USA > Virginia > City of Staunton > City of Staunton > The First Presbyterian Church, Staunton, Virginia > Part 23
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There is no certain information of the time when the first church building was erected at Tinkling Spring. Dr. Foote, in his "Sketches of Virginia" (2d series) writes of a log building "finished off by the widow of John Preston." Mr. Craig left a diary from which it is evident there was difficulty in deciding upon the site for building in the southern part of his field, and that, finally, against his wishes, it was located on the little hill where the present Church stands. He writes: "April 14, 1745, * this being the first day we meet at the contentious meeting house about half built. T. S."
Dr. Waddell, in his "Annals of Augusta County, " quotes a record that shows that the people of Tinkling Spring in 1741 appointed their
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trusty and well-beloved friends-James Patton, John Finley, George Hutchinson, John Christian and Alexander Breckenridge- "to manage their public affairs, to choose and purchase land and build a meeting house on it, to collect pastor's salary, etc., etc., and to account twice each year to the minister and session for the discharge of their duties." We further find, in the same valuable book, that in 1747 James Patton, John Christian, James Alexander and William Wright "chosen commissioners and trustees," received a deed from William and John Thompson for 110 acres of land "for the use of the Presby- terian congregation of Tinkling Spring." ยท
Thus was planted in prayer and faith and effort this venerable Church, the fruitful mother of other strong and flourishing Churches in this county, and which has for over 150 years wielded through her ministers and members so mighty an influence for good upon Church and State not only in Virginia, but throughout the South and West and in the councils of the nation.
During Mr. Craig's pastorate large accessions to the Scotch-Irish colony were made, and they became a strong defense against the inroads of the savage Indians. They worked and worshipped with their trusty rifles by their side, and were often called to follow the trail of some cruel band that with tomahawk and scalping knife burst upon some of their families.
About 1798 a Church was erected in that part of their con- gregation gathered in and about Waynesboro, and another building at the same place in 1824. In 1846 or 1847 this portion of the congre- gation was set off and organized as a separate Church. The Presby- terians living in and near Staunton attended Tinkling Spring Church, of which they were members, until 1804, when they were organized into a separate Church and, for awhile, united with Hebron in the support of a pastor. The present large and comfortable brick building at Tinkling Spring was planned and erected under Dr. Dabney's pastorate, between 1846 and 1852.
Kept by the good hand of her God the old Church still survives, and with her daughters still nourishes the faith and moulds the lives of worthy descendants of the grand men who founded it in stormy and troubulous times.
Tinkling Spring has had, since its organization, with some inter- vals of vacancy, eleven pastors, among whom are found some of the most notable men of their day:
Rev. John Craig, D. D., 1740-1754; Rev. James Waddell, D. D., 1776-1781; Rev. John McCue, 1790-1818; Rev. James C. Wilson, 1818- 1839; Rev. B. M. Smith, D. D., LL. D., 1840-45; Rev. R. L. Dabney, D. D., LL. D., 1847-1852; Rev. C. S. M. See, D. D., 1856-1870; Rev.
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G. B. Strickler, D. D, LL. D., 1870-1883; Rev. John Preston, D. D., 1883-1888; Rev. H. R. Laird, 1889-1891; Rev. G. W, Finley, D. D., 1892.
It is impossible to give now sketches of all of these, but a few words about two or three may be of interest.
The first pastor, Dr. Craig, was a native of Ireland, County An- trim, Province of Ulster, and was educated at Edinburgh, Scotland, and received the degree of A. M. in 1732. He came to America in 1734 and was licensed to preach by Donegal Presbytery in 1737, and settled as pastor in Virginia in 1740. History and tradition show him to have been a man of marked ability and an active, earnest and fearless preacher of the Gospel, with not a little of the strong-will character- istic of his race. His sermons, sound in doctrine, were, after the style of his day, very long and broken up into many heads, divisions and sub-divisions. Two of these were usually preached on each Sab- bath and occupied the larger part of the day. He married a daughter of George Russell of his native county, in Ireland. Five, it appears, of the nine children of their union survived the parents, and in the Craigs of Kanawha County, West Virginia, and the Hamiltons of Augusta County we find their worthy descendants. Dr. Craig died in 1774, and was buried in the old cemetery at Augusta Church.
