USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Flemington > One hundredth anniversary exercises of the Baptist Church, Flemington, N.J. June 17th, 18th and 19th, 1898 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02248 3470
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ONE HUNDREDTH 100th ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES
OF
The Baptist Church,
FLEMINGTON, N. J
JUNE 17th, 18th AND 19th, 1898
FLEMINGTON, N. J .: PUBLISHED BY THE CHURCHI. 1898.
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INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH DURING THE CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
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PRESS OF JOHN E. ROWE & SON, NEWARK, N. J.
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" One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts." -- Psalm 15. 1.
" We lift our trusting eyes From the hills our fathers trod, To the Sabbath in the skies, To the dwelling place of God."
SOME MONTHS BEFORE ITS BIRTHDAY HAD ARRIVED, THE FLEMINGTON CHURCH BEGAN ITS PREPARATIONS FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF THE DAY BY THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES :
General Committee
HOWARD SUTPHIN GEORGE E. BRITTON
VANDEVIER HIGGINS WILLIAM H. HALL
J. WESLEY BRITTON ASA SUYDAM
CHESTER VAN SYCKEL
L. RAYMOND HIGGINS
WILLIAM FISHER
Entertainment Committee
MRS. WM. S. RILEY
MRS. HOWARD SUTPHIN
MISS MARY KILLGORE MISS LOUIE HIGGINS
MISS HANNAH SUYDAM MISS MARY GRAY
MRS. DAVIS HANSON MRS. WM. PRICE
MRS. E. D. KNOWER
MRS. GEORGE DEAN
MRS. H. A. FL.UCK
MISS ELLA CARKHUFF
MRS. GEORGE WAGONER
MISS ELLA C. HIGGINS
MISS ANNIE J. HIGGINS MISS LOUIE MCCANN
MRS. J. B. RAMSEY MRS. JACOB V. HIGGINS
MRS. C. VAN SYCKEL MRS. CHIAS. F. HOPEWELL
MRS. J. W. BRITTON
MRS. WM. J. SUYDAM .
MRS. WM. FISHER MISS REBECCA SHROPE
MR. J. W. BRITTON MR. W.M. S. RILEY MR. E. D. KNOWER MR. J. SCHENCK HIGGINS
Musical Director, MISS AGNES H. RICE.
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1867
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
I IMMEDIATELY after its centennial celebration,
the Flemington Church appointed the under- signed a committee to compile and publish the pro- ceedings of the three anniversary days. We have delayed until now the issuing of this memorial volume in order to make the report as complete as possible. Some of the addresses we reluctantly abridge, and only abstracts of others were furnished by their authors. We believe, however, that the book now put into the hands of members and friends will be a reminder of an occasion that many thoroughly enjoyed, and we trust it . may prove, an impulse to the discharge of present and future obligations.
As these records pass from our hands into the . hands of the publishers, our church is just welcom- ing to its trusts and toils, its new pastor Rev. L. D. Temple, of Brattleboro, Vermont. He begins his labors with us to-day, and is to be formally recog- nized October 20th. We are persuaded that we voice
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Memorials af a Century.
the feelings of our entire membership in the hope and prayer that the shepherd who thus comes to lead the flock over into the new century, may find for himself and his people, just ahead, the green pas- tures and the still waters of gospel grace.
Over this account of our centennial, and over the bits of history glimpsed on these pages, we put the apostolic ascription: "To the praise of the glory of His grace."
ASA SUYDAM, J. W. BRITTON, J. C. BRITTON, Committee.
Flemington, Oct. 1, 1898.
CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
T HE committee appointed by the church to arrange a centennial program, found itself embarrassed from the outset by the fact that the church was pastorless. Believing that it was best for some one person to have charge of the public services, and that such person ought to be familiar with the facts in the case, they requested Dr. T. E. Vassar, a former pastor, and the one who conducted the seventy-fifth anniversary service, to preside. He therefore opened the hundredth birthday exer- cises on Friday morning, June 17th, at 10 o'clock. Nature kindly smiled on the occasion by giving weather of ideal comfort and beauty, and at the very first session the spacious auditorium was fairly well filled. Prof. Chapell of the Gordon Training school, Boston, a former pastor, read the goth psalm and led in prayer. The singing was conducted by Mr. Baltus P. Stout, of Philadelphia, a Flemington boy, and in his young manhood a member of the church in whose festival he came back to share. Mrs. J. Smith Hart, Miss Kate Opdycke, Miss Evangeline
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Memorials of a Century.
