Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I, Part 31

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 31

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).

Name of Church.

Township. Members.

Chartiers

157

Canonsburg, First.

454

Canonsburg, Ceutral

452

Claysville

337

Charleroi

244

Charleroi, French

C'enter

Peters

171

Cross Creek

Cross

C'reck

335

Burgettstown, First.

540

Burgettstown, Westminster

205

East Buffalo Buffalo

111

Upper Buffalo

Hopewell

198

Lower Buffalo

Independence

165

Fairview

Nottingham

209

Finleyville

214

Florence

Hanover

204

Miller 's Run, (disbanded) . Cecil

Mingo

Union

Monongahela

512

Mount Pleasant

.South Strabaue

Mount Prospect

Mount Pleasant

224

Me Donald

676

Pigeon Creek

. Somerset

240

*Raccoou

.Robinson

190

Three Springs

Hanover

*Upper Ten- Mile

Morris

211

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

#Lower Ten-Mile Arnwell

*Washingtou, First Fourth Ward

506

*Washington, Second

. Third Ward 713

*Washington, Third Second Ward 518

#Washington, Fourth Tyler Ward 112

*West Alexander

370

Churches Formerly Cumberland.

California

275

Charleroi

264

Concord

Morris

215

Coal Center

180

Betbel

South Franklin

180

Beallsville

Bentlysville

120

Donora

226

Ellsworth

Fairview East Finley

Millsboro . East Betblehem

Oak Grove . West Pike Run

Pleasant Hill Arnwell

Roscoe

Washington, Central

340

Windy Gap

. West Finley 163

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS.

The Cumberland Presbyterians can trace their origin to Rev. James McGready, who studied under Rev. Joseph Smith at his home or pioneer academy near Buffalo Vil- lage, and with Rev. John McMillen. He was born in Pennsylvania and was taken by his parents to South Carolina from wbence he returned and got bis education and theological and spiritual training in Washington County. He was licensed to preach by Redstone Presby- tery in 1788, while Washington County was still in its jurisdiction. To his agency is attributed the great spiritual awakening which arose in Kentucky and swept through the wilderness and even up into the state of New York. About. 1786 he accidentally overheard two friends expressing their opinion that he was a mere formalist, "a stranger to regenerate grace." "This led him to earnest self-examination and prayer, and at a sacramental meeting near the Monongahela River be found the new spiritual life which his friends had de- clared he lacked. This new experience transformed his whole life. Tbenceforth he made it his mission to arouse false professors, to awaken a dead church, and warn sinners aud lead them to seek the new spiritual life which he himself had found. In North Carolina, whitber be went as pastor, extensive revivals were kindled. His ministry also aroused fierce opposition. He was accused of "running people distracted," diverting them from necessary avocations, "creating needless alarm about

their souls." The opposers, we are told, went so. far at one time as to tear away and burn his pulpit, and seud him a threatening letter written in blood."

In 1796 MeGready moved to Logan County, Kentucky, into a region long known as Cumberland or Cumberland County. Many Presbyterians from the east had finished their Indian warfare, which had raged during the Revo- lution and afterward, and were absorbed in felling forests and opening farms. Freneb infidelity bad been growing there, as indeed it had in much of the west and along the Atlantic coast, and much of the preaching was cold discussion of doctrines. MeGready wrote a paper which was signed by himself and some faithful members of bis congregation covenanting to engage at certain times in fasting and prayer for the conversion of sinners in Logan County and throughout the world, the form of which is given in "Presbyterians," by Hayes, page 453. The almost immediate result was the sweeping revival above indicated wbieb was opposed by infidels, wicked men, and his brethren in the ministry who sought to restrain what they thought was disorderly and fanati- cal proceedings. Opposition continued until the re- vivalists were separated into a small Presbytery of their own called Cumberland, and finally suspended from the ministry in the Presbyterian denomination. This branch and the close adherents to the old Confession of Faith became entangled over questions of divine sovereignty and the decrees of predestination and election. The chief alleged cause of separation was the revival methods, licensing young men to preach who had not attained the usually required literary and theological training and wbo declined to accept the idea of "fatalism," or "in- fant damnation," which they thought was taught in the Westminister Confession of Faith. Reconciliation was found to be impossible. MeGready moved away and be- came a traveling missionary in Indiana and elsewhere under commission from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. He died at Henderson, Ky., in 1817, aged 60 years.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in Dixon County, Tennessee, almost a century ago, in 1810, in which year the first Presbytery was constituted. The church increased so rapidly that in three years it was necessary to divide the Presbytery into three Presby- teries and form Cumberland Synod. In 70 years it grew from one Presbytery to 117, from four ordained minis- ters to about 400, and about 120,000 communicants. The later growth has been strong. The coutribution to mis- sionary causes in 1906 amounted to nearly $120,000.

