USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1 > Part 78
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PASTORATE VACANT, FROM JULY, 1845, TO JAN., 1846.
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MINUTES OF THE SESSION.
[No Minutes are recorded from June 19, 1845, till the installation of Mr. Thompson, Jan. 14, 1846.]
TRUSTEES AND PARISH.
Monday, I Sept., 1845. Parish meeting : Rev. Alfred Chester, Moderator ; John F. Voorhees, Secretary. A call voted unani- mously to the Rev. Jonathan B. Condict ; at a salary of $1,200, payable quarterly, to be signed by the elders and trustees, pledg- ing ourselves to him, as with the heart of one man, to do all in our power as a chris- tian congregation to render his pastoral connection with us pleasant, happy and useful.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1845. Annual Parish meeting : Peter A. Johnson, Chairman ; Aram G. Sayre reappointed Parish Clerk. Abstract of Treas.' Report :
Sept. 1844, Bal. on hand, $ 106.01 Rec'd to 12 Sept., 1845, Salary, &c., 1,617.57 Four burial lots, 127.00
Whitehead, Subscription, 1845, 70.00
Wood lot and note, 40.00
Church Collection, 40.09
Bal due Treas. 12 Sept., 1845,
30
$2,000.97
Rev. A. H. Dumont, Salary,
$1,250.00
Insurance,
34.52
Mulford, Salary,
100.00
Sundry Bills, pr. ac., 716.45
$2,000.97
Due the church up to 12th Sept., 1845 ; for rent and salary, $270.94, Stephen Con- dict burial lot, $18.00 ; total $288.94 ; deduct doubtful pr. ac. $20.25, leaving $268.69. The church owes to 12th Sept., 1845 : Asher Carter, bal. on salary, $26.40 ; Mulford, from Nov. 8, $84.38 ; I. C. Whitehead, note and int., $55.40; Samuel Kirk $9.40; total, 8175.58. bal. to church, $93.11.
The following were elected trustees for the ensuing year: John F. Voorhees,
Rich'd W. Stites, William Sayre, Jr .. Silas B. Emmell, Silas D. Cory, George W. Johnes, Theodore Little.
Resolved : [Ist.] To continue the same insurance. [2d,] That the trustees continue their efforts to obtain the consent of all the owners of pews to the revaluation, as pre- sented at the last annual meeting. [3d,1 That a suitable parsonage be procured, either by purchase or building. [4th,] That the congregation be earnestly requested to contribute to the church collection suffi- cient to defray the contingent expenses, em- bracing insurance, taxes, coal, oil, repairs to stoves, fences and about the Church, which amount to about $100, (this resolution de- signed as permanent.) [5th,] That, in order to pay the minister's salary and other ex- penses at shorter intervals, the salary and rent due on pews and seats be collected quarterly, as assessed on the 12th days of Dec., Mar., June and Sept., in each year. [6th,] That, in order to relieve the Treas- urer from the labor of collecting, the Trus- tees divide the congregation as nearly as possible into four divisions, and appoint to each division from their own number one collector, whose business it shall be to ob- tain from the Treas. the names and amount of salary due from every member of the congregation within his district, and to col- lect and pay over to the Treas. quarterly the amount due from each. [7th,] That these resolutions be read in church on Sun- day, Oct. 12, 1845. [8th,] That the trustees and session be authorized to employ the Rev. L. Christian to supply the pulpit and to discharge the pastoral duties to this people for the time of six months, or for a less period, at the rate of $800. pr. annum, and that in the meantime the session be re- quested to call a parish meeting to make him out a call, as soon as in their opinion the way may seem open.
Nov. 24, 1845, Parish meeting. The Rev. Mr. Williamson, of Chester, officiated as Moderator, and Z. W. Conklin as Secretary.
95
MINUTES OF THE SESSION.
A call voted unanimously for the Rev. | Alexander R. Thompson, of Brooklyn, at a salary of $1,000. payable quarterly ; call to be signed by the elders and trustees ; Peter A. Johnson and Jonathan Marvin, of the session, and John F. Voorhees, of the Trus- tees, were appointed a com. to prosecute the call ; and instructed to request Mr. Thomp- son to be present on Thursday next and preach a sermon on that day, appointed as a day of Thanksgiving.
