USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. II pt 2 > Part 5
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Inimmediately after the territory began to be settled, the Rev. Messrs. Sloss and Hulbard, and afterwards, Stuart, all of the Presbytery of South Carolina, were sent thither as missionaries. Mr. Sloss became stationary in that region. The Rev. Andrew Brown, of the Presbytery of South Carolina, the Rev. Thomas Newton, of Hopewell Presbytery, and the Rev. John Foster, of the Presbytery of Harmony, emigrated to that country. These were all members of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, and it is believed that they were the only ordained Pres- byterian clergymen in the State of Alabama
The interests of religion, and especially of the Presbyterian Church, appeared to require that there should be a Presbytery organized in Alabama. No Synod but that of South Carolina and Georgia had any claim or control over the members then residing in that region; there- fore, in the year 1820, with their own consent and by their special
425
1820-1830.] GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS.
request, were, by the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, set off from their respective Presbyteries and organized as a new Presbytery, to be known by the name of " The Presbytery of Alabama. A moderator and the time and place were appointed, and they were afterwards to meet on their own adjournments.
From this statement it must appear unequivocally that the State of Alabama, upon the ground both of preoccupancy and territorial limits, belongs to the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. It is also hoped that the General Assembly, in prescribing the limits of the Synod of Tennessee, will not only confirm to the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia the State of Alabama, but also restore the State of Mississippi, which has been wrested from us.
The Synod of the Carolinas included the States of North and South Carolina and Georgia : and at that time the State of Georgia included what is now the State of Mississippi. The Synod of the Carolinas, believing the Mississippi to be a part of their dominions, and having liberty from the General Assembly to conduct the missionary business within their bounds, did, in the year 1800, send the Rev. James H. Bowman, of the Presbytery of Orange, and the Rev. William Mont- gomery, of the Presbytery of Hopewell (Georgia), as missionaries to the Natchez. These brethren were accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Hall, the Assembly's missionary. In 1801 or 1802, the Rev. John Mathews, of the Presbytery of Orange, was sent as a missionary to that country ; and in 1803, the Rev. Daniel Brown and James Smithe. And thus, by the exertions of the Synod of the Carolinas, churches were first planted in that part now the State of Mississippi. Let it be also remembered that the Synod of Tennessee grew out of the Synod of Kentucky in the vear 1817. and the Synod of Kentucky sprang from the Synod of Vir- ginia in the year 1802, which Synod never pretended to claim any part of the State of Georgia.
It is true that some Presbyteries, including what was originally the western part of North Carolina and also part of the State of Virginia, were aided by or severed from the Synod of the Carolinas, and attached to the Synods of Virginia and Kentucky ; but these Presbyteries did not extend further south than the boundary line of the State of North Carolina (now Tennessee). None of them included any part of the ancient chartered limits of the State of Georgia. It was, therefore, usurpation in the Synod of Tennessee-or, rather. of Kentucky-to ex- tend their dominion to the State of Mississippi. We, the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, have, for the sake of peace, suffered this territory to be wrested from us. But when an attempt is made to take away Alabama also, we are constrained to contend for our rights. It may be convenient for the Synod of Tennessee to extend their dominions, as it will give them facility in collecting funds, and enable them to build up their Western Theological Seminary ; but we, the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, are attached to the Theological Seminary at Princeton-a seminary founded on better principles than any other; a seminary that cannot be corrupt until the majority of the General As- sembly " depart from the faith once delivered to the saints." We are now pledged for the endowment of a professorship in this seninary ; and as soon as this is effected our Presbyteries wish also to endow scholarships. And if our bounds be thus circumscribed, our hands will be weakened, and the Theological Seminary at Princeton eventually injured
We have now before us a communication from the Presbytery of
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GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS.
[1820-1830.
Alabama, in which they remonstrate against being separated from us and attached to the Synod of Tennessee ; and also express their attach- ment to the Seminary at Princeton, and their inclination to support it in preference to the Western Theological Seminary. Should the Gen- eral Assembly deem it inexpedient at this time to restore to the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, the State of Mississippi, we hope that Alabama will not be torn from us -contrary to our wishes, contrary to the wishes of the Presbytery in that region, contrary to the peace and harmony of the churches, and contrary to the interests of the Theo- logical Seminary at Princeton.
That the great Head of the Church may preside over you in all your deliberations, and direct you into such measures as shall promote His glory and the good of the Church, is the prayer of
Your brethren io the Gospel, HUGH DICKSON, Moderator. RICHARD B. CATER, Clerk pro tem.
