USA > New Jersey > A history of Baptists in New Jersey > Part 50
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The first Bible school in New Jersey was begun in Newark in 1794. Certain Christian women, members of what was once a congregational church, but which the Presbyterians absorbed and now retain. The earliest and first Lord's Day school was begun at Ephrata, Pa., in 1749 in a colony of Seventh Day Baptists. Of the time of its beginning the historian writes: "It is not exactly known what year the Sabbath school was begun. Ephrata is in Lancaster County, Pa., sixty miles northwest of Philadelphia and belongs wholly to the Seventh Day Baptist Society. Many of the members being men of education, they established a secular school. Hecker came to Ephrata in 1739 and it is believed that he began the school. Soon after he took up his resi- dence there." (Chambers' Enclycopedia. See Sunday schools). This Sunday school preceded that which Robert Raikes began in 1781, by about fifty years. Religious instruction in the Sabbath school, the same writer states: "produced an anxious inquiry among the juven- ile population. They met every day to pray and exhort one another."
The excitement ran into excess which induced Friedsam (an elder) to discourage an enterprise, which had been commenced and was part under way; viz. "to erect a house for their use to be called Succoth." Elder Friedsam delayed the erection of the building, for in 1749, the historian states: that the materials of the bullding in that year were furnished. The building was used for a hospital after the battle of Brandywine and the school was not resumed. Hoeker was sixty years old at this time and the people were Germans. Revivals have
492
NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
ever been a characteristic of the Bible school, In 1809, the Friends, (Quakers) established a first day school in Trenton for colored people. (Dr. Hall's History of Trenton, page 582). This failed for lack of funds to pay a teacher and in May 1811, a society of all denominations was formed to begin a First day school for the instruction of the poor of all descriptions and colors. The same year, a Bible school was es- tablished in New Brunswick for poor children. Oustide of Newark, these were the early movements made in New Jersey in this depart- ment. Mr. J. M. Sherrerd was a law student in Trenton and united with the First Presbyterian church and writes:
"During the winter of 1815-16, there was a special religious awaken- ing in Trenton and at a union meeting held weekly, it was mooted whe- ther we might not do good by starting a Sunday school. Our prayer meeting was composed of about a dozen young men, who had united with the different churches and a few others, seriously disposed. I recollect the names of Gershom Mott, John French, Mr. Bowen, John Probasco, Baptists. Lewis Evans a Friend, (Quaker). At first I was the only Presbyterian, but others soon joined me. I was appointed to visit the schools in Philadelphia and did so. The use of the old school room over the Market House on 'Mill Hill,' was obtained. At eight o'clock, the next Sunday, we met, six teachers and twenty-six scholars. Every Sunday, the school was dismissed in time to attend the churches. At the end of three months, the room being too small, we formed a school in each of the three churches. The Baptist, the Presbyterian and the third at the Academy. In a Trenton newspaper of the eighth of August, 1817 it is said that these three schools were organized under the title of 'The Trenton and Lamberton Sunday Free School Association.' "
The date of the beginning of which was March 9th, 1816. At the time of the division into three schools, female teachers for the first time took part. These schools were union schools. Eventually, they were known as the schools of the several churches where they met. Of the six names given by Mr. Sherrerd, four were Baptists; one a Friend (Quaker); one a Presbyterian. These numbers, while not indicating the proportionate interest of the churches expressed its rel- ative diffusion.
Mrs. Ann B. Taylor of Holmdel, established the First Baptist Sunday school in New Jersey in her own home on her farm. Objection was made by the neighbors to sending their children to the school because their children had neither shoes nor stockings and Mrs. Taylor's had both, whereupon, she required her children to come to the school barefoot and thus removed the objection. This
493
BIBLE SCHOOLS
school was removed to the school house and continued from 1816 to 1885 or 6, seventy years. Of the many aggressive religious enter- prises, characteristic of the nineteenth century, missions, home and foreign; temperance; Sunday schools; young people's societies; homes for the aged and the young education, academies; colleges; seminaries; all having their root in Christianity, none of these activities have had a more blessed or larger fruitage than the Bible school. All denom- inations have recognized it as the foremost element of power, for the coming generation as well as an instrumentality of chiefest blessing to those who serve in it.
