USA > Delaware > Early clergy of Pennsylvania and Delaware > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Early clergy of Pennsylvania and Delaware > Part 16
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Mrs. Hickman had the Church Bible of Prince George's Chapel, which was published in London in A.D. 1750, by Thomas Baskett.
Stepney Parish, in Maryland, which was so closely associated in old times with what is now Delaware had Rev. John Hewitt as rector in 1685, while Rev. George Trotter, and the "venerable servant of God," as Mr. Douglass styles him, Rev. Samuel Adams were once
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rectors. Rev. John Scott held that post at the Revolu- tion and Rev. William Skelley afterwards.
From 1820 to 1829 Bishop Stone, of Maryland, held Stepney Parish, and ministered at Christ Church, Broad Creek. Until 1765 this region was a part of Maryland, but when the boundary line was settled it was found to belong to Delaware.
Rev. Joseph Glover, an English clergyman, who had been transferred to the American Church, labored at Christ Church, Seaford and Laurel in 1834, under the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsyl- vania. He finished his earthly work in 1835, and his burial place is at the Seaford churchyard. Afterward Rev. Corry Chambers labored earnestly in this section. He was long an invalid in Wilmington, under the care of good Bishop Lee. Rev. J. Brinton Smith and Rev. John W. Hoskins were rectors at Christ Church, Broad Creek, with its united churches. I recollect hearing Mr. Hoskins preach an impressive sermon on one of his visits to Delaware. The saintly Richard T. Cadle had charge of Christ Church at one time. He was a mis- sionary to the Indians in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Rev. Simon Wilmer, a noted clergyman of his day, and Rev. James Wiltbank must not be forgotten in this connec- tion. "Parson Wiltbank," as he was called, was of Delaware stock, his ancestor having been an early settler at Lewes. The "parson" had a son named John, who was a professor in a medical college in Philadel- phia. Rev. Dr. Robins, head-master of the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, is a grandson of this worthy clergyman. Chancellor Harrington's mother was a daughter of "Parson Wiltbank."
In 1709 Rev. William Black held services in Lewes, though the church was not founded until several years
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afterward. In 1768 Rev. Dr. John Andrews was success- fully at work at Lewes. He was a friend of the cele- brated Rev. Dr. Wm. Smith, of Philadelphia, who wrote a pleasant letter introducing him to the Bishop of London. Dr. Andrews became Provost of the University of Penn- sylvania. He was the great grandfather of Rev. Dr. John Andrews Harris, of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Rev. John Wade and Rev. Stephen Sykes also meet us at Lewes in the last century. In later days the genial clergyman, Rev. Thomas M. Martin, and the learned Dr. George Alexander Crooke held this ancient parish. Rev. John B. Henry afterward served as rector.
Rev. Nathan Kingsbury taught school at Milton. Here in English days was built the church in the forest mentioned in the report to the Propagation Society in England, and in these times a pretty new church has arisen to adorn and sanctify the village which perpetu- ates the name of one whose poem on Paradise has stirred the hearts of multitudes.
Samuel Hazard, in his Register of Pennsylvania, speaks of Henry Brooke as a poet of Lewes, who was said to have been the son of an English baronet, so that Delaware could boast its poet, as latterly the Milford Bard had a national reputation, and this poet Lofland, is buried at St. Andrew's churchyard in Wilmington. Hazard notes the high state of society in Lewistown in early times.
In the Penn and Logan correspondence I find Penn . writing to Logan : "Captain Rodney, a worthy good man, and now much missed in Kent, and Captain Hill in Sussex. . . . lately removed by death." Vol. 2, p. 331, A.D., 1708-9. Was not this the Captam Hill in whose house services were held as mentioned in the beginning of this article?
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If one would follow out the general history of the church in Delaware, he may find aid in some articles which appeared in the Church Press in 1887, which have not been incorporated into this review. The same year Rev. L. W. Gibson gave a history of Christ Church, Dover, in the Delawarean.
I had intended to say something of the good men whose names appear in the diocesan journals of modern time, but the night would wear away in the loving task. Bishop Freeman, at New Castle, and Rev. Dr. Wharton, in earlier days, and Rev. Sydenham Thorne, of Milford, and Rev. Mr. Presstman in recent ones, and Rev. Mr. Harold, of Middletown, deserves notice, as well as Rev. Jacob Rambo. Devout Mr. Brinckle who preached so earnestly when the convention met in the renewed Christ Church, at Dover, must not be forgotten, while Rev. George W. Johnson has but just closed his pure and patient life of service to Christ.
