USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Pennington > A history of the old Presbyterian congregation of "The people of Maidenhead and Hopewell" : more especially of the First Presbyterian Church of Hopewell, at Pennington, New Jersey, delivered at the pastor's request, on Sabbath morning, July 2d, 1876 > Part 5
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By the reunion of the Old Side and New Side divi- sions of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Guild and Mr. Cowell were transferred to the Presbytery of New Brunswick. At a meeting in Amwell, June 13, 1758, the Rev. John Guild was present and took his seat as a member of the Presbytery.
Mr. Guild married Charity, the daughter of the Ralph Hunt who occupied a farm on the north side of Stony Brook and south of Mount Rose. Nathan Hunt, for many years a ruling elder in the Pennington Church, was her brother. He was blessed with a family of three sons and six daughters, all of whom lived to be
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more than fifty, and their average age at death exceeded sixty-seven years. Five of the daughters married and settled in this township, and the sixth daughter married and settled near at hand in Trenton, now Ewing. Thirty- four of Mr. Guild's descendants by blood are to-day in the communion of this church. How large a number- children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even one further removed-have publicly professed the faith of their honored ancestor in the Presbyterian Church cannot be stated accurately. They would, if gathered from both worlds, make a respectable assembly. For one hundred years Mr. Guild has not been without a representative from those of his own children and de- scendants on the communion roll of this church. He knew how to rule his own house, and he knew how to take care of the Church of God.
He passed through scenes of great public trial. When he came hither, many of the tenants of the soil had not extinguished the claim on their new homes. Just at the time he was licensed there came on this congrega- tion, with terrible effect, almost the first stroke of that shock which rent asunder the whole Presbyterian Church. He had his share in the alarms caused by the French and Indian war; and in the Revolutionary war, which followed the memorable Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776, he was hated as a true patriot. He was obliged to escape, in company with his children, and to take refuge for several weeks with a family of the name of Slack in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, while the enemy were ranging through the forests and fields and keeping possession of the church. His house was entered by British soldiers, his papers destroyed, and his books torn in pieces. The church in which he was
64
accustomed to preach was used by the soldiers of the invader for barracks, the seats hacked in pieces cutting up meat, and the sacrilege completed by breaking the top of the communion table by a heavy blow with a British firelock; and some of his people were called from their homes, putting their lives in jeopardy for the preservation of the rights, liberties and life of the nation.
Of all the trials to which he was subjected, nothing was more painful than the alienation of Christian breth- ren who ought to have been one in Christ. Much of his time, for more than twenty years, was given to the healing of breaches. For this his self-control, his sound judgment, his singleness of heart, his meekness, his patience, his steadfastness and his calm moral courage, admirably qualified him. Three of his sermons now lying before me are from the texts, "Be not ye called Rabbi." "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." The principles which underlie these passages pervaded his heart and gave character to his ministry. For almost fifty years he stood firmly at his post, and approved himself unto God and man as "a workman that needed not to be ashamed." He laid the foundations here well. The influence of his ministry in moulding the character of this people as a peaceful and harmonious community is felt to this day. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, may it abide to the latest generation.
He was held in high esteem by his brethren in the ministry. Thirty times within twenty-six years he occupied the Moderator's chair. As he was a neat penman he was often called to be clerk of the body ; and on account of his wisdom in deliberation he was
65
appointed on committees, where skill, impartiality, pru- dence and fidelity were required.
Mr. Guild dwelt on the parsonage farm, on the Scotch Road, during the larger part of his ministry, but spent the latter portion of his life on the farm where his wife was born, once the home of his father-in-law, Ralph Hunt, where he died, July 10, 1787. Mrs. Guild died in the year 1766.
