USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of the church in Burlington, New Jersey : comprising the facts and incidents of nearly two hundred years, from original, contemporaneous sources > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
"As a Preacher of the Gospel, I never had an opportunity to know Dr. Wharton. His sermons which I have read are of a chastened and persuasive style of oratory, well arranged, written evidently from the heart, and in a diction which is like crystal for its purity and clearness. Everywhere, and on all occasions, he preached Christ and Him crucified.
413
IN BURLINGTON.
"I will only add that he was a Churchman in heart and in soul ; while yet, in the exercise of his truly Catholic spirit, he regarded all who name the name of Chirst with affectionate interest. It was his deep and strong conviction, again and again expressed, that the entire Church was to be inviolately preserved ; and that the strictest adherence to all its provisions and regulations was the surest path not only of truth and duty, but of charity and peace."-Annals of American Ep. Pulpit, pp. 337-340.
EXTRACTS FROM THE WILL OF THE REV. DR. WHARTON.
* * * * *
" THIRD .- I direct that after my dear Wife shall have se- lected from my Library, such books as she may particularly desire for her own absolute use, All the residue of my Books shall go to the Minister, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of Saint Mary's Church, Burlington City-to be by them pre- served for the use of the rectors of said Church in succession.
" FOURTH .- All the rest and residue of my estate, real and personal, whatever, and wherever, I give and devise to the Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church for the Diocese of New Jersey-so being at my death, and to his successors as Bishops as aforesaid-IN TRUST-nevertheless to permit my said dear Wife to take the rents and annual income of said resi- due for her life, in case she survive me-But in case she die before me, or if otherwise, at her death in further trust, to pay over One thousand dollars, to the Treasurer of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, for the use of the said Mis- sionary Society-And finally in trust to pay over and assign all the residue of the estate, and monies, or other property, what- ever, herein, given and bequeathed to him in trust to the Min- ister, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of Saint Mary's Church Burlington City aforesaid, or to any officer appointed by the legal authorities of said Church, to receive the same-to be by them invested in such fund or security, as they may approve,
414
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
and the interest thereof to be applied annually to increase the Salary of the rectors of said Saint Mary's Church-
" FIFTH .- I nominate the Bishop of the Protestant Episco- pal Church for the Diocese of New Jersey & so being at my death, Executor and Trustee under this my will-And in case said Bishop, so being at my death, shall die before the final com- pletion of all the objects and the complete execution of all the trusts, mentioned and created herein, It is my will that his successors as Bishops as aforesaid, shall succeed him as trustees under this my will, and have full power to complete and exe- cute all the trusts then incomplete and unexecuted And that the said powers and trusts given as aforesaid to the Bishop of said Diocese, so being at my death, and to his successors, shall not survive to his or their heirs, or Executors-
"SIXTH .- Before my said Executor and Trustee shall pro- ceed to execute the trusts-or to pay the pecuniary legacies, herein created and mentioned, he shall first pay all my just. debts.
" CHARLES H. WHARTON. [L. S.]"
" Signed sealed and Published by the testator on the 28th of February 1833, in the presence of Jane P. Folwell, William Hargest, H. McIlvaine."
Proved, "the 5th of August, A. D., 1833, at Mt. Holly " " before Charles Kinsey, Surrogate."
" George W. Doane, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church for the Diocese of New Jersey and being Bishop as aforesaid at the death of Charles H. Wharton, the Testator within named and Executor in the annexed Testament named being duly sworn did depose and say that the Within Instru- ments contain the true last Will and Testament of Charles H. Wharton the testator therein named so far as he knows and as. he verily believes ; that he will well and truly perform the same by paying first the debts of the said deceased, and then the Legacies in the said Testament specified, so far as the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased can thereunto Extend ; and that he will make an Exhibit or cause to be made and Ex- hibited into the Prerogative Office at Trenton, a true and per- fect Inventory of all and singular, the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased that have or shall come to his.
415
IN BURLINGTON.
knowledge or possession, or to the possession of any other per- son or persons for his use, and render a just and true account when thereunto lawfully required-
"G. W. DOANE.
" Sworn at Mt Holly
5th August, A. D., 1833 before me
CHARLES KINSEY Surrogate." -Surrogate's Office, Mt. Holly, N. J.
THE EFFECTS OF THE LATE REV. DR. WHARTON.
