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 60
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O Lord Jesus Christ, who, as a Child, wast found in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions ; let Thy blessing rest upon all the children who shall be taught in this place ; and grant that they may follow Thy example, in honoring their parents, in loving their kinsfolk and acquaintance, in heeding the instructions of their spiritual pastors and masters, in keeping all Thy commandments and ordinances, and
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in growing in wisdom, and favour with God and man. Grant this, O blessed Jesus, our only Mediator and Redeemer, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
O God, whose days are without end, and whose mercies cannot be num- bered ; Make us, we beseech Thee, deeply sensible of the shortness and uncer- tainty of human life; and let Thy Holy Spirit lead us through this vale of misery, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our lives: That, when we shall have served Thee in our generation, we may be gathered unto our fathers, having the testimony of a good conscience; in the communion of the Catholic Church ; in the confidence of a certain faith; in the comfort of a reasonable, religious and holy hope; in favour with Thee our God, and in perfect charity with the world. All which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
After this, HYMN 501 was sung to the tune of Burlington.
Thou art the Way, to Thee alone From sin and death we flee, etc.
Bishop Scarborough then called upon the Rev. Dr. Hills, the Rector of St. Mary's, to give a historical sketch of the parish.
The Rev. Doctor ascended the dais, erected just where the pul- pit stood in the old Church and, without notes, depicted the rise and progress of the venerable corporation of " the Church of St. Mary in Burlington in the Western division of New Jersey," from the beginning of the reign of Queen Anne to the present time.
During his address, Dr. Hills exhibited the old record-books and deeds of the parish, a large collection in vellum, and pre- sented canes, cut from the live oak king-posts of the ancient fabric, to both of the Bishops and to the Rev. Dr. Hoffman, a former Rector of the parish.
He also read letters of congratulation from the Bishop of Albany and the Rev. Wm. Allen Johnson, former Rectors of the parish, expressing their regrets at necessary absence on the joyful occasion, with assurances that they would be present in spirit and in prayer.
Bishop Odenheimer was then conducted to the dais, by the Rev. Drs. Hoffman and Hills, and read a written address ; his chief references being to the old Church as he first knew it, when Rector of St. Peter's, Philadelphia.
Bishop Scarborough made the concluding address, in which he said : " The restoration of this ancient building is an endur- ing monument to the Rev. Dr. Hills ; and is one of three things
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which will make his rectorship in this parish forever memora- ble; the other two being the acquisition of a fine rectory, and the important and delightful ' History of the Church in Burling- ton,' soon to issue from the press-the fruit of the Doctor's research for several years, and one of the most valuable con- tributions to American Ecclesiastical History."
The Rev. Dr. Hoffman, at the request of the Rector, read the Offertory from the Prayer Book of the Church of Scotland, which differs from that of the English and American Prayer Books.
The well-filled alms-basons-presented on the ancient holy table, vested with the cloth given by Mrs. Franklin, wife of the last Colonial Governor of the province-showed that the parish- ioners of St. Mary's did not "appear before the Lord empty." After their presentation, Bishop Odenheimer said :
Blessed be Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory : for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as Head above all ; all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee. For we are strangers before Thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers : our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. O Lord our God, all that we have prepared to build Thee a house for Thine holy Name cometh of Thine hand, and is all Thine own. O Lord, God of our fathers, keep this for ever in the thoughts of Thy people, and be Thou our God, and the God of our children after us, in their generations for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessed be Thy Name, O Lord God, for that it hath pleased Thee to have Thy habitation among the sons of men; bless, we beseech Thee, the religious solemnities of this day, and grant that in this place now devoted anew to Thy service, Thy holy Name may be taught in truth and purity through all gener- ations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The God of peace, etc.
HYMN 232, was the Recessional, sung to the tune of Sullivan :
"Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war," etc.
As the congregation, amid mingled smiles and tears, slowly left the Church, the chimes of St. Mary's played " Home, sweet home ;" "Carol, carol, Christians ;" + " Let the merry Church bells ring," etc.
This air was composed in 1842, by the author of this HISTORY, expressly for these words. Music and words may be found in Goodrich's Tune Book for Sunday Schools, edition of 1866, p. 38.
2%
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THE FIRST ISSUE OF THIS HISTORY.
