USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the sesqui-centennial of Paxtang Church, September 18, 1890 > Part 6
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There is an interesting fact in connection with the history of our Presbytery and of our country which it seems fitting here to state. One hundred and twenty- one years ago this Fall the Presbytery of Donegal or- dained and installed one of its licentiates, born and reared within its bounds, as pastor of Rock River and Poplar Tent churches, North Carolina. This man was one of the first to raise his voice in the interests of the wronged colonists ; and he was one of a committee of those who framed the famous Mecklenburg Declara- tion, which preceded the Declaration of Independence by one year, and embodied its principles. I refer to Dr. Hezekiah James Balch .* (The committee was
*Mr. Balch was licensed, ordained, and installed by the Presbytery of Donegal, though we are told in Sprague's Annals, upon the authority of Rev. Wm. H. Foote, D. D., that he was licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle and ordained by the Presbytery of Hanover. The writ- ten records of the Presbytery of Donegal show Drs. Foote and Sprague to be in error.
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composed of Dr. Ephraim Brevard, Rev. Hezekiah James Balch, and William Kennon, a lawyer of Salis- bury.)
5. The Presbyterianism of this region was distin- guished for possessing in a large measure what might be termed progressive stability-sound conservatism. There were no more steadfast and, at the same time, ener- getic and resolute people any where to be found. They have left a lasting impress in the way of sound whole- some conservatism. Their descendants may be regard- ed as occupying an important position, and holding an important trust as regards alike our church and nation, whether viewed in the light of the presentor the future. They are sometimes charged with being slow to accept what are termed advanced ideas and adopt new and untried measures.
There have even been loud whisperings of such im- pectation upon the floor of our highest church judic- atory. But honoring, as I do, the memory of the de- parted, and admiring the sterling virtues of their de- scendants, I repel the imputation as uncharitable and unjust. Recklessly cutting loose from the tried and known, and boldly launching out into the untried and unknown, do not necessarily mean progress. It may bode no good, and there is a possibility of retrogression. " Festine lente."
As I look over this land of ours to-day, with all its
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possibilities-as I ponder its strength and its weakness, its promises and its perils-as I mark the tendencies of the times in sociology, in politics, (or government,) and in religion-as I scan the gathering and churning, and concentrating of the contending elements, I am per- suaded of a great need of true conservatism ; and I do not hesitate to express the firm conviction that among the most influential and powerful conservators of our free institutions, civil and religious, and standing in the foremost rank, are the men whose characters bear the impress of the early Presbyterianism of this region. Our forefathers who settled here did not all remain. Many of them pushed westward just as rapidly as treaty stipula- tions with the aborigines permitted. The children of old mother Presbytery of Donegal, with their worldly all on pack horses, followed the Indian trail or traders' path across the mountains, and in the name of the Lord took possession of Western Pennsylvania, and their descend- ants hold it to-day. Thence onward they pushed, join- ing the ever-flowing stream from the parent source, until they are everywhere to be found throughout the great central west and south-west. In like manner the tide of emigration flowed southward. Why, the old Presby- tery of Donegal collected into congregations her sons and daughters, and settled pastors over them in Mary- land and Virginia, and even extended her motherly care to those who had found homes in North Carolina.
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Tennessee and Kentucky in like manner, received their quota of this leavening element .*
In all these sections of country, occupied largely by the descendants of those who are our ancestors as well as theirs, the type of our early Presbyterianism has been preserved. Its features, alike as to doctrine and polity, remain unchanged.
Wherever Presbyterianism of the Scotch-Irish type is found it stands for law and liberty. It combines in one the ideas of true conservatism and genuine radicalism. It stands as a mighty bulwark against a false radical- ism which will not brook curb and restraint; and at the same time is the uncompromising enemy and the steadfast opposer of everything that partakes of the character of usurpation of power, or infringement upon the rights of the people, whether in matters of church or State.
May we not then truthfully say that from this great center has gone out over a large portion of our land a conservative influence, which, under God, may, at least, prove a potent element in saving us alike from the whirlpool and the rock ?
