History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 39

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print
Number of Pages: 942

USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1 > Part 39

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During his collegiate course, in the winter of 1814-15, a powerful revival occurred among the students. It is not known whether Judge Whitehead received any re- ligious impressions at this revival ; but, it cannot be doubted that a young man with his strong bias towards religion and with the recollections of his home teachings, must have felt the influences of the hour.

While at Princeton, Judge Whitehead, to use the words of one of his classmates, who afterwards became President of the college, was an irreproachable student. He gradu- ated in 1816, having maintained during the first year of his course, a standing in scho-

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larship at about the middle of his class, and .rising somewhat above this in his second year. At the commencement exercises he took part in a debate, arguing the negative of the question, "Is it desirable that the patriots of South America should succeed in their present struggle for liberty and in- dependence ?" Of course, it will be under- stood that he was a debater in these exer- cises, and that he did not express the true sentiments of his mind when he argued the negative of the question. The wording of the resolution submitted for debate was of such a character as to leave but little chancc for the debaters who opposed.

At that time the accommodations at the .college, in the way of dormitories, was rather limited, and he roomed with two other students, the Rev. R. K. Rodgers, so long secretary of the Synod of New Jersey and pastor of a Presbyterian church at Bound Brook, and the Rev. Mr. Lowe.

His classmates numbered several students who afterward became distinguished as statesmen, jurists and divines. Among them were found the following : James Mc- Dowell, Governor of Virginia ; Cornelius Ludlow, LL. D., Chester Butler, U. S. Sena- tor ; James S. Nevius, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey ; John MacLean, D.D., President of Princeton Col- lege ; Rev. William Jessup Armstrong, D.D., Charles Pettit McIlvaine, Bishop of Ohio and President of Kenyon College.

After graduation he taught school for about two years, one of them in the old Academy at Morristown, and then entered the office at Newark, of Joseph C. Horn- blower, afterwards Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court of New Jersey, as a student- at-law. At that time, his uncle, Silas White- head, was Clerk of the County of Essex, and Judge Whitehead employed his leisure hours in his uncle's office, so as to enable himself to pay his own way and not continue to be a burden on his father.

He was licensed as an Attorney by the Supreme Court of his native State about the year 1821 and immediately began the prac- tice of his profession, opening an office at Schooley's Mountain, in the building known as the Heath House. He remained here for a short time only, perhaps for two or three years, when, at the request of

George K. Drake, afterwards associate Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, he removed to Morristown and became a part- ner with Judge Drake. From this time he remained in this city until his death, in the full practice of his profession, except when engaged in the performance of his duties as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

April 6, 1829, Judge Whitehead married Sarah Louisa Johnson, eldest child of Silas Johnson, of this city. One child, a daughter, was born to them. She lived to grow up but died early in womanhood. Being an only child she naturally became the object of the fondest, tenderest affections of her parents. She early became the subject of religious impressions and to the great joy of her friends and especially of her pious parents, she united with the church in early life. She gave promise of great usefulness in the church and in the community where she lived. Death came early and destroyed this promise. It can well be imagined how the loving heart of her father was wrung by this affliction. He went sorrowing for his daughter to the grave, but in all his sor- row he found true consolation in the solace of religion. The funeral sermon of this daughter, to whom had been given the name of Mary, from her grand-mother, the wife of Jabez Condict, was preached by the Rev. David Irving, D.D., who was then the pastor of the church, and between whom and Judge Whitehead and his family there always existed the truest affection. That sermon was preached January 30, 1858, and was subsequently printed, It was the heart- felt tribute of the pastor and of the friend to the virtue and the loveliness of the dead, and was evidently the work of one who deep- ly felt the loss of so young and so bright a spirit.

The text was this ; "She hath given up the ghost ; her sun hath gone down while it was yet day." None but those who have gone through the like sorrow can appreciate the great affliction which the loss gave to the father. He never recovered fully from the blow.

On Nov. 3, 1841, Judge Whitehead was appointed an Associate Justice of the Su- preme Court of New Jersey by the Gov- ernor of the State.

