USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 28
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MR. HUGH MORRISON, Preacher of the Gospel, &c.
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Sir :- We the subscribers, members of Buffalo, Sunbury and Northumberland congregations, having never in these places had the stated administration of the Gospel ordinances, yet highly prizing, and having a view to the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, and the spiritual edification of ourselves and families, have set ourselves to obtain that blessing among us; and therefore as we have had the opportunity of some of your labors in these places, and are satisfied with your soundness, piety and ministerial ability to break unto us the bread of life, we do most heartily and sincerely, in the name of the Shepherd of the flock, Jesus Christ, call and invite you to come and take the pastoral charge and oversight of us in the Lord.
The call is signed by seventeen from Northumberland, eight from Sunbury and forty-eight from Buffalo. Mr. Morrison continued the pastor of these three congregations for upwards of fourteen years, the pastoral relations having been dissolved November 12th, 1801 .*
With this pastorate the connection between Buffalo, Sunbury and Northumberland ceased, and Buffalo sought a union with the Washington Church, in White Deer Valley, in the support of a
*See Meginness' Otzinachson and Rev. Isaac Grier's centennial sermon, 1876.
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pastor. They called, jointly, Mr. James Magraw, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Castle, in 1803, but he did not accept the call. In 1804 they called Thomas Hood, a licentiate of the same Presbytery, who accepted the call and was ordained and installed over these charges in October, 1805. Mr. Hood continued in the pastorate of this church till 1835. He seems to have proved him- self an able minister of the New Testament, and his memory is still held in esteem by the descendants of his former parishioners. In 1835 Mr. Hood. having resigned this charge, the late Rev. Isaac Grier, D. D., was called for half his time and gave the other half of his time to Bethel Church, in White Deer Township. With an interval of one year, in which he accepted a call from the Washington Church, in White Deer Valley, he served the Buffalo Church until his death, in June, 1884, and from 1853 for all his time. He was an active, useful pastor, greatly beloved by the people whom he served so long, and held in high esteem by his co-presbyters. The son of one of the original constituent mem- bers of the Presbytery, he spent all his natural life-time within its bounds, and did not cease his preaching till the Master called him to his reward. His last sermon was preached on the Sabbath before his death. For further details of his life and death the reader is directed to the Presbyterial "Obituary Record Book," in the custody of the Stated Clerk. The Buffalo Church may with propriety be called the mother of churches. Five churches have been organized within the territory originally occupied by this church, viz .: The Mifflinburg Church, organized in 1818 or 1819. This arose out of a disagreement on the Psalmody question. Two good old elders felt greatly aggrieved at the substitution of Watt's Hymns for Rouse's version of the Psalms, and felt in conscience bound to start up a church where their mouths should not be closed in singing the praises of God. They were supplied by the Associate Reformed Second Presbytery of Philadelphia. The Rev. George Junkin preached to them from 1821 to 1823, and was followed by the Rev. David Kirkpatrick, who, in October, 1827. made application with the church to the Presbytery of Northum- berland, and both were received from the Associate Reformed body. The next church formed ont of the Buffalo Church was in 1831, when a small church was organized in White Deer Township, called the Bethel Church, taken off from the northern part of the terri-
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tory. This church has passed out of existence. In 1832 another church, by order of Presbytery, was organized by the Rev. Mr. N. Todd, at Laurel Run, taking off the most westerly part. This. too, soon became extinct. In 1833 a church was organized at Lewisburg, taking off the most easterly part of the territory, and in 1841 a church was organized in New Berlin, taking off from the south. And yet the old mother still lives and holds on her way. May she have a serene and fruitful old age.
