USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > Bridgeton > A history and hand-book of the First Presbyterian Church, Bridgeton, N.J. > Part 2
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During the pastorate of Dr. Jones' meetings were held at different times to consider the expediency of building a Third Church, on the west side of the Cohansey. At a congregational meeting held January 20th, 1859, it was decided, by a vote of sixty-five to fifty-seven, to build a new church on the west side. A lot was purchased on the southwest corner of Franklin and Commerce Streets, but no further progress was made. This lot was subse- quently disposed of, and that on which the present West Church stands secured.
On March 13th, 1861, at a congregational meeting, it was decided to enlarge the First Church edifice, a de- cision which postponed for several years the further agi- tation of the question of a West Side Church. The work
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of enlargement was at once undertaken, and so vigor- ously was it pushed that on Sunday, November 24th, of the same year, the congregation occupied its larger and more beautiful edifice. On this occasion Dr. Jones preached an historical sermon of the greatest interest and value. It is the source of very deep regret that the manuscript of that sermon, so valuable a contribution to an authentic church history, is hopelessly lost. These improvements cost $6478, and during their progress the congregation worshiped in the Old Broad Street Church.
One year and a half from this time Dr. Jones suddenly resigned his pastorate and severed his connection with the people among whom he had lovingly labored for twenty-four years. The causes leading to this honest and honorable decision of Dr. Jones are too painful to be re- hearsed here. It is enough merely to say that Dr. Jones' Southern sympathies were too strong for a congregation warmly united in love and loyalty to the Union in the hour of its sorest distress. During Dr. Jones' pastorate, and largely through his influence, the West Jersey Acad- emy was built, an institution which is still flourishing un- der the able principalship of Mr. Phœbus W. Lyon.
On May 12th, 1864, the Rev. Caspar R. Gregory be- came Pastor, and continued in the office till October 7th, 1873, nearly nine years and a half. He was an energetic and efficient Pastor, and earnest and evangelical preacher. Dr. Gregory's ministry was especially blessed in awak- ening the unconverted, and the church received large accessions during his pastorate. From Bridgeton Dr. Gregory was called to Lincoln University at Oxford, Pa., where he filled the chair of Sacred Rhetoric till his death, February 26th, 1882. He was buried in the pastor's lot in the old Broad Street Cemetery. The congregation
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purchased the commodious parsonage on East Commerce Street, in March, 1864, paying $5500 for it. It has since been enlarged and improved.
A most important event of Dr. Gregory's pastorate was the organization of the West Church in 1869. The congregation having so increased that there was no longer room for growth, and the interests of Presbyteri- anism demanding a church upon the west side of the Cohansey, one hundred and thirteen members of the First Church took letters of dismission March 15th, 1869, . and on the next day they, together with four members from the Second Church, were organized into the West Presbyterian Church. It is worthy of being recorded, to the glory of God, that the division, prompted only by a sense of duty, was effected without the slightest ill feeling. The only pain was in the parting of some who had so long sat side by side in the dear old First Church. The West Church congregation worship in a modern and beautiful stone edifice on the northeast corner of West Commerce and Giles Street. Their lecture-room is well adapted to the uses of prayer-meetings and Sab- bath-school, and the parsonage adjoining the church affords a handsome residence for their Pastor, the Rev. W. J. Bridges.
The Rev. J. Allen Maxwell, D. D., succeeded Dr. Gregory, and was installed May 7th, 1874. The rela- tion continued till February Ist, 1881, nearly seven years. This pastorate was abundantly fruitful. Each year strengthened the tie uniting Pastor and people, and it was with deep mutual reluctance that the relationship was dissolved. Not only the church, but also the com- munity, felt a loss in Dr. Maxwell's removal. He was a public-spirited citizen as well as an eloquent preacher and devoted Pastor. During his subsequent pastorates at
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Titusville, Pa., and Danbury, Conn., he frequently re- turned to Bridgeton, where a warm welcome was always extended him in the homes of his former parishioners, and in the pulpit where he always loved to preach. The following minute, adopted by the Session when his death was announced, November 27th, 1890, is expressive of the loving regard in which he was held by the First Church : "The Session has learned with deep regret and unfeigned sorrow of the death of our late beloved Pas- tor, the Rev. J. Allen Maxwell, D. D., at his home in Danbury, Conn. At 12.45 o'clock Thanksgiving morn- ing, November 27th, 1890, his pure spirit took its flight to abide forever in the heavenly home. We remember his indefatigable and faithful labors for the Master among us for a period of nearly seven years ; his earnest and able preaching ; his cheering words in our joys ; his comforting assurances in our sorrows ; his wise coun- sels, his genial smile, and his gentle and sweet disposi- tion. We remember him as a public-spirited citizen, keenly alive to the best interests of our community, and zealous in the promotion of every good cause. We re- member him as an example of Christian courtesy, re- markably judicious in method and amiable in temper. May the precious memory of his labors and virtues be an inspiration to us all, leading us to greater activity in the Master's service and to a higher and holier Christian life." (See minutes of Session, pages 185-186.) In 1880, during Dr. Maxwell's pastorate, the church was improved and refitted at a cost of over $2700.
