USA > New York > New York City > Recollections of persons and events, chiefly in the city of New York; being selections from his journal > Part 17
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And once more : the earliest fitting opportunity should be embraced to embody in our Constitution a solemn and express acknowledgment of the Most High God as "Governor among the nations." In the strong language of a strong man, "Let the taint of Atheism be removed from that all-important document." It cannot be said that such an enact- ment would be inconsistent with the great princi- ple of religious freedom, which is so interwoven with all our institutions, both in Church and in State. Nor can any man complain of it as a viola. . tion of his conscience. In all communities there are men of extreme and morbid antipathies to every
349
PERSONS AND EVENTS.
thing sacred. But we do not think of abolishing the use of the oath in our courts of justice, or the observance of a weekly day of rest, in order to please them. Such men must be allowed to stand by themselves. Fortunately for public welfare, they form a small minority. The man who denies the being of a God and His government over the affairs of men, should be viewed as among the worst of this class. He is morally insane. We are told, "the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God;" and none but the fool, or he that is void of understanding, would say it; and even he says it only "in his heart"-rather wishes it to be so than believes that it is so. Laws and enactments are not made to correspond with the wishes of such men, but with the sober judgment of those who compose the strength and majority of the people.
There can be no difficulty in framing an article in which all would gladly unite, who acknowledge the just and supreme authority of the Most High God. The doubts and apprehensions entertained by some good men, as to the proposed alteration, seem to arise from a misapprehension of what is contemplated by at least a majority of those who advocate it. There is no thought of incorporating
5
350
RECOLLECTIONS OF
in it any thing which would touch on points now dividing one religious denomination from another. Nor do I believe there would be in the end much diversity of opinion on the question, if it is kept before the public mind in calm and conscientious discussion, and is made a subject of prayer that God would give us, as a nation, wisdom and direction to act, in all things, as will best honor His name and promote the public welfare.
Should such a spirit pervade and animate the American people, it would be the best pledge of a future before us more glorious than we have ever yet seen. There would be every thing to encourage us. We can find fresh ground for hope of coming prosperity and greatness, both in the land given to us as our heritage and in the character of its in- habitants. Besides a fruitful soil, yielding every variety of remuneration to the hand of the indus- trious husbandman, exhaustless mines of mineral wealth are daily discovered in regions heretofore considered as irredeemable wastes, doomed to per- petual barrenness. The proverb of the ancients, " He shall dip his foot in oil," denoting the greatest abundance of riches, we see literally fulfilled at our
351
PERSONS AND EVENTS.
doors. And if the words of the patriarch, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass," express strength, brightened and displayed by collision encountered in the way, do we not see the prediction accom- plished, in the brilliant and enduring qualities of our people, cultivated and brought to light in our present national struggle? The severe discipline through which we are now passing, is developing features of public spirit which few among us were inclined to expect. We have examples of high patriotism, not simply here and there among a select few of elevated rank, but pervading the masses of our people, that would have done honor to the best citizens of Rome in her most palmy days. A sor- rowing father, as he bowed over the wasted form of his son, in one of our military hospitals, was asked by the attending surgeon, "Is this your only son ?" and the reply was, "No sir; I have had three sons. One has already offered up his life for his country ; and if this should be taken from me, I have still another, whom I will send in his place." Noble and elevated as the sentiment was, we have thou- sands of fathers who would repeat it under the same circumstances; and thus we have such armies of volunteers as are unknown in the history of na-
352
RECOLLECTIONS OF
tions-ranks filled with men who have left home and all the comforts of a happy home behind them, to encounter the dangers and privations of bloody war, actuated by the high motive to preserve the life of the nation in this day of her fiery trial. If we should ever forget such men and their services, we should little deserve the peace and prosperity for which we are looking, and must one day suffer rebuke for our ingratitude.
Nor is it only among those who are bearing arms in our behalf that this spirit of patriotism is exemplified. There is abroad throughout the land a feeling of large benevolence, of active sympathy with those who are perilling their lives in its de- fence, which has reached the highest as well as the lowest of our citizens. The rich give of their abun- dance, and even the widow is ready with her mite. Especially is this elevated, truc-hearted generosity displayed among the women of our country, and thus it becomes more than ever a sign of our times full of promise ; for let our women minister at this altar, and relieve suffering as they only can relieve it, and they will carry with them to the firesides and nurseries of the nation a spirit that will train future generations for a devotion to the public good,
.
