USA > New York > New York City > A history of the Stanton Street Baptist Church, in the city of New York : with a sketch of its pastors, and a register of the entire membership > Part 6
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years of a most happy pastorate at Westerly, a commodious and pleasant meeting-house was built, and almost entirely paid for; the church enjoyed an interesting revival, took a position in advance of the other churches in the place, and became one of the largest and strongest in the rural part of the State. At length he accepted the invitation of the Central Baptist Church in Norwich, Connecticut ; and he commenced his labors in that beautiful city April 1st, 1847. At that time the church was much embarrassed by a heavy debt, contracted in building their meet- ing-house ; but in the course of three years this was paid off, the house of worship greatly improved, and both the church and congregation considerably increased. His pastorate there extended over a period of five years and a half, and then he accepted the unanimous call of the Stanton street Church, removed to the city o New York, and entered upon the pastoral care of the church, September 1st, 1852.
Our meeting-house had just been thoroughly cleaned and painted, both within and without, so as to present a pleasing and inviting appear-
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ance. Attention was now given to revising the list of members, and a large number having been entirely lost sight of, seventy-three were dropped from the roll; and although this consi- derably diminished the nominal membership, the real strength and efficiency of the body were, of course, unimpaired.
In 1853, a company of brethren and sisters, nearly one hundred in number, who had lost their standing in a sister church, on account of some misunderstanding, and, as they believed, without sufficient cause, applied to us for admis- sion. A considerable part of this company had formerly been connected with this church. The case appeared an unusual one, and excited not a little public interest. All other attempts having failed, a mutual council was convened, and seve- ral sessions were held, without arriving at any definite result, except the appointment of a com- mittee to which the whole subject was referred. After waiting a long time in vain, and making many ineffectual efforts to come to some conclu- sion, and secure an adjustment of the matter, they notified the committee that, as they were
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unwilling to remain any longer deprived of reli- gious privileges, they should apply to some other churches for admission. It should be stated that they had now been out of the church about two years, and destitute, to a great degree, of those privileges which they highly prized.
More than seventy of this company, accord- ingly, applied to us in May, 1854, for admission. The church, with great care and deliberation, having informed itself by a committee that these individuals sustained good Christian characters, as certified also by the members of the body with which they had formerly been connected, and also ascertaining that they were not at this time members of any church, we proceeded to hear them individually relate their Christian ex- periences, on which they were received to our fel- lowship. When it is stated that the widow and only daughter of the beloved Benedict, were among them, that others had been constituent members of this church, and that some had been office-bearers with us, it will not be thought strange that we gave them a hearty welcome to their former home. Nor have we been dis-
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appointed in the confidence we reposed in them.
Toward our sister church we have never ceased to exercise both brotherly kindness and charity. We have dismissed members to join that body, and received members from it, just as cordially as before the events referred to; and we are firm in the belief that a brighter day will dawn when wiser counsels will prevail, and all the old-time friendship be restored.
Early in the summer of 1855 our house of worship was newly carpeted and otherwise im- proved ; and on the 19th and 20th days of June, the Hudson River Association, South, held their annual meeting with us. Rev. E. L. Magoon was chosen moderator, and the session was emi- nently pleasant and profitable. The pastor's salary was increased to $2,000 per annum, on the 29th of October, and that sum is still paid.
On the 14th of July we lost by death Mrs. Mary S. Randall, aged 68 years. She was bap- tized by the late Rev. Dr. Sharp, of Boston, August 19th, 1819. She was always kind, dili- gent and faithful-a mother in Israel. This year
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witnessed another bereavement of an impressive character. One of our young brethren, Francis H. Palmer, an esteemed member of the Bible- class and of the Young Men's Mission Society, was accidentally drowned on the afternoon of September 15th. The evening before he had filled his place in the prayer-meeting, and it can consistently be said that he was "faithful unto death." His funeral was attended in the meeting- house on Sabbath afternoon, and the pastor
. preached an affecting discourse to the solemn assembly.
