W. C. dc K. S. Steef?

LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

PRINCETON, N. J.

Purchased by the Mrs. Robert Lenox Kennedy Church History Fund.

BX 8947 .N8 C72 1907 Craig, D. I. 1849-1925. A history of the development of the Presbyterian Church

"41 > *» i»*

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRESBY- TERIAN CHURCH IN NORTH CAROLINA.

\\V^' ' • * . -I,-

( JUN 16 i^

A HISTORY ^^-J!!:;:^-.

Development of the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina j

AND OF

Synodical Home Missions^

TOGETHER WITH

EVANGELISTIC ADDRESSES BY JAMES I. VANCE, D. D.,

AND OTHERS

BY

Rev. D. I. CRAIG.

RICHMOND, VA.: Whittet & Shkpperson, Printers.

Copyright

BY

Rev. William Black 1907.

INTRODUCTION.

By Rev. H. G. Hill, D. D.

It is well to write the history of Synodical Home ]\Iis- sion work in North Carolina at the present time. Nearly a score of years have passed since it was inaugurated. It met with considerable opposition, on the part of con- scientious brethren, who doubted the constitutional right of Synod to engage in this work. The plans and methods of conducting it were altered and amended, as experi- ence and wisdom demanded. The present scheme of conducting it, by a synodical committee, consisting of one minister and one elder from each Presbytery, with an executive committee of five members of the whole committee, aided by a superintendent and a general evan- gelist, is the result of long experience and varied experi- ment. The w^isdom of this plan has been manifested by the success attained, and by the fact that substantially the same plan has been adopted by other Synods. The re- sults achieved by Synodical Home Alission work, both direct and indirect, have been m^ost gratifying and in- spiring. The efforts of the Synod have lifted our people to a higher plane of giving, and have stimulated the Pres- byteries to more vigorous endeavors at evangelization within their own bounds. In less than a score of years, churches of our faith have been planted in all the counties of the State except twelve or thirteen ; the number of the Presbyteries has risen from four to eight ; and the roll of communicants has increased from 25,000 to more than 40,- 000. Surely, results like these have more than justified all the thought, money and labor that have been ex-

6 Introduction.

pended upon Synodical Home Missions in North Caro- lina. But many of the actors in these stirring scenes have passed away and others are nearing the close of their earthly career. It is wise, therefore, to gather up the facts connected with Home Mission work in this State while some survive who are familiar with them, and be- fore they pass from the memory of the living. The story of Presbyterian Gospel progress in North Carolina will be profoundly interesting to future church historians, and will edify and stimulate generations yet to come. The author of this history of Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina, Rev. D. I. Craig, of Reidsville. N. C, deserves the approbation of his cotemporaries and will, be entitled to the gratitude of posterity for his laborious and successful eflforts to preserve for the church and the world the interesting facts recorded. Having been stated clerk of the Synod of North Carolina for many years, having personal knowledge of many of the events men- tioned, having ready access to the documents furnishing information, and having corresponded wath many of the most active promoters of mission work in this and other States, the author is eminently qualified to become the historian of this synodical movement. To those who know him, it is needless to say that he has been very diligent in collecting the material, and used the greatest care to render his statements truthful, accurate and profit- able to his readers. It enhances the value of the work he has done for the church to know that he has prosecuted it with comparatively little help or encouragement, and without hope of pecuniary reward for his toil. But useful labor is largely its own reward, and it is hoped that this publication will receive from the Presbyterians of this Synod a most hearty welcome, and find a place in every home within our bounds.

CONTENTS.

Introduction, By H. G. Hill, D. D., 5

CHAPTER I. A Brief Retrospect of the Presbyterian Church

IN North Carolina Prior to 1812, 9

CHAPTER H. The Synod of North Carolina from the Time

OF ITS Formation Until the Civil War^ .... 20

CHAPTER HI. The Synod of North Carolina During the

Civil War and its Reconstruction Period, 30

CHAPTER IV. The Origin of Synodical Home Missions in

North Carolina, 40

CHAPTER V.

The Inauguration of Synodical Home Missions

IN North Carolina and Men of the Times, 55

CHAPTER VI. The Progress of Synodical Home Missions in

North Carolina, and the Men of the Times, 70

8 Contents.

CHAPTER VII. The Continued Progress^ and Some of the Re- sults OF Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina^ and the Men of the Times, 88

CHAPTER VIII. A Brief Summary of Some of the Results of Synodical Home Missions in North Caro- lina Ill

Evangelistic and Missionary Addresses :

Foreword, 127

"If My Country were Heathen," Rev. James

I. Vance, D. D., 129

"The Evangelistic Pastor/' Rev. J. Wilbur

Chapman, D. D., 141

''Home Missions the Supreme Need of the Hour," Rev. S. L. Morris, D. D., 171

"Mission Work," Rev. Wm. Black, 182

The Presbyterian Church in North Carolina.

CHAPTER I.

A Brief Retrospect of the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina Prior to 1812.

In order to get a clear conception of the development of the Presbyterian Church in North CaroHna, it seems necessary to take into consideration some of the facts and conditions of the church from an early period in her history down to the time of the fonnation of the Synod of North Carolina, Consequently the first chap- ter of this book is devoted chiefly to a brief statement of some of these facts and conditions, touching ihe progress of the church, and also the dates showing the time of the formation of her courts.

The Presbytery of Hanover was formed by the Synod of New York in the year 1755, and its territory embraced indefinitely the whole southern country, and, of couise, included North Carolina. The first Presbyterian church court (higher than a church session) ever held in North Carolina, so far as I have been able to ascertain, was that of Hanover Presbytery, which convened at " Lower Hico" Church, in Person county, afterwards called ''Bar- netts," on October 2, 1765. This meeting was held for the purpose of ordaining and installing the Rev. James

lo The Presbyterian Church

Cressvvell as pastor of this church, together with Grassy Creek and Nutbush churches, in Granville county. At this meeting, also, the Rev. Henry Pattillo was called to the Churches of Hawfields and Little River, in Orange county.

The second meeting of Hanover Presbytery held in North Carolina was at " Middle Hico," nov/ known as "Red House Church," in Caswell county, on June 4, 1766.

The third meeting of this Presbytery held in North Carolina was at Buffalo Church, in Guilford county, then Rowan county, on March 2, 1768. At this meeting the Rev. Dr. David Caldwell was installed pastor, though he had been serving this church for several years ; the Rev. Joseph Alexander was ordained '*sine-titulo," and the Rev. Hugh McAden was called from Duplin county to the churches on the ''Hico." Mr. McAden had been a resident minister in Duplin county since 1757, and Mr. Alexander was the successor of the Rev. Alexander Craighead, who was called to Rocky River in 1758, and who died at Sugar Creek Church, in Mecklenburg county, in 1766. There is no record, so far as I know, of the installation by Hanover Presbytery of Mr. McAden at "Goshen" Church, in Duplin county, or of Mr. Craighead at Rocky River Church, in Cabarrus county. But in those days the synod often acted in a Presbyterial capacity when it was necessary; for we find that in 1765 a call from the "Catry's Settlement," in North Carolina (Thyatira Church) was presented to the Synod of New York and Philadelphia for the Rev. Elihu Spencer, and placed in his hands ; and at the same time a call was presented from the Hopewell and Centre churches for the Rev. Mr. McWhorter, which was not placed in his hands. It would seem from this that Han- over Presbytery was not regarded by these congrega-

In North Carolina. ii

tions, and it is possible that Messrs. McAden and Craig- head were installed by a commission from the synod.

The fourth and last meeting of Hanover Presbytery held in North Carolina was at Buffalo Church, in Guil- ford county, March 7, 1770. At this meeting an over- ture to the Synod of New York and Philadelphia was adopted for the erection of Orange Presbytery, and in May following the overture was granted, and on the 5th day of September, 1770, at the Hawfields Church, in Orange county, the Presbytery of Orange was organized.

Prior to 1765 very few regular Presbyterian ministers had resided or were then living in North Carolina. These were the Rev. Messrs. Hugh McAden, James Campbell, Alexander Craighead, James Cresswell, Henry Pattillo, David Caldwell, and James Tate, who was never con- nected with Orange Presbytery, but lived in Wilmington : It is also possible that the Rev. William Tennent lived in Granville county for a short time about 1743, and that the Rev. Samuel Black lived in Duplin or New Hanover county a short time about 1744. There were a number of missionaries sent through the State before this time, and the first missionary, and indeed the first Presbyterian minister^ known to have preached in North Carolina was the Rev. William Robinson, about 1742.

Of the above named ministers, McAden, Cresswell, Pattillo and Caldwell, together with Joseph x\lexander, Hezekiah Balch and Hezekiah James Balch, composed the original Presbytery of Orange in 1770.

In 1765 many boundaries were fixed, and many churches throughout the State were organized and re- organized by the Rev. Messrs. Spencer and McWhorter, who were commissioned by the synod to do this work, and in 1770 there were about forty or fifty churches in the State, with a membership of about 2,000.

12 The Presbyterian Church

The territory of Orange Presbytery at this time ex- tended indefinitely to the south and west from the Vir- ginia boundary, but practically only the State of North Carolina east of the Blue Ridge, and the upper part of South Carolina, were occupied by its ministers.

It is a matter of deep, though vain, regret that the records of Orange Presbytery, embracing the first twenty-five years of its history (1770-1795, and also from 1 8 12 to 1827) are lost beyond recovery. They were burned with the residence of Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, near Hillsboro, N. C, on January i, 1827.

From 1770 to 1784 embraced the period in which oc- curred the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Inde- pendence at Charlotte and at Philadelphia, and American freedom, with all the stirring scenes, events and hardships incident thereto ; and yet during that period the Presbyte- rian Church seems to have strengthened and grown more rapidly than for a number of years afterwards. Fourteen ministers were added to the roll, and quite a number of churches were organized during that period. The names of the ministers were: John Harris, James Campbell (who belonged to the old South Carolina Presbytery), James Edmonds, Thomas Reece, John Simpson, Alex. McMillan, Samuel E. McCorkle, Thomas H. McCaul, John Debow, Thomas Hill, Andrew Patton, James Hall, Robert Archibald and John Cossan. The Rev. Dr. McCorkle became a member of the Presbytery in 1777, and the Rev. Dr. Hall in 1778, and these two men were the peers in the western section of the Presbytery ; of Henry Pattillo and David Caldwell in the middle or eastern section, and all four of them were profound scholars, able statesmen and staunch patriots, and they wielded a tremendous influence in their day for civil liberty and Presbyterianism in North Carolina. The

In North Carolina. 13

names of these four men, together with Craighead, McAden, Campbell, Alexander and H. J. Balch, and others mentioned above, will never be forgotten in con- nection with the great struggle for American Independ- ence and the advancement of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1784 there was a general adjustment of the bound- aries of the Presbyteries throughout the United States, and during that year the Presbytery of South Carolina was set off from Orange by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia. The first meeting was held at Waxhaws in April, 1785, with the following members : Rev. Messrs. Alexander, Edmonds, Reece, Harris, Simpson and Fran- cis Cummins. The State line between North and South Carolina now became, to a considerable extent, the south- ern boundary of Orange Presbytery.

In 1788 the Synod of New York and Philadelphia was dissolved, and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was formed, and as a part of the formation the Synod of the Carolinas was erected.

The Synod of the Carolinas existed until 181 3, and was composed of the Presbyteries of Orange, South Carolina, and Abingdon, the territory of the latter being chiefly in Tennessee. The first meeting of the synod was held at Centre Church, in Rowan county. North Carolina, on November 5, 1788. The Rev. David Caldwell preached the opening sermon, and was Moderator of the meeting. Only ten ministers and eight ruling elders were present, though the roll of the three Presbyteries at this time showed the names of twenty-eight ministers.

During the existence of this synod considerable efforts were made to extend the Gospel into the destitute regions of the State, and even beyond the State into Tennessee and Mississippi. The great cause of domestic missions was

14 The Presbyterian Church

freely discussed in what was then called " The Free Con- versation," and various members of the Synod were appointed from time to time as missionaries, and these brethren would often spend weeks, and sometimes as long as six months, in their journeys travelling over the coun- try and preaching the Gospel wherever they could com- mand an audience. The Rev. James Hall, D. D., did a great deal of this kind of work in his day, and his reports to the synod, which, with others, are still on record, are elaborate and intensely interesting.

In 1795 the Presbytery of Concord was set off from Orange by the Synod of the Carolinas, with the follow- ing twelve ministers: Rev. Messrs. Samuel McCorkle, James Hall, James McRee, David Barr, Samuel C. Cald- well, James WalHs, J. D. Kilpatrick, L. F. Wilson, John Carrigan, Humphrey Hunter, J. M. Wilson and Alexan- der Caldw-ell. The Yadkin river was made the line of division, cutting the State into two parts. Concord em- bracing the territory west and Orange east of this line. The first meeting of Concord Presbytery was held at Bethphage Church December 24, 1795.

In 1799 the first recorded statistics are given, and these show that the two Presbyteries of Orange and Con- cord had a membership at that time of twenty-nine min- isters and fifty-five churches, but the number of com- municants is not given.

In 1800, and for several years afterwards, the church witnessed and enjoyed one of the most remarkable and wonderful revivals of religion that this country has per- haps ever seen. It began in 1800, and lasted for several years, and it was remarkable in its extent, covering sev- eral States, and in the strange affections of mind and body which possessed the people without warning, and regardless of time or place. It seems to have had its

In North Carolina. 15

origin under the preaching of the Rev. James McGready, who was indeed a very remarkable man, and whose first charge was at the Haw River, Speedwell and Stony Creek churches in Orange Presbytery in the years i793-'5- He removed to Kentucky, where the great revival began, and it gradually spread over a great por- tion of the whole southern country, and especially in North Carolina in the year 1802. Great numbers pro- fessed conversion and united with the church, and a lasting work for the Master seems to have been accom- plished.

A particular account of the life and character of Mr. McGready and of this strange and wonderful work of grace may be seen in Dr. Foote's ''Sketches of North Carolina."

In 1812, among the last acts enacted by the Synod of the Carolinas was to set off from Orange the Presby- tery of Fayetteville, with the following eight members: Rev. Messrs. Samuel Stanford, William L. Turner, Mal- colm McNair, Murdock McMillan, John Mclntyre, Wil- liam B. Meroney, Allen McDougald and William Pea- cock.

This Presbytery did not meet and organize at the time appointed, but held its first meeting at Centre Church, in Robeson county, October 21, 1813.

The Synod of the Carolinas then adopted, as its closing act, an overture to the General Assembly for the division of itself into two synods, to be known as the " Synod of North Carolina," comprising the Presbyteries of Orange, Concord and Fayetteville; and the ''Synod of South Carolina and Georgia," comprising the Presbyteries of South Carolina, Hopewell and Harmony, and that the Synod of the Carolinas be dissolved.

The Synod of the Carolinas then adjourned sine die at New Providence Church, October 5, 1812.

i6 The Presbyterian Church

During the existence of thi» synod a very great deal was accomplished along many lines, looking to the ad- vancement of Christ's kingdom and the development of the Presbyterian Church. New Presbyteries were formed, boundaries were fixed, and a vast amount of missionary work was done. We must remember — and we too often forget — that in those days the educational, religious and missionary advantages were not what they are now, and that the chief mode of travel was on horseback, and that many of the ministers, pastors as well as missionaries, spent a large portion of their time in the saddle. The territory was almost unlimited, and many of the congre- gations were scattered and far apart, and, besides the daily travel and constant hardships, the occasional trips to the synod or to the General Assembly, the latter usually meeting in Philadelphia, were long and v^earisome jour- neys. There were many difficulties to be met and obsta- cles to be overcome ; there were no settled plans for syste- matic giving, for the extension and support of the Gospel, and the compensation of ministers was exceed- ingly small, but these men faithfully did their work and preached the Gospel in all its simplicity and purity, and left the results with God.

In those days the church was very jealous of the doc- trines held and preached by her ministers, and of the pure life and character required of them. Consequently there were many cases of investigation and discipline in the synod and in the Presbyteries. Some of these cases w^ere of long duration, and occupied much of the time of the church courts. Such were the cases of the complaint of the Rev. Hezekiah Balch against the Abingdon Pres- bytery, and the counter complaints of the Presbyterv against him, and of the Rev. Colin Lindsay in Orange Presbvterv.

In North Carolina. 17

The history of Mr. Lindsay in the church courts is a very remarkable one, and he had a very remarkable career. He was born in Scotland, and it is said of him, that he was a very scholarly man, of fine personal appear- ance, a good preacher, and that he commanded a great influence over his friends and adherents. He came from Scotland to North Carolina and united with Orange Pres- bytery in the year 1792, and from this time until 1803, when his ministerial career came to a close, he was almost continuously before the church courts, having been often admonished, several times suspended, and finally deposed from the ministry. During this period he served, at different times, the churches of Black River, Brown Marsh, Lumberton, Raft's Swamp, Shoe Heel (which is now Maxton), Gum Swamp and Bethel.

A most wonderful story has been told in connection with this man's birth, and while there have been many variations of the story and of its explanation, yet the main facts have been abundantly corroborated, and many of the people of Robeson county accept it as absolutely true. The story, in short, is this: The Rev. Colin Lind- say was born after his mother had died and had been buried ! The explanation is as follows :

Mrs. Lindsay was a lady of culture, refinement and considerable wealth, and in the natural course of events she was taken sick, and to all appearances she died. The family believing her to be dead, the necessary prepara- tions for burial were made, and in preparing the body for the tomb it was customary in Scotland to leave upon the person the individual jewelry, just as they had worn it while living, and, thus prepared, the body of Mrs. Lind- say was laid in the tomb and buried. On the night fol- lowing the burial a band of robbers, desirous of obtaining the jewelry, repaired to the grave and opened it. They

i8 The Presbyterian Church

removed the lid from the coffin and proceeded to remove a ring from a finger, and in doing this it was necessary to cut the finger, which drew blood, and immediately the dormant circulation in the body was restored and. signs of life were apparent. The robbers fled from the scene in terror, and in their flight they were observed by some persons passing by who immediately repaired to the grave and found Mrs. Lindsay struggling and crying for help! They quickly removed her from the open grave and tenderly bore her to her home, which was hardby, and delivered her to her amazed and dumbfounded family! In a short time, it is said that Mrs. Lindsay recovered from the shock, and soon after this occurrence the Rev. Colin Lindsay was born !

In those days the church by no means neglected the great cause of education. The doctrine was held by our fathers that wherever a Presbyterian settlement existed and a pastor was located, there next to the church should be a school, and there were quite a number of excellent schools scattered throughout the State. The oldest of them was perhaps "Queen's Museum," afterwards called "Liberty Hall," in Charlotte, the charter of which was twice annulled by the King, and in which many stirring debates were held touching the great questions of the times, and doubtless among them the immortal Declara- tion of Independence. There was also the old "Grove Academy," in Duplin county, by the side of "Goshen" Church, which was perhaps the oldest Presbyterian church in the State. Here the Rev. Hugh McAden, the Rev. James Tate, and perhaps others preached and taught in the olden times. Then there were the famous schools of Caldwell in Guilford, of McCorkle in Rowan, of Hall in Iredell, of Wilson in Cabarrus, and others which were not a whit inferior in many respects to many seats of

In North Carolina. 19

learning much more pretentious in the present time. These classic schools educated many eminent men, and sent forth in their day many scholars of a high order. The University of North Carolina was founded in 1793 under Presbyterian influences, and the majority of its principal teachers in early times were Presbyterians. It was demanded by our forefathers that all Presbyterian children should at least be taught to read, and we are told "not to be able to repeat the Shorter Catechism was a mark of vulgarity among the people who claimed a natural equality." It has also been said that "from the great efforts made by Presbyterian pastors and mission- aries in establishing and promoting education among the people at large, and from the deep conviction of the im- portance of some degree of education impressed upon the hearts of Presbyterian families, it came to be a fact that in the bounds of the original Presbyterian settlements in North Carolina, very few persons grew up unable to read intelligibly.'' It is doubtful if the succeeding gene- rations down to the present time, can produce the same evidences of careful teaching and training on the subjects of religion and education, notwithstanding the vastly increased facilities and advantages, that were apparent in Presbyterian Homes before and during the existence of the Synod of the Carolinas.

CHAPTER 11.

The Synod of North Carolina from the Time of Its Formation Until the Civil War.

The first meeting of the Synod of North Carolina was held at Alamance Church, in Guilford county, on Thurs- day, Ocotber 7, 18 13. The following twelve ministers and three ruling elders were present : Rev. Messrs. David Caldwell, Robert H. Chapman, James W. Thompson, William Paisley, Samuel Paisley, Robert Tate, Mur- dock McMillan, John Mclntyre, James Hall, Samuel C. Caldwell, John M. Wilson, John Robinson, and Elders Hugh Forbes, John McDonald and William Carrigan.

The Rev. Dr. James Hall preached the opening sermon on the text : " Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." The Rev. Dr. Robert H. Chapman was elected Moderator, and also elected the stated clerk of the synod.

The synod was now fully organized, composed of the three Presbyteries of Orange, Concord and Fayetteville, and its territory embraced all of North Carolina and small portions of South Carolina and Virginia.

