USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > Raritan > Forty years at Raritan : eight memorial sermons with notes for a history of the Reformed Dutch churches in Somerset County, N.J. > Part 20
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It is added : " The Assembly, having examined the aforesaid call' and found it in due form, have taken the said John Leydt, presenting himself for examination, into trial of his gifts upon John 5: 25, which had been previously assigned to him, and have been fully satisfied. And into the inquiry into his knowledge of the principal parts of holy theology, he has shown himself so skilled, and so ready in removing the subterfuges and difficulties of them that are without,
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that the Rev. Assembly have found him mighty to convince by sound doctrine and to overthrow the gainsayers. Wherefore the Rev. Assembly hold and recognize the godly and learned John Leydt, after he has subscribed both the Low Dutch Confession, the Christian Catechismn, and the Canons of the National Synod of Dort, and also the rules of the Coetus as subordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam, by this their written declaration, to be lawfully called pastor and teacher of the Low Dutch Reformed congregations of New-Brunswick and Six-Mile Run, and thus fully authorized to preach the Gospel, to administer the sacraments, and wisely and prudently to govern, according to the word of God, the congregations of which the Holy Ghost has made him, along with the elders thereof, an overseer. While we earnestly exhort him, when he shall be publicly confirmed and installed in his congregations, habitually to watch over the same in doctrine and life, with all love, and peace, and harmony, we will not doubt that he will apply himself to become, in every respect, approved of God as 'a workman who needs not be ashamed,' doing the work of an evangelist, and of whatever service his congregations may require.
" Wherefore we none the less entreat his congregations, who have him for their pastor and teacher, to hold him in honor as such, for his work's sake; and in every thing to help him, so that he may accomplish his important ministry in the Gospel, unhindered and with joy.
" The almighty God, who has called him to this excellent work in his church, enrich him more and more with all the necessary gifts of his holy Spirit, and bless his abundant labors to the magnifying of his holy name, and the conversion and salvation of many souls. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, may he give him the eternal crown of nnfading greatness.
"Done in our Ecclesiastical Assembly, subo linate to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, this day, at New-York, Sept. 28th, 1748. In the name and by order of all,
"GERARD HAAGHORT, Pres. " G. DUBOIS, Clerk Extraordinary."
Thus, Frelinghuysen having rested from his labors, his successor had assumed the responsibilities of the position and labors.
The Rev. Jolin Leydt, thus formally called and settled in the con- gregations of New-Brunswick and Six-Mile Run, was, in his day, a prominent actor in the affairs of all the churches. He was by birth a Hollander, and educated at one of her universities. He came to New-
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Netherland with an elder brother, and settled at first in the vicinity of Fishkill, Dutchess County, N. Y. On coming to New-Brunswick, the consistory prepared a parsonage for him and fifty acres of land near Three-Mile Run. The property is now in possession of Mr. Isaac Pamyea. He resided here during all the time of his ministry, extend- ing to thirty-five years. The house in which he lived is yet stand- ing. He left two sons, both of whom graduated at Queen's Col- lege, and were licensed and ordained. Matthew, the elder, was pastor of the Dutch churches in Bucks County, Pa. He died early, and his remains were interred at a place called "The Buck," within the bounds of his pastoral charge. The monument erected to his memory is inscribed, "In memory of Rev. Matthew Leydt, who died Nov. 24th, 1783, aged twenty-nine years."
Peter, the younger, was settled at Ramapough, New-Jersey, and soon also departed this life. IIe was buried in the family cemetery of Andrew Hopper, on the margin of the Ramapo River. His monu- ment is inscribed, "In memory of Rev. Peter Leydt, who was born Nov. 6th, 1763, and departed this life 12th June, 1796." Both were promising young ministers, but cut off in their early youth.
Their father, Johannes Leydt, preceded his son Matthew a few months, dying suddenly, June 2d, 1783. His remains were deposited in the old burying-ground of Three-Mile Run, near what had been his life's residence. The grave.is immediately in front of the gate, and his wife, Treyntije Sleight, lies beside him. She died Dec. 2d, 1763, and beside her two daughters, Anna and Elizabeth, also sleep in death. Dr. Steele has a full account of John Leydt, the best and most complete ever prepared. We can only refer our readers to it, and say briefly he was one of the most active and energetic ministers of his time. IIe published several pamphlets on the questions of the day, but they seem to be lost. His ministry in Somerset was greatly blessed by numerous accessions to his churches, and the general edifi- cation of the body of Christ.
