USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Hickory > One hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church, Hickory, Pennsylvania > Part 1
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After One Hundred Twenty-five Years 1825 -1950
The At. Prospect Presbyterian Church Hickory, Pennsylvania
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
of the ORGANIZATION of the
Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church HICKORY, PENNSYLVANIA
FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AUGUST 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH, 1950
THE REV. CORNELIUS SEXTON THOMAS, Pastor
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE (1925)
ROBERT R. HAYS, Chr.
JOHN P. WHITE
WILLARD K. ALLISON HARRY D. WHITE
HISTORICAL COMMITTEE (1950)
JAMES A. McGUGIN ALVIN D. WHITE
MOUNT PROSPECT TODAY
MOUNT PROSPECT THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
THE SESSION
Seated: Left to right-J. Alvan Bell, Andrew D. McCarrell, James A. McGugin, S. Edwin Miller, Clare M. White. Standing-Boyd A. Emery, Alvin D. White, Rev. Cornelius S. Thomas, W. Lee Cowden, Dr. John K. McCarrell. Insert-Vincent M. Paul. Absent-J. Buchanan Manson
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THE REV. CORNELIUS S. THOMAS, Pastor
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In Memoriam
Elders of Mt. Prospect Church who have died since the One Hundredth Anniversary Celebration.
JOHN PARKER WHITE, SR.
born March 23, 1858 died May 29, 1934
Served as elder from October 1, 1893 to the date of his death, and as Clerk of Session from May 1, 1901, to the date of his death.
RIDDILE SAMUEL RANKIN
born March 30, 1866 died March 13, 1936
Served as elder from May 9, 1914, to the date of his death.
JAMES PATTERSON McCARRELL born July 29, 1872 died March 9, 1949
Served as elder from May 9, 1914, to the date of his death.
WELL DONE
Servant of God, well done! Rest from thy loved employ; The battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy Master's joy.
The pains of death are past, Labor and sorrow cease, And Life's long warfare closed at last, Thy soul is found in peace.
JAMES MONTGOMERY
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FORWORD
The History of Mt. Prospect Church, prepared and published at the time of the Centennial Celebra- tion in 1925, had as its aim the making readily ac- cessible the materials concerning this Church and the perpetuating of the traditions that set forth her in- ception and the history of her development. The papers read at the seventy-fifth anniversary, the his- tory of the congregation prepared by Rev. T. R. Alexander and the history of Washington Presbytery as well as church records have been the sources of information, and without their help the efforts of the Centennial Historical Committee would have been futile. This present work includes the former history with a few additions and corrections together with the history of the Church from 1925 to 1950. The present committee hereby acknowledges the careful work done by the earlier committee. We hope that this edition of our history will be as favorably re- ceived as was the earlier work.
-HISTORICAL COMMITTEE.
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History
HE REAL pioneers of western civilization were the men who, at the first, scaled the Allegheny Mountains and settled in South- western Pennsylvania. Hence, we say the planting of the Presbyterian Church in this region was a great historical epoch. Among these early settlers, could be found, here and there, a sturdy God-fearing Presbyterian family. But it was not until later, that these Presby- terian families became sufficiently numerous to give character to the population. They came, some of them, direct from across the Atlantic, a few from New Jersey and Virginia, but the majority from Chester, York, Lancaster, Northampton and Cumberland Counties, in Penn- sylvania; Cecil County, in Maryland, and New Castle County, in Delaware. In racial descent, they were predominantly Scotch-Irish, and possessed the well-known traits of that historic people. In respect to moral and religious character, it cannot, of course, be claimed that they were, without exception, ideal Christians. Many of them, like their descendants, had more of Scotch-Irish vim than of divine grace, and there was much in the adversity of the times to tempt them; but it is to be noted that even when they failed in practical piety, they were apt to remain loyal to gospel truth, and from this cause, not in- frequently trained up a generation to follow them, better than them- selves. Furthermore, there were always among them, not a few leading characters, who were eminently godly persons, whose influence leavened, in a measure, the entire community. Without disparagement, therefore, of what was done by other denominations of Christians, it may safely be said that the chief religious influence exerted in the West in that day, was what came from the Presbyterian Church- using the term Presbyterian in its broader sense as inclusive of the Associate, the Associate Reformed and the Reformed Presbyterian bodies, as well as our own.