The County of Hudson had recently been

THE RECORD.

created and Judge Whitehead held his first circuit in the new county. There was no Court House then erected in Hudson and the courts were held at some public place in Jersey City. He held this position but for one term ; as the Governor who came into office, at the time his term expired, was of different politics, and he retired to private life. He practised his profession for a short time after this, but finally accepted, at the urgent request of the bar of Morris County, the position of Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, which position he held for one term. He then, practically, retired from public life, giving his attention, however, occasionally, to the charge of important estates. He was the leading and active ex- ecutor of the late William Gbbons, whose large estate in his hands received a foster- ing care which enabled him to hand it over to the heirs, at their majority, largely in- creased in value.

Judge Whitehead, very early, manifested a deep interest in the affairs of the church. He would not have been true to himself nor to his ancestry, if he had not done so. In 1832, he was parish clerk ; in 1838 and 1839 he served as trustee. In 1841, at a time when the most careful and delicate conduct of the affairs of the church was needed : when prudence and wisdom were most especially necessary, he, with Lewis Condict, William Sayre, Jr., Abraham Tappen and John F. Voorhees, acted as agents for the parish and took the place of the trustees, who had resigned. This was at a period of the great excitement in the church, which resulted in its division and the withdrawal of the congregation now organized as the South Street Presbyterian Church. None but those familiar with the state of affairs as they then existed in the church, can fully appre- ciate the very great care and prudence which was necessary. The excitement was intense ; families were divided and a feeling existed which it fostered or not controlled and checked, would have led to the most disastrous results. Judge Whitehead was ardently attached to the old church, all his sympathies were with her in the contest. His strong nature was enlisted ; but, not- withstanding all this, he showed a prudence and exhibited a wisdom which guided the storm and brought about the peace which

has since continued and led, eventually, to the union and Christian feeling which now bind the two churches. In this he was aided by the gentlemen who were his fellows in the Board of Trustees, at that most try- ing time in the history of the church. During this period he was also parish clerk.

While thus aiding the church in its tem- poral affairs he was mindful of the claims which it had upon his higher and better na- ture. He made a public profession of his faith in Christ, and was received into the full communion of the church August 27, 1829. His brother, Sylvester R., united at the same time. He was the subject of one of the great revivals which occurred while Mr. Barnes was pastor. It cannot be doubted, but that Judge Whitehead would have been led by the instincts of his nature to this step. He was strongly inclined to a religious life and after his union with the church he devoted himself to the exercise of the ruling bias of his heart and convic- tions. His was no grudging service. He gave his whole life to the Master. That service was large hearted and sincere. His was not a nature to hold back when once he had set out in the path of duty. He was earnest, sincere, generous, " instant in sea- son and out of season." Never obtrusive, but always ardent in his piety, he never failed on proper occasions to give his testi- mony to the truth. But his exemplary life was the highest evidence of his faith. He preached Jesus by his daily walk and con- versation.

May 3, 1846, he became a ruling elder, which office he held until his death, which occurred Aug. 27, 1867, when he was in his seventieth year.

For some time before his death Judge Whitehead had expected that event. He had received unmistakable warning. But he was undismayed at its near approach. He had much around him to bind him to life. The wife of his youth, whose gentle affection had gone with him, through the many years of their married life, still lived to bless and cheer. He was an honored and respected man ; the whole community, in which he lived, delighted to honor and bless him. Troops of strongly attached friends and relatives gathered about him. He had acquired independent competence, and was,

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therefore, not subject to the carking care of poverty, nor obliged to labor for the support of himself and his family. But, he knew in whom he trusted, and setting his face steadily heavenward, with an undying trust in the Rock of his salvation, he, calm- ly and patiently, awaited the end. It came at last and the honored man, the devout Christian, sank to his rest. His memory still lingers with us, and can not be lost for many generations. The good he did can never die, the wisdom he gave to the coun- cils of the church guarded her safely though perils, the material aid afforded by him, manifested the true generosity of his nature.

