Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-01-27

PART FIRST.-THE DEBUT.
A Presbytery Of the - Church
had assembled in one Of the valleys OF
the Cumberland Range. 1t was season
of spiritual drought, and the churches
had suffered from famine The numbers
of the ecclesiastical body then collected in
their semi-annual convocation, were most
ly weather beaten veterans, men who had
braved the earlier difficulties Of the de-
nomination to which they were attached,
when about twenty years before it had
seeded from the parent stock, to erect a
banner in Zion with new device. They
were in all about twenty persons, of whom
little more than half were preachers, the
rest ruling elders Of congregations, who
were there to represent the local interests
OF the church sessions.
This meeting was at a solemn crisis, for
the church was troubled, and the way be-
fore her was shrou3ed in darkness. The
love of many had waxed cold. Defections
had occurred; some who were once mas
ters in Israel had withdrawn, carrying off
weighty influence, and leaving perplexi-
ties behind
Others were threatening TO dissolve the
church, unless radical changes were made
in doctrines and poliy Alarming cold
ness prevailed in regard to candidates for
the ministry, none having offered for sew
eral sessions, and those already in charge
giving but little evidence Of disposition
to advance, or an ability to labor in the
work which they had prOfessed to love-
Presbytery, however, was unusually full,
nearly every church session being repre-
sented, and not one of the ordained min
listers absent. The deliberations were O.
pened, as usual, with prayer by the mod
orator, an aged servant Of God, and it
was observed by those skilled in such
things, that there was great liberty given
him when he entreated ''that the God Of
the harvest in infinite mercy, would send
more laborcrs into His harvest"
The usual formalities being ended, the
opening sermon was preached by the
same person. His subject comprehended
the character and Importance Of call to
the Gospel ministry, and was treated with
much earnestness. The morning hour
being ended, the body adjourned to ear
ly candle-lighting. A considerable crowd
had assembled upon this novel occasion,
and it was under their bospitablc roofs
that the members found welcome re-
ception. Few, indeed, Of the mountain
cabins in the vicinity but what received
one or more upon that occasion, glad to
be permitted to talk of the Saviour, to
those who rarely had such opportunities Of
hearing the Gospel. Night brought them
all back again to the house of gathering.
1t was a singularly wild and startling
scene to one who has not mixed in the
different phases of frontier life. The
building in which the meeting was held
was plain log-cabin, the dwelling ofone
of the elders. and only selected on account
of its being the largest in the vicinity
There were the beds and the furniture Of
the whole family, no unprolifc one at
that, slowed around room but tweenty
feet square.
Upon those beds, and upon seats made
by laying split puncheons upon cross logs,
was seated the company of men, women
and children, ministers, delegates, and
all, each glad to endure process of COM
preston for few hours, in the expecta-
ton of an intellectual reward
1t had been beforehand arranged that
this nights meeting should be devoted to
candidates for the ministry.
A call was therefore made to all who
had felt impressions to preach, to come
forward and converse with Presbytery on