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 16
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 16
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privileges or administration of ordinances they should desire, until something farther should be done in said affair.
Paxton and Derry, it would seem, were united to the congregation of Donegal in the year 1768, for in the Presbyterial Records of that date, reference is made to an authentic account produced by a commis- sioner for the congregations of Paxton, Derry, and Donegal, from which it appeared they were in arrears to the Rev. John Sloan, their pastor.
The Rev. Mr. Woods received and accepted a call from Hanover congregation, in June, 1781.
In 1787, the petition of a number of the inhabi- tants of Harrisburg and others in the township of Pax- ton, having been presented to Presbytery, in which they expressed a desire to be erected into a congre- gation, and to have the place of worship in that town, and this movement disturbing the peace and harmony which had existed between that people and Paxton congregation, a committee was appointed by Pres- bytery to visit that region, the result of whose inter. position to adjust the difficulty, was an agreement to the following articles by Mr. Elder, his congregation, and Harrisburg.
1. The congregation shall have two stated places of public worship, the one where the Rev. Mr. Elder now officiates, the other in Harrisburg. 2. The Rev. John Elder shall continue to have and receive, during his life or incumbency, all the salary or stipends that he now enjoys, to be paid by his present subscribers,
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as he and they may agree, and continue his labours in Derry as usual. 3. For the present, the congregation may apply to the Presbytery for supplies, which, when obtained, the expenses shall be defrayed by those who do not now belong to Mr. Elder's congregation and such as may think proper to join with them, and should such supplies be appointed when Mr. Elder is to be in Paxton, then he and the persons to supply shall preach in rotation, the one in the country and the other in the town; but should Mr. Elder be in Derry, then the supplies shall officiate in town. 4. The congregation, when able, or they think proper, may invite and settle any regular Presbyterian minis- ter they or a majority of them may choose, and can obtain, as a co-pastor with Mr. Elder, who shall offi- ciate as to preaching in the manner specified in the third proposal.
In 1791, the Rev. Mr. Elder resigned the pastoral charge of the congregations of Paxton and Derry, with which he had been intrusted for 60 years, on account of the infirmities of age, and in July of the following year he died, at the advanced age of 86 years, on his farm adjoining Harrisburg, beloved in life, and in death lamented.
The following extracts, which relate to the bloody outrage which was perpetrated on the Indians at Conestoga, on the night of the 14th December, 1763, and in which many of the people of Paxton acted a prominent part, are from a series of historical num- bers in the Lancaster Intelligencer and Journal,
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1843, by Redmond Conyngham, Esq., and may be of interest in this connexion.
" Imagination cannot conceive the perils with which the settlement of Paxton was surrounded, from 1754 to 1765. To portray each scene of horror would be impossible-the heart shrinks from the attempt. The settlers were goaded on to desperation ; murder fol- lowed murder. Scouts brought in the intelligence that the murderers were traced to Conestogue. Rifles were loaded, horses were in readiness. They mount- ed; they called on their pastor to lead them. He was then in the 57th year of his age. Had you seen him then, you would have beheld a superior being. He had mounted, not to lead them on to the destruc- tion of Conestogue but to deter them from the attempt ; he implored them to return; he urged them to reflect. 'Pause, pause before you proceed.' It was in vain. 'The blood of the murdered cries aloud for vengeance ; we have waited long enough on government. The murder- ers are within our reach, and they must not escape.' Mr. Elder reminded them that the 'guilty and inno- cent could not be distinguished.' 'Innocent ! can they be called innocent who foster murderers ?' Mr. Elder rode up in front, and said, 'As your pastor, I command you to relinquish your design.' 'Give way, then,' said Smith, 'or your horse dies,' at the same time presenting a rifle. To save his horse, to which he was much attached, Mr. E. drew him aside, and the rangers were off on their fatal errand.
" Mr. Elder frequently visited the Indians at Co-
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nestogue, Pequehan, and the Big Island, and was much respected by them. He had frequently repre- sented to the Christian Indians the wrong they were doing to the whites by admitting stranger Indians among them,-conduct which made them suspected of treachery."
Extract from a letter of Mr. Elder to Governor Penn, January 27th, 1764.
" The storm which had been so long gathering, has at length exploded. Had government removed the Indians from Conestogue, which had frequently been urged without success, this painful catastrophe might have been avoided. What could I do with men heated to madness ? All that I could do, was done. I expos- tulated, but life and reason were set at defiance. And yet the men in private life are virtuous and respecta- ble ; not cruel, but mild and merciful."
In the year 1788, Mr. James Snodgrass, after his ordination by Presbytery, was installed pastor of the congregation of Hanover. Mr. Snodgrass de- parted this life, July 2d, 1846, aged 84 years, after having long and faithfully served his Master in the ministry of reconciliation, and exhibited the power of godliness in his walk and conversation. The church in Hanover, where he preached for nearly sixty years, is now, as a Presbyterian church, nearly extinct.
In 1793, a call was received and accepted by Mr. Nathaniel R. Snowden, from the congregations of Harrisburg, Paxton, and Derry, in which each con- gregation engaged to pay him the sum of fifty pounds
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annually for his pastoral services. Three years af- terwards, the relation between the Rev. Mr. Snowden and the congregation of Derry was dissolved, and the congregation of Paxton having by a considerable majority declared their determination to " hold a con- nexion with Derry," this arrangement was approved by Presbytery, and Mr. Elder was subsequently pas- tor of Harrisburg only.
In 1799, Mr. Joshua Williams was installed pastor of the united congregations of Derry and Paxton, with the agreement, that for two-thirds of his labours the congregation of Derry was to pay him one hun- dred and twenty pounds, and that for one-third of his labours he was to receive from the congregation of Paxton sixty pounds annually. This pastoral rela- tion was dissolved in June, 1801, at the request of Mr. Williams. After this (1803), a call from these congregations was given to Mr. James Adair, but be- fore the meeting of Presbytery after that at which this call was put into his hands, Mr. Adair was re- moved by death.
The next pastor of Paxton and Derry was the Rev. James Sharon. Mr. Sharon died, April 18th, 1843. We regret that the obituary of this excellent man, as well as that of Mr. Snodgrass, has not yet been re- ported to Presbytery so as to be entered in their book and be available for our purpose ; but he was, as all know who ever came within the range of his influ- ence, a sound divine, an exemplary Christian, and dili-
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gent in the great work to which his life was conse- crated.
In April, 1809, the Rev. James Buchanan was in- stalled pastor of the united congregations of Har- risburg and Middle Paxton. Two years afterwards Mr. Buchanan resigned the pastoral charge of the congregation of Middle Paxton, in which he had spent one-fourth part of his time. In 1815, the relation between the congregation of Harrisburg and Mr. Buchanan was dissolved at his request. Mr. Bu- chanan was succeeded at Harrisburg, in 1819, by the Rev. William R. Dewitt, who still continues to serve the congregation with every indication of attachment on the part of the people, and gratifying evidence that the long pastoral supervision of a flock, is not neces- sarily attended with a diminution of usefulness in their midst. At the request of Doctor Dewitt, in 1832, the re-organization of the Church of Middle Paxton was noticed on the Minutes of Presbytery.
In 1843, the congregation of Paxton obtained leave of Presbytery to procure the services of Mr. John M. Boggs for six months. In 1844, a call from the congregation of Paxton and Derry was received and accepted by Mr. Boggs. At Mr. Boggs's ordination and installation, the Rev. Doctor J. C. Watson was appointed to preach the sermon, Doctor Moody to preside, and Doctor M'Ginley to deliver the charge. The present pastor of these congregations, the Rev. A. D. Mitchell, has had the charge of them for seve- ral years.
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The Session of Paxton, at present, consists of Ben- jamin Jordan, Robert W. M'Clure, and John B. Rutherford. Of Derry, the only Elder is, James Clark, Esq., of Hummelstown.
MONAGHAN AND PETERSBURG CHURCHES.
THE Presbyterian Church at Dillsburg, York County, Pennsylvania, ecclesiastically known as " Monaghan," takes its name from the township in which it was formerly embraced. It is often called " Old Monaghan," because of its unquestionable anti- quity. It was organized more than a century ago, although at this late period nothing certain is known as to the very year of its origin. At firstit belonged to the old Presbytery of Donegal, for the Presbytery of Carlisle, with which it is now connected, was not erected until 1786. Tradition says, that for some years after its organization, the savages were nume- rous in the region round about, and daring in their movements of hostility towards the white settlers, so much so, indeed, that a part of the congregation, for the sake of protection, and to guard against surprise, found it necessary to carry their fire-arms with them to church.
