The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1, Part 36

Author: First Presbyterian Church (Morristown, N.J.); Green, R. S. (Rufus Smith), 1848-1925
Publication date: 1976
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826


USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1 > Part 36


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58


These facts give occasion for some state- ments about newspapers, which are taken from the Portland "New Northwest."


The first daily newspaper printed in the world, was published and edited by a woman named Elizabeth Mallet, in London, in 1702. In her address to the public she announced as her reason for publishing a newspaper, that she desired "to spare the public half the impertinences which the or- dinary papers contain." It was to her credit that like most enterprizes under- taken by women, her paper was reformatory in its character.


The first paper published in America was in Massachusetts. It was called the Massa- chusetts Gazette and News Letter. After the death of the editor his widow edited it for two or three years in the most spirited manner. It was the only paper that did not suspend publication when Boston was be- sieged by the British. The widow's name was Margaret Craper.


In 1732, Rhode Island issued its first newspaper. It was owned and edited by Anna Franklin. She and her two daugh- ters did the printing and their servants worked the printing press. History tells us that for her quickness and correctness she was appointed printer to the Colony, supplying pamphlets, &c., to the colonial officers. She also printed an edition of the colonial laws of 340 pages.


In 1776, Sarah Goddard printed a paper in Newport, R. I., ably conducting it; after- wards associating with her John Carter. The firm was announced as Sarah Goddard & Co., she taking the partnership prece- dence as was proper and right. .


In 1782 Clementine Reid published a paper


in Virginia, favoring the colonial cause and greatly offending the Royalists, and two, years after, another paper was started in the interests of the Crown by Mrs. H. Boyle, who borrowed the name of Mrs. Reid's paper, which was the Virginia Gazette; but Mrs. Boyle's paper was short lived, Both of the papers were published in the town of Williamsburg. The colonial paper was the first newspaper in which the Decla- ration of Independence was printed.


In 1773, Elizabeth Timothy published and edited a paper in Charleston, S. C. After the Revolution, Anne Timothy became its editor, and was appointed State printer, which position she held seventeen years. Mary Crouch published a paper in Charles- ton about the same time, in special opposi- tion to the Stamp'act. She afterwards re- moved her paper to Salem, Mass., and con- tinued its publication there for years after. Haj


Louis Richards, Esq., of Reading, Penna., has gathered much information and many facts about the genealogy of the Richards family in America. Through his kindness much of this information has been placed at the disposal of the RECORD.


It will be used for a sketch of the Rev. Dr. James Richards, former pastor of the church, which will appear in the March number.


In the meantime a great favor will be. conferred it any one will furnish facts, an- ecdotes or other information about Dr. Richards. It is desirable to place cor- rectly upon record these sketches of the men, who have ministered to the church.


Information received from Hon. A. W. Cutler settles a matter about which there was no certain knowledge at the time the article in the last number of the RECORD, relative to SILAS CONDICT, was written. The house now occupied by Mr. Cutler was built by his great grand father, Mr. Condict, and in it he actually lived. The building was erected by Mr Cutler's father, Gen. Cutler, for Mr. Condict.


The house has been altered and improved by its present occupant, but the main build- ing still remains.


Solidity in houses as well as in character marked the times of our ancestors.


1


١١.٤٠


١٠٠


:٢٠٢ ٠٩٠


١١٠٠ ٠٠ ( ٠


اے


١١١٠


٦٫٠٠


١٠ / ٩١٣/ ٢٠٢٠٠٣٤


١٠٠


١


2 6


:٢٠١٫٠١



THE RECORD


FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORRISTOWN, N. J. " THIS SHALL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME."-Psalms 102 : 18.


VOLUME III. MARCH, 1883. NUMBER 3.


[Printed with the Approval of the Session. ]


THE RECORD


Will be published monthly at Morristown. N. J. Terms $1.00 per annum, in advance: Subscriptions may be made at the book- . stores of Messrs. Runyon and Emmell, or to Messrs. James R. Voorhees and William D. Johnson, or by letter addressed to the EDITOR OF THE RECORD, Morristown, N. J.


Entered at the Post Office at Morristown, N. J., as second class matter.


The Sunday School of the church reports as follows for 1882 :


Officers :


William D. Johnson, Superintendent.


Mahlon Pitney, Assistant Supt.


P. B. Pierson, Sec'y and Treas.


O. F. Lozier, Librarian.


William Leek, Henry Potts,


Assistant Librarians.


