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The Centennial
of the
Hamilton Square Baptist Church 1812-1912
CHOHOL
Free Public Library
Haddonfield, N. J.
NJ RBR
No. 95 389
Class
974.965
Date ..... April 1968
OLIOLO
14778
(Hum. S. ) WELLI
45
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
https://archive.org/details/centennialofhami00unse
1812
1912
The Centennial
OF THE
Hamilton Square Baptist Church
HAMILTON SQUARE, N. J.
TRENTON, N. J. STATE GAZETTE PUBLISHING CO., PRINTERS. - 1914
Built 1851. Dedicated January 8th, 1852.
Built 1880. Dedicated 1881.
Rev. John G. Booker. March 15th, 1911 ---
INTRODUCTION.
At the bi-monthly business meeting of the Church on Saturday afternoon, February 24th, 1912, it was resolved to celebrate the One Hundredth Anniversary of our history. The Pastor with all the offi- cial members and their wives were the Committee appointed by the Church to make the necessary arrangements for the day, Thursday, April 25th, 1912.
Realizing the importance of having read at this time as complete a history of the one hundred years of the Church as it was possible to obtain, the Pastor who had only been on the field one year, and was a new man in the State of New Jersey, wrote Dr. O. P. Eaches, who for more than 40 years had been Pastor of our Mother Church, at Hightstown, asking if he would kindly undertake the task; Dr. Eaches at once replied and consented ; records on hand in the possession of the Church were at once made available, and in this volume we have as complete a history as it was possible to furnish. Next in impor- tance were the speakers for the day. The Pastor at once got into communication with some of the leading men of the denomination in this and other States; these brethren readily responded, and each filled their appointment, with the exception of Dr. A. J. Rowland, who was unexpectedly called away to an important conference in New York. Rev. S. G. Neil, the Publications Society Missionary Secretary, was the substitute.
Dr. O. P. Eaches suggested to the Pastor that he write Dr. T. O. Conant, of the Examiner, New York, asking if he would compose a suitable anniversary hymn for the occasion. Dr. Conant readily re- sponded, the hymn making a deep impression as it was sung to the old tune "Park Street" at each of the sessions.
During the day the ladies of the Church made ample provision for the refreshment of the inner man ; dinner and supper being served in the Grange Hall adjacent to the Church. The three brethren, Rev. Geo. R. Robbins, D.D., of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rev. James A. Cubberly, of Plainfield, New Jersey, and Rev. Everett Conover, of Plainfield, New Jersey, who went out from this Church into the Gospel ministry, were invited, and each responded by letter; the two latter also favored us with their presence, and made brief addresses; their names were inadvertently omitted from the program ; a most hearty reception was accorded them by the Church.
.
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ONE HUNDRED YEARS. 1812-1912 PROGRAM.
THE CENTENNIAL OF THE HAMILTON SQUARE BAPTIST CHURCH.
JOHN G. BOOKER, Pastor. Thursday, April 25th, 1912.
Deacons-John W. Tindall, Charles H. Smith, William T. Flock, R. Ells- worth Haines, Walter Hulick.
Trustees-H. Harrison Hutchinson, Walter Haines, Ed. C. Hutchinson, Forman Hulick, Paul Indermuhle, Liscomb Tindall, S. H. Robbins.
Collector-Elijah M. Vanness. Treasurer-S. H. Robbins. Clerk-Wm. T. Robbins. Assistant-Fred. C. McCabe. Sexton-George Danser.
MORNING SESSION.
9:30 A. M. Devotional Service, led by Rev. F. W. Randall. Pastors of the Trenton Association participating. 10:00 A. M. Hymn-"Coronation."
ADDRESS OF WELCOME, Pastor John G. Booker.
10:15 A. M. Introductory Address, Rev. J. K. Manning, D.D.
10:30 A. M. Solo, Miss Aileen Cubberly.
Reading of Scriptures,
Rev. Joseph Howell.
Pastor of the Presbyterian Church.
