USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Pennington > A history of the old Presbyterian congregation of "The people of Maidenhead and Hopewell" : more especially of the First Presbyterian Church of Hopewell, at Pennington, New Jersey, delivered at the pastor's request, on Sabbath morning, July 2d, 1876 > Part 8
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heat, the trustees convened informally and appointed a meeting for their own body on Monday, and for the whole congregation on Wednesday, to consider what must be done. These meetings were held; and at that of the congregation on Wednesday it was resolved unani- mously that measures be adopted to rebuild at once. Three gentlemen subscribed one thousand dollars each (George Woolsey, John Smith Hunt and Joseph A. Frisbie),and that afternoon a subscription of over fif- teen thousand dollars gave assurance that the work would be done. The proper committees were appointed, a plan selected, a contract formed, and the work begun. The corner-stone of the new church was laid May 5, 1874, on the 27th anniversary of the laying of the corner-stone of the church just burned down. While destitute of a sanctuary, the people assembled for wor- ship in the spacious room of the public school in the morning, and held a joint meeting with the congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the evening.
The 14th of January, 1875, was a joyful day with the Presbyterians of Pennington, the day of the opening of the new church. After the reading of the report of the building committee by Major John Guild Muirheid, which showed a balance of over five thousand dollars yet due on the building, a check of one thousand dollars from Mr. Enoch Ketcham, of New York, was offered by Samuel Ketcham, his nephew, on condition that the whole debt be paid at once. The proposition met with favor. Messrs. C. H. and H. P. Muirheid (who had al- ready given the new bell) made a joint donation of five hundred dollars, and other liberal contributions were pledged, so that within twenty minutes the whole amount was raised; and then the building, which cost
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$27,200, was by the pastor dedicated to the worship of Almighty God.
The following paragraphs, written by Dr. Thomas Murphy, of Frankford, Pa., who took part in the exer- cises, may be read with interest some future day :
The newly-erected edifice of the Presbyterian Church in Pennington was dedicated on Thursday, 14th inst., under circumstances of peculiar interest. The age of the church organization, the blessed spirit reigning among the people, the large attendance, and the delightful union, con- tributed to this interest. A little less than a year ago, the former building was burned to the ground, amidst the deepest sorrow of the people and their pastor, Rev. D. R. Foster. But while the ruins were still smoking, some steps towards rebuilding were taken, and before a week had elapsed, more than half the needed funds were subscribed. The new structure was now to be devoted to God.
The occasion drew together a vast concourse of people. The citizens of all denominations, the members of neighboring churches, large num- bers of persons from Trenton, Philadelphia, and New York, attracted by old associations, thronged the church. So great was the interest, that the stores of the town were generally closed. All admired the noble building, which had been so soon and so harmoniously erected. Large enough to accommodate six or seven hundred worshippers, beautifully frescoed, and tastefully carpeted and furnished throughout, with prayer-meeting and Sabbath-school rooms ready for their impor- tant departments of services, it could not but be greatly admired.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Joseph T. Duryea, D.D., of Brooklyn ; and a noble sermon it was-so simple, so full of Scripture, so full of grand thoughts, so warm and so pertinent to the occasion. Several other clergymen took part in the exercises-among them Dr. Hamill, of Lawrenceville. The music of the occasion was admirable; and its interest was increased by the fact that it was con- ducted by George IIale, Jr., M.D., of Philadelphia, son of the former pastor of the church. At the close of the sermon a statement was read, showing that the whole cost of the edifice, as it stood, was about twenty- seven thousand dollars. Of this amount, twenty-two thousand had been already secured. Before the building was actually dedicated to God by prayer, the remaining five thousand dollars were contributed or sub- scribed on the spot, amidst enthusiastic and most happy feeling. The gifts were overflowing, and more could very easily have been collected. All was so easy, so harmonious, so full of hearty co-operation, it was manifest that many, many prayers had been offered up for the blessed consummation that day experienced.
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In the evening another exceedingly interesting meeting was held. Short addresses were made by Rev. W. W. M'Nair and by Rev. Asher B. Temple, both sons of the old church, and by the Rev. Dr. Gosman, a neighboring pastor. But the important feature of the evening was a lengthy and most deeply interesting historical sketch of the church by Rev. George Hale, D.D., Secretary of the Relief Fund of the General Assembly. It was warm and loving, and wonderfully full of knowledge of the old families which had founded the church one hundred and fifty years ago. Nothing, in fact, is more pleasant in connection with this famous congregation than the kind and unselfish interest still taken in it by its former pastor, Dr. Hale. For thirty years did he minister to it, until called to his present important position as Secretary of the Relief Fund. But his love for his old charge is unabated ; and he stands faith- fully by its present pastor in rendering all the assistance that can be drawn from his long and rich experience. Happy is that present pastor in such a friend ! Happy and grateful may brother Foster well be in what the Lord has wrought for him and his people ! We could not but congratulate him most heartily. May many years of prosperity and happy union in the cause of Christ be granted to this