USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > Bridgeton > A history and hand-book of the First Presbyterian Church, Bridgeton, N.J. > Part 3
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connection with the West Church, leaving us with dimin- ished ranks, which it required a long time to refill. Miss Maggie K. Elmer, superintendent of the infant depart- ment, being obliged to resign that she might take charge of the infant school of her own congregation, Miss Emily B. Fithian was elected her successor, with Miss Anna Fithian assistant. After the removal of Miss Fithian from our city, in the spring of 1875, her sister, Miss Anna, was elected superintendent, with Miss Martie Reeve as- sistant. Miss Anna Fithian continued in the faithful service of her calling until the spring of 1882, a period of nearly seven years, when, resigning, Miss Nancy P. Elmer accepted the position, which she has most efficient- ly held until the present time, being assisted during the period of her incumbency by Misses Martie Reeve, Minna Sturge, Hanna R. Beebe, Mary E. Minch, and Bertha Gahre. This school was held in the basement of the Session House from 1864 until the building of the new chapel in 1888.
On June 3d, 1883, the several schools met for the last time in the old Session House, and for several months thereafter the primary department held its sessions in the rear room of the Young Men's Christian Association, over Mr. Theis', now Mr. Francis Seeley's store, No. 93 East Commerce Street, while the main school, including the Bible-class, met in the church.
The first public anniversary of the combined schools was held February 12th, 1865, which date was afterwards changed to May, and subsequently to the second Sunday in June, which is now observed throughout the land as Children's Day. With the single exception of the year 1880, during which time the church was undergoing re- pairs, public anniversary exercises have been held in the church to the present time.
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In 1866, during the absence of the present superin- tendent from the State, Mr. Franklin F. Westcott was elected his successor, with Mr. Joseph T. Brown assistant, which office the former held for a year and the latter until the establishment of the West Presbyterian Sunday- school in the old church on Broad Street, in April, 1868, since which time Henry B. Lupton, John M. Laning, and P. Kennedy Reeves have successively filled the office of assistant superintendent.
The librarians in Judge Nixon's department from 1864 to 1870 were, respectively, Charles B. Moore, Henry A. Jorden, and Howard W. Fithian. In the intermediate department, afterwards the main school, until 1872, Will- iam Harrison Woodruff and Robert G. Hann ; from 1872 to 1874, C. Henry Seeley and W. Harrison Woodruff; from 1874 to 1881, C. H. Seeley and Jonathan Elmer, Jr .; from 1881 to 1882, C. H. Seeley and Thomas R. Janvier ; from 1882 to 1884, Charles B. Moore and Thomas R. Jan- vier ; from 1884 to 1887, Charles B. Moore and Henry A. Janvier ; in 1887 and part of 1888 Henry A. Janvier and Frank T. Moore, and from 1888 to the present time, Henry A. Janvier and Hugh L. Reeves.
Cabinet organs were introduced into the adult and in- termediate schools February 14th, 1864, and a melodeon into the infant school April 17th, 1870.
The organists of the schools in the order named have been, in the advanced school, William Wright, and in the intermediate department, Miss Sarah Fithian, Miss Sallie M. Dubois (now Mrs. Frank C. Brewer), Miss Bessie R. Reeves (now Mrs. Ed. M. Fithian) and Miss Mary F. Reeves. In the infant department Miss Anna Fithian, Miss Minna Sturge (now Mrs. Kelly), Miss Hannah R. Beebe, Miss Mary E. Minch, and Miss Bertha Gahre.
The Music Book in use at the time of the reorganiza-
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tion was Bradbury's "Golden Chain," which was fol- lowed in November, 1865, by the "Golden Shower"; in 1868 and until 1874, the " Plymouth Sabbath-school col- lection " ; from 1874 to 1878, "The Christian Songs" ; from 1878 to 1881, " Bliss and Sankey's Gospel Hymns, No. 2"; from 1881 to 1884, "The Book of Praise " ; from 1884 to 1888, "The Westminster Sunday-school Hym- nal," supplemented in 1888, by the "Book of Gems," and since February, 1889, the " Laudes Domini for Sun- day-schools." For many years prior to 1865, " Union Hymns," an admirable collection of Sabbath-school Hymnology, first published by the American Sunday- school Union in 1835, was in use in the school.
