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 19
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 19
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
317
MILLERSTOWN CHURCH.
finished and opened for worship, in 1832. Mr. Col- lins continued as pastor of this church until April, 1839, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. The congregation was supplied from this time by Messrs. Williamson and McDonald, till Rev. George D. Porter, who was elected pastor, entered upon his duties, November 17, 1844. This church, being under the care of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, was transferred to the care of the Presbytery of Carlisle, by the Synod of Philadelphia, at their meeting held in Philadelphia, October, 1845. Mr. Porter was in- stalled pastor of this church, September 12, 1846, and continued as such until June 10, 1851, when the relation was dissolved at an adjourned meeting of the Carlisle Presbytery, held in Greencastle, June 10th, 1851.
Rev. H. Hanson, who was labouring at Peters- burg, Perry Co., being invited by this congregation, entered upon his ministerial duties, June 29, 1851.
The present members of Session are, H. Hanson, Mod. ; Elders, Samuel Black, William Kip, W. J. Jones, George Rothrock, Jacob Kip, and John Shammo.
LANDISBURG, BLOOMFIELD, AND BUFFALO.
THE churches of Landisburg, Buffalo, and Bloom- field, were organized about the year 1823. "For-
27*
318
SUPPLEMENT.
merly," says the Rev. Mr. Dickey, "the Presbyte- rians within the bounds of the two former congrega- tions, were a part of the Centre Church, then under the care of the Rev. John Linn. At what time houses of worship were built and a church organized, I am unable to say, as I have not access, at present, to the sessional records of either church. It was probably soon after the death of Mr. Linn. For a few years, the churches of Landisburg and Buffalo were united with the Centre and Upper Churches, and were under the pastoral care of the Rev. James M. Omstead. Afterwards, Mr. Omstead having re- signed his pastoral charge, a new connexion was formed with the Church in Bloomfield, and the present pastor was called and installed in 1834. The original elders in the Landisburg Church were, Samuel Linn, Francis Kelly, John Deven, and James M'Clure. Those in the Buffalo Church, were, Charles Elliot, Robert Elliot, Andrew Linn, George Baker, Robert Irvine, and John Sanderson. Both churches possess neat and comfortable houses of worship ; the buildings are of frame, and tastefully furnished. The present Buffalo Church is a new building, with a belfry and bell, and is located in the vicinity of Ickesburg. The present elders in Buffalo Church, are, Robert Elliot, George Baker, and John M'Kee. In Landisburg, James M'Clure, Parkinson Hench, Henry Fetter, and John Linn.
The Bloomfield Church was originally formed out of the Ridge Church, about four miles distant, which
319
LANDISBURG, BLOOMFIELD, BUFFALO.
has now become extinct. The church was built in 1834, and is a substantial brick building, with a base- ment story for a Sunday-school and Lecture-room. The original elders were Wm. M. M'Clure, Jeremiah Madden, James M'Chord. The elders at present, are, John Campbell, and Finlow M'Cowan.
NOTE .- It was our intention to give a running sketch of the churches of Thom's Creek and Piney, Williamsport and Hancock, and Great Conewago. As, however, our volume has already far exceeded, in the number of its pages, what was originally de- signed, and, especially, as up to a point which admits of no delay, we have failed to receive the data which are necessary to make such a sketch at all satisfac- tory, we are reluctantly obliged to abandon this purpose.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX I.
CALL FROM THE BIG SPRING CONGREGATION TO THE REV. SAMUEL WILSON.
Big Spring, Cumberland County, 21st March, 1786.
WE, the subscribers of this paper, and members of the Congregation of Big Spring, do hereby bind and oblige ourselves annually to pay Mr. Samuel Wilson, Preacher of the Gospel, on his being ordained to be our minister, and for his discharge of the duties of said office, the sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds, Pennsylvania Currency, in specie, and allow him the use of the dwelling-house, barn, and all the clear land on the glebe, possessed by our former minis- ter, also plenty of timber for rails and fire-wood, likewise a sufficient security for the payment of the above-men- tioned sums during his incumbency. As witness our hands :-
Alexander Laughlin, John Davidson, Robert Shannon, David Williamson, Thomas Buchanan,
Alexander Thompson, Rannel Blair,
Samuel Finley,
Samuel Cunningham, John Eawing,
324
APPENDIX.
