USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > Huntingdon > History of the Presbytery of Huntingdon > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
" Therefore, this General Assembly Resolve, that the practice in ques- tion (sitting in prayer) be considered greviously improper, whenever the infirmities of the worshipper do not render it necessary, and that ministers be required to reprove it, with earnest and persevering admonition."
This action of the General Assembly was in answer to an overture from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, asking the Assembly to adopt measures for arresting or abating the growing evil of sitting in public prayer.
The committee of the Presbytery were specially directed to report on the action of the General Assembly in regard to a fund for the
151
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
support of aged and infirm ministers, and the widows and orphans of deceased ministers. On this subject the Presbytery passed the fol- lowing resolution :
" That it be enjoined on each of our congregations to make a collection annually, according to the resolution of the Assembly, p. 267 of the Minutes."
A treasurer was specially appointed for this fund by the Presbytery, to whom all contributions were to be sent, and Dr. MCKINNEY was appointed the treasurer. The celebrated Rev. WILLIAM L. MCCALLA was present, as a corresponding member, at this meeting of the Pres- bytery. At this time he was the stated supply of the church of Bedford. A man of some eccentricities, but uncommon genius, power, and piety. Those who knew him best, loved and admired him most. A noble champion for the truth.
The April meeting of the Presbytery of 1850 was held at Hollidays- burg. The Rev. LOUIS W. WILLIAMS was received from the Presbytery of Erie. The Rev. JOSEPH SMITH, D. D., of the Presbytery of Balti- more, was present as an agent of the Board of Missions, and at an appointed time addressed the Presbytery on the subject, and as he proposed personally to visit the churches in reference to his object, a committee was raised to designate a plan of visitation among the churches. The Rev. Dr. SMITH died only two or three years ago at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., the place of his last pastoral charge. He wrote several histories of portions of the Presbyterian Church-particularly of "Old Redstone." He was an eloquent preacher, a man of sterling worth and of much popularity. He was a son of one of the first Presbyterian ministers who settled west of the Allegheny mountains. Just at this time there were several ministers in the Presbytery without charges, but who were travelling without the bounds of Presbytery in view of settlements. Notice is taken in the minutes of letters received from each of these brethren, giving an account of themselves and their labors. This fact is noted with a design to show how careful these brethren were to observe Presbyterial order in recognizing their subjection to their brethren in the Lord, and as an example to those who may come after. These brethren were Rev. Messrs. NOURSE, WHITE and HASSINGER. Mr. WHITE was at the same time dismissed, at his request, to the Presbytery of Baltimore, within the bounds of which he expected to be settled.
Rev. WILLIAM ADAM, a minister of the Presbytery, and who through bodily infirmity was unable to perform pastoral duties, and was known
152
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
to be permanently settled as a bookseller within the bounds of the Presbytery of Baltimore, was advised to take a dismission and con- nect himself with said Presbytery, according to order of the General Assembly that ministers should connect themselves to the Presby- teries within the bounds of which they permanently resided.
Mr. SILAS HAZLETT requested Presbytery to assign him pieces of trial, and then dismiss him to the care of the Presbytery of Beaver as a candidate for the gospel ministry. Which requests were granted.
The Rev. JOHN PEEBLES, pastor of the church of Huntingdon, re- quested that his pastoral relation should be dissolved. The represen- tative of the church in Presbytery having stated that the congregation were duly notified of Mr. PEEBLES' purpose, and consented to his request ; the pastoral relation was dissolved.
A call was at the this time presented to Presbytery from the con- gregation of Perryville, Mifflin county, for the pastoral services of the Rev. SAMUEL LAWRENCE, of the Presbytery of West Jersey, which being found in order, was retained in the hands of Presbytery till Mr. L. should obtain his dismission from said Presbytery, to connect him- self with this Presbytery.
The Rev. WM. M. HALL forwarded to the Presbytery a certificate of his standing and dismission from the Presbytery of Carlisle, accom- panied with a letter, which he requested might be spread upon the . minutes. After some consideration on the part of the Presbytery, the Rev. JAMES S. WOODS and Dr. SAMUEL McCLAY were appointed a committee to draft a minute on the application of Mr. HALL. The committee in due time made the following report, which was accept- ed and adopted, viz :
" The Rev. Mr. HALL being unable, from a recent injury, to be personal- ly present with us, and having applied by letter to be received into this Presbytery, and having forwarded to this body the certificate of his dis- mission from the Presbytery of Carlisle ; therefore,
Resolved, Ist. That the Rev. W. M. HALL be received as a member of this Presbytery without the usual examination, he having formerly been a member of this body, and that his letter, together with the notice accom- panying it, be spread upon our minutes.