The Presbytery of Concord was now the largest in membership, while the Presbytery of Orange was the largest in territory, stretching from the Yadkin river to the Atlantic Ocean. The three Presbyteries in whole consisted at this time of 31 ministers, 85 churches and about 4.000 communicants.

For a long time after the organization of the synod the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina seems to have

In North Carolina. 21

been, in a large measure, "at ease in Zion," and yet some noble advances were made. From 18 12 to 1861 embraced a period of national peace and great material prosperity, and the institution of slavery was at its flood-tide. The institution of slavery was not near so profitable in North Carolina as it was in some other States, and the mere fact that a man owned slaves by no means rendered it unne- cessary for him to labor with his own hands, for indeed the master, in many respects, was often a harder toiler than any of his slaves; and yet slavery of itself was doubtless the occasion of much indolence among the people, and tended to foster a spirit of indifference to personal energy, and to high mental and moral attain- ments among the masses of the people. It is true that the church grew in those days, but it was more from the force of circumstances than from the energetic and syste- matic use of the abundant means at hand. There were many gracious revivals of religion throughout the coun- try, and a great deal of attention was given in Christian homes to the religious training of the negroes, but there seems not to have been any general religious awakening from the time of the great revival in i8oo-'3, until twenty or thirty years afterwards. New Presbyteries were formed, only soon afterwards to be dissolved.

In 1824 the synod set off from Concord the Presbytery of Bethel, lying chiefly in York and Chester counties, South Carolina ; and at the same time the Presbytery of Mecklenburg was first formed, which was also dissolved in 1827. The Presbyteries of Roanoke and Morganton were formed in 1835, embracing practically the same ter- ritory now occupied by Albemarle and Asheville pres- byteries, and they were dissolved in 1840.

Many noble opportunities for the expansion, develop- ment and growth of the Presbyterian Church were neg-

22 The PRRsr.YTERTAX Church

lected and lost, and other denominations came in and possessed much cf the land which naturally and rightfully belonged to the Presbyterians.

In the early years of the synod, at the annual meetings, much of the time was consumed in discussing questions of law and order, and matters pertaining to the general interest of the church at large, rather than to the press- ing interests of the church at home, and in looking to evangelization of the vast unoccupied territory. The southern professorship at Princeton College was an object and a theme much discussed, and large sums of money were raised in the synod for its endowment and support, but there was no systematic plan of giving or of collecting money for the benevolent causes of the church, and scarcely any thing was done for home and foreign missions.

In 1823 the following resolution was adopted:

" Whereas the cultivation of missionary fields does afford a most important aid to the cause of missions, and, whereas, such fields might be conveniently cultivated within our bounds, either by individuals or congregations collectively : therefore

''Resolved, That the members of this synod use special efifoTts with the churches under their care, to promote this laudable object."

The cause of "Domestic Missions" was freely dis- cussed in the " Free Conversation," after the plan adopted by the Synod of the Carolinas, and a synopsis of which was published and placed on record, and various mem- bers of the synod were appointed as temporary supplies and. to do missionary work. About this time and long afterwards, aside from the faithful preaching of the Word — and the Word was faithfully preached by a noble set of men — there were no settled plans for overtaking

In North Carolina. 23

the vast destitutions in the synod. Each Presbytery was expected to do the best it could in looking after its own unoccupied territory, it now being held more and more by many of the brethren that the synod as a body could do nothing, beyond a strict interpretation of the law of "review and control." The annual meetings of the synod were greatly enjoyed socially by those who could attend, but the attendance was usually small, and in 1823 an annual collection was ordered to defray the expenses of the representatives, and a very strong resolution was adopted enjoining attendance. The business of the synod, aside from the discussion of questions of general interest to the church and matters pertaining to the welfare of societies and institutions of learning, was largely routine.

In 1825 the Union Theological Seminary in Virginia began to be discussed, and the synod entered heartily into co-operation with the Virginia brethren for the formation and welfare of this school of the prophets, and it has nobly stood by the Seminary until this day.

In 1835 Davidson College began to engage the earnest attention of the synod, and it has never ceased to be an object and a theme of deep and increasing interest, and to-day the interest still abides, and the college stands as a monument to the everlasting honor, praise and wisdom of our fathers, and is the pride and joy of all Presby- terians.

In those days these institutions of learning especially consumed much of the time and attention of the synod, while the extension and development of the church, espe- cially in the destitute regions of the State, did not receive that attention, and were not urged to that extent that might have been supposed. But the foundations of great things in the future were being laid, and the building of these foundations were in safe hands, building slowly but surely.

24 The Presbyterian Church

In 1832 a very careful though not complete record of statistics is given, and this record shows 64 ministers, 127 churches, 832 baptisms, 29 Sunday-schools, with more than 1,000 scholars, and the number of communicants was perhaps about 8,000. This shows a gain of 33 min- isters, 42 churches, and the membership about doubled in about twenty years. The reports for this year of 1832 were very encouraging, great revivals of religion were enjoyed, especially in Concord and Orange Pres- byteries. It is said that 163 persons were added to Rocky River Church, 126 to Poplar Tent and Ramah, and 130 to Charlotte and Sugar Creek churches. It was estimated that there w^ere 2,000 conversions within the bounds of the synod, and that 600 of them were in the counties of Mecklenburg and Cabarrus. But the whole amount of contributions, raised in the synod and reported this year for the combined missionary, benevo- lent, temperance, Bible and tract societies was only $1,734, and of this amount %'J2y was contributed by a single church, the Milton Church, in Orange Presbytery.

In 1840 there were 78 ministers and 137 churches in the synod, showing a steady gain in membership, if not a commensurate gain in contributions.

About this time the synod was composed of a very able body of men, many of whom were excellent teachers and profound scholars, as well as able preachers of the Gospel. The roll at this time shows the names of the Rev. Drs. Caldwell, Caruthers, Graham, Harding, Lacy, McRee, McPheeters, Mitchell, Morrison, Phillips, Penick, Robinson, Smith and Wilson: and the Williamsons, the Pharrs, the Paisleys, the Mclvers, McQueen, McNair, McLean, Mclntyre, Stanford, Tate, Gretter, and a num- ber of others, besides many noble and influential elders who usually attended the church courts.

In North Carolina. 25

The great influence and abundant labors of these men in their day, their efforts in founding and fostering some of the institutions of learning which we now enjoy, and in laying deep and broad foundations for future genera- tions, as well as their fidelity in preaching a pure Gospel, deserve all honor and praise.

In 1850 there were 90 ministers and 150 churches, showing a gain of 12 ministers and 13 churches in ten years, and during the next ten years, from 1850 to i860, there seems to have been a general awakening along all lines.

In 1852 a special committee, of which the Rev. S. A. Stanfield was chairman, presented the following resolu- tion, which was adopted :

" Resolved, That this synod will appoint one agent on each of the Boards of Foreign Missions, Domestic Mis- sions and Education, and that these agents be required to take into consideration the whole field committed to their supervision, and present at each meeting of synod a written report of all that is doing within the boundaries of the synod on the subjects generally assigned to them; and that the consideration of these reports shall be a special order at each meeting of the synod."

This was a most important and far-reaching resolution, and proved to be the beginning of a new order of things. The benevolent causes of the church until now were man- aged and controlled by the boards of the General Assem- bly, which received and disbursed the greater part of the contributions made by the churches. The synod had grown weary of being lectured by foreigners on these subjects, and the question now arose. Why not employ our own agents and do this work ourselves? And from this time ever afterwards a new spirit was apparent in

26 The PRKsnvTERiAN Church

the synoil, and there was a marked increase of interest and contributions for all the benevolent causes.

In the report on Foreign Missions for the year 1859 we find the following remarkable statement: "Previous to the year 1852 there was no fixed and well organized plan of sustaining missions in this synod. No perma- nent agents were appointed, as we have them now, to advance the claims of the boards in our churches. The consequence was, that our attention was seldom directed to these vital questions, and our energies lay compara- tively dormant. Before this, no order of the day was ever made on our docket for an hour to be devoted to the consideration of missions. Often did our synod meet and adjourn without speaking a single word or hearing a single report for the furtherance of any one of the boards, only as it came from some agent from abroad. Far be it from your agent to intimate that these subjects were not dear to the ministers and elders that attended; they thought and prayed over them doubtless, but a mere glance at the minutes wall show that up to 1852 there was no regular organization in this body for the perma- nent furtherance of the boards."

The author of the above report was the Rev. Archibald Baker, who further shows, as a result of the resolution adopted in 1852, that the contributions for Foreign Mis- sions had increased more than $3,000, and for Domestic Missions the amount contributed in 1855 ^^'^s $1,714, and in 1859 t^"*^ amount collected and expended was $6,424.

Another result attributed to the adoption of the reso- lution of 1852 as a decided step in the progress of the church was the establishment as the synod's organ in 1857 of the " North Carolina Presbyterian."

This paper was first published in Fayetteville, N. C, the first number being issued in January, 1858. The min-

Ix XoRTH Carolina. 27

utes of synod contain frequent resolutions of endorse- ment and commendation of the paper during all these years of its history. It has been an agency well nigh indispensable for the building up of the interests of the synod, and forwarding the institutions under its care. The first editor of the paper was the Rev. George McNeill, a brilliant and talented man, who died in 1861. The Rev. Willis Miller was associate editor with Mr. McNeill, and had charge of the paper for a time after his death. They were succeeded by the Rev. James McNeill as editor and the Rev. John M. Sherwood as associate editor. The Rev. James McNeill was a brother of George McNeill, and was the colonel of the Fifth North Carolina Regiment of Cavalry, and was killed while leading his regiment in a charge near Petersburg, Va., on March 31, 1865. The Rev. Mr. Sherwood then became the sole editor and owner of the paper until his death, in 1872. The paper was sold, and for a short time the Rev. Dr. H. G. Hill was editor as well as part owner. The paper was then transferred to Wilmington, N. C, and the Rev. T. L. De Veaux became editor, which posi- tion he held until his death, in 1876. He was succeeded for a short time by the Rev. Dr. Joseph R. Wilson as editor, and ^Ir. John ^IcLaurin as business manager. For a short time the Rev. J. ]\I. Rawlings was editor, in connection with Mr. McLaurin. The paper then became the property of Mr. John McLaurin, and he was the sole editor until 1898. He kept the paper for the synod and made it a strong arm of the church, and the synod will never cease to owe to him a debt of gratitude for his long and faithful service.

In 1898 he sold the paper to a joint stock company, and the Rev. A. J. McKelway, D. D., became the editor. The paper was removed to Charlotte, N. C, and launched

28 The Presbyterian Church

upon a wider mission as a paper for the whole church, and the name was changed to " The Presbyterian Standard." Dr. McKelway was a ready, vigorous and forcible writer, and few^ men ever w'ielded a pen with more clearness and power. He retired as editor in 1905, and for a year the Rev. Messrs. T. J. Allison and W. T. Waller had charge of the paper as associate editors, and they were succeeded by the Rev. Dr. P. R. Law and Rev. Dr. R. C. Reed, as editor and associate editor, who have charge of the paper at the present time. May it ever live and prosper, as it has lived and prospered in the past, as a mighty power for the extension of Christ's kingdom and -the evangelization of the State.

In i860 the synod met at Statesville, N. C. The Rev. R. H. Lafiferty was Moderator, and 61 ministers and 50 ruling elders were present. The synod at that time was composed of 3 Presbyteries, 92 ministers, 184 churches and a membership of about 15,600.

When this meeting of the synod adjourned at States- ville, N. C. October 27, i860, the members of that body, perhaps, did not even dream, much less think, that the last meeting of the Synod of North Carolina, under the old system and in connection with the old assembly, had been held ; that the last hymn ^had been sung and the last prayer offered, and that a national crisis was at hand, and that before they should meet again the whole country would be in the throes of an unprecedented civil war! The dreadful war between the States (1861-1865), like a storm-cloud had been gathering for a number of years, and at length it suddenly burst upon the country in all its pitiless fury, and deluged the whole land with blood, and subjected the Church and the State to the most dis- tressing circumstances, heartrending scenes and bitter memories.

In North Carolina. 29

It is not within the scope of this book to dwell upon that period, or to attempt a description of the deprivations and sufferings of the people, at home or in the army, during those dark and troublesome times. It is left to the faithful historian of the State and of the nation to tell the fearful story; and yet we must inquire into the welfare, progress and development of the church during and after those dreadful vears.

CHAPTER III.

The Synod of North Carolina During the Civil War and the Reconstruction Period.

On November i, 1861, the Synod of North CaroHna being convened in Raleigh, the following preamble and resolutions on the state of the country were adopted :

" Whereas the country is involved in a bloody interne- cine war, the desolations of which threaten our citizens, and the sacrifices of which have affected the church of our beloved State; and

" Whereas by the tyranny and usurpation of the gov- ernment at Washington, the safeguards of the Constitu- tion have been broken down, threatening all that is dear in civil liberty and all that is precious in the inheritance received from our fathers ; and

" Whereas the several Presbyteries composing this synod have in view of these deeds, as well as in view of the extraordinary endorsement of them by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, requiring us and our churches to approve and to pray for the success of measures so tyrannical and iniqui- tous, have formally and solemnly dissolved all connection with said General Assembly, declaring, however, their steadfast adherence in all respects to the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, Form of Government, Book of Disci- pline and Directory of Worship of the Presbyterian Church, and have severally appointed delegates to meet at Atlanta, Ga., and, with other commissioners from the several Presbyteries of the South, then and there to con-

In North Carolina. 31

stitute and form a General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church for the Confederate States of America : therefore, in the fear of God and under a solemn sense of duty, be it "Resolved, by the Synod of North Carolina, i. That the synod intelligently, cordially, solemnly approves the action of its several Presbyteries in the premises.

2. That the synod, set and appointed by her Divine Head as a witness for the right and for truth, deeply, truly sympathizes with the State and with the Confede- rate States in their present righteous struggle, and cor- dially approves their action in asserting and maintaining their sovereignty and severing the ties that bound us and them to the late United States of America.

3. That the synod regards the present war on our part as a war of defense, commending itself to our people's efforts, prayers and hearts, as a hallowed though stern contest for sacred rights, involving homes and altars, liberty and religion, and to it we solemnly, prayerfully commit our persons and efforts and energies and prop- erty, our sons and lives.

4. That the synod recognizes, and here with gratitude records the tokens of Divine favor extended to our strug- gling, bleeding country, leading our hosts in the day of battle, shielding them under fearful peril, and giving them brilliant victories, for all of which we desire to present fervent and unceasing thanksgivings. •

" 5. That the synod would embrace this momentous crisis in our country's history, to urge pastors, elders, private Christians and our whole people to the offering of unceasing prayers in behalf of the Confederate States, in their present noble struggle in defense of constitutional liberty, beseeching our Covenant God and Father to lead our armies, to drive back our enemies, and early to

32 The Presbyterian Church

enable us in His fear and love to achieve a new nation's greatness."

The foregoing paper is here recorded in full purely as a matter of history, and to show the mind of the church in view of the great struggle.

On December 4, 1861, at Augusta, Ga., the Southern General Assembly was formed, and the immortal address by Thornwell and the sermon by Palmer on that occasion have gone into history, and fully explain the causes from a Presbyterian standpoint of the great disruption and struggle. Thousands gave their lives for principles and for a cause which they sincerely deemed to be just and righteous, and time alone will prove the true character of those principles, and whether or not the thousands gave their lives in vain. In the providence of God the terrible war gave ample proof that the best soldiers, as a rule, are Calvinists, and true to their principles and deep con- victions, the ministers, their sons and the sons of their charges, nobly bore their full share of the awful burdens of the times, and they have left to their descendants a history of untarnished honor in war and in defeat, and full of almost unparalleled examples of deprivation, suf- fering, hardship, heroism and bravery, of which they well may be proud.

In 1862 the resolution calling for the appointment of agents on benevolence and adopted in 1852 was amended, and the Rev. Messrs. J. Rumple, J. M. Sherwood, Neill McKay and C. K. Caldwell were appointed agents o'i Foreign Missions, Domestic Missions, Education and Publication, respectively; but the contributions to these causes were small and wholly inadequate to meet the urgent demands. It was said in the address to the churches that "the public mind was powerfully agitated

In North Carolina. 33

and in general preoccupied with public intereits, to the partial or total exclusion of their religious concerns." And yet, "an unwonted spirit of prayer connected with a profound and growing sense of dependence on the favor of Divine Providence" was believed to prevail among the people, and was apparent in the prayer meetings and church services, which were well attended. The awful realities of war were now pressing hard upon the people, and the interests of the army chiefly engaged the atten- tion of the church as well as the State.

At this meeting of synod the Rev. Neill McKay offered a resolution that each Presbytery appoint three men to collect and disburse funds for the education of the chil- dren of deceased soldiers, and this was done to a consid- erable extent until the close of the war. The synod in those days did nobly in its heroic efforts amidst confu- sion and conflicting duties, to meet the demands of the times. The waste places at home, and especially the army, were crying for help and greatly needed the min- istrations of the Gospel, and many of the ministers entered the army as chaplains, while the synod bade them God-speed, and at the same time did everything possible in every department of Christian work.

At this time Orange Presbytery had in its employment one evangelist and six missionaries; Concord had one evangelist and five missionaries, and Fayetteville had five missionaries, and these brethren did a noble work, but they could not begin to supply the vacant churches and destitute fields.

In 1863 the Rev. John M. Sherwood, in his report, said, " We cannot hope to supply our feeble churches and mis- sionary fields with the preached Word, as we would gladly do, while the war continues. We rejoice to know that something has been done. The work has not been

34 The Presbyterian Church

overlooked by the Presbyteries. In all of them efforts have been made to i^upply, as far as possible, the most pressing wants of our people. The wants of the army have been considered, and much has been done to supply our soldiers with the preached Word. There are at present eight members of this synod engaged in the regular work of the chaplaincy, viz. : The Rev. Messrs, Drury Lacy, E. H. Harding, H. B. Pratt, R. B. Ander- son, J. W. F. Freeman, Colin Shaw, David Fairley, J. H. Colton, and until recently, J. M. Sprunt, who has been in the work from the commencement of the war."

In addition to the regular work of these brethren, all of the Presbyteries enjoined it upon their members to give a portion of their time to the army, and many of them cheerfully responded to the call. Among the last acts of the synod of 1863 was to proclaim and recom- mend a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, to be ob- served in earnest prayer to God on behalf of the afflicted country.

In 1864 the synod met in Greensboro, and very little was done except the ordinary routine business. The most important acts, however, of this meeting were the formu- lation and adoption of an address to the churches and a paper on the state of the country. In the latter some of the terrible results of the war are enumerated, "calling loudly for humiliation and prayer," and some of the tokens of the Divine favor are gratefully noted and acknowledged," calling for devout gratitude and thank- fulness," and while still believing in the justice of the cause and the injustice of the oppression, the synod again proclaimed "that as humiliation and confession may well be accompanied with thanksgiving and praise," that another day of humiliation and prayer be observed, as well as thanksgiving and praise, in view of the past his-

In North Carolina. 35

tory and present prospects alike of the country and of the church. The day appointed, November i6, 1864, was observed, and the people humbly and devoutly prayed to God that the cruel war might cease, and that the banner of peace might once more wave over the land. And before the next meeting of the synod the prayers of the people were answered, and the awful conflict, covering a period of four years, was ended, and had passed into history.

During these four years of war the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina gained only eight ministers and five churches, and lost more than 2,000 communi- cants! Of course the loss consisted largely of young men, in the prime of life, who were the hope of the church and who had fallen in battle, or who had died in prison or from disease and exposure on the field.

After the war was over the synod met in FayetteviUe October 25, 1865, and intense anxiety, not to say deep disappointment and discouragement, was written upon every face and expressed in every tone. Indeed, the war was over, for which all were thankful, but the hearts of the people were sad ! Their property was gone, their homes were desolate, their beloved and precious dead were silent, and confusion, demoralization and lawless- ness were seen in everything and reigned everywhere. The institution of slavery was forever ended, and the negroes were free; but this great population of ignorant creatures had been freed and left by the victors in arms to shift for themselves, and they were homeless, helpless and dependent, and, to meet this new condition of things grave and perplexing questions arose on every hand. What could the synod do? What better could it have done than to seek the help of the Lord? Therefore the svnod resolved:

36 The Presbyterian Church

" Whereas, in times of rebuke and confusion, desola- tion and fearfulness, it is the duty of the people of God to draw near to their King and acknowledge the justice, holiness and goodness of His providential dealings with them, the synod hereby appoints a day of fasting, humilia- tion and prayer, that life may flow with new vigor from the great head of the church, to all the members thereof, and that the rulers of the land may be guided to wise counsels for its benefit."

In the Narrative on the State of Religion the synod said, after deploring the increase of the evils of the times, " We now need an unusual amount of grace, if we would successfully resist the tide of iniquity which is rolling in upon us like a flood."

The people had now entered upon that period which is commonly called the " Reconstruction Period."

