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 39
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Love the too well ! it could not be: For can I e'er repay, The love which in thy bosom glow'd, And blessings day by day bestow'd, To light me on my way ?
460
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
At yonder consecrated fount That love was first reveal'd ; There shelter'd in thy tender arms, My brow was laved with holy charms- With Heaven's own signet seal'd.
Nor ended then thy watchful care, But still thou led'st me on, And bad'st me at the chancel bow, And kneeling there, myself avow GOD's steadfast champion.
And ever as the season comes, My steps still there are led, Where thou, with all a mother's care, Dost for thy children's wants prepare The heaven-descended bread.
Thou early taught'st my infant lips Thy strains of prayer and praise ; And rais'dst my heart from earthly toys, To look for higher, holier joys, By thy celestial lays.
And as the rolling year glides on, With thee I duly lie, To see my LORD at Bethlehem, Or crown'd with thorny diadem, On gloomy Calvary ;
Or view him in the garden tomb, Secured by seal and stone ; Or mark him rend death's icy chain, And rising upward, mount again His everlasting throne.
Untaught by thy maternal love, Where would this soul have been ? O'er schism's troubled billows tost, Or'chance, alas ! for ever lost In the dark gulf of sin.
Then, can I love thee e'er too well, Who so hast loved me ? No! let the moments of my life With deep affection all be rife, And tender love to thee.
Let all my powers, though weak and frail, Be ever wholly thine; Since not a gift which man can bring, Would be too rich an offering, To proffer at thy shirine.
Keep me, O keep me, mother, then, With thy unchanging love : And when earth's final hour has come, Conduct me to thy Master's home, In brighter worlds above.
461
IN BURLINGTON.
THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE CHURCH.
" The Committee appointed to report on the means, liabilities and expenditures of St. Mary's Church, offer the following, as the result of their examinations :
"1st. As to the possessions of the Church, they consist of two kinds-real and personal. As the present object or enquiry, refers to income, the committee will name that part of the for- mer only, which produces revenue, to wit, The lots on the Point, now in the tenure of Samuel R. Gummere, containing about twelve acres, which were divided into building lots in 1835, of 25 feet front each, and offered for sale in August of that year, a few of which only were sold, in consequence, we believe of the tenant's opposition and protest. Without stopping to state par- ticulars, it will be sufficient to say that Mr. Gummere still holds possession of the property, and will most likely continue to do so till March, 1840, the end of his pretended lease, at the rent of 60 dollars a year ; not a cent of which has been paid, since the lease began, to wit, March 1835.
"A Lot back of the Parsonage, containing about 3 acres rented to David Allen, at 25 dollars a year, but now, in the occupancy, the committee believe, of Mr. Binney. The Rent is paid up faithfully.
"The Academy, two rooms on the lower story, rent for 50 dol- lars a year-one, to the Rector, and the other to the Messrs. Perkins for a place of instruction.
"A Lot on the extreme east point of Pearl street, on which James Horn has built a house, containing 100 feet on that street running down to low water mark. This is a very important lot, being the only outlet to the Delaware for all the Church prop- erty. The rent is but three dollars a year, and Horn has no claim upon it, either in Law or equity, nor can he pretend to have any except as a tenant at will.
" Passing over to the creek, the Church owns, without dispute, the strip of land, on the East of the road, up to the dam, and all the way down to low water mark which has been rented as- follows, since 1835-
Budd Sterling, 100 feet more or less
$10 a year.
David Vansciver,
100 do do 10 do
Sam1 W Earl, 100 do do
10 do
Gaskill & Son, 100 do do 10 do
"On Vansciver's part, there are some old buildings which belong to the tenant, and by agreement, may be removed at his pleasure ; he paying the stipulated rent until such time. This ends the real estate. The personal consists of two bonds,
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
one of Isaac Lippincott's for $1600, & the other of Joseph Hall's for $600, both at 6 per cent. and well secured, on bond and mortgage. The income will stand thus :-
Real Estate $178 a year
Personal do 132 do
$310
"The committee will now briefly state the revenue of the Church from other sources, premising that it will be made in round numbers-for 12 months ending Oct 1st
Income before mentioned from Real and personal Estate. $310 Pew Rents. 650
Penny Collections. 52
Breaking ground 25
$1037
" It seems then, that the whole receipts are a little over one thousand dollars,-but it must be recollected that this is only on paper. The Question is, does that sum flow into the treas- ury every year ? It certainly does not-as the Committee have already shown-in the case of Mr. Gummere at least, and per- haps some others. It is the opinion of the Committee, founded on unquestionable data, that if the holder of the lots on the point, had acted as he should have done, at the time of the sale in 1835, that the Church would now be in possession of an ample income. It is well known that buyers would not venture their money with the almost certain expectation of having to contend in law with the occupant. Since then the spirit of the times has gone out ; and now, even if the Church were in posses- sion of the lots, it is extremely questionable whether a sale could be made at anything like a fair price. Independent how- ever of this view of the matter, there is another, which regards the renting of the lots, the interests of the Church have been greatly injured in that respect by the course of conduct pursued by the present tenant, in holding the property in defiance of right-instead of $60, more than double that sum, might have been had, from responsible and punctual persons ; and this not a mere matter of opinion, but a fact known probably to other members of the Vestry. Without pursuing this matter farther, the Committee will proceed to give a view of the expenditures of the Church; and first, they will inform the Vestry, that the Church owes to the Episcopal Convention of the diocese of New Jersey, 1200, dollars on bond, the interest of which has not
463:
IN BURLINGTON.
