USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > Baptists of Trenton, 1787-1867 : an historical discourse delivered at the First Baptist Church, October 6th, 1867 > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02919 3783
Gc 974.902 T72m Miller, D. Henry. Baptists of Trenton, 1787- 1867
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1787. THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON. 1867.
AN
Historical Discourse,
DELIVERED AT THE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,
OCTOBER 6th. 1867,
BY
D. HENRY MILLER, D. D., 1 PASTOR.
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE CHURCH.
TRENTON, N. J. : PRINTED AT THE TRUE AMERICAN OFFICE. 1867.
5
1787. THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON. 1867.
AN
istorical Discourse,
DELIVERED AT THE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,
OCTOBER 6th, 1867,
BY
D. HENRY MILLER, D.D.,
PASTOR.
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE CHURCH.
TRENTON, N. J .: PRINTED AT THE TRUE AMERICAN OFFICE. 1867.
-
uilen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
TO THE
First Baptist Church and Congregation, of Trenton, J. J., whose kindness during my pastorate I cannot repay, save by these acknowledgments and an affec- tion that will never change, this HISTORICAL DISCOURSE, the chief value of which lies in the records it brings together, IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED
BY THEIR PASTOR.
1.
DISCOURSE.
"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."
"For this God is our God for ever and ever ; He will be our guide even unto death."-PSALM XLVIII. :- 12, 13, 14
The captivity of Judah God had turned. His judgments he had poured out upon her oppressors, who, whilst marching to conflict and to spoil, fell out among themselves. At first, the strife was between Ammon and Moab on the one side, and Edom on the other; but quickly it spread through all the ranks, and each man used his sword against his fellow, without any respect to tribe, and as soon, the whole army of invaders and oppressors was wasted. The Hebrews, who had looked on with astonishment, gathered up the spoils. For three days they were thus employed ; on the fourth day they assembled and offered general thanksgiving to God, after which "they returned, every man of Judah, to Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the fore front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy ; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries, and harps, and trumpets, unto the house of the
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
Lord." We cannot wonder at the inspiration of the hour as the favored of the Lord returned, a delivered people, that on beholding their loved Jerusalem they should cry out, " Beau- tiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion." "Let the daughters of Judah be glad." "Walk about Zion, go round about her, tell the towers thereof;" that is, mark her beauty, behold her grandeur, and count her defences. "Mark well her bulwarks," her fortifications, and her visible strength, "that ye may tell it to the generation following." " This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death."
After more than half a century, we stand to-day, with the gathered incidents of history and experience, to "count the towers " of our Zion, to mark the paths of our fathers, and the continued blessings of our father's God upon their children, through all the snares and difficulties attending a life experi- ence, in faith and hope, in toil and sacrifice. The labor and offering of this hour is simply to embalm the memories of the past, and "to tell the generation following " facts, in trials and triumphs, which should never be forgotten.
If, in this historic tribute, I should seem, to any, to be too minute in the use of names, or places, or dates, or incidents, it will be borne in mind I aim to give a truthful history of the Baptist cause in Trenton, not for the glory of one Church, or one Minister, or to perpetuate the achievements of one epoch, but to review the whole history and experience of a cause dear to our hearts, and, as far as we may, to recall the names and memories of those, who, though differing from us in many things, and holding views on some points of doctrine we cannot endorse, nevertheless did battle nobly for our cause, and did achieve results grand in fact, and as powerful
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THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
in their influence. To give an "historic discourse " on this subject, and to shut out the mention of ACTS, noble and gen- erous and true, and to fail to introduce the ACTORS, would make such a discourse like the fig tree the Master found at the way-side, fair to look upon, all leaves, but destitute of fruit.
