Bourne, George

Bourne, George a (Dutch) Reformed minister, was born at Westbury, England, June 13, 1780. He studied at Homerton Seminary, and in 1804 emigrated to America and settled in Virginia and Maryland. Subsequently he became principal of an academy at Sing Sing, N. Y., and pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Thence he went to Canada, as supply of a Congregational Church in Quebec, and remained until 1833. He then united with the Reformed Church, and settled as pastor at West Farms (1839-42). He died suddenly, Nov. 20, 1845, of disease of the heart. Mr. Bourne greatly resembled in appearance the portraits of Martin Luther. He possessed a thoroughly controversial spirit, which found full scope in his long-continued demonstrations against slavery and Romanism. He was learned, eloquent, and powerful, but his zeal was often too fiery, and sometimes overreached itself. He edited, for several years, a well-known periodical entitled The Protestant Vindicator, and was an almost constant contributor to the religious press of New York. He was also largely engaged upon literary work for prominent publishing houses, editing such works as that of Barrow and Leighton, and preparing exhaustive indices to both (Riker's editions). As a preacher, he was scriptural, illustrative, versatile, and powerful. With all his belligerent gifts, he was warm-hearted and devout, an example of conscientious and brave adherence to his own opinions in the face of obloquy and:personal danger, and a true servant of God. See Corwin, Manual of the Ref. Church in America, s.v. (W. J. R. T.)