The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, Part 107

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 107

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But whereas more especially for the want of that sa- cred power, which is inherent to your Apostolic order, the vacancies which daily happen in our ministry, can- not be supplied for a long time from England, where- by many congregations are not only become desolate, and the light of the gospel therein extinguished, but great encouragement given to sectaries of all sorts which abound, and increases among us.

May it therefore please your lordships in your great piety, and regard for the government of the church by Bishops, to think of some means, whereby these our sorrowful complaints, and grievous misfortunes may be heard and redressed. And that the Almighty God, may in his infinite mercy inspire your thoughts, and as- sist your pious endeavours, to accomplish this evidently necessary and religious work, is the most earnest, and daily prayer of, may it please your lordships,

Your Lordships'

Most humble Petitioners, and Most obedient sous and servants.

September-At this time the Rev. Thomas Hughs came to Philadelphia, recommended by Col. Spots- wood, then governor of Virginia, and offered his. ser- vice to supply the Church, until the vestry could re- ceive accounts from the Bishop of London. This gen- tleman was received by the vestry, but how long he remained in the Church. does not appear.

1719, April-The Episcopalians in Philadelphia, probably concurring with their brethern in other plac. s in the Colonies, sent early this year another memorial to the Archbishops and Bishops of England, urging the propriety and soliciting the establishment of an Episco- pate in this country. This subject had been at differ- ent times agitated before, and the Rev. Mr. Evans in his letter already published, urges a variety of argu -. ments, which would seem to prove the expediency of the measure. It is not easy perhaps to discover what causes operated to prevent the rulers of the Church in England, from granting the frequent prayer of her chil- dren in America. No doubt the reasons were such as justified the course pursued, Yet we cannot help la- menting, that this favourable opportunity was lost, when it would in all probability, have secured to our excellent institutions a more general adoption, and pre- vented those unpleasant disputes, which afterwards a- rose in the discussion of this subject.

June The Rev. George Ross, whose name has been before mentioned, as the clergyman who was settled at New- Castle in Delaware, about this time received a letter from the Bishop of London, offering him the Church in Philadelphia; this letter Mr. Ross forwarded to the ves- try, at the same time accompanying it with one of his

1829.]

MISCELLANEOUS.

383

own in which he declined removing from his Parish: as soon as this was known to the Bishop of London, he licensed a gentleman of the name of Vicary, appointing him the winister of Christ Church, who arrived in the month of September. This gen leman was received by the congregation as their minister; and continued to of- ficiate until May 1723, when his ill health prevented his attendance upon Guty.

August-It was in this month the burying ground be- longing to Christ church was purchased Within the century which has elapsed since this spot of earth was appropriated as a receptacle for the ashes of the dead; how many of the children of men have been there de- posited? Many who are now alive, and look forward to the period, when that ground will cover them, can here read their geneal ogical history,& count their forefathers for several generations, by the inscriptions upon their tomb-stones. There lie the gay, the sober, and the pious allunconscious of the events which are passing around them, but all again to rise, to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to answer for the deeds done in the body.

1723-From a communication made to the Bishop of London, in December of this year, we learn that Christ Church was first built about twenty-eight years before, and that during that period it had been twice enlarged by additions built thereto. The death of the Rev. Mr. Vicary took place about this period, who had supplied the Church for some time, and was spoken of as a zeal- ous and pious man. As was usual in such cases, the vestry immediately made known the state of the con- gregation to the Bishop of London, praying relief.

1724-A letter was addressed to the Rev. Richard Welton by the vestry, requesting him to accept the charge of the congregation, who within a few months is spoken of as present in Philadelphia. It is probable, however, that the invitation given to Mr. W., was only intended for a short time, or until they could hear from England, as the next year this gentleman left the coun- try, and returned to Great Britain. During the remain- der of the year 1724, and the whole of 1725, until Au- gust 1726, the Church was supplied by those clergy- men residing in the neighbourhood, the Rev. Mr. Wey- man, and the Rev. Mr. Leadman, and the Rev. Mr. Hol- brook.

