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 BX 8949 .C52 19 03 
 Clark, Robert Lorenzo, 1849- 
 History of Centre 
 Presbyterian Church, New 
 
vm 
 
HISTORY OF 
 
 Centre Presbyterian Church 
 
 NEW PARK, PA. 
 
 I780-I9O3 
 
 COMPILED BY 
 
 REV. R^LORENZO CLARK 
 
 SOMETIME PASTOR 
 
 LANCASTER, PA. 
 1903 
 
J. C. WILEY, 
 
 R. W. ANDERSON, 
 
 R. B. McELWAIN, 
 
 Publication Committee. 
 
 PRESS OF 
 
 TO€ NCW ERA PRINTING COMPANY, 
 
 LANCASTER, PA, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The preparation of this history has been a labor of love. 
 If the author had not had a love for the kind of work 
 therein involved it is not likely it would have been written. 
 
 By reason of the fact that Centre Church at one time and 
 another of its existence has been connected with the Pres- 
 byteries of New Castle, Baltimore, Carlisle, Donegal and 
 Westminster the collection of materials was no easy mat- 
 ter. Journeys to Elkton, Md., Baltimore, Md., Harrisburg 
 and Philadelphia, Pa., were necessary, and many tedious 
 hours were spent poring over musty Presbyterial and 
 Synodical Records. Much correspondence with descend- 
 ants of former pastors, officials in colleges, and those who 
 had known Centre in early days was had. 
 
 For much valuable information in the publication of this 
 history the writer is indebted to Henry Marsteller, Duncan 
 Brown, Miss Jemina Bosley, Mrs. Mary Frances Straw- 
 bridge and Mrs. Mary Slade of Centre congregation, and 
 Rev. John Pym Carter and Rev. Andrew B. Cross of Bal- 
 timore, all of whom have been called to their reward. 
 Some of the data was not to be had from any one living 
 but was obtained from the cold marble that marks the rest- 
 ing place of the dead. 
 
 The manuscript was originally prepared in the year 1890 
 and the history so far as then written was read to the 
 Centre congregation on the sixth and thirteenth of June 
 of that year, the former date being the eleventh anniver- 
 sary of the acceptance of the call by the then pastor. 
 
 If this history shall serve to put in permanent form the 
 record of that which should not be forgotten, and if its 
 perusal by the congregation of my first love, and others 
 interested, shall be a pleasure I shall feel amply repaid. 
 Lancaster, Pa., September 15, 1903. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Portrait Frontispiece 
 
 Preface iii 
 
 General History i 
 
 First Building 8 
 
 Ministry of Rev. George Lucky i° 
 
 Second Building *7 
 
 Portrait, Rev. Samuel Parke Facing 17 
 
 Ministry of Rev. Samuel Parke 17 
 
 Third Building, Illustration of Same 23 
 
 Portrait, Rev. Samuel Hume Smith Facing 24 
 
 Ministry of Rev. Samuel Hume Smith 24 
 
 Supplies 2 7 
 
 Portrait, Rev. John Young Cowhick, D.D Facing 28 
 
 Ministry of Rev. J. Y. Cowhick, D.D 28 
 
 Portrait, Rev. Johnston McGaughey Facing 33 
 
 Ministry of Rev. Johnston McGaughey 33 
 
 Separation from Stewartstown 35 
 
 Ministry of Rev. Robert Lorenzo Clark 3 6 
 
 Building of Manse 37 
 
 Fourth Building, Illustration of Same 39 
 
 Interior view Facing 44 
 
 Fiftieth Anniversary of Sabbath School 47 
 
 Action of Session and Trustees as to Funerals 48 
 
 Addition to Manse 49 
 
 Ordination of Robert Reed Gailey 5° 
 
 Ordination of Samuel Martin Jordan 5 2 
 
 Close of Sixth Pastorate 53 
 
 Pastor Elect 5 6 
 
 Presbyterial Honors 57 
 
 Sons of Centre in the Ministry, Portraits Facing 58 
 
 Conclusion 61 
 
 Officers of Congregation 62 
 
 Portraits, Session Facing 64 
 
 Trustees 65 
 
 Statistical Tables 66 
 
HISTORY OF 
 CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 HISTORY is the record of the unfolding of God's plan 
 as to man. Church History is the record of the 
 unfolding of His plan with reference to His church. 
 
 God's plan involves the end to be accomplished, the means 
 to be used and the application of these means in all ages. 
 The past lived for the present. The present lives because of 
 the past, and the record of what God has done and what He 
 will do, with His own, is the history of the church. 
 
 From Jerusalem, where the gospel work began, its prog- 
 ress has ever been westward. As the persecutions of the 
 early church spread the gospel abroad so persecution be- 
 cause of devotion to civil and religious liberty drove many 
 of our ancestors to these western shores and they brought 
 with them the gospel whose blessings we enjoy to-day. It 
 was a sturdy manhood that led them to resist the oppressor 
 in their native land. Presbyterians from France, Holland, 
 Germany, Scotland and the north of Ireland came to the 
 new world seeking a place where they could worship God 
 according to the dictates of their own consciences. 
 
 From England came the Quakers. From Germany came 
 the Lutherans and the German Reformed. From Scotland, 
 through the north of Ireland, came, in the main, the Scotch- 
 Irish Presbyterians with a religion as sturdy as their man- 
 hood and a Calvinistic faith that everywhere and always 
 opposes oppression. 
 
 In the eighteenth century settlements were made by them 
 in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North and South 
 Carolina. As early as 1 719 or 1720 settlements were made 
 
2 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 west of the Susquehanna without warrant. In 1722 the 
 first survey was made in York County. Lancaster County 
 was erected out of Chester County in 1729. In the spring 
 of this year John and James Hendricks made, under the 
 authority of the government, the first authorized settlements 
 on the west side of the Susquehanna River in what is now 
 York County. They were soon followed by other families. 
 This part of York County was settled by the Scotch and the 
 Scotch-Irish 1731-1735 and by "the better order of peas- 
 antry." They were mainly protestants and largely Presby- 
 terian. 
 
 York County was not bought from the Indians until 1736 
 and at this time there was a large influx from Ireland, as 
 many as one thousand families sailing from Belfast. Dr. 
 Blakie says that under Charles II and James II it is reckoned 
 that in twenty-eight years eighteen thousand persons were 
 either banished or put to death. They were driven from 
 Scotland through the north of Ireland and thence to this 
 continent. 
 
 York County remained a part of Lancaster County until 
 August 19, 1749, when that portion of Lancaster lying west 
 of the Susquehanna was erected into a separate county and 
 called York. This particular part of the county, embracing 
 Chanceford, Lower Chanceford, Fawn, Hopewell and the 
 lower part of Windsor, including about 130,000 acres, is 
 known as the " Barrens." This name was not applied be- 
 cause of an inferior quality of soil but because previous to 
 1 73 1 the Indians burned it over in the fall of the year so as 
 to improve it as a " Great Park " and thus it became barren 
 of vegetables and trees. 
 
 Fawn was one of the original townships when the county 
 was erected. In 1840 there were raised in it 3,529 bushels 
 of wheat, 12,840 of oats, 1,709 of rye, 826 of buckwheat, 
 8,180 of corn, 12,840 of potatoes and 795 tons of hay. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 3 
 
 Truly our ancestors did not come here to fertile fields and 
 lives of ease, but to battle against obstacles. In church and 
 state it is true, " Others have labored, and ye are entered 
 into their labor." 
 
 Wherever the Scotch-Irish went they established the 
 church and the school. They brought with them univer- 
 sity-trained men to be the pastors of their churches and in- 
 structors in their schools, but they could not always depend 
 upon this source of supply. Churches multiplied rapidly. 
 Schools were in demand as the cost of an education, over 
 the sea or even in New England, was very great. Accord- 
 ingly William Tennent, a native of Ireland, a profound 
 scholar and a noted linguist, the pastor at " Neshaminy 
 Creek," opened in 1726 a school for the education of young 
 men in the classical languages and divinity. 
 
 A small beginning was this, but what mighty results. 
 Rev. Samuel Blair, educated in Tennent's school, was called 
 to the church at " Fagg's Manor," Chester County, Pa., in 
 1740. He in turn established a school similar in character 
 to that of Tennent at Neshaminy. From his school went 
 out many who were prominent in church and state. One of 
 these, the Rev. John McMillan, D.D., was the pioneer mis- 
 sionary to western Pennsylvania, and following the lead of 
 his preceptor he established his school, which afterward 
 grew into Jefferson College. 
 
 Another of Tennent's pupils, the Rev. Robert Smith, was 
 called to the church of " Pequea," Lancaster County, Pa., in 
 1750, where he founded a classical and theological school. 
 From this school went forth men who became college presi- 
 dents, missionaries on the frontier, and leaders in all 
 branches of business and professional life. One of these 
 men was the Rev. George Luckey, a pioneer missionary to 
 northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania and the first 
 pastor of this church. The Rev. Robert Smith was his pre- 
 
4 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 ceptor and when he came to the farm near Black Horse, 
 Md., where until recently resided his grandson, Joshua G. 
 Luckey, Esq., he planted his classical school. From this 
 school went forth such men as Dr. Ephraim Bell, of New 
 Market, Dr. James Montgomery of Baltimore and Drs. 
 Abram and St. Clair Street of Deer Creek, Md. Also Dr. 
 William N. Luckey of Circlesville and Dr. Josiah Luckey of 
 Elmore, Ohio. Thus wherever the Scotch-Irish Presby- 
 terian went the church and the school were hand in hand. 
 
 What a history our church has ? One cannot approach the 
 work of compiling it without a feeling akin to awe. " Put 
 off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou 
 standest is holy ground." Uncover thy head and be thou 
 reverent while thou walkest with the shades of these holy 
 men. 
 
 The date of the organization of Centre Church cannot be 
 definitely determined. The congregation may have been 
 in existence before the Revolutionary War. Alexander's 
 " Princeton College in the eighteenth century " says of the 
 Rev. John Clark that he " received his license from the Pres- 
 bytery of New Brunswick, May 9, 1760, and was ordained 
 and settled at the Forks of the Delaware, October 13, 1762. 
 In 1767, on account of bodily infirmity, he resigned his 
 charge and removed to Maryland, where he became the pas- 
 tor of two churches in Baltimore County." (Baltimore 
 County then included Harford County.) One of these 
 churches we know was " Bethel." Was the other " Cen- 
 tre " ? It may have been. It is not in Maryland but very 
 close to the line. It seems as though it must have been Cen- 
 tre, as there was no other Presbyterian church near enough 
 to have been associated with Bethel, excepting the Slate 
 Ridge, and it was never without a pastor during Mr. Clark's 
 ministry. " Princeton College in the Eighteenth Century " 
 also says of the Rev. George Luckey that he was the pastor 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 5 
 
 of Bethel and Centre Churches, Harford County, Maryland. 
 Here both churches are spoken of as though they were in 
 Maryland. 
 
 In 1 764-1 767 Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, two 
 English astronomers, surveyed " Mason's and Dixon's " line 
 for 244 miles west from the Delaware to a warpath on the 
 borders of Dunkard Creek, where they were stopped, by an 
 order of the " Six Nations," when within six miles of the 
 Pennsylvania boundary. They passed by this point in 
 1765. The running of this line was to settle a dispute be- 
 tween Lord Baltimore and William Penn as to their re- 
 spective claims. The wave of excitement ran high. The 
 running of this line located many of the members of Bethel 
 Church outside the territory in which the church lay and the 
 tendency would be to determine another place of worship. 
 The fact that the first pastor of Centre was also the pastor 
 of Bethel gives color to the opinion that it had been pre- 
 viously associated with Bethel. 
 
 The increase of population, the distance to other churches 
 and possibly the running of Mason's and Dixon's line, 
 which settled the dispute between the Penns and the Balti- 
 mores and concerning which feeling ran high among the 
 people, led to the organization of this new church. 
 
 A question here arises as to the origin of the name " Cen- 
 tre " as applied to this congregation. The people who gave 
 it this name did not come from an old " Centre " and so the 
 name could not have originated in that way. The original 
 settlers were from about Newark and New Castle, Delaware. 
 Some came from the head of Christiana and others from 
 White Clay Creek. 
 
 Whether or not the running of Mason's and Dixon's line 
 had any influence in forming a new congregation of Presby- 
 terians it is certain that the congregation must have been 
 formed from the membership of Bethel and Round Hill very 
 
6 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 largely and they located their church in the center of the 
 distance separating the two, nine miles from either, and it 
 may be this is whence it derives its name. 
 
 In 1 78 1 Centre applied to the Presbytery of Donegal for 
 supplies and the Rev. Colin MacFarquhar was appointed. In 
 1782 Rev. John Slemons was directed to preach at Centre 
 and Hopewell. In the autumn of the same year he was ap- 
 pointed to supply the same churches. This is the first 
 record we find of " Centre " as a church on the minutes of 
 any Presbytery and it is likely we are now in the period of 
 its actual organization, although it had probably been a 
 preaching point for some years. 
 
 In Rupp's " History of York County " we learn that in 
 the " Barrens " four churches were erected previous to 
 1774. Slate Ridge was the first. Chanceford was the sec- 
 ond. It is likely Round Hill (Hopewell) was the third and 
 possibly Centre was the fourth. The same authority says 
 that in 1760 Rev. John Strain was installed pastor of several 
 congregations. In his time the fourth church was erected. 
 Mr. Strain died in 1774. 
 
 The deed of the original Centre Church property is as 
 follows : 
 
 This indenture made the 15th day of December in the year of 
 our Lord 1782 between William Gray of Fawn Township, York 
 Co., in Pennsylvania, of the one part, Yeoman, and Alexander 
 Ramsay, David Wiley, James Denny, Joseph Wiley, and Joseph 
 Kincart, in trust for a Presbyterian Congregation called " Cen- 
 tre Congregation," in York County aforesaid, witnesseth, that 
 the said William Gray for and in consideration of the sum of 
 three pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania, to him the said 
 William Gray well and truly in hand paid by the said Alexander 
 Ramsay, David Wiley, James Denny, Joseph Wiley, and Joseph 
 Kincart, at or before the ensealing and delivery of these pres- 
 ents, the receipt whereof the said William Gray doth hereby 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 7 
 
 acknowledge, and thereof and of every part and parcel thereof 
 doth acquit and exonerate and discharge forever the said Alex- 
 ander Ramsay, David Wiley, James Denny, Joseph Wiley and 
 Joseph Kincart and their heirs and assigns by these presents, 
 has granted, bargained, aliened, released,' enfeoffed and con- 
 firmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, aliene, re- 
 lease, enfeoff, and confirm to Alexander Ramsay, David Wiley, 
 Joseph Denny, Joseph Wiley and Joseph Kincart, (In trust for 
 Centre Congregation aforesaid), their heirs and assigns forever, 
 [Property described], containing three acres. It being a part 
 of the tract of land which was surveyed and laid out in pur- 
 suance and by virtue of a warrant from the Honorable, the Pro- 
 prietor's Land Office, granted to William Bennet and Alexander 
 Hill for two hundred acres bearing date the 14th day of March, 
 1755. Alexander Hill died and willed one fourth of the land 
 to Ralph Dorbin, who deeded this one fourth, June 10th, 1765, 
 to Robert Stevenson, who deeded it May 2nd, 1772, to William 
 Gray. 
 
