First church in Newark

Front matter

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FIRST CHURCH IN NEWARK.

HISTORICAL DISCOURSES,

Preface

These Discourses were prepared, originally, without the remotest reference to publication ;' indeed, the writer had no intention, at the beginning, beyond the preparation of a single practical discourse, founded on a slight glance at the history of the congregation, the early part of which he then supposed had been traced with sufficient minuteness and accuracy by another hand. But this supposition was soon found to be erroneous ; and, as he proceeded, the materials so grew upon his hands that he was insensibly led to extend his narrative to the space of four pulpit discourses. In preparing them for the press, it seemed necessary to pay more regard to completeness and accuracy than had entered into the original plan. In order to this, much must be added, and many obscure points carefully re-examined. The labor incident to such inquiries no one knows who has not tried the experiment. The materials must be collected from the widest spaces, and brought into true connection with each vi PREFACE.

other by the most careful consideration of times and circumstances. The determination of a date may often require to be pursued through volumes, pamphlets, records and obscure manuscripts, the examination of which will cost days of toil, and access to them be obtained only by the tardy process of correspondence, or by visiting in person remote places. And after all, perhaps, the result is one which the ordinary reader will either not notice, or regard as a mere matter of course.

In the pursuit of these objects, most of the discourses have been entirely re-written. Some of them have been extended to a length manifestly incompatible with their original design. Details have been descended to, which, however valuable in a local history, as contributing to complete the picture of the men and the times, seem hardly suitable to the dignity and sacredness of the pulpit. And as scarcely a third of the matter now presented was contained in the discourses as delivered, the writer has hesitated whether he should not abandon the original plan, and give the work the form of a continuous narrative. But, besides the necessity of re-casting the whole, should that change be adopted, the present form seems to have some advantages, at least for the people specially concerned ; and he has concluded to let it stand as it is.

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The sources from which the facts have been drawn are generally indicated by foot-notes, especially in the earlier periods. Besides various well-known histories, genealogical publications, pamphlets, &c, which need not be mentioned here; the original records of the town of Newark ; the printed minutes of the old Presbytery of Philadelphia and the Synods prior to the formation of the General Assembly; the records of the various Presbyteries with which the Church has been connected, from the year 1774 to the present time ; the records of the Church as far'as they extend ; the records of the Board of Trustees, and various packages of old deeds, wills, letters, &c, &c, have been carefully examined. It is much to be regretted that the records of the Church, extending from the year 1696 to the time of the Bevolutionary war, were destroyed when the British troops had possession of the town in 1776, and those which remain date back only to August, 1781, after Dr. Macwhorter's return from the South.

It seems necessary to say a word respecting the efforts of this venerable pastor to preserve the Church's history, when it seemed passing into hopeless oblivion. Dr. Macwhorter's Century Sermon has been the authority for most of the statements which have been made since his time. Besides this, however, he wrote two

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other sketches — one in the introduction to the first volume of the Sessional Records, and the other in response to a call from the General Assembly for materials for a History of the Presbyterian Church. This last is the one quoted by Dr. Hodge in his " Constitutional History," under the title of " Manuscript History of Dr. Macwhorter," and is referred to in this narrative under the same name. All these sketches contain material errors. Dr. M., as he informs us, relied for his authority chiefly upon tradition. "All I can say," says he, " must consist of a few brief hints, as I possess no documents or written materials whence even those hints are derived, except what have been taken from the relations of old people to me in former times. Therefore it must not be expected that they will be very accurate, nor will I vouch for the perfect truth of all that may be said." As a specimen of this inaccuracy, I may refer to what he says of the influence of the Saybrook Platform in shaping the affairs of this Church, years before that platform was framed ; or to the case of the Rev. Mr. Bowers, whom he represents as having been dismissed for reasons not now known, and to have died in 1721, in his thirty-fourth year; whereas his tomb-stone shows that he died in the year 1716, in his forty-third year, and the records of the town plainly indicate that he retained the pastoral

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office till his decease. Dr. Maewhorter's narratives are valuable, but of course cannot be relied upon, wherever unquestionable documents contradict their statements.

In preparing these discourses, the writer has received valuable assistance from William A. Whitehead, Esq.. Dr. S. H. Pennington, Mr. James Ross. Rev. William E. Schenek, Rev. James Richards, D. D., Rev. Richard Webster, Rev. Stephen Dodd of East Haven. Rev. Lyman Atwater, D. D.. of Fairfield, Conn., and Rev. Samuel SewaU of Burlington, Mass. ; but especially from Mr. S. H. Congar, the indefatigable antiquarian of Xewark. The map and its explanations are Mr. Congar'-. His thanks are due to Rev. Dr. Hodge, for the use of manuscripts belonging to him as historian of the Presbyterian Church, and to Rev. Dr. James AY. Alexander, for the use of letters respecting Rev. Aaron Burr, and the Latin oration of the learned President, to which reference has been made in these pages.

It can hardly be presumed that perfect accuracy has been secured amidst so many minute particulars. But, accidental errors excepted, the statements, it is believed, will be found reliable. Wherever an opinion has been expressed, it has been introduced distinctly as an opinion, and will pass for what it is worth. Where traditionary statements have been made, their source has

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been indicated. In general, wherever any donbt has existed respecting any fact or representation, the authority has been referred to, that the reader may weigh it for himself.

With these explanations, the following pages are committed to the judgment of the candid. If the result shall be to preserve the memory of a most worthy race "of men, and the early fortunes of a most useful Christian organization ; if the spirit of the fathers may thereby be transferred to the children, not only of this but of succeeding generations, and thus a benefit conferred on a beloved Church, for whose spiritual good it is the writer's pleasure to labor, his efforts will be more than compensated.