AN 
 
 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT 
 
 OF 
 
 THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 OF 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 Being a Sermon preached on Thanksgiving Day, 
 December 12, 1850, 
 
 By WILLIAM EDWARD SCHENCK. 
 
 PASTOR OF THAT (MIURCH. 
 
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 1850. 
 
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 An historical account 
 First Pr^^^chvfpri 
 
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 Of thi 
 
 rhnrr-h 
 
AN 
 
 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT 
 
 OP 
 
 THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 OP 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 Being a Sermon preached on Tiianksgivino DAt, 
 December 12, 1S50, 
 
 / 
 ^ By WILLIAM EDWARD SCIIENCK, 
 
 TASTOR OF THAT (JHURCH. 
 
 pnncctoti, 2C. 3: 
 
 rCIMTED EY JOHN T. r.03IN33N. 
 
 18511. 
 
Princbton, Dec 13th, 1850. 
 Rbv. and Dear Sir: — At a meeting of the congregation of the First Presby- 
 terian Church of Princeton, it was resolved, that the undersigned be a comuiittee 
 to request of you for publication, a copy of your excellent and interesting dis- 
 course, delivered on the morning of Thanksgiving Day. 
 
 Very respectfully and ti-uly yours, 
 
 JAMES S. GREEN, ^ 
 
 J. S. SCHANCK, \Commintt. 
 
 EMLEY OLDEN, j 
 
 Primcbton, Dmc. 14th, 1860. 
 Gentlkmkn : — Your request on behalf of the congregation of the First Pres- 
 byterian Church, has been received, and a copy of the discourse referred to ie 
 sent herewith. Some parts of it, for want of time, were omitted in the delivery. 
 J send it as first written. A number of matters connected with the subject, 
 which could not be appropriately introduced into the body of the discourse, havt 
 «Ido been added as marginal notes. 
 
 Very truly and respectfully. 
 
 Your Friend and Pastor, 
 WILLIAM EDWARD SCHENCK. 
 
TO THBT 
 
 CONGREGATION OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCE 
 
 OP PRINCETON^ 
 THIS SERMON, PUBLISHED AT THEIR REQUEST^ 
 
 I IS AFFECTIONATELY OFFERED BY THEIR PASTOR,. 
 
 WITH AN HUMBLE HOPB 
 THAT IT MAY INCREASE THEIR LOVE TO THE CHURCB 
 OF THEIR FATHEESy 
 
 AND THUS TEKD TO FIT THEM FOR JOINING AT LAST THff 
 CHURCH OP THE FIRST LORN ABOVE. 
 
 I 
 
SERMON. 
 
 Deut. 8. 2. — Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord 
 
 thy God led thee. 
 
 The histories of the past are lessons of divine instruc- 
 tion. If God doeth all things according to the counsel 
 of his own will, then all the progress of events must 
 be full of intimations of what his will has been. And 
 as God is unchangeable, we may expect to see the same 
 ;attributes, and the same general methods of dealing 
 witli his creatures, manifested in the future. Thus in a 
 higher than any poetical sense^ "coming events cast 
 their shadows before," and the things that have been, 
 are in an important degree indicative of the things that 
 «hall be. Could we make the experience of those who 
 went before us our oum, without waiting to be driven 
 to its acquisition by the same painful process by which 
 they reached it; how many bitter disappointments 
 should we be spared. Upon what a vantage-ground 
 should we be placed, from which to press forward along 
 the pathway of life. How many costly, fatiguing, un- 
 profitable, and dangerous experiments would we refrain 
 from making. Had Israel obeyed the injunction of the 
 text, how many of those chastisements from God, and 
 inflictions by man ; how many of those sins and sorrows, 
 which are now recorded on every page of their subse- 
 quent history, had they never known. 
 
 But another remark more pertinent to the present 
 
6 
 
 occasion is this — ^that forgetfulness of the past is hoih a 
 manifestation and a cause of present iiigratitude. So in- 
 timately connected are present mercies with those which 
 went before, that we cannot suitably comprehend the 
 value of the last links of the immeasurable chain, 
 without some consideration of those remoter ones, 
 through a dependence on which, these nearer links 
 have been let down from heaven. Israel could not 
 suitably thank God in after years for the peaceful rest 
 of the land that flowed with milk and honey, without 
 a recollection of the bitterness of the Egyptian bondage; 
 of the perilous passage through the Red Sea ; of the 
 quails and the m^nna divinely provided for them ; of 
 the gushing waters flowing from the smitten rock; of 
 the brazen serpent with its healing power set up be- 
 fore them ; of the kings of Bashan and of Heshbon 
 against whom God fought for them. And this was 
 doubtless one of many reasons, why God inspired 
 Moses to write out so full and so minute a record of the 
 past, and why he so explicitly enjoined it on his people 
 Israel, to " rememher all the uny wJiich the Lord their God 
 had led themr 
 
 We would humbly hope, that as the Israelites might 
 expect to be benefitted by a constant recollection of 
 their past history, so we may not be unprofited by a 
 review of that train of providential occurrences, through 
 which we have come, as a church, to the enjoyment of 
 the manifold blessings for which, in part, we are to day 
 assembled to offer our united thanksgivings. I propose, 
 then, on this occasion, to offer to you some account of 
 ilie origin and earlier history of this church^ And I 
 
 * N. B. As the writer of this discoiu'se has it in view, if the Lord will, t<> 
 revise and extend this historical account at a future day, be will he truly thankful 
 
shall endeavour so to do this, as to excite only such 
 emotions as are accordant with the purpose for which 
 we are assembled. 
 
 Neither this church or this town can look back to so 
 remote an origin as can many others in our state. This 
 is easily accounted for. Until a little after the begin- 
 ning of the last century* what is now the one State of 
 New Jersey, was two distinct provinces, owned by dif- 
 ferent proprietors, and under different colonial govern- 
 ments. Into East Jersey, emigration flowed through 
 the towns nearest to the waters of New York : into 
 West Jersey, through the ports on the Delaware. Thus 
 it happened that this region being near the line which 
 separated the two provinces, was to both of them a 
 frontier region, and remained an unbroken wilderness 
 until these two tides of emigration met. This was of 
 course long after many of those more accessible places 
 had become flourishing villages, and the institutions of 
 religion had been thoroughly established therein. Only 
 one hundred and seventy-three years ago, a traveller 
 who passed over the spot on which Princeton now 
 stands, in passing across from where New Brunswick 
 to where Trenton is now built, describes the country as 
 a continuous forest and says that he saw not one tame 
 animal between the Raritan and the Delaware. He 
 was obliged to secure an Indian guide who led him by 
 an obscure footpath through the forest.f The first au- 
 thentic trace of a settler in this vicinity is, that in the 
 year 1G85 one Dr. Greenland owned a plantation on the 
 
 to any who may communicate any historical details, or transmit any old docu- 
 ments of interest relating to the history of Princeton, its institutions, or former 
 inhabitants. 
 
 * The two provinces were finally united April loth, 1702. 
 
 f The name of this traveller was William Edmundson. See Watson's Annals of 
 Philadelphia, page 91. note, referred to in Whitehead's East Jersey, page 95. 
 
Millstone just without the limits of the present Bor^ 
 ough.* In the year 1690 three or four additional settlers 
 had purchased small tracts, and had begun to clear 
 away the ancient forest. But in the year 1693, the 
 celebrated William Penn, the founder of the common- 
 wealth of Pennsylvania, and who was also a large 
 owner of New Jersey soil, purchased two large tracts 
 of land, comprehending with the exceptions above 
 alluded to, the whole country for a circle of many miles 
 around the spot where we are met to-day -f By his 
 interest and influence a number of Quaker families were 
 attracted hither. These were highly intelligent and 
 industrious persons, who had originally come from 
 England, having left their native country chiefly be- 
 cause of the annoyances and oppressions to which they 
 were there exposed because of their religious persuasion. J 
 They built not long after, probably not far from the year 
 1700, the Friends' Meeting-house at Stony Brook. In 
 the venerable graveyard close by it, through many 
 succeeding years, were interred the first settlers and 
 early citizens of Princeton of all denominations, no 
 other public place of burial being then opened any 
 where in the vicinity. The descendants of some of 
 
 * There is in tlie Library of the N. J. Historical Society an ancient map of 
 the plantations en the Raritan, Millstone, and othor rivers. The plantation of 
 Dr. Greenland is there marked down, and seems to have occupied the present 
 farm of Capt Lavender or its vicinity. The date of this map is 1685. 
 
 f The tract on the north side of Stony Brook contained 5500 acres ; that on 
 the south side 6500. This last was sold entire in 1737 to Garret Schcnck (the 
 great-great-grand-father of the writer) and John Kovenhoven, both of Monmouth 
 Co. A portion of it is still called from it first owner, Penn's Neck. The original 
 Penn patent for this tract is still in the possession of Mr. William Smith Schenck 
 of Penn's Neck. 
 
 X The chief among these Quaker settlers were Benjnmin Clarke, (who settled 
 at Perth Amboy in 1683 ; and thence came to Stony Biook in 1090 ;) John Hornor, 
 Richard Stockton, John Olden, and Joseph Worth. Except Claike, they all 
 settled for a while at Piscataway, whence they all came hither at tl;e same time, 
 1696. One Daniel Brimson, a son-in-law of Dr. Greenland, was living in thia 
 yicinity before 1690. A copy of his will is in the writer's possession, dated 1696, 
 in which he leaves his plantation to his son, Barefoot Brimson. 
 
these Quaker settlers still dwell numsrously around us, 
 and some of them still cultivate the very same fields 
 from which their ancestors more than an hundred and 
 fifty years ago, cleared off the primitive forest. 
 
 There were however others besides the Quakers who 
 came in about the same time. As it is true of the early 
 history of our entire country, so is it in particular true 
 of that especial time in which this portion of New Jer- 
 sey received the largest accessions to the number of in- 
 habitants, and in which the settlement of this town and 
 its vicinity was commenced, that God seemed so to order 
 events in the old world as to drive hither its purest re- 
 ligion and its stoutest hearts. We have said that the 
 forest here began to hoar the sound of the woodman's 
 axe about the year 1G90. It was in 1G85, only five 
 years before, that the Edict of Nantes was revoked, and 
 thousands of French Huguenots, were in consequence 
 obliged to fly from their native land. Many of these 
 came direct to this country. Others fled to England, 
 but meeting many annoyances there under the intoler- 
 ant government of King James the Second, thence 
 crossed over to America. And although the mass of 
 them settled elsewhere, yet many of these noble and 
 heroic people, found their way hither and made their 
 homes on Jersey soil. 
 
 From 1672 to 1678 a period reaching up to within 
 twelve years of the first settlement of Princeton, the re- 
 cently wealthy and flourishing country of the Hollanders 
 was turned into a scene of turmoil, devastation, and 
 blood. Durinu the fearful " struggles for their national 
 existence, put forth by the Hollanders under William 
 Prince of Orange against the combined povv^er of France 
 and England, the sluices which kept off the waters of 
 
10 
 
 the ocean were tlirown open, large sections of the coun- 
 try were submerged, and the inhabitants reduced from 
 wealth to poverty. The whole nation, in its despera- 
 tion, was at one time actually engaged in framing a 
 plan for a national abandonment of their country, and 
 an united emigration to some foreign land.* From the 
 necessity for adopting so extreme a remedy they were 
 saved by the intrepidity of their great leader ; yet large 
 numbers actually did migrate to this country. Many 
 of these also, settled in New Jersey, bringing with them 
 an invincible attachment to the faith of the Reformed 
 Dutch Church, identical in doctrine with our own. 
 
 Still nearer to the period of which we speak, did 
 James the Second of England, during his bigoted and 
 intolerant reign of between three and four years, drive 
 to our shores a large and most valuable portion of our 
 early settlers. In England during his reign "Baxter 
 was in jail ; Howe was in exile ; the Five Mile Act and 
 the Conventicle Act were in full vigour ; Puritan writers 
 were compelled to resort to foreign or to secret presses ; 
 Puritan congregations could meet only by night or in 
 waste places ; and Puritan ministers were forced to 
 preach in the garb of colliers or of sailors-"f 
 
 The persecution of the Scotch had already continued 
 for a long course of years before James mounted to the 
 throne. Its great object was to reduce that Presbyte- 
 rian people under the Episcopal yoke. For this end the 
 most cruel and tyrannical laws were enacted, laws of 
 which theEnglish bishops not only sanctioned the enact- 
 ment itself, but also their fierce and bloody execution. 
 " It was for episcopacy (says Hallam) that Scotland 
 
 * Grattan's History of the Netherlands, page 224. 
 f Macaulay's History of England vol. II. chapter 7. 
 
11 
 
 beheld its houses burned, and its fields laid waste ; that 
 the Gospel was preached in its wilderness places by 
 stealth ; that its ministers had been shot in their pray- 
 ers ; husbands murdered before their wives; multitudes 
 destroyed by the executioner, by massacre, in imprison- 
 ment, in exile and slavery ; women tied to stakes on the 
 sea-shore until the tide rose to overflow them."* But 
 it was especially then, only two or three years before 
 the settlement of Princeton, during that fearful period 
 still spoken of as " kUliufj-time" that the brutal Claver- 
 house and his associates were making the hills and glens 
 of Scotland to resound with their blood-hound cries, and 
 carrying desolation and butchery to the fireside of many 
 a pious Covenanter. Neither the rich or poor, the high 
 or low, male or female, the aged or the young, were 
 safe from the insatiate fury of this diabolical persecutor. 
 Multitudes who were spared a bloody end were crowded 
 into government vessels which almost rivalled the Afri- 
 can slaveship, and transported to America. 
 
 Just about this time the Providence of God so ordered 
 affairs, that by those interested in the Province of East 
 Jersey, a little book was written by George Scot of Pit- 
 lochie, and widely circulated among the Scottish people. 
 In this book it was set forth, that whilst the whole force 
 of the law was bent to suppress Presbyterian principles 
 altogether, "■ a retreat, where by law a toleration is 
 allowed, doth at present offer itself in America, and is 
 no where else to be found in his majesty's dominions." 
 It is not wonderful that multitudes of the persecuted 
 Scotch eagerly embraced this invitation, and that hence- 
 forth East Jersey became an asylum for multitudes who 
 brought hither their thorough system of education, their 
 
 * Hallam's Constitutional History, Vol. 3, p. 435. 
 
12 
 
 unbending principle, and above all their pure religion, 
 for the benefit of the then infant community ; a benefit 
 that shall continue to be felt as long as New Jersey 
 continues to exist. 
 
 Accordingly in one of these very years of persecution 
 we hear of the Deputy Governor of East Jersey writing 
 to the proprietors in London, that " the Scots coming 
 now and settling, advance the province more than it 
 hath been advanced these ten years."* One of these 
 pious Scots, by name Walton Ker, who was banished 
 from Scotland in 1G85, "for his faithful and conscien- 
 tious adherence to God and his truth as professed by 
 the church of Scotland," came with many of his coun- 
 trymen to Monmouth county, where, chiefly through his 
 instrumentality, the old Presbyterian congregation of 
 Freehold was formed about the year 1692, Under the 
 influence of that church during the lifetime of its 
 founder, extensive revivals occurred, and the pure truth 
 of the gospel and Presbyterianism together took early 
 «,nd deep root in that district of our state. " By which 
 it appears (says the Rev. William Tennant in whose 
 writings this fact is mentioned) that the devil and his 
 instruments lost their aim in sending him from home, 
 where it is unlikely he could ever have been so service- 
 able to Christ's kingdom as he has been here."'|- At 
 various times since, many families which had in that 
 church imbibed a knowledge of and a love for gospel 
 truth, have removed from Monmouth county to this 
 vicinity, and added much to the strength of this church 
 and congregation. 
 
