USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > History of the Presbytery of Washington : including a brief account of the planting of the Presbyterian church in Western Pennsylvania and parts adjacent, with sketches of pioneer ministers and ruling elders ; also sketches of later ministers and ruling elders > Part 26
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SPIRITUAL HISTORY .- Sabbath-School Work .- This school was organized by Rev. E. McCurdy, in 1818, with Mr. George An- derson as Superintendent, and James Justice as Secretary. - The teachers elected were Archie Barton, Samuel Fulton, James and John Proudfoot, George Anderson and John Duncan, Sr. The second Superintendent was Hon. James McFerran, who served from 1820 till 1860; W. J. Cool, 1860 to November, 1879; J. P. Magill, November, 1879, to December, 1882; Finley Scott, De- cember, 1882, to December, 1886. Since then the pastor has acted in that capacity. The school now has twelve teachers, with an average attendance of eighty pupils. The young men who have gone from this school to preach the Gospel, number thirteen, viz : Revs. Francis McFarland, D.D., Ezekiel Glasgow, John Kerr, J. C. Caldwell, D.D., W. R. Vincent, Jesse Bruce, John McFarland, J. M. Fulton, Thomas J. Stevenson, W. P. Fulton, and G. A. Duncan, a candidate who died January II, 1882.
Messrs. W. F. Plumer and J. Ross Stevenson, licentiates, and G. W. Fulton, expect to complete their seminary studies next year. This church has furnished but one missionary, Rev. John McFarland, of Alaska.
We have no record of the number or the names of the first members of this church, but the present membership is over two hundred and sixty.
We have a general prayer-meeting, and a young people's meeting, held each week, and once a month the Woman's Mis- sionary Society and Home Mission Circle meet.
The church, during this its first century, has many times been refreshed by the manifest presence of the Lord. During the first pastorate, in 1801-02, the whole community was aroused, and hundreds were brought to bow before King Jesus. This was truly a work of God's Spirit, as was clearly shown by the fruit that was produced. A train of spiritual influences followed that has been felt the world over. The people longed to know more of higher and better things; so schools, Bible readings and
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meetings for prayer were established throughout the community. Not only by the Session was the pastor aided in this good work, but the majority of the members were active also. This state of feeling continued for several years, and, although one hundred and thirty united with this church and Three Springs, yet but few cases of apostasy occurred.
During some of the pastorates of the succeeding years, up to the present time, the laborers have been rewarded by seeing many " turn from darkness to light." Other pastors have sowed bountifully the seeds of truth, but have not witnessed any great religious awakening during their ministry. "One soweth and another reapeth, and both shall receive their reward."
While we are glad that we enjoy the privileges of a church so fraught with historic memories, yet we remember that "unto whom much is given shall much be required."
THREE SPRINGS .*
As early as 1790 an appointment was made by the Presbytery of Redstone for one of its members to preach at Three Springs, on the third Sabbath of November of said year. It is not known how much occasional preaching there was in the years follow- ing, nor in what year the first elders were elected. The history of the church begins practically in 1799, when Elisha Macurdy, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Ohio was called to become pastor of the two churches of Cross Roads and Three Springs. Mr. Ma- curdy was ordained and installed the year following. He was re- leased from Three Springs in 1824, and from Cross Roads in 1835.
His successors at Three Springs have been the following : Rev. Samuel Reed, Three Springs and The Flats, 1826-29; Rev. Richard Brown, 1832-35; Rev. R. M. White, Three Springs and The Flats, 1837-42; Rev. George Gordon, Three Springs and Frankfort, 1846-50; Rev. John Y. Calhoun, 18544-61 ; Rev. D. H. Laverty, Three Springs and Frankfort, 1863-65 ; Rev. John B. Graham, Three Springs and Cove, 1866-78; Rev. Wm. I. Brugh, D.D., stated supply, 1879-87; Rev. A. B. Lowes, stated supply, 1889.
Rev. J. Work Scott, D.D., while conducting an academy at * By REV. W. F. HAMILTON.
