History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 44

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

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occurred in 1764. This commenced, as has been noted, on the sacrament day, July I. The fruits of this revival, were the admission to the church, within the space of about a year, of ninety-four persons. Of the char- acteristics of this revival little is known, ex- cept that it is remembered by some of the members of the church now living, to have been a work of deep feeling, much anxiety, awful apprehensions of the nature of sin, and of the justice of God, impressive solem- nity, and sound and thorough hopeful con- versions to God. The second revival com- menced in 1774. As the result of this revi- val, about fifty were added to the church. In 1790, there was another season of unusual excitement on the subject of religion, and about forty were united to the church.

Dr. Johnes died. of the dysentery, Sep- tember 1794. aged 78 ; and was buried in the common burying ground-where a plain un- ostentatious monument marks his grave.

The following is a summary of the labours and results of his ministry :-

Those who composed the church when first organized, and received afterwards from other churches

176

Added by his ministry

424

Total, 600

Baptisms

2,827

Marriages

948

Cases of Discipline 170

The Rev. Aaron C. Collins, was ordained, and installed as Collegiate Pastor with Dr. Johnes, January 6, 1791 ; and was dismissed, by mutual consent, Sept. 2, 1793.

The Rev. James Richards, D. D. now Pro- fessor of Christian Theology in the Theolo- gical Seminary at Auburn, N. Y. was the next pastor of the congregation. He " preached his first sermon in Morristown, the latter part of June, 1794-received a call from the congregation to become their pas- tor, the last of August, or first of September following-was ordained and installed as pastor, May 1, 1795. at a stated meeting of what was then called the Presbytery of New- York, and was allowed to resign his pastoral charge of this people, by the Presbytery of Jersey, met at Elizabeth-Town, April 26. 1809 ; at which time he accepted a call from the first Presbyterian Church in Newark.

Dr. Richards's ministry, in this place, con- tinued therefore, about fifteen years. During

THE RECORD.

that time there were admitted to the com- munion of the church-

On examination - 214 -

On certificate

Baptisms

444

Of those admitted to the church, a consid- erable part were the fruits of three revivals of religion. The first commenced in the spring of the year 1797 ; and as the result of it, more than one hundred persons con- nected themselves with the church. The second occurred in 1803, and 1804. and the number added to the church as the fruits of this work, was about forty. The third com- menced in 1808, and about eighty were in consequence added to the church.

Of these revivals, Dr. Richards, in a letter to the present Pastor, dated January 9, 1828, says : " During my ministry at Morristown, there were three seasons of special attention to religion, the first and last of which were the most considerable. The first was re- markable chiefly from this circumstance, that it came upon the congregation by sur- prise. None of the church members, that ever I could learn, were specially stirred up to desire or expect it. Of course the church appeared full of unbelief, when it was an- nounced that the Lord was in the midst of us, of a truth. Even those who from their exemplary character might have been ex- pected to be waiting for the consolation of Israel, were manifestly unprepared for this sovereign act of divine mercy. But, pre- pared or unprepared, the windows of Heaven were opened, and the spiritual rain descend- ed, and about one hundred souls were hope- fully brought into the Kingdom as the fruit and effect of this refreshing. They did not all join the church at once, but principally in the course of that and the following year.

"The second revival in 1803, was much more local in its operations, and by no means characterized with the same power. It ex- cited considerable attention in the congre- gation, and served to draw forth the prayers and exertions of Christians, but still it was confined chiefly to one or two neighbour- hoods.

exerted a more benign influence on the church. This revival was evidently prece- ded by a spirit of prayer. To my latest breath, I shall remember, how some of the dear people of God appeared to feel, and agonize, in their supplications before the Lord, when imploring his gracious presence in the midst of us. Through the whole of the preceding winter, there had been some feeling and some expectancy in the church on this subject, occasioned perhaps by the revivals which had occurred, and were then occurring, in some of the neighbouring con- gregations. But the church seemed to cal- culate that this good work would go from congregation to congregation, as a matter of course. When, however, they saw that the cloud of God's presence had come to our very borders, on two sides of us, and was stayed. they began to tremble, to feel their dependence, and to cry mightily unto God, that he would not utterly refuse to bless us. The blessing came, and sealed. not'a few, I trust, unto the day of redemp- tion. Between seventy and eighty were. added to the church in that and the subse- quent year, who dated their conversion from this interesting period. I will only add, that on enquiring of my brethren, I was uniform- ly told that the members gathered during this revival, had been peculiarly circum- spect, and very few of them subjected to any church censure.