It is ordered that the Clerk pro tempore transcribe the above report, and forward a copy of it, with the Moderator's and Clerk's signatures, to the Moderator of the General Assembly at their next regular meet - ing.
The records touching this subject in the Minutes of the Assembly of 1823 are as follows: " A petition from the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, requesting that the Presby- tery of Alabama should be put under their care, instead of being attached to the Synod of Tennessee, was overturned, and being read, was committed to Drs. Richards and Cathcart, Messrs. Reuben Smith, Keep and Hodge." [Minutes, Vol. V, p. 115.]
This committee reported, and their report being read, was adopted, and is as follows, viz: That the request of said Synod, so far as it relates to the Presbytery of Alabama, viz : that said Presbytery be considered as being within their bounds, is reasonable, and they recommend that it be granted accordingly. With respect to another suggestion contained in said application, to wit, that the Presbytery of Mississippi, now in connection with the Synod of Tennessee, should be transferred to the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, the committee have not felt themselves possessed of sufficient information at present to form a decision. They feel it a duty, nevertheless, to say that, from the representations made to the committee from a member of each of these Synods, they anticipate that the time is not distant, when a new Synod will be regularly formed in this region, including both the Presby- teries in question." [Minutes, Vol. V, p. 119.]
The Synod doubtless felt almost a maternal affection for
427
INTEREST IN THE SOUTHWEST.
1820-1830.]
those Churches and Presbyteries for which she had labored, and in the midst of which so many who had gone forth from her midst then resided. But in a growing country and an extending church, the general and local prosperity requires these repeated divisions.
In December, 1828, the Presbytery of South Alabama was divided at its own request. A new Presbytery was formed, to be called the Presbytery of Tombeckbee, including all that territory north of the Sipsey River and embracing also the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The Presbytery was directed to hold its first meeting at Mayhew, in Choctaw Nation, on the Friday before the first Sabbath in June, 1829, and the Rev. Alfred Wright was to open the meeting with a sermon.
The Synod seemed to keep an ear open to the necessities of distant churches that looked to it for counsel or aid. No- vember 8, 1821, " A communication from the agent and trus- tees of the Presbyterian Church in New Orleans was read, and the Rev. Messrs. Beman and Davies were appointed a committee to address a letter to that church expressive of the views and feelings of this Synod on the subject to which their communication relates." [Minutes, p. 74.]
Revivals are noted as having existed in various churches in Athens and vicinity in 1826 in which the College shared, at Washington, Ga. ; in 1829, in the Presbytery of South Carolina, the churches in Laurens, Anderson and Spartan- burg Districts, and one in Abbeville ; in the Presbytery of Harmony the churches of Indian Town, Midway, Brewing- ton, Williamsburg. Hopewell, Concord and Salem, were re- markably blessed, between six and seven hundred souls were judged to have been born into the kingdom ; in the Presby- tery of Hopewell, the Counties of Green, Jackson, Hall, Gwinnett, Franklin and DeKalb received precious tokens of the divine favor. In Bethel Presbytery the churches of Be- thesda, Bethel, Beersheba, Bullock's Creek, Salem and Shiloh, and many other churches in the bounds of Synod enjoyed in no common degree the presence of the Divine Spirit. [Nar- rative of 1829 in Minutes of Synod. ]
The Southern Christian Intelligencer issued in Charleston from March 19th, 1819, to December 29th, 1821, issued under the Superintendence of ministers of different denomi- nations ceased as an organ of communication with the church.
ยท
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PRESBYTERY OF HARMONY.
[1820-1830.
There was a publication issued at Monnt Zion, Georgia, by the Rev. Benjamin Gildersleeve as early as 1820. [See Christian Intelligencer, Vol. 11. p. 50.] The Charleston Ob- server, by the same indefatigable and able editor was first issued in January, 1827, and has been of great service to the Church.
The wide territorial extent of the Presbytery of Harmony for thirteen years previous to the creation of the Presbytery of Georgia may be illustrated by the places of its meetings.
First Session in the First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, March 7th, 1810.
Second Session in St. Paul's Church, Augusta, September 27th, 1810, which failed for want of a quorum. Another meeting was called by the Moderator in conformity with a resolution of the General Assembly in 1796, which was opened in St. Paul's Church, Augusta, by the Moderator, Dr. Flinn, on January 11th, 18II.
Third Sessions, Charleston, April 4th, 1811, Second Pres- byterian Church.
Fourth Sessions, December 20th. 30th, 1811, met in the city of Savannah.
Fifth Sessions, Columbia, April 9th and 13th, 1812.
Sixth Sessions, Presbyterian Church, Augusta, November 12, 16.
Seventh Sessions, Church of Bethesda, Camden, April 8th, 10th, 1813.