Norton and Miss Bertha Rittenhouse, also rendered acceptable and appreciated assistance in the musical part of the service during the three days. Some of Zion's ancient melodies, and other selections that were new, were so sung by the choir and these helpers as not only to please the ear but also to stir the soul.
The special features of the first meeting were the Historical Sketch and the Treasurer's Report. The Historical Sketch was prepared by Prof. L. R. Higgins, of Chicago University, a member of the church. In his necessary absence, it was read by deacon Chester Van Syckel. The Treasurer's Report was presented by Treasurer Howard Sutphin. Both are given entire.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
T r HE eastern and southern parts of this State were settled years before the north-western part. Flemington, therefore, is not an old town, relatively considered. The recognized founder of the village is Samuel Fleming. In 1756 he purchased land here. As he kept a tavern, the little settlement was naturally called "Flemings," and finally Flemington. Samuel Fleming came from Ireland and brought with him a boy, Thomas Lowrey, who acquired con- siderable property and influence. In 1765, nine years after the purchase made by Fleming, Thomas Lowrey and James Eddy gave a piece of land for a Baptist meeting house. The lot was situated on the northeast corner of Main street and the New Brunswick road, where the present church edifice stands. Here a house was built in 1766, under the direction of Thomas Lowrey, James Eddy, Gershom Lee, Jonathan Higgins, John Jewell, and others. At that time there probably were not ten houses in the set- tlement. The township was then named Amwell, afterwards Raritan. Hopewell and
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Memorials of a Century.
Kingwood were the nearest Baptist churches, and had been in existence, the one sixty years, the other thirty.
The new enterprise was called the " Baptist Meeting of Amwell," and was supplied with preaching by neighboring ministers, chiefly from Kingwood and Hopewell. Rev. David Sutton, of Kingwood, preached for some time during the War of the Revolution ; he was finally shut out of the meeting house by Mr. Jewell, because he was thought to be friendly to the British.
This first church building was a small, rude, wooden structure, not unlike the old-fashioned country school house. But it was destined to stand on that spot for seventy years, the rallying place of a few faithful ones, who succeeded in keeping alive a spark of interest for thirty years until the little band felt justified in constituting a church.
In those revolutionary days the American sol- diers for a time used the house as a barracks and a hospital, and the marks of their fire arms were visible on the rough floor as late as 1825.
Following Mr. Sutton came Rev. Nicholas Cox, then of Kingwood. He regularly supplied the church a part of his time, but in 1790 or '91, declared himself a Universalist. Then followed four years of depression and discouragement, during which there was no regular preaching, except that for ten months the Rev. James
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Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J.
Ewing, of Hopewell, preached once in four weeks.
It need be no cause for surprise that thus over thirty years elapsed between the erection of a building and the organization of a church. The war with its preliminary excitement, its pro- longed disturbance, and subsequent confusion brought uncertainty and unrest. After the war the population of the State increased but slowly, for the young people were attracted to Central. New York and Western Pennsylvania-the west of that day. In 1790 the population of Hunter- don County was about 20,000; in 1800 it was only 21, 100.
" Besides, religion was at a low ebb all over the country. French infidelity attained the largest influence which it ever possessed in this country. , The habits of the people were loose and irreligious. Intemperance prevailed to a
frightful extent. The war had brought rum in- to general use." Distilleries were common and were sometimes operated by Christian men. Taverns were very numerous.
Those can hardly be called "good old days," and yet doubtless there was as much real piety and self-sacrificing service for God and His cause as can be found after the lapse of a hun- dred years.
For information regarding the organization of the church we must turn to an old, discolored volume, which bears upon its title page the
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Memorials of a Century.
words, "Amwell Baptist Church Book, June 19, 1798." The records of these early days are meagre and imperfect, and from them we can glean material for only a rapid sketch.
