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. 2 > Part 26
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. 2 > Part 26
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597
REV. ANTOINE VERREN, D. D.
offered several advantageous positions, and at length accepted a
- vacancy at Ferney.
Dr. Verren received an invitation to visit the castle of Ferney on the occasion of the arrival of Louis Philippe, then Duke of Orleans.
Among the other distinguished acquaintances were the brave General Huart, an officer under Napoleon, Baron de Stael, and Count de Sellon, the originator in Europe of the Peace Societies, and author of a variety of learned works.
Dr. Verren's ministry at Ferney was crowned with entire success ; but his plans were altogether changed by receiving, through the con- sistory of Bordeaux, a call from the vestry of the French Episcopal Church du St. Esprit, in New York. Disregarding the many in- duccments offered to tempt him to remain, he at length sailed for the United States, and landed on our shores on the 27th of Septem- ber, 1827, after a passage of seventy-eight days. He was most cordially received by the members of the French congregation, and also by various leading citizens, such as Messrs. Gallatin, Astor, Prime, and others, to whom he bore letters of introduction. IIe be- came intimate with Rev. Dr. Wainwright, then rector of Grace Church, and gave him French lessons, receiving English lessons in return, which language he acquired very rapidly. At first he medi- tated going back to France, as he found that he would have to take Episcopal orders, and furthermore, must wait until the expiration of one year. IIc finally concluded to remain, at the urgent solicitation of his friends, and in September, 1828, took the orders of deacon and priest. Shortly after he. was instituted in his new church, then in Pine street, opposite the Custom-house, and on the following Sab- bath preached his first sermon in New York before a large audience. His sermon was committed to memory, as was his custom, a practice which he continued for 'a year, but gave it up as the other clergy. did not do it. The church prospered under his charge, and was attended by many of the leading families of the city. He became professor of the French language and literature in Columbia College, but was obliged to resign in 1844 by reason of his pastoral and other duties. In 1830 he married the eldest daughter of Thomas Hamers- ley, Esq., a lady of great beauty and many accomplishments, who died in 1856.
When Messrs. De Tocqueville and De Beaumont were in New York, they visited Dr. Verren often, and, as he had made himself 598
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PEV. ANTOINE VERREN, D. D.
thoroughly familiar with the principles of our government and the different political parties of the day, it would not be strange to sup- pose that many ideas found in De Tocqueville's " Democracy in America," were the result of these conversations.
The church in Pine street was sold in 1831, and a new one, built of white marble, on the corner of Franklin and Church streets, with a parsonage next door, was consecrated in 1834. In 1839 this church was destroyed by fire, communicated from the adjacent opera-house, and, after being re-built, was considerably damaged by fire about eleven months later, and again in 1859. Services were discontinued in the Franklin street edifice in 1862, and resumed in the very beau- tiful new church in West Twenty-second street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
In 1831, Dr. Verren corrected and revised the French translation of the Book of Common Prayer, then printed by J. & T. Swords, of this city, and later reprinted in Paris. He received the degree of D. D. from Hobart College, Geneva, New York, in June, 1860. On the laying of the corner-stone of the new church, Dr. Verren de- livered an address, which has been printed, in which he traces the history of the settlement of the Huguenots in America prior to the massacre of St. Bartholomew. He has contributed various articles to the public press, among which was an able article, occupying three columns of the Herald, in regard to the " Rochester Knockings." He is at present engaged in writing a work of a philosophie-religious nature, which is likely to create a decided sensation in the learned world. In 1857 he realized his ardent wish of again visiting the land of his birth, and hopes to renew the journey at an early date, and extend it to Alexandria and Palestine.
As early as 1562, Admiral Coligny sent a colony of his Huguenot brethren to Florida, where they suffered from the Spaniards. After the massacre of some of them near St. Augustine, the limbs of a number were suspended to a tree, to which was attached the inscrip- tion-"Not because they are Frenchmen, but because they are heretics and enemies of God." A terrible retaliation was inflicted by Dominie de Gourgues, who placed over the corpses of the Span- iards the declaration-" I do not this as unto Spaniards or mariners, but as unto traitors, robbers, and murderers."