 * Letter of Deputy Governor Gawen Lawi'ie, found in Smith's History of N. J. 
 page 177. 
 
 f Dr. Hodge's Constitutional History of the Presbyterian Church, Vol. ii. p, 24. 
 
 # 
 
13 
 
 Thus did God in his wondrous providence prepare, 
 mdjii-9t then, send to our state the noblest materials for 
 building up a community and a church, which should be 
 to the praise of the glory of his grace. And it seems to 
 have been this extraordinary wave of immigration, from 
 80 many sources then rolled in upon New Jersey, which 
 caused the rapid and general settlement of this central 
 portion of the state. There are many names still 
 among you which bear constant testimony that those 
 who own them are descended from Huguenots, Cove- 
 nanters, Hollanders and Turitans; an ancestry, than 
 which earth can exhibit none nobler. It was written 
 by one who has pryed extensively and accurately into 
 this matter, that " there is more than one child in this 
 village (of Princeton) in whose veins is mingled the 
 blood of Puritans, Huguenots, English, (Protestant) 
 Irish, and Ge: mans."* Let those who bear such namea 
 and share such blood, remember what their ancestor* 
 endured as witnesses for the ti^th, and let them never 
 cease to love that truth as held by the same church 
 which those ancestors loved better than their own life- 
 blood. 
 
 Although the first settlement was made in the year 
 1690, or thereabout, the town seems to have attained 
 to no very considerable size, before the removal of the 
 college from Newark hither in 1757. Concerning this 
 long interval of more than half a century, no informar- 
 tion has been obtained that is connected with my pre- 
 sent subject. So inconsiderable indeed was the town as 
 to size, that no thought of erecting a church or of main- 
 taining regular public worship seems to have been 
 
 * Dr. II:)Jjy3 Cja3t. Illst. of fas Praabytorlan Cburcb, Vo!. ". :• 71, nolo. 
 
14 
 
 entertained. And this was perhaps the less necessary, 
 because Presbyterian worship had been established 
 within what was then deemed a church-going distance, 
 both at Lawrenceville, then called Maidenhead, and at 
 Pennington, then called HopewelL, as early as the year 
 1709. After this the church at Kingston was estab- 
 lished about the year 1732.* Those of the church-go- 
 ing population who were not Quakers, seem to have 
 attended one or the other of these three places of 
 worship until a short time before the planting of the 
 college here. 
 
 It appears from the records of the Presbytery of New 
 Brunswick that on the 3d day of September, 1751, a 
 year and a half before it was determined by the College 
 Trustees to locate the college in Princeton, an applica- 
 tion was made by the people of Princeton for preachers 
 to be sent to them by the Presbytery, and also for leave 
 .to erect a church edifice. As preachers were asked of 
 the Presbytery at the same time by the church at 
 Kingston, then vacant by the recent death of the Rev. 
 Eleazar Wales, the Presbytery resolved that "the 
 supplies granted should be equally divided between 
 Kingstown and Princetown." In reference to the second 
 request it adopted the following minute, that "the 
 Presbytery taking into consideration the case of Kings- 
 town and Princetown, do judge it not expedient that 
 there be two places of meeting on the Sabbath, but 
 
 * The exact date of the forming of the Kingston congregation cannot now, it 
 is probable, be ascertained. The earliest information the Avriter has been 
 able to obtain on the subject is, that the Rev. Eleazar Wales, who was many years 
 the minister at Kingston, was enrolled in the Synod of Philadelphia in the year 
 1732. He was one of the members of that Synod, set off to the Presbytery of 
 New Brunswick at its formation in 1788, as the Pastor of Kingston church, and 
 took his seat at the first meeting of that Presbytery. It is highly probable, 
 although not certain, that he preached at Kingston from bis first entering th» 
 flynod in 1732. He died at a very advanced age, in 1760. 
 
15 
 
 do recommend it to those that supply there, thcat they 
 preach a lecture at Princetown if tiiey can."=-' It is 
 probable that the Presbytery deemed the place at that 
 time too small and too near Kingston to have a separate 
 church. But whatever may have been the ground of 
 that decision, it does not seem to have satisfied the 
 Princeton people, for in May, 1752, they again re- 
 quested that half the supplies granted to Kingston, may 
 be allowed to Princeton, to which the Presbytery an- 
 swered that, "it cannot see any reason to alter its 
 determination at present." In the year ITo-j, while 
 the college was in building, we read once more that " a 
 motion was made on behalf of Princeton for supplies, 
 and for liberty to build a meeting-house there," and as 
 the result of this reiterated request, that " the affair of 
 Princeton being considered, the Presbytery do grant 
 lihertij to the people of said town to build a meeting- 
 house, and also conclude to allow them supplies." The 
 Rev. James Davenport, the Rev. Israel Read, and Rev- 
 Samuel Kennedy were appointed supplies for certain 
 Sabbaths named.f It is probable that supplies con- 
 tinued to be sent occasionally until the college hall was 
 finished two years after, although in what part of the 
 town or in what building they preached, cannot now be 
 ascertained. These minutes of the Presbytery show 
 that previous to the location of the college here, there 
 must have been a considerable number of Presbyterians 
 in the place, and that they had fully determined, before 
 there was any likelihood of the college being here loca- 
 ted, on having a church edifice and a regular divine 
 service in the town. 
 
 * Records of New Brunswick Presbytery (old copy) on pages 179 .and 180. 
 f Eecords of New Brunawick Presbytery, (new copy) pages 233 and 236. 
 
16 
 
 As my present purpose leads me to speak of other 
 matters only as they stand related to the history of this 
 church, it is enough to say here respecting the estab- 
 lishment of the college, that it was founded in 1746, at 
 Elizabethtown, and committed to the care of the learned 
 and able Jonathan Dickinson, then pastor of the Pres- 
 byterian church in that town. He died just one year 
 afterward, when the students were removed to Newark, 
 and placed under the care of Rev. Aaron Burr, pastor 
 of the Newark church, who became the second Presi- 
 dent of the College. It remained at Newark just ten 
 years without having as yet owned any building, at the 
 end of which time its Trustees resolved on selecting a 
 permanent location where they might erect suitable 
 buildings for its use. While they were selecting a 
 position for it, New Brunswick came very near to ob- 
 taining its location there, but the offers of its inhabitants 
 being deemed by the Trustees not sufficiently liberal, 
 they entered into negotiations with the people of Prince- 
 ton. It seems to have been chiefly through the inter- 
 vention and offers of three wealthy and liberal citizens 
 of the place, that its present site was finally agreed 
 upon. These three persons were John Stockton, John 
 Honior, and Ihomas Leonard, and their names ought 
 ever to be held in honourable remembrance as distin- 
 guished benefactors of this town and every interest that 
 it contains.'-' 
 
 It was in the month of November, 1756, when Presi- 
 dent Burr, having previously relinquished his pastoral 
 charge in Newark, came to Princeton with a body of 
 
 * Bcsi i"^ "■•■•^ri'T certain lands to the College, these three gentlemen gave their 
 bond fdi £1000 on candiLion of its beirg lo3ated in Princeton. This lend having 
 been p:i d > i ' is o-dcred by the College Trustees to be given v.p, April liJ, 
 17G0, ab cppcars f-jm a Minute oa tLc Cjllcgc Rcorce, 
 
17 
 
 seventy students, and took possession of the new edifice.''' 
 In this building they found a Hall or Chapel suitably 
 prepared for the worship of God. It is described by 
 President Finley as " an elegant Hall of genteel work- 
 manship, forty feet square, with a neatly finished front 
 gallery. In it was placed a small, though exceeding 
 good organ, which was obtained by a voluntary sub- 
 scription. It was also ornamented on one side with 
 a portrait of his late Majesty, (George the Second) 
 at full length, and on the other side with a like picture 
 of his Excellency, Governor Belcher, with the family 
 arms neatly carved and gilt above it."f This Hall with 
 its furniture was destroyed by the soldiery during the 
 revolution, and more completely when the college was 
 burned down in 1802. It was in this Hall, so far as 
 can now be learned, that the first regular and settled 
 public worship of God was commenced in Princeton. 
 Although the Presbytery had in 1755 given leave to 
 erect a church building, its foundations were not laid 
 until the year 1762. No sooner however had President 
 Burr and the students come to Princeton, than divine 
 service began to be held every Sabbath in the College 
 Hall. This place of worship was attended not only by 
 the students, but by many of the families from the 
 village and the adjacent country, and these families at 
 once formed the nucleus of the Princeton church. In 
 this hall they rented their pews at an annual and stip- 
 ulated price, as appears from a minute of the College 
 Trustees in which " it is ordered that the pew-rents in 
 the hall for the past year, be immediately jwd to the 
 
 * The workmen commenced digging the College foundatiors on the 29th day 
 of July, 1754. 
 
 f Extract from President Finley's account of the College, quoted in its " HIb- 
 tory, by a Graduate." 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 steward of the college, and on failure of compliance of 
 any person, that such person forfeit his pew."* From 
 which it appears that although the inhabitants had 
 evinced a strong desire to prepare a place for the preaching 
 of the gospel, they had not yet acquired that amount of 
 love and respect for it, which would lead them to a 
 ready and punctual payment of their just dues for hear- 
 ing it preached. 
 
 It was a blessed event in the history not only of the 
 newly established college, but also of the newly-formed 
 congregation that God was pleased almost at once to 
 grant them a glorious baptism of his Holy Spirit. Pre- 
 sident Burr had preached in the new College Hall only 
 about six months when a blessed and wonderful revival 
 of religion occurred. Kespecting this revival Ave hap- 
 pily have the testimony of several eminent divines who 
 were eye and ear witnesses. Its first manifestation was 
 in the case of a student who was dangerously ill, and 
 who while sick was awakened to a sense of his guilt. 
 His conversation made an impression upon others, and 
 theirs again upon yet more, so that the work became 
 almost general before the President knew any thing of 
 it. Misrepresentations were spread abroad, and some 
 of the students were called home. The wicked com- 
 panions of some left no method untried to recover their 
 acquaintances to their former excess of riot, and in a 
 few instances with a fatal success. Just before, the 
 young men had given themselves up to their follies and 
 their vices more than was common, and seemed to be 
 filled with an unusual spirit of pride and contention, to 
 the great grief of the worthy President. It is however 
 
 * Records of the College Trustees, quoted in Dr. Green's Notes, p. 328. 
 
19 
 
 particularly noted, that at this very time there was a 
 little praying circle among the students, who were 
 wrestling for an outpouring of the Spirit. The Rev. 
 William Tcnnent who was on the ground, says that not 
 one member of the college missed the heavenly influ- 
 ence, in a greater or less degree; that the whole house 
 was a Bochim ; that he spoke personally with all the 
 students save one, most of whom inquired with anxious 
 solicitude what they must do to be saved. He declares 
 that he saw in the college as astonishing a display of 
 God's power and grace as he ever saio or lizard of. A 
 sense of God's holiness was so impressed on all hearts 
 that only two or three of those who were before esteemed 
 religious were not greatly shaken. Those who were 
 •convicted behaved as mourners at the funeral of a dear 
 friend. " I never saw, (says he,) any who had clearer 
 views of God, themselves, their duty, their defects, their 
 impotence and misery, than they had in general. Every 
 room liad mourning inhabitants, their studies witnessed 
 to their prayers. The work so far exceeded my most 
 •enlarged expectations that I was lost in surprise, and 
 constrained often to say, ' Can it be true ?' I cannot 
 fully represent the glorious work. It will bear j'our 
 most enlarged apprehensions of a work of grace. 
 The glorious ray reached the Latin school, and much 
 affected the master and a number of the scholars.'* 
 And then Mr. Tennent distinctly adds, " Nor was it 
 'fjonfiiied to tJw students only, some others were awakened''* 
 It was natural however that his attention as a stranger 
 and a Trustee should be chiefly occupied with the 
 college, and he has given us no further particulars re- 
 
 * Letter of the Rev. WilUam Tennent, printed in the "Log College," p. 
 
 367. 
 
20 
 
 specting the extent or depth of the work in the town. 
 The Rev. Samuel Davies, in a letter written in Virginia 
 about the same time, after speaking of the work in the 
 college at Princeton, adds that " he has just been in- 
 formed that a very hopeful religious concern spreads 
 through the Jerseys, especially among young people." 
 The Rev. William Tennent was in Princeton from Mon- 
 day until Friday of one week earnestly engaged in 
 preaching and conversing with those under serious im- 
 pressions. He had the high satisfaction of seeing two 
 of his own sons, then students of the college, " partake 
 of the shower of blessing," and then went home, 
 himself refreshed, to enjoy an almost equal shower of 
 blessing, in his own church at Freehold. His brother, 
 the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, then settled in Philadelphia, 
 was also invited to give assistance, which he very gladly 
 did, and writes "that he had all the evidence of 
 the reality of the report concerning the extraordinary 
 appearance of the divine power and presence there 
 which could be in reason desired."='= Thus early after 
 the gospel began to be set forth in this place, did God 
 exhibit the power of the foolishness of preaching. And 
 in this glorious revival of which we have been speaking, 
 we see the first of a series of works of grace in which 
 God has manifested his power and mercy at various 
 times in this town and college down to the present 
 year. 
 
 This precious religious interest had hardly passed 
 away, before the honoured and useful President Burr 
 was removed by death. This occurred just two days 
 before the first Commencement held in this place, 1757. 
 
 * Preface to Rev. Gilbert Tennent's volume of "Sermons on Important Sub- 
 jects. ' 
 
21 
 
 It would be quite foreign to our present purpose to 
 speak of him or either of the other presidents except as 
 they sustained the relation of preachers and spiritual 
 advisers to this congregation. As a clergyman, probar 
 bly no man at that time in New Jersey, was more be- 
 loved, respected, and influential than President Burr. 
 All accounts concur in representing that " in the pulpit 
 he shone with peculiar lustre ; that he was fluent, co- 
 pious, sublime, and persuasive."* During the season of 
 revival, a season which in a peculiar degree calls for 
 humility, fidelity, and sound judgment in a minister 
 of Christ, Mr. Tennent says : " he never shone in my 
 eyes as he does now. His good judgment and humility, 
 his zeal and integrity greatly endeared him to me."f 
 
 He was succeeded by the illustrious Jonathan Ed- 
 wards, whom the world consents to call the profoundest 
 of uninspired theologians. It was of President Ed- 
 wards that Dr. Chalmers wrote thus : " Him I have 
 long esteemed the greatest of theologians, combining in 
 a degree that is quite unexampled, the profoundly in- 
 tellectual with the devotedly spiritual and sacred ; and 
 realizing in his own person a most rare yet most beau- 
 tiful harmony between the simplicity of the Christian 
 pastor on the one hand, and on the other all the 
 strength and prowess of a giant in philosophy ; so as at 
 once to minister from Sabbath to Sabbath, and with 
 most blessed effect, to the hearers of his plain congre- 
 gation ; and yet on the high fields of authorship to have 
 traversed, in a way that none had ever done before 
 him, the most inaccessible places, and achieved such a 
 
 * History of the College, p. 9. 
 
 ■(■ See the Letter already referred to in the " Log College," p. 369. 
 
