Presbyterianism on the Frontiers [pp. 445-469]

Prcsbyterianismn on the Frontiers.
described —were its first members. Although its first meeting
was appointed to be held at the Laurel Hill Church, on the third
Wednesday of the following September, Dr. McMillan says
the "first Presbytery that met on this side of the mountains
was held at Mount Pleasant on the third week of October,
I783."
Although the church edifices were few and rude for several
years, religion greatly flourished in this region. It is true that
at times the people were compelled to flee to their blockhouses
and forts, and that even in the most favorable times their circumstances were by no means inviting; yet, whether in the
grove, the log meeting-house, or the fort, they were favored
with some great religious awakenings.
In I778 the exhortations of Joseph Patterson, in "Vance's
Fort," were the means of leading a score to Christ, the germ of
the Cross Creek church, of which one of the converts, the Rev.
Thomas Marquis, was the pastor for many years. (Cen. Mem.,
4I.) Dr. Sprague says: "Mr. Dodd's labors throughout his
whole ministry seem to have been attended with much more
than an ordinary blessing. Besides the regular increase of his
church from year to year, there were several seasons of special
religious interest which brought in large numbers." He died
in 1793, while his church was still feeling the power of a great
revival.
Dr. McMillan says that from I78I to 1794 his churches were
experiencing powerful refreshings, and that during those
thirteen years numbers were added at every sacramental occasion. Indeed, it may be said that this remarkable man lived
in almost a perpetual revival during his ministry of more than
half a century. Some of these awakenings were very extensive
and wonderful in their power. They spread through Western
Pennsylvania, and reached the frontier settlements in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Dr. Carnahan describes Mr. Powers also as not only an effective preacher, but a truly successful one. The Rev. Joseph
Smith was one of the most remarkable men that ever preached
on any of the frontiers, not only in his piety and gifts as a
preacher, but in the truly astonishing effects which often
attended his ministry.
If now we add to the names of the original members of the
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