The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-03-19

pREspYrERIANIsM IN AMERICA

fhEoB lt-illANlSA IN AMEblCAs
Rev. j. S. Cogswel of the First Presby-
terrain church. preached a sermon yesterday,
on "a Centenary of Presbyterianism in
America" taking his text from Psalms,
As 10, 49, He said;
"This year is a jubilee year with Presbyte-
rians in America. The Presbyterian church
has existed in our country for one hundred
years. They deem it fitting in them to thank
God and take courage for the next century,
before them, in our broad land. and amid
her teeming millions Of human souls. Prog
ress and high mental and spiritual cultiva-
ton mark their career in our land. They
have eyinced great energy, great endurance
against opposition, and strong adherence to
the faith once delivered to the saints. Com
ing 70 this country from Scotland, Ireland
and other parts of Europe, they knew what
it was to suffer for righte BUSINESS sake. The
Scottish CovenanIers could never forget
Claverhouse and his atrocities in his savage
persecution of those who would not conform
to the State religion. The blood of mothers,
children, fathers and ministers of Christ
cried out from the ground of Scotland, say
ing, "How long. most holy and true God,
shall this unholy war against Thy church
c0ntinueY
That ever memorable siege of Londonderry
in Ireland, where so many Presbyterians
persisted rather than to yield up their liberty
were not to be easily vanqushed So. in
their adopted land, America, they still re-
tanned their characteristics of religion and
fortitude for justice and liberty. In the ar
my of the American colonies, fighting for
liberty, were the sturdy Scotch and Irish
PIesbyteranS.
John Witherspoon was among those who
signed the Declaration of Independence, and
he was everywhere known as an able and
learned Presbyterian. He was for time
President of Princeton College, and was
leader of thought and action in his day.
Presbyterians were men of Drawn and brain.
They were hardy men, fitted by nature and
by grace for their surroundings, and the
turbulence OF their age; God evidently lifted
them to do noble work for His church mill
talt. This they have done. They are still
engaged in work for their Divine Master,
and have evident tokens of his approval in
their success. They have done great work
in America, and their zeal is yet undated.
Church government with them is strong.
They have system of church courts. These
consist of a The Session. This is composed
of elders, elected by the local church, and
the pastor, who is the moderator of this court.
81 The Presbytery. This is composed of
all the ministers, and one elder from each
local church. This court meets twice year.
~ The Synod. This is now composed of GER
tain pastors and elders, who are elected to
attend that court. az The highest court, is
the General Assembly. This court par er-
cetlence meets once year, in some large
city. They review the action of the lower
courts when matters are brought to their at
tention. They devise and enact laws, and
arrange whatever is deemed best for the
general welfare of the Presbyterian church
in America, and in the missionary world,
where large numbers are zealously engaged
in mission work Of various kinds
In all these courts, they speak more eG ca
utedrd, than many other denominations. They
say what ought to be and what shall be done,
rather that give timed advice that is often
ambiguously worded, and which leaves the
party, or parties in great doubt as to their
course.
1t appears from historical data that from
1929 to 1910, many people having Presbyteri-
an tendencies settled in New England, and
their influence has been more or less felt IN
these states Among these we find Rev.
Richard Denton, graduate OF Cambridge
University in England. lie settled IN 1850,
with part of his church from Yorkshire, In
Waterfowl, Mass. In 1857, Rev. Francis
Doughty landed at Taunton, Mass, but was
driven in 1859 out of New England for teach
ing the prevalent Presbyterian views on in
FAINT baptism. Mr.. Doughty was the first
English speaking preacher in New York
city, where he preached, after leaving Taun-
ton, in 1859 in the Reformed Dutch church,
in the Fort, now the Battery; a church which
had been established in 1923
In 1859 Rev. Abraham Pierson settled first
at Lynn, Mass, then on Long Island, and
then in Connecticut; after that in 1861, as
pastor of the church known as the First
Presbyterian church, Newark, y. J. In 1914
Rev. r. Denton was pastor OF Presbyterl-
an church at Hampstead, l.. L. In 1919 Eng
fish Presbyterians came over and settled at
the mouth of the Severn river in Maryland.
These were men of spirit and they resisted
prelatical tyranny by force OF arms. In 1906,
Nathaniel and Daniel Denton, sons of Rich
ard Denton, founded the first Presbyterian
church of Jamaica, L. l., the Oldest .Presby-
terrain church in the United States, having a
continuous existence from the date OF its or
igin. But to the Rev. Francis Mackenzie, OF
Ireland, the honor is accorded OF having
gathered the somewhat isolated churches In
to Presbytery. He appears to have had
great executive abilities, coupled with much
energy. He therefore was fitted to become
the organizer Of American Presbyterlanlsm.
He travelled much and was successful as a
preacher and organizer. and thus localized
the Presbyterian elements in this country in
to visible churches, and the courts which
characterize Presbyterianism and are now in
use in our country.
The general Presbytery appears to have
been organized 1905 or 1706, with seven min
listers on the roll. The General Synod met
at Philadelphia, Pa, in 1717, and consisted
of representatives from the Presbyterles OF
Philadelphia, New Castle, Snow Hill and
Long Island. In 1923 the synod passed the
adopting act, accepting the Westminster
Confession and Catechism as church stand
ards, and requiring ministers to adopt per-
sonally said confession and catechism as the
confession of their faith. On the 10Th of
May, 1888, the synod adopted the present
constitution of the Presbyterian church in
the United States of America, and appointed
the General Assembly to meet on the third
Thursday of May, $780, in the Second Pres
byterian church, Philadelphia, Pa, and the
Rev. John Witherspoon, d. d., to preside I'M
til a moderator be chosen. He was also chos-
en- to deliver the opening sermon. When the
general assembly met in 1889, Rev. John
Rodgers, d. D., of the Presbytery of New
York, was chosen moderator. Presbyterlans
had greatly increased in number so that
there were then 1T ministers, 431 churches,
about $4,000 church members, and they had
just begun to give for the cause of missions,
giving 1852.
drew on account of not liking the repremand
which they received for not needing the
rules and customs in ordaining men to the
ministry. They had ordained men to the
ministry who were not fully qualified as the
standard required. They finally received ac-
cessions and became a distinct branch
known as the Cumberland Presbyterians.
In 1887 there was disruption among
Presbyterians, brought on by different
views concerning benevolent work and 9th
er maLIeTS. Inc assembly duOptcu tlc
Western Missionary Society, and established
the Presbyterian Board Of ForeignI, Missions ms
"New School, General Assemblies met in
Philadelphia. The division of the grand old
church continued until 1869. when reunion
took place at Pittsburg, Pa, on the 18th OF
November, thus bringing together the hosts
of the Lord on one common platform.
The reunion consummated at PlttsDurg,
Pa, was on this basis, viz; "The union shall
be effected on the doctrinal and ecclesiastical
basis of our common standards. The Scrip,
lures of the Old and New Testaments shall
be acknowledged to be the inspired word OF
God, and the only infallible rule of faith and
practice. The Confession of Faith shall con-
tinue to be sincerely received and adopted as
containing the system of doctrine taught in
the Holy Scriptures, and the government and
discipline of the Presbyterian Church In the
United States shall be approved as contain,
ing the principles and rules of our polity !
This union, so sincerely entered upon, has
been sacredly carried out.
On the 18th day of next May it is expected
that the Tooth General Assembly will meet
in Philadelphia, in the First Presbyterian
Church. And on the oath of Nav it is ar