"As to means employed, either in the commencement or progress of these revivals. I can say nothing-except that the Gospel was preached as plainly and faithfully as 1 was able, and that publicly, and from house to house. Prayer meetings, anxious meet- ings, or conferences, were found to be of special service in promoting the good work."

Dr. Richards was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel Fisher, D. D. now pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Paterson, N. J. Dr. Fisher was installed as pastor in 1809, by the Presbytery of New York, and dismissed by the mutual request of him and the people, April 27, 1814.

Dr. Fisher laboured in this congregation about four years. During the year in which he was settled more than twenty persons were received to the communion of the church. In the year 1813, about forty were

" The third and last of these interesting seasons, I always regarded as the most pre- cious-not because it seemed to take a wider sweep, but because as far as it went. it ap- peared to be more deep and effective, and received ; and about forty in the year 181 4.

THE RECORD.

While, here, by a personal visit to every part of the congregation, he ascertained that there were five hundred and twenty families in its bounds who professed to be Presby- terians.

He was succeeded by the Rev. William A. McDowell, D. D. a native of Somerset County, in this State, and settled previous to his installation here in Bound-Brook, N. J .. now of Charleston, S. C. Dr. McDowell was installed, Dec. 13th, 1814, and was dis- missed. Oct. 21, 1823. He was here, there- fore, about nine years. During the year succeeding his settlement fifty persons were added to the communion of the church. About the same number was received the following year. In 1822 the church was blessed with an extensive revival of religion. This revival commenced in the spring, and continued through the summer, and prevail- ed in all parts of the congregation. As the fruits of it, during that and the following year, not far from one hundred and fifty were added to the church. This was the most ex- tensive revival with which the congregation has ever been visited.

The present pastor, a native of Rome, in the State of New York, was ordained and installed, Feb. 8, 1825 .*

The following Miscellaneous Items are deemed of sufficient importance to be recorded.

The trustees of the congregation were " according to charter," elected by the ses- sion of the church. until 1788, when they were, under the laws of the State of New- Jersey, elected by the congregation.

January 23, 1791, it was resolved that the Elders, together with the minister, shall be a committee to examine all candidates for church membership. From which, as well as from the records of the session, it appears probable that the examination of candidates previously, were, as in Congregational churches, conducted by the members of the church.

At the same time it was resolved, that those persons who have covenanted with God, and [been] admitted members of the church, and have come to the ordinance of

[*Mr. Barnes's date is here correct; but on another page of the Manual. in his " List of Minutes," the year given is " 1824," probably an oversight in printing, which has been widely copied. The error was corrected . with full proof, by the Rev. Dr. Green in THE RECORD for March and April, 1880, pp. 17 and 27 .- EDITOR.]

baptism, but not to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, were not required to renew their covenant in order to come to that or- dinance, but that they should be required to inform the minister that it is their desire to come to the Lord's Supper, previous to their coming, and that the minister pub- lish the same to the church. From which it appears that it had been the practice to receive persons into covenant, and baptize them, who did not participate in all the pri- vileges of the church. Baptized children also came forward and renewed their cove- nant, or took their baptismal vows upon themselves, who were not admitted to the communion. During the ministry of Dr. Johnes, no less than eighteen hundred and fifty thus " renewed their covenant."*

June 2, 1795, it was resolved, that whereas it had heretofore been the practice of this church to admit all persons having made profession of religion, and who were of good moral character, to the privilege of baptism for their children, and to a regular standing in the church, although they continued to neglect the ordinance of the Lord's Supper; the Session, upon mature deliberation, judging this, their former practice, to be anti-scriptural, and productive of evil to the church, resolved, that no person for the time to come, who shall be found to neglect the command of Christ, to show forth his death in the ordinance appointed for this purpose, shall be considered a member in good standing with this church, or entitled to the privilege of baptism for his children , that is, so long as he shall continue in the neglect of the above-mentioned duty. This rule is still acted on in the church.

June 27, 1808, it was resolved, that no per- son professing to belong to any sister church, shall hereafter be admitted to occa- sional communion in this church, for more than one year, without producing a certifi- cate of regular standing in the church to which such person professedly belongs. This is still a rule of the Session of the church.t

[*This is an error, The correct number is 599. It is an interesting fact that Mr. Barnes's figures are on record and show a mistake in addition. He makes " 1859" the sum of " 37 x 140 x 130 x 67 x 76 x 78 x 71."-EDITOR. ]

[tOf course, it is understood that reference is made to the rules in force in 1823 .- EDITOR. ]

THE RECORD.

