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 5
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 5
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We may add that the conditions of the Corpora- tion have been so extended, as to include not only New and Old School Presbyterians, but the German Reformed, Reformed Dutch, Associate Reformed, Associate and Reformed Presbyterian, or Cumber- land denominations.
To resume our narrative : In the year 1745, the Rev. Samuel Caven was called to "Lower Penns- borough," and continued to be its pastor, until his
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death, which took place, as the inscription on his gravestone in that burial-ground shows, Nov. 9th, 1750, in the 49th year of his age.
In April, 1764, the congregations of Carlisle and East Pennsborough united in a call to the Rev. John Steel, agreeing to enjoy each an equal proportion of his labours, and promising him £150 annually for his support. This call has been kindly placed in our hands by Mrs. Givin, a granddaughter of Mr. Steel, who is still living in Papertown, Cumberland County, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. In the letter in which it was forwarded to us, and which was written by her son, it is stated that Mr. Steel's papers were destroyed by fire many years ago. From the call, which we publish as interesting for its antiquity, it will be seen by those who are familiar with the lo- cality from which it came, that many of the descen- dants of its signers still reside where their fathers did .* Mr. Steel died in August, 1779. Three years afterwards, "a call from the united congregations of East Pennsborough and Monaghan was presented to Mr. Samuel Waugh, together with bonds for the an- nual salary of one hundred and fifty pounds, and also for a gratuity of seventy-five pounds from each con- gregation, that from East Pennsborough to be paid in one month after his instalment, and that from Mona- ghan, within three years." This call was accepted by Mr. Waugh, and he continued to be pastor of the charge until his death in January, 1807. The following brief but comprehensive delineation of his
* See Appendix II.
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CHURCH
character, by Judge Clendenin, we are happy to in- sert : " Mr. Waugh was a sound divine, a very accep- table preacher, and highly esteemed by his people. After I became a member of his church, I was inti- mately acquainted with him, and as far as my ac- quaintance extended, I can say of him that he was an Israelite in whom was no guile."
We also give with pleasure the subjoined extracts from a letter, in relation to Mr. Waugh, with which we have been favoured by his daughter, Mrs. Eliza W. Burd, now a resident of Bedford, Pa.
"My father was a native of Carrol's Tract, in Adams County. On April 14th, 1783, he was joined in marriage with Miss Eliza Hoge, daughter of David Hoge, Esq., a highly respectable and influential man, from whom the place called Hogestown, within one mile of Silvers' Spring Church, derived its name, years before it became a village, by reason of the fact that he and his connexions resided there, as pro- prietors of a large body of land. He accepted the pastorate of the congregation in 1782."
"The Lower Settlement, as it was then called, was emphatically a settlement of substantial people, who required preaching in the English language, and ac- cording to the Presbyterian form and faith. The sects which now exist in that region were unheard of at that time. A German Reformed Church, which I think still stands at Trindle's Spring, and in which there was preaching in German, was the only place of worship in all that region, out of the Pres-
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byterian communion. At Harrisburg, my impres- sion is, there was no settled minister for a long time, or if there was, the Susquehanna was in the way, which it was not at all times safe to cross in ferry- boats, so that from Middlesex, within three miles of Carlisle, to several miles below Harrisburg, the people attended at Silvers' Spring, as they did, also, from an equal distance north and south.
"I can in truth say, and it is but justice to do so, that my father was a very amiable and sensible man. He moved amongst the people as a father in his family, and from his mild and prudent course had great influence. In the training of his family he was very faithful, teaching us the great rule and aim of life, making us familiar with the doctrinal standards of the Church, requiring the rigid observance of the Sabbath, and giving force to all his counsels and efforts, by his unostentatious, steady, upright daily walk and his daily prayer.
