USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > First church in Newark : historical discourses, relating to the First Presbyterian church in Newark; originally delivered to the congregation of that church during the month of January, 1851 > Part 20
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The process of separation between civil and eccle- siastical affairs, which had been going on gradually for more than half a century, was now nearly consum- mated. The ministers had ceased to be elected, and their salaries to be voted in the town meetings; and the town had virtually, though not formally, relin- quised its control over the parsonage property. Mean- while, the old Church had become incorporated, with power to take and hold what were its just rights in its own name; and the original patentees, all of whom were members of that Church, being now dead, and the heir of the last survivor of them living at a dis- tance from Newark, a manifest propriety, not to say necessity, had arisen for making some new and more permanent disposition of the property in question,
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224
PARSONAGE PROPERTY.
Accordingly, by a concurrent act of the Town and the heir of the patentees-the only parties capable of act- ing in the matter according to any supposition-the title was vested in the Trustees of this Church. "At a town meeting on the 12th of March, 1760, it was voted unanimously that the Trustees of the First Pres- byterian Church be authorized to procure a deed of conveyance from David Young, heir-at-law of the last surviving patentee, for the said parsonage lands, in trust, in order that they may be the better enabled to take care of the same for the said Church," which deed the Trustees lost no time in obtaining, on the very next · day, in due form of law.
Now followed a series of efforts with a view to re- verse this procedure. The opposing party came into the town meeting, the year following, and proposed resolutions declaring dissatisfaction with what had been done, and directing that the lands should "be equally divided in quantity and quality" among the three congregations ; and, these resolutions being car- ried in the affirmative, a committee was appointed to divide and allot the lands accordingly. Four out of six of the committee proceeded to their work. But when the plan of division had been drawn out with much care,* and was reported to the town the next year, with the proviso that four months should be al- lowed for hearing objections before it should stand in force, the majority rejected it, "even with the limita-
* The plan was drawn by "the Hon. be "a draught of an entry proposed to be David Ogden, Esq., at the request of made at a town meeting held at Newark," some of the committee," and purported to &c. (See Town Records.)
225
PARSONAGE PROPERTY.
tion above mentioned," says the record, "it being a very full town meeting."*
Meanwhile, the Trustees obtained the opinions of several very eminent lawyers, to the effect, that both by the vote of the town and by the deed of convey- ance from the representative of the original patentee, their title to the property was sound; and, moreover, that the present First Presbyterian Church were the only true and rightful representatives of the old set- tlers mentioned in the original grant.+
* The occasion of this specific statement are too obvious to stand in need of recital." in the record, seems to have been a dis- pute which had taken place between the parties, as to the fairness of the two former votes. Those dissatisfied with the first vote alleged, that it was obtained, "during the time of the small pox being in town, when but very few of the inhabitants were present;" and their opponents rejoined, that there were "at least two hundred per- sons present" when that vote "was so unanimously" carried; and "insisted upon it" that the second vote "was not fairly obtained, a majority being at that time in the negative." (See Town Records.)
+ Among the gentlemen who became responsible for these opinions, were Wil- liam Livingston, William Smith, William Smith, junior, John Morin Scot, and Wil- liam Patterson. "I take it for granted,", says the gentleman last named, "that the old settlers mentioned in the letters patent and the society incorporated and known by the name of the Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church in Newark, are the same persons under different descriptions. I am of opinion that the Trustees hold in fee for the use of the old settlers or First Presbyterian Church, in exclusion of all others. This is the specific use carved out by the original Proprietors, and this use must be religiously observed; they have indeed designated the use and identified the persons who shall take it, in a very clear manner, and their reasons for both
It may be observed here, that this opin- ion seems to coincide very exactly with that of Chief Justice Shaw, of Massachu- setts, in the case of Heman Stebbing vs. Calvin Jennings. He is speaking of "the case of a town acting at the same time as a town and parish, of which," says he, "there are, or recently were, hundreds of instances in the Commonwealth. In that case one corporate organization is com- monly used for both purposes." He then supposes the case of a separation for the forming of a new congregation. " After the separation," says he, "all those rights, duties and obligations which belonged to the town in its parochial character devolve upon that portion of its inhabitants who by operation of law became successors to the town in that capacity ; while all those which belonged to the town in its munic- pal character, continue so to belong not- withstanding the erection of a new parish. And it may be remarked in passing, that this is equally the case, where the persons who are formed into one or several parishes, constitute a great majority of the inhabit- ants of the town. Those who became the successors of the town in its parochial ca- pacity, succeed to the whole of its pa- rochial rights, although they constitute but a small minority of its inhabitants."