Miss Emma Campbell, Miss Lottie Campbell, Superintendents of Primary Department, Miss Laura Pierson, Assistant Supt. Number of Officers, 9


" Teachers, 47


" Scholars in primary depart- ment, 85


" Scholars in main school, 263


Total, 404


Average Attendance in 1882.


Officers,


Teachers,


Scholars,


Average attendance, 250


Largest attendance, 278


Smallest attendance,


Number of Books in the Library, 502


Contributions by the Children's Missionary


A history of the Sunday School would be interesting. Mrs. Condict, wife of Dr. Lewis Condict, it is said, was its first Superinten- dent. She was the daughter of the Rev. Na- than Woodhull, of Long Island, a very suc- cessful and noted preacher.


Will not some kind friend furnish the material for an article on that history or. what is better, write the article? The RECORD will gladly publish it.


A new order of service was introduced at the first Sunday evening worship, in Febru- ary. This was the result of unanimous ac- tion on the part of the session. The service was certainly a success. It has been con- tinued to this time and for the present will be retained in the evening worship of the church. The order of service and the' 1 church calendar for February and March, 1883, appear in this issue of the RECORD.


The rebound, at the outset of the Puritan Revolution in England, from what many deemed to be prelatical formalism, was so great as to carry the reformers to the op- posite extreme. An excess of reform is sometimes a greater evil than the mischief intended to be remedied. Zeal is not al- ways controlled by wisdom. The severe simplicity of worship introduced into Scotland by the Covenanters, and into Eng- land by the Puritans and brought to this 7 country by the Pilgrim Fathers, served its 38 purpose. It was a necessity when first in- 205 troduced, but the time for that necessity has passed. The Covenanter, the Puritan, 250 the Pilgrim Fathers were grand men ; they worked out a great revolution, grander in its results than they dreamed ; but they 128 would be sadly out of place now. Their in- fluence lingers with us yet, but it is temper- ed by a warmer heart, a kindlier spirit, than $566 59 could possibly have existed in their time,


Society,


THE BECOBD'


1


١ /٧ ٠٠٤٧٦


:


3.1.1


1


-- 1:5


٠


!


-


18


THE RECORD.


They accomplished the purpose for which God intended them. We are of a different mould, and live in a different atmosphere and must work on a loftier plane, for the same great end, it is true, but with more various means. They broke the sod, lev- elled the primeval forest, met the stern real- ities of the first years of a radical reform. We are plucking the fruit from trees of their planting ; we are reaping the har- vest of their sowing ; we are rejoicing in the peaceful years which follow their rug- ged, stormy times. They could not avoid harshness, sternness. It was an absolute necessity for them to repress the softer promptings of human nature, and that re- pression extending, as it did, to the whole of their life, went, of course, into their wor- ship. They believed as implicitly in the necessity for all this as they did in their ex- istence. We are the better for it and they must ever be foremost in our love and in our admiration, as the men who laid the foundations of religious reform which has given us so many blessings.


But Presbyterianism, while always rejoic ing in, and clinging tenaciously to, a simple order of service, is neither puritanical, nor is it bound by the harsh severe rules which, some centuries since, seemed right to the Scotch Covenanters, and was right then. There can be no good reason why Presby- terians should not enjoy a liturgy or liturgi- cal exercises.


There is, however, no intention to offer an excuse for the apparent innovation. Whatever is right in any church is right in the Presbyterian. Let but the heart join the intellect in the praise and worship of God, and it matters little in what form that praise and worship may be rendered. Sim- plicity has its merits; forms and ceremo- nies have theirs. A happy blending of both may encourage, may strengthen, may edify, Christians ; may give voice to heartfelt de- votion, where the others might freeze, or might disgust. The cold, barren worship which chills and benumbs, is as much to be avoided as the gorgeous and unmeaning Ritualism, which detracts from the worship due to the Creator and leads poor humanity to forget Deity in candles and genuflexions.


The service, as rendered at the Sunday evening meetings, has been most enjoy-


able. Minister and people have heartily en- tered into its spirit. The choir, under the admirable training of Mrs. Halsted, has added much to its interest and impressive- ness.


ORDER OF SERVICES.


Chant or Anthem : (By the choir.)


Gloria Patri, (All uniting ; congregation standing.)


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, And to the Holy Ghost ;


As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,


World without end. Amen.


Invocation : (Congregation standing.)


Apostles' Creed : (Congregation standing and joining.)


I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.


And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost ; born of the Virgin Mary ; suffer- ed under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried ; the third day He rose from the dead ; He ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.


