USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > Allen > History of the Allen Township Presbyterian church and the community which has sustained it, in what was formerly known as the "Irish settlement," Northampton county, Pa > Part 8
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simultaneously with the erection of the new church in Bath. It had been the custom to enter by two doors on the south side of the building. These were masoned up and a new one opened at the east end of the building ; over this a substantial frame vestibule was erected. All the old exterior stone wall was hidden by being encased in a wooden siding which was painted white. Instead of the rusty old stone building which had stood for nearly sixty years, it was made to wear the appearance of a neat frame structure. Internally, all was changed. The old high narrow pulpit, with its winding stairs at the one side, which stood at the north side of the room, was removed. In its stead, at the west end of the room, a modern, comfortable and attractive pulpit and platform were erected. The old supporting posts in the middle of the room were removed, and the ceiling strengthened by a truss in the attic. The old high-back pews were removed, and modern and more comfortable ones put in their place, facing to the west instead of the north. An elevated platform was erected in the rear of the audience, near the new entrance, for the choir, and an organ was provided for their use. The walls and ceiling were divested of their smoke and stains, and arrayed in pure white. In short, the whole building was thoroughly
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renovated and rejuvenated. The old school house, which stood between the church and the road, was removed. A neat pale fence was built around the church lot, and the grounds put in appro- priate order. All was made to wear the appearance of comfort and convenience. It was re-occupied for divine service, December 4th, 1870. Thus has the old Church in the Settlement renewed her youth.
Under the pastorate of Mr. James they are moving along harmoniously and do- ing a good work for God and Presbyte- rianism in the community. The English speaking portion of the German community of Bath and vicinity, seem to be interested in the new life of the old Settlement Church. The Settlement people are ex- tending the hand of Christian fellowship to their worthy friends and neighbors, and they are responding to a commendable de- gree by pecuniary support and substantial Christian work. The church, amid the new circumstances into which she has come, is laboring to make all feel in the community that they are welcome to all her privileges and blessings. It is hoped, also, by all who feel an interest in the church outside of as well as within the precincts of the old Irish Settlement, that those who occupy the places once filled by the Scotch and Irish
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people, will take up and sustain the good old heritage of Presbyterianism which has been handed down from generation to generation in their midst. That they will do this we have every reason to believe, judging from the disposition already shown on their part in the matter. We are re- joiced to be able to take up and re-echo, upon the eve of the Centennial of our American Independence, the words of an encouraged pastor in the old Irish Settle- ment Church, that,
" There is as good a prospect for a Pres- byterian Church to continue a hundred years to come, as there was a hundred years ago," when the pastor of the church, Rev. John Rosbrugh, was murdered by a relentless British foe, as he did his part to secure our National Independence.
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CHAPTER VIII.
SKETCHES OF PASTORS.
REV. ELEAZER WALES.
HE first pastor of the Settlement Church seems to have been Rev. Eleazer Wales. What the ecclesi- astical antecedents of Mr. Wales were, pre- vious to 1731, we have not been able to learn. That year, however, his name appeared, we believe, for the first time, in the minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia. Although we have not positive evidence in the case, it is to be presumed he became pastor of the Settlement Church about that time. At all events, that year Thomas Craig appeared in Synod as an elder. We presume this was the same Thomas Craig who, in 1728, started what was afterwards known as the Craig, or Irish Settlement. The presumption that Mr. Wales was pastor and Mr. Craig elder in the Settlement Church, in 1731, becomes almost certain when we observe that this pastoral relation is alluded to and dealt with shortly after.
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We are informed by the minutes of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, that the pas- toral relation between Mr. Wales and the Settlement, or Allentown congregation, was dissolved in 1734. We find that dur- ing each meeting of the Synod from 1731 to 1735, Mr. Wales was present. In 1736, he is marked absent. In 1737 and 1738, we believe his name does not appear at all. In 1739, he is reported as a member of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. It seems after leaving the Settlement Church he became pastor for a short time, of the Middle Smithfield Church. Dr. D. X. Junkin, in his Histori- cal Discourse at the Semi-Centennial of the Presbytery of Newton, in speaking of Middle Smithfield, says :
" A little log church was built about 1725. It is supposed that Rev.
Azariah Horton, before mentioned as David Brainerd's forerunner, preached the first sermon in English, in 1741, or '42. He preached in the little log church.
