USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Churches of the valley, or, An historical sketch of the old Presbyterian congregations of Cumberland and Franklin counties, in Pennsylvania > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Churches of the valley, or, An historical sketch of the old Presbyterian congregations of Cumberland and Franklin counties, in Pennsylvania > Part 11
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
The following are the names of those who, fifty years ago and subsequently, were ruling elders in the East Conococheague congregation :- John M. David- son, Robert Robison, Mr. Sellar, John Watson, John M'Lean, Dr. John Boggs, Dr. Andrew Heathering-
ton, David Fullerton. All of these have gone the way of all flesh, except Robert Robison, who now, in the 85th year of his age, still continues a member of session, and a regular attendant on the public minis- trations and ordinances of God's house. "In him," says a correspondent, "there is full illustration of the words of the Psalmist, 'The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar
15*
174
CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
in Lebanon .- They shall still bring forth fruit in old age : they shall be fat and flourishing.
The Session, as at present constituted, consists of Robert Robison, James Davison, John Waddel, and Dr. James K. Davidson.
The first building used as a place of public worship, within the bounds of the East Conococheague con- gregation, was erected near a spring, on the lands of Wm. Rankin, about three-quarters of a mile east of Greencastle. The plan of the edifice was one, which appears to have been very generally adopted through- out that section of the country, at that time. It was a frame building, 42} by 28} feet, one story high, weatherboarded, and painted red. The inside was ceiled and lined with boards. There was an aisle running the whole length of the building, and from this, running at right angles, were two aisles, leading to the front of the building, the former communicating at each end with a door, and the latter, each with a door in front. The pulpit, made in the style of those days, stood at the middle of the north side of the house. The pews were arranged on either side, and in front along the aisle. The precise number of pews, before and after the enlargement of the build- ing, is not known. During the incumbency of the Rev. Robert Kennedy, for want of sufficient room to accommodate the congregation with seats, an addition twelve feet wide, was made to the front. Fromall the information, we can gain, it is about one hundred years since the "Old Red Meeting-House," as it
175
GREENCASTLE CHURCH.
was, and is still called, was built. This was about thirty years before the town of Greencastle was laid out by Col. John Allison. This house continued to be the place of worship, until the year 1828 or '29, when it was sold, and some of the material, we have been told, was used in the construction of a barn, which still stands on an adjacent farm. At that date the place of meeting was transferred to Greencastle.
The present church edifice, is situated on the south side of West Baltimore Street, and was built in the years 1829 and '30. It is a plain brick building, being 60 feet long by 50 feet wide, finished in a very neat and substantial manner, and having a basement under part of it. There are two aisles running its whole length, and communicating at each end with double doors. It contains sixty-eight pews, and can, under the present arrangement, very conveniently accommodate with seats, an audience of four hundred persons. The pulpit, constructed in a very plain and chaste style, somewhat on the modern plan, stands in the middle of the southern end, contrasting well with the rest of the building. The room in the base- ment being damp, and without means for its proper ventilation, the congregation, a few years since, built quite a neat and beautiful lecture-room, near to the church, in which the Sabbath School now assembles, and the weekly meetings are regularly held.
176
CHAPTER X.
ROCKY SPRING CHURCH.
[ A series of articles, entitled "Chambersburg and its Changes," from the pen of William C. Lane, M.D., appeared in the "Cum- berland Valley Sentinel," during the past year. To the polite- ness of this gentleman we are indebted, for the use which is now made of the following one of those well-written historical sketches. It was prepared with so much accuracy, as to ren- der unnecessary on our part, a repetition of the labour of its author, in the collection and arrangement of the materials which it embodies. We have modified the article somewhat, to adapt it to our purpose, and made to it several considerable additions, but it is substantially the same as at its first publi- cation .- A. N.]
