USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 26
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About this date the cause of missions, both home and foreign. came into somewhat prominent notice. The Presbytery had not been in- different to the subject before, but about this time a new interest sprang up in the churches and among the ministers, which developed into some fruitfulness. Mr. William B. Montgomery, a licentiate of the Presbytery, had been ordained to go on a foreign mission under the auspices of the Foreign Missionary Society, organized and located at Pittsburg a few years earlier. To what country or people he was destined, or whether he ever entered on the work, or where or when he died, we find no record of .* In 1833 Mr. Matthew Laird, a licentiate of the Presbytery, was ordained to go on a mission to Africa. He seems to have been a man well quali- fied by abilities and attainments for such an undertaking. and of excellent spirit. The churches of the Presbytery were assessed for the full amount of his support, according to their ability to give, and Mr. Laird went to Africa the ensuing year, where he died of the African fever, which has proved so fatal to many de- voted men and women who have attempted to carry the gospel into the Dark Continent, about the time he was prepared to enter practi- cally on the work of his mission. In 1837 Mr. William C. Hamil- ton, a member of the Pine Creek Church (now Jersey Shore), a licentiate of this Presbytery, was ordained to go as a missionary among the American Indians of the Northwest. He was a young man of fine abilities and much promise, and cheerfully consecrated himself to the arduous and self denying work of teaching and preaching the gospel to the aborigines of our country, especially the Omahas, on whom the most of his labors have been expended :
*See full account in the sketch of Mahoning Church.
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in which work he is still engaged at this writing, 1887, having attained the advanced age of considerable more than three-score years and ten, but in full possession of his faculties and efficiently serving the cause to which he consecrated his life in his youth.
We have noticed the jealous adherence of the Presbytery to the standards of the Church, when the controversy which resulted in the division into New and Old School arose. It would not, perhaps, be amiss to note that when, in 1834, the " Act and Testi- mony," as it was called. was published, and the various ecclesiasti- cal bodies of the Church were solicited to sign or declare their adoption of it, a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Bryson and Kirkpatrick, ministers, and A. D. Hepburn, elder, to bring in a minute or report thereon. On the presentation of this committee's paper, which very firmly sustained, and earnestly recommended the measure, all the ministers, licentiates and ruling elders of the Presbytery were called on to sign that document. which seems to have been done with a hearty unanimity.
As the years passed on the original constituent members of the Presbytery began, one by one, to drop out of sight. Having finished their toilsome tasks of laying foundations for others to build on, and exhausted their physical energies in the labor, they were taken, each in his turn, by the ever considerate Master, whom they served, into the "rest that remaineth for the people of God," while their works do follow, still proclaiming, " Well done, good and faithful servants." We have noticed that the Rev. Isaac Grier died in 1814. He was the first of the five to enter into his reward. He finished his work at the comparatively early age of 51 years, having been born in 1763; but he did a good and praiseworthy work, and his memory is still reverently cherished.
= In 1825, the 6th day of November, the Rev. Asa Dunham died, aged about 73 years, having been born in 1752. He received both his classical and theological education at New Brunswick, N. J., of which State he was a native. He is called the senior mem- ber of the Presbytery in the old minutes, and seems to have been an active, liberal-minded and useful man. He took an active part in the establishment of Princeton Theological Seminary, and acted as an agent for it, collecting funds for its use, and in other ways aiding its interests.
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In May, 1843, John B. Patterson died, aged 71 years. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1773; received his preparatory training under the Rev. N. W. Semple, at Strasburg, in his native county, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, studied theology with Rev. N. W. Semple, was licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle in 1797, ordained in 1799 by the Presbytery of Huntingdon and installed over the churches of Mahoning and Derry. He left several children, of whom one of the sons became a minister of the gospel, and preached within and beyond the lim- its of this Presbytery till a recent date, when he was called to his heavenly rest.
