CHURCH: History of the Congregation of Guinston, Chanceford, York County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ ________________________________________________ HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION OF GUINSTON, Chanceford, York County, Pennsylvania IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH by Rev. Francis McBurney, Pastor. Published by the Congregation Philadelphia: Jas. B. Rodgers, Printer, 52 & 54 North Sixth Street 1866. HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION It is natural for man to feel a great interest in the occurrences of former days; and this interest increases in intensity, when valuable results flow from events that have transpired in ages that are past, and which still continue to give evidence that the labors and self-denial of those that have preceded us are blessed with abundant fruit. But every investigation with reference to matters of this description (owing to the lapse of time) is necessarily attended with difficulties, and is, in many respects, like tracing a mighty river to its source: when that river approaches the ocean, its channel is so distinctly marked as to be visible at once to every passer-by; but follow it backward from the ocean, and almost innumerable divisions take place in its various tributaries, thus rendering the task of tracing each little rivulet to the spring in which it originated, a matter attended with the greatest difficulty and labor. And so it is with reference to the history of the Church, or of any particular congregation in that Church; for although a knowledge of its present condition is easily acquired, yet, if we look far backward, we find such a retrospective view attended with similar results to that of a traveller prosecuting his journey over one of the vast prairies of the West, where the objects nearest to him are well defined, those more distant scarcely visible, and those that he has passed a long time hence, have entirely disappeared or faded from view. Now, so it is, to a certain extent, with reference to the early history of this congregation; for, although we have procured a large amount of original documents, upon which we will chiefly depend for a brief sketch of the most important events connected with it, yet, at the same time, many occurrences, replete with interest, will be necessarily excluded, because they rest entirely for their authenticity upon accounts handed down from father to son during a number of generations and hence are not, on this account, entirely reliable. And here, before proceeding farther, it might, perhaps, be as well to notice a few things with reference to the early history of that part of the country in which the Guinston congregation is located; and here we refer you (to Sherman Day's Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania,) where we find that the territory now comprising York and several other counties, was purchased from the Indians by Governor Dongan, of New York, who transferred it to William Penn, in A.D. 1696. This deed was confirmed to Penn, in 1700, by Widagh and Addagyjunkquagh, kings or sachems of the Susquehanna Indians: these deeds, however, only conveyed the Susquehanna river and lands adjoining the same; and as the Conestoga Indians were offended at the sale, and would not acknowledge its validity, Penn and his successors did not consider the Indian title, particularly to lands west of the river, as fully extinguished. Hence, in 1736, with the approbation of the Grand Council of Onondaga, the Six Nations (these were the Onondagas, the Cayugas, the Oneidas, the Senecas, the Mohawks, and, in 1712, the Tuscaroras, being expelled from the interior of North Carolina and Virginia, were adopted as a sixth tribe) conveyed to the proprietaries all the lands as far up as the Kittatinny Mountains, and west of the Susquehanna river as far as the setting sun. In this grant was, of course, included the locality to which is generally known as the Barrens of York county (a name given to the slaty lands here, not on account of their want of fertility, but from the circumstance that the original settlers found the land denuded of timber by the annual fires kindled by the Indians for the purpose of improving their hunting ground.) The townships included in the Barrens are Chanceford, Lower Chanceford, Fawn, Peachbottom, Hopewell and part of Windsor. This part of the county was settled, according to Messrs. W. C. Carter and A. J. Glossbrenner, about the years 1734, 1735, and 1736, by families from Scotland and Ireland, who consisted principally of the better order of peasantry, who were a sober, industrious, moral and intelligent people, and were, for the most part, rigid Presbyterians; and blessed, as we now are, with all the bounties of God's providence, we can form but a very imperfect idea of all the trials and privations endured in this locality by the early settlers. The land, as already noticed, was almost destitute of timber for building purposes, so they were compelled to live in huts, principally constructed of saplings, and the interstices filled with clay and other materials of that description, thus affording them but a very imperfect shelter from the inclemency of the weather; while they were also compelled to manufacture for themselves the clothing necessary to protect them from the summer's heat and winter's cold. A single house was not erected within what is now known as the Borough of York, at the period to which we refer; indeed, it was only in October, A. D. 1741, or about thirteen years before the organization of the Guinston congregation, that the tract of land on both sides of Codorus creek, within the manor of Springettsbury, upon which the town was to be laid out, was surveyed by Thomas Cookson, then Deputy Surveyor of Lancaster county, in which county the portion of territory to which we now have reference was at that time included. Among the early settlers in this part of Lancaster county (as it was then called) was Mr. Alexander Wallace, who arrived in this country from Scotland, about the year 1734, many of whose lineal descendants still continue to reside in this locality; and one of his great-grandsons, Mr. Andrew Wallace, still owns and resides on the property at first occupied by his ancestor. This name has always, from the first organization of Guinston congregation, been identified with its interests. Among other settlers about that period, in the bounds of what is now the Guinston congregation, we find the names of Thomas Currie, John Orr, William Orr, Samuel Harper, John McNary, William Fulton, and many others who have long since removed from this neighborhood, but whose descendants are still to be found scattered through many a congregation of the United Presbyterian Church in the Western States of this Union. These settlers having arrived at the place of their destination, experienced a want at that period utterly unknown in their native lands, for no temple had been erected for the worship of the Lord God of hosts in this locality; but, though suffering from the want of those ordinances of Divine grace, to which they had been accustomed from early infancy, they did not sit down in listlessness and apathy, and look upon their case as one for which there was no remedy; but in their emergency they turned their longing eyes to Scotland, that land of the