1726-In August of this year the Rev. Archibald Cummings arrived from England, bringing with him a licence from the Bishop of London, to officiate in Christ Church. This gentleman continued to officiate until 1740, with great satisfaction to the congregation, and with good success. During this time several interest- ing circumstances took place, affecting the prosperity of the Church. It appears that the number of Episco- palians had so much increased, that the house would not contain the people who were disposed to attend .- The Church was again enlarged by adding thirty-three feet to the west end, and the foundation of the steeple was laid. When this alteration was completed, the or- gan now used was purchased and placed in the Church, it was imported from England, and cost 200/ .*

In October 1732, the Rev. Mr. Cummings presented a letter from Dr. Thomas Moore, of Great Britian, in which it was mentioned, that the sum of 300/. had then lately been left by some unknown person to be appro- priated to the purposes of religion, and that there was a probability that it might be procured by the vestry, in order to augment the living of their rector. Upon this intimation a letter was addressed to Dr. Moore, request- ing his friendly aid in the business.

1736-In the year the first mention is made of the Rev. R chard Peters, who was afterwards Rector of the Church for several years. He was at this time a young gentleman just about to take orders, and to come to

* 'There was no organ in Christ Church until 1766; when the present organ cost nearly £1000 currency was erected.

W.W.

this city. The vestry addressed a letter to the Lord Bishop of London, requesting that he might be licensed to act as an assistant minister to Mr. Cummings.t

Mr. Peters arrived, but it appears that he declined accepting the situation as assistant minister, for reasons which were deemed sufficient by the vestry, but which are not detailed.

He frequently preached with great acceptance, and is spoken of by the vestry with approbation, both as a minister and as a man.

1740-In this year the name of the Rev. Mr. Cum- mings is mentioned for the last time. He died, and was succeeded by Rev. Eneas Ross, who supplied the vacancy.

+ Mr. Peters was in Priest's orders, when he came from England. W. W.

LIBERAL BEQUESTS.

The late Frederick Kohne, Esq., made the following munificent bequests: payable on the the decease of Mrs. Kohne:

To the House of Refuge, Philadelphia, $100,000

Orphan Society of Philadelphia, 60,000

Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, 20,000

Infant School Society,

5,000

Philadelphia Dispensary,

10,000

Female Episcopal Association of Philadelphia,

5,000

Female Benevolent Society of St. James's Church for the poor of said Church, 3,000

Bishop's Fund, Pennsylvania, 5,000

Episcopal Society for propagating Christianity in Pennsylvania, 5 000

Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, 100,000 Episcopal Sunday School Union, 20,000

Episcopal Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, 10,000

Ladies' Benevolent Society, Charleston, South Carolina, 5,000

Shiras's Dispensary, Charleston, S. C. 10,000

Society for advancing Christianity in S. C. 5.000

Bishop's Fund, South Carolina, 5,000

Protestant Episcopal Domestic Missionary So- ciety, South Carolina, 10,000

Mariners' Church, Charleston, S. C. 5,000

$383,000

Certain real estate in Charleston to the Orpan Asylum of that city-value not known.

Liberal provision is made for some relatives in Ger- many, &c., and the residue of his estate is bequeathed to his executors, or the survivor of them, "for such charitable institutions in Pennsylvania and South Caro- lina as they, or he, may deem most beneficial to man- kind, and so that part of the colored population in each of the said states of Pennsylvania and South Carolina, shall partake of the benefit thereof."

The executors to this will, are Mrs. Kohne, John Boh- len and Roberts Vaux, Esquires, of Philadelphia, and Robert Maxwell, Esq., of Charleston, South Carolina.

[It may perhaps be of some importance to the pub- lic institutions which have been so munificently remem- bered by Mr. Kohne, to remind our citizens, that it may be yeurs, before the benefits of these bequests, can be realized; and that therefore, in the mean time those so- cieties will require all the assistance from other sources on which they have heretofore been accustomed to de- pend, and which, of course, ought not to be withdrawn.]

Reading May, 30.

The number of boats that crossed the summit level of the Union Canal, during the week ending the 23d inst. was 102, being an average of a fraction less 15 per day.

384

MISCELLANEOUS.

[JUNE

Extruct of a letter from Lebanon, Pennsylvania dated June 7, 1829.

"I observe by the Philadelphia papers, that the quantity of lumber carried to Baltimore from the Sus- quehanna during the present season is estimated at 8,- 000,000 feet, and that the quantity which descended the Delaware during the same period is supposed to equal 50,000,000 feet. How correct these estimates may be I know not, but as connected with the same subject, I send you the exact quantity which has passed upon the UNION CANAL during the last and present season.