Mrs. Sarah Ann Mangam also departed this life November 28th, 1855. She, with her husband, brother Wm. D. Mangam, was baptized by Rev. David Bellamy ou the first Sabbath in February, 1844. After uniting with the church she grew rapidly in grace, and manifested her inward spiritual life by going about like her Saviour doing good. The most marked feature of her character was benevolence ; and being fortunately blessed with the means of charity, she used these with a discernment and prudence that, combined with her consistent life and well-timed religious
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advice, gladdened the hearts of the needy, while it encouraged assiduity in the recipient, and was owned of God to the conversion of souls. In her death the poor lost a friend, the church a faith- ful sister, and our female benevolent societies a firm supporter and an active member.
In June, 1856, Edward Francis Davis, another member of the Bible-class, was summoned from among us under circumstances of peculiar inter- est. He was in delicate health, but having ex- perienced the mercy of God, he desired to unite with the church. His name was announced as a candidate for baptism; but his disease progressed so rapidly that he was unable to make a public profession of his faith. But he died in sweet peace, and has doubtless attained the saints' ever- lasting rest. Both of these deaths were improved by suitable services before the Young Men's Mission Society, with which they had been con- nected. With them we can say most empha- tically, " IT IS WELL!"
Early in the autumn of 1856, an unusual seri- ousness was apparent in the congregation; the regular meetings were well attended and increas-
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ingly interesting. The Rev. John Blain, of Rhode Island, spent several weeks with the church, and a gracious revival of religion was enjoyed for many months. The associational letter for June, 1857, describes the state of feeling in the body as follows :
"With unfeigned gratitude to the great Head of the church for the blessings of another year, we this day record the goodness of our Heavenly Father. The past year has been a bright one in our history, and it is our privilege to inform you that God has graciously visited us with the abun- dant outpouring of his spirit. For several months our congregation has shown a marked serious- ness; the powers of the world to come have moved many hearts, and while we have wel- comed no less than seventy-one to the ordinance of baptism, others are yet waiting to go forward, and a number of anxious souls are seeking the good part. Time forbids that we should attempt to describe the happy seasons we have enjoyed ; God has graciously blessed the efforts put forth, and has again made the place of his feet glorious." At the regular church meeting, April 22d,
e
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1857, brother C. B. Stout, who had for some time officiated as clerk pro tempore, was chosen to fill the office made vacant by the resignation of brother R. C. Akerly. As brother S. posi- tively refused to assume the entire responsibility, the church voted to elect two clerks, and pro- ceeded, on the 6th of May, to choose C. B. Stout and Thomas J. Grout, by a unanimous vote. They immediately entered upon the discharge of their duties, and continue in office still ; theirs being only the seventh incumbency, in that office, through her entire history of more than thirty-six years. Brother Cowan died while holding the office, and the others resigned in con- sequence of removal, or other causes preventing them from giving the necessary attention to the duties of the station. It may well be doubted whether any but office-bearers realize the de- mands upon time, patience, and money, required to serve a church faithfully. Let the official brethren always share in the sympathies and prayers of the body.
The years 1857* and 1858 were marked by
* The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred
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STANTON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. 129
many manifestations of God's presence and power, and converts were continually added to the church. At the meeting of the Association in June, 1858, the church reported the baptism of seventy-two persons, and the total membership as amounting to five hundred and fifty-five-larger than for several years. These seasons were also prosperous ones to the Young Men's Mission So- ciety, so that their annual reports speak of con- stantly increasing contributions.
At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees in January, 1858, the clerk suggested the propriety of taking some steps for the removal of the church debt, then amounting to $6,500; and after a full discussion of the subject, it was re- ferred to a committee, consisting of C. B. Stout, George Sibell, and John F. Zebley, to mature and present a plan. At the next meeting, they offered a report embracing such a plan, which was adopted by a unanimous vote, and the Trustees themselves promptly subscribed $3,000, almost half the amount needed. A circular was then issued
upon the pastor in the summer of this year, by Shurtleff Col- lege, Ill.