Rev. Samuel Crawford Brinckle was born in Dover, in 1796. He was a graduate of Princeton College, was ordained deacon by Bishop White, in IS18, and priest the next year. His wife was Julia, daughter of John Rumsey, Esq., of Wilmington. Rev. Levi Bull per- formed the marriage in 1821. In ISIS Rev. Mr. Brinckle became rector of St. David's Church, Radnor, Pennsyl- vania, when he was twenty-two years old, and served the parish fourteen years, being also rector of St. Peter's, Great Valley, for twelve of these years. He had charge of a number of churches in Delaware County, Pennsyl- vania. In 1832 he assumed the rectorship of Grace Church, Philadelphia, remaining there two years. In 1834 he became assistant to Rev. Dr. Jehu C. Clay in the Swedish Churches of St. James's, Kingsessing, and Wicacoa, that is Gloria Dei, in Philadelphia, and Christ
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Church, Upper Merion, afterward becoming rector of the country churches named, and holding them thirteen years and a half. In 1848 on the beautiful Brandywine Creek, near Wilmington, he organized Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, and a stone 'church of goodly ยท appearance arose, which was filled by a flourishing con- gregation. Here he ended his honored and useful life on carth on the twelfth of March, A. D., 1863, at the age of sixty-seven, dying in the forty-fifth year of his min- istry, or shall we not say entering on a new life before God?
A host of laymen crowd around me, but the limits of the discourse permit only such names as those of Wil- liam T. Read, Admiral du Pont, Franklin Fell, Bauduy Simmons, John B. Lewis, Dr. Cummins and George Lodge, and George and Henry Rodney, to rise to my lips. My lifelong friend, Rev. Thomas G. Clemson, was ordained at Claymont, in Ascension Church, (where his honored father, Rev. Dr. John B. Clemson, was long rector), and for a time assisted at St. John's Church in this city; he is now in Paradise. Rev. Messrs. Trapnell and Callahan were earlier workers in this Diocese.
I wish some one would do for Delaware, and for every diocese, what Rev. Dr. T. Grayson Dashiell has done so well for Virginia ; that is, make a diocesan history by condensing the important facts of the journals into a volume. Every departed clergyman and layman of the convention might have a few words to keep green his memory.
Within a short time God has taken from you the spiritual head of this diocese. A number of articles from news- papers lie before me which indicate how great was your sense of loss as a diocese, and as parishes, when you found yourself deprived of the guidance of one who
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had holily walked before you for a generation. As the Presiding Bishop of the Church, he was honored throughout the land. He had the strength of New England character, and from the time of his consecration in St. Paul's Church, New York, labored to do his duty toward the flock over which God had made him overseer. His gentle kindness to his clergy and people is fresh in your memory. His ripe scholarship was evinced in the works which flowed from his ready pen ; and the Word of God was his constant study. Few have so well illustrated its precepts. As a volume lately appeared summing up the testimonials to his worth and his form has hardly faded from your streets, I need not repeat to you a well-known story. The throng at St. Andrew's Church at the funeral, indicated the feeling of loss, and while the dead bishop lay with the palm branch above him, we could but feel that his was the victory, while the struggle remained for us.
God has sent you a new bishop, and the duty is to aid him in every new work that presents itself. I believe that I first saw Bishop Coleman at the consecra- tion of Bishop Bowman, at Christ Church, Philadelphia. He was then looking forward to entrance at the General Theological Seminary, where I was a student. I marked him there. His eager spirit found work in the Sunday-school of Trinity Church, New York, and in the public institutions, under the lead of Rev. Dr. T. M. Peters. His after life has been full of energy, and he has acquired practical wisdom in church work at home and in the Mother Church of England. In a noble service at St. John's Church, in this city, endeared by the recollection of a layman's generosity, (Alexis I. du Pont,) who was of his family, he took up the burden of the Episcopate as a life-long task. Now, as one who
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has served for years in this Diocese, and knows it well, permit me to say a few honest words. What are you going to do with your new bishop? Energy must have something to work with. A man may know how to lay a wall strongly, but he must have the stones brought to him. I want you to pity the case of a leader on whom much is laid, and whose resources cannot meet the demands. Becket proposed that Delaware be given by the English King to the Propagation Society. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof," as the Psalm declares; and the gift would have been natural. Some benefactors did give land in Wilmington in large measure to further the work of the Swedish Church. I see splendid advance- ment in this State. The railways and agriculture, and fruit culture have fostered towns and villages. The city of Wilmington was but a village in the days of the English missionaries. Money has come freely, and thousands have been poured out on your residences and places of business, but where is the Lord's portion ? Men can build houses for themselves or their children, but too often the Lord's House lies waste. We need the idea of personal interest in the church as in family affairs, and then ways would open to do the work of God. A churchman in Hartford once mortgaged his house to relieve the obligation of the church. His heart was in his work. If you were to give all the wealth owned by churchmen in Delaware to your bishop and clergy, as the carly Christians laid their treasures at the feet of the Apostles, there would be none too much for the work of Christ at home and in foreign missions. If you cannot do this, one-tenth might well be spared. Would it not be a pleasant thought in Paradise that a church-bell was yet ringing on carth by means of your benefaction? There is no worldly wealth
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that can give such satisfaction as that treasure which our Blessed Lord told us to "lay up" in heaven, above the power of the fretting moth, or corrupting rust, and stealing thief. You have seen riches "fly away as an eagle," as the Scripture describes it. You may perhaps yourself have lost that which you wish now you had laid up " in heaven." We have been following a shad- owy crowd of witnessess to-night, who are now beyond this earth, enjoying the result of their works which have followed them. You and I will soon be among them ; while time is lent us, let us like them use it for our eternal good. You have already done nobly in the Episcopal Fund, but the aged and infirm clergy and schools need your attention ; and I presume the bishop could add to the list ; so do not hold back his work by keeping him out of material for labor. The organiza- tion of the Church Club was an excellent ideasto bring out the results sought; and the alternation of the Con- ventions in the parishes gives the laymen an idea of - church needs. There are country parishes where the death or removal of a few might hamper work ; so you need endowments ; and God, who gave you all things, should be remembered in your will, when you are sim- ply dividing His gifts. This Diocese, in size, corresponds more nearly than usual to a primitive diocese ; and fully developed, it would blossom as the rose. Then help your bishop to develop it, and leave a mark for good after you.
In treating of the past, the old parish at Middletown came under review. It is a pleasant fact that before 1837 your bishop's father, Rev. Dr. John Coleman, was rector of Middletown, in connection with St. Stephen's, Cecilton, Maryland. Some of the parishioners at Middletown yet remember him with affection. He was
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afterward rector of Trinity Church, Philadelphia, and editor of the Banner of the Cross, being noted as a preacher of power without notes, and a forcible and able writer.
Can we close better, in reflecting on the labors of the clergy, yet toiling in the Lord's vineyard, than in the words of the Divine Liturgy of St. James : "Remeni- ber, O Lord, those who bear fruit, and labour honorably in the Holy (services) of Thy Church."
APPENDIX.
REV. JOHN ANDREWS, D. D.
T HIS clergyman was the son of Moses and Letitia Andrews, and was born in Cecil County, Mary- land, in A.D., 1746. ITis pious father placed him at the age of seven, at the Elk School. At seventeen he was in the College of Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1765 with honor. He was a tutor in the Grammar School. He took charge of a classical school at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and studied theology under the devoted missionary, the Rev. Thomas Barton. He went to Eng- land, with Rev. Dr. Magaw, for ordination. In 1767 he was ordained deacon by the Bishop of St. David's, and soon after priest by the Bishop of London, Dr. Terrick. As Rev. Dr. William Smith was the president of the college where he had graduated, he wrote a letter to the Bishop of London introducing him pleasantly. In 1768 we find this young clergyman engaged in successful church work in Lewes, Delaware, according to one of his letters. In 1769 Dr. Smith writes that Mr. Andrews gave a "favorable account of the good disposition, lib- eral contributions, large numbers of people and great importance of the Lewes Mission." He did not wish to leave it unprovided for, and desired Mr. Lyon to visit it with the idea of his assuming it.
In 1771 Mr. Andrews was at York,. Pennsylvania, where they were building an elegant church of brick.
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The people loved the church, and were zealous for its interests, and the rector was happy in his situation. This missionary had charge of Carlisle in connection with York. In 1772 he married Elizabeth Callender, an excellent lady.
