FOUR MONTHS' LABOR IN THE COUNTIES OF ONONDAGA AND CAYUGA, NEW YORK, IN 1828 AND 1829, WITH OTHER PARTS OF HIS PUBLIC LIFE, EXTENDING TO MAY, 1832.
December, 1828, Mr. Badger accepted a field of labor, for about four months, in the counties of Onondaga and Cayuga, New York. His peculiar abilities were needed to revive and strengthen the churches, whose wants at that time were greater than could be supplied by the ministers who lived in that section. In the town of Brutus (since called Sennett), in Camillus and other towns of that region, he had preached frequently in former years. In the former town, Elijah Shaw had been very successful in his ministerial labors; and throughout all that country generally, Rev. O. E. Morrill, whose happy and popular gifts always made him a favorite with the people, had preached much, and wielded a great influence in behalf of liberal sentiments. But Mr. Shaw had moved to New England; Mr. M. was unable to meet the many calls for assistance, and the greatness of the harvest seemed to demand additional laborers.
His plan of action covered a somewhat extended field, though his regular appointments were at Sennett, Cayuga, and at Lysander and Canton, Onondaga. At times he spoke at Cato, Baldwinsville, Jericho, Van Buren, Camillus, Elbridge, Weedsport, and other places; yet he so centralized his labor and influence as to make them effectual at the desired points. Besides his Sabbath services, it is said that he generally preached every evening in the week except on Mondays and Saturdays. As usual, his congregations were generally large and attentive, and his advocacy of liberal and evangelical sentiments was indeed formidable to all who were opposed. It could not be otherwise than a result of his independent course, that controversy, more or less, should be awakened by his ministry. He boldly stated his views, and never shrunk, from the controversial discussion of them whenever a man of character and ability ventured to encounter him with the tests of Scripture and reason. Accordingly, these manly collisions of intellect on theological questions form a very observable part of his public life. In the field he now occupied, he had two public discussions; one with the Rev. Mr. Baker, at Ionia, an eloquent Methodist minister; another with Rev. Mr. Stowe, a learned clergyman of the Presbyterian sect, at Elbridge, though with the latter it was conducted through the medium of letters, of which Mr. S. wrote only a small part, so that perhaps it cannot be called a debate so properly as a discussion.
Mr. Baker was confident of success, not having taken the measure of the man he was to encounter. The form of their controversy on the supreme Deity of Jesus, was to be the delivery of a sermon each to the same audience on the same evening; they met to settle preliminaries late in the afternoon. Mr. Badger, by his careless ease, his deference and reserve of power, managed to give his opponent an inferior opinion of his own capacity, whilst he studied closely the temper and quality of his antagonist. This he always did before he ventured upon warfare. He would draw out the resources of his opponent and reserve his own. He always held that in oral controversy, in the form of sermons, it was a desirable advantage to speak first, for two reasons. 1st. The attention of the people is then unwearied, and their minds are fresh. 2d. The speaker has the opportunity to anticipate the arguments of his opponent and to answer them, thereby depriving them of power before his adversary has used them. He cared not who had the last speech, provided he could have the first. Apparently indifferent to the result, he offered Mr. Baker the choice of time, who allowed Mr. Badger to speak first, thinking that the greater advantage belongs to the last word. No limit of time was set for either speaker. They appeared at early evening before a large assembly. Mr. Badger arose and announced for his text 1 Cor. 1: 4: "Is Christ divided?" a text which struck at the artificial division of his nature and being, made by those who affirm that he is at the same time perfect God and perfect man. Mr. Badger spoke between two and three hours to the most perfectly attentive audience, in which time he stated and met all the strong arguments that were likely to be arrayed against him, and urged in clear and lucid statements the evidences for his own position. I find in the plots of his controversial sermons, that he carried on usually a double work, giving, as he proceeded, alternately his own view and its evidence, then examining the opposition and its proof, then returning to the further statement of his own opinions and their evidences, and again exploding the usual arguments of the opposite side, ending always with positive views. In this debate he thoroughly achieved his aim. He so broke the weapons of his adversary that he could not rally to his use his accustomed strength. During Mr. Badger's long discourse, Mr. Baker would occasionally look at his watch and remind him that time is short, to whose impatience he once replied, "Be patient, Brother Baker, I have much yet to say; this is only the beginning of sorrows." It is certain that parties are usually biased in regard to the merits of controversies in which their peculiar doctrines are discussed; but from such recollections of this debate as community possessed in 1831 and 1835, I unhesitatingly say that but one opinion prevailed, which was, that Mr. Badger was plainly victorious.
