Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-26
THE PREsRYTERlANs.

The legal obstacles to the uniting CT
the Cumberland Presbyterian church
and the Presbyterian church have
been eliminated, tho Judge before
whom the suit to restrain the merger
was brought ruling that the question
was not one for the courts but for the
representatives Of the two churches
to decide. The general assembly Of
the Presbyterian church now in ses-
sion at Des Moines, and the general
assembly Of the Cumberland Presbyte-
rian church at Decatur, ILL.,, are now
pected that within short time the
differences between the two bodies
will be adjusted, the union affected,
and one Of the fondest dreams for
many years of the leaders of the two
organizations realized. The separa-
ton of the Cumberland Presbytery
from the general assembly took place
nearly hundred years ago during n
great religious revival in Kentucky
and Tennessee. The Cumberland
Presbytery to meet the demand for
ministers ordained a number of young
men who did not come up to the rules
prescribed by the church in education.
Gradually the presbytery grew into a
powerful church and the Cumberland
general assembly was organized.
The history of Presbyterianism in
America is one of growth and progress
and is closely identified with the his
tory of the nation. Presbyterians
have always stood for religious and
civil liberty and they were one of the
most important factors in the war Of
the revolution. Thirteen months be-
fore the signing Of the Declaration of
independence in Philadelphia the
Presbyterians of Mecklenberg county,
North Carolina, signed declaration
of independence from England and
framed system Of local government
In May, 1776, the Scotch-Irish Presby-
terians of western Pennsylvania de-
clared for independence.
Under the leadership Of able men
and is now one of the leading church
organizations in the world. The Iowa
presbytery alone has 379 ministers,
425 churches and 44,365 communicates.
Among the devoted band Of ministers
who carried Presbyterianism into the
west are the following:
In 1851 the Rev. William G. KEEP
hart, Presbyterian minister, had
reached Santa Fe, New Mexico, and
established the Santa Fe Gazette as an
anti-slavery organ, but his press was
destroyed and he was driven from the
country.
In June, 1859, Father Lewis Ham
ilton, of sainted memory, had crossed
the plains, reached Pixies peak and
was preaching to the miners in a
mountain amphitheater with stump
as his pulpit.
In 1860, the Rev. Alexander T. Ran
kin, and in 1861, Rev. A. s. Billingsley
spent a few months in work at Den
yer, and Rev. G. w. Warner at Cen
trail City.
In 1862, the Rev. A. r. Day, with a
young family, having spent thirty-two
days in canvas covered lumber wag-
on crossing the so-called American
desert, commenced work in Colorado.
In 1864, the Rev. George Rice with
his family left Missouri and after a
tedious journey Of three months among
hostile Indians, reached Idaho
Springs, Colorado.
In 1854, the Rev. Charles M. Camp
UGil, ulIluS OuL W D. lI0l6ulcI, ulOfS a
six mule team 500 miles across the
plains to Colorado, determined to find
a field of labor, or with Gods blessing
make one.
In 1864, Rev. T. D. Marsh was at
Central City, Col, and Rev. J. H. Hi
ser at Blackhawk, Col. Mr.. Hiser was
followed by Rev. Albert F. Lisle in
1866.
In 1865, the Rev. ]. B. Mcclure,
and in 1868, Rev. A. T. Moore and
Rev. e. P. Wells were at Denver.
In 1864, the Rev. George G. Smith,
following the California overland route.
a thousand miles to Fort Hall, and from
thence with freighters 500 miles north
to Montana, was witnessing for Christ
in the Bannack and Virginia gulches,
"even where Satan's seat isl
In 1866, the Rev. David F. McFar-
land and his wife, following the old
Santa Fe trail 600 miles among hos
tile Indians, reached New Mexico, the
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