Owing to his increasing infirmities, and especially a cancer on his lip, which impeded his utterance, he ap- plied for a dissolution of his pastoral relation, which request was granted by the Presbytery at a meeting held in Baskingridge, April 26, 1785. His last appear- ance in public was at the funeral of his faithful friend Ralph Hart, father of the late Mrs. Mary Smith. He lingered, after being released from his charge, a little more than two years. His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, D.D., President of the College of New Jersey. He was buried beneath the brick church, then standing, under the chancel in front of the pulpit. The taking down of the church leaves the marble slab which covers his grave exposed to public view. The epitaph on that stone was composed by the Rev. John Woodhull, D.D., of Freehold, and is as follows :
ยท
IN MEMORY OF THE REV. JOHN GUILD, Pastor of this congregation 47 years, who departed this life July 10, 1787, Aged 75 years.
In yonder sacred desk
I spent my painful breath
In warning sinners of eternal death.
Now dust and ashes I
From this cold marble cry,
Sinners be warned and to the Saviour fly.
5
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Mrs. Guild's we add :
IN MEMORY OF CHARITY, the Wife of the Rev. John Guild, who departed this life February 16, 1766, Aged 44 years.
V. Rev. JOSEPH RUE, the fifth pastor, was the son of Joseph and Sarah Rue, born June 19th, 1751, in Free- hold, New Jersey. His paternal ancestor (La Rue being the original name) was one of the Huguenots who fled from France at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
He prosecuted for a time the trade of shoemaking, but an accident, by which he lost his right arm, was the providential event which led him to form the purpose of entering the Christian ministry. The pastor of his childhood and youth was the celebrated Rev. William Tennent, for whom he had a warm affection. He gradu- ated at the College of New Jersey in the autumn of 1776, and commenced his theological studies with his old pastor. Mr. Tennent died in 1777, and was suc- ceeded in 1779 by the Rev. John Woodhull, D.D., with whom Mr. Rue completed his preparation for the min- istry. At Baskingridge, October 17, 1778, he was taken under the care of Presbytery as a candidate, and was licensed as a probationer for the gospel ministry at Allentown, July 25, 1781. After this he continued preaching in various places in the Presbytery until April, 1783, when the people of Shrewsbury asked for his services as a stated supply. Here he labored until April, 1784, when the congregation of Shrewsbury and Shark River proposed to make out a call for him to be
67
their pastor. On the 15th of June, 1784, having preached, at Pennington, a trial sermon from Hebrews xi. 1, he was ordained as an evangelist. Mr. Joseph Clark was then also ordained. At the same time a call from Shrewsbury and Shark River was put into his hands, which he took into consideration. . This call he did not accept. When the Presbytery met at Basking- ridge April 26, 1785, Mr. Guild's relation to the church at Pennington was dissolved, and a call was laid before the Presbytery for the pastoral services of Mr. Rue. This he took into consideration; and in the mean time the Presbytery adjourned to meet at Pennington on the 18th of October. The record of that meeting has been lost, but there is documentary evidence that the Pres- bytery did hold its sessions on the 18th and 19th of October, and doubtless Mr. Rue was duly installed on the 19th of October, 1785. Four years after this, April 28, 1789, the Trenton Ist Church gave Mr. Rue a call for one-fourth of his time for one year. At Presbytery in Pennington, September 20, 1791, they renewed the application for one-fourth of his time for three years. On the 7th of April, 1800, the Trenton Ist Church ap- plied for one-third of Mr. Rue's time, which request was granted. This arrangement continued until 1821. On the 24th of April, Mr. Rue asked to be released from his charge of Trenton Ist Church, which was granted at a subsequent meeting, July 25, 1821. From this date, Mr. Rue gave the whole of his time to the Pennington congregation until his death, which took place April 15, 1826. He left behind him a widow (Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Liscomb), two sons and two daughters. The sons, Thomas and Joseph, removed to Ohio. Joseph only is now living. The widow and daughters remained
68
in connection with this church to the close of life, and their dust lies in this churchyard, by the side of the ven- erated husband and father.
