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The Log College: Biographical Sketches of William Tennent & His Students Together with an Account of the Revivals Under Their Ministries
256 pages, Hardcover
Published August 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 1, 2025
This Banner of Truth biography is to some degree different than their usual offerings. In this case, it’s more sketches of a variety of men who were all unheralded heroes who all had associations with a school colloquially known as the Log College. This school did not have the reputation of more famous ones, but in lacked nothing in effectiveness. In fact, the school was quite looked down on, but not for cause. The training it offered was rigorous, and more importantly, the ministry of its graduates impressive. In a word, revival describes its legacy.
After a short chapter on the Log College overall, we get 5 chapters on William and Gilbert Tennent. They were founders of the school with vision and persistence. Next, we learn about the College of New Jersey and the New Jersey and the New London School which sprang from the Log College. From here, we get more sketches of outstanding early graduates who were able servants of Christ with a near constant air of revival permeating from their ministries.
When the life of John Tennent was given, he seemed eerily similar to David Brainerd to me. He had a short life and thought so poorly of himself, yet did a tremendous work for the Lord. Next up is William Tennent, Jr. His story was at once thrilling and colorful. You’ve just got to read that section on the time that he was thought to be dead, but was not. I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but you will not want to miss that one. And there were several other totally unusual features of his life all the while he was an able servant of Jesus Christ.
From here, there are seven shorter sketches of impactful men. The consistent quality of their ministries is what stands out. Probably unknown outside this volume, these men clearly hold renown in Heaven.
This book encourages on many levels. Some of the greatest servants of Christ are little known and near forgotten. Apparently, it is the Lord that got the glory for their lives and that is how it should be. This book is a corrective for our media-driven and marketing age that has invaded the Church. We can make an impact outside of those cheap methods. This book is worth your time.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
After a short chapter on the Log College overall, we get 5 chapters on William and Gilbert Tennent. They were founders of the school with vision and persistence. Next, we learn about the College of New Jersey and the New Jersey and the New London School which sprang from the Log College. From here, we get more sketches of outstanding early graduates who were able servants of Christ with a near constant air of revival permeating from their ministries.
When the life of John Tennent was given, he seemed eerily similar to David Brainerd to me. He had a short life and thought so poorly of himself, yet did a tremendous work for the Lord. Next up is William Tennent, Jr. His story was at once thrilling and colorful. You’ve just got to read that section on the time that he was thought to be dead, but was not. I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but you will not want to miss that one. And there were several other totally unusual features of his life all the while he was an able servant of Jesus Christ.
From here, there are seven shorter sketches of impactful men. The consistent quality of their ministries is what stands out. Probably unknown outside this volume, these men clearly hold renown in Heaven.
This book encourages on many levels. Some of the greatest servants of Christ are little known and near forgotten. Apparently, it is the Lord that got the glory for their lives and that is how it should be. This book is a corrective for our media-driven and marketing age that has invaded the Church. We can make an impact outside of those cheap methods. This book is worth your time.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
February 20, 2025
Summary: Biographical sketches of William Tennant and his students, with accounts of the revivals under their ministries.
Until 1727, ministers in the Presbyterian Church in the American colonies could only obtain theological training at Harvard or Yale, or back in England. And because of a divide among Presbyterians occasioned by the revivals of which George Whitefield was a leading figure, those were not preferred schools for those on the “New Light” side of the divide. In 1727, William Tennant, Sr. established a seminary on the banks of the Neshaminy, where Warminster, Pennsylvania is now located. The facilities were plain, a twenty by twenty foot cabin, located a mile from the church Tennant served as pastor. Aspiring ministers, awakened in the revivals came to study there until Tennant died in 1746.
This reprint of a work by Princeton seminary professor Archibald Alexander offers biographical sketches of a number of the graduates. Alexander incorporates into these sketches first hand accounts of revivals under the ministries of these graduates. In addition to information about the founding of the Log College, Alexander profiles William Tennant, Sr, his sons Gilbert (over four chapters), John, William, Jr., and Charles. Samuel and John Blair, Samuel Finley, William Robinson, John Rowland, and Charles Beatty.
