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 6
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to this effect and carried. Mr. McJimsey
accepted and continued his labors. September Ist, 1832, the people again invited Mr. McJimsey to remain with them another year. He accepted the invitation and continued to labor among them. He, however, did not continue with the people through the year. Although we have no direct statement of the fact, it is apparent that he left the congregation on or before the Ist of April, 1833. The following receipt is the last record we have of him in connection with the Settlement Church :
" $ * Received, March 30th, 1833, of Robert Horner, Treasurer, * * * * * dollars seventy-five cents in full of salary until the first April.
[Signed, ] "Wm. McJimsey."
Here closes the record of Mr. McJimsey's labors among this people. Little appears concerning him except that he was a mem- ber of the Presbytery of Albany, New York, when he came to the congregation ; and it does not appear that he ever changed his ecclesiastical connections to that under which the Church in the Settle- ment was, during his ministry there. It appears that after Mr. McJimsey's depart- ure, the Rev. Brogan Hoff, as agent for the S. S. Union, visited the congregation. This was in May of this year. The con- 6
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gregation having heard him, prepared to give him a call. The call was accepted and he was installed pastor, but at what precise time does not appear.
It would seem he did not enter imme- diately upon the pastoral duties of the congregation, for during this year we find, as supplies, the names of Mr. Vandiveer, Mr. John Gray, Mr. Love, Mr. Talmage, Mr. Wolf and Mr. Comfort.
The congregation now began to devise means to increase the minister's salary. For this purpose they met Nov. 22d, 1833, and decided that to this end the pews should be rented out. The actual renting of these took place Dec. 4th. In the selection of pews, those who had contributed to the building of the church had the preference.
In 1834, in addition to the preaching of Mr. Hoff, we have the single name of Galoway as supply one Sabbath.
Early in the year 1835, the pastoral relation between Mr. Hoff and the congregation was .dissolved. This appears from the minutes of a meeting held March 4th. The record is as follows :
" The object of the meeting being stated, viz : that the Rev. Mr. Hoff requested that the connection between him and this con- gregation be dissolved; on motion, re- solved, this congregation agrees that this request be granted."
Irish Settlement. 107
Thus ended the pastoral relation between Mr. Hoff and the congregation.
The following names appear as supplies during the remainder of 1835: Mr. McCul- lough, Mr. Berg, Mr. Helfenstein, Mr. Love, Mr. McCook, Mr. Adam, Mr. Car- penter, Mr. Sloan, Dr. Junkin, Mr. Vandi- veer and Mr. Hawthorn.
This brings us down to the pastorate of Rev. Leslie Irwin.
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CHAPTER VI.
1836-1869.
HE congregation convened October 3d, 1835, and appointed a com- mittee to confer with Rev. Leslie Irwin, in regard to his supplying the pulpit of the Settlement Church for six months. An agreement was effected, through this committee, between Mr. Irwin and the church, upon which he seems to have im- mediately entered upon the duties of stated supply. His services having been satis- factory to the congregation, on April 18th, 1836, they extended an invitation to him to continue his services until the meeting of Presbytery in October of that year. This offer was accepted and he continued his labors as stated supply. Before this term was completed, the congregation became so well pleased with him that they met, August 13th, and resolved to extend a call to him to become their pastor, After some delay he accepted the call, and was or- dained and installed in June, 1838.
The affairs of the congregation now moved along smoothly until 1841, when
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the old enemy, the failing support of the congregation, made its appearance. This year the deficiency was made up, not as formerly by an additional duplicate, but by the private subscriptions of the remaining supporters. A large deficiency appeared again in 1842, and also in 1843. It was made good in each case by private sub- scriptions as before. It seems, special efforts were made to increase the number of supporters in order to obviate this in- convenience of a deficit in the support of the congregation. It will be noticed that the number of names upon the collector's duplicates increased to sixty-five in 1843, against forty-three in 1841.
In 1844, it was found that the grave- yard fence, which had been erected in 1811, had become somewhat dilapidated. Ac- cordingly, August 13th of this year, measures were taken to have repairs made thereon. At the same time directions were given to have the floor of the church repaired, and the pulpit lowered. These had remained, it seems, as constructed in the new church building more than thirty years before, in 1813.
