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 39
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other general election was held by direction of the Provincial Congress to choose del- egates to a new convention, and Col. Drake was again chosen one of the five from this county, receiving 491 votes, a larger num- ber than was cast for any other of the can- didates. These frequent re-elections were necessary in a body, ruling not under any constitution but proceeding directly from the people and thus receiving frequent en- dorsements for their acts. This last con- vention which assembled at Burlington, June 10, approved July 2, the first constitu- tion of this State and directed the manner in which the first State Legislature should be chosen. In this Legislature and in the two succeeding ones, Col. Drake was one of the representatives from Morris. Mean- time two battalions of Militia had been rais- ed and organized. The Eastern commanded by Col. Jacob Ford, the Western by Col. Drake, but the appointment of the latter to the Legislature obliged him to resign his colonelcy in 1776. Col. Drake was married twice. By his first wife, Miss Charity Young, he had one daughter, Mrs. Howell. His second wife was Esther, daughter of Capt. Peter Dickerson and the widow of Mr. George King, of Morristown. To her he was married Dec. 13, 1781, by Dr. Timo- thy Johnes. They had six children, viz .: Clarissa H., born Aug. 23, I/. who mar- ried Dr. Ebenezer Woodruff; Jacob B. Drake, born May 5, 1786; Silas Drake, born April 10, 1799 ; George King Drake, born Sept. 16, 1788 ; Peter Drake, born April 9, 1792, and Eliza Drake, born April 4, 1794, who married Dr. Absalom Woodruff. After the war Col. Drake continued to re- side at Drakesville, until about 1811, when he sold the hotel to Henry Mooney and re- moved to a house he had built at Succa- sunna, afterwards occupied by Dr. Ebenezer Woodruff, where he died in September, 1823.
George K. Drake was born at Drakesville and named after his mother's first husband, who was the brother of Henry King of Morristown and uncle of William L., Charles and Jacob King. In the absence of neigh- borhood schools he was placed by his father under the care of the celebrated Rev. Amzi Armstrong of Mendham. Here he un- doubtedly received the strong religious bias
which ever after manifested itself in his life. Under the tuition of Dr. Armstrong he fit- ted for Princeton college, from which he graduated in 1808, in the same class with the late Bishop Meade, of Va., George Wood and Judge Wayne of the U. S. Supreme Court. After graduation he begun at once the study of law in the office of Sylvester Russel, then one of the leading members of the Morris county bar .. In 1812 he was licensed as attorney and began the practice of his profession at Morristown. In 1815 he was made Counselor and in 1834 Ser- geant-at-Law. October 4, 1815, he was united in marriage to Mary Alling Halsey. daughter of Jacob Halsey of New York city, and set up his house. In January, 1816, he purchased from Israel Canfield a lot adjoin- ing the Lewis Mills' property, where the Bates' stores are now in Washington street, and upon this he built his residence and had his office. He soon established himself in a fine practice, his well known integrity and ability securing for him the business of the leading men of the community. August 15, 1822, he united with the First Presbyterian Church, then under the pastoral care of Dr. McDowell, his wife having united in May previous, At a meet- ing of the church on Friday, the Ist of Sep- tember, 1826, Mr. Drake and five others were elected ruling elders, and on Sabbath, the first day of October following, they were solemnly set apart to the office by prayer.
In 1823 he was elected a member of the House of Assembly and re-elected the three following years. The last two years of his membership he was Speaker of the House. In 1824, and again in 1825, he was appointed Prosecutor of the Pleas for Morris County. In December, 1826, while a member of the House, he was appointed in joint meeting one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, to succeed Judge Rossel. To accommodate the people of the judicial district to which he was assigned, he left Morristown in 1828 and removed with his family to Burlington. where he resided for five years, and then to Trenton where he remained two years.
