A Historical Sketch of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Synod

82 REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH GENERAL SYNOD the writer held Communion there at two different times, nnd heard no words of dissatisfaction. The last pastor was Rev. T. R. Turner. Soon after the Synod of 1905, however. It was disorganized or rather died from Presbyterial neglect and mis­ management. In 1894, Cedarville College was organized, and in 1896 the new College building was dedicated during the meeting of Gen­ eral Synod. Soon afterward, the congregation erected a fine house of worship, and new life was seen in evidence. No evi­ dence of defection was seen anywhere. HoweVer, as time passed on, large sums of money were necessary to carry-on the work’ in the College, and erect more buildings to accomodate the growth of the student body, and provide for the expenses of this new and fact growing institution. The necessary funds were slow in coming in, and the demands were far in excess of the means to supply them. The burden was a heavy one indeed for a denomination of our .size, and dissatisfaction with the ad­ ministration of the institution, made failure only a matter of time. y . ' ■^ L ‘ ■ r ' ' . The congregation did all it could to meet all its obligations, but eventually the break came, to the sorrow of all concerned. _gv : . ■ • L , . After 20 years of hoping and waiting for better things to come, the President of the College resigned, and later, being pastor- of the Cincinnati congregation, went into the Presbyter­ ian Church, U. S. A. and acrried all the church property with him. Cedarville congregation was now left alone, but under the leadership of the late Rev. W. R. MeChesney, the new Pres­ ident, and the faithful help of Rev. F. A. Jurkat, new life was evident, and our hopes abounded. In the meantime General Sy- nod came into possession of the Mission at Houston, Ky., and it was put under the care of the Ohio Presbytery. After the death of Dr. J. F. Morton, several ministers were called to shepherd this old historic congregation at Cedarville. . . . These pastorates were comparatively short, and the congrega­