The introduction of Cumberland Presbyterianism into Western Pennsylvania was in 1829, when two missionaries, Revs. M. H. Bone and John W. Ogden, preached at Washington among other places. Members of the Upper

175

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church, this county, were desirons of heeoming better acquainted with the Cumberland Presbyterians and requested Rev. F. R. Cossit, president of the Cumberland College, Princeton, Ky., to have a missionary sent to them.

Sent by the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assem. bly Revs. Alexander Chapmau, John Morgan and Alfred M. Byran made their way to Washington County on horseback. Morgan preached in the Methodist Church at Washington and at Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, Morris Township, July, 1831. Later, services were held in a grove of sugar maples near the site of the Old Concord parsonage. These missionaries preached from house to lonse and from grove to grove every day during the week, even though it was harvest time.

While the meetings continued on Ten-Mile others of great interest were eondueted in Pittsburg and in Will- iamsport (Monongahela City). On a Sunday evening at Upper Ten-Mile 72 persons went forward asking the prayers of the chnreh. Two elders complained that there was too much excitement and the missionaries next morning extended the invitation after a reeess of 30 miuntes following sermons hy both Chapman and Mor- gan. This time 120 persons went forward, and the elders were satisfied.

Rev. Dr. Jaeoh Lindley was at that time pastor of the Upper Ten-Mile Chinrch, having heeu for 15 years presi- dent of the State University at Athens, O. He later eon- neeted himself with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. One son, Rev. Daniel Lindley, died at his post as mis- sionary to the Kaffirs in Africa. Two of his daughters married distinguished Cumberland Presbyterian minis- ters, Rev. Rohert Donnell and Rev. Lee Roy Woods.

About this time "the Concord Church," the first Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania, was organized, August 16, 1831. Thirty-seven members pre- sented certificates from the old Presbyterian Church.

Odel Squier, Samnel Day, Luther Day and Isaac Con- net were chosen as rnling elders. The organization took place on tho farm of William Stockdale, later owned hy James Dunn, situated near the Greene County line. They had no meeting-houses and these would have been of little use, as the crowds covered from one-half to an aere of ground, so large was the attendance.

The work of the missionaries was effectual. One meeting was held for a week about half a mile from where Old Concord Church now stands. It hegan Thurs- day, September 1, 1831. Ahout 250 families tented upon the ground. Two hundred and fifty professions of re- ligion resulted. Revs. R. Donnell and Reuhen Borrow assisted in this meeting. A second meeting was held hy request near Clarktown, and the Pleasant Hill Church was one result of it. One hundred and twenty five pro-

fessed Christ at this meeting. Rev. Dr. Dodd, of Van Bnren, aud Dr. Lindley both assisted, although the new movement greatly depleted their Presbyterian churches.

Morgan had to return to Alabama and Rev. Milton Bird, afterward pastor at Pleasant Hill on Lower Ten- Mile, came. As an evangelist, pastor, editor of chnreh papers and teacher of probationers for the ministry, it is said, no one did more in establishing and confirming tho churches in Pennsylvania. From the first of July to the first of November, 1831, about 600 persons pro- fessed religion. Among the converts were Rev. Dr. E. K. Squier, Rev. W. E. Post, Revs. John and I. N. Cary, Revs. Phillip aud Luther Axtell and Rev. Stephen Wingett.

The ehurel in Washington was organized the fall of 1831, Peter Wolfe, Andrew Bell, Moses Little and A. M. S. Gordon heing made elders. The church at Monongahela was formed in 1833. The Bethel Church in Franklin Township was organized hy Rev. John Morgan May 30, 1832. It was composed in part hy members from the . Upper Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church, five of whom were serving as elders of that chnreh and were chosen to that post at the new organization-Ephraim Cooper, Sylvanus Cooper, Thomas Axtell, John Wolfe and Samuel Day; the other elders were Samuel Weir, Isaac Condit and Archibald MeCracken. For many years this was the strongest ehnreh of the denomination in the county.

