The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1, Part 40

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 40


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THE RECORD


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


VOLUME III.


JUNE, 1883. NUMBER 6,


[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.


BENEVOLENCE.


True benevolence is not always manifest- ed by munificent gifts. Too frequently os- tentation directs the hand which showers gold. The small rills which feed the mighty river are always the sweetest and purest. The simple, humble Christian, whose life is a constant reflection of the goodness which shone in the Master, is surer of a welcome at that Master's coming than the millionaire, who, from display gives his thousands.


All over the land, in our churches, are to be found those silent witnesses of the true Christian life. They do what they can and leave the rest with their God. Women, whose names are never heard, go about on their mission, heavenly missions, of good. They feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, comfort the widow and pro- tect the fatherless. They found no hos- pitals, endow no colleges, make no great gifts of money, but they do what they can. From loving, willing hearts go out deeds of kindness and mercy. Their reward is not in the world's adulations ; they seek no such reward. Their reward is found in the praises of conscience, in the sweet assui- ance that Christ, whose great heart went


out in such paths of mercy, will at some time own and bless.


In our church are to be found some such souls and they deserve something more than a passing notice. Among some of the associations where these true workers for Christ and humanity are to be found exert- ing a blessed influence, is the Young Ladies' Missionary Society, which was organized October, 4, 1882. They are few in number and are probably not known or recognized as very important factors in our church work, and probably they are not. But they are doing what they can, and that was the high praise which the Master gave while here on earth to another worker.


This association has met together twenty- seven times since its organization; the average attendance has been eleven. They only make garments, so did Dorcas ; but when that woman died, she was worthy of a mention in the sacred record, which has sent her name down the ages; and when she lay prepared for her burial, the widows for whom she made garments, with tears, showed the coats which she had made.


Silently and patiently this little associa- tion has been doing its work. Until Jan- uary 24th last, the finished garments were taken to the house of one of the ladies and distributed among the poor of our church. £ But now, with strengthened hands and purpose, these young ladies essay to enlarge the bounds of the field of their labors ; so, after providing in a measure, at least, for the wants of our own poor, they began work for the " Home of the Friend- less" in New York. Nor content with this enlargement they propose now to work for Dr. Snowden's family, and have actually undertaken to clothe the three youngest children of that devoted missionary.


Listen to what this association has done


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since its organization, October 4, 1882. Eighty garments have been finished, nearly one-half of which has been donated to the poor of our church. They are not disposed to intermit their labors, but are going on now to finish more garments. All this has been accomplished with only thirty-seven members.


But something else remains to be said about this young missionary society. They look after their own hearts and minds as well as caring for the material good of| others.


At their meetings they discuss important subjects, have vocal and instrumental mu- sic and repeat quotations from the Bible and good authors. Neither do they forget their duty to the great head of the church, for prayer is always made as a preparation for their exercises. Finances do not form a strong part of their association but their treasury is in a healthy situation ; they have a small balance to its credit.


This charming state of affairs ought not to be disturbed by naming names. The RECORD would like to speak out and tell who are the master spirits in the society, but it forbears. This, however, must be said, that while perhaps it would be invi- dious to point out one name more deserving of praise than others, still it is quite true that to one young lady more than any one else, very much is due for the success of the Young Ladies' Missionary Society of the First Presbyterian Church. The RE- CORD says God speed to the Association.


WHAT'S IN A NAME.


Some authors who have given great at- tention to the subject, insist that every patronymic had its origin in an attempt at the descriptive. That is to say, that every family name originated in some peculiarity of the person to whom it was first given. Every Bible name is of this character, ex- cept, perhaps, that the characteristics in- tended to be described, relate rather to ex- ternal circumstances surrounding the indi- vidual named, than to the intrinsic attri- butes of the one bearing the name. Thus, all names into which enter the syllables, ja, je, ah, el., denote some connection with Deity. The Jews were very apt to give to their children some name, into which en-


tered some part of the name Jehovah-the sacred word, by which in their holiest ser- vice, they denoted God.


Our German ancestors, with a grim hu- mor, when naming their serfs, descended far below the standard adopted by the pious Hebrews in naming their sons and daugh- ters. The patronymics, used by the people of the Teutonic race, denote other charac- teristics than are to be found connected with Divinity. Such names as Wolf, Fox, Bear, Lion, Cow, Sheep, Pumpkin Head, are to be found in the names of German families.


The Bible society is to meet at the First Presbyterian Church in Morristown, in this month of June, and an address is promised from the Rev. Dr. Schaf. Dr. Schaf is a representative of German thought and learning, one of the ablest men of the cen- tury and one of the most cultivated. His name Schaf is the German for Sheep.


In this issue of the RECORD is a sketch of the life of Judge Whitehead.


One legend, as to the manner in which the family name he bears originated, is this.