At a meeting of the Trustees at which these repairs were ordered, which were made necessary by the destroying hand of time, they were called upon to repair a breach which had been made by the hand
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of death. In 1826, they had elected Mr. Robert Horner their Treasurer. From year to year they re-elected him, for eighteen years. But at this meeting, August 13th, 1844, they had the sad duty of electing a new Treasurer, to fill the place of one who had for so many years held this office by successive re-elections. That he should be thus elected from year to year for so long a time, is the best proof of the fidelity and propriety with which he discharged the duties of the office. Robert Horner died in July of this year. There may be seen in the old churchyard a marble slab bearing the following inscription :
" In memory of ROBERT HORNER, who departed this life July 7th, 1844, aged sixty-three years, two months, and fourteen days."
It will be remembered the two places of preaching regularly were at the Church near Weaversville, and at the Academy, below Bath. Some time previous to 1845, Mr. Irwin deemed it proper to preach at the Crane Iron Works, or Catasauqua, as it is now called, as there was a growing population there which was within the bounds of his congregation, and there seemed to be a need for religious instruc- tion among the people. This was upon the extreme western border of his charge. In like manner he perceived a need for
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religious instruction in the town of Bath, which was likewise in the bounds of his charge on the east.
On account of this division of Mr. Irwin's time into four instead of two parts, as is not uncommon under such circumstances, the regular members of the church mani- fested dissatisfaction with the new arrange- ment. A meeting was called November Ist, 1845, at which time notice was given of this dissatisfaction in the congregation. It was stated to exist mainly in the eastern portion of the charge. The ground of the complaint was said to be the unequal por- tion of time allowed them for morning service at the Academy. They claimed as a matter of right and justice that the morn- ing service should alternate between the Church near Weaversville, and the Aca- demy. They expressed their willingness, however, for the afternoon service to be held at the church, so long as the pastor continued to preach at Bath and Catasauqua.
The dissatisfaction was of so decided a character that several persons gave notice that they should reduce their subscriptions if their just claims were not complied with.
Such, in brief, was the trouble which arose in the congregation at this time, but which after a time subsided without pro- ducing apparently any damaging commo-
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tion among the people. Mr. Irwin con- tinued to preach at Bath and Catasauqua. In 1847, we find the latter place rendering some pecuniary support to the congrega- tion. Mr. Frederic W. Nagle appears to have been the collector of salary from the western part of the charge. Of the $215.67 collected by him, $68.75 was from Catasauqua. This then may be considered the first pledge of Presbyterianism in Catasauqua, which has so wonderfully increased since that time. In 1848, it con- tributed $50.00, and the same amount in 1849, thus continuing the good work. This enlargement of the labors of the pastor seems to have relieved somewhat the pecuniary affairs of the congregation.
In 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853> 1856, 1857, and 1858, the income was greater than was necessary for the ex- penses, and in consequence, one-fourth of the stipend was thrown off each year. In 1854 and 1855, one-third was thrown off.
With the year 1851, there seems to have been a general renovation of the church property. The graveyard had either be- come too much crowded, or change in regard to it was deemed expedient. Ac- cordingly a portion of ground on the west side was exchanged for ground situated south of the old graveyard. This will best
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appear from the following record found in the minutes of a meeting held June 14th, 185,1 :
". At a meeting of the congregation held at the church on the 14th day of June, 185;1, convened agreeably to public notice, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of enlarging the graveyard, and to effect the same by exchanging that por- tion of the enclosed church ground on the west side of the graveyard wall with Absalom Reichard, for lands lying on the south side of the graveyard, the meeting was organized by calling James Kerr to the chair, when a motion was made that the Trustees of the congregation be authorized to make the exchange of said lands. The question being put, it was unanimously agreed to."
Such is the record of the decision in re- gard to the matter. The Trustees carried out the instructions given by the congrega- tion, and the exchange was made, as appears from the minutes of a meeting held Nov. Ist.
