USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. II pt 1 > Part 4
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36
DEATH OF DR. M'CALLA.
[1800-1810.
with Thompson and several of his officers at Trois Riviers. After several months confinement on board of a loathsome prisonship he was permitted to return to his friends on parole and was restored to his congregations in the latter end of 1776. But the tranquility he enjoyed here was not long till it was interrupted by an order issued by the commander of the British army then in Philadelphia for apprehending him on a pretense of his having violated his parole in praying for his country. He had timely notice of this order and returned
to Virginia. Having received information of his release from parole by an exchange of prisoners he returned to the uncon- trolled office of his ministry and took charge of a respectable Academy in Hanover County. But it pleased the head of the Church by a train of providences to remove him once more to a station better suited to his inclinations in Christ Church Parish where in undisturbed retirement he might pursue his beloved studies and indulge his amp'e mind in inquisitive research. Through his whole residence in this country, though other subjects occupied a portion of his regard, his attention was principally directed to the sacred scriptures. He read them diligently in the originals and in the several languages into which they have been translated; collected and compared the various readings from many authorities and had it in design, had life been spared him, to have digested his remarks and arranged them in an order which would have rendered them useful to posterity. But infinite wisdom determined otherwise. An afflictive providence in the death, at the age of twenty-six, of a most amiable, excellent and dutiful daughter, an only child, the wife of Dr. John R. Witherspoon, accelerated the event, which frequent attacks on a constitu- tion already almost exhausted by protracted disease must soon have been brought to pass. He bore the affliction with exemplary submission and while he felt, he blessed the hand that laid the stroke upon him. In religion he found resources sufficient to support his spirit, but not sufficient to fortify his enfeebled frame against the power of disease. In calm sub- mission to the paternal will of God he met the King of Terrors with the composure and submission of a Christian, and sweetly resigned his soul into the arms of the Saviour, in whom he had long placed an unswerving confidence.
Dr. McCalla was in person of a graceful figure, polite, easy and engaging in his manners, entertaining and improving in
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1800-1810.]
DEATH OF DR. M'CALLA. 37
his conversation, of a lively fancy and a generous heart; of unfettered liberality and undissembled candor. He was easy of access ; a friend to mankind; but peculiarly attached to men of science and religion. His powers of mind were equal to his piety and benevolence. He justly held a conspicuous place in the foremost rank of learned and good men. . He was a profound scholar, combining the wisdom of antiquity with the refinement of modern literature. In biblical learning, criticism, and sacred history, he was exceeded by none. As a divine his theological opinions were founded solely on the authority of the Scriptures, and without servile attachments to party distinctions of any name, he professed himself a moderate Calvinist. On the subject of Church government he was liberal; but thought, says the writer from whom we quote, " the popular plan of Congregational Churches the most con- sonant to apostolic and primitive practice, and best fitted to promote the interests of piety and religion.
"As a preacher the eloquence of his manner, the perspicuity of his style, the abundant variety of his information, enforced by a manly and almost unequaled eloquence, at once charmed, convinced and interested. The subject of his pulpit addresses, never uninteresting, seldom speculative, were always calcu- lated to inform the understanding and improve the heart. To have been languid or unbenefitted under his ordinary preach- ing would have evidenced great insensibility or great depravity.
"As a teacher of youth he had a peculiar facility of com- municating the knowledge with which he was so copiously endowed, and the peculiar happiness of commanding obedi- ence and respect without severity or hauteur. As a man of piety and virtue, with as few infirmities as usually fall to the lot of good men in the present world, his example in every department of life was worthy of imitation, and displayed a rectitude of mind which could only result from perfect integrity of principle. His loss to the Church, to the partner of his life, to his friends and country is unspeakable. 'Well done, good and faithful servant," and " a mansion in Heaven is his reward." -- South Carolina Gasette.
Dr. McCalla published a sermon at the ordination of James Adams in 1799. In 1810 two volumes of his works edited by his son-in-law, Dr. John R. Witherspoon, were published with notices of his life by Dr. Hollingshead. These volumes
38
DORCHESTER AND BEACH HILL.