 William Gray, [seal.] 
 
 I George Luckey. 
 Sealed and delivered in presence of i Robert Miller. 
 
 [Henry Long. 
 
 Received this day of — Dec. 1782 of Alexander Ramsay, 
 David Wiley, James Denny, Joseph Wiley and Joseph Kincart, 
 three pounds in full of the consideration money above men- 
 tioned. 
 
 Acknowledged before, 
 
 William Smith, 
 
 Justice of the Peace. 
 
 A true copy taken from and compared with the original at 
 York the nth day of March, A. Ds 1790. 
 
 Alexander Ramsay and his associates are mentioned as 
 Trustees of Centre Presbyterian Congregation in the west- 
 ern part of Fawn Township, and a clause of the record is as 
 
8 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 follows : " For the land three pounds were paid, on which 
 is to be erected a meeting house by a congregation called 
 Centre." 
 
 This much is evident. In 1781 there was an organized 
 congregation and it was called " Centre." In 1782 it pur- 
 chased land and prepared to build. Just when Centre had 
 its genesis we may not say, possibly as early as 1767. It is 
 probable it was organized about 1780, during the war of the 
 Revolution. We are reminded by this of the fact that 
 Presbyterians were revolutionists. The first pamphlet 
 against the British controlling or taxing the colonies was 
 written by the Rev. Alexander Craighead, a Presbyterian 
 minister. The Rev. Hezekiah James Balch was the chair- 
 man of the committee which drew up the famous " Mecklen- 
 burg Resolutions," the first Declaration of Independence, 
 adopted in Charlotte, May 20, 1775, more than a year before 
 the assembling of the convention in Philadelphia. He was 
 a Presbyterian minister. Rev. John Witherspoon, D.D., 
 President of Princeton College, was a member of the con- 
 vention in Philadelphia and one of the signers of the Declara- 
 tion of Independence. He was a Presbyterian minister. 
 
 The First Building. 
 Where the Centre congregation first worshipped we may 
 not say, but there must have been some kind of a church 
 home in 1784, as the congregation, in that year, asked 
 Presbytery to install a pastor over it. The first building of 
 which we have any record was erected in 1789 as is indicated 
 by the following: 
 
 We the under subscribers do promise to pay or cause to be 
 payd to the trustees of the Centre congregation for to assist in 
 building a meting house there as witness our hands this 6 day 
 of march 1789. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Robert Anderson 
 
 0. 
 
 10. 
 
 o. paid o. 7. 6. paid John mont- 
 gomery for haling 0. 10. 0. 
 
 John montgomery 
 
 o. 
 
 io. 
 
 0. paid in halin shingels. 
 
 William faris 
 
 o. 
 
 7- 
 
 6. X 
 
 John Smith 
 
 0. 
 
 3- 
 
 9. Paid. 
 
 Michel Morison 
 
 o. 
 
 io. 
 
 6. X 
 
 David griffith 
 
 0. 
 
 7- 
 
 6. 
 
 Andrew Warick 
 
 o. 
 
 3- 
 
 9. X 
 
 James Criswell 
 
 0. 
 
 3- 
 
 9. Paid 
 
 Robert Criswell 
 
 o. 
 
 3- 
 
 9. Paid 
 
 John Brown 
 
 o. 
 
 7- 
 
 6. paid to W. E. 
 
 George Mecan 
 
 o. 
 
 7- 
 
 6. X 
 
 Thomas Smith 
 
 o. 
 
 5- 
 
 0. 
 
 Samuel Brooks 
 
 o. 
 
 7- 
 
 6. 
 
 This subscription amounted all told to four pounds and 
 eight shillings. There may have been other papers or 
 this may be a leaf out of a subscription book. The indica- 
 tions are that it is the latter. (The original is now in the 
 possession of the Session.) 
 
 The first building stood on the face of the hill near the 
 spring and the remains of the foundation could yet be seen 
 when the writer came among you. Like the meeting houses 
 of that day it was a small log building with few windows 
 and no seats except such as the members provided, no floor 
 and no stove. There may have been a temporary structure 
 before this building was erected and there probably was, as 
 for a long time this church was known as " the tent." Rev. 
 Andrew B. Cross said that as late as 1837 he had heard old 
 people so speak of it. 
 
 It is interesting to note that the year in which this build- 
 ing was erected was that in which our General Assembly met 
 for the first time ; in which the first Congress of the United 
 States assembled ; in which the first President of the United 
 States was inaugurated and the first of our National Consti- 
 tution. 
 
IO HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 The following receipts are of interest as showing how 
 pastors received their salary and how church business was 
 transacted in the early days. 
 
 Jan 17, 1 78 1 Received of Robert Nelson three bushel and 
 one third bushel of wheat for year 1780. 
 
 John Clark Pastor Bethel Church. 
 
 Feb. 4, 1789 Received of Robert Nelson one pound ten shil- 
 lings for the Revd George Luckey Stepens for the year 1888 
 and ten shillings for covering the meeting house by me. 
 
 his 
 
 John X Given 
 
 mark. 
 
 The First Pastor. 
 
 At White Clay Creek, Del., April 27, 1784, " A petition 
 from the congregations of Bethel and Centre requesting the 
 ordination of Mr. Luckey was brdught in by Mr. James 
 Latta and read. As neither Mr. Luckey nor any commis- 
 sioners from said congregations appeared the consideration 
 of it was deferred till our next meeting." At a meeting of 
 Presbytery at Upper Octoraro, October 11, 1784, it was 
 agreed not to ordain Mr. Luckey until a call be prepared. 
 At East Nottingham, Md., October 26, 1784, Messrs. Robert 
 Kirkwood and Robert Anderson, commissioners respectively 
 from the congregations of Bethel and Centre, brought into 
 Presbytery a call for Mr. Luckey which was presented to 
 and accepted by him. The commissioners requested that 
 Presbytery would ordain and install him as soon as con- 
 venient. 
 
 On the opening leaf of the book in which these records 
 appear the clerk has written of how " the troublesome times, 
 War and Distress, etc., etc., and the Enemy's marching 
 through the Presbytery's bounds occasioned the loss of their 
 old Records : and many of their Running Minutes of that 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. II 
 
 Distressing day are dropped aside or turned fugitive with 
 the enemy and disaffected, so that it is doubtful whether any 
 of them that are lost or fled will ever be recovered or found." 
 Possibly in this we have the reason for there being no Pres- 
 byterial record of the organization of this church. 
 
 At the above mentioned meeting of Presbytery, on the 
 twenty-seventh of October, 1784, Mr. Luckey was ordered 
 to prepare a sermon on Romans 5:1, and an English disser- 
 tation, "Is a Sinner's Regeneration in His Own Power?" 
 to be delivered at the next meeting as parts of trial prepara- 
 tory to ordination. At an adjourned meeting of Presbytery 
 held at West Nottingham, Pa., December 14, 1784, these 
 parts of trial were delivered and accepted. At this meeting 
 Mr. Luckey was ordered to prepare a lecture on the twenty- 
 third Psalm for the next meeting when Presbytery agreed 
 to ordain him if the way be clear. Rev. Robert Smith was 
 directed to preside at the Ordination and Rev. James Latta 
 to give the charge. 
 
 The meeting of Presbytery when Mr. Luckey was 
 ordained was held in the Chestnut Level Church. It con- 
 vened April 26, 1785, and was opened by Mr. Luckey as 
 appointed at the last meeting. " On the next day, April 27, 
 1785, Mr. George Luckey having passed the usual trials for 
 ordination, and accepted and adopted the Westminster Con- 
 fession of Faith, and the form of Worship and Discipline 
 and Government as the same are received in the church, and 
 promised subjection to his brethren in the Lord, after a ser- 
 mon by Rev. Robert Smith from 1st Timothy 4: 16 was 
 solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by 
 fasting, prayer, and imposition of the hands of the Presby- 
 tery, and is now become a member of this Presbytery." 
 
 At a meeting of Presbytery held at Head of Christiana, 
 August 30, 1785, Rev. Robert Smith reported that he had 
 installed Rev. George Luckey in the congregations of Bethel 
 
12 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 and Centre agreeably to their request. The Presbytery- 
 approved this action although it was taken by Mr. Smith 
 without the formality of an order which he supposed had 
 been given and entered on the minutes. Just when this in- 
 stallation took place will never be known, but it was between 
 April 27 and August 30, 1785. 
 
 A meeting of the Presbytery of New Castle, held in East 
 Nottingham, October 28, 1785, was opened with a sermon 
 by Rev. Geo. Luckey from Jer. 51:5, and of this meeting 
 he was clerk pro-tem. 
 
 In 1732 the Synod of Philadelphia erected a new Presby- 
 tery, out of the Presbytery of New Castle, in Lancaster 
 County, Pa., and called it Donegal. During the " Old and 
 New Light " controversy New Castle was in sympathy with 
 the New Lights and was attached to the Synod of New 
 York. Donegal was in sympathy with the Old Lights and 
 was attached to the Synod of Philadelphia. During this 
 controversy Presbyterial lines were not definitely marked 
 and persons in sympathy with and belonging to each of these 
 Presbyteries were living within the bounds of the other. 
 When the Synods of New York and Philadelphia were 
 united it was agreed to dissolve the Presbytery of Donegal. 
 Accordingly in 1786 Donegal was divided between the Pres- 
 byteries of Baltimore and Carlisle. The Presbytery of 
 Baltimore consisted of Revs. John Slemons, James Hunt, 
 Stephen Balch and Isaak Keith of the dissolved Presbytery 
 of Donegal together with Patrick Alison of the late Second 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia, and Rev. George Luckey from 
 the Presbytery of New Castle. (Rev. George Luckey was 
 evidently a " New Light.") 
 
 The Presbytery of Baltimore met for the first time in 
 Baltimore Town, November, 1786. From this meeting Mr. 
 Luckey was absent on account of bad weather. 
 
 In the record of the meeting held April 18, 1787, Mr. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 1 3 
 
 Luckey is noted as the pastor of Bethel and Centre and the 
 youngest pastor of the six charges having regular pastors 
 in the Presbytery. In Georgetown, April 20, 1791, Mr. 
 Luckey was chosen Clerk of the Presbytery, which office he 
 held for two years. 
 
 At a meeting of Presbytery, held in Baltimore, April 17, 
 1792, Mr. Luckey reported that after a great many appeals 
 he had collected from his churches 1. 11. 6. which he 
 was ordered to forward to the Treasurer of the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 The Presbytery of Baltimore met in Baltimore, September 
 30, 1794, when because of a contagious fever then raging 
 there was no sermon, no minutes read and little done. Mr. 
 Luckey was the Clerk at this meeting. 
 
 At a meeting of the Presbytery held at Deer Creek, Oc- 
 tober 5, 1796, Mr. Luckey was Moderator, and at a meet- 
 ing in Baltimore, April 19, 1797, he reported the contribu- 
 tion of Centre and Bethel to the Fund of the General Assem- 
 bly as 1. 10. 8. 
 
 The following paper was adopted by the Presbytery in 
 Baltimore, April 16, 1799: " On considering the distance at 
 which some of our members reside from each other being 
 nearly one hundred miles, the peculiar difficulty to many to 
 attend the sessions of Presbytery where they ought to be 
 sometimes held, and the different changes that have taken 
 place among us, a new arrangement appears highly neces- 
 sary to remedy the inconvenience thence arising, and render 
 an attendance on Judicatories more practical and useful. 
 Our Commissioners to the General Assembly were accord- 
 ingly instructed to propose that Rev. John Slemons, Rev. 
 Geo. Luckey, Rev. Samuel Martin and Rev. Caleb Johnson 
 be joined to the Presbytery of New Castle, and that the 
 churches of those among this number who have pastoral 
 charges, together with the vacancies Deer Creek and Chance- 
 
14 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 ford be also placed under the care of the same Presbytery." 
 
 This request the General Assembly granted Saturday, 
 May 1 8, 1799, and its action was reported to the Presbytery 
 of Baltimore, September 24, 1799. 
 
 The Presbytery of New Castle met at Upper Octoraro, 
 August 20, 1799, and agreed to receive these brethren when 
 they present proper testimonials. At Faggs Manor, April 
 7, 1 80 1, Rev. Geo. Luckey presented his testimonials and 
 took his seat. Mr. Luckey was moderator of meetings of 
 Presbytery held in Chestnut Level, August 14, 1804, and at 
 Faggs Manor, September 25, 1804. 
 
 On the tenth of August, 18 14, Rev. George Luckey pre- 
 sided at the ordination of Rev. Samuel Parke at Slate Ridge. 
 
 At a meeting of Presbytery held in Chestnut Level, Sep- 
 tember 30, 1818, Rev. George Luckey asked leave to resign 
 his pastoral charge at Bethel and Centre because of " exist- 
 ing grievances." It was resolved that the congregations 
 be cited to appear at the next meeting to show cause, if any, 
 why this should not be done. A committee was at the same 
 time appointed to visit Bethel and see if the grievances could 
 not be allayed. If not the commissioners were to appear. 
 This would indicate that there was no trouble between Cen- 
 tre and Mr. Luckey. 
 
 The above committee reported at Wilmington, April 6, 
 18 19, that it could not reconcile the difficulties and the pas- 
 toral relation was dissolved, a commission from the churches 
 concurring in Mr. Luckey's request, and they were declared 
 vacant. 
 
 It is not meet that we should close this epoch of Centre's 
 history without a more extended notice of this grand man, 
 a pastor here for thirty-four years. 
 
 Rev. George Luckey was the son of Hugh Luckey and 
 Jane Findlay, and was born at Faggs Manor, Chester 
 County, Pa., in June, 1751. He had three brothers and one 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 1 5 
 
 sister. The latter married Rev. James Dunlap, D.D., Pres- 
 ident of Cannonsburg College. 
 
 Rev. George Luckey grew up under the ministry of Rev. 
 John Blair and Rev. Robert Smith. He probably attended 
 school under both of these and also under Ross, the author 
 of a Latin grammar. He taught school in Virginia, board- 
 ing with James Madison's father. A tradition states that 
 James Madison, afterward President of the United States, 
 was prepared for college by George Luckey. They were in 
 college together, Madison graduating in 1771 and Luckey in 
 1772. George Luckey was a classmate of Rev. John Mc- 
 Millan, D.D., the father of Presbyterianism in western Penn- 
 sylvania and the founder of Jefferson College. He was also 
 a classmate of Aaron Burr, afterward Vice-President of the 
 United States. 
 
 " In 1 77 1 the merchants of New York sent a letter to mer- 
 chants in Philadelphia asking their concurrence in the re- 
 breaking of a resolution not to import. Their letter was 
 burned by the students of this place in the college yard, all 
 of them appearing in black gowns and the bell tolling. 
 There are about one hundred and fifteen in the college and 
 in the Grammar School all of them in American cloth." 
 This is a quotation from a letter written by James Madison 
 to Thomas Martin on the opinion in the college as to the 
 oppression of the Colonies by Great Britain. George Luckey 
 was in Princeton College at this time and doubtless was one 
 of the party who thus manifested its dislike for the course 
 pursued by the Mother Country. 
 