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The organization of the Mount Prospect Church, in the year 1825, was the culmination of the desire of the people in this neighborhood to have a Presbyterian Church nearer their homes, as the already es- tablished churches of Upper Buffalo, Cross Creek, Raccoon and Miller's Run were each several miles distant.
Some of the leading families that were interested in the new or- ganization were those of William Hughes, John Cowen, William Simpson, Robert Marshall, Robert Wallace, Samuel Moore, Charles Campbell, David McGugin, Simeon Haynes, Archy Stewart, James Miller. William Wallace, John Lyle, William Walker, Samuel Cowen, and A. Farrar. The persons named and their families, along with others no doubt of whom no certain knowledge can now be obtained, constituted the first membership of the church.
However, the history of this congregation really begins before Mt. Prospect had an organized existence. Meetings were first held in the homes and later in the grove just below the road south-east of the present church building.
As this new mission proved successful during the summer of 1824, it was thought practicable to continue and perpetuate it in an organ- ized form. As a result a petition to that end was presented to the Presbytery of Washington and we quote from the records of Presbytery :
CROSS ROADS (FLORENCE) DEC. 28, 1824
A petition was presented to Presbytery signed by White and others, as a committee of a number of families attached to the Presbyterian Church in the neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant (Hickory), praying that a new congre- gation may be established in that neighborhood, with a view to a union between such congregation, if established, and that of Millers Run in the bounds of the Presbytery of Ohio.
It appearing to presbytery that the new Congrega- tion, if established, would be likely materially to effect the congregations of Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo it was therefore resolved to be inexpedient to grant the prayer of said petition.
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Those pioneer families, with their Scotch Irish vim, demonstrated their determination in the matter by presenting another petition to presbytery at its next meeting held in the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, April 19th and 20th, 1825. We turn again to the records of presbytery as of April 20th, 1825 and we quote:
A petition signed by a number of persons, citizens of the village of Mountpleasant and its vacinity, praying for promission to build a house of worship on the farm of Mr. Haynes, half a mile west of the aforesaid village - was presented to Presbytery.
On motion resolved, that the prayer of the petition be granted.
Hence it appears that the history of Mt. Prospect as a Presbyter- ian body really begins with April 20, 1825.
It is a foregone conclusion that the farm of Mr. Haynes as men- tioned in the above minutes was that of Simeon Haynes, as an exam- ination of the records in the Recorder's office at Washington reveals the fact that at that time he owned 95 acres of land just west of Hickory. There is no record of any other Haynes owning property in Mt. Pleasant Township at that time. Furthermore the name of Sim- eon Haynes appears in the old records of the Church as being among those who were active in its affairs in those early days.
This land is at present owned by J. W. Carlisle, the C. C. Carlisle estate, the Manufacturers Light and Heat Company, and others. Thus, the wording of the foregoing petition seems to prove that it was the intention of those presenting said petition to locate the new church not far from the present location of the Gas office. We have neither record nor tradition concerning this matter and our only knowledge of same is that to be found in the foregoing minute of Presbytery.
Likewise, we do not know what determined locating the first church building on the present site. The location actually chosen was on land then belonging to Robert Lyle and this spot is about one and one-half miles west of Hickory compared with the "one-half mile" mentioned in the petition. It would appear that the land upon which the church was erected was "donated" for the purpose at that
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time, since no transfer of land is on record until March 7, 1851 when David Lyle, son of Robert Lyle, conveyed to the Trustees of Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church a tract containing 3 Acres 12 Perches at a consideration of $30.00. This transfer was effected soon after the church became an incorporate body in 1851. (On June 17, 1861, David Lyle conveyed another tract containing 137 perches to the trus- tees for a consideration of $23.00. On March 1, 1872 James Manson conveyed to the trustees a tract containing 102 perches for a consider- ation of $4.00. This last was used by the contractor to obtain clay for burning the brick for the present church building.)
Following the organization of the congregation in 1825 and be- fore the erection of the first church building, meetings were again held in the grove south-east of the church at what the older members termed the "Tent", which consisted of a canopy or hood-like arrange- ment of boards in which the minister stood. The congregation, seated upon the ground, logs and rough benches, had the sky as its canopy.
