I thought that these made good companion pieces. Jan. 10, 1903 McDonald PA Outlook Old Church Dissolves: Affairs of Miller's Run Congregation Being Closed up. The Miller's Run Presbyterian church, near Venice, will son be of the past, the committee appointed to dissolve the organization having issued letters to the few remaining members. The church was organized 125 years ago, and the congregation was one of the most flourishing in the community, but it had gone back gradually of late and the remaining members refused to meet the bills. The presbytery decided to dissolve the church. The Rev. Dr. William SMITH preached to the congregation for ** years. Most of the Miller's Run congregation have united with the McDonald church. Country Church Being Restored Near Venice By James F. MULLOOLY (There are several photos and drawings associated with this article.) Dec. 22, 1960 McDonald PA Record-Outlook Like the legendary "Sleeping Beauty", the Miller's Run Presbyterian church has been recently awakened from a 60 odd year lethargy by the kiss of the carpenter's saw and hammer. The "Prince Charming" is the Miller's Run Cemetery Association, headed by William A. LINDSEY of R. D. 2, Washington-an octogenarian of rare memory and an indomitable urge to preserve this historic jewel nested in a sylvan section of Cecil Township, just outside Venice. Two years ago the rural meetinghouse had all but receded into the underbrush, but through the efforts of the association mentioned above, it has emerged as a showplace for those who care to inspect this specimen of early pioneer workmanship. The building was erected in 1836 in the eventful period of President Andrew JACKSON's administration-and it saw the groundwork laid while Abe LINCOLN and Jeff DAVIS were united in a common cause-the Blackhawk Indian War in Wisconsin. This not only the story of Miller's Run Church, but also the story of Will LINDSEY, a man who has helped restore the tiny house of worship to what it used to be in the days of his youth. Here it was that Will was born and reared on an adjacent farm-and it is with the help of his excellent memory that details of reconstruction were made possible. Will LINDSEY recalls the many Sunday mornings-the air filled with the crack of harness leather, the sharp neigh of impatient horsed, and the soft clump of a bay, shifting a fore leg. These were the sounds mingled with the choir voices, as they perhaps sang the hymn, written by Dr. William S. PITT which so aptly describes the wee kirk-"Come to the church in the wildwood, oh, come to the church in the dale-no spot is so dear to my childhood, as the little brown church in the vale." But let Mr. LINDSEY tell you of the Miller's Run Church, as he remembers it from his boyhood in the area: "Miller's Run Presbyterian Church, located five miles north of Canonsburg, and one mile south of Venice, and a half-mile west of Rout 980 in Cecil Township, Washington County, was built in 18** to replace the first meeting house, which was a log structure erected between 1790 and 1800. "The most authentic history of the church was read at a celebration on May 14 and 15, 1873, at which time Dr. William SMITH delivered an address wherein he gave the story of the congregation from its beginning. This was the 50th anniversary of the settlement of William SMITH, D. D., who was pastor of the church from 1823 to 1873. "Here is an excerpt from the address of the Rev. William SMITH.the Miller's Run congregation was organized about the year 1800, as the name appeared for the first time in the records of the Ohio Presbytery of that year. It was in this year that the Rev. John WATSON was ordained and installed as pastor. He died in 1802 and was succeeded by James DUNLAP, who preached until 1812. "Rev. Andrew WYLIE served as pastor from 1813 to 1817 and was succeeded by Rev. William MACMILLEN who was pastor until 1823." "All the ministers named above were presidents of Jefferson College at Canonsburg and Dr. William SMITH was professor of languages at Jefferson College for 44 years during his pastorate of 51 years at Miller's Run Church. Dr. SMITH further related that he was ordained into the office in 1824 but never formalized as pastor of the congregation. "The following are the names of the Elders when he (Dr. SMITH) commenced his ministry: Alexander MCELROY, John AIKEN, William SIMPSON, John LINDSEY, Andrew VANEMAN and James JERVIS. "The first meetinghouse was very uncomfortable and when the weather was favorable the congregation preferred to meet at the tent in the grove a little below where the caretaker's house now stands. The tent, as it was then known, was made of large split white oak logs hewn smooth on one side and was the universal furniture for seats, communion table, and an elevated dais for the pulpit from which the minister delivered his sermon. "There was no roof over the tent, but great oaks, walnut and hickory trees and other magnificent forest trees of that time gave them protection and shade. "Across the road from the church was a grove of great oaks where the church-goers tied their horsed before the services. These trees have all been cut down in recent years and all that remains are the stumps, some of which measure up to six feet in diameter. Counting the growth rings of these stumps indicated that these monarchs of the forest, when cut, were from 175 to 200 years of age. "No services have been held there since the year 1896, and over the span of the many decades the church building disintegrated to a very poor condition. "The church property consists of 8 ½ acres of ground and was incorporated in 1888 as the Miller's Run Cemetery Association, under the management of five directors elected annually. Annual stockholders meetings were held each year from 1888 to 1830 for the election of directors and officers. Since that time, some of the directors and many of the stockholders have passed on or moved away. "The corporate books and papers were lost and new generations of descendants grew up and all trace of the church history forgotten. However, one or two stock certificates found among old papers led to the discovery of the books and stockholders of the association. "At a meeting of stockholders in January, 1959, a new board of directors and officers were elected. At this time they took immediate steps to rebuild the old church and improve the manse house and property in general, all of which were in a deplorable condition. "The current board of directors, elected for 1960, are as follows: William A. LINDSEY, president, John W. HERRIOTT, vice president; Miss Milocent HERRIOTT, secretary-treasurer; Miss Laura ROBB, and George THOMPSON. Such is Mr. LINDSEY's account of the church history-much more can be said of the church's interior, but if the reader wishes t be transported back to the early days of this structure-all he needs to do is drive out to Venice and view the quaint pews and lectern-also the cuspidors, circa, 1835-a large hole beneath each pew to accommodate the tobacco-chewing members.