USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Blairsville > A history of the churches in Blairsville [Pa.] presbytery, prepared at its request and read before it in Blairsville, January 28th, 1874 > Part 1
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History of the Churches IN
BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY.
McDIVITT
R. D. #1 BOX NEW ALEXANDRIA, PA
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01814 5455
GENEALOGY 974.8 НЗЗНА
1948
WITHDRAW ** From the Family "History Library
DATE MICROFILMED MAR 1'5 2005
ITEM #
PROJECT and G. S.
ROLL #
CALL #
1240 1416814
# 8691 (AUG) L-21/ prest.
-
-
A HISTORY
OF THE
CHURCHES IN
BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY,
PREPARED AT ITS REQUEST
AND
Read before it in Blairsville,
JANUARY 28th, 1874,
L.
BY ALEXANDER DONALDSON, D. D.
"Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us; we will not hide them from their children."-Ps. 78: 3, 4.
USICAN 974.889/32
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF PRESBYTERY.
kad
PITTSBURGH: PRESS OF JAMES M'MILLIN, N. E. CORNER WOOD STREET AND THIRD AVENUE.
1874.
The following action was taken by the Presbytery of Blairs- ville, in session at Unity, June 25th, 1873 :
WHEREAS, It is desirable to collect and preserve the history of the respective churches within our bounds; and Whereas, Rev. ALEXANDER DONALDSON, D. D., of Eldersridge, who was licensed and ordained by, and for many years was an efficient and valued member of our body, is known to have in his possession much important material for such a record; therefore,
RESOLVED, That Presbytery unanimously and respectfully request this esteemed brother to arrange and prepare for publi- cation such a history as will transmit to the generations following, a record of what the Lord has done for our fathers and their children.
In compliance with the above request, Dr. DONALDSON pre- pared, and read in Presbytery, in session in Blairsville, January 28th, 1874, the following HISTORICAL SKETCH ; and a committee was appointed to secure and superintend the publication of the same.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Blairsville, Pa., January 28th, 1874.
Rev. A. DONALDSON, D. D. Dear Brother:
In compliance with the instructions of Presbytery, we respectfully solicit, for publication, a copy of the Historical Address delivered by you this day.
ROBERT CAROTHERS, W. F. KEAN, Com. of Pres. G. W. SPARGROVE,
Revs. R. CAROTHERS, W. F. KEAN and G. W. SPARGROVE, Dear Brethren:
The "Address" of which you ask a copy, being prepared at the request of your Presbytery, on a subject of hallowed reminiscences, dear to my heart-is, with all its imperfections, placed at your disposal.
Fraternally, Yours,
ALEXANDER DONALDSON.
Blairsville, January 28th, 1874.
HISTORY
-OF THE-
Churches in Blairsbille Presbytery.
Like the fabled Minerva, in ripe maturity and full equipment, baunding from the cleft head of Jupiter, to take possession of her destined province, and imbue the minds of men with wisdom, so "to make them wise unto salvation by faith in Christ Jesus," Presbyteries spring at once into life and ac- tivity in their respective fields of operation. Thus it was ninety-three years ago, eight years before the General Assembly was organized, when, in 1781, the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, upon the apex of Carlisle Presbytery, brought down its cleaving axe, and, lo ! a noble daughter, " OLD REDSTONE," who subsequently became "the mother of us all," dropped upon her feet this side of the great Alle- gheny range ; and, for saving purposes, stretched out her long and vigorous arms so as to encircle all the western portions of Pennsylvania and Virginia, with part of Ohio. Thus, too, it was in 1798, when, upon her, the Synod of Winchester inflicted a first cleaving stroke, and saw, as the result, Ohio, the
4
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES
"first-born of her mother," "a little sister," not one, however, " that hath no breasts," whose limited lot fell out westward from Pittsburgh. From the same hand a mightier blow gave birth to a second daughter, brave sister Erie, of gigantic proportions, laying claim to a third part of the mother's great domain. Then, in 1830, the Synod of Pittsburgh took hold of this efficient weapon. Under her first blow, gentle sister Blairsville, bounding into life, took, as her birthright, one-half of the remaining inheritance, and retained it more than a quarter of a century. The same stern hand, in 1856, with the same restless, relentless, cutting, cleaving instrument, dealt upon her, in turn, another blow, which wounded the feelings of some of us, not less than the integ- rity of the Presbytery. We were solaced when Saltsburg, the bright grand-daughter, thus produced, secured two-thirds of the landed estate. The re- maining third, still retained and cultivated by Blairs- ville, after various clippings and exchanges, which it were tedious to detail, now including thirty-one churches, is our present field of investigation.