There can be no doubt, I suppose, what would have been the operation of such a decision in the case in question.
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226
PARSONAGE PROPERTY.
Accordingly, when the attempt was renewed in the town meeting six years later, and a vote to divide was obtained, and a committee appointed for that purpose, the members of the committee belonging to that Church refused to act; and the Trustees entered their protest on the record, forbidding the procedure, de- claring the title to be vested in them, and " advising the people then met to let the parsonage lands alone." From this time no action of the town on the subject is to be found on record; and as the property still re- mained in the hands of the Trustees, it is presumed their kind advice was, so far as the town was con- .cerned, accepted. But the contentions, which had be- come very sharp, did not cease here. We learn from Dr. Macwhorter, that for many years they continued to keep the community in an agitation .* "But," says he, " both parties wisely determined that their minis- ter should not be called in, but secluded from these disputes, and therefore he never interested himself in them or had any thing to do with them." Twenty years later, viz., about the years 1786 or 1787, as I
* The claim seems first to have been set up by the Church of England, who took possession of, and enclosed a portion of the wood land. But the people at the mountain, who had been accustomed to cut wood from the parsonage land for their minister, and had received for him some of the rents of the parsonage meadow, soon and vigorously joined in the pursuit. There is a tradition, for which I am in- debted to the Rev. Mr. White, now minis- ter of the First Church in Orange ; that a report being spread on one occasion, that the people of Newark were coming to cut wood on a certain day, from a piece of ground claimed and appropriated by that
congregation, the sturdy Mountaineers turned out early with axes and teams, and ranged themselves in great numbers on the fence, awaiting the arrival of the foe. When the Newarkers arrived, hard words began, and still more solid arguments ensued, and the Orangemen being either the most numerous or the most valiant, fairly beat their opponents off the ground, and sent them home with their teams empty. A proposition to resort to law, however, on the part of the Trustees, as appears from their records, brought the matter to an adjustment, and the property remained in their disposal.
227
MACWHORTER'S EARLY MINISTRY.
learn from the same authority, the animosity was quieted by the Trustees of the First Church, granting a certain dividend of the out-lands to the Episcopal- ians, and another dividend to the Mountain Society, now called Orange, with which these different societies acknowledged themselves content. These dividends were made upon condition of these societies taking leases under the Trustees of the First Presbyterian con- gregation.
Mr. Macwhorter appears to have enjoyed, in a high degree, the attachment and confidence of his people ; and though we have few distinct notices of the partic- ular results of his ministry in the early part of it, it is . apparent that it was attended with no inconsiderable success. There was " a revival of religion" during the winter of 1764-5, as Dr. Griffin informs us, when the pastor was nearly laid aside from his official duties, by " a hectic, accompanied with expectoration of blood, which he contracted while performing a mission in North Carolina, in the course of the summer previous. Again in 1772, there was a second special religious im- pulse, "which proved," says the same authority, "more extensive than the former, and continued about two years."
Although not a native of New England, Mr. Mac- whorter, like his predecessors, maintained an intimate connection and correspondence during his life, with distinguished ministers in that region, and was held in high estimation by them. In a letter, dated December 23, 1763, we find him writing to Dr. Bellamy, "at the appointment of the Presbytery in behalf of the Church
228
INVITATIONS TO REMOVE.