Robert Bovard, Solomon Lightcap, Joseph Pollock,
James Jack, William Dening,
Andrew Bell,
John Allison,
John Bell,
Robert Patterson,
David Ralston,
John M'Geehen,
Hugh Laughlin,
John Bell, Jeremiah M'Kibbin, James Graham.
Joseph Partes,
Charles Leeper,
George M'Geehen,
Hugh Patton,
Margaret M'Kain, William Giffin,
William Hodge,
Alexander M'Geehen,
William M'Cracken, Robert Bell, William M'Farland, Samuel M'Cormick, William Laughlin, Thomas Jacobs,
Andrew Walker,
John M'Clintock,
Andrew Thompson,
James Laughlin, Atchison Laughlin, Robert Hutchison, John Mitchell, Samuel Mathers, Jermon Jacobs, John Reed,
John Hodge, Senr.,
William Dinison,
James Irvine, John Brown,
John O'Neal,
William Douglass, Alexander Officer, James Officer,
Thomas Espey,
James Gillespie,
Samuel Hathorn, James Johnston, Alexand. Lechey, Catherine Brown,
Margaret M'Clure, James Armstrong, James Stewart, Robert Lusk, Andrew M'Elwain, Mary M'Elwain, James M'Elwain, Thomas Alison, John Wallace,
Joseph M'Donnel, Robert Gillespie,
APPENDIX.
325
Nathanael Gillespie, Samuel Mitchell,
John Mitchell, Alexander Elliott, John Munro, John Reed,
Samuel Fenton, Andrew Deniston, John M'Farland,
John Purdy,
James Brandon,
James Shannon,
Hugh Smith, John Shannon,
Thomas Mathers, John Patton,
John Porterfield, Jared Graham,
Margaret M'Farland,
William Brisbane, James M'Farland,
Richard Woods,
William Nicholson,
William Stevenson,
David Ramsey, Paul Martin,
Robert M'Comb, Jun.,
Andrew Bell,
William Thompson, David Sterret,
Adam Carnahan,
James M'Guffin,
L. Work, James Carson, William Thompson, Jr., John Murain, Daniel Boyle, William Himter, Robert Patterson, Widow Preaugh, James Huston, Robert Mickey, Sen., Robert Mickey, Jun., James Mickey,
Elizabeth Kilgore, William Kilgore,
Samuel Weaver,
George Weaver, John M'Cune, John M'Farland, James Johnston, Samuel Lindsey, Matthew Wilson, Samuel Wilson, William Lindsey, John Whitin, Jun.,
Elizabeth M'Cullough, Thomas Grier, Ann Brouster, John Lusk, David Lusk, Alexander M'Bride, William Milligan, Agnes Irwine,
28
326
APPENDIX.
James Aumer, William Wilson,
James Wilson, Francis Donald,
George Little,
James M'Cune,
John Brown, William Hunter, Adam Bratton,
William Walker,
Joseph Walker,
Robert Walker,
John Carson, Isabella M'Cune,
Patrick M'Farland, Abigail Flinn,
John Coply,
Patrick Murdock
Thomas Appleby, John Brown, William Adams, William Ferguson, John Graham, Berry Kilbourne, James Mitchell, Thomas Moore, Caleb Ardle,
William Smith,
James Laughray,
David Graham, William Patton, Jun., Joseph Pierce, Joseph Hays, Matthew Davidson, George M'Geehen, James M'Geehen,
Benjamin M'Geehen, Jacob Atchison,
Joseph Van Horn, John Robinson,
John M'Cune, Richard Nicholson, James Nicholson,
Samuel M'Elhenny, Jr. Samuel M'Elhenny, Sr.
