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 3
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 3
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MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH. 1425997
infancy, or whose memory cannot reach beyond his ministry. Few, indeed, remain, who witnessed his installation. They have nearly all been removed by death, and now sleep either in the graveyard of the church in which they worshipped, or in some distant part of the country in which they settled and died.
To say of the pastoral relation which has for half a century subsisted at Middle Spring, that it has been marked with peace, would be but to affirm what truth demands. To say, also, of Dr. Moodey, that his long life has been one of Christian consistency and large usefulness, would be only to utter a testi- mony which none that have known him would hesi- tate to endorse. For fifty years he has gone in and out before his people, preaching to them, though always changing, a gospel that changes not, and exhibiting to them an example of calm, steady, and trustful devotion to the service of God. As a preacher, he has ever had an excellent reputation, and been regarded as a logical, instructive, and able expounder of the truth as it is in Jesus. With him there never have been the flourishes of oratory, or flashes of fancy, or efforts after novelty, which so often attract without permanently pleasing; but his ministry has ever been characterized by a plain, manly, and solemn exhibition of the Word, and a bringing of things new and old out of his treasure, which have saved his acceptableness in the pulpit from anything like abatement. He is now, as he ever has been, universally esteemed in the commu-
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nity in which his days have been chiefly spent ; and when it shall please God to allow him to sink into the ground which he has seen so often broken for others, all will acknowledge that a faithful servant of the Most High has gone to his reward.
The following statistics, with which we have been furnished by Dr. Moodey, will be read with interest :
"In my church there have been 1165 baptisms ; of these there were 44 white adults, one a female above fifty years of age, and 4 adults and 3 infants of colour. In other churches, where, by Presbyterial appointments, I have preached, and administered, or aided in administering, the Lord's Supper, I have baptized 139 infants and 8 adults: 3 of the last were persons of colour. Whole number of baptisms, 1312.
"During my pastoral relation with Middle Spring, there have been added to the list of our communi- cants, 655. A few of these have been received on certificate ; but by reason of death, removal, and church extension, the number increases but slowly. The largest number added at any one time was 24; and on every occasion, with one exception, there have been more or less added.
"I have officiated at the solemnization of 587 marriages. The numbers who have sprung from our congregation and become preachers of the gospel are very gratifying."
We now proceed to notice the church at Middle Spring. Those who are familiar with this locality, three miles north of Shippensburg, remember well
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MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH.
the green slope to the right, on which the building stands; the graveyard in the rear; the beautiful wood, stretching back, with its refreshing shadows ; "the old mill-dam," a few rods to the left of the road, calmly reflecting the light of heaven; the foun- tain of fresh water bubbling up close by; the mur- muring stream, which rolls on under the thick over- hanging foliage; and the "Lower Graveyard," a little to the north, along which that stream flows in its course, chaunting its sweet requiem for the dead.
It was in that graveyard the first church in that region was built. Anxious for a place of worship, the early settlers met to devise a plan for this pur- pose ; and the result of their consultation was the erection of a log-building, near the gate of the grave- yard, about thirty-five feet square. This was about the year 1738. Soon this edifice, in which, for a while there was preaching only four or five times a year, was found to be too small to accommodate the people, and it was demolished, and another of the same material erected on the same spot. This was considerably larger, being about fifty-eight feet long and forty-eight feet wide. In a little while it became necessary again that the house of worship should have its capacity extended ; and this desideratum was effected by removing three sides of the building then in use, and embracing a little more space on either side, which was covered with a roof, some- thing in the form of a shed. Up the sides of these additions to the main edifice, and over the roofs,
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were fixed wooden steps, by which access was gained into the gallery. This arrangement was made for want of room in the interior of the building for the construction of a stairway. Of the internal appear- ance of this ancient structure we are not able to give any very definite information. We have been told, however, that the pulpit, which was of walnut, was a remarkably neat piece of workmanship for that day. This interesting relic, which, with other portions of the building at the time it was torn down, was pur- chased by Samuel Cox, Esq., was converted into a table, which is yet in the possession of his son, John Cox, Esq., who still lives in the old homestead.
