USA > North Carolina > Craven County > New Bern > History of the Presbyterian church in New Bern, N.C. : with a resume? of early ecclesiastical affairs in eastern North Carolina, and a sketch of the early days of New Bern, N.C > Part 12
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142
REV. LEMUEL DURANT HATCH.
"Rev. L. D. Hatch died at Blount Springs, Ala., on the 7th of October, 1866, in the seventy-third year of his age. Mr. Hatch was a native of North Carolina, and he moved to this State about the year 1833. He graduated at Chapel Hill, N. C., and afterwards in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. He began his minis- try in the Presbyterian Church in New Bern, N. C. The latter part of his life was devoted to the noble and self-sacrificing work of a missionary among the negroes in the bounds of Tuscaloosa Presby- tery. He was hale, hearty, vigorous and cheerful up to the day of his last illness, which was but of short duration. In all the rela- tions of life, as husband, father, friend, neighbor, citizen, and min- ister, his life was beautiful and commendable, and with his friends and relations he left a good example, worthy of imitation. Kind, generous, noble, and devout, he lived among us without reproach as a gentleman, patriot, and Christian, held in universal esteem; and when called to a higher and better world, he died without fear, amid the universal regrets of a community in which there was not one who bore towards him the least ill-will."
In 1828, Mr. Hatch was Moderator of the Synod of North Carolina, in Raleigh.
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143
REV. MICHAEL OSBORNE.
Rev. Michael Osborn
Mr. Osborne was born in Essex Co., N. J., 21st March, 1796, and was educated for the ministry. He probably graduated at Nassau Hall; then spent three full years at Princeton Theo- logical Seminary; was ordained by Elizabethtown Presbytery on 23rd February, 1825; served the Second Church in Wood- bridge, N. J .; then the Metuchen Church to 1827; forwarded by letter his certificate of dismission from Elizabethtown Pres- bytery to Orange Presbytery, and was received therein at Haw- fields, N. C., 7th October, 1829. At a session of the Presby- tery, during the meeting of Synod, in Fayetteville, 14th No- vember, 1829,-the New Bern Church being represented by Dr. Elias Hawes,-a call was presented for the services of Mr. Os- borne as Pastor of that Church, and accepted by him. On De- cember 12th, 1829, he was duly installed in New Bern. Rev. Thomas P. Hunt preached the sermon; Rev. L. D. Hatch charged the Pastor; and Rev. J. Wetherby charged the people. Mr. Osborne was probably preaching in New Bern a short time before his installation. This pastoral connection was dissolved at Presbytery in Greensboro, 15th August, 1831, having con- tinued less than two years.
A revival in New Bern is referred to by the narrative of the General Assembly for 1830, when fifteen were added to the Church; and during Mr. Osborne's pastorate, there were seven- teen additions and twenty-seven baptisms. Yet, in 1831, the number of members is the same as in 1829, viz .: sixty-eight (68).
After the dissolution of his relation with New Bern, Mr. Os- borne continued his connection with Orange Presbytery, and engaged possibly in missionary work for awhile; supplied the Raleigh Church in 1833-'35; and was dismissed on 9th Octo- ber, 1835, to the Presbytery of New York. During his con-
144
REV. SAMUEL OSBORNE.
nection with Orange Presbytery he was its Treasurer, and was three times chosen its Commissioner to the General Assembly. He was pastor of the P. R. Dutch Church in Schraalburg, 1834-'37; Stated Supply to Cub Creek Presbyterian Church, in Hanover Presbytery, Va., 1842-'48; Pastor in Farmville, Va., from 1848-'62, and died there on 3rd July, 1862. I knew Mr. Osborne when I was in Union Theological Seminary. He was quite a small man, with a "big" voice, active, pro- nounced in his opinions, and accustomed to exceedingly plain speaking, so as sometimes to offend. He called a spade "a spade." He was a good man, who did good service in his gene- ration. As a brother beloved said in response to my query about Mr. Osborne and New Bern, "Whence came he, and whither did he go?" "He came from New Jersey, and he went to Heaven."