This period lasted about ten years — until about 1875 — and for several years immediately after the war the peo- ple, in many respects, suffered as much, if not more, from misrule and corruption, than during the war. It is true the suffering was of a different character, for the horror of the war could scarcely be repeated or surpassed, but these horrors cv^ere followed by a reign of terror which tried men's souls. The people had to endure for a time a military government, administered by aliens to the Commonwealth, and by men who were not in sympathy with those who suffered. They had to endure the in- tense bitterness engendered by bad men and by political factions, and they were made to feel the heavy iron heel of arbitrary force, and to drink the bitter dregs of some of the results of war. They were compelled to endure the arrogance and insolence of many of the enfranchised negroes, who had suddenly been raised, politically, as the peers of their former masters. They were without money,

In North Carolina. 37

except Confederate money, which was worthless, and they had to pay or promise to pay high prices for every- thing, and to depend upon domestic help and farm labor which was utterly unreliable and almost worthless. And, besides all this, a spirit of demoralization, disorder and lawlessness was abroad in the land, rendering social life miserable and unsafe. The people of God, many of whom were in deep poverty and sorrow, met these reverses of fortune and endured these trials in a manner and spirit manifesting the grace of patience as none but the people of God could do, and which is worthy of the admiration and praise of all people in all ages.

In 1866 the synod enjoined it upon Christian fathers and mothers to look specially to their own children, and to teach them the fear of God and obedience to lawful authority; and in 1867 the address to the churches was full of affectionate counsels and admonitions, calling the people to prayer and to arise and rebuild the waste places, and urging them to the support of evangelists and mis- sionaries.

About this time there were only five home missionaries regularly employed in the synod, and not more than $1,000 was contributed for Domestic Missions, and the aggregate membership of the church was about 15,000. But, from this time on, the leaven of hope and activity began to work, the contributions increased, and the great need of evangelization soon became the chief theme of discussion in all the Presbyteries.

In 1868 the Presbytery of Wilmington was set off from Fayetteville, with the following ten members, viz. : Rev. Messrs. H. A. Munroe, James Kelly, Colin Shaw, S. C. Alexander, D. B. Black, H. L. Singleton, B. F. Marable, J. M. Sprunt, L. McKinnon and S. H. Isler. The first meeting was held in Wilmington, N. C, November 21, 1868, in the house of Mr. Patrick Murphy.

38 The 1*resbyterian Church

The Rev. S. C. Alexander says, in his httle book called " Miracles and Events," that '' Wilmington Presbytery was organized for the express purpose of evangelizing Eastern North Carolina." He says there was consider- able opposition to the movement, and that he "spent a whole night in prayer" before the meeting of the Pres- bytery, when these matters were discussed. He was the first evangelist of Wilmington Presbytery, a strong preacher, and a most ardent advocate for evangelistic work. He did a noble work in Eastern North Carolina at Black River, South River, Swansboro and Topsail from 1859 to 1873, when he removed to Mecklenburg Presbytery, and afterwards to the Synod of Arkansas.

In 1869 the Presbytery of Mecklenburg was set off from Concord, with the following twenty-three members, viz. : Rev. Messrs. R. H. Morrison, J. E. Morrison, J. D. Hall, W. W. Pharr, John Douglass, Robert Burwell, A. W. Miller, G. D. Parks, J. C. Williams, R. Z. Johnston, William McDonald, R. B. Anderson, J. F. W. Freeman, R. N. Davis, J. S. Barr, J. J. Kennedy, N. Shotwell, Robt. H. Chapman, T. E. Davis, W. N. Morrison, H. H. Banks, William Graves and Jacob Flood. The first meeting was held in Morganton, N. C, October 16, 1869, in the parlor of Mrs. Robert Pierson.

The formation of these two Presbyteries — one in the east and the other in the west — tended greatly to encour- age the synod and to further the interests of evangeliza- tion in the State. This year more than 1,000 copies of the Address to the Churches was printed in pamphlet form and widely distributed, and in that address it was said : " We ought to have in this synod at least eight or ten evangelists to labor and carry the banner of the cross outside of all our churches into the wide regions beyond, in the eastern and western parts oi the State. This is

In North Carolina. 39

the great and crying want of the church in this synod to-day." This shows the state of feeUng in the church in 1869, and from 1870 to 1875 the state of the country gradually became more settled and peaceful, and the church began to realize as never before the great need of evangelization. The number of Home Missionaries and evangelists rapidly increased in all the Presbyteries, as veil as the contributions for their support, and a great deal of aggressive and effective work was done during these years. But the plan of overtaking the destitutions and planting Presbyterianism where it had never been known, was confined solely to the efforts of each individ- ual Presbytery, in looking after its own territory, until the great synodical movement was inaugurated.

CHAPTER IV.

The Origin of Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina.

In October, 1875, ten years after the Civil War, the Synod of North Carolina, representing five Presbyteries, 105 ministers 213 churches and 16,200 communicants, met in Greensboro, N. C.

The active operations of the synod at that time, in all its departments of work, were conducted solely through agents, who were appointed upon the basis of the resolu- tion adopted in 1852, and who had the oversight of all the great causes of church work, and the most important causes were Foreign Missions, Sustentation, Education, Publication and Sabbath-Schools. The agent of Susten- tation, however, was charged with the oversight not only of Sustentation proper, but also of evangelistic work and the Invalid Fund, which were classed under the one general head of " Sustentation."

The Rev. H. G. Hill, D. D., was the synod's agent of Sustentation in 1875, ^^d from his report that year it appears that less than $8,000 was raised in the whole synod, including all the salaries of all the evangelists, for these three combined causes, and the amount reported to the assembly as contributed by the churches was only $2,264.

On the approval of Dr. Hill's report, the following resolution was adopted. It is not stated in the record who offered this resolution, but it is probable that it was offered by Dr. Marable, Dr. Rumple or Dr. Hill, and it

In North Carolina. 41

was the first key-note to the future rise and progress of synodical missions in North Carohna :

" Resolved, That the whole subject of the absolute and relative aggressiveness of the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina be referred to a committee, with the in- struction to consider it, and if it be found that our whole duty has not been performed, said committee shall indi- cate the causes of said delinquencies and point out the remedy."

The following committee was appointed : Rev. Messrs. J. Rumple, B. F. Marable, R. Z. Johnston and Messrs. D. H. Morrison and George Allen.

The next year (1876) the synod met in Fayetteville, and the report of the Committee on Aggressiveness was heard, and after much discussion and debate the matter was recommitted to the same committee to further con- sider the subject and report next year, and Mr. D. F. Cannon and Hon. D. Schenk were added to the com- mittee.

In 1877 the synod met in Charlotte, and the Committee on Aggressiveness presented an abstract of the report prepared, which was read and accepted, and a full report, together with the abstract, were referred to a special com- mittee^ consisting of Rev. H. G. Hill, Rev. E. F. Rock- well and Dr. C. L. Hunter, to consider the same and recommend action for the synod. This committee recom- mended the following action, which was adopted :

1. That the abstract furnished by the chairman of the original committee be published in the Appendix to the Minutes.

2. That the report be returned to the chairman, Rev.

42 The Presbyterian Church

J. Rumple, with the request that he forward the facts and suggestions of the report, embodied in at least six articles under appropriate headlines, to the " North Carolina Presbyterian" for publication.

The "Abstract" referred to above is as follows : " The Committee on Aggressiveness having considered the whole subject of the history and progress of the Presby- terian Church in North Carolina, would respectfully re- port that the Presbyterian Church was planted in North Carolina about the year 1736, in Duplin county, and shortly after this time in New Hanover county and Cum- berland, by Scotch Presbyterians. About the same time the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians settled in the western part of the State. They rapidly increased, until at the period of the Revolution, they numbered three or four thousand, and constituted about one seventy-fifth of the population of North Carolina. At this time^ after the lapse of a hundred years, they numbered 16,544 communicants in 214 churches, with 113 ministers. The number of mem- bers has been doubled about every thirty-five or forty years, and at this time the communicants in the Synod of North Carolina numbered about one in every seventy of population, or, counting the Associate Reformed Pres- byterians and the colored Presbyterians, they numbered about one in every fifty of population. There has thus been both an absolute and relative increase of membership in our churches. The ratio of gain is about 33 per cent, on the increase of population.

In comparison with other denominations, the Presby- terians have increased in an intermediate ratio. They have far exceeded all other denominations in the State except two, and these two, according to the numbers re- ported by them, have largely exceeded the Presbyterians. Looking upon the whole work done by our church since

In North Carolina. 43

its origin in the State we have reason to thank God and take courage for the future.

At the same time, doubtless, we have failed to perform our whole duty. With our educated ministry, our intelli- gent, influential and wealthy members, we ought to have planted the Presbyterian Church in ever}^ corner of the Stale. Without pausing to particularize the various hindrances to our success, your committee would briefly point out the measures they deem proper for the future growth of Presbyterians.

1. The first is the more general employment of evan- gelists. Let synods and Presbyteries and ministers press this work, enlighten the churches, and strive to secure more liberal contributions to this cause.

2. The next is the more frequent efforts of our settled ministers to do missionary work in regions bordering upon their churches.

3. An effort to preach more popular sermons and a greater endeavor to secure immediate results from their labors.

4. An awakening of our eldership to a sense of the re- sponsibility resting upon them, especially in attending church courts and shaping the legislation of the church.

5. The more systematic, orderly and punctual adminis- tration of our financial affairs under the control of the deacons. (Signed) J. Rumple, Chairman.

The foregoing paper and action of the synod seem not to have been fully satisfactory, for on the next day the following resolution was adopted :

" Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to report at the next meeting of synod, 'as to what can be done to promote the greater efficiency of evangelistic woik within our bounds.' "

44 The Presbyterian Church

It is not stated in the recoid who offered this resolu- tion, but it is ahogether probable that it was offered by the Rev. Dr. B. F. Marable, who was at this time one of the strongest debaters, as well as one of the strongest advocates for aggressive evangelization in the synod. The Moderator appointed as the committee to consider this matter the Rev. ^Messrs. B. F. Marable, H. G. Hill, J. W. Primrose, G. D. Parks and B. L. Beall.

Perhaps one of the greatest hindrances to aggressive- ness in evangelistic work at this time was the confusion produced in the minds of many of the brethren by the different views held and advocated as to the nature, war- rant and functions of the evangelist. Consequently a committee had been appointed at the last meeting of synod to bring in a report on this subject. The Rev. John W. Primrose v;as chairman of this committee, which reported the following resolution, which was adopted :

"Resolved, That in the judgment of this synod, a scriptural evangelist is just a presbyter commissioned to preach the Gospel without pastoral charge, wherever in the judgment of the Presbytery his services may be needed for the conversion of sinners, and entrusted by the Presbytery with just so much of the joint power as in each case may be lawful and expedient."

Dr. Primrose was an evangelist of Orange Presbytery, in the eastern part of the State, from 1871 until 1880, and under his labors the churches of Tarboro, Nahalah, Lit- tleton and Rocky Mount were organized. He then became pastor of the Oxford, Shiloh and Grassy Creek churches, and afterwards, for six years, he w-as pastor of the Second Church in Wilmington, and in 1891 he returned to his first love, the evangelistic work, having accepted

In North Carolina. 45

a call from the Synod of Missouri. He died at Green- ville, Miss., February 13, 1907. His varied and fruitful labors were crowned with abundant success. He was a fine scholar, a forcible writer, preacher and debater, an organizer and a teacher of youth, and he died beloved and honored in the midst of abundant labors. In the Synod of North Carolina in his day he ranked with Hill and Marable, Alexander and Rumple and others in their noble fight for aggressiveness in overtaking the destitutions.

In 1878 the synod met in Goldsboro, and the Commit- tee on "What can be done to promote the greater effi- ciency of Evangelistic Work in our bounds," made its report, which was received. After considerable discus- sion the whole subject was again recommitted to the com- mittee, with the exception of the first item of the report, with the instruction to report next year. The Rev. Dr. Rumple was added to the committee, and the first item of the report which was adopted was as follows :

" That synod does most earnestly urge upon those Presbyteries having destitute territory that they employ each at least one evangelist for his entire time."

In advocating the adoption of this resolution, the Rev. Dr. Hill took the advanced ground that each Presbytery, regardless of destitute territory, needed and should em- ploy at least one evangelist. This position met with strong opposition, and called forth a warm debate, but the leaven was working and the time was not far distant when this very position became the settled policy of the church.

The following resolution was also adopted at this meeting :

'' Resolved, That the synod shall hold a synodical mis-

46 The Presbyterian Church

sionary meeting on Friday night of each session; that the agent, in addition to reading his report, be directed to secure speakers to make addresses on the subject, and tliat a collection, in connection with these services, be taken for this cause."

In 1879 ^^^^ synod met in Statesville, and the Rev. Dr. ^larable, the chairman of the Committee on "What can be done to promote the greater efficiency of Evangelistic Work in our bounds," was absent. The committee, however, submitted a report, which was laid on the table, but the following resolution was adopted:

" Resolved, That the synod hereby appoint a synodical agent of evangelistic labor, to consider and report an- nually on white and colored evangelization in its bounds."

By this action the cause of evangelistic labor was sepa- rated from the general cause of Sustentation, and it now became the object of general interest and the subject of much discussion in the church courts.

The Rev. Charles M. Payne was elected the first agent of Evangelistic Labor, and on the evening of his appoint- ment, October 24, 1879, the first synodical home mis- sionary meeting ui North Carolina was held. These were long steps in advance of anything done as yet along the line of "aggressiveness' in overtaking the destitutions.

In 1880 the synod met in Raleigh, and the agent of evangelistic labor, Rev. C. M. Payne, made his first report. A summary of this report will show the vast destitution of Presbyterian churches and Presbyterian preaching in North Carolina at that time.

In Orange Presbytery alone there were 18 counties which had no Presbyterian church within their bounds, and nine counties had only one church each, making 27

In North Carolina. 47

counties in one Presbytery alone almost entirely destitute of the Gospel through our church.

The synod at this time had five Presbyteries, 226 churches, and 18,356 communicants, and it included within its bounds 94 counties. Of these 94 counties 29 had no Presbyterian church, 24 had only one each, making a total of 53 counties in the State almost totally destitute of Presbyterianism. And for this vast field there were just two evangelists, Rev. Messrs. S. C. Alexander and J. H. Thornwell, employed for their w^iole time, and five others who gave as much as one-fourth of their time to the work, but principally in old fields and not in purely missionary territory. And the total amount contributed in the synod for evangelistic work was not quite $2,300.

This report disclosing these facts necessarily called forth ''considerable discussion," and doubtless awakened in the minds and hearts of the brethren the stern fact that these conditions must be met, and met heroically. Con- sequently many were the ways and means suggested and devised, but as yet the remedy seemed to lie within the province of each Presbytery to act for itself. Therefore the following resolution was adopted :

" Resolved, That the Presbyteries be urged to place evangelists in their destitute fields ; that the settled minis- ters be urged to do as much missionary work as possible, and that the churches be urged to give freely to this ex- ceedingly important cause."

This resolution was offered by the Rev. Dr. L. McKin- non, who at that time was one of the most active and vigorous members of the -synod, and he very strongly advocated the plan as one remedy for overtaking the des- titutions ; that the settled ministers, especially in the towns and cities, become missionaries, to the extent of

48 The Presbyterian Church

giving an occasional Sunday and several days in the week during a month to the great work outside of their own congregations.

It would seem that almost every possible suggestion had now been made to the Presbyteries, and the ministers, elders, deacons and membership of the churches had been repeatedly urged to put forth their best endeavors along the line of aggressiveness, in overtaking the destitutions ; and while a great deal had been accomplished, yet "much land remained to be possessed."

In 1881 the synod met in Salisbury, and this meeting marks an era in the history of the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina.

The agent of Evangelistic Labor made his report, which was approved, and it appeared from the report that the resolutions adopted last year had not been without sub- stantial results, especially among settled ministers who had done much missionary work.

A paper was now offered, undersigned by the Rev. Messrs. H. G. Hill, L. McKinnon, D. E. Jordan, W. E. Mclllwaine and C. M. Payne, touching the supply of the destitutions of the synod by synodical effort.

Attention is called to the names attached to this paper. These names, together with B. F. Marable, J. Rumple, J. W. Primrose and others, among whom were S. C. Alex- ander, G. D. Parks, F. H. Johnston and J. C. Alexander, arid the elders, George Allen, B. F. Hall and others, represent some of the leading spirits in the early rise of the synodical movement. The names of the Rev. Dr. Hill and Mr. B. F. Hall have been intimately associated with the synodical movement from its very inception until the present time.

The paper now offered presented an entirely new fea- ture from all previous suggestions in the missionary

In North Carolina. 49

operations of the synod. It raised the old questions of the rights, functions and prerogatives of the synod as a court or legislative body, and it naturally created ''much discussion." The paper met with strong opposition, and the debate continued at intervals for two or three days, the question at issue being, " Did the synod, as a body, have the right to conduct evangelistic work?" This question of long standing was now fought out and set- tled in the affirmative, and Synodical Home Missions zvas born!

The paper having been carefully considered seriatim, amended and adopted, is as follows :

" In view of the fact that there are in the bounds of this synod about 53 counties of the 94, and about 500,000 people destitute, or nearly so, of any church ministrations of our faith and order; and as this destitution is so un- equally distributed among the Presbyteries, that some of them cannot possibly for at least a number of years occupy their destitute regions, the following scheme of missionary labor is presented to the synod for careful consideration, and, if found practicable, for adoption:

''i. That this synod appoint two ministers to labor in the destitute regions of our bounds, and that Presbyteries comprising this synod be requested to authorize these ministers to labor in their bounds as evangelists.

"2. That a committee, consisting of Mr. George Allen, of Orange Presbytery; Mr. William R. Kenan, of Wil- mington Presbytery ; Mr. S. H. Wiley, of Concord Pres- bytery ; Mr. E. T. McKethan, of Fayetteville Presbytery, and Gen. R. D. Johnston, of Mecklenburg Presbtery, be appointed to raise the sum of $3,000, not by ordinary church collections, but my special efforts among indi- viduals of means and such as feel an interest in this work.

50 The Presbyterian Church

"3. That those home missionaries appointed by synod are not to enter upon their work until the chairman of the committee appointed to raise the funds shall report to the chairman of the Committee of Synodical Evangelistic Labor that the necessary funds have been secured.

"4. That Rev. C. M. Payne, Rev. H. G. Hill, D. D., Rev. J. Rumple, Rev. G. D. Parks and Rev. J. C. Alex- ander, or their successors in office as chairmen of Home Missions in their respective Presbyteries, be appointed a Synodical Evangelistic Committee to superintend the general conduct of this work, and^ if necessary, between the meetings of synod, fill vacancies by election.

''5. That in order to prevent any conflict between Pres- byterial and Synodical rights and duties, these home mis- sionaries shall labor in any Presbytery only when invited by the chairman of Home Missions in that Presbytery, and then in conformity to the suggestions of the local authorities of said Presbytery."

Thus synodical Home Missions was launched, and it was ordered that a committee of five, consisting of Revs. D. E. Jordan, L. McKinnon, C. M. Payne and Elders A. G. Neel and S. C. Rankin, be appointed to nominate the first synodical evangelists or home missionaries.

This committee reported recommending the Rev. D. E. Jordan and the Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine. The report was adopted, and these brethren were duly elected as the first synodical missionaries.

In 1882 the synod met in Asheville. The Rev. C. M. Payne, chairman of the new Synodical Evangelistic Com- mittee, made his report, which seemed to forecast a com- plete failure of the scheme of the synod. For the past year the success of the scheme depended upon the raising of $3,000 before the evangelists could enter upon their work, and a more serious question was to arrange for a

In North Carolina. 51

similar amount from year to year. Both the Finance and Evangelistic Committees used every means possible and labored faithfully to secure the required sum immediately after the last meeting of synod, and a considerable amount was raised, but not the whole amount. And in the meantime the Rev. D. E. Jordan had accepted and the Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine had declined the position of synodical missionary. The committee met in Salisbury February 7, 1882, and elected the Rev. L. McKinnon in the place of Mr. Mclllwaine, and resolved to renew their efforts. The committee met again in Raleigh Feb- ruary 24, 1882, and in the mean time the Rev. Mr. McKinnon had declined to accept the position of mis- sionary, and the Rev. Mr. Jordan had been hindered from entering the field on account of the failure to raise the required $3,000, and the Finance Committee reported that the amount already pledged had been promised con- ditionally, and that there was no prospect of raising the required $3,000 under the present plan. This committee claimed that another plan must be devised, which would provide for the future, and enlist the co-operation of the Presbyteries and the churches. It was said that the scheme had failed to enlist the endorsement and co-opera- tion of the Presbyteries, and had met with '^decided oppo- sition all over the synod, as being inexpedient and imprac- ticable."

The Evangelistic Committee, after calling attention to the greatly increased interest and activity by the Presby- teries in the work during the past year, which was rightly attributed to the synodical movement, with deep regret asked to be discharged. The "movement" at present seemed to be a dismal failure, and its promoters were keenly disappointed and greatly discouraged, but it was not a failure — it had been born, and, like an infant, it

52 The Presbyterian Church

must needs be helpless and dependent for a time, but it had been boni and born to live.

