History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 174

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 174
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 174

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The Rev. Mr. Rowland immediately succeeded Mr. Beach in the charge of this church, and continued one year. He some time afterwards removed to Shel- bourne, in Nova Scotia.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

It appears that the church was vacant of a regu- larly settled clergyman till some time in the year 1787, when the Rev. George Ogilvie, a deacon, was engaged to officiate to the congregation.

He is described as " a man of fine personal appear- ance, an agreeable companion, an excellent reader, and an acceptable preacher." Mr. Ogilvie resigned his charge in the year 1790, and removed to Nor- walk, in Connecticut, thence to Rye, N. Y., where he died.

After this period the proceedings of the rector, church wardens, and vestrymen of the church have been preserved on file, from which the following statements are chiefly derived :

In 1791 the Rev. Henry Vandyke, on the recom- mendation of the Rev. Mr. Beach, was chosen minis- ter of the parish. The register does not state when his ministry terminated, but there is still preserved on file a letter from this gentleman to the vestry, dated at Burlington, June 20, 1794, from which it appears that he must some time previously have re- moved from New Brunswick.

In this letter Mr. Vandyke complains that his salary had not been paid him; that he was consequently " threatened by suits at law ;" and he implores the vestry to save him and themselves from this "re- proach and shame" by paying the balance due him.

At this time the lottery system was sanctioned by the State, and, unfortunately, it was introduced into the church. Some of the old tickets are still pre- served. But, as in every such case, much harm was done, and very little good.

The church was defrauded of the money collected by some of the agents; quarrels ensued, lawsuits were threatened, and at last the clergyman's just dues were left unpaid. All such methods of obtain- ing money end the same way. The only true plan, and the only one that will prove finally successful, is the one enjoined in the gospel : "Let every one lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him; so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver." The deed that is not based on Christian motives will be "unblessed." It cer- tainly will not benefit " him that gives," and seldom does it benefit " him that takes."

The parish seems to have continued vacant until May 4, 1799, when the Rev. John Henry Hobart was " invited to perform divine service for the congrega- tion for one year," and "the sum of $266.67 was allowed for such services."

Mr. Hobart brought a letter of introduction from Bishop White to the Rev. Abrm. Beach, in which the bishop speaks of him as "a young gentleman who has lately entered into Orders in our Church, with the general expectation of all who know him that he will be eminently useful in it." How fully these expectations were realized need not here be said.

Mr. Beach forwarded this letter, which is still among the church records, to the vestry, recommend-

ing them, in consideration of "the young gentleman's charcter, as given by Bishop White, and the destitute condition of your church, to employ the Rev. Mr. Hobart."

In a letter dated at Philadelphia, April 10, 1799, Mr. Hobart accepts the invitation of the vestry, though he says, " The salary allowed will not be ade- quate to defray my necessary expenses; but I can make no objection, because I acquiesced in it when first proposed." The reason assigned for his removal from the churches in the vicinity of Philadelphia was " that he could not look on them as a permanent resi- dence, and that he wished for some time longer to pursue his studies at Princeton, where he enjoyed peculiar advantages of books, of retirement, and of society."

After serving the church here a little more than two months, Mr. Hobart, in a communication dated July 15, 1799, says, "I have thought it my duty to state to the vestrymen my desire that they would re- lease me from my temporary engagement with them for the last six months, to enable me to accept a per- manent settlement," offered at Hempstead, L. I. He expresses, however, his "determination and wish to fulfill, to the best of his abilities, his engagement with the church here, unless regularly released there- from."

On the very day after this was written he ad- dressed another letter to the vestry, in which he says, with characteristic disinterestedness and magnanim- ity, "I think I shall not be satisfied in existing cir- cuinstances to receive a release from my engagement with your church, and I must, therefore, beg leave to withdraw my request for it. I shall accordingly answer the call of the church at Hempstead by in- forming them that my immediate acceptance of it is incompatible with my engagements and duty to the church at Brunswick. I would not wish to be under- stood that my determination has arisen from any view to a permanent settlement at Brunswick, but from a desire to secure the ease of my own mind, and to pre- vent any cause of censure, by the complete discharge of my engagement with your church, and so fully have I made up my mind, that I would not receive a release from my engagement were it to be offered me."