Prayer, Rev. A. F. Carlin. Pastor of the Methodist Church.
Sermon,
Rev. J. Henry Haslam, D.D.
of Philadelphia, Pa.
Subject-"Christ's Method and Purpose in Building
His Church."
11:30 A. M. Anthem. Address, Rev. Judson Conklin.
12:00 NOON. Adjourn for Lunch.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
2:00 P. M. Devotional Service, led by Rev. G. L. Allen. Pastors of Trenton Association participating.
2:15 P. M. Rev. Guy L. Brown, Moderator of Trenton Association, presiding. Rev. O. P. Eaches, D.I>., will read History of the Church and Greetings from the Mother Church at Hightstown.
3:00 P. M. Pastoral Reminiscences, Rev. W. W. Case, D.D. Greetings from Allentown Church, Our Daughter.
3 : 20 P. M. Solo and Chorus-"I Wonder If There's Room," Miss Aileen Cubberly. Address. Rev. A. J. Rowland, D.D. Secretary of American Baptist Publication Society.
4:00 P. M. Address, Rev. D. De Wolf, D.D. Secretary of New Jersey State Convention.
4: 20 P. M. Address, Rev. J. A. Maxwell, D.D. Subject-"Progress of the Kingdom."
4: 45 P. M. Address, .
Rev. Enoch Fullaway.
Baptist Commonwealth.
5:00 P. M. Adjourn for Supper.
EVENING SESSION.
7:15 P. M. Devotional, led by Rev. Judson Conklin.
7:30 P. M. Hymn. Address, Rev. D. G. Stevens.
7:50 P. M. Anthem-"Come Ye Weary." Address, Rev. Guy L. Brown.
8:30 P. M. Solo, Miss Aileen Cubberly. Address, Rev. Harvey Chollar.
9:00 P. M. Closing Address, Pastor, Rev. John G. Booker.
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CENTENNIAL HYMN. By THOMAS OAKES CONANT. To the tune "Park Street."
Through fivescore years thy saints, O Lord, Have worshiped at this sacred shrine ; To dying souls proclaimed thy Word, And sinners led to life divine.
O hallowed memories that rise, As thought turns backward to the hour When here thy people to the skies First raised their hymns of love and power !
How sweetly, on the raptured ear, The Gospel's joyful message fell : "To Christ, O weary ones, draw near, And in his peace forever dwell."
Here, as unrolled the passing years, Met friends and neighbors, youth and age ; Their fears and hopes, their smiles and tears, Commingling on Life's fleeting page.
Here hearts bereaved, beside their dead, Sweet peace have found in Jesus' word ; And famished souls their hunger fed On the rich bounty of the Lord.
Now, as a new, bright century Upon us dawns, all coming days We dedicate, O Christ, to thee, And to thy throne this prayer we raise :
O Lord our King, in glory come ! Thy Spirit here be freely given ; Abide with us; make this thy home- A house of God, a gate of heaven .- AMEN.
Written for the occasion by Rev. Thomas Oakes Conant, D.D., to be sung at the sessions of our Centennial.
9
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
BY PASTOR JOHN G. BOOKER.
He said in part :
It is a pleasure for me on behalf of the Church to welcome the delegates and friends of the Trenton association and elsewhere, to help us celebrate the Centennial of our history.
One hundred years. What changes have taken place !
A hundred years ago the world was a very large place, but during the century steam and electricity have annihilated distance and brought mankind together as never before; and with the advent of the flying machine, "still in its infancy," with other marvelous in- ventions, who can tell what is in store for the members of the Church who may celebrate the bi-centennial of her history.
It is important to note that Christianity has not been slow to take advantage of the progress of the century for her own advance- ment. To-day the door of every nation is open to receive the Gospel, marvelous has been the progress of the missionary enterprises of the Church.