We make the following brief extract: bearing on this point:
" Deeds of conveyance for the exchange. of ten perches of land, with Absalom 6*
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Reichard and wife, were made, adjoining the graveyard."
The deed of conveyance made by Absalom Reichard to the Trustees, was in trust for the congregation. The names of the Trustees inserted were Joseph Brown, Hugh Horner, Wm. Brown, Thomas Clen- dinen, Robert McDowel and Philip Insley. It bears date Nov. Ist, 1851. Thus, at this time and in this manner, was the burying ground enlarged to its present proportions.
This year also it was found necessary to put a new roof on the church near Wea- versville, which seems to have stood with- out repair since the church was built in 1813, some thirty-eight years. A new roof being found necessary on examination, Joseph Horner and John Horner, at the meeting held Nov. Ist, were appointed a committee to circulate subscriptions to defray the expenses of the new roof. The committee reported at a meeting held Nov. 27th, and orders were given for the putting on of the roof. During this year the church was transferred to the care of the new Second Presbytery of Philadelphia.
We have previously spoken of the care with which the Trustees watched over the interests of the church in the early days of the corporation, appealing at times to the
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civil law to enforce their just claims. Al- though there does not seem to have been occasion for them to exercise their power for a number of years previous to 1854, in this year we have a record which shows that the spirit of the fathers had descended to their children. There had been a dere- liction on the part of one of the collectors for a previous year. The collector had not made a final settlement with the Trus- tees. He was by them ordered to make such settlement within ten days under penalty of being prosecuted. In such manner, therefore, we find the latter day Trustees watching over the rights and and claims of the church. Their firm action secured the end in view, for Nov. 27th, of the same year, the Treasurer re- ported the settlement of the duplicate in question.
Matters now passed along in the con- gregation for a number of years without any apparent deviation from that quietude which characterized the church during the greater portion of her history. But whilst all seemed quiet and satisfactory, further trouble was insidiously working itself to. the surface. This seems to have originated in the old arrangement of the pastor, whereby part of his time was occupied at Catasauqua. As we have intimated, the Catasauqua people had supported the
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pastor of the old Settlement Church in part, through the Trustees of the corpora- tion. As we have pointed out, the pecuniary affairs of the old church seemed to be relieved somewhat whilst this was going on. But in 1859, the Settlement people again found themselves straitened for funds to meet their obligations to the pastor.
A meeting was called Nov. 12th, of this year, to consider the matter of the support of the congregation. One-fourth, and sometimes one-third of the stipends had been thrown off during several years previous. This must be discontinued. Upon mature deliberation it was decided to increase the assessments to what they were in 1843, in order to meet the liabilities of the congregation. The trouble thus adjusted was but the beginning of a series which terminated in the dissolution of the pastoral relation between Mr. Irwin and the congregation. That portion of the people living in and near Catasauqua had formed themselves into a separate congre- gation and had built a house of worship. Mr. Irwin had removed to Catasauqua in order that he might supply the people there as well as at the old church and Academy.
Dissatisfaction arose, from one cause or another, among the members of the
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old congregation. Pecuniary difficulties harassed the Board of Trustees. Troubles appeared to be rising on all sides. Under these circumstances, a meeting of the con- gregation was called July 21st, 1860, in the minutes of which we find the following record bearing on this subject :
" The object of the meeting having been stated that, whereas there has been a large falling off of the members of the congrega- tion by death, removals, and otherwise, thereby disabling the Trustees to raise the pastor's salary ; it was, on motion, resolved, that a committee be appointed to call on the pastor, the Rev. Leslie Irwin, and ask for a reduction of his salary."
This deficiency in the salary took definite proportions Nov. 14th, at which time the amount of deficiency being ascertained, Mr. and Mr. were appointed to take up subscriptions through the congregation to meet the deficiency. At the same time Mr. * was appointed to confer with Mr. Irwin upon the embarrassing state of affairs in the congregation. This conference resulted in an agreement between Mr. Irwin and Mr. as set forth in a loose note among the papers of the congregation, containing a memorandum of the same in the following words :
" Nov. 15th, 1860. It is understood and
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agreed upon between Rev. L. Irwin and Mr. , that Mr. Irwin is to preach as usual for the sum of dollars, for one year from the 27th inst., and after that time if necessity, or change of circum- stances should require any reduction, he (Mr. Irwin) is willing to make it."