22 
 
 mastery as had never till his time been reached over 
 the most arduous difficulties of our science."* 
 
 But Edwards came hither, only that he might pass 
 hence to the skies ; yet was it no ordinary privilege for 
 the people and students of Princeton to have such a 
 preacher and such a pastor, although it were only for 
 six weeks. It is said that his first sermon here, which 
 was on the unchangeableness of Christ, was long 
 remembered in the place, and that during the few 
 Sabbaths of his occupying the pulpit of the College 
 Hall, he ministered to the great acceptance and profit 
 of all his hearers. While he has left to America and 
 to the world his invaluable writings and his immortal 
 fame, upon this Town and College has especially de- 
 volved the honorable privilege of being the guardians 
 of his tomb. Let them see to it that it is carefully 
 preserved both from the wear of time, and the sacrile- 
 gious hand of the destroyer. Pilgrims from every part 
 of Protestant Christendom have delighted to visit the 
 spot where his remains are laid, and as his fame grows 
 older and more venerable, increasing numbers will 
 delight to read his epitaph and meditate there upon the 
 splendours of those intellectual conquests which will 
 one day be universally asknowledged to be more mag- 
 nificent than the victories of a Bonaparte, or even the 
 discoveries of a Columbus, f 
 
 After the death of Edwards, the pulpit of the College 
 Hall was occupied for a year by the Rev. Jacob Green 
 of Hanover (the father of the late venerated Dr, 
 
 * In a Letter ttorh Vt, Chalmers to Dr. Stebbins of Nortliamptoiir daied Mav 
 20th, 1844. 
 
 j- President Edwards, his wife, his son-in-law ^though predecessor) Presidcn i 
 Burr, and his daughter, Mrs. Burr, were all buned in the Princeton gravey;ud 
 within the course of one twelve-month. 
 
23 
 
 Ashbel Green,) who had been appointed to act as Vice 
 President of the College until another President should 
 be installed. That next president was the Rev. Samuel 
 Daines of Virginia, who entered upon his duties here on 
 the 2Gtli of July 1759. It is neither possible at present, 
 or accordant with our immediate object to enter upon 
 the many interesting things you might be told respecting 
 this illustrious man. There is however, one fact to 
 which I must advert for the encouragement of pious, 
 praying mothers. President Davies was a child of 
 prayers and vows, in reference to which h<j received the 
 significant name of Samuel, and a,t his birth was wholly 
 consecrated to the Lord. From that time his mother 
 was assiduous in her prayers and efforts, and at the age 
 of only twelve he began to manifest that he possessed 
 the life and power of true godliness. " The event 
 proved that God accepted the consecrated boy, took him 
 under his especial care, furnished him for, and took 
 him into the service of his church, prospered his labours 
 with remarkable success, and not only blessed him, but 
 made him a blessing" unto great multitudes. 
 
 President Davies was unquestionably one of the great- 
 est pulpit orators our world has ever seen. In respect 
 to subject matter, a comparison of their published 
 discourses shows that he was decidedly the superior of 
 the famous Whitefield. And although in some points 
 of artistic declamation he may have been inferior, yet in 
 many of the more important qualifications for a pulpit or- 
 ator, the judgment of all Christendom seems to be reaching 
 the conclusion that he was vastly the superior of Saurin 
 and Massillon. I cannot resist the temptation to in- 
 troduce here a description of his preaching, as written 
 by a contemporary, who was himself no ordinary 
 
24 
 
 preacher.* " Whenever he ascended the sacred desk, 
 he seemed to have not only the attention, but all the 
 various passions of his auditory entirely at his com- 
 mand. And as his personal appearance was august and 
 venerable, yet benevolent and mild, so he could speak 
 with the most commanding authority or melting ten- 
 derness, according to the variations of his subject. 
 With what majesty and grandeur, with what energy 
 and striking solemnity, with what powerful and almost 
 irresistible eloquence would he illustrate the truths, 
 and inculcate the duties of Christianity. Mount Sinai 
 seemed to thunder from his lips, when he denounced 
 the tremendous curses of the law, and sounded the 
 dreadful alarm to guilty, secure, impenitent sinners. 
 The solemn scenes of the last judgment seemed to 
 rise in view when he arraigned, tried, and convicted 
 self-deceivers, and formal hypocrites. And how did the 
 balm of Gilead distil from his lips when he exhibited a 
 bleeding, dying Saviour to sinful mortals, as a sovereign 
 Remedy for the wounded heart and anguished con- 
 science. In a word whatever subject he undertook, 
 persuasive eloquence dwelt upon his tongue, and his 
 andience was all attention. He spoke as on the borders 
 of eternity, and as viewing the glories and terrors of an 
 unseen world, and conveyed the most grand and affect- 
 ing ideas of these important realities."f And although 
 nature had bestowed on him her choicest gifts of body, 
 
 * Rev. David Bostwick of New York City. See preface to the 5th edition of 
 Da vies' Sermons, printed in N. York by Allen in 1792. Vol. 1. pages 67 and 68. 
 
 ■}• A gentleman who heard Mr. Davies preach the sermon found among his printed 
 works, on Luke x : 41, 42, ** And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, 
 Martha, &c.," afterwards told Dr. A. Alexander that the mere enunciation of the 
 text produced a greater effect on him than any sermon he had ever heard, so 
 commanding was Mr. Davies' personal appearance, and so solemn and impressive 
 his utterance. He never preached without his written sermon before him, yet 
 he did not confine himself to it, but enlarged on any interesting theme. 
 
25 
 
 mind and manner, a higher reason for his wonderful 
 power and success may easily be gathered from his 
 private writings. " To imbibe the spirit of Christianity, 
 (says he in a private letter to a friend)* to maintain a 
 secret ivalk with God, to he holy as he is holy, this is 
 tlie labour, this is the work. Perhaps once in three or 
 four months, I preach in some measure as I could wish ; 
 that is, I preach as in the sight of God, and as if I were 
 to step from the pulpit to the supreme tribunal. I feel 
 my subject. I melt into tears or I shudder with 
 horror, when I denounce the terrors of the Lord. I 
 glow, I soar in sacred exstacies, when the love of Jesus 
 is my theme, and as Baxter was wont to express it, in 
 lines more striking to me than all the fine poetry in the 
 world — 
 
 I preach as if I ne'er should preach again, 
 And as a dying man to dying men. 
 
 But alag ! I soon flag, my devotions languish, and my 
 zeal cools. It is really an afflictive thought that I serve 
 so good a Master with so much inconstancy ; but so it 
 is, and my soul mourns on that account.'* How does this 
 language of Davies remind us of the very similar 
 declaration of the apostle Paul: "Not as though I 
 had already attained, either were already perfect ; but 
 I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which 
 also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." 
 
 But this gifted man was destined soon to follow his 
 renowned predecessor. He died on the 4th day of 
 February 1761, when only a little more than thirty-six 
 
 * Quoted in a sermon occasioned by his death, preached by Thomas Gibbons, 
 D.D., at Haberdasher's-Hall, London, and prefixed to the edition of Davies' Ser- 
 mons already spoken of. 
 
26 
 
 years of age, after having lived and laboured in Prince- 
 ton a few days more than eighteen months. And we 
 may again say, how blessed must have been the privi- 
 lege enjoyed by the people of this town in common with 
 the students, of sitting even for that length of time, 
 under the ministry of such a man. 
 
 As the early conversion of President Davies has been 
 mentioned for the encouragement of faithful mothers, so 
 another fact may afford a lofty example for mourning 
 parents. When the corpse of her son was laid in the 
 coffin in yonder contiguous mansion of the College Pre- 
 sidents, his pious and noble-hearted mother stood view- 
 ing it attentively for some moments, and then remark- 
 ed, " There is the son of my prayers and of my hopes ; 
 my only son, my only earthly supporter ; but there is 
 the will of God, and I am satisfied" The noble mother 
 was worthy of so noble a son.* 
 
 The next President of the College, and of course the 
 next regular preacher to all who attended in the Col- 
 lege Hall, was the Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley. He was in- 
 stalled as President on the 30th day of September, 
 1761, the same year in which Davies died. In him we 
 have one of those remarkable instances in which the 
 Spirit of God begins his work in the heart in the years 
 of early childhood, almost of infancy. He is said to 
 have given forth indications of piety, almost as soon as 
 he did of intelligence. At the tender age of only six 
 years he voluntarily and firmly decided to become a 
 minister of the gospel, and from that time was distin- 
 
 * The President's house was finished in 1758, in the month of August. Pre- 
 sident Davies was its first occupant. It is somewhat remarkable that of the four 
 deceased Presidents who have lived in it, Davies is the only one who actually 
 died in it. 
 
27 
 
 guishcd not only for the closeness of his application, and 
 an uncommon accuracy and proficiency in learning, but 
 also ibr the immovable honesty of his moral and reli- 
 gious principles. He was born in Ireland, and came to 
 America when in his nineteenth year. 
 
 It was durinf^ the ministry of Dr. Finley that the 
 first church edifice was erected in Princeton, upon the 
 same site occupied by the house in which we are now 
 assembled.''' We have already seen that in the year 
 1755, after a second application to that body, the Pres- 
 bytery had given leave to erect such a building, as it 
 seemed to be ardently desired by the citizens of the 
 place. It is probable that the college also now desired 
 it as earnestly as did the citizens, inasmuch as the 
 crowds which began to resort to the annual commence- 
 ment could no longer be contained in the College Chapel 
 where the commencement services had heretofore been 
 held. A long and tedious course of negotiation was 
 therefore entered upon between the college corporation 
 and the congregation, as to the site to be occupied, the 
 kind of building to be erected, the relative proportions 
 of the expense which each should bear, and the tenure 
 by which the property should be held. The result of 
 these negotiations was, that in April, 1762, about half 
 of the College Trustees signed a paper of agreement^ 
 which in September following was ratified by the Trus- 
 tees as a body. By this agreement the Trustees of the 
 College gave to the congregation the lot of land which 
 it has ever since occupied, to be theirs so long as it was 
 used for the purposes of a Presbyterian church, the fee 
 simple continuing however in the college corporation, 
 
 * Although upon the same site, it, as well as the second edifice irere buUt -with 
 the side to the street. 
 
28 
 
 until a new arrangement was made many years after- 
 wards. The Trustees of the College also loaned to the 
 congregation the sum of .£700, to aid in the erection of 
 the church, which sum was eventually repaid in full. 
 By the same contract, the college had a right to the 
 exclusive use of one side of the church gallery for the 
 students, and to the whole house for three days at Com- 
 mencement, as also at such other times as the President 
 might desire it for public speaking.* 
 
 The exact date of the founding of that edifice, cannot 
 now be ascertained, but it was certainly between April 
 and September of that year, (1762), most probably 
 soon after the former month, as Dr. John WoodhuU, 
 late of Freehold, states that in September of that year, 
 when he entered college, " the walls of the church were 
 up or partly up."f Notwithstanding the aid afibrded 
 by the college, it cost the congregation a long and severe 
 struggle to get the building finished. It even seems 
 probable that they were at one time almost ready to 
 relinquish the undertaking, for in September of the 
 year following (1763) a committee of the College Trus- 
 tees was appointed, to arrange with the congregation 
 for receiving back the lot of ground and the unfinished 
 house thereon.J The severity of this struggle is also 
 evident from the fact that the house was not completed 
 until the beginning of the year 1766, nearly four years 
 after the work was commenced. 
 
 During the building of the church, the congregation, 
 which was very small, continued to worship in the 
 
 * See Dr. Green's Notes on the College, page 358. 
 
 f In a MS. letter, written to his son Rev. George S. WoodhuU, and dated Feb. 
 11th, 1822, less than two years before Dr. Woodhull's death. From this letter 
 many important facts are drawn in the progress of this narrative. 
 
 X Dr. Green's Notes, page 559. 
 
29 
 
 College Hall. Its leading members at this time, accord- 
 ing to Dr. Woodliull, were Richard Stockton, after- 
 wards a signer of the Declaration of Independence ; Eze- 
 kiel Forman ; Dr. Timothy AViggins ; Jonathan Baldwin ; 
 Job Stockton; Mr. Sergeant; Richard Paterson, (father 
 of Governor Paterson ; ) Jacob Scudder, at the Mill ; and 
 Abraham Cruser of Mapleton. 
 
 In the fall of the year, 17G2, just after the erection 
 of the church had been commenced, it pleased God 
 again to pour out his Holy Spirit with an uncommon 
 power. Of this revival, Dr. Woodhull, when he had 
 become one of the aged fathers in the Presbyterian 
 church, and had witnessed many and blessed revival 
 scenes, writes that it was ike greatest lie ever saw. Its 
 power, he informs us, was felt not only in college, but 
 throughout the whole town, and extended some dis- 
 tance into the adjacent countrj-. It especially extended 
 throughout Mapleton, from Scudder's Mills to Kings- 
 ton ; a considerable number of families in that quarter 
 being then connected with the Princeton congregation. 
 He remarks that probably not a member of the college 
 remained unaffected, while many in the town were 
 brought under deep impressions. This revival lasted 
 for about a year. It began in the Freshman class, of 
 which Dr. Woodhull was then a member. "Almost 
 as soon as the session commenced, this class met 
 once in the week for prayer. One of the members 
 became deeply impressed, and this affected the whole 
 class. The other classes and the whole college, 
 soon became much impressed. Every class became a 
 praying society, and the whole college met once a week 
 for prayer. Societies were also held by the students in 
 the town and in the country around, especially at Ma- 
 
30 
 
 pleton. There were two members of the Senior Class 
 who were considered as opposers of the good work at 
 first, yet both of these were afterwards preachers of the 
 gospel." It was afterwai-ds found that about //j't/ of the 
 students, or one-half of those then in the institution, 
 had been hopefully converted and brought to make a 
 profession of religion. Of this number a large propor- 
 tion afterwards devoted themselves to the work of the 
 gospel ministry. What number was brought in from 
 among the other portion of the congregation does not 
 appear, but there is every probability that it was quite 
 considerable. It was a very precious and a very so- 
 lemn season.* 
 
 In November, 1763, just after this revival, Princeton 
 received a visit from the celebrated George Whitefield, 
 whose labours were at that time arousing the churches 
 in Great Britain and America, and upon whom the eyes 
 of the whole religious world were fixed. Whitefield 
 spent some days in this town under the roof of President 
 Finley, and while here preached several times. The 
 particulars respecting his preaching and the results 
 which followed it are now unknown. A tradition has 
 come down to us that one of the most distinguished 
 sons of Princeton, ever after ascribed his conversion to 
 Whitefield's preaching. Whitefield's biographer simply 
 remarks that " he preached several times with much 
 approbation and success"^ from which expression we 
 may infer that something of the same blessed power 
 which elsewhere accompanied his overwhelming elo- 
 quence, was manifested also in this place. 
 
 * These facts are drawn partly from a letter of Dr. Woodhull's, printed in Dr. 
 Green's notes, page 376, and partly from the MS. letter already referred to. 
 t Dr. Qimes' Life of Whitefield, page 188. Also page 222. 
 
31 
 
 In 1700 the college and congregation were once more 
 bereaved by the death of Dr. Finley, who died in July 
 of that year, at Philadelphia, whither he had gone for 
 medical advice. The first part of President Finley's 
 ministry had been spent in long and fatiguing itinera- 
 tions. He was a fellow-worker with the Tennents, 
 Whitefield, and others, in many of the ever-memorable 
 revivals of those days, and his occasional labours were 
 remarkably attended by the power of the Spirit, espe- 
 cially in several churches in the southern part of this 
 state. He is described hy one who was his pupil, as 
 " always solemn, sententious, and forcible in the pulpit, 
 sometimes glowing with fervour,"* He was remarkable 
 for sweetness of temper, politeness, and generosity. 
 
 From one thus early brought to experience the bles- 
 sedness of true piety, and who had been so hol}^ and 
 faithful in his life, we might have expected at least a 
 peaceful testimon}' to the excellence of religion when 
 death approached. But he gave far more than that. 
 The glowing fervours, the holy raptures of his death-bed 
 surpass all possible description. He seemed to be 
 already surrounded with the glory of Heaven, and to be 
 in the enjoyment of its bliss, before his soul had sepa- 
 rated from the body. " The Lord hath given me (said 
 he) the victor}'. I exult. I triumph. Now I know that 
 it is impossible that faith should not triumph over earth 
 and hell. Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commit my spirit. 
 1 do it loith confidence. I do it with full assurance. I know 
 that thou wilt keep that which I have committed unto 
 thee. Oh that each of you (said he to the spectators of 
 the dying scene) may experience what, blessed be God, 
 
 * Dr. John Woodliull. 
 
