i-:«*- ' f/^ '■/ 7Mn^ A^-^^J hed in Paris the first school ever undertaken in the West for the exclusive education of girls. The circulation of the Bible by colporteurs was The Deuel of the Presbyterian Church. 7 suggested by him long before the formation of the Bible Society, and lie set up a printing press for the dissemination of religious literature, many years before Tract Societies and Publication Boards were thought of. In the venerable Bishop Kavauaugh, we have a link which con- nects hiiu with the living generation. Young Kavauaugh, when a l)oyof thirteen, was indentured to Mr. Lyle as an apprentice in the printing office. The apprentice lived in the family of his master, and was converted and led to seek the Methodist ministry. Mr. Lyle was ready to cancel the indenture of apprenticeship, but under the law then in force, the apprentice, when he became of age, might sue him on the contract. Let Mr. Kavauaugh finish the story : "Mr. Lyle asked me whether, if he would release me from all obligation to him, I w.)uld sue him. E assured him I would not. He then smiling said, 'Will you ever sue me till you fall from grace?' thus giving a pleasaut thrust at my doctrine of the possibility of such an event. I promised I would not, and on this bargain we parted." It proved to be a very safe bargain for Mr. Lyle, as we all know who know the good Bishop. Dr. Robert Stuart was another of the eight missionaries, and he was their peer in his usefulness down to a good old age. Archibald Cameron was not of their number, but his ministry which began in 1795 and continued forty-one years entitles him to a place among those who founded the church in our Synod, and then built upon the foundation walls of strength. He studied for the ministry at Danville with David Rice. Immediately after his licensure he began to preach in Shelby and Nelson counties, and labored there to the end of his days. He stood by the truth against Adam Rankin, against Barton W. Stone, against the infatuations of 1800-1805, against the way- wardness of the Cumberland Presbytery, against the Pelagianism of Thomas Craighead, and against Arminianism, and against the incip- ient " Reformation," and against everything else that opposed itself to the truth. He was inferior in learning to John P. Campbell, inferior in pathos to Thomas Cleland, inferior in dealing with infidelity to David Nelson ; but in love and zeal for the truth, in a knowledge of Calvinism and the grounds on which it rests, both rational and scriptural, in controversial aptitude and power, and in doctrinal and experimental preaching, he was the equal of the best man among them. The churches now existing in the counties of Shelby, Henry, Spencer, and a part of Jefferson, were organized by Mr. Cameron; and the sturdy and intelligent Presbyterianism of that region took its shape and spirit from his strength and fidelity. If he had been married, especially if well married, he would have 8 Centennial of Preshyterianism in Kentucky. been more presentable in his personal appearance; if he had not been tempted beyond what he was able to bear, he would have restrained now and then his terrific power of sarcasm ; if he had been mindful of the thirty minutes rule of our day he would not have used the ' ' gift of continuance" so freely. The tradition is that the people have been known, if they were very hungry, to go home while he was ])reaching, dine at their leisure, and return to the church in time to hear the last hour or two of his sermon. This is probably an exaggeration. But at a day when lawyers like Felix Grundy, and John Rowan, and John Pope were heard patiently four or five hours at the bar and from the stump, an earnest servant of God, like Mr. Cameron, might be excused if he claimed for the souls of men as much time for consideration as they gave to their law suits and politics. About the noonday of this generation appears the venerable form of Dr. Thomas Cleland, for a long time the pastor of the congregations at Harrodsburg and New Providence. We should give to his labors a large space in this memorial service, because his biography is the history of the growth, in members and power, of Presbyterianism in this region, because he was, in some sense, the typical Kentucky preacher of his day, and because this assembly is largely made up of the descendants of his spiritual children. He participated first as an exhorter and then as a preacher in the revival of 1800-1805. He took up his pen against the Arian and Socinian errors of Barton W. Stone, and endured as best he could the mortification of seeing three of our ministers, Houston, McNemar, and