145
REV. SAMUEL HURD.
Rev. Samuel Hurd.
Of Mr. Hurd's history little has been discovered. What is here stated has been gathered from tradition and part of a brief diary kept by Dr. Elias Hawes, one of the ruling elders, and kindly given to me by the widow of Rev. D. Stratton. This interesting document begins on Sabbath, 8th April, 1832. Mr. Hurd was then preaching here, and probably came soon after Mr. Osborne left; for this amusing entry occurs on April 21, 1833, about a sermon Mr. Hurd preached that Sabbath: " in the main, the same sermon he preached for the first time about a year and a half ago, and very good, and much to the pur- pose." Diaries will keep the preacher's traditional "barrel " from being turned over too frequently! In 1832 and 1833 New Bern is reported as having a Stated Supply, but no name is added. Mr. Hurd was here from some unknown date in 1831 until April, 1833, but was not a member of Orange Presbytery till November 14, 1833, when he was received on certificate from West Hanover, and was dismissed, the same day, to the Presbytery of Indianapolis. He was a consumptive, too unwell sometimes while in New Bern to preach, and died in Missis- sippi, about 1846.
During his labors here there must have been consider- able religious interest and activity; for in the Assembly's Minutes in 1832 arereported twenty-eight additions on exam- ination, and one on certificate, with thirteen infant baptisms, raising the membership from sixty-eight to ninety-three; and the next year shows fourteen received on profession, and a total membership of one hundred. Mr. Osborne joined Mr. Hurd on April 29, 1832, in meetings that evidently were of great interest; and the fervor of prayer and work for the Redeemer and lost souls must have prevailed for a considerable period. Dr. Hawes says:
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REV. SAMUEL HURD.
"Friday evening, May 4th. Prayer-meeting at my room. A few. Saturday evening, May 5th. The male members met at Mr. James Y. Green's for prayer and religious conversation, and resolved to pray for and converse with thirty persons, most of whom worship constantly or occasionally in our Church, and to persevere in this until God by his Spirit shall convert their hearts and forgive their sins. Their names were spread before us, and each one agreed to pray for and converse with such and such, if possible."
" Lord's Day, 6th May, 1832. Prayer-meeting at 1-2 after 5 in the morning, at the ringing of the bell. Worship at 10. Mr. Martin Stevenson read one of President Davies' sermons. . . . In the afternoon Mr. H. C. Graham read a sermon from the Southern Preacher. ... Prayer-meeting at Mr. O. Dewey's in the evening. Monday, May 7th, 1832. Conversed with Mary Dewey, Mr. Whicthcoat White, Mr. Barland, a word with Sylvester Brown, Cicero Hawks, Mrs. Mary McKinley, and Mr. Edward E. Graham. Mr. White would be glad to have Mr. Hurd call on him."
Prayer-meeting was held at Mr. John Jones's on Tuesday. Mr. Hurd had been absent some days attending a four days' continued meeting-so common and notable in the beginning of the century-at Lake Phelps, but returned to the Thurs- day's prayer-meeting at Mr. J. Jones's, and continued his regu- lar ministrations. Among those received into the Church by him were Messrs. Charles Slover and Martin Stevenson ; and on April 14, 1833, Mrs. King, Mrs. C. Slover (who was bap- tized on 17th March, after a sermon on the "duties of parents to their children,") Mr. Jeremiah Allen, and Captain Anthony ". Ferguson, who had been baptized on January 29. The Sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper was administered on Sabbath, April 14, in the morning; and in the afternoon Mr. Hurd preached from 1 Tim. v. 17, and ordained to the office of ruling elder the following brethren, who had been previously elected, viz., Messrs. John Jones, Charles Slover and Martin Stevenson.