" A true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the goods- and chattels rights and credits of the Reverend Charles H. Wharton, D. D., late of the City and County of Burlington in the State of New Jersey deceased made the Seventeenth day of September A. D. 1833 and the Second day of August A. D. 1837-
" Wearing Apparrel $100.00
" Books
280.00
" Bank & other Stocks 13.581.00
" Household goods &c
1.009.00
$14.970.00
" Appraised by us the dates above mentioned,
" BURR WOOLMAN, THOMAS B. WOOLMAN." -Ibid.
INSCRIPTION FOR A MURAL MONUMENT TO DR. WHARTON.
The following was written by Bishop Doane for a mural tablet to Dr. Wharton ; but the tablet was never erected, f and the words designed for it are here inserted for preservation :
+ In the sacrarium of the new St. Mary's Church, however, on the South side, in the stained glass window, is the following :
IN MEMORIAM Rev.
Caroli Henrici Wharton, D. D.
Hujus Ecclesice Rectoris, A. D. MD CCXCVI A. D. MDCCCXXXIII
416
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
" Behind the Chancel rests the mortal part of
CHARLES HENRY WHARTON, D. D., who died July 23, 1833, aged 86 years ; during 37 of which he was Rector of this Church. A finished scholar, an elegant writer, a sound divine, a faithful preacher of the Cross; in peace and meekness, purity and charity, in childlike simplicity, and unaffected piety, a daily example of the lessons which he taught ; while he lived, the faithful servant of this Church, and, at his death, its generous benefactor: such was he whose name this stone commemorates, and whose virtues are embalmed in the affections of his people."
BISHOP DOANE BECOMES RECTOR OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
"1833. The Vestry of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, at a special meeting, held 3 August, unanimously invited the Right Reverend George Washington Doane, D. D., to accept the vacant Rectorship .- 1 October, the invitation was accepted. G. W. D."-Parish Register.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING THIS DECISION.
"Since the last Convention, my residence at Burlington, which was then temporary, and without parochial charge, has assumed a different character. Being, of course, from my dis- tant residence, unacquainted with the local peculiarities of the diocese, I determined at my consecration, not to decide on my place of abode among you, until I had become satisfied by per- sonal investigation, and the careful comparison of individual opinions, as to what seemed the position most favourable to the
417
IN BURLINGTON.
discharge of my official duties, and the advancement of the interests of the Church. I did not doubt, moreover, that in the lapse of time, the course of Providence would be developed with sufficient clearness. Soon after I had gone into temporary resi- dence at Burlington, (to which I was chiefly induced by local and personal considerations,) I received from the Rector, Ward- ens, and Vestry of Trinity Church, Newark, an invitation of the most gratifying character, to establish myself in that place ; accompanied with an offer from the Congregation, of so gener- ous a nature as to leave no doubt on my mind, that the desire for my removal there was not only universal, but most sincere and hearty. To an expression from such a source, so earnest in its terms, and so liberally enforced, I felt it my duty to respond in the affirmative, the more especially as I should thus be left free from parochial responsibility ; when the death of Rev. Dr. Wharton, and the peculiar circumstances of the parish of St. Mary's, Burlington, presented a conflicting duty. After mature deliberation, with inquiry of those whose judgments in the matter were best instructed, it seemed incumbent on me to assume the charge of the interesting parish thus vacated ; which I did, -- first for six months, and, afterwards as its Rector. In thus yielding to a strong sense of ecclesiastical duty, I am happy in knowing that my munificent friends at Newark, though disap- pointed, have not been displeased. The same liberal spirit which devised such liberal things to induce my residence among them, enabled and disposed them cheerfully to yield their own preference, to what seemed to be essential to the welfare of a sister parish. May brotherly love so continue, and ever increase amongst us ! It is due to my office, to my own judgment, and to the best interests of the Church, to say, that it is not well that the Bishop of any diocese should be responsible for the entire pastoral charge of a congregation. When this is the case, either the parochial or the diocesan interest must suffer. Cases may occur, where the Rectorship of a parish seems proper, or indeed necessary, as the means of support, to be united to the Episcopate ; but provision should then be made, not merely to relieve the Bishop from such portion of the duty of preaching,
2 D
1
418
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
as may enable him to accomplish his visitations, but for the discharge, under his direction, of those daily pastoral offices, · without the faithful, constant performance of which, Christ's sheep can never be duly fed. An economical and judicious arrangement for this purpose has always seemed to me, the appointment of a clergyman, to reside in the Bishop's parish, to supply the pulpit in his absence, to take the immediate charge of the Sunday School, and other interests of the parish, and to perform occasional Missionary duty. The provision for the support of such a Clergyman, as Missionary assistant to the Bishop, might properly be chargeable on the Missionary fund of the diocese. I commend the subject to the consideration of the Convention. The extensive plan of visitation which I pro- pose, cannot well be carried into effect unless there be some such provision."-Episcopal Address, 1834.
