USA > New Jersey > A history of Baptists in New Jersey > Part 11
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SANDY RIDGE
gregation. It was not dedicated, however, until a few weeks after the former pastor, George Young's second pastorate had begun.
The pastoral charge of Rev. S. Sproul was an era of attainment both at home and abroad. Its longer continuance in contrast with other short pastorates, had much to do with its efficiency. The man himself, Mr. Sproul, must not be left out of the accounting. Events show that pastors come into the right place at the right time and have specialties in their ministerial career, which are exceptional to them- selves and to the churches they serve. Pastor Sproul, judging by the fruits of his labors had such an experience at Sandy Ridge. A period of "supplies" continued till the second settlement of Rev. George Young, beginning anew in November, 1867, and in the same month the new house of worship was dedicated. Pastor Young resigned in January, 1872, "supplying" the church for some time after, however. Rev. B. R. Black was pastor 1873-76. A. W. Peck was pastor for a little while.
In the spring of 1878, Rev. George Young held the pastoral office for the third time and remained two years; the welfare of the church was much improved in these years. Rev. M. B. Lanning followed 1881-5. His service was helpful in all respects. Stockton church united with the mother church, in a joint pastorate under Rev. A. Cauldwell. Churches, in small villages and rural districts are quite sensitive to financial changes in commercial centers, also the tendency of young people and of capital to the cities seriously impairs their strength. Some such, once the stay of the denomination, have been reduced by this current abroad to weakness. Mr. Cauldwell resigned in the spring of 1888. Destitute of pastoral care until 1890, needed repairs on the church edifice and on the parsonage were made in the interim.
Rev. G. H. Larison, M. D., became pastor in 1890, being pastor also at Ringoes, preaching at Sandy Ridge in the afternoon and at Ringoes, morning and evening. While in the midst of a work of grace, he died in 1892, as a result of his intense overwork. (See history of Ringoes for an account of his wonderful labors.) A wonderful man! As "supply," Rev. C. A. Mott ministered at Sandy Ridge from 1894 to May, 1897, when Rev. W. G. Robinson settled and is now (1900) pastor.
Sandy Ridge has had sixteen pastors. Three of which have been joint pastorates with other churches and one of them has been three times in charge of the church and another died and closed his ministry on earth. A goodly number have been licensed to preach, Messrs. C. E. and W. V. Wilson, brothers, W. E. Lock, A. Ammermen, E. C. Romine, and the brothers, Judge J. and J. C. Buchanan, but for the
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removal of their father from Sandy Ridge, would have been in the number of men of mark from the church.
Education and schools had a place in the plans of these people. One of them, Robert Rittenhouse, founded a Manual Labor School in 1831 in his own home, which involved his entire "means." Later he bought a more satisfactory property and widened his work. Pro- fessors were engaged and the school only closed when Mr. Rittenhouse had exhausted his private resources. (On education, a more complete account of this school which is given by Rev. W. V. Wilson, one of its early students.) This is was one of the eight schools that gave New Jersey pre-eminence in the colonies and the states, both as to their early origin and their foremost place in the schools of the land and adds to the folly of the removal of Hopewell school to Rhode Island from its natural and proper home. The two schools, at Bridgeton and Hights- town are not included in these eight. Under the Divine hand, strength and power are developed from a source which men judge of little worth. Thus Sandy Ridge, a plain people, isolated from the centers of busy life, send out men whom God honors with the largest usefulness.
Their unworldliness was told to the writer by a venerable woman, once a member of the church, now nearly a hundred years since, and said: "It was customary for mothers to bring their infants to church and rocking chairs to church and other needful things of infanthood and exercise the needful offices of maternity." Although primitive, these Godly women trained giants to bless the world. Two houses of worship have served the church. One built in 1817, another built in 1866, corresponding in size to the large growth of the church. A third was built at Stockton, a mission station, whither the church sent a colony of forty-five members to organize a church.
