Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-01-18

r- trN!r gRia ~ 4NaNIs SOs
people, wrote to the anti.Burger Synod Of
Scotland, for assistance. az
In 1888, Ebenezsr Erskine, William VIII
son, Alexander Moncrief and james Fisher,
on account of the heterodox doctrines which
had crept into the Church Of Scotland, and
on account Of the unrightsous practices which
prevailed id that Church respecting the law
Of patronage, seeded from the established
Church Of Scotland, and at CARNEY bridge,
on the 9Th Of December, formed the Associate
Presbytery. Such was the origin Of what is
known as the Secession Church. In 1747,
during the time that Alexander Craighead
was under censure on account Of his seditious
pamphlet, as the Synod styled it, . division
took place in the Secession Church Of Scot
land. This division occurred il the following
way. At the meeting Of the Associate Synod
at Sterling, in March, 1745, an overture was
introduced with reference to the lawfulness Of
what was called the Burgess Oath" In the
J Burgess Oath these words occur, ~ protest
before God and youy Lordships, ttat q protsss
and dlloso, Nth my heart, The true religion pres
emily protssssd vithin this realm and astsorissd
By a.s loDs thereof; I shaN abide hsrsat and
defend tie samsto my ktfJs end"
One portion Of the Synod declared that
they had seeded from the religion presently
professed in this realm" and could not take
the Burgess oath. The other part thought
differently, declaring that they had not &C.
ceeded from the established church Of Scot
land, but from "a corrupt party in that
church." The men in both parties were very
similarly constituted. Right or wrong, they
thought they were right and we're willing to
maintain and defend their opinions to their
"life's end" The more rigid Of the parties
the one which would not take the Burgess
oath-Was called anti Burgers; the others
Burgers. The sentiments Of the anti. Burgers
were in harmony with those held and promul-
gated by Alexander Craighead, hence he
wrote to the anti-Burger Synod in i751 be-
seeching them to send ministers Of the gospel
to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Although foreign to our present object, it
will no doubt be interesting to many to know
that to Alexander Craighead is due the cred
it of introducing the Associate church into
America. In response to his petition, the
ant. Burger Synod, ordered Mr.. james Hume
and John Jameson to 60 to Americaras Mis-.
sionaries Neither Of these individuals saw
ct to obey the order Of the Synod. The anti-
Burgers were intensely anxious to grant the
request of Alexander Craighead, and appoint
ed Alexander Gellatly and Andrew Bunyan
to the same field. iBunyan, in effect refused
to obey and was severely dealt with. His
place was supplied by the appointment Of AM
drew Arnot. Gellatly aud Arnot we're the
first ministers Of the Associate, or Secession
church in America. They landed in 1903.
About the time that Gellatly and Arnot ar
rived in Pennsylvania, Alexander Craighead,
to get rid Of the odium in which heiwas held
on acceunt. of his pamphlets, removed 70 Yir.
ginia. ID July, 1755, Braddock was defeat
ed by the Indians and the whole frontier Of
the State of Virgins, left exposed to the mer.
cy of these infuriated sayages. Terror reign
ed throughout the whole region in. which Al
exander Craighead was settled. Again he
determined to change his place Of abode.
Crossing the Blue Ridge, he descended into
the peaceful territory now known as Mecklen-
burg county, North Carolina.
For number of years previous to this
time, two streams of population had been
pouring into this region. One stream came
mainly from Lancaster, Chester and Bucks
counties, Pennsylvania. The other came d.
rectly from Ireland, through the port Of
Charleston, South Carolina The two streams
had common origin. Both came bubbling
up from the Scotch-Iriah population Of Ulster,
Ireland.
In September, 1853, Alexander Craighead
became the pastor of Rocky River congrega-
ton. Here was the first Presbyterian con.
zregation in Western North Carolina. The
6rst Presbyterian minister in this region was
Alexander Craighead. In this quiet terri
tory be preached the, pure gospel Of the Sa-
viour and indoctrinated his hearers in the
principles of civil liberty. Ina spiritual and
civil point Of view, the labors Of this good
man were blessed. The churches which bear
the respective names Of Poplar Tent, Rocky
River, Centre, Hopewsll. Providence. Sugar
Creek and Steel Greek, all sprang into 'exis-
tsnce as fruits of his labors. The land was
fertile, and the people being industrious and
moral, soon accumulated an abundance Of the
necessaries of life. s & ~ ,s%
In March, 1856, Alexander Craighead died
and was buried in Sugar Greek graveyard.
No monument marks the spot where his ASH
es rsposa Tradition says that when the cot.
fin which contained his remains was taken to
the graveyard, it was borne by four men on
two sassafras handspikes. When the grave
was filling up, these sassafras poles we're
thrust into the grave, one ct the head and the
other at the foot, as q temporary mark for
the grave. These sassafras hand spikes grew
and continued, until recently, TO mark the
resting place of the ashes of this faithful min
lister Of the gospel and staunah advocate Of
civil and religious liberty.
The Ggners of the Mecklenburg Declara-
ton of Independence were all members Of
the congregations founded BY Alexander
Crsighead.
When the body of John Knox was laid in
the grave, the Regent, Morton, looked upon
:. - ,,,,.rnoad in an snd;hla voina tho