quest of Capt. Owen was destined to become the foundation of an important charity-school establishment.

In the year 1762, Capt. John Neilson* bequeathed, by will, "to the Presbyterian church in New-York," the sum of 250 dollars. Soon after his death, which occurred in the same year, the trustees called on his acting executor, Mr. Waddell Cunningham, for the payment of the legacy. The answer of Mr. Cunningham was, that the law knew no such body as the "Presbyterian church in New-York," and that the money would not be paid. The trustees, conscious that they had no power to compel payment, quietly submitted to the insult, as well as the injustice which attended the refusal. Nor was the money paid until more than twenty years afterwards, when the congregation having obtained a charter, a gentleman who had been connected in trade with Mr. Cunningham, offered to pay the principal sum, provi

* Capt. Neilson was a native of Ireland, and for a number of years a respectable member of the Presbyterian church in New-York. He commanded a merchant ship, in the European trade, in which he was blown up on the coast of France, in the year above mentioned, and with his whole crew, perished.

ded the trustees would relinquish the interest due thereon. This offer they thought proper te accept, and received the legacy accordingly.

The recurrence of such events as these rendered the trustees extremely anxious to obtain a charter and they repeated their application for that purpose on every occasion which seemed to afford the least gleam of hope that they might succeed. But as often as they renewed their exertions, opposition was made from the old quarter, and always proved effectual.

The congregation, as yet, had no house of their own for the residence of their minister. In the month of May, 1762, they purchased a parsonage, and gave the use of it to Mr. Bostwick, as an addition to his stated salary. This property also, for want of a charter, they were obliged to convey to certain individuals, to be held in trust for the congregation.

Although Mr. Bostwick was highly accept able and popular; yet, as his health was so delicate as to impair, in a considerable degree, his capacity for active service, the congregation judged an additional minister to be necessary;

and accordingly, in the month of October, 1762, they gave a call to the Reverend Joseph Treat, a member of the Presbytery of New-Brunswick, to become their pastor, in connexion with Mr. Bostwick. Mr. Treat accepted their call; and being without a pastoral charge, immediately entered on his ministry with them. He was a popular and useful preacher.

In the month of November, 1763, Mr. Bostwick was removed by death, after an illness of a few days. He was highly esteemed and rever ed, while he lived, not only by the people of his own charge, but by the churches, and his fellowcitizens in general; and his death was sincerely and justly lamented.

for a

Mr. Treat survived Mr. Bostwick; but another minister being thought necessary, congregation so large and important, a call was voted, in the spring of the year 1764, to the Rev. Mr. John Murray, a preacher from the north of Ireland, and a man of popular talents, to be a colleague with Mr. Treat. But the want of unanimity, together with some other considerations of a personal nature, induced Mr. Murray to reject the call,

In the month of January, 1765, as before stated, the congregation gave a unanimous and affectionate call to the Subject of these memoirs. The circumstances and the result of this call, were detailed in a preceding chapter; and introduce us to that portion of the history of the church in New-York, which is inseparably connected with the life of Mr. Rodgers, and which will be found detailed in the following chapters*,

The foregoing history of the church of New-York, is compiled from documents, which were prepared by Dr. Rodgers himself, and put into the hands of the writer of this volume, several years before his decease. On this authority all the facts in the preceding chapter rest, excepting those for which some other is distinctly quoted; and excepting also the notes, for which the writer alone is responsible,

CHAP. V.

Dum vivimus, vivamus.

Doddr.

Viresque acquirit eundo.

Virg.

From his removal to the City of New-York, till the commencement of the Revolutionary War.

MR. RODGERS arrived in New-York, as before stated, to enter on his pastoral duties there, on the 24th day of July, 1765. He was received by the people of his new charge with great respect and affection; and with no less cordiality by the Presbytery of New-York, which convened at Springfield, New-Jersey, on the 20th of August, for the purpose of receiving him; and appointed his installation to take place on the 4th day of September following. In the installation solemnities the Reverend Timothy Johnes, of Morristown, the oldest member of the Presbytery, presided, and the Reverend James Caldwell, of Elizabeth-town, preached the sermon. Mr. Rodg