A discourse on the history of the Second Presbyterian Church of Princeton, N.J., Part 1

Author: Duffield, John Thomas, 1823-1901
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Princeton, N.J. : Princeton Press
Number of Pages: 46


USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Princeton > A discourse on the history of the Second Presbyterian Church of Princeton, N.J. > Part 1


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Princeton F. T. Duffield


Gc 974.902 P93d


Connecticut istorical Society.


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7516 PRESENTED BY Purchased 1893


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986.1 ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY


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Gc 974.902 P93d Duffield, John Thomas, 1823- 1901.


A discourse on the history of the Second Presbyterian


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e


A DISCOURSE


ON THE HISTORY OF THE


Second Presbyterian Church,


OF


PRINCETON, N. J.


BY THE


REV. JOHN T. DUFFIELD, D.D.


DELIVERED JULY 9th, 1876.


PRINCETON : PRINTED AT THE "PRESS " PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT. 1876. 1


Allen County Public Lidem 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fot Wayne, IN 46801


A DISCOURSE


ON THE HISTORY OF THE


Second Presbyterian Church,


OF


PRINCETON, N. J.


BY THE


REV. JOHN T. DUFFIELD, D.D.


DELIVERED JULY 9th, 1876.


PRINCETON : PRINTED AT THE "PRESS " PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT. 1876.


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016


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PRINCETON, N. J., JULY 10, 1876.


REV. JOHN T. DUFFIELD, D.D. Dear Sir,


Permit us in this way to express our very high appreciation of the discourse which you delivered yesterday on the history of the Second Presby- terian Church, and to tender you our thanks for the valuable service thereby rendered to the Church. This service will be increased, in our judgment, by your consent to the publication of the discourse, which we earnestly ask.


Yours very respectfully,


JAMES C. MOFFAT, CHAS. A. AIKEN, A. L. ROWLAND,


P. J. WILSON,


J. T. L. ANDERSON,


D. M. HALLIDAY,


E. ALLEN, GEORGE MACLOSKIE,


F. VINTON, WM. J. GIBBY.


PRINCETON, N. J., JULY 14, 1876. REV. JAMES C. MOFFAT, D.D., AND OTHERS, Dear Brethren,


Your request for the publication of the Historical Discourse, delivered by invitation of the Session of the Second Presbyterian Church, I do not feel at liberty to decline. Accept my thanks for the kind terms in which the request is communicated.


Yours in the fellowship of the Gospel,


JOHN T. DUFFIELD.


DISCOURSE.


" Walk about Zion, and go round about her ; tell the tow- ers thereof.


Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces ; that ye may tell it to the generation following."-PSALM XLVIII, 13-14.


The appointment of the special service in which we engage to-day, was dictated alike by patriotism and by piety. The advent of this interesting year was hailed by every lover of his country with an unwonted thrill of emotion, and every patriotic heart responds to the sentiment which would signalize, by appropriate memorial observances, an epoch so notable in our country's history. As we enter on a new cycle of our national existence, it is meet that we should review the past, and render due honour to the states- men by whose wisdom this government was founded, and to the heroes by whose valour it was defended. It is meet that through the press and on the platform, by the pen- now mightier than the sword-and by the tongue of the living orator, we should render conspicuous, for our own future guidance, and for the guidance of other nations, those


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distinctive principles of government, which, however they may have been elsewhere asserted, have here for the first time found practical expression, giving vitality and form and power to our civil institutions-principles that with the cer- tainty of the progress of time, and the germination of liv- ing seed when cast into fruitful soil, and the ultimate tri- umph of truth, shall sooner or later-it may be ere another century rolls round -- revolutionize the political institutions of the world. It is meet that we should trace our country's progress from its small beginning to what it is this day, when " the little one has become a thousand and the small one a strong nation." It is meet that we should contem- plate our national prosperity, and therein rejoice and in all suitable ways give expression to our joy.


And yet if we do all this and nothing more, we shall have come far short of fulfilling the whole duty-I may say, the main duty-which devolves upon us at this interesting epoch. It is an occasion, not merely for rejoicing but for thanksgiving, not merely for the indulgence of patriotic pride, but for the expression of devout gratitude-gratitude to the God of nations by whose special favor we enjoy peculiar blessings. By no might, nor power, nor wisdom of our own or of our fathers, have we attained to greatness and great privileges. To our God and the God of our fathers they are due and to Him we should render praise.