So we descend; and winding round a rock, Attain a point that showed the valley-stretched In length before us; and, not distant far, Upon a rising ground a gray church towers, Whose battlements were screened by tufted trees. And, towards a crystal mere, that lay beyond, Among steep hills and woods embosomed, flowed A copious stream with boldly-winding course; Here traceable, there hidden-there again To sight restored, and glittering in the sun. Green is the churchyard, beautiful and green, Ridge rising gently by the side of ridge, A heaving surface-almost wholly free From interruption of sepulchral stones, And mantled o'er with aboriginal turf And everlasting flowers.
WORDSWORTH.
WE are acquainted with no spot in our County,
177
ROCKY SPRING CHURCH.
around which cluster more hallowed and interesting associations, than the Church at Rocky Spring.
After a ride of four miles from Chambersburg, over the tortuous road which runs over the Slate Hills, towards Strasburg, we approach the venerable edifice. It stands near the brow of a hill, which slopes gra- dually away in the distance, towards the east. The hill seems to be composed almost entirely of limestone rocks, and, at the foot, near the Spring, where some excavating has been done, are to be seen large masses of rock, rising to some distance above the level of the water, and indicating that the whole hill is composed of the same material. The country for miles around is all slate land, through which a vein of limestone runs, upon which the church is situated. At the foot of the hill, below the church, on the west, the Rocky Spring gushes from the hill, and spreads out into a broad sheet of cold and clear water in the vale; and after forming a pretty cascade by falling over an embankment, soon becomes lost among the luxuriant meadows, and quietly wends its way to Back Creek, into which it empties. As we approach the Spring from Chambersburg, we pass a beautiful woods upon a high hill, opposite to which, in the valley, is an old orchard, thickly filled with ancient fruit trees. There are several roads leading to the church from different directions, which make it easy of access from all points. From the hill-top, the view is one which is not often excelled for picturesque and lovely scenery. The
178
CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
hills and valleys spotted over with farm-houses, the thick woods and green fields, the beautiful stream meandering through the rich meadows, the old build- ing and its graveyard with its ancient tombs and fragments of broken fences about the graves, make the prospect one of more than ordinary beauty and interest.
The church is an ancient and time-worn structure, which stands upon the hill-side, without any ornament near it, except a single large hickory tree, which grows near the north end, and a small cluster of trees a few rods distant towards the southwest. Its form is nearly square, and is in size, about 60 by 48 feet. It is built of brick, upon a stone foundation which is several feet in height. On the southern side is the front of the church. There are two doors by which it is entered, and, as the floor is some feet above the level of the ground, some kind of steps are requisite. One door is reached by five rude steps, similar to those used in cellars, formed out of heavy boards, and which are not cased on either side. At the other door lie two rough logs, which answer the purpose of steps. The west side is also provided with steps, precisely like those just described, and has one door only. A single door is found on the eastern end, where we find old steps also of similar description. These steps look as if they had stood there for many years, pro- bably ever since the church was built, and are now in a state of rapid decay. On the northern side, there
179
ROCKY SPRING CHURCH.
