History of the Cumberland Presbyterian church

Front matter

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Preface

At the suggestion of Dr. D. M. Harris, the Board of Publication of the Cumberland Presbyterian church contracted with the writer for the preparation of this history. The size of

the book was limited by the board before a line of it was written. It was also understood between us that only the minimum of time consistent with thoroughness was to be allowed. Casting the horoscope of the book under these limitations, there were found just three things to choose between. The first was to end the volume where my own life became a humble factor in our history, and where interested feelings might prevent clear-sightedness. The second was to condense our whole history, giving each event and actor a place. The third was to make such selections from the whole field as would furnish a volume of good reading for our people, and illustrate our life and progress. The first method was not acceptable to my counselors, either in the board or out of it. The second method would have produced a book which nobody would read. The third method involved the inevitable complaints of all those who might be omitted, besides opening other doors of complaints not found in the first method. After many consultations the third method, with all its inevitable complaints and inevitable omissions of good men who deserve mention, was deliberately adopted, and the work of gathering material from the whole field, and studying every particle of this material so as to be able to make the best

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iv Preface.

selections, was undertaken. I had gone but a little way in this work before I discovered the utter impossibility of accomplishing it without more time than was at first proposed. More was granted, but with the pressing demand that it be made as brief as thoroughness permitted. My only fears on that point are that it will be found by experts that I made that time far too brief.

Under the same limitations the plan was formed about the different States. It was to give the origin of the church in each State, with as much fullness of detail as could well be secured, extending the record only to the organization of the first presbytery, closing that chapter with a rapid summary view of the present condition of our church in that part of the field. There were certain subjects belonging to all periods to which special chapters were reserved, to be placed at the last of the book; and if they brought out any thing further from the work of our people in any particular State, at any later period, all well; and if not, there would be no further notice taken of that portion of the church.

The question of brief biographical sketches was also carefully weighed, and finally decided in the negative. To this decision an exception was made in the case of those generally called the fathers of the church. If a biography formed part of the very thread of the history which I was writing, just so far was it also made a part of this volume. There were placed in my hands some very interesting biographies which contained no single item that could be used according to my established programme of operations.

It was not so much to show how our church originated as to show what it has done since it originated that this

Preface. v

book was undertaken. In showing this, my best strength has been put forth to the utmost. In that part of the work I was fortunate in gathering materials. I reaped, also, the fruit of past labors. The materials mostly relied on for this part of the history were manuscripts. Of these my collection was extensive. Among them were manuscripts from James McGready, Finis Ewing, Samuel McAdow. Robert Bell, Robert Donnell, and Thomas Calhoun.

In 1845, while boarding at Calhoun's house, and often meeting there various actors in the events out of which our church originated, I commenced taking down from the lips of these old men a full history of the origin and work of our church. The statements from Calhoun, McSpeddin, Lowry, and Aston covered all the main points of our history up to 1845. ^ n spite of war and fire these memoranda have been preserved, and were used in the preparation of this book. The habit of collecting such memoranda, begun in my boyhood, has been kept up ever since, and the accumulation of reliable materials in that way is now considerable.

At two different periods in my life I have been called upon to travel over the church. In the last period of travels I spent twelve years, visiting more than four fifths of the entire denomination; and though neither of these extensive tours had any reference to collecting materials for a history, yet that old habit of keeping memoranda was all the time unintentionally furnishing matter for such a work. So, too, did that old habit furnish me the only existing records which I can now find of the proceedings of the conventions held by our people in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1863, and in Selma, Alabama, in 1864.

vi Preface.

There were placed in my hands for use in the preparation of this little volume sixty manuscript autobiographies, some brief, and some extending to five hundred pages of foolscap. Two of these were the lives of men who were arraigned before the commission of Kentucky Synod. The original record books of all our first judicatures have also been examined, and the archives of old Cumberland College and of Cumberland University were consulted, as well as many other official records.