Subsequent to the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and at a very early period in the history of New York, religious services were established by Huguenot emigrants. There were many of them in 599
REV. ANTOINE VERREN, D. D.
the counties of Kings, Queens, Richmond, Westchester, and Ulster, and they founded the two boroughs of New Rochelle and Kings- ton.
Dr. Verren is a person of about the average height, and in cast of countenance, manners, and dress, bears the impress of his nation- ality. He has a large round head, and a prominent brow of marked intellectuality. In composure his face is very serious, but in the animation of conversation it lights up with cheerfulness and humor. He discharges his public functions with a graceful, casy dignity and an impressive solemnity. His sermons are always scholarly, and their delivery is characterized by the most eareful and elegant oratory. At times he exhibits mueh intensity of feeling, holding his audience spell-bound. His long carcer is spotless of reproach, and his people feel for him an unusual love. He is very popular in all refined society. At an carly period of his life he was very proficient in both vocal and instrumental music, and was an honorary member of the General Musical Society of Switzerland. He composed various ballads, which were popular in the salons at the time, beside many acting charades and proverbs, both in prose and poetry. He also excelled in drawing and painting-painted on ivory and in oil colors -and could model busts in clay. Before his arrival in this country he had read the French translations of Shakspeare, Milton, Pope, Byron, &c., and had the acquaintance of the latter at Geneva. From all these circumstances it can readily be conceived that Dr. Verren has peculiar qualifications for agreeable social intercourse.
Ile is an ardent admirer of the free institutions and liberality of religious opinions enjoyed in the United States. He denounces the bigotry of the Catholic countries of Europe, and declares that this is the only land beneath the sun for the true happiness of all conditions and sects.
Illustrious among scholars, eminent among citizens, conspicuous among Christians, Dr. Verren has passed thus far on life's journey faithful in his obligations to God and to man. Admired and cher- ished in his own fair clime, he has made his talents useful and his virtues an example in the country of his adoption.
600
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REV. HENRY VIDAVER, PH. D., RABBI OF THE CONGREGATION B'NAI JESHU- RUN, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. HENRY VIDAVER was born in 1833, in Poland. At five years of age he commenced Talmudical studies, and at thirteen he was considered quite proficient . in the science of biblical philology. The principal rabbis of Warsaw took occasion to commend him, and both by nat- ural talents and ambition, he was stimulated to diligent and deep investigation. In 1859, at the age of twenty-six, he came to the United States, and officiated as rabbi and preacher of a congregation in Philadelphia, but, by reason of impaired health, returned to Europe in 1861. From 1863 to January, 1868, he was in charge of a large Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis, when he removed to New York, to accept the position of preacher of the Congregation, B'nai Jeshu- run.
This Congregation was the first Anglo-German Hebrew religious organization in the city, and for many years had the late distinguish- ed Rev. Dr. M. J. Raphall as rabbi and preacher. Some years since they removed from a large synagogue on Greene street to another, which they had erected, on West Thirty-fourth street. The infirm health of Dr. Raphall, caused him to retire from active service, though still remaining the rabbi of the congregation. Dr. Vidaver was then called as the preacher, and subsequently succeeded Dr. Raphall as the rabbi.
We quote from the American Phrenological Journal, the following interesting account :-
"The mode of Jewish worship practiced among the Jews, differs from that of every other system. The prayers are chanted in Hebrew. The ritual consists, for the most part, of the Psalms of David, and the supplications and prayers are mostly of great antiquity.
"There are two rituals among the orthodox Jews, or rather three ; two being branches of the same origin, the German and Polish, and the Portuguese. The ritu- als differ in minor points, the doctrines and teachings of the creed being identical.
601
REV. HENRY VIDAVER, PH. D.
The pronunciation of the Hebrew is the test, the Portuguese being broader and more accurate.
"The interior of the Jewish synagogue presents this aspect. The eastern end, opposite the entrance, is called the Mizrach, and is the locality occupied by the Ark. This Ark-the representative of the Ark of the Covenant which was with the Israel- ites in all their wanderings, and was preserved in their Temple until its destruction- contains a number of parchment scrolls of the Pentateuch. These scrolls are guarded with great zeal, and are handsomely and richly encased, and crowned with bells, and adorned with plates of silver. Every Sabbath, and on Monday and Thursday morn- ings, a scroll is taken from the Ark and the lesson of the day is read by the officiant. The Pentateuch is divided into fifty-four sections, one of which is read weekly, the cycle being completed every year. Some years containing less than fifty-four Sab- baths (the Jewish year is not always the same length, varying from 354 days to 386 days, according to an established calendar), two of these portions are occasionally read together.
