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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01967 3950
Gc 974.8 Os5 Osmond, Jonathan, 1820-1903.
History of the Presbytery of Luzerne, state of Penn. Vuchauds
Isen201902 Pittelon Pa
Ne Parle
HISTORY
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE OF THE
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
BY
REV. J. OSMOND,
TACOMA, WASH.
WITH INTRODUCTION BY
REV. N. G. PARKE, D. D.
PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
-
COPYRIGHT, 1897, BY REV. N. G. PARKE, D. D.
PRESS OF R. BAUR & SON, WILKES-BARRE, PA.
Allen County Public Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana
INTRODUCTION.
BY N. G. PARKE, D. D.
T "HE history of a Presbytery differs from a biography in this, that it is the history of an institution, while biography is the history of an individual. A Presbytery is made up of individuals, and it will be in character what the individuals, ministers and elders, comprising it, make it. Biography cannot be eliminated from church history, and, as a result of this, the history of Luzerne Presbytery, as presented by the Rev. Jonathan Osmond, is very largely biographical. The same is true of all church history, including the history of the Re- formation of the 16th century.
Over what territory did the Presbytery of Luzerne extend ? What were the conditions of the country- social, commercial and religious, over which it extended ? What were its prospects and its aims ? And what, under divine guidance, did this Presbytery accomplish before it was merged in the Presbyteries of Lackawanna and Lehigh ? were all questions germane to the subject of this history ; and these questions Mr. Osmond has attempted to answer in connection with the biographical sketches of the men who did the work in this mission field.
Mr. Osmond came into the Presbytery shortly after its organization and immediately after graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary. Here, with the self- denying spirit of a true Missionary, he did his first work,
iv
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
and on this field he learned to know and to love the pioneers with whom he was here associated in work for the Master, and the labor of preparing this history was with him a labor of love.
The Rev. Richard Webster, of Mauch Chunk, and the Rev. John Dorrance, of Wilkes-Barre, the founders of the Presbytery, were not common men. They did grand work for our Zion in this part of Pennsylvania, and this history is a just tribute to their memory, from a fellow laborer, who did as trying and as successful work on these mountains and along these valleys as any of his brethren.
It is due to Mr. Osmond to say that, while the idea of writing the history of this Presbytery originated with him, he did not covet the work. He did what he could to have it taken up by someone else, and only consented to undertake it when it became apparent that, if he did not do it, the work would not be done.
There is no question but that the growth and develop- ment of our church within the territorial bounds of this Presbytery, has been phenomenal. In the Wyoming coal field there were, when the Presbytery was organized, but three Presbyterian churches south of Carbondale, viz : Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, and Lackawanna, and one of these was an infant. Now there are not less than fifty, and among them are some of the strongest churches in the State. In the Schuylkill coal field the growth has not been so rapid.
The development of the church in this region has not been the result merely of the wisdom and faithfulness of the pioneer missionaries. The opening up of the hidden treasures in these mountains and valleys of anthra-
V
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
cite coal, that brought bright, enterprising Christian men here with their families, has had no little to do with it. Still these early missionaries in this region were wise in their generation in laying foundations, and they builded better than they knew. They rest from their labors and their works follow them.
At the time of the union of the two branches of the Presbyterian church in 1870, and the formation of the Lackawanna Presbytery, ministers were appointed to write up the history of the Presbyteries that were merged in the new Presbytery, and historical sermons were preached accordingly. But these sermons were little more than historical sketches. There was no room to speak of the work done or the men who did it. Mr. Osmond has attempted to clothe the Luzerne skeleton with flesh, and to give it to the public in a presentable form ; and in doing so he has added a chapter to our ecclesiastical history that entitles him to the thanks of the Presbyterian people of the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania, and that will be recognized as a valuable contribution to the historical literature of our valley.
NOTE-The publication of this history in Wilkes- Barre, so remote from the home of the author, in Tacoma, has necessitated supervision and partial editing in the East. This work has been kindly done by his brother, the Rev. Samuel M. Osmond, D. D., of Philadelphia.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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ERRATA.
Page 28. Last sentence. For Wyoming read Sus- quehanna, and for Susquehanna read Delaware.
Page 105. Last line. For Mrs. Elijah Reynolds read Mrs. Wm. C. Reynolds.
Page 118. Third line. Josiah Enos should be Josiah Eno.
Page 261 Third line. For teacher read teachers.
Page 294. Fourth line. For Fisher Hagard read Fisher Hazard.
Second line. For reorganized read recognized.
Page 314.
Page 333. Close of the first paragraph. Read Alburtis instead of Shenandoah.