According to the constitution of the Pres- byterian church, members dismissed are al ways considered under the watch, and sub- ject to the discipline of the church dismis- sing them, until they are actually received by the church to which they are dismissed. See Confession of Faith under the head of " Discipline," chap. x. sect. I.

In the same book, under the same head, ch. xi. sect. 2, there is the following rule :- No certificate of church membership shall be considered as valid testimony of the good standing of the bearer, if it be more than' one year old, except when there has been no opportunity of presenting it to the church.

It is regarded as the duty of members re- moving from our bounds, to apply for a dis- mission and recommendation to some other church. Incalculable disorder in the church, and great evil to the person neglecting it, have arisen from a forgetfulness or disregard of this duty.

The resolution to build the present place of worship was passed June 5, 1788 ; and it was built and completed between the years 1789, and the 26th day of November, 1795.

PRESENT OFFICERSOF THE CHURCH AND CONGREGATION.

MINISTER.

ALBERT BARNES. RULING ELDERS.

EZRA HALSEY, TIMOTHY TUCKER,

SAMUEL FREEMAN,

WILLIAM ENSLEE,

DAVID LINDSLY,

GEORGE K. DRAKE,

HENRY VAIL, FREDERICK KING,

STEPHEN YOUNG, JONATHAN THOMPSON,

PETER A. JOHNSON, JONATHAN OLIVER, LEWIS MILLS.

DEACONS.

SAMUEL FREEMAN, DAVID LINDSLY. TRUSTEES.

EZEKIEL WHITEHEAD, President, STEPHEN A. PRUDDEN,

EDWARD CONDICT, CHARLES FORD,

JOSEPH CUTLER, LOAMMI MOORE.

LOAMMI MOORE, Treasurer. MOSES CHERRY, Sexton.

THE FOLLOWING FORM OF COVENANT,*

IS USED AT THE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS TO THE COMMUNION OF THE CHURCH.

You have presented yourselves in this public manner before God, to dedicate your- selves to his service, and to be incorpo- rated with his visible people. You are about to profess supreme love to God ; sincere contrition for all your sins ; and faith un- feigned in the Lord Jesus Christ. You are about to enter into a solemn covenant to re- ceive the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as they are offered in the Gospel, and to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

We trust you have considered the nature of these professions and engagements. The transaction is solemn, and will be attended with everlasting consequences. God and Holy Angels are witnesses. The eyes of the church and the world are, and will hereafter be upon you. Your vows will be recorded in Heaven, to be exhibited on your trial, at the last great day. Yet be not overwhelmed with these reflections. In the name of Christ you may come boldly to the God of grace ; and if you have sincere desires to be his, may venture thus unalterably to commit yourselves to Him, and trust in Him for strength to perform your vows.

Attend now to the

PROFESSION AND COVENANT.

I. You believe that there is one I God only,2 infinite in being, 3 glory,4 and blessedness ; 5 eternal,6 unchangeable,7 and Almighty ;8 most wise,9 most holy, Io most just, II most merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. 12

I Deut. vi. 4 : 2 I Cor. viii. 4 : 3 Job xi. 7. 8, 9 : 4 Acts vii. 2 : 5 I Tim. vi. 15 : 6 Ps. xc. 2 : 7 Mal. iii. 6-James i. 17 : 8 Rev. iv. 8 : 9 Rom. xvi. 27 : 10 Isa. vi. 3: 11 Deut. xxxii. 4: 12 Exodus xxxiv. 6.

II. You believe that there are three per- sons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost ; [ and that these three are one, true, eternal God, the same in sub- stance, equal in power and glory.2

I Matth. iii. 16, 17 ; and xxviii. 19-II Cor. xiii. 14 : 2John x. 30-Acts iv. 4. 5.

III. You believe that God governs the

[*It is not known when this covenant ceased to be used, Can any one inform us ?- EDITOR. ]

THE RECORD.

universe ; 1 that he doeth according to his will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth ;2 that by his Provi- dence he upholds, directs, disposes, and gov- erns all creatures, actions. and things ;3 and that he confers grace and mercy according to his good pleasure.4

I Ps. xciii. 1 : 2 Dan. iv. 35: 3 Mark x 29; Matth. v. 26, 30 ; Isa. x. 5, 6, 7 ; Rom. ix. 17, 18, 21, 22 ; Jude 4 : 4 Eph. i. 5-11 ; II. Tim. i. 9 ; Rom. viii. 30 ; II Thess. ii. 13 ; John iii. 5.

