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 42
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Wharton, Samuel Rogers, Rachel B. Wallace, James W. Bradin, Isaac B. Parker, each $50. Mrs. S. C. Byles, Fanny Martee, Francis Roth, Charles Hand, Caroline Watson, each $25. Sophy, Col"., at Mr. Chauncey's, A Friend, Ditto being pro- ceeds of sale of skein of Pearls, to be accounted for by Mrs. Doane, each $10. Mrs. Wiltbank, $5 .- Treasurer's Book.
NEARLY THREE HUNDRED CHILDREN IN THE TWO INSTI- TUTIONS.
" Burlington College is intended for the training up of Pas- tors. It is designed, also, as a central home, for Missionary Deacons. When, in a few years more, these purposes shall be fulfilled, the diocese will have no want of Clergy, of a proper spirit. There are already there, five priests, and six young men, preparing for the ministry. Ten years, with God to bless us, will double, from that source alone, the present number of our Clergy. I ask your prayers, that God may bless the work ; that he may raise up for it, those who, in furnishing it with the endowment,t which is all it needs, may find how true it is, which He hath said, ' It is more blessed to give than to receive;' that He may continue to the dear children, in both houses, and to them who have the charge of them, abounding measures of His grace, 'that our sons may grow up as the young plants, and our daughters, as the polished corners of the temple.' * *
" Nearly three hundred children are gathered now at Burling- ton. They come from every quarter of the land. They meet, as in a common home. They are knit together in the bonds of mutual love. They will disperse, with false impressions cor- rected, with prejudices removed, with attachments formed, with affections mutually won. The way to the parental heart is- shortest, through the child. Sectional differences, will, in this way, be diminished ; local and personal partialities will be re- moved ; the North will be drawn nearer to the South ; the East will be conciliated to the West. In this way, who can tell what
+ Miss Rachel B. Wallace, late of Burlington, has bequeathed to the College two thousand dollars, for the support of such candidate, or candidates for. orders, pursuing theological studies there, as the Bishop may designate.
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IN BURLINGTON.
permanence may be imparted to our civil institutions, what vigor infused into our great national interests, what harmony secured in our vast political relations ? Especially, when the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is made the central magnet of attraction ; especially, when the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is made the fold, for safety and protection."-Episcopal" Address, 1848.
THE REV. ERNEST HAWKINS, B. D., IN BURLINGTON.
" On Sunday, 29 July, 1849, (eighth after Trinity,) in St. Mary's Church, after morning prayers, by the Rev. Ernest Hawkins, B. D., Secretary of the Venerable Society, in Eng- land, for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, I preached, and confirmed fourteen persons ; seven of whom were pupils of St. Mary's Hall, and seven of Burlington College.
This was a service of peculiar interest. The parish in Burlington has been closely connected with the Church of England, and deeply indebted to it. The first project, for an American Episcopate, proposed one Bishop, for the Islands, and another, for the Continent : the see of the latter to be at Bur- lington. The scheme was then enlarged : two, for the Islands, and two, for the Continent; one, at Burlington, and one, at Williamsburgh, Virginia. In 1714, a convenient mansion house and lands, for the Episcopal residence, were purchased, at the cost of £600 sterling, 'situate at Burlington, within the Jersies.' The project was arrested, by the death of Queen Anne. ' The convenient Mansion House" was burnt down. In 1803, the lands were conveyed, by the Venerable Society, to the Cor- poration of St. Mary's Church; and are now its property. The first minister of Burlington was one of the earliest Mission- aries of the Society, the Rev. Mr. Talbot. The Rev. Secretary of the Society, making a tour, through the country, was my guest, at the time of the Confirmation. It had been appointed, in special reference to the two Christian Schools, which, for so many years, have found a shelter, in the parish, which was the earliest and most favoured nursling of the Society. It was a beautiful providence, that the excellent person, who, for ten
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years has been its executive, and, in that period, has laid the foundation of thirteen colonial bishoprics, should be present, with us, as partaker of our humble joy."-Episcopal Address, 1850.
GIFT OF A SILVER FLAGON.
A massive flagon, of silver, was bequeathed to the parish, bearing this inscription :
+ A bequest from Mrs. Susan Wallace of Philadelphia Widow of John Bradford Wallace, Esq to St. Mary's Church, Burlington, N. J., A. D. 1849 in memory of the baptism in that parish of three children A. D. 1807, 1810, 1811.
A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.
" In the NAME of the FATHER and OF THE SON and of THE HOLY GHOST Amen.