The Rev. Augustus Brodhead, D. D., succeeded Dr. Maxwell in the pastorate. He was installed May 4th, 1881, and continued his labors until his sudden death on August 29th, 1887. The funeral was held in the church on Friday, September 2d. An immense throng of be-
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reaved and sorrowing parishioners and friends filled to overflowing the church, and followed the body to its last resting place in Broad Street Cemetery, where in other days of similar sorrow the bodies of Drs. Freeman, Jones, and Gregory had in turn been laid to rest.
A memorial service was held in the church Sunday evening, September 25th, at which an appropriate ser- mon was preached by the Rev. Hugh Smith Carpenter, of Brooklyn, N. Y., a lifelong and intimate friend of the deceased.
As a linguist, oriental scholar, missionary, pastor, and typical Christian man Dr. Brodhead wielded a great in- fluence wherever his name was known. His character was like that of the beloved John, and he evinced the gentleness, sweetness, and tenderness of the Master Himself. His name is like precious ointment poured forth, and his influence can never perish. The Session, suddenly left without a head, entered on their minutes an expression of their sorrow and loss, in which they say : "In entering these facts the Session desires to record an expression of their great sorrow in being called to part with their beloved Pastor, who endeared himself to them, as well as to the whole church now mourning his loss, as a most devoted shepherd of the flock, an eminently godly and faithful minister of the gospel, and an humble Christian, of whom it may be said as of Stephen, "He was full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." (See minutes, pages 128, 129.) It was during the pastorate of Dr. Brodhead that our present handsome chapel was built at a cost of about $9000. The corner-stone was laid Au- gust 8th, 1883, by Dr. Brodhead. The building was completed in March, 1884. The committee in charge of the work were R. M. Seeley, C. E. Mulford, C. R. Corey, Theodore E. Edwards, and P. K. Reeves.
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It was also, owing to the missionary zeal of Dr. Brod- head, that the East Bridgeton Chapel was built by subscrip- tions from members of the three churches. Probably the last public official act of his life was the dedication of this beautiful chapel. It was just before he left home on the leave of absence, granted him by the congregation, who realized how worn down he was by his incessant and arduous labors. The work in East Bridgeton Chapel goes forward, though its sainted founder has passed to his re- ward, and no more fitting monument could be reared to his blessed memory than this chapel that echoes with the praise of those who worship there, some of whom have found it a gate of heaven to their souls.
The present Pastor was installed December 19th, 1887, having been called to this pastorate from the Twelfth Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, Md., where he had been pastor since his ordination to the ministry in May, 1880. He enters into a noble succession of Godly men, and all who have preceded him, "having served their generation by the will God, have fallen on sleep."
RULING ELDERS.
Thirty one persons have held the office of Ruling Elder in the First Church. The first recorded election is dated April, 1796. In explanation of this delay in electing elders the following record is found: "At a meeting held in the court-house, April 30th, 1792, a plan of union with the Presbyterian Congregation of Green- wich was drawn up and agreed to. The fourth article of said agreement provides "that for the present, and until otherwise agreed upon by the parties or approved by the Presbytery, there shall be but one set of church officers and one church Session for both churches. That the present officers of Greenwich Church shall, immedi-
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ately after the union takes place, become officers and rulers of both churches ; but in filling up all future va- cancies elections shall be held and officers chosen alter- nately at each church."