been paid, since the money was borrowed, namely in July, 1835, amounting now, to nearly 200 dols. This money was borrowed under the authority of the Church, as will appear on reference to the proceedings of the Vestry, for the purpose of completing the alterations then being made. The interest at least should be paid ; Time does not obliterate, but on the contrary augments. it. It becomes the Vestry then, to seek out some means to wipe off the growing burthen, and that speedily .-
$1200, at 6 per cent.
$72
Rector's Salary
700
Sexton's $75 & assistant's $25.
100
Fuel
50
Candles & oil
50
Incidental Expenses
75
Organ Boy
5
$1052
"It will be noticed, that this estimate sets forth, only the stated or ordinary expenditures of the Vestry, and does not by any means include the numerous other expenses which are constantly being incurred, and which amount, take one year with another, to $50 or more. But without regarding these for the present, it would seem, that the regular annual charge, exceeds that of the anuual income by $15, and this too, presuming that every cent of the income is collected, which is far from being the fact.
"The Committee have, in the course of this report adverted to the necessity of paying off the interest on the bond of $1200, due the diocese; they again more emphatically, call the atten- tion of the Vestry to that matter, as being of primary import- ance and consequence to both parties, but more particularly so to those to whom the money is due. It may be asked why enjoin a thing, which, under present circumstances seems im- practicable ? In reply the Committee would say, that in their opinion, silence on their part, would have been a dereliction of duty, in so vital a matter. As regards that part of the Com- mittee's enquiry which embraces the actual state of the accounts, since the last settlement, they beg the indulgence of the Vestry, 'till another meeting.
"All of which is Respectfully submitted " JOHN THOMAS NEWTON Committee" " JAMES H. STERLING " Dec. 16th, 1837.
-Original in Parish Archives ..
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
BISHOP DOANE ON DR. WHARTON'S ACCOUNTS.
" Messrs. J. H. Sterling & J. T. Newton, Wardens of St. Mary's Church,
" DEAR FRIENDS, -- I enclose to you, in your capacity as a Committee on the Accounts of St. Mary's Church, the final account of Dr. Wharton's estate ; from which it will appear that there is a balance due me from the Church, as Residuary Legatee, of $493.34}, which should appear in your statement; I having overpaid for the use of the Church so much.
" Very truly your friend & servant,
"G. W. DOANE. "St. Mary's Parsonage, 10 Jan., 1838."
ST. MARY'S HALL RAPIDLY INCREASED.
" The Institution for Female Education on Christian Princi- ciples, St. Mary's Hall, Burlington, notwithstanding the disas- trous period at which it was commenced, has constantly and rapidly increased, even beyond the most sanguine expectations of its friends. It numbers at present fifty boarders and thirteen day scholars. Of the former, one in every ten, the daughter of a Clergyman deceased, or in necessitous circumstances, is re- ceived and educated without charge. The members of the household are all parishioners of St. Mary's Church, and the daily religious instruction is in strict 'accordance with the principles and institutions of the Church."-Episcopal Address.
THE REV. BENJAMIN DAVIS WINSLOW, ASSISTANT.
The Rev. Benjamin Davis Winslow was ordained Deacon in St. Mary's Church, June 3d, 1838, and immediately became Assistant to the Rt. Rev. the Rector of the Parish.
