USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An historical catalogue of the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia, with biographical sketches of deceased members > Part 4
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NOTES OF SERMON PREACHED IN OLD ST. DAVID'S CHURCH, RADNOR, ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 16, 1912
" The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they who do His command- ments." -- Psalm cxi, 10.
The term " fear " is used when one is apprehensive or afraid of some evil; but in modern phraseology what has been translated " fear " might more properly have been rendered " reverence." Thus, the text would read that " To reverence the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
It is a fact that as the true nature of God is less and less clearly understood this reverence for the Lord fre-
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Notes of Special Sermons
quently degenerates into a paralyzing sense of terror, but this we are taught is something we must overcome, as, for instance, when Ezekiel saw the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord, he fell upon his face, but immedi- ately he was bidden to stand upon his feet and the Lord would speak to him.
St. John tells us that there is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear. He also tells us that he who loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love. He is its author and those who exercise it are spiritually born of Him and have true fellowship with Him.
Reverence for the Lord, then, is shown by one's desire to separate himself from everything that would pain or dis- please Him; from everything that would darken the spirit- ual vision or hide God from us.
Reverence for God is also shown by a desire to learn all we can about God : by taking special time to study His word, and pressing on at least just as earnestly as one would in the acquisition of any special branch of human knowledge.
No one is justified in feeling that God cannot be known, for all along the ages He has revealed Himself to man.
At sundry times and in divers manners He revealed Him- self in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, and at length He made Himself known more fully to us through His Blessed Son, Jesus Christ ; by whom He made the worlds and through whom He will save and redeem every soul who in perfect faith and trust turns to Him.
When one looks reverently up to God and cries, as the Psalmist did, " My soul is athirst for God, yea, even the living God," God will make Himself known to that soul, and he will be able to say with the Psalmist, " Put thy trust in God; you will yet thank Him who is the help of your coun- tenance and your God." Yes! when one resolves to do God's will he shall learn that the doctrine about Him is true. These are the words of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son who came to reveal God to us.
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Notes of Special Sermons
No one ever yet earnestly called upon God and strove to do His will, who long remained in ignorance of Him.
Indeed it is now scientifically known that no first-rate evidence can be furnished of any tribe of savages who have not some idea of God. Through all recorded history we find that man has believed in God, and that this strong belief has come down to us through the ages. He therefore who lightly says that God cannot be known has to explain the instinct and the tradition of the race. That is the feeling after God and the desire to pour out our hearts to Him as Father. And how all along father has handed down to son the belief in a God who cared for men, and how age after age men in their trials have turned to God and asked for His help, and how He has heard their cry and answered it, and they have gone down to their graves believing that He was indeed a real God and mighty Father.
This, the experience of life in every generation, has strengthened the experience of the ages.
When one, therefore, says, " God cannot be known," he has to explain that tremendous human instinct and traditions which he is ignoring.
Be sure, then, that God has not left us desolate. He has given us this instinct of the race and this traditional teaching of the race, but, better still, He has given us a clear Reve- lation of Himself through Jesus Christ, His Son.
Every true seeker after God who, like Abraham, is will- ing to sacrifice his surroundings and to take trouble and pains to know God shall assuredly find Him. In every stage of life there is an opportunity to learn more of God and of our duty to Him. Every one who is striving earnestly to have actual communication with God through Christ Jesus, shall not only find this possible, but shall procure life and strength from Him.
The power of the Holy Spirit is as great to-day as when first it came down upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. Through that power we can know God and have fellowship
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Notes of Special Sermons
with Him and become daily more and more like Christ and thus willingly serve God by serving others. God is con- tinually speaking to each one of us. He is always seeking to guide us in the paths of duty and to draw us nearer to Himself. Let us listen to His voice, and through meditation of His word be growing in knowledge and good understand- ing and be strengthened for every good work. Then shall we know that "Reverence for the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that a good understanding have all they who do His commandments."