"THIS IS TO CERTIFY
" That on this twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in St : Mary's Church in the City of Burlington, New Jersey, in a public congregation, The REV. MARCUS F. HYDE, f and ANNA M. MORRIS,¿ both of Burlington aforesaid, were by me duly united in Holy Matrimony, according to the provision of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
"G W DOANE, [L. S. ]§ " Rector of St. Mary's Church."
THE ARCHDEACON OF SPANISH TOWN, IN BURLINGTON.
" I shall but make by own feelings the vehicle of yours, my reverend and beloved brethren, when I express the heartfelt
7 Professor of Ancient Languages in Burlington College.
į Anna Margaretta, daughter of Edmund Morris; and great-grand-daughter of Margaret Morris, from whose journal we quoted, on p. 321.
¿ The well-known Episcopal seal of Bishop Doane, with the mitre at the top of the shield, and beneath, the legend "RIGHT ONWARD."
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IN BURLINGTON.
pleasure, which has been afforded, by the presence, among us, this morning, of the Venerable Archdeacon Smith, of Spanish Town, in the Island of Jamaica. The Right Reverend the Bishop of that diocese was only prevented, from accepting my invitation, by a previous engagement, to go elsewhere. * * The increasing intercommunion of the mother and the daughter Church, now sisters, the Church of England, and the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the United States of America, is full of comfort, not only, but of the highest promise, for the spread of Apostolic truth, and the increase of Catholic love. May it abound more and more !"-Episcopal Address, 1850.
GIFT OF A PATEN AND CHALICE. -
On the 25th of December, 1850, the parish was presented with a silver-gilt paten, and chalice, of beautiful design and finish. Around the rim of the paten, in Church text, we read : " He that eateth of this bread shall live forever " On the reverse, "St. Mary's Church, Burlington, N. J., the Thankoffering of a Parishioner X-mas 1850."
Around the bowl of the chalice, in letters similar to those on the paten, is this : " Whoso drinketh my blood hath eternal life." And around the base, "St. Mary's Church, Burlington, N. J., the Thankoffering of a Parishioner, X-mas, 1850."
COLLEGIANS PLANTING TREES.
" On All Saints' Day, 1 November, 1851, I was present, and assisting, at Burlington College, at the beginning of a usage ; which I cannot but regard as charitable and pious, and cannot but hope may be perpetual. The Alumni, having determined to plant, each one, a tree, on that day, in the hope, that those who come after them, may follow their example, assembled, at the noon service, in the Chapel of the Holy Innocents ; where (as on all Holy Days) the Holy Communion was administered. We went, thence, in procession, to the College grounds ; where, after, appropriate prayers, the trees were planted. It is a beau- tiful thought, in these young Churchmen, to combine the me- morial of themselves, with the comfort of their successors, and
2 I
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the adornment of their Alma Mater. May they, themselves, be, all, as trees, ' the planting of the Lord !'"-Episcopal Address, 1852.
REMARKS ON THE SPECIAL CONVENTION.
"Of the Special Convention, which assembled on my call, in St. Mary's Church, Burlington, on Wednesday, the 17th day of March, 1852, there is no occasion for me, now, to speak. The Journal is in your hands; and, with it, a full minute, of the debates, as well as of the proceedings. I must be permitted, here, to say, that the trials, toils, and sufferings of my whole Episcopate were overpaid, by the unfaltering confidence, and unflinching determination to maintain the right, of the Clergy and people, over whom God has made me the overseer. With such a Clergy, and with such a people, I am ready, for whatever is appointed to me; to live, or die, with them. It is my duty, here, to state, that, the action of the Special Conven- tion notwithstanding, what purports to be an ' official summons " ' to appear in Camden, New Jersey, on the 24th day of June, 1852, and answer to the specifications made in the presentment ' ' by' 'the Bishops of Virginia, Ohio, and Maine, for trial,' signed ' Phil'r Chase, Pres'g B'p,' was served on me, on the 30th day of April. I trust, that I shall have grace from God, not to fail, in what I owe to my brethren, in the Episcopate, and to my successors, in that office, in this extraordinary state of affairs. And, I have perfect confidence, that the Diocese, whose repre- sentatives, at the Special Convention, filled the hearts of Christ- endom, with grateful admiration, will look well to its own rights and responsibilities, in the premises."-Episcopal Address, 1852.
PROPOSAL TO RE-ESTABLISH "THE MISSIONARY."
