The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-11-07

troubled and unsuccessful pastorate. He
remained only few years in charge OF
the church, although he resided in the com.
munity for many years. He was suspended
from the ministry November II, 1918, by the
Presbytery of New Castle
y. William Finney was elected March 81
1913, and was ordained and installed the fol-
lowing November. He continued as pastor
forty one years, resgning Oct. 4, 1854 at the
the age of sixty-fve years. He preached
three or four years afterwards, thus rendering
the church about A years of active pastoral
service. The limits of this abstract are too
contracted for the review of him or his life
work, both of which are known to all. His
name is one ofthe honored names of Hartford
and his work one of the richest legaces ever
bequeathed her. AS man, a preacher, u pas
tor and citizen, he held high rank and
welded great influence for good. He spent
his whole life at Churchville, and could not
be enticed away, although lie had powers
which would have opened for the most pro-
minent pulpits of the land. He died July
10, 1878, in his S5th year, among those he
loved and who loved him. A graceful
monument has been erected by friends both
In and out of the church as u fitting tribute
to his memory. After Mr.. Finney vacated
the pulpit, there was difficulty to find the
right man. as might be supposed. Some years
were spent in experimenting with "sup.
plies"
| w. A. Rankin preached in 1866 with a
view to settlement, and was very acceptable
to the people. But inasmuch as an agreement
could not be made concerning the amount of
preaching he should do at Churchville, which
was then in joint pastorate with Harmony,
he was not elected pastor. He is spoken of
as good preacher.
Amos Ell. Sill was elected Sept. 80, 1856,
| but owing to i'll health he was never INSTALL
| ed. He is reputed to have been an excellent
| man, good preacher, and humble Christian.
His inability to settle permanently as pastor
was greatly regretted by the people. He
died u few years afterwards at West Not
tingham. Cecil county, Md.
Simon G. Visschor was chosen pastor
| March rs, 1860. For some reason or other
the call seems never to have been prosecuted.
| He was never installed here, nor anywhere
else. His home has been for some years in
Rome, N. Y.
]. H. Johns was elected in the fall of 1861,
but he declined the call and accepted one to
| the Zion and Rock churches in Cecil county,
of (which he has been the successful and belov-
ed pastor for % years. He declined another
| call to Churchville in 1869. He has been
recently paralyzed.
4. The next actual pastor was Robert HI.
Williams, who was elected Nov. 3, 1861. He
continued pastor of Churchvile and Har-
mony until the fall of 1864, when he resigned
and settled in Frederick city, where lie re.
NAMED in charge of the Presbyterian church
| for nearly 16 years He is now pastor of the
chur-5 in Annapolis, Md.
5. w. w. Ralston was elected Oct. O. 1864,
| and continued in charge of the church about
| two years. He has since resided in Ohio and
Pennsylvania.
John r. Cramer was called in September,
1867, and continued to preach till Dec, 1869.
His ill health prevented his settlement as pas
tor and resulted in his death soon after he
ceased preaching His memory is cherished
by the people as that of good man, an able
preacher and faithful pastor. Rev. Mr..
Waterman followed Mr.. Cramer as supply
| for short time. He is now in England
John h. Paxton was elected pastor Febru.
| AIRY 10, 1870, and was ordained and installed
soon afterwards. He continued pastor until
| Dec. II, 1874 when he resigned and settled in
| Harrisburg, whence he WENT to Washington,
| ID. c., and thence to New York, where he now
| is.
Z. w. T. L. Kieffer was elected in Nav, 1876,
| and was ordained and installed the following
November. His pastorate continued till July
| 8, 1888, when he resigned to become pastor of
IL IL.
S.Calvin d. Wilson, the present pastor, was
called in August, 1888, and installed the fol
lowing December.
THE ELDERS.
| There have been, as far us known, thirty
| one elders in this church, including those now
! in office. Very little is known of many of
them personally; and as there was no formal
record kept of their official transactions for
very many years, we know almost as little
| about their official work as we do about their
| individual lives. Had it not been for the at.
tention given by Elder James Pannell to these
| things in private way it would have been
| impossible to unravel much OF the history of
the church. Should the history be printed
| in full the list of elders will be published.
| THE TRUSTEES.
On Oct. 81 1914, five Trustees were elected,
| to have charge of the financial interests of
| the church. In 1888 the church was incor-
porated according to Act of Assembly of
| Maryland of 1903. A new board of five
Trustees was then elected, and ever since the
| succession has been preserved by the election
of new officers in place of those who have
died or resigned. From first to last there
have been twenty-four men in office, includ-
| ing the present Trustees.
| V. THE MEMBERSHIP.
| When Rev. VIM. Finney began his minis
try there were only Is or 90 communicate
members. The highest membership the
church has ever had was 147 in 1850 and 1851
The decade 1S44-1854 registers the largest
number of members. The following per-
sons have entered the ministry from this
church, viz: Samuel M. Bayless Ebenezer
ID. Finney, James Glasgow Archer, Charles
Symington, Isaac N. Waterman and George
G. Barnes. All but Revs. Bayless and Ar.
cher are yet living and in service.
| The churches of Bel Air, Havre de Grace
and Harmony are all offshoots from Church
vile. The territory covered by the whole
FIVE used to send its patronage to the old
church; but the population then was not
what it now is. With the exception of Har-
mony these churches did not 60 rs colonies
from Churchvlle, but grew up in response to
the demands OF the growing population in
their several localities.
| VI. THE FINANCES.
The original method of raising money in
this church was the old fashioned subscrp-
ton list. The amount was accordingly vari.
able. The pew system was introduced quite
early, inasmuch as on March 8, 1926, the
Trustees notified delinquent pew holders to
"pay up or quit" Good advice !!
The salary during Rev. Finneys long pas.
torate was the princely sum of $500 per an
mum. In 1856 Rev Sill was offered salary
of $400, with use of parsonage and 90 acres
of land. In 1861 the salary was raised to
5000; and in 1860 to $500 and parsonage.
During Rev. Paxton's ministry the salary was
raised to 81 900 and parsonage, at which it
rests. 1t is impossible to tell the exact
amount which has been contributed directly
by this church to the various causes of benevo-
lence. In the twenty years prior to 1854 the
sum was $1,582.S9. In the last fourteen
years $1,695.02 have been given. There has
thus been some progress in general benevo.
lence During the latter period the money
raised for congregational expenses has been