of Newark Mountain," saying, " I hope you will recom- mend them some young man whom you esteem for his knowledge of the truth," and desiring a correspondence with the distinguished Connecticut theologian. Several subsequent letters, still extant, and relating to impor- tant matters of theology and ecclesiastical discipline, bear witness that his desire was not fruitless .*
During this period he was often solicited to remove and take the charge of other congregations. The year following the mission above referred to, as we learn from the minutes of the Synod, "a call for the Rev. Mr. Macwhorter from Hopewell and Centre congrega- tions in North Carolina, was brought in by the com- mittee of overtures : but the Synod apprehending that some other persons may be more conveniently sent to North Carolina, did not present the call to him." A similar request was presented about the same time from other congregations or settlements in the same colony. In the year 1766, soon after a short visit to Boston on account of his health, the Old South Church in that place, then recently made vacant by the death of his brother-in-law, the Rev. Alexander Cumming, made overtures to him to become their pastor. But, as they
* For extracts from this correspondence issue, God only knows. And there seems I am indebted to the kindness of Rev. to be more solemn attention to the word Richard Webster. In one of them bear- preached this winter than formerly. May ing date Jan. 28, 1764, there is an obvious God overrule it for good." In the same letter he propounds the question, " Of what avail means are, seeing man's aver- sion to holiness is such he neither can nor desires to have it removed ?" and observes, in answer apparently to a question of his correspondent, "As to new books, I think I don't live in a printing part of the world. I see but very few." allusion to the incipient manifestations of that religious revival above referred to as having taken place in the course of that year. He says: "I have very little reli gious news to acquaint you with ; there are some few young persons in my congre- gation that seem to be under very serious concern about their salvation; how it will
229
MISSIONARY EXCURSION.
had "conscientious scruples about calling a settled pas- tor," and he was not prepared to accommodate those scruples, by taking a dismission from his own people at their suggestion, in order to be a suitable subject for their call, the business went no further.
The mission to North Carolina, already referred to, was performed under the direction of the Synod, in accordance with a frequent practice of that body, to detach pastors temporarily from their stated charge, and send them away to supply destitute regions.
In pursuance of their work, the two missionaries, Messrs. Macwhorter and Spencer, were directed to form new congregations, adjust their boundaries, ordain elders, administer the ordinances of the gospel, and give instruction and aid in discipline, government and wor- ship." On this eminently apostolic mission went forth these two beloved brethren; and returned to the Synod with their report of its fulfillment at the next meeting. The pulpit of this Church was supplied three
* Minutes, p. 339. As the resolution touching this matter may serve to illus- trate the usages of the period, I give it entire: "The Synod, more particularly considering the state of many congrega- tions to the southward, and particularly in North Carolina, and the great importance of having those congregations properly organized, appoint the Rev. Messrs. Elihu Spencer and Alexander Macwhorter, to go as missionaries for that purpose, that they may form societies, help them in ad- justing their bounds, ordain elders, ad minister sealing ordinances, instruct the people in discipline, and finally direct them in their after conduct, particularly in what manner they shall proceed to obtain the stated ministry, and whatever else may appear useful or necessary for those
Churches, and the future settlement of the Gospel among them. And also, that they assure those people wherever they go, that this Synod has their interest much at heart, and will neglect no opportunities of affording them proper candidates and supplies, to the utmost of their power. Ordered, that the clerk give said mission- aries an attested copy of this minute, and proper testimonials, signed by the moder- ator and clerk. And, that these brethren may not suffer by so long and expensive a journey, the Synod agree to defray their expenses, and make them a proper acknowledgment for the damages they may sustain in domestic affairs, and for this purpose a collection is ordered through our bounds, and each Presbytery is required to see it be duly observed."
230
ESTIMATION AMONG HIS BRETHREN.
Sabbaths by Mr. Mills, and the rest of the time by the Presbytery of New York. On their return the traveling expenses of the missionaries were paid according to the resolution ; but when a committee had reported on the amount due to these brethren for their services and sacrifices, the minutes tell us that "Mr. Macwhorter returned to the Synod all the money of the Synod's collection allowed by the committee." In the discharge of this mission, Mr. Macwhorter, as I have already intimated, contracted a disease which "for two years threatened to put an early period to his usefulness," but he recovered soon after, and enjoyed better health than before. Except in the performance of this mis- sion, which could not have occupied more than two or three months, I cannot learn that he was much absent from his people during the first eighteen years.