In this church, for many years, the growing con- gregation worshipped; and during this time the graveyard was filled with the dead. This sacred spot, which consists of about an acre of ground, is enclosed by a substantial stone wall, and stands by the roadside, teaching its solemn lesson to the passer- by. Of the epitaphs upon the few tombstones which it contains, we give the following :-
" Here lies the body of John Reynolds, Esq., who departed this life on the twentieth day of October, 1789, aged 40 years.
" This modest stone (what few vain marbles can) May truly say, ' Here lies an honest man.' "
" Interred here is the body of Capt. Samuel Kears- ley, a veteran survivor of the Revolution which pro-
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MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH.
cured the Independence of America, who departed this life on the 22d of March, A.D. 1830, in the 81st year of his age.
" In profession a Christian, A soldier intrepid, In body and mind vigorous, Fearless of man, But who confessed that Wisdom's beginning is God's fear."
About the year 1781, the old stone church was erected, whose site, as is well known, was just beside that of the present building. This was still larger than its predecessor (being fifty-eight by sixty-eight feet), and was necessarily so, by reason of the rapid increase of population. About the same time that this church was built, and which, for its day, was one of more than ordinary elegance, the graveyard imme- diately in its rear, was located. This was done, not only because the old receptacle of the dead was well filled, but also because its soil was of a gravelly description, and its lower section, by reason of its nearness to the stream, was subject to frequent inundation.
The present building at Middle Spring, which was erected in 1848, and demanded by the dilapidated condition of the former one, is a neat brick edifice, one story high, with a gallery for a choir, and capacity to accommodate about four hundred per- sons. It was with many a deep regret that the necessity was yielded to that called for the erection
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of this new church; and hundreds there were who were in full sympathy with one whose earliest asso- ciations were blended with that neighbourhood, and who, returning after the absence of years, thus uttered his feelings in the contemplation of the change that was soon to occur :-
" Welcome to me once more this green churchyard,
To which, this bright May morn, have come my feet : Ah, from the village near, still hitherward
Outdrawn I am that good old church to greet, And these sad graves, to pay them homage meet ; What times I come back to this neighbourhood,
Long whiles between, where erst my boyhood sweet Was sped, here o'er its joys despoiled to brood. But though it bringeth dole the while, it doth me good.
" As now, long gone, oft sauntering have I come Adown that stream on Sabbath mornings bland,- In town at school, but longing much for home,- Beneath that poplar near the church to stand, Watching each carriage come and folks disband ; Till, see! our own wends to its trysting-place !
Then did I bound to grasp each welcome hand; To catch the beaming looks of each young face, A father's anxious smile, a mother's soft embrace !
" They come not now, who gave that spot its zest. Parent and brothers, sisters, all are gone To newer homes, far settled in the West,- No more to walk, on holy days, this lawn. Yet one here rests. O, most reveréd one ! Dear parent mine! Say, is thy spirit near,
To whose green mound here have I first been drawn ? Mark'st thou my sorrowing step and briny tear, To think I loved thee not the more when thou wast here ?
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MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH.
"That old stone church ! Hid in these oaks apart, I hoped Improvement ne'er would it invade ; But only Time, with his slow, hallowing art, Would touch it, year by year, with softer shade, And crack its walls no more, but, interlaid, Mend them with moss. Its ancient sombre cast Dearer to me is than all art displayed
In modern churches, which, by their contrast, Make this to stand forlorn, held in the solemn Past.
" Ah, now, they tell me, they will raze it low, And build a lowlier, neater church instead; And well, no doubt, it is it should be so. But me not joy it brings, but drearihead : For still my thoughts, like fondest ivy spread, In memory green, do clasp that old church-pile ; And round a softer, holier light is shed, Than that through stained glass on chequered aisle : Oh, must it then be torn, on me no more to smile ?"
In "that old stone church" there was, for many long years, a very large congregation. Its boun- daries reached six or eight miles in several directions. When the Sabbath dawned, every road and avenue might be seen thronged with those who were assem- bling for worship,-some on foot, some on horse- back, and some in carriages. The spacious house was crowded. Even the galleries, above which "the swallow had built a nest for herself, where she might lay her young," was filled. Loud throughout the surrounding forest might be heard the praises of God. At "intermission," the people gathered toge- ther in little circles. Some wandered to the ceme- tery, to sigh over the departed loved ones, and drop
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a tear upon the sweet-briar that bloomed by their graves. Some flocked to the "spring," to quaff its sparkling waters. Others met to exchange saluta- tions and friendly greetings. The interval past, the public service of the sanctuary was resumed, and in a little while a scene of happy confusion was to be witnessed :- the old, and middle-aged, and young, moving off to their homes, comfortable, at least, in the consciousness that, whatever other sins might be laid to their charge, they had not neglected the assembling of themselves together. Pleasant days were those at Middle Spring !