In the month of November, 1745, what is now known as the Baptist Church, at Hightstown, New Jersey, was or- ganized, with twelve members. Its first Pastor was Rev. J. Carman, who was also one of its constituent members. Its second Pastor was Rev. Peter Wilson, who was baptized May 1st, 1776, and was ordained to the work of the Ministry May 1st, 1782. He remained pastor until 1816. To this church, and its laborious pastor, we trace the rise of the Baptist Cause in Trenton. Like his Lord, this minister of Christ "went about doing good." In 1785 he is found at Nottingham Square, establishing an outpost of labor, with a house of worship, although no Church was constituted there until April, 1812. From a minute furnished by Deacon William Tindall, of Hightstown, in the year 1803, we gather the following interesting facts :- " In the year 1787 the Rev. Peter Wilson, A. M., our beloved Pastor, began preach- ing in Trenton and its vicinity. His services appeared at first unwelcome, but they became more approved as his visits were repeated ; several of his hearers began to feel serious concern for their everlasting safety. On the 4th of March, 1788, five persons, confessing their sins, submitted to the solemn ordinance of Christian Baptism in the Delaware, when the surrounding ice was so strong as to bear a large congre- gation of spectators." Onward, with each visitation, the good work seemed to progress. Success attended his labors
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
of love, and many friends were raised up to help the infant enterprise. Early in the year 1801, Colonel Peter Hunt, of Lamberton, presented to the Baptist friends a lot of ground on which to build a Meeting-House. On the 2d of May, the same year, Trustees were appointed, to hold the gift in trust, and to solicit donations, and to superintend the work. A Society was organized of the members resident, who were members mostly of the Church at Hightstown. To the gifts and offerings of those devoted men and women, many, con- nected with other religious denominations in this city at that time, "united their liberal subscriptions." The Trustees, at length, reported that they had so far succeeded in their ap- pointment as to have the building ready for public worship. It will be observed that the first Board of Trustees appointed for this interest had full charge and did the labor pertaining to the secular-the financial affairs of the Society. Thus it should ever remain. In searching over an old file of papers, published in 1803, I found the following notice :-
" On Saturday next, the 26th instant, about twelve o'clock, the Baptist Meeting-House, between Trenton and Lamberton, will be opened for worship, and a Sermon delivered, suitable to the occasion, by the Rev. Dr. W. Stoughton, of Burlington. A number of other brethren in the vicinity are expected to attend, and the Communion of the Lord's Supper will be administered on the Lord's Day follow- ing when a public collection will be made toward completing said house."
This brings us, in our history, up to the 26th and 27th days of November, 1803. At the opening of the house of worship on Saturday, Dr. Stoughton preached from I. Kings, 8th : 27 :- " But will God indeed dwell on the earth ?" On Sunday, the 27th, he discoursed from the 84th Psalm, and
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THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
10th verse :- " I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." These discourses were "published by request of the Church," at Hightstown, of which this was then only a branch. I have in my possession these sermons-memorials, alike, of the dedication of your first house of worship-and also of the eloquent preacher of the occasion, long since numbered with the dead, of whom we must say, though dead, he " yet speak- eth." For about three years, services were held at the Trenton and Lamberton Meeting-House by Rev. Mr. Wilson, and occasional supplies, as the people could command them. This was found, however, not to be the most successful method of building up the interests of the Baptist Church in this region. It was agreed to form a Church, to be known as the " Trenton and Lamberton Baptist Church." On the 9th of November, 1805, forty-eight persons constituted themselves into a Church of Christ. Of their recognition by Council we have no other record than, that the Church was admitted a member of the "Philadelphia Baptist Association." It so remained until the year 1811, when the New Jersey Baptist Association was formed, and this Church became one of the constituent members, which relation is still maintained,-the growth of the Baptists in the State having compelled the prefixing of the word " West " to the name of the Association. We do not wonder that the Church refused so positively to break away from this body, a year or two since, when urged so to do by some, whose sole aim seemed to be to remove "the ancient landmarks."
The first Deacons chosen were Amos Reeder and John Welling. As these brethren resided a considerable distance from the place, John Sunderland and Robert Howell were
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
elected as " Assistant Deacons." The following persons were elected as Trustees :- John Blakely, John Welling, James I. Wilson, Amos Reeder, Jesse Coleman, Nathan Coombs, and Benjamin Coles. The next step was to supply the pulpit with a preacher. The Rev. Peter Wilson was invited for one year "to visit the Church on sacramental seasons as admin- istrator, and, as often as consistent, as our minister, to go in and out before the Church as stated supply." In respect to salary for these services, I find the following record :- " In- tending, for his works of faith and labors of love, to render him (Rev. Mr. Wilson) some compensation, at the expiration of the time (one year), by subscription." Mr. Wilson accepted the "call," and was found at his post every communion season, which, by vote, was established to occur "on the second Lord's Day in January, March, May, July, Septem- ber and November." A preparatory sermon was always preached on the Saturday evening preceding each sacramental season. A good old custom this, but for some cause, un- known to your speaker, allowed within a few years to become obsolete.
