USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > North East > The centennial commemoration of the founding of the First Presbyterian Church, of North East, Pennsylvania > Part 1
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Gc 974.802 N798n 1825734
IV
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02232 3148
1801
1901 1801-1901
THE
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
OF THE
FOUNDING
OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1 st
OF
NORTH EAST, PENNSYLVANIA, "32. 22.
JULY 17th, 18th and 19th,
1901.
HERALD PRINTING& PUE ERIt, PENNA
16/m
1825734
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chicago 176 - 37 st- From Lilly Glass France
Dre-18-1902-
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/centennialcommem00nort
THE OLD LOG CHURCH IN OAK HILL CEMETERY. 1801 to 1818 -
Northeast, Pa. First Presbyterian church.
D 285463 . 6 1801. 1901. The centennial commemoration of the founding of the First Presbyterian church, of North East, Pennsylvania, July 17th, 18th and 19th, 1901. Erie, Pa. [1901] 0.
SHELF CARD
310128
It is fitting to hold in grateful and loving memory the founders of every good institution for the welfare of their fellow men. Conspicuous among the first pioneers one hundred years ago of this fair region along the shores of Lake Erie, were the three men who bore the hardships of that early day and were the first Board of Rul- ing Elders in this church whose Centennial is now commemorated,
THOMAS ROBINSON, JOHN McCORD, and JOSEPH McCORD.
To their memory this volume is gratefully dedicated.
Preface.
The contents of this volume are more diversified than they would be if they were simply a history of the church whose Cen- tennial Anniversary they describe. They give us the record of three days of commemorative services, of discourses and speeches and letters of historical papers, and of a happy re-union with song and festival. For the great success of the celebration full credit and thanks should be given to the various committees who so generously gave time and zeal and love to the work they had undertaken to do. Their names will be found in the record. It has been deemed best to publish the sermon given by Rev. J. T. Oxtoby, D. D., at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the church. though it involves some repetition of the facts in the history of the church. The discourse is too valuable to be lost.
Special thanks are due to those who added so greatly to the success of the celebration by their contribution of very choice music and songs
Pastors and Supplies
of the First Presbyterian Church of North East, Erie Co., Pa.
Rev. Robert Patterson June 1802-April 1807
Rev. John McPherrin, (supply) 6 months. 1812
Rev. Johnston Eaton 1815-1816 Rev. Judah Ely, (supply) 6 months 1823
Rev. Giles Doolittle. 1824-1832
Rev. William A. Adair.
Rev. Nathaniel West, D. D. 1833-1838
1838-1841
Rev. Miles Doolittle.
1841 --- 1844
Rev. Samuel Montgomery 1844-1848 Rev. Rodney Paine 1848-1850 Rev. James Cochran. 1850-1852 Rev. David D. Gregory, D. D. 1852 -- 1858
Rev. Augustus H. Carrier, D. D. 1859-1803
Rev. Thomas B. Hudson, D. D. 1864 -- 1869
Rev. John T. Oxtoby, D. D ..
1870-1879
Rev. Cyrus J. Hunter, D. D. 1880-1893
Rev. Frank W Hays, Ph. D 1894-1896
Rev. R. Lewis Williams
1896-1900 Rev. Nathaniel MeGiffin. 1901 --
10
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
The First Presbyterian Church
of North East, Erie Co., Pa.
ORGANIZED 1801. MEMBERSHIP. 25. PRESENT MEMBERSHIP, 455.
FIRST PASTOR. Rev. Robert Patterson.
PRESENT PASTOR. Rev. Nathaniel MeGiffin.
FIRST ELDERS.
John McCord, Thomas Robinson,
Joseph McCord.
FORMER ELDERS.
1827 James Duncan, 1849 Benjamin R. Tuttle,
1830 William A. Robinson, 1849 James. Whitehill,
1834 Harmon En.t .: D, 1849
Dyer Loomis.
1834 William Crawford, 1856
Horatio M. Gilman,
1834 James Smedley, 1856 Benjamin F. Spooner,
1837 William Dickson,
18.43 Osee Selkrogg.
1843 . Frederick Ensign,
1856 Joseph McCord,
1868 William F. Marvin.
1868 Martin L. Selkregg.
1
AUDIENCE ROOM CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 1901.
------
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13
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
PRESENT ELDERS.
Mr. Zenas Rogers, Mr. James L. Reed,
Mr. James A. Moorhead,
Capt. George Selkregg, Mr. Henry S. Nash, Mr. Edward T. Moorhead.
TRUSTEES.