The decay of the superstition that infant baptism has some virtue in it or can be of any good to the ignorant and unbelieving babe, is a reason for the growing belief that an experience of Divine grace by personal faith in the Son of God is the better way, and that each con- vert has the right to choose for himself his profession and to make it of his own free will. Nor is it strange that the denominations clinging to this falsehood of the dark ages observe it less, and the godly cling more and more to the Bible plan of each soul being free, instead of advantage having been taken of its ignorance and helplessness and its way to perdition made surer. Mrs. Ann B. Taylor was a remarkable woman. She lived and died at an old age without any impairment of her natural faculties. Her devotion and ceaseless activity con- tinued up to the day of her death.
Long past her eightieth year, she was usually among the first of the teachers at her class in the Sunday school and it was a remark- able thing for her to be absent from the Lord's Day worship. Among other qualities commending her memory was her preservation of the old documents of her times: subscription books for various objects and annual and semi-annual reports of the Sunday school. Of these last, so much is given as indicates their condition and type. In 1826, in the Fall the report states, The Holmdel Church School: "The teachers of the Pleasant Valley Sunday school feel gratified that at the close of their labors for the present year, the state of the school enables them to make the following report: (the report is omitted in full) but these facts are added:
White boys
42
White girls
29
71
Colored boys
44
Colored girls
36
80
Total,
15
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NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
The greater part of these were children learning their letters. There have been committed to memory by those who could read, 2588 verses of the New Testament and 229 hymns. Two instances ought to be noticed: Mary Bray in twelve Sundays recited 1056 verses, com- prising all of Matthew, except the first chapter and Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Mrs. A. B. Taylor, a girl under six years of age in six Sun- days recited hymns with great accuracy. Report of the same school in 1829: "The managers and teachers of the union Sabbath school are permitted to lay before the pastor and the church, a partial report of the school since our last report." "Our school has been as well at- tended through the winter as could be expected. Some circumstances prevent our giving an exact account of what has been committed to memory, but in the female department there has been recited 1031 verses of Scripture and 317 whole hymns, which added to the number recited last year, amount to 2761 verses of Scripture and 514 hymns. There has been selected near two hundred proofs on thirteen different subjects."
"Teachers pray for their scholars and scholars pray for themselves and we hope they may be thoroughly convinced of sin and then obtain peace and joy in believing." A report of 1829, October: "It has become the duty of the managers and teachers of the Sunday school to lay before their pastor and the church a report of the school. There are at present 123 scholars. Boys have committed to memory, 675 verses of Scripture and 105 hymns; the girls, 1519 verses of Scripture and 163 hymns; in all, 2194 verses and 268 hymns and brought 293 proofs on four different subjects. One teacher and one scholar have been added to the church by baptism. Others appear to be earnestly in- quiring the way to life. We have established a monthly prayer meeting on the second Thursday of each month, to unite our prayers for a bless- ing, that we may see children brought to the Saviour. A branch was opened on the 17th of May last. It has enrolled 109 scholars and the average attendance for twenty Sundays has been fifty."
"The superintendent believes it ought to be one hundred. As many religious tracts have been distributed each Sunday as there were scholars and teachers. Many are carried into destitute families and neighborhoods. Anxiety was felt on opening the school for teach- ers, but without reason. There has been 330 verses of Scripture recited beside pages of catechism. Brethren and sisters your prayers are earnestly solicited." These reports indicate an intense interest in children and show a missionary aim by establishing a branch school and appointing a monthly meeting for prayer. The Bible was the one book of study and the committal to memory of verses in it intimate
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BIBLE SCHOOLS
a wide difference in the modern school where Quarterlies and lesson papers have virtually banished the Bible. Could it be restored and youth lay up in memory the Word of God, it would be a vast improve- ment on modern methods. The writer recalls his Sunday school days, when the Word of God was the book of study and treasures of it were laid up in memory, never to be parted with and ever to be a cheer and comfort in daily life. These views of old, indicate the change which has occurred in our Sunday school studies. Then it was the Bible Now, it is comments on the Bible.
CHAPTER LIX.
EDUCATION.
