USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 1 > Part 6
USA > New York > New York City > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 1 > Part 6
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
Dr. Budington is in all respects an able man. He is a labo- rious, painstaking student, and a close, logical thinker. His sermons show great originality, as well as gracefulness of diction. He elabor- ates, refines, and analyzes until he presents the truth with a power well calculated to be irresistible to the intelligence. Arguments of the nature that he indulges in, coming from others, would in many cases be considered dry and uninteresting ; but with him they are far from being so. In the first place, his delivery is excellent, both as regards voice and manner ; and in the second, his arguments are so clear, so pleasantly illustrated by similes, and withal so masterly in logic, that they hold the hearer quite as spell-bound as the more brilliant and moving appeals of eloquence. His eyes have a pene- trating gaze; his mouth assumes an expression of decision, and stern- ness settles an unmovable cloud upon his features. You see that he is in earnest in his work, that all the gifts of his intellect are brought into use, and an occasional tremulousness of voice gives additional
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REV. WILLIAM IVES BUDINGTON, D. D.
testimony as to the strength of his personal feelings. As we have said, there is now nothing in his face that appeals to you. He looks you through and through. with a glance as keen as a needle, and the heart feels a chill from the icy countenance. But all this time he is bombarding the mind with agrecably stated logic, and gradually, and then more powerfully, he brings the awakened convictions and con- science to influence, and inspire the heart. His triumph is complete. He has first repelled and then enchained-first frozen the heart, and then melted both mind and emotions.
Dr. Budington's brethren of the ministry speak of him as a truly good man. They instance his labors in his present congregation, where at times there has been much dissension, growing out of per- sonal bickerings, unwise plans, blunders, and a load of debt. In the midst of all this, no circumstance has ever changed the serene temper, the moral fortitude, and the Christian gentleness of the pastor. And now when the dark day is over, and the period of trial gone by, the exaltation of character then displayed has endeared him even to those whose purposes he opposed. Mainly through his instrumen- tality, his people are to-day united and powerful, devoted to their spiritual teacher, and he to them, with their heavy indebtedness dis- charged, and their future undimmed by a single cloud.
Ripe in scholarship, practicing all the graces of the gentleman, and the acknowledged and admired Christian, Dr. Budington is alike conspicuous in public life and valued in the private circle. Ilis praises are spoken in the language of popular applause, and in the utterances of breasts guided by his rare example.
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REV. SAMUEL D. BURCHARD, D. D.,
PASTOR OF THE THIRTEENTH STREET PRES- BYTERIAN CHURCHI, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. SAMUEL D. BURCHARD was born in the town of Steuben, Oneida county, New York, September 6th, 1812, on the farm where Baron Steuben lived and died, it being a portion of the township awarded that distinguished revolutionary officer for his public services. The farm of six hundred acres became the property of the father of Dr. Burchard, and here his youth was passed amid the patriotic in- fluences of the home and grave of the departed hero and soldier. The county was settled to a large extent by the Welch, which language Dr. Burchard once spoke with freedom. When about seven- teen years of age he went to Hamilton. Madison county, with the in- tention of entering a Baptist theological institution, and preparing for that ministry. A conversation with his brother, on the subject of " close communion," induced him, at the last moment, to decide against any connection with the Baptists. In the autumn of the same year he was at home, suffering greatly from asthma, when the follow- ing incident occurred. Passing along the road one day, he encount- ered a wagoner, who noticed his distress, and said to him :
" Why, lad, you've got the heaves badly."
"Something like it," replied the youth.
" Well, get up here," remarked the other.