For many years prior to 1870, the "Union Question Book "-a publication of the American Sunday-school Union-formed the basis of instruction in the adult classes of the school, but on the 18th of September of that year, a new series of graded lesson-books on the life of Christ, known as the Mimpriss System, was in- troduced, and used with great acceptance, until the first Sabbath in 1873, when the "International Series of Sun- day-school Lessons " was adopted. These have been in constant use ever since
In the early days of the school, during the pastorate of the Rev. Jonathan Freeman, the revenues for the support of the organization then called "the Bridgeton Sunday- school Society," were raised by quarterly subscriptions and donations from different persons. Since then, the church has never failed to give at least partial support to the school, and in latter years has liberally sustained it. In 1874 the envelope system was introduced into the church, whereby the revenues of the school were in- creased at once from fifty to more than a hundred and fifty dollars per year.
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Mrs. Sarah Buck Ogden, widow of Joseph Ogden, at- terwards the wife of Henry Sheppard, and mother of Dr. Joseph Sheppard, was the first treasurer of the school, and held the office until September, 1819, when Sarah S. Elmer, afterwards Mrs. Dr. Neal, was elected and served until April, 1823. She was followed by David Lupton, brother of Miss Rhoda, and of our late Elder Henry B. Lupton, until 1828. Lemuel Dare next served for one year, Joseph Reeves for one year, James Barker, for one year, or until April, 1831, when David Lupton again served until 1835. Since that date the Sunday- school has had but three treasurers. Johnson Reeves was elected in April, 1835, and continued to act in that capacity until April, 1855, just twenty years. He was followed by Robert M. Seeley, who, after a faithful serv- ice of thirty-five years, resigned the office, and Edgar J. Riley, the present treasurer, was elected in his place.
The first record of an adult Bible-class connected with the school, composed exclusively of young ladies, is that taught by Mrs. Gregory, wife of the pastor, Rev. Caspar R. Gregory, D. D., in 1869. This was subse- quently discontinued, and in 1875 Elder Isaac Laning took charge of a similar class, comprising a large num- ber of ladies and gentlemen, which has been under his faithful instruction to the present time.
The Assembly's Shorter Catechism, unquestionably the most invaluable compendium of Christian doctrine for the young that has ever been penned, has been a text-book of the school from its organization to the pres- ent day. During a portion of the pastorates of Drs. Jones and Gregory, monthly catechetical examinations were held, the regular exercises of the schools being often wholly suspended for the purpose. It is sincerely hoped that the rising generations of our churches, for
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centuries to come, may continue to receive the whole- some benefits that accompany or flow from the faithful study of this admirable summary of religious truth.
For many years prior to April 5th, 1874, a monthly con- cert of prayer for Sunday-schools was regularly observed, at which date this helpful meeting was merged into the Young People's Prayer Meeting, held weekly until Sep- tember roth, 1888, when the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was formally organized.
Throughout all the years of the school's history its contributions to missions and other benevolent objects have been liberal, while for many years past, two and sometimes three Mission Bands, having for their object the training of the young in mission work and general benevolence, have been maintained.
Teachers' Meetings, which, like the officers' schools of instruction during the Civil War, are invaluable aids to thoroughness and efficiency in work, have been main- tained with immeasurable profit to the participants, un- der the leadership, in earlier days, of the teachers them- selves, and during the last four years of our pastor, Rev. Sylvester W. Beach.
If now, the question of Pharoah to Jacob, "How old art thou "? were asked of us, a Sunday-school, we would be constrained to reply : "All the years of our pilgrim- age are three score and fifteen." We have just rounded three quarters of a century of Sunday school life-five years more than the allotted life of man. With all this weight of years the Lord has so satisfied our mouth with good things that our youth is renewed like the eagle's. It is the glory of the Church and its adjuncts, that they never grow old. Living in deeds, rather than in years, they maintain a perpetual youthfulness and a glorious immortality. Just as in his political capacity
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the law ascribes to the king an absolute endless exist- ence, and upon his death the people paradoxically cry, "The king is dead ! Long live the king !" so in the realm of religion ; church buildings may decay, church organizations be dissolved, and Sunday-schools disband, but the Church of the ever living God, unshaken as the eternal hills, abides forever !
" Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain !"
FEBRUARY 22d, 1892.
PASTORS.
NAME.
INSTALLED.
William Clarkson, M. D.
Nov. 14, 1794
Resigned October, 1801.
Jonathan Freeman,
Oct. 16, 1805
Died November 17, 1822.
Brogan Hoff
. June 10, 1824
Resigned April, 1833.
John Kennedy .
. May 8, 1834
Resigned October 18, 1838.
Samuel Beach Jones, D D. . May 9, 1839
Resigned May 21, 1863.
Casper R. Gregory, Ph. D. . May 12, 1864
Resigned October 7, 1873.
J. Allen Maxwell, D. D. May 7, 1874
Resigned February 1, 1881.
Augustus Brodhead, D. D. .
. May 4, 1881
Died August 29, 1887.
Sylvester W. Beach . Dec. 19, 1887
RULING ELDERS.
NAME.
INSTALLED.
Nathaniel Harris April, 1796
Died December 3, 1797.
Zachariah Lawrence . 1796
Died August, 1798.
John Lupton
1796
Died February, 1803.
Jonathan Elmer March, 1799 Died September 3, 1807 ..
Ephraim Lummis 1799
Dismissed to Deerfield March 26, 1801.
Jeremiah Sayre
1799
Died November 29, 181I.
(39)
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NAME. INSTALLED.
Francis G. Brewster . July 6, 1806
Dismissed to assist in organization of Second Church September 27, 1838.
Edward Lummis . " 6, 1806
Died March 2, 1828.
Stephen Miller .
" 6, 1806
Died September 15, 1822.
Enoch H. Moore .
Oct. 18, 1818
Died May 6, 1846.
Thomas Woodruff
18, 1818
Died January 24, 1824.
David Lupton
.
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18, 1818
Died February 22, 1837.
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Daniel P. Stratton
18, 1818
Resigned May 12, 1833.
Ebenezer Seeley .
18, 1818
Died November 30, 1840.
Daniel Simkins
Died April 25, 1846.
Levi Stratton
Nov. 30, 1834
Died 1838.
Samuel Eckel
30, 1834
Resigned August 3, 1838.
Uriah D. Woodruff .
30, 1834
Died March 12, 1873.
James Davis .
July 10, 1842
Died January 1, 1855.
Nathaniel Fish .
10, 1842
Died March 9, 1886.
Isaac Laning
10, 1842
Died March 13, 1866.
Henry B. Lupton
10, 1842
Died February 25, 1885.
Joseph Reeves
. .
10, 1842
Died June 14, 1890.
Alfred Holmes April. 26, 1868
18, 1818
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INSTALLED.
April 26, 1868
James J. Reeves
Isaac Laning, Jr.
Jan. 7, 1877
Edgar J. Riley .
7, 1877
Theophilus Trenchard
66 7, 1877
P. Kennedy Reeves Feb. 21, 1890
J. Ogden Burt . 21, 1890
TRUSTEES.
Prior to the passage of the act of incorporation the temporal affairs of the church were under the man- agement of the following committees, in the order named :-
1791, May. Jonathan Elmer, Eli Elmer, David Potter, James Giles.
1795, December 12. ยท Jonathan Elmer, Ephraim Seeley, Ebenezer Elmer, John Moore White, Zachariah Law- rence.
1798, January I. Jonathan Elmer, Isaac Fithian, Abra- ham Sayre, Enos Johnson, and Joshua Reeves.
1799, January I. Ephraim Seeley, Enos Johnson, James Giles, John Mulford, and Isaac Fithian.
1800, January I. Jonathan Elmer, Jeremiah Sayre, Jeremiah Bennett, Jr., Joseph Fanver, and Edward Lum- mis.
