Date of Award:

5-1952

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

School of Teacher Education and Leadership

Department name when degree awarded

Education

Committee Chair(s)

J. Duncan Brite

Committee

J. Duncan Brite

Committee

John C. Carlisle

Committee

E. B. Murray

Committee

E. A. Jacobsen

Committee

Miner E. Bruner

Abstract

The story of Presbyterianism begins, in general, with the story of Protestantism. Not many years after Luther's action in Wittenburg began a spiritual reformation, two men--Calvin and Knox--shared in the new form of Protestantism which was to come under the name of Presbyterianism. Largely by way of Scotland and England this denomination of Christianity moved into America early in the 17th century. When the United States government was formed officially in 1789, one man--John Witherspoon--was highly instrumental in the form adopted. Witherspoon was also a leader of the Presbyterian Church, and in that one year of 1789 he helped to influence the actions in two buildings a short distance apart in Philadelphia, resulting in: (1) the democratic and representative form of government we know in the United States, and (2) the democratic and representative form of government adhered to in the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America.1 The two forms are practically identical. It is little wonder that as America pioneered westward so Presbyterianism pioneered toward the Pacific Coast.

In 1864 Dr. Henry Kendall, General Secretary of the Board of Home Missions, toured the continent, mainly by stagecoach, for the purpose of studying conditions first hand. He crossed prairie, desert, and mountains. On his way to the Pacific Coast he stopped in Mormon-dominated Salt Lake City, interviewed Brigham Young, and on his invitation preached in the Tabernacle. He later asked the Mormon leader if he had any objection to the Presbyterians entering Utah with their Gospel.1 Young replied, "No." That marked the first Presbyterian interest in Utah. However, actual work did not take place until seven years later.

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This work made electronically available December 9, 2011.

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