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 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. 2 > Part 6
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In April, 1857, he went to a church at Meriden, Conn., where he continued until August 28th, 1862, when he became the chaplain of the Fifteenth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, and with them joined the Army of the Potomac. He was in the field for nearly two years. He accepted a call to the First Church of Trenton, N. J., in 1864, where he officiated for three years and nine months. In 1867 he organized the Broad Street Baptist Church of Elizabeth, N. J., where a magnificent church edifice was erected at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars. Here he introduced an order of public worship before unknown in the Baptist churches, which provoked, as such matters always do, a great deal of favorable and unfavorable criticism. He remained at Elizabeth until 1872, when he resigned his pastorship and accepted another at the Worthen Street Church, Lowell, Mass. Ilis wife's health failing, he was obliged to leave that 373
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REV. D. HENRY MILLER, D. D.
place, and he then accepted a call to his present pastorship at the Plymouth Baptist Church, in Fifty-first street, New York. This con- gregation was formed about 1870, by a number of persons who left the congregation in Forty-second street, with the Rev. Dr. Isaac Wescott, who was the pastor until his retirement from the ministry by reason of age and infirmities. Dr. Miller was installed on Sunday, October 26th, 1873.
In all his charges, Dr. Miller has been a very efficient and success- ful pastor. Up to 1874 he had received by baptism into the church eight hundred and seventy-two persons. During his pastorship at Trenton alone he received two hundred and ninety-nine persons. While at Yonkers he was the editor of a Baptist magazine. He re- ceived the degree of Master of Arts from the University at Hamilton, N. Y., in 1854, and the degree of D. D. from the University at Louis- burg, Pa., in 1867.
Dr. Miller is a most persuasive and eloquent preacher. Ilis manner in the pulpit is that of a man entirely at his case and at home with his hearers. Then he has a soft, pleasant voice, which is sincere and truthful in its every tone. Gentle as a woman in his nature, he shows that he possesses the power of scholarship and the zeal to save. His audiences are drawn toward him by an irresistible fascination, and, consequently, his sermons make a deep and abiding impression.
In appearance he is tall and slender, with an intellectual head. His face is cheerful and amiable. With quiet and courteous manners, he unites a fluent and interesting flow of conversation. Happily adapted for his work, he pursues it greatly to the enlargement of his denomination, and to the advantage of society at large.
374
REV. DAVID MITCHELL,
PASTOR OF THE CANAL STREET (IRISH) PRES- BYTERIAN CHURCHI, NEW YORK.
R EV. DAVID MITCHELL was born in the city of Glas- gow, Scotland, May 3d, 1833. He received his education at the Glasgow University, where he was graduated in the collegiate course in 1854, and in the theological course in 1858. In the same year he became a licentiate of the Church of Scotland, and settled over St. Luke's Presby- terian Church of Glasgow where he remained several years. He felt a great desire, however, to make the United States the field of his ministry, and about eight years since he put his plan of coming to this country into effect, and arrived safely in New York. Ilis first position in this country was as assistant of the Rev. Dr. Rogers at the South Dutch Church, corner of Twenty-first street and Fifth avenue, where he officiated acceptably for about eight months. Ile also, during the same period, discharged pastoral duties at the Presbyterian church in Houston street. He was called to the Canal street (Irish) Presbyterian Church in November, 1867, and was installed December 15th, 1867.
This congregation is one of the old organizations of the city of New York. When the population was dense in the lower wards it was second to none in numbers and wealth. A fine church building stood on lots in the rear of Canal street, and the entrance was under the buildings on that street. The late distinguished Rev. Dr. Mc- Cartee was the pastor for about thirty-five years. He was a very noted and popular preacher of his day, and drew such crowds that often the pulpit-stairs were invaded by the audience. in their desire to obtain seating accommodations. Dr. McCartec finally left the con- gregation and went to Newburgh. He died a very old man a few years since. He was present, in an extremely feeble condition, at the dedication of the present building of the congregation. The church property was at length sold by a portion of the trustees for
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REV. DAVID MITCHELL.
about thirty five thousand dollars, but another portion refused to concur in the sale-consequently the matter was in hutigation for some fifteen years, sometimes with decisions favorable to the church, and at others adverse to it. Meanwhile the property rose in value to several hundred thousand dollars, and finally all the parties to the suit determined that the best course was to compromise, and get out of court. The building had been destroyed by fire during a celebra- tion of the Fourth of July, and a new but smaller edifice was erected fronting on Greene street. This was dedicated in 1865, when the Rev. Dr. Judkin, formerly of Washington College, Virginia, was the temporary pastor. In the settlement which was made in the suit the church received this building and ground, and fifty thousand dollars in cash. Ten thousand dollars of this was used to pay a mortgage on the property, and the balance of forty thousand dollars is the pre- sent endowment of the church. Hence it is entirely free from debt, and is likewise conducted on the free principle in regard to pews. Until Mr. Mitchell was called there was no regularly settled pastor for a number of years. The number of members at this time is about one hundred, and there is a small Sunday school. Mr. Mitchell established and conducted daily prayer meetings for several months, which were well attended.
