USA > New Jersey > A history of Baptists in New Jersey > Part 36
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Morgan Edwards said of Mr. Heaton: "If an honest man be the noblest work of God," as Pope saith, "Mr. Heaton may lay claim to that nobility." Mr. Heaton had ten children and Mr. Edwards con- tinues: "His great family he brought up in a decent way, notwithstand- ing his poverty, which shows him to have been a good citizen; for I take it that a man who raises a family does a nobler feat than Alexander or Caesar ever did." In an interval of four years, between the resig- nation of Mr. Heaton and his successor, the church bought a parsonage of sixty acres. Rev. John Sutton settled as pastor April 1st, 1764. Mr. Sutton was a graduate of Hopewell and always took a prominent part in advancing Baptist interests wherever he was. His stay at Cape May was but two years. Rev. P. P. Van Horn followed in 1770. His labors in the churhces were invaluable, an only exception being, that so few of them could command services so worthy. David Smith, the next pastor was a native of the place and had been converted and baptized into the church. He was licensed in 1774 and supplied the church till 1776, when he was ordained at forty-six hears old and became pastor. February, 1784, he died, having ministered to the church eleven years. Artis Seagraves of Pittsgrove then came. His stay was a time of distraction and desolation. In June, 1788, he got a vote "that Universalism should not be a bar to communion or Christian fellowsihp." In August 1788, the following was adopted: Whether it is expedient to hold communion with Mr. Seagraves or not:
Resolved, That no communion be held till we have the advice of the Association." At its meeting, the church asked if a person holding to Universalism ought to be excommunicated. The reply was: "Agreed that every such person upon conviction, after proper steps have been taken, ought to be excluded." At the meeting of the church in Oct- ober, "Mr. Seagraves was suspended from communion and from preach- ing, unless he recanted the doctrine of Universalism." In December, this was rescinded and a letter was given to him to Pittsgrove. In December, this action was rescinded and Seagraves was excluded. But the baseness of his teaching remained a long time, a blight. An instance it was of Universalism destroying all good both now and forever.
Rev. John Stancliff entered the pastorate in 1789 and he counter- acted the falsehoods of Seagraves and rooted them out and it was an end to Universalism for twelve years and then he was summoned to his reward on high January, 1802. In May, 1802, Rev. J. Garman became pastor. But he died in January 1808. At the end of June Rev. Jenkin David was called to be pastor. Mr. David was from Wales in 1794 and continued at Cape May fourteen years. After several months, Rev. Thomas Robinson accepted a call to the charge of the
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FIRST CAPE MAY
church and settled in January 1823. This humble and devoted servant of God, was pastor eight years. Mr. Robinson was followed in 1831, by Rev. Samuel Smith, who upheld the dignity of the pastoral office for seven years. At the age of sixty-six years, in 1838, Rev. P. Powell occupied the pastor's office for five years, welcoming two hundred and thirty-four baptized disciples to the church. Mr. Powell was a most modest and unassuming man. He was a memorial minister of the old time pastors.
Rev. Isaac Moore was twice pastor at first Cape May. His first charge began in 1843 and closed in 1846. Eleven years passed and he was recalled in 1857 and his term lasted three years. For his times, of Calvinistic preaching, he leaned positively to Armenianism, but was thoroughly evangelistic. At the close of Mr. Moore's first settle- ment, another native Welshman entered the patorate, Rev. David James. There has always been an affinity between the Baptist churches of New Jersey and Welsh Baptist preaching, due it may be, to the liking of Baptist churches in New Jersey, to Baptist preaching and to the Welsh preachers preaching Baptist views so that converts were multiplied. Mr. James resigned in 1850. L. F. Barney followed for two years, after whom Mr. J. E. Wilson was ordained in June 1853 and closed his labors at first Cape May in 1857. Since then, the success- ion of pastors has been: I. Moore, 1857-60; William Swinden, 1860-65; E. N. Jenks, 1865-67; A. J. Hires, 1867-74; F. B. Greu, 1874-78. In 1874, a chapel was built at Rio Grande. A. Cauldwell, 1878-81; W. L. Jones, 1881-83; W. E. Cornell, 1883-86; H. S. Watt, 1886, who died in about five months, but enjoyed a work of grace in his early charge. S. B. Hayward, 1886-90; E. B. Morris, 1890-92; Debt paid, parsonage repaired. H. G. Mckean, 1892-93; T. E. Richards, 1894-95; F. H. Shermer, 1896-1899; J. W. Caine, from April 1900.