*About one hundred and ten years ago those in Tennessee were joined by the godly and patriotic Dr. Hezekiah J. Balch. After leaving North Carolina he spent four years as pastor of Tom's Creek (Emmittsburg) church. This church belonged to our Presbytery until the re-union in 1870. From Tom's Creek Dr. Balch went to Tennessee, where he engaged actively in pastoral and educational work. He was the founder of Greenville College, Tenn.
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Moderator STEWART. We have here persons who trace their Scotch-Irish ancestry through their children; and there are some, perhaps, whose Scotch ancestry was largely Dutch. But we have some genuine specimens here to-day. It is exceedingly gratifying to me to know, and I have no doubt it will be to you also, when I tell you that the granddaughter of Rev. John Elder, the second installed pastor of this church, is present to-day. For reasons, which she does not even care to explain, she will not appear upon this platform, much as we would like to have her-Mrs. Sarah Doll, whom many of us know, and know to love and honor .*
It is also interesting for me to say that the grandson of Nathaniel K. Snowden, the third pastor of this church, who was ordained and installed pastor in 1793, is present with us; and General Snowden has very kindly consented to speak to us for a few mo- ments. It therefore gives me great pleasure to intro- duce Major-General George Randolph Snowden, of Philadelphia. [Applause.]
*Mrs. Doll is the oldest member of the Market Square church, having united with that church in 1827.
ADDRESS OF GEORGE R. SNOWDEN.
THE FAMILY OF NATHANIEL R. SNOWDEN.
Mr. MODERATOR, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN: I thank you sincerely for the opportunity, alike a privilege and a pleasure, of being with you on this delightful day to celebrate this most interesting occasion. I am here for the first time, a stranger among you, and I am almost inclined to think, in view of my invitation and of the fascinating incidents connected with this spot, narrated by your distinguished historian, Dr. Egle, and others, that no one not personally known to you, is of much importance at this celebration unless he had a grand- father! [Laughter and applause.] Having had a grandfather, for sometime connected with Paxtang, I am happy to say, in its early days, and through my con- nection with him being invited to join you in com- memoration of the past, I suppose that I can in no other way interest you so much as by briefly referring to him and his family.
Born in Philadelphia, on the 17th January, 1770, Nathaniel Randolph Snowden was a very young man when he came to this congregation in 1792, and minis- tered to the spiritual wants of your hardy and pious ancestors. He was one of the five sons of Isaac Snow- den 2, all of whom graduated-Nathaniel R. in 1787-
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at the college of New Jersey, at Princeton, and four of whom became ministers of the Presbyterian church, one of them, Gilbert Tennant, who settled at Cranbury, N. J., being most distinguished as a pulpit orator. They were all fine scholars; and of Nathaniel it is said, that he was as familiar with his Greek as with his English Testament, using it constantly in his private reading. As was usual in those early days, when capable teachers were few, education always being a matter of peculiar importance with Presbyterians, he taught the classics and other polite learning at Carlisle, Lancaster, and,
. later in his days, at Franklin. He was a man of fer- vent piety and great faith. His diary for a period of some years, now extant, shows boundless trust in his Creator, and warm and constant appeals to the Throne of Mercy. Spending his life in the service of his God, he passed away at Freeport, Armstrong county, the home of his son, Dr. Charles Gustine Snowden, in 1850.
He was married on the 24th May; 1792, to Sarah, daughter of Dr. Lemuel Gustine, who served as assist- ant surgeon in the war of the Revolution, and at the surrender of Forty Fort acted as aide to Colonel Den- nison, and as such signed the treaty. Escaping with his family from the massacre of Wyoming, Dr. Gustine fled down the Susquehanna on a flat boat, landing at Harris' Ferry. His daughter Sarah was, it is believed, at the time of her death, in 1852, the last survivor of that dreadful event. Of their five sons, the oldest, Dr.
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Isaac Wayne, became elder of the church at Silver Springs, and the youngest, James Ross, member of the first session of Alexander church, Philadelphia.