And further, at such a time as this, when our nation's history arrests the attention, not only of ourselves but of the civilized world, it becomes us as a Christian people to ponder the teachings of God's word respecting the philoso- phy of history-that no nation or kingdom however exalted


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and prosperous exists for its own sake ; that political privi- leges however precious, are not in themselves an end, but only a means to a more precious end ; that men every- where-immortal men,-have higher and holier and more enduring interests than any that pertain to the life that now is ; that there is in this world and yet not of the world a kingdom, dear to the King of kings as "the apple of his eye "-which, as compared with other kingdoms, is in His esteem as " the lily among thorns "-and that the welfare of this kingdom is the rule by which the administration of God's government among men is determined, and the ulti- mate glory of this kingdom the end to which all His dis- pensations toward mankind are subordinate and subservient.


The only true philosophy of history is that which recog- nizes that the interests of Zion are paramount to all other earthly interests, and that secular events however interest- ing, however momentous-not excluding, but eminently including, the rise, progress, retrogression and downfall of nations-have their true significance and importance in their relation to the prosperity of that Church, which He, into whose hands all power in heaven and earth has been entrusted, has purchased with His precious blood.


What was Babylon at the acme of her pride and pomp and power, but the rod of Zion's king-the staff in His hand-for the chastisement of His chosen. And when this end, for which she had, for the time, been exalted among the nations was accomplished, the prediction of Israel's prophet was speedily fulfilled, and " Babylon, the glory of all lands, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency," was swept from the earth and became as Sodom and Gomorrah,


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and remains so to this day. The captives in Babylon, hang- ing their harps on the willows, and weeping when they remembered Zion, were in God's sight of more account, and in the subsequent history of our race of more account, than were their proud oppressors-to whom the greater part of the then known world were in subjection.


History and prophecy conspire to teach that " the nation or kingdom which will not serve Zion shall perish."


Interesting, therefore, as is our civil history, and promi- nent as is our place to-day among the nations-with a dominion surpassing that of Nebuchadnezzar in all his glory -the history of the Church of God in this land transcends our secular history in importance, and the most precious interests of the nation are those which are identified with the progress of the Redeemer's kingdom.


The service, therefore, to which we are called to-day, is one eminently appropriate to the present epoch. The recom- mendation of the Chief Judicatory of our Church but reiterates the inspired exhortation of the Psalmist-" Walk about Zion and go round about her, tell the towers thereof ; mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following."


It would be interesting and profitable for us to review the history of the Church of God in this land, marked as it has been by special tokens of the Divine favor no less notable than were displayed, when of old He led His chosen people " like a flock, by the hands of Moses and Aaron," " when he rebuked kings for their sakes, and said to the heathen, touch not mine anointed."


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It would be interesting and profitable to review the history of that branch of the Church in our land with which we are connected-to whose influence under God, the nation is probably more largely indebted than to any other single agency, for the civil and religious privileges in which we are to-day rejoicing.


It would be interesting and profitable to review the his- tory of the Church in this community, which by the special favor of God has been throughout the century past as it is to-day, conspicuous among the " bulwarks " of Zion.


And yet our task on this occasion is a more humble one. It devolves on us to recite the history of our own particular organization-one of the youngest churches of our venera- ble Presbytery-a Benjamin in the family of Israel.


The question of organizing a Second Presbyterian Church in Princeton was under consideration for some time before the organization was effected.


The need of increased Church accommodations, to meet the then existing and especially the prospective demand, was acknowledged ; but on the other hand, it was apprehended by some that two Presbyterian Churches could not be sus- tained in this community, and consequently, that the power and efficiency of Presbyterianism in Princeton would be weakened rather than strengthened by the organization of a Second Church. Doubt as to the proper locality for a new church edifice, in case a Second Church was organized, also contributed to delay the organization. For a number of years there had been a Sabbath School and an afternoon service, under the supervision of the Session of the Pres- byterian Church, in the building in Queenston, erected on


IO


a lot given by John C. Schenck, Esq., to certain Trustees- members of the Presbyterian Church-for the purposes mentioned ; and it was urged by some that when the time came for the organization of a Second Church, it should occupy the building referred to. Others regarded this loca- tion as unsuitable.


In the fall of 1847, at a meeting of "The Ministers' Association "-an Association of the Presbyterian Minis- ters of Princeton, which met once a fortnight in Dr. Miller's study-the propriety of organizing a Second Presbyterian Church was considered, and it was concluded that the organization ought not to be longer delayed. Accordingly a public meeting of all interested was convened in Mercer Hall to consider the question, and to take such action as might be deemed expedient.


