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 45
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
1. .
72
THE RECORD.
150 delegates were in attendance. "The most marked interest and enthusiasm char- acterized each session. The statistics of the past year were inspiring ; 464 schools were reported (an increase of over one-half from last year's report), having 20,579 members (an increase of 100 per cent). There are four missionaries of the American Sunday School Union at work in Southern Dakota, and the excellent reports are largely due to their efforts. Our work never looked so en- · couraging as now." So reports the Secre- tary.
It is part of the irony of fate that Voltaire's house is now occupied by the Geneva Bible Society. Similar coincidences are found in London. The Religious Tract Society's premises are where Bibles were at one time publicly burned, and the British Bible So- ciety's house at Blackfriar stands where a council in 1378 forbade Wycliffe from circu- lating portions of the Scriptures, and where he uttered the famous words : " The truth shall prevail."
We picture death as coming to destroy ; let us rather picture Christ as coming to save. We think of death as ending ; let us rather think of life as beginning, and that more abundantly. We think of losing ; let us think of gaining. We think of parting ; let us think of meeting. We think of going away ; let us think of arriving. And as the voice of Death whispers : " You must go from earth," let us hear the voice of Christ saying, "You are but coming to Me."- Norman McLeod.
There is a scientific principle called " the survival of the fittest" and we can study the growth of the church of God from his stand point. How grandly the religion of Jesus appears when we try it by this test. It has now stood two thousand years, and how many systems, during that time have come up, blossomed and died. How many of them are now on the brink of destruc- tion, only waiting for some one to push them over .- Rev. Mr. Vanalstyne, Mt. Tabor Record.
BAPTISMS AND MARRIAGES.
The records of infant baptisms and of marriages, from July, 1866, to June, 1877. are at present inaccessible. Members of the congregation during that time who had children baptised, will confer a favor by Sending a note, or card, to the pastor, with the birthdays of such children, and the probable year of baptism. Notices of mar- riages, with names and dates, during the same period, are also requested, Family Bibles probably contain the facts desired.
DATE ON THE BANNER OF SUNDAY SCHOOL.
In a former issue of THE RECORD, refer- ence was made to this subject. To obtain, if possible, the true date of the organization of the Sunday school, application was made to that true friend of the school, J. D. Ste- venson, Esq., now at San Antonio, Texas. He says in his answer, recently received :- "In regard to the history of the Sunday school. I am not so well posted as you think. I tried, while Superintendent, to be- come so, but found it almost impossible. The particular incident leading to my efforts was the occasion of the grand Sunday school rally at Mount Tabor under Mr. Page. We had no fit Sunday school banner, and I inter- ested our teachers in procuring one. After raising the money-some $60-one of our most active teachers, then Miss Mary Voor- hees, afterwards Mrs. Stoutenburg, accom- panied me to New York and bought the materials.
Our next trouble was to get the true date of the organization of the school and to se- lect a motto. The only information I could find as to the date was from Miss Sarah Johnson, who remembered that in 1816 she and others took part in the establishment of the school. We, therefore, put that date upon our new banner, where I suppose it is to-day. The motto we chose at the same time, and, after a meeting of the teachers interested, and making and putting our en- sign together, it was unfurled at the head of our school August 6th, (I think that was the date)-1870."
11
.
THE RECORD
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORRISTOWN, N. J.
" THIS SHALL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME."-Psalms 102 : 18.
VOLUME III.
OCTOBER, 1883.
NUMBER 10
[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.
MR. BARNES' MANUAL.
In 1828, Mr. Barnes, then pastor of the Church, published a Manual, part of which follows this. Its title page is this :-
"Church Manual, for the members of the Presbyterian Church, Morris-Town, N. J. Compiled
By Albert Barnes, Pastor ; and published by order of the Session of said Church. Morris-Town, Printed by Jacob Mann, 1828."
This Manual is very scarce, and should be preserved. A copy has been kindly placed at the disposal of THE RECORD, and this method is taken to put it in the possession of every member of the congregation.
SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORRIS-TOWN.