A Rev. Mr. Wales, from Allen Township seems to have been the earliest settled pastor. A Rev. Mr. Rhodes was also a laborer in that field, with much success ; both of them between 1750 and the opening of the War of the Revolution."
We suppose Dr. Junkin had good authority for making this statement with
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reference to Mr. Wales, though he has erred in assigning labor to him between 1750 and the Revolution. Mr. Wales died previous to Nov. 7th, 1750.
From all the data, we infer that Mr. Wales was dismissed from the Presbytery of Phila- delphia in 1735, or '36, and connected him- self with the Presbytery of New York. When the brethren assembled at New Brunswick, on the afternoon of Aug. 8th, 1738, for the purpose of constituting the Presbytery of New Brunswick, Mr. Wales was one of the members, being received from the Presbytery of New York. Thus he is regularly reported to Synod in 1739, as a member of the New Brunswick Pres- bytery.
At the first meeting of Presbytery, Aug. 8th, 1738, "Upon a supplication made by Joshua Nichols, in behalf of the people of Pepack, and other adjacent parts, desiring some supplies of preaching, agreed that Mr. Wales preach at John Fraiser's upon the third Sabbath of this inst .; upon the Monday following at Edward Barber's ; and upon the Tuesday at Amwell Meeting House."
He may have been, previous to this, or now became pastor at Smithfield for a short time, as suggested by Dr. Junkin. But during the greater part of his time in con- nection with the Presbytery of New Bruns-
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wick, he was pastor of the church of King- ston, near Princeton, N. J.
While in this charge, in 1743, he sup- plied at Freehold the first Sabbath in February, April and May. In 1744, he supplied the Settlement Church the two last Sabbaths in September and first in October, as we have seen in the History of the Church. In 1746, he was appointed to supply two Sabbaths at Hope- well and Maiden Head. It was represented to Presbytery, May 16th, 1750, that he was too infirm and weak to attend to ministerial duties in his congregation, and supplies were sent to the people. Shortly after this he died. At a meeting of Presbytery, Nov. 7th, 1750, the following simple record is made :
" Mr. Eleazer Wales, one of our mem- bers, has been removed by death since our last."
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REV. DANIEL LAWRENCE.
THE Rev. Daniel Lawrence was the second pastor in the Irish Settlement. He was a pupil of Rev. William Tennent, and pursued his studies at the "Log College." On the 12th of September, 1744, he appeared before the Pres- bytery of New Brunswick and was received under their care as a candidate for the Gospel ministry. His parts of trial were assigned him at this meeting of Pres- bytery. At a meeting held in Philadelphia, October 2d and 3d, 1744, he was examined on his parts of trial and his examinations sustained. At the Spring meeting, held in Philadelphia, May 28th, 1745, he appeared before Presbytery and was licensed to preach the Gospel. Having been licensed, he preached the next month (the last Sab- bath in June, 1745,) at the "Forks of Dela- ware," or Irish Settlement, and Greenwich. Presbytery convened September 20th, of this year, at which time two calls were brought in for the pastoral services of Mr. Lawrence. The one was from the two Bethlehems, in New Jersey ; the other from Maiden Head and Hopewell. Mr. Law-
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rence not being present at the meeting, consideration of these calls was deferred until the next meeting. Under the cir- cumstances he was directed to supply two Sabbaths at Maiden Head and Hopewell, and then repair to the "Forks of Dela- ware." He was to supply two-thirds of his time in the Forks, and devote the other third to the two Bethlehems. 'At a meet- ing of Presbytery, July 21st, 1746, a suppli- cation was sent in from the congregations of Maiden Head and Hopewell, requesting the labors of Mr. Lawrence until the next meeting of Presbytery, by way of trial, with a view to his settlement among them. Also a similar supplication from the "Forks of Delaware," for his services for one year with a view to his settlement there. Like- wise a supplication from the two Bethle- hems, in New Jersey, for the same pur- pose. Some people from Oxford Furnace, also, supplicated that they might share the labors of Mr. Lawrence in case he should be appointed to supply the " Forks of Del- aware." In the midst of this clamor, as it were, for the services of Mr. Lawrence, the Presbytery returned him to his labors in the Forks, with instructions to preach every fifth Sabbath at Tunis Quick's, (?) in the " Forks of Delaware." Thus things re- mained until the meeting of Presbytery, October 16th, of this year. At this meet- 8
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ing, the people in the Forks renewed their call for Mr. Lawrence to undertake the pastoral charge among them. The matter being proposed to him by Presbytery, he signified his acceptance of the call. Pres- bytery thereupon appointed a committee to ordain him. This committee was com- posed of Rev. Richard Treat, Rev. James Campbell, Rev. James Davenport, Rev. James McCree, and Rev. Charles Beatty. This committee was to meet in the "Forks of Delaware," April Ist, 1747, at which time Mr. Lawrence was to preach a trial sermon from John iii, 18, "He that be- lieveth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." At the same time he was to hand in a Latin exegesis. The committee convened at the time and place appointed. Mr. Lawrence preached his sermon and handed in his exegesis. All parts of trial being sus- tained, the committee proceeded the next day, (April 2d, 1747,) to ordain him to the work of the Gospel ministry, and install him pastor of the two churches in the Forks, viz: Allentown and Mount Bethel.
