showy, but of solid talents. As a student, he is indefatigable, and possesses a sound judgment, with an excellent character for piety."
Under these circumstances, Mr. McKinney entered upon the work, and was rewarded with a good degree of success. If the thirty-three dollars per month was not sufficient, it was eked out by teaching and other arrangements.
On the 14th of April, 1825, Giles Doolittle (33) was ordained and installed as pastor of the united congre- gations of North East and Ripley, the former in Erie County, Pa., the latter in Chautauque County, N. Y. In these services, Mr. Eaton preached, and Mr. Tait delivered the charges. North East had been formerly known as Lower Greenfield, and had constituted a part of the pastoral charge of Mr. Patterson, and from which he had been released in 1807. Ripley had not hereto- fore engaged the labors of a pastor. Mr. Doolittle was a most excellent pastor. Accustomed from childhood to exertion and effort, he labored most assiduously for the building up of his congregations. He was successful. His people enjoyed several revivals during his pastor- ate. In some things he differed from his brethren, yet he always had the glory of God in view, and labored earnestly for the good of souls. Although he found many difficulties in his way, he yet, by precept and ex-
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ample sought to lead the erring, the opposing, and the indifferent in the way of life.
In the year 1825, Messrs. Tait and Eaton were appointed to prepare a history of Presbytery, and the members enjoined to grant them such aid as might be in their power. One year from this time the committee reported progress, and were directed to continue their labors.
On the 20th of April, 1825, Nathan Harned was or- dained and installed as pastor of the united congrega- tions of Warren, Sugar Grove, Great Brokenstraw, and Lottsville. Mr. Tait preached on the occasion, and Mr. Chase delivered the charges. Here was a wide field, and one that has continued, with the exception of War- ren, missionary ground for more than forty years.
On the 28th day of December of the same year, Mr. Condit was released from the charge of the congrega- tion of Big Sugar Creek, and devoted the one third of his time to that of Amity, in the Presbytery of Alle- ghany. On the same day, Absalom MeCready (36), and Thomas Anderson (37), were licensed to preach the gospel.
On the 28th of December, 1825, Mr. Tait was re- leased from the pastoral charge of Salem, where he had been laboring for the third of his time; and a call was put into his hands for the whole of his time from the congregation of Mercer. This call was accepted on the following month, when the whole of his time was given to Mercer, until the period of his death.
The first place of preaching in Mercer was the upper room of the jail, an old log building that stood near the Diamond. The first effort towards the erection of a house of worship, was made by drawing logs and put- ting up the body of a house, but the building was never
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covered. After this a brick building was erected, but so frail was the construction, that it was never consid- ered safe, and was finally abandoned. It was not until the year 1830, that a comfortable house was erected.
On the 18th of January, 1826, Mr. Harned was re- leased from the pastoral charge of Great Brokenstraw ; and at the same time the organization of a church at Randolph, in Crawford County, was reported.
On the 11th of April, 1826, Mr. Condit accepted calls from the congregation of Upper Sandy, now George- town. This call was for one third of Mr. Condit's time. On the 24th of May following, Mr. Chase was installed as pastor of the congregation of Oil Creek, for half his time. This church is now known as Titus- ville. Mr. Chase had for the last ten years acted as a missionary through the country now known as the "Oil Region." He had gathered this church, and established a preaching-point at Centerville, in which he was in- stalled the following year, a church having been organ- ized by Mr. Mckinney, and wished for a little relief from the constant travel; yet he reserved still one fourth of his time for the regions beyond.
On the 24th day of May of this year, Wells Bush- nell (35), a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, was received under the care of Presbytery, and · accepted calls from the congregation of Meadville. His ordination took place on the 22d of June follow- ing, when he was regularly installed as pastor of the congregation. In these services, Mr. Stockton, the first pastor of the church, being present by invitation, preached the sermon. Mr. Tait delivered the charge to the pastor, and Mr. Eaton the charge to the people.
On the 24th of May, 1826, Mr. Harned was released from the pastoral charge of the congregations of War-
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ren and Sugar Grove, and on the 22d of June follow- ing, he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Hartford. In June of this year the congregation of North Bank, in Crawford County, was organized.