When this communication was laid before the ves- try they appointed one of their number to express to Mr. Hobart " the pleasure with which they received it, and that though they would from views of advan- tage to him have consented to part with him, yet con- sulting their own feelings and the interests of the church they should have afforded that consent with painful reluctance."

In accordance with the resolution he had formed, Mr. Hobart did not leave the parish until the close of the year for which his services were engaged.

" I take this opportunity," he writes to the vestry, " of repeating what I shall always express with pleas- ure, that the attentions and kindness I have uniformly

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received from the members of the church here, lay claim to my respectful and grateful remembrance."

In another letter to Robert Boggs, Esq., clerk of the vestry, he writes in the same pleasing style : " Your good wishes are grateful to me. I look forward to the pleasure of often seeing you, and through life to the cultivation of your regard and friendship. My intercourse with you has been marked by acts of at- tention and friendship on your part, which are not less pleasing in the remembrance that they were ac- ceptable at the time. Whatever may be the changes and trials of our state here (for who can expect un- alloyed enjoyment), let me hope that we shall meet where our happiness shall be perfect and eternal." Exactly four months intervened between the depart- ure of the two friends from this world of " changes and chances," and during the Easter season of last year the excellent and venerable Miss Maria Boggs, that mother of honored memory and name, joined the company of her husband and his friend.

On Mr. Hobart's resignation, "Mr. Beasley was in- vited to read prayers in the church until a rector could be provided," and in November, 1800, the Rev. Charles C. Cotton was engaged to take charge of the parish until Easter Monday following. He continued his services for six months afterwards.

At a meeting of the wardens and vestrymen on the 16th day of March, 1801, it was “ Resolved and agreed unanimously, That the Rev. John Croes, of Swedesborough, N. J., be invited to accept the per- manent rectorship of this church at a salary of $375 per annum."

The invitation given to Mr. Croes was made in conjunction with "the trustees of Queen's College," who desired to secure his services as a teacher. In this institution, which attained under him a wide- spread and justly-earned reputation, as well as in a school for young ladies, which was one of the most celebrated in its time, he labored with great assiduity and success. As a scholar and a disciplinarian he was admirably fitted for such a sphere of usefulness, and many of the most respectable and best-educated citizens of the place were trained and taught in the school of Mr. Croes. Influential, however, as he was in this capacity, the work of the teacher must have seriously interfered with that of the pastor. The parish could not but suffer when the rector was obliged to devote the greater part of his time and at- tention to scholastic pursuits. All this he frankly acknowledges and laments in his correspondence on the subject. By an express stipulation with the vestry the number of sermons he should preach was " limited to one a day." "I did this," he says in one of his letters on the subject, " not because I thought it too much labor to deliver two, but because I be- lieved I could not prepare a sufficient number and perform the duties of the academy also. The busi- ness of the academy will so occupy my time that preaching more frequently than once a day would

compel me to make greater exertions than my health would bear. Could the church afford support suffi- cient without the school, it would be my choice and delight to preach twice every Sunday."

What a sad pity that this "choice and delight" could not have been gratified through the liberality of the people he undertook to serve !

It is a common impression that school-teaching is peculiarly suited to the clerical office, and that cler- gymen are of all men best fitted to be instructors of youth. This cannot be denied, provided the instruc- tion be of a religious character.

" Apt to teach" is one of the qualifications for the office. But "apt to teach" what ? Not Latin or Greek or mathematics, not grammar or science or profane literature. We were not ordained for this, but to " teach all things whatsoever Christ hath com- manded," and every other kind of instruction which interferes with this duty is forbidden by the terms of our commission. Of all men in this world the parish priest is the last man who should be the teacher of a school. In order to feed the lambs of his flock, as he is expressly commanded, to guide and instruct the children of his charge, he must gain their esteem and their affection. If they do not regard him as a father and a friend, if they cannot approach him with con- fidence and love, he can have no influence over them, and can do them little or no good.