The youth mounted the wagon, when the wagoner further re- marked :
" When a horse has the heaves we send him west of the Alle- ghanies. Now, if a horse can be cured, why can't you ? "
The result was that these somewhat original but practical sug- gestions were acted upon, and in two weeks' time the youth was on his way to Kentucky. Going to Lexington, he made preparations to start a school, but, showing himself an effective speaker in addressing temperance meetings, he was urged to prepare for the ministry with-
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REV. SAMUEL D. BURCHARD, D. D.
out delay. He soon after entered Centre College at Danville. During his collegiate course he was very active in the temperance movement, constantly addressing crowded meetings, and acquired great fame as a ready debater and eloquent extemporaneous speaker. Providen- tially, too, his asthma was permanently cured. On one occasion more than three thousand people had assembled to hear him speak on temperance, when he found himself suffering with a sudden and severe attack of the complaint. He thought himself able, however, to make an apology, and rose to do so. The vast assemblage had an electrical effect upon him. After a few words he began to feel relief, and proceeding, made one of the best speeches of his life, which was of three hours' duration. In 1836 he was sent to the east on a mis- sion to raise funds for Centre College, and was successfully engaged in this work about a year, preaching and making addresses in all the principal cities. He held forth frequently at the old Broadway Tabernacle, where crowds flocked to hear hin. Returning to Ken- tucky, he was graduated with his class in 1837. He received calls to churches in New York, Boston, and Newark, but preferred to con- tinue his theological studies at Danville, under Drs. Young and Greene. This class was the foundation of the present Presbyterian Presbytery in the spring of 1838. Desiring to pursue his studies in New York, he consented to take the temporary charge of the Houston street Presbyterian Church, commencing his duties in the autumn of the same year. In the following spring he accepted a formal call, and was ordained and installed. He preached eight years in Houston street, during which time eight hundred and forty-four persons were added to the church, and two hundred and ninety-three children baptized. Many of the congregation desired to plant a church up town, and a colony, consisting of one hundred and eighty members, with the pastor, was constituted into a new church May 27th, 1846. After worshiping in the chapel of the New York University for nearly a year, in May, 1847, the basement of a new edifice in Thir- teenth street was erected, and in September the main building was occupied. The property cost $30,000, and there was an encumbrance of about $24,000. On the 8th of January, 1855, the edifice was en- tirely consumed by fire. Another building was erected on the same site, and dedicated in the following October. The debt had been re- duced before the fire to $7000; but it was again increased to nearly $22,000, which was gradually reduced, and in May, 1864, entirely removed. Up to the year 1815 there had been added to the church
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REV. SAMUEL D. BURCHARD, D. D.
one thousand four hundred and fifty-six persons, five hundred being on profession of their faith; eight hundred and sixty-six had been dismissed or died, and the number at that time was seven hundred and seventy. Three hundred and eighty-nine children had been bap- tized. The Sabbath attendance was about one thousand persons. The total number added to the church under Dr. Burchard's ministry of twenty-five years was two thousand two hundred and ninety. His pastoral calls had averaged about one thousand a year, making an aggregate of twenty-five thousand calls, and he had attended not far from two thousand five hundred funerals.
During 1853, Dr. Burchard was prostrated by the formation of an internal abscess, from which his life was despaired of. The most eminent surgeons declared that only the most painful and difficult operation could possibly save his life, and even then there were a thousand to one chances that he would die under the knife. The operation was entered upon by Drs. Sayre and Hossack, and a cavity made, in the words of Dr. B. to us, " as big as a child's head." After extraordinary endurance, at length his pulse seemingly ceased to beat, and the surgeons pronounced the patient dead. His wife, how- ever, who remained in the room during nearly the whole operation, insisted that he was not dead, and vigorous means were taken for his resuscitation. For a long time no signs of life appeared, and the surgeons again and again reiterated their opinion that it was totally extinct. The efforts continued, and Mrs. Burchard claimed that she detected a slight glow in the cheeks, but the surgeons were still in- credulous. At last the patient gave a gasp, the pulse returned, and, to the joy of the devoted wife and the profound astonishment of the surgeons, it became evident that he still lived. From day to day, when he could endure it, other operations took place, the cutting ex- tending at least three inches into the body. The bowels were ex- posed, and the bladder was actually displaced and replaced. In his recovery, nothing was more wonderful than the manner in which the parts were healed, and the manner in which nature supplied the absence of bones and muscles that had been removed. Dr. Burchard was restored to his pastoral duties in about six months. The case attracted great attention from the medical profession both in the United States and abroad. Visiting Europe in 1855, he was invited to the leading medical colleges, where his person was ex- amined, and he was listened to with little less than wonder. He
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REV. SAMUEL D. BURCHARD, D. D.
gave a public lecture on his case at one of the institutions, and sc thrillingly interesting was it that one of the faculty fainted.
