BX 
 
 9211 
 
 .P6 
 
 M32 
 
 1873 
 
BX 9211 .P6 M32 1873 
 MacDonald, James M. 1812- 
 
 1876. 
 Some reminiscences of a 
 
 twenty years V ministry in 
 
Ml 4^: 
 
 ropy 
 
 / i) 
 
 v>oii|e l\eiinniv^cei)cevS 
 
 Twenty Years' Ministry 
 
 FlUNCETON, N. J. 
 
 I\isl<tv of l/it First Preslnjicriaii Cliinrh. 
 
 PRINCETON : 
 
 Pini.lSllKll HV McGlXXKSS iV RlNYAX. 
 
 is7;j. 
 
i 
 
SOME REMINISCENCES 
 
 Twenty Years' Ministry 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 By fTanic^s lS,L. ]S£acdoiialcl, 
 
 J'lisfdj' dj' fhc First I'rishjitcriaii ('hiirrh. 
 
 PHINCETON: 
 
 I'ritl.ISIlKII liV M(fIlNM-;SS iV IilNVAX. 
 
 is;:;. 
 
.lAMKS M. MACDON'AI.I). DD.. TASTOi; of tiik Imiist J'i;i:siiVTK!:iAN 
 ('miuH or l*Ki.\( KTox. N. .1. : 
 
 I'er. and hair Sir. — At a iiH'cliii'j: of tlio Congrc^jiitioii wliosi' )iri\il(',Ln' 
 ii was to listen to voiir liistoriral (liscoursc. (l(;livere(l on Lord's I)a\ . Now 
 2d, it was iinaninioiisly l!vs<ilrc<J. Thai voii lie r('([iic.stcd to rnrnlsli a copv foe 
 jpiiljliciitioti. and the iiiidiMsi^^iicd wen' a|>poiiif(Ml a coininit tcr to present 
 tliat re(jiiest ; and we lie.n' leave to add, that your eoinj)lianc(' with the SHino 
 would lie a sonrc(> of special !j.ratififati(in to oni-sehes personally, as well a.v 
 to those whom we repre.sent. 
 
 \\ itli .senliaients of .sincere rcsjieet and regard. 
 ^Otirs, very ti-uly. 
 
 STEPHEN AEEXANDEIi. 
 (tEO. T. OLMSTED. 
 PI EN RY V. CAMEIJON. 
 Prineetou. Xo\. •"), IS?:!. 
 
 To STEPHEN ALEXANDER, LL.D., GEO. T. OLMSTED, Es..j., 
 Puof. HENItV C. CAMEPtON. Ph.D.: 
 
 (t'enikmoi, and Chn'sfuui lirelliien. — It is with pleasure T furnish here- 
 with a copy of the di.seourse referred to in your note of tlie third instant. 
 
 Grateful for the attention with which the same was listened to, liy the 
 congregation, and for their further iiit(M'est in the request for its peJilieation. 
 permit me to sul>sci-ilie myself, with sinci're regard, Imth 
 Yours, and Theirs. 
 
 .1. M. MACDONALD. 
 Princeton. Nov. 17. 1-^7:'). 
 
S M i: n K M IMS C K N C K S 
 
 TWENTY YEARS' MINISTRY 
 
 Vou liave not been aecustoniC'd to liear from me wliat 
 are called minister's Anniversarj-sermons, . On one occa- 
 sion only — it was in the Summer of 1862 — an attempt was 
 made to sum up, and i-eviow, tlie work of the few preceding 
 years. But, no^v, as a score of years have elapsed since I 
 took charge of this pulpit, it would seem to l)e altogether 
 [)ro|»er to take some notice of (ifod's dealings with us, and 
 of the changes, whether for l)Otter or worse, which liave 
 occurred in tlie congregation. 
 
 I'^/r-^f Visit h) I'rliicelo)). 
 
 -My tirst visit to Princeton was made in the year 1849, 
 to attend the inauguration of Dr. James W. Alexander 
 (with whom [ liad 1)een, for several vears, a co-presbyter in 
 Xew York) as Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Chnrch 
 Government, in the Theological Seminary. I had the 
 advantage of having, as a companion, another c:o-presbyter, 
 the Rev. John (loldsmitli, D.D., of Newtown, Long Island, 
 who was a graduate of the (\)llcge in 1815, in the same 
 Class with Dr. Ilodge, and was matriculated with him in 
 tlie same Class in the Semin;iry, in 181G. He was a man very 
 devoted to Princeton and its institutions, and abounded witli 
 recollections of them, as they were, when he resided here, 
 and with the traditions lie had received. Tt could not fail 
 
to be a deeply iiitei-esting visit ; but 1 went away as I came, 
 a stranger to the people of the place, little dreaming that it 
 was to become my home, for so many yenrt^ ; and that I was 
 to sustain so important a relation to the [)eople. 
 
 P'lljnt Varan/ bt 1852. 
 
 This pulpit became vacant in April, 1852, by the resigna- 
 tion of the Rev. William E Schenck, who has so long and 
 ablv filled the office of Secretary of the Board of Publica- 
 tion of the I'resbyterian Church. During the vacancy the 
 pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Drs. Hope and Moffat and 
 Luther Ilaisey, by the Rev. Hugh S. Carpenter of Xew 
 York, now of California, and tlie Rev. William R. Weed, of 
 Stratford, Conn. 
 
 Mr. Weal Called. 
 
 A call was extended to Mr. Weed, July 26, 1852. A 
 posthumous volume of this gentleman's sermons attests his 
 great power as a preacher, and fully justifies the deep 
 impression he made on this congregation. In the great 
 increase of sermon-literature in England and America, dur- 
 ing the last twenty years or more, demonstrating that the 
 printed sermon has been redeemed from the reproach and 
 neglect into which it had fallen, and which I was accustomed 
 to hear freely visited upon it, in the earlier years of ray 
 ministry,! can truly say, of all the sermons that have fallen 
 under my notice, from those of Archer Butler, and F. W. 
 Robertson to those of Henry Ward Beecher, and even Spur- 
 geon,I know of none that excel the sermons of Mr. Weed, 
 for originality, strength, pathos, and unction. In Xorwalk, 
 Conn., to which place he removed in 1855, and took charge 
 of the First Congregational Church, he departed this life, 
 December, 1860, and " devout men carried him to his burial, 
 and made great lamentation over him."' 
 
 J. M. Mardonald Called. 
 
 At the suggestion of the late Dr. J. W. Alexa)ider, who 
 had returned to the pastorate in New York, and with whom 
 
7 
 
 I was oiK-e iiiorc assiH-iatcd, in tlio saiiio Presln'tery, I was 
 invited, In- tlie Session of this Churcli,to snpply the pul))it, 
 Marc-li 27th, 1853, and complied, fn the foUowinf;- niontl), 
 April 25tli, 1853, at a nif,'etini!;oftlie congregation, over which 
 Dr. Matthew B. Hope, i'rofessor of Khetoric in the College, 
 presided, I was nnaninionsly elected pastor. This call 1 felt 
 constrained, " after careful consideration,"" to decline. It 
 was I'cnewed, houever, in August following, and was accept- 
 ed in SeptenilK^i'. The sahirv promised in the call was $1,- 
 200 ; which was iuci'cased to $1,500 before the year expired. 
 A commodious parsonage has since been provided, and the 
 salary further increased. 
 
 llcreind and in.'<(allal by ihc Pi-cshi/frri/ nf 
 AfT Bnmsirick. 
 
 I was received from the i'l'esliytery of New York a mem- 
 her of tlie Presbytery of New Brunswick, at its session in 
 Fi-cchold — then within its Ixxmds — Oct. 4th, 1853 ; and 
 ari-angemcnts uerc made for my installation. I arrived in 
 rrin<H"ton with my family, Oct. Sth, and preached the follow- 
 ing day, in the moi'uing, from Mark ix. 24, •' Lord, I believe; 
 help 'I'hou mine unbelief:"' and in the evening, from Eecle- 
 siastes i. 18, "For in much wisdom is much grief; and he 
 that increasetli knowledge inci'easeth soi'i'ow : " and sup- 
 ])lied the [)uli)it during the rest of that month. On Tues- 
 day, Nov. 1st, I was installed by a Committee of the Pres- 
 bytery of New Prunswick. Rev. Dr. Hodge presided, and 
 proposed the constitutional ([uestions. Rev. Dr. Davidson, 
 then Pastor of the First (Miurch, New Brunswick, preached 
 the sermon. Rev. Dr. James C. Watson, then Pastor at 
 Kingston, gave the charge to the minister ; and the late Rev. 
 Dr. Syinnies C Henry of (Cranberry, to the congresration. 
 Of the forty-tive ministers, who were then members of the 
 Presbytery of New Brunswick, but twelve now remain. 
 Only three, who were l^astors in the Presbytery, at that 
 time, remain in their charges; namely, liev. Ravaud K. 
 
8 
 
 Rodgers, D.D., Kl-v. .lolm Hal], D.D., and Rev. Abraham 
 Gosmaii, IJ.IX 
 
 Officers in the Church ami Confjrcj/adoii. 
 Of the seven members vvlio constitnted the Session, at 
 that time, and signed the call to me, b}- direction of the 
 Congregation, Mr. Ralph Lane was so aged and intirm, 
 that one of his brethren was empowered, by the Congrega- 
 tion, to sign it for him. He deceased Aug. 25t]i, 1854, at 
 the great age of 92 years. The reputation of this man was 
 widel}' and long proverbial in the community, for the most 
 exact justice, in Ids dealings with Ins fcllowmen, and the 
 strictest uprightness. Another Elder, Mr. Ralpli Guliclc, 
 was the victim of consumption, and that wasting disease 
 had already made great liavoc in his constitution. He 
 departed this life, in the bright hope of a better, April 25th, 
 1854. — Mr. Isaac Baker, wln^ was the bearer of the request 
 for me to preach in this pulpit at my tirst introduction to 
 it, and who, accordingly, was the tirst member of this con- 
 gregation with whom I had the pleasure of forming an 
 acquaintance, died in Brooklyn, at the house of his son-in- 
 law^ Rev. J. T. Duryea, D.D., Sept. 22d, 1870. Another, 
 Mr. Daniel Bowne, by removal to Trenton, and consequent 
 cliange of his churcli relations, ceased to exercise the office 
 of Lay-Elder, in this church. The three othei's of the seven, 
 Jacob Lane, Ir'rof. Steplien Alexandei-, LL.D., and Jolin F, 
 Hageman, Esq., remain. From time to time, others have 
 been added to their number. Dr. George M. Maclean, and 
 Messrs. J.Boyd VanDoren, Jno. V. Terhune, Henry E. Hale, 
 and Joseph B. Wright, who lias removed. Mr. David 
 Comfort, now of Virginia, where he had before been 
 ordained to the office of Lay-Elder, tilled this office, during 
 several of the years of his residence liere, very faithfully and 
 acceptably. — The Board of Trustees of this congregation, at 
 the time I assumed the pastorship, consisted of Prof. J. S. 
 Schanck, LL.D., wdio was elected July 30th, 1846, and has 
 been its President since the resignation and removal of 
 
