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 7
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EARLIEST CHURCHES.
have been signed by Governor Tryon and Lord Howe. He was known and respected as "Parson Reed." Like the Esta- blished clergy generally at the time of the Revolution, he was a decided royalist; and tradition tells how he persisted in praying for "his King George" among the rebels. But his devotions were not uninterrupted; for the lads of the congre- gation, prompted by their parents, at the moment "the royal- ist parson" began the offensive petition, would vehemently beat the drum at the church door, and shout, "Off with his head ! "
During the Revolutionary contest, Episcopal .congregations in this State were generally disintegrated; for their clergy, be- ing mostly of English birth and sympathy, and deprived of support, returned home. Some, however, proved faithful, and continued their sacred offices. These were Rev. Messrs. Petti- grew, Cuppels, Blount and Micklejohn; perhaps, also, Rev. Mr. Taylor, in Halifax. For years after the war they were few, feeble and despondent. About 1790, Dr. Halling, of New Bern, was ordained by Bishop Madison of Virginia; and in May, 1794, Rev. Charles Pettigrew was elected, at a convention in Tarboro, Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina; but he was never inducted into that office. For twenty-three years-from 1794 to 1817-all was dark and dreary, and no cheering star appeared to relieve the gloom op- pressing this Church. Then Rev. Messrs. Adam Empie and Bethel Judd, "two heaven-sent heralds of the everlasting Gos- pel," came to Wilmington and Fayetteville, and there laid the foundation of the restoration of the Episcopal Church and cause in North Carolina. Since that period, this denomination : of Christians has greatly grown in numbers. Rev. John Stark Ravenscroft, of Virginia, was consecrated the first Bishop of North Carolina, 23d May, 1823. In 1822, there were only nine Episcopal ministers in the diocese. One of these was Rev. Richard S. Mason, then in New Bern. The records of Christ Church were burned up in 1818. The oldest record on their present parish register is dated May 4th, 1818, in Dr. Mason's hand-writing.
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WHITEFIELD.
Whitefield.
Rev. George Whitefield arrived in New Bern on Christ.nas Eve, 1739. He received the sacrament-from whom I cannot discover-and preached on Christmas day, with his wondrous eloquence, in the Court-house. "Most of the congregation was melted to tears. Here he was grieved to see the minister encouraging dancing, and to find a dancing-master in every lit- tle town. "Such sinful entertainments," he said, "enervate the minds of the people, and insensibly lead them into effeminacy and ruin." In November, 1764, he was again here, and spent the Sabbath. From New Brunswick, Carolina, he writes: "At New Bern, last Sunday, good impressions were made. From that place to this, I have met with what they call New Lights. Almost every stage I have the names of six or eight of their preachers. This, with every other place being open, and ex- ceedingly desirous to hear the Gospel, makes me almost deter- mined to come back early in the Spring."
Methodists.
The first Methodist preacher in North Carolina was James Pilmoor, in 1772; the first circuit was formed by Robert Wil- liams, in 1773; and the first conference was held near Louis- burg, 20th April, 1786, at which were present Bishops Asbury and Coke. New Bern was soon in a district, and visited. From 1785 to 1807, there preached here Bishops Asbury and White- coat; Jonathan Jackson and Reuben Ellis, presiding elders; Philip Bruce, or De Bruise, of Huguenot descent, and perhaps from the flock of Richebourg on the Trent; and C. S. Moor- ing, who served New Bern in 1801. In 1803, many large camp-meetings were held in the New Bern district, with signal blessing. Like those great Presbyterian protracted services and communions held amid the quiet forests, where popula- tion is scattered and the means of grace are limited, these ex- traordinary meetings proved valuable in saving souls and build- ing up the Redeemer's kingdom. These great sacramental ser- vices-after Scotch and Irish customs-were first established
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EARLIEST CHURCHES.
and maintained by the Presbyterians for the sparse population in Western Carolina. The illustration gives a vivid idea of the meetings. In Rev. Mr. Hurd's pastorate, we will see that he engaged here in these protracted services.
"Not to the dome, where crumbling arch and column . Attest the feebleness of mortal hand, But to the fane, most catholic and solemn, Which God hath planned."
A COMMUNION GATHERING IN THE OLDEN TIME.