His letters to Mr. Stowe, which originated in a misrepresentation of views made in the pulpit of Mr. S., were published in the Gospel Luminary of 1829. They were strong and able papers; and it is evident from a letter in my possession from the hand of Mr. S., that he carefully sought to evade any public contact of mental forces with Mr. B. on the subjects of difference between them.
During the several months which he passed in these counties, he performed a large amount of labor, called out an interest which was by no means limited by the extent of his own denomination, and the churches were strengthened and refreshed. His influence was always creative. But even when he added no numerical strength to his cause, a thing which we are not sure ever happened under his active ministry, he had an uncommon ability to inspire the men and women already marshalled under free principles, with new confidence in what they could do were they to try; and what is kindred to, but still a little higher than this, he had a particular faculty to bring them to the point of action; could persuade them to begin and to prosecute enterprises that they ordinarily might simply talk about, delay, and neglect. At Sennett, he pursuaded the people to attempt the building of a church; he organized the society, selected the location, and put things in active course for the completion of the enterprise. Between the villages of Canton and Ionia stands a commodious chapel, which, through the generous sacrifices of a few men, and the cooperative action of others, was built and dedicated to the service of Almighty God January 26, 1830. This chapel also was started and went up at the time it did through the leading, managing influence of Mr. Badger. But events of this kind were very common in his ministry, as he was in the habit of studying closely the strength of the cause he plead, and of enlisting into decisive action the ability of his friends in its furtherance. January 23, 1830, he preached the dedication sermon of a beautiful church in Lysander, Onondaga County, New York, where he had regularly preached in the winter of 1829. Text was Ps. 126: 3: "The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." He also preached the dedication sermon of the church in Sennett. At Canton, the Christian Chapel was open for worship January 26, 1830. From the pen of Rev. David Millard, who gave the sermon on that occasion, I extract the following lines:—
"This is the second chapel erected in Onondaga county for the use of the people called Christians. The building is neat, plain, and commodious. The labors of Rev. O. E. Morrill have been devoted to that region of country for nine years past, and have been much owned and blessed of God. About one year ago, Rev. J. Badger spent several months in that section, and was much blessed in preaching the word. His labors contributed largely towards the building of the two chapels we have just named, (Lysander and Canton,) and also of another in the town of Sennett, Cayuga County, not yet completed. The cause of liberal Christianity was never more prosperous in that part of the country than now."[44]
There was indeed ability in favor of liberal views through that country, ability of long standing; but we think it just to the memory of Mr. Badger to say that, during his labors in that region, his creative mind was prominent in giving to that ability the form of active, prosperous enterprise in the respects here spoken of.
November, 1830. From the Valley of Repose,[45] he writes:
"Since my last, I have visited many places in this part of the State, and am happy to find that the cause of Christian liberty is gradually advancing, though opposition attends every step that is taken. In Rochester, a Unitarian society has been raised. Mr. W. Ware, of New York city, was the first minister of that order who ever preached there. His preaching was like Paul's, at Athens; it made no small stir. Many were alarmed for their favorite dogmas; for his three sermons gave the doctrine of the Trinity a deadly blow. He was succeeded by Mr. Green, of Massachusetts, who is an eloquent man, and, like Apollos, mighty in the Scriptures. He left, after a stay of three months, for Cincinnati. I am informed they are now supplied by two young men from Boston, who have my best wishes for their success. Though these men have encountered much opposition, a spirit of inquiry and a love of liberal Christianity are imparted from their faithful labors, which will live among the citizens of Rochester in spite of the influence of superstitious sectarians. Though they are a distinct sect from the Christians, their labors go to promote the same great principles of liberty, and their enemies and ours are the same."
In Cayuga County, he speaks of the labors of Morrill and Coburn as successful; of passing through Montgomery, Delaware, Green and Dutchess Counties; of standing by the grave of his worthy early associate in the ministry, John L. Peavy, at Milan; of thinking of his many associates who now sleep in the grave;—men cut off in the midst of their useful labors. Taking with him, from Green County, a young man by the name of Joseph Marsh, he returned to Mendon, October 2d.
