History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 46

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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" The unity of the Church is not merely a union of faith and communion ; not merely a fellowship in the Spirit, but also a union of subjection, so that one part is subject to a larger, and a larger to the whole .* This also is jure divino, because the whole Church is made one by the indwelling of the Spirit ; because we are commanded to be subject to our brethren, not on the ground of proxi- mity in space, nor of a mutual covenant or agreement, but by the fact of Christian brotherhood ; because in the apostolic, as in the Old Testament Church, the whole body of the professors of the true religion were thus united as one body ; because by

" When unbaptised persons apply for ad- mission to the Church, they shall, in ordi- nary cases, after giving satisfaction with re- spect to their knowledge and piety, make a public profession of their faith in the pre- sence of the congregation ; and thereupon be baptized," (Chap. ix. Directory for Wor- ship.) No prescribed formula is given, as- sent to which is to be accounted as evidence of repentance and faith. The qualifications for membership, which the Session may re- quire in any candidate, are limited by the words " knowledge and piety," "free from scandal," "sober and steady,' " sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord's body." Says Dr. Hodge, " Nothing can be plainer than that our church requires nothing more

*In contrast with all Independents, like Congregationalists and Baptists, who deny a union of subjection.

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than credible evidence of Christian charac- ter as the condition of Christian commu- nion. Of that evidence the Church officers are to judge. Not one word is said of the adoption of the Confession of Faith, or of anything but the evidences of piety. Any man therefore, who gives evidence of being a Christian, we are bound by the rules of our Church to admit to our communion. And so far from there being the slightest intimation that the adoption of the whole system of our doctrine contained in our standards is necessary to a man's being a Christian, there is the strongest evidence to the contrary. This evidence is found in the omission of any mention of the stand- ards in those passages which speak of the communion of saints; in the mention of other terms than those of subscription to a formula of doctrine, and in the admission that true Churches may be impure both as to doctrine and practice, that is, may reject what we hold to be the truth without for- feiting their Christian character." (See Dr. Hodge's Church Polity, page 218 to 24[.)

It is to be observed, that these statements refer to membership, and not merely to oc- casional communion. For example, if a member of a Baptist or Methodist, or Ro- man or Greek, or any other Christian Church, should apply to be received as a member in the Presbyterian Church, our rules would not require him to be treated as if he were not a Church member and so The history of the Reformed Dutch oblige him to submit to be again baptized, ; Church, or as the members of that denomi- or again confirmed ; but, on the ground of nation prefer now to call themselves, the his Christian character, would recognize his previous Church membership, and sim- ply welcome him to all the privileges of that membership in the Presbyterian house- hold of Christian faith. Conversely, our rules provide for the dismissal. with Chris- tian recommendations, of any of our mem- bers to any other household of the faith. Reformed Church, in New Jersey is a most interesting subject and should receive the attention of some historian who can do jus- tice to the theme. That history is largely interwoven into the history of the State, es- pecially of this part of the commonwealth. The first settlers in Bergen County were all of that sect of Christians, and they brought with them from Holland, that sturdy inde- pendence, inherited from their ancestors, who fought for their political and religious liberty with Philip II. and his blood thirsty lieutenants, the Duke of Alva and"Alexan- der Farnese, which made them the strongest and most zealous supporters of the cause of American independence in the war of the Revolution.

It should also be said that the Presbyter- ian Church recognizes the ordination, as well as the baptism and the confirmation of other Christian bodies ; and accords these bodies, equal standing with itself as true Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. The claim might perhaps be justly made, espec- ially in view of this recognition and of its doctrine of membership, that the Presby-

terian Church is the broadest and most Catholic of all existing Christian bodies.

FIRST 'REFORMED CHURCH OF PATER- SON.