It is elsewhere said that in the first session of the first meeting of New Jersey Baptists on December 3rd and 4th, 1811, in which they could be independent of foreign influence, that immediately after organizing, a committee of three, B. Allison, pastor of Jacobstown, Peter Wilson, pastor at Hightstown and Joseph Sheppard, pastor at Salem, was appointed "to draft a plan for a literary and theological school for young licentiates in the ministry and for devising ways and means to raise a fund for defraying the expenses of the same and sub- mit it to the consideration of our next Association."
At the next meeting of the Association in 1812, the committee reported: "that they had seen one proposed by the ministers of Phila- delphia which they recommended to this Association." An alliance began thus, between New Jersey Baptists and those of adjoining states of Pennsylvania and New York in educational enterprises, which has been the bane and affliction to our home interests. Later, in 1837-8, came a delegation from Hamilton, N. J., (now Colgate) of President N. Kendrick, Prof. G. W. Eaton and J. Edmonds, Jr., stating that their resources were exhausted and asking New Jersey for co-operation with New York in the support of their Hamilton Institution. Large sums were pledged and many students were secured for Hamilton. Another plea from Pennsylvania came in 1840-6 for Lewisburg, pre- sented by that most effective advocate, Rev. Eugenio Kincaid, with whom Lewisburg originated. Philadelphia Baptists looked with disfavor on the location. Indeed, it was openly said that Mr. J. P. Crozer was ready to give it a home and large endowment, if the col- lege had been located where Crozer Seminary is now. These calls and alliances from adjoining states paralyzed these enterprises for more than half a century. The answer to every such movement was: "Hamilton needs us; Lewisburg must not be forsaken." The Central Education Society of Philadelphia, claimed also an implied alliance with New Jersey and had some measure of relation to the Sandy Ridge school and to Haddington under Pastor Dagg of the Fifth church, Philadelphia, and again with Burlington under Aaron and Green.
From the earliest settlement of New Jersey, Baptists have been impregnated with educational ideas. Indeed, the entire population, denominational and undenominational, was intent to provide schools.
497
EDUCATION
Baptists had their full share of political and judgeship positions and were universally respected and held foremost places both in social life and in official positions. There was no colony in America, in which Baptists included more wealth and culture. The first legacies for education amounting to tens of thousands of dollars were in New Jersey. The Hollanders held the school and the church in the highest estimation. The West India Company chartered in 1629, (a Holland and Commercial Company) enjoined on its colonists "to find out in the speediest manner ways and means, whereby they could support a minister and a school master." A wide difference from the English East India Company, which prohibited Christianity and the Bible; drove Carey to take a clerkship and Judson to the shelter of a heathen king, (Burma). The first free school was established in New Jersey September 22nd, 1668, by Gov. Carteret, who stipulated in the Bergen charter "that all persons should contribute according to their estates and proportions of land for the keeping of a free school for the edu- cation of youth." In West Jersey, the Quakers built their meeting house and school house under one roof." "George Fox in 1667, advised his New Jersey friends to establish boarding schools that young men in low circumstances may be furnished with means to procure edu- cation." Swedes settled on the Delaware river in New Jersey with the stipulation that they should support at all times, ministers and schoolmasters. (U. S. History of Education in New Jersey, 1899; page 119). The U. S. History of Education in New Jersey states that in 1731, "the supply of competent teachers has never been equal to the demand." New Jersey people are said to be "slow" and very "con- servative." It may be so. Their descent from cultured generations explain why they are as described.
Intelligence and education induces consideration and conservatism. Educators from New England and the West, have publicly claimed that the average intelligence of the boys and girls of New Jersey is higher than in other states. New Jersey Baptists have had various experiences with schools. As many as nine or ten have been founded in the state or colony. Other colonies are entitled to the credit of being concerned along the same lines and doing for themselves a like work of development. The oldest of these schools in New Jersey was established in Hopewell in 1756 by Rev. Isaac Eaton. The Phila- delphia Association took a great deal of interest in Hopewell school for two reasons. One, Mr. Eaton was thoroughly competent to have the oversight of it. Another, was that Hopewell was a wise and good location for the school of the nation, in the heart of the country and in the midst of its largest population, between the two great cities of the 31
498
NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
country, in a colony which included wealth and culture and near to an association of stanch Baptistic faith and order in a colony where a free conscience and liberty of belief had guarantees that assured continuance.