The parishioners regretted the loss of their minister when he removed to Queen Anne's County, Maryland. The governor of that province appointed him rector of St. John's parish, where he remained until some time after the Declaration of Independence. He returned to York and opened a classical school with a successful result. Major Andre was at York on parole, and shared the hospitality of Dr. Andrews, and seemed happy in meeting friends of the American cause there, and American supporters enjoyed his company.
In 1782 Dr. Andrews was rector of St. Thomas's parish, in Baltimore County, Maryland, and St. James's Church, Northeast. He had a boarding school two miles from Green Springs, and afterward at Poplar Hill. He was at the first Maryland Diocesan Convention, in June, 1784, and active in the new organization, and was connected with measures for reorganizing the Church after the Revolution.
The wide heart of the man displays itself in the fact that he strove to find means to unite Coke, Wesley, Asbury and other Methodist preachers with the Church. Dr. Coke was an English presbyter, and would not have been averse to some peaceful arrangement. The Rev. Mr. West, rector of St. Paul's, Baltimore, worked with Dr. Andrews to effect this union when the Methodist preachers met in Baltimore.
The Doctorate in Divinity was given to Mr. Andrews by Washington College, in Maryland, when Rev. Dr. William Smith was president of that institution. In
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1785 the Protestant Episcopal Academy of Philadelphia was established, with Dr. Andrews as its head. He was successful in this work, now so well continued by Rev. Dr. James W. Robins.
When Bishop White went to England for consecra- tion Dr. Andrews supplied his place at Christ and St. Peter's Churches. He was the rector of St. James the Greater, at Bristol, Pennsylvania, for several years.
In 1789 he was Professor of Humanity in the College and Academy of Philadelphia. In 1791 the institution united with the University of the State of Pennsylvania, and the honored name of the University of Pennsyl- vania designated the combined colleges. Dr. Andrews became the vice-provost. In ISIo he was elevated to the provostship, when Dr. McDowell resigned. In 1813 Dr. Andrews, being in ill health, resigned, and the trustees provided for his support, and he did duty, expecting a successor, but was overtaken by death at the age of sixty-seven. He was buried in Christ Church graveyard, and the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Abercrombie, from Numbers 23: 10, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Dr. Andrews was the father of ten children. Some of the sermons of this clergyman were printed, and he was the author of a Logic and a Rhetoric.
Rev. Dr. Samuel B. How describes him as tall and dignified and courteous, honest in opinions, of good judgment, benevolent, cheerful, and a fine conversation- alist. He was an eloquent preacher, and a good theo- logian, and won the respect of his. students. One of these pupils was John McAllister, who describes his. gentlemanly manners, and conversational lectures stimu- lating the students to think and read. He was apt to close with a pleasant remark.
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Authorities: Bishop Perry, and Sprague's Annals. Bishop White's Memoir notices Dr. Andrews. The Doctor had a country place at Germantown. An oil painting of him is in the study of Rev. Dr. John Andrews Harris, his great-grandson, at St. Paul's Church rectory, Chestnut Hill.
REV. FREDERICK BEASLEY, D.D.
In compiling Dr. Beasley's Memoir Dr. Sprague was aided by Moore's funeral sermon, Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Clark's History of St. John's Church, Elizabeth, N. J., Sharswood's address to the Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania, and manuscripts from the Rev. F. W. Beasley and Chancellor Williamson. The Rev. Dr. F. W. Beasley was over forty years rector of All Saints', Lower Dublin, near Torresdale, Philadelphia. This worthy man by his blameless and useful life well continued the work of his father.
Frederick Beasley was the child of John and Mary (Blount) Beasley and was born near the beautiful town of Edenton in North Carolina, in A.D., 1777. His father was a planter. The lad graduated with honor at the College of New Jersey in 1797, and was a tutor there while studying theology under the President, the famous Rev. Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, whom he ever venerated. In College he was intimate with Bishop Hobart and Rev. Dr. Henry Kollock, who became a noted Presbyterian divine.
