Name John Callender | Role Author | |
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John Callender Jr. (1706–1748) was an American clergyman and author. He was best known as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Newport, Rhode Island and as the author of An Historical Discourse on the Civil and Religious Affairs of the Colony of Rhode-Island, an early and important historical account of Rhode Island.
Contents
Early life
The Reverend John Callender Jr. was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1706. His father was John Callender, Esq., who was the son of the pastor of First Baptist Church in Boston, Reverend Ellis Callender. Ellis Callender's son, Elisha Callender, John's uncle, succeeded him as pastor of First Baptist Church in Boston. At Elisha Callender's ordination on May 21, 1718 Cotton Mather preached a sermon entitled "Good Men United."
As for the early life of John Callender himself, we have little information. He attended Harvard College beginning at the age of thirteen. John Leverett the Younger was the president of Harvard during John's tenure there as a student. John graduated from Harvard in 1723 and was baptized at First Baptist Church in Boston during that same year.
Career as a Clergyman
The congregation of First Baptist Church in Boston continued to play in important role in young John's life, voting to license him to preach in 1727. During the following year, 1728, John was invited by the people of the Baptist Church of Swansea, Massachusetts (which is the oldest Baptist church in Massachusetts) to supply their pulpit. John served in this pastoral role in Swansea until 1730.
Soon after John left the congregation in Swansea, he was asked to be a visiting preacher at First Baptist Church in Newport, Rhode Island. This church had the honorable distinction of being the second Baptist church in America and was founded in 1644. After much thought, John accepted the invitation of First Baptist in Newport and became their pastor. His ordination was on October 13, 1731, and his uncle Elisha Callender, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Boston led the service, preaching on the New Testament text found in Matthew 28.18-19. John continued to serve as pastor at First Baptist Church in Newport, Rhode Island until his death on January 26, 1748.
Societal Involvement
Shortly after moving to Newport, Rhode Island, John joined a literary and philosophical society that was already established there. The dean and creator of this group was Bishop Berkeley and its membership was quite exclusive. Some of its members included Judge Edward Scott, Daniel Updike (Attorney General of Rhode Island, Josias Lyndon (Colonial governor of Rhode Island, Dr. John Brett, Thomas Ward, William Ellery (signatory of the Declaration of Independence), Reverend James Honyman (Minister of Trinity Church Newport, Rhode Island), Reverend James Searing, Reverend John Checkley, and Reverend Jeremiah Condy (pastor of First Baptist Church in Boston) (occasional members included Stephen Hopkins (Colonial governor of Rhode Island and a signatory of the Declaration of Independence) and Samuel Johnson). The purpose of this society was not only the sharing of ideas but also the collection of valuable books. The combined efforts of the members to gather books resulted in the creation of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. The architect who designed the building was Peter Harrison and it was erected in 1748.
An Historical Discourse... and Other Publications
John is perhaps best known for writing An Historical Discourse on the Civil and Religious Affairs of the Colony of Rhode-Island. It was published in 1739 and at the time of its publication it was the first and only historical account of Rhode Island. It is also known as the "Century Sermon," presumably since it covered the first century of Rhode Island history. The original title of John's work was An Historical Discourse, on the Civil and Religious Affairs of the Colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America, from the First Settlement, 1638, to the End of the First Century. It was printed and sold by S. Kneeland and T. Green in Queen Street.
John also published other various sermons during his lifetime. In 1739, John published the sermon which he preached for Jeremiah Condy at Condy's ordination at First Baptist Church in Boston. John was greatly concerned with the welfare of young people as well, which is exhibited in the sermon he published 1741. In this sermon John defends the advantages of exposing children to religion early, which, he argues, will help them live lives of love in service to God. In 1745 John published a sermon on the New Testament text Hebrews 8.7-8 that was written in honor of a friend who had recently died, Rev. Mr. Clap.
Personal Life and Death
On February 15, 1730, John married Elizabeth Hardin, of Swansea, Massachusetts. He and Elizabeth had six children together: Elizabeth, Mary, John, Elias, Sarah, and Josias. According to a secondhand report, John was a middle-sized man, with a fair complexion, high forehead, and dark blue eyes. John died on January 26, 1748 after a long and painful illness. He is buried in the John Clarke Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island.