There is no record of any large ingathering during the early part of his ministry, but in the records of the Presbytery for April 28, 1801, there is this minute :
The attending ministers, in compliance with an especial rule on that subject, severally gaye into the Presbytery a verbal account of the state of religion in their respective congregations, which, in general, exhibited a favorable state of true piety. In some of the congregations, very visi- ble and pleasing evidences appeared of the power and grace of Christ, especially in that of the Rev. Joseph Rue.
In a circular adopted by the Presbytery, September 15, 1801, and printed for distribution among the churches, it is said :
We render praise and thanksgiving unto God, that in this dark day He hath nct forsaken you, but hath in some places shed down His influ- ences in a plentiful manner, and made a preached gospel mighty for convincing and converting sinners, and pulling down the strongholds of Satan.
The tabular statement printed with this pastoral letter shows that the number of communicants in the two churches served by Mr. Rue had increased within one year from sixty-eight to one hundred and sixty-eight. That this work did not soon cease, is manifest from the records of the meeting held in Princeton April 26, 1803, where it is written :
The Presbytery were exceedingly comforted by learning that in seve- ral congregations under their care, particularly the Pennington and Trenton 1st Churches, Baskingridge, Amwell 2d Church, and Kingston, very considerable revivals of religion had taken place, that the Lord ap- peared to be pouring out His spirit to the awakening and consolation of many souls in those places, and not a few, within a short time, had been added to the church.
It pleased God to grant to His servant special tokens of His favor in the evening of his days. After he was
69
released from the charge of Trenton Ist Church, the Pennington Church was twice blessed with gracious vis- itations, in 1821 adding twenty, and in 1823 adding twenty-eight to the number of communicants. The re- cords of the Presbytery show that during the twenty-five years of Mr. Rue's ministry, from 1801 to 1826, there had been accessions of two hundred and fifty-five to the communion roll by profession.
The last Sabbath on which Mr. Rue preached was made impressive by an unexpected circumstance. The oldest son of parents at whose marriage Mr. Rue had officiated some five years before, was presented for bap- tism. The baptismal service was begun, but when the words of the institution were reached, Mr. Rue's mem- ory utterly failed him; he could not repeat the form, and with weeping eyes and deep emotion he withdrew, and left the service incomplete. More than forty years afterwards, and while that faithful mother was still living, it was my privilege to finish the rite so long ago commenced, and to receive this friend and brother into the fellowship of this church.
The kindness of the Presbytery of New Brunswick in sending ministers to supply Mr. Rue's pulpit gratui- tously for about two years after disability, both mental and bodily, had laid him aside, and in like manner for six months after his death, that the salary might inure to the benefit of the affiicted family, is worthy of spe- cial note. The benevolent actors have gone up to their reward, with but one or two exceptions. This Presby- tery met Mr. Rue's expenses at the College of New Jersey, as a candidate for the ministry, and well did he repay this small expenditure by his long, faithful, earnest and successful ministry.
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The Rev. David Comfort, of Kingston, who preached (from Rev. xiv. 13) a sermon on the occasion of his funeral, states :
Mr. Rue labored long without seeing much fruit. The discourage- ments against which he had to struggle became so great, that he used to plead with his Heavenly Father to remove him from his charge by death or otherwise as He in infinite wisdom saw fit, that he might not stand in the way, as he supposed, of some more favored and successful minister of the gospel. God answered his request in a way calculated to advance His own glory, and satisfy the enlarged desires of His devoted servant. The Spirit of the Lord came down upon this people like showers upon the mown grass, and a glorious harvest was gathered into the granary of the Lord.
In a few other paragraphs, having borne testimony to Mr. Rue's fidelity, he spreads before us the closing scene :
Our departed father was not only a faithful pastor, ready in season and out of season to break to them the bread of life, and visit from house to house as well as to reprove, rebuke, exhort and entreat, but he was also a faithful attendant on all the judicatories of the church which re- quired his presence.