In the 12th century, Henry 2d of England attempted the conquest of Ireland, in which attempt he was partially successful. He found the people of the Island divided into septs or clans; each member of the clan bearing the same patronymic. Between these clans there existed strong animosities which led to constant civil war. The Eng- lish were desirous of breaking up the terri- ble custom of war between the tribes, and adopted various means to accomplish their end.


One of their plans was the baptism of wild Irishmen, as. they were captured, with a new name, different from the one by which they . were known. These names, as may well be imagined, were generally descriptive. In the south part of Ireland, where this law mostly obtained, are to be found many of these descriptive names.


So, goes the story, a wild Irishman with a remarkable head of white hair, one day was brought to the font, and was baptized Whitehead. The story may not be accepted by all the members of that respectable family whose names appear so frequently, on the records of the church, and it may not be true, but it illustrates, very forcibly, how family names may arise,


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HON. IRA CONDICT WHITEHEAD.


Judge Whitehead was directly connected with the interests of the church for nearly the whole of his life time. He was baptized in early childhood and thus according to the opinions of the great body of Presbyte- rians of that day, became entitled, on his arrival at maturer years, to the privileges of church ordinances. From his infancy to his death he was a constant attendant at the meetings on Sabbath and other days, and when, at a later time, wisdom and ex- perience were added to his natural and other acquired qualities of mind and heart, he be- came trustee and ruling elder. His inter- est in the church was so great, his affection for its ordinances so manifest, and the part which he took in promoting its highest ad- vantage, so prominent that it seems emi- nently proper that some sketch should be given of his life and character in the pages of the RECORD.


He was born in Morristown, April 8, 1798, and was descended by both parents from old Morris county families. One of the names he bore denoted his maternal ances- try. He came from the same stock which has given to New Jersey such men as Silas Condict of Revolutionary fame; Lewis Condict who was a representative in Con- gress for so many years from Morris county ; John Condict of Essex county, who represented his part of the State also in the national Councils for so long a time, and which has given to the church such exemplary men of God as Ira Condict, D.D .. for whom Judge Whitehead was named, and Jonathan B. Condict, D.D., who died after many years service, a professor of Auburn Theological Seminary.


His father's family were numbered, for several generations, among the yeomanry of the country.


From the ranks of this part of the com- munity have ever come the sturdy, honest, intelligent thinkers, the strong men, the patriotic and honest statesmen, who count no sacrifice a loss, when the country de- mands.


child of Jabez Condict, who was the cousin of Silas Condict, of Revolutionary times. The strong bias of religious element, which entered into the life and character of Judge Whitehead, was found in his ancestry.


Philip Condict, his maternal great-grand- father, was a ruling elder in the First Pres- byterian Church, and his grand-father, Jabez Condict and his wife, were life long members, ardent in their piety and most exemplary in their Christian devotion.


At the time of his birth his father's family lived upon the farm, at present owned and occupied by Mr. F. B. Betts, near Morris- town.


Ezekiel Whitehead had five children, of whom Judge Whitehead was the third. The second, a son, Sylvester R., still sur- viving at the ripe old age of 88, lives at the homestead at Washington Valley, occupied by his father for so many years prior to his death.


Judge Whitehead when a youth manifest- ed a taste for letters, and was destined by his parents to a professional life. He was prepared for college at the old academy, then standing where the present Library is erected. Mr. James Johnson, a name well known in the educational annals of Morris- town as an able and most successful teacher, was his instructor and prepared him for college. He entered Princeton College November 9, 1814, in his seventeenth year, being admitted to the Junior Class. Very soon after entering college, Nov. 29, 1814, he became a member of the Nassau Bible So- ciety. His connection with this society continued so long as he was a student in college.


During his collegiate course, in the winter of 1814-15, a powerful revival occurred among the students. It is not known whether Judge Whitehead received any re- ligious impressions at this revival ; but, it cannot be doubted that a young man with his strong bias towards religion and with the recollections of his home teachings, must have felt the influences of the hour.


While at Princeton, Judge Whitehead, to use the words of one of his classmates, who afterwards became President of the college, was an irreproachable student. Ile gradu- ated in 1816, having maintained during the


Judge Whitehead's father was Ezekiel Whitehead, a sturdy, independent man, who feared nothing but sin and the anger of his God. His mother was Mary, the second | first year of his course, a standing in scho-


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larship at about the middle of his class, and rising somewhat above this in his second year. At the commencement exercises he took part in a debate, arguing the negative of the question, "Is it desirable that the patriots of South America should succeed in their present struggle for liberty and in- dependence ?" Of course, it will be under- stood that he was a debater in these exer- cises, and that he did not express the true sentiments of his mind when he argued the negative of the question. The wording of the resolution submitted for debate was of such a character as to leave but little chance for the debaters who opposed.