The Rev. Thomas Hood died March 17th, 1848, aged 67 years. He was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1781, graduated at Dick- iuson College in 1798, studied theology under Rev. Nathan Grier, of Brandywine Manor, Chester County, licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle in 1802, ordained by the Presbytery of Hunting- don in 1804 and installed pastor of the churches of Buffalo and Washington. He was installed pastor of the church at Milton in 1812, in connection with his charges of Buffalo and Washington, for one-fourth of his time, but soon resigned the Washington part of his charge and confined his labors to Buffalo and Milton. Mr. Hood was for forty-three years a member of this Presbytery. He seems to have been a man of more than ordinary gifts and attain- ments, and won not only the respect, but also the strong attach- ment of those among whom he labored in the gospel. Of his immediate family no knowledge has fallen in our way, but we have knowledge of some of his connections of the same name who have been very successful, liberal and useful business men and active Christians.
The Rev. John Bryson was the last of these worthy Presbyters' to pass away. He lived to the unusual age of about 97 years. He was born in January, 1758, and died August 3d, 1855. He pur- sued his education, preparatory for college, under that eminent and popular teacher of those early times, the Rev. Dr. Waddell, of Virginia, and received his college education at Dickinson College, Carlisle, being a member of the first class that graduated from that institution. His theological studies were pursued at Mercersburg, Franklin County. Pa., under the direction of Rev. Drs. King and
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Cooper. He was licensed in 1789 by the Presbytery of Carlisle, and in 1790 was called to, ordained, and installed as pastor over the Warrior Run and Chillisquaque congregations. He was a faith- ful, active, useful servant of Christ. He wrought a good work in his day, and left his impress on the community to which he ministered. The memory of the just is blessed. Some of his de- scendants are still to be found at Williamsport, within the bounds of the Presbytery, doing good service for the Master to whom he consecrated so long a lifetime.
It is a notable historical fact that sentiments supposed to involve important moral considerations, and laws founded on these senti- ments and regarded as of clearly revealed authority, and of the most far-reaching influence on the well-being of society in one age, sink into insignificance and lose all their sacredness and force in another. and gradually become obsolete. This change never takes place without a struggle, more or less earnest. The human mind cannot let go its hold on moral ideas, whether they be true or false, but by a gradual process of cogitation, nor does the change always in- volve, or depend on an increase of knowledge touching the subject inatter. The law of the Presbyterian Church forbidding mar- riages within certain degrees of relationship by affinity was enforced less than fifty years ago with considerable rigidity, and was re- garded by men of reputation for sound thinking to be solidly founded on revealed truth. But now that law has become almost a dead letter in the Presbyterian Church, as represented by the General Assembly in the United States, and it is doubtful if any Presbytery or Synod, or the General Assembly itself, would entertain a case of discipline for its violation. In 1844 the Pres- bytery of Northumberland censured the Rev. James Williamson for marrying a man to his niece by affinity, and the Rev. D. M. Barber for marrying a man to his deceased wife's sister .* Ten years later they refused to censure a member for doing what Mr. Barber was censured for,t and now such marriages pass unchal- lenged, although the law has neither been as yet modified or re- pealed. Whether the Church has acted wisely and scripturally in these premises is a matter for theologians to determine ; it is quite
* See Presbyterial minutes for 1844.
t See minutes- of 1854.
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certain she has no more light touching the subject than our fore- fathers had.
For many years, till within a recent date, this subject was fre- quently and sometimes very ably discussed in all the Church courts, and various overtures were sent up to the General Assembly by Synods and Presbyteries; some in favor of the absolute repeal of the law, some for its modification. and others against meddling with it in any way, but to enforce it as far as possible. In 1886 the General Assembly sent down an overture touching this subject, which has been passed by the Presbyteries and will be declared to be the amended law of the Church by the Assembly of this present year, 1887. How far this act will terminate differences of opinion on the subject of marriages within certain degrees of kindredship by affinity, and lead to uniform practice among the ministry, time alone will reveal.
The law, as it has hitherto been, reads thus:
Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbid- den in the word; (1) nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man or consent of parties so as those persons may live together as man and wife. (2) The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor the woman of her husband's kindred nearer than of her own.