First Cape May church has had thirty-one pastors. The first was the longest. The shortest that of Mr. Watts. Death cut it short. Four have died while being pastor. Cape May people enjoyed preaching The New Jersey Association met there in 1830, when it was resolved: "To occupy the court house for the business of the Association in order that the meeting house might be used for preaching while the Associ- ation was in session." Five were appointed to preach in one day. Two in the morning, two in the afternoon and one in the evening. In a session of two days, seven sermons were preached. This will explain why churches rivaled each other for a meeting of an Association with them and what the members of a church went to associations for. It is still true that sermons command the largest audiences at our associ- ations. Possibly the change to addresses on various topics may explain
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the reduced attendance at these meetings as well as the limited time of their sessions. Four colonies have gone from first Cape May, even though located on a narrow strip of land stretching far into the ocean. Four places of worship have been built by the church. The first in 1715 and lost by a defect in the title. A second in 1741. The lot on which the last was erected was the gift of Jeremiah Hand. This house was in use seventy-three years. The third was built of brick
in 1824 and was burned in 1854. Immediately afterward, that now in use was undertaken and dedicated in December 1855. In 1761, a parsonage farm of sixty acres was bought. In 1831, a new dwelling house was built on the farm and the property was sold in 1857. A lot was bought and a house built on it after 1867. The pastor moved into it in 1868. In 1771, the church concluded that no member should by any means sign for Daniel Hand to have a tavern license," and on March 5th, 1775, Hannah Shaw was suspended from the communion on account of her drinking to excess. Joseph Hildreth in 1784, left a legacy of forty pounds to the church. Twelve pounds were left by Mrs. Deborah Spicer and one third of a plantation was given to the church and one third of John Cresse's movables, valued at fifty pounds, were left to the church. At least four members have been licensed to preach, one of whom was ordained and became patsor of the church and ministered to the church for eleven years.
First Cape May Baptist church began a mission in 1729 at Dennis- ville; about eight miles distant from the Home church. They main- tained the mission for one hundred and twenty years, until a church was organized in 1849. An agreement to build a free meeting house was made by the citizens in April 1802 and the free house was completed in 1803. The statement of Barber in his history of New Jersey that this was a Methodist house and the first built in the county is utterly false as are so many of his random utterances.
The first Baptist house in the county was built in 1715 and the second Baptist house of worship was built long before 1785 and the third Baptist house was built in 1785. The house at Dennisville was a free house for Baptists and Methodists on alternate Lord's Days. This building was thus used till 1853, when the Methodists built a house of worship for themselves and the old house was wholly left for Baptists. In 1838, the second Baptist church in Cape May County united with the first Baptist church in sustaining the Dennisville Mission. Special meetings were held in Dennisville in 1848-9, by Rev. H. Wescott and Pastor A. J. Wright of the second church resulting in the organization of a Baptist church with thirty constituents. Nine from the first church and twenty from the second church. The pastors of Dennis-
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DENNISVILLE AND WOODBINE
ville were: M. R. Cox, 1849-52; J. E. Wilson, of the first Cape May church, 1853-58; Ephraim Sheppard, of the second church, 1863-64; William Swinden of the first Cape May church, 1861-63; Joseph Hamett of the second church, 1863-4. On February 27th, 1864, Dennisville voted to unite with the Calvary Baptist church of South Seaville and the union of the churches was effected on March 13th. This union was really nominal. Dennisville keeping its officers, paying all local expenses and its share of the pastor's salary, buying a lot and building a house of worship and in part, a parsonage.
The joint pastors were : D. L. Davis, 1864-65; C. E. Wilson, 1865-67; J. K. Manning, 1867-70; J. M. Lyon, 1871-2; M. M. Finch, 1872-76; C. H. Johnson, 1876-79; J. W. Taylor, 1880-83; William Warlow, 1883-85 E. S. Fitz, 1885-91; E. S. Towne 1891-92; J. A. Klucker, 1893-94; S. B. Hiley, 1895-97; On July 27th, 1897 at a meetig in Dennisville, it was voted to apply to Calvary church for letters of dismission to organize a Baptist church in South Dennis. On August 14th, 1897, sixty-one members were dismissed and on August 26th, formed the memorial Baptist church of South Dennis. The second time in which a Baptist church was constituted at Dennisville. Evidently these people were of a variable mind and made the organization of a Baptist church a "foot ball." In the history of South Dennis church, it originated in a mission of the first Cape May church in 1729, one hundred and seventy-one years since. There have been three organizations. In 1838, a "branch" with certain liberties of independency and yet, its doings were subject to review by the first Cape May church. The branch was recognized as an independent body in 1849. Then again, in 1864, it was absorbed in the Calvary church of South Seaville, re- taining however, its official rights and officers. This order continued till 1897, when again, it became the South Dennis Memorial church. Two churches have gone out from the Calvary church, Goshen, 1891; Dias Creek, 1891.
