USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > Allen > History of the Allen Township Presbyterian church and the community which has sustained it, in what was formerly known as the "Irish settlement," Northampton county, Pa > Part 5
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" SESSION ROOM, March 10th, 1813.
" Trustees met agreeably to appointmet, when the by-laws made on the 31st of January, 1800, for the government of the secular affairs of the church and Trustees being read, a motion was made and seconded that they should be adopted by the subscribers, whereupon they were unanimously agreed to. Witness our hands, the day and year above written. [Signed,] " JAMES HORNER, JOHN CLYDE, ED. HUMPHREY, JOHN BOYD."
One provision of these rules was, that the two retiring Trustees each year should be a committee to settle with the Treasurer. This matter of settling with the Treasurer seems to have been neglected, but after the re-adoption of the rules, their provisions in this regard were observed as formerly.
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With the year 1813, Edward Humphrey and James Horner, Sr., went out of office. Accordingly we find it recorded, in 1814, that
"Edward Humphrey and James Horner, Sr., were appointed to settle with the Treasurer, and they are authorized to call on the Secretary for the necessary accounts to enable them to complete said settle- ment."
These irregularities adjusted in 1814, we find commotions attending the election of Trustees at the opening of the year 1815. January 2d, of this year, James Kennedy and Nathan Kerr were elected to the office of Trustee. The members of the Board were, after this election, as follows :
John Boyd, James Clendinen, James Kennedy, John Clyde, James Horner, Nathan Kerr. This election of Trustees, however, was subsequently overturned, and the composition of the Board materially changed. We find the following record bearing upon the subject :
"At a meeting of the English Presby- terian Church, of Allen Township, on Satur- day, the 4th March, 1815, (public notice having been duly given,) in order to choose two new Trustees in the room of Nathan Kerr and James Kennedy, who were declared illegally elected ; and by a meet-
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ing of the congregation called for that purpose, three other Trustees, two of whom resigned, and the third was con- ceived by the same meeting not duly elected; James Clyde and John Wilson were unanimously appointed judges of said election ; when, upon counting the votes at the close of the poll, it appeared that James Kerr, Sr., was duly elected in the room of James Clendinen, resigned, Hugh Wilson in the room of John Clyde, resigned, James J. Horner, re-elected. James Kennedy and Robert Horner for three years from the first Monday in January last."
By this action, therefore, the membership of the Board became as follows :
John Boyd, James Kerr, James Kennedy, Hugh Wilson, James J. Horner, Robert Horner. From the year 1815 forward, for several years, the prospects of the congre- gation seem to have brightened somewhat. We find no evidence that the congregation was pecuniarily straitened, although they had been engaged in constructing a new house of worship, as well as fitting up the Academy for Divine services. The number of supporters increased from 38 in 1812, to 56 in 1818. The brightening up of affairs may perhaps be attributed in part to the impetus which the new church build- ing gave to the affairs of the congregation.
It will be remembered the new church
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building was erected upon the newly ac- quired lot. The church lot was open to the public road. This seemed to the con- gregation not desirable, and they therefore, in May, 1819, took steps to have it enclosed. Special directions were given as to how it was to be done. The fence on the north and west sides was to be post and rail, and on the south and east sides, board.
There was to be a gate on the south side having an entrance of five feet in the clear.
We insert these particulars that those who may be familiar with the locality may be enabled to draw a picture of the church and surroundings, as they appeared fifty years ago.
In 1823, we have revealed incidentally some of the inner workings of the congre- gation by the death of the Treasurer. This officer was the custodian of the books and valuable papers of the corporation. For these he gave his receipt, at length, when entering upon the duties of his office. When he left it he took a receipt for the same from his successor. James H. Horner was elected Treasurer in 1815.