In person Judge Whitehead was striking, being fully six feet in height, robust and commanding. He possessed a kindly, at- tractive manner, which always brought young persons lovingly to his presence. He was firm and decided in his utterances ; his convictions were strong and he never failed to speak the true sentiments of his mind and heart. Perhaps if he failed any- where, it was in the abrupt and positive manner in which he declared his opinions. But those opinions very rarely failed in be- ing correct ·

As a lawyer he was untiring in his devo- tion to the interests of his client ; as a counsellor he was correct, careful and wise; as a Judge he was most industrious, patient and considerate ; as a man of business he was of spotless integrity; as a husband and father he was loving, kind and affectionate; as a Christian he was humble, consistent and exemplary, and in all the relations of life he never failed in the discharge of duty. Of him it could well be said, " An honest man is the noblest work of God."

THE TEMPERANCE SPUR.

The temperance people of Boonton have done a good work, At their last municipal election they elected town officers pledged to give no license to saloons. This result is especially noticeable at this present mo- ment, as in Boonton is to be found a large population of working people, who are, generally, supposed to favor the license system. But there seems to have been an influence at work in Boonton which was potent in obtaining so desirable a result.

This little paper, whose name heads this article, is published at Boonton, and gives an idea of what this potent influence was.

The good women of our neighbor city, evidently, took part in the contest and on the right side.

This sprightly paper is edited, so says its title page, by four young ladies. It is bright, sparkling with gems of thought, beautifully illustrated and altogether most creditable to its editors and friends. Its title page is an exquisite picture. We suspect the artist, whose genius produced the work, does not hve many miles from Boonton. The decid- ed teachings of the Spur are excellent, its testimony is all in favor of the right and it must wield a power in the community for good order, temperance and religion.

Success to the young ladies who are do- ing this good work.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

The 67th anniversary of the Sunday school was observed in the church, Sunday after- noon, May 27th. An address was made by Mr. S. W. Clark, the Secretary of the New Jersey Sunday School Association. The school occupied the body of the church and made a most creditable appearance. Judge W. E. Church, recently appointed As- sociate Justice of the territory of Dakota, was present and also addressed the audi- ence.

The annual report was presented and read by Mr. W. D. Johnson, the superintendent of the school. Mr. Mahlon Pitney present- ed several of the pupils with Bibles for proficiency in the catechism, and for regular attendance upon school during the year.

The report gave some interesting particu- lars. It has been placed at the disposal of the RECORD and the permission kindly given by Mr. Johnson to take extracts from it, is accepted with thanks.

Number of officers, 9

teachers, 47

scholars in primary de-

partment, 90

Number of scholars in main school, 266

Total, 412

New scholars, 49

Scholars withdrawn or moved

away, 46

THE RECORD.

Scholars died during last year, 2

Teachers, "

One of the two scholars, who were re- ported as dying during the past year, was from the primary class and one from the main school. Of the officers seven are church members ; all the teachers and one hundred and seven scholars are professors of religion.

Officers present at every service during the year, I

Teachers present at every service, 4

Scholars 9

These scholars all received a Bible as a reward for this punctual attendance. Six from the school have united with the church during the past year.

Average attendance, 260

Largest attendance, 299

Smallest attendance, 108

Average attendance of officers, 7

teachers, 38

scholars, 210

Number of volumes in the library of the main school, 510

Number of books in the library of primary department, 140

Value of library and piano belong- ing to the school, $800 00

The parish has appropriated $200 for the expense of the school.

The Children's Missionary Society has contributed $590 06. Ten scholars have learned the catechism perfectly, and for this each received a Bible from Mr. Pitney. The report made honorable mention of several classes, whose record of attendance and other meritorious action deserved this par- ticular mention.

the desired information will be gone. At a late meeting of the teachers held for the purpose of electing officers, the following were elected :

William D. Johnson, superintendent ; Mahlon Pitney, assistant superintendent ; P. B. Pierson, secretary and treasurer ; O. F. Lozier, Librarian ; William Leek, Henry Potts, assistant Librarians; Miss Emma Campbell and Miss Lottie Campbell, super- intendents of primary department ; Miss Laura Pierson, assistant superintendent of primary department.

TEMPERANCE.

