The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-08-03
The History CT the.Prss5yterian Church.
A SERMON BY THE REV. MACDUFF SIMPSON

A SERMON BY THE REV. MACDUFF simpson
On Sunday night last, at the Second Pre-:
byterian church, the pastor, Rev. AlcDu
Simpson, delivered sermon on the history {
| the Presbyterian church. lie prefaced his II
marks by stating that nothing which he misi
say was Intended in any way, to reflect on til
other denominations, for in them he recogni2
ed his fellow laborers in the cause OF redemE
ton. and however much they might differ i
their doctrnal bias, still, they were united o
the great principle of christianity-thc savin
blood of Jesus.
| His text was 'sHitherto The Lord hath hclr
cd U.S. LIST Samuel chapter VII and verse II
After alluGing to the occasion to which thes
words refer, when Samuel and the pcopl
which he governed and represented, had beer
delivered from the power OF the PIilistincs b,
the mighty hand OF God, whose voice thunder
ed destruction from the clouds, and scattered
his foe to the winds of heavell-whcn Samue
| reared his Ebenezer, that it might stand
| lasting memorial to remind future generations
of the help which had come from the llant
! which rules the universe, he said, that in look
terrain church, marked by many fierce con
| fiicts and glorious trumphs, he coud not hell
| thinking that it would not be out Of place tt
| regard this Centennial year. as our Ebenezer
in the sight Of God and man, acknowledging
that hitherto the Lord hath helped us.
1t could not be expected in a sketch, such rs
he hoped to present, to go into details. He
wished, simply, to lead his hearers to the
source, that they might glance at the spring
From xyt,S nl. oh SO 4
conduct them along its windings, that they
might see how it broadens and decpcns in the
mighty flow of its clear waters, and see, too,
the many tributaries that join the stream from
distant and various sources--might look, for a
little, on that stream which has proved itself
! the main artery of religious life in this Broad
Land, and he trusted as they watched the
mighty beatings OF its mighty pulse, as lndica-
ted in the pages of history, that their hearts
should feel the same fervour and devotion that
throbbed in the breasts of their Presbyterian
forefathers.
Like this great nation, gathered from the
four corners of the earth, from every kin
dred, tribe and tongue, and vet forming peo-
pie entirely distinct from any of its original
elements, so the Presbyterian church, in this
land, was formed from Irish fervour, Scotch
persistence and Hugllenot devotion, and upon
this broadcast foundation noble structure has
though composed of materials, which, although
resembling each other, were drawn from very
different sources. These elements had long
dWelt upon the western shores OF this young
empire, and had become acclimatized, though
the church did not assume an organized form
until the beginning OF the eighteenth century.
The diversified elements were thrown into
common relations on the perllols shores OF the
new world, and after the rough edges had been
mil ~
simulated to be built into that noble structure
which to-day proudly lifts its pinnacles to the
skies. Nopeculiarly Presbyterian character
lstIc was ever dropped, but the IOn-essential
peculiarities were rcnounced, SO that the ma
terial might be cemented into common wall.
Many may claim the honor Of having found
ed individual congregations in New England
and elsewhere, but to Francis Mackenzie belongs
the honor OF laying the foundation of the
Presbyterian church as an organized body, in
the United States. frhis leader and founder
was educated in Scotland, but was native of
Ireland. He came to this country, and on that
narrow strip of territory lying between the
Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, laid
the foundation stone OF the American Prcsby-
terrain church. and strange to say this was done
under the wild laws Of a colony that had been
founded by Roman Catholic noblemen.
OF this great and good man, Sprague tells
us that shortly after he commenced his work
in Maryland, he turned toward Virginia and
found the people scattered for want of q shep-
herd, and mourning the loss of their dissenting
ministers from Ireland, who had been reinov-
ed by death. Hc set vigorously to work aud
soon built mp several congregations on Eliza
beth river, but after straining his energies to
meet the too frequent demands on his time,
he tore himself away from his charge, and
crossing the waters made personal appeals to
the old churches. This was in 1903, and thro'
his efforts two co-laborers were sent to assist
him in his new field.
No doubt, there already existed in Virginia
a Puritan leader, who was brought to this |
State under the leadership of the Rev. Henry |
Jacobs. about 1924, but the intplerant laws !
crushed and demcralized these Independents, |
Is they were then called. at the time Ma |
keme visited Virginia, Presbyterians were !
held in such disfavo~, that nine years elapsed !
before he could procure license. Such was the |
condition of things when he commenced his !
work, but his ardent spirit was not to be daunt-
I'd by tyr annical laws, and with an iron will
he braved the hardships which met him at ev-
Try turning, and started the church on its glO-
'iOus career.
The first Prcsbytery assembled about the
7ear l7O5, at Freehold, New Jersey, and was
lttended by seven members. Shortly after
yards it met at Philadelphia in house built
~ Jedediah Andrews, who held an important
position, and was second only to Mackenzie.
1t that time the Presbytery commenced cor
dependence with other churches. and their
ettcrs indicate that these pioneers were men
lot only OF learning and piety. but that they
we're animated by the purest of liberality.
From this time the church began to grow
teadily and rapidly. A number of ministers
we're sent over from the old world, and in ten
ears from the foundation of the original body,
he church had increased to a synod of the
hree Presbyteries of Philadelphia, New Cas-
lie and Snow Hill, and although the infant
hnrch was composed OF so many different ele-
aents, yet its early history is marked by per-
ect harmony as well as rapid growth. Up
o this time there does not seem to have been
ny necessity for the adoption of specific stand
rds. The ministers were alike in their doc
rinal sentiments. and only required the COM
ulsion of external circumstances to hold them
ogether. However, after the formation Of the
ynod, it BECAME eviden5 that for the better
overnment and discipline Of the church, it
7ould be necessary to frame certain constitu-
onal articles. Accordingly, this was propos-
q in such a way as to harmonic the different
arties in the synod, and, at the same time,
revent latitudinarianism and guard against
cclesiastcism. Up to this time the subscrp-
on of certain articles of faith was more desir- ,
BILE in procuring the protection of the civil
than to guard against heretical
lemberS, Rut SllcIi grave hcrcSeS had aD |