On account of ill health and other causes, he spent the winter of 1747 and the spring of 1748 at Cape May. By direction of the Synod of New York, given
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May 19th, 1748, the Presbytery of New Brunswick returned him again in the spring of 1748 to supply a few Sabbaths at Cape May. Having fulfilled the mission of the Presbytery he returned and con- tinued his labors in the Settlement until the spring of 1752. At this time he was connected with the Presbytery of Abington, which had been erected the previous year. At the first meeting of the Presbytery after its constitution, May 20th, 1752, the church at Cape May applied to it for the services of Mr. Lawrence in case he was released from his charge in the Forks, which he was seeking for at the time.
The next day, May 21st, 1752, the pas- toral relation between him and the churches in the Forks was dissolved. Mr. Law- rence accepted the call to Cape May in 1752, and commenced his labors there as pastor in that year. He continued to labor in this pastorate for fourteen years, until 1766, only laying down the work with his life. He d ed at Cape May, April 13, I 766.
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REV. JOHN CLARK.
THE third pastor of the Settlement Church was Rev. John Clark. Mr. Clark was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in the latter part of 1759, or early part of 1760. Having been licensed, he was appointed by the Synod of New York and Philadel- phia, to supply the pulpit of Rev. Charles Beatty, the first and third Sabbaths of July, 1760. He was ordained to the full work of the ministry, by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, in the latter part of 1760, or early part of 1761. In 1761, he was dis- missed from the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, and connected himself with the Presbytery of Philadelphia, August 13th, of that year. At this meeting of Presby- tery, a call was presented to him from the " Forks of Delaware." He took the matter under consideration until the next meeting of Presbytery. In the meantime he was directed to supply " at the Forks of Delaware in the following manner, viz : two Sabbaths at Allens Town, and one at Hunter's Settlement, (Mt. Bethel,) inter- changeably, except two Sabbaths at Te-
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hicken." November 17th, 1761, Mr. Clark expressed his acceptance of the call to the Forks of Delaware. He was installed pastor of the Settlement Church, October 13th, 1762. Rev. Richard Treat presided and preached the sermon. Rev. Henry Martin, Rev. James Latta and Rev. Charles Beatty assisted in the installation services. Mr. Clark continued in the pastorate for four years, till 1766, at which time troubles arose in the Mt. Bethel portion of the charge. He then asked for a dissolution of the pastoral. relation, which was not granted. The troubles, however, culmi- nated in a dissolution November 4th, 1767. Mr. Clark remained in connection with the Presbytery of Philadelphia for several years, but came under the care of the Presbytery of New Castle in 1772.(?) Here he remained till 1783, at which time he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Red- stone. He remained in connection with this Presbytery till 1794, during a portion of which time, at least, he was pastor of the Lebanon and Bethel Churches. In 1794, the Presbytery of Ohio was formed out of that of Redstone, and Mr. Clark became a constituent part of the new Presbytery. Here we lose sight of Mr. Clark. Where or when he died we have not learned.
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REV. JOHN ROSBRUGH.
THE fourth pastor of the Settlement Church was Rev. John Rosbrugh. He was. of Scottish descent, and was imbued with the principles of Scottish Presbyterianism. He pursued his studies in the College of New. Jersey, at Princeton, from the year 1760-3, under the care and assistance of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia. . In the latter part of 1763, or early part of i 764, the Presbytery of New Brunswick licensed him to preach the Gospel. Within a year after his licensure he was ordained to the full work of the ministry by the same Presbytery. This took place at the Green- wich Presbyterian Church, New Jersey, December 11th, 1764.
