Policy-New Members of Orange Presbytery-S. C. Caldwell— James McGready-Lewis F. Wilson-Humphrey Hunter-Robert M. Cunningham-Moses Waddel and others-John Brown-John Robinson-Erection of the Presbytery of Concord—Presbytery of South Carolina divided-Members-Synod of 1796 and Slavery- James Gilliland-New Members-Synod in 1800-Presbyteries- Missionary Operations....... Number of Congregations-Number in the Several Presbyteries- Churches of Suffolk Presbytery-Jamaica-Smithtown and Hamp- stead-Easthampton-Southampton-Southhold - Sagharbor— Smithtown and Islip Huntington-Newtown-Dr. Samuel Buell— Benjamin Goldsmith-Aaron Woolworth-Effects of the War— Improved Prospects-The Church in New York City after the War -Renewed Prosperity-Third Church-Dr. Rodgers-Dr. Mille- doler-Dr. McKnight-Associated Presbytery of Westchester County-Presbytery of Dutchess County-Members and Churches -Hudson Presbytery-Its Members-Florida Church-Other Churches-Slow Growth-Prominent Ministers-Presbytery of Albany-Dutch Settlers-Cherry Valley-Johnstown-Cambridge -Salem-Ballston-Other Churches-Schenectady-Albany- Ministers and Churches of the Presbytery-Applications to it for Aid-Changes-State of Things in 1800-Principal Pastors-Union College-John Blair Smith-President Nott-Origin of the Plan of Union-Genesee Valley-Emigration-Spirit of the General Association of Connecticut-Its Committee-Western New York -Early History of its Settlement-Its Missionary Claims- Spread of Infidelity-Dearth of Ministers-Assembly's Mission- aries-More Vigorous Measures-Year of the Great Revival— Jedediah Bushnell-Letter of Seth Williston-Origin and Spread of the Revival-Need of the Stricter System of Presbyterianism for the Churches-The Two Denominations-Early Churches- Foundations laid......................................... Population of Kentucky and Tennessee-Constant Immigration- shall and Carey H. Allen―Their Journey and Labors in Kentucky— Allen's Return, accompanied by Calhoon, to Kentucky-Trou- bles respecting Psalmody-Adam Rankin-His Zeal for Rouse's Version-He leaves the Field-Returns, and leads off a Secession- Vindication of the Presbytery-Scottish Missionaries-James Blythe-Samuel Rannals-John P. Campbell-Joseph P. Howe- John Lyle and Alexander Cameron-Accession of Ministers— Robert Stuart-Robert Wilson-Other Ministers of the Presby- tery-The Field-Its Moral and Spiritual Aspects-Obnoxious Influences-A Critical Period-Better Prospects........ Page 403–422 Abingdon Presbytery-Twelve Years' Growth-Churches in the State -Pastors-Date of Churches-Transylvania Presbytery-Early Settlements in the State-Charles Cummings-Hardships-Samuel Doak-A Friend of Learning-Hezekiah Balch-Other Ministers- Robert Henderson-Gideon Blackburn-Samuel Carrick-His Re- ception-Pioneer Life-Sermon of Carrick and Balch-Ramsey- Balch's Hopkinsianism-His Indiscretion..............Page 422-435 Era of Missionary Societies-Various Organizations-Missionary CHAPTER XXII. PENNSYLVANIA, 1800-1820. The Presbyteries-Growth at the West-Relative Increase-Presby- CHAPTER XXIII. NEW JERSEY, 1800-1820. Churches of the State-Jersey Presbytery-Newton Presbytery- THE HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. CHAPTER I. 'FRANCIS MAKEMIE. AMERICAN Presbyterianism, like American civilization, has derived its distinctive character from many and diverse influences. As we trace the course of its history we find it receiving tributaries from distant and varied sources, yet all blending in a current that flows in a channel of its own, and marked at every step by features peculiar to itself. Commingled in it, and made more or less homogeneous by it, we find the elements of English "dissent," Irish fervor, Scotch persistence, and Huguenot devotion. There is scarce a memorable event in the history of Protestantism in the Old World that does not assist to elucidate the character of its founders. It inherits alike the memories of the noble men who fell victims to the bigotry of Alva or Laud, or endured the brutal cruelty of Lauderdale or Jeffries. In the annals of the Genevan republic, the heroism of the Netherlands, the sufferings of the Hu VOL. I.-1 1 guenots, culminating in the bloody St. Bartholomew,the sterling conscientiousness of the Puritans, and the unswerving loyalty to Christ's crown and covenant evinced by the countrymen of John Knox, may be discerned the elements of that training which shaped the views and character of its founders. Thus, without taking any other church on earth as its model, it was built up out of materials drawn from sources the most diverse, and into a structure that constitutes its own type. Even here it was modified by local influences,-sometimes constrained in the New World to renew the struggle which had become too familiar in the Old, and to protest against an intolerance which could not but revive memories of Acts of Conformity, bigoted proscription, or Claverhouse's dragoons. Yet ere long it was left unmolested, and, in a field broad enough to tax its utmost energies, was called to the task of competing with other denominations in the noble work of evangelizing a young and growing empire. Although it was not till after the commencement of the eighteenth century that the Presbyterian Church in this country assumed an organized form, yet many of the elements that were finally assimilated and embodied in it had been long acclimated on these Western shores. The Plymouth Church conformed-almost as far as in its isolated position was possible-to the French Presbyterian type. The early Synods of New England repeatedly and emphatically endorsed the importance of the eldership. The Synods themselves were the concession of public conviction to the necessity for a supervision of the churches which a state theocracy strove vainly to supply. Not a few of the leading minds of New England regretted and opposed ! Life of Brewster. |