USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Mercersburg > History of the Presbyterian Church of Upper West Conococheague : now Mercersburg, Franklin County, Penn'a. > Part 5
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History of Mercersburg
was optional with myself; but which was commenced in the Church in town, and has been carried forward from my settlement to the present time, from October to April; and still increasing the frequency of the Sabbath evening ser- vices since the abandonment of the Country Church.
In February, 1832, this Church was again visited with a Revival of religion, which began with great power during a Protracted meeting. The brethren who assisted in these services on this occasion were: Henry R. Wilson, D. D., and Rev. McKnight Williamson, (Committee of the Pres- bytery), and George Duffleld, D. D., Rev. Robert Kennedy and Rev. James Knox. As the fruits of this gracious out- pouring of the Holy Spirit, extending through the year, one hundred and seven persons were received into the Commu- nion of the church on profession of their faith, and three by certificate, making the whole number one hundred and ten. In regard to the character of this work of grace, I would remark, that while there were some measures used at the time of a very questionable kind, and yet were in accordance with the spirit and usages of the times; still, if there ever have been genuine revivals of religion in the Church, this deserves to be classified with them. And now, after the lapse of forty-four years, the following is the re- sult: Thirty-four have died ; fifty have taken letters of dis- mission to other Churches; ten have removed from the bounds of the Church without taking letters of dismission, and yet who, for aught we know, may be consistent mem- bers of other Churches, or may have died in the faith; one has entered the ministry and has long been a faithful and useful servant of our Lord, viz. : James J. Brownson, D. D .; six have filled the office of Ruling elder; three have been suspended, and six only are living among us at the present time.
1833, August 25th, Messrs. John Witherspoon, John Mccullough, and John Dorrance were ordained Ruling elders. In this same year the Female Sewing Society was
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organized, the object of which was to educate poor and pious young men for the Gospel-ministry. After a short time, it changed its relation and became auxiliary to the Foreign Missionary Society, and applied its funds to the education of a Heathen youth in the Orphan Asylum at Futtehgurh, in North India, under the care of Rev. Henry R. Wilson, and who bears the name of David Elliott, the former much loved pastor of this church. Subsequently its funds were applied to the education of William Lynch, a pupil in the Alexander High School in Liberia, Africa, under the care of the Rev. David A. Wilson. The amount of funds con- tributed since the formation of this society, amounts to six hundred dollars.
The winter of 1842 and 1843 is memorable in the history of this church, for another gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon it. In the services connected with this work, the Rev. John M. T. Davie, the Rev. Daniel McKin- ley, John W. Nevin, D. D., and the Rev. N. Grier White assisted. During the nine months immediately following its commencement thirty-six persons were received into the Church on profession of their faith, and eight by certificate; whole number forty-four. After a period of thirty-three years we make the following record. Four have died ; thirty have been dismissed by letters to other Churches ; six have removed beyond our bounds without taking letters of dismission; two have entered the ministry, viz. : the Rev. John Westley McCune and the Rev, Hezekiah Han- son ; and but two of the entire number are with us. In September of this year the General Assembly's collection of Psalms and Hymns was introduced.
During the greater part of this period which has been claiming our attention, our Church at large was agitated by a difference of opinion, chiefly in reference to doctrines and polity, and which resulted in a division of the Church in 1838, known as the "Old School" and the "New School." In all this controversy which was deep and wide spread,
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through the whole length and breadth of the land; while here too, intense interest was felt in relation to it, yet as a Church, it has stood fast in the faith of our fathers. Nor at the present time, is there a Church, composed of as many members, more harmonious, or more united, or more cor- dial in its adherence to the symbols of our faith, as taught in the Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Cate- chisms and Form of Government. I was a delegate to the General Assembly and to the Convention which immedi- ately preceded the meeting of the Assembly, May, 1837, which passed the Exscinding acts, which led to the disrup- tion of the Church in the following year, 1838; and it was also my privilege to be a delegate to the General Assembly which met in Philadelphia, May, 1870, when the two Branches of the Church were reunited and the division healed. While the former meeting of the General Assem- bly was the occasion of great sadness and sorrow of heart, this latter meeting was the occasion of unspeakable joy.