After his ordination, he shortly entered upon the duties of his pastorate at Oxford and Mansfield Woodhouse. Whilst at- tending to the duties of this pastorate he performed a large amount of labor in other fields. "He preached repeatedly at Upper and Lower Hardwick, also at Bedminster, Deep Run and Smithfield. Difficulties, however, arose in his- charge in 1768. April 19th, of this year, Mr. Rosbrugh
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represented to the Presbytery that
* , one branch of his charge, through the removal of members beyond the bounds of the congregation, and from other causes, had become so weakened as not to be able to raise their proportion of the salary. Some of the people had expressed their willingness, under the circumstances, for the pastoral relation to be dissolved. As the other branches of his charge were not able to make up the deficiency, and as his circumstances were straitened, he ex- pressed himself as under the disagreeable necessity of asking for a dissolution of the pastoral relation. His request came up for consideration the next day, (April 20th.) The Presbytery decided that it was not expedient to grant the request at that time. This was because it did not appear that * had been apprised of Mr. Rosbrugh's intention to resign at that meeting of Presbytery. In fact, no repre- sentative was there from any portion of the charge. Accordingly, further consid- eration of the matter was postponed till the fall meeting of Presbytery. In the meantime Mr. Rosbrugh was directed to notify the people of that unless 1 they came up to their pecuniary obligations,
his services would cease among them. - In case they did not, he was directed to preach one-half of his time at Greenwich,
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one-third at the portion of his old charge which had not been delinquent, and the remainder at discretion. When he re- ceived these instructions, he was also directed to supply one Sabbath at Smith- field, and one at Allentown, (Irish Settle- ment,) before the spring meeting of Pres- bytery. October 18th, Mr. Rosbrugh reported that he had failed to accommodate matters at
, and had devoted one- half of his time to Greenwich, and one- third to Oxford as directed. Presbytery adjourned to meet at Oxford on the third Wednesday of November, to further con- sider the troubles in Mr. Rosbrugh's charge. The result of this meeting was to direct him to labor at Oxford and Greenwich upon certain specified conditions. These conditions not being complied with, Pres- bytery, April 18th, 1769, released him from his charge there.
The same day a call was presented from the " people of Allentown, in the Forks of the Delaware, requesting him to take the pastoral charge of them, in connection with Greenwich." The Presbytery agreed that Mr. Rosbrugh might accept the call, pro- vided the Allentown Church was put under the care of the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, it having been under the care of the Presbytery of Abington from the formation of that Presbytery, in 1751, till its absorption
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by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in the union of 1758, and after that time, under the Presbytery of Philadelphia till 1769, when this stipulation was made.
Mr. Rosbrugh had been at the Settle- ment and had expressed his acceptance of the call April 3d, 1769, just previous to its coming up in Presbytery on the 18th. From this forward, his time was largely, if not exclusively, devoted to the Settlement and Greenwich. He attended the meeting of Synod in Philadelphia, in May of this year, and prosecuted the petition for the transfer of the Settlement Church to the Presbytery of New Brunswick.
The petition not being .granted until the spring of 1770, Mr. Rosbrugh was ap- pointed by his Presbytery, October 19th, 1769, "constant supply" to the people of Greenwich and Allentown until the next meeting, except three Sabbaths, which he was to devote to Mount Bethel. April 17th, 1770, he was appointed to preach one Sabbath at each of the following places : Mt. Bethel, Oxford, Basking Ridge and Lower Hardwick, at which place he was to administer the Lord's Supper. The Synod, May 21st, 1770, granted the petition of the previous year, and transferred the Settle- ment Church to the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. The conditions upon which he might accept the call , to the 8*
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Settlement, in conjunction with Greenwich, having been fulfilled, April 15th, 1772, Mr. Rosbrugh expressed his acceptance of the call, but was not installed at that time. October 13th, 1772, the Settlement people renewed their request for his installation, which was granted. . This took place October 28th, 1772, at twelve o'clock. Rev. John Guild presided and preached the sermon. The other members of the Committee of Installation were Rev. John Hanna, Rev. Jacob Vanarsdalen, and Rev. Samuel Kennedy. Mr. Rosbrugh be- coming permanently identified with the Settlement, married, as his second wife, Miss Jane Ralston, daughter of Mr. James Ralston, a ruling elder in the congrega- tion.