In 1828, the quantity of lumber which passed the U- nion Canal was 3,757,000 feet.

Of Shingles

788,000

In 1829, say in two months-lumber, 1,931,000

Of Shingles, 1,545,000

But for the failure of the State Locks at Middletown, by which the canal was to have been connected with the Susquehanna, the transport of lumber would have been greatly increased, as nearly every thing must now be dragged a short distance from the Swatara to the Canal. This difficulty will however be obviated in fu- ture, as the Union Canal Company is erecting a new set of Locks of their own to take the place of those e- rected by the Commonwealth."

LUMBER OF THE DELAWARE.

It is computed that one thousand rafts have decended the river Delaware this spring, containing boards, plank and scantling. These raft usually contain from thirty to fifty thousand feet each, and this season, as the waters have been unusually high, the average amount has been greater, say 50,000 per raft. This would give the enor- mous quantity of fifty millions of feet of lumber, which has come to our market from the Delaware alone, and although the prices have been low, yet the whole of this has been disposed of within four weeks.

The lumber which is brought to Philadelphia by the Delaware is chiefly made in the counties Delaware and Sullivan, in New York, and Wayne co. Penn. The prices at which it sold were from $7 to 18 per thousand; averaging it at $14 per thousand. we shall have a pro- duct of seven hundred thousand dollars which has been paid within the last month for the lumber which has descended the Delaware. Few of our citizens are a- ware, perhaps, that one branch of our river trade has swelled to so large an amount .- Am. Daily Advertiser.

DINNER TO MR. MCILVAINE. HARRISBURG, June 2, 1839.

JOSEPH MCILVANE, EsQ.

Dear Sir :- A number of our friends from different sec- tions of the State, now in Harrisburg, having understood that you have retired from the office of Secretary of the Board of Canal Commissioners, the arduous duties of which you have so faithfully discharged from the com- mencement of the system of improvement in Pennsy Iva- nia, feeling anxious to testify to you the respect which they entertain for you as a man, and their liigh sense of your services to the commonwealth, have appointed us a committee to offer you a public dinner at Wilson's Hotel, on to-morrow at 4 o'clock, P. M.

Permit us individually to add our best wishes for your continued health and prosperity.

With sentiments of esterm, yours, &c. DAVID PETRIKIN, A. L. BEAUMONT, W. DONALDSON, SIMON CAMERON, JOSEPH JEFFRIES, Committee of Invitation.

HARRISBURG, June 2, 1829.

Gentlemen :- Your kind note of this morning has been received with feelings which I cannot venture to ex- press, but which you may imagine when you reflect that in the judgment of this community, upon my humble

efforts in the cause of Improvement, my all of reputa- tion as à public man is involved. To receive such a mark of private regard, and of esteem for my conduct as an officer of the commonwealth from a source so res- pectable, is therefore a cause of inexpressible gratifica- tion.

I regret sincerely that the necessity of returning to Philadelphia, in order to close the concerns of the late Board of Canal Commissioners, renders it impracticable to avail myself of your friendly invitation. With the warmest wishes for your health and happines, and breathing an anxious prayer that the noble work of Pennsylvania improvement, may advance with increas- ing vigor and increased popularity through every step of its progress,

I remain, gentlemen, your friend and fellow citizen. JOSEPH MCILVAINE.

Messrs. David Petrikin, A.L. Beaumont, Simon Cam- eron, W. Donaldson, Joseph Jeffries, Committee of citizens of Pennsylvania now at Harrisburg.

CANAL COMMISSIONERS.

Since the organization of the board, the following ap- pointments have been made :-

James Clarke, Acting Commissioner on the Juniata division.

James S Stevenson, Acting Commissioner on the Wes- tern division.

John Forry, Acting Commissioner on the Eastern di- vision.

John Mitchell, Acting Commissionor on the North Branch, division.

John Ryon, Jr. Superintendent on the Susquehanna and West Branch division.

Thomas G. Kennedy, Superintendant on the Delaware division.

John Barber, Superintendant on the Columbia and Philadelphia rail road.

Dewitt Clinton, Principal Engineer on the Juniata di- vision.

