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1849 Letter by Rev. George P. Porter

The following transcript of a letter from Rev. George P. Porter [1] of Montrose PA, addressed to Rev. Reuben Nelson [2] of Kingston PA., was written on February 1, 1849. At the time, Rev. Porter was just beginning his career as a Methodist Episcopal minister. Rev. Nelson was serving as the Principal of the Wyoming Seminary. See footnotes below for a more complete biography on each minister.

When Augusta Griffing visited her mother during the fall of 1864 and attended church in nearby Owego Village, New York, she heard a sermon by Rev. George Porter who, at the time, was serving as the Presiding Elder of the Owego District. She wrote of it to her husband, Rev. James Griffing, and said,

The letter reads as follows: 

Montrose [ Pennsylvania ]
February 1st, 1849  

Dear Brother Nelson,

It is about as I expected. If I ever hear from you by way of letter, I must write again. You never answered my Berwick letters, & have only dropped a business note since I have been in Montrose. But in truth we have desired to hear from either yourself or Sister Nelson, or both. There are so many things interesting to us, which could only be detailed by yourselves. For instance, how does the little one do? [3] The Seminary [4], Sister Little [5], Miss Deatz [6], &c.  And then it would be pleasureable to myself to learn how yourself & others come on in the pulpit -- & how goes the tide in “the Valley” [7] in spirituals of every variety.  

I see Brother Hawly [8] is bound to immortalize Pearne [9]. Why what can the man be about? He dashes away in this kind of lard-a-tory [10] manner to my perfect disgust. It cannot be that he is so fully absorbed in future reflexive results as not to discover the impropriety of such seeming catch-penny puffing [11]. The subject himself were it any other than Tom Pearne would assuredly cry overdone. You certainly appear to fine advantage beside such a rolling – dazzling – looming son. I would have sworn at such stuff ten years ago, but now I feel the most unlaughable contempt. However, I may be wrong & will reserve my remark at this time. Rather dubious praise I call it, to say a man speaks in his “usually felicitous manner?” Write me on this & kindred subjects. I desire to be set right.  Pearne’s “gathering laurels” or “mining laurels” as was so often said at Owego Conference (it made me sick then,) was not confined to last year for as true as New Troy – this year he “rakes them all down.” Like the Irishman, I’ve heard of taking “the rag off of the bosh” but this takes rag, bosh (bush) & all.” [12]  

We are enjoying ourselves as well as we can. I find some trials, & up to 6 weeks ago lived a great deal of religion. But I stumbled over the carcass of a mean man, & nothing under heaven draws the grace out of me like it. Since then I have again & again consecrated myself fully to God, yet have not had the enjoyment I desire. O pray that I may be wholly the Lord’s – soul, body & spirit.

I believe I did not tell you in my last how the matter stands between Pearne & me. Well after dodging, evading &c. by Pearne for some time, he at last owned up, & Brother Reddy [13] writes me there is now no real difference between my account & his. He also said he was willing to be reproved, yet he denies any imprudence to interfere in the matter! I then gave Brother Reddy to understand that in the absence of conference, I saw no earnest reformation, & I therefore stand aloof from him entirely. I know it seems hard, yet my conscience demands it. I have not been impelled by any other than a desire to be true to the church, & here, standing, neither the “early” or “latter” odium shall deter me, by the help of the Lord.  O how much grace I need. In this letter I have written much that savors of impropriety for me so juvenile, & wanting in ministerial character. Yet I can’t get around it, somehow it is my duty, or at least with a confidential & charitable friend, my privilege.

We send love to Sister Nelson, Sister Little and other true friends.

Now write, Yours in Christ, -- George P. Porter

The letter by Rev. George P. Porter
click on each image to enlarge

[1]    Rev. George P. Porter was born in Berwick , PA in 1820, and died in Cowlesville , NY June 11, 1877. He removed to Wilkes-Barre with his parents when about four years old. He entered the Moravian Seminary at Nazareth , PA in 1831. At 17 years of age he became a civil engineer and was employed on the North Branch Canal . Having developed considerable artistic taste and skill, he, at about twenty years of age, commenced the study of painting with John Sartain, of Philadelphia , and acquired considerable proficiency in portrait painting in a short time…The subject of this sketch settled in Towanda PA and opened a studio. While living in this place he was led to Christ, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church.

He served as a supply on the Northmoreland Circuit in 1847, and joined the Oneida Conference in 1848. at the division of the Oneida and the organization of the Wyoming Conference he became a member of the latter. For a season he was a member of Genesee Conference, as his pastoral record will show.

