USA > New York > Orange County > Montgomery > The Goodwill memorial, or, The first one hundred and fifty years of the Goodwill Presbyterian Church : Montgomery, Orange Co., N.Y. > Part 4
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* What Dr. Maclise here stated as unauthenticated may be written as authentic history. William Lawrence Blair was the second son of Rev. John Blair. He was a lawyer of great distinction in Kentucky. Hon. Francis P. Blair, Senr., the father of Hon. Montgomery Blair, was his son. But even more interesting than this, because in the line of ecclesiastical history, are the facts in reference to the elder son, Rev. John Darborrow Blair, and his descendants. This son was twelve years old when his father died; was graduated at Princeton in his 16th year, and while yet in his minority was made tutor in that college under Dr. Witherspoon. Removing to Virginia as a teacher, in 1780, he soon devoted himself to the minis- try, and was ordained, in 1786, and became pastor of the church in Hanover Co., which was gathered by Samuel Davies, and in which his own father had preached with success. In 1792, he removed to Richmond, in which city he was the founder of Presbyterianism, and where he labored until his death in 1823. In 1796, he declined the presidency of Hampden Sydney College, Va., which Dr. Archibald Alexander afterwards accepted. Upon the Tablet erected to his memory in the church which he founded (Now Grace Street Church, Richmond, Va.) he is styled, " A man without guile, of cultivated intellect, gentle manners, sound in Christian doctrine, and universally beloved." The descendants of Mr. Blair are very nu- merous in Virginia and throughout the South, not a few of whom have attained distinction in the several learned professions, and nearly all of whom are active and honored members of the Presbyterian Church. At least a score of his grand- children and great-grandchildren are now members of the church in Richmond of which he was the first pastor. "The generation of the upright shall be blessed."
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A man of great prudence, and A high example of every social virtue. He was sometime Vice-President of Nassau Hall, And Professor of Divinity in the College of New Jersey, Which place he filled with fidelity and reputation. He lived greatly beloved, and died universally lamented."
It may be observed that in this epitaph, which does no more than justice to the illustrious dead, the writer makes the mistake of transposing Nassau Hall and the College of New Jersey, as it was in Nassau Hall Mr. Blair was " Professor of Divinity," and not the College of New Jersey ; and it was of the College he was Vice-President, and not Nassau Hall." *
After the death of Mr. Blair, the church was vacant for five years, or until the eventful 1776, to which our thoughts are specially turned as we celebrate its one hundredth anni- versary. One can scarcely resist the temptation to leave the province of ecclesiastical narrative for a little to dwell upon the national and the patriotic ; but we proceed in the line of present duty. Of those who supplied the pulpit during the vacancy we have the names of Kerr, Bay, Graham, Close, and Gourley. On the 9th of October, 1776, a call from this church was read in the Presbytery of New York for Andrew King, one of its licentiates, and on the 11th of June, 1777,+ " Presby- tery met at Wallkill and ordained and installed Mr. King." "The Rev. Amzi Lewis, pastor of Florida and Warwick, preached ; the Rev. Nathan Kerr, of Goshen, presided, and the Rev. John Close, of New Windsor, gave the exhortation." Mr. King graduated at Princeton in 1773. Where he studied theology we do not know, but he was manifestly fitted for his work. During the former part of his ministry the territorial limits of the congregation were very materially lessened. In the western section of the town, which was some years later erected into the town of Crawford, a building was raised, and
* DR. MACLISE.
t The inscription on Mr. King's tombstone from which the record on the tablet in the church was taken, is slightly inaccurate as to the date of his installa- tion. It was probably prepared from data which indicated the commencement of his labors here.
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inclosed without finishing the interior, about 1779, " in which the people occasionally enjoyed the preaching of the Gospel." This was within the bounds of Mr. King's labors, and was occupied by him as a preaching station. In 1792, a board of trustees was chosen. Soon after, arrangements were made to finish the building, and on the 28th of August, in the following year, the Rev. Jonathan Freeman was ordained and installed pastor, and the organization of the Hopewell church was com- pleted-no doubt to the great relief and satisfaction of Mr. King.