NOTE .- As the manuscript of this book had to pass through several hands and was necessarily abridged, some changes were made which the author regrets.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION BY REV. N. G. PARKE, D. D.
iii
CHARTER OF INCORPORATION
xi
I.
ORGANIZATION OF THE PRESBYTERY
I
II.
THE TERRITORY OCCUPIED
7
III.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS
I3
IV.
ORIGIN AND CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS
.
I6
V.
SUSQUEHANNA PRESBYTERY
VI.
29
MAUCH CHUNK AND THE REV. RICHARD WEBSTER
.
40
VII.
THE REV. JOHN DORRANCE, D. D. AND THE WILKES-BARRE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
66
VIII.
KINGSTON CHURCH AND ITS PASTORS
105
viii
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
IX.
THE REV. THOMAS POAGE HUNT 124
X.
LACKAWANNA VALLEY AND THE REV. NATHAN GRIER
PARKE, D. D.
XI. I45
OTHER EARLY MINISTERS OF THE PRESBYTERY 163
XII.
THE REV. JACOB DELVILLE MITCHELL, D. D. · 169
XIII.
THE REV. B. F. BITTENGER, D. D. , 173
XIV.
THE REV. WILLIAM RENWICK GLENN, D. D., AND SCHUYL-
KILL VALLEY MISSIONS I 76
XV.
THE REV. JOHN JERMAIN PORTER, D. D., AND THE KINGSTON CHURCH 179
XVI.
THE REV. CORNELIUS RUSTER LANE, D. D. 182
XVII.
BERWICK AND PORT CARBON I9I
XVIII.
THE SCRANTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND ITS PAS- TORS
XIX. . 200
SCRANTON CHURCH AND THE REV. JOHN FABIAN BAKER . 216
ix
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
XX.
SCRANTON CHURCH AND THE REV. MILO J. HICKOK, D. D . 22I
XXI.
SCRANTON CHURCH AND THE REV. SAMUEL CROTHERS
LOGAN, D. D.
228
XXII.
GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES IN SCRANTON AND
THEIR PASTORS 24I
XXIII.
BEAVER MEADOW AND WHITE HAVEN CHURCHES . . . 246
XXIV.
NEWTON, WHITE HAVEN AND ECKLEY .- THE REV. JONA-
THAN OSMOND 252
XXV.
THE REV. HENRY HUNTER WELLES AS PASTOR OF THE KINGSTON CHURCH 271
XXVI.
THE REV. REUBEN POST LOWRIE . 276
XXVII.
THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG, D. D. . 282
XXVIII.
THE MAUCH CHUNK CHURCH AND ITS LATER PASTORS . 29I
XXIX.
THE CHURCH OF SUMMIT HILL AND PASTORATE OF THE REV. JOHN WHITE
XXX. 299
THE WYOMING CHURCH AND PRESBYTERIAL INSTITUTE . 302
x
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
XXXI.
THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF POTTSVILLE AND ITS PASTORS 307
XXXII.
CONYNGHAM VALLEY CHURCH
. 316
XXXIII.
THE CHURCH OF NANTICOKE AND THE REV. JACOB WEIDMAN . 318
XXXIV.
THE HARVEY'S LAKE OR THE LEHMAN CHURCH . · 324
XXXV.
THE WILKES-BARRE CHURCH AND ITS LATER PASTORS . 325
XXXVI.
PORT CLINTON CHURCH
332
XXXVII.
THE MAHANOY CITY CHURCH · 336
XXXVIII.
THE UPPER LEHIGH CHURCH . 338
XXXIX.
THE CHURCH OF MEHOOPANY CREEK AND THE REV.
EDWIN BRONSON
· 340
XL.
THE PLAINS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .
341
XLI.
GNADENHUTTEN CHURCH .
· 342
CONCLUSION 343
CHARTER OF INCORPORATION.
THE TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
To the Honorable JOHN N. CONYNGHAM, and his asso- sociates, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Luzerne :
The undersigned, citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are associated together for religious pur- poses, and especially for providing houses of public worship, for sustaining the preaching of the gospel, and affording the means of education within the bounds of the Presbytery of Luzerne, in accordance with the Constitu- tion of the Presbyterian church.
They have prepared, and herewith present to your Honors, an Instrument in writing, specifying the objects for which, and the articles, conditions, and name under which they have associated. And they pray your Honors to grant them a Charter of Incorporation, under the pro- visions of an Act of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed the 13th day of October, A. D. 1840, and entitled "An Act relating to Orphans' Court, and for other purposes," and the various supplements thereunto.
xii
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
NAME, ARTICLES AND CONSTITUTION OF INCORPORA-
TION,
ABOVE PRAYED FOR.