NORTHUMBERLAND CHURCH .- This church, we assume, was organ- ized about the same date as was the Buffalo Church. This would ap- pear from the fact that the Rev. Hugh Morrison was called to the pastorate of it, conjointly with that of Buffalo Church, in 1787, and was its first pastor. After the resignation of Mr. Morrison. in I801, this church continued its union with Sunbury in the support of a pastor. The Rev. Isaac Grier was called to these two charges from the three charges of Great Island, Lycoming and Pine Creek, in 1806. He here also, at Northumberland, conducted an academy, to which reference has been made in Part I. He died in 1814, and was succeeded, in 1816, by Robert F. N. Smith, who came, a licentiate. into this Presbytery from the Presbytery of New Castle. Mr. Smith continued pastor of these charges till the fall of 1819, when the pastoral relation was dissolved, and he was finally, after having been tried at the bar of Presbytery for some dereliction of duty for which he was admonished, dismissed to the Presbytery of Mis- sissippi. In 1822 Mr. W. R. Smith was called to the united churches of Northumberland and Sunbury. He was a licentiate of this Presbytery, and was ordained and installed on the 14th of May. This pastorate continued till 1831, when Mr. Smith was released from the charge. This frequent change of pastors does not seem to have conduced to the permanent prosperity of the church. It never does; it is in conflict with the theory of the Presbyterian Church, and in a large measure defeats the gospel aim of the pastorate. The pastor should be one with his people, identified with all their interests, and in loving sympathy with them in all their cares, anxieties and sufferings till the end of life. The church at Northumberland has not kept pace with its oppor- tunities and advantages, nor does its membership and influence bear a favorabile comparison with the increase of population; while
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the chronic disease of change is as deeply seated in its church-life as ever. It has indeed become self-sustaining to a moderate degree, so that it does not need to be grouped with other churches, as in earlier days, in order to exist, but with the resources and advan- tages within its grasp it ought to be, and we can see no reason why it conld not have become, with prudent management, one of the strongest and most influential churches of the Presbytery. After the rupture of 1838, which divided the Presbyterian Church into New and Old School, this church of Northumberland divided on that line, and the one moderately strong body now became two weak and rival bodies. A gentleman of wealth-a member of the New School branch-with the hope of strengthening its weakness and enlarging its usefulness, at his death bequeathed it eleven thousand dollars, the income of which was to be devoted to the support of the pastor and the help of the Sabbath School. This fund was properly administered and appropriated, and was an encouraging help to the usefulness of the New School Church; but when the reunion took place, in 1869-1870, the two churches, by common consent, became one, and all the property of each, including this fund, became the common property of the united church. Here was a splendid foundation on which to build a grand superstructure for the moral and religious uplifting of the community; but no sooner had the union of the churches been consummated than dissension arose about this fund. It was soon dragged into the courts, became the sport and prey of lawyers, and in the scramble has been nearly all lost, while the church continues comparatively weak and thriftless.
SUNBURY CHURCH .- What we have written touching the Nor- thumberland church will apply, in a slightly modified measure, to the church at Sunbury, excepting what has been said concerning the vested fund of the former. It had the same pastors through a long series of years, was subjected to the same frequent changes of ad- ministration, troubled with similar chronic dissensions, and marked by the same stunted growth and narrow range of influence: while the increase of population offered a splendid opportunity for pro- gress and extended usefulness. Since it entered on a separate. self-sustaining career it has become stronger than Northumberland, but then it has much superior local advantages. Compara-
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tively speaking, it can hardly boast of advantage in the race of progress.
WARRIOR RUN CHURCH .- This church was probably organized about the time of the organization of Buffalo, Northumberland and Sunbury, or a little later. I take the following from the May (1887) number of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL:
The earliest authentic history of the churches of Warrior Run and Chillisqua- que is found in a manuscript journal of Rev. Philip V. Fithian, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Donegal, who was appointed by his Presbytery to go on a mission tour through the region embraced by the West Branch Valley. On Sabbath, July 16th, 1775, he first preached at Warrior Run. The meeting-house, a log building, not yet covered, stood on the bank of the river, eighteen miles from Northumber- land. 'Mr. Fithian writes that the congregations were large and attentive, the people coming from all parts of the country, some on horseback and others in canoes.
