1771 - To Philadelphia for a Yard of Cloth ..

1771 - To Philadelphia for a Yard of Cloth ...

Wallace had left his Virginia home for New Jersey in 1767, then graduated from the College of New Jersey with the class of 1770. He remained in the north, formally beginning his preparation for the Presbyterian ministry in the fall of 1771. Caleb, having confirmed his call to the Presbyterian ministry, now spent the year following his graduation from Princeton in the study of theology; on Oct. 9, 1771, he presented himself for admission to the Presbytery of New Brunswick, N.J. According to the records of that Presbytery, as quoted in "Life and Times", etc., "Mr. Caleb Wallace, a graduate of New Jersey College, offered himself to the Presbytery in order to enter upon Tryalls as a Candidate for the Gospel Ministry; and the Presbytery having examined him as to his Acquaintance with experimental Piety and his Views and Intentions in desiring to enter upon this sacred work, think fit to receive him, and to appoint him as parts of Tryal to compose a Sermon on Romans 3,24, and an Exegis on this Question, viz: ‘An Jesus Christus, Filius Dei, Patri sit Equalis?’" (the theological quandary of the equality of the identities of God) "to be delivered at our next Spring Presbytery." The record continues: "Trenton, April 15, 1772; Mr. Wallace was examined as to his skill in the learned Languages, the Liberal Arts, and also in Divinity, in all which he gave the Presbytery competent satisfaction. He also produced an Exegis on this question, viz: ‘An Jesus Christus, Filius Dei, Patri Equalis sit?’ and also a Sermon on Romans 3,24, both of which were highly approved. The Presbytery do therefore appoint him to prepare a Popular Sermon on Romans 12,2, to be delivered at Philadelphia during the Session of the Synod in May next." The next pertinent entry reads "Philadelphia, 28th May, 1772. According to an appointment made at our last Presbytery, Mr. Wallace delivered a Popular Sermon on Romans 2, 12, which was approved and accepted as his last piece of Trial in order to his being received. He also adopted the Westminister Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechism, and the Directory for Worship and Discipline, and promised Subjection to his brethren in the Lord. The Presbytery considered that they had received competent Satisfaction respecting his skill in the learned Languages, the Liberal Arts and Sciences, and in Divinity, and also his acquaintance with vital piety; unanimously Licensed him to preach as a candidate for the Gospel Ministry, and cheerfully recommend him to the acceptance of the churches in that character." During this period, he was occasionally engaged by James Madison, who had also remained in the north to pursue "graduate studies", for assistance in various matters; some reference to this (from LIFE AND TIMES) is recorded in MADISON'S WORKS, R. Worthington, New York, 1884.

John Boyle was a merchant of Philadelphia, a signer of the "Non-importation Agreement" of 1765 and was a member of that city’s troop at the outset of the revolutionary conflict. I wonder that the young Madison might have been so "foppish" as this correspondence suggests - his later history would lend support to such a view - but I find it hard to believe a piece of cloth (even in colonial times, when clothing was indeed hard to come by) might have been the focus of such time, effort and attention. Might something else have been passed through Mr. Wallace?

"To John Boyle

RC (Princeton University Library). Addressed: "To John Boyle, Water Street, Philada. Pr. favr. Mr. Wallace."

" PRINCTON May 17th. 1771

Sir,

I wrote to you not long since by Mr. Armstrong but as it is uncertain whether you have seen him, I take this opportunity by Mr. Wallace 3 to acquaint you with a mistake you made in a piece of Cloth I bought of you last winter, occasioned I believe by your giving me the remnant accidentantly instead of the measured piece. When I carried it to the Taylors I found it to be one whole yard short of what I paid you for, that is, 21/4 instead 31/4. If you will please to rectify the mistake by sending the value of the Cloth 34/ by Mr. Wallace who will call on you with this letter, you will much oblige

Yr. Humbl. Sert.

JAMES MADISON"


© 1998, Dennis Boyer

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