A few years later the Scotchtown church was organized. To what extent it was formed from this cannot be known, but Mr. George Houston, at whose house the first meeting was held, in 1796, for the purpose of organizing a congregation, was a member of Goodwill, and the territory including Scotch- town and between Scotchtown and the Wallkill at Stony Ford had long contributed to the membership of this mother church.
In 1799, Graham's Church (Associate Reformed), midway between this and Hopewell, was organized; and though "the individuals who composed this new organization principally were of the number personally in the habit of worshiping at Neelytown," yet "this congregation was formed and the church erected principally by the exertions of Mr. Robert Graham, who, at the time, was an elder in the congregation of Goodwill. The name was bestowed in honor of this indi- vidual on the day the building was erected. Mr. Graham re- sided within the bounds of this congregation." He "died on the 22d of September, 1799, and by his will devised his farm of about one hundred acres, in the vicinity of the church, to the congregation, for the use of the pastor."
The above quotations are from the sketch of Graham's church in Eager's history, prepared from notes made by the Rev. John McJimsey, the first pastor. He is manifestly in error as to Mr. Graham's eldership in the Goodwill church. Otherwise he is probably correct; and if so, Mr. Graham would be likely to take with him into the new organization whatever members of this church were living in that vicinity.
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From that time Mr. King's field would be almost wholly east of the Wallkill river. Another change took place during his ministry, and no doubt in part through his agency. In 1795 the Presbytery of Hudson was formed, and this church, which since 1738 had belonged to the New York Presbytery, was transferred to the Hudson, in which connection it still re- mains. We may also notice some civil changes that had taken place or were about being effected. By act of the as- sembly the precinct of Wallkill was divided in 1772, the south- western portion retaining the name of the precinct of Wallkill, and the north-eastern, including the territory around Good- will, taking the name of the precinct of Hanover, which last was changed in 1782 to Montgomery, in honor of General Richard Montgomery. Thus the name of Wallkill as a terri- torial designation passed from the main body of the people who first assumed it. In 1788, the precinct of Montgomery became the town of Montgomery ; and in 1799 it was enacted, "That the towns of New Windsor, Newburgh, Wallkill, Montgomery, and Deerpark, now in the county of Ulster, shall be and are hereby annexed to the county of Orange." The town of Montgomery at that time was the largest in the district, having a population of 3,563, against 2,365 in New- burgh. Some years later (March 4th, 1823), the western por- tion of the town of Montgomery was erected into the town of Crawford ; and, April 5th, 1830, another portion was set off to be erected, with parts of Goshen, New Windsor and Bloom- ing-Grove, into the town of Hamptonburgh.
But, returning to Mr. King: The account of his life as given by Dr. Maclise is so full that nothing more need be added, except to note his domestic relations. Both for the man and his forty years' work, those who come after him may well feel the most profound reverence. He was twice mar- ried-first, to Miss Jane Trimble, daughter of Alexander Trimble .* To them were borne several children all of whom
* Alexander Trimble was born in Ireland, Nov. 28th, 1726. He sailed for America May 26th, 1749. April 11th, 1754, he was married to Sarah McClaughry. of Little Britain. Their children were, Isabel, born Jan. 15th, 1755-Mrs. Peter
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died young except Marcus, who survived till his twentieth year, and James, who became a practicing lawyer in Albany, where he died June 20th, 1841, aged 53 years. Mrs. Jane King died April 25th, 1797, in the 32d year of her age. Mr. King afterwards married Mrs. Ruth Snowden (formerly Miss Ruth Lott, of Long Island). Their children were Lewis P. and Andrew. The latter studied medicine and practiced some years in this county. Mrs. Ruth King died June 3d, 1828, aged 66 years. The children of both James and Dr. Andrew King reside in and about New York.
" Mr. King was born in Ireland, in the year 1748, and im- migrated to this country with the rest of his father's family, in 1758, when he was about ten years of age. His father set- tled in Iredell County, North Carolina, where Andrew re- mained till he had grown to maturity. It is probable that he labored on his father's farm till manhood, before his mind was directed to the work of preaching the Gospel, as he was twenty-seven years of age at the time of his ordination and installation in this church. Mr. King had a long, laborious, and successful pastorate. The church, during his time, was very large, extending over a very extensive region for one congregation, an area of not less than one hundred and fifty square miles, and yet he cultivated it with great assiduity and success.