In the autumn of 1830, his visit to Lewisburg, Pa., is thus spoken of by Rev. J. J. Harvey, in a recent letter to Mrs. Badger:—
"His congregations were large and attentive. The sects cried out against him and his doctrine. Being young, and liberal in my feelings, I was induced, by the opposition raised against this 'great Unitarian heretic, as his enemies styled him, to go and hear for myself. From the course pursued on both sides, I soon became a regular hearer, and found my feelings strongly interested in favor of the persecuted party. Among others, he preached one discourse on the doctrine of the Trinity. This was fortunate for me, because he removed from my mind the infidelity into which the popular teaching among the Methodists and Presbyterians had well-nigh driven me. I never could understand, and therefore could not believe, their irrational and unscriptural preaching on this subject; I was, therefore, on the verge of rejecting the Bible in toto. But, by clear exhibitions of truth, Mr. Badger convinced me of the scriptural and the reasonable doctrine of one God, and of one Mediator between God and men; and on that subject I have never since had a doubt."
From this place he proceeded to Milford, New Jersey, to attend the theological debate held in that town, December, 1830, between Rev. William McCalla, of Philadelphia, and Rev. Wm. Lane, of Ohio, on the question—"Is the man Christ Jesus the supreme and eternal God?" of which Mr. McCalla had the affirmative, and Mr. Lane the negative. This discussion, attended by a large concourse, and on the fourth day abandoned by the former gentleman, in the words, "I relinquish this debate forever," was one in which Mr. Badger took a deep interest. He was one of the Board of Moderators; and, with his peculiar facility at management, he succeeded, during the early stage of the debate, in getting Mr. McCalla and Rev. S. Clough into a contract for a new discussion of the same question, at the city of New York, at a subsequent time, a contract which Mr. McCalla, on the fourth day of the debate, took from his pocket, and tore into pieces in the presence of the great assembly, as significant of his intention not to carry out the purpose therein expressed. The coolness, foresight, and shrewdness of Mr. Badger on all such occasions were strong and serviceable traits.
He spent the principal part of 1831 in the vicinity of his residence, in which time additions were made to his society, which then was in a state of prosperity. From special request he visited Stafford, Genesee County, where, fourteen years before, with the assistance of Elder Levi Hathaway, he had organized a small church of eleven; a reformation immediately began, which, in the language of Mr. D. Millard, "was one of the most glorious revivals ever experienced in that region of country. Within a few months, he baptized, in Stafford, not far from fifty," about half of whom were young men of talent. Under date of October 12, 1831, Mr. Badger writes:—
"It is now nearly twenty years since I engaged in the great and responsible work of preaching the Gospel. I regret that I did not engage in that work earlier, and that I have been no more successful. But, with all my lack of qualifications, I have every year had something to encourage me; I have baptized about one thousand persons; I have had the pleasure of seeing twelve of that number become useful ministers of the Gospel, and many have finished their pilgrimage on earth with joy. Of late, I have been more than ever encouraged, and, notwithstanding my embarrassment on account of ill health, my spirit is alive to the good work, and my heart is warm to the interests of Zion. The church at Lakeville, Livingston County, has also been blessed of late. I have, within a short time, baptized six persons there. In Tompkins County, our brethren have been abundantly favored with revivals. In Cayuga County, also, the cause is prospering. Elder Morrill has had an addition to the churches of his care of about eighty members, this year."
"Several of our brethren in this country have, the present season, finished their course in this world. We have taken sweet counsel with them; we have joined them in commemorating the love and suffering of the lowly Jesus; we have mingled with them in songs of praise and sweet devotion on earth, and now look up with trembling confidence and cheerful hope to the time when we shall be permitted to join them with improved capacities, in an immortal song of praise to God and the Lamb in heaven."
On March 27th, he attended the funeral of Mrs. Thomas Pease, of Rochester, one in whom the Christian virtues were said to have shone with mild and constant brilliancy. Speaking of this event, he says:
"While I sat by the bedside of my emaciated friend, and saw her health, her beauty, and relish for life gone, and the strong attachment of friends presenting their last claims to a heart which had always responded in emotions of kindest friendship, but which could respond no longer, I heard her in a low whisper say, 'Oh Lord, grant me thy smiles and thy presence, and I ask no more.' Here, said I, I see the end of all perfection. Oh God, 'Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.'
"After I left she appeared much revived in spirit, and made choice of the text on which I should preach at her funeral, which was John 14: 2: 'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.' How delightful to see a child of God looking up from the verge of the grave to those mansions which Christ has gone to prepare for his children."