The congregation has been particularly fortunate in its elders. At the time the organization of the church was effected, three elders were chosen, all of whom had been acting elders in the congregations to which they had previously belonged. These men were William Simpson from Miller's Run, William Hughes and John Cowen from Upper Buffalo. They were characterized as men of strong minds, determined purpose, and devoted piety. All these men continued to be ruling elders in Mount Prospect until their deaths. William Simpson died March 20, 1848, William Hughes died April 17, 1831, John Cowen died August 11, 1833.
Previous to the calling of a pastor, the list of supplies contained the names of the following ministers: Mccluskey, Mercer, Anderson, Elisha McCurdy, Nesbitt, William Smith, John Hamilton, Vincent, Hoge, Stockton and Hervey, who afterward became the first pastor. The price paid the supplies was three dollars. The first sacrament of which there is a record, was administered the fourth Sabbath of May 1827, by Dr. Anderson and Elisha McCurdy.
The first house of worship, a frame building, was erected soon after the organization of the church, probably late in 1825 or early 1826. The actual cost of the building was very low, owing to the fact that a great deal of the material was donated and much voluntary labor was performed. Hugh McConaughey, later to be chosen an
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elder, appears to have been in charge of the construction work, since there is a record of a settlement between "the trustees of Mt. Prospect meeting house and Hugh McConaughey for the building of the house according to contract This building, it is be- lieved, was never formally dedicated but, with Scotch Irish directness, was simply occupied by the people.
DAVID HERVEY (1828-1835)
In the fall of 1828, a call was presented for the pastoral services of the Rev. David Hervey, and that he might be free from wordly cares and avocations, they promised and obliged themselves to pay him the sum of $350 annually. The call was accepted, and on Decem- ber 3, 1828, he was installed the first pastor of this church, Dr. Wylie preaching the sermon and Dr. Anderson delivering the charges. Mr. Hervey had been a farmer, until the age of twenty-six; then deciding to prepare for the ministry, he entered Jefferson College and graduated in the class of 1825. During his pastorate here, he lived in a house built by Hugh McConaughey in Woodrow, and now owned by the heirs of Robert Phillips. He taught the youth of the church privately in his home.
The Sunday School was organized in the spring of 1829, with a membership of 109. The first superintendent was James Hughes.
The following elders were added to the session during Mr. Her- vey's pastorate: Charles Campbell (1828-1833), Hugh McConaughey (1828-1874), Robert Lyle (1834-1843), Andrew Farrar (1828-1832), Samuel Moore (1834-1848).
As near as can be ascertained from the records, Mr. Hervey left Mount Prospect with a membership of 130, more than double the number enrolled at the time of organization. After serving two other. congregations, Lower Buffalo and Wellsburg, he retired in 1879, and spent two years in missionary work in Illinois. He died June 19, 1881.
JOHN MOORE (1837-1845)
The Rev. John Moore became the second pastor of Mount Pros- pect April 1, 1837, and continued in the pastorate until April 17, 1845. His salary was fixed at $450. Mr. Moore bought the property. now occupied by George Knauer and nearby he erected a building where
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young men were given academic training. Eighty accessions are re- corded during his ministry.
In May 1838, a Juvenile Missionary Society was organized to which any child between 6 and 16 could belong. The annual dues were 121/2 cents, this sum to be used to help in sending the blessed gospel to the distant heathen. Meetings were held once a year, at the time of the spring communion, when the annual payment was made. The names of the families, whose children were enrolled as members, are: Miller, Griffith, Hays, McNary, Longmond, McIlvaine, Simpson, Work, Sterritt, Porter, Moore, McGugin, McConaughey. Tuten, White, Cowen, Campbell, Rankin, Douglas, Farrar, Ross and Lyle. These names probably link up the family history of the con- gregation as perfectly as though the list of early members had been given.
James Hughes (1842-1872), a son of William Hughes, one of the first elders in the church, was at this time, made a member of the session.