martyrs and the covenants, as a place from which a messenger from God might be obtained, holding a like faith with themselves, and practising the duties of religion in the same way they had been accustomed to do in the land of their nativity. Similar feelings and desires were also experienced in other places in the Province of Pennsylvania, and we find, from Dr. McKerrow, that as early as 1736, a letter was received (by the Antiburgher Synod in Scotland, from Londonderry, Chester county, in that Province) containing an urgent request that they would send over either an ordained minister or a probationer, to labor among the inhabitants of that district, and promising to defray all the necessary expenses of the mission. This request was not, however, complied with; and in 1750, petitions were again sent to the Antiburgher Synod, from some of the eastern counties of the Province, which were followed by better results; for in the year 1753, Messrs. Alexander Gellatly and Andrew Arnott, ministers at Midholm, arrived in this country, and soon afterwards, according to their instructions, constituted themselves into a Presbytery, under the name of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, and entered diligently upon the prosecution of their appropriate work. Now, it was about this time that the congregation of Guinston was organized, for it is plain that this organization must have taken place either in the Fall of 1753, or early in 1754, as Mr. Alexander Gellatly supplied these in 1754, and there was at that time in Guinston congregation a session, consisting of at least six members, that must have been ordained some time previously; and here the question arises, was Guinston the first congregation in the Associate or in the United Presbyterian Church, or was it not? It is true, that this is a question of but very little importance, as the organization of Octoraro, Oxford and Guinston must have occurred at very nearly the same time. But let us briefly notice some of the reasons that go to show that, in many respects, Guinston may justly be considered either the first, or at least occupying as honorable position as the first of the congregations of the United Presbyterian Church. And the first thing we would notice here is, that statement in Miller's Sketches, that a respectable number of applicants for preaching in the Province of Pennsylvania, forwarded a petition in 1750, to the Associate (Antiburgher) Synod in Scotland, for the dispensation of gospel ordinances. And Dr. Beveridge, in the Church Memorial, gives corroborative evidence of this assertion, but does not state the particular locality or localities from which these petitions were issued. But could any individual, for a single instant, suppose that the great number of Scotch and Irish settlers, in what is now called York county, but which was separated from Lancaster county by an act dated the 9th of August, 1749, made no efforts, nay, did not make equal efforts, at least with the residents of any other locality, to procure for themselves a dispensation of the ordinances of Divine grace, such an assertion would be a virtual denial of the piety of the early settlers in this neighborhood, or would be equivalent to the assertion, that because they had been destitute of gospel ordinances for the eighteen or nineteen years they had inhabited this locality, prior to the arrival of Messrs. Gellatly and Arnott in the Province of Pennsylvania, as missionaries of the Associate Church, they had become utterly indifferent with reference to spiritual things. The subsequent history of Guinston congregation would at once disprove such an idea as this; and Glossbrenner, in his history of York county, states explicitly that the early settlers in the Barrens of York county were, for the most part, rigid Presbyterians, and that they were a moral and intelligent people. Again, the fact that Mr. Gellatly was settled in Octoraro and Oxford, in Lancaster county, while Guinston continued a vacancy up to the year 1773, affords no evidence whatever that these places were organized prior to Guinston congregation. These, and many other things of a like description, go to show that if Guinston be not the first congregation, in this respect, there could not at least have been much difference in the time of the organization of the three congregations to which we have referred. But, there are reasons apart from this, that go to show why the Guinston congregation may justly claim the precedence in the United Presbyterian Church, so far as antiquity is concerned, for it alone is the only congregation that can claim that, for one hundred and four or one hundred and five years, up to the time of the happy union of 1858, it has continued to exist in the same ecclesiastical connection, no change having been made in its external relation in this point of view. Again, if we look back to early and extended usefulness in the propagation of the principles of our profession, Guinston must be admitted to occupy the first place in our beloved Church; for whether we take a glance at the vast number of those connected with her, that, in almost all periods of her history, have devoted themselves to the gospel ministry, coming up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty, or to the many congregations that have been organized through the instrumentality of those who were formerly in her membership, we must admit that she has occupied an eminent position in the Church of God on earth; but we cannot state this better than in the language of the Rev. J. P. Miller, who, in his Biographical Sketches of some of the first ministers of the Associate Church in America, says, "That the Secession Church has now upwards of one hundred and eighty congregations in America, the great majority of which lie in the United States, west of the Alleghany Mountains," and it has been remarked by those who have had opportunities of personal acquaintance in most of those congregations, that there is scarcely one known in which some of those that were members in Guinston congregation are not to be found; and, in many cases, they formed, if we may borrow a term, the nucleus of the congregation. Guinston congregation, at its organization, being destitute of a church edifice for the worship of God, held their meetings for divine service, for a time, at the house of Mr. Alexander Wallace, of Hopewell, to whom we have already referred; but, at the same time, every effort was made to procure, as soon as possible, a building, raised expressly for the divine worship, that would be in a more central position, and hence, more accessible to all that were connected with it at that early day; and these efforts were crowned with success, and Guinston congregation had soon the pleasure of assembling in a rude edifice, constructed principally of small logs, and located on the two acre lot on which their present church building stands, and in this way was the first congregation in this part of York county organized, and the first church building constructed; for the nearest congregation of any denomination, at that time, was that of Slate Ridge, the Old School Presbyterian Church, in Peachbottom township, where a log church had been erected soon after the original settlement of that locality, and a congregation organized, of which the Rev. Mr. Whittlesey was the first