Andrew Chapel, on Hancock Street, was the second church built in New Bern, and dates from the beginning of this cen- tury. It has been long occupied by the colored Methodists. The new Methodist sanctuary on Neuse Street has been re- cently handsomely enlarged and refitted, and gathers there the largest congregation in the city. This denomination has grown wonderfully in the State, and is doing a great and good work for the Master.
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BAPTISTS.
Baptists.
At an early date a few Baptists were about New Bern, but without organization. This is manifest from a curious record, which I have taken from the original Minutes of the June Court, in Craven County, 1740. In the bound manuscript is a duplicate record, with some differences. Court being in session on Thursday afternoon, 19th June, the following Minute occurs :
"Read a petition of the people who call themselves first day anabaptists Refered till to-morrow that the law be produced."
In the above, before the last sentence, appear the words "it's granted so far as the act of Toleration by law will allow;" but they are erased by having a line drawn through them. The Justices present were George Roberts, Daniel Shine, Thomas Masters, John Bryan, and Joseph Hanniss.
On June 20th, 1740, Esquires present, George Roberts, John Bryan, James Macklwaine, Thomas Pearson.
" a motion and petition read made by a sect of decenting people called Baptists that they may have the Liberty to build a house of worship and being duely examined by the Court acknowledged to all the Articles of the church of England except part of the 27th and 36th they Desireing to Preach among themselves-Referrd_" *
Just before the last word, two words are blotted out. They seem to be "but Rejected." Then follows a copy of their names, and recognizances to appear at next September Court; but this is crossed over. The clear second minute for Friday, 3 P. M., 20th June, is as follows :
" Present
George Roberts John Bryan James Macklwaine Thos. Pearson
Esqrs
" A Motion and Petition Read by ye sect of decenting people
* These quotations, and others elsewhere, are given without correction, in their original dress.
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which call themselves Babtists prays that they may be admitted to build a House of Worship Reefs Price William Caruthers and John Bryan Esq made oath to several inisdemeaners com- mitted by the sd Petitioners contrary to and in contempt of the laws now in force upon which it was ordered by this court the sd Petitioners be bound by Recognizance for their appearance at the next court of assize and Goale delivery to be held at this Town then and there to answer to such things as they shall be charged with and in the meantime be of Good behaviour to all his Majesties Liege.People."
"John James came into open court and acknowledged him- self to be Indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of 40£ Sterl money William Fulsher and Frances ayers also acknowledged themslves to be Indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of 20£ Sterl money each security for his appearance at the next court of assize and Goale Delivery to be held at this Town of Newbern. the several sums to be Levied on these Several Goods and Chattles Lands and Tene- ments &ca "
Similar bonds were given by William Fulsher, Francis Ayers, Lemuel Harvey, Nicholas Purify, and John Brooks; the securities being divided mutually among themselves.
September Court convened in New Bern on Tuesday, 16th September, 1740. On 22d inst. there were present: Justices Geo. Roberts, John Powel, Jos. Hannis, John Fonville, John Simons, and John Bryan. After an hour's adjournment the body reassembled. Present: Justices Geo. Roberts, John Powel and John Simons.
"After Proclamation made
Read the Petition of Several De- senting protestants called Baptists in these words vitz pray- ing the benefit of the act commonly called the act of Tolera- tion'-Granted-"
"The following Desenting Protestants appeared vitz John Brooks John James Robt Spring Nich Purify and Thos
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BAPTISTS.
Fulcher came into court and took the Oathes of alegiance and Supremacy and Subscribed to the Tests and the thirty-Nine ar- ticles of Religon being distinctly Read to them the following of which they desented from to-wit the Thirty-Sixth and the latter part of Twenty-Seventh"
THE TEST.
"I, A: B do Declare that I do believe that there is not any Transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper or in the Elements of Bread and Wine at or after the Consecration thereof by any person whatsoever."
It is further claimed by eminent citizens of New Bern that there was a record, which has mysteriously disappeared from the Clerk's Office, which certified that certain persons, viz., Messrs. Brinson, Fulshire and Purifoy, were indicted for hold- ing to the "Baptist faith," and were whipped, and imprisoned for three months in Craven County jail. One gentleman pro- poses to make affidavit to the fact that he read that record, shown to him by the Clerk, Mr. James Stanly.