In 1883 the synod met in Wilmington. The Rev. C. IM. Payne tendered his resignation as agent of Evangelis- tic Labor, and the Rev. James C. Alexander was elected as his successor.

Dr. Payne did a splendid work during the time of his being agent of Evangelistic Labor, and indeed he never ceased to be, as long as he lived, a man of power and a brother beloved in the synod. He was a man of com- manding personal appearance, endowed with fine intel- lectual qualities, and possessed a voice and manner as soft and gentle as a woman, and through his untiring efforts by preaching, visiting, letter-writing, persuasive manners, and general popularity, many souls were won for the j\Iaster and much was done in awakening the minds of the people and arousing interest in the great cause of missions. He was a staunch friend of the great Synodical Movement, which he helped to launch in 1881, until the time of his death, which occurred September 13, 1900.

During the time of the agency of the Rev. J. C. Alex- ander, after the retirement of Dr. Payne, the synod for several years was occupied largely with other things than the cause of Home ^Missions, especially with judicial mat- ters.

Mr. Alexander was a man of great executive ability, and he worked faithfully and zealously for the great cause, which temporarily had received a backset, but which was destined to arise again, in due time with re- newed vigor and power.

In 1884 the synod met at Winston, and the agent's report showed that 14 ministers were employed as evan- gelists by the Presbyteries for a part of their time; and

In Xorth Carolina. 53

that a net gain of eight churches and 270 members had been made during the past year ; but there still remained 29 counties in which there was no Presbyterian church, and 24 counties in which there was but one church each.

In 1885 the synod met at Reidsville, and this meeting was largely occupied with a judicial case. The agent of Evangelistic Labor, Rev. J. C. Alexander, was the Mode- rator of this meeting, and his report this year showed the work to be "prosperous and encouraging."

At this meeting the Rev. J. Henry Smith, D. D., was appointed to deliver an address next year on the " Rise, Progress, and Prospects of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," and the Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine was appointed to deliver an address on " The Duty of the Church in Securing a Larger Number of Ministers."

The next year, in 1886, the synod met in Concord, and was still occupied with judicial matters.

The Rev. Dr. Smith delivered his address on the " Rise, Progress and Prospects of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," and the Rev. Dr. Hill delivered an address on " Ministerial Support," and both of these brethren received the thanks of the synod.

At this meeting the Rev. J. C. Alexander laid down the work as agent of Evangelistic Labor, and the Rev. J. W. Primrose was elected as his successor.

On November 15, 1886, soon after this meeting of synod, the Rev. J. C. Alexander suddenly passed from earth to heaven. He was a faithful preacher and a zeal- ous workman — practical, pointed, earnest and judicious. In Orange Presbytery, especially, he was a wise and trusted counsellor and a brother beloved. He was a man of deep convictions and steady purpose, and untiring in his efforts for the spread of the Gospel. For many years he was entrusted with the conduct of Home Missions in

54 The Presbyterian Church

Orange Presbytery, and the additional work of the synod, together with the cares of a large pastorate, were thought to be by his friends too heavy a burden to bear, and pos- sibly shortened his days. He did a noble work, and left behind him a noble record. He loved his God and his people, and his people loved him, and his end was perfect peace.

In 1887 t^^^ synod met in Fayetteville, and continued to be much engaged with judicial matters.

The Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine at this meeting, according to appointment, delivered his address on " The Duty of the Church in Securing a Larger Number of Ministers," and he received the thanks of the synod for the address.

The closing words of the report of Dr. Primrose, now the agent of Evangelistic Labor, were as follows : " There is gratifying evidence of progress and increasing zeal in this department of labor throughout the synod."

This being true, and yet no action being taken, and no effort being made to revise the plan and carry out the great principle adopted in 1881, was calculated to dis- courage many of the members of the synod, and conse- quently some of them, particularly the Rev. W. E. Mclll- waine, went away from this meeting of synod much dis- satisfied on account of what was not done, and deter- mined that something should be done at the next synod, looking to the evangelization of the State, either by Synodical Home Missions or by some other possible and feasible plan. And the next meeting of synod was des- tined to be a memorable one in North Carolina.

CHAPTER V.

The Inauguration of Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina and the ]\Ien of the Times.

The meeting of synod held in Goldsboro in 1888, in many respects, was unquestionably one of the most re- markable meetings of the kind ever held in the State.

It was remarkable from the fact that a ruling elder, for the first time in the history of the church, was elected Moderator, the Hon. A. M. Scales, who at this time was the Governor of North Carolina, was the Moderator of this meeting. It was remarkable from the fact that it was freighted with an unusual number of memorials, praying for relief and demanding great and important changes, and laying the foundation for great enterprises. It was also remarkable from the fact of the able and memorable speeches that were made, the amount of work accomplished, and last, but not least, the inauguration of Synodical Home I^Iissions.

Another thing in connection with this meeting which was remarkable, was the calling of a convention in Golds- boro on the day before the synod met, October 23, 1888, to consider the interests of Home ]\Iissions.

There is no record of this convention in the minutes of synod, but the facts are these: The Rev. Wilham E. Mclllwaine was one of the brethren who went away from the last meeting of synod at Fayetteville, feeling much discouraged on account of what was not done for the

56 ThK pRKSnYTERIAN ChURCII

cause of State evangelization, and it was he who con- ceived the thought of calling this convention. He wrote to the chairmen of the Home Mission Committees of the Presbyteries, he himself being the chairman in Mecklen- burg Presbytery, and sent to them the following call for the convention, which was duly signed by each of them.

Synodical Home Missionary Convention.

"After conference with a number of the friends of this cause in the synod, we the undersigned chairmen of the Home Missions Committee in our respective Presbyteries do hereby call a convention to meet in Goldsboro, N. C, on Tuesday the 23d of October (inst), for the purpose of giving this subject a more thorough consideration than it usually receives in the synod. The following pro- gram has been agreed upon :

" The opening address — Rev. F. H. Johnston, D. D. ; addresses by each of the chairmen of the Home Missions Committees in the different Presbyteries, setting forth as briefly as possible the extent, needs, and prospects of their respective fields ; addresses of evangelists of Presbyteries, with the map of synod before them, in reference to their special work; a general discussion of the following sub- jects, in which all present shall be invited to participate —

''i. Ought there not be a more equal division of the synod among the Presbyteries?

''2. Would it not be advisable for the- synod, at the approaching meeting, to take steps to place at least one evangelist in its mission field?

''3. What are some of the hindrances to this work in the Presbyteries and synod, and how can these be re- moved ?

In Xorth Carolina. 57

''4. What should be done to secure a thorough consid- eration of the subject of Home Missions at each regular meeting of synod?

(Signed) Alexander Sprunt, Orange Presbytery; R. B. Anderson, Concord Presbytery; H. G. Hill, Fayetteville Presbytery; P. H. Hoge, Wilmington Presbytery ; W. E. McIllwaine,, ^Mecklenburg Pres'y."

The convention was held, and the foregoing program was fully carried out. A memorial was adopted to be presented to the synod the next day. x\nd a paper was prepared for this convention by the Rev. P. H. Hoge, D. D., on the "constitutionality of synodical evangelists." This paper was afterwards published in the " North Carolina Presbyterian," and it was a most able, con- vincing and unanswerable argument in favor of the great cause at issue in these times. But Dr. Hoge, perhaps, was not as familiar as some other members of this con- vention with the fact that this question and kindred topics had been discussed in the synod for years, and that the great principle touching these matters had been settled in 1881. Dr. Hoge and Dr. Sprunt became members of the synod in 1885, and at the present time they ranked with Drs. Hill, Marable, Johnston, Primrose, Mclllwaine and others as leading spirits in the great Synodical Move- ment.

Dr. Mclllwaine had spent much of his time as a most successful evangelist, and, like Dr. Primrose and others, knew from personal experience and observation the great need of evangelists, and he had the joy and the satisfac- tion of seeing the convention which he had called a great success, and destined to be far reaching and blessed in its results, as one of the means of reviving and putting

58 TiiE Presbyterian Church

into operation the paper which he had signed and the plan adopted in 1881 for overtaking the destitutions by "synodical effort." He did a noble work for the synod, and especially for Mecklenburg Presbytery before leaving the bounds of his native State. He was intimately asso- ciated with almost every forward movement of the church. He was personally connected with the first ste^s taken at this meeting of synod and afterwards in founding the synod's Orphans' Home. He left the synod in 1892 for wider fields of usefulness, and at the present time is the president of the Alabama Presbyterian College for Men at Anniston, Ala.

On the next day after this convention the synod met, and the following memorials were presented : One from the Evangelical Alliance of Wilmington, in regard to the State laws concerning temperance; one from the Chapel Hill Church, touching the interests of Presbyterianism at the University; one from the Presbyterian Lady Man- agers of the " Home and Hospital" in Charlotte, N. C. This memorial was referred to a commission of which the Rev. J. Rumple, D. D.^ was made chairman, on the, adoption of the following resolution offered by Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine :

''Resolved, That in the judgment of this synod the time has come to take steps looking to the establishing of an orphans' home within our bounds, and that a commis- sion be appointed to take the whole matter in charge, to consider and execute whatever may seem wise and practicable in putting such an enterprise on a permanent basis."

Thus it will be seen that the great enterprise of the Orphans' Home, now the joy and piide of the synod, was launched at this meeting.

REV. W. E. M'lLWAiN, D. D.

In North Carolina. 59

The two other memorials presented related to the burn- ing and vital questions which had burdened the minds and hearts of some of the brethren for so many years — " How shall we overtake the destitutions of our State ?" One of these memorials was from Orange Presbytery, and the other one was from the Synodical Convention, and it is noted that both these memorials embodied the same thought, looking to the division of territory.

The memorial from Orange Presbytery had its origin at the spring meeting of Presbytery, six months before the convention, and the meeting of synod, when a com- mittee of three — Dr. Johnston, Dr. Sprunt and Mr. W. S. Primrose — w-ere appointed to draft said memorial to the synod. It was presented to the Presbytery at the fall meeting by the Rev. Dr. Johnston and adopted. This Presbytery had felt for many years its deep responsibility, and its utter inability to overtake its destitutions, owing to its vast unoccupied territory, and much time and labor were spent at each meeting of Presbytery in discussing these matters. The Rev. Dr. Johnston had been elected, and was now serving as general evangelist for the Pres- bytery, and he, with others, w^as thoroughly convinced that old Orange ought to be divided, and that in some way the synod ought to share the responsibility in sup- plying the needs.

The follow'ing is the memorial from Orange Presby- tery :

'' The Presbytery of Orange respectfully memoralize the Synod of North Carolina to take into consideration the subjoined statement of the extent and present need of the evangelistic field within the bounds of the Presby- tery, and to take such action as its wisdom may suggest for the assistance and relief of the Presbytery in the prosecution of this great work:

6o The Presbyterian Church

"i. The Presbytery of Orange, the oldest existing Pres- bytery south of the Potomac, and mother of all the Pres- byteries which now compose this synod, is in territorial extent nearly as large as all the others combined. It em- braces about one-half the population of the State — not far from 700,000 souls, 482,000, or nearly two-thirds, being white. There are 44 counties and parts of coun- ties in the Presbytery, in 20 of which there is not a single organized church of our faith and order. With three exceptions^ these counties are massed together in the eastern part of the Presbytery, between the Atlantic Coast Line Railway and the Ocean. The Presbytery thus presents to view a territory about evenly divided by the railway mentioned, one-half of which, as to Presbyterian- ism, is missionary ground ; and this ground, occupied by our church, is nearly, if not quite, two-thirds of the en- tire missionary field of the synod — ^that is to say, Orange Presbytery has twice as large an evangelistic field for her share of labor as the other four Presbyteries together have. This disproportion in the extent in their respective fields of Home Mission labor and enterprise, is felt, justly, as we believe, to be a burden far beyond her strength by the mother Presbytery; and this synod, the only court which has, according to the constitution of the church, authority to determine the metes and bounds of the Presbyteries within her bounds, is respectfully asked to consider this matter, and, if it be possible, to equalize the shares of the Presbyteries respectively in, the work of Home Evangelization.

''2. The Presbytery is moved at this time specially to present this appeal to the synod for the reason it has for believing its large unoccupied field to be one which in- vites a far more extensive planting of our church than it is possible for the Presbytery to accomplish with the

In North Carolina. 6i

resources at its command. Recent special exploration of the eastern district of the Presbytery has shown open doors which should be entered at once, and would be, if it were in the power of the Presbytery. It has done some- thing in this region in the last fifteen years. Half a dozen churches have been organized at promising points, one of which is already self-supporting, and two or three new fields of hopeful labor are at this moment being entered in counties which, until lately, had not heard the voice of a Presbyterian preacher. But other fields also remain to be occupied, and will remain thus, because of the sheer inability of the Presbytery to occupy. It has reached apparently the limit of its strength in keeping as it does now four or five evangelists in the field, and yet four or five more are sorely needed, if the Presbytery is to keep apace with the widening area of labor. The Presbytery therefore earnestly desires that the synod give this subject the consideration to which it seems to be en- titled, and, in its wisdom, suggest or initiate some mode of procedure which may relieve the Presbytery in the present emergency. Whether it shall be by a readjust- ment of the boundaries which define the existing Presby- teries, or by the erection of a new Presbytery, or by a scheme of synodical evangelistic labor, or by a co^nsensus of the Presbyteries, by which a practical co-operation in the work may be secured ; whether by any one, or by all these, or by any other feasible method, the Presbytery does not venture to say; but it does desire, and it hopes, that some way may be found for removing the dispropor- tionate and unequal burdens of the Presbyteries, and so far the more effective prosecution of the great work of State evangelization.

(Signed) F. H. Johnston, Stated Clerk/'

62 The Presbyterian Church

On the same day, immediately after the noon recess, the memorial from the Synodical Convention was pre- sented as follows :

" The committee appointed by the convention lately held in this city, in the interests of Home Missions, re- spectfully memoralize the synod to take suitable action in regard to the following matters:

''I. That a committee be appointed to thoroughly con- sider the question of the more equal division of the terri- tory of synod among the Presbyteries, to report at the next meeting of synod, and to publish their report in the '' North Carolina Presbyterian" at least two months be- fore said meeting of synod.

"2. In order to bring the subject of Home Missions prominently before the synod, to make a standing order to consider the subject embracing the causes of Susten- tation and evangelistic work, at 11 o'clock A. M. on the second day of its sessions, and to give this subject prefer- ence over all other subjects.

"3. We also memoralize the synod to take the neces- sary steps at its present meeting to place at least one evangelist in its missionary field."

The first and second sections of this memorial w^ere placed upon the docket, and the third section, which in- volved the very heart of the matters at issue, was referred to a special committee, consisting of the Rev. Messrs. J. W. Primrose, P. H. Hoge, Alexander Sprunt, H. G. Hill, J. M. Wharey and W. E. Mclllwaine.

This was a strong committee of representative men, each Presbytery being represented, with Dr. Primrose as chairman, and on the morning of the next day — Octo- ber 26, 1888 — ^the following report was submitted to svnod :

In North Carolina. 63

" Your committee appointed to take into consideration and to report suitable action on the memorial of the Con- vention of Home Missions, touching the placing of at least one evangelist in the mission field of the synod, beg leave to report the following action for synod's adoption :

"i. That synod grants the petition of the memorialists and agrees to place at least one evangelist in the field.

"2. That a committee be appointed, with instructions, if the way be clear as to support, to select such evangelist or evangelists, to fix his salary and direct his labors until the next meeting of synod.

''3. While laboring within the bounds of any Presby- tery he shall be under the direction of the Home Mission Committee of that Presbytery.

''4. His powers within the bounds of any Presbytery, with reference to the reception of members, organizing churches, ordaining and installing elders and deacons, shall be only such as are conferred upon him by said Presbytery.

(Signed) "J. W. Primrose, Chainnan"

A battle royal was now on. The infant which had been born in 1881, and which had been asleep and gaining strength, had now awakened with increased strength, and almost matured vigor, and was demanding its right to exercise its powers. The same old questions of the con- stitutionality of synodical evangelists, the right of the synod to elect evangelists, and to elect evangelistic com- mittees with powxrs to act, had to be met, and they were met in a masterly debate. The opposition was strong, and the end of the conflict was not to be seen until 1891, but, for the present, the battle was fought and the vic- tory was won.

No one who was present at this meeting of synod will

64 The Presbyterian Church

ever forget the masterly speeches delivered by many of the brethren who participated in the debate, especially the notable speech delivered by the Rev. Dr. B. F. Marable. At this late date it would be impossible to give a synop- sis, or even an adequate description, of that wonderful speech. It was full of wit, humor, pathos and sarcasm, and it bristled with illustrations, ludicrous and otherwise, and it was delivered with rare eloquence and telling power. It came spontaneously from a massive brain and a big heart, overjoyed at the prospect of synodical mis- sions becoming a reality, and it made a profound impres- sion.

Dr. ■Marable was no ordinary man. He was notably an independent and original thinker, and possessed the power of concentrating his thought upon a subject in a remarkable manner, and of reaching conclusions step by step through ^ masterful power of analysis, which, when the conclusion was reached and the thought projected, seldom failed to convince his hearers. Some one, writing of him after his death, said : " Dr. Marable added to his analytical and logical powers a loftiness of conception that came from a lofty soul, and that lent a glow of fire to all that he said. He was not only a man of great intellect, but a man of great heart, and the heart warmed the speech that the intellect created. He thought great thoughts about God and eternity, about sin and retribu- tion, about grace and redemption, but these great thoughts were not the speculations of the mind, nor the imagina- tions of fancy, but the teachings of the Holy Spirit to a soul that was truly humble, because its thoughts and aspirations were turned upward to that which was greater than itself. He received the things of God with the faith of a little child. And while his intellect cut through the shallow sophistries that were urged against Divine truth

In North Carolina. 65

and revelation, yet when it came to that which was above the grasp of human comprehension, he simply wondered and adored." He became a Presbyterian from the Baptist Church in 1864, and it is said that the change wrought in his views was the result of a long and painful struggle, and having reached conclusions satisfactory to himself, he was always tolerant to those who differed with him, and he supported the principles he avowed most manfully unto the end. He calmly and painlessly passed to his reward on April 14, 1892.

After the adoption of the report of the Committee on the Memorial of the Convention the following evangelistic committee, provided for in the report and to serve as a special committee for one year, was then appointed — viz. : Rev. Messrs. J. W. Primrose (chairman), Alexander Sprunt, R. B. Anderson, H. G. Hill, P. H. Hoge, W. E. Mclllwaine, and Elders A. M. Scales, M. W. Hill, J. W. McNeill, B. F. Hall and Rufus Barringer.

The memorial from Orange Presbytery was referred to this committee to report at the next meeting of synod.

Thus ended, so far as synodical missions were con- cerned, the most notable meeting of synod perhaps, ever held in the history of the church. The great question, ''How shall we overtake our destitutions?" which had been discussed so long, had now culminated into a definite plan and purpose, and the great Synodical Movement or "effort," which hadi been paralyzed and slumbering for a number of years, had now become a reality and had be- gun its career, to move onward and upward for the glory of God and the salvation of multitudes in the old North State.

But it now remained to put the work into practical operation, and to place the whole scheme upon a perma- nent basis. This necessarily would require time and labor,

66 The Presbyterian Church

as well as the profound study and wisdom of the com- mittee charged with this most important duty.

One of the leading and active members of synod at this time, and until he left the synod in 1899, especially per- taining to all matters connected with Home Missions, was the Rev. P. H. Hoge, D. D. Soon after the meeting in Goldsboro the special Evangelistic Committee met in Raleigh. Dr. Hoge was made the secretary of the com- mittee, and continued to be after the committee became permanent, and it devolved upon him to conduct an ex- tensive correspondence and to decide many matters of importance.

The memorial of Orange Presbytery had been carefully studied in connection with the distribution of territory, and at this meeting of the committee in Raleigh, Dr. Hoge proposed an overture to the synod to erect two new Presbyteries, to be named Raleigh and Asheville. The Mecklenburg members did not think the time had come for the formation of Asheville Presbytery, but the other new Presbytery was agreed upon, and was formed by the next synod, and named ''Albemarle." At this meeting of the committee Dr. Hoge strongly advocated the election of the Rev. W. D. Morton as synodical evangelist, which afterwards resulted in his election. Owing to the illness of Dr. Primrose, chairman of the committee, Dr. Hoge prepared and presented to the synod of 1889 at Char- lotte the report of the committee, outlining the plan of future work and recommending that the committee be made a permanent organization. He also prepared for the synod of 1891 an elaborate report on the future "Work, Policy and Organization" of the Synodical Home Mission Committee.

It w^ill be noted in the minutes of the synod that each of the first three articles of that report was adopted on

RtV. P. H. HOGE, D. D.

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a different day. Between the lines of that fact is to be read the unrecorded history of a great debate, in which the whole policy and plan of the committee was assailed and sternly fought by a strong but small minority of the synod. It largely devolved upon Dr. Hoge to defend the report before the synod, and as a result of the debate the policy of the committee was sustained by an overwhelm- ing majority.

