The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-11
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTfRlANS
NINETIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ORGANIZATION or THE CHURCH.
terdny by Rev. j. VI. IIa1scIi of
the Cumberland Church.

NeTsarN OF the organization OF the Cum
berland Presbyterian church, and Rev.
j. NJ. Halsell OF the Cumberland church
OF this city preached an anniversary
sermon. o; which the following is a
synopsis:
The Lord hath done great things for
us; whereof we are 6 al" Ps. 1868
In accordance vita recommendation
CT the general assembly It has been Gus
tomary in all our churches to observe
the 4th day Of February in each year
or as near that day as convenient, as an
anniversary OF the organization OF the
Cumberland Presbyterian church. Some
OF our churches observed last Saba h
and some OF them will observe today. as
we are doing. This denomination OF
Christian people was organized in Dixon
county, Tennessee, on the 4th day OF
February, 1910. Those of US who love
this church are glad Of an opportunity to
enter His gates with Thanksgiving. with
thousands OF Others in the observance OF
the day on which we had our ecclesi-
2sucal existence, the day Of our birth
The people Of this Nation do we'll to OBJ
50 - wv ftil hdy VI Juiy III
tloh OF the s.gnlng OF the Declaration of
Independence for the purpose of re-
k'ndling the fires OF patriotism and TO
show their Expectation OF the men who
secured he Independence of the colonies
ana also 20 hand down the history and
traditions of the government to those
who VIII come after them When the
PASSOVER was Instituted Gcd said TO
Moses: And IL shall came to pass, when
your hildrer shill say unto you. what
mean you by this service2 That We shall
y. II is the sacrifice of tho Lords Pass
over, VINO passed over the houses OF the
children OF Israel in Egypt when he
smote the Egyptians and delivered our
houses We como together, therefore
today in sermon and prayer and praise
IN cnmmemoration OF the day whCn the
cnurch OF which we are members was
organized, TO kndle afresh in our hearts
the memory of the times and the mcn
CT our early history, md especially to
snow our gratitude to God. the great
head OF the church, for the blessings and
the success that have attended our
church during its existence and history
OF ninety years. Truly the Lord ha n
glad"
The Cumberland Presbyterian church
took its name from the Cumberland
rresbytery' OF The Presbyterian church
or which the founders of this church had
heen members before the organization OF
1871. This presbytery occupied a terri
tory in Kentucky and Tennessee west OF
the cumberland mountains, and through
winch the Cumberland river flows and
IL Is very probable that the fathers of
lhe presbyterian church, IN view OF the
lact that all that section OF country west
OF the mountains, was called the Cum
norldhd country named their presbytery
.loin that section OF country and II was
to be expected that the new church would
be called by the name OF the presbytery
OF which It's founders had been mem
bors This church may be appropriately
called the offspring of the great revival
OF 1900 In Kentucky and Tennessee 1t
seems necessary to consider briefly the
condition of this country before this
great revival. At the beginning OF the
century Just closed there was constant
warfare with the savage Indians In 1885
mere were hu very few white settlers
men carried their guns to church with
them 10 protect themselves from the Turk
ing indians and the people wore hunting
shlrts ana moccasins and both men ana
women were skilled In the use of the
rlhe Al The time OF he first settlement
IN Kentucky and Tennessee there wore
neither books, schools or churches 1t
IS matter OF history that the first
church IN Tennessee was built by that
glorious race OF people, he Scotch-Irish
freSbyterlans. 1t was a log house COW
cred with claphoards. These people had
great respect for the Sabbath and they
were very strict in the training OF their
children in the catechism. The freshman
SAID OF this race that when the 20 alto
crop failed they lived on the shorter
Gatechism and the Sabbath" Rev. David
Ricc was he first preacher In Kentucky.
also a PRESBYTERIAN, and an excellent
man Rev. Thomas Cralshead was the
nrst pastor who settled in the Cumher-
land. Soon after this Rev, Benjamin
Ogden of the Methodist church. was pro
claiming salvation to the people. There
Is dark picture in the fact that as Rev.
David kiee and Rev. DR.. Davidson said
there were several bad men In the min
lstry in this section. Bad conduct brought
them finally TO grief Unconver,ed
preachers and laymen make an ugly chop
Ter OF this period. 1 has been handed
uoWh mat Revs. Craighead and Balch
pom rldieu!ed he doctrines OF faith and
OF regeneration One saying attributed
70 Craighead is that Il would give this
old handkerchief for all the experimental
religion in the world"
In 1896 Rev. James McGready, through
the solicitations OF some OF his neighbors.
VINO had moved from North Carolina 20
Kentucky, moved to that State and settled
CONGREGATIONS, called Red River Casper
River and Muddy River. all in Logan /
county. McGready himself had entered
the ministry without any religion but
God led him to see his ruined condition |
and he sought and found salvation. he |
moved soon after this from Pennsylvania
to North Carolina. His preaching there |
wat as much changed as himself. After
moving to Kentucky he was impressed |
with the belief that many members OF |
mis- church We're unsaved and he preached !
10 them that their hearts were as hard |
as the seats they sat upon. He drew up a |
covenant for his congregation, In which |
they pledged themselves that every Sat |
urday evening, every Sunday morniN, and |
one whole Sabbath in each month, should !
be observed as a season OF special prayer |
Tor the ou,pouring OF the spirit. The |
great work begun In May. 1897, at his |
casper River church. His preaching had |
opened their eyes to the fact that they |
were relying on false hope. One OF !
MS members-a lady--was converted and |
she went TO tell the good news of |
conscious salvation to her nelghbors and |
she awakened much interest among her |
neighbors about their souls. In 1898 the |
interest became general. In the language |
OF Or. Mcdonald In his church history. |
The houses and the deep forest OF Logan |
county rang with the prayers OF souls In |
distress. In July, 1900 was the frs |
In