"According to this time, it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ' What hath God wrought ?'" That this prediction may be measurably verified, attend to a brief, defective, ill-proportioned history of the churches now under the care of Blairsville Presby- tery. None of them were in existence at the forma- tion of Redstone Presbytery. Fairfield, Donegal, Salem, Unity and Poke Run were reported as vacan- cies to the first General Assembly, in 1789, and two
5
IN BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY.
or three more should have been, as they had received supplies before that date. Beulah, Greensburg, Plum Creek, Congruity, Ligonier, Armagh, and Blairsville, were also in existence in 1830, when Blairsville Presbytery was formed ; and all the twelve then had pastors. Churches are planted now by Presbyterial authority, and by orderly regula- tions, similar to our well-laid-out fruit orchards. Then it was not so. All these twelve were of spon- taneous origin. As the great sugar orchards of the olden time, nemine seminante, sprang spontaneously into life, and gave forth bounteously their liquid sweetness, so these churches all were self-originated ; or, to speak more properly, they were " trees of right- eousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." On the score of brevity and simpli- city, the style of their organization may have re- sembled one, in another denomination, on the north- ern borders of this Presbytery, in which a supplying minister, after delivering his sermon, laconically said : "My brethren, I understand that you wish to be organized into a separate congregation, and I now organize you !" Doubtless, on most, if not all of these occasions, one of the earliest supplying ministers, simply at the request of the people, pre- sided at an election, and ordained or installed such as they elected for elders. Nor were they always careful where they did such work. A minister of Redstone thus organized a church within the Presby- tery of Allegheny, and incurred complaint from the latter, and rebuke by the former. Only at the
6
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES
last meeting of the Redstone Presbytery, prior to the formation of Blairsville, did it give authority for the organization of Murraysville; but the report of the organization, as effected, was made to this Pres- bytery, at its first meeting.
Two churches, which at first adhered to Redstone, but subsequently at different times, and in different ways, were brought into this Presbytery, will head the list. The other ten will follow, according to the seniority of their respective pastors, in 1830; and the remaining nineteen, in the order of their respec- tive organizations.
Unity is reported, by tradition, as organized July 13th, 1782, the day Hannahstown was burned by the Indians-less than a year after Redstone Presbytery was formed. Occasional preaching by Rev. JOHN M'MILLAN, JAMES FINLEY and JAMES POWER, had been enjoyed at a still earlier date. The first place of preaching, called Proctor's Tent, was erected about 1780. The first elders were JOHN MOON, WM. WADDELL, ANDREW ALLISON, and SAMUEL COULTER. At the fourth meeting of Redstone Presbytery, Oct. 21st, 1783, Unity first asked supplies. For two years after this, Rev. JAMES POWER supplied, sta- tedly, one-fourth of his time. "Considerable ar- rearages due to Mr. POWER," were reported Jan. 25th, 1785. April 9th, 1786, supplies were refused on this account. August 5th, of the same year, Rev. JAS. FINLEY was sent to supply, on a week-day, and urge payment. October 18th, the embargo was
7
IN BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY.
so far raised as to send him to supply one Sabbath. But it was renewed, October 17th, 1787, and sup- plies were refused " till settlement with Mr. POWER should be made." It was finally removed, April 15th, 1788. Mr. JOHN M'PHERRIN, the first pastor of this church, in connection with Salem, was called April 20th, 1790. At a tent on the farm of JAMES M'KEE, in the bounds of Congruity, Sept. 22d of the same year, being ordained, together with Mr. SAMUEL PORTER, he was installed in the presence of four assembled congregations over Salem and Unity. Rev. JAS. DUNLAP preached, J. M'MILLAN presided, and made the ordaining prayer, and J. FINLEY gave the charge. A revival of wonderful power began on that occasion. From this church he was released June 20th, 1800, giving all his time to Salem. After that, Rev. JOHN BLACK statedly supplied at Unity, with Greensburg, till his death, April 16th, 1802. April 19th, 1803, Rev. WM. SPEER accepted calls from these two churches. During the next meeting of Presbytery, sitting at Unity, he was, doubtless, installed ; but no record of it exists. This was fol- lowed by another revival. His labors were very acceptable and profitable. From failing health, he resigned the charge to Presbytery, April 7th, 1829, and his soul to God but nineteen days later. Mr. ROBERT HENRY, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New York, at the meeting of Presbytery, when the death of Father SPEER was reported and recorded, accepted calls from the same churches, and was or- dained and installed April 7th, 1830. Rev. S.