Here we cannot resist the temptation to give, somewhat at length, an admirable description of the old church, which, though written in 1847, has but recently been published, and from which we have presented an extract already .*
"Its pews of obdurate pine, straight-backed and tall- Its gallery, mounted high three sides around-
Its pulpit, goblet-formed, half up the wall,
The sounding-board above, with acorn crowned, And Rouse's psalms, that erst therein did sound
To old fugue tunes, to some the thoughts might raise Of folks antique that certes there were found-
Ah no! I wote in those enchanting days,
There beauty beamed, there swelled the richest notes of praise.
" What though no dainty choir the gallery graced,
And trolled their tunes in soft, harmonious flow ;
* Poem by Prof. W. M. Nevin :- " The Guardian." May, 1852.
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MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH.
One pious clerk, tall formed and sober faced, With book enclutched, stood at his desk below, And with his pitch all people's voice did go; If not full blent, certes in soul sincere,
Up from their hearts their praises they did throw, Nor cared they e'en, of some deaf dame, to hear, At close, the voice in suit, lone quavering in the rear.
" Out from that pulpit's height, deep-browed and grave, The man of God ensconced, half bust was shown, Weighty and wise, he did not thump nor rave, Nor lead his folks, upwrought, to smile nor moan. By him, slow cast, the seeds of truth were sown, Which, lighting on good soil, took lasting hold.
Not springing eftsoons, then to wilt ere grown,
But, in long time, their fruits increased were told : Some thirty, sixty some, and some an hundred fold.
" Ah, then, in our pew, my cousin Bess,
Happy I was downseated by thy side, With youngsters more, in middle stowed, the less, Where, sex from sex, we did our kin divide. High boarded up no face without we spied, Save of his Reverence high, or some ybent Out o'er the balustrade of gallery wide. Thus were our minds from vanities safe pent, And kept the text, I wote, and each commandement.
" And when, through summers, thou hadst tall up grown, Above that pew did peer thy witching grace,
Like some red rose out o'er its wall, full blown, Is seen abroad, unweeting of its case. And thy full voice, within that holy place, Was heard all others through, richest, I ween ; And not a daintier foot nor lovelier face, When all out came the service times between, Nor on this shaded knoll nor by yon spring was seen.
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" Nurtured thou wast hard by yon mountain's height, Which now the distance does in azure steep ; Whose base with laurels, moss, and fern is dight, Where through its gap the gladsome waters leap. The scene there doth its verdure ever keep ; And with its joys was thy young spirit stirred ; And thy dark eye mirrored its beauty deep ; And in its glens thy mellow voice was heard, Sweeter than dash of stream or song of mountain bird.
" Ah, can it be that slumbering thou art laid, Hard by this high, in yon low burial plot, In quiet bed trimmed by the sexton's spade, With grass o'ergrown, and violets thither brought By hands bereaved ! Yes, sorrow deep was wrought, And still for thee is felt a lasting gloom ;
For just when thy rich heart and sprightliest thought Were shedding us, like rose, their prime perfume, Then snapped, thou sudden fell'st into that early tomb !
"In this high burial-ground, in that below,
No massive structure stands of sculptured stone ; No column's shaft, off broke, that it might show Youth's vigour downwards all untimely thrown. But humble slabs and headstones many strown, Simply the names and years and worth avow Of those here laid. 'Tis well. They covet none. In life they were plain men of honest brow, They sought no honours then, nor do they seek them now.
" Here were they gathered every good Lord's day, From town, from hamlet, and from country wide, In pleasant groups, but meek and staid alway, They showed not often levity nor pride; Yet sooth in some gay maids some pranks were spied, Misled by dress and spirits over light,
Out by yon firs, with beaux convened aside,
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MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH.
They laughed and joked ; yes, some did shrill outright! And that it was God's day they had forgotten quite.
