History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 40

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 40

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THE RECORD.

it. It was first used by ecclesiastical writers in the time of Athanasius, who flourished in the 4th century. Why his name is asso- ciated with this first use is unknown. It was not employed exclusively by ecclesias- tical authors, but was used by them in pref- erence to other modes.

There is a difference of opinion as to the date from which it is reckoned ; some hold- ing that it was September Ist, 312, others, September 15th, 312.

The Popes date their Indictions from dif- ferent times than those ordinarily received, but their use seems simply arbitrary, and not to be based upon any other foundation than the will of the Pope, who first ordered it. They reckon from January 1, 313. This is now the only one in vogue and is called the Papal Indiction. Each Indiction is a period or cycle of fifteen years. A rule is adopted by which a calculation can be made show- ing the exact cycle in which any given year of the Christian Era will fall.

It will be readily perceived that if there be any doubt as to the date of Christ's birth, as now denoted by the current chron- ology, the systems of computing time, which depend upon the ordinarily received year of that event, are also in doubt. For in- stance, the era adopted in fixing the date of the building of Rome, is said to be 752 or 753 B. C. But if the usual date employed to denote the birth of Christ, be incorrect, then there is uncertainty as to the time of the building of Rome. The chronology adopted by Christian nations is generally received and made the basis of most other chronolo- gies. It is, therefore, important that the Christian Era should be entirely correct ; that can only be so made by fixing precisely the true time of what is chronologically called the year one, A. D. It is doubtful whether this can be accurately accom- plished, but it is worth the trial.

For a long time scholars have determined that a mistake has crept in the Christian Era ; that the date of the birth of Christ has been erroneously postponed for four years ; that is, that the present year should be 1887 and not 1883, By what method this sup- posed inaccuracy has been ascertained can- not now be stated.

labor to this subject. The result of the in- vestigation of one of them is summed up in the following extract which appeared in the Newark Evening Journal, a political newspaper ; which, however, devotes a large portion of one of its pages to excellent literary extracts, evincing a discriminating taste not often displayed by daily papers, whose declared utterances are generally and avowedly purely political. The extract is given for what it is worth and must be re- ceived by the readers of the RECORD, unin- dorsed in its statements as to dates and as to its conclusions.

The 25th of December is given as to the # exact date of the birth of our Lord. This is by no means certain and is not received without very strong objections. Decem- ber, it is claimed, was the month of the year, during which occurred the worst part of the rainy season, and that on the 25th of that month was the height of that season, and consequently shepherds would not be watching their flocks in the open air. Per- haps, however, the learned German scholar, the result of whose studies is given in this article, may have fully considered this ob- jection, and disposed of it, at least, satisfac- torily to himself. It does not appear in the quoted article that he has done so.

THE CHRISTIAN ERA.

Professor Sattler, of Munich, claims the distinction of having solved the problem as to the year in which Christ was born, and of having demonstrated the fact that the cur- rent year is probably 1888 instead of 1883. He bases his proofs mainly on the three coins which were struck in the reign of Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, and which date, consequently, from the first half of the first century of the current era. Mad- den admits the genuineness of these coins, and other numismatic writers do the same. The evidence they offer is said to coincide with the narrative of the gospels and with astronomical calculations. The following are the results at which Professor Sattler has arrived : Jesus was born on the 25th of Deceniber, 749 years after the founding of Rome, and commenced his public career on the 17th of November, 780 years after the founding of Rome. He was then thirty years, ten months and twenty-two days old.

German students, with their usual perti- nacity, have devoted much time and patient | The date on which he commenced his career

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fell in the fifteenth year of the Emperor Tiberius, and in the forty-sixth year after the building of Herod's Temple. This is in accordance with St. Luke, iii., I, and St. John, ii., 20. Jesus died on the 7th of April, 783 of the Roman era, that is to say, on the Friday before the Passover ; for it has been ascer- tained by exact calculation that Passover fell that year on the 7th of April, 783 ; and as the latter year was a Jewish leap year, and consisted, accordingly, of thirteen months, his public career lasted two years and seven months. According to Professor Sattler, the Christian reckoning is at fault by five years, and we are now, therefore, in 1888 and not in 1883.