These acts of the Court are fully explained by reference to English history. The Oath of Allegiance was framed upon the discovery of Guy Faux's Gunpowder Plot, in the reign of James I. The Test Act was passed in 1663, under Charles II. It included the Oaths of Uniformity, Supremacy, and Transub- stantiation. It was only finally abolished by the Relief Acts of 1828 and 1829, in George IV.'s reign. There were several Acts of Uniformity, designed to assimilate all Dissenters with the Established Church; but the crowning one was that of 1662, by which 2,000 godly Presbyterian Clergy were expelled from their rightful livings. As these sweeping Acts could be pretty generally applied, they involved many painful disabili- ties and shameful persecutions. But though not formally re- pealed, they were beneficently modified by the Act of Tolera- tion, under William and Mary, 24th May, 1689. This was the Great Charter of Religious Liberty, though it left persecution the rule, and toleration the exception. Its provisions were an in-
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EARLIEST CHURCHES.
consistent and cumbrous chaos, if scientifically measured, and failed to recognize the sound principle of religious liberty; yet it was a practical, remedial, successful measure that stopped bloody persecution, heralded substantial peace to a disturbed empire, and won support alike from Bates and Baxter, Ken and Sherlock, Burnet and Nottingham. Subscription to the Thirty-Nine Articles in the Universities was only abolished by the University Tests' Act of 1871, except for divinity students, fellows, professors and heads of colleges.
All these laws prevailed in North Carolina. Any place of religious meeting for a Dissenting Congregation ·must necessa- rily be by permission of the Supreme Ecclesiastical Authority, or by the recorded act of the Court of General or Quarter Ses- sions; and the applicants were entitled to a certificate for the sum of sixpence .* Therefore the application of the Baptists came properly before Craven Court of Quarter Sessions. What violations of the law these persons may have been guilty of does not appear. But if they had been holding services without complying with the Act of Toleration, they were properly re- quired to give recognizances, and there was no unseemly usage under the law. As this incident has not been understood, it seems advisable to endeavor to clear it from its obscurity; for the County Court does not appear to desire to restrain religious freedom, seeing that, as previously stated, the same Court in December following readily granted permission to the German Palatines to build a chapel.
Not until 1812, however, do we hear of a Baptist Meeting- House in New Bern, when the old Church near Cedar Grove Cemetery was built. The late Zaccheus Slade, an honored Baptist .. deacon, when a boy drove the oxen that hauled the lumber for this house. For years this was the gloomy Baptist home; and it was also closely associated with Presbyterian progress through
* See Macaulay's History of England, Vol. I. 208 ; Vol. III. 64, &c .; Neal's Puritans, Vol. I. 76 and 245; II. 278, 345, 483, 505; Schaff's Creeds, I. 619; Schaff-Herzog Cyclopedia, "Articles," "Test Act," "Uniformity ;" Green's Hist. Eng. People, IV. 413, V. 61; Burnet's Own Time, I. 171, &c .; II. 6, &c.
1
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EARLIER BAPTIST CHURCHES.
the Christian kindness of its owners. Their first and highly esteemed pastor was Rev. Thomas Meredith. After some years they built their present commodious and beautiful Church on Craven Street, where regularly gathers their increased and vigorous membership. Services were inaugurated in this build- ing on Sunday, 2d July, 1848, when the pastor, Rev. M. R. Forey, preached the dedicatory sermon.
Earlier Baptist Churches .*
According to the most reliable information accessible, the first Baptist Church in Eastern North Carolina was formed by Paul Palmer, with thirty-two members, in Perquimons County, in 1727. The next was at Shiloh, Pasquotank County, in 1729. Meherrin, now Murfreesboro Church, followed in 1735, and Kehukee, in Halifax County, in 1742. At the last named church, in 1765, was organized the famed Kehukee Associa- tion, embracing seven churches with twelve ministers. Very soon this Association embraced the whole Baptist strength in Eastern North Carolina; and their standpoint of doctrine and organization was that still occupied by the Old School or Prim- itive Baptists. A few years after the close of the Revolution the first statistics of the Baptists in North Carolina gave them ninety-four churches, eighty-five ministers, and seventy-six licentiates.
Other Churches.
It may be here added, that the Roman Catholics have in New Bern a small, neat chapel. Their worship was formerly conducted in the house of Judge Gaston, their membership being small. Here, in 1822, Hon. Stephen Miller witnessed the services on one Sabbath. About the same period the Papal Bishop England preached in the Courthouse, and also in the Presbyterian Church here.
Among the negro population there are flourishing Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and Episcopal Churches.
* Wheeler's Reminiscences, &c., § 3, xxviii ; Letters of Rev. S. Hassell, A. M .; Moore's Hist. N. C. ; N. C. Baptist Almanac, 1883.