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to the members of the church and congregation, inviting them to meet the Trustees in the meet- ing-house on the evening of March 1st, to con- sider the subject. The meeting was well attend- ed, the plan cordially approved, and nearly money enough was subscribed to provide for the entire indebtedness. The amount was subse- quently made up; more than half of it is now paid, and we expect to begin the year 1860 free from debt.
The church having voted in December last that the number of deacons should hereafter be seven, a special church meeting was held on Wednes- day evening, March 15th, 1859, to choose two to complete the number. A large meeting convened, an hour was spent in devotional exercises, and then the church chose brother Joshua Daven- port and brother John A. Green to fill the office. The Board of Deacons is now composed of the following brethren : Humphrey Phelps, elected December 23d, 1829; David Bailie, July 27th, 1836 ; William D. Mangam, October 27th, 1852 ; Richard E. Peterson, September 26th, 1855; William Beach, September 26th, 1855 ;
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Joshua Davenport, March 15th, 1859; John A. Green, March 15, 1859.
Sunday, March 6th, 1859, being the twenty- fifth anniversary of the opening of our house of worship, was occupied with special services hav- ing reference to that event. Rev. Archibald Maclay, D.D., who preached the first sermon in our meeting-house, March 2d, 1834, preached in the morning with considerable vigor, although he had passed his fourscore years. In the afternoon our pastor gave an interesting account of the rise and progress of the church, and then we cele- brated the Lord's Supper, Rev. B. M. Hill, D.D., assisting the pastor. The day was delightful, and it was remarked by the elder brethren that more communicants were present than at any time since the colony went out with brother Benedict in 1841. Nearly all the seats in the lower part of the house were filled.
In the evening, Rev. C. G. Somers, D.D., who officiated at the evening service a quarter of a century since, gave many interesting remini- scences of the past. So closed a day of grate- ful commemoration, and we thankfully record
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that it found the church in peace and pros- perity.
It should be remarked that at the time our meeting-house was opened there was no other of our denomination north of it on Manhattan Island ; and at the present time there is no Bap- tist meeting-house* south of us which was occu- pied by the denomination when our house was erected.
For some time none of our members have been set apart to the work of the ministry, but we have now three promising young brethren preparing to preach the everlasting Gospel. Brethren Wm. S. Apsey, Wm. McIntyre, and Owen Williams, were licensed to preach September 30th, 1859.
At the regular church meeting in the same month, the committee who had been appointed to have printed another supply of the Articles of Faith and the Covenant, reported in favor of certain amendments, which were adopted, and at the close of the prayer-meeting the following Friday evening, the church instructed the com-
* The Oliver street meeting-house was rebuilt on the site of the old one, destroyed by fire several years ago.
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mittee to have a thousand copies printed. The Articles and Covenant then adopted being, with the exception of some slight alterations, the same as we have used since the time of brother Eastman, are as follows :
A DECLARATION OF GOSPEL TRUTH,
According to the Views of the Stanton street Baptist Church in the City of New York.
WE believe the Holy Scriptures to have been written by men divinely inspired, and that they form a perfect rule of faith and practice.
We believe that the revelation thus made from God, teaches the following great truths :
Proofs.
2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Pet. i. 21. 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. 2 Sam. xxiii. 2.
ARTICLE I.
The existence of one only living and true God, (a) infinite in every natural and moral excellence,
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the uncreated and unchangeable (b) Creator, (c) Preserver, and Ruler of all things; and that he has revealed himself under the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost (d) the the same in essence, and equal in every divine perfection, and that he deserves and requires our supreme love, our trust, and our reverent obedience.
Proofs.
(a) 1 Tim. ii. 5. " For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Mark, xii. 32. James, ii. 19. Isa. xlvi. 9. Rom. i. 20.