 George Luckey was licensed by the Presbytery of New 
 Castle in 1776 and ordained by the same Presbytery in 1785. 
 He married Elizabeth Buchanan of Chestnut Level, Pa., 
 who was born and brought up on a farm afterward owned 
 by Mr. Thomas N. McSparran, until late of this congrega- 
 tion. As Mr. Luckey was ordained in the Chestnut Level 
 
1 6 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Church it may be that he was entertained at the Buchanan 
 homestead, and thus made the acquaintance of her who was 
 to be his help-meet in the Master's work. Four sons blessed 
 this union, William N., M.D., John, James and Josiah, 
 M.D., all removing to Ohio except James, who remained 
 at the old home at Blue Rocks, Md. 
 
 Mr. Luckey continued to preach at Bethel, occasionally, 
 until his death, which occurred December 23, 1823. He 
 died at his home, and where his grandson, Joshua G. Luckey, 
 Esq., until his death resided, and was buried in the cemetery 
 at Bethel under the spot where stood the pulpit of the first 
 church building — how appropriate? A marble tomb marks 
 his resting place upon which is the following inscription : 
 
 In memory of Revd. George Luckey, late pastor of Bethel 
 and Centre. Born in June 1751. Graduated at Princeton Oct. 
 1772. Ordained and installed 1784. Departed this life Dec. 
 6th 1823. This is a standing monument of the respect due by 
 the above churches to their pastor. [The date of ordination 
 and of death are both wrong in this inscription and correct as 
 given in the body of this history.] 
 
 " Princeton College in the Eighteenth Century " says : 
 " Mr. Luckey was a fine classical scholar, an intelligent 
 preacher, in his manners plain, in labors unwearied. Very 
 few had an equal acquaintance with the Scriptures." 
 
 The writer has in his possession a manuscript sermon by 
 the Rev. George Luckey consisting of thirty-four closely 
 written pages. The text is 1 John 3 :g and the theme 
 "God's People a Sinless People." The MS. is yellow 
 with age, a full century of years, and the outside pages 
 were only deciphered with the aid of a strong magnifying 
 glass. This sermon, a whole body of divinity, was put into 
 type-written form and read to the Centre congregation 
 June 20, 1889. It required about one hour and a quarter 
 for delivery. 
 
REV. SAMUEL PARK. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 1 7 
 
 Samuel Martin, D.D., a former pastor of Chanceford, and 
 an intimate friend of Mr. Luckey's, said of him : " He ex- 
 celled in pastoral labors from house to house and had the 
 talent possessed by few of introducing religious duties when 
 thrown into the society of those who were ignorant of and 
 had an aversion to them, and that he was a decided Cal- 
 vinist." 
 
 When Brown's large Folio Family Bible, with notes, was 
 published, costing in sheets ten dollars a copy, Mr. Luckey 
 subscribed for forty copies, for his people, as is shown by the 
 printed list of subscribers in the back of his own copy now 
 owned by the family of his grandson, J. G. Luckey, Esq. 
 
 What a revelation here as to the character of the people 
 to whom he preached and to his character as a pastor. A 
 fine preacher. A faithful Presbyter. A grand, good man. 
 
 The Second Building. 
 During the pastorate of Mr. Luckey the second church 
 building was erected. It was like the first, a log structure, 
 and stood about where Mr. J. Scott Kisiners burial lot is 
 located in the cemetery. It stood with the end toward the 
 road. It had a door in the end next the road and a double 
 door in the side next the spring. The pulpit was in the 
 center of the side next the cemetery. (This information as 
 to this building was furnished by Mrs. Mary Slade, April 
 21, 1887, when she was nearly ninety years old.) There 
 were no pews in this church. The seats were benches about 
 thirteen feet long, with low narrow backs. One of them is 
 still in existence and can be seen on the porch of the residence 
 of James W. Brown. 
 
 The Second Pastor. 
 After the resignation of Mr. Luckey Centre was vacant 
 for one year. It then extended a call to Rev. Samuel Parke, 
 
1 8 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 pastor of the Slate Ridge Church, for one third of his time. 
 This call was presented to Mr. Parke at Pencader Church, 
 April 4, 1820, and accepted. There were at this time forty 
 seven contributing members and the salary was about one 
 hundred and fifty dollars per annum. On a slip of paper 
 the writer has found the following : 
 
 For Fawn $49.00 
 Dublicate for 1843, For Hopewell 32.75 Total $114.50 
 For Maryland 32.75 
 
 Mr. Parke was installed as pastor at Centre on Tuesday, 
 May 2, 1820. Presbytery directed Rev. Samuel Martin or 
 Rev. Robert White to preside, Rev. William Finny or 
 Rev. Robert Graham to preach and Rev. James McGraw or 
 Rev. J. N. C. Grier to deliver the charge. It is likely these 
 services were performed by the principals as they were all 
 located near to Mr. Parke. 
 
 The Presbytery of New Castle met in Centre Church, 
 April 7, 1829, and was opened with a sermon by Rev. 
 Ebenezer Dickey, D.D. James Wiley' represented this 
 church and the Presbytery was in session during Tuesday 
 and Wednesday. At this meeting a paper with reference to 
 intemperance, Sabbath-breaking and the taking of religious 
 papers was presented and acted upon. It would seem as 
 though Presbytery was in better shape than previously to 
 act on the subject of intemperance as we find the following 
 record in the minutes of the meeting held the year before, 
 April 1, 1828, at the Lower Brandy wine Church : " Presby- 
 tery entertained without the use of ardent spirits for the 
 first time. Tea substituted." During this meeting at Cen- 
 tre Mr. John F. Corran was licensed to preach the gospel. 
 
 We have already stated that Mr. Parke's salary was about 
 one hundred and fifty dollars per annum. His receipts to 
 the Treasurer indicate that he never received that sum and it 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 1 9 
 
 is possible so much was not promised. That the congrega- 
 tion was not always prompt in paying what it had promised 
 is evident from the following : 
 
 January 9, 1835. 
 We the undersigned being a committee appointed by the con- 
 gregation to settle with Mr. Parke and W. Gemmill, Treasurer, 
 met ; when Mr. Parke and the Treasurer in our presents settled 
 all the congregational accounts as far as regards stipend up to 
 January I, 1834, and there is a balance due Mr. Park of arrear- 
 ages of fifty-seven dollars. 
 
 James Duncan. 
 
 Joseph Bosley. 
 James Wiley, Jr. 
 William Anderson. 
 
 The first record we have of a Sabbath School in connection 
 with Centre Church is in 1840. There were then ninety six 
 scholars in the school, forty seven males and forty nine 
 females. Who were the officers is not known, but some of 
 the teachers were Benjamin Payne, Joseph Anderson, 
 Jemina Bosley and Eleanor Duncan. 
 
 In 1842 the Presbytery of New Castle was divided and 
 out of it the Presbytery of Donegal was organized. Centre 
 Church with its pastor was set over to Donegal. This Pres- 
 bytery met in Columbia in April, 1843, an d it appearing that 
 there was an unpleasant state of affairs existing in Centre 
 Church it was ordered that an adjourned meeting of Presby- 
 tery be held there June 13 to investigate the matter. Ac- 
 cordingly Presbytery met that day at 11 A. M. and was 
 opened with a sermon by Rev. Mr. Elcock. There were 
 present at this meeting: Ministers, Stephen Boyer, Samuel 
 Parke, Lindly C. Rutter, T. Marshall Boggs and Robert 
 Dunlap; Elders, S. G. Irwin, Chanceford; Joseph Bosley, 
 Centre; John Long, Chestnut Level; Andrew Anderson, 
 Hopewell; Edwin M. Donaldson, York; Hugh Andrews, 
 
20 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Union; and David R. Ebaugh, Mechanicsburg (Stewarts- 
 town). 
 
 Mr. J. M. Boggs was examined and licensed to preach the 
 gospel. Inquiry with regard to the trouble in the church 
 was made. An individual examination of members and 
 pew holders, occupying several hours, was made in the 
 " Study House," and the difficulty proving of such magni- 
 tude as to render an adjustment at this time impossible the 
 whole matter was referred to a committee consisting of 
 Robert Dunlap, T. Marshall Boggs and John McNair, Min- 
 isters, and Dr. McCorkle and E. M. Donaldson, Elders. 
 This committee reported to the Presbytery at Chanceford, 
 October 3, 1843, tnat ft na ^ taken the testimony of fifty five 
 members and pew-holders, four fifths of whom desired to 
 retain the services of Mr. Parke. The majority of these 
 were members of the church and heads of families. This 
 committee recommended the adoption of a resolution " earn- 
 estly and affectionately advising Rev. Samuel Parke to re- 
 sign the pastoral charge of Centre Church," this being the 
 best solution of the difficulty. The resolution was lost and 
 Centre was directed to send up its Sessional Records. It 
 was impossible to do this for previous to this time no records 
 had been kept. 
 
 A Churchtown, Md., April 16, 1844, papers were pre- 
 sented by Vincent Norris, Robert Gemmill, Joseph Jordan 
 and Henry Hammond with reference to difficulties in Centre 
 Church. These papers were referred to a committee of five 
 consisting of William Finny, Alfred Nevin and John Wal- 
 lace, Ministers; and Dr. Cochran and John Buchanan, 
 Elders. This committee reported on the seventeenth that 
 there was great difficulty in the church, but as there were 
 one hundred and sixty or seventy persons in favor of Mr. 
 Parke and eleven egainst him the " relation should by no 
 means be dissolved." 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 21 
 
 At Bellevue, September 18, 1844, a paper with reference 
 to this trouble was read and ruled out of Presbytery. A 
 committee consisting of John McNair and John Wallace, 
 Ministers, and Elders Whitehill, Robinson and Clark was 
 appointed to meet at Centre, October 29, and look into the 
 difficulty. There is no record of any report from this com- 
 mittee, but at a meeting of Presbytery in Lancaster, Septem- 
 ber 16, 1845, tne whole case was dismissed. 
 
 At a meeting of Presbytery held in Waynesburg, October 
 3, 1848, a communication from thirty one members of Cen- 
 tre Church and another from five of its Session were re- 
 ceived praying the Presbytery to examine into the affairs 
 of said church. On the fourth of October a committee con- 
 sisting of five ministers, William Finny, T. Marshall Boggs, 
 L. C. Rutter, Roger Owen and Solomon McNair and three 
 elders, Mr. Collins, James Penny and James MaHaffy, was 
 appointed to investigate the matter and report at the next 
 meeting. This committee reported at Leacock, April 18, 
 1849, that three of its number had visited Centre Church on 
 the twenty-first day of November, 1848. They met the 
 Pastor, Session and many of the members, and after a pro- 
 tracted conference recommend that Mr. Parke should re- 
 sign his pastoral charge at the next meeting of the Presby- 
 tery; that the members of Session should cease to exercise 
 their office and that the Session and Mr. Parke, if they 
 think proper, be candidates for reelection at a time to be 
 agreed upon hereafter. Signed by Samuel Parke, J. Payne, 
 J. Wiley, J. R. Anderson, William Anderson, J. J. Wiley. 
 
 Mr. Parke anticipated the presentation of this report by 
 calling a meeting of Presbytery at Columbia, Tuesday, De- 
 cember 12, 1848, for the purpose of dissolving the pastoral 
 relation between himself and Centre Church. Mr. William 
 Amos was the commissioner to represent the church. The 
 resignation was accepted and Mr. Parke was directed to 
 
2 2 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 preach at Centre, Sabbath, December 17, and declare the 
 pulpit vacant. 
 
 It is not likely that the members of Session ceased to exer- 
 cise their office, for in the minutes of a meeting held in the 
 following January all their names reappear. At this point 
 begin the records of the Session of Centre Church. 
 
 This was a trying time in the history of Centre. More 
 than a score of members dissatisfied with the course which 
 led to the dissolution of the pastoral relation left the church 
 and in 1852 erected a frame church at the forks of the road 
 where the village of New Park now stands. In this building 
 Mr. Parke for some years held services, but, Presbytery re- 
 fusing to grant an organization, after his decease it ceased to 
 be used, except very occasionally, for church purposes, and 
 finally was sold at public auction, by the trustees in 1882. It 
 has since been moved across the public highway and con- 
 verted into a dwelling. It is now owned by Mr. John H. 
 Anderson. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Parke was born near Parkesburg, Chester 
 County, Pa., November 25, 1788. He was the son of Joseph 
 Parke and Agnes Maxwell. He was graduated at Dickin- 
 son College, September, 1809. In college he was a class- 
 mate of James Buchanan, afterward President of the United 
 States. He studied theology under Rev. Nathan Grier,D.D., 
 and while there not only secured instruction in theology, 
 but also his wife, for he afterward married Martha Grier, 
 daughter of his preceptor. He was licensed by the Pres- 
 bytery of New Castle, April 7, 18 13, at St. Georges, Dela- 
 ware, after submitting the following trial parts : " An 
 Exegesis " at Upper Octoraro, April 3, 181 1 ; " A Homily " 
 on Matt. 1:21, at Slate Ridge, September 26, 181 1; "A 
 Public Exercise " at Head of Christiana, April 9, 18 12 ; " A 
 Lecture " on Matt. 13: 1-9, in the Second Church of Wil- 
 mington, October 1, 1812, and " A Sermon " at St. Georges, 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 23 
 
 Del., April 6, 1813, from John 5 : 40. He was ordained and 
 installed at Slate Ridge, August 10, 18 14. He was in- 
 stalled at Centre, May 2, 1820. He resigned his charge 
 at Centre, December 12, 1848, having been pastor here for 
 twenty eight years and seven months. After his resignation 
 he preached occasionally to his old charge. He died, De- 
 cember 20, 1869, in his eighty second year, and was buried 
 in the Cemetery at Slate Ridge. 
 
 Mr. Parke was an earnest Christian, a man of very deter- 
 mined character. No weather hindered him in his minis- 
 terial work. There are those yet living who remember his 
 faithfulness to his engagements with Centre congregation, 
 and especially in visiting and comforting the sick. His re- 
 ligious convictions began when a child, on a communion 
 occasion, when his father and mother left him in the pew 
 while they went to the table. He was so affected as to be 
 scarcely able to leave the pew. His last words were, " I 
 have tried to serve God." Robert Parke, Esq., a son, was 
 an elder in the church at Slate Ridge, which his father 
 served for forty three years. Rev. Nathaniel Grier Parke, 
 D.D., for fifty years pastor of the Presbyterian Church, of 
 Pittston, Pa., and recently deceased, was another son. 
 
 The Third Building. 
 The opening of Mr. Parke's ministry was signalized by 
 the erection of the substantial stone building in which this 
 congregation continued to worship until May, 1887. This 
 building, 42x46 feet, and with a 12-foot ceiling, stood a 
 little to the south of the site of the second. It was erected 
 in 1822 and for sixty five years was a monument of the 
 energy of the pastor and of the liberality and progressive 
 spirit of the congregation of that day. What trials and 
 what privations were associated with the erection of this 
 building we shall never know. Squire Vincent Norris was 
 the contractor for the building and he took the contract so 
 
24 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 low that he could not complete the building without loss to 
 himself. The congregation paid him an additional sum to 
 compensate him for his loss. During the course of con- 
 struction a stone fell on one of Mr. Norris' legs and broke 
 it. His initials, V. N., were cut in this stone and it placed 
 in the wall. When the old church was removed in 1887 this 
 stone was carefully preserved and placed in the foundation 
 of the new church building, where it may now be seen in the 
 east angle of the Porte-Cochere vestibule. The ceiling 
 girders of this building were hauled from Wrightsville with 
 eight-horse teams, and they were so long that at angles in 
 the road fences had to be removed in order that the turns 
 could be made. Mr. Henry Marsteller, who died March 1, 
 1 89 1, was the last of our members who witnessed the erec- 
 tion of this building. 
 