NEW BERN IN 1798.
M ORSE, in 1792, says: "New Bern is the largest town in the State-contains about 400 houses, all built of wood excepting the palace, the church, the gaol, and two dwelling houses, which are of brick. The Episcopal church is a small brick building, with a bell. It is the only house for public worship in the place. A rum distillery has been lately erected in this town. It is the county town of Craven County. . ... The court-house is raised on brick arches, so as to render the lower part a con- venient market-place; but the principal marketing is done with the people in their canoes and boats at the river side." In his American Gazetteer, Boston, 1798, he adds: "In September, 1791, near one-third of the town was consumed by fire. It car- ries on a considerable trade to the West Indies and the different States, in tar, pitch, turpentine, lumber, corn, etc. The exports in 1794 amounted to $69,615."
A large cypress tree stands near an old wharf on the Neuse, on the premises of Mr. Samuel Smallwood, but originally the property of the Spaights. Under this monarch, tradition says that the first vessel in North Carolina was built. Under its shade have stood General Washington. General Nath. Greene during trying times to his command, John Wright Stanly, who lost fourteen vessels during the Revolution,* the Spaights, Hon. Edward Everett, and many of the noblest of men.
Further down the Neuse, where it joins the Trent, grew two live oaks, until destroyed in the desolating fire of April, 1841. Under these De Graffenried and Mitchell met the native Indians and made a treaty, when New Bern was commenced, one hun- dred and seventy-six years ago. On the grounds of the Epis- copal church a venerable hickory rears its noble proportions, and
* Another statement is that the firm Turner & Stanly lost thirty vessels.
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TWO OLD ACCOUNTS.
dates back to the stirring days, when the original colonists re- clined beneath its friendly shelter. At the corner of these premises is planted, half-way in the ground, the "Lady Bless- ington Cannon," which was presented to a British cruiser by Her Ladyship, but was captured by one of Mr. Stanly's priva- teers, and brought hither.
Ship-building was carried on extensively here at this epoch. The whole of a vessel's equipment-(except its canvas,)-ropes, iron-work and timber, were of home manufacture, thus leaving the whole profit here. Wagons and boats distributed the im- ports to the interior of the State, and large fortunes were made. The population must have been about 2,000.
Two Old Accounts.
It will be interesting to read the accounts of two rare old writers about affairs in Eastern North Carolina during and just after the Revolution. In "The American Geography" for 1792, which is perhaps almost identical with the first issue in 1789, Jedidiah Morse says that the western part of the State had been settled within the past thirty-five years chiefly by Presbyterians, attached to the worship, doctrines and usages of the Church of Scotland; that they were a regular, industrious people, in general well supplied with a sensible and learned min- istry. There were also settlements of German Lutherans and Calvinists ; Moravians, Quakers, Methodists and Baptists, and a numerous body of " NOTHINGARIANS" as to religion. The inhabitants of Wilmington, New Bern, Edenton, and Halifax Districts, making about three-fifths of the State, once possessed themselves of the Episcopal Church. The clergy in these dis- tricts were chiefly missionaries, and almost universally declared themselves in favor of the British Government, and emigrated. There may be one or two of the original clergy remaining, but at present they have no particular charge. Indeed, the inhabi- tants in the districts above-mentioned seem now to be making the experiment, whether Christianity can exist long in a coun- try where there is no visible Christian Church. Thirteen years' experience has proved that it probably cannot; for there is very
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A JOURNEY IN 1777-'78.
little external appearance of religion among the people in gen- eral. The Baptists and Methodists have sent a number of mis- sionary preachers into these districts, and some of them have pretty large congregations. . . . In the lower districts the inhabitants have very few places for public and weekly worship of any kind; and these few, being destitute of ministers, are snf- fered to stand neglected. The brick Episcopal Church in Eden- ton has for many years been much neglected, and serves only to show that the people once had a regard, at least, for the ex- ternals of religion. "The Sabbath . . . is generally disregarded, or distinguished by the convivial visitings of the white inhabi- tants, and the noisy diversions of the negroes." Temperance and industry were not reckoned among the virtues of North Carolinians, but gaming, drinking, cock-fighting, horse-racing, and boxing-matches, made memorable by shameful feats of gouging eyes out of their sockets, too commonly engaged their time, and hindered all true progress. There was as little taste for the sciences as for religion. Still, Morse says, amazing progress in population was made, and distinguished statesmen and patriots, as well as a gallant soldiery, marked the Revolu- tionary history of North Carolina.