Two institutions succeeded the Log College. The more significant of these was the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton University and Seminary The other was the New London School, located near Philadelphia. Alexander provides chapters on the beginnings of both of these.
Even before the elder Tennant died, a controversy contributed to the founding of both of these institutions. The Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia did not consider the Log College to offer a sufficient education, despite the vital ministries of many and in 1739 refused to recognize the credentials of Log Cabin graduates. Many had been ordained in the Presbytery of New Brunswick, in New Jersey, which separated for a period of time over this issue. Their response was to start the College of New Jersey to address the educational deficiencies. A number of Log College graduates were on the board and Samuel Finley later served as President. Meanwhile, The Synod started its own school at New London, near Philadelphia.
One of the things this account does is give accounts of a number of revivals in the mid-Atlantic states. The first-person extracts give an immediacy to the account. As in the ministry of Edwards, it is not the rhetorical skills of ministers. Rather, we note a Spirit-given concern over the state of one’s soul, leading to repentance and the granting of an assured faith in the work of Christ.
Another striking observation. Most of those profiled died young. In their 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s. Consumption (tuberculosis) took many of them. However, the hard work of these people who burned brightly for a short time hastened the deaths of many.
Finally, it is fascinating to reflect on the fruit of William Tennant’s little Log College. Not only were the students he taught and mentored instrumental in the Awakenings of the 1700’s. They also laid the groundwork for Princeton Seminary as a bastion of Reformed education during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The Log College had a far greater impact in pre-revolutionary American history than it’s modest physical footprint.
_____________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Until 1727, ministers in the Presbyterian Church in the American colonies could only obtain theological training at Harvard or Yale, or back in England. And because of a divide among Presbyterians occasioned by the revivals of which George Whitefield was a leading figure, those were not preferred schools for those on the “New Light” side of the divide. In 1727, William Tennant, Sr. established a seminary on the banks of the Neshaminy, where Warminster, Pennsylvania is now located. The facilities were plain, a twenty by twenty foot cabin, located a mile from the church Tennant served as pastor. Aspiring ministers, awakened in the revivals came to study there until Tennant died in 1746.
This reprint of a work by Princeton seminary professor Archibald Alexander offers biographical sketches of a number of the graduates. Alexander incorporates into these sketches first hand accounts of revivals under the ministries of these graduates. In addition to information about the founding of the Log College, Alexander profiles William Tennant, Sr, his sons Gilbert (over four chapters), John, William, Jr., and Charles. Samuel and John Blair, Samuel Finley, William Robinson, John Rowland, and Charles Beatty.
Two institutions succeeded the Log College. The more significant of these was the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton University and Seminary The other was the New London School, located near Philadelphia. Alexander provides chapters on the beginnings of both of these.
Even before the elder Tennant died, a controversy contributed to the founding of both of these institutions. The Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia did not consider the Log College to offer a sufficient education, despite the vital ministries of many and in 1739 refused to recognize the credentials of Log Cabin graduates. Many had been ordained in the Presbytery of New Brunswick, in New Jersey, which separated for a period of time over this issue. Their response was to start the College of New Jersey to address the educational deficiencies. A number of Log College graduates were on the board and Samuel Finley later served as President. Meanwhile, The Synod started its own school at New London, near Philadelphia.
One of the things this account does is give accounts of a number of revivals in the mid-Atlantic states. The first-person extracts give an immediacy to the account. As in the ministry of Edwards, it is not the rhetorical skills of ministers. Rather, we note a Spirit-given concern over the state of one’s soul, leading to repentance and the granting of an assured faith in the work of Christ.
Another striking observation. Most of those profiled died young. In their 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s. Consumption (tuberculosis) took many of them. However, the hard work of these people who burned brightly for a short time hastened the deaths of many.
Finally, it is fascinating to reflect on the fruit of William Tennant’s little Log College. Not only were the students he taught and mentored instrumental in the Awakenings of the 1700’s. They also laid the groundwork for Princeton Seminary as a bastion of Reformed education during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The Log College had a far greater impact in pre-revolutionary American history than it’s modest physical footprint.
_____________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews