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VOL. IV*. RICHMOND
' ' V J
Presbyterianism
Virgil
By
The planting and extension of Presbyterianism
in Northeastern Kentucky is an interesting story
and worthy a place, I hope,, in The Presbyterian.
Cattlesburg, at the mouth of the Big Sandy
River was the gateway through which much of
the pioneer population from Virginia passed on
down the Ohio in Hat boats or by ox carts and
wagons to Limestone (Maysville) and out into
the blue grass of Central Kentucky. This region
along the Ohio is one of the most populous and
prosperous of Kentucky and West Virginia.
Prom Ashland to Huntington a distance of fourteen
miles, there are thriving cities, great and
REV. JOHN C. BAYLISS, D. D.
small. Ashland has a population of ten thousand,
Cattlesburg five thousand, Huntington
thirty-five thousand, and Normal, Hampton City,
Kenova and Central City with their great industrial
plants swell the aggregate population to
about, seventy thousand. Numerous passenger
trains on the C. & 0. railroad and hourly trains
on the splendid trolley line have brought Kentucky
and West Virginia into the elosest business
and social relations.
OLD BETHESDA.
The first organized church in all this region in
1819 was located at a point about a mile from the
present city of Ashland, composed of twenty
members and five ruling elders, four of whom
were Pogues from Augusta, "The Seed of Presbyterian
ism." The little church was served from
time to time by visiting ministers from Central
Kentucky and stated supplies. Among them the
Rev. John H. Condit, father of the present pastor
of the Ashland church.
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5siiong the Kentm
' Rev. L. H. Blanton, D. D., Danville, Kj
REV, JOHN C, HAYLISS, D. D.
It was a notable event to this whole region
when the Rev. John C. Bayliss, D. D., settled
with his family in an humble home near the
present city of Ashland. Few of your readers,
perhaps, ever heard the name of this distinguished
man called. He was born in Louisville. Kentucky,
in 1819, graduated from Centre College
in 1836, receiving the degree of 1). D. from his
Alma Mater in 1856.
Among his classmates and associates in college
were President Ormond Beatty, Governor B.
McGoffin, General John C. Breckenridge, and
the celebrated "alliterated," Samuel Burcliard,
D. D. After a year in Pinceton he was
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the pastor of the First Presbyterian church in
Covington, Kentucky.
After eleven years of consecrated labor, on account
of failing health, he resigned and became
the stated minister to the little Bethesda church
of twenty-two members in 1854. Just at the time
of the arrival of Dr. Bayliss, capitalists, with a
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REV. W. C. CONDIT, D. D
view of establishing great industrial plants, located
the town of Ashland on the Ohio River. A
new and ennstantlv inprpasinc nnnnlatir.n mnv-pd
in, and in 1856 Rethesda was abandoned and the
First Presbyterian church of Ashland organized.
This opened a wide field of usefulness to the
minister. Beside being a model pastor, developing
the ehurgh on all lines on the most Scriptural
basis, anticipating by half century almost the
up-to-date methods of church work, he took up
the work of evangelist in all this destitute region.
In a record of his labors which he left,
SHAN
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il Presbyter/an jt
HEffNPfiE5BYTEf?/AN '
I
HI 20, 1912. NO. 12.
tucky and in West
:ky Line
V*
he says: 4 4 As the only one in the field, it seemed
to he a duty to give all possible attention to all
the Presbyterian organizations in this section of
the Presbytery as well as in contiguous West
Virginia. Accordingly, my field extended from
Grenup Union to Marshall Academy (now
Huntington) and many out stations."
Noble words, breathing the mast evangelistic
spirit uttered by this gifted man whose great
soul dwelt in the frailest human tenements.
CLOSE OF MINISTRY IN ASHLAND.
The ministry of Dr. liayliss included the most
eventful period in the history of the country and
REV. SAM'L D. BOGGS, D. D.
the church, the period of the war between the
States.
Though anxious and often grieved, yet undislliaved.
hn kant. stonrlilv Bio iirrvr>lr TTIc
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ho tells us, in these troubulous times, was to
"feed the floek of God, by holding forth the
word of life in all its variety and not discussing
merely temporal issues, however important."
And as applicable to himself, he referred to
Archbishop Leighton who, when reprimanded by
a Synod for 'not preaching up the times' asked.
'Who does preach up the times'? It was an*
swered, 'All the brethren do it.' Then he replied,
'If all you brethren preach up the times
you may surely allow one poor brother to preach
up Christ and eternity.'
The Ashland congregation adhered to the old
Assembly while Dr. Bayliss' convictions were
with the Synod of Kentucky, which soon became
connected with the Southern General Assembly.
And so on the first Sunday in April,
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