USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VI > Part 18
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was willing to acknowledge it, and sometimes denying it altogether. He undoubtedly, in one instance, published as his own a sermon of Dr. Nott's, and with few and unimportant variations. It is just as evident that Mr. Cumming indulged, to the injury of his fame and useful- ness, in intoxicating drinks; and certainly the most charitable light in which his conduct can be viewed is that he was not in all respects, at all times, perfectly himself, that he never wholly recovered from the violent shock which he must have experienced at the sight of the instantaneous and terrible death of the loved and lovely wife* of his youth. -
But shortly after his dismission from the Church of Schenectady, on the first sabbath, the third day of March, Mr. Cumming had assumed the charge of the Third Church of Albany, and notwithstanding the progress of the foregoing trials and the faults which they were gradually unfolding to the public gaze in his character, his preaching attracted constantly increasing numbers of intelligent and enthusiastic hearers. The building, now the Bethel in Montgomery street, transferred by the old to the new church, was uniformly thronged. Long before the hour of service, of a sabbath morning or afternoon, the people might be seen flowing down Columbia street, and through Montgomery, like streams of water. In summer, the open windows would be full of earnest faces. The steps leading from the gallery into the attic were often crowded to the very ceiling. It was estimated that at least fifteen hundred souls attached themselves to Mr. Cumming's congregation, in the course of a few weeks, though not much more than half that number could be seated at the same time in his church. Nor did the tide of his popularity abate as rapidly as it rose. It continued without any perceptible diminution for three or four years, and, to the end of his ministry of six years in Albany, his house was uniformly full, though not at last over- flowing, whenever he officiated. His admirers, stoutly
* Mrs. Cumming was precipitated from the Passaic Falls, while viewing them in company with her husband.
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maintaining his temperance were nevertheless accustomed extravagantly to say, that, granting his intemperance, they would rather hear Hooper Cumming when drunk than any other man when sober; or, unable to blind their eyes to his inebriety, they would mournfully declare that, when he was in the pulpit it seemed as if he ought never to'come out, and when out as if he ought never to go in.
To account for such a triumph over the mighty obstacles which were thrown up before him, in part, at least, by his own hands, it is sufficient to remember Mr. Cumming's wonderful natural gifts; the manly beauty of his person, the indescribable melody of his voice, his perfect elocution and action, with which the severest critic could find no fault, his by no means inferior in- tellectual powers, and the delicate susceptibility of his emotions and passions answering ever spontaneously and promptly to the demands of all the various subjects which might occupy his mind. Besides, he received a finished literary and theological education. He was a pupil and resided in the family and listened to the preaching of the celebrated Dr. Griffin, one of the greatest pulpit orators which this country has produced; and Dr. Griffin testifies that he was at that time "more beloved than any young man he ever knew," that " his very servants idolized him," that he was " most amiable in his disposition and correct in his conduct." Of course, there is every reason for believing that he dili- gently improved his unequaled advantages. His native ease and grace of manner, and all his social qualities, were cultivated in the best of families, while his affec- tions were directed to their most worthy object, and his imagination and understanding were replenished and expanded, and invigorated with their most healthful aliment, by one who was alike the attraction and the ornament of the domestic circle and the house of God.