John Gourril, Samuel Morrow, John Bell,
William Carnahan,
William Bryson,
Hugh Allen,
John Sumar, John Clark,
William Clark ,
James Hamilton. Hannah Bovard.
Number of Pew-Holders, 204.
327
APPENDIX II.
CALL FROM THE CONGREGATIONS OF CARLISLE AND LOWER PENNSBOROUGH TO THE REV. JOHN STEEL.
" Whereas at the union of the congregations of Carlisle and Lower Pennsborough in April, 1764, it was agreed that each congregation should pay seventy-five pounds to Mr. John Steel, our minister, as stipends, yearly and every year from time of said union, and said agreement was signed by six men of each congregation in the name and behalf of said congregations,
"Now in order to give ease and relief to said six men who signed in behalf of the congregation of Lower Penns- borough, and at the same time to secure to our said minis- ter his yearly stipends, said congregation have this day concluded that forty-two men shall give their promissory note to said John Steel for his yearly stipends, and that said forty-two men shall be a fix'd committee of said con- gregation, and have power to regulate seats and order all the other affairs of said congregation.
" Therefore, in consequence of said agreement, and to an- swer the above said ends, we the subscribers, with the con- sent and by the appointment of said congregation, do offer ourselves and accordingly become jointly bound to Mr. John Steel, our present minister, to pay him, yearly and every year, the sum of seventy-five pounds, good and lawful
328
APPENDIX.
money of Pennsylvania, at or upon the first day of April, in every year following the date hereof, including the stipends of seventy-five pounds due to our said minister for the year past, April, 1768, and what arrears may be due to our said minister for the years 1765 and 1766,-all which we bind ourselves to pay or cause to be paid unto said John Steel, according to the true intent and meaning of the agreement made at the union of said congregations, as witness our hands this twentieth and seventh day of June, 1768.
Moses Star,
William Gray,
James Crawford,
Christopher Quigly,
Joseph M'Clure, Abernethy,
Edward Morton,
Samuel Geddis,
Andrew Armstrong,
Andrew Ervin,
John Caruthers,
James Caruthers,
John M'Teer,
Jonathan Hoge, Samuel Huston,
James M'Curdy,
William M'Cormick,
John Carothers,
John Semple, John M'Cormick,
James Nailer,
James Oliver,
Samuel Fisher, John Dickey, Sen.,
William Trindle, Alexander Trindle, Hugh Laird, Thomas Stewart,
Thomas Donaldson,
James M'Teer,
William M'Teer,
Thomas M'Cormick,
Patrick Holmes, David Bell, Nathanael Nelson,
David Hoge,
William Orr, John Nailer, John Trindle,
William Geddis,
Matthew Loudon.
329
APPENDIX III.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE SCHISM IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THIS COUNTRY, A CENTURY AGO.
IN the beginning of the last century there was a sad declension of religion in this country, as there was also in Great Britain. Of this there is evidence from vari- ous sources. According to the testimony of the Rev. Samuel Blair, " a very lamentable ignorance of the es- sentials of true practical religion, and of the doctrines re- lating thereto, very generally prevailed, in Pennsylvania." There was, also, necessity, in 1735, for a solemn injunc- tion from the Synod of Philadelphia, to the Presbyteries under its jurisdiction, carefully to guard the doors of ad- mission to the ministerial office and to church member- ship, against unworthy and unfit candidates.
Such was the state of religion, likewise, in the Congre- gational Churches of New England. "There is," said Dr. Increase Mather, in 1721, " a grievous decay of piety in the land, and a leaving of her first love, and the beauties of holiness are not to be seen as once they were."
About the year 1732, the work of God was signally revived. This was the case simultaneously in America, England, and Scotland. The first of the gracious visita- tions with which this country was blessed, occurred at Freehold, New Jersey, under the ministry of the Rev.
28*
330
APPENDIX.
