USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester Presbytery from the earliest settlement of the country, embracing original records of Ontario Association, and the presbyteries of Ontario, Rochester (former), Tennessee River, and Rochester City > Part 6
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Theological seminaries have been represented as follows : Auburn 52, Princeton 34, Union 20, Andover 11, Lane,
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Bangor, Alleghany U. P. and Alleghany R. P., two each, and one each from Yale, Oberlin, Newburgh, East Windsor, Belfast, Hartford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Western Reserve, Monmouth, Rochester and Chicago. Twenty have not graduated from seminaries.
Trained as these men have been in so many different colleges and theological seminaries, it has been very notice- able that as a Presbytery we have with so much heartiness maintained our Calvinistic standards, causing us all to rejoice in the fact that our confession of faith and catechism, which were adopted a hundred years ago at the organization of our General Assembly, have remained substantially unchanged to the present, with the probability of success- fully withstanding all opposition for the centuries that are to come.
Ours has truly been a favored part of the vineyard in which to labor. As we look about us we can say : "The lines have fallen unto us in pleasant places, yea we have a goodly heritage." He is a favored man to whom the Lord assigns a home in the valley of the Genesee.
And now as we turn from this brief sketch of the more prominent events in the history of the last eighteen years, to anticipate the victories for Christ which our Presbyterian church shall achieve in the years to come, we are confident that our beloved Presbytery will keep step with the others in this great army of conquest ; and though one by one our names will be added to the list of those who sleep in Jesus, our covenant God will not fail to raise up from among our youth those who will more than fill our places.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
REV. ISAAC NEWTON LOWRIE.
The following minute, prepared by Rev A. H. Corliss, was adopted by Presbytery, October 19, 1871 :
Rev. Isaac Newton Lowrie was born in Mecca, Parke County, Indiana, November 30, 1842, and died at Minne- apolis, Minn., March 16, 1871. His parents died, the one in 1850 and the other in 1851. In 1860 he entered Wabash College. On the 26th of May, 1861, he united with the Presbyterian church in Crawfordsville, Ind. He was graduated from Genesee College in 1864, and in the fall of the same year entered the Seminary at Auburn. He was ordained as an evangelist at Lima, July 2d, 1867 ; married to Miss Mary E. Smith of Auburn, July 23d ; sailed from Boston for Syria, October 8th, and arrived at Beyrout the last of November, 1867.
The latter part of the year 1869, his brethren in the mission and the physician advised his return home. He reached his uncle's home in Lima, July, 1870, and after resting a few weeks went to Minneapolis, where he died of consumption.
A modest, earnest, self-sacrificing disciple, the Master made his work day in the vineyard short ; yet long enough to win the benediction, "He hath done what he could."
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REV. ROBERT MCMATH.
The Rev. Robert McMath was born at Romulus, Seneca County, N. Y., February 15, 1815; was graduated from Union College in 1838 and from Lane Seminary in 1841 ; was licensed by the Presbytery of Cincinnati in 1840, and was ordained by the Presbytery of Detroit, June 1st, 1843. He came into this Presbytery at the time of reunion as a member of the Rochester City Presbytery.
The following minute, as prepared by Rev. Charles E. Furman, D. D., was adopted by Presbytery, October 19, 1871 :
"Among the uncommon numbers of fathers and brethren, ministers of the Presbyterian church, who have been called during the passing year, as we believe to the church above, we would not forget to mention and record the name of the Rev. Robert McMath, who died on the 22d day of August last, in Webster, the field of his last professional labors. It is with mournful pleasure we pay our tribute to the modest, but not the less real, worth of our beloved departed brother, in the usefulness of his work wherever called to perform it; the universal esteem in which he was held while living by those who had known him, and the universal sorrow with which his death is mourned."
REV. ALBERT G. HALL, D. D.
Rev. Albert G. Hall, D. D., was born at Whitehall, N. Y., April 12, 1805 ; was licensed by the Presbytery of Roches- ter, July 1st, 1835, and was ordained and installed by the same Presbytery as pastor of the church at Penfield, Febru- ary 24, 1836, where he remained four years ; after which
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he was for thirty-one years the pastor of the Third Church of Rochester ; which relation was terminated by his sudden death on the 10th of September, 1871. His pastorate over this important church during those eventful years in the history of this city, is in itself an evidence that he was a man of more than ordinary power. Combined with this strength of character was a very genial disposition which served to attach others to him in strong friendships. In those days of division he was conservative and very pro- nounced in his preference for the old school branch, and as such was an acknowledged leader in Western New York. Able in debate, he was always at home on the floor of Presbytery and took the most intense interest in all its proceedings. In his death not only the Third Church but the entire Presbytery sustained a great loss.
