Rare Book Monthly
Articles - October - 2003 Issue
The Doctrine of Caiaphas by Rev. David Murdoch D.D.
none
These things are thrown out at the commencement of this letter, so as to prepare the reader’s mind for the finale of this drama. Please to read over again my solemn determination, and say whether you think me in the RIGHT.
In April. 1851, while I was pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Catskill, I preached in a church of Brooklyn, on a Sabbath morning, where I saw, among the audience, my long tried friend, Lucius Robinson. I understood afterward, that seated beside him were his brother Orrin, Mr. Benjamin, and Judge Gray, who had come to hear me preach. Why they came, I did not then know. I was told since some ladies of Elmira were also there, and some other ladies of the city, who had a commission to hear and report. I preached again in the First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn in the afternoon, when Mr. Benjamin and O. Robinson were introduced to me at the church door. Mr. Benjamin asked me to go with him to a friend of his, Mr. Hutchinson’s, where we had tea, when the subject of my removal from Catskill to Elmira was laid before me.
In about two weeks from that time, I received a formal call, signed by S. Benjamin, Tracy Beadle, W. L. Gibson, N. .H. Robinson, Orrin Robinson and William Woodward, attested by C. C. Carr, as Moderator. The call is as follows, written out in Mr. Gillette’s plain hand:
The First Presbyterian Church and congregation of Elmira, being, on sufficient grounds, well satisfied of the ministerial qualifications of you, David Murdoch, and having hopes, from our past experience of your labor, that your ministrations in the gospel will be profitable to our spiritual interests, do earnestly call, and desire you to undertake the pastoral office in said church and congregation, promising you, in the discharge of your duty, all proper support, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord. And that you be free from worldly cares and avocations, we thereby promise and oblige ourselves to pay to you the sum of one thousand dollars, in regular quarterly payments, together with the use of parsonage house and lot, during the time of your being and continuing the regular pastor of this church. In testimony whereof, we, the Trustees of said congregation, have respectively subscribed our names this 15th of April, 1851.
Concerning the manner in which this call was procured – whether any undue influence was used, or too much authority assumed by any man or men – I do not know; nor does it affect my standing in the matter. Why should I suffer for the faults of others, or be held responsible for any secret bargain made by Mr. Benjamin, or any one else? I know nothing certainly, and do not believe that anything except the utmost fairness was used by all engaged. One thing all must agree in: not a man whose name is one that call has a right to find fault. By putting his signature there, he sealed his own lips forever concerning the giving of that call. Not a man of the six but knows well the value of pen and ink on a bond; and he would laugh who would attempt to escape the consequences of his own act, by saying, “I did it because others did it before me.”