John Tennent. Soon there was a similar manifestation of the Spirit's presence and power, in Lawrence, Hopewell, and Amwell, three contiguous towns in New Jersey, under the ministry of the Rev. John Rowland ; in Newark and Elizabethtown ; in Philadelphia, under the ministry of Mr. Whitefield ; in New Londonderry (Fagg's Manor), in Penn- sylvania, under the ministry of the Rev. Samuel Blair ; and in New Providence, Nottingham, White Clay Creek, Nesha- miny, and other places of this region, as well as through- out New England.
That this revival was a genuine one, is evident, from the testimony in its favour of such men as Edwards, Cooper, Col- man, and Bellamy, in New England, and the Tennents, Blair, Dickinson, and Davies, in the Presbyterian Church. This is evident, also, from the experience of its subjects which was in general answerable to the truth, and from its results, as exhibited in the external fruits of holiness in the lives of the large majority of those, to whom its special influence extended. It cannot be denied, indeed, that in some de- gree, and in some localities, fanaticism prevailed, and that there was an unwarrantable dependence placed upon bodily agitations, as evidential of conversion, and that there was a harshness and censoriousness, utterly incompatible with the spirit of the occasion, manifested by ultraists, toward all who would not follow them to their dangerous extremes. Equally undeniable is it, however, that the genuineness of the great and extensive awakening now re- ferred to, is not to be questioned, because of some of the evils and irregularities with which it was attended and fol- lowed, for from these, perfect exemption cannot be ex- pected for any movement, in a world such as this, where wheat is being sown as well as tares, and where every light
331
APPENDIX.
produces its shadows. Of these errors, there may be spe- cified in addition to those already noticed, "a strong leaven of enthusiasm, manifesting itself in the regard paid to impulses, inspirations, visions, and the pretended power of discerning spirits,-and the disregard shown to the common rules of ecclesiastical order, by itinerant preachers and lay exhorters, who went into the parishes of settled ministers, and without their knowledge, or against their wishes, insisted on preaching to the people."
In relation to this revival, there was, as was to be ex- pected from what has been already stated, a wide diffe- rence of opinion among the ministers of Synod. Some re- garded it as the work of God, and were active in furthering it, but others, and the more numerous party, withheld from it all co-operation, and pronounced it a mere fermentation of unsanctified feeling, which could not issue in any good results either God-ward or man-ward. As was natural amongst persons occupying such opposite stand-points, irri- tation arose, both among the ministry and laity. Those favourable to the work in progress, viewed all who were adverse, to it, as fighting against God, and as having the root of their hostility in unrenewed hearts; and those op- posed to this work, condemned the terrific style of preach- ing employed in its promotion, and accused the more pro- minent actors in the movement, of exhibiting a spirit of malignant denunciation and misrepresentation, and of helping to obscure the true idea of religion, by encouraging the belief, that it exists rather in violent excitement and rapture than in principle carried into obedience.
There was, however, another ground of dissension among the ministers of the Synod, beside that just noticed. The Rev. William Tennent established a classical school at
332
APPENDIX.
Neshaminy, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about twenty miles north of Philadelphia. The object of this institution, (which afterwards became the celebrated LOG COLLEGE), was, to furnish candidates for the ministry an opportunity for securing the requisite literary qualifications for this office, without the inconvenience and expense of becoming students of a college in New England or Europe. Back of this, however, there was another desideratum aimed at, which was this,-that the Presbyterian Church of this country, might be able to rely upon a ministry educated at home, rather than be under the necessity of receiving ministers from foreign lands, who, at that time, to say nothing of the chances of imposition which existed, were not, generally, even when able to show their credentials, such men as the Church could with much hope of benefit, welcome to her communion. The competency of Mr. Tennent to conduct such a school, so as to accomplish the first of these objects, at least, was demonstrated by the very satisfactory exami- nation which his son Gilbert, one of his students, sustained before the Presbytery of Philadelphia. Notwithstanding this proof, however, the Synod resolved, 1738, that in order to prevent the admission of uneducated men into the mi- nistry, every candidate for the sacred office, before he was taken on trial, should be furnished with a diploma of gra- duation from some European or New England college, or with a certificate of competent scholarship from a committee of Synod. The same year, the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick was formed. At the next meeting of Synod, a re- monstrance was presented by this Presbytery against this resolution, and it was modified so as to express the deter- mination of Synod, " that every person who proposes him- self to trial, as a candidate for the ministry, and who has
333
APPENDIX.
