The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1, Part 47

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 47


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7. It is wished that FUNERALS should be


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attended, when convenient, in the afternoon. The duties of a large charge require that the pastor should have a portion of his time in which he may be free from inter- ruption. All that is wished or desired is, that he may not be liable to such interruption in the forenoon. Where distance of relations or peculiar circumstances in the family, make an earlier hour desirable, however, the funeral will be promptly attended. Exercises at funerals, and at all other ser- vices, commence precisely at the hour of ap- pointment.


8. A collection for the' aid of the poor members of the church is taken up at each communion.


9. The deacons of the church have the care and service of the table of communion ; and the management of the poor fund, and its distribution. They are responsible for a just appropriation of this fund; and are required to make report at the end of each year, to the church, of the distribution that has been made of it, and of the wants of the poor members of the church. It is proper for any poor members of the church to ap- ply to them for aid.


This important and deeply beneficial charity deserves the particular attention of the members of the church. We have not many members of the church in indigent circumstances, but "the poor" are "with" us -and they are worthy of aid. There is no danger that this charity will be abused. It is committed to the hands of respectable men, and it is a proper expression of our regard for our brethren, as well as to our Saviour, that we should give of our abun- dance to those who are poor and needy.


10. A weekly lecture is kept up regularly in the Session House on Thursday even- ings ; and preaching once a fortnight is ex- pected in some other part of the congre- gation.


II. The monthly concert for prayer is at- tended on the evening of the first Monday in the month, in the Session House, and in other parts of the congregation. Addresses are made, missionary intelligence communi- cated, and a collection taken up in aid of Domestic Missions.


12. A Bible Class is attended in the Ses- sion House once in a fortnight, on Tuesday evenings ; and every Sabbath afternoon in


one of four neighbourhoods in some other part of the congregation. About five chap- ters constitute a lesson. Sacred geography, chronology, and biblical history are taught, and a doctrinal and practical exposition of the lesson given. The classes are compo- sed of persons of both sexes, and spectators are admitted. Though designed principally for the young, no age is excluded.


13. Itis the duty of the members of the church to watch over each other, to aid each other in the Christian life, and to give and receive faithful counsel "in the spirit of meekness." They should never unneces- sarily publish delinquencies and faults ; but when a brother goes astray, and private ad- monition and entreaties are found unavail- ing-which should always be the first mea- sures-it is their duty to report the matter to the Pastor or Session. (See Matth. xviii. 15, 16, 17.) To this neglected, but incum- bent duty, their solemn church compact, ; their covenant engagements, and the com- mand of their common Lord, solemnly bind them. No church can flourish, nor will re- ligion live, where its members do not "speak the truth in love"-and " provoke one an- other to love and good works"-and main- tain a sacred regard for the purity of the . Christian character-and " strive to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things."


14. A Sunday School for the benefit of both sexes, is kept in the church, on the afternoon of the Sabbath ; and schools are also established in other parts of the con- gregation.


15. The following is a List of the BENE- VOLENT SOCIETIES existing in the con- · gregation :


Ist. Gentlemen's Association-formed to aid the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission. Officers-a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, three Directors, and nine Collectors. Time of the Annual Meeting, fixed by the Morris County Auxiliary Society.


2d. Ladies' Association-formed for the same object, and with a similar organiza- tion.


3d. Morristown Domestic Missionary So- ciety-auxiliary to the New-Jersey Mission - ary Society. Officers-President, Vice- President, Treasurer and Secretary, and


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Board of Managers. Annual Meeting, in September. This Society, now on the de- cline, has been the means of establishing two churches, and supporting the school at Split-Rock for two years, and has accom- plished much good.


4th. Tract Society of Morristown.


5th. Sabbath School Association. Officers -First and Second Directress, Secretary, Treasurer, and five Managers. Annual Meeting, first Monday in April.


6th. Morristown Female Charitable Society -designed to aid the poor. Officers-First and Second Directress, Secretary, Treasurer, and six Managers. The Managers meet monthly. Annual Meeting, second Monday in November.


