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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02712 8864
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Gc 974.902 N51L Levy, Edgar Mortimer, b. 1822. History of the Newark Rantist City Mission
G. H. Can deshogy. eterande s. g.
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OLD FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
HISTORY
OF THE
Remark Baptist City Mission
FROM ITS ORIGIN IN 1851 TO ITS
SEVENTEENTH ANNIVERSARY IN 1868.
BY REV. EDGAR M. LEVY, D. D.
PUBLISHED WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY HURD AND HOUGHTON. Cambridge : Riverside Press.
1869.
This book 30 the property of The Genealogical Society of New Jersey
CONTENTS.
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PART I.
PAGE
ORIGIN .
5
PART II.
PLAN OF OPERATIONS
9
PART III.
EARLY EFFORTS .
. 19
PART IV.
ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES .
27
THE NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH 27
THE FIFTH BAPTIST CHURCH . 37
FAIRMOUNT BAPTIST CHURCH 49
MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH 57
THE PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH .
63
PART V.
GERMAN CHURCH AND MISSION
71
THE FIRST GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH
71
THE TWELFTH WARD MISSION .
.
79
1
iv
CONTENTS.
PART VI.
PAGE
SKETCHES OF FIRST AND SOUTH CHURCHES
85
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH . ·
85
HISTORY OF THE SOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH · II3
PART VII.
GROWTH FROM EFFORT
.
. I33
THE BAPTIST CITY MISSION
OF
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
Part First. ORIGIN.
" A nameless man amid a crowd That thronged the daily mart,
Let fall the words of hope and love, Unstudied from the heart. A whisper on the tumult thrown, A transitory breath, - It raised a brother from the dust, It saved a soul from death.
O germ! O fount ! O word of love ! O thought at random cast ! Ye were but little at the first, But mighty at the last."
OME of the most important and beneficent enterprises, both in the world and in the Church, have had their origin in what appeared an accidental, but what proved to be a provi-
I
6
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
dential, suggestion of the human mind. It was so in the origin of the Sunday-school work, by Robert Raikes; it was so in the origin of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and of the English Baptist Mis- sionary Society. Results of infinite moment lie hidden in a passing thought, or in a simple suggestion. This fact is illustrated in the origin of the Newark Baptist City Mission.
Toward the close of the year 1851, the pastors of the First and South churches 1 were one day walking arm in arm, on Washington Street, when the former said to the latter, " I will tell you what I have been thinking about."
" And what is it, pray ?"
"I have been thinking," said he, "that we ought to be planting some new churches in this growing city."
" It is a good thought," was the prompt reply ; " it ought to be done."
Thus the conversation went on, till they 1 Rev. H. C. Fish, D. D., and Rev. William Hague, D. D.
7
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
were about to part, when it was agreed to speak to some of the leading brethren in each church, and get them together in the private parlor of Mr. John M. Davies, a member of the South Baptist Church.
Accordingly, on the evening of Decem- ber Ist, of the above year, some ten or twelve persons met at the place designated, for consultation and prayer. At this meet- ing, the religious condition of the city, the demands of a constantly augmenting popu- lation, and the capabilities and duties of the Baptist denomination in Newark, were sub- jects of solemn and earnest consideration. The result was, that the following resolution was passed :-
" Resolved : That in the providence of God, there is a wide field for missionary labor in our city, and mo- tives for its prosecution that should quicken us to renewed diligence and holy consecration."
It was also deemed desirable to employ immediately a missionary, and to open two places for preaching- one in the North Ward and another in the Fifth Ward, and
8
NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
liberal pledges were made for that purpose. A public meeting was arranged for, in or- der to secure the action of the whole de- nomination.
At this meeting, held in the First Church, December 7, 1851, an interest in behalf of the enterprise was manifested by the spon- taneous contribution of additional sums, amounting to more than one thousand dol- lars. A plan of action was also adopted, by which each church was to elect six members, including its pastor, who should constitute a Board to direct the affairs of the Mission.