pastor. Now, although the congregation of Guinston, after its organization, occupied, in some respects, an isolated position, being far distant from those holding to a similar faith and practice with themselves, yet, under the fostering care of Presbytery, they increased rapidly in numbers, in scriptural attainments, and practical piety. Mr. Gellatly, during his brief ministry, preached frequently for them, and Mr. James Proudfoot, who arrived in the Province of Pennsylvania in the Fall of 1754, was especially active in administering to the spiritual wants of those connected with this organization; indeed, we find that, for many years, he and the Rev. Matthew Henderson, who arrived in this country in 1758, and who was afterwards settled in Oxford and Pencader, were the principal ministers that supplied in this young but rapidly increasing congregation. But, although they had now a church edifice, in which they statedly met for the worship of God, yet meetings of Session still continued to be held, and the principal part of the ordinary business of the congregation was transacted at the house of Mr. Alexander Wallace, of Hopewell, for a great many years after the time to which we now refer. Thus, we have minutes of meeting after meeting of Session, in the years succeeding the organization of the congregation, of which either Mr. Gellatly, Mr. Proudfoot, or Mr. Henderson, was the Moderator, and always at the house of Mr. Wallace: indeed, the first meeting of Session of which we have any account, that was held in the church, was in the year 1760. After a long interval, (in which the meetings, with the exception of one held at the house of Mr. Fulton, always took place at the house to which we have already referred,) we find the Session meeting in the church on the 17th of February, 1769, on which occasion five additional elders were elected, Mr. M. Henderson being Moderator. But, although there are many things in the history of Guinston congregation, from its organization to the period of the settlement of Mr. Clarkson, that would be both interesting and instructive to the descendants of those that have erected a banner for the truth in this locality, yet neither time nor space would permit us to indulge in such a description, even if we were desirous of doing it; and hence, it may be sufficient to notice that all their efforts to procure a settled pastor, up to the year 1773, to which we have already referred, proved a failure. Their last call for a minister, previously to that period, was that presented to the Rev. William Marshall, in 1764, and which is referred to in Miller's Sketches as emanating from the congregation of Muddy Creek, which was rejected by that individual. But, although they had no stated dispensation of gospel ordinances among them, yet, at the same time, it is fully evident, from the following paper, dated 26th of August, 1771, that they were fully able to support a gospel minister: The names of the subscribers, and the amount of their subscriptions for this purpose, are as follows: NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS £ s. d. £ s. d. Samuel Harper 3 00 0 James Kelly 10 0 James McNary 2 00 0 Charles McRoben 10 0 John Robinson 1 00 0 Robert Burnett 10 0 Andrew Proudfoot 1 10 0 John Sincler 17 6 Thomas Currie 1 00 0 William Motheral 10 0 George Campbell 2 00 0 Robert Barns 10 0 John McClorg 1 00 0 John Torrence 10 0 John Orr 1 10 0 Samuel Warnock 15 0 Samuel Roseburg 15 0 Robert Foley 10 0 Robert Proudfoot 10 0 James McElroy 1 00 0 George Murray 2 00 0 William Fulton 1 00 0 Andrew Paxton 1 00 0 Samuel Patterson 10 0 Robert Stewart 1 00 0 Robert Gibson 1 00 0 John McNary 1 00 0 James Leiper 10 0 Thomas Mukell 1 00 0 William Stuart 1 5 0 Andrew Young 2 00 0 John McCay 1 10 0 Matthew Adams 2 00 0 John Harbison 10 0 John Gibson 1 5 0 William Magill 10 0 Robert Shaw 1 00 0 William Young 1 00 0 William Buchanan 2 00 0 John Campbell, sen. 10 0 James Wallace 2 00 0 John Hunter 15 0 William Wilson 1 10 0 William Allison 1 15 0 Alexander Moor 1 00 0 James McCullough 10 0 Agnes Wallace 1 00 0 James Finney 10 0 Joseph Mason 1 00 0 Samuel Martin 10 0 John Hamilton 1 00 0 Thomas McCullough 15 0 James Wallace 1 00 0 William Murphy 15 0 William Giffen 15 0 Andrew Kinnear 15 0 Gawn Allison 1 10 0 John Travise, jun. 5 0 Alexander Creighton 2 00 0 Patrick Pees 10 0 Thomas McNary 1 00 0 Charles Stewart 10 0 James Sper 10 0 Aaron Arsdel 10 0 Henry McWharter 15 0 David Jackson 15 0 Archibald Scott 1 10 0 James McKissock 15 0 John Russel 10 0 William McClorg 10 0 John Oalston 15 0 William Edgar 15 0 John Hyson 10 0 Archibald Hyson 10 0 William Marlin 1 00 0 Alexander Ligget 10 0 Henry Creage 10 0 Samuel Elliot 7 6 Archibald Purdy 1 00 0 Robert Bagel 15 0 Archibald Gilliland 15 0 William Adams 1 10 0 John Neilson 15 0 John McKissock 10 0 Robert Hyson 10 0 William Ligget 10 0 William Marlin, jun. 10 0 John McJimpsy 1 2 6 George Henry 1 00 0 John Gemmill 5 0 James Small 15 0 Alexander Adams 1 10 0 John Stewart 15 0 Thomas Allison 1 00 0 James Hamilton 10 0 Samuel Elliot 15 0 John Muckle 10 0 Isaac McKissock 7 6 Robert McLelland 1 00 0 Samuel Collins 10 0 James Barks 1 00 0 John Wilson 10 0 James Porter 1 00 0 William Gemmill 1 00 0 Agnes Smith 10 0 Hugh Nielson 15 0 John Cummins 10 0 Robert Chestney 8 0 David Orchald 10 0 John Duncan 10 0 John Murray 1 00 0 Francis Grove 15 0 Samuel Ramsy 1 00 0 Alexander Smith 5 0 James Fulton 1 00 0 We have, then, here in this list, one hundred and thirteen male, and two female subscribers, the sum total of their subscriptions for the support of a pastor amounting to £102 8s. 0d., an amount much better for all practical purposes, owing to the increased cost of living, than the salaries usually given by country congregations at the present day. But though they had been unsuccessful in their efforts to procure a pastor in the by-past period of their existence, yet these failures, in place of discouraging them, and leading them to abandon their enterprise in despair, only served to lead them to make renewed efforts to procure one to go out and in before them, and break to them statedly the bread of life; and their believing prayers at a throne of grace, and their patient waiting upon God in the way of his commandments, were soon to be answered by his granting unto them the desire of their souls: ere long a brighter day was to dawn upon them, and their eyes were to behold their teacher. Accordingly, we find that in the summer of 1773, the Rev. James Clarkson, a native of Scotland, who had received an education for the gospel ministry, left his native land, and came to this country, and was installed (as the minute from which we make this extract reads,) or admitted by the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, to take charge of the Associate congregation of Guinston on the 25th of August, 1773. Soon after the settlement of Mr. Clarkson, he enforced upon the people of his charge the duty of Christian beneficence, and collections were taken up regularly each Sabbath, during the whole period of his ministry, for aiding those in the membership of Guinston congregation that were in destitute circumstances: these contributions, averaging for the first few years of his settlement about £20 per annum, were privately disbursed by the Session, the arrangements for this purpose being made at a meeting for prayer and praise