The literary remains in full of Richard Beard, Milton Bird, David Lowry, and President Anderson, all very extensive, were all explored. Parts of the literary remains of various others were placed in my hands. Of this latter class I mention James Smith, W. A. Scott, John W. Ogden, Finis Ewing, F. R. Cossitt, Robert Donnell, H. A. Hunter, Isaac Shook, and Herschel S. Porter. Dr. Beard's old letters date back to 1830, and are from all the chief actors in our church from the beginning. There are perhaps eight thousand of these letters, and they discuss every important subject that has ever been before our denomination. They will all be filed in the library of Cumberland University.

The private diary of Dr. Beard has been of great service to me. Indeed, diaries are the most trustworthy of all manuscript authorities. There was a considerable number, of these placed in my hands. Most of them are to be returned to their authors' families. Others, together with many manuscripts, are to be filed in the library of Cumberland University.

It required more than fifteen months' constant labor to explore all these authorities. Files of from one to five weekly papers (and various monthlies) for a period of fifty-seven years had to be examined. " The ninth ripening year" was not

Preface. vii

allowed me for all this work, but past studies rendered some little compensation for this lack of time. Dr. Lindsley's labors in collecting material also saved me much delay. The fruit of his noble toil has been freely used in preparing this volume.

The generous assistance of many brethren was extended to me in collecting material. The list of the names of those brethren would be* too long to give here, but God keeps all the roll. He knows how generously some of them struggled to help me; and he will not forget their labor of love.

The board secured the services of a very learned committee to revise the manuscript before it went to press, and they had unlimited power not only to correct errors, but also to strike out from the manuscript whatever they saw fit. They corrected several minor errors, and there may be others which neither I nor the committee detected. Those who have read "The Biography of a Lie" know how even an accumulation of authorities may sometimes ^mislead a writer. I have detected mistakes in authorities where mistakes seemed to be impossible. It is by no means likely that I have detected all in the authorities relied on for this volume.

It is proper here to state that, with my full consent, the book editor made great changes, especially in certain parts of the last two periods of the history. In this he had the assistance of the able committee already mentioned. My history of the sixth period was prepared in such haste that great changes were no doubt needed.

And now to Him for whom every line of this book was written, and to whom all its future destiny is committed, I leave this volume to be used as His infinite wisdom may determine.

EDITOR'S PREFACE

Before the work of editing this volume was begun, the Board of Publication appointed a committee consisting of the Rev. J. C. Provine, D.D., the Rev. M. B. DeWitt, D.D., the Rev. W. E. Ward, D.D., and the Rev. D. M. Harris, D.D., to assist the book editor in this task. Several meetings were held, and some of the chapters were read and discussed by the whole committee. But this method required so much time, and such difficulty was experienced in securing a full and regular attendance at the meetings, that it was arranged for the members of the committee separately to read the manuscript, indicating their suggestions, and leaving the work of making changes to the book editor.

As the work progressed, and especially when the record of the closing period of the history was reached, it seemed to the committee and to the editor necessary to give a somewhat fuller account of certain events and certain departments of the church's work than that found in the manuscript. Accordingly the editor greatly extended the history of the relation of Cumberland Presbyterians to the Presbyterian Alliance, the history of city and home missions since the war, and of the Trinidad, the Japan, and the Mexican missions; of Waynesburg College, of the first efforts of the church to establish schools in Pennsylvania and Ohio and in the West, of the revision of the Confession of Faith, and of several minor matters. As stated in the body of the work, Dr. Harris made large additions to the sketch of Lincoln University,

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and John M. Gaut, Esq., prepared the history of the Board of Publication found in the forty-seventh chapter. The sketch of Cane Hill College in the forty-sixth chapter was furnished by the Rev. F. R. Earle, D.D., president of that institution. The index at the close of the volume was prepared by the Rev. J. P. Sprowls, D.D. All these changes and additions were made with the cordial consent and approval of Dr. McDonnold.

The editor desires to acknowledge the valuable assistance he has received from his colleague and co-laborer, Dr. Harris, and the no less helpful suggestions of Dr. Provine and Dr. DeWitt. By reason of the illness and death of Dr. Ward, the committee was, except in the earlier stages of the work, deprived of the counsel and suggestions which his literary attainments and wide knowledge of our denominational history so well fitted him to give.