After Sabbath, July 29th, till November 1, 1832, Mr. Hurd was absent with his wife. He then resumed his service, and
147
THE INTERIM.
with intermissions from sickness and preaching in Washington, N. C., he preached Christ and Him crucified to this Church till Monday, 22d April, 1833, when he sailed with Mrs. Hurd and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Slover for New York. So ended his career in New Bern. In 1834, the statistics show five addi- tions, but the membership was only ninety-eight. The Church remained without a Pastor until the advent of Rev. Drury Lacy, in 1834.
The Interim.
Regular services were maintained in the Church on Sabbath by the reading of sermons, and the occasional help of a minis- ter. On one Sabbath Mr. Osborne preached, on two Rev. Philo. Calhoun, Pastor of Washington Church. The readers at this time were Messrs. H. C. Graham, James Stevenson, Elias Hawes, Robert Hay, Chas. Slover, Allen Fitch, Edward Graham, and Martin Stevenson. This admirable custom and strict performance of duty long prevailed here. It is calcu- lated to maintain the esprit du corps, the growth and the spirit- uality of a vacant Church, and should never be neglected. The custom seemed to be generally in this Church to have a sermon, both morning and afternoon; and in the evening, either a third sermon, or more frequently a prayer-meeting at a private house. Two or three prayer-meetings were held during the week at different houses in the congregation. One service was usually for males only. These social gatherings were, for example, at the homes of Thos. Sparrow, Jno. Jones, E. Hawes, O. Dewey, Robt. Hay, J. Y. Green, C. Slover, M. Stevenson, Wm. Tay- lor, and Capt. R. Fisher. In this pastoral intermission these exercises on Sabbath seem to have been omitted only once, (May 12, 1833,) when such constant rain fell that there was no service in any Church.
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148
REV. DRURY LACY.
Rev. Drury Lacy.
On Wednesday, 4th September, 1833, Mr. Lacy arrived in New Bern on a visit to the Church. On Thursday he conducted the meeting at Mr. Slover's, and on Saturday attended the male prayer-meeting at Mr. Sparrow's, where he was domiciled. He remained, preaching and visiting, for three Sabbaths. Dr. Hawes's comments are unique: "His manner very emphatic and energetic-not confined in the least by his notes (45 min- utes ! ! )" This was the criticism on the first sermon. On the second and third only " (45!)" The next discourse he charac- terizes as an "extraordinary biographical lecture of our Sa- viour, John the Baptist, Herod, Herodias, and her dancing daughter, Salome (50!)" Mr. Lacy conducted the funeral of Mr. Rich'd Grist, at the house of Mr. John Washington, and administered the Lord's Supper while here, and left on Mon- day, 23d September, on "the steamboat John Stoney for Eliz- beth, Norfolk, Petersburg, and Prince Edward in Virginia.
The Call.
On Sabbath, 29th September, 1833, "notice was given in our church that the Presbyterian congregation were requested to meet to-morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock to elect a pastor, min- ister, or bishop for our congregation." Accordingly, the meet -. ing was held, and the call made out on 30th September, with the promise of $600 in quarterly payments, and as much more as could be raised. Dr. E. Hawes moderated the meeting, and the call was signed by a committee, consisting of Messrs. Robert Hay, John Jones, Thomas Watson, Robert Primrose, Elias Hawes, Wm. Hollister, and Thomas Sparrow. It was forwarded to some minister, perhaps Mr. Osborne, as the ac- companying letter will show :
Drury Lacy.
HELIOTYPE PRINTING OO., BOSTON, MASS.
149
REV. DRURY LACY.
"NEW BERN, Oct. 3d, 1833.