Resolved, 2d. That Presbytery tender to brother H. their deepest and cordial sympathy in the afflictive dispensations of divine providence which have obliged him to retire from the active duties of the ministry ; and they entirely approve of his course in pursuing that path of usefulness to which he has been directed in the providence of God, and their sincere desire for
153
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
his speedy restoration to that state of health and vigor to which he has so long been a stranger."
At the meeting of the Presbytery in April, 1845, a young man, S. R. BARTON, was taken under the care of the Presbytery, and recommend- ed for aid to the Board of Education. In October, 1845, the treasurer of Presbytery was directed to pay $18.75 from the moneys in his hands for the Board of Education. At the meeting of the Presbytery in April, 1850, the following record was made : " Mr. BARTON, a candidate under our care, having intimated it as his wish, his name was with- drawn from the list of beneficiaries held by the committee of pastoral supervision." If henceforth Mr. B. intended to depend upon his own means for the finishing his preparation for the ministry, his example is commended to the imitation of others in like circumstances, that is, who can fall back on their private resources.
The following resolutions were adopted in reference to the death of the Rev. SAMUEL MILLER, D. D., late Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary at Princeton :
" WHEREAS, it has pleased Divine Providence to remove from his post of eminent usefulness the Rev. SAMUEL MILLER, D. D., we, in common with the Presbyterian Church at large, experience a great, perhaps an irrepara- ble loss ; and in this event we deem it proper to take the opportunity to express our sincere and deep regard for the memory of that venerable ser- vant of God and of the Church of Christ, who for so many years occupied the eminent station of a teacher in our oldest school of the prophets.
It was the privilege of the most of us to sit for years at the feet of this distinguished father in the Church, and from him to receive our first lessons in Church History, and Church Government, and his counsels, discourses and care. His example and influence, and eminent usefulness, embalm his name in our hearts."
An adjourned meeting of the Presbytery was held at Huntingdon on the 2d Tuesday of June following the stated Spring meeting in April. The principal object of the meeting was to license and ordain, as an Evangelist, Mr. JAMES H. ORBISON, if the way should be clear, in view of his going as a missionary to a foreign field. Mr. ORBISON was accordingly licensed and ordained, having passed through all parts of trial to the satisfaction of Presbytery. In those services the Rev. DANIEL L. HUGHES preached the sermon ; Rev. JAMES LINN, D. D., presided, proposed the constitutional questions, and made the ordain- ing prayer; and Dr. MCKINNEY gave the charge to the newly ordain- ed Evangelist.
20
154
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
The following question was submitted to Presbytery for their decis- ion, viz: "Can a church member, consistently with his or her profes- sion, travel in the cars of the Pennsylvania Railroad (or any railroad), to and from the house of God on the Sabbath day ?" After some dis- cussion Messrs. GIBSON, THOMPSON, ministers, and Mr. JOHN PORTER, elder, were appointed a committee to draft an answer to the question ; and they were required to report the following morning.
The committee reported the next morning, and their report was accepted and adopted, and is as follows :
" No member of the Church can consistently travel on the Pennsylvania Railroad on the Sabbath day for any purposes but those of necessity and mercy. He protests against the ordinary use of the road as a desecration of the day, and he cannot employ it even as a means of conveyance to and from the house of God without nullifying his testimony, and giving coun- tenance to the whole system of Sabbath desecration, as determined upon by a majority of its stockholders. The fact that it is a great convenience, and that otherwise a church member would be put to much inconvenience in going to and returning from the place of public worship, is no sufficient justification, unless the commandments of God are only to be observed when it suits our convenience, and we are under no obligation to practice self-denial in keeping God's commandments. The goodness of the object aimed at will not justify the means employed to arrive at it. This is a popish doctrine long since exploded among protestants. The end does not justify the means. Neither will the plea of its being otherwise impractica- ble for a Church member to get to the place of public worship be a suffi- cient justification. If the performance of a duty becomes a natural impos- sibility, without being guilty of a moral evil, then it is no longer a duty, and God will accept the will for the deed. It is recommended to the pastors of churches, especially those along the line of the railroad, to warn their church members against the temptation to violate the Sabbath day, by travelling on the road on that day, for any distances or purposes, but those already excepted."
