New Year's Wishes From Log College Press

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It is a solemn thing to live! A solemn thing to live with the thought before us that we must one day face our record, — one day answer at the bar of God. It is with this thought that we ought to enter upon the New Year, and should resolve to live every moment of it so as to meet the approbation of God, to win from him the plaudit. Well done, good and faithful servant. If we carry this thought with us, and allow ourselves to be influenced by it, at the same time depending upon Divine help, we need have no fear as to the result. It will be a record that will be creditable to us. An earnest purpose to do right, steadily adhered to, is half the battle. Failure can come only from our neglect to avail ourselves of the help that is offered to us. — Francis J. Grimké, The Works of Francis J. Grimke, Vol. 3 (1942), pp. 385-386

Therefore conclude, every one for himself, 'It is of little importance to me whether I die this year, or not; but the only important point is, that I may make a good use of my future time, whether it be longer or shorter.' This, my brethren, is the only way to secure a happy new year: a year of time, that will lead the way to a happy eternity. — Samuel Davies, A Sermon on the New Year (January 1, 1761)

As 2023 draws to a close, and we prepare to embark on a New Year, we at Log College Press wish to pause and reflect on blessings received in the year past. Log College Press was acquired this year by Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. It is a great privilege to be a part of the seminary’s vision for the ministry. In September, we announced a milestone — there are now over 20,000 works available to read for free on Log College Press. The resources which have made available for the edification of the church body are in good hands, and we hope to continue to grow and expand them, in both print and digital form, in the year(s) ahead.

A few things to note for our readers:

  • An article by David T. Crum on The Christian Courage and Bravery of Stonewall Jackson was added to the Log College Review (accessible through membership in the Dead Presbyterians Society) earlier this month;

  • A more thorough review in recent weeks of periodicals, such as The Central Presbyterian, The Southern Presbyterian Journal, The Independent, The New York Evangelist, The Bible Student and Teacher, The North American Review, and others, has led to articles, letters and poetry added to the Early Access and Recent Additions pages by authors such as T.D. Witherspoon, Robert L. Dabney, Henry C. Alexander, Benjamin M. Smith, Margaret J. Preston, William C. Robinson, Oswald T. Allis, and many more, and this review continues;

  • Many interesting volumes have been added to the Compilations page, including an extraordinary wealth of 19th century Presbyterian Psalters and Hymnals; and

  • Many quotes by some of our favorite authors have been added to the DPS Quote Blog.

There is much to browse, and download, and we are always working to refine and improve, as well as add to, what we already have. Thank you, as always, for your interest and support. Stay tuned for more good things to come. From our homes to yours, we wish each of you a very Happy and Blessed New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving From Log College Press!

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Carlos Martyn wrote of the Pilgrim Fathers and the sufferings they endured that first winter they spent on Cape Cod in 1620, and then speaks of the blessings that they enjoyed the next summer when their harvest abounded. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Ps. 126:5).

Fowl were so abundant in the autumn, that "four men in one day killed as much as, with a little help besides, served the community almost a week." "There was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison." The fowlers had been sent out by the governor, "that so they might, after a special manner, rejoice together, since they had gathered the fruit of their labors;" this was the origin and the first celebration of the national festival of New England, the autumnal THANKSGIVING. On that occasion of hilarity they "exercised their arms," and for three days "entertained and feasted" Massasoit and some ninety of his people, who made a contribution of five deer to the festivity. Health was restored; household fires were blazing brightly; and in good heart and hope the lonely but thankful settlers disposed themselves to meet the rigor of another winter (The Pilgrim Fathers of New England: A History (1867), pp. 132-133).

As Americans gather around the Thanksgiving table today, it is fitting to praise our God for the blessings he has bestowed on the church, our nation, our families and ourselves. We at Log College Press give thanks to God for his good hand upon us in so many ways. We are thankful for Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and its ministry. We are thankful for our readers and supporters. We are thankful for the work of those who have digitized so many good old books. We are thankful for the labors of those Presbyterian men and women who have gone before us. Matthew Poole (an English Presbyterian minister) once wrote: “Ministers are living Books, and Books are dead Ministers; and yet though dead, they speak. When you cannot hear the one, you may read the other.” In spirit, we give glory to God that technology has helped us to make Log College Press a resource that aims to contribute to the edification of Christ’s Church.