For two or three years past, his bodily powers and the faculties of his mind have been evidently sinking, though in that time he occasionally performed the duties of his office to general satisfaction.
Five weeks ago there was a marked change, since which his strength has declined. The hopes of his friends are blighted, and he is removed to the possession of a better inheritance.
For a few weeks during his illness, a dark cloud hung over him, and obscured the prospect of eternity, which he saw evidently just before him. He could not therefore enjoy those bright evidences, and that as- sured confidence of his Saviour's love, which are so desirable in the im- mediate view of death. But the remedy was at hand. He who had been taught of God, knew where to look and how to apply for relief. His trust was in the Saviour's merits, and he did not plead in vain. Though he was often heard to exclaim, " Lord, have mercy upon me," this simple plea prevailed. His prayer was heard, and that mercy which he asked for was obtained, and he was heard in the triumphs of faith to say, " My fears have left me, I now go in the strength of the Lord, and rejoicing in the hope and the immediate prospect of eternal blessedness with God in heaven." He called upon all around him to praise God for that infinite mercy which, in answer to prayer, had been bestowed upon him in that
71
trying moment. And thus died the dear departed friend whose loss we sensibly deplore. While we mourn our own loss, let us rejoice in his eternal gain.
Thus ended a pastorate among this people of forty- one years, and a life of nearly seventy-five.
On the memorial stone which covers his remains, is engraved the following epitaph, composed by the Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D., of Princeton, N. J.
THIS MARBLE Covers the mortal remains of the Reverend JOSEPH RUE, For forty-one years The active and useful Pastor
of the Presbyterian Church of PENNINGTON, New JERSEY. An affectionate Husband,
A kind Parent, a firm Partiot, .
And as a Christian Minister, Pious, faithful, Successful and beloved. He departed this life April 15, 1826, In the 75th year of his age.
The inscription on Mrs. Rue's tombstone is :
ELIZABETH LISCOMB, Widow of Rev. Joseph Rue. Was born September 5, 1760. Died August 25, 1845.
For forty years she adorned the Christian profession by a holy walk. An affectionate wife, a tender parent, a constant friend, devout, hospitable, cheerful, patient, and discreet, she was an example to her sex.
" The memory of the just is blessed."
72
As a memorial of the majority of communicants in the Pennington Church in 1806, this subscription paper is here inserted :
We, the subscribers, agree to pay by the first day of January next, the several sums annexed to our names into the hands of John Muirheid, Treasurer, for the purpose of purchasing two silver cups for the use of the Communion of the First Presbyterian Church of Hopewell.
SEPTEMBER 16, 1806.
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
$
c.
John Smith,
2
Margaret Hunt, 50
John Muirheid,
2
Elizabeth Sexton, 50
Charity Muirheid,
1 Jesse Christopher,
75
John Hunt,
50
Mercy Christopher,
75
Jane Hunt,
50
Elizabeth Titus,
50
Hannah Hunt,
50
Hannah Beakes, 50
Keziah Hart,
50
Sarah Cornell,
1
Elizabeth Hunt,
50
Rebeckah Fitch,
50
Philip Hart,
50
Mary Hunt,
1
Anna Hart,
50
Rachel Beakes,
25
Edmund Roberts,
50
Elizabeth Beakes,
50
Elizabeth Roberts,
50 David Baldwin, 50
John McClellan,
50 Mary Davison,
50
Letitia McClellan,
50
Mary Hart,
50
Elizabeth McClellan,
50
Christian Hoff,
50
Sarah Phillips,
50
Daniel G. Howell
50
Sarah Phillips,
50 Charlotte Marsellis,
50
Elizabeth Moore,
50 John Carpenter,
1 50
Abigail Smith,
50 Mary Carpenter,
50
Rebekah Smith,
1
Charles Welling,
1
Keziah Hoagland,
50 Hannah Welling,
50
Peter Phillips,
50
Isaac Welling,
1
Mary Phillips,
50
Stephen Burrowes,
1
Rebeckah Roberts,
25
Hannah Burrowes,
1
Nathan Christopher,
50 Mary Woolsey,
1
Elizabeth Christopher,
50 Anne Woolsey,
1
John Hart,
50 Susanna Moore,
50
Mary Hart,
50 Hannah Howell,
50
Richard Hart,
50 Elizabeth Moore, 50
Elizabeth Hart
50 Edmund Burroughs,
50
Jane Smith,
1
Susanna Burroughs,
50
Polly Smith,
1 Hannah Hunt,
50
$ c.