I'rol". J()soi)li IlniiT, LL 1)., July 'iotli, 1S48, ami of .lames 
 S. (irei'ii, Es(|., and Messrs. ,[anies Vaiuleveiiter, Isaac 
 Baker, (I. T. Olmsted, and J. F. Ilao-eman, Esq. The 
 xaeanev \vljieh tiien existed in the Board by reason of the 
 I'esigiiation of Mr. William Guliek, was sul)sefjnenrly tilled 
 by the election of the late Mr. Kmley Olden ; and vacancies, 
 since ()ccasii)ned by death, have l)een tilled by the election 
 of J. II. Wikolf, .\T. I)., and Messrs. Edward "iTowe, and J. 
 JM^'d VanDoren. The late Mr. .lohn II. Clark, of Hamil- 
 ton S(|iiare, and Mr. Isaac Stryker, now of Newark, were 
 the Deacons in the earlier years of my ministry liere. The 
 pi-esent Board consists of Mr. G. T. Olmsted, elected Dec. 
 rjth, 18()'>, and Messrs. Philip Hendrickson. David A. Ilnd- 
 nut and Ho^i^ert Strykei-, elected Nov. 18th, I860. 
 (ItiAiigcs in the ('nnfircijutiot). 
 To one who from tlie pul})it surveys the congregation, 
 the clianges are very marked. This of course would be the 
 case, if there Ijad been no i-emovals, and death had spared 
 ns. Those who were children have become men and 
 women; tliose who were in tiie fresh verdure of life, are 
 passing into its sere and yellow leaf. Those who were chil- 
 dien are, some of them, now, at the liead of houseliolds, 
 and are here with their cluldrcn. But, there liave been 
 constant I'emovals, and death has not spared us. Several 
 of the inost impoi'tant families have entirely disappeared 
 from the congregation. Of the family of Mr. Emiey Olden, 
 as it was constituted, when I took charge of this congrega- 
 tion, not one is left. They were devoted in theii- attachment 
 to t!:is churcdi, and its pastor. The same is true of tlic 
 family of Elder Isaac Baker, — not a single reju'esentative is 
 left in this congregation. The family of tlie Kt'V. President 
 Carnal) an lias disappeared from the midst of us. We look 
 in vain for any one to re])i'escnt that of dames S. Green, 
 Estj. Mr. Green was a son of Dr. Ashbel Green, l*resident 
 of the (^ollege, and was identified vvitli the congregation 
 i'rom his \-outh. He was the Treasurer of the Board of 
 
lO 
 
 Truatees wlieii I caiiio and so (.•oiitiiiiUMl, till liis death, and 
 performed the duties of tliis office, with u;reat zeal an/l 
 fidelity. ■ From the nature of his office, I was necessarily 
 hronght into frequent intercourse with liini, and was ahvuA-s 
 treated with consideration and kindness. He stood aniont';' 
 the iirst iit the Bar, and was among the first citizens of the 
 State of Xew Jersey. Althougli not a communicant, ho 
 had for years a Bible Class for young n)en, whom he met, 
 from Sabbath t<^ Sal>batii, at the Church, in connei-tion with 
 the Sabbath School. 
 
 Great C/iatir/cs i>i the World. 
 In the w orld at large, during these years, there has been 
 a series of the most important cbanges, to which indeed we 
 can scarcely pay even a hurried glance. Silence has con- 
 tinued to widen its domain, and those great results which 
 steam and electricity are destined to accomplish in civiliza- 
 tion, have been steadily advancing. AViiat was thought 
 utterly to defy the skill and ]>erseverance of men, the uniting 
 of continents, separated by wide oceans, by tlie magnetic 
 lelegra{)ii, has been effected. Wars have continued to con- 
 vulse the world. Ln the Crimea, treasure and lives were 
 wasted, without any apparent nuiterial advantage to the 
 great pov/ers that were engaged in the stiuggle, except i)er- 
 liaps to perfect them in military skill and science. Sevasta- 
 pool, Sedowa and Sedan, have become historic : tlie two 
 last named, by the great results of the victories associated 
 with their names. The statesmanship of Cavour has done 
 more for his country, than could have been accomplished 
 by mere diplomacy and arms. Mis beloved Italy Ijas been 
 advanced toward the front rank of nations. And while 
 Austria has failed to maintain its old position, a Protestant 
 power, Pi'ussia, has assumed the very first rank. Napoleon 
 III. has met with downfall and death, and the throne of 
 France still stands empty. Even in Spain, there waves the 
 Republican flag. The Temporal Power of the Pope has 
 been taken from hiiD, pi'ol)ably ncvei- to be regained. If 
 
1 1 
 
 tlu' iiKiji i)f I-CnrojK' lias uikIit^'oiic mo i:;i'oat cliaiiiiH'.s in tlic 
 lioiiiidaries of its oM j»oliti(,'al divisions, it lias iiink'ro'oiic 
 the most far-rcacliiiiii- cliaii^'c's, as it rcsj.)OcLs the lialaiico of 
 [lowiT, and ill tlu' relative imiiortanee of its States. Tliei-e 
 has been a marked prou^i-ess in liliei'tv, in ititeliii^^enee, in 
 civilization, and in all tlial most essontiallv helong's to the 
 elo\'ation and welfare of the race. Seldom, in tlie history 
 <d' the world, ha\'e o-i-cjitci' events crowded upon one anothei'. 
 Not only ill the liistory (d" the nations of Kni-ope and 
 Americ-a, hut in those of Asia, the last twenty years mark 
 an er;i, which will stand out, with great i»roinineiU'e, on the 
 page of liistory. In (Jliina, moi-e im[)ortant (dianges have 
 been wrought, than in [terhaps centuries before. And in 
 India, especially sin<'<- the Mutiny, which already, us we 
 look back to it, with its stoiw of Ijueknov.-, and its well of 
 Cawn}»ore, seems more like the iiu'ention of the imagina- 
 tion, or some hoi-rid dream, than au}' thing that really hap- 
 pened, how astonishing has been the progress of the drospel ! 
 We have lived to heai- the Gospel preached, in our o'vii 
 pulpits, from the lips of a Brahmin, the Rev. N". Sheshadri, 
 with all the discriminaticju and skill of one of our own 
 cxi>erienced and gifted pastors. The first half of this een- 
 tury, a century coeval with the great Pi-otestanf Missionai-y 
 Enterprise, was devoted to the woi-k of preparation ; since 
 then, the woi-k of evangelization has been making rapid 
 jirogress. There has been, at the same time, a gi'eat im*rease 
 of the po\ver of spiritual religion, tlironghoat (^hi'istian 
 countries. Tiiis was manifest from the kite rejiorts, on the 
 state of I'eligion in various parts of the (Miristian world, to 
 the Evangelical Alliance : as foi- example, in such a country 
 as (jermany, the delegates from which were not only among 
 the most intelligent, but the most earnestly pious, at the 
 late C^inlY'rence, in New York. And wli^it do these meet- 
 ings of evangelical Christians, of various denominations and 
 nationalities, during the last quarter of a century, betoken, 
 but a great increase of the sj)irit of true religion ? Thei-e may 
 
12 
 
 liave been a developinont of ritua]i>^m and formality in soinr 
 quarters, but in the cliurchcH of the lieforination at lai's^e, 
 the change has been vastly for the better, rather than for 
 the worse, ^ever has tliere been, since the ascension of 
 (Mirist, in the world as a wliole, a more [)rotnising aspect 
 of affairs. In our own country, the wisdom of an entire 
 separation oi' church and state, has been more completely 
 vindicated, in the stronger hold wliich religion lias been 
 constantly gaining on the affections and i'esj)ect of the peo- 
 ple, and the successful efforts for its diffu.-.ion. 
 
 In our own Ijehn'ed church, there has been no want of 
 sympathy and concurrence with evangelical C'hristians at 
 large, but a similar development of life and strength, in the 
 part she has taken, by lier Boards and appointed agencies, 
 in carr\-ing forward the evangelization of the world, and 
 the great work given us to do, in our own beloved land. 
 The healing of the division in the church, which took place 
 a generation ago, seems to be thorough and effectual ; and 
 the reunion of tlie churches North and South, sundered by 
 the war, sui-ely can only be a question of tin)e. Tiie divi- 
 sive sjiiiMt, whicli has existed in former years, seems to be 
 greatly weakened of late, and other Pi-esbyterian Ixxlies, 
 which have maintained separate existence, on })oints alto- 
 gether sulxjrdinate and unessential, are earnestly looking 
 towards organic union with the irreat body of Presbyterians. 
 It is this tendency to union among ('hristians, that have no 
 reason for separate organizations, and to fellowsliip, coop-e- 
 ration, and alliance among all evangelical believers, which 
 constitutes one of tlie most interesting and hopeful features 
 of these recent years. But this glance at the changes whicli 
 have been going on in our times, the influence of which 
 has been necessarily so great on ourselves, must sulhce. 
 We must narrow our vision. 
 
 PopnJation of Princelon and Nuuihcr of Churelws. 
 
 I turn, now, to [*rinceton itself. Its growth has been 
 very gradual. According to the Census-reports, since 1850, 
 
the |i()])iiI;ition lia.-^ iiici'cascd less lliau 1000. Tii IcSoO, tlie 
 total popnlatioii of tlie towiisliii) was 8,021, includiiii:; '>52 
 colored peojde. In ISliO, it was 3,726, with B21 C()h)re(l. 
 [ii 1S7<\ the total pojuilatioii ot'the entire townshiji, as irivcn 
 to ine hy the assistant marshal, was 4,000, iiieliuliiig oo-i 
 eolored. It hai-(lly seems possible that the colored popula- 
 tion of Trinccton was less in 1870, than in 1S(I0. Instead 
 ot'ha\'ini>- diminished, by more than sixty, one would say, 
 tVom mere obsei'vation, that it had considerably increased/-' 
 The i)o[)ulation of tliis Ijoroii^h, in distinction from tlie 
 townshi}), as furnished me by the C'ensus-tnarshal, is 2,800. 
 Oi" the 3,44t) whites in the townshi}), 444 are reported 
 as of foreiirn birth. .Vs most of these are Roman (Catholics, 
 they furnish a basis on which we may estimate, proxi- 
 mately, the wliole luunber of Roman C-atholics in the town- 
 ship. The number of Irish and German Americans, that 
 is, of chihh'en of Ii"ish and Gernum parents, born in this 
 country, must considerably outnumber the foreign born. 
 P>ut if we nuik<' them equal, then of tliis class of tlie people 
 wc liavc S88. lieducing this nund»er by 100, as sufficient 
 to co\'er the Protestants among them, and to allow for any- 
 possible over-estimate of the chihb'en born in this ce)untrv 
 of pai'ents of foreign Itirth, we have 788, which comes 
 strikingly near the estimate of his flock, in the township), 
 as given me by the Rev. Mr. Moran. lie states that 
 about .")00 of liis people live within the linnts of the Borough, 
 and he tliinks these constitute about two-thii'ds of all who 
 live in the townsiiiji, making about 750. These increased 
 by the nund^ers coming from Kingston, Rocky Hill, Blawen- 
 burg, Lawrenceville, &c., make his entire Hock, about 1,000. 
 If now we reduce the number, as given, of whites in the 
 township, 3,446, by the nund)er of Roman Catholics, 750, 
 and also by the number of College Students, who are here 
 in the beginniuii; of .Jutie, when the census is taken, and 
 
 ■■'The luiiiiber of coloreJ vot(M-s in Priiifftoii. said to be alxmt 1-")<I. e-alU 
 for ji population of at least tJ.'jO. 
 