In ISoo Frederick Beasley was lay-reader in Christ Church, New Brunswick for several months. Bishop Moore of New York ordained him deacon in 18or and priest in 1802. He took the rectorship of St. John's Church, Elizabethtown, N. J. He was next rector of
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St. Peter's, Albany, and afterward of St. Paul's, Balti- more. In his inaugural sermon in Baltimore, which was printed, he declared that Christ crucified should be the theme of his preaching. He was the associate rector of Dr. Read and two churches were held by the two rectors. On the death of Dr. Bend, Dr. Kemp succeeded him. Dr. Beasley's health was not strong and so he thought best to resign his position and accept the Pro- vostship of the University of Pennsylvania. He entered on this duty 1813. The place was congenial to his scholarly taste, and he filled it faithfully for about fifteen years. He assisted his ministerial brethren when needed and was a member of the Standing Committee. He was a special friend of Bishop White. In 1829 Dr. Beasley became rector of St. Michael's Church, Trenton, N. J. In 1836, being in poor health he resigned and moved to Elizabeth, where he remained the rest of his life. He occasionally preached and in Rev. Dr. Moore's absence supplied the parish for six months. As death approached he submitted to the Divine will, endeavoring to quiet the grief of his family by directing them to God for comfort. He died Nov. Ist, A.D., 1845, entering the Paradise of God on All Saints' Day. His funeral was at St. John's Church and the rector, Rev. Richard Channing Moore preached a funeral sermon shortly afterward.
Dr. Beasley's first wife was Susan W. Dayton, the daughter of General Jonathan Dayton, of Elizabeth. His second wife was Maria, the daughter of Matthias Williamson. One son of this lady, was the Rev. Dr. Frederick W. Beasley, who graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1827, and was a student at the Gen- eral Theological Seminary, in New York City. He spent many years in the rectory at Eddington, holding
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what was called Oak Grove Chapel, in connection with All Saints' Church, several miles below, and in later years the Chapel of the Redeemer at Andalusia was also under his care, the Rev. W. F. C. Morsell, his son- in-law being his assistant for a time. He afterward removed to the new rectory at Torresdale. A white marble cross marks his grave beside All Saints' Church and another cross is in memory of a son who sleeps at his side. He left the savor of a sweet and holy life to encourage his parishioners and fellow clergy in the path of Christian duty.
The Rev. Rush S. Eastman now holds the rectorship of All Saints' Church, while the Rev. Edwin J. Humes has charge of Christ Church, Eddington, which has become a separate parish. Mr. Humes has just com- pleted a beautiful new rectory and a pretty Sunday- school building was erected not long since.
One of the children of Rev. Provost Beasley is now Chancellor of New Jersey, Provost Beasley wrote a number of works for print, one of which was a philoso- phical treatise styled "A Search of Truth in the Science of the Human Mind."
President Charles King, of Columbia College, pleas- antly describes his intercourse with Dr. Beasley at . Elizabeth, where they were neighbors. The Doctor lived in a large house of old fashioned style, in the edge of the town near the river. He delighted in the trees and garden which surrounded it, and was much in the open air. When he preached at St. John's his sermons were thoughtful and learned. His appearance attracted one, as the face was intelligent, the voice gentle, and the manners simple. He was cheerful and sympathetic, and in age took an interest in religion and in politics and learning. In politics he was ever an optimist. He
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sought the welfare of others when his own days were closing.
The Presbyterian Divine Dr. Nicholas Murray, (the famous Kirwan of the New York Observer), writes that his intimacy with Dr. Beasley was in the evening of his life. Age had not restrained his active step. His powdered head was the mark of an ancient fashion, which he was the last in the community to observe. "His eyes were blue and lively, his forehead was high and thoughtful ; his chin rather projecting than receding; and his whole countenance wore a kindly and benignant aspect." He was remarkable for frankness and social- bility, and very polite. He was versed deeply in mental and moral philosophy, and well read in the Church Fathers. The Doctor was amiable and childlike. Dr. Murray "loved him as a friend ;" and " mourned for him as a father " at his death.
Professor George B. Wood, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania was a student when Dr. Beasley became Provost, and was intimate with him for years. IIc speaks of his strict conscientiousness which made him courageously follow duty without regarding conse- quences. Being honest himself he was not suspicious of others, until experience taught caution. In philos- ophy he was an enthusiastic disciple of Locke. He was a warm friend, and cager in praising his friends to others, while he did not confine his friendships to the living, but considered dead authors as if they were his loving contemporaries. He was mild and benevolent. IIc studied style in composition, but wrote with elegant simplicity, and plain precision, ever regardful of truth. He spoke well in public, and had a pulpit reputation. Dr. Wood closes thus: "There are few among those with whom I have been associated, during the course of
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