7th. Tract Society of Monroe. Officers- President, V. President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Annual Meeting, first Monday in September.


8th. Tract Society of New-Vernon.


9th. Society for the Promotion of Temper- ance-Monroe. Officers-President, Trea- surer, and Secretary, and Board of Managers. Annual Meeting, in April.


Ioth. Female Cent Society-for the use of the Theological Seminary at Princeton. [*]


PRESBYTERIANISM.


[The following sketch was prepared, by request, for another publication. In its reproduction here several paragraphs have been added, which are of more interest to Presbyterians than to the readers for whom the sketch was prepared.]


The Presbyterian Church rests its right to be on the need of emphasizing certain principles which it finds in the Bible, and particularly in the New Testament. These principles respect three classes of subjects, doctrine, government and Church-member- ship. In the space at hand only the barest outline of these subjects is possible, but this may be given largely in the words of the late Dr. Charles Hodge.


DOCTRINE.


The latest embodiment of doctrines is contained in the Confession of Faith, to- gether,with the Larger and the Shorter Catechisms, issued by the Westminster As-


sembly in 1646 and 1647. All candidates for the diaconate, the eldership and the ministry are required sincerely to receive and adopt this Confession, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures. The definition of this subscrip- tion is the key to the creed of the Presby- terian Church, Dr. Hodge makes the fol- lowing points. (1.) The Confession is not adopted for " substance of doctrine"; be- cause this is obviously not the meaning of the phrase, it is contrary to the decisions of the Church, and, in short, " substance of doctrine" has no definite assignable mean- ing. (2.) Nor does the candidate profess to adopt every proposition contained in the Confession as a part of his own faith ; be- cause this, too, is contrary to the plain meaning of the phrase, to the decisions of the Church, and it is impracticable. But (3.) subscription is simply and only to the system of doctrine which the Confession contains. There can be no dispute as to what this system is. It includes three dis- tinct classes of doctrines, First, those common to all Christians, which are sum- med up in the ancient creeds, the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian. Secondly, those common to all Protestants, and by which they are distinguished from Ro- manists. Thirdly, those peculiar to the Reformed Churches, by which they are dis- tinguished from the Lutherans, Arminians and other sects of later origin. As opposed to the Lutherans, the system of the Confes- sion affirms a real, but a spiritual rather than a physical, presence of Christ in the Sacraments. As opposed to Arminians and others, it affirms tne five points of Augus- tinianism, which were assented to " at the Synod of Dort by all the Reformed, Churches, namely, those of Switzerland, Germany, France, England and Scotland, as well as Holland." These five points are (1.) The imputation of the first sin in penal con- sequences to all the human race ; (2.) The innate sinfulness of human character, (so that there can be no self-conversion.) and consequently the efficacious grace of the Spirit ; (3.) The special reference of Christ's work to those who had been promised him by the Father, by which their salvation is rendered certain ; (4.) Gratuitous, personal election to eternal life ; and (5.) The per-


[* In addition to what has been reprinted in THE RAcokn. Mr. Barnes's Manual contains, " List of Ministers," " List of Ruling Elders," " List of Deacons," and "List of Trustees," from the earliest records down to Mr. Barnes's pastorate, to- gether with " List of Present Communicants," for the year 1828, and fifteen " Questions for Self-Examination," taken from the Laight Street Presbyterian Church, New York. These will not now be reprinted. ]


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severance of the saints. " It is a matter of history," says Dr. Hodge, "that these doctrines constitute the distinguishing doc- trines of the Reformed Churches. And, therefore, any man who receives these several classes of doctrine, (viz .: those com- mon to all Christians, those common to all Protestants, and those peculiar to the Re- formed Churches,) holds in its integrity the system of doctrine contained in the West- minster Confession. This is all he professes to do when he adopts that Confession in the form prescribed by our Constitution." The Confession also contains deliverances on other topics, but assent to these de- liverances is not required. (See Dr. Hodge's Church Polity, pp. 317 to 342.)