But by far the most extraordinary effect of Hooper Cumming's preaching is more difficult to be explained. The Associate Reformed Church, at the time it became the Third Presbyterian Church, consisted of forty-four
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members whose names appear on the catalogue already given. To these were added, at the first administration of the Lord's Supper, June 22, 1817, twenty on cer- tificate from the First Presbyterian_ Church, seven on certificate from other churches, and eight on confession of their faith. Thus the new church began with seventy- nine members. From this beginning, the number of communicants increased, in two years and seven months, to two hundred and seven, of whom one hundred and forty-five had never before made a profession of religion. That is, more than fifty newly converted persons had thus far been added annually to the church through the instrumentality of Mr. Cumming; and this too in the use of the ordinary means of grace, before the day of protracted meetings and winter revivals. For six years, in no instance were less than four at once admitted on confession to the sacrament of the Lord's supper; it was quite a matter of course to see eight or ten sitting down together for the first time at the Lord's table; and the largest number received on the same occasion was thirty- three. To within six months of the close of Mr. Cum- ming's ministry in Albany, his church seems to have been constantly in a state of wholesome religious vitality and growth. Two hundred and fifteen in all were gathered out of the world under his preaching, during the period of six years, or an annual average of between thirty and forty. Nor is there a particle of evidence that they were unduly solicited to name the name of Christ, or that when they applied for the privilege of bearing his cross it was granted without a careful ex- amination of their Christian knowledge and experience. The Third Church was guarded by faithful elders, Isaac Lucas, William Meadon, and Aaron Hand, elected June 3, 1817, and ordained June 8, 1817, the last two of whom were " counted worthy of double honor" both for their preeminent fitness and their successful efforts to "rule well." They were men of piety and discretion. . Mr. Meadon had been educated for the ministry, and seems. to have been admirably qualified to probe the conscience: [ Annals, vi.] 21
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and test the principles of those whose religious character it was his office to judge; and both the elders and pastor attended regularly to the catechetical and scriptural instruction of the youth of the congregation. Besides, not a few, who traced their decisive religious impressions to Hooper Cumming, have died, giving every desirable token of the genuineness of their interest in the truth as it is in Jesus, and others yet remain whose walk and conversation none can censure. To account for this perhaps unprecedented phenomenon, some may think it enough to say that God blesses his Word whosoever preaches it, an angel of light or an angel of darkness. But others will hesitate to prescribe limits to divine grace, and will leniently rank Hooper Cumming with Noah and Peter, whose faith failed not though 'Satan gained an advantage over them in his desire to have them. It will ever seem to many, while they live, that Hooper Cum- ming's sins were palliated by his shattered reason, that under different circumstances with different treatment he would not have been so easily overcome by them, that in spite of them he was a sincere and humble disciple of Him who came to seek and save the chief of sinners, and an honest, fervent preacher of the glorious gospel. Two hundred and fifteen souls, or as many of them as may reasonably be supposed to have been born again, the fruit of one man's ministry during the brief period of six years, will shine as a diadem of precious jewels in heaven. Is it forbidden to mortals, the best of whom can only be redeemed by grace, to hope that he who, notwithstanding all his faults, was employed to fabricate such a diadem may be there to wear it? At all events, it may be wise for the most sober, exemplary minister of our day, before condemning Hooper Cumming, to ask himself if he is quite sure that he would not have yielded to the same insidious and incessant temptations. That man must know himself well, or not at all, who would expose himself without a misgiving to the social usages of the past generation; and that man, who, thus exposed and still maintaining his integrity, should refuse or for-
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get to ascribe the praise to a higher than human power, would but evince the self righteousness of the Pharisee instead of the self indulgence of the glutton or the wine- bibber, the former sin certainly not less odious than the latter in the sight of the Searcher of Hearts.
Mr. Cumming resigned the charge of the Third Church, in May 1823, in order to accept a call to the United Pres- byterian Church in the city of New York; where, after preaching a few years more, his health became seriously impaired. and, hoping to derive benefit from a milder climate, he visited Charleston, South Carolina, only tc die, a stranger at an inn, and to find a stranger's grave.
As might have been expected, the congregation of the Third Church began at once to diminish, upon the resigna- tion of Hooper Cumming, by the departure of those who had been drawn together solely by his personal attrac- tions. Other causes, moreover, had before begun, and thenceforth continued, to operate against its prosperity. The location of its house of worship became every year less and less eligible. A frequent change of pastors was the consequence and aggravation of some evils, and the occasion of more. Although the church, from time to time, especially under the ministry of the " beloved" Williams, whose influence over the young was equally powerful and salutary, received signal tokens of the divine favor. yet on the whole it declined till 1835, when upon the resignation of the Rev. Wm. James, D. D., it was supposed by many to be "as good as dead." But from that extremity of its desolation it began slowly to recover. In 1844, the resolution was taken to erect, on Clinton Square, a new house of worship, of which the corner- stone was laid in July of that year. This house, which with the lot cost about twenty four thousand dollars, was dedicated Dec. 3. 1845. For the means of accomplishing what was to them a great work, and, in the judgment of wise men familiar with their resources, not barely hazar- dous but impossible, the people of the Third Church are deeply indebted to the countenance and liberality of the pastors and people of the First and Second Churches and
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of other citizens. The voluntary and unexpected and successful effort of the Hon. Greene C. Bronson, and Thomas W. Olcott, Esq., to collect two thousand dollars in order to liquidate the floating debt by which the church was embarrassed upon the completion of its new edifice, will ever be gratefully remembered. At that time the church was left under a mortgage of six thousand dollars, which, in 1850, was reduced to twenty-five hund- red dollars.