32 
 
 I do, when ye come to die. And in his last moments 
 he was not forgetful of those to whom he had so often 
 broken the bread of life. " Qive my love (said he) k) 
 the people of Princeton, and tell them that I am not 
 afraid of death." His remains were laid in Philadelphia 
 beside those of his intimate friend and fellow-labourer, 
 Gilbert Tennent, and a cenotaph was erected to his 
 memory by the college, in the Princeton graveyard.* 
 
 We have already said that the new church edifice 
 began to be used in the early part of 1766, it is likely 
 therefore that Dr. Finley was the first person who 
 preached therein, but it could have been only for a 
 few months. After his death the Rev. William Ten- 
 nent who had charge of the college for six months, 
 doubtless preached also during that time. After him, it 
 is certain that the Rev. John Blair, Vice President and 
 Professor of Theology, preached in the church, in addi- 
 tion to having the oversight of the studies and the stu- 
 dents of the college, until the installation of Dr. John 
 Witherspoon as President, on the seventeenth of Au- 
 gust, 1768.t 
 
 When Dr. Witherspoon came to America, he brought 
 with him several of his countrymen, who settled in 
 Princeton, and whose descendants are still among us. 
 
 * See a most impressive toact entitled " Death of Hume and Finlej" compared." 
 Written by Dr. John M. Mason, of New York, and published by the American 
 Tract Society. 
 
 President Finley had requested that his body might be carried to Princeton 
 and borne to the grave by students of the college. The latter part of the request 
 was complied with, several members of the Senior Class, of whom Dr. John Wood- 
 hull was one, having gone to Philadelphia for the purpose. But the weather wa.s 
 >'o extremely warm that the body could not be carried to Princeton. 
 
 f This is clear from the following minute among the records of the college, 
 dated vSeptember, 1768, the next mouth after Dr. Witherspoou's installation. 
 '•Prof. Blair, in conseqvience of his accepting an invitation from the people of 
 Maidenhead and Kingston to preach for them on the Sabbath, and in considera- 
 tion of the Trustees relinquishing his services as a preacher to tJie Trustees," 
 gives up a certain portion of the salary he had before received. 
 
Several of these afterwards became active and promi- 
 nent members of this church. Dr. Witherspoon con- 
 tinued for tlie long period of twenty-three years to have 
 charge of both the college and the church. The first 
 six or seven of these years, were years of uncommon and 
 progressive prosperity for Princeton, its college, and its 
 church. But soon the rising clouds of war began to cast 
 their dark and gloomy shadows over all the landscape. 
 An invading army entered our state, and for some days, 
 and probably for some weeks, previous to the battle of 
 Princeton, the vanguard of Lord Cornwallis' army was 
 quartered in the college and the church, which were 
 converted into barracks. The soldiery who were sta- 
 tioned here were a large part of them Hessians, and 
 the destruction of property caused by them was wanton 
 and woful. The church was stripped of all its pews, of 
 its galler}^, and of whatever else could be torn loose for 
 fuel. A fire-place was built in it, and a chimney carried 
 up through its roof* Such was its condition, when, on 
 the third day of January 1777, the eventful battle of 
 Princeton was fought. In approaching the town, Gene- 
 ral Washington is said to have expected that both the 
 church and college buildings would be defended against 
 him. He therefore planted a few cannon at a short 
 distance, and commenced firing upon them. After a 
 few discharges, Capt. James Moore, a military officer, 
 and afterwards for a long course of years an active elder 
 in this church, burst open the door of the college building 
 and demanded the surrender of all within, which wa.^ 
 at once yielded. f In the buildings were found a num- 
 l>er of invalid soldiers, but Washington, having no time 
 
 * See Life of Dr. AsLbel Green, pnge 135. 
 i See N. J. Historical Collections, page 272. 
 
 3 
 
34 
 
 to spare, left those unable to travel, on their parole of 
 honour, and hurried on towards Kingston. Both 
 church and college continued however, after the British 
 had abandoned this part of New Jersey, to be occupied 
 by the American troops who were stationed in Princeton, 
 for some time under the command Of General Putnam, 
 and continued to be so used at intervals until the year 
 1781. 
 
 It was a gloomy prospect which was spread before 
 the eyes of the congregation when the storm of war 
 was overpast. The house of worship, for the erection 
 of which they had not many years before, made long and 
 strenuous exertions, was in such a state of dilapidation 
 as to be quite open to the weather, while within it was 
 entirely defaced and destroyed. Their individual means 
 had been greatly reduced; at least three prominent 
 members of the congregation are known to have had 
 their property destroyed by fire ; while a large portion 
 of them, especially the farmers, had sustained large losses 
 of cattle and provisions from the foraging parties of the 
 enemy, and from having British troops quartered upon 
 them.* Their numbers too, had been diminished by 
 the changes and convulsions of the times, while in ad- 
 dition to all this they had a debt of £700 still resting 
 upon them for the loan made to them by the College. 
 During all this long period of nearly eight years from 
 1776 to 1784, the religious services must have been 
 irregular and infrequent. Dr. Witherspoon was most 
 of the time in attendance at Congress, and until the 
 close of 1779, when Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith was 
 
 •{• Along with many of liis people, Dr. Witherspoon himself was a severe sufiFer- 
 er by the marauding of the enemy. His place called Tusculum, was visited by 
 them, and pillaged, and a large part of his stock destroyed or driven off. 
 
35 
 
 recalled to Princeton from Virginia, there was no clergy- 
 man residing in the place. Had there been one, there 
 was no suitable place for the people to assemble in, 
 while the Church and College Hall were both lying in 
 a state of dilapidation. It is true they stood not alone 
 in their calamity, for in the neighboring communities of 
 New Brunswick and Elizabethtown the Presbyterian 
 churches had been entirely destroyed. Yet it is no 
 wonder that it was not until the 8th day of March 
 1784, after the peace and independence of the country 
 had been secured by treaty with Great Britain, and 
 after the withdrawal of the British troops, that they 
 met to devise such measures as were needful in their 
 case.* They seem to have then acted with much liber- 
 ality and promptitude, so that within a year the house 
 was thoroughly repaired and used once more for divine 
 worship. The congregation must by this time have 
 attained a considerable size, as is shown by the fact, 
 that notwithstanding all its losses, 54 heads of families 
 signed the subscription for repairs, and that the j)ews, 
 57 in number, besides the gallery, were with only one 
 or two exceptions, all taken immediately after the re- 
 opening of the house. 
 
 About a year after this, (i e. 1786) a movement was 
 
 * It is probable that rough and temporary preparation was made in the cliurch 
 for the Commencement of 178;J. At tliat time Dr. Ashbel Green graduated. 
 Congress was then in session in Princeton, and Gen. Washington was also here. 
 Congress adjourned for that day, and in a body, together with Washington and 
 the ministers of Fi-ance and Holland, attended the Commencement exercises in 
 the church and sat upon the stage. While in Princeton, Gen. AVasliington and his 
 lady dwelt in the house now occupied by Mr. Peter I. Voorhees, then tenanted 
 by John Harrison Esq. 
 
 In the year 1792 Dr. Witherspoon erected a large canopy over the pulpit, 
 which a few of the oldest parishioners yet remember as presenting a striking 
 feature in tlic old church. An ample drapery of dark-coloured stuff hung about 
 it which was held in festoons by a large, gilded, radiating, star-shaped ornament. 
 The expense of this ornament, " £15 specie," the Trustees "considering it as a 
 necessary appendage to the pulpit" afterwards refunded to the Doctor. 
 
made for a union of the Princeton and Kingston churches 
 under the pastoral care of one minister. A committee 
 was appointed by each congregation, and it was agreed 
 by the two committees, that the two bodies should re- 
 main distinct as to all other affairs, but that "the 
 services of the minister should be proportionate in each 
 congregation to the salary raised or subscribed for him; 
 and that in their opinion a sum not less than two hun- 
 dred pounds would be requisite as an adequate support. 
 That he should be at liberty to reside at any place 
 within the bounds of the two congregations, as to him 
 should be most convenient ; and that a further allow- 
 ance of thirty-five pounds per year be granted him in 
 lieu of a house and glebe." This union was on the 
 very point of being completed, when the Prmceton 
 congregation inserted as a condition, that they should 
 be entitled to two thirds of the minister's services, on 
 condition of their raising that proportion of his support. 
 To this the Kingston congregation would not assent, 
 and the whole plan fell through. 
 
 About the same time (1786) the congregation took 
 measures for becoming an incorporated body. A com- 
 mittee was appointed to secure from the Legislature an 
 act of incorporation, who, instead of obtaining a partic- 
 ular act, aided in procuring from that body the passage 
 of the general law under which any religious society 
 or congregation in the state, might become a legal 
 corporation. Hitherto the pecuniary affairs of the 
 congregation seem to have been managed in a very 
 informal manner, by committees appointed for the pur- 
 pose from time to time. It is probable that the church 
 in common with every interest and institution of the 
 country, at this time felt the inspiriting influence of th« 
 
37 
 
 civil liberty which had just been gained. Accordingly, 
 the new Board of Trustees, first elected in May 1786, 
 referring to the gloomy period they had passed, and 
 to the brighter day that seemed now to be before 
 them, shortly after devised a corporate seal on which to 
 this day may be read the motto, ' Speremus meliora,' 
 (We hope for better things).* 
 
 The congregation at the same time resolved to give 
 their church a more regular ecclesiastical as well as 
 legal form, and on the 21st of January 1786, for the 
 first time elected elders, who jointly with the pastor 
 should constitute the Session of the church.f Before 
 this time, in consequence of the peculiar manner in 
 which the congregation had been gathered under the 
 College Presidents, the whole management of its eccle- 
 siastical and spiritual affairs had been centered in the 
 acting Pastor for the time being. He received commu- 
 nicants to the Lord's table, and dispensed discipline, 
 guided by his o^vn judgment alone ; and it is a cause for 
 deep and lasting regret that he did not even keep, so 
 far as can now be ascertained, any regular and separate 
 record of church affairs. Dr. John Woodhull of Free- 
 hold remarks that while he was a college student in the 
 year 1763, he was received to the communion by Dr. 
 Finley, who said at the time that he acted alone as 
 there was no session. In the same way also, Dr. Ashbel 
 Green informs us, that he was received in 1783 by Dr. 
 Witherspoon. It will be observed however that there 
 never was any feature of Independency or Congrega- 
 tionalism visible in the church. The only irregular and 
 
 * The first Trustees elected -were Robert Stockton, Richard Longstreet, John 
 Little, Enos Kelsey, James Moore, Isaac Anderson, and William Scudder. 
 
 f The first Elders elected were Richard Longstreet, Jamea Hamilton, Thomas 
 Blackwell, and John Johnson. 
 
38 
 
 unpreshyterian facts that appear in its history are 
 these: — first, that it was never organized under the 
 sanction and management of the Presbytery according 
 to the ordinary mode ; and second, that the powers of 
 an ordinary session were regarded as concentrated in 
 the one person of the acting pastor. It is certain, 
 however, that the body was always regarded, notwith- 
 standing the absence of elders, not merely as a collec- 
 tion of persons thrown together for mere convenience 
 in worshipping, but as a constituted church. Hence 
 Dr. Smith in his Sermon preached A. D. 1781 at the 
 funeral of the Hon, Richard Stockton, the older, remarks 
 that he was " many years a member of this church."* 
 It is probable that the congregation in choosing elders 
 at this time acted by the advice and request of Dr. 
 Witherspoon, who having come from Scotland, was 
 probably not pleased with the absence of such " helps'- 
 in the government of the church. And as he was now 
 far advanced in years, he doubtless felt the need of an 
 eldership on which he could lean for aid in managing 
 the religious concerns of the church. At the same 
 meeting at which the organization of the church was 
 thus perfected, the congregation by a formal vote, 
 appointed Richard Stockton, Jonathan Deare, and Dr. 
 John Beatty, a committee to wait on Dr. Witherspoon 
 and present to him its thanks for his " long and impor- 
 tant services towards them," and to request that he 
 will continue " to take upon him the pastoral care of 
 them." At the same meeting they also resolved to raise by 
 subscription a quarterly or half-yearly sum as a com- 
 pensation for his services. This is the first mention of 
 any renumeration given separately by the congregation 
 
 * Quoted in Sanderson's Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence . 
 
39 
 
 to any President of the College. It is possible however, 
 that the pew-rents paid while they worshipped in the 
 College-Hall, may have gone, not to the College Trus- 
 tees, but to the preacher. 
 
 Dr. Witherspoon continued in accordance with the 
 above request to minister to the congregation until 
 about a year before his death. He died on the 15th of 
 November 1794, at Tusculum his country-jDlace, near 
 by the town, where he had lived for nearly fifteen years. 
 During several of the last years of his life, he was not 
 strong enough to preach with any considerable regulari- 
 ty. During that time he therefore called largely for 
 assistance on his son-in-law Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, 
 who was at that time Vice President of the College. 
 Great as Dr. Witherspoon was on the floor of Congress, 
 and in the fields of literature and of practical educa- 
 tion, he carried all his greatness with him to the pulpit. 
 He was an admirable textuary, a profound theologian, 
 and a grave, dignified, and solemn sj)eaker. Although 
 not peculiarly fervent or animated, he was always per- 
 spicuous, affecting, and highly instructive. He suffered 
 from a peculiar affection of the nerves attended with 
 dizziness, which came upon him when he gave free vent 
 to his feelmgs, and which so overpowered him on one 
 occasion, in a moment of peculiar animation of feeling, 
 that he fell from the pulpit. He was compelled there- 
 fore to a great extent to substitute gravity and 
 seriousness in the pulpit for fire and energy.^' His 
 • practice invariably was to commit his sermon to memo- 
 ry after he had written it at full length, and so prodigi- 
 ous were his powers in memorizing, that after reading a 
 
 jf See Memoir of Dr. Witherspoon in Sanderson's Lives of the Signers of tb« 
 Declaration of Independence. 
 
40 
 
 discourse two or three times over, he was able to repeat 
 it verbatim from beginning to end. In preaching, he 
 loved chiefly to dwell on the great and leading doctrines 
 of grace, and these in a simple and lucid manner, he 
 brought down to the comprehension of every hearer. 
 During the last two years of his life. Dr. Witherspoon 
 was entirely blind, yet even this severe affliction did not 
 lead him to give up preaching. There are a few, a very 
 few aged persons yet among us, who can well remember 
 how the venerable man was led up the pulpit steps, 
 and how when there, he poured forth in fervid and 
 solemn tones the blessed truths of God's word on an 
 audience bathed in tears, whilst they listened to the 
 instructions and appeals of the aged and sightless 
 preacher. 
 
 Of the state of religion during the long ministry of 
 Dr. "Witherspoon in Princeton, we have been able to ob- 
 tain no very definite account. Dr. Green informs us that 
 during his Senior year in College, he was the only 
 professor of religion among the students,* and that a num- 
 ber of them were grossly irreligious. The very lack of 
 information on the subject, as well as the turbulent and 
 distracted state of the country, would lead us to expect 
 that religion had sunk to a low ebb in the community 
 at large. 
 