Now they will rarely entertain such feelings for the man who sustains towards them the relation of a schoolmaster. In that capacity to be faithful the in- dividual must exercise discipline, and sometimes ap- parent severity. And children will generally regard such a person with dread, if not with aversion. How then can they view him, for whom they entertain such feelings, in the light of a pastor, whom they should at all times approach with feelings of filial attachment! Thus a clergyman can hardly take a surer means of sacrificing the affection of the younger members of his flock than by uniting with his cleri- cal functions the duties of the academy. Observation and experience confirm this assertion. Many of the most respectable citizens of New Brunswick have been heard to say that much as they esteemed Bishop Croes they never could overcome the feeling of child- ish repugnance they entertained for him as their former teacher.

Under these circumstances such persons never could have been drawn into the church; nay, they were absolutely driven from it, and who can deny that all this tended in no small degree to retard the progress of the parish during his lifetime? It must not be forgotten in justification of Dr. Croes, that he had no other alternative. The income offered him here was entirely inadequate to his support, and he was obliged to keep school, to his great regret, in order to secure a maintenance for his family, but it was undoubtedly for himself and his parish an un- happy and disastrous alternative. Who ever found

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

profit in "muzzling the ox that treadeth out the corn" ?

duties as rector of the parish, and in the faithful dis- charge of these he continued until his death in 1832. During the long period of his rectorship but few events of note are recorded. In February, 1803, the spire of the church was struck by lightning and wholly consumed. The building itself was in immi- nent danger of being destroyed, and the excitement produced by it throughout the town was so great that to this day it is spoken of by the older inhabitants as one of the great events of the period. "When the fire raged with the greatest violence," says Bishop Croes in his account of this fearful scene, " and when the prospect of saving the building was almost noth- ing, a sudden squall of wind and snow commenced and blew the flakes, sparks, and burning timber in such profusion over the roof, and indeed over that part of the town between it and the river, that not only all hope was lost of the church but the greatest apprehensions were entertained for the town. The whole atmosphere seemed on fire. Houses one hun- dred yards distant were covered with sparks to such a degree that the roofs appeared like a mass of fire, and had it not been for the snow that fell in great profu- sion and the wet state of the houses no human ex- ertions could have saved the town." By the contri- butions of the congregation, the citizens of the place, and some friends in New York and Savannah (whose names are all recorded in the parish register), the steeple was rebuilt in the course of a few months. In 1814 the whole interior of the church was remod- eled. The pulpit was removed from the north side to the east end, a new desk and chancel were made, and the pews arranged to face them. The church was afterwards provided with "Venetian blinds for the east window, furniture for the vestry-room, a cover- ing for the communion-table, and the two mahogany chairs by the generous donation of Mrs. Isaac Law- rence."

The general esteem entertained for Mr. Croes is shown by the fact that in 1815 he was chosen by the convention of the diocese the bishop of the same, and on the 19th of November of that year he received consecration from the hands of Bishops White, Ho- bart, and Kemp. He did not, however, resign his rectorship on this occasion, though he gave up the school and devoted his time thenceforward to the care of his diocese and of his parish.

In October, 1830, “ in consequence of severe and protracted illness," the bishop summoned his vestry, and desired them to appoint as his assistant his son, the Rev. John Croes, offering to surrender to him the half of his own salary. The vestry acceded to the proposal, and Mr. Croes entered immediately upon his duties.