One member of these bodies has been licensed to preach and was called to be pastor, M.H.Snodgrass. Since 1849, nineteen pastors have ministered in Dennisville. One church is an outgrowth of this body, Woodbine. While the record of Baptist affairs at Dennisville is peculiar, it has been continuous, illustrating the preachers' definition of the doctrine of "Perseverance of the Saints" "Take hold on and never let go."
Woodbine is the name of the Jewish colony, established by the executor of Baron Hersch's will. The superintendent of the colony, Mr. Sabsorrih, offered Pastor Snodgrass of Calvary and of South Dennis Baptist churches, two acres of ground if a Baptist meeting house was built on it. Several American families being resident in the place.
1
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NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
The offer was accepted and at the meeting of the West New Jersey Association, it was resolved: That the missionary committee of the Association be authorized to unite with the Trustees of the property in Woodbine, in an immediate effort to build a church edifice on the ground, appealing to the churches and endorsing an application to the State Convention for a loan to complete the work pledging our associa- tion to give the assistance of our churches as far as possible. On Decem- ber 16th, 1899, a church was organized in the home of Deacon G. A. Blake with nine constituents. The house of worship was finished in June, 1900. A loan of half the cost of the building being from the church edifice fund. Pastor Snodgrass of the Calvary church of Cape May County ministered to the church for some time. Rev. G. B. Young is now (1900) pastor of the church. Its future depends upon the infusion of an American Christian element in the town. A church so newly constituted has not accumulated history and its future cannot be predicted.
Cape Island is at the extreme of Cape May. A small stream cuts off a section of the beach from the mainland, making it an island. Ac- cessible by a steam boat from Philadelphia and New York. For many years, there was not a house of worship within miles of the island. Baptists located there and Baptist ministers visited the place. Es- pecially pastors of first Cape May Baptist church and preaching in the school house or dining rooms of the hotels. Thus it was till 1835, when Rev. Isaac Church, Sr., a native of the county, came back from Ohio and settled on cape May. The first Baptist church of the county em- ployed him as a missionary and he made Cape Island one of his stations, once in four weeks,and as congregations grew,preached once in two weeks.
In his record of these labors, Mr. Church says: "Inquiries started: what is a Baptist and why is he a Baptist?" At union meetings, the converts were not all willing to join the nearest church. They insisted that they must be baptized by their own choice, even though they must travel thirteen miles to the Baptist church. With the increase of Baptists, persecutions began. By the advice of Mr. Church, steps were taken to organize a Baptist church. A council was called to meet in April 1844 at the house of Alexander A. Shaw. The Council advised an organization and twenty-five Baptists constituted themselves the Cape Island Baptist church. Among whom was Mr. Church. Already an eligible lot was bought and measures were adopted to build a meet- ing house. Rev. Mr. Church was pastor the first year. Rev. N. B. Tindle followed for eighteen months. On the 18th of July, 1847, the church edifice was dedicated and Rev.Mr.Church was recalled, remaining until 1848. Mr. Church, Sr., was anxious to retire and in June Rev.
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CAPE ISLAND AND RIO GRANDE
I. M. Church, Jr., son of their former pastor, was called to follow his father and entered on his pastoral charge the next fall.
The winter after, a work of grace broke out, and the membership of Cape Island church was nearly doubled. Rev. Mr. Church resigned in October 1851, and in May 1852, Rev. J. P. Hall became pastor and closed his oversight in 1854. And in 1857, Rev. J. Hammitt accepted a call to be pastor, continuing till 1859. From the end of this pastorate to March 1867, there is a blank in account of the welfare of the church. From April of 1867, towards the close of 1868, Rev. J. C. Hyde was pastor. He was a useful pastor and the church had more additions than in any other like period of its early history. After Mr. Hyde, Rev. C. E. Wilson was pastor for eighteen months. A new era began with the coming of Pastor Samuel Hughes that began in 1872 to 1877, whom Rev. F. Greul followed in May 1878 to 1882. A new and costly sanctuary was built and was dedicated in 1882.