Dunlavy, prominent leaders in the revival of 1800, going over to Spiritualism run to seed and assisting in establishing the Shaker community in Mercer county. Dr. Cleland was of the commission to the Cumberland Presbytery, was active in the proceedings which resulted in the deposition of Craighead and the defeat of the Pelagian party; he entered into the controversy with President Holley and his partisans in Transylvania University, and tt)iled at the foundation of Center College when that institution became a necessity of our position. He defended Protestantism against Bishop David, the doctrines of the divine decrees against the Arininians, of the covenants against the Baptists, and the doctrines of grace against the "Reformers." The larger part of his life was spent in Mercer county, witli the congregations at New Providence and Harrodsburg. His ministry was accompanied with the repeated outpouring of the Holy Spirit. A work of grace began in the New Providence church in 1823, and continued without abatement for seven years, two hundred and forty Tlie Dead of the Presbyterian Church. 9 having been gathered into that church. Daring his ministry there about seven hundred people professed their faith in Christ. The work of saving men, took on its power in Harrodsburg in 1826, continued three years, and resulted in adding to the church one hundred and seventy-three converts. If we were able, as we are not, to com- pute the number of those who were converted under his preaching at camp meetings and sacramental meetings in other places, Ave should be better able to appreciate the greatness of the work which the Lord helped him to perform. Meanwhile Dr. Cleland opened his house for the instruction of candidates for the ministry. The catalogue of fourteen of his pupils is preserved. Among those who are no longer living are Drs. James Barnes, N. H. Hall, John H. Brown, and David S. Todd. Some of his pupils were in narrow circumstances and received their board in his family gratuitously ; others at half price, or as suited their convenience. He published, in 1825, a hymn book — which for many years, held in the churches the place lately given to the "gospel hymns" — and in it the Gospel was sung by our people, responding to the Gospel preached by the ministers in camp meetings and revivals. David Nelson belongs to the memorable era of 1826-29. His, early ministry was given to East Tennessee. He became pastor in Danville in 1828, remaining there two years. He was a child of nature, sim- ple in his habits of life, untidy in his dress, and generally eccentric. His fi-iend Ross describes a cottage which he built in Tennessee, I presume. It was unlike anything ever seen before, with the stump of a tree left in the middle of his parlor as a center table. In preach- ing he rarely exceeded thirty minutes, but the weight of his matter, his condensed masses of thought, his laconic phrases, put such a strain on the attention of his hearers that his thirty minutes were better than sixty of a diffuse and rambling preacher. His best- known published work is the "Cause and Cure of Infidelity." It met squarely and unanswerably the doctrines of infidelity that were current at the time. It was originally prepared for oral delivery. Although two or three hours long, it was heard with unwearied attention by the most intel- ligent people, many an unbeliever confessing the power with which he spoke. The book is not now in active circulation, but it was mighty in its day. It resembles an old ship of the line, like the famous man of war, the Constitution, invincible while afloat but giving place when its victories and glories were won, to newer floating batteries. Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, after an intimacy of twenty years, .said of Dr. Nelson : "I never knew a more godly man, a more noble gentleman, 10 Centennial of Preshyierianhm in Kentuckij. a more illustrious example of a great pulpit orator." "He spoke extempore always, but the pathos, the unction, the impressiveness of his preaching were atnazing." (Sprague IV., (i88.) But his brain give way under the tasks which he imposed upon it. He slowly died at the top and fell to the earth, at the age of fifty-one. Dr. Nelson's career belongs to the first half of the century. Be- fore leaving this period we should recall a few other names which adorn our annals. Samuel K. Nelson, the brother of David, was one of the founders of the Asylum /for the Deaf and Dumb. Joshua L. Wilson, when a lad of nine years, heard David Rice preach his first sermon. He and Dr. Cleland were ordained at the same time. After a laborious and