The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-09-04
Old Springfield Church.

The exercises to be held at SPRING
field church, Sept. 18th, will be of in
terest to Christians of every name and
faith, as the celebration of the one
hundredth birthday of the Oldest
church in this immediate part of the
State. Eleven years after Rev. David
Rice, 'tiis pioneer Presbyterian minis
ter in Kentucky, crossed the noun
tains of Virginia in 1888; eight years
after the Presbytery of Pennsylvania
held its first meeting at Danville, Oct.
II, 17S6--in the fall of 1894, the
church OF Springfield was organized
The pastor and organizer was Rev.
Joseph p Howe, who with his family
emigrated from South Carolina, bring
ing all their worldly possessions on
pack horses, probably during the sum-
mer Immediately preceding the or
ganization, as the first record we have
of him is Settling with his wife, Re-
beccs. and child, Malinda, at Esq.
William Robinson's, one-fourth of
mile north of Springfield, in the sum-
mer of '94.
Mr.. Howe's call to the pastorate of
the church was signed by William
and John Robinson, Jane Mcclure,
William and Rebecca Moffett and
perhaps James Trimble." the last
named being the first elder of the
church.
The lot1or the church and burying
ground was given by William Robin
son, and the present church built in
1921, of brick burned near the spot
There had been two buildings previ-
GUS to this time, of what style and ma
terial We are not informed, but prob
ably very rude and primitive. Nor
could we ascertain how long the
graveyard has been used, but just
back of the church there is a grave,
the gray headstone of which bears the
date 1902.
Mr.. Howe continued to preach at
Springfield until his death in July,
1897. He and his wife are buried on
the south side OF the church and their
graves enclosed by pyramid stone
wall covered with a slab OH " hich are
cut appropriate inscriptions.
MIR. Howe was succeeded by the
Rev. Dewey Whitney, who was the
pastor until 1882; his successor was
Rev. Solomon G. Ward, who served
the church about two years and was
followed by Rev. David Todd, who
preached until 1889. Rev. r. F.
Caldwell then became the pastor and
continued in that office until Dec,
1854. He is the only one of these
ministers now living. In 1864. Mr.
William George, student at Dan
vile Theological Seminary was called,
and the following fall, after his grad
uation, was ordained and installed
pastor.
This brings the record to the sixties
and within the recollection of many
of our citizens.
The good that has been done by
this old church, during the one hun
dred years of its existence, is beyond
human power to calculate. 1t was
for many years more largely attended
than any other place of worship in
this part of the country, AT least two
ministers have gone out from its con-
gregation, the successful evangelist,
Rev. K. o, Guerrant aud, and the late
Rev. w. w, Hill, ID. D., for many
years editor of the Presbyterian Her.
aid, and Principal of Belewood Sem
mary.
And while the old church, having
suffered much from deaths and re-
moval, has become comparatively fee
BILE in her latter days, scattered
through Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri and probably other States,
are many of her children who shall,
in the words of HOLY Writ. "rise mn