USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Orange > The Mountain Society : a history of the First Presbyterian Church, Orange, N. J. organized about the year 1719 with an account of the earliest settlements in Newark > Part 10
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* Dr. McWhorter presided and gave the charge to the minister ; James Richards, of Morristown, preached; Aaron Condit "made the address to the people."
163
ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER.
Brick Church. "The next day was partly spent at Newark, with the venerable Dr. McWhorter, after which he proceeded to Elizabethtown, and visited the Rev. Henry Kollock, at the house of his father. It a was a favorite plan of Mr. Kollock to have his friend settled in the congregation of Orange, but the steps taken by him were unsuc- cessful."* This young Virginian was Archibald Alexander, then little known in this region, but whose name New Jersey was yet to cherish with a just pride as enrolled among those of her ablest theological teachers and most useful writers. It is likely that the congregation of Orange had their thoughts fixed upon Mr. Hillyer, if they had not already invited him, and Providence had other and yet larger designs for Mr. Alexander. His friend Kollock, (afterward Dr. Kollock,) one of the most eloquent preachers of his day, settled in Sa- vannah, Ga. He was a son of Shepard Kollock, of Elizabethtown, an active patriot in the Revolu- tion, and for some time editor and publisher of a newspaper.+
The old stone meeting-house was now the memo- rial of a generation gone. It had stood almost
* Life of Dr. Alexander, p. 264.
+ Mr. Hillyer's oldest son, Asa, married Lydia, a daughter of Shepard Kollock. He lived but about eighteen months after their union. The widow became the wife of Rev. Dr. Holdich, of the Am. Bible Society.
164
CHURCH OFFICERS.
half a century. The stone parsonage had more than completed that period. Both had from time to time seen their age renewed by sundry improve- ments, and they were not yet to be released from service for a dozen years or more. The church had a membership of about two hundred. The exact figure is not known prior to 1806, when it was reported at two hundred and twenty-three. The congregation was among the largest to be found in the rural parishes. Such was the field. It was entered by the new pastor in the hope of a more expanded usefulness.
And who were to be the helpers of his ministry ? Few were left of those who, thirty-five years be- fore, had given the right hand of their confidence to his predecessor. In the line of elders, Bethuel Pierson had- been gone some ten years, and Joseph, his son, had succeeded to the " double honor " of which he had been counted worthy. Noah Crane, at the age of eighty-one, had passed away but a year and a half before, and Zenas Freeman, at half that age, had speedily followed. Isaac Dodd and Joseph Crane had been transferred to Bloomfield. Of the officers who remained, Deacon Amos Bald- win was in his eighty-second year-old enough to retire from service. Judge Peck, also an elder and deacon, stood next in seniority, being in his sev- entieth year. John Perry was fifty-five. Joseph Pierson, Aaron Munn, Linus Dodd, Amos Harri-
165
THE SEXTON.
son, and Henry Osborn, were younger. The names of Moses Condit and John Lindsley were added to the list a little more than three years after. These were the associates of our pastor in the earliest period of his administration here. They were all literally his elders, who were to finish their course before him.
There was in the parish a young man of twenty- six, who was to be an office-bearer at the end of thirty years, when these were gone. At this time he might have been seen on a Sunday morning or a Wednesday evening performing the duties of bell- ringer. This was Josiah Frost, who was employed in 1800 to ring the bell " on Sabbath and lecture days " for £3 14s .; the widow Sarah Condit hav- ing charge of the sweeping at £5 per annum. The sexton's offices were thus divided between the two till 1805, when the former assumed the whole busi- ness, with a salary of $33 87. By the terms of the contract he was to take the whole and proper charge of the meeting-house, sweeping the same, finding the sand, ringing the bell, and lighting the candles ; the last named-article to be found at the expense of the parish, and " the ends left to go to the person who lights the candles." This service Mr. Frost performed through a number of years. In due time he was called to serve the church in a higher office, and at the time of our present writ- ing he has just " entered into the joy of his Lord," ripe in years and spiritual fruitfulness.
8*
166
LOTS ON THE COMMON.