 After the death of Dr. Witherspoon, the congregation 
 seems to have been been satisfied that its numbers had 
 so increased ; its pastora 1 duties become so laborious ; 
 and its ability alone to support the Gospel so abundant, 
 that it resolved on having a Pastor distinct from the 
 College President. In September 1793 it being repre- 
 
 * Life of Dr. Green page 133, 
 
41 
 
 gented to the Presbytery that Dr. Witherspoon by 
 reason of his advanced age, and his bodily infirmities 
 had been obliged to decline the regular performance of 
 ministerial duties, the Presbytery declared the church 
 at Princeton vacant.f It was not however until Sep- 
 tember 1795, the year following the death of Dr. 
 Witherspoon, that the congregation met and elected as 
 their pastor, the Rev. Samuel Finley Snmixhn. 
 
 Mr. Snowden was the son of Mr. Isaac Snowden, 
 who was for many years previous to the revolutionary 
 war, Treasurer of the City and County of Philadel- 
 phia. He was a very benevolent and pious man. For 
 many years he held the office of ruling elder in the Second 
 Presbyterian Church of PhiladeljDhia, of which Dr. 
 Sproat was at that time pastor. Mr. Snowden, the 
 father, was a warm friend and helper of David Brainerd 
 in his labours among the Indians of New Jersey. He 
 collected and took charge of the money raised in aid 
 of Mr. Brainerd's schools and other efforts, and by his 
 thorough knowledge of business and friendly advice, gave 
 him much important assistance. He was also a Trustee 
 of the College of New Jersey from the year 1782 until he 
 resigned in 1808. Being an ardent Whig, and the Brit- 
 ish power so frequently preponderating in Philadelphia, 
 he was obliged to flee for safety from that city, and 
 spent a number of years in Princeton and its immediate 
 vicinity. During his residence in this vicinity Mr. Snow- 
 den was elected an elder in this church. He afterward 
 returned to Philadelphia, but spent the last years of hie 
 life, and died at Cranbury, where another of his sons, 
 the Rev. Gilbert Tennent Snowden was then Pastor. 
 
 f See Minutes of New Brunswick Presbytery of that date. 
 
42 
 
 Samuel Finley Snowden, the son, was born in 
 Philadelphia on the 6th of November 1767, and grad- 
 uated at the College in this place in the year 1786. 
 Immediately after his graduation he commenced the 
 study of law with Thomas Bradford, Esq. one of the 
 most eminent lawyers of that day. It was whilst 
 studying law, and participating largely in the frivolities 
 and dissipating amusements of fashionable society, that 
 the Lord was pleased to convince him of his sins, and 
 lead him to embrace the Gospel plan of salvation. Hav- 
 ing been religiously and strictly trained, his conscience 
 had for some time troubled him. He felt that his 
 course of life would not bear a calm and conscientious 
 investigation. These impressions continued to become 
 deeper and more frequent, until at length having set 
 apart a day for fasting and prayer, he was led to give 
 up all for Christ. The practice of law thenceforth 
 seeming to him unfavorable for the cultivation of piety, 
 and inconsistent with the petition " Lead me not into 
 temptation," as well as uncongenial to his feelings ; he at 
 once relinquished it, and in a written and solemn cov- 
 enant, devoted himself to the service of God. He 
 frequently sought, and found great advantage in the 
 prayers and conversation of his brother Gilbert, then 
 pastor of the church at Cranbury. 
 
 Soon after his conversion he became convinced that 
 it was his duty to preach the Gospel, and commenced 
 the study of theology in Princeton with Drs. Wither- 
 spoon and Smith. He was licensed to preach by the 
 Presbytery of New Brunswick on the 24 th of April 
 1794; on the 14th of September received a call from 
 this church to become its pastor ; and was ordained and 
 installed by the Presbytery on the 25th day of Novem- 
 
43 
 
 ber following. The Rev. Joseph Clark, D.D., preached 
 the sermon on that occasion, and Dr. S. S. Smith pre- 
 sided and gave the charges. Mr. Snowden continued 
 to hold the pastoral relation to this church for five and 
 a half years. As a pastor he is said to have been dili- 
 gent and faithful. As a writer, he cultivated a beauti- 
 ful and easy style, which was however deficient in con- 
 densation and in power. As a speaker he did not excel 
 in the pulpit, but in his more social meetings was some- 
 times quite tender and impressive. Towards the close 
 of his pastorate in Princeton, he was threatened with 
 consumption, and was thought to be in a decline, in 
 consequence of w^hich he obtained a release from his 
 pastoral charge, April 29th, 1801. After having tra- 
 velled however for a year, he found himself able to ac- 
 cept a pastoral charge at Whitesborough in the State of 
 New York. He Avas afterwards settled at New- Hart- 
 ford, near Utica, where he built up a large and flourish- 
 ing church. After preaching there about fourteen years, 
 he removed to Sackett's Harbour, and organized a church 
 in that town. There he continued to live until very 
 recently, when, having reached the good old age of 78 
 years, he died in May, 1845. His death was sudden 
 and unlooked for. Having risen one morning in his 
 usual health, he was sitting in his chair, when, attempt- 
 ing to stoop, he fell to the floor, and at once breathed 
 his last without a struggle or a groan. He had often 
 previously expressed a desire to depart and be with 
 Christ, and had often expressed a hope that when his 
 appointed time had come, he might die suddenly. 
 
 At a time, and most of his life m a region of country 
 in which many pestilent errors abounded greatly, Mr. 
 Snowden was an unshrinking champion for the pure 
 
44 
 
 truth. And although we hear of no uncommon religious 
 interest in Princeton during his ministry here, he was 
 afterwards instrumental in promoting several powerful 
 revivals of religion, especially at Sackett's Harbour, 
 where great good was done through his efforts.* 
 
 After Mr. Snowden had resigned, the congregation 
 again turned to the President of the College, and Dr. S. 
 S. Smith, who at that time held that office, became their 
 stated preacher. For that service he received a sepa- 
 rate stipend from the Trustees of the church until Jan. 
 1, 1804, so that for nearly three years the congregation 
 while vacant, listened to the polished discourses and 
 graceful elocution of that distinguished man. 
 
 In the beginning of that year (1804) an arrangement 
 was entered into between the College and the congrega- 
 tion, in consequence of which the congregation gave a 
 call to the Rev. Henry KoUoch of Elizabethtown to be- 
 come their pastor, while at the same time the College 
 authorities elected him to fill the chair of Professor of 
 Theology in that institution. These invitations were 
 both accepted. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Kollock was of Huguenot extrac- 
 tion.f His father, Mr. Shepherd Kollock, was a well- 
 known and patriotic journalist in our state. Mr. Kol- 
 lock's parents resided at Elizabethtown but he was bom 
 at New Providence in Essex county (whither they had 
 retired during the revolutionary war,) on the 14th of 
 December 1778. "While yet a child he manifested an 
 uncommon thirst for knowledge, and gave striking in- 
 
 * For a large part of my information respecting Mr. Snowden, I am indebted 
 to his son, Rev. E, H. Snowden, now of Warrenham, Pa. 
 
 f His ancestors in France are said to have written the word Colloque, but hav- 
 ing tarried some time in Germany, they assumed the present German spelling of 
 the name. 
 
45 
 
 dications of possessing extraordinary talents. Having 
 passed through the usual preparatory studies at Eliza- 
 bethtown, he came to Princeton, and graduated at the 
 College in September 1794, when he was yet under 16 
 years of age. He gave evidences of a serious mind 
 while yet a child, and thence onward until he left Col- 
 lege. Shortly after his graduation, he was the subject 
 of more special and deeper religious impressions, which 
 soon led to a hearty acceptance of the Lord as hie 
 God, and to a public profession of religion, while yet 
 under 18 years of age. He immediately began the work 
 of preparation for the Gospel ministry, pursuing his 
 studies first under the Rev. David Austin, his pastor, at 
 Elizabethtown. Shortly after, he became a Tutor in 
 Princeton College, in which office he continued three 
 years, eagerly improving the precious opportunity to 
 store his mind with knowledge, and to furnish himself 
 thoroughly for the sacred ministry. On the 7th of May, 
 1800, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of 
 New York, which then included Elizabethtown within 
 its bounds. His talents as a preacher soon attracted un- 
 usual attention, so that in October following his licen- 
 sure, he was called by the First Presbyterian church of 
 Newark, to become a colleague with Dr. Mac Whorter 
 its venerable pastor, and the same month he received 
 also a call to the vacant church at Elizabethtown. This 
 last call he accepted, and on the 10th of December 
 (1800) was ordained and installed accordingly. A con- 
 siderable number were soon converted and hopefully 
 gathered in under his ministry, among the very first of 
 whom was his own beloved mother. On the 11th day 
 of January 1804, a call was made out for him by the 
 congregation of this church, and, during the month pre- 
 
46 
 
 vious, having received the appointment of Professor of 
 Theology, he accepted together the two invitations. 
 About the same time he also received a call from a Re- 
 formed Dutch church in the city of Albany. 
 
 Mr. Kollock continued to fill his two offices in Prince- 
 ton, a little less than three years. Shortl}^ after he came 
 to this place, so high was at that time his standing, and 
 so wide-spread his reputation, that he received the de- 
 gree of Doctor of Divinity almost simultaneously from 
 Union College and Harvard University, although he 
 was then only twenty-six years of age. He was installed 
 as pastor of the Princeton church on the 12th day of 
 June' 1804, on which occasion Dr. S. S. Smith preached 
 the sermon, and the Rev. Andrew Hunter gave the 
 charges to the pastor and peojDle. In the fall of the 
 year 1806, he received a call from a church in the city 
 of Savannah, Ga., which he accepted, and his pastoral 
 relation to this church was dissolved by the Presbytery 
 on the 7th day of October in that year. Soon after 
 going to Savannah, he also received a call to the Park 
 St. church in the city of Boston, which, having declined, 
 he continued to labour in Savannah for thirteen years 
 until his death, which occurred on the 29th of Decem- 
 ber 1819.* 
 
 There is one brief portion of Dr. Kollock's history to 
 which it had been better perhaps not to have alluded, 
 had not his error been a matter ^f more familiar notori- 
 ety among you, than was his recovery. And it is cer- 
 tainly a most impressive providential admonition for 
 him that thinketh he standeth to take heed lest he fall, 
 
 * A neat cenotaph has just been erected to his memory on the cemetery lot as- 
 Mgned by the Trustees of the church to be the future burial-place of the pastor* 
 of this church and their families. 
 
47 
 
 that one so g-ifted, so undoubtedly pious, and so eminent 
 in the church, was left even lor a short time under the 
 power of the same appetite which once humbled Noah, 
 that ancient '• preacher of righteousness." The power 
 of divine grace was, however, magnified by proving that 
 *' although the righteous fall, he shall not be utterly 
 cast down." I have received clear and ample testimony 
 from those who personally knew him, that his self-in- 
 dulgence was only temporary, and that for many years 
 before his death he rigidly practised the principles of 
 total abstinence, while his past error was a cause of con- 
 stant, deep, and evangelical sorrow to him. 
 
 In the city of Savannah, Dr. Kollock was popular to 
 an extraordinary^ degree, not only among his own iiock, 
 but among all classes and denominations of the citizens. 
 During his last illness his house was surrounded daily 
 by anxious and inquiring crowds. On one forenoon 
 during his illness a crowded congregation assembled in 
 his church to offer earnest prayer for his recovery. In 
 his dying moments he gave a calm yet beautiful exem- 
 plification of the supporting power of the Gospel. On 
 the morning of the day on which he died, a stupor that 
 had before oppressed him was removed ; his mind was 
 clear; and he made many remarks indicative of the 
 strength of his faith, and the joyfulness of his hope in 
 Jesus. In the course of the da}^, he requested one of 
 the family to read to him from the Pilgrim's Progress, 
 the account of the Pilgrim's passing over Jordan. In 
 the afternoon he requested some who were present to 
 sing for him that sweet Hymn beginning " There is a 
 land of pure delight." His last words were those of 
 dying Stephen ^^ Lord Jesiw, receive my spint" After 
 his death the Mayor of the city issued a proclamation 
 
48 
 
 requesting the suspension of all business throughout 
 the city on the day of his funeral ; all the vessels in 
 the harbour placed their colours half-mast high, and a 
 feeling of deep and universal grief was manifested 
 throughout the whole community.* 
 
 Dr. Kollock was no ordinary man : still less was he 
 an ordinary preacher. His talents and his eloquence 
 have given him a fame which will long abide. His dis- 
 courses were every where listened to with peculiar in- 
 terest and delight. Even the fastidious critic, the care- 
 less worldling, and the scoffing infidel were frequently 
 attracted by his eloquence, to enter the house of God. 
 Yet his sermons were not merely oratorical ; they were 
 rich in practical instruction. The weighty truths of the 
 Gospel were set forth in a lucid and forcible manner, so 
 that sinners were made to tremble, and saints were di- 
 rected, strengthened and comforted. While pastor of 
 the church at Savannah he spent a couple of years in 
 Europe ; and in England, Scotland, and France the 
 crowds who flocked to hear him gave testimony to hie 
 genuine eloquence. Dr. Kollock was familiar with the 
 works of the distinguished pulpit orators of France, such 
 as Saurin, Flechier, Massillon, and Bourdaloue, and the 
 traces of that familiarity are quite perceptible in his 
 published sermons. Yet while he gained many graces of 
 style from the contemplation of such models, he lost noth- 
 ing of the savour and nutriment of evangelical religion. 
 His sermons which were j)ublished in four volumes are 
 among the very best ever issued from the press. Indeed, 
 except those of President Davies it would be difficult to 
 
 * For many of the facts relating to Dr. Kollock, I am indebted to Dr. John 
 McDowell of Philadelphia, who very kindly lent me a MS. containing many inter- 
 •«tin^ details of his life and death. 
 
49 
 
 find any American sermons of greater value for private 
 or family reading ; to find any, more lucid, more in- 
 structive, more practical, or more fervent. More than 
 once have I met with plain, bible Christians, who have 
 hoarded up a copy of Kollock's sermons, as next to the 
 Bible, their choicest literary treasure. 
 
 During the pastorate of Dr. KoUock, died Dr. Thom- 
 as Wiggins, leaving a signal proof of his devotion to 
 the cause of Christ, and to the interests of this church 
 in particular, by bequeathing his house and farm of 
 about 20 acres to the church for the use of the succes- 
 sive pastors. In that venerable parsonage the pastors of 
 the church accordingly lived in succession until the year 
 1847, when, the house having become old and almost 
 untenantable, it was judged best by the congregation 
 to dispose of it, which was soon after done. Many 
 doubts seem to have been entertained as to the validity 
 of the bsquest ; both because, as was said, no devisee 
 was expressly named capable of taking the legal estate ; 
 and also because Dr. Kollock, at that time the pastor, 
 was incautiously made one of the subscribing witnesses. 
 On this account the congregation determined to pur- 
 chase all the remaining right of Dr. Wiggins' heirs 
 whatever it might be, which was done at an expense 
 of several hundreds of dollars. There can be no doubt 
 however, of the entire intent of Dr. Wiggins to confer 
 this benefit upon the church ; a benefit which is to this 
 day powerfully operative in promoting its advantage. 
 He therefore deserves to be ever and gratefully remem- 
 bered as a benefactor of this church. Dr. Wiggins was 
 for many years a highly respected physician in this 
 town. On the 3d of March 1792 he was chosen an 
 
 elder, and continued with great zeal, devotion, and 
 
 4 
 
 »;>> 
 
50 
 
 judgment to discharge the duties of that office, until 
 he departed this life in the faith and lively hope of the 
 Gospel on the 14th day of November, 1804. The 
 Board of Trustees, as a token of gratitude for his be- 
 quest, erected over his remains the monument which 
 may yet be seen in our graveyard. 
 