The church is not well located for a congregation large in num- bers, or even of well-to-do people, but it is located where the Gospel ought to be preached, if anywhere. The congregation is composed of a respectable class of Irish, Scotch, and American Presbyterians, who cling to the organization by reason of its old and revered memories, and because it is a free church. Wealth and fashion have swept by, and in their room have come much poverty and viec. These latter are not social elements to be left to themselves, although wealth and fashion seem to think so. Squallor, licentiousness, and laziness have advaneed to the very doors of this temple, and had its poor but earnest members shown no more concern for perisning souls than the richer part of the congregation, it would have been over- thrown long ago. But they have stood impregnable at their altar, and their faith and devotion have preserved it as almost the only bulwark left to morality and Christianity in that neighborhood.
Mr. Mitchell feels the necessity and responsibility of his work where he is, and it will be continued with fidelity and zeal. During the time he has been in charge of the congregation there has been a new interest evinced in the church by the people of that section,
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REV. DAVID MITCHELL.
which has been much promoted by the daily prayer meetings. He is making use of all these influences to strengthen and build up the congregation, and give it something of the power which it formerly enjoyed, not only in the Presbyterian denomination but more especially as an efficient missionary agent in the lower portion of the city.
Mr. Mitchell is of the medium height, compactly made, and looks healthy and vigorous. He has a large head, with small light eyes, and a ruddy complexion. In his manners there is some little reserve, but nothing to detract from genial, pleasant intercourse with him. He is sedate and sensible in the whole tendency of his mind and actions. In truth, his heart and head are thoroughly in his religious work. All his personal characteristics are kind, agreeable, and sin- cere, but it is readily to be seen that his thoughts are turned chiefly to a painstaking and unceasing attention to matters relating to the eternal welfare of his fellow-men. Nothing can wean him away, even for an hour, from the one object of his life, and all his ambition. He is a pastor to his people-a messenger of Christ in the full scriptural sense. His duties are discharged under a recognition of responsibility, and not, as in so many cases, as mere routine acts of a professional life. Wherever he goes, he is certain to walk in the light of the steps of the Master, and whatever he says to the inquir- ing soul is said with the ardor of faith, but with humility of spirit. He belongs not to the class of vain, selfish, worldly young men who go into the ministry rather to display talents than to save souls. He is humble ; he loves the poor ; he is not afraid of the rough places of the ministry and its hard work. His longing eyes are not placed on any reward which the approbation and partiality of man can give, but only on the imperishable crown which is the inheritance of the just.
Of course a man with these characteristics and principles is not one for display in the pulpit. He enters it devoutly, and there is a total abnegation of himself while he is in it. With manners of great modesty and humility, with an ever apparent seriousness, he ad- dresses himself solely to the duties of the hour, regardless of all save the eternal welfare of his fellow-men.
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REV. HENRY EGLINTON MONTGOMERY, D. D.,
RECTOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE INCARNA. TION, (EPISCOPAL,) NEW YORK.
EV. DR. HENRY EGLINTON MONTGOMERY was born in Philadelphia, December 9th, 1820. His father participated in the war of 1812, and was appointed Post- master of Philadelphia by General Harrison. The subject of our notice was graduated at the University of Philadelphia in 1839, being assigned the honor of pronouncing the valedic. tory address. After studying law for some time in the office of Hon. Joseph R. Ingersoll, of Philadelphia, he traveled in Europe, having, at the same time, a position in connection with the American legation at Copenhagen. Returning to the United States, he entered the Gen- eral Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York, in the summer of 1843, and was ordained June 28th, 1846. He was rec- tor of All Saints' Church, Philadelphia, for many years, and in 1855 removed to New York, having been called to the Church of the Incarnation, his present field of labor. In September, 1846, he married Margaret Augusta, daughter of Judge James Lynch, of New York, grand-daughter of Thomas Tillotson, M. D., a surgeon in the revolutionary war, and subsequently Secretary of State of New York, and grand niece of Chancellor Livingston.
