Phineas Densmore Gurley (1816 - 1868)

Born 12 Nov 1816 in Hamilton, Madison County, New York

Ancestors

Died 30 Sep 1868 at age 51 in Washington, D.C.

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Preceded by 39th Chaplain Stephen P. Hill

Phineas Densmore Gurley 40th Chaplain of the United States Senate Presbyterian Appointed: December 15, 1859

Succeeded by 41st Chaplain Byron Sunderland

Biography

"Phineas Densmore Gurley, D.D., an eminent Presbyterian minister, was born November 12, 1816, at Hamilton, Madison County, New York, and died September 30, 1868, in Washington, D.C."

"During his infancy his parents removed to Parishville, St. Lawrence County, New York, where, at the age of fifteen, he joined the Presbyterian Church, and soon after entered Union College, where he graduated in 1837, with the highest honors of his class."

"The same year he entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, and graduated there in September, 1840, having been licensed to preach the April preceding at Cold Spring, New York. He accepted straightway a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis, Indiana, from which a strong minority had separated and organized a second church (New School), with Rev. Henry Ward Beecher as pastor."

"In this place he labored for nine years with great success, the church being blessed with revivals and largely increased numbers; but, in 1850, for the benefit of the health of his family, he removed to Dayton, Ohio, where for four years a like success attended his ministry, as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in that city."

"In 1854, yielding to the wishes of his brethren, he accepted the pastorate of the F Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., with which, in 1859, the Second Presbyterian Church of that city united, and Dr. Gurley remained, until his death, pastor of the united body, worshiping in a new edifice, and called the New York Avenue Church. He was elected Chaplain to the United States Senate in 1859, and was the pastor of several presidents of the United States, among them of Mr. Lincoln, during the sad, but exciting scenes of whose dying moments, he was present. The following incident which then occurred illustrates forcibly the spirit and power of his Gospel ministration:

When the patriot president had ceased to breathe, Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War, turning to Mr. Gurley, said, 'Doctor, will you say something?' After a brief pause, Dr. Gurley, addressing the weeping relatives and sympathizing friends, replied, 'Let us talk with God,' and kneeling, offered 'a most touching and impressive prayer, which, even in that dark hour of gloom, lighted up with sunshine every sorrowing heart.'

"Dr. Gurley was a member of the General Assembly (Old School) in 1866, and chairman of its judicial committee; was made moderator of the General Assembly held in 1867; was chosen a member of the committee of fifteen appointed to confer with a like committee of the New School Assembly on the subject of a re-union of the two Presbyterian bodies in the United States, and 'was the author of the amendments to the basis of union adopted by the joint committee in Philadelphia, and subsequently adopted by both assemblies.'"

"His health failed in 1867, and, after vainly seeking its restoration in rest and change of scene, he returned to die among his people."

"Great earnestness and singleness of purpose, with and ever active zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, characterized his life"

"(See Memorial Sermon on Dr. Gurley, by W. E. Schenck, D.D., Washington, D.C., 1869, and New York Observer, October 8, 1868.)"

Added by Mark Gurley March 6, 2014.

Updated by Mark Gurley April 14, 2014.

Sources

[The History and Genealogy of the GURLEY FAMILY by Albert E. Gurley, Willimantic, Connecticut, 1897 - Press of the Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Company, Hartford, Connecticut, 1897].

• Wikipedia article for Phineas Densmore Gurley.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplain_of_the_United_States_Senate.