We find the following reference to this congrega- tion in the minutes of a meeting of Presbytery at East Pennsborough, September 3d, 1745. "Com-
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missioners from a small settlement in Bermudin ac- quainted the Presbytery that, in order to have the ordinances dispensed among them, they desired to be adjoined to, and looked on as a part of, the Lower Con- gregation of Pennsborough, and that they might be allowed to build a meeting-house convenient for them." From this record, it is evident, we think, that the congregation had an anterior existence, and then only sought such a connexion as would secure to them the regular enjoyment of the public means of grace. In relation to the latter part of the above request pre- sented to Presbytery, the following action was had at their meeting in April, 1760.
"Pursuant to Monaghan's application, the Pres- bytery orders Mr. Thomson, John M'Knight, Esquire, and John Davies, to meet at Mr. John Dill's, on Mon- day, the 28th inst., to judge respecting the situation of the place where Monaghan people design to build their meeting-house, and fix the bounds of that and East Pennsborough congregations, if they have suf- ficient clearness." The report which this committee made, two years afterward, was, "that Yellow Breeches should be the line between East Pennsbo- rough and Monaghan, and that Monaghan meeting- house should be near John Dill's."
We are indebted, for the subsequent particulars in relation to this church, to the Rev. Joseph A. Mur- ray, at present the pastor of Monaghan and Peters- burg.
" The first place in which the early settlers wor-
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shipped, was a log house, which stood at the ‘old grave-yard,'* about a quarter of a mile northwest of the present town,-for at that time there was not so much as a town commenced here. Where precisely this church was built, and how long it was used, can- not now be ascertained. In the year 1782, a stone edifice was erected at what is now the edge of the town. It was about 50 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 15 feet high to the square of the walls. The pulpit, small and elevated, was at the north side; and a door was at the south side, as well as at each end. A small stone building, about 15 feet square and 8 feet high, was attached to the north side, having two entrances, one communicating with the yard, and the other with the church, near the pulpit. In olden times this was called ' The Study;' it was also used as a school- room. Here the Session met ; here were prayer-meet- ings held ; and here at last was the winter fuel kept. In 1813 this church was burnt, the fire originating in the small building attached, then used for a school. The year following it was repaired. The stonework was not taken down, and it was soon found necessary to support the south wall by huge props, in the form of logs, one end placed against the wall and the other in the ground. It was supposed that the wall had been injured by the fire, or else was not strong enough to sustain the new roof, which, with its frame-
* So called on account of its antiquity, and to distinguish it from another grave-yard, of more recent origin, adjoining the present church edifice.
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work, was thought much heavier than the first roof; hence the wall began to bulge, and called for the props in question. Subsequently the interior was re- modelled. Four supports, in the form of long co- lumns, were placed within the church, near the south wall, reaching from the ground-floor to the rafters above, and the outside props were removed. The ceiling was gently arched, and lined with boards. The door at the west end was closed, and the pulpit placed there, leaving three entrances, one at the east end, another at the south side, and the other at the north side, communicating with the session-room. The pews had narrow seats, with a very narrow ledge to support the backs of the occupants; and uncomforta- ble as these would be to those accustomed to some- thing better, yet doubtless they were considered a de- cided improvement where something worse had been enjoyed ! This edifice had become so dilapidated, so unsafe and uncomfortable, that, in the spring of 1849, it was taken down, and gave place to another-built of brick, and occupying in part the same ground. The new church has many of the improvements of modern times, is as chaste and attractive as it is commodious and comfortable, and is capable of hold- ing 400 persons,-a greater number than the previous building could conveniently seat. It was opened for
divine worship on Friday, the 30th of November 1849, on which occasion the pastor gave a history of the church. On the day following, the congregation unanimously agreed to introduce and use the book of
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Psalms and Hymns approved and authorized by the General Assembly.