(6) Mal. iii. 6. " For I am the Lord: I change not ; there- fore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." James, i. 17.
(c) Gen. i. 1. " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Col. i. 15, 16, 17.
(d) Matt. xxviii. 19. " Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 1 John, v. 7. Col. ii. 9. John, v. 23. Acts, v. 3.
ARTICLE II.
That man was originally created holy ; (e) but by willfully violating the law of his Maker (f) he fell from that state-an entire alienation of the heart from God succeeded, and all commu- nion with him was lost; (g) and, as by divine
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appointment Adam was the representative of all his posterity, we in him (7) became wholly defiled and dead in trespasses and sins, so that by nature we are indisposed to good and in- clined to evil; exposed to the penalties of the law, and are children of wrath, subjects of death, and all other miseries, temporal, spiritual and eternal. ( ¿. )
Proofs.
(e) Gen. i. 26, 27. " And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image ; in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Eccl. vii. 29.
(f) Gen. iii. 6. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat."
(g) Ps. xiv. 3. "They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy ; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Gen. iii. 24. Gen. vi. 5. Gen. viii. 21.
(h) Rom. v. 12. " Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned," etc.
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(¿) Eph. ii. 1. " And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." 1 Cor. ii. 14. Eph. ii. 3. Gal. iii. 10. Rom. vi. 23. Rev. xiv. 11. Matt. xxv. 46.
ARTICLE III.
That the only way of deliverance from this state of guilt and ruin, is through the free grace and mercy of God, bestowing repentance and remission of sins by the one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus ; (j)-and that all who are thus brought to repentance, shall be kept by his power through faith unto salvation-and that nothing can separate them from the love of God; the sure and final proof of their genuine faith consisting in the continu- ance of their attachment and obedience to Christ, to the end of this their present life. (k)
Proofs.
(j) Acts, iv. 12. "Neither is there salvation in any other ; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." John, iii. 16. Isa. liii. 4, 8. Eph. ii. 8. Tit. iii. 5. Acts, v. 31. Acts, x. 43. Acts, xi. 18. 1 Tim. ii. 5.
(k) 1 Pet. i. 5. " Who are kept by the power of God through
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faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time." John, x. 28, 29. John, xvii. 24. John, vi. 58. Rom. viii. 37, 39, etc.
ARTICLE IV.
That the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel ; (l) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial and obe- dient faith ; (m) and nothing prevents the salva- tion of the greatest sinner on earth except his own voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, (n) which refusal, if persisted in, will subject him to an aggravated condemna- tion. (0)
Proofs.
(l) Rev. xxii. 17. "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Isa. lv. 1. Luke, xiv. 17.
(m) Rom. xvi. 26. "The Gospel-according to the command- ment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." Mark, i. 15. Acts, xvii. 30. Rom. i. 16.
(n) John, v. 40. " And ye will not come unto me that ye might have life. Matt. xxiii. 37. Rom. ix. 32. Acts, xiii. 46. Prov. i. 24.
(o) John, iii. 19. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Matt. xi. 20. Luke, xix. 27. 2 Thess. i. 8.
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ARTICLE V.
That election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which he regenerates, sanctifies and saves sinners ; ( p) that being perfectly con- sistent with the free agency of man, it compre- hends all the means in connection with the end ; (g) that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable ; (r) that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, prayer, praise, and trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy ; (s) that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree ; (t) that it is ascertained by its effects in all who believe the Gospel, (u) is the foundation of Christian assurance, (v) and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves, demands and deserves our utmost diligence. (w)
Proofs.
(p) 2 Tim. i. 8, 9. " Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given in Christ Jesus before the world began." Eph. i. 3, 14. 1 Pet. i. 1, 2. "Elect accord- ing to the foreknowledge of God." Rom. xi. 5, 6. John, xv. 16. 1 John, iv. 19.