In 1844, the Church edifice in the town was remodeled, and was occupied for public worship January 12th, 1845. The cost of remodeling and furnishing it was about two thousand dollars. "Tokens" were dispensed with, Febru- ary 2d, 1845. It may not be uninteresting to the younger members of the Congregation and to the strangers who have cast in their lot among us, to learn that before this Church edifice was remodeled, it presented a very different appear- ance from that which it does now. Then it was without a vestibule. The ends north and south were plain walls with gable finish. Two doors below in each end corresponding with windows above, save in the north end, where the pul- pit stood ; there were also two long and narrow windows to let the light fall upon the pulpit, and to give a free ventila- tion. The pulpit stood between the two doors in the north end; neat and chaste, with balustrade, but high and small.
The only ornamentation about it was a few feet square of wall paper, covering the wall in the rear of it. The gal-
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lery extended along both sides of the building and across the south end where the pulpit now stands, stairways lead- ing up to it from the interior in the south corners. Neither the pews, nor the gallery, nor the ceiling, which were all of planed boards, were at the time of my settlement painted, but were in their natural state, and the Church was uncarpeted. Taking all in all, it was a dark and sombre place of worship. There was nothing attractive about it. But there were holy men and women who worshipped in it, who would have been an ornament to any Church, and who were more intent on Zion's spiritual interests than on the appear- ance of the Church building.
But then, connected with this description of the Church edifice, I must not forget that bench of Ruling Elders-and who that saw them can ever forget them ? viz. : Brownson, McDowell, Dunwoody and the three McCoys. And who can forget, whoever heard it, the voice of that godly, whole hearted christian, Dr. Alexander Speer, as he led the choir and the congregation in the service of praise ? And who can forget, whoever saw him, and the picture which I am sketching would not be complete without making mention of the little, grey haired, venerable colored sexton ? Old, very old, was he. Some said, one hundred years; others from eighty-five to ninety. He could not himself tell how old he was; and whose highest ambition was to keep the boys quiet, if any of them should happen to be outside the Church during the time of service; to have the house of God in order for worship, and who would take his place on a bench connected with the Communion tables which were left standing in the aisles, and sometimes would perch him- self on the Communion table, and would never feel that he had done his whole duty until he could make the Church as hot as burning wood could make it, altogether uncon- cerned, what effect it might have on the respiratory organs of the speaker, or on the wakefulness and attention of the congregation. Poor old man, "Harry" was his name. He
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has long since passed away from earth, unwept and unhon- ored. And sure am I, I will never look upon his like again.
December 14th, 1843, by a vote of the Congregation, two- thirds of the services on the Lord's day were to be held in the Church in town during the months of December, Janu- ary, February and March, and three Communion services. This arrangement continued until June 13th, 1855, when it was agreed by the Congregation to abandon the Country church, (because of its dilapidated and seemingly unsafe condition, and owing to the greater number of the families living nearer the village), and to have all the services in the Town church. Thus has that sacred spot, hallowed by so many precious memories for more than a century, and where the gospel of our Lord has been proclaimed and the ordinances of His House administered, been given up. And all that remains to point out where the Church-edifice once stood, is the graveyard, which contains the ashes of the dead-a beloved Pastor, Ruling elders, and faithful followers of the Lamb of God.
1849, January 15th, Messrs. John McDowell, James Rob- erts and William Patterson were ordained as Ruling elders ; . Mr. Andrew L. Coyle was received as a Ruling elder from the Church of Big Spring, Pennsylvania. The Chapel or Lecture-room was erected in 1850, the cost of the building and furnishing of it amounting to six hundred dollars. The first service was held in it August 7th, A. D. 1850, on which occasion it was dedicated to the Triune Jehovah, the Pastor preaching a sermon from Matthew xviii. 20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Prior to the occupancy of the Chapel for the weekly service, these meetings were held in private houses. There were thirty-nine places of meeting.
