USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > History of the First Presbyterian church of Albany, N.Y.; lists of its officers, and a complete catalogue of its members from its organization > Part 2
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did not daunt him; but served to stimulate and call forth his splendid powers. A special intimacy sprang up between himself and Hamilton, and when the latter fell at the hand of Burr, the city anthorities invited Nott to preach a funeral discourse. It was upon this occasion, that he preached his sermon against duelling, which obtained such wide celebrity, and placed him in the very foremost rank of the preachers of that day. One who confesses to having been " drawn nolens volens into the Presbyterian church" by his preaching, judges him to have been " by far the most eloquent and ef- fective preacher of the period."1
After having served this church for about six years, he resigned its pastorate, in 1804, to accept the presidency of Union College; which largely owes to him its present high position among the educational institutions of the land, and stands as his most illustrious monument to future generations. In the service of this institution the remainder of his life was spent. In 1811, he was raised to the highest position of honor within the gift of the Presbyterian church, by being made Moderator of the General Assembly for that year. HIe died in Schenectady, January 29, 1866, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-three.
1 Life of Dr. Nott.
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6. REV. J. B. ROMEYN, D.D.
On the 15th day of October, 1804, a call was made out by this congregation for the Rev. J. B. Romeyn of the Presby- terian Church of Schenectady. He was a young man yet, although he had been for several years in the ministry. He was licensed to preach by the Dutch Classis of Albany at the age of twenty-one. He was ordained to the full work of the ministry by the Classis of Poughkeepsie, May, 1799. In 1803, he accepted a call to the Church of Schenectady, and removed to that place, and labored there about one year, when he was called here. As a young man he awak- ened the highest expectations of his friends for his future success ; but at this time he seems to have had serious mis- givings about accepting the call of this church. Sprague, in the Annals of the American Pulpit, speaking of his hesitaney to come to this place, says: - " This being the only Pres- byterian Church at the capital of the state, it had gathered into it a large amount of cultivated intellect and professional eminence, and his two predecessors had been men of remark- able powers and various attainments and under their preach- ing the congregation had become sufficiently fastidious not to be satisfied with pulpit efforts of a mere ordinary character." The care of such a church was a charge a young man might
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well hesitate to undertake. But, by the advice of his friends, he was finally induced to accept the call, and was installed pastor, December 5th, 1804. He was but twenty-seven years of age when he assumed the charge of this church ; but he sustained himself with reputation and fully met the expect- ations of his friends. He is said to have been "an earnest worker, a vast reader, an animated and forcible but not brilliant preacher."
He continued to be pastor of the church for about four years, when in August, 1808, he received two calls ahnost simultaneously to the city of New York,-one to the Cedar street Presbyterian Church and the other to the Reformed Dutch Church; the former of which he accepted, and re- moved to that city in November of that year. Just before leaving this city, says Sprague,1 " Ile preached two sermons on the occasion of a fast appointed by the General Assembly. These discourses discover extensive knowledge of history and prophecy and a great dread of the influence of Roman- ism and Infidelity on our national institutions. These ser- mons were published by request. They were regarded at the time as among the ablest published discourses of the class to which they belong." The remarkable reputation he had already acquired in the church at large, is shown by the fact that in the spring of 1810, though so young a
1 Annals of the Pulpit.
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man, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly. He continued in charge of the church to which he removed from this place, till the time of his death, which occurred, February 22d, 1825, in the forty-eighth year of his age. Less than two weeks before his death he preached from the text; " It is finished," and administered the sacrament, and intimated that he expected it to be his last communion on earth.
7. REV. WILLIAM NEILL, D.D.
William Neill was a native of Western Pennsylvania, graduated at Nassau Hall, Princeton, in 1803; where he re- . mained two years as Tutor in the College. During the time of his tutorship, he studied theology under Dr. Kollock, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Princeton, and was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, October, 1805. Hle immediately received an invitation to supply the church at Cooperstown, which he accepted, and in November of 1806 was ordained to the full work of the ministry, and installed pastor of that church by the Presbytery of Oneida.
