USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > Huntingdon > History of the Presbytery of Huntingdon > Part 24
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fourth Sabbath, and afterwards of each alternate Sabbath. After preach- ing twice at Chillisquaque, his custom was to go to Milton and hold a third service, thus accommodating those members of his congregations who were not able to go to their respective places of worship in the morning. Mr. BRYSON continued to preach statedly at Milton to December, 1811, when, from the increase of the population of the place, it became necessary to organize a congregation there, he retired and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. HOOD, who afterwards became pastor of the congregation of Milton.
Through the grace of our Lord, Father BRYSON was a laborious and zealous minister of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. Being the only minister of our Church, during many years, in the forks of the Susque- hanna, he preached often, on week days, on Fishing Creek and at different points in what is now Columbia county, also at Pennsboro' (now Muncy), and different places on the West Branch. Under his long and faithful ministry of the Word, his regular annual family visitations, catechising the children and youth, attending prayer meeting, &c., his charge was favor- ed repeatedly with times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and grew and prospered. He was eminently a man of prayer, serving the Lord with all humility of mind. He was a mighty textuary. His sermons are replete with opposite quotations from the sacred scriptures, and he was habitually ready to quote largely and accurately from the Divine Word. One might almost have supposed that he had the whole Bible committed to memory. (Within the territorial boundaries of the original charge of Father BRYSON are now the churches of Muncy, Warrior Run, McEwens- ville, Milton, Chillisquaque and Mooresburg.)
With a spirit chastened by manifold afflictions, Mr. BRYSON was pecu- liarly fitted to pour the oil of consolation into the wounded and contrite heart. In private life, the graces of the christian character shown with de- lightful lustre. An affectionate husband, a tender parent, a kind and benevolent neighbor, his ear was ever open to the cry of distress, and his hand ready to relieve the wants of the necessitous, with exemplary liberal- ity. At length, as the gracious Master was leading his aged disciple to the last experience on earth, the venerable minister essayed to gird up the loins of his mind, and gave, among others, the following testimony written down by me immediately after its utterance :
" In closing my earthly pilgrimage, I leave the world under a firm con- viction that the doctrines of grace, as set forth in the standards of our church, and which as God has given me grace, I have endeavored to preach, are the pure doctrines of the Gospel; and in full and steadfast belief of their truth, especially of that great and cheering truth they prominently set forth of the imputation of a Saviour's righteousness receiv- ed by faith alone, I enter the world of spirits and confidently commit my spirit to my merciful Redeemer and Judge, trusting that his righteousness is mine through faith, which is by the operation of his Spirit."
Early on the morning of the third day of August, 1855, at his residence in Northumberland county, the spirit of Father BRYSON returned unto
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God who gave it. In the month of the previous January he had entered on the ninety-eighth year of his life, at the time of his death, the oldest minister of the Presbyterian church in the United States. During some days previous to his decease his sufferings were considerable; but as his dissolution drew near, those sufferings ceased, he passed away without a struggle and without a groan.
It was on the morning of the holy Sabbath, that most of the families of Warrior Run, Chillisquaque, MeEwensville, and other congregations, filled the house and gathered around the home in which the beloved old minister had so long sojourned. And then in long rnd quiet procession, they went to the church in McEwensville, there to hear a funeral discourse delivered by Rev. JAMES CLARKE, D. D., (then pastor of Lewisburg,) from Psalms 16: 15: " Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." The body was laid in the congregational cemetery near the village, and the soul of Father BRYSON is, we trust, with the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the sheep.
Of the seven children of Father BRYSON, four survived him. Two died in early childhood. In 1832 his youngest son, Robert, a graduate of Dick- inson College and Princeton Theological Seminary, died at the early age of 24 years, after faithfully preaching the Gospel for eighteen months, and about two weeks subsequent to his ordination.
I cannot give the precise dates and places of Father BRYSON's licensure and ordination and installation, or at the organization of the Presbytery of Huntingdon and Northumberland, both of which he was an original mem- ber. By writing to the Rev. ANDREW D. MITCHELL, Harrisburg, who has, in his possession all the records of the Carlisle Presbytery, and by ref- erence to the early records of Huntingdon Presbytery, you can ascertain these facts if you deem it necessary.
