USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Harrisburg > Centennial memorial, English Presbyterian congregation, Harrisburg, Pa. > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
3. Activity in good works.
In reading the early history of the Church, and in listen- ing to the history as it was so admirably presented by Doc- tor Robinson, I have been impressed with the disposition the members of this Church have always had to advance every good undertaking. In all moral reforms in the com- munity, in every missionary enterprise, in all efforts to relieve the distress of the poor, to enlighten the ignorant, to lift up the degraded, to spread the knowledge of the gospel
3-4-4
Centennial Memorial.
in our own region, in our own country, and in all the world, this congregation has been foremost. Illustrative of this, it may be mentioned that the church organized the first Sunday-school for all this region; it was the prime mover in the organization of the Y. M. C. A .; it was in the forefront of the Washingtonian temperance work ; its women organized what is probably the oldest woman's prayer-meet- ing in our Presbyterian Church ; when other Churches were still indifferent to missionary enterprise, this Church was awake; it was the first to organize its women for home and foreign work ; it had the first Christian Endeavor Society in this city. In every forward movement of the Church, it has been found in the front rank.
The record of a hundred years is the record of WORK, readiness to further the interest of the community and the world, and of achievement brought about by self-sac- rificing and heroic endeavor.
I call upon you this evening as you enter upon the new century, to resolve that this shall be the character of this congregation in the future. Be quick to further every good enterprise, to take firm hold upon moral reforms, to advance the interests of the city, to exalt the name of the Lord in the mission fields of the country, and of the world. Having put your hands to the plow, look not back. Press steadily onward in all the activities of the Church. There is much latent and unused talent here. The working forces of the Church might be easily and largely augmented if each in- dividual member would set about his own particular task. The condition of success, of growth, of life, is work. The - history which delights us is what it is because our fathers
345
Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart.
" had a mind to work." May we, their children, have the same mind. You have come into a large inheritance of ac- tivity. The Church is admirably equipped for all kinds of - endeavor. Everyone can find something to his liking. Some kind of work for which he is especially and particu- larly adapted. Let him make his own selection. Let him ask what kind of work he is to do in order to maintain he tradition of this Church as a Church of intense enthus- iasm and conse- crated activity.
4. Readiness to meet emergencies.
Those who have listened to the record of our history have been impressed with the courage, intelligence, and wisdom with which the various emergencies of the past have been met. It is not necessary to rehearse any one of them. That has already been ably done. I simply call your attention to the fact that the crises in the life of this Church have been ably and successfully passed. Through all its trials and perils it has come with increased strength and renewed vigor. Calmness, dignity, heroism, wisdom, are written on the pages of our history in bold characters. I pray you that in coming days there may be no lack of these great virtues in our congregation. May we ever be ready to rise to every occasion, and meet every exigency, embrace every opportunity to do our duty with firmness, with zeal, with heroism.
5. Attachment to our faith and order.
We are a Presbyterian Church, we never have been anything else either in faet or in spirit. A hundred years of loyal adherence to the doctrine of our Church has won for us the right of claiming, what is not now disputed, that
346
Centennial Memorial.
we are in heart and life true Presbyterians. We love our polity ; we believe it to be both Scriptural and wise. Its repose of authority in the whole church, and its jealous protection of the autonomy of each particular congregation we believe secures for us the best advantages of law and liberty. The doctrine of our Church we most cordially accept. Its system of faith as set forth in the Westminster standards we believe to be Scriptural. That it might be made more truly Scriptural in its emphasis, its proportion of truth, its language, this pulpit favored cordially the effort made three years ago to revise our Confession of Faith. May this pulpit and these pews ever favor the improvement of the Confession in these respects.
This doctrine has always been taught and accepted here. May we always retain our character in this respect. May we always be loyal in our adherence to a Scriptural polity and a Scriptural creed. May we never turn from the Bible as the only infallible rule of faith and life. May we never lose the spirit of Presbyterianism which exalts the Lord as the head of the Church, and regards the fellowship of the saints as the true type of Christian unity.