 After the resignation of Dr. Kollock, the Presbytery 
 sent supplies at the request of the congregation to fill 
 the pulpit, which continued vacant more than three 
 years, until at lenth a call was extended to and ac- 
 cepted by the Rev. William G. Sclienck. Mr. Schenck 
 was born in the immediate vicinity of Princeton, on 
 the 30th day of April 1788. His father, Mr. Joseph 
 Schenck, was the son of an early settler in the neigh- 
 borhood, and was for many years an excellent and 
 consistent member of this church. He was at one time 
 chosen as an Elder, which office however he modestly 
 declined accepting. His wife was noted for her 
 prudence, discretion, and ardent piety. By her exam- 
 ple, and assiduous care, the seeds of piety were early 
 sown in the mind of her son William ; who early 
 exhibited a thirst for knowledge. Having passed through 
 the usual preparatory and Collegiate course, he grad- 
 uated at the College in this place, in September 1805. 
 
 How wonderful and how mysterious are the ways of 
 God. And in nothing perhaps more so, than in the 
 methods he takes for answering his people's prayers. 
 In this case, the faithful mother's death, was made the 
 means of securing the answer to her own prayers, in 
 bringing about the conversion of a beloved son. This 
 bereavement occurred during his Junior year, and the 
 efiect upon his mind was deep and abiding. It was soon 
 
51 
 
 discovered by a pious fellow-student'"" that lie was more 
 serious than usual, and by the blessing of God upon his 
 faithful conversations, together with other means divine- 
 ly employed, these impressions were fostered until they 
 led at length to a hope of mercy through Christ. It 
 was not, however, until October 4th, 18UG, that he felt 
 his way so entirely clear as to unite himself to the 
 church in a public profession. This act was with him 
 a hearty surrender of the whole man to the influences 
 of the Holy Spirit, and to the service of the Lord Jesus. 
 From this time onward until his death all his writings 
 manifest a constant and eager desire after two things — 
 holiness and usefulness. On the day on which he was 
 admitted to baptism and the Lord's Supper, he wrote 
 thus in his private diary. "Oct. 5th, 1806. On this 
 day I was baptized by the Rev. Henry Kollock, and ad- 
 mitted to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. I fer- 
 vently bless the Lord that he has permitted me, a poor 
 despicable worm, to sit down at his table to commem- 
 orate the actions of redeeming love, and link myself to 
 his church on earth. Grant, Almighty Father, that 1, 
 admitted to so glorious a privilege, may study with all 
 my heart, and all my soul, and all my strength, to grow 
 more and more unto the perfect day. May it be my 
 greatest pleasure, my meat and my drink, to know, to 
 iove, and to serve thee. May I never deny my Lord, 
 nor be ashamed of my religious calling. I was much 
 affected by the performance of the ceremony and by the 
 prayer of Mr. Kollock. Of the latter there was one ex- 
 pression which I hope I never shall forget. " Grant 
 
 * The fellow-student here alluded to is now the Rev. Eli F. Cooley, to whon 
 ihe writer is indebted for much information respecting his uncle, of which he wai 
 before entirely ignorant 
 
52 
 
 that lie he a shining and a useful member of the churchr 
 how sincerely I hope to be useful in the church. O 
 God, how would it rejoice me, if so vile a worm as I 
 should be instrumental in promoting my Heavenly 
 Father's glory." One year afterward he wrote again 
 as follows. " Oct. 11, 1807. This day I partook of the 
 sacrament at Kingston.* It is the anniversary of my 
 church membership. I lament my un worthiness and 
 sins of the past year ; my neglect of religious duties ; 
 my attachment to the world, and languor of faith and 
 devotion. Lord, enable and dispose me henceforth to 
 walk more circumspectly, and to live more conformed 
 to thy will. Strengthen my faith, excite my love to 
 thee, and forgive my sins. Have pity upon me, have 
 'pity upon me, Lord, and help on my lingering soul to^ 
 wards Heavenr And such seem to have been his aspi- 
 rations all through his short but useful ministry. 
 
 Immediately after uniting with the church, Mr. 
 Schenck began the study of theology, under the guidance 
 of Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith. By his modesty, pro- 
 priety, assiduity, sound judgment, and above all his 
 fervent piety, he completely won the affections of his 
 distinguished instructor, who continued to be through 
 life his fast and ardent friend. 
 
 Mr. Schenck was licensed by the Presbytery of New 
 Brunswick, October 8th 1808. He soon after went to 
 Cooperstown in the state of New York, where h'» 
 preached as a stated supply in the vacant pulpit of that 
 place, through the following winter. In the spring he 
 returned to Princeton, and preached for a considerable 
 
 * For many years, down to somewhere about the year 1820, the congregation» 
 of Princeton and Kingston united in partaking of the Lord's Supper at their two 
 places of worship alternately. 
 
63 
 
 part of a year as a stated supply to this church. At 
 the expiration of that time he received a call to become 
 its pastor, and at the same time received another call 
 from the congregation to which he had preached in 
 Cooperstown. Alter much hesitation he accepted the 
 call from this church, and was ordained and in:stalled 
 accordingly on the Gth day of June, 1810. 
 
 The Rev. William C. Sclienck continued to be the 
 Pastor for nearly nine years. The influence of his min- 
 istry in promoting the bests interests of the church is 
 manifest on every page of the church record during the 
 time that ministry continued. Larger numbers were 
 added annually to the church than at a.i\y previous time, 
 while every thing connected with it began to wear a 
 brighter and more hopeful aspect. His style of preach- 
 ing was at first quite imaginative and ornate, but amidst 
 the pressure of ministerial duties he soon acquired one 
 that was more compact, direct, energetic, and instruc- 
 tive. He was as occasion demanded, the friend, the 
 adviser, the reprover, the comforter of his flock, and it 
 is believed that rarely has a pastor been more beloved 
 than he was. Yet with all his labours of an out-door 
 kind, he managed to be a faithful and constant student. 
 During his short pastorate he systematically wrote and 
 preached on every prominent topic in theology. We 
 prefer however to give some account of his labours in 
 the verv words of those wdio knew him and who laboured 
 with him. The honoured author of " Letters on the 
 sacrament of the Lord's Supper""^' wdio was a ruling elder 
 during the whole period of his pastorate, and who wan 
 
 * Judge Samuel Bajard. wlio was for tbirty-throe j-earsan elder in the Prince- 
 ton church, from the year 1807 until at the advanced age of seventy-three yenrp 
 he departed this life May 12, 1840, universally honored and lamented. 
 
54 
 
 intimately acquainted with his character and labourSy 
 wrote of him shortly after his decease as follows — " He 
 has left a name untarnished by a solitary spot that 
 could raise a blush on the face of friendship, or extort a 
 sigh from the bosom of affection. Before he attained 
 the prime of life, he has been called from a scene of trial, 
 to receive the rewards of sincere faith and active zeal. 
 He has descended to the grave after a short service iii 
 the vineyard of his Lord, but the service, though short, 
 was diligent and exemplary. The modesty and pru- 
 dence of his general deportment — his ardent devotion 
 to the duties of his office — his peculiar and affectionate 
 attention to the youth of his congregation, and his efforts 
 to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord, render his loss a subject of deep and general sor- 
 row. Intelligent, amiable, and assiduous, his highest 
 ambition was to serve the best of Masters with zeal and 
 fidelit3^ He has left many sincere and affectionate 
 friends to mourn his loss, without leaving one solitary 
 enemy to cast a shade over his unsullied name." A 
 clergyman, who from their College days was his intimate 
 and confidential friend,''' sums up his estimate of him in 
 these words, " He was an Israelite indeed in whom there 
 was no guile ; an affectionate, confiding friend ; w^ho 
 gave his life and his talents to his Master's work, and 
 was a hui'ning and a sldning light!' Another clergyman 
 who was also a member of the same Presbytery, and 
 long settled over a contiguous church,f says that when 
 the congregation selected him, they were desiring " to 
 
 * The Rev. Eli F. Cooley, Pastor of the church of Ewiug near Trenton, in a 
 letter to the writer. 
 
 f Rev. Isaac V. Brown, for many years pastor of the church at Lawrenceville. 
 to whom I am indebted for several long and interesting letters respecting Prince- 
 ton affairs in former days. 
 
have a pastor of their own, the child of their own choice, 
 and the object of their affection, to whom they might 
 look in any emergency as their pattern, guide, and com- 
 forter. Such a man they found in William C, Schenck, 
 a man modest, meek, honest, sincere, diligent, constant, 
 firm, very much after Qod's own heart. Pie was, when 
 called, quite young, very unassuming, and especially 
 a youth brought up in the midst of the parish. But 
 every thing was proceeding delightfully, when he was 
 suddenly arrested by a typhus fever which in a few 
 days brought him to the grave. He was a ready writer; 
 a good speaker; a very affectionate, benevolent, and 
 prudent man. He inspired, considering his age and cir- 
 cumstances, universal respect and confidence. He was 
 growmg in the love and confidence of his flock, and 
 seemed destined to make them a compact, well-cemented 
 company, prospermg in the things that make for holi- 
 ness and heaven." The remark was more than once 
 made by venerated fathers in the church, that if his life 
 were spared, he was likely to become an eminent ser- 
 vant of Christ, and an important pillar in the Presby- 
 terian church. His death occurred on the evening of 
 the 17th of October, 1818, in the 31st year of his age. 
 The weakness and delirium of fever prevented him 
 from confirming by any dying testimony, the already 
 abundant testimony of his life and labours. After 
 a solemn and appropriate discourse from Dr. Samuel 
 Miller, on Rev. xiv. 13, " Blessed are the dead that 
 die in the Lord, &c.," his body was borne to the grave 
 attended by his sorrowing congregation. 
 
 About three years after Mr. Schenck became the 
 pastor, the congregation suffered, in February 1813, the 
 calamity of having its house of worship entirely des- 
 troyed by fire. This calamity was occasioned by the 
 
56 
 
 carelessness of the sexton, in leaving hot embers in a 
 wooden vessel which was placed in a closet under the 
 stairs. This was on a Saturday evening. The fire was 
 not discovered until Sunday morning, and when the dis- 
 tant members of the congregation came to attend wor- 
 ship on that Sabbath morning they found their church 
 building a mass of smouldering ruins. The College 
 kindly offered the congregation the use of one of its re- 
 citation-rooms, which was accordingly occupied until a 
 new edifice was prepared for their reception. Up to this 
 time the students of the Colles-e had attended Sabbath 
 service in the church. But as the recitation room was 
 not large enough to hold the students together with the 
 congregation, a separate service was instituted for the 
 students on Sabbath morning in the College Chapel, 
 which was continued when the congregation returned 
 to their new church, and has been ever since main- 
 tained. 
 
 Although much cast down by this event, a meeting 
 was held during the week following the conflagration, 
 at which arrangements for rebuilding were at once en- 
 tered upon, and on the first Sabbath in July of the fol- 
 lowing year, the house was so far completed as to be 
 used for public worship. The College corporation now 
 gave a deed for the ground occupied by the church, ac- 
 cording to the agreement made in 1762, and on nearly 
 the same conditions as then stated. It also made a do- 
 nation of five hundred dollars towards rebuilding the 
 edifice. The congregation were now obliged to com- 
 mence a renewed and arduous struggle to raise sufficient 
 funds. Among the various expedients to which they 
 had recourse, one was to solicit from the Rev. Drs. 
 Smith, Green, Alexander, and Miller, a sufiicient num- 
 
57 
 
 ber of discourses to make a volume, which should be 
 sold iu aid of tlie cluirch funds. This plan, although 
 adopted by a vote of tlie congregation, was from some 
 unknown cause never carried out. When the house 
 of worship was completed, they received a gift of a 
 handsome chandelier from the Hon. Elias Boudinot, 
 LL.D. 
 
 The pastor's salary had up to this time (1814) beenrais- 
 ed by annual subscription of the congregation. This plan 
 was found to be exceedingly uncertain and trouljlesome. 
 The congregation now had a meeting, at which they 
 resolved thenceforth to raise the salary by a fixed rate 
 laid upon the pews, which has ever since been done. 
 For this valuable improvement they are indebted to Dr. 
 Ashbel Green, who, at that meeting, explained the new 
 system as he had seen it in operation in the Philq^del- 
 phia churches, and successfully urged its adoption here. 
 
 Religion seems to have been for a number of years 
 about this time iu an unusually vigorous and nourish- 
 ing condition. This was owing instrumentally not only 
 to the warm piety and earnest activity of the pastor, 
 but also very largely to the powerful und ha|)py reli- 
 gious influence of the two revered Professors of the 
 Theological Seminary, who began to reside in t-ie place 
 about the year 1812. In the year 1814 many of the 
 churches in this portion of the state were visited with 
 unusually powerful influences of God's Spirit. Prince- 
 ton was not passed wholly by, but in a noiseles,-!' season 
 of refreshing about thirty persons were that year added 
 to the church. 
 
 The next year, 1815, was rendered memorable as a 
 year of the right hand of the Most High. After an 
 absence of many years the Spirit descended with mighty 
 
58 
 
 power upon the College. The whole number of students 
 w.as at this time an hundred and five ; of whom only 
 twelve were professors of religion when the revival 
 began. Concerning this work of grace, one who was an 
 eye-witness, wrote just after its beginning to a distant 
 friend as follows : " Our blessed Lord is manifesting his 
 power to save by making bare his arm for the salvation 
 of a number of the most gay, ilioughtless and dissipated 
 students of the college, where he is carrying on a glo- 
 rious revival of his work, I believe it is a very extra- 
 ordinary work, free from the objections that are usually 
 made on such occasions, viz : that it is all enthusiasm, 
 effected by working up the passions to an extraordinary 
 pitch. Drs. Green, Alexander and Miller, have in ro- 
 tation preached in the Hall every Sabbath forenoon since 
 the commencement of the present session, without any 
 visible effect, other than a solemn attention. There 
 were six or eight pious students who agreed, on the 
 late public fast-day, to visit the different rooms, and 
 converse with their brethren on religious subjects, and 
 to their astonishment, they found a number labouring 
 under conviction, but supposing their cases to be singu- 
 lar, they had not made them known. They immedi- 
 ately established a praying society, and the work be- 
 came notorious. I believe there are at this time as 
 many as twelve or fourteen who are rejoicing in the 
 love of Jesus and the hopes of immortal glory ; and as 
 many as forty appear to be earnestly seeking the salva- 
 tion of their souls. Yet there is nothing tumultuous or 
 disorderly in the meetings, but an awful solemnity, be- 
 coming the important subjects of the salvation of the 
 soul, and the eternal world."* 
 
 * This extract and the next are from letters written from Princeton in 1816, 
 
59 
 
 Another eye-witness wrote about a month Uiter con- 
 cerning the same work as follows : " You have doubt- 
 less heard before this period, that several parts of the 
 Lord's vineyard in this favoured region, have been re- 
 cently blessed with the copious outpourings of the 
 Divine Spirit. Within the last year the power and 
 glory of sovereign grace have been richly and exten- 
 sively manifested in many of the churches of this state, 
 
 on behalf of perishing sinners Yet Nassau Hall 
 
 which was founded in faith and solemnly consecrated 
 unto God, has not until within a few weeks experienced 
 more than the ordinary effusions of God's Holy Spirit. 
 .... The independent Jehovah is now, w^e believe, 
 
 working like unto himself for that institution 
 
 Had you been an inhabitant of Princeton last winter, 
 and then witnessed the deplorable conduct of many be- 
 longing to the college established in this place, and 
 could you now accompany me through this spacious 
 building in the present state of things, I am persuaded 
 you would be ready to exclaim, ' This 'Is the Lord's work.' 
 Within its w^alls there is now no scoffer who has the 
 hardihood to make his boast of sin. Seriousness is now- 
 depicted on every countenance, and reverence for God 
 and his worship appears conspicuous in the deportment 
 even of those who are yet unawakened to a sense of 
 their condition, But let me tell you that upicards of 
 forty within this dwelling are now rejoicing in the effi- 
 cacy of atoning blood, and are magnifying the richness 
 of that grace which bringeth salvation to the ruined and 
 undone. And there are many more, whose cries for 
 
 to the Rev. Mr. j\jidrew8 of CMllicothe, Ohio. They -were recently published in the 
 Louisville Presbyterian Herald, and kindly sent to me by Rev. Dr. W. S. Plumer, of 
 Baltimore. 
 