"It is proposed to re-establish the MISSIONARY, as a paper devoted generally to the interests of the Holy Catholic Church ; and as the official organ of the Bishop of New Jersey. Its dis- continuance was felt, by very many Churchmen of the Diocese, to be a great disadvantage; but, it became necessary, from the pecuniary loss which it devolved on the Proprietor. With a view to remedy this evil, a more responsible and efficient method of conducting it has been adopted.
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IN BURLINGTON.
"The Missionary will be, as before, under the immediate supervision and control of the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of the Dio- cese. It will be published on the second and fourth Mondays of every month ; beginning as soon as 400 subscribers are ob- tained : and will contain eight pages, small folio. The price of subscription will be $2.00 a year, payable in advance; or $2.50, if collected. The Missionary will be sent free to the Clergy of this Diocese, and to any person sending to the Editor the names of four subscribers.
" This Circular, with the accompanying letter of the Bishop, is earnestly commended to the attention and interest of the Clergy, and the Laity, of the Church.
" All communications relative to the paper, must be addressed to the Editor and Proprietor.
" WILLIAM CROSWELL DOANE, " Burlington, New Jersey.
" Riverside, December 7th, 1852."
"The undersigned earnestly commends to the patronage of the Diocese, and of Churchmen, everywhere, the enterprise now entered on, in the revival of the MISSIONARY. It will be con- ducted, strictly and constantly, under his control and super- vision ; and will sustain and set forward the principles and institutions, to which his life has been devoted.
"G. W. DOANE, " Bishop of New Jersey.
" Riverside, 8 December, 1852."
REV. WM. CROSWELL DOANE ELECTED ASSISTANT.
" At a meeting of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church, hela April 21st, 1853, the Secretary laid before the Vestry the fol- lowing letter, from the Rev. William Croswell Doane, in reply to his communication to him, of his unanimous election to the office of Assistant Minister of this Parish, which letter was read and ordered to be recorded upon the minutes :
"' Riverside, April 9, 1853.
"' My dear Mr. Aertsen :
"' Allow me to express through you to the Wardens and Ves- trymen of this parish, my sincere thanks for the confidence with which they have honored me, in calling me to be their Assist- ant Minister. I need hardly say with what deep feeling I
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accept a call, which enables me to relieve my Father of part of the toil, which, for so many years, he has borne alone; and to serve humbly, and in the fear of God at the altar of my Con- firmation, my first Communion and my Ordination, among those who have so long walked with me in the House of God as friends.
"' With great respect
"' Your faithful friend & servt. in Christ, "' WM. CROSWELL DOANE. "'R. B. AERTSEN, EsQ.,
"' Sec. of Ves. of St. Mary's Ch.'"
DURING THE ERECTION OF A CHURCH.
The following Prayer is used in St. Mary's Church, Burling- ton ; and is permitted to be used in any of the Congregations of the Diocese, under similar circumstances.
G. W. DOANE, Bishop of New Jersey.
Riverside, 4 July, 1853. THE PRAYER.
O, Almighty God, who hast given unto us, Thy servants, grace, to erect an house, for the honour of Thy name, and for the comfort and salvation of the souls, for which, Thy only Son did shed His precious blood, accept the offering, which, in all humility, we bring to Thee, of that, which is Thine own; and bless Thy servants, and their service. "Prosper, Thou the work of our hands upon us," O God; "O, prosper Thou our
handy-work." Direct their counsels, to whom the work is specially entrusted, that it may be ordered, to Thy greatest glory, and to the greatest good of Thy believing people. Have, in Thy Holy keeping, the building, and whatsoever appertains to it: that our sacred purpose may be brought, the soonest, to the best result. Direct and bless the skill and industry of the Architect, the master-builders, and the workmen. May they be safe from every accident, and secure from every danger. And may all, who are, in any way connected with this temple, made with hands, be built up, through the operation of Thy Holy Spirit, as living stones, acceptable to Thee, through Him, who is the tried and precious corner stone, Thy Son, our only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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IN BURLINGTON.
THE PRESENTMENT DISMISSED.