DOES IT PAY ?

At this moment's writing, a young mother lies dead, in a neighboring city, shot to her death by her husband. The woman was only twenty years old, comely, of pleasant manners, the light of her mother's eye, her father's joy and the mother of two children. Rum nerved the hand of the murderer and inspired the thought which contemplated the deed.

The rum was bought at a licensed saloon. For the license the city received a pittance. Strike the balance and learn what this murder will cost the government. Police of- ficers, police magistrates, judges, prosecu- tors, sheriffs, constables and jurors must all be employed in trial and punishment. Po- lice office, jail and court room must be pro- vided in which to secure and try the felon.

When comes the dread day of punishment the hangman must be paid, the witnesses of the hanging and the coroner and coro- ner's jury must be compensated.

The cost of all this cannot well be calcu- lated, but an approximate amount might be ascertained. It will not be less than several thousand dollars. To offset this the city has received fifteen or perhaps twenty dol- lars from the saloon where was sold the rum.

But is this all? A home desolate, two children are made orphans, a young life is destroyed ; another must be taken ; hope for the murderer is dead; a mother and father go mourning all their days; two children are disgraced for life. But why pursue the sad theme ? DOES IT PAY ?

JAMES RICHARDS, D. D.

The Rev. Mr. Green, from whom it would be very pleasant to hear oftener, sent a letter to the RECORD, which ought to have appeared in the last number, but was post- poned, for lack of room. The communica- tion cannot lose interest by lapse of time. It needs no explanation, as it speaks for itself. Mr. Green's letters will always be welcome, and, it is to be hoped, that he will write whenever he finds anything in the RECORD to correct or criticise.

BUFFALO, N. Y., May, 1883. Editor of THE RECORD, Morristown, N. J .:

My Dear Sir :

The receipt to-day, of the May RECORD reminds me that I must not delay writing you regarding the article in the April No. on the Rev. James Richards, D.D. The ar- ticle says, (see page 28, 2d column), " There seems to be some difficulty in establishing some dates relative to events in the life of Mr. Richards happening at this period. Mr. Gridley, in his biography, says that he was invited in May, 1794, to visit Morristown. Louis Richards, Esq., whose notes relative to the Richards family, are very full, states that he was called to the pastoral charge of the church in Morristown, in June, 1794. Both of these gentlemen agree that he was not installed until May, 1797. The RECORD Vol. I, No. 1, gives the date of his settle- ment as May 1, 1795. Mr. Barnes, in his church manual, published in 1818, says he was installed as pastor May 1, 1795, by the Presbytery of New York."

I have a much greater interest in the above paragraph than the mere verification of my own accuracy in the date quoted from Vol. I, of the RECORD. The history is im- portant and the dates should be accurate. Permit me therefore to call your attention to a third pastor of the church, who has a word to say on this subject. I had the pleasure of printing in the RECORD two in- valuable historical sermons by Rev. David Irving, D.D., now of the Board of Foreign Missions. I quote from him, " He (Dr. Richards) not only preached to the people with great satisfaction but also to the aged pastor in his own dwelling that he might judge of his fitness, and to both with such acceptance, that on the 21st of July, 1794, a

THE RECORD.

call was made and put into his hands the same day ; in which he was to receive $440 salary in quarterly payments, the use of the parsonage and firewood. This was in due time accepted by him, and on the first of May, 1795,* he was ordained and installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of New York. Dr. McWhorter of Newark, preached the ordination sermon from Acts 20 : 24. Dr. Rogers of New York, presided; Mr. Austin of Elizabeth, gave the charge to the people."

My remembrance is that the above ac- count of the installation will be found either in the Sessional or Trustees' Record, or both. The same account is given in my history of Morristown in "the History of Morris County," published in 1882 by W.W. Munsell & Co., of New York-I should dis- like to think without sufficient reason. Please examine the records.

Of one thing there is no doubt. There lies before me as I write a worn and yellow paper-the call of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown to Rev. James Rich- ards for his pastoral service.

It is dated July 21st, 1794.

It is signed by

Isaac Pruden, Gilbert Allen,

Samuel Freeman, Jonas Phillips, Matthias Crane, Joseph Lindsly, 1

Elders.