353
PERSONS AND EVENTS.
in which they may perhaps excel the deeds of their fathers.
To all this affluence of physical resources, and to this high spirit of patriotism and wide-spread benevolence, let us add a due acknowledgment of ".the Father of lights, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift," and who can fitly de- scribe the bright destiny that awaits the nation ?
God save the Republic ! I do not utter it as a 1 thoughtless exclamation, but as a sincere and solemn prayer to Him who " maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth," that He would rescue our beloved country from the conflict through which she is now made to pass; that he would change the hearts of our enemies, and restore to them and to us a Union, which produced in former years such abun- dance of blessings to their ancestors and ours.
"Our fathers-where are they?" Is not their spirit to be found yet surviving among those who are now in array against us ?- Rutledge, Marion, Laurens, Pinckney, Madison, Jefferson, Franklin, Clinton, Schuyler, Hamilton, Adams, and, above : all, Washington, are illustrious names, belonging as much to one section of the country as another.
23
354
RECOLLECTIONS.
They are the common heritage of the whole United States. Why should parricidal hands arise to tarnish the fair fame of the men who labored to establish a government that has long been the admiration of other nations, and to which thou- sands and thousands are still flying as an asylum from oppression ?
Here it has been my privilege to have my home during my whole life, and here my last ashes are to rest in hope of a blessed resurrection. Let me still cherish the belief that before my " appointed time" shall come, I shall be permitted to see the Stars and Stripes again waving over the entire land, united in feeling, in interests, as well as in name.
INDEX.
A.
ABEEL, Rev. Dr., sketch of his character, pp. 19,20
ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY, his death, p. 117
his undeviating integrity 118
refusal to employ the power of office to reward political par-
tisans, p. 118
respect for the Christian Sab- bath, p. 120
his affectionate regard for the
memory of his mother, p. 122
122
his social character, p. · meeting with Albert Gallatin and others, p. 123 . his views of a mother's influence in forming the characters of distinguished men, p. 123
ADDRESS of Rev. Dr. Milnor at inauguration of Professors
of New York University, pp. . 208-214
of Chancellor on same occasion, pp. .
. 215-229
of Convention on behalf of American Bible Society, pp. . 134-144 response of the country to, pp. 144
AFRICA must be Christianized mainly by Africans-how
the work can be aided from .America, pp. . . 171, 172
356
INDEX.
ALEXANDER, Rev. Dr., his views on the want of churches
in our city, pp. . 281, 282
AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY formed by a Convention in 1815, p. 134
.
AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN
MISSIONS formed in 1810, p. 158
AMERICAN REVOLUTION, leading actors in, who have now disappeared, pp. . 265, 266
ANGLO-SAXON RACE compared with other races as to its physical qualities and its remarkable increase and spread, pp. . 152-154
B.
BATTERY, the, how changed, p. . 261
BIBLE, the, cumulative evidence of its truth, pp. 83,84 first book issued from a printing-press, p. 147
BIBLES, multiplication of since the formation of Bible 1 Societies, p. . 146
BIBLE SOCIETIES, era of, p. . 131
incident relating to the formation of the British and Foreign Bible So- ciety, p.
132
imaginary objections against the for- mation of a National Bible Society in this country, p. 133
incidental benefits from societies for circulating the Scriptures without note or comment, as new proof of self-evidencing power of God's Word; influence in uniting Chris- tians of different denominations, pp. 144-256 BISSETT, Rev. Dr., anecdote of, p. 57
---
----
· INDEX. 357
1.
BOLINGBROKE, Lord, anecdote of, p. 79
BOUDINOT, Hon. E., his exertions and influence in forming the American Bible Society, p. . 133
BURR, AARON, results of his duel with Gen. Hamilton, p. 86
interest felt on his behalf as the son of Christian parents, p. . 87
requested to visit him, p. 88
, his courteous manner; his colloquial powers, p. 88
surprise at the sympathy entertained on his account, p. . .
