USA > New Jersey > A history of Baptists in New Jersey > Part 43
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Rev. J. J. Pierson settled in 1881, continuing till 1893, more than twelve years, years of blessing and of harvest. The community recog- nized him as concerned for its welfare. The church edifice was re- modelled, the parsonage enlarged, a chapel at Sewell assured and the Berkley Mission revived; also a mission begun in the distant part of the town. March 1st, 1894, Rev. L. Moss settled and remained about two years. The momentum of the former charge kept the church from a serious decline. In 1896, Rev. J. M. T. Childrey settled as pastor. A colony went out in that year and became the central Woodbury Baptist church. Under Mr. Childrey, the church was much revived and he is now (1900) ministering in the church.
One of its members has been licensed to preach. The old church edifice has been remodelled and enlarged and improved and is not to be recognized. Of pastors, one died in about a year. Another was fatally hurt and resigned. Three pastors, Messrs. Freas, Pierson, and Kirtley covered more than half the church life, each accomplishing large results for the welfare of the church. In 1892, and in 1896, colonies went from Woodbury, constituting the Newbold and Westville church, and the Central Woodbury church.
A few Baptists moved with desire "to do what they could," in a vicinity destitute of the means of grace, established a Sunday school in an upper room of a hall in Westville. Mr. S. K. Braun began his ministry preaching at the mission. Pastor Pierson, of Woodbury and Rev. J. Wilson of that place, each as they were able ministered there. Preaching the Gospel is the primary agency of the increase of
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Christianity, Sunday schools are secondary. In September 1892, a church with ten members was constituted. Three were from First Camden and seven were from First Woodbury.
A new and beautiful house of worship was begun and was dedicated in October 1893. The house was located in Newbold, which explains the joint names of the church. Deacon Coxey of First Camden from the first, used his means and his influence and his presence as in other like cases and thus assured, permanence and efficiency to the enterprise He gave more than five hundred dollars for the church edifice and paid for its furniture, also for a long time gave one hundred dollars per annum for current expenses, additional to many presents and is now the largest annual donor to maintain the church. Rev. J. Wilson was the first pastoral supply, and continued to preach until failing health required him to surrender his ministry, when the house of worship was dedicated in 1893. During the next six years, students from Crozer Seminary supplied the church, Messrs. W. E. Stevens, A. H. Wyncoop, W. T. Pauling, Jr., and William Martin. The last named student supplied for two years and at his graduation in 1900, was ordained for the pastorate. Under his labors, the church has had very much pros- perity. Thus the church has had one house of worship and two pas- tors.
The beginning of Baptist interests at Sewell date back to fifteen and seventeen years, when a mission Sunday school was started at "Knight's Run" and sucessfully maintained as a "union school." A chapel was built and it became a mission of the Woodbury church. Misunderstandings happened, that resulted in closing the house of worship. The property was to be sold to cancel a mortgage of one thousand dollars, whereupon, Salath O. Prickett, a member of Black- wood Baptist church, bought the mortgage. For several years, hc maintained the mission at his personal cost, paying for preaching, fuel and light, repairs and keeping the house and grounds in order.
To secure it as a Baptist house he entered into agreement with Blackwood Baptist church, whereby the "equity" in the real estate was affected, but not the religious type of the mission. Blackwood church did not take interest in Sewell and in no sense was Sewell ever a mission of Blackwood church. Nor will a history of Sewell church, be just that does not credit Brother Prickett with the maintenance of the mission and the organization of the church. "The Blackwood church bought the mortgage from his widow and owns the property freed from all claims." The above is an account of the early interests of Sewell by one familiar with it. The church was organized in December 1895. The first allusion in the minutes of the West Jersey Association to the
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Sewell church was in 1897, when it suddenly appears, there not being any account of its admission previously. In that year, is reported also, the death of its Senior Deacon, one of its constituents, Deacon Salath O. Prickett, of whom they say: "Through whose efforts we owe our existence as a church and also of our property." His work was early done and the church itself is his memorial. Rev. T. H. Athey was the first pastor, remaining a year and more. Succeeding him was Rev. W. E. Gibson. In 1900, Rev. E. F. Garrett is reported pastor. Mr. Gibson's labors are spoken of highly. The church appears from its organization to have had a steady and continuous growth. It has had three pastors and one church edifice.
A mission Sunday school under the pastoral care of Mr. Pierson founded by the First Baptist church of Woodbury, in 1887, was the seed of the Central Baptist church. Thirty-five members were dis- missed by the First church to organize the Central church in 1896. Rev. I. M. B. Thompson settled as pastor in March 1897 and closed his labors in Woodbury in 1899. The cause of his removal was peculiar. The Afro-American Baptist church asked the use of the baptistry to baptize converts. Objection was made by members of the Central church and the request was refused. Mr. Thompson insisted that the color of the skin did not hinder the grace of God to the negro, nor was a bar to an entrance into Heaven and immediately resigned. Since his removal, supplies have ministered to the church and in 1900, the in- crease of membership was but one more than in 1897. The race question was the only one involved in the refusal of the baptistry to the colored people.
CHAPTER XLV.
CALDWELL, BLOOMFIELD, MONTCLAIR AND BROOKDALE
In 1847, Baptists living in Caldwell and West Bloomfield townships Essex County, becoming acquainted with each other, decided to hold a prayer meeting in a school house on the Lord's day afternoon once in two weeks. The interest of the people was such that in the spring of 1848, they decided to hold their meetings every week. Occasionally they had preaching. Revs. S. Remington, J. R. Biglow, J. Potts of New York City and J. H. Waterbury of Northfield visited them as oppor- tunity allowed. At length, they decided to organize a Baptist church.
Thus twelve of these disciples met on the 29th of June 1848, with a council that they had called and were recognized as the First Baptist church of Caldwell and Bloomfield. In Novembr 1848, Mr. J. Q. Adams removed from New York City to Caldwell. These Baptists invited him to speak at their meetings and licensed him to preach and after a delay, called a council to ordain him, which they did on January 31st, 1849. The council met at Stauntin street Baptist church, but the ordination was at the Vernon M. E. church. The growth both of attendance and'of interest made it necessary to build a place of worship. A lot was bought in Caldwell and on the 29th of June, 1852, the house was dedicated. Mr. Adams continued in charge till the end of February 1854. Mr. Adams's salary was one hundred dollars and his board the first year. Next year, he had a salary of two hundred and twenty-five dollars and paid his own board. The third year, the church increased the salary to two hundred and fifty dollars. But he found the increase prevented the church from giving in benevolcene. He refused the increase and insisted on having only as much as last year. Mr. Adams was with other pastors, choosing loss to themselves rather than loss to the cause of God. When Mr. Adams retired, Rev. Benjamin Wheeler became pastor in May 1854, and resigned in nine months.
Two hundred and twenty-five dollars is not an attractive salary to support a family. A long vacancy occurred of pastoral service. The church called one of its deacons to the pastorate. Mr. C. D. Lewis began service in October 1856 and was ordained the next December. He resigned in 1858. When they could get supplies, they preached until 1860. Rev. J. B. Hutchinson was pastor at Caldwell and at Livingston churches. Others following were A. D. Willifer, 1863-68; J. Babbage, 1868; J. M. Carpenter, 1870; W. E. Howell, supply and
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pastor, 1874-81; H. Steelman, 1882; W. G. Thomas, 1884-51; Jabez Marshall, 1885-94; H. H. Pary, 1894-97; F. St.J Fitch, 1898-1900. Three members of the church have been licensed to preach. One, the first pastor, Mr. Adams. Another, Deacon Lewis was pastor. Thir- teen pastors have had charge of the church. One of them stayed but nine months. Two others remained one year and one nine years. Another eight years. A parsonage had peen provided. The church has not yet numbered one hundred members in its history. This may explain the long intervals between pastors and the many short pastorates. A small salary allowed but little room for choice and an indifferent salary proposed only a very meagre living. At the same time, the readiness of these preachers to deny themselves for Christ's sake and for the good of their neighbors, has its illustration.
Baptist residents, had with one exception, moved from Bloomfield before the Baptist church was formed. A union meeting of several denominations was held in the school house at West Bloomfield as early as 1815-20. Other Baptists had moved into the village and a goodly number of men and women were living in Bloomfield to whom a Baptist church was as essential as other necessary conditions of life.