fruitful ministry of six years at Bardstown and Big Spring, he took charge of the first church in Cincinnati, where he became a pillar of Presbyterian ism. John T. Edgar, the Chrysostom, or golden-mouthed, was trained in Maysville and Frank- fort, for his life-work in Nashville. Gideon Blackburn began his ministry in East Tennessee, preaching in his hunting-shirt, Bible and hymn book in hand, rifle, shot-pouch and knap-sack by his side. When the Indians were driven oflT, he rode to Middle Tennessee and administered, so it is said, the Lord's supper from the stump of a tree in the forest which covered the site of Nashville. Later in life he be- came pastor at Louisville in Dr. Witherspoon's church ; then President of Center College. He closed his career by founding Blackburn Uni- versity. He represents the three eras of Western life, the era of the hunting-shirt, the era of the saddle-bags, and the era of advanced culture ; and in them all was true to the Lord of all ages and the Head over all to the Church. James K. Birch was called by his brethren the "old ecclesiastic,'' to describe his unquestioned leader- ship in our church courts. Whoever met Mr. Birch in debate, would if he was wise, do one of two things; either he would be sure of his ground, or he would leave the bridge behind him wide open. He received an honor conferred on no other man in the century, having been elected three times Moderator of the Synod. James Blythe was one of the eight missionaries from Virginia. He was the minis- ter of the church at Pisgah (Dr. Douglass') for more than forty years. He was also an eminent teacher through all his days, and closed his life in the Presidency of Hanover College. Dr. Blythe was the Covenanter of his generation ; never shrinking from contro- versy, fearing nobody, flattering nobody. The distinguished presidents of Center College belong to the middle and second half of the ceuturv. Jeremiah Chamberlain held the office The Dead of the Presbyterian Church. 11 four years with distinguished usefulness. He became President of Oak- land College, Mississippi. That institution reached great prosperity under his administration. But in an evil hour he fell dead at the hands of a disorderly and drunken student. The year 1832 brings into the field of vision the person of John C. Young. He entered the presidency at the age of twenty-seven, and served twenty-seven years. The college had been in existence eight years, and had graduated twenty-nine men, of whom, let it be said, twelve became ministers of the gospel. Under the administration of Dr. Young, funds to the amount of more than $100,000 were collected ; the number of students increased from a very few to more than two hundred ; the graduates rose from two in the first class to forty-seven in the last class which he taught. Power- ful revivals of religion marked the whole period. Of those who were educated under him, one hundred and twenty-six became ministers of the Ciospel, not counting those who began their college course at Danville and finished it elsewhere. Dr. Young's mind was singu- larly accute ; rarely in any discussion was he driven into a corner. He was a fine classical scholar, an accomplished metaphysician, of reading almost boundless, and as a teacher remarkably apt, and as a governor of young men full of resources. It would be hard to find a pupil of his who will not say that he received some of his best and noblest impulses from the teachings and example of Dr. Young ; next to impossible to find one who will not tell you t£at he was a man to be looked up to, quoted, and followed. His successor. Dr. Lewis W. Green, was the first gradtiate of the college, then a professor therein, afterward successively pastor in Baltimore, professor in the Theological Seminary in Hanover, president of Hampden Sidney College, president of Transylvania University, and six years at the head of Center College — everywhere equal to his great opportunities. He was an accomplished classical scholar, well versed in the higher j^hilosophy, and one of the most eloquent men of a generation in Kentucky abounding in eloquent men. His successor was AVilliam L. Breckinridge, a singularly pure and upright man, vertically uj)- right. a Christian gentleman of warm affections, inspiring others with generous thoughts, true to his friends, his principles, and his church, loving and beloved. More than one in this company is ready to say " very pleasant hast thou been to me, my brother." Here, my brethren, we are brought face to face with the embar- rassments which beset this part of our commemoration. The names on the death-roll of our