The first of the preceding discourses contains the writer's view of the present condition and prospects of the Third Presbyterian Church, granting to its members only "faith and a good conscience" with the blessing of God. On account of its long-continued reverses, there are those who occasionally indulge and express the hea- then superstition that the connection of this church with Hooper Cumming is a blight and a curse upon it. It is true indeed that God will visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him. But God himself likewise declares, that if his people of any generation walk in his fear, loving and serving Him with all their heart, they shall never have reason to take up the proverb, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." Both fathers and children shall die each in their own personal iniquities, or live each in their own personal righteousness, the righteousness which is by faith in Jesus Christ. Of all that generation which provoked God-if provocation it must be called-by their deTed! Crouton to his worthy or unworthy ambassador, hardly a Caleb and a Joshua survive. A new generation, guiltless of that transgression, has arisen which none but Moabites would exclude from the land of promise, and in that land none but Philistines would distress and destroy them. They have all needful tokens that their brethren around them look hopefully upon them, follow them with good wishes,and delight to encourage them in the "work and labor of love." Their long experience, albeit in " the waste, howling wilderness," assures them that their
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faithful and unchanging God," who has "led them about, instructed them and kept them as the apple of his eye" to this day, "will never leave nor forsake" them.
After Mr. Cumming was dismissed, the Third Church- applied, in July, 1823, to be readmitted into the Pres- bytery of Albany, and was received with parental for- giveness and kindness by that reverend body, to which it has since commended itself as a peaceful, affectionate and obedient child. Never infected by " divers and strange doctrines," never indulging any other hope for the world than "the faith once delivered to the saints," this church can appeal to its history for proof of its unwavering attachment to the confession and order and discipline of the great evangelical denomination to which it belongs.
Seven hundred and twelve members have been admitted to the communion of the Third Church since its organiza- tion; two hundred and seventy-four on certificate from other churches, and four hundred and thirty-eight on confession of their faith. There are now on its roll one hundred and ninety-four, of whom about one hundred and fifty are residents in Albany, and in "good and regular standing." It is known that seven members of this church have become ministers of the gospel: Thomas McAuley, John Yeomans, Chauncey Webster, James Harlow, Aaron Hicks Hand, Charles Huntington and Joel Huntington, the last of whom was the first to be taken away. The rest are still living.
The contributions of the Third Church, since 1844, have been, for its own purposes, and not including aid received in building from other churches, $26,680; for other benevolent objects, since 1838, $7900. Previous to the foregoing dates, records of contributions are im- perfect.
Latib
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PASTORS OF THE THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AFTER HOOPER CUMMING.
Rev. Joseph Hulbert, ordained and installed, Oct. 29, 1823; dismissed, Oct. 8, 1824.
Rev. John Alburtiss, installed, Jan. 12, 1825; dismissed, June 3, 1828.
Rev. William H. Williams, ordained and installed, Dec. 9, 1828; dismissed, Sept. 9, 1830.
Rev. William Lochead, installed Feb. 2, 1831; dis- missed, Oct. 22, 1833.
Rev. William James, D. D., installed the 2d Wednesday in March 1834; dismissed, Feb. 6, 1835.
Rev. Ezra A. Huntington, D. D., ordained and in- stalled, Feb. 9, 1837; dismissed, Jan. 10, 1855.
RULING ELDERS :
Isaac Lucas, ordained, June 8, 1817.
William Meadon, ordained, June 8, 1817.
Aaron Hand, ordained, June 8, 1827.
Sylvanus B. Pond, ordained, January 18, 1829.
Charles A. Keeler, ordained, April 21, 1833. Anthony Gould, ordained, April 21, 1833. James Hartness, ordained, February 22, 1835. Isaac P. Hand, ordained, February 22, 1835. John Rodgers, ordained, October 6, 1838. Austin H. Wells, ordained, April 28, 1850.
William B. Sims, ordained, February 19, 1854. Sumner C. Webb, ordained, February, 19, 1854.
The last four constitue the present Session.
TRUSTEES.
Elected Jan. 27, 1817 .- John McLachlan (pres.), Wm. Eaton, Joseph Fry, Isaac Lucas, James Warren, John Shaw, Hugh Humphrey,* James Cumming. John Wade.
Feb. 9, 1818. - Isaac Hempstead (pres.), Joseph T. Rice, Peter Wendell, G. V. Z. Bleecker, John T. B. Gra- ham, Peter Bain.
* Mr. Humphrey was elected president of the board in 1838, and has held that position until the present year.
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Feb. 3, 1819 .- John V. N. Yates.