Dr. James Waddell, who "fills a page in Virginia literature im- mortalizing William Wirt, the author of 'The Blind Preacher,' one of the men of his own generation and a man for all generations," was also born in the province of Ulster, Ireland. Brought by his parents in infancy to America, he was educated at the famous "Log College " of Dr. Samuel Finley, at Nottingham; studied theology under the distinguised minister, Rev. Mr. Todd, of Louisa County; was licensed, by Old Hanover Presbytery, at Tinkling Spring, 1761, and began his ministry in the Churches of Lancaster and Northumberland, Virginia. Failing health sent him to the Valley, where he purchased and lived upon the Spring Hill farm on South River, and served Tinkling Spring Church until he removed to Louisa County, near the borders of Orange and Albemarle Counties, where he lived until his death in 1805. As a preacher his eloquence has rarely been equalled, and those who knew him best attest ;that Wirt's famous description of it in "The British Spy," was no exaggeration. His amiable dis- position, his courtly, yet genial manners made him a welcome guest to every circle, while his profound piety and extensive learning im- pressed all who knew him. After he removed to Louisa County he was afflicted with blindness, but still preached with much of his wonted vigor. At one time he found partial relief from an operation for cataract, but the blindness returned and he no more saw the light
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of the sun, but with calm and patient faith and hope awaited the Master's summons to the world of light above. While serving the Curches in Lancaster and Northumberland, he was happily married to Mary, a daughter of Col. James Gordon, one of his elders, and through his large family left many descendants distinguished both in Church and State, of whom we are glad to welcome to-day the beloved and honored Senior Elder of this Church, the worthy collector and pre- server of the records of the deeds of his and our worthy ancestors. Long may his bow abide in strength.
Revs. John McCue and James C. Williams were well and widely known as good and strong men, and alike ended their useful careers by sudden death. Mr. McCue was thrown from his horse and killed while on his way to church one Sabbath morning. Mr. Williams dropped dead while getting his mail from the postoffice in Waynesboro.
Of Dr. Smith, the learned orientalist, so long professor in Union Theological Seminary, and of that grand old man-in the judgment of many, the foremost man of his day in this country, who despite his blindness continued to wield his imperial powers in support of truth and right, up to the time of his lamented death-the profound theolo- gian and author, R. L. Dabney, we cannot speak at length. Nor can we do more than mention See, with his accurate, critical knowledge of the Scriptures and his almost encyclopedic acquaintance with men and things, coupled with deep and unaffected piety; and Strickler, the strong and eloquent worthy successor of Dr. Dabney not only in the pulpit, but in the chair of theology which he now adorns in Union Seminary; the lamented Preston, whose recent death still shadows the hearts of those, and they are many, who knew and loved him for his own and his work's sake; and Laird, the sturdy son of Rockbridge, who still gives the fruit of his ripe experience to earnest and active work in Texas.
If we were to attempt a sketch of the prominent and useful men who have been connected with Tinkling Spring we would be almost obliged to give a history of most of the families in the county- Lewises, Prestons, Pattons, Christians, Moffatts, McCues, McClana- hans, Blacks, Hunters, Halls, Stuarts Gilkesons, Patricks, Bells, Alexanders, Campbells, Breckenridges, Pattersons, Pilsons, Poages, Tates, Trimbles, Lyles, Doaks, McDowells and a host of others equally worthy with a brilliant record of achievements in peace and war, in the learned professions, in the quiet pursuits of commerce and farming, which have given tone and character to so much that is good and noble in our County, State and Country.
Long may their virtues be remembered and imitated by those who inherit the legacy of their names and blood!
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SKETCH OF HEBRON CHURCH, BY REV. HOLMES ROLSTON
In 1746 the Rev. John Blair visited this country and organized four Presbyterian congregations-Forks of James, Timber Ridge, New Providence and North Mountain.
North Mountain was afterwards abandoned, its members going to Bethel and to Brown's Meeting House.
Brown's Meeting House was the name of the first building where Hebron now stands.
It was a log building, but the date of its erection is not known.
In October, 1766, three calls were placed in the hands of Rev. Chas. Cummings. One from Albemarle, one from Forks of James and one from Major Brown's Meeting House, Hebron. The latter he accepted. We do not know when nor by whom this Church was organized.
Mr. Cummings was probably its first pastor. He was born in Ireland, but came to this country early in life and lived in the congre- gation of the Rev. Jas. Waddell, and it is probable, studied theology under him. He was a man who possessed great personal firmness and dignity of character. His voice was strong, his articulation clear and distinct. It is said he could speak to be heard by ten thousand people. He served the people of Brown's Meeting House till 1772.
There was then a vacancy till 1778, when the Rev. Archibald Scott was called to serve this Church together with North Mountain.