It appears from this record that the Warrior Run Church was at this date organized, though it had no pastor. No reason appears why its organization should not have run back at least as far as 1773. The disturbed state of the country, and the poverty of the people, perhaps prevented the settlement of a pastor over it earlier than 1790. when the Rev. John Bryson was called and installed over it, who seems to have been its first settled pastor. Of his life and work we have given an account in Part II. This church had a prosperous career under the long pastorate of Mr. Bry- son, and fostered an intelligent and prosperous community. Its first house of worship, as has been stated, was a log building on the river bank, eighteen miles from Northumberland. The church in which Mr. Bryson was installed was situated six miles north of Milton, on the State road leading to Muney. It was the custom in these early days to locate country church buildings in spacious groves near an ample supply of water. The people usually met on the Sabbath for two services, and spent the most of the day at the church, eating a lunch in the interval between the services. These church groves were generally the most charming spots to be found in the communities in which they were located. Such were the groves of Warrior Run, Chillisqnaque, Buffalo and other churches in this Presbytery. The church of Warrior Run, after the retirement of Mr. Bryson from the pastorate, began to decline. partly on account of the organization of other churches within its
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original territory, or in its near vicinity, and partly from the re- moval of Presbyterian families from the locality, and its occupancy by people of other denominational connections or proclivities. It has had many pastors since Mr. Bryson's day, none of whom seem to have found the field sufficiently encouraging to hold them to it for a life-time.
CHILLISQUAQUE CHURCH .- This church, uniformly spelled in the old records, Gillisquaqua, must have been organized at least as early as Warrior Run-about 1773. It was joined with Warrior Run under the pastorate of Mr. Bryson, and seems to have had a history in all essential respects similar to it. Like Warrior Run, it has become enfeebled by age and depletion through removals, and the shifting of population; and can hardly expect to resume a vigorous existence in the future. Like Warrior Run, it has had many pastors since Mr. Bryson's day, none of whom have found encouragement enough to hold them to the field very long.
PINE CREEK (NOW JERSEY SHORE) CHURCH .- The date of the organization of this, like that of all the original churches of this Presbytery, is uncertain. As near as I can ascertain, it was not later than 1792 or 1793. A venerable mother in Israel. the late Mrs. Anna Hamilton, widow of Robert Hamilton, who had been an active and efficient elder of the church from a short period after its organization until his death, which occurred in 1845, in- formed the writer that she was one of the original constituent mem- hers of the church at its organization, and her memory, which was noted for its correctness, fixed the date as above mentioned. This excellent lady was the mother of the Rev. William C. Hamilton. who, at a very early age, devoted himself to the arduous work of mis- sionary to the Northwestern Indians, among whom he still continues to labor: and of the late Rev. J. J. Hamilton, of the Presbytery of Carlisle. She died April 16th, 1862, in the 95th year of her age. According to Mrs. Hamilton's statement the organization took place under a large tree on the western bank of Pine Creek, near the present terminus of the bridge over that stream. on the road between Jersey Shore and Lock Haven, and was effected by a committee of the Presbytery of Carlisle. The first elders were Robert Love and a Mr. Culbertson, and soon after Robert Hamilton
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and Hugh White were added. At the time of its organization the church had no house of worship, but soon after a large frame church building was erected near the spot where the organization took place.
The first pastor was the Rev. Isaac Grier, a native of Cumber- land County. An account of his life, death and family will be found in Parts I. and II. of this history. In the spring of 1792 he was sent as a missionary to the West and North Branches of the Sus- quehanna River, by the Presbytery of Carlisle. as far as Albany and Ticonderoga, New York. On the 15th of June, of that year, he arrived at Northumberland: on the next day he preached at Chillisquaque; on June 21st he preached at Derry; thence he rode to Lycoming, now Newberry, June 22d. and lodged with a Mr. Hepburn; on the 24th he preached there, and finding a man who was going to what was called Pine Creek Station, he sent word by him that he would be there to preach to thein on the next Sabbath. He rode to Pine Creek Station on the 26th and lodged with a Mr. Bell. On June 28th he preached at Pine Creek. The messenger by whom he had sent word of his coming had faithfully performed his promise, but the congregation was so small that Mr. Grier felt surprised and discouraged. On inquiring, after the services, why there were so few people at the preaching. he was told that the man by whom he sent word of his coming was known to be a Methodist, and the people supposed that it was a Methodist minister that was to preach, whom they did not want to hear .* The Methodist ministers could not have been as popular in those days as they are now; they were a small folk at that time in this country, and were not on as good terms with Presbyterians and Presbyterianism as they now are. : This was Mr. Grier's first visit to the people who were destined to constitute his first charge. On the 19th of June. 1793, a call was put in his hands by the Pres- bytery of Carlisle, from the united congregations of Lycoming, Pine Creek and Great Island, which he took under consideration. On the 2d of October, same year. he accepted this call: was ordained to the full office of the gospel ministry in April, 1794, at Carlisle: at the same time he was installed over this united charge, a commissioner, authorized to act for the churches, being
* Journal of Rev. Isaac Grier, furnished by his son, Rev. I. Grier, D. D.