An interesting volume has recently been issued for private circula- tion, entitled " A Genealogical History of the Family of Montgomery, including the Montgomery Pedigree." It is a very complete work of its kind, and the record is traced back in an unbroken chain to Roger de Montgomerie, Earl of Montgomerie, who flourished in the North of France in the ninth century. A native of Neustria him- self, his ancestors were, probably, for many generations back, natives of that province, which, when conquered by the Northmen, was after- ward known as Normandy. The family came into England with William the Conqueror, and became distinguished in that country, and also in Scotland and Ireland. 378 Dr. Montgomery belongs to the
REV. HENRY EGLINTON MONTGOMERY, D. D.
line of deseent from Hugh, fifth Earl of Eglinton, and the last of that title of the male line of the family. This Scottish Earl, foresceing that he would die childless, and wishing to divert the title from his cousin, Sir Neil Montgomery, made a resignation of his carldom in 1611, and settled the Earldom of Eglinton and Lordship of Kilwin- ning on his cousin Sir Alexander Seton. The earl died in 1612, and it was only after the title had been kept in abeyance for two years that James VI consented to its assumption by Sir Alexander. The male representative of the family of Montgomery is John T. Mont- gomery, Esq., a lawyer of Philadelphia. The first of the name who settled in America was Win. Montgomerie. He erossed the ocean with his young family in 1701-2, and located on Doetor's Creek, in Monmouth county, East Jersey. He was a member of the Society of Friends. His estate known as Eglinton is still in the possession of his descendants. It was but a few miles from the scene of the battle of Monmouth, the British army eneamping on Montgomery Hill the night before the engagement. General Richard Montgomery, of revolutionary fame, was born in Ireland, and came to America in 1772. Many members of the American branch of the family of Montgomery have been, and are, distinguished in the various profes- sions, and names are to be found quite as illustrious as those graeing the annals in other lands.
Dr. Montgomery's congregation worship in a very fine new struc- ture on the corner of Madison avenue and Thirty-fifth street. The Church of the Reconciliation is a flourishing mission maintained by them.
Dr. Montgomery has published various addresses and sermons, and a collected volume of the latter for publication. In November, 1860, he delivered the address at the one hundred and eleventh celebration of the Society of the Alumni of the University of Pennsylvania.
He is of the medium height, and altogether of a good figure. His head is large, round, and decidedly intellectual. He lias a very fair complexion. IIe dresses in the clerical style, and his deportment is dignified. In personal intercourse he is polite, cordial, and communicative. Evidently an excellent judge of human nature, he is not long in detecting those worthy of his appreciation and confidence. He is a popular man, and his ae- quaintanees are generally his friends. ITis attainments are extensive and thorough. He has what may be called a discreet ambition. He seeks distinction, and labors constantly with the view of reaching the
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REV. HENRY EGLINTON MONTGOMERY, D. D.
honors open to him ; but he desires nothing which does not come as a tribute to merit, and which will not serve as an aid in his holy mis- sion to men. While he does not seek honors in order to make them mere decorations for personal vanity, he is earnest in the effort to secure them to mark the advancement of scholarship, and make more illustrious the annals of the church.
Dr. Montgomery is an eloquent, impressive preacher. Uis sermons are carefully composed compositions, and he has a most self-possessed and graceful delivery. His subject is not only deeply reflected upon, but he is at the pains to express his thoughts in choice, elegant language, which frequently reaches the highest standard of polished diction. In truth, some of his more labored sermons show him as holding high revel, as it were, with eloquent expressions and glowing imagery. He has also a dramatic manner. Here his complete self- possession serves him very effectively, for in these bolder efforts of the orator, requiring full command of language and composure in delivery and gesticulation, he exhibits a perfect discipline as well of his feelings as actions. His voice is clear and strong.
Dr. Montgomery is one of the most devoted and useful rectors la- boring in New York. Not only does he struggle with unwearying zeal in his own parish, but he is invariably ready to contribute his strength in fields less promising. He is a soldier of the Lord, always bold, vigilant, and defiant. He is a reaper in the Christian harvest, always cheerful, untiring, and confident,
380
REV. DAVID MOORE, JR., D. D.,
PASTOR OF THE WASHINGTON AVENUE BAP. TIST CHURCH, BROOKLYN.