Mr. Leydt's successor in the pastorate of New-Brunswick (Six- Mile Run having united with Millstone in calling the Rev. John M. Van Harlingen) was Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, D.D., who was, at , the same time, president of Queen's College. His call bears date October, 1785, but he did not commence his pastorate in the church until April or May, 1786. He died of pulmonary disease on the 20th October, 1790. (For an account of him see notes on Raritan, page
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1850.) Ile was succeeded, August 24th, 1793, by Ira Condict, D.D., who died June 1st, 1811.
" Ira Condict, D.D.,* was one of the worthies of our church, not a native, but one of the truest sons by adoption. Ile was born at Orange, N. J., February 21st, 1764, the son of Daniel and Ruth (Harrison) Condict. He graduated at Princeton College, 1784; taught school for several years at Freehold, in Monmouth County, N. J., and at the same time studied theology with Dr. John Woodhul; was licensed by the Presbytery of New-Brunswick, April, 1786, and the next year was ordained as pastor of the churches of Newton, Hardwick, and Shappenack, N. J. He accepted the call from New-Brunswick in the autumn of 1793. In 1808 he was elected vice-president of Queen's College, under Dr. Livingston as president, but virtually had the control of the institution entirely given to him until the time of his death, which, unfortunately for his church and the college, occurred on June 1st, 1811. He preached the last sermon in the old church, saw it demolished, but in two weeks, on the Sabbath day, he was buried. Thus the smitten congregation were left without a church and without a pastor, in a very brief space of time. The sorrow occasioned by his death was overwhelming."
Dr. Cannon says of him : " He had a strong and athletic frame, was considerably above the medium height, had dark hair and eyes, with an expression of countenance which indicated what he really possessed-a masculine, vigorous intellect. The portrait of Dr. Bates, the celebrated nonconformist English minister, as it is given in his works, is so much like Dr. Condict, that you would suppose he might have been Bates's son.
" In his general intercourse with society, he was more than com- monly reserved, . . but with his intimate friends he would unbend in cheerful conversation, though even with them he never offended the most strict. ministerial decorum.
"As a preacher, Dr. Condict never had any remarkable popularity, in the sense of being run after by the multitude ; but he had a testimony in the conscience of his hearers to the fidelity and fearlessness with which he delivered his message. His preaching embraced all the great truths of the Gospel, but it had, perhaps, more to do with the law and its penalty than with those themes which may be considered as peculiarly evangelical. He was rather an awakening than a coin-
* We quote from Sprague's Annals.
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forting preacher. He dwelt much on the importance of a deep reli- gious experience; but perhaps was not accustomed to go into a rigid analysis of those operations of the mind in which such experience consists. His sermons were remarkable for terseness of expression and condensation of thought. He was not distinguished either for taste or imagination ; but the turn of his mind was rather mathe- matical than metaphysical, giving to his preaching an argumentative cast, though it did not render it obscure. His manner was stiff and awkward, and he used but little gesture ; but there was an honesty and an earnestness fitted alike to arrest the attention and open a way to the conscience. He left the impression on your mind that he was aiming at a single object-the glory of his Master and the salvation of men.
" As a pastor he was eminently laborious and faithful. Thoughi not remarkably free in his intercourse with his people, he was, in the best sense, their friend ; and their spiritual interests, especially, were iden- tified with the great object for which he lived. In public bodies he was discreet, energetic, and influential. His general influence in the community was extensive and salutary." *
Dr. Cannon then notices how he heard him on his death-bed give his dying testimony ; it was simply, "I do feel that I love God above. all." This he repeated the second time after a short interval. His disease was typhus fever. His son had died a few days before him .. HIis remains are deposited in the church-yard in New-Brunswick. His monument is inscribed, "The tomb of Rev. Ira Condiet, who was born February 21st, 1764; ordained at Newton, Sussex, 1787; installed in the Dutch Church, New-Brunswick, 1794. Pious and learned, prudent and zealous; successful in his ministry and greatly beloved. He finished his course and entered into the joy of his Lord, June 1st, 1811."