In reading and re-reading this volume, first in manuscript and

afterward in the proof sheets, the editor has been more and more

impressed with its value as a most important contribution to our

denominational literature. By the simple naturalness and beauty

of his style, by apt illustrations and well-selected incidents, Dr,

McDonnold has imparted to these pages a living interest and a

charm which it is believed will make their perusal a delight.

This book is sent forth to ,the church and to the world with the

confident hope that it will awaken, not only among our own

people but wherever it shall be read, new interest in the history

and doctrines and future wqrk of the Cumberland Presbyterian

church.

J. M. Howard, Book Editor.

Nashville, January, 1888.

Contents

FIRST PERIOD.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT REVIVAL TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNCIL, 1796 TO 1806.

Chapter I. State Of The Country

The country called Cumberland. Indian warfare. Anecdote of Daviess and Donnelson. Pioneer women. Colonel Joe Brown. Privations and hardships. Boating to New Orleans. Mail facilities, 1-4

Chapter II. Literature And Religion

Education without books. The first school in Cumberland. Tennessee's first "meeting-house." Charles Cummings. Kentucky. Rice and Craighead. Formal worship. Unconverted church members and ministers. Richard King. Lifeless preaching. Conversion of James McGready. His removal to Kentucky, 5-9

Chapter III. The Great Revival

Fasting and prayer. McGready's covenant. Gasper River. General awakening. Muddy River. Sinners falling prostrate.

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xii Contents.

Origin of camp-meetings. Spread of the revival. Its origin in McGready's churches. The " Cumberlands " not " New Lights." Shouting. Tokens. "The Union," 10-19

Chapter IV. The Revival A Genuine Work Of God's Spirit

Testimony of David Rice, and of the Presbyterian General Assembly. George Baxter's testimony. David Nelson in the "Western Sketch Book." James Gallagher. Methodist testimony. Dr. Speer's history. Infidelity and the revival of 1800. Modern missionary progress and the revival, .... 20-26

Chapter V. A Pentecostal Baptism

The gift of the Holy Ghost the distinctive privilege of the new dispensation. Finis Ewing's testimony. Anecdote of Ewing. Mr. Moody and "the power." Anecdotes of Donnell and Calhoun. Dr. Samuel Miller and H. F. Delany. An ordination incident. James B. Porter in a Presbyterian camp-meeting. The sublime faith of our first preachers. Calhoun dealing with disturbers. Solemn covenants. Remarkable answers to prayer. Testimony of our first preachers, 2 7~3&

Chapter VI. Opposition To The Revival

Opposition to McGready's work in North Carolina. Balch in Mc- Gready's Kentucky churches. Violence. Hyper-Calvinism logically anti-revival. " Old Side " objections to revival " measures." Camp-meetings and the " mourners' bench." Arguments. An "orderly" meeting. Misrepresentation. The " Stoneites." An editor's mistake. " The jerks," . . . .39-47

Contents. xiii

Chapter VII. The Second Difficulty— Ministerial Education

Pressing need for more preachers. David Rice's advice. Anderson, Ewing, and King before the Transylvania Presbytery. Anderson received as a " candidate." The General Assembly's advice. The revival party's statement. Statement of James Hutchinson, Esq. King as a lay exhorter. Anderson. Mc- Lean. Porter. Chapman. Division of Transylvania Presbytery, and formation of Cumberland Presbytery. Ordination of Anderson, Ewing, and King. The educational question not the cause of division. Proofs. Efforts to secure education for young men. Presbyterian testimony then and now. How shall we evangelize the masses? 4S-65

Chapter VIII. Third Difficulty— Doctrines— Reservations In Adopting The Book

Reservations in adopting the Confession. Meanings of "fatality." Dr. Davidson's testimony. Two charges. Unsoundness of doctrine the chief difficulty. Platform of union with Southern Presbyterians proposed in 1867. "Elect infants," and the Westminster Assembly. Dr. MacCrae, of Scotland. The Westminster creed an incumbrance to revival preaching. Testimony of Dr. Chalmers and Dr. SchafF. Creeds and theodicies. Significant incidents in the Belfast Council. The mission of Cumberland Presbyterians, 66-J6

Chapter IX

FOURTH DIFFICULTY— TRAMPLING ON A PRESBY- TERY'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BY A SYNODICAL COMMISSION.

