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 15
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 15
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When Mr. Duffield appeared, in obedience to the citation issued, the prosecuting committee which had
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been appointed, having submitted to Presbytery all the testimony in support of the charges preferred against him, he was heard at some length in his de- fence, and then the vote "whether Mr. Duffield is guilty or not guilty," was taken, with the following result :-
1st Charge,-guilty ; seven votes affirmative, four negative, six non liquet. 2d Charge,-guilty ; six affirmative, five negative, and seven non liquet. 3d Charge,-five affirmative and five negative; not guilty, by the casting vote of the Moderator. 4th Charge,-guilty ; twelve affirmative, four negative, and two.non liquet. 5th Charge, same vote. 6th Charge, same vote. 7th Charge, same vote. 8th Charge, same vote. 9th Charge,-guilty; ten af- firmative, four negative, and four non liquet. 10th Charge,-not guilty; two affirmative, nine negative, and seven non liquet.
The trial being over, a motion was made to adopt the following minute as expressive of the sense of Presbytery in the case, and it was carried :
" As to the counts in which Mr. Duffield has been found guilty, Presbytery judge, that Mr. Duffield's Book and Sermons on Regeneration do contain the specified errors : yet as Mr. Duffield alleges that Presbytery have misinterpreted some of his expres- sions, and says he does in fact hold all the doctrines of our standards, and that he wishes to live at amity with his brethren, and labour without interruption for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, there-
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fore, Resolved, that Presbytery, at present, do not censure him any further, than warn him to guard against such speculations as may impugn the doc- trines of our Church, and that he study to maintain ' the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.' "
It is proper to add, that this decision was not ap- proved by Synod, as the annexed extract from the adopted report of Synod's committee to examine the Records of the Presbytery of Carlisle, will show :
" The committee cannot recommend an approval of this decision ; because it compromises essential truths, defeats the ends of discipline, and, under the circum- stances of the case, presents a result never contem- plated by our constitution, after a judicial conviction upon points involving material departures from the doctrines of our standards."
In this brief statement of the trial of Mr. Duffield, we have omitted most of the interlocutory proceedings, such as protests, complaints, and exceptions, emana- ting from himself and those who sympathized with him, in relation to the alleged injustice and infor- mality of the action of Presbytery. This, however, we have felt constrained to do by a regard to the limitedness of our space. And this course we have been the less reluctant to pursue, as our avowed object is not to argue the case, or act as reporter of it, but merely to state in the most compendious way possible, what Presbytery did in relation to the book and its author, and what was the ground of their action.
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Contemporaneously with Dr. Duffield's difficulties in Presbytery, there existed also difficulties in the con- gregation of which he was pastor. The first intima- tion of these which we have in the Presbyterial records, is in "a memorial and a communication from part of the congregation of Carlisle, requesting Presbytery to redress certain grievances complained of in them." This was soon followed by a petition, which was presented by Mr. Andrew Blair, and signed by seventy-seven members of the congregation, praying to be set off and formed into a separate congregation. Presbytery having granted this prayer, "in view of the things now existing in that congregation and known to Presbytery," the Second Presbyterian Church of Car- lisle was organized, by a committee appointed for the purpose, in the town hall of that place, on the 12th January, 1833. Of this new congregation, Messrs. Andrew Blair, John M'Clure, and Robert Clark, were unanimously chosen elders, and Peter B. Smith, Robert Irvine, John Proctor, and Robert Giffin, deacons,-all of whom had been elders and deacons, respectively, in the old church.
At a meeting of Presbytery in March, 1835, Dr. Duffield's pastoral relation with the First Church of Carlisle was, at his own request, dissolved, and he was regularly dismissed to connect himself with the Ge- neral Assembly's Second Presbytery of Philadelphia.
For some time, the pulpit thus vacated was filled by supplies, among whom were the Rev. Mr. Granger,
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and the Rev. Mr. Burrowes, each of whom served for a number of months.
