A Historical Sketch of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Synod

A Brief History of the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church In North America Some of our brethren have asked me to write for publica­ tion a historical slketch of the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America; especially, that of the past 50 years. What I will write will cover two periodsi; name­ ly, from about 1792 until 1888; and second, 1888 to the present time. The first is drawn from sueh sources as we have at hand; principally, the “MEMOIRS OP THE LATE ALEXANDER IMc- LEOD.” These will be mentioned briefly, as a fuller account can be obtained by consulting the above mentioned Memoirs. The second part will contain a brief history of the General Sy­ nod as I have se»n it and took part in all its actions since 1888, a period of over half a century. The first ministers we will mention are Revs. William Gib­ son and James McKinney. These were soon followed by Messrs. McLeod, Wylie, Black, and Donelly. Alexander McLeod was born June 13, 1774, in the Isle of Mull, Scotland. His ancestry were of Danish origin. He came to New York from Liverpool, in 1792, at the age of 18 years. He ascended the Hudson River to Albany, and went directly to Princetown and Duanesburgh, lying south of the Mohawk, and west of Schenectady, and then to Galway and Milton, in Sara­ toga county, on the north side of the Mohawk river. Here he met some families from the Highlands of Scotland; among whom were the Glens, Burns, Spiers, Maxwells and McMillans, and others who made his coming both a pleasure and profit to all. He soon entered Union College, in Schenectady, and graduated with distinction in 1798.