The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-20
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
"reminiscences of a Pioneer.

1t is often and truly said that history
repeats itself. This is true of churches
and ministers. The history of one faith
full minister will be found, in many of
it's details, the history of all others.
Hence the advantages of faithfully writ
ten biography. In the trials of others
how often do we see the counterpart of
our own.
propose, if agreeable to you, to lay
before my younger brethren In the min
istry some of the incidents of my own
labOrs near forty years ago; hoping
thereby to encourage others to enter up
on the same field of action, as there still
remains much land to be possessed. And
in doing so, must be pardOned in the
free use of the first person singular, as
see no propriety in saying 'ce, or the
10rIter, when every one knows that "we'
simply mean, |.
When near the close of my Theologi-
cal course, and about to select field of
labor, | was led by singular providence
to fix my mind on point then on the
very outskirts Of civilization, in a region
cut off from the other portions of our
country by almost impossible barriers.
My Presbytery ordained me as an evan
geHst to that region. then sat out on
a journey of nearly two thousand miles,
without any definite knowledge of the
place or It's inhabitants, except that they
u Il r
The journey across the Allegheny noun
tains, before the construction of rail
ways, was tedious and fatiguing. The
novelty which at first animated ones
mind, in climbing their gigantic ranges,
soon became monotonous and tOilsome.
The only incident of interest, which |
now remember, occurred at one of the
stands, while the drivers were changing
the horses. Among the crowd around
the stage, one man was conspicuous by
loud talk, intermingling the words of al
most every sentence with the most hOr
rid blasphemy. He was not angry, but
his unusual profaneness seemed to be the
spontaneous effusions of depraved heart.
| hastily selected from bundle of tracts
The Swearer'S Prayer, and requested
a person to reach it to him. 1t was
placed in his hands without his perceiv-
ing whence it came. [ saw him fix his
eyes intently upon the title-page, Crack
went the drivers whip, away sprang the
prancing steeds, and at my last glance
he was still gazing, in apparent amaze
ment, at the silent reprover.
Pittsburg at that time was a compara-
lively small place. 1t contained two
Presbyterian churches, one Episeopalian,
one Methodist, one Seceder, and one
Covenanter church. DR.. Heron, was, |
believe, the first Presbyterian minister
settled there. 1 attended prayer meet
ing with him. | was struck with his
jealous and faithful presentation of the
Gospel.
spent my first Sabbath, west of the
mountains, at Marietta. Here was a
Aourishing church, under the care of
Rev. Mr.. Bingham. There seemed to be
a peculiar state of seriousness prevailing
among the youth Of his congregation. l
was requested to converse with some of
them after the evenings services. One
of these l shall never forget. She was
a granddaughter, or great grand-daugh-
ter of Gen. Putnam, the wOlfkiller.
The anguish of her spirit seemed to bor-
der on despair. When told that Christ
cruci6ed was the only refuge for her soul,
she replied in tones sufficient to pierce a
heart of adamant, "But l can't believe,
can't 20 to that Saviour, my heart is
so hard that | can't feel.
Here, for the first time, | met with
the Rev. Cyrus Byington, now the vete-
ran missionary of the Choctaws. He Was
then young. The hair of his head was
very dark, and his cheeks full and ruddy.
He was to be married the next week to a
Miss Nye, Of Marietta.
My next call was at Cincinnati. Here
l found Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, the pio-
neer of Presbyterianism in that place.
He gave me most interesting account
of his first labors there, describing the
devoted lives and happy deaths of some
Of his first members. He has long since
united with them before the throne.
| had been directed by the Secretary
of the Board of Missions to spend few
weeks at Louisville, KY, the church be-
ing vacant at that time. found the
church members few in numbers, but a
devoted band of believers. L shall al
ways look back to my short abode there
as an oasis in my life's pilgrimage. Be
sides our Sabbath exercises we had fire.
quent prayer meetings during the week.
These were held in the houses of the
members. One of these was of peculiar