This Day In History February 5 - 11, 2012
(changes weekly; click on title above or on the month navigation link for previous entries on Presbyterian history)
On Feb. 5, 1723 (in today's calendar, see dating), the Rev. John Witherspoon was born. He was a Presbyterian clergyman, the only clergyman to sign of the Declaration of Independence, a Continental Congress member (1776 - 1782) and president of Princeton University (elected Dec. 1767; took office in August 1768). Photo courtesy of Independence National Historical Park.
On Feb. 7, 1954, the Reverend Dr. George MacPherson Docherty of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church preached a Lincoln Day sermon titled "A New Birth of Freedom." In the congregation was President Dwight Eisenhower. The sermon helped to convince the President to support pending legislation in the U.S. Congress to amend the Pledge of Allegiance to insert the phrase Lincoln used at Gettysburg, "under God." Congress passed the legislation and Eisenhower signed it into law on June 14, 1954. Photo taken on Feb. 7, 1954 with (left-to-right) Rev. Docherty, President Eisenhower, and unidentified man and woman.
On February 8, 1779, The Rev. Moses Allen was drown while attempting to escape from a prison ship. In 1778, he had entered the army as chaplain and was taken prisoner. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, February 1, 1774, and on March 10, 1775, was ordained at Charleston, S. C., and installed pastor of an Independent Church at Wappetaw. In 1777 he resigned his charge and moved to Liberty County, Ga., where he became pastor of the Midway Presbyterian Church; but the next year his congregation was dispersed and his church burned.
On Feb. 10, 1925, Atlantans kicked off an endowment campaign for $250,000 to seek to move Columbia Theological Seminary from South Carolina to the area. The seminary moved in 1927 to Decatur, Georgia. Started in 1828 in Lexington, Georgia, the Presbyterian Theological Seminary moved to Columbia, SC, in 1830 (Shown is the seminary's historic Columbia building).
Missions to Mexico exhibit covers the first Presbyterian missionaries (independent, PCUSA, PCUS, ARP, etc.) from the mid-1800s to the recent decision by the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) to terminate its 1980 joint mission agreement with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Learn about a newly scheduled Mexico Mission conference to be held May 14-15, 2012. Rare artifacts and photos, including a 19th century side saddle owned by Melinda Rankin, the first Presbyterian supported, independent missionary to Mexico.
Pearl Harbor & WWII: Through the Eyes of Chaplains and Valley Residents
A new exhibit has opened which commemorates the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and the United States' (and Swannanoa Valley's) involvement in World War II.
Answering the Call: Religion and Chaplains during the Civil War exhibit unveils the little known history of chaplains during the Civil War. It includes rare artifacts, books, photos and documents that cover the various roles chaplains played at the battlefield, camp, hospital, prison, library, worship and burials. Click here for more information on the Civil War Chaplains' Exhibit. This exhibit is open through October 2012 and additional material is constantly being added.
Montreat - Evangelists, Preachers & Singers Exhibit
As the oldest religious conference center in the Southeast, Montreat has always attracted nationally and internationally known preachers and evangelists — Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists and others, who have preached or lived in Montreat. This exhibit looks at: J. Wilbur Chapman,
Billy Sunday,
R. A. Torrey, A. C. Dixon, Rodney "Gypsy" Smith,
Peter Marshall, Billy Graham and more!
Presbyterian Missionaries and Ministers Databases
are
being uploaded to this site, under Bios tab above. You also can click here. These databases are starting with early ministers and missionaries (pre-1860)
and are being researched by teams of volunteers and staff at the Presbyterian Heritage Center. If you have biographical information on ministers and misionaries, and especially photos, please email us.
E-Flip Online Books and Reference Sources
(allow popups on your browser;
click on image above or one of three e-book links below) The Ministerial Directory (1898)
Centennial Celebration: Presbyterian Women — We are preparing a display on the history of the Woman's Auxiliary (1912) of the Presbyerian Church in the U.S. This group became Women of the Church and later with reunion, Presbyterian Women. The exhibit opens in 2012. If you have a photo of the Woman's Auxilliary for the Presbyterian Church that you can loan or donate for this special exhibit, please call us (828) 669-6556 or send us an email. Thanks. Click here.
New downloadable programs (leader guides, materials for group members) on Presbyterian history, missions and more will soon be available on this web site. If you would like to be notified as these modules become available, click here to send us an email!
Joyful, Joyful: Psalters & Hymnals, a 500 year Musical Journey Exhibit
A new exhibit will open in Fall 2012 featuring rare volumes from Genevan Psalters to early hymnals to the 2013 Presbyterian Hymnal. Little known facts, musical recordings and artifacts over the centuries will help prepare you for the unveiling of the 2013 new Presbyterian Hymnal.
1540s Psalter illustration of musicians, above; Ethiopic Ge'ez Psalter, circa 1700s.
Photo Collections
We are starting to provide online access to pictures.
Click to see: Stegall Collection (Congo), 1915 - 1940s.
1782) and president of Princeton University (elected Dec. 1767; took office in August 1768). Photo courtesy of Independence National Historical Park
Civil War