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Steubenville, was stated supply at Three Springs in 1836, and also in 1844. J. F. Magill, licentiate, was stated supply for a short time after his licensure in 1861.
RULING ELDERS .--- At the time of Mr. Macurdy's settlement the elders were, John Goodman Young, William Lee, John Wy- lic, and John Orr. (Vide Life of Macurdy, page 35.) Mr. Young's name does not appear in the presbyterial records. The other names occur frequently.
Owing to loss of sessional records, a complete list of elders is lacking. It is believed the following is nearly, if not altogether, full : Andrew Henderson, Samuel Maxwell, Thomas Orr, Robert Wylie, James Campbell, James Kincade, Samuel Archer, Joseph Ralston, James Finley, James Ralston, John Wylie, Joseph Lyons, Jerome I. Hopkins, George W. Campbell, John Cochran, Joseph Ralston, Enoch Hays, William Buchanan, William McCabe, S. D. Lockhart, David A. Lyons.
The existing session consists of Joseph Lyons, G. W. Camp- bell, S. D. Lockhart, and D. A. Lyons.
HOUSES OF WORSHIP .-- The old Three Springs Church build- ing was on the Campbell tract in Brooke county, Va., four miles from the Ohio river. About 1804 the site was changed to a point two miles southeast from this, where a stone building was erected.
The organization of the Cove Church, in 1846, divided the territory ; and not many years thereafter the stone church was abandoned and a new site chosen, at the neighboring village of Paris, Washington county, Pa.
Rev. James M. Maxwell, D.D., of Monongahela City, Pa., Rev. Josiah Welch, late of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Rev. How- ard N. Campbell, of Martin's Ferry, Ohio, entered the ministry from this church ..
Miss Nellie S. McCabe, a daughter of one of its elders, is the wife of Rev. J. F. Magill, D.D., of Fairfield, Iowa
MILL CREEK (BEAVER COUNTY, PA.) .*
This church had an existence, more or less fully organized, as carly as 1784 or 1785. In the latter year, an application was
* By REV. JAMES B. LYLE.
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made by it to the Presbytery of Redstone for supplies. This was at the April meeting, and at the October meeting Rev. Jo- seph Smith was appointed to preach at Mill Creek the first Sab- bath of December, and one other Sabbath at discretion. In 1787 request was made for administration of the Lord's Supper. In 1789 a call from Mill Creek and King's Creek was presented to John Brice, licentiate. In the years following, appointments to preach and administer the Lord's Supper continued to be made, and calls were presented successively to Rev. Robert Finley and licentiates George Hill and William Swan, none of which were accepted. In April, 1793, the church was first represented in Presbytery, by George Mccullough.
PASTORS AND SUPPLIES .- Previous to the formation of any pas- toral relation, John Brice, William Swan and Thomas E. Hughes, licentiates, had each preached at Mill Creek, as stated supply, while Rev. Messrs. Joseph Smith, John McMillan, John Clark, Robert Finley, James Hughes and Thomas Moore, together with licentiates John McPherrin, Robert Marshall, George Hill, David Smith and Thomas Marquis, had fulfilled appointments by Presbytery.
In the summer of 1798, the church was visited by George M. Scott, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and in the spring of 1799 a call was forwarded to him by the united congregations of Mill Creek and The Flats (now Fairview), which he accepted ; and having meanwhile been ordained sine titulo, by his Presbytery, he took his dismission to the Presbytery of Ohio, by which he was received on August 29, 1799, and installed September 14th following. In 1826 he was released from charge of The Flats, and thenceforth gave his whole time to Mill Creek until December 26, 1837, when, at his request, the relation was dissolved, though much of the year following he continued to supply the pulpit, making almost forty years of ministerial labor in this church.