In July, 1837, the Rev. W. T. Sprole, a member of the Classis of Philadelphia, in connexion with the German Reformed Church, was called to the pastorate of the First Church of Carlisle. It is not necessary to notice, in detail, the difficulties which sprang up be- tween the Session of this church and Presbytery, in connexion with the prosecution of this call, and sub- sequently, and therefore we only give the record of the final disposition of the case, as it is contained in the concluding part of the report of a committee of Presbytery, adopted April 13th, 1839. It is as fol- lows :
" Therefore seeing that this Session has been twice duly cited to appear before the Presbytery, to answer for certain alleged improprieties and irregularities, to which citation they have not responded, nor have they in a single instance sent a representative to the Presbytery since our meeting at Newville, Oct. 3d, 1837, although we have had no less than seven meet- ings of the Presbytery since that time, and the pre- sent meeting and a preceding one in the town of Carlisle : from every view which the Presbytery can take of this subject, the conduct of this Session ap- pears to us to have been disrespectful and rebellious against their authority. Therefore, Resolved, That the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle be consider- ed no longer a constituent part of this Presbytery, nor as belonging to the Presbyterian Church of the
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United States of America, and that its name be stricken from the Roll of Presbytery."
The Rev. Daniel M'Kinley was installed as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, Aug. 7th, 1833, and continued to be so until July, 1838, when, on his own application to Presbytery, the pas- toral relation was dissolved, that he might accept an invitation which he had received, to become an Agent for the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presby- terian Church. To this measure, the congregation, though warmly attached to Mr. M'Kinley, consented, under a sense of duty.
Mr. M'Kinley was succeeded, in October of the same year, by the Rev. Alexander T. M'Gill. The following papers which relate to Mr. M'Gill's trans- fer to the Presbyterian Church, and which were laid before Presbytery, will be read with interest :
"TO THE ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERY OF PHILADELPHIA.
" Rev. and dear Brethren,-
" It is the duty of all believers, and especially mi- nisters of the Gospel, ' to prove all things,' not only before they make a solemn and particular profession of the faith, but afterwards and always till we cease to 'see through a glass darkly.' No process of time, nor investment of office, nor pressure of circum- stances, can exonerate from the obligation to 'search and see whether these things be so', so long as we are fallible. Perhaps I have erred in not searching more thoroughly when I first made a profession of the
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peculiarities of the Associate Church. But it is now my painful situation to doubt the propriety and truth of such a profession. 1st. I cannot sustain the dis- cipline of our Church, which makes it censurable for any member to attend the preaching of the word in any Church that we acknowledge to be a Church of Christ. 2d. I cannot see a warrant for excluding from the Table of the Lord, all who are not in full standing in our own particular communion. I can- not see that communion in the ordinance of the Sup- per, should not be as free to believers, as the ordinance of preaching the word is to sinners. As all men have the privilege of hearing the word from us wherever we labour, so all believers should have the privilege of receiving at our hands the symbols of Christ's dying love. To define believers, we need only inquire, 'Are they unblemished members of the Church to which they belong, and is that Church, according to our admission, a Church of Christ ?' 3d. Although the Psalms of David should always be used in the worship of God, although they are doubtless in- tended for worship in New Testament, as well as Old Testament times, I cannot see that they were exclu- sively used in the days of Christ and his Apostles on earth. I believe that the warrant for singing praises to God comprehends human compositions, or the doctrines of the Gospel and the exercise of faith, couched in human language, as well as in the very words of a literal human version of the Scriptures.
" These views, Brethren, have been gaining on my
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conviction for the last two years. It would have injured the peace of the Church, and my own useful- ness, to have avowed them from time to time. Till now, I have concealed them wherever I have laboured, believing it wrong to broach anything contrary to our profession, while I remained in its connexion. But to pursue such a course any longer, is disinge- nuous, and ruinous to my own peace. I now, there- fore, frankly disclose to you my belief, where it varies from the peculiarity of our communion. · Be- lieving that with such views, I would not be permitted to remain in connexion with you, I respectfully ask you for a dismission to join the Presbytery of Car- lisle, in subordination to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States; or, if such dismission be not granted, I ask a certificate of my standing among you as a minister of Christ.
"Yours, affectionately,
"In the bonds of the Gospel, " ALEXANDER T. M'GILL.
" October 24th, 1838."