14 
 
 acccMnling to law aif enumerated liere, say 350, we have left 
 about 2,850 as represeutiiii; tlie iiunil)Oi" of the white Protest- 
 ants. Dividing this equally among the different eongrega- 
 tions, the two Pi'eshytei'ian, the t^^'o Bajitist and the Metlio- 
 dist Episcopal, tlie Protestant Episeo]ial and the Fi-iends' 
 Meeting, it affords, all told, men. women and children, al)ont 
 335 souls to each. 
 
 The colored peo])le are divided nearly e(|ually between 
 the African Metliodist and the Presbyterian chni'ches, 
 both of ttiem having comfortable places of worsliip, not far 
 apart, in Withei'spoon Street ; and both have stated sui»]ilies 
 or i*astors. For the entire poi>ulation of the to\vnsliip, 
 4,000, there are opc^n on every Sabbath morning tu'idve 
 places of worship: which, <livided e([ually among them, 
 would allow to ea(di a})ont 338. Of these twelve places, 
 iive are Presbyterian, foui' of tliem furnishing more 
 sittings than thei-e are whiti' I'rotestants in the jtlace. 
 It hardly needs to lie suggested that this seems to be 
 carrying the multqilication of congregations, and separate 
 services, to an undue extreme; and it pi'ove-; how difticult 
 is the task, if not impossible, which is laid upon }>astors, if 
 they are expected to till their churches, and keep them full. 
 If all the people of the townsliij) should be assembled, men, 
 women and children, even to the smallest infants, and be 
 divided e({ually among t!ie places o[»en for worship, only 
 the smallest edifices, like the Witherspoon street Churches, 
 or the Soninary Chapel would be tilled Or, if \vc allow 
 for the necessary absence of aged and infirm ones, the sick 
 and invalids, infants and very young children, say one- 
 (pnirter of the whole, the smallest edifices \^■ould be ionnd 
 too large. 
 
 Si'ci))i(/ (.'Jill fell. 
 
 AVhen 1 became jiastoi- liei'c the late Pev. W. A. Dod, 
 P.i)., was in charire of the Second Olmrch. He was ;i man 
 of genius ami culture, especially in art and l)elle.s-lettres. 
 Since his resignation, the Kev. ])i-. Mann, a brother l)eloved, 
 
i.S 
 
 iiiid scrilu' lu'ediiii;- not t*> \)c ashauKMl, and tlu- licv. 
 SiK'iicer L. KinncN- lias'o siu-ccssivdy filled tlio pasioi-al office 
 in tliat eoiiuTc^si'atioii. it has coiisidcraldy increased in 
 sirenulli, diirino- the pas! few years, since the c()ni[)leti()n of 
 its costl\' and s[)acious house i^i' \voi's!ii|). 
 
 This chnrcd! had hecn well estahlished wlien I came 
 liere, and, durinu; the ])eiiod now under i-eview, has made 
 ])r()j>'ress, — [iroiiTess in which we are iiermitted to rejoice, 
 for it is the progress of evangelical religion. Wo notice 
 witli gratitude the increasing honds of sympathy hetweeii 
 these two gi-eat comniunions, the Metliodist and the Pres- 
 hvtei-ian. Mv relations with the successive ministers of 
 this church have been cordial ; and for several of them I 
 could not ])ut conceive the highest respect and atiection. 
 Afv recollections of one of them are most sweet and tender. 
 r refer to the 
 
 Her. Gt'oy;/<' W. BatrJuhln-. 
 
 lie commenced his mini^tiw here ; an<l although so^'-^ 
 \oun<i\ at once comniauded the I'cspect of all classes. The 
 (lospel was music from his lips. He was jieard by you, from 
 this pulpit, with delighted interest. In private, there was, 
 if possible, sometiiing even more fascinating about him. 
 He won my heart. He was transferred from this place to 
 the capital of the State, and one of the finest church-edifi- 
 ces in tliat city, and of tl)e Methodist connection, witiiin 
 the bounds of tliis State, was erected for him. lUit his 
 health soon failed. After trying in vain to recover it in the 
 West, lie came back here to die. 1 recall, with tender 
 interest, tlie interview I had with liim, in his sick chamber, — 
 his [)atience, and the calmness and peace with whicli he 
 contemplated his ap[)i'oaching end. Tliere was a funeral- 
 service here, at wdiich Pres. Maclean and myself officiated, 
 and also a't the State Street Churcli, Trenton, where he was 
 buried. Two of the miinsters q\' tins church were regularlv 
 
i6 
 
 Miatrieulatedattlio Colleo-c.and n'-raduated witli their resport- 
 ive. classes, in due course, the Kev. Dr. Ilaiilon, aiidtlie Rev. 
 Mr. Lawrence, and are nt»w leading and influential minis- 
 ters, in the New Jersey Conference. 
 Bapt'si Clotrrl,. 
 In tlie Baptist Church, the minister who has made the 
 strongest impression, in this communitv, was the Rev. Mi-. 
 Ilntcliinson. It was never my pi-iviiege I think t<» hear liim 
 preach, hut he has on several occasions partici^iated in the 
 devotional services in this chliiudi, and with a ferv(U' and 
 power tliat seemed to me remarkahle. It" any estimate can 
 l»e formed of his j>reacliing from his [»rayers, it must lie 
 marked hy uncommon spirituality and strength. A very 
 competent judge* remarked ii\ m)' hearing, that this 
 preachei' I'cminded liim of John Duiiyan, — that lie seemed 
 to be gifted with the same strong and homely o'ood 
 sense, as well as with, a knowledge of the simple word 
 of God, and to he guided by a similar ricli spiritual experi- 
 ence. The Baptist congregation has oidy recently become 
 two bands. That this division may soon be healed, may be 
 devoutly wislied, as before it took place, it had scarcely the 
 .strength to sustain the ministry. 
 
 Protestant Episcoptd Church. 
 Wlien I came to Princeton the Protestant E[)ist'opal 
 Churcii had a most excellent minister, the Pev. Mr. l*etei'- 
 kin, who prea(died the same doctrines of grace \\hit'li are 
 ju-eached amongst us, differing tVom us oidy in tlie use of 
 the appointed Liturgy of that Chur<di. He held that men are 
 lost and ruined by the fall, that they must be converted bv 
 the Holy Spii'it, and can be justified by the righteousness of 
 Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. lie 
 returned to the South, and l)ecame the minister of an Episco- 
 pal Church in Piclunond. lie was succeeded by a man of 
 •similar spirit, the Rev. Mr. Ilansoji. Following Mr. Ilan- 
 
 *llev. .1. H. Mcllvair.e. 
 
17 
 
 son, the Rev. Dr. Dod, liaviiig severed his connection with 
 tlic Second, hocaine tlie liector of this church. Since tiic 
 present inciiinbont, the Rev. Alfred Baker, took charge, the 
 nhl edifice, in wliicli the congregation worshipped, has been 
 (h'niolislicd, and a new and more costly one erected. 
 liiiiii'Ui Calliolic C/mrch. 
 
 As Princeton is made a sort of ecclesiastical centre for 
 the surrounding towns, this congregation, when the weather 
 is favorable, is very large. Under the clergyman who has 
 now the charge of it, Kev. Thomas Moran, a most import- 
 ant reformation has been Ijrouglit about, in liie matter of 
 tom}ierance. Some who had gone very far, and continued 
 long, in liabits of excessive drink, a[»pear to be thoroughly 
 reclaimed. He is gathering the boys into a band of Tem- 
 perance Cadets. In this lie deserves and receives the coiti- 
 mendation of all good men. 
 
 Ilic Friends' Meeting. 
 
 Tiieir Meeting House, situated near the old Quaker road< 
 wdiere it skirts Stony Brook, is still attended, regularly, by 
 representatives of several of the original settlers, who were 
 composed largely of Friends, and erected the first, whicli 
 long remained the only, place of •worship, in the TowMiship. 
 A most important element in the poj)nlatioii of Princeton 
 has been derived from these followers of George Fox. Tlie 
 ancestors Df some of our best families, among them the 
 Clarks, and the Oldens, were his disciples. 
 
 Wlien I first took chai-ge of this churcli. ther(^ was 
 another Methodist house of worship within the townshij). 
 at Cedar Grove. It v»'as sliortly after, in the year 1854 
 or '55, purcliased by a member of this congregation,* 
 and has been devoted, in regular rotation, for Sunday 
 Services, to the use of the Methodist, Baptist, Reformed 
 Dutch, and Presbyterian Churches, in its vicinity. 
 The building is kept iii repair, and the cost of fuel, 
 
 *Paul Tulane. Esq. 
 
lights, :iii(l sextt)irB sorvice.s luis been constantly provided 
 l,)y the generous i)vvner; and every clei-gyman officiating 
 regularly has been paid an amount more than suffi- 
 cient to defray the expense of reaching the })lace. Tie also 
 keeps the library of the Sabbath ScIkhoI, taught in connec- 
 tion with the Oliurch, liberally snj)plied with books. Of the 
 interestino' cluster of more than twenty French families 
 formerly living in the vicinity, of Cedar Grove lie is, I 
 believe, the only remaining representative. ^V hoover 
 writes the history of l^rinceton must not fail to write the 
 history of this (Colony, which will be found to abound with 
 stirring, and even romantic interest. 
 