The propriety of taking immediate steps to effect the organization was advocated by Dr. Archibald Alexander, Dr. John Maclean, Dr. Benjamin H. Rice (Pastor of the First Church), and John F. Hageman, Esq. The result was an application to the Presbytery of New Brunswick at its meet- ing at Middletown Point, October 5th, 1847, to appoint a Committee to visit Princeton, and if " the way should be clear," to proceed to the organization of a Church, to be known as the Second Presbyterian Church of Princeton. The request was granted, and Drs. Hall, Hale and Henry were appointed the Committee. In the discharge of the duty assigned them, they met in Princeton in Mercer Hall, December 23, 1847, and organized into a Church the fol- lowing twelve persons-John T. Robinson, Mrs. James H. Green, Wm. R. Murphy, Moore Baker, Mrs. Mary Ann


2 1933 02955 3010


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Baker, Jacob Hubbard, Mrs. Jacob Hubbard, Mrs. Mary Murphy, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Allen, Mrs. Catherine Allen, from the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton, and John T. Duffield, from the Presbyterian Church of McConnells- burg, Pa. But four of the twelve members of the original organization survive to-day-Mrs. Jacob Hubbard, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Allen, Col. Wm. R. Murphy, and myself-and I may be permitted to mention that for some years my name has stood at the head of the roll of the living members of the Church.


There is one whose name does not appear in the original organization to whom the Second Presbyterian Church of Princeton is more largely indebted for its existence and the measure of prosperity it enjoys, than to any individual on its roll of members-I need scarcely say here that I refer to Dr. Maclean. By the recommendation of his brethren he associated himself with the new enterprise-" taking the oversight thereof." Devoting himself to its interests with his characteristic energy and liberality, he was regarded by all as its main stay and support, so that for many years this Church was known in the community as "Dr. Maclean's Church." We rejoice that "length of days "-wisdom's right-hand blessing-has been granted by our Heavenly Father to His faithful servant, and that he is permitted to share our congratulations to-day on the prosperity of this Church of which he was, under God, pre-eminently the founder.


At the organization of the Church, Col. (then Capt.) Wm. R. Murphy was elected Ruling Elder, and was ordained to the office on Sunday, Jan. 2, 1848, by the Rev. Symmes


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C. Henry, D.D. The Rev. George Bush was engaged as a Temporary Supply, and Mr. Jas. VanDeventer having gen- erously offered the Church the use of Mercer Hall for one year gratuitously, religious services on the Sabbath were commenced in that place and continued to be held there for more than two years. A Sabbath School, of which I was elected Superintendent, was also organized and met regularly in Mercer Hall.


A congregational meeting for the election of a Pastor was held in Mercer Hall, Feb. 9, 1848. Dr. Archibald Alexander-who always manifested a deep interest in the welfare of the Second Church-presided at this meeting. Dr. Archibald Alexander, Jr., was Secretary. Prof. Wm. H. Green, at that time Assistant Teacher of Hebrew in the Seminary, was unanimously elected Pastor ; and as an indi- cation of the pecuniary feebleness of the Church in its infancy, it may be proper to mention that the salary of the Pastor was $300. Prof. Green was never installed as Pastor, but for about a year and a half discharged the duties of the Pastoral Office as Stated Supply.


A short time before the Second Church was organized a prayer meeting, conducted by students of the Theological Seminary, was commenced in a school-room in the house now occupied by the Rev. A. S. Colton. Prof. Green took charge of this service when he entered on his duties as Sup- ply of the Second Church. The special presence of the Spirit was soon manifested in this prayer meeting, resulting in the hopeful conversion of a number of those who attended. At the first communion of the Church, on May 28, 1848, twenty persons were received on profession of


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their faith-the subjects of this gracious work-the first fruits of the blessing which the Church has already been, and we trust is destined yet to be in larger measure, to this community. The names of those referred to are as follows : Miss Julia Ann Runyon, Mrs. Ellen Rittenhouse, Joseph Dennis, Mrs. Cornelia Dennis, John C. Van Marter, Mrs. Ann E. Van Marter, Mrs. Hannah Hollingshead, Mrs. Catherine Quackenbush, Mrs. Caroline Margerum, Miss Mary Ann Snooks, Miss Sarah Ann Voorhees, Miss Rebecca Asay, Miss Julia S. Skillman, Miss Ellen Skillman, Miss Elizabeth Rowland, Richard Spencer Rowland, and John Hollingshead Heath. At the same communion Mrs. Eliza- beth Rowland, Alexander Cruser Rowland, and Mrs. Alice H. Deruelle were received by certificate. At the following communion in August, Miss Ellen Anderson-another sub- ject of the work of grace above mentioned-was received into the Church on profession of faith.