[1800-1810.
contain nine sermons on different subjects ; Remarks on the "Age of Reason," by Thomas Paine, over the signature of "Artemas ;" Remarks on Griesbach's Greek Testament ; An Essay on the Excellency and Advantages of the Gospel ; Re- marks on the Theatre and Public Amusements, in thirteen num- bers; Hints on Education, in fourteen numbers ; the Sovereignty of the People, in twelve numbers; a Fair Statement and Appendix to the same in eighteen numbers, containing an address to President Adams ; Servility of Prejudice Displayed, in nine numbers ; Federal Sedition and Anti-democracy, in six numbers; a Vindication of Mr. Jefferson, in two numbers ; and the Retreat, a poem.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF DORCHESTER AND BEACH HILL. Of the restoration of the church edifice, probably the oldest now standing in South Carolina, and the revival of the church organization after the Revolution we have made men- tion, Vol. I. p. 566 .* The Rev. James S. Adams, who was one of the original members of the Congregational Associa- tion of South Carolina, remained in charge of this Church until the 5th of March, 1805, when he resigned on account of declining health. During his ministry of six years he had been "greatly beloved and eminently successful in the work of the ministry. But the loss of his first wife and children, as was believed through the insalubrity of his situation, and his own ·very feeble health, induced his return to the healthful air of his native hills, in York District where he was born. His resignation was reluctantly accepted by the Congregation, who in a letter highly complimentary to him, signified their
*Dec. 1, 1800. The Congregational Church of Dorchester and Beach Hill was first organized and the churches used alternately for public worship about A. D., 1700. The first, of brick, now stands in the Parish of St. George, Dorchester, on a tract of ninety-five acres. The other, of wood, was destroyed long since by fire or material deray and was on another parcel of land, of ninety-five acres in the Parish of St Paul. This is the land given to Trustees, of whom Dr. stevens, deceased, was the last survivor. By the removal of most part of the worshippers with their minister, Rev. John Osgood. about forty years ago, said churches have been neglected, and fallen into a decayed state, and for some time past, no worship of any kind has been regularly carried on in the Parish of St. George, Dorchester. The petition for the Act of Incorporation also speaks of the said two tracts and one-twenty-sixth part of undivided land around Dorchester, given in trust for said Church. The records in 1802 speak of the fourth payment of Madam Fenwick's legacy as received, and the fifth in 1803, another in 1805, and so on in 1816, 1818.
39
1800-1810. ]
MIDWAY CHURCH, GA.
appreciation of his services and their regret at the separation. Mr. Adams was reported among the absentees at the meet- ings of the Association until early in 1809. He had addressed them on the 26th of November, 1808, from Lincoln County, N. C., requesting a dismission from their body, giving reasons for his absence since his removal from the Lower Country. His reasons were sustained and his request was granted. The Church then called the Rev. B. M. Palmer, pastor at Beaufort, who must have visited them, as there is evidence that $27 were paid him for services, Failing in this application they request Dr. Hollingshead, June, 1805, to aid them in their efforts to secure the labors of a settled minister, offering a 'salary of $860. They request, Dec. 30, Rev. Mr. McIlhenny to serve them, and he consents to do so [1805] as long as he shall remain in that vicinity. The number of members in the Dorchester Church in 1804 was twenty-six, white; sixteen, black ; total, 42. The church received the fourth payment from Madam Fenwick's Trust Fund [see Vol I., p. 569.] in 1802 and the fifth in 1805.
Historically related to this is THE CONGREGATIONAI. CHURCH OF MIDWAY, LIBERTY COUNTY, GA., which migrated from Dorchester, S. C., in 1752-54, (Vol. 1., p. 268, 269, 376, 377.) had enjoyed the labors of the Rev. Abiel Holmes, afterwards D. D. In May, 1784, Mr. Holmes being in South Carolina, and the Midway Church learning of his intention of entering the ministry, made application to him to preach for them one year. He consented to their proposal, and in the following August commenced his ministerial labors among them. In June, 1785, being about to return to New England, he was solicited by the Church and congregation to receive ordination and to become their pastor. For this pur- pose he was ordained at New Haven on the 15th of September, 1785. The ordination took place in the College Chapel the day after Commencement in connection with the Concio ad Clerum, which was delivered on that occasion. He returned to Georgia in November following, and assumed the pastor- ship of Midway Church. His health becoming impaired he went to the North in the Sumner of 1786, and, instead of returning to his charge in the Autumn, as he had intended, he made an arrangement with his friend, Mr. Jedediah Morse, afterwards Rev. Dr. Jedediah Morse, then a tutor in Yale Col- lege, by which an exchange of duties and place was effected.