With kindest regards to you and yours,
Yours in Church bonds,
JOHN P. HUDSON.
REV. JOHN BOYD PATTERSON.
REV. JNO. BOYD PATTERSON was of Scotch-Irish decent. His father was a native of the North of Ireland, and his mother was a Scotch woman. Immediately after marriage they emigrated to the United States of America, some time prior to active hostilities be- tween the mother country and the American Colonies. Mr. PATTER- SON took part, as a common soldier, in the Revolutionary struggle, and was engaged in some important battles in defence of his adopted country.
He was a stone-mason by trade, which occupation he followed in early life until, by the blessing of God on his honest industry and economy, he was enabled to procure a farm in Lancaster county, Pa., on which he lived to an advanced age, respected as a man of sound integrity, a consistent christian and an efficient ruling elder in the Middle Octorara church. He died in 1825, aged 82 years. His wife, who was a true helpmete, survived his husband only one week.
Their family consisted of two sons and five daughters, who all lived and died in the faith and hope of the glorious Gospel, in which they had been trained by the precepts and example of their pious parents.
JOHN B. PATTERSON was next to the youngest of the family, and was born A. D. 1773. Of his youth and early religious experience there is now no means of obtaining accurate information. It would seem to be a legitimate conclusion, that by the blessing of a covenant- keeping God on the instruction, example and prayers of these faithful parents, early piety had been secured to their offspring.
J. B. PATTERSON pursued his Academical studies under the direction of Rev. N. W. SAMPEL, at Strasburg, Lancaster county, Pa., and was employed as assistant teacher in the Strasburg Academy. At this time some young men were inducted into the ministry without going farther than Strasburg for their literary and theological education. But the importance of thoroughi education in the ministry was so
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deeply impressed on the mind of Mr. PATTERSON that he refused to join them, and resolved to produce a diploma from some regular col- lege or university, as the Constitution of the Church requires. Pecu- niary difficulties lay in the way of a collegiate course. But rather than fail in this important qualification in the ministry, he proposed to earn the necessary means by his own manual labor. But when it was seen that his purpose was fixed the means were provided, and he entered the University of Philadelphia in 1793, and graduated A. B. 1795. After graduating he served some time in the capacity of tutor in the University. He was an accurate scholar in the Latin and Greek languages, and has left evidence of his having paid very considerable attention to the various branches of science, composing the college curriculum of those days.
He studied theology under the superintendence of Rev. N. W. SAM- PEL, at Strasburg, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Castle in 1797. Immediately after license he was employed by the General Assembly as a Missionary, and was sent to supply some vacancies in the State of Maryland.
He afterwards went as missionary through the northeastern part of Pennsylvania and into the State of New York, and on what was then called the Genesee country. On his return he passed through Nor- thumberland county, Pa., and lodged at the house of Rev. JOHN BRY- SON, in Warrior Run. Mr. BRYSON informed him of the congregations of Derry and Mahoning (or Danville), where churches had been lately organized, and advised him to visit them, which he did; and in the Fall of 1798 he received a unanimous call to become the pastor of these united congregations. He accepted the above call, and in 1799 he was ordained and installed pastor of these congregations by the Presbytery of Huntingdon.
In 1802 he was united in matrimony with Miss REBECCA BOYD, who, being a woman of active mind, ardent piety, and great decision of character, proved to be a useful helpmete to him in his sacred voca- tion. He had four sons and five daughters, who grew up to adult age. And although his salary never exceeded $400 per annum, and that not promptly paid, yet he managed to give three of his sons a liberal or collegiate education, and to assist them in the pursuit of their professional studies; and besides all this, he left property sufficient to make comfortable homes for the other children.
Mr. PATTERSON labored peacefully, with acceptance and with a good degree of success in the congregations of Derry and Mahoning, till
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the year 1831, when the pastoral relation between him and the con- gregation of Mahoning was, at his request, dissolved; that congrega- tion having become able and desirous to have the whole of a pastor's services.
From this time his ministerial labors were chiefly confined to the congregations of Derry and Washingtonville, a village in the vicinity of which he resided, and where a church had been organized.
He lived in those days when ordination and installation were re- garded as sacred Divine institutions, and when the formation of the pastoral relation between minister and congregation resembled that unicon of which it is written, "What God hath joined together let no man put asunder." He was the regularly installed pastor of the Derry congregation for forty-four years; and he resided in the same place during his whole ministerial life.