60 
 
 mercy are ascending by day and night to the throne of 
 God and the Lanib. Yes ! they are asking with earnest 
 solicitude what they must do to be saved. This I be- 
 lieve is considered by the most experienced, as the most 
 rational and promising revival that they have ever been 
 permitted to witness. There is in its influence none of 
 that untempered enthusiasm which in such times of 
 awakening is so often observed with pain and regret. 
 The exercises of those who have obtained a hope of 
 pardon through Christ have been in all their stages 
 such as ought to be expected in the inquirer after de- 
 liverance from sin and destruction. None have seemed 
 disposed to rest on any slight evidence of their having 
 been born again. Their views of the total depravity of 
 human nature, and of the only way in which a sinner 
 can be washed, and sanctified and justified, have been 
 such as to manifest that they were wrought by the 
 Holy Ghost." 
 
 These accounts are fully corroborated by that of 
 President Green, who adds many interesting particu- 
 lars. " The few pious youth (says he) who were mem- 
 bers of the college before the revival were also happily 
 instrumental in promoting it. They had for more than 
 a year been earnestly engaged in praying for this event, 
 When they perceived the general and increasing serious- 
 ness, several of them made an agreement to speak pri- 
 vately and tenderly to their particular friends and ac- 
 quaintances on the subject of religion. And what they 
 said was in almost every instance not only well recei- 
 ved, but those with whom they conversed became im- 
 mediately and earnestly engaged in those exercises, 
 which it is hoped have issued in genuine piety. A 
 public profession of religion, made by two students who 
 
61 
 
 had been a good while thoughtful, had also, at this 
 tune, much inliucnce apparently, both in producing and 
 in deepening impressions in many others." " The revi- 
 val commenced or rather became apparent, in the 
 second week in January, without any unusual occur- 
 rence in providence, without any alarming event, with- 
 out any extraordinary preaching, without any special 
 instruction, or other means that might be supposed 
 peculiarly adapted to interest the mirfd. The divine 
 influence seemed to descend like the silent dew of hea- 
 ven ; and in about four weeks there w^ere very few 
 individuals in the college edifice who were not deeply 
 impressed with a sense of the importance of spiritual 
 and eternal things. There was scarcely a room, per- 
 haps not one, which was not a place of earnest secret 
 devotion. For a time it seemed as if the whole of our 
 charge was pressing into the kingdom of God ; so that 
 at length the inquiry in regard to them was, not who 
 was engaged about religion, but who loas not. After 
 this state of thiniirs had continued without much varia- 
 tion for about two months, it became manifest that a 
 change was taking place. Some were becoming con- 
 firmed in the hopes and habits of evangelical piety; 
 some were serious, thoughtful, pra3^erful, though per- 
 haps not in so great a degree, or at least not so appor 
 rently, as they had once been ; while some were plainly 
 losing the impressions which they had lately felt. The 
 result is that there are somewhat more than forty stu- 
 dents, in regard to whom, so far as the time elapsed will 
 permit us to judge, favourable hopes may be enter- 
 tained that they have been made the subjects of re- 
 newing grace. Perhaps there are twelve or lifteen more 
 who still retain such promising impressions of religion 
 
62 
 
 as to authorize a hope that the issue may be favoura- 
 able."=^ 
 
 This work of grace was not felt with any thing like 
 a corresponding extensiveness or power in the town. 
 Yet that the town did not wholly miss the heavenly 
 influence is evident from the fact that about the same 
 time, besides a number of the students, twenty-one of 
 the inhabitants of the town were received into the 
 church on a profession of their faith. It was a precious 
 season, and a peculiarly deep and tender interest still 
 hangs around it, in the recollection of all who were in 
 Princeton at that time, either as residents or students. 
 And rarely has it happened, since the days of the 
 Apostles, that there have been at one time and in one 
 place gathered in, so many who were to become promi- 
 nent, useful, and successful labourers in the ministry of 
 reconciliation."!" 
 
 From the year 1818, which we have now reached, 
 down to the present time, there are many circumstances 
 of deep and abiding interest clustering around this 
 church. I am strongly tempted onward in this sketch 
 of its progress by tender recollections of the two holy 
 and beloved men who since that date have laboured 
 here as pastors, and who are now gone from us ; one to 
 
 * See Life of Dr. Ashbel Green. Appendix 
 
 I Among those gathered into the church at this season of revival were the fol- 
 lowing — the Rev. John Johns, D.D., Prot, Episcopal Bishop of Virginia ; the 
 Rev. Charles Hodge, D.D,, Professor in Princeton Theological Seminary ; the 
 Rev. James V. Henry, formerly of Sing-Sing, N. Y. ; the Rev. Symmes C. Henrj', 
 of Cranbury ; the Rev. Ravaud K. Rodgers, of Bound Brook ; the Rev. John 
 Goldsmith, D.D., of Newtown, Long Island ; the lamented Rev. William J. Arm- 
 strong, D. D. , late Secretary of the A. B. C. for Foreign Missions ; the Rev. Wil- 
 liam James of Albany; the Rev. Charles P. Mcllvaine, D.D., Prot. Epis. Bishop 
 of Ohio; the Rev. John Maclean, D.D., Vice President of the College of New 
 Jersey ; the Rev. Benjamin Ogden, formerly of Pennington ; the Rev. David 
 Magie, D.D., of Elizabethtown ; the Rev. Charles C. Beatty, D.D., of Steuben- 
 Tille, Ohio ; and many others, since well known as clergymen or laymen. 
 
63 
 
 his heavenly reward,* the other to a distant charge ;f by 
 several revivals of peculiar interest to a large portion of 
 the present congregation; by the long and arduous 
 struggles in its temporal affairs which have been nobly 
 and perseveringly encountered ; as well as by other cir- 
 cumstances in its history not known to some of 3^ou, and 
 yet well worth preserving from oblivion. But 1 forbear. 
 I have already far exceeded the limits originally marked 
 out for this narrative of the way by which " the Lord 
 our God has led us," and I reluctantly pause at this 
 point in the history of this church. I do this, however, 
 with the less regret, because conscious that we have 
 come down to a point to wluch the memories of a large 
 number of my hearers can reach back. J 
 
 I should deem myself as having failed however, in 
 making this service appropriate to this occasion, did I 
 not beg your attention for a few minutes longer, — long 
 and kindly as it has been already given — whilst I en- 
 deavour as briefly as possible, to bring to your notice a 
 
 * The Rev. George SpafFord Woodhull died at Middletown Point N. J Dec 
 25th, 1834. 
 
 f Rev. Benjamin H. Rice D.D., now Pastor of the College Church at Prince 
 Edward Court House, Va. 
 
 X There are a few dates which it may be well to preserve in this connexion. 
 
 Rev. George S. AVoodhuU was installed as pastor .July 5th, 1820. The Rev. 
 John Woodhull, D.D. presided; Rev. Isaac V, Brown preached the sermon; Rev. 
 A. Alexander, D.D. gave the charge to the minister; and the Rev. Samuel Miller 
 D.D. the charge to the people. Mr. Woodhull was released from his charge by 
 the Presbytery, October 1, 1832. 
 
 Rev. Benjamin H. Rice, D.D. was installed pastor August 15, 1833. The Rev. 
 Symmes C. Henry preached the sermon; Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D. gave the 
 charge to the minister; Rev. James Carnahan, D.D. gave the charge to the peo- 
 ple. Dr. Rice was released from his pastoral charge by the Presbytery, April 
 28th, 1847. 
 
 The house of worship was a second time wholly destroyed by fire, on the 6th 
 day of July, 1835. The congregation worshipped in the Seminary Chapel until 
 it was rebuilt. 
 
 The present pastor was installed May 7th, 1848. The Rev. Archibald Alexan- 
 der, D.D. presided; Rev. Symmes C. Henry preached the sermon; the Rev. 
 Samuel Miller, D.D. gave the charge to the pastor; and the Rev. James Caroa- 
 ban, D.D. gave the charge to the people. 
 
64 
 
 little more distinctly, a very few of the many causes for 
 thankfulness visible in our past and in our present, as 
 a church. 
 
 I. In the first place, then, I think we should as a 
 congregation, be peculiarly thankful to-day, for the good- 
 ness of God as exhibited in the ordei^ing of oar temporal 
 affairs. It is rarely indeed that any church is made to 
 lift burdens so heavy and so numerous, according to its 
 strength, as those which God has over and over laid on 
 this. With much less wealth than most congregations 
 of its size, it has endured severe and repeated prov- 
 idential losses, and in consequence a constant pecu- 
 niary struggle. Within less than ninety years, it has 
 been called three times to the work of erecting an en- 
 tirely new edifice, and a fourth time to do almost as 
 much after the church had been dismantled by the rev- 
 olutionary soldiery. Add to this the current expenses 
 of the church, and those which frequently and necessa- 
 rily arise from the decay and wear of years, and it no 
 longer seems a wonder that it has at no time been whol- 
 ly free from pecuniary obligations. May not a reason 
 for this be found perhaps, in the greatness of our other 
 and more valuable blessings ? May not a heart-search- 
 ing God have seen that there was danger, if our pecuni- 
 ary resources had been made to correspond in extent 
 with our literary, our social, or our spiritual blessings, 
 of our being lifted up to say proudly and self-sufficiently 
 " We are rich, and increased in goods, and have need 
 of nothing ?" It is however an interesting fact, and one 
 which claims our gratitude to-day, learned by a some- 
 what careful examination of our records, that at no time 
 xince the laying of the first corner-stone in the summer 
 q/* 1762 has the church been so nearly free from debt 
 
65 
 
 (^s it tills day w. For by the blessing of God upon the 
 wise and prudent management of those who now have 
 charge of its temporal affairs, together with the gener- 
 ous benefactions, of some on whose liberality we, as a 
 congregation, possessed no claim, the entire amount of 
 all that can be called our church debt, is to-day lees 
 than the trifling sum of ninety dollars. 
 
 II. In the second place, we have reason to bless 
 God as a church, for the able miimtry under which, in 
 days past, he permitted this congregation so long to sit. 
 It is no exaggeration to say, my hearers, that probably 
 no congregation on the American continent, has within 
 the last hundred years, enjoyed a greater variety and 
 abundance of choicer, more scriptural, or more spiritual 
 preaching than this very one. Truly it has been ex- 
 alted to heaven in point of privilege. May it never be 
 proportionately cast down. From the lips of the long 
 line of Presidents, Professors, and Pastors, who have at 
 various times and in various measures broken the bread 
 of life, how vast an amount of delightful and invaluar 
 ble religious instruction has been communicated to you, 
 not only in a direct manner, but through those parents 
 and christian friends who have gone before you to the 
 eternal world. Let us not forget the load of solemn 
 responsibility, which rests in consequence upon us, and 
 let us no less be careful to pour out our hearts in 
 thanksgiving unto God, for having placed us, and those 
 who have influenced us and guided our lives, under 
 so bright and blessed a blaze of sanctuary light. 
 
 III. In the third place we have cause for large 
 
 thanksgiving hecause of tlw measure in which God, in 
 
 sovereign mercy, hcos Jiere accompankd the means of 
 
 grace hy the jpoiuer of his Holy Spirit. As no recorda 
 
 5 
 
66 
 
 of such matters appear to have been kept prior to the 
 year 1792, we have no means of knowing, how many 
 persons here confessed their faith previously to that time. 
 Within the fifty-eight years since that date, the number 
 of persons who have united with this church has been 
 (me thousand three hundred and thirty, of whom four hun- 
 dred and tweniy-tliree were received by certificate, and the 
 remaining niyie hundred and seven by profession of 
 their faith. It is certain that had we a record from 
 the first gathering of the congregation, the number 
 would be several hundreds larger. Within ninety-four 
 years since the regular preaching of the Gospel was begun 
 here we have certain information of nine marlted revivah 
 of religion, several of them of extraordinary extensive- 
 ness and power. Many who now hear my voice cannot, 
 and through all eternity will not forget, how graciously 
 God has poured out his Holy Spirit among us this very 
 year, and brought eijhfy-fwo souls to hope and profess 
 their faith in the blood of the Redeemer. And all along 
 the history of the church there has been no period of 
 any considerable length in which God has not in the 
 cases of individuals and of small numbers been con- 
 stantly giving proof of his regenerating and merciful 
 presence in its midst. But it is not only in the 
 converting influences of the Holy Ghost that he has 
 dwelt among us. He has also imparted to his preached 
 Gospel a sanctifying, a comforting, and a supporting 
 power. Oh ! were it in my power to-day, my hearers, 
 to call up to your view even a few of the instances in 
 which God has here met and communed tenderly with 
 believers in days gone by — could I reveal to you how 
 sweetly he has often poured the balm of consolation 
 into the wounded heart — could I bring to view some 
 
67 
 
 of the many, many, peaceful and even triumphant 
 death-scenes through which b;ilievers who once occupied 
 the phices you now fill, and who in many cases were 
 your own ancestors and relatives — passed hence to 
 glory, 3'ou could not help to-day sending up a gushing 
 tribute of thanksgiving unto God, that he planted here 
 a church of Jesus Christ, and that he has so richly 
 given his blessed Spirit to accompany therein the min- 
 istrations of the everlasting word. 
 
 IV. In the fourth place, a review of the records of 
 this church, is sufficient to impress any person power- 
 fully with the conviction that Qjd has hsre faithfully 
 remQmhered his covenant with believing parents.. Most 
 literally and truly has he shown among us that " his 
 righteousness is unto child cen's children, to such as 
 keep his covenants, and to those that remember his 
 commandments to do them." By far the larger pon- 
 tion of those among the present members of this church 
 who are natives of this town, now sit at the same 
 communion-table where one or both of their parents sat 
 before them, and where they lifted their hearts in 
 prayer for the conversion of their children. There are 
 not a few among them whose parents' parents here 
 commemorated a Saviour's dying love ; and I could 
 name more than one whose ancestors for three or even 
 four generations back, are known to have been com- 
 muning members of this church. Blessed heir-loom ! 
 Incomparably glorious lineage ! Let the children of such 
 parents see to it that they despise not their birthright 
 in the house of God. Let parents take by faith a firm- 
 er hold on Goi's unchanging covenant. And let us all 
 to-day, bless his holy name, that notwithstanding all 
 the sinful unbalief and-short comings of his people, he 
 
68 
 
 has given us such blessed evidence that he is a cov- 
 enant-keeping God. 
 
 V. In the last place, it may well be deemed a sub- 
 ject for thanksgiving to-day, that God has deigned to 
 use this dmrch to an unusual degree in promoting his 
 cause and kingdom in the world. Independently of the 
 very large number of those who have temporarily 
 united with it by certificate, after they had set their 
 faces towards the ministry ; it has pleased God from 
 among those who are enrolled as having entered into 
 membership by a first profession of their faith, to raise 
 up sixty-three ambassadors for Christ. Of these the larger 
 portion still survive, and in every part of the Union, 
 and some even in heathen lands, are toiling, not unsuc- 
 cessfully, for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom. 
 Some are labouring in the highest and most responsible 
 positions in the church, and some are carrying the 
 Gospel news to the poor and ignorant in the remote 
 corners and waste places of Zion. Did our records go 
 back to the first gathering of the congregation, this 
 number would doubtless be considerably greater than 
 that which has been named. 
 