held on the first Tuesday of each month; and in this way the pressing necessities of many individuals were relieved, without any being cognizant of the individuals that were the recipients of the bounty of the congregation, except the Session and the recipients themselves. At the time of the settlement of Mr. Clarkson, the Guinston congregation, convinced of the inadequacy of their church edifice to suit their wants, held a meeting at the church on the 6th of November, 1773, to take some action with reference to this matter; and at this meeting it was unanimously resolved to erect a stone edifice for the worship of God on the same lot on which their church then stood. The dimensions of the building which they proposed to construct, were forty-six feet in length, and thirty feet in width, within the walls, and eighteen feet high to the square. They appointed as managers, Andrew Proudfoot, James Wallace, John Herron, James McNary, William Adams, and John Lusk, giving them instructions to proceed immediately in providing all the materials necessary for the accomplishment of the work; and by this prompt and unanimous action, we have an exhibition of more real self-denial and liberality on the part of the congregation at that time, as well as afterwards, in the erection of their church edifice, considering the limited resources of the members and the difficulty in procuring materials, than could be exhibited now by the erection of ten such buildings by this congregation. But the great secret of their success consisted in their unanimity, their pious recognition of the just claims of Jehovah, and in their cheerful consecration of their persons and services to the Lord; and hence, though they had many difficulties (principally of a financial character) to encounter before their purpose was carried into execution, yet eventually, by their own unaided efforts, their undertaking was accomplished, and they enjoyed the satisfaction of meeting together for the worship of God in the second church edifice erected by the members of this congregation. For some time after this event, nothing occurred of special interest in the history of this people. But a time was not far distant when both the patriotism and the trust of God of all the inhabitants of this land were to be severely tried. Soon were the implements of peaceful husbandry to be exchanged for the weapons of war; and the usual avocations of life, and the house of God, where his people had taken sweet counsel together, were to be abandoned for the tented field; for on the 19th of April, 1775, the first battle of the Revolutionary War was fought at Lexington, which was followed by a period of trials and privations, such as have been rarely, if ever, endured by any people. During the continuance of that long war, the congregation suffered numerically; many of its male members having complied with the call of duty, left home, and all its endearments, either to fill a warrior's grave, or wear a victor's crown. Many of them also suffered pecuniarily; but the evils of this description have always, in the end, proved to be beneficial, in place of injurious to the church of God; and we find that at the conclusion of that war, notwithstanding the severe drain upon the congregation for the army, and also partly caused by emigration to the West, that its membership had not materially decreased. But trials of another description were also before them, as a component part of the Associate Church; for it was soon to be rent asunder, and thus a chasm made that would require many years of prayers, and tears, and labors on the part of God's people to fill. And here, before proceeding farther, it will be necessary for us to revert to the year 1774, at which time, according to Mr. Miller and Dr. Beveridge, the first Reformed Presbytery in this country was organized, (although Dr. Harper, of Xenia, states that it was in 1770,) consisting of the Rev. Messrs. John Cuthbertson, William Linn, and Alexander Dobbin, whose labors were confined principally to Pennsylvania, and thus limited to a great extent to territory then occupied by the Associate Church. Shortly after the organization here referred to, negotiations for a union between the Associate and Reformed Presbyterian Churches were inaugurated, having for their object the mutual interests of both parties, as each had a number of small vacancies scattered over a large amount of territory, and many of these were so situated, that by a union of these two branches of the church of Christ, one edifice would accommodate, and one pastor minister to the flocks, that, in their present divided condition, required two ministers and two church buildings, and this, owing to the pressing demand for more gospel laborers, was justly considered a most desirable object. About twenty meetings, or conventions, were held for the attainment of this end, without producing unanimity in the parties that were negotiating; but as a large majority of each party was in favor of union, it was finally consummated at Pequa, on January 13th, 1782. But as there were different articles in the terms of union, to which exceptions were taken by two ministers and three elders of the Associate Church, they protested, and appealed to the Associate Synod of Scotland, and at the same time withdrew from the meeting, claiming to be the true Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania. Among those thus protesting and appealing were the Rev. James Clarkson, of Guinston, and also Alexander Moore, an elder from the same congregation. By this division only two ministers were left in the Associate Church, and all the early organized congregations, with the exception of Guinston, went into the union. After this rupture in the church of Christ, this congregation continued to enjoy a good degree of harmony within itself, and we have for a number of years no item of any importance demanding special notice; indeed, the next circumstance to which we require to make a reference, is the action of the Presbytery of Pennsylvania. At a meeting held at Philadelphia, on the 29th of April, 1791, at which meeting an act was passed respecting public covenanting, and which was afterwards incorporated in the Testimony of the church: in accordance with its requirements the congregation of Guinston renewed their covenant obligations to God in the month of October, 1793. The following is a list of the names of those who, on that solemn occasion, avowed the Lord to be their God. Henry Arnott, Ann Rheiny, Janet Andrew, John McNary, Abigail Porter, Jane Purdy, James Pedan, Archibald Purdy, Thomas Lusk, Samuel Collins, Robert Shaw, Robert McLellan, Alexander Gowans, James Martin, Elizabeth McLellan, William Morrow, Margaret Martin, Thomas Grove, William Collins, Esther McNary, John McCall, Jacob Grove, Frederick McPherson, Elizabeth McCall, Elizabeth Grove, Andrew Duncan, James Adams, James Porter, Isabel McGlass, Elizabeth Adams, Samuel Roseburg, Elizabeth Morrison, Grigzel McCall, William Ligget, Margaret Henry, Mary Gowans, John Lusk, Elizabeth McClurg, William McLellan, John Wilson, Jane Gowans, John Aitkins, Margaret Wilson, James Wilson, Margaret McClelland, Jane Martin, Robert Andrew, Peter Martin, James Allison, Agnes Wilson, Janet Fullerton, Mary Martin, Andrew Martin, William Edgar, William Fullerton, Margaret Martin, Sibby Edgar, Margaret