William C. Brownlee
William C. Brownlee [1]
an eminent minister of the Reformed Dutch Church, was born at Torfoot, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1784. He pursued his course of studies in the University of Glasgow for five years, when he took his degree of Master of Arts, and united with the Church in early life. Immediately after receiving his license to preach in 1808 he married and emigrated to America, and was first settled in two associate churches of Washington Co., Penn. Thence he was called (1813) to the Associate Church in Philadelphia. In 1815 he became rector of the grammar-school in what is now Rutgers College, New Brunswick. In 1817 he was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at Baskinridge, New Jersey. In 1826 he was installed as one of the ministers of the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church in New York. About 1843 Dr. Brownlee was prostrated by an apoplectic stroke, which paralyzed one side of his body. From this he slowly and gradually recovered, resuming a certain degree of mental and bodily health, but was never after able to engage in active duty. He died in New York, Feb. 10, 1860. Dr. Brownlee was a very earnest opponent of Romanism, and was engaged in the controversy with Bishop Hughes and others for years. Among his publications are A Treatise an Popery (N. Y. 18mo): — The Roman Catholic Controversy (Phila. 8vo): — Lights and Shadows of Christian Life (N. York, 12mo): — Inquiry into the Principles of the Quakers (12mo): — Christian Youths' Book (18mo): — Brownlee on Baptism (24mo): — Christian Father at Home (12mo): — On the Deity of Christ (24mo), etc., and several pamphlets and premium tracts, besides editing the Dutch Church Magazine through four consecutive volumes. "Stored with knowledge, familiar with almost every department of learning, he possessed a ready facility in bringing his enlarged resources to bear on matters of practical utility with great effect and, pioneer in the Catholic controversy, he was mainly instrumental in rousing the attention of the community to a system then regarded by him, and now regarded by very many, as fraught with danger to our cherished liberties. In this cause his zeal was ardent, his courage indomitable, his efforts unmeasured, and his ability and eloquence admitted by all. His sermons and lectures were from year to year listened to by eager crowds. Dr. Brownlee usually preached without being trammelled by the use of notes, either extemporaneously, or having written and committed his discourses to memory. The general character of his preaching was argumentative, but enlivened and illustrated by flashes of fancy, brilliant and beautiful. His views of Christian doctrine were thoroughly of the Calvinistic school." — Dr. Knox, in the Christian Intelligencer, Feb. 16, 1860; Memorial of the Rev. Dr. Brownlee (N. Y. 1860).
