USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the South Congregational Church, New Haven : from its origin in 1852 till January 1, 1865 > Part 6
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In the bonds of the Gospel, and in the sweet hope of heaven,
I remain, faithfully and affectionately,
J. HALSTED CARROLL.
To Messrs. T. Horsfall, E. S. Minor, and others, Committee.
This final acceptance, by Mr. Carroll, of the call which had been tendered him, was responded to in behalf of the Society's Committee as follows :
NEW HAVEN, Feb. 15, 1862.
Rev. J. HALSTED CARROLL,
My dear Brother :- Your letter of the 12th inst., ad- dressed to the Committee of the South Church Society,
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was duly received, and laid before the Committee at a meeting held last evening; whereupon the following reso- lution was passed, which I am instructed to communicate to you, viz :
"Resolved, That the Committee have read with great satisfaction the letter from Rev. J. H. CARROLL, signifying his re-acceptance of the call extended to him by the So- ciety's Committee and the Church; and they trust that a kind Providence will fulfill all the good wishes expressed therein, regarding his restored health and future usefulness among us."
With fraternal and Christian regards,
I remain, very truly yours, E. S. MINOR, Clerk of South Church Society's Committee.
In the three or four months which elapsed between Mr. Carroll's acceptance of the call, and the com- mencement of his labors as Stated Supply, there was ample time for any who doubted his antecedents, to inform themselves fully on that head. And we may here remark, that if certain individuals had made a tithe of the effort to acquaint themselves with his real history, which they did to discover some stain upon his character, or some delinquency in his life, they would have been more than satisfied, if any thing good could satisfy them. They would have found that he was the son of distinguished parents ; that his father occupied positions of the highest em- inence in his profession, and all with great accept- ance and usefulness ; first, as successor to Rev. Dr. Beecher, in Litchfield, Conn. ; then as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church on Brooklyn Heights ; then as President of Hampden Sidney College, Va. ; and
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lastly as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. To the last men- tioned Church there were added during his ministry of five years and four months, 259 members, or an average of forty-eight per annum. Ill health at length compelled him to relinquish his charge, and after a few years of increasing illness, he departed this life at the age of fifty-five, with the words, " Christ is all my hope," upon his lips. The writer remembers him well, and can attest the truthfulness and fidelity of the following portrait, drawn by Rev. Thomas J. Shepherd, who now occupies the same pulpit which Dr. Carroll vacated in Philadelphia. He says :
" Dr. Carroll was largely endowed by nature and grace with the qualities which give success to the preacher and pastor. In person he was tall, slender, yet symmetrically formed. He had a complexion rather dark; an eye singu- larly fine and expressive; a countenance that easily took on a winning smile, or brightened into a glow of animation ; and a voice, withal, of great compass and melody, modu- lated ever with an exquisite taste. In manners he was uncommonly bland, graceful, fascinating. He had the rare faculty of making himself equally agreeable to people of all ages and of all ranks.
" In native intellect and studious culture, he was un- doubtedly superior to most men. He had in ample meas- ure the intuitive power of reason, and the imperial power of imagination. In College and in Seminary he studied hard, too hard indeed for his physical strength, yet so suc- cessfully as to gift the workings of his mind with a pro- digious force.
" In sensibility, moreover, he was quick, subtle, strong. He had a nervous organization which perhaps was too highly strung for the world's rough ways, but which made
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him keenly susceptible of affection, and enthusiastically ardent in attachment.
" He was, too, in executive talent, a more than ordinary man. He had the disposition as well as the ability to labor. He wrought his sermons with pains-taking fidelity, and with disciplined skill. He gave himself to the work of the min- istry with a zeal and self-forgetfulness that revealed not more the sense of religious responsibility than the spirit of indomitable energy.
"And all these qualities, native and acquired, were under the control of a profoundly scriptural and eminently con- servative piety. He loved truth, and sought it ever with an inextinguishable thirst. He loved the souls of men ; and, so long as his strength lasted, sought their salvation with an indefatigable earnestness. He was, in a word, a noble example of the Christian man and the cultivated minister."