Silas Condict, John Mills,

Benj. Lindsly, Rich'd Johnson, Trustees.

Jona. Ford, Jona'n Ogden,

The following is appended to the call :

" At a parish,meeting of the first presby- terian Church and Congregation in Morris Town on Monday the 21st Day of July, A.D. I794,

Resolved, That a call be preferred to Mr. James Richards to be the pastor of this congregation. One hundred and forty-two votes being taken for giving the call, and two votes for his being invited to preach a further time on trial.

*The two following facts are of interest in connection with this date : George O'Hara advertised that his stage would commence running from Morristown to Powles Hook, (Jersey City,) on first Monday of April, 1795, twice a week for 9 shillings, and one penny a pound for all baggage above 7 lbs., way passengers 4d. a mile. Morristown postoffice was the only one in the county in 1795. In it letters were advertised for persons at Bedminster, Mendham, Baskingridge, Bottle Ilill, (Madison), New Market, Flanders, Hanover, Bound Brook, Franklin, Mt. Hope, Pompton, Ramapaugh. Record Vol. 2, p. 140.

Resolved, That the Elders and Trustees be a committee to sign the call in behalf of the Congregation to be given to Mr. Rich- ards.

Extract from the minutes.

GILBERT ALLEN, Modt'r. Mahlon Dickerson, Clerk."

I will simply add, THE RECORD, Vol. II. p. 149, indicates that Mr. Richards began the active duties of the pastorate as early as February, 1795. Can you imagine any reason for a delay of over two years in his installation ?

Cordially yours, RUFUS S. GREEN.

REV, ALBERT BARNES.

It was fully expected that a sketch of the life of the Rev. Albert Barnes, the sixth pastor of our church, would have been pre- pared for this number of the RECORD. But, when the attempt to gather the materials necessary for the article was made, it was almost impossible to collect such facts, without which, even the barest sketch would be almost an insult to the readers of the RECORD ; certainly a pain to those ven- erable members of the church and congre- gation whose memories carry them back to his time.

Albert Barnes occupied too large a space in the Presbyterian church ; he was too prominent in his time, in the field of letters, especially, of biblical research ; and alto- gether too grand a man to permit even the briefest notice of his life to be made without the presentation of such incidents as would give present readers, who can only know him by report, some idea of him and his character. Few, very few of the congrega- tion have personal recollections of him.

He was installed February 8, 1825, and was dismissed June 8, 1830. After his dis- missal he played a prominent part in the history of the troubles of the church, and was even at one time tried for heresy before the Presbytery to which he was attached.

Nearly two generations have passed away since Mr. Barnes left this church, but there must be some who can give their personal reminiscences of him.

The intention, so long cherished, of pre- paring a sketch of his life must be post- poned until the next issue. In the mean-

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time will not some who must have known Mr. Barnes while he was here in Morris- town, furnish the RECORD with such facts, anecdotes, and personal recollections of him as will aid.

Any printed matter, giving particulars about him, scraps from newspapers and other publications. will be valuable. Kind friends in other localities have cheerfully , responded to calls made upon them in this direction. But they cannot give what can only come from those who knew Mr. Barnes personally.

In this connection, let it be added, that facts generally, about any of the former pastors of the church and prominent men of the congregation, will be most accept- able.

The following article taken from "The Church Union " of April 1, 1876, relating to a most interesting event in Mr. Barnes's life, will furnish some idea of the kind of printed matter needed. There must be persons in the congregation who have many such, in their possession, in which are to be found valuable notices. If placed in the posses- sion of the RECORD, they can be used for occasions such as the present, and will be returned to the owner.

CONVERSION OF ALBERT BARNES. BY PROFESSOR MEARS, OF HAMILTON COL- LEGE.

While at Fairfield Academy, Mr. Barnes had been decidedly sceptical in his views ; but before he left that institution he was roused from his unbelief by reading the ar- ticle, " Christianity," by Dr. Chalmers, in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia. He was sa- tisfied with the drift of the argument ; he gave up his speculative scepticism, but had no intention of going a step further. He came to Hamilton College " resolved to be an honest, upright, moral, industrious man and to leave religion out of the question." His plans were laid for the study of law.

