Tag Archives: Christianity

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 29 – David Avery

David Avery.   David Avery

David Avery’s story brought tears to my eyes. I have never met a modern Pastor like him.: — His Birth And Character. — Converted Under Whitfield. — Leaves His Trade To Study For The Ministry. — Enters Dr. Wheelock’s Charity School. — Graduates At Yale College. — Studies Divinity. — A Missionary Among The Indians. — Settled At Gaysboro, Vermont. — His Patriotism. — Raises A Company And Marches To Boston. — Made Chaplain. — Noddle’s Island. — Present At The Battle Of Bunker Hill. — Praying For Victory. — Accompanies Washington Through The Jerseys. — Wounded At Trenton. — At Valley Forge. — At Ticonderoga. — At Bennington. — His Death.

David Avery was “gentle and kind in his manners, and with a heart full of tenderness, he had at the same time a bold and fearless nature which, when roused, it was dangerous to oppose.” He is highly honored by Washington for his heroic acts as a soldier and Minister of God. Most interesting is that this was a young man who worked hard to same money to go to college. The reason he wanted to go was that he became a believer in Jesus through the ministry of George Whitefield. Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 29 – David Avery

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 28 – John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon.  John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon is one of my most favorite pastors and statesman. He was a strong Patriot working side by side with Sam Adams: — The Clergy as Statesmen. — Witherspoon a Scotchman by Birth. — His Early Life. — Is licensed to preach. — Joins the Army of the Pretender. — Taken Prisoner at the Battle of Falkirk. — His Eminence as a Theologian. — Is elected President of Princeton College. — Flattering Reception in this Country. — Takes Sides with the Colonies. — Elected Member of the New Jersey Legislature. — Scathing Attack of Governor Franklin. — Elected Member of Congress. — His Speech on the Declaration of Independence. — His Great Services in Congress. — His Death.

John Witherspoon had a close working relationship with Samuel Adams. They both stayed in the Continental Congress when all was in a shambles as well as in great success. Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 28 – John Witherspoon

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 27 – Daniel McCalla

Daniel McCalla.

The details of Daniel McCalla exemplify the core of leadership in the extensibility of the True Gospel: — His Birth. — Graduates at Princeton Ween eighteen tears of age. — Studies for the Ministry. — Settles in Pennsylvania. — Appointed Chaplain under General Thompson. — Is taken Prisoner in the Attack on “Three Rivers”. — Thrown into a Prison Ship. — His Suffering And Fortitude. — Released on Parole. — Flees to Virginia. — Settles in South Carolina. — His Death.

Daniel McCalla like Samuel Adams entered college at fourteen. Different then Sam Adams, McCalla kept the ministry in mind where as God changed the direction of Sam to become the ‘Father of The American Revolution.” Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 27 – Daniel McCalla

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 26 – Charles Cummings

Charles Cummings.  Charles Cummings Marker

Charles Cummings was distinguished as: — An Irishman by Birth. — Settles in Virginia. — Esters the Ministry. — Fights the Indians. — Goes armed to his Church. — Takes the Lead in the political Movements of the People. — Chaplain to the Army in the Expedition against the Cherokees. — His Death.

Charles Cummings came to America as a young man. He became a minister and lived at the very edge of danger. He was a leader and fighter both for glory of God and the birth of a new nation.

“He took a leading part in all patriotic movements of his congregation” and was appointed to “to draw up an address to the Continental Congress.” He was also elected the Chairman of the Committee on Safety. This means he ensured the citizens knew how to defend themselves against all threats. Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 26 – Charles Cummings

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 25 – John Gano

John Gano.   John Gano

This Chapter about John Gano contains — The Baptists Of Virginia. — Gano’s Early Life. — Visits The South And Preaches. — Arraigned For It, But Is Acquitted And Licensed. — Anecdotes Of His Coolness And Courage. — Settled In North Carolina. — Offered A Captain’s Commission In The Army Against The Cherokees — Declines. —Returns North. — Finally Settles In New York.— His Congregation Broken Up. — Joins The Army As Chaplain. — Under Fire At White Plains. — At Trenton. — Chaplain Under Clinton At Fort Montgomery. — His Description Of The Taking Of The Fort. — With Clinton’s Brigade At Albany. — Its Chaplain In The Expedition Against The Indians. — Anecdotes Of Him In This Campaign. —Sermon On The Fourth Of July. — His Faithfulness. — Goes South With The Army Advancing Against Cornwallis. — Returns To His Church At The Close Of The War. — Removes To Kentucky.—His Death.

John Gano is another profound leader. This is clearly noted at the end of this chapter with: “True to his country, true to his high office, true to his God, he went through the trying scenes of the Revolution, and through life honored, respected and loved by all who knew him, and now sleeps with those whose names are inscribed in the hearts of their countrymen. Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 25 – John Gano

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 24 – James Hall

James Hall  James Hall Marker

James Hall — His Birth and Education. — Settled int North Carolina. — Rouses His People to oppose the Mother Country. — Is made Captain of a Company of Cavalry. — Acts also as Chaplain. — Marches to South Carolina. — Offered the Commission of Brigadier General by Greene. — Declines. — His After Life.