" As to his pastoral labours, Silvers' Spring and Monaghan (now Dillsburg) had an equal portion of them. System and punctuality were with him cardinal points. Never did he once disappoint the people, for any cause, within my recollection. In season and out of season he met his engagements. His custom was to catechise at regular periods, throughout his charge, and not the children only, but also the heads of families-households. This was done by announcing from the pulpit certain days in the week, to meet those of a particular district, at a place
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named, and so he continued from week to week until the whole congregation was visited, and instructed in a pastoral way. His house was ever open to the visitation of his people, and on communion seasons four days were always set apart for religious services, during which the aged, or infirm, or distant members of the congregation, were his guests, according to their pleasure.
"My father's last sickness, which was from pleurisy, was but of six days' continuance. He was not well on Monday ; on Thursday he married a couple in his own room, and on Saturday morning he died. A little while before he breathed his last (my brother Samuel having been sent for the physician, and not · yet returned), he had his other children brought to his bedside, of whom my sister and myself were the oldest present. He looked upon us all, and said, "My poor girls !" -- paused, and then asked, "What is the chief end of man ?" This question I answered, in the words of my catechism, "To glorify God, and enjoy him for ever." After this, not another word was spoken by him; he closed his eyes, and soon calmly and peacefully expired. At the time, I did not feel that much had been said to me as I stood by the bedside of a dying father, as I had so often been asked, and answered that question before. Very different, however, has been my view, under a riper judgment and experience. A volume could not have embodied more. In no way could the momentous consequence of that weighty question have been
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presented, so as to secure for it a more abiding re- membrance and a deeper lodgment in the soul."
The Rev. John Hayes* was Mr. Waugh's successor in the charge vacated by his decease. This con- nexion was formed in 1808, and dissolved by resig- nation in 1814.
After Mr. Hayes's resignation, the Rev. Henry R. Wilson became pastor of the church at Silvers' Spring, with the promise of a salary of $700, and made this the field of his labour until his acceptance of the call of the congregation in Shippensburg, in 1823.
The Rev. James Williamson, who followed Mr. Wilson in this relation, in 1824, resigned it in 1838.
We are thus brought down to the time of the settlement of the present pastor, the Rev. George Morris. Mr. Morris, who was "a foreign licentiate, under the care of the Presbytery of Philadelphia," was called and installed in 1839.
The present church at Silvers' Spring, which is a substantial stone building, 58 by 45 feet, was erected in the year 1783, during the incumbency of the Rev. Mr. Waugh. The warrant for the land on which it stands was granted in 1770. The congregation was incorporated by an act of Assembly, September 25th, 1786, and the Trustees named in that act of incorpo- ration are,-Andrew Galbreath, Samuel Wallace, Daniel Boyd, John Wather, Hugh Laird, Samuel Waugh, William Mateer, Francis Silvers, and David
* For some time a Professor in Dickinson College.
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Hoge. A neat and comfortable parsonage has re- cently been erected by the congregation.
The church edifice which preceded the present one, and which was the first meeting-house at Silvers' Spring, was, we have been informed by one who learned it from his grand-parents, a small log build- ing, near the place where the present house stands. No record of the building of that house, or of the organization of a church in it, can be found ; and, as the members of the congregation at that time are, of course, all dead and gone, it is impossible to tell with certainty when these things were done. It is, however, far more than probable, from the facts which we have already given, and from the following epitaphs, which are to be found in the cemetery, that the old log building, in which the first settlers in what is now the eastern part of Cumberland County, with its beautiful landscapes and thriving villages, assembled for the worship of God, was erected about one hundred and twenty years ago. These epitaphs we have copied from Mr. Rupp's History :-
"In memory of the Rev. Mr. Samuel Caven, who departed this life, Nov. 9, 1750, aged 49 years."
"In memory of James Wood, who departed this life, Feb. 24th, 1750, aged 41 years."
"Here lies the body of John Hamilton, who de- parted this life, Dec. 29th, 1747, aged 47 years."
"Here lies the body of William MacMean, who departed this life in the year 1747, aged 35 years."
We may add that these first settlers of that region
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were nearly all Scotch and Scotch-Irish. " Cumber- land," says Mr. Rupp, "was exclusively settled by Scotch and Scotch-Irish, with the exception of a few English. The Germans did not begin to immigrate into the lower part of the county till about 1760 or '62."