" The Rev. George Duffield-grandfather of Dr. Duffield, of Detroit, Michigan-and the Rev. John Steel, members of the Presbytery of Donegal, preach- ed at different times, to the congregation worshipping in the log church. Mr. Duffield was installed as their pastor, 'to give them one-third part of his stated labours,' November 15, 1769. The Rev. Samuel Waugh, a member of the same Presbytery, having ac- cepted a call, was installed pastor of the united con- gregations of East Pennsborough and Monaghan, in the year 1782, and continued their pastor till the time of his death, which occurred in 1807. The late vene- rable Dr. Cathcart describes him as 'a most wor- thy, excellent man;' and there are those here who can bear similar testimony to his character. In March, 1809, the Rev. John Hayes-antecedently Professor of Languages in Dickinson College-became their pastor, and continued as such till the spring of 1815. He was not only a linguist, but a poet of no mean reputation, and in 1807 had published a volume entitled, 'Rural Poems, Moral and Descriptive.' His talents were consecrated to useful purposes ; and, though 'dead,' he 'yet speaketh.' For a number of years after he resigned the charge-an event occa- sioned in consequence of his health failing-the church, which had become detached from East Penns- borough, or Silvers' Spring, was dependent upon supplies, stated and occasional. The Rev. Dr. A.
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M'Clelland, now of New Brunswick, New Jersey, preached to the congregation during his connexion, as Professor, with Dickinson College. His character and services, his genius and wit, are well and favour- ably remembered. The Rev. N. R. Snowden, father of the late State Treasurer, was also a frequent sup- ply .* The Rev. N. Todd, then a probationer under the care of the Philadelphia Presbytery, and now a venerable minister and teacher in Western Pennsylva- nia, supplied the congregation for some time; and during his services Watts's book of Psalms and Hymns was introduced, in the place of the old version of Psalmody by Rouse.
"In the spring of 1830, the Rev. A. B. Quay commenced his labours among the people ; and in the spring of 1832 he was installed pastor of the united congregations of Monaghan and Petersburg,-on which occasion the Rev. Samuel B. Howe, D.D., then President of Dickinson College, preached the sermon, and the Rev. George Duffield, then of Car- lisle, gave the charge to the pastor and people. The pastoral relation then constituted continued till the autumn of 1839; Mr. Quay then resigned the charge, having accepted of an appointment to act as an agent of the Board of Education. For about the space of two years afterwards, the united congregations were supplied by the Rev. E. M'Kinney, now a missionary
* He died at the residence of his son, Dr. C. G. Snowden, Freeport, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, November 3d, 1850, in the 81st, year of his age.
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of our Board among the Ottoe and Omahaw Indians. In October, 1841, Mr. Joseph A. Murray received and accepted a call from the united congregations of Monaghan and Petersburg, and in April following the Presbytery ordained and installed him pastor of the same,-on which occasion the Rev. George Morris preached the sermon, the Rev. Dr. Amos A. M'Ginley presided, the Rev. Dr. Daniel M'Kin- ley delivered the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. J. T. Marshall Davie gave the charge to the congre- gation. The pastoral relation then constituted still continues.
" Among the first elders of the church-of whom any recollection exists, and whose descendants are still with us -- were Messrs. Lewis Williams, * Matthew Dill, John Williams, William Porter, } Alexander Ross,į William Mitchell, John Nisbet, and Alexander Sanderson. In 1802, Messrs. Edward O'Hail, Henry Logan, John M'Clellan, Allen Torbet, and George Robinette§ were appointed elders. These all repose with the dead. During the suppletory services of Mr. Snowden, Messrs. William Ross, Alexander M'Curdy, George Crocket, George Smith, and William M'Mullen were appointed elders. Most of these
* Father of the late Rev. Joshua Williams, D.D., and grand- father of Mr. Lewis H. Williams, an elder in Dickinson Church. ¿ Father of James Porter, Esq., one of our present elders.
į Father of William Ross, Esq., one of our present Session.
¿ Father of George Robinette, an elder in the Petersburg church.
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have finished their work on earth and entered upon their reward. When Mr. Quay assumed the pastoral care of the church, the Session consisted of Messrs. George Crocket, George Dare, G. W. Howard, James Porter, William Ross, and James Black. Mr. Crocket died in 1835. Messrs. W. W. Jones, Jacob Ritner,* and J. B. Hursh were chosen elders in the same year. In June, of 1837, Mr. Jones was dismissed to connect himself with the Second Presbyterian Church in Car- lisle ; and some time afterwards Mr. Ritner was dis- missed for the same purpose. Mr. James Clark was chosen an elder in September, of 1842. In a letter received from the late Dr. Cathcart, he says :- ' Monaghan Church was always well represented in Presbytery by her eldership, one of the three, either Messrs. Dill, Ross, or O'Hail, being always in atten- dance. Mr. O'Hail,' he adds, 'was once a delegate to the General Assembly, and attended its sessions with great punctuality.'
