USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > Huntingdon > History of the Presbytery of Huntingdon > Part 14
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The General Assembly of this year adopted the following preamble and resolution, which we record in full, impressed with the excellent wisdom of it, had it been practically and fully carried out, viz :
· " WHEREAS, It appears from the statistical reports from various parts of our church, and it is well known to this Assembly, that there are some Presbyteries which have more churches than ministers, and other Presby- teries which have unemployed ministers and licentiates under their care ; therefore,
Resolved, That it be enjoined on such Presbyteries to report these facts. with the names and locality of their vacant churches and unemployed ministers, to the Executive Committee of the Board of Missions, who are hereby appointed and authorized to act as a committee of supplies for the whole church, by and with the concurrence of the Presbyteries."
The Rev. JOSHUA MOORE, stated clerk of Presbytery, was directed to report the vacancies, in accordance with the above resolution.
The committee which had been appointed at a previous meeting on the New Hymn Book, which was in process of preparation by a com-
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mittee of the General Assembly, reported at this time, " that the New Book of Hymns be in general approved, but with many exceptions in phraseology, and some exceptions in sentiment." The stated clerk was directed to forward a copy of this report to the chairman of the committee on Psalmody. In a foot note in the book of minutes, the stated clerk says, "These were transmitted to the committee on Psalmody, but are not here inserted."
There are no means of ascertaining with any degree of certainty the state of religion within the bounds of the Presbytery in the last two years, as it was not the custom generally to record the narratives on the state of religion prepared by a committee every Spring and Fall. We can only judge by the statistical reports published in the minutes of the General Assembly of each year. If we thus judge, there were no unusual accessions made to any of the churches of the Presbytery during these years; there was no notable revival in any church, or portion of the churches. It is true, some churches had larger additions than others, but they had more materials on which to operate. Churches in large and growing towns, in which many are locating, will naturally show larger accessions, both by certificate and on examination or profession of their faith, than in country congrega- tions, where the population is more permanent and unchangeable. But in all cases, during these years, the statistics show a healthy in- crease.
As a matter of history connected with the doings of the Presbytery of Huntingdon during the year 1843, the case of the Rev. ALEXANDER McKEEHAN ought not to be passed over, as showing the care and sym- pathy which the Presbytery manifested in the case of an afflicted brother. Mr. McKEENAN had become insane. What provision had been made for his case heretofore is not known; whether he had been left entirely to the charge of his family, or some public arrangement for his maintenance and safe-keeping. The Church, as a Church, had not yet made any general provision for her aged and infirm ministers, or those otherwise afflicted. The Presbytery deemed it an imperative duty to look after the condition of Mr. McKEEHIAN. Accordingly one of the members-Mr. WILLIAMSON-was appointed at the stated meet- ing in the Fall preceding, to inquire into the circumstances of Mr. McKEENIAN and his family, and at this Spring meeting he reported. The substance of the report is as follows :
" 1. The recognition of the principle that it is the duty of the Church to provide for the comfortable support of her aged and distressed ministers,
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and their widows and orphans, and that she is not justifiable in leaving them to the provisions of any other body ; that Presbytery will endeavor to carry out this principle.
2. That collections be taken up in our churches to be applied to the use and relief of Mr: McKEEHAN and family.
3. That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expedience of removing the brother to the Insane Hospital at Philadelphia; or what other disposition of his person should be made ; and to correspond with the Presbytery of Carlisle in reference to aiding in his support, from which Presbytery he came, and within whose bounds he was now residing.
4. That a committee be appointed to mature a plan for efficient operation touching the future attention to and support of any aged ministers and distressed, or their widows and orphans who may properly belong to this Presbytery."
The report was accepted and adopted, and the two committees recommended were appointed. The death of Mr. McKEEHAN, soon after this time, rendered it unnecessary for the committee in his case to act; and it is not known whether the committee appointed on the general subject ever reported.
The case of a member of the church who had married a woman who had been divorced from her former husband on the ground of desertion and ill-treatment, was referred to Presbytery for advice. It was committed to a committee, of which JOHN MCKINNEY was chair- man, which made the following judicious report :
" That, in the present case, sufficient testimony has not been before Pres- bytery, respecting the character of the woman previous to her divorce, and her efforts to sustain the conjugal relation, and other collateral circum- stances which bear on the case, to enable us to decide the question whether the man should be continued a member of the Church, or be suspended. We therefore recommend that the case be referred back to the Session of the Church, to decide according to the best of their judgment on the subject."