Moses, the great lawgiver, led the people of Israel during forty years in the wilderness of Arabia. The good hand of God being upon him, he was permitted to guide and guard them ; to be the instrument of giving them water when thirsty, and bread when hungry ; changing the bitter waters of Meri-
Hill; John, born July 25th, 1757; George, born Feb. 5th, 1760 ; William, born April 12th, 1763 ; Jane, born Nov. 25th, 1765-Mrs. Andrew King ; Alexander, born July 17th, 1767; Elizabeth, born May Ist, 1770-Mrs. Samuel Hunter ; Sarah, born April 7th, 1773-Mrs. Rev. David Comfort. George graduated at Yale College. He married Polly McCob and was one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in Clinton County. Alexander married Agnes Burwell and was the father-in-law of Elder Andrew N. Young who married his daughter, Isabella Hill. Mrs. Sarah Trimble died June 10th, 1773, in the thirty-ninth year of her age. In 1779, Mr. Trimble married Keziah Oldfield. To them was born one son, Timothy, July 8th, 1780. Mr. Trimble died August 5th, 1785, in the 59th year of his age.
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bah to waters of sweetness; bringing clear, cool, gushing streams, which followed them in their wanderings, from Ho- reb's flinty rocks, and bringing manna from heaven, "angel's food," for them to eat. And just as long was Father King, as he was called, permitted to lead the people of his charge in ways that they knew not, guiding the footsteps of the flock into pastures of greenness and to waters of gentleness. Yes, for forty years did he, by the grace of his God, furnish the flock committed to his pastoral care with the water and bread of life. That he was a good under-shepherd, his life and la- bors abundantly prove. We do not know that he was a great man intellectually, though in face and form he is said to have been a kingly man. We are not aware of any literary or theo- logical productions from his pen given to the public that would warrant us in placing him on a par, in that respect, with the learned, eloquent and profound Blair. There were but few men of his day who could be thus placed ; but for the faithful employment of his talents, and the uniform usefulness of his long life, he had few superiors. His memory is green and fragrant still, after the lapse of half a century, not only in this congregation, but in all the churches and congregations in all this region : "He, being dead, yet speaketh." The fol- lowing epitaph is engraved on the stone slab that covers his ashes :
" To this grave Were followed by the tears of a bereaved people, The mortal remains of Andrew King, for forty years pastor of this church. He was ordained and settled in the year 1776, and died November 16th, ISI5, aged 67 years. In this church he began, continued and ended' his pastoral labors. The remembrance of his fidelity can never be effaced from the minds of his flock, whose affections were united in his person,
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and whose members grew under his care. He fed them with truth, preserved them in peace, and has now shown them the way to heaven. To mark the spot where repose the remains of a beloved Pastor, his affectionate people have erected this stone."
How full, complete, and beautiful does the life of that man appear who "begins, continues, and ends" a faithful pastoral life of forty years among the people of one charge! Perhaps no higher eulogy could be pronounced over the grave of any man than this. It speaks volumes of praise to both pastor and people. It shows that both are steady, established, and not given to change; like the truth which regulates their life, they abide forever.
The pastor who baptizes, marries, and buries nearly two generations of men, must be a good, faithful, and successful man. He must be trusted, revered, and loved. He must be useful in the best sense of the term ; far beyond what is pos- sible to the man whose ministerial life is an illustration of a wayfaring man tarrying for a night. Such a man becomes a power for good in the community in which he dwells. He is a steady, bright, shining, and safe light to the people, and in his light they rejoice. He is no fitful meteor flashing for a moment with dazzling glare, then vanishing and leaving all in darkness, which only " leads to bewilder and dazzles to blind."
Such a man does not startle a community by the splendor of his diction, the magnificence of his imagery, or the bold- ness of his utterances, but he "feeds them with truth, pre- serves them in peace, and at last shows them the way to heaven," and over his honored grave is the language of the voice from heaven, truthfully uttered, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors: and their works do fol- low them."
