This Day in Presbyterian History

With regrets, the hour is late, our time is short, and I would like instead to simply point our readers to one of the best web sites I’ve seen for presenting a wide variety of plans for reading the Bible in the coming year.
If you have not been in the practice of reading through the Bible at least once per year, I strongly encourage you to make this a habit. It will pay great dividends in your spiritual life. With that said, here is the link, with some of the most interesting plans I’ve seen in a long time–something for every interest or life situation:

https://sharonrpc.org/2021-bible-reading-plans

Two Good Guides
by Rev. David T Myers

The situation was bleak. Barely into the American Revolution in the colonies, British forces in the future United States of America were winning everywhere. If something could be done even by a small military victory, it might revolutionize the American people to continue on to win their independence. That need was supplied by the military victory at Trenton, New Jersey on December 26 1776.

Reeling from their defeat on Long Island, New York, General George Washington realized the need for a victory over the British Forces. Choosing the 900 member Hessian mercenary force in Trenton, New Jersey might be the answer. But to march in frozen conditions was a challenge to a hungry and decimated army. At best, Washington could summon somewhere around 2400 soldiers. And there was a “little” matter of a Delaware River in winter to cross to get to the German encampment. For that reason, Washington instructed that “two good guides” be furnished with each brigade, to guide them to their target.

Among those “good guides” were three privates in the colonial militia of the area, all members of the Presbyterian Church of Pennington, New Jersey. Their names were David Laning, John Guild, and John Muirhead. All three were commanded by Gen Washington to dress in civilian clothes for their important mission and ride ahead of the American forces.

David Laning had actually been captured by the British forces several days before the intended mission and put under guard in Trenton. He took advantage of a distraction by his German guard and made his escape to the house of a friend. The next day, disguised as an elderly wood cutter, he was able to cross the Delaware River again and rejoin his fellow Presbyterian members back in camp.

We have all seen the famous painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware on his way to Trenton. Each year, it is a scene which is recreated by American citizens in the area. On that night, we know the story of complete surprise to the celebrating Hessian troops, some 900 of whom were captured by the victorious American patriots. Actually, it was David Laning the Presbyterian guide who signaled the attack to take place. And the rest is history, as they say.

The small victory brightened the horizon of the colonists. The next battle fought was that of Princeton, New Jersey, which was also a victory of the American revolutionaries. The tide was beginning to turn.

Words to Live By:
Time and time again in these posts of Presbyterian History, we have seen faithful and courageous Presbyterian men and women take their place in important missions for God and country. Don’t think, Presbyterian reader, that all such opportunities for service are only in the past. Look around in your area and see with the eyes of faith, opportunities to glorify God and serve Him in church and state. Then, give of yourself, your gifts, and talents, to be that one to “stand in the gap” for Christ.

Tell Me the Old, Old Story —

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David.

In order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

While they were there the days were completed for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

But  the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

for today in the city of David there  has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased:

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this things that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they came in a hurry and found their way  to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

And all who hear it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Luke 2:1 – 21

Our post today comes from Rev. David T. Myers, our founding writer.

Dear readers of This Day in Presbyterian History!

Yes, I know that this is Christmas Eve!  But a post on Robert McGill  Loughridge  is not out of the question, since he was born on this day, December 24,1809, in Lawrenceville, South Carolina.  And what his calling to is unique in this day!  He was all his life as a missionary to the native American tribes of our great land. 

Much of this early  years are not given to us in the historical records.  His family, and earthly life are not detailed for us in the the pages of history.  We know that his college years were at Miami of Ohio, from which  he graduated from in 1837.  We know that  he followed up his college training at Princeton Seminary, but only for one year. Upon the death of his father, he returned home, but continued up his calling to spiritual work by being taught by his pastor for two years.

Licensed and ordained  to preach  by the presbytery of Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April  1741, he was appointed as a missionary to the Creek Native American tribe.  He appeared before the leaders of that tribe with the request to begin a school for their children AND to preach  to them and their parents the glorious doctrines  of the Bible.  He was turned down flat by the Indian chiefs and their families in the matter of the gospel, but was given permission to begin the school for the native American families.  

