US: Baptists vs. Presbyterians..

U.S. Baptists vs. Presbyterians
(with the Catholics In-between).

The history surrounding the Presbyterians in the US begins as far as this posting is concerned when in 1638 and 1641, in Scotland, the Presbyterians signed a Covenant. This stated that they desired the Presbyterian form of church government and would not accept the Church of England as its official state church. Many signed in their own blood and wore red pieces of cloth around their necks as a sign of their religious beliefs. They became known as ‘Rednecks’. As late as 1940, at least one Scottish Presbyterian minister insisted on wearing a red clerical collar. In Ireland and Scotland such bitterness has a long-lasting taste.

Because of their dissatisfaction with the British government in Scotland, thousands took up the offer to move to Northern Ireland (Ulster) as the first Plantationists. The Irish chiefs and landowners, who were also in total dispute with the English had been dispossessed of their lands and many were forced into exile – The Flight of the Earls.

The Presbyterians lived a haphazard lifestyle in Ulster and were hounded by the Irish and badly treated by the English – Anglican - landlords. Their Churches were burned down and many were killed. In fact, on many Sundays, hundreds would sail from Ulster to Scotland merely to attend church.

The Test Act of 1704 caused particular hardship to the Presbyterians, as marriages conducted by their ministers were invalid. They were also barred from worshipping in their churches or holding public office. At this time they also became know as 'Blackmouths' due to the fact that during the summer, whilst holding their services outdoors in the hedgerows and fields they would eat blackberries. They were a hardy set of people through necessity.

Many were involved in the Linen trade and when the English placed additional tariffs on the Irish industry, they found the situation untenable. The exodus began.

The first small group of families began sailing to America in the 1690’s but by 1740, over a quarter of a million men, women and children had left. Their Presbyterian ministers sailed with them and as they had the basis of a well-organised church with them, Presbyterianism began to spread rapidly across America. Many moved to the South and mountainous regions. They wore red/orange neckerchiefs to signify their origins and became known as Rednecks. The later arrivals, after the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, when King William of Orange beat the Irish/Jacobites, became known as the ‘Billies from the Hills’, later changed to ‘Hillbillies’.

It is at this stage that the problems began. All Presbyterian ministers were required to have a university education and to be bible school trained. The Baptist Church did not require the same standards for their pastors so it grew in numbers. It soon overtook the Presbyterian Church and became the leading form of worship in America.

Because of the adversities the Ulster-Scots had suffered in the Lowlands of Scotland and later on in Ulster, they became the frontiersmen that forged their way westward in America. They were lured with the offer of free land and gladly accepted it. They would move into unknown territory and set up their homes and churches. As soon as such areas became peaceful, others would follow and once again they would move forward.

They became the backbone of America. When the war against the British started, they were well aware of the bigotry that would once again be forced upon them so they fought on the American side with great distinction.

When the Great Famine hit Ireland in the mid 1800’s, it was the turn of the poor Irish Catholics to follow the trail set by the Ulster-Scots. Once again, hundreds of thousands emigrated to the Americas. However, they were badly treated and most of the young men were basically press-ganged into the Military. The women and children, together with the old people were left in the major ports and cities to form ghettos. They were treated as outcasts and one of the few jobs open to them was as Firemen and Police Officers. That tradition continues to this day.

At present, in the US, there are estimated to be 27 million Scots-Irish (Ulster-Scots) – Presbyterians and Baptists whilst 17 million claim to be Catholic Irish.

So at the closing of this Saint Patrick’s Day, have a little thought for the Rednecks and Hillbillies – for without them, America would not be such a great Nation as it is.

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