USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Troy > Last sermon preached in the old State Street M.E. Church, Troy, N.Y. Sabbath eve. Feb. 26, 1871 > Part 1
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.
M. L.
Gc 974.702 T75b 1851369
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02222 4130
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/lastsermonpreach00brow
5456 LAST
SERMON
PREACHED IN THE OLD
1
STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
TROY, N. Y.
SABBATH EVENING, FEB. 26, 1871.
BY REV. G. W. BROWN.
Farewell, thon temple of our God, Whose walls shall echo truth no more; Nor courts again by saints be trod. While thronging multitudes adore : Thy memories bind us like a spol !. "Tis hard to say this last farewell.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
TROY, N. Y. : EDWARD GREEN, 216 RIVER STREET. 1871.
1851369
istorimal Sermon.
SHL NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
CORRESPONDENCE.
TROY, February 27, 1871.
Rev. G. W. BROWN :
DEAR SIR: After hearing your " Memorial Discourse," in the State Street M. E. Church, last evening, we believe it to be of such permanent interest, that we request a copy for publication. Hoping to receive a favorable reply,
We remain,
Yours, with respect and esteem.
JOHN W. MACKEY, JOHN G. BUSWELL, GARDINER LANDON, WILLIAM TUCKER, MYRON KING.
TROY, February 28, 1871.
Messrs. J. W. MACKEY, J. G. BUSWELL, and others :
DEAR BRETHREN . If you judge the sermon of Sabbath evening will aid in reviving and keeping fresh, memories which ought not to die, I shall be most happy to comply with your request.
With sentiments of respect. I remain, yours, GEO. W. BROWN.
At the Quarterly Conference of State Street M. E. Church, held Feb- ruary 28, 1871, on motion of L. R. Avery, our pastor, Rev. G. W. Brown. was requested to furnish a copy of his recent " Memorial Sermon " for publication.
M W. MOREY, Secretary
SERMON.
" And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee." DEUTERONOMY, viii, 2.
" And he said, my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said, if thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." ExoDus, xxxiii, 14, 15.
Our eyes to-night turn naturally to the past. We link with this service the history of this church. It is no strange thing that so many are in attendance at this hour, for next to your own fireside homes, what place should be so near to you as this ? If that roof beneath which you were born, and which sheltered your youth, is dear to you ; if the very rooms where you have list- ened to voices now hushed on earth fo: ever, have an air of sacredness thrown around them ; and if their walls still echo in memory's ear the prayers and words of love spoken long, long ago, making it seem almost a sacri- lege to tear away their foundations and lay them in the dust, with what emotions would you be expected to attend this service ? Here many of you were " born again ;" the arrow was winged from this pulpit by some skilled archer, which sped to your heart ; here the tear of penitence was shed ; and these walls, could they speak, would tell of your earnest prayers for pardon, and of the " songs of deliverance" which followed when God's anger was "turned away," and He " comforted you." Nay, it is not strange if you turn to the place of `your spiritual birth with a warmer, tenderer love than
6
to the spot where your infant eyes first opened to the light of day. Who shall chide you, if you "love the gates of Zion better than all the dwellings of Jacob ?" or if sometimes you sing :
"There is a spot to me more dear Than native vale or mountain, A spot for which affection's tear Springs grateful from its fountain ; 'Tis not where kindred souls abound, Though that were almost heaven,
But where I first my Saviour found. And felt my sins forgiven."
" Oh sacred hour! oh hallowed spot ! Where love divine first found me, Wherever falls my distant lot. My heart shall linger round thee; And when from earth I rise to soar U'p to my home in heaven.
Down will I cast my eyes once more Where I was first forgiven."
I wonder not, that, at our morning's service, one of the veterans, after alluding to it in touching terms, stooped and printed a kiss upon this altar.