Not alone in modern times have there been objections to the doctrinal standards of the church, as the following excerpt from the session records of September 21, 1837, indicates: "Session held a free and full conversation with two members separately and together, in which they clearly and decidedly denied the right of infants to baptism and declared it to be and to have been for some years their fixed senti- ments that immersion was the only scriptural mode. Session after mature deliberation, resolved unanimously, that, for the above reasons, these two men hereby are suspended from the communion of this church, until they adopt the doctrines taught on this subject in the confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church. Session further direct- ed that the whole proceedings of this case be read from the pulpit." These doubts were probably aroused by the widespread controversy, at that time, concerning immersion.
DAVID R. CAMPBELL (1849-1855)
The church determined to call back one of her own sons to occupy the pulpit and at the fall presbytery of 1849, a call was presented for the services of the Rev. David R. Campbell. He labored with force and acceptance for nearly six years and, during the early part of his ministry, he occupied the house now known as the tenant house on
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the William Russell farm not far from the church. After the death of his wife, he lived in Hickory where he taught a private school, thus keeping in line with his predecessors.
Several deaths having occurred in the session, the following were elected: William Mason Campbell (1848-1899), Samuel Cowen 1848- 1857), James Lee (1850-1867).
Mr. Campbell died at Steubenville, Ohio, in 1873, during his pastorate at the Second Church of that city. He was a man of decided pulpit ability, evangelical spirit and uniform faithfulness. It is un- usual for a congregation to have a minister and an elder belonging to the same family and serving simultaneously.
The church became an incorporate body in 1850, and the trustees who served early in her history were James Lee, William White, Gawn McIllvaine, James Campbell, Henry Cochran, James Rankin, Joseph Lyle, Peter Futhey, George Campbell, James McGugin, Samuel Campbell.
WILLIAM KEELING (1858-1863)
The vacancy, occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Campbell, continued until December 1858, when the Rev. William B. Keeling was installed as pastor. During the whole course of his education and public work his superior talents and scholarship were freely acknowl- edged, but his tendency toward controversy alienated a portion of his people. The second church building, of brick, was erected at a cost of about $8,000. The congregation passed through the stirring times of the Civil War without political division. Despite the troubl- ous times, the session records show sixty-eight accessions.
James Rankin (1859-1883), James F. Hill (1859-1916), James McElroy (1859-1861) were added to the session. Mr. Keeling repre- sented the Presbytery of Washington in General Assembly, at Peoria, Illinois, the last year of his pastorate at Mount Prospect. His subse- quent ministry was spent in several fields of labor in the West. His death occurred at Winona, Illinois, April 29, 1878.
Quotations from the records of the church at this time, will prob- ably prove more interesting than comments.
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June 18, 1859
"The session resolved unanimously that hereafter the use of tokens* should be dispensed with at the celebration of the Lord's Supper."
December 13, 1861
"At a congregational meeting for the purpose of disposing of the seats in the new church, it was agreed to sell the seats to the highest bidder. Any person purchasing a seat, to pay the amount it sold for within sixty days from this date, or forfeit their claims to the same."
January 19, 1860
"The session met and was opened with prayer. The members were all present except Mr. Hugh McConaughey. The object of this meet- ing of session was to take into consideration the conduct of some of the members of the church. Public rumor charged these young persons with having attended a ball at. Burgettstown at which they engaged in dancing. This ball was held on the last Thursday of December 1859. A committee appointed at a previous informal meet- ing of the session, reported that they had seen and conversed with each of these young people separately; and that while some disclaimed any participation in the dance, yet they had all acknowledged that they had committed sin. For this they professed deep sorrow and repent- ance, and further, that they promised that they would neither engage in nor countenance, promiscuous dancing. In view of this report, the session decided that in as much as heretofore, discipline had not been inflicted in this church upon any who may have engaged in dancing, therefore, 1. These young people shall be dealt with, with all the leniency which the laws of God's house will permit. 2. The session as the appointed guardians of this church express their decided dis- approbation of the conduct of the members in question. 3. That a minute of this action of the session be read to the congregation, and that all be assured that the session will not tolerate dancing in this church."
* Tokens were bits of pewter the size of a small coin and stamped with the initials of the congregation. They were given to persons attending preparatory services and had to be presented at Communion service before the individual was permitted to partake of Communion.