Eighth Sessions, Augusta, October 28th, 1813.
Ninth Sessions, Charleston, April 14th, 1814, met in the First Presbyterian Church, by invitation of the Session.
Tenth Sessions, Columbia, October 27th, 1814.
Eleventh Sessions, Church of Bethel, Williamsburg.
The following statistical tables are the best which our means enable us to furnish for this decade :
SUMMARY FOR 1820.
Ministers.
Licen'tes.
Churches.
Communi- cants
Presbytery of South Carolina
13
6
29
797
Harmony
15
5
22
445
Hopewell
7
1
16
340
35
12
67
1,582
429
820-1830.]
APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
SUMMARY FOR 1829.
Ministers.
Licen'tes.
Churches.
Communi- cants.
South Carolina
11
3
32
2,208
Bethel
7
1
17
1,731
Harmony
15
2
21
1,185
Hopewell
20
4
46
2.020
Chaston Union
12
1
5
669*
Georgia
8
...
7
747
73
11
128
8,560 +
CHAPTER VI. APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
1820-1830.
The following HISTORY OF THE INDIAN MISSIONS OF THE SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA, originally publish- ed at a later date in the "Southern Presbyterian," is appended o this decade to which it really belongs :
PONTOTOC, MISSISSIPPI, June 17, 1861.
DEAR BROTHER: . It is with some reluctance I undertake to comply with your request, and thus redeem a promise made you some time ince. Having no records to guide me, I must rely entirely upon nemory, which, at this distance of time, may sometimes be at fault, especially in reference to dates. As to the general facts, I shall aim at accuracy and fidelity. Could I see you at your own home or at mine, t would give me great pleasure to sit down and talk over the incidents of our long journey, as exploring agents for the Missionary Society of he Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. Furnished with documents rom the War Department, among which was a letter of introduction rom Mr. Calhoun. then Secretary of War, to the agents of the different ribes we might visit, we set out early in May, 1820. The Rev. John, Brown, D. D., of Monticello, Georgia, being secretary for foreign cor- espondence, we were directed to him for instructions as to our future progress. From him we learned that Gen. Mitchell, agent for the Creeks, was then at his farm, six miles below Milledgeville. It was, of course, our duty to visit him, and in the interview he informed us that general council of chiefs and head men would convene at the Coweta
* In three Churches.
+ If the membership of the Congregationalist and Independent Churches that have acted with us during this decade be enumerated, his total would have been increased to over 10,000.
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APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
[1820-1830.
Town-house in eight or ten days, and advised us to attend it. At the proper time we set out, and crossing the Oakmulgee, I think at Scott's Ferry, Flint river, at Marshall's shoa's, and the Chattahoochee, just below the falls, where the city of Columbus now stands, we arrived at Gen. McIntosh's late in the evening, where we found a considerable company of Indians assembled. Next morning early we reached the council ground, where, for the first time in our lives, we saw a large Indian encampment All things being in readiness, the ceremony of opening the council was commenced. And, brother H., do you recol- lect the disgusting scene we then witnessed ? An Indian was seen slipping in, as if by stealth. with a large hand-gourd filled with tea, made of Yopon leaves, to which they attached a superstitious efficacy, believing that it enlightened their minds and led them to correct decisions on any subject that might come before them. As the sequel shows, it failed for once This was handed first to the Little Prince and Big Warrior, principal chiefs, and then, in quick succession, to all composing the council. No sooner was the potion swallowed than it became necessary to prepare for its ejection. The scene that followed can better be imagined than described. I have never yet known whether the dose actually produced nausea, or whether the whole thing was mechanical. I suspect the latter. The ceremony over, we were ushered into the presence of their majesties, and, seated on a low wooden bench at their feet, we delievered our message, read to them Dr. Brown's kind and fatherly address, and in behalf of those who sent us proposed to send men into their country, who, in addition to preaching the Gospel to them, would establish schools for the education of their children without cost to them. To all this they listened attentively, but after a short consultation they rejected our proposition. It was a part of our plan to teach their children agriculture and the various arts of domestic life, believing that they never could be civilized without this. It was, moreover, required by the War Department, before we could receive any part of the fund appropriated by Congress for the civilization of the Indians, in 1819. To this they objected, saying if they wanted their children to work they could teach them themselves.