" The original settlers were chiefly, if not exclusively, from Ireland and Scotland; rigid Presbyterians, ar- dently attached to the Church-a sober, industrious, moral, intelligent people. At an early period the congregation was very large, comprising nearly all the inhabitants of the settlement, whose religious predilections were thoroughly Calvinistic, and it was not unusual to see the church crowded to overflowing. It is not so now, owing to the operation of manifest
* Son of Ex-Governor Ritner.
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causes. Death has done its work, in removing many who had been pillars in the Church, and useful mem- bers of society. Another cause may be found in the spirit of adventure, and the hopeful prospects of emi- gration. And still another cause may be found in the establishment of other denominational organiza- tions throughout the region. Here, as in many other places, the original race of settlers is becoming gra- dually displaced by another race. Still, the Presbyte- rian element is comparatively strong and influential.
"The year 1831 was rendered remarkable for the out- pouring of the Holy Spirit in many parts of our land. It was a season of refreshing to the churches belong- ing to the Carlisle Presbytery. Here the means of grace were well attended and properly appreciated. On one occasion the concourse of people was so great, that, while Mr. Williamson was proclaiming the Gos- pel to those who found room within the church, Mr. Duffield was preaching it to those outside. And there were those then added to the Church who are still ex- emplary members, and doubtless look back to that period with tender emotions. In the winter of '42 and '43, there was an unusual degree of interest here on the subject of religion ; there was a great longing for the means of grace ; much and deep feeling exist- ed ; and some permanent good, we trust, was the result.
" The persons who were organized into the Peters- burg Church-Adams County, Pennsylvania-previ- ously worshipped at Monaghan, having to travel from 8 to 12 miles to church, and the same distance return-
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ing home, and it was on the ground of convenience that the little church was formed. For several years they had no church edifice. At first a barn in the summer, and a bar-room* in the winter, served as the place of religious service. When the Academy was built in Petersburg, it became the usual place of wor- ship. The present brick edifice was erected in 1830, on a lot of ground presented by Mr. James M'Cosh. " The first Communion was held at the ‘York Springs,' in 1826, when about a dozen of persons participated in the memorial of their Saviour's love.
"The Rev. McKnight Williamson, now in Ohio, spent a part of his early ministerial career among the little flock. The Rev. H. R. Wilson, now deceased, preached for them several times; and occasionally they would be supplied by others, till Mr. Quay was installed pastor of the united congregations of Mona- ghan and Petersburg.
" The first elders appointed were, Captain George Smith-previously an elder of Monaghan,-Major John Bonner, and James Robinette, Esq., son of George Robinette, one of the early elders of Mona- ghan. Captain Smith afterwards moved to the West, where he died. Major Bonner died several years ago ; his son, Colonel William F. Bonner, is a trus- tee of the church. And within the current year 'Squire Robinette has been called to his reward in
* A public house, then kept by the two sisters, Agnes and Mar- garet Bigham-firm Presbyterians, well and favourably known, the latter of whom is still living, a steadfast and consistent fol- lower of the Saviour.
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heaven. During Mr. Quay's ministry, Mr. George Robinette, brother of 'Squire Robinette, and Mr. William B. Brandon, grandson of Captain Smith, were chosen elders; and since the present pastoral relation was constituted, Mr. John Mateer was elect- ed an elder ;- these form the present Session.
" Although the church has grown, yet it continues somewhat small, but contains a commendable amount of intelligent piety and active benevolence."
LOWER MARSH CREEK CHURCH.
ABOUT the years 1734-6, a band of emigrants from Scotland and the north of Ireland, more usually known in Pennsylvania as Scotch-Irish, settled on the "red lands" in the southeastern part of York County. Not long afterwards, and probably about the year 1740, a number of the same race made the first settlement in what is now Adams County, among the hills near the sources of Marsh Creek. These settlers were of the better order of peasantry, and brought with them the characteristics of their native land. They were moral, industrious, and intelligent, and for the most part were rigid Presbyterians, or "Seceders." They were frugal, as the Scotch always are-plain in their mode of living, but cordial and hospitable. They were universally men of undaunted courage, and high pa- triotic feeling, and when the alarm of the Revolution first rung through the land, it called no truer or more willing hearts than those of the Scotch-Irish Presby-
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