Judge Bacon, of Utica, and Secretary Wool- worth, of Albany. He says :

" The revival of religion exerted a power- ful influence upon every class in college, and upon the community by which we were surrounded. * * Several of our students had spent the previous vacation in places blessed with the visitation of the Divine Spirit, and returned to College with hearts glowing with love to Christ, and to the souls of their impenitent associates. The work commenced in college."

The narrator himself was, as he trusts, " the first of those who found Jesus, or ra- ' ther who was found of Him."

The circumstances of his conversion are

so closely connected with that of Mr. . Barnes, that they belong properly to this narrative. He says :

" Mr. Barnes was my senior by two years in college grade, and much more than that in age, yet it was my privilege to enjoy a more than usual intimacy with him. Du- ring the second term of the year, about the middle of February, I went into his room to pass away a dull hour. Our tutor, the Rev. Salmon Strong, of blessed memory, (who died in Harrisburgh, Pa., July 14th, 1872,) had preached a sermon that morning of unusual earnestness-his heart warmed with love to our souls-from Matt. v. 25, 26," Agree with thine adversary quickly." The sermon,how- ever, had passed through my mind leav- ing no impresssion on my careless heart. Not so with Mr. Barnes. Soon after I was seated, he said to me-" Kellogg, what do you think of that idea of Strong's to-day ?" " What idea ?" said I. "This : that sinners in hell will continue to sin, and thus, in place of paying their debt, will increase it, and consequently can never come out of their prison." " I suppose it is true," I re- plied. To which he rejoined : " I do not believe a word of it. I know if I was in such a place as they represent hell to be, I would stop sinning,' "

Thus matters stood until February of the In two weeks the prayers and pious coun- sels of classmates and friends were reward- ed by Kellogg's conversion, thus unwit- tingly promoted by Barnes. Nor did the impression made upon the latter vanish away. According to Mr. Kellogg, the con- flict was long and severe. For many weeks following year, when occurred the first general revival the college (or the neigh- borhood since 1800) had enjoyed. My chief informant as to its character and influence is the Rev. H. H. Kellogg, of Guthrie, Iowa, whose class, two years behind that of Mr. Barnes, included such names as those of he struggled with his growing convictions.

THE RECORD.

His reservedness and his known skeptical tendencies, together with his admitted abil- ity, prevented that near approach and those earnest christian efforts, on the part of pious students, which might have been blessed in his case, as they were in that of others, to an earlier conversion. Mr. Barnes himself mentioned, in the interview al- ready referred to, that one of his classmates felt a deep interest in his condition. " Sub- sequently," says Mr. Barnes; " he told me he felt it his duty to talk to me on the sub- ject as he did. He performed his duty. He produced no impression on my mind."

Mr. Kellogg says :- " His was a struggle in respect to his plans of life. He expected · to enter upon the study of law. His place as a student, and as he fondly hoped, as a practitioner, was already engaged in Utica, in the office of his friend, Hiram Denio, late Judge of the Court of Appeals, N. Y. If he became a christian he must forsake all for Christ. He must sacrifice that more brilli- ant career which he and his friends had an- ticipated. The gains, the honors, the friend- ships of life would all, as he viewed it, be sacrificed by his choice of the christian life."

Mr. Barnes traces his conversion at last to the influence of another classmate. " It so happened that my friend Avery became converted, and in a few words stated his own feelings to me. It was the means, I trust, of my conversion, if I was ever con- verted to Christianity.'

Charles Avery, LL. D., afterwards, 1834 -1869, Professor of Chemistry in Hamilton College, says he met Mr. Barnes on the hill- side, and addressed him with the question, " What do you think is the cause of the great work which is now going on in Col- lege ?" and then left him to his own reflect- ions. This brief interview he regards as the means of bringing his classmate to a decision. It would imply that skeptical difficulties were still in the way of Mr. Barnes' conversion.

Mr. Kellogg says :- " After his conver- sion, Mr. Barnes' stay in college was short. It was only on the last and short term of his senior year, that his avowal of disciple- ship was made. His life was consistent, but no special forwardness or activity dis- tinguished it. He appeared like a babe in Christ, a lamb of the flock."-Presbyterian.