I. JOHN DORRANCE, THOMAS P. HUNT, HENRY H. WELLES, EBENEZER H. SNOWDEN, SAMUEL F. COLT, THEO- DORE STRONG, ANDREW T. MCCLINTOCK, JOHN LEISEN- RING, WILLIAM DONALDSON, GEORGE W. SMITH AND SAMUEL SHERRERD, and their successors, who shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania duly elected, and appointed in the manner hereinafter directed, shall be, and are hereby made, declared, and constituted, a Corporation or Body Politic, and Corporate in law, and in fact to have continuance forever, by the name, style and title of THE TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERY OF LU- ZERNE; and they, and their successors, by the name, style, and title aforesaid, shall forever hereafter, be per- sons able, and competent in law to purchase, have, receive, take, hold and enjoy in fee simple, or for any lesser estate, or estates, any lands, tenements, rents, an- nuities, franchises, and other hereditaments, by gift, grant, bargain, sale, alienation, enfeoffment, release, confirm- ation, or devise, of any person, or persons, bodies politic, and corporate capable, and able to make the same.
II. The said Corporation shall not at any time con- sist of more than eleven persons, (a majority of whom shall always be Laymen), whereof the Presbytery of Lu- zerne may, at their discretion, at any stated meeting, as
xiii
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
often as they shall hold their sessions in the State of Pennsylvania, change such a number, and in such a man- ner as to the said Presbytery of Luzerne it shall seem proper. And the Corporation aforesaid shall have power and authority to manage, and dispose of, all moneys, chattels, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and other estate whatsoever committed to their care, and trust by the said Presbytery of Luzerne.
III. Five members of the said Corporation, whereof the President, or in his absence the Vice President, is to be one, shall be a quorum to transact the business thereof. They shall meet at any time at the call of the President, PROVIDED, that at any meeting of the Corporation not appointed by adjournment, notice of such meeting shall previously be given to each member, either verbally, or by writing deposited in the Post Office, and properly directed, allowing the member sufficient time to reach the place designated for such meeting. And the said Cor- poration shall, and may, as often as they shall see proper and according to the rules by them prescribed, choose out of their own number, a president, vice president, and such other officers and servants, as shall by them, the said Corporation, be deemed necessary-to which officers the said Corporation may assign such compensation for their services, and such duties so be performed by them, to continue in office for such time, and to be succeeded by others in such way and manner as the said Corporation shall direct.
IV. All questions before said Corporation shall be decided by a plurality of votes, whereof each member present shall have one, except the president or vice president when acting as president, who shall have only
xiv
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
the casting voice and vote, in case of an equality in the votes of the other members.
V. The said Corporation shall keep regular and fair entries of their proceedings and a just account of their receipts and disbursements, in a book or books to be pro- vided for that purpose. And their Treasurer shall once in a year exhibit to the Presbytery of Luzerne, an exact statement of the accounts of the Corporation.
VI. The said Corporation may take, receive, pur- chase, possess, and enjoy, messuages, houses, lands, tene- ments, rents, annuities, and other hereditaments, and real and personal estate of any amount not exceeding in the aggregate the clear annual value of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, provided that " the same shall not be otherwise taken, and held, or inure, than subject to the control and disposition of the lay members of said Corporation, or such constituted officers, or representatives thereof, as shall be composed of a majority of lay members, citizens of Pennsylvania, having a controlling power according to the rules, regulations, usages, or corporate requirements thereof so far as consistent herewith."
VII. The said Corporation, and their successors, shall have full power and authority to make, have, and use one common seal, with such device and inscription as they shall deem proper, and the same to break, alter, and renew at pleasure. And by the name, style and title of " THE TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE," shall be able, and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in any Court or Courts, before any Judge or Judges, Justice or Justices, in all manner of suits, com- plaints, pleas, causes, matters and demands whatsoever and all, and every matter, and thing therein to do in as
XV
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
full and effectual a manner as any other person or persons, or bodies politic and corporate within this Common- wealth may, or can do. And are authorized and em- powered to make such rules, by-laws, and ordinances as they may see fit, and to do everything needful for the good government and support of the affairs of the said Corporation. PROVIDED ALWAYS, That the said by-laws, rules and ordinances or any of them be not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the United States, to the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth, or to the provisions of this charter.