In September, 1809, a call was made out for his pastoral services by this church, which was accepted, and he was in- stalled pastor on the 14th day of the same month and year. For about seven years he continued to be the pastor of this
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church, and during his ministry it continued to be in a highly flourishing condition. He was a man of scholarly attain- ments, and a most profound student and lover of the Word of God. His high standing in the Presbyterian Church was recognized by his election to the position of Moderator of the General Assembly in the spring of 1815. A strong attach- ment sprang up between himself and his church, which was most reluctantly broken up by his accepting a call to the Sixth Presbyterian Church Philadelphia, and removing to that city in the summer of 1816. The pastoral relation was dissolved by Presbytery, August 20th, of that year. His health being feeble, he was advised not "to risk a longer residence" in the severe climate of this region. He con- tinued to be pastor of the Sixth Presbyterian Church Phila- delphia for about eight years, when he was elected to the Presidency of Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, which office he filled for several years, when he became Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Education. But the duties of this position proving too arduous for his feeble health, he returned to the active work of the ministry. Though never again regularly settled over any charge, he con- tinued to preach the Gospel in and about the city of Phila- delphia as opportunity offered. For a number of years he regularly supplied one of the churches of Germantown. He died August 8th, 1860, after a most painful sickness of two
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weeks' duration. He died with these words on his lips - "at rest in God." Ilis age was eighty-two.
During the year 1815, the Second Presbyterian Church of this city was organized ; and admitted into Presbytery in October. A little more than a year after this, the Third Presbyterian Church was formed; and put upon the roll of Presbytery, February 18th, 1817. To both of these churches our own dismissed some of its members.
S. REV. ARTHUR J. STANSBURY.
Dr. Neill was succeeded in the pastorate of this church by the Rev. Arthur J. Stansbury, who came from the Associ- ate Reformed Presbytery of New York - his installation occurring, September 30th, 1817. During his connection with this church, an enterprise was begun, which, it is to be regretted, has not been carried forward to the present time. A Minister's Library was established, and a commit- tee, with the pastor as chairman, was appointed to have charge of it, and to make a purchase of books which at that time was not to exceed in value $1000. An annual collec- tion was ordered for its maintenance. Had the liberal pro- vision then made for this library been carried out, a most valuable collection of books would at this time have adorned the shelves of the minister's room. As it is, a considerable number of rare works are now the property of the church,
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and a slight addition from year to year would soon make the collection exceedingly valuable to any minister.
During the ministry of Mr. Stansbury there were large accessions to the communion of the church. He was pos- sessed of a mind of much versatility, and enriched by large acquisitions of knowledge. Ilis sermons are still remem- bered by some in this congregation for the profound impres- sions they made, and his expositions of Scripture are said to have been of a most remarkable character. Ilis pastorate terminated in February of the year 1821. After his removal from this city, he ceased to exercise the office of the Gospel ministry. Ile went to reside in the city of Washington, and for about thirty years was the reporter of Congressional Debates for the National Intelligencer, and acquired a wide reputation in his new calling. I have heard it remarked of him, that "Clay thought he could not make a speech unless he had Stansbury to report him." At times, he would throw himself with great zeal into the Christian work of the church with which he was connected in that city ; and his addresses and prayers are still remembered there, as characterized by remarkable ability and earnestness. After leaving Wash- ington he removed to Philadelphia, where he spent the re- maining years of his life, and where he died, September 27th, 1865, in the eighty-fifth year of his age.
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9. REV. HENRY R. WEED, D.D.