It was ordered that this report should be published in The Presby- terian and Presbyterian Advocate.
The latter half of the Ecclesiastical year of 1850 affords little mat- ter for record beyond the ordinary and usual Presbyterial business. Some names were added to the roll of Presbytery, and some members were dismissed. The Rev. LOWMAN P. HAWES was received from the Presbytery of Ohio, and installed pastor of the church at Hunting- don. The church of Pike, Clearfield county, requested and obtained leave to change its name to Curwinsville. The Rev. JAMES H. ORBISON, by request, was dismissed to one of the Presbyteries in Northern
155
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
India. Mr. ISAAC STINE, a member of the church of Little Augwick, was received under the care of Presbytery as a candidate for the min- istry, and recommended to the Board of Education for aid in pursuing his studies. The case of a portion of the Session of a church shutting the door of the church against their stated supply, was reported to Presbytery, of which act the Presbytery highly disapproved, and ex- pressed their disapprobation in a formal resolution.
An adjourned meeting was held during the sessions of the Synod at Carlisle, October the 21st. At this meeting the Rev. PETER HASSINGER was dismissed to the Presbytery of Redstone, and the Rev. JAMES J. HAMILTON received from the Presbytery of Northumberland, and a call which had been at a previous meeting presented for him from the congregation of Curwinsville, put into his hands, accepted by him, and arrangements made for his installation. So closes the history of the Presbytery for the year 1850.
The stated Spring meeting of the Presbytery of the year 1851 was held at Bellefonte. There were some changes made as to the mem- bers of the Presbytery at this time. The Rev. JOHN FLEMING Was dismissed to the Presbytery of Peoria, and the Rev. WILLIAM ADAM to the Presbytery of Baltimore.
Mr. THOMAS WARD, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Lisbon, having been permitted to labor within the bounds of Presbytery, in view of much unoccupied missionary ground within our limits. Pres- bytery resolved to petition the Board of Missions to appoint him a missionary and COLPORTEUR to labor for six months under the direction of Presbytery, and appropriate towards his support $75 for said period. And in case of his declining this service, then that the Board appoint some suitable person for the field. About this time was much agitated the building of a National Presbyterian Church at the City of Wash- ington. The Presbytery favored the project, and recommended the object to the liberality of the congregations.
An adjourned meeting of the Presbytery was held at Lewistown, on the 4th Tuesday of June following the stated meeting, when Mr. J. PATTERSON DEVOR was taken under the care of Presbytery as a candi- date for the ministry, and recommended to the Board of Education for aid. The Rev. WILLIAM M. HALL was dismissed to the Presby- tery of Carlisle, and Mr. SAMUEL T. WILSON, a candidate under the care of Presbytery, licensed to preach the gospel.
At the stated meeting of the Presbytery in October it became the painful duty of the Presbytery to record the deaths of the Rev.
1
156
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
Messrs. WILLIAM M. HALL and JAMES Y. MCGINNIS. The former died on the 28th, and the latter on the 31st of August preceding. Suitable resolutions were passed by the Presbytery, expressive of the sense of Presbytery of the loss they had sustained, and the Church's loss in the death of those excellent brethren, and the Rev. Messrs. MOORE and STERRETT were appointed to prepare obituary notices of these brethren.
The Rev. L. W. WILLIAMS was dismissed to the Presbytery of Carlisle, being called to the pastoral charge of two or three united churches within the bounds of said Presbytery. The Rev. JOHN Mc- KINNEY, formerly a member of this Presbytery, and former pastor of the church of Alexandria, was received from the Presbytery of Sydney. So strictly was the rule of Presbytery observed, namely : to examine all ministers coming from other Presbyteries, before re- ceiving them, that it was not dispensed with even in the case of Mr. MCKINNEY, who was so well known, having been the pastor of one of our churches for several years, and about whose soundness in the faith no one entertained a doubt.