The first meeting of the delegates ap- pointed to constitute this Board, was held on the evening of January 21st, 1852, in the lecture-room of the First Church. It was composed of the following persons: H. C. Fish, William Hague, David Jones, Lewis Nichols, John Compton, Samuel Mason, Sr., John Manning, Robert Johnston, John M. Davies, Daniel C. Whitman, Daniel M. Wil- son. The Board was then formally organ- ized by the election of proper officers.
Part Second.
PLAN OF OPERATIONS.
EFORE proceeding to speak of the organization and support of churches, a few words of explana- tion may be necessary, in order that the constitution of the Board and the mode of operations may be clearly under- stood.
I. The Board has a legal existence. For some years its operations were prosecuted in a very limited and simple manner. But in the course of time mission property accumulated, and deeds of land for chapels and church edifices had to be secured. It was found necessary for the Board to be an incorporated body in order to hold prop- erty by law. The following act of incor- poration was granted by the Legislature in 1861 :-
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HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
An Act to incorporate the Baptist City Mission.
I. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That Henry C Fish, Daniel M. Wilson, Edgar M. Levy, Joseph O. Nichols, Robert Atkinson, Ebenezer Tingley, David T. Morrill, Joseph Morris, Charles W, Clarke, Daniel C. Whitman, and Conrad Bordenbender, and their successors, being members of the Baptist Church, be and they are hereby constituted a body corporate, by the name of the Bap- tist City Mission, and by that name shall have per- petual succession, and exercise and be clothed with the powers and privileges enumerated in the first section of the act entitled " An Act concerning Corporations," approved February fourteenth, eighteen hundred and forty-six, and shall be capable of holding, taking, and receiving by purchase, gift, grant, devise, bequest, or otherwise, and of conveying, mortgaging, and granting all such property and estate, real, personal, and mixed, which may be necessary or proper for the purposes and objects of the corporation, provided, that the yearly value of the property which said corporation shall at any one time hold or own shall not exceed Fifty Thou- sand Dollars.
'2. And be it enacted, That the objects of said corpor- ation shall be the furtherance and promotion of the interests of the Baptist denomination of Christians in the City of Newark, in this State, and its immediate vicinity.
II
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
3. And be it enacted, That the management of the affairs and concerns of said corporation shall be and is vested in eleven or more trustees, as the by-laws may direct, who shall be citizens of the said city of Newark, or its vicinity, and members of the said denomination of Christians (the persons named in the first section of this act to be the first trustees), a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of busi- ness ; they shall be annually elected, and shall hold their first meeting at the call of said first trustees, and shall appoint a president, secretary, and such other officer and officers as they may deem necessary.
4. And be it enacted, That the trustees may provide by-laws to determine the number of said trustees to be annually elected ; to provide for the election or appoint- ment for their holding over in case the regular annual election should not take place and provide for filling vacancies, etc.
5. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect · immediately.
II. The members of the Board, or, ac- cording to the charter, the Trustees, consist of the pastor and four other members of each church, who are elected by the churches in April of each year.1
1 Missions not organized into churches have the privilege of being represented by their missionary and one delegate, who may participate in the proceedings, but are not entitled to vote.
2
I 2
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
III. All the members of the Baptist churches of Newark are members of the City Mission. They are entitled to vote in their respective churches for those who are to represent them in the Board. They also have the privilege of organizing the anniversary meetings by the election of a Chairman and a Secretary ; approving or otherwise the reports of the Board, and may give instructions to the same. They are likewise expected to contribute towards the object of the City Mission, each one doing something. Particular attention is given to interest every member, old and young, in this work of the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom.
IV. The Board meets on the last Mon- day evening of each month. The monthly meetings are conducted according to the following order: First, devotional services ; second, calling the roll; 1 third, reading of minutes; fourth, treasurer's report ; fifth, receipts of money from the collectors ; sixth,
1 Members not present at roll-call are fined twenty-five cents, unless detained by sickness or absence from the city.
I3
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
reports of committees ; seventh, reports from the Missions; eighth, miscellaneous busi- ness ; ninth, devotional exercises and ad- journment.