ROBERT AITKEN Member 1774 Printer and publisher of the first edition of the Holy Bible in the English language in America Died July 13, 1802
Biographies of Deceased Members of The St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia
In Alphabetical Order
ROBERT AITKEN, member 1774. A biographical sketch of Mr. Aitken will be found on page 101, " Historical Cata- logue of The St. Andrew's Society " (1907), with brief reference to the fact that he was the publisher of the first copy of the Holy Bible in the English language in this country.
The following additional facts will be of interest. In December, 1782, Mr. Aitken advertised, in the Pennsylvania Journal & Weekly Advertiser and in other papers, as follows :
ROBERT AITKEN
Printer, Book-seller, Binder and Stationer, at Pope's Head on Market Street near the Coffee House has just finished and has now ready for sale a new and very correct edition of
THE HOLY BIBLE
The serious Christian will be pleased to find that the scarcity of Bibles of which he has so long had reason to complain is now removed, and the patriot will rejoice at the advance in the arts, which has at length produced the First Edition in the English Language ever printed in America.
Preceding this, is the report of the committee of Con- gress to whom the memorial of Mr. Aitken relative to his work had been referred; in brief : That Mr. Aitken has at great expense now finished an American edition of the Holy Scriptures in English, that the committee, after examination, had referred it to the two chaplains of Congress, the Rev.
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Biographies of Deceased Members
William White, D.D. (later the first Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania), and the Rev. George Duffield, D.D. (pastor of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church). The letter of the Hon. James Duane, chairman of the committee of Congress, in referring the memorial to the clergymen named, said that " Mr. Aitken had undertaken the expensive work at a time when, from the circumstances of the war, an English edition of the Bible could not be imported, nor any opinion formed of how long the obstruc- tion might continue. On this account particularly he deserves applause and encouragement. We therefore wish you, Reverend Gentlemen, to examine the work, and if approved, to give it the sanction of your judgment and the weight of your recommendation."
The report thereon of the Reverend Doctors White and Duffield was dated
PHILADELPHIA, Ist September, 1782.
Having selected and examined a variety of passages throughout the work, we are of the opinion that it is executed with great accuracy as to the sense, and with as few grammatical and typographical errors as could be expected in an undertaking of this magnitude. Being ourselves witnesses of the demand for this invaluable book, we rejoice in the present prospect of a supply, hoping that it will prove as advantageous as it is honorable to the Gentleman who has exerted himself to furnish it, at the evident risque of his private fortune (Signed) WILLIAM WHITE GEORGE DUFFIELD
Upon the presentation of this report, the Congress voted, its approval of " the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken as subservient to the interest of religion, as well as an instance of the progress of the arts in this country;" and, " being satisfied from the above report of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work, they recommended this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize him to publish this recommen- dation in the manner he shall think proper."
Only a few copies of this Bible are now known to be in existence, one of these being the property of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The title-page reads :
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THE
HOLY BIBLE, 1
Containing the OLD and NEW
TESTAMENTS:
Newly tranilated out of the
<.. 4.4-4
ORIGINAL TONGUES;
And with the former
TRANSLATIONS
Diligently compared and revifed.
TENDENS
PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED AND SOLD BY R. AITKEN, AT POPE'S HEAD, THREE DOORS ABOVE THE COFFEE HOUSE, IN MARKET STREET. M. DCC. LXXXI1.
Title page of Bible published by R. Aitken In the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Biographies of Deceased Members
In the year 1783 the Presbyterian Synod in session in Philadelphia directed that three ministers should be specially charged with the duty of obtaining Bibles and sending them to the most needy districts. They further ordered, "that every member of this body shall use his influence in the congregation under his inspection, and in the vacancies con- tiguous to them, to raise contributions for the purchase of Bibles."
And as Mr. Aitken, from laudable motives and with great expense, hath undertaken and executed an elegant impression of the Holy Scriptures, which, on account of the importation of Bibles from Europe, will be very injurious to his temporal circumstances, Synod further agrees that the above Committee shall purchase Bibles of the said impression and no other, and earnestly recommends it to all to purchase such in preference to any other.
This, David Walker Woods, in a recent biography of Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, declares was probably the first protective act passed by any legislative body since the Declaration of Independence, and it is indicative of the temper of the people at the time.
