The midland journal., 1914-11-27
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF West Nottingham Presbyterian Church. Delivered By the
Pastor, Rev. F. Harl Huffman, On the Occasion Of
It's Tooth Anniversary Nov. IL, 1914 -

third Of his time. but after his resignation
they severed their connection.
DR. Burrows was succeeded by Rev.
Archibald Alexander Hodge. who came in
1851 and remained until 1855. Before
coming to Nottingham DR. Hodge had
served on the Mission field in Northern
India. And LATER became Professor OF
theology in Allegheny Theological Semi
nary During his pastorate the church
moved forward very rapidly. He also
was Principal Of the Academy.
In 1855 DR.. Hodge was followed by
Rev. Samuel A. Gayley, who resigned in
1893 after faithful and acceptable pastor
ate Of 81 years. When he came in 1856
the membership of the church, was 1s7.
Nine years later, at the time he wrote the
history OF the church, the manuscript
from which most of the material for this
discourse up TO this point has been drawn,
i was 23o, an increase of 73. In 1857 the
church which had remained unchanged
since twas built in 1904 was repaired at
a cost Of three thousand dollars, aud in
1886 the chapel was built. Like DIR. Nc
Graw he was man of great power and
Influence in the community, and com
manded the respect of all who came in
contact with him. And few pastors are
able to weave themselves into the warp
and woof of their peoples lives and leave
SO lasting an influence
In 1894 he was succeeded by the Rev.
D. E. Shaw, now our beloved pastor
emeretis. under whose wise. and faith
ful service the church steadily grew and
prospered. Toward the end of this pastor
ate in 1901 the church made ber first great
sacrifice on the mission 6sAd. In that
year Roger Peale aud ReBecca Gillespie
were married in the church and left i'm
mediately for China. where they had
scarcely landed before they were slain by
the Boxers. Recalling their heroic death
the tablet in Stewart Hall, Princeton. saws,
"Of them the world was not worthy.'' ''
In 1903 the Rev. Mr.. Shaw resigned, his
resignation was reluctantly accepted. He
was succeeded year later by the Rev.
Samuel Polk, who remained pastor until
March 1912. when he resigned to become
pastor of the church at LawrenceviIIe,
N. ]. Under his earnest efforts the spirit
continued to manifest his power. and the
church advanced and widened its, In
fuence.
In July 1919 he was followed. by the
present pastor. In the little over twoj
years that he has been here 72 have been
added to the church. So on profession and
20 by letter. and the membership has III.
creased from 23o to- 2o3. AS under the
previous pastorates we have been wonder
fully blessed. Every departments in ex-
cellent condition. And we have what we
believe to be one of the finest and most
commodious rural churches 10 the land
moreover Is usually well filed in favor.
able weather, for we count our morn
ing congregations not by dozens, but bv
hundreds. West Nottingham is not roo
years old but 100 years young. It Is but
in the youth of its usefulness and while
the wall has gone up throughout the land
because OF the decadence of the country
church. she has continued to grow. Bur
magnificent as has been her past we face
not the future without heaving prayer
to Almighty God for greater strength and
wisdom, and rebaptism of his spirit. And
we trust that our gathering here today
may mean to US and every church here
represented, what the disciples tarrying
at jerusalem meant to them. Endowed
with renewed power from on high. NAV
we go forth TO meet our duties and oppor.
tunities. and turn many to Christ and
righteousness.