Dr. Condict was succeeded in the pastorate of the church of New- Brunswick by Rev. John Schureman, D.D. His call is dated May 25th, 1812. The people were in the midst of a strenuous effort to. erect for themselves an edifice worthy of their number, wealth, and position ; and their new pastor saw it completed (except the steeple) and dedicated on the 27th of September of the same year. Dr. Liv- ingston preached the sermon from Ezek. 43: 12 to a large and inte- rested audience.
* This notice is abridged.
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Dr. Schureman was born October 19th, 1778, near New-Brunswick ; and was the son of Hon. James Schureman, and the grandson of Jacobus Schureman, the schoolmaster who accompanied Rev. T. J. Frelinghuysen from Holland. He graduated from Queen's College September 30th, 1795, before he was seventeen years of age; made a profession of religion under Dr. Condict, April, 1797, studied under Dr. Livingston, and was licensed in 1800. He first settled at Bed- minster in 1801, and he continued to serve that church faithfully for six years. Then he was called to the church at Millstone, and served it for two and a half years; then he preached in the collegiate churches of New- York for two years. His health had failed in New- York, and it did not recuperate. He resigned his pastorate at New- Brunswick after serving a little more than a year, having been elect- ed in October, 1815, professor of ecclesiastical history and pastoral theology in the seminary. He died of typhus fever, May 15th, 1818.
Dr. Livingston says of him : " He was mild and pleasant ; discern- ing and firm; steadfast, but not obstinate ; zealous, but not assuming. The habitual weakness of his constitution prevented .him from close and intense studies ; yet he was a good belles-lettres scholar. His style was correct and pure, and he made such progress in the several branches of his professorship that his lectures were highly accept- able and very useful. The suavity of his manners and the propriety of his conduct endeared him to the students, and recommended him to the respect and confidence of all who knew him."
His last hours have been thus described : "During the progress of the disease which terminated in his death, he spoke but seldom. The disease proceeded with rapid and irresistible violence, baffling the skill of medicine and the assiduities of affection ; and, for the most part of the time, was attended with a lethargy which rendered it difficult and irksome for him to converse. He, however, retained the use of his reason, and on the last afternoon, when the stupor had abated, and just before he obtained release, he attempted to converse with his mother, but his speech failed, and what he said could not be understood. His afflicted wife was too much overcome to witness his departure; but his parents, who were in the room, he took affection- ately by the hand as soon as he found himself to be in the agonies of dissolution. Then waving his hand and pointing to the light in the upper part of the window, he laughed aloud; thus expressing his joy that his spirit was about being disengaged from his earthly frame, and to wing its flight to the regions of light and bliss, just like a bird
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that, tired of its cage, claps its wings when about to be set at liberty. With one eye on death and one fixed on heaven, he seemed to say in the moment of expiring, Now that God has given me the wings of a dove, I will fly away and be at rest."
He was vice-president of Queen's College at the time of his death, and had had the degree of D.D. conferred on him by Columbia Col- lege in 1816. Dr. Van Vranken has written an admirable sketch of his life and character for Sprague's Annals, to which we refer. His remains were interred in the cemetery connected with the church in New-Brunswick, and on his tomb is engraved : " Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of Rev. John Schureman, D.D., Professor of Pastoral Theology, Ecclesiastical History, and Church Government in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch Church at New- Brunswick, who, while engaged in a course of active and highly use- ful labors, enjoying the confidence of the churches and the affection of his brethren, departed this life May 15th, 1818, in the 40th year of his age."
The same year, October 2d, 1818, the church called Rev. Jesse Fonda. He was called from Nassau, Rensselaer County, New-York. His pastorate was brief. He resigned on the 3d July, 1819, and ac- cepted a call from Montgomery, Orange County, where he continued until May 22d, 1827, when he died and entered into his rest.
Jesse Fonda, says Dr. Forsyth, was born at Watervliet, Albany County, N. Y., April 27th, 1786 ; he graduated at Union College, 1806. He was the subject of religions impressions from his youth, and very early formed the desire to preach the Gospel. He studied theology in a desultory way with neighboring clergymen, and received his licensure from the Congregationalists, but in 1808 united with the Classis of Albany, and received a call from the church of Nassau and Schodack, where he continued to labor with great acceptance until he went to New-Brunswick. He bound himself by resolution to a course of regular, systematic study, and rose to eminence. His book on Sacraments evinces maturity of mind and a fullness of know- ledge on the subject of which it treats. His physical man was very fine, and his social qualities companionable and interesting. His mi- nistry, at Montgomery particularly, was eminently successful. Three hundred were added to the church on profession of faith in ten years, while the spiritual life of the church was greatly quickened, and the whole moral aspect of that region changed. His remains were followed to the grave by an immense crowd of weeping parishioners
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and friends, at the head of which walked nine ministers of the Gos- pel. The funeral sermon was preached by his friend and neighbor, Rev. James B. Ten Eyck, of Berea, assisted by Dr. Fisk, of Goshen, Rev. Samuel Van Veghten and Rev. Mr. Arbuckle, of Blooming Grove, and Dr. Wallace, of Little Britain.
