Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-07-14
THE FOUNDER OF THE PRES
BYTERIAN CHURCH IN
BUTLER PRESB BYTERY
BY A. L. o. B.

in the Presbyterian church of lower
Marsh Greek. He learned the langua
ges preparatory to his going to college
under Rev. Robert Smith, ID. D., ot
Peguea, and graduated May 7th, 1888
at Dickinson College, Carlisle, during
the presidency of the Rev. Dr. Nesbit
He studied Theology under the direc-
tion of the Rev John Clark, pastor o.
Bethel, Allegheny county, Pa. He
was licensed to preach the gospel Au
gust goth, 1889, by the Presbytery Of
Redstone, and ordained and installed
by the same Presbytery, pastor of the
united congregations of Salem and
Unity in Westmoreland county, Pa,
on the 23rd of September, 1890. DR.
Mcmillan presided at his ordination,
and Rev. James Finley give the charge.
He labored with great success in these
congregations for years. The work Of
the church in America before his time
had been largely of a missionary char.
acter, and Mr. McPherrin possessed
this missionary spirit in great degree.
we find him in 1871 max
ing his first trip through Butler county,
and then his mind was fixed upon it as
possibly his future field Of labor, though
at that time he was only passing thro'
it on a missionary tour, to the region
bordering on Lake Erie and extending
west nearly as far as Fort Wayne. He
and believed the promise,
"They that dwell in the wilderness
shall bow before him." and did every
thing in his power to hasten the spread
of the gospel In after years we find
him actively engaged in the same work
he was one of the editors of the
"Western Missionary Magazine" a
published for a few years. In
1899 he visited Butler county again,
when he organized his first churches in
it. June 25th, 1900, he resigned the
charge at Unity, and on the Goth of
April, 1903, that of Salem, having ac-
cepted call from two congregations in
Butler county. Soon after this he pur-
chased a farm-the town of Sunbury
now occupies d part of that farm. In
the fall of 1904 he brought his family.
A description of their journey would
no doubt be of interest if there were
time and space to give it. There were
no bridges and very few roads Mr..
and Mrs. McPberrin came on horseback,
Mrs. McPherrin carrying the youngest
child, and her husband the next in age;
the older children came with the wag-
ons that brought their goods. They
had to bring as much as possible with
them as there was no place to buy; even
medicines had to BE brought, and Mr..
NJ always kept little chest of stand
ard medicines and Apothecaries weights
for weighing them, the nearest doctor
for many years being thirty miles dis
tant. Even the town of Butler was in
woods; tie natural forest still remain
ed at what is now the corner of Main
and Jefferson streets, where the Lowry
House stands; and very few houses
made up the town. April 9th, 1905,
he was received by the Presbytery of
Erie. He took great pleasure in his
Of Concord and Harmo-
ny, they were now hardy little congre-
cations, over five years old and great
comfort and help to him. He founded
the church in the town of Butler, and
worked very hard to lay as far as was
in his power q sure foundation. Soon
after his settlement here several fami-
lies from his former charges in West
county came out and bought
farms near him. Their coming added
TO the strength Of the churches, and as
soon as possible houses of worship were
built, in the meantime the services
were held wherever it was most con-
the schoolhouses, and fire.
quently at the house of some of the
neighbors Communion services were
held in the groves, no building being
large. His people came,
some Of them ten and fifteen miles,
nearly always walking, at any rate dur
ing the first years. In 1905 he acted as
Moderator of the Synod Of Pittsburgh.
For many years after he was settled in
the ministry he taught class Of young
men, most Of whom became ministers
of the gospel. He took great interest
in teaching. He was thorough Lat
in and Greek scholar he also possess
I'd knowledge of the Hebrew language
which was rare requirement in this
region of country ut that time. He
never left his congregation if he could
avoid it but he was away on one oc-
casion several months by appointment
at Erie. While absent at
that time he organized the congrega-
ton of Northeast. He was leader in
The temperance movement Of 1914. In
1918 he found il necessary to be nearer
Butler and accordingly bought farm
about three miles north Of the town on
The Mercer road. In all his congrega-
Lions he had prayer meetings, sabbath
schools, or Bible study in some form,
and congregational examinations on
The Larger and Shorter Catechism. In
The church in Butler he had in addition
to the sabbath school and prayer meet
ing, o monthly concert the first Mon
day Of each month in the afternoon.
The ladies of the congregation kept up
4 female prayer meeting for n number
Of years When the Presbytery Of Al
Ieghcny was erected in 1920, he was
included within its limits AZ one of its
original members and presided at the
first meeting held in the town of But
Ter the first Tuesday Of April, 1920.
His health was giving away for some
years before his death, but he did not
suffer it to interfere with his duties.
lie was entirely absorbed In his work,
and continued to fill all his appoint
mcnts till few months before his
death His last sermon was delivered
in Butler, but overcome with weakness
he had TO be carried from the pulpit be-
fore he finished it. After this he lived
n few months but could not attempt to
preach again. II has been truly said
Of him, "He was an able, faithful and