The two parties in Cumberland Presbytery. The Commission. Statement of charges. The young men appealed to. Forbidden to preach. This action pronounced unconstitutional by the Presbyterian General Assembly. Bitterness of the people against the Commission. Mr. Lyle, 77~^ r xiv Contents.

SECOND PERIOD.

FROM THE FORMATION OF THE COUNCIL TO THE OR- GANIZATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1S06 TO 1829.

Chapter X. The New Church

The Council. Why the revival party did not appeal from the Commission's decision. Cumberland Presbytery dissolved. The Council's efforts for reconciliation. Lyle's tears. The Assembly's final decision. The Council's last effort for reconciliation. Gloomy outlook. Cumberland Presbytery re-organized. "The Cumberland schism " not a schism. Measures adopted by the new Presbytery. Rigid rules and discipline. Strict Sabbath observance. Lack of regular pastorates. Methods of education and study. List of the ministers belonging to the new presbytery, 82-92

CHAPTER XL

FIRST AIMS— NECESSITY FOR A SYNOD— ITS ORGAN- IZATION—SKETCHES OF ITS MEMBERS.

A separate denomination not at first aimed at. Formation of a Synod. Presbyterial boundaries. Pen-and-ink sketch of the members of the synod. McSpeddin. Harris. Philip Mc- Donnold. William McGee's anxiety about the new creed, . 93-97

Chapter XII

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH — SYNOPSIS OF DOC TRINES — FULLER CONFESSION— A MEDIUM SYSTEM— DIAGRAM.

Exceptions about fatality. Outline statement of doctrine. Fuller creed adopted. Exhibit of changes in the Westminster Con-

Contents.

XV fessions. Additions. "The medium system." Diagram of creeds. Conditions of communion, 98-108

Chapter XIII. The Three Presbyteries — Old Customs Now

DROPPED.

Three Presbyteries. Tokens. Col. Joe Brown's case. Fencing the table. Elders in presbytery. Extended fields. Fast days. A three-fold plan. Plans for securing and supporting itinerants. Final failure of this system. Origin of the name, Cumberland Presbyterian. Presbyterial libraries. Preaching on a call to the ministry. Demand for preachers in. new fields. Catechising. Necessity for a school discussed. Prejudice against statistics. Camp-meetings in neglected neighborhoods. The doctrines preached, 109-119

Chapter XIV. Historic Churches— Planting Churches In Ten- Nessee And Kentucky

Red River church, Kentucky. Gasper River. Beech church, Tennessee. Big Spring. Thomas Calhoun's pastorate. Smyrna. New Hope. Mt. Moriah. Goshen. Origin of the Nashville church, 120-127

Chapter XV. Early Missions To The Indians

Proximity of the Indians. Quickening of the missionary spirit. Indians at camp-meetings. Mission work by the presbyteries. Mission of Samuel King and Robert Bell. Bell's Mission and school, 1820. Indian customs. Traditions of the Tombigbee. The first Board of Missions for the whole church. The Russellville church, Kentucky. Details of Bell's missionary work. Letter from an Indian chief. Mrs. Bell's diary. Removal of the Indians. End of Bell's mission, 128-141 xvi Contents.

Chapter XVI. Planting Churches In The New Territories Of

EAST AND WEST TENNESSEE AND THE

KENTUCKY PURCHASE.