On the 27th of March, 1832, "the rector, induced by illness and an anxious desire to divest himself of

the care of the rectorship, presented his resignation" of the same; the vestry, however, besought him to

In November, 1801, Mr. Croes entered upon his | withdraw it in the following appropriate resolutions, which did them as much honor as it must have given their venerable pastor pleasure : " Whereas, the Right Rev. John Croes has presented his resignation to this board as rector, and whereas under any circumstances the vestry would deeply regret the dissolution of a connection which has existed in uninterrupted bar- mony between themselves and their esteemed rector, and which, as they think, has mainly contributed, with the blessings of Almighty God, to the preserva- tion and prosperity of the church during so long a period, whilst they have witnessed with deep anxiety liis severe and protracted illness, and would cheerfully contribute to the repose of his declining years, yet they cannot but think that the withdrawal by the rector of his resignation tendered to them would sub- serve the interests of that church which he has so long loved and so faithfully served; therefore, Re- solved, That the Right Rev. Rector be respectfully re- quested to withdraw his said resignation." To this earnest request "the rector in his reply cheerfully acceded."

On the 30th of May this year the convention of the diocese met in Morristown. The bishop was too in- firm to be present. His address was read by the secre- tary, from which the following extract is taken. It seems necessary to introduce it here as an illustration of the condition of the parish and diocese at that time, otherwise I would fain have kept back a docu- ment which cannot but excite in every generous mind feelings of shame and sorrow :

"Taking into consideration," says the bishop, "the probable injury the diocese may suffer from the want of an efficient Episcopal Head, I am strongly induced to recommend to you to take measures to elect some suitable Presbyter of the church as an assistant bishop, to perform those duties which I shall in all proba- bility not be able to discharge. I am well aware of the obstacles that present themselves to this measure, especially that of the want of sufficient funds, as during the short time I. may be permitted to live the withdrawal of or even diminishing the small stipend which has been statedly contributed by the church in the diocese in aid of my support would reduce my means of living much below what would be necessary for that purpose, especially as I have already volun- tarily relinquished $300 a year of the salary I received as rector of Christ Church in New Brunswick (when the whole salary which I previously received was but $500), rather than suffer that church to be shut up and the congregation deprived of the services of the sanctuary. But as in all probability the obstacles I speak of will be of short duration, less than a year perhaps, it is to be hoped that some means may be devised to obviate it in the interim. At any rate I am assured, my brethren, that your sense of equity and propriety will not permit you to adopt any meas-

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CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

ure which may lessen my means of support or comfort during the short period I yet may live."

The convention did make then some "provision for his temporal wants," and a " committee was appointed to address a respectful letter to Bishop Croes, expres- sive of their grateful estimation of his long and faithful services, their affectionate sympathy in his sufferings, and their hope that he may be sustained under them by the Divine blessing."

It was well indeed that the aged prelate and pastor had " the Divine blessing to sustain him," for " vain had been the help of man." The good old man's days were happily drawing to a close, and in July of this same year he was removed from all earthly cares and entered into his rest.

Agreeably to the wishes of the family, the vestry had his body interred beneath the chancel in the church ; they desired " to defray the funeral expenses, and in further testimony of their respect for the memory of their late rector they resolved to take measures to erect a marble tablet to record and per- petuate liis great zeal for the church generally, and especially for Christ Church, New Brunswick, over which he presided for so many years as rector." A tablet was accordingly placed in the east end of the church, with this appropriate inscription, composed by his son :

"Beneath the Chancel are deposited the remains of the RIGHT REVEREND JOHN CROES, D.D., first Bishop Of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this Diocese. Born in New Jersey, he held the office and performed the duties of A Christian Minister, in his native

State, For more than 42 years, the last 30 of which were devoted To the service of this Parish. On the 30th of July, 1832, he closed a useful life, And calmly slept in the Lord, in the 7Ist year of his age And the 17th of his Episcopate.

This Tablet Is erected by his hereaved congregation, As a testimonial Of their grateful recollection of the many private virtues Of their departed Pastor and Friend; And of the high estimation in which they held His piety and talents, As a Mioister of the Gospel of Peace; And his consummate prudence, untiring activity, And constant vigilance, As a Spiritual Overseer of the Church."