SUGGESTIONS.

That members of the congregation aid the RECORD in preserving history, by send- ing to the editor, old newspapers, magazines, or other printed matter, containing histori- cal notices about the church, its pastors and prominent men ; or about the city or county. One of the main objects in the publication of this paper is the preservation of just such facts. It is hoped that there . will be presented in the RECORD such a publication as will induce its subscribers to preserve it in a bound form.

In addition to this printed matter, facts, anecdotes, and incidents from personal recol- lection, of pastors and others, sketches of whose lives are worth preserving, are very desirable.

Apropos : since the above was written, the following letter was received from Mr. Durant, the pastor.

It is hoped that this letter will have the effect which the appeals heretofore made in the RECORD have failed of accomplishing.

Editor of The Record :

My Dear Sir :- How can we get the at- tention of those who possess items of inter- est respecting the past history of the First church, of its old members, of the town and its people ? There must be many whose me- mories could furnish us with material worthy to be preserved in the permanent type of THE RECORD. And there must be many more who have old diaries, old newspapers, old pamphlets, or clippings preserved in scrap-books, from which a large number of forgotten facts might be gathered. Then, too, there must be many old family Bibles which could correct or complete our Re- gisters in the spelling of names, the dates of birth, marriage and death. The value of such material, especially of old newspapers. pamphlets and magazine articles, is strik- ingly apparent in the recently published volume of McMaster's " History of the Peo- ple of the United States," the most popular history that has been published since the day of Macaulay, and which owes its popu- larity and thoroughness very largely to the fact that Mr. MacMaster has gone to just such out of the way sources to gather the news and opinions current in the days he describes.

THE RECORD.

The plan of making THE RECORD a store- house for material of this sort, collecting and reprinting whatever of value can be found that bears upon the history of the church and town and people of this region ; it seems to me is a most admirable plan. For the bound volumes of THE RECORD will thus give permanence, as well as put within handy reference, this valuable material which is now buried in the dust of garrets.

I shall be glad to assist you in becoming responsible for the return of any old books or papers offered for publication ; and also in examining and copying from any diaries, files of newspapers, or family Bibles, which the owners are willing to open in their houses, though preferring not to loan them out for the purpose.

How can we get the attention of those who possess this valuable material for his- tory-material that, in all probability, will be lost forever in a few years, unless pre- served now in the columns of THE RECORD ? Doubtless those who have it are willing to furnish it. But how shall we know who have it, unless the readers of THE RECORD take pains to inform us.

Very truly yours,

WILLIAM DURANT.

THE OLD COURT HOUSE AND JAIL.

At the beginning of this century there stood on " the Green," opposite what is now the United States Hotel, a quaint, old and somewhat dilapidated frame building. It had been painted red, but had grown gray and lost its original color. It was built after no particular order of architecture, and was neither in its appearance, nor when the use to which it was put, was considered, a pleas- ant sight. It was an incumbrance and a blot on the public square, but the original deed for that part of the Green where it was located, was made with the condition that "if the Court House aforesaid should be re- moved to any other place, then this inden- ture and everything therein contained to be void, and title to the aforesaid lot of land to revert" to the grantors of the deed.

It would seem from this that this quaint building, which was used for a Court House and Jail, must have been in existence at the time of this deed ; which was dated Septem- ber 7, 1771.

In 1816, April 1, the trustees of the church conveyed to certain persons, subscribers to the fund, for the consideration of $1,600, that part of the land now used as a public square. The deed effecting this last convey- ance, contained a condition, that no build- ing should be erected on this last named lot, except a meeting house, a market house, a Court House and Jail. In 1868, how- ever, means were taken to wipe out this condition and the title to the "Green " is now held free from any such incumbrance.

The object of this reference to the old Court House was not to refer to the history of the green nor its title. Mr. Green, in his admirable notice of Morristown, in the his- tory of Morris County, has entered some what fully into this subject. What is de- sired is to call the attention of those, who can remember it, to this old structure and to ask some kind friends to give recollec- tions about it for the RECORD.

It had apartments in it for the Jailor, or, as he was called, the Under Sheriff. The Sheriff, of later times, rarely occupied these apartments, as is now done in the present Court House.

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History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 40

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