This Church early exhibited a deep interest in the subject of public praise, singing in the Sanctuary, and established the office of "Clerk to sing," whose duty it was, facing the whole congregation, to "set the tunes." I apprehend this was an office without a salary, as was that of the Sextonship of this Church, from 1805 to 1807. Amos Hart was elected " Clerk to sing," and Joseph Parker to the office of Sexton. In 1807 Mr. Parker resigned his office, and Richard Palmer having consented to serve as his successor, "it was mutually agreed that he should receive eight dollars per year" for his ser- vices. I refer to these particulars, that the memberhood of
c
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THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
the present, and the office-holders of the Church of to-day, may fully appreciate the labors of the fathers in the planting of "this vine," so fruitful and so rich in blessings to the generations which have followed.
In March, 1807, Benjamin Coles, one of the constituent members of the Church, was licensed to preach the Gospel. Mr. Wilson being pastor at Hightstown, and continuing ser- vice at "the Square," could supply the Church but once a month. Mr. Coles, just licensed by the Church, was invited to supply once a month. This continued until 1809. In the month of July, 1808, the Rev. William Boswell was invited to supply once a month, also; so that in the Summer of that year the pulpit was occupied by these three brethren, alter- nately. In May, 1809, Mr. Boswell was called as pastor for one year, "in conjunction with the Second Hopewell Church." On the 6th of September he was ordained to the work of the Ministry, the Rev. Burgess Allison, D. D.,-the life-long friend of Mr. Boswell,-the Rev. James McLaughlin, Rev. Peter Wilson, and the Rev. Mr. Harris, of the Presbyterian Church, officiating. From that time until 1823, Mr. Boswell continued to serve as Pastor, "preaching, at first, half, and afterwards the whole of the time, for them." During Mr. Boswell's ministry the Church increased from sixty-nine to two hundred and twenty-two,-he having baptized one hun- dred and eighty-seven persons. During the latter part of the year 1822 and the early part of 1823, an evident change took place in Mr. Boswell's views of what was then styled " Calvinism and Church Order." This caused great uneasi- ness, and led to the calling of a Council of Clergymen. On the 12th of April the Revs. Henry Smalley, John Boggs, Thomas B. Montanye, and James McLaughlin, were invited
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
on said Council. But three of those invited were present at the Council, which convened on the 30th of May. They listened to the charges against the Pastor, and after retiring for consultation,-and, we trust, for prayer,-they offered the following report to the Church :-
"We, the undersigned, having heard the unhappy division be- tween the Baptist Church of Trenton and Lamberton and their Elder, William Boswell, are of opinion that he has departed from the faith. of the particular Baptist Churches in our connection,-the proof of which has been fully witnessed. Though the Committee lament the fact, the love they feel for the faith once delivered to the saints, and the preservation of the Church of Jesus Christ from error, demands that he be immediately notified that until he re- nounces his errors he cannot have our fellowship as a regular Gospel Minister,
" Signed,
JOHN BOGGS, HENRY SMALLEY, THOS. B. MONTANYE."