Fullerton, William Ligget, Eleanor Edgar, Samuel Miller, David Wilson, John Wilson, jun. Sarah Miller, Juliana Howie, Janet Paxton, William Fallow, Janet Lusk, James McNary, Mary Fallow, Agnes Collins, Margaret Reid, Jane Allen, Margaret Ligget, Mary McNary, David Wilson, Patrick Lusk, William Henderson, Margaret Moffat, Isabel Young, Elizabeth Henderson, Robert Fullerton, Agnes Purdy, David Wallace, James Stuart, John Lusk, William Collins, Joseph Thompson, Alexander Ligget, John McCay, Mary Thompson, Eleanor Ligget, John Collins, Margaret Fullerton, Joseph Pedan, Margaret Collins, Margaret Wilson, Mary McLellan, John McCay, jun., Alexander Wilson, James Henderson, Agnes Roseburg, Elizabeth Allison, Elizabeth Henderson, Janet Roseburg, David McLellan, John McIsaac, Agnes Roseburg, jun., Keziah Pedan, Joseph Hamilton, Grace Clarkson, Matthew Adams, Margaret Hamilton, Jane McCay, Jane Dunlap, Elizabeth Henderson, Agnes Arnott. Samuel Harper, Samuel Fullerton, Jane Harper, Susanna McLellan, >From this you will see, that on this occasion, one hundred and twenty-one members of Guinston congregation engaged in the renewal of their covenant obligations to God, expressing their willingness, through the aid of Divine grace, to do whatever he in his providence would call upon them to perform, and pledging themselves to be faithful to the God of their fathers. At this period the tide of emigration from this congregation continued (as in the past) to prevent its increase; indeed, in all periods of its history, it has occupied the position of a reservoir, into which streams were constantly flowing on the one side, but which were as regularly emitted on the other, in order to supply with the ordinances of Divine grace, or with the water of life, the parched and destitute regions of the West. Shortly after the commencement of the present century, Mr. Clarkson was frequently incapacitated by disease from ministering in the church to the people of his charge. The malady by which he was afflicted appears from his letters to have been very debilitating in its nature, and involving much suffering as to its character; for the Rev. F. Pringle, of Carlisle, in a letter dated the 21st of November, 1803, states as follows:--"I am much better than I have been, but I continue weak and unable to preach. I am now freed from those pains I used to be troubled with; yet there is such a degree of weakness constantly experienced, that I cannot stand any fatigue. The natural reason of this, I apprehend, is that I cannot sleep much. Some nights I sleep none, and other nights I sleep only for a very short time, and lying down in the daytime does not relieve me." In this letter he is making an application to Presbytery for the continuance of supply for the Guinston congregation, and earnestly urges its needy condition as a reason why his request should meet with a favorable answer. But although Mr. Clarkson was at this time unable to attend to all the duties of the ministry, yet he continued for a number of years to occupy the relation of pastor to that flock that had so long enjoyed the blessing of his example and teachings. Thus we find that though for a number of years the congregation of Guinston was principally dependent upon supplies for preaching, (to the Board of Home Missions,) yet at the same time Mr. Clarkson was their recognised pastor, and still continued to act as moderator at meetings of Session, and to attend to the transaction of all business of this description, even after the period of his release, which event took place in A.D. 1808, for we find in the minutes of a meeting of the congregation, dated March 9th, of that year, that Mr. Samuel Collins, who had been their commissioner to Presbytery, informed the people here that Mr. Clarkson's resignation of the charge of this congregation was given in to Presbytery, and sustained by them with the understanding that the people of his charge would contribute something towards his future support, which matter was afterwards settled amicably and satisfactorily between Mr. Clarkson and the congregation themselves. And thus, after a settlement of thirty-five years, (during which he had seen many of those that were baptized by himself admitted to full communion in the church on earth, and many, too, that had been in the membership of the congregation either consigned to the narrow house appointed for all living, or that had taken up their abode in the western parts of the church,) he is now released from the connection that had so long and so happily existed between him and the people of his charge, and retires to spend the brief remaining period of his natural life at Valleyfield, (the name by which he designated the place of his residence during his earthly abode in the western continent.) After the period of his resignation he continued to take a great interest in all the affairs of the congregation up to the period of his death, which occurred on the 30th of October, 1811, at which time he was seventy-three years of age. His last remains now sleep in Guinston graveyard amidst the mouldering dust of many of those who had enjoyed his ministrations, and whom he had striven to lead to a brighter and happier home in heaven. And thus he who was the faithful and laborious pastor, the affectionate friend, and the kind husband and father, now sleeps in his lowly abode, alike heedless of the storms that howl around, the sunbeams that shine in all their radiance and beauty, or the snow wreaths that encircle his last resting-place. With regard to Mr. Clarkson as a preacher, we would just quote the language of Mr. Miller, in his sketches concerning him, who states that he pursued the old and best plan of expounding the psalm, and lecturing in the forenoon. He might be called a systematic and doctrinal preacher generally. Though he could not be called an eloquent speaker, yet he was an interesting preacher. He had an impressive earnestness in his manner, well calculated to draw attention. His enunciation was clear, manly, and distinct; and though he sometimes hesitated, he would frequently speak with fluency. All his talents were of the useful, rather than of the brilliant kind. As a man, he was cheerful and affable; at the same time he possessed a native dignity, of which he could not easily divest himself, undeviatingly adhering to whatever he conceived to be right, regardless of consequences. Previously to the death of Mr. Clarkson, two efforts had been made by the congregation to secure the labors of a pastor among them. Thus, at a meeting in the Guinston church, on June 17th, 1808, it was unanimously resolved to call the Rev. Robert Bruce; and again, in 1810, a call was moderated for the Rev. John Mushet, the meeting to take steps for raising the funds necessary for his support being held by the congregation on the 23rd of March of that year. Both these efforts, however, proving unsuccessful, they again presented a call in the year 1814 for the services of Mr. Alexander McLelland, and with better prospect of success; and in order to show their earnest desire to secure a settled minister among them, and their willingness to minister to his wants (or rather to anticipate them) in temporal things while he would give attention to their spiritual necessities, they circulated a subscription paper among the members, in order that they might be enabled to