While the honor of thus printing the first Bible in America in the English language is accorded Robert Aitken, a member of The St. Andrew's Society and of the Scots' Presbyterian Church, it is proper to note that, over a hun- dred years previously, John Eliot, the Indian apostle, had translated the Psalms of David and other parts of the Scriptures in the Indian tongue, and finally published the Bible complete, the work covering the years from 1663 to 1685.
In 1743 Christian Saur, of Germantown, Philadelphia County, published a copy of the New Testament in the German language, and several editions later. This was fol- lowed by the Aitken publication in 1782.
Miss Jane Aitken, a daughter, carried on her father's business as printer and bookbinder after his death, which occurred July 13, 1802.
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Biographies of Deceased Members
CAPTAIN JOHN ANGUS, member 1779. Poulson's Ad- vertiser, January 17, 1817, contains the following :
Died at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, after a very severe and short illness, John Angus, Esq., in the 65th year of his age, formerly a citizen of Philadelphia.
The distinguished piety of this amiable man will long render his death the subject of unfeigned regret to the Christian society of which he was a zealous member and all others who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. In every relation of life he was estimable and exemplary, a most affectionate husband and tender father, a sincere friend. A firm believer in the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he loved the ways of righteousness and walked in her path, humbly trusting in that mercy which the Saviour of the world has promised his faithful followers.
Sensible of his approaching dissolution, he saw death before him, disarmed of all its terrors, and having given his parting blessing to all around him, he closed his life in charity with all men and with a blessed hope of enjoying a happy immortality. He has left a discon- solate widow and four children to bewail their irreparable loss.
Captain Angus moved to Amboy in 1801 and he at once entered into the religious life of the place. His title was earned by service as a mariner in the Revolutionary War.
From a book entitled "Presbyterianism in Perth Amboy," the Rev. J. H. Northrup, pastor of the oldest Presbyterian church in that place, has sent the following extract :
Captain John Angus was the energetic spirit who breathed life in this movement (to rebuild the old church). He called a meeting of those who had faith in the project, which was held October 1, 1801, when a Committee was chosen to solicit subscriptions, with Captain Angus as Chairman.
He appeared before the Presbytery of New York and stated the case; the project was approved and recommended to all Christian people. He donated the lot, and in 1802 the foundation was laid and the church dedicated June 9, 1803.
He was reported a tall, broad-shouldered man. Newspapers were then rare, and Captain Angus was a subscriber to one of these, and when his paper was received he appeared with it on the street and gathering a group of eager listeners read to them the news of the day.
He died January 10, 1817, and was buried in the cemetery of the church he had done so much to aid.
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Biographies of Deceased Members
JOHN BAINE, member 1790, was born in St. Andrews, Scotland. He and Dr. Alexander Wilson established the first type-foundry in Scotland, in 1742, in Glasgow. The partnership was dissolved in 1749, and Baine established a type-foundry in London, which he removed to Edinburgh in 1768. In 1787 the firm name of " John Baine and Grand- son in Co." appeared, and in that year they removed their type-foundry to Philadelphia. Here, according to Isaiah Thomas' History of Printing, they found full employment and had a good reputation as letter-founders, until John Baine died, in 1790 .* This may be an error as to the date of his death, as Mr. Baine is recorded as elected a member of The St. Andrew's Society, November 30, 1790. They cast the types for a portion of the " Encyclopædia Britan- nica," which was reprinted in Philadelphia by Thomas Dobson, member 1791. History does not record what be- came of the business after that date, but Thomas says that a grandson died in Augusta, Georgia, in 1799. In the earlier ledgers of Binny & Ronaldson, type-founders, both members of this Society, it is recorded that, in 1799, they paid $300 for type-founding appliances owned by J. Baine. There is ground for believing that Binny was connected with the letter-foundry of the Baines before he commenced busi- ness in 1796. (See ARCHIBALD BINNY.) In the preface of the 1816 type-specimens of the foundry established by Binny & Ronaldson, it is stated that the specimen issued by them in 1812 represented the labor of twenty-five years, which brings Binny's work back to 1787, the year the Baines arrived in Philadelphia. Descendants of Archibald Binny have stated that he was in business alone before he entered into partnership with James Ronaldson in 1796. It is pos- sible that he may have continued the Baine business after the death of John Baine and may have acquired the major part
* Mr. Baine's signature is on the application for a Charter for The St. Andrew's Society, dated April 6, 1791. We have also entries of dues paid by John Baine 1795, 1796, 1797, probably the son referred to as one of the name was elected a member Nov. 30, 1795.