90
freedom of our interview, p. 92
avows his faith in the truth of the Bible, p. 92
emotion when reminded of his mother, p. 93 increased agitation when reminded of his daughter, p. 94 views of his exclusion from his former associations, pp. 96,98
his despondency, p. , 90
his request when we parted, p. 100 his death, p. 10
impressive lesson taught by the reverses
of his life, p.
102
C.
CALVIN'S INSTITUTES, Bolingbroke's opinion of, p. ·
78
CHANCELLORSHIP of New York University, when elected to ; perplexities on the question of ac- ceptance, pp. . 204, 205
CHARTER OF UNIVERSITY obtained, p. .
204
CHINESE, their residence in this country a means of
Christianizing their own, pp.
. 172-175
: CHURCH, Dr., anecdote of, p. 77
CHURCHES OF NEW YORK, changes in their location, p.
266
Y
358
INDEX. " .
CHURCHES OF NEW YORK, removal from lower part of
the city, pp. . . 266-269
this practice carried too
far, p. . 271
evils to be apprehended from
it, p. 272
reasons which may justify the removal of a church, pp. . 273, 274
always to be done cau- tiously, p. 274
.
duty of Christians in this city in reference to the reli- gious destitution in the lower wards, pp. . 274, 275
number of churches in the whole city ; inadequacy to
meet the wants of the
population, pp.
. 266, 267
the evil constantly increas- ing, pp. . . 277, 279
CITIES, influence of, on the religious condition of a country, p. . · .
282
regard had to this in the first spread of the Gospel by the Apostles, p. . 288
increased importance of this consideration from the growing numerical strength of cities at the present day, pp. . 270-291
CLAY, HENRY, fond recollections of his mother, p.
124
CLERGY OF NEW YORK in 1810, pp. . .
17-29
CLINTON, DE WITT, sketch of, p. .
-
68
his ancestry, p.
58
credit due to him for the Erie
Canal, p. 69
359
INDEX.
CLINTON, DE WITT, bis opinion of Calvin as a reformer ; of President Edwards as a logi- cian; of the clergy generally, as an intellectual class, pp. 78,70
his opinion of divines in England and America, p. 80
COLLEGE LIFE, danger to young men, pp. 30-37
COLLEGE OFFICERS, their responsibility respecting the
habits of their students, p. 38
CONFEDERATION, old, its great defects, p.
335
CONVENTION which adopted the Constitution ; serious collisions of opinion on the subject of how the United States Senate should be organized, pp. . 311-317
Dr. Franklin's influence in, p. .
317
mistaken account of their action in refer- ence to daily prayers, pp. . 321-323
a true statement of what occurred, p.
·
325
CONVERSION OF THE HEATHEN a duty not properly
appreciated by our
churches in the early
part of the present
century, pp. .
. 160, 161
to be mainly effected
by native laborers, p.
179
COUNTRY, our own, encouraging prospects of, pp. .
. 350-353
CRISIS of the country when the Constitution was
adopted, p.
330
D.
DANGERS to public men from accumulated labors, pp. . 256-258 'DENOMINATIONS, religious, comparative growth of, in New
York during last fifty years, pp. . . 280, 281
360
INDEX.
E.
ELECTRICITY to be made further subservient to the use
of man, p. 247
EMMET, THOMAS A., his eloquent defence of Fulton and
his rights, pp. 49-52
ENGLISH LANGUAGE, its remarkable spread ; displacing
other languages, pp. .. . 154, 155
influence of those speaking it on the future destinies of the world, pp. . . 155, 156 edged excellence, p. . 150
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES, its acknowl-
its influence on modern transla- tions into foreign languages, p. . 150
ERIE CANAL, influence of De Witt Clinton in carrying out the project, p. ·
69
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY generally embraced by ed- ucated men when they abandon infidelity ; causes of, pp. . 76, 77
F.
FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, its origin, and the reasons which
called for it, pp. . 335, 336
FEMALE SOCIETY, its happy influence on young men when rightly directed, pp. 39,40
FOREIGN MISSIONS, former apathy of the churches re- specting, p. 158
enlarged scale on which they are now conducted by our churches, pp. . . 163, 164
2
361
INDEX.