By a communication received from Messrs. JOHN PIPER and GEORGE LONG, elders of Yellow Creek congregation, complaint was made of irregularity of Mr. JOHN G. HOWELL, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, who was supplying said congregation, for marrying a couple contrary to the order of the Church. The whole matter of complaint was, that Mr. H., being only licentiate, had no authority from the Church to officiate on such an occasion.
This case was committed to Messrs. WILLIAMSON, MOORE and E. BANKS, Esq., elder. The following is the record on the minutes of the Presbytery of the final disposal of this matter :
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" The committee on the letters of Messrs. PIPER, LONG and HOWELL, reported. Their report was accepted, and amended and adopted, and is as follows, viz :
That as Mr. J. G. HOWELL, a licentiate under the care of New Bruns- wick Presbytery, officiated within our bounds at the solemnization of a marriage, contrary to the usages of the Presbyterian Church, and gave considerable dissatisfaction thereby to the people among whom he has been laboring, and lias sent a very indiscreet letter to Presbytery, as an apology for his irregularity, and states that he should attend the meeting of another Presbytery, instead of coming up to this Presbytery ; therefore,
Resolved, That Presbytery cannot approve of said Mr. HOWELL preach- ing within the bounds of this Presbytery any longer, and that this minute be forwarded to New Brunswick Presbytery by the stated clerk, and that a copy of Mr. HOWELL's letter be also forwarded."
It is probable that the action of Presbytery in this case would have been somewhat different had Mr. HOWELL attended the meeting of Presbytery, or had his letter been of a different spirit and temper; but it was rather defiant of the authority of Presbytery, and even in- solent in its bearing. Had Mr. H. been in attendance on his own Presbytery, it would not have been a matter of offense to the Presby- tery of Huntingdon, but this was not the case. Had circumstances connected with the marriage service been of another character, the whole case would, in all probability, have ended with an advice to Mr. H. to be more prudent in the future, and not run contrary to the usages of the Church and the prejudices of the people. At the next stated meeting Mr. HOWELL requested, by letter, that the censure of Presbytery for his irregularity be removed, which Presbytery refused to do, and he soon after left the bounds of Presbytery.
About this time the propriety of a division of the Synod was agita- ted. The committee appointed to examine the minutes, and report any item of business that might require the notice of Presbytery, called attention to this subject, when the following resolution was passed unanimously, viz :
" Resolved, That this Presbytery are opposed to any division of Synod, except such an one as would include this Presbytery in a Synod with Northumberland, Carlisle, and Donegal."
At the same meeting the following minute was adopted on the sub- ject of temperance :
" The Presbytery of Huntingdon grateful to Almighty God for the pro- gress of the temperance cause within their bounds, and duly impressed with the importance of the churches assuming a high standing on this subject. do hereby advise, counsel and beseech all persons in the communion of our
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churches, to decline either to sign petitions for tavern licenses, or to present such petitions to courts."
The year 1843 was not a year of inactivity to the Presbytery, though there was not much business transacted out of the common routine. Some ministerial members were added to the roll of Presby- tery, and some were dismissed to other Presbyteries, and some candi- dates for the ministry taken under care of Presbytery. The Rev. ANDREW JARDINE was received from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and in due time installed pastor of Middle Tuscarora congregation ; Rev. WILLIAM M. HALL was received from Washington Presbytery, and DANIEL L. HUGHES, a licentiate, from West Jersey Presbytery, was called to the pastoral charge of Little Valley congregation. Messrs. CALVIN MCDONALD, WILLIAM B. BARTON and DAVID WILSON, were taken under care of Presbytery as candidates for the ministry. And Rev. JOHN FLEMING was dismissed to the Presbytery of Blairsville, and Mr. JOHN E. ALEXANDER to the Presbytery of New Lancaster, Ohio. The Rev. Messrs. G. GRAY and S. HILL were released from their pas- : toral charges ; the former from Augwick congregation, the latter from Spruce Creek, and Mr. HILL obtained liberty to travel without the bounds of Presbytery.