 College of Nnv Jersey. ■ 
 The College, which is the principal feature of Princeton, 
 has had its marked epochs, and has undergone an almost 
 entire change in ihepersomid of its Trusteeship, and Faculty. 
 Of its Board of Trustees only three remain who were mem- 
 bers of it in 1853, Rev. Dr. Hodge, Chancellor Green, and 
 Ex Gov. Haines. Of its Faculty only three, Prof S. Alexan- 
 der, who lias been a member of it since 1834, and Prof 
 Duffield, wlio was adjunct in the Department of Mathematics, 
 and Prof. Cameron, then a Tutor. Dr. Atwater's and Prof. 
 Guyot's accessusto the Faculty of Arts, which they have done 
 so much to adorn, is each dated in 1854; and Dr. Schanck was 
 Lecturer, in the College as early as 1847. Death has effected 
 some of these changes; resignation others. Dr. Carnahan, 
 after resigning the Presidentship, lived, a Christian sage in 
 the midst of us, a beautiful example of digniiied, yet hum- 
 ble piety. He loved the Lord's bouse, and with all his 
 honors, and greatness, never seemed to outgrow, or to 
 imagine he no longer needed, the ordinary means of grace, 
 which are prized by the lunnblest Christians. Never shall 
 I forget the emphasis with wdiich he said to me, when I 
 visited liim in his chamber, and he supposed that death was 
 not far off, — " Deatii can do a great many important things 
 (as if the words of Dr. Edward Young were in his mind, 
 
19 
 
 " blot out cm[)ires, and can quencli tlie stai's '') can 
 interrnjit our work, sunder tlio tics wliicli have bound us to 
 liunian lite, and brini;- the body to tlie dissohilion of ihe 
 i2;rave, and so on: but tliei'c is one tliin2; deatli cannot (hi 
 (evidently alludinir to the expression of the Apostle, in 
 Rom. viii. 88, 39) it cannot separate us from the hn-e of 
 God wliich is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'* The entire term 
 of liis beloved and venerable successor in ofHce, Rev. Dr. 
 dolin Maclean, falls w-ithin the period under review. lie 
 still lingers in the midst of us, (and may he long be sj»ared!) 
 Ji bright link connecting us with the lK)nored past in the 
 history both of the College and of Princeton, where 
 he was born, and has spent his entire life. Dr. Matthe»A- 
 Boyd Hope died in 1859; and although tlie call came sud- 
 denly, he was found witli his lamp trimmed and burning. 
 lie liad been a faithful servant of tlie College both as a 
 teacher, and in seeking to increase its endowment. As he lay 
 dying, his power of speech nearly gone, some one heard 
 him attempting to repeat tlie verse, 
 
 " A guilty, weak and helpless worm. 
 On tby kind arms 1 fall ; 
 Be thou luy strength and righteou.snes.s, 
 My Jesus, and my all ;"' 
 
 and recited it for him, substituting '-Saviour" for the blessed 
 name, in tlie last line. -'Say d iistis," whispered the dying 
 man. And Jcsi/.^ it is in the original, as found in our col- 
 lection, 92d hymn. The sound of that name was sweet in 
 the dying lieliever's ear. And he doubtless prefei-red it. 
 being a master in Rhetoric, ibr an a'sthetical reason. Geoi'ge 
 Musgrave Giger followed Dr. Hope, in 1805, after a linger- 
 ing illness, liaving in addition to his College duties, faithfully 
 discharged, for a number of ^'ears, those of acting pastor of 
 the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, in this place, 
 up to tlie time when the failure of his health led him to 
 decline the office. 
 
 TJie five years of Dr. McCosli's Presidentsliip, coincident 
 with the last quarter of the score of my ministry iiere, liave 
 
20 
 
 j)rove(l to be a iieu- era in the history of the C'oUege ; aiui 
 we see it borne forward on a tide of prosperity it has 
 scarcely, if evei", before enjoyed. 
 
 Th eoJogica I Se m in a >\>/ . 
 
 Changes ahnost as great liave taken phice in the Theo- 
 logical Seniinary. Only three or four remain in the Board 
 of Trustees who were members of it in 1853. James Lenox, 
 Esq., is the senior member, having been elected over forty 
 years ago; but Drs. McDowell, and Phillips, and Murra}', 
 and Van Rensselaer, liave been succeeded by others. And 
 nearly the same is true of the Board of Directors. Of the 
 Faculty Drs. Hodge and Green are the only ones who were 
 members of it at the time of my c(uning to Princeton. Dr. 
 Green had come shortly before. The venerable Drs. iVrclii- 
 bald Alexander and Samuel Miller deceased, one of them 
 two, the other three years before. Joseph Addison Alexan- 
 der was in his full strength and vigor; had just published 
 his great works on Isaiah and the Psalms, and was prepar- 
 ing to enter on the preparation of his commentaries on 
 \[ark and the Acts of the Apostles. Many of those wonder- 
 ful sei'mons tliat are found in the posthumous volumes of 
 his discourses, were preached, from time to time, in this 
 [lulpit, 
 
 EdgehiU. 
 
 Edgehill School, so long one of the well-known institu- 
 tions of Princeton, was perhaps in as prosperous a condition 
 twenty j-ears ago, as at an}- period of its history. It was 
 then under the care of the Messrs. Gattell, Thomas and 
 William, the younger of wliom was already exhibiting" 
 those talents in administration, and those complacent man- 
 ners and genial qualities, which have since made him so 
 successful as the President of T^afayette College. 
 
 Public Schools. 
 But one of the most signal improvements in Princeton, 
 during these years, is to be seen in its public schools. And 
 
21 
 
 I confess [ reli'i' to this suhjcct with no littlo pioasiiro, ;is 
 I think I can Justly chiim to havo liad sonio share in eltect- 
 iii<>; the desired chanii-e. When I eaino here, I i)rovi(len- 
 tially found my residence in that [>art of the town known 
 as (^uoenston, in the lionse now belongini!; to and occii[)ied 
 I'V Mr. Spaflorl Woodhull, which was our home for seven 
 years. I was soon after electeil one of the Trustees of the 
 School district to wliich that portion of the Boronij^h 
 beh)nii;cd T found a small school of some twelve or foui'- 
 teen scliolars, taught st)mewhat irregularly, in the large 
 building which had been erected, and still stands there, for 
 religious services. In looking over the town I discovered 
 that tliere were two other schools, one of them at its remote 
 extremity, in the lower part of Canal street, taught by a 
 lady, in a school house, which had been erected by Mr. 
 Richard Stockton, having scarcely more scholars than the 
 one at Queenston. In the centre of the town was the larg- 
 est school, iiaving not far from fifty scholars, whicli had been 
 taught very faithfully, for a numlter of years, by Mr. Al)ra- 
 hani VanDuyn, now the Assistant Post ^Master. The three 
 scli(M)ls, in their very largest attendance, never numbered 
 higher than seventy or eighty scholars. No one of the dis- 
 tricts owned, or, so far as I am informed, had ever owned, 
 a school house. The [trovisions for making the pul)lic 
 scliools answer their j)urpose seemed to me to be wholly 
 inadequate. I ventured to suggest to the Su])erintendent 
 for the township— and w^e were favored at that time witli 
 one who, at once, saw the importance of the movement. 
 Rev. Prof. DuiReld — to (;ombine the three districts into one, 
 with the view of ti-ying to have a school which should be 
 morew'orthy of J'riuccton. The Borough was made to com- 
 prise a single dis.i-ict, and Trustees were elected, of whom 
 L had the honor to be one. At an early meeting T suggested 
 the importance of securing a special act of the Legislature 
 of New Jersey establishing the Princeton Borougli School 
 Disstrict, and af)pointing a Board of Education. I procured 
 
2 2 
 
 the copy of an Act, passed by tlie State of New York for a 
 Rcliool in that State, similarly situated, and put it into the 
 hands of the late lion. Riehard S. Field, at that time Presi- 
 dent of the State Board of Education, wlio was one of the 
 Trustees, and who heartily concurred in the movement. lie 
 made such moditications in it as were necessary, and secured 
 its passage by the Legislature. The members of the first 
 Board of Education, as named in the Act, were Richard S. 
 Field, James M. Macdonald, John T. DufHeld, Martin 
 Voorhees and Oliver II. Bartine. Mr. Field was elected 
 its first President, and your pastor its Secretary. The 
 Board and the District were laid under very great ol)liga- 
 tion to Mr. Field, in aiding them, without embarrassment, 
 to purchase the site, and erect on it the building necessary 
 for the school. In the mean time, the school was organized 
 on the 2lst day of Sept., 1857, in tlie old Session house 
 belonging to this church, in AVitherspoon street, under Mr. 
 H. Farrand as Principal. Mr. Farrand subsequently estab- 
 lished an important Classical and Commercial School in 
 New York, and received the patronage of some of its first 
 citizens. The school was opened in the new building on 
 the 18th day of Jan., 1858, under Mr. Fan-and as Principal, 
 assisted by five ladies. The present Principal, AVilliam J. 
 Gibby,Esq.,has been at the head of the School since July 8tli, 
 1860, and all the assistants, of whom there are eight, whh the 
 exception of two, are graduate pupils of tlie school, and gradu- 
 ates also of the State Normal School. Tlie present number of 
 scholars on the catalogue is 350: the average attendance 270. 
 The irreat importance of such ti scluxd in such a community 
 as this cannot easily be estimated. About 200, wIjo are 
 between the ages of 5 and 18 years, are reported as attend- 
 ing no school, but most of these are nearly 18, or just past 
 5, and liave either left, or not yet comnicnced attending 
 school. There are probably not more than fifty who 
 ought to be in school, who attend none. Other districts 
 in the neigliborhood, Kingston, Penn's Neck, Cedar 
 
23 
 
 drove have l^eeii stimulated to irni)rovo their schools, by 
 j)rovidiii<r better school houses and better trained teachers. 
 
 .l//.s*.s TjOi-hird's School. 
 
 l\\ speaking of tlie schools, T must not Forget the one 
 supported for many yeai's by the iadie-; of this church, and 
 tanglit by Miss Mary B. Lockard. iVlthough composed of 
 very small children, just being taught to read, it has often 
 numbered as high as seventy or eighty pn[)ils, requiring an 
 assistant teacher. Great numbers have received their tirst 
 lessons in this school. As it has liad from tlie beginning 
 somewhat of a parochial character, it has been distinguished 
 for tlie prominence given to i-eligious instruction, especially 
 from tlie IShorter Catechism. It has been taught in the old 
 Session House, now for upwards of forty years, and a])pears 
 to liave grown out of one instituted, soiiie fifty years ago, 
 by Mrs. Miller, for colored children, taught by herself and 
 family, assisted by otiier ladies. Mrs. M., and Mrs. John C. 
 Schenck, (Ann B.,) were among the largest contributors, 
 subscril)ing $50 each, towards the construction of tlie school 
 room. Tlie Female Henevolent Hocuety, one of the most 
 useful of the charitable institutions of Princeton, appears to 
 have grown out of these eiforts in l)ehalf of the children of 
 tlie poor. It has been in operation uj^wards of forty years, 
 and has two departments, one for the relief of the })oor, the 
 other to educate the children of the poor in the school 
 alreadv I'cferred to. 
 
 W/fhrrs/iooii Strct'f School. 
 
 The Borough District maintains a school for colored 
 children, under the Board of Education ; andaschool house, 
 equal in all its appointments to the one for white children, 
 has just been completed, and the school placed under com- 
 petent teachers, and the superintendence of the Principal 
 of the Borouirh School. 
 
