USA > New York > A history of the purchase and settlement of western New York : and of the rise, progress and present state of the Presbyterian Church in that section > Part 22
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professed converts have been introduced into the churches who give no evidence of piety, some of whom have long since been cut off by the process of discipline, and others hang upon the church a dead weight, crippling its energies, marring its beauty, and afford- ing an occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.
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CHAPTER XV.
History of Missionary operations in Western New York. The General Association of Connecticut sends Missionaries to Western New York. Specimen of their labors. Becomes the Missionary Society of Connecticut : its operations in Western New York. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church : early condition of the Presbyterian Church. Incipient steps with reference to Missions. Appointment of Missionaries to Western New York. Committee of Missions : Board of Missions. Change in the mode of employing Missionaries. Massachusetts Missionary Society, Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society ; Hampshire Missionary Society. So- ciety for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others of North America. New Hampshire Missionary Society. Morris County Associated Presbytery. Re- formed Dutch Church.
4 IN narrating the rise and progress of the churches in Western New York, in the preceding pages, we have occasionally noticed the labors of Missionaries employed by different Missionary Socie- ties, and other ecclesiastical organizations. As this species of minis- terial labor has been greatly instrumental in establishing and main- taining the churches in Western New York, down to the present time, a more particular history of missionary operations may be de- manded.
Whether the missionaries under the appointment of the general Association of Connecticut, or those who labored in the service of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, were the first to visit this region, is not certainly known to the writer. It is his be- lief that the missionaries from Connecticut hold priority. The Gene- ral Association of Connecticut is an ecclesiastical body, meeting annually, and is composed of clerical delegates from each of the Congregational Associations of ministers within the State. The first organization of the General Association, it is supposed, took place at the time of the general election at. Hartford, in the year 1709. It constitutes the bond of union between the ministers and churches of the orthodox congregational denomination throughout the State.
Soon after the termination of the war of the Revolution, the in- habitants of Connecticut began, in great numbers, to emigrate to newer regions, where land was cheaper and more fertile. In a special manner the stream of emigration was directed to Western New York, as all that part of the State was then denominated, which lay west of the counties that now adjoin the Hudson river. Those who emigrated, left relations and friends behind them who felt a deep solicitude for their welfare, both temporal and eternal. They were in the wilderness ; few generally in any one place. They
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were experiencing all the hardships and privations of a new settle- ment, and were without the stated preaching of the gospel, and the most important means of spiritual improvement and saivation. Un- der these circumstances, it would be natural for their friends, who continued in the full possession and enjoyment of all religions privi- leges, to use their utmost endeavors to aid their brethren in the wilderness, and send to them preachers of the gospel, that they might, at least occasionally, hear a sermon, and enjoy sacramental privileges. At an early period, the General Association took this subject into their serious consideration, and devised means for send- ing missionaries to itinerate in the new settlements. In the year 1795, in an address to the inhabitants of the new settlements, they declare that it was their design to send to them " settled ministers, well reputed in the churches, to preach among them the unsearcha- ble riches of Christ, and, as occasion might offer, to gather and or- ganize churches, to administer sealing ordinances, to instruct their young people, catechize their children, and perform all those minis- terial duties which are usually practised in the churches and con- gregations of Connecticut." But the missionary operations of this ecclesiastical body, must have commenced several years prior to the date of this address. As early as 1788, or '89, Rev. Samuel Eells, of North Branford, was sent out as a missionary, by the Gene- ral Association, and came to the west as far as Fort Stanwix, now the village of Rome. Among the early missionaries appointed by the General Association of Connecticut, are found the names of Rev. Moses C. Welch, for 1794 ; Rev. Messrs. Joshua Knapp, David Huntington, Ammi R. Robbins, Lemuel Tyler, and Levi Hart, for 1795; for 1796, Rev. Messrs. Robbins, Nott, Lyman, Ely, Kynne, and Benedict. They were severally employed for periods ranging from four weeks to four months. Respecting these missionaries, their fields of labor are not definitely designated. It is believed that some of them were sent to the State of Vermont, and respect- ing those who were engaged in the new settlements in the State of New York, it is not probable that any considerable portion of the time was spent on the territory which we denominate Western New York. As a specimen of the labor performed by itinerating mis- sionaries in that early period of missionary operations in new settle- ments, it may be noted that Mr. Robbins, on his mission of forty days' continuance, preached forty-two sermons, in addition to his other ministerial labors performed. What missionaries were em- ployed in 1797 and the former part of 1798, is not known to the writer. For the support of missionary operations by the general Association, collections were made in all the congregational churches, annually, on the first Sabbath in May.