REV. HEZEKIAH B. PIERPONT.
Rev. Hezekiah B. Pierpont was born in Litchfield, Conn., July 28, 1792 ; was licensed by the Presbytery of Rochester, Nov. 3d, 1831, was ordained as an evangelist by the same Presbytery, March 14th, 1833, and came into this Presbytery at the time of re-union as a member of the former Presbytery of Rochester.
The following minute, which was prepared by the Rev. Charles E. Furman, D. D., was adopted by Presbytery, April 10th, 1872 :
" The Rev. Hezekiah B. Pierpont departed this life in Rochester at the house of his son, J. E. Pierpont, on the 9th day of November last, in the 80th year of his age. He was licensed and ordained to the work of the gospel ministry about forty years ago by the Presbytery of Rochester. He
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was for many years a successful minister of the gospel, preaching in Avon, Livingston Co., in Hopewell, Ontario Co., and other places. He was a good man and true, a faithful minister and approved of God; many counting themselves Christians as the fruits of his labors.
"Therefore, resolved that while we mourn the loss of a venerable brother as a highly respected and dearly beloved member of Presbytery, we submit to the order of Divine Providence, and rejoice that his last days were his best days and that the testimony of a happy and triumphant death was added to that of a lifelong example of the power of Christian faith."
REV. JOHN BARNARD, D. D.
The Rev. John Barnard, D. D., was born in Bolton, Worcester Co., Mass., Feb. 14th, 1790. He graduated at Union College in this state in the year 1813, and at Prince- ton Seminary in 1816, and in the same year was licensed by the Oneida Association. He commenced his ministry in Lima in 1818, where he was ordained and installed by a council, Feb. 3d, 1819, the church at that time being Congregational. He was received by letter from the Oneida Association as a member of Ontario Presbytery, July 4th, 1819, and elected its stated clerk, Feb. 9th, 1820, holding the office over fifty years or until the Presbytery was merged into the present Presbytery of Rochester. His pastorate at Lima continued 38 years, after which in the retirement of old age he resided there as the loving and efficient helper of his successors up to the time of his death, which occurred March 24th, 1872. As a writer he was choice in his diction, exact in his statements and classical in his style ; as a preacher
REV. JOHN BARNARD, D. D.
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he was clear, scriptural, earnest and tender ; as a pastor he was a model which we all loved to study, while as a man his character was remarkable for combining strength with simplicity, dignity with affability, and tenacity of purpose with tenderness of heart. But all his other gifts were secondary to his power in prayer. As his name was John it was not difficult to discover in him the traits of the disciple whom Jesus loved. At our ordination services he of all others was the chosen one to lead us at the mercy seat when by his communion with God he brought blessings to every heart.
REV. JUSTUS S. HOUGH.
Rev. Justus S. Hough was born in Sheffield, Mass., in 1785, was graduated from Middlebury College, Vt., in 1810, pursued his theological course with Rev. J. Bushnell of Vermont, which he concluded in 1814, about which time he was licensed by the Addison County Association, and soon after ordained by the same association.
He was received by the Presbytery of Ontario by letter from the Presbytery of Cayuga, Jan. 22d, 1834, and was installed pastor of the church at Livonia, Feb. 13th, 1834. He continued with that Presbytery until the re-union and thus came into this body.
The following minute, as prepared by Rev. Luther Conklin, was adopted by Presbytery, April 15th, 1873 :
"Rev. Justus S. Hough, a member of this Presbytery, died in Syracuse at the residence of his son, in December (20th) last, at the age of 87 years. He * * preached a number of years in his native state (Vermont). He then removed to this state and labored with great success in Port Byron and Livonia, until the loss of his voice put an end to
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his preaching thirty years ago. He was still eminently use- ful in the Bible class, the prayer meeting, and all the rela- tions of private life, in Jordan and East Bloomfield. He was the coadjutor of his pastor in every good word and work. He was a man of strong common sense, vigorous mind and deep piety ; and he retained his powers almost to the last. He was an illustration of the truth that a man's usefulness need not end with his labors as a preacher of the gospel."