Watson's Journey in 1777-'78.
Mr. Watson was a youth of nineteen years of age, in the employment of John Brown, an eminent merchant of Provi. dence, and the founder of Brown University. He has left a valuable record of a southern journey he made in 1777-'8. At Williamsburg, Va,, he associated himself with a Captain Har- wood, proceeding also to Charleston. Passing by the Dismal Swamp, then dangerously infested by concealed royalists and runaway negroes, they reached Edenton, containing then one hundred and thirty-five dwellings and a brick court-house, and defended by two forts. Thence they traveled over a inost deso- late sandy plain, with here and there a miserable tar-burner's hut, to Bath. Crossing the Sound, they proceeded through gloomy sands and majestic pines, amid cheerless and painful silence, seeing only the timid deer, and a few inhabitants, until
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A JOURNEY IN 1777-'78.
nearly dark, when they reached the Neuse. "Having crossed, we again mounted our horses and proceeded on to New Bern, the capital of North Carolina, groping our way in the dark, along unknown roads, and drenched by the heavy rains.
"On our arrival, excessively wearied, and needing repose and shelter, we wandered in pursuit of quarters, from street to street, and were turned from tavern to tavern, every house being filled by French adventurers. At one of these taverns, kept by one T-, we were repulsed by the landlord with so much rudeness as to produce a severe quarrel in the piazzi, where we stood soliciting quarters. New Bern was the me- tropolis of North Carolina, situated at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers, and contained about one hundred and fifty dwellings. It was defended by a strong fort and an armed ship. Previous to the war it exported corn, naval stores, beeswax, hams, and deer-skins, to a considerable amount.
"The next morning Harwood proceeded to a barber's shop to be shaved. I soon after started in pursuit of the same bar- ber. I had not gone far before I met Harwood, his pace some- what quickened, and with one side only of his face shaved. He soon informed me that the barber had been impertinent, and that he had knocked him down, and left him sprawling on the floor. We agreed that to avoid trouble he should push on, and that I should follow. He was soon on the way through the streets of the capital of North Carolina, in the ludicrous pre- dicament I have described. I left New Bern soon after upon Harwood's track, and crossed the Trent by a rope ferry seventy feet wide." The journey was then through a wilderness of pines, sands and swamps, night exposure, and apprehensions of wild beasts, heightened by the sight of the slow-pacing bear, until it ended in Wilmington.
Such contemporary pictures of the physical and moral con- dition of the country are not attractive, neither are they sur- prising under the light of the preceding historical summary. But glorious possibilities were there; the substantial material that awaited the moulding power, and could be, and would soon be, developed into noblest types of manhood and womanhood.
6
TRYON'S PALACE, NEW BERN.
N ( sketch of New Bern would be satisfactory, however brief, without some account of this building, which ex- ercised so important an influence on moral and political af- fairs in the State.
Several acts of the Legislature were passed with regard to its erection. Appropriations were obtained with great diffi- culty. Policy, perseverance, cajolery, covert threats, and nota- bly the unusual and powerful fascinations of the beautiful and accomplished Miss Esther Wake, and the skilful manœuvres and dinners of her sister, Lady Tryon, finally secured, in two separate sums, fifteen thousand pounds, from a province scarcely able to raise the ordinary expenses of the government. With school funds Governor Tryon is said to have unscrupu- lously seized and used in the work, its cost is estimated at not less than $80,000. Heavy and intolerable taxation was in- volved in all this. A square of six acres was condemned and selected, bounded by Eden, Metcalf and Pollock streets, and Trent River. Bricks and prepared material were imported
from England, and John Hawks, a Moor from Malta, who was educated in England, was employed on a salary of $600 as the architect. The contract was made 9th January, 1767, and the Palace was completed October, 1770. The original drawings® with many details, such as sections of the drawing-room, chim- ney-breasts, etc., were in possession of Rev. Frances L. Hawks, D. D., a New Bernian, a grandson of the architect, and the rector of Calvary Church, N. Y. From these Mr. B. J. Los- sing made the pictures here given of the Palace and the seal and signatures to the contract, and accompanied them with ex- planations in his "Field Book of the Revolution." From this source and others, traditions in New Bern, and personal know- ledge, are gathered the following statements:
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