It is also a cause for thankfulness that among the different de- nominations of Christianity to-day there is a better spirit of unity than in the earlier years of the century. While we, as Baptists, adhere to what we believe are the fundamental teachings of the New 'Testa- ment-a regenerated church membership-the ordinance of believers baptism by immersion-and the observance of the Lord's Supper by baptized believers, vet we heartily co-operate with all who are seeking to exalt our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour of Mankind, and earnestly pray that the time may not be far distant when there will be still a closer union between us, and thus bring to pass, through the guidance of the Holy Sprit, that unity spoken in our Lord's Prayer, "That they all may be one."
We trust that you will enjoy the services of the day, and, again, bid you a hearty welcome to the hospitality of the Church.
Rev. Searing Stites. April Ist, 1837-April Ist, 1853.
Rev. A. H. Bliss. August 8th, 1859-September 6th, 1862.
Rev. Wm. Paullin. July Ist, 1853-February Ist, 1859.
Rev. W. E. Watkinson. January 3d, 1863-February Ist, 1871
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Address of Rev. J. K. Manning, D.D., Woodbury, N. J.
DEAR BRETHREN :
I am very glad to be here this auspicious day to rejoice with Pastor and people upon the arrival of the anniversary day of the birth of this Church.
As a people we have been remiss in the marking of special days and times and seasons, so as to call out the glad fact ("Hitherto hath the Lord helped us"). You are true to the real spirit of gratitude when you meet to-day and show it worth while to look back and for- ward and say again, "In the Name of the Lord we again set up our banners."
To-day, by this service, you pay tribute to the men and women who, one hundred years ago, made this day possible. You honor your- selves in the service of to-day by this memorial to and for this band of God-fearing men, who, in the Name of the Lord, set up their standard, and we do well to keep them in mind. In this service, in the most natural way, you call to mind the men who have served as Pastors of this Church, and let me say you have been greatly honored in the character of these men, some of whom enjoyed with you most wonder- ful revivals. Some were noted for their zealous pastoral work, and of their preaching ability you had no reason to be ashamed. They and their work should have a large space in the thought of to-day.
We are here to rejoice over the fact that you are true to the Fathers, to their faith, to the Bible; that you are a Baptist Church one hundred years old to-day. In the day of your youth error sought a place among you, but could not stay, and, so far as I know, there has been no modification in doctrine, no adoption of modern frills or no- tions in worship, but the same old truths accepted and relied upon in the same simple-minded manner of the fathers, characterizes you now.
It is a great thing to have maintained the faith. You have rea- son for a deep gratitude and honorable pride in the work done. Think of the great number of conversions, the strong men and women you have given to this community, some of whom have gone into the min-
12
istry ; of the lives ennobled; of the moral influence upon social life, for all this to-day-Thank God. Then stop awhile to-day-take a look, Backward-Forward-Upward. You have come a long ways; some luggage with you you need to get rid of, and much treasure you need to hold on to-a great inheritance you must pass on to another generation, charging them to be true to their Father's history of one hundred years. You are honored in being the birthplace of our State Mission Society. It was a company of great and noble men who met here eighty-two years ago and formed the State Convention. A few more years and that body will be one hundred years old.
I trust that you will find it in your hearts to invite that body to come "Home" and celebrate its hundredth birthday with you.
And now to you, and your honored Pastor, I tender my sincere wish that the fidelity, revival prosperity, strong devotion to denomi- national life of the past, may characterize the future.
Historical Sketch of the Hamilton Square Baptist Church.