6. Christian fraternity.
The annals of this Church are marked by a large spirit of brotherly love, and of delightful Christian fellowship with the other Churches of this city. When there was but one other denomination we dwelt with it in delightful accord and mutual regard, and now that there are fifty or more other Churches, we desire to maintain the same spirit of brotherly love. I am pleased to state, as an indi- cation of this fact, that when your committee was deliber-
347
Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart.
ating with reference to the matter of extending invitations to this centennial, it decided with unanimity and great heartiness to extend in the name of the congregation an- invitation to every minister in the city, both Hebrew and Christian, Catholic and Protestant. I rejoice in the reputation which you so universally have of being a large-minded, broad and liberal Church. May no spirit of narrowness or bigotry ever take possession of this pulpit or these pews. May we ever be quick to recognize the image of our God in any man. May we delight to cultivate the broadest sympathies, the largest charity, the warmest fraternity for our fellow citizens in the community of men, and for our fellow disciples in the kingdom of God.
7. Love of liberty.
If our ancestors have given us one treasure more precious than the rest it is this. At the siege of Derry and elsewhere before and since, and among the hills of the Palatinate, they counted not their lives dear for their love of liberty. Anarchy either in the church or in the State has found no place in their creed or their practice. They loved order, they delighted in law, but they abhored despotism. They stood firmly on their feet in the maintenance of their man- hood. They were willing to sacrifice everything save their independence. This they maintained against all comers in order that they might lay it at the feet of the one Sovereign of men, the risen and ascended Lord. Throughout the history of this congregation there is the same record of noble, respectful, loyal recognition of authority properly constituted and legally exercised, and along with it the
348
Centennial Memorial.
most emphatic and unswerving resistance of every attempt at despotic rule.
When in 1837, for example, the spirit of despotism and intolerance of difference of opinion took possession of the church, and expressed itself in the exscinding acts of the General Assembly of that year, by which certain Synods, Presbyteries and congregations were cut off from the church, notwithstanding their protests of loyalty to both the creed and polity of the church, this congregation, pastor and people, were willing to take their stand with the exscinded churches in the maintenance of their rights. They claimed the liberty of interpretation, a claim subse- quently acknowledged by all in the Reunion of 1870, and they would not surrender so sacred a right.
The traditions of these carly struggles still remain with . us, and the spirit of our fathers is the spirit of their sons. We delight in law, we recognize the authority of our tri- bunals, and we render true and loyal obedience ; but we will not surrender our liberty at the command of any tribunal. May we never enter into slavery, and there is no slavery more debasing, more poisoned with death to the intellect, the heart and the life than slavery to opinion. We claim the right as true Presbyterians, and may we always claim it, to think for ourselves; to open the word of God, and to get from it its precious truths; to bow to the will of no man and no church in the matters in which God has revealed to us our path of duty. We continue to love the liberty for which our fathers fought, the liberty which they have secured for us in the wisely framed constitutions of State and Church. For there is nothing that the constitution of
349
Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart.
this country so jealously guards as the individual liberties of the people. There is nothing that the constitution of our Presbyterian church so plainly and emphatically secures as the liberty of both her ministers and her people. The whole framework of our church government was designed to secure to every man the enjoyment of his liberties, and the preservation of his individual rights. May we ever regard it as our highest duty to use the whole machinery of our ecclesiastical organization to thwart every attempt of Session, Presbytery, Synod or General Assembly in the tyrannous exercise of power.
This spirit we have inherited. Into this and like posses- sions we have come, and we must preserve our inheritance. The only way to keep what we have is to add to it. We rejoice in our character. We take it as a compliment when- ever one of these characteristics of our congregation is referred to. May we intensify the significance of the praise by increasing our possession of the virtue. We stand on the erest of a hundred years. The mountain peak of the century furnishes us the vantage ground from which to look upon the vast possibilities of our life. A broad horizon is opened to our view. The way by which we have come is marked clearly for us in the monuments of past achievements, of past activity, of past nobility. The way by which we are to go is to a very large extent hidden from our view. We cannot see what the coming century has for this church, and we would not if we could. We are walk- ing with God, he is our portion and our inheritance. We trust the way to him, we delight in his guidance, and repose absolute confidence in his leadership. Yet we are
350
Centennial Memorial.
assured if the past has brought anything to us that is worth keeping, it is our character as a church. That character it is our solemn duty to maintain. These virtues which our fathers have won for us we must seek to increase. We build upon the past; we perpetuate its blessings in maintain- ing this noblest of characters. It is now ours; and, by the grace of God, we will make it our children's.
