USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Blairsville > A history of the churches in Blairsville [Pa.] presbytery, prepared at its request and read before it in Blairsville, January 28th, 1874 > Part 6
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* The last four were ordained and installed Feb. 8th, 1874, since this paper was read.
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away the condition became still worse, as Centerville began to retrograde, and New Florence, on the Cen- tral Railroad, and across the river, where most of the members reside, is a steady growing town. This church has had three stated supplies, and two pas- tors, but has raised no minister.
Harrison City was organized October 6th, 1856, by Drs. S. M'FARREN and D. KIRKPATRICK, and Revs. W. EDGAR and J. C. CARSON, with elders JOHN LARIMER and JOSEPH MILLER, after a sermon by Mr. CARSON. The members were fourteen, with three elders. A house of worship was erected in 1859. Rev. WM. EDGAR, pastor at Murraysville, having frequently preached there before the congre- gation, was released for half time from Murraysville, April 11th, 1860, and for that portion was installed at Harrison City, May 8th of that year. Dr. SMITH preached, Dr. M'FARREN charged the pastor, and J. C. CARSON the people. April 18th, 1865, he was released from the whole charge. The church was statedly supplied then for some time by Rev. JAMES DAVIS. Nov. 21st, 1871, Rev. G. K. SCOTT was installed for half time. Rev. W. W. MOORHEAD preached, and charged the pastor, and G. M. SPAR- GROVE the people. He was released Oct. 2d, 1872. „June 29th, 1873, Rev. WM. M. KAIN was installed for half time. Rev. HENRY BAIN preached, D. HARBISON charged the pastor, and W. W. MOOR- HEAD the people. The original elders were HUGH M. ROBERTSON, SAMUEL EARHART, GEO. SOWASH
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and WM. CHAMBERS. The accessions have been JOHN K. FOSTER, JOHN SOWASH, GEO. RAMSEY, Sr., L. B. HIGHBERGER, JAMES A. DIBLE and Dr. HENRY PIPER. ROBERTSON has removed, DIBLE has died. FOSTER was the most prompt and careful man in the Presbytery, in furnishing matter for this sketch. This church having one stated supply and three pastors, has raised no minister.
Blacklick was organized October 31st, 1867, by Revs. S. H. SHEPLEY, J. R. HUGHES, J. DAVIS and GEO. HILL, with twenty-four members and three elders. For some time it was statedly supplied by Rev. JAS. DAVIS, and from him obtained important aid in the erection of its house of worship. Its "rise and progress," however, is largely due to the earnest zeal and liberality of Mr. JOHN WRIGHT, its senior elder, and Sabbath-school superintendent. With money of his own, or by him raised among generous friends in Pittsburgh, for a considerable time he paid towards each day's supply, $7.50. The services of Rev. JAMES R. HUGHES, while Prin- cipal of Blairsville Female Seminary, as stated sup- ply, were enjoyed and highly prized, about 1869. February 2d, Wednesday, 1871, Mr. D. G. ROBIN- SON was ordained, and for half time installed, as pastor. Rev. R. CAROTHERS preached, Dr. HILL charged the pastor, and J. DAVIS the people. He seemed, on many accounts, well suited to this field, and likely to be useful in it. In order that he might have a full charge, measures were initiated
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for the transfer, by the General Assembly, of Ho- mer church, where he was supplying half time, from Kittanning Presbytery, in Erie Synod, to this Pres- bytery, in Pittsburgh Synod. But, before the As- sembly met, pulmonary disease running a rapid race, had brought to an early end his promising labors and life, April 3d, 1873. So the transfer was not made. Peculiar circumstances render it important that this church be soon furnished again with a sim- ilar pastor. The Sabbath-school and weekly prayer- meeting in this church are kept up, with such at- tendance and attention as might put to the blush many an older and more favored church. "The Presbyterian at Work " is circulated more largely, in proportion to the membership, than is common in the churches. The other two elders are JAMES H. FAIR, and F. M. KINTER who is also the chief singer, and very tastefully leads and animates the service of the song-no small item in sanctuary and social services. This church has had two stated supplies and one pastor, but has raised no minister.