ministers exceed three hundred. It is a sol- 12 Centennial of Vrefhyterianum in Kentucky. emu thought that of all the ministers who were members of our Synod in 183o — fifty years ago — only one survives to this day, Rev. Dr. Eli N. Sawtell, the first pastor of the Second Church, in Louis- ville. Then, the materials are not within our reach for the biogra- phies of many of our departed brethren, whose good works deserve the most grateful mention. Still further, there is danger lest we be- stow on a few leading ministers the praises which ought to be divided among those who have shrunk from public recognition ; who have sat silent in our church courts; and have coveted only the best gifts, the gifts and graces, whereby they have built up existing congregations, founded new churches, and turned many to righteousness. Of the twelve apostles, the labors of three only are described in the Book of Acts; and the names of four only are mentioned, except in the list contained in the first chapter. Yet, who can doubt that, measured by their fidelity and zeal, the nine attained to the first three? Would that we were able to distribute the sacred honors among our own brethren who have done well the work. The apostle Paul struggled with this embarrassment. In the epistle to the Hebrews (chap, xi.), he celebrates the faith of the primitive worthies, one by one. But the time fails him as he ad- vances, and he falls away from the recital of their heroic acts of faith, to the simple repetition of the names of a few ; and then, when com- pelled to cut short the roll, he describes the virtues of the anonymous dead in that grand panegyric which begins with, " Who subdued kingdoms" and ends with, "of whom the world was not worthy." To the Philippians (iv: 3), he is oTbliged to content himself, as Dr. M. D. Hoge has observed, by mentioning " Clement also, and other of my fellow laborers, w'/to.se names are in the book oj life." Nothing would be more delightful and inspiring than a free conver- sation in our two Synods to-day, devoted to reminiscences of our brethren, of whom nothing has now been said. Samuel Findlay, James Vance, John Howe, and Samuel B. Robertson were members of the first Synod, and were laborious itinerant missionaries, riding far and wide. John McFarland, Andrew Todd, and John Coons fought the battle, side by side, against the partisans of President Holley. James C. Barnes sarwg the Gospel with such eflTect that men said he shook the windows; he could be heard a mile; and he drowned out the bass-viol and organ whereby his righteous soul was vexed. AVil- liam L. McCalla was fearless to a proverb, with a touch of grim luimor. It is said that, when a portion of his congregation at Philadelphia became dissatisfied with him as their pastor, he surprised The Dead of the Pre>e foremost among: his peers in the ministry. And his preaching was never so persuasive as wheu, in his last days, he stood in the pulpit, panting for breath, and quieting as best he could the murmurings of a tired and muffled heart. The time is short. But we may not forget the story of Junia in Roman history. Although at her funeral the images of twenty illus- trious houses were carried in the procession, Brutus and Cassius were conspicuous above all others, by reason of the absence of their effigies. That spectacle would be repeated to-day if the names should be sup- pressed of Robert J. Breckinridge and Stuart Robinson. Both were endowed with a broad understanding, genius, sparkling wit, elo- quence, undaunted moral courage. Both were men of fixed convic- tions ; both were natural-born controversialists; neither was in the habit ed either in the words of the Scripture or in their places in the volume. Their method of preaching, especially in seasons of awakening, was apostolic. They began by opening the text, then they handled the leading thought, clearly and familiarly, casting upon it all the side lights which shine out from the other scriptures, and speaking earn- estly but with restrained emotion. Having planted the truth in the minds of their hearers, they then drove it home upon the conscience. It was the opinion of Nelson, Ross, and Gallager, that it was difficult for any one man to make a lucid and passionless exposition of scrip- ture, and then rise into an impassioned strain of exhortation. Upon this idea, when two of them were together, one of them spoke twenty or thirty minutes explaining and vindicating the doctrine of the text, then the other took it up and reduced it to its immediate practi- cal uses, with whatever spiritual {)ower the Lord was pleased to bestow upon him. Dr. Cleland sometimes preached an hour and a half An hour was given to exposition, and thirty minutes to expostulation. He rarely preached without bringing his hearers to tears. The ivev. Harvey Woods says: " I have learned that when Dr. Cleland was to preach I must fix myself so that I could put my head down and cover my face with my handkerchief" One of the best established tradi- tions, about Harrodsburg and New Providence, is that nothing was Tlie Dead of the Presbyterian Church. 