Till the year 1798 the missionary appointments were all made by the General Association, at their annual meeting, and all the business relating to missions was then transacted. But as the
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Association was an ephemeral body, being dissolved at the close of the session, and not succeeded by another until the expiration of a year, and as the field of missionary labor was becoming greatly enlarged, it seemed necessary that there should exist a permanent body, by whom the missionary concerns might be conducted, and frequent meetings be attended. . Accordingly the General Associ- ation, at their meeting in June, 1798, adopted a Constitution for a Missionary Society. By the provisions of this Constitution, the General Association became the Society. This Society was to elect, annually, a Board of Trustees, to consist of six clergymen and six. lay-brethren of the churches, who were empowered to conduct the business of the Society, and report their doings to the Society at the close of the year. The object of the Society is declared to be, " To Christianize the heathen in North America, and to support and promote Christian knowledge in the new settlements within the United States." From this period the operations of the Society were more extended. The funds were greatly enlarged, and the field of operation increased in extent. Western New York was rapidly being filled with inhabitants-emigrants from the State of Connecticut ; and the sympathies of the Society were drawn out towards them. This field of labor particularly drew the attention of the Connecticut Missionary Society, and a large proportion of their funds were expended upon it, for a number of years. From the time of the organization of the Society in 1798, to the close of the year 1814, it appears that about twenty years of missionary labor were performed, on this field, by the missionaries of the Society. The missionaries who were in the employ of the Society, on this field, during this interval, for longer and shorter periods, were the following ministers and licentiates :- Walter King, Seth Williston, Jedidiah Bushnell, Salmon King, Amasa Jerome, Josiah B. Andrews, Hezekiah May, David Higgins, Calvin Ingalls, Israel Brainard, John Spencer, David Harrowar, Silas Hubbard, Ebenezer Kingsbury, Hubbell Loomis, William Lockwood, Orange Lyman, Oliver Ayer, Joel T. Benedict, William F. Miller, John F. Bliss. John Bascom, George Colton, Oliver Hill, Samuel Sergeant, and Chester Colton. There may have been, during this period, two or three missionaries, whose names are not included in this list. The Narratives of the missions for 1803 and 1811 are not in the writer's possession. Of the missionaries named, several were pastors of churches in the State of Connecticut, who, with the consent of their congregations, came out as missionaries for a period of three or four months, and then returned to their stated charges. Some of them were ministers resident in the country, with stated charges, whose congregations were unable to render them a full support, and were, therefore, willing that they should employ themselves as itinerating missionaries a part of their time. Some of them were engaged in missionary employment continually for a considerable
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MISSIONARY OPERATIONS.
period. Several of them came into the country as missionaries, and thereby found a permanent settlement in the country as pastors of churches. The missionary who was for the longest period of time employed on this field, by the Society, was Rev. John Spencer. At the close of the year 1814, he had been in the employ of the Society about five years. Of his character as a man, a Christian, a minister, and a missionary ; of his labors and their results ; and of his death, notice has been already taken. Rev. Seth Williston, D.D., who is still living, stands next on the list for length of con- tinuance in missionary labor. He seems to have been in the employ of the Society, in all, about four years. Rev. Jedidiah Bushnell was engaged in missionary service, on this field, nearly two years. Of the labors and blessed results of the labors of these two brethren, we have spoken in a preceding chapter. The other missionaries were engaged for shorter periods ; none of them for more than one year. It, perhaps, ought to be mentioned, that a number of these missionaries spent some part of the time, in which they were engaged, exterior to what we have designated Western New York, but in the immediate vicinity. We have had no data to determine with precision, what proportion of the time of the missionary was spent within the boundaries we have prescribed to Western New York, and what might have been employed in its immediate vicinity.