The first article of that report was as follows :

" Synod recognizes that upon it and its Presbyteries is laid the responsibility for the evangelization of its terri- tory, so far as it can be done by the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and in humble reliance upon the Head of the Church receives this trust from His hand and pledges itself to its faithful prosecution."

The adoption of this article firmly nailed to the mast- head the purpose of the synod to evangelize its territory without outside aid. When the General Assembly con- sidered the reorganization of its plan of Home Mission work, Dr. Hoge was sent by the committee to the Assem- bly at Macon, Ga., in 1893, to present the North Carolina plan before the Standing Committee of the Assembly; and although the Assembly's Special Committee presented a different plan, the Standing Committee recommended the North Carolina plan to the Assembly, and by the courtesy of that body Dr. Hoge was heard in explanation of the plan. It was adopted by the Assembly, and remains the essential policy of Home Mission work in the South- ern Presbyterian Church to this day. Again, in 1885, a Presbytery in Virginia overtured the Assembly to revert to the old plan of conducting Home Mission work. Dr Hoge was a member of that Assembly, and was made chairman of the Standing Committee on Home Missions,

6S The Presbyterian Church

and both the committee and the Assembly again sustained the North Carolina plan, which remains the plan of the Assembly to the present day.

In 1889, at Charlotte, N. C, the Special Evangelistic Committee reported to synod the election of the Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., as the first synodical evangelist in North Carolina, and that he had entered uf>on his work June 7, 1889. This was a happy selection — one that gave universal satisfaction — and was crowned with wonderful success. Dr. ]\Iorton himself made a report of his labors, which thrilled the synod, and w^as received with profound gratitude. He showed that from June the 7th to October the 7th, a period of exactly four months,, he had visited 130 families, held 200 services, witnessed 114 confessions and renewals, added to the church 82 persons, baptized 17 adults and 17 infants, ordained i elder and i deacon, and had collected $189 for the work. This report made a profound impression, and Dr. IMorton was commended to the people for their support, by their contributions and their prayers.

The plan submitted by the committee for re-districting the whole territory, after a few changes, was adopted. By this plan the Presbytery of Albemarle was formed, and its first meeting was held in Goldsboro, N. C, November 20, 1889.

The plan for the permanent conduct and support of the work was adopted — namely : "That a permanent commit- tee on synodical evangelization be constituted, the chair- man of which shall be the synod's agent of Evangelistic Labor, and which shall be composed of the chairmen of the Committee of Home Missions from each Presbytery, and one ruling elder from each Presbytery." For the support of the work it was recommended that a certain amount of money be apportioned to the Presbyteries an-

In North Carolina. 69

nually, to be raised quarterly, and that an annual collec- tion be taken by all the churches for the cause.

Under this plan the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., was elected agent of Evangelistic Labor, and he was therefore chairman of the committee, and the committee thus constituted was composed of the foUovv-ing members : Rev. Messrs. Alexander Sprunt (chairman), D. I. Craig, C.A. Munroe, H.G. Hill, P. H. Hoge, W. E. Mclllwaine, and Elders Hon. A. M. Scales, I. H. Foust, Dr. J. W. McNeill, B. F. Hall, Gen. R. Barringer and Samuel Watkins.

The work of the Special Evangelistic Committee ap- pointed at Goldsboro was now completed, and the com- mittee did their work wisely and well — all honor to them !

The great cause of Synodical Home Missions was now fully inaugurated, and having arisen to a permanent position in the economy of the church, we will attempt in the future pages of this book to trace its development and progress.

CHAPTFR VI.

The Progress of Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina, and the Men of the Times.

In the Book of Wisdom it is written : " There is a time for every purpose under the heaven." God has His purpose, and His own time for every purpose; and not only so, but He has the right men in the right place, and at the right time, to meet every purpose. The eyes of the Synod of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1900 were turned toward the Rev. Egbert W. Smith, D. D., Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., and others, as the right men who had appeared upon the scene of action at the right time. The efforts of the church had been crowned with wonderful success, and this meeting was characterized by intense enthusiasm. It will be remembered by the eloquent and stirring addresses made by these brethren and others, which were followed by the raising of nearly $2,000 on the floor of the synod for the cause of Synodical Home Missions ! The synod sang the long-metre doxology in grateful acknowledgment to God for His rich blessing.

On motion of Dr. Alorton the Rev. E. W. Smith, D. D., was immediately and unanimously elected General Synodical Evangelist, in addition to Dr. Morton. The Rev. Dr. Sprunt was re-elected agent of Evangelistic Labor and chairman of the committee.

The report showed that there had been eight Presby- terial evangelists in the field during the past year, and cheering reports came from all parts of the synod. There

In North Carolina. 71

was much cause for thankfulness, and in the Address to the Churches, written by the Rev. Jacob Henry Smith, D. D., it was said : '' We think that the present meeting of synod will be admitted to be one of the best and most encouraging ever held, and that it will mark an era in our North Carolina Church for progress and blessing in the matter of spreading the Gospel at home and abroad."

It was indeed a great meeting, but we must remember, however, that at this time there were 96 counties in the State, and a population of more than a milion and a half, and in 2y of these counties there was no Presbyterian church, and in 19 of them only one church each, making 46 counties and a vast population almost entirely without the influence of the Presbyterian Church. The number of Presbyterian communicants in the State at this time was something more than 26,000, and the contributions to Systematic Beneficence was nearly $56,000 — a gain of $13,000 over the last year.

Soon after this meeting the committee met in Greens- boro, November 25, 1890, to determine the work of Dr. Smith as General Evangelist. It was decided that his especial work should be the raising of funds for placing more laborers in the field.

The committee met again in Greensboro February 3, 1891, and Dr. Smith reported a subscription of $2,000 secured for the work. On the basis of this subscription it was agreed to elect one other general evangelist, and that further elections should be local or district evange- lists. The Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine was elected general evangelist, and the Rev. John C. McMullen was elected district evangelist, and subsequently the Rev. R. P. Pell was added to the force as district evangelist.

At this meeting of the committee, also, the Rev. Dr. Morton gave notice that he would retire from the work

^2 The Presbyterian Church

some time during the year, and the Rev. John M. Rose, D. D., was elected general evangelist to take Dr. Morton's place when he retired. The committee met again in Fayetteville June 26, 1890, Dr. Smith having given notice of his resignation, owing to an affection of his throat. The committee declined to accept Dr. Smith's resignation, but granted him a vacation of six months with the earnest hope that his strength might be regained and that his almost marvellous success in the work of raising funds might be continued.

In order that the w^ork might not suffer in the mean- time, the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D,, was elected, for all his time, to take Dr. Smith's place,, to superintend the work and act as secretary, treasurer and evangelist. The Rev. Dr. Smith, however, resumed his special work before the meeting of the next synod, and his efforts were crowned with great success.

Thus it vvill be seen that the committee had been very active and faithful, and had made many very important moves since the last meeting of synod. When the synod met at Durham in 1891 a full report was made; and, as already stated, an elaborate report on the " Work, Policy and Organization" of the great ''Movement" was sub- mitted to synod and adopted, and it remains essentially the same until this day, as well as being the plan and policy adopted by the General Assembly.

The committee was authorized "for the ensuing year" to set apart a financial agent, w4iose w^hole time might be devoted to the work of laying the cause upon the hearts and consciences of the people, in order that local evange- lists might be multiplied. This office of financial agent was in its nature temporary, and was due to the desire to retain the service and utilize the gifts of both Dr. Smith and Dr. Sprunt. During the year this office was merged

In North Carolina. 73

into that of superintendent, which has remained perma- nent, and which was constituted at this meeting by the following article:

"The offices of agent of Sustentation and agent of Evangelistic Labor shall be discontinued, and synod shall annually elect a superintendent of Synodical Missions, who shall be ex-officio chairman, secretary and treasurer of the Synodical Committee."

The duties of this office were clearly set forth and defined in the report, and the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., was unanimously elected the first superintendent.

The committee, as now constituted, was composed of the following persons: Rev. A. Sprunt, D. D., superin- tendent; Rev. E. W. Smith, D. D., financial agent; Rev. D. I. Craig, Rev. C. A. Munroe, Rev. H. G. Hill, D. D., Rev. P. H. Hoge, D. D., Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine, D. D., Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., and Eiders J. M. Rogers, J. G. Hall, Dr. J. W. McNeill, B. F. Hall, John E. Gates and J. R. Young.

In October of this year (1891) the Rev. Dr. Morton and his assistant, the Rev. C. W. Maxwell, retired from the work, and soon after the Rev. John C. McMulldn retired from the work. Mr. McMulUen was a pioneer evangelist in the eastern territory of the State for nearly a year. He was a faithful and untiring worker, and did a splendid work in a short time, in laying the foundations and preparing the way for others who were to follow him. Mr. Maxwell, for eight months, was the faithful assistant of Dr. Morton, and for some time after Dr. Morton re- tired from the field he continued in the Home Mission work. It was his custom to be on the ground, where a meeting was to be held, at least a week a'head of Dr. Morton, and by his daily services and faithful visiting

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and general activity the people were prepared for a great meeting. Tlie results of the labors of such men as Messrs. McMullen and Maxwell and others who go before and prepare the Avay can never be tabulated, but they are very great and of a lasting character, and to such men the church should ever be grateful.

The work of the Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., as the first synodical evangelist in North Carolina, cannot be estimated. He came to the synod just at the right time, and seems to have been specially fitted for the work. His high standing as a minister of the Gospel, his dignity of manner and scholarly attainments, his zeal for the cause of the IMaster, his faithful and effective preaching, and his large experience in mission work gave to the work in North Carolina a standing and an impetus which were very necessary in the beginning, and upon which so much, depended in the future. Dr. ]\Iorton was called to North Carolina from the synod of Missouri, but previously he had been a synodical evangelist in the Synod of Kentucky, and was really one of the founders of the great synodical movement in that State. In a published account of the meeting of the Synod of Kentucky in 1881, it was said ''the most important and intensely interesting business that came before the synodi was introduced by the Rev. W. D. Morton." He had collected facts and statistics, and elaborated a plan of evangelistic work for the synod, contemplating its prosecution on a larger scale than at any previous period. Its presentation was accompanied by a clear, forcible, powerful speech, which enthused the whole body. A sense of the importance of the work was realized by every one; but members were timid about undertaking it. Where was the money to come from? Two gentlemen of Louisville offered to contribute an amount equal to any that synod would raise, up to $5,000.

r _

REV. W. D. MORTON.

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The synod promptly accepted the offer, and $10,000 was secured. A plan of operation was agreed upon, an execu- tive committee was appointed, and the Rev. E. O. Guer- rant and Rev. W. D. Morton were unanimously chosen as synodical evangelists of the Synod of Kentucky."

Dr. Morton faithfully and successfully occupied this position for three years, when he removed to Missouri. He entered upon his work in North Carolina October 7, 1889, and retired from the work as evangelist October 11, 1891. During that time he held 1,291 services, witnessed 806 confessions, and saw 578 persons added to the Pres- byterian Church. He has never ceased to be an influen- tial factor in the great work of Synodical Missions, and "his bow still abides in strength," and he enjoys the love and esteem of the brethren and ministers to a devoted people at Rocky Mount, N. C. The synod is under last- ing obligations to him.

During the year 1891 seven churches were organized, 364 persons were added to the church, and the sum of $13,540 was raised in cash and subscriptions for the work. Of this amount $10,310 was raised by Dr. Smith within seven weeks, and $1,700 was raised by Dr. Sprunt, chair- man of the committee.

In March, 1892, the Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine resigned as general evangelist, that he mig^ht accept the responsible position of superintendent of Synodical Home Missions in the Synod of Alabama. He served as general evange- list in North Carolina most faithfully and successfully for ten months, givmg most of his time to IMecklenburg Presbytery.

In April, 1892, the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., re- signed the office of superintendent, that he might accept a pastorate in Charleston, S. C. Dr. Sprunt was promi- nently connected with synodical missions in North Caro-

y6 The Presbyterian Church

lina for a number of years, having been the agent of Evangehstic Labor, chairman of the committee, superin- tendent and evangelist. He was an efficient officer, and discharged all his duties with diligence and fidelity, and his labors were abundant and successful.

Dr. Sprunt was the first superintendent of Synodical Missions, and during his administration a great deal was done toward rendering the w^ork permanent and self-sup- porting. The work was carried on largely by an execu- tive committee, appointed by the Synodical Committee, and this committee held many meetings and wisely con- ducted the work. It was composed of Rev. Dr. Sprunt (superintendent), Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. Dr. Hill, Rev. Dr. Hoge and Mr. B. F. Hall.

On Dr. Sprunt's retiring from the work, the Rev. E. W. Smith, D. D., was elected superintendent, and this office was now made to include the work of financial agent, and this latter office was ever afterwards discon- tinued'.

Dr. Smith entered at once upon the combined duties of his office, and at this time the force in the field had been reduced to two men, giving their whole time to synodical work, the Rev. Dr. Rose, general evangelist, and Rev. R. P. Pell, district evangelist. But before the close of the year (1892) three local evangelists. Rev. C. Miller, Rev. W. C. Alexander, and Rev. M. McG. Shields, were added to the force, and Dr. Smith reported $9,806 raised by subscription for the work, and that the spirit of liberality and activity seemed to be widespread and in- creasing.

At the close of the year 1893, the beginning of the great money panic, the committee said : '' The Divine blessing has been doubly and even trebly manifest ; in the extraor- dinary liberality with which individual churches have

In North Carolina. 'J']

continued to respond to this cause, in tlie uniform success of the workers, and the special outpouring of God's Spirit upon some of our great mission country fields, where, until recently our church was unknown and in the cheer- ing fact that notwithstanding the bitter financial strin- gency of the times, your committee is able to report the $i,ooo debt with which the year began paid off in full, and all the workers paid up to date." This year 1,300 confessions were reported, 513 additions to the church, and $18,033 raised in cash and subscriptions through this agency for the work. During the year several new men, as local evangelists, were placed in the field, among whom were the Rev. Messrs. C. W. Maxwell, F. W. Parries and William Black, and the reports from all the workers were of the most cheering character. The reports from Messrs. Pell in Mitchell and Watauga counties. Miller in Stokes county, and Black in Union and Anson counties, were almost thrilling.

The fruits of earnest labors were now beginning to be gathered into an abundant harvest, but at this very time the work encountered most serious difficulties and hin- drances.

On April 15, 1893, the Rev. J. M. Rose, D. D., laid down the work as general evangelist, after a faithful ser- vice of about eighteen months, and at the same time the Rev. Dr. Smith tendered his resignation as super- intendent.

Dr. Rose was the immediate successor of Dr. Morton as general evangelist, but the character of his work was somewhat different. The greater part of his time was spent in destitute regions, where there were scarcely any Presbyterians, and where Presbyterian churches were few, feeble and far apart. His work was the more diffi- cult because it was almost entirely pioneer work, in ''the

78 The Presbyterian Church

highways and hedges," and often going under the special directions of the superintendent, to remain only three or four days at a place. He had no assistant to go before him and prepare the way for a meeting, but every thing depended upon himself. It was not until the latter part of his time in the service that he held a few meetings in the stronger churches, where his preaching was hailed w^ith joy. Dr. Rose, under the circumstances, did a won- derful work. He held 46 meetings and 619 services in 22 counties in three or four Presbyteries, witnessed about 200 confessions, and about 160 of \Vhom united with the Presbyterian Church; organized one church and .four Sunday-schools; baptized 43 adults and 21 infants, and collected in cash and subscriptions more than $1,000 for the work. By his clear-cut, logical, scriptural and able presentation of the truth, made so plain and simple that a child could understand, he was the very man in the weaker fields, and w^here the people knew but little of the Presbyterian Church, to "strengthen the things that re- mained," and in the new^er fields to establish the people ''in the faith of the Gospel/' as well as to lead them to the Saviour.

The synod declined to accept the resignation of Dr. Smith as superintendent, which was offered chiefly on account of a weak throat, but relieved him of all field work, and empowered the committee to elect a superin- tendent when the time and occasion seemed propitious.

The synod said : " In connection with the retirement of Dr. E. W. Smith from active field work as superin- tendent, the synod desires to place upon record its great appreciation of the value of the movement with which Dr. Smith has been so prominently associated, and their appreciation of the labors of Mr. Smith, which have been so self-denying and so exceptionally blessed. We feel that

In North Carolina. 79

both in the past usefulness and future promise, there has rarely, if ever, been a movement of so much importance to the Synod of North Carolina, and a work so benefitted by the personal work of Rev. Mr. Smith, that only in obedience to his fixed convictions of duty could the synod as:ree to allow the work to be laid down. And, further, that we most tenderly pray for a blessing upon the health and continued usefulness of the loved brother mentioned in this minute."

Dr. Smith continued in the work until February 15, 1894, when he was succeeded by the Rev. William Black, who was elected superintendent by the committee January 15, 1894. Dr. Smith, however, for several years after- wards, was retained on the General Committee, and con- tinued to aid the cause by his personal influence and wise counsel.

It would be impossible to estimate the value of the labors of Dr. Smith in connection with Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina. It is true this can be said of other men with equal truth in the same connection, but Dr. Smith did the work not only of an evangelist to a considerable extent and with marked success, besides the duties attending the office of superintendent, but his great work lay in his marvellous ability and unprecedented success in raising funds for the support of the cause. The Lord seems to have especially guided the synod in laying hands upon him as the one specially fitted for the work — as the man for the time, and at a time when it was sorely needed. It was no uncommon thing for Dr. Smith to visit a church, habitually believing itself unable to sup- port a pastor for all of his time, and, by his gentle man- ners, persuasive speech and burning eloquence, raise at least one thousand from that church for the support of Synodical Home Missions !

8o The Presbyterian Church

The object was to place, or help to place, evangelists in every county in the State, to get groups of churches in the way of self-support, and to have the Presbyteries to assume the support of the evangelists as soon as possible. To this end thousands of dollars were raised by Dr. Smith alone, not to speak of the considerable amounts raised by others, and the people were stimulated by his presen- tation of the cause to give liberally, and thus much land was possessed and many souls were saved.

Dr. Smith was ordained as co-pastor of the Greensboro Church, with his honored and venerable father, Rev. Jacob Henry Smith, D. D., in October, 1886, and this relation continued until he became pastor of the West- minster Church in Greensboro, from which he was called to the work of the synod in 1890. Early in 1894 he re- turned to the co-pastorate with his father, which con- tinued until the death of his father, in November, 1897. He then had sole charge of the large First Chunch of Greensboro, giving to it his untiring and successful labors, until 1906, when he removed from the synod to Louisville, Ky. He did a noble w^ork for the Synod of North Caro- lina, a w^ork which attracted the attention of the whole Southern Church, and which placed North Carolina in the forefront as to Home Missions, and the synod will never cease to owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Egbert W. Smith.

But, notwithstanding the retirement of Dr. Rose and Dr. Smith, and the stringency of the times owing to the money panic, the work went steadily forward. New fields were opened, new men were employed and the con- tributions increased with the demands of the work. A large number of evangelists were now employed by the Presbyteries for a part or all of their time, and aided in their support by the synod's funds. The synod had

In North Carolina. 8i

very few local or district evangelists whom it supported entirely, but the object was to help the Presbyteries in overtaking their destitutions by synodical means. The success of the whole scheme depended largely upon the labors of these evangelists, and they did, and are still doing, a grand work, the results of which cannot be tabulated or written in a book like this.

About this time, however, profound attention was directed to the labors of at least three of these local evan- gelists— Messrs, Miller, Pell and Black.

In Alay, 1892, the Rev. Cornelius Miller began his work as synod's local evangelist in Stokes county. At that time there was no Presbyterian church and no Pres- byterians with which to form a church in the county. In the long ago there were one or two feeble Presbyterian organizations in this county, one at Sandy Ridge and one at Snow Creek, but not a vestige of them now remained. The first point at which Mr. Miller began to preach was at a school house in the northwest part of the county, near the residence of Mr. Robert W. George, one of the wealthiest farmers and one of the most influential men of the county, and at that time Mr. George was not a professor of religion. In the summer of 1892, Mr. Miller began operations to build a church at this point, Mr. George subscribed liberally, and with some help from the neighborhood and from kind friends in Winston and elsewhere, the church was built, and on May 28, 1893, the building was dedicated to the worship of God by the Rev. D. I. Craig. A vast crowd was present, almost ex- clusively of the Primitive Baptist "persuasion,'' the only Presbyterians being present were the two preachers, Messrs. IMiller and Craig, and an old gentleman by the name of Hines, who was a wandering tailor stopping in the neighborhood. In the following summer two young

82 The Presbyterian Church

men, Messrs. W. K. Forsyth and E. E. Gillespie, semi- nary students, assisted Mr. Miller and organized a Sun- day-school, with Mr. Gillespie as superintendent. This was probably the first Sunday-school ever known or conducted in that community. Miss Mamie McMillan and Miss Eleanor Coble, who were teachers of the public schools of the neighborhood, greatly assisted in the Sun- day-school, and did missionary work. In July, 1893, the Rev. William Black assisted Mr. Miller in a meeting, with blessed results. Such a meeting had never been known in that community. The first convert was Mr. Robert W. George, and he was followed by many, in some cases whole families coming together. In the following Octo- ber Dan River Church was organized with 58 members.