Theodore L. Cuyler gives this counsel:

Thanksgiving Day is a fitting time to inventory your mercies and blessings. Set all your family to the pitch of the one hundred and third Psalm; and hang on the wall over your Thanksgiving dinner these mottoes — 'A merry heart is a good medicine' — and 'He that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast.' (‘𝐴 𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝐷𝑜𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑': 𝐴 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑎𝑦 (1897))

From our house to yours, we at Log College Press wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

What's New at Log College Press? - June 14, 2023

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It has been a while since we have updated our readers on what’s happening at Log College Press, but there is in fact much to report. As you may know by now, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary announced in recent weeks that it has acquired Log College Press, a partnership which is a tremendous step forward in our ministry. It is a tremendous privilege to associate with the seminary in our mutual efforts to edify the church body, in our case, by bringing American Presbyterian works from the past into the present, which makes for an exciting future.

We are very pleased to report that Caleb Cangelosi, the founder of Log College Press, will continue to serve as General Editor of the publishing side of Log College Press. Some of the planned forthcoming titles to be published include:

- A Plain and Scriptural View of Baptism, by Daniel Baker

- The Utility and Importance of Creeds and Confessions, by Samuel Miller

- The Broken Home: Lessons in Sorrow, by Benjamin Morgan Palmer

- Suicide: Its Guilt, Folly, and Sources, by Samuel Miller

- The Memoirs of John Leighton Wilson, by Hampden Coit DuBose

Andrew Myers remains the Website Manager for Log College Press. At this point in time, we are approaching 20,000 titles available to read online on the website. Members of the Dead Presbyterian Society have special access to certain features on the site, which include the Early Access and Recent Additions page, as well as the DPS quote blog.

Some highlights at the Early Access page:

  • Mary McLeod Bethune, My Last Will and Testament (an article that she published shortly before her death in a 1955 issue of Ebony magazine);

  • Sidney Lanier, Tiger-Lilies (1867) - this is Lanier’s one and only novel;

  • A.A. Hodge, Progress in Theology (1883) - Hodge’s contribution to a symposium on the subject which appeared in The Catholic Presbyterian;

  • James Kennedy, Thoughts on Prayer (1898) - Kennedy’s final publication includes a memorial of his life; and

  • Geerhardus Vos, Dogmatiek, Vols. 1-5 (1896) - this is Vos’ Reformed Dogmatics, handwritten, in Dutch.

Some highlights at the Recent Addtiions page:

  • William Munford Baker, Church-Planting in Texas: A Pioneer Sketch (1879);

  • Thomas Bloomer Balch, Reminiscences of Presbyterian Ministers (1877-1878) - a series of personal recollections that appeared in The Central Presbyterian;

  • Louis FitzGerald Benson, The Hymnody of the Christian Church (1927);

  • George Washington Cable, Mark Twain and G.W. Cable: The Record of a Literary Relationship (1960);

  • John Gresham Machen, Captain With the Mighty Heart: The Story of J. Gresham Machen (1967-1971), and Personal Reminiscences of J. Gresham Machen (1985) - the first being a 19-part biographical sketch by Henry W. Coray from The Presbyterian Guardian, and the second being a series of recollections by people who knew Machen personally from The Presbyterian Journal;

  • Gilbert McMaster, The Upright Man in Life and at Death: a Discourse Delivered, Sabbath Evening, November 7, 1852, on the Occasion of the Decease of the Rev. Samuel Brown Wylie, D.D. (1852);

  • Richard Clark Reed, The Gospel as Taught By Calvin (1896, 1979);

  • John Rodgers, A Brief View of the State of Religious Liberty in the Colony of New York (1773, 1838);

  • Charles Adamson Salmond, Dr. Charles Hodge (1881)

  • Thomas Caldwell Stuart, “Father” Stuart and the Monroe Mission (1927); and

  • Geerhardus Vos, De verbondsleer in de Gereformeerde theologie - Dutch original of The Doctrine of the Covenant in Reformed Theology] (1891).

This is an exciting year for Log College Press for many reasons, and, in our fashion, we have, this year, already taken note of John Witherspoon’s 300th birthday, Thomas Murphy’s 200th birthday, and we are looking ahead to the 200th birthday of A.A. Hodge, and the 300th birthday of Samuel Davies. 2023 is a good time to study the writings of these giants of the American Presbyterian Church. There is no time like the present to study the past.

Meanwhile, please feel free to browse the many resources available to our readers in print and in digital format. We appreciate hearing from our readers if they find matters needing correction, or if they have questions about authors or works on the site, or if they have suggestions for additions to the site. Your feedback helps the experience of other readers as well. Thank you, as always, for your interest and support. Stay tuned for more good things to come.

Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary's Interview About Log College Press

On March 28, Zack Groff of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary interviewed me about the background and purposes of Log College Press. If you’d like to learn more about why I started this website/ publishing endeavor, and why we think it’s important to collect and reprint the writings of and about 18th and 19th century American Presbyterians, please listen here!