Mr. James A. Moorhead,
Mr. Samuel P. Whitehill,
Mr. George Mackay,
Mr. George E. Pierce, Mr. C. C. Hill, Mr. Norman H. Couse.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Mr. Geo. W. Blaine, Chairman.
Rev. N. McGiffin,
Mr. Jas. A. Moorhead, Mrs. Maria L. Moore,
Mr. Zenas Rogers,
Capt. Geo. Selkregg,
Mrs. Sarah E. Custard,
Mr. Wm. A. Ensign,
Mrs. A. Frank Jones.
RECEPTION COMMITTEE.
Pastor, Elders, Trustees, and their wives.
14
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
Programme.
JULY 17, 1901, 7:30 P. M.
Voluntary.
Doxology.
Invocation, by Rev. N. MeGiftin.
Scripture Lesson, by Rev. Cyrus J. Hunter, D. D.
Duet-"Peace to this Sacred Dwelling.". Mrs. Selkregg and Mr. Towne.
Prayer, by Rev. Thomas B. Hudson, D. D. Chant.
Address of Welcome, by the Pastor. Solo-"A Dream of Paradise"-W. J. Towne.
Historical Address, by Rev. Thomas HI. Robinson, D. D.
Hymn-"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Prayer and Benediction, by Rev. William Grassie. Organ.
JULY 18, 1901, 2 P. M.
Voluntary. Scripture, by Rev. William Grassie. Prayer, by Rev. A. H. Caughey. Solo-Mrs. Winnie Eggleston. (Selected.)
Centennial Address, by Rev. George B. Stewart, D. D., President of Auburn Theological Seminary
Hymn.
Woman's Work For Missions -- Mrs. Maria Moore. Young People's Work-Miss Jennie Selkregg. Woman's Aid Socio-Mrs. B. H. Putnam. Church Treasury= Mr. W. A. Ensign. Solo-Mrs. G. B. Swaney. (Selected.) Prayer and Benediction, by Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. Organ.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION BANQUET, 1901.
17
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
-
JULY 18, 1901, 7:30 P. M.
Voluntary.
Hymn No. 139, Coronation.
Scripture, by Rev. R. Lewis Williams.
Prayer, by Rev. Geo. B. Stewart, D. D. Solo-Mr. George Hodges. "Caro Mio ben" -- Giordania. Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name,-Franz.
RESPONSES BY EX-PASTORS.
Sons of our Church who have become Pastors-Rev. Cyrus J. Hunter, D. D.
Duet-Mrs. Eggleston and Mrs. Swaney. (Selected.)
History of Living Ex-Pastors-Rev. Frank W. Hays, Ph. D. Future Possibilities of our Church-Rev. R. Lewis Williams. Solo -- Mr. Hodges-"Be Thou Faithful Unto Death." Men- delssohn.
Father Orton-Rev. Thomas B. Hudson, D. D.
Memorial for Pastors who have served this Church-Rev. A. H. Carrier, D. D.
Benediction, by Rev. T. B. Hudson, D. D. Organ.
2
18
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
JULY 19, 1901. ORCHESTRA. Dinner at 1 o'clock. Symposium at 2 o'clock.
Introduction of Speakers by Rev. Herbert Ross, D. D., Toast- master.
"Our Church" -- Rev. Frank J. Nash.
"Our Daughter, Harborcreek Church"-Rev. Edward P. Cleave- land.
"Our Presbytery"-Rev. William Grassie, D. D.
"Our Sister Churches"-Responses by our Town Pastors: Rev. J. F. Kirk, of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Rev. A. L. Kinter, of the Baptist Church.
Rev. G. G. Ruff, of the English Lutheran Church. Rev. Willis K. Crosby, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. "Our Ladies"-R. J. Moorhead.
Address, by Gen. David B. McCreary.
FAREWELL RECEPTION, 3:00-3:30.
PRESENT CHURCH EDIFICE, 1885.
21
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Programme.
JULY 17, 1901, 7:30 P. M.
INVOCATION -- Rev. N. McGiffin.
O, God, our Father, we thank Thee for this hour, we thank. Thee for this memorable occasion, we thank Thee for Thy good- ness to us ever. We thank Thee for the gift of Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. We come here this night in His name, we ask Thee to abide with us and bless us for His sake, Amen.
SCRIPTURE-By Rev. Cyrus J. Hunter, D. D.
DUET-"Peace to This Sacred Dwelling."
Mrs. Selkregg and Mr. Towne.
PRAYER-By Rev. Thomas B. Hudson, D. D.