Here you have had applied the baptismal water, the sign of the washing of regeneration, the type of the inner cleansing of your souls had found in the precious blood of Christ. Here you have obeyed the Saviour's command by often partaking of his own appointed memorial feast, and found him present while you " drew near with faith and took the holy Sacrament to your comfort." Here many have repeated low and tenderly those vows which have linked two souls and bound two destinies together till death should them part. And here, too, with stricken heart and weeping eyes, you have taken a last look upon the pale, sweet faces of many who " slept in Jesus," and heard from the lips of the living preacher, and the lips of the silent dead, the admonition, " Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as
---
7
ye think not, the Son of Man cometh." To this sacred shrine you have turned your footsteps on God's holy day, to listen to the herald of salvation, as
"' By him the violated law spoke out Its thunders; and by him, in strains as sweet As angels use, the Gospel whispered peace."
You have come " hungering for the bread of life," and had it broken to your souls ; you have come weary and faint, perhaps after a season of temptation, when your doubting soul has trembled between hope and despair, and heard words that, like a ringing clarion, have sent the blood tingling through your veins, inspiring courage - and kindling hope in your heart. You have come, too, after seasons of spiritual declension, when your first love had grown cold, when the world had thrown its silken charm around you, and, by its fatal attraction, had drawn you imperceptibly, but surely, away from Christ ; when you had grown indifferent to spiritual things, and the light of holy love was flickering and dying out in your heart, and when, alas, you were blind to it all, and knew not that, loosened from your moor- ings, you were drifting - drifting toward ruin.
Then, from this pulpit, has been sounded the alarm, and, under the searching truth, the scales have fallen from your eyes, the realization of your danger has flashed upon you, and starting as from a dream, you have gone out, like another Peter, and wept bitterly while pleading for the return of the old tenderness of heart and the sweet assurance of forgiveness. What wonder, then, if your spiritual home is linked to your hearts and to the past by so many tender and solemn associations, that it costs a struggle to turn from it to- night for the last time - sorrowing most of all, that within it you shall hear the word of life no more ! The
S
new home may be more beautiful, more commodious, more modern ; you may greatly prefer it ; yet the heart cannot so soon and so easily forget the past, or erase the memory of its dearest shrines, as to step from old to new without, at least, a momentary pang. Not that we would tarry here. The bride goes gladly, though tearfully, from what has been, but is no more to be, her home. She loves the mother in whose arms she was cradled none the less because she loves another more.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The Methodist itinerant followed close in the wake of immigration to this place, and converts were gathered among the early settlers of the village of Troy. But the records of these early efforts are very meagre. Among others, the eccentric Lorenzo Dow is known to have preached here before the commencement of the present century. For some time the neighboring cir- cuits furnished the little band with the preached word. They were also greatly indebted to Joel Ketchum and Elijah Chichester, both local preachers, who for several years were ready to supply the lack of regular " circuit preachers" by their ministrations. Mr. Ketchum was quite popular in his style and drew many to the Metho- dist meetings. In 1800, there were no less than thirty members in the society. The residence of most of these, however, was but temporary, and in 1802, Benj. Betts and Caleb Curtis were the only male members in good standing. Mr. Betts died soon after, leaving Mr. Curtis the only male member, and in 1803, Elias Vanderlip tore up the class paper in despair, and withdrew the appointment for preaching. Thus the early official records are forever beyond our reach. Caleb Curtis
1
9
still had occasional preaching at his house. In 1805, Elijah Chichester revived the society and enrolled seven in class. In 1806, two families united by letter. John Wright came from England and inquired for Methodists, but was told there were none. After con- siderable search and inquiry, he at length found the little class, guided in part by their singing, and entered the room joyfully exclaiming, " Now I have found you." He was a great help to the youthful society, and was one of the Board of Trustees of the future church, of which he lived and died a member.
Much credit is due to Samuel Scoby, Morris De Camp, Stephen Andres, Eliphalet and Roger King, David Canfield, Wm. McBurney and others, for their perseverance and christian zeal. Dr. Loudon, a skillful physician, and a man of much influence, added his vigorous efforts for the advancement of the cause, and subsequently bequeathed to the church a house and lot for a parsonage.
The first church was built in 1809. Before it was completed, it was fitted up with temporary seats and occupied, and while in this condition a gracious revival commenced. In this year the society was legally incor- porated, its first trustees being David Canfield, Eliphalet King and Samuel Scoby, the title being " The Methodist Episcopal Church of the village of Troy." The charter having been lost, it was revived under the statute in 1817, with the following persons as trustees : Abner Foster, John Loudon, Jolin Wright, Roger King and William Whipple. Troy first appears in the minutes in 1810, when Dr. Phebus was appointed preacher. He did not, however, serve. In the following year Troy does not appear, and the presumption is that it was again connected with an adjoining circuit.