Dec. 18, 1845. Parish meeting, for the pur- pose of electing a trustee in the place of R. W. Stites, who had resigned, and for selling seats forfeited for the nonpayment of salary. Ira C. Whitehead was elected Trustee.
On the same day the Trustees elected took and subscribed the oath of office as follows :
We, Ira C. Whitehead, Silas D. Cory, John F. Voorhees, Theodore Little, George W. Johnes, Wm. Sayre, Jun., and Silas B. Emmell do severally sincerely profess and swear that we will support the Constitution
of the United States. So help me God. We do severally sincerely profess and swear that we do and will bear true faith and al- legiance to the government established in the State of New Jersey under the authority of the people. So help me God. We do severally swear that we will faithfully ex- ecute the trust resposed in us, as Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church in Morris- town in the State of New Jersey, according to the best of our ability and understanding. So help me God. [The signatures follow.]
On the 18th day of December, 1845, Ira C. Whitehead, J. F. Voorhees, Theodore Little, Geo. W. Johnes, Wm. Sayre, Jun., Silas D. Cory and Silas B. Emmell, appeared before me and severally took and subscrib- ed the foregoing oaths.
Moses A. Brookfield, Justice of the Peace.
Dec. 18, 1845. The Trutees met and ap- pointed Ira C. Whitehead Pres. of the Board, and John F. Voorhees Treas. of the congregation.
PASTORATE OF REV. ALEX. R. THOMPSON, From Jan., 1846, to July, 1847.
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MINUTES OF THE SESSION.
Alexander R. Thompson was ordained to the holy ministry of the gospel by the Pres- bytery of Elizabethtown and installed Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Morris- town, N. J., on the fourteenth day of Jan- uary, 1846.
The Reverend Joseph M. Ogden of Chat- ham presided, proposed the constitutional questions and delivered the charge to the Pastor. The Reverend Jacob Brodhead, D. D., of Brooklyn preached the sermon from Ist Ep. to the Thessalonians, 5th c: 12th and 13th vs. The Reverend Nicolas Mur- ray, D. D., of Elizabethtown delivered the charge to the people.
Feb. 10, 1846, Session convened in month- ly meeting at the Pastor's study.
Present, Elders Jonathan D. Marvin, Ezra Mills, John R. Freeman, Sylvester R. White-
head, Stephen A. Prudden and The Pastor, Alex. R. Thompson.
Opened with prayer by Dr. Marvin.
The Moderator stated that he had given a certificate of dismission to John Kay, Wil- liam Kay, Robert Kay and Elizabeth Kay to join the Presbyterian church at Whip- pany.
The Session arranged the periods for col- lections for benevolent operations as fol- lows : That for the Bible Cause on the Ist Sabbath in January, that for the Tract Cause on the Ist Sabbath in April, that for the As- sembly's board of Domestic Missions on the first Sabbath in July, and that for the Amer- ican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions on the first Sabbath in October.
After prayer by the Moderator the Session adjourned. [The above is a transcription in full of the first records after the coming of
96
PASTORATE OF THE REV. ALEX. R. THOMPSON.
Mr. Thompson, who seems to have acted as clerk of Session during his pastorate.]
Feb. 19, 1846. The Session directed the Pastor to procure a suitable book, in which to register the names of the Members of this Church, Baptisms, Marriages, &c.
March, 16, 1846. The time during this meeting was spent by the Session in revis- ing, as far as possible, the list of members of this Church, with reference to the pre- paration of a new list thereof.
April 14, 1846. The Session completed their revision of the list of members of this Church.
It was unanimously resolved to nominate to the congregation, as candidates for the Eldership of this Church, Hon. Ira Condict Whitehead, John Flagg Voorhees and Theo- dore Little .* It was further resolved, that these names be read from the pulpit on Sabbath next, the 19th inst., and that, if no objections be urged to their election, the congregation be called to vote thereon on Thursday evening, the 23d inst.