 The Third Pastor. 
 
 After the resignation of Mr. Parke Centre Church was 
 vacant a year and four months. The representative from 
 the Session to the meeting of Presbytery in the autumn of 
 1849 was instructed to ask for supplies for one third of the 
 time until the next stated meeting. 
 
 At a meeting of Presbytery held in Middle Octoraro, April 
 17, 1850, a call was presented by Centre Church for the 
 pastoral services of Rev. Samuel Hume Smith for a part of 
 his time, he being already the pastor of Hopewell Church. 
 It was resolved that, inasmuch as the affairs of Centre 
 Church are liable to be brought before the next General 
 Assembly by an appeal from the Synod of Philadelphia, the 
 call of said church now before Presbytery be therefore laid 
 on the table. This appeal came about in this wise. At a 
 meeting of Presbytery held in New Leacock, April, 1849, 
 a communication from certain members of Centre Church 
 was presented, being a complaint against the Session of said 
 
REV. SAMUEL HUME SMITH. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 25 
 
 church and Rev. L. C. Rutter, who had moderated a meet- 
 ing in Centre, January 25, 1849. The Presbytery did not 
 sustain the complaint. This decision of the Presbytery was 
 appealed from to the Synod of Philadelphia by Zenas 
 Hughes and Robert Bartol. Synod sustained the Presby- 
 tery and these men appealed to the General Assembly. 
 
 Pending the decision of the appeal by the General Assem- 
 bly Mr. Smith was appointed Stated Supply of Centre for 
 six months. At a meeting of Presbytery held at Bellevue, 
 April 16, 185 1, the call was taken from the table and placed 
 in Mr. Smith's hands. At a meeting held in Slateville, May 
 23, 1 85 1, Mr. Smith accepted the call and his installation 
 was ordered for June 21 at 10 A. M. This service took 
 place as directed and in it Rev. John Farquhar presided and 
 asked the constitutional questions and delivered the charge 
 to the pastor and Rev. Thomas M. Crawford delivered the 
 charge to the people. 
 
 Mr. Smith continued the pastor of this church and minis- 
 tered to it with great acceptance for five years and eight 
 months, or until his death, which occurred February 4, 1857. 
 At a meeting of Presbytery held in Columbia, Pa., April 15, 
 1857, Revs. T. M. Crawford and J. J. Lane and Mr. Alfred 
 Armstrong, a committee appointed for the purpose, reported 
 the following resolutions which were adopted : 
 
 1. That it is with heartfelt sorrow that we have heard 
 of and are called upon to record the death of our beloved 
 brother, Rev. Samuel Hume Smith. 
 
 2. That in the opinion of this Presbytery it has lost a 
 member wise in counsel, discreet in conduct, conciliatory in 
 spirit, and ingenuous in disposition ; and the church a faith- 
 ful, zealous, conscientious and laborious minister. 
 
 3. That we deeply and tenderly sympathize with his be- 
 reaved flock and by faith and prayer commend his fatherless 
 and motherless children to the care of the covenant keeping 
 
26 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 God who has said, " Leave your fatherless and motherless 
 children to me, I will preserve them alive." 
 
 4. That the Presbyterian, Presbyterian Banner and Advo- 
 cate be requested to publish the above resolutions and that a 
 copy of the same be presented to the family of the deceased. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Hume Smith was born in Chanceford, York 
 County, Pa., in the year 18 17. He went to school to Rev. 
 Samuel Martin, D.D. He was graduated from Jefferson 
 College in 1842 and from the Western Theological Seminary 
 in 1845. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Pres- 
 bytery of Donegal at Bellevue, September 18, 1844, after he 
 had preached from Rev. 5:1. He was ordained June 17, 
 1845, in the Hopewell Church. He was installed at Centre, 
 June 21, 185 1, and died February 4, 1857. His remains 
 were interred in the Chanceford Cemetery, where a neat 
 monument, bearing the following inscription, was erected 
 to his memory : 
 
 5. Hume Smith, V.D.M. Died Feb. 4th 1857 in the 40th 
 year of his age. " By the grace of God I am what I am." 
 
 Though dead for over forty years his influence is yet 
 powerful for good and the savor of his life is sweet in many 
 homes. The affectionate regard in which he was held by 
 his people is manifested by the fact that in almost every 
 house in the congregation his picture is found hanging on 
 the wall. 
 
 What a trio of ministers this church had in George 
 Luckey, Samuel Parke and Samuel Hume Smith, and their 
 bodies lie one at Bethel, one at Slate Ridge and one at 
 Chanceford, all within ten miles of this place. Each had 
 but one pastorate and in that spent his whole life. This 
 congregation has done well in that it has remembered them 
 all in a memorial window in the new church edifice. May 
 this brief history help to keep their memory green ! 
 
history of centre presbyterian church. 27 
 
 Supplies. 
 
 In the summer following the death of Rev. Samuel Hume 
 Smith an eccentric minister by the name of Rev. James A. 
 Devine came into this congregation and for a time seems 
 to have exercised quite an influence over it. He figures as 
 the Moderator of a meeting of Session, July 26, 1857, at 
 which it was agreed to call a meeting of the congregation on 
 the ninth of August for the purpose of electing four elders. 
 This meeting was held, but before the election was entered 
 upon it was resolved by the Session that the ordination of 
 those who might be elected should be indefinitely postponed. 
 The election resulted in the choice of John Norris, Benjamin 
 Gemmill, Thomas Wiley and Sampson Smith Duncan. A 
 clause in the record, which was written by Mr. Devine, is as 
 follows : " Mr. Duncan alone accepted the election frankly 
 and in the expression of very appropriate sentiments as to 
 his duty in the case. His name is therefore recorded as 
 Elder-elect in this church." Mr. Duncan was never or- 
 dained. 
 
 At a congregational meeting held sometime in the summer 
 of 1857 a call was made out for Rev. James A. Devine, but 
 some reports reflecting on his character as a Christian min- 
 ister having reached the congregation a meeting was called 
 on the third of October, 1857, to take further action. In 
 the minutes of this meeting we find the following record : 
 " Upon the voice of the congregation being taken it was de- 
 termined not to ask Presbytery to sanction the call given 
 to Rev. James A. Devine, and the congregation asks Pres- 
 bytery to supply the pulpit until the spring meeting of the 
 same." At this meeting of the congregation Samuel P. 
 Wiley was elected Treasurer of the church. 
 
 Mr. Devine, after a varied experience in states east and 
 west, north and south, was honorably retired and died in 
 
28 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Pittsburg, Pa., April 12, 1891, aged eighty two. Just at 
 the time of his coming among you Mr. Calvin W. Stewart, 
 a licentiate, now the Rev. Calvin W. Stewart, D.D., Finan- 
 cial Agent of Whitworth College, Tacoma, Washington, 
 had made arrangements to preach for the Centre people, and 
 a number hoped to make him their pastor. As it was he 
 was hindered from preaching at Centre and was soon called 
 elsewhere. 
 
 The following supplies were appointed by the Presbytery 
 and preached for Centre 1857 and 1858: Rev. Watson 
 Russel, October 18; Rev. Joseph D. Smith, November 11; 
 Rev. T. M. Crawford, November 15; Rev. Mr. McDonald, 
 December 13; Rev. John Farquhar, December 27; Rev. 
 Watson Russel, January 10; Rev. Samuel Parke, January 
 24; Rev. Walter Powell, February 14; Rev. T. M. Craw- 
 ford, February 28; Rev. John Farquhar, March 14; Rev. 
 Samuel Parke, March 28 ; Rev. C. W. Stewart, April 4. 
 
 These supplies received a compensation of six dollars per 
 Sabbath. 
 
 The Fourth Pastor. 
 
 There is no record of supplies for the summer of 1858, 
 but as a call was presented at a meeting of Presbytery at 
 Chanceford, October 5, 1858, for the pastoral services of 
 Mr. J. Y. Cowhick, for one half his time, it is likely he had 
 been occupying the pulpit. 
 
 At Bellevue, April 12, 1859, the above call was withdrawn 
 and one, which had been made out March 26, for one fourth 
 of Mr. Cowhick's time, was presented in its stead. This call 
 proposed that Mr. Cowhick should preach at Centre every 
 alternate Sabbath in the morning and he was to receive from 
 Centre $220 per annum. He was to preach at Stewartstown 
 in the afternoons of the same days and was to receive from 
 them $130 per annum. The other one half of his time was 
 
REV. JOHN YOUNG COWHICK, D. D. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 29 
 
 to be given to the Hopewell Church. Because of some in- 
 formality in this call it was referred back to the congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 At a congregational meeting held April 25, 1859, a new 
 call for one fourth of Mr. Cowhick's time was made out, the 
 salary named being $220 per annum. It was presented to 
 Presbytery at Hopewell, May 6, 1859, by Mr. Joseph R. 
 Anderson, placed in Mr. Cowhick's hands and accepted by 
 him. A committee was appointed to install him at Centre, 
 June 10 at 1 1 A. M. At that time a very large congregation 
 met the committee of Presbytery and Mr. Cowhick was in- 
 stalled. Rev. John Farquhar presided, asked the constitu- 
 tional quetsions and delivered the charge to the people. 
 The charge to the pastor was delivered by the Rev. Philip 
 J. Timlow. 
 
 On the fourteenth of May a congregational meeting had 
 been held and Samuel P. Wiley, Richard McDonald, John 
 Johnson and James C. Jordan elected Elders. For some 
 reason, not now known, another election was held on the day 
 Mr. Cowhich was installed and the same persons were 
 chosen. On the following day, June 11, 1859, these per- 
 sons were ordained as Ruling Elders in Centre Church 
 " with prayer and laying on of the hands of the Session." 
 
 Mr. Samuel P. Wiley was already the Treasurer of the 
 Church. On the same day that he was elected Elder he was 
 chosen as the Superintendent of the Sabbath School and now 
 he was made Clerk of the Session. His life, as a church 
 officer, was very short, for he died on the fourteenth of 
 October, 1859. On the twenty-seventh of November the 
 following action was taken by the Session : 
 
 Whereas, This Session has experienced a sore bereavement 
 in the death of one of its beloved members, Samuel P. Wiley, 
 therefore, 
 
30 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Resolved, That while we bow with humble submission to 
 the will of our Heavenly Father we would leave on record our 
 deep sense of sorrow for the loss we have sustained as a Session 
 and as brethren laboring in the same great cause of our Lord 
 and Master Jesus Christ. 
 
 Resolved, That we bear testimony to the kind and gentle 
 deportment of our departed brother as a man, to his earnest- 
 ness, fidelity and success as Superintendent of the Sabbath 
 School, and to the humble faith and zeal manifested in his life 
 as a servant of the living God. 
 
 Resolved, That his wife and children have our sympathy and 
 our prayers that his God may be their God. 
 
 Resolved, That the Clerk be directed to make a record of the 
 above on the minutes of Session. 
 
 John Johnson, J. Y. Cowhick, 
 
 Clerk. Moderator. 
 
 On the seventeenth of October, 1859, J onn Johnson was 
 elected Treasurer and on the tenth of December the Session 
 was made Financial Committee for the congregation. On 
 the twenty-fifth of October, i860, Joseph Strawbridge, 
 Thomas Wiley and Aquila McDonald were elected Deacons. 
 Of this number Aquila McDonald still survives, although 
 for more than a score of years the office has not been exer- 
 cised as there have been no poor needing aid. 
 
 In the summer of 1861 some repairs were made to the 
 church building. A new slate roof was put on, the pews 
 were stained and varnished and the pulpit painted. 
 
 The Presbytery of Donegal met in Centre Church, Oc- 
 tober 6, 1863, and was opened with a sermon by Rev. Robert 
 Alexander from Ezek. 33 : 32. (It is an interesting fact to 
 the writer of this history that he owes his first pronounced 
 religious impressions to a sermon preached by this minister 
 about this time.) 
 
 There were present at this meeting of Presbytery: 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 3 1 
 
 Ministers. Elders. 
 
 Rev. L. C. Rutter W. W. Watson, Chestnut Level. 
 
 John Farquhar. . . . John Smith, Chanceford. 
 
 T. M. Crawford. .James Galbreath, Slateville. 
 
 J. J. Lane. . S. M. Smith, Wrightsville and Done- 
 gal. 
 
 C. W. Stewart. . . . J. L. McCommon, Union. 
 
 J. Y. Cowhick .... A. C. Manifold, Hopewell, Centre and 
 Stewartstown. 
 
 J. C. Thorn J. W. Martin, Waynesburg. 
 
 Robert Alexander. James Black, Little Britain. 
 
 Joseph D. Smith. .James Anderson, Slate Ridge. 
 
 J. L. Merrill John A. Murphy, New Harmony. 
 
 R. A. Brown Herman Snyder, Pine Grove. 
 
 In the year 1866 Mr. Cowhick's salary was increased to 
 $250 per annum. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth of October, 1868, John A. C. Gailey, 
 John Marsteller, Robert K. Robinson, M.D., and John P. 
 Cathcart were elected Ruling Elders in Centre Church and 
 were ordained on Sabbath afternoon, October 31. 
 
 During Mr. Cowhick's ministry, in the year 1869, the re- 
 union of the Old and the New school branches of the church 
 took place and the name and bounds of the Presbytery were 
 changed. The name was changed from Donegal to West- 
 minster and the Presbytery made to include York, Lancaster 
 and Lebanon Counties. 
 
 As a memorial of this significant event in the history 
 of the Presbyterian Church, the Centre congregation spent 
 the sum of $725.00 in improving its church edifice. A 
 cornice was added to the roof, new flues erected, inside 
 blinds added, walls inside painted, pulpit and pews grained, 
 a new chandelier put in and new carpets laid. 
 
 On the twenty-first of July, 1872, a congregational meet- 
 ing was held at which a call was made out for the whole of 
 
32 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Mr. Cowhick's time and James C. Jordan, John A. C. Gailey 
 and John Marsteller were appointed to carry the matter to 
 Presbytery. Before the Presbytery convened another meet- 
 ing of the congregation was held and a call made out for one 
 half of Mr. Cowhick's time at a salary of $380 per annum. 
 This meeting was held on the fifteenth of September and 
 Mr. Joseph R. Anderson was appointed to prosecute the call 
 before Presbytery. This call being sanctioned by the Pres- 
 bytery Mr. Cowhick resigned his charge at Hopewell and 
 devoted his whole time to Centre and Stewartstown. 
 
 On the twelfth of January, 1873, the " Centre Sunday 
 School Temperance Society " was organized. This society 
 had its origin on the fifth of January, 1872, when Mr. John 
 Marsteller, Superintendent of the Sunday-school, appeared 
 in the Sunday-school with the following pledge : " We the 
 undersigned do agree that we will not use intoxicating 
 liquors as a beverage and that in all suitable ways and means 
 we will discountenance their use by others." This society 
 grew until it numbered ninety names on its roll and the very 
 last signer to this pledge is one who is now a minister of the 
 gospel, the Rev. Frank T. Wheeler, pastor of the Presby- 
 terian Church at Newville, Pa. This society continued in a 
 flourishing condition until the close of Mr. Cowhick's pas- 
 torate, when it ceased to exist. The influence of this pledge 
 is still felt in this community, as there are those who have 
 never tasted intoxicants because of it. 
 