is no entrance, but there are four windows, between two of which is a small square one, which is immedi- ately behind the pulpit. The window-shutters are made of plain boards, without any panel-work, and, together with the doors, were formerly painted red. Time has, however, nearly removed the paint, and leaves them of a dark rust-colour. The doors are somewhat more elaborately made, and like the window- shutters, exhibit the same evidences of age. The arches of brickwork above the windows and doors were painted red, and form a contrast with the rest of the building. There is no enclosure around the building, which stands alone upon the barren and dreary hill. The inside is in correspondence with the exterior of the edifice. As we enter, we observe the pews formed very much like those of modern times, with high straight backs, and without any paint. Their arrangement is like that in our modern churches. The aisles are paved with bricks, and in some places, these having crumbled away, limestones have been substituted. The broad space in front of the pulpit, and between it and the pews, is also paved with brick. The floors of the pews are boarded. The pulpit is old-fashioned and rough. It is of a circular form, and extends some feet from the wall. Above, there is an oval-shaped sounding-board, or canopy, on which is a rude representation of a star. A plain wooden casement extends on either side of the pulpit, which, together with the pulpit, is painted a deep blue
180
CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
colour. The pulpit is entered by a staircase, towards which a passage, with railing on each side, leads. In front of, and below the pulpit, is the chancel. It is a square enclosure with board walls, and contains an old-fashioned walnut table, a bench formed of heavy timber with rough supports, a hickory chair, and a couple of benches attached to the sides of the enclo- sure. The ceiling is arched, and at the place where the walls and the ceiling meet, there is placed all around the room, a narrow strip of board, which, to- gether with the edges of the window cases, is painted blue, similar to the pulpit. There are standing in the church, a couple of old ten-plate stoves, which have a rough, ancient appearance, and were doubtless among the first of the kind cast in the country. The
pipes extend directly upwards, and two holes are cut into the ceiling, through which they are admitted into the garret above. There are no chimneys on the church, and we presume the pipes are extended through the openings which are near the upper por- tion of the end walls, and which are now covered with rough boards, that are some distance apart .- At one end of the ceiling, near the entrance at the south side, is a square opening, which serves as an admit- tance to the loft. This is reached by means of a rude ladder, which is permitted to remain in the church, and which makes the ascent steep and dangerous .- The numbers of the pews are marked upon the doors with red chalk. In several of the back pews, is a
-
ROCKY SPRING CHURCH. 181
quantity of wood, and the utensils necessary for dig- ging graves.
Strange feelings occupy the mind, while wandering through this ancient House of God. Those pews once held the venerable forms of our forefathers, who, in imagination, resume their places, but who have long since been laid in their tombs. Not one member of those who worshipped there in olden times, now exists. In yonder pulpit, for more than half a century, the men of God delivered their exhortations, and in powerful and eloquent strains pointed their hearers to the " Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world." There, upon yonder platform stood the clerk, who raised the song of praise from Sabbath to Sabbath, for a lifetime of years. We can almost yet hear those songs as they ascend from the worshippers, and are borne upon the breeze towards the throne of the Almighty Being, in whose praise they are sung. Those places are now all filled by strangers, and among the congregation can only be found, a few of the old men, who were children when the church was built. Those ancient walls have resounded with countless songs of praise; and thou- sands of eloquent sermons have been delivered from the old pulpit, and who can tell how many immortal spirits have found admittance within the gates of heaven, through their instrumentality ?
While we gaze on the old building, and reflect upon the memories of those who worshipped there long ago,
16
182
CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
we are forcibly reminded of our own mortality. The persons engaged in constructing the venerable edifice, and those connected with it as members at the time of its erection, are all gone. So too with us-a few short years will fly swiftly away, and, as with eagle wings, we will soon be in the eternal future. Soon we will meet, face to face, in another world, the old worshippers whose place we are now contemplating in the lonely church.
The original church, which was built about the time the ancient congregation was organized, stood between the present building and the graveyard. It stood pretty much in the relation to the points of the compass, which the new church sustains,-the front being towards the south, and smaller ends facing the east and west. It was erected about one hundred and ten years ago, and was a rough log building, a story and a half high; and was built in the rude style of architecture peculiar to that early day. It had one row of windows on the lower story, the lights of which were small and few in number. It was entered by two doors, which were placed in the eastern and western ends of the house. The doors were small and single; they were made of plain boards, without any panel-work.
We find the following reference to this church, on the minutes of a meeting of a committee of Presby- tery, assembled at "Canigogig, 16th Nov., 1739," for the settlement of certain difficulties which had arisen :- " A supplication being presented and read,
183
ROCKY SPRING CHURCH.
requesting the committee's concurrence that the meeting-house be erected at the Rocky-Spring, and hearing a great deal on both sides of the question, the Committee observing that proper methods were fallen into some time ago to regulate this affaire, and that a report of the good issue thereof being made by Bro. Craighead and a Commissioner from that people, together with several other circumstances too tedious here to insert, doe agree and conclude that the house for publick worship be erected as nigh to the Falling Spring as conveniently as may be."