May 3, 1846. Ira Condict Whitehead was ordained a ruling elder on Sabbath morning May 3d, 1846, in the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N. J.
May 5, 1846. The Session directed that with the money collected for the support of Foreign Missions and the Tract cause, and about to be paid into the treasuries of the Am. Board of Com. for Foreign Miss., and the Am. Tract Soc. respectively, the follow- ing clergymen be constituted Honorary Members, viz. The Reverend Levi H. Chris- tian, Hon. Mem. of the American Tract Soc., and the Reverend Hugh S.Carpenter of New York, and the Reverend John M. Johnson of Hanover,Hon. Mem's of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. [At the next meeting, May 18th, the Rev. Wmn. W. Scudder was substituted for the Rev. J. M. Johnson, the latter being already a mem- ber.]
Sept. 4, 1846, The Session determined that with the money recently paid to the Treas. of the Board of Missions of the Pres. Ch., the Reverend Samuel M. Woodbridge. pas- tor of the Ref. Dutch Ch., Gowanus, L. I., be constituted an Honorary Member of the said board.
Dec. 24, 1846. It was resolved that the - *Messrs. Voorhees and Little declined an election.
Elders, and such of the lay brethren of this church as assisted in the former visitation, together with as many others as are willing to engage in the work, be requested to meet on Tuesday evening, next week, to make ar- rangements for an immediate visitation of all the families belonging to this Congrega- tion, for the purpose of inquiring into their spiritual state.
Feb. 16, 1847. It was resolved that the Village Hymns be used in the public ser- vice of the church, in connection with the Church Psalmody, as the Pastor may see fit.
May 24, 1847. The resolution passed by the Session on the 16th of February, 1847, authorizing the use of the Village Hymns in the service of the church was rescinded
July 28, 1847. Presbytery of Elizabeth Town met in the session house, on the call. of Rev. Mr. Thompson, and, at his request, his pastoral connexion with this church was dissolved.
TRUSTEES AND PARISH.
March 27, 1846, Trustees. Resolved; [ Ist] That Messrs. Johnes and Whitehead be a com. to contract with Moses A. Brookfield for the purchase of a part of his lot, say 100 feet on Court Street, for a Parsonage, pro- vided it can be purchased for a sum not ex- ceeding $500. [2d,] That Messrs Sayre, Cory and Little prepare a plan of the house and superintend the building of it. [3d,] That the building com. appoint some suit- able person to receive and disburse the mon- ies to be expended in such building.
April 4, 1846, Trustees. The com. report- ed that they had purchased the lot of Moses A. Brookfield for the sum of $500 .; and that they had given the note of the Trustees for said sum, payable in one year with interest from the Ist of April.
May 26, 1846, Trustees. Resolved, to propose to Moses A. Brookfield to exchange a part of the parsonage lot, recently pur- chased of him, for land lying in the rear of the parsonage ; and, in case the exchange cannot be effected, to ascertain upon what terms a strip of land, lying in the rear of the parsonage, can be purchased. Messrs. Voorhees, Johnes and Little were appoint- ed to procure a common seal for the use of the Parish.
1846, Sept. 25. Trustees. Resolved ; [1]
97
TRUSTEES AND PARISH.
that Mr. Voorhees negotiate a sale of the Bank Stock standing in the name of S. A. Prudden, and apply the proceeds to defray the expenses of the parsonage. [2.] That Messrs. Emmell, Little and Johnes request the ladies of the Fragment Society to hold a fair in the lecture room, on the 4th day of July next, and to apply the proceeds to de- fray the expenses of painting the church and putting in new windows.
Oct. 8, 1846. Parish meeting ; Dr. Lewis Condict, Chairman. The following were elected Trustees, (Mr. Whitehead and Mr. Emmell having declined a re-election.) John F. Voorhees, William Sayre, Jun., George W. Johnes, Silas D. Cory, Theodore Little, Zebulon Conklin, Jacob Crane, Jr. Aram G. Sayre was re-appointed Parish Clerk.
The following is an abstract of the Treas.' report :
Amt. Recd. Salary and Pew rent
since 29 Sept. 1845, $970.14
Collections in Church, 91.03
Amt. Rec'd. for Burial lot, 20,00
Musical concert and Donation, 95.31
Amt. paid for supplies, $166.30
Bal. due Treas. at last report, 30
Insurance, 29.37
Minister's salary 2 yrs., 500.00
Sundry Bills pr. acct. Ren'd, 444.51
Balance in Treas. Hands, 36.00
$1,176.48 $1,176.48
Cr. Bal. in Treas. Hands, 8 Oct., $36.
There is due the church on the year End- ing 12 Sept., 1846, for salary and Pew rent &c., $293.73.
Deduct Doubtful $30, Bal. $263.73
Balance on seat sold,
10.00
Burial lot, I. Cutler, 18.00
Cash on Hand, 36.00
Church owes to 12 Sept., 1846. 327.73
Rev. A. R. Thompson salary Due I Oct., $250.00
Asher Carter, Salary 1 year, 75.00
$325.00
Balance $2.73.
Resolved, That the Trustees continue their effort to obtain the consent of all the
owners of Pews and Seats to the revaluation thereof heretofore made. Mr. Silas D. Cory having offered to convey to the parish a lot of fifty feet in the rear of the present par- sonage lot, recently purchased of Moses A. Brookfield, for the consideration of three hundred and fifty dollars ; It is ordered, that the trustees grant and convey to Ira C. Whitehead, or to such other person as they may think proper, so much of the upper or South western part of the present parson- age lot as may be necessary. to raise the said money.
Resolved, That the trustees be authorized to paint the exterior of the Church, if in their opinion it is necessary.
1846, Oct. 30th, Trustees. Appointed Zebulon W. Conklin, President of Board, and John F. Voorhees, Treasurer of the congregation. Silvanus Mulford was ap- pointed Sexton. at a salary of $100. Asher Carter was appointed chorister, at a salary of $75.
Messrs. Little and Johnes reported, That they had waited on the Ladies, and made known the resolution of the Trustees of Sept. 25th, and that they would comply with their request.
Resolved, That the Trustees convey to Ira C. Whitehead, the upper, or South westerly part of the Parsonage lot, recently purchased of Moses A. Brookfield. The lot to be conveyed to the said Ira C. White- head is to be sixty feet front on Courtland street, the same number of feet in the rear and running the depth of the whole lot, for the price or consideration of Three Hun- dred and Fifty Dollars.
Nov. 10, 1846. Trustees met on horse hill. to make sale of the land, agreeable to notice given. The sale of the land was opened at Public Auction, and the lot was put up at Abraham Brittin's offer of $925 ; and after keeping the sale open for three hours, the land, consisting of sixty-one acres and hundreths of an acre, was struck off to Silas Condict for $960.
Nov. 14. 1846. Trustees Resolved, That we adopt as our corporate seal the one now provided by the committee heretofore ap- pointed for that purpose ; a fac-simile and impression of which are hereunto annexed.
98
PASTORATE OF THE REV. ALEX. R. THOMPSON.
1st.
J.
PRES.
Seal
T.
M
Nov. 27, 1846. Trustees Resolved, That the president execute to Mrs. Elizabeth Cobb a release for the court yard in front of her main dwelling house, and a lease for her life for the court yard in front of her kitchen, or one story building attached to her dwel- ling house, neither to be used for any other purpose than a court yard ; with the neces- sary covenants on her part for the protec- tion of the church land, in front of her lot. And that the President take from Mrs. Cobb a covenant that, at her death, the enclosure around the kitchen yard shall be removed, and that her heirs or assigns have the privilege of enclosing a small yard in the front of the kitchen, not, however, to exceed five feet in width.
Feb. 6, 1847. Trustees Resolved, That the President be authorized to let the Par- sonage house for one year, at not less than $100 for the year ; our Pastor, Alex. R. Thompson, having signified that he would not want the house for the coming year, and had no objections to our letting the same.
