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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF THE REV. ANDREW FULTON.

The Rev. Andrew Fulton was a native of Scotland; but of what particular part, the writer of this sketch has not been informed. The following particulars of Mr. Fulton's history, may, however, be relied upon as authentic:

He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Associate Presbytery of Kilmarnock, on the 17th of December, 1793. After about three and a half years' employment as a probationer, a part of which time was spent in Ireland, he was taken on trial for ordination, with a view of being sent on a mission to the State of Kentucky.

A particular application had been made to the General Associate Synod of Scotland, by several individuals residing in the State of Kentucky, for a supply of gospel ordinances. Kentucky, and that whole region west of the Allegheny Mountains, being in an almost wilderness condition. In answer to this application, the Synod chose two, who were willing to accept of the appointment, and sent them on that mission. These were Mr. Fulton and the Rev. Robert Armstrong, both of whom were ordained expressly for that mission to America. In the Christian Magazine for the year 1797, a periodical published for a number of years at Edinburgh, we find the following notice of Mr. Fulton's ordinanation. After having noticed the ordination of Mr. Armstrong, it is added:

"On Wednesday, June 28th, 1797, at Craigend, near Perth, the Rev. Andrew Fulton, the other missionary to Kentucky, was set apart to the ministerial office by the Associate Presbytery of Perth. The Rev. Mr. Alexander Pringle, of Perth, who presided on the occasion, preached from Mark xvi. 15

and 20: 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel unto every creature. And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them and confirming the word, with signs following. Amen.'-Mr. Fulton having satisfied the Presbytery respecting his soundness in the faith, by answering the questions of the Formula, was set apart by prayer and the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. Mr. Pringle delivered an address suitable to the design of the mission. The Rev. Mr. Alexander Allan, of Cupar-Angus, preached in the afternoon, from Acts xxviii. 28: Be it known, therefore, unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.' Seventeen ministers were present. The assembly was so large that the meetinghouse could not contain a fourth part of their number. The whole work was gone about in the open air, with the most becoming decency and reverence."

Messrs. Fulton and Armstrong sailed for America on the 8th of August following their ordination, and arrived in New York on the 13th of October. They proceeded on without delay to the object of their mission. There being at that early period no regular public conveyance across the Allegheny Mountains, our missionaries traveled on foot from Car lisle, Pa. to Pittsburgh. When they reached Pittsburgh, the winter was about setting in, on which account, it was judged inexpedient for the brethren to attempt descending the Ohio river until the succeeding spring. They, therefore, remained in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh during the winter of 1797-8, and were employed in preaching in different congregations in the vicinity, during that time.

Early in the spring, the two brethren proceeded to the ob ject of their mission. They descended the Ohio river to Limestone, now Maysville, in Kentucky, in one of the ordinary but rude boats, then the only kind of vessel used in convey. ing emigrants and merchandize, or produce down that stream, on which hundreds of majestic steamers are now continually plying. Kentucky, being at that time, the great point in the west to which the stream of emigration was flowing, our missionaries readily found others preparing for the same destination. They united with a family or two of emigrants in fitting out a boat for the voyage, and also performed their part of the labor in managing the boat.

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On the 28th of November, 1798, after their arrival in Kentucky, in pursuance of the instructions and authority committed to them, the two brethren constituted a Presbytery, under the name of "The Associate Presbytery of Kentucky,"

which name was afterwards changed to that of "The Associate Presbytery of Miami," in consequence of both the brethren, with the principal part of the people under their Presbyterial care, removing from the State of Kentucky, and one of them, with a large proportion of the people, settling on the Miami river, Ohio. This removal was occasioned by the prevalence of slavery in the State of Kentucky. These brethren being conscientiously opposed to both the principle and the practice of slavery, and the Associate Synod of North America having judicially condemned that evil, they, with the great majority of the people adhering to them, judged that the most effectual way to free themselves from any participation in that sin, was to leave a community where it was legally sanctioned. But to return to Mr. Fulton in particular.

An extensive field for the dissemination of the gospel soon appeared in Kentucky, and frequent applications for supply of gospel ordinances were made to the Presbytery. Calls for their constant labors were soon received by each of the brethren. Mr. Fulton accepted the call from the congregation of Drennon's creek, in Henry county, where he labored with distinguished diligence and success for the space of seventeen years. The greater part, however, of his congregation, for the cause already assigned, removed to the State of Indiana, and located themselves near Madison, Jefferson county, where Mr. Fulton himself was removed by the authority of Presbytery, in November, 1815.

Here also, for the short time that he was spared to his people, the blessing of Zion's King appeared to attend his labors, and his congregations were rapidly increasing in numbers. But before three years had fully expired, a fever terminated his labors and his life. He died September 10th, 1818, in the sixty-third year of his age.

His death was attended with some circumstances of peculiar trial to his afflicted family. Within a few hours of his death, Mrs. Fulton gave birth to a son, who was named after his father, and is now prosecuting his studies.

His remains lie buried in the church-yard at Carmel, the principal branch of his charge. He left a widow, two daughters, and the son above mentioned. The children survive at this time. His wife was afterwards united in marriage to Col. Morrow, now of South Hanover, Ia., but has lately deceas ed; his eldest daughter became married to the Rev. James Adams, of Massie's creek, Ohio; his other daughter and son, yet unmarried, reside in the neighborhood of Xenia, Ohio.

From the manuscripts which Mr. Fulton left behind, it appears not to have been his practice to write out his sermons in full, yet he usually prepared notes containing the particulars of his discourse, with most of his illustrations. The application is generally wanting in his Mss. notes. The specimen herewith given, appears as fully written as any found among his notes, the abruptness of which, in its conclusions, must be obvious to every reader. It was first preached at a private house, near Madison, Ia., when one adult and five children were baptized; and although it has to appear under the disadvantage of being but an unfinished draft or outline, yet the simplicity, both of sentiment and style, the solid doctrine which it exhibits, and the fervent piety which it breathes, give it a just claim to a place in this volume, and cannot fail to commend it as a healthful and palatable repast to all readers who have a taste for "the sincere milk of the word.”

The description given of the intellectual powers of both the missionaries, by the Rev. A. Pringle, of Perth, Scotland, in a letter to a friend in this country, was especially applicable to Mr. Fulton :-"Some," says he, "are perhaps endowed with more splendid talents; but their qualifications are of the solid, permanent, and useful kind-though they do not flash so much at first view, they improve and grow upon acquaintance; and will stand a winter's blast."

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