USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Silver Spring > Exercises in commemoration of the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania ; Thursday, August 1909, 2.00 P.M > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES
3 3433 08044233 2
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SILVER SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
P.K PUBLIC
Silver SPrin
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/exercisesincomme00schu
ASTOR LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONE
One Hundred and Seventy- Fifth Anniversary of the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, August 5, 1909
2 7
- F NEW YRAN ULIC LIBRARY
ARTOR. NiY N FILL ONS
-
1734
1909
Exercises in Commemoration of the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Anniversary
OF THE
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church CUMBERLAND COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA.
Thursday, August 5, 1909 2.00 P. M.
LLIC LIBRA 738054 1
4
MAX AND TILLFONDA IS 1916 L
PASTOR.
Rev. T. J. Ferguson.
ELDERS.
W. Jay Meily, M. S. Mumma, A. L. Brubaker.
TRUSTEES.
John C. Parker,
Wm. Bryson,
George Mumper,
Vance C. McCormick,
Levi Bricker,
Samnel Lindsey, E. E. Lower, W. Jay Meily, M. S. Mumma.
PROGRAM
The Pastor, Rev. T. J. Ferguson, presiding
Invocation Rev. George H. Bucher
Reading of Scripture Rev. Thomas C. McCarrell
HYMN.
O God of Bethel, by whose hand Thy people still are fed, Who through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led.
Our vows, our prayers, we now present Before Thy throne of grace; God of our Fathers be the God Of their succeeding race.
Such blessings from Thy gracious hand Our humble prayers implore ; And Thou shalt be our chosen God, And portion evermore.
A Word of Welcome by the Pastor.
History of Silver Spring Church. .. . E. Rankin Huston Solo, "Just as I Am,"-Hawley .. Mrs. Wilbur F. Harris The Early Patriots of Silver Spring. .J. Zeamer Solo, "But the Lord Is Mindful of His Own," (St. Panl), Mendelssohn. . Mrs. Roy G. Cox Address . Rev. J. Ritchie Smith, D. D. Duet, "Hark ! Hark ! My Soul,"-Shelley . . .
Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Cox
(3)
Address
. Hon. Edwin S. Stuart, Governor of Pennsylvania
HYMN.
All hail the power of Jesus name Let angels prostrate fall : Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all.
Let every kindred. every tribe, On this terrestrial ball To Him all majesty ascribe And crown Him Lord of all.
O, that with yonder sacred throng We at his feet may fall : We'll join the everlasting song And crown Him Lord of all.
Prayer. Rev. R. G. Ferguson, D. D.
Benediction . Rev. Thomas C. McCarrell
(4 )
EXERCISES IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVER- SARY OF SILVER SPRING CHURCH.
Thursday, August 5, 1909, at two p. m., the mem- bers of the Silver Spring Church and their friends as- sembled in the Silver Spring Woods to celebrate the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the or- ganization of the Church.
The anniversary services commenced promptly at two o'clock in the Church auditorium, but the con- gregation was so large as to crowd the auditorium uncomfortably-in fact, even to the point of danger. An adjournment was therefore taken to re-assemble under the trees between the Church and the Memorial Chapel.
The Pastor of the Church presided. He intro- duced the Rev. George H. Bucher, Pennington, N. J., who offered the prayer of invocation. This prayer was as follows:
"O God of our fathers! We rejoice that we are per- mitted in Thy good providence this day to gather around the hearthstone where our fathers worshipped Thee, to offer unto Thee grateful and glad praise for all Thy goodness toward us, toward our families and toward Thy Church in the years that have gone by. Thou changest not. We rejoice in this truth that we are creatures of change. The centuries pass and the generations follow one another. Our fathers wor- shipped Thee here and they have gone to their re- ward. We trust that in Thy good providence Thon wilt spare and bless this Church, that in coming years coming generations shall worship Thee here. We thank Thee that Thou art the unchangeable God, the Eternal One; and grant unto us a sense of the pre- ciousness of eternal things this day, and while we love this life that is constantly filled with change, may we be filled with that power and love that changeth not and our hearts be drawn unto the bean- tiful place where Thou, our Saviour, art seated at
(5)
the right hand of God. Direet us in the services of this hour; give unto us, we pray Thee. the hearts that shall respond to all the appeals that may be made to us, and may we go forth from this service of re- membrance with a new loyalty and a new courage for our Master's service; and direet and help us as we meet and join together in the prayer that Thou hast taught us, Our Father, who art in heaven, hal- lowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, and ever. Amen."
