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History of Orange County
Town of New Windsor
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Mr. Annan remained but a few years in Boston, when up on a decline of Presbyterianism in his church, and a consequent increase of independency, with some disagreement about the Psalter used, and the mode of singing practiced in the church of Scotland, he removed in 1786 to Philadelphia, under a call from the Old Scots church, now known as Spruce Street church. This congregation being engaged in a law suit to defend the church property, which was sought to be recovered from them by a seceding portion of the congregation, under the leading influence of Mr. Marshall, their former pastor. Mr. Annan left them in 1801-2, and removed to Baltimore, to take charge of a young congregation there* just formed. There he remained till 1812, and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. John Duncan, of great notoriety, on the subject of creeds and confessions. Mr. Annan died in 1818, from an injury received from being thrown from his carriage.
This gentleman is held in grateful remembrance in the congregations of the county to which he preached and regarded as a pious, zealous, devoted and eloquent divine.
We have seen the rock on the side of a bill, buried in the forest, on the parsonage farm at Graham's church, where this ardent and eloquent missionary of the cross, then in the strength of his manhood, in imitation of his master while on earth, spoke the words of truth and soberness in burning and melting strains to the enraptured multitude that flocked to hear him. These spots are fresh and green in the recollection of the aged inhabitants, and surrounded by a sacred halo still seen and revered by their descendents. Happy that people who can take pleasure in the remembrance of such incidents.
We have extracted this article from a memoir of Mr. Annan in the Christian Instructor of 1844.
Rev. James Scrimgeour.--The following Obituary we copy from the Index of Feb. 15, 1825.
Departed this life, on Friday morning, the 4th of Feb., Rev. James Scrimgeour, minister of the gospel at Little Britain, in the 68th year of his age. He studied theology under the direction of John Brown, of Haddington, and was settled as pastor of a congregation in the Burgher connexion, at Berwick, upon Tweed. He was one of the ministers that came to this country with Dr. Mason, at the instance of the Associate Reformed Synod in the year 1802. In August, 1803, he accepted a call from the Associate Reformed congregation at Newburgh, and was for some years pastor of that congregation. The last 12 years of his ministry and of his life, were spent in Little Britain, having been called by that congregation, and installed in his charge, the 24th of Jan., 1812. As a man, he was frank, sincere and friendly--as a son, a husband and a father, faithful and affectionate--as a Christian, an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile--and a preacher of the gospel, as thousands both in Scotland and America who have been long edified and delighted with his ministrations can witness, simple, grave, sincere,--
“In doctrine uncorrupt, in language plain,
And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste
And natural in gesture; much impressed
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds
May feel it too. Affectionate in look,
And tender in address, as well becomes
A messenger of grace to guilty men.”
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The theme of which he most delighted to dwell was the person and work of the Redeemer, exemplifying the apostolic determination, to know nothing among his people but Jesus Christ and him crucified. He died in the faith of that gospel which he preached, and left to his friends, who bless his memory, the cheering hope, that when Christ who is his life shall appear, then shall he also appear with him in glory.
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