USA > New Jersey > A history of Baptists in New Jersey > Part 38
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What will be the estimate, which the Master will make of these tokens of consecration? Certainly not less than recognition of them. The church has had eighteen pastors. Nine ministered less than one year. One, Mr. Glover was pastor three times and twice removed beyond the limits of the church and where they could not reach him. His entire charge continued thirteen years and part of the time he preached as pastor without a salary. Two others, were pastors twice each. Mr. Perkens was pastor eleven years, and had he submitted his second call to the church, as he did his first, to decide upon its acceptance, he might have been pastor till now. In these longest pastoral oversight, cluster the most fruitful and happy periods of the church history.
A colony of forty-five members of the Second Camden Baptist church, including its pastor, M. R. Watkinson, were dismissed in 1867 and constituted themselves the Broadway Baptist church of Camden. Reasons for the movement are unwritten. Mr. Watkinson was pastor 1867-70; E. E. Jones, 1872; A. J. Hay, 1872-74; C. H. Johnson, 1874-76; E. D. Stager, 1877-78. In 1878, the name of Broadway church dis-
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TABERNACLE AND NORTH CAMDEN
appears from the minutes of the Association. Rev. J. M. Carpenter states that the church disbanded in 1876. A Tabernacle church reports itself as recognized in 1878 and for pastor, Rev. E. D. Stager, whose settlement is reported in October 1877. The same date as becoming pastor at Broadway church. Seemingly, the Broadway church dis- banded and reorganized as the Tabernacle church. Matters and dates are very confused. It appears that Broadway church began in 1873, the building of a costly house of worship. As had the second Camden Baptist church, Broadway church got rid of its debts by disbanding and its meeting house was sold by the sheriff.
The Tabernacle church, an outgrowth of Broadway, might buy it at a much lower cost than the house would be at its original cost. This was not an honest plan, but it corresponded with the ideas of the world- ly wise. This is the Second Tabernacle church constituted in Camden. The first, built a house of worship and had pastors. The succession of the pastors of the Tabernacle church that came out of Broadway church were: J. M. Bagley, ordained in 1883 and pastor until 1889; M. M. Finch, 1889-97; W. J. Cambron, 1897-1904. A house of worship was built in 1886. Former experiences were not renewed and is not in use. Needed repairs and improvements have been made as is necess- ary. This described is the second Tabernacle church, formed in Camden. The first Tabernacle church was constituted of one hundred and fifty-five members of the First church. They built a house of worship and had three pastors, Furgurson, Davies and Wynn In 1871, the First church invited them to return to the old fold. They did so in 1872. Their pastor, Rev. I. C. Wynn being pastor of the united churches and the First church becoming the Fourth street church. Of the Tabernacle church including Broadway, there have been nine pastors: five at Broadway and four at the Tabernacle church. One or more members have been licensed to preach. Two houses of worship have been built. Another, by the Tabernacle church in 1886, is now in use.
The history of North Camden Baptist church begins earlier than the date of its organization. A man of spiritual height and stalwart in his Christian discipleship, a deacon of the First Baptist church of Camden, Mr. E. V. Glover, himself and Mrs. H. P. Hale began in 1855, a series of Tuesday evening social meetings in private houses for the benefit of infirm and indifferent members, who rarely came to the sanctuary. They sought a permanent place for their meeting in the vicinity, where the late house of worship of the North Baptist church stood. They found a large population unreached by either secular or religious influences. Next year, 1856, other mission workers, mem-
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NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
bers of the first Baptist church joined their labors to those on the field. Unable to find a suitable place for their meetings, serious hindrances were experienced in the movement.
Finally the meetings were discontinued at the request of the pastor of the first church, Mr. J. Duncan, on the plea of "awakening an interest" in a mission field to the detriment of home meetings. In 1857, Mr. Foss, proprietor of a silk factory, gave the use of a hall in his factory in which to hold meetings. A Sunday school was begun in August in this hall. E. V. Glover was superintendent and Mrs. H. P. Hale had charge of the primary department. Next October, religious service was begun on the afternoon of Lord's Day and on Tuesday evening at the home of Mr. J. Ellis. Mr. Foss in the meantime found that the meetings inter- fered with the use of the hall by his workmen and a change was desirable whereupon, Mr. William Wilson offered the use of his hall and owing to the uncertainty of staying in their then quarters the Sunday school was removed in January 1859. In the meantime, the attendance at the Sunday school and in the meetings had increased largely.