Such was the father of Rev. J. HALSTED CARROLL, the present minister of the South Church, New Haven. The latter was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; made a pro- fession of religion at the age of thirteen years ; en- tered College before he was fourteen ; and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, in July, 1851. In the following year he entered Princeton Theological Seminary, and graduated in May, 1855. At the close of his second year of theological study, he was licens- ed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia to preach the Gospel ; and on the 30th of May, 1855, (the year he left the Seminary,) he was ordained and installed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Jamesburg, New Jersey. The exercises of the occasion were opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. McDonald, of Princeton. Rev. Dr. Hall,
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of Trenton, preached the Sermon. Rev. Dr. Hodge, of Princeton, then stated who Mr. Carroll was, and what studies he had pursued, which he said had been entirely satisfactory to the Board of Directors of the
Theological Seminary, and to the Presbytery. He next proposed a series of questions to the candidate, and also to the people, which were answered satisfac- torily, and then calling the Presbytery around the candidate, who took a kneeling position, offered up an impressive prayer, while the Presbytery were lay- ing their hands on the candidate's head. When the prayer was over, the candidate rose, and the several ministers present welcomed him as a member of their body. Rev. Professor Green, of Princeton, delivered the charge to the Pastor, and Rev. Dr. McDonald, the charge to the people. Rev. Dr. Hodge pronoun- ced the benediction, and then called upon the mem- bers of the Church to come and greet their Pastor, which was done by a large number. The Church of Jamesburg, over which Mr. Carroll was thus install- ed, is near the preaching-ground of DAVID BRAINERD, and within a few miles of the Church where those holy men, the TENNANTS, labored with such wonderful zeal and success. In the midst of these associations, and stimulated by such examples, Mr. Carroll enter- ed upon his labors, humbly desiring to emulate Brai- nerd's heart-wish,-" O that I was a flame of fire in the service of my God." Faithful labors, put forth in such a spirit, could hardly fail of producing a rich narvest. Accordingly, from the very beginning of his
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ministry, there was more or less seriousness among his people, and occasional conversions. In the course of the following year, (1856,) these cheering manifesta- tions deepened into a powerful revival, which affected not only his own congregation in Jamesburg, but also the neighboring congregation of Manalapan, where he labored a part of the time. A brief account of this revival was published in the New York Observer by Mr. Carroll, under date of
" JAMESBURG, Dec. 11, 1856.
" Since it has pleased God most signally to bless my own and a neighboring Church, and indeed this whole section of his vineyard, with the special out-pouring of his Holy Spirit, I take the liberty of sending you a brief narrative of the state of religion here at the present time, knowing it will prove a matter of rejoicing to you, as well as to the hearts of your numerous Christian readers. During last Spring, my Church enjoyed a delightful revival of religion, the influence of which has continued, and been manifest, more or less, ever since. But it is within the past six weeks that indications of the special presence of the Spirit have been seen, and the effects of his presence felt. In this period, besides the usual prayer meeting, we have held two weekly services in the Church, so eager and earnest are the people to receive the word of life. Indeed, never in this community has there been such an intense and pervading interest on the subject of the soul's salvation, as now. Christians are awake, El- ders are at work, meetings for prayer and inquiry literally thronged, and in going from house to house and from soul to soul, time and again is heard the cry, ' What must I do to be saved ?' And so universally is the influence of the Spirit of God felt, that I have not found five out of the thousand and more different individuals whom I have ad- dressed personally, who were not both willing and waiting to hear. With us, truly blessed is this scene and season. Of the ninety members received into our Communion dur-
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ing the past fifteen months, fifty-eight united on profession of their faith; and of the twenty-nine last Sabbath, twenty
on profession.