The Elders first chosen, in 1796, were Nathaniel Harris, Zechariah Lawrence, and John Lupton. Three others were elected in March, 1799, to wit, Jonathan Elmer, Ephraim Lummis, and Jeremiah Sayre. Beginning with these noble names an unbroken line has come down to our day, men illustrious for sterling character and devoted piety. Twenty have died in office, five have resigned to unite with other churches, and seven are still in active service in the church.
TRUSTEES.
Prior to the act of incorporation passed in 1802 the temporal affairs of the church were under the manage- ment of a committee, the original members of which were elected in 1791. These were Jonathan Elmer, Eli Elmer, David Potter, and James Giles. Under the act of incorporation of November 19th, 1802, the following Trus- tees were elected : Jeremiah Buck, John Moore White, David Bowen, Samuel M. Shute, and Stephen Miller. The present efficient Board is constituted of F. B. Minch, president ; H. W. Fithian, secretary ; R. M. Seeley, J. M. Laning, and Charles F. Dare. Too much cannot be said of the wise administration of the business men who have managed the material affairs of the church. Stand- ing conspicuous in the community in commercial and pro- fessional circles, they have ever discharged faithfully the important trusts committed to them by the congregation. To their administrative ability as well as to the liberality of the people, is due the fact that no debt rests on the church and that all its obligations are most promptly met.
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MUSIC.
The history of music in this church is worthy of special mention. Space allows only an outline of facts. The records of the Session refer to the subject of music as far back as the Eighteenth Century. Mr. Lot. Fithian is mentioned as chairman of the music committee. He was charged with the duty of leading the singing at the serv- ices ; he sat in front of the congregation, and would rise after the minister gave out the hymn, announce the tune, and give the pitch. After Lot. Fithian, Thomas Wood- ruff and Ephraim Riley were successively leaders. About the year 1835, just before the building of the church on North Laurel Street, Paul Shaw conducted a singing class, which led to the organization of a choir under the leadership of Joseph Reeves. It is believed that this was the first choir organized in South Jersey. In 1839 a bass viol was introduced, played by Nathaniel Fish. This instrument is still of sweet and rich tone, and until recently was in the possession of Horace H. Shoe- maker, of Bridgeton. Later a melodeon was intro- duced. In 1862 a pipe organ took the place of the melodeon. Its cost was $700, considered a great ex- penditure in those days for such a purpose. This organ continued to do good service till 1873, when a grand Hook & Hastings organ was bought at a cost of $3500. To this day this instrument has lost none of its richness, fullness, and sweetness of tone. Joseph Reeves continued to be the faithful and efficient chorister until 1861, when he was succeeded by Robert DuBois. For about twenty years the congregation enjoyed the invalu- able services of Mr. DuBois, who fully maintained the high reputation of the choir, which has always given a laudable distinction to the First Church. Thomas R.
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Janvier, the present leader, has all the qualities of taste, talent, and tact requisite in a good chorister. His inde- fatigable and most successful labors in elevating and de- veloping the musical taste of our city, as conductor of the Musical Union, are too well known and appreciated to need mention here. After all that may be said of the leaders, the unbounded gratitude of the congregation is due to all the members of the choir who give so much time and labor gratuitously in this good work. Professor Presson Miller, the organist, has also borne a most im- portant part in the artistic success of our music.
INGATHERINGS.