The first copies of the preceding seven hundred and eleven pages, (see Preface to the present edition, page 6,) together with the Appendices and Index, now somewhat enlarged, left the binders May 27th, 1876, and were soon in the hands of subscribers.
A LITERARY COMPLIMENT.
"The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, " No. 820 Spruce street, " Philadelphia, June 27th, 1876. " Rev. Geo. Morgan Hills, D. D .:
"DEAR SIR-I am directed by the Council of the Society to communicate to you the following extracts from the Minutes :
" The following letter from John William Wallace, president of the Society, was read :
"' 728 Spruce St., "' Philadelphia, June 27th, 1876.
"' DEAR SIR-I shall not be able to be at the meeting to- night of the Council of our Society ; but I beg to propose for membership of our body the name of the Rev. George Morgan Hills, D. D., of Burlington, New Jersey. His recent book, called 'History of the Church in Burlington, New Jersey,' is one of merit. It is an 8vo. of more than 700 pages, and is characterized by extraordinary research into early docu- ruents, both civil and ecclesiastical, by a discriminating consid- eration of evidence, and by an arrangement lucid and effective. * He produces and publishes in extenso, for the first time, documents of value to us in Pennsylvania, as well as to people in New Jersey. With an author of less skill than Dr. Hills, or one who possessed no art of representation, this would make a book prolix and dull. But things are well grouped together, and co-ordinated with so much skill that the whole comes out effectively, and attention is sustained throughout. *
"' I am, very respectfully, dear sir, "' Your most obedient servant, "' JOHN WILLIAM WALLACE. "' To CHARLES M. MORRIS,
""' Chairman of Council.' "
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" Which letter, having been read, it was
"Unanimously resolved, That, in testimony of the sense which this Society has of the value of the researches made by the Rev. George Morgan Hills, D. D., into the field of early American ecclesiastical and civil history, and especially of that of the city of Burlington and of West Jersey, as shown in his recently- published ' HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN BURLINGTON,' he is hereby elected a member of this Society.
" I have the honor to be " Your obedient servant, " JOHN W. JORDAN, " Secretary of Council."
BISHOP KIP TO THE REV. DR. HILLS.
" S. Francisco, California, " Feb. 24th, 1877.
" REV. AND DEAR SIR-I am much obliged to you for send- ing me the HISTORY.
" The Church owes you a debt for rescuing these materials and securing them for all future time. As I began my ministry in St. Peter's, Morristown, N. J., and was ordained Priest + there by Bp. Doane, I have always taken a great interest in your diocese.
"I found the enclosed letter among the papers of the Rev. Abr. Beach, D. D., maternal grandfather of my wife, (daughter of Isaac Lawrence, Esq., of New York ; and, in 1815, a mem- ber of the New Jersey Convention.) I send it to you, as it may interest you to read an account of an early Convention in N. J.
"Trusting that you may continue to give to the Church the benefit of your pen, I remain,
"Yours very truly, " WM. INGRAHAM KIP, Bishop of California.
REV. GEO. MORGAN HILLS, D. D.
+ October 20th, 1835.
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THE REV. MR. BEND TO THE REV. MR. BEACH.
" Philadelphia, July 9th, 1788.
" DEAR SIR-It is a long time since I wrote you last; however, I have not been much concerned at my own silence, for if I have neglected you long, you have neglected me much longer.
" You have not now to learn, that I attended the Jersey Convention. Oh for talents equal to celebrating the praise of General or Bishop O-n!f Which shall we call him ? We shall not be out of the way, if we give him both titles ; he is not the first Clergyman, who has played the General.
"The Bishop fairly or unfairly out-generaled us. I was prepared for an attack, upon the opening of the Convention ; but when I found he made no objection to my sitting in it,-when he did not oppose the electing of you, as President, I thought our meek brother had been reclaimed by some miracle, & designed to act like a Christian & a man of sense. Those who have no sinister designs to prosecute are easily thrown off their guard by the artful & designing; the General lulled us into security, & for a day & a half exerted himself in bringing over the laity to his side. He was wonderfully success- ful; for on putting the question on Mr. O's motion whether the rule for ad- mitting non-resident Clergymen should be expunged, 7 out of 12 congregations said aye, & another divided. Much was said on the subject before the ques- tion was put: the Bishop was specious & windy; & I was surprised at the weak manner in which Mr. Parker & Halsted answered him. Silence became me.
