Rev. 7/28/04   JULY 2004 200th ANNIVERSARY of the BURR-HAMILTON DUEL This is the 200th anniversary of the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in which Hamilton was killed. The duel was reenacted Sunday, July 11 in Weehauken, New Jersey where it occurred in 1804. Aaron Burr Alexander Hamilton After the duel, Eliphalet Nott, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Albany from 1798-1804, preached a sermon that was to turn the tide of public opinion against dueling. First Presbyterian Church and Union College joined to commemorate Nott's sermon on Sunday, July 25 following our 9:30 worship service. The observance began at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary with music of the period (played by Nancy Frank). This included compositions by William Selby, Thomas Loud and Francis Linley. It was also a tradition in the 19th century to sing Psalms in church. A vintage setting of Plasm 46 (tune: Winchester Old) added another layer of authenticity to the observance. Union College's Dr. Byron Nichols reviewed the historic issues that surrounded the duel, and then Dr. David Cotter (in period costume), a member of the Union faculty and elder in the Union Presbyterian Church in Schenectady provided a dramatic reading of Nott's sermon. The observance was followed by refreshments in the Assembly Hall. Mercifully, Dr. Cotter's rendered a 30 minute abridged version of Nott's original hour-long sermon. Click here to read Rev. Nott's original hour-long sermon. Eliphalet Nott Alexander Hamilton was a supporter of the First Presbyterian Church and signed a document seeking funds for a new church building. That original document with Hamilton and John Jay's signature was on display. Six pounds, paid in full by Alexander Hamilton, during one of First Presbyterian's earliest fund drives. Dr. Shook introduced our two guest speakers from Union College. The Times-Union's front page coverage was a delight to all, encouraging many visitors on a balmy Sunday morning.   Dr. Byron Nichols, political science professor provided background information on the Burr-Hamilton rift, and the dueling tradition in America. Dr. David Cotter, sociology professor was resplendent in period costume quite reminiscent of Eliphalet Nott's portrait (seen below).   Union College trustees were so deeply moved by Eliphalet Nott's hour-long eulogy-polemic, that they offered him the post of Union College president a few weeks later. Three doctors in our house (left to right Dr. Nichols, Dr. Cotter and Dr. Shook) appear dwarfed by Eliphalet's portrait. There is no truth to the rumor that Pastor Emeritus Robert Lamar (second from left) was associate pastor during Eliphalet's time at First Presbyterian!