" From the next day, 1 September, 1853, to the 15, inclusive, I was in attendance on the Court of Bishops, assembled, in Cam- den, on the third presentment,f made for substantially the same charges, by the Bishops of Virginia, Ohio, and Maine : all of which had been investigated by a Committee of your Body, after testimony, taken under oath ; and declared to be not sustained by evidence. As the order of the Court, that 'the presentment be dismissed, and the respondent be discharged, without day,' was unanimous, seventeen Bishops, the whole of the Court, being present, I content myself with the single remark, that the form which its conclusion took, was not of my seeking; and was recommended to me, as, in the highest degree, desirable, for the peace and unity of the Church. Having laboured, assiduously, for that end, during a ministry, which overruns the third part of a century, I am thankful to believe that it has still been fur- thered, by the decision of this vexatious controversy."-Episco- pal Address, 1854.
THE CHRISTMAS WAITS.
On the midnight of Christmas, A. D. 1853, the old English custom was introduced in the parish for " the Waits"-a num- ber of young men-to visit the Episcopal residence, the homes of the Clergy, the Hall and the College, and the houses of promi- nent ;parishioners, saluting them under their windows, with Christmas carols.
SERVICES FOR THE UPPER PART OF THE CITY PROPOSED.
"At a meeting of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church held Feb. 6, 1854, the Rector having stated to the Vestry that his partic- ular object in calling them together on this occasion, was to express to them his conviction of the obligation not only, there was resting upon this parish to furnish additional Church Services and instruction to the residents in the upper part of
¡ For this "New Jersey Case"-too voluminous for insertion in this work- the reader is referred to the "Journals of the Conventions of the Diocese of New Jersey," and to the "Life of Bishop Doane, by his Son," pp. 470-506 ; and, further, to the " Life of Bishop Hopkins, by his Son," pp. 250-267.
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the City who could not be induced to attend at the Parish Church ; but also that the time had fully come when an effort should be made to fulfill said obligation, it was on motion
"Resolved, That the wardens be appointed a committee to confer with the Rector upon the most desirable mode of accom- plishing said object, and that they report to a future meeting of Vestry."
A CONSECRATION PATEN.
At Easter, 1854, a very large and elegant consecration-paten of silver-gilt was presented, having a medallion, in enamel of red and white, of the King of Glory, with the ensign of sovereignty in his hand, his head being surrounded with a nimbus in which the cross is conspicuous. Around the rim of the paten is this inscription in Church text: "+Blessing and honour and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen." On the reverse is this: "+Humbly laid upon the Altar of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, New Jersey, Easter, MDCCCLIV. +"
"LAUS DEO !
"A record of the Goodness and Mercy of God, as most nota- bly displayed in His protection from destruction, of the beautiful Temple, now being erected to His Honour and Glory by the members of this parish.
" On the evening of Thursday the 27th day of April, 1854, during a storm remarkable for its violence, the spire of the new Church, then built up to about three-fourths of its designed height, and as yet, entirely unprotected by any human means from such a disaster, was struck by a thunder-bolt so crushing, as to render hopeless any resistance, which the strength of the most solid masonry could offer to its violence ; but, Blessed be Our God, who 'hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm' and before whom 'the mountains quake and the hills melt,' 'Our Holy and Beautiful House' was not ' burned up,' the Lord 'made a way for the lightning of the thunder,' and the prayers which have been daily offered in His sanctuary for the preservation of
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the building and all concerned in its erection, were mercifully heard and answered.
" With the exception of the displacing of a few stones, which one day's labor restored, no injury was done; and this record is now here made, as a memorial of our thanksgiving to God for His most Providential mercy.
""' Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.' "- Vestry Minutes.
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR A NEW ORGAN.
" The undersigned agree to contribute what is underwritten to the purchase of an Organ, for St. Mary's Church, to cost fifteen hundred dollars; and to be approved by the Rector. The payment to be made to Thomas Milnor in three equal parts : 10 May, 10 June, and 10 July.
" Robert B. Aertsen, Franklin Gauntt, Elizabeth G. Cole, Rebecca Cole, William J. Watson, Margaret McIlvaine, Mary McIlvaine, William McIlvaine, L. W. Cannell, Henry C. Carey, E. E. Boudinot, Caroline Watson, Mrs. I. B. Parker, Miss Marcia Parker, Miss Virginia Parker-$50 each. T. W. Wall -$30. Jas. Farnum, Thomas Milnor, James W. Wall, Mrs. J. W. Wall, The Misses Shippen, Charles Swann, Mrs. Swann, Mr. Destouet, Mr. Lincoln-$25 each. H. McDowell-$10. John D. Moore, From a Lady-$5 each. Miss Patty Neal, Susan Burr-$1 each."