At what time, or by whom, Morristown was first settled, is not certainly known. The records of the County of Morris contain no notices of its settlement, and there are
no documents extant, as far as can be ascer tained, which throw any light on the first organization of its civil and ecclesiastical society. It is probable, however, that it was settled in the early part of the last century and that the inhabitants were chiefly from Elizabeth-Town, Newark, and Long-Island. They were undoubtedly principally, or en- tirely, descendants of the settlers of New- England ; and may therefore be supposed to have brought with them habits of morality, and a disposition early to possess the ordi- nances of religion.
Among the regulations made by the Duke of York for settlers in the province, under which regulations Morristown was probably settled, we find the following, respecting the support of the Gospel :- " Every township is obliged to pay their own minister, accord- ing to such agreement as they shall make with him, and no man to refuse his own pro- portion ; the minister being elected by the major part of the householders and inhabi- tants of the town."
The.charter of the Church and congrega- tion was granted by Johnathan Belcher, Esq., Captain-General and Governor in chief over the Province of New Jersey, Sept. 18, 1756.
At what time the Presbyterian Church was organized is unknown ; but the Gospel was probably preached regularly soon after the settlement of the town. It is known that there was preaching here, before the installation of the first Pastor ;* but of the circumstances, and of the influence of those labours, there is no record. Neither is it known under what form of church govern- ment, whether Congregational or Presby- terian, the congregation was first organized. As Ruling Elders are mentioned, however, as early as the year 1747, it is probable that
*By the Rev, John Cleverly, who died Dec. 1776, aged 81 years.
1
: r- n e 1
1
4Y
nd of 1877. rs of · had · by with the har the hily 1.
THE BECON
г.
1:
٠
74
THE RECORD.
the first organization of the Church, as it has continued since, was Presbyterian.
The authentic records of the church com- mence in 1742. The following is the title of the records of the Church, kept by its first pastor :- " The Record of the Church, in the town of Morris, from the first Erection and founding of it there :- and, under Christ, as Collected, and Setled, and Watered (in much weakness) by Timo. Johnes, Pastor ; who first came, Aug. 13th, 1742, stayed 6 Sab., and then fetched my Family, and was ordained, Feb. 9, 1743," 42 till after equinox.
Dr. Johnes was pastor of the church more than half a century. He was a native of Southampton, on Long-Island, and was edu- cated at Yale College, in Connecticut. From the catalogue of that college, it appears that he graduated in 1737. From the same col- lege, he some years afterwards received the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
Dr. Johnes has left nothing, except the general impression of his labours on the minds of the church and congregation, by which the nature and value of his services can now be distinctly known. None of his sermons were printed ; and few of his manu- scripts are now remaining. The fact, how- ever, that he received the highest honours of a college, deservedly ranking among the first in the United States, and that at a time when literary degrees were not conferred in- discriminately, and were therefore proof of merit, is a sufficient evidence that his stand- ing in the ministry was of a very respectable order, and that he was well known in the American churches.
have come to his people, particularly to- wards the latter part of his ministry, as an affectionate Christian pastor ; their father, counsellor and friend. No man could have had a better claim to the title of Father in the Gospel; and no man probably would have used the influence thus derived, more to the practical benefit of the people.
Though not elaborate, or remarkably pro- found, or highly eloquent in the pulpit, yet Dr. Johnes had the faculty of instilling the principles of religion into the minds of the people. He was much with them. He visited much from house to house. He had become acquainted with the circumstances of every family. He had the moulding and training of the congregation. He had the power therefore of stamping his own senti- ments on their minds. Beloved as their pastor, and venerated as their Spiritual Father, his sentiments on religion were re- ceived always with high respect, and almost uniformly with cordial approbation. He en- deavoured to bring religion home to the business and bosoms of men-to associate it with their ordinary notions of living-ol bargain and sale-of social, and political in- tercourse-with all their attachments and hopes and fears. By being much with the people, and by a faculty of adapting his in- structions to their circumstances and capa- cities, he laboured successfully to instil into their minds pure sentiments ; to form them to good habits ; and to train them up to holy living. The consequence was that, at his death, there were probably few congrega- tions, that were so thoroughly instructed in all that pertained to the practical duties of religion.
