El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-05
Progress Of Presbyterians
Property OF Presbyterian Organiza-
lions, Is Valued at Over
Two Hundred Millions.
-BF Frederic j. HasIkin--
.AcHTNcTON N = No

violent opposition. Nearly 100000
communicates were recorded to the
various Presbyterian bodies by the last
census and the value OF the church
property owned in this country by the
Presbyterian organizations approx
mates two hundred million dollars,
an equivalent of 500 investment IN
church property for each individual
member. In addition to this several
millions of dollars worth OF property
is controlled by the Presbyterian Mis-
sicnary organizations Of this country
First Mission Here In 1883.
While the first Presbyterian church
in America is credited TO New Eng
land, the greatest development of the
denomination IN its early history was
through the Scotch-Irish colOnists who
settled in Delaware, New Jersey and
Maryland Rev. Francis Mackenzie was
sent from an Irish Presbytery to this
country in 1888 and he Travelled as far
south as Georgia, and as far north as
New York, and preached esbyterian-
ism in many places in a manner not
wholly different from the itinerant
Methodist preachers who followed
later. Mackenzie settled at Rehobeth
Nd, and established churches at both
Rehobeth and Snow Hill. He suffered
arrest and Imprisonment for preaching
without a license in New York during
the time when governor COrbury was
endeaVOring to establish the supremacy
of the Church of England The Pres
byterian preacher was a man of many
parts, however and his vigorous de-
fence of himself and the light he
threw upon matters connected with
governor COrbury's administration Is
said to have been responsible for the
latter's recall to England
Presbytery organized in 17O5.
The first presbytery of this country
was organized in 17O5 in Philadelphia.
with Mackenzie as its first moderator.
Seven ministers were included in the
he. nd al ant Of
these was from the old world. The naE
tive American was Jediah Andrews a
graduate Of Harvard and the pastor OF
the first Presbyterian church Of Phil
adelphia- At that time PHILADELPHIA
was the most northern point represent G.
ed and the other Presbyterian church
organizat ions in america were small
ana weak lturing the ten years fol-
lowing the/Philadelphia presbytery in
creased 20 10 ministers. most of whom
GENE over from England, Scotland or
Ireland.
Despite the fact that the coIonists
were poor and struggling and that the
supply Of clergymen fell so far below
the need, the Philadelphia assembly,
OF synod, as il was afterward called,
eNacted adequate credentials and as
surances Of orthodoxy and good char
acter from all who attempted to
preach. In 1710 a young Welshman
undertook to preach to the people Of
the Welsh tract without a license, but
to go under competent direction that
he might be educated for the sacred
office. He was not ordained until
1715.
First Church Destroyed.
The first Scotch-Irish Presbyterians
settled III Maryland and adjoining
states. but as the persecution they re-
ceived at home from the reestablished
Church Of England drove increasing
numbers to America they began from
1713 on to settle in the New England
states where they were not cordially
welcomed at first. 1t was not until
1880 that they attempted to build
themselves a church at Worcester,
Mass, and then the people gathered
by night and heWed down and demOl-
lShed the structure" the historian
Grafton and responsibility aided in the
riOtOus work
In New Hampshire they met with
less opposition and their first presby-
terry constituted in 1923 was called by
them the Presbytery Of Londonderry
and by their neighbors, the Irish
Presbytery."
The first institution devoted to teach
ing the Presbyterian doctrine was
the Log college" opened at Nesham-
my River, just north Of Philadelphia,
BY William Tennent in 1925. William
Tennent had been in Episcopal orders,
but he had married the daughter Of
an eminent Presbyterian minister.
Chiefly through her influence, he was
induced TO renOunce the prelatic form
Of church government and was ad-
mitted for reOFdinatiOn in the synod.
His son Gilbert was his first disciple
in the Pres byterian ministry, but a
humber Of others went forth from
Neshaminy academy as the Log col
lege became known in its later history,
among them Samuel Blair and John
Rowland.
Factions Developed in 17n.
.ara nara.- If ra-TE -
the United States upon his evangelical
tour brought about a division in the
Presbyterian church in 174L The two
factions in this division became known
as the old side and the new side. The
"Cld side" remained the Philadelphia
presbytery, while the New York pres
bytery was formed to represent the
new side" The old side was con-
servative, holding, among other things,
that only ministers who had been
educated in the old country ought to
be accepted; while the new side, with
the Tennents as leaders, insisted upon
the right Of the presbytery to license
the graduates Of such institutions as
Neshaminy academy in view of the
great need Of preachers. There were
some differences regarding doctrines
also, partially due to the great "aWak-
ering" Of religious conviction brought
about by Whitefield and other evangel-
ical preachers Of the period
Organization of Princeton.
The division between the old and
new sides at this time had a potent
influence upon the educational inter
est of the Presbyterian church. While
William and Gilbert Tennent insisted
that the Presbytery should lay less
stress upon college training and more
upon the evidence that the candidate
be a regenerate man, they were men
Of too high mental attachments them
St Ives to advocate an lliterate clergy.
Consequently the New York presbytery
made early application for a charter
for a college which was opened in
EliZabethtOWn, n. J., in 1745, under
the direction of Jonathan Dickinson,
enc of the best scholars in the church.
At his death, Aaron Burr was chosen
to succeed him and in 1855 the col
lege was transferred to Princeton.
Upon the death Of Burr. Jonathan
Edwards was chosen president, but
this distinguished divine also died be-
fore his connection had any important
ft airing upon the college, so the credit
Of organizing Princeton college. which
has had so great an influence upon
Pr esbyterianism, must be given to DR..
Samuel Davies
Monument TO New Side.
Princeton stands a monument to the
new side. but it must not be inferred
that the cid side or the Presbytery OF
Philadelphia made no effort to provide
educational facilities for training
young ministers in America Immedi-
ately after the division, this presbytery
took up the Academy of New London.
taught nv Francis Allison 1ruou-u af