USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 34
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NEW JERSEY
MORRISTOWN CHURCHES
First Presbyterian-With the coming of a few people from the lower counties of New Jersey, the need of a church was soon met by the God- loving men of the community, by the erection of a small Presbyterian church building at New Hanover, they having previously worshiped with the Hanover congregation. Separation was bitterly opposed and it was not until 1742 that a pastor was called over the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown-the Rev. Timothy Johnes, who began his pastorate August 13 of that year. He was born in Southampton, Long Island, May 24, 1717, of Welsh parentage. He graduated at Yale College in 1737, his alma mater conferring upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1783. When he came to the First Church he found one hundred and two members in full communion. The church built before his arrival was further adorned in 1764 by the erection of a steeple one hundred and twenty-five feet high,. hence the local rhyme :
"Little church, tall steeple; Little town, proud people."
The trustees granted permission and also agreed that Colonel Ford. should have "the care, management and oversight" of the work. In this tower a bell was hung, tradition says a gift from the King of England. The bell bore the impress of the British crown and the name of the makers -"Lister and Pack of London fecit." The bell was recast about 1860, and again about 1905, and still rings out the call to worship. The vane of the steeple was taken down and given to the old academy at New Vernon. In 1774 the congregation had so increased in size that the building was enlarged. During the Revolution the church was used as an army hospital, and. further enlargement being necessary, soon afterward it was directed at a parish meeting held October 8, to build a new church. Work was com- menced in 1791, the frame raised September 20, 1791, and on November 26, 1795, worship was held in the new building for the first time, although not completed until several months later. The head carpenter was Major Joseph Lindsley, assisted by Gilbert Allen, both elders of the congregation .. The old church was taken down in November, 1795, and sold in lots.
Rev. Timothy Johnes served the church until his death, September 15,- 1794, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, the fifty-second of his pastorate, and the fifty-fourth of his ministry. In 1791 he fractured his thigh-bone. by a fall which confined him to his bed for months and left him a cripple for life. Not until a year later did he attend public service. In 1793 he preached a sermon at the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of his pastorate, seated in a high cushioned chair to which he was aided by the elders. His text was, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course." etc. He manifested great emotion, and at the reading of the last hymn "the tears trickled over the venerable cheeks, and before he could utter the last line, his voice seemed to die away amidst the sobs and tears of the whole assembly." He seldom addressed his people after that memor- able sermon. The following winter, as he was riding to church, his sleigh upset, breaking his other thigh-bone. He was carried home, and never left it alive. He received into the church 600 members, 572 half-members, offi- ciated at 2827 baptisms, and 948 marriages, during the half century he was. the active pastor. His tombstone bears the following inscription: "As a Christian, few ever discovered more piety ; as a minister, few labored longer, more zealously or more successfully than did this minister of Jesus Christ."
-
( Crpand grow old samente)"
Old Presbyterian Church of Morristown as it appeared in the time of the Revolutionary War. (Plate of P. H. Hoffman).
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Rev. Aaron Collins served as assistant pastor from January 6, 1791, until September 2, 1793. Dr. James Richards, D.D., succeeded Dr. Johnes, May 1, 1795, serving until April 26, 1809, then accepting a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Newark. Under his pastorate the plan of assessing and selling pews was established; the number purchasing or renting pews was 159.
Dr. Richards was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Fisher, D.D., whose father, Jonathan Fisher, a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, died while in camp in Morristown, in March, 1777. In 1822 stoves and lamps were first introduced into the church, in face of strong opposition.
Rev. Albert Barnes, the sixth pastor, led a crusade against the nineteen places in town where liquor was made, and twenty where it was sold; seventeen of the nineteen distilleries closed as a result of his efforts, the other two closing soon after he left the town.
On July 26, 1833, a church was organized at New Vernon, the mem- bership being drawn mainly from the First Presbyterian Church. In 1847 Rev. James Richards, D.D., son of Rev. James Richards, D.D., the second pastor of the church, was settled over the church. In 1882 the membership was 600; in the Sunday school, 450.
In 1893 the present beautiful and imposing edifice was erected. It is of stone, with tower and clock. The seating capacity of the main audience room is 900, the apse furnishing a reserve room accommodating several hundred more. Flanked on either side by the beautiful chapel and manse, the church in its lighter tones presents a picture delightful to the eye. The present membership is 725, with Sunday school and the many departments of the church well attended and efficiently officered. The minister, Rev. William Russell Bennett, is a graduate of Williams College, and was set- tled over the church in 1903. The assistant minister is Rev. Jay Knox, a graduate of Hamilton College. The First Church is a member of the Mor- ris and Orange Presbytery.