Reverend Hall is another Pastor who lead from the Front. He was thirty-one when he entered college under the tutelage of Dr. John Witherspoon. Dr. Witherspoon recognized his great mathematical skill and want to keep Hall on as a teacher at the university. But Hall understood his call from God to preach.

In addition to being a leader in the pulpit he fully understood the Biblical perspective of standing against tyranny. With that in mind, James Hall “took the lead in all public meetings held to discuss the political topics of the day. He denounced toryism unsparingly, and on every occasion when he could get a hearing made eloquent and earnest appeals in behalf of freedom.” Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 24 – James Hall

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 23 – Samuel Kirkland

Samuel Kirkland.  Samuel Kirkland Missionary

Samuel Kirkland has an amazing life: — His Birth and Education. — A Teacher in Dr. Wheellock’s School. — Goes a Missionary to the Indians of New York State. — His Labors and Perils. — His Mission broken up by the Revolution. —Employed by Congress to Keep the Indians from joining the British. — Prevented by Brandt. — Chaplain in Sullivan’s Brigade. — Accompanies it to Genesee Flats. — Services rewarded by Congress. — Settles among the Oneidas after the War. — Founds Hamilton College. — Is thrown from his Horse. — His Death.

We are now halfway through the book with this chapter about Samuel Kirkland . This amazing missionary Pastor is most well known for his great work among the Indian tribes in New York. He wandered the wilderness of New York armed only with his Bible. He learned every aspect of customs, language and locations of the various Indian Tribes. Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 23 – Samuel Kirkland

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 22 – Benjamin Trumbull

Benjamin Trumbull  Benjamin Trumbull

This Chapter regarding Reverend Benjamin Trumbull contains: — His Birth and Education. — Takes Sides with the Colonies. — Enters the Army as Chaplain. —Fights in the Ranks. — Curious Interview with Washington. — Fights at Whiteplains. — Anecdote. —Fights at NewHaven. — Returns to his Parish. — Writes the History of Connecticut. — His Publications.

Benjamin Trumbull was “of a bold spirit and sanguine temperament, a bitter hater of wrong, and a fearless, ardent, and sometimes stormy defender of the right” with “ruddy, determined face and stout figure typified admirably his character.” “Zealous, enthusiastic and able in argument, he brought efficient aid to the patriots, and it is much to be regretted that one who bore so important a part in the Revolution in his native State. After the Revolution, Benjamin Trumbull became so distinguished as its historian, should not have left more details and personal incidents connected with his services in the army. But aside from his general patriotism and zeal very little is known of this part of his history.”

Trumbull was one of the one hundred who performed a delay action in July 1790 when New Haven was being invaded. This was the same battle that Dr. Dagget “the reverend professor of divinity, with his long fowling-piece on the hill-top,” was taking the sniper shots into the advancing army.

As with the previous chapters we see the Pastor taking the leadership in standing before God and in the literal fight for justice against tyranny.

The Video:

Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 22 – Benjamin Trumbull

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 21 – James Caldwell

James Caldwell

James Caldwell:Give 'em Watts — His Birth and Ancestry. — Personal Appearance. — Power of his Voice. — His Character. — His Congregation at Elizabethtown.— Made Chaplain. — His Toast on the Reception of the Declaration of Independence. — His Activity. — Rewards offered For His Capture. — Removes To Connecticut Farms. — Goes Armed. — His Services — Letter To Lee. — Assistant Commissary General. — Last Interview With His Wife. — Her Murder. — Fight At Springfield. — “Give ’em Watts”. — Murder of Caldwell. — His Funeral. — His Children. — Monument To Him.

James Caldwell exhibits the character of one who understand the persecution of Christianity. Although he was born in America, his “ancestors were Huegenots, who were driven from France to England by religious persecution, from thence to Scotland, and at last to Ireland, from which his father emigrated to this country. Because of this heritage, James Caldwell had a great heart and passion for the resistance of tyranny and the passion for independence. Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 21 – James Caldwell

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution

Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 20 – Joel Barlow

Joel Barlow  Joel Barlow

In all that he was called to, Joel Barlow fulfilled that which he was created for: — His Birth and Early Education. —A Friend of Dwight. —His Poem, “The Prospect of Peace.” —Joins the Army in Vacations. —Becomes Chaplain. — Writes Patriotic Ballads. —”Hymns for Yankee Rebels.” —The Burning of Charlestown.” —Occupation in the Army. —Friend of Washington. — Sermon on Arnold’s Treason. —Becomes Lawyer and Editor at Hartford, Connecticut. —Revises Watt’s Psalms and Hymns. —Agent of Scioto Land Company. —Visits England, France. —Becomes enlisted in the French Revolution. —His Occupations in Europe. —Consul at Algiers. —Makes a Fortune in France. —Returns to America. —Remarkable Prophecies in his Columbiad. —Minister to France. —His Death. —Charge of Religious Apostacy..

Joel Barlow is extremely distinguished in many regards as a soldier, poet, Chaplain, patriotic song writer, a diplomat and a prophet regarding the softening of Biblical teaching. To that end Joel Barlow excelled and was taken wrongly by the New England ‘Federalists’ so to be castigated as an ‘Apostate’. Where as the facts of his writings clearly show otherwise. Furthermore, he was a very close associate to Timothy Dwight. Continue reading

Comments Off on Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution: Chapter 20 – Joel Barlow

Filed under Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution