He received a call from a numerous class of
People forming a Congregation in Paxton. He
accepted the Call & as the Pastor of the Paxton
Congregation was ordained in 1738 by the Pres-
bytery of Donegal. So settled down he sent for
his Father & family & brought them from Ireland
& settled them in Paxton.
A short time after this the Keverend M^. Bart-
raim who was Pastor of the Derry Congregation
died — these two Congregations w^ere adjoining
each other, and Derry Congregation was given in
Charge to M^. Elder, thereby seriously encreas-
ing his labors — He was blessed with an excellent
constitution & perseveringly industrious — He
continued to discharge his clerical duties in both
those Congregations with moderation, fidelity &
reputation until a short time of his death in 1792.
During M^. Elder's ministry the Whitefield
Excitements took a wide spread over the Presby-
terian Church — Many left M^. Elder in Paxton
& in Derry— The new Lights erected a Church in
30
Paxton & one in Derry — A M^. Roan officiated in
these two churches for the new lights. — the fever
heat of these New Lights soon began to cool and
abate — One after another of these religions fa-
natics, returned — their Churches rotted down —
their very foundations are not to be seen — they
live only in memory — M^. Elder was often heard
to say, that among the many Blessings bestowed
upon him, by the Giver of all Good, the return of
these People to his Churches again, during his
life, was among the greatest — He humbled him-
self before Almighty God for his merciful guid-
ance through these severe trials, & that now his
sore afflictions were healed by heavenly Love.
After M^. Elder was settled in Paxton (then a
frontier Country) the Northern Indians were
very troublesome to the early Settlers — they fre-
quently committed savage cruelties upon the In-
habitants by murdering & scalping whole fami-
lies— these scenes always were acted in the Sum-
mer Season, causing whole settlements to fly to
distant parts from danger — but in the winter
Season would return in safety. There were two
Summers when every man who attended Paxton
Church carried his Rifle with him — M^. Elder
also took his — What a sight to see the Reverend
Minister from the Session House to the Church
Door, carrying his rifle — then ascend the Pulpit
with his Bible in one hand & Rifle in the other —
sets his Rifle down beside him, while he preaches
the cause of Christ & performs divine Service.
After the death of M^. Elder his Executors
(four in number) were about to place a Tomb
31
stone over liis grave in Paxton Graveyard, a
person came forward with a request that he
might be permitted to inscribe an Epitaph for
the Stone — the request was agreed to unani-
mously— that Person was the Hon. William Ma-
clay, Member of the Senate of the U. States — a
talented man, well educated & a gentleman of
high standing in Penn^ — on the Marble Slab in
Paxton Graveyard the Epitaph is inscribed as
follows
The Body
of
The late Reverend John Elder
lies inter'd under this Slab
He departed this life
July 17th 1792
Aged 86 years.
Sixty years he filled the sacred Character
of
A Minister of the Gospel
Fifty-six of which he officiated
in Paxton
The practice of piety seconded the Precepts
which he taught, and a most exemplary
life, was the best Comment on the Christian
Religion.
Page 10
Presented as published in 1913. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
He received a call from a numerous class of People forming a Congregation in Paxton. He accepted the Call & as the Pastor of the Paxton Congregation was ordained in 1738 by the Presbytery of Donegal. So settled down he sent for his Father & family & brought them from Ireland & settled them in Paxton.
A short time after this the Keverend M^. Bartraim who was Pastor of the Derry Congregation died — these two Congregations w^ere adjoining each other, and Derry Congregation was given in Charge to M^. Elder, thereby seriously encreasing his labors — He was blessed with an excellent constitution & perseveringly industrious — He continued to discharge his clerical duties in both those Congregations with moderation, fidelity & reputation until a short time of his death in 1792.
During M^. Elder's ministry the Whitefield Excitements took a wide spread over the Presbyterian Church — Many left M^. Elder in Paxton & in Derry— The new Lights erected a Church in
Paxton & one in Derry — A M^. Roan officiated in these two churches for the new lights. — the fever heat of these New Lights soon began to cool and abate — One after another of these religions fanatics, returned — their Churches rotted down — their very foundations are not to be seen — they live only in memory — M^. Elder was often heard to say, that among the many Blessings bestowed upon him, by the Giver of all Good, the return of these People to his Churches again, during his life, was among the greatest — He humbled himself before Almighty God for his merciful guidance through these severe trials, & that now his sore afflictions were healed by heavenly Love.
After M^. Elder was settled in Paxton (then a frontier Country) the Northern Indians were very troublesome to the early Settlers — they frequently committed savage cruelties upon the Inhabitants by murdering & scalping whole families— these scenes always were acted in the Summer Season, causing whole settlements to fly to distant parts from danger — but in the winter Season would return in safety. There were two Summers when every man who attended Paxton Church carried his Rifle with him — M^. Elder also took his — What a sight to see the Reverend Minister from the Session House to the Church Door, carrying his rifle — then ascend the Pulpit with his Bible in one hand & Rifle in the other — sets his Rifle down beside him, while he preaches the cause of Christ & performs divine Service.
After the death of M^. Elder his Executors (four in number) were about to place a Tomb
stone over his grave in Paxton Graveyard, a person came forward with a request that he might be permitted to inscribe an Epitaph for the Stone — the request was agreed to unanimously— that Person was the Hon. William Maclay, Member of the Senate of the U. States — a talented man, well educated & a gentleman of high standing in Penn^ — on the Marble Slab in Paxton Graveyard the Epitaph is inscribed as follows
The Body
of
The late Reverend John Elder
lies inter'd under this Slab
He departed this life
July 17th 1792
Aged 86 years.
Sixty years he filled the sacred Character
of
A Minister of the Gospel
Fifty-six of which he officiated
in Paxton
The practice of piety seconded the Precepts
which he taught, and a most exemplary
life, was the best Comment on the Christian
Religion.