From his installation in October, 1772, until 1776, he was occupied with his pas- toral duties in the Settlement. He at- tended the meeting of Synod in Philadel- phia, in May, 1774, and also the meeting in May, 1776, at which time his elder, Mr. John Walker, accompanied him, These were Reuolutionary times, and Mr. Ros- brugh imbibed the spirit of independence, along with his fellow countrymen. . A company of soldiers was recruited in the Settlement, and Mr. Rosbrugh accom- panied them to the seat of war as chaplain. When at Trenton, January 2d, 1777, he
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was overtaken by a company of Hessians, when comparatively alone, and by them brutally murdered. Captain Hays, from the Settlement, hastily buried his body by the wayside. It was subsequently dis- interred by Rev. George Duffield, D. D., pastor of the Old Pine Street Church, Phila- delphia, and buried in the graveyard at Trenton.
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REV. FRANCIS PEPPARD.
THE fifth pastor of the Settlement Church was Rev. Francis Peppard. He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in the latter part of 1763, or early part of 1764, at the same time with Rev. John Rosbrugh, his predecessor in the pastorate. He was ordained to the full work of the ministry by the Presbytery of New York, in 1764-5, and continued in connection with that Presbytery till 1772-3, when he became connected with the Presbytery of New Brunswick. These were his ecclesiastical relations in 1781, when the congregation in the Settlement extended a call to him. He now commenced his labors there, and continued them, without being installed, for about two years. On account of this irregularity, the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in the fall of 1782, inquired into the matter. Accordingly Mr. Peppard secured his dis- mission from the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and connected himself with the First Philadelphia Presbytery, May 23d, 1783. At the same time the congregation, by their commissioners, applied for the
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installation of Mr. Peppard. The time for his installation was to be the second Tues- day of August. Rev. Alexander Mitchel was appointed to preside. Rev. James Grier was to preach the sermon, and Rev. Nathaniel Irwin was to give the charge. The services did not take place in August, as appointed, but were duly attended to by the committee, October 13th. The pastorate of Mr. Peppard in the Settle- ment, was not a very pleasant one to him.
James Rosbrugh, son of Rev. Mr. Rosbrugh, with some other young men, desired better educational advantages than were afforded in the common schools. They procured a lot of ground on the Monoquacy creek, in the eastern portion of the congregation, and proceeded to erect an academy. From some cause, Mr. Pep- pard thought this would be a detriment to the welfare of the congregation, and ac- cordingly opposed it. This raised animosi- ties in the congregation toward him, and rendered his situation unpleasant. In addition to this he felt himself called on to exercise church discipline in certain in- stances, which tended to widen the breach between himself and some of his people. Further difficulties arose growing out of the payment of his salary. An unhappy state of affairs continued until Oct. 21st, 1794, at which time Mr. Peppard asked for
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a dissolution of the pastoral relation. All parties were cited to appear before Presby- tery at Philadelphia, Nov. 17th. At this time the commissioner from the congrega- tion protested against a dissolution of the pastoral relation. Notwithstanding this Presbytery released Mr. Peppard from his charge. Although the pastoral relation was dissolved, Mr. Peppard continued to minister to the people till May, 1795. His labors having ceased in the Settlement in April, 1795, he was dismissed from the Presbytery of Philadelphia to connect him- self again with the Presbytery of New Brunswick. This was but a little less than two years before his death.
He died March 30th, 1797, and was buried at the Hardwick, or Yellow Frame Church, N. J.
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REV. ROBERT RUSSEL.
THE sixth pastor of the Settlement church was Rev. Robert Russel.
Mr. Russel was licensed by the Presby- tery of New Castle some time previous
He preached in the Settlement to 1797.
in 1796 and 1797. The congregation being vacant, and being well pleased with his ministerial qualifications, resolved to give him a call. The church, however, was under the care of the Philadelphia Presbytery, whilst Mr. Russel, was a licen- tiate under the care of the Presbytery of New Castle. In August, 1797, a conta- gious fever in Philadelphia prevented a regular meeting of Presbytery, and it was uncertain when a meeting could be held. At this time the Settlement people were desirous of prosecuting their call for Mr. Russel .. As they could not obtain instruc- tions how to proceed from Presbytery in regular session, they applied to a committee of the same, sitting on Presbyterial busi- ness in the month of August, at Deep Run. This committee represented the state of affairs to the Presbytery of New Castle in behalf. of the Settlement congre.
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