Dr. Burchard published, in 1840, a volume, entitled " The Laurel Wreath ;" and in 1853 a handsome volume, with steel engravings, entitled " The Daughters of Zion," which was republished in Eng- land. He has also issued various sermons and addresses, and written largely for the magazines. His degree of D. D. was conferred by Madison University, in 1852. He is the chancellor of Ingham Uni versity, at Leroy, New York, an institution for females, and is con- nected with many charitable and religious institutions and societies of New York city.
Dr. Burchard is of tall person, erect, and well-formed. He has a round head, not large, but well developed, with regular and intelli- gent features. He is of fair hair and complexion, and exceedingly bald. His countenance shows a great deal of honest, independent character, and an unfailing store of amiability and cheerfulness. He is genial and communicative, and readily obtains the esteem and love of those with whom he comes in contact. His learning is varied, embracing many subjects quite foreign to his profession, and he is most happy in his mode of making it a source of pleasure and benefit to others. It is apparent that he is a man of much shrewd penetra- tion as to character, and that his own is bold and manly, while thoroughly and enthusiastically religious. He has a nervous im- pulsiveness of manner, but his judgment is collected and his reso- lution heroic. As instances of the latter, it may be mentioned that during the cholera pestilence of 1832 he remained at Danville, nurs- ing the sick and shrouding the dead, when almost all who could do so fled; and under the severe medical operations which he has submitted to he was never bound or stupified in any degree.
He is a fascinating, extemporaneous speaker. There is a gush of language from his lips as unrestrained as water from a fountain, and it sparkles with all the glow of impassioned eloquence. Ilis sermons are written with the same smoothness and beauty, while they do not lack in argumentative power. He always speaks with feeling and great devoutness, using a few impressive gestures. His ministry in New York now stretches over a period of thirty-four years. It is a ministry brilliant with triumphs. It is years of talents well applied, and God's work well done.
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1
REV. STEPHEN H. CAMP, PASTOR OF UNITY UNITARIAN CHAPEL, BROOKLYN.
EV. STEPHEN H. CAMP was born at Windsor, Con- necticut, May 29th, 1837. In boyhood he resolved to dedieate his life to the Christian ministry. At the age of fourteen his father removed the family to the western part of the State of New York, and sought to make arrange- ments for the purchase of a farm ; but in this he failed, and the son was obliged to abandon the hope of a liberal education. Greatly disappointed, but meckly bowing to his fate, he at once turned his attention to learning a mechanical trade. In September. 1852, he en- tered a machine shop at Rochester for this purpose; and in Septem- ber, 1868, he went to Milwaukee, and was there engaged as a ma- ehinist. Here, while patiently laboring at his oceupation, he met the Rev. Mr. Staples, who became interested in him, and so far pro- moted his hopes and plans, that he was enabled to enter the Divinity School at Meadville, Penn. Upon the termination of his studies, he became the chaplain of a colored regiment then at Port Hudson, Louisiana, and on his return from the service, he took charge of the Unitarian Church at Toledo, Ohio. It was in a very unfavorable condition, but at the end of a year presented a more hopeful aspect. In March, 1869, he visited Brooklyn, where he preached for two weeks, as a supply, to the people of Unity Chapel. He was so much admired that a cordial and unanimous call was extended to him, which he aeeepted.
The founding of Unity Chapel, or the Third Unitarian Congre- gational Society of Brooklyn, was chiefly due to the efforts of the Rev. Dr. Alfred P. Putnam, pastor of the Church of the Saviour, generously aided by his own congregation. The first services were held on Sunday, October 6th, 1867, in a public room on the corner of Classon and Fulton avenues, about fifty persons being present at each service. On the evening of December 3d, 1867, more than
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REV. STEPHEN H. CAMP.