The Session of the church at Silvers' Spring, as at present constituted, consists of John Mateer, Francis Eckels, and Robert G. Young.
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CHAPTER V.
CHURCH IN MERCERSBURG. BY THE REV. THOMAS CREIGH.
[In November, 1851, the Rev. Mr. Creigh preached his twen- tieth anniversary sermon as pastor of this church. This ser- mon, which gave so much satisfaction to the congregation as to lead to its publication by them, has been, at our request, expanded by its respected author into the following interest- ing and comprehensive form, and is, with his kind permission, turned to its present use .- A. N.]
PERIOD I.
FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH, A. D. 1738, TO THE SET- TLEMENT OF THE REV. JOHN KING, D.D., AS PASTOR, A. D. 1769.
IT is a matter of sincere and deep regret that the history of the Presbyterian Church in this place had not been undertaken years ago, when the materials for its early history were more abundant than they are at the present time. From this neglect, many things connected with its early history, with which it would be interesting to be acquainted, have entirely passed
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away, so that it is impossible to recover them ; or the tradition by which they have been handed down, has become so vague and uncertain, that unhesitating confidence cannot be reposed in them. Discrimina- tion has therefore been exercised in selecting from all the available sources within my reach, those facts which are supported by the best proof ; and they are now collected together and arranged in the order of their occurrence.
This part of Pennsylvania began to be settled about the year, A. D. 1736, the land being taken from the proprietors by those who intended to occupy it. The inhabitants were generally Scotch-Irish, and in their ' fatherland' belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Among the first objects which claimed their attention in this their new home-among the labours and pri- vations of a new and uncultivated country-was the organization of a Church according to the faith of their fathers. This took place, A. D. 1738, and was styled, Upper West Conococheague. And so extensive was the territory which it covered, that it embraced all the region which is now occupied by the congregations of Welsh Run, Loudon, and St. Thomas,-about fourteen miles square, or an area of nearly two hundred miles. At this early period there were but few of any other denomination of Christians in this large field. The Presbyterian Church was predominant. Its members were the first and almost the sole possessors of the soil.
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Scattered over so great an extent of country, it is
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not surprising that a diversity of opinion should have existed in regard to the location of the church edifice. The two most prominent places selected were, the one, near what is now known by the name of Waddell's Graveyard, and which was then opened for interments in anticipation of the building being erected there, and the other, the place where it now stands. But in the spirit of compromise, and as being the most central and eligible, the latter place was chosen. The warrant for the land was taken out by Messrs. William Maxwell and William Camp- bell. And thus, for more than a century, on that hallowed ground has the glorious Gospel of the Son of God been proclaimed. For centuries to come may it be occupied for the same purpose !
It was a short time before this, that the Presby- terian Church in this country began to be agitated by a religious controversy, which resulted in a sepa- ration which continued for seventeen years .* The effects of this state of things in the Church at large were felt here also. A division was the consequence. This occurred in 1741. Hence originated the congre- gation of Lower West Conococheague, or what is now called Welsh Run. But though a division took place, it was what their situation as a congregation required, it being much too extensive to allow frequent meet- ings in one place. And when effected, it was done
* For an account of this controversy, see Appendix III.
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with so much Christian spirit, that both churches still adhering to the same Presbytery, were frequently represented in this judicatory by the same commis- sioner.
In the year 1754, this church invited the Rev. John Steel to become its Pastor. Mr. Steel having accepted the invitation, continued among them for about two years, having charge also of East Conoco- cheague. He settled at a time when the neighbour- hood was greatly disturbed by the Indians. General Braddock had been defeated; and the Indians, ga- thering fresh courage from this disaster, hastened to wreak their vengeance on the inhabitants of these then frontiers. It was about this time that Col. James Smith, Mr. John M'Collough, and Richard Bard, Esq., and his wife, were taken captive by them ; all of whom were connected with this congregation, the latter two after their captivity ; and whose thrilling narratives, as recorded in a book some time since published, called "Incidents of Border Life," give a vivid idea of the exposures and hardships and sufferings of the inhabitants at this early period.