During the year 1850, the Church was again visited with the special presence of the Holy Spirit in His reviving and convert- ing influences. The work was a very quiet one, as gentle as
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"the dew on Hermon," and extended itself through the en- tire year. 'Twenty-nine persons were added to the Church on profession of their faith, and seven by certificate. The whole number added, Thirty-six. And now after the lapse of more than a quarter of a century, we make the following record : Seventeen have received letters of dismission to other Churches ; Four have died; Seven have removed be- yond our bounds without taking letters of dismission, and of whom we know nothing; Two have become Ruling el- ders; and six are still with us. 1853, February 19th, Mr. John Wise was added to the Session, he having held the of- fice of Ruling elder in the Church of St. Thomas. In the winter of 1855 and 1856, the Church was newly papered and painted ; cost, one hundred and seventy-five dollars. In these two years the Church lost from her membership, by death and emigration, fifty-one persons and twenty families. The majority of them settling in and around Delavan, Illi- nois, a Presbyterian Church was organized, which has been greatly blessed and prospered.
1860, April 1st, the following persons were ordained as Deacons, the first who were set apart to this office in this Church : Messrs. John Humphreys, Robert Calvin Horner, Oliver L. Murray, James Agnew Patterson and Archibald B. McDowell. In this same year a steel bell, weighing five hundred and twenty pounds, was purchased for the Church ; cost of the bell and fixtures, one hundred and seventy-five dollars, and of the belfry, one hundred and sixty dollars. It was rung for the first time for Divine service, May 6th, 1860. March 30th, 1862, Messrs. Samuel Bradley, John L. Rhea, John Humphreys, Robert Calvin Horner, Oliver L. Murray and James A. McCune were set apart by ordination to the office of Ruling elder. December 27th, 1863, Messrs. John Shirtz, Thomas C. Grove, William A. McKinnie and Thomas A. Waddell were ordained to the office of Deacon. A Cabinet organ (Hamlin) was purchased for the Church De- cember 11th, 1865; price, two hundred and seventy dollars.
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The years extending from 1861 to 1865 are memorable for the Civil war which broke out in the United States. The whole country, North and South, was intensely excited. Our own community was no exception. To preserve the integrity of the Union, scores of young men of this Con- gregation voluntarily enlisted in the service of the Govern- ment. Some of them were killed in battle, or died from wounds received in battle, or from sickness contracted in the service; others of them died in Southern prisons, while many were spared, in the good providence of God, to re- turn to their homes unharmed. During these years of con- flict, we had three invasions, by large numbers of the Con- federate army; and for wecks together small squads of soldiers would visit the town and neighborhood and commit depredations. The community was kept in a constant state of alarm by the actual presence of armed men among us, or by reports of their coming. And yet, during all these years of trial and trouble, the Lord wonderfully preserved us. Not for a single Sabbath was the worship of God in the Sanctuary omitted. The services were well attended, even by those who resided in the country, although they had to come on foot, their horses having been taken from them or having been sent away by them to places of safety. This Church during the war observed four National fasts and four days of National thanksgiving. We cannot prize too highly the Union of these States, to preserve and to perpetuate which has cost us so much trial, and suffering, and blood, and treasure.
The Ladies' Mite Society was formed August, 1866. A small interest in itself considered, but full of good works. The contributions being made up of many little rills, but swelling into a large stream. By personal effort and judicious management, it has accomplished not a little which has had either a direct or an indirect bearing on the progress of Christ's kingdom on the earth. It has contributed to the purchase of a new carpet for the Church, and for other ar-
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ticles, one hundred and eighty-five dollars. It has expended for the purchase of a Cabinet organ for the Chapel, one hundred and sixty-five dollars. It has refitted the Chapel, at an expense of eighty-seven dollars. It has purchased a sofa for the Chapel, for twenty-five dollars. It has pur- chased a Communion service for the Church, for thirty-four dollars. And it has expended at different times for the Sabbath School Library, four hundred and fifty dollars.