Latrobe was organized March 1st, 1869, with one hundred and ten members, chiefly from Unity, by Revs. G. HILL, N. H. GILLETT and J. R. HUGHES, with JESSE CUNNINGHAM and SAMUEL MILLER. Its first elders were JAMES DOUGLASS, JAMES NICH- OLS, JOHN THOMPSON and D. W. MCCONAUGHEY, M. D. The house of worship had been erected perhaps ten years prior to the organization, and it was used as an out-post of Unity church. Rev. N. H. GILLETT,
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pastor of that church, would frequently preach an extra sermon in Latrobe. Then, by the advice and consent of his session, he had so divided his regular services as to give this sub-station about one-third of his labors. Here his last days were spent, and this became the "Mount of Olives " whence he as- cended to " meet the Lord in the air," and be " for- ever with the Lord." Mr. S. M. DAVIS, its only pastor, was ordained and installed June 2d, Tuesday, 1869. Rev. W. A. FLEMING preached, W. F. HAM- ILTON charged the pastor, and S. M. HENDERSON the people. This church, with an energetic pastor and a good Sabbath-school, begins auspiciously, and bids fair to be a working portion in " the household of faith." To the primitive membership, of one hundred and ten, have been added one hundred and sixty-six-just one-half on profession, and the other half by letter. Forty have been dismissed, leaving the present membership two hundred and thirty-six. Contributions for outside benevolence, in 1870, were $263; in 1871, $342; in 1872, $408; in 1873, $565. The Sabbath-school has steadily increased in numbers and efficiency. Several interesting seasons have occurred in the brief life of the church. This winter they seem much revived. The church is prosperous, and no root of bitterness is known to exist. The church, with one stated supply, and one pastor, has raised no minister, but an embryo is in the seminary-may it be the first fruits of a large crop !
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The First Presbyterian Church of Irwin-Oh ! what a name !- was organized November 7th, 1870, by Revs. R. CAROTHERS, D. HARBISON and J. A. MARSHALL, with elders DUNCAN HAMILTON and D. W. SHRYOCK, with forty members and four elders- D. W. HIGHBERGER, WILLIAM KIRKER, ROBERT HANNA and ADAM BYERLY. For several years pre- viously the place had been used as an out-post of Long Run church, in Redstone Presbytery, and en- joyed considerable preaching from its pastor. Not enough, however, to satisfy the desires of Presbyte- rians, at the station, or the Presbytery of Blairsville. Hence, the organization. Hence, too, the early settlement of a pastor, Rev. D. L. DICKEY, installed June 11th, 1871. Rev. T. R. EWING preached, J. DAVIS charged the pastor, and R. CAROTHERS the people. But it was " early to bed and early to rise," for he was released March 18, 1873. Already, how- ever, the church has called Rev. R. M. BROWN, as his successor in the pastorate, and he has accepted the call. His installation is ordered for February 4th, 1874. Rev. W. W. MOORHEAD to preside and preach, D. W. TOWNSEND to charge the pastor, and R. CAROTHERS the people. One pastor, but no minister.
Edgewater, in the extreme North-western part of the Presbytery, was organized by Revs. R. CAROTH- ERS, J. P. KENNEDY and J. D. MOORHEAD, with elder DAVID COON, February 6th, 1871, with eight members, and G. W. LEE as elder. It is supplied
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frequently, if not statedly, by Rev. J. P. KENNEDY, pastor at Parnassus-from which most, if not all, of the members were set off. One supply, no pastor, and no minister raised here.
Chess Springs-a little foundling church, whose paternity, as is often the case, is rather hard, if indeed it be possible, to find out, is vaguely reported by members of Blairsville Presbytery to have been carried over from the Presbytery of Huntingdon and laid at their door, about reconstruction times. But, if so, Huntingdon appears to have been ashamed ever to put down the name among her acknowledged children, and Blairsville seems, from the same feel- ing, to have declined, for a year, to reckon it among hers. In the Assembly's minutes of 1872, she slips it in stealthily, as simply having a membership of fifteen, and paying $3.00 to the Assembly's fund. To the Assembly of 1873, it is again marked as having " fifteen members." In both cases it is ac- companied with an asterisk, indicating that it is taken from a former report. But where is that re- port ? In the roll of what Presbytery does it appear ? "Ah! there's the rub !" Will it not be needful for the Synod of Pittsburgh to appoint a committee to inquire into the case of this poor bantling, lest it die of starvation ? A member of Huntingdon Presbytery speaks of seeing something like a life to be preserved last summer. No stated supply or pastor is known to have been there-no minister thence.