It was during the second year of his ministry that Bethel was built. From this time it is supposed that North Mountain was abandoned.
He came as a lonely emigrant from Scotland, first to Pennsyl- vania, then to the Virginia frontier. He studied theology under Rev. Wm. Graham at Liberty Hall, and on October 31, 1777, he with Samuel Doak and Edward Crawford was licensed to preach the Gospel. He supplied vacant Churches in the valley till the following October, when he was called to Brown's Meeting House and North Mountain, which work he accepted.
Here he spent the remainder of his life, greatly beloved by the people to whom he ministered.
On the 4th of March, 1799, after a short illness, he closed his useful life. His remains lie under the oaks in the cemetery at Hebron, and the slab that marks his grave, with its camps and cannon, cross and Bible, carved upon it, indicate the various ways in which he faithfully served his people and his country.
The date on this slab is incorrect. It is given March 4, 1800, while in the old family Bible, now in the hands of Mrs. Mary J. McPheeters, it is recorded March, 4, 1799.
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The next pastor was the Rev. William Calhoon. On May 3, 1805, he accepted a call from Staunton and Brown's Meeting House.
These Churches he served for a number of years. "The in- creasing services required by the enlarging congregations, induced him, as the infirmities of age came on him, to withdraw, first from Staunton, which he thought and rightly, required the undivided atten- tion of a minister and then from Brown's Meeting House, which had taken the name of Hebron, and which required the labors of a strong man."
He was the son of a godly elder of Briery Church, Prince Edward County and lived six miles from Hampden-Sidney College where he was educated, walking home every Saturday.
He was carefully trained from early childhood in morality and re- ligion, sedate, unaffected, sincere, in cheerfulness and in close atten- tion to his studies, surpassed by none.
He and his friend, Corey Allen, with whom he was associated for a time in mission work in Kentucky, were converted along with others at the same time during a revival in College.
Allen was droll, rollicking, full of fun and merriment. When a student his very appearance was the sign for uproarious laughter.
He greatly admired gravity in others, and felt his want of it. Charmed with the ministerial dignity of his young friend, Calhoon, he determined to imitate him.
"With all the gravity he could assume, he went to his next ap- pointment, rode to the house slowly, dismounted in a slow, quiet manner, spoke gravely to the people, moved about in a solemn man- ner without a smile or exciting a smile in others.
"People were astonished.
" 'Are you unwell, Mr. Allen?'
" 'Has anything happened, Mr. Allen?'
" 'Have you heard any bad news, Mr. Allen?'
" 'Any affliction among your friends, Mr. Allen?'
"At last bursting into a laugh, to the surprise and merriment of all, he exclaimed, 'I can play Calhoon no longer.' When the excite- ment was over he made them weep under his sermon."
Mr. Calhoon had a splendid memory. He trusted it and it was faithful to him. He was ready and prompt, all his stores were at his command at a moment's warning. Brave, frank, cheerful, courteous, social, ever ready to contend valliantly for the truth, but equally ready to give up non-essentials. He never counted the cost of fearing God and keeping a good conscience.
The earliest record that we can find of Brown's Meeting House begins May 10, 1816, with the vindication of Mr. Calhoon by the Session
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and others. One of his members, whom he had reproved for drunk- enness, evidently in anger, had been circulating damaging reports about his pastor; among others that he had stolen his neighbor's hogs, saying that Mr. Calhoon had made up his quantity of pork from his neighbors's hogs.
These reports were taken up and investigated by the Session and others, and their signed statement is that they are entirely without foundation, and that no one but this one family had had anything to do with their circulation.
On the next page is a request from the Session to Presbytery to send a committee to try this offending brother.
It was during the latter part of his ministry that the brick Church recently burned, was erected.
The Church was exceedingly prosperous under his ministry.
We do not know the membership in 1805, when he came, but in 1816 there were 100 members, ninety-four white and six colored.
In September, 1833, there were 212 members. Then a great re- vival began in which Mr. Calhoon was assisted by the Rev. Isaac Jones, and on November 24th, eighty-eight persons were added to the Church, seventy-two white, sixteen colored, making the member- ship 300. The following account of this revival is found among the records of Brown's Meeting House:
"Mr. Jones's method of conducting these meetings was new to the people of this country.