2
10
Although we find no record of the fact, yet it is cer- tain that Smith Arnold resided in Troy, in 1811, as preacher.
In 1812, Troy re-appears in the minutes, when Peter P. Sandford was appointed to the charge, and from this time to the present, a period of sixty years, the rec- ord of ministerial supply is unbroken. Laban Clark succeeded Mr. Sandford in 1813, and for two years preached the word of life. He was an eminently prac- tical man ; his piety was calm, steady, and deep. After continuing in the ministry a full half century, he retired from the active work in 1851. He was a principal founder of the Wesleyan University, and was the Presi- dent of its first Board of Trustees. During all its early struggles it was one of the dearest objeets of his inter- est, and over it he watched with the solicitude of a par- ent for his most darling child. He was also one of the founders of our Missionary Society, which was organ- ized at his suggestion when he was pastor in New York, in 1819. He has but recently passed to his reward, having died at Middletown, Conn., Nov. 28, 1868, in the ninety-first year of his age ; a noble, venerable and be- loved hero of American Methodism.
About this time Lansingburgh was severed from Troy, with which it had formerly been connected.
In 1815, Tobias Spicer was stationed in Troy ; under his labors a far more extensive revival than anything previously known in the city, took place. At the end of his term of service, Mr. Spicer had the pleasure of reporting two hundred and fifty members in the society, more than double the number that were there at its commencement. He was ever a faithful and earnest laborer in the Master's vineyard ; and even after retiring from the regular work, preached as he had opportunity.
11
He was succeeded in 1817, by Samuel Luckey, whose name has been identified with the history of Methodism for more than half a century. Under his ministration there was another outpouring of the spirit, which brought about one hundred and fifty more into the church. It was during his pastorate that our Sunday School was organized; and had he left no other memento of his labors, this should embalm his memory in the hearts of the members of this church. In 1867, he visited his old charge, and preached at the semi-centennial celebration of the Sabbath School.
William Ross was the next pastor, who labored among God's people here for two years, and was then followed by Benjamin Griffen, who was one of the most able preachers of his day ; a strict " disciplinarian," and for many years a prominent member of the New York Conference. In 1823, Noah Bigelow was stationed here ; he continued but a year, and was succeeded by James M. Smith, who, after two years of service, gave way to Stephen Martindale, during whose pastoral ser- vice this house of God, in which we now worship for the last time, was built. It was commenced in the spring of 1827, and completed in the autumn of the same year. The membership at the time numbered four hundred and thirty-seven. That was a joyful day for Methodism in this section, when this house was opened for Divine worship. It was dedicated by Bishop Hedding, December 1st, 1827; Nathan Bangs and many of the prominent preachers of the day assisting on the memorable occasion. The following persons were mem- bers of the Board of Trustees at this time : William W. Whipple, Charles Lemon, Harvey Betts, Levi Rogers, and James Russell. The next pastor of the church was Samuel Merwin. He was a man that will not soon be
12
forgotten among the Methodist societies of the Atlantic States from Canada to Maryland. Dignified in person, powerful in eloquence, generous in spirit, and mighty in labor, he was one of the most popular preachers of his day. His efforts in the newly erected edifice were greatly blessed to the good of the people. He was assisted, during the second year, by Rev. John Tacka- berry. In March, 1828, a small society was formed in West Troy, consisting of about twelve members, and William Tucker was appointed leader. This little band struggled on under the fostering care of the State street church until 1830, when they were visited with a gracious revival, and their numbers increased to over seventy members. They built a church in 1831. Up to this date, Albia and West Troy were united with State street ; Abiathar M. Osbon, living at Albia, and Stephen Remington at West Troy. The next year, Albia was a separate appointment, but West Troy remained another year, with F. G. Hibbard as preacher, and then became a separate station.