A letter from Rev. ROBERT HAMILL, D. D.,
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just received, clears up the mystery about this church : "It was organized by a committee of Huntingdon Presbytery, Revs. ZAHNIZER and LAW- RENCE, with elder JAMES HUTCHINSON. They were appointed June 11th, 1861, and October 1st of that year reported this church organized, with seventeen members and three elders-JOHN KRATZER, Esq., WASHINGTON DOUGLASS, since dead, and GODFREY TAYLOR, now in Kittanning. After reconstruction, Esquire KRATZER, as usual, reported as its repre- sentative to Huntingdon Presbytery, which declined to receive him, and directed him to report the church to Blairsville Presbytery; to which, by locality, it belonged. This he did, changing the name to Chess Springs. This was not done, however, until the re- port for the General Assembly for 1871, was made out. So it was not any where reported that year, and the following year came out under a new name. Being near a furnace, where population is apt to change, and having very little preaching, the mem- bership, instead of increasing, has declined. The roll shows fourteen. But five of these are now res- ident there. Rev. J. W. EDIE, pastor at Ebensburg, now preaches there about once a month, for a year or so. At the communion there, November, 1873, when the bread was about to be distributed, a daughter of the elder arose, weeping, from one of the side-seats, and took her seat with the communicants. Her father hesitated as to what he should do in the case, till the officiating minister directed him to serve her with the rest. At the close of the service she
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was received regularly into membership. ' The church was full of Catholics, and the impression was profound-nearly every one weeping.'
Penn was organized, in a public school-house, by Revs. J. DAVIS, R. CAROTHERS and J. A. MARSHALL, May 16th, 1872, with fourteen members, and R. A. HOPE, L. B. HIGHBERGER, and W. H. GUTHRIE, elders. Soon it called, as pastor, Rev. WILLIAM KAIN, for half time, June 9th, 1873; and, sooner still, dismissed him, in October of the same year. One pastor there, no minister thence.
Braddocks was organized August 15th, 1872, by Revs. W. W. MOORHEAD, D. L. DICKEY and D. W. TOWNSEND, with elders HIRAM M'DOWELL and J. M. JOHNSTON, with twelve members, and JOHN BALD- RIDGE and J. A. RUSSELL, as its elders. The name and locality awaken patriotic emotions, blending the ideas of British humiliation and American exaltation. It called, as its first pastor, Rev. W. F. KEAN, who was installed April 27th, 1873. Rev. J. A. MAR- SHALL preached and charged the people, and Rev. R. CAROTHERS the pastor. One pastor here; no minister hence. 1
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CONCLUDING REMARKS.
Two contrasts are noticeable between the early and the recent history of this Presbytery. At its origin there was not a vacancy in its present terri- tory. Now there are eight, as near as can be to one-fourth of the whole number. But much the sadder contrast is in the decrease of tenacity in the bond that unites pastor and people. Then, it was tenacious, as if made of the best Juniata iron. Now, brittle as pot-metal; yea, like glass even, it is fre- quently and recklessly shivered in an instant by the captious kick of a cross-grained, crabbed pastor, or by irrepressible excitement of an irritable people. How often is Presbytery, but a few weeks after it has formed solemnly a new, sacred relation, suddenly summoned to " gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost," if indeed any can be saved from loss, when a pastor has plucked up stakes and run away, or has a fixed determination so to do ! This Presbytery, like its neighbors-perhaps a little more so-begins to be burdened and cumbered with a sad excess of rolling stock-a stock altogether be- yond the capacity of its track. Yet it is a stock not altogether dependent on a track ready laid-a stock so accustomed to " make tracks " of its own,
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as, on the score of rapidity, to outstrip, by many multiples, the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. Your whole territory is in danger of be- ing soon netted over with these unseemly lines of travel and transportation, whose principal freight is corpses of character, carried away for interment. Did you not pity the boy who told his father, with vexation, that he had " counted all the pigs but one, which frisked about so much that he could not count it ?" What commiseration, then is due to him who labors accurately to enumerate, when there is a dozen or a score of the frisking fry, or flitting flock, of whom each one is like the Irishman's flea, " when you put your finger on it, it is not there." Serious- ly, is not the reputation of the Presbyterian "min- istry, ever moving, moving, moving," for the sake of some probable, or some possible improvement, becoming rapidly "a reproach and a by-word ?"