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" The revival in the neighboring Church the Manalapan) is even of greater extent and interest, if possible. In the first place, it is a new Church : and in the second place, they have never had a Pastor. These two facts lend an unusual interest to their refreshing, to them so unspeakably precious. It was my privilege to officiate at their first Communion season, the first Sabbath of October last ; and O what a day was that in their history,-memorable to saint and sinner. God was most sensibly and signally pres- ent in his sanctuary there, and has taken up his abode with them ever since, giving the same efficacy to the preached word, edifying his children, convicting and converting his foes. And here I would remark, that in both places and Churches, there were no means employed, or measures adopted, but the simple preaching of the way of salvation through the cross of Christ, and a meeting of inquiry to di- rect the penitent to the Lamb of God. There have been, during the revival here, upwards of a hundred anxious ones in the inquiry meeting,-between sixty and sev- enty cases of hopeful conversion. Of this number, between forty and fifty will probably unite with the Manalapan Church, and the remainder with the neighboring sister Churches. Truly before they called, God answered ; and the people with amazement exclaim, Behold what God hath wrought.
J. HALSTED CARROLL, Pastor of Presb. Ch. of Jamesburg."
During this revival, the Professors at Princeton were often present and took part in the multiplied services ; but no such assistance could relieve the Pastor from excessive labor, care and anxiety, in a period so critical to many of his people, and when the work of years was to be done in a few months or weeks. For a time, the stimulus of joy and hope,
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gratitude and love, sustained him, under toils and burdens which his delicate physical structure had not strength to endure ; but at length his health gave way ; hemorrhage of the lungs ensued ; and there seemed no alternative but to resign his charge, and seek a milder climate, as well as a cessation from la- bor. To this necessity he finally yielded, asking and receiving a dismission from a people much beloved, and who loved him in return. The following resolu- tion was unanimously adopted by his Church on the occasion of his leaving them :
" Resolved, That we do hereby publicly testify our grati- tude to God that during Mr. Carroll's ministry here, his la- bors have been signally blest by the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, and that from a small beginning we have been raised up to be a growing and prosperous Church."
A. J. McKELWAY, Chairman. J. C. MAGEE, Secretary.
JAMESBURG, FEB. 1, 1858.
Soon after leaving Jamesburg, Mr. Carroll pro- ceeded South, stopping at Aiken, S. C., a place of resort for invalids, including many from the North. He had intended to remain there but a short time, but finding his health improving, he occasionally preached, and with so much acceptance, that the good people of Aiken desired him to settle over them as Pastor. With this view a Presbyterian Church was organized there on the 28th and 29th of August, 1858, and not long after a convenient house of wor- ship was erected. Here Mr. Carroll labored with great usefulness and success, for nearly two years.
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He then asked a dismission, for the purpose of going to Europe, hoping to gain more perfect health and strength, as well as to see what was worth seeing in foreign lands, and especially to hear the distin- guished preachers of England and Scotland, such as Guthrie, Spurgeon, Cummins, and others. On his leaving Aiken, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted by the Church :
" May 4th, 1860 .- Whereas, the relation which has sub- sisted between the Aiken Presbyterian Church and the Rev. J. Halsted Carroll, having been dissolved by his voluntary resignation of the office which he has held for nearly two years,-it is fit and proper that some expression of our sentiments should be made and recorded on the occasion of his departure from this field of labor :- Be it therefore
" Resolved, That this Church and congregation entertain a very grateful sense of the valuable services rendered by Mr. Carroll in the founding and organization of our Church ; of his zealous devotion to the promotion of our enterprise, and his successful efforts in raising the means for the con- struction of our house of worship; and that we shall also ever affectionately cherish the recollection of his sympa- thising attentions to the members of his flock, in their mingled experience of joys and sorrows, during the period of his pastorship.
" Resolved, That with the hope that the able and eloquent discourses which characterized his ministry amongst us, replete with the most orthodox views and pious exhorta- tations, and which may well be compared to 'apples of gold in pictures of silver,' may prove as the good seed in the parable, and by the blessing God yield in due season a rich harvest of spiritual fruit, we tender to him our best wishes for his future happiness and prosperity.
" Resolved, That the above preamble and resolutions be entered on the Session books of our Church, and a copy of the same be forwarded by the Clerk of Session to Mr. Carroll.