The neighbouring parish of St. Stephen's, Willingborough, being vacant, he supplied it one half of each Lord's day, for many months. "The present writer," says Bishop Doane, " has heard but very few sermons that were superior to his ; and the Hon. Horace Binney, a summer parishioner of St. Mary's Church, has often said, that he had heard none such from a young man. But far beyond even his ripeness as a scholar, and his manliness as a preacher, was the devotion of his unfailing benev- olence. He not only continued, but increased, his labours among
-
465
IN BURLINGTON.
the poor and the afflicted. It was his highest pleasure-more than his meat and drink-' to search for the sick, poor and im- potent people of the parish, to intimate their estates, names and places where they dwell, unto the Curate, that by his exhorta- tion they might be relieved with the alms of the parish- ioners or others ;' and it was partly from these peculiar duties of the office, and partly from his surpassing modesty, that he lingered in spirit in the diaconate, and left it with a feeling of reluctance. He would carry any burden, to any distance, if it ministered to comfort. He walked miles to watch with a very sick woman. And once, when he found that the feelings of the family would otherwise be hurt, he stole away, when he was sick enough to be in bed, to sit all night by the corpse of a negro boy. In him, the gift of mercy proved ' twice blessed.' There was not a citizen of Burlington that did not respect and desire to serve him."-Remains of B. D. Winslow, pp. 74, 75.
A FONT GIVEN BY THE RECTOR.
At a meeting of the Vestry held Dec. 28th, 1838, "the Rector asked the Vestry's acceptance, as a Christmas gift, of the Bap- tismal Font, which he has placed in the Chancel for the use of the Church.
"He also asked permission, if Mrs. Bradford shall consent, to have the Silver Bowl presented by her late venerable father, the Hon. ELIAS BOUDINOT, and long used in the Church for the baptismal water, converted into a bason for the use of the Altar, in collecting the alms and offerings of the people.
" Whereupon, On motion of Capt. Newton,
" Voted, That the Vestry accept, with the most grateful acknowledgments on their part, the Rector's beautiful and val- uable present, and accede to the proposition, embraced in the last part of his communication.
" On motion, Capt. Newton and Mr. Wilson were appointed a committee to confer with Mrs. Bradford, in relation to the proposition embraced in the Rector's communication ; and they were requested, at the same time, to convey to her the thanks of the Vestry for her valuable present of a Chair for the Chan- cel, made some time since."
2 G
466
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
THANKS TO MRS. BRADFORD, FOR THE BISHOP'S CHAIR. " Burlington, N. Jersey, " December 31st, 1838.
"DEAR MADAM,-It is our pleasing lot to have been appointed a Committee by the Wardens & Vestry of St. Mary's Church to tender you their thanks for the very acceptable, splendid, and appropriate present of the Chair which now graces, and enriches its Chancel, and at the same time beg leave to express the regret that this demonstration of their gratitude, should have been tendered at so late a period ; but we ask, dear Madam, your acceptance of it now ; and at the same time the compliments of the season from your
" Most obt. servts. and friends, " WALTER WILSON, " JOHN THOMAS NEWTON, " Committee. " Mrs. Susan V. Bradford, " Burlington, N. Jersey."
THE BAPTISMAL BOWL MADE INTO AN ALMS BASON.
" At a Vestry meeting held Jan. 14th, 1839, the Committee appointed to wait on Mrs. Bradford reported that they had attended to that duty, and that Mrs. Bradford expressed her entire willingness to accede to the proposition in relation to the bowl.
" On motion, Mr. Wilson and Capt. Newton were appointed a committee to have the bowl made into a plate for the Altar."+
+ The two alms plates before mentioned in these pages, one from the silver of Mrs. Peirce, and the other from the bowl of Dr. Boudinot, were made the same year, as the following bill shows :
"Philad'a, Sept. 26, 1839.
" St. Mary's Church, Burlington, Dr., " To Fletcher & Bennett,
" For making 2 Silver Plates for Communion, weighing 35 oz. 2 dwts., (a) $30.00
" For Engraving Inscription, & Cross, on both 7.65
$37.65
" Credit by 18 dwt. Silver
1.15
$36.50
" Rec'd payment in full,
" FLETCHER & BENNETT."
" Oct. 5, 1839.
467
IN BURLINGTON.
BISHOP DELANCEY PRESENT AT THE CONVENTION.
May 29th, 1839. The 56th annual Convention was held in St. Mary's Church. A charge to the Clergy was delivered by the Bishop ; after which the Holy Communion was administered by him, assisted by the Rt. Rev. William H. DeLancey, D. D., Bishop of Western New York, the Rev. Edmund D. Barry, D. D., and the Rev. George Y. Morehouse.