The law, as amended, leaves out the last period, viz .: "The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor the woman of her husband's kindred nearer in blood than of her own." This throws the whole question of the degrees of kindredship within which people may marry out of the ecclesiastical sphere, and remits it wholly to the State, to be de- termined by the civil law. Whether it will conserve the best interest of society, the discriminating historian of the distant future will be able to decide.
From 1863 to 1870 we find in the records and documents of the Presbytery no incidents or events worthy of special notice. except an item touching the validity of the acting eldership on removal from one congregation to another, or defining the ground on which the right of a ruling elder to act in a particular congregation rests. In 1854 or 1855 a case of discipline occurred in the Muney Church, of which the Rev. John Smalley was then pastor. The church was small and had been considerably distracted from various causes.
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It had, at this time, but two acting elders, and one of these had only recently moved within the bounds of the congregation from a neighboring congregation. He was duly elected to act as a ruling elder in the Muncy Church, but was not formally installed. He sat in the judicial case with the other elder, and voted on all the questions that came before the court. Each of these elders, also. was a witness in the case, and was in his turn on the witness stand. while the other, together with the moderator, constituted the court. As both these witnesses were opposed to the defendant, his con- viction was a foregone conclusion. An appeal was carried up to the Synod of Philadelphia, in session at Hollidaysburg. The Synod pronounced the action of session invalid, as also the Presbytery had done. It was carried up to the General Assembly and the decision of the Synod was sustained. The installation of elders had been, previously to this date, wholly overlooked, in fact no distinction was made between ordination and installation. When an elder who had been ordained was chosen to act in a particular congregation, the election was supposed to authorize him to act without further formality. Henceforth it became the uniform practice, as it had always been the law of the Presbyterian Church, to install ordained elders when, on removing from one congregation to another, they are chosen to discharge the office of elder in that particular congregation-the installation being as necessary as his ordination to the validity of his acts.
The decade from 1860 to 1870 was a period of great excitement throughout the country. The civil war began in 1861, after a heated Presidential canvass. which agitated the nation as it never had been agitated before, and this excitement was greatly intensi- fied by the breaking out of hostilities between the two great sec- tions of the country-North and South-and continued to increase as the conflict advanced. Nor did it cease when the war came to a close. The efforts to reconcile the conflicting elements of society, reduce antagonizing interests to harmony and establish peace and good will between the people, North and South, were often rudely frustrated. and instead of binding up and mollifying the wound, only aggravated it: so that throughout this decade the popular mind was like a seething caldron, boiling over with excitement. New political issues constantly arose, exciting the fear's and worst
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apprehension of the people-a condition of things most unfavor- able to religious progress; yet, notwithstanding all this, the Pres- bytery held on its way successfully. The ministers, with a few insignificant exceptions, were very pronounced in their loyalty to the Government while the war lasted, and prudently did what they could to conciliate opposing views and harmonize conflicting inter- ests among the people in the after troubles. The Presbytery, and the churches under its care, passed through a trying ordeal, but nothing was lost, and the cause of the Master held on its way un- falteringly, supported by the wisdom, power and grace of Him whose kingdom ruleth over all.
The reunion, in 1869, of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church in the United States-New and Old School-led to a gen- eral reorganization of Presbyteries and Synods throughout the bounds of the reunited General Assembly. As a result of the changes thus inaugurated. the Synod of Harrisburg was organized at Bellefonte in June, 1870, composed of the Presbyteries of Car- lisle, Huntingdon, Northumberland and Wellsboro. At the same date the Presbytery was reorganized and made to consist of all the ministers and churches within the territorial limits of the counties of Clinton, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, Cameron and Lycoming .* The Rev. J. C. Watson, D. D., was made presiding officer till a new moderator should be elected, and constituted the Presbytery by prayer. The Rev. William Sterling was chosen moderator, and the Rev. William Simonton was chosen stated clerk. By this reunion and reorganization of ecclesiastical bodies. the Presbytery of Northumberland received the important and influential Second Church of Williamsport, which had belonged to the New School body; and the New and Old School churches of Northumberland were consolidated and became one. No other changes were made in its constituency .
