Abel Morgan

morgan_abel

This was taken from The Baptist Encyclopedia, 1881; rpt. 1988, pp. 814-815, William Catchcart, editor]

Rev. Abel Morgan was of Welsh descent, and was born at Welsh Tract, Del., April 18, 1713. He was baptized when about twenty years of age, and was soon afterwards ordained. He had laid the foundation of the learning which he subsequently evinced at the academy in Pencador. In 1739 he took charge of the church in Middletown, N. J., and continued there until his death, in 1785. The period of his life was an important one, and he was equal to the work demanded from him. His influence and the history of the denomination in New Jersey and America are inseparably connected. He had a good judgment, unusual literary attainments, a logical mind, and a very valuable library. He was powerful in debate; he was also unsparing in labor by night and by day. In his old springless cart he rode long distances to preach Jesus. Dr. Jones, in his century sermon, called him “the incomparable Morgan.” [Morgan] Edwards says of him, “He was not a custom divine, nor a leading-string divine, but a BIBLE DIVINE.” He was on different occasions challenged to debate on doctrine, and always maintained his position. In 1742 there was a great revival at Cape May, in which Baptist and Presbyterian ministers preached. Too many of the converts “took to the water” to suit the Presbyterians. Mr. Morgan accepted a challenge from Rev. Samuel Finley, afterwards president of Princeton College, to discuss the baptismal question. He gained a signal triumph. Mr. Finley tried his pen, and wrote “A Charitable Plea for the Speechless.” Mr. Morgan had a reply printed, under the title “Anti-Paedo Rantisin, or Mr. Samuel Finley’s Charitable Plea for the Speechless examined and refuted, the Baptism of Believers maintained, and the Mode of it by Immersion vindicated, by Abel Morgan, of Middletown, in East Jersey. Philadelphia, printed by B. Franklin, in Market Street. MDCCXLVII.” This little work is so valuable and scarce that it sells for $12 or more.

As a patriot, his trumpet gave no uncertain sound. Even while the royal troops were moving through his neighborhood, after the battle of Monmouth, he was outspoken. The next Sunday he had for his text, “Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers?” He says in his diary, that the Sunday after that, “Preached in mine own barn, because the enemy had taken out all the seats in the meeting-house.” He baptized many persons, and was the means of converting and edifying many more. He wrote some of the most important documents issued by the Philadelphia Association, and was frequently called by it to preach and preside. His many manuscripts, neatly written, show careful preparation, sound doctrine, and practical application. The inscription upon his plain tombstone at Middletown is, “In memory of Abel Morgan, pastor of the Baptist church at Middletown, who departed this life Nov. 24, 1785, in the 73d year of his age. His life was blameless, his ministry was powerful; he was a burning and shining light, and his memory is dear to the saints.”

This was taken from The Rev. Abel Morgan, Pastor of the United Baptist Churches of Pennepek and Philadelphia, by Horatio Gates Jones, as it appeared in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol 6, page 300, Publication Fund of The Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1882.

Abel Morgan was born in the year 1673, at Alltgoch (Redforest), in the parish of Llanwenog, Cardiganshire, South Wales, but while quite young his parents removed to Abergavenny. His father was Morgan ap Rhydderch ap Dafydd ap Grufydd. The history of the family of the ap Rhydderchs goes back to the earliest settlement of Wales. Rev. Robert Williams, in his ” Einwogion Cymru,” or history of eminent Welshmen, says that Rhydderch, a king of Britain, succeeded Rhydion in the second century, B. C, and that another Rhydderch, a king of Dyved, in South Wales, died in 804, and that Rhydderch ap Caradwg ap lestyn succeeded to the sovereignty of Glamorgan in 1070, on the death of his cousin, Caradwg. Morgan ap Rhydderch had a brother John ap Rhydderch, who was a famous poet, and flourished from 1700 to 1730, who resided at Shrewsbury, and published a number of Welsh books. lago ap Dewi, the poet and distinguished translator, was an uncle of Morgan and John ap Rhydderch. Their grandfather, Dafydd ap Grufydd, wrote many books, an account of which is to be found in Brython vol. iv., p. 154. During a period of violent persecution, Morgan ap Rhydderch united with the Baptist church at Rhydwilym, and in 1668 was made a deacon, and next year was ordained as a minister. He had a number of children, among them three sons, Thomas, Abel, and Enoch Morgan, and a daughter Esther Morgan. At that time the children took as their surname the christian name of the father. Enoch emigrated to America in 1701, and became, in after years, pastor of the Welsh Tract Baptist Church in Delaware.

The most prominent son was Abel, who early in life gave evidence of remarkable talents. In 1692, at the age of nineteen, he became a preacher at Llanwenarth, and in 1696 he was called to become the first pastor of the church at Blaenegwent, in Monmouthshire. From the accounts still preserved he seems to have been very popular throughout the Principality. The Baptist churches in Wales, as in all other places, are independent in their polity, and owe no allegiance to any other body. They usually hold what are called associations (called by other denominations convocations, councils, conferences, synods, or presbyteries), which are composed of ministers and laymen, who are designated by the several churches to meet annually for consultation and advice. In Wales these associations are great occasions, and often continue for several days, and are attended by thousands of persons. Mr. Morgan was highly esteemed by the Welsh association, and on several occasions was appointed on committees to answer queries on questions of discipline or doctrines. He was also chosen to preach the introductory sermon before the association, which at that time was considered a high honor. Meanwhile he was in communication with his brother Enoch, and the representations made by him, led Abel to regard America as a field where he might be of great use to his countrymen. Accordingly, Mr. Morgan informed the church at Blaenegwent of his intention to emigrate. They at once called a special meeting to consider the matter, August 23, 1711, as he had been so useful among them, and so much esteemed by them for a long time. It is said that it was one of the most melting, interesting, and affecting meetings that was ever held. In parting, he gave the church a charge to this effect, that they should never grieve their ministers, but cheerfully assist them in things temporal and spiritual; that they should 304 The Rev. Abel Morgan. love one another, and not forsake the assembling of themselves together, but stand fast in one spirit and with one mind for the faith of the Gospel, and that they should encourage all who might have any promising gifts for the ministry. The entire address, according to Joshua Thomas’s history of the Welsh Baptists, was placed on record in the church-book for the benefit of the rising generation. On the 28th of June, 1711, he and his family took ship at Bristol, but the weather was so unfavorable that next day they were compelled to return to Milford Haven, where they were detained three weeks. Starting from this place, they were driven by a storm to Cork, in Ireland, where they were obliged to remain for five weeks, and were subjected to much suffering. On the 19th of November they started on their voyage for the third time, but were soon taken sick. On the 14th of December his little son died, and on the 17th his wife died. The passage was long and severe, for he was on the ship twenty-two weeks. He landed at Philadelphia February 14, 1712. Among the MSS. of Mr. Morgan in my possession is a letter in Welsh to his church at Blaenegwent, which has been carefully translated by my worthy friend, Rev. Richard Edwards, of Pottsville, Pa. It is interesting, not only to Baptists, but to others, describing as it does the condition of this country, as it appeared to a newcomer.