Mr. King was a leader in all the true moral reforms and philanthropic enterprises of his day, ever foremost in every good work, in everything indeed which approved itself to his
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judgment, as calculated to promote the good of man and the glory of God. Hence it was that he was the main originator, and first president, of the Orange County Bible Society, an institution dating its origin six years prior to the formation of the American Bible Society, which was organized in 1816, while the Orange County Society was formed in 1810, thus making it six years older than the parent society-the daugh- ter six years older than the mother. In this connection, it may be mentioned that in this church was the Bible Society organized more than fifty-four years ago, and its pastor elected the first president-and, what is perhaps still more remarkable, one venerable man who was present at its formation was also present when the society celebrated its fifty-third anniversary in this house, on the 14th of June last, and another who, though not at the organization, as he did not then reside in the county, was at its anniversary fifty years ago.
These two faithful men who for more than half a century have " stood up for Jesus," and maintained his cause, are Mr. John Millspaugh, an elder in the Presbyterian church in Scotchtown, who was present and aided in the society's for- mation, and our own loved friend and elder, Mr. Nathaniel Brewster, a collateral descendant of the family of Elder Wil- liam Brewster of the Mayflower, and a man in no way inferior to his celebrated ancestor.
How it must have rejoiced the hearts of these venerable inen of God to see the progress that has been made since then, while calling to remembrance the small beginning and con- trasting it with the present great results, while looking on the great multitude of men and women that thronged the build- ing and stood around the open doors and windows, listening so earnestly to the story of the triumphs of the Bible cause, and while contrasting the few dollars then contributed with the large sums now annually devoted to the great work of sowing the good seed of the Word broadcast throughout the land and the earth !- and how must Father King himself have rejoiced, even in heaven, if permitted to look down from its blest abodes and contemplate the heart-cheering scene !
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Mr. King was also a leader in and promoter of the educa- tional interests of this community-seeing to it that the young were trained not only in the secular learning, but also in the higher literature that concerns the soul. In those days the management of schools was chiefly in the hands of the clergy. The Bible was then the principal text-book, and the cate- chisms of the Church were faithfully taught in the public schools; the consequence was, a community well instructed in the oracles of heaven. Now the control of educational affairs has been taken out of ministerial and committed to other hands; would that with a clear conscience we could say the change has been a good one. But it is to be feared that the youth of the present generation would ill compare with those of other days, in their knowledge of the things that con- cern their higher interests, notwithstanding the almost univer- sal diffusion of the Bible.
It is true the Sabbath-school system feebly attempts to remedy the defection, but an hour or so of voluntary attend- ance per week on this subject, is a poor substitute for the public school and home training in religious truth which the youth of the past generation enjoyed. The pulpit is indeed a great power in the training of immortal minds in the truths of religion, but it is not designed to supersede the humbler but no less necessary instrumentalities of school and family religious instruction.
The following is the principal portion of a letter from the . aged and venerable Rev. Isaac Van Doren, for many years pastor of the Presbyterian church at Hopewell, in this county, in reply to a letter of inquiry concerning Mr. King, addressed to him by myself. I believe it is the last letter he ever wrote, as it is dated just before he was called up higher.
"PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey, July 26, 1864.
" DEAR SIR : Yours of the 19th was duly received, and in reply I would say, I formed an acquaintance with the Rev. Mr. King in the beginning of my ministry 10 1802, and a friendship and intimacy commenced which continued till his death.
" I do not recollect to have heard of his native State or the place of his educa- tion, but I think it was in one of the Carolinas.
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"As my congregation at Hopewell was formerly a branch of his congregation, he continued to extend to it his particular protection and patronage; in con- sequence, I enjoyed his counsel whenever needed, he being much my senior.
" Mr. King was pre-eminently a man of peace ; and such was his character as a peace-maker, that if a party at variance could only secure the presence of Mr. King, they were sure the breach would be healed, and a reconciliation would take place. I know of but one instance in which he failed.
" As a preacher, Mr. King was warm, animated, popular, yet faithful, and was respected and beloved by his congregation and all the Presbytery, and indeed by all who knew him. He was distinguished for his prudence, and 'given to hospitality,' literally obeying the gospel injunction to 'not be forgetful to entertain strangers.'