I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the holy Catholic church; the communion of saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the resur-, rection of the body ; and the life ever- lasting. Amen.


Scripture Lesson : Precepts. Response : (By the Choir.) I


Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we be- seech Thee. Amen.


OR THIS II.


The law of the Lord is perfect, convert- ing the soul ;


The testimony of the Lord is sure, mak- ing wise the simple. Amen.


OR THIS III ..


Let the words of my mouth and the med- itation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight,


O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer. Amen.


OR THIS IV.


Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place ?


1


1 .


٠٢٠٠ ٠٠١١ ١-


٠٢٢:٦١٠


٠١٠ ٫٠٠ ٥١٤


/٢٠٠٧


of'


.


19


He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ;


Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity. nor sworn deceitfully. Amen. Prayer of Confession.


Scripture Sentences of Forgiveness and Promise.


Gloria in Excelsis: (Congregation standing and joining.)


Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men.


We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we wor- ship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.


O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty !


O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,


That takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.


Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.


Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.


Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.


For thou only art holy ; Thou only art the Lord ;


Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.


Scripture Lesson ; Gospel.


Prayer of Thanksgiving and supplication ; (Concluding with the Lord's Prayer, in which all are invited to unite aud- ibly.)


Hymn : (Congregation standing and join- ing.)


Sermon. Response : (By the Choir.)


Hymn: (Congregation standing and join- ing.)


Prayer of intercession.


Benediction : (Congregation seated and bowing in silent prayer.)


CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1883. The Lord's Day Services.


Morning Service, at 10:30 A. M. Evening Service, at 7.30 P. M. School of the Church, at 3 P. M. Young People's Prayer Service, at 6:45 P. M.


OFFERINGS.


For Foreign Missions, Sunday morning, March 4th.


For Home Missions and Sustentation, Sunday Morning, April Ist.


MID-WEEK SERVICE OF PRAYER.


Thursday Evenings, at 7:30.


Feb. 8 .- The Unity and Trinity of God- I Cor. viii .: 4; Matthew xxviii., 19.


" 15 .- The Creation of the World-Gen. i .: 1 ; John i .: 3 ; Heb. xi .; 3.


" 22 .- Preservation and Providence-Ps. cxlv .: 15, 16; Matt. vi .: 26; Rom. viii .: 28.


Mar. I .- The Creation of Man-Gen. ii .: 7 ; James iii .: 9.


" 8 .- The Genesis of Sin -Rom. v .: 12.


" 15 .- The Nature and Extent of Sin-I John iii .: 4; Rom. iii .: 4; Matt. xv .: 19 ; James iv .: 17 ; I John i .: 8 ; Matt. xii .: 31.


" 22 .- The Punishment of Sin-Rom. i .: 8; Jno. iii .: 36; Luke xii .: 47, 48 ; Mark ix .: 44.


SPECIAL SERVICES.


Baptism of Infants .- Sunday Morning Service, March 4th.


Children's Missionary Society Quarterly Meeting, Sunday, Mar. 25th.


Preparatory Lecture .- Friday, at 4 o'clock P. M., March 30th.


The Lord's Supper .- Sunday Morning Service, April Ist.


OTHER MEETINGS.


Teacher's Meeting, at close of Mid-Week Service, Thursdays.


Sewing Circle, Wednesdays, at 3 P. M.


Annual Parish Meeting, Tuesday, 3 1-2 P. M., March 13th.


The Pastor will be found at his residence, on Franklin Place, Tuesdays; and on Fri- days, from 5 to 6 P. M., in the Study of the Chapel.


It must not be forgotten that the spell- ing of names and of other words is retained in the RECORD as they appear in the origi- nal registry. All other peculiarities, as far as possible, are also retained.


This is done so as to exhibit to the read- ers of the paper the original records of the church as they actually exist.


Our ancestors, if they did not spell cor- rectly, generally did what was better, acted right. Let us imitate their virtues if we do not follow their orthography.


1


THE RECORD!


.


¡ en- the has ve-


Dn


20


THE RECORD.