.
40
STONEY CREEK.
[1800-1810.
Mr. Morse resigning his place as tutor, and Mr. Holmes tak- ing his place in the tutorship. Mr. Morse was ordained on the 9th of November, and the next day set out for his place of destination in Georgia. Here he remained about six months, during which time overtures were made to him of settlement from James Island, Sunbury and Savannah. Mr. Holmes having held the tutorship for a year, returned to his charge in November, 1787, and continued in great harmony with his people until 1791, when ill health compelled him to leave the State, though he always remembered with great affection the Church and society at Midway. He was suc- ceeded in December, 1791, by Cyrus Gildersleeve, who first preached as a licentiate, was ordained by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, in 1792, and continued in this pastoral charge till 1811.
THE INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF STONEY CREEK. This Church was fully organized with pastor, elders and dea- cons, ordained with prayer and laying on of hands, and held that "such churches as have not officers so ordained are dis- orderly. there being something still wanting ; but at the same time believed that every particular Church of Christ is inde- pendent ; and that no one Church hath any priority or super- intendency above or over another." It therefore was not represented in Presbytery. Its pastor, however, Rev. James Gourlay, was a member of the Presbytery of Charleston, in- corporated in 1790. He continued Pastor of this Church till his death, Jan. 24th, 1803 .*
*The following is his epitaph : "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. James Gourlay, who presided as Minister about thirty years over the congregation of Stoney Creek Church, much beloved by his flock, and esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was a native of scotland, and departed this life on the 24th of Jan , 1803.
This stone is erected by his affectionate congregation as a memorial of their respect for his long and faithful labors among them, in the Gospel of Jesus Christ." MSS. of Rev. Robert M. Adams.
There is found among Mr. Gourlay's papers the following project of an Association for the promotion of religion ; but whether it ever went into operation we have no knowledge.
The subscribers, ministers and representatives of certain congregations of Christians in Beaufort District, conceiving that by uniting together for the purpose of religious improvement and the extension of the Redeem- er's Kingdom, they may obtain so desirable an end, do agree to form ourselves into a society for these general purposes, as well as for any
41
REV. JAMES GOURLAY.
1800-1810.]
As far as appears from the records of the Church there was no pastor or supply for the next four years, when the Rev. Robert Montgomery Adams from Scotland was called and settled. Mr. Adams, as appears from his papers, was en- gaged as a student, preparing for the ministry at Edinboro' from the year 1794 to April, 1800. He was tutor in the family of H. Gavin Park for over three years, as was usual with candidates for the ministry, who needed the income such services procured. The certificates of his Theological Pro-
other which may conduce to the particular benefit of our congregations, and to be governed by the following Rules and Regulations :
1st. This society shall be called the Protestant Union and shall consist of the pastors and congregations of any Christian Protestant denomina- tion, whose tenets agree in the main with what is mentioned in the following Rule :
2d. We agree to admit into this Society any Congregation whose articles of faith are, the Unity of the Godhead in three distinct sub- sistencies, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the necessity of Divine Grace to renew the heart, and the all sufficiency of the atonement, mediation and righteousness of the God-man; Christ Jesus ; and in the operations of the Holy Spirit, as, also, of the absolute necessity of holiness in heart and life without which no one can see God. We reject no one from our Society upon the account of any differences in rites and ceremonies as far as these may be implied or expressed in the Holy Scriptures.
3d. The Society shall have one general meeting in the year at such time and place as shall be agreed upon at each meeting.
4. The Society shall consist of the Pastor of each Church or Congrega- tion, and of one or more lay delegates, but not exceeding three.
5. The objects of the meeting shall be to enquire into the State of religion in the bounds of each Congregation, to settle disputes that may arise between the Pastor and his people, but in this respect only as an advisory council; To assist vacant congregations with ministerial ser- vices occasionally ; to watch over each other in love, and to excite and animate one another in a holy walk and life, and generally and special y all such things relating to church government as may be brought before it.
6. The meeting of the Society sha'l always begin and end with prayer, and these meetings shall never separate without participating together in the most Holy Communion of the Lord's Supper, to which all worthy communicants of any Protestant Church may be admitted.