 Mr. Cowhick resigned his charge at Centre at a meeting 
 of Presbytery held at Columbia, June 14, 1875. His resig- 
 nation was accepted and he was directed to preach on the 
 twenty-seventh of June and declare the pulpit vacant, which 
 he did. On the twenty-eighth of September Mr. Cowhick 
 was dismissed to the Presbytery of Colorado. When Mr. 
 Cowhick left this church it offered him a larger salary than 
 both Centre and Stewartstown were then paying him, but 
 
REV. JOHNSTON McGAUGHEY. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 33 
 
 he had committed himself to the Secretaries of the Home 
 Board to go to Cheyenne, Wyoming. 
 
 Rev. John Young Cowhick was born in Pennsylvania, 
 October 17, 1824. He was graduated at Allegheny College 
 in 185 1 and from Princeton Seminary in 1858. He was 
 licensed by the Presbytery of Columbus in May, 1858, and 
 ordained by the Presbytery of Donegal at Hopewell, May 
 6, 1859, and installed at Centre, June 10, 1859. The rela- 
 tion was dissolved June 14, 1875, and Mr. Cowhick was 
 pastor here for sixteen years. 
 
 When Mr. Cowhick came to Centre there were forty seven 
 names on the roll. When he left there were one hundred 
 and fifteen. During his ministry there were added on ex- 
 amination seventy seven and on certificate twenty two. 
 There were raised for congregational purposes $5,818.00 
 and for benevolence $2,099.00, total $7,917.00. While Mr. 
 Cowhick was pastor four Elders were removed by death, 
 Samuel P. Wiley, James Wiley, William Anderson and 
 Joseph R. Anderson. 
 
 Mr. Cowhick was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in 
 Cheyenne until 1882, when he resigned because of ill health. 
 He received the degree of D.D. in 1881. He died June 18, 
 1 89 1, and was buried in the cemetery at Cheyenne, Wyom- 
 ing. 
 
 The Fifth Pastor. 
 
 The next pastor of Centre Church was the Rev. Johnston 
 McGaughey. At a congregational meeting held July 11, 
 1875, ^ was unanimously agreed to invite Mr. McGaughey 
 to supply the pulpit until the meeting of Presbytery in Oc- 
 tober. His services proving acceptable to the congrega- 
 tion a call for one half his time at a salary of $380 per 
 annum was made out and presented to Presbytery at Centre, 
 November 5, 1875. Mr. McGaughey accepted this call and 
 was installed the same day, the following persons taking 
 
34 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 part in the services: Rev. Thomas M. Crawford presided 
 and asked the constitutional questions. Rev. Robert Gamble 
 preached the sermon from Rev. 2:10. Rev. Thomas M. 
 Crawford delivered the charge to the pastor and the Rev. 
 Joseph D. Smith the charge to the people. 
 
 During the pastorate of Mr. McGaughey a " Ladies' 
 Foreign Missionary Society " was organized and held its 
 first meeting on the first Saturday of October of that year. 
 This society continued its meetings with more or less inter- 
 est until the summer of 1881 when it ceased to be. 
 
 During the autumn of 1878, conditions arising which de- 
 manded a temporary relinquishment of his work, at the re- 
 quest of the pastor the Rev. W. H. Fentress, of the Presby- 
 tery of Baltimore, supplied the pulpit of Centre Church for 
 three months. 
 
 At a special meeting of Presbytery held in the Chanceford 
 Church, February 17, 1879, Mr. McGaughey offered his 
 resignation as pastor of Centre and Stewartstown and it was 
 accepted. The Rev. Robert Gamble was directed to preach 
 at Centre, Sabbath, March 2, and declare the pulpit vacant. 
 
 Mr. McGaughey was born in Armstrong County, Pa., 
 January 20, 1836. He was graduated from Princeton Col- 
 lege in 1 87 1 and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 
 1875. He was licensed by the Presbytery of New Bruns- 
 wick, April 14, 1875, and ordained by the Presbytery of 
 Westminster, November 4, 1875, in the Stewartstown 
 Church. He was installed at Centre, November 5, 1875, 
 and was released February 17, 1879. He was pastor at 
 Centre three years and four months. 
 
 Mr. McGaughey was a tireless worker and during his 
 short pastorate a large number was added to the roll of the 
 church largely the result of the remarkable revival of 1875 
 and 1876, when the congregation was thoroughly aroused 
 and many brought to Christ. During this pastorate there 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 35 
 
 were contributed for benevolent purposes $474 and for con- 
 gregational $2,349.00, making a total of $2,823.00. Since 
 his resignation here Mr. McGaughey has been engaged in 
 ministerial work in Wyoming, New Mexico and Iowa. At 
 this time he is the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in 
 Russel, Iowa. 
 
 Separation From Stewartstown. 
 
 As we have already seen a move was made during the 
 summer of 1872 looking to the standing alone of Centre 
 in the pastoral relation. Now that the pulpit was vacant 
 this question came to the front again. There were those 
 who felt that this time was a propitious one for this move- 
 ment. There were others who felt that Centre was not able 
 to stand alone. There were others still who thought it 
 would be injurious to the church with which she had been 
 associated in the pastoral relation even though Centre might 
 be able to stand alone. At a congregational meeting held 
 March 31, 1879, it was agreed that Centre and Stewarts- 
 town should remain as before, one pastoral charge, but on 
 condition that the next pastor should reside in the Centre 
 congregation and that the Centre people should have the 
 morning service. Mr. James C. Jordan and Mr. John 
 Wiley were appointed a committee to meet the Stewarts- 
 town congregation with reference to this matter, Wednes- 
 day, April 2, at three o'clock P. M. This meeting was held 
 and a satisfactory arrangement made. 
 
 At a meeting of the Stewartstown congregation held 
 April 6 the action of the meeting held April 2 was recon- 
 sidered and the Stewartstown Church decided to ask leave 
 of Presbytery to separate from Centre for six months and 
 test their ability to support a pastor. Mr. James C. Jordan 
 happened to be at that meeting. Presbytery was to meet 
 the next day and what was to be done? Centre would have 
 
36 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 no representative and no one was authorized to ask anything 
 for her. Mr. Jordan reported to the Prayer Meeting at 
 Centre that Sabbath evening what had been done and a con- 
 gregational meeting was called for the next morning, April 
 7, to consider what action should be taken. Couriers noti- 
 fied the congregation Monday morning and it soon assem- 
 bled at the church. It was evident that the time had now 
 come for a separation and a paper was adopted asking Pres- 
 bytery " to dissolve the relation between Stewartstown and 
 Centre and to allow Centre to supply its own pulpit until 
 it might call a pastor." Mr. James C. Jordan was appointed 
 to carry the matter to the Presbytery which met at Mount 
 Joy, Pa. He appeared there on Tuesday, April 8, and on 
 the following forenoon Presbytery granted the request and 
 dissolved the relation. 
 
 The Sixth Pastor. 
 
 In the meantime, about the middle of March, R. L. Clark, 
 a licentiate of Westminster Presbytery, in accordance with a 
 request of Rev. T. M. Crawford, D.D., Moderator of the 
 Centre Church Session, had agreed to preach at Centre and 
 Stewartstown, April 13 and 20. He preached for both the 
 churches on those dates. Afterward at Centre alone until 
 the first of June, when a test vote revealed the fact that he 
 was the choice of the congregation for pastor. On the six- 
 teenth of June a congregational meeting was held and a 
 formal call made out for the whole of his time at a salary 
 of $720 per annum payable semi-annually. This call also 
 granted him a vacation of four weeks in each year. It was 
 held under advisement until the sixth of July when it was 
 accepted. 
 
 At a meeting of the Presbytery of Westminster held in 
 Centre Church, September 16, 1879, R- L. Clark was 
 ordained to the gospel ministry and installed as pastor of 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 37 
 
 this church. In this service the Rev. Joseph D. Smith pre- 
 sided, offered the ordaining prayer and asked the constitu- 
 tional questions. Rev. C. W. Stewart, D.D., preached the 
 sermon from Ps. 87 : 1-2. Rev. John M. Galbreath de- 
 livered the charge to the pastor and Rev. Robert Gamble the 
 charge to the people. 
 
 At the same meeting at which it was determined to ask 
 a separation from Stewartstown it was decided to relieve the 
 Session of the care of the secular affairs of the church, and 
 accordingly a Board of Trustees was chosen consisting of 
 John H. Anderson, John B. Gemmill and John Wiley. 
 
 On the eleventh of December, 1879, the Session decided to 
 hold monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month, 
 these meetings being for devotion and the transaction of 
 business. The wisdom of this course has been abundantly 
 manifested. July 22, 1899, the day was changed to Friday. 
 
 During the winter of 1879-80 the question of a Manse 
 began to press itself upon the congregation. No suitable 
 house seemed to be available and when at last the pastor 
 had found a house in which he thought he could live, the one 
 now owned by Henry Turner Brown, he mentioned the 
 matter to one of his parishioners, Mr. Joseph Irwin. Mr. 
 Irwin said, " You shall never live in that house," and 
 immediately betook himself to the home of Mr. John H. 
 Anderson, where the matter was further considered. From 
 that conference grew the Manse. 
 
 A meeting of the congregation was held January 23, 1880, 
 at which it was decided to purchase two acres of land from 
 Strawbridge Bros, for $225, and Mr. John H. Anderson, 
 John B. Gemmill and John Wiley were appointed a build- 
 ing committee with power " to solicit subscriptions, purchase 
 land and build a parsonage." At the suggestion of Mr. 
 John B. Gemmill the subscription was at once opened and 
 the sum of $725 was subscribed at that meeting. Ground 
 
38 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 was broken for the building February 19, 1880, and on the 
 sixteenth of November following the pastor and his famliy 
 took possession of the completed Manse. 
 
 At a meeting of the congregation held December 9, 1880, 
 the building committee made its report and turned over the 
 building to the Board of Trustees. The entire cost of the 
 Manse property was $3,447.61 and on the sixth of April, 
 
 1 88 1, the last dollar of indebtedness was cancelled. 
 
 A large and enthusiastic Sabbath School Convention was 
 held in Centre Church, June 16 and 17, 1881. This con- 
 vention was conducted by Rev. James A. Worden, D.D., 
 Superintendent of Sabbath School Work in the Presbyterian 
 Church and prominent ministers of our own and Chester 
 Presbyteries took part in the exercises. 
 
 On the eighth of June, 1881, the Session decided to organ- 
 ize a choir and at once proceeded to do so. On the twenty- 
 sixth of March, 1882, the congregation agreed to purchase 
 an organ for use in the Sabbath School. This was done 
 and about the first of June it was placed in the church. 
 Miss S. Florence Wiley was chosen as organist April 4, 
 
 1882, and held the position until her death, October 22, 
 1890. It was but a short time after the organ was intro- 
 duced into the Sabbath School until it was used in the 
 church services as well. 
 
 In this year, 1882, April 16, the " weekly envelope system 
 of offerings " was adopted for " church support." The 
 Board of Trustees was enlarged from three to five members, 
 May 8, 1882. 
 
 On the ninth of October a congregational meeting was 
 held for the purpose of electing three additional elders. The 
 election resulted in the choice of Reed W. Anderson, John 
 F. Derail and John C. Wiley. These brethren were 
 solemnly ordained and inducted into their office on the fifth 
 of November, the services being conducted by the pastor. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 39 
 
 During this year the " Hall Home Mission Band " was 
 organized and still continues in active service in the great 
 cause it has espoused. 
 
 On the eighteenth of March, 1883, action of the congre- 
 gation was taken making the pastor's salary payable 
 monthly on the first Monday of the month. 
 
 May 21 a charter for Centre Church was secured and the 
 congregation became a corporate body. 
 
 On the thirteenth of June the envelope system of offerings 
 was introduced into the Sabbath School. 
 
 At a congregational meeting held May 5, 1884, tne by- 
 laws of the church were adopted and an addition of $100 per 
 annum made to the pastor's salary. 
 
 November 22, 1885, the following notice was read from 
 the pulpit : " All the ladies of the congregation in favor of 
 organizing a Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society are re- 
 quested to meet with Mrs. Clark in the Parsonage, Thanks- 
 giving Day after service." 
 
 In accordance with this notice the ladies met at the time 
 and place mentioned, and on November 26 the Society was 
 organized with Mrs. A. Letitia Clark as President, Mrs. 
 Agnes M. Gailey Vice-President, Mrs. Mary J. Irwin Secre- 
 tary and Mrs. John C. Wiley Treasurer. This society has 
 done a good work in the cause of missions. 
 
 The Fourth Building. 
 In the autumn of 1882 overtures were made to the pastor 
 of Centre by a church in a neighboring Presbytery looking 
 to his removal to that church and involving a considerable 
 advance in salary. The pastor was compelled to give this 
 matter consideration, and feeling that the success of his 
 work at Centre depended very largely upon material 
 changes in the church building involving a considerable out- 
 lay of money he was not willing to reject the offer unless he 
 
40 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 had some assurance that the congregation would, after the 
 lapse of a reasonable time, make the needed expenditures. 
 Accordingly he made sketches of a suitable addition to the 
 old building and a new building, and invited Mr. John A. 
 C. Gailey to meet him on a certain night in January, 1883, 
 at Mr. Reed W. Anderson's for a conference. There by 
 Mr. Anderson and Mr. Gailey the overtures to the pastor 
 were discussed, as also his plans for the development of 
 Centre Church, including the sketches of the remodelled and 
 the new building. Finally Mr. Gailey remarked that he 
 believed " if Mr. Clark would be patient the congregation 
 would meet all reasonable demands." To be patient with a 
 needed increase in salary in view and decline it was not so 
 easy. However, on that January night it was settled that 
 the pastor would remain at Centre and that we would work 
 for the larger building. 
 
 On the seventh of May, 1883, a joint meeting of the 
 Session and Board of Trustees was held in the church to 
 consider what could be done, if anything, towards furnish- 
 ing pews to those desiring them. As we entered the church 
 by the door next the Cemetery a member of the Board of 
 Trustees, Mr. Robert S. McDonald, said with his Scotch 
 positiveness : " I tell you boys what we have got to do 
 pretty soon. We have got to knock out that end wall." A 
 member of the Session, Mr. James C. Jordan, spoke up and 
 said : " Knock the end out none. Tear the whole thing 
 down." " What," said the first speaker, " tear down these 
 good walls! Oh, no!" The pastor stood by an attentive 
 listener and noticed the working of the leaven. It was less 
 than three years before his friend who would not hear of 
 tearing down the walls gave him a subscription of $400 for 
 the new building. 
 
 On the ninth of August, 1883, the Session set apart one 
 half the offerings of the Sabbath School toward a building 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 4 1 
 
 fund. The step was a wise one and now that the building 
 has been secured the offerings still maintain the high stand- 
 ard then attained. 
 
 On the twenty-fourth of September, 1883, the pastor of 
 Centre and Elder John C. Wiley went together, by car- 
 riage, to Presbytery. The elder did not hear much but 
 " new church " on that journey and before the journey was 
 over the pastor thought he saw $500 for a new building. 
 