The Chairman then introduced the Rev. Thomas C. McCarrell. pastor of the Mechanicsburg Presby- terian Church, who read the eighty-fourth Psalm.
The Congregation then sang the hymn, "O God of Bethel, By Whose Hand."
O God of Bethel, by whose hand Thy people still are fed.
Who through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led.
Our vows, our prayers, we now present Before Thy throne of grace:
God of our Fathers be the God Of their succeeding race.
Such blessings from Thy gracious hand Our humble prayers implore ; And Thou shalt be our chosen God, And portion evermore.
The Chairman then delivered an address of wel- come, as follows:
"Friends of Silver Spring :- My people have given me the pleasant privilege of introducing this service with a word of greeting. In their name I bid you welcome to Silver Spring to-day to these hallowed and historie grounds to enjoy to-day's exercises, and later to our hospitality.
"We feel honored by your presence, and especially
(6)
in that your company includes our trusted and be- loved Governor, and we bid you a very hearty wel- come.
"Some of you can claim this place in a sense that others of us cannot, and I recognize that this place is yours as well as ours. Some of you go back to the days when these foundations were laid to the honor and glory of God, and yet there is a sense in which all of us can claim it, as the foundation of all that we enjoy in Church and State to-day.
"There were three things we had in mind when we decided to arrange for this day of pleasure, and the first was the thought of the day of pleasure. It will be a day full of precious memories to all of us. And, in the second place, the Old Home Week with the home-coming seems to be one of the things that is recognized in our American life, and so we desired to welcome some of you to the scenes of your child- hood; others, to the sacred place where your fathers worshiped God, and still others who can trace your ancestry back to the earliest days of this Church, when the father of our country was unknown, an in- fant known only to admiring parents and a few friends and neighbors, to the time when this beautiful Cumberland Valley was simply a wilderness. When there were no roadways, and the way of travel was marked by blazed trees.
"Third. We desired to commemorate the heroic deeds of our ancestry. Macaulay says: 'A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of re- mote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.'
"The men and women who laid the foundation of this Church were brave men and women. There were perils on all sides, but they stood in their lot, and served their generation and laid all succeeding gen- erations under obligations to them.
"Celebrations of early events are appropriate and wise, and especially those of a religious character- not only because of the importance of religion in the lives of men, but also that to this principle we owe our American liberty and independence. Our fathers preached and prayed and fought this land through the days of settlement and of revolution. They loved
(7)
the Church of God, and its life and worship was prominent in their lives, and made them what they were-brave, courageous and patriotic.
"It is well for us to go back in thought to those early days and recall their faith and courage, and devotion to their country, that we may not be too much puffed up by our modern progress and ad- vantages of life, and lose a proper appreciation of what was done before us, and for us, under condi- tions and limitations that could only be overcome by faith in God, courage, patriotism and a together- ness.
1
"I have no sympathy with those who say that in either Church or State the first days were better than these. Neither with those who would belittle or ridi- cule the noble men and women who laid foundations ; but rather would we recognize their virtues and acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe to them.
"Let us have the spirit of the Roman mothers who trained their children in the presence of the busts of their ancestors, and taught them never to rest satis- fied whilst the virtues and victories of the past were more numerous or more glorious than those of the present. May such inspiration come to us to-day as we recall the heroism of those who have given to us a noble history! Again, I bid you welcome to these historic grounds, to the shade of these stately oaks that have sheltered your fathers, to the pleasures of these exercises, and to our hospitality! I assure you of the pleasure of your presence."
The Chairman introduced the next speaker, as fol- lows:
"We will proceed with the programme, and the first in order to follow this word of greeting and welcome is the history of Silver Spring Church, by Mr. E. Rankin Huston, Mechanicsburg, Pa., whose family name is connected with the entire history of this Church. He has asked his pastor, Rev. Mr. McCar- rell, who has an eloquent tongue, to read his paper for him."
REV. T. C. McCARRELL: "It would be a splendid thing if a lot more preachers would get their laymen to write their sermons for them."