In consequence of these frequent attacks of the Indians, the settlement was entirely broken up; the congregation was dispersed ; and Mr. Steel having received an invitation from the Presbyterian Church in Carlisle to become their pastor, accepted the invi- tation, and there lived and laboured the remainder of his days. Mr. Steel was a man of great intre-
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pidity of character. Often did he lead forth com- panies of armed men to repel the invading savages.
He was a good preacher, and a sound divine. But his labours here were of too short duration, and the country too much disturbed, to have been as greatly or as extensively useful, as he would have been under more favourable circumstances. How different is our condition from theirs ! Theirs was one of toil and great exposure to danger-ours is one of comparative ease and safety. With them, it was a common thing to meet together to worship God with their fire-arms in their hands, and their swords at their sides-to us, belongs the high privilege of meeting in the house of God without fear, and of worshipping without molestation. The ancient church was en- closed by a fortification, erected for the safety and protection of the surrounding neighbourhood ;- fit emblem of that safer, securer refuge which God has · provided, in his Son, for the penitent believer, from the storms of divine wrath, and from the enemies of his soul.
After the return of the people to their desolated habitations, they again organized themselves into a congregation, and enjoyed supplies from the Done- gal Presbytery, until the years 1762 and '63, when the settlement was again disturbed by the irrup- tion of the Indians, which had once more well- nigh broken up the congregation. Yet, though few in number and labouring under great difficulties, they still clung to the church. And though it had scarcely
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an existence, yet did it still live, to impart consola- tion to them in their trying circumstances.
They seem to have identified themselves so com- pletely with the Church, from their first settlement in these parts, that they could not live without it. They seem to have felt the truth of the promise, "They shall prosper that love thee." Hence, when driven from their homes and from the house of God, they seem to have possessed the spirit of the Psalmist, as, when under somewhat similar circumstances, he laments, " As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirst- eth for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God ? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say, Where is thy God ? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me : for I had gone with the multitude : I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day." (Psalm xlii. 1-4.) Thus were they called to pass through many changes and trials, until, in 1767, we find the Church in a more pros- perous condition than it had been at any former period.
The following persons at this time composed the Session : Messrs. William Maxwell, William Smith, John M'Dowell, William M'Dowell, John Welsh, Alexander White, John M'Clelland, Jonathan Smith, William Campbell, Robert Fleming, and Samuel Templeton.
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PERIOD II.
FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF THE REVEREND JOHN KING, D.D., AS PASTOR, A. D. 1769, TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THE REVEREND DAVID ELLIOTT, D.D., AS PASTOR, A. D. 1812.
THE church having been thus brought into a more prosperous condition, and its members feeling the importance of having a settled ministry among them, in 1768 invited the Rev. John King, then a licen- tiate under the care of the Presbytery of Philadel- phia, to preach to them with this view. Dr. King having accepted the invitation, and having laboured among them with great acceptance for several months, was at length ordained and installed pastor, August 30th, 1769. At the time of his settlement the con- gregation numbered one hundred and thirty families.
Dr. King commenced his ministry in exciting times. It was not long after he had entered upon the pastorate of this church, until the whole commu- nity was thrown into a ferment by the following occurrence, which seriously threatened the best inte- rests of the church. But he was the man to meet the emergency. And he did meet it manfully and fearlessly, and the storm expended itself without any serious results. In the year 1770, Col. James Smith had been lodged in prison, in Bedford County, on the charge of murder, which had occurred in an affray which had taken place in that county. For more safe keeping he was removed to the prison at Car-
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lisle. His friends becoming exasperated at such treatment, and calling themselves Black Boys, de- termined to go to Carlisle and attempt his rescue. Through the persuasion of the Colonel, they desisted. On their return to Conococheague they met three hundred persons who had set out on the same errand, -so great, so intense, and so general was the ex- citement throughout the whole settlement. It was on this occasion that Dr. King delivered the following address to his congregation. And it teaches two things : (1) that he was a man of great moral courage, to stand up and deliver such an address, under such circumstances, in the very place where this ex- citement was so intense, and when so many of his own congregation sympathized so deeply in the move- ment. And (2) that Presbyterian ministers were then, as they are now, law-abiding men. The ad- dress embodies principles in regard to subjection to the civil magistrate which are as important now as they were when they were delivered, on the occasion referred to. It may be added that Colonel Smith was honourably and justly acquitted of the charge preferred against him .*
" The distractions which have lately agitated this part of the country, and I am sorry to say, have too much prevailed in this particular settlement, are in- deed a matter of no small uneasiness to me, and certainly it must appear a distressing consideration to every one that has any regard to the peace and
* See "Incidents of Border Life," pp. 67-70.