In the winter of 1892, Dr. Rose assisted Mr. Miller in a meeting at Danbury with blessed results. A church building was immediately begun, and in 1894 Mr. Black held a meeting there with Mr. Miller, and soon after- wards the Danbury Church building was completed, and the church was organized with 33 charter members.

In the summer of 1894 Mr. Miller held a meeting in the woods, in the northwest corner of the county, assisted by Mr. L. A. Coulter and Rev. A. S. Caldwell. Twenty- nine persons were received into the Presbyterian Church, but there was no building. Mr. George, heretofore re- ferred to, proposed to the people on the ground that he would pay one-half the cost of a church building if they would raise the other half. The proposition was accepted, and soon afterwards the Asbury Church building was completed, and the church organized and dedicated.

In another region, inhabited largely by blockade dis- tillers, Mr. Miller preached faithfully for a long time under great difficulties and bitter opposition ; but finally he organized a small church known as Snow Hill. He

In North Carolina. 83

was greatly assisted here by a noble young lady, Miss Annie Query, who taught school and boarded right in the midst of the blockaders.

In 1896 Orange Presbytery licensed and ordained, as an extraordinary case, Mr. Robert W. George to labor as a native evangelist in Stokes county and the surrounding country.

For some time Mr. George had been practically preach- ing, going from house to house and holding prayer meetings, and telling the people what the Lord had done for him. Very soon afterwards he built a church, which was afterwards organized and known as Pine Ridge, in the edge of Surry county, adjoining Stokes. He was instrumental in building and organizing Pine Hall Church, in Stokes county, and also Sandy Ridge Church, in the same county, paying half of the cost of both build- ings. Mr. George is a wonderful man — a wonderful monument of God's grace, possessed of a strong mind and body, a big heart and full of the Master's Spirit. He has done, and is still doing a great work in his native county.

Mr. Miller left the field in 1897, and was recalled to it in 1899. I^ ^^'^^ mean time the churches were supplied by Rev. S. S. Oliver and Rev. Robert W. George. After Mr. Miller's return he strengthened the work he had planted, and sowed good seed abundantly. He preached in the highways and hedges, in school-houses, under brush arbors, in the woods and everywhere. His name and labors will never be forgotten in Stokes county. He left the synod in 1903, but returned again, and at present is a beloved minister of King's Mountain Presbytery, and resides at Dallas, N. C.

A similar story, with perhaps more thrilling incidents and along somewhat different lines, might be told of the

84 The Presbyterian Church

wonderful labors of Rev. R. P. Pell, in ]\Iitchell and Watauga counties. The data is not in hand to give a detailed account of ]\lr. Pell's work, but it was far more than that of an evangelist. It lay along educational lines as well as preaching the Gospel, and was far-reaching in its results, and if the data were in hand, the story of the beginning of the great educational work at Banner Elk, in Watauga county and at Spruce Pine, Plum Tree and Elk Park, in Mitchell county, would have to be told. The story would require a whole chapter in itself, as one of the great results of Synodical Home Missions.

Mr. Pell was ordained as an evangelist of Orange Presbytery September 2, 1887, and he was a most faith- ful and successful evangelist of Orange and Albemarle Presbyteries until June, 1891, when he entered Mitchell and Watauga counties as the district evangelist for the synod. At that time there was no Presbyterian church in Mitchell county, and only one small church in Watauga. The following is a condensed summary of Mr. Pell's work, given to the synod in 1894, viz. : "Churches in charge, 4; mission points, 5; communicants, 162; Sabbath schools, 4 ; pupils, 275 ; day schools, 3 ; pupils, 275, with 7 teachers ; regular prayer meetings, 3 ; seven elders and four deacons ; buildings completed, 4, and i partly com- pleted (and for the past year), 40 acres of land secured, 45 baptisms, 68 additions, and money collected for church and school purposes, $787." Last year Mr. Pell had re- f>orted that he had cultivated 10 points with considerable regularity, and had collected $1,543; and the year before he states the donation of 50 acres of land. He travelle 1 hundreds and hundreds of miles in his buggy and on horseback over hills, mountains and dales, and held an unknown number of services in sowing the good seed, which are now bringing forth an abundant harvest. He

In North Carolina. 85

left the synod early in 1905, and at present is the honored president of Converse College, at Spartanburg, S. C.

The Rev. William Black was licensed by Fayetteville Presbytery January 17, 1893, and on the same day he was transferred to Mecklenburg Presbytery, where he im- mediately began his work as evangelist in Union and Anson counties. He was ordained May 9, 1893, and the report of his year's work to the synod of 1893 was as follows: " Personally conducted 218 services and assisted in 96 ; professed conversions, 757 ; additions to the Pres- byterian Church, 102 ; churches built, 2 and i organized ; Sunday-schools organized, 2 ; elders, 4, and deacons, 2 ordained ; baptisms, 79 adults and 2 infants."

The splendid reports of others who were engaged in evangelistic work about this time, such men as Rev. M. McG. Shields, Rev. W. C. Alexander, Rev. F. W. Par- ries^ Rev. C. W. Robinson, and many others, might be cited to show the progress of the work.

But enough ; the work went steadily forward in spite of all difficulties and hindrances.

The year 1894 marks the beginning of the career of the Rev. William Black in full connection with Synodical Home Missions, which connection has continued uninter- ruptedly until the present time, a period of more than thirteen years.

As has been stated, Mr. Black was elected superin- tendent to succeed the Rev. Dr. Smith January 15, 1894, and he entered upon the full duties of superintendent, in- cluding the work of general evangelist, on February 15. 1894. It was at a time when the whole country was be- ginning to feel the depression in business on account of the money panic, but at the end of the year the reports showed marked progress along all lines. The sum of about $23,000 had been raised in the synod for evangelis-

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tic work, and all the workers had been paid without incurring debt. There were now forty-six evangelists, synodical and Presbyterial, at work in the synod, for the whole or part of their time; and through these it was reported that there had been 1,198 additions to the church, and of this number 526 were reported by synodical evangelists.

During the next two years the financial embarrassments of the country were felt more keenly, and the contribu- tions to the work suffered a slight decrease, while the demands of the work increased. Consequently there was a deficit ; but in spite of the deficit the work went steadily forward. The policy of the Presbyteries and of the churches had now become so fixed as to render the con- duct of the work somewhat easier and more certain and satisfactory. Yet it was felt that the combined work of superintendent and general evangelist was too heavy a burden to be borne by any one man, and ought to be separated. For example, the reports of 1895 and 1896 showed that Mr. Black had held 45 meetings, had preached more than 700 times, had added 728 persons to the church, and had acted as secretary and treasurer, which involved the writing and mailing of hundreds and thousands of letters and circulars ; collecting and disburs- ing all the funds, looking after the work of the whole field, and raising money for its support. Consequently the synod of 1896 recognizing the need of more active prosecution of the financial side of the work, and not wishing to draw more of the superintendent's time from the evangelistic work, in which he had been so eminently blessed, the synod authorized the committee to secure the services of an assistant superintendent. But when the committee met it relieved Mr. Black, the general evangelist, of the entire responsibility of the conduct and

In North Carolina. 87

support of the work by electing the Rev. A. J. McKelway, D. D., superintendent, to take charge of this part of the work, and in order that Mr. Black might devote his entire time to the work of general evangelist. The next synod endorsed this action of the committee, and this plan has been continued until the present time, and the Rev. Wil- liam Black has been re-elected by the synod, usually by a rising vote, from year to year, as the one general evan- gelist of the Synod of North Carolina.

CHAPTER VII.

The Continued Progress, and Some of the Results,

OF Synodical Home Missions in North

Carolina, and the Men of the Times.

The Rev. A. J. McKehvay, D. D., was elected and entered upon his work as superintendent in January,

1897. During a part of this year he gave only one-half of his time to the work, the other half being given to his pastorate in Fayetteville. He also, published for a time a paper called " The Synodical Evangelist," which was a source of much information and help to the cause. During the administration of Dr. jMcKelway, which was nearly two years, he attended the meetings of the Presby- teries, visited a great many churches, and by personal appeal secured, in cash and subscriptions several thous- and dollars for the support of the work. As many as five or six new counties were opened to Presbyterianism, and as many new men were placed in the field. Dr. McKel- way was a faithful and efficient superintendent, and under his administration the work was aggressive; but about this time he became manager and editor of the " North Carolina Presbyterian," and the ever increasing demands of the work required the whole time and energies of a man to present the cause to the churches, from year to year, and to keep the financial needs adequate to the demands. Consequently, at the meeting of the Synod of

1898, Dr. McKelway resigned as superintendent, that he might give his whole time to editorial work, having be- come editor of the " North Carolina Presbyterian."

The responsibility of the work of the superintendent

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devolved again for a short time upon the Rev. WilUam Black, general evangelist.

In order to show the progress of the work about this time, and especially the increasing demand for all of the time and energies of a superintendent, it is only neces- sary to revert to one of the results of Home Missions in the year 1896. It was the formation of Asheville Pres- bytery, set off from Alecklenburg, on November 12, 1896. This Presbytery is composed of 11 counties, 19 churches, 10 ministers and 1,000 communicants. The territory lies west of the Blue Ridge, and embraces the counties of Buncombe, Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Hender- son, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Transylvania and Swain. This Presbytery was almost entirely missionary ground and greatly increased the duties of the superintendent. In 1896 there was no Presbyterian church in four of these counties, and there were not more than 150 communi- cants all told in about four of the other counties com- bined. At the present time every county has been entered, and there are 25 churches with more than 1,700 communi- cants, and nearly $22,000 in aggregate is raised in the Presbytery. There have been great transformations in that part of the country within the last ten or twelve years, and whatever of good has resulted in this region from Presbyterianism through evangelistic efforts, a large share of that good is due to the earnest missionary spirit and great liberality of the First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, under the able leadership of its beloved pastor, the Rev. R. F. Campbell, D. D. And in conjunction with this church, due credit should be given for the success achieved to the Rev. R. P. Smith and the Rev. E. Mac- Davis.

The Rev. R. P. Smith became a member of the synod and pastor of the Gastonia Church in 1893, and from that

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day until the present time he has been identified with evangeHstic work. After a most succe.ssful work as pastor of the Gastonia Church he became the general evangelist for Mecklenburg Presbyter}-, and he labored in some of these counties before the Asheville Presbytery was formed. After the formation of the Presbytery, he be- came its general evangelist until 1904, when the synod called him to the office of superintendent of Synodical Home ^Missions. For more than eight years }vlr. Smith was evangelist of this Presbytery, and during that time, as a brother minister has said, ''he was eyes, ears, hands and feet to the Presbytery's Home Mission Committee." He travelled through the valleys and over the mountains in all sorts of conveyances, on horseback and mule-back, with or without saddle, and often on foot. He preached to the people in churches, school houses and groves, by the wayside and from house to house. He planned most of the buildings erected, purchased the material, and superintended the work from start to finish. He organized churches and schools, fostered them with his personal care, and found preachers and teachers to take charge of them. Thus he was not only "all things to all men," but well-nigh ''^all men to all things." Mr. Smith is a man of lovable disposition and temperament, and has a great fondness for children, and he has never failed to find an oi>en door to the homes of the people, with whom he has labored and with whom he is exceedmgly popular. He is a faithful and earnest preacher, his manner showing that he believes what he preaches, and much of the success that has marked the mission work in Western North Carolina has been due to the wisdom, energy and conse- cration of Rev. Robert P. Smith.

The Rev. E. Mac. Davis was the pioneer evangelist of Madison county, beginning his labors in the summer

REV. R. p. SMITH.

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of 1897 and continuing until 1904. In the brief reports to synod of his work we learn that he preached at about thirty-eight points, distributed thousands of tracts and books, and travelled thousands of miles. He organized three or four churches and a large number of Sunday- schools and mission summer day schools. He secured for teachers and as helpers in his Sunday-school work from time to time during his sojourn of about six years, andi usually without cost to the committee, the following persons, viz. : Misses Margaret Allison, Elizabeth Tucker, Elizabeth and Fanny McPhearson, Janie Vaughan, Bessie Black, Urbie Myrover, Kathrene Jarrell, Ethie Vickery, Lula Barnett, Miss Ferguson, Miss Rea, Anna McDon- ald, and Mr. T. G. Rogers. Misses Allison, Black and McDonald were with him, perhaps, longer than some of the others, but a great and grand work was done by all of these noble, self-sacrificing. women. Mr. Davis was a man of strong convictions of truth and righteousness, and was absolutely fearless. He had many conflicts with the illicit distillers and whiskey interests in this county, and at times his personal safety was threatened, but in 190 1 he won a great victory in his field by his valiant labors, resulting in the passage of a prohibition law covering three counties. We cannot estimate the value of this faithful soldier's service for the Master in that section. The churches he has left behind him, with a membership of perhaps 200 are his memorial. He did a fine work, and the people will not soon forget his zeal and energy and noble efforts for the cause of God and humanity.

After the resignation of Dr. A. J. McKelway as super- intendent, in October, 1898, the Rev. William Black, general evangelist, acted as superintendent the remainder of the year, and in January, 1899, the committee, In its wisdom, selected for the ofiice of superintendent the Rev.

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E. E. Gillespie, a young man of splendid attainments, and an evangelist of Orange Presbytery, who entered upon his work as superintendent January i6, 1899. Mr. Gillespie continued in this position, filling the office of superintendent with great acceptance, ability and success, until the end of the year 1904, a period of six years, within which time great things were done for the ad- vancement of the Kingdom of Christ.

It will be remembered that the first permanent Commit- tee on Synodical Home Missions was constituted at Char- lotte in 1889, and the first report of that committee was made at Wilmington in 1890. At that time the report showed that the synod was composed of six Presbyteries, including Albemarle, which had just been formed, 127 ministers, 275 churches and 26,189 communicants. The report also showed that the following 2^ counties had no Presbyterian church within their borders, viz. : Alleghany, Ashe, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Cherokee, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Graham, Greene, Hertford, Hyde, Jackson, ]Madison, Martin, Mitchell, Northampton, Pam- lico, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Stokes, Tyrrell, Wash- ington and Yancey; and 19 other counties had but one Presbyterian church each, making 46 counties either wholly or almost destitute of Presbyterianism. The re- port, moreover, showed that the aggregate funds raised in the synod for all causes and reported to the Assembly amounted to $194,385.00, and that there were not more than twelve ministers engaged for a part or the whole of their time in evangelistic work.

In 1900, after a lapse of ten years, the reports show that there were 7 Presbyteries, 160 ministers, 377 churches, 34,634 communicants ; only 17 vacant counties, 23 Presby- terial evangelists. 14 ministers, not including the super- intendent and general evangelist, and a large number of

In North Carolina. 93

male and female teachers, doing evangelistic work, and that the aggregate amount of funds collected for all causes and reported to the Assembly was $220,946.00.

Thus it will be seen by this comparison that at the end of ten years there was a decided advance along all lines in overtaking the destitutions.

The names of the ministers employed under the direc- tion, of the Synodical Committee for a part or the whole of their time, and at some time during the past ten years are as follows :

Superintendents — Rev. Alexander Sprunt, Rev. E. W. Smith, Rev. William Black, Rev. A. J. McKelway and Rev. E. E. Gillespie.

General Evangelists — Rev. W. D. Morton, Rev. E. W. Smith, Rev. W. E. Mcllwaine, Rev. John ]M. Rose and Rev. William Black.

District or Local Evangelists — Revs. Messrs. C. W. Maxwell, J. C. McMullen, R. P. Pell, F. H. Johnston, C. Miller, M. McG. Shields, W. C. Alexander, C. W. Robin- son, F. D. Farris, D. J. Currie, Jonas Barclay, B. Souher, John Wakefield, L. A. McLaurin, Edgar Tufts, L. E. Bostian, A. K. Pool, J. E. Balou, E. Mac. Davis, John Grey, P. C. Morton, James Thomas, F. D. Thomas, C. N. Wharton, E. D. Brown, W. T. Walker, W. M. Shaw, J. E. L. Winecoff, E. P. Bradley and Allen Jones, Jr.

There were also a number of Presbyterial evangelists in no wise connected with the Synodical Committee, and all of these brethren labored faithfully and efficiently, and were the instruments in God's hands in disseminating the truth in preaching the pure Gospel, in building and or- ganizing churches, in the conversion of thousands of souls, and in strengthening the faith and comforting the hearts of tens of thousands of God's people. It is impossible to estimate or reduce to figures the good results of the

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labors of these men during these ten years. God only knows. There were also a number of teachers, mostly ladies, of mission schools, whose names are not at hand, who did a noble work and rendered great assistance to the Home Mission cause.

Of the above named ministers, at least four of them, the Rev. F. H. Johnston, D. D., the Rev. Paul C. Morton, the Rev. E. Mac. Davis, and the Rev. A. K. Pool, have gone to their blessed reward, and have joined scores and scores of those who heard them preach and sing the story of redeeming love while on earth.

The Rev. Dr. Johnston and the Rev. Mr. Morton be- longed to that class of ministers who had labored faith- fully and long before the origin of synodical missions. Dr. Johnston was the son of a missionary, and was born in Constantinople August 8, 1834. He spent the first six.- teen years of his life in the far-off land of Asia Minor. He came to North Carolina, the native land of his fathers, in 1 85 1, and was educated at Davidson College. For thirty-three years he was a beloved and successful pastor, iirst at Lexington and afterwards at Winston, N. C. He was the honored stated clerk of old Orange Presbytery for twelve years, and was elected general evangelist be- fore the formation of Albemarle, and in 1890 he was residing within its bounds. He continued in the evan- gelistic work until his death, November 14, 1901.

Dr. Johnston was the recipient of many honors, and the depository of many trusts from the church. He was a scholarly man, and his judgment was clear and con- clusive. He was one of the central figures in the great Synodical Movement, and gave to it his hearty support, and his successful evangelistic labors were wrought in Albemarle Presbytery. He was a profound and edifying preacher, gentle and retiring in his disposition and man-

REN/. F. H- JOHNSTON, D. D.

In North Carolina. 95

ners, but brave and courageous in defense of the truth. He was as modest as a pure woman, and a most agreeable and pleasant companion with his old and tried friends and with those who knew him best —

'' None knew him but to love him ; None named him but to praise."

The Rev. Mr. Morton came to the Synod of North Carolina in 1895, and until his death, in 1902, he did gen- eral evangelistic work, especially within the bounds of Wilmington Presbytery. He was a brave soldier chaplain of the Civil War, and many incidents are related of his re- markable bravery and fearlessness. " He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and faith, and he lived in an atmosphere of prayer." After his death it was said of him by one who knew him well : " His character was golden, his life was simple, his zeal was abounding, his love deep, his faith unfaltering, his spiritual being high and lifted up, through the power of Divine grace."

The Rev. E. Mac. Davis, after retiring from the Avork in Madison county, accepted work in the Synod of Georgia, and soon afterwards his health failed and the Lord called him to his reward.

The Rev. A. K. Pool was a young man of sweet dispo- sition and lovely spirit, and for about three years of his life he was an ordained minister, an evangelist of Concord Presbytery, and the synod's assistant to the Rev. Mr. Black, the general evangelist. The churches of Forest Hill, McKinnon and Patterson Mills, in Concord Presby- tery, are largely the fruits of his labors. He had to give up the work of preaching the Gospel on account of failing health, and for more than a year before his death he was continuously with Mr. Black in his meetings, and devoted his whole time to singing the Gospel, which he did with

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great power and unction. He was the assistant director of the music at the Biblical Institute held at Red Springs in 1892, and he had entire control of the music of the institute held there and at Gastonia in 1893.

'* Mr. Pool had rare gifts as a singer, possessing, as he did, not only a thorough knowledge of music, but one of the sweetest voices ever heard in the State. He rendered much valuable aid to Mr. Black in the meetings which were held, and Mr. Black speaks of a number of instances in which he believes men were saved through his singing, upon whom the preaching seemed to have but little effect. Mr. Pool was engaged in one of these meetings when he was taken sick, and from which sickness he never rallied, but died as it were in the harness, August 7, 1899, in the thirty-fourth year of his age, among the peo- ple where he had been laboring last. The last piece he sang in one of these meetings was '' Saved by Grace," which he did not only with rare sweetness, but with great ejffect upon the audience. There are at the present time four Presbyterian churches within a radius of about four miles of the place of his death — Democrat, N. C. — and at that time there were none at all. Of course all of this is not due to him, but much of it is, as perhaps nowhere else did his singing make a greater impression than among those plain but appreciative mountaineers. In the synod's obituary of him it is said : " The sweet singer of the Synod of North Carolina is heard here no more, but he still sings the praises of redeeming love, with a harp in his hands and a crown on his head, where there is no more sickness and no more death."

The Rev. E. E. Gillespie occupied the position of super- intendent from the beginning of the year 1899 to the end of the year 1904, a period of six years, and during that time the work of Synodical Missions went steadily and

REV. A. K- POOL.

In North Carolina. 97

increasingly forward, and prospered to a very high degree. The superintendent, the general evangelist and the committee went hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to the great work to which God had so manifestly called them. A great deal was accomplished for the Master's kingdom.

In 1899 Mr. Gillespie found a debt of $4,843 resting upon the work. This debt was cancelled the first year, and there was a steady enlargement of the work each year during the time of his service. He received and collected in cash for the support of the work during his administration the sum of nearly $55,000. He visited most of the churches in the synod and held more than a thousand services. Many of these services were pro- tracted, wherein he witnessed the conversion of many precious souls, and saw a large number added to the church.

Mr. Gillespie was specially fitted for the work, a man of commanding personal appearance, attractive in his manners, full of zeal and energy, and possessing great executive ability. God greatly blessed him in the work. During his administration, the following additional min- isters were employed by the committee and placed in the field for the whole or a part of their time: Rev. Messrs. D. Munroe, J. S. Smith, J. H. Jarvis, E. Garrow, W. A. Murray, J. A. Harris, L. E. Wells, J. C. Story, R. M. Mann, J. P. Hall, A. H. Temple, P. C. Irwin, I. N. Clegg, H. Garrow, H. H. Cassady, S. C. Smith, R. L. Grier, C. W. McDonald, F. G. Hartman, R. H. Orr, L. W. Curtis, F. E. Ghigo, J. C. Hardin, and W. T. D. Moss, besides a large number of male and female teachers. It was also during his administration, October 23, 1902, that the Pres- bytery of "King's Mountain'' was formed.

This Presbytery, the second daughter of Mecklenburg,

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was another result of Synodical Home Missions. The first meeting was held at Lincolnton, N. C, November 18, 1902, and the Rev. R. A. Miller preached the opening sermon.

On the retirement of Mr. Gillespie, at the close of the year 1904, and in order to take a special course of study and to eventually become a pastor, the synod adopted the following resolution :

*' Resolved^ That the Synod of North Carolina would record its profound gratitude to our gracious God for the noble work that he has enabled our retiring superintend- ent, Rev. E. E. Gillespie, to do for our mission field during the past six years, and that it would express to Brother Gillespie its cordial appreciation of his zealous, faithfal and efficient labors for Home Missions, and that it would invoke upon him and his efforts the same Divine blessing in any field to which he may be called, that has manifestly rested upon his endeavors within our bounds."

Mr. Gillespie, at present, is a member of the Synod of South Carolina, and the beloved pastor of the Yorkville Presbyterian Church.

It has already been stated that the synod, at Durham, N. C, November 17, 1904, elected the Rev. R. P. Smith superintendent of Synodical Home Missions as the worthy successor of Rev. Mr. Gillespie, and the time that has elapsed since has proven that the synod made no mistake in that election. Mr. Smith came to the Synod of North Carolina in 1893, as stated elsewhere in these pages, and from that date to the present time has proven himself to be a faithful pastor, an earnest and successful evangelist, and a wise and efficient superintendent.

Mr. Smith is a man of fine attainments, possessing a winning disposition and cordial manners, a big heart full of love to God and man, and manifesting a zeal, energy

In North Carolina. 99

and devotion which are untiring for the cause of the Master. The conduct of the synod's great mission work is safe in his hands.

His report as superintendent of the synod's work for the year 1905 shows that 25 ministers had been preach- ing the Word in destitute places ; that 22 volunteer teach- ers had been teaching more than 1,000 children, and that 507 communicants had been added to the church. His report for the year 1906 shows that 27 ministers had served 71 small churches and 70 mission points; that 5 churches and 30 Sabbath-schools had been organized in new territory; that 708 persons had been added to the church, and that the sum of $9,558 had been raised for the work. His report for the year 1907 has not yet been made, but we may justly believe that it is even more encouraging, showing the onward march of the great work of Synodical Home Missions in North Carolin.i.

In all this onward march and progress of missions through the past seventeen or eighteen years there has been one agency contributing largely to the success of the movement, which ought not to be overlooked or lightly estimated, and that agency has been the wisdom, faithful- ness, self-denial and the sound judgment of the men who have composed the synod's Home Mission Committee, not including the officers of that committee.

According to the plan which was practically adopted in 1881, and which was perfected in 1889, the chairman of the Home Mission Committee of each Presbytery, during his tenure of office, and one ruling elder from each Pres- bytery, elected annually by the synod, should constitute this committee. The original committee, thus constituted at Charlotte, N. C, in 1889, was composed of the follow- ing persons : Rev. D. I. Craig, Rev. C. A. Munroe, Rev. H. G. Kill, D. D., Rev. P. H. Hoge, D. D., Rev. W. E.

TOO The Presbyterian Church

Mcllhvainc, D. D., and Rev. W. D. Morton upon the organization of Albemarle Presbytery ; and Ruling Elders Gen. A. M. Scales, I. H. Foust, Dr. J. W. McNeill, B. F. Hall, General Rufus Barringer and Samuel Watkins.

The changes in this committee since that time have been as follows: The Rev. Mr. Craig was succeeded by the Rev. M. McG. Shields in 1894; Mr. Shields was suc- ceeded by Rev. R. W. Culbertson in 1898; Mr. Culbert- son was succeeded by Rev. E. C. I^Iurray, D. D., in 1901 ; Dr. Murray was succeeded by Rev. D. C. Lilly in 1904; Dr. Lilly was succeeded by Rev. C. F. Rankin in 1905, and Mr. Rankin was succeeded by Rev. S. M. Rankin in 1906.

The Rev. C. A. Munroe has never ceased to be a member of the committee until the present time, except for one year, 1902, when he was succeeded by Rev. W. I. Matthews, 1889.

The Rev. H. G. Hill, D. D., has never ceased to be a member of the committee — 1889- 1907.

The Rev. Dr. Hoge w^as succeeded by the Rev. A. D. McClure, D. D., in 1899.

The Rev. Dr. Mclllwaine w^as succeeded by Rev. T. A. Wharton, D. D., in 1892; Dr. Wharton was succeeded by Rev. R. A. Miller in 1894; Mr. Miller was succeeded by Rev. J. R. Howerton, D. D., in 1899; Dr. Howerton was succeeded by Rev. G. T. Thompson in 1900; Mr. Thomp- son w^as succeeded by Rev. T. J. Allison in 1903 ; Mr. Allison was succeeded by Rev. P. H. Gwynn in 1904, and Mr. Gwynn was succeeded by Rev. George H. Atkinson in 1906.

Dr. W. D. Morton was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Morton in 1897, and Mr. Morton was succeeded by Rev. W. D. Morton, D. D., in 1900.

The Rev. R. F. Campbell, D. D., became a member on

In North Carolina. ioi

the organization of Asheville Presbytery in 1896, and has never ceased to be a member of the committee — 1896.

The Rev. W. R. Minter became a member of the com- mittee in 1902, on the organization of King's Alountain Presbytery, and has continued a member until the present time — 1907.

The changes among the ruHng elders have been as fol- lows :

General A. M. Scales was succeeded by Islv. ]. M. Rogers in 1891.

Mr. I. H. Foust was succeeded by Air. J. G. Hall in 1890.

Dr. J. W. [McNeill has never ceased to be a member of the committee — 1889.

Mr. B. F. Hall has never ceased to be a member of the committee — 1889.

General Barringer was succeeded by Mr. John E. Gates in 1890; Mr. Gates was succeeded by Mr. D. W. Gates in 1892; Mr. Gates was succeeded by Mr. C. E. Graham in 1894; Mr. Graham was succeeded by Mr. A. G. Breni- zer in 1896, and Mr. Brenizer was succeeded by Mr. H. M. Belk in 1905.

Mr. Watkins was succeeded by J\lr. J. R. Young in 1891, and Mr. Young was succeeded by Mr. C. M. Brown in 1906.

Mr. Blair, who became a member in 1896, was suc- ceeded by Major Robert Bingham in 1901, and Major Bingham was succeeded by Mr. E. E. Quinlan in 1905.

Dr. C. E. Adams became a member in 1903, and was succeeded by Mr. A. M. Smyre in 1905.

Thus it may be seen that the present committee is com- posed of the following members: Rev. S. M. Rankin, Rev. C. A. Munroe, Rev. H. G. Hill, D. D., Rev. A. D. McClure, D. D., Rev. G. H. Atkinson, Rev. A. D. Mor-

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ton, D. D., Rev. R. F. Campbell, D. D., Rev. W. R. Minter, and Messrs. J. iM. Rogers, J. G. Hall, Dr. J. W. McNeill, B. F. Hall, H. M. Belk, C. M. Brown, E. E. Quinlan and A. M. Smyre.

It is worthy of note that of these persons the Rev. Dr. Hill, Rev. C.A. :\lunroe, Dr. J. W. McNeill and Mr. B.

F. Hall were members of the original committee, and that all of them except Mr. Munroe, for one year, have served continuously on the committee until the present time; and also Messrs. J. G. Hall and J. M. Rogers have served for nearly the whole time of the committee's exist- ence.

The synod owes a debt of gratitude to all the members of this committee for their faithful and efficient service, but the story of Synodical Missions as told in this book would not be complete without something more than the mere mention of the names of those who have served so long, especially of that great and good man, the Rev. H.

G. Hill, D. D.

Perhaps no man has ever served the church in North Carolina who has been more abundant in labors or who has been the recipient of more important trusts from the church than Dr. Hill. He began his ministerial career during the Civil War as a chaplain in the army. Before he completed his course of study in the Union Theological Seminary in Virginia he was licensed to preach by Orange Presbytery, when he entered the army as chaplain of the Thirteenth North Carolina Regiment, commanded by Col- onel A. M. Scales. In 1862 he was with the army around Richmond and in the famous Maryland campaign. In 1863 he returned to the Seminary for a time, and in the winter oi that year he was sent again to the Army of Northern A'irginia as a missionary by Orange Presbytery. In the meantime, at intervals, he served the churches of

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Hillsboro and Griers, in Caswell county, and taught in the school of the Misses Nash and Kollock in Hillsboro. On his return from the army in 1865 he became pastor of the Hillsboro Church. In 1867 he removed to Oxford, where he became pastor of the church and principal of the Seminary there, and the supply of Grassy Creek Church, and while here he started the erection of a church at Henderson. In 1868 he removed to Fayette- ville, N. C, where he was pastor, and doing extensive pastoral and presbyterial work in the whole surrounding country for eighteen years. In 1886 he removed to Max- ton, and became pastor of the Maxton and Centre churches, which position he still holds, and in which he has been wonderfully blessed.

Dr. Hill has given to the church a wonderful example of the possibilities and powers of a missionary pastor. He has always been keenly alive to the missionary and educa- tional interests of the church around him, as well as at large, and his wisdom and influence along these lines have been very great in the S}Tiod of North Carolina. From the very inception of the Synodical '' Movement " in North Carolina, Dr. Hill has been a conspicuous figure, an ardent advocate, a wise counsellor, a powerful debater, an eloquent speaker, and a faithful laborer for the great cause; and to him, perhaps as much, if not more than to any living man, is due the honor and the praise of the origin and success of Synodical ^lissions in North Caro- lina. Dr. Hill has been honored by the church, and by strict attention to her calls and the faithful performance of the duties imposed, he has proven himself to be worthy of the honor. He has been made Moderator of her Pres- byteries, of the Synod of North Carolina, and of her highest court, the General Assembly ; he has made many public addresses by the appointment of the church, and

I04 The Presbyterian Church

has served on many of her important committees, and at the present time he is a director of Union Theological Seminary in \"irginia and the president of the Board of Regents of the Synod's Orphan's Home. He has been chairman of the Home Mission Committee of Fayetteville Presbytery for thirty-five years, and a member of the Synodical Home Mission Committee since the inception of the work. He is a recognized able preacher of the Gospel of wide reputation, and enjoys the love and esteem of a devoted people in his pastorate, and is a "brother beloved" by all the members of the Synod of North Caro- lina.

The Rev. C. A. Munroe was licensed to preach by Fayetteville Presbytery in 1876, but was ordained in Mississippi, where he labored for six years. He returned to North Carolina and served as evangelist of Concord Presbytery for two years. He removed to West Virginia, where he labored for four years, and then returned to North Carolina and became pastor of the Hickory and Lenoir churches in 1888. In 1891 he became the chair- man of the Home Missions Committee of Concord Pres- bytery, in connection with the Lenoir Church, and at the present time he is the general evangelist of the Presbytery and chairman of the Home Mission Committee. Since 1 89 1 he has been one of the most active, aggressive, use- ful and successful Home Mission men in the synod, and no man has been more faithful in his work or in co-opera- tion with the work of the synod's committee. The good results of Mr. Munroe's labors have been abundant, espe- cially in Concord Presbytery.

Dr. J. W. McNeill, the '' beloved physician," of Cum- berland county, and Air. B. F. Hall, the " beloved elder" and wholesale commission merchant of Wilmington, N. C, members of the original committee, and Mr. J. G. Hall,

REV. C. A- MUNROE

MR. B. p. Hall.

In North Carolina. 105

manager of the Realty and Insurance Company at Lenoir, N. C, and Mr. J. M. Rogers, wholesale hardware mer- chant at Winston, N. C, have all seen the rise and pro- gress of Synodical ■ Missions from the beginning, and through their wise counsel and faithful efforts as mem- bers of the committee, the work has been greatly strength- ened and advanced. These men and many other members of the committee, both the church and the State have de- lighted to honor.

Dr. McNeill was appointed by the General Assembly of 1895 on the Committee to represent the Southern Pres- byterian Church in the Pan-Presbyterian Council, which met in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1886, and he has served as a senator from his county in the State Legislature, ren- dering most valuable service as a member of that body.

Mr. B. F. Hall has been in close touch with the interests of Presbyterianism for many years, and by his wise coun- sel, godly example, and generous gifts he has been a tower of strength to the church, especially in Eastern North Carolina. He was elected by the Synod of North Caro- lina a director of LTnion Theological Seminary in Virginia in 1884. and he still holds that honorable position.

Mr. J. G. Hall is a well-known business-man and influ- ential elder in the western part of the State. He takes a deep interest in public affairs, and as a public speaker and a leader of men he exerts a wide influence for the upbuilding and welfare of both the church and the State.

Mr. J. M. Rogers is a son of a minister, and knows the needs of a minister, and he, together with other members of the Winston church, has done a great deal for the pioneer ministers of Stokes county, and for the synodical work in that county and surrounding country. Mr. Rogers has been a faithful and punctual attendant upon the meetings of the committees, and his advice and coun- sel are always valuable.

io6 The PRESJiVTEKiAN Church

The limits of this book will not permit us to speak at length of the noble labors of other members of this com- mittee, some of whom have pa.^sed away, such men as General Scales, General Barringer, the Oates ; Messrs. Graham and Young, Major Bingham, the Rev. Mr. Shields, Rev. Dr. Alurray, the Rankins and the grand work and godly life and influence of the Rev. Dr. McClure. In the Rev. A. D. ^^IcClure, D. D., the synod has found a most worthy successor to Dr. Hoge, as chair- man of Home Missions for Wilmington Presbytery and ex officio a member of the Synodical Committee. He has not only kept going the large missionary enterprises which had been set on foot in his Presbytery prior to his election, but has reached out into other fields and made a most useful member of the synod's committee. Under his wise direction the synod has been enabled to assist in doing a great 'work in Brunswick, Columbus and Duplin counties, a most important work for every reason, and especially now that this section of the State is making such rapid progress in the wonderful success of its truck- ing interests, and many persons are moving into the coun- try, who could be and were reached by our church, and many of them have been added to its membership.

We might speak, also, if it were possible, of a great number of noble men who were never members of the committee, but who have been prominent promoters and helpers of the great cause of Home Missions — such men as B. G. Worth, George Allen, S. P. Alexander, J. M. Mclver, George W. Watts, P. B. Fetzer, J. F. Love, J. D. Murphy and many others. But in closing this history of the development of the church and especially of the rise and progress of Synodical Missions in North Carolina it seems but right and proper to speak somewhat at length and in particular of the life and labors of the Rev. Wil-

In North Carolina. 107

Ham Black, general evangelist, who is also a member of the Synodical Committee.

The Rev. Mr. Black has been prominently connected with Synodical Missions since January, 1893, and for the greater part of the time since then he has been the cen- tral figure in the evangelistic field, to which all eyes have been turned, and he is perhaps more widely known to-day than any other Presbyterian minister in North Carolina. It would be impossible for any biographer or historian to place upon record that which would convey an adequate conception of the vast and far-reaching influence for God and for the uplifting of humanity which this one man has exerted. If the Synodical Movement launched at Goldsboro in 1888 had accomplished nothing more than to put Mr. Black in the field, it would have proved a great success, and a w^ise investment for all the cost of missions until the present time. It would be hard for any one who has a proper conception of the facts to be- lieve that God did not specially raise up and set apart this brother to accomplish the special work which he has been enabled to do.

Mr. Black was born of Scotch parents near Maxton, N. C, and was educated with the view of making the study and practice of law his life work. He studied law under ** Dick and Dillard," of Greensboro, N. C, and was duly licensed and began the practice of law in 1881. He rapidly arose in the profession, and at the end of ten or twelve years he became what the world calls a successful lawyer, doing a paying business and enjoyinsf a large and lucrative practice. But God intended him to teach men the Divine law, and in 1893 he yielded himself to the unceasing demands of his Lord and of his conscience, and on Jan. i, 1893, he was licensed to preach the Gospel by Fayetteville Presbytery, and during the same year he was

io6

The Presbyterian Church

The limits of this book will not permit us to speak at length of the noble labors of other members of this com- mittee, some of whom have passed away, such men as General Scales, General Barringer, the Oates ; Messrs. Graham and Young, Major Bingham, the Rev. Mr. Shields, Rev. Dr. Murray, the Rankins and the grand work and godly life and influence of the Rev. Dr. McClure. In the Rev. A. D. McClure, D. D., the synod has found a most worthy successor to Dr. Hoge, as chair- man of Home Missions for Wilmington Presbytery and ex officio a member of the Synodical Committee. He has not only kept going the large missionary enterprises which had been set on foot in his Presbytery prior to his election, but has reached out into other fields and made a most useful member of the synod's committee. Under his wise direction the synod has been enabled to assist in doing a great Avork in Brunswick, Columbus and Duplin counties, a most important work for every reason, and especially now that this section of the State is making such rapid progress in the wonderful success of its truck- ing interests, and many persons are moving into the coun- try, who could be and were reached by our church, and many of them have Ix'en added to its membership.

We might speak, also, if it were possible, of a great number of noble men who were never members of the committee, but who have been prominent promoters and helpers of the great cause of Home Missions — such men as B. G. Worth, George Allen, S. P. Alexander, J. M. Mclver, George W. Watts, P. B. Fetzer, J. F. Love, J. D. Murphy and many others. But in closing this history of the development of the church and especially of the rise and progress of Synodical Missions in North Carolina it seems but right and proper to speak somewhat at length and in particular of the life and labors of the Rev. Wil-

li j»9

*

In XoKTii Carolina.

07

Ham Black, general evangelist, who is also a member of the Synodical Committee.

The Rev. Mr. Black has been prominently connected with Synodical Missions since January, 1893, and for the greater part of the time since then he lias been the cen- tral figure in the evangelistic field, to which all eyes have l)ecn turned, and he is jKrhaps more widely known to-day than any other Presbyterian minister in North Carolina. It would be impossible for any biographer or historian to place upon reconl that which wouUl convey an adequate conception of the vast and far-reaching influence for God and for the uplifting of humanity which this one man has exerted. If the Syncxlical Movement launched at Goldslx)ro in 1888 had accomplished nothing more than to put! Mr. Black in the field, it would have proved a great success, and a wise investment for all the cost of missions' until the present time. It would be hard for any one who has a proper conception of the facts to be- lieve tliat GckI di<i not specially raise up and set apart this brother to accomplish the si)ecial work which he has l)een enabled to do.

Mr. Black was l)orn of Scotch parent.'; near Maxton. X. C, and was educated with the view of making the study and practice of law his life work. He studied law under '* Dick and Dillard," of Greensboro, N. C, and was duly licensed and began the practice of law in 1881. He rapidly arose in the profession, and at the end of ten or twelve years he became what the world calls a successful lawyer, doing a paying business and enjoyincr a large and lucrative practice. But Go<l intended him to teach men tiie Divine law. an<l in i8<;3 he yielded himself to the unceasing demands of his I^rd and of his conscience, and on Jan. i, i8c)3. he was licensed to preach the Gosjxd by Fayetteville Presbytery, and during the same year he was

io8 The Presbyterian Church

ordained by Mecklenburg Presbytery and immediately employed by the Presbytery and the Synod ical Commit- tee as a local evangelist for Union and Anson counties. He remained in this field just one year, and the Lord crowned his labors with wonderful success, giving him the joy of witnessing more than 700 conversions, and of seeing more than 100 communicants added to the Presby- terian church.