APPENDIX.
-
A CENTURY OF PASTORS.
REV. NATHANIEL RANDOLPH SNOWDEN. Pastor 1793-1805.
By Major General GEORGE R. SNOWDEN.
The Reverend Nathaniel Randolph Snowden, fourth son of Isaac and Mary Coxe Snowden, was born in Philadelphia on the 17th of January, 1770, and received his baptismal name in honor of his grand- uncle, Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, of the New Jersey and Massachusetts family of that name, who started the first subscription paper to found the College at Princeton, and gave the ground on which was built Nassau Hall. His father, besides being President of the Board of Trustees of the College of New Jersey at Princeton, and member of committee to draft form of government of the Presbyterian Church, was Quartermaster in the Army of the Revolution, Commissioner for the Issue of Continental Currency. Treasurer of the city and county of Philadelphia, ete., etc. He was born in that city in 1732. and died in 1509, and was buried in the grounds of Old Middletown Presbyterian church in Delaware county, while the son was Pastor. His grand- father, Isaac, first, was a ruling elder and member of the first Session of the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, established in 1743, with which the family has been since continuously connected. His great-grandfather was John Snowden, elder of the First Presby- terian Church of that city, the first elder ordained in Pennsylvania and believed to be the first ordained in this country.
Nathaniel Randolph Snowden, graduated at Princeton in 1787. His four brothers also took degrees at the same college, three of them with himself becoming honored and useful clergymen in the Church of their forefathers. In 1788 he began the study of theology under Rev. Dr. Charles Nesbit, President of Dickinson College ; then a Presbyterian institution ; taking a full conese in theology he was licensed to preach in 1792, by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. In the same year he married Sarah Gustine, of Carlisle, who was the daughter of Dr. Lemuel Gustine, and granddaughter of Dr. William
Ok 356
Centennial Memorial.
Hooker Smith, both surgeons in the Revolutionary army, taking part in Sullivan's Expedition. Dr. Gustine was witness to the Treaty of Forty Fort and escaping with his family down the Susquehanna in a boat, landed at Harris' Ferry, and the daughter, Sarah, was the last survivor of the massacre of Wyoming. Through Dr. Smith she was descended from the distinguished Puritans, Governor William Leete and the Rev. Thomas Hooker; the latter, to whom a statue has been recently erected by the State of Connecticut, was especially noted for his services in the formation of free institutions in that Colony.
The first charge of the young minister was at Paxtang and Derry, where in 1793 he succeeded the celebrated Revolutionary hero, the Rev. Colonel John Elder, and Harrisburg, where he was the first pastor of the English-speaking, now known as the Market Square, Presbyterian Clmirch .* His residence at Harrisburg was, perhaps, the most pleasant of his life, for here his children, save one, were born, and he always referred to his pastorate of this congregation in terms which indicated the warmth of his affection for his people and the tenderness of his recollections of them. A fine scholar, he con- ducted for some years Dickinson College, and at the places where he was settled he was seldom content withont a class to teach in mathe- maties and the classics. In 1806, at Lancaster, then the State cap- ital, he conducted with much usefulness an academy for young ladies. In the list of pupils appear the, names of all the leading families. During a long and useful life, rather fond, perhaps, of seeking new fields he was, besides Paxtang and Harrisburg, the honored pastor of congregations at Williamsport, Chester, Pittsburgh and Kittanning. In his pastorate he followed the old customs in explaining the Psahns at length, and in social visits questioning the children in the Shorter Catechism, and joining with the family in prayer, in which he was remarkably fervent. His favorite book was the Greek Testament, his daily companion until failing sight denied him the comfort and con- solation of reading it. Not especially noted for oratory, his sermons were clear, forcible, written with much literary taste and delivered with an earnestness in full appreciation of his calling. A fragment of a diary which remains, shows hardships which befell the early ministers of the gospel, but it also shows his entire trust in the divine Master and constant and fervid appeals to the throne of mercy.
