Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-02-26
Rev. John Paris Hudson.

an Old English FAMILY. Ine Hrst Vi Iho uam
| who settled in America was George Hudson
an English gentleman, who, in l72O, took ur
several hundred acres Of land in CaernarvoI
Township, Lancaster county. Penn. He ane
his sons were founders and prominent mem
| bers of the Bangor Established Church (of Eng
land) at Churchtown. The name OF Hudson
| appears on the old parish register of Bangor
Church as Vestrymen until 1893. In 1772. Geo.
Hudson 3rd. the grandfather of Rev. Mr.. Hud-
son, sold out all his possessions in Lancaster
county and removed first to Washington coun-
ty, Maryland, and from thence to Beverly
kanor, near Staunton, Augusta county, viz
ginia, where he united with Bethel Presbyteri-
an Church. His mother. Mary Paris, was the
daughter of John Paris,a descendant of fami-
ly of French Huguenots, who in the autumn OF
1886 fled from near the city of Paris to the city
of Londonderry in Ireland, to escape persecu-
ton, on the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes
by Louis XIV, and members of the family were
In the memorable selge of that fsstness of Pro-
testanism. In 1862 John Paris sailed for Amer
lea with his wife and two children. Mary, the
mother of Mr.. Hudson, was then two years OF
age His wife died on the voyage. He landed
at Snow Hill, Md; remained there shoi t
time when he purchased an estate one and
half miles from the city OF Staunton. Virginia.
Charles Hudson and Mary Paris were married
Decent Der 20. 1900. by Rev John Glendy, D. d.
They were both members of Bethel Presbyteri
an Church, one of the large congregations OF
the Valley of Virginia.
John Paris Hudson was born near Staunton,
Augusta county. Virginia, March II, 1904. His
father was man of cultured literary taste,ano
it was from him that his sons inherited their
decided taste fer Mathematics tits indicative
of the religious training of his mother, that she
could repeat both questions and answers of the
whole of the larger and shorter Cstschfsms
and all the Psalms of David. 1t was her earn
est, prayful desire that her sons should be SER
wants of their parents God. In a letter to her
son John at College in 1928 she writes:
81 dedicated my two elder sons ID infancy to
the Master. One was taken and the other left
You are bles with talents, and trust that the
Almighty Being who watches over you when
far from me, has blest you with truth and
sincerity. You have the holy Scriptures for
your guide, the works of learned men, the
company of the servants of the most High, and
the promises OF your glorious Master that He
will be with you to toe end. You have mer-
ciful Master to serve. who knows an your our
more than conqueror, through Him that low
ed you. Be faithful unto the end. and you will
receive a crown of glory"
He was baptized in infancy by Rev. John
Giendy d. D., who married his parents, and at
the age OF sixteen years experienced hope In
Christ, and united with Bethel church, under
the ministry of Rev. Robert Hett Chapman,
D. D. at the age of twelve years. he entered
Staunton Academy, where he remained until
prepared for the Junior class in Washington
College, now Washington & Lee University at
Lexington Va. He threw himself with his
whole soul into his College studies. and took
II. ~ 49, I@ nNf
his Junior year. on his return to Staunton, he
was unanimously elected Professor of Matthew
atics in Staunton Academy. The boy of nine
teen years was prevailed upon by the Trustees
to accept the position, which he filled with
great acceptance for one year. In April. 1924,
he returned to College. entered the Senior class
and was graduated April Is, 1925. under the
Presidency of Rev. George A. Baxter. D. D.,
receiving the degree of A. B. and delivering
the Latin sslutatory. in a class numbering
among its members. Rev. William S. Plumer'
D. D., Hon. William DR. Alexander. and Sur
geon General Ruff. u sN. Immediately after
his graduation, he was elected Adj unct Pro
lessor of Languages and remained m ember OF
the Faculty four years-1025- '29. He spent six
peaceful years at Lexington, bright spots ION
memory's wall" There were many tender ties
to keep him there;the friendship formed in the
little literary world of the College and in the
society of the town; but he felt that the Divine
Call had come to him to go and preach the
Gospel meeting with DR.. Archibald Alex
ander, during one of his frequent visits to his
native Valley, decided him to go to Princeton
with a number of young men from Lexington
Presbytsry. He entered Princeton Theological
July 2, 1929. His health failed after
one years residence at Princeton, and he was
by DR.. Alexander to take charge OF
Union Academy at Snow Hill. Md. for year.
At Harrisonburg Va. October 3d. 1850, ne was
licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery
of Lexington. He was graduated in the full
three years course at the Seminary September
"a, 1882. After his graduation he remained one
term as resident graduate when he expected
to return to his native state. He received an
invitation to visit the church at Bloomsbury.
Pa. vacant by the death CT Rev. Robert Bry
son, He went to Bloomsbury November 5.
1882, and GU April 2, 1888, he was ordained by
the Pre,bytery of LIE xington, at Lexington
Va, and united with the Presbytery of North
October l, 1888. He served the
church of Brownsburg, Pa. as pastor six years
1882. 49, Was pastor of the LIST Presbyterian
church of Williamsport. Pa, 1888 al. During
this pastorate, he was united in marriage with
Miss Hetty, youngest daughter of Rev. John
Bryson, Pastor of Warrior Run Church, Pa,
whose death occurred at Wllliamsport, Pa,
February 25, 1875. He served the lst church 9
Shamokin six years-1SI y, and Chillisquaque
and Moorsburg, three years-lS47-lS5O. The
church at McEwensville was organized. May
8. 1872. He was pastor of this church twenty
one years-lS4s '63. After his resignation at
McEwensville, he served the church at Mifilin-
frltr, Iirly
Run church at Jacksonville, Pa. He accept
ed the call and united with the Presbytery of
Huntingdon az Mcveytown, April 10, 1866. He
was pastor of this church five years-lS65-1S7O'
Joined the Presbytery of Northumberland
October A, 1870. Served the church at Linden
thirteen years-lS7l-'s4 In the summer of 1875
he was thrown from carriage and severely
injured. His health from that time was very
frail. but he continued preaching as his
strength would permit until January. 1884.
when the partial loss of sight compelled him to
resign the work he so dearly loved. He was
man of commanding presence. fair type of a
Virginia gentleman. His early days were
spent in the cultured society of the south. and
his manners were those OF the true Christian
gentleman He was distinguished as CLASH
cal and Mathematical Instructor, AID in the
various places of his pastorates taug classical
schools, aud prepared large number of young
men for advanced classes in College, who en-
tered the different professions. He retained
his student habits throughout life. Bis Greek
Testament was his pocket.companion, and his
Greek and Hebrew readings were kept up I'M
til loss of sight prevented. For many years he
examined all the candidates for the ministry
in his Presbytery. A brother member says,
"We all thought that no other could do it SO
WELL" Having taught much, he was deeply in
terested in Colleges, and other educational
Institutions, and was member of number of
College literary. societies in Penn. and other
states. He was the asst survivor of a number
OF ministers, In the Presbytery of MOI THUNDER
| land with whom he had been associated at
| Princeton: Rev. Robert Bryson, Rev. Robert
Dunlap. Rev. Mr.. Stone, Rev. Isaac Grier. d.
D., Rev. 8. s. Sheddan, D. D and Rev. P. B.
| Mari. His whole ministerial life of fifty-two
years, with the exception of five years in Hun
tingdon Pres5ytery. was spent in the bounds
of tha Presbvfery OF Northum erland. He re.