The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-08-12
dbtc Contribution Of the Pres
byterian Church.
To- American Independence.
(BY REv: FREpRRic l.. BuLLARD.
PUBLISHED By REQUEST. I


pendence that during all the war they
we're exposed to the special vengeance
"i the British soldiery. The pastors
constantly preached resistance To ty,
rants and cbeered the people through
many dark hours by their lofty trust
m G"d. There were many Presby.
t. IRAN chsplans in the army. DIR.
Mem horter often preached before
Washington. George Dutiield, chap.
iai" of the Continental Congress, once
Preached To the soldiers on Staten
leland under the fire OF the enemy
across the bay. Presbyterian minis
ters We're IN many of the provincial
assemblies. John Craighead and
John Carmichael alternately thun.
dered In the pulpit and fought upon
the battlefield. John steele and } ohm
Elder mar ched at the head of their
troops. DIR. John Latta buckled on
the knapsack aud shouldered the mus.
ket. William Tennent kept the
Carolinas ablaze.
Presbyterian clergymen "were &C.
Counted the ringltaders of rebellion"
In the Presbyterian colonists the very
essence of tine rebellion was supposed
To be concentrated. Membership IN
the Presbyterian church was in itself
sufficient evidence of guilt. Their
church buildings were desecrated aud
frequently destroyed. The British
used tbs "Old South" church in Bos-
ton as cavalry school. In Charles.
ton. Philadelphia, and New York,
churches were So defaced as to be
entirely unfit for use. In that day to
be Scotch Irish was To be, presumably
a Presby teriar; significant the demon
stratlon by Mr.. Hanna that eleven of
the tifty-six signers of the Declaration
of Independence and twelve of the
ffty four me mbers of the Constitution.
81 convention were of Scotch ancestry.
Elias Boudino t. once president Of the
National Congress, may be mentioned
as one of the distinguished Presby.
terians who stood infexibly and lab.
ored necessarily for independence.
The records of the PRESBYTERIAN
church OF those days TEEN with patri.
otto expressions. On May II, 1875,
the Synod of New York and PhiIa.
delphia met almost side by side with
the Continental Congress. In it were
such men as DR.. Witberspuon, DIR.
R"eers, DIR. McWhorter with whom
Washington counseled the night he
crossed the Delaware,) William Ten.
nent. and others of high devotion and
courage. The synod appointed day
of fasting and prayer, and addressed
pastoral letter To- the whole church.
abounding in noble sentiments, and
suggesting the cultivation of spirit
OF cand0r. charity and mutual esteem
toward those of differen religious de
nominations. 10 1875 the Presby.
terry of Hanover presented memoir.
al to the Legislature of Virginia
piedging that nothing in their power
or influence should be wanting TO give
success To the common cause At the
elise of the war synod sent out aDoth.
er pastoral cOngratulating churches
upon the general and almost universal
attachment OF the Presbyterian body :
to the cause Of liberty and the rights !
of mankind. When Washington was
chosen president the General Assem-. y
bly, sent him an address Of congratu. $
Iation, and his reply is now treasured !
by our Board Publication. On April G
$, 1883, in the library at Mt. Vernon, )
received the official no:i I
ficatiOD of bis election 10 the presi. !
dency from Charles thompson, secre- j
iary of Congress. Mr. Thompson was Z
IN elder in the First church, Philadel. =,
phia.
Even after the war the Presbyteri. i
ans had still to contend for liberty. I
The idea of union between church
md state was rooted in the minds of
many c"lonists. The Episcopalians
tried 70 regain their former preroga. =
lives. The main battle was fought I
in Virginia Even Patrick Henry :
gave bis immense influence TO the I
proposition to support public worship
by general tax. The Presbytery of
Hanover dared to oppose him, and
vigorously struggled for a free church
IN tree state. Point after point
they gained until the three days speech
before the House Of Delegates by Dr.
Ohm Blair Smith, the Presbyterian
president Of Hampdep.Sydney, finally
clincbed the victory.
Not surprising is il thar other secls