Edward F. Gay, do. on the Eastern division.

Charles T. Whippo, do. on the North Branch divis- ion.

John Wilson, do. on the Columbia and Philadelphia rail road.

Henry G. Sergeant, do. on the Delaware division.

Francis W. Rawle, do. on the Susquehannaand West Branch division.

Canal Revenue .- Mr. J. Leech, Collector at Freeport, deposited in the Bank, on Monday last, the first receipts of Toll, collected on the Western Division Pennsylva- nia Canal! The amount was small (only $75) but it shows that the navigation of our Canal has commenced; a fact not generally known abroad, and from some mo- tive questioned and disputed by many at home.

Pittsburg Statesman.

The Canal .- Between this place and Mauch Chunk, is drawing near to its completion. We took a walk along the line a few days since, and were much pleased with the neatness and substantial appearance of the locks, culverts, &c. According to the advertisement of the Acting Manager, it will be open for navigation on or about the first day of July next, when the consum- ers of stone coal will have an opportunity of providing themselves, and at a much cheaper rate than they did before, with this valuable fuel. Easton pap.

Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F. GEDDES, No. 59 Locust Street. Philadelphia; where, and at the PUBLICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, second door back of the Post Office, (back room) subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per annum, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance.

THE

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. III .- NO. 25. PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 20, 1829. NO: 77.

ADDRESS ON INFANT SCHOOLS.

Substance of an address delivered at the anniversary of the Infant Schools for the Northern Liberties and Kensington; May 4, 1829. By the Rev. M. M. Carl.

The age in which we live, is one of unexampled ex- ertion in the cause of humanity. No former period of the history of mankind, has witnessed such disinterest- ed and effective efforts, for the melioration of our spe- cies, by disseminating the principles of order and vir- tue, among the remote and uncivilized nations of, the earth, and especially by instructing the rising genera- tion, as the period in which we live.

The christian world seems to be achieving a complete atid decisive conquest over those narrow and selfish principles and feelings, with which they have been so long enslaved, and are beginning to realize and to act upon this great scripture truth, that real and genuine happiness consists in doing good to others. It is this spirit of love and good will to man, that first started and has since kept in motion, that grand and stupendous machinery, which is destined to change the moral and physical aspect ofthe world. It is this spirit which has sent forth the bible into all lands, penetrating like a ra- diant glory, the thick darkness, and beaming light into the dwellings of those who, "sit in the region and sha- dow of death." It is this spirit that has rescued mil- lions from the evils of idleness and profanation, and poured the healing balm of sacred instruction into their tender minds.

But of all the efforts which have for their object the improvement of man, and the advancement of his moral and intellectual condition, none have higher claims to attention than that of Infant Schools. They are posses- sed of advantages which are peculiar, and which give them a decided superiority over other plans, which have the sarhe object in view. In instructing adults and chil- dren by means of the bible, and that excellent institu- tion the Sunday Schools, we are obliged to operate on minds already under the influence of habit; minds in which there is much of evil and of errors consequently before a proper superstructure can be raised, much time and labour are consumed in clearing away the rub- bish and preparing a suitable foundation; and even after all our labor, we have the mortification frequently to see those early evil impressions, which had only been kept quiescent, burst forth in acts of folly and wicked- hess, threatening to defeat all our labour and all our hopes.

But in the Infant School the mind receives its first impulses, and a habit of truth and order is impressed from the beginning. Here we commence with the ear- ly spring; whilst the bud of intellect is forming, and be- fore the flower has had time to expand, and wither un- der the blight of pernicious example. Hence it will be easy to give such direction and bias to the pliant twig, as shall best secure the health, vigour and fruitfulness of the future T'ree.

Here we shall labour to great advantage, and with a certainty of success: for there will be no inveterate hab- its to overcome, but we shall form the mind into what- ever shape we please.

of infantile instruction, and the influence it must neces- sarily have on the individual and on society at large.

If we inquire respecting the cause why men have been so loose in their principles; and vicious in their conduct, it seems to be, that in the places of education of all ranks, until lately, too little attention has been paid to religious instruction.