make him a present as an evidence of their estimation of gospel privileges, and their high esteem for him as an ambassador of Christ. The paper to which we have reference, is as follows:-- We, the undersigned persons, promise to pay the sums annexed to our names as a gratuity to Mr. Alexander McLelland, as soon as he is placed at Guinston, (provided we obtain him:) David Wallace $10 00 Mary Dunlap $1 00 John Collins 9 00 William Moffat 1 00 Joseph Edgar 6 00 Francis Grove 3 00 David Edgar 4 00 James McCallister 1 00 Samuel Collins 5 00 James Wilson 10 00 William Collins 10 00 Margaret Wilson 1 00 John Collins, jun. 1 00 Alexander Wallace 8 00 William Collins, jun. 2 00 James Wallace 1 00 William Liggit 10 00 William Collins 1 00 Samuel Martin 2 00 Jane Moor 2 00 Margaret Martin 3 00 Margaret Smith 2 00 Andrew Martin 1 00 Jessie Pedan 2 00 George Anderson 1 00 Robert Fullerton 1 00 David Jordan 2 00 Thomas Grove 50 Lydia McCay 1 00 James Collins 1 00 Total amount $105 50 Again, however, were they compelled to exclaim, we have spent our strength in vain, and our labor for naught. Their next effort, which was made in the year 1816, at which time they called Mr. Alexander Wilson, was also attended with a similar result; and it was not until the year 1818, that the King and Head of the church was pleased to accept the efforts and answer the prayers of Guinston congregation, by granting unto them one to go in and out before them, and break unto them the bread of life. Thus, we find, in the Minutes of the Associate Synod, the following statement, that Mr. Alexander Gordon was ordained pastor of the Associate Congregation of Guinston, on the 20th of August, 1818; and here, perhaps, it may be necessary to notice, that there is a slight discrepancy (of two days) with reference to the date of Mr. Gordon's ordination, between the Memoirs of that individual, by Amanda Miller, and the statement in the Minutes of the Associate Synod. In these Memoirs, his ordination is stated to have taken place on the 18th of August, whereas, according to the minutes, which, being the official statement, and, no doubt, correct, that event is said to have occurred two days later, or on the 20th of the month and year to which we have already referred. By this event, Guinston was blessed with a settled pastor, after a vacancy of ten years, reckoning from the date of the acceptance of the resignation of their former pastor, or for a much longer time, if we reckon from the period at which Mr. Clarkson was incapacitated, by disease, from discharging all the duties pertaining to his sacred office. Immediately after the time of Mr. Gordon's settlement, considerable energy appears to have been exerted, and efforts made, for the better cultivation of the territory within the limits of the congregation, by those in its membership, and also for aiding in the wider dissemination of the blessings and teachings of the gospel; thus, in the Minutes of the Associate Synod, for the year 1819, we find the following statement, with reference to this matter. "In Guinston congregation, a considerable prospect of prosperity to religion opens upon the view; a Bible Society, of considerable magnitude, has been formed in aid of the American Bible Society, through the instigation of that congregation, and two Sabbath-schools have already been opened in it, which upwards of sixty persons have already joined." For a length of time after this, no change, worthy of notice, took place in the condition of the congregation, under the charge of their new pastor: its membership steadily increased up to the year 1821, at which time a number of those that had been in connection with the Associate Reformed congregation of Lower Chanceford, connected themselves (for the time) with the Associate congregation of Guinston, their object, however, being to secure a part of Mr. Gordon's time, and thus obtain for themselves a stated dispensation of gospel ordinances in connection with the Associate Church. The period in which all accessions of this description, and having this end in view, took place, was included between the 27th of September, 1821, and the 10th of August, 1822. During the sixty-eight years that had now elapsed in the history of Guinston congregation, they had always (previously to this) had the full time of a pastor to themselves; but a change was now desired, and circumstances seemed to be such, as to render it at least proper that a portion of Mr. Gordon's time should be given to the new organization, which they proposed establishing in Lower Chanceford township; and hence, we find this congregation willingly acceding to a request to that effect, shortly afterwards made by the Lower Chanceford members; for at a meeting of this congregation, held in the church on the 29th of November, 1822, a statement was made by Mr. Samuel Smith to the following effect: That the Lower Congregation had a meeting, and agreed to apply for one- fourth of Mr. Gordon's time, that subscriptions had been taken for that purpose, and that he was appointed as the representative of the Lower Chanceford members of the Associate Church to present their case to the Guinston congregation, and urge their acquiescence in their request." This application was favorably entertained, and Mr. Samuel Smith and Mr. John Collins were appointed a Committee to converse with Mr. Gordon on the subject of taking charge of the Lower Chanceford congregation, in connection with Guinston, for the same amount of salary that was at first promised upon his settlement in York county. To these proposals, Mr. Gordon yielded a ready acquiescence, and during the remaining part of his ministry here, he continued to preach one-fourth of his time in Lower Chanceford, which was organized as a congregation in 1823, as we find in the Minutes of the Associate Synod for 1824, where we have the following record: "At a meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, on the 13th of August, 1823, in consequence of a petition to that effect, a number of people who had been formerly in connection with the Associate Reformed Church, but had been received into church fellowship by the Session of Guinston, were disjoined from that congregation, and formed into a distinct organization, by the name of the Lower Chanceford congregation;" but as it is unnecessary to follow this subject, it may be sufficient to state that, after a number of years of at least a great numerical prosperity, the greater part of the members eventually returned to the Church organization to which they had previously belonged. There is but little of public interest in the subsequent history of Guinston congregation during the remaining years of Mr. Gordon's pastorate. Owing to a mistake which he committed, difficulties had arisen that tended to mar his comfort and impede his usefulness in this congregation, and thoughts of changing his location entered his mind early in 1823, to which intention reference is made at a meeting of the congregation, which was held on the 27th of September of that year; for, on that occasion, the Session, by the authority of Mr. Gordon, informed the congregation of his intention to make application to the Presbytery, at its first meeting, for a release from his present charge, and requested that neither the Session nor the congregation would oppose it. To this request the congregation