" I foresee the ruin of the Church in Jersey, except it be preserved by the wisdom of the General Convention. O-n has already made a party amongst the laity & I fear the next Convention will witness his complete triumph. In the next Convention there will be Spraggs, Ogilvie, Cloud, Ayres, & one Crowse or Crout or Slaugh (I don't know which) from New Ark, all under his influence; & who are to oppose such a phalanx ? The non-resident Clergy will be immediately excluded & the General will be made Bishop. Should the G. C. contrary to my hope & expectation, recommend him for consecration, every man, who shall sign his credentials, will assist in annihi- lating our Church in Jersey. He would rule his clergy with a rod of iron, whilst he would be shamefully negligent of order & discipline, would subvert Episcopacy & establish canting methodism on its ruins. ¿
" Ambition, what a vile, what a pernicious passion art thou, when not
+ Rev. Uzal Ogden. (See pp. 348-50.) He became rector of Trinity Church, Newark, N. J., in 1788, and in 1798 received the degree of D. D. from Prince- ton College. In October, 1805, having been suspended since May "from the exercise of all ministerial duties in the State of New Jersey," he joined the Presbyterians, and died November 4th, 1822, aged seventy-nine years. He published sermons, essays and pamphlets on various subjects. Rev. Dr. Ethan Allen's MSS. See, also, Biographical Encyclopedia of New Jersey, issued by Galaxy Publishing Co.
į For his sympathy in this direction, see Memorials of Methodism in New Jersey, pp. 286-293, 306-311.
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springing from virtuous motives & not directed by prudence & honor ! But ambition in this case is truly contemptible; for surely he is grasping at the shade of a shadow. If it be true, & the assertion can be defended, that honor is a shadow, it is equally true, that an American Episcopate is the shade of a shadow.
"I never saw more boobies in a small assembly, than in our Convention at Shrewsbury: What, in the name of wonder, induced the people of Bruns- wick to send Vickars there? He would not join Mr. L. Clarkson in voting against O-n's motion. J overheard liim say to C, he should have no objection to the admission of non-resident Clergymen, provided they would come & advise, without expecting permission to move & vote. I stept up to him : 'Who do you think,' said I, 'would come to Jersey from N. Y or Phil'a, to be cyphers in yr. Convention ? No one, sir. There are too many cpyhers in it already ; & we wish rather to diminish than encrease the number.'
"We have had rare doings in Philadelphia, in celebrating of the establish- ment of the Federal Constitution. I confess my expectations were far ex- ceeded by the procession. It was a grand, solemn, & pleasing spectacle. All the law, all the religion, all the learning, the humanity, the wealth, the in- dustry, the enterprise of the city were assembled to rejoice in one of the most extraordinary events, which has ever happened in the world,-in a revolution from licentiousness & anarchy to real liberty & good government,-a revolu- tion effected without bloodshed.
"Scarcely any, wlio composed a part of the procession, made a more con- spicuous figure, than the Clergy, who displayed a complete triumph over religious prejudices : The Jew joined the Christian; the Episcopalian the Presbyterian; & the Seceder the Roman Catholic, & all walked arm in arm, exhibiting a proof of brotherly affection, & testifying their approbation of the New Constitution.
"But amidst the sublime ideas, which it excited in the mind, some ludicrous ones intruded themselves. If we were filled with pleasure in seeing justice borne aloft in a triumphal car, we were also diverted at the sight of a man in complete armour, who forcibly reminded us of a hog armed cap a pie. If we were pleased at seeing the different trades and professions, all expressing their joy on this auspicious occasion, we could not help laughing at the odd dress of the butchers and bakers. * *
" Mr. Hutchins is desirous of establishing in New York a school, for the edu- cation of females alone, in which they may be instructed in the principles of the Christian religion, in reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, English grani- mar, & composition ; but he wishes to know first, whether such a scheme is practicable. Will you please to enquire, & inform me in your next? I have written to Dr. Provoost & Mr. Moore t on the subject.
+ Rev. Benjamin Moore, afterwards Bishop of New York, who was conse- crated to that office in St. Michael's Church, Trenton, N. J., September 11th, 1801-the General Convention being then in session there. See Sprague's Annals, vol. V., pp. 299-304.
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"Present my respects to Mrs. Beach & Miss Hannah.