Feb. 3, 1821 .- Robt. Dunlop (pres.), Matth. Gregory.
Feb. 3, 1822 .- Jonah Scovil (pres. 1824-30).
Feb. 3, 1823 .- Erastus Corning, Jasper S. Keeler.
Feb. 6, 1826 .- Hezekiah Scovil, Isaac McMurdy, Icha- bod L. Judson* (pres. 1855), David S. Gregory, William Gould (pres. 1831-37), Sylvanus B. Pond, Elijah Brain- ard.
1828 .- Lemuel Pierce.
1829 .- Joseph Davis .*
1830 .- Daniel Carmichael, David Woodworth.
1831 .- Thomas Wright.
1833 .- James Hartness, Elisha Crane, James Robison.
1834 .- James Savage.
1835 .- William Muir.
1836 .- Erastus Rindge, David Deyo, John Rodgers.
1837 .- George Traver.
1838 .- John Stone.
1839 .- Parker Sargent, John W. Cluett, Geo. Water- man.
1841 .- Anthony Fisk .*
1842 .- Charles Frothingham .*
1845 .- William Tillinghast,* Francis M. Stone.
1847 .- David P. Page, John Pemberton *.
1850 .- Thomas V. S. Wheeler, Benjamin R. Spelman. 1851 .- Allan T. Bennett .*
1855 .- George H. Thatcher .*
I. L. Judson, President of the Board; Anthony Fisk, Treasurer; Hugh McCollum, Clerk.
* Now in office.
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THE CITY RECORDS.
Continued from vol. v, p. 206.
At a Comon Councill held in the Citty hall. of Albany ye 5 April 1710 .- Present, Jno. Abeel, Hendk. Han- sen, Myndt Schuyler, Ab : Cuyler, Gert Roseboom, Coenraet Ten Eyck, Reyer Gerritse, Bart Sanders, Hend'k Roseboom, Joh's Sanders.
Whereas wynant van Dr Pool makes application to ye Comonalty to buy a ps. of ground Lying without this Citty Containing abt 28 foot Long & 22 foot wyde have- ing on ye South ye gardin of his father melgert vandr Pool for wh. it is agreed by ye Comonalty yt ye sd wynant van Dr Pool shall pay unto ye mayor Record. aldermen and assistants of this Citty ye sum of five pounds currant money, and orderd yt a Release Shall be Granted unto ye . sd wynant van Dr Pool & to his heirs & assigns for Ever for ye sd ps of ground
This day agreed with melgert vander Poel Jun., wouter quackenbos Junr. gerrit van Ness Junr. and Abraham vandr Poel to set up all ye new Stockados of this Citty & to Digg ye Ditches in ye Space 26 days or ye first of may next as they shall Be Ordered by ye com- onalty, and are to have Every Stockado as they shall sett up four pence half penny to be paid be every Inhabitant who has Ryd Stockados.
Daniel Ketelhuyn appears in the meeting who acqu'ts ye Comonalty that he hath Sold his Right and title wh. he hath to land of Schaachtekook bought of this Citty to wouter quackenbos Jun'r & doth offer ye same to ye Com- monalty as he is obliged to doe by his Indenture.
The Comonalty haveing taken ye same unto Considera- tion and given ye sd Daniel Ketelhuyn Liberty to Dispose of ye sd Land to wouter quackenbos
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It is resolved by ye Commonalty yt an Ordinance Shall be made for ye Ringing of hoggs and Cleaning the Streets of this Citty.
April 13 .- It is Resolved by the Commonality that Mr. Hansen Do order that the passage of the water pond be- hynd Capt Wessell Ten brooeks be Ledd Through the Stockadoes by Peter Poppy In order that it may further Sent Round the block hous & so down into the River
It is further Resolved that Mr. Hend. Hansen Do order the making and Repareing the bridge att the Tan pitts.
April 19 .- It is Resolved by the Commonality the ald man and Common Councell In Each ward Shall Ex- amine all the Inhabitants and others Rated to Ride Stockados for the fortifying the Said Citty according to Each his quota and to make Returne thereof the Next meeting.
It is further Resolved that Mr. Gerrit Roseboom & Mr. Barent Sanderse be manigers and order the mending of the Citty Gates on the North side of the Citty above the Burger Blockhouse in good Repaire
April 25 .- It is Resolved that such persons within this Citty who have delayed to Ride their quotaes of Stockadoes, shall be forthwith ordred to Ride ye same before ye 28th instant upon penalty of forfeiting for each stockadoe they shall longer delay ye sume of 3 shillings.