Rev. Messrs. Joseph Right, J. J. Baker, A. W. Wigg and A. Arm- strong are tenderly remembered as having done mission work in Stock- ton long before a Baptist church was established there. By the persistent efforts of Rev. S. Sproul of Sandy Ridge, a house of worship was built in Stockton and dedicated in 1861. Messrs. Bartle and A. Van Sycle gave lots for the building. Pastor Sproul preached at Stockton on alternate Lord's Day afternoons. In 1865, Baptists in Stockton had increased and agreed to organize a church. Letters were given to forty-five and on January, 27, 1866, formed a Baptist church. Continuous meetings were held at the time and many persons were converted. Rev. C. E. Cordo became pastor in March, 1866, and gathered the harvest and closed his labors at Stockton in July 1867. Mr. J. S. Hutton was ordained for pastor ending his charge of three years in September 1871. In 1868, Deacon Wilson of Sandy
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STOCKTON AND WERTSVILLE
Ridge, (father of C. E. and Wm. V. Wilson) bought a lot and gave it to the Stockton church for a parsonage and soon after the parsonage was built. The succession of pastors was: A. Cauldwell, 1871-75; B. F. Robb, ordained October 1875-79; Mr. Noecker ordained 1879. Pastor A. Cauldwell returned to his old charge in 1882-88. Its last two years was a joint pastorate at Sandy Ridge. C. W. O. Nyce, 1890; J. Huffnagle, 1890-92. "Stated supplies" served the church for seven years to May 1899. In that year, Rev. E. E. Krauss entered the pastorate, and was pastor in 1900. Mission work had begun con- temporaneously in Stockton and in Frenchtown along in 1850-59.
Both of them were manufacturing towns on the Delaware river. The churches and the houses of worship were undertaken in the same years. Churches, in manufacturing places are subject to the financial conditions of the market and to a changing and often, to a transient population, and if they do not have an endowment in financial crises, the pastor is the chief burden bearer. Straits of a reduced salary often compel pastors to change when they ought not to. A wife overborn with hardships of economizing, children deprived of an education which educated parents know the value of is a compulsion in the Divine instruction of I. Timothy, 5:8.
Stockton has had eight pastors, one of whom held the office twice and was part of the time joint pastor of the mother church. The house of worship built under Mr. Sproul in 1861, of Sandy Ridge, is still in use. The outlook of the church for growth and large mem- bership is not brilliant, owing to a limited field and to being encom- passed by older and influential Baptist churches.
The constituency of Wertsville church was from Flemington church. Its origin was unique, much like that of Ledgewood and wholly without action by the maternal church. On March 1, 1834, a meeting was called at the school house of those favorable to the building of a Baptist house of worship in Wertsville. Baptists who eventually formed the Baptist church, numbered only eight persons.
Although the number was small, it included men and women of generous ideas and plans. Having discussed the matter, the meeting adjourned to the 22nd inst., when final action was taken and articles of association were adopted, one of which read: "When a church shall have been constituted at said meeting house upon the doctrines and principles usually held and practiced by Baptist churches; then said church shall have the free use of the house and all other property pertaining thereto." Article 2 provided: "The name shall never be changed to any other denomination." These Baptists knew what they wanted and that the thing wanted be made sure. James Servis
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and Betsey Hoagland gave one acre of land as the site for the meeting house and burying ground forever." A house 40x48 was built of stone on this lot. A large house for eight people to erect for their use. They must have had in mind the saying, "Still there is room." We have no further account of this church edifice.
But on October 1836, a council recognized these eight persons as a Baptist church. Their names were N. O. Durham and Mary, Malon Higgins and Ann, Abraham S. Van Doren, Abraham Larison, Mary Carr and Elizabeth Young, four men and four women. Rev. William Pollard was their beloved pastor for the next three years. Enfeebled with sickness while pastor, he died on November 30th, 1839. The church under his labors had grown to be a strong and numerous body.
On the Lord's Day, after the recognition of the church, a husband and wife were baptized. Rev. William Pollard became pastor and though quite infirm, remained three years and died on November 30th, 1839. Under his labors the church grew to be a strong and numerous body: Other pastors were: J. Spencer, 1840-41; J. Wright, having a joint pastorate with Sandy Ridge from 1842 and after at Wertsville only till 1849; Eph'm Sheppard, 1849-56; George Young, 1856-7; Sam- uel Cox, ordained June 10th, 1858-60; J. Beldon, 1861-65; then two years of supplies; S. Seigfried, 1867-69; J. Wright, second charge, 1869-73; suffered a long illness in 1873, aged seventy-seven years. J. M. Helsley, 1877-78; H. A. Chapman, 1882-89, had a season of revival. Mr. Chapman was an art and mechanical genius. The house was transformed under his oversight and by his hand, passing description in originality and beauty. Mr. Chapman completed the reconstruction without cost to the church. The small salary did not retain Mr. Chapman. Nor did the Mission Board appropriate the necessary funds for his support. Managers of missions err, as do men in their private affairs. After nearly two years from Mr. Chap- man's going away, G. W. Leonard settled as pastor in 1891-93. Then was a period of "supplies" for five years, and the Rev. J. H. Denning settled and retired in 1899. Mr. H. W. Moore, a student ministered for some time. The Church has but the one house built, 1834-36, which was renewed by Mr. Chapman.