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JOHN CALVIN CALDWELL (1864-1868)
The Rev. J. C. Caldwell, whose preaching was characterized as clear and forceful, was installed pastor November 1864. His salary was almost twice that paid the first pastor of this church.
During Mr. Caldwell's pastorate, a manse was erected at a cost of about $1,600, and the same building stands to-day, but it is no longer the property of the congregation. The use of tables in the communion service was discontinued. More than sixty affiliated themselves with the church, in the four years of Mr. Caldwell's ministry.
His next charge was the Second Church of Washington, Pa., where he remained a little more than a year, being then released to the Presbytery of Northumberland where he served as pastor of the Lycoming and Newberry Churches for four years. Then he was called to the Central Church of Chambersburg, Penna., where he served 1874 to 1883. Next he served the congregation of the First Church at West Chester, Penna. He died in 1899.
A story is told which illustrates a characteristic of Mr. Caldwell's preaching. The Rev. David Hervey being there during a communion season and noting Mr. Caldwell's presentation of the terrors of the law, said to him afterward, "Caldwell, are you easily made angry?" "No, I think not." "Well then, let me advise you, preach less hell and damnation."
January 25, 1867, Andrew Donaldson (1867-1880), and Alexander V. McGugin (1867-1903) became members of the session. One of the present elders, James A McGugin, is the grandson of Mr. Donald- son and the son of Mr. McGugin.
ROBERT T. PRICE (1868-1873)
The church has never been blest with any very great revival, but often there have been special quickenings, and on a few occasions, fairly large accessions have followed. Ninety persons were admitted to membership during the tenure of the Rev. R. T. Price.
On the twenty-third of March 1871, the church building was destroyed by fire. This was the regular evening for the young men's prayer meeting and a number had already assembled, but knew noth- ing of the fire, until Mr. Alexander McGugin arrived and informed them that the roof was then ablaze. In spite of their efforts, they
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soon found it impossible to save the building. The third or present structure was very soon erected at a cost of about $10,000.
During the time, following the fire and before the new church was completed, while the congregation was without a place of meeting, services were held each Sunday afternoon in the Mt. Pleasant U. P. Church in Hickory.
Two new names appear on the session roll in 1869- J. Reed Lyle (1869-1916) and A. E. Walker (1869-1876). *
After leaving Mt. Prospect, Mr. Price served churches at Bellevue and Dunbar, Penna., Shreve and Hopewell, Ohio and Crowley, La.
The death of Mr. Price occurred at Wooster, Ohio, April 18, 1925, within two days of being one hundred years from the exact date of the organization of the church which he had served so acceptably.
At this juncture we again resort to the church records for material:
February 6, 1872
"Resolved, that we assess the seats in the church from five dollars upwards, all amounting to two thousand dollars, in order to pay the debt against the church, none to be sold under their assessment. The purchaser to hold the seats until he or she leaves or ceases to sup- port the church, the seat then falling into the hands of the trustees. An amendment to the foregoing resolution was adopted by the trustees and recommended to the congregation: That the seats in the new church be assessed to the whole amount of debt against the church, with one year's interest in addition. The lowest rate to be five dollars and the highest fifty dollars and none to be sold under their assess- ment *. The purchaser to have no right to dispose of his seat or any part of it, it to remain as the property of the trustees. The purchaser to cccupy as long as they continue their support to the congregation. The purchaser to have one year without interest to pay the price of his seat."
December 17, 1869
"A plan for more thorough co-operative work on the part of the eldership, being proposed by the moderator, was unanimously adopted and is as follows: The congregation having been divided into eight districts, a list containing a certain number of families was put into the
* This action resulted in the seats being auctioned off to the highest bidder. In spirited bidding for one favored seat near a window, Milton McGugin is said to have paid fifty-five dollars. thus exceeding the highest rate quoted.
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hands of each elder. Over the spiritual interests of each family he is to have a special supervision -- to visit either alone, or in company with another elder, each family at least once a quarter. At the ex- piration of three months, each member to report his operations at a meeting to be called by the moderator, when a free exchange of opinions concerning, and a concert of prayer shall be had and districts be exchanged for the work of another quarter."
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