FOREIGN MISSIONS, peculiar responsibilities of American
churches in relation to, arising out of our geographical position, pp. 164-166 hopes of Edwards, Davies, and others respecting, p. . · 176
FORGETFULNESS OF GOD a besetting sin of our nation, pp, 331-333 FRANKLIN, his speech on the subject of daily prayers in the Federal Convention, p. 327
his opinion of defects in the Constitution, p. 342
FULTON, ROBERT, his habits in social life, p. . .
49
slow progress of his first boat on her
voyage to Albany, pp. . 43,44 little confidence of the public in his success, p. 44 incident showing his own anxiety in his first experiments in steam naviga- tion, pp. 44-47 · ·
an example of the injustice generally done to projectors and inventors, pp. 47-49
G.
GALLATIN, Hon. ALBERT, sketch of, p. . 251 GOD, duty of acknowledging His existence and authority in our Constitution, pp. . 349, 340
GOOD-WILL OF THE PEOPLE towards each other essential to peaceful government in our country, p. 343
GREAT MEN in our day, p. .
67
HALL. Rev. Dr., anecdote respecting, pp. 24. 25 HAMILTON, General ALEXANDER. interview with Rev. Dr. Rodgers, p. 310
362
INDEX.
HOBART, Bishop, sketch of his character. pp. 20,21
HOOKER, his opinion of Calvin, p. 81
HUDSON RIVER the cradle of steam navigation, p. . 41
I.
IMMIGRATION does not endanger our institutions if we are faithful to our duty ; furnishes in- creased facilities for the spread of reli- gion, pp. . 166-169
INDIANS, little done for their conversion in the early part of the present century, p. 150
J.
JEFFERSON, THOMAS, his refusal to bestow appaintments to office as the reward of party services, p. 119
K.
KENT, Hon. JAMES, his reputation as a jurist, pp. . 70,76
L.
LEWIS MORGAN, Chief Justice, sketch of, p. . 252
LITERARY CONVENTION, meeting of in New York; called to consider the plan and object- contemplated by the Univer- sity, p. 194 address to the Convention, p. 195 value of its deliberations, p. :204
INDEX. 363
LIVINGSTON, Rev. Dr., sketch of his character, pp. 17,19
LUKE, why called the beloved physician, p. . 181
NI.
MASON, Rev. Dr. J. M., sketch of his character, pp. 25-29
his occasional depression of spirits ; sensitiveness to kind- ness or unkindness from those around him, pp. 54, 55 an evening with him, p. 55 .
anecdotes he related respecting Gouverneur Morris, Bishop Moore, Dr. Livingston, Dr. Bissett, Dr. Witherspoon, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Whitfield, pp. . 56-61 comparison of Mason with Whitfield ; chief point of dif- ference between the two as preachers, pp. 61-63 his talents as an expositor, p. 63
MATERNAL INFLUENCE on the minds of children, pp. . 129, 130
MEADE, Bishop, his description of the melancholy state of religion from 1805 to 1812, p. 158
MEDICAL PROFESSION, instrumentality of, in the spread
of the Gospel, p. . 178
gifts of healing bestowed by our
Lord, their significance, p. 179
and influence, p. 180
MEDICAL STUDENTS, peculiar dangers to their moral wel-
fare, p. 184 .
duties of Christians respecting them, p. · 186
364
INDEX.
MILLER, Rev. Dr., sketch of his character, pp. 21,22
MILNOR, Rev. Dr., sketch of his character, p. 253
MISSIONARIES, FOREIGN, should be specially educated for
their work, pp. . 176, 177 often victims to the necessity of undertaking labors' beyond their strength, pp. . 181-183
duty of giving them relief, p. .
184
MOORE, BENJAMIN, Right Rev., sketch of his char-
acter, p. . . 20
anecdote of, p. 56
MORRIS, GOUVERNEUR, anecdote of, p. .
56
MORRISON, Rev. Dr., his instrumentality in awakening a zeal for foreign missions in our country when on his way to China ; his services in transla- ting the Scriptures into the Chinese lan- guage, pp. . 161-163
MORSE, Professor, his success in the invention of the telegraph, and his well-merited reward, pp. 52-53
MCLEOD, Rev. Dr., sketch of his character, pp. 24-28
McMURRAY, Rev. Dr., sketch of his character, p. 263
N.
