“Hon. W.F. Stevenson Speaks at Loray” from the
Aug. 20, 1925 issue of The Landmark,
Statesville, N.C.
Concord Presbyterian Church
Celebrates Its 150th Anniversary—Around 1,000 Persons in
Attendance—Historic Church Has Grown a Minister Every Six Years for 150 Years
Existence.
The Concord (Iredell) Presbyterian church, Loray, organized in 1775 with Dr.
James Hall, noted educator, soldier, scholar and preacher as its first pastor,
celebrated its 150
th anniversary.
The address of Hon. W.F. Stevenson of Cheraw, S.C., Congressman from the
fifth South Carolina district, was an outstanding feature, as was also a sketch
of the history of the church by Rev. T.M. Stevenson. The present pastor, Rev.
S.L. Cahtey, president, and the morning program began at 10:30 o’clock.
Approximately 1,000 people—members of the congregation and friends from far and
near—were in attendance. A picnic dinner was served at noon. The afternoon was
given over to reminiscences by two former pastors, Revs. W.C. Brown of
Statesville and E.D. Brown of China Grove. Rev. P.P. Winn and Rev. C.M.
Tidball, earlier pastors of the church, were unable to be present.
The morning service opened with the pastor’s invocation, followed by the
address of welcome by Mr. W.O. Morrison, present member of the Concord church,
who expressed pride in the past history of the institution and a faith in its
future. Greetings were extended by Mr. R.R. Clark for the First Presbyterian
Church, Statesville, and by representatives of the Shiloh, Clio, New Salem and
Stony Point churches.
Bethany Presbyterian church was organized also 150 years ago and is
described as a “twin sister” of the Concord church. “Daughters” of Concord are
Shiloh, Clio and Salem, and “granddaughters” Taylorsville and Stony Point. The
mother church is the First church, Statesville.
The first congregation of the Concord Presbyterian church met for worship in
a log structure at the rear of the present building. The old communion cup,
used at that time, is still preserved as a valued relic.
The historical sketch of the church, written about 16 years ago by Dr. S.W.
Stevenson of Mooresville and read today in published form by Rev. T.M.
Stevenson is an interesting review of the people’s devotion to the cause of
their God and loyalty to the faith of their fathers. A century and a half
past—and the rural congregation carries on in the forward march of
Christianity!
Concord church is spoken of as “the center of as pure religion and sound
morals as are to be found anywhere.” A long list of illustrious sons and
daughters of the little church includes physicians, lawyers, statesmen,
soldiers and ministers. It is said that this church can boast a record probably
unsurpassed anywhere, that of giving to the Christian world an average of one
minister for ever six years of her life.
Rev. S.L. Cathey, present beloved pastor, has served the Concord church
since 1917. The membership is now 373.
Southern Presbyterianism
Hon. W.F. Stevenson presented as a distinguished son of the Concord
Presbyterian church, “One who has attained a marked degree of success,” spoke
interestingly at this time of the principal sources of Presbyterianism of the
Southern General Assembly, discussing the “kind of stuff” of which the early
defenders of the Presbyterian faith were made and the responsibility attaching
t such a heritage as is the Presbyterian church’s today.
The Congressman outlined as three principal sources of Presbyterianism the
Huguenots from France, the Dutch, and the Scotch from Ireland. The Huguenot
movement was largely local, he said; the Dutch settled for the most part in New
York and other northern states. It was the Scotch who came here to trade who
were really the progenitors of Presbyterianism in this country.
Born of sturdy stock and strengthened by persecution and trials, the
Scotch-Irish have evern been a dominant force in the religious life of a nation
which, according to Congressman Stevenson, has a form of government founded on
the genius of John Calvin.
The Presbyterian form of church government, which recognizes God and not the
Pope as the church head, which places the ministry on equality and which grants
the right of the church to select its preacher and elect its officers—this was
conceived by Calvin at Geneva, established by John Knox in Scotland and then
transferred to north Ireland from whence came the fathers of Southern
Presbyterianism in the United States.
Persecution by the King of England, continuing after many of the Scotch had
established themselves in Ireland. Worshipping under the Presbyterian form of
government, resulted in the exodus from Ireland to America between the years
1728 and 1750 of 252,000 Scotch-Irish. In 1750, declared the speaker, “the
stream started through the valley of Virginia and across North and South
Carolina, and that is where we got the Presbyterianism that amounted to
anything.”
In view of the persecution which these Scotch and Irish had been subjected
to before their departure from their native land, was it any wonder asked the
Congressman, that when England sought to reach the arm of imperialism across
the sea, Presbyterians from Maine to Florida for the most part were on the side
of the independence of the United States?
“Presbyterians knew their Bible. They remembered Christ’s doctrine that the
ruler should be servant of all and not dictator and tyrant.”
Springing from such spiritual ancestry, it is the high privilege and
responsibility of Presbyterians today to continue to translate, as did their
fathers, the Word and Christian principles into the life of church and
government.
Forty years ago, according to his statement, Congressman Stevenson severed
his connection with the Concord church at Loray. He has been, however, a
frequent visitor since that time. He is a scholarly speaker.