In December, 1795, Rev. Garner A. Hunt took the charge of the Flemington meeting (as the record puts it) in conjunction with Kingwood Church, and preached one-third of his time at Flemington. His work here was attended with ' success. The people came to hear him. The meeting house, which had been fast going to ruin, was repaired. Mr. Hunt baptised six per- sons, viz., Jane Merrell, Nathaniel Higgins. Sarah Ott, William Merrell, Elizabeth Harten- brook, and John Runyan. The Hopewell and Kingwood Churches dismissed nine members, viz., John Carr, John Manners, Rachel Manners, Sarah Sutphin, Hannah Wolverton, Anna Hig- gins, Elizabeth Yard, Anna Craven, and Mar- garet Wilson. These fifteen persons united in forming a Baptist Church on the nineteenth of June, 1798. Revs. Ewing, Hunt and Harpen- ding assisted in the formation of the Church. On July 2, 1798, John Manners was appointed clerk; John Carr and John Runyon were elected deacons. On August 4, 1798, the first trustees were appointed, viz., John Carr, John Runyon, Nathaniel Higgins, William Merrell, Judiah Higgins and Nicholas Ott. Rev. G. A. Hunt was recognized as the pastor. His salary was
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Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J.
raised by subscription papers, and does not appear to have been a fixed sum.
A few entries in the old minutes are interest- ing. A glimpse at the musical part of the service is afforded by the statement that on August 3, 1799, John Carr was appointed to read the lines, and Nicholas Ott to raise the psalms. The compensation which the sexton received is shown by this entry: " October 5, 1799, agreed to pay Frank three dollars for the ensuing year, to clean the house and take care of it." Frank was evidently a black man, as is shown by his lack of a surname.
Efforts were put forth to preserve strict church discipline. A rule was made December 1, 1801, to call on all male members, who absented them- selves from meetings of business three times in succession, to give their reasons for such con- duct. It was resolved, December 4, 1802, that after the monthly meeting is opened no member should leave the house without permission from the moderator.
Even theological views did not escape atten- tion. In 1805, a charge was made against a cer- . tain brother for holding doctrines not agreeable to the articles of this church, and a few months later he was "excommunicated." This word, with a Romish flavor, was the term then in use, and it repeatedly appears upon the records until 1817, when it gave place to the word "excluded."
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Memorials of a Century.
Mr. Hunt resigned November 5, 1803, after eight years of service on this field. His minis- trations met with marked acceptance. He baptized in all fifty-six persons.
In February, 1804, Rev. James McLaughlin was invited by a joint call from this church and the Kingwood Church to lead the two flocks. He served here five years, and welcomed twenty- five new members into the fold.
In 1810, the church called Rev. Daniel F. Sweeny, as stated supply for one year, which was the usual length of time for engaging their preacher. After some misunderstanding and correspondence Mr. Sweeny came, but remained only six months.
This must have been a time of darkness and trial for the little church. We find it recorded on March 2, 1811, that " the 2 1st of this month, Thursday, was appointed as a day of humilia- tion and prayer for this church." Their mem- bers were still few-less than eighty. Money was scarce. Now and then difficulties arose between certain members. But brighter days were coming.
At a meeting held February 1, 1812, Charles Bartolette, of Lower Dublin, Pa., was invited to this field for one year, and on the eleventh of the following May he was ordained. The build- ing was again repaired, and Mr. Bartolette called to supply the church for another year. In April,
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CHARLES BARTOLETTE, 1812-46.
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Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J.
1814, he was called as pastor at a salary of $200. This is the first record of any certain sum as salary. Previously the sum paid had been the amount raised by subscription papers. Thus began a noteworthy pastorate of thirty-four years duration.
In a few years the church began to increase in strength, and in 1817 a meeting house was built at Sandy Ridge for the convenience of the . members living in that vicinity. In 1818, four- teen persons were dismissed from the home church to unite with others in constituting a church at that place.
When the Flemington Church was thirty years old, its membership was ninety-still a small band. Then followed years of remarkable ingathering, occasioned partly, no doubt, by the increase in population and the development of the country, but still more by the faithful labors of "Father" Bartolette. The first large addition was in 1829, when fifty-seven were received by baptism. In 1832, twenty-three were added to the church ; in 1833, thirty-three were added; in 1835, forty- two; in 1836, fifteen; in 1838 occured one of the most mighty and impressive seasons of re- vival that the church has ever known. For years it was spoken of as the "great revival." It was prolonged throughout the summer, and even in the midst of seed-time and harvest, the farmers attended the meetings. Not only did
Memorials of a Century.
the Flemington Church receive a large addition, but other churches also shared in the gracious results of this spiritual awakening. Rev. C. W. Mulford was the able assistant of the pastor, perhaps the chief preacher in the great work. On the first of July, fifty-four persons received the hand of fellowship. Over ninety in all were baptized before the year closed. Four members are still with us who joined the church in that long remembered summer, sixty years ago. Their names I give : William B. Smith, Daniel Suy- dam, Mrs. Matilda Gray, Mrs. Rebecca Forker. No members are now living who joined the church at an earlier date, with the exception of Charlotte Moore, who joined in 1837, Martha H. Britton, who joined in 1835, and Samuel Leigh, who joined in 1829. The latter is the patriarch of the church, if years are counted. After serving the Flemington and the Sandy Ridge Churches together for fourteen years, Mr. Bar- tolette, in 1832, resigned his charge at the Ridge and gave his whole time to Flemington, at a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars.