JOHN DORRANCE, THOS. P. HUNT,
H. H. WELLES,
E. H. SNOWDEN,
S. F. COLT,
T. STRONG,
A. T. MCCLINTOCK,
J. LEISENRING,
W. DONALDSON,
G. W. SMITH, S. SHERRERD.
Now, Ioth January, 1859, the Court having perused and examined the within Instrument and the objects, articles and conditions therein set forth and contained appearing lawful and not injurious to the community, direct said writing to be filed in the office of the Pro- thonotary, and also direct notice to be inserted in one newspaper printed in the County of Luzerne for at least three weeks in pursuance of the 13th Section of the Act of 13th October, 1840, entitled " An act relating to Orphans' Courts and for other purposes."
BY THE COURT.
xvi
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
Now, 28th February, 1859, due notice having been given and no reason shown to the contrary, the Court decree and declare by this order that the persons herein- before mentioned and associated shall, according to the articles and conditions in the foregoing Instrument con- tained, become and be a Corporation, or body politic, and further direct that said Charter of Incorporation shall be recorded in the office for recording of Deeds in Lu- zerne County, and on said Instrument being recorded, the persons associated, and their successors and associates, shall become and be a body corporate and politic, in the manner contemplated by the law in such case made and provided.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, the Twenty-eighth day of February, A. D., 1859.
DAVID L. PATRICK, Prothonotary.
xvii
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
LUZERNE COUNTY, SS.
William P. Miner, being duly sworn on his oath, saith that he is the publisher of the Record of the Times, a weekly newspaper printed and published in the Borough of Wilkes-Barre. That he published in his said paper a notice of which the annexed is a copy, for three con- secutive weeks, to wit: on the 26th of January and the 2d and 9th of February, A. D., 1859.
W. P. MINER.
Sworn and subscribed this twenty- third day of February, A. D., 1859, before me, DAVID L. PATRICK, Prothonotary. By Chase.
LUZERNE COUNTY, SS.
Recorded in the office for recording deeds, &c., in and for said County, in deed book, No. 75, page 500, &c. WITNESS my hand and official seal this 15th day of March, A. D., 1859. RICHARD HUTCHINS, pr. B. F. NEUR, Dpt. Recorder.
HISTORY
OF THE
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
I.
ORGANIZATION OF THE PRESBYTERY.
T WENTY-FIVE years ago, this Presbytery ceased to exist. Twenty-seven years measured its career as a constituent part of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America.
In the following sketch, it is proposed to trace its origin, the antecedents of its constituent parts, the leadings of Providence which made them Presbyterian, and which brought them into this Presbytery; especially the character and work of the founders of the Presbytery, the field of its operations, the results of those operations: viz., the additions to its working force, made from time to time, in ministers and churches, during the period of its existence.
At the meeting of the General Assembly of 1843, in New York City, the Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., being Moderator, an overture was presented to that body by the
I
2
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
Rev. John Dorrance, of the Susquehanna Presbytery, (as we learn from the Rev. C. C. Corss' history of the Susquehanna Presbytery), asking for the erection of a new Presbytery, to be called the Presbytery of Luzerne; which overture was at once placed on the docket. This petition was presented by one who was subsequently destined to bear a conspicuous part in giving shape and dignity to the institution sought at the hands of the Assembly. The movement, however, originated with another who had already made full proof of his ministry in the southern part of the territory proposed for the new Presbytery and, like Mr. Dorrance in the northern part, was destined to be a vital and efficient agent in its upbuilding, especially in his part of the important field. This we learn from Dr. Cortland Van Rensellaer's sketch of the life of the Rev. Richard Webster, introductory to Mr. W.'s History of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.
When the Assembly reached the overture on the docket, it was fully discussed and passed, as follows: viz.,
Resolved: Ist. That the Rev. John Dorrance, the Rev. Ebenezer H. Snowden, of the Presbytery of Susque- hanna; together with the churches of Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Hanover and Lackawanna, to be detached from said Presbytery; and that the Rev, Richard Webster and the Rev. Daniel Gaston, together with the churches of Mauch Chunk, Beaver Meadow, Conyngham and Summit Hill, be detached from the Presbytery of Newton; and that they be erected into the Presbytery of Luzerne; and that the churches of Berwick and Briar Creek, now under the care of the Presbytery of Northumberland, and the church of Port Carbon, now under the care of
3
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, be attached to the Presbytery of Luzerne.
Resolved: 2nd. That all the Presbyterian churches that may hereafter be formed in the counties of Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon, and the township of Briar Creek in Columbia county, until otherwise ordered by competent authority, shall be formed under the direction of the Presbytery of Luzerne, and continue under the care of said Presbytery.