The following resolution was adopted in reference to the progress of Popery in this country, viz :
"WHEREAS, The progress of Popery in our country gives just cause to fear for the permanency of our religious and political institutions ; And whereas, also the spread of Popery in foreign lands, forms one of the chief obstacles to missionary success ; therefore,
Resolved, That it is our duty as a Presbytery to enlighten our people in regard to the idolatrous and wicked doctrines and baleful influence of Popery."
The year 1843 may be termed the revival year of the Presbytery. The additions to the churches were more than double those of any previous year.
On the 9th of January, 1844, an adjourned meeting of the Presby- ·tery was held at Little Valley, the principal object of which was to ordain and install Mr. D. L. HUGHES pastor of Little Valley Church. At this meeting a committee was appointed to organize a church at Philipsburg, Centre county.
Other items of business were attended to, but not of such general interest as to be worthy of permanent record.
The regular stated meeting of the Presbytery in April of this year was held in Lewistown. At this meeting Mr. FLOYD requested and
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obtained the dissolution of his pastoral relation to West Kishaco- quillas Church. The appearance of the venerable' Rev. Dr. MATTHEW BROWN in the Presbytery on the second day of the sessions, was an event too interesting to the members of the Presbytery to be passed without particular notice. Dr. BROWN had been ordained by this Presbytery forty-two years before, for three years had been the pastor of. one of its churches, Mifflintown and Lost Creek, his first pastoral charge-most of the then present members had been his students, graduates of Jefferson College. Only one of his cotemporary mem- bers of Presbytery was now living, the Rev. WILLIAM STUART of Penns Valley, but not present by reason of age and infirmity. Dr. BROWN's immediate successor in the pastoral charge of Mifflintown and Lost Creek, however was present, and still in active and efficient service in the same charge, the Rev. JOHN HUTCHESON. It may well be believed that his presence was esteemed an event of unusual interest to the Presbytery. And what must have been the feelings of the venerable man in revisiting the scenes of his youthful labors in the ministry, and not very far from the place of his birth ? And while he surveyed the members of Presbytery, and not one present, and but one living of those who laid hands on him at his ordination, or had been his Pres- byterial cotemporaries afterwards. Some of us who were comparative- ly young men could not then enter into his feelings as we might now if the scene were before us. It was the last time that some of us saw the venerable President of Jefferson College.
In accordance with a resolution of the General Assembly of 1844, the Presbytery took up the subject of Systematic Benevolence. A com- mittee was appointed to consider the subject, and at this meeting made a report. The object aimed at was to organize the churches, so as to present the various objects of benevolence to every member of the Church at least once a year. In the language of the committee : "To call out and combine in the best manner the various talents of God's professing people, is the problem which has tasked the wisdom of our Church judicatories in past time, and that has as yet by no means met with a satisfactory solution." Nearly thirty years are past since this was written, and yet it is doubtful whether the problem has been solved. What mean the annual complaints of the various Boards of the Church of the number of churches non-contributing? The Presbytery of Huntingdon, from the very beginning of the con- troversy on the subject, had given a decided preference of Ecclesiasti- cal over Voluntary Associations. Their commissioners to the General
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Assembly had uniformly voted for ecclesiastical organization and supervision. The committee, in their report, urge this fact upon the churches, to stimulate their efforts in behalf of the Boards, as a mat- ter of consistency. "Your committee presume it is needless to argue that it is not enough to manifest zeal for the organization merely of Ecclesiastical Boards. Calling them into being is but the beginning of the work of love and self-denial that devolves on those who profess to yield a well-principled preference to this mode of action. It requires no argument to prove that Presbyterianism will not commend and extend herself simply by having a full set of Boards; or that our Boards must have funds steadily furnished to render them efficient ; and that these funds, being for the advancement of Presbyterianism, must be raised by Presbyterians. It much behooves the Presbytery to manifest more zeal and liberality to prove to the world her honesty of preference, and the excellence of the plan she has deliberately chosen."
Then follow a series of resolutions which it would occupy too much space to copy, and to no purpose. Similar resolutions may be found in vast numbers on the minutes of all the Presbyteries, and if funds. would only pour in annually to the treasuries of the Boards as pro- fusely as resolutions in their behalf are offered and adopted, they would long ago have been overflowing.