April Ist, 1816, he gave his receipt for the books and papers of the congregation. He was their custodian until 1823. Oct. IIth, of this year, he resigned, and John Wilson was elected in his stead. The Trustees appointed Abram Wilson and
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James J. Horner to settle with the late Treasurer, and deliver the books and papers of the congregation to the newly elected Treasurer. Between Oct. 11th, when this appointment was made, and Nov. 8th, James H. Horner died. At the time of his death, the books and papers of the congregation had not been turned over to the committee, as will appear by the receipt we insert below. As stated, James H. Horner had given his receipt for the books and papers, April Ist, 1816. In the minute book, where the list of books and papers is given, just underneath James H. Horner's name, we find this receipt :
' Received, November 8th, 1823, of Robert Hor- ner, administrator of the estate of James H. Horner, the above books and papers, or others in lieu thereof. [Signed,] " ABRAM WILSON, HUGH HORNER,
JAMES J. HORNER."
In connection with this we find. John Wilson's receipt for the papers and books. We insert the list of these here in order to preserve a record of them for future reference in case it should ever be found necessary to recall them. The receipt and list is as follows :
" Received, November , 1823, of the Trustees of the English Presbyterian congregation of Allen Township, the following books, bonds, deeds, &c :
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" I. A book of accounts of the congregation.
" 2. One bond against interest since May Ist, 1823.
for $ * with
" 3. One bond against *
* for $
with interest since May 27th, 1823.
" 4. One other bond against * * for $ with interest since 27th November, 1822.
" 5. One bond against
for $
with
interest since 27th May, 1823.
" 6. One bond against * * for $
with interest since 27th May, 1823.
" 7. One note against * * for £ s. d., dateď Jan. 7th, 1814.
" 8. A deed of conveyance from Nicholas Neligh, to Trustees of English Presbyterian congregation of. Allen Township, for 128 perches of land in said Town -. ship.
" 9. A deed from James Craig to John Walker and' others.
"Io. An obligation and declaration of John Walker- and others.
"II. The act of incorporation.
" Received the above books and papers, which I promise to keep in safety, and deliver to the Trustees. of said congregation when called for, and receive alli moneys now due or may hereafter become due on. said obligations, and pay the same to the order of the. Board of Trustees.
[Signed.] " JOHN WILSON."
This list of bonds, &c., the figures of which we have omitted, gives a consoli- dated statement of the assets of the con- gregation at the time.
Mr. Russel's receipt for salary, given Nov. 12th, of this year, is in keeping with the foregoing. It is as follows :
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" Received of James H. Horner, late Treasurer, at sundry times subsequent to the 22d day of January, 1823, the sum of * * dollars, and of James J. Horner and Hugh Horner, Trustees, the sum of
* * dollars, making together the sum of * * * dollars, in payment of salary due from the congrega- tion, Nov. 12th, 1823. [Signed ] "R. RUSSEL."
As we have intimated, the prospects of the congregation, seemed to be brighter for a number of years after the erection of the new church building near Weaversville. The number of supporters seemed to keep up remarkably well, considering the drain upon the community caused by removals and deaths. It is apparent, however, that formerly the names of contributors repre- sented whole families, whilst latterly they represented more frequently only indi- viduals.
In 1825, the depletion of the community began again to make itself felt. Although for several years previous to this, the number of the supporters appears in no appreciable manner to have been dimin- ished, the actual support, financially con- sidered, was manifestly waning. March 26th, of this year, several members of the congregation met with the Trustees to consult in regard to the affairs of the church. Considerable amounts had been returned, for several years previous, on the duplicates as arrears. The salary of the pastor was
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with difficulty made up. A committee was appointed to confer with the pastor and represent to him that the congregation was unable to make up the salary they had promised to pay him, and obtain an abate- ment on his part, if possible. An agree- ment was effected whereby Mr. Russel relinquished a part of his salary. In this agreement it was intimated that it was possible the circumstances of the congrega- tion might become still more straitened, and against this precautions were taken.
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Although it was with difficulty they did so, we find the congregation fulfilling all their pecuniary obligations to Mr. Russel up to the end of the year 1825.
Such was the state of affairs in the con- gregation, therefore, at the opening of the year 1826.
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CHAPTER V. 1826-1835.