EV. DR. DAVID MOORE, JR., was born in the county of Westmoreland, in the north of England, March 28th, 1822. He came to the United States in 1834, when twelve years of age, and has passed most of his life in Western New York. His early education was acquired at the different academies, and his theological course was privately pursued, under the direction of Rev. Mr. McCall, of the Scotch Pres- byterian Church at Lewiston ; Rev. Dr. Bull, also of the Presbyte- rian Church, and Professor Goodall. His studies were very thorough, his associations with his instructors being of a particularly agreeable and endcaring character. He was ordained in June, 1852, and settled over the Gaines and Murray Baptist Church in Orleans county, New York, where he remained during a period of twelve years. He had been converted in this church in 1843, became a member of the con- gregation, and preached for one year before being regularly called to the pastorship. In 1855 he went to Leroy, in Genesee county, re- maining until 1860, when he accepted a call to the Washington street Baptist Church, Buffalo. Having been invited to assume pastoral relations with the Washington avenue Baptist Church, Brook- lyn, he commenced his labors in March, 1864. The Washing- ton avenue congregation worship in a tasteful and spacious edifice, on the corner of Washington and Gates avenues. On the occasion of his seventh anniversary sermon Dr. Moore stated that during that period 610 members have been added to the church-241 by bap- tism, 22 by experience, and 348 by letter-more than trebling the membership, raising it from 191 to 620. There have been raised for improvements and current expenses $100,000 ; for missions, church extension and higher education, $90,000. He has published various occasional sermons. 381
REV. DAVID MOORE, JR., D. D.
Dr. Moore is a tall, well-proportioned, fine-looking man, with dark hair and evenly-trimmed whiskers round his face. His head is of good size, the features are regularly molded, and his expression is of the most amiable and winning character. The eyes are soft, while clear and quick, and in conversation an attractive smile lingers about the mouth. He is very approachable, eordial in his manners, and usually exhibits considerable animation with congenial persons. He exercises the happiest and most diffusive influence in social intercourse. His pleasant, beaming countenance eommends him before he utters a word, and then his polished, gentle, faseinating manners advance him still farther to the heart; and finally, his interesting conversation and kindly expressions carry him to the goal of your fixed appreciation and esteem. And this is true of him with all classes and both sexes.
Dr. Moore is an effective preacher, and decidedly original in his mode of address, which is more conversational than deelamatory. His delivery has the appearance of being extemporaneous, while actually his sermons are written out in full. His practice is to give his subject a thorough examination and study, rendering it entirely practicable to deliver the sermon without anything more than notes; but, not satisfied with this, he imposes upon himself the additiona! labor of placing it in permanent form on paper. In consequence, when he comes into the pulpit he speaks with slight reference to his manuseript, talking in a free conversational way, and showing the greatest familiarity with the subject. His discourses are wholly argu- mentative and practical. He seeks to make plain the truth, to touch the susceptibilities of the unconverted, and nothing more. There is not a line for display, not a thought which is not direeted to the one purpose of Christian teaching. His voice is not loud, though of sufficient compass for distinct hearing in a large building.
Dr. Moore is a learned expounder of the Scriptures. His theolo- gical course, while private, was probably more complete than that of the seminary. With a vigorous, comprehensive mind, he is still an unwearying student and a deep logical thinker. Ever digging at the roots of each branching and bearing tree of principle, he is sure to so cultivate and fertilize its soil that it will hang more abundant in its fruits, and appear more wonderful in its beauty.
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Julian Fo Morgan
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REV. WILLIAM F. MORGAN, D. D., RECTOR OF ST. THOMAS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. WILLIAM F. MORGAN was born in Hartford, December 21st, 1818. He was graduated at Union College in 1837, and at the Episcopal General Theological Semi- mary, New York, in 1840. He was made deacon by Bishop Brownell, at Christ Church, Hartford, in 1841, and priest by the same bishop, at Trinity Church, New Haven, in 1842. After graduation he passed some time with Rev. Dr. Berrian, of Trinity Church, and in April, 1841, became Rector of St. Peter's Church, Cheshire, Connecticut. Three months later he became as- sistant to Rev. Dr. Harry Croswell, at Trinity Church, New Haven, where he remained three years. In the Autumn of 1844 he assumed the rectorship of Christ Church, Norwich, and there remained for fourteen years. During this period, through his instrumentality, a new church was erected and paid for, costing $60,000. He accepted a call to his present parish of St. Thomas, New York, in 1857.