Mr. PATTERSON was one of those old-fashioned divines who delivered their sermons memoriter. He was in the habit of writing out his dis- courses in full and committing them to memory, and although he always carried his manuscript to church in his pocket, he was never known to make use of it in the pulpit. His chirography was unfor- tunately so nearly hieroglyphical as to render it illegible, so that while he left bundles of written sermons, no one has been able to read them. It is not known that any of his sermons have been printed.
He was, from conviction, an Old School Presbyterian. He adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith, Form of Government, and Book of Discipline, without any mental reservation. In receiving the pub- lic symbols of our church he made no exception to any article in them. He was once invited to marry a couple, and when he arrived at the house and ascertained that the bride was sister to the groom's former wife he left straightway, refusing to solemnize the contract, which, according to his creed, was unlawful.
He was conscientiously observant of punctuality in the fulfilment of all his engagements. Neither heat or cold, wet or dry, was made an apology for non-attendance when he had made an appointment or had a ministerial duty to discharge. And his place was seldom vacant in the Courts of the Church when it was his duty or privilege to attend.
By his assiduous and serious attention to the business of Church courts he acquired a character for sobriety, justice and moderation, which enabled him to exert a good and salutary influence on the
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action of those bodies. He was regarded as a pacificator among his brethren in times of excitement and diversity of views or feelings. And some times when, for prudential motives he was "slow to speak," his views were called for by the members of Presbytery ; and long since his voice has ceased to be heard, his sentiments have been quoted as authority on various subjects.
As an evidence of the estimation in which he was held by his brethren, he was chosen Moderator of the Synod of Philadelphia at its sessions held in Harrisburg in 1817.
His chosen mode of traveling was on horse-back. He kept a good hackney, whose only use was to carry him in the performance of his pastoral duties, and in his longer journeys in attending the meetings of Presbytery and the Synod. By the same mode of conveyance he went to Philadelphia-130 miles-to attend meetings of the General Assembly, to which he was frequently a delegate in the early part of his ministry.
In his common intercourse with society he was free and familiar --- but always maintained the dignity of a christian minister. While fond of innocent mirth and hearty good cheer, he always discounte- nanced improper levity and frowned on any thing mean, immoral or unchristian, in either word or deed.
He endeavored, as much as in him lay, to "live peaceably with all men," and taught, by both precept and example, that it is better to " suffer loss than to go to law." A little incident will illustrate: Mr. PATTERSON resided on a farm and his neighbor W. G. on an adjoining farm, was a careless, indolent and vicious man, whose chief protection to his crops was a pack of dogs. Mr. P. was careful to keep a good fence on the line between their farms. But on a certain occasion Mr. P.'s cattle broke over on his neighbor's ground, and the dogs were set on them and killed a valuable ox. W. G. expected a visit by a civil officer as a matter of course. But Mr. P. overlooked the whole affair, showed no signs of displeasure or resentment, and made no demand for restitution for his loss. This treatment of the case so operated on the mind of his neighbor that he gave orders that the dogs should never be set on Mr. PATTERSON's cattle again.
The following is an extract from an obituary notice published by the Presbytery of Northumberland, shortly after his decease :
" Though he would have been the last of men either to give or sanction flattery of the living or the dead ; yet the Presbytery feel that it is only a proper tribute to his memory to say that he was a man of good talents and
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acquirements, a sound and pious preacher, a judicious counsellor, cautious in forming intimacies, but firm in his friendship, almost proverbially pru- dent, mild in manners, and one who scarcely ever, if at all, had an enemy.
" Natural diffidence and modesty drew a veil over his talents and caused him to shun public notice; and while they brightened his private character, seemed rather to have repressed his mental energies and prevented him from occupying a more conspicuous place in the church than he ever reached.
" Few christians lived outwardly more consistently than he did. Not long before his death he said to a brother, that he had been reviewing his course as a preacher, and if he had his life to live over he did not see that he should alter it in the least. We can all testify that he preached Christ and him crucified fully, plainly, affectionately and faithfully."