The growth of the village creating a consider- able demand for building lots, the parish in 1802 resolved to sell a portion of its lands along Main street for that purpose-the interest to be appro- priated to the support of the Gospel. Five lots north and eight lots south of the street were accord- ingly sold, for the sum of $3,546, secured by bond and mortgage. The strip of ground already used for a Common, lying opposite the parsonage, was to be reserved for that purpose forever. The eight lots lay along the southern border of this, and comprised six acres and fifty-eight hundredths of an acre. The Common was for a special and pa- triotic use, as well as for the public convenience and for the adornment of the village. The mar- tial parade drew hither annually its display of arms, and a crowd of citizens, old and young, who looked to the occasion as the carnival of the year. Generous dinners were furnished by the tavern hard by, while travelling hucksters and auctioneers did a thriving business by the wayside. The locality is that now known as the park.
In 1806, the trustees resolved to build a store- house on the Orange Dock, "18 feet by 30." The work was executed by Amos Harrison, he being the lowest bidder, for $239 75.
About two years from Mr. Hillyer's settlement, the church received a gentle refreshing. This in- dication of the divine favor excited his thanks-
167
REVIVAL OF 1807.
givings, and relieved him of a lingering fear that he had mistaken the voice of Providence in the matter of his settlement. If any measure of that fear remained, it was put to rest a few years subse- quently, when there came down a baptism of the Spirit which surpassed anything known, before or since, in the history of the congregation. There is, happily, a narrative of this great revival, writ- ten by himself to some clerical friend. The name and date are not found in the transcript before us. We give his account of it without abridgment.
" REV. AND DEAR SIR :- A weakness in my side, occasioned by the illness from which I was just recovering, when I saw you last September, which rendered it extremely painful for me to write, has prevented my complying with your request until this time. But supposing that, even at this late hour, it may not be displeasing to you to receive a brief account of the wonders of divine grace which have been witnessed in this congregation, and a general view of the work of God in this vicinity, I will endeavor to give as general and succinct a relation of these things as I am able.
" In the beginning of September, 1807, some tokens of good were discovered. A number of praying people were stirred up to fervent prayer, and there appeared to be an increased at- tention to the preached word. For more than three years a meeting for special prayer had been attended in the church on the first Monday evening in every month. This meeting now increased in numbers and solemnity.
"This church, in connection with two neighboring churches,*
* Those of Newark and Bloomfield, doubtless. Dr. Griffin, then pastor in Newark, made this record in his journal: “September,
168
STATE OF MORALS.
agreed to set apart September 4th for fasting and prayer, and in an especial manner, make supplication for the effusion of the Holy Spirit. A number of praying people also agreed to meet at nine o'clock on Sabbath morning, in the academy, to spend an hour in prayer for their minister, and for a divine blessing on the exercises of the day. This has been attended from that time to the present by a great proportion of the praying people of the congregation. It has been very refresh- ing to them, and accompanied with very happy effects.
" But it may not be improper to remark here, that for some time previous to this, everything around assumed a gloomy aspect in regard to evangelical piety. All meetings for prayer, except the first Monday in the month, were relinquished. Gambling, horse-racing, intemperance, and dissipation of every kind, threatened all social order with destruction. A moral society had been established for two years, the object of which was the suppression of vice and immorality; but no human effort was able to withstand the torrent of vice which threat- ened us on every side. At the same time the exertions of Christians were paralyzed ; the wise were sleeping with the foolish. This state of things alarmed a few praying people ; they agreed to resume a prayer-meeting which had, for the first time in more than forty years, been relinquished the spring be- fore. This took place about the latter part of July. For a number of weeks not more than twelve or fourteen persons at- tended ; but such fervent and earnest wrestling with God I never witnessed. They prayed as though they saw their chil- dren and neighbors standing on the verge of destruction, and that, without an immediate interposition of almighty grace, they were lost for ever.
1807. Began a great revival of religion in the town. Ninety- seven joined the church in one day, and about two hundred in all." Fifty, or more, were gathered in at Bloomfield.
169
THE BALL.