17 more common thau the spectacle of the \\*hole congregation bowed down with emotion at the close of his sermon, until it resembled a wheat field over which the summer wind was passing. Dr. McGufFy, writing of Mr. Lyle, says: "Often have I seen his whole frame tremulous with emotion, and the tears flowing p)ofu?ely down his venerable face, while in tones of tenderness he exposlula'ed with in- fatuated sinners, in the name of his Master, 'Why will ye die? why will ye die ?"' With this fact before us we can believe Eu-. Davidson's statement to the effect that thirty sinners were converted to God, at Mt. Pleasant under one of ^Jr. Lyle's sermons. (David, 119.) Dr. N. H. Hall urged inquirers to come to Christ with what has been called a "startling and terrific energy." While he was holding a protracted meeting at Versailles he preached by request a sermon be- fore the Free-Masons, of whom he was one, in commemoration of St. John's Day. He gave them a faithful Gospel sermon, and then called upon such of his Masonic brethren as were not religious to repent of sin, and in token thereof to come forward for prayer. So powerful was his exhortation that several of them came to the anxious seat in their regalia. Dr Young was never so divinely eloquent, if the phrase be allow- able, as in his appeals to the impenitent. Some of you have heard him speak, first from the pulpit, then from the floor beneath the pulpit, then in his fervor advancing along the aisle, addressing the occupants of the pews ; now to the right, now to the left, describing the terrors of the law and the love of Christ ; his lithe form agitated, his face beam- ing and his lips glowing with the sacred fire, until one after another of his hearers was fairly lifted out of his seat and borne forward to the inquirer's bench. " On some he had compassion, and others he saved with fear, pulling them out of the fire." Nathan L. Rice's manner was his own. He put into the body of his sermon a demon- stration clear as the light, of, for example, the guilt of the sinner, and his lost conditinn. It was often said that while other preachers led the hearer to say "what a fool I am," Dr. Rice forced him to exclaim " how guilty am I." The enmity of the natural mind against God, the conspicuous justice of God in condemning the impenitent on ac- count of his personal inexcusable guilt, were brought home by this great preacher, in a mighty onset on his conscience. That being done, a few well-chosen words, every word charged with life and peace in the Saviour, lighted up the darkness and despair of the man who stood convinced and convicted of sin. The apostolic spirit of our early ministers would be still further 18 Centennial of Pre>ihi/ter!aiii'. the end of his days. When the church was built he invested $150 in the enterprise out of his scanty means, being an example to the floik of generosity. We catch an occasional glimpse of the penury endured by these self denying men. David Rice purchased a parcel of ground near Danville, on the faith of friends who guaranteed the payment, which, however, was so long deferred, or entirely forgotten, that the good man, laboiing under the insidious approach of old age and disease, would have been brought to extreme want but for the generosity of one of the neighbors. John P. Cam|»bell was reduced to similar ex- tremities, although living in a wealthy community. Father Stuart was told by one of Campbell's congregation that " they were keeping him on Lent." Unhappily, it is to be feared that this Lenten season was not limited to forty days. We are warranted in saying that our brethren of that day were self-denying, or denied by the people, to a degree that is unknown in our more pleasant places and more consid- erate congregations. But let us turn to a more agreeable train of thought. That may well be found in the noble company of Ruling Elders, by whose intelligence, weight of character, piety, and activity the annals of the Synod were adorned. Jacob Fishback, Samuel Mc- Dowell, and James McCoun labored with Father Rice upon the foun- dations of our church in the region where it was first planted. Charles S. Todd, Mark Hardin, Samuel Harbison, and Quinn Mor- ton were fellow-laborers with Mr. Cameron in Shelby county. John Cabell Breckinridge was one of the founders of the Second Church, in The Dead of the Prexbyterian Church. 