" THE REMAINS OF THE REV. DR. WHARTON."
Under this title, Bishop Doane in 1833-4, published two volumes, containing a Memoir, the Funeral Sermon, twenty sermons, selected papers, and controversial tracts, of the Rev. Dr. Wharton ; " of which the leading religious journals of Great Britain spoke with distinguished favor."
THE REMINISCENCES OF A FORMER RESIDENT.
The following, written in 1833, by one, who in his school-boy days, almost forty years before, had engaged in rural sports about the place, is a vivid portrayal of Burlington, in 1797 :
Ah, old acquaintance ! there thou art- I hail thee with a beating heart, I'll sing of thee, before we part, Green bank of Burlington.
May I a passing tribute pay, Where many a happy school-boy day, In years forever passed away, I played upon thy bank.
At early morn I thought thee fair, At noon thou hadst the freshest air, Thy evenings only could compare With Eden's lovely bowers.
419
IN BURLINGTON.
And most enchanting was the grace That marked the ladies of the place, In walk, in form, in mind, in face, Like mother Eve of old.
Your melons were for flavor rare, Your cream and strawberries sweetest were, Your luscious peach, and juicy pear, The rich and poor partook.
By pebbly shore and lofty tree, Our good old bathing place I see, Where school-boys all with loudest glee, To dive and swim repair'd.
Lightly that batteau seems to glide, In such a one I loved to ride,
With helm in hand, her course to guide, While briskly blew the breeze.
'Twas sweet to leave the tiresome book, A dozen silvery fish to hook, Then take them home to plague the cook To clean and fry them all.
My tale of pleasure is begun, We also sometimes got a gun,
Through weed and mire all day to run, To shoot a bird or two.
Sometimes we hired a boat to speed On a duckling trip where wild ducks feed, But less ducks than duckings we got indeed, On Neshamony's marshy flats.
How spreads this river like a bay, I've skated on it many a day, While Bristol boys have had a fray, + And feats of skating show'd.
Keenly the crowded wharf I view, And cannot see one face I knew, But good Ben Shepherd's ever true, $ At every varying tide.
I could have sprung from off the deck, To give his hand a hearty shake, For him and for his city's sake, My dear old Burlington.
Sadly my memory loves to trace The kindly smile of many a face Gather'd ere this in the resting place, With those of ages past.
+ Snow-balling battle.
¿ Hotel keeper and ferryman.
420
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
The lapse of almost forty years, Has ended all their joys and cares, We hope they are the happy heirs, Of immortality.
No steamboat then in stately pride, Made rapid way 'gainst wind and tide- A shallop small its place supplied, The goodly sloop May-Flower. +
Thy sister cities have the fame, Of battles fought, and warlike name- Thy ancient records lay no claim To bloody tales like these.
Thy precincts show no battle-field Where haughty foes were forced to yield, And many a brave one's fate was sealed In death upon the plain.
Ere Trenton saw the deadly fray, Thou wast not idle in thy way ; Bold spirits suited to their day, Withstood a tyrant's rule.
In thy Town Hall these patriots sate, And there resolved to share the fate Of every suffering sister State- With them to stand or fall.
I cannot see Saint Mary's fane ; It often gave me heartfelt pain
To think how oft I've heard in vain Good Dr. Wharton preach.
Meekly as one who plainly saw Himself condemn'd beneath the law,
He sought by love, not fear, to draw His hearers to the Lord.
St. Mary's lifts no towering spire, For passing travellers to admire, Fit emblem of the holy sire Who filled her desk so long.
I hear my fellow travellers say There is a locomotive's way
Where school-boys used to fight and play, In Dr. Staughton's time. #
And woodman's axe with sturdy stroke Has long since fell'd the lofty oak, Where my poor neck I nearly broke, To gain a squirrel's nest.
+ This packet belonged to Captain Myers, a well-known skipper.
# Principal of the Academy.
421
IN BURLINGTON.