He was severely afflicted (with gravel) during the last few years of his life. Yet he continued to preach regularly till the Sabbath pre- vious to his death. His death was somewhat sudden. Being in his usual health he was suddenly called to endure extreme pain. Al- though by surgical assistance he obtained relief, he was so exhausted as to be unable to resuscitate. His last moments were calm and peaceful-his body free from pain, and his mind clear and unclouded. When the time of his departure was at hand he said, "I have been long looking to the event and I am not afraid to die. I am a sinner saved by grace." And after giving some directions to his family in relation to their future course, he closed his eyes and departed in peace. He died May 8, 1843, in the seventy-first year of his age. He was buried in the grave-yard at the Mahoning Church, Danville.
As a token of affectionate remembrance the congregations of Derry and Mahoning erected a suitable monument over his grave.
NOTE .- This sketch of the life of the venerated JOHN B. PATTERSON was written by his son, the Rev. MATTHEW B. PATTERSON, of Freeport, Ill., and forwarded to me, accompanied with the following note :
FREEPORT, February 8, 1872.
DEAR BRO .- I have endeavored to comply with your request in furnishing you a sketch of my father's life and death. I hope it will serve the purpose you have in view. You are at liberty to make what use of my notice that you may think proper.
Yours, truly, M. B. PATTERSON.
REV. ASA DUNHAM.
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I AM indebted to the courtesy of the Rev. W. SIMONTON, S. C. of the Presbytery of Northumberland, for the following sketch of the life of Mr. DUNHAM, transcribed from the Obituary Book of the Pres- bytery of Northumberland :
" The Rev. ASA DUNHAM was the son of NEHEMIAH DUNHAM, who was descended from the Puritans, and was a man of ardent piety, sterling integrity, and great independence of character. ASA was born in Piseat- taway, Middlesex county, New Jersey, and at an early age removed, with his father, to Kingwood, Hunterdon county, N. J. At what time he became hopefully pious is not now known. His preparatory studies for the ministry were commenced late in life.
" He pursued his classical and theological course in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and was licensed and ordained by the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick. His first pastoral charge was the united churches of Oxford, N. J., and Upper Mt. Bethel, Pa. At what time he settled in these churches, and removed from them, cannot now be ascertained. He removed from Oxford and Mt. Bethel to Hemlock township, Columbia county, Pa., and preached at Briar Creek and Catawissa. For a number of years prior to his death he was without a pastoral charge.
" He was zealously interested in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, and spent several years as an agent in collecting funds for the endowment of that institutson. He was also deeply interested in the missionary opera- tions of the church.
" During his settlement over his last pastoral charge his dwelling was destroyed by fire, and every member of his family, to wit: his wife, mother and two daughters, perished in the flames. He died on his farm in Hem- lock township, Columbia county, Pa., in the autumn of 1825, in the 73d year of his age. Mr. DUNHAM had five wives, (separatim et seriatim,) the last of whom survived him some years."
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As to his character as a preacher, another writes : " He was not con- sidered a good sermonizer, but an excellent exhorter."
Mr. DUNHAM was first received by the Presbytery of Huntingdon from the Presbytery of New Brunswick, April 10, 1798, and the next day was appointed to represent the Presbytery in the General Assem- bly, in connection with the Rev. JOHN JOHNSON. At the division of the Presbytery in 1811, he fell within the bounds of the Presbytery of Northumberland.
Attendance upon the meetings of the General Assembly, in those times, was no pleasure trip; as it implied long and fatiguing rides on horse-back, over rough roads.
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REV. ALEXANDER M'ILWAINE.
ITTHE Rev. A. McILWAINE came from Ireland to this country in the latter part of the year 1797, or the beginning of the next year. He was a licentiate of the Presbytery of Letterkenny, "in the King- dom of Ireland." He made application to be received under the care of the Presbytery of Huntingdon at its stated Spring meeting in 1798, but not having the collateral testimony which the Synod required, besides the formal and usual testimonials always required, he was not at that time received, but permitted to labor within the bounds of the Presbytery till the next meeting. At an adjourned meeting held in January, 1799, the way being clear, he was received as a candidate under the care of the Presbytery. On the 2d of October of the same year he received and accepted calls from Upper Tuscarora and Little Anghwick congregations. He was ordained and installed as pastor of the before named congregations, on the 5th day of November following. Mr. McILWAINE appears to have been a man of feeble constitution. He only lived to labor for a few years in these congregations. He died on the 6th of March, 1807. He died of con- sumption. All reports concerning his character as a man, and as a minister, are very favorable from those who had opportunity of knowing.