8
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES
M'FARREN preached, J. GRAHAM presided, and made the ordaining prayer, and gave the charge. Six months later, when Blairsville Presbytery was form- ed, availing himself of the privilege granted to those on the line, he chose to continue his connection with the mother Presbytery, and, for the time, re- tained Unity in it also. He died about nine years afterwards, deeply and justly lamented. His decease was announced in Presbytery, April 9th, 1839; although the date was not reported.
Then serious troubles arose and spread through these two churches-and, to some extent, beyond them-continuing, with more or less of irritation, for about fifteen years. Among the candidates for set- tlement in these two churches, was a Mr. WILLIAM NORMAN M'LEOD, a licentiate of the Reformed Pres- byterian Church, whose standing, in their Presbytery · of Pittsburgh, if not lost, was, to say the least, very slippery. Being anxious for a position in these churches, and fearing lest his reputation might have reached Redstone, he first applied, April 2d, 1839, to be taken under care of Blairsville Presbytery, on the plea that Unity would then naturally belong to it. Being rejected, for want of suitable credentials, he next repaired to Redstone to try for a standing there ; but with a similar result. Then, for the first time, and all of a sudden, it seems to have occurred to him that the General Assemblies of 1837 and 1838 were tyrannical, oppressive, unjust, and un- constitutional in those actions, which had resulted in division of the church; and, moreover, were ex-
9
IN BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY.
treme and extravagant in doctrinal positions. For these and similar reasons, he now deemed the New School the proper body in which to secure, for him- self and these churches, an ecclesiastical standing. With an oily tongue, that well knew how " to make the worse appear the better reason," he laid the whole case, barring his own standing, before these churches. Often had he sung :
" More smooth than butter were his words, While in his heart was war; His speeches were more soft than oil, And yet drawn swords they were!"
Then he gave a signal illustration of this expres- sive stanza. About thirteen families from Unity, some of whom were of " the excellent of the earth," consorted with him-afterwards building their house of worship within hearing distance of the old church. A similar proportion, perhaps, of Greensburg, con- curred in the movement. Accompanied by their representatives, he next hied away to the New School Presbytery of Philadelphia, and to it offered him- self, baited by the two churches. But that Presby- tery had the address-grace, it should rather be styled-to nibble off the bait, when the hook floated naked and bare. Soon the development of his char- acter, as a man, relieved Presbyteries and churches of all further annoyance from him. In these congre- gations, however, as also at New Derry and in Don- egal, separate organizations were effected in the new connection. They differed somewhat from the old connection on points of doctrine, but still more in 1*
10
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES
their estimate of stern measures adopted in the As- semblies specified. They had pastors sometimes, and sometimes supplies, for the space of twelve years or more. But harsh preaching against them having ceased in the old church, and a very different kind of discourse coming in vogue, commotion abated, enmity subsided, and good feeling ensued. Gradu- ally, then, in various ways, the members fell back into the connection they had held before; when, soon, they were peaceful, prized, useful and happy, as in the blessed days of old.
In the mean time, Unity having been enrolled in the Blairsville Presbytery, Rev. PETER HOSSINGER, for all his time, was installed as pastor. Nov. 27th, 1839, Rev. A. TORRANCE preached, W. HUGHES presided, and charged the pastor, S. M'FARREN the people. During this pastorate, ceaseless hostilities prevailed between the schools. He was released October 2d, 1844, and succeeded by Mr. GEORGE MORTON, of Psalmody memory, who was ordained and installed, March 11th, 1846. Rev. A. DONALD- SON preached, J. FLEMING charged the pastor, and G. HILL, the people. Hostilities between the schools still continued in a measure. He was released April 12th, 1848. His successor, Rev. NOAH HAL- LOCK GILLETT, was installed February 13th, 1849. Rev. A. B. CLARK preached, Dr. M'FARREN charged the pastor, and W. W. WOODEND, the people. Bro. GILLETT was a man of ardent temperament, large heart, tongue touched with fire from the altar of God, and whole soul alive to his office-work. He could
11
IN BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY.
not only preach warmly, and pray fervently, but, what is of no small account, could even sing religion into the melting souls of his people. God created, endowed, and enabled him to quiet commotions, soothe sensitivenesss, oil wounds, and heal divisions at Unity. "Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God." He retained the charge nearly twenty years-latterly preaching about one-third of the time at Latrobe, and growing into greatness. On account of failing health, he was released from the charge, October 7th, 1868 ; and then, Jan. 21st, 1869, after a few days' illness, as the dying swan, retaining its sweetest song for the last, he was raised to membership in the choir of the glorified church of God.