Mr. HAMILTON reported at this time the organization of a church at Philipsburg, Centre county, according to an appointment of Presby- tery ; and Mr. MERWIN reported the organization of a church at Cooper's settlement, Morris township, Clearfield county. By petition of several members of a branch of the Huntingdon congregation, re- siding in the vicinity of Union School House, a church was organized, called the Church of Unity.
During the year 1852 a few changes occured in regard to the mem- bers of Presbytery, but scarcely any business was transacted but such as was customary at every meeting. The organization of a church at Snow Shoe, Centre county, was authorized, and Mr. LINN was appoint- ed to this service. The Rev. SAMUEL M. COOPER resigned the charge of the congregation of Lick Run ; and a call was presented from said congregation for the pastoral services of Rev. W.M. J. GIBSON of Wil- liamsburg and Sinking Valley. The Rev. JOHN PEEBLES, late pastor of the church of Huntingdon, was dismissed to the Presbytery of Washington. The Rev. Wy. L. GARTHWAIT was received from the Presbytery of Elizabethtown.
The Rev. ANDERSON B. QUAY, an agent of the Pennsylvania Coloni- zation Society, being present, addressed the Presbytery on the sub- ject of colonization, when the following paper was offered by Dr. MCKINNEY, and passed, viz :
157
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
" The colonization of the free blacks on the western coast of Africa has been proved, by experience, to be a wise and benificent scheme. Of its wis- dom and excellence, the flourishing Republic of Liberia presents the most incontestable evidence. The young Republic is fast assuming the propor- tions and vigor of maturity, and has become an object of the deepest interest to the statesman and the Christian. The question of the capacity of the black race, and their capability for self-government, is being satis- factorily solved. The emigration from the United States flows on in one continual stream ; yet there are hundreds, yea thousands who, from want of means, are forced to an unwilling residence among us, as a contemned and despised race. There it is the object of the American Colonization Society to remove, yet their present funds are wholly inadequate to the work ; therefore,
Resolved, Ist. That it be earnestly recommended to each of the Sessions under the care of this Presbytery to take up a contribution for the Pennsyl- vania Colonization Society on the 4th of July, or whenever during the year it may be deemed most expedient.
Resolved, 2d. That the Rev. A. B. QUAY, agent, be recommended to the confidence and co-operation of the churches."
The last half of this year presents as few facts in the proceedings of Presbytery for public record as the former part of the year. With scarcely any matters beyond the usual items of presbyterial business, the ordinary time was occupied by Presbytery. The whole year might have been passed over without any notice, only for recording the names added to the roll of Presbytery, and noticing the fact of the time and circumstances of the changes and dismission of others, to which it may be desirable hereafter to make reference.
At the stated meeting in October the Rev. JAMES CAMPBELL was re- ceived from the Presbytery of Hocking, and the Rev. JOSEPH B. ADAMS from the Presbytery of Tuscaloosa, who was orignally a licen- tiate of this Presbytery.
Mr. A. MILLER WOODS, the fourth son of the Rev. Dr. JAMES S. WOODS of Lewistown, was received under the care of Presbytery, as a candidate for the ministry, and assigned pieces of trial. At the request of a number of the members of the church of Hollidaysburg living in Altoona and its vicinity, a committee of Presbytery was ap- pointed to organize a Presbyterian church in that place. Such has been the rapid growth of that town, that it has risen to the propor- tions of a city, and actually obtained the chartered name, and is now known as the City of Altoona. There are at this time two flourishing Presbyterian churches there.
158
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
Rev. DAVID MCKINNEY, D. D., requested and obtained a dissolution of his pastoral relation to the church of Hollidaysburg, he having become editor and proprietor of the Presbyterian Banner, a paper lately established in Philadelphia, chiefly through his influence. The follow- ing resolution was offered by Rev. JAMES LINN of Bellefonte, in refer- ence to this enterprise :
" As our brother, DAVID MCKINNEY, D. D., has embarked in the weekly publication of a Presbyterian newspaper, at a very cheap rate ;
Resolved, Therefore, that Presbytery approve of Dr. MCKINNEY's enter- prise, and recommend to our ministers, and elders and members of the church to sustain him as far as they may think practicable."
The Rev. JOHN ELLIOTT, a licentiate' of the Presbytery of New Lisbon, was called to the pastoral charge of the Presbyterian church at Williamsburg, and at the adjourned meeting, held at Williamsburg in November following, he was received under care of Presbytery, or- dained and installed pastor of said church.