REV. WILLIAM A. BOYD.
THE Rev. W. A. BOYD was a native of Lancaster county, Pa. He graduated at Dickinson College in the year 1809. Was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of New Castle. He received calls from the united congregations of Spruce Creek and Sinking Valley, in the latter part of the year 1816, which he accepted, and was ordained and installed pastor of said congregations April 2, 1817. In the Fall of 1821, he resigned his charge on account of ill health. He died of consumption on the 11th of May, 1823.
The late venerable Dr. LINN of Bellefonte, who was co-temporary with him, but lived long afterwards, thus speaks of him in an obituary notice : "He was a young man of good mind, and fine taste. His sermons were prepared with much care, and combined in a short compass a great deal of good matter. He was highly esteeined in his congregations, and was a good member of Presbytery."
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REV. JOHN COULTER.
ITTHE Rev. JOHN COULTER was a native of Ireland. He came to this country while young. He studied Theology under the direction of the Rev. NATHANIEL SAMPLE of New Castle Presbytery, and received licensure from that Presbytery. He was dismissed as a licentiate to the care of the Presbytery of Huntingdon in 1801, having received calls from the united congregations of Lower and Middle Tuscarora, over which he was ordained and installed August 11, 1801.
He continued to be the pastor of those churches till his death, which took place June 22, 1834.
The late Rev. Dr. LINN gives the following summary of his character as a minister and a presbyter.
" He was a good and faithful pastor, industrious in the performance of his duty, reproving and exhorting publicly and privately, with all the kindness of a true friend, and as one who was to give an account of his stewardship. He was very regular and punctual in attending to the judicatories of the church. He was very seldom absent from meetings of Presbytery, or of Synod, and often represented the Presbytery in the General Assembly. He was well acquainted with the business of church courts, and was a good and prudent counsellor. In any difficult cases he was always looked up to for his opinion and advice, which were always considered sound and good. In his removal, the Presbytery lost one who was deservedly accounted a father amongst them."
At the first meeting of the Presbytery, after the decease of Mr. COULTER, the following minute was adopted :
" The Presbytery record with unfeigned sensibility, though with humble acquiescence, the recent afflictive dispensation of Divine Providence in the removal by death of the Rev. JOHN COULTER, one of the oldest and most efficient of our members. While we mourn his removal from his earthly
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sphere of most exemplary activity and usefulness, we would faithfully cherish in our memory his many virtues, especially his uncommon punctu- ality, and his prudence as a member of our ecclesiastical judicatories, and entertain the pleasing hope that he now rests from his labors, and his works do follow him to the sanctuary above."
Mr. COULTER was the stated clerk of Presbytery at the time of his death, and had held this office from 1811. He left a family of sons and daughters. We have no particular knowledge of any of them, except one son, who studied for the ministry, graduated at Jefferson College, was licensed by the Presbytery October 4, 1833, and died in a few weeks after his licensure, and a few months before his father.
REV. JOHN HUTCHESON.
0 BITUARY published in the Presbyterian of November 23, 1844, signed M. written, it is supposed, by a brother who was well informed of the facts pertaining to the life and death of the de- ceased :
He was born on the 17th of December, A. D., 1775, in Dauphin county, Pa., was brought up on a farm with his father, until of suffi- cient strength to attend a grist and saw mill, which he did until near twenty years of age. He then spent three years in learning the languages, occasionally teaching school to procure necessary means. He entered Dickinson College, Carlisle, and graduated at that seat of learning in 1802, under the celebrated CHARLES NISBET, D. D. He was licensed to preach in the Fall of 1804, and received a call from the congregation of Mifflintown and Lost Creek, in the Summer of 1805, where he continued to labor until the commencement of his last illness, a period, a little exceeding thirty-nine years. He was attacked in January, 1837, with an alarming hemorrhage of the lungs, which prevented his preaching for six weeks, after which he continued till the 8th of October, 1844, when he had a return of the hemorrhage, and after repeated and profuse bleeding from the lungs, his life was terminated by the extreme prostration, at half past six o'clock on the morning of the 11th of November.
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