The Church speedily acted on the report, and without waiting the effect of the doings of the Council on the mind of Mr. Boswell, immediately excluded him from fel- lowship. This act of separation was truly painful ;- painful to the flock he had served, and equally so to himself. I find him, in his farewell address to the Church, in which he gives a full statement of his views, saying :- " I had fondly hoped that nothing but death could ever separate us; but it seems as if Divine Providence has ordered otherwise. The time has now arrived that will perhaps dissolve that near and dear relation which has for many years mutually bound us together in Christian fellowship." "I am acting in accordance with the dictates of conscience, and cannot
13
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
consistently support every article of the printed 'confession of faith ' adopted by the New Jersey Baptist Association." * "You will perceive that my views are not in con- formity with the Calvinistic principles." * * "I am not led by any private or ambitious views whatever, being in the wane of life, and dying daily to worldly interest and honor. All my former trials whilst laboring for you, in season and out of season, bear no comparison to what I feel now; to leave a people with whom I have been sixteen years united in the sacred bonds of Christian love ; to be separated from many of my children in the Gospel, who have been as dear to me as my life." It is an easy matter to brand a man with "heresy," and full as easy, according to our form of government, to exclude from fellowship such an one; but not so easy to heal the wounds occasioned by too precipitate an act of excision. This was fully shown in what followed. Sixty persons, embracing some of the most devoted, liberal, and self-sacrificing members of the Church, went out with the pastor, declaring that they sympathized with his views on Calvinism and Communion. And these were excluded also. A few afterwards returned to the Church, making acknow- ledgment of error, and were restored to fellowship.
Mr. Boswell and his party organized a Church ; they did not take the name of the "Second Baptist Church," as you have recently seen it stated. Mr. Boswell knew that the Church could not be recognized by regular Baptists, and for that reason sought recognition from another sect. For a long time this new organization went by the name of the " Bos- well Church." They built a house of worship in Bloomsbury, now known as the Second Presbyterian Church, in Union street, in this city. The Rev. Dr. John Hall says, in his
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
History, that it was built in eleven weeks, and was dedicated October 19, 1823. This name was changed, however, on the issuing of a hymn-book by the Pastor; and ever after, until the death of Mr. Boswell and the sale of the property, this Church was known as the " Reformed General Baptist Church, of Bloomsbury, New Jersey." These were dark days to the First Church of Trenton; but the day following the Council the Rev. Mr. Mclaughlin came with words of comfort and encouragement. He remained for six weeks, preaching, counseling, and inspiring hope, thus, at the very time to save the existence of the old Church, the Master sent the faithful watchman and gave him success in his mission.
While we all regret the departure of Mr. Boswell from the accepted tenets of the Baptist Church, we would be false to history, false to ourselves, false to his memory, were we to say less, than that he did a noble work for the Baptist cause, in Trenton and vicinity, while in fellowship with the Associa- tion. I cannot suffer the present occasion to pass without doing justice to the memory of your first settled pastor. As but little is known of Mr. Boswell by the present generation, only that he led a colony and formed a new Church, differing from the regular Baptists, it may be acceptable to perpetuate a fuller sketch of the man and his work. His mistake was a painful one ; his views of doctrine and Church order, though erroneous, should not subject his name and memory to the misrepresentations of any. To all who write of him, who speak of him, is the advice of Shakespeare most timely :-
" To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.'
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THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
Rev. William Boswell was born in the City of Philadelphia on the 8th day of January, 1776. His parents belonged to the Society of Friends, or Quakers. They came from Essex County, England, and settled in this country a short time previous to the Revolutionary War. After a residence of about twenty years in this country they died in the City of Philadelphia, and were buried in the Quaker grave-yard, corner of Fourth and Arch streets. Being in moderate cir- cumstances, and the opportunities of education at that early period very difficult to obtain, the subject of this sketch re- ceived only a few quarters of ordinary schooling, consequently was compelled to struggle against the many adversities inci- dent thereto; yet, by dint of application, much self-sacrifice, and a constant devotion to the sacred Scriptures and such useful books as he was able to obtain, was enabled to make an honorable and genteel appearance in the world, as well as a useful and eloquent Minister of the Gospel of Christ.
In youth he was moral, and distinguished for his conscien- tiousness, and though religiously inclined, did not make a profession of piety until the year 1804, when he became a member of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia, under the Pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Stoughton, and from whom he received much spiritual aid in the commencement of his ministry.
In the month of March, 1805, he removed to Burlington, New Jersey, where, after a brief residence, he was licensed to preach, which he did, as the fruits of his labors testify, with considerable success.