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Biographies of Deceased Members
of the Baine equipment. [ Henry L. Bullen, Librarian, Typographic Library and Museum, Jersey City, N. J.]
ROBERT L. BALD, member 1847. At a special meeting of The St. Andrew's Society held July 27th, 1853, the following resolutions were adopted :
Resolved, That the Society deeply regrets the loss it has sustained by the premature death of its valued fellow-member Robert L. Bald.
Resolved, That Mr. Bald is entitled by his pure moral and social character and his great skill in his difficult business to the most marked expression of the sense of loss to ourselves and the community, occa- sioned by his decease.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with his venerable father, one of our oldest and most honored members, and with his afflicted family.
Resolved, That Doctor John K. Mitchell, William Struthers and George Young be a committee to convey to the family the above resolutions.
GEORGE BARTRAM, SENIOR, member 1765, Assistant 1769-70, Treasurer 1771.
George Bartram, a native of Scotland, briefly referred to on page 108, volume I, " Historical Catalogue," as active in public affairs in Philadelphia,-civil, political, and mili- tary,-was married in 1764 to Ann, daughter of John Bartram the famous botanist. This lady survived her hus- band nearly forty-eight years. She died February 16, 1824.
In 1765, when Mr. Bartram joined The St. Andrew's Society, he was engaged in business as a cloth merchant at the "Sign of the Golden Fleeces Head," Second Street below Carter's Alley, advertising here the "Best Scotch Plaids for gentlemen's gowns and boys' Highland dress; Scotch white and colored threads, etc., etc." Although his brother Alexander (member 1765) was a rank Tory, George signed the Non-Importation Agreement of October 25, 1765, and was named as one of a committee to see that the resolutions were carried into effect.
When the British entered Philadelphia in 1777, George
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Biographies of Deceased Members
Bartram, with many others, was compelled to leave the city, and located in Lancaster. It was later stated in Hazard's Register that Mr. Bartram while at Lancaster took cold, which caused his death in his forty-third year, April 24, 1777, and that he was buried in front of the Episcopal Church; a neat slab on the pavement marks the spot where his remains are deposited.
Only one child was born to George and Ann (née) Bartram, a son, George, referred to following.
GENERAL GEORGE BARTRAM, JR., member 1788, was a son of George Bartram, member 1765, and Ann, his wife, referred to above.
He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1783. For nearly half a century he was active in the councils of the then Democratic party and prominent in the official and social life of Philadelphia. In 1788, just after attaining his majority, he joined The St. Andrew's Society. In 1805 he was a leader of the faction known as "Friends of the People," organized in opposition to the "Constitutional Republicans." In 1807 he was a member of the " Com- mittee of Correspondence " appointed to take action on the " Chesapeake affair," when war with England seemed immi- nent. In 1810 he was one of the organizers of the " Whig Society of Pennsylvania," which opposed the Democratic faction led by Governor Snyder. At this time he was a member of the Select Council, of which body he was presi- dent from October, 1809, to October, 1811. He was like- wise, at this period, " father of the council " of the famous Tammany Society which at times, to a considerable extent dominated local politics in Philadelphia. He was appointed, July 14, 1812, commissioner of insolvents, under the act of March 13, 1812, which office, however was abolished at the close of that year. On April 30, 1813, he was com- missioned alderman, a post held by him for many years.
He was active in military affairs, being, during the war of 1812, lieutenant-colonel of the Fiftieth Regiment of State
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Biographies of Deceased Members
militia. In July, 1814, he succeeded General Wharton in command of the First Brigade, though he held this position but a short time and General Thomas Cadwalader succeeded him.
His death occurred May 8, 1840, then in his seventy-third year. From his will, proven May II, 1840, he appears to have left no issue.
