Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-03-13
PROTESTANT ORGANIZATIONS.


Petersburg Democrat.
PROTESTANT ORGANIZATIONS.
The first Presbyterian Church in this coun.
try was organized in Philadelphia, about the
year 1882 It's first pastor was the Rev.
Jedediah Andrews, who continued to exercise
his ministry in that charge until his death,
in 1747. The first Presbytery was organized
under the name of the Presbytery of Phila-
delphia, probably in the beginning of the
year l7O5; and the first person licensed and
ordained by this body to preach the everlast.
ing gospel, was a Mr.. John Boyd, in the fol.
lowing year. The first Synod was formed in
Philadelphia, under the title of the Synod
of Philadelphia, on Friday, the 18th of Sep.
tember, l7l7, when the Rev. George Nc.
Nish preached the opening sermon from John
xxi. II.
Rev. Jedediah Andrews was chosen the first
Moderator, and the Rev. Robert Wother.
spoon the first Clerk. Thirteen ministers
and six ruling elders we're present from the
four Presbyteries which at that time compo-
sed the entire Presbyterian Church in this
country. The first General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church was held in the Second
Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, on Thurs
day, the 2lst of May, 1889. Itwas opened
with sermon by Rev. John Wotherspoon,
D. D., President of the College of New
Jersey; and the Rev. John Rodgers, D. D.,
pastor of the first Presbyterian Church, New.
York, was chosen the first Moderator. The
body was composed of four Synods and six
teen Presbyteries.
The first Presbytery of the Reformed Pres.
byterian Church in this country was consti-
tuted in 1774, by Rev. Messrs. John Cuth.
bertson, Matthew Lind, and Alexander Dob.
bin, and ruling elders from the several Re-
formed Presbyterian congregations. This
Presbytery becoming extinct by the forma.
tion of the Associate Reformed Church at
Pequa, Pa, on the 18th of June, 1882, the
Reformed Presbytery, was recognized in
the spring of 1898, in the city Of Philadel-
phia, by the Rev. Messrs. James Mckinney
and VIM. Gibson, with the proper ruling el-
ders. The first Synod of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church was formed in Phila-
delphia on the 24th Of May, 1909, by all the
ministers of that Church in this country, aud
BY elders from all the sessions.
Rev. VIM. Gibson, the oldest minister
present, being called to the Moderator chair
constituted the court by prayer, in the name
and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the alone King and Head of the Church
The name assumed by the body was that of
the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church in America. The Rev. Gilbert Nc.
Master was chosen first Moderator, and the
Rev. John Black the first Stated Clerk
The Synod formed at once three Presbyteries,
viz the Northern, the Middle, and the
Southern.
The first meeting Of the Associate Synod
was held on the third Wednesday of May,
1901, at II o'clock, a. M. in Philadelphia,
and was opened with sermon by the Rev.
VIM. Marshall, by whom, also, the Synod
was formally constituted with prayer. That
first day was spent in solemn fasting and
prayer. There were seventeen ministers on
the roll, and these were divided into the four
Presbyteries of Philadelphia, Charters, Ken
lucky, and Cambridge. This body now
numbers l Synod, 20 Presbyteries, ITS min
listers, and 267 churches.
The first organization of the Synod Of the
Associate Reformed Church took place in the
house of Mr.. William Richards, in the city
of Philadelphia, on the 3lst Of October,
1882, when it was constituted with prayer
by the Rev. David Telfair, who had presided
over the Convention of Associate and Reform
ed Presbyterian ministers and elders, which
had agreed upon this plan Of organization at
Pequa in the previous June. The Rev.
John Mason, of New York, was chosen the
first Moderator, and Mr.. Robert Patterson,
an elder from Philadelphia, the first Clerk.
There we're present Messrs John Mason
and Robert Amman, ministers, and William
Mckinney, elder, from the Associate Pres
bytery of New York-Messrs. James Proud.
6t, John Rodgers, John Smith, and William
Logan, ministers, and Joseph Miller and
Thomas Douglass, elders, from the Associate
Presbytery Of Pepnsylvania-and Messrs.
This Church was composed of number Of
English and Welsh dissenters, and a few French
Protestants, who were accustomed at first to wor-
ship in connection with few Baptists, in store
house at the corner of Chestnut and Second Streets
They continued there until 1904, when small
Presbyterian house Of worship was D. erected IN
Market street, between Second ana Inira suees.
-OArisaas instructor. ...a