" Whereas, the Rev. Alexander T. M'Gill has ap- peared before Presbytery, professing that he enter- tains doubts in regard to certain points of the public profession of the Associate Church, and has signified his intention to withdraw from the communion of this Church, and has to this end applied for a dismission ; therefore,
" Resolved, That Mr. M'Gill be required to ac- knowledge his sin, and return to his duty. Further,
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THE CHURCH AT CARLISLE.
" Resolved, That in default thereof, he be sus- pended from the exercise of the ministry and the communion of this Church.
" A true extract from the minutes of the Associate Presbytery of Philadelphia.
" Attest, JOHN G. SMART, " Clerk, pro tem.
"Mercersburg, October 24th, 1838."
"TO THE MODERATOR AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESBYTERY OF CARLISLE.
" Rev. and dear Brethren,-
"Believing that your confession embodies the doc- trines of the Gospel, and that your practice is scrip- tural, and more accordant with my own views than that of any other branch of the visible church, I re- spectfully ask admission to your communion, and to the exercise of the ministry among you. My stand- ing in the Associate (Presbyterian) Church was un- blemished. But on disclosing to them doubts re- specting sundry peculiarities in their public profes- sion, the Presbytery of Philadelphia immediately suspended me, 'from the exercise of the ministry and the communion of the Church.' A paper con- taining a true copy of my letter to that Presbytery, and a paper containing a true extract from the minutes of their proceedings thereon, are herewith laid before you.
" Yours, with much respect and affection, " ALEXANDER T. M'GILL."
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After these communications were read before Pres- bytery, the following action was taken :
" Resolved, That the reasons contained in the above-named papers, for which the Associate Pres- bytery suspended Mr. M'Gill, namely : 1. Occasional hearing ; 2. Catholic communion ; and 3, the rejec- tion of the exclusive use of Rouse's Psalms, are, in our opinion, insufficient grounds for any ecclesiastical censure, much less for suspension from the ministry of the Gospel; and, therefore, the act of the Associate Presbytery, suspending Mr. M'Gill from the exercise of the functions of his ministerial office, forms no bar in our way to his reception as a member of this Pres- bytery."
Mr. M'Gill was examined on his views of the doc- trines, government, and discipline of the Presbyte- rian Church, and his examination was sustained : after which the Moderator proposed to him the con- stitutional questions contained in the Confession of Faith, Form of Government, Chap. XV., which he answered in the affirmative : whereupon it was
"Resolved, that Mr. M'Gill be received as a member of this Presbytery, and his name be entered upon our roll."
Dr. M'Gill's pastoral relation to the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, which was formed in April, 1839, continued until December, 1841, when, at the earnest solicitation of the President and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny City,
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THE CHURCH AT CARLISLE.
it was dissolved, that he might occupy the chair of Ecclesiastical History in that Institution. He has since accepted a professorship in the Theological Seminary at Columbia, South Carolina.
The Rev. T. V. Moore, a licentiate under the care of the Presbytery of West Jersey, was installed as Dr. M'Gill's successor at Carlisle, in the spring of 1842, and continued to be so until his acceptance of a call from the congregation of Greencastle, in the autumn of the year 1845.
After Mr. Moore's resignation, the Rev. James Lillie, of the Classis of Ulster, became pastor of the congregation, and served it for several years. The present pastor, the Rev. Mervin E. Johnston, was ordained and installed August 22d, 1849, and has since been favoured with gratifying evidence of the Divine blessing upon his labours. The Session, as now constituted, consists of Andrew Blair, Robert Clark, Samuel Hepburn, and Matthew Davidson. The church, which stands on the corner of South Hanover and Pomfret Streets, is a very neat and capacious building ; and the congregation, according to the last report made to Presbytery, numbers two hundred and eighty-five communicating members.
It gives us great pleasure to add, that whilst the Second Presbyterian Congregation of Carlisle is in a flourishing condition, so likewise is that from which it seceded. Its esteemed pastor, the Rev. Mr. Wing, is cultivating, with success, the field in which God
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has placed him. Equally pleased are we to record, that any asperity of feeling, with which the history of these dissociated churches may have been attended, has largely yielded, as it ought entirely to do, to the harmonizing spirit of the Gospel of their common Lord.
SUPPLEMENT.