"Sir, I hope the above will in some measure answer your expectations; but what can be expected from a man in his ninety-second year with an enfeebled mind and body ?
" I hope you will succeed in collecting the information you desire, and when published I would be very happy to have you send me a copy, as I still feel a deep interest in the county where I spent so many happy years of my life.
" Yours in the Gospel of Christ, ISAAC VAN DOREN."
Four times did Mr. Van Doren make the attempt to write the above with his own hand, but the tremulous feebleness of old age and approaching death prevented. A beloved daughter then wrote it as he dictated, and he succeeded in signing it with his own hand. The two life-long friends have since met in the better land, where their intimacy will be severed nevermore.
As long as the good priest Jehoiada lived to control the public interests of the Jews, King Joash and his people enjoyed peace and prosperity ; but after the death of that able and excellent man, sore troubles arose among them because of their defections from the God of their fathers. So did the people of this church enjoy peace and prosperity as long as the good and wise Father King lived to direct their councils and " feed them with truth ;" but when he died, days of dark- ness and distress soon came upon them.
After the decease of the patriarch pastor King, an inter- regnum of five years occurs. They were years of troubles, dissensions, and divisions among the people, which resulted in the secession of a large part of the congregation and the
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formation of a new organization which finally became, and continues to be, a Reformed Dutch Church .*
It is not our purpose to enter minutely into an account of the sayings and doings of that unhappy period. It was an adage even among the heathen of olden times, that it is best " Dicere de mortuis nil, nisi bonum" (" to say nothing of the dead but good "); justice and truth, however, as well as impartial history, require the statement of some of the general facts that led to this unhappy result.
About that time great laxity in doctrine had begun to pre- vail to a considerable extent, chiefly among the clergy. The most prevalent form which this laxity assumed in these parts was Hopkinsianism, and those who adopted, or were supposed to adopt, the peculiar view represented by this term were pop- ularly, though not very elegantly, called " Hops." This is not the time to give any exposition of their distinguishing tenets.
This congregation made out a call for a Rev. William Gray by the votes of a majority of the congregation, a re- spectable minority, however, strongly opposing his settle- ment on the ground of his being a Hopkinsian. Whether the charge was true or not we do not know. The call was pre- sented to the Presbytery of Hudson, and also a remonstrance against its being put into the candidate's hands. The Presby- tery, on a consideration of the whole case, declined to ordain and install Mr. Gray, giving reasons for their action in the matter. We pass no opinion on the action of the Presbytery in this case, whether it was right or wrong, judicious or the reverse; but their reasons were unsatisfactory to the friends of Mr. Gray, who therefore appealed from the decision of the Presbytery to the Synod of New York. In the mean time they seized the church edifice, kept possession of the key, and refused to open the house to the brethren appointed by Presbytery to supply the pulpit and administer the sacra- ments.+ On this course of conduct we make no comment, it speaks sufficiently itself.
* Berea.
t Rev. James Milligan, pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at Col-
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Synod decided against the appellants by sustaining the action of Presbytery, and they were at length compelled, by a decision of the Court of Chancery, to open the building for the worship of God. A call was finally made on Mr. Robert W. Condit for his pastoral services ; but many of Mr. Gray's friends refused to acquiesce in his settlement, and made a re- monstrance to Presbytery, charging the moderator of the call, Rev. Isaac Van Doren, with unfair procedure in receiv- ing illegal votes, etc.
Mr. Condit, however, was ordained and installed on Decem- ber 13th, 1820. The result, as we have indicated, was that the disaffected portion of the congregation seceded, and erected in the neighborhood another church edifice, with the avowed purpose of still obtaining the services of Mr. Gray. How they failed to accomplish their object we do not know ; but they did fail. Mr. Gray did not become their pastor, and they ceased to belong to the Presbyterian Church.
Thus we touch but lightly, and with gentle hand, those events so full of interest to those who had then the oversight of this our Zion. We would by no word or act of ours stir up feelings of animosity among those who at that time went out from this church, and which apparently the lapse of nearly half a century has not wholly obliterated.
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