New fields. East Tennessee. McGready's letter to East Tennessee Presbyterians. An ecclesiastical barrier. Calhoun and Robert Donnell in East Tennessee (1815). Calhoun's tour the next year. David Foster. The Rev. J. S. Guthrie. Other laborers. The Rev. George Donnell. Organization of Knoxville Presbytery. Hardships. West Tennessee. John L. Dillard and the Rev. James McDonnold first in this field (1820). Richard Beard (1821). Difficulties. Camp-meetings. Organization of Hopewell Presbytery. Jackson's Purchase, Kentucky. B. PL Pearson's labors. Missionary work of Logan Presbytery. M. H. Bone. Incidents. Church growth in Kentucky, * 142-154

Chapter XVII. Planting Churches In Alabama

A glance at the history of Alabama. Robert Bell sent to Hunt's Spring. Calhoun. Robert Donnell. Other laborers. Circuits. South Alabama. Efforts to form a presbytery. Labors of William Moore, Samuel King, R. D. King and Daniel Patton. Tombigbee Presbytery organized. Anecdote of R. D. King. A sermon by William Moore. Alabama Presbytery. Reminiscences. Hindrances, 155-163

Chapter XVIII. Planting Churches In Indiana And Illinois

Indiana. William Harris' visit. Missionaries sent to Wabash and Indiana. Hardships. Organization of Mt. Zion church. Other congregations. Incidents. Illinois. First Cumberland Presbyterian sermon in this territory. John Crawford. Incidents. Green P. Rice. First Illinois camp-meeting. D. W.

Contents.

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McLin. Second camp-meeting. Chapman's missionary tour. Sparse settlements. Hardships. Illinois Presbytery organized. Comparison of church growth in Indiana and Illinois, . 164-174

Chapter XIX. Planting The Church In Missouri And Arkansas

- 1811-1829.

First Cumberland Presbyterian sermon in Missouri. Daniel Buie. R. D. Morrow sent to Missouri. J. T. A. Henderson's boyhood home. Morrow's second trip to Missouri. McGee Presbytery organized. Finis Ewing in Missouri. "School of the Prophets." Labors of R. D. King and Reuben Burrow. A home supply of preachers. Pioneer missionaries: Robert Sloan, Archibald McCorkle, H. R. Smith, Frank M. Braly. Anecdote of Braly. A. A. Young. Daniel Patton. Adventure of William Blackwell. Arkansas. Emigration thither of the Pyatts and Carnahans. John Carnahan's circuit. Ordination of Carnahan. The first sacramental meeting in Arkansas. Incidents. An " intermediate " session of McGee Presbytery. Labors of R. D. King and Reuben Burrow. Camp-meet insrs. Sickness. Return of Burrow and Kinor to Missouri. Arkansas Presbytery. Settlement of Cane Hill. The Buchanans. Cane Hill College. Bands of robbers. Guilford Pylant, 175-200

Chapter XX. The College— The General Assembly— Summary Of What Had Been Done

Need of a college recognized. Plan adopted. Details. Dr. Cossitt. Expediency of organizing a General Assembly discussed, 1823. Reasons for delay. Last meeting of the General Synod. List of the presbyteries and original members. Four synods formed. The synodical period, 201-206 xviii Contents.

THIRD PERIOD.

FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

TO THE REMOVAL OF CUMBERLAND COLLEGE,

Chapter XXI. General Survey

The transition period. State of the church. Changed times. Progress. Mistakes. The college. Home missionary progress. Statistics. Revivals. Camp-meetings. -Appeal cases. Samuel King's tour among the churches. Temperance. Fraternal intercourse with other churches. A theological school • demanded. Church growth. Change from missionary evangelists to pastorates. New presbyteries and synods. Financial troubles, . 207-213

Chapter XXII. The First Cumberland Presbyterian College

Outward and internal history. A manual labor institution. The college located at Princeton, Ky. Buildings. Debts. Lease of Barnett and Shelby. Cholera. Barnett's lease surrendered. A stock company formed. Threats. Reviving hope, followed by failure. The Assembly decides to select a new location . Lebanon, Tenn., chosen. Report of the Commissioners. Protest of the friends of Princeton. Resolution against the control of pecuniary matters by the Assembly. Cumberland College after "the removal." Internal history. A homespun costume prescribed. Refectory and dormitories. Presidents. Professors. Dr. Beard's administration. Dr. Azel Freeman. Alumni, 214-228

Chapter XXIII. The Church Paper

Origin of the Religious and Literary Intelligencer. David Lowry. The paper moved to Nashville. Sold to James Smith.