During the last years of his term the cel- ebrated case of Shotwell against Hendrick- son and Decow, growing out of the division which had taken place in the Society of Friends, was referred to Chief Justice Ew-
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ing and Justice Drake for decision, the Chancellor having been engaged as counsel in the case. Hendrickson, in 1821, as Treas- urer of the School Fund of the Preparative Meeting of the Society of Friends of Ches- terfield, loaned $2,000 to Shotwell on mort- gage. At this time there was no division in the Society, and until after the yearly meeting, held in Arch street meeting house on the third Monday of April, 1827, there was but one yearly meeting. At this mem- orable meeting the presence of a disturbing element was ve , apparent. The meeting nevertheless aujourned "to meet in the next year at the usual time." The " Hick- site " party were very much dissatisfied with the proceedings, and a convention of their party was called in October, which resulted in forming a new yearly meeting which held its first session in Green street, in Philadel- phia, on the second Monday in April, 1828, the " Orthodox" party meeting on the third Monday of April in that year in Arch street meeting house as formerly. The division in the yearly meeting extended to all the branches of the Society. Each quarterly, monthly and preparative meeting separated into two. The Hicksite preparative meet- ing accounted to the Hicksite monthly meeting, that to the Hicksite quarterly meeting and that to the Green street yearly meeting. The Orthodox meetings were maintained as they had been. There were two Chesterfield preparative meetings and of these Decow was treasurer of that of the Hicksite party, while Hendrickson remain- ed treasurer of that of the Orthodox party. Both claimed the money from Shotwell who sympathized with the Hicksite party and compelled the parties to interplead. Hendrickson in his bill of complaint stated among other things that there were three prominent points of doctrine always deem- ed fundamental in the Society on which they differed. That the Orthodox Friends believed in the divinity of the Saviour, the Atonement and the inspiration and certainty of the Scriptures, but that the Hicksites re- jected these doctrines. Decow in his an- swer denied that these doctrines were fun- damental, and that every individual mem- ber of the society might believe in regard to them what he pleased.
The Chief Justice decided the case against the Hicksite party in a very elaborate opin. ion, arguing quite conclusively that the preparative meeting represented by Decow and accountable through its respective monthly and quarterly meetings to the Green street yearly meeting was not the one to whom the money was payable, That the Orthodox preparative meeting was the original institution, not destroyed or legally affected by the separation of a portion of its membership. He did not discuss the differ- ences of belief of the two parties.
Judge Drake, in his opinion, went further than the Chief Justice. To use his own phraseology the propriety as well as the legality of the courts noticing the doctrines of the preparative meeting, which was to superintend the expenditure of the fund ma question, was too manifest to admit of doubt, and he declared that in his opinion the fund should be awarded to that meeting which had shown, at least to his satisfaction, that they agreed in doctrine with the socie ty of Friends as it existed at the origin of the trust.
This decision gave great dissatisfaction to the losing party. They declared that while the Chief Justice took away their property Judge Drake had robbed them also of their religion. Accordingly their enmity to him was much deeper and took a practical form. By their votes the next fall they helped to elect a Democratic Legislature which ap- pointed Thos. C. Ryerson, Esq", of the same political faith to succeed him. Judge Elmer, in his reminiscences, remarks that this was the only case where the reappointment of a generally accepted judge had been defeated by a single obnoxious decision. Judge Ry- erson, with many other Democrats, stoutly opposed this unjustifiable proscription and warmly advocated his reappointment. His name was used to secure the votes of Sus- sex members, and " thus without his knowl- edge, he was made the instrument of defeat- ing an excellent and irreproachable judge, his own warm and personal friend." That 1 this would be the probable result of his opinion Judge Drake foreknew, but believ- ing it to be his duty he did not hesitate to declare his convictions with the greatest freedom, and' to put his decision on princi-
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ples which, not being necessarily required to be assured, others would have deemed it wiser to avoid.
In 1835, after the expiration of his term, he returned to Morristown and again re- sumed the active practice of his profession. But severe trials waited upon his remaining years. While still living in Trenton he was " afflicted with rheumatism which confined him for months to his house and troubled him ever after. He became financially much embarrassed in the settlement of his father's estate and by the impairment of his practice from his long absence from Morristown. On the 26th of March, 1836, he lost his only son, Edm ad Burke Drake, a youth of great promise who died of ery- sipelas in his nineteenth year. In the spring of the following year he rode on horseback from Morristown to Succasunna without a buckskin vest he had been in the habit of wearing during the past winter. He was taken with pleurisy at the house of his brother-in-law, Dr. Ebenezer Woodruff, and after an illness of only one week died May 6th, in the forty-eighth year of his age. He was buried at Morristown in the old church yard, but his remains were afterwards re- moved to the Evergreen Cemetery. His widow survived him many years and died at the house of her son-in-law in Newark, April 18, 1872.