He was a man of respectable literary at- tainments ; but he was rather distinguished Dr. Johnes was eminently a peace-maker. Ilis respectable standing, his high character, his long experience, his practical wisdom, and his undoubted integrity, secured the confidence of the people, and led them to listen with profound deference to him as the arbiter of their disputes. Without in- terfering, farther than became him as the venerable pastor of a people, in the contro- versies which arose in neighborhoods, he yet contrived, successfully, to suppress a spirit of litigation, and to produce an adjustment of difficulties in consistency with the laws of affection and concord. Habits of litiga- for his fidelity as a Pastor. As a preacher, he is said to have been clear, plain, practical, and persuasive. His discourses were rather an affectionate appeal to the heart, than pro- found and elaborate disquisitions on abstruse points of theology. He aimed rather to win men to the practice of holiness, than to ter- rify, and denounce them. Though faithful in reproving and warning, yet it was with mildness, and in the spirit of true Christian affection. He suffered no public vice to es- cape without reproof ; but the reproof was administered, in order that he might show them " a more excellent way." He seems to Ition he regarded as eminently inconsistent
1.
1
١٠
٢٦١٠٠ ٤ ٠٠٠٫٠
: 1 i
systemin tendolagar 1 . 11
:
1
1
75
THE RECORD.
with the spirit of the Gospel, and he there- fore laboured that his people might en- deavour to " hold the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." Nor did he labour in vain. He was regarded as the tried friend of his people, and they unhesitatingly re- posed with confidence on his judgment.
Dr. Johnes was a warm and decided friend to revivals of religion. lle received his edu- cation in the time of President Edwards, and Whitfield, and the Tennants. He came to this place, in the period of the greatest ex- citement on the subject of religion that this country has ever known. Many of the older inhabitants of this place, can still recollect the interest with which he read to his con- gregation, accounts of revivals in other parts of the country. He laboured, and prayed fervently that his own congregation might be brought also to a participation of the blessings that descended on other parts of the land. His sentiments-on this subject are recorded in incidental notices attached to the names of those who were added to the church during these seasons of special mercy. In one place he says, "These the sweet fruites of yt wonderful effusion of God's adorable Grace began on our Sacra- ment Day, July 1, 1764," In another, "These yt follow the ingatherings of yt Divine harvest A.D. 1774 .- Sweet drops of ye morn- ing dew."
occurred in 1764. This commenced, as has been noted, on the sacrament day, July 1. The fruits of this revival, were the admission to the church, within the space of about a year, of ninety-four persons. Of the char- acteristics of this revival little is known, ex- cept that it is remembered by some of the members of the church now living, to have been a work of deep feeling, much anxiety, awful apprehensions of the nature of sin, and of the justice of God, impressive solem- nity, and sound and thorough hopeful con- versions to God. The second revival com- menced in 1774. As the result of this revi- val, about fifty were added to the church. In 1790, there was another season of unusual excitement on the subject of religion, and about forty were united to the church.
Dr. Johnes died, of the dysentery, Sep- tember 1794, aged 78 ; and was buried in the common burying ground-where a plain un- ostentatious monument marks his grave.
The following is a summary of the labours and results of his ministry :- .
Those who composed the church when first organized, and received afterwards from other churches 176
Added by his ministry 424
Total, 600
Baptisms
2,827
Marriages
948
Cases of Discipline 170 -
The Rev. Aaron C. Collins, was ordained, and installed as Collegiate Pastor with Dr. Johnes, january 6, 1791 ; and was dismissed, by mutual consent, Sept. 2, 1793.