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present. Mr. Grier's pastorate over the Pine Creek Church cov- ered a period of about twelve years. A vacancy of eight years followed, during which the church was probably supplied with occasional preaching and administration of ordinances by neighbor- ing ministers. In 1814 John H. Grier, a native of Bucks County, and licentiate of the New Castle Presbytery, was called to the pastorate of this church, and ordained and installed in the summer of 1815 over the Pine Creek Church for half his time, the other half of his time being devoted to the Great Island Church. His charge was substantially that which Isaac Grier had served, with the exception of Lycoming. A brief account of his life, work and death will be found in Part I. of this history.
When the Pine Creek Church was organized and the house of worship built, the town of Jersey Shore did not exist. The country was sparsely settled and the population scattered. The people were almost all Scotch-Irish, and Presbyterians. The ter- ritory on the west side of the West Branch of the Susquehanna had only been open to settlers about seven years, it being till then an Indian reserve territory. About the year 1800 there were four houses on the present site of Jersey Shore. In 1826 the town was incorporated, and in 1832 a few Presbyterians, who lived in the town and on the opposite side of the river, among whom were John A. Gamble, Abram Lawshe, James Wilson, Mark Slonecker, George Tomb, James M. Hepburn, George Crane.and David and Charles McMicken, joined with the Baptists and built a brick meeting-house. to be occupied by the two denominations jointly. It was called the "Union Church." Soon after this house was completed the Pine Creek Church was invited to hold occasional services in it. This invitation was accepted and occasional services were conducted there till 1836, when, I learn from a record in the treasurer's book, kept by the late Abraham Lawshe, the Session having by formal resolution agreed to the arrangement, regular services began to be held there and the church was virtually transferred from Pine Creek to Jersey Shore. The old church building on Pine Creek was eventually converted into an academy, the first, and I believe the only, prin- cipal of which was the late Rev. J. J. Hamilton; and by and by took fire and was consumed. In 1842, a division having arisen in the church-one party opposing and the other sustaining the con-
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tinued pastorate of Mr. Grier-the opposing parties finally com- promised the matter by calling the Rev. Daniel M. Barber for half his time. This did not interfere with Mr. Grier's call, as that was only for half his time. Mr. Barber, who was well known to the people, accepted the call and continued to serve the church as co-pastor for nine years; at the same time conducting a select school-an institution much needed in the community.