acceded, and appointed Andrew Clarkson, Esq., a Commissioner to Presbytery, with instructions that he should inform that venerable body of the action of the congregation in the matter. This request, however, was not granted at that time; indeed, it is doubtful whether it was presented at all or not, as there is no reference made to it in the report of Presbytery to the Associate Synod in the published minutes of that year; and it was not until the 20th of October, 1825, that the relation of Mr. Gordon to the congregations of Guinston and Lower Chanceford was dissolved by the action of Presbytery, and thus, after enjoying the labors of that individual for the brief period of seven years and two months, the congregation of Guinston was again left destitute of a pastor to dispense unto them the public ordinances of divine grace. After the removal of Mr. Gordon from Guinston, he was, for a number of years, settled in Putnam congregation, in the State of New York, and subsequently in Johnstown congregation, in the same State. On the Sabbath preceding his death, he preached two discourses with at least his usual ability and energy, and that night he slept more soundly than he was accustomed to do after the labors of the Sabbath. On Monday he was seized by an attack of cholera morbus, and at half-past one o'clock on Wednesday, the 20th of August, 1845, his spirit returned to God who gave it. His mortal remains were interred in a burial-ground in Johnstown, at which place his family (with the exception of his widow and those engaged in the ministry and missionary work of the United Presbyterian Church) still reside. It appears from the memoirs of Mr. Gordon, as well as the statements of different individuals who were familiar with him, that he was of rather melancholy temperament, and inclined to look at the dark side of events; but, at the same time, as a true Christian, he was willing to submit implicitly to the will of God, no matter what he might be called upon to do or suffer, either on his own account, or in behalf of that cause which he had espoused. As a preacher and writer, he was possessed of more than ordinary talent; but, at the same time, he was much troubled, during the greater part of his ministry, by nervous affection, that filled his mind with a fear of failure each time that he entered the pulpit. This affliction commenced during the time of his pastorate in Guinston, and is described as follows, by himself: "As I was standing, one very sultry day, in the woods of Lower Chanceford, a severe nervous affection came over me, producing giddiness, a defect in mental energy, and especially recollection. Now, all my boldness left me, and a continual fear of losing my recollection, and of falling through my discourse, succeeded it. If I had to stand in a high pulpit, my giddiness and fear of falling into confusion increased. My distress, in this way, has, hundreds of times, been indescribable, and as often, upon mere human principles, insupportable. When the hour for commencing public worship was announced, it would make me quake from head to foot. I have often ascended the pulpit like one going to execution, and often could not hold up the psalm book, for trepidation-a strange face in the audience would fill me with confusion." After the removal of Mr. Gordon from his pastoral charge, the congregations of Guinston and Lower Chanceford were, for a number of years, on the list of vacancies, and during that time successive efforts were made, in order to obtain a settlement. Among these, we will notice the following: At a meeting of Guinston congregation, October the 15th, 1825, it was unanimously resolved to call the Rev. Thomas Goodwillie; and as this occurred five days previously to the release of Mr. Gordon by the Presbytery, it may perhaps be necessary to notice, that he had left the congregation, and that they were receiving supplies of preaching from the Presbytery for a considerable time before the pastoral relation was officially dissolved. Again, on April 13th, 1830, agreed to call the Rev. Horatio Thompson, which call was rejected, and on the 2d of November, 1831, they agreed to call the Rev. William Douthett; but, after this call was moderated, it was withdrawn by the congregation, the meeting at which this was taken being held at the church on the 11th of May, 1832. On this day they also agreed to forward a petition to Synod, for the services of the Rev. John Graham for one year, as stated supply; but all the efforts thus made by the congregation were unsuccessful until the year 1833, when a call, emanating from them, was sustained by the Presbytery, and presented to the Rev. John Adams, and was by him accepted; and he was ordained and installed by the Philadelphia Presbytery, as pastor of the Guinston and Lower Chanceford congregations, on the 11th of September, 1833; so that, by this event, they were again blessed with a stated dispensation of gospel ordinances, after having been destitute of a settled minister for nearly eight years. No occurrence of special interest (so far as the history of this congregation is concerned) took place during the pastorate of Mr. Adams; and hence, it may be sufficient to notice, that he continued to labor in this portion of God's heritage until the year 1855, when declining health and the frailties of old age admonished him that it was necessary that he should abandon the exercise of the gospel ministry, and spend the brief remaining period of his time in this world in the retirement of his home, free from the cares, anxieties, and labors incident to those who are employed as the ambassadors of Christ; and in accordance with this necessity, he tendered the resignation of his charge to the Associate Presbytery of Philadelphia, at their meeting in Baltimore, on the 26th of April, 1855, which was accepted, and the pastoral relation between him and the congregations of Guinston and Lower Chanceford, was dissolved. After this event, he continued, though in the evening of life, to enjoy tolerable health, and to manifest a great interest in every thing that concerned Zion's welfare, until the 14th of January, 1862, when he was called from all the cares and concerns of this world to enter into the possession of his promised reward. His death was very sudden: during the day that preceded his removal, he continued in the enjoyment of his usual health, and after attending, as was his custom, to the duty of family worship, he retired to his room, and having read a portion of a Psalm, and made his usual preparations for rest, he laid himself down upon that bed from which he was never to arise. At this time he remarked that he felt a creeping sensation in the flesh of his arms and over his breast; but he made no complaint whatever of enduring any pain, and after lying quietly for a few minutes, a rattle in the throat was heard, a sudden gasp was given, and the soul had deserted its earthly tenement, leaving merely the casket that had contained that priceless gem, behind. We need not here dwell on the distinguishing traits of character of Mr. Adams; it may, perhaps, be sufficient merely to notice that, as a preacher, he was earnest and impressive in his manner, plain and practical in his teachings, and, although not distinguished for any great oratorical powers, yet, at the same time, he possessed the happy tact of explaining and