N 1821, the church came under the care of the Presbytery of Newton. With the year 1826, there would seem to commence a new era in the history of the congregation. There is nothing of special importance to record concerning this date, but here seems to be a dividing line between the early and latter church. The old time-worn books of record were now full and laid aside. Within the blackened leather covers of those old books, and a small bundle of papers equally antiquated, lay the data from which, to a large degree, the early history of the congregation was to be deduced. Yet who, from looking at these old records, tangled and incongruous, · which had been made from time to time during a period of seventy-five or eighty years, would suppose that there was in them material for a connected narrative- something pertaining to nearly every year of that long period ? Who would suppose that from those old smoky and blackened pages, whereon were records in juxtaposi- tion, telling of events which were separated
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by perhaps twenty, thirty or forty years of time, an intelligible idea of the church's history could be deduced ? But time and patience in deciphering those almost illegi- ble lines, which had been placed there by various and unsteady hands at different times during a period of three-quarters of a century previous, the facts of the fore- going pages, for the most part, have been snatched, as it were, from oblivion. These facts, it is hoped, have here been preserved to the descendants of those early settlers, and to the church which has been one of the way-marks in the progress of Pres- byterianism in America.
But having gleaned from these musty pages, as we hope, the greater part of their interesting matter, we lay them aside, as did the church in 1826, and look to the subsequent records.
We have endeavored so far to give such statistics as might enable the reader to observe the fluctuations in the fortunes of the congregation ; their periods of bright- ening prospects and those of shadow and decline. We are now called upon to record a period of shadow. It may have been noticed that although there were periods of brightening, the general ten- dency was toward decline. This was doubtless owing to the drain which other parts of the country were constantly making
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upon the supporters and resources of the congregation. Many were removing to other parts of the country, and those who took their places were not naturally affiliated with the people who supported this church. In addition to this cause of decline, another misfortune about this time overtook the congregation. It was the unfortunate
investment of its funds. We have inserted a schedule of the assets of the congrega- tion in a previous chapter. Whilst there we left the amounts, in detail, blank, it may not be improper here to state, that that schedule showed the aggregate assets of the congregation to be, exclusive of church and grave yard properties in use, about $3,400. It seems a considerable portion of this money became available in 1827. We have before spoken of this property, belonging to the congregation, and of its disposal, and how a large portion of it was lost by the failure of the Northampton Bank. We have, in 1827, the records of how this investment came to be made. We have spoken of Mr. John Wilson becoming Treasurer in 1823. We find he was succeeded in that office by Mr. Robert Horner, in 1826. The funds of the con- gregation were therefore in the hands of Mr. Robert Horner in 1827. We find that Jan. IIth, 1826, he receipted for the books, papers and funds enumerated in the
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schedule just referred to. Accordingly, under date of Sept. 3d, 1827, we find him directed to purchase stock in the North- ampton Bank. The record is as follows, and will explain itself :
" A motion was made and carried that the money belonging to the congregation, in the hands of Robert Horner, be put to the use of purchasing stock in the North- ampton Bank, in case stock can be had at par."
Thus it would appear that there was an amount of the capital of the congregation or corporation, now in the treasury. This money was expended for the purpose indicated, as shown by the certificates of stock of the Northampton Bank which may be seen among the papers of the congre- gation. As we have before said, the money was lost by the failure of the Bank at the time so many banks failed under the old National Banking system. Although this calamity did not fall immediately upon the church, it was the more severe when it did come, from the fact that at the very time they were unconsciously making a bad investment, other causes were weaken- ing them. By an agreement made April 6th, 1825, to which we have referred, the pastor relinquished a portion of his salary. From that day forward he receipted for his salary in full only upon the ground of the
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agreement into which he had entered. In his receipts he referred from time to time to the agreement. The congregation were enabled to come up to their engage- ments until May 27th, 1827.
August 5th, 1827, Mr. Russel gave a receipt in full up to that date. But the people now became conscious that they would not be able to meet their engage- ments, even though the pastor had relin- quished part of his salary. They could not consistently ask him to make any further abatement, and the next best thing, they thought, would be to retain him but for a portion of his time. Accordingly a meeting was called in October of this year, to consult with reference to this matter. We have the following record in the minutes of this meeting :
"A motion was made that a committee be appointed to wait on the Rev. Russel, and to inform him that the congregation was willing to give him dollars for one-half of his time from the 27th of November."
