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Bethany
Presbyterian Church, formerly Second United Presbyterian Church
Second
United Presbyterian Church. —The date of
the origin of this congregation is shrouded in mystery. It has been
variously estimated from 1802 to 1820. The first evidence of the
existence of such a society, is found in the minutes of the Associate
Reformed Presbytery: “On April 10, 1805, a petition came from
Mercertown for the dispensation of Gospel ordinances. May 15, 1805,
Mercertown put in the statistical table for synod as a vacancy.Mr. Kerr
was appointed to preach in Mercertown the third Sabbath of November,
1805. August 26, 1806, Rev. Mungo Dick was called to the united charge
of Mercertown, Neshannock and Sandy Lake.” From this it will be seen
that an organization certainly existed prior to 1806. The “Mr. Kerr”
referred to was Rev. Joseph Kerr. The first ruling elders of whom any
record is made were John Findley and Joseph Junkin. The first regularly
installed pastor was Rev. James Galloway, a young man of the age of
twenty-five, who began his labors in 1810, which were closed May 10,
1818, by death. During the early years of his ministry no house of
worship was had, and services alternated between the groves, the
private residences of Messrs. Findley, Junkin and others, and the old
court-house. In the latter, it is related that Rev. Tait secured the
pre-emption of the courtroom, and the flock that followed the
leadership of Rev. Galloway was thus forced to resort to the grand jury
room, and when simultaneous services were held, as was
often the
case, a competition of voices occurred between the two pastors, from
which Rev. Tait came out victor, his opponent having a slight frame and
weak lungs.
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The
inconveniences of this sort of worship impelled the congregation to
begin the erection of a suitable church building. A lot, now [1888]
owned by Mr. Benjamin Ride, was purchased, and a structure, built of
plain boards, was placed in construction. This was not completed,
however, until after Rev. Galloway’s death. In 1820 Rev. James L.
Dinwiddie was called to the pastorate.
The
two years preceding his coming had been times of sore distress, though,
to the little flock, and his arrival found them burdened with debt and
depressed in spirit. To add to their troubles, just as they had begun
to feel relieved, and to regain their lost cheerfulness, a disastrous
storm occurred, on the 24th of June, 1824, during which their new
structure was struck by lightning and wholly destroyed by the resulting
conflagration, which threatened the ruin not only of their church, but
of their private dwellings as well. But through the untiring efforts of
their pastor and a few devout members better times soon came, the lot
on which the present church stands was purchased, and the erection of a
second church begun. Rev. Dinwiddie’s relations with the congregation
were terminated in 1834, at which time he left, to accept the charge of
a leading congregation in Pittsburgh. For a period of four years
provisional services were held, which were presided over by various
supply and itinerant ministers. The arrival of Rev. Andrew Bower, the
third pastor, in 1838, put an end to these, however, and regular
services were resumed under his ministry. He remained only until 1842,
after which, for about five years, supplies were again resorted to.
During this time the heavy debt which bad been hanging over the
congregation since the building of the new church was gradually
reduced, until, in 1847, the organization felt itself able to secure
another regular pastor. Accordingly, Rev. W. T. McAdam was called, for
half his time, at an annual compensation of $250, and, upon his
arrival, stated services were resumed.
This
pastorate continued with flattering success until 1853, when, after an
interval of a few months, Rev. Robert McWatty succeeded to the charge
of the Mercer flock. His pastorate, which has been by far the longest
and most prosperous one the church has ever known, continued until
1882. During it almost phenomenal progress was made; the present
elegant structure, much the largest in town, was erected and furnished
at a cost approximating $20,000; over 1,000 members, including
children, were received into active communication and fellowship, and
the church placed upon a firm and lasting basis, the security of which
had never been known before. In 1883 Rev. J. A. Grier began a ministry
of three years, which resulted in much advancement to the church. Since
the close of Rev. Grier’s services the church has had no regular
pastor.
History
of Mercer County, 1888, pages 356-357
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