1801, January I. David Bowen, Dr. Samuel M. Shute, Daniel Bishop, Edward Lummis, and Charles Woodruff.
1802, January 1. David Bowen, Noah Harris, George Burgin, Dayton Riley, and Ebenezer Seeley.
The following is a record of the election, service,
NAME.
John T. Nixon .
Died September 28, 1889. " 26, 1868
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resignation, or death of the Trustees of the church under the act of incorporation :-
1802, November 19. Jeremiah Buck, John Moore White, David Bowen, Samuel M. Shute, and Stephen Miller.
1806, November 2. David Bowen, and John M. White resigned.
1807, March 5. Robert Hood and John Holmes elected.
1807, April 18. Richard Mulford elected in place of Robert Hood, deceased.
1810, April 14. Richard Mulford, Jeremiah Buck, and John Holmes resigned, and Daniel Elmer, Ephraim Riley, and John Harris were elected.
1811, April 13. John Harris having declined, David Woodruff was elected.
1816, January 2. Ephraim Riley, David Woodruff, Stephen Miller, and Samuel M. Shute resigned.
1816, March 16. Daniel Simkins, Ephraim Holmes, William Elmer, and Thomas Woodruff were elected.
1822, April II. Daniel M. Woodruff elected in place of William Elmer, resigned.
1824, April 17. Nathan S. Stratton elected in place of Thomas Woodruff, deceased.
1828, April 18. Levi Stratton, elected in place of Daniel M. Woodruff, resigned.
1832, April 19. L. Q. C. Elmer and Francis G. Brew- ster elected in place of Ephraim Holmes and Daniel Elmer, resigned.
1833, May 4. Nathan L. Stratton, Levi Stratton, L. Q. C. Elmer, and Francis G. Brewster resigned, and William Elmer, John Holmes, Hugh R. Merseilles, and Daniel Elmer were elected in their places.
1836, June 5. Daniel Fithian, James B. Potter, and
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Johnson Reeves were elected in place of William Elmer, deceased, and John Holmes and Hugh R. Merseilles, resigned.
1840, April 18. Elias P. Seeley and Samuel W. Seeley were elected in place of Daniel Elmer and Daniel Simkins, resigned.
1846, October 19. Jonathan Elmer was elected in place of Elias P. Seeley, deceased.
1859, January 20. James B. Potter resigned and David P. Elmer and Alexander L. Robeson were elected. 1860, July 19. Johnson Reeves, deceased.
1868, January 15. Robert M. Seeley, Edwin M. Ware, and Dr. William Elmer, Jr., were elected in place of Daniel Fithian and Samuel W. Seeley, resigned, and A. L. Robeson, deceased.
1869, September 16. John 'M. Laning, Charles S. Fithian, and W. E. Potter were elected in place of David P. Elmer, William Elmer, Jr., and Edwin M. Ware, re- signed.
1877, January 15. W. Harrison Woodruff was elected in place of William E. Potter, resigned.
1885, January 19. F. B. Minch was elected in place of Jonathan Elmer, resigned.
1887, January 17. Howard W. Fithian was elected in place of Charles S. Fithian, resigned.
1888, Janurry 16. Charles B. Moore was elected in place of W. H. Woodruff, resigned.
1891, January 16. Charles F. Dare was elected in place of Charles B. Moore, resigned.
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PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.
Pastor,
REV. SYLVESTER W. BEACH, 220 E. Commerce Street.
Ruling Elders :
ALFRED HOLMES, ISAAC LANING,
JAMES J. REEVES, EDGAR J. RILEY,
THEOPHILUS TRENCHARD,
J. OGDEN BURT,
P. KENNEDY REEVES.
Treasurer of Sessional and Benevolent Fund, EDGAR J. RILEY. Clerk of Session, REV. S. W. BEACH.
NOTE .- This church has never had Deacons, the duties of such officers being performed by the Session.
Trustees,
FRANCIS B. MINCH, JOHN M. LANING,
ROBERT M. SEELEY, HOWARD W. FITHIAN,
CHARLES F. DARE.