To this, our missionary replied that if the gospel of the Lord Jesus was not to be included in his calling to them, then he would  have to go to some other native American tribe!  They discussed his statement for several weeks, and then gave him permission to teach and spread the gospel of the Christian religion!

Missionary Rev. Robert Loughridge would stay and minister the blessed good news of the gospel, for the rest of his life.

Words to Live By: 
Faithfulness to one’s calling, especially  in  gospel proclamation, is essential as a servant of the Lord.  Let us all reconnect to our spiritual calling this Christmas season, in the new year, and beyond, whether it be in the home, through our  occupations, and out the church doors.

Our post today is drawn from THE NEW YORK OBSERVER, an old 19th-century Presbyterian newspaper. As you read, remember that the church is, of course, the people and not the building. Still, it is interesting how place comes to hold the memories and emotions that sum up the years. 

THE OLD CHURCH.

The days had woven themselves into months, and the months had grown silently into years, since I had entered the dear old church. And now my tired feet were turning thitherward once more. Ah, me! that it should be so, but I fear those feet have wandered far from the narrow way they had entered, in the long ago, beneath these sacred walls. Along the dusty highway of life, over its high mountains of danger and temptation, from whose summit I had caught visions of far off, fair Beulah; down into its deep valleys of sordid care and strife, into whose gloom no glimmer, even, of the heavenly brightness had ever entered, to the sound of funeral dirges, and of wedding marches, these weary feet have toiled, until at last they have come again to these sacred portals.

It is not a beautiful church; indeed, I believe people generally call it a very ugly one. But to me, the deep, low galleries, the tall, massive pillars, with the vast open dome brooding over all, are beautiful, for they are draped about with the prayers of the saluted dead, and the sweet peace of the “first love,” lingers like incense in the shadows. Even as I enter the narrow doors, the deep joy of the olden time, the trustful early love that was content to lay all things at the Father’s feet, and leaning on His bosom, wait calmly for the future, came stealing to my heart again.

Over there it was, I stood on that golden Sabbath morning, when God’s ambassador spoke to me in the presence of his people, saying: “Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He loves you, and gave Himself for you?” And the peace that passeth knowledge came to my soul as I answered, forgetting the people and looking only into the face of the Lord—“I do.”

Then came the touch of the baptismal waters, and the words, “I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” And I stood in the presence of that crowd of seen and unseen witnesses, with His vows upon me. He only knows how sadly those baptismal robes have been stained, how often those vows have been broken.

In that corner pew I sat when first I took the emblems of my Redeemer’s dying love, while through my heart, above the tumultuous waves of love and adoration, went singing only these words, “Broken for me! Broken for me!”

Oh! it is to the weary wanderer like coming home again; home to sweet, sacred memories; home to loving hearts and warm welcome words. They are nearly all here that I used to meet on those olden Sabbaths; truly there are some vacant places, but they are not many; the children are a little older grown, and perhaps there are a few more wrinkles and silver hairs, marking the fathers and mothers, but they are nearly all the same, and the loving words and warm hand-pressures are the same they gave to the youthful pilgrim. God bless them.

It is peace and rest, after all the conflict, just to sit quietly here, in the old place, and with closed eyes drink in the sweet peace and joy of past and present pardon. To listen with a full heart to the well-known, well-loved voice that speaks from the square old pulpit, just the text my wayward heart needed: “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Yes, that was the God-sent message, to trust Him. In the past I had, indeed, commited my ways unto the Lord, but I had not trusted Him; and ever since I have been trying to shape them out myself.

To-day, please God, I’ll learn the double lesson: “Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him.” And perchance, in all the after-journey, whether I stand upon the mountain-top or go down into the valley, alike to both will come visions of fair Beulah, and back to heart and life shall come the early love and holy influences of this old church, to grow and broaden, till by God’s grace I stand within the golden portals of the heavenly temple.

—J.C.C.

THE NEW YORK OBSERVER, 48.33 (18 August 1870): 257, column 5.

Words to Live By:
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
—Hebrews 10:23-25, KJV