Bishop Croes was, in the truest sense of the word, "a self-made man." He had been in early life a soldier of the Revolution, and after the war "fought manfully under Christ's banner, His faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end." He pursued his studies diligently, and by the advice of his friend, Dr. McWhorter, an eminent Presbyterian minister of Newark, took orders in the church, which he lived to serve and govern with zeal and ability so many years. Though not famed for popular eloquence, Bishop Croes possessed many eminent qualities for his high and holy office. He was the laborious parish priest, the sincere friend, the judicious counselor, the

watchful pastor, the instructive preacher, the thought- ful writer, the sound, well-read divine. He had the happy faculty of "speaking the truth in love," and he seems to have gained the esteem and affection of all who came within the sphere of his influence. To this day he is generally spoken of throughout the town by the name of " the good bishop."

On the 22d of August the vestry was convened, and chose for their rector the Rev. John Croes, the son of the bishop, and the late assistant minister. In October of the same year the convention of the dio- cese assembled in New Brunswick for the purpose of choosing a successor to their late venerable bishop and father. It resulted in the election of the Rev. George Washington Doane, D.D., rector of Trinity Church, Boston. He was consecrated on the 31st day of the same month, and with characteristic en- ergy and promptness commenced his primary visi- tation on Wednesday, November 28th, at Christ Church, New Brunswick.

" I was induced," says Bishop Doane, " to enter on my official labors at this point that I might follow more immediately in the footsteps of my venerated predecessor, who for thirty years ministered in holy things to the people of that congregation. I was desirous also thus especially to acknowledge the friendly attention shown to myself personally, and the valuahle services so long and faithfully rendered to the diocese by him who, bearing the name, has so worthily succeeded to the parochial charge of the lamented incumbent. It was the object of the dis- course here and elsewhere delivered as the visitation sermon to set forth the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, " the counsel of God," as St. Paul de- nominates it, the whole of which the Christian min- ister who would keep himself "pure from the blood of all men is bound to declare." And to the last day of his life this was the great theme of this great bishop's preaching, "Jesus Christ and Him cruci- fied," the gospel of His grace, and the church of His love.

Mr. Croes continued in the rectorship of Christ Church until October, 1839, when his resignation took effect, according to notice given to the vestry in July preceding, to the great sorrow of many of his beloved parishioners and friends. He retired to a family residence in Keyport, where he undertook the work of a missionary, and finished his earthly course of labor in the month of August, 1849.

On his resignation a committee was appointed at the next meeting of the vestry, "with power to con- fer with the Rev. John D. Ogilby, and to secure his services temporarily for the church until permanent provision shall he made with reference to the rector- ship."

Mr. Ogilby was at that time residing in New Brunswick, holding the professorship of languages in Rutgers College. He very kindly undertook the charge offered him, without any remuneration for

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

" his acceptable services," until the 29th of October, 1839, when the present incumbent, the Rev. Alfred Stubbs, " was unanimously elected" to the rectorship.

At this time the congregation was small in num- bers and in a state of great depression, for "the house had been divided against itself," and it was well-nigli "brought to desolation ;" but being built upon "a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation," "all the building fitly framed and compact together" in the unity of the spirit, it soon began to grow with "living stones unto a holy temple in the Lord."

On the feast of St. Philip and St. James, the year following, the rector-elect was admitted by Bishop Doane to the holy order of priests, the candidate being presented by the Rev. John D. Ogilby; and in October of the same year, on the festival of St. Simon and St. Jude, he was instituted by the bishop into the rectorship of the parish.

On this occasion the bishop preached that admi- rable sermon, since widely circulated, and then by request first published, "On the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints;" and it was one of the great sorrows of his life that a brother bishop, who was present, to whom he was ardently attached, and to whom the discourse was dedicated, not very long afterwards denied that faith, " quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est," and embraced a creed of modern invention, neither catholic nor apostolic.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 174

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224