 The first formal action in the matter was taken in 1885, 
 resulting in the adoption of the following paper by the Ses- 
 sion August 5, and by the Session, Board of Trustees and 
 Manse Building Committee, sitting in conference in the 
 choir chairs in the old church, September 17: 
 
 Whereas, Our church building is too small to accommodate 
 with comfort our present membership and therefore affords no 
 room for growth, and 
 
 Whereas, It is entirely inadequate for the proper carrying 
 on of the Sabbath School work, therefore, 
 
 Resolved, First, That, in the unanimous opinion of this body, 
 the best interests of our church and the growth of the Kingdom 
 of Christ in our midst demand that immediate steps be taken 
 looking to the securing of more ample accommodations for 
 church and Sabbath School services. 
 
 Resolved, Second, That it is the unanimous belief of this 
 body that the best and most expedient step in the matter is the 
 erection of a new church building, suitable in size and arrange- 
 ment for church and Sabbath School purposes, provided all the 
 funds necessary to complete the building be raised before the 
 work be begun and, if possible, that this building be erected 
 and ready for use by September 1, 1887. 
 
 In the year 1885 the services of the pastor of Centre were 
 again sought for in another field. During the meeting of 
 the Synod of Pennsylvania in Bellefonte, in October of that 
 year, a minister of our Presbytery, Rev. J. M. Galbreath, 
 
42 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 knowing of the above fact, said to an Elder of this church, 
 Mr. Reed W. Anderson, who was a member of that Synod : 
 " I will tell you what you can do that will tend to keep your 
 pastor with you." " What is that ?" said the Elder. " Build 
 a new church," was the reply. " I know it and I have a 
 thousand dollars to spend, but what it shall be done " said 
 the Elder. The pastor was not at that meeting- of Synod, 
 but he soon afterward heard of the above conversation and 
 concluded the time was ripe for building. Accordingly a 
 congregational meeting was called for January 21, 1886, and 
 the paper prepared by the Session August 5 was adopted. 
 The pastor was appointed a committee to solicit subscrip- 
 tions, Reed W. Anderson, Chairman, John Wiley and James 
 R. Wiley were appointed a Building Committee and John 
 H. Anderson made Treasurer of the building fund. A 
 drawing of a new church building made by Architect J. A. 
 Dempwolf, York, Pa., and which hung on the wall during 
 this meeting had an important influence on the question of 
 a new church. There were present at this meeting Mr. and 
 Mrs. John H. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Anderson, 
 Reed W. Anderson, Rev. and Mrs. R. L. Clark, Lettie Belle 
 Clark, James A. Dalton, John F. DeRan, John B. Gemmill, 
 John S. Gemmill, Samuel G. Irwin, James C. Jordan, J. 
 Mitchel Jordan, J. Thomas Gailey, John Marsteller, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Aquila McDonald, John R. McElwain, John S. 
 McElwain, Joseph B. Tyrrell, Mr. and Mrs. John Wiley, 
 Mr. and Mrs. John C. Wiley of this congregation and Mr. 
 James Fulton of Stewartstown. 
 
 The first subscription was taken January 25, 1886, and 
 this part of the work was completed April 23, on which the 
 pastor reported to the congregation subscriptions amounting 
 to $10,516. At this meeting the site for the building was 
 selected and the Building Committee instructed to employ 
 J. A. Dempwolf, York, Pa., Architect. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 43 
 
 August 17, 1886, Mr. J. A. Dempwolf and Mr. B. F. 
 Willis, Architects, with Reed W. Anderson, John Wiley, 
 James R. Wiley and R. L. Clark met on the ground and 
 staked off the new church building. 
 
 On Monday, August 30, 1886, ground for the new build- 
 ing was broken by Reed W. Anderson, John H. Anderson 
 and John Sliver. 
 
 On the twenty-seventh of January, 1887, the contract for 
 the building without furnishings was awarded to Mr. N. 
 Weigle, York, Pa., for $8,285. Two days after, in York, 
 Pa., the contract was signed by Mr. Weigle and the Building 
 Committee. 
 
 April 5, 1887, the pastor was added to the Building Com- 
 mittee as advisory member. This position he resigned on 
 the fifteenth of the following October. 
 
 The last service in the old church was held May 15, 1887. 
 The next day the demolition of the old church was begun 
 as was also work on the new. 
 
 The corner stone was laid on the ninth of June, 1887, with 
 appropriate ceremonies. The following was the order of 
 exercises : 
 
 Scripture reading. Job 38:4-7; Ps. 118:19-23; Is. 28:16-17; Matt. 
 
 21 : 42 ; 1 Pet. 2 : 5-8 ; Eph. 2 : 19-22. 
 
 Prayer. Rev. A. T. Fox, Stewartstown, Pa. 
 
 Brief History of the Church. Rev. R. L. Clark. 
 
 Filling the box. — Bible. Religious and secular papers. Coins. 
 
 Soldering the box and placing it in the stone. 
 
 Benediction. Rev. R. L. Clark. 
 
 In the laying of this corner stone the trowel was handled 
 by Mr. Charles Shrodes, who had helped build the former 
 church erected in 1822. 
 
 The new church was completed March 27, 1888, at a cost 
 of $14,881.45 and was dedicated, free of debt, April 25, 
 1888. The following was the order of exercises: 
 
44 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Anthem. Choir. 
 
 Invocation. Rev. T. L. Springer. 
 
 Hymn 846. Rev. D. M. Davenport. 
 
 Reading of Scripture. Rev. C. W. Stewart, D.D. 
 
 Prayer. Rev. T. M. Crawford, D.D. 
 
 Hymn 523. Rev. A. T. Fox. 
 Sermon, Heb. 3:6. " Whose house are we." Rev. I. N. Rendal, D.D. 
 
 Anthem. Choir. 
 
 Report of Building Committee. Reed W. Anderson. 
 
 Dedication and prayer. Pastor. 
 
 Hymn 954. Pastor. 
 
 Addresses. Rev. A. B. Cross, Rev. D. M. Davenport, Rev. J. M. 
 
 Galbreath, Rev. J. M. Yingling, Rev. A. B. Hooven and Rev. J. S. 
 
 Bowers. 
 
 Hymn 569. Rev. C. W. Stewart, D.D. 
 
 Benediction. Rev. I. N. Rendall, D.D. 
 
 The largely increased cost of the completed building 
 over the original estimate ($10,000) was incurred by 
 changes ordered by the congregation. Stone was used in 
 the construction of the walls instead of brick. Brown- 
 stone sills were placed in windows and doors instead of 
 wood and a brown-stone coping added to buttresses and 
 gables. A steam-heat plant was installed instead of hot- 
 air, and elaborate stained instead of plain colored glass was 
 used in the windows. 
 
 During the erection of the new church building the regu- 
 lar services were maintained. From the twenty-first of 
 May until the eleventh of September, 1887, services were 
 held in the grove by the spring, the pulpit and pews from the 
 old church having been arranged there for that purpose. 
 From September 18, 1887, unt ^ April 22, 1888, services 
 were held in the New Park School House. 
 
 On the first of July, 1888, the pastor informed the congre- 
 gation that he had received a call from the Central Park 
 Presbyterian Church of Chicago, 111., which call he felt he 
 ought to accept. The following day he was stricken down 
 with pneumonia and by reason of this both pastor and people 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 45 
 
 had more ample time for the consideration of so important 
 a matter. Nothing was done until the twenty-first of July, 
 when the Session convened, and called a meeting of the con- 
 gregation for July 28, " To consider and take whatever 
 action may be deemed best with reference to the proposed 
 dissolution of the pastoral relation of Rev. R. L. Clark and 
 this church." 
 
 When the congregation met on the twenty-eighth of July 
 the Session and the Board of Trustees recommended that the 
 pastor be retained if possible and that his salary be increased 
 to $1,020 per annum. The congregation unanimously 
 adopted the recommendations and voted the increase of 
 salary to date from the previous May. 
 
 The pastor considered the invitation to Chicago as opening 
 up to him a larger field of usefulness and one which had 
 strong attractions for him. It came unsought. It was a 
 new field. It offered an increase of salary for which he had 
 begun to feel the need. It solved the question of the educa- 
 tion of his children which had become a pressing problem. 
 It came at a time most favorable for a change to both pastor 
 and people when the church was in the best possible condi- 
 tion to secure the services of a new pastor, it being entirely 
 harmonious and having just entered its new house of wor- 
 ship upon which there was not a dollar of debt. 
 
 On the other hand here were the associations of years. 
 Here was a people always loyal and now quietly protesting 
 against the breaking of these associations. Here was a 
 generous appreciation of the pastor's services in the promised 
 increase in salary and here was the pastor just escaping from 
 dangerous disease. These and other considerations which 
 might be mentioned led him to decide to remain. 
 
 On the fifth of July, 1888, Centre Church lost one of its 
 Elders, Richard McDonald, by death. On the twenty-first 
 of July the Session ordered the following record to be made : 
 
46 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Whereas, Since our last regular meeting the Session has 
 been called upon to record the death of one of its members, 
 Richard McDonald, therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That while deeply mourning the loss of our 
 brother, who labored actively in the Eldership for twenty five 
 years, we yet bow in humble submission to the will of Him that 
 doeth all things well. 
 
 Resolved, That we here gladly testify to the quiet walk and 
 Christian conduct of our departed brother, and of our confi- 
 dence that though absent from the body he is present with the 
 Lord. 
 
 Resolved, That we, the living, do find in this providence of 
 God an incentive to greater diligence and earnestness in the 
 work the Master has given us to do. 
 
 Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to spread the 
 above on the minutes of the Session. 
 
 On Monday, the seventeenth of September, 1888, the 
 Presbytery of Westminster met in Centre Church and con- 
 tinued in session during Tuesday and a part of Wednesday. 
 At the Monday evening meeting Mr. Robert Reed Gailey, a 
 son of Elder J. A. C. Gailey, was taken under the care of 
 the Presbytery as a candidate for the gospel ministry. 
 
 The following were the officers : Moderator, Rev. Edson 
 A. Lowe; Stated Clerk, Rev. W. G. Cairnes; Permanent 
 Clerk, Rev. R. L. Clark. 
 
 From the fourth of November, 1888, until the first Sab- 
 bath of May, 1889, the pastor was absent from his field of 
 labor because of continued ill-health. During this time he 
 kept his pulpit supplied. 
 
 On the thirtieth of April, 1889, the congregation assem- 
 bled in the Lecture Room of the church and celebrated the 
 one hundredth anniversary of the inauguration of General 
 George Washington as the first President of the United 
 States. As a call to service the church bell was tolled one 
 hundred strokes. A goodly number of the congregation 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 47 
 
 assembled and engaged in a service of prayer and praise in 
 the course of which the pastor delivered an appropriate 
 address. Here we not only celebrated this event but also 
 the one hundredth anniversary of the first General Assem- 
 bly of our church and the one hundredth anniversary of the 
 building of the -first church on these grounds. 
 
 With the first Sabbath in May, 1890, the envelope system 
 was introduced as the method of gathering the offerings of 
 the congregation for benevolent purposes as well as for 
 church support. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth of June, 1890, the Centre Temper- 
 ance League was organized and began its work with sixty 
 five members. After thirteen years of service it still main- 
 tains a vigorous existence and has contributed a large sum 
 to temperance work. 
 
 In the summer of 1890 a full set of roller maps was added 
 to the equipment of the Sabbath School department. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth of October, 1890, the Fiftieth Anni- 
 versary of the organization of Centre Sabbath School was 
 observed. The following were the committee of arrange- 
 ments : Rev. R. L. Clark, Mr. Reed W. Anderson and Mr. 
 John A. C. Gailey. The program was as follows : 
 
 PROGRAMME. 
 
 Morning Session — 10 :30-i2 :3c 
 
 Anthem. Choir. 
 
 Scripture Lesson and Prayer. 
 
 Hymn. 
 
 Historical Sketch. Rev. R. L. Clark. 
 
 Hymn. 
 
 Address, " The Development of the True Idea of the Sunday-school." 
 
 Rev. C. W. Stewart, D.D. 
 Hymn. 
 Address, " Concentration or Division of Effort, the Church or the 
 Neighborhood School." Rev. T. L. Springer. 
 
 Hymn. 
 Address, " Advantages of the International System of Lessons." 
 
 Rev. K. J. Stewart. 
 Hymn. 
 
48 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Afternoon Session — i '.30-3 :3c 
 
 Hymn. 
 
 Prayer. 
 Address to the Children. Rev. J. M. Galbreath. 
 
 Hymn. 
 Address to the Children. Rev. R. J. Rankin. 
 
 Hymn. 
 Address, " Music in the Sunday-school, its Development and Mission." 
 
 Rev. Samuel Polk. 
 
 Hymn. 
 Address, " Temperance in the Sunday-school." Rev. Robert Gamble. 
 Anthem, " Temperance." Choir. 
 
 Evening Session — 7 :30-o. :oo. 
 Anthem. Choir. 
 
 Prayer. 
 Address, " The Sunday-school Teacher of To-day, What is his Mission 
 and what is Necessary to his Efficiency." J. G. McSparran. 
 
 Hymn. 
 Address, " The Proper Use of the Lesson Help." Rev. G. L. Smith. 
 
 Hymn. 
 Benediction. 
 
 Of those who were members of the Sabbath School at its 
 organization five are now members of Centre Church, viz., 
 John Marsteller, Aquila McDonald, Agnes M. Gailey, Sarah 
 J. Groh and Rachel A. Keims. 
 
 In the fall of 1890 two ladies of the congregation, Mrs. 
 Reed W. Anderson and Mrs. John H. Anderson, canvassed 
 the congregation and secured the sum of $469.61 with which 
 they placed in the Manse a complete combined steam and 
 hot-water heating plant. 
 
 On the ninth of June, 1891, the following paper was 
 unanimously adopted by the Session and on the fourteenth 
 by the Board of Trustees also unanimously : 
 
 Whereas, It is rapidly becoming the rule among our people 
 to hold funeral services in the house of God rather than in the 
 home, which, in the mind of the Session, is reversing the order 
 which should prevail in this matter, and 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 49 
 
 Whereas, There is a growing tendency on the part of the 
 people of the world to remove the marks of distinction between 
 the church and the world by multiplying religious services at 
 the funerals of those who have lived Godless lives and by using 
 the house of God on such occasions, and, 
 
 Whereas, Orders and organizations, not distinctively Chris- 
 tian, are seeking the use of our churches for the holding of 
 funeral services peculiar to the respective orders and organiza- 
 tions, which services, while they may be with propriety held 
 elsewhere, cannot be in the house dedicated to the service of 
 Almighty God ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, First, That we urge upon all the families of our 
 church and congregation the propriety of holding funeral ser- 
 vices, as far as may be practicable, in the home. 
 
 Resolved, Second, That we deem it inexpedient to grant the 
 use of our church building for funeral services in the case of 
 those who are not themselves members of Centre Church, or in 
 whose immediate family there are not those who are members 
 of said church, and that the church bell shall not toll the death 
 of any one not a member of this church. 
 
 Resolved, Third, That no secret order of any kind shall be 
 permitted to hold services of any kind, funeral or otherwise, in 
 this house of God. 
 
 Resolved, Fourth, That a copy of these resolutions be fur- 
 nished the Sexton and that he be enjoined, as far as his respon- 
 sibility extends, to see that they are carried out. 
 