At that time the accommodations at the college, in the way of dormitories, was rather limited, and he roomed with two other students, the Rev. R. K. Rodgers, so long secretary of the Synod of New Jersey and pastor of a Presbyterian church at Bound Brook, and the Rev. Mr. Lowe.


His classmates numbered several students who afterward became distinguished as statesmen, jurists and divines. Among them were found the following : James Mc- Dowell, Governor of Virginia ; Cornelius Ludlow, LL. D., Chester Butler, U. S. Sena- tor ; James S. Nevius, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey; John MacLean, D.D., President of Princeton Col- lege ; Rev: William Jessup Armstrong, D.D., Charles Pettit McIlvaine, Bishop of Ohio and President of Kenyon College.


After graduation he taught school for about two years, one of them in the old Academy at Morristown, and then entered the office at Newark, of Joseph C. Horn- blower, afterwards Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court of New Jersey, as a student- at-law. At that time, his uncle, Silas White- head, was Clerk of the County of Essex, and Judge Whitehead employed his leisure hours in his uncle's office, so as to enable himself to pay his own way and not continue to be a burden on his father.


He was licensed as an Attorney by the Supreme Court of his native State about the year 1821 and immediately began the prac- tice of his profession, opening an office at Schooley's Mountain, in the building known as the Heath House. He remained here for a short time only, perhaps for two or three years, when, at the request of


George K. Drake, afterwards associate Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, he removed to Morristown and became a part. ner with Judge Drake. From this time he remained in this city until his death, in the full practice of his profession, except when engaged in the performance of his duties as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.


April 6, 1829, Judge Whitehead married Sarah Louisa Johnson, eldest child of Silas Johnson, of this city. One child, a daughter, was born to them. She lived to grow up - but died early in womanhood. Being an only child she naturally became the object ; of the fondest, tenderest affections of her parents. She early became the subject of - religious impressions and to the great joy of her friends and especially of her pious parents, she united with the church in early life. She gave promise of great usefulness in the church and in the community where she lived. Death came early and destroyed , this promise. It can well be imagined how the loving heart of her father was wrung by this affliction. He went sorrowing for his daughter to the grave, but in all his sor- row he found true consolation in the solace of religion. The funeral sermon of this daughter, to whom had been given the name of Mary, from her grand-mother, the wife of Jabez Condict, was preached by the Rev. David Irving, D.D., who was then the pastor of the church, and between whom and Judge Whitehead and his family there always existed the truest affection. That sermon was preached January 30, 1858, and was subsequently printed, It was the heart- felt tribute of the pastor and of the friend to the virtue and the loveliness of the dead, !. and was evidently the work of one who deep- ly felt the loss of so young and so bright a | spirit.


The text was this ; "She hath given up the ghost ; her sun hath gone down while it was yet day." None but those who have gone through the like sorrow can appreciate the great affliction which the loss gave to the father. He never recovered fully from the blow.


On Nov. 3, 1841, Judge Whitehead was appointed an Associate Justice of the Su- preme Court of New Jersey by the Gov- ernor of the State.


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created and Judge Whitehead held his first circuit in the new county. There was no Court House then erected in Hudson and the courts were held at some public place in Jersey City. He held this position but for one term ; as the Governor who came into office, at the time his term expired, was of different politics, and he retired to private life. He practised his profession for a short time after this, but finally accepted, at the urgent request of the bar of Morris County, the position of Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, which position he held for one term. He then, practically, retired from public life, giving his attention, however, occasionally, to the charge of important estates. He was the leading and active ex- ecutor of the late William Gbbons, whose large estate in his hands received a foster- ing care which enabled him to hand it over to the heirs, at their majority, largely in- creased in value.


Judge Whitehead, very early, manifested a deep interest in the affairs of the church. He would not have been true to himself nor to his ancestry, if he had not done so. In 1832, he was parish clerk ; in 1838 and 1839 he served as trustee. In 1841, at a time when the most careful and delicate conduct of the affairs of the church was needed: when prudence and wisdom were most especially necessary, he, with Lewis Condict, William Sayre, Jr., Abraham Tappen and John F. Voorhees, acted as agents for the parish and took the place of the trustees, who had resigned. This was at a period of the great excitement in the church, which resulted in its division and the withdrawal of the congregation now organized as the South Street Presbyterian Church. None but


those familiar with the state of affairs as they then existed in the church, can fully appre- ciate the very great care and prudence which was necessary. The excitement was intense ; families were divided and a feeling existed which it fostered or not controlled and checked, would have led to the most disastrous results. Judge Whitehead was ardently attached to the old church, all his sympathies were with her in the contest. His strong nature was enlisted; but, not- withstanding all this, he showed a prudence and exhibited a wisdom which guided the storm and brought about the peace which


has since continued and led, eventually, to the union and Christian feeling which now bind the two churches. In this he was aided by the gentlemen who were his fellows in the Board of Trustees, at that most try- ing time in the history of the church. During this period he was also parish clerk.