"REV'D SIR: The Presbyterian Church in New Bern has been for almost six months without a stated minister. The Rev. Drury Lacy, of New Hanover Presbytery, Virginia, by our invitation, has been with us and preached for three Sabbaths, and attended many prayer-meetings, and administered the Lord's Supper. While here he visited almost every member of the church and congrega- tion, and we are so well pleased with him, that the preceding call was unanimous. We are anxious to have it prosecuted, that if the re- sult should not be favorable, we might seek for some other pastor to be installed over us. We know that the last Orange Presbytery held their session at New Bern; but where the next was appointed, or if there is to be a called Presbytery, as is sometimes the case, before the stated one, we know not. We take the liberty to for- ward the call to you, that if you attend the Presbytery, you may put this in the proper direction; or if you do not attend, that you will commit it to the care of some other member of Orange Presby- tery to be completed. Please to inform us where the next Presby- tery will sit, or if any will be constituted for extra business within our bounds. By the authority and request of the committee of the congregation. THOMAS WATSON."
On November 14th, 1833, at a meeting of Orange Presby- tery during Synod, New Bern Church appeared by its com- missioner, and obtained permission to prosecute this call before East Hanover Presbytery.
In view of this call, Mr. Lacy began his work here January 1st, 1834. Orange Presbytery convened in New Bern on 28th April, 1834, received Mr. Lacy from East Hanover Pres- bytery, put into his hands the above mentioned call, which he accepted, and at 11 A. M. on Monday, 3d May, installed him as Pastor. Rev. James Wetherby, Moderator of Presby- tery, presided. Rev. N. H. Harding preached the sermon. Rev. A. Wilson gave the charge to the minister, and Rev. M. Osborne to the people. Mr. Lacy remained with this charge three years, as he left in December, 1836. The re- lationship, however, for some unknown reason, was not dis- solved by Roanoke Presbytery until September 15th, 1837. During this time there is no report for the year 1835. In the
150
REV. DRURY LACY.
other two years there were seven additions, three by examination, and four by certificate; and two infant baptisms. But, accord- ing to the statistics for 1837, the communicants had decreased to eighty. The contributions in 1836 for Missions were re- ported as $90, and for Education $110; and for 1836-'37, Missions, $130, and Education, $130. A visit in January, 1835, from Rev. J. Armstrong, Agent for the American Board Commissioners of Foreign Missions (I suppose), and Rev. Mr. Brown, of Virginia, for the Assembly's Board of Domestic Missions, in April, 1836, seems to have awakened un- usual interest in these causes. From 1820 to 1860, the only contributions made were for Domestic and Foreign Missions, Education,-including the Theological Seminary,-and the Commissioner's fund. Other departments of Church work seem to have been ignored.
Mr. Lacy was sick in 1836, and was convalescing at Mr. John Jones's, where he counselled with the elders about keep- ing the Church open during his contemplated absence. He left on September 5th, and returned 31st October. He then at- tended Synod at Fayetteville, and on his return thence addressed the subjoined letter to the officers of the Church:
"TO THE SESSION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NEW BERN.
"MY DEAR BRETHREN: It is with a heart full of sorrow that I now address you. You have heard me declare in private and in public my full intention of living and dying in the midst of you. I was sincere in these declarations. I have promptly refused to accept several offers and several solicitations for my services in other places. I have neither sought nor desired any office but that of being your . pastor. And I am now doing one of the most solemn and painful duties that I have ever been called on, in the providence of God, to perform. I am tearing myself from a dearly beloved people-the most affectionate and attached that I ever expect to find in this world. And it is with the utmost reluctance, and with deep anguish of spirit, that I now announce to you the resignation of my pastoral office. The reasons which have influenced me in this matter are many, and appear to me to be weighty. I cannot detail them here. I will only say that an imperious and overpowering sense of duty
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151
REV. DRURY LACY.
alone has forced me to this decision, opposed as it is to all the feel- ings of my heart.
"Permit me to express here what I hope for an opportunity of doing more fully and more publicly, the deep feeling of gratitude you have laid upon me, for all the kindness I have received from you. And now, with earnest prayer that it may please the great Head of the Church to bless you and the Church which you repre- sent, in giving you very soon a pastor after his own heart, who may go in and out before you, and teach you the way of righteousness and peace, I am, my dear brethren,
"Most sincerely yours, etc., DRURY LACY.