Prof. Green was called to the Pastorate of the Central Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in the fall of 1849. He accepted the call and for a time the Rev. George Bush again officiated as supply of the Second Church. Up to this time the Church had had but one elder. In Sept. 1849, Peter Sullivan, who had been received into the Church about a year previous, by certificate from the Reformed Dutch Church, was elected to the Eldership, and having accepted was ordained by Mr. Bush.


About the time Prof. Green left, a lot was purchased for the Church by Dr. Maclean, John T. Robinson and John Murphy-they becoming personally responsible for the payment-and a contract entered into with Noah Green for


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the erection of a Church edifice. The building was com- pleted at a cost of about $4,000.


In the spring of 1850, shortly after I had received licen- sure, I was elected Stated Supply of the Second Church for one year. I was at that time a Tutor in the College. I accepted the invitation and entered upon the duties when the congregation took possession of their then new Church edifice-the building now known as " Cook's Hall "-on the first Sabbath of April, 1850. The whole number on the roll of the Church at that time was 49-of whom 23 had been received by profession of faith, and 26 by certificate.


My engagement with the Church was to attend to Pas- toral duties, preach once on the Sabbath, and provide a sup- ply for the pulpit for the second service. The pulpit in the afternoon was usually supplied by one of the Professors of the College or Seminary-by none more frequently than by Drs. James W. and Addison Alexander. For a time they preached regularly in the Second Church in the afternoon when their other engagements would permit. The house was usually crowded on these occasions, and it was fre- quently necessary to provide additional seats by benches placed in the aisles. Those who during this period attended the afternoon service of the Second Church, were permitted to hear many of those sermons, which gave the Brothers Alexander a place in the very front rank of American pulpit orators.


It may be proper to mention here that the Communion service of the Church was presented by three young ladies of the Sabbath School-Miss Eunice Murphy, Miss Louisa Murphy (now wife of the Rev. Mr. Sproull), and Miss Carrie


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Nelson (now wife of the Rev. Mr. Spencer.) The ser- vice was purchased with the proceeds of the sale of fancy articles which they made and disposed of for the purpose. The Communion table was purchased with the proceeds of a Lecture delivered by Dr. Carnahan in Mercer Hall; the subject-" Personal Reminiscenses of the Whiskey Insur- rection in Pennsylvania in 1701." The rear basement room of the Church was fitted up for a Lecture and Sabbath School Room with the proceeds of the sale of " The Prince- ton Pulpit."


In the spring of 1851, I was re-elected Stated Supply for another year. At the termination of this engagement the number on the Church roll was 83.


The Church had now been in existence more than four years and yet had never had an installed Pastor. Those who had had the ministerial charge, were occupied the greater part of their time with their duties in the College and Seminary. It was felt that the interests of the Church demanded that it should be placed in charge of some one who could devote his whole time and attention to the work of the ministry. Accordingly on the Ist of April, 1852, the Rev. Wm. A. Dod was elected Stated Supply for six months, with a view to his election as Pastor at the expiration of that time if he should give his consent to the arrangement. Dr. Dod accepted the appointment and immediately entered on its duties. On the 28th of September following he was elected Pastor and was installed. He continued to have the Pastoral Charge until Jan. 16th, 1859. In the early part of his ministry the entire debt of the Church, amounting to about $1,500, was paid off.


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In the spring of 1857, Capt. Murphy having removed to Bordentown, and Mr. Sullivan being the only Elder remain- ing, John T. Robinson, A. Cruser Rowland, and Nathaniel Titus, were elected to the Eldership, and Elijah Allen and A. D. Rittenhouse were elected to the Diaconate. At the close of Dr. Dod's ministry, the number of names on the Church roll-including those who had deceased or had been dismissed, was 189.


On the 10th of April, 1859, Charles R. Clarke was elected Stated Supply for one year, and accepted the appointment. At the expiration of this engagement the Church was for near a year without any regular supply. The Rev. John Forsyth, D.D., who had frequently supplied the pulpit of the Second Church when Professor in the College-and always with great acceptance-was elected Pastor on the 9th of June, 1860, but did not accept. At the same meet- ing James Wylie was elected to the Eldership. On the 30th of October the Rev. Thomas G. Wall was elected Pastor. He also declined the appointment.