At this meeting of the Presbytery the Rev. JOSHUA MOORE resigned the position of stated clerk, and the Rev. WILLIAM J. GIBSON was appointed in his room.
An adjourned meeting of Presbytery was appointed to be held at Alexandria, in the early part of May following. The principal object of the meeting was the ordination of Mr. JOHN LLOYD, should the way be clear. Mr. LLOYD was just closing his theological studies at Prince- ton Seminary, and expected to be licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of New York at its sessions in April. His nativity and residence were within the bounds of this Presbytery, and as he had devoted himself to the work of Foreign Missions in China, he request- ed ordination at the hands of Huntingdon Presbytery. He came with a letter of dismission from the Presbytery of New York, and was licensed as expected. After the usual examinations and trials, he was ordained by the laying on of the hands of Presbytery, May 7, 1844. In which service the sermon was preached by Rev. JOSHUA MOORE, from Mark 16: 15, and Rev. JAMES LINN presided and proposed
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the constitutional questions, and gave the charge to the ordained minister and evangelist.
At the same meeting Mr. THOMAS C. PORTER, a student of theology under care of Presbytery, was licensed to preach the gospel as a_can- didate for the ministry.
In another part of this history notice was taken of the early efforts of this Presbytery to secure the better observance of the Sabbath along the lines of canals and railroads. An association was formed, having its head-quarters in Philadelphia, having this object in view, and Sabbath missionaries were employed along these lines of public improvement. Among these missionaries the Rev. JEREMIAH MILLER, who died lately in Philadelphia, was chief. The Rev. O. S. POWELL, an agent of the Sabbath Association, being present at this time with the Presbytery, was heard on the subject of the Sanctification of the Sabbath, and probably suggested the propriety of calling a convention at Harrisburg, (or one had already been called,) in reference to this subject, when the following resolution was passed by Presbytery :
" Resolved, That this Presbytery highly approve of the calling of a Con- vention to promote the observance of the Sabbath, to be convened at Harrisburg, on the 30th of this month, (May, 1844,) and that it be and hereby is recommended to all our churches to send delegates to said con- vention."
Here was a convention of universal interest and importance, affect- ing the members of all churches, and all others of every class in the various communities. To attend it, and to give every help and encouragement to the object at which it aimed, was neither a loss of time nor a waste of means, as may be said of many of the conventions that are assembled in these later days.
A committee was appointed to consider and report on the subject. of the traffic in, and use of intoxicating drinks. This committee reported at the stated meeting in the Fall held at Lick Run, Centre county, October 1, 1844. The report was published in the religious and secular papers at the time, but was not recorded in the minutes. But it fully sustained the highest ground the temperance reformation had taken up to that time, or probably has since taken.
Mr. WM. J. MURPHY, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, was received under the care of the Presbytery at this time, on the usual testimonials ; and calls were presented for him from the congre- gations of Mount Pleasant, Fruit Hill and Philipsburg, and accepted. The Rev. DAVID STERRETT requested the dissolution of the pastoral
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relation between him and the congregation of Shaver's Creek. A committee appointed by the congregation was heard, agreeing to the request ; and also a remonstrance signed by several members of the church. Presbytery ordered another meeting of the congregation to be held; and appointed an adjourned meeting to be held at Lewistown on the 15th instant, (i. e. October 15.)
The Presbytery taking great interest in the circulation of the books of the Board of Publication, and some of the members supposing that cheaper editions might be published, and thus the circulation of the books greatly facilitated, a resolution to that effect was offered. This resolution was committed to Messrs. NOURSE, MOORE and HALL, to report thereon at the next, or adjourned meeting of Presbytery.
The adjourned meeting was held at the time appointed. The request of Mr. STERRETT for the dissolution of his pastoral relation, (the congregation being heard from in a regular manner, ) Presbytery refused to grant. The committee on the Board of Publication report- ed; when both the original resolution and the report of the committee were set aside, to adopt a substitute offered by the Rev. JOSHUA MOORE, which is as follows :
" The religious and reading public generally are furnished at present with such an amount of publications at very cheap rates by private book establishments, as to awaken apprehensions for our book concern; it is deemed of great importance, if not of indispensible necessity, that by some efficient plan we may secure our proportion of public patronage, to supply a better quality of intelligent and religious literature. And as the intrinsic worth of our standard works is decidedly greater in the main than that of those referred to, we anxiously desire to see them greatly diffused. No way appears so likely to secure this end as to cheapen the rates of the works pub- lished by our Board, if deemed practicable and expedient by those who have the management. We respectfully recommend the reduction of their cost, provided thereby an increased sale of them may be secured ; as in our judgment is. likely to be done. We would also respectfully request the Board to publish standard works in cheap forms."
