Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-09-11
Fighting Preachers.

''CHURCHES OF TIE VALLEY Is tuc
title of history of the Presbyterian chur
ches in Cumberland Valley, principally
in Cumberland and Franklin counties,
Pennsylvania BY Rev. DR.. ALFRED Ne.
WIN, Of Lancaster. Presbyterian congre-
cations began to be organized through the
Valley from 1880 to l740, but too little
reliable information Of their first proceed.
ings has been obtained. We CLEAN from
it few proofs Of the manner in which
Presbyterian clergymeu Of that days
pure and as earnest men as their successors
-"preached politics" :"
Rec. john King, d. d., of Mercersburg,
was second to none Of his Presbyterian
brethren in arousing the spiri. of liberty
among his countrymen, aud in fostering
opposition to the tyrannical proceedings of
the Government. He not only volunteer.
ed his services, but went as chaplain to
the battalion which machcd from that Sec
tion. Extracts are given, in the volume
before us, of patriotic addresses to his
neigLbors-a sermon on the death Of Gen.
Montgomery speech to Capt. Hustou's
company as they we're about to leave their
homes for the battlefield, &c.
Rec. John Craiyhead, Of Rocky Spring
church, after preaching in glowing terms
Jesus Christ the only hope Of salvation,
exhorted the youth Of the congregation, in
eloquent and patriotic strains, to rise up
and Join the noble band Of settlers strug-
Cling against the regular army and the
border savages Of Britain. On one occa-
sion, be declaimcd in such burning terms
upon the wrongs the people were enduring
that after one earnest declaration Of their
duty the men of the congregation all arose
from their seats and declared their willing
ness to take up their arms. One old lady,
however, whose heart bled with recent
wound, called out,
"S,op, Mr.. Craishcad-I jist want to
tell yer agin you loss such purity boy as
| have, in the war, ye will ma be SO keen
for fighting; quit talking, and gang your
self to the war. Yer always preaching to
the boys about it, but dinna think ye'd
be very likely to gang yersel. Jist 60 and
try it."
He did 60. Standing before his meet
ing house be calls on the able-bodied men
of his flock to 60 with him to the field Of
battle. to save his country's liberty or ner.
ish in the cause. One by ono they fall In,
until the line reaches across the green to
the ueighboring wood. Their wives, ,daugh-
ters, and sisters urge them to trust in the
arm Of God. The line is completed, and
the r...-. lismIsses them to meet the fol-
lowing Monday. They meet-one fervent
appeal to the Almighty, and their Pastor
becomes their Captain, and they march to
join the army Of Washington. He fought
and preached alternately, and was as good
a soldier as preacher.
Among Craighead's companions in war
was Reu. DR.. Robert Cooper, many years
pastor of Middle Spring church. Both of
these men escaped many dangers: and
''died in their nests" at good old age.
Rev. join Elder, of Paxton, was Col.
ouel in the army, and with the other Pres
byterian ministers of that Gay preached up
opposition to Government, when Govern
meut did wrong, and plead and fought for
Liberty, against Slavery.-A Presbyterian
Tory ciergymen was as rare as white black
birds.