"When he came he preached at the Church in the morning, and at the close of the services gave notice that there would be a prayer meeting at an old, unoccupied house, near the residence of a venerable old lady, noted for her eminent piety and sterling worth, and where a Sabbath afternoon prayer meeting had long been held and was con- tinued for many years thereafter. This meeting Mr. Jones conducted. His sole object seemed to be to train and instruct those who were in the habit of leading in prayer to perform this duty to arouse, as far as possible, the emotions. After singing a hymn some elder was called upon to lead in prayer. Then an exhortation on the proper manner of praying-it should be brief, pointed, annimated and rousing. This lecture was accompanied with anecdotes illustrating how revivals had been killed by a single long, deliberate, dull prayer by an old ruling elder.
"Nothing was said about the spirit or frame of mind or state of the heart when approaching the throne of grace, nor the character of the petitions offered. Then another hymn and prayer, then another edition of some lecture with additions and emendations.
"He was not a man of profound or extensive scholarship, but being
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endowed with an acute and vigorous intellect, he clearly and correctly comprehended the vital truths of the Christian religion, and embrac- ing them cordially and unreservedly, he enforced them upon the hearts and consciences of his hearers in a manner at once forcible and pungent. His manner was earnest and animated; his gestures becoming sometimes what might be called violent, but it was evident that they were but the natural manifestations of an ardent soul, fully and entirely realizing the truths of the transcendent importance of the doctrines he was expounding and enforcing. His sermons were never elaborate discourses, but always brief, exhibiting a vigorous and subtle intellect.
"He had some twelve or fourteen which he delivered, I presume, in the same order. After each sermon there was an exhortation to the impenitent, a hymn" sung from the (U. H .? ) the 'anxious seat' proposed and all urged to come to it to be prayed for.
"After the prayer and an address, often another hymn, followed by a second urgent invitation to the unconverted to come forward."
In October, 1834, Mr. Calhoon resigned his pastorate here and, in November, Mr. Jones began his labors as stated supply. He served until 1839.
On November 1, 1840, the services of Rev. S. J. Love were secured by a committee appointed to secure a pastor or a supply, and, on August 13, 1842, he was installed as pastor.
On August 14, 1841, the Church of Shiloh made request through the Rev. Mr. Calhoon to unite with Hebron. In March of the follow- ing year, the formal request was made by Hebron to Presbytery to unite them with Shiloh, the united Church to retain the name of Hebron.
In September, 1858, Mr. Love resigned to accept work in Missis- sippi. Shortly after this Rev. Jno. T. Baker was called. He declined to signify his acceptance of the call for a time, but came as stated supply. He was installed as pastor the following year, but was dis- missed by Presbytery in January, 1861, to accept a call to Wheeling.
In May, 1862, the Rev. Thomas L. Preston, D. D., was installed as pastor. He continued pastor till in July, 1868.
Rev. Daniel B. Ewing, D. D., was installed as pastor November 27, 1869, remaining about 8 years.
The Rev. F. H. Gaines, D. D., came in May, 1878, and remained until the fall of 1883.
Rev. L. B. Johnson came November 25, 1884, and remained till May 28, 1887.
Rev. J. E. Booker came October 1, 1888, and remained till Febru- ary 1, 1900.
Rev. Holmes Rolston came July 3, 1900.
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SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BY REV. W. N. SCOTT, D. D.
The life of this Church covers so short a period-only 28 years and seven months-that but little historic interest can be presented. It was organized by a commission of Lexington Presbytery, November 14, 1875. The following persons, all from the First Church of this City, it is believed, were in the organization, viz: Thos. S. Doyle, Mrs. Margaret D. Effinger, J. Fred Effinger, Holmes Erwin, Wm. C. Geiger, Wm. A. Hudson, Maj. Jed Hotchkiss, Mrs. Sarah Hotchkiss, Miss Nellie Hotchhiss (now Mrs. McCullough) Chas. D. McCoy, Chas. A. Turner, H. A. Walker and Mrs. Lucy D. Woods.
Capt. Chas. D. McCoy was elected a ruling elder, and Henry A: Walker and Wm. A. Hudson deacons in the new Church.
The first minute in the Session Book is dated January 25, 1876. From this it appears that there were present Rev. MacDuff Simpson, pastor, and ruling elder, Chas. D. McCoy. Mrs. McCoy, wife of Chas. D., was received on profession of faith, and eleven others by letter, of whom six were from the First Church. Deacon H. A. Walker was appointed as treasurer of the Church.
FIRST: Places of worship used by the Church. For nearly a year the old town hall, on Main street, was used for Church and Sunday School purposes. Near the close of 1876 the Church or chapel, corner Frederick and Lewis Streets, was completed and occupied. It had cost about $4,000 and furnished a comfortable home for the young organization until September, 1901, when it was torn down to make way for the present larger building. The present Church was com- pleted and dedicated in October, 1902. It cost, including its furnish- ings, about $15,000. The desirable manse property next to the Church was purchased in 1886 for about $5,000.