Subsequent pastors and supplies were as follows : Rev. David Polk, stated supply, 1839-40; Rev. J. B. McCoy, pastor, 1840- 4! ; Rev. David Robinson, pastor, 1842-54; Rev. R. S. Morton, pastor, 1855-65; Rev. Samuel Graham, pastor, 1865-66; Rev. J. L. Fulton, pastor, 1868-73; Rev. David McFie, stated supply,
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1873-74; Rev. W. H. Hunter, pastor, Mill Ceeek and Mount Olivet, 1877-85; Rev. James B. Lyle, pastor, Mill Creek and Mount Olivet, 1888 -.
RULING ELDERS. -- The first Bench of Elders, chosen certainly not later than 1793-possiby much earlier -- consisted of George Mccullough, who died in 1812; Alexander McCullough, who died about the year 1830; and David Kerr, who died at an ad- vanced age in 1824. Following these closely were James Ewing and John Thompson, chosen together, and the latter of whom represented the church in the Presbytery in 1801. James Ewing died in 1831, aged seventy-seven years; John Thompson died June 26, 1836, aged seventy seven years. To these may be added the following :
John McCullough, ordained September, 1813; removed to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1818.
Joseph McCready, ordained in 1813.
Thomas Harsha, ordained in 1813.
John Harsha, first mentioned in 1820; both Harshas joined Associate Reformed Church in the year 1835.
Robert Ramsey, first mentioned February, 1820; in his younger years he was an elder in Associate Reformed Church ; died in 1862, age seventy-six.
WVm. Ewing, first mentioned February, 1829; died, 1863, age seventy-seven.
Wm. Mccullough, first mentioned in 1829; removed to Bucyrus, Ohio.
John Mitchel, first mentioned in 1829; removed from this congregation.
Nathaniel Douglass, elected in 1833 ; after a few years of ser- vice removed to Meigs County, Ohio.
James Moody, elected in 1833.
Samuel Reed, elected in 1840.
Matthew Glass, elected in 1840; died 1851.
James Mckinley, elected in 1840 ; died 1856.
Thomas Moore, elected in 1840; removed to Ohio.
Israel Bebout, elected in 1854; removed to Cross Creek.
Wm. Moore, elected in 1854 ; removed to Ohio.
Robert W. Stewart, ordained in 1864.
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John T. Temple, ordained in 1864.
Eli Ramsey, ordained in 1864.
Alexander Pugh, elected in 1870; previously ordained.
Robert G, Stewart, ordained 1873.
Samuel McHenry, ordained 1873.
Jesse Mercer, ordained 1882. Samuel Ramsey, ordained 1882.
HOUSES OF WORSHIP .- The first house of worship was a log cabin 18x20 feet, located on a spot now covered. by the old burying ground. It was without doors or windows, being lighted from the roof, and entered by an underground passage, to secure protection from the Indians.
This was succeeded by a double log house 30x60 feet, with- out floor or door ; afterwards these were added, along with pews, stoves and pulpit.
In 1832 this house was replaced by a brick edifice 50x60 feet with a gallery. Cost, $2,250.
In 1869 a large brick edifice took the place of this one, 70x48 feet. Aggregate cost, $8,191.
In 1882 the present beautiful and comfortable house was built, seating about 400; size 70x38. Estimated cost about $4000.
SPIRITUAL HISTORY .- In common with most of the early churches, Mill Creek has been subject to constant and severe depletion by the establishment of additional churches within its original territory. The bounds of the congregation at first in- cluded an area equal to that of some counties. On this terri- tory have been organized, at various dates, the churches of Bethlehem, Frankfort, Liverpool, Glasgow, Hookstown and Pine Grove. Besides these six Presbyterian Churches, three United Presbyterian and five Methodist Episcopal Churches have also been established. With all this, Mill Creek, though greatly reduced in its roll of membership, still retains its place among the active working churches of the presbytery, and looks forward hopefully to new experiences of growth and use- fulness.