REV. JOSHUA D. LANE.
The following minute was adopted by Presbytery, April 15th, 1873 :
" The committee to prepare a minute in reference to Rev. Joshua D. Lane, a member of this Presbytery who departed this life on the 28th of March, would respectfully report : This beloved and faithful minister of Jesus was blessed with a godly parentage and ancestry. He was a child of the covenant, and devoted to the Lord by his parents with much prayer and careful training in all the doctrines and duties of our holy religion.
"His godly father was an earnest pioneer minister in Cen- tral and Western New York, whose great aim was to lengthen the cords and strengthen the stakes of the church. The subject of this brief notice, after a thorough prepara- tion, commenced his work in the ministry in Smithport, Pa., but after several years' labor in the field, and much to the regret of his people, his failing health compelled him to leave. After laboring several years in Western New York till the breaking out of the war, he entered the Union army as chaplain of the 131st Regiment of New York Volunteers,
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where he was recognized as a true and faithful minister of Christ. Soon after his return from the army he preached for two years at Parma.
" At the beginning of the present year, he was invited to return to Smithport, and had just entered upon his work when he was called to his eternal rest. His end was full of peace, resignation, faith and hope. And we cannot doubt that abundant entrance was ministered unto him into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord. As we remember his many virtues, his noble qualities of head and heart, his love to the church and the truth of God, we hope that his departure may be blessed to the renewed consecration of his surviving friends to the cause of Christ."
REV. RICHARD DUNNING.
The following minute was presented by Rev. Joseph R. Page and adopted by Presbytery, Sept. 9, 1873 :
"Presbytery would record the entrance upon his ever- lasting rest of Rev. Richard Dunning, a beloved member of this body, since our last meeting. He was licensed by this Presbytery forty-five years ago, and soon after by it ordained. Since that time until a year and a half before his decease he continued in the sacred office, ministering chiefly to the feeble churches of the region, to their accept- ance and decided advantage. He was a man of a truly Chris- tian spirit, never self-seeking and ambitious, but always ready to enter the most uninviting field, and labor in actual self-denial and comparative obscurity, for the salvation of souls and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. His ministry was attended with repeated and powerful revivals, due not only to his faithful and affectionate preaching of the gospel, but also to his habitual illustration of its excel-
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lence by a well ordered life and a godly conversation. He died in Rochester, Aug. 8, 1873, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His last days were cheerful and brightened by the consciousness of his Savior's presence. None entered his sick chamber without feeling that it was just on the verge of heaven, and a blessed privilege to witness the victory which divine grace gave him over the last enemy. Our regret for his departure is swallowed up in gratitude for the worthy example he has left us, the good he was enabled to accomplish, and the reward upon which he has doubtless entered."
REV. JOHN H. BRODT.
Rev. John Henry Brodt was born in Troy, N. Y., June 2, 1827. He pursued his preparatory studies at the school of Mr. Anthony in a neighboring city and at the Polytech- nic Institute in his native place. The years 1849 and '50 he spent at Williams College, and graduated at Union Theological Seminary in 1853. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Troy, June 29, 1853, and ordained by the same Presbytery, June 29th, 1854. He commenced his work as a minister of the gospel by accepting an appoint- ment of the Home Mission Board to a field in California. His ministry of twelve years on the Pacific coast was crowned with abundant success. While there Mr. Brodt was for a time an editor of the Pacific, a Congregational paper published at San Francisco. This paper in referring to him said : "Mr. Brodt came hither in his youth, full of enthusiasm, fairly running over with good spirits. He had a good presence, fine looks, a bright eye and a clear, full voice, and so was a very pleasing preacher. His abilities were above the average."
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Upon his return to the East he was settled for two years over the Presbyterian church in Salem, N. Y., and then over the Park Presbyterian church in New York city, which position he held until the dissolution of that body, when he was called to minister to the large and influential New England Congregational Society of Brooklyn, N. Y., where his labors were blessed with an abundant harvest of souls. About the year 1872, his failing health compelled him to retire from his church in Brooklyn and seek medical relief at Dansville, where, with his wife and six children, he resided for about three years, when his life work was closed.