The second house of worship was built in 1836. It was then considered one of the best in the state. A minute on the records says: "Re- solved, that the house be built forty-five by fifty- five feet, with a basement story." It was, there- fore, the size of our present chapel. We have no means of determining its cost, but we do
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LEVI G. BECK, 1849-51.
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Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J.
know that a debt was incurred which lingered for six or more years.
September 24th, 1836, eight members were dismissed to unite in the formation of the Baptist Church at Wertsville.
A significant entry is found under the date of March 23, 1822: "Whercas Joe, a black man, a member amongst us, has eloped from his master and been charged with other immoral conduct, a committee be appointed to enquire into the business and report." The following year black Joe was excluded for the sins of drunkness and excessive love of liberty. Let us remember, however, that this was in the period of the Missouri Compromise and before the days of William Lloyd Garrison.
In the first quarter of the century, rum was a foe that conquered even some members of the church and not seldom we find cases of disci- pline arising from this source. But here again we must remember that in those days the views of society concerning the use of strong drink were lax. The Washingtonian movement was not yet felt in the land, and such apostles of temperance as John B. Gough, had not begun their moral erusade against intoxicants.
The Flemington Baptist Church, like many others in our land, experienced decided opposi- tion in their efforts to introduce instrumental music. The three following minutes throw
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Memorials of a Century.
light upon this subject. January 25th, 1838 : "There having been something said by some against the pastor's patronizing instrumental music in the congregation by the choir of sing- ers, a motion was made to know whether he had in this particular exceeded his pastoral rights. It was unanimously resolved that he had not." Perhaps the nature of the instrument aggravated the antagoism to it, for it was a bass viol that had been introduced into the choir gallery behind the audience. One good sister, one of the constituent members, was in the habit of entering the church just before the ser- mon and leaving immediately after it that she might not listen to the tones of the "ungodly fiddle." The player was Bro. William Barrass, who for sixty years was a familiar figure among us and who only a few years ago entered the celestial choir. One morning, however, his occupation was gone, for the viol was missing. But its absence was only temporary, for we read that on June Ist, 1839, a brother was called up before the church and "spoke at some length on the way in which he got possession of the instru- ment in use in the choir," but (it is added) he "made no acknowledgement of doing wrong in the act." Again on April 4th, 1840, another brother was disciplined chiefly for opposing the instrument of music. which he declared had be- come as an "idol" to the church. It is evident
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Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J.
that this opposition came from but a few per- sons. Its strangeness to the present generation is our warrant for recalling it. Long since the church learned that the divine art of music -- and of music supported by instrument-may become the handmaid of religion.
In 1830, the Sunday-school was organized. Of that we shall hear later.
In 1840. the pastor's salary was raised to four hundred dollars. But the church was still in debt; it was impossible to pay the pastor promptly, and in 1844 the church was obliged to reduce the salary. The pastor kindly and willingly agreed to the reduction. His work here was now ended, and on January 4th, 1846, he resigned his trust after the longest pastorate the church has ever enjoyed. He baptized four ' hundred and forty-nine. He found here a feeble band. He left an important and prominent church. His labors were most acceptable to the people and were abundantly blessed. His kindly ways greatly endeared him to the community. He sleeps by the Sandy Ridge church, which he helped to establish.