Before Messrs. Hughes and Greul settled, the pastors had left too soon to get such a hold of the community, as is essential to the most usefulness. Again, short pastorates were renewed in 1885. Rev. T. P. Price came and remained but one year. A. N. Whitemarsh, two years; A. B. McCurdy, one year; W. H. Burlew, nearly four years. A legacy left by a sister in the church relieved it of debt. Mr. T. Neas, one year; A. F. Greenig, one year, August 1895; Rev. C. D. Parker, and was pastor in 1900. The church in 1881 began to be known as Cape May City and is known by this name. The church has had fourteen pastors. The longest pastorates have been the most successful. Fluctuations of the population on the seaside has a hurtful influence on permanent residents and tends to lowering the spiritual life of a church. Two houses of worship have been erected by the church, one in 1847; another larger and more befitting a popular resort in 1882. In 1898, seventeen members constituted a church in Cape May Point. There are no published reports of this church up to 1900.
Under the pastoral care of Rev. A. J. Hires, the first Cape May Baptist church, at a considerable cost, built a chapel at Rio Grande in 1873, in Cape May County. Rev. J. M. Craner began a mission there, in 1880 and on the 27th of May, 1880, a Baptist church was organized with thirty-one constituents dismissed from first Cape May church. It was, including Dennisville, the third colony of the first Baptist church of Cape May. Mr. Craner was the first pastor of the church for fourteen years. Mr. Craner in 1894, removed to Wildwood. where a chapel had been built. F. St. J. Fitch accepted the call of the church in 1894. H. S. Gilbert settled as pastor in 1895. Supplies served the church up to 1900. 22
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The most intimate tie of Wildwood church to any other is to Rio Grande. Rev. J. M. Craner had an outlook for vacant fields and was ready to carry the message of life to those destitute. While pastor of Rio Grande church,occupying the chapel, which first Cape May church built. In 1892, Wildwood as a central position won his attention and he began to preach in the dining room of a hotel. Baptists appeared and formed a nucleus. He began to build a meeting house. A debt of one thousand dollars was due when completed in 1893. The newness of the field, the going of Mr. Craner from Rio Grande, imperilled the property and a committee and Rev. J.W.Caine and Mr.H.Snodgrass were appointed and the property was saved. Under Mr. Caine, about nineteen Baptists were gathered and the Baptist church of Wildwood was formed.
In 1831, an application for admission to the West New Jersey Association was received from a second Cape May Baptist church. The request was referred to a committee to report at the annual session in 1832. At that meeting (1832) "it was unanimously agreed to receive' the church. This was the first denominational mention of the existence of the second Cape May Baptist church. The delay of admitting the church was due to bad reports about the pastor of the church. Subsequent facts justified the care of the Association. The man absconded, taking the early records of the church with him.
In the county archives reference is made of the second Cape May Baptist church as organized in 1828. In 1832, it had forty-two mem- bers. Long before, earlier than 1785, a Baptist house of worship had been built at Littleworth (now Palermo). "One Jeremiah Edwards donated an acre of land to the Ana Baptists of the Upper precinct of Cape May County" on which to build a meeting house. The public records of the colonies, were destroyed by the English soldiers or by their friends, the Tories. Whenever they could get hold of the county papers detroyed them and there is no record of the deed, but it is a tradition that the house was built by "sundry contributions." On August 1st, 1785, in a suit against the heirs of the donor of the ground, the property was sold by the sheriff, which he bought for five shillings. On the 17th of October, 1785, the people met to consuit about their church and they decided to reclaim it for the Ana Baptists. Twelve trustees were chosen to hold the property and they redeemed it for the five shillings, which the sheriff bought it for and received a deed in trust for the Ana Baptists forever." The deed is dated February 10th 1786 and was not recorded until June 25th, 1833. ยบ Had the deed been lost, the property might also have been lost. The sale and purchase by the sheriff most likely was pre-arranged. This house was used by the church till 1853,
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SECOND CAPE MAY
If it had been in use five years when sold, seventy years would be the period of its usc. The Tuckahoe Baptist church had been formed in 1771 and their meeting house had been built in 1751. Old people, long since dead, told their children that pastors of first Cape May, Tuckahoe and Manahawkin prcached in the old house of the second Cape May church and the building must have been in use long before 1785. Of the twelve trustees chosen in 1785, three were named Corson, and at the reorganization of second Cape May Baptist church in 1834, of the thirty-thrce constituents, nine were named Corson. Two of the trustces in 1785 were named Young; two of the thirty-three con- stituents in 1834 had the same name. In 1834, the church had two meeting houses, onc called the "Upper House, then named "Corsons," and the other, "the Lower House" at "Townsands Inlet," and is now occupied by the Calvary church. All of this indicates the carly origin of second Cape May Baptist church. Both Corson's Inlet and Townsands Inlet were originally Baptist settlements.