1867, October 23d. This Congregation was left a legacy of two thousand dollars, less United States and State taxes, by Mr. Josiah McDowell, the interest of which is to be ap- plied to the support of the preaching of the gospel in this Church. December 10th, 1867, the Pastor of the Church conveyed to the Trustees of this Congregation, for the use of the Sexton, a two storied brick house and half a lot of ground in Mercersburg, property which had been bequeath- ed to him by Mr. Josiah McDowell.
In the latter part of 1868 and the beginning of 1869, my health becoming impaired, I tendered my resignation to the Congregation in the month of June of this latter year. The Congregation refused to accept it, but at the same time re- leased me from all services for six months, or for a longer time if necessary. The Presbytery at its meeting in June confirmed the action of the Congregation and declined dis- solving the relation which had so long existed between this Church and its pastor. During the summer and fall of this year, the pulpit was supplied a part of the time by Rev. Alexander S. Foster, and from June 13th to September 8th by Mr. Samuel L. Johnston, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Carlisle, and a student of the Western Theological Semi- nary. My health being in a great measure restored, I re- sumed my pastoral labors after Mr. Johnston had put in his stipulated time, and from that time to the present, the great Head of the Church has, in great mercy, enabled me to take charge of this portion of his moral vineyard as in former years.
1874, September 27th, the Church was reopened for wor- 9
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ship, having been repaired, recarpeted, blinds repaired and painted, the pulpit altered and lamps and chandeliers pur- chased. The whole cost of these improvements, six hun- dred dollars. On the day of the reopening of the Church, the following persons were ordained as Ruling elders : Messrs. James Agnew Patterson, Seth Dickey, John Mc- Cullough and Archibald B. McDowell. The new "Hym- nal" was introduced into the Church by a vote of the Con- gregation, October 1st, 1875.
In the beginning of the year 1876 the Lord once more poured out of His Spirit on this Church in his reviving and renewing influences. It began immediately after the observ- ance of the week of prayer, held the first week in January. Union meetings were held in connection with the Lutheran Church every evening for about six weeks. As the fruit of this gracious work there were added to this Church thirty- six on profession and three on certificate ; total thirty-nine.
When I settled in this Church as pastor, the salary prom- ised in the "Call" was six hundred dollars, but which has been increased from time to time, until at the present, it is one thousand dollars. And although the increase is con- siderable, yet I may add, that there has been such an in- crease in the expenses of living, within the last few years, that the first named sum went much further in supplying these wants than the last named sum.
Within these almost forty-five years of my pastorate in this Church, and which we have been reviewing, great changes have taken place. When I became the pastor of this church, there were in connection with it, about one hundred and twenty families and two hundred and fifty communicating members. It had a Session of Ruling elders numbering six, and a Board of Trustees numbering nine,* who were appointed by the Congregation to sign the
*Members composing the Board : Messrs. Samuel Campbell, Na- than Brownson, John Bradley, Robert McKinnie, James W. Patter- son, James McClelland, James McCurdy, Arthur Chambers and John McDowell.
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"Call" which was extended to me. Of these Trustees, but two are living, viz. : Messrs. Robert M'Kinnie and John M'Dowell. Every member of the Session, as it was then constituted, is dead; but about thirty families who were then living, or their descendants, are in the bounds of the congregation at the present time, and only five members of the Church who were received during the pastorate of Dr. Elliott are members of the Church now.
