|
SKETCHES OF PARIS
CHAPTER V.
Pages 28 - 37
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The
Presbyterians were the pioneers of religion
in Paris, having established the first
church in 1787, and continued ever since to
sustain an organization, and to-day are
sustaining two preachers, having two working
congregations and owning two church
buildings.
Rev. Andrew McClure, a man of devout and
energetic disposition, was the first
minister, and to him is due much of the
honor for the firm hold his people have upon
this community. He organized the
church, was its first leader, and remained
in charge until his death in 1793. The
first official act of the session of the
church, of which we have any record, bears
date of September, 25th, 1809.
The Ruling Elders then were Isaac
Orchard, John Curry, James Alexander, Joseph
Mitchell and Wm. McConnell.
It is probable that nearly all of these men
were Elders when the church was organized.
In the Spring of 1795, Rev. Samuel Rannells took
charge of the church and continued until his
death in 1817. During Mr. Runnells
ministry, as well as Mr. McClure's,
the church at Paris was connected with the
church at Ruddell's Mills, (or Stoner Mouth,
as it was known,) and after Mr.
Rannells' death this connection was
dissolved, and the Paris congregation
sustained a minister for his whole time;
having extended a call to the Rev. Wm.
Wallace, a voting man of brilliant
talents and ardent piety. He preached
in Paris for some time before his ordination
and installation as Pastor. Under his
ministration the church was blessed with a
revival and more than one hundred persons
were added to the membership. He died
in 1818. after a pastorate of about one
year.
At the death of Mr. Wallace, and for some time
afterward, the pulpit was supplied by the
Rev. Wallace, and for some time
afterward, the pulpit was supplied by the
Rev. James McChord, a man of
extraordinary ability and one of the most
eloquent speakers of his day. Mr.
Ranck, in his History of Lexington, says
he studied law with Henry Clay, but
after mature deliberation abandoned that
profession and attended a theological
seminary in New York, where he took the
foremost rank. His eloquence and
energy built up a large congregation in
Lexington, but he had his troubles, was
removed, and died May 266 1820, broken
hearted, aged 35 years. During the
Winter of 1819, or the Spring of 1820 the
Rev. John McFarland was called and
installed Pastor of the church. His
pastorate extended through a period of eight
wars and was terminated by his death on the
28th of July, 1828.
It would not be difficult to estimate the character,
attainments, and power of this remarkable
man were official records all silent.
It is doubtful whether any man in the
ministry, in Kentucky, of his day, impressed
himself more deeply
Page 29 -
upon the minds of those who came under his
influence and were the objects of his
ministry. His talents were of a high
order; his literary and theological
attainments extensive; his powers as a
reasoner were extraordinary; his sermons
were highly argumentative, remarkably clear,
concise, compact, forcible. As a
preacher he delighted to present the great
distinctive doctrines of the Gospel.
The relation, rights, privileges, and duties
of baptized children, as he understood them,
engaged his earnest attention. No
offense against the purity of the Church,
nor any infraction of public morals could
escape his withering rebuke. Sin in
all its forms was confronted and denounced,
unhesitatingly - sometimes bitterly - always
fearlessly.
Mr. McF. was
stricken down in the midst of his usefulness
and at the very post of duty. At the
close of public worship one night he was
found exhausted and fallen on the
floor in the session room. He revived
but never fully recovered from this attack.
In the summer he repaired to the mountains,
but was not benefitted. On his return
home he became so much exhausted that he had
to stop by the way, and on the 28th of July
he breathed his last at the house of Mr.
Thomas Rogers, near the present
residence of G. M.
Bedford, Esq.
He was so highly esteemed by the church that
his remains were interred beneath the floor
of the old church (where the residence of
James T. Davis now stands), just in
front of the pulpit.
Rev. James H.
Logan acted as a stated supply for a
while during Mr. McF's illness, and
probably after his death; and was succeeded
by the Rev. Mr. Moreland, who
preached to the congregation for a few
months.
MORE TO
COME
Page 30 -
Page 31 -
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
SOUTH.
Page 32 -
ST. PETER'S (P. E. )
CHURCH.
Page 33 -
Page 34 -
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Page 35 -
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The
members of the Catholic Church, prior to
1840, were now and then visited by
Missionary Priests of Louisville and
Cincinnati, among whom were the illustrious
names of good Father Baden, Father
Kenrick,
afterwards, Archbishop of Baltimore, and
others who worked hard in and around Paris.
In the year 1850 Paris and its surroundings were
attended to from Levington, the names of
Fathers McMahan, Force, Allen and
Perry are still well known to some of
the present congregation. Devine
services were held at this time in various
houses throughout the county.
Father Force, seeing the
Page 36 -
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Page 37 -
|