( CONTINUED NEXT MONTH.)
THE first store in what is now Potter County was opened in 1825 in Lymansville, by Dr. Henry Lyman.
* Lycoming County is not mentioned in the enabling act, as recorded in the minutes of Presbytery.
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INDIAN FAMINE IN 1748.
[In the Summer of 1748, the Moravian Indian missionaries, John Martin Mack and David Zeisberger, visited the North and West Branches of the Susque- hanna. From the diary of Mack the following extracts have been taken, treating of the famine then prevailing among the Indians.]
1748, July 9 .- Set out from Shamokin, and by evening reached the spot where Bishop Spangenberg and party lodged on their way to Onondaga .*
July 10 .- About noon reached Otstonwaken, and found it entirely deserted; so'we journeyed on. At night tormented by punks and mosquitoes, despite the five fires between which we lay down to sleep.
July 11 .- Resumed our journey, and at noon came to some Indian huts, but found them empty. We passed many empty huts to-day. Crossed a branch of the Susquehanna, and also to an island, where we found a few deserted huts. Brother Mack climbed into a tree to look out for some human being -- for the grass and weeds were so high as to intercept all view-and saw an Indian at a distance. He descended and made for the point, where he found a hut in which an old woman and some others were down with the small-pox. On asking where the Indians of this region were, he was told that many had died of small-pox and others had been driven by famine to the white settlements. We learned that this district was called Long Island,t and nearly all who dwell here (and the number is not small) are Delawares. One of the Indian men knew Brother Mack well, having met him at Shamokin. He was friendly, showed us the way to Great Island, and regretted he had nothing to give us to eat.
Towards evening reached Great Island,t and found Indians at home, residing on this side of the island. They asked us from whence we came, and whether we had ought to sell. When told
* See Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Vol. I., p. 431.
¡ Situated in the river opposite the borough of Jersey Shore. It originally consisted of one large, fine farm of 174 acres, but in later years it was divided into two.
¿ This famous island lies in the river a short distance east of Lock Haven. It is often called Dunn's Island.
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that we were not traders, but had only come to visit them, it was incomprehensible to them. But a few old squaws were living on the island; the men had been driven away by famine. We conse- quently remained on this side of the island, and asked an Indian whether we could lodge in his hut. He took us in cordially, and spread a bear skin for us to sleep on ; but he had nothing for us to eat. Ascertained that he was a Five Nation Indian, and his wife a Shawanese ; whereupon Brother Zeisberger conversed with him. His father, who is upwards of seventy years, was dying of small-pox, and was a most pitiable object. His case and that of the Indians here enlisted our sympathies and silent prayers.
In the evening we were visited by a number of Indians, Shaw- anese and Cayugas. Here dwell in three houses Shawanese, Maquas and Delawares; among the latter an Indian from Albany who spoke Low Dutch. In all three houses were cases of small- pox. In one hut hung a kettle in which grass was being stewed, which they ate with avidity.
July 12 .- Brother Zeisberger learned from our host that many Indians passed and repassed his hut. To-day he brought out some dried venison and gave us some, and we in turn gave his child some of our bread, for which they were very thankful.
In the afternoon told our host we desired to visit the island to see the Indians there, and he unasked went with us, and led us to all the huts. We found some clever people here who had just returned from the woods, and who shared with us grapes, green and hard, which they ate with avidity. We prayed silently to the Lord to have mercy on this people.
Returned to our lodgings, and our host again asked us why we had come so far, and had we not come in search of land? He said there was fine land in the neighborhood. We explained that was not our object.
July 13 .- We found an opportunity to speak to our host of the Saviour. He had heard somewhat of God, and said he believed what we had told him was good and true. He then gave us some dried venison and we in return some needles and thread to his wife.