W. P. FINLEY, Clerk of Session."
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Fortified with strong letters of commendation from some of the most distinguished Americans, to emi- nent men in Great Britain, France, Germany, and other countries of Europe, Mr. Carroll left the United States in the early part of 1860, and was absent about a year. It does not fall within the design of this sketch to give even an outline of his tour. Suffice it to say that he accomplished, even beyond his expec- tations, all the objects which he had in view ; formed the acquaintance of many celebrated men, by all of whom, on the strength of his letters, he was cordially received ; listened to the preaching of the principal pulpit orators of Europe ; saw whatever he desired to see ; and returned home with improved health, enlarged experience of men and things, and with a strong desire to enter anew upon his great work of trying to benefit and save lost men by the preaching the Gospel of Christ. For a few months after his return, he passed his time chiefly in Brooklyn and New York, preaching here and there as duty called, but without any regular charge, until he was invited to the South Church, New Haven.
And this brings us back to the point from which we digressed. He had accepted the call to said Church, but was obliged to postpone for a few months the fulfillment of his engagement, by reason of ill health. On the first Sabbath in June, 1862, being the 1st day of June, his people were made glad by seeing him in their pulpit, apparently in comfort- able health, and ready to serve them for Christ's sake,
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in the new relation which had just been formed. His first sermon was from the text, "I ask, therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me," Acts 10: 29. In the afternoon, "O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel," &c., Ezekiel 33 : 7, 8, 9. Both were exceedingly appropriate and excellent discourses, and were listened to by pro- foundly attentive and deeply interested audiences. The subjects gave him opportunity to enlarge upon the reciprocal duties of ministers and people, and their responsibilities to each other and to God. The spirit of tender earnestness and faithfulness to the souls of men, which breathed through these intro- ductory sermons, has characterized his preaching ever since. Not that he is always dwelling upon one theme,-far from it. On the contrary, VARIETY, both of subject and manner,-variety in the construction of his sermons, in the mode of presenting truth, and even in the order of exercises, * is a prominent feature of his ministry. From the wells of salvation he draws ample supplies for the diversified wants of the soul, without resorting to politics or shade-trees.
* Most commonly, at the close of his sermons on the Sabbath, he re- tires to his seat, while the choir, under the direction of their accom_ plished leader, Mr. Frank L. Martyn, strike up a verse or two of some appropriate hymn or other choice selection, adapted and designed to deepen the impression left by the sermon. The effect is often exceed- ingly fine; the singing being good,-unusually so, for a volunteer choir,-and the organ-playing, by Mr. Martyn, admirable. The bene- diction is then pronounced,-sometimes preceded by a few short peti- tions bearing immediately upon the subject of the discourse, and some- times not.
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His sermons are full of thought, legitimately derived from his texts, though often not lying on the surface, yet when suggested, so obviously comprehended with- in the scope of the passage, that the hearer wonders he never caught the idea before. There is withal a terseness and point to his discourses, and a beauty of language and imagery, which render it impossible to forget them. His descriptions of scenes and incidents are exceedingly graphic. His " Scripture characters," as presented in the Chapel on Sunday evenings for many months in succession, until superseded lately - by the "Fulton street Prayer Meetings," we have never heard surpassed ; so life-like, and so full of instruction. The attendance upon them was very large. To those who never heard Mr. Carroll preach, we may remark, that one half of the power of his discourses consists in the delivery. Sometimes they are written out in full, but more generally not ; and in either case he is entirely independent of his manuscript, seldom even looking at it, but holding constant communication with his hearers, not only by his voice, but by his expressive features and ap- propriate action. His enunciation is remarkably distinct, his voice soft and clear, and his command of the audience such, that amidst the profound stillness of the house, he is heard in every portion of it, even when speaking not much above the tone of common conversation. This is partly owing to the admirable construction of the audience-room, in which the laws of acoustics are better consulted than in any other