" It was soon perceived that our public assemblies were un- usually solemn, but no special impression appeared to be made until the third Sabbath in September. In the morning the assembly was addressed on the awful solemnity of a future judgment ; and, in the afternoon, from these words : Choose you this day whom ye will serve. This was a day long to be remem- bered. Such solemnity had not been seen for many years, and many date their first impressions from that day.
" The case of one young Miss it may not be improper for me to mention. She had been excessively fond of balls and parties of pleasure ; and had so strong an aversion to the public institutions of religion, that it was with difficulty she could be prevailed upon to attend public worship. This day she re- solved to give up her amusements, and attend to the vast con- cerns of her soul. In the evening we had a crowded assembly. An address was made from these words : All that the Father giveth me shall come to me. The doctrine brought to view in this passage of Scripture greatly exasperated a number present, among whom was this young lady. She now declared she would attend no more meetings ; ' for,' said she, ' if I am given to Christ, I shall be saved ; if not, all my efforts will be vain.' In the conclusion of the exercises, the youth were particularly addressed, and affectionately told of the wonderful things God was doing for the young people of Newark and Elizabethtown. The young lady above-mentioned, notwithstanding her enmity to the truth, resolved to break up a ball she had engaged to attend the next Tuesday evening. Accordingly, early Monday morn- ing she called on a number of her female companions, and per- suaded them to unite with her, and have the contemplated ball deferred until the next week. They succeeded ; the ball was defer- red, and has not since been attended. The disappointment which this occasioned greatly exasperated some of the young men, who determined to seek revenge on their minister and others, whom they accused of breaking up the ball; although
170
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
their minister knew nothing of the ball until they mentioned it afterwards, with abhorrence. They resolved to attend the prayer-meeting the next Wednesday evening, and then fix upon another time for their favorite amusement. 'We will go,' said they, ' and crowd out the old fellows, and let Mr. H. see that for once he has enough young people at his prayer-meeting.'
" When I came to the house, I was not a little surprised to see two rooms and the entry filled with people, the most of whom had never been seen in such a place before; and, as I entered the room, to see the seats previously occupied by a few praying persons now filled by some of the most profligate youth in our village. The first prayer was made by an aged Christian, who is the only surviving member of the meeting when it was established, forty years ago. His prayer was solemn and im- pressive. An address was then made from these words : Come now, and let us reason together. No attempt was made to work upon the passions. The youth, in an especial manner, were exhorted to consider the reasonableness of giving their hearts to God, and consecrating the best of their lives to his service. The assembly was unusually solemn. These daring youth were made to tremble under the word. Numbers were evidently pricked to the heart. Their tears, which they made great exertions to conceal, betrayed an awakened conscience. Such a scene had never before been witnessed by any person present.
" No disturbance was made. All retired in solemn silence. Twelve or fifteen of the youth, who came with an intention of disturbing the meeting, went away trembling under a sense of guilt. As they had no suspicion of each others' feelings, each made an effort to conceal his own. One of them has since said, supposing that none of his companions felt as he did, and that he should be unable to conceal his feelings, he crossed a corn- field and went home unobserved. Another said, while walking the street he assumed an unusual gayety to conceal his feelings,
171
POWER OF THE REVIVAL.
although the terrors of his mind were such that it appeared to him the earth would open and swallow him up.
" One, who had not been in the house, made an effort to stop the young people in the street, to concert a plan for the contem- plated ball ; but his efforts were vain-all hurried home. After the people retired, four or five young women, who had waited in a back room, came in the room where the family were sitting, wringing their hands, and exclaimed, 'Oh, Mr. H., what shall we do?' After giving them such instruction as their case seemed to require, I engaged to meet with them the next even- ing. These, with a number of others, met the next evening in conference. Saturday afternoon we again met in conference. The beginning of the next week, the number under serious impressions had become too great to be accommodated at a private house.
" Within a mile of the church we have an academy and two large school-houses. It was agreed to hold our conferences at these, alternately. Our assemblies, on these occasions, were frequently so large we were obliged to repair to the church. Sabbath and Wednesday evening we had stated lecture in the church. Our assemblies were all solemn, but without noise or disorder. After the usual exercises of our evening meetings were concluded, it was often difficult to persuade the people to retire. Indeed, this was impossible, until they were left by those to whom they looked for instruction.