The circumstances of the Church at this time were some- what discouraging. It was felt that the interests of the Church demanded a minister of more than ordinary ability, whilst the Church was unable to give more than about one- fourth of an adequate salary. In this strait we were provi- dentially directed to the Rev. Joseph R. Mann, D.D., who some time previous had been constrained by the state of his health to resign his pastoral charge, but whose health had then been so far restored that he felt prepared to engage again in ministerial work. On the 28th of January, 1861, Dr. Mann was elected Pastor, and much to the joy of the


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congregation the call was accepted. He entered on his duties, the Ist of April following, and was installed Pastor on the evening of Friday, May 3d.


The ministry of Dr. Mann marks a new era in the history of the Church. From its commencement his labors were crowned with the divine blessing, resulting in a large acces- sion to the communion of the Church and a marked increase in the zeal, activity and liberality of the members. The regular congregation was soon doubled in number-nearly every pew was rented and measures were taken to provide increased Church acommodations by an enlargement of the building. The drawings for the enlargement were prepared, but just as the work was about to be commenced the deplora- ble rebellion against the authority of the Federal Govern- ment began to assume such formidable proportions that it was thought best that the enlargement should be, for the time, delayed. During the war the same reasons which pre- vented the enlargement of the Church in 1861 continued. In Dec. 1864, Dr. Mann was constrained by the state of his health to resign the Pastoral charge. During his min- istry 95 were added to the communion of the Church, mak- ing the whole number of names on the roll 284. The growth and prosperity of the Church during Dr. Mann's ministry is indicated not only by the increase in the mem- bership, but even more by the increase in the contributions for charitable and religious objects. In 1860, the whole amount contributed to the Boards of our Church was $60. In 1864 the contributions of the Second Church were as follows: to the Board of Foreign Missions, $249-to the Board of Domestic Missions, $191-to the Board of Educa-


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tion, $61-to the Board of Publication, $63-to the Board of Church Extension, $47-to the Disabled Ministers' Fund, $100-to the Freedmen, Soldiers and other charita- ble objects, $415 -a total of $1,126. The amount raised during the same year for congregational purposes was $1,- 068.


In the spring of 1864, by the will of Mrs. Agnes B. Hope-widow of Prof. M. B. Hope, D.D .- the Church received a legacy of $1,000, "to be safely invested and the annual income appropriated to the support of the minister or ministers of the said Church and congrega- tion." Both Professor and Mrs. Hope had for many years taken a deep interest in the welfare of the Second Church, and by their liberal gifts and active co-operation in all church work, had contributed largely to its prosperity.


Elders John T. Robinson and A. Cruser Rowland having died, and James Wylie having removed from Princeton, dur- ing Dr. Mann's ministry, the only Elder remaining was Nathaniel Titus.' On the 9th of April, 1865, C. S. Cook and Geo. H. Burroughs were elected to the Eldership, and having accepted, they were subsequently installed.


After the resignation of Dr. Mann the Church was again for about eighteen months without a Pastor. At a congre- gational meeting held in March, 1865, a Committee was appointed to confer with the Rev. Samuel D. Alexander, D.D., with reference to his acceptance of a call to the Pastoral office of the Church. Dr. Alexander felt it his duty to remain in charge of the Church of which he was then and is at present the Pastor, and gave the Committee no encouragement to take any further action in the matter.


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At a meeting held on April 17, 1865, the Rev. Charles E. Hart was elected Pastor, but declined the appointment.


About the Ist of January, 1866, the Rev. Dr. McIlvaine of the College accepted an invitation to supply the pulpit of the Second Church, and discharge Pastoral duties until a Pastor should be obtained.


In the spring of 1865, the Rev. Spencer L. Finney, Pastor of a Reformed (Presbyterian) Church in the city of New York, removed with his family to Princeton, retaining his Pastoral charge in New York. During the year he preached occasionally in one or other of the Princeton churches, and took part in the weekly meetings for prayer. His services were always highly appreciated. The ob- servance of the day of prayer for schools and colleges, in February, 1866, was followed with a precious out- pouring of the spirit on our College. The gracious work extended into the town, and so deep was the interest that the Pastors of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist churches united in recommending to the community the observance of Thursday, the 16th of March, as a day of fasting and prayer for the continuance and increase of the blessing. Union services were held in the First Presby- terian Church in the forenoon, in the Second Church in the afternoon, and in the Methodist Church in the evening. Seldom, if ever, has a fast day been observed in Princeton with more marked solemnity. Most of the places of busi- ness were closed, and crowded audiences attended the ap- pointed services. By invitation of the Pastors, Mr. Finney preached at the morning service in the First Church. Throughout the exercises the presence of the spirit of God




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