24 
 
 Tlic Soi//Ih'r)i Insurrcrtion, 
 But we imist now turn to another topic, which is ern- 
 l)i';K'e(l within tlic period of these recollections. A contro- 
 versy which had been threatening the peace of the country 
 for years, was brought to a fearful issue, by the firing of the 
 first gun of tlie civil war, in tiie harboi- of S. Carolina, on 
 the morning of April 12tli, 1861. Xever can be forgotten 
 the thrill that ran through the entire North, as the tidings 
 were flashed along the wires of the telegrapli. It was as 
 if tliose wires had been the nerves f>f some giant l)ody, arous- 
 ing and inspiring it to instantaneous action for the defent-e 
 of the liberty and union of these States. In this community, 
 there Avas but (Uie feeling, that the govei-nment must l)e sus- 
 tained. In a letter written on the 23d of April, these words 
 occur: " These are exciting and trying times, — the times 
 whicli I have been dreading. We must repel the war wdiich 
 the South has commenced, and support the Government 
 which she is evidently seeking to destroy. But oh ! the 
 horrors of a civil, fratricidal war. I still pray that God 
 would, in his infinite wisdom, make this — the time of n\an's 
 extremity — his oppoi'tunity. There is but one feeling 
 Iiere, and that is that the Government must be liberally and 
 vigorously supported. The Southern students will all be 
 gone in a few days. The stars and stripes float from the 
 top of the cui)ola of Old Nassau. Our young men are 
 enlisting." In a Sei'mon preached in this puljiit on the 6th 
 Aug., 1863, a day of National Thanksgiving, this language 
 was used : " Our fathers established not only States, but a 
 union of States, or Republics, making one grand whole. 
 The attenqit is to disru[)t these States, and divide this great 
 nation, of which they laid the foundation, into fragnients. 
 It is nothing less than an attempt at revolution. The con- 
 stitution of the United States was formed by the same 
 authority which formed the State constitutions; to wit, by 
 the people, in each of the States acting in their highest 
 sovereign capacity. * * * It is tor victories which aflbrd 
 
2 5 
 
 jiroTiiisc of sustaiiiiiii;- and jK'riH'dialiiiij: (his oui' eonstitii 
 tioiial syslLMii of ( Jowriiiiioiit, dovisod l)v statrsuieii, who 
 wc'vv iiistriiinontal in achiovini:; oiir Xati(~)nal Inch'pendencc, 
 and uniU'T wliit'h wo are phu-ct!, hy diviiio I'l'ovidonco, 
 among the nationr^ of llie oiirth, \'oy wlii(di we ;u'e to give 
 thanks. In such a cause prosecuted l)j means and agencies 
 worthy of so noble an end, we may pray for, and expect (Jod 
 to hless us with v'tlier victories, blessed victories, wliich 
 shall restore to this distracted land, " Uniox and Peace." 
 In another part, the discourse proceeds, " AVe ought to be 
 tliankfiil ior the spirit of loyalty and devoted }»atriotism, 
 manifested by the great m;iss of the people, in this time of 
 the nation's trial. It may well bo (U)ubted, whether the 
 history of the world furnishes a [)arallel to the union, devo- 
 tion and sacrifice of tlie |»ooj>lc, of conflicting political senti- 
 ments, in defending this nation, in a war which makes such 
 demands. Cheerfully have they submitted to the necessa- 
 lily heavj^ taxation. Cheerf.dly have they parted with their 
 friends, to stand before the cannon's mouth. They liave 
 been hopeful under delay's, and many defeats. Xew Jersey 
 under our excellent Gov. Olden raised nearly 11,000 volun- 
 teersin lifteendays." It will be remembered howthischurch, 
 on several occasions, such as days appointed b}- tlie Govern- 
 ment for fasting and prayer, or thanksgiving, was crowded 
 to its utmost capacity. Few will forget tlic assembled 
 throng filling the pews, and the standing room, both above 
 and below, called together hy a notice from the Session of 
 this church, on the day of Mr. Lincoln's obsequies at Wash- 
 ington, and again on June 1st, 1865, the day a})pointed by 
 liis successor to be observed in liumiliation and mourning, 
 in reference to the same sad event. The discourse delivered 
 by your pastor, on tliat occasion, was published, by rerpiest 
 of tlie congregation. 
 
 The Soldiers who fell. 
 Several of our young men, and of the most jtromising 
 amont; them, fell victims to the wai'. Among them will be 
 
recalled at once Capt. Charles H. Dod, wlio died at City 
 Point, Ya., Aug. 27tli, 1864, aged 24 years. " Highly gifted 
 witli mental acconiplishnients and physical atti'actions, 
 aniiahle in disposition, pure in morals, an example to his 
 associates; he was energetic and iaitljfnl in the discharge of 
 his duties as an officer. It was his avowed purpose if sparetl 
 to the close of the war, to devote liimself to the work of the 
 ministry. lie war^ one of ihose bright and beauteous per- 
 sons, around whom there .'^eemed to be a lialo, which to the 
 eye of aftection, appeared a sure defense against the sliafts 
 of death."'* His funeral took place from this cliurch, Aug. 
 31st, and the address delivei-ed on that occasion was pul)- 
 lished as a Memorial of him. 
 
 Another will be remembered wlio was the youngest son, 
 and, I think, child of one whose name now stands at the 
 liead of tlje living members of this church, that is, h;is been 
 longest connected with it, on the list of private (communi- 
 cants. John Warner was a child of uncommon interest 
 and proniise; he gave evidence of piety, and was received 
 to tlie communion of the church, at a very early age. He 
 died in the Pliiladelphia Hospital, in 1864, from a lingering 
 disease, contracted in the army, and was buried in the ceme- 
 tery of this church. Henry Stryker, youngest son of our 
 late esteemed' member, Ste[)hen Strvker, one of our most 
 amiable, circumspect and promising youth, also enlisted in 
 the army. He died at one of the Hospitals in Washington, 
 to which he had been bi-ought from active service in the 
 iield, and lies buried in our cemetery. There were others 
 who survived all the perils of the battle field and camp, some 
 entirely unscatJied, and are living now in the midst of us. 
 
 Surgeon McGilL 
 There was one wlio was exposed to these perils, from 
 the beginning of the wai-, who survived them, only to fall 
 shortly after, in battling with a more fearful enemy, the 
 
 *Froin an Obituary by Ur. H(jdge. 
 
Asiatic (Mii)liMM 1)11 till' jilains of I'olorado ; I rofc" to snf- 
 <!;e()ii (Jcoro'c M. Mc(JiIl, oldest son of Ilov. Dr. Mcdlill. 
 Ool. Mori'iam, to wliose eoinnianil he was attached when he 
 foil, bore tlie hii:^diost testimony in his favor. " I have never 
 known an ofHeer who manifested such (Kn-otioii to duty, 
 who hibored so incessantly, I'cgardk'ss ol' rest or personal 
 comfort, for the i>;ood of those under his charge. Undet' 
 the most li-ying circumstances, he maintained a clu'crful 
 countenance. With no less zeal his most estimahle lady 
 insisted on I'iding at the rear of the column, in (U'der that 
 his domestic duties might ii(;t render it necessary for him 
 to l)e absent from the jiost of official duty. They are both 
 gone ! The service nevei* lost a truer or moi'o devoted ser- 
 vant." Ilis fourth promotion by brevet, tliat of C'ol., was 
 dated July 20th, 1867, the day of liis death. A tribute in 
 the Army and Navy liegister, thus speaks of him : "A hard 
 student, an accomplished and skillful physician, a gallant 
 officer, and a brave and warm-hearted gentleman — his loss 
 to his Cor[>s and the Army is irreparable ; and none who 
 have served with him will fail to remember him with pride, 
 or to moui'ii him with sincerity. His five yeai"s of service 
 were spent in incessant labor, and he now sleeps on the 
 (Colorado Plains, off duty at last, with an unspotted and 
 glorious record." The story of young Surgeon McGill is 
 full of sad and painful interest. He had served all through 
 the war, being much of the time with Sheridan on liis liard 
 rides, and liotly contested battle-tields. When the Cholera 
 broke out among the soldiers in the harbor of Xew York, 
 after the close of the wai', he was transferred from another 
 post, (the General Military Hospital, Baltimore), to this 
 scene of danger and great responsibility. Under liis skill- 
 ful treatment, the health of the men soon improved, and 
 the pestilence at length disappeared from among them. 
 Soon after, lie was married to a lady, belonging to one of 
 the liistoric families of our country, Miss Helen, daugliter 
 of Robert ]\. Morris, Esq., Morrisania, New York. Althongli 
 
28 
 
 lie would seoni froiii iiis long, arduous and exposed service, 
 to have earned a furlough, or some position of coni])arative 
 rej)ose, very soon after his uui!"i"iago, he was ordered to join 
 Col. Mcrriam's coniiuand, for garrison-duty, on the distant 
 Western frontier. It proved to hi in a fatal niai'el]. He 
 had almost gained the mastery of the Cholei-a, which had 
 l^roken out among the troops, as ho had done hefoi'e, in the 
 harbor (d' New York, when the disease siezed upon his 
 young bride, whose constitution liad been somewhat im- 
 paired by the development of symptonis of pulmonary dis- 
 ease. The Regiment moved on, leaving him with a detach- 
 ment to watcli over her. All, that medical skill, which liad 
 proved successful in so many other cases, and the tendercst 
 affection and care could suggest, availed nothing. Per- 
 forming for her, amidst tliose lonely wastes, as best he could, 
 the last sad rites, he turned, worn out with watchings, and 
 broken down with sorrow, to regain tlie Regiment. He 
 liad gone but a few miles wlien he f>und that the 
 pestilence had laid its hand on him. Ilis supply of 
 medicine was exhausted. lie quickly succumbed. The 
 faitldul soldiers took ])is body up, l^ore it l)ack, opened 
 the grave of his wife, and made a bed for him l)y Iier side. 
 The remains were subsequently removed ; atid they now 
 lie in the Princeton cemetery, awaiting tlie resurrection, 
 beneatli the graceful column parental love has erected to 
 mark the spot. 
 
 3Iarr/arc/ E. Brcck'inridgi\ 
 From this I'oll of honor must not l)e omitted the name 
 of a lady, a member of this church, wlio in the hospital-ser- 
 vice, exhibited as great heroism and devotion as any who 
 performed service in the field. Miss Breckinridge was the 
 daughter of the Rev. Dr. John Breckinridge and grand- 
 daughter of Rev. Dr. IMiller, Professor in the Seminary in 
 this place. Her physical organization was sliglit and deli- 
 cate, but more than ordinary power was imparted to it, by 
 a strong mind, a resolute will, and devoted sense of duty. 
 