The following resolutions with reference to his death which were prepared by Rev. G. K. Ward, of Dansville, were adopted by Presbytery, September 21, 1875 :
" Resolved, That in the death of Rev. John Henry Brodt, which occurred on the 8th of Sept., 1875, [at Dansville, N. Y.,] we as a Presbytery recognize the wisdom and power of our Father in heaven, and bow before His righteous will, humbly acknowledging that He doeth all things well.
" Resolved, That we ever cherish with tender regard the memory of one who was at the same time a wise counselor, a true friend and a consistent Christian minister ; and that we deeply appreciate the loss which we as a Presbytery, in common with the church and the world, have sustained in his death.
" Resolved, That to the bereaved and stricken family, who mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father, we extend our heartiest sympathy and love, while we commend them to the tender mercies of Him who has said, 'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.'
" Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the family of the deceased, that they be entered upon the records of this body, and that they be published in the religious papers of our church."
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER PRESBYTERY.
REV. ALEXANDER DOUGLASS.
The Rev. Alexander Douglass was born at Cavan, Ontario Co., Canada, August, 1838. He studied three years at Genesee College and Michigan University, and graduated at Auburn Seminary in 1868.
He was received into this Presbytery as a licentiate of the Presbytery of St. Lawrence, and was ordained at Mendon as an evangelist on the 25th of April, 1872. He died at Lima, N. Y., December 4, 1875.
During his last year in the Auburn Seminary he over- worked by preaching at Genoa, N. Y., and teaching in the State prison, from which he never fully recovered. In August, 1868, he went to the church in Seneca Castle, N.Y., where he remained more than a year and where his labors were blessed to the quickening of the church. He then, Nov. 4, 1869, took charge of the church at Evans Mills, N. Y., removing from there to East Mendon in 1871, where he was ordained in 1872. But failing health soon compelled him to seek a change of climate, which resulted in his serving the church at Menasha, Wis., for eight or nine months in 1873, when he utterly broke down, but where his labors were blessed with quite a revival Unusual interest also had attended his ministry at Evans Mills.
He was the son of a clergyman who had preached 40 years at Millbrook, Canada.
The following minute in regard to him was adopted by Presbytery, April 11, 1876 :
" Resolved, That this Presbytery, having heard with sorrow of the death, on the 4th of December, 1875, of Rev. Alexander Douglass, a member of this body, desires to record its appreciation of his earnest and self-denying labors in the ministry of the gospel, to which he had consecrated his life. They rejoice to know that during his long and
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trying illness, he was sustained and comforted by the grace of that Savior, whom he so longed to commend to others. We deeply sympathize with his bereaved widow and orphans, and assure them of our earnest interest in their future welfare. In attestation of which, our stated clerk is directed to forward to them a copy of this resolution."
REV. ISAAC OAKES.
In regard to the death of Rev. Isaac Oakes, which occured at Nunda, N, Y., July 4, 1876, the Presbytery, under date of September 20, 1876, adopted the following minute, which had been prepared by Rev. F. De W. Ward, D. D. :
" Whereas, it has pleased our Heavenly Father in his wise and sovereign providence to remove from us by death Rev. Isaac Oakes, long a member of this Presbytery, at the ripe age of 81 years, therefore resolved, that a brief record of his life is not more our duty than our privilege, viz. : That he was born in Haverly, Franklin Co., Mass., June 10, 1795, graduated at Williams College in 1820 and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1823. He was licensed by the Essex Middle Association, Mass., and ordained by a Congre- gational council at Salem, Mass., Sept. 25, 1823. He united with the Genesee River Presbytery at the time of its formation. He first had a very useful pastorate of about eight years at Westfield, Chautauqua Co., in this state. Other charges which he served were Lancaster, Riga, East Bethany and Oakland, all in this state.
" Resolved, That we recognize in him one who shrank not from the Master's call, when that meant fidelity, amid all the toils and trials of pioneer missionary work in Western
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New York. That we hold him in warm remembrance, as one of unwonted firmness in his convictions, tenderness in his family and patience in suffering ; and that we see only a renewed pledge of the divine faithfulness, in the abundant grace with which God enabled his servant to endure the accumulated infirmities of his later years, and the perfect peace that attended his departure.
" Resolved, That we cordially unite in our expressions of sympathy with his bereaved and now desolate companion, and earnestly commend her to the care of Him, who is the husband of the widow and the father of the fatherless.
" Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon the records of this body, and be sent for publication in the New York Evangelist and the Philadelphia Presbyterian, and that a copy of the resolutions be sent to the bereaved widow."