thirty persons assembled and organized as a religious society. The expense of the enterprise during the three months preceding January 1st, 1868, were entirely defrayed by Dr. Putnam's church. In Feb- ruary, 1868, in consequence of Dr. Putnam's continued appeals, a sub- scription was raised for the erection of a chapel. Ten thousand dol- lars were thus obtained, to which the American Unitarian Associa- tion added a further five thousand. In April, 1868, seven lots of ground were purchased on Classon avenue and Lefferts street, for the present chapel and a future church. The corner-stone of the chapel was laid September 4th, 1868, and the dedication of the completed edifice occured December 9th, 1868. A powerful and eloquent ser- mon was preached by Dr. Putnam, and numerous other prominent ministers took part in the impressive services. The cost of the lots, building and fixtures, was about twenty-six thousand dollars. From the date of its organization, the society gave evidence of constantly increasing strength and influence, and under the ministration of Mr. Camp, it has been thoroughly united and active in the religious work.
Mr. Camp is an interesting and impressive preacher. By voice and manner, he shows that his personal feelings are fully involved in all that he says, and that preaching with him is not intended for the display of talents, so much as to awaken his fellow-creatures to a consideration of religious and moral concerns .. He arrests attention and conscience, because his sermons are thoughtful, argumentative productions; and he converts because they are likewise aglow with the inspiration of a fixed and ardent faith. Poetry, sentiment, and beauty all affect and govern him in his mental action, and his views of life; but the deep and moving source of all his convictions and his preaching is religion. Consequently, his daily life is marked by the purity and consistency which spring from such a condition of mind and heart, while his public career stands not less an example of fidel- ity to principle and duty.
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REV. J. HALSTED CARROLL, D. D.,
PASTOR OF THE EAST REFORMED CHURCH, BROOKLYN.
R EV. DR. J. HALSTED CARROLL was born in the city of Brooklyn, May 21st, 1833. His father, the late Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Carroll, was one of the early pastors of the First Presbyterian Church, on Brooklyn Heights, and throughout a memorable ministry displayed the highest char- acteristics of learning, piety, and efficiency. "God is all my hope," were his dying words. The son made a profession of religion at the age of thirteen years, and entered college before he was four- teen. He then graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in July, 1851, and at the Princeton Theological Seminary in May, 1855. At the close of his second year of theological study, he was licensed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia to preach the gospel, and on the 30th of May, 1855 (the year he left the seminary), he was ordained and installed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick as pastor of the Pres- byterian Church in Jamesburg, New Jersey. In the following year his ministry was marked by a powerful revival, which affected not only his own congregation, but also the neighboring congregation of Manalapan, where he labored a part of the time. Impaired health obliged this faithful pastor to resign in 1858, when the following re- solution was unanimously adopted by the church :
" Resolved, That we do hereby publicly testify our gratitude to God, that during Mr. Carroll's ministry here, his labors have been signally blest by the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, and that from a small beginning we have been raised up to be a growing and pros- perous church."
IIe had been attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs, and now proceeded to Aiken, South Carolina, a noted resort for invalids. As his health improved, he occasionally preached, and with so much acceptance that he was invited to remain in the place as a permanent pastor, With this view, a Presbyterian church was organized there
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J. Halsted Carroll
REV. J. HALSTED CARROLL, D. D.
on the 28th and 29th of August, 1858, and not long after a con- venient house of worship was erected. Here Dr. Carroll labored with great usefulness and success for nearly two years. He then resigned for the purpose of going to Europe, hoping to gain more perfect health. Under date of May 4th, 1860, a preamble and resolutions were adopted by the church, from which' we make the following extract :
" Resolved, That this church and congregation entertain a very grateful sense of the valuable services rendered by Mr. Carroll in the founding and organizing of the church ; of his zealous devotion to the promotion of the enterprise, and his successful efforts in raising the means for the construction of the house of worship, and that we shall ever affectionately cherish the recollection of his sympathizing at- tentions to the members of his flock in their mingled experience of joys and sorrows during the period of his pastorship."