(8)
1734-1909 HISTORY OF SILVER SPRING CHURCH. By E. Rankin Huston.
Among the primitive Presbyterian churches, that at Silver Spring claims priority. The first adventurers who went up the Cumberland Valley were Indian traders, who took with them articles of traffic. These traders did not fail to give it a name and reputation, and curiosity soon prompted others to follow. In 1728-30 some Irish and Scotch adventurers crossed the Susquehanna river at Paxtang and commenced settlement in this valley. They were persevering and adventurous, and the wilds of the Cumberland Valley, as far as the eye could reach, beheld nothing but a vast wilderness, but their quick penetration observed its natural beauties, its advantages and the fertility of its soil. They did not stand upon the banks of the Susquehanna debating the advantages to be derived from making it their home, or the risk they were tak- ing upon themselves in doing so, but plunged boldly down into the valley and called it their own. They found it peopled with dusky warriors and their fam- ilies who received them with open arms, and the golden hues of hope for the future lightened their cares, and made their privations no longer a burden. The church at Silvers' Spring was first known about 1734 as "the people over the Susquehanna." Afterwards, 1736, as connected with the congregation at Carlisle, it was known as the "Lower part of the settlement of Cono- doguinet " Still later, 1739, we find it designated as "Lower. Pennsborough." The name which it now bears was received at an early date, and is accounted for by the fact that the land around near where the church edifice now stands was originally owned by James Silvers, one of the first settlers in that sec- tion, not taking into consideration the location of In- dian traders such as Letort, Chartiers and others, to
(9)
the west of the Susquehanna. Among the earliest permanent settlers in the Cumberland Valley was James Silvers, a native of the north of Ireland, who, from a letter written by James Steel to the Proprie- taries Secretary, James Logan, appears to have gone "over the Sasquahannah" in 1724. Under date of "11th, 12 mo., 1724-5." This was no doubt the James Silver who located at the spring bearing his name and whose lands was among the earliest surveys in the Cumberland Valley. He seems to have been a person of prominence in the valley; a man of indomitable en- terprise and courage. His descendants have all dis- appeared from this locality. He owned a tract of 532 acres, which extended north as far as the Conodo- guinet creek. For some reason, probably from a re- gard to convenience, nearly all the old Presbyterian churches in the Cumberland Valley were erected near a spring, and from their location derived their name. As the lands west of the Susquehanna were not pur- chased by the Proprietary of Pennsylvania from the Indians before October, 1736, the land office was not open for the sale of them under existing laws, and the settlements made on such lands before their purchase were by special license to individuals from Samuel Blumston, or other proprietary agents, and of limited number. After the office was open, however, for the unrestricted sale of lands at the close of 1736, the applications and grants multiplied, and the influx of settlers from Lancaster county, Ireland and Scotland was great for several succeeding years, nearly all of whom were Presbyterians. Thus by energy and in- trepidity which cannot be looked for except among men schcoled by difficulties and accustomed to perils, was possession taken by our pioneer ancestry of this rich and beautiful valley, which their descendants now inhabit.
Among some of the main reasons the salubrity of its climate and the fertility of its soil stand promi- nent. How changed the scene! How different an aspect this universally-admired region now wears from that which it presented one hundred and seventy- five years ago when it stood in its wildness and gloom !
The minutes of Donegal Presbytery show that their
(10)
first meeting was held October 11, 1732, and it was not long after their organization until they sent ministers across the Susquehanna. At a meeting October 16, 1734, they licensed Mr. Alexander Craighead and ap- pointed him to preach "over the Susquehanna River" two or three Sabbaths in November. This is the first record of preaching west of the Susquehanna. There was no church and the exact spot where the first con- gregation worshiped cannot be told as it is known only by the recording angel. That was before a public road was laid out through the valley. The Lancaster county court records show that on November 4, 1735, a commission consisting of six men was appointed, among whom was James Silvers, to lay out a road from Harris' ferry toward the Potomac River. On February 3, 1736, they reported, but their views were opposed by a considerable number, and another set of viewers was appointed, who reported May 4, 1736, that part of the road was very crooked and therefore altered and marked it, and that road is very nearly identical with the present turnpike. Rev. Alexander Craighead was early introduced into the ministry un- der his father, and on April 4, 1735, was again ap- pointed "to supply said people for the next two en- suing Sabbaths."