GOVERNMENT.


The principles of government were also enunciated by the Westminster Assembly, though their statement has been expanded and amended by different bodies of Presby- terians at various times down to very recent dates. Says Dr. Hodge : "There are fixed laws assigned by God according to which all healthful and normal action of the body is regulated. So it is with regard to the Church. There are fixed laws in the Bible, according to which all healthful develop- ment and action of the external Church are determined. But, as within the limits of the laws which control the development of the human body, there is endless diversity among different races, adapting them to different climes and modes of living, so also in the Church. It is not tied down to one particular mode of organization and action, at all times and under all circumstances, The leading principles laid down in Scripture, regarding the organization and action of the Church, are the parity of the clergy, the right of the people and the unity of the Church."


As to the parity of the clergy. In the New Testament, connected with the minis- try of the word and the oversight of the Church, three classes of officers are men- tioned ; apostles, prophets and presbyters or bishops. By the scholarship of all Churches it is now conceded that, in the New Testament, the titles of presbyter and bishop designate but one office, or order of the clergy. The old claim, that the New Testament bishops were a distinct order from


the presbyters, has been abandoned on ac count of the overwhelming array of facts against such a claim. And now-a-days the Churches which assert the divine right of bishops make them the successors, not of the New Testament bishops, but of the apostles. We hold, on the contrary, that the apostles and prophets were temporary offices and have had no true successors, for the follow- ing reasons : (1) There is no command in the New Testament to continue them ; (2) There is no specification of the qualifications to be required in those who seek these of- fices ; (3) There is no record in the New Testament, or in the first century after- wards, of any one recognized as a true suc- cessor of an apostle ; (4) An apostle, as Paul defined his right to the title, must have seen Jesus so as to bea witness from personal knowledge, must be able to work miracles, must be inspired ; and no one, since the New Testament times, has ever possessed these three essentials of an apostle.


On the other hand the gifts of teaching and ruling, which constituted a New Testa- ment presbyter or bishop, are continued ; the command to ordain them, the authority of presbyterial as opposed to apostolic or- dination, their qualifications, and the ac- count of their appointment, are minutely re- corded in the New Testament : and they continue in unbroken succession wherever? the Church is found. Every pastor in the Presbyterian Church is a bishop, in the New Testament meaning of the title, as con- ceded by the ablest scholars of the Church of England, as well as by others. These presbyters, or bishops, says Dr. Hodge, ; "are the highest permanent officers of the Church for which we have any divine war- rant. If the Church, for special reasons, sees fit to appoint any higher order, such as the bishops of the Lutheran Church and the superintendents, clothed with the pow- ers of a presbytery, in the early Church of Scotland, this is merely a human arrange- ' ment. The parity of the clergy is a matter of divine right ; they all hold the same office, and have the same rights, so far as they de- pend on divine appointment."


"As to the right of the people to take part in the government of the Church, this also is a divine right. This follows because the Spirit of God, who is the source of all


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power, dwells in the people, and not exclu- wvely in the clergy ; because we are com. manded to submit ourselves to our broth- ren in the Lord ; because the people are commanded to exercise this power, and are apbraided when unfaithful or negligent in the discharge of this duty ; and because, in the New Testament, we find the brethren in the actual recognized exercise of the au- thority in question, which was never dis- puted in the Church until the beginning of the dark ages. This right of the people must, of necessity, be exercised through repre- sentatives. Under the Old Testament, in the assembly or congregation of the peo- ple, this principle of representation was by divine appointment universally recognized. By like authority it was introduced into the Christian Church as a fundamental princi- ple of its organization, This is the broad, scriptural jure divino foundation of the office of Ruling Elder." Ruling elders are laymen, and, as representatives of the people, com- pose the Session, which exercises the spirit- ual government of a particular congregation, and of which the minister is, ex officio, the moderator or president. The other courts of the Church are composed of equal numbers of ministers and elders, and in these the el- ders have the same rights and powers pos- sesed by ministers. Deacons, like those ap- pointed for the Church in Jerusalem, are also laymen ; and, for the most part, their duties are simply the care of the poor in the local congregation, though in some cases they also hold the trusteeship of the church property.


