OLDEST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE STATE ???????
A very recent Harrisburg magazine pictures the Paxton Presbyterian Church, built 1740, and calls it the oldest Presbyterian sanctuary in continuous use in the state. We won’t protest their claim, but it is believed that Donegal was built no later than 1740. Martha Bladen Clark, who was an authority on our history and was one of the organizers and first president of the Donegal Society believed Donegal was built as early as 1732.
That date, 1732, also was claimed by no less than Samuel Evans, co-author of the well-known Ellis and Evans Lancaster County history published in 1883. Mr.Evans, whose great-grandfather was Col. Alexander Lowrey, was Donegal’s Clerk of Session for many years in the late 1800’s. He at one time lived in the still-standing 1762 Marietta mansion that Col. Lowrey built, before later moving to Columbia. An 1878 photo of the Lowrey home can be seen in our narthex bookcase.
As for Donegal’s construction date, it is unfortunate that while we have written confirmation of the date of founding (1721), we cannot prove any date for our building. If any such information should ever appear in a letter, it would be most welcome.
DONEGAL’S 4TH OF JULY SYMBOL
Donegal members are all aware of the Witness Tree story as it was retold by Dave Martin at the dedication of the newly beautified Witness Tree site. For those who may not have seen it, there is landscaping with benches on a stone surface, and in the center a permanent cast, or footprint, of the stump of our historic tree. We are grateful to all contributors and to the Donegal Society for achieving this great improvement. Donegal Chapter of the DAR, and memorials to Jap and Margie Heisey and members of the Slaymaker family accounted for major gifts for which plaques have been put in the church narthex case,
Though the event may not have happened in July of 1776, our Witness tree through these many years has been a symbol of freedom and independence. By their decision to surround the large white oak tree, members of the battalion and the congregation, knowing the British army was about to invade Pennsylvania, made a certain and irreversible decision to sever all connection to Britain and cast their lot for the cause of freedom.
It has often been said that almost every able-bodied Donegal Presbyterian man served this country in the Revolution. Among them were 17 colonels most of whose names appear on the DAR monument in the church entrance area. We are told that only officers of the Revolution and French and Indian War are named on the monument. It is also a fact that the Scots-Irish were much more apt to have served in the military than those of other nationalities.
At one time it was said that as many as 40 veterans of the Revolution were buried in the Donegal cemetery, however the list of existing stones includes only twenty-one. We have information that names other veterans who are supposed to be interred at Donegal. It may be that their stones did not survive, or perhaps there were no markers. We also have a 1912 chart of the cemetery that lists 91 unmarked sites where it is believed there were burials. Flags are put on the graves of all veterans before Memorial Day by the Maytown American Legion. This year the 13-star flag was used for Revolutionary soldiers.
Regarding the Declaration of Independence, we are reminded that its adoption was uncertain until a Scotch Presbyterian pastor, the venerable Rev. John Witherspoon, member of the Continental Congress, made this “fiery, fearless utterance.” “To hesitate at this moment is to consent to our own slavery. The noble instrument on your table, which insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in this house. He who will not respond to its accents and strain every nerve to carry into effect its provisions is unworthy of the name of freeman. Whatever I may have of property or reputation is staked on the issue of this contest; and although these gray hairs must descend into the sepulcher, I would infinitely rather that they descend hither by the hand of the executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my country.”
This is a powerful declaration, and the risks were just as he stated. Our gratitude and appreciation should be expressed more often. Dr. Witherspoon later became the president of the College of New Jersey, afterwards renamed Princeton.
HERE ARE TWO STATEMENTS OF FAITH THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME AS A RESULT OF A SERMON PREACHED ON JUNE 1, “310.15 AND CHANGE”. They were printed with permission.
In the bigger scheme of things, my “Statement of Faith” is relatively new to me and what I grew up believing. As a Lutheran, I was taught that I was born a sinner and I would die a sinner, no matter what I did. I did not understand the concept of faith, what it was or where it came from. That all changed September 17, 2000, the day my mother died. The day I heard God call my name. He lifted the curtain of haze. He told me, “It would be ok.” He carried me during those days and through the subsequent death of my father a few short weeks later. I finally understood what faith was and what it could do for me. With His love and this new-found faith I learned… To trust and believe that I am not alone. That no matter what, no matter how bad I feel or how hard I fall, He will be there to pick me up, I just have to let Him. It will be ok. To be humble and patient, it is His will not mine, I cannot change that. It is only by the grace of God that I am even here. He has blessed me greatly with the light and love of Christ. My “job” is to share that light with all I come in contact with. Be it something as simple as a smile, a kind word or act of kindness. (Jeri Culbertson)
I do believe in God, His greatness and His allowing His Son, Jesus, to give us hope and direction in obtaining salvation. I do believe that God is not an elderly person recording my infractions and transgressions in a book of life. I think God is spirit of concentrically electrical force far beyond our comprehension. Controlling all aspects of an infinite solar system. Like our remote controlling our TV set without our seeing the transmission of power. I believe in asking forgiveness for our transgressions to have peace of mind. I believe our mortal bodies return to dust. At the time of departure of our earthly lives our souls join the spirit of our All Mighty God. I believe that love, honesty, caring and forgiveness are essential to a proclaiming Christian. I believe that all humans have the right to seek God in their own manner. I know that in some of the Bible I am tainted by doubting Thomas. I believe that sincere prayer is a God given privilege and a crouch on our earthly pilgrimage. I make this statement in reply to your challenge. It was a most valuable exercise. (Paul Smith)
Last revised 18 September 2003.