Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-20
$50 YEARS OLD
BY CASPAR NAMES
Religious News Editor OF The Star


Presbyterians will take a fond
look at the past this week in
Philadelphia and then set their
sights on current problems and
goals.
Concerning the past, commits
Sioners to the 168th General AS
sembly of the Presbyterian Church,
U. S. A., will be reminded that the
denomination started here $50
years ago.
1t was in 1706 that fiery. deter
mined Francis Mackenzie, "the father
of American PresbyterianiSm." met
with six other Presbyterian minis
ters in Philadelphia to form the first
American presbytery
Mr.. Makemie's path was not an
easy one. An itinerant minister
who earned his living as a mer-
chant, he was caustically described
by critic as "Jack-of-all-
trades a preacher, doctor Of
physic. a merchant, an attorney,
counselor at law, and, which is
worst of all, disturber of govern
ments.'
Preaching Without a License
The last phrase was earned in
some eyes by his defiance of the
English governor of New York.
Lord Cornbury. who imprisoned the
minister in 1903 ION the charge of
preaching without license" The
disSenter from the established
Anglican Church won acquittal by
an eloquent defense of freedom
of speech and religious belief"
This revealing incident occurred
two years after MI. Mackenzie had
decided the only way to bring
strength to individual Presbyterian
churches Springing up in the COL
onieS was by the formation of a
presbytery.
In March, 1905. six other men of
like mind met with him in the
Quaker City-Jedediah Andrews,
Samuel Davis. John Hampton,
George McNish. Nathaniel Taylor
and John Wilson. A short II years
later the presbytery had grown
large enough to become a synod.
Thirteen ministers, representing
an active Presbyterian ministry
of Is. and six elders held the first
synod meeting on September II,
17l7, in Philadelphia. In 1888 the
rapidly growing denomination was
divided into four synods-Philadel-
phia, New York and New Jersey,
Virginia, and the Carolinas. They
had 16 preSbyteries, 431 churches,
1T ministers. and 10000 members.
The following year. practically
colncident with the establishment
OF our Government, the first Gen
eral Assembly was held in Philadel-
phia. On Thursday the 168th Cen
eral Assembly will open, with the
900 ministerial and lay commission
erS representing more than 81 mil
lion members of 257 presbyteries
and 8,574 churches.
Among the historic items modern
PresbyterianS will be reminded of
are the important role its members
had during the formative years of
our country, the controversies with
in the denomination and the I'M
fortunate divisions resulting from
them. and the start in 1746 of the
College of New Jersey (Princeton)
by leaders of one group New Side
school, so qualified clergymen
could be trained
These and similar peaks in Amer
lean Presbyterian history will be
recalled as memorable interludes
during the week as the commits
SlonerS debate current issues.
Important Issues
None are expected TO permeate
the meeting the way segregation
did at the recent Methodist Church
General Conference in Minneapolis.
MINI. But their impact will never
theless be felt far beyond the con-
vention hall.
The racial issue will come in
obliquely when the Social Education