South Street Presbyterian Church-This church is a child of the First Church, and the fifth church to be established in Morristown. A paper signed by 146 members was presented to the session of the First Church, January 26, 1841, asking that they be dismissed "with a recommendation to the Second Presbyterian Church, to be organized in Morristown." The request was granted, and at a meeting of the session June 8, 1841, sixty other persons were dismissed for the same purpose; in fact, of the 208 original members, 207 were from the First Church.
On February 21, 1841, the congregation began holding religious serv- ices in the upper hall of Morris Academy, under the ministrations of Rev. Orlando L. Kirtland, a stated supply, who was a former member of the First Church. On May 17, 1841, at a parish meeting, it was decided to erect a house of worship, and in due season a lot was purchased on South street, for $2500. May 27 the corner stone was laid, and on October 14 the new building was solemnly dedicated, Rev. Nicholas Murray, of Eliza- beth, preaching the morning sermon and Rev. O. L. Kirtland offering the prayer of dedication. In the afternoon, Rev. Mr. Kirtland was regularly installed pastor of the church. The cost of the building and lot was esti- rrated at $10,840, but so much labor and material were donated that the actual value was much more. The tower was square, and in it hung the bell presented by Judge Stephen Vail, which if not of the most melodious sound, did good service for thirty-six years, giving its last voice in sounding out the alarm of fire before it fell, destroyed and buried in the ruins of the
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burning church. A fine clock, the gift of Mrs. Vail, hung in front of the choir gallery, and a large Bible, also her gift, was on the pulpit.
At the dedication, October 14, 1841, the music was one of the attractive features. The choir, led by Jacob Jenkins, was a large one, the lady mem- bers twenty-two in number. Among them were Emily and Phoebe Day, Mary and Jane Conklin, Harriet and Henrietta Johnson, Mary Woolley, Anne and Abby Smith, Nancy Johnson (later married to Lewis Pierson Jr.), Abby Johnson (married to C. H. Johnson), Phoebe Conklin (married to W. W. Fairchild), Keziah Elmer, Harriet Lindsley (married to H. Jones, of Newark), Miss Grey (married to Daniel Alexander). Among the male members were Dr. Theodore Johnes, Stewart Elmer, Edward T. Lyon, John Smith, Lewis Pierson Jr., C. H. Johnson, Aram Johnson, Daniel Alexander and William Jaggers. The instrumental music was furnished by W. W. Fairchild, concert flute; James Noyes and Mr. Johnson, violins; and William Day, bass viol. These instruments were used in the choir for two years or more, and then superseded by a seraphine.
Rev. Orlando Kirtland served the church until October, 1851, the mem- bership increasing to a total of 263. After serving the Presbyterian church in New Providence for several years, Mr. Kirtland returned to Morristown to spend his closing days, and on May 27, 1874, was buried from the church he had helped to build, and to which he had so long ministered. He died at the age of seventy-three years.
Rev. James C. Edwards was the second pastor, installed January I, 1852, dismissed in April, 1860. He later returned to Morristown, residing there three years previous to his death, June 28, 1880, aged seventy-three years. In June, 1861, the church was transferred from the Presbytery of Passaic to the care of the Presbytery of Newark, under the name of South Street Presbyterian Church of Morristown. During the pastorate of Mr. Edwards, 143 persons were received into the church, and a parsonage was erected at a cost of $2,200.
Rev. Arthur Mitchell, D. D., was the third pastor, being installed in No- vember, 1861, resigning in November of the same year to accept a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, Illinois. During his pastorate, 201 names were added to the church roll of membership, and the church building was enlarged at a cost of $11,083.
Rev. Albert Erdman began his long pastorate in March, 1869, the in- stallation services being held May 19. On January 10, 1877, the church edifice was totally destroyed by fire. Immediate steps were taken to rebuild, and by midsummer of the following year a beautiful and costly building had been erected upon the same site. The formal dedicatory services were held July 12, 1878, Rev. M. D. Hoge, D. D., of Richmond, Virginia, preaching the sermon. During the building of the church, services were held regularly in the chapel of the Maple avenue public school, afterward in the hall of the Library and Lyceum. On Sunday, May 31, 1891, the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, the pastor, Rev. Albert Erdman, preaching a historical sermon, being assisted in the devotional services by Rev. Charles K. Imbrie, D.D., of Jersey City, who preached the installation sermon of the first pastor of the church, Rev. Orlando L. Kirtland, October 14, 1841. In the evening a union service of the South Street and First Presbyterian churches was held. On the Tuesday following, June 2, a reception was held to which the congregation of the First Church and the pastors of the churches in Morris- town were invited.