June 10, 1735, Rev. William Bertram, of Paxton, was ordered "to supply the people over the river two Sabbaths." September 3, 1735, Rev. Alexander Craig- head was ordered to supply "the people of the Conodoguinet or beyond the Susquehanna, two Sab- baths," and reported at the next meeting of the Presbytery that he did not have time to prepare for same. Afterward he received a call from a congrega- tion in Lancaster county, and from there moved to Virginia. then to North Carolina, where he died March, 1766, much respected and beloved. At as early a period as 1742, while residing in Lancaster county, he published such advanced sentiments on the sub- ject of political freedom that he incurred the dis- pleasure of the Governor of the Province, and also of his fellow ministers; so they finally removed to North Carolina. where his opinions and teachings were said to have been more influential than those of any other individual in the final production of the celebrated
(11)
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. October 7, 1735, Rev. Thomas Craighead, father of Alex. Craighead, was appointed to supply "the people of the Conodoguinet three Sabbaths and give two Sab- baths to the upper end of said people." He received and accepted a call from the people of Hopewell, but his pastorate there, however, was of short duration. On one occasion (near the close of April, 1739) he became exhausted and hastened to pronounce the benediction, exclaimed, "Farewell! Farewell !" and sank down and expired. His remains are reported to repose under the present house of worship at New- ville.
The next pastor was Rev. John Thompson, who, on December 10, 1735, was appointed to supply "the people of the Conodoguinet three Sabbahs and give two Sabbaths to the upper part of said people." The history of these two congregations at that time was almost the same. They were divided into an upper and lower settlement. April 14, 1736, Mr. Thompson reported to Presbytery that he did not fulfill his ap- pointment by reason of the severity of the winter and scarcity of provision in those parts. April 14, 1736, Rev. Samuel Gelston was ordered to supply four Sab- baths at Conodoguinet, and his report shows that he filled those appointments and was again ordered to preach there the second Sabbath in September. This was a period of great scarcity of money and provision. Paxton congregation employed a pastor for sixty pounds, one-half in money, balance in hay, flax, yarn or cloth. This church united with Monagan in a call for a minister, who declined their call, for three hun- dred and twenty-five bushels of wheat. April 6, 1737, Rev. Mr Sankey was ordered to supply at Conodo- guinet the first two Sabbaths in May. The name of this people was then changed from Conodoguinet to Pennsborough, as the valley was divided at Newville, west of which was Hopewell, while that portion east to the river was called Pennsborough. November 17, 1737, Rev. Samuel Thompson was ordered to Penns- borough for four Sabbaths. He received a call from this congregation June 29, 1738, and was ordained as the first regular pastor. He has born in Ireland and continued in this charge until March 26, 1745, when
(12)
on account of ill health he was released. November 14, 1749, he went to reside at Great Conewago, Adams county, where he was installed as pastor. In 1779 he resigned his charge on account of his infirmities, after a ministry of forty-six years. He died April, 1787, and was buried in the churchyard at Hunterstown. He had at least one son, William, who was sent to Eng- land for his education and there took the orders as a minister of the Episcopal church. He was then sent to this country, was the rector of St. John's church in Carlisle and was eminently useful in ministering to the people of Cumberland and York counties during the Indian wars. June 14, 1748, a call was presented to Rev. Mr. Tate, which he declined. On April 4, 1749, a call to Presbytery for Rev. Samuel Cavon was ac- cepted and he was installed August 5, 1749. He was from Templera, County Tyrone, Ireland, and prior to coming here had been pastor at Chambersburg and Greencastle. His pastorate was of short duration, as he died November 9, 1750, the inscription on his tomb- stone in that burial-ground shows, in the 49th year of his age. The records of Donegal Presbytery, cover- ing the period from 1750 to August, 1759, have been lost, and no record of this church can be found. In 1760 the church was vacant. In 1764, forty-two mem- bers of this church and Carlisle (the writer's great- grandfather being one of this number) united in a call and gave their promissory note for one hundred and fifty pounds annually to the Rev. John Steel, who continued in charge until he died. He resigned the Lower Pennsborough part of the charge several years before his death. He came to Carlisle in 1758 from West Conococheague, where he had been in the midst of the perils of Indian depredations, which were then so terrible that not unfrequently the inhabitants were obliged to quit their habitations and crowd into the more settled parts of the province. The people never assembled for worship without being fully equipped and watched by sentries against surprise. One of the meeting houses in which Mr. Steel preached was forti- fied as a fort, and after a while was burned to the ground. A number of whole families under his charge were barbarously murdered. Such was his courage and skill that he was chosen to be the captain of the