In west Bloomfield, now Montclair, Baptists were associated with Caldwell church under the pastoral care of J. Q. Adams. Bloomfield was more central to Baptists and the meetings were transferred from West Bloomfield to Bloomfield. As the need of a Baptist church grew, the Baptists met on November 25th, and resolved: "That we do form ourselves into a church of the Lord Jesus Christ to be called the First Baptist church of Bloomfield. Thirteen Baptists signed "The Article of Faith and the Covenant." Among them was Mr. U. D. Ward and Mrs. Ward. Mr. Ward was well and widely known in business in New York City and officially connected with our Baptist Publication Society. An old school house, after repairs and furniture, was used for Lord's day worship, Sunday school and social meetings. The congregations soon out grew the capacity of the building and it was decided to build a place of worship. Lots were bought and a meeting house was begun in March 1852. In April, six candidates "were buried in baptism." The church edifice was dedicated in July 1853. Rev. J. D. Meeson became pastor in July 1852 and resigned in 1853. Next month he was followed by Rev. J. H. Pratt.
Mr. Pratt was pastor five years. Rev. H. F. Smith entered the pastorate in August 1858, continuing till 1869, eleven years. A period of usefullness and of increase. In the spring of 1869, Rev. W. F. Stubbert accepted a call to be pastor. His health failed in 1875 and unable to preach after a long vacation, he resigned. Rev. E. D. Simons
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was pastor for the coming twelve years. His successor, Rev. C. A. Cook took charge of the church in 1888 and in 1900 had the undiminished confidence of his people. The first house of worship is still in use, forty-seven or eight years. Enlarged and modernized, it is adapted in fitness and convenience for all uses. Five pastors have served the church. The first only stayed four months. Several members have been licensed to preach and the church has come to a local and foreign influence for which its founders have prayed and to attain which, its memberships have labored.
The Montclair Baptist church was a fruit of the special work of the missionary committee of the North Association of which, then, Rev. E. D. Simons, pastor of Bloomfield church, was chairman. The church was constituted in January 1886, with forty-three members. A Sunday school had been established in the town in November 1885. Rev. G. F. Warren became pastor in 1887. The church membership grew rapidly under Pastor Warren and in 1888, a member, Mrs. Weaver left a legacy of two hundred dollars, which was a nucleus of a fund to build a house of worship.
Pastor Warren resigned in the early part of 1889. In 1890, Rev. William N. Hubbell settled as pastor. A lot for a church edifice was bought and paid for and eleven thousand dollars was subscribed to assure the completion of a house of worship, under construction and which was opened for Divine worship in March 1891. Interest was developed in the Swedes, numbers of them had settled near by Mont- clair. This enterprise was organized as a Swedish department of the Montclair church. Rev. Carl Hedeen was put in charge of it. He held three meetings each week in Montclair and one in the week in Orange. On June 1st, 1896, pastor closed six years of active pastoral care at Montclair. On the 23rd of May, 1897, Rev. H. A. Tupper, Jr., settled as pastor. In 1899, in the pastoral charge of the Swedish depart- ment, Rev. N. E. Neilson following Rev. Carl Hedeen. Pastor Tupper removed on April 1st, 1900, accepting an important call to Brooklyn. Having been cared for for years, the Swedish department took upon itself a church organization of its own, First Montclair losing more than one hundred members, reducing its membership but not its income.
Brookdale was first known as "Old Stone House Plains." The locality was mission ground of the First Bloomfield Baptist church, many years ago. Pastor H. F. Smith of Bloomfield occupied it. It was not, however, a fertile field for Baptists. It had been pre-occupied with anti-Baptist views for generations. But more than thirty years since, a straight forward Irish Baptist, who with his wife, had been
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baptized by Rev. H. C. Fish of Newark, and who knew whereof he believed and why, Mr. Henry Hepburn, bought property and made his home there.
His grandfather, on the maternal side, had been a deacon in Alex. Carson's church in Ireland. People trained in that school were familiar with Bible truth and not churlish bigots. Christliness was the mould of his faith and conduct. Mr. Hepburn co-operated with the Methodists in their work. Their local church was organized in his house in 1873. Next year, they built their meeting house. Their Zion was prosperous while young. Then it declined until public worship was suspended. Their house of worship vacant for a long while, was finally sold and Mr. Hepburn bought it in the summer of 1893. The next September, the Bloomfield Baptist church revived its mission at Brookdale. Pastor Cook of Bloomfield maintained a regular appointment from September 1893.