" Write soon to me, and oblige
" Your affectionate brother & " friend, & obedient servant,
"Jos. G. J. BEND." +
NOTE .- This letter has the following address outside : " Rev- erend Mr. Beach, ¿ No. 29 William Street, New York." And in the left-hand lower corner, " Care of Mr. G. Bend."
THE GUILD OF ST. MARY'S PARISH.
On Sunday morning, February 25th, 1877, the Rector preached on the subject of organized lay-work, from Romans 16: 3: Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus. At the conclusion of the discourse, he requested both men and women to meet him for conference on the following Wednesday even- ing, in the parish schoolroom, and in view of that occasion to offer at least twice daily the collect : Direct us, &c.
Nearly one hundred leading parishioners came together at the time appointed. A committee was raised to report a constitu- tion. The ladies' society known as " The Guild " (see p. 644) yielded that name to this new organization, and took the place of its "Committee on Missions." The constitution was finally adopted on the 7th of March ; the Rector was made " ex officio Master of the Guild," a secretary and treasurer were elected, and twelve " Working Committees," numbering from three to thirty members each, were appointed : I. Strangers. II. Young Men. III. Young Women. IV. Ushers. V. Parish School. VI. Sunday School. VII. Library. VIII. The Altar. IX. Church Decoration. X. Sick and Needy. XI. Missions. XII. Finance. §
¡ Rev. J. G. J. Bend was ordained Deacon July 15th, 1787, by Bishop Provoost, at the first ordination ever held in the diocese of New York. See Sprague's Annals, vol. V., pp. 353-355.
į Rev. Abraham Beach,-for a biographical sketch of whom, see Sprague's Annals, vol. V., pp. 255-266.
¿ This association was incorporated, under the laws of New Jersey, July 7th, 1879, taking for its name The Guild of St. Mary's Parish, Burlington, N. J., and the certificate of incorporation is recorded in Book B of Corporations, p. 74, in the clerk's office at Mt. Holly, N. J.
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Each committee elects its own officers, adopts its own plans, reports monthly to the Guild and gives a summary of work through the year at the annual meeting, on the Feast of the Annunciation.
BEQUESTS OF MISS E. A. SWANN.
Miss Elizabeth A. Swann t-who departed this life May 31st, 1877-among her bequests made the following :
" First : I give and appoint to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, where I worship in Burlington, New Jersey, eight hundred dollars, to be kept invested, the interest whereof shall be used in preserving in complete order the graves of my family ; and unto the same Church five thousand dollars, to be kept invested securely on bond and mortgage, the interest of which is to be used by the rector of said Church for the benefit of the sick poor of the parish.
" Secondly : I give and appoint five hundred dollars to said St. Mary's Church for the parish school and Sunday school- two hundred and fifty dollars each.
A TRIBUTE TO MISS STANLEY.
" The Trustees of Burlington College, having before them for the second time the resignation of Nancy M. Stanley as Vice Principal of St. Mary's Hall, after thirty years of unwearied conscientious and successful work, cannot yield to its acceptance without placing upon their minutes, and transmitting a copy of the same to her, their deep appreciation of her character and services as an educator of the daughters of the Church for so long a period, and to assure her that, individually and as a cor- porate body, this board unites with the many thousands in the best homes of America in venerating her name-a name so in- woven with St. Mary's Hall, that it must ever occupy in its history a place second only to that of its illustrious founder.
t See p. 686.
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"Signed in the name and on behalf of the board.
" GEO. MORGAN HILLS,
" J. C. GARTHWAITE, " Committee. "July 11th, 1877."
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
On Monday, the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25th, 1878, the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of St. Mary's Church was celebrated. The chimes were played at eight A. M., and again at ten A. M. At half-past ten o'clock, morning prayer was read by the Rev. E. K. Smith, Principal of St. Mary's Hall, assisted by the Rev. N. Pettit, of Bordentown. After the general thanksgiving, there was introduced from the litany, "O God, we have heard with our ears," &c., with its accompanying response, and the Gloria Patri.
"O 'twas a joyful sound to hear,"
was sung as an introit, to the tune of St. Ann's. The Rev. William S. Walker, D. D., began the communion office. After the hymn --
" Come, let us join our friends above,"
the Rector of the parish made an historical address. Bishop Scarborough was celebrant at the holy Eucharist, the offerings being for missions in the Convocation of Burlington.