There have been many marked revivals in the church at various times. The first was before the church had succeeded in obtaining a pastor, at some time between 17Sr and 1787. In
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a letter written by Rev. Joseph Stephenson, this revival is de- scribed as "a most extraordinary work of grace." About the close of the century under the preaching of the Rev. Thomas E. Hughes, a licentiate, many were added to the church of those being saved. In 1802, under the preaching of the pastor, Rev. Geo. M. Scott, what is known as the great revival of 1802 reached Mill Creek.
It was a time of great awakening in this church, and as else- where, so here, many were the subjects of the "bodily exer- cise."
Concerning this singular phenomenon, Mr. Scott, then pastor at Mill Creek, records his experience as follows : "When the bodily exercise first appeared, I considered the whole to be a delusion. I supposed these excitements were produced by preachers thundering the terrors of the law, and I thought I could check it by preaching the invitations of the gospel and the way of salvation through Christ, but I soon found, instead of stopping the work, this kind of preaching only increased it."
In 1816 this congregation was again visited with the reviving influences of the Spirit of God, in connection with the church at the Flats, and over a hundred were brought into the com- munion in the two churches. Again, in 1822, the work of God was revived, and continued with little or no intermission for about five years. The fruits of this revival were an accession to the church of more than two hundred persons in the two congregations. And, it has been noted as a striking fact, that of thirteen young lads under eighteen years of age, who were re- ceived into the church on a certain communion season, dur- ing one of these revivals, twelve afterwards became ruling el- ders in different churches. In a historical sketch of the church of Mill Creek, Mr. Scott himself has indicated the kind of preaching which was employed in connection with these revi- vals. He says: "The subjects of preaching have been uni- formly the old orthodox doctrines of the fall of man-our apostasy in Adam-the total depravity of the whole human family-their absolute need of regenerating grace-the way of recovery through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus-justi- fication by faith, etc." The next period of revival began in
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January, 1853, under the preaching of the pastor, Rev. David Robinson, assisted by Dr. Stockton, and continued for two months, with the further assistance of Revs. J. S. Pomeroy Wells, Jennings, Grier, and Murray. Ninety-nine persons were added to the church on one occasion; the pastor baptized twenty-two adults. The lamented Murray has said that this season was worth crossing the ocean to witness."
Eleven have entered the ministry from this church, viz. :--- John W. Scott, Samuel Moody, Robt. Rutherford, Mr. McFerran, WVm. Harsha, Capt. Murray, Samuel Jeffery, Robt. Bunting, Jno. Y. Calhoun, Moore Buchanan, Marion Moore.
The salaries given by this church to their pastors have varied with the times. The salary of Mr. Scott was $320, a part to be paid in grain at a fixed price. Mr. McCoy's salary in the call was fixed at $400, and was afterward raised to $500. David Robinson's salary was $500. Mr. Morton's salary was fixed at $600, and house rent $60, from the united churches ot Mill Creek and Hookstown. Mr. Graham's salary in the call was fixed at $650, with an understanding that an additional $50 should be added to it. Mr. Fulton's salary was $1000 for all of his time. Mr. Hunter's salary was $Soo, from the united con- gregations of Mill Creek and Mount Olivet. Mr. Lyle's salary is $1000, from the united congregations of Mill Creek and Mount Olivet.
Sabbath-school in log-house prior to 1832.
FAIRVIEW -- (THE FLATS .* )
The region of country embracing the Fairview Church was originally settled by emigrants from Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut, between the years 17So and 1790. They were mostly Presbyterians, either by profession or education, and from the first scrupulously observed the Sabbath and main- tained public or social worship. During this carly period, it was. their custom to invite, at irregular intervals, some Presbyterian minister resident this side of the Allegheny mountains, to visit them and preach a series of sermons, administer the Lord's Supper, and baptize their children. Among those who visited
* By REV. WINFIELD E. HILL.