29 
 
 Slio oiitci-ed tlio lios})it;il-sLM-vii'e on the Mississippi in (len. 
 < J rant's (lo[)ai'tiiuMit, in tlio winter oF 18G2. She soon l)0(.'aiiie 
 a special favoriti" with tlic hopelessly sick, the wounded and 
 dyinii; soldiers. Ministerin<>; to botli their [thysical and 
 s]»iritMal ^vants, when all hope of restorini;- the sntierini;- 
 i)ody had perished, she strove to rekindle those better ho|)es 
 which have their iVnition beyond the grave. From her long 
 tarniliarity with the truths and promises of the l)il)le, she 
 could repeat and ex[)lain the loving invitations and words 
 of the Divine Master. And often did the last serene and 
 earnest look of the dying soldiei-"s eyes e\[)ress the gratitude 
 which his tongue was too feeble to utter. It w;is in the 
 lowlands of the Mississippi she was first attacked with one 
 of those obstinate camp diseases, which so often become 
 chronic. Leaving the l)e{)artnient to recruit her wasted 
 strength, slie returned to her friends in the East, but soini 
 entered again upon ]!os[)ital-duty, near Phi!adel]thia. Tt 
 was not long, howe\ei", before she was again obliged to 
 leave her post, and she died of that fatal Typhoid, peculiar 
 to camps, at Niagara Falls, Jidy 27th, 1864. Her letters 
 from camps and hospitals were widely read, and many 
 tearful eyes have testified to the deep syiupatliy and interest 
 wliich they awakened.''' 
 
 ..1 i\ir D'l/fis and Sla//s(ics. 
 
 I do m)t propose to weary yon with the detailed >/^'//.s//('.s' 
 of this ministry of twenty ycai-s. They have been published, 
 annually, in the Minutes of tlie Gen. Assembly, and recorded 
 in the Sessional Records of the Chnrch. I will trouble you 
 witli some only of tlie totals of the figures, and some gene- 
 ral results. 
 
 It is proper for nn^ to state that but a few years before 
 I took charge of this church, that is to say on March 10th, 
 1846, not far Irom a huiulred persons were dismissed from 
 its membersliip, to form the Colored Presbyterian Church, 
 
 ■^See Obituary. Buffalo Com. Advertiser, July oO. ]'SC>1. 
 
30 
 
 ill Witherspoon Street, and witliin two or tliree years after, 
 Dec. 23(1, 1847, the Second Churcli was constituted, and 
 otlier members were dismissed tor the purpose of corn- 
 menciiiii" tliat enter[U'ise: whicli cliiii'cli reported, to the hist 
 General Assembly, a mendjersliip of 160. In Jan., 1849, 
 the roll of Church members was revised, and the names of 
 unknown absentees were no longer enumerated in the 
 repoi'ts to the Pi'esb»ytery. The whole numl)er i-eported in 
 1854, at the first spring meeting of the Presbytei-y, after I 
 became jtastor, was 344. There have been added to this 
 Oliurch, during the 20 years of my ministry, G61 ])ersons; 
 288 on proi'ession of their faith, and 373 by certificate; the 
 average additions being slightly over 33 annuall}' ; the ave- 
 rage additions on profession, aiinually, being nearly liy. 
 The largest number received, in any given year, was in '66, 
 eighty persons — 44 on examination and 36 on certificate. 
 In 1859 was the next largest number, 32 on examination, 
 29 on certificate, 61 in all. If the a(hlitions on certificate 
 are somewhat beyond the common average of churches, in 
 consecpience of so many students, in their theological course, 
 seeking connection with us, the annual diminution is in like 
 proportion, on the cojiipletion of their course, and their 
 ordination or dismission to other churches. There have 
 been removals, constantly, by death, as well as on certificate, 
 to other cliurches. And in April, 1870, the list of commu- 
 nicants was again revised, by dropjung tlie names of those 
 who, wliile students, became members, and liad been 
 or(hiined to the sacred ministry, without reporting the fiict 
 to us, and by placing the names of unknown absentees in a 
 separate list, not to be counted or i-eported to the Presby- 
 tery, to the number in all of about 150 jtersons. And yet 
 notwithstanding all these diminutions, by removals, by 
 death, and by colonies to establish two other churches in" 
 the place, the Session were permitted to re]>ort the mem- 
 bership in the First Church, to the last General Assembly, 
 to be 407. The figures involved in this statement express 
 
not only a i-cliaUlc class of tacts, hut tacts too interesting;- to 
 l»c i-cijarded in the iiji^lit of i)icr(> aritlinietic. 
 
 Jhijift of Fa-'^lithj^ Years of RerirdJ. 
 
 By invitation of the session, Sept. 18th, 1(S57 was 
 observed, l)y tlio church and congregation, as a (hiy of Fast- 
 ing and Prayer, with refei-ence to events in connection with 
 our missions in India. The invitation was (>xtended to the 
 Theological Seminai-y and College, to unite with us. The 
 day was observed with gre:it solemnity and a lively interest, 
 as the events of the Mutiny in India liad deejily moved 
 the heai'ts of tlie |)eo[)le. March IGth, 186ti was observed 
 in concert witli other churches, in the Borough, as a (hiy 
 of Fasting and Frayer. The churt'h was crowded to its 
 utmost capacity. Ami what was ijuite rem'irkable, the 
 places of business, with scarcely an exception, were closed, 
 ami a more than Sabbath stiilu'ss and solemnity seemi'd to 
 rest upon tiie town. There had been a revived state of 
 i-eligion, during the winter and fall ; and this was tlje year 
 when eighty persons wei'c added to this churcii. Theyears 
 "59 an<l '^C) were marked, perhaps, more as years of revival 
 than any others. 
 
 Licentiates. 
 
 Of those received, on ])rofession of their faith, lifteen 
 have been licensed to preach the Gospel. vSome four or five 
 of tlieso came here to be connected with the Theological 
 Seminary. Of the ten. wdio may be considered as more 
 naturally belonging to us, most liave l)een ])astors. Their 
 names are as follows: K. S. Fairchild, S. B. Dod, F. B. 
 llodge, John Lowrey, Stirling Gait, Hugh Smytlie, .John 
 Carrington, 1). J. Atwater, A. Macdonald, S, M.Hageman. 
 One of them, wlio grew up near the Cedar (itrove Chui'ch, 
 and in tlie Sabbath School there, the Rev. John ('arrington, 
 is now a missionary, under our foi-eign Board, in Siam. 
 Only yesterday, a letter was received from him, dated Aug. 
 27tli, 1873, at Ayuthia, the old capital of Siam, where he 
 
32 
 
 has e'stahrKslied a new niissiuu station. lie says in tlie 
 letter, •' I often think of Princeton, and tlio friends there. 
 Dear ohl Priiu-eton ! shall I ever see Iter a_ii-ain ?'' 
 
 1 am not aide to state the nnmber of times I liave 
 j)reached, as f have often preached on otlier (Lays than tlie 
 Sabbath, and in other [daces than here. But I have 
 preached 1368 times in this pulpit, the number on my last 
 written sermon being 1265, the most of which have been 
 preached here. A course of written Lectures on tlie I'en- 
 tateuch, and of unwritten expositions of the Psalms of 
 David, in the light of tliose incidents and epochs' in his life 
 with whicli their origin has been supposed to stand con- 
 nected, have been delivered in the Lecture Room. In this 
 pulpit I have preached series of written discourses on tlie 
 Book of Ecclesiastes, on the Gospel according to St. John,' 
 on the Epistle to the Plnllipians, on the three Epistles of 
 St. John, and on the Apocalypse. The Life of Christ has 
 been made tlie subject of critical study, with a class, for 
 the purpose of making ont a Harmony of tlse Gospels. 
 
 Sabbath Schools. 
 
 These, and catechetical instruction of the young, have 
 been constantly maintained. In addition to the school 
 whicli assembles in the Lecture Koom, another lias been 
 sustained, at Queenston, within the limits of the Borough. 
 The school at Stony Brook is largely made up of children 
 belonging to families of this congregation, and taught by 
 those, who, to a considerable extent, are drawn from the 
 same source. The same is true of the Cedar Grove School, 
 a tlourishing school having on its roll some sixty or seventy 
 scholars, and some ilfty, in regular attendance. Two of the 
 teachers have no^v, for several years, i-esided in town, ncai- 
 the church, but go regularly every Sunday afternoon to this 
 pleasant little church among the hills, to mecr, their classea. 
 And during the summer months, a small school is gathered 
 
33 
 
 :it Mount Lnras, witli wliicii two or tliree iMiinlics of tliit* 
 conp^regatioii are coiiiiectecl. 
 
 Could the history of our Sabbath tScliools be wi-itteii, it 
 would have some very iuterestiug features. In the one that 
 lias been aeeustotnod to tueot in the church, or the Lecture 
 Room, Dr. Ilodge was a teac;her, when he was in C()llei;-e, 
 sixty years ago. The late Rev. Pi'of. Albert I)od was, for 
 a considerable time, at a later [)eriod, its suj)erintcndent. 
 When I came to Princeton, it was under the efKcient charge 
 of the ]{ev. Aspinwall Ilodge, now of Hartford, Conn. In 
 its more recent history, it has been successively [(resided 
 over by four^gentlemen, who became foreign missionaries, 
 Mr. Lloyd, who went to Eastern Africa, and early died ; but 
 where his devoted wife, a (huighter of Dr. Parker, a cele- 
 brated physician of New York, still labors; Mr. Wynkooj*, 
 our accomplished missionary in India, Mr. Mcllvaine of 
 China, and .\h\ Dale of Syria. 
 
 Btneco'ent Contributions. 
 
 The amount raised in the congregation for benevolent 
 purposes has exceeded, on an average, $1500 annually; if 
 we add the money raised for Congregational purjioses, the 
 amount, on an average, considerably exceeds $4,000 annii- 
 ally. Some individual donations are sent directly to the 
 Boards, or applied privately, and can not therefore be 
 included in the reports that are made up annually to the 
 Presbytery. Nor can many donations and gifts for the 
 poor, in which benevolent work Princeton is in advance of 
 any community of which I have had personal knowledge, 
 be included. And liere I will take occasion to repeat, what 
 I have sometimes felt constrained to say, in private, tliat I 
 know no place where the doctrine of salvation by grace 
 alone, without works, is more thoroughly inwrought into 
 the religious convictions of the people, — and I know no 
 place, w])ere works, at least those of mer<^y, and care for 
 the poor, more abound. The benevolent cause vvhicli has 
 railed forth the largest amount is that of Christian Educa- 
 
34 
 
 tioii, neai'ly $10,000 ;* the Jioxt in order i8 Domestic Mi.>!- 
 sioiis, about $6,000 ; tlie next, Foreii;!! Missions, over 
 $5,000. 
 
