USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > Huntingdon > History of the Presbytery of Huntingdon > Part 29
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stated Spring meeting at Perrysville, Juniata county, on the 2d Tuesday of April, at which meeting Mr. ORBISON was present, and delivered a most interesting and satisfactory address on the subject of his mission, and on India in general; and the intelligence of his death reached the members of the Presbytery immediately on their return from the meeting. He was a young minister of very respectable tal- ents, substantial accomplishments, and devoted piety. He was natu- rally of a very amiable and quiet disposition, and held the respect and love of all his acquaintance. His sudden death was both a sur- prise and grief to the members of the Presbytery. Above all, they grieved that the foreign field should have been deprived so soon of so devoted and competent a laborer.
THOF HUNTER, LITH. PHIL!
REV.JAMES NOURSE.
REV. JAMES NOURSE.
J TAMES NOURSE was born in Washington City, D. C., April 30. 1805, second son of MICHAEL NOURSE and MARY RITTENHOUSE. He received the rudiments of his classical and mathematical educa- tion under the instruction of the Rev. JAMAS CARNAHAN, D. D., in Georgetown, D. C. He pursued and consummated his college course under the paternal care of Dr. M. BROWN of Jefferson College, Canons- burg, Pa., and shortly afterward, for further instruction, attended during one year at Dickinson College, when Dr. JOHN M. MASON was president of that institution. There he made a profession of religion. united with the church under the care of the Rev. Dr. DUFFIELD, and determined to devote himself to the service of God in the ministry. He pursued his theological studies at Princeton, was licensed by the Presbytery of the District of Columbia, and after engaging for a few months in the service of the colonization cause in the southern states. accepted an invitation to preach as a supply to the Presbyterian church in Germantown, Pa. He preached in Germantown for about eighteen months, and whilst residing there was married to Miss SARAII NORTH HARVEY, daughter of the Rev. SAMUEL HARVEY of that place. After leaving Germantown he preached for a short time at Taneytown. Maryland, and then accepted a call from the church of East Kishaco- quillas, in Huntingdon Presbytery. Of this church he was the effi- cient pastor for three years, when, owing to the trouble arising from the agitation of the temperance and anti-slavery causes-of both of which he was a zealous advocate-he resigned that charge, and removed to Williamsport in Western Pennsylvania, from whence, in a few months, he was called to the then recently organized church of Per- ryville, (now Milroy,) of which he was installed the first pastor in Oc- tober, 1834. In that congregation he preached for fifteen years to a sympathizing and attached people. His labors were incessant, he was
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especially active in the cause of temperance and of the abolition of slavery ; and both in the pulpit and through the press he was the earnest and able advocate of both these causes, at a period when such advocacy exposed him to much obloquy and reproach. But the great theme of his preaching was Christ Jesus, the divine Saviour, and sal- vation through him; and the blessing of God was upon his labors, as many precious souls were, through his instrumentality, brought to a knowledge of the Saviour. In the Autumn and Winter of 1842-3 especially, the church and congregation were visited with the gracious presence of the Holy Spirit in an extensive revival of religion, as the result of which about 130 persons were added to the church, doubling its membership, and greatly increasing the spirtuality and piety of its inembers ; nor were the benefits of this revival confined to the church and congregation, the whole community was elevated and perma. nently improved in its moral and religious character. During the fifteen years of the ministry of Mr. NOURSE at Milroy there were added to the church there 330 members, an average of twenty-two for each year. His history is that of an accurate and laborious scholar, an humble and devoted Christian, and a faithful minister of the Gos- pel. Besides performing the duties belonging to his pastoral charge he edited the Paragraph Bible with great care and labor, wrote several valuable tracts, prepared for the press a critical Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians, also an abridgement of Lowth's Lectures on Hebrew Poetry. In 1849 he relinquished his position as a pastor on account of a bronchial affection, under which he had long labored, and removed to Washington City, where in 1850 he became the prin- cipal of Central Academy, in which capacity he continued to labor with great earnestness and fidelity till near the time of his death.
For several months before this event took place he felt that his health was sufficiently restored to justify him in seeking another pastoral charge. His heart longed for the work of a pastor, and for the privilege of again preaching Christ, and his eyes were turned to the great Valley of the Mississippi as the field of his future labors in the ministry. In the latter part of June, 1854, he left his family and friends in Washington to visit the south-eastern part of Iowa, expect- ing, if Providence should favor his plans and hopes, to remove there in the Fall. But God had not so ordered. He went to Iowa to die. He reached Salem on the evening of the 4th of July, and complained of feeling very unwell. The next morning a physician was called,
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who informed him that his disease was cholera. Prompt and appro- priate remedies were administered, but to no purpose. He continued to sink under this dreadful malady, and at six o'clock in the evening life was extinguished, and his spirit passed away.
" Servant of God, well done! Rest from thy loved employ, The battle o'er the victory won, Enter thy Master's joy."
The congregation of Perryville, which he had served so long and so well, as soon as it was possible, sent a committee of its members to raise the body and convey it to their own cemetery, and rebury it among their dead, and his own dead, in shadow of the church build- ing in which he had so often ministered; there to rest till the resur- rection of the just.
REV. SAMUEL HILL.
EV. SAMUEL HILL was a native of Ireland, born near the
0 town of Newton- Limavady, County Derry, in 1791. His educa- tion preparatory to entering the University of Glasgow, was obtained near his father's home. His parents were members of the Presbyterian church, faithful and conscientious in training their children in the Catechisms and the Westminster Confession of Faith, and more than ordinarily intelligent on religious subjects. When SAMUEL connected himself with the church is not now known, but it must have been at an early age, as he entered the University of Glasgow at the age of fifteen, as a student, with a view to the ministry. He continued in the University for four years, passing through the various classes with the decided approbation of all the professors and great credit to himself. Each professor, as he passed from his class, certified to his diligence in study and eminent progress; and also to the excel- lenee of his moral character. These certificates are now to be seen in the possession of his family; and his Diploma is signed by not less than fifteen names of eminent professors in the various branches of a University education ; men even yet renowned through- out the literary and religious world. He graduated in April, 1810. Soon after his return from the University he was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Route. He studied Theology at Glasgow, which was then, and probably is yet, a branch of the reg- ular college studies, in the case of those who were designed for the ministry. He was licensed at the early age of twenty-one. After preaching some time in his native country, supplying vacan- cies by the appointment of Presbytery, he resolved to emigrate to America. Before this, however, he had married Miss MARY A. WIL- SON, the daughter of a "well-to-do" farmer in the immediate vicinity of his father's residence.
THOS HUNTER, LITH.PHILA
REV. SAMUEL HILL.
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He sailed from Londonderry in April, 1819, and landed at St. John's, New Brunswick, one of the British provinces of North Amerca, 'after the usual passage. He preached for eight months at Sheffield, a town near to St. John's, and might have been perma- nently settled there, but before his arrival the congregation had sent to Ireland for a minister whose coming they were awaiting. In May, 1820, Mr. HILL arrived in Philadelphia, the General Assembly being then in session in that city. He made the acquaintance of the venera- ble and Rev. GEO. C. Porrs, pastor of the 4th Presbyterian church, and a countryman of his own, to whom he showed his testimonials ; and the church of East Kishacoquillas having just become vacant by the death of its pastor-the Rev. JAMES JOHNSTON-by the advice of Mr. Porrs he visited the congregation. Having preached there with great acceptance till the meeting of the Presbytery in October, he applied to be received as a licentiate under the care of the Presbytery, and although the congregations of East Kishacoquillas and Little Valley were prepared to give him a call, it could not be put into his hands, he not having completed the term of probation prescribed by the General Assembly for foreign ministers; but he was appointed the stated supply of those congregations till the next meeting of the Presbytery, at which time arrangements were made for his ordina- tion and installation at the following meeting, when the term of his probation would have expired. The Presbytery made this arrange- ment in view of the urgency of the congregations to have Mr. HILL permanently settled amongst them, though the testimonials of Mr. HILL had not formally passed the inspection of Synod. The year of probation had expired before the Fall meeting of the Presbytery, at which time arrangements were made for the ordination and installa- tion ; but the. Synod did not meet till later in the month. For this, on a review of the minutes, exceptions was taken by the Synod. But the Presbytery knew that the testimonials of Mr. HILL were so full and satisfactory that the Synod would and could have no objections to his reception, and, therefore, did not wait the formal approval of Synod. However Mr. HILL was not actually ordained and installed till after his papers had been approved by the Synod; they only made arrangements to this end, confident that testimonials so satis- factory could not fail to be approved by the Synod.
In view of the fact that, before this time and afterwards, the Presbyteries had been often imposed upon by forged and partial testi-
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monials of foreign ministers, who had left their countries under cen- sure-either being suspended or deposed from the ministry, or who would have been, had they not fled from discipline; it was exceed- ingly refreshing to the members of the Presbytery to find a foreign minister so fully and unquestionably recommended, and they were disposed to signalize it by showing every readiness to receive the appli- cant, and conceding mere formalities. They would show that their opposition was not to foreign ministers, but to foreign ministers with- out character.
Mr. HILL was ordained and installed pastor of the congregations of East Kishacoquillas and Little Valley, October 3, 1821.
The following extracts from the testimonials of Mr. HILL will satisfy all reasonable persons that the Presbytery was not too hasty in its action, or inconsiderate. The first extract is from the formal certificate of the Presbytery of Ronte; the second, from the collateral evidence, from individual ministers and members of the Synod of Ulster :
" Since the time he (Mr. HILL) obtained license he has preached within the bounds of our Presbytery, in a manner highly acceptable, both to us and to the people-that his acquirements in general knowledge are very considerable-that his character as a private christian has uni- formly stood high, his conduct having been exemplary and becoming the Gospel ; and as he has now formed a resolution of emigrating to the United States of America, we do hereby recommend him to the attention and patronage of any society of christians to which he may think fit to annex himself. Signed :
JOHN PATTERSON, Mod'r Presbytery of Ronte. JAMES BROWN, Clerk of Presbytery. R. RENTOUL, Minister of Ballykelly. RICHARD DILL, Minister of Drumacose.
J. WHITESIDE, of Colraine. SAMUEL BUTLER, Minister of Magilligan." This extract includes both Mr. and Mrs. HILL :
" They leave this country with the fairest characters, and we whose names are hereto annexed, have no hesitation in recommending them as persons deserving the patronage and attention of those with whom in any depart- ment of life they may hereafter be connected."
WILLIAM PORTER, Presb. Minister, Newton-Limavady. RICHARD DILL, Drumacose.
MARCUS DILL, M. D., Ballykelly. JOHN ROSS.
Newton-Limavady, June 3, 1819."
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Mr. HILL continued to be the pastor of East Kishacoquillas and Little Valley congregations till February 6, 1825, when at his request and with reluctant consent of the congregations, the pastoral rela- ยท tion was dissolved to enable him to accept of a call from the 1st. Associate Reformed congregation of Pittsburg. His ministry in East Kishacoquillas was very successful while he continued with that charge. Large accessions were made to the church. The first year of his incumbency he received to the communion of the church upwards of one hundred persons, and this as the result of the ordinary ministry of the word, no extra services more than those usually had on com- munion occasions. The greatest mistake of Mr. HILL's life was made when he left this charge to accept of the call to the church in the city of Pittsburg.
Mr. HILL removed to Pittsburg, but did not remain to be installed over the congregation which had called him, but returned within the bounds of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, and we find him in the Fall of 1825, present at the meeting of the Presbytery, and invited as a member of the Associate Reformed Presbytery of Monon- gahela, to sit as a corresponding member.