not a diploma, or the usual certificate from a European or New England University, shall be examined by the whole Synod, or its commission, as to those preparatory studies which we generally pass through at college, and if they find him qualified, they shall give him a certificate, which shall be received by our respective Presbyteries, as equiva- lent to a diploma or certificate from the college, &c." But as thus modified, the resolution was no more accepta- ble than in its original form, to those who from the begin- ning had resisted it, and therefore a protest was entered against it, signed by William Tennent, Senr., Gilbert Ten- nent, William Tennent, Jr., Charles Tennent, Samuel Blair, and Eleazer Wales. We pretend not to state all the reasons, which influenced these ministers in their opposition to the action of Synod in this matter, but it is plain that they re- garded it as inconsistent with the rights of Presbyteries, as calculated, if not intended, to disparage or destroy the Log College, and as tending to frustrate their design, in having a Presbytery set off in New Jersey chiefly composed of the friends of this Institution, which was, to license such men as they should deem properly qualified, and to make fervent piety the first and principal qualification for the ministry.
The Presbytery of New Brunswick having, in 1738, in contravention of the authority of Synod as expressed in its late act, licensed Mr. John Rowland to preach the Gospel, when the records of this Presbytery came to be reviewed by the Synod, that body declared, by "a great majority," the licensing of Mr. Rowland " to be very disorderly, and admonished the said Presbytery to avoid such divisive courses for the future, and determined not to admit the said Mr. Rowland to be a preacher of the Gospel within our bounds, nor to encourage any of our people to accept him
334
APPENDIX.
until he submit to such examinations as were appointed by this Synod for those that have had a private education." In anticipation of this result, the Presbytery came prepared with an " Apology for dissenting from two acts or new reli- gious laws passed at the last session of the Synod." After- wards, in the same year, the New Brunswick Presbytery continued to disobey the Synod, and licensed Mr. M'Crea, and in 1740, they licensed Mr. William Robinson, and Mr. Samuel Finley, having no respect, in either case, to the requisition of Synod.
The effect of this controversy throughout the presbyte- ries and congregations of the Church was, of course, disas- trous, and hence, in 1740, an effort was made to compro- mise the difficulty, by repealing the first act of Synod in relation to itinerant preaching, and by so modifying the second act in relation to the examination of candidates, as to meet the views of the New Brunswick brethren. It was also proposed by Mr. Dickinson, that the matter in dispute should be referred to some ecclesiastical body in Scotland, Ireland, or England, or to the ministers of Boston. After this, a member of the New Brunswick Presbytery proposed, " that the Synod might appoint two of their number to be present at the examination of candidates for the ministry, who, if they found them (the presbyteries), guilty of mal- conduct, might accuse them to Synod; but when it was ascertained that an objection of these delegates to the com- petency of a candidate would refer the question of his licensure to the Synod, the Brunswick brethren declined.
The failure of these efforts at accommodation, increased the unhappy state of feeling which had been growing in the Synod and Church, and at this point this feeling was greatly aggravated by the reading of formal papers of com-
335
APPENDIX.