Contents. xix

Smith's multiplied labors. The paper becomes the Cumberland Presbyterian. Hopeless indebtedness. T. C. Anderson, assistant editor. Efforts to increase the circulation. Smith's agreement with the Assembly. Editorial denunciations. No General Assembly, 1839. Convention at Nashville. Its action. Smith's Cumberland Presbyterian at Springfield, Tenn. He denounces the convention. Strife and division. Smith's college at Springfield. The Banner of Peace. Action of the Assembly, 1840. Smith's subsequent course. Preachers who have joined the Presbj^terians, 229-241

Chapter XXIV. The Transition From Missionary Evangelists To Paid Pastors

Self-denying missionaries. Opposition to settled pastors. Proposed abolition of pastorates, 1830. Action of West Tennessee Synod. Misconceptions. Pastors and evangelists. Calhoun's testimony. False ideas of " supporting the gospel." Two anecdotes of Dr. A. J. Baird. Wrong training. Robbing pastors. Meager pay of circuit riders. The credit system. The scriptural method, 242-252

Chapter XXV. The Church In Mississippi And Louisiana

Bell's Mission. Bad character of settlers in the Indian country. Anecdote of a slave trader. An Indian comment on the Bankrupt Law. Removal of the Indians from Mississippi. Rush of settlers. " Seizing the golden opportunity." Temptations. Religious apostasy. Isaac Shook's testimony. Formation of Mississippi Presbytery. Shook's meetings at Columbus. Denominational progress in Mississippi. Mississippi Synod organized. Presbyteries. Mississippi preachers. Anecdote of R. L. Ross. Louisiana. First congregation organized. Louisiana Presbytery, 253-262 xx Contents.

Chapter XXVI. Planting The Chuech In Texas

American colonist in Texas. Sumner Bacon. Bacon in Texas. Attacked by ruffians. First Texas camp-meeting. Bacon's work. The Rev. Mr. Chase. Bacon's ordination. A. J. Mc- Gown. San Jacinto. Texas Presbytery formed. Robert Tate. Samuel W. Frazier. James McDonnold. Work of R. O. Watkins. Other helpers. Darkness followed by revival. Table of dates, . 263-

Chapter XXVII. Origin Of The Church In Pennsylvania

The Rev. Jacob Lindley. Visit of M. H. Bone and John W. Ogden. Request of Presbyterians in Washington County, Pa. Action of the Assembly. Arrival of the missionaries. Morgan's account. Morgan's first sermon in Pennsylvania. First meetings, and their results. Formation of the first Cumberland Presbyterian church in this State. The first camp-meeting. An incident. Anecdote of Burrow and Donnell. Bryan at Pittsburg. Formation of a presbytery. LeRoy Woods' work. Jacob Lindley's testimony. The Carmichaels church. Uniontown. Hopewell. J. T. A. Henderson. Brownsville. Bryan at Meadville. Pittsburg. Anecdote of Bryan. Death of Morgan. The Union and Evangelist. Pennsylvania Synod formed, 273-291

Chapter XXVIII. Origin Of The Church In Ohio

Visit of Bone and Ogden. Morgan's visit to Athens. His return. Result of his labors. Morgan's Ohio Camp- meeting. Incidents. Our first church in Ohio. Beverly. Mr. Lindley's labors there. Senecaville. A circus incident. Cumberland, Ohio. Lebanon. The Rev. F. G. Black's work. The Covington church. Our church in Ohio, 292-300

Contents. xxi

Chapter XXIX. Miscellaneous Sketches And Incidents

Revival at Bowling Green, Kentucky. A Kentucky camp-meeting. A sample church under the supply system. Anecdote of Hugh B. Hill. "Stars falling." Beginnings of Cane Hill College, Arkansas. Anecdotes of John Buchanan and T. C. Anderson. Duelling condemned by the Missouri Synod. Andrew Jackson and J. M. Berry. Conversion of an infidel woman. Anecdote of R. D. King, 301-309

FOURTH PERIOD.

^ROM THE "REMOVAL" OF THE COLLEGE TO THE ST. LOUIS ASSEMBLY, 1842 TO 1S61.