How long after the year 1814 the missionaries of the Connecti- cut Missionary Society labored in Western New York, is not known to the writer. He has not in his possession the data neces- sary to determine. It is, however, many years since the Society withdrew its missionaries from this field to employ them in regions still more destitute. But Western New York is greatly indebted for its religious institutions and prosperity, its civil and literary blessings, to the labors of missionaries from this Society. They were, at an early period, on the field, and had a vast influence in forming [the character of the new settlements, and preserving the immigrants from moral degeneracy.
The next missionary institution which it behoves us to notice, as having employed missionaries to a large extent, and at a very early period in Western New York is, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Perhaps, one or two of its missionaries reached its borders prior to any mis- sionary from Connecticut. The General Assembly was organized, and held its first meeting May 21st, 1789. At this meeting the subject of missions to the frontier settlements was taken under con- sideration. No missionaries were appointed for that year, as it does not appear that the Assembly had any funds to be appropri- ated to that object. But each Synod under the care of the Assem- bly was requested to recommend to the next succeeding Assembly two members, well qualified to be employed in missions among the
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
frontier inhabitants. The Synods then under the care of the As- sembly were four, viz. the Synod of New York and New Jersey, the Synod of Philadelphia, the Synod of Virginia, and the Synod of the Carolinas. The several Presbyteries were directed to have collections made in the churches to defray the expense of the mis- sions which might be instituted. At this period, the number of ministers belonging to the Presbyterian church, was one hundred and seventy-seven ; the number of licentiates, eleven ; the number of churches, exclusive of the Presbytery of Transylvania, four hundred and nineteen, of which two hundred and fifteen were sup- plied with pastors, and two hundred and four were vacant. Of the pastors, thirty of them supplied two congregations each ; eleven, three congregations each ; and one ministered to four congrega- tions. It appears from this statement that nearly one half of the churches of the Presbyterian denomination in the United States, were without any stated administration of the word and ordinances of the gospel, and that a large number of the remainder were but partially supplied.
At the meeting of the Assembly, May, 1790, Rev. Nathan Ker, of the Presbytery of New York, and Rev. Joshua Hart, of the Pres- bytery of Suffolk, were appointed missionaries on the frontier set- tlements of New York and Pennsylvania, for at least three months each, from an early day in June. These brethren, on their mission, visited several places within the region denominated, in this history, Western New York. Newtown (now Elmira), Unadilla, Chenan- go (now Binghamton), and Owego, are named as places visited by them. They were, undoubtedly the first missionaries of the Pres- byterian church who penetrated into Western New York. At this period almost the whole of the region was a pathless wilderness. In 1791, Rev. James Boyd performed a mission of three months, on the frontier settlements of New York and Pennsylvania, and the next year, Rev. James McDonald and Mr. Isaac Grier, licentiate, spent four months each, in missionary service on the same field, but it is not known to the writer whether either of these missiona- ries entered Western New York. In 1793, Rev. Benjamin Judd and Rev. Ira Condict were appointed, each for four months, and Mr. William Spear, licentiate, for two months, to itinerate among the frontier settlements, from the east branch of the Susquehannah river, inclusive. These missions were performed. Some portion of the time must have been employed in Western New York. Mr. Condict came into the Genesee country, and organized the church of Palmyra.
On the minutes of the Assembly for 1795, it is noted that Messrs. Thatcher, Porter, Semple, and McClain, were appointed to perform missions, and it appears that they fulfilled their appointments. How long they were in service is not known. Mr. Thatcher itinerated extensively in Western New York, and organized several churches.
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MISSIONARY OPERATIONS.
Respecting the others, it is not known whether they entered this territory. The next year Mr. Thatcher was appointed, for the term of one year, to pursue the route prescribed to him the preced- ing year. He fulfilled his appointment, and went as far west as the Genesee river ; but how large a part of the year was appropri- ated to Western New York is not known. For the next year it does not appear that any missionary appointment for this field was made by the Assembly.