These Baptists incorporated in their covenant: "Total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks." The New Jersey Baptist State Con- vention sent Rev. Michael Quinn, their missionary, to this section. He was the first pastor of modern times of second Cape May church. His stay was only one year, but he baptized sixty-nine. Mr. Quinn was followed by a decciver, causing a recall of Mr. Quinn and the church had lost ground which was recovered. An Irishman had the wit and humor of his countrymen. The writer recalls many amusing incidents of him. He dicd about two years after his second charge. But not till the church had called him to the pastorate the third time. The Convention Board sent Rev. J. Jones to this field in 1837, where he was pastor eleven years.
Others that followed were: M. R. Cox, 1848-54; Ephraim Sheppard, 1855-61; E. J. Swain, a licentiate of the church, ordained for pastor in November 1861, compelled by failure of health to resign and died in 1871 of consumption; J. Hammitt, 1863-65; J. T. Hall, 1865-67; J.A. Taylor, 1867-69; C. P. Melleny, 1869-71; A. B. Still, 1872-73; R. G. Lamb, 1873-82; J. G. Entriken, 1883-87; a chapel was built at Tuckahoe in 1885 and in 1886 the Tuckahoe church was constituted and th chapel given to the church; M. M. Fogg, 1888-93; W. G. Robinson, 1894-97; H. J. Roberts served seven months, 1898; resigning to go with the colony to Ocean City. W. P. Hilc, 1898-1900. Three members have been licensed to preach, one of them to become pastor virtually. Three or four houses of worship have been built. Three colonies have become churches. Calvary, in 1863; Tuckahoe, in 1886, and Ocean City, in 1898. To two of these it gave houses
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of worship and to the last its pastor. The church has had seventeen pastors, one of whom was compelled by ill health to resign. Another was pastor twice and was prevented by his death from a third charge and another went with one of the colonies.
While Rev. J. G. Entrekin was pastor of second Cape May church he included Tuckahoe in his field and in 1885, secured the erection of a chapel for Baptist use. Where a Sunday school was formed and he preached each Lord's Day. A large proportion of the early settlers on the southern sea coast were Baptists. First Cape May church was constituted in 1712, Manahawkin in 1770 and Tuckahoe in 1771. The early Tuckahoe had a church edifice. A Baptist element survived the disasters of the early days, which Mr. Entrekin influenced to begin anew.
The scond Cape May church voted in 1839 for the pastor to preach twice each month in Tuckahoe and to administer the communion once in two months. Evidently there were Baptists in sufficient number there then to make this action of the church desirable. The use of the Presbyterian house of worship was obtained and pastors Still and Lamb preached in it. But finally, "for peace sake," gave up the collection of funds to build a Baptist chapel. Baptists bought. In 1887, Mr. Entrekin resigned at second Cape May church and gave himself entirely to Tuckahoe. Including his first ministry in 1884 to his closing labors in 1892, Mr. Entrekin gave about eight years to Tuckahoe. The old site of the village of Tuckahoe is overgrown with timber. The new village is several miles distant from the former town and is divided by a river that is the boundary of two counties. The house of worship is in Atlantic County. Mr. Entrekin was followed by Rev. M. Frayne in 1893 and continued as pastor till 1901, when he became pastor at Rio Grande, where he died, April, 1903. The church has had only the two pastors.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CAMDEN CHURCHES.
We are indebted to Pastor J. W. Lyell of the first Baptist church, Camden for the earliest published memorial of the beginning and growth of Baptist movements in Camden, New Jersey. In a prefatory note he states: "The original records of the first Baptist church in Camden, New Jersey, were for many years inaccessible. * At cost of time and effort Rev. I. C. Wynn collected from all available sources a large mass of historical material and presented the same in an anniversary sermon in April 1885. An old record book covering the first twelve years of history was found in 1892. On February 5th, 1892, the seventy-fifth anniversary of the organization of the church was celebrated with appropriate exercises, among which was a review of the past based upon the work of Pastor Wynn augmented by the recently discovered material."
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