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(g) 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. " Because God hath from the begin- ning chosen you unto salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth," etc. Acts, xiii. 48. John, x. 16. Acts, xv. 14.
(r) Exod. xxxiii. 18, 19. " And Moses said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. And he said, I will cause all my goodness to pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee ; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." Matt. xx. 15. Eph. i. 11. Rom. ix. 23, 24. Jer. xxxi. 3. Rom. xi. 28, 29. James, i. 17, 18.
(s) 1 Cor. iv. 7. "For who maketh thee to differ from another ?" 1 Cor. i. 26, 31. Rom. iii. 27. Rom. iv. 16. Col. iii. 12. 1 Cor. iii. 5, 7. 1 Cor. xv. 10. 1 Pet. v. 10. 1 Thess. ii. 13. 1 Pet. ii. 9. Luke, xviii. 7. John, xv. 16. 1 Thess. ii. 12.
(t) 2 Tim. ii. 10. " Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 1 Cor. ix. 22. Rom. viii. 28, 30. John vi. 37, 40.
(u) 1 Thess. iv. 10. " Knowing, brethren beloved, your elec- tion of God : for our Gospel came unto you, not in word only, but in power," etc ..
(v) Rom. viii. 29, 30. " Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called : and whom he called, them he also justified : and whom he justified, them he also glorified," etc. Isa. xlii. 16. Rom. xi. 29.
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(2) 2 Pet. i. 10, 11. " Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure ; for if ye do these things ye shall never fail ; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Phil. iii. 12. Heb. vi. 11.
ARTICLE VI.
That those who die in infancy before they are capable of distinguishing between good and evil, are saved through the merits of Christ, by rege- neration effected by the Spirit of God.
Proofs.
2 Sam. xii. 23. " I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." Deut. i. 39. Matt. xviii. 10.
Mark, x. 13, 14. "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke, xviii. 16, 17.
ARTICLE VII.
That although Christ has become the end of the law for righteousness to all believers, (x) it is yet their indispensable duty, and will, from the nature of regeneration, become their delight, (y) to observe the moral law, and all the precepts
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and ordinances which Christ and his Apostles have, by express command, or by their own examples, made a rule of Christian conduct.
Proofs.
(x) Rom. x. 4. " For Christ is the end of the law for right- eousness to every one that believeth."
(y) Rom. xiii. 8, 10. Matt. v. 17, 19. James, ii. 8, 11. Rom. vii. 22. 1 Cor. ix. 21. Rom. iii. 31. Rom. vii. 12. Ps. cxix. 97.
ARTICLE VIII.
That the only proper subjects of the ordi- nances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are professed believers ; (2) that Baptism is properly administered by immersion only, (aa) and is, by scriptural example, a prerequisite to communion at the Lord's Table; and that both Baptism and the Lord's Supper are of perpetual obligation.
Proofs.
(z) Matt. iii. 5, 6. "Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." Matt. iii. 7, 12. Mark, i. 5. Matt. xxviii.19. Luke, iii. 8. Acts, ii. 38, 42. (aa) Matt. iii. 16. " And Jesus, when he was baptized, went
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up straightway out of the water." Acts, viii. 38, 39. " And he commanded the chariot to stand still : and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch ; and he bap. tized him, and when they were come up out of the water," etc. Acts, x. 47, 48. Rom. vi. 3, 5. Acts, xviii. 8. Col. ii. 12. 1 Pet. iii. 21.
ARTICLE IX.
That the first day of the week should be hal- lowed as the Christian (bb) Sabbath, or Lord's day, in commemoration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, by resting from all secular employment, and devoting the day to private and public worship, and religious instruction.
Proofs.
(bb) Exodus, xx. 8. "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." Matt. xxviii. 1, 9. Mark, xvi: 1, 8. Luke, xxiv. 1, 7. John xx. 1, 8. Acts, xvi. 13. Rev. i. 10.
ARTICLE X.
That there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, (cc) and that we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ to receive according to the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or evil, (dd)
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