73
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
$
c.
$ c.
Jacob Hoff,
1
Elizabeth Titus,
50
Enoch Ketcham,
50
Achsah Vankirk,
50
Matilda Ketcham,
50
Ruth Hunt,
1
Aaron Hart,
50
Keziah Lanning,
50
Mary Scott,
50
Martha Wright,
37
Mary Bainbridge,
50
Foster Walters, 50
Abigail Bainbridge,
50
Mary Mount,
31
Hannah Bainbridge,
50
Abraham Pettinger, 50
25
Sarah Moore,
50
Margaret Morgan,
25
Elijah Hart,
50 Jeremiah Vandike,
50
Rebekah Hart,
50
Joab Titus,
50
Amos Lanning,
50
Elizabeth Bryant,
50
Mary Lanning,
50
Rebekah Ketcham,
50
Daniel Lanning,
50
Susanna Phillips,
50
Margaret Hart,
50
Stephen Hunt,
2
Sarah Gray,
50
Mary Fish,
25
Joseph Hart,
50
Martha Baldwin,
25
Asher R. Hart,
50
Sarah Moore,
50
Abigail Hart,
50
Hannah Jones,
25
Rebekah Hart,
50
Catharine Hunt,
50
Sarah Horne,
50
Solomon Titus,
75
Daniel Atchley,
50
Elizabeth Vancleve,
50
113 names,
$66 18
Enos Titus,
50
These silver cups are well preserved, and are used at every communion service.
VI. The REV. BENJAMIN OGDEN was the sixth pastor. He was a son of John Ogden and Abigail Bennett. Born in Fairfield, Cumberland county, New Jersey, Octo- ber 4, 1797, he graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1817, and was one of the subjects of that wonderful work of grace, under Dr. Green's Presidency, which gave to the Church such men as Drs. Charles Hodge, David Magie, John Maclean, Ravaad K. Rod- gers, and Bishops McIlvaine and Johns. He prepared
Elizabeth Phillips,
50
Sarah Savadge,
74
for the ministry at the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in Princeton. He was licensed as as a probationer by the Presbytery of Philadelphia April, 1821, and by the same Presbytery ordained June, 1822, at Bensalem, Bucks county, Pa., where he labored as a missionary for one and a half years. He was installed as pastor of the Church of Lewistown, Delaware, in 1823, by the Presbytery of New Castle, where he remained three and a half years. In the mean- time the Presbytery of Lewes was formed.
On the. 28th of November, 1826, Mr. Ogden was re- ceived from the Presbytery of Lewes by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, when a call from this church was placed in his hands and accepted. On the 5th of December, 1826, he was installed the pastor of this church by a committee consisting of Dr. Samuel Miller, and the Rev. Messrs. Eli F. Cooley and George S. Woodhull.
In this field Mr. Ogden did not labor in vain. In the summer of 1833, he called to his aid the Rev. Daniel Deruelle, who began by preaching a series of sermons to Christians from passages in the fifty-first Psalm. The word came with power. The hearts of believers were melted, backsliders returned, unceasing prayer was offered mingled with praise, and sinners were brought to repentance. Although it was in the midst of the harvest, there was no hindrance. The farmers arose to their work in the field at about three in the morning, and closed at noon. Having dined, they arrived at the church in time for one service at 3 P. M., and another at 8 P. M., the intervening hours being devoted to meetings for prayer. It was a time of great joy. As a fruit of this work, there was an addition to the communion roll
75
of forty-seven persons. Of these, only two or three are still with you.