IV. You believe that man is a free agent, responsible to God for all his actions, thoughts, and plans ; I that his sin, and in- disposition to obey the law of God, are no excuse for transgression ;2 that every man is bound to repent ;3 and believe :4 and that the Gospel is to be preached to all mankind. 5

1 Rom. xiv. 12; II Com. v. 10 ; 2 Matth. XXV. 14-30; Josh. xxiv. 15 ; Ezekiel xviii. especially the 31st and 32d verses ; 3 Acts xviii. 30 : 4 Mark xvi. 16: 5 Mark xvi. 15.

V. You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God, and are all given by inspiration of God, to be a rule of faith and life.

VI. You believe that God created man in his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness ;1 that the first man sinned, 2 and that in consequence of his transgression all mankind are become sin- ners, 3 and are, before generation, wholly des- titute of holiness, and wholly disposed to evil,4 and on account of sin are justly liable to all the miseries of this life, to the agonies of death, and to the pains of hell forever.5

I Gen. i. 26; Col. iii. 10; Eph. iv. 24 : 2 Gen. iii. 6 : 3 Rom. v. 12-19 : 4 Gen. viii. 21 Ps. xiv. liii. v. cxl. x. xxxvi. and Isaiah lix. compared with Rom. iii. 10-17 ; John iii. 1-7; Romans v. 12 : 5 Rom. vi. 23.

VII. You believe in the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, I that he is truly and properly God ; that he assumed our nature ; 2 that as mediator God gave him up to die for the sins of mankind ; 3 that he suffered and died in the place of sinners, and thereby made atonement for transgression ;4 that it is only on account of his merits that men can be pronounced just before God ;5 that he rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, where he ever liveth to make inter- cession ;6 and that God can now be just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth.7

1 John i. 1-3 ; Heb. i. 10-12 ; Col. i. 15- 17; Rom. ix. 5; John xx. 28; Phil. ii. 5-8 ; John v. 21-23 ; 2 John i. 14: 3 John iii. 16 ; Isa. liii. : 4 I Cor. xv. 3 ; Heb. ix. 26; Rom. iii. 25; II Cor. v. 21 : 5 Rom. iii. 24 ; Titus iii. 5. 7 ; Eph. 1, 7 ; Phil. iii. 9 : 6 I Cor. xv .; Mark xvi. 19 ; Acts i. 9 ; Heb. vii. 25 : 7 Rom. iii. 26.

VIII. You believe in the personality and divinity of the Holy Ghost ; 1 that he renews and sanctifies the heart ;2 that he is given to the people of God to enlighten their minds, to guide them in the path of duty, to comfort them in affliction, and to sustain them in dying.3

I Acts v. 4, 5 ; Matth. xii. 31, 32 ; Eph. iv. 30 ; Acts vii. 51 ; I Cor. iii. 16; I Cor. ii. 9, 11 ; Heb. ix. 14; I Cor. xii. II ; II Cor. xiii. 14 : 2 John iii. 7, 8; I Cor. xi. 11 ; II Thess. ii. 13 : 3 John xv. 26; I Thess. i. 6 ; Rom. xiv. 17 ; Eph. iii. 14, 19; Luke xi. 9-13.

IX. You believe that the law of God is binding as a rule of life on all mankind ; 1 that a holy life is necessary to honour God, to evidence and adorn the Christian profes- sion, and to reap the rewards of Heaven ;2 and that those who are violators of that law will be excluded from his kingdom of right- eousnsss. 3

I Rom. vii. 12; James ii. 10, 11 ; I Tım. i. 9, 10 ; Ps. xix. 7 ; Matth. xxii. 37-40 : 2 Heb. xii. 14; I John iii. 3; Phil. iv. 8; I John iii. 7, 8; II John 6; Matth. vii. 16; 3 Exod. xxxiv. 7 ; Rev. xxi. 27 ; I Cor. vi. 9, 10.

X. You believe that at the end of the world the Lord Jesus Christ will return with the glory of his Father and with the holy angels ; that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a final judgment pronounced on all mankind.2

I Acts i. 11 ; Matth. xvi. 27 : 2 I Cor. xv. : John v. 28 ; Matt. XxV. 31-56.

XI. You believe that the righteous shall be everlastingly rewarded in Heaven, and the wicked everlastingly punished in hell.1 I Matth. XxV. 46.