The Revolutionary War secured for the people of the world the right of self-government and enlarged the meaning of the individual man, but the long continued struggle and the introduction of French Infidelity led to a decay of the moral life and the enfeebling of the nation's spiritual strength. In 1798 the Presbyterian General As- sembly issued an appeal to the country in these words: "We perceive with pain and fearful apprehension a general dereliction of religious principle; a great departure from the faith and simple purity of the manners of our fathers; a visible and prevailing contempt for the laws and instructions of religion; an abounding infidelity which in many instances tends to atheism itself. A dissolution of religious society seems to be threatened." But piety was not dead. The spirit of Malachi 3:16 brought a spiritual awakening. In 1785 the Hights- town Church, which for a score of years had not had a settled pastor, developed within its border a man who enlarged the Lord's Kingdom in all this section of the State-Peter Wilson. He was, as Morgan Ed- wards says, in his History of New Jersey Baptists, "a man to be
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wondered at." Wesley said: "My parish is the world." Peter Wil- son, with like-mindedness, said: "My field of labor extends from the Atlantic to the Delaware and into Pennsylvania, from Trenton to Mt. Holly." This field he cultivated. A summary of his work is this : A Baptist Church was established at Manasquan in 1805, at South River in 1805, at Trenton and Lamberton in 1805, at Nottingham in 1812, at Penn's Neck in 1812. He preached also at Penn's Manor, Pennsylvania, at Pemberton and Mt. Holly.
FOUNDATION WORK AT NOTTINGHAM SQUARE.
In 1785, the first year of his settlement at Hightstown, he began to preach in this field. The village was then called Nottingham Square, the name being changed to Hamilton Square by common con- sent of the residents after Hamilton township was formed in 1842, the change being gradually made. Why he came here no one may now know. Members of the Hightstown Church may have lived here ; per- sons of Baptist belief or proclivity may have resided here. He may have been asked to come here as Cornelius sent for Peter. Peter Wil- son may have come, sent by the Holy Spirit as the Missionary Philip went in quest of the Treasurer. It was in some private house the first Baptist worship was held in this neighborhood. It was a Church in the house in New Testament phrase. That little gathering was the parent of the Church. It would be interesting for us to-day to look at the features of those men and women meeting in an unpretentious farm house, to greet them as fathers and brothers in a common faith.
THE BAPTIST STRENGTH IN THE STATE.
At that time in this State were eighteen Baptist Churches that have Baptist Church life in them yet. These were Middletown, Stel- ton, Cohansey, Cape May, Hightstown, Scotch Plains, Morristown, Salem, Deckertown, Dividing Creek, Pemberton, Upper Freehold, Mount Bethel, Lyons Farms, Manahawkin, Pittsgrove, Jacobstown and Northfield. At that time the Baptists in the commonwealth numbered about 2,500, with sixteen ordained ministers. The pillars in the min-
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istry in that day were Burgess Alison at Jacobstown, Samuel Morgan at Middletown, Reune Runyon at Sielton, William VanHorn at Scotch Plains. Edmund Taylor at Upper Freehold, Peter Wilson at Hightstown. At Bordentown Burgess Alison had a school in which some of the mighty men of the Lord in that day were trained. The school at Hopewell had closed its doors. In this State, at that time, the Baptists were exempt from persecution, but only ten years before the beginning of Baptist work here the Baptist Churches in New Jersey took up an offering for the suffering brethren in New England. The Baptist forces in this State grew in quantity and in quality. This Church is the grandchild of the Middletown Church, the eldest in New Jersey, the mother of us all. When Middletown was founded in 1688 there were not more that 2,000 Baptists in this entire country. In 1745, when the Hightstown Church was founded, the number was about 5,000. When Baptist work was begun here the number in this State was about 2,500. At that time, in 1785, the State of New Jersey had a population of 170,000. Trenton was the capital city, numbered a few hundred; the Governor of the State was William Livingston. The foundations of this Church were laid about the time when the foundations of our country were laid. The Constitution of our country was adopted two years later. The names of Washington, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, all these were familiar household names at that time.
PERMANENCY OF THE WORK.
The work here was anchored to permanency by the erection in 1785 of a meeting house. In 1788 Abram Eldridge and wife deeded the property to the Hightstown Church for the sum of seventeen pounds and eighteen shillings. William Nuit was the builder of the house, said to have been a frame building, in quite good style and roomy, having a gallery, a high pulpit with a "sounding board" above the pulpit. It is not known who were the pillar-like men in whom this enterprise rested. The grave of Rev. Searing Stites is on the spot over which the pulpit of the old meeting house stood. The meeting house was erected and paid for years before a church organization was ef- fected. The building was erected and remained under the care of the
-
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Hightstown Church with the title vested in the Trustees of that Church until its organization as a distinct Church.
Among the papers of the Hightstown Church is the following: "Received August 30th, 1792, of Peter Wilson the sum of one hundred and sixteen pounds, three shillings and four pence,. it being in full of all demands against the Trustees of Hightstown Baptist Society for building the meeting house at Nottingham, until this day. William Nutt."
We pay a tribute to-day to the memory of Abram Eldridge and William Nutt, the foundation stones of this spiritual structure. El- dridge died 1788, the first one it is said to be buried in the burial ground. His grave is unmarked. Nutt died in 1799. To his grave stone is the scriptive reference :
"Sacred to the memory of WILLIAM NUTT,
who departed this life May 2d, 1799, aged 66 years and 2 months.
I in pain and anguish Sometime lived, Resigned to death and rest ; Thro' Jesus Christ, Our Saviour God, To be forever blest."
Here they met for worship, here believers were baptized; here the Lord's Supper was quarterly observed. In the records of the Mother Church is the following action taken April 25, 1789,-"The church agreed to hold communion at Nottingham the second Lord's day in March, June, September and December." It is not known whether they had service every Lord's day or not-in all likelihood not. The place of baptism from the first, 1785 to 1866, was in what is known as James I. Hutchinson's mill pond. At the baptism the gathered brethren sang the hymn long used on these occasions :
Christians, if your heart be warm, Ice and, snow can do no harm. If by Jesus you are prized, Rise, believe, and be baptized.
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CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
It is an instinct of the Christian life that those who love Jesus as Saviour come together in close fellowship. It is a law of Christian growth that believers so united take upon themselves the responsibili- ties of an organization. The Hopewell Baptist Church worshipped in private houses for thirty-two years. After twenty-seven years of asso- ciated fellowship the brethren here decided to have their own organ- ized church life. In the Hightstown Record Book is this statement, dated April, 1812,-"A number of the members who generally met at Nottingham Square, Burlington County, for social worship having ob- tained dismission from the Hightstown Church were constituted into a distinct Church at Nottingham, having called to their aid brethren Peter Wilson. John Boggs and William Boswell." John Boggs was pastor at Hopewell; William Boswell, of the Trenton and Lamberton Church. Middletown Church was organized with eighteen members ; Hightstown with seventeen members; Hamilton Square with thirty- three. These are the names of the spiritual forefathers and fore- mothers of the Church of to-day :
Sarah Cubberley.
Mary Sunderlin.
John Tindall.
Hetty Coleman.
John Hammel.
Nann Tindall.
William Appleton.
Aaron Hulse.
Phebe Edwards.
Catherine Morris.
Ann Taylor.
Henry Dye.
Elizabeth Rogers.
Hannah Dye.
Sarah Bowers.
Elizabeth Howell.
Elizabeth Hutchinson.
Exercise Stille.
Sarah Appleton.
Mary Appleton.
Susannah Rogers.
Thomas Hooper.
Robert Hutchinson.
Abigail Hooper.
Hannah Hammel.
Elizabeth Fagan.
Rebecca Hutchinson.
Susannah Taylor.
Deborah Flock.
Athaliah Updike.
Sarah Davis.
Elizabethi Hawke.
Mary Holmes.
All of these long since died. The last one of the constituent members was Mrs. Abigail Hooper, who died in 1876, aged 92. We
17
say, concerning them all, "Let them rest in peace." At a joint meet- ing of the Board of Trustees of this Church and the Trustees of the Hightstown Church held at Hightstown, December 29th, 1812, the Church property was transferred to the Trustees of this Church. The first Church meeting for business was held September 1st, 1812. At this meeting Daniel Hutchinson, John Flock and William Appleton were chosen Deacons; William Tindall, John James, John Tindall William T. Cubberly and Asher Quigley were chosen trustees. The Church was incorporated September 11th, 1812, by certificate re- corded in the Burlington County Clerk's office as "Baptist Church of Nottingham Square." By an act of the Legislature of the State, April 6th, 1866, the name was changed to "Hamilton Square Baptist Church." The seal adopted by the Church had a representation of John baptizing Jesus ; a dove descending on the Lord Jesus at his baptism ; the motto "Cum Deo" with God's help; the words "Bapt. Ch. Notti'm." 'The Church was now fully organized for work as an ally of Jesus Christ in his work of conquering the world.