V. At the first meeting of the new Board each year, one of the delegates from each church is appointed a collector for the church which he represents. It is his duty to keep a book and secure an annual con- tribution, if possible, from every member of said church. He reports to the Treasurer 2º of the Board at each monthly meeting.
VI. The pastors and missionaries are ex- pected to preach on the subject of city mis- sions, and otherwise direct attention to the work of the Board, on the morning of the Anniversary Sabbath of each year. Sub- scription papers are then circulated through the congregation, to relieve, if possible, the collector from the labor of a personal appli- cation. Payments of subscriptions may be made to the collector, annually, quar- terly, or monthly, at the pleasure of the subscriber.
14
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
VII. An annual and a semi-annual meet- ing of the City Mission are held. The annual meeting occurs on the second Sab- bath in April, and the semi-annual on the second Sabbath in October.
These meetings, of late, have been held in the edifice of the First Baptist Church; the capacity of the house and its central location, making it all that could be desired for the gathering of the churches and the greeting of the Baptist Brotherhood.
At the annual meeting in April, it is the custom of the Sabbath-schools of all the churches and all the missions to proceed in a body to the First Church. The spacious galleries, and a part of the main body of the house, are usually filled with the children and their teachers, the remainder of the sanctuary being crowded with an attentive audience. It is impossible to give an ade- quate description of the beautiful sight pre- sented at these annual meetings, or of the effect produced on the heart by all the chil- dren uniting to fill the house of the Lord
I5
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
with their songs of praise. Memorable, indeed, are those occasions, when the vigor of health, and the experience of age, and the flower of youth, and the fervor of piety, are found in beautiful combination, every one rejoicing in the success of the past and praying and planning for the work of the future.
VIII. The principal aim of the Mission is to encourage the organization of Sunday- schools, and to provide a preached gospel for the destitute in the growing sections of the city. The Board does not primarily propose to purchase lots and build meet- ing-houses. The usual course is to open schools and send forth missionaries, and leave the question of building chapels and the organization of churches to be developed by the success of the missions. The prin- ciple has been to follow, and not to precede, the guidance of Providence.
IX. It has also been a chief aim to pre- serve in the denomination in the city, " the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
16
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
And this result has been happily realized. Like a generous, faithful, loving mother, the Mission has given to the new interests support, sympathy, and unwearied care. Like the eagle, she has borne them on her wings until they were able to go forth alone. Every month the missionary or pastor has come to the Board with a statement of the wants, the trials, the joys, or the sorrows of his particular charge. Here he has always found sympathy. Advice has been kindly given. Material aid has been generously voted, and sometimes special prayer has been offered that God would interpose, and do that which His own cause required, and which was beyond human power to accom- plish.
The influence of these monthly meet- ings cannot be over-estimated. They have kept the channel of sympathy between the churches free from obstruction. They have checked the growth of selfishness, by opening fields of usefulness in which all have been called to work. They have cul-
17
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
tivated unity and harmony among the churches, by affording opportunities of fre- quent intercourse with each other for Christian consultation and prayer. Here, in these monthly meetings, the members of the Board have grasped each other's hands, as messengers of the churches, in fraternal love. Here they have united in aggressive movements against the kingdom of dark- ness. Here they have proved to be " the helpers of each other's joys," and the bearers of each other's burdens in fulfillment of the law of Christ.
The moral power of such a union of the churches could not fail of producing the greatest possible amount of good. And its sweet spirit has often recalled the words of the Psalmist : " Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard : that went down to the skirts of his garments ; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon
1
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NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
the mountains of Zion : for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for ever- more.".
We may add, what lover of Zion has not had occasion to deplore the absence of such unity in our chief cities. Too often the constitution of churches results from un- happy divisions, or in some spirit that is not in accordance with that of the gospel. And too often the wealth and talent of the de- nomination has been concentrated and un- developed in a single inert and overgrown body.
It is, perhaps, not too much to say, that could an unity like that realized in our city, be attained in other places, the strength of the denomination in those localities would be increased ten fold.
Part Third.