On the 7th of May, 1822, the Rev. Henry R. Weed was installed pastor of this church. He was graduated from Union College and Princeton Seminary, and ordained and installed paster of the church at Jamaica, L. I., January 4th, 1816, where he continued a much esteemed and success- ful minister till his removal to this city. He was " remark- able for his plain, practical and scriptural preaching," and for the boldness with which he rebuked, with the authority of God, whatsoever his Bible taught him was sin. He was the first minister at Jamaica who set his face against the use of ardent spirits at funerals, where it was the custom to pass them around to those assembled on such occasions : and the earnestness with which he here reproved certain society cus- toms, which he regarded as sinful, is still fresh in the memory of some amongst us. Ile was instrumental in accomplishing much good here in a quiet winning way he had of preaching the Gospel from house to house. His health was always feeble. This led him to offer to Presbytery his resignation of this charge, and to accept an appointment as Synodical Missionary. The pastoral relation was dissolved in No- vember, 1829. He afterwards accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Wheeling, Va., where he spent the remainder of his active life, and succeeded in gathering about
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him a large, wealthy and influential church. He became widely known in that region and acquired great influence in the judicatories of the church. IIe ceased the active duties of his office there on account of failing strength and advancing years ; and leaving the care of his church in the hands of his co-pastor, he removed to Philadelphia; where he passed a serene old age and died in the full hope of the Gospel, December 14th, 1870, at the age of eighty-three.
During the time of Mr. Weed's pastorate here, the church at Greenbush was organized, and on June 28, 1827, a num- ber of the members of this church were dismissed to unite with it. During the latter part of his pastorate, the Fourth Presbyterian Church of this city was organized, and admitted to the roll of Presbytery February 4th, 1829, to which, also, some of this congregation went forth.
10. REV. JOHN N. CAMPBELL, D.D.
The man, who of all others left the most abiding impression of himself on this congregation, was John N. Campbell. This was owing not merely to the length of his pastorate, which lasted for nearly thirty-four years, but to the distin- guishing qualities of the man. His regal presence, his urbane manner, his versatile talents, his intellectual acquirements, his eloquence as a preacher, his knowledge of human nature, his instinct of government, his decision of character- all
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combined to fit him to be " the Pope" he was called in his own church, and to make him the man of mark he was in the community and in the state.
It would appear that Dr. Campbell was educated privately, with the exception of a period spent in the University of Pennsylvania. But, that his training was thorough is shown by the fact, that very early in life he was for a time Professor of Languages in Hampden Sydney College, Virginia. Ile was licensed by the Presbytery of Hanover, Va., May 10th, 1817. In 1820, he was chosen Chaplain to Congress: in 1823 he was assistant to Dr. Balch of Georgetown : and not long after, he became the pastor of the New York Avenue Church, Washington. Whilst there, he was brought into association with many of the distinguished men of that day whose fame even yet is in all the land, and in some instances this associa- tion ripened into intimacy. He was a welcome and familiar visitor at the President's House during the administration of Jackson, until the General made the mistake of undertaking to regulate the affairs of the church to suit his own imperi- ous will ; when he found he had met one, who recognized the fact, that in his own sacred sphere he was clothed with an authority far superior to that of president, and who had the courage to maintain it. Chief Justice Spencer, a member of this church, then in Washington, was witness of " this un- seemly attempt of power to coerce the right ;" and recognizing
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the sterling qualities of the man who so successfully resisted it, recommended Mr. Campbell to this church. This led to his call to this congregation on June 7th, 1830. He was in- stalled pastor over this people, September 11th, 1831. He soon commanded the high position in this city which he occupied till the day of his death.
During his long ministry here he filled his own pulpit with a regularity rarely ever equalled. He seldom ever allowed any person or anything, excepting sickness, to pre- vent him from preaching the Gospel at the appointed time to the "flock over which God had made him overseer." Upon one occasion, when spoken to on this subject, he re- plied - " God has appointed me to preach the Gospel and to preach it here," - showing it was a matter of principle with him, and illustrating the scrupulous conscientiousness with which he adhered to his conviction of duty. It is almost uniformly conceded that as a preacher he possessed unusual power. Ilis sermons were all prepared in a manner pecu- liar to himself; written out in a delicate exact hand, inter- lined and abbreviated, so that the entire matter of the dis- course was contained on a sheet of ordinary commercial note paper, which he had before him in the pulpit. They were brief, pre-eminently Seriptural both in thought and illustra- tion, and "constructed with great simplicity ;"1 but delivered 1 Sprague's Funeral Sermon. 5
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with the "force and grace " for which he was noted, they rarely failed to make a deep impression on his audiences.