"NEW BERN, 29th Nov., 1836."
To this letter the following reply was returned, after a united meeting and conference of the elders and trustees at the house of Mr. C. Slover, on Tuesday evening, 6th December:
"NEW BERN, Dec. 7, 1836. "REV. D. LACY,
"DEAR SIR: The undersigned, a Committee on behalf of the Trus- tees of the Presbyterian Church, are authorized to give the follow- ing response to your letter, resigning your pastoral charge of the same.
"It is with feelings of unmingled regret that the Trustees receive the announcement of the dissolution of the pastoral relation be- tween yourself and our Congregation. Not being in possession of the reasons that have urged you to a separation so unexpected and painful, they are incompetent to pass judgment on their sufficiency ; but the confidence which they place in your motives and character induces them to believe that they must be of high and paramount consideration. They therefore accept your resignation.
"Permit us, in behalf of the Trustees, to express their unabated affection and esteem for yourself and family, and their fervent wish that your life of usefulness and devotion to your calling, of which so bright a specimen has been afforded by your labors amongst us, may be long spared to our Church.
" Very respectfully yours, " HAMILTON C. GRAHAM, - "M. STEVENSON, JR., Committee." " CHARLES SLOVER,
152
REV. DRURY LACY.
In the afternoon of Sabbath, December 25th, at three o'clock, Mr. Lacy preached and made his farewell address, founded on 2 Cor. xiii. 11: "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort," etc. Dr. Hawes says: "Wednesday morn- ing, four o'clock, 28th December, 1836, Rev. Drury Lacy and his family-his wife, Williana; mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Wil- kinson; daughter, Miss Elizabeth Lacy, or rather, Lady Bess; son, James Horace Lacy-and servant maid, went to Raleigh in the stage."
It is understood that failure of health was the moving cause of Mr. Lacy's change of residence. Years aftersvards he per- petrated an Irishism on the floor of Presbytery bv saying, "If I had lived in New Bern until now, I should have been dead twenty years ago." As an evidence of his ready wit, it is told that once, during some excitement here, he was making an ad- dress, when some dissentient cried out, "Don't hear him; he's a Virginian." Quickly Mr. Lacy exclaimed, "Listen to me, friends; true, I am a Virginian; and I love Virginia as I love my mother; but I love North Carolina as I love my wife!" A unanimous acclamation arose, "Hear him ! hear him !! "
While he was in New Bern, the interest in both Bible-class and Sabbath-school are said to have increased.
Conversion of Mr. Lacy.
In December, 1862, Rev. W. S. White, D. D., of Lexington, Va., gave me the following account of the conversion of Rev. Drury Lacy during Dr. Nettleton's visit to Prince Edward Co., Va. His cousin, Rev. J. H. Rice, D. D., was then at Union Theological Seminary. Mr. Lacy, being deeply convicted of : sin, had a conversation with Dr. Nettleton, and went home but he was so distressed that he saddled his horse, and in the night rode three miles to the Seminary, and, rousing the ser- vant, went to Dr. Rice's chamber door, and told him he wanted to see Dr. Nettleton. A candle was gotten, and he was shown to Dr. Nettleton's room, where he was wrapped up and asleep. On being waked, he said, rubbing his eyes, "Is that you, Mr. Lacy? Why, what in the world do you want at this time of
153
REV. DRURY LACY.
night ?" Mr. Lacy replied, "I want to talk to you." "What in the world do you want to talk to me about ?" "I want you to tell me how I can be saved." "What! You, the son of a distinguished Presbyterian divine, ask me such a question ? You! reared in the lap, of the Church? I have told you already all that I know." After a few more words, he then said, in solemn and tender tones, "Mr. Lacy, I have only this to say: 'Go home, and give your conscience fair play."