But in all the history of the First Church, nothing is so gratifying as the character and increase of its member- ship and the precious revivals of religion with which it has been visited. Organized with thirty six members one hundred years ago, thirteen hundred persons alto- gether have united with the church. The greatest in- crease in any year was in 1890, when sixty-nine were added. In 1843 fifty-six were received, the result of a mighty revival that moved the entire city. In 1859 there was an ingathering of fifty-four. After these the largest accessions were as follows :-
in 1830 . 30
1853 26
1854 . . 3I
1865 . 50
1867 . 39
1869 39
1876. 26
1888 30
I889 . 29
I891 . 37
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But beyond what these larger harvests show there has been continuous and steady increase, so that, with the exception of a solitary year, the membership has shown a net increase every year since the organization of the church. Did space permit, it would be a grateful task to outline some of the saintly lives that have given char- acter and power to the First Church throughout its his- tory. How fragrant the memories of such men as Jona- than Elmer, David Lupton, Ebenezer Seeley, Daniel P. Stratton, Uriah D. Woodruff, Johnson Reeves, Isaac Laning, Nathaniel Fish, Henry B. Lupton, John T. · Nixon, Joseph Reeves, and a score of others whose names are household words among us. But the story of work done cannot be told in names, or facts, or figures. How inadequate all these to express the full significance of a church's life. Think of the meaning of more than one thousand souls born into the Kingdom of God! Think of their work and witness for our Lord Jesus Christ ! Think of them as scattered throughout our land and the world ; ministers of the gospel, teachers, Christian business men, lawyers, physicians, and laborers ! Compute, if you can, their influence upon families, com- munities, states, and nations, upon the Christian and heathen world! To untold multitudes this church has been an eternal blessing. The sermons, prayers, exhor- tations, instructions, and example of Godly pastors, the consecrated and faithful labors of a truly apostolic line of ruling elders, the work of superintendents and teachers in Sabbath schools ; these will continue and extend their influence to the latest generations. Standing in a spir- itual ancestry so royal, how great the responsibility of the men and women and children of this Church to-day ! With new loyalty and love to Jesus and the church which
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he hath purchased with his blood, may we, beginning this new century, address ourselves to the great work that larger opportunities have laid to our hand, "being not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
"A sacred burden is this life ye bear, Look on it, lift it, bear it solemnly ; Stand up and walk beneath it steadfastly, Fail not for sorrow, falter not for sin,
But onward, upward, till the goal ye win."
HISTORY OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOLS
OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BRIDGETON, N. J.
BY JAMES J. REEVES, ESQ, SUPERINTENDENT.
THE early history of the Sunday-school of our church is of especial interest, as its birth in 1816 marks the origin of the first organized Sunday-school in Cumber- land County. The first Sunday-school ever taught in this county, as we are informed by Judge Elmer in his authentic history, was held in the school building on Bank Street in this city, known as Harmony Academy. It was started and superintended by his honored father, General Ebenezer Elmer, one of the champions of the Bible cause and of every evangelical religious movement of that day, and an active member and officer of our · Church. Strange, as it may seem, there was much op- position to the Sunday-school movement on the part of a large number of prominent religious men and others in the community, who looked upon the work as a desecra- tion of the Lord's day, believing that it would seriously interfere with family and pastoral instruction.
Although most of the teachers and scholars were Presbyterians, it was for several years a Union School, unconnected with any denomination, probably until after
(28)
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1825, for in that year, we are informed, the Methodists started a school for themselves in Commerce Street. From the best information to be obtained, the school was not held in the Bank Street Academy more than a half dozen times, but was removed first to the Old Presby- terian Church on Broad Street, where the sessions were held for several months, and thence to the old court- house which stood in the middle of Broad Street in front of where the present court-house now stands. While in the court-house the boys and girls were taught sepa- rately; the girls occupying the lower room-the court room proper-and the boys the upper or grand-jury room. During the opening and closing exercises, however, they would be united, the boys standing about the room for want of seats.
The first anniversary of this school was held Sep- tember 8th, 1818, in the Old Presbyterian Church. Nearly two hundred children were present, together with a considerable number of the inhabitants of the town, and persons from neighboring villages, so that the house was filled. The exercises commenced at two o'clock. The annual report was read by Rev. Jonathan Frecman, Pastor of the church, and addresses were made by General Elmer and the Pastor. It is recorded that the children preserved excellent order during the exercises, which continued about two hours. From the report we learn that the school, under the system of reg- ulations that then governed it, commenced on the first Sabbath of September, 1816. The number of children were from one hundred and seventy to two hundred ; classes, sixteen, making an average of from ten to twelve scholars to each teacher. The whole school was under the superintendence of a first and two assistant direct- resses. With little variation the school had been opened
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every Sabbath at eight o'clock in the morning, and con- tinued two hours; then again in the afternoon at one, and closed at half-past two. The report goes on to say, "suffice it to state that great progress has been made [during the year]. One girl, about twelve years of age, committed sixty chapters of sixteen hundred and sixty- three verses ; one hundred and ninety-six questions of catechism, and a great number of hymns. Some have committed thirty, some forty, and some fifty chapters in the Bible, and in the shorter and larger catechisms amounting to three hundred and three questions. One boy has committed and recited perfectly seven chapters of Matthew, twenty-one in John, fifteen of Romans, one of Corinthians, eight of Proverbs, sixty hymns, and all the larger catechisms."