March 1, 1847. Trustees Resolved, [1st,] That Jacob Crane and Moses A. Brookfield be a committee to raise by subscription as much money as they can obtain, for the pur- pose of paying off the debt remaining unpaid on the parsonage house ; and they to re- ceive pay for their services in carrying out the same. [2d,] That Z. W. Conklin attend to the painting of the Parsonage house. [3d,] That the Trustees give their joint note at 60 ds. for $- to pay for the marble mantles at the Parsonage.
purpose declined. and the above committee substituted. [2d,] That Asher Carter be di- rected to make the blinds and shutters that may be wanted at the Parsonage house.
June 26, 1847. Trustees. The President of the Board rec'd from Rev. Alexander [R. Thompson] in person the following commu- nication on friday the 25th Inst.
" Mr. Z. W. Concklin
Pres. Board of Trustees.
Dr. Sir.
You are hereby respectfully requested to call a parish meeting of this church, with- out delay, in order that commissioners may be appointed to unite with me in asking, from the Presbytery of Elizabethtown, a dissolution of the Pastoral relation between me and the first Presbyterian church at Morristown.
I am very respectfully yours, Alex'r R. Thompson. Morris Town, June 25, 1847."
The Trustees, after a consultation among themselves, agreed to wait on Mr. Thomp- son and signify to him, that they did not feel disposed to call the parish meeting, under the present circumstances, and that, accord- ing to the book of proceeding of the Presby- terian church, it devolved upon him to make the application to Presbytery for his dis- missal ; from which he dissented. After the interview the Trustees advised among them- selves, and agreed to postpone the subject to Wednesday evening the 30th.
July 7, 1847. Parish meeting assembled upon a request in writing from the pastor, a copy whereof is given above, and in pur- suance of a notice from the Trustees pub- licly read from the pulpit. John F. Voor- hees was chosen moderator, and the stated clerk appeared. The meeting was then opened with prayer.
Resolved, that Ezra Mills & Theodore Little be a committee to wait upon Rev. Mr. Thompson and receive from him any commu- nication he may desire to make to this meet- ing. The committee retired to wait upon the pastor, & upon their return, presented the following communication from him :
March 18, 1847. Trustees Resolved, [Ist.] That John F. Voorhees, Jacob Crane and Silas D. Cory be a committee to raise, by " I respectfully ask the appointment of commissioners to unite with me in asking from the Presbytery of Elizabethtown a dis- solution of the Pastoral relation existing subscription, funds for the purpose of pay- ing off the debt remaining unpaid on the Parsonage house ; Moses A. Brookfield ap- pointed on a former committee for the above | between me & the First Presbyterian church,
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TRUSTEES AND PARISH.
Morris Town, N.J., for the following reasons:
I. Because members of the session dis- agree with me as to the session's rights and duties. I am firmly of the opinion that the elders are a body supposed, by reason of years, experience & wisdom, to be able to de- cide justly upon matters, not judicial, af- fecting the spiritual interests of the church. Such matters I believe, by the constitution of the church are left to their arrangement. While, therefore, I would not for an instant in such matters, not involving principle, dis- regard the properly expressed or clearly known wishes of the people, I cannot con- sent to refer such matters to a meeting of the people for decision while surrounded by a competent band of elders, whose discre- tion, wisdom, & piety, enable them to ar- range them, and who are by the constitution of the church assigned the duty of arranging them. I understand the opinion of members of the session to be, that such matters should be left to the people : upon this opinion they act. I consider its operation in future to promise hindrance to the inter- ests of the church as properly in the hands of the session. With my understanding of the section of the constitution delineating the duties of the session, I cannot coincide with this opinion nor agree to be governed by it.
2. Because of the existance in the church of a spirit of disorder, and unwillingness to submit to proper authority, utterly subver- sive of the church's welfare. I need but refer to recent events in confirmation. It appeared to the Pastor, that, on account of the excessive alterations of the Psalms and Hymns in the Psalm and Hymn Book in use (i. e. : the church Psalmody,) some im- provement in the Psalmody was needful. After long and patient deliberation, we de- vised the plan of adding the Village Hymns to the book then in the church :
Ist. Because nearly all, if not every family, in the church possessed a copy or copies, and therefore would be saved the expense of a new book.