Most merciful God, our heavenly Father, wouldst Thou help us to remember as we gather here this night that we are in the presence of Him who searcheth the heart and guideth the lives of the children of men. Knowing that Thou regardest not the out- ward appearance of the mere forms of worldly men, we come into Thy presence reverently and devotedly in the exercise of true faith, believing that Thou art the rewarder of all those that dili- gently seek Thee. Fill our hearts with gratitude to Thee for all Thy benefits to us. We are grateful to Thee, we thank Thee, we rejoice in this day and occasion: this memorial day, this day of praise and thanksgiving, this centennial day in which we are called to commemorate and celebrate Thy divine goodness to this church for one hundred years of kind and loving and providential oversight and care. We do thank Thee for all that Thou hast done for this beloved church, for all the true and holy and godly men who have been connected with it, those who have gone to their reward, and those who remain. We thank Thee for the degree of prosperity with which Thon has always favored us. We thank Thee for the influence for good which it has exerted on this community, and the surrounding region. We thank Thee
22
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
for its present condition and encouraging prospects. Surely goodness and merey have followed these people all the days of their life, and their children and their children's children unto the third and fourth generations. O, our Father, wilt Thou still be with us and guide us. £ Wilt Thou give them constant and gracious manifestations of Thy quickening, converting, and sav- ing power. Wilt Thou honor Thy word as it is spoken here by Thy servants from time to time. Wilt Thou honor all the or- dinances of Thy house. We pray that here trans- gressors may learn Thy way, and sinners be converted unto Thee and that in all things connected with this beloved church, Thou wilt glorify Thyself and commend Thy people and the gospel to the world. Wilt Thou be with us in this particular service, and while we listen to the interesting story told to us by Thy servants, may our hearts be inspired with new purposes, may our faith be increased, and from this time forth may we all be found walking in the ways of the Lord until we shall enter into the church triumphant, and unto the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, will we give all the praise in the world without end. Amen.
CHANT.
ADDRESS-By the Pastor.
My Christian friends, I think I may say with enough truth, that such occasions as this are rare. In this country a hundred years of history belong to but few organizations. The fathers of this church formed a part of the far-reaching battle line of the frontier, worthy successors of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians and New England Puritans. To-night we recall them to your mem- ory. Their acts of faith and devotion are known to you. The self-denial of one hundred years ago speaks to us to-night as we, the members of this Church, thank God for the twenty-five god- ly men and women who served God under the leadership of Robert Patterson.
First of all I welcome to-night the descendants of those men and women of food. We thank God for your contentment and for your good sense in retaining these homesteads, land- marks of one hundred years. May God give to you and to yours for many generations to come this heritage of home and church life.
REV. NATHANIEL MCGIFFIN, Present Pastor.
25
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
None the less warmly would I welcome all of the members of this church, some of whom are of two generations. All of you are proud of your church home. Many of you have known no other. Together with the grandchildren of the first twenty-five you have wrought, under God, this church and work.
I believe that it belongs to but few communities to enjoy the privilege of such a home of worship and such a congregation as we have here. We come to give God the glory.
I welcome to our beautiful town and to these memorial services of our beloved church your own Dr. Robinson and others who in former years enjoyed here a delightful church home. I think that many of you still consider that this is your church home. We welcome you to enjoy with us the privileges of this hour.
To-night we welcome those of you who perhaps are not members of our own denomination. I have no doubt it is a privilege for you to be here, and I am sure it is a privilege for us to welcome you, especially the pastors and members of our sister churches, who have in good Christian fellowship harmonized with our common purpose and no doubt rejoice with us to-night in the honor of our years. Together, I may say, we rejoice in the increasing liberality of our common theology and worship, in the glowing accord of the century past, and in the bright outlook for unity ahead. It is a privilege, I say, to welcome VOU.
In behalf of all of the congregation I welcome my predeces- sors, you men of God who in the years past have so ably and so faithfully led this flock in and out to find pasture.
I esteem it a privilege and congratulate myself that I have as my predecessors such a line of noble and godly men, who have given the truth to this people in the past. I account it a pleas- ure that it has been my privilege to sit as a member of Dr. Hudson's congregation in the old stone church at Clinton, New York. The presence of the Doctor here calls up associations that are dear to you all.
What they may say on these occasions will recall the vic- tories of the past and the pleasant associations which you have had together in the service of the Master, and we extend a very cordial welcome to those former pastors of our church. I may not detain you longer. Together we rejoice in this century of ser- vice for God and together we turn to look at the past and then
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CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
to the future. That the future triumphs may be greater is our prayer.