"The center of the synagogue is occupied by the reading-desk, or Almemor, as it is termed. Here are seats for those engaged in the ceremonies, and here the reader stands supported at times by the elders or Parnassim. The reader looks toward the east, and chants the prayers in a peculiar oriental monotone. The psalms and hymns are sung by a choir, which is sometimes in front and sometimes behind the desk, in some synagogues, while in others the congregational system is still pursued. On either side of the desk are ranged two seats for the males, the other sex being placed in the galleries.
"The service on a Saturday usually commences at nine. At ten the scroll of the Law is taken from the Ark, the ceremonies being quite imposing. The ritual is divided into morning and additional services, in commemoration of the daily and ad- ditional sacrifices for the Sabbath. It concludes usually with a discourse in English or German.'
Dr. Vidaver is of the medium height, with a dark complexion and black hair and beard. His head is of ample size, while the face is expressive of both the intelligence and force of character which are notable in the man. He preaches fluently in the English tongue. A favorite theme with him has always been Hebrew poetry, and it is to be seen in all his discourses, that he is moved by a most delicate, while ardent poetic fancy. Some of his illustrations and figures of thought are exceedingly beautiful and eloquent. At the same time his keen mind and practical observation make him a preacher of great power on both learned and common topics. Many of his Hebrew produc- tions in poetry and prose have been published. Gifted as a scholar, and zealous in all his duties among his people, he is regarded as one of the most useful of the Jewish clergy of the city.
602
REV. MARVIN R. VINCENT, D. D.,
PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT (PRESBYTERIAN), NEW YORK.
EV. DR. MARVIN R. VINCENT was born at Pough- keepsie, New York, September 11th, 1834. He was graduated at Columbia College, New York, in 1854. Sub- sequently he taught for eight years. During four years of the time he had charge of Columbia College Grammar School, in connection with the late Professor Anthon, and for the last year had almost the entire direction of the institution. In 1858 he went to the Troy Methodist University, as Professor of Languages, where he remained four years, and then went for one year as pastor to the Pacific Street Methodist Church, Brooklyn. He had entered the Methodist Ministry two years before, in 1860, and his theological course throughout was private. On the 18th of June, 1863, he became the assistant of the late distinguished Rev. Dr. Beman, of the First Presbyterian Church of Troy, where he con. tinued ten years. In the interval Dr. Beman died, when Dr. Vincent became the pastor, having shown himself most able and efficient in all his previous relations with the congregation. Having at length accepted a call to the Church of the Covenant, a leading Presby terian congregation of New York, he was installed on the 8th of May, 1873. His predessesor in the pastorship was the Rev. Dr. George L. Prentiss, who was the founder of the church. Dr. Vin- cent received his degree of D. D. from Union College about six years ago. He is the joint author, with Professor C. T. Lewis, of a translation of "Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament," in two large octavo volumes, of about nine hundred pages each, published in Philadelphia. He has also published various sermons and ad- dresses.
Dr. Vincent is above the average height, with a well-proportioned figure. His head is large, and all his features are regular and ex- pressive. His manners are polite and agreeable. It is not difficult
603
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REV. MARVIN R. VINCENT, D. D.
to feel that you are on terms of friendliness and warm intimacy with him, for his cordiality in both manners and speech is of the mnost unmistakable character. IIis cheerful, kindly face ; his warm grasp of the hand, and his general affability and good nature, are all magnetic in their influence upon you. If you are a stranger. you feel that you have lost something in not knowing him before ; and if you are a friend, each interview draws closer the ties of fel- lowship. His nature is one of keen susceptibilities, turning with quick repugnance from that which is debased, but showing great strength of attachment for that which is noble and pure. Hence in his sentiments, in his desires, and in all his tastes, there are evi- dences of not only the highest type of manhood, but of the greatest individual virtue and piety. Penetrating to his heart, in your dis- section of his qualities, you find it gentle and true; and exposing the mind, you discover it to be governed alone by exalted principles in regard to every action of life. The influence of such a man is simply boundless, because the fascinations of such a character are universal.