The attention of the congregation of New-Brunswick, upon Mr. Fonda's resignation, was at once directed to John Ludlow, then a young man just from the seminary ; and they presented him their call, dated September 17th, 1819. At first he declined it, fearing the onerous duties of such a charge; but on receiving from consistory liberty to preach only one sermon on the Sabbath and to be exempt from pastoral duty for one year, he accepted ; but his ardor led him to break through his own stipulations almost at once. He continued his services only two years, and then accepted the Professorship of Biblical literature and church history in the seminary. After spend- ing six years in the duties of his professorship, he accepted a call from the First Church in Albany, in 1823, where he continued until 1834, when he was chosen Provost of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1852, he returned to New-Brunswick, to occupy his original posi- tion in the seminary, and died in 1859.
John Ludlow was born at Acquaekanonk, Bergen County, N. J., in 1793. IIe graduated at Union College in the class of 1814, and was at once chosen tutor. IIe studied theology during his tutorship with Rev. Dr. Andrew Yates; but graduated from the seminary in New-Brunswick in 1817, and was immediately licensed by the Classis of New-Brunswick.
Dr. Bethune says of him : " His most striking characteristic was strength. His person was strong. His countenance was strong. The lines of decision and thought were deeply traced on his face; his eye clear and almost stern, and his whole expression so settled and firm, even in early years, that there seemed but little change effected by time, care, and years."
His voice was strong. In his ordinary tones he filled the largest audience-room of any church; but when he became warm in the dis- cussion of his subject, it rose to power, and when it burst forth nunder the force of excitement, it was like thunder crashing through the clouds. And this was only the breaking forth of the power of his intellect and his affections ; for he had a great heart beating in the bosom of that robust frame.
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He was strong more than cultivated; a forcible thinker more than a polished scholar or rhetorician. He forced his conclusions upon you, rather than by his logic or argument, winning you to embrace them. And yet he had logic and rhetoric in abundance, and he often made the very best use of them in his discourses. The pre- dominating element of his whole character, however, was power. When you thought of Dr. Ludlow you thought of a strong, vigorous, forcible man.
His pastorate in Albany was successful, and he commanded a wide influence. No one thought him below any of his eminent and gifted predecessors. He preached the Gospel in its distinctive fea- tures, and saw the fruits of his labors ; and yet he was by nature best fitted for a teacher. In the professor's chair, surrounded by young men, he was most at home. He seemed to feel a certain kind of in- terest and pride in giving them instruction, moulding their minds and fitting them for usefulness.
Dr. Ludlow never published any thing beyond an occasional dis- course or pamphlet. He seemed to be averse to it. Had he written and published, he would have left in his writings evidence of his strength, to prove the justness of the estimate formed of him.
When he returned to the seminary the second time he came as successor to Dr. Cannon. It is enough to say that he filled the place left vacant to the perfect satisfaction of all. But his life was nearly spent. In five years the chair was again vacant. He died in his resi- dence in the west wing of the college. The inscription on his tombstone reads: "This monument is erected by the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church to the memory of the Rev. John Ludlow, D.D., L'L.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Church Government, and Pastoral Theology in the Seminary of New-Brunswick; and Professor of Metaphysics in Rutgers College. Died September 8th,.1857, in the 64th year of his age." As pastor of the churches of New-Brunswick and Albany, as Provost of the University of Penn- sylvania, and as professor in the seminary, he discharged his various offices with singular fidelity, ability, and success. Of solid learning, distinguished force of character, and ardent piety, he exerted a com- . manding influence in the councils of the church, and by arduous per- sonal services eminently contributed to establish and strengthen the foundations of these institutions.
As he had lived, he died-strong in faith, giving glory to God.