 Baptisms and Marriayes. 
 The first person received to tlie communion of the 
 ehurclj, on examination, after I became its Pastor, was Miss 
 Bessie Stockton Green, now the wife of Rev. DonaUl Mc- 
 Laren, IT, S. N. The rite ot Bai)tism has been adminis- 
 tered to 198 persons, 61 of tliem adults, on their admission 
 to the Lord's table; 137 infants, the tirston this list being- 
 William, son of Philip and Chrissy Ann Ilendrickson. 
 Marriage has been solemnized 100 times, the first tvvoon 
 this list being in October before the installation in Novem- 
 ber, Mr. Eli R. Stonaker to Miss Fannie Staats, and Mr. 
 Bogert Stryker to Miss Mary Gruser. An interesting fact 
 may be stated that about thirty ladies connected with this con- 
 gregation have married clergymen, during the twenty years I 
 have been its pastor. The list is as follows. Maria Louisa 
 Vandeventer to J. Henry Kaufman, Mary Hunter Stockton 
 to 0. Wistar Ilodge, Isabella Matthews to Samuel 11. Mc- 
 Mullen, Rebecca R, Olden to Henry A. Harlow, Bessie S. 
 Green to Donald McLaren, Emily Oumming to Augustus 
 Brodhea<l, Emma Van Duyn to liobert J. Hinsdale, Mary 
 Heiidei'son to Alexander Telford, Margaret Hagenuin to 
 Ernest C. H. Lubkert, Elizabeth R. Baker to J. T. Duryea. 
 Caroline T. iSTelson to Julius Spencer, Isabella W. Green to 
 S. Bayard Dod, Elizabeth Hudnut to William H. Jeftriep, 
 Catherine S. Comfort to John McKelway, Mary E. Alexan- 
 der to F. B. Hodge, Caroline N. Olden to George li. Smith, 
 Christina Butler to William Harris, Catherine Skillman 
 to G. H. Nimmo, Charlotte M. Alexander to George 
 Robinson, Mary R. Ilendrickson to James A. Worden, 
 
 "This; sum includes the amount raised towards the endowment of a Pro- 
 fessorship in the Seminary a few years since, and that given by a benevolent 
 gentleman of the congregation, for the education of the daughters of Pres- 
 byterian ministers in the South. 
 
35 
 
 Wiilu'ltiiina L. (Miollet to 11. C. Camoi'on, Corn (Jrceii 
 
 to E. P. ^'oomans, Mary McCiill to Joseph Gamble, Mai'v 
 
 C. lluitisli to Edward N. Sayrc, Juliet Pliillips to John 
 
 M. Iv'u'lmioiid, lii/.zio I). Sliehh^ii to Iloiiry J. Owen, 
 
 EUa Vail Doren to J. Q- A. EiiUertoii, Lizzie \V. Van 
 
 Duyn to Alfred IT. Falinestock, Cassie S. Olden to John E. 
 
 Peters. The iirst on tlii^ list at which I officiated, Miss 
 
 Vandeventer was married to the Rev. Mr. Kaufman, May 
 
 2od, 1855. This beloved clergyman fell in his pulpit only 
 
 last iSnnday, just as he had tinislied a jM-ayer remarkable for 
 
 its eai'uestness and affection, in which he liad specially 
 
 remembered the widow and the fatherless; and was buried 
 
 on Thnrs(hiy. He has been cut offin the midst of his days 
 
 and usefulness; but if one were to choose it might well be 
 
 to fall as lie did, with armor on, engaged in his work. T 
 
 met him at the Synod of New Jersey, and talked pleasantly 
 
 with him, less than one week before he died. He had 
 
 a sweet voice, and his soul was attuned to tlie praises of 
 
 God. He had charge of the singing in this church, and led 
 
 in thai part of the service, at the time of my installation as 
 
 pastor. He was suddenly transferred from the sanctuary 
 
 below to the temple, where his voice is heard, 
 
 '• III loftiest songs of sweetest praisf, 
 And vies with (jabriel while he sings." 
 
 The whole tiutnber who have married clergymen, of the 
 several congTCicatiou, since I have resided in Princeton, is44. 
 
 3Jor(nari/ S/a/isfic-'<. 
 P)eing Jiot unlre(Uiently called to attend funeials in 
 families not connected with the congregation, and 
 beyond the bounds of this congregation, in others when 
 destitute of Pastors, of which I have failed to keep any 
 record, I am not able to state the whole number. Eiglity 
 members of the church are recorded, and have been report- 
 ed as deceased ; the largest number in any one year, in 
 1855, 11 ; the next largest in 1865, 9. With the remarka- 
 ble health of the place, I have been greatly struck. In one 
 
36 
 
 whole j-ear (it was in tlie ecclesiastical ^-oar, beo-iiiiiini^ in 
 April '68 and ending in '69,) no death is recorded, but of 
 one who died from home, and was brought here for inter- 
 ment. iSTo epidemic has visited tlie place. Scarlet-fever, 
 diphtheria aiul dysentery have at times had some prevalence, 
 but never ei)idemicall\'; and Princeton has no endemic 
 disease of any kind. Even that destroyer, consumi)tion, in 
 the families in which I am called to minister, of late years 
 has scarcely been known. During the lirst years of my min- 
 istry it smote again and again, two of our families;* but 
 since then I have been spared, with one or two exceptions, 
 tlie pain of witnessing the slow but sure progress of this 
 disease. And the infrequency with which I have been 
 called to minister consolation to those bereaved of little 
 children is perhaps still more remai-kable. Several entire 
 years, in the course of my ministry, have passed in which 1 
 have not been called to stand at the grave of a single infant 
 child. From the beginning ot 1865, for seven years, tin* 
 whole number of funerals at which [ was called to officiate 
 was but fift^'-seven. Of these, 18 only were children. Of 
 these 13, but seven belonged to parents [)ermanently resid- 
 ing here, several having been brought here for interment, 
 and of the seven, one at least died away from home. 
 
 Departe<l Ones. 
 
 It is impossible to go over the list of our departed ones, 
 Avithout bavins: the tenderest emotions stirred within us. 
 Some were youth of great promise, for several of whom 
 written memorials were prepared, and are in your hands, 
 viz., Charles Hodge Dod, J. Robbins Schanck and John 
 Craig Schenck. 
 
 One was a young wife,t who had sought other climes 
 for health, but had returned from the fruitless search, to 
 die. It was in one of these pilgrimages that the compan- 
 
 *Mr. Ralph Gulick's and Mr. David Baker's. 
 
 fMary E., wife of Prof. Green, daughter of Stephen Colwell. Esq. 
 
?>7 
 
 io!if< of hor v(\va<2;o. oiio of tlictii a l)r(Hli('r snfibriiiir from 
 the same disease witli herself, was sti'ieken down, and slie, 
 in her weakness and sorrow, was left alone. It was throna^h 
 snch discipline this snft^eriiiij cliild of God was made meet 
 for the kino^dom. It was only necessary to look on the 
 sweet smile and resi<j:;ned ex[)ression, which seemed to 
 belons^ to her conntenance, as if inwrouji'lit there, and to 
 listen to lier few words of jiatient trust in (Jod and hope in 
 Christ, to teach me that we need more to <"ome into the 
 presence of snch Christians for lessons of piety tlian tliey 
 can need consolation and instruction tVom our lips. Her 
 body was borne to its rest in the i2;rave, April 1st, 18.')4. 
 
 Another* was a young girl, who died at that beautiful 
 season of the year when tlie ilowers, fragile like herself, 
 were about to i»ut on the freshness of their vernal tints. 
 The disease which wasted seemed .dmost to have etherial- 
 ized her tieslj, until it became, as it were, a transparent 
 tabernacle, hardly concealing its immortal inhal)itant. She, 
 too, this young creature, could say, in reply to our anxious 
 inquiries, and ai)))arently without a pang, without a tear, 
 and witliout any trace of visible agitation, "1 have no fear 
 of death. 1 believe that tlie arms of the Saviour are open 
 to receive me." 
 
 ■ Anotlier was a young womanf who thought amidst all 
 her other troubles, that Ood had forsaken Inn- at last; but 
 who was comforted when I asked her, if she did not feel 
 willing to be like him, wlio cried out to God, when he was 
 dying, "Why hast thou foi-saken me?*' Never shall I for- 
 get the animation witli whicli slie exclaimed, 
 
 Jesus I throw my arms around, 
 
 And hiing upon iliy breast : 
 Without one gracious smile tfoni thee. 
 
 My spirit can not rest.'" 
 
 A venerable member;}: of this church deceased in 1859. 
 
 *Miss V'irginia, daughter of the late Rear Aduiiral C'raldx;. 
 tMiss .lane Ann, daughter of Elder Ralph Gulick. 
 ♦Jacob Seudder. M.D. 
 
38 
 
 He was a grandson of one of the foandei's, or original niem- 
 bers, of this chureli. lie studied medicine with l)i\ John 
 Beattie, of Princeton, and after [)rartising twelve years in 
 Pennsylvania and Virginia, his health failed, and he returned 
 to his native state, and lived here more than lifty-tive years. 
 In early life he had been skeptical on the subject of religion ; 
 but being providentially thrown into the company of the 
 Rev. Dr. Robert Findley, for a night, the conversation of 
 that eminent servant of Christ led him to a re-examination 
 of the Christian evidences, whicli resulted in his full satis- 
 faction, and he at once became a believer in Jesus Christ ; 
 and to the end ot his life maintained a steadtast profession. 
 His end was peace. With tears, he said his only hoj)e of 
 sah'ation was in Chi'ist Jesus; — that all that could be said 
 of Inm was, that he was •' a sinner saved by grace." 
 
 In the following year there was removed from membei-- 
 ship in this church to the church of the firstborn in heaven 
 one* who perhaps had adorned the doctrine of God our 
 Saviour as brightly as any professed follower of the Saviour, 
 who has ever lived among ns. She left one behind, with 
 wdiom her life had been most closely intertwined, who still 
 reiiects amongst us the same bright and cheering light. 
 
 In 1861, Mrs. Sarah Miller, so long and intimately 
 identified with this Church, and with the religious interests 
 of Princeton, de})arted this life. She was a Jad^' distin- 
 guished for great force and decision of character. When 
 slie turned herself from the world, she nevei" looked l)ack. 
 Her standard of duty and consecration was high. A sti-ang- 
 er not knowing the briglit and cheerful hope that sustained 
 lier, might have thought her desponding or severe, or that 
 she was dis[)0sed to look on the dark side of things. At 
 my interviews with her, during her last illness, the burden 
 of her conversation was her mercies, her mercies. She spoke 
 
 *Miss Mary Deare. who founded the " Deare Scholarship" in the Theo- 
 logical Seminary. 
 
39 
 
 of scarcely aiiythiiii^ cl^io. Xot one rioud .seciiu'd to obscure 
 her liope of hca\'eii. All fear of death apjx'ai'ed to bo 
 wholly removed. She liad a desire to (le[)art and be with 
 C^hrist, which she felt would be far better than a longer 
 stay liere. Slie sanic gently into the sleep oi" (kiath, witli 
 little aj)parent snflering — her ]»rayei-s being answered as to 
 the ver}' manner in wliicli she died. 
 
 None of us who were living hoi-e at the time can ever 
 forget the thrill of terror that went through the town on a 
 morning in Nov., 18G2, on the discovery in the cemetery 
 whei-e it had been cast, of the murdered ])ody of James 
 L\owand, who hatl been received on examination, as a 
 member of this eliurch, thi-ee years l)efore. lie had been giv- 
 en somewhat to free-thinking ; but attributed his (-(inversion 
 to a sermon he had heard, on tiie llOth Psalm, while sitting in 
 yonder gallery. It was a comfort to think that Ik; may 
 thus have been prepared i'or his sudden and awful taking 
 off. A great mystery has always seemed t(^ me to hang 
 about his assassin. Surely his eri'and to this ])lace, and the 
 object of his liovering al)out the streets for several weeks, 
 especially at niglit, was not the slaying and robbing of poor 
 James Rowan d. 
 