Dr. Erdman continued his ministry with the South Church until 1907,
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and then resigned, after a pastorate covering a period of thirty-eight years. The church prospered spiritually and materially under his wise administra- tion, and all departments of church work were active and efficient. He was succeeded in December, 1907, by Rev. Alexander MacColl, from Briar- cliff Manor Presbyterian Church, who continued in charge until March, 1910, when he accepted a call from the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. He was succeeded by Rev. Merle H. Anderson, D.D., who came from the King's Highway Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Anderson was a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, Penn- sylvania, and the McCormick Theological School, Oxford, Ohio. He had previously served churches of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania; the Muchmore Me- morial Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia; the Third Street Presbyterian Church, Dayton, Ohio; and the King's Highway Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Missouri. In 1906 the Miami State University (Oxford, Ohio) con- ferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
In 1909 a woman assistant was called by the church-Mary M. Axtell. Upon her resignation in 1914, Rev. Theodore Walser, of Cohoes, New York, was called as assistant pastor, his term beginning June 1, 1914. While every department of South Street Church is efficient and prosperous, a special feature of the Sunday school is a Men's Bible Class, taught by Rev. Frank- lin B. Dwight, a valued member of the church, a learned scholar and preacher. The class numbers 150 members, all male adults. The present membership of the church is 750; of the Sunday school, 350. A feature of the large auditorium is the installation of the acousticon, for the benefit of those with impaired hearing, connection being made with any pew. Dr. Erdman is pastor emeritus, and Rev. Thomas B. Ironside superintendent of the Market Street Mission, which is a mission inaugurated by South Street Church and maintained through the voluntary and generous gifts of a large circle of friends, not alone in the South Street Church, which stands sponsor for the work, but also in the other churches of Morristown. The work of this mission has been so valuable to men and to the town, that special mention is given it and its most capable superintendent, Rev. Thomas B. Ironside.
Market Street Mission-For twenty-five years Market Street Mission has been engaged in Rescue Mission Work. There is no attempt to hide the fact that the foundation of this work is spiritual, and while physical and material needs are not overlooked, men are taught that lives wrecked by sin can be readjusted. The first meeting of the Mission was held in a small unused store room, March 18, 1889, one result of that meeting being the conversion of an old man steeped in sin, who, until his death five years later, almost nightly testified to the genuineness of his conversion.
Without a single intermission, these nightly meetings have been main- tained. William H. Hall, the first superintendent, was succeeded at the end of a year by Mr. Ironside, whom to eulogize is superfluous, for by his works he is known. He is "the right man in the right place," an earnest, devoted gentleman, with a heart filled with love for all unfortunates. The work soon outgrew the original quarters, and in 1891 the property, including the adjoining store, was purchased for $6,750, the title being vested in the trustees of the South Street Presbyterian Church. In November, 1892, a reading room was started; in 1893 a free ice-water fountain was placed out- side the Mission building, and in 1894 another on Speedwell avenue. A wood yard was started through the generosity of James Chambers, a project that has solved one of the difficult problems that confront mission work-how
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to help without pauperizing. Among the toilers in the yard may be daily seen men of respectability, temporarily out of employment, seeking in that way to earn a living for themselves and their families. It also enables the needy stranger who would rather earn his meals, lodging and bath, than become an object of charity. On February 2, 1898, the old quarters were destroyed by fire. A large and especially planned building, beautiful and complete in all its details, was erected on the site and opened November 2, 1898. Later the Bailey Addition gave greater facilities and now the Mission is thoroughly organized in all branches. It has been a great instrument for good, the appended statistics giving little more than a faint idea of the beneficent work done for men, women and children.
Receipts and Disbursements, Market Street Mission, March 1, 1913, to February 28, 1914.
RECEIPTS.
Cash on Hand February 28th, 1913 $10.51
Collections and Gifts from Individuals in South Street Church. 1,804.97
Gifts from Contributors in other Churches 628.00
Collections at Mission 76.12
Interest on Bonds, etc.
426.07
Total
$2,945.67
DISBURSEMENTS.
Amounts Expended for Salaries, Heat, Lights, Repairs, Insurance, etc .. $2,878.49
Cash on Hand February 28th, 1914 67.18
Total $2,945.67
Statistical Summary for Year Ended February 28th, 1914.