About the year 1846, began the most serious controversy in the history of this church, which at one time threatened the continuance of the pastoral relation. It grew out of a movement for a new church, and finally terminated in the withdrawal of a large number of members, on the removal of the congregation to their new building. These remained in the old church, organized themselves into a Congrega- tional Society, and now worship in their new edifice on Eagle street. Through this long and painful controversy, the pastor bore himself with great tact and ability : and under his ministry in the new church, the congregation continued to grow in wealth and influence.
In March 1851, Dr. Campbell was elected by the Legisla- ture a Regent of the University; and was one of the most active and efficient members of this Board. He was made one of the Commissioners for the erection of the State Li- brary Building ; and the present structure on State street is largely the monument of his architectural taste. He occu- pied various positions of responsibility in the church at large, and filled them all with distinction. After a few days' illness. he died on Sabbath morning, March 27th, 1864, just as the congregation were gathering to observe the holy communion which he had expected to administer. His last
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sermon preached the previous Sabbath, was from the text, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." ITis death produced a profound impression on the whole com- munity, and was made a subject of comment by all the papers of the city, and by correspondents of both secular and religious papers in New York and Philadelphia. It was formally announced in both Houses of the Legislature, and each adjourned in honor of his memory. His funeral took place from this church on March 31st; and among the vast concourse of people assembled to do honor to his remains were -the Governor of the state, the heads of the state departments, and the Regents of the University. Few men of the sacred calling have been so honored while living, so revered when dead.
During Dr. Campbell's ministry two Presbyterian Churches were organized in this city, besides the Congregational Church already noticed. December, 1831, the Fifth Presbyterian Church was organized and admitted into Presbytery, and the Rev. Alfred Welton of Poughkeepsie was called to be pastor. This people worshiped for a time in the "old City Hall, corner South Market street and Hudson, " and proposed to erect a church on the corner of Green and Hamilton streets. But in the course of a few years this or- ganization became extinct. Its name was stricken from the roll of Presbytery, October 15th, 1834. In 1861, the State
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Street Presbyterian Church was organized. To each of these churches some of the members of this congregation went out.
11. REV. JAMES M. LUDLOW, D.D.
After the death of Dr. Campbell the church most naturally felt lost and bewildered. More than a generation had passed away during his ministry. Many in the congregation did not know what a change of pastors meant. With their grief fresh in their minds, it seemed little short of sacrilege to see any other man standing in that sacred desk, which all their lives they had been accustomed to see filled with the venerated form of their dead pastor. They knew not where to look. During the summer, a young man, just graduated from Princeton Seminary, was invited to supply the pulpit a Sab- bath ; and so favorable was the impression he made, that a call was not long after made out for him, and thus the Rev. James M. Ludlow, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Passaic, New Jersey, became the pastor of this church - his installation occurring, January 19th, 1865. During his pastorate, several enterprises were set on foot, which had for their object the call- ing into activity the latent energies of the church. Among these, was the establishment of a mission Sabbath school in Alexander street, for the religious instruction of the neglected children in that part of the city.1 The young element of I See Mission School,
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the church was called out and organized, and various changes were introduced. Mr. Ludlow was "an earnest worker, a chaste and elegant writer and a finished speaker." During the summer of 1868, he received a call to the Colle- giate Dutch Church of New York city, which he accepted, and his pastoral connection with this church was dissolved, No- vember 27th, of that year.