The same reasons should have availed to have left it where it was; amid a people equal to any other in the new world, for cultivation and liberality and associated with a foremost Baptist church. Pri- marily, the school was intended for the education of young men for the ministry, but it was not limited to them. Really, it included all de- partments of study.
Morgan Edwards names graduates, eminent in official position, in politics, in law, in medicine, in merchandise and in the ministry. He also names ministerial students, graduates of Hopewell, James Manning, first President and founder of Brown University; Samuel Jones, who had a school at Pennepack, John Gano, pastor of First Bap- tist church, New York City; Hezekiah Smith, Baptist Apostle to New England.
David Jones, chaplain in Revolutionary Army, and to General Washington, Isaac Skillman, pastor in Boston and others, eminent men. In 1767, the school was removed to Providence, R. I., and became Brown University. The removal was decided on, because of a prevalent belief that Rhode Island was the only colony in which Baptists were sure of protection and liberty. A miserable and strange fiction, since Baptists had been coming to New Jersey from every colony in New England, many from Rhode Island.
Even Rhode Island was not a safer refuge than New Jersey for Baptists. Not only had there never been a persecution in the colony, but the Stuarts owed everything to Quakers and to the Welsh and Admiral Penn had large financial claims which it behooved Charles II, to settle. Subsequent events showed the awful blunder of 1767. The men and the money were in New Jersey to supply its needs. Phila- delpnia was the social and financial center of the nation and New York was at hand the center of trade and commerce. We know what Prince- ton University is. Hopewell might have done for New Jersey Baptists what Princeton University has accomplished for Presbyterians in New Jersey and adjoining states. (In 1752, there were nine Baptist churches in New England. Eight in New Jersey; one in Pennsylvania one in Delaware and one in South Carolina). Certainly Hopewell church would have been saved from the embrace of anti-nomianism.
Those of us whose memory runs back seventy years, recall how limited Presbyterianism was in New Jersey and how strong Baptists were. And now, we know how reversed the conditions are. But
499
EDUCATION
the education of professional men, of judges, of merchants, under the influence which Princeton represents has modified public influences. Had the wrong of 1767 been stayed, we also would have shared in the training and culture of men who have made public opinions. Not that Princeton would have been less, but that we would have held our own and attained to the promise of our youth. Now our Baptist pro- . fessional men and citizens, who anticipate for their sons the place in professional and social life send their sons to Princeton, and say: "the affiliations there puts them in concord with the social, judicial, and official citizenship of the state." None can estimate the good we have lost by the crime of 1767.
The writer addressed a letter to President Patton of Princeton, asking; to which the appended letter is his reply. The facts touch education and the activities of life and its impulsion to dignities are not new and indicate our losses by the disaster of 1767, wrought by men outside of New Jersey.
Rev. T. S. Griffiths,
Hightstown, N. J.
My Dear Sir :-
Your letter with references to the positions filled by Princeton men in Congress and elsewhere, has been received. I cannot be sure that you have not overstated the facts, but it is certainly true that Princeton has a very enviable record, and I will be glad to put you in possession of exact facts just as soon as I can.
I am,
Very sincerely yours,
Francis L. Patton.
SUMMARY.
Graduates of the College of New Jersey with the degree of A. B .. . 7168
Graduates of the School of Science 318
Graduates of the Law School, 7
Total number now living,
3916
Number of Graduate Degrees conferred on examination 215
Number of Honorary Degrees conferred. 887
Graduates of the College of New Jersey who have become
President of the United States, 1
Vice-Presidents of the United States,.
2
Cabinet Officers, 13
Presidents of the United States Senate,
2 United States Senators, 54
Speakers of the House of Representatives, 3
500
NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
135
Representatives in Congress,.
Chief Justice of the United States, 1
Justices of the United States Supreme Court, 5
Attorney Generals of the United States, 9
Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 2
Members of the Continental Congress,. 22
Members of the United States Constitutional Convention,
9
Ministers Plenipotentiary of Foreign Nations 15
4
Governors of States,
31
Presidents of Provincial Congresses,.