Judge Drake left four children. Eliza Halsey, who married George R. Howell : Annie Mckenzie, who married Henry G. Darcy ; Mary L., who is the wife of Justice Scudder of the Supreme Court, and Marion McLean, who died in childhood.
A gentleman who remembers Judge Drake very well prior to 1821, says of him, "He was my father's counsel. I conse- quently saw more of him than most boys of my age, having occasion to go to his office frequently on errands, and his appearance, voice and manners are very strongly im- pressed on my mind. He was rather tall and had a slight bend or scholarly stoop in walking. But his height, with rather a long neck, gave him a commanding appear- ance when on his feet. His most striking feature was his voice which was an uncom- monly deep bass, rich and sonorous, Ilis utterance was slow and deliberate. It seem- ed as if not only every sentence but every lis again commended,
word was weighed when he spoke. In con- versation his manner was marked by ex- treme gravity. I don't recollect ever see- ing him laugh but what I recollect of him with the greatest pleasure, was the winning charm and kindness of his manner in con- versation, of this I have distinct recollec- tion. It was just that manner which would impress a stranger with the idea, 'this is a man I can trust.' My father had the most exalted idea of him as a gentleman and a friend. I suppose no man ever stood higher in public estimation in Morristown, either socially or as a safe and trusted counselor. I regret that I am unable to give a fuller sketch of this good man."
THE SOUTH STREET SUNDAY SCHOOL LECTURES
The second and third in this course have been delivered; the second. on " Church History," March 9th, by Mr. John White- head, and the third on " Christian Doctrine," April 4th, by F. G. Burnham, Esq.
Before the delivery of the third lecture, a kind friend sent the communication which follows this notice. The maternity of the letter is strongly suspected. Praise is pleas- ant even to the most modest, and it could hardly be expected that human nature, es- pecially that of an editor, could resist the temptation to publish so flattering a com- mendation, coming as it does from this sus- pected source.
These lectures are delivered in the church parlor, in the rear of the main building.
The arrangement of the rooms con- nected with . the parlor, is admirable and reflects great credit on the ar- chitect and building committee. The com- pactness and convenience which have been obtained is simply wonderful. It can hardly be credited that seven rooms are to be found in the rear of the one used for reg- ular worship. Beside the parlor there are .. a pastor's study, two rooms for Sabbath school purposes, one for the older scholars and one for the infant classes-a ladies room, kitchen and library. The parlor is admirably adapted for lecture purposes ; its acoustic properties are excellent ; it brings speaker and audience close together and gives a home like feeling and appearance.
This plan of instruction for Sunday schools
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Mr. Editor :
The second lecture of the course on "Sunday reading" was delivered in the Bible class room of the South street Presbyte- rian church, March 7th, by John White- head, Esq.
"Church History" was the subject select- ed for that evening, and a goodly number assembled to partake of the literary feast, for such, indeed, it proved to be. The lec- turer gave a history of the Christian church to the era of the Reformation. The time subsequent to this period was not consider- ed, as well from lack of time, as from the fact that it must be more familiar to the audience.
The history of the church was divided into three periods, Ancient, Medieval and Modern.
The Ancient period included the " Apos- tolic Era," the era of the " Persecuted Church," and the era of the " Church Tri- umphant."
The Medieval period included the time from Gregory the Great, to Gregory VII; from Gregory VII to Boniface VIII; from Boniface VIII to the Reformation. The modern period extends to the present time and is still in progress.
The treatment of the subject indicated deep research on the part of the lecturer and an ability to mould the facts into a form that could be readily grasped. At the close of the lecture a list of books, valua- ble to the student was cited, many of which are to be found on the shelves of the library. B.
TEMPERANCE.
In the last number of the RECORD men- tion was made of several plans proposed for a check to intemperance. Each plan, of course, has its honest advocates. The views and prejudices of these advocates ought to be respected ; but, where the com- mon sentiment of all who favor these differ- ent plans, is in one direction and all are de- sirous of reaching one end, the mutual re- spect due to each other should permit and the common desire for the same great end should induce, a united effort in adopting one of the various plans proposed.