illustrating the truths of God's word in such a way as to bring them within the range of the comprehension of all his hearers. His last remains now lie in the Guinston graveyard, beside those of the Rev. Mr. Clarkson, awaiting the time when soul and body shall be reunited, and, in their changed and glorified form, enter into the full fruition of God. >From the time of the resignation of Mr. Adams, up to the 14th of August, 1856, the congregations to which he had ministered were dependent upon supplies appointed by the Associate Synod for the dispensation of gospel ordinances; but on that day the Rev. Francis McBurney was ordained and installed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia as pastor of Guinston and Lower Chanceford congregations. During the early part of his ministry, the negotiations for union, that had long been pending between the Associate and Associate Reformed Churches, were brought to a happy termination; for on the 26th of May, 1858, the respective bodies met in the City Hall, in Pittsburgh, for the consummation of that union which has already been productive of so many blessings to the church and to the world; and it may be sufficient here to notice, that every individual in Guinston and Lower Chanceford congregations approved the action of the superior courts in Christ's house, and went heartily into the union, saying, in the language of the Psalmist, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." The change that had thus taken place, rendered the union of congregations, that had previously belonged to each of the two bodies now composing the United Presbyterian Church (in many places) not merely a matter of expediency, but, so far as their mutual interest was concerned, almost a matter of necessity; and of the Big Spring United Presbyterian Presbytery, in June, 1859, the Rev. Francis McBurney was released from the pastoral charge of the congregation of Lower Chanceford, and the two Lower Chanceford congregations were then united in one charge, and Guinston and Hopewell in another; and a call having been presented to him from Hopewell congregation for one-third of his time, which was accepted, he was installed as pastor of that congregation on the 10th of August, 1859. And now, having followed the history of the Guinston congregation thus far, it will merely be necessary to state that uninterrupted peace, harmony and prosperity continue to be enjoyed by this congregation up to the present year of our Lord, 1866. We here append a list of all the Elders in Guinston congregation, from the time of its organization. Ordained late in 1753, or early in 1754.- Alexander Wallace, Thomas Currie, John Orr, William Orr, Samuel Harper and John McKay. Elected on the 15th of May, 1769.- William Stuart, Andrew Proudfoot, John McNary, James McNary and William Marling. Ordained the 14th of April, 1776.- John Fullerton, Alexander Moore, James Leiper, Samuel Harper and John McClorg. Ordained the 15th of June, 1786.- James Pedan, Jacob Grove, Samuel Rosenburg, Samuel Miller, Alexander Gowans, Andrew Martin. Ordained 14th of May, 1801.- William Morrow, Joseph Thompson, James Martin. (At this time John McCay was elected, but did not serve. Also, on and after the 13th of March, 1804, in the minutes Morrow was spelled Murray.) Ordained May 5th, 1805.- Samuel Collins, Alexander Wilson, James Wilson, Alexander Wallace, Esq., and William Collins. Ordained the 20th of May, 1819.- John Collins, Andrew Clarkson, Francis Grove, of Chanceford, Jacob Grove, jun., and Joseph Thompson. October 20th, 1821.- Samuel Smith, who was formerly an elder in the Associate Reformed Church, was invited to act as an elder in this church. Ordained May 25th, 1845.- John Collins, jun., and Matthew Grove. Ordained September 5th, 1852.- William Wilson and Thomas W. Grove. Ordained 16th of April, 1862.- James M. McDonald, Jacob W. Grove, William Thompson and Samuel Adams. A List of the Trustees of the Guinston Congregation, and the time of their Election from the Year 1773.- And it may be here noticed that we have no authentic account of the names of the individuals occupying that position previously to the date to which we have here referred. Elected in the year 1773.- Thomas Currie, James Wallace, Gawn Allison, Andrew Fulton, Alexander Moor, John McClorg, John McNary, George Campbell, John McCay, and William Stuart. Elected the 27th of September, 1802.- Alexander Wallace, William Morrow, Andrew Martin, Joseph Thompson, William Collins, James Martin, James Pedan, Alexander Gowans, Jacob Grove, and David McLellan. Elected 27th of April, 1830.- John Wilson, Samuel Cross, Alexander Martin, Alexander Wallace, (or David,) Thomas Grove, and James Wallace. Elected June the 12th, 1838.- James Cross, jun., to fill a vacancy in the Trustees. Elected June the 5th, 1854.- David Wilson, Robert G. Wallace, Alexander M. Wilson, John Grove, Thomas G. Cross, David H. Anderson. We have now presented to your notice a brief sketch of the history of this congregation from its organization, with a correct account of its ministers, its elders, and its trustees; and it now remains for us merely to state that at the present time its membership is much larger than at any period of its past history, of which we have any authentic account, and that the vine which God has transplanted from the desert still continues to bear abundant fruit to the praise and glory of the great Being who located it here. Now, that each of our souls should this day be filled with gratitude to God, will be evident if we consider the permanency of this congregation. It has continued to exist for one hundred and twelve years, while the names of many of those congregations organized at a much later date have already disappeared from the records of church courts. What hallowed memories of the past crowd themselves in rapid succession on the mind as we look far backward on the stream of time, and think of the vast number of the good and pious of former days who worshipped here, and who have long since been borne onward in that irresistible current to the ocean of eternity! Many a change has taken place in our land since the organization of Guinston congregation. Two different forms of government have existed in this country. War, both aggressive and internal, like a desolating whirlwind, has swept over the land, leaving places that were formerly as the garden of Eden like a desolate wilderness. Man's enterprise, too, in connection with the blessing of God, has converted vast portions of the primeval forests and extended prairies into waving fields of grain; and where undisturbed silence reigned, (except when interrupted by the primitive denizens of the forest, the sighing of the wind among the trees, or the murmuring of the rippling brook,) we now behold the populous city, with its throng of busy inhabitants. But amidst all these changes the congregation of Guinston, (which consists of a succession of individuals, just as a river consists of a succession of atoms of water,) still continues to exist. How, then, should we all resolve to labor, that as her past has been bright, so her future may be glorious, and that she will continue in her course of fidelity to God, and in her labors for the advancement of his cause, until that happy period arrives when the whole world shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God!