Immediately following this account is a notice of a meeting of all denominations to be held at Rev. Mr. Freeman's, to form a Sunday-school Union for Cumber- land County.
This meeting was held, and an account of it published September 28th, 1818. Rev. Ethan Osborn of Fairfield was appointed chairman, and Rev. Mr. Freeman, secre- tary. These two eminent ministers of the Word, and Gen- eral Ebenezer Elmer were a trio of rare Sunday-school men, who, by their ability, zeal, and spiritual power, must have given an impetus to the great cause of Bible instruction, and to them and to the faithful corps of teachers under them, do we owe, in great measure, the sound religious character of this community. God be praised for such an ancestry. May we emulate their virtues, and being possessed of greater advantages and privileges, rise to a higher level of intellectual and spirit- ual attainment, for unto whom much is given, of them will much be required.
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The Bridgeton Union School was held in the court- house until 1829, when it was removed to the old Session House which then stood at the northeast corner of East Commerce and Pearl Streets. General Elmer was suc- ceeded as superintendent, or director, as the superintend- ent was then called, by Thomas Woodruff, father of the late Judge A. Woodruff, and an Elder of this church, who held the office from 1818 until his death in January, 1824. After the death of Mr. Woodruff, Levi Stratton and Samuel Eckel (the latter for a very brief period), conducted the school. Mr. Woodruff had charge of the boys in the grand-jury room. Mrs. Nancy Pierson superintended the girls' department in the court-room. In the spring of 1832, after the removal to the Session House, Judge L. Q. C. Elmer was chosen sole superin- tendent of the boys' department, and immediately there- upon classified the school, taking the Bible-classes, em- bracing pupils of both sexes, into the upper room, thus creating two distinct schools under separate superintend- ents. Judge Elmer continued the honored and faithful superintendent of one or other of the departments, prin- cipally of the advanced school, for many years, resigning in the early spring of 1864, when the old Session House of blessed memory was removed from the spot where it stood for thirty-five years to the site of our present chapel.
The primary school was successively under the man- agement of Mrs. Pierson, Mrs. Jane Seeley, Miss Sarah Elmer (afterwards Mrs. Neal), sister of Judge Elmer, Mr. Levi Clafflin, Mr. Henry Freeman, and Mr. Uriah D. Woodruff, until about the time of its removal in 1864. At this time a branch school, which had been established in the Old Presbyterian Church, about the year 1855, by Hon. John T. Nixon, was discontinued, and all the
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schools reorganized in the Session House with three de- partments, including an infant school, which was formed and placed under the control of Miss Julia Nichols, as- sisted by Miss Louisa Buck, now Mrs. Charles Reeve. Before the close of the first year, to wit, the Isth of Jan- uary, 1865, Misses Nichols and Buck resigned-the former to fill a similar position in the Sunday-school of St. An- drew's Protestant Episcopal Church of our city, and Mrs. Jane B. Lee accepted the superintendency with Miss Maggie K. Elmer, now Mrs. Robert Porter, as assistant.
Mrs. Lee continued to hold the position until Decem- ber, 1866, when she resigned to assume the charge of the infant school of the Second Presbyterian Church, of which she was then, and has ever since been, a member. Until this school was established there had been no infant de- partment since about the year 1835, when a very interest- ing infant school was held in the old red custom-house, office of General Elmer, on the site of Mr. Jacob Daily's house, at or near the corner of East Commerce and Orange Streets. The first superintendent of this school was Miss Margaret L. Fithian, so long one of our most efficient teachers.
The intermediate or primary department was assigned to the present superintendent in February, 1864, who was then assisted by Mr. Robert M. Seeley, while the advanced classes were superintended by Judge John T. Nixon, as- sisted by Mr. Henry B. Lupton. The schools continued in these departments until 1872, when the removal of Judge Nixon to Trenton necessitated the union of the two larger schools in the main room of the Session House. The interests of Presbyterianism seeming to demand a third church on the west side of the river, in the spring of 1868, a new school, formed chiefly of the members of our school residing there, was organized in
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