Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-05-23
GREAT DAY FOR
PRESBYTERIANS
Thousands OF PresbyfeHans AT
The Tomb OF The Founder
OF Presbyferianism.

A monument to Francis Mackenzie,
founder of Presbyterianism in America,
was dedicated in Mackenzie Park Gene
terry last Thursday, near Pocomoke City.
with elaborate ceremony, under the
auspices of the Presbyterian Historical
Society. Several thousand people were
present to witness and participate in
the exercises, which began with an in
vocation by Rev. Joseph b. North. LII.
D.. pastor of Mackenzie Memorial Pres
byterian Church, Snow Hill, Md. Rev.
DR.. Henry c. McCook, of Philadelphia,
president of the Presbyterian Historical
Society, made an Introductory state
ment, followed by commemorative
poem by Rev. Dr. Van Dyke, president
of Princeton University. America"
was sung by choir, composed of men,
bers of the five churches established by
Mackenzie
A record of the purchase and trans
fer of the park and monument site was
read by +. G. Polk. ruling elder of Re-
hoboth Church. Rev l.. r. Bowen,
formerly of Marshall. Mo. now serving
Rehoboth Church. delivered an address
along historical lines. John $. Me-
Master, of Jersey City. whose grand
father served Rehoboth and Snow Hill
Churches during the Revolutionary War
made appropriate remarks upon Ma
kemie Land.
THE UNWILLING CEREMONY.
The dedicatory prayer was offered by
Prof. w. w. Moore. d. D., president
of the Union Theological Seminary, of
Richmond. Va. The impressive cere-
mony of presenting the keys of Ma
kemie Park Cemetery and monument
was in the hands of John McIlhenney,
of Philadelphia. who represented the
Scotch-Irish Society of Pennsylvania.
In behalf of the citizens of Accomac
County the keys were accepted with
suitable words by Frank Fletcher, NJ.
d., of Jenkins Bridge, Va. Rev. IohR-
A. McKamy. a descendent of the brother
of Rev Francis Mackenzie, and the as
sociate editor of the Westminster
Teacher. of Nashville. Tenn. unveiled
the statue. while the pastors and elders
of the original churches joined in the
ceremony.
Rev Wilson T. NJ. Beale. of Salisbury.
announced the One Hundredth Psalm,
which the choir heartily sang, after
which the benediction was pronounced
by Rev. B. l.. Agnew, DID,. Ill. D.,
secretary of the Board of Ministerial
Relief
The monument is Of heroic size, and
represents a minister, in gown and
bands. standing with one hand uplifted,
while the other clasps a Bible. The
figure looks out over the waters of Po-
comoke Sound, over which the preacher
so many times guided his frail sailing
craft while going to his preaching
places.
A pleasing feature of the unveiling
was that the grandson of General John
C. Black, of the U. S. Civil Service
Commission, John Black Vrooman, was
lifted to the top of the pedestal by
Mr.. North, to unpin the flag which en-
wrapped the statue. General Black is
the eighth in line of descent from
Elizabeth, the sister of Francis Ma
kemie.
The large choir which lead the singing
was conducted by Mr.. +. G. Polk, the
"Rehoboth Elder, who used tuning
fork which had been used in the old
church at Snow Hill The choir was
composed of singers from the five origi-
nal churches.
"A NATIVE OF IRELAND.
Two hundred and twenty-five years