Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-05-29
The Mackenzie Monument.

The monument erected 20 The
memory ofthe late Francis Mackenzie
the pioneer of Presbyterianism, in
Mackenzie Park cemetery, near Po-
comoke City, Md, which was I'M
yelled on Thursday, May I4th, is
of heroic size and represents a min
lister, in gown and bands, standing
with one hand uplifted, while the
other clasps a Bible. The figure
looks out over the waters of POGO
moke Sound, over which the
preacher so many times guided his
frail sailing craft while going to
his preaching places.
The monument stands upon a
square base, and IS inscribed
Erected in gratitude to God
And in grateful remembrance of His
servant and minister,
Francis Mackenzie,
who was born in Ramelton, County
Donegal, Ireland, A. D. 1858 %,
was educated at Glasgow Univer-
sity, Scotland, and came as an or
dained evangelist to the American
colonies A. D. 1888 at the request
ofCol. William Stevens of Rehoboth
Maryland. A devoted and able
preacher of our Lord 5 gospel, he
labored faithfully and freely for IS
years in Maryland, Virginia, the
Barbados and elsewhere. A Chris
tian gentleman, an enterprising
man of affairs, a public spirited
citizen, a distinguished advocate
of religious liberty, for which he
suffered under the governor of New
York ,hei especially remembered as
The chief founder of organized Presbytery
in America, A. D. 1905, and as
the first moderator of the
General Presbytery.
He died at his home, whose site
is nearby, in Accomac county, Va,
in the summer of A. D. 1903, and
was buried in his family cemetery,
located on this spot, now recovered
from a long dissertation and dedi-
Gated with this monument to his
memory A. D. 1908, by the Ameri-
can Presbyterian Historical Society |
seated at Philadelphia, Pa
Two hundred and twenty-five |
years ago a young minister in Ire
land answered the call for someone
to cone to the Eastern Shore of
to organize churches
after the Presbyterian form. The
young minister was Francis Make
mic, from Laggan Presbytery. !
He organized in rapid succession +
FIVE Observation-Disclosures Memorial /,
(Snow Hill; Rehoboth, Pitts
Creek (Pocomoke); Manokin (Prin-
cess Anne Wicomico Salisbury. |
He served Snow Hill. Reho both,
and, at times, Pocomoke, until his
death, in 1907.
Before his death he was living
with his family on land inherited
from his father-in-law, a Mr. An
1erson, at HOldens Creek, in AccO-
mac county Va. Here he was bur
ed in the family burying ground,
which, as was the custom Of the
line, was on the farm.
After the death Of the family the
arm passed into alien hands, and
,nly after long waiting has the old
burial place become, by purchase,
he property of the Presbyterian
Society.
Now 200 years after the death Of
he pioneer of Presbyterianism, his
esting place has been suitably
marked.
Several thousand persons wit
iessed and participated in the dedi-
alton exercises, began with an in
location by Rev. Joseph B. North,
:. L. D., pastor of Mackenzie Mem
rial Presbyterian Church, Snow
Hill, Nd. Rev. Dr. Henry c. Nc
,ook of Philadelphia, president of
he Presbyterian Historical Society
1ade an Introductory statement,
by commemorative poem
Y Rev. DR.. Van Dyke, president
Princeton University. America /" +
ras sung by choir, composed Of {
lenbers of the FIVE churches estab-
shed by Mackenzie. 1