Dr. Vincent bears a high reputation as a theological scholar. Learned investigation has been the absorbing purpose of his exist- ence. Practical and active as he has been in his two professions as a teacher and minister, he has devoted himself to an amount of study such as few men, with the same daily claims upon them, care to attempt. But his heart and his ambition have been fully aroused in these efforts, and the result is that, though still a young man, he stands to-day with a reputation for learning which no man can question.
In the pulpit he is always interesting and scholarly. IIe is a thinker, and his thoughts, which are keen and powerful naturally, are likewise strengthened from the resources of his erudition. He writes with a fine selection of language, never florid or exaggerated, but always pointed and expressive. Argument at his hands is the unfolding of his subject by a process of reasoning original to him- self, and he adorns and illuminates it at intervals by passages of glowing eloquence. Ile speaks in a distinct voice, and gives effect . to every word by both tone and manner. A member of the profes- sion which is the one most intimately identified with the temporal and eternal welfare of mankind, he is giving to his duties the whole strength of his energies, and all the powers of an unusually gifted mind.
604
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REV. EDWARD A. WASHBURN, D. D., RECTOR OF CALVARY ( EPISCOPAL) CHURCH, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. EDWARD A. WASHBURN was born in the city of Boston, April 16th, 1819. He pursued his early studies at the Latin School, and other academies of Boston, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1838. After this he pursued a course of theological studies at Andover College and at the Divinity School of Yale College, and was graduated at the latter institution in 1842. During the same year he was licensed as a Congregational minister by the Worcester Associa- tion of Ministers, and preached about six months, but without taking the charge of any congregation. He entered the Episcopal commun- ion in 1843, and took orders as a deacon in the spring of 1844, Bishop Eastburn, of Massachusetts, officiating. He now went to St. Paul's Church, Newburyport, where he was admitted to the priest- hood by the same bishop, in the following year, and remained as rector of the church for seven years. This church is noted as being one of the oldest Episcopal churches in New England, having been founded by the Colonial Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
In 1852 Dr. Washburn went abroad, and passed two years in traveling in Europe and Asia, visiting the Holy Land. On his return he succeeded the present Bishop Coxe, of Western New York, as rector of St. John's Church, Hartford, where he remained some years. His next charge was St. Mark's Church, Philadelphia, where he passed three years in a highly popular and useful ministry. In April, 1865, he became rector of Calvary Church, New York, again succeeding Bishop Coxe, who had been recently elected to succeed Bishop Delancey as Bishop of the Western Diocese of New York. Dr. Washburn received his degree of D. D. from Trinity College, about 1860. He has recently made another extended tour in Europe. Various sermons by him have been published.
605
REV. EDWARD A. WASHBURN, D. D.
Calvary Church was organized on the 13th of September, 1836, and a small building was occupied on the corner of Fourth avenue and Thirtieth street, the Rev. Francis H. Cumming being the first rector. A large and costly stone edifice was erected in 1841 on the corner of Fourth avenue and Twenty-first street, which is now the place of worship of the congregation. Dr. Washburn is the seventh rector. The eloquent Dr. Hawks was for a number of years rector of this church. The church has two hundred and fifty families, four hundred members, and four hundred Sun lay school children. A free chapel is maintained by the congregation on East Twenty-third street.
In 1871, Dr. Washburn was a member of the deputation of the American branch of the Evangelical Alliance, who, with a number of European delegates, personally presented a memorial to Prince Gortschakoff, as the representative of the Emperor of Russia, in be- half of religious liberty in that empire.