St. Thomas' parish was founded by the late Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, at one time of the firm of Todd, Duffie & Todd, New York, salt merchants, but who had been admitted to holy orders in the Episcopal Church. Worship was first held in a room on the corner of Broadway and Broome street. An organization took place on Christmas Day, 1823, and the first communion service was adminis- tered on the 14th of the following March to nineteen communicants. Mr. Duffie was duly called January 14th, 1824. The original offi- cers were Isaac Laurence, senior warden ; Thomas N. Houghton, junior warden ; and David Hadden, John Duer, William B. Lau- rence, Richard Oakley, James J. Lambert, Charles King, Murray Hoffman, and William B. Astor, vestrymen. The congregation erected a large stone edifice on the corner of Broadway and Houston street, which, some years since, was destroyed by fire, but immediately rebuilt. Mr. Duffie died in a few years, 383
REV. WILLIAM F. MORGAN, D. D.
and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Upfold, now Bishop of In diana, who was succeeded in two or three years by Dr. Hawkes, who officiated for twelve years, and did much to build up the parish. Rev. Dr. Whitehouse, the present Bishop of Illinois, was the next rector, being succeeded, after about eight years' service, by Rev. Dr. Neville, who officiated during four years, and was succeeded by Res Dr. Morgan. At this time the congregation consists of about two hundred families and three hundred and fifty communicants, and the average church attendance is twelve hundred persons.
St. Ambrose's Church, Rev. Frederick Sill, rector, now a flourish. ing down-town congregation, was formerly a mission, sustained at an annual cost of about $3,000. Other missions are now as liberally sustained. The annual offerings for all purposes amount to a large sum. In 1871, a new church edifice, of a very imposing and costly description, which had been for several years erecting on the corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty-third street, some two miles and a half from the old location, was occupied for the first time. This structure, both in its exterior and interior, is one of the grandest of the many magnificent churches of New York.
On St. Thomas' Day, December 1st, 1872, the Free Chapel of St. Thomas' Church was consecrated by Bishop Potter, assisted by a number of the clergy. The chapel is a commodious brick building, on East Sixtieth street, between Second and Third avenues, which was erected entirely through the liberality of members of St. Thomas' congregation.
Dr. Morgan received his degree of D. D. from Columbia College, in 1857. His publications consist of various sermons. He was ab sent in Europe from June to October, 1864, having gone abroad by Episcopal appointment to preach the consecration sermon at the Church of the Holy Trinity, the new American Episcopal Church in Paris. Right Rev. Bishop MeIlvaine, of Ohio, was also sent out to perform the act of consecration, which took place September 12th, 1864. The money to build the church was raised chiefly in the United States, by the unremitting exertions of William O. Lamson. the rector, Rev. Dr. Francis Vinton, Rev. Dr. Morgan, Benjamin R. Winthrop, Esq., Hon. Hamilton Fish, and others.
We take the following extract from the consecration sermon preached at the Church in Paris, and published in that city by a resolution of the Vestry :
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REV. WILLIAM F. MORGAN, D. D.
"Of course the American Episcopal Church had no thought of planting or propagating a new faith in France by rearing this hall ; for the Gullic branch of the Catholic Church, from the days of the Apostles, has kept the primitive faith, although, as now, so through long ages past, under a mass of unauthorized addi- tions, which has made her, with the entire Roman Communion, chargealle with the sin of schism in the Church of God. And I may add that this sin has been fearfully aggravated by the dogma which has, in effect, exalted the Virgin Mother above the Only Begotten and Eternal Son in the order of worship, and converted the principal churches in this city and land into temples of unseriptural worship. And yet, let us not withhold the undeniable truth that, like pearls among pebbles, so the principal doctrines of the Christian religion have been held amidst the cor- ruptions of the Gallican Church ; the divine inspiration of the Scriptures ; the true Deity of the Redeeiner and of the Holy Spirit ; the union of the divine and human natures in the person of Christ ; his obedience and sufferings for the re- demption of men ; salvation only by his atonement, righteousness and grace ; the renewing and purifying influences of the Holy Spirit ; the general obligations of holiness ; a separate state ; the universal judgment, and the eternal retribution of the righteous and the wicked-all these precious and essential verities still hold place in the doctrinal formulas of the Roman Catholic Church. Even Luther allowed that we might discover faith at the bottom, and that 'under the Papacy there was much Christian good.' It was from these choice flowers of doctrine that those saintly Port Royalists, Arnauld, Nicole, Pascal, and others, caught an aroma, and inspiration of devotion and spiritual elevation, which has spread through the world. It was upon these projecting bulwarks of the Christian faith that those illustrious preachers stood, whose names are everywhere cherished, and whose mighty voices shook this empire, and made licentious courts and kings tremble, as Felix trembled before the great Apostle.
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