SECOND: The pastors of the Second Church. There have been five pastors previous to the present one, all of whom are now living. The first pastor was the Rev. MacDuff Simpson, who was installed in December, 1875, and remained with the Church something less than two years. Mr. Simpson is now a minister in the Church of Scotland and settled near Berwick, on Tweed. After Mr. Simpson's departure, the Rev. Wm. T. Richardson, D. D., long the honored editor of The Central Presbyterian, served the Church as a supply for part of a year.
The second pastor was Rev. J. E. Booker, from September, 1878 to April, 1885, a period of over six years. Mr. Booker is still with us and the successful superintendent of the Synod's Evangelistic Work. The third pastor was the Rev. H. H. Hawes, D. D., from August, 1885 to December, 1891, six years and four months. Dr. Hawes is now a resident of Charlottesville, Va.
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REV. WILLIAM NELSON SCOTT, D. D.
Began his pastorate of the Second Presbyterian Church, Staunton, Va., in June, 1901. He is descended from a long line of Presbyterian preachers. His great-grandfather, the Rev. Archibald Scott, was pastor of Hebron and Bethel Churches in this County during the Revolutionary period-from 1776 to 1799, and is buried in Hebron churchyard.
Dr. Scott held pastorals in Richmond, Virginia, and Galveston, Texas, before coming to Staunton. He was born in Halifax County, Virginia, and was educated at Washington and Lee University and at Union Theological Seminary, Virginia.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, STAUNTON, VA.
The fourth pastor was Rev. Wm. Cumming, from March, 1892 to June, 1896, a period of four years and three months. Mr. Cumming is now pastor at Winchester, Ky.
The fifth pastor was Rev. J. M. Wells, now of Wilmington, N. C. Mr. Wells was pastor from November, 1896 to February, 1901, four years and three months.
The present pastor began June, 1901.
THIRD: The elders who have served the Church in the order of their election are: Capt. Chas. D. McCoy, (November 14, 1875) Capt. Wm. Jordan, Jas. W. Morrison, Maj. Jed Hotchkiss, Capt. T. C. Morton, Jas. M. Lickliter, Capt. Hugh W. Henry, B. F. Hughes, M. F. Gilkeson, B. F. Humphreys, Dr. C. T. Lewis, W. N. Clemmer, S. Brown Allen, H. M. Lewis, N. C. Kester, W. Arthur Willson.
FOURTH: The deacons in the order of their election are: H. A. Walker and Wm. A. Hudson (November 14, 1875) Jno. S. Lipscomb, T. C. Morton, B. F. Hughes, Geo. B. Greaver, Jas. T. Lightner, Chas. McCue, A. M. Howison, Jno. H. Willson, Jno. C. Whitlock, W. N. Clemmer, J. Fred Effinger, M. F. Gilkeson, B. F. Humphreys, W. A. Willson, H. M. Lewis, Jacob A. Hanger, Frank T. Holt, T. Walter Davis, W. A. Higgs, Alex. H. Fultz, J. W. Lovegrove, H. N. Mccutchen, N. C. Kester, J. C. Recher, A. S. Morton, W. J. Swink, Richard H. Bell, Jr., Stuart P. Silling, Thos. A. Bell, Newton Argen- bright, Wm. A. Crawford, and W. Frank Dull.
FIFTH: The growth of the Church. Beginning with only thirteen members and struggling with many discouragements, its growth was necessarily slow. At the end of ten years its membership was re- ported as one hundred and eleven and a Sunday School of eighty.
The next ten years its growth was much more rapid, and at the close of this decade it reported a little over four hundred members and a Sunday School of about 250. The present membership, after a care- ful revision of the roll, is 528 and the Sunday School about 280. The Church has received into its membership during the twenty-eight years one thousand and eighty-nine persons (1089) of whom 600 were by letter and 489 on profession of faith. Thus has its growth, by the blessings of God, justified the wisdom of the Presbytery in organizing it, and added to the strength of the denomination in this City.
Passing through many trials and struggles it would naturally be that this Church would develop a high type of grace and devotion in many of the members, and there have been many, both men and women, living and dead, whose names occur readily to all who are familiar with the past of the Church. It would be simple justice and a pleasure to name them, but we forbear lest it might seem invidious. It may be permitted however to refer to and emphasize the devoted
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