EARLY EFFORTS.
HE first act of the Board was to obtain a proper person to fill the position of missionary. Rev. C. W. Waterhouse was selected, who entered upon the duties of the mission in April, 1852. Regular services were estab- lished at 10} A. M., in the third-story room of a store No. 102 Broad Street, and in Humanity Hall, in the Fifth Ward, at 3 P. M. Sabbath-schools were commenced at both stations. At first, the number who met on the Sabbath for religious instruction and worship was very small. As the Board, however, provided better accommodations, the attendance, both of the congregations and the Sabbath-schools, increased rapidly, while the missions grew in influence and usefulness.
20
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
Under the severe labors necessarily de- manded by the cultivation of both these missions, situated in opposite parts of the city, the health of the missionary, Mr. Waterhouse, became so seriously impaired as to compel him to cease altogether from this service. On accepting his resignation, the Board caused the following to be re- corded in the minutes :
" The Board would at this time bear testimony to brother Waterhouse's self-sacrificing labors, his fervent prayers, his consistent, devoted life in the cause of his Master, and his zeal for the Mission."
The work of this first missionary was that of the sower rather than of the reaper; but the seed planted under much discourage- ment has since borne fruit.
The Board called Rev. Thomas G. Wright to be his successor; and in April, 1853, he entered upon his missionary labors.
A chapel in the North Ward having been completed, mainly through the liber- ality of Messrs. D. M. Wilson and John M. Davies, the missionary was directed to give
2I
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
the chief part of his time to that field, the Board regarding it as the more promising. He preached, however, every Sunday after- noon in the Fifth Ward.
It was soon determined to employ anoth- er missionary. Accordingly, in October, 1853, David T. Morrill, a member of the Church at Rahway, and a graduate of the Rochester Theological Seminary, was in- vited to spend a Sunday in Newark. After preaching in the First and South Churches, he was elected by the Board as missionary for the Fifth Ward.
Mr. Morrill began his mission work the first Sabbath in November, 1853. The pul- pit of the South Church becoming vacant by the resignation of Dr. Hague, Mr. Mor- rill, by the request of the Church and the consent of the Board, preached there for a time, on the Sabbath, and prosecuted his mission work during the week.
Under the faithful labors of the mission- aries, the instructions of devoted teachers in the Sabbath-schools, and the prayerful
2
22
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
and cheerful expenditure of the Lord's money, the cause of City Missions con- tinued to bring forth fruit. Frequent re- vivals were enjoyed, and many, from time to time, were converted. These were added by baptism to the First and South churches. As these were the only two churches in the city at this time, there was no other way of gathering in those who were converted in the mission fields. The idea entertained by the Board at first was, to organize Sunday- schools, and hold prayer-meetings, and af- ford opportunities for hearing the gospel to those who lived in destitute parts of the city. It was not the intention to favor the constitution of churches until there was a sufficient number gathered in these mis- sions to insure their permanency. Upon this theory, however, the missionaries worked under a great disadvantage. They were not able to retain in the mission as active workers those who had been converted. A wiser course was afterwards adopted. soon as practicable churches were organized,
-
23
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
and the converts were baptized by the mis- sionaries, and became identified with the mission churches. This was found by ex- perience to greatly facilitate the procuring of houses of worship, and the usefulness of the missionaries.
It will be seen by this that great care has always been taken by the Board in encour- aging the organization of the churches. Not until the working force in any mis- sion has given promise of success, and the Board, having counted the cost, has been prepared to furnish the necessary means so long as the church should require help, has an organization been favored. In this way, immature constitutions of churches, and those failures and disorganizations which have so often discouraged and grieved the denomination in other places, have been avoided.
The reproof which the Saviour admin- istered to the man who commenced to build without counting the cost, is applicable to the organization of churches. It is wiser
24
NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
to wait years in laying the foundations se- curely, rather than to hazard a failure by an indiscreet and hasty movement. And yet too much caution, which may amount to timidity and weakness, must be avoided, lest the hearts of those who are laboring in the mission field should be discouraged by the impression that the cause will never rise to the dignity and responsibility of an inde- pendent church.
