The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-11-21
The Slate Ridge Church.
Three Pastors in Ninety-five Years.

Presbyterian Observer.
The Rev. Samuel Martin. D. D., was in
stalled pastor of the Slate Ridge Presbyterian
church, in York county, Pa, in 1913. de
was succeeded in the pastorate OF this church
by the Rev. Samuel Park in 1878; who aftei
pastorate OF forty-two years, was succeed
ed by the Rev. Joseph D. Smith, whose sue.
ceesor, the Rev. A. Lewis Hyde. was installed
on the 22d of October. 1890.
There are churches in the southern part oil
the State that can "beat" this record, but this
is record of which no church need be
ashamed.
This installation took place in the old
meeting house" that was built during the
ministry IF the Rev. DR. Martin. 1t is sub
stantial stone building, covered with slate,
and once seated six hdudred people. 1t is
wanting in architectural taste and beauty but
it is adapted to the purpose for which it was
erected. Those who built il, a hundred years
ago, had no money to expend on ornamental
ton. They went to church to worship God,
not for the qualification of aesthetic taste. -
The walls of the church are apparently as
firm as when they went up, aud we trust
that the people of the congregation may
see the way clear to repair the building and
let it stand, as 1t is about the last of its kind
now left in this part of the State.
The year in which this church was organic
ed is matter of doubt, owing to the fact
that the church session for many years kept
no records, but so far as can be ascertained,
we iufer that the church was organized near
the middle of the last century. The churches
on the eastern side of the Susquehannar river
in Lancaster county, are older than this
church. So are the churches on the eastern
shores of Maryland, but, so far as we know,
there is no Presbyterian church, or church of
any other kind, in Pennsylvania west of the
Susouehanna river that antedates in its orga-
nizalion the church of Slate Ridge.
This church is one of cluster of churches
which were organized early in the settlement
Of York county, Pa, and Hartford county,
Md, from the Scotch-1rish immigration
Among these churches are Chanceford, Cen
tire, Bethel and Round Hill. They have all
done good work in the past, and although
depleted by the organization of new churches
within their bounds, they are still blessed
with reasonable degree ofprosperity. Their
pastors just now are, for the most part,
young men, who have entered into the labors
of "the fathers" and are building on founda.
tions that have been securely laid. The out
look of all these old churches is full of en-
couragement.
The Presbytery of Westminster and
the Presbytery of Baltimore have taken
action in the line of the suggestions
of Mr. Jacobus, in the Presbyterian Re
oaew of this month, and are establishing
Country Missions" among these churches,
and helping them TO do work that is greatly
needed. These old churches, that have done
good work in the past, must not be allowed
to die. They are needed still. They cannot
contribute as largely to the Mission Boards
as the city churches, but they furnish the
men who do the giving in the city churches
and they furnish the cities with very many
of their men who have brain, and muscle
and energy. N. G. p.