From three to five P. M. there was a reunion of the Sewing School, (which was inaugurated November 23d,) one hundred and forty in number, many of whom had never known how to use a needle till last autumn.
At half-past seven P. M. the "first annual meeting" of the Guild was held. The Rector said the Office of Devotions. The roll of members was called, and the annual reports of the " Working Committees " were read. The Rector next read a letter from his immediate predecessor in the rectorship, the Rev. Wm. Allen Johnson, in which he says: "I have been much interested in your Guild. It seems to me to be the very thing
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to complete what was lacking in St. Mary's parish-putting all the members to some good work. And such a Guild as you have now organized, with the Rector at the head, supplies systematic work under authority."
The Rector next called attention to a copy of The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, found in the Church, which was printed in 1696; and to the parchment deeds on the walls for all the land held by the corporation since 1695, and then to the portraits of former Rectors and others distinguished in the annals of the parish, touching on the chief characteristics and events in the life of each ; and lastly, exhibiting the altar silver, nineteen pieces, naming, as nearly as possible, the donor and date of each piece.
THE BURIAL OF DR. MORGAN.
October 7th, 1878. The remains of Dr. John Geo. Morgan, founder of the Medical College in Geneva, N. Y., and its first Dean and Professor of Surgery,t who died in Philadelphia on the 4th inst., were this day interred in St. Mary's Churchyard- the Rev. Geo. McClellan Fisk, at the Rector's request, officiating. Besides the relatives, the chief among those present were Charles Ellis, M. D., Joseph Parrish, M. D., Franklin Gauntt, M. D., Edward S. Lansing, M. D., and Ledyard Van Rensselaer, M. D.
+ Dr. Morgan's first practice of medicine was in Auburn, N. Y., where, in 1826-1830, he was brought to wide public notice by his repeated attendance upon Bishop Hobart. During his last illness, that prelate said to him : "My dear doctor, give me your hand, it soothes me; you liave been very kind and faithful to me; you have been most judicious in your treatment of me ; you will not lose your reward, for whether I live or die, you have done your duty. God will bless you ; my Saviour will bless you."
Dr. Morgan was physician and surgeon to the hospital of the state prison, in Auburn, between nine and ten years, and here made his name historical by being the first to successfully tie the jugular vein-in the case of a convict who had cut his throat. He also began in his office a course of medical lectures, at first with three students and increasing each winter until his class nun- bered fifty-three. His fame as an instructor went throughout the state, and in 1834-1835 he was invited by the trustees of Geneva College to add a medical department to that institution. It was opened with about twenty-five students, and continued to increase during his incumbency until there were about two hundred students. He afterwards engaged in practice in New York, San Francisco, New Orleans and St. Louis. See Dr. Rudd's Memorial of Bishop Hobart, pp. 238-240; also, Medical Record of New York, 1878.
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INVITATION FROM HISTORICAL SCHOLARS.
"The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, "Philadelphia, Sept. 23d, 1878.
"REV'D SIR: The discovery made by you among early public records in this city of an impression from an Episcopal seal, which on its face shows that it was the seal of John Talbot, who, it was long ago conjectured, but not cer- tainly known, was secretly consecrated by the nonjuring Bishops, and exer- cised Episcopal offices here, about the years 1722-24, seems to us a discovery which tends to establish a fact in our early political and religious history sufficiently interesting to be brought out and enlarged upon.
"A statement of the evidence of Talbot's consecration as Bishop, and an account of what he did in our early colonies, would, we think, prove inter- esting to some of our members.
" As the successor of Talbot in the ancient Church of St. Mary at Burling- ton, N. J., and from your well-known general learning in history, we suppose you to be acquainted with most that relates to him, and if agreeable to you to put what you can tell us before our members at their next meeting, on the second Monday (the 11tli) of November, we shall be happy to have you give it to us.
" We are, Reverend Sir, " With great respect, " Your friends, "CHAS. M. MORRIS, "HENRY C. CAREY, " CHAS. WILLING, "C. COPE, " ELI K. PRICE,
"JOHN JORDAN, JR., "P. McCALL, "JOHN WILLIAM WALLACE.
"The REV'D GEORGE MORGAN HILLS, D. D."
THE INVITATION ACCEPTED.
"St. Mary's Rectory, "Burlington, N. J., Oct. 1st, 1878.
" To Messrs. Chas. M. Morris, Henry C. Carey, Charles Willing, &c .:
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