This church was originally called the " First Reformed Dutch Church of Totawa." Its history is interesting. It was organized some time about 1750; perhaps, between that year and 1756. Its first minister, believed to be the Rev. David Marinus, had charge also of the churches at Acquackanonk and Pomp- ton. His parish, if this be true, was much larger than any pastor of modern times would care to attempt to serve. In 1762 Rev. Cornelius Blanco became the next pastor, and he, too, ministered to the three churches. Rev. Dr. Meyer, who succeeded Mr. Blanco, preached until his death in 1791. In 1816 the Rev. Wilhelimas Eltinge gave half his time and services to the Totawa church, and this he continued to do until 1833, after which he ministered to the church at Paramas. In 1834 Rev. George C. Van- dervoort became pastor and remained until 1837, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Wiggins, who continued pastor until 1856. In 1857 the Rev. Philip Peltz, D. D. became the pastor and he was succeeded, in 1860 by Rev. Alexander McKelway, who re- signed in 1865. In 1865 the Rev. John Steele was called to be the pastor.

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

VOLUME III.

DECEMBER, 1883. NUMBER 12

[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.

LEWIS CONDICT, M. D.

.Dr. Condict, for many years, was deeply interested in the First Presbyterian church. He was, at one time, a physician of large practice in Morristown and was considered very skillful in his profession. His family was collaterally connected with Silas Con- dict, of Revolutionary fame, of whom a sketch has already appeared in the RECORD

Dr. Condict married, for his first wife, a daughter of the Rev. Nathan Woodhull; D. D., who preached for many years in Long Island, and whose memory is cherished in the churches, as a great preacher and one of the saintly men of the land.

Dr. Condict, for fifty years and more, lived in the house on South street, now occupied by the Rev. Twining and own ed by Mrs. Brandagee of Utica, N. Y., the widow of the Rev. Dr. John Brandagee and Dr. Condict's youngest daughter.

Dr. Condict died at a very advanced age, more than eighty, and then his death was accelerated by a fall from the back stoop of his house ; by which accident his hip bone was broken. This confined him to his room for a year and more before his death.

He took a deep interest not only in pub- lic affairs, but also in all matters appertain-

ing to the first church. For many years he occupied a place in the choir and, up to the time of the accident, which resulted in his death, he was constant in his attendance upon the services of the sanctuary.

When nearly eighty years of age he under- took a journey into Kentucky, where he had relatives. Early in life he entered into pub- lic office, for which his talents and tastes peculiarly fitted him. In 1805, he was elect- ed to the State Legislature and was a mem- ber of that body for five successive years ; during two of those years he occupied the Speaker's chair. Subsequently and for sev- eral sessions he represented this State in the Lower House of Congress. Those were times when the faithful representative was rewarded by many returns to office, and Dr Condict must have been considered worthy of the confidence of his constituents, for he was renominated several times without op- position from his own party, which was then dominant in the State, and was re-elected with large majorities. He was an original temperance man, for, while in Congress, o n several occasions, he presented a bill, the object of which was to prevent the manu- facture and sale of distilled spirits.

He was, too, a man of more than ordinary ability. He delivered a speech at Morris- town, in the old church, upon the Fourth of July 1828, which met with such decided ap- probation from his fellow citizens that a copy of it was requested for publication, and it was afterwards printed and no doubt has been preserved by some citizens who- knew the author.

Dr. Condict was remarkable for his gen- iality of temperament, his great conversa- tional powers, his kindly wit and gentle humor. His wit sparkled and enlivened, but never wounded ; he delighted in humor, but he never descended ; his jests were ini-

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mitable, but they never were uttered at the expense of another. His anecdotal treasury was filled to overflowing, and was always ready to respond to any draft upon it, but it was always bright and pointed, always new and never wearied nor disgusted.

He had several children, two of whom sur- vive, Dr. Nathan W. Condict, named for his maternal grand-father and Mrs. Martina Brandagee, now living at Utica, N. Y. One of his daughters married the Rev. George Bush. the eminent scholar ; another married a Mr. Hall, a successful lawyer in Washing- ton, D. C. ; another became the wife of Mr. James Cook, and his youngest is now the widow of the Rev. John Brandagee, formerly Rector of an Episcopal Church in Utica. Three of his sons were physicians, Silas L., Nathan W., and Lewis, Jr., a young man of great promise, who died in early manhood.