Isaac Snowden 2, his father, was an original elder of the Second Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, well known as one of the substantial fruits of the great Whitefield's labors. With that congregation, since the formation of it in 1733, his family and descendants by name have, without a break, kept up their connection, only one other, the well-known Hodges, having done the same. With the famous Witherspoon and others, he was a member of the committee which reported the draft of the Constitution or Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Treas- urer of the city and county of Philadelphia, he fled on the approach of Lord Howe, after the defeat of our forces at Brandywine, and my cousin, Col. A. Loudon Snowden, now Minister to Greece, has the venerable clock in which he hid the public funds to escape the scrutiny of the enemy. Among other stations which he filled, he was a commissioner to sign and issue Con- tinental currency. His remains were buried at Old Middletown church, Delaware county, where Nathaniel R. for some time was settled, and on his tombstone, in the old-fashioned way, are inscribed enough civic and religious virtues most amply to endow, had they been wisely distributed, his descendants to the present day.
Isaac Snowden was president of the board of trustees
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of Princeton, with which his family was long honorably and prominently connected. His wife was daughter of the Rev. Samuel Finley, S. T. D. Glasg., graduate of the celebrated Log College, and from 1761 to '66, the time of his death, president of Princeton. Four of President Finley's sons were gallant officers in the Revolution, and two of them original members of the Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania.
Isaac, the second, was the son of Isaac, the first. The latter was an elder in the First Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, and his father, John, born there in 1684, was the first elder ordained in Pennsylvania, perhaps in the United States. The wife of Isaac, first, was a daughter of Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, from whom my grandfather took his name, who started the subscription paper to erect the college at Princeton, and gave the ground upon which was built Nassau Hall.
Thus I have briefly told you something of the family of your former pastor, and I think you will admit that it bears a very cerulean hue. In its devotion to Pres- byterianism it is fit to rank with the congregations which, one after another, have worshiped at Paxtang. You may well be proud of the history of this old church, and of the valiant men and pious women who have made it celebrated. Many went forth from this place, as we have been so entertainingly told, to other States and territories, there to build up and spread the Pres- byterian faith, many to obey the call of their country,
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and offer up their young and vigorous lives for the freedom of themselves and their children. The old grave-yard hard by is eloquent with the names and deeds of your sturdy ancestors, who, true to their race and the teachings of their religion, had rather die free- men than live slaves to a power which they and their forefathers in Scotland and the north of Ireland, even in England itself, had long had reason to dread and to oppose. We have just heard with the greatest interest how conspicuous in other parts were members of this very congregation in first proclaiming to the world the right of self rule, and the need to throw off the iron hand of the oppressor. In fact, we have the authority of Washington himself, than whom none knew better, to assert that without the Presbyterians the Revolution would have been a failure. It is not too much to say that the principles of Presbyterianism are identical with our liberties, and that the Constitution of our country has drawn largely from the form and theory of government of the Presbyterian Church. As the part taken by Presbyterians was so essential in se- curing independence, so it may be predicted that the voice of the true Presbyterian will be heard, and the arm of the staunch Presbyterian will be felt in all con- tests hereafter for civil, political, and religious liberty.
May you have many happy re-unions of this kind in ages to come, and may your posterity have reason to believe you worthy to have held the great trusts
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which have been put in your hands, and that you have not been degenerate successors of the noble men and women who have gone before. [Loud applause.]
Moderator STEWART. We have some more of them- I mean descendants of Paxtang ancestors; but we will give them to you this afternoon. We will not give all the good things at once.
It has been the custom (so I am told) for fathers, when the boys grew up and needed a farm for them- selves, to move out west. I am told that that was the habit of many of our Scotch ancestors, because their farms were too small to admit of their large famlies settling down around them. While that might have been the case in reference to them, from an agricultural point of view, from an ecclesiastical point of view it is not their case. They had all their children settled around them; and we are going to hear from some of the representatives of these children to-day. It so hap- pened that the territory was large enough which was originally given to the Paxtang church, a territory some- thing like twenty miles long by eight miles wide, reach- ing from the Conewago hills, below Middletown, up above Dauphin, and from the Susquehanna to the Derry church ; it so happened that the territory was large enough to accommodate a very large number of churches. It has been possessed by the Presbyterians and other sister denominations, and we have to-day twelve of the churches occupying the territory which
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was formerly occupied by the Paxtang church; and we are going to hear from the decendants of the Paxtang church in the order of their organization, taking the youngest first, and then proceeding by proper grada- tion to the eldest. We will therefore hear from the pastor elect of Olivet Presbyterian church, of Harris- burg, one of the most recently organized of the Presby- terian family, Rev. Mr. Cochrane. [Applause.]