There have been sixteen pastors and long intervals of "supplies." One pastor has died, another has retired in his old age and he had been pastor twice. Wertsville is a rural church and the nearby Flemington is attractive, being large and influential.
Cherryville is about four miles from Flemington and is on the hills. A fact that removes it far off. The church was organized with forty- nine members, of them nine were from Kingwood, one from Bethlehem,
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CHERRYVILLE
and thirty-nine from Flemington. On October 2nd, 1849, Baptists met in the home of one of their members; adopted articles of faith, and covenant and organized themselves into a Baptist Church. The Church located itself in the village, the name of which it bears.
The Board of the Baptist State Convention had sent a missionary on the field: Rev. E.R. Hera. Pastor Bartolette and the Barrass brothers, also of the Flemington Church, had long since been preaching in these various localities. Mr. Hera began his work in April, 1849, and in the next October the Cherryville Church was constituted. Of natural loca- tions, Cherryville was nearest to Flemington. Two miles West was more central, but the largest nucleous of members was in Cherryville. Mr. Hera was the first pastor in 1850 and continued until July, 1853, having been on the field four years. "Supplies" served the church till July, 1854.
In 1850, a good meeting house was built on the lot given by David Everitt. The location was out of the way on a beautiful knowl, suitable for a cemetery for the dead, but not for a site for a living church. When, in 1881-2, the house was remodeled, the pastor used every reasonable influence to remove the house to where it ought to have first been put, on the corner lot at the foot of the hill, among the homes of the village. But it was objected, "then we will have to move the horse sheds!"
Mr. Hera had a useful pastorate. The church was in entire accord and free from debt. Mr. B. Stelle became pastor in July, 1854. He won a large place in the love of his people and in the midst of usefulness was summoned to his reward on high in August, 1864. Within a few months Rev. W. D. Hires took charge of the church. He resigned in 1867. As in other of his pastorates, Mr. Hires left the impress of him- self on the church. An inspirer of men and women to attain to the highest aims. The church made a great advance under his labors. In 1867, Rev. William Humpstone was pastor both at Cherryville and Croton. His stay was only ten months. Limited in mental quality and lacking culture, he was the opposite of his predecessor. Then, as now, culture is valued by all. Mr. Humpstone was a good man, thoroughly earnest and had many tokens of divine blessing on his labors.
"Supplies" ministered to the people till April, 1869, when Rev. E. S. Lear entered the pastoral office. Before his settlement a parsonage was bought and paid for. Cherryville had very ample financial re- sources. Rev. C. E. Young occupied the pastorate more than five years. Most unexpectedly death changed the scene of his service from earth to heaven, in August, 1876. Mr. Young was greatly beloved. A career of expanding usefulness and of the fairest hopes was strangely
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and suddenly cut off in his youth. First as "supply" and then as pastor, Rev. M. B. Laning served the church four years and more.
His successor was Rev. T. S. Griffiths who settled in 1881 and resigned in 1885, but supplied the pulpit from November till the next spring. Pastor Griffiths accepted the call only upon the personal so- licitation of the senior deacon, H. Deats, when he said: "The call is unanimous and if you do not come, I do not know what the result will be to the church." There had been serious disagreements previously. Also, upon the condition that the meeting house be renovated. Before accepting the call a church meeting was held, and Mr. Griffiths was pres- ent. It was decided to expend four thousand dollars for improvements of the house of worship, and the amount was subscribed within half an hour. The senior deacon, H. Deats, saying, as was his want, “Brethren, I will take my corner." Later plans involved an outlay of about eight thousand dollars. The entire cost of the rebuilding was paid before the house was reopened. It was one of the most beautiful, attractive and convenient country meeting houses in the State. Of the old edifice, nothing was retained except the frame and the floor, and additions were made to the front for a steeple and to the rear for a baptismal and social meetings. In 1887, Mr. Griffiths learned that a new parsonage was not begun and meeting Mr. Deats entreated him to see that it was begun at once and before he died. He did so. But he died before it was completed. Early in 1886, Pastor W. F. Smith settled and remained till April, 1890, Rev. I. D. Mallery followed in February, 1891, to 1897. In August, 1897, Rev. A. E. Finn became pastor and is now (1900) pastor.