Our instructions did not allow us to establish schools on any other terms. We therefore set our faces for the distant West, and passing through the new settlements of Alabama, by way of Fort Jackson, Falls of Cahawba, Tuscaloosa, and the little villages of Columbus, Missis- sippi, and Cotton-Gin Port. we crossed the Tombecbee River, and entered the Chicasaw Nation, forty-one years ago this day, and soon found ourselves at the hospitable mansion of old Levi Colbert, the great man of his tribe. This was Friday evening We soon learned that a great ball play was to come off on the following Monday, at George Colbert's, some twenty-five miles distant, and that a large com- pany was going up the next day. Thus Providence seemed to prosper our way.
There being a very large collection of Indians from all parts of the nation. we had no difficulty in securing the attendance of the chiefs in council at an early day. Accordingly, we met them at the house of Major James Colbert, the following Wednesday, being the 22d day of the month. You remember their young king was conducted to the chair of State that day, for the first time, as king of the Chickasaw nation. He was an ordinary Indian, and never opened his mouth during the council. They very readily acceded to the terms upon which we proposed to establish schools among them ; and, that there might
431
APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
1820-1830.]
be no misunderstanding in future, we drew up a number of articles, which were signed by the contracting parties, and deposited with the United States agent, and for aught I know they may now be in the archives of that old, dilapidated Government. Having secured the first great object of our mission, our next business was to explore the country, for the purpose of selecting a suitable location for a missionary establishment. And that we might profit by, the experience of others, we visited Elliott, in the Choctaw nation, where a school was in suc- cessful operation, under the superintendence of the veteran and apos- tolie missionary, the Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, D. D. Leaving this place we desired to visit Mayhew, where a large station was afterwards built ip, but missed our way, traveled until a late hour at night. and finding ho house, lay down on the bank of a creek without our supper and slept ill morning. In a few miles we came to the house of a white man with a Choctaw family, where we breakfasted, with a pretty good relish, on barbecued beef without salt. We were still in the Choctaw nation, but soon crossed the line into Chickasaw territory, and made our way back to Levi Colbert's. It was not long before we found there was a rolic on hand. Parties began to assemble, dressed out in their best, and instead of an Indian dance, such as I have witnessed many a time since, it turned out a regular ball, conducted with great propriety, and attended by the elite of the nation. Our host was a little embarrassed by our presence, apologized as best he could, and expressed the hope that we would not be displeased. Having relieved his mind on this subject, we spread our blankets in the piazza, and slept while they lanced. Next day we returned to Tockshish, the name of Major James Colbert's place, where we met the Indians in council. and in a few days selected a site for a missionary station, six miles southeast of this.
I may as well say here, that when I returned the next winter I was advised by Major Colbert and others to a different location, and accord- ngly I settled two miles southwest of Tockshish, and built up Monroe. We were now ready to set out on our return home, and passing by Tus- Cumbia and Huntsville, Alabama, Brainerd, Spring Place and Saloney, missionary stations in the Cherokee nation, we reached our friends in South Carolina early in August.
And now, upon a review of the whole, I feel like erecting an Ebenezer of praise, saying, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped me." "Having obtained help of God, I continue until this day." " What shall I render into the Lord for all His benefits to mne ? "
Yours, truly, T. C. STUART.
( For the Southern Presbyterian ) NDIAN MISSIONS OF THE SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA. LETTER II.
PONTOTOC, (Miss.) June 24, 1861.
Dear Brother :- The Synod of South Carolina and Georgia met at Jpper Long Cane Church in the fall of 1820. Rev. Francis Cummins D. D., Moderator. Having been accepted by the Synod as their first missionary to the Chickasaws, all the necessary arrangements were
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APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
[1820-1830.
made for sending me out immediately. Two families were employed as assistants and the Presbytery of South Carolina appointed a meeting at old Pendleton Courthouse for my ordination on the 19th of December. We were detained a few days by heavy rains and high waters, but finally set out and after a tedions journey of five weeks and five days, arrived at Monroe the 31st day of January, 1821. On this day the first tree was felled and a commencement made in the work of the Chicka- saw Mission. The first two years were principally spent in clearing ont a farm and putting up the necessary buildings for a large boarding school. In the meantime I was joined by Hamilton V. Turner, carpen - ter, and James Wilson, farmer, with their families, from Abbeville, and Rev. Hugh Wilson and wife, from North Carolina, and Rev. William C. Blair, from Ohio. In the spring of 1822, I opened a school for the benefit of those living in the neighborhood being not yet prepared to take in boarders. Before opening the school I visited a widow woman living within a mile of the station, who had a son and daughter of suitable age to attend, and asked her to send them. She replied she was poor and had no suitable clothes to give them. Having brought a small supply with me I told her I would furnish them. Her next diffi- culty was she had nothing they could take with them for dinner. This I removed by proposing to give them their dinner. They accordingly came and it was not long before they made it convenient to be over for breakfast too. I may as well say in this connection these children were afterwards called Wm. H. Barr and Mary Leslie. The former named and supported by a society of ladies in Columbia; the latter on account of personal attachments by some one of the mission family. They, together with their mother, became decidedly pious, united with the church, lived consistent lives and have all, long since, gone to their reward. I shall have occasion to speak of another member of this family before I close these sketches.