In 1855 he lapsed into infidelity, and in 1856 withdrew from the Conference and membership of the Church. After severe intellectual struggles with doubt, and sad experiences with appetite for drink, becoming hungry for that which satisfies, he again sought and found peace in Christ, and in 1860 renewed his relation to the Church. In 1861 he united with the Wyoming Conference on trial. His religious life was one of constant struggle against early acquired habits and tastes. “Of unusual talents, a natural orator, of chaste, ornate style, he possessed an imagination and grasp of intellect that enabled him to seize and utilize the true and beautiful at will….”

On July 10, 1848, he married Miss Frances Worthing, daughter of Rev. Jonathan Worthing. At the age of twenty she took charge of the female department of the academy at Towanda , PA , and for a season was preceptress of Wyoming Seminary. She died on December 12, 1872…

His pastoral record is as follows: 1848, Montrose; 1849-50, Greene; 1851, Court Street, Binghamton; 1852-53, Owego; 1854-55, Waverly & Factoryville; 1856-60, Lapse; 1861-62, Owego; 1863-66, Presiding Elder on Owego District; 1867, Presiding Elder on Wyoming District; 1868-71, Genesee Conference, served Grace Church, Buffalo, and Presiding Elder on the Buffalo District; 1872, transferred back to Wyoming and stationed at Scranton.”  Source, History of the Wyoming Conference, by A. F. Chafee, pp. 229-230.

[2]    Rev. Reuben Nelson was born in Andes , NY on December 13, 1818, and died in NY City, from paralysis, on February 20, 1879. He was converted at the age of fifteen, licensed to exhort the following year, and at seventeen was a local preacher. His academic studies were pursued at Hartwick Seminary, a Lutheran school in Otsego County , NY . In 1840 he joined the Oneida Conference and was assigned work on Otsego Circuit, and the following year on Westford Circuit. During both of those years he was performing the duties of principal of Otsego Academy at Cooperstown . He received deacon’s orders and was received into full membership in the Conference in 1842 and appointed principal of the same school.

At the founding of Wyoming Seminary in 1844 he was called to the principalship of the school. With the exception of two years, in which he was presiding elder on Wyoming District, he continued to serve the school in this capacity with distinguished ability and success until 1872. In 1872 he was elected one of the agents of the Methodist Book Concern in New York . He was also elected treasurer of the Missionary Society, which office he held at the time of his death.

He received the degree of A.M. from Union College and D. D. from Dickinson College . Source: History of the Wyoming Conference by A. F. Chafee, pp. 213-214.

In a history of the Wyoming Seminary by Denny Barber, it was said of Rev. Reuben Nelson that he “proved to be quite a pivotal figure in the evolution of the school. At age 26, the Connecticut-farmer-turned-educator brought a buoyant enthusiasm to the task that lay ahead of him. He had risen above the loss of an arm at age 15 in a mill accident and the temporary loss of his voice as a circuit rider. He was once described as being admirably suited to pioneering, which may have bolstered him for the tough times that lay ahead. Over the course of his 27-year tenure he was to become intimately familiar with debt, fire, floods – even a tornado – but nonetheless tirelessly shepherded the school through its efforts to replace destroyed buildings and balance budgets. For these daunting tasks he was paid $333.32 during his first six months in office. Said one student, upon looking back on his years under the intrepid first principal of Wyoming Seminary: “It is not too much to say that I loved Reuben Nelson.” That sentiment may have been representative of many an admirer of Seminary’s first trailblazing president.”

James S. Griffing listed Rev. Reuben Nelson as a character reference when advertising his services as a select school teacher in 1849. See: http://www.griffingweb.com/give_me_an_education.htm

    Rev. Reuben Nelson, circa 1870's.

[3]   The 1850 census shows Reuben Nelson and his wife, Jane Scott Eddy, with two children: Edward C. Nelson, age 2, and Ellen N. Nelson, aged 6 months. Reuben and Jane were married 28 July 1842.

[4]   “The Seminary” refers to the “Kingston Seminary” as it was originally called, or later the “Wyoming Seminary.” Rev. Reuben Nelson became the principal there in 1844.

[5]   E. Louisa Little was the 37 year-old matron who lived next door to the Wyoming Seminary and may have been affiliated with the seminary in some manner.

[6]   Miss Mary Deatz (or Dertz) is shown living in the household of Rev. Reuben Nelson in the 1850 Census. This 37-year old woman was probably an instructor in the ladies department at the Seminary although no occupation is given in the census.

[7]   “The Valley” refers to the “Wyoming Valley” through which the Susquehanna River flows.

[8]   Brother Hawley??

[9]   Rev. Thomas Hall Pearne [1820-1910]. Served in the Oneida Conference, and transferred to Oregon Conference in 1851.

[10]   “Lard-a-tory” -- written as slang pronunciation of "laudatory."

[11]   “Catch-penny puffing” means cheap bragging

[12]     The expression, “Doesn’t that take the rag off the bush?” means “isn’t that amazing?”