During this time he was steadily advancing in the confidence of his brethren in the ministry, and in use- fulness and influence in the Church at large. In the year 1766, he was chosen one of the clerks, and four years later, viz., in 1770, Moderator of the Synod. Twice he was appointed to preach before that body, once as its previous Moderator, and once as the substi- tute for another, who had died since his appointment. In 1766 the corporation of Yale College bestowed upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. His name appears on almost all important committees which were appointed by the Synod towards the lat- ter part of the period now under review. Dr. Griffin remarks that he was "among the first subscribers to the widow's fund, which was established in 1761, and
231
AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
in later life was for many years a director of that be- nevolent institution." "In 1772 he was chosen a trustee of the college of New Jersey, and continued a very important member of that board till a few months before his death."
But now came on the memorable period of the American revolutionary war,"memorable in the history of Newark and its vicinity, hardly less than in that of any other spot throughout the country. In the month of May, 1775, just one month after the battle of Lex- ington and Concord, the Synod of New York and Philadelphia addressed a pastoral letter to the Churches under their care, in which, disclaiming all agency "in inflaming the minds of the people, or urging them to acts of violence and disorder," they express very clearly the conviction, that the whole continent are determined to defend their rights by force of arms, and, "if the British ministry shall continue to enforce their claims by violence, a lasting and bloody contest must ensue." On the basis of this conviction they proceed to exhort the people to be prepared for death, assuring them, " especially the young and vigorous" among them, that "there is no soldier so undaunted as the pious man, no army so formida- ble as those who are superior to the fear of death." At the same time, insisting earnestly on loyalty to the king, union among the colonies, a spirit of humanity in the scene of action, and the preservation of peace till the last possible moment, they add that "that man will fight most bravely who never fights till it is necessary, and who ceases to fight as soon as the ne-
232
DAY OF FASTING AND THANKSGIVING.
cessity is over."* The letter was drawn up by a com- mittee, of which the patriotic Witherspoon was at the head, and five hundred copies of it were ordered to be printed; and it seems to have been adopted with entire unanimity, except that "Mr. Halsey," as the record states, " dissents from that paragraph of said letter which contains the declarations of allegiance."
Following up the recommendation of the Synod, the . Presbytery of New York observed, for many succes- sive years, a part of the last Thursday of every month as a season of special prayer, on account of the gloomy state of public affairs ; and from time to time set apart days to be observed in fasting, humiliation and prayer, for the same object, resolving likewise in one instance, " to mingle thanks with our prayers for our innu- merable mercies," amidst the tokens of God's dis- pleasure. The meeting, from whose minutes these last words are extracted, was held at Mendham, N. J., on the tenth of October, 1776,+ when a comparison of dates shows us that the country's cause was in a most perilous condition, New York having just before been evacuated, and being already in possession of the enemy; and when the American army, defeated on Long Island, and much dispirited, was apparently fast waning to no- thing. It marks the troubled condition of the times, that at this meeting, only six ministers and three elders are reported as present, and twenty-one ministers as ab- sent; and it shows equally the pious confidence and sacred cheerfulness of that little band, that in such cir-
* Minutes, pp. 466, 467.
+ See Minutes of the Presbytery of New York ..
233
ARMY IN NEWARK.
cumstances, they could not forget that their beloved country had still mercies to be thankful for.
It is well known, that during all that memorable struggle, there were to be found no firmer and more zealous and self-sacrificing patriots than the ministers of the Presbyterian Church; and probably the remark recently made to me by an aged woman, who well remembers those stirring scenes, was not far from the truth, viz: that " black coats were nearly as offensive to the British then, as red coats* were to the inhabit- ants." Mr. Macwhorter shared very largely in the patriotic feeling which animated his brethren, and pos- sessing naturally great decision and activity, could not remain idle when such a struggle was going on almost at his very door.
·
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Washington came to Newark with his retreating army on the 22d of November, just two days after the day of mingled fasting and thanksgiving. And who can tell how much of the heroic calmness, the sublime undaunted resolution, which are said to have marked his deliberations during the week that he and his ex- hausted and broken forces spent here, may have been given him from heaven, in answer to those grateful prayers ? But the foe was in pursuit. Lord Corn- wallis, it is said, entered Newark on the same day that Washington left it. Nor did the patriot pastor re- main behind. Either accompanying, or soon following the retreat of the army, he, with one of his brethren,+ repaired to the encampment on the Pennsylvania shore,
* i. e. British troops.