12. THE PRESENT PASTORATE.
After the removal of Mr. Ludlow to New York, the church was without a settled pastor for about a year. The pulpit was filled by supplies from week to week till the spring of the following year, when the present pastor then laboring in Frankfort, Kentucky, received the invitation of this people to serve them for a time as Stated Supply ; and removed to this city and began to preach statedly to this congregation on the second Sabbath of May, 1869 ; and continued to supply here, excepting during the usual vacation, up to the time of the formal constitution of the pastoral relation in the autumn of the same year. June 28th, a call was made out which in the course of a few weeks was accepted. On the evening of October 24, 1869, seven years ago to-night, the installation occurred. This constituted the first regular settlement of the present pastor ; although he had been in the active ministry previously between seven and eight years, principally in
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Virginia and Kentucky. Owing to the disturbed state of af- fairs there in consequence of the late war, he declined the calls of the churches he served, thinking more good could be ac- complished without formal relations. Of what has been done or left undone during the present pastorate, I do not propose to speak. We have however reason for gratitude to day that our covenant keeping God has not forgotten this people. Let us "love him and keep his commandments," and his faithfulness and merey are pledged " to a thousand generations."
THE SESSION.
HIE Minutes of Session date back to January 31st, 1786. In a few brief notes concerning the condi- tion of the church at this time, which are to be found in the beginning of the first Book of Records, it is stated that there were "only two Elders in the congregation at the time of Mr. McDonald's ordination. "These were Robert Henry and Matthew Watson, who were probably ordained at the organization of the church. But as the congregation was now largely composed of members over whom they had never been set, " a day was appointed for the re-election of these two gentlemen and for some new members in addition to them." At this election, Robert Henry was re-elected to the office of Elder, and several other persons nominated for ordination, who, having been duly examined, were installed January Ist, 1786. At their first meeting they adopted a series of resolutions, which indicate their high appreciation of their duties and responsibilities, and the sincere and earnest spirit with which they entered upon their discharge. At their meeting, December 6th, 1786, among other things it was resolved to " enjoin on the sexton his utmost attention in preserving order during the time of public worship ;" and, that " without special reasons" "no marriage shall be so-
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lemnized in the congregation without three several intima- tions given in public."
The qualifications required for the office of Elder at that time may be inferred from the nature of the examination to which they were subjected. The minute in one instance reads thus. " The Moderator examined into his acquaint- ance with the general doctrines of the Christian religion, and the sense in which he understood those that have been subjects of dispute - the nature and design of the sacra- ments, and the subjects to whom they should be adminis tered - his views of the order, government and discipline of the church - and his resolution in God's strength to support and defend them against innovation and error. Ile also inquired into the influence of religion on his own soul, and his determination to study an exemplary walk in his pub- lic deportment and private carriage."
From the organization of the church up to the year 1820, the Deacons were in the habit of meeting with the Session, and taking part in all its deliberations as if they had been set apart to rule. The respective duties of the coordinate branches of the church's goverment were not well under- stood. At one time, there was quite a conflict of authority between the Session and Board of Trustees. The Board claimed, and for many years exercised, exclusive control of all moneys gathered from the church for any purpose what-
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soever. No collections were allowed to be taken for the poor, nor for any charitable or missionary purpose, without their permission.
The office of Elder in those days was no sinecure. Gov- ernment was more than a name. For a great many years, and indeed down to a comparatively recent date, the Session had regular monthly meetings, and if for any cause no meet- ing was held the reason was entered on the records. Each elder had a particular district of the congregation assigned him for visitation and oversight; and reports of the conduct of the members in their respective distriets were, made to the Session. One elder had the oversight of members of the church who spoke the Gaelic language. At first it was Daniel MeIntyre. On his removal from the congregation, Donald McLeod was elected elder on account of his acquaint- ance with that dialect, and assigned to the care of the Gaelic members. Previous to each communion, tokens1 were distri- buted by the elders to persons expecting to partake. This was a custom designed to guard the sacramental table from the approach of persons not especially allowed by the officers of the church. Long tables were spread across the church in front of the pulpit and along the aisle, at which all com- municants took their seats while the elements were passed along by the elders. When thus seated, and before the
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