In the pastorate of the church of New-Brunswick, Dr. Ludlow's
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snecessor was the candidate Isaac Ferris. He was born in the city of New-York, graduated at Columbia College in 1816, and at the semi- nary in 1820, and was immediately licensed by the Classis of New- Brunswick. The first summer he spent as a missionary along the Mohawk, preaching at Manheim, Herkimer, Danube, and Osquak. His call to New-Brunswick is dated Jannary 21st, 1821. He was ordained and installed pastor of the church on the third Thursday in April. He continued to serve the church with acceptance until October, 1824, when he was dismissed to take charge of the Second Church in Albany, made vacant by the election of its pastor, Rev. John De Witt, D.D., to Dr. Ludlow's place in the seminary. He labored in Albany from 1824 to 1836, and in the mean time made the tour of Europe for his health. In 1836, he became pastor of the Market Street Church in the city of New-York. In 1853, he was chosen chancellor of the University of New-York, retired in 1862, and resides at present at Roselle, New-Jersey.
The successor of Dr. Ferris was the Rev. James B. Hardenbergh. He was called April 2d, 1825. He was born near Rochester, Ulster County, New-York; graduated at Union College in the class of 1821 ; was a convert in the revival in the college in the winter of 1819-20. Studied in the Theological Seminary at New-Brunswick, and gradu- ated and secured his license in May, 1824. Almost immediately he received and accepted a call from the church of Helderberg, in the county of Albany, but continued there only one year, having received a call to New-Brunswick as Dr. Ferris's successor. He remained in New-Brunswick from 1825 until 1829, when he was transferred to Orchard street, in the city of New-York. From thence, in 1829, he removed to Rhinebeck, then to Philadelphia in 1836, and again to Franklin street, New-York, in 1840. From 1856 he was without a charge, and died in the city of New-York.
In the church at New-Brunswick, two months after Dr. Harden- bergh's resignation, the Rev. Jacob J. Janeway, D.D., was called. The call is dated February 23d, 1830. We quote from Dr. Steele's historical discourse : " Dr. Janeway, previous to his settlement over this congregation, had occupied some of the most prominent positions in the Presbyterian Church, and at the date of his call had just re- signed the professorship of theology in the Western Theological Seminary, in Allegheny City, Pa. He was not installed until May 26th, although he assumed the charge of the pulpit early in the spring. The church now felt that they had secured a pastor of mid-
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dle age, who could long remain among them, and give his ripe experi- enee and sound instruction to the upbuilding and establishment of the .congregation. He came to them with a well-furnished mind, a large stock of experience, thoroughly orthodox in his sentiments, and at onee, though he had spent his whole ministerial life in the Presby- terian Church, identified himself with all the interests of our denomi- nation. Indeed, he was only returning to his home. Ilis parents were members of the Collegiate Clinreh in New-York, into whose communion he was also received on confession of his faith, after graduating at Columbia College. His theological studies were pur- sued under Dr. Livingston, for whom he cherished an unbounded reverence, first as his pastor, then as his instructor, and through life as his cherished friend."
The expectation of the church that the ministry of Dr. Janeway was to be of long continuanee was to be disappointed. The extent of the congregation, the amount of labor incident to a great country and eity charge, induced him to resign. "The dissolution of his pastoral connection was effected February 24th, 1831, after he had served only one year." It was a great disappointment. He went to New-York for a short space, but returned to New-Brunswick, became vice-president of Rutgers College, tanght logic and metaphysics for a time; but returned to the Presbyterian Church again, and died on Sabbath, June 27th, 1858, just before the setting of the sun. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Hodge, of Princeton. A memoir of Dr. Janeway, by his son, was published in 1861, to which we ean now only refer our readers who are desirous of accurate in- formation.
In 1857, the health of Dr. Janeway began to be seriously affected. By the advice of his physician he was indneed to give himself rest from the studies which he had up to this time been pursuing. He rallied for a time, but not effectively. A week before the final attack he laid down his pen and said, " My work is done. I had a warning from God when I first arose, but was anxions to complete what is written. God has permitted me to do it, and I have nothing more to do." On Sabbath, January 31st, he went to his bed, but lingered' there five weary months, and then died. On his tomb is found this brief inscription : " Rev. Jacob J. Janeway, D.D., born November 20th, 1774 ; died June 27th, 1858."
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