Few men have ever been more successful, as ministers of the Gospel, than Dr. Johnes. To have been the instrument of founding a large and flourishing church, to have been regarded as its affectionate Father and The Rev. James Richards, D. D. now Pro- fessor of Christian Theology in the Theolo- gical Seminary at Auburn, N. Y. was the next pastor of the congregation. lle " preached his first sermon in Morristown, the latter part of June, 1794-received a call from the congregation to become their pas- tor, the last of August, or first of September following-was ordained and installed as pastor, May 1, 1795, at a stated meeting of what was then called the Presbytery of New- York, and was allowed to resign his pastoral charge of this people, by the Presbytery of Jersey, met at Elizabeth-Town, April 26, 1809 ; at which time he accepted a call from the first Presbyterian Church in Newark. Guide ; to have established the ordinances of the Gospel, and formed the people to re- spect its institutions ; to have produced that outward order, and morality, and love of good institutions now observable in this congregation, was itself worthy of the toils of his life. In being permitted to regard himself as, under God, the originator of habits, and good institutions which are to run into coming generations, he could not but look upon his toils as amply recom- pensed. But he was permitted also to see higher fruit of the labour of his ministry. It pleased a gracious God, not only to grant a gradual increase of the church, but also at two different times to visit the congregation Dr. Richards's ministry, in this place, con- with a special revival of religion, The first | tinued therefore, about fifteen years. During
e is
rly to- , as an father. 1 have her in would more
: pro- , yet t the the Hle ;had ices and the ati- eir zal re- st h-
4
--
.
١٦١
-1.
..
.。
mj
١.٠
11 !
76
THE RECORD.
that time there were admitted to the com- munion of the church-
On examination -
- 214
.
On certificate
29
Baptisms -
444
Of those admitted to the church, a consid- erable part were the fruits of three revivals of religion. The first commenced in the spring of the year 1797 ; and as the result of it, more than one hundred persons con- nected themselves with the church. The second occurred in 1803, and 1804, and the number added to the church as the fruits of this work, was about forty. The third com- menced in 1808, and about eighty were in consequence added to the church.
Of these revivals, Dr. Richards, in a letter to the present Pastor, dated January 9, 1828, says : " During my ministry at Morristown, there were three seasons of special attention to religion, the first and last of which were the most considerable. The first was re- markable chiefly from this circumstance, that it came upon the congregation by sur- prise. None of the church members, that ever I could learn, were specially stirred up to desire or expect it. Of course the church appeared full of unbelief, when it was an- nounced that the Lord was in the midst of us, of a truth. Even those who from their exemplary character might have been ex- pected to be waiting for the consolation of Israel, were manifestly unprepared for this sovereign act of divine mercy. But, pre- pared or unprepared, the windows of Heaven were opened, and the spiritual rain descend- ed, and about one hundred souls were hope- fully brought into the Kingdom as the fruit and effect of this refreshing. They did not all join the church at once, but principally in the course of that and the following year.
"The second revival in 1803, was much more local in its operations, and by no means characterized with the same power. It ex- cited considerable attention in the congre- gation, and served to draw forth the prayers. and exertions of Christians, but still it was confined chiefly to one or two neighbour- hoods.
"The third and last of these interesting seasons, I always regarded as the most pre- cious -- not because it seemed to take a wider sweep, but because as far as it went, it ap- peared to be more deep and effective, apdl
exerted a more benign influence on the j church. This revival was evidently prece- ded by a spirit of prayer. To my latest breath, I shall remember, how some of the dear people of God appeared to feel, and agonize, in their supplications before the Lord, when imploring his gracious presence in the midst of us. Through the whole of the preceding winter, there had been some feeling and some expectancy in the church on this subject, occasioned perhaps by the revivals which had occurred, and were then occurring, in some of the neighbouring con- gregations. But the church seemed to cal- culate that this good work would go from congregation to congregation, as a matter of course. When, however, they saw that the cloud of God's presence had come to our very borders, on two sides of us, and was stayed. they began to tremble, to feel their dependence, and to cry mightily unto God, that he would not utterly refuse to bless us. The blessing came, and sealed, not a few, I trust, unto the day of redemp- tion. Between seventy and eighty were added to the church in that and the subse- quent year, who dated their conversion from this interesting period. I will only add, that on enquiring of my brethren, I was uniform- ly told that the members gathered during this revival, had been peculiarly circum- spect, and very few of them subjected to any church censure.
