Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-18
TWO HUNDRED YEARS.
The Story Of the Presbyterian Church
in America.
ITS B EGIN MING IN 1884.

sgles-The Presbyterian Patriots Dur
ing the Revolutionary war-Rapid Growth
of the Church in the Nineteenth Century.
Five years ago in the city Of Philadelphia the
Presbyterian Church celebrated the centennial
OF tho establishment OF the general assembly Of
the Presbyterian Church in the United States
OF America The assembly Of 1898 is therefore
the one hundred and fifth Of the long series.
In connection with this great gathering Of
prominent ministers aud ruling elders Of the
| Presbyterian Church in congress assembled it
is more than little interesting to consider the
history Of the church in America, its origin and
development 1t would be no small or incon-
siderable task to treat such a subject in any
thing like thorough manner. The history OF
the church is so inalienably connected with the
history OF the many great men who have fought
under its banner. Presbyterianism, with its
hardy, long-winded and strong-sinewed char
acteristics, derived directly from the character
Of the early fathers Of the church, may we'll be
called the creed Of fighters and preachers.
Beneath the broad, ample folds of its banner
have struggled many men whose efforts and
successes have made their names.and deeds a
part OF the history of this great land The
Presbyterian Church is a church militant a
church IN which the missionary spirit has ever
been powerful formative element The father
of the creed in this country was Scotch Irish
man, who did not know what the fear of
man. During the stormy days of the revoiu-
| tionary war Presbyterianism in the new world
was for the time being at u standstill by reason
OF the fact that her sons were almost to a IN an
engaged in fighting for their country and their
| own freedom. To a marked degree the adher-
ents Of the Presbyterian church have been
iberty-loving men.
Upon the Declaration of Independence, be-
meath the name Of John Hancock was written
the name of o Presbyterian minister, John
Witherspoon. 1t is the only name Of a minis
ter in the list
JOHN w1THERspooN.
John Witherspoon made two visits to Phila-
delphia. One was to the synod in ITS, when
he urged upon it SO earnestly the necessity for
its issuing that famous pastoral letter for indie
pendence. His second visit WAS in JULY 1776
when he went to take his seat in the Continen tai
Congress. 1t was on that occasion that he told
| his fellow members that 1.-The country was not
| only ripe for freedom but would soon be rotten
for it" Before he signed his name to the Declar-
| ton OF Independence he uttered these words:
| although these gray hairs must descend soon
into the sepulcher 1 would infinitely rather that
| they should descend thither by the hand of the
| public executioner than desert, at this crisis
the sacred cause OF my country" 1t is men Of
| that sort who have built up IN this land the
noble structure Of powerful church.
With the earliest ttlers inthis country of Eng
lish Scotch and French origin. came the Presby-
! terrain form Of faith and government. Churches
| OF this denomination existed in the colonies in
| the early part of the seventeenth century, al
| though the first presbytery not organized
l r,,,f hn L.
1t four presbyteries, was organized in 1716, and
| the complete organization was secured in 1873
in the adoption by the synod Of New York aud
Philadelphia Of the constitution and the estab-
lishment Of the general assembly.
The church, OF which Calvin and Knox were
| two such massive supports, runs back, accord
ing to its adherents. to the time of the Apostle
Paul, who said Neglect not the gift that is
in thee, which was given thee by prophecy,
with the laying on of the hands Of the presby-
terry" There is said to have been the essence
Of a general assembly in that convocation of
apostles and elders at Jerusalem, which sent out
its deliverance to the Gentle brethren OF An
| tioch and Syria. In Scotland and in Switzer-
land Presbyterianism was the symbol Of free
dom. Presbyterianism gave to Christendom
| the Westminster confession, which DIR. Theo-
dore L. Cuyler has called THAT unrivaled SYM
| boil Of faith which emphasizes the sovereignty
/ Of Jehovah in the heavens and the kingship OF
| Jesus Christ in His church" or its poity the
|
byterian way has ever appeared to me the most
| agreeable to the Word Of God and to the reason
and nature Of things"
|
hh DA'NsiS' ~ MARYLAND.
Inc beginnings OF the Presbyterian Church in
the American colonies have always been over
hung with something of cloud Of uncertainty
yot tbrorcb ,bi.c,ond ono 90 r,,,.o ~. -
j,aeNnitsfr IL 10 trna nnr,han 20 49, ; .a.ne =
nreachara ara Tow smsu nSnrohoa VI a. ,"oes VI
into heino on the hopLs ~ tha pn."not H s.,ns
in eastern MARYLAND abon. The resr Issa IT,
of these early cbnrcbes were al snow u;,, .'S
| Rebohotb Ono can aIso 900 tba So ~ AZ
great missionary pastor, Francis Mackenzie
.In o " ph .ne nrs' regular
country. and he NAV win eonaI inst;ca he co.
sidered as the father Of the PRESBYTERIAN Church
| in America. He has been called "a man Of
eminent plety, as well as strong intellectual
| powers and an uncommonly fascinating ad-
dress"
Mr.. Mckenzie was born in Ireland, but
| the date OF his birth is not known. He il sup
| posed to have pursued course OF study at
one Of the Scotch universities, and became
| pious at the age Of fourteen. He was in
| troduced by his pastor to the presbytery of
Laggan in January. 1851, and was licensed some