The present prized pastor, Rev. DAN'L W. TOWN- SEND, was called June 8th, and installed Aug. 31st, 1869. Rev. W. H. GILL preached, J. DAVIS charged the pastor, and S. H. SHEPLEY, the people. As a pastor, he has accommodations superior to any other in the Presbytery ; a farm of seventy acres adjoin- ing the church, and on it a comfortable brick par- sonage, very eligibly situated, and an excellent or- chard, with apples ripe in June. The present house of worship is a large brick edifice, erected some forty years ago. The site of it recalls the old de- scriptive sentence, "Beautiful for its situation is Mount Zion, the joy of the whole earth!" Next summer it is to be taken down, with a view to the erection of one more tasteful, at a distance of forty perches eastward, on a site equally admirable.
12
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES
Though the organization of Latrobe took from Unity about one hundred members, it is still flourishing and hopeful. It has had a large number of elders distinguished for piety and usefulness, some of whose sons and grandsons are still members in its session, or that of other churches. Of those who have passed away, may be mentioned, JOSEPH BALDRIDGE and JOHN MORRISON, Esqs.,-the latter famous for his propensity to attend meetings of Presbytery, whether sent or unsent.
By way of illustrating the reputation of Unity for piety, in "the good old time," allow an episode. In the last decade of the last century, Mr. JOHN MARTIN, a youth of nineteen years, came over from the Emerald Isle, as he relates, in the fond but de- lusive belief, that everybody in this country was a Christian. On landing at New York, he found to his dismay, that he was not in Paradise; but seem- ingly on the borderland of a very different place. Hastening on to Philadelphia, he encountered still an unbearable amount of impiety. Passing thence to Chester county, he found society of a higher order, but still too low to afford a happy home. Pushing onward still his solitary, almost hopeless line of travel over the great Allegheny range, he came to Westmoreland county, where, on the Loyal- hanna, "the good Sloan-people lived." Coming then to the conclusion, that he would not find on earth "a people all righteous," that he was in as good surroundings then and there as he was likely to find, he took up his abode with them. In the devotional
13
IN BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY.
habits of the people he found great enjoyment for several years. At length he became enamored with JANE, youngest sister of Esquire MORRISON ; he tried to court her; but, as he says, "the saucy jade would not be courted." So the love-sick swain packed up his movables, took up once more the line of march, changed his locality, and fixed his final earthly abode on a fruitful spur of the Chestnut ridge, eastward from Indiana. There he found the wife predestined for him. There he continues till this day, blessed of God, and blessing all around him. Three of his sons as worthy elders in different churches, not unfrequently are present at the same meeting of Kittanning Presbytery. Now, as a non- agenarian, or more nearly a centenarian, his heart warms, his eyes moisten, his furrowed cheeks glis- ten with pearly drops fast trickling down, when Loyalhanna or a Sloan is mentioned. Still he would give a warm response to the toast, " Unity forever !" Unity has had two stated supplies, seven pastors, and has raised four ministers in ninety-two years. Rev. JOHN BLACK in the pastorate of Mr. SPEER, JOSEPH H. CHAMBERS in that of Mr. HENRY, RICHARD H. JACKSON in that of Mr. GILLETT, and GEORGE B. SMITH in the present pastorate.
Greensburg asked supplies April 15th, 1788, and if then regarded as a congregation, ought to have been reported to the General Assembly when it was. organized, thirteen months later. No other record of it occurs, however, until October 23d, 1800, when,
14
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES
with Unity, it obtained as a stated supply Rev. JOHN BLACK, and retained him till his death, eighteen months afterwards. Rev. WM. SPEER was called as pastor April 19th, 1803, for half time, and probably installed June 29th, when Presbytery sat at Unity. "He* was regarded with great respect by his people, of highly respectable talents, too profound and abstruse for those whose minds were not disciplined to thought ; but by the more intelligent
he was esteemed a very popular preacher. When among strangers he was stately and reserved in his manners ; but among intimate acquaintances he was cheerful and companionable in a high degree."
About the year 1825 his delicate taste and fine feelings were sorely tried by the outlandish deport- ment of an old Scotch licentiate, traveling and preaching within the Presbytery. Though a preach- er of more than ordinary ability and attainments, pre-eminently distinguished as a catechiser on the Scriptures, he was boorish in manners and almost swinish in habits. He would mix up all varieties of food in such conglomeration as would be sure to create an internal tempest, and render his presence a nui- sance to company. Good Father SPEER proposed to the Presbytery that he should be admonished into decency, and he was of course made chairman of a committee for that purpose. Attempting the task with all gravity and dignity, he used terms so ele- vated and polished that the Scotchman did not seem to understand what it was he wished to reprimand.