5
Members of State Constitutonal Conventions,
17
State Attorney Generals
42
State Chancellors,
14
Presidents of State Senates,
7
State Senators,.
53
Speakers of State Assemblies,
23
State Assemblymen,
109
State Chief Justices,
28
Judges,
204
Major Generals United States Army,.
6
Brigadier Generals United States Army 2
Surgeon Generals United States Army,.
2
Members of the American Philosophical Society
8
Fellows of the Royal Society
2
Founders of Colleges,
7
Presidents of Colleges,
65
Professors in Colleges and Technical Schools,
353
Trustees of the College of New Jersey,. 60
1296
Ordained Ministers,
Physicians, 661
A legacy was made to the Philadelphia Association, (at that time there was not an organized body in New Jersey, to which it could be given), but Mr. Honeywell expressed his choice as to its manage- ment by naming two Baptist pastors in New Jersey of the three trustees whom he appointed to administer the fund.
John Honeywell of Warren County, New Jersey, devised, it is supposed, several thousand dollars for a school, designating it "for the education of slaves and children of poor parents." Some thousands of the amount were expended on the building and several thousands were an endowment. Mr. Honeywell is believed to have died in 1775 and the building to have been erected in 1778-82. The first mention
Fleet Surgeons United States Navy,
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EDUCATION
of the legacy in the Philadelphia Association was, as nearly as is known, in 1782. News travelled slow in those early times. (1782, item 12, Page 181, A. B. P. Society, Education of 1851), especially in the American Revolution when armies interrupted communications. The building was located in Warren County near the town of Hope, about nine miles south of the Delaware Water Gap. The school was in operation in 1900.
Rev. B. Allison established a school at Bordentown, his native place, in 1778, after he graduated from Brown University. Mr. Allison lived in Bordentown sixty years and was pastor for twenty-five years, of Jacobstown church. He was a beneficiary of the bequest of Mrs. Hobbs of Hopewell, made in 1774-57, to educate young ministers. Mr. Allison was a natural genius; a remarkable man and educator, as may be inferred from the fact that in his school were students from Spain, France, West Indies, South America and nearly every colony and state in the United States. He maintained his school for about thirty years. Young ministers thronged to it, among whom was that apostolic man, Peter Wilson, pastor at Hightstown for thirty-five years.
Plainfield moved in 1811, both for local and general education. Baptists were the first movers in the enterprise and strangely, as yet, there was not a Baptist church in the place. In 1811, an organization of a Baptist church was effected. Five trustees were chosen, four of them, Baptists. An academy building was erected on the site where the First Baptist house of worship is now. The school was equipped with eight teachers, five of whom were Baptists. The plan and purpose was for permanency and enlargement. In 1835, a fire nearly destroyed the building and was disastrous to the enterprise. Sectarian jeal- ousies of our Presbyterian friends stirred up an opposition and issued in a school of their own, which also died. The motive for its exist- ence had gone. A large hearted and noble minded man, Robert Rit- tenhouse, of Hunterdon County started an Academy at Kingwood. He planned great things for God and for humanity, which involved his entire financial resources.
Rev. William V. Wilson related to educational interests in Penn- sylvania and New Jersey, furnished to the writer, the data of Sandy Ridge affairs and says: "Mr. Rittenhouse started an academy in his own dwelling in what was called the "swamp." (Not a marsh, but what is common in a hilly country; a section in which springs abound). His home was in Kingwood township, near to the Kingwood church edifice of which Rev. D. Bateman was pastor, a New Jersey pastor, endowed with gifts of leadership. The school was opened in the fall
502
NEW JERSEY BAPTIST HISTORY
of 1831, with about twenty students, boarders and day scholars, of whom I was one." At this time, the school was of both sexes and students were from New York, Philadelphia, Richmond and different places in New Jersey, numbering about thirty boarders. In work hours, Mr. Wilson was overseer. Being a manual school each was paid the worth of his labor and the school sustained itself. Order was maintained and its type was decidedly religious. Mr. Wilson says of this fall, 1831, that himself and sister united with the church and suffered persecution from the students. But in 1832, the perse- cutors were converted, with nearly half of the students.
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