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good order of society, either civil or religious. These are both divine ordinances, and as such they claim a universal regard from every one who is a subject of them. Hence, to observe persons in a riotous man- ner openly setting themselves against the government, and endeavouring by force and arms to prevent the due administration of justice, must be deeply afflict- ing to every one who pays any respect to the divine authority in this wise and useful institution. Such practices are highly criminal in themselves, not only in a civil, but also in a religious sense. For if civil government is a divine institution, if 'the powers that be are ordained of God, then whosoever resisteth that power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.' These are the express words of the inspired Apostle, in Rom. xiii. 1, 2, where he carefully inculcates sub- jection and other duties which we owe to magistrates. He inculcates on Christians the duty of submission even to Heathen governors who had the rule at the time when he wrote ; and so of consequence, the ob- ligation binds with greater firmness under Christian governors.
"The first argument he uses for this duty, is the divine appointment of it : 'For there is no power but of God ; the powers that be are ordained of God.' He has, for the good of mankind, assigned different stations of rule and subjection among men, though they are all of one race, raising some above others, and clothing them with such authority whereby they
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bear some resemblance to himself, and accordingly, he has communicated to them his own name: 'I have said ye are gods' (Psalm lxxxii., 6) ; so that we see with what regard God himself speaks of magistrates and judges. He also makes use of that very power in magistracy to curb and punish those who despise it, as a strong obligation to bind us to obedience : 'For rulers are not a terror to good works,' &c. (v. 3, 4.) And further, he also adds another, of a higher ne- cessity, that binds more strongly, and is more accep- table, that is, a necessity of conscience : 'Wherefore,' says he, 'ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake.' This is the main consideration, and which is the sum of all the rest ; as if he had said : Have a reverent and conscientious respect to the ordinance of God, in the institution of government ; and to the providence of God in the choice of those particular persons, he calls to the ad- ministration of it, and submit yourselves to those who are thus set over you. This you must needs do, and that 'not only for wrath, for fear of the magistrate's sword,' but out of a necessity of conscience, which makes a true willingness and an acceptable service ; and where this is done, it produces an agreeable and regular motion among all superiors and inferiors, states and families, magistrates and subjects, the one command- ing, the other obeying in the Lord.
"We see then that this subjection is a necessary and commanded duty incumbent upon all; and cer- tainly Christians are to consider themselves under
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the strongest obligations; yea, it is so connected with religion, that I can scarcely think a person a good Christian, who is not a good civilian. A disposition to oppose, or to abet, or encourage the actual oppo- sition to civil government, is a temper of mind con- trary to the spirit of Christ, and unbecoming the Christian character. But we are still to remember that this subjection is not to infringe upon the rights of conscience, with respect to the authority and law of God, and the duty we owe to him; for the extent of all these relations and of all subjection and obedience is to be bounded by the unalterable obligations we are under to God, as supreme : 'Render therefore unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's,' but nothing of God's ; that is neither ours to give, nor his to receive. The law of God is the first and highest rule, and binds all, both kings and subjects, high and low, under in- violable and perpetual engagements. Magistrates and judges are peculiarly under the eye of God, and as he has elevated them to a higher station than others, so he peculiarly takes notice of their conduct : as the Supreme Judge, he sits and views their pro- ceedings, not only whether they do that which is just, but whether they judge righteously for conscience sake. They are accountable to God, and also to the laws of the land, if they go beyond their trust.
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