St. Mary's has a pastor new, t Young, and New Jersey's bishop too- He needs must stand in public view- May God save him from pride.
May he a shepherd's duty know, To lead his flock where fountains flow, And where perennial pastures grow, Beneath the sacred Cross.
This steamer goes as if it flew, The city fades before my view- We turn, I bid a long adieu To thee, sweet Burlington.
BISHOP DOANE'S FIRST REPORT AS RECTOR.
May 28th, 1834. Bishop Doane's first report, as Rector of St. Mary's Church, says :-
" The Rector has not been long enough in charge of the Par- ish to give any thing more than the mere statistics. The man- ner in which the Offerings of the Church have been collected, is stated in the Pastoral Letter, in the Appendix. There were no subscriptions larger than twenty-five cents per week, and of these but five. Many of them were less than five cents, and several but one cent per week. A small amount remains uncol- lected, which will go into the account of the next year. In another Report, greater fullness may be expected .- Twenty-five copies of the Children's Magazine are taken. The Rector is always present in the Sunday School, when not absent on Epis- copal duty. In the absence of the Rector, the parish has been much benefited by the gratuitous and very acceptable services of the Rev. Dr. Williams." ±
THE LIBRARY OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
" The library of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, lately in- creased by the bequest of part of Dr. Wharton's books, is about to be brought into more general use. The remark is sometimes made, that parish libraries are little used, and soon dispersed ; and the fact is adduced that, of the excellent collections with which all our parishes, by the wise provision of the venerable society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, were furnished, are now, with scarcely an exception, squandered.
+ Bishop Doane. ¿ The Rev. Charles Williams, D. D.
422
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Of this unfortunate result, the vicissitudes of the times ought always to be given in explanation ; and it should also be remem- bered, that the good seed, though scattered, is not lost, but pro- ducing doubtless in many quarters, its desirable fruits."-Epis- copal Address, 1834.
A RELIGIOUS SERVICE FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.
"There is a custom common in some parts of our country, and I believe increasing, of celebrating with religious services, the the anniversary of the Declaration of the National Independence. I highly approve of it. Without any regard to the suspicion of desiring an establishment of religion, I venture to say, that there is, in our political and civil institutions, too little refer- ence to Him who is the only source and security of whatever is good in them. I enter into no discussion of the causes of this deficiency, or of the apologies for it. The fault exists and is to be regretted. What is still more to the purpose, it is, so far as may be, to be obviated. 'Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is the reproach,' and will be the destruction, 'of any people.'
"In the 'Proposed Book,' so called, there is 'a Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the inestimable blessings of religious and civil liberty, to be used yearly on the Fourth day of July.' I know not why it was omitted in the final revision. It is a service well adapted for the occasion ; and, with suitable alterations, will be set forth for use in this diocese."-Episcopal Address, 1834.
A. THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL RECOMMENDED.
" There is but one subject more, of a general character, to which I shall at present venture to invite your attention. And I do so, because from its great importance, it deserves to be pre- sented as early as may be to your notice, that you may be the sooner prepared to act in regard to it with efficiency. I recom- mend, brethren of the Clergy and of the Laity, for your most serious consideration, the establishment, under the auspices of the Church, of a School or Seminary, of a high order, at which there may be provision, wholly, or in part, gratuitous, for the preparatory education of young men designing to enter on a
423
IN BURLINGTON.
course of Theological study. The diocese of New Jersey pre- sents peculiar facilities for institutions of learning. An Epis- copal School that deserved patronage-and I should be sorry to see one that did not-would be liberally sustained by scholars from the vicinity, and from abroad. A portion of the profits should be set aside as a foundation for the purposes above named ; and individual bounty would, I am very confident, come liber- ally in aid of the enterprise. We should thus have the means of educating our own sons under circumstances most favourable to their character and principles. The number of candidates for orders would be increased by the facilities of education. The standard of learning among us would be elevated. Better than all, the means of instruction would be presented, as they ought ever to be, under the sanctifying influences of religion. I am sanguine in the opinion, that a judicious plan for this pur- pose would be most cordially encouraged. I should most cheer- fully devote myself, as a duty of the highest moment, to its estab- lishment and furtherance. Having done what our hands find to do in a work so charitable and holy, we may safely leave it to the blessing of Almighty God."-Episcopal Address, 1834.
DEATH OF THE WIDOW OF REV. DR. WHARTON.