" But these were few : and for that breach, I wote, At home their mothers did them well aread. Others all o'er this place in solemn thought, Stood lone, or spoke with sanctimonious heed. Yet this to take full many had no need, For they were grave in grain. Who would might scan, Still were they upright found in word and deed. They knew, but most they felt, the gospel plan, And loved their God supreme, and next their fellow-man.
" Blest sight it was to mark that godly flock, At intermission, grouped throughout this wood. Each log, each bench, each family upping-block, Some granddame held amidst her gathered brood. Here cakes were shared, and fruits, and counsel good ; Devoutly spoken 'twas of crops and rain ;
Hard by the church the broad-brimmed elders stood, While o'er that slope did flow a constant train Of bevies, springward bound, or coming back again.
" Ah! luckless wight, whom gallantry did press, Fast by that spring, to stoop him often low, And serve, with cup up-dipped, and bland address, The gathered fair, whose multitude did grow! One whom he most affects, and did bestow Her first the cup, hath drunk, and off does walk; Her then to follow fain he must forego,- With some far happier swain he marks her talk, While he must stoop, and grin, and water all the flock.
" Here too, like me, some lonesome wight of yore Did stand apart, and these memorials scan, And blighted hopes and buried loves deplore, And feel, in sooth, how frail a thing is man.
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CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
Hither the widow came, weeping and wan, To muse on him of late her joy and pride.
Ah! now no more she mourns the solemn ban Which did her then from her loved spouse divide- Now does she sleep herself all sweetly by his side.
"These ask no ponderous tombs, yet sooth to tell, Above doth lie the turf, too bleak and bare ; For they did love their homes and country well, And still of these fresh garlands they should share. Here should the rose its ruddiest clusters wear, The willow droop, the cedar winters brave ;-
But, ah! few hands are left for this to care.
So mote the briar spring, and o'er each grave Spread out its vernal blossoms. This they seem to crave."
That the congregation of Middle Spring is not now as large as formerly, is well known. Germans have settled in the region from which it once derived its numerical strength, and consequently have limited the Presbyterian population from which accessions might be expected. Other congregations, too, have sprung up in the neighbourhood, which have served to weaken the old one from which they proceeded. We regard it as one of the evils of the times, that congregations have, in late years, been so much mul- tiplied ; for, to say nothing of the fact that attend- ance upon public worship has not increased by being rendered more convenient, it is undeniable that, in this way, venerable and vigorous churches have had their strength and influence seriously impaired, whilst the new organizations erected around them, have also,
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MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH.
in most instances, been doomed to a feeble and em- barrassed existence. Such a course, however, was pursued in regard to Middle Spring, and it certainly has not contributed to its prosperity. The present members of the Session of the Church are as follows: Joseph M. Means, Abraham S. Mckinney, David S. Runsha, Robert S. McCune, James Kelso, Robert McCune, and Samuel Wherry.
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CHAPTER III.
BIG SPRING CHURCH.
AMONG the primitive Presbyterian ministers of Pennsylvania, were several of the name Craighead. One of these, whose Christian name is not given on the Records of Presbytery, was installed as pastor of the congregation of Pequea, in Lancaster County, in 1733. Another (Alexander) settled at Middle Octarara, in the same county, about the same time. The name of a third (Thomas) appears on the Pres- byterial Records in 1735. These last two gentlemen were the first preachers of the Gospel in the regions beyond the Susquehanna. In 1734 the former was ap- pointed by the Presbytery to "supply over the river." The year following, "a supplication from the settle- ment over the river desiring supplies," he was again appointed to act in the same capacity. In the same year, Mr. Thomas Craighead was sent to "supply the people of Conodoguinot." This gentleman was a cousin of Mr. John Craighead, who settled at an early date on Yellow Breeches Creek, near Carlisle, and who was the father of the Rev. Mr. Craighead, afterwards pastor of the church at Rocky Spring.
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BIG SPRING CHURCH.
The Rev. Thomas Craighead was the first pastor of Big Spring Congregation, or Hopewell, as it was then called. He entered into this relation with it in 1738. In regard to his salary, it is only recorded that, "A list of subscriptions being produced, the commissioners agreed that Mr. Craighead shall have the benefit of all future subscriptions." Previously to this settlement, it would seem that Mr. C. was stated supply at Carlisle and Silvers' Spring (or Upper and Lower Pennsborough) ; for in 1738 it was ordered by Presbytery, "that the two Societies in Pennsburg pay to Mr. Craighead the two-thirds of sixteen pounds, for the half year that he was ap- pointed to supply there, and that the people of Mr. Craighead's congregation make up the other third."