A GLANCE AT THE TIMES.
In this year we were at war with England. Abroad Napoleon made his disastrous invasion of Russia. The organized forces of Christ seemed exceedingly small. There was among the Baptists no Foreign Mission Society; no Home Mission Society; no publication Society ; no state convention. We had one Baptist college, Brown University; no organized theological training work; no papers; no mission schools-although in small ways all these were coming into life and form. The language was comparatively small. The diction- ary had no words-railroad, telephone, wireless, trolley, cable, international, millionaire, trust, strike, lockout. Electricity and coal were curiosities. New Jersey had a population of 250,000. In 1812 the Indians massacred at what is now Chicago fifty soldiers beside women and children. All through the West the tomahawk was yet a symbol of power. The candle lighted in 1812 shines to-day in a world very different from the world of that century-ago day.
Rev. W. W. Case, D.D. October Ist, 1871-November Ist, 1881.
Rev. J. B. Hutchinson. November Ist, 1886-November Ist, 1888
Rev. Joseph Butterworth September Ist, 1882-June Ist, 1886.
Rev. Geo. B. Young. May Ist, 1889-May Ist, 1894.
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MEETING HOUSES.
The first meeting house was erected in 1785 and was in use for sixty-six years, until 1851. The original lot deeded to the Church by Abram Eldridge whose farm extended to the village, was about two-thirds of the present land owned by the Church. In 1851 a piece of land to the East of the original lot was bought of the Cubberly tract ; in 1864 the Church bought the Reed property, now a part of the graveyard. In 1851, during the pastorate of Rev. Searing Stites, the second house, a brick house, was erected at a cost of two thousand two hundred dollars. In 1866 a pulpit recess was constructed and a baptistry introduced. This house would seat about 400.
The third meeting house, now used by the Church, was erected during the pastorate of Rev. W. W. Case. The corner stone was laid August 10th, 1880. Those taking part in the corner stone laying services were Pastor Case, Rev. W. E. Watkinson, Philadelphia ; Rev. Elijah Lucas, Trenton; Rev. O. P. Eaches, Hightstown; Rev. George R. Robbins, Cincinnati; Rev. W. L. Cunningham of the Pres- byterian Church, Hamilton Square; the pastor of the Recklesstown Baptist Church. The cost of the building including furniture was $16,400. The pastor held the first service in the new house July 10th, 1881, preaching from Ps. 122:1. It has been for thirty-two years a place where God has set His name and revealed His face. Scores of men and women have called it a "Bethel," a veritable house of God; men have made it a "Bochim" a place where tears have fallen on ac- count of sins ; on leaving it, many have called it "Peniel," saying, "I have looked upon the face of God." May it be more and more an agency for building up men and introducing God's righteousness.
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH.
The first Pastor was the founder and father of the Church, Peter Wilson. He served until 1816, four years after the formation of the Church. His term of service extended through thirty-one years, during all of which period he was also the Pastor at Hightstown.
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The second Pastor was William Boswell, who acted as Pastor here for four years in connection with the pastorate of the Trenton Church. During his pastorate he became interested in Swedenborgian views and the Church brought his pastorate to a close. Subsequently, the Trenton Church, on the advice of Pastor John Boggs, Henry Smalley and Thomas Montanve, excluded him from their membership. It is one of the traditions of the community that Boswell came out once to preach and found the doors locked against hini, whereupon he said : "They have locked me out of the church but they cannot lock me out of Heaven."
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