USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the sesqui-centennial of Paxtang Church, September 18, 1890 > Part 3
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yarn, or linen cloth, at market price." Derry prom- ised fifty-five pounds, to be paid in like manner. Mr. Bertram was perplexed, and asked for time to consider. Presbytery gave him to the next meeting of Synod, which took place on the 16th of September. Owing probably either to the location of his farm, or the ex- tent of the church glebe, he chose Derry, and Paxtang was declared vacant. From this date, until December 22, 1738, the congregation was supplied by Messrs. Sankey, Alexander, Craven, and Elder.
In 1729, the Synod passed "the adopting act," by which assent to the Westminster Confession of Faith was required by all members of the Synod, and of all candidates for admission to the Presbyteries. This confirmation of a principle had its opponents, and it is in connection with this, that we find, in the year 1736, mention of this congregation in the confirmatory act or declaration which seems at least for the time to have produced general satisfaction. In the minutes for that year it is recorded, that, "An overture of the com- mittee, upon the supplication of the people of Paxtang and Derry, was brought in, and is as followeth: That the Synod do declare that inasmuch as we understand that many persons of our persuasion, both more lately and formally, have been offended with some expres- sions or distinctions in the first or preliminary act of our Synod for adopting the Westminster Confession and Catechism, etc .; that in order to remove said of-
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fense and all jealousies that have arisen or may arise in any other people's minds on occasion of said dis- tinctions and expressions, the Synod doth declare, that the Synod have adopted and still do adhere to the Westminster Confession, Catechisms, and Directory, without the least variation or alteration, and without any regard to said distinctions. And we do further declare this was our meaning and true intent in our first adopting the said Confession, as may particularly appear by our adopting act, which is as follows: 'All the ministers of the Synod now present [which were eighteen in number,] except one who declared himself not prepared, after proposing all the scruples that any of them had to make against any articles and expres- sions in the Confession of Faith and larger and shorter Catechisms of the assembly of divines at Westminster, have unanimously agreed in the solution of those scruples, and in declaring the said Confession and Cat- echisms, to be the Confession of their Faith, except only some clauses in the twentieth and twenty-third chapters, concerning which clauses, the Synod do unanimously declare, that they do not receive those articles in any such sense as to suppose the civil magis- trate hath controlling power over Synods with respect to the exercise of their ministerial authority, or power to persecute any for their religion, or in any sense con- trary to the Protestant succession to the throne of Great Britain.' And we do hope and desire, that this, our
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synodical declaration and explanation may satisfy all our people as to our firm attachment to our good old received doctrines contained in the said Confession, without the least variation or alteration, and that they will lay aside their jealousies, that have been entertained through occasion of the above hinted expressions and declarations as groundless. This overture approved nemine contradicente."
On the 22d of December, 1738, the Rev. John Elder was ordained and installed the pastor of Paxtang congregation, (having served over a year as a supply,) at a salary of sixty pounds, and so for a period of fifty- five years went in and out before the people minister- ing to their spiritual wants. For that duration of time, (over half a century,) the history of this church and of its pastor is a part of the history of the Province of Pennsylvania, and in order to be brief, permit me simply to summarize the leading events. Some of these are of great moment, but not at this time and place will more than a passing glance or review be made.
Within the church in common there transpired much also of interest. Although from the period referred to, (1738,) the growth was truly phenomenal-not only of Paxtang, but of Presbyterianism in general, yet the harmony of the governing bodies began to be inter- fered with, owing to the fact that "its ministers were from different countries, where to some extent different
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modes of thinking on the same subjects prevailed. The points on which the difference of opinion chiefly developed itself, were the examination of candidates for the ministry on experimental religion, the strict ad- herence to Presbyterial order, and the amount of learn- ing to be required by those who sought ministerial of- fice. These subjects were discussed with great, and fre- quently with intemperate, zeal in the different Presby- teries." Two distinct parties were now formed. Those who were more zealous for orthodoxy-for the rigid observance of Presbyterial rule, and for a thoroughly educated ministry, were called the " Old Side," while those who were more tolerant of departures from ec- clesiastical order and less particular in respect to other qualifications for the ministry, provided they gave evidence of vital piety, were called the "New Side" or "New Lights."