Dr. Condict was an ardent patriot and served his country, not from love of office, but from patriotic sentiments. It was in his time no easy task to be in public life, and especially a member of Congress. Wash- ington was then much farther removed from Morristown than is St. Louis at the present. The position of Congressman then carried with it banishment from home and family for an indefinite time. Dr. Condict remained long in office and devoted to the performance of his duties as a public servant, the best energies of his nature as well as the best years of his life. His family was large, and while he was in office, needed a father's rule. But his excellent wife was equal to the task, and her sons and daughters, a goodly number they were, hardly felt the removal of the father's protection, for in the mother they found combined the love and tenderness of the mother, and the strict and guiding rule of the father. She was a slender, delicate woman, but one of those rare souls whose presence in any household was a blessing. Her sympathies were alert for all, her bene- factions were not for home and family alone, but were for the poor and needy, and, though illy able from feeble health to take a very ac- tive part, she never failed at the call of duty, from whatever place it might come. The Church benefitted by her gentle ways, the poor were the recipients of her benefac- tions, and in all public matters where woman's aid was needed, either by the way of life.

counsel or action, she never failed to respond. She lived to see ber children grow up around her and then died a Christian's death, loved by all. His second wife was a Miss Elmendorf, of Somerset County, a woman of marked ability. Mrs. Brandagee was her only child.

In person Dr. Condict was tall and com- manding. His manners were simple and unpretending, his judgment excellent, his intellect cultivated ; he was decided in his views in politics and on all other subjects which he was called upon to discuss, but he never obtruded his opinions offensively upon others. In times when party politics raged high and his fellow citizens sometimes indulged in acrimonious debates, too often verging upon anger and violence, he calmed passion by a pleasant word, a kindly remark or a jest which provoked laughter and cleared away the frown and quelled the . threatened tumult. His oration, to which reference has been made, was not delivered at a union celebration, but was pronounced at the request of a political party, who that year celebrated the national anniversary separate from their political opponents. It was a time of the utmost rancor, when party lines were drawn to their utmost tension. Buf in his oration there is manifested no bit- terness, no rancor; nothing was uttered by him which could possibly injure the feelings of the most wilful of political antag- onists. It was calm, cool, but decided in its statement of his opinions on public affairs, and a dispassionate discussion of political matters to which any one, no matter what might have been his party sentiments, could have listened and been pleased. Dr. Condict was then a member of Congress, and his constituents had a right to ask from him a statement of his views upon the politics of the day and it may well be supposed that un- der the circumstances which surrounded him and his audience, he might have given voice to utterances which would have inflamed his hearers and stirred up to still worse demon- stration, the demon of party strife. But he refrained from any such desecration of the day, and while not hesitating to speak firmly and boldly, yet through the whole speech ran that kindly feeling so dominant in his character and which so pervaded his whole

THE RECORD.

A letter written by Dr. Condit, has been placed in the possession of the editor of the RECORD by William L. King Esq., to whom it belongs, by whose permission it is here copied.

It is in an excellent state of preservation, every word is legible, the hand writing is beautiful, the paper is of the old fashioned, unglazed. rough. character, so common in those days.

It is presented to the readers of the RE- CORD for the purpose of calling their atten- tion to several facts which it illustrates ;- The present facilities of the postal system of the country ; the enormous growth of the Republic in the eighty years and more which have elapsed since the letter was written, and the quaint, formal style adopted by the writer. The letter, to which this was an an- swer, reached Morristown, one month after it was dated. The north western Territory ! How few of the present day can appreciate what is meant by that designation, or the momentous part it played in the terrible struggle in the Republic over slavery, or the influence which the celebrated ordinance of 1787 had in determining that contest. Cin- cinnati was then but an outpost on the very outside of civilization ; it had less than a thousand inhabitants.

MORRIS TOWN, Dec. 30th, 1797.

DEAR SIR :- I rec'd your's of the 18th Sept. in about one month from its date, and at that time did not imagine I should have de- layed answering it so long, but unavoidable circumstances have prevented till now.