The Bishop then took the Chair, and called the Convention to order ; and having stated that the Rt. Rev. Dr. DeLancey was present, it was, on motion, resolved, that the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Western New York be invited to an honorary seat in this Convention. The Rev. Messrs. Croes and Ward were appointed a Committee to conduct Bishop DeLancey t to the seat provided for him, on the right hand of the Bishop,
DEATH AND BURIAL OF REV. MR. WINSLOW.
"It was in the midst of such usefulness, [see p. 464,] and in the bloom of domestic happiness, with a wife of less than a year beside him, that the keen eye of science detected, in the hidden malady which had distressed him [Mr. Winslow] for some months, the seeds of certain death. * When he was told that all was given up by his physicians, not a feature of his countenance was changed. 'God's will be done !' was the immediate and becoming expression. Nay, if he might but be prepared, he would add, 'Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly !' All his arrangements were made to the most minute detail ; 'as calmly,' one well remarked, 'as if he were going on a journey.' He spoke to all his friends, of his decease, with the serenity of an old saint. All he was anxious for, he said, was for his sins.
+ Only twenty days before-on the Feast of the Ascension, May 9th, 1839- in St. Peter's Church, Auburn, N. Y., the Rev. Dr. DeLancey was consecrated as the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Western New York. On the evening preceding that solemnity Bishop Doane preached on "The Inherited Deprav- ity of Man." By request, the sermon was published ; and in a prefatory note, the Bishop says : "This discourse was one of a course of Lent Lectures, on the Fifty-first Psalm, delivered by the Author, in his parish Church of St. Mary's, Burlington. Being called upon, unexpectedly, to preach, in the presence of the Convention of the Diocese of Western New York, at Auburn, when recently there to assist in the Consecration of his esteemed friend and brother, the Bishop elect of that Diocese, it was taken for that occasion, merely as the simple exposition of a fundamental truth."
468
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Them, he humbly trusted, he might cast, by faith, upon the bleeding Cross. He was from his childhood the most conscien- tious of beings. And, though, to all who knew him, his life seemed wrought, through grace, to the highest point of excel- lence attainable to man, to him, he said, it all seemed sinful. Nevertheless, he rested on the atonement by Christ Jesus ; and he desired his dying testimony to be recorded to the sufficiency and power of those principles and institutions, in which, as a Catholic Churchman, he had lived, and hoped to die.
On the day before his death, he spoke strongly of the entire sufficiency, for all the purposes of devotion, in every condition of life, of the Book of Common Prayer. He had the satisfaction to know that 'prayer had been made to God for him continu- ally,' in his parish Church for many weeks; as in others in the diocese. As he lay serene and still, he gently raised his right hand, then as cold as stone, and traced upon his forehead, in silence and solemnity, the sign of the blessed Cross. We understood the omen. He was retracing his baptismal sign. He was renewing his baptismal dedication. He was confessing the Crucified once more before men. He was sealing himself for the sepulchre. He gradually sunk, breathed more and more faintly, and surrendered up his spirit to the God who gave it, so quietly that his latest breath could not be distinguished. 'So HE giveth his beloved sleep.'
His funeral was attended on Saturday morning, in St. Mary's Church ; the Bishop of the diocese, as he had requested, scarcely performing the funeral service. After which he was borne to the grave by his sorrowing brethren, and followed by a weeping community. His funeral sermon was to have been preached on Sunday morning : but was deferred until the afternoon, at the instance of the Presbyterian minister; who, in the name of his own congregation, and those of the Baptists and Methodists, requested that arrangement in a most truly Christian letter : +
+ "RIGHT REVEREND AND DEAR SIR :
" You are aware of the deep sympathy of all denominations of Christians, in the present affliction of your family and Church. The departure of Wins- low, has spread a gloom over the community, of which he was a useful and cherished member. For one, I loved and honoured him for his Christian
469
IN BURLINGTON.
And, notwithstanding the violence of the storm, the Church was filled to overflowing. So easy is it to be a decided and consistent Churchman; and yet, by a holy life and charitable conversation, secure the universal favour."-Remains of B. D. Winslow, pp. 75-79.
OBITUARY NOTICE.
" Died, at St. Mary's Cottage, Green Bank, Burlington, New Jersey, on Thursday morning, November 21, the Rev. BENJA - MIN DAVIS WINSLOW, Assistant to the Rector of St. Mary's Church, in the 25th year of his age. A more untimely death than this, as men account of time, has seldom been recorded. But He who 'doeth all things well ' hath put the times and the seasons in his own power : and, since the blessed Son of God, when he became incarnate for our sins, was contented not to know
zeal and integrity; and I but express the opinion of the multitude, in this testimony to his virtuous character.
