Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-03-18
THE CUMBERLAND PREsBYTE.
RIANS.
SIXTIETH ANNIvERSARY-oRI-
GIN, DOCTRINES AND HIS
TORY OF THE CHURCH.

Monday was the occasion Of the six
tieth anniveray of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, and was duly
celebrates.
In Pittsburg the Rev. L. Squrcs de-
livcred an address, giving interesting
facts in. the history Of this singular
people, from which we make the fol-
lowing extracts:
Sixty years ago, tho fourth day OF
last month, the first Presbytery Of our
Church was Organized. It WAS organ
lied in Cumberland county, Tenn. In
the year 1900 "A wonderful and most
gracious revival Of religion broke out
in the Presbyterian Church in the
Mississippi Valley. Th!s revival ex-
tended to Pennsylvania, but the seat
OF the revival was in kentuckey. 1t
was not exclusively confined Il the
Presbyterian denomination, but Il also
extended to the Methodist and Baptist
Churches, but the leaders in this reyi-
val were the Presbyterians. The reyi-
val contiued for five years. The great
cry of the churches q; that tiule was
for more ministers. To supply the
churches that were established with
ministers was almost impossible =
Among the many young men that
were brought ihto the ministry during
the revival were King, Ewing and
E,acadue. They were men of piety,
and were very popular with the
churches. The churches sent up Pc
tition for licensing these men, which
was granted. They commenced TO
preach and they were wonde.f,ly bless
cd in their preaching. Their ministry
Jyas great success and many churches
were organized. They soon asked the
the PresOyteTy to Ordain them. This
seemed to be necessity that sprang
out of revival. The Presbytery con-
sidered the matter and agreed to Ordain
them. These three young men, when
they were spoken To on the subject Of
their ordination, said that they could
not with their present views fully
adopt the West Minister confession OF
Faith. They asked the Presbytery to
make an exception with regard ~ the
article on the subject of fatality, and
said that in all other respects they
were willing to receive the BOOK The
Prcsbytery considered the matter, and
agreed to Ordain them Notwithstanding
the difference. The synod of hen-
lucky, however, called this Prcsbytery
10 account, and required them to re
consider their action and 20 require
the young men to receive the whole
book, or that they should take their
parchments from them. The Presby-
terry refused to do this, and separated
from the old Presbyterian Church, and
formed the denomination now known
rs the Cumberland Presbyterians--
The synod in searching for reasons
for her conduct in relation TO this
Presbytery, brought another objection
which / have not noticed. She
brought up the question OF education
in reference 10 those three men. They
had nOs beea classicllly educated.
But the need of young men for the
ministry was so pressing that tue
Presbytery was willing to ordain these
men without classical education. Al
low ME 70 remark that while in the
old book there is a requirement that
all who enter the ministry must be
classically educated, yet there have
been many exceptions TO this rule In
the history of the Chuch. Our re-
duirument is that he should learn all
lie possibly can.
The speaker then reviewed briefly
| the doctrines of the Church, after
which he alluded to its great prosperi-
ty. The denomination hes now one
General Assembly, 26 Synods, 06 Pres.
byteries, |, ,2O0 ordained ministers, 40
licentiates, and from l20, 900 to l25, ,OOC
communicates.