It affords me infinite satisfaction to hear of your prosperity in that Country which though young and uncultivated is rendered by nature one of the finest in the world in points of fertility, and climate. With pro- priety it may be termed the "Land of Canaan," if not the "garden of Eden" or an- cient paradise of which we read. Had I set- tled my affairs in Jersey before I set out on my journey, I am convinced, I should not have returned, but have remained there to this day. The distance is so great and my friends here were so opposed to my settling there, that I was induced to pitch my tent in Jersey, where perhaps I shall spend my days, I have compleated my house, and find

my prospects flattering. I am yet free from matrimonial shackles, and at present do not see much prospect of being encumbered with them. The married folks tell me I want nothing but a wife to compleat my happiness, and I in return, remind them of the fox that lost his tail in a trap, and wish- ed it to become fashionable to go without tails. Parson Richards and his family live in the house with me, and I board with him. I endeavor to enjoy myself as I pass through life, as well as circumstances will admit, remembering that wecannot take the world with us when we die. * * No * remarkable occurences have happened among your acquaintances here since your departure, except the marriage of Samual Arnold to Miss Jackson of Rockaway. They have moved to Albany and are doing very well. Sylvester Russell is now practis- ing law and lives next door to me. * I saw Judge Symmes in the beginning of the fall or latter end of summer when passing through this Town on his way to Detroit. * As to news we have none worth communicating. Political parties and dis- putes run high and apprehensions have been entertained that we should be involved in war with France but I hope we shall avoid it by prudent measures. Insults are more easily pocketed than bloody noses, though neither of them are very desirable. Do you ever visit Judge Symmes and family? If you do, please to present my respects to Mrs. Symmes and Mrs. Harrison, with whom I had some acquaintance in Jersey and Miami. * * * With best wishes for your health and prosperity I remain Dear Sir your sincere friend and humble servant. LEWIS CONDICT.

MR. DAN'L C. COOPER.

This letter is addressed, in the excellent hand writing of its writer, " Mr. Daniel C. Cooper. Cincinnati, North Western Ter- ritory." Mr. Cooper, the gentleman to whom it was written, had then recently re- moved from Morristown, to what was then a new and untried Country. He afterwards went to Dayton, Ohio, and was for many years identified with that City, and died at an advanced age, leaving a large property to be inherited by his heirs. The State of Ohio was not then known, nor was the name, Ohio, given distinctively, to any ex-

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tent of country. The North Western Ter- ritory embraced an undefined extent of Country, which has since then given birth to many great western states. The Judge Symmes spoke of in this letter, is best known as the author of the idea, hardly re- nembered, at the present, that the earth was hollow and that its centre could be reached, possibly through a hole at the North Pole called " Symmes's hole." The Mrs. Harrison, also mentioned, was, pro- bably, the wife of General William Henry Harrison, who was then Governor of the North West Territory and afterwards became President of the United States. He had married before that time the daughter of Judge Symmes. Judge Symnes, himself, was a Jerseyman, a native of Sussex County.

ALBERT BARNES.

The following interesting reminiscences of the Rev. Albert Barnes are from the pen of the venerable Rev. William Sterling, now living at Williamsport, Pa. Mr. Sterling was for ten years a co-presbyter with Mr. Barnes, and for thirty years a member of the same Synod.

The readers of the RECORD will feel much indebted to Mr. Sterling for his most inter- esting article. 'It presents Mr. Barnes in some lights, which would not, probably, ap- pear in any ordinary biography.

The occasion of the trial to which Mr. Sterling refers, which resulted in the depo- sition of Mr. Barnes, was a sermon preached by him, entitled, " The Way of Salvation." The sermon gave great offence to the branch of the Presbyterian Church, then called the Old School, of which the Rev. Dr. Junkin was a prominent supporter. At that time party spirit raged very high between the two branches of the Church. Mr. Barnes was considered as one of the leaders, if not the leader of the new school. Like Paul, before his conversion, his opponents deemed they were doing God service in bringing him to trial as a heretic.

The action was at first successful ; Mr. Barnes was deposed from the ministry, but the finding of the Synod of Philadelphia was over-ruled by the General Assembly, and Mr. Barnes restored, never again to be molested.