GENERAL HENRY HARRISON BINGHAM, Life member 1869. Born in Philadelphia, December 4, 1841, and died in that city, March 23, 1912.
James Bingham, the father of General Bingham, was born in Donegal, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, of direct Scotch descent. He became engaged in forwarding freight and merchandise in Philadelphia and was the senior member of the firm of Bingham & Dock, whose business ramifications in the early days of railroad transportation extended to every section of the country.
The mother of General Bingham, Ann Shiller Bingham, was born in Mount Joy, Penna. His grandmother, Mar- garet Cameron, was a cousin of General Simon Cameron.
General Bingham was educated at Jefferson College, now Washington and Jefferson, at Canonsburg, Penna., and later received from that college the degrees of A.B., A.M., and LL.D.
He had scarcely received his diploma at the outbreak of the Civil War when, without returning home, he organized from the college and its vicinity a company of infantry, and, with the professor of mathematics in command, Bingham was chosen first lieutenant. This company was attached to the 140th Regiment Penna. Infantry as Company G, and on September 9, 1862, Lieutenant Bingham was com- missioned captain.
He was relieved from duty with his company April 26, 1863, and appointed Judge Advocate of the Ist Division, Second Army Corps, and later Judge Advocate of the corps, with the rank of major, serving under Major-General Win-
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7
GENERAL HENRY HARRISON BINGHAM Member 1869 Died March 23, 1912
Biographies of Deceased Members
field S. Hancock, who specially recommended Bingham for promotion.
General Bingham participated in all the battles of his Corps, and was commended for promotion as brevet-major U. S. volunteers, August 1, 1864, " for good conduct and conspicuous gallantry, especially at the Wilderness, Spotsyl- vania, and Gettysburg," and on April 9, 1865, was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, " for highly meritorious services during the recent campaign terminating with the surrender of the insurgent army," and again, as colonel and brevet brigadier- general, " for conspicuous gallantry and meritorious ser- vices during the war."
General Bingham was further honored in the military service as a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, " for having rallied and led into action a portion of the troops who had given way under the fierce assaults of the enemy at the Battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864." At Spotsylvania, though serving on the staff, he voluntarily took part with his regiment in the assault and was there wounded, and was again wounded at Gettysburg.
In April, 1865, General Bingham was appointed Judge Advocate of the Middle Military Department, embracing the States of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware, which position he retained until July, 1866, when he resigned.
Few men had a more active or more honorable military record than General Bingham.
After his muster-out from the service, he was appointed chief clerk, Philadelphia post-office, and later became post- master. In this position he showed fine executive ability. He was reappointed under President Grant, and resigned as postmaster December 1, 1872, to enter upon the duties of clerk of the Courts of Quarter Sessions, to which position he had been elected in October. He was re-elected in 1876, and in 1878 was elected member of Congress from the First Congressional District, and was so serving when he died, being then the oldest member of the national House of Representatives in continuous service.
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Biographies of Deceased Members
He served as delegate at each of the Republican National Conventions from 1876 to 1904.
General Bingham was married February 3, 1874, to Miss Mary H. Alexander, a daughter of Judge Alexander of Baltimore. He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the Union League of Philadelphia, the Art and other clubs; a charter member of George G. Meade Post, No. 1, Grand Army of the Republic, and served one term as its commander.
General Bingham was noted for personal neatness in dress, was characteristically affable and courteous, and, until afflicted with ill health for several years before his death, attended actively to his duties as a member of Con- gress, serving upon important committees.
He was a talented speaker, and was the orator for Pennsylvania Day at Gettysburg, where more than eighty monuments were transferred to the Battle-field Association, and on June 5, 1896, he delivered an eloquent oration at the dedication of the equestrian statue of General Hancock at Gettysburg.
ARCHIBALD BINNY, member 1807, was born in Porto- Bello, near Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1763. He came to Philadelphia in 1793, and three years later entered into partnership in the type-founding business with James Ronaldson, member 1795, whose biography is recorded in the first volume, "Historical Catalogue, St. Andrew's Society," 1907.
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