In the year 1809, as already noticed, he was ordained as pastor of the Trenton and Lamberton Baptist Church. He died on the 11th day of June, 1833, being fifty-seven years,
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
five months and three days old. He preached to his devoted flock even to the close of his life. On the Sabbath previous to his death he delivered his last message, founded on Pro- verbs, vi., 6 :- " Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; consider her ways and be wise."
His ministrations were attended with the Divine blessing, having baptized upwards of four hundred persons,-the ordi- nance of baptism, at that time, being administered in the Delaware River, and frequently, at a convenient place in the waters flowing just in the rear of the building known as " Temperance Hall." Some of the converts are yet alive to emulate his many virtues, and to speak of his eloquence and power, and to rehearse his earnest entreaties to sinners to re- ceive the Grace of Jesus Christ. A gentleman well qualified to speak has written to me as follows :-
"Mr. Boswell was a pleasant and attractive speaker ; especially did he excel as a sympathizer with the afflicted. He was popular with the young, and during his ministry united several hundred couple in the bonds of matrimony ; and what was peculiar for a 'hire- ling minister,' many of them were the sons and daughters of Quakers."
For several years Mr. Boswell was appointed by the Legis- lature to fill the position of State Librarian, which seemed fitting, indeed, to his age and his fondness for books. The salary of the State Librarian was not then what it is now, or you may rest assured no Baptist, if indeed any Clergyman, could have received the appointment. He was also appointed by the State Chaplain to the "New Jersey State Peniten- tiary," where, in the regular and faithful discharge of his duties, his voice was heard stirring the hearts of the two hun- dred convicts then incarcerated. A friend from Long Island has furnished the following sketch and facts :-
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THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
" In person Mr. Boswell was graceful, well-formed, and his coun- tenance remarkably expressive of sensibility, cheerfulness and dig- nity ; his social virtues, eminent patriotism, and ardent zeal in the cause of Christianity are registered in many hearts. When the New Jersey troops, in the War of 1812, were encamped at Sandy Hook, daily expecting the landing of British troops, then hovering on the coast, Mr. Boswell visited, comforted, and preached the Gospel of Christ to them, directing attention to ' the Captain of our salva- tion.' "
" About this time, party strife ran high, and all classes of men took sides, and so bitter was the conflict that the Federalists and Democrats were unwilling even to celebrate the Fourth of July to- gether, and, as an acceptable speaker and a friend of the Jeffersonian policy in regard to the war, Mr. Boswell was called upon to deliver an oration, which was published, and greatly eulogized for its ex- pressions of patriotism and devotion to country."
Mr. Boswell was greatly beloved by all, but especially by his own'flock. A fact or two of the people who claimed him as pastor may not be uninteresting to us of to-day, or to the generation following; it is possible a gentle reminder may be involved respecting the duty of the flock to the shepherd :-
" There seemed to exist at that age special care for the creature comforts of the minister. In his case, the male portion of his con- gregation residing in the rural districts would unite in the autumn of each year, and bring to his door, cords of fine hickory and oak wood, sufficient to last until the next autumn. Then, again, during the winter, poultry and other farm products, came in abundance, and the women of the parish were not a whit behind in their offerings of affection. In the season of fishing the owners of fisheries on the Delaware always calculated for a generous remembrance of 'the Elder.' "
A custom which your pastor of to-day has reason to be thankful has not passed away.
2
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
From what has been said it is clearly evident the first pas- tor of this Church was no ordinary man, in the pulpit, in the esteem of the State, in social life, in the affections of his people, in the Baptist denomination. His name will ever live as one of the founders of the " American Baptist Missionary Union," though now bearing the new name, as it gives the Gospel to the world.
The agitation occasioned by the division in the Church soon subsided, and we find the flock of God in this place moving gloriously onward. Returning to the history of the Church, it is recorded that Thomas Potts was unanimously chosen Deacon, July 13th, 1816. About this time the Dea- cons were assigned a given seat in the house of worship, as is evident from the following resolution :-
" Resolved, That our Deacons, Potts, Reeder and Welling, to- gether with Brethren McKean, Probasco and Hutchinson, be invited by the Clerk to take seats under the pulpit, and attend to regulating the singing and reading the lines."
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