"The unity of the Church is not merely a union of faith and communion ; not merely a fellowship in the Spirit, but also a union of subjection, so that one part is subject to a larger, and a larger to the whole.+ This also is jure divino, because the whole Church is made one by the indwelling of the Spirit ; because we are commanded to be subject to our brethren, not on the ground of proxi- mity in space, nor of a mutual covenant or agreement, but by the fact of Christian brotherhood ; because in the apostolic, as in the Old Testament Church, the whole body of the professors of the true religion were thus united as one body ; because by


the instinct of Christian feeling the Church in all ages, has striven after this union of subjection, and recognized its violation as inconsistent with the law of its constitution. This, again, by necessity and divine appoint- ment, is a representative union, and hence the provincial, national and œecumenical councils which mark the whole history of the Church." These councils among us are known by the names of The Presbytery, embracing the Churches of a small district and meeting frequently ; The Synod, includ- ing the Churches of a State, meeting annual- ly ; The General Assembly, in which all the Churches of the nation are represented, also meeting once a year ; and The General Council, where Presbyterians of various names and all lands meet by delegates every three or four years. (See Dr. Hodge's Church Polity, pages 118 to 156, and page 242.)


CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.


While candidates for office in the Presby- terian Church are required to assent to the system of the Westminister Confession, no such assent is required of candidates for Church-membership. The rule of the Church is briefly as follows :


Those baptized in infancy are to receive Christian instruction, and when they come to years of discretion, if they be free from scandal, appear sober and steady, and to have sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord's body, they are to be informed that it is their duty and privilege to come to the Lord's Supper, and be examined as to their knowledge and piety by the Session. " When unbaptised persons apply for ad- mission to the Church, they shall, in ordi- nary cases, after giving satisfaction with re- spect to their knowledge and piety, make a public profession of their faith in the pre- sence of the congregation ; and thereupon be baptized," (Chap. ix. Directory for Wor- ship.) No prescribed formula is given, as- sent to which is to be accounted as evidence of repentance and faith. The qualifications for membership, which the Session may re- quire in any candidate, are limited by the words " knowledge and piety," "free from scandal," "sober and steady,' "sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord's body." Says Dr. Hodge, " Nothing can be plainer than that our church requires nothing more


*In contrast with all Independents, like Congregationalists and Baptists, who deny a union of subjection.


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than credible evidence of Christian charac- ter as the condition of Christian commu- nion. Of that evidence the Church officers are to judge. Not one word is said of the adoption of the Confession of Faith, or of anything but the evidences of piety. Any man therefore, who gives evidence of being a Christian, we are bound by the rules of our Church to admit to our communion. And so far from there being the slightest intimation that the adoption of the whole system of our doctrine contained in our standards is necessary to a man's being a Christian, there is the strongest evidence to the contrary. This evidence is found in the omission of any mention of the stand- ards in those passages which speak of the communion of saints; in the mention of other terms than those of subscription to a formula of doctrine, and in the admission that true Churches may be impure both as to doctrine and practice, that is, may reject what we hold to be the truth without for- feiting their Christian character." (See Dr. Hodge's Church Polity, page 218 to 241.)


It is to be observed, that these statements refer to membership, and not merely to oc- casional communion. For example, if a member of a Baptist or Methodist, or Ro- man or Greek, or any other Christian Church, should apply to be received as a member in the Presbyterian Church, our rules would not require him to be treated as if he were not a Church member and so oblige him to submit to be again baptized, or again confirmed ; but, on the ground of his Christian character, would recognize his previous Church membership, and sim- ply welcome him to all the privileges of that membership in the Presbyterian house- hold of Christian faith. Conversely, our rules provide for the dismissal, with Chris- tian recommendations, of any of our mem- bers to any other household of the faith.