The present building was erected in the year 1794, by Mr. Walter Beatty, the gentleman by whom the old Court House was erected, soon after the formation of Franklin County. The old building, although rude and uncomfortable in many respects, answered the purpose of a place of worship very well, for some years after the organization of the congre-
gation. But, as this increased, it was found neces- sary to build an addition to the house. This was formed by constructing a small square building, which was attached to the south side of the church, and which extended only one-half the length of the main structure. The roof was then continued over it from the original edifice. When completed, the wall between it and the church was sawn away. There were no windows in this addition, and it was consequently poorly supplied with light. In a few years after this alteration, the increasing size of the congregation demanded still more room, and another
184
CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
similar addition was built by its side. These altera- tions gave the house a singular, slanting appearance towards the south end. The logs with which the former building was erected, were used in construct- ing the dwelling-house now occupied by Mr. George Sprecher, who resides some two miles from Rocky Spring.
About the time the original church was erected, there was also built a small, rough log structure, about fifteen feet square, with a wide fire-place, and a large, wooden chimney, covered with mortar, and extending nearly along the whole end of the house. This structure stood close beside the church at the northeastern end, and was called the "Study House." We are told by an aged member of the congregation, that it was originally built as a receptacle for the saddles of the members in rainy weather, as, in those early days, they generally came to church on horse- back-carriages and other vehicles being rarely used. In later years, the minister was accustomed to use it, in preparing for the services, when he chanced to arrive before the hour at which they began. The church session also met here, and arranged the busi- ness of the church, and examined candidates for ad- mission to membership. After service, the minister would resort to it to prepare for any afternoon ser- vice which was to be held: The necessity of such a place will be obvious, when it is remembered that the church officers, from the distance at which they lived from the church, were obliged to hold their meetings
185
ROCKY SPRING CHURCH.
on Sabbath, when they had collected for the exercises of the day; and, as the church would then be occu- pied by the congregation, private business could not be transacted there. The "Study House" stood for nearly a hundred years, and only a few years have elapsed since its removal.
It was in the old log church that its first pastor, the Rev. Mr. Craighead, preached for many years. There it was that the minister, in glowing terms, preached Jesus Christ, the only hope of salvation, and after the delivery of his sacred message, in elo- quent and patriotic strains, exhorted the youth of the congregation to rise up, and join the noble band, then engaged under the immortal Washington, in struggling to free our beloved country from British oppression. It is related that, upon one occasion, from the pulpit, the patriotic preacher declaimed in such burning and powerful terms against the wrongs we then were suffering, that after one glowing de- scription of the duty of the men, the whole congre- gation rose from their seats, and declared their will- ingness to march to the conflict.
There was but one, tradition says, in the entire assembly, who was not overcome by the stirring appeal that was made, and that was an aged female, in whom maternal affection, recently caused to bleed, completely mastered both a sense of propriety and the love of liberty. "Stop, Mr. Craighead," she exclaimed ; "I jist want to tell ye, agin you loss such a purty boy as I have, in the war, ye will na be
16*
186
CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
so keen for fighting ; quit talking, and gang yersel to the war. Yer always preaching to the boys about it, but I dinna think ye'd be very likely to gang yersel. Jist go and try it."
As we walk reverentially over the hill, we feel as if we were treading upon sacred ground-dedicated to God and American Liberty. We can almost fancy we see the man of God standing where we now stand, telling to the assembled multitude the story of their country's wrongs, and urging them to hesitate no longer which to choose, cowardly inacti- vity or the noble part of brave defenders of their country's rights. We hear him call on them as he stands before his old church, and requests those who desire to march with him to battle, to hesitate no longer, but place themselves by his side, and acknow- ledge him their commander, who will lead them to the field of battle, where they will save America, or perish in the cause of Freedom. One by one they approach their pastor, and soon a long line of daunt- less spirits stretches across the green to the neigh- bouring wood. The wives, mothers, and sisters, stand gazing on the exciting scene, and with sweet, encou- raging words, urge them to stand by their pastor and captain, and trust in the arm of the Lord of Hosts for the result. At length the line is completed, and they are dismissed, to meet on the following Monday. Soon after the dawn of day, might be seen the sturdy husbandman, with gray hairs scattered over his brow, and the youth of few years, reaching
187
ROCKY SPRING CHURCH.