This important subject is still occupying the attention of our community. At the last municipal election in this city, the issue of license or no license was presented to the town and decided in favor of the ticket which represented license. The majority was small, very small, in so large a vote as nine hundred and more. But it was suffi- ciently large to prove that the sen- timent of the voters of Morristown is decid- edly favorable to licensing beer saloons. This is a humiliating fact but it must be ac- knowledged. Let it be stated in all its full- ness. In this city there are opened places of business where nothing is sold except beer and other stimulants. They afford temptation on every hand to the idler, the vicious and the young. They lead the way to drunkenness, vice, the prison and often to the gallows. They are not a necessity ; that cannot be pleaded in their behalf. They are simply nuisances, open and un- disguised in their trade of destroying souls and winning lives for sin and wickedness. The result of the last election demonstrates the terrible fact, that a majority of the citi- zens of Morristown is in favor of licensing these moral pests. It is useless to shut our eyes to this deplorable fact. It cannot be urged that the gentlemen, who were elected upon the license ticket, were elected as members of a political party and are entirely unpledged as to their future action on the subject. The question of politics did not enter into the contest. One of the great political parties did not present a ticket.

It is most desirable that there should be an accurate and careful history of the school prepared and printed. Our good friend, J. D. Stevenson, Esq., former super- intendent, and whose interest in the school is still unabated it is said, prepared such a history. Repeated and earnest requests for facts and dates relative to this history have been made in the RECORD. Strange to say these requests have been unanswered, ex- cept by one good friend who lives in Michi- gan. The information he gives would seem to indicate that the school had reached an older age than sixty-seven years. He cannot be definite. Will not some kind friend look up this matter and furnish the RECORD with full dates and facts. Those, who are in pos- session of such dates and facts are fast leav- The question was placed squarely before ing us and soon the possibility of obtaining | the citizens and it was well understood by

THE RECORD.

every voter when he deposited his ballot. that he was expressing his views on this important subject.

How shall this terrible blot on the char- acter of the voters of Morristown be re- moved? The answer is evident : The only way is for the friends of temperance to be earnest, faithtul and diligent. The time is coming when public sentiment on this sub- ject will be purified. To do this needs.pa- tience and work.

PULPIT ECHOES.

REV. J. L'EONARD CORNING.

Charity is a problem of the head as well as of the heart. it is the fruit of intelligent judgment quite as much as affectionate sympathy.

There is not such a demonstration of the blundering moral philosophy of society under the heavens, as is found in the stereo- type apparatus by which crime is punished. The highest providential mystery in the world to my mind is the divine permission of human penalty in its present forms.

Jails and gibbets may be allowable as bulwarks of self defense in society, but as idexes of various degrees of culpability they are the most monstrous monuments of hu- man folly. Who but the all-seeing God himself, can trace the broad, deep river which goes under the name of sin through all its thousand tributaries to the far-off source ? Uncounted generations in the past send down to the present the almost om- nipotent forces which give shape and color to the human soul. The will is the eternal denier of fate and yet there is a divinity, kindred to fate, which sways her scepter over character.

The man who pronounces final judgment upon the merit and demerit of human con- duct, with his present light, or rather I may say his present darkness on the subject, is simply a fool. Ten thousand antecedents of personal volition determine the ascen- dancy of appetite over reason and passion over conscience. Certainly, there is a resi- dual fact in every individual soul, on which accountability rears itself, that most terribly solemn prerogative of human nature. But who hath eyes keen enough to take just measurement of this fact beside all the col-

lateral facts which qualify it! In other words who can trace up the sinuous streams of heritage? Who can measure the force of temptation as it addresses it- self from within and from without to each individual soul? Ah! What a labyrinth of undiscovered and at present undiscoverable history have we here! When a man has tracked out its thousand passages then, but never till then, let him sit in final judgment upon the frailties of his brother.

Do you remember the story which Clara Barton tells of that wounded soldier at An- tietam whom she lifted up to give him drink, when a shot from the enemy passed through the sleeve of her dress and pierced him in the heart ? Oh ! have I not seen that horrible tragedy enacted again and again when some soul whom Satan had wounded was taking cheer at the ministering hand of pity and merciless. calumny smote it. down again into despair and death ?