19 Lexinijftnn. Jiidu:e Green, with Hupkins, Barbour, Yoiice, and Craig served their brethren in Danville ; Kice, Wesr, and Price in Nicholas- ville; the Berrynians at Pisgah and Versailles; McAfee and Dnnn, New Providence; Judge Mills, with Todd and Clarke, in Frankfort; the two Skillinans and Scott, in Lexington; Stonestreet, in Salem; Judge Simpson, in AVinchester ; Wyckliffe and Nourse, in Bardstown ; Bullock, at Walnut Hill; January, at Maysville ; Preston, at Bur- lington ; Averill, Cassaday, Garvin, Richardson, and Prather in Lou- isville ; Murray, in Cloverport; Judge Graham and Quigley, at Bow- ling Green; Judge Sampson, at Glasgow; Brank, father and son, at Paint Lick; Walker and Mann, in Harrodsburg ; Montgomery, in Springfield; Piiilipps, in Lebanon; Bell, at Owensboro; Williams, serving sixty years at Houstouville, are a few of the many who used the office of the Ruling Elder well and purchased to themselves a good degree. The house of the Lord in the Synod has always been surmounted by twin towers — the ministry and the Ruling Eldership, both rising strong and comely from the same foundation ; both guard- ing the walls from generation to generation. Which of the two has lent us the surest protection, let another tongue than mine declare. I must now retire from my unexhausted theme. I have not done justice t V the memory of our illustrious dead, nor could such justice be done by any man within the limits of the occasion, and with the scanty materials in our possession. But their praise is expressed in the silent thought of this crowded assembly; in these solemn ceremonies; these prayers and hymns; in the memories which stir in our bosoms; in the tears that besiege our eye-lids; and the vibrations of the mystic chords of sympathy which go out from heirt to heart. Better is their praise set forth in the type of Presbyterianism, which they established amidst perils in the wilderness, and perils by the heathen, and in perik among false brethren. But their best and highest praise is in the great company of the redeemed, who have entered into life in the communion of these congregations. The old graveyards which have opened their bosoms to receive the dust of pastors and people, are so many Macpelahs in our goodly land. The saying has passed into a proverb, that " no man can get away from his ancestors." From this it follows that no man can separate himself from his posterity. And now let us listen reverently to our fathers, who speak to us out of the past, and then let us advalnce to meet our children, whose voices greet us as they approach. "The glory of the children are their fathers." Our glory is that our fathers of the first generation lighted up the dark woods of Kentucky with the lamp of life, and the fathers of the second and 20 Centennial of Preshyterianimi in Kentucky. third generations' have handed down to us the light brightly burning. They caH upon us to pass it on, all ablaze, to our children, until the whole land is filled with light and warmth. They admonish us not to allow any thirst for immediate success or popularity to loosen our hold upon the doctrines, government, and worship of the church, as we have received the same from the Word of God. In the torch - races of antiquiry, only those charioteers won the crown who turned the goal and did not lose the flame. Happy are they who shall both finish the course and keep the faith ! Dear brethren, so long as our Synods are two, let us take into account the things wherein we are agreed, as well as those wherein we differ, and then let us follow the best things. We have succeeded to a heritage which our fathers earned at the expense of extraordi- nary sacrifices, and preserved in the face of extraordinary trials and reverses. Let us, therefore, be true to our principles and our duties, lest our virtues prove too frail to bear the weight of the inheritance, and we be put to shame. And here on this historic and consecrated spot, here at the Sichem where our first altar was builded, here where we reap the fruits of toils in which we find so much to honor and so little to regret, here where the Son of Righteousness has held its shining way across the firmament for a hundred years, bere where the atmosphere is charcjed with the memory and benedictions of the pious dead, here and now let us reverently commit the future of our dear, dear old Synod to Him who has bought us with His blood. 318S- ^t irs'^'^KT'^