down their old fire-arms, hitherto used only for beasts of prey, or the wild game, but now to be used for other purposes. They fling around their necks their rude powder-horns and bullet-pouches, and shouldering their guns, march to the place of ren- dezvous. As the eye wanders over the neighbour- hood, in the distance they may be seen, one by one, drawing near the hill. Soon they are all assembled, and their company is organized, and after an elo- quent appeal to the Almighty, the Reverend Captain places himself at their head, and the noble band marches off to battle. As they march away over the hills, ever and anon they cast a lingering look back upon their beloved friends, who stand weeping upon the hill, and upon their old and loved place of worship, which many of them will never enter again. The company joined the army of Washington, and gave undoubted evidence that their courage was of no mean order, but was based upon the hallowed principles of Christianity ; which, although discoun- tenancing bloodshed and war, does not forbid the oppressed to make an effort to throw off the yoke of the oppressor.
Their Captain engaged vigorously in the war, and during the hours spent in camp, habitually acted as chaplain to the soldiers. After the war was over, he returned to his charge, and faithfully watched over the congregation until the period of his death, which occurred in 1799.
We will now enter the graveyard, and describe
188
CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
the appearance of the tombs which mark the places where many of the old members of the congrega- tion sleep. The graveyard is large, and is en- closed by a rough post-and-rail fence. Over the gateway is a yoke, extending from one post to the opposite one. Along the fence, on the outside of the yard, near the gate, stand three or four oak trees. These, with two poplar and wild cherrytrees in the southern end, and a single cedar near the centre of the yard, are the only trees about the enclosure. The ground is covered with thick and high grass, and wild thyme grows luxuriantly over the greater portion of the graveyard. We are sorry to say that this desti- tution of trees is not natural, but is owing to the de- structive propensities of uncultivated man. In looking over the yard, we may see many trunks of noble trees which fell before the axe. One stood near the tomb of the Rev. Mr. Craighead, and the beams of the beating sun were obstructed by its wide-spreading branches. It has been removed ; and now the spot is bare and cheerless, and the tomb lies exposed to the rays of the scorching summer sun. Previously, it was shaded and cool, and was a lovely spot for the visitor to linger and meditate upon the life and cha- racter of the departed ; and, also upon the interesting scenes which were long years ago enacted on the hill- side near by. What think you, reader, was the cause which was deemed sufficient to justify such wanton destruction ? We are told they shaded the tombs and made them and the yard too damp ! This very fact would have appealed urgently to a cultivated heart
189
ROCKY SPRING CHURCH.
in their behalf, but the bold destroyers deemed it a sufficient reason for their destruction. We envy not the feelings of a man who would thus ruthlessly enter the place where rest the dead, and rob their graves of their proudest ornaments. They had stood there perhaps, ever since the old log church was erected, now more than a century ago, and had sheltered the ancient congregation from the oppressive heat of many a summer's day. For many long years, under those trees, the Reverend Pastor and his flock assem- bled, and exchanged the courteous salutations of friend- ly intercourse, upon each successive Sabbath day. Here, the venerable sires and matrons of the congre- gation met before the hour for service, or during the intermission at noon, and talked over the excit- ing events of the Revolution, and expressed their kind interest in the welfare of those of their brethren and neighbours, who were then fighting for our inde- pendence, under the illustrious Washington. There they recounted each gallant deed of the patriot band, until their youthful auditors burned with patriotic enthusiasm, and bravely declared their determination to march off to the tented field, and join their com- rades in the fight. Amongst those lofty boughs, the gentle dove built her nest and reared her young, whose mournful notes, as the shades of evening drew near, seemed a fitting requiem for the spirits of the dead. Upon the topmost branches of those venerable trees, the lark alighted, as the morning dawned from behind the eastern horizon, and in sweet, harmo-
190
CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
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.