Set out on our return down the Susquehanna. At night camped on a large flat by a creek, ate some mouldy bread, the last of our stock, and built four fires to keep off the vermin.
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July 14 .- Arose early. Brother David (Zeisberger) caught some fish, which we cooked. At noon reached Otstonwaken,* where we speared a large fish with a pointed stick. This we took to our camp, which was on a high bank of the Susquehanna, where Bishop 'Spangenberg and company had dined on the way to Onondaga in 1745, and ate the fish for supper.
July 15 .- Set out early and at noon came to a spot where Spangenberg had passed the night on his return from Onondaga, and at evening reached Shamokin.
Mack and his companion remained in Shamokin until July 22, when they traveled up the North Branch, visiting the Indian towns along the river to Wapwallopen, crossed the mountain to Gnaden- hutten, and from thence to Bethlehem, arriving there July 30th.
A NEW town called Lopez has been started in Sullivan County, and the Dushore Review thus sketches its history: "Years ago. when the old Berwick turnpike was in course of construction, John R. Lopez was employed by the company as a laborer and his good wife kept boarding house, moving along the line as section after section was completed. At what is now known as Lopez Hill, John Lopez was engaged one day in removing a blast that had failed to explode. In some manner he exploded the charge of powder while sitting prone upon the rock, and was hurled into the air along with the shattered boulder. He was not seriously hurt, and the place took the name of Lopez Rock or Lopez Hill, and the creek took its name from the hill, and now the rapidly growing town gets its name from the creek. Mr. Lopez took land in pay- ment for his labor and settled on Sugar Hill, living to an advanced age. He was the grandfather of Green Henly, of Cherry. This is the history of the naming of Lopez."
DID a tribe of the Andastes once inhabit this valley ? It is the opinion of Indian antiquarians that they did, judging from the pe- culiar remains of fortifications found here at different points one hundred years ago.
* The borough of Montoursville, Lycoming County, is partly built on the site of Otstonwaken.
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Two Dollars per Annum, in Advance. Single Numbers, Twenty Cents.
A monthly publication, devoted entirely to the preservation of scraps of local history in Northwestern Pennsylvania, with reference occasionally to statistics, finance and manufactures.
Address all letters and communications relating to literary matters, subscrip- tion or advertising to
JOHN F. MEGINNESS, Editor and Publisher, WILLIAMSPORT, PA.
WILLIAMSPORT, JANUARY, 1888.
HISTORY OF THE WEST BRANCH VALLEY.
Although it was stated in the October number of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL that the author had determined not to republish the History of the West Branch Valley in book form, we are still importuned, by letter and otherwise, to reproduce it in some form. Several friends have suggested its republication as the second volume of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL, in monthly parts. This plan is more feasible than any that has been presented, and we are disposed to give it careful consideration, inasmuch as there seems to be such a desire on the part of a great many people for the reproduction of the old history of thirty-one years ago, and we submit the following plan :
I. If seven hundred subscribers can be secured we will agree to republish the work handsomely in monthly parts, of forty pages each, beginning with the May number, 1888, and ending with the April number. 1889.
II. The work will be carefully revised and much new matter added, both in the text and by foot-notes or annotations, which will greatly increase its value.
III. The style of the original work will be preserved, and the curious old documents will be reproduced in their order.
IV. The price will be $3 for twelve numbers, payable in ad- vance when the first number is issued. There will be no other matter introduced to interfere with the history, so that when the
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last page is printed the book of about 500 pages will be complete, and subscribers can have the numbers bound in a volume to suit their fancy. The present monthly only consists of thirty-two pages. Under the proposed plan the work would be fully one hundred pages larger, with a corresponding increase in cost. The book cannot be published any cheaper, without loss to the author.
V. If this proposition is not accepted by a sufficient number to warrant the undertaking, it is not likely that the book will be re- produced. and must pass out of existence. The author cannot afford to republish it in any other way. If those who are anxious to have it republished will at once inform the author of their willingness to subscribe, the enterprise may be undertaken. If not, THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL will be continued under the present form.
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