A PARISH SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
"The Parish School for boys, under the care of Mr. Samuel B. Seaman, contains thirty-seven boys, who receive a plain English education, with careful religious instruction, weekly catechism and instruction in sacred music. The Parish School for girls, under the care of Miss Anna W. Blackney, numbers eighty children ; whose instruction comprises, plain sewing, in addition to the above. Both Schools are strictly under the supervision
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and control of the Clergy of the Parish, and are for the children of its poor.
"A class for Scriptural instruction, meeting every week, has been successfully commenced.
"The new Parish Church, t will be ready for consecration, in a few weeks, if it please God.
" The Rev. Mr. Frost continues to render valuable service in the Parish."-Parochial Report, 1854.
ST. MARY'S EXCELS IN OFFERINGS.
" ' St. Mary's Church, Burlington,' writes Bishop Doane in a Pastoral Letter to the diocese, dated St. John Baptist's Day, 1854, ' has contributed more than all the rest of the diocese, to the Offerings of the Church, for the last Conventional year. Moreover, since the establishment of the Offerings of the Church,' as the diocesan mode of Missionary contributions, in 1833, that Parish has contributed twenty-seven thousand three hundred and sixty-one dollars, to various Church uses.
* " The Offerings, on the first Sunday in every month, are for the charities of the Parish. On the other Sun- days in the month, unless for some special purpose, they are for the Missions of the diocese. Whenever a special purpose is deemed proper, notice of it is given, on the Sunday preceding.
· The contributions, for stated purposes, have never fallen off from a fair average .- For special purposes, they always rise in just proportion to the occasion. The people never think of their prayers going up, before God, without their alms. And, when a Clergyman, once, officiated, here, from abroad, who had not been instructed in this point, and there was no Offertory, they expressed their regret, and complained of feeling lost. There are many parishes, in this diocese, which are able to give more than St. Mary's, Burlington. If every Parish should adopt the plan, the hundreds would be thousands."
+ At a meeting of the Vestry of Trinity Church, New York, held June 9th, 1853, "An application of the Rt. Revd. Bishop Doane, for the loan of the machine for raising stone owned by this Church for the purpose of erecting the spire of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, was received, and read, and it was ordered, that the same be loaned to the building of that Church."-Extract from the Minutes. Wm. E. Dunscomb, Clerk of the Vestry.
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IN BURLINGTON.
CONSECRATION OF THE NEW ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
"I do not think you will consider me extravagant, when I say, that the next service which I performed, was among the most interesting of my life : if I except the ordination of my two sons, quite the most interesting. I speak of the consecration of the new St. Mary's Church, in Burlington, on Thursday, the 10th of August, 1854. * In 1845, the attempt was made to obtain such funds, as would warrant the erection of a new Church. The result was so encouraging, that the Corner Stone was laid, on the 17th day of November, 1846 : with the just confidence, that the proceeds of property, belonging to the Parish, would be immediately available, to make up, what was not subscribed, by the parishioners. But, in this reasonable re- liance, the Vestry were disappointed ; and a series of delays, and failures, not controllable by us, deferred, nine years, the complete fulfilment of our hopes. You may judge, with what an eager joy, we met the Psalmist's challenge, 'O come let us worship, and fall down, and kneel, before the Lord our Maker. For He is the Lord our God ; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. O worship the Lord, in the beauty of holiness.' And, how, 'like them that dream,' we felt, when He 'turned our captivity ;' and in the midst of the congregation of His people, we brought Him ' the honour that was due unto His name.' I deeply felt the general interest, in the occasion, which brought together so great a company of Clergy and of Laity, from other Dioceses, as well as from our own. The request for Consecration, f was presented to me by
1" We, the Rector, Church-wardens, and Vestrymen of St. Mary's Church, in the City of Burlington, County of Burlington, and State of New Jersey, hav- ing, by the good providence of ALMIGHTY GOD, erected in Burlington a house of public worship-the former house erected in 1703, and enlarged, for the fourth time, and consecrated, in 1834, being too small for the parishioners- do hereby appropriate and devote the same to the worship and service of AL- MIGHTY GOD, the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY GHOST, according to the provisions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of Amer- ica, in its ministry, doctrines, liturgy, rites, and usages, and by a congregation in communion with said Church, and in union with the Convention thereof in the Diocese of New Jersey.
"And we do also hereby request the Right Reverend GEORGE WASHINGTON DOANE, D. D., LL. D., the Bishop of the said Diocese, to take the said build- ing under his spiritual jurisdiction, as Bishop aforesaid, and that of his suc- cessors in office, and to consecrate the same by the name of St. Mary's Church,
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