[Here the candidates bow assent.]

In this public manner you do hereby con- fess and bewail the original and total depra- vity of your nature ; the past enmity of your hearts against God ; the unbelief which has led you to reject a Saviour ; and the manifold transgressions of your lives ; all which sins

THE RECORD.

you do condemn, and in your purpose for- ever renounce.

And now in the presence of God, his holy angels, and this assembly, you do solemnly avouch the Lord JEHOVAH to be your God and portion, and the object of your supreme delight ; the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Saviour from sin and death-your Prophet to instruct you, your Priest to atone and in- tercede for you ; and your king to rule, and protect, and enrich you : and the Holy Ghost to be your Sanctifier, Comforter. and Guide.

To this God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost you do now, without reserve, give yourself away, in a covenant never to be revoked, to be his willing servants for ever ; to observe all his commandments and ordinances in the sanctuary, in the family, and in the closet. You do also bind yourselves by covenant to this church, to watch over, us in the Lord, to seek our peace and edification, and to submit to the government and discipline of Christ, as here administered.

This you profess and engage. [Here again the candidates bow assent.]

The candidates are then addressed by the minister in the following, or in a similar manner :

In consequence of these professions and promises, we affectionately receive you as members of this church, and in the name of Christ declare you entitled to all its visible privileges. We welcome you to this fellow- ship with us in the blessings of the Gospel, and on our part engage to watch over you, and seek your edification as long as you shall continue with us. Should you have occasion to remove, it will be your duty to seek, and ours to grant, a recommendation to some other church; for hereafter you cannot withdraw from the watch, and com- munion with the Saints without a breach of covenant.

And now, beloved in the Lord, let it be impressed on your minds that you have en- tered into solemn relations, which you can never renounce, and from which you can never escape. Wherever you are, these vows will remain. They will follow you to the bar of God ; and in whatever world you may be fixed, they will abide on you to all eternity. You can never be again as you have been. You have unalterably com- with plagiarism.

mitted yourselves, and henceforth you must be the servants of the Lord.

Hereafter the eye of the world will be upon you ; and as you conduct yourselves, so will religion be honoured or disgraced. If you walk worthy of your profession, you will be a credit and comfort to us ; but if otherwise, you will be a grief of heart, and vexation ; and if there is a wo pronounced on him who offends one of Christ's little ones, wo, wo, to the person who offends a whole church.

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

May the Lord support and guide you through this transitory life, and after this warfare is accomplished, receive you and us, to that blessed church, where our love shall be for ever perfect, and our joy for ever full.

A frequent and devout perusal of the above FORM OF ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH, is recommended to all our Communicants ; es- pecially to read it with meditation and prayer. as a preparatory exercise before every Com- munion.

(To be continued.)

A writer of the tenth century says that the . opinion of some "unlearned priests" was that leap year had been caused by Joshua, when he made the sun stand still !

The history of the churches in Morristown must be full of interest. THE RECORD hopes to be able to present those histories in its pages. Will not the pastors of the various congregatious aid in this good work ?

In the present day bishops form only about one-fourteenth of the numbers of the House of Lords in England. In the eigh- teenth century they composed about one- eighth, but in the twelfth they formed six- sevenths of the entire House. The reason of this is to be found in the fact that in olden times education was confined to the clergy.

A poem entitled "On the Creation and Paradyce Lost," was written in English metre before Milton was born. Its author was Sir Richard Maitland. It was first pub- lished by Ramsay in 1724. It is quite prob- able, therefore, that John Milton never saw this production. Certainly, no one who reads Maitland's poem will charge Milton

THE RECORD,

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

VOLUME III.

NOVEMBER, 1883. NUMBER II

[Printed with the Approval of the Session. ] .

THE RECORD

Will be published monthly at Morristown. N. J. Terms $1.oo 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.

[ Continued from page So] MR. BARNES'S MANUAL.

FORM USED AT THE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN.

Children, one or both of whose parents are members of the church, only, are by a rule of the church to be baptized. It is re- garded as the duty of parents to present them for baptism at as early an age as may be practicable.

The time for administering this ordinance to children is on the Friday previous to the Communion, before the Sermon. They are expected, therefore, to be present at the commencement of the service.

The Book of Discipline of the Church- directs that a record be kept of the names of all who are baptized. A scrip of paper, therefore, containing the name of the child, and the names of both the parents, is indispen- sably necessary. When the time of the birth of the child is also communicated, it will be faithfully preserved on the records of the church.

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History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 44

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