Windy Gap, an outpost of Concord, was constituted March 29, 1850, though having had preaching services since 1833. There were 37 charter members. Alexauder Sprowls, John Chase, Samuel Rockey and Solomon Nicki- son were the elders.

The present membership is ahont 150. During the first 50 years of its history, more than 1,000 members have heen enrolled and more than $30,000 contributed to various works.

Fairview Church, of which Rev. J. R. Burson is pastor in conjunction with Old Concord, was organized ahout 1873. The membership is ahont 45. G. W. Montgomery is the only elder.

The Nineveh Church, Greene County, was an outpost of Old Concord, making four churches organized from this first of the Cumberland Presbyterian churches of this state.

Such was the beginning of the notable history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania. In Washington, May 25, 1832, a number of ministers and representatives from congregations met and constituted the Washingtou Presbytery of the Cumberland Preshy- terian Church. Soon after the name was changed to the Presbytery of Pennsylvania. It has therefore had just three-quarters of a century of existeuce. In the spring of 1837 the Presbytery was divided and Union Preshy-

176

ILISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

tery formed on the east and Athens Presbytery on the west. In the fall of 1838 Peuusylvania Synod was constituted at Uniontown. A year later there were re- ported 22 ordained ministers, eight licensed preachers, 11 candidates for the ministry, 35 congregations and 3,257 communicants.

Four schools were fostered by the Synod, Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Beverly College in Ohio, Madi- son College at Uniontown and Waynesburg College in Greene County. In 1847 the northern part of Union Presbytery was cut off and Allegheny Presbytery formed. Ohio Synod was soon formed with three Presbyteries, and Pennsylvania Synod reconstructed. In 1880 this synod had 35 ordained ministers, 47 congregations, 119 elders, 80 deacons, 5,083 communicants and over 3,500 in the Sunday school.

Of the 58 churches in the synod in 1907 16 are in the county, including Ellsworth, which has no church build- ing and might be properly called a mission station. All these congregations in this county agreed to the merger with the old mother church, the Presbyteriau. The union took place by previous arrangement during the months of June, July and August, 1907. In this uniou 18 churches with about 2,374 members were added to the Presbyterian Church in Washington County. Washington Presbytery was increased by the following churches: Old Concord, Fairview, Bethel, Windy Gap, Pleasant Hill (Ten-Mile), California, Coal Center, Millsboro, Roscoe, Oak Grove, Pleasant Valley, Beallsville, Ellsworth, Bent- leyville, Washington, West Union Zion (Nineveh), Clay Liek and Wayuesburg. This congregation in Washing- ton is now the "Central Presbyterian" Church. The Presbytery of Pittsburg of the Presbyterian Church ob- tained the churches of Donora and Charleroi, located in Washington County.

The name "Cumberland Presbyterian"' no more exists in Washington Connty. There were a few churches of this large denomination located in the Southern States in which some members voted against the union and held their property aud the Cumberland name. These refused to be satisfied with the action of the General Assembly and churches of the Presbyterian body which had made certain changes and explanations relating to their creed so as to satisfy many who objected to the doctrine they called "fatalism."

In the proceedings of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian body of the United States by which the union was made possible, no one person obtained such world wide renown in working out the problems involved as Rev. James D. Moffatt, D.D., a graduate and for over 27 years the President of Washington & Jefferson College, of Washington, Pa.

UNITED PRESBYTERIANS OF NORTH AMERICA.

The United Presbyterian Church was formed by the union of the Associate and the Associate Reform churches of North America, entered into in City Hall, Pittsburg, May 26, 1858. This has been a large and very influential denomination in Washington County. In the early days two branches of the old Scotch church were represented in this county, to wit: the Reformed Presbyterian or Covenauter and the Associate Presbyterian or Seceders. These two brauches united iu 1872 and became the Asso- ciate Reformed Presbyterian. A portion of each of the denominations refused to unite.

During the period from 1782 to 1858 the Associate Reform Presbyterians were sometimes called the Union Church. The church on the Leech farm in Smith Town- ship where Rev. Alexander Donnan officiated, at least occasionally, was known as the Union Church or Leech's Church, and this pastor was very strict in warning his people against "occasional hearing"-listening to the preaching of any other except their own denomination.