The church has had eleven pastors, two of whom died and thus closed their pastoral career. The longest term was ten years. The shortest ten months. Two of the pastors had joint pastorates with Croton church. While Cherryville has not sent out colonies, it has given largely and for many years, to aid Croton to sustain a pastor. Other churches in Hunterdon and in Warren counties have also been cared for by Cherryville church. Deacon H. Deats was a constant helper. The house at Washington, N. J., lingered for years. But when Mr. Deats and Cherryville took hold of it, the house was soon completed. On one Lord's Day morning, five hundred dollars were raised for the building at Washington by Cherryville church.
CHAPTER X.
SECOND HOPEWELL, LAMBERTVILLE AND RINGOES.
Second Hopewell sprang from First Hopewell when First Hope- well was a missionary church and was organized in 1803,(page 319, Minutes of Philadelphia Association, October, 1803.) with a member- ship of twenty-eight. In 1804, it had twenty-three additions by baptism. Twelve years went by, before a pastor ministered to it. First Hopewell pastor supplied it. Second Hopewell was a constituent of the New Jersey Association formed in 1811. In 1815, Rev. William E. Ashton was the first pastor for one year.
Glimpses behind the curtain show that people were as hard to please then, as now, and as ready to take offense as in our days. Pas- tors were as much as now, persons on whom the disgruntled vented their displeasure. Human nature is the same, whether it is Noah, Christ or Spurgeon, who preaches. The succession of pastors was, A. Hastings, 1816-21; J. H. Kennard, 1822-24; could have staid till he died, but Zion's King had other use for him in the city where he min- istered many years in its tenth church. Samuel Trott, 1827-30. An antinomian, his influence determined the withdrawal of the church from the Baptist faith and plunged it into antinomianism, also upon the venerable and infirm pastor of First Hopewell. Mr. Boggs, who also with his church lost their footing on the grace of salvation and were swept into the antinomian bog. S. Trott was pastor of Second Hopewell in 1829 and C. Suydam in 1832. In 1835 the Association referred the letters of First and Second Hopewell to Brethren Wright and Stites. Their report was adopted and agreeable there to. (See Minutes of 1835, page 3, item 26,) "the names of said churches were dropped from our minutes." Second Hopewell lingered the life of a weakling.
Outside of its locality (Harbourton) it is spoken of as "dead." Pastors of First Hopewell (living on its original vitality) preach at Kingwood and Second Hopewell, keeping up a nominal existence. Strange it is, but Second Hopewell has an active Christian offshoot, Lambertville, which while it does not repudiate its maternity, does not glory in it. Under the Christian influences at Lambertville, the Baptist church there was saved from the wreck that overtook First
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and Second Hopewell. Second Hopewell located at Harbourton and there was the opened grave and the coffined tenant, which the daugh- ter prays that it might have a "resurrection unto life."
While J. H. Kennard was pastor of Second Hopewell (Harbourton, near Lambertville,) in 1822-24, he occasionally preached in Lambert- ville at the home of Phillip Marshall and of William Garrison, mem- bers of Second Hopewell church. Other Baptist ministers, also preached at the houses of other Baptists living in Lambertville. Sandy Ridge was more accessible from Lambertville than Harbourton and Baptists in New Hope worshipped at Sandy Ridge before the organ- ization of the Lambertville church.
The Baptist church in Lambertville was constituted on February 10th, 1825, with but five members. Within a short time, Rev. J. Booth united with the church by lettter and alternated with Rev. J. McLaughlin as "supplies." Mr. Mclaughlin had been twice pastor at Kingwood and was well known at Second Hopewell and its out stations. At the first business meeting in Lambertville church, it was resolved to build a house of worship and the lot on which their meeting house is, was bought and the church edifice dedicated in October, 1825. A minute in the church book reads: "Lord's Day, August 7th, 1825, the church met at Mr. Blodgett's, from thence went to the Delaware River, because there "was much water there," and Mrs. Blodgett was baptized. Rev. Samuel Trott was called in con- nection with Second Hopewell, preaching alternately at each place. Mr. Trott being an antinomian, sowed the seeds which developed in Hopewell to its extinction and impregnated Lambertville, impressing some young men licensed to preach with his false teaching. Among them Mr. B. D. Stout, who was chosen as a "supply" and soon after was ordained and finally called to be pastor serving as such for five years. Mr. Stout's father was a Deacon of the church and for years its only male member.