The Board has used great wisdom here ; and so far no mission has been allowed to suffer from unnecessary delay, nor has any church, after its organization, been permitted to languish and expire for the want of support.
DRAKE
NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH.
Part Fourth.
ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES.
THE NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH.
Constituted July 26, 1854.
HE mission in the North Ward, under the fostering care of the Board, and the labors of the mis- sionary, Rev. T. G. Wright, had grown to such an extent within the two years of its existence, that the subject of organizing a church began to be seriously considered. At a meeting held in the chapel, June 11, 1854, Mr. H. M. Baldwin, of the South Church, moderator, the follow- ing resolution was adopted : -
" Resolved, That the time has come for the organiza- tion of a regular Baptist Church in the field now occu- pied by our mission station connected with the North Baptist Chapel in Orange Street."
28
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
This resolution was duly considered by the Board, and being approved, measures were immediately taken to organize a church. A council, composed of delegates from the churches of Piscataway, Orange, Plainfield, Bloomfield, Scotch Plains, Lyons First and South Newark, met in the chapel, July 26, 1854. This council unanimously agreed to recognize the body as a regular Baptist Church under the name of the " North Baptist Church." The number of constituent members was forty-nine.
Farms, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Hoboken,
Public services of recognition were held the same evening, when Rev. O. S. Stearns, pastor of the South Church, preached the Sermon ; Rev. H. C. Fish, pastor of the First Church, gave the Hand of Fellow- ship ; and Rev. S. J. Drake, of Plainfield, the Charge.
Upon the succeeding Sabbath, July 30, the first member was admitted to the new church by baptism. In August, 1854, Rev. Mr. Wright, after performing much mis-
29
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
sionary labor, with fidelity and zeal, re- signed his connection with the Board. The Church, with the advice of the Board, ex- tended a unanimous call to the Rev. Levi Morse, to become their pastor. Nine hun- dred dollars were appropriated towards his support.
After a pastorate of nearly four years, during which time ninety-three were added to the Church, Mr. Morse resigned.
During the time of their destitution, the Church, through their delegates, were in frequent consultation with the Board, and prayer was more than once offered at the monthly meeting, that God would direct in the choice of a pastor.
May 10, 1858, the Church extended a call to Robert Atkinson, a licentiate of Fifth Church, Philadelphia. Mr. Atkinson ac- cepted the call, and was ordained to the work of the Christian ministry, September 1, 1858, in the First Baptist Church. Soon after his settlement, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit became manifest in the
30
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
meetings, and a season of extensive revival was enjoyed.
At a meeting held March 2, 1859, the Church resolved to enter at once upon the work of securing a more commodious house of worship. The little chapel, with which so many hallowed memories clustered, was no longer, either in capacity or convenience, suitable to the growing demands of the community in which it had been placed.
The Board was consulted. All the mem- bers felt the necessity of cooperating in the movement proposed. But at this time the denomination was engaged in assisting the First Church in building their large and expensive church edifice. This was the mother-church, and all were called to spe- cial effort and cheerful liberality. The strain upon the energies and resources of the Baptists of Newark was severe and long continued; but through the goodness of God the harmonious counsels and patient endurance of the brethren were crowned with success. The First Church was re-
·
3I
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
lieved of all financial embarrassment, and in the possession of a noble and attractive house of worship.
The way was now open to prosecute the building of an edifice for the North Church. A beautiful location, corner of Orange and High Streets, 140 by 70 feet, was selected and purchased for five thousand three hun- dred and fifty dollars.
In 1863 plans were adopted by both the Church and the Board, and a joint com- mittee appointed to attend to the erection of the new chapel. In April, 1864, the Sun- day-school room was occupied, and in the autumn of the same year, the remainder of the building was completed and dedicated to the service of God. The North Church paid towards this object the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars. By the sale of their old house and lot, four thousand more were realized. The First Church fur- nished fifteen hundred dollars ; the South Church the same amount. In all, nine thou- sand five hundred dollars was raised in the
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