* " Old Redstone."
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IN BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY.
To make sure of knowing what was meant by " flat- ulence " and "noisy internal commotions," and kin- dred terms, in a way of inquiry, he blabbed out words so flat that "ears polite," as were those of Father SPEER, could not endure. In disgust he turned away and abandoned all further effort for the reformation of one whom he now deemed incapable of refinement. April 7th, 1829, he was released from Greensburg, as from Unity, on the ground of declining health, and on the 26th of the same month he went up to fellowship with "the spirits of just men made perfect."
Just a year from the date of his resignation, his successor, Mr. ROBERT HENRY, was ordained and installed, as was described in the case of Unity. He was a perfect contrast to his predecessor, on the score of easy affability and general sociability-a highly gifted talker, and in a company of ladies, perfectly at home. Although he preached unwritten sermons, for he could not write with any approach to legibility, he was a popular preacher, and at times deeply impressive. During his pastorate he mar- ried an accomplished lady, sister of Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN, afterwards President of the United States. Nine years and two days after his ordina- tion, in the very prime of his life, ardor of his aspirations, and full flush of his hopes, he went up to dwell where youth never declines into age.
After an exciting vacancy of two and a half years, he was succeeded by Mr. JAMES I. BROWNSON, who, at Mount Pleasant, was ordained, and for half
16
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES
time installed, November 26th, 1841, at Greensburg. Rev. SAMUEL WILSON preached, N. H. GILLETT charged the pastor, and A. MCCANDLESS, the people. For more than seven years he filled the charge with great acceptance. Resigning, January 16th, 1849, he entered a still more distinguished career at Washington, Pa., partly as College President, but chiefly as pastor. In the whole charge he was suc- ceeded by Rev. W. D. MOORE, installed October 2d, 1849. Rev. P. H. JACOBS preached, R. STEVENSON charged the pastor, and J. B. McKEE, the people. Two years afterwards all his time was given to Greensburg. June 14th, 1853, he resigned the charge. He was a talented scientist, and very fond of scientists. He went down to Mississippi, and was there at the out-break of the civil war. Find- ing his way back to Pennsylvania, he exchanged the ministerial for the legal profession, in which he is very popular and successful at the bar of Pittsburgh, his native place. April 9th, 1854, he was briefly succeeded, at Greensburg, by Rev. DAVID KENNEDY, who, at the request of the church, was dismissed
August 1st, 1855. Rev. JOSEPH SMITH, D. D., author of "Old Redstone " and " Jefferson College," succeeded him, and was installed April 9th, 1856. Dr. A. G. FAIRCHILDS preached, and Dr. SAMUEL WILSON gave the charge. He was full of fond re- miniscences of the primitive ministers, elders and other godly people of this region. Of them he greatly loved to write and talk, and of God's work as it was done in their day. In his pastorate, at the
17
IN BLAIRSVILLE PRESBYTERY.
request of himself and the church, they were set over from Redstone to Blairsville Presbytery by the Synod of Pittsburgh, October, 1858. Under the pressure of age and growing infirmity, he resigned the charge October 3d, 1865, and " was gathered to his fathers " December 4th, 1868. Mr. W. H. GILL was ordained and installed at Greensburg, June 26th, 1867. By request, Rev. S. J. NICCOLLS, of St. Louis, preached, J. R. HUGHES charged the pastor, and D. HARBISON, the people. After a few months he took Miss KATE RUSSELL, a lamb of his flock, as mistress of his heart and home. April 26th, 1870, he resigned the charge, and after a brief pastorate at St. Joseph, Mo., he is now pastor of the Central Church of Allegheny. At Greensburg he was suc- ceeded by Rev. W. WALLACE MOORHEAD, who was installed May 13th, 1871. Dr. HILL preached, J. A. MARSHALL charged the pastor, and J. D. MOOR- HEAD, the people. RANDALL M'GLAUGHLIN and JOHN ARMSTRONG, Sr., are remembered as elders of worth in this Church .* It has had one stated supply and eight ·pastors, but has never raised a minister. A large well situated parsonage will be completed within six months.
Poke Run, one of the five vacant churches reported to the first General Assembly, received Rev. JOHN M'MILLAN as its first supply, October 18th, 1785,
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