" One evening, after the benediction had been pronounced, the whole assembly stood in solid column. Scarcely an indi- vidual moved from his place. Such evidences of deep and heart- felt sorrow I never witnessed before, on any occasion. While all stood in solemn silence, there seemed a greater appearance of solemnity than during any part of the previous exercises. Sometimes it seemed we had only to stand still and see the sal- vation of God. It seemed, indeed, that the Lord was there, and that he gave us an example of his immediate work upon the conscience and the heart.
172
TOWNSHIP OF ORANGE.
" If it were proper for me to go further into detail, I might mention other scenes similar to this. Within two weeks from the commencement of the work, more than one hundred were deeply impressed. A visible change seemed to be produced throughout the village."
The church received much strength from this re- markable work, one hundred and forty-five persons being added to its communion in the course of the next year. So large an ingathering belongs to no other year of its history.
Orange had continued, till about this time, to be a part of the township of Newark. In 1806 it was organized as a town, under the name it now bears. The new township was consecrated by a glorious baptism !
About the close of the year 1808, Nathaniel Bruen and David Munn were chosen elders. The latter, though his name appears at two or three meetings of Session, declined the appointment, and was never set apart to the office by ordination.
In 1809, an addition was made to the pastor's salary, raising the amount paid in money from $625 to $800.
By the separation of the town from Newark, it became necessary for the church to change its cor- porate name. The legislature being applied to, changed its title, in 1811, from the Second Presby- terian Church in Newark to the First Presbyterian Church in Orange.
173
HONORABLE TRUSTS.
It was during this year Mr. Hillyer was made a trustee of the College of New Jersey-an office which he held to the close of life, and which was accom- panied with a sincere and active devotion to the interests of the institution. He was also chosen, in 1812, one of the first directors of the Theological Seminary at Princeton. This appointment was regularly renewed until the disruption of the church; and, also, subsequently to that event, after a single omission. These important trusts, held for a quarter of a century, are indicative at once of a generous public spirit, of persistent good-will to- ward those from whom he was ecclesiastically sepa- rated, and of established confidence in his integrity and administrative ability.
A similar confidence, on the part of his people, was manifested, and also justified, in the success of an important enterprise within the parish, which is said to have originated with him. This was the erection of a new and larger temple in which to worship God. Time, and the progress of popula- tion, had created what seemed to him a necessity for this. He proposed it. Some approved, and some objected. Some thought it feasible, and some impossible. He asked certain persons of the latter class, if they would favor the undertaking, provided he would secure the subscription of a certain sum of money which he named. They answered him, Yes. He started out with his paper on Monday,
174
THIRD MEETING-HOUSE.
and by the close of the week had procured double the amount specified. We learn, from Mr. Moses Harrison, that his father, Jared Harrison, opened the subscription with $500. A laudable emulation was awakened. Those who refused donations stood ready to purchase pews. The thought, once fairly before the people, kindled desire, and desire led to action.
The initial steps of the enterprise were taken in 1811. At the parish meeting in May, the trustees were authorized to purchase a half acre of ground for a site, lying on the north side of the road in the rear of the church. It was purchased of Stephen D. Day, for $400. The next year the work began, under the direction of the trustees, assisted by a building committee. It was voted by the parish that the front and sides of the new edifice should be built of dressed stone, the rear of undressed. The trustees were at first instructed to have the work done by contract, but these instructions were subsequently recalled, the matter being left to their discretion. They accordingly employed an archi- tect and proceeded with the work, many members of the parish preferring to turn in their labor on their subscription account. The principal architect was Moses Dodd, who received, for his services, three dollars a day. We have found no written details relating to the progress of the work, but we are told by Mr. Adonijah Osmun, that the corner
1
175
ITS DIMENSIONS.
stone was laid the 15th of September, 1812. At the meeting of the parish, the next April, it was voted to take down the old meeting-house, for the purpose of using its material in the construction of the new. The double work of demolition and edi- fication followed,-the Sabbath assembly, in a meas- ure broken up and reduced in numbers, being for several months held elsewhere. The stone tablet, over the door of the demolished edifice, was trans- ferred to the inside of the tower in the new, where the inscription upon its face may yet be read, unob- scured by the mould which has gathered upon its contemporaries in the old graveyard.
