OF THE

REV. BENJAMIN ALLEN,

LATE RECTOR OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA.

BY HIS BROTHER,
THE REV. THOMAS G. ALLEN.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,

THE FUNERAL SERMON

DELIVERED IN ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE

DEATH OF MR. ALLEN, BY

THE REV. GREGORY T. BEDELL, D. D.

ALSO, THE HISTORY OF THE

BIBLE CLASSES OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH,
W hich was written by Mr. Allen in England, and there published since his death,

for the benefit of his Family.

Philadelphia:
LATIMER & co. No. 13, SOUTH FOURTH STREET.

echarge 1901.

William Stavely, Printer.

D

ILLIC LIBRARY

4338 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUN TIONG

1902

Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit:

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the nineteenth day of De. (L S.] cember, anno domini one thousand eight hundred and

thirty-one, THOMAS G. ALLEN, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the Title of a Book, the title of which is in the words following, to wit:

“Memoir of the Rev. Benjamin Allen, late Rector of St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia. By his brother, the Rev. Thomas G. Allen. To which is added, the Funeral Sermon delivered in St. Paul's Church, for the improvement of the death of Mr. Allen, by the Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, D. D. Also, the History of the Bible Classes of St. Paul's Church, which was written by Mr. Allen in England, and there published since his death, for the benefit of his family," the right whereof he claims as Author.

In conformity with an Act of Congress, entitled, “ An Act to amend the several Acts respecting copy.rights."

FRA'S. HOPKINSON,

Clerk of the District.

Page

Preface.

CHAPTER 1.—The Parentage and Birth of the Rev. Benja-

min Allen, and incidents of Childhood and Youth.

7

CHAP. II.-His removal from Hudson--His residence in Ber.

lin, and his Correspondence.

CHAP. III.-His return to Hudson, and the publication of his

first volume of Poems.

41

CHAP. IV.-The publication of his second volume of Poems

His Marriage--His Correspondence, &c., during 1812. 50

CĦAP. V.—The mode of conducting his Temporal Affairs

His health fails—Birth of his first Son—The publication

of his third, fourth, and fifth volume of Poems.

70

CHAP. VI.-Publication of his sixth and last volume of Poems

-He joins the Episcopal Church-Removes to the State

of Virginia.

CHAP. VII.—Extracts from his Correspondence during 1813

and 1814.

CHAP. VIII.—His settlement in Virginia-He applies for

Ordination-Pecuniary Difficulties.

116

CHAP. IX.--He publishes the Layman's Magazine-Further

views of his extensive labours in Virginia–His success

He receives Deacon's Orders.

· 138

CHAP. X.-From his receiving Deacon's Orders in 1816, to

the close of the year 1819.

154

CHAP. XI.-Extracts from his Correspondence during a part

of 1815 and 1819, inclusive.

176

CHAP. XII.-Episcopal Society of the Valley organized

Sermon on spreading the Gospel-Division of the Diocess

proposed.

187

CHAP. XIII. --Notice of Funeral Sermons-Publishes the His-

tory of the Reformation,

205

CHAP. XIV.-Preaching Tour to Convention--Filial Affec-

tion-Call to St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia---His re-

moval-Motives--His standing.

213

CHAP. XV.-Additional Extracts from his Correspondence

during 1820–21.

243

CHAP. XVI._View of his new scene of labour in Philadel-

phia-Extracts from one of his first Sermons.

250

DUP. EXCHANGE 2 AUG. 1905

Page

CHAPTER XVII.—He publishes a volume of Sermons-Liv-

ing Manners

Second and third edition of the Reforma-

tion-Also, the History of the Church-Extracts. - 269

CHAP. XVIII.-Clerical Prayer-meeting-Promotes the erec-

tion of St. Andrew's Church, Philadelphia; also, St. Mat-

thew's Church, Francisville.

- 289

CHAP. XIX.-Promotes Societies in his own Church-Pub-

lic Lectures—General Missionary and Bible Society-

Provident Society-Public Schools.

304

CHAP. XX.-Birth of Children-Health fails—Journey to

Virginia, also to Canada-Publishes Newton Family-

Election of Assistant Bishop.

- 319

CHAP. XXI.--Devotion to Bishop Chase and Kenyon Col-

lege-Thought of moving to the West—Urges my re-

moval to Kentucky_Visit to the District of Columbia. 332

CHAP. XXII.-Extracts from Correspondence.

344

CHAP. XXIII.-His health fails Proposes my removal to

Philadelphia-Proposes a voyage to Europe Church Mis-

sionary House-Christian Magazine-New Plans.

353

CHAP. XXIV.-European Voyage arranged—Agent of So-

cieties--Testimonies of affection and to his usefulness,

from his People and Bible Class, &c.--My arrival in Phi-

ladelphia-His departure-Cape Letters.

369

CHAP. XXV.- Journal of Proceedings, from his leaving
America till his arrival in London.

383

CHAP. XXVI—Journal from his arrival in London, till May

31st.

· 407

CHAP. XXVII.--The close of his Journal, which has never

before been published.

- 458

CHAP. XXVIII.--Extracts from his Addresses before the

Benevolent Societies of England-Extracts from his clos-

ing Correspondence.

468

CHAP. XXIX.-Additional testimony relative to his labours

in England-Prostration of his system-Goes through a

course of medical treatment-Arrangements for his leav-

ing England.

487

CHAP. XXX.-He sails from England-The last fruits of his

pen-His closing scene--His Death Notices and artici-

pations of his departure.

500

Funeral Sermon by the Rev. G. 'T. Bedell, D. D.

- 513

History of Bible Classes.

525

PREFACE.

Soon after I received the painful intelligence of the death of my beloved and only brother, the importance of presenting to the world some account of the incidents of his eventful life, was impressed upon my mind. I therefore resolved immediately to engage in collecting materials. But this work was much delayed by the information from one of his friends, that my brother had already prepared a memoir of his own history. Not finding, as we fondly hoped, this important document among his papers which were returned to us, I immediately wrote to his friends in England, presuming that by some means it was left behind. The answers received were unfavourable. Thus disappointed, I had, after much delay, almost abandoned my design, other difficulties also presenting. Finally, from the peculiar circumstances of my situation, which appeared to invite me to the work and labour of love, I have again determined, by the blessing of my Heavenly Father, to proceed, even should the facts thus thrown together, go no farther than the circle of intimate friends. I feel the difficulty and the responsibility of the work, and I would con. tinually look to our gracious God, that he would so influ

B