Why not ? What is lacking is union. What will secure undoubted success is one com- mon impulse of all opponents of intempe- rance in one direction.
Take a practical view of the subject. Morristown has nine Christian churches, into which gather statedly a very large ma- jority of the people of that city. If the vote should be taken of the worshippers in these nine churches upon the simple question, temperance or intemperance, there could be no doubt as to the result. In all probability, every man, woman and child would vote for temperance.
But present the question to the same vo- ters in this form ; what practical plan is the best to adopt to stop the further progress of intemperance, and quite another result would be obtained.
This divergence of opinion cannot be avoided, but this can be done: When a question of action is submitted, then Christ- ian men and women can surrender mere opinion and adopt a course of action which involves no surrender of principle, but by a united effort can be made successful.
Let every one who opposes intemperance and really desires to check it, put himself in such a position that he may honestly sub- scribe to this sentiment : My opinion favors one certain plan, but I am willing to do whatever is thought best by the majority provided I am not called upon to surrender a principle.
The Index, published at Brockport, N. Y,, in the interest of the Baptist church there, is welcome. It is a bright paper, fully alive to the duties of a church of Christ and of individual Christians. We tender our congratulations to our brithren at Brock- port on the good work they have accomplished for their church . edifice, but more especially for a higher and better work, which seems to have blessed the se- ries of meetings they have been holding.
The next lecture in the course in South street church, in this city, will be delivered by Mr. Andrew F. West, May 2d next, on Christian Duty.
Why, cannot the old First Church imi- Is it possible to accomplish this union ? |tate this excellent example ?
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HISTORY OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
On the banner of the Sunday school of the church hanging every Sabbath in the chapel, is the date 1816. It is presumed that this date is intended to denote the year in which the Sunday school was organized. But is this correct ?
Mr. Manning Rutan, in his 81st year, writes from Greenville, Michigan, that he thinks he attended Sunday school, in the gallery of the church, in 1814 or 1815. The superintendent was then a lady, and lived, so says Mr. Rutan, about one hundred yards from the church and carried on the milli- nery business. Two of the teachers were employed by the superintendent in her shop, one of whom was Miss Charity Mc- Carty, who afterwards married a Mr. John- ston and also carried on the millinery busi- ness. This lady superintendent, says Mr. Rutan, afterwards married Col. Cobb, of Parsippany, but he does not remember her name. A friend says she was a widow and her name was Shaw.
Our former pastor, the Rev. Dr. Irving, in his sermon, published in the RECORD, Aug. 1882, says that in 1816 a Sabbath school, in connection with this church was established. Before, a few active friends met on Sabbath to instruct the colored people. This school for colored folk, Dr. Irving supposed. was the first movement in this part of the country in the direction of Sunday schools.
Dr. Irving's sermon was preached on Thanksgiving day, 1862. Undoubtedly the preacher made his statement after all pos- sible research. But, if Mr. Rutan be correct, there must have been a Sunday school for white children prior to 1816.
In 1880, the Rev. D. E. Platter prepared a historical manual of the Rockaway church ; in the sketch of the history of the church contained in this manual, it is stated that in 1815, Mrs. Electa Jackson, wife of Col. Joseph Jackson, living at Rockaway, started the first Sunday school in Morris County, in the "old red school house," near the church, at Rockaway. Mr. Platter adds to this the statement, that " Mrs. Jackson and her sister-in-law, Mrs. James Jackson, had pre- viously gathered the neighboring children for religious instruction in their own homes."
All honor to these pious ladies and to the church which supported them.
A correct history of the Sunday school is very desirable. A kind friend, at one time, much interested in the school and occupy- ing an important position in it, has given some interesting facts relative to it. But her acquaintance with the school began at a date subsequent to its early history. What, therefore, is now most needed for the present purpose, are the exact facts con- nected with that early history. Any such facts will be gladly received.
BIOGRAPHICAL
Sketches of the lives of former pastors, ruling elders and prominent men connected with the church, will be published from time to time. The June number of the RE- CORD will probably contain a notice of Hon. Ira C. Whitehead, a former elder. Persons in possession of facts, anecdotes, or circum- stances connected with the lives of any of these persons thus designated, will confer a very great favor by forwarding them to the editor.