-


THE NEW YORK GAZETTE AND AMERI- CAN ADVERTISER


Is a venerable looking affair. A bound volume of a portion of its issues, although in à moderately good state of preservation, in some respects, presents, as it lies before us, a weather stained appearance, and is a di- lapidated representative of the Public Press of the last century. The initial number of the first volume was published January 4, 1776, and was " printed for Samuel Loudon, 10 Water Street, between the Coffee House and the Old Slip." It appeared weekly. In the centre, at the top of the first page, is the picture of a packet-ship, with all sails set, as if either ready to sail, or actually on the Ocean. The Declaration of Independence had not yet been proclaimed, and an exami- nation of any editorial utterances do not give evidence as to the course the editor had determined to pursue in the conflict, which had been precipitated upon the coun- try in the preceeding year, by the gun fired at Lexington. Of course Mr. Loudon could not anticipate the magnitude which that conflict afterwards assumed. The publisher of a newspaper in those days and for many years afterwards, never assumed the posi- tion of an editor ; he was simply the printer, and in looking over the pages of the Gazette it is noticeable that all communications are addressed " Mr. Printer."


In his address to the public, the publish- er, among other things, says : " He will be extremely happy to have it in his power to convey, thro' the channel of this paper, to- gether with useful intelligence, foreign and domestic, any considerations, that may il- lustrate and animate the glorious cause of constitutional liberty and at the same time pour medicine into the bleeding wounds of the Extended Empire. For this purpose he most earnestly invites the Friends of Amer- ica and the British Constitution, to favor him with their kind assistance. Much has been said on the important controversy, that now engages the attention of all Europe ; but the subject is not yet exhausted ; there is sufficient scope for new discussion."


.


ral Assembly of New York, which had be- fore been prorogued to the first of Febru- ary then next. This proclamation is attest. ed " in the sixteenth year of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith and so forth." At its close appears the usual formula, " GOD SAVE THE KING."


In the same number is to be found an ad- vertisement, offering for sale "a valuable NEGRO MAN, by trade a blacksmith, about. 25 or 26 years old. He will be sold on mod- erate terms."


Although the editor does not openly ex- press his views on the all absorbing ques- tion of the day, it is quite easy to determine in what direction his real sentiments tend. He must have been a Whig, for his leanings are very decidedly manifested in many ways towards the cause of the colonies. But it was a time when prudence seemed to be the better course for men, situated as he was, to follow, so, at first, he ventured no decided expression of opinion. There were a large number of Tories in the city, although the Whigs were very largely in the majority. Tryon was still in command for the King as Governor, but he was soon obliged to leave the city and take refuge on board of an English ship in the harbor. It was about this time that Isaac Sears, who had before removed to New Haven, came to the city with a hundred men or more, mnoved at the head of his troops, in perfect order, down Broadway to the foot of Wall street, where was the printing office of Rivington's Gazetteer, which had so excited the wrath of Morris county Whigs. Sears sacked the office, captured the type and carried it off to be cast into bullets. Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor, of Virginia, had just before that confiscated a Whig newspaper in Norfolk. Sears with a grim humor quite characteristic of the man, gave Rivington an order on the Virginia Gover- nor for a new supply of type. The draft was never honored. The true name of this Tory paper was " Rivington's New York Gazetteer, or the Connecticut, Hudson's River, New Jersey and Quebec Weekly Ad- vertiser." It had been outspoken in its loyal utterances and had, really, laid itself


William Tryon was then Governor of New York, and in the first number of this paper,a proclamation from this loyal officer of the Crown appears, dissolving the Gene-I open to the attack made upon it, as it had


RO ha


há tia th


P p V T


P


11


:


١٠١ ٠١٠ ٠١


1. ١٢١٠٠


-


THE RECORD.


gone beyond the bounds of moderation and had been bold, violent and aggressive.


The New York Packet, whatever may have been its political sentiments, impar- tially reported the debates in Parliament and the proceedings of the Continental Con- grèss.


Unfortunately the bound volume of the Packet to which access has been had, is im- perfect, ending with the issue of the first volume which appeared August 29, 1776. .The rest of the volume is made up of that part of Vol. 7 which began with No. 321 and ended with No. 450, which last number was issued December 30, 1784. Numbers 321 to 332 inclusive were published at Fish- kill, but from No. 333 to No. 450 the issues are dated in New York from No. 5 Water street "between the Coffee House and the Old Slip." With No. 333 began a semi- weekly publication, the paper appearing on Mondays and Thursdays.


Some of the advertisements are curious, and exhibit a method of conducting affairs then, quite unknown to business men of the present day. Richard Edsall, the 3d, confin- ed in gaol, in Orange County, for debt, "take this method to notify his creditors that he intends to apply to the Legislature at their next meeting for an act to discharge him from his confinement." Comfort and Joshua Sands inform their friends that they have at their store in the house formerly occupied by Isaac Sears, Esquire, for sale on the lowest terms, among other goods, the following queer assortment : " Brimstone, Wool, Hats, Frying pans, Shovels and Spades, Bohea Tea."


