True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-04-05
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Near The battlefield Of Monmouth stand
the First Presbyterian Church Of Freehold
erected in f752. It's Of wood, painted
white 1t stands partially enveloped in !
grove Of forest trees, is surrounded by al
old grave yard, and has an ancient ant
venerable appearance It's on the sit
Of q former one, and public service ha'
been held on this. yenerated place for abou
two centuries. On this spot, within the
walls of the church, Whitefeld, DaviC
Brainard, and the two Tennents, have la
bored and prayed.
Atthe time ofthc battle, person, while
sitting on grave-stone in the yard, was
mortally wounded by a cannon ball. He
was carried into the church, and there di
ed. His blood stained the floor, and re-
mains plainly visible to the present day, a
melancholy memento, in the house of God
Of those dark and troublesome times
Col Monckton, of the British grenadiers,
killed at Monmouth, lies buried wi thin six
feet Of the west end of the church. He
was q gallant officer, and Of splendid per-
sOnal appearance. No monument is there,
but his name rudely cut on the building,
marks the spot.
The Rev. William Tennent, remarka-
bic for his piety, and deyotedness to the
Christian cause, was, for long period, the
pastor of this church. He came from Ire
land, in Ills, with his father, the Rev.
William Tennent, and was educated under
his tuition, at the Log College, on the
banks ofthe Neshaminey. Being of a Sc
rious turn, he resolved to devote himself
to the gospel ministry, and commenced the
study of divinity under the direction of his
brother, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, pastor
of the church at New Brunswick. While
there, be was thrown into remarkable
trance, and remained apparently dead for
a number Of days. The following account
is from Life Of Mr.. Tennent, ascribed to
Elias Boudinot, LID, and first published
in the Evangelical Intelligence Ger, work
printed in Philadelphia.
CATER a regular course in theology Mr.
Tennent was preparing for his examination
by the Presbytery, as candidate for the
gospel ministery. His intense application
affected his breast, and he had slight
hectic. He soon became smaciated, and
at length was like living skeleton. His
life was now threatened. He was attend
cd by physician, a young man who was
attached to him by the strictest and warm
est friendship. He grew worse and worse,
till little hope Of his life was left. In this
situation his spirits failed him, and he be-
gan to entertain doubts Of his final happi-
ness. He was conversing one morning
with his brother, in Latin, on the state of
his soul, when he tainted and died away.
After the usual time, he was laid out on
board, according to the common practice
Of the country, and the neighborhood were
invited to his funeral on the next day. In
the evening, his physician and friend re-
turned from ride in the country, and was
afflicted beyond measure at the news of his
death. he could not be persuaded that it
was certain; and on being told that one of
the persons who had assisted in laying out
the body, thought he had observed little
tremor Of the flesh under the arm, altho'
the body was cold and stiff, and he endeav-
ored to ascertain the fact. He first put
his own hand into warm water, to make it
as sensible as possible, and then felt under
the arm. and at the heart, and affirmed
that he felt an unusual warmth, though
no ono else could. He had the body re-
stored to warm bed, and insisted that the
people who had been invited to the funer-
al should be requested not to attend. To
this the brother objected, as absurd-the
eyes being sunk, the lips discolored, and
the whole body cold and stiff. However,
the doctor finally prevailed, and all proba-
bic means were used to discover symptoms
Of returning life; but the third day arri-
we'd, and no hopes were entertained of sue.
cess but by the doctor, who never left him
day or night. The people were again in.
vited, and assembled to attend the funer.
al. The doctor still objected, and at last
confined his request Of delay to one hour,
then to half an hour, and finally to fifteen
minutes. He had discovered that the
tongue was much swollen, and threatened
to crack he was cndeayoring to soften it
by some emOllient ointment, put upon it
with feather, when the brother came in
about the expiration ofthe last period, and,
mistaking what the doctor was doing for
an attempt to feed him, manifested some
resentment, and in spirited tone said, 1T
isa shame to be feeding a lifeless cOrpsel'
---and insisted. with earnestness that Tho