The following letter being directed to ys body from ye president of her maj'es Councill at New York Vizt
Aprill ye. 11th 1710
Gentlemen - her Maje having been pleased to revoke ye Commission formerly graunted by her to Collo In- goldsby to be Lieut govern'r of ys province whereby the governmt of ye same is devolved upon me I have thought fitt to acquaint you
Whereupon it Resolved that since the time of year is so that horses & waggons can not be gott to Ride new Stockadoes that therefore warning be given to Each Inhabitant of this Citty that they appear or send a suf- ficient man in their stead with axes or spades to Repair ye Citty Stockadoes by Removeing gone ones where ye bad stand
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May 2 .- Mr. Hansen brings in an acct of Charges for ye bridge at ye Tann pitts amounting to £3: 12: 9 ordred that Credt be given to ye severall persons on ye Citty book for ye same
A proposal is made in Common Councill that Stone wells may be made in ye first and Second wards each one according to act of assembly which being putt to ye Vote ye Majority of votes are that as Requested wells should be made in said wards each one so that in ye first warde it be made about ten or twelve yards on ye East side of ye market house & that in ye Second warde to be made just on ye north side of ye Cros street opposite to ye house of gysbert marselis to which End Robt Living- ston Jun'r Myndt Schuyler Esq'rs Coonraet Ten Eyk & Ryer gerrittse assistance are appointed managers in ye first warde and abraham Cuyler grt Roseboom Esq's aldermen barent Sanders hend'k Roseboom assistance be managers in ye second warde & yt ye same may actu- ally furnished warrants be Issued to ye assessors & ye money Collected to Defray ye sd charges before ye limita- tion of ye sd act
July 5 .- The Comon Councill have ordered the Dep. Clerk to draw and put up at the Church door the follow- ing advertisement, viz That the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the Citty of Albany shall Expose to Sale at a public vendue to the highest bidder, in the Citty Hall of ye s Citty on the 14 of this instant July, being Satur- day at 2 a Clock in the afternoon, five and twenty morgan or fifty acres of Land belonging to y" sª Citty, Lying on ye East Syde of Hudsons River, under ye west Syde of ye Schaahkooks hill, were the Buyer shall be willing to take ye same, Provided it be in one peece, together with free grazeing for Catle & wood for fencing and fuel.
July 11 .- The Commonalty being Convened sent for Evert Ridder Citty Collector to come before them wh he did accordingly & was askt him whether he had received the money for setting up the Stockados of this Citty who Replyd he had not, and he desird that a sufficient warrant might be Issued to him for ye Collecting of ye sd money
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It was therefore orderd that the D. Clerke draw a warrant directed to ye s Evert Ridder Collector of ye sd Citty for the due Collecting of sd money & that the Com- monalty will assist those who sign ye s1 warrant & bare the sd Collector harmless.
July 15 .- Whereas the Commonalty of this Citty is Indebted unto the Patentees of Sarachtogue the sume of thirty Eight pounds 7 shillings (wh Runs on Intrest) for a release from them of Some Land now belonging to this Citty Lying near Schaachtekook, and they haveing now no money in Cash to descharge that Debt have therefore Resolved to sell the undermentioned Land to discharge the Same, on the following Condition (vizt)
The Mayor Aldermen & Comonalty of the City of Albany are designd to Expose to Sale to the highest Bid- der, twenty five morgan or fifty Acres of Land Belong- ing to the s1 Citty Situate Lying and Being on the East side of Hudson's river, under the west Syde of Schaah- tekooks hill, were the Buyer Shall be willing to take the Land there, provided it be in One peece, together with free grazeing for Catle, & to cutt and Cary away wood for fencing & fuel on ye sd Land only
That the Person who is the highest Bidder of ye sd peece of Land Shall be Obliged to give a Bond to the Commonalty with a sufficient Security for the money payable fourty Pounds thereof on or before ye ffifteenth day of Septemb. now next Ensueing, and the Remainder on or before the fifteenth of September one thousand seven hundred & eleven and for want of Such a Security the sd Land Shall be fild up again in vendue at the Charges of the Buyer, and if the Land Shall happen to be sould for Less ye buyer Shall be oblidged to pay the Same, if more he shall have no profitt thereof, a Con- veyance of the said Land Shall be given on ye 17th Instant By the Mayor of the said Citty in behalf of the Commonalty, with a reserve to give one Couple of fatt hens to ye Commonalty for the time being yearly for Ever
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