"Too many," says Dr. Fuller, "are more careful to bestow wit on their children; rather than virtue,-the art of speaking well, rather than doing well." But their morals ought to be their chief concern; to be prudent, honest, good and virtuous, an infinitely higher accom- plishment than being learned, rhetorical, or that which the world usually calls great scholars and fine gentle- men. An industrious and virtuous education for chil- dren, is to them a better inheritance than a great estate.

The formation of character commences at a very early period, and the human mind is susceptible of the seeds of truth or error, of virtue of vice, at the very dawn of existence! It becomes then a matter of infinite impor- tance, as it regards individual welfare and social happi- ness, to transplant those tender shoots from the hot-bed of vice and corruption, to a more friendly and genial soil; where they may receive that culture, that tender and compassionate care, which will insure an abundant crop of future virtue and usefulness.

O how enviable the condition of those, who directing" their exertions to the purification of the very origin and source of human society, the very cause of motives and of actions, are preventing the perpetration of crime, and the infliction of horrid and too frequently inefficient punishment! It is on such efforts and such works as these, that angels look down with complacency and de- light, and which must receive the smiles arid approba- tion of God himself! * * * *

It would be useless to multiply facts or waste your time in adducing instances of juvenile depravity, in order to' substantiate that, which is so well known to every man of common observation, viz: that the formation of character is coeval with the dawn of existence, or that habits,either good or bad, "grow with our growth and strengthen with our strength."-Let any one visit those parts of a city, where the poor chiefly reside, for the purpose of making observations in relation to this subject, and he will want no arguments to convince him of this truth .- He will there see children of various ages; the infant wallowing in the dirt, or just beginning to walk, mix- ing in the sports of those who are older, their little ears continually assailed with language in all its deformity; the language of vulgarity, of blasphemy and of lies: their attention continually arrested by scenes of disorder, of quarrelling, fighting and pilfering: In short he will see a school in which the first rudiments of vice are taught and eagerly imbibed; where impressions are made which are never afterwards wholly effaced from the mind; where the seeds of mischief and disorder are sown, in a most retentive soil, which no subsequent care or labour will ever be sufficient entirely to eradicate.

Can it be matter of surprise, that children passing through such a course of instruction, as this, should, as they advance towards maturity, ripen also' in wicked- ness and in guilt? Is it to be wondered at, that in a so- ciety where the children are thus neglected, that there

If we reflect upon the early formation of character, we shall be sensibly impressed with the vast importance | should be an increase of crime; that lying, roguery, VOL. III. 49

386

ADDRESS ON INFANT EDUCATION.

[JUNE

theft, murder, and the indulgence of every evil should be so common? Is it matter of surprise that your pris- ons should be increased in number and in size, that new modes of punishment should be invented? Ah! you may increase the number of your jails, you may alter their construction, you may invent new punishments; but it will all be in vain; the core of society is diseased; you are applying the caustic and the knife to a consti- tution inherently corrupted. After the crime has been perpetrated and the mischief done, you then, like an un- skilful physician, begin to apply the remedy, instead of applying your prescription to the root of the disease, and thus preventing the crime, and of course the neces- sity of punishment. '

Now the grand object of Infant Schools, is to prevent crime, by rescuing the rising generation from the infec- tious poison of wicked example; reducing them to or- der, instructing them in various matters of science and knowledge adapted to their tender years, and especial- ly instructing them in the moral and social duties; teach- ing them both by precept and example, to love God, and love each other. This is beginning at the source, this is checking the evil in its very first formation, and this is the only way, in which our efforts can be success- ful: our exertions have hitherto proved, in a great mea- sure, ineffectual, because they have not been applied to the root of the disease, the wound has been slightly healed; and hence it is perpetually manifesting itself under new forms, symptomatic of increased malignity.

Let it'not be supposed that I wish to depreciate the efforts, which in our day have been made, and are still making in the cause of benevolence and humanity. The numerous institutions of the present day, are excellent in their kind, and do honour to the age in which we live; but they do not go to the fountain head, they do · not take the disease in its incipient state, they apply more to the correction and punishment, than to the pre- vention of crime. They begin to operate upon society after the habit is formed, of course their exertions must be directed rather to the extirpation of noxious weeds and poisonous plants, than to the first formation of good habits and virtuous inclinations. Hence much pains and toil are thrown away, and we have the mortification, frequently to see our well intended labours end in dis- appointment.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, Part 107

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 440

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440