removal of their minister; and the divided state of the church in New-York, formed another ob stacle to his accepting their call The Presbyte ry, on the call being laid before them, referred a decision upon the subject to the Synod, which met in Newark, in the month of September following. The Synod appointed a committee to meet at Jamaica, on the 29th of the next month, that they might deliberate more at leisure, and decide with more light, than the whole Synod could be supposed to do, in the midst of other business, and at a distance from Mr. Bostwick's place of residence. The committee met agreea bly to appointment; when the elders, deacons, and trustees of the church in New-York, presented a memorial, praying in the most earnest, yet respectful terms, that they would not only put the call into Mr. Bostwick's hands, and favour his acceptance of it; but that they would also come to some decision respecting the different versions of the book of Psalms, which had so long divided and agitated the congregation.They urged, that the continuance of this controversy would be likely to discourage any minister from settling among them, and to prove highly injurious, in many respects, to the interests of religion: but at the same time, the memorial ex

pressed an earnest desire that the use of Dr. Watts' version might be continued, as much more agreeable than any other to a great majority of the people.

The committee being divided with respect both to the call, and the question concerning Psalmody, and believing that a decision of the latter question had not been committed to them by the Synod, determined to refer the decision of both questions to the regular commission of Synod, which they requested the moderator of that body, who happened to be one of their own number, to call as soon as convenient. The commission of Synod was accordingly convened at Princeton, on the 14th day of April, 1756; when the call was put into Mr. Bostwick's hands; and he, having declared himself wholly at a loss whether it was his duty to accept or reject it, the commission, after a full hearing of the persons appointed to represent the congregations of New-York and Jamaica, respectively, decided in favour of his removal to NewYork. In this decision Mr. Bostwick acquiesced; and his pastoral relation to the church of Jamaica was thereupon dissolved.

Mr. Bostwick shortly after removed his family to the city, and entered on his new charge. Possessing pulpit talents superior to most of his brethren, he was a very popular preacher; and his piety and prudence, which were no less conspicuous, rendered him highly acceptable to the people of his charge, and to the city in general. The result of this choice proved as favourable as the most sanguine expectations of its friends.

Still, however, a small part of the congregation remained incurably dissatisfied with the system of Psalmody which the majority chose to adopt, and with some other grounds of smaller, but serious, uneasiness. On these subjects the minority made their final application to the Synod, which met in the month of September, 1756. This application, in the judgment of the Synod, was made in terms by no means delicate: accordingly that body, after a gentle animadversion on the offensiveness of the manner adopted by the applicants, referred them to their previous decisions on the subjects in question, which they saw no reason to rescind or alter. This answer being considered as final, a number of the dissatisfied brethren withdrew; formed themselves into a separate congregation; and made application

for supplies to two ministers who had recently arrived from Scotland, and who belonged to one of the branches of the secession from the establishment in that country. After some time, this newly formed society gave a call to the Reverend John Mason, of Scotland, to be their minister*. Mr. Mason accepted the call, and arrived

The Reverend John Mason, D. D. was born at Mid Calder, near Edinburgh, in the year 1734. He was connected with that branch of the secession in Scotland known by the name of Antiburghers. By a Presbytery in that connexion, he was licensed, and not long afterwards ordained, with a view to his taking the pastoral charge of a congregation in New-York; where he arrived, as above stated, in June, 1761, and where he was, in a short time thereafter, installed. Dr. Mason was a man of a sound, strong mind, of extensive learning, and of unusually fervent piety. His scholarship was rare. He had so habituated himself to classical studies, that, at the age of twenty, he spoke the Latin language, on all the higher subjects of discourse, such as history, philosophy, and theology, with equal ease, and greater elegance, than his mother tongue. In Greek his proficiency was but little inferior; and he was familiar with the Hebrew. At the age of 24, he taught Logic and Moral Philosophy, with reputation, in the Theological Seminary of the Antiburghers, at Abernethy. His lectures were in Latin.As a preacher, he was uncommonly judicious and instructive; as a pastor, singularly faithful and diligent;

in New-York in the month of June, 1761. He immediately entered on the duties of his new station. And although his congregation was, at

and as a friend and companion, he displayed an assemblage of excellencies rarely found in so great a degree in one person. Few ministers have ever lived in NewYork, in so high esteem, or died so generally and deeply lamented. He left the world" in the calm sunshine of gospel hope," on the 19th day of April, 1792. Dr. Rodgers was much attached to this excellent man; and considered his intimacy with him as one of the greatest social privileges of his life. He seldom mentioned his name without expressions of respect and affection of the most pointed and tender kind. The following testimony of regard from the pen of the late Rev. Dr. Linn, who knew Dr. Mason well, and who was capable of appreciating his character, is worthy of being transcribed. "I shall be excused here in paying a small tribute of "respect to the memory of a man who was my neigh"bour and my friend; whom I knew too late; and of "whose value I was hardly sensible until I experienced "his loss.He had prudence without cunning, "cheerfulness without levity, dignity without pride, "friendship without ceremony, charity without undue "latitude, and religion without ostentation. The con

gregation which he served have erected a handsome "monument to his memory; but the most honourable "monument, is the place he holds in their hearts, and "the lasting esteem of all who knew him." Signs of the Times, p. 143, note.