It was deemed wise at this time to lay the matter before the first church and in Jauary 1859, the church appointed a committee of which Deacon E. V. Glover was chairman to purchase a lot and to erect a chapel for the use of the mission. Deacon E. K. Fortiner cheerfully superintended the erection of the building and at its dedication in July 31st, 1859, Mr. Glover made the closing address. Several hundred people were not able to get into the house at this service. On the 15th of the next November, 1859, the North Baptist church was organized with thirty-seven constituents. Among them was Deacon E. V. Glover and his family, five in all, also Mrs. H. P. Hale, both original movers in the mission. Now, the North church is one of the mighty Baptist forces for all that is good and holy in Camden. Rev. R. S. James was pastor from the organization of the church till Jauary 1864. The congregation and the church had outgrown the chapel in which they worshipped. Pastor James did not think himself strong enough physically to undertake the work of building a new church edifice and resigned. Another instance of a pastor's preference for the welfare of the cause of Christ to remaining with his people, whose plans con- templated so great an advance and who would have relieved him of all care to accomplish so important an enterprise.
In 1864, Rev. S. C. Dare became pastor of North Camden church. The new edifice was erected under his oversight and was a creditable stone structure. It was dedicated in 1866 and cost thirty-five thousand dollars. The early and rapid growth of the mission in nine years in- dicated a divine purpose, in its beginning by Deacon Glover and Mrs.
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NORTH CAMDEN AND LINDEN
Hale as also in its developement. Mr. Dare had a successful and useful pastoral care. His successor, Rev. A. G. Thomas entered on his work in 1868 and resigned in 1870. Rev. J. E. Chambliss followed in the spring of 1871 and closed his labors at North Camden in 1873. R. G. Moses settled in September, 1873, remaining till 1881. Needed repairs were made on the house of worship in 1881 and a chapel costing four thousand dollars, was built on Linden street in that year. Rev. A. E. Rose followed in 1882, remaining till 1883; whom Rev. W. T. Burns succeeded for three years. Rev. B. F. G. McGee was pastor in 1888 and 1889. A vacancy occurred in the pastorate until March, 1891, when A. G. Lawson accepted a call to be pastor. In 1895, a pastor's assistant was provided. Mr. Lawson was pastor in 1900.
In 1885, the Linden Church, including seventy-three members, were dismissed and constituted a Baptist Church. In the autumn of 1863, a few Baptists met in a school house in North- cast Camden and organized the North East Sunday School, originated by members of the North Church, Camden. The names of some identified with it are among the constituents of the North Baptist Church. In the first year the Sunday School met in the secular school house, but on the twenty-fifth of December, 1864, a chapel built for the use of the school was dedicated. The chapel was built under the pastorate of Rev. R. S. James, the first pastor of the North Church. The growth of the Sunday School made it imperative to provide more room and another chapel was built at a cost of four thousand dollars, and completed by October, 1881. The Sunday School then moved toit.
Occasional preaching services were held in this chapel until 1885, when those identified with the mission decided to constitute a Baptist Church, which was effected in December, 1885, and called the Linden Baptist Church of Camden, New Jersey. Fifty-one were dismissed from the North Church and two from the First Baptist Church, in all fifty- three constituents. The Linden Baptist Church had thus been in pre- paration for twenty-two years and the training of its constituents in mission work had qualified it for its responsibility to all the world. Its first pastor was one of its constituents, Mr. W. H. Geistweit; in this following the pattern set by nearly all the early churches. Mr. Geist- weit was ordained for the pastoral care on January 25th, 1886. Fre- quent conversions endorsed his ministerial offices. He resigned in December, 1890. The membership increased from fifty-three to two hundred and eighty-one in his pastorate of about five years. The church edifice was enlarged to accommodate the growing congrega- tions to an added capacity of two-fold.
On July 1st, 1891, Rev. William R. Russell entered the pastorate 23
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NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
and held the office in 1900. While pastor three hundred and fifty-eight additions were made to the church. Nine years is a short period in a church life, especially if it include its infantile stage, which is rarely marked with specialties save of individual devotion. A higher type of piety which endures for the love of the church and of loyalty to Zion's King, and holds fast "as seeing Him who is invisible," has illustration in Mr. John T. Bottomly, a constituent of the church, who for more than thirty years has been superintendent of the Sunday School and is esteem- ed for his fidelity in his relations to the church of which he is a deacon. "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." Including the first pastor, two members of the church have been ordained.