(13)
company formed among the settlers, and several ex- peditions are mentioned under his command. In Penn- sylvania Archives, vol. II, page 601, will be found a copy of his commission as captain of a company in the pay of the Province during the French and Indian war, dated March 25, 1756. The disorders incident to the period of the Revolutionary war broke up his more peaceful occupation. His well-known intrepidity and public spirit were more than once called into public service in repressing some popular commotion. In February, 1768, he was commissioned by Governor John Penn to visit certain families who settled in the western part of the state contrary to law, and in- duce them to remove peaceably. The mission was not altogether successful, but was performed on his part to the satisfaction of the civil authorities. During the pending of measures for asserting the rights of the colonies against the mother-country, he sympathized ardently with the patriots. A large meeting was held in Carlisle. July 12, 1774, in which the boldest senti- ments were avowed and active measures taken to de- fend their rights. Of the companies formed, that which was in the lead was under the command of the Rev. Captain John Steel. He was, however, too far ad- vanced in years for protracted service as a soldier, and we have no evidence that he was much in the field. The common title of "Reverend Captain," which was given him by popular voice, was never a reproach, for he was never known to act unworthily of either part of the designation. Many, indeed, were the changes he witnessed during a long and useful career ; but the common lot of humanity was his, and he now "sleeps the sleep that knows no waking" in the old cemetery in Carlisle, where once the lordly savage roamed and made the dim old woods echo with his whoop, many, many years ago. He died August, 1779, leaving a reputation for stern integrity, zeal for what he deemed truth and righteousness, and a high sense of honor. It is a significant fact that nearly every Presbyterian minister in the Cumberland Valley, and indeed in this country, was an ardent patriot in the war for independence. Ile could scarcely have been different, descended as he was from a Scotch-Irish ancestry, who in Scotland, Ireland and in this country
(14)
were ever foremost in their resistance to all forms of oppression and in the maintenance of civil and re- ligious liberty.
April 9, 1782, Pennsborough and Monaghan united in a call to the Rev. Samuel Waugh, which was ac- cepted, and he continued as pastor until his death January 3, 1807. He was the first native American pastor this congregation had; was born in Adams county, Pa .; graduated at Princeton College, and was licensed by Donegal Presbytery. April 14, 1783, he was married to Eliza Hoge, daughter of David Hoge, Esq., a highly respected and influential citizen, from whom the place called Hogestown derived its name, years before it became a village, because he and his relatives resided there, as proprietors of a large tract of land. It was about the beginning of Mr. Waugh's labors there that the name of East Pennsborough was dropped and the church was known as Silver's Spring. The settlement was emphatically a settlement of sub- stantial people, who required preaching in the Eng- lish language, and according to the Presbyterian form and faith. The churches which now exist were un- heard of at that time. At Harrisburg there was no settled minister until 1787; and, the Susquehanna be- ing in the way and not at all times safe to cross in ferry boats, from Middlesex-three miles from Car- lisle-to Harrisburg the people attended Silvers Spring, as they did also from an equal distance north and south.
The Rev. John Hays was Mr. Waugh's successor in the charge made vacant by his decease. He grad- uated at Dickinson College in 1805, and was instructor in that institution from 1805 to 1807, when he was elected professor of languages, which position he held until he became pastor of this church and Monaghan in 1808. May 6, 1814, he resigned on account of ill health, and went to Cumberland, Md. He was a poet of considerable ability, and in 1807, when he was pro- fessor in Dickinson College, published a volume en- titled "Rural Poems Moral and Descriptive." The same mysterious power, which often chastens out of plentitude of love, called him on September 4, 1815, by a voice gentle and meek from the sorrows of his earthly estate to the joyous assembly of the just.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.