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within our knowledge, and partly to the causes above mentioned, viz : clearness of enunciation and still- ness of the house. The fact, however, that with so little strain upon his voice, he is heard with perfect ease and comfort on the part of his audience, is a great relief to him ; and may account in a measure for his increased health and strength, notwithstand- ing his abundant labors,-having no facilities for exchanging, and generally preaching two sermons on the Sabbath, and sometimes a third in the evening. It is a common remark among his people, that he is constantly improving, both in matter and manner. There is one peculiarity in his manner which we must not omit to mention, viz : that it combines in about equal proportions, gentleness and fire ; two things theoretically inconsistent with each other, but practi- cally exemplified in the South Church every Sabbath. As an extempore speaker especially, his powers are extraordinary. Take him when and where you will, on any subject, in the pulpit or on the platform or in the conference-room, he is always ready, and always good ; seldom hesitating or recalling a word, but going on like a quiet, steady stream, supplied by never-fail- ing springs, until he has occupied the time allotted him, or accomplished the end at which he aimed. His duties as minister of a large parish, (for he has much to do outside of the limits of his congregation proper, in visiting the sick, attending funerals, &c.,) are quite enough for any one man to perform ; yet occasionally he steps beyond the exact limits of his profession, as
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at the Irish Relief meeting in Music Hall a year or two ago, where, for an hour or more, he electrified an immense audience, who responded with peal upon peal, and cheer upon cheer. On all such occasions he is " at home," knowing exactly where and how to strike the popular ear and heart. It is well that such extraordinary speaking talents are consecrated to " Christ and his cause," and not to the drama, or the bar, or politics, or the forum. New Haven may well be proud of such a minister, and such a man.
Mr. Carroll came here without any flourish of trum- pets, or anything in the position or circumstances of his Church and congregation to give him consequence or bring him into notice. He was deliberately shun- ned by ministers of his own denomination, or rather, of, the denomination to which his Church belonged, as if they thought they could extinguish his light by not recognizing its existence. Meanwhile the tongue of slander was secretly moving against him, and had the greater power for mischief because he was so little known in this community. Men pro- fessing the religion of Jesus, acted as if they thought they were doing God service by undermining the influence and impairing the usefulness of one of His faithful ambassadors. He, however, went on with his proper work, trusting in God to vindicate his reputation and prosper his labors. Nor did he trust in vain. God gave him many souls as seals of his ministry and crowns of his rejoicing. [For particu lars see Catalogue at the close of this volume. ] His
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congregations steadily increased, and have continued to increase, until now, on Sabbath afternoons at least, they are believed to be larger, on an average, than those of any other Church of the same denomination in the city. And this, notwithstanding the remote- ness of his position from the centre of population. The same increase was and is seen in the Sabbath evening meetings, and in those held during the week. Many influential families from town have joined the congregation, taking slips, and otherwise identifying themselves with its interests. A more harmonious, prosperous and happy Church and congregation it would be difficult to find. Their minister is univer- sally beloved by his people, as well as respected and honored. This makes his burdens light.
And here we must recall some circumstances which it would be more agreeable to omit, did they not occupy so prominent a place in our history, and were they not, in fact, a key to the prosperity which, under God, we now enjoy. Mr. Carroll had not been long in his present position, before it was discovered by a portion of his people that he did not ring the usual changes on the subject of slavery and the war. In short, he did not make politics a part of his religion. Of course, had he made any polities but theirs a part of his religion, it would have been an awful desecra- tion of the pulpit and the Sabbath ; but their poli- tics were an essential part of Christian ethics, and no minister who ignored them, could be a faithful ambassador of Christ. Accordingly they began to
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complain-of him and to him. And finding this unavailing, they sent him written remonstrances and arguments, designed to convince his understanding and rectify his judgment. Doubtless they were sur- prised to find him still insensible to the claims of duty as they understood it,-still blind to their view of the obligations of his sacred calling. When at length they despaired of bringing him out on these subjects,-when they saw that his own convictions of propriety and duty forbade it,-the next step was, to attempt to get rid of him. So they began to agitate for a change. But it was not until the 18th of Feb- rury, 1863, that they had opportunity to show their
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