Any person having a copy of the sermon

referred to, or a paper containing a history of the trial, will confer a very great obliga- tion by loaning them to the Editor of the RECORD. They will be carefully preserved and returned at once.

REMINISCENCES OF REV. ALBERT BARNES.

Rev. William Durant.

DEAR BRO .:- I am sorry to say that I can call to mind few reminiscences of Rev. Al- bert Barnes that would be of general inter- est. As a student, and a preacher, and a commentator on the Scriptures, his reputa- tion is world-wide. But, in private life, he was a grave man, of few words, and rarely spoke of himself or his experiences.

The first time I ever saw Mr. Barnes was on a Sabbath evening in the fall of 1835. I had just graduated at Princeton Seminary, and had accepted a call from the Church of Reading. On my way to my field of future labor, I stopped a few days in Philadelphia that I might make the acquaintance of some of the members of the Third Presbytery with which my church was connected ; and also that I might consult with them in re- gard to my ordination and installation at an early day as pastor of that church.

My stay in the city extended over the Sabbath. Now it so happened that on that. very week the Synod of Philadelphia at its meeting in York had suspended Mr. Barnes " from all the functions of the Gospel min- istry." The brethren of the 3d Presbytery had just returned from the meeting of Synod deeply troubled and sore at heart. Indeed, all the city was moved ; and little else was thought about or talked about, but the proceedings of Synod in the case of Mr. Barnes. I learned that it had been ar- ranged that Rev. Ezra Stiles Ely, D.D., was to officiate in the vacant pulpit on Sabbath evening, and make a full statement to the congregation of the action of Synod in the case of their deposed pastor. Of course I went to the church, though it was a very in- clement night. The house was crowded to its utmost capacity. I got, with some diffi- culty, a seat in the aisle. Presently the friend, who had accompanied me to the church, drew my attention to a gentleman sitting in the pew with his family directly opposite me, and whispered, " That is Mr.

THE RECORD.

Barnes." He was in a bent position, with his chin resting on the top of his umbrella. I watched him closely during the long and painful recital of the proceedings of Synod up to the last crowning act of the drama- his deposition from the gospel ministry. During the whole time, Mr. Barnes never changed his position, nor even raised his head. The whole audience were in an in- describable state of excitement, and many of them in tears. On almost every coun- tenance around me were written indignation and sorrow and distress, too deep for utter- ance. The feeling was general that a great and most grievous wrong had been done to an able minister of the gospel and a right- eous man ; in whom they all trusted and whom they admired and loved as their faith- ful friend and pastor. But what I remarked and wondered at was the perfect control of Mr. Barnes over his own deep emotions. When the audience was dismissed, I got a glance at his face as he rose and prepared to retire. It was calm and peaceful and heaven- ly. He seemed to me to have been sustained that evening by the immediate presence of his God-to have been borne up by the as- surance that the Master, whom he loved and served, would take care of him, and over- rule the trial, through which his servant was passing, to his own great glory. That evening I learned to love Albert Barnes. The impression then made upon my mind and heart, by his demeanor and the holy light that I saw shining in his countenance, I never lost.

Rev. Gideon N. Judd, D.D., Correspond- ing Secretary of the American Home Mis- sionary Society, afterwards told me that he boarded in the family of Mr. Barnes at the time of his trial, and through the entire winter of his suspension from the ministry ; and that he never heard him utter one un- kind word against any of those men who had caused him so much pain and humilia- tion ; that he rarely, if ever, alluded to the action of Synod, by which he was set aside from his pastoral work. Mr. Judd added that when the General Assembly had re- versed the action of Synod, and restored him to his standing in the ministry, Mr. Barnes quietly resumed his duties, making no reference to what he had suffered from the Synod ; and that the only time he ever

heard him refer to the matter in public was near the close of a doctrinal sermon, which he preached some considerable time after- wards, when he simply said, "These are my views of these doctrines ;- it was for holding these views that I was deposed from the ministry by the Synod of Phila- delphia." That was all.

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History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 46

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