A part of the outstanding Associate Church yielded to the majority in 1858 as above stated, and nearly all the churches in Washington County who were knowu by the above names hereafter became the United Presbyterians as familiarly known, organized upon the basis of the Westminster Confession of Faith, with the single excep- tiou that the part regarding the civil magistrate, which was modified to conform to the ideas of government in America. The main distinctive features are: David's Psalmns only to be used in songs for divine worship, com- mnniou to be administered to those of their own belief only, opposition to slavery and to secret societies. The history of these and churches of other denominations are giveu in the townships where the building stands. The only Covenanter church now in the county was that for- merly located at Canousburg, but at the present time in Mount Pleasant Township, near the corner of Cecil aud Chartiers. There are about 25 congregations and over 5,000 members in the county.

METHODIST.

There are about 35 Methodist congregatious in the county. The investigator of early Methodist history will be interested to know that their early log church was found already built and the society organized in 1784, in West Pike Run Township, about a mile cast of the village of Centerville, on the National Pike, when venturesome circuit riders visited this region. In the Centennial Pam- phlet of Taylor's (formerly Hawkin's) Church in 1905, it is stated that this building was erected between 1772 and 1789. Of the main revivals held at this church and other churches at various times much has been written and especially of the sweeping revivals among all denomina-

177

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

tions about the beginning of the 19th Century, which were sometimes called the revival of 1800 and 1802. A repe- tition of a renewed interest in religion was hoped for at the beginning of the 20th century The character of the people and their mental condition differed much from those of early years, and the additions to the various

churches are now continued with less excitement. There is not that Freneh infidelity at the present time nor is there as much outspoken religions diseussion to help keep interest in the religious work and religious thought, as there was a hundred years ago. Some movements originating iu this county demand special mention.

CHAPTER XV.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY (Continued)

The Baptist and Christian Denominations.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

The first Baptist church constituted west of the moun- tains was named Great Bethel, at Uniontown, in 1770. It had six members at its origin. These people held that baptism by immersion was a prerequisite of membership, and stood valiently for liberty of conscience iu worship, or soul liberty-not merely toleratiou but entire freedom for themselves and others in worship and doctriue.

The Baptists stood for the independence of the local church, recognizing but one Head and the Bible as His revealed will as its only law. The complete separation of church and state was insisted upon, and they claim to have been leading factors in having Virginia freed from alliance with the Church of England, aud inserting in the United States Constitution of 1787 and its first amendment the clauses permitting the free exercise of religious establishments and freedom from a religious test for officeholders. For three or four centuries the Baptists had issued appeal after appeal, addressed to the king of England, the parliament and the people, in behalf of soul liberty. The Nonconformists, John Bun- yan and others, had been imprisoned in England, and the Puritans, after resisting religious oppression in England, had persecuted, imprisoned and fined some Baptists in Massachusetts and even publicly whipped one of them, causing Roger Williams to seek safety for fourteen weeks among the Indians in the wilderness.

"From Rhode Island the cause of religious liberty had spread throughout the New England colonics, and Rev. Henry Crosbye (Crosley) aud the Suttons were the her- alds that brought it from New Jersey to western Penn- sylvania, while John Corbley at the same time carried it fresh from the jails of Virginia."

The persecution from which Roger Williams fled was practiced in Massachusetts by the Congregationalists who composed the state church in that colony. John Corbley was imprisoned in Culpeper jail, Virginia, because the church of England was the state church of that colony. He fled over the mountains in 1768 into what afterwards became Washington County. The promoters of the Bap-

tist church in Washington County were the Banes and others, who came from Virginia to Ten Mile Creek that year. No doubt they assembled for worship in the forts McFarland or Keith near by before they had their first business meeting of which minutes can be found, which was December 1, 1773. At that date they met at the dwelling of Enoch Enochs. Samuel Parkhurst was elected clerk.

The Ten Mile Baptist seems to have been the first congregation of any denomination in Washington County to procure a regular pastor. They called Rev. James Sut- ton, February 4, 1774. They held their first communion on the first Sabbath in May, but before the next ap- pointed communion the few members were scattered for the summer on account of the Indians, and the pastor moved over the mountains until fall.

The Baptist denomination insists that believers are the only proper subjects, and that immersion is the only proper mode of baptism. Infant baptism and sprinkling is not according to scripture. The Bible is the sole and sufficient rule of faith and practice. The government of the Baptists provides for a selection of a pastor by the congregation and the local churches are independent.