At this meeting the pastoral relation of the Rev. Mr. CARRELL to the congregations of McVeytown and Newton Hamilton was dissolved · at his request and with consent of the congregations. And the Rev. WM. M. HALL was dismissed to the Presbytery of Carlisle, having re- ceived and accepted a call to the congregation of Bedford, within the bounds of the Presbytery of Carlisle.
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CHAPTER VIII.
FROM 1845 TO 1858.
Death of Rev. John Hntcheson and Rev. F. G. Betts-Changes among the Churches-Mr. John G. Howell Again-Obituary Book-Rev. Messrs. Allison and White Received-Mr. S. N. Howell Ordained-Judicial Business-Rev. James Y. McGinnis and Rev. John White Called -Rev. Wilham Adam Released from Spring Creek and Sinking Creek-Rev. Dr. William Chester-Presbytery Opened by Rev. John Bernheim, a Converted Jew-Rev. R. Hamill Called, Ordained and Installed-Rev. Samuel H. McDonald-Case of Reference-Case of Rev. B. H. Campbell-Rev. II. R. Wilson, Jr., an Agent-Rev. G. W. Thompson Received, Called and Installed-Psalmody-Death of Rev. William Stuart-Pastoral Relation of Mr. Sterrett Dissolved-Overture on Demission of the Ministry-Rev. D. L. Hughes Transferred -Deaths of Rev. John Lloyd and Rev. B. II. Campbell-Rev. Messrs. Merwin, Curran and Ward Added to the Roll-Rev. R. Hamill Appointed Stated Clerk-Cheap Religious Paper · - Rev. George Elliott-Rev. P. Hassinger-Posture in Public Prayer-Order on Relief Fund -Rev. Joseph Smith, D. D .- Rev. S. Lawrence-Rev. William M. Hall-S. P. Barton-Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D .- Railroad Traveling on the Sabbath-National Presbyterian Church- Deaths of Rev. Messrs. HIall and McGinnis-Colonization-Altoona-Origin of the Presby- terian Banner-Dr. D. X. Junkin Called to Hollidaysburg-Boards of Foreign and Domestic Missions-Temperance Action-Rev. O. O. McClean Called and Settled at Huntingdon-Set- tlement of Boundary Lines-Rev. R. Curran's Pastoral Relation Dissolved-Report by Dr. Linn on Education for the Ministry-Action in Reference to a Division of the Synod-Rev. A. B. Clark Called to Altoona-Parsonages-Death's Doings-Systematic Benevolence-Itine- rant Missionary-Rev. John Elliott First Itinerant Missionary-Rev. David D. Clark-Mr. J. H. Mathers-Church at Tyrone-Rev. John Moore Called-Rev. Samuel Lawrence Re- signs his Charge-Pastoral Resignations-Rev. John M. Galloway Called -- Rev. Joseph Ma- hon-Rev. D. L. Hughes' Pastoral Relation Dissolved-Rev. N. Shotwell-Rev. M. S. Cul- bertson, a Foreign Missionary-Committee on Relief Fund-The Oath-Temperance Reso- lutlon.
ITHE year 1845 begins with a record of the death of two of the members of Presbytery, the Rev. JOHN HUTCHESON of Mifflintown, and the Rev. FREDERICK G. BETTS of Clearfield. The former had been pastor of Mifflintown and Lost Creek congregations for forty years, the latter of Clearfield town and Pike (Curwinsville), only a little over three years. Mr. H. had been long considered a father in the Presby- tery. Mr. BETTS was one of the youngest of its members, but of great promise of future usefulness.
During this year, especially the first half of it, many changes occurred in regard to the churches and their pastors, and additions of ministers to the Presbytery, with the loss of some by removal, as well as by death. The principal business of the Presbytery during this
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