The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-05
A pRESBYTERY'S HISTORY.
a RELIGIOUS BODY THAT rs OLDER
THAN THE REPUBLIC.
Meeting in n Church Used rs Hospital in the
Patriot Wnr, and surrounded by Prince
ton, Trenton, and Monmouth Bnttleaeids.

Meeting in a Church Used rs Hospital in the
Patriot Wnr, and surrounded by Prince
ton, Trenton. and Monmouth Bnttieaeids.
The Presbytery Of New Brunswick con-
cluded its one hundred and thirty-ninth session
Yesterday at Lawrencevillc. The old church
was selected as the place of meeting on account
of the historical associations attaching to IT,
but, apart from this, IL would have been exceed
iugly difficult to have chosen for the purpose a
place more inconveniently situated than Law
rencevllle. The village Is altogether on the line
OF any railroad. the nearest stations being Tren-
ton, Princeton, ana Lawrence, distant, respec-
lively, seven, i've, and four miles.
The church, however, IL a marvel OF antiquity.
1t was built In 1894 and was used as hospital
during the Revolutionary War. Itis'construoted
OF brick. and shows only few marks Of decay.
having, indeed, been recently rejuvenated, as II
were. The front part, which has not been re-
stored. affords indications OF its great age, and
in the surrounding churchyard are worn tomb
stones with almost defaced inscriptions, dating
far back into the last century.
The New Drunswick Presbytery IL one Of the
oldest IN this country. A hundred years ago It
numbered among Its members the Rev, DIR.
WitherspooD. the only clergyman who signed
the Declaration of Independence. Bernard
Stockton and John Hart. two other signeis,
In the church edince.
Among the ministers there yesterday were
the venerable DR.. Johu Mclean. ex- President
OF Princeton College the Rev. Dr. George Hale,
the Rev. DIR. Chas. Hotch, senior profession of
the Princeton Theological seminary the Rev
OF Col. Beatty. who fought In the Revolutionary
War DIR. Cnas. w Nassau, formerly President
OF Lafayette College the Rev. Abrain Gosmao,
who for a quarter Of a century has b. en- pastor
of the old Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church. In
which the Presbytery was assembled and the
Row DIR. samuel Hammill principal OF the
Lawrenceyilie school.
Judge Nickson. OF the United States Supe-
rior Court. who II member OF the congrega-
tton, was also there, as were many venerable
clerRymen from various parts OF the country.
who once were members OF the Presbytery Of
New brunswick. There were many delegates,
and all the seats In the body OF the church not
occupied by them were 1lled with spectators, OF
whom fully one-hnlf were ladies.
The Rev. DIR. honatt professor in the Prince
ton theological seminary, acted as Moderator.
and most of the day was devoted to addresses
from tho older ministers and the relation Of ex-
periences. The exercises opened with theo-
McGill Of the theological Seminary. Princeton.
The Rev. DIR. John McCean. ex-President OF
Princeton College, delivered an address, and
the Rev DIR. Geo. Hae followed with an inter
esting account OF tue historical associations
cllnging to many Of the OLD churches in the
Presbytery Of New Brunswick. He spoke Of the
time when Trenton was missionary ground. and
the synod had voted II the sum Of E5 to assist
preaching In the Presbytery OF New brunswick.
he said, had never been metaphysicai, rs was
sometimes the case In New England neither
had It been sensational. or made up Of serm ons
In which tae gospel had been dispensed with.
Its ministers had always preached the truth
without fear or favor. aud II tho liihie had said
that Jonah swallowed the whale, instead Of tho
whale swallowing Jonah. they would have
taught II as the truth, because the Bble said 1t.
The Rev. j. q. symmss OF Cranberry. n. j.,
VINO had been ordained IN the old church at
Lawrenceville, said that there had only been six
changes Of ministers In the Cranberry Church.
of which he Is pastor. In no years Of its exist
ence, and during lis years the pulpit had only
been unoccupied for eighteen months The Rev.
Charles Mcknight, one OF its pastors. had taken
he made prisoner. and confined in prison
ship, where he contracted ailments which after
ward killed MIN. Mr. Symmes said that half Of
his congregation had been born since he had
taken pastoral charge OF the Cranberry Church.
Several other ministers spoke. aud the even
ing was given up to devotional exercises.