Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-04
Criminal Skett8es,
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald:
LIVES OF
Distinguished Jerseymen.
ny . CO. Ward.
Ik.TT.
Rev. John q. Livingston, D. D.

OF Peace" lB ever worthy OF tAe love, es-
teen, and reverence Of all, who delight
in " pure and undecided religion; and the
blessed effects Of Ais ardueus labOrS do
rot cease with bis death; but are mani
fest in the beDsfts which they confer up
on ell succeeding postority. As the trae
poet is tho priest Of Nature, and his works
arc read with profit and pleasure by all
remote generations, SO the true divine.
being tho priest Of Gods Revealed Win
to Man, eught mueh more to. be highly
esteemed. aad the labors Of his pen to be
regarded with intense interest in all com
ing ages, by dying and perishing men.
JOHN H. LIVINGSTON was born in the
year 1747. His ancestors were original
" from seoaaad, and constituted q por-
ton Of the nshility Of that kingdom, pre-.
.viens ts session to England, in the
commeacsEaeA Of the reign Of James VI.
OF Scotlaad, and /. Of England. In his
early years he was remarkable for his
love OF learning; and his mind was so
constituted, that he could not be conten-
ted with b plain, practical English educa-
ton alone. He studied the classics with
great avidity, and entered Yale College
in Connections. in 1863, at the remarka-
bly, early ace OF eleven years. In 1862,
being then only in the 10th year of his
age, he graduated at that distinguished
Institution, with a reputation for schol-
arship far beyond his years. Being Of a
serious turn-of mind, and having expert
enced religion, he determined to devote
all his powers to the Ministry.
The doctrines Of the Dutch Reformed
Church seemed to him the purest and
most unexeeptionable; and in their school
he gladly enlisted. Believing that they
were taught In Holland with the greatest
.clearness ana ability, in May 1866, he de-
paFtada@saAt@y+ and catered the
far-famed University Of Utrecht; where
he pursued his theological studies with
intense application and industry. 1t was
never q custom with him to do anything
=" by halves" Whatever he undertook,
he completely mastered. And this rule
will always work well among all classes
and conditions Of men. He devoted four
years in Utrecht to the study of Divini
ty; end when about leaving, to embark
for his native country, he received from
that University the degree Of d. D. This
was Ia the war ITO; when he took his
departure ID, his native land, much to
the regret ofhis friends in Holland, who
accompaniedhim to the ship with parting
tears and blessings.
Soon sfterlhis arrival at New York,
he xasa installed pastor of the Dutch Re-
formed Chpreh in that city. Here his
lahors in tIp Ministry were peculiarly
trying and ~lsevere. Unfortunately, q
a&e~ai@@ed Isis time in.
the Church 81 his choice. It was divided
into two contsnding parties, who differed
widely in milDr points mostly relating 10
the peculiar lsodes Of Church government
and d~iseiplise. The ore faction was
called the Cnfcrentic, and the other the
Coetus paay Their bitter contentious
came very nelr breaking up the whole
Church equalization. But DR.. Living,
ston possessed G degree Of irmness that
no adverse circumstances could shake.
His commanding eloqnenee and great
powers of mind enabled him to triumph
over all opposition. Aided by the unit
ring zeal and powerful talents Of DR..
H%ardenbergh. Of New Brunswick, he sue
ceeded in ~allaying every hard feeling.
and recenciling every difference, SO that
the two parties coaleseed, and formed one
Church, acting in perfect harmony, and
maintaining such q degree of christian
consistency, az rendered them an excel.
atea~cther sccSs to initiate.
Previous to this time, the Dutch Reformed
Church in America was governed by d
Consolation of Elders in Holland; Just
ax the Methodist Church was governed
by John Wesley and his co-adiutors; but
while at Utrecht, DR.. Livingston succeed
ed in obtaining its release from all Euro
pean bonds, and it became an independ-
emit Church. This propitious event oc
Cured in the year 1772. At this time it
customary to have a Professor, or
Of Didactic Theology in the
Dutch Church, in addition to the regular
" consfitu5s minister: and this Office
conferred upon Dr.. Livingston. Thus
a double burden was laid upon his shout
ders; but be was fully adequate to the
task Of sustaining it. From 1884 until
1910, DIR. Livingston continued, with great
and unrsmitting ardor, to dis
the.high and responsible duties Of
theological professor and pastor in the
church. T Sch all this period, bis Wig
orous mix Instead Of Tagging, seemed
to gather renewed strength.
In 1910 she Presidency Of Queens (now
Rutger's) College, in New Brunswick, be-
came vacant, and DR.. Livingston was APP
to Gil that high and influential
Office. This he continued to do, with re.
markable dignity and usefulness, until
his death. He was one Of the ablest and
most successful instructors Of youth Of
his day and generation. AS a just APP
probation of.his great merits and unusual
Yale College conferred upon him
highest degree in her gift, that of.
LII. D.
After a long life spent in doing an in
calcuable amount Of good, he calmly fell
in Jesus, in 1925, at the age of
IS years. He retained his strong facul-
ties OF mind until the last.
His writings were not voluminous; but
characterized by great depth Of tho't,
.elearneRs Of comprehension, and beauty
IF diction.. lis best works, new extant,
ire, undoubtedly, his sermons on Growth
n Grace" !" Sanctuary Blessings" and
An Address delivered at Commencement
a Queens College, ia 1870.
His character may be briefly summed
lp if the-strong and comprehensive Ian