On June 16th, 1846, the church extended a call to Clarence W. Mulford, of Hightstown, New Jersey, at a salary of six hundred dollars. On December 22d, he was installed as pastor. Mr. Mulford was already well known here, as he had assisted the former pastor in revival ser-
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Memorials of a Century.
vices. Zealous, energetic and faithful, he was very successful in winning souls. During his short pastorate of two and one-half years, he baptized seventy-four converts. His excessive labors impaired his health and his voice utterly failed. Reluctantly he resigned in July, 1849, and very regretfully the church suffered him to depart, to seek restoration on a farm in Mon- mouth county. . Again at Holmdel, he assumed a pastorate. Very soon again his voice proved insufficient. In 1843 he returned to Fleming- ton, where he directed his farm and engaged in the practice of medicine. For several years he dwelt among his friends and was a deacon and valuable member of the church until he passed to his reward on June 28, 1864. Clarence Mul- ford was distinguished for his efforts in behalf of missions and temperance. In these fields, which were unpopular then, he was one of the pioneer workers. His singular power as an evangelist is shown by the fact that in an active ministry of twenty years, he baptized four hun- dred and eighty-two persons, besides assisting largely in revivals on other fields.
On September 6th, 1839, Levi G. Beck was invited to the pastorate at a salary of five hun- dred dollars. Previous to this time, Rev. E. R. Hera had been appointed by the board of the New Jersey Baptist State Convention to labor in the northern portion of this field. As many
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CLARENCE W. MULFORD, 1846-49.
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Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J.
members lived in this district, they resolved to form a Baptist Church at Cherryville. Accord- ingly, October 13th, 1849, thirty-nine of our number were dismissed to constitute a church at that place. Mr. Beck's ministry here was of less than two year's duration, yet long enough to win him a place in the hearts of the people. Ten were baptized. The church was loath to accept the pastor's resignation, but he felt that. duty called him elsewhere.
In April, 1851, Mr. Beck relinquished the charge. The next month Thomas Swaim re- ceived and accepted a call from this church. Before coming to Flemington, Mr. Swaim was District Secretary of the American Baptist Mis- sionary Union. His salary here the first year was five hundred dollars, but was soon advanced to six hundred dollars, then to seven hundred dollars, and finally to one thousand dollars.
In 1853, by an act of the New Jersey State Legislature, the name of the church was changed from that of the Baptist Church in Amwell to that of the Baptist Church of Flemington.
On April 6th, 1861, twelve members were dismissed to unite with others in constituting the Baptist Church at Croton. 1
Mr. Swaim's pastorate of sixteen years covered a period of great importance for the church and for the nation. He was a man of decision, firm- ness and patriotism, a wise leader and counsellor
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Memorials of a Century.
during the trying times of the Civil War. In those days when good men, especially in New Jersey, did not agree on national issues, his voice and influence were unmistakably given to the cause of freedom and union. Harmony in his flock and true Christian fellowship, were fostered by the pastor. The good name of the church was carefully preserved and upright living was faithfully encouraged. That age. was more polemic than the present, and Mr. Swaim was noted for his defence of Bible doc- trines, especially those known as Calvinistic. Repeated seasons. of refreshing were enjoyed. In 1852, 1854, 1856, 1860 and 1864, large num -. bers were added to the church. In all, two hun- dred and sixty-two were baptized.
During this pastorate, were begun the monthly union services of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches of the village-an honored and appropriate custom that is still observed. Originally these services were of a purely mis- sionary character and consisted of sketches of various denominational mission fields given by the different pastors. But in later years the conventional form of evening service has been followed. On April Ist, 1867, Mr. Swaim bade farewell to the church that he had served so earnestly and successfully. With deep regret, best wishes and fervent prayers, the church suffered their loved pastor to depart.
THOMAS SWAIM, 1851-67.
E. A. WOODS, 1867-72.
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Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J.
For at least six years the church had been . facing the necessity of providing ampler accom- modations for its own members and the increas- ing population of the town. It was clear that either a larger house must be built or a second church be formed. Both courses were fully and · freely discussed. After much deliberation, it was resolved to build a new house but not to divide the forces of the church. On the day. following, the last communion Sabbath observed in the old sanctuary, in July, 1867, workmen began to take down the old house and to proceed with the new enterprise. The former house faced the south. The new one was placed on Main street, facing the west. In 1868, the pres- ent edifice was completed and dedicated. It has a seating capacity of about 1,000 and cost about $40,000.
Now we come to the days of pastors who are fortunately still living and whose names are household words-Woods, Vassar, Chapell, Sage- beer.
On November 11th, 1867, E. Arthur Woods, of Little Falls, New York, was called to the pastorate at a salary of $1,500 which in 1869 was increased to $2,000. Mr. Woods entered upon his duties -December Ist, 1867. Before the coming of Mr. Woods, the pulpit was regu- larly filled by Rev. G. S. Webb, D.D., of New Brunswick. Until the new building was ready
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