We do not know that we are fully 'aware of the reasons inducing Mr. HILL so suddenly to leave the congregation at Pittsburg, and before his installation ; but certainly it was better to leave before than soon afterwards, and the mistake may have been in not con- sulting the Presbytery. Mr. HILL was always a decided temperance advocate. Too many of the congregation were engaged in the liquor traffic, members of the church, and that in its most objectionable and inconsistent forms. Concerning the iniquity he could not consistently or conscientiously hold this peace, and foreseeing the uproar that would follow, thought it more prudent for him to retire. Such was the state of public sentiment at that time on the subject, that no one man could hope to stem the torrent. At this day that congregation would be fully in accordance with Mr. HILL on the subject of temperance. But it was not so then.
However, the Associate Reformed Presbytery was offended, and refused Mr. HILL a certificate of dismission to rejoin the Presbytery of Huntingdon ; and thus the case remained till April, 1827. In the meantime he was engaged in supplying the congregations of Spruce Creek and Sinking Valley which were very desirous to give him a call and have him for their pastor. At the time above
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referred to, the Presbytery believing that something ought to be done to relieve Mr. HILL from the difficulties under which he labored, passed the following minute :
. WHEREAS, this Presbytery has credible evidence from verbal testimony, that some of the members of the Monongahela Presbytery have con- sidered Mr. HILL for sometime past as not amenable to them; and whereas, the Moderator and Clerk of the Monongahela Presbytery have certified that his conduct, while within their bounds, was exemplary and orderly, except in the manner of his departure from the congregation of Pitts- burg, &c., &c .; therefore,
Resolved, That the said SAMUEL HILL be received as a member of this Presbytery.
At the meeting of the Presbytery succeeding this calls were pre- sented from Sinking Valley and Spruce Creek for the pastoral services of Mr. HILL; which he accepted, and he was installed over these con- gregations, October 11, 1827.
Mr. HILL continued in these united congregations till June 16, 1835, when, at his request and with the consent of the congregation, he was released from Sinking Valley, but continued for some years afterwards to be the pastor of Spruce Creek and the stated supply of Birmingham, a congregation which a short time before had been organized by Mr. HILL by appointment of Presbytery. In October, 1843, his pastoral relation to Spruce Creek was, at his request, dis- solved, and he removed to the vicinity of Pittsburg. He served the congregation of Mckeesport as a stated supply for two years; and Saltsburg, Blairsville Presbytery, for a short time, when he returned within the bounds of the Presbytery of Huntingdon and became the stated supply of East Freedom and Martinsburg, which he served in that capacity for nine or ten years ; and afterwards was for four years the supply of the congregation of Shavers Creek. This closed the active labors of Mr. HILL in the ministry in connection with a congre- gation. He continued to live in retirement in the family of his youngest son. He died at Hollidaysburg after a short sickness, on the 14th of March, 1872, in the 81st year of his age. Three sons and one daughter survive him. Mrs. HILL died several years before him, while residing with their son, then living in East Kishacoquillas Valley.
Mr. HILL was an able and accomplished minister of the New Tes- tament. His preparatory education was of the most substantial
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character. He did not enter the ministry till he had passed through all the usual parts of a thorough literary and theological education, with the eminent approbation of his teachers; and he was a close student and an immense reader all his life. A few weeks before his death he completed the reading of two volumes of Dr. HODGE's Systematic Theology, and could give a verbal statement of their con- tents on every subject of which they treat ; and any points of which he doubted, or in any respect differed from the author. (For he was no blind reader, and yielded to no authority, however eminent, but the Word of God.) By continued application to study, and constant exercise of his faculties, he retained his mental powers to the very last. While his limbs were tremulous with age no man could detect the least decay in his mental faculties. We do not recollect that he expressed any substantial difference from Dr. HODGE's views on any subject save one; and we know that Dr. HODGE, as a theologian, stood as high as any other man in his estimation.
Mr. HILL was a thoroughly read theologian, and zealously attached to the Calvinistic System of Theology, and never failed to preach in accordance with it on all occasions. He was at the same time a zealous practical preacher. He was by no means a neutral or negative character. He stood up for the truth in doctrine and in practice at all times and at all hazards. Had he lived in persecu- ting times, he would have been a martyr. Had it not been for his strictness in doctrine and discipline he would have been one of the most popular preachers of the part of country in which he served ; for he was not only a learned but an eloquent preacher. He was accustomed in the land of his birth, and the country of his theo- logical education, to hear long sermons ; at least, what the people would now consider unreasonably long; and this was the chief fault we have ever heard an orthodox man or a christian find with Mr. HILL's preaching. To the inquiry-" What was the character of Mr. HILL's preaching?" in nine cases out of ten, the reply would be : "His sermons were long, but we never became wearied or flagged in our attention." He was a very instructive preacher. That Mr. HILL had enemies may be inferred from his character-his was no negative character; but a consequence of this also was, that he had warm friends. The private character of Mr. HILL was often very much mistaken. Persons supposed that a man so uncompromising in doc- trine and discipline, must be a very sour and morose man in private
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life. On the contrary, he was one of the most condescending, cour- teous and hospitable of men. He was a most pleasant and cheerful companion with young and old, with men and women; very readily approached, and most conciliating in his manners.
With all his talents and attainments, he was a very modest man. In Presbytery or other church courts he was not forward in express- ing his views. He seldom spoke, only in regard to important sub- jects, and then never long. He seemed to have more humble views of himself than friend or enemy ever entertained. Of his last sick- ness it is unnecessary to speak, it was short and his end was peaceful ; as long as he was able to speak he expressed his confidence in the doctrines he had preached, and his unshaken trust in that Saviour he had recommended to others. His afflictions during life had been many and at times severe; in frequent personal sickness, the death of wife and children, and otherwise ; but now they are all ended, and he with his Master in glory.
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REV. GEORGE GRAY.
TT is to be regretted that so little is now known of the subject of this sketch. Of his parentage and early life nothing is now known, save that he was a native of the North of Ireland. He was licensed and ordained by the Congregational Association of Ireland in 1810. Where he obtained his literary and theological education, whether in Ireland, England, or Scotland, is not known. When he came to this country is also unknown. The first certain information we have respecting him is derived from the minutes of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, under date of October 4, 1825, when he was received from the Presbytery of Northumberland. At the same time calls were presented to Presbytery for his pastoral services from the united congregations of Upper Tuscarora and Aughwick. The same season he was installed pastor of the above congregations by a committee of Presbytery.
At the stated meeting of the Presbytery, October 3, 1843, Mr. GREY resigned the charge of the congregation of Aughwich; and in the Fall of 1849 his pastoral relation to Upper Tuscarora was dissolved at his own request, on account of ill health.
Mr. GRAY held the charge of the congregation of Aughwick for eighteen years, and it is believed that the cause of his resignation at the time was a fall from his horse, which had so seriously crippled him as to incapacitate him to serve between two congregations, whose houses of worship were twelve miles apart. He served the congrega- tion of Upper Tuscarora for twenty-four years, with general accep- tance. After the resignation of his charge, Mr. GRAY was unable to preach much, if any at all, though he lived several years afterwards. He died in the Summer of 1857, being more than three score and ten years old.
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Mr. GRAY was in person a man of more than ordinary height, and became quite corpulent as he advanced in years. In regard to his character as a citizen, a christian, and a minister, he died without a blemish. As to his qualifications as a preacher, without any definite knowledge on the subject, it may be reasonably inferred that they were quite respectable, from the length of time he served acceptably his congregations. Mr. GRAY was not married till after his settlement in Tuscarora Valley. His widow and several children survived him.
REV. ALBERT B. CLARKE, AND
REV. JOHN H. CLARKE.
THE persons whose names head this sketch were brothers. Their parents were residents of Schellsburg, Bedford county, Pa. where both were born; Albert B., July 14, 1817, and John Henry' November 29, 1831.
Albert spent the first year of his college course at South Hanover College, Indiana, but graduated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.
John pursued his studies preparatory for college in Legonier Valley, and graduated at Jefferson College in 1852. Both pursued and com- pleted their theological studies at the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pa.
Albert B. was licensed by the Presbytery of Carlisle, April, 1841. and ordained by the Presbytery of Blairsville, January, 1842, having accepted a call from the congregation of Legonier, within the bounds of said Presbytery.
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