Welcome to you all, to enjoy the services of this centennial anniversary.
SOLO -- "A Dream of Paradise." .W. J. Towne.
HYMN-"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."
HISTORICAL ADDRESS-By Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D.
They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of draw- ing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel .-- Judges v. IL.
The ode from which these words have been taken formed a part of a triumphal song of victory that celebrated the overthrow of the hosts of Jabin and Sisera by the army of Israel. Chanted though it was many centuries ago in a far away land, it has its meanings for these later days. In the valleys of Palestine and the East, the watering places, the spring's and the wells have ever been and are to this day regarded as objects of greatest vahie, as they were also points of fierce strife and conflict. The Bible abounds with references to the springs among the hills, and to wells that had been dug at great expense. Isaac was a great well digger, driven thereto by the necessities of his vast flocks. Ile would surely never forget that it was at a well that he first met the damsel fair to look upon, and drank from the pitcher in her hands, who but a little later left country, home and friends to walk with him until death parted them.
Towers were erected near these springs and wells to com- mand and secure their possession. Parties of hostile tribes meet- ing at them came into instant collision. Thither, too, the na- tives of the hills and the wild marauders of the desert resorted to plunder the parties of travelers and merchants who came in search of water. Concealed banditti gathered near these watering places. It was dangerous often to encamp by them. Visitors would replenish their water-skins in all haste and hurry away. An Oriental traveler mentions a beautiful rill which falls into a large basin called by a name which translated reads-"Drink and
REV. THOS. H. ROBINSON, D. D., Son of the Church.
29
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
away"-from the peculiar danger of meeting there robbers and assassins.
The victory which Deborah celebrates in her song had not only routed a mighty army but had cleared the land of marauders and restored quiet and order. £ The inhabitants might now sit down unmolested at the places of drawing water. The noise of the archers would no longer be heard. It would be as safe to sit at the well as hundreds of years later it was for the weary Son of Man, our Divine Savior.
This little bit of history from the remote past has been re- peated in all the generations to this day. It gives us a starting point for the services of this centennial commemoration. It is true of our grandsires that they too sought to find and build their homes near rills and streams and springs of water. They loved the places of drawing water. And though the carly settlers along the beautiful shore of Lake Erie and amid these streams from the hills and the hundreds of clear, cool springs never feared the noise of archers or hidden foes, had they come hither half a hundred years sooner, they would have had the experience of their Palestine brethren of nearly four thousand years ago.
And many of them, could we have questioned them, could have told us tales rehearsed by their fathers in central Pennsyl- vania and elsewhere as thrilling as any from old Palestine. I have been up and down Cumberland valley and through the gaps of the Kittatiny Mountains hunting with an ancestral hunger for the homes, the churches, the church yards of the sturdy men and women from whom many of the founders of this church came, and I found them wellnigh universally close by some charming spring The homes were there, the churches were there. Scores of them are in my memory. The very names of their churches to this day are fragrant with historic memories, Rocky Spring, Falling Spring, Middle Spring, Silver's Spring, LeTort Spring, Big Spring. Nor less are many of the homes of that valley, almost unequalled for its beauty, to this day re- membered and hold dear for the old spring that has quenched the thirst of generations. Around these springs in the carlier days was heard the noise of the archers." The warwhoop of the prowling savage disturbed many a quiet home and broke the sacredness of many a worshipping congregation. The psalm
30
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
of the sanctuary was hushed by the shoutings of the stalwart men who sprung to the defense of their wives and children, seiz- ing the muskets they had brought to the house of God.
But on these earlier days we need not dwell to-day. The fathers of a century ago who felled the forests and upturned the virgin sod of this smiling land were of a later and more peaceful time. The French and Indian wars had ceased. Two decades had passed since the flag of a foreign power had been lowered and the flag of an independent people and a new nation had been raised to the breeze to float on until this day and we trust for many centuries to come. It waved over three millions of peo- ple then; eighty millions are under its stars now.
We speak of an hundred years. They are but an hand breadth in the measurement of human history. The roots of what we are to-day lie deep in the soil of countries beyond the sea. We are not the offspring of yesterday only, nor of many yesterdays-not of one people, but of many peoples. We did not create ourselves nor are we the makers of our fortunes.
To-day is hardly a day for self-glorification. Let others sound our praises if they can, and not our own mouths. To-day we proclaim with united voice our indebtedness to the past. No individual begins his own work. Nor does he finish it. We enter into and carry on the labors of others, and into our tasks the new generation will come to do its part in the develop- ment of an eternal plan. We reap the fields our fathers cleared and sowed.