Resolved: 3rd. That the first meeting of the Pres- bytery of Luzerne shall be held in Wilkes-Barre, on the third Tuesday of September, at 7 o'clock p. m., and that said meeting be opened with a sermon by the Rev. Richard Webster, or, in case of his absence, by the oldest minister present.
Resolved: 4th. That after the organization of Luzerne Presbytery, Mr. Charles Evans, now a licentiate, under the care of the Presbytery of Newton be under the care of the Presbytery of Luzerne, and that said Presby- tery be connected with the Synod of New Jersey. (See minutes of General Assembly for 1843.)
The Presbytery, thus erected, consisted of ministers and churches detached by the Supreme Court of the Church from four other Presbyteries, belonging to two Synods. The greater area of territory having been under the jurisdiction of the Synod of New Jersey, the Presby- tery was assigned to it rather than the Synod of Philadelphia. Prompt action on the part of the Assembly (the only court that could act for all the parties in interest) was demanded by the conditions of the territory thus provided for, and the inevitable difficulties that would arise from delay in order to secure
4
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
concurrent petitions from all the different parties concerned. Such delay would have been equivalent to an indefinite postponement of the whole matter, and to the disadvantage of all the interests involved. This, doubt- less, is now obvious to the brethren of Susquehanna Presbytery, who at the time felt aggrieved by what they regarded as hasty action. (See Mr. C's Hist. of S. P.)
The Presbytery of Luzerne was organized at the time fixed for its first meeting by the General Assembly. There were present, at the appointed place, the following ministers, viz., John Dorrance, Richard Webster, Ebenezer Hazard Snowden, and Daniel Gaston, all that were named in the action of the Assembly; and from the churches named, the following elders, viz., John O. Baker of Wilkes-Barre, R. Robins of Hanover, E. S. Warne of Port Carbon, A. H. Van Cleve of Beaver Meadow, John Doak of Berwick, Daniel Melleck of Briar Creek. Later, elder Elijah Crouch of Lackawanna, and Charles Fuller of Kingston, put in an appearance. The full attendance of elders at this meeting, Sept. 7, 1848, speaks well for the local churches. The Rev. Richard Webster preached the opening sermon, according to appointment, after which the Rev. E. H. Snowden was elected Moderator, Daniel Gaston, temporary clerk, John Dorrance, treasurer, and Richard Webster, stated clerk. The new Presbytery was found to have under its care (owing to their relation to its churches) John W. Sterling, Alexander Dilley, and John Brown, candidates for the ministry. Mr. Dilley was subsequently, at his own request, dropped from the number.
The Rev. Thomas P. Hunt was received by letter from the Presbytery of Susquehanna. Two churches
5
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
from the Presbytery of Northumberland had been detached to form part of the new Presbytery, but no ministers were named in connection with them, therefore the Rev. Aaron H. Hand, stated supply of Berwick and Briar Creek churches, was received from the Presbytery of Flint River; also the Rev. William Hunting, from the Presbytery of Long Island.
The new Presbytery concurred with the request of the Presbytery of Susquehanna already made, that the Synod of New Jersey set over to it the churches of Northumberland, and Falls (now Newton).
At this first meeting, the Presbytery, in conformity with the design of its erection, laid out its work and shaped its measures to overtake the missionary effort which the numerous destitutions in its extended territory so loudly demanded. It made the Rev. Thomas P. Hunt its missionary or Pastor at Large, and well he performed the arduous work assigned him. It arranged for a close correspondence with Princeton Seminary, in order to secure men of the right stamp for its new or destitute fields. It instructed Mr. Webster to prepare a suitable Pastoral Letter, setting forth the work needed in the Presbytery, and calling earnestly for co-operation in its performance. And that, in the future deliberations of the Presbytery, an accurate knowledge of the condition and wants of the various parts of its wide field might be, from time to time, obtained, it provided for a conference, at its stated meetings, with reference to the exact condition of things, spiritual and material, in its several fields of operation; and, in order that the members of the Presbytery might aid each other in maintaining the proper standard of personal Christian experience, a
6
PRESBYTERY OF LUZERNE.
subject of experimental religion was selected at each meeting to be the theme of conference at the next stated meeting. And last, but not least, in order to the encouragement of vital energy in their work, a good measure of time for direct acts of devotion and study of the divine word was set apart at each meeting. For it was realized that it was not by might or by power, but by God's Spirit, that the transforming work, the ultimate aim in all the operation of the church, is performed ; and that for the Spirit to do this, God will be inquired of. Thus the work of the Presbytery was inaugurated at Wilkes-Barre.
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