A man thinks he evidences the strength of his moral principle by withdrawing on the other side of the highway from a sin- maimed soul, but he only evidences the weakness of his moral principle. Is he afraid of his character ? No he is afraid of his reputation. Does he tremble for his soul's safety ? No, he trembles for his re- spectability. The very interest that is really most secure he is most anxious about. For I want to ask you if you ever knew one to set himself apart to labor for the restoration of the fallen that God did not take care both of character and reputa- tion, both of the soul and respectability.

There is another realm than the asthetic, the realm of love where notes sweeter than angelic warble and tints brighter than vernal greet the eye. When a man is in that realm all the voices of sinful allurement are silent. Passion dare not lift its viper head in the presence of this divine charmer. And so the soul never gets such rapid growth in purity as when to the eye of sense its purity seems most imperilled by surrounding corruption. Love is a sun- beam and is no more defiled when stealing into some dark cavern recking with filth than when nestling in the petal of a lily.

THE RECORD.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORRISTOWN, N. J. " THIS SHALL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME."-Psalms 102 : 18.

VOLUME III.

JULY, 1883. NUMBER 7.

[Printed with the Approval of the Session.]

THE RECORD

Will be published monthly at Morristown. N. J. Terms $1.00 per annum, in advance.

Subscriptions may be made at the book- stores of Messrs. Runyon and Emmell, or to Messrs. James R. Voorhees and William D. Johnson, or by letter addressed to the EDITOR OF THE RECORD, Morristown, N. J.

Entered at the Post Office at Morristown. N. J., as second class matter.

THE CHRISTIAN ERA.

The chronology of the Christian Era has never been accurately determined ; that is to say, the true date of the birth of Christ has remained unknown. Many attempts have been made to ascertain it. These at- tempts have been based upon various meth- ods of calculations, some erroneous, many fanciful, all difficult of solution. Until re- cently these have failed and it is very doubt- ful whether success can possibly be reached. It, certainly, remains, for further inves- tigations, to learn whether accuracy has been attained. It may be deemed by some as not a subject of the importance commensurate with the pains which have been taken to solve the problem ; but to the student of history, who desires entire accuracy, it is desirable to fix a certain date for the beginning of the Christian chronol- ogy.

At the birth of the Saviour, each nation, which had attained to any degree of civiliza- tion, had its own way of denoting time. The Romans counted their era from the building of the city ; the Greeks by the Olympiads ; the Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, and other races, had adopted their own peculiar eras. These methods obtained for several centuries after the crucifixion,

The mode of computing time from the birth of Christ was not introduced until the sixth century-the real date is said to be 527-and it did not then become universal, not even in Christendom. Its introduction was very gradual, and it was not fully recognized, even by Christian nations, un- til many centuries after.

So many eras are found adopted by his- torians, ancient and modern, that the student of history, even with all the light which modern investigation has thrown upon the subject of chronology, is neces- sarily confused. The want . of accurate mathematical and, especially of astronomi- cal, knowledge in ancient times, and the very vague methods so frequently used for computing time, give still more puzzling ideas to the reader. Generations, the life- times of monarchs, priests, priestesses, or of prominent men were frequently adopted to denote eras.

Even after the 6th century, when the Christian Era seems, in a measure, to have been received, as a mode of denoting chro- nology, the old methods still continued to be used.

A curious mode still in use by the Popes, called Indictions, was introduced about the 4th century. Its origin is unknown and many fanciful theories are advanced con- cerning it. The original meaning of the word, " the imposition of a tax," has aided several imaginative writers in displaying these fanciful theories, for which, however, there is no possible foundation. This mode was in use in France as late as the 15th cen- tury. Many charters and public deeds are still in existence, bearing the double date of the Indictions and the Christian Era. There is no certain way of learning why this pe- culiar mode of denoting time was originally used and it seems useless to speculate about

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History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 39

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print Number of Pages: 942

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print
Number of Pages: 942