A goodly sanctuary was reared, considerably ex- ceeding the dimensions of its predecessor. It had a front of sixty-three feet, and a depth of ninety in the central and longest part, the rear wall having a curvature or convexity of four or five feet. This length does not include the projection of the tower in front, which was four feet. The walls had an elevation of about thirty-six feet to the roof. The tower, eighteen and a half feet wide, was carried up to the top of the building. The steeple was re- served for the work of another year. Three large folding-doors admitted the worshipper to the vesti- bule. Two opened from that into the audience- room, connecting with two aisles between which, at the hither end, stood the pulpit. The house had double rows of windows, which numbered ten on
176
THE OLD BELL.
each side, six at the rear end, and three in front, exclusive of lights above the doors. Galleries at the sides and end rose above the pulpit in sublimity of position, if they were not always to equal it in sublimity of thought and solemnity of feeling. These, for some time to come, were to be kept in order by a Sunday police stationed at suitable dis- tances.
The bell, taken down from its modest quarters in the old steeple, was suspended on a pole to perform its last offices in calling the workmen to their tasks. A calamity had befallen it some time previously, of which it still bore the mark. The tongue hav- ing dropped out when its voice was needed on a funeral occasion, was taken by the bell-ringer and struck upon the rim of the bell, by which a frac- ture was produced. The bell was taken to a smith, who attempted to weld the fracture. Instead of this, a piece was melted out. The failure, however, proved a success, for the tone of the bell was in a good measure restored. Having in this condition continued to do duty, it was now, as we have stated, put to a useful service in signaling the hours of labor. But it was destined to share the fate of the old church-bequeathing its metal, while losing its individuality. As the new house went up and the work drew near completion, a workman named William Halsey, to secure the parish against possi- bilities which excited uneasiness in some minds,
THE THIRD MEETING-HOUSE.
177
DEDICATION.
gave the bell a finishing stroke with his hammer. A piercing knell-and the tongue which had so long discoursed solemnly of eternity and sweetly of heaven, which had called a generation to their nightly repose and to their weekly devotions, which had been the music of their lives and a mourner at their burial, was silent forever !
The new building (except the steeple) went up during the summer and autumn of 1813. The date of its dedication we have not been able to deter- mine. According to the recollections of some who were present, it occurred in the month of Decem- ber, the weather being quite cold. Mr. Hillyer preached. The assembly was large and the occa- sion inspiring. Taking a text from Genesis 28 : 17, he thus congratulated his audience, who were now partakers of his joy as they had been of his toil and hope :
" MY BRETHREN :- The circumstances in which we meet this morning are calculated to inspire us all with unfeigned gratitude and lively joy. By the good providence of our God, a work of great labor and expense is so far accomplished that we may this day begin to enjoy its fruits. If we look back to the moment when, with solicitude and trembling hope, we laid the corner-stone, and con- sider the rapidity and safety with which the work has progressed-that in a little more than twelve months this large, convenient and beautiful build-
178
MR. HILLYER'S SERMON.
ing has been thus far completed-that in all the dangers to which a numerous body of useful mechanics and laborers have been exposed, not a life has been lost, nor a bone broken *- what heart does not feel, and what tongue does not confess, that this is the finger of God ? We are permitted in health and in peace to assemble around these altars, and by prayer and thanksgiving dedicate this house to our God and Redeemer."
Words equally earnest, and which have not yet lost their fitness or force, were heard as the speaker drew. his discourse to a close. The thoughts evolved from his subject and from the occasion, were thus brought home to his congregation :
" The God of Jacob has given you a Bethel- not in the wilderness, not in exile from domestic endearments, not in circumstances of poverty and want, but in circumstances happily adapted to spiritual improvement. Let me beseech you, my
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