The Rev. D. M. Barber was a native of this interior section of Pennsylvania, a man of decidedly positive character, of more than ordinary intellectual ability and a forcible preacher. He was pos- sessed of good social qualities and was a genial companion. He acquired his college education at Washington, Pa., and his theo- logical education at Princeton, N. J. He died at Milton about, or soon after, the close of the late civil war, having acted as chap- lain in the Union army for a time. He was somewhat more than 60 years of age when he died, and was buried in the old Derry Church burying ground, in the neighborhood of which he had grown up to manhood, and where his ancestors and most of his immediate family rest. In the spring of 1851 Mr. Grier and Mr. Barber resigned their respective pastorates of the Pine Creek Church, and at the same meeting of Presbytery which consummated their resignations, Elder Samuel Simmons, representing the church, asked the Presbytery to change its name from Pine Creek to "The Church of Jersey Shore." His request was laid over till the next fall meeting, when the name was changed by act of Presbytery. About the same time an act of incorporation was procured in the name and title of the "Presbyterian Church of Jersey Shore." . Previous to this, however, in the spring or summer of 1850, the congregation commeneed the erection of a new church building, on Main Street, near the centre of the town; the old building. though a spacious and substantial brick house, having become in- convenient of access, being situated in the extreme northwest corner of the town. In 1844 the Presbyterian congregation bought out the Baptist interest in the " Union Church." and became the sole owner of it; and six years after this abandoned it for a better locality and a more modern and elegant structure. On Saturday, the last day of July, 1851, the Rev. Joseph Stevens landed in Jersey Shore, having received from the Session an invi-
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tation to visit the church, through the Rev. D. M. Barber and J. W. Yeomans, D. D. He had been licensed to preach six or seven years before by the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, having graduated at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., and at the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J., and been ordained at Natchez, Miss., in which State he had, on leaving the Princeton Seminary, accepted a professorship in Oakland College-an institution belonging to and under the management of the Synod of that State-and en- gaged to supply the pulpit of the church of Rodney, four miles distant from the college. His health having become enfeebled through the severities of the climate and overwork, he resigned his position there and traveled north. Turning aside to visit Dr. Yeo- mans, an old and esteemed friend at Danville, Pa., he received the invitation to visit the church at Jersey Shore. After preaching to the people a few Sabbaths, he was unanimously called to be the pastor of the church, and was soon installed. One year after his installation the congregation took possession of its new house of worship, which it still occupies. This house has, since that date, been three times refitted and repaired at an expense, each time, not much less than its original cost, and is now a model of neat- ness, cheerfulness and convenience. The old building was con- verted into the " West Branch High School," a parochial institution that has been second only to the church itself in usefulness to the community. This school was kept in active and useful operation to the close of the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Stevens, D. D., in October, 1886, when, or a little before, through the mismanagement of those entrusted with its control, it was closed, and though it has been recently re-opened, its future does not seem encouraging. Those who received their education there, and they were a goodly num- ber, will remember with gratitude the energetic and self-sacrificing efforts of the pastor and the excellent men who rallied around him, to perpetuate this worthy and much-needed school. But the builders who wrought so well have either passed away or been laid aside by age, while the present times and circumstances do not seem favorable to maintaining their work.
During the late pastorate of Dr. Stevens the church became strong and influential, holding a position in the Presbytery equal to any on its roll, and for many years having the largest membership.
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He retired after a pastorate of nearly thirty-six years. May the future of the church be more prosperous than the past. This church has had but three pastorates, though four pastors, including the co-pastor, Mr. Barber, in ninety-four years. But the fathers, where are they? Noble mnen they were. The children, what are they ? The future must tell.
LYCOMING CHURCH .- This church is at least as old as Pine Creek. Its organization probably goes back to about the same date as that of Pine Creek. Its first pastor was the Rev. Isaac Grier, who at the same time was the first pastor of the Pine Creek Church. After his resignation of its pastorate this church seems to have cut loose from all association with other churches in the support of a pastor. So far as the records show, it was vacant from the time of Rev. Isaac Grier's resignation till 1814. having had occasional supplies from the Presbytery during that time. On the 4th of October, 1814, the Rev. Samuel Henderson, a member of the Presbytery of New Castle, presented himself to the Presby- tery of Northumberland, with a call to the Lycoming Church. He was received and soon after installed. This church must have, at this time, become strong, as it was able to support a pastor all his time. Mr. Henderson's pastorate was of short duration, and very unfortunate. He was arraigned before the bar of Presbytery on the charge of immoralities, and conduct unbecoming a minister of the gospel. He was found guilty of the latter charge and suspend- ed from the ministry in 1817, and at the same time the pulpit of the church was declared vacant .. At a later date of the same year Mr. Henderson was restored to the ministry, on his profession of repentance and reformation, and another call from the Lycoming Church for his services as pastor was presented to Presbytery, but accompanied with a strong remonstrance against it. The Presby- tery did not think it wise to put the call into his hands .*
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