During the conference of the Evangelical Alliance in New York, in October, 1873, Dr. Washburn read at one of the sessions a very able paper on " Faith and Reason," from which we make the follow- ing extract :-
"All theologians have their systems, but Christianity is not a thesis, a theory, but a divine gospel in the life of man. It is not a symbol that shall preserve the birth of the incarnation, but the hope that it is kept alive in the heart of man. In so far as revelation asks for any truth over mental assent, it must appeal to our understanding. The question then is, what is the presence of reason? There is not one mental faculty we call reason, and another mental faculty we call faith. Nothing can be worse for confusion than the doctrine of our modern theology, that there are truths which must be accepted with a comparative negation of our under- standings. We do not exalt the Word of God by appealing to the ignorance of man. We have too many who hold that human folly is the best illustration of the Gospel. If we cannot know that any intellectual and moral conceptions of God are true, then we cannot know God, and yet this was the defense of Christianity against rationalism by an eminent English writer. What is it to believe ? I turn to the New Testament and I learn it from the lips of Christ. Paul, in his epistles, answers this. What is it to believe in Christianity ? It is not to accept any theory about Christ; it is to accept Him. It is to know that sin destroys the soul, and that Christianity gives it . life. Faith requires the subjection of the conscience and the will. No theory of depravity can teach me until I have felt sin in myself. No theory or redemption can teach me the need that I feel for it in myself. There is what Pascal had finely called 'an interior reason,' in this matter. Reason may end in intellectual opinion, but faith ends in holiness."
Dr. Washburn is rather above the medium height, well-propor- tioned, and of an erect, active carriage. His head is of fair size, with small, regular features, and an intelligent, amiable expression. About the brow there is a very considerable development, and you
606
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REV. EDWARD A. WASHBURN, D. D.
at once see that he is a man of sterling intellectual capacity. In his manners he is genial, with a moderate amount of not unbecoming dignity.
He is an eloquent, forcible preacher. A man of a quick, vigor- ous mind, and with a natural taste and enthusiasm in theological studies, his scholarly researches have not been more extensive and thorough than his own powers of elucidation are profound and brilliant. After his arguments there are no doubts, and after his ex- planations there is no mystery. He is not at all a dull, dry preacher, though his discussion is carried on in a methodical, argumentative, and totally unaffected style. He arrests you at the outset by a voice of great strength and emphasis, and this, and his manner, are as earnest as his well selected and pointed expressions. There is no redundancy of words, no falling off and feebleness in his argument ; but the whole is a terse, smooth, and elegant composition, delivered in a manner equally free from the slightest exception. In a word, he is grandly eloquent, without affecting to the high-flown and more fervid expressions of the language, and he is convincing by the in- herent force of the thought into which he molds all his ideas. He is comprehensive, solid, and practical, and at the same time shows all the fascinating characteristics which belong to scholarly imagination , and oratory.
Dr. Washburn has had a long and successful ministry. He has been brought in comparison with the oldest divines of his own and other denominations, in the large cities which have generally been the scenes of his labor, and always with the greatest honor to him- self. Few men are more learned in theology, and probably none can better uphold the tenets of his own particular sect. He is in no sense an aggressive man in his disposition, but, on the contrary, he is liberal-minded in his views of all other sects; still, he is swift and mighty when summoned to the defense of his beloved church. His mind seems to reach to a depth of masterly logic which none can fail to say is most profound, and his whole nature is aroused with an ardor which partakes of divine inspiration. His dignity of character, and the force and majesty of a pure, devoted life, are other qualifi- cations which he has for the Christian work. As an accomplished theologian, as an humble follower of the cross, and as a Christian guide to his fellow-men, he stands among the foremost of his clerical brethren, and is an honor to the denomination.
607
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REV. LEVI S. WEED, D.D., PASTOR OF THE JOIIN STREET METHODIST CHURCHI, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. LEVI S. WEED was born at Darien, Conn., May 29th, 1824. His academic studies were pursued at the Delaware Literary Institute, Delaware County, New York. At an early date he began a course of theological investigations with Rev. S. S. Strong. In 1845 he became a local preacher of the Methodist Church, and passed three years in the Delaware District, comprising the Delaware, Prattsville, and Franklin Circuits. He joined the New York East Conference in 1848, and during 1848-9 was stationed at Southampton, Long Island ; 1850, at Orient, L. I. ; 1851, at Southport; 1852-3, at Col- shook River; 1854-5, at Sands street Church, Brooklyn ; 1856-7, at Hartford; 1858-9, at New Haven; 1860-1, at Stamford ; 1862-3, at Sands street Church ; 1864, at Summerfield Church, Brooklyn. After filling other appointments, he is now stationed at the John street Church, New York. In June, 1872, he received the degree of D. D. from Asbury University, Greencastle, Indiana.
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