1860s

The Civil War raged from April 12, 1861 to April 9, 1865, and I expected to find some reference to it as I read the Session minutes from the 1860s. There was nothing. There was also no mention of mission activities, financial records, weddings, baptisms, or deaths in the congregation. It appears that Session did not meet except to receive new members.

But in 1868 an incident appears to have shaken the congregation so deeply that a special Session meeting was called on Christmas Eve to deal with it. Let the minutes tell the story:

Dec. 24, 1868
The Session met at the office of Dr. Garver [clerk]. Present Rev. H. M. Shockley, the Moderator, with Elders … The moderator stated, that he had called the Session together for the purpose of taking some action in regard to the ringing of the bell on the fourth of November upon the receipt of election news, late in the evening, whereby some of the members of the Church have been aggrieved. … On motion, the Deliverance was adopted as amended. The Clerk then read the Deliverance as amended, which was approved …

“Whereas, Upon the evening of the Fourth of November, the bell of the First Presbyterian Church was rung, and it has come to the ears of the Session that thereby some of the members of the Church were aggrieved, and

“Whereas, It is necessary for the good of the church, that there should be unity and love swelling among the members thereof,

“Therefore, It has been deemed expedient by the Session to publish from the pulpit the following declarations,” viz;

Declaration 2nd
“The Session disapproves of the use of the Church, or any of its furniture for any demonstration of political character, but believes that such proceedings tend to produce an unchristian feeling in the Church, and destroy the harmony necessary to its well-being, and are altogether improper and out of place.”

Declaration 3d “The Session regrets that such proceeding has taken place, and that injury has been done to the feelings of any member.”

Declaration 4th “There is not to be any construction placed on this Deliverance of a political character, or made to imply that the church will not publish the Truth against Wrong, from whatever source it may present itself, whether it be
from individuals or organizations.”

By Order of the Session, Dec. 24th, 1868