President and Treasurer, FRANCIS B. MINCH.
Secretary, HOWARD W. FITHIAN.
Committees : Church Property and Pew-Renting, JOHN M. LANING, CHARLES F. DARE.
Chapel, Parsonage, ROBERT M. SEELEY. HOWARD W. FITHIAN.
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Chorister, THOMAS R. JANVIER.
Organist, PROF. PRESSON MILLER.
Sexton, LEWIS M. BOWEN, 68 Walnut Stre t.
Ushers, HENRY A. JANVIER, HUGH L. REEVES, SIDNEY E. BOWEN.
OFFICERS OF THE SABBATH-SCHOOL.
Superintendent. JAMES J. REEVES, EsQ. Assistant Superintendent, P. KENNEDY REEVES.
Treasurer, EDGAR J. RILEY.
Librarians, HENRY A. JANVIER, HUGH L. REEVES.
Pianist, MISS MARY F. REEVES.
Superintendent of Primary Department, MISS NANCY P. ELMER.
Assistants and Organists, MISS MARY E. MINCH, MISS BERTHA GAHRE.
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CONCERNING THE PASTOR.
The Pastor's habit is to devote his mornings to study. The afternoons from three o'clock are given to pastoral visitation. Calls for religious conversation are never considered untimely, and the Pastor is always at the service of any who come on such errands. But under ordinary circumstances he finds it more convenient to see callers after half past twelve o'clock noon.
Cases of sickness, funerals, and other pastoral duties draw so heavily on the hours devoted to visitation that the Pastor finds it impossible to make social calls in the congregation as often as he would like or as some would expect. But the plan of work laid out includes a call on each family in the congregation at least once every year. The Pastor suggests, that in cases where it can be done, he be consulted before final arrangements for funerals are made. All hours are not equally convenient for a minister, though he is always ready, where occasion re- quires, to yield his preference. The people may greatly assist the Pastor in discharging his duties to the sick by promptly informing him of any cases where it is proper that he should call. Otherwise, whatever pains may be taken by a minister to do his duty in this regard, there will be instances of apparent neglect. Similar good serv- ice may be rendered in reporting absentees from the church services, new families moving into the city, or strangers in attendance.
In conclusion the Pastor would remind the congrega- tion that he is ever ready to perform for any one of them whatever offices a friend or minister may render. He will welcome every opportunity of doing good.
THE SESSION.
The Session has control of the spiritual affairs of the church. It consists of the Pastor and Elders. Regular
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meetings are held the first Tuesday evening of every month at the parsonage. Special meetings are held af- ter preparatory services before each communion season. Candidates applying for membership in the church are welcome at any meeting of the Session. The Elders, not less than the Pastor, are deeply concerned for the welfare of the church, and are ever ready for any service which may be expected of them. They desire to have a personal acquaintance with every member of the congre- gation, and they ask the co-operation of all members in becoming better known. The Elders are interested in all cases of sickness or trouble, and are always glad to be called upon to render help by visits or in any other way needful.
THE TRUSTEES.
The Board of Trustees consists of five members elected by the congregation. They have charge of the church property and of the secular affairs of the church. All applications for the use of the church building or chapel or any other property of the congregation must be made to this Board. The Trustees render an account to the congregation annually of all receipts and disbursements, and of whatever else in the secular affairs of the church may need to be reported.
CHURCH SUPPORT.
The Board of Trustees has the duty of raising funds to meet the current expenses of the congregation, such as the salary of Pastor, chorister, organist, sexton; the heating, lighting, repairing, and improving church prop- erty, &c. In order to do this an adequate and regu- lar income must be provided. The means of raising these funds adopted by our Board of Trustees is mainly through pew-rents. These are paid monthly through
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envelopes. The pew-rents being low are not suffi- cient to meet all expenses, and, therefore, some pew- holders make a monthly contribution for church support in excess of the rating of their pews. The undesignated plate collection every Sabbath morning is also devoted to the uses of the Trustees. No collection is taken up at the evening services. It is important that every member should contribute by renting a pew or a sitting ; but our pews are always free to strangers and visitors, to whom a warm welcome is given at all services.
SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE.
The church contributes every Sabbath morning to all the Boards of the Presbyterian Church ; also to the Sab- bath School, West Jersey Academy, Pearl Street Mission, and East Bridgeton Chapel; envelopes are furnished by the Session for the purpose. Once a year members are asked to sign a card, placing opposite to each object above named the amount he or she is willing to give every Sabbath. This amount is placed in bulk in the envelopes and after- wards distributed by the Treasurer according to the pref- erence of the contributor as indicated on the card. This plan combines many advantages. It secures systematic and proportionate giving according to the apostolic rule of I. Corinthians xvi. 2. It tends to promote universal giving, the weekly contributions ranging all the way from a few cents up to some dollars ; by this method the left hand doth not know what the right hand doeth, as only the Session, and generally only the Treasurer, is aware of the amount given by each. In cases where no designa- tion is made by the contributor, the Session apply the amount to the General Fund, which is annually appor- tioned, according to their judgment, among the Boards. An offering is made on Communion Sabbaths for the
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Sessional Fund, which is devoted to aiding the poor in our own congregation and paying presbyterial and synod- ical expenses.
CONCERNING THE OBJECTS.
The Boards of the Presbyterian Church are eight in number, and are all missionary agencies.
I. The Board of Education .- Its purpose is to render assistance to worthy students for the ministry. Nearly nine hundred were aided last year to the extent of about $100 each. They are among the best students in all our colleges and seminaries. Income last year, $93,730.
2. The Board of Publication and Sabbath-school Work. Its object is twofold. First, to supply our ministers, churches, and Sabbath-schools with the best Christian literature ; and, secondly, to send Sabbath-school organ- izers into destitute portions of our country. The publi- cation department pays its own way, and contributed over $11,000 last year to the missionary department. Eleven hundred and thirty-nine Sabbath-schools were established last year by this Board. Into these schools were gathered thirty-eight thousand eight hundred and thirty-six scholars and four thousand five hundred and forty-two teachers. Income last year for Sabbath-school missionary work, $87,508.
3. The Board of Foreign Missions .- Object : to send out missionaries into foreign lands. This includes the support of missionaries, teachers, physicians, and native laborers, the building of churches and schools, the pre- paring and publishing Christian literature in many lan- guages, and the care of worn-out missionaries and their families. The work of this Board is carried on in twenty- six different missions with one hundred and one stations by three hundred and eighty-three ordained missionaries,
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one hundred and ninety-three licentiates, three hundred and forty-eight women, nine hundred and forty-three na- tive lay workers. The membership in foreign missionary churches numbers twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and ninety-four ; twenty-seven thousand three hundred and forty-eight scholars in day schools. Income last year, $794,066 ; Women's Board, $280,285.
4. The Board of Home Missions .- This board sup- ports in whole or in part missionaries in feeble churches and destitute or pioneer fields in our own country. Seventeen hundred and one missionaries were under the care of this board last year. Seventeen thousand eight hundred and eighty-six members were added to home mission churches. A church was organized every other day in the year, and two Sunday-schools every day. One hundred thousand, seven hundred and seventy- eight members in home mission churches ; one hun- dred and sixty thousand one hundred and eleven chil- dren in Sabbath-schools. The average cost has been $450 per missionary. Income, $358,406 ; Women's so- cieties, $286,627.
5. The Board of Freedmen .- Object : mission work among the negroes of the South. Three hundred and sixteen missionaries (two hundred and fifty-two colored), two hundred and forty-five churches, sixteen thousand five hundred and two communicants, seventeen thousand seven hundred and eighty-two Sabbath-school scholars. Pupils in day schools, ten thousand one hundred and sixty-nine. Income, $179,599.
6. Church Erection .- Object : erection of churches and manses, or aiding weak congregations in securing them. Two hundred and fifty churches aided. Income, $126,- 473.
7. Aid for Colleges .- Object : establishing and foster-
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ing young Presbyterian academies and colleges. Thirty- five institutions aided (twenty-six new). Income, $41, 900.
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