+ Rev. Mr. Vanarsdale, of Springfield.
234
DR. MACWHORTER WITH THE ARMY.
opposite Trenton, and, by the invitation of Washing- ton, was present and assisted at the council of war, which decided on the memorable crossing of the Del- aware and those achievements consequent upon it, by which, through the favor of heaven, despair was changed to hope, and the dying cause of American lib- erty resuscitated. Dr. Griffin informs us, that, during the previous year, viz., in 1775, "he was appointed by Congress to visit that district of North Carolina to which he had been before, to employ his influence to bring over the enemies of the revolution to the Amer- ican interest," but adds, that " whatever zeal and abil- ities were exerted in this enterprise, it issued, agreeably to his prediction to Dr. Franklin, with little success." It is probable that he went on this journey charged with a double commission ; for corresponding to this statement, I find the following minute in the records of the Presbytery at its meeting in May, 1776. "Mr. Macwhorter reports, that he has fulfilled the mission to North Carolina agreeable to the appointment of Presbytery."* "In the summer of 1778," says Dr. Griffin, "at the solicitation of his friend, General Knox, he accepted the chaplainship of his brigade, which lay then with the main army at White Plains," where Washington was among his frequent auditors, and he was often Washington's guest. It was while engaged in this patriotic service that a visitation from God upon his family in the form of a stroke of lightning, which prostrated and well nigh destroyed the life of Mrs.
* See Minutes of the Presbytery of New York.
235
PARSONAGE RIFLED BY THE ENEMY.
Macwhorter, called him suddenly from his public sta- tion, to minister to the necessities of his own household.
During the period to which we now refer, every thing was in the greatest confusion in this community. The North River, being frozen over during a consider- able part of one winter, afforded free passage for dep- redators. Cattle were seized and driven away by par- ties of refugees; houses were plundered and burned ; and citizens taken out of their beds, and made to march nine miles, barefooted and unclad, on the ice and frozen earth, to New York. Dr. Macwhorter him- self speaks of having "fled before the enemy in 1776, when the British troops took possession of the town," at which time the ancient records of this Church, with many books of his own, being left in the parsonage house, were destroyed. Many of the inhabitants escaped to places of greater security, and those who remained were in constant apprehension of surprises. Public worship was held but seldom, and that by as- sembling the people on a special notice. When the pastor was at home, he was obliged to have a sentinel stationed at his house for his protection, and it is said there was an old man, now recently deceased, who remembered having frequently "stood guard" at the door of the parsonage .*
In such circumstances, it can hardly excite surprise,
* The relations which he sustained to the public affairs of the country about this time, are indicated by the following vote of the Town of Newark, under date of March 9, 1779. "Voted that the Reverend Alexander Macwhorter, Mr. Chapman, Jo-
siah Hornblower, Joseph Riggs, and Lewis Ogden, be a committee to give such in- structions to our Legislatures in this county from time to time, according as occasion may require." (Newark Town Records, p. 198.)
236
DR. MACWHORTER'S REMOVAL.
that Dr. Macwhorter should have lent an ear to the calls of Providence, summoning him to other spheres of ministerial service. His labors here were nearly impracticable, and his means of support had become entirely inadequate .* Accordingly, after receiving one or two invitations to important stations,+ a call having been presented to him from the congregation of Charlotte, Mechlenburg Co., North Carolina, to take the pastoral charge of that people, together with the presidency of an important literary institution, then in its infancy in that place,¿ he accepted the call, and, without opposition on the part of the people of New- ark, who, with friendly liberality, furnished him " with every needed article for his journey," was dismissed from his charge, and, removing with his family to North Carolina, in October, 1779, became the pastor of another people. But no sooner was he established in his new station, than he was again compelled to make his escape from the encroachments of war. Lord Cornwallis, from whose army he fled in Newark, en- tered Charlotte. Dr. Macwhorter lost his library and furniture, and almost every thing he possessed, and finding no prospect of a quiet course of usefulness there,
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