*On April 10, 1793, he was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Carlisle, and a call from the three congregations of Derry, Paxtang and Harrisburg, having been put into his hands and accepted by him, he was, on October 2, 1793, ordained and installed over these churches. Subsequently he relinquished the charge of Derry in October, 1795, and of Paxtang in Spring of 1796. Harrisburg remained his sole charge until June 25, 1805 .- EDITOR.
357
A Century of Pastors.
Admiring with pardonable pride the patriotic and valuable services of his father in the Revolution, he was fond of saying that he had heard, when a child, the bell ring to announce the reading of the Declaration of Independence. It is a tradition in the family that, with a number of other Presbyterian clergymen, he volunteered to form a company in the war of 1812-15 with Great Britain, but their services were declined. Two sons, however, Isaac and Charles, both quite young, well represented him in the ranks of his country's de- fenders. Of more than middle height, he had a fine physique and blessed with uniformly good health, was capable of great endurance.
At Freeport, Armstrong county, at the residence of his son, Charles, in 1850, he died in peace, and his beloved and accomplished wife, the companion of many joys and sorrows, followed him to rest in 1854. They left six children: Isaac Wayne, a surgeon with Gen- eral Jackson in the South, severely wounded at Fort Scott ; Charles Gustine : Lemuel Gustine ; Mary Parker, wife of James Thompson, afterward Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Nathaniel Duffield, and James Ross. Of these all were born at Harrisburg, except the youngest, who was born at Chester, and all are now dead. Four sons were leading and successful physicians, while James Ross was a lawyer and noted in public life, holding many positions of trust and honor-Speaker House of Representatives of Pennsylvania. State Treasurer, Director of the Mint, etc., etc., and an author of reputa- tion. Of his grandchildren may be mentioned Archibald London Snowden, late Superintendent of the Mint, United States Minister to Greece and Spain. cte., etc .; James Ross Thompson, an eminent lawyer of Brie; Samuel Gustine Thompson, late Justice of the Supreme Court : Dr. Samuel Gustine Snowden. a distinguished physi- cian, of Franklin, now deceased, and George Randolph Snowden, Major General commanding the National Guard of Pennsylvania,"
REV. JAMES BUCHANAN. Pastor 1809 -1815.
The Church and Home of August, 1883, contains the following sketch :
" The second pastor of the church was the Rev. James Buchanan. During the vacancy which succeeded on the departure of Rev. N. R. Snowden, Mr. Buchanan, then a young man and a licentiate of the Presbytery of Newcastle, was sent for and preached his first sermon
35S
Centennial Memorial.
to the people May 17, 1807. During that year he continued to hold that pulpit as a stated supply. His services proved to be so accepta- ble to the people that on the 5th of February, 1808, at a meeting of the congregation, presided over by the Rev. James Snodgrass, of "Old Hanover " he was called to be the pastor of the church. On the 15th of April he was received as a licentiate by the Presbytery of Carlise, and taken under its care. The call from the Harrisburg church was placed in his hands, and accepted by him. He was or- dained to the full work of the ministry, September 29, 1808, and Rev. Messrs. James Snodgrass, James Sharon and Joseph Brady, were ap- pointed a committee to install him. Mr. Sharon was then pastor of Paxtang and Derry churches, and Mr. Brady, of Shermansdale, Perry county. The installation took place February 13, 1809, Rev. Mr. Snodgrass presiding and giving the charge to the young pastor, and Rev. Mr. Sharon preaching the sermon. Mr. Brady was not present. Mr. Buchanan was called on a salary of one hundred and fifty pounds for three-fourths of his time. The remaining fourth was given to a small congregation at Middle Paxtang or Dauphin. The original church, a log one, long since gone, stood on the high ground back of the village of Danphin, and abont a mile from the river. The village cemetery now ocenpies the site. Fifty pounds more were added to his salary for this additional service. This money was in old Penn- sylvania currency, the two hundred pounds amounting to about five hundred dollars.
"It is not known how long Mr. Buchanan continued to preach in the Middle Paxtang church. His relation to the Harrisburg church continued until September 20, 1815, when it was dissolved. it is be- lived, on account of his itt health. He served the church as supply and as settled pastor for over eight years.
