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3The Rev.
John Black, Pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh,
PA from 1800 until
his death in 1849, and Professor of Latin and Greek Ancient Languages
at the Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh).
Born in County Antrim, Ireland and a graduate of the University of
Glasgow, Rev. Black served as Stated Clerk of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church from 1802 to 1836 and as Moderator of the RP General Synod
(or New Light) church in 1837.
[Photograph, at left, of the Rev. Dr. John Black, from an original photograph preserved at the PCA Historical Center, donated to the Center by
Mr. Thomas Reid, Jr., Librarian and Archivist at the Reformed Presbyterian
Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA]
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Speaking of Rev. Black, Samuel Wilson noted
that "His power as a pulpit orator won him fame all over the country...As a man of learning he had few equals in his day, and his facile and graceful pen gained him a large circle of admirers. As a man of learning he had few equals in his day, and his facile and graceful pen gained him a large circle of admirers." (Samuel M. Wilson, McClelland and His Men [1956].)
One of Rev. Black's sons, Samuel W. Black, later became the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Nebraska Territory in 1857 and fourth Governor of the Territory in 1859. He then served as Colonel of the 62nd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers but died in battle at Gaines Mills on 26 June 1862.
A daughter, Elizabeth Thomson, married James H. McClelland on 12 February 1835. She had been tutored by her father and is reported to have been a scholar in her own right in both ancient and modern literature.
The funeral sermon for another of Dr. Black's sons, the Rev. Andrew Watson Black, is available here. The sermon, titled "The Dying Christian's Estimate of Heaven," was delivered by his close friend, the Rev. John Niel McLeod. |
Additional resources:
Dr. Black's (1846).
See also, The Last Resting Place of the Rev. John Black, D.D., in The Reformed Presbyterian Advocate, 16.1 (January 1882): 12-14 and "Some Reminiscences of Rev. John Black, D.D.," by J.S.S., 16.9 (October 1882): 298-301.
Chronological bibliography for Rev. John Black [1768-1849]—
1813
Report of the trial of the late Rev. D. Graham. Reformed Presbyterian Church. Reformed Presbytery of the Middle District of the United States of America. Pittsburgh : Printed by John M. Snowden, 1813. 132 p. ; 22 cm. [AQM; DLC; PKT]
1816
Church Fellowship. A sermon preached at the opening of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, May 16, 1816. Pittsburgh [Pa.] : Printed by E. Pentland, 1819.
109 p.
1821
Review of The Mediatorial Reign of the Son of God, in The Presbyterian Magazine (December 1821): 561-574.
1827
A Sermon on National Righteousness and Sin delivered in the First Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, April 3, 1827, before a large assembly convened for the purpose of adopting resolutions against duelling.
Pittsburgh : Printed at the Pittsburgh recorder Office, 1827. 16 p.
1833
An Address together with the Constitution, By-laws and Standing Rules of the Pittsburgh Young Men's Society (Pa.) Pitsburgh : the Society, 1833. [23] p. ; 22 cm. [QQS]
1841
A Speech which might have been delivered at the meeting of Dr. Black's congregation on the evening of the 28th December, 1841.
Pittsburgh : Printed by William Allinder, 1842. 15 p.
1846
The Substance of Some Discourses on Baptism : delivered in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh : Printed by J. M'Millin, 1846. 52 p. ; 21 cm. [CTS]
1848
The Everlasting Kingdom : A discourse on the mediatorial dominion of Jesus Christ. Pittsburgh : Printed by W. Allinder, 1848. 32 p. ; 22 cm.
Minutes of S.A.P.V.
John Black; Joseph Reynolds Kerr; Andrew Morrow Black
1838-1847
Archival Material, 1 unlined ledger (20 cm.) in envelope ; 39 cm.
Note(s): Mss./ Caption title./ " ... friends of the Christian Sabbath convened in the first Presbyterian church ... calling Dr. Black to the chair, and appointing the Rev. J.R. Kerr, secretary."/ Included with ledger: Report from a committee recommending that a convention of friends of the Sabbath meet in the city of Pittsburgh on the "First Wednesday of May next [184-]" signed A.M. Black (1 unlined sheet of paper ; 33 cm.).
Author(s): Black, John,; 1768-1849.
Kerr, Joseph Reynolds,; 1807-1843.
Black, Andrew Morrow,; 1813-1901.
Corp Author(s): Sabbath Association of Pittsburgh and Vicinity.
[Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PKT)]
Minutes of the supreme judicatory of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America
presbytery from A.D.1801 to A.D. 1809 ; synod from A.D. 1809 to A.D. [1853].
Samuel B Wylie; James M'Kinney, Rev.; John Black; John Niel McLeod
1853. Archival Material 536 p.
Contains minutes of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America, General Synod and its predecessors. [Geneva College (PGC)]
Author(s): Wylie, Samuel B.; 1773-1852. ; (Samuel Brown),
M'Kinney, James,; Rev.,; 19th cent.
Black, John,; 1768-1849.
McLeod, John Niel,; 1806-1874.
See also:
Advice Given to her Children by Margaret, wife of John Black, on the day of her death, the 13th of Feb., 1853, The Banner of the Covenant (May & June 1853): 173-174.
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