John B. Stratton was the next appointed pastor of this church. The period of his labor was a time of great ingathering. He was aided in his revival efforts by the celebrated John Newland Maffitt, then in his prime. Here, night after night, for weeks, the silver- tongued Maffitt proclaimed the truth to audiences limited only by the capacity of the church, which were swayed like forest branches in the breeze before the magic spell-like power of his eloquence. Multitudes were not only attracted to the preacher, but to God,-and those are yet living and before me now, who were won by him to Christ. In 1832, Buel Goodsell was stationed here. He was a faithful and laborious pastor, and as an exhorter was without a rival. Some are still members
-----------
13
of the church, whose names forty years ago were entered by him on our records. He was succeeded in 1834, by . Noah Levings. As he was converted here, and went out into the ministry from this church, and was twice its pastor, we may speak of him at greater length. He joined the society then worshipping in the wooden building which occupied the site on which this church now stands, in 1813. The circumstances are thus related by the venerable minister of God, who seems to have been the principal instrument in his conversion : "One day an apprentice boy, in his blacksmith's garb, direct from his labor, called upon him and made appli- cation to be received into the society. He appeared to be about sixteen years of age, was small in stature, bashful in his address, and the circumstances of his introduction were peculiar and somewhat disadvanta- geous. Yet there was something so unassuming and win- ning in his manner, so sincere and intelligent in his whole appearance and conversation, that a very favor- able impression was made upon the mind of the preacher, and he admitted him as a probationer, at the same time giving him encouragement and counsel. On the follow- ing Wednesday night, at their public prayer meeting, when the leading members had prayed, and it was nearly time for dismission, a youthful voice, whose feminine tones were scarcely sufficient to fill the church, was heard leading in prayer. The prayer was feeling and appropriate, but short ; so short as to be at the longest comprised within a minute. As the preacher passed down the aisle, his blacksmith boy stood at the. end of the seat, waiting to grasp his hand with christian affection. On the next Wednesday evening, the silvery tones of the same youthful voice were again heard, near the close of the meeting, leading in its devotions. At
14
this time he prayed with more fervor, more compass of thought and more self-possession, and yet his prayer was not more than a minute and a half in length. At the close of the meeting, as the official brethren gathered around the preacher, one inquired who that boy was. Another said his forwardness must be checked, and a third that he must be stopped altogether. The preacher simply replied : 'Now, brethren, let that boy alone- there is something more in him than you are aware of.' And from that time no one questioned the right of the young blacksmith boy to officiate at the publie prayer meetings." Such were the public beginnings of one who, in after years, became eminent as a minister of the gos- pel-distinguished alike for the ability and the success with which he preached Christ crucified. He was an effi- cient teacher in the first Sabbath School established in Troy ; while yet in his minority was appointed class- leader, and on the 20th of December, 1817, being then a few months over twenty-one, he was duly licensed as a local preacher by the Quarterly Conference of the sta- tion. In May of the following year, he was received into the New York Conference. During the pastorate of Mr. Luckey he returned to Troy to pay a visit to his friends. Dr. Luckey thus describes a scene occurring during that visit : " He preached for me one Sabbath. At the close of the evening service, I returned to my house, and left him at the church with a large number of his companions, who remained behind for the purpose of practising in sacred music. After I had been at home a short time, there came a lad running in great haste to apprise me that I was wanted at the church. Without knowing for what purpose I was going, I made my way to the church as soon as possible, and there witnessed a scene which is more easily conceived than described.
15
I found Mr. Levings at the altar engaged in prayer, and about forty, chiefly young persons, kneeling around him, and upon inquiry I ascertained that this was the explanation. Mr. Levings was sitting in the altar while the young people were singing, and he observed a young lady sitting near weeping. He went and spoke to her, and found that she was deeply concerned upon the sub- ject of her salvation. He asked her if he should pray for her, and when she answered in the affirmative, he requested that the singing might be suspended, and pro- posed that they should join in prayer. They did so, and such was the effect of the announcement, that forty came and knelt with her." This was the commencement of a gracious revival to which we have already alluded.
Naturally gifted with energy, rare tact and vivid elo- quence, young Levings rapidly rose to eminence, not only in his own denomination, but in the general relig- ious community.