We have been accustomed to regard Western Pennsylvania as the garden spot of piety and Pres- byterianism in our land, and the alma mater of edu- cation and of ministers. But how does this consist with the fact that only four of your churches, Con- gruity, Blairsville, Fairfield and New Alexandria, have raised more ministers than they have enjoyed, as pastors ; while the ministerial sons of so many bear no proportion to their ministerial fathers- eighteen, nearly two-thirds of the whole number, never raised a single minister ? When they "pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers into his harvest," do they earnestly add-
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" but do not ask them out of our family, nor expect to find them in our church ?" In the aggregate, all your thirty-one churches have had thirty-two stated supplies, one hundred and sixteen pastors, and raised but fifty-eight ministers-so far at least as can now be ascertained.
This paper, as a sketch of ecclesiastical history, sadly resembles a body without a soul-still worse, a body mutilated in its members, and ill-adjusted as to its proportions. The spirituality and power of true godliness, which measurably permeated the churches all the time, and on some blessed occasions overspread some of them with the glory of the Lord, is not here described, nor is as clearly im- plied as it might have been-perhaps should have been. Yet the difficulty of making it otherwise, and reliable at the same time, is real and greater than might be supposed. It were easy, indeed, to say of ten or a dozen of those existing in the last decade of last, and first decade of the present centu- ry, that they were gloriously " baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire,"-had largely and long "an unction from the Holy One, and knew all things" about the activities and joys of life in com- munion with God, and that hence "there were giants in those days." It were no less easy to call to re- membrance "the years of the right hand of the Most High," when our God spake peace to his peo- ple, and to his saints in more recent times, and im- bued them with the spirit of peace, which culminated in the Pan-Presbyterian convention of 1867, in the
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city of Brotherly Love, like oil poured on the tur- bid waters of theological strife, producing "a great calm," and then to trace its gracious results in a consummated reunion, giving hope of still greater glory. Glancing merely at this, we " thank God and take courage."
" Then let us adore and give Him his right, All glory and power and wisdom and might, All honor and blessing, with angels above, And thanks never ceasing for infinite love!"
But to take the gauge of spiritual life, in each of thirty-one churches, and describe its fluctuations through a period of ninety years, or, dwindling down to a year or two, would be like photographing the flitting glories of the Aurora Borealis, or giving the stamp of perpetuity to the even bow, as it spans with glory the eastern sky. For its coming we should long, pray and labor unceasingly. Upon it, when realized, we can look with adoring wonder and delight, as it glows with the ardor of life and love. We can cautiously guard against every thing that would cool or extinguish it, and aim at every thing that would perpetuate and heighten it. Our united and imploring cry should be, "Oh, the hope of Israel ! the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, as a wayfaring man, that turneth aside to tarry for a night ?" But, when the gale of spiritual influence has passed, and the glow of life, kindled by it, has cooled down again, it seems scarcely to be the work
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of man to set it forth in any thing like adequate description. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth, so is every one that is born of the Spirit," or freshly "endued with power from on high." To say the least, accurate description of God's wondrous work- ing, at such times, can only be drawn by one who saw the light, and felt the life, and is constrained by the love operating in such a work. Scraps thus written by various persons, so enthused, would be a treasure of inestimable worth. Oh, that they were written on the posts and doors of our temples, where, at our entrance, we might read, like the pious Æneas and fidus Achates,
" Illius ex ordine pugnæ, Bellaque jam fama totum vulgata per orbem."
When "your eye shall see the King in his glory, and the land that is very far off," you will see, as a photographic representation, overspreading all Heaven's high arches, the entire battles and victories, lights and shadows, graces and glories of the church, militant here-there triumphant. You, too, shall hear when God himself contemplates, commends, and congratulates her beauty, saying, " It was per- fect through my comeliness, which I put upon thee."
ALEXANDER DONALDSON.
ـحة
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