7th A Moderator and Secretary shall be chosen at each annual meet- ing for that period and to remain in office only during the meeting. His powers are to observe order in the transactions of the Society, to put the questions, &c. The Secretary is to keep a fair account of the minutes, &c.
8th. At the opening of the annual meeting an appropriate sermon shall be preached by one of the pastors, and the meeting close with the same by another, besides intermediate discourses agreeably to circumstances.
42
REV. ROBT. M. ADAMS.
1800-1810.]
fessors yet exist which reveal the care taken by the Church of Scotland in the training of their ministers .*
He was licensed by the Presbytery of Ayr, September 30, 1801. The certificate of his licensure is as follows :
At Ayr, the thirtieth day of September, one thousand, eight hundred and one years. Which day the Presbytery of Ayr, having taken into consideration, that, Mr. Robert Adams, student in Divinity, after passing the requisite course of study at the University, had laid before them satisfactory testimonials from the Professor of Divinity, respecting his proficiency, his character and his having delivered the usual Discourses ; that their Committee of private examination had reported him as qual- ified to be entered on public probationary trials and that the concur- rence of the Synod thereto having, in consequence of intimation to Presbyteries, been obtained in due form, Mr. Robert Adams had accord- ingly been admitted to said trials, all of which he having gone through ; Did on a review of his whole appearances declare their satisfaction with the specimens he had given of his qualifications to be a licentiate of this Church, and authorize their Moderator to license him. Whereupon the questions prescribed by the 10th, Act of Assemby, 1711, were put to him, to a'l which he gave satisfying answers ; also the Act, 1759, against Simoniacal practices was read to him, and then he did judicially subscribe the Formula. After which the said Mr. Robert Adams was licensed by the foresaid Presbytery to preach the Gospel of Christ and exercise his gifts as a Probationer for the Holy Ministry, and he is allowed an extract of this his license in common form when called for. Extracted by WILLIAM PEEBLES, Pres Clk.
He preached at Camregan from 1801 to 1804. From 1804 to 1806 he was assistant Minister to Dr. Gordon at Sorn. . A new society was formed in this parish which called him as their minister on a salary of fioo Sterling, whose house of worship was to be in Sorn or Cattune. Not wishing to divide the parish he prudently declined this offer. Migrating to America, after some short time spent as an assistant teacher
*EDINBURGH, 25th April, 1800 .- That Mr. Robert Adams was enrolled as a student of Divinity here in the two last sessions; that he attended the ball for a vety short time on each of them ; that he delivered a Lecture and Exegesis, both of which I approved as certified by
A. HUNTER, S. T. P.
"That the bearer Mr. Robert Adams hath been enrolled here as a student of Theology for four sessions, 1794, 5, 6 and 7; That heattended the Theological Lectures so assiduously through the three former ses- sions as not to have been noted absent in any one of them above eight or nine times, and that in the last he was present for the first month, but seldom afterward ; that he delivered a homily during the cur- rency of these sessions, and that so far as is known to me his behaviour hath been in all respects unblamable and suitable to his profession as certified. ROBERT FINDLAY, S. S. Theo. Prof.
Glassgow, Nor. 18, 1798.
43
STONEY CREEK.
1800-1810.]
under Dr. Buist in the College at Charleston,* he became pastor at Stoney Creek in Prince William Parish, Beaufort District, South Carolina, in 1807.
Mr. Adams, in a letter to his parents, speaks pleasantly. of his new home: "In my letters of last summer," says he, "I gave you an imperfect description of this part of the United States. The Parish of which I am minister is reckoned one of the most wealthy and beautiful of the whole State. Many of her gentlemen are possessed of an immense number of slaves, and, of consequence, very ample landed property. Their crops of cotton, rice, indigo, and others, are very abun- dant. Their mansions sometimes splendid, with every. ele- gance and luxury. Some of the most respectable and worthy of them are members of my church, and elders of the congre- gation. The funds of the church are sufficient to pay their clergyman and defray every' necessary expense. I have enjoyed as good health since I came to America as ever I did in Europe. Last summer my congregation gave me leave of absence five months, and will do the same this summer, by which time I shall be enured to the climate." After writing a letter to Rev. B. M. Palmer, of Beaufort, (afterwards D D.,) to secure him lodgings there, where he had spent the preced- ing summer, he alters his mind, resolving to spend the sun- mer at Rock Spring, in the neighborhood of which he had a church erected, and where he regularly officiates. "At Rock Spring and at there are twelve families, who make these places their summer residence, and who are the most wealthy and respectable in St. Luke's Parish. The society at Rock Spring is certainly the most pleasant and amiable I have ever met with in the course of my life. They are ali people of good information, some of them extremely rich, and their sole occupation during the Summer months is to enjoy themselves. They exhibit human felicity in its fairest forms. The public dinners are both frequent and splendid, and every evening, Sundays excepted, are devoted to the charms of music or the pleasures of conversation. If rational enjoy- ment, combined with elegance of taste and agreeableness of manners, is anywhere to be found, it is at Rock Spring. I administer the Lord's Supper at my new church on the second Sabbath in September, and will be assisted by two Presbyte-
:
·
*Historical Sketch of the Charleston College, Vol. XII. American Quarterly Register, p. 168.