Mr. WILLIAM ALEXANDER, a member of the church of Shirleysburg, was after usual examination, received under the care of Presbytery as a student for the ministry, and recommended to the Board of Educa- tion. At the adjourned meeting held at Williamsburg, November 1, Dr. MCKINNEY was, at his own request, dismissed to the Presbytery of Philadelphia.
At the stated meeting in April, 1853, a call was laid before Presby- tery by the church of Hollidaysburg, for the Rev. D. X. JUNKIN of the Presbytery of Baltimore, and liberty granted to the congregation to prosecute it before said Presbytery. At the same meeting calls were presented from the congregations of Little Augwick and Upper Tus- carora for the pastoral services of the Rev. WILLIAM S. MORRISON of the Presbytery of Northumberland. At the adjourned meeting in June following, these calls were accepted by him, and in due time he was installed over said congregations, giving half of his time to each.
The following minute is found upon the records of the Presbytery in relation to Mr. FOOTE, a candidate for the ministry received under the care of Presbytery, and recommended to the Board of Education some years previously ; it is copied here as an honorable example, worthy of being followed in similar circumstances, and if more gene- rally imitated, would relieve the Board from much of the secret pre- judice against it :
" Mr. FOOTE, a candidate for the gospel ministry, asked leave to with- draw from under the care of the Presbytery, on account of the failure of
159
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
his health. His request was granted, and he was allowed to refund the moneys advanced by the Board of Education to him through the treasurer of this Presbytery, which he accordingly did."
We do not say that this is an exception to the general rule, but it is the only instance of moneys returned upon giving up studies in pre- paration for the ministry, which we have so far met with. We do not know what became of Mr. F. after this time, or whether living or not, but if deceased, we would engrave upon his tombstone these words, " Which he accordingly did," in honorable memorial of him.
The pastoral relation of the Rev. MILES T. MERWIN to the congrega- tion of Clearfield was dissolved at this time, at his request, and with consent of the congregation. A call was presented from Altoona con- gregation for Rev. DANIEL L. HUGHES for two thirds of his time. This call was afterwards declined by Mr. HUGHES.
Mr. ROBERT F. WILSON, a member of the church of West Kishaco- quillas, and a student of theology in the Seminary at Allegheny, was taken under care of the Presbytery, and pieces of trial were assigned him in view of licensure in due time.
At the adjourned meeting in June, the call which had been laid be- fore Presbytery from the church of Hollidaysburg for Rev. D. X. JUNKIN, D. D., having been declined by him, the congregation now laid before Presbytery a call for the Rev. ROBERT JOHNSTON, of the Presbytery of Carlisle, asking liberty to prosecute it. Rev. ISRAEL WARD resigned the charge of Spruce Creek 2d church, with consent of the congregation, Rev. JAMES NOURSE was dismissed to the Presby- tery of Baltimore, and Rev. JOHN PEEBLES returned the certificate of dismission, obtained at a former meeting, with a view to connect him- self with the Presbytery of Washington, and was dismissed to the Presbytery of Green Briar.
The churches of Pine Grove and Sinking Valley, each presented a call for Rev. D. L. HUGHES for one-half of his time as pastor of Spruce Creek Ist church, in connection with Pine Grove for one-third of his time. The call to Sinking Valley for the one-half of his time induced the congregation of Pine Grove to endeavor to take the one-half in- stead of the one-third. At the stated meeting in the Fall the matter between these several parties was decided by Mr. H. accepting the call for half his time from Sinking Valley, and to enable him to do so Presbytery dissolved his relation to Pine Grove congregation.
The call which had been presented by the congregation of Holli- daysburg, for the Rev. JOHN JOHNSTON of Carlisle Presbytery, was
160
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
declined by him, and at the stated meeting in the Fall the call to Dr. JUNKIN was renewed, and accepted by him at an adjourned meeting held during the meeting of the Synod in Philadelphia in the latter part of October, and he was installed in due time as pastor of the church by a committee of Presbytery.
The Rev. JOHN MCKINNEY laboring without the bounds of Presby- tery since the time of his resignation of the congregation of Alexan- dria, requested, by letter, a certificate of dismission to the Presbytery of Chicago, and was accordingly dismissed at this time to said Pres- bytery.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.