Chapter XXX. A General Survey

Progress. Records of the General Synod and Assembly. Opening sermon of the Assembly of 1843, by Milton Bird. No Assembly in 1844. The Assembly of 1845. Organization of the Board of Missions. Work of this board. A Committee on Publication. A new Publishing Committee, 1847. Its work at Louisville. Transferred to Nashville 1858. Our Hymn-book history- The Board of Church Extension. Fraternal correspondence. Relations with the New School church. With the Old School. Efforts to secure a history of the church. Fast days. A last message from Robert Donnell. Colleges. New synods and presbyteries, 310-321

Chapter XXXI

Missions in the new Territories. City missions. David Lowry's mission to the Winnebagoes. Cumberland Presbyterian misxxii Contents.

sionaries under the American Board. David Lowry's visit to the Choctaw country, 1854. His report. R. W. Baker's work. Armstrong Academy. Burney Academy. Faithfulness of R. S. Bell and Mrs. Bell. Letters from Israel and George Folsom. The Foreign work. Edmond Weir in Liberia. His visit to America, 1857. Discouragements. Other foreign fields discussed. Candidates. J. C. Armstrong appointed missionary to Turkey, 322-335

Chapter XXXII. Planting The Church In The North-west— Iowa And Other Fields

David Lowry's work. Church organized in Joseph Howard's house. J. G. White in Iowa. The first Iowa camp-meeting. Iowa Presbytery formed. Neil Johnson's labor. Ruffianism. David Lowry's missionary plan for the North-west. J. C. Armstrong's work in Iowa. A camp-meeting. A horse racer converted. Waukon. P. H. C rider. A letter from Armstrong. Organization of Colesburg Presbytery. Hardships and dangers. Our meager strength in Iowa. Other North-western States, 33 6 "34 I

Chapter XXXIII. Oregon And California, 1s44-1s60

Gold ana God's providence. Oregon. Difficulties in the way of its colonization. Fur traders. The first settlers. First Cumberland Presbyterian colony in Oregon. J. E. Braly. Crossing the plains. Whitman's Station massacre. Neil Johnson's journey. Cholera on the plains. O-ther dangers. Our first Oregon congregation. Oregon Presbytery. Efforts to establish a college. Jacob Gillespie. Self-sacrificing missionaries. Presbyteries. Acquisition of California. Gold. Transient settlements. Mixed population. An unfaithful missionary. Others who were faithful. John E. Braly. Letter from T. A. Ish. Cornelius Yager. Linvillc Dooley. Anecdote of E. C. Latta. Organization of California Presbytery. Mushroom

Contents. xxiii

churches. Mountain View church. J. M. Small at Napa City. Pacific Presbytery. Cumberland College at Sonoma. T. M. Johnson and the Pacific Observer. D. E. Bushnell's testimony. Johnson, a peace-maker. Fascinating opportunities. Difficulties and advantages. Our California presbyteries. Idaho, 34 2- 35^

Chapter XXXIV

SUNDRY SMALL BEGINNINGS— NORTH CAROLINA, WEST VIRGINIA, GEORGIA, KANSAS.

Visit of Reuben Burrow and Robert Donnell to North Carolina. Feeble beginnings abandoned. West Virginia. Our work in Georgia. A. Templeton and Z. M. McGhee. A war anecdote. Georgia Presbytery. The political struggle in Kansas. Letter from an emigrant. Round Prairie church. Kansas Presbytery. Leavenworth Presbytery. Missionaries. Presbyteries, . . 357-361

Chapter XXXV. Miscellaneous

Concentration. Mushroom colleges. Theological school. Disagreement. Theological School of Bethel College. Action of the Assembly. Dr. Burrow's teachings. A living question. Missions. Fear of centralization. Proposed consolidation of newspapers. Arguments pro and con. Books. Crisman's Origin and Doctrines. Dillard's Reply to Lewis A. Lowry. Cossitt's Life and Times of Ewing. Anderson's Life of Donnell. Beard's Theology. Dr. Beard as a theologian. Controversies. Dr. Burrow's departures from the traditional faith. Decay of camp-meetings. Church trials. Profitless controversies, 362-372

Chapter XXXVI. Sketches And Incidents

The Memphis church. Anecdote of Matthew H. Bone and Hugh B. Hill. Story of Benjamin Watson. Facts from P. G. Rea's xxiv Contents.

