George Duffield (Presbyterian)
Encyclopedia
George Duffield was a leading nineteenth-century New School
Presbyterian minister who bore the same name as his father and grandfather. His evolution from unconventional doctrinal leanings to more orthodox and standard ones typified the moderation on both sides which led to reunion with the Old School Presbyterians in 1870.
Duffield's grandfather of the same name had been Chaplain of the Continental Congress
. Born July 4, 1794, in Strasburg, Pennsylvania
, to a second George Duffield and his wife Faithful Slaymaker (a younger sister of Amos Slaymaker
). He was the father of William Ward Duffield
, Henry M. Duffield
, and George Duffield, Jr.
The subject of this sketch graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1811. He studied theology in New York City
under the preceptorship of John M. Mason and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1815. He soon settled in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
, where he ministered nineteen years. There he wrote and published a book entitled "Regeneration" which caused some of the controversy leading to the Old School-New School Controversy
that split the church in 1837.
He was called as minister to Fifth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he stayed two years. Then, after passing one year in the ministry at Broadway Tabernacle Church
in New York City, as co-pastor with Jacob Helffenstein and successor to Charles Finney, he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Detroit, Michigan, then called the "Protestant" church. There he grew disenchanted with the revival
ist techniques of Finney and began to oppose his ministry. In 1847 he led the Detroit Presbytery to adopt a statement which censured Finney, entitled "A Warning Against Error."
He was appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
on which he served ten years. His influence extended over the whole state of Michigan and made use of the press as well as the pulpit. He was learned in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and German as well as English. He was a master of the sciences and had an unfailing memory.
He died as he had wished, "in the harness," two days after addressing the 1868 International Convention of the Young Men's Christian Association at Detroit, where he paused suddenly, in the midst of his address, and fell with a cry of distress into the arms of those standing near him. His death was mourned throughout Detroit.
Old School-New School Controversy
The Old School-New School Controversy was a schism of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America which began in 1837. Later, both the Old School and New School branches further split over the issue of slavery, into southern and northern churches...
Presbyterian minister who bore the same name as his father and grandfather. His evolution from unconventional doctrinal leanings to more orthodox and standard ones typified the moderation on both sides which led to reunion with the Old School Presbyterians in 1870.
Duffield's grandfather of the same name had been Chaplain of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. Born July 4, 1794, in Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Strasburg is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It developed as a linear village along the Great Conestoga Road, stretching about two miles along path later known as the Strasburg Road...
, to a second George Duffield and his wife Faithful Slaymaker (a younger sister of Amos Slaymaker
Amos Slaymaker
Amos Slaymaker was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. His younger sister Faithful was the mother of the nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister George Duffield.-Biography:...
). He was the father of William Ward Duffield
William Ward Duffield
William Ward Duffield was an executive in the coal industry, a railroad construction engineer, and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war he was appointed Superintendent of the U.S...
, Henry M. Duffield
Henry M. Duffield
Henry Martyn Duffield Colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War; lawyer; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 1st District, 1876; Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish-American War; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1904...
, and George Duffield, Jr.
George Duffield, Jr.
George Duffield, Jr. D.D. was an American Presbyterian minister and hymnodist, the son of Presbyterian minister George Duffield. He graduated from Yale College and the Union Theological Seminary in New York...
The subject of this sketch graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1811. He studied theology in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
under the preceptorship of John M. Mason and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1815. He soon settled in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
, where he ministered nineteen years. There he wrote and published a book entitled "Regeneration" which caused some of the controversy leading to the Old School-New School Controversy
Old School-New School Controversy
The Old School-New School Controversy was a schism of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America which began in 1837. Later, both the Old School and New School branches further split over the issue of slavery, into southern and northern churches...
that split the church in 1837.
He was called as minister to Fifth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he stayed two years. Then, after passing one year in the ministry at Broadway Tabernacle Church
Broadway United Church of Christ
Broadway United Church of Christ is a Congregationalist Church at Broadway and 93rd Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.- Finney's Broadway Tabernacle :...
in New York City, as co-pastor with Jacob Helffenstein and successor to Charles Finney, he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Detroit, Michigan, then called the "Protestant" church. There he grew disenchanted with the revival
Revival
Revival may refer to:*Resuscitation of a person*Language revival of an extinct language*Revival of a defunct team*Revival of a former television series*Revival of a former hit play in a new production...
ist techniques of Finney and began to oppose his ministry. In 1847 he led the Detroit Presbytery to adopt a statement which censured Finney, entitled "A Warning Against Error."
He was appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
on which he served ten years. His influence extended over the whole state of Michigan and made use of the press as well as the pulpit. He was learned in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and German as well as English. He was a master of the sciences and had an unfailing memory.
He died as he had wished, "in the harness," two days after addressing the 1868 International Convention of the Young Men's Christian Association at Detroit, where he paused suddenly, in the midst of his address, and fell with a cry of distress into the arms of those standing near him. His death was mourned throughout Detroit.