As might be expected, there was a growing necessity for the education of the ministry, and the result was the establishment of the College of New Jersey by the Synod of New York-first at Elizabethtown, in 1746 ; removed the following year to Newark; and thence to Princeton, in 1757. The "Old Side" patronized the academies of New London and of Newark, in Delaware, under the Rev. Francis Alison and Rev. Alexander McDowell, and also the academy and college of Phila- delphia. The rivalry between these literary institutions
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served to render more intense the mutual hostility of the two parties.
In 1739 the celebrated Whitefield paid his second visit to America. In connection with his labors, a great revival ensued, the friends of which in the Presbyterian church were chiefly with the "New Side," while the "Old Side," or strict Presbyterian, perceiving some really censurable irregularities in the active friends and promoters of the revival, pronounced the whole a delusion. This brought on the crisis. The controversy waxed more and more violent until 1741, when the church was rent into two parts, the "Old Side" consti- tuting the Synod of New York.
Soon after Mr. Elder began his labors in Paxtang, it was found that the old log structure was insufficient, and steps were taken toward the erection of the present building. It stands about twenty feet back from the site of the original meeting-house, and was begun in the year 1740. It was several years before completion, and was occupied for a long time as a house of worship with neither floor nor pews; seats made of logs hewn on one side were used by all the people excepting the family of the pastor, who occupied a settee. The origi- mal meeting-house for many years was used as a retir- ing and session house by Mr. Elder, and late in life so deferential were the congregation to their revered min- ister, that on his passage from this building to the
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stone church, and upon retiring, all heads were un- covered and bowed.
Although we stated on a former occasion that the Rev. Mr. Bertram remained pastor of Derry congrega- tion until his death, in 1746, we find, that owing to ill- health, he relinquished the care of that people, and in the latter part of 1745 the Rev. John Roan came to be its minister. It was not, however, until the year 1754 that the dissensions between Old and New Sideism re- sulted in the division of the congregations at Paxtang and Derry ; although both Roan and Elder had pre- viously drawn the lines. The Rev. Mr. Elder and a large majority of his people adopting the "Old Side" views, remained in possession of the property. The " New Side" people of Derry, being in a majority at Derry, with their pastor, the Rev. John Roan, “ held the fort" at that place. The "New Side" portion of Paxtang took sides with Roan, while the " Old Side" members of Derry chung to Elder. This fully explains the following call to the Rev. Mr. Elder, of the date of 26th September, 1754, and signed by one hundred and twenty-eight communicants of Derry and Paxtang : "To the Reverend Mr. JOHN ELDER:
"SIR-We, the inhabitants in the Township & Con- gregation of Paxtang & Derry, Being now Destitute of a settled Gospel minister amongst us ; Being also Deeply Sensible of the great loss & Disadvantage we & ours may sustain, In regard of our souls & spiritual Con-
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cerns by our living in such a Condition in this Wilder- ness ; & having had Sufficient Proof of, & being well pleased & satisfied with the ministerial abilities & qualifications of y'u, the Revd. Jno. Elder, Do unani- mously Invite and Call y'u to take the Pastoral Care & oversight of us, Promising all due subjection, sub- mission & obedience to the Doctrine, Discipline & Government & Ordinances Exercised & administered By y'u as our Pastor in the Lord. And that y'u may be the Better Enabled to attend upon y'r Pastoral & ministerial work amongst us, without Anxious and Distracting Cares about y'r worldly Concerns, We Do hereby Cheerfully Promise & Engage to take Care of y'r Support and maintenance for an Honourable & Creditable manner Suitable to & befitting y'r Honour- able Function & office as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ amongst us ; Knowing that the Lord hath ordained that they who Preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel."*
In testimony of all w'h we have hereunto Subscribed our Names This 26th of September, 1754.
Thos. fforster.
David Walker.
Wm. Armstrong.
Robert Chambers.
John Harris.
Moses Dickey.
Thos. McArthur.
William Stoe.
James Wallace.
Thomas Simpson.
*This Call is in the possession of the Dauphin County Historical Society.
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James Collier.
David Patton.
Thomas Dougan.
James Potts.
Henry Mckinney.
Joseph Wilson. John McCormick.
John Bell.
John Cavit.
John Morrow.
James Galbraith.
Henry Renick. John Johnson.
Robert Wallace.
Oliver Wyllie.
John Harris. James Foster.
Samuel Simpson.
James Freeland.
Thomas Renick.
Robert Armstrong.
Patrick Montgomery.
Richard Cavit.
Hugh Wilson. James Wilson.
William Bell.
Robert Chambers, jr.
Thomas King.
Arthur Chambers.
Edward King.