Two years later,in June 1895,the Brookdale church was constituted with forty-one members. Rev. S. L. Harter, a student, began preach- ing in Brookdale in June 1894. He was the first pastor and closed his labors in May 1896. Rev. W. N. Hubbell was pastor in 1897, resigning in 1898. In 1899, Rev. J. H. Brittain entered on the pastoral care of Brookdale church and is now discharging its offices. The future of Brookdale church is, that it will not be a large body, but that intelligence will characterize it, and its mission will be to tell the story of the cross. The Hepburn family held their membership at Passaic. Brookdale was a mission of Bloomfield church The two last pastors have sustained it. It has had three pastors, the last of whom was in office in 1904.
CHAPTER XLVI.
BERGEN, BELVIDERE, WESTFIELD, AND GLENWOOD
An amicable division of the original Hudson City church, since known as the Summit Avenue church issued, in the Bergen Baptist church, constituted February 7th, 1859, with thirty-six members. Pastor Eastwood of Hudson City church, going with the colony and becoming the pastor of the Bergen church at its organization. Mr. Eastwood was pastor till April 1860. Upon his resignation, supplies ministered to the church until September, when Rev. William B. Shrope entered on the charge of the church.
That year, a large lot was bought and measures were taken to build à house of worship, Pastor Shrope having resigned. In 1861, Rev. W. Pendleton settled. His stay, like that of Mr. Shrope, was short. In 1863, Rev. J. S. Ladd became pastor. Again in 1864, there was an empty pulpit. These were the years of the Civil War. Churches endured great losses of men enlisted, of spirituality and the possibilities involved in either side being victor. Religious interests were at a low ebb and all financial affairs straightened. In 1865, Rev. William Rollinson took charge, remaining till January, 1869. In 1871, Rev. W. W. Hammond settled and a large house of worship was begun. The church edifice was completed in 1872. Jersey City was growing and absorbing its suburbs. The Bergen church was now called Jersey City Bergen.
Mr. Hammond closed his labors in Bergen in 1875. Rev. J. B Vosburg entered the pastorate after Mr. Hammond resigned and con- tinued till 1878. Mr. Vosburg was indicted by the Grand Jury of the County for an attempt to poison his wife; the jury disagreed; afterwards he was allowed his liberty. Rev. W. H. Parmly, pastor of the First Baptist church in Jersey City for more than thirty years, wrote in answer to a letter of inquiry about Mr. Vosburg: "He left Jersey City when I presumed and still presume, that about one half or more of the Baptists regarded him guilty and married (it is reported) the girl, with whom his name had been connected during his trial." Rev. W. W. Everts, Sr., had a prosperous charge from 1879 to 1884. In September 1884, Rev. D. J. Ellison settled in Bergen and in 1895, resigned. While pastor many converts were baptized. This period was an enlargement of both the spiritual and material interests of the church. Rev. J. C. Allen was pastor in 1893 and had many seals of his ministry. The
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division of the Hudson City church in 1859 was apparently an unwise movement, resulting in two struggling churches. Nevertheless, results illustrated to each body the Divine faithfulness to those who devise liberal things. Bergen church has had ten pastors. The record of · Associations do not show how many have been licensed to preach. Two meeting houses have been built for the use of the Bergen church.
Belvidere Baptist church was constituted in 1859. North New Jersey has not been congenial soil for Baptists since the Antinomian foray. Not on account of the people there but on account of the Armenian blight from about 1828 to 1840, trouble has befallen our Baptist churches, and this has come from within and not from with- out.
Earlier, our churches were numerous and strong. A great change has come in that section since railroads have opened it. When the few Baptists in Belvidere associated in a church, it was believed to be an unwise movement. Four years later, they wrote: "We have had no meetings for two years. The newest Baptist church has been without a pastor for a number of years." Not that outside influences were hurtful to them but that the people were mixed, some good and some not so good. About 1859, the Board of the State Convention sent a missionary to Belvidere. But the town needed local work which a pastor only could do. Mr. C. E. Cordo was ordained in March 1864. His stay, however, was but a year. Rev. T. F. Borches settled in 1866 and, like Mr. Cordo, won a congregation. But his health compelled his removal to the West. In the meantime, Rev. H. C. Fish of First Newark Baptist church visited Belvidere and built a large and costly church edifice in a choice location which was dedicated in February 1868. The cost of this building, if spent on the pulpit might have resulted in a good church in Belvidere. As it was, it was waste. But Mr. Fish had his choice. In 1874, responding to an appeal to the denomination the debt on the property was paid on the condition that the property must be deeded to the Convention and kept forever for Baptist uses. In 1902, the property was ordered to be sold. It had been mortgaged to pay debt on Clinton Avenue Church, Trenton, N. J. This vote to sell the property by the Board of the Convention is an instance of the unreliability of the pledges of religious corporations.
Twenty years hence, this dishonesty will be plead as a precedent to divert other funds of the Convention collected for special use to other ends. Deacon Deats of Cherryville stated these facts to the writer. He was one of a committee to dispose of this property (notwithstanding the pledge referred to) conferring with an elder of a Presbyterian church in Belvidere, who offered a price for the property to be given
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BELVIDERE AND WESTFIELD
to the Roman Catholics. Mr. Deats insisted that if Belvidere could buy the property for the Roman Catholics on a plea that they could re- tain their domestics, they could raise the money to pay the debts on it and save it to Protestantism. The elder positively refused. This so-cal- led Christian was more willing to provide for Romanism a home, than to give a cent to help a Baptist church. Of this sort is the religion of some. The succession of pastors at Belvidere has been: J.G. Entrek in 1869-74; A. B. McGowan, (supply), 1874; C. W. O. Nyce, 1875-79; H. A. Chapman, 1880; E. W. Lamb, joint pastor with Montana, 1883; W. A. Smith, 1889-91. W. W. Barker of Phillipsburg on a week evening, 1894. Since then as concerns Baptist interests the silence of the grave has been at Belvidere. Lessons taught by this history are: I. The folly of run- ning before one is sent, shown by Rev. H. C. Fish, in building at so large a cost, such a house. Houses do not build up churches. The interest thrown away at Belvidere would have sustained a first-class pastor there and the house would have come. II. The suiting of money to the end; shown by the policy of the Board of the Convention, which having the right man, Mr. Cordo, in a needy place did not keep him there.
Baptists were living in Westfield for some time before a Baptist church was organized there. But in December 1865, they held re- ligious meetings. As their number increased, desire for a church grew. A place of worship was a prime necessity and steps were taken to build one. Lots were bought and the house begun. On December 20th, 1866, a year from their first social meeting, the church was recog- nized. Next year, in September 1867, the house of worship was ded- icated.
Although a pastor was not settled for three years, Rev. Messrs. J. S. Ladd and Hillman and J. Greaves preached regularly, Mr. Greaves ministering gratuitously. In June 1870, Mr. Greaves accepted a call to be pastor and served the church for six years. Thus, for nine years, Mr. Greaves was a great blessing to the church and the members grew from fourteen to seventy-four. His successor, Rev. C. A. Harris be- came pastor December 24th, 1876 and on March 24th, 1880, resigned, having had a useful and happy charge. On July 4th, 1880, Rev. E. H. Bronson entered on the pastorate, but retired in a little more than two years. His charge was memorable in that the debt was paid and the general welfare of the church was advanced. Rev. S. F. Masse settled as pastor; his stay, however, was but four months. Providentially, Rev. J. K. Folwell accepted a call in July 1885. An immediate change came into every department of Christian work.
The Sunday school and the social meetings took on new life. Such changes involved the improvement of the church edifice and included
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NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
the building of a parsonage. Mr. Folwell interested himself in the Anglo Africo people, and through a trustee a neat meeting house and parsonage was secured for them. Mr. Folwell resigned in September 1891, having had a large harvest in his six years service. In February 1892, Rev. J. G. Dyer entered on the pastorate. Thirty Anglo-Africo members were dismissed in September 1893 to constitute a church. Mr. Johnson, their pastor, was ordained in 1892, while employed by the Westfield church as a missionary to his people. Mr. Dyer resigned in January 1st, 1896 and was followed in March 1896, by Rev. G. A. Fran- cis, sustaining his relation as pastor through 1900. The church has had seven pastors, of whom the first was the longest settled. One church has sprung from Westfield.
Union Hill church was first named "Town of Union," and was constituted in November 1866 with eight members. T. J. Weeks was pastor in 1867, W. Archer in 1868, J. A. Metz, 1869-70; E. Scheffer, 1871-72; G. F. Hendrickson, 1873; a licentiate served in 1874. Robert Fisher, 1874-80. In 1877, the house of worship was improved. Pastor Fisher's charge was closed by his death in 1880.
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