Meetings :
Attendance
Average
Evening
365
30
Children's
35
57
Mothers'
23
47
Total Attendance 13,286
Number of Inquirers
264
Number Professing Conversion
84
Meals Furnished :
46
Earned
8,002
Total
8,048
Lodgings Furnished :
Free
36
Earned
2,853
Temporary Employment Found for
203
Permanent Employment Found for
24
Garments Distributed
1,447
Wages Paid in Cash or Orders
$754.99
Statistical Summary for Twenty-five Years Ended February 28th, 1914.
12,228
Number of Meetings Held
Total Attendance 632,841
Number of Inquirers 4,833
Number Professing Conversion 2,053
Meals Furnished: Free, 2,231; Earned, 104,988 .* Total
107,219
Lodgings Furnished: Free. 2,445; Earned, 36,619 .* Total. 39,064
Wages Paid in Cash or Orders
*$11,707.75
Free
* Since November, 1897.
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Temporary Employment Found for 1,080 since 1905. No record of this item was kept previous to that time.
Permanent Employment Found for
300
Persons Provided with Clothing to 1905 1,350
Garments Distributed Since 8,613
First Baptist Church-The second church established in Morristown was formed August 11, 1752. Eleven persons had on the previous June 8th obtained letters of dismissal from the Baptist church at Piscataway, and had organized under Elders Isaac Eaton, Benjamin Miller and Isaac Steele, as the "Baptist Church of Morristown." These eleven were: Daniel Stone, Jonas Goble, John Sutton, Melatiah Goble, Jemima Wiggins, Daniel Walling, Ichabod Tomkins, Sarah Wiggins, Mary Goble, Naomi Allen and Robert Goble. On August 19th they held their first business meeting, elected a deacon and clerk and made arrangements for public worship and the observ- ance of the ordinances, although as yet without a pastor. The house used for worship was a small building about a mile and a half south of Morris- town, on the road to New Vernon, the members being mostly in that section. This house was occupied until 1771, when a new building was dedicated on the site of the present church. During the stay of Washington and his army in Morristown, the church was used as a hospital. The church dedicated in 177I was in use for seventy years, it was then decided to build a new house of worship for the congregation at Littleton, but failing to dispose of their property in Morristown, it was built on the old site, and dedicated October 8, 1845. During the time occupied in erecting their new house of worship, the congregation held services by invitation in the session house of the First Presbyterian Church. In 1857 the church was improved and enlarged, and on the 27th of January, 1858, it was rededicated.
Rev. John Gano was the first pastor, beginning his ministry in May, 1754, continuing until September 25, 1757. The second pastor was Rev. Ichabod Tomkins, November 6, 1759, to January 8, 1761. He was one of the original eleven members of the church. There was a succession of pastors until 1815, when for eight years the church was without an official head. The membership was reduced to thirty-five and these widely scattered in the country, some living ten miles from the church. But a few brave spirits, unwilling to see their church perish, toiled and prayed, keeping the services going as best they could until 1834, when Rev. William Sym ac- cepted a call and during his five years pastorate greatly strengthened the church. The original eleven members in 1752 had grown to forty-five in 1826; in 1834 had been reduced to thirty-five ; in 1847 the roll showed forty- two members; in 1856, 116; in 1860, 132; in 1868, 177; in 1872, 194; in 1882, 173. The present beautiful ivy-clad brownstone church on Washing- ton street, opposite the court house, was built in 1892. The church is at present without a pastor, Rev. William H. Barker, the last incumbent, hav- ing resigned in the spring of 1914 on account of his health. The church membership numbers about 300.
Methodist Episcopal Church-The third church established in Morris- town was the Methodist Episcopal, organized in 1826. Growing rapidly in numbers and influence, the great revival of 1827-28, conducted by Rev. Anthony Atwood and Rev. D. Bartine, added over two hundred names to the church on probation. This was a period of great religious feeling ; stores were closed for several days, the people devoting themselves entirely to religious matters. The first church was a two-story brick building, 40x60 feet, with a gallery on three sides, located opposite the latter day Farmers'
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Hotel, fronting on Market street. The corner stone was laid in 1827, and the completed building dedicated October 14 of that year. The second church was a white frame building, which was used by the Methodist parish during twenty-five years and was subsequently donated by the family of George T. Cobb to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The corner stone was laid in 1840 and the building dedicated in 1841.