SUPPLEMENT.
PAXTON AND DERRY CHURCHES.
PAXTON CHURCH is situated about three miles east of Harrisburg, and about one-fourth of a mile north of the Reading Turnpike. As this congregation is one of the oldest in the State, it doubtless had a house of worship before that which is now in use, but of this no knowledge can be derived, either from the recollections of the living, or the records of the dead. The Rev. A. D. Mitchell, the present pastor, in a letter in which he expresses his regret, that by reason of the loss of the records of the churches under his care, with the exception of those of compa- ratively recent date, he is unable to furnish more extensive and accurate information respecting them, says :- "When the present building was erected is not certainly known. From evidence that I have in my possession, I know that it has been standing for at least ninety-eight years. This is, perhaps, as near an approximation to the time of its erection, as can be made."
" Derry," Mr. Mitchell adds, "is located about
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ten miles farther east, and but a short distance north of the turnpike leading from Harrisburg to Reading. The present building was erected about ninety years ago. The congregation, though at one time among the largest in the Presbytery, is now almost entirely broken up by emigration."
We could not, perhaps, make our brief sketch of Paxton and Derry more interesting, than by present- ing, at some length, what is to be found concerning them, on the Presbyterial Records.
" Oct. 11th, 1732 .- This day appeared Geo. Re- nick, and others, from Paxton and Derry, requiring an answer to their call, given to the Rev. Mr. Ber- tram, at Philadelphia, where the Presbytery of New Castle met, producing their subscription for his sup- port; whereupon the Presbytery asking Mr. Ber- tram if he had considered said call, and requiring his answer in relation thereunto, he declared his ac- ceptance thereof, and that he would take the people's subscriptions, without any other obligations for his support."
"Nov. 15th, 1732 .- The Presbytery order the congregations of Derry and Paxton to pay up the arrears due to Mr. Anderson. Mr. Bertram gave in a list of more nominations by the congregations of Paxton and Derry, to be set apart for Ruling Elders : the Presbytery appoints that they be again published, and intimation given that if any objection be made against any of them, that said objections shall be given in in due time."
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" The congregation of Paxton and Derry, with the concurrence of the Presbytery, appoints Thomas Foster, George Renick, William Kuningham, Thomas Mays, for Paxton side; and, for the other side of the creek, Rowland Chambers, Hugh Black, Robert Campbell, John Wilson, William Wilson, James Quigly, William M'Cord, and Jon. Sloan, to take care that the subscriptions for Mr. Bertram's main- tenance be paid, and to collect the same until the congregation be better regulated."
"Paxton, Aug. 28th, 1734 .- A visitation having been appointed here, Mr. Bertram, after previous intimation to the congregation, preached upon 2 Cor. iv. 5, with approbation. It being interrogated whether Mr. Bertram had performed his duty as a Gospel minister, and the several branches thereof, and had a conduct and behaviour suitable to his station; it was answered by the representatives of both societies in the affirmative, to their great satisfaction and spi- ritual edification. The said representatives being asked about the elders in both societies, replied that they had no objection, nor much time to make trial of their behaviour, said elders being but lately in- vested with that office. It was likewise proposed whether any proper modes were taken to collect Mr. Bertram's salary : they answered that suitable modes were laid down, and they hoped would be duly pro- secuted. The elders of both societies being called in, were asked concerning the general behaviour of their minister in the congregation, and his particular
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conduct in managing sessional affairs ; they replied that his conduct was exemplary and agreeable; and, because of the late formation of the session, they had not opportunity of much experience that way. Mr. Bertram was called in, and asked whether the people had performed their duty to him in all the branches of it: he answered that he had no general com- plaints, but was not fully satisfied in reference to his house ; and, for the payment of his subscriptions, he had not computed his book accounts, but expected to be capable to give a particular account thereof against our next."
" Oct. 7th, 1735 .- Mr. Bertram and his elder re- presented to the Presbytery, that inasmuch as Mr. Bertram is under an intolerable burden of labour and fatigue, in the discharge of the work of the ministry to both parts of the congregation to which he stands related, it is their desire that some of the ministers might be appointed, at a convenient time, to go unto and convene the people of said congregation, and in- quire into their circumstances, as to their ability to be separated into two distinct congregations, and subsist by themselves, in order to Mr. Bertram's being eased of part of his burden, that he may be able, with more comfort, to go on in the discharge of his duty, unto whatever part of said people he shall be determined to continue with."