Linden Church is an added instance of the mission agency of the Sunday School. The Sunday School has a foremost place in mission work. At the first it was noted with suspicion, when Rev. H. Hol- combe was asked relative to starting one in the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia. He replied :. "I do not know that it will do any harm" and yet Pastor Holcombe first smote hyper-calvinism with a fatal blow in his sermon on the "attainableness of faith." Hyper-calvinism was rapidly developing into antinomianism and threatened the existence of Baptist churches in the Middle States. Mr. Russell was pastor in 1900, completing ten years of faithful work. His relation as pastor, however, soon after 1900 closed. The church has had two sanctuariers. The first erected in 1864 for the Sunday school. A second was built and occupied in October, 1881. Occasional services were enjoyed in these houses until 1885, when those identified with the mission decided to form a Baptist church and with other Baptist churches in Camden to give the whole gospel to all its people.
Gloucester City is meant to be included with Camden churches. If not already in the city limits it is most likely to be included before long. In April, 1867, an informal meeting was held at the house of Josiah Stone to consider the need of organized effort in Gloucester. A local Baptist organization was effected at an adjourned meeting. A hall was secured for worship and Rev. J. H. Peters preached for several Lord's Days from April 21st. Affairs continued thus till April 1868. On April 7th, 1868, the local Association decided to form a Baptist church which was effected on the 17th of April.
The supply resigned and Rev. W. P. Maul was obtained to preach as often as his pastorate would permit and he gave seven years to th establishment of the church. Rev. T. R. Taylor, Jr., son of a former pastor of the first church followed. A change from ripe ma- turity to the push of early youth wrought its usual results. The meet- ing house was too small and converts were multiplied. Mr. Taylor
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GLOUCESTER CITY AND TRINITY
stayed two years. Then one of the most eminently good men, Rev. E. V. Glover settled in 1878. Mr. Glover lived in Haddonfield and rode from there on the Lord's Day to preach at Gloucester as much as eight miles. Mr. Glover resigned in 1883.' In 1884, Rev. John Teasdale became pastor. The church enjoyed prosperity, while Mr. Teasdale was pastor. He was followed by Rev. H. Bray in 1886, who also closed his charge of the church in less than two years.
In 1888, was a supply. After whom Rev. L. W. Finch was pastor until 1892, followed immediately by Rev. S. L. Dorsey, whose stay was short. These short pastoral charges are explained by environ- ments in Gloucester.
The worst elements of the great city near by had refuge and safety in Gloucester, the authorities of which were content to exchange the Christian Lord's Day for perdition. In fact, the excesses of vice and crime would be a sufficient reason for the extension of the security of Camden over Gloucester. Mr. G. W. Lambourn supplied the church in 1893 and having finished his studies, was ordained in 1895. He retains his charge in 1900. Some restraint is made upon evil brought to the place by strangers. It is believed that iniquities hitherto allowed will be kept under and that righteous law will be maintained. The church has maintained its hold and has come to be an efficient body. With the restoration of decency and the exclusion of vileness, Gloucester will be changed and the forces of virtue and of religion will become dominant. One member has been licensed to preach.
Differences are usual among good people. Nor do their differences militate against their piety or the genuineness of Christianity. But are rather an evidence of the reality of religion. In that it recognizes them as men, having opinions and the courage of their convictions; daring to maintain them at the cost of the dearest ties. Charity allows dissent among men, and ordains the right of each one to his conviction of truth and of duty. The instruction in II Thess. 3:15: "Yet count him not an enemy," recognizes character, even though we withhold church fellowship. Baptists may never illustrate the fundamental faith we teach of a difference which is not alienation. Gospel ex- perience allows equally differences and the liberty of being wrong.
Thus the Trinity Baptist church, a child of the first church, was born amid the throes of dissent about a pastor, when ninety-three mem- bers withdrew from the first church in December 1871, and constituted the Trinity Baptist church of Camden. In the next February, 1872, they were recognized by a large council of the Baptist family, entitled to wear the Baptist name. The strength of this new body is indicated by the fact that within twenty days of their recognition, they bought
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NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
a large and suitable meeting house of another denomination, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars and, taking immediate possession, had public worship till in 1896, when a building was erected on the old site of nearly double the capacity and at twice the cost of the old sanctuary. Supplies served the church till June, 1872, when Rev. A. H. Lung settled as pastor. Months passed ere the friction of the division was allayed. But the wise and prudent course of Pastor Lung was effective in the removal of soreness and overcoming of ill feeling that might have alienated old friends. In due time ample reward came to Pastor and people by the descent of the Holy Spirit and converts were added to the church.
