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 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, xchange 1901. Philadelphia: LATIMER & CO. NO. 13, SOUTH FOURTH STREET. William Stavely, Printer. PLIC LIBRARY 244338 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS 1902 Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit: BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the nineteenth day of De [LS.] 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, Preface. Page 5 7 28 CHAPTER I.-The Parentage and Birth of the Rev. Benja- min Allen, and incidents of Childhood and Youth. CHAP. II.-His removal from Hudson-His residence in Ber- CHAP. IV. The publication of his second volume of Poems- His Marriage-His Correspondence, &c., during 1812. CHAP. V.-The mode of conducting his Temporal Affaire- His health fails-Birth of his first Son-The publication of his third, fourth, and fifth volume of Poems. CHAP. VI.-Publication of his sixth and last volume of Poems 96 CHAP. VII.-Extracts from his Correspondence during 1813 CHAP. VIII.-His settlement in Virginia-He applies for Ordination-Pecuniary Difficulties. CHAP. IX. He publishes the Layman's Magazine-Further views of his extensive labours in Virginia-His success― CHAP. X.-From his receiving Deacon's Orders in 1816, to CHAP. XII.-Episcopal Society of the Valley organized- Sermon on spreading the Gospel-Division of the Diocess CHAP. XIII.--Notice of Funeral Sermons-Publishes the His- CHAP. XIV. Preaching Tour to Convention-Filial Affec- tion-Call to St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia-His re- CHAP. XV.-Additional Extracts from his Correspondence DUP. EXCHANGE 2 AUG. 1905 116 138 154 IB. CONG. 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. CHAP. XVIII.-Clerical Prayer-meeting-Promotes the erec- · CHAP. XIX.-Promotes Societies in his own Church-Pub- lic Lectures-General Missionary and Bible Society- Provident Society-Public Schools. CHAP. XX.-Birth of Children-Health fails-Journey to 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. CHAP. XXII.-Extracts from Correspondence. CHAP. XXIII. His health fails-Proposes my removal to Philadelphia-Proposes a voyage to Europe-Church Mis- sionary House-Christian Magazine-New Plans. CHAP. XXIV.-European Voyage arranged-Agent of So- cieties--Testimonies of affection and to his usefulness, 353 369 - 383 - 407 CHAP. XXVI-Journal from his arrival in London, till May CHAP. XXVII. The close of his Journal, which has never CHAP. XXVIII.--Extracts from his Addresses before the Benevolent Societies of England-Extracts from his clos- ing Correspondence. 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. CHAP. XXX.—He sails from England-The last fruits of his pen-His closing scene-His Death-Notices and artici- 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 continually look to our gracious God, that he would so influ B |