"Nov. 18th, 1735 .- A supplication was presented from the Session of the congregation of Derry, desir- ing that if they should be separated from Paxton, as
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a distinct congregation, their bounds may be fixed so as that they may be able to take steps for their being supplied."
At this meeting of Presbytery, " Lazarus Stuart appeared to prosecute the supplication of Monada Creek, for a new erection." In answer to this sup- plication, Mr. Anderson, Andrew Galbraith, and one of the elders from Paxton-William Maxwell by name-were ordered to perambulate the bounds be- tween the people of Derry and those of Monada. This committee discharged the duty assigned them, and the Presbytery approved their judgment, viz. : "That the people of Monada be erected into a dis- tinct congregation, and that the place where now they have begun to build a house is the most commo- dious place for a meeting-house for that people."
In 1736, in the prospect of Mr. Bertram's release from one part of his charge, the people of Paxton de- clared that they could afford yearly for the support of their minister, £60, one-half in money, the other half in hemp, flour, linen yarn or linen cloth, at mar- ket price. The people of Derry, likewise, promised the sum of £55, to be paid in like manner, and both societies engaged to allow their minister the benefit of overplus subscriptions. It was farther agreed to by the people of Monada and Derry, and ordered by the Presbytery, that those living upon the borders of those two congregations, that is, between the two meeting-houses, and beyond the creek of Swatara, should, on or before the first of the ensuing November,
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declare, in an orderly way, whether they would con- nect themselves with the congregation of Derry or Monada.
About the same time, Mr. Bertram being asked by Presbytery which of the congregations, Paxton or Derry, he was willing to adhere to, expressed his de- sire to remain connected with Derry. Of the conti- nuance of this connexion Presbytery approved, and declared the congregation of Paxton vacant. This approval was accompanied with a recommendation to the people of Derry, "speedily to improve upon the glebe-land that was talked of, in order to make it inhabitable for Mr. Bertram, that his easement of travel may be obtained."
In 1737, a supplication together with a call to the Rev. Mr. Sanckey, was presented by John Cun- ningham and Robert Grier, commissioners from the congregation of Hanover, by which said commission- ers were empowered to promise toward Mr. Sanckey's outward support, among that people, as their orderly pastor, the annual sum of sixty pounds, that is, one- half in cash and the other in particular commodities, as flax, hemp, linen yarn and cloth, together with seve- ral gratuities mentioned in said supplication.
In 1738, Mr. Elder, of the Presbytery of New Castle, accepted a call, which was presented to him a second time, from the congregation of Paxton, with the promise for " a stipend," of £60 in money. His ordination took place in November of the same year, and was followed with an order of Presbytery, that
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"he and the Session take care, that none of those who are deficient, as to what they were to pay to Mr. Bertram, by note or otherwise, be admitted to any church privileges till they satisfy Mr. Bertram."
At a meeting of Presbytery at Derry, December 9th, 1741, "Mr. Bertram having given his reason for suing for a dismission from his congregation, viz. : bodily weakness and inability, the congregation an- swered by their representatives, Rowland Chambers and James Carothers, that they had enjoyed Mr. Bertram's labours when he was more able, and they were willing now to sympathize with him in his weak- ness, which so engaged Mr. Bertram to them, that he desisted from his suit at that time."
In 1762, the Rev. Mr. M'Mordie received a call from Hanover, which he accepted, with " the promise of £80, for his temporal support, to be secured by bond."
In 1764, on account of some difficulty which had arisen, several supplications from Hanover were brought into Presbytery and read, requesting a dis- mission for the petitioners, from the Rev. Robert M'Mordie's congregation, with liberty to join some neighbouring congregation under the care of Presby- tery, till their way should be clear to return and join Hanover congregation again. This request was not granted, so far as to dissolve the relation of member- ship, but the petitioners were allowed, for the time, to put themselves under the care of any neighbouring minister belonging to the Presbytery, so as to enjoy any
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