Pastor Lung in January, 1882, resigned, after having effected a great work by both his wisdom and prudence. He established a mission on Cramer Hill, East Camden and a chapel was built for it. Having long since grown into a church and first known as First Cramer Hill church, the name however, has since been changed to Grace Baptist church. Rev. C. A. Adams was called to follow Mr. Lung in July 1882. During the four years of his first pastoral charge, abundant prosperity attended his oversight. As many as three hundred and fifty were added to the church. Mr. Adams resigned in April 1886. A successful pastorate is rarely followed by another in which a cor- ersponding increase and enlargement is assured. In July, 1886, Rev. C. H. Kimball entered the pastoral office. He stayed less than a year. Rev. H. H. Barbour settled in December 1886.
In 1887, Rev. G. H. Charles was supply and pastor, closing his work in December, 1891. Rev. W. E. Needam followed in October 1892 and terminated his pastorate in June 1895. So that in these nine years, four pastors appeared and disappeared and yet each of them were foremost men in the qualities that constitute worth, both as men and as ministers of the Gospel. Attachment to Mr. Adams inspired the church to call him, and in October 1896, he entered on his second pastorate at Trinity church. Mr. Adams had conditioned his return upon the building of a new house of worship. This was agreed to and a new church edifice was erected, which beside the material of the old building cost the church twenty-four thousand dollars. The building accommodated about twelve hundred persons. Its appoint- ments corresponded to modern ideas.
A new era of growth crowned the second pastoral care of Mr. Adams. Trinity church has had seven pastors, the first of whom retained his office nine years. One of them, has a second pastoral charge, including up to 1900, about eight years. Three houses of worship have been in use, each of which was large, and their fitting was in accord with the
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TRINITY AND FIRST CRAMER HILL,
ample means of the worshippers. A mission begun by the Trinity church was given a chapel building suited for permanent use. The mission is an independent church of strength and of efficiency.
From it, two colonies have gone, each being efficient and active in the aggression which gave them life. The Trinity Baptist had a constituency unlike in one particular, those composing young churches. It was evidently financially able to care for itself and also of weaker interests. In the ministry of Rev. T. R. Taylor, Sr., a number of force- ful young men were added to the first church, who later came to hold prominent professional and business positions in the city, acquiring financial means to build the first Baptist house, and advance on all lines the Baptist cause. Such men under proper training, needed only the stimulus of right influences to develop into men who would both fear God and honor him with their substance. Many of them were identified with the Trinity church.
Grace Baptist church of Camden, originally First Cramer Hill, sprang from Trinity church and is an outgrowth of a mission Sunday school formed under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Lung, pastor of Trinity church, in August 1875. The school was begun in a lonely store room and yet contiguous to a responsive population. The mission in about nine years devoloped into the First Cramer Hill Baptist church; a result of the visit of the State missionary, Rev. S. C. Dare. On October 9th, 1884, thirty Baptists, with letters of dismission agreed to organize a Baptist church and doing so, called themselves, the Cramer Hill Bap- tist church.
Pastor Adams and the Trinity church approved of these plans. The chapel property was conveyed to the new body by the trustees of the Trinity church. Pastor George Post served as the first pastor of Cramer Hill church. In 1885, Rev. A. J. Hay bcame pastor and for two years, was pastor. In that time, a parsonage was secured. Events after this, associated with Mr. Hay, are not clear. But after his resig- nation, he was identified with the origin of North Cramer Hill church, Bethany Mission, for the use of which first Cramer Hill church had built a chapel. Rev. D. C. Bixby was pastor from 1887 to 1890. While pastor, eighteen members were dismissed in 1889 to constitute the North Cramer Hill church (Bethany Mission). A mission was estab- lished in Williamstown. This also became a church, to which North Cramer Hill gave twenty-six constituents.
Mr. William C. Martin followed Pastor Bixby and was ordained in 1891 and was pastor till 1894. Under Pastor Martin the house of worship was doubled in its capacity; one member was licensed to preach and Rosedale mission was be un. Rev. J. M.
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Ashton settled as pastor in 1894, remaining two years, followed by W. J. Beavan, who was ordained in 1897, and is now (1090) pastor. Three colonies have gone from first Cramer Hill (Grace church), Bethany, Rosedale and Williamstown and two members have been licensed to preach.
In 1892, Baptists residing in and near Rosedale, formed an associ- ation in behalf of its religious interests. A Sunday school was begun on May 8th, 1892. Support was given by the Grace church and the encouragements were so many, that within a short time lots were bought on which to build a chapel. A farm house on the ground bought was remodeled for the use of the Sunday school and for Divine worship and a church founded later. The Camden Association was doing an efficient work in caring for its young and needy churches. Rosedale shared in its beneficence and a more fitting place of worship was assured to the church. In 1895, the farm house was exchanged for a church edifice more fitly answering the needs of the church. Six pastors have served Rosedale church: Thomas Armour, 1893-4; C. M. Reed, 1894-95; J. M. Moore, 1895-96; J. Bristow, 1897; G. C. Horter, 1898-99; H. H. Brown, 1899-1900. These are believed to be students from Crozer Theological Seminary in Upland, Pa.
After closing his labors at First Cramer Hill church in 1887, Rev. A. J. Hay identified himself with North Cramer Hill mission in 1888. Organized as a church in 1889, Mr. Hay was the first pastor until the end of 1895, nearly seven years. A succession of pastors was G. A. Sowell, 1896-99; E. B. Price, 1899-1900. Under Pastor Hay a new sanctuary was built, the chapel being too small to accommodate the congregation. A special work of grace in 1897, added many to the church membership. The old chapel was encumbered with debt and the new house increased it. However, courage was assured by tokens of the Divine favor. A church so young did not have daughters, never- theless, it has occupied its own field and met in part, its mission to the world by sending one of its members, licensed to preach, to declare the glad tidings of Divine Grace ..
The Camden Mission Society cared for the St. John's church (Afro-American) of which they speak hopefully. Begun as a mission in 1894, with the small number, three, Matt. 18:20. The mission was organized in October, 1894, and was recognized as a church in June, 1895. From their report of the first year, they numbered eighteen in all, two of whom came by letter; eight by baptism, nine . by "experi- ence." It seems that thus this church was of spontaneous growth and constituted of resident material. Its location was Cramer Hill. Rev. T. A. Brown was pastor in 1895. It may be, he was the means of its
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SAINT JOHN'S
constitution. He was instrumental in securing for the church a neat and commodious house of worship. His resignation took effect in 1897, and he was followed by Rev. Mr. Jackson and in 1898, by Rev. J. H. Boone, who in 1899, was succeeded by Rev. J. Eham.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
PERTH AMBOY.
Perth Amboy is a very old town. Governor Carteret reserved its site from sale in 1669. The East Jersey proprietors in their published account said: "that it was their intention if the Lord permit, to erect and build one principal town, which by reason of situation, must in all probability be the most considerable for merchandise, trade and fishing in those parts." The locality was called Ompogy. Later it was known by its Indian name, "Ambo," since corrupted to Amboy. The pro- prietors meant to call it Perth. The earl of Perth being one of them. But the two names have been retained. By the plans of the proprietors the town was to be the commercial head of the colonies. Its harbor is the best on the Atlantic coast.
Perth Amboy shared with Burlington the meeting of the Assembly and the residence of the Governor. The American Revolution dis- appointed these plans. Its harbor made it a rendezvous of the English army and the town bcame a depository of stores for army and navy; concentrating wealth and commerce at New York City. Eventually the colonial records, the courts, the officers and business of the colony were removed and the town resumed its primitive estate. It is easy to believe from the caste of the founders that its religious influences were stanchly Pedo Baptist. The church of England was the affinity of its settlers. A stone in the wall of the Episcopal meeting house is dated 1685. The edifice was completed later. An English mission society, expended large sums to sustain the church. The Presby- terians also had a large following. More than a century passed, when in 1817, a revival came. Numerous converts having only the New Testament, read it and became Baptists. In Divine Providence, Rev. Drake Wilson of Connecticut visited the town and these disciples were baptized, confessing the great facts of his redemption, his death and resurrection, only less than his incarnation. Mr. Wilson baptized ten of these disciples. The next July two others were baptized. These, with three resident Baptists, fifteen in all, constituted themselves a Baptist church on August 25th, 1818.
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