The third Methodist church in the town was mostly the munificent gift of George T. Cobb, who died before it was completed. The corner stone was laid in 1866, Rev. J. T. Crane, D.D., pastor, and in 1870, it was dedi- cated by Bishop Janes, assisted by Rev. Dr. John McClintock and Bishop Foster, then both members of the faculty of Drew Theological Seminary. The pastor at the time of the dedication was Rev. Dr. Henry A. Buttz, later president of Drew Theological Seminary, an institution that owes its exist- ence to his influence over the generous man whose initial gift made it pos- sible. The church and parsonage when completed were valued at $175,000, of which sum Mr. Cobb contributed $100,000. The church is of stone, with spire of the same material, 150 feet high. The seating capacity is about 1,100. The Sunday school, lecture and class rooms occupy a wing in the rear of the church. In a brick building in the rear are the church parlors and sexton's residence.
The Sunday school was organized in the year 1829, Rev. Nathaniel Porter, then pastor, acting as superintendent. The first layman to as- sume that office was James Cook. The infant class was organized in 1854 by Mrs. J. H. Totten, who taught the class for five years. Many pastors have served the church in Morristown, the itinerant law of Method- ism, until recently, requiring changes every one, two or three years. Among these was Rev. James Buckley, 1837, uncle of Rev. James Monroe Buckley, for many years editor of the Christian Advocate, and now (1914) a resident of Morristown. From 1826 to 1837, Morristown was a part of the Phila- delphia conference, then came under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey con- ference, and in 1857 was attached to the Newark conference, as at present. In 1882 the membership of the church was 516, with 40 probationers. The present membership (1914) 1048; probationers, 28; Sunday school, in all departments, 1,103. Rev. Ralph B. Urmy, pastor, 1904 to 1914, was suc- ceeded by Rev. Thomas Taylor Crawford, who had previously served the Bernardsville Methodist Episcopal Church four years. The church edifice and furniture are valued at $125,000, the stone parsonage at $20,000.
Speedwell Avenue Chapel-Is presided over by Rev. H. C. Thompson, who has been very successful in his work.
St. Peter's Episcopal Church-The first Episcopal service held in Mor- ristown, so far as known, was in the summer of 1812. At that time, Bishop Hobart of New York, visiting in the town, was invited by the officials of the First Presbyterian Church to officiate in that church, which he did, preach- ing and using the Episcopal service. During the summer of about 1820 or 1821, the Episcopal service was used on Sunday at George P. Macculloch's boarding school, by Mr. McCummins, the assistant teacher, who was an Episcopalian clergyman. For two years previous to the establishment of the parish in 1827, Morristown was a missionary station, services being held in the old Baptist church, the first missionary being Rev. John Croes, son of Bishop Croes. He was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin Holmes, who became first rector of the parish, on its organization in 1827. The corner stone of the first church was laid November 14, 1826, and the completed
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building was dedicated to the service of God, December 4, 1828. St. Peter's Church was admitted into the convention of the diocese of New Jersey at the meeting of the convention held at Paterson, May 30 and 31, 1827. The church was reincorporated April 12, 1830. In 1858 the church was enlarged by adding a chancel, and at that time the seats were made free. The present rector, Rev. Philemon F. Sturges, D.D., was installed in February, 1903. Number of confirmed members, 700.
The Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal)-In 1852 the movement for a second Episcopal church was crystallized by the meeting of Lieutenant C. P. R. Rodgers, Alfred Vail, Samuel P. Hull, E. T. Lyon, John Hone, W. A. Duer, Henry S. Hoyt and others, on June 17, to take the initiatory steps toward the formation of a new parish to be known as the Church of the Redeemer. A vestry was chosen and the incorporation of the new parish soon followed according to the laws of both church and state. Mor- ristown Academy was secured as a meeting place and a lay reader was secured, no regularly ordained minister having been called. About a month later, Rev. James H. Tyng was requested to officiate and did so, preaching and administering holy communion on the first Sunday in September. The following Saturday, at a vestry meeting he was unanimously elected rector. accepted and at once assumed control of the parish. At that time the First Presbyterian Church, which seems to have mothered about every church in the town, offered the use of its session room as a temporary place of meeting. This kindly offer was accepted, and moving from the academy, the congregation used the session room until September 4, 1853, when the first service was held in their own newly completed church. This edifice was erected at corner of Morris street and Pine street, and afterwards re- moved and relocated on the present site of the Church of the Redeemer, facing on South street, but has been greatly enlarged and improved. Mrs. Peter Stuyvesant presented the church with its first communion service, prayer books were donated by Mrs. August Belmont, the organ and other furniture being gifts from other ladies of the congregation. The edifice, completed in 1854, was visited for the first time and consecrated by Bishop Doane on October 14 of the same year. The rectory was built in 1871. The confirmed membership is 667. Rev. Barrett P. Tyler, D.D., rector, was installed on Trinity Sunday, 1910.
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