" 1834, June 21. Buried Mrs. Anne Wharton, (by Rev. Mr. Moorehouse)."-Parish Register.
A handsome mural tablet erected in the East wall, on the North side, of the old St. Mary's Church, bears this inscription :
" This Tablet The Memorial of A Sister's undying love is Erected to the memory of ANNE Relict of the Revd. Dr. Wharton, late Rector of this Church, who departed this life on the 20th of June, A. D. 1834.
Let this marble speak her worth 1 when the many sorrowing hearts which her charity has gladdened have ceased to beat, and the weeping eyes, from which her sympathy has wiped the tears, 1 are closed in death."'
424
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
CHURCH ENLARGEMENT DETERMINED UPON.
A resolution was adopted by the Vestry, September 3d, 1834, in these words :
"Resolved, That Christian Larzelere, William McMurtrie, (Wardens,) Jacob Shedaker, Daniel Hancock, and James Hunter Sterling, with the Rt. Rev. Rector, be a Committee to inquire and report at a future meeting of the Vestry what alterations can be made in the Church, whereby its revenues may be aug- mented, its appearance improved, its convenience increased, and its usefulness extended."
The plan reported by the Committee, was, on the 26th of Sep- tember, approved and accepted by the Vestry ; and John Lar- zelere, Edward Rogers, and William McMurtrie appointed the Building Committee. A contract was entered into with Mr. Isaac Holden, Architect of Philadelphia, for the execution of the plan designed by him, reported by the Committee, and approved by the Vestry. On the 6th day of October the work was commenced-and on Tuesday, December 23d, the building was consecrated to the worship of Almighty God.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH.
[From the Missionary.]
"The plan of the Church is that of a Latin Cross, the head being towards the south east. The interior dimensions of the nave and choir, are eighty feet, six inches, by thirty feet; and of the transept, thirty feet by fifty-nine feet, six inches. The whole affords sixty pews, calculated for eight persons each. t It is built of bricks, and is to be rough-cast, in imitation of free stone or granite.
"The south east, or principal facade presents (as nearly as circumstances would permit,) a composition in accordance with the Grecian style of architecture, exhibiting a centre building and wings,-the centre having a pediment, in the tympanum of which is inserted a circular window, surrounded by an Isthmian wreath, composed of the Lotus leaf. On the apex of the pedi-
+ The former number was thirty-four.
THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY, IN BURLINGTON. CONSECRATED IN 1834.
425
IN BURLINGTON.
ment is intended to be fixed an acroterium, bearing an enriched Greek Cross ; behind which, and on a square stylobate, rises an octagonal bell-tower,-the apertures of which are filled in with luffer boarding, the whole surmounted by a gilt ball and vane. The design of the tower is derived from that built at Athens by Andronicus Cyrrhites, commonly called the Tower of the Winds.
"The door or entrance, is decorated by a Doric entablature and antæ, over which is a raised tablet. The windows are fin- ished, with plain architraves, over which is a sunk pannel. The principal entrance into the Church is situated at the south west side, (under a porch,) on the inside of which is a vestibule, opening into the transept. At the opposite extremity, and on the wall of the chevet, is intended to be placed a mural monument, to the memory of the late Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D., who was for thirty-seven years Rector of this Church. On the south east side, occupying the head of the Cross, is placed the chancel and choir, the architectural decorations of which are arranged from approved Grecian models. The pulpit is of a semi-octagonal form. Immediately in front of which, and attached thereto, stands the reading desk,-and on the sides, enclosing the stairs, are placed, panneled pedestals upon which are fixed carved scrolls. On each side of the pulpit are large tablets, containing the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, and the Ten Commandments. The whole is enclosed by an enriched railing and mahogany capping. Behind the chancel, and under the choir, is situated the Rector's robing room, the vestry room, and the parish library.
"On the north west side is also an entrance and windows, similar in exterior decoration to those on the south east front, and having on the inside a vestibule opening into the nave of the Church. Under the nave, is constructed a furnace, for sup- plying the Church with heated air."
CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH.
On Tuesday, December 23, 1834, St. Mary's Church was consecrated to the public worship of Almighty God, by the Right Reverend Bishop Doane. The request of the Vestry,
426
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
being presented to the Bishop, by Christian Larzelere, Esq., Senior Warden, was read by the Rev. Hewlett R. Peters, assistant to the Rector, in the following terms :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.