 Besides these living messengers of God, many im- 
 portant influences have hence gone forth to aid in 
 building up the kingdom of Jesus Christ. In 1811 a 
 meeting was held in the church edifice which then 
 stood upon this very spot ; a meeting composed chiefly 
 of those who were then members of this congregation. 
 Out of that meeting grew the New Jersey Bible Society^ 
 which was, with the single exception of the Philadel- 
 phia Bible Society, the first organization of the kind in 
 America. The active usefulness of this Society was 
 afterwards widely felt, not only throughout our own 
 
69 
 
 state, but through other states ; throuprh the Sandwich 
 Islands ; and unto even remoter heathen lands. In 
 the year 181G the first Colonization meeting ever held, 
 was also held upon this spot. It was composed in great 
 part of the resident Professors and a few prominent lay 
 members of the congregation. At that meeting was 
 given the first impulse to that noble cause which 
 has already planted an independent and a flourishing 
 Republic like a bright gem on Africa's dark bosom, and 
 which now promises, by divine aid, to scatter the thick 
 darkness, which as a funeral pall, has been spread over 
 her for so many ages. Dr. Robert Finley, the zealous 
 originator of tlie Colonization scheme in its present 
 form, was the son of an aged, devout, and faithful elder 
 of this church, and was himself here trained up and 
 converted unto God. I hope it will not be considered 
 as passing the limits of propriety or delicacy for me to 
 add also, that the gallant and distinguished naval 
 officer by whose daring genius and sagacious intrepidity 
 the first portion of African territory was secured in 
 treaty, was reared in this congregation, by a mother 
 who for a quarter of a century was one of its most pi- 
 ous members and its brightest ornaments. Hardly 
 a year has passed in which some pure and refreshing 
 rills of christian charity and effort have not hence flowed 
 forth. To speak of these in detail is of course impossi- 
 ble. Permit me to add this fact, that when labouring 
 some years ago, in that great moral waste, the Pines of 
 New Jersey, 1 more than once crossed the track of 
 former pastors and other resident clergymen of Prince- 
 ton, who thirty, forty, and fifty years ago, had itinerated 
 there, having gone down, with a christian zeal and 
 compassion which ought not to be forgotten, from this 
 
70- 
 
 mount of religious privilege, to preach the glad news of 
 salvation to those who sat in comparative ignorance and 
 poverty. And more than once in later years, has this 
 church been permitted to send out and sustain by its 
 contributions, teachers, colporteurs, and evangelists in 
 the waste places of Zion. Although too, its means have 
 never been abundant, it has never denied, or grudgingly 
 bestowed its benefactions for any cause that seemed 
 judicious, timely, and well-adapted to promote the cause 
 of the Redeemer. These things are not mentioned, I 
 pray you to remember, with a view to excite any self- 
 complacency respecting our past works as a church. 
 Far from it. We have been far from doing all we could ; 
 far from doing all we should have done. As in the 
 sight of God, we have only cause for shame and confu- 
 sion of face at our past unprofitableness. But they are 
 mentioned, in order that we may not undervalue the 
 goodness of God, and the undeserved honour he has put 
 upon us as a church, in making use of us to accomplish 
 such things for the glory of his name. They are 
 mentioned in order that we may to-day be made more 
 sensible of the weight of obligation which rests upon us, 
 to bow down in the presence of the Most High, and 
 offer praises and thanksgivings unto Him for ever and 
 ever. 
 
 I have detained you for a length of time which I fear 
 may seem to some of you altogether inexcusable. To^ 
 such I can only offer in extenuation of the fault, the 
 nature of the subject, and the extreme difficulty of com- 
 pressing without making it imperfect. To some it may 
 seem also, as if your minds had been diverted from the 
 range of topics suited to an occasion like the present- 
 Let me trust, however, that you will be none the more 
 
71 
 
 forgetful of your ten thousand other blessings, because 
 one particular class of them has been singled out, and 
 brought in review before your minds. Let me trust 
 that your emotions of thanksgiving will be none the 
 less deep, because your minds have been taken off from 
 a generality, which by its very greatness, confuses and 
 obstructs the action of the mind, and directed to this 
 single point in God's boundless goodness : his preparing 
 for you a church, and bestowing sanctuary mercies 
 such as you constantly and peacefully enjoy. And 
 while you consider through how long a course of years, 
 and by what a providential train of events, God has 
 caused those who went before you to hand this church 
 down to us, may we each and all be aroused to a renew- 
 ed anxiety, and to an increased fidelity in our exertions, 
 to pass it down to the generations that shall soon follow 
 us, in such condition, that it may, by God's help, be 
 more than ever useful in helping forward the glory of 
 the latter day. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 A. 
 
 The origin of the name of Princeton, seems to have 
 been lost sight of altogether for many years. The fol- 
 lowing facts, ascertained after much and laborious in- 
 quiry, seem to lay the matter entirely at rest. 
 
 Until, and a little after the year 1700, under the 
 name of Stony Brook was designated the whole district 
 lymg on the north side of that brook as far down as 
 where it empties into the Millstone. In some of the 
 oldest records, persons who are known to have lived on 
 the spot now called Princeton, are spoken of as living 
 at Stony Brook. On the 11th day of March, A. D. 
 1711, " Tliomas Leonard of Stmy Brook;' executed a 
 deed for 200 acres of land to " Henry Prince of Pi.scata- 
 wayr The consideration or purchase-money named in 
 the ^deed was £70. This land is described as being 
 bounded by lands of Thomas Leonard, Samuel Hornor, 
 and John Stockton. This deed was some time since 
 discovered in the Office of the Secretary of State in 
 Trenton, by Edward Armstrong, Esq., of Philadelphia, 
 to whom I am indebted for my first information respect- 
 ing it. It is perhaps not possible now, to locate very 
 exactly the tract of land described. It evidently lay 
 on the north side of the main street, and probably 
 bounded the street from a point somewhere near the 
 
74 
 
 drug store of Mr. James Van Deventer, for the distance 
 of eighteen chains towards Queenston, The presump- 
 tion is, that while Prince owned this piece of land, sev- 
 eral buildings were erected on it. Certain it is, that it 
 was from that time called ^^ Princes Toivn' under which 
 form we find it spoken of in old documents and records 
 until very near the year 1740, when it became " Princ&- 
 town," and not many years after very generally received 
 the more euphonious name of Princeton. Putting all 
 these circumstances together it seems no longer capable 
 of being disputed, that our ancient seat of learning re- 
 ceived its name, not from " "William, Prince of Orange,'* 
 as some have supposed, but from " Henry Prince, of 
 
 PlSCATAWAY." 
 
75 
 
 B. 
 
 The following Lists of the Elders and Trustees of the 
 Church will not be without interest to many. 
 A List of all the Elders of Princeton (First) Church. 
 
 Names. 
 Richard Longstrect, 
 James Hamilton, 
 Thomas Blackwell, 
 John Johnson, 
 Isaac Snowden, 
 Daniel Agnew, 
 Thomas Wiggins, M. D., 
 James Finley, (Sen.) 
 Prof. Williiim Thompson, 
 John Van Cleve, M. D.. 
 Peter Updike, 
 Capt. James Moore, 
 ZebuloD Morford, 
 Francis D. Janvier, 
 Samuel Bayard, 
 John Davison, 
 John S. Wilson, 
 Ralph Lane, 
 Prof. Robert B. Patton, 
 John C. Schenck, 
 John Lowrey, 
 Jacob Lane, 
 Robert Voorhees, 
 Daniel Bowne, 
 Prof. Stephen Alexander, 
 John V. Talraage, 
 Isaac Baker, 
 Joseph H. Davis, 
 
 Elected. 
 Feb. 21, 1786, 
 Feb. 21, 1786, 
 Feb. 21, 1786, 
 Feb. 21, 1786, 
 Jan, 13, 1796, 
 Jan. 13, 1796, 
 March 3, 179C, 
 March 3, 1792, 
 
 1805, 
 
 1805, 
 
 1805. 
 
 1807, 
 
 1807, 
 
 1807, 
 
 1807, 
 
 1807, 
 March 31, 1821, 
 March 31, 1821, 
 Dec. 29, 1826, 
 Dec. 29, 1826, 
 July 14, 18.26, 
 July 14, 1826, 
 April 27,1835, 
 April 27, 1835, 
 August, 1840, 
 August, 1840, 
 June 25, 1845. 
 June 25, 1846 
 
 Ceased from office. 
 Died about 1797. 
 Died 1815. 
 Died Oct. 20, 1825. 
 Died Oct. IG, 1800, 
 Removed from Princeton. 
 Died. 
 
 Died Nov. 14, 1804. 
 Removed to Basking Ridge. 
 Died 1813. 
 Died Dec. 24, 1826. 
 Died Juno 18, 1818. 
 Died Nov. 29, 1832. 
 Died April 2, 1841. 
 Died March 1, 1824, 
 Died May 12, 1840. 
 Removed from Princeton. 
 Died Oct. 11, 1836. 
 
 Removed, 1835. 
 Died June 25, 1846. 
 Died, Jan. 19, 1845. 
 
 Died, June 18, 1838. 
 
 Removed to N. York, 1844. 
 Removed to N. York, 1848- 
 
76 
 
 C 
 
 List of the Trustees of Princeton {First) Ohurch. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Richard Longstreet, 
 
 Robert Stockton, 
 
 Capt. John Little, 
 
 Enos Kelsey, 
 
 Capt. James Moore, 
 
 Isaac Anderson, 
 
 Col. William Scudder, 
 
 James Hamilton, 
 
 Thomas Wiggins, M. D. 
 
 John Harrison, 
 
 Col. Erkurius Beatty, 
 
 Richai'd Stockton, L.L. D., 
 
 Ebenezer Stockton, M. J)., 
 
 Samuel Bayard, Esq., 
 
 Robert Voorhees, 
 
 John Van Cleve, M. D., 
 
 John C. Schenck, 
 
 John S. Wilson, 
 
 James S. Green, Esq., 
 
 John Gulick, 
 
 Charles M. Campbell, 
 
 Peter Bogart, 
 
 Thomas White, 
 
 Henry Clow, 
 
 John Van Doren, 
 
 John Lowrey, 
 
 Alfred A. Woodhull, M. D, 
 
 William R. Murphy, 
 
 George M. Maclean, M. D. 
 
 James Van Deventer, 
 
 Elected. 
 
 May 25, 1786, 
 May 26, 1786, 
 May 25, 1786, 
 May 25, 1786, 
 May 25, 1786, 
 May 25, 1786, 
 May 25, 1786, 
 May 20, 1793, 
 Nov. 15, 1794, 
 Jan. 13, 1796, 
 Feb. 20, 1804, 
 Jan. 2, 1805, 
 Sept. 10,1805, 
 Dec. 15,1807, 
 Nov. 25, 1815, 
 Dec. 7, 1816, 
 July 26, 1823, 
 Jan. 9, 1826, 
 Jan. 9, 1826, 
 Jan. 9, 1826, 
 Sept. 5, 1831, 
 Sept. 5, 1831, 
 Sept. 5, 1831, 
 Sept. 5, 1831, 
 Jan. 14, 1834, 
 Oct. 8, 1835, 
 
 , Oct. 8, 1835, 
 Oct. 8, 1835, 
 
 , Oct. 8, 1836, 
 Oct. 8, 1836, 
 
 Ceased from Office. 
 
 Died about 1797. 
 Died, April 23, 1805. 
 Died, Sept. 6, 1794. 
 Resigned, 1804. 
 Resigned, Sept. 5, 1831, 
 Died, 1807 
 Died, 1793. 
 Died, 1815. 
 Died, Nov. 14, 1804, 
 Died, Oct. 26, 1816. 
 Died, Feb. 3, 1823. 
 Died, March 7, 1828. 
 Resigned Oct, 29, 1835. 
 Resigned, May 7, 1838, 
 Resigned, Feb. 11, 1837. 
 Resigned, Oct. 29, 1823. 
 Resigned, Sept. 5, 1831. 
 Resigned, Sept. 5, 1831, 
 Resigned, Sept. 5, 1831. 
 Resigned, Sept. 5, 1831. 
 Resigned, 1835. 
 Resigned, Sept. 3, 1832. 
 Resigned, .luly 27, 1837. 
 Resigned, 1833. 
 Resigned, June 24, 1839. 
 Resigned, ]836. 
 Died Oct. 5, 1836. 
 Resigned Oct. 8, 1836. 
 Resigned, Dec. 3, 1838 
 Resigned, Aug. 3, 1846. 
 
77 
 
 Prof. Albert B. Dod. D.D.. 
 
 K. C. Wiiios, 
 
 Samuel A.Ltiwrence, 
 
 David N. Bognrt, Esq., 
 
 Alexander M. Cuniming. 
 
 R. R. Ross, 
 
 John Bogart, 
 
 George T. Olmsted, 
 
 A. J. Dumont, 
 
 John Davison, 
 
 Philip Hendrickson. 
 
 Peter I. Voorhees, 
 
 Capt. Thos. Crabbc, U. S. N; 
 
 Prof. Joseph Henry, L.L. D 
 
 J. S. Schanck, M. D., 
 
 Joseph H. Davis, 
 
 William Gulick, 
 
 John T. Robinson, 
 
 N. L. Berrien, 
 
 Peter V. Degniw, 
 
 John F. Hageman, Esq., 
 
 A. Van Duyn, 
 
 laaac Baker, 
 
 Oct. 8. 18.36, 
 Feb. 22, 1837, 
 Aug. 5, 1837, 
 May 7, 1838, 
 May 7, 1838, 
 Jan. 17, 1839, 
 Jan. 17, 1839, 
 June 24, 1839, 
 March 29, 1842, 
 Feb. 12, 1843, 
 Feb. 12, 1843, 
 July 1, 1843, 
 
 , Dec. 22, 1845, 
 
 , July 30, 184G, 
 July 30, 1846, 
 Aug. 3, 1846, 
 Aug, 3, 1846, 
 Aug. 3, 1846, 
 Aug. 3, 1846, 
 Aug. 3, 1846, 
 Aug. 3, 1846, 
 Aug. 3, 1846, 
 
 Feb. 12, 1849, 
 
 Died Nov. 19, 1845. 
 Resigned May 7, 1838. 
 Resigned Doc. 3, 1838. 
 Died May 5, 1844. 
 Resigned Aug. 3, 1846. 
 Resigned Feb 12, 1844. 
 Resigned March 29, 1842 
 Resigned July 10.1846, 
 Resigned Feb. 12, 1843. 
 Resigned Aug. 3, 1846, 
 Resigned July 9, 1846. 
 Resigned Aug. 3, 1846. 
 
 Resigned July 25,^1848. 
 
 Resigned Feb, 12, 1849. 
 
 Resigned July 25, 1848. 
 Died Aug, 10, 1846. 
 
78 
 
 D. 
 
 The present officers of the church are : 
 
 Pastor. 
 
 WILLIAM EDWARD SCIIENCK. 
 Ruling Elders. 
 
 RALPH LANE, 
 
 JACOB W. LANS, 
 
 DANIEL BOWNE, 
 
 PROF. STEPHEN ALEXANDER. 
 
 ISAAC BAKER. 
 
 Trustees, 
 J. S. SCHANCK, M.D., President, 
 WILLIAM GULICK, 
 CAPT. THOMAS CRABBE, D. S. N., 
 P. V. DEGEAW, 
 JOHN F. HAGEMAN, ESQ., 
 A. VANDUYN, 
 ISAAC BAKER. 
 
 Treasurer, 
 JAMES S. GREEN. ESQ. 
 

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