Stone, John S. A Memoir of the Life of James Milnor, D. D., Late Rector of St. George's Church, New York. New York: American Tract Society, 1848. First Edition. [10565]
Blue cloth, boards with with blindstamped patterns, spine in gilt, binding is faded but otherwise very good, 9 1/4 x 6 inches. Inscribed "Richard Fletcher, February 6, 1849. Present from Rev. Seth Bliss" on front end paper; old blue paper Fletcher Town Library bookplate accompanies. Engraving of Milnor by F. Halpin, "from a Daguerreotype." Hinge behind title page partly open and we think the stiffness of the paper of the engraving is the cause. Lithograph plate of St. George's Church and Rectory, by Wm. Endicott & Co. 646 generally clean pp. with the first and last several leaves in the book showing some foxing. Good. Hardcover.
This Memoir makes generous use of the letters and diaries of Dr. Milnor. It presents both the civil and religious aspects of his fruitful life.
James Milnor, D.D. (1773-1844), born in Philadelphia, “a distinguished divine of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He studied for a while at the University of Pennsylvania, but about 1789 turned his attention to jurisprudence. His first settlement as a legal practitioner was at Norristown, but about 1797 he returned to Philadelphia where he married. Until then he had lived, as he had been educated, a Quaker; but, as he had not been trained to any great strictness in the customs of the Friends, and as his wife belonged to an Episcopal family, it cost him little sacrifice to change his denomination. In consequence of his marriage, he had, moreover, been in due form ‘read out of meeting.’
"In 1805 Mr. Milnor was elected a member of the select council of Philadelphia for two years. In 1807 he was elected for three years to the same body; and in 1808 was raised to the presidency of the council for one year. In 1810 he was elected to the Congress of the United States, as a member of the House of Representatives, from the city and county of Philadelphia: his term there closed March 4, 1813…
"Soon after the expiration of his term in Congress he removed to Norristown, where, while preparing himself to enter the ministry, he acted as lay-reader…He was ordained deacon in St. James’s Church, Philadelphia, Aug. 14, 1814, and was admitted to the order of Presbyters in the same place Aug. 27, 1815…He was made D.D. by the University of Pennsylvania in 1819. In 1830 he was sent to the British and Foreign Bible Society as a delegate of the American Bible Society, and of various other religious and benevolent institutions….
"Dr. Milnor was distinguished for his dignity and wisdom, and especially for his benevolence and piety. He ardently labored for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, and his life is full of incident and instruction, ‘alike attractive to the ardent youth, the man of business, the humble Christian, and the mature theologian.’” – M’Clintock & Strong.