In 1798, Rev. Messrs. John Close, Asa Hillyer, and Asa Dun- ham, and Messrs. John Slemons and John Patterson, licentiates, were severally appointed missionaries, to perform, in the aggre- gate, seventeen months of missionary labor, a considerable share of which was to be expended on Western New York. At the next meeting of the Assembly the committee reported, " That the Mis- sionaries had proceeded on the respective tours prescribed, and had been faithful in preaching the gospel, and in catechizing, and ad- ministering the sacraments, as it appeared proper and expedient ; that thirteen adults and one hundred and fifty-four children were baptized by them ; that the people generally appeared to give at- tention to the word preached, with reverence and solemnity, and several examples of its powerful effect in impressing the heart, and reforming the life, had been observed in the course of the respective missions.'
In 1799, Rev. Messrs. David Barclay, Robert Logan, John Linds- ley, James Force, and Methuselah Baldwin, were commissioned to spend, in the aggregate, seventeen months or more, in missionary service, almost entirely in Western New York. It is supposed that they all performed their terms of service. The next year, Mr. Logan was reappointed to the same field, with directions to pro- ceed as far as the Cayuga lake, "the Assembly having received from several congregations, in that tract, communications by let- ters, giving the most agreeable accounts of Mr. Logan's usefulness, describing the most blessed effects of a preached gospel in that re- gion, and earnestly soliciting a continuance of the attention of the Assembly, offering to pay a considerable share of the expense at- tending such a mission." Mr. Logan's appointment was for three months or more. The same year, Rev. Jonathan Freeman, Rev. Robert H. Chapman, Rev. John Lindsley, and Rev. Matthew L. R. Perrine, were appointed missionaries for fourteen months in all, to spend their time principally within the limits of Western New York. This year, Rev. Jedidiah Chapman was appointed a stand- ing missionary for four years, as has already been narrated.
At the meeting of the Assembly in 1802, the business of missions having greatly increased, and become complicated, the Assembly " Resolved, that a committee be chosen annually by the General Assembly, to be denominated ' The Standing Committee of Mis- sions ;' that this committee shall consist of seven members, of whom
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
four shall be clergymen and three laymen." It was made the duty of this committee, to collect and report information on the subject of missions ; to nominate missionaries to the Assembly, recommend- ing their fields and periods of labor ; and to receive the reports of the missionaries, and make a statement thereon to the Assembly. With the help of this committee, the missionary business was managed by the Assembly until the year 1816, when the style of the committee was changed for that of " The Board of Missions, acting under the authority of the General Assembly of the Presby- terian Church in the United States." The Board was made to con- sist of sixteen members, and has since been enlarged, so as to con- sist of forty ministers and twenty-four laymen, one quarter of which number are annually elected. This Board makes the missionary appointments, transacts all the missionary business, and reports its proceedings annually to the Assembly.
From 1800 to 1828, missionaries continued to be employed by the Assembly, or its Board of Missions, to labor in Western New York, the aggregate period of whose labors amounts to about ten years of continued service. The names which are to be found on the list of missionaries, during this period, are, Jedidiah Chapman, John Lindsley, William Clark, John Boyd, Oliver Ayer, Francis Pomeroy, Joshua Johnson, Andrew Rawson, John Davenport, Hugh Wallace, Royal Phelps, George Scott, Matthew Harrison, Henry Ford, Phinehas Camp, Lyman Barrett, Richard F. Nicole, Miles P. Squier, Silas Pratt, Samuel McPherrin, Richard Brown, Moses Hunter, John Stockton, and Asa Donaldson. They were employed for periods varying from one month to six months. Most of them were repeatedly commissioned for a term of service. Mr. Chapman received an appointment annually, down to the year 1813. He performed much more missionary service for the As- sembly than any other individual, and his missionary reports were esteemed exceedingly valuable. In his report of his services for the year next preceding the meeting of the Assembly in 1806, he says, " The general state of the country in the North-western part of New York is progressing to religious order; the number of congregations is rapidly increasing, and churches are organized. There are others in embryo; new towns are settling, which need particular attention, and are continually calling for ministerial labor. There is a large field open for the employment of mission- aries, and perhaps as great, if not greater, call for missionary ser- vices than at any former period."