But this was not long to affect the aged servant of God. The congregation, though they felt, their troubles increasing, were soon to be called on to endure still greater trials. He who had ministered to them in spiritual things for nearly thirty years, was soon to be taken from them. He who had
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grown gray and venerable in their service was soon to be called home to his Father's house in heaven. The last official act performed by him, of which we have any record, is the following :
" Received, December 11th, 1827, of Robert Horner, Treasurer, the sum of * * * *
* in part of my salary due on the 27th November last.
[Signed, ] " R. RUSSEL."
Five days after this, on Dec. 16th, 1827, he bid adieu to the cares of earth. Having fought the good fight of faith, and having finished his course, he ascended to receive own of glory. A plain marbl in the church yard, with the following in- scriptions, marks the last resting place of the revered and good man :
" Sacred to the memory of Rev. Robert Russel, A. M., late pastor of the English Presbyterian Con- gregation of Allen Township, who departed this life December 16th, 1827, in the seventieth year of his age, and thirtieth of his ministry. He was a man full of the Holy Ghost. How well he taught them many a one will feel unto their dying day, and when they lie on the grave's brink unfearing and composed, their speechless souls will bless the holy man whose voice exhorted, and whose footsteps led unto the path of life."
The final act in which Mr. Russel's name appears in connection with the church, is in the following receipt given by his son, who was his administrator :
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" Received, January 3d, 1828, of Robert Horner, Treasurer, the sum * * * it being the amount in full of salary due from English Presby- terian Congregation of Allen Township, to my father until the day of his death.
[Signed,]
" ROBERT RUSSEL,
" Administrator."
Thus closed the extended ministry of this servant of God. He had entered upon his ministry in the Settlement, April 18th, 1798. It was his first pastoral charge. In it he remained for nearly thirty years, and was removed therefrom only by the hand of death.
Thus the congregation, December 16th, 1827, became vacant.
Under the circumstances it was neces- sary to make some provisions for supplying the pulpit. Accordingly, a meeting was called, Jan. 7th, 1828, to consider the matter. We insert a part of the minutes of that meeting, as it explains itself and gives us the information desired :
" At a meeting of the English Presby- terian Congregation of Allen Township, in the church, the 7th of January, A. D., 1828, for the purpose of selecting a pastor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Rev. Robert Russel, ** a motion was made and seconded that the congregation proceed to take the question whether they should employ the Rev.
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Alexander Heberton to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Rev. Russel, until the 27th of November next."
The motion was carried, and Mr. He- berton accepted the terms offered by the congregation, and commenced his labors among them. He continued to preach until the next fall, at which time, Oct. 6th, the congregation again assembled to invite him to continue as stated supply for one year after Nov. 27th. The invitation was accepted and he continued his labors. This year we again find the people un- wittingly involving themselves in financial difficulties. Again money had accumulated in the hands of the Treasurer. Again we find him directed to invest the same in stocks which proved valueless. A minute of a meeting of the Trustees held Oct. 6th, is as follows :
" At a meeting of the Trustees ; present,
it was resolved that the
moneys now in the hands of Robert Horner, belonging to the congregation, be laid out in the purchase of United States Bank stock."
The receipts for the purchase made by this order may still be found among the papers of the congregation. Having begun the purchase of United States stock, we find the people continuing in it. On
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Jan. 22d, 1829, we find the Trustees again directing the purchase of this kind of stock. It would seem the prospects of the con- gregation brightened up for a time under the ministry of Mr. Heberton. The num- ber of contributors, in 1828, was seventy- seven against forty-eight in 1827. This number had not materially decreased in the fall of 1829. The prospect of advance-
ment under Mr. Heberton's ministry seems to have induced the people to make efforts to have him continue with them. Accordingly, on Sept. 25th, 1829, they again appointed a committee to confer with Mr. Heberton with reference to his continuing still another year as supply after Nov. 27th. An agreement was effected and his labors were continued.