The several congregations are grouped in "associa- tions," which hold annual meetings of representatives from each congregation within a limited district. The first association west of the mountains was called Red- stone Baptist Association. Its first meeting was at Goshen church, just across the present Greene County line, held October 7, 1776, just after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and five years before Red- stone Presbytery of the Presbyterians held its first meet- ing at Piegon Creek. Six churches were represented at this meeting of the Redstone Association. Among these were Ten Mile (now in Amwell Township), represented by Rev. James Sutton, David Enochs and Robert Ben- nett; Pike Run, in the township of that name, but now extinct, represented by William Wood and David Ruple. Two others of the six churches were west of the Monon- gahela and therefore in what was once Washington

178

179

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

County, so they are here mentioned, to wit: Goshen, at Gerards Fort (now in Greene County, but very near the Washington County line), represented by Rev. John Corb- ley (above mentioned), John Gerard and Jacob Van Veter; Forks of Yough at Peters Creek (now Library, Allegheny County), represented by Samuel Luellen and John MeFarland. Rev. John Corbley was elected modera- tor if this first meeting and William Wood clerk. Rev. John Corbley was afterwards pastor at Teu Mile and was the only Baptist minister on the original board of trustees of the Washington Academy, in 1881. This Washington Academy was the beginning of Washington College.

"Redstone was the second association organized in Pennsylvania, the first being the Philadelphia Associa- tion in 1707, and it fairly eclipsed the eastern body in the number and ability of its ministers. Its annals con- tain the names of many eminent divines, whose preaching and theologieal controversies left a profound impres- sion on the times." Among these was David Phillips, a prominent pastor during the Whiskey Insurrection, and a little later Thomas and Alexander Campbell. At the tenth annual meeting held at Uniontown the year that village was incorporated as a borough there were fifteen churches. 1n 1806 the meeting at Cross Creek in Brook County, Virginia, the number of churches had increased to twenty-nine. For over 30 years Redstone was the only Baptist Associatiou west of the mountains, its territory extending down into Virginia and over into Ohio. One hundred years ago it had 41 churches and mission sta- tions, with 1,323 members. The churches then in Wash- ington County were, Peters Creek, Monongahela, at the month of Maple Creek, Ten Mile, Horse Shoe Bottom, Monongahela Glades, Plnm Run, Kings Creek, Cross Roads, Pigeon Creek and Bates Fork of Ten Mile. Some of these may not have been in the present boundaries of this county. The earliest known records of this Red- stone Association (Baptists) is deposited with the Car- negio Library, Pittsburg, Pa., and does not go back farther than the year 1809. It is stated, however, that Rev. John Corbley planted and preached to Baptist churches along the south border of the county for 30 years prior to his death in 1803. His name stands out as the most prominent in this section. From his efforts in organizing the churches in Greene County, just over the Washington County line, in 1773, there sprang up many other churches, so that there are today more Bap- tists in Greene County according to its population than thero are in any other county of Pennsylvania. (A. J. Sturgis on Early Baptist Churches.)

The Baptists would have been much stronger in num- bers if the two Campbells had been less given to argu- ment. Their declaration of articles was made in 1809, but this did uot tend so much to split up this denom-

ination as their preaching against the opinions laid down in the "Philadelphia Confession of Faith," which had been adopted by the association. After declaring against creeds and men-made rules, they attached themselves and their Brush Run church to the Baptists. After several years' trial the Redstone Association in 1824, " Resolved, that this Association have no fellowship with the Brush church," and two years later refused to restore those "persons at Brush Run."

The Washington church, led by Rev. Charles Wheeler, who was then its pastor and, being conscientiously op- posed to receiving a salary, was supporting himself by teaching as principal in Washington Academy, was seri- ously affected by the Campbell faction. This congrega. tion on October 9, 1824, "resolved that it was not bound by the Philadelphia Confession of Faith or any other human confession, but by the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as their only guide of faith and prac- tice." 1ts views were declared to he heterodox by the Redstone Baptist Association and it was also excluded from fellowship in 1826. An internal war immediately took place in Redstone Association and this same year 14 churches in Washington County and near by with- drew from that association because it refused to alter its constitution, or dissolve, and at a meeting in Wash- ington on tho second Lord's Day of November, 1826, organized a new association. This was no union with tho Campbell faction, for the Washington church kept up the partition bars and nearly twenty years later re- solved to strike off the names of all members known to bo Campbellites.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I, Part 31

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 584

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584