Providentially, Lambertville church was compassed with Christian influences and both the church and Mr. Stout saved from the snare of falsehood. The pastorate of Mr. Stout was prosperous. The membership increased more than fourfold, even though by a division, many were dismissed to Second Hopewell and other antimission churches. A succession of short pastorates followed Mr. Stout's removal to Middletown in 1837: Mr. Daniel Kelsay was ordained about May 1837. Rev. J. Segur followed in 1838. Interims of pastors occurred. Rev. George Young was pastor early in the 1840's. J. B. Walter closed his charge in 1843, who with twenty-three members were dismissed to constitute the Solebury church in Pennsylvania.
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A second pastorate of George Young occurred till January 1845. Mr. William B. Shrope was "supply" and then pastor until April 1849. Many were added by baptism under his labors. Rev. J. Davis followed from May 1849 to August 1850. A year of "supplies" came, when in 1851, Rev. A. Armstrong became pastor, resigning in 1860. A parsonage was built in this charge. As yet the longest pastorate the church has had. Rev. H. A. Cordo served as pastor, 1861-64, after whom Rev. F. Johnson had a short stay and Rev. C. E. Young followed for about three years. A. D. Willifer, who settled in 1869, was excluded for immoralities in 1873. Rev. C. H. Thomas was pastor five years and Rev. W. M. Wick for four years.
In 1883, a new and costly house of worship was dedicated. The building had been in progress since September, 1868 and in March 1870, the basement was used for worship. In the meantime, interest on an enormous debt and the progress of the house by annual dribs, tested the endurance of the church and was a burden and hindrance to all prosperity. A recent pastor said to the writer that, "When he hears the fire bells he hopes it is the Baptist church edifice." The building in design, in acoustics and in cost is an affliction. Rev. C. H. Woolston was pastor 1885-87; W. W. Bullock, 1887-91; F. H. Cooper, 1892; E. M. Lightfoot, 1894-97; a former pastor, H. A. Cordo, 1898-1900.
Lambertville has had twenty-one pastors. Two of them have had second charges. Seven members have been licensed to preach. Two were ordained at home and one to be pastor where he had been bap- tized and licensed. Two churches have gone out of Lambertville, Solebury, Penn., and Ringoes, each of which were originated by G. H. Larison, M. D., who was licensed and ordained by Lambertville church. (See History of Ringoes church.) In May 1839, the manufacture, sale and habitual use of intoxicants was made a disciplinary offence and membership was denied to any unwilling to comply with the rule. An early antinomian element in the church, the blighting influence of the mother church, the long, hard struggle under the burden of debt to build their new house of worship (which was an extremity of folly into which the church was led by unwise and heedless pastors;) evinces the devotion of these Baptists; their love of the truth and their purpose to maintain it.
Ringoes is in Hunterdon county about six miles from Fleming- ton. Baptist interests there had their earliest paternity in the King- wood Baptist church (now Baptisttown) whose pastors made it a mission station. Ringoes is not referred to in the minutes of the Flemington church till long after Dr. Larison of Lambertville had developed Baptist interests in and about the town. Still it is certain
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that such a pastor as C. Bartolette would not omit it from his labors.
Lambertville, however, through G. H. Larison, M. D., one of its most active and intelligent members, sought out Ringoes. "He can- vassed the field in 1867 with the village as a center finding four Baptists in the town and two other friends of Baptist faith willing to unite and and sustain Baptist meetings in Ringoes." A meeting was appointed at the office of C. W. Larison, M. D., of Ringoes, brother of Dr. G. H. Larison of Lambertville. When a committee was chosen to find a room in which to hold meetings and to report at an adjourned meeting next week in the office of Dr. C. W. Larison of Ringoes. The com- mittee reported that not a room could be had and "that not even the school house would be allowed for that use." A numerous Presbyterian church was in the village and controlled the schoolhouse by the trustees. This policy illustrates the uniform habit by Presbyterians toward Baptists and interprets their pretense of union. The writer knows of worse things in New Jersey of them than this. There was but one other place in the village where Baptists could meet, Dr. C. W. Larison's office, and they met there for seven weeks on Saturday afternoons.
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