There seems to have been a desire on the part of the congregation, at this time, to purchase the property on which Mr. Russel was living at the time of his death. What the reasons were for this, do not appear. It may have been to thus securely invest the money of the con- gregation. But this would not seem probable, for their funds had been similarly invested previously, and the caring for the property was attended with so many diffi- culties and inconveniences that it was sold so as to make the funds more serviceable. Whatever may have been the reason, the
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fact is attested by the following record in the minutes of the meeting held Sept. 7th, which is as follows :
" On motion, it was resolved, that a com- mittee of four be appointed, who, in conjunction with the Trustees of the church, are to view the premises of the late Rev. Robert Russel, with a view of purchasing the same."
What was the result of this appointment, does not appear.
We call attention to these financial transactions of the church, that it may be known that the cause of decline have been such as could not be foreseen, and that those faithful men who have administered the trust committed to them by our fathers, have not been negligent in the performance of their duty. We have inserted them that all may see through what vicissitudes the heritage of our fathers has passed, what its ultimate fate has been, and what effect that fate has produced upon the welfare of the church and community.
The congregation met Sept. 4th, 1830, and appointed a committee to solicit Mr. Heberton to remain still a third year from the 27th of November ensuing. The com- mittee reported his acceptance, and his labors continued. This arrangement, how-
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ever, was not to continue for any great length of time.
Mr. Heberton received, in the early part of 1831, a call to the Presbyterian Church of the present city of Allentown. He accepted the call and was released by the congregation in the Settlement. This appears from the following record in the minutes of a meeting held Feb. 21st, 1831, it is as follows :
" WHEREAS, The Rev. Alexander Heber- ton, having received an invitation to the pastoral charge of the First English Pres- byterian Church, in the borough of Allen- town, he considering it to be an incumbent duty to accept of the same; we, the con- gregation, agreeably to his request, resolve to release him from his present engage- ment with us, after the first of April next."
Having thus been released from his engagement, his connection with the con- gregation soon ceased, and his name dis- appears from its records.
Before we proceed to the events which transpired under the ministry of Mr. Heberton's successor, it may not be in- appropriate here to refer to a matter which seems rather strange in the history of the congregation. From the commencement of the records of the church, by its proper officers, about 1749-50, to about 1827-8, a
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period of nearly eighty years, in common with the great mass of our churches, dur- ing their early history, there was no record kept of Sessional proceedings. If this record was ever kept, it seems to have been long since lost, as no traces of it ap- pear in the congregation at the present day. Who and when the many persons whose names appear upon these secular records, became communing members of the church, lies buried in impenetrable darkness. We are therefore unable to ascertain the true numerical power of the congregation at any period during this time. It is true we have endeavored to present this in some approximate degree by giving the number of names attached to the collectors' duplicates from year to year. But this does not give the number of communicants, as some at least who were pecuniary supporters of the church are known not to have been communicants.
To what extent this prevailed we are unable to decide. This was more espe- cially the case after the congregation be- came an incorporated body. Had this record been kept it would doubtless have unfolded a great volume of interesting matter pertaining to this old congregation, but which is now irretrievably lost.
This omission, however, was remedied by Mr. Heberton, when he became stated
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supply to the congregation. The interest- ing items found in this book, as now used by the Session of the church, makes us feel more keenly the loss occasioned by the omission of this Sessional record pre- vious to 1827.
With this advance, therefore, on the part of Mr. Heberton, his successor entered upon the duties of supplying the congrega- tion. Mr. Heberton having finished his labors with the people, a meeting was called to take measures to have the pulpit supplied until the next meeting of Presby- tery. This meeting was held May 9th,
1831. A motion was made in order to get the sense of the congregation as to obtaining the services of Rev. Mr. Mc- Jimsey as stated supply until the meeting of Presbytery. The motion was carried, and Mr. John Wilson and Mr. James Kennedy were appointed a committee to confer with Mr. McJimsey to see if he would agree to the terms of the congre- gation. Mr. McJimsey accepted the terms offered and commenced his labors. He continued his work during the early part of the summer of 1831, and his services being acceptable, a meeting of the congre- gation was held Aug. 27th, of this year, to consider the propriety of having Mr. McJimsey continue as stated supply dur- ing the year. A motion was made
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