Occasionally a notice is made of New Jer- sey and of some localities in the State. A · sermon, preached by the Rev. John With- erspoon, the President of the College of New Jersey, is advertised for sale by this Printer ; a robbery at New Brunswick is noticed, and the capture of the thief is sta- ted with great satisfaction. In the issue of December 6th, 1784, a letter from Trenton, N. J., dated December 1, is published, which speaks of the meeting, at that town, of the Congress of the United States on the Mon- day preceeding. The delegates from this State were William Churchill Houston and John Beatty. At this meeting Richard Henry Lee was elected President. The next | tice being done to the subject.


number announces this, " his excellency P. I. Van Berckel, Minister Plenipotentiary from the United Netherlands, has arrived at Trenton." This gentleman built a house at Newark, afterwards occupied by the Penn- ington family, at least, so runs the tradition. It was a quaint frame building, with a large wide hall, capacious rooms, and with an ap- pearance differing materially from other buildings in Newark. It was situate on the west side of Broad street, just north of South Park Presbyterian Church. It has long since given place to a more modern built edifice with modern improvements.


There are many advertisements and mat- ters of interest in this venerable relic of the last century, to which reference may here- after be made.


The South street Presbyterian church have initiated a movement which will, un- doubtedly, commend itself to all teachers in the schools of the church. This move- ment really begins with the Sunday school and is undoubtedly due to the suggestion of its superintendent, Mr. J. F. Randolph. A series of five lectures, upon subjects, in which all Sunday schools are directly in- terested, has been begun. The first in the course was delivered Wednesday evening, February 7th, on Christian Biography, by the Rev. Kinsley Twining and was of course, admirable. The second on Church His- tory will be delivered March 7, and will be succeeded by the others, as follows : Chris- tian doctrine, by F. G. Burnham, Esq., April 4th ; Christian Duty, A. F. West, A. M., May 2d ; and Christian Devotion. by Rev. Albert Erdman, D.D., pastor of the church, June 6; the programme published calls them " Conferences on Sunday Read- ing," and states that they are to be held in the Bible class room, at 8 P. M. The object is to afford information to teachers and oth- ers on these various subjects and espe- cially to instruct in a course of reading from which that information can be obtain- ed. The plan is an admirable one and wor- thy of imitation by all Sunday schools.


The promised sketch of the life of Dr. James Richards must be postponed until the next issue. Want of time prevents full jus-


d be- 'ebru- ·ttest reign 'God 'ing. t its AVE ad- ble out id-


1


١٠٠٠


١٢٠


1.21


١٠٤


: .


المعلنة


٤١


1


1. 21 :


1


YALL


22


THE RECORD.


Sunday schools have assumed such pro- portions and struck their roots so deep into the soil of the church that they must now be considered permanent institutions. Their importance is an established fact. They deserve and should receive all the care which the church can possibly afford them. The title of "School of the Church" is an admirable one and should not merely in name, but in the whole spirit and mean- ing of the title, be applied to them. They should be schools of the Church in real ear- nest, subject to the supervision and under the control of the proper authorities of the several churches with which they are con- nected. This supervision, this control should not be merely nominal but subsist- ing and substantial.


The tendency in Americans, of all classes, toward the expenditure of great energy, sometimes at the utmost possible expense of mind and body, in any direction which, for the time, seizes upon the public, either by way of fashion or taste, is so marked and often so detrimental as to require repres- sion. Religion does not, perhaps unfortu- nately, suffer too often nor too much from the expression of this tendency. But it may, and great care is needed to preserve it and its adjuncts from this apparent ten- dency of the times. This tendency has ex- hibited itself, in a measure, in this matter of Sunday schools.


Much may be said in favor of conventions and something may be said against them. Ought not a fear to be indulged and a warning given that undue efforts in this di- rection may exhaust the energies of teach- ers and of the friends of Sunday schools in the multiplicity of conventions ?


This suggestion is made with some hesi- tation, but with the hope that it may be re- ceived in the same spirit in which it is - given.


A proposition has been made to divide the State into districts and hold conven- tions in these districts, instead of having a great State convention as heretofore. A meeting of some of the pastors and super- intendents in town was held last Friday evening to discuss this subject. This dis- trict plan may be excellent ; it is still un- tried. County conventions are exceedingly useful and perhaps all that are necessary !




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.