Dr. Carroll left the United States in the early part of 1860, and was absent about a year. He traveled extensively in Europe, made the acquaintance of many celebrated men, listened to the preaching of the principal pulpit orators of Europe, and finally returned home with improved health. For several months he preached only occa- sionally, until he was called to the South Congregational Church of New Haven, Conn. He accepted the call January 17th, 1862. but by reason of severe indisposition, he did not commence his duties until the first Sabbath in June, 1862. At first he recalled his acceptance, but the congregation was so desirous to secure him that the time for his coming was voluntarily extended six months. His sermons preached as a candidate here made a deep impression, and his first sermon as the pastor, was one of the ablest ever preached in New Haven. The congregation steadily increased, and became, on Sab- bath afternoons at least, larger than those of any other church of the same denomination in the city.
The late Gerard Halleck, well known as the editor of the New York Journal of Commerce, was a member of this congregation, and in the course of a "History of the South Church," speaks thus of the ministry there of Dr. Carroll :
"His sermons are full of thought, legitimately derived from his texts, though often not lying on the surface, yet when suggested, so obviously comprehended within the scope of the passage, that the hearer wonders he never caught the idea before. There is withal a terseness and point in his discourses, and a beauty of language and imagery, which renders it impossible to forget them. Ilis descrip.
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REV. J. HALTSED CARROLL, D. D.
tions of scenes and incidents are exceedingly graphic. His scripture characters, as presented in the chapel on Sunday evenings for many months in succession, until superseded lately by the Fulton Street Prayer Meetings, we have never heard surpassed, so life-like and so full of instruction. The attendance upon them was very large. To those who never heard Mr. Carroll preach, we may remark that one half of the power of his discourses consists in the delivery. Some- times they are written out in full, but more generally not, and in either case he is entirely independent of his manuscript, seldom ever looking at it, but holding constant communication with his hearers, not only by his voice, but by his expressive features and appropriate action. His enunciation is remarkably distinct, his voice is soft and clear, and his command of the audience such that amidst the pro- found stillness of the house, he is heard in every portion of it, even when speaking not much above the tone of. common conversation. * * There is one peculiarity in his manner which we must not omit to mention, viz .: that it contains in about equal proportions, gen- tleness and fire, two things theoretically inconsistent with each other, but practically exemplified in the South Church every Sabbath. As an extempore speaker especially his powers are extraordinary. Take him when and where you will, on any subject, in the pulpit or on the platform, or in the conference room, he is always ready and always good, seldom hesitating or recalling a word, but going on.like a quiet, steady stream, supplied by never-failing springs, until he has occupied the time allotted him, or accomplished the end at which he aimed."
After a pastorate of six years, Dr. Carroll resigned in New Haven, and visited Europe a second time, preaching in the principal cities. In Paris he labored very earnestly for the Young Men's Christian Association, as well as officiating during the week and on Sabbaths in the American, English, and French chapels. On leaving the city he was tendered the compliment of a breakfast, the clergy and laity present representing the various Protestant denominations, and the Christian Association. The American Register, of Paris, thus notices the event :
" Dr. Carroll being on the eve of his departure for Italy, his friends met to testify their personal respect for him as a gentleman, and also for his good and willing services to each during his short stay in Paris. These acknowledgments took a more tangible form than that of an excellent breakfast and excellent speeches,-a fine Bible was presented to the Rev. Doctor, on the fly leaf of which were written
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REV. J. HALSTED CARROLL, D. D.
the names of the Rev. gentlemen present, and those of representatives of the Association, and the following flattering address : ' An offering of friendship from the Protestant clergy and the Young Men's Chris- tian Association of Paris, expressive of their high appreciation of him as a brother dearly beloved for his own and his work's sake.' After breakfast the presentation was made, when deserving culogies were passed on the honored guest. The following resolution, beau- tifully engrossed, was presented by the committee on behalf of the Association as expressive further of their appreciation : 'Resolved, While expressing our thanks to all the kind donors who have so generously helped us, we feel that special gratitude is due to the Rev. Dr. Carroll, of New Haven, U. S., our efficient temporary Vice- president. To his indefatigable and successful labors this Associa- tion is largely indebted for the means which have provided and fur- nished our new rooms; for the general interest and sympathy awak- ened in our behalf; and above all, for his religious instruction and influence, which have given such spirited impulse to us as a Christian Association. That God may bless and reward him is the prayer of those with whom his name will ever be a household word.'"
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