History of New Lebanon Presbytery. Compensation of preachers. Anecdote of James Johnson. An Indian's conversion. A mother's Sunday-school. A discouraged teacher. Anecdote of M. H. Bone and F. G. Black. Story of a stammering preacher, 373"379

FIFTH PERIOD.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR TO THE WARRENSBTJRG ASSEMBLY, 1861 TO 1870.

Chapter XXXVII. Ten Assemblies, 1861-1870

Presbyteries, North and South. Location of church boards. Representatives in the Assembly of 1S61. Reports of boards. Assembly of 1862. Southern presbyteries unrepresented. Temporary Committees on Missions and Publication. Re-organization of these committees in 1863. Removal of publishing interests to Pittsburg. Assemblies of 1864 and 1865. State of things in the South. The Chattanooga Convention. Missionary committee. Convention at Selma, Ala. Letter from Milton Bird. The Southern Observer. Memphis Convention. Assembly of 1866. A general fast day. Missionary boards. Re-organization of the Board of Publication at Nashville. Proposed Organic Union with Southern Presbyterians. Conference of committees. Result. Proposed revision of form of government. Consolidation of missionary boards. Controversy about the plans of the Board of Missions. Action of the Assembly of 1870. Abolition of the synod discussed. Church periodicals. New presbyteries, 380-390

Chapter Xxxviii. The War Record

Assemblies and Conventions. Milton Bird's opening sermon, 1S61. Resolutions. Resolutions adopted in 1862 and in 1863. Deliv-

Contents. xxv

erance of 1S64. Protest. Action in 1S65. Position of Southern Cumberland Presbyterians. The Chattanooga Convention. Deliverance of the Assembly of 1S66. Action of Pennsylvania Synod. Of the Assembly at Memphis, 1S67. At Lincoln, 186S. Relations Of Cumberland Presbyterians to slavery. Finis E wing's views. McAdow. Ephraim McLean. Robert Donnell's prayer. Testimony of Dr. Beard's diary. A typical case. The Revivalist on slavery. Testimony of the Cumberland Presbyterian, 1S35. Changes wrought by political agitation. Action of the Assemblies of 1848 and 185 1. Present attitude of the church. Its Southern membership, . . 391-419

Chapter XXXIX. Preaching To Soldiers

Chaplains. Army missionaries. Methods of work by chaplains. Their trying duties. Denominations forgotten. Work in the Union armies. Labors of A. W. White and G. N. Mattox. A. G. Osborne. H. H. Ashmore. Hiram A. Hunter. J. W. Woods. S. Richards. The Southern army. Resolutions adopted by Southern chaplains. Revival in Bragg's army. Death of George L. Winchester. Cumberland Presbyterian Committee on army missions. J. L. Cooper. Nightly services during Johnston's retreat. A picket incident. Otherincidents. Hardships of Southern chaplains. M. B. DeWitt. A. G. Burrow. Revival in the Southern armies, .... 420-431

Chapter XL. Colored Cumberland Presbyterians

Order of things before the war. An illustrative case. Colored people at camp-meetings. Colored preachers before the war. The change wrought by the war. Conventions of colored Cumberland Presbyterians at Henderson, Kentucky, and Huntsville, Alabama. Action at Murfreesboro, May 1869. A separate organization. A colored commissioner at the Assembly of 1870. Progress of colored Cumberland Presbyterians. Their General Assembly. School at Bowling Green, Kentucky. Our duty to the colored people. Letter of J. F. Humphrey, 432-439 xxvi Contents.

Chapter XLI

Missions in towns and cities. Itinerant missionaries. New Territories entered. R. S. Bell's work among the Indians. Liberia and Turkey. Gloomy letters from Edmond Weir. His second visit to America. Abandonment of the Liberia mission. J. C. Armstrong's mission to Turkey. His voyage to England. Arrival at Constantinople. Greek Christians from Brusa. Troubles. Providential relief. Work done by Armstrong. His illness and return to America, 440-447