Such is a brief sketch of the circum- stances of the church in 1860.
We now pass on to 1863. In this year it was found that repairs were again needed upon the church building near Weaversville, as well as upon the wall of the bury- ing ground. A meeting of the Trustees was held Nov. 6th, at which time it was resolved to have the roof of the church and graveyard wall repaired. The sub- ject was again brought up in a meeting held Nov. 14th, at which time it was decided that the roof on the north side of the church should be slate, and the grave- yard wall should be protected by boards laid lengthwise, until the spring of 1864, when further action should be taken in regard to the matter. These seem to have been the last repairs of any consequence, put upon the old church building previous to that general renovation of which we shall speak hereafter.
In 1845, Joseph Horner was elected Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. From year to year he was re-elected for twenty-
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one years. In January, 1866, he was as usual elected to that office, but this was for the last time. He was soon to bid adieu to earth and all its sorrows. As with his pre- decessor, the best evidence of the fidelity with which he discharged the duties of the office is in the confidence manifested by the Trustees from time to time in re-elect- ing him to the office. As a man he had few equals in kindness. Although the words he spoke were few, he manifested the nobleness of his heart by that which speaks louder than words, praiseworthy actions. All who knew him only knew him to speak well of him. None could say they had an enemy in him, for those with whom he had most to do, and who were most likely to complain, could not say less than, " That man was my friend," or "I loved that man."
Under the trials of a lingering illness and fatal disease, he exercised the greatest patience and resignation, never uttering a murmuring word, or making complaint against the hand of Providence. In peace he breathed his last, dying, as far as mortal eye could see, the death of the Christian.
Appropriate to the character of the man, the following simple inscription may be seen upon his tombstone in the old bury- ing ground, where his remains lie in peace,
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beyond the cares and turmoil of this world :
"I nmemory of JOSEPH HORNER ; born October 24th, 1790 ; died Jauuary 27th, 1866."
A meeting of the Trustees was held at the house of Mr. John Agnew, March 7th, to elect a new Treasurer. At this meeting Mr. Joseph Brown resigned the office of President of the Board, which he held at the time, and Mr. Thomas Clendinen was chosen in his place. Then Mr. Brown was elected Treasurer, which office he has con- tinued to hold to the present time, (1875.)
The Trustees in session, January 7th, 1867, took into consideration the unattrac- tive appearance of the old burying ground. It was very uneven, and infested with weeds and briers, which though cut down from year to year, as often grew up again, and made the appearance of the grounds forbidding. In order to improve the ap- pearance of the place, the following reso- lution was offered by Mr. Joseph Brown in regard to the matter :
" On motion of Joseph Brown, a resolu- tion was passed to employ some suitable person to fix the graves and level the ground in the graveyard; the necessary expenses to be paid out of the treasury."
This resolution was carried into effect, and the old burying ground thoroughly
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renovated. The inequalities in the surface of the ground have, to a large extent, been removed. The graves have been properly filled up; old and tottering tombstones have been reset; some of the older people have put neat and substantial railings around the graves of their ancestors ; and evergreens have to some extent been planted. These, with the green sward that now meets the eye on entering, in contrast with the former brambles, give the old burying ground an inviting aspect ; and show the care which the present gen- eration are bestowing upon the place where lie the ashes of our ancestors. The whole is protected by a substantial stone wall, kept in suitable repair. Those who live far away from those scenes which sur- rounded their ancestors, may be assured that the resting places of these are pro- perly cared for.
