Page 65 - Pilgrims in Georgia

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In Savannah, where the capitol of the colony of Georgia was located, sometime
before 1755, the colonists of Presbyterian views petitioned King George II to allow
them to form a Church, call, a minister, and for land for a meeting place. Their
request was granted, and they first formed the church in 1755. It came to be known
as Independent Presbyterian Church and has not ever been denominationally
connected with larger Presbyterian bodies (though independence is opposite an
important tenet of the beliefs of Presbyterian government). It has been suggested

the reason for this is it may have been an unwritten stipulation that they not join
with other Presbyterian Church’s, particularly the Scottish in Darien to form a
presbytery because there was active opposition to the King by Scottish Jacobite's at
that time. However, what ever the reason, that independence has not hurt its
endurance or it’s theological integrity as it is still an active church today..

Rev. John Joachim Zubly
A Contribution of Conscience
After preaching at White Bluff Meeting House and in Charleston, South Carolina,
Rev. Zubly became the first pastor of Independent Presbyterian Church and served Independent Presbyterian Church
from 1760 to 1781. At first, he was an outspoken advocate of the rights of the

colonies under British rule, having some of his sermons published and distributed
articulating and illuminating issues concerning the right and laws of representative
government. Recognized by the Georgia Assembly he was ask to open their sessions
with prayer and sermon. In 1775 He was elected to represent Georgia in the Second
Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Upon arriving he indicated, "I came here with
two views; one, to secure the rights of America; second, a reconciliation with Great
Britain."., but when it became apparent that the initiative was moving to separate
from Great Britain, he became and outspoken against it,. Unable to reconcile
revolution with his understanding of his faith. He believed that it was violating both

God's law and international law.. After fleeing Savannah while under Revolutionary
rule he returned to his pulpit and continued to argue against the morality of
revolution under a pseudonym in a local newspaper. dying in Savannah just three
months before the British surrender at Yorktown Virginia. A Sermon by Rev. Zubly