" For the following three years Mr. Buchanan preached but seldom. In 1818 he accepted a call to the church at Greencastle, preach- ing a part of the time at Waynesboro. Hle continued his charge at Greeneastle until 1839, a period of twenty-one years, and was greatly biloved. He removed thenee to Logansport, Indiana, where he died on the 16th of September, 1843, after a ministry of over thirty-six years.
" Mr. Buchanan is described as a man of tall form, commanding presence, and great gravity of manner. No one could mistake his profession or his character. He was neat and serupulous in dress and courteous in his bearing. His sermons were short, compact and precise, remarkably so for that day of long sermons and diffusiveness of style. Few men, it has been said, could say so much as he in so few words. Though he was not regarded as an eloquent preacher, he
359
A Century of Pastors.
was a clear, and able and instructive one, and his thorough sincerity and deep earnestness made him an impressive one. He had, how- ever, a very low estimate of his own abilities. Owing probably to a deranged condition of his own physical system, he was nervous and subject to periods of depression, falling into states of deep melan- choly, and was a great sufferer from these causes. He became so nervous and timid that, while in Greencastle, he refused, for a time, to perform marriages even between members of his own congrega- tion. It was probably this nervous and depressed condition of mind that accounts for the following incident, narrated of him by the late John A. Weir. Having given out a hymn, one Sunday morning, the singers for some unknown reason neglected to sing, though there were some fine singers in the congregation. Mr. B. closed the ser- vice abruptly, saying, on the following day : " If the singers could not sing, the preacher could not preach."
" He was universally esteemed as a good man and a man of great force of character. Wherever he ministered he inspired reverence and trust, and where well known, sincere affection. His people both feared and loved him, perhaps the one as much as the other. His grave and dignified manner rebuked all levity and lightness, while his real goodness and sympathy and purity of life commanded rever- ence and esteem."
Mr. Buchanan, and his beloved wife, lie side side by in the old burying ground of Logansport, Indiana. Two plain, white marble stones, each about four feet high and three inches thick mark their resting-place. The following are the simple inscriptions upon these headstones :
Rev. JAMES BUCHANAN Died at Logansport Sept. 16, 1843 in the 62nd year of his age
HARRIET BUCHANAN wife of Rev. James Buchanan Died March 12, 1869. aged 82 years.
Some interesting references to his father are contained in Mr. D. C. Buchanan's letter on pages 310 to 314 of this volume.
360
Centennial Memorial.
WILLIAM RADCLIFFE DEWITT, D. D.
Pastor 1818-1867.
By Rev. THOMAS H. ROBINSON, D. D.
Among the most ancient families of Holland descent that settled in the State of New York, was that of Tjeniek Claase De Witt, the first of the De Witt family of whom we have any record. He was married in the city of New York, April 26, 1656, to Barber Andriesen, as appears by the records of the Dutch Church of that city. He is described as " van Grootholdt in Zunderlandt," and his wife as " van Amsterdam." The names of the succeeding line are as follows : I. Andriesen, son of Tjenick Claase ; II .. Tjerie, son of Andriesen ; III. Petrus, son of Tjerie; IV. John, son of Petrus; V. William R., son of John.
Dr. De Witt's ancestry were of that noble race of men, who were Calvinists in religion, and republican in polities, for many genera- tions.
The Dutch were almost universally of the Reformed Churches in religious faith, and sturdy lovers of freedom in the State. Memor- able in the Old World for their devotion to liberty and religion, the family of the De Witts partook of the spirit of its race, and was early distinguished for its patriotism and devotion to country. Four gen- orations have each furnished defenders in times of national peril. From some ancient relies in the family, we learn that Petrus De Witt was a captain in the old French war, and fought under Wolfe, at the siege and capture of Quebec. His son, John De Witt, during the entire Revolutionary war, was the captain of a company of minute men appointed to guard the loyal citizens against the incessant and troublesome raids of Tories, who abounded in the section of country north of New York. After the close of the war, he was elected a member of the Convention of the State of New York, and voted for the adoption of the Constitution of the United States.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.