Information of any kind in reference to any of the former pastors or elders of the church is particularly requested.
During the week ending April 21, large temperance meetings have been held in Washington Hall, under the charge of the Y. M. C. A. These meetings have been ad- dressed by Major Scott, whose labors as a temperance evangelist have been so suc- cessful elsewhere. The clergymen of the town have been present and added their in- fluence to the efforts made to aid struggling humanity in its attempts to cast off the in- cubus of intemperance. Maj. Scott is an el- oquent speaker, well calculated to impress audiences, and knows whereof he speaks.
A large assemblage, notwithstanding the severe storm, gathered on Sunday evening, April 22d, in the First Presbyterian Church, at which Maj. Scott was present and spoke. The meetings have been continued during the week following. Great good is antici- pated from these efforts, and it is hoped that many, who have been in the grasp of the enemy of human souls, may have been re- leased.
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OPEN COMMUNION.
The Rector's Assistant quotes, with com- mendation, the following, taken from one of its exchanges, which, the Assistant says, is not edited by a Low Churchman :
"Now as then, she "-the church-" wel- comes to that Sacrament of the Lord's body * all baptized and faithful Christ- ians, whatever they may call them- selves, and whatever opinions they may have added to the simple faith of the Apos- tles Creed which she holds to contain all the essential articles of the Christian faith. Though separate in their organizations from the historical church, such Christian people are by their baptism and by their faith members of the Church Catholic and universal-' the mystical body of Christ, which is the blessed company of all faithful people ;' and hence have the right to ap- proach reverently the table of the Lord."
The sentiment is Catholic and Scriptural, and is in exact conformity with the teach- ings of the Presbyterian church ; the com- munion table, when spread in our church, is not a Presbyterian table, but it is the Lord's table and all who love the Lord Jesus Christ are welcome to sit with us at the feast, let them be called by whatever name they may.
THANKS
To the Rector's Assistant for its kindly no- tice and fraternal words with reference to what it is pleased to call " The new depar- ture of Presbyterianism." No quarrel can be had with any of its utterances on this subject, even if there were a disposition to do so, because of the true Christian spirit which pervade the whole article.
THANKS, too, to the Hansom Place Quar- terly for its pleasant notice of the RECORD. Is the Quarterly quite sure of its orthogra- phy ? Does it spell its own name aright ? Ought it not to be handsome ?
Among the many good things which ap- pear in the Quarterly, the article headed " How to Encourage your Minister," is spec- ially commendable. It may be read and fol- lowed with profit by members of any con- gregation. The hints there made are prac- tical, considerate, Christian, and ought to be carried out.
VERBAL INSPIRATION.
What is verbal inspiration ? It is the theory that the Bible is a work dictated word for word by the Holy Ghost. Accord- ing to it, the writers of the Scriptures were simple amanuenses, reproducing what was communicated to them with the liberal accuracy of a short-hand re- porter. This doctrine
finds favor with a large number of orthodox readers of the Old and New Testament. Neverthe- less, it is an hypothesis which is utterly un- supportable ; even the book itself, in whose behalf it is alleged, contradicting it. Chris- tians who undertake to maintain it, place themselves thereby at a pitiable disadvan- tage in their efforts with infidelity .- Rec- tor's Assistant.
THE WORLD A GAME.
This world a hunting is,
The prey, poor man, the Nimrod fierce is death ;
His speedy greyhounds are
Lust, sickness, envy, care, Strife that ne'er falls amiss
With all those ills which haunt us while we breathe.
Now, if by chance we fly Of these the eager chase, Old age with stealing pace Casts up his nets, and there we panting die. DRUMMOND.
TO .. MORROW.
Our yesterday's to-morrow now is gone, And still a new to-morrow does come on ; We by to-morrows draw up all our store, Till the exhausted well can yield no more To-morrow you will live, you always cry. In what far country does this morrow lie, That 'tis so mighty long 'ere it arrive ? Beyond the Indies does this morrow live ! 'Tis so far fetch'd this morrow, that I fear 'Twill be both very old and very dear. To-morrow I will live, the fool does say : To-day itself's too late ; the wise liv'd yes- terday. COWLEY.
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