We have alluded to the difficulties which arose in the congregation in 1860, and how they were adjusted. This, it seems, was but a temporary accommodation of affairs of the congregation which were in a very discouraging condition. As we have pre- viously intimated, Mr. Irwin, for a number of years, lived in Catasauqua, preaching to the old congregation and new one at the same time. The division of his time in this manner gave grounds for dissatisfac-
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tion on the part of the members belonging to the old congregation. From some cause or other, be it more or less clearly defined, Mr. Irwin deemed it expedient for him to remove from Catasauqua to his farm, per- haps a half mile below Bath. This he did
in 1864. . Having given up his charge in Catasauqua, he now ministered exclusively to the old congregation, preaching alter- nately at the church near Weaversville, and at the Academy near Bath. Now living among his people, in the eastern part of the congregation, he endeavored to stay the decline of the church, which had become so manifest. Whether it originated in the old dissatisfaction or was based upon some other cause we are not prepared to state ; at all events the pastor did not seem to command that co-operation of his people which was so essential to success in the existing state of affairs. Many of the children in the congregation had not been baptized in infancy. Those who had been, and had grown up to be young men and young women, did not seem to be coming up to the responsibilities of church member- ship, as might properly have been expected of them. The pastor agitated the subject of erecting a new church building in the town of Bath. The members of the church seemed to feel that this project would not be successful under the circumstances.
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At all events they do not seem to have responded to the suggestions of the pastor in as full and prompt a manner as was calculated to make the project successful. Thus matters went on for a year or two previous to the spring of 1868. Some time before the meeting of Presbytery, (Second of Philadelphia,) in April, 1868, Mr. Irwin left the congregation. Mr. Joseph Brown and Mr. John Horner ap- peared at the meeting of Presbytery at Catasauqua in April, as commissioners from the congregation, in accordance with the appointment of a meeting held March 28th. In view of the state of affairs the congregation having consented thereto, the pastoral relation was dissolved. Thus the church became vacant after enjoying the pastoral services of Mr. Irwin for more than thirty years.
From the meeting of Presbytery in 1868 to Nov., 1869, the congregation was vacant. During this time the pulpit was supplied by various persons from various sources. Occasional sermons were preached by members of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia. Other ministers would preach for the people as occasion would direct. From Sept., 1868, to April, 1869, numerous supplies went from the Theolo- gical Seminary at Princeton, N. J. Among these, from the class of 1869, may be
-
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mentioned Mr. W. W. Heberton, son of Rev. Alex. Heberton, former stated sup- ply to the congregation. The Rev. W.
W. Heberton is now (1875) pastor at
Elkton, Md.
Mr. L. W. Eckard, since
Missionary to China, but now pastor at Abington, Pa., Mr. Andrew H. Parker, pastor at East Kishoquillas, Pa., Mr. John Murdock, for a time since pastor at Islip, L. I., Mr. A. P. Kelso, now Missionary to India, Mr. Jacob Krewson, pastor at For- restville, Bucks county, Pa., Mr. Wm. G. Cairns, pastor at Cream Ridge, N. J., Mr. R. P. Gibson, pastor at Silver Spring, Pa., Mr. Chas. S. Wood, of Richwood, O., Mr. W. S. C. Webster, of Elizabeth, N. J., and perhaps a few others, supplied the pulpit upon one or more occasions. The writer of these pages also preached a few times whilst visiting among the people.
The congregation were so well pleased with the services of Mr. Jacob Krewson, that they extended a call to him to become their pastor, in the spring of 1869. This, however, was declined on the part of Mr. Krewson. From the class of 1870 in Princeton Theological Seminary, Mr. John Turner, now pastor at Thompson Ridge, N. Y., Mr. John D. Hewitt, pastor at Ringoes, N. J., and Mr. W. W. Curtis, of Silver City, New Mexico, may be mentioned
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as supplying the pulpit upon one or more occasions.
Mr. Curtis was the regular supply dur- ing the summer of 1869. His preaching was greatly blessed to the people. To his labors at this time may largely be at- tributed the improved temporal and spirit- ual condition of the congregation since. He has many warm friends among the old Settlement people, and has been the means of interesting them in benevolent enter- prises beyond their own bounds since his sojourn among them.
Many have been the needy Christians in the missionary fields of the west who have been clad and encouraged by bene- factions from the Settlement, drawn forth through the solicitations of Mr. Curtis. Mr. Curtis, not having completed his theo- logical studies, left the people in the fall of 1869, and returned to Princeton. Thus we are brought down to the present pas- torate.
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