NAPOLEON, happy influence of the Empress Josephine upon him, p. . 40
NEW YORK, her peculiar responsibilities as to the reli- gious welfare of our country, p. · 292
dangers to ourselves from our position as a commercial metropolis, p. . 294
advantages for the site of a Univer- sity. pp. · . 248-251
INDEX. 365
P.
PARKS OF NEW YORK, changes in the, pp. . · . 260, 261
PATRIOTISM, as developed in our present national strug-
gle, pp. . 351, 352
PHYSICIAN, the attainments and qualifications desirable
for, pp. . 166-158
POPULATION of New York compared with that of other cities, pp. 259,260
PRAYERS, daily, proposed in Federal Convention, p. 320
PRINTING, art of, improvement in, as auxiliary to the spread of the Bible, pp. . 148, 149
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, changes in, p.
262
1B.
RELIGION, declension of, after the days of Edwards and
Whitfield, p. .
157
change in the sentiments of the educated classes respecting it, pp. 71,72
causes of the change, p.
73
improved education of the clergy, p.
.
auspicious influence of free intercourse be- tween the clergy and men of other pro- fessions, pp. 74,75 infidelity unmasking itself, p. 76
RELIGIOUS SENTIMENT of the country ; its influence on civil affairs, pp. . ·
. 346-348
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, principles of, developed in the Hebrew Commonwealth, p. 82
RESIGNATION OF CHANCELLORSHIP, letter to the Council tendering it, p. . 235
action of the Council on the same, pp. . 239-241
366
INDEX.
RESPONSIBILITIES of merchants and other employers in
cities on behalf of young men in their employ, pp. . 113, 114 RODGERS, Rev. Dr., remarks upon the Constitution, pp. 310, 311
ROMAN TRIBUTE to a mother's influence, p. . 125
RUTGERS, Col. HENRY, his death at an advanced age, p. 103
devoted patriotism, p. % 104 . his liberality to all objects of benevolence, p. 104
impressive instance of his wis- .dom in the bestowment of his charities, pp. . 105-111
his kind response to Dr. J. H. Rice, p. 114
S.
SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATIONS of a mother's influence upon
her sons, pp.
. 126-128
STREETS OF NEW YORK, changes in, p. 262
SUNDAY-SCHOOLE, their happy influence, and claims on
our co-operation, p. . 298
TT.
TALLMADGE, General JAMES, sketch of, p. 252
U.
UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, considerations which led to the establishment of, pp. 189-197 first meeting held on the subject, p. . 192 founders of; their comprehensive designs in creating it, p. . 249
367
INDEX.
UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, adaptation of its design to the wants of the nation and of the age, pp. .
. 243-247 importance of New York as the site of such an institution, pp. . 248-251 officers of Council and Chancellor chosen, p. . 204
professors inaugurated and institution opened for reception of pupils, pp. . 207-229
building erected, p.
230
additional professors and increased num- ber of students, pp. . 23, 231
harmonious working of various Depart-
231
ments, p. .
.
·
.
appropriation granted by the State, and
reasons inducing it, p.
231
its seasonableness at the time it was
given, p.
232
VAN RENSSELAER, Hon. STEPHEN, his salutary influence and liberality on behalf of measures for the public welfare, pp. 69,70
VAN VECHTEN, ABRAHAM, sketch of, p.
71
WV.
WAINWRIGHT, Bishop, sketch of, p. 254 WASHINGTON, General, inauguration of as President of the United States in old Federal Hall, pp .. . 263, 261
1
368
INDEX.
WASHINGTON, General, his views of State rights, pp. . 235-239 his fears of a disruption of the Union from the resistance of the States to the authority of the General Govern- ment, pp. . 338, 339 his opinion of defects in the Constitution, p. . . 330
his respect for the judgment of his wife in matters of impor- tance, p. 40
WEALTH, the responsibilities it creates, and how to be used to the best advantage both of the pos- sessor and his descendants, pp. . 299-306
WHITFIELD, anecdote of, pp. 60,61
source of his power as a preacher, pp.
.
60-62
WITHERSPOON, Rev. Dr., anecdote of, pp.
57-59
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