On the 14th of September, Absalom McCready (36) was ordained and installed as pastor of the united con- gregations of Middlebrook and Beaverdam, in Erie County. Mr. MeKinney preached the sermon, Mr. Tait delivered the charge to the pastor, and Mr. Doo- little the charge to the people.
Middlebrook was formerly known as Upper Green- field, and had constituted a part of Mr. Patterson's charge as early as 1803. It was in fact one of the old- est churches in the bounds of the Presbytery.
On the 19th day of September following, Thomas Anderson (37) was ordained and installed as pastor of the united congregations of Big Sugar Creek, Concord, and Franklin, in Venango County. Mr. Bushnell preached the sermon, Mr. Chase delivered the charge to the pastor, and Mr. MeKinney the charge to the people. Previous to this time Franklin had been under the care of the Presbytery of Alleghany, but was about this time, at the request of the congregation, set over to the Presbytery of Erie. It was an arduous charge upon which Mr. Anderson entered. Concord was twenty miles distant from either of the other two con- gregations, and they were seven miles asunder. The roads were bad, and the weather often stormy. The congregations too, were weak, and the salary small. Once whilst living in Franklin, the barrel of meal and the cruse of oil were just about failing. The family sat down to breakfast on bread and molasses, and coffee. The usual blessing was sought. The bread and molasses were discussed. The minister betook
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him to his study, telling the family that God would provide for them, as Hle fed even the little birds ; the mother sat down to her toil until the evening, when two sons of good Mrs. Bowman appeared with a basket filled with comforts and even luxuries. That night the pastor thanked God for " friends, food, and raiment."
The church of Franklin consisted at the time of Mr. Anderson's settlement of but fourteen members. The first communion was held on the bank of French Creek, under the shade of the trees. He was the first pastor, and always afterward spoke of it as his first love. On the 11th of January, 1827, Pierce Chamberlain (38), a member of the Presbytery of New Castle, was received as a member of Presbytery. He was a meck, quiet, good man, who had devoted much time and labor to missionary work. From the prisons and almshouses of Philadelphia, he had come to the missionary terri- tory of Northwestern Pennsylvania. And he did good service in this work. He was constantly going from point to point, preaching, organizing Sabbath-schools, and encouraging the vacant churches.
On the 11th of January, 1827, the people of Cool Spring petitioned Presbytery for a new organization. They had been disbanded now for some years, and had generally been identified with Mercer. But the settle- ment was filling up. It was some distance to Mercer, and they thought their interests required a separate or- ganization. The measure was opposed by Mr. Tait with all his accustomed warmth and energy, and the consid- eration of the petition was postponed until the next meeting of Presbytery. At this meeting Mr. Bushnell was appointed to organize the church, who at a subse- quent meeting, April 29, 1828, reported that he had organized the church.
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On the 10th of October, 1827, Mr. Condit was in- stalled as pastor of the congregation of Georgetown. This was formerly known as Upper Sandy congregation. Mr. Condit labored here for one third of his time.
On the 9th of April, 1828, James Alexander (40), a member of the church of Mercer, was licensed to preach the gospel.
On the 24th of June, 1828, Peter Hassinger (39), a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Castle, was taken under the care of Presbytery. On the Ist of October following, Mr. Hassinger was ordained and installed as pastor of the congregation of Gravel Run, in Crawford County. Mr. Doolittle preached on the occasion. Mr. Chase delivered the charge to the pastor, and Mr. MeKinney to the people. In the mean time Mr. Cham- berlain had been called to the church at Springfield. Ilis feeling and desire were to accept, but feebleness of health compelled him to return the call, and devote himself to missionary work.
On the 13th of October, 1828, James Alexander was ordained and installed as pastor of the united congrega- tions of Salem, Greenville, and Big Bend. Mr. Cham- berlain preached. Mr. Eaton delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. II. Coe, who was present from the Presbytery of Grand River, the charge to the people.
April 22, 1829, Mr. Condit was dismissed from Amity.
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