2nd. Because it was in use in the other church services (i. e. the weekly services), and that use was a virtual approval of it. Knowing that the congregation brought it on the evenings of the weekly services, he supposed they would be perfectly willing to
bring it with them on the Sabbath. He laid the matter before the session, who ex- pressed their opinions in favour of it. He caused the subject to lay over till the next meeting of the session, who by a resolution formally adopted it. It was introduced into the service of the church, and the endeavour was made to make a moderate and discreet use of it. After some time it was a third time brought before the session, who expressed, two to one, their opinions against disturb- ing its use in the church. Here there was the deliberately and carefully formed sug- gestion of the Pastor, adopted by the ses- sion, thrice approved by them.
Members of the church declined ac- quiescence in this sessional action ; Would not join in the praise of God when the Hymn was given from that bouk. The ses- sion at a fourth meeting, on the ground of the opposition to their enactment, rescind -. ed their former resolution, and the use of the book was from that moment discon- tinued. Had the session, when the matter was first brought before them, declined adopting it, the book would not have en- tered the church. Had members of this church found reasonable ground of refusal to comply with the action of the session, and had that ground been properly and re- spectfully stated to the session, it would have met with the fullest consideration. But when mere opposition to the action of the session is manifested by public, open, continued refusal by church members to join in the praise of Almighty God, in for- getfulness of the sanctity of his sacred house and sabbath and worship and of their own covenant vows. it is manifest that a spirit of disorderly resistance to proper au- thority utterly subversive of the welfare, and, if carried out fully, of the existence, of the church, exists in the midst of it.
3. Because of the toleration of, and sub- mission to that disorderly spirit. by the members and elders-on its manifestation, the pastor with painful, silent grief observ- ed its existence. He was repeatedly, and by influential members of the church, ad- vised to give way to it ; while at the very time of giving such advice they character- ized it as troublesome. At the fourth meet- ing of the session, above alluded to, the subject was brought forward. It was moved
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PASTORATE OF THE REV. ALEX. R. THOMPSON.
to refer the matter of the Hymn book to the people ; the right of the session, more than that of as many other of the church members, to arrange the matter, being de- nied. This motion was decided by the Pas- tor out of order, on the ground, Ist, that the sessional action was finished and had been acted on ; 2d, that the session and not the people were the proper body to arrange the matter, (see reason Ist.) On the ap- peal of the mover of this motion, the session reversed the Pastor's decision by a vote of four to two. The motion was made for the recision of the resolution introducing the use of the Village Hymn book, and it was rescinded.
The main reason urged for rescinding this resolution was the opposition manifested to the Village Hymn Book in the church, which the Pastor had reason to believe ex- isted only on the part of a few. The effect of this action of the session he believed to be to strengthen this spirit of opposition, publicly manifested, to the proper authority of the church. If the session, whose wis- dom & prudence in adopting the resolution at first cannot be doubted, instead of adher- ing to their own wise action, give way,as they obviously did, on the repeatedly expressed reason of this opposition to it in the church, so obviously disorderly, it is manifest they have laid down by this action a rule, which destroys the stability of their own action in future, & have thereby submitted to this disorderly spirit, & encouraged it to make similar attempts in future, to impel the ses- sion from their solemnly adopted action, by similar public, disorderly opposition to it in hope of similar success. Thus has the carefully, patiently formed suggestion of the Pastor, which had become the solemnly adopted and thrice approved action of the session, been openly and successfully re- sisted by a few ; and this resistance tolerated and submitted to by the members and ses- sion ; and thus at this moment is this re- sistance triumphant over the proper author- ity of the church. Two meetings of the elders and Trustees, the first after two at- tempts, have been held. The first without the Pastor, the second with him. The sole and only proposition, for adjustment and re- moval of difficulties in the Pastor's way, by these meetings, has been a mere expression
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