plaint, by Mr. Gilbert Tennent and Mr. Blair, against their brethren, before Synod. The same effect, in a high degree, was produced, by Mr. Tennent's famous Nottingham Sermon (called so because it was preached at that place), in which he describes the body of the ministers of that generation as letter-learned Pharisees, plastered hypocrites, having the form of godliness, but destitute of its power. The di- vision which thus already virtually existed, was consum- mated at the meeting of Synod, June 1st, 1741, when a protestation, read by the Rev. Robert Cross, and signed by twelve ministers, and seven elders, was adopted, to the effect, that "the former protesting brethren, whether they were the major or minor number, had no right to sit, or to be looked upon as the Synod." The day after this rup- ture, the Presbytery of New Brunswick held a pro re nata meeting in Philadelphia, with four members, and seven correspondents, and resolved that in view of what had taken place, it was the bounden duty of the exscinded bre- thren, to form themselves into distinct presbyteries for carry- ing on the government of Christ's Church. This revolu- tion led to the attaching Mr. William Tennent, Sen., and Richard Treat, to the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and the erection of a new Presbytery to be called Londonderry, both of which Presbyteries were to meet in the ensuing August, at Philadelphia, in the capacity of a Synod.
After several unsuccessful efforts for reconciliation, at a meeting of Synod, in 1743, an overture was presented from the Presbytery of New York, proposing that for certain reasons, and on certain terms, a reunion should take place between the Synod and the ejected members, and all past differences be buried in oblivion, but this proposal was una- nimously rejected. In 1744, no member of the New
336
APPENDIX.
York Presbytery appeared in Synod, and no new effort was made to heal the schism. In 1745, a committee was ap- pointed to draw up a plan of union. To this plan the New York brethren immediately refused to accede. The conse- quence was the erection of another Synod, under the name of the Synod of New York, which met as a separate and independent body, at Elizabethtown, September, 19, 1745. In May, 1758, a union was effected between this Synod and that of Philadelphia, on a plan devised by committees appointed by these respective bodies for this purpose, and unanimously agreed to by them.
Thus, after seventeen years' duration, ended this unhappy schism in the Presbyterian Church,-a schism which made its influence to be felt throughout the presbyteries and congregations, and which, it is scarcely necessary to add, was not produced by any diversity of opinion as to doctrine or discipline, or the form of church government, but by loss of confidence and alienation of feeling, arising from the different views entertained of the revival which then pre- vailed, and of the place for receiving, and the tribunal for testing, literary qualifications of candidates for the minis- try. We regret that our statement of the subject must be so compendious as to be unsatisfactory, but those who wish to examine it thoroughly, can do so by reference to Dr. Alexander's "Log College," and Dr. Hodge's " History of the Presbyterian Church," from which the facts we have presented, have been gleaned.
337
APPENDIX IV.
HISTORY OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
THE Franklin County Bible Society was organized at Chambersburg, December 12th, 1814, some time before the formation of the American Bible Society.
The first officers of this Institution were :- The Rev. John McKnight, D.D., President; the Rev. James Hoff- man, and James Riddle, Esq., Vice-Presidents ; the Rev. John Lind, Secretary ; the Rev. David Elliott, Clerk ; John Findlay, Esq., Treasurer; and the Rev. Messrs. David Denny, John F. Moeller, John Moodey, Robert Kennedy, Mr. James McFarland, Mr. John Colhoun, Edward Crawford, William M. Brown, and George Cham- bers, Esq'rs, other Managers.
In pursuance of appointment, the Rev. John Lind de- livered a discourse before the Society, at Chambersburg, February 17th, 1815 ; and the Rev. David Elliott, by like appointment, rendered the same service, at the same place, November 14th, 1815.
In April, 1816, public attention was invited to the con- sideration of the propriety of uniting the friends of the Bible cause, and a meeting was desired at New York for
29
338
APPENDIX.
the purpose. This measure was approved of by the Franklin County Bible Society, and on the 11th of April, 1816, Matthew St. Clair Clarke, Esq., one of its members, was appointed a delegate to represent this Society at New York. Mr. Clarke fulfilled his appointment, and assisted in organizing the American Bible Society, in May, 1816.
The Franklin County Bible Society was for many years very active and efficient in ascertaining and supplying those destitute of the Bible, within the limits of Franklin County, and still is faithful to the purpose of its existence.
Of its officers at its organization, but three survive, viz., Rev. John Moodey, D.D., Rev. David Elliott, D.D., and Judge Chambers.
THE END.
1656
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.