While thus aiding the church in its tem- poral affairs he was mindful of the claims which it had upon his higher and better na- ture. He made a public profession of his faith in Christ, and was received into the full communion of the church August 27, 1829. His brother, Sylvester R., united at the same time. He was the subject of one of the great revivals which occurred while Mr. Barnes was pastor. It cannot be doubted, but that Judge Whitehead would have been led by the instincts of his nature to this step. He was strongly inclined to a religious life and after his union with the church he devoted himself to the exercise of the ruling bias of his heart and convic- tions. His was no grudging service. He gave his whole life to the Master. That service was large hearted and sincere. His was not a nature to hold back when once he had set out in the path of duty. He was earnest, sincere, generous, " instant in sea- son and out of season." Never obtrusive, but always ardent in his piety, he never failed on proper occasions to give his testi- mony to the truth. But his exemplary life was the highest evidence of his faith. He preached Jesus by his daily walk and con- versation.


May 3, 1846, he became a ruling elder, which office he held until his death, which occurred Aug. 27, 1867, when he was in his seventieth year.


For some time before his death Judge Whitehead had expected that event. He had received unmistakable warning. But he was undismayed at its near approach. He had much around him to bind him to life. The wife of his youth, whose gentle affection had gone with him, through the many years of their married life, still lived to bless and cheer. He was an honored and respected man ; the whole community, in which he lived, delighted to honor and bless him. Troops of strongly attached friends and relatives gathered about him. He had acquired independent competence, and was,


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therefore, not subject to the carking care of poverty, nor obliged to labor for the support of himself and his family. But, he knew in whom he trusted, and setting his face steadily heavenward, with an undying trust in the Rock of his salvation, he, calm- ly and patiently, awaited the end. It came at last and the honored man, the devout Christian, sank to his rest. His memory still lingers with us, and can not be lost for many generations. The good he did can never die, the wisdom he gave to the coun- cils of the church guarded her safely though perils, the material aid afforded by him, manifested the true generosity of his nature.


In person Judge Whitehead was striking, being fully six feet in height, robust and commanding. He possessed a kindly, at- tractive manner, which always brought young persons lovingly to his presence. He was firm and decided in his utterances ; his convictions were strong and he never failed to speak the true sentiments of his mind and heart. Perhaps if he failed any- where, it was in the abrupt and positive manner in which he declared his opinions. But those opinions very rarely failed in be- ing correct


As a lawyer he was untiring in his devo- tion to the interests of his client ; as a counsellor he was correct, careful and wise; as a Judge he was most industrious, patient and considerate ; as a man of business he was of spotless integrity; as a husband and father he was loving, kind and affectionate; as a Christian he was humble, consistent and exemplary, and in all the relations of life he never failed in the discharge of duty. Of him it could well be said, " An honest man is the noblest work of God."


THE TEMPERANCE SPUR.


The temperance people of Boonton have done a good work, At their last municipal election they elected town officers pledged to give no license to saloons. This result is especially noticeable at this present mo- ment, as in Boonton is to be found a large population of working people, who are, generally, supposed to favor the license system. But there seems to have been an influence at work in Boonton which was potent in obtaining so desirable a result.


This little paper, whose name heads this article, is published at Boonton, and gives an idea of what this potent influence was,


The good women of our neighbor city, evidently, took part in the contest and on the right side.


This sprightly paper is edited, so says its title page, by four young ladies. It is bright, sparkling with gems of thought, beautifully illustrated and altogether most creditable to its editors and friends. Its title page is an exquisite picture. We suspect the artist, whose genius produced the work, does not live many miles from Boonton. The decid- ed teachings of the Spur are excellent, its. testimony is all in favor of the right and it must wield a power in the community for good order, temperance and religion.


Success to the young ladies who are do- ing this good work.


SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.


The 67th anniversary of the Sunday school was observed in the church, Sunday after- noon, May 27th. An address was made by Mr. S. W. Clark, the Secretary of the New Jersey Sunday School Association. The school occupied the body of the church and made a most creditable appearance. Judge W. E. Church, recently appointed As- sociate Justice of the territory of Dakota, was present and also addressed the audi- ence.


The annual report was presented and read by Mr. W. D. Johnson, the superintendent of the school. Mr. Mahlon Pitney present- ed several of the pupils with Bibles for proficiency in the catechism, and for regular attendance upon school during the year.


The report gave some interesting particu- lars. It has been placed at the disposal of the RECORD and the permission kindly given by Mr. Johnson to take extracts from it, is accepted with thanks.


Number of officers, 9




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