It should also be said that the Presbyter- ian Church recognizes the ordination, as well as the baptism and the confirmation of other Christian bodies ; and accords these bodies equal standing with itself as true Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. The claim might perhaps be justly made, espec- ially in view of this recognition and of its ' doctrine of membership, that the Presby-


terian Church is the broadest and most Catholic of all existing Christian bodies.


FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF PATER. SON.


This church was originally called the " First Reformed Dutch. Church of Totawa," Its history is interesting. It was organized some time about 1750; perhaps, between that year and 1756. Its first minister, believed to be the Rev. David Marinus, had charge also of the churches at Acquackanonk and Pomp- ton. His parish, if this be true, was much larger than any pastor of modern times would care to attempt to serve. In 1762 Rev. Cornelius Blanco became the next pastor, and he, too, ministered to the three churches. Rev. Dr. Meyer, who succeeded Mr. Blanco, preached until his death in 1791. In 1816 the Rev. Wilhelimas Eltinge gave half his time and services to the Totawa church, and this he continued to do until 1833, after which he ministered to the church at Paramas. In 1834 Rev. George C. Van- dervoort became pastor and remained until 1837, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Wiggins, who continued pastor until 1856. In 1857 the Rev. Philip Peltz, D. D. became the pastor and he was succeeded, in 1860 by Rev. Alexander McKelway, who re- signed in ' 1865. In 1865 the Rev. John Steele was called to be the pastor.


The history of the Reformed Dutch Church, or as the members of that denomi- nation prefer now to call themselves, the Reformed Church, in New Jersey is a most interesting subject and should receive the attention of some historian who can do jus- tice to the theme. That history is largely interwoven into the history of the State, es- pecially of this part of the commonwealth. The first settlers in Bergen County were all of that sect of Christians, and they brought with them from Holland, that sturdy inde- pendence, inherited from their ancestors, who fought for their political and religious liberty with Philip II. and his blood thirsty lieutenants, the Duke of Alva and Alexan- der Farnese, which made them the strongest and most zealous supporters of the cause of American independence in the war of the Revolution.


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


VOLUME III.


DECEMBER, 1883. NUMBER 12


[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.


LEWIS CONDICT, M. D.


Dr. Condict, for many years, was deeply interested in the First Presbyterian church. He was, at one time, a physician of large practice in Morristown and was considered very skillful in his profession. His family was collaterally connected with Silas Con- dict, of Revolutionary fame, of whom a sketch has already appeared in the RECORD


Dr. Condict married, for his first wife, a daughter of the Rev. Nathan Woodhull, D. D., who preached for many years in Long Island, and whose memory is cherished in the churches, as a great preacher and one of the saintly men of the land.


Dr. Condict, for fifty years and more, lived in the house on South street, now occupied by the Rev. Twining and own ed by Mrs. Brandagee of Utica, N. Y., the widow of the Rev. Dr. John Brandagee and Dr. Condict's youngest daughter.


Dr. Condict died at a very advanced age, more than eighty, and then his death was accelerated by a fall from the back stoop of his house ; by which accident his hip bone was broken. . This confined him to his room for a year and more before his death.


He took a deep interest not only in pub- lic affairs, but also in all matters appertain-


ing to the first church. For many years he occupied a place in the choir and, up to the time of the accident, which resulted in his death, he was constant in his attendance upon the services of the sanctuary.


When nearly eighty years of age he under- took a journey into Kentucky, where he had relatives. Early in life he entered into pub- lic office, for which his talents and tastes peculiarly fitted him. In 1805, he was elect- ed to the State Legislature and was a mem- ber of that body for five successive years ; during two of those years he occupied the Speaker's chair. Subsequently and for sev- eral sessions he represented this State in the Lower House of Congress. Those were times when the faithful representative was rewarded by many returns to office, and Dr Condict must have been considered worthy of the confidence of his constituents, for he was renominated several times without op- position from his own party, which was then dominant in the State, and was re-elected with large majorities. He was an original temperance man, for, while in Congress, on several occasions, he presented a bill, the object of which was to prevent the manu- facture and sale of distilled spirits.




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