During my ministry in this Church, there have been bap- tized, Infants, eight hundred and forty-three; Adults, one hundred and sixty; total, one thousand and three. Re- ceived into the Communion of the Church on profession of their faith, seven hundred and fourteen; by certificate, two hundred and seventy-six; total nine hundred and ninety. Letters of dismission to other Churches, four hun- dred and twelve. Marriages, four hundred and eleven. Died, five hundred and fifty-uine, of which three hundred and thirty-five were members of the Church. The number of families connected with the Church is about one hun- dred and ten. During my pastorate my visits to and calls on the families of the congregation amount to about three hundred a year, nearly half of which were connected with religious services. The number of sermons and lectures written in full, amounts to twelve hundred, and of outline sermons and lectures, seventeen hundred and twenty-six; total, two thousand nine hundred and twenty-six. The number of times I have preached, lectured and made ad- dresses, averages three and one-third per week. And the amount contributed to the Boards of the Church and to other benevolent objects exceeds sixteen thousand five hun- dred dollars. Thirteen young men, nine of whom connect- ed with this Church on profession of their faith, and four by certificate, have been licensed, or licensed and ordained, to preach the gospel of Christ, viz. : James J. Brownson, D. D., David Crooks, William Bradley, John W. McCune, Robert Lewis McCune, Hezekiah Hanson, David Elliott
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Campbell, a martyred missionary in Northern India; James Fitzgerald, David A. Wilson, a missionary to Africa; Wil- liam A. West, Charles B. M'Clay, William D. Patterson, and Matthew Henry Bradly. During this same period this Church has furnished fifteen wives to ministers.
In reviewing the history of this Church from its begin- ning to the present time,* what cause of thankfulness have we to the great Head of the Church for that guardian care which He has ever exercised toward us. For a century and a third this Church has had an existence, and although at one time it was entirely broken up by an irruption of the Indians into these parts, and at another time partially so, yet the scattered families were brought back again, and again reorganized their Church, and from that time-1764, to the present, it has continued, dispensing its rich and gracious blessings to all connected with it, as well as being a light to, and a blessing, as we trust, in the community in which it has its home. In 1769 Dr. King made this record: "There are about one hundred and thirty families connected with this congregation,"-the boundary lines of which, at that time, extended as far as St. Thomas and to the en- trance of Path Valley, and beyond Back creek. And yet, notwithstanding this curtailing of her territory ; the or- ganization of six Churches of different denominations in the town, and others organized in other places within her limits, together with the fact that in nine years beginning with 1820, one hundred and twenty of its members died, and the emigration which took place in 1857 and 1858, and then again the number of families we lost by removal during the late civil war, there are still connected with it about one hundred and ten families, and two hundred and sixty-five members in full communion. And if our blessed Lord has thus cared for us in the past, will He not still care for us in the future if we are loyal to Him ?
*Extracts from "Fortieth Anniversary Sermon."
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And here I raise the question : May not much of the sta- bility of this Church, under the blessing of God, be owing to the permanency of the pastoral relation among you? I ask the question, to bring you to think of it. For one hundred and seven years, this Church has had but three pas- tors, with the exception of an interval of one year between Dr. King and Dr. Elliott, and of two years between the pastorate of Dr. Elliott and my own. This, undoubtedly, is the true scriptural idea of the pastorate; and so far as this Church is concerned, we think, it has worked well. It certainly has worked well during the pastorate of my two predecessors. As to my own, I have reason to believe that you are of the same opinion, for, by a formal act of the Congregation, seven years ago, you refused to accept my resignation of the pastoral relation, tendered to you in con- sequence of infirm health, which act of the Congregation was also approved by the Presbytery.
It may not be out of place to say in this connection, after so long a time spent in the Ministry, that my views of truth and duty are little changed from what they were when I entered on this sacred office. And now, having had so long a time given to me for investigating truth and making myself acquainted with its practical workings, I have been the more fully confirmed in the teachings of Revelation, and in the Gospel system as being the only system to elevate man, to restore him to his former state of holiness and happiness, for the regeneration of society and the salvation of man. Hence I have not preached to you philosophy, or politics, or science, or social reform, or morality without religion, or external reformation without the renewing grace of God, or ritualism as a substitute for a saving interest in Christ; but, I have adhered, so far as the grace of God has enabled me, to the purpose enunciated in my Introductory discourse to this Church from the words of Paul to the Corinthians (I. Epis., II., 2); "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." And in
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the prayerful study of our "form of sound words." viz: The Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Cate- chisms, the Form of Government and Book of Discipline, and comparing them with the Word of God, I am more and more fully confirmed in their truthfulness, admire their beauty and richness and fullness, and perceive their peculiar adaptedness to our present earthly condition and circum- stances and in preparing us for our everlasting home in heav- en. And in this faith I hope to die.
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