Daily stories of Pennsylvania : $b prepared for publication in the leading daily newspapers of the state...Godcharles, Frederic Antes
History
Daily stories of Pennsylvania : $b prepared for publication in the leading daily newspapers of the state...
Godcharles, Frederic Antes
Pennsylvania -- Biography; Pennsylvania -- History
The Rev. Mr. Beatty was the son of an officer in the British Army, and
was born in Ireland, January 22, 1715. He obtained a fairly accurate
classical education in his own country and when he emigrated to America
in 1740, his circumstances being meager, he employed several of the
first years of his residence as a peddler.
He halted one day at the Log College, where he addressed the Reverend
William Tennent familiarly in correct and classical Latin. After some
conversation in which the peddler manifested much piety and considerable
religious zeal, Tennent said, “Go and sell the contents of your pack,
and return immediately and study with me. It will be a sin for you to
continue a peddler, when you can be so much more useful in another
profession.”
Beatty accepted Tennent’s offer, became an eminent preacher, and
succeeded his preceptor, as head of the Log College. He was ordained in
the Presbyterian Ministry, December 1, 1743, and passed most of his life
in charge of “ye congregation of Warwick, in ye forks of the Neshaminy.”
An interesting incident is related of his military service. The soldiers
were issued a gill of rum each day in addition to their regular
stipulation, one-half being dealt out in the morning and the balance in
the evening.
Chaplain Beatty complained to Colonel Franklin that the soldiers were
not punctual in attending divine service, when Franklin suggested, “It
is, perhaps, below the dignity of your profession to act as a steward of
the rum, but if you were to distribute it out only just after prayers,
you would have them all about you.”
Mr. Beatty profited by the advice and in the future had no reason to
complain of non-attendance. A few hands regularly measured out the
liquor after prayers.
When Colonel William Clapham was detached from Franklin’s command and
ordered to recruit a regiment to build Fort Augusta, he selected Beatty
as the chaplain of the regiment. He kept an interesting journal of this
tour of duty, of which the following is the first paragraph:
“Having received his honor, the Governor’s commission to be chaplain to
the regiment of foot in the provincial service under the command of
Colonel William Clapham, and having the advice and concurrence of the
Commission of the Synod, who appointed supplies for the congregation in
my absence—set out from home in order to join the regiment at Harris’
Ferry, Monday, May 3, 1756. I was accompanied as far as Schuylkill by my
elders and some other friends, and having stopped at a friend’s house,
not far from the road to refresh myself, reached as far as the Sign of
the Ship on the Lancaster road, at which I lodged. Felt my need of the
Divine Presence to be with me in my dangerous or at least difficult
undertaking.”
He reached Lancaster the following afternoon, where he was met by
Colonel Clapham and Captain Thomas Lloyd, who advised him that Governor
Morris was in town. They called on His Excellency, who received them
very kindly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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