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them and ministered to them, during these early years, were Revs. Joseph Smith, John Brice, and Thomas Marquis. Soon after the organization of the Presbytery of Ohio, in 1793, per- haps the following year, they were formally taken under the care of that Presbytery, under the name of the " Flats Church," when Messrs. Henry Pittinger, John McMillan and John Edie were ordained and installed elders, They were supplied at intervals by the foregoing Presbytery until the summer of 1798, when they were visited by the Rev. George Scott, of the Pres- bytery of New Brunswick, who preached to them and the church of Mill Creek until the following spring, as a stated supply. In the spring of 1799 they united with Mill Creek in a call for the pastoral services of Mr. Scott, and sent a Mr. Doak as commis- sioner to prosecute the call before the New Brunswick Presby- tery.
This call was accepted, and he was installed as the pastor of these churches in the autumn of 1799, being the first settled pastor .*
In October, 1826, Mr. Samuel Reed became pastor for the one-half of his time, in connection with the church of Three Springs. This pastorate was dissolved July 1, 1829, on account of the mental derangement of Mr. Reed.
During the summer of the following year, they were visited by Rev. John Hales, who remained with them as stated supply until the winter of 1830-31, when he was installed pastor by the Presbytery of Washington. This pastorate continued until April, 1837, and was dissolved on account of the declining health of Mr. Hales.
In the fall of 1837 a call was presented from this church, in connection with the church of Three Springs, for the pastoral services of Mr. Robert M. White, a licentiate from the Presby- tery of New Castle. This call was accepted, and Mr. White was ordained and installed on the 28th of December, 1837. This
* Mr. Scott's pastorate covered a period of more than a quarter of a century, being dissolved April, 1826, to enable him to give full time to the church of Mill Creek. The most powerful revival that ever visited this church occurred during his ministry, beginning in the year 1822, and continuing for two or three years, during which time over one hundred were received into the communion of the Church, increasing the membership to over two hundred.
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pastorate continued eleven years, being dissolved October 1, 1848. During this time over three hundred persons were received into the Church-two hundred and forty being on profession of their faith.
Mr. J. S. Pomeroy, a licentiate from the Presbytery of Beaver, began his ministry in this church July 1, 1849, and was ordained and installed pastor in the spring of 1850. This pastorate term- inated in April, 1871, including a period of nearly twenty-two years. Several memorable revivals of religion occurred during Mr. Pomeroy's ministry, notably in the winter of 1852-53, when one hundred persons were received into the communion of the Church on profession of their faith.
Rev. J. H. Stevenson succeeded to the pastorate from May, 1873 to June, 1875 inclusive.
Rev. R. B. Porter was pastor from April 1, 1876, to April 1, 1879.
Rev. Winfield E. Hill, the present pastor, began his ministry in this church the first Sabbath of October, 1879, and was in- stalled in May, 1880. It may be mentioned as a curious coinci- dence, that Mr. Hill is a son of Sanford C. Hill, who was born within the pale of this church and a baptized member thereof, and a grandson of Roger Hill, one of the original members and one of the original elders-elect, but who declined to accept the office.
The present membership of the church is 245. At different periods in its history it has exceeded 300.
The Sabbath-school was organized the first Sabbath in Octo- ber, 1819. According to a published report in the Pittsburgh Recorder of October 18, 1823, " With seventy scholars and seven teachers, but during the four years following increased at times to 150 or 160." We quote further from the foregoing report : " During these four years the total number of Scriptural verses, and psalm and hymn verses committed and recited is 81,746; Shorter Catechism questions, 5,639." From the time of its or- ganization until the present, it has never ceased to meet regularly throughout the year. The present enrollment is 170, with an average attendance of about one hundred.
Three houses of worship have served this congregation dur-
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ing its history. The first was a log structure built sometime before the present century; the second was a frame erected about the year 1808 ; the third, a large and substantial brick, with a seating capacity of between five and six hundred, first occu- pied in the fall of 1839, and which has served the congregation until the present. It may be added, the initiatory steps have been taken towards the building of a new house of worship, an object, it is confidently expected, that will in due time be ac- complished.