Up to the year 1829, the missionaries appointed by the General Assembly, or its Board of Missions, were, almost all of them, itinerants, travelling over an extensive field, staying but a few days in any one place, and receiving their entire compensation from the funds of the Assembly. They were expected to be con- stantly engaged in preaching the gospel, or in performing the active
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duties of an itinerating missionary. Their labor was many times severe, and hardships pressing ; but, if at any time they were ready to say, " Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed ?" at other times they were made to rejoice in the exhibition of the right-hand of the Most High, and permitted to see that they had not labored in vain, nor spent their strength for naught. The churches were strengthened by their labors, and sinners were converted from the error of their ways. From the commencement of 1830, a change was made in the mode of conducting missions by the Board. The missionary was appointed, usually for one year, to minister, as a pastor or stated supply, to a particular congregation, or, in instances, to two or even three congregations, spending in this way his whole time, and receiving the greater part of his compensation from the people to whom he ministered. Under this system of operation, his labors differed in no respect from those of the ordinary pastor or stated supply. During the year 1830, fourteen missionaries on this field were appointed, in aid of twenty-two feeble congregations, the appointments being, with one exception, for one year. In 1832, twenty-one missionaries were appointed to minister to twenty- eight congregations, besides two whose fields of labor were more extended. From the commencement of 1832 to the end of May of the same year, ten commissions, in aid of eleven congregations, had been issued, besides one of a more general character. The appointments made by the Board, from the end of May, 1832, to the commencement of June, 1833, are not before the author. From this period to the close of the year, the appointments of mission- aries to this field were thirteen, in aid of twenty congregations. The next year eight commissions were issued, in aid of nine con- gregations, besides one which embraced a larger field.
The author has not had access to the reports of the Board of Missions, subsequent to that of 1834. From that report it appears that the number of appointments of missionaries for Western New York was greatly diminishing. At this period the American Home Missionary Society was in active operation, and received almost all the collections for home missions made in Western New York. Agencies of that Society, composed of clergymen and laymen of known reputation, and high standing in the community, were estab- lished in Central and Western New York, and a travelling agent for each of these institutions was in constant employment. Under these circumstances, it was natural that the feeble churches should direct their attention to this quarter for the necessary aid to enable them to support the ministry of the gospel. Accordingly, their applications were generally made to the agencies of the American Home Missionary Society. Since the division of the Presbyterian Church in 1838, the churches generally have been connected with that branch sometimes denominated "The New School." This
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branch of the Presbyterian Church chooses to have the missionary business in the management of voluntary associations, and its As- sembly has no concern with the employment of missionaries. The Board of Missions of the other branch of the Presbyterian Church continues its missionary operations in Western New York to some extent. It had under its care, in this territory, in 1846, twenty-two churches, some of which are supposed to have assistance from the Assembly's Board of Missions in supporting the institutions of the gospel.
Massachusetts Missionary Society.
This Society was organized at Boston, May 28, 1779, by a con- vention of ministers and laymen, convened for the purpose of com- bining their efforts for the spread of the knowledge of the glorious gospel of Christ among the poor heathen, and in those remote parts of our country in which the inhabitants do not enjoy the benefits of a Christian ministry and Christian ordinances. At the organization of the Society, the venerable Nathanael Emmons, D.D., was elected President, which office he continued to sustain till 1812. The mis- sionary operations of the Society commenced in 1800. In that year Rev. David Avery and Rev. Jacob Cram were commissioned to labor among the sparse new settlements, and the aboriginal natives inhabiting the country between Whitestown and the Genesee river. It is believed that most of the time of these brethren was occupied in labors for the benefit of the white inhabitants, although it is known that Mr. Cram made some exertions in behalf of the Indians. How much of their time was spent in Western New York is not ascertained. The next year, Mr. Avery was in the service of the Society nearly eight months, and Mr. Cram most of the year. Their labors were expended principally on this field. In 1802, these brethren were again in missionary employ, by the Society, for a considerable part of the year, but it is believed that Mr. Avery's field of labor did not embrace any part of Western New York. How much time Mr. Cram spent on this part of the field is not known.
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