"It has been reported that the funeral sermon is to be preached to-morrow morning; and it is the object of this note humbly to suggest whether you might not yield to the desire of many from other denominations, and postpone it till the afternoon. The Methodists and Baptists have no service at that time; and we would love to transfer our worship to the solemnities of your own sanctuary.
"In humbly making this proposal, I am not aware how far the expectation of your own congregation (which is of course to be specially consulted, ) would be grieved and disappointed by any postponement. And there may be other reasons, adverse to granting our desires, of which you yourself are the sole judge. But, if in any way, it would be consistent with the arrangements of the Sabbath to allow very many others to unite in their expressions interest and sympathy, we would all esteem it a favour. At the same time, I repeat, that a denial would be considered as springing from the very best of reasons. " With great regard and respect, yours, " CORTLANDT VAN RENSSELAER."
"Burlington, Saturday morning."
"MY VERY KIND FRIEND :
"I have received your most Christian note; and hasten to say, that your request shall be complied with. It was my purpose to attempt to pay the tribute of a bleeding heart to my dear child, to-morrow morning; and it is more usual with us to do so. But I most cheerfully adopt the arrangement you so considerately suggest; and to which every consideration, but that of absolute duty, should have been yielded, without a moment's hesitation. Accept my cordial thanks for the manner in which you have spoken of my beloved son and brother, to whose rare Christian graces you do but justice ; and believe me, most affectionately, and faithfully, your friend,
" Riverside, Saturday morning."
GEORGE W. DOANE."
470
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
either the day or the hour, it becomes us reverently to submit assured that though we know not now, we shall know hereafter. Another and a fuller opportunity will be embraced to turn to their just account the eminent virtues of this young saint. The present writer never knew a man whose character could be adopted, to depict more clearly and more fully THE TRUE CATH- OLIC CHURCHMAN, IN HIS LIFE, AND IN HIS DEATH : and to that pious duty, if it please God to give him time and strength, he proposes to devote himself, as the best service he can render to the Church, of which the beloved Winslow, even at his years, was a pillar and an ornament. For the present, let it suffice, with a bleeding heart and a trembling hand, to twine around this polished shaft in our sanctuary-fallen, indeed, yet match- less in its beauty-a few funereal flowers, the tribute of true love to his beloved and imperishable memory."
THE RECTOR'S CHRISTMAS PASTORAL.
"To the Parishioners of St. Mary's Church :
" BRETHREN BELOVED IN THE LORD, The cheerful Christ- mas season comes to us, this year, in clouds. On our most holy places, the habiliments of woe have but just yielded to the garments of rejoicing. With the myrtle, and the laurel, and the box, that testify our gratitude and gladness for a Redeemer born, there is a mingling of funereal cypress. A new grave garners, till the resurrection morning, the precious dust of the beloved Winslow. What then ? Shall we not rejoice at 'the good tidings of great joy,' that ' unto us is born, this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord?' 'Oh, say not so,' said he, in his last days, to one, who spoke of having a gloomy Christmas, on account of his decease-' Oh, say not so, but think what we should all be, but for the birth which Christmas-day commemorates !' Beloved, it is even so. The Christian's joy must always be ' with trembling.' The Chris- tian's sorrow can never be 'without hope.' 'And this alternation of joy and sorrow ; ' as one has beautifully said, 'of joy not unsubdued, and sorrow not unmitigated, is characteristic of that divine system, through which the Church would train her
471
IN BURLINGTON.
children for heaven. Each week has its Fast, as well as its Feast ; as if to teach us that would we rise with Christ, we must also suffer with Him. We are ushered, through Vigils, into Festivals; and are moulded into fitness for our Easter joy, by the penitential discipline of Lent. Our joy is never all joyful, neither is our sorrow all sorrowful. We sorrow, as having hope elsewhere ; and rejoice, as still in the body. Such is the Church's portion, while militant in the world. Soon the world shall melt away from around her; then shall she rejoice without sorrowing.' That in that blessed season of the Church's joy, we may all rejoice through grace, 'with joy unspeakable and full of glory,' devoutly prays your friend and Christian Pastor.
"GEORGE W. DOANE." " Riverside, St. Thomas' Day, 1839."
THE GRAVE OF THE REV. MR. WINSLOW.
The spot where Mr. Winslow's remains repose, is marked with a large headstone, having a cross, with the sacred mono- gram, at the top, and under it these words :
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