The following is a list of the elders from the organization of the church until the present so far as they could be ascertained, arranged as nearly as possible chronologically, or in the order of their installation : Henry Pittinger, John McMillan, John Edie, John Pittinger, Hugh Sproule, Sr., Thomas Cameron, Abra- ham Prosser, Robert Moore, Thomas Elder, Andrew Henderson, Thomas Atkinson, John Scott, Samuel McLane, William Flane- gin, James H. Pugh, Joseph W. Silverthorn, A. J. Moore, J. H. Harper, Joseph W. Allison, A. McC. Flanegin, Hugh Pugh, Abraham Pittinger, Robert W. Pugh, David M. Wylie, Samuel Allison, Joseph Moore, Harper M. Ralston, Morgan H. Miller, Morgan Headley, Ebenezer Langfitt, R. Anderson Shay, and William Devers.
The present board of ruling elders is as follows: A. McC. Flanegin, Joseph Moore, Robert W. Pugh, Abraham Pittinger, Morgan H. Miller, Ebenezer Langfit, R. Anderson Shay, Wil- liam Devers.
The following are the acting deacons: Jason Hart, Peter A. Pugh, Samuel Swearingen, John Pittinger, J. Smiley Stewart, Van. B. Bernard, Joseph Miller.
For more than twenty years Mr. Samuel Moore has been treasurer and congregational clerk, filling these positions most acceptably for the church.
The following is a complete list of Sabbath school superintend- ents -- in the order of succession, together with the years of ser- vice as nearly as could be determined : Robert Mylar, 1819; Wm. Murray, 1820; Jno. McMillan, 1821; Robert Mylar, -; Thomas Elder, -; Robert Moore, -; Thomas Elder, -; Wm. Flancgin, 1847-50; Thomas Elder, 1851- ; John
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M. Todd, 1858; A. McC. Flanegin, ---; J. H. Harper, 1867-70; A. McC. Flanegin, 1871; J. H. Harper, 1872-73; A. McC. Flanegin, 1874; J. W. Allison, 1875-76; A. McC. Flanegin, 1877; J. W. Allison, 1878; A. McC. Flanegin, 1879-82; A. Pittinger, 1833; W. C. Tolton, 1884; M. H. Miller, 1885; W. E. Hill, 1886; V. B. Bernard, 1887-88.
This church has given at least ten of her sons to the ministry of Christ, all occupying Presbyterian pulpits, namely: Nicholas Pittinger, licensed 1803; John Moore, D.D, licensed 1845 ; Moses Coulter, missionary to China, licensed 1850; Robert Johnston, licensed 1848; Mervin Johnston, licensed 1848; George Scott, licensed 1859; (the foregoing all deceased); James M. Newell, pastor Presbyterian Church of Santa Clara, Cal., licensed 1867; Josepli H. Ralston, pastor Presbyterian Church of Wor- cester, Mass., licensed 1878; John B Pomeroy, Synodical Mis- sionary, Synod South Dakota, licensed 1879; Obadiah T. Lang- fitt, pastor Presbyterian Church of West Liberty, Iowa, licensed 1883.
WASHINGTON, FIRST."
This church was formally organized in the winter of 1793-94, following shortly the organization of the Presbytery of Ohio, and the erection of the "Stone Academy," still the central structure of the " Old College." Both of these events took place in the previous summer, and doubtless operated as incentives. Until then, the Presbyterians of the town and vicinity held their mem- bership in the church of Chartiers, under the pastoral care of the Rev. John McMillan, D.D. By a temporary arrangement, how- ever, services were conducted, as opportunity offered, in the court-house, by occasional supplies. The first historical recog- nition of constant preaching appears in the application to the Presbytery of Redstone, December 30, 1785, for the stated ser- vices of Alexander Addison, then a licentiate of the Presbytery of Aberlow, Scotland, and afterwards a distinguished judge. At the organization of the church in 1793, Messrs. Andrew Swear- ingen, Joseph Wherry, Robert Stockton and William McCombs were chosen and ordained as ruling elders, and Mr. James Welsh, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Transylvania, was secured
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