The church was blessed with another revival in the winter of 1837-8. It is well described in an article published in the Presbyterian, signed N. N., dated Pen- nington, April 24th, 1838 :
The following communication relative to a revival of religion which occurred during the winter of 1837 and 1838, on many accounts extra- ordinary, it is thought will be read with interest in future time.
" I was one of the numerous assembly that thronged the Presbyterian Church at Pennington on Saturday and Sabbath, the 15th and 16th insts., and I felt, in common with the rest of the assembly, that it was good to be there. This church then received an addition of three score persons, fifty-eight on examination, and two by certificate. Of this number twen- ty-nine were baptized on Saturday. It was a pleasing spectacle. Those who witnessed it can never forget it. Amongst the number was an aged man who had been in the world nearly three score and ten years, and yet had only just begun to live for eternity. He, with two others, one of them his sister, of nearly the same age, had gone into the vineyard at the eleventh hour. In this display of divine grace it seems as if no age or class of people has been passed by. The youngest of the number received into church fellowship was eleven years of age. The larger portion consisted of those who had reached the meridian of life. Thirty- four of them were or had been married. Amongst this number there were nine husbands with their wives. In one place a father and a son, in another a mother and a daughter, stood side by side when the sacra- ment of baptism was administered. There a husband rejoiced on ac- count of his wife, and there a wife on her husband's account, there a brother for his sister's sake, and there a sister for her brother's sake, whilst many a father and mother, with enraptured hearts, exclaimed concerning a son or a daughter, this my child was dead, but is alive again, was lost, but now is found. Indeed, the heart of the whole church seemed to overflow with wonder, love and gratitude, on account of the salvation they had witnessed and experienced. The discourse delivered by the pastor (the Rev. Benjamin Ogden), on the Sabbath, was from these words, 'by grace ye are saved,' and in speaking of the revival of religion which had occurred, he remarked : 'We are compelled to refer it all entirely to the grace of God. We cannot say to other congrega- tions, do as we have done, and you will have a revival of religion. A similar effort would not follow unless God should take occasion there- from to glorify and magnify the riches of His grace. Our congregation,
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when the operations of the Holy Spirit first manifested themselves, was like Elijah's altar after twelve barrels of water had been poured upon it. And as in his case the Heavenly flame not only consumed the wood, soaked as it was with water, but laid hold of the stones and the dust, and turned the very water itself into fuel, so it has been with us. We were surprised ; our hearts overflowed with love and gratitude, and were affected with a deep sense of our unworthiness, whilst the aston- ished world looked on with awe and reverence, and said, the Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.'
" The Lord has cleared the darkest skies, Has given us day for night ; Bade drops of sacred sorrow rise To rivers of delight."
Our meetings have during the past winter been more frequent than usual; but it was not the frequency of our meetings that caused the revival, but the revival the spiritual appetite that caused the meetings. It was not so much we that got up the revival, as the revival that got us up. No extraordinary means of grace have been used, and the preached word to which you have chiefly listened has been dispensed by your pas- tor, and it has been similar to that to which you have now listened for eleven years and a-half; and all the assistance your pastor has had has been from ministerial brethren located near us. But the day of God's almighty power came, and the people were, in consequence thereof, wil- ling. And oh ! it has been a season, a sweet, refreshing season, such as we shall never forget. Religion, religion, has been with us, since the commencement of this year, the only interesting topic of thought and con- versation. The one thing needful, blessed be God, has arrested and held the attention of this community to the exclusion of almost every- thing else. And now, seated around the table of the Lord, we may say, 'all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, with all malice, so far as they have existed, are put away, and we are kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us.' Nay, if there be in this large assem- bly of communicants a single bosom which is not warm with love towards each and every other person, I am happily ignorant of it."
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