On January 16, 1894, he was elected superintendent of Synodical Home ]\lissions, which at that time included the office and the work of general evangelist, and in Jan- uary, 1897, he began to give his whole time to evangelistic work, and except for a short interval in 1898, when he was again superintendent, he has continued until the present moment to give his whole time to the work of general evangelist for the synod. And in the mean time he has conducted several successful meetings in other States, with blessed results ; and, moreover, Mr. Black was the originator of the idea of Biblical institutes, so many of which have been held in this State, he having offered the resolution that provided for the first one, held at Red Springs, N. C, over which he presided, and a simi- lar one held at Gastonia in 1893. He was also assisted by the splendid serviced of the Rev. E. E. Gillespie, also re- sponsible for the origin, conduct and magnificent success of the Evangelistic and Biblical Institute held at Davidson College in 1902. These institutes, besides helping the thousands who attended' them to a better understanding of the Bible on every phase of Christian work, especially emphasized the missionary and evangelistic opportunities and responsibilities.

During Mr. Black's connection with Synodical Home Missions in North Carolina, a period of fourteen years, the tabulated] reports of his labors as given from year to

REV. E. E. GILLESPIE.

In North Carolina. 109

year will give some idea of the magnitude of these labors. The following figures may not be accurate, but at the present time (1907), they are in no wise exaggerated: He has held more than 4,000 services, and on an average in about twenty counties a year. He has witnessed the confession of several thousand persons, and more than 4,000 of these have joined the Presbyterian Church, while many of the others have joined churches of other denomi- nations. He has organized a dozen or more Presbjterian churches, and as many Sunday-schools, and he has ordained quite a number of elders and deacons, besides baptizing adults and infants, and receiving from hun- dreds of heads of families the pledge or promise to hold family worship. He has travelled thousands of miles, has made many addresses, held many prayer meetings, and has done a vast amount of office work ; and wherever he has gone he has been hailed with delight and welcomed with joy.

The great success of Mr. Black has been due in a large measure to his kind and gentle manners, his simple and candid cordiality, and his intense earnestness in present- ing the truth. His style of preaching reminds one that he has never lost many of the characteristics of the skilled lawyer presenting his case before a jury. His message is pointed, direct and earnest, speaking rapidly and yet ten- derly, producing in the minds and hearts of his hearers the feeling that his message is one of love combined with authority. Moreover, Mr. Black knows men, and how to adapt himself to the peculiarities and needs of men, having had abundant opportunity in the practice of law as well as in preaching the Gospel to study all classes and shades of humanity. He is a most congenial companion and a ''brother beloved" with his close friends, and with all who know him well, and upon him the entire Synod of North Carolina invoked its loving benediction.

no The Presbyterian Church

'* His bow still abides in strength, and the arms of his hands are made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob/' who has honored him and blessed him and given him many stars for his crown.

The great work which the Rev. William Black has done, he feels, is in a large measure due to the assistance of his singers, not only to Rev. A. K. Pool, who sang so sweetly till his death in 1899, but to Mr. Andrew Burr, his present helper, and many have no doubt been sung into the kingdom by these sweet singers, who might not otherwise have been reached.

Mr. Burr is a native of Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada, and was elected a ruling elder in the St. Andrews Church in his city. He has been with Mr. Black, manag- ing the singing, since January, 1904, and is not only a sweet singer, but knows how to make the song service a power for good, not only in arousing Christians, but in reaching the unsaved also. From such services of song, as rendered by such men, it is clearly seen that it is a great power that many do not use, but they also show us how to use this force, after their visits to our churches are over.

MR. ANDREW BURR.

CHAPTER VIII.

A Brief Summary of Some of the Results of Synodi- CAL Home Missions in North Carolina.

Many of the great enterprises and advanced move- ments in tlie church of the present day may not be at- tributed as direct results to the great Synodical Move- ment^ but at the same time the vigorous prosecution of Synodical Missions opened the way, increased the interest and gave an impetus to all the great causes of the church, and made some of these enterprises possible. All of the great causes of the church, in a very great degree, have kept pace in the onward march with Home Missions. This is especially true along educational lines. Wherever a pioneer evangelist was sent a mission day school in connection w^th the work was established, and from some of these day schools splendid institutions of learning have had their origin.

The Rev. J. B. Shearer, D. D., the great apostle of Church and Christian Education in North Carolina, began with the Synodical Movement in 1889 to urge the neces- sity of Biblical training in all Presbyterian schools, so as to make an intelligent scriptural faith the controlling prin- ciple of our schools. In 1890 a Synodical Committee on Church and Christian Education was appointed, and frorfi that day until the present time Dr. Shearer has faithfully and efficiently preached and toiled for the great cause, and his labors have not been in vain. The policy, plan and constitution of church schools as promulgated and ex- p>ounded by Dr. Shearer gradually found favor through-

112 The Presbyterian Church

out the church, and under the guidance of his wisdom was finally adopted by the General Assembly as the policy and plan of the whole Southern Presbyterian Church. This great cause has now assumed vast proportions, and its in- fluence for building up Christ's Kingdom is simply enor- mous.

In connection with Church and Christian Education, and we may say as a result of the Home Mission Move- ment, a strong effort was inaugurated in 1900 to raise within five years the magnificent sum of $300,000 as a twentieth century fund for the cause of Christian educa- tion. The synod entered heartily into the movement, and appointed as a supervisory committee the Rev. R. E. Caldwell, Rev. A. R. Shaw and Mr. J. M. Mclver, to act conjointly with the Rev. J. W. Stagg, D. D., and Mr. George W. Watts, the Assembly's committee.

In 1901 the synod called the Rev. Dr. Stagg as field secretary, to raise the money, and appointed a special committee, consisting of Rev. E. W. Smith, D. D., Rev. J. M. Rose, D. D., Rev. J. M. Wells, D. D., and Ruling Elders George W. Watts and J. M. Rogers, to act in conjunction with the Supervisory Committee and conduct the work. In 1902 the synod appointed an executive com- mittee, to take the place of the Supervisory Committee and to act in connection with the Presbyterial committees, consisting of Rev. E. W. Smith, D. D., Rev. E. C. Mur- ray, D. D., Rev. E. R. Leyburn, and Elders E. P. Whar- ton and J. M. Mclver. This committee had charge of the conduct of the work until its close, and the report in 1906 showed that the sum of $113,789 had been raised for the cause of education.

In 1889, immediately after the inauguration of Synod- ical Home Missions, the synod's Orphan's Home was established. The founding of this institution was one of

In North Carolina. 113

th€ most important steps ever taken by the Synod of North Carohna. It resuUed in a glorious success, to the honor of God and to the lasting good of the church and to humanity. The Rev. Jethro Rumple, D. D., was chair- man of the commission, appointed in 1888, to formulate plans for the establishment and conduct of the Home, and the plans submitted by him were adopted, and a Board of Regents were appointed to have the management of the Home.

The original Board of Regents consisted of the follow- ing persons: Rev. J. Rumple, D. D. (president), Rev. W. E. Mclllwaine, Rev. D. I. Craig, Rev. D. D. McBryde, Hon. A. M. Scales, Hon. D. G. Fowle, George E. Wilson, Esq., George Chadbourn, Esq., Mr. John E. Oates and Mr. G. M. Love.

A detailed account or minute history of the inaugura- tion of this Home, first at Charlotte and afterwards at Barium Springs ; of the many perplexing problems and difficulties solved and overcome by Dr. Rumple, the Board and the superintendent. Rev. R. W. Boyd, of the marvellous providences of God, and the wonderful success of the institution, and last, but not least, of the laborious work, the patient thought and tender care of Dr. Rumple in his long connection with the Home, would read like a thrilling romance if it were written. For fifteen years the management of this institution was the burden of the great heart of Dr. Rumple, and to this work he gave his best thought, his wise counsel and noble eiforts, and its success was the joy of the closing years of his life. The Home has never had but one superintendent, the Rev. R. W. Boyd, who is honored and beloved by the synod and the 150 orphan children under his care. Through the long years of his service he has proven himself to be the right man in the right place. The Home as it now stands

114 The Presbyterian Church

is comprised of nine main buildings on 250 acres of land, and the whole property is worth more than $50,000.

Among the liberal donors to the Home and after whom some of the buildings are named, the names of George W. Watts, Mrs. S. P. Lees, Mr. S. P. Alexander, Mr. J. C. Burroughs, Judge Howard, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Carson and others will never cease to be gratefully remembered.

Schools Under Church Control.

At the head of the list stands Davidson College, which has always been owned and controlled by Presbyteries and synods, and which can by no means be classed as a result of the Synodical Home Mission Movement, and yet it has been greatly strengthened, helped and encouraged by the movement; and the same may be said of Peace Institute, at Raleigh, which is owned by Presbyterians, if it is not under the direct control of the church.

The Charlotte and Statesville Female Colleges and the Southern Presbyterian College and Conservatory of Music at Red Springs, N. C. ; all three of them, as dis- tinctive church schools, were founded in 1896, and are owned and controlled by the Presbyteries in whose bounds they are located. These three female colleges can scarcely be surpassed in their equipment for furnishing a thorough education on such terms that it may be in reach of all. Any attempt here to write the history of each of these schools or to advertise their merits would be inadequate.

The history, however, of the origin of the College at Red Springs was in connection with an effort on the part of Fayetteville Presbytery to reopen the old Floral Col- lege as a high school for girls. Only a portion of the necessary amount of money could be raised, and in the spring of 1895 the Presbytery invited other points or

REV. S. M. RANKIN.

In North Carolina. 115

places in the Presbytery to submit bids for the location of the school.

On August 15, 1895, the Rev. S. M. Rankin, who at that time was pastor of the Red Springs Church, called a mass meeting of the citizens of the place to consider the matter, and about fifteen men assembled, and one man offered to give $100 as a beginning, and Mr. Rankin was instructed to prosecute a canvass for the location of the school at Red Springs.

At the next meeting of Presbytery, September 17, 1895, the bid from Red Springs, amounting to four acres of land, twenty-five hundred dollars in cash or material and one-sixth interest in certain fair ground property, was accepted by the Presbytery, and the Committee on Church and Christian Education was authorized to select the site and to canvass the churches for additional funds.

In October, 1895, the site offered by Dr. J. L. McMillan was selected as the location, and the Rev. Mr. Rankin was appointed to canvass the churches of Presbytery.

In March, 1896, Mr. Rankin reported $5,000 raised, and also submitted plans and specifications for the first building, which were accepted, and Mr. Rankin was elected chairman and treasurer of the Building Commit- tee. A Board of Trustees was appointed, and in June, 1896, the Rev. C. G. Vardell was elected to take charge of the school. The school opened September 30, 1896, with an enrollment, during the year, of 112. Under the splendid management of Dr. Vardell the institution has steadily advanced to the forefront of female colleges in the South, and the plant has been enlarged until the property is now worth at least $100,000. At the present time (1907) there is a faculty of twenty-five or thirty teachers and an enrollment of more than 300 young lady students.

ii6 The Presbyterian Church

The " Lees-McRae Institute" — the girls' department at Banner Elk, in Watauga county, N. C, and the boys' department at Plum Tree, in Mitchell county, N. C. — is one of the direct results or products of Synodical Home Missions.

The pioneer evangelist in these counties was the Rev. R. P. Pell, who did much in laying the foundation for schools and in fostering the desire among the people for more and higher education. Mr. Pell was succeeded in 1895 by Messrs. Edgar Tufts, L. E. Bostian and E. D. Brown, in Watauga county, and Mr. L. A. McLaurin, in Mitchell county. These brethren had not yet completed their seminary course, and they did splendid work during the summer months in this field.

In 1897 the Rev. Edgar Tufts took charge of the field, and to him is due the splendid success and wonderful progress of the institution at Banner Elk, over which he still presides.

In 1901 the Rev. J. P. Hall became associated with the institution, and through his splendid labors the boys' de- partment has been transferred, built up and established at Plum Tree, in Mitchell county. Mr. Hall has charge of this department.

The following brief outline of the origin and history of the institution is here given in the language of the Rev. Edgar Tufts:

"This school had its beginning in a small summer mis- sion school taught by two ladies for four months, with no guaranteed salary except their expenses. The next step was when the evangelist in charge of the field gath- ered around an open fire in his own room a handful of the largest and most advanced pupils and taught them free of charge for several months during the winter of 1898. The next step was the following fall, when the matter of build-

In North Carolina. 117

ing a high school at Banner Elk was taken up at a mid- week prayer meeting and subscriptions received to the extent of some $250 in lumber and work.

'The enterprise having thus been started at home, many appeals through papers, through letters and in person wer€ made for help with which to finish the buildings. After months of hard work, during which a debt was never made, the dormitory and a two-room academy building were ready for use.

'The school was first known as the ''Elizabeth iMcRae Institute," in honor of Mrs. E. A. ]\IcRae. The name was afterwards changed to the Lees-McRae Institute, in honor of Mrs. S. P. Lees. These ladies were liberal helpers and doners in the founding of the institute

'The first session of the boarding department was be- gun in the fall of 1900 with about a dozen girls in the dormitory and two teachers. At the close of the second year it was evident that more class room would have to be provided for. A new academy was started at once. This building was begun like the dormitory,, with a subscrip- tion at home.

"From time to time a few acres of land were added, sometimes as donations and sometimes by purchase, until to-day the school owns forty-seven acres, through which the turbulent water of the Elk river flow. Not only does this stream afford picturesque scenery and delightful trout fishing, but it has in its bosom a magnificent water-power, which some day will doubtless be used to light the school with electricity.

"From the very beginning the Bible has been a daily text-book for every pupil in the school. The industrial features have also been emphasized and enlarged until to-day this course embraces cooking, sewing and basketry. The catechisms of the Presbyterian Church have also been

tt8 The Presbyterian Church

so constantly brought to the attention of the students that over one hundred girls have been awarded Bibles and Tes- taments for reciting them. The Christian influence has been such that over thirty students have united with the church while in school.

In 1903 two important changes were made: One of them was the change in the time of the sessions, so that the school now begins in the spring and closes at Christ- mas. The object in this change was first to eliminate the three severe winter months, and thereby reduce the run- ning expenses, and, second, to breakdown as far as possi- ble, by running the school in the summer, the too frequent custom in the mountains of putting the girls on the farm as soon as they are large enough to handle a hoe. The other change was moving the boys' department to Plum Tree in the adjoining county.

"The enrollment in these two departments during 1906 was upwards of 275 students, five of whom are already candidates for the ministry."

The great success and splendid work of Rev. Edgar Tufts with the Lees-McRae Institute has been made pos- sible by the self-sacrificing and painstaking work of Mrs. E. A. MacRae, of Maxton, N. C. This lady was a mem- ber of Centre Church, near Maxton, and at her own cost and charges, without one cent of reimbursement, taught several months during the first years of our work in Watauga county when Rev. R. P. Pell was there; and just after he left, and by her lovely Christian life, her love for souls, and her devotion to her Master, won the hearts of those splendid, but rather poor people, of that section, gave them a taste and love for better things, and thus, in her modest way, laid the foundations for the splendid schools which have since received from her and others, under the excellent management of Rev. Mr. Tufts, the money to carry them on and build them up.

In North Carolina. 119

There are a large number of other excellent schools which are the direct results of Synodical Missions, but a history of their origin cannot be given here. In nearly every instance, however, these schools originated through the self-sacrificing labors of some godly woman in teach- ing a day mission school under the direction of the com- mittee or some evangelist.

There is the "J^^^s Sprunt Institute" at Kenansville, N. C, named in honor and memory of the late Rev. James M. Sprunt, D. D., and founded by Mr. Henry Farrior and Dr. James W. Blount and others, in 1896, which is a Female School under the direct control of Wilmington Presbytery. It has been a wonderful suc- cess, and is a strong arm for mission work in eastern North Carolina. It has at present more than one hundred pupils, and more than half of them are boarders. Mr. J. O. Carr, of Wilmington, N. C, is the President of the Board of Trustees, and for a time the Rev. R. V. Lancas- ter had charge of the school. The present principal is Miss Blanche Boyd, formerly a teacher, matron and editor of the Synod's Orphans' Home at Barium Springs, North Carolina.

The splendid '^Westminster School'' at Brittain, N. C, established largely through the efforts of the Rev. R. C. Morrison, and under the fine management of Rev. W. R. Minter, in the providence of God," has educated many poor boys and girls and fitted them for usefulness in life, and is a missionary agency of great power and influence in King's Mountain Presbytery.

The school at Canton under the management of Rev. J. C. Hardin, and the schools at Crabtree, Dillsboro, Rob- binsville, Barnardsville, Hughes and other places in the western part of the State.

The Elise High School at Hemp, the Englewood

I20 The Presbyterian Church

School at Albemarle, the Stanly Hall School, and the Clarkton High School, besides a great number of mis- sion schools of lower grade. These schools are educating scores and hundreds of girls and boys all over the State, and their influence is immense and far-reaching for the glory of God and the uplifting of humanity.

In 1888 the Rev. Dr. Rumple presented a paper to synod on 'Tarochial Schools," urging the churches, when- ever practicable, to establish parochial schools for pri- mary and classical instruction under their own super- vision, and at the same time the Rev. Dr. Mclllwain sub- mitted the annual report on education. In these papers not a single mission school is mentioned or reported, and while Peace Institute, the Charlotte, Statesville and Floral colleges are mentioned as Presbyterian schools, Davidson College is the only school mentioned as being under direct church control.

At the present time (1907), after a lapse of nineteen years, the great number of schools and colleges now in operation and under church control will show how great have been the results and the progress along educational lines.

In 1888 there were five Presbyteries, 122 ministers, 262 churches and 22,553 communicants in the synod. In 1907 there are eight Presbyteries, 179 ministers, 423 churches, and 39,788 communicants.

In 1888 the aggregate amount of funds raised in the synod was $144,692, and in 1907 the amount was more than $344,913.

In 1888, according to the reports given by the stated clerks of the Presbyteries, there were thirty-one counties in the State without a single Presbyterian church, and fifteen counties with one church in each, making a total of forty-six counties practically without Presbyterianism within their borders.

In North Carolina. 121

There is a confusion in the numbers given of the va- cant counties, from time to time, and this confusion arises from the fact that in some of the counties given "with one church each/' there was only a church building and not an organization ; and besides, it is not easy to ascer- tain the exact time of the organization of some of the new churches. There were really more than thirty-one counties without a Presbyterian organization in 1888, and it is not claimed that the Synodical Movement has done all the organizing and aggressive mission work since then, but it has done much of it, and has stimulated Pres- byteries and individuals to activity, which have brought about the great changes since the Movement began. As nearly as can be ascertained, when the Synodical Mission work was begun, there were no organized Presbyterian churches in the following counties, viz. : Alleghany, Ashe, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Clay, Cherokee, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Graham, Greene, Hyde, Hertford, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Madison, Martin, Mitchell, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Stokes, Swain, Tyrrell, Watauga, Washington, Yadkin, and Yancey, making a total of thir- ty-six. In the counties of Halifax, Lenoir, Pasquotank, and Stanly, the single organizations were new and ex- ceedingly weak, and in about thirteen other counties there was but one church only in each, making a sum total of about fifty-three.

Since 1888, to the beginning of 1907, there have been reported to the Synod the organization of 187 new churches in the State. There are now (1907) eight Pres- byteries, 186 ministers, 428 churches, and 40,750 com- municants.

The counties without a Presbvterian church within the

122 The Presbyterian Church

State at the present time are thirteen in mimber, and are as follows: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Greene, Hertford, Northampton, Pamlico, Per- quimans, Tyrrell and Washington.

In 1888 there were six Presbyterial evangelists within the bounds of the synod giving their whole time to the work, while there were perhaps as many more ministers giving a part of their time to evangelistic work. In 1907, according to the last reports from the Presbyteries, there were 21 evangelists at work in the Presbyteries, and the superintendent of Synodical Missions reported 27 minis- ters as having served regularly 71 small churches and 70 mission points; 1,389 persons made a public profession of faith during the year, and 708 of these joined the Pres- byterian church." In addition to these ministers, there is a great host of laymen and teachers, male and female, w^ho are engaged in evangelistic work, especially during the summer months, teaching and preaching the Gospel throughout the State.

In 1888 Biblical institutes, mission conferences and Bible teachers' training schools and associations of various kinds for spreading the Gospel were unknown in North Carolina; but at the present time they are of common occurrence and wdthin the reach of all.

We cannot claim that all these facts and conditions as we have them to-day are the direct results of Synodical Home Missions, inaugurated in 1888, but many of them are, and in after years it will be seen more clearly than now that the great "movement" at that time w^as more far- reaching and of infinitely more importance than those who participated in it ever dreamed. And there will be no backward step. The watchword is Onward ! Higher, and yet higher! Towards the great possibilities which God has set before the church for his own glory in the salvation of men !

In North Carolina. 123

The promise to Joshua and the children of Israel was '' Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given thee," and every student of Bible history knows that not anything like all of this land was ever taken by the children of Israel, and why ? Simply because God put the condition in, that their feet should tread upon it — that is, take possession of it, and that could not be done without a contest, a fight strong and in some cases long continued; this the children of Israel did not have faith to undertake.

The same principle holds to-day. The different denom- inations have done much in possessing the land for Christ, as has been seen from a perusal of these pages, the Pres- byterian church in North Carolina has done a good part,