Feeling himself harshly treated, Mr. Lacy left, vexed, mad. But finally he began to think that if clergymen thus slighted him, there was no hope for him in man; and he lifted up his voice and cried, "Lord, Lord," until the woods rang with the sound. The Lord heard the plea of despair, lifted the cloud and the burden, and gave rest to the humbled penitent. So Mr. Lacy said, "That night there was not so happy a man in Prince Edward. I found Mr. Nettleton was in the way between me and Christ."
A number of the leading members of the congregation agreed to have catechetical instruction by the Pastor, a few min- utes before sermon, on the Larger Catechism. Dr. Hawes consulted Robert Hay, Mrs. Hannis, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Tay- lor, Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Vipon, Mrs. Eliz. Lee, Capt. D. Scott and wife, Mrs. Em. Hall, and Mrs. Fitch, about this arrangement.
Interesting Facts.
At the time Mr. Lacy was installed here, Rev. J. Leighton Wilson was present, being on a visit to his native land from the mission he had founded and been conducting on the Western coast of Africa. He addressed the Presbytery, which passed resolutions commendatory of his work. Dr. Wilson became the able and honored leader of our young Church in her noble work of Foreign Missions as the Assembly's Secretary of For- eign Missions.
At this session also, Wm. A. Shaw, M. D., who became Pas- tor of the church in Washington, N. C., was examined and li- censed to preach the Gospel.
154
REV. DRURY LACY.
Ren. Moses Drury Hoge, D. D.
This honored and eloquent clergyman, now Pastor of the Se- cond Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Va., is a nephew of Dr. Lacy. When a youth of, perhaps, fourteen years of age, after a long and trying journey on horseback, during which he suf- fered much and met with much kindness, he reached New Bern, to make his home with his uncle. He was a Sabbath- school scholar of Mr. Charles Slover, whom he remembers with affection. Here doubtless the ingenuous lad's spiritual life was fostered, and good seed sown, which have not disappointed hope and prayer. He seems to have formed and cherished an inti- macy with the eccentric, but zealous, educated and pious ruling elder, Dr. Elias Hawes. In his journal Dr. Hawes speaks of this youth several times. On Friday, February 20th, 1835, he went, according to his commendable habit, to visit an estimable and famous character in those days-Betsey Always, sick at the county Poor House, Poplar Grove, near New Bern. "Moses Drury Hoge, who was with me, carried my gun and shot a sparrow." Was this the beginning of a sportsman's experi- ence? It shows the pleasant relations existing between the youth and the man of nearly three-score and ten, so that we are not surprised to read afterwards this entry : "Mr. M. D. Hoge called at the usual hour, and we went on with our customary study of the Larger Catechism together. We have arrived to the 191 question." Again, on Saturday, April 4th, 1835, preceding the communion of the Lord's Supper on Sabbath afternoon, we learn of the tender solicitude of the affectionate uncle from this significant note: "Male prayer-meeting at Brother Oliver Dewey's. Mr. Lacy expressed his anxiety for his nephew, Moses Drury Hoge, and entreated us to pray for him." The Lord is the covenant-keeping God, the hearer and answerer of prayer, and did not forget these united prayers of faith, or this child of an illustrious and pious ancestry. Long have his wide- reaching labors in the Redeemer's kingdom caused many souls to praise God's redeeming grace, presented tenderly and elo- quently by this servant of the King. It is a pleasure for the
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REV. DRURY LACY.
New Bern Church to have had something to do in preparing such a workman for the Master's use. On Thursday, April 28th, 1836, Mr. Hoge sailed from New Bern, a passenger on the Malachi B. Robertson, and does not appear here again.
Reu. Drury Lacy, Continued.
After leaving New Bern, Mr. Lacy began his work in Raleigh Jannary 1st, 1837. His ministry there, for nearly nineteen years, was signally blessed in establishing and strengthening that small organization His installation as Pastor was not until November, 1837. Beginning with thirty-nine members, and a dilapidated church-building and congregation, and the Session house for his services, he was so helped of God, that he received into the Church about two hundred members, and left it num- bering one hundred and sixteen, with a repaired sanctuary and resuscitated in all church activities.
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