William Reney.
Robert Montgomery.
Robert McCallen.
John Wiggins, jr.
John Hutchison.
James Gilchrist.
Charles McClure.
James Mitcheltree.
Hugh Black.
John Neal.
Robert Snodgrass.
William Hannah.
Thomas Black.
John Carson.
Jean Black.
James Drummond.
Wm. Laird.
Samuel Hunter.
Matthew Laird.
Alex. Johnson.
Elizabeth Park.
George Gillespy.
William Harris.
Patrick Gillespy.
Robert Gilchrist.
Andrew Stephen.
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John Gilchrist.
Joseph Kerr.
William McAlevy.
John Gray.
John Foster.
William Wilson.
David McClanochan.
Michael Whitley.
David Reany.
Thomas Alexander.
John Craig.
Valentine Stern.
John Wyllie.
Andrew Houston.
Thomas Mays.
Alex. Johnston.
Hugh Hays.
Samuel Stephenson.
Andrew Moore.
Thomas Rutherford.
David Foster.
Mathias Taylor.
John Hays.
Stephen Gamble.
Henry Walker.
Alex'r Mahon.
John Walker.
Chas. Clarke.
John Walker.
Mary McIlvain.
James Walker.
James Harris.
Hugh Carothers.
Samuel Shaw.
James Carothers.
Thomas Aikens.
Samuel Galbraith.
Thomas McClalen.
Matthew Cowden.
John McClintock.
James Houston.
James Davis.
James Tom.
James Rodgers.
John Starling.
Hugh Rodgers.
Andrew Hannah.
Joe McNut.
Peter Corbit.
Widow Rodgers.
Wm. Kerr.
Seth Rodgers.
James Williamson.
Th. Strean.
Hugh McKillip.
William Brison.
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Joe Snoddy. Robert Harris.
David Jamison.
Robert Walker.
Wm. Galbraith.
The " New Side" people of Paxtang secured two acres of land about two miles east of this, and immediately erected thereon a rival church, at which, and that at Derry, Mr. Roan continued his labors until his death, in 1775. At the same time a new impetus was given to immigration southward and westward. When this stone building was erected in 1740, and for ten or fifteen years following, the church was crowded with devout worshipers. This locality was full of young people, active, intelligent, and enterprising. The re- ports, however, of unsettled lands, lying far distant, painted the south and west as being more beautiful in their solitariness than Paxtang had been, and the chil- dren of the Scotch-Irish settlers, like their ancestors, sought a new home in the lovely valleys beyond the Susquehanna, and among the rich lands of Virginia and the Carolinas. As a matter of course, coupled with the dissensions previously mentioned, the congrega- tions of Paxtang and Derry were seriously crippled. The minutes of Donegal Presbytery from September 28, 1745, to June, 1747, and from October 9, 1750, to June 5, 1759, having been lost, while Mr. Elder's private papers, being also lost or inaccessible, it is somewhat difficult to trace the history of Paxtang during this period, probably the most trying one in its existence.
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Then followed the French and Indian war, when pastor and people were called upon to defend their homes against the blood-thirsty savage. Then it was that this house became not only a place of worship to Almighty God, but a retreat from the inroads of the marauding red man and a dwelling-place of mercy and a refuge from storm. "Many a family mourned for some of their number shot by the secret foe or car- ried away captive. Their rifles were carried with them to their work in the field and to the sanctuary. Mr. Elder placed his trusty piece beside him in the pulpit. Death often overtook his flock as they returned to their scattered plantations. In 1756 the meeting-house was surrounded whilst he was preaching, but their spies having counted the rifles, the Indians retired from their ambuscade without making an attack." On another oc- casion, in the same year, they came for the purpose of attacking the worshipers in church, but by mistake they arrived on Monday instead of Sunday, and after waiting several days, finding they were discovered, left the settlement by way of Indiantown Gap, murdering a number of persons on the Swatara and carrying off several prisoners.
.
In the winter of 1763-64, transpired the "Paxtang Boys " affair-the wiping out of a nest of murder-ma- rauding Indians at Conestoga and Lancaster-and which created such a " hub-bub" in Quakerdom, that more pamphlets and broadsides were called forth, than
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any one episode in Pennsylvania history. In this con- troversy, the pastor and people of Paxtang became in- volved. The story is a long but interesting one, and there is a "rod in pickle" for some recent historians who cannot distinguish between an arrant falsehood and the plain truth.