About the time of Mr. Craighead's settlement at Hopewell, there was some difficulty existing between that congregation and the one at Upper Pennsbo- rough, in relation to the proposed erection of a meet- ing-house by the former. The nature and issue of this difficulty, the subjoined extracts from the Pres- byterial Records will serve, in some degree, to ex- plain.
June 22d, 1737. " A supplication from the peo- ple of Hopewell being presented, requesting the con- currence of Presbytery to draw a call to Mr. Thomas Craighead, the Presbytery, finding some inconveni- ence in reference to the situation of one of their houses, don't see cause to concur with them at pre- sent, but do appoint Mr. Black to supply at Penns-
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CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
boro' on the last Sabbath of July, and on the week following to convene that people and the people of Hopewell, at James McFarlan's, in order to inquire if Pennsboro' will agree that Hopewell build a meet- ing-house at Great Spring, -and make a report thereof at our next."
Aug. 31, 1737. " Mr. Black reports that he sup- plied at Pennsboro', and convened the people and those of Hopewell on the Monday following, and heard them confer about the meeting-house proposed to be built at Great Spring, but the parties did not agree about the same."
Subsequently, "Presbytery voted, by a great ma- jority, not to alter the bounds of the congregation of Pennsboro'," and "disapproved the people of Hope- well building a meeting-house just on the border of Pennsborough congregation."
Mr. Craighead, though called in 1737, was not in- stalled until October, 1738. This service was con- ducted by the Rev. Alexander Craighead, an "edict," by order of Presbytery, having been sent "to be published timeously before." Mr. Craighead died in June of the ensuing year. In relation to this event, Thomas Craighead, Jr., of Whitehill, Cumberland County, has thus written in a letter, dated Dec. 16, 1845, and published in Mr. I. D. Rupp's "History of Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Bedford, Adams, and Franklin Counties :"
" At Big Spring, protracted meetings were held for public worship. So powerful, it is said, were the
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BIG SPRING CHURCH.
influences of the Spirit, that the worshippers felt loth, even after having exhausted their stores of pro- vision, to disperse. I have heard it from the lips of those present, when Thomas Craighead delivered one of the parting discourses, that his flow of eloquence seemed supernatural,-he continued in bursts of elo- quence, while his audience was melted to tears ; him- self, however, exhausted, hurried to pronounce the blessing, waving his hand,-and as he pronounced the words, Farewell, farewell! he sank down, and expired without a groan or struggle. His remains rest where the church now stands, the only monu- ment of his memory."
After Mr. Craighead's demise, Mr. James Lyon, of Ireland (and, at the time of his invitation, under the care of the Presbytery of New Castle), supplied the pulpit at Hopewell for some months. After his term of service had expired, Big Spring was connected with Rocky Spring and Middle Spring, as a charge. We learn this from the sessional records of the last-mentioned congregation, which state (1742) that "the minister and elders of Big Spring, Middle Spring, and Rocky Spring, met at Middle Spring, in order to settle the division of the minister's labours among the three congregations." The arrangement agreed upon at this meeting was " that the minister's labours be equally divided in a third part to each place, as being most for the glory of God and good of his people." It was also, "upon the motion of the elders of Big Spring, left to them, the people,
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CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY.
and Mr. Blair, to converse among themselves in respect to the subscriptions of the Big Spring Con- gregation." How long Mr. Blair sustained the pas- toral relation to these three congregations we have no means of determining.
The next point at which it is possible to write with any confidence of the regular occupancy of the pulpit at Big Spring, is 1759. In that year the Rev. George Duffield was installed over Carlisle and Big Spring. According to the terms of his call, one-third of his time was to be given to Big Spring, and two-thirds to Carlisle. In 1761, an effort was made by the former congregation to obtain the half of Mr. Duffield's labours; but this effort was not sanctioned, for reasons which were regarded as satis- factory by Presbytery, and among which was an apprehension that Mr. Duffield's constitution would not be able to endure, any length of time, the fatigue of being the one-half of his time at Big Spring.
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