"As to means employed, either in the commencement or progress of these revivals. I can say nothing-except that the Gospel was preached as plainly and faithfully as I was able, and that publicly, and from house: to house. Prayer meetings, anxious meet- ings, or conferences, were found to be of special service in promoting the good work."
Dr. Richards was succeeded by the Rev .. Samuel Fisher, D. D. now pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Paterson, N. J. Dr. Fisher was installed as pastor in 1809, by the Presbytery of New York, and dismissed by the mutual request of him and the people, April 27, 1814.
Dr. Fisher laboured in this congregation about four years. During the year in which he was settled more than twenty persons were received to the communion of the church. In the year 1813, about forty were received ; and about forty in the year 1814
١٫٠٢٠
١ ٢
٦٠
. 1.1.
٤٫٠٠
1.7
THE RECORD.
77
While, here, by a personal visit to every part of the congregation, he ascertained that there were five hundred and twenty families in its bounds who professed to be Presby- terians.
He was succeeded by the Rev. William A. McDowell, D. D. a native of Somerset County; in this " State, and settled previous to his installation here in Bound-Brook, N. J., now of Charleston, S. C. Dr. McDowell was installed, Dec. 13th, 1814, and was dis- missed, Oct. 21, 1823. He was here, there- fore, about nine years. During the year succeeding his settlement fifty persons were added to the communion of the church. About the same number was received the following year. In 1822 the church was blessed with an extensive revival of religion. This revival commenced in the spring, and continued through the summer, and prevail- ed in all parts of the congregation. As the fruits of it, during that and the following year, not far from one hundred and fifty were added to the church. This was the most ex- tensive revival with which the congregation has ever been visited.
The present pastor, a native of Rome, in the State of New York, was ordained and installed, Feb. 8, 1825 .*
The following Miscellaneous Items are deemed of sufficient importance to be recorded.
The trustees of the congregation were "according to charter," elected by the ses- sion of the church, until 1788, when they were, under the laws of the State of New- Jersey, elected by the congregation.
January 23, 1791, it was resolved that the Elders, together with the minister, shall be a committee to examine all candidates for church membership. From which, as well as from the records of the session, it appears probable that the examination of candidates previously, were, as in Congregational churches, conducted by the members of the church.
At the same time it was resolved, that those persons who have covenanted with God, and [been] admitted members of the church, and have come to the ordinance of
baptism, but not to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, were not required to renew their covenant in order to come to that or- dinance, but that they should be required to inform the minister that it is their desire to come to the Lord's Supper, previous to their coming, and that the minister pub- lish the same to the church. From which it appears that it had been the practice to receive persons into covenant, and baptize them, who did not participate in all the pri- vileges of the church. Baptized children also came forward and renewed their cove- nant, or took their baptismal vows upon themselves, who were not admitted to the communion. During the ministry of Dr. Johnes, no less than eighteen hundred and fifty thus " renewed their covenant."*
June 2, 1795, it was resolved, that whereas it had heretofore been the practice of this church to admit all persons having made profession of religion, and who were of good moral character, to the privilege of baptism for their children, and to a regular standing in the church, although they continued to neglect the ordinance of the Lord's Supper; the Session, upon mature deliberation, judging this, their former practice, to be anti-scriptural, and productive of evil to the church, resolved, that no person for the time to come, who shall be found to neglect the command of Christ, to show forth his death in the ordinance appointed for this purpose, shall be considered a member in good standing with this church, or entitled to the privilege of baptism for his children , that is, so long as he shall continue in the neglect of the above-mentioned duty. This rule is still acted on in the church.
June 27, 1808, it was resolved, that no per- son professing to belong to any sister church, shall hereafter be admitted to occa- sional communion in this church, for more than one year, without producing a certifi- cate of regular standing in the church to which such person professedly belongs. .This is still a rule of the Session of the church.t
[*Mr. Barnes's date is here correct; but on another page of the Manual, in his " List of Minutes," the year given is " 1824," probably an oversight in printing, which has been widely copud. The error was corrected . with full proof, by the Rev. Dr. Green in THE RecoRp for March and April, 1880, pp. 17 and 27. . Eprrok. ]
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.