On June 22, 1764, at a meeting of Presbytery held at Derry, Mr. Elder and four other ministers declared their intention to cease from active membership in the judicatory. This decision was not acted upon by Synod until May 19, 1768, when they were joined to the Presbytery of Philadelphia, so that for about a pe- riod of four years Paxtang was not represented in any of the church courts. The trouble arose out of the old party feeling of the "Old " and " New Sides," which, notwithstanding the union, was still rampant in the Presbyteries.
Shortly after came on the war of the Revolution, and the men of Paxtang, who had taken an early Resolve for Independence, went into the conflict with heart and soul-and from Boston and Quebec, down to the close of the struggle at Yorktown -they fought, bled, and died for Liberty. In all the wars which have rent the land, Paxtang was a nursery for heroes, and God grant that the generations coming on may ever emulate the patriotic spirit of their gallant ancestors.
Upon the formation of Carlisle Presbytery, in 1786, Paxtang was joined thereto, and has remained in that
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connection ever since. After the death of Mr. Roan, October 2, 1775, Paxtang and Derry were again united solely under the charge of Mr. Elder. The congrega- tion at Harrisburg, formed April 12, 1787, was added to Mr. Elder's charge, as was also the New Side branch of Paxtang .*
* The following papers are very important in this connection : On Thursday, April 12th, 1787, during the sessions of the Presbytery at Carlisle, a representation and petition of a number of the inhabitants of Harrisburg and others in the township of Paxtang was laid before Presbytery and read. The said representation sets forth that these peo- ple desire to be considered as a Presbyterian Congregation, and to have supplies appointed them by the Presbytery ; and that in order to pro- mote peace and harmony between them and the Paxtang congregation, some proposals had been made to, and considered, though not accepted by that congregation, a copy of which was also laid before the Presby- tery. Mr. Elder also gave a representation of the state of the case as concerning these people and Paxtang congregation. The Presbytery, upon considering the case, agreed to propose the following articles to the consideration and acceptance of those people, which may have a tendency to preserve peace and union in that part of the Church :
1. That Harrisburg shall be considered as the seat of a Presbyterian Church, and part of the charge of the Rev. John Elder, in which he is to preach one third of his time.
2. That Mr. Elder's salary, promised by the congregation of Paxtang, shall be continued and paid by the congregation in common, who shall adhere to these two places of worship, viz : Paxtang and Harrisburg.
3. That the congregation thus united may apply for, and obtain sup- plies as assistant to the labors of Mr. Elder, to be paid by the congre- gation in common.
4. That when the congregation may judge it proper, they shall have
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On the 17th of July, 1792, the Rev. John Elder laid by the armor of this earthly life, and entered upon his eternal rest. Born in the city of Edinburgh, January 26, 1706, he was educated at the University there,
a right to choose and call a minister as a colleague with Mr. Elder, to officiate in rotation with him.
" Dr. Davidson and Mr. Waugh are appointed to attend at the church in Lower Paxtang, on the last Tuesday in May next, to moderate and assist in the above matter."
On the 19th of June, 1787, Dr. Davidson and Mr. Waugh reported to Presbytery at Big Spring, that their appointment at Paxtang had been fulfilled, and that the following articles had been agreed to by Mr. Elder and his congregation, at Harrisburg :
1. That the congregation shall have two stated places of public wor- ship, the one where the Rev. Mr. Elder now officiates, the other in Harrisburg.
2. That the Rev. John Elder shall continue to have and receive dur- ing his life or incumbency, all the salary or stipends that he now enjoys, to be paid by his present subscribers, as he and they may agree, and continue his labors in Derry as usual.
3. That for the present the congregation may apply to the Presbytery for supplies, which, when obtained, the expenses shall be defrayed by those who do not now belong to Mr. Elder's congregation, and such as may think proper to join with them ; and should such supplies be ap- pointed when Mr. Elder is to be in Paxtang, then he and the supply shall preach in rotation, the one in the country, and the other in town. But should Mr. Elder be in Derry, then the supplies shall officiate in town.
4. That the congregation when able, or they think proper, may in- vite and settle any regular Presbyterian minister they or a majority of them may choose and can obtain, as a co-pastor with Mr. Elder, who shall officiate as to preaching in the manner specified in the third pro- posal.