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FROM THE CHURCHES.
ADDRESS OF REV. ROBERT COCHRANE.
Mr. MODERATOR, BRETHREN, AND FELLOW-WORKERS FOR THE TRUTH: This is an occasion not only notable, but one of peculiar interest. It is a family gathering. We to-day, as it were, gather around the board of the old homestead; here to think and to talk about things interesting, and things which we cherish in our hearts. We look back for the things retrospective, and look forward for the things prospective. We take a glance at history made, and think of history yet to be made. The mother church has come with a long line of bright deeds; and the children come here to-day to cheer the mother-heart with progress made, with battles fought, and with victories won. We are here to-day then as a family, and it has been accorded to the baby to make the first report. [Laughter.] And I stand to-day with appreciation of the honor of representing the baby. [A laugh.]
The history of Presbyterianism dates back many years in the east end of Harrisburg. As early as 1874-5 an effort was made to organize a Presbyterian church. A Sabbath-school was carried on with a membership of one hundred and twenty-five ; a weekly prayer-meeting was held, and there was regular preaching by a former
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pastor of the Paxtang church, Rev. Mr. Downey. The work prospered so that commissioners were elected to make application to Presbytery for the organization of a church; but on account of the lack of a suitable building the effort failed. For a number of years Pres- byterianism was dormant on the hill; but I think about ten or eleven years afterward a cottage prayer-meeting was started in the east end of Harrisburg by Rev. Dr. Chambers, of Pine Street church. This continued for a time, but after a few months was abandoned. Shortly afterward a prayer-meeting was started under the au- spices of what was called the East Harrisburg Cottage Prayer-Meeting Association. The prayer-meeting pros- pered, and soon a wider field was necessary for the work, and a Sabbath-school was started. The Sabbath-school grew from the first, and it was not long until there was a demand for still larger work. Regular preaching was again secured, and the work continued with unabated interest until it was thought wise by many to apply to Presbytery for a church organization. Such applica- tion was made, and on October 15th, 1889, the Olivet Presbyterian church of Harrisburg was organized by the committee, Rev. George S. Chambers, D. D., Rev. George B. Stewart, Hon. Francis Jordan, Mr. Gilbert M. McCauley, and Dr. J. A. Miller. Thirty-one members were received, twenty-six on certificate and five on confession of their faith. The following were elected elders: Governor James A. Beaver, Mr. Jacob K.
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Walker, Mr. William S. Shaffer, Mr. Charles S. Steele. Some time afterward, at a congregational meeting pre- sided over by Rev. Dr. George S. Chambers, the follow- ing were elected deacons: Mr. A. LeFevre Groff, Mr. William H. Shaffer, and Mr. Frank H. Erisman. At the same meeting the following were elected trustees : Mr. John Sharman, Mr. John S. Frazer, Mr. Isaac D. Culmerry, Mr. William J. George, Mr. William Palmer, Mr. Henry J. Sampselle, Mr. Charles S. Lingle.
The nucleus of the organization came from many different churches,-Paxtang, Market Square, Pine Street, Westminster, Covenant, and many others. My attention was called to the fact that the thirty-one members that constituted the church at its organiza- tion came from seventeen different churches. It is too soon to give you much of history, because it is yet to be made. The progress of the church has not been all that was anticipated, but growth has been made. I need not go into detail. You are familiar with the church's history from the beginning. You have looked with a kindly interest upon our work. We pray that in the years to come it may have a strong and healthy growth, and that it may live on long after we have passed away. May Olivet always have a place in your hearts and your prayers, and be a sturdy and faithful promoter of the cause of Christ and Presbyterianism in this part of the kingdom. [Applause.]
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Moderator STEWART. I knew that I would have plenty of opportunities to-day to correct any mistakes I might have happened to make in the early part of the programme. Instead of twelve churches, Paxtang and her nine daughters occupy the field.
We will now listen to the Rev. John L. McKeehan, who is the pastor elect of the First Presbyterian church at Steelton.
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ADDRESS OF REV. JOHN L. McKEEHAN.