44
STONEY CREEK.
[1800-1810.
rian clergymen, Mr. Beck and Mr. Crawford. I do not know if you have heard of Mr. Crawford. He is possessed of very ample property, of very respectable character, and I am told is a man of talents, but his delivery is not agreeable. He and Mr. Beck have a church about thirty (?) miles from Rock Spring, where they alternately officiate, without salary, as they are both independent. I think it would be an object worthy our attention to have these gentlemen members of our Presbytery, which I believe they very much wish." There then follow some remarks about Dr. Kollock, with certain speculations as to the strength of Presbytery, (if they had the new church built for him, Prince William's, Saltkehatchie and Pon Pon* together,) with some few gentlemen in North Caro- lina,* and should meet now in North Carolina and now in Georgia. Mr. Adams was accustomed to write the first draft of his letters, mingled up with 'snatches of sermons, in a very obscure hand, while his careful writing was plain, and often beautiful. We do not know to whom this letter was ad- dressed, probably to Dr. Buist, nor are we certain that we have rendered every word correctly.
Notwithstanding the glowing description, coleur de rose, above given of society in Prince William's and St. Luke's, he confesses to another friend that he " has had to contend with those who blasphemed the name of the Divine Majesty, vio- lated the sanctity of the Holy Sabbath, and opposed or neg- lected the worship due to His most holy name in the family."
His lists of communicants, found scattered among his papers, embrace names of the most respectable families of the neighborhood, as Postell, Wigg, Baker, Kensey, Jenkins, Taylor, Main, Farr, Bowman, Roberts, Forshae, Pilot, North, Neufville, Webb, Cuthbert, Doylie, Hutson, Hutcheson, Findlay, Richardson, Fraser, Love, Gadsby, Chancey, Davis, Johnstone, Frampton, McLeod, Heyward, Cuthbert, Lamb- right, Porcher, Metier, Ferguson, Pringle, Getch, Shepheard, Morrison, Gilbert, some of whom may have been occasional communicants from other neighboring churches
At this point a report of the hiring of the pews shows the following names as the supporters of the church: James Bowman, Frederick Fraser, Charles Love, J. R. Pringle, J. E.
*Dr. Bnist had written to him March 24, 1808: " Two Ministers from North Carolina have written to me, proposing to be admitted members of our Presbytery."
45
1800-1810.]
CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
McPherson, John A. Oglevie, J. A. Cuthbert, A. F. Gregorie, Robt. Reid, Wm. Heyward, Jno. Frampton, Jno. McLeod, Wm. M. Hutson, Kenney J. Jenkins, Christopher T. Danner, W. H. Williamson, J. Lockwood, J. S. Taylor, Mrs. Maine, Dr. Richardson, Ed. Neufville, Jno. Izd. Wright, R. Brown, Josiah Heyward. By Dr. Ramsay, the Stony Creek church is represented as not only Presbyterian, but as connected with the Presbytery of Charleston, of which its minister, Robert M. Adams, was a member. (See his History, Vol II, p. 25, published in 1808.)
THE CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
An application made towards the close of the year 1800, by the INDEPENDENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in the neigh- borhood of WAYNESBORO', BURKE CO., GEORGIA, to the ministers of the Congregational Churches of Charleston and its vicinity, for the ordination of a pastor, gave origin to the " Congregational Association of South Carolina," which was organized on the 25th of March, 1801, and remained in ex- istence for twenty-one years. The circumstances, as set forth in the first pages of their records, are as follows :
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