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studied divinity, and in the year 1732 was licensed to preach the Gospel, although he did not come into the Presbytery of Donegal until October 5, 1737, and then as a licentiate from the Presbytery of New Castle. However that may be, he came to America following his father's family, in the year mentioned, and yet his only pastorate was that of Paxtang. He was a man whose whole life reads like a romance. I regard him as the most prominent figure in our early provincial history. He towered far above all men in the era in which he lived, and his name and fame will long en- dure. The heroes of New England are but pigmies compared with this giant. Whether we view him as a minister of the Gospel, as a brave soldier, or in civil life-or yet as a thinker and a man of intellectual powers-his personality was extraordinary. There was something in his life which called forth an enthusiastic and passionate devotion-in a few words, he was a grand old man, an honor to the Church of Christ and to the race of men! If this era does not take care of him, futurity will-for if any man was born a leader, it was the Rev. John Elder, of Paxtang. His descend- ants of four generations are with us to-day, to do reverence to the church of their fathers.
Upon the death of Mr. Elder, Paxtang congregation, after hearing various candidates, finally united with the Derry and Harrisburg churches in a call to the Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden, of Philadelphia, each agreeing
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to pay him fifty pounds per annum .* He was installed pastor, October 2, 1793, but finding, in 1796, the labor of attending to three congregations too great for his bodily strength, he relinquished Paxtang and Derry, re- taining Harrisburg, which he served satisfactorily for
*The following is a copy of the original subscription list-but it com- prises only the names of those present at the congregational meeting held on the 7th of March, 1793 :
We the under subscribers do each of us promise to pay annually the sums annexed to our names, to the trustees of Paxtang congregation, or the collectors appointed by them, as a salary due to the Rev. Mr. Snowden, for the one-third part of his labors amongst us, and while he continues a regular preaching pastor in said congregation and we mem- bers of it. Given under our hands this seventh day of March, A. D. 1793.
£. s. d.
£. s. d.
James Caldwell, .1 2
6 Jacob Awl, . 2 5 0
John Means, . . 0 15 0 John Rutherford, .1 15
0 John Willson, . 1 5 0 William Smith, 1 15 0
William Calhoun, . 0 15 0
James Cowden, 1 10 0
Richard Carson, . 0 15 0
Josiah Espy, . . 1 10 0
Joshua Elder, 2 0 0
Thomas McArthur, . . 1 2 0
John Elder, Jr., 1 2 6 Barbara Walker, .0 7 6
John Gilchrist, . .1 0
0 Mary Peacock, . . 0 7 6
Alexander McCay, . .0 8 4
James Cochran, .1 0 0
Thomas Forster, . 1 17 6 John Wilson, Jr., . 1 10 0
William McRoberts, .0 15 0 Andrew Stephen, . .0 17 6
Richard Fulton, . 1 5
0 James Johnston, .0
16 8
Thomas Brown, .0 18 9 William Boyd, . ( 8 4
William Wanless, .0 10 0 Adam Barbe, .0 10 Daniel Brunson, . .0 17 6 Alexander Mahargue, . 0 15 0
0
Alexander Willson, . . 1 5
0 William Kerr, . . . 1 15 0
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many years .* Mr. Snowden was a profound theologian, a faithful minister of the Gospel, and greatly beloved by his people. We are honored to-day by the presence of
* LETTER SENT TO PRESBYTERY IN 1795.
PAXTANG, Octr. 5, 1795.
" To the Revd. Presbytery of Carlisle about to convene at Marsh Creek in the County of York :
" WHEREAS, Mr. Snowden has signified to his congregation in Derry Township that he is no longer able to officiate in his Ministerial capacity to them on acct. of Inability of body, & that he purposes to apply to Presbytery for a Discharge from said congregation which we conceive, if he might be indulged in his Request, wou'd leave the congregation of Paxtang in a very distressing & Perilous Situation ; that the two con- gregations have lived for many years past in perfect peace, friendship and unanimity, and that we do not wish for a schism between us now ; that if the union is once broke there will be no probability of us being united again ; that if Mr. Snowden is rendered incapable of undergoing the fatigue of the three congregations in less than three years in the prime of life, by all probability he will not be able in a short time to attend to two congregations, and of consequence we shall be left with- out a pastor and the means of giving a call to another. We, therefore, pray to be considered as united with Derry, and that if Mr. Snowden should insist on being disunited from them, that Presbytery will appoint a committee of their body to enquire into the matter before anything decisive may take place ; and that the majority of this congregation' how much soever they may be attached to Mr. Snowden, wou'd rather he should leave us as he found us, than submit to a dissolution of the union subsisting between us.
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