Of the fathers of the first quarter-of-the-century history let me speak to-day. It will be a theme large enough for the hour. We owe it to the men and women of that early time to keep alive the memory of the deeds they wrought, and to rehearse the virtues they illustrated in their noble lives. It may, perchance. stimulate some in this later and busy generation to revere and to imitate the stalwart character of the men and women who have gone before us .. Some of you will I hope recall the inimitable story of Old Monality written by Sir Walter Scott, one of the greatest of Scotchmen. With bonnet of blue, and with chisel and hammer, mounted on his old white nag, he rode from churchi yard to church yard. cleansing the lichen and the moss from for- gotten tombstones, and cutting deeper in the marble the im- mortal names of ancestral sires who were buried there. Robert
JAMES DUNCAN.
Elder. 1
33
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Patterson-and note he bore the name of the first pastor of this church-is the impersonation of that filial love that should ani- mate every heart. We are but doing to-day the very task of that sturdy old covenanter, cleansing the lichen and the moss from the names of the worthy men and the no less noble women, who amid the hardships of a pioneer life laid sound and square the foundations of social and religious life one hundred years ago along this lake shore.
Whence came they? Who were they? What sort of men and women were they that we should recall them with gratefulness and pride?
Two main lines of immigration found their way into this region in the closing years of the eighteenth century and the opening years of the nineteenth. One was from moral, thrifty and intelligent New England, and her children who had settled for a time in the state of New York. The other was from cen- tral Pennsylvania. The former traced their ancestry back to English soil and birth; the latter were of Scotch and Scotch- . Irish descent. A few came directly from the north of Ireland. Intermingled with these were some of other nationalities, but they were greatly in the minority. The names of the carly settlers clearly show their ancestral origin.
My own claim to a share in the congratulations of this centennial may be found in the fact that one of my grandsires came hither in the summer of 1707, and another came direct from the north of Ireland in 1802. And the grandfather of my wife, Mr. George Buehler, was in 1863 the proprietor of the celebrated MeConkey House in Erie, in which the county of Erie was organized, and which was in the War of 1812 the headquar- ters of Commodore Perry. He was a member of the first town council and later, 1808 and 1809, a burgess of the borough. He too was a native of central Pennsylvania, but by descent a Mor- avian of German ancestry.
Upon the opening of this region to purchasers the new settlers poured mn with great rapidity. Grants of land were offered to the first comers. Reports of the beauty and richness of the country along Lake Erie were widely circulated, and the prospect for thriving and happy homes drew men hither in large numbers. It was no light, gay trip to reach this promising eldorado. The New York and New England families came
3
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CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
from two to four hundred miles, and the households from cen- tral Pennsylvania four hundred. The trains by which they came were not christened as "the Cleveland Flyer" or "The Pittsburg Limited." No Pullman sleepers soothed the wearisomeness of their journeys. They came hither not at the rate of fifty or sixty miles an hour, day and night. Even a mile an hour was at times fair progress, and they were glad to stop and rest as the shadows of evening began to lengthen about them. The coun- try through which they passed was not a sea of meadows and flowers, of smiling farms, villages with their church, and towns with manufactories. Much of their way was through densely wooded forests, with scarcely a trail to guide them.
In the spring of 1797 two young men, brothers-in-law and four years later Ruling Elders in the first Church Session of the first Presbyterian Church on the shores of Lake Erie, the church of Lower Greenfield, now North East, might have been seen, adjusting their saddle bags, mounting their horses, and leaving their homes, with good byes to their fair young wives, in the western part of one of the valleys along the Juniata. Near them were the wooded heights of the Kittatiny Mountains, close by were the ruins of an old fort into which their ancestors had often fled for safety, and the church where they had been bap- tized. . They have left us no record of their long journey, and of their slow and perilous way to seek a new home for their child- ren. They spent the summer here, selected and purchased their lands, reared small cabins for future use, sowed the seed for next year's harvest on a few cleared acres, and returned to the homes they had left. We can well imagine the wonder with which their families and neighbors listened to the story of their wild adventures, of what befell them in. their journey, where they halted and built their camp fires, how they crossed the Alle- ghenies, how, too, they crossed the umbridged rivers on their way, and the scores of smaller streams, what bears and wolves and deer they saw. and how the fair land of their new home looked, the blue like and the creeks beside which they were to live. They talked and talked the winter through, for they had been spies to see the goodly country and report. But there was something more than talk, for in the spring of 1798 another journey was undertaken. There was the mending of old wagons and the making of new ones. There was the getting
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