DAVID F. STEWART.
The following minute, as prepared by Rev. Charles E. Robinson, D. D., was adopted by Presbytery, June 18, 1883 : " David F. Stewart was born of Scotch parentage in York. Livingston Co , N. Y., July 16, 1848. He was left an orphan at five years of age. He pursued his academic course at Brockport, N. Y., and united with the Presbyterian church in that place about 1864. He pursued his fresh- man studies by himself while teaching in Buffalo in 1868. He began as sophomore in Rochester University in 1869 and graduated in 1872. He studied in Union Theological Seminary from 1872 to 1874, spending one summer vacation successfully among the New Hampshire hills, and another at Brockport, Me., in sowing the good seed of the word. The following winter, during his last year of study, his
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health gave way. After a year of rest, mainly spent at Caledonia, N. Y., he resumed his studies and graduated at Union Seminary in 1876. He supplied the pulpit of the Sixth Presbyterian Church at Chicago during the pastor's vacation, but his health again broke down. He retired to his brother's house, D. G. Stewart, Hamilton, Minn. In 1878 he visited California, finding only temporary relief, and returned to his Minnesota home, where he died, October 13, 1879, of pulmonary consumption.
" He was licensed April 13, 1875 ; he was not ordained. He was a man of a rare spirit."
REV. CHARLES E. FURMAN, D. D.
Rev. Charles E. Furman, D. D., was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1801, graduated at Union College in 1826, and at Auburn Seminary, 1828. He was licensed by Cayuga Presbytery, June, 1828, and ordained by the same Presbytery, June, 1830. He came into this Presby- tery at the time of reunion as one who had long been a member of the former Presbytery of Rochester.
The following minute was adopted by Presbytery, Sept. 20,1880 :
" The Rev. Charles E. Furman, D. D., having departed this life, since our last meeting, on the 10th of June, 1880, aged 78 years and 6 months [at Rochester], Presbytery would enter upon its records this minute, to express their sense of his excellencies as a Christian and the value of his long and faithful work as a minister. He preached the gospel fifty-two years, with the exception of a year or two before his death, when he was incapacitated by disease. All this time he was a member of this body, except a little over ten years, while he was a licentiate of the Presbytery of
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Cayuga and when he belonged to the Presbytery of Niag- ara, and most of the time was pastor of the church in Medina. He served as pastor or stated supply, five of the churches of this Presbytery twenty-two years; eight in Clarkson, eight in Victor, three in Gates, two in Chili and one in Brighton. Large accessions were made to most of them, as the fruit of his earnest labors. He was emphatic- ally a peacemaker and a son of consolation, and was beloved by all who knew him.
"In the days of his vigor he was uniform in attendance upon ecclesiastical meetings, where his counsels were highly prized. Ten years he served this Presbytery as its stated clerk [i. e. the former Presbytery of Rochester], and over twenty-five he was the permanent clerk of the synod. For some months before his departure he was a great suf- ferer, but exhibited the same gentle, submissive and trust- ful spirit that had uniformly characterized him in health. We who knew him long and well can truly say of him, he left the world better for having lived in it."
REV. CHARLES KITTRIDGE.
The following minute, which was prepared by Rev. D. R. Eddy, of Brockport, was adopted by Presbytery, Sept. 21st, 1880 :
" Presbytery is called upon to record the death of Rev. Charles Kittridge, an aged and esteemed member, who has been connected with this body since 1870, and who was for twenty-five years previous to that time a member of Roch- ester City Presbytery. He died in Clarkson, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1880. He was born at Newburyport, Mass., in 1808, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1834, studied at Andover and East Windsor seminaries, and was ordained by the
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Tolland Association in 1339. He preached in New Eng- land for some years, his labors being more or less interrupted from time to time by ill health. In 1845, he was installed as pastor of the church of West Greece, with which he continued his labors for some eleven years. He then removed to Clarkson, where he supplied the church for about a year. Severe physical sufferings and infirmities greatly interfered with his labors during the entire course of his ministry. For about forty-five years he has been more or less engaged in teaching. His pupils are scattered over the country from Maine to California, and are many of them occupying honorable positions as members of the various learned professions. Bro. Kittridge was a profound student of the word of God. He had read the Greek New Testament through in course some twenty-nine times and was very familiar with every phrase of it.
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