Mr. MODERATOR: It is not often that I am satisfied to limit myself to five minutes ; but I am to-day, and I can say, I think, in less time, all that is to be said about the new station at Steelton. What I have to say is al- ready printed, and the credit is due to Bro. McGinnes ; and I simply give you a few points, learned mainly from his article.
On June 25, 1882, Rev. William A. West, pastor of the Westminister church of Harrisburg, preached to a small congregation in Reehling's Hall. It was then and there discovered that the few Presbyterian families of the town of Steelton were desirous of having ser- vices regularly, if such an arrangement could be brought about. Mr. West consulted with the pastors of the Pine Street and Market Square churches. They decided to have preaching regularly every Sabbath afternoon. Rev. George S. Chambers preaching on the 2d of July, and Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson on the Sabbath following.
Whenever an opportunity was afforded, ministers visiting the city and the pastors of the churches in some of the towns in the vicinity were called upon to preach.
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These, with the services of the city pastors, enabled the congregation to be supplied every Sabbath.
On the evening of September 27th, 1882, a meeting of the congregation was held at the residence of John W. Davis, for the purpose of electing officers for the Sabbath-school.
The result of the election was as follows : Superin- tendent, L. E. McGinnes; Assistant Superintendent, Charles P. Baker ; Secretary, James F. Newlin ; Libra- rians, Frank T. McElroy, J. W. Davis; Treasurer, William Neely ; Teacher of Infant Class, Mrs. L. E. McGinnes.
The first session of the school was held on Sabbath afternoon, October 1, with fifty pupils.
About the time of the organization of the Sabbath- school, cottage prayer-meetings were instituted. These meetings were held regularly each week until the oc- cupancy of the new church.
In the early part of April, 1883, arrangements were made whereby the Rev. W. G. McDannold, pastor of the church at Middletown, devoted part of his time to the work at Steelton. He began his labors on Sabbath afternoon, April 15.
In April, 1884, he severed his connection with the Middletown church and the Steelton congregation, to assume the pastorate of a church in Kentucky.
Rev. John H. Groff, who was then supplying the pulpit of the Seventh Street church, Harrisburg, was
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asked to divide his time between this church and Steelton. He entered upon the work soon after the- departure of Rev. McDannold.
Up to October 13, 1884, the congregation worshiped in Reehling's Hall. This hall is not situated near the center of the town, therefore it was important that a inore desirable location be obtained. Accordingly the hall of the G. A. R. was secured, and services were first. held there on the above date.
The congregation and Sabbath-school gradually grew in numbers, and with their growth the desire for and necessity of a church building became stronger. The liberal promises of assistance on the part of kind friends in Harrisburg and elsewhere made the way clear for the erection of a building, free of debt.
On the evening of June 11, 1885, it was decided to proceed at once to break ground for the new church. Lots had been secured in the meantime from Henry Kelker.
The contract for the erection of the building was. awarded to J. Coder, who began the work on Tues- day, June 23, 1885. Smith & Warner, of Harrisburg, submitted the design which was adopted.
The corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremo- nies on the evening of July 16. Rev. George S. Chambers, presided. Rev. J. A. Crawford, D. D., of Chambers- burg, and Rev. George Wolfe, pastor of the M. E. church, Steelton, delivered short addresses.
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Immediately after the laying of the corner-stone, the organization of the church was effected in Central Hall, where the congregation worshiped a few months prior to occupying the church. Rev. George B. Stewart, pre- sided. Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson, of Allegheny City, preached the sermon. Twenty-four persons joined by letter and three on confession of faith. The follow- ing officers were elected : Elders, Charles P. Baker, Lemuel E. McGinnes, Frank T. McElroy, and John W. Davis; Deacons, W. A. Miller, and Samuel G. Spangler ; Trustees, W. A. Miller, Charles P. Baker, Dr. J. D. Becker, Lemuel E. McGinnes, John A. Murphy.
The new church edifice was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God on the evening of October 5, 1885. The following ministers took part in the services : Rev. George B. Stewart, Rev. George S. Chambers, Rev. T. J. Ferguson, Rev. W. A. West, Rev. W. A. McCarrell, Rev. J. J. Pomeroy. Rev. George S. Chambers presided, and Rev. George B. Stewart, preached the sermon. Since this time the congregation and Sunday-school have steadily grown in size and regularity of attendance.
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