 In the year ending in the Spring of '6'), the stars were 
 affixed to names of sevei'al meMd>ers, whose memory is still 
 blessed. In one,* to tlie noblest liatural traits of character — 
 kindness, generosity, truthfidness — grace had added humil- 
 ity, love, and a hope of lieaven, which made her dying 
 chandler one from wlncli a joyous child would not shrink. 
 For yeai's, with maternal care, she watched over a helpless 
 sutferert who also exhibited in a high degree the C'hristian 
 graces. Iler disease was attended with a gradual loss of 
 muscular action, steadily advancing for years, until it is 
 difficult to conceive how one could be in a mort- pitiably 
 
 *Mrs. Mary Bniere. 
 fMiss Stevenson. 
 
40 
 
 {lependent state. She couM not convey l)er own food to 
 lier mouth, or masticate it when there, or so much as 
 wipe away her tears. For years it was iny privilege to 
 visit this house of affliction, ahiiost weekly: privilege,! »i\\, 
 for with the highest e.\hibiti(Mi of true and undeliled reli- 
 gion, hotli in the helpless i.nd tlie helpers, I never found it 
 a sad or cheerless place. 
 
 Another, Mrs. Isabella, wife of James S. Green, Esq., 
 had for vears been one of the inost active members of this 
 congregation, among the poor, being at the head of Socie- 
 ties for their beneiit, knowing them i>ersonally, and in their 
 homes, and often entrusted with considerable sums of 
 money, to be expended for them, by otliers, who contided 
 in her knowledge of them, and judgment, and kindness. 
 Her religion was not a mere profession. She let lier light 
 shine. She was one of the most consistent followers of 
 Christ. A third* who had found a home in a distant part of 
 the country, found heaven just as near there, as if she had 
 died under the roof wliere she w^as born. The group of 
 little children she left, have one after another, as if in 
 answer to her prayers, been professing their faitli in the 
 Saviour slie loved, and in the communion of the church she 
 loved. In the following fall, another fond mother,t leaving 
 her little ones to the divine Shepherd's care, consecrating 
 to liim lier youngest, in holy baptism, went in the confi- 
 dence and joy of faith to be with him forever. 
 
 Passing on to '69, a period, during which we miss from 
 our number Stejdien Stryker, Mrs. Henrietta A. Armstrong, 
 Mrs. Catherine Allen, Mr. Albert Terhune, Mrs. Eleanor 
 Forman, A. M. lludnut, Esq., and others, we come to names, 
 added to this galaxy, which shine with no inferior ray. 
 There was one.i; whose natural gifts and graces, and culti- 
 
 *Mrs. Mary Olmsted Murrill. 
 fMrs. Emma A. Laiigiotz. 
 IMrs. Dr. Sheldou. 
 
41 
 
 vated !nind, would liavo niurked liei- out in nuy society. 
 Her [tiety was distiuguislied l>_v siinj»lo, uudoubtiniLi^ trust, 
 a jiei't'eet restiugou Ikt Savioui', and wasol' course marked 
 l)v groat cliOLM't'uluoss and liopctulncss. She possessed great 
 knowledge of the Scriptures, and could accurately repeat 
 the /yA^/sN////'/ rcrha ofiai-gc portions. Ilcr well-stored mind 
 fitted her especially to imjiart instiniction, in which woi-k 
 she was eminently l)lessed, — an entire class having h(>CM 
 made the subjects of renewing gi-aee. She had methods of 
 her own, which were eminently a(hi|)ted to interest and call 
 forth the faculties of young minds. The same summer, 
 another* no less distinguished for lier intelligent I'lety, and 
 strong attachment to the pure doctrines of the gos{.)el, was 
 present on a Sabbath morning, when the lines since 
 become so familiar, but then heard here foi- tlie iirst time. 
 ''Tell me the old, old story," were repeated at tlie 
 close of a sermon. The beautiful and touching sinijdicity 
 with which the story is told in tliese lines, awakened, 
 and called forth from her expressions of the deepest 
 interest. Ere another Sabbath had passed, after a brief, 
 sharp illness, she found the door of heaven opened for 
 her to enter in. Another,! <^*" •' bright Sabbath after- 
 noon, in her sick room, it was one of the last acts of 
 her faitli, dedicated her infant to God in P)aptism, whilst 
 her countenance fairly beamed with Christian hope and joy. 
 Still another,! who had in earlier life filled the office of 
 teacher, in a neighboring city, was most useful liere, leading 
 as blameless a life as we are ever privileged to see. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth Smith departed this life, June 22d, 1870. 
 For 3'cars she was almost a liel}>less invalid, and nevei- cross- 
 ed her threshold. I never saw her in this house. She 
 lost her health, in comparatively early life, from exposure 
 to a sudden shower, while engaged in collecting I'unds for 
 
 *Mrs. Hannali Butler. 
 
 fMrs. Bessie Kane, wife of Hev. Dr. Shields. 
 
 .■J:Mis.s Maria Guild. 
 
42 
 
 tlie erection in tlie iieiii'liborliood, where slie tlien lived, 
 Peiin's Neck, of ;i l)nikliiiii' for Sabbath Scliools and 
 religious meetings. She possessed a line mind, which was 
 highly cultivated. After the death of Dr. Woodhull,* to 
 whom she was stronii;!}' attached, s])e wrote an apprecia- 
 tive and beautiful sketch of his character, as creditable to 
 herself, as a grateful [ditienr, as to the physician whom she 
 desired to lionor. On the day of lier dcatli, only an hour 
 or two before slie breathed lier last, she composed and 
 addressed these lines to a young friend, who was just about 
 to set sail for Europe, for travel and study. 
 
 C Dkaii: 
 
 A parting word. If power were mine, 
 What most I value should be thine — 
 
 The brightest gem in diadem. 
 
 To deck thy brow : 
 The fairest flower, in g.-irden bovver. 
 
 Id gather now. 
 '{'he Pear! of price, tliat gem should be, 
 The thornless Rose, my gift to thee. 
 
 "■■.lohti Neilson U'oodhull, M.D., was the son of the Kev. George SpafTord 
 WoodhuU, a former pastor of this church, and grandson of Rev. Dr. Wood- 
 hull, so long pastor of the old Tennent Church. His mother was Gertrude 
 Neilson, daughter of Col. John Neilson, an officer of distinction, in the war 
 of the Revolution. She departed this life Feb. 20th, I860, and was a most 
 lovely Christian woman, gentle, charitable and retiring, and seems to have 
 possessed the same lofty moral traits, ascribed to her husband, in the sketch 
 of his character by Dr Miller. John N. Wocdhull was born in Cranberry. 
 July 2-5th, 1807, and graduated at the College of New Jersey, 1825, and in 
 Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1882. He commenced prac- 
 tice at Middletown Point, but in 18.3") removed to Princeton. For his kind- 
 ne.ss to the poor he was i)roverbial, often riding in stormy nights miles to 
 visit them, and just as promptly as if they were rich, able to remunerate him. 
 For more than thirty years, he discharged the duties of that merciful, self- 
 denyingprofession, which brings those who practise it into the inmost recesses 
 of households, and makes them familiar with the most secret griefs and 
 nacred joys of individuals and families. Prior to 1843, his practice extended 
 many miles, in all directions from Princeton ; and it recpiired four or five 
 horses. Subsequently to that date his practice was mainly confined to the 
 office, his patients coming to him from distant towns and counties, and from 
 other States. In his last will and testament, he devised a considerable 
 amount of property to his Alma Mater. 
 
43 
 
 Next wo wore railed t(i follow to the i^ravo an aged and 
 respected inOTulKT* of this churcli, and then a young nianf 
 who had shortly before professed liis faith in Jesus; and 
 the same year, so closely does sorrow soinetinios follow on 
 tlie heels of joy' the hride| of a single year. For more tiian 
 seven months was she contined to her sick room, and for 
 a considerable part of this tinie, her sufferings were very 
 intense. Never have I administered tlie rite of baptism, 
 under similar circumstances, when I felt more clearly satis- 
 lied in my own mind, of the fitness of the subject to receive 
 it. The ordinance seemed to be a source of refreshment 
 and sti'ength to lier, as lier feet were touching the cohl water 
 of Jordan. 
 
 Our recent experience is like tliat at the beginning; we 
 are constantly missing loved ones from our side. We shall 
 not soon forgot the tearful obsequies of the dear child|| that 
 faded away just as the fiowors of tiic last Spring, that 
 bloomed around us, were putting forth ; andof another^ in the 
 same month, cut off in the full vigor of life ; to bo followed 
 in midsummer l)y those of an aged mother^ in Israel, excelled 
 by few in her clear discriminating knowledge, and a cordial 
 reception of the doctrines of the (losj)el, and the ripe fruits 
 of established ])iety. I>ut we have I'oached a point too near 
 the present for it to be necessary to remind you of the 
 losses we have exj)erienced. I would like to speak of some 
 whose liglif shone very brightly, but it has been too recently 
 extinguished for us to be unconscious of the loss, or with- 
 out the ])eril of causing w^ouuds that are beginning to be 
 assuaged to bleed afresh. This remark must however be 
 allowed, that the closing list of our dejiai-ted ones -the list 
 
 *Mr3. Elizabeth Stockton. 
 tWilliam Allen. 
 |Mrs. Katie Thomas. 
 ||Constance Cameron. 
 |Mis.s Abhy Gulick. 
 yMrs. Mary Ann Schenck. 
 
44 
 
 extending from April, '72 to April, '73 — strikingly illustrates^ 
 the peculiar composition and character of this churcli as 
 made up of persons of all degrees of intelligence, (it 
 includes tlje name of one who could not read,) and in all 
 the varied walks of life, journeying side by side, in tliis pil- 
 grimage, towards the heavenl\' Zion ; or sitting in loving 
 fellowship, at the table spread for them, in this wilderness. 
 Tlie list is as follows : Martlia M., widow of Em ley Olden ; 
 Margaret, wife of John Andrews : Rear Admiral Thomas 
 Crabbe ; Widow Mary Sehenck, aged 92 years; Elisha 
 Lawrence; William W^-ckoft"; Jane, widow of Rear-Admi- 
 ral Crabbe ; Eleanor McCullongh, wife of Rev. Dr. McGill. 
 
 " blessed are tbe dead in Christ I 
 
 Why will ye mourn for them V 
 
 No more the stormy billows here, 
 
 With weary feet they stem. 
 
 Seem they to sleep ; 'tis but as sleeps 
 
 The seed within the earth, 
 
 To burst forth to the brilliant morn 
 
 Of a more glorious birth.'' 
 
DATE DUE 
 
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