At the Conference of 1834, he was stationed here ; thus " after sixteen years' absence from the society which raised him up, and from which he went forth to preach the word of life, he returned to them as their pastor.
" In his weakness they had watched over him ; they had counseled, encouraged, and prayed for him.
" While yet a stripling, they had sent him forth into the vineyard of the Lord, with their benedictions upon his head ; and now, in the maturity of his strength, he came back to repay their kindness, and to devote his energies to building them up in the Lord."
A portion of the church had for some time desired to have the seats free ; from this fact, and the society being altogether too large for one house of worship, the Quarterly Conference in June, 1834, advised the trustees to put up another church in the upper part of the city.
-
16
This was done, and it was ready for dedication August 30, 1835. The new church was supplied by Samuel D. Ferguson, until the Conference of 1836, when Charles Sherman was appointed pastor. In him there was a happy blending of those excellencies which make up the successful ambassador of Christ, and seldom, if ever, was a minister more ardently and universally beloved than he. Another church was thus established, which has been prospered, until now it is one of our strongest stations. The same Conference which gave Charles Sherman to the North Second street church, sent Tru- man Seymour to this. We reach now the first living link in the chain of pastors. All who had preceded him, and many who have followed, have passed away. When appointed to this charge, no small task lay before him ; the new church had drawn off many of the strong work- ing men. A man whose name was as ointment poured forth, had left, while the memory of his fervid eloquence was yet fresh in the hearts of the people. Yet, girding himself for the task, he went prayerfully to his work. During the second year, after holding extra services for a week or two, with comparatively little result, he called an official meeting, and laying the case before them, said : " If you will stand by me in these meetings, and by your presence and prayers sustain me, we will go on, and I will lay my bones here, but that a victory shall come,-but if you will not, I shall close them." They decided to go on. After preaching that evening, Brother Seymour called the official board into the altar, and invited the unconverted to come to Christ. In less than five minutes the altar was crowded with earnest seekers, and a work of revival commenced, which continued for nearly three months. It was a glorious ingathering. The records show this to have been one of the most success-
17
ful pastorates in the history of the church. In 1838, Stephen Remington was stationed here ; he passed two successful years and was succeeded by Charles P. Clarke, who also remained two years. In 1842, Noah Levings was again appointed pastor of this church. He was warmly welcomed by his old friends. Having dwelt already so long upon him, we only pause to say, that he passed a prosperous year among the people, and was then transferred to the New York Conference. James Covel was the next pastor. He had been but a few months here when his health began to decline. After struggling on in his ministerial work for some time, he found himself unable to proceed alone, and John W. Lindsay was secured as his assistant. It was at this period that John N. Maffitt visited State street church for the second time. His preaching now, as before, drew multitudes to the house of God, and the records of the church show, that over two hundred were received on probation. During the progress of this work of grace, Mr. Covel was gradually sinking, and the pastoral labor devolved on Mr. Lindsay. At length, on the 15th day of May, 1845, the messenger of death came. When. on the verge of dissolution, Dr. Skilton said to him. " You are very near your end," he replied, " I hope so." To his wife who sat by him, watching the last flicker- ings of the lamp of life, he said, "you are seeing me for the last time ; I long to be gone." His last words were, "Tell Brother Mattison that I die happy." His funeral was attended in this church on the 17th of May, Bishop Hedding preaching a very appropriate discourse from the words " I am now ready to be offered," etc. There were present twenty or more of his brethren in the ministry. In 1845, Luman A. Sandford was appointed pastor, and A. W. Garvin, associate. During the two
3
-
18
years of Mr. Sandford's administration, several were added to the church. As a preacher, he was always plain, instructive and edifying. He was succeeded in 1847, by Allen Steele, who was one of the most brilliant and intellectual men that ever occupied this pulpit.
During the pastorate of Mr. Steele, the Congress street M. E. Church was built, he preaching the dedi- catory sermon. The new church was greatly indebted to the labors of Isaac Hillman and his sainted sister, Elizabeth Hillman. Thus another daughter church went out from the old home, which has been greatly blessed in the conversion of souls. The South Troy church had been started previously.
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.