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consented to what the Synod had proposed, with the understanding, that he should receive, while he
rendered them but half the usual service, but half the
usual salary, which was certainly a reasonable
stipulation; and, to supply the lack of service
that would be caused by his removal, in the
autumn of 1795, they called the Rev. Mr. Abeel,
of Philadelphia, to become one of their pastors.
The following spring, he left the city, to occupy
a place which he had purchased at Bedford, a
little village on Long Island, about two miles from
Brooklyn; and here, when fixed in his new residence, he opened his Divinity-Hall with very
cheering prospects.
But it must be obvious that, in complying with
the wishes of the Synod, he not only sustained a
considerable pecuniary loss, as he relinquished a
moiety of his regular stipend from the Church, and
numerous perquisites, which, as its senior minister,
he had been in the habit of receiving, but also subjected himself to no little inconvenience, and, in a
measure, exposed his health and life. There were, at
that time, no steam-boats moving upon our waters;
and the passage between Long Island and New-York, in the boats then in use, was seldom an
agreeable, and oft times, especially in the winter season,
was a very dangerous one; but he must be every
Sabbath, at least once, in his pulpit; and other
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duties would make it necessary for him frequently to
visit the city. In this view, and taking into consideration the fact, that he had nothing to expect from the
Synod but their approbation — that they could neither make nor promise him any other
remuneration, it must be confessed, that he now made sacrifices, and evinced a disinterestedness, a submissive
temper, and a regard for the good of the Church at
large, which justly entitled him to respect and gratitude.
The great motive to a removal was, the hope of
being in this situation, more useful as professor,
than he had ever been before: — and for a while, the
hope was partially realized. Well known as a sound
and learned divine — having the requisite leisure for
the due performance of his duty — and the expense
of boarding in the country being much less than in
the city, the number of students immediately increased, and he was encouraged to believe, that the
plan which had been adopted for establishing a
theological school, would be crowned with complete
success; but his expectations, however warrantable, as founded upon the late act of the Synod, in
which that body had displayed a commendable
earnestness and zeal in behalf of the professorate,
and also, upon the favourable commencement of the
enterprise, were soon and suddenly disappointed.
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