 In the summer of 1893 a self-constituted committee con- 
 sisting of James C. Jordan, John C. Wiley and John Mars- 
 teller raised about seven hundred dollars and made quite an 
 addition to the Manse, adding a kitchen, bath-room and bed- 
 room and in addition painting and papering the Manse 
 proper. 
 
 In the year 1894, on New Year's Day, the Pastor and his 
 wife, together with the Elders and their wives, instituted a 
 reception at the Manse. Eighty one members of the congre- 
 
50 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 gation enjoyed this occasion. In 1895 this was repeated 
 when there were 137 present, and again in 1901 when there 
 were 155 present. 
 
 In May, 1894, the Elders joined with the Trustees in 
 making the annual canvass for subscriptions, the Elder look- 
 ing after benevolent and the Trustee after church-support 
 subscriptions. This plan has been continued with great 
 advantage. 
 
 In the month of September, 1894, the Presbytery of West- 
 minster met in Centre Church and the following were the 
 officers : Moderator, Rev. A. L. Hyde ; ji>tated Clerk, Rev. 
 W. G. Cairnes ; Permanent Clerk, Rev. R. L. Clark. 
 
 October 6, 1894, the pastor of Centre Church was called 
 to the Presbyterian Church at Argyle, 111. After long con- 
 sideration he decided that he would remain at Centre. 
 
 The Junior Westminster League of Christian Endeavor 
 was organized in February, 1895, with Miss E. May Allen 
 as Superintendent. Under her and her successors in this 
 work, Rev. R. L. Clark, Mr. Reed W. Anderson and Miss 
 Annie M. Anderson, it has continued to be a valuable adjunct 
 in church work. 
 
 January 4, 1891, the Westminster League, a society for 
 Christian development and work among the young, was 
 organized. This organization was, on the fifth of May, 
 1895, changed into a Christian Endeavor Society under the 
 name " Westminster League of Christian Endeavor." It 
 continues to occupy an important place in church work. 
 
 January 1, 1896, the congregational prayer meeting and 
 the Christian Endeavor Prayer Meeting were consolidated 
 and the time of service fixed at one hour. 
 
 In September, 1896, the Session adopted the use of un- 
 fermented wine in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 On the fifteenth of February, 1898, a meeting of West- 
 minster Presbytery was held in Centre Church at which 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 51 
 
 Mr. Robert Reed Gailey was ordained to the Gospel Min- 
 istry. In the evening a " Farewell Service " was held. 
 
 PROGRAM. 
 Ordination Service — 10:30 A. M. 
 
 Rev. 
 Anthem. 
 Invocation. 
 Hymn 645. 
 Scripture Reading. 
 Prayer. 
 Hymn 644. 
 Sermon. 
 
 {Constitutional Questions 
 Prayer. 
 Charge. 
 Anthem. 
 Benediction. 
 
 T. Jeifers, D.D., Moderator. 
 
 Choir. 
 
 Rev. John B. Rendall. 
 
 Congregation. 
 
 Rev. William G. Cairnes. 
 
 Rev. Robert H. Kirk. 
 
 Congregation. 
 
 Rev. John B. Rendall. 
 
 Rev. E. T. Jeffers, D.D. 
 
 Rev. R. Lorenzo Clark. 
 
 Rev. E. T. Jeffers, D.D. 
 
 Choir. 
 
 Rev. Robert R. Gailey. 
 
 Rev. T. M. Crawford, D.D. 
 
 PROGRAM. 
 
 Farewell Service: — 7:30 P. M. 
 
 Rev. R. L. Clark, Pastor, Presiding. 
 Anthem. Choir. 
 
 Invocation. Pastor. 
 
 Hymn, " The Morning Light is Breaking." Congregation. 
 
 Scripture Reading. ) 
 Prayer. j 
 
 Hymn, " Hark ! The Voice of Jesus Calling." Congregation. 
 
 Address, " The Missionary Work of the Church — Its Divine Appoint- 
 ment and Commanding Obligation." Rev. H. E. Niles, D.D. 
 Address, " The Student Volunteer." Mr. Samuel Martin Jordan. 
 Duet. Rev. and Mrs. R. R. Gailey. 
 Address, "The Educated Missionary." Rev. Robert H. Kirk. 
 Address, " Woman a Factor in Missions." Rev. E. T. Jeffers. 
 Hymn, "Roll on, Thou Mighty Ocean." Congregation. 
 
 f Rev. R. L. Clark. 
 1 Rev. Robert R. Gailey. 
 Rev. H. E. Niles, D.D. 
 Speed Away, On your Mission of Light." Gailey Family. 
 
 Farewell words. 
 
 Prayer. 
 Quartet, 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Rev. Robert R. Gailey. 
 
 Mr. Gailey went as a missionary to Tien-Tsin, China, 
 where he yet remains. 
 
52 
 
 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 On the thirtieth of August, 1898, Mr. Samuel Martin 
 Jordan was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in Centre 
 Church by a committee of Westminster Presbytery and in 
 the evening a " Farewell Service " was given him. 
 
 PROGRAM. 
 
 Ordination Service — 10:30 A. M. 
 
 Rev. T. P. McKee, Moderator of Presbytery, Presiding. 
 
 Anthem. 
 Hymn 586. 
 
 Invocation. 
 Scripture Reading and Prayer. 
 
 Choir. 
 Congregation. 
 
 Hymn 584. 
 Sermon. 
 
 {Constitutional Questions. 
 Prayer. 
 Charge. 
 Hymn 630. 
 Benediction. 
 
 Congregation. 
 
 Rev. James Drummond. 
 
 Rev. T. P. McKee. 
 
 Rev. E. T. Jeffers, D.D. 
 
 Rev. R. L. Clark. 
 
 Congregation. 
 
 Rev. S. M. Jordan. 
 
 PROGRAM. 
 Farewell Service— 7:30 P. M. 
 
 Rev. R. L. Clark, Pastor, Presiding 
 Anthem. 
 Invocation. 
 Hymn 651. 
 Scripture Reading and Prayer. 
 
 Choir. 
 
 Pastor. 
 
 Congregation. 
 
 Rev. James Drummond. 
 
 Hymn 644. Congregation. 
 
 Address, " A Century of Missionary Conquest." Rev. J. M. Galbreath. 
 Address, " The other side of the Ledger." Rev. E. T. Jeffers, D.D. 
 
 Hymn, " Go Ye Into All the World." Choir. 
 
 Address, "Instead of the Fathers shall be the Children." 
 
 Rev. G. Wells Ely. 
 Hymn, "Departing Missionaries." Congregation. 
 
 Farewell Words. I Rev " R - L - Clark " 
 
 (. Rev. S. M. Jordan. 
 
 Prayer. R EV . G. Wells Ely. 
 
 Quartet, "Ye Christian Heralds." Choir. 
 
 Benediction. Moderator. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. S3 
 
 Departing Missionaries. 
 
 Roll on, thou mighty ocean; O thou eternal Ruler, 
 
 And let thy billows flow, Who holdest in thine arm 
 
 That messengers of mercy The tempest of the ocean, 
 
 To Persia's land may go. Protect them from all harm ! 
 
 Arise, ye gales, and waft them Thy presence, Lord, be with them, 
 
 Safe to the destined shore; Wherever they may be; 
 
 That man may sit in darkness, Though far from us, who love them, 
 
 And death's black shade no more. Still let them be with Thee. 
 
 Mr. Jordan went to Teheran, Persia, where he labors as a 
 foreign missionary. 
 
 March 21, 1899, the church year was changed so as to 
 correspond with the Presbyterial year and now begins with 
 the month of April. 
 
 In the spring of 1899 the Trustees, by direction of the con- 
 gregation, purchased from Strawbridge Brothers a piece of 
 land in front of the church, a part of the same to be used 
 for burial purposes and the remainder as a park for trees and 
 flowers. 
 
 In May, 1899, the " Home Department " of the Sabbath 
 School was organized and is now an established branch of 
 church work, having a membership of over seventy. 
 
 In the month of December, 1899, tenth to seventeenth, 
 Rev. R. A. Walton, an evangelist, held services in Centre 
 Church. The attendance on these services was large, the in- 
 terest was great and a number were brought to Christ. 
 
 May 6, 1901, John H. Anderson, John C. Wiley and 
 Charles W. Gailey were appointed a committee to look after 
 the erection of carriage sheds on the church grounds. They 
 succeeded in placing fourteen during that year. 
 
 In May, 1902, the " Graded System " of study was intro- 
 duced in the Sabbath School. 
 
 Close of the Sixth Pastorate. 
 On the seventeenth of March, 1903, the Bethany Presby- 
 terian Church of Lancaster, Pa., extended a unanimous call 
 
54 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 to Rev. R. L. Clark to become its pastor. On the twentieth 
 of the month he brought the matter before his Session and 
 meetings were held, with reference to it, Friday April 3, at 
 the church and Monday, April 6, at Mr. J. A. Gailey's at 
 New Park. 
 
 April 12, twenty four years from the day the pastor first 
 appeared before the congregation, Rev. R. L. Clark presented 
 his resignation and it was accepted, the congregation adopt- 
 ing the following paper : 
 
 Resolved, First, That the Centre congregation wishes to go 
 on record as bearing unqualified testimony to the devoted and 
 untiring energy and faithfulness of Rev. R. L. Clark as Pastor 
 of our church. 
 
 Resolved, Second, That we regret that the time has come 
 when the ties which have bound us together as Pastor and 
 people for the long period of twenty four years are possibly 
 about to be severed. We greatly appreciate and thankfully 
 acknowledge his many acts of loving devotion to us as a people. 
 
 Resolved, Third, That our prayers shall follow him wherever 
 God may lead him and we earnestly hope that he may be greatly 
 blessed in his work, winning souls to Christ and building up and 
 comforting God's children. 
 
 Resolved, Fourth, That our representative be instructed to 
 read the above resolutions to the Presbytery. 
 
 At a meeting of the Presbytery of Westminster, held at 
 Mount Joy, Pa., April 14, the pastor presented his resigna- 
 tion to Presbytery and it was accepted. 
 
 On the thirty-first of May the pastor preached his last ser- 
 mon at Centre and, by direction of Presbytery, declared the 
 pulpit vacant. 
 
 Rev. R. L. Clark was born near Chestnut Level, Pa., July 
 22, 1849. Hi s early life was spent on the farm. He at- 
 tended the public schools of his home district and afterward 
 the Academy at Chestnut Level, Pa., and the Normal Insti- 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 55 
 
 tute at Phoenixville, Pa., where he was prepared for college. 
 He entered Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., November 17, 
 1870, and was graduated therefrom July 1, 1874. During 
 the year 1874- 1875 he taught school in the Treemount Semi- 
 nary, Norristown, Pa. He entered the Western Theological 
 Seminary, at Allegheny City, Pa., September 7, 1875. He 
 was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of West- 
 minster, April 11, 1877, and was graduated from the West- 
 ern Theological Seminary, April 18, 1878. During the sum- 
 mer of 1878 he served the churches of LeClaire and Prince- 
 ton, Iowa. April 13, 1879, ne ^ rst appeared before the 
 congregation at Centre. On the sixteenth of June he was 
 unanimously chosen pastor and this call being accepted he 
 was ordained to the gospel ministry, in Centre Church, 
 September 16, 1879, and duly installed pastor of the same. 
 
 With the inauguration of the pastorate of Rev. R. L. 
 Clark the Session assumed entire control of the Sunday- 
 school, electing its officers, providing for its support from the 
 church treasury and appropriating all its offerings to the 
 mission work of the church. 
 
 During this pastorate there was never a blank in the col- 
 umns representing contributions to the Mission Boards of 
 the church, both church and Sabbath School contributing 
 to every cause. During this time the sum of $3,548 was 
 contributed by the Sabbath School, for missions, as follows : 
 
 1879 $ 10 1891 $ 141 
 
 1880 15 1892 155 
 
 1881 26 1893 158 
 
 1882 29 1894 175 
 
 1883 69 1895 202 
 
 1884 96 1896 208 
 
 1885 94 1897 243 
 
 1886 97 1898 239 
 
 1887 57 1899 251 
 
 1888 76 1900 297 
 
 162 1901 291 
 
 1890 167 1902 290 
 
 First twelve years $898 Second twelve years $2,650 
 
 Total offering from Sabbath School, $3,548. 
 
56 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 During these twenty four years the following offering was 
 made to benevolent work : 
 
 Home Missions $3,148 Synodical Aid $ 895 
 
 Foreign Missions 3,622 Aid for Colleges 551 
 
 Education 517 American Bib. Soc 88 
 
 Publication 914 Temperance 354 
 
 Church Erection 1,056 American Tract Soc 6 
 
 Ministerial Relief 530 Miscellaneous 1,462 
 
 Freedmen 771 $13,914 
 
 The total offerings of Centre Church for the twenty four 
 years, 1879-1903 were as follows: 
 
 Congregational $50,497 
 
 General Assembly 576 
 
 Benevolence 13,914 
 
 $64,987 
 
 During this pastorate God has been pleased to bless the 
 congregation with many gracious outpourings of His Spirit : 
 In 1880, when 14 were added to the church; in 1882, when 
 1 1 were added ; in 1883, when 17 were added ; in 1885, when 
 44 were added ; in 1886, when 12 were added ; in 1889, when 
 34 were added ; in 1891, when 1 1 were added ; in 1893, when 
 14 were added ; in 1894, when 24 were added ; in 1895, when 
 28 were added ; in 1897, when 10 were added ; in 1899, when 
 46 were added, and in 1902, when five were added. 
 
 There were 141 members in good standing in 1879. 
 There were received from that time until April, 1903, on 
 examination 303 and on certificate 50. In April, 1903, there 
 were 325 members in good standing as reported to Presby- 
 tery. 
 
 Pastor-Elect. 
 
 On the seventh of June Rev. F. B. Everitt, of Stockton, 
 N. J., supplied the pulpit at Centre. He preached for the 
 people also on the fourteenth and the twenty-eighth of June. 
 At a congregational meeting held July 12, 1903, he was 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 57 
 
 unanimously chosen pastor at a salary of $1,020. This call 
 has been accepted. 
 
 Rev. Frank Bateman Everitt was born at Stroudsburg, 
 Monroe County, Pa., March 8, 1866. He was prepared for 
 college at Jamesburg, N. J., Preparatory School. In 1886 
 he was graduated from Princeton College. He taught 
 classics and music in Jamesburg, N. J., 1886 and 1887, and 
 was graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 
 1890. 
 
 May 9, 1890, Mr. Everitt was ordained, as a missionary, 
 by the Presbytery of Monmouth, in his father's church at 
 Jamesburg, N. J. 
 
 From June, 1890, to August, 1891, he labored under the 
 Home Mission Board in the Fourth Presbyterian Church, 
 Kansas City, Mo. 
 
 From 1 89 1 to 1901 he was with the East Trenton Presby- 
 terian Chapel, a mission of the First Presbyterian Church 
 pf Trenton, N. J., Rev. John Dixon, D.D., Pastor. This 
 grew from a small chapel into a self-supporting church of 
 345 members, in 1899, when Mr. Everitt was installed its 
 first pastor. 
 
 From 1 90 1 to 1903 he was in charge of the Young Peo- 
 ple's Association Work of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian 
 Church of New York City, Rev. George T. Purves, D.D., 
 
 Pastor. 
 
 Presbyterial Honors. 
 
 James C. Jordan, an elder of Centre Church, represented 
 his Presbytery in the General Assembly which met in Peoria, 
 111., in the year 1863. 
 
 John A. C. Gailey, an elder of Centre Church, represented 
 his Presbytery in the General Assembly which met in Sara- 
 toga, N. Y., in the year 1883. 
 
 Reed W. Anderson, an elder of Centre Church, repre- 
 sented his Presbytery in the General Assembly which met in 
 Winona, Ind., in the year 1898. 
 
58 history of centre presbyterian church. 
 
 Sons of Centre in the Ministry. 
 
 Rev. Jacob Weast Lanius was a child of Centre. He 
 was brought up by his grandparents, Edward and Catherine 
 Lanius, where his parents placed him when they emigrated 
 to the West. In 1857 he studied under Rev. Samuel Hume 
 Smith. In the fall of that year he entered Muskingum Col- 
 lege, Ohio, where he graduated in 1851. He also graduated 
 from Jefferson College in 1852. He entered the Western 
 Theological Seminary 1852 and continued there one year, 
 after which he studied under Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D.D., 
 and was licensed and ordained by the Presbytery of Fort 
 Wayne in 1854. He labored in Amite, La., until 1856, in 
 Waveland Church, Ohio, until 1858, and in Nashville, Tenn., 
 in missionary work, until his death, August 9, 1859. His 
 wife was a daughter of Andrew Gordon, an elder in the 
 Hopewell Church. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Galbreath Payne, son of Benjamin Payne, 
 was also a child of Centre. About 1840 his parents moved 
 from the old homestead, where Corban Taylor now lives, to 
 Owensboro, Ky. Soon after they went to Rockport, Ind. 
 Alexander entered the Presbyterian ministry in 1859. His 
 name appears in our Minutes until 1861, when it is likely 
 he went into the Southern Church. He and his brother 
 John are said to have both been engaged in the Civil War, 
 one in the Union and the other in the Confederate army. 
 
 Rev. James L. Wilson, although not strictly a child of 
 Centre, is yet worthy of a record here. He was born on the 
 farm now owned by John Henry Payne, Esq. Mr. Wilson's 
 parents were often at Centre as Hopewell had preaching but 
 a part of the time. He attended the Sabbath School at Cen- 
 tre because, as he told the writer, at that early day there 
 was none at Hopewell. While he was in the Sabbath School 
 Benjamin Payne, father of Rev. Alexander Payne, was his 
 teacher, and John Payne, famous as a singer, and Joseph R. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 59 
 
 Anderson were superintendents. His class consisted of Wil- 
 liam Hammond, William Duncan, the Strawbridge Bros., 
 John and Alexander Payne, James Scott, Jacob W. Lanius, 
 the McDonald Bros., the Gemmill Bros, and John Marsteller. 
 Mr. Wilson studied under Rev. Samuel Hume Smith in 
 1857. In the fall of that year he entered Muskingum Col- 
 lege, Ohio, where he continued until 1850. He graduated 
 from Jefferson College in 1851, and from the Western 
 Theological Seminary in 1854. He was licensed by Donegal 
 Presbytery at Wrightsville, Pa., June, 1853, and ordained at 
 Jefferson, Ind., by Crawfordsville Presbytery, January, 
 1855. He was pastor at Scotch Grove, Iowa, 1856 to 1873 ; 
 Linn Grove and Springville, 1873 to x 878; Scotch Grove 
 and Centre Junction, 1878 to 1885, when he went to Florida 
 for his health. Since that time he has passed to his reward. 
 It is a little remarkable that these three were all members of 
 Centre Sabbath School at the same time. 
 
 Rev. Benjamin McKee Gemmill, a child of this church 
 and one of fourteen gathered in in the revival of 1880, was 
 taken under the care of Westminster Presbytery, September, 
 1883. He was graduated with honor from Lafayette Col- 
 lege in 1889 and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 
 1892. In 1894 he was called to the church at Cresson, Pa., 
 where he still remains. He is Stated Clerk of the Presby- 
 tery of Blairsville and Permanent Clerk of the Synod of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 Rev. Robert Reed Gailey, a child of this church and one 
 of eleven gathered in in the revival of 1882, was taken un- 
 der the care of Westminster Presbytery, September 17, 1888. 
 He was graduated with honor from the York Collegiate In- 
 stitute in 1890, from Lafayette College, 1893, and from 
 Princeton Theological Seminary in 1896. He was licensed 
 at York Pa., April 9, 1895. Supplied the Mt. Nebo Church, 
 Lancaster County, Pa., during summer of 1895 and the 
 
60 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 church at Riverton, N. J., during summer of 1896. He 
 was at Princeton University 1 896-1 897 as General Secre- 
 tary of the Y. M. C. A. He was married June 22, 1897, 
 to Miss Clara Lavinia Laurence. In 1897 was the Travel- 
 ing Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement, visiting 
 sixty regularly scheduled colleges and traveling about 13,000 
 miles. He was ordained February 15, 1898, and since that 
 time has been working under the " Foreign Committee of 
 the International Committee of the Young Men's Christian 
 Association of North America " at Tien-Tsin, China. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Martin Jordan, a child of this church and one 
 of thirty-four gathered in in the revival of 1889, was taken 
 under the care of the Presbytery of Westminster, at a meet- 
 ing held at Pequea, September 6, 1892. He was grad- 
 uated from Lafayette College in June, 1895, and from 
 Princeton Theological Seminary, May 10, 1898. Was 
 licensed at York, Pa., April 13, 1897. During the summer 
 of 1895 ne was a missionary for the Pennsylvania Bible So- 
 ciety in Bradford County, Pa. During the summer of 1896 
 he had charge of the Clove Church, Sussex County, N. J., 
 and in summer of 1897 of Mt. Nebo Church, Lancaster 
 County, Pa. He was ordained August 30, 1898, and since 
 that time has been working as a Foreign Missionary at 
 Teheran, Persia. It is worthy of note that each of these 
 three young men bears the name of a minister, all were 
 members of Centre Sabbath School at the same time and all 
 were brought into the church during special revival services. 
 
 Incidentals. 
 
 The first infant baptized in the old stone church was 
 William Wiley, and it is said to have been done before the 
 completion of the building, the congregation standing in 
 shavings. 
 
 The last infant baptized in the old stone church was John 
 Calvin Gemmill. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 6 1 
 
 The first infant baptized in the new church was Anna 
 Laetitia Clark. She was baptized by Rev. C. W. Stewart, 
 D.D., and for the first time the new bowl was used. 
 
 The last child baptized by Rev. R. L. Clark at Centre was 
 Mary Gailey. 
 
 Conclusion. 
 
 Centre Church has not been given to short pastorates and 
 thus her foundations have been laid deep and broad. The 
 church has been in a settled condition. The pastor lays his 
 plans for training as though he expected to gather the fruit 
 of his labors and thus pastor and church are blessed. 
 
 For whatever of prosperity this church has enjoyed, dur- 
 ing the twenty four years in which the writer was privi- 
 leged to minister to it, it owes it, under God, to a hearty sup- 
 port of the minister on the part of all. The people have been 
 responsive to calls as they have come. The Trustees have 
 conducted the secular affairs in a business-like way. The 
 Session, as guardians of her spiritual interests, have always 
 stood with the minister. 
 
 For twenty four years the writer was privileged to preach 
 the gospel to you, to lead you to the Lord's table, to baptize 
 your children, to join some of you in life's dearest and ten- 
 derest relation, to mingle with you in your homes in joy and 
 in sorrow and to bury your dead. The scenes that are dear 
 to you are dear to him and the Cemetery, " Sleeping place," 
 where your loved ones lie, holds the ashes of those dear to 
 him in its embrace. The best years of his life have been 
 given to the service of God in your midst. There his chil- 
 dren have been born and your world is all they have known. 
 
 Such is the past. What of the future? God holds the key 
 and will unlock it day by day. Enough for us that we be 
 ready to accept the revelation as it comes and labor so as to 
 be worthy successors of those who have gone before. 
 
62 history of centre presbyterian church. 
 
 Officers of the Congregation. 
 
 Pastor-Elect. 
 Rev. Frank Bateman Everitt. 
 
 Ruling Elders. 
 J. A. C. Gailey, Clerk. John C. Wiley, Treasurer. 
 
 John Marsteller. Will S. Allen. 
 
 Reed W. Anderson. Joseph A. Gailey. 
 
 Robert B. McElwain. 
 
 Deacons. 
 Aquila McDonald. 
 
 Trustees. 
 Robt. S. McDonald, President. John M. Brown, Secretary. 
 John H. Anderson. John E. Stansbury, Treasurer. 
 
 J. Mitchel Jordan. 
 
 President of the Congregation. 
 Charles W. Gailey. 
 
 Secretary of the Congregation. 
 Aquila M. Strawbridge. 
 
 Treasurer of the Congregation. 
 Joseph A. Gailey. 
 
 Sexton. 
 Amos Harman. 
 
 Choristers. 
 Mr. John A. C. Gailey was Chorister from 1862 to 1896 
 and Mr. Joseph A. Gailey, his son, has been Chorister since 
 1896. 
 
history of centre presbyterian church. 63 
 
 Officers of the Sabbath School. 
 
 Superintendent, Joseph A. Gailey. 
 
 Associate Superintendent, Robert B. McElwain. 
 
 Recording Secretary, William G. Howett. 
 
 Financial Secretary, C. Bayles Bartol. 
 
 Treasurer, John C. Wiley. 
 
 Primary Department. 
 
 Superintendent, Miss Nellie B. Wiley. 
 
 Associate Superintendent, Miss Nora B. Anderson. 
 
 Junior Department. 
 Superintendent, Miss Annie M. Anderson. 
 
 Home Department. 
 Superintendent, William G. Howett. 
 
 S. S. Superintendents. 
 
 1840-1857, John Payne, Joseph R. Anderson, M. Wiley 
 Hughes, James Slaughter, Buell J. Smith. 
 
 1858, Robert B. Gemmill. 
 
 1859, Samuel P. Wiley. 
 1860-1861, John Johnson. 
 
 1862, James Clark. 
 
 1863, John Johnson. 
 
 1864, Reed W. Anderson. 
 
 1865, Robert Gailey. 
 1866-1868, John A. C. Gailey. 
 1 869-1 87 1, John Marsteller. 
 1872, John S. McElwain. 
 1873-1875, Reed W. Anderson. 
 1876-1877, John A. C. Gailey. 
 1878-1882, John B. Gemmill. 
 1883-1898, Reed W. Anderson. 
 1 899- 1 90 1, Joseph A. Gailey. 
 1902-1903, Rev. R. L. Clark. 
 I 9°3) Joseph A. Gailey. 
 
6 4 
 
 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Riding Elders. 
 
 Names. Elected. 
 
 Ordained. 
 
 Died or Dismissed. 
 
 Age. 
 
 John Payne 
 
 
 Mar. 28, 1818 
 
 50 
 
 Robert Anderson 
 
 
 
 
 Samuel Brooks 
 
 
 
 
 Robert Watson 
 
 
 
 
 James Duncan 
 
 
 Feb. 16, 1843 
 
 74 
 
 Joseph V. Bosley 
 
 
 Dec. 4, 1846 
 
 68 
 
 Andrew Anderson 
 
 
 June 7, 1849 
 
 85 
 
 William Gemmill 
 
 
 Dec. 5, 1849 
 
 79 
 
 James Wiley 
 
 
 Oct. 5, i860 
 
 81 
 
 John J. Wiley, Esq. 
 
 
 Feb. 27, 1857 
 
 47 
 
 William Anderson 
 
 
 Sep. 8, 1862 
 
 57 
 
 John Payne ( ceased to act July 26, ] 
 
 857) 
 
 Mar. 21, 1872 
 
 69 
 
 Joseph R. Anderson 
 
 
 July 28, 1873 
 
 70 
 
 Samuel P. Wiley May 14, 1859 
 
 June II, 1859 
 
 Oct. 14, 1859 
 
 38 
 
 John Johnson " " 
 
 It (t 
 
 Stewartstown, 1862 
 
 
 Richard McDonald " " 
 
 (< <( 
 
 July 5, 1888 
 
 72 
 
 James C. Jordan " " 
 
 << (< 
 
 May II, 1895 
 
 63 
 
 John A. C. Gailey Oct. 31, 1868 
 
 Nov. 1, 1868 
 
 
 
 John Marsteller " " 
 
 (« <t 
 
 
 
 R.K.Robinson.M.D. " 
 
 <« << 
 
 Baltimore 2, 1880 
 
 
 John P. Cathcart " " 
 
 << << 
 
 Bethel, Md., 1883 
 
 
 Reed W. Anderson Oct. 9, 1882 
 
 Nov. 5, 1882 
 
 
 
 John F. De Ran " " 
 
 << <« 
 
 Highland, Md. 1895 
 
 
 John C. Wiley " " 
 
 <« « 
 
 
 
 William S. Allen May 3, 1896 
 
 June 7, 1896 
 
 
 
 Joseph A. Gailey " " 
 
 << << 
 
 
 
 Robert B. McElwain " " 
 
 << << 
 
 
 
 John B. Webb " " 
 
 <« c< 
 
 June 12, 1898 
 
 
 Treasurers. 
 
 1823-1844, William Gemmill. 
 1844-1857, John Payne. 
 1857-1859, Samuel Park Wiley. 
 1859-1865, John Johnson. 
 1866-1872, James C. Jordan. 
 1872-1887, John B. Gemmill. 
 1887- Joseph A. Gailey. 
 
HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 65 
 
 Trustees. 
 
 1879-1883, John H. Anderson, 
 1 879- 1 885, John B. Gemmill. 
 1 879-1 884, John Wiley. 
 1882-1887, John S. McElwain. 
 1882- Robert S. McDonald. 
 
 1883-1886, James R. Wiley. 
 1 884-1 902, Joseph W. Anderson. 
 
 1885- John E. Stansbury. 
 
 1886- John H. Anderson. 
 1887-1891, R. Cornelius Liggit. 
 1891- John M. Brown. 
 1902- J. Mitchel Jordan. 
 
 Sextons. 
 
 1833, Samuel Ray. 
 
 1834, John Scot. "Paid $3.18 for keeping the key. 
 
 1835, Thomas Cathcart, July 1, 
 
 1839, " Young Gipson," June 1, Salary. 
 
 1857-1859, Samuel Kerr, Dec. 1, $10 
 
 1859-1860, Joseph Badders, Dec. 1, 10 
 
 1 860-1 864, A. M. Strawbridge, June 1, 10 
 
 1864-1870, Richard Strawbridge, June 1, 10 
 
 1870-1875, Frank P. Strawbridge, June 1, 16 
 
 1875-1877, Robert Singleton, June 1, 40 
 
 1877-1882, Leah Mitchel, May 1, 40 
 
 1882-1887, Joseph B. Tyrrel, May 1, 55 
 
 1887-1888, George S. Butcher, May 1, 55 
 
 1 888-1 89 1, W. Payne Norris, May 1, 75 
 
 1891-1893, J. Frank Norris, May 1, 75 
 
 1893- Amos Harman, May 1, 75 
 
66 
 
 HISTORY OF CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
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