Early in the spring of 1823 the school was opened with fifty scholars, most of whom were boarded in the family. The chief of our district, Captain Samuel Sealey, attended and made a speech on the occasion. He brought a son who was afterwards named T. Charleton Henry. From this time until the Chickasaws ceded away their country in 1834, and agreed to remove to their distant home in the West, the school was kept up, with some interruptions, under the trials and difficulties that always attend a similar enterprise amongst an unenlightened and un- civilized people. In this same year Brother Wilson established a school two miles north of Monroe and near to Tockshish, which was continued until the Indians left for their Western home in 1837 and 1838. In 1824 the Chiefs in council appropriated $5000 to establish two more schools, and $2,500 per annum for their support
One of these was erected on Pigeon Roost Creek near to Holly Springs and called Martyn ; the other on Tennessee River in the limits of Alabama, and called Caney Creek. Brother Blair was sent to the for- mer and Brother Wilson to the latter. Brother James Holmes, of Carlisle, Pa., having joined us this year, was sent to Tockshish. We have now four schools in successful operation, containing one hundred and twenty pupils of both sexes The school at Monroe was conducted on the Lancasterian plan, which succeeded well. It is not possible at this late period to say how many were educated throughout the nation. The number who obtained anything like a good English education was comparatively small. Having learned to read and write, many of them left school, supposing they had finished their education. Moreover, the
433
820-1830.]
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egulations of the school and the requirements of the station imposed ich a restraint on their former roying habits that many of them ran off nd never returned. This was often a matter of deep regret and a cause fgreat annoyance to us ; but it was one of those discouragements with which missionaries amongst an ignorant and heathen people have Iways had to contend. In 1826 these schools and stations were all ansferred to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- ions. To this we did not object because it brought us into more imme- iate contact with the missionaries among the Choctaws, to whom we ere much attached and with whom we had much intercourse for years ast.
By reference to the session book of Monroe Church, I find the follow- ng entry on the first page : "The Rev. Hugh Dickson, of the Presby- pry of South Carolina, having been commissioned by the Missionary ociety of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, to visit Monroe or the purpose of examining into the state and prospects of the mis- on, arrived on the 29th of May, 1823. The mission family, having a esire to be united in a church capacity that they may regularly enjoy he privilege of the sealing ordinance of the gospel, expressed the same Mr Dickson. Accordingly, on the 7th of June, a church was organ- red, consisting of seven members. At this time a black woman, the rst fruit of the Chickasaw Mission, was received on a profession of her with. Being a native of the country, she spoke the Chickasaw language uently ; and having the confidence of the Indians, I employed her as my interpreter, for several years, in preaching the gospel to them. On he 4th of December, 1824, the first Indian woman was admitted to the ommunion of the Church. At every subsequent communion meeting or several years, one or more was added to our number." September th, 1827, I find the following record : "The Lord having visited our hurch the past summer with a time of refreshing, having, as we hope, tvingly renewed a number within our bounds, it was thought expe- ient to have a meeting of the Church session before the time to which stood adjourned. Session therefore met, and having implored the resence and blessing of God, proceeded to examine the following per- ons." Here follows the names of five persons, the first of whom was native young man, who had been a scholar in the school, and who, the 5th of April, 1834, was elected and ordained a ruling elder in ie Church. Comparatively few of our scholars embraced religion and nited with our Church. In after years a good many joined the Meth- list Church. In the fall of 1830 the Monroe Church numbered one undred members, including ten at Martyn's. Of these about one-half ere natives, a few whites, and the balance blacks, of whom there was considerable number in the neighborhood of the station. These enerally spoke the Indian language; and being on an equality with leir owners, and having more intercourse with them than is usual nong white people, through their instrumentality a knowledge of the spel was extended among the Indians. The change, too, in their eportment had a tendency to convince them of the reality and excel- nee of religion, and to eradicate their prejudices against it. In the Missionary Herald " for March, 1831, I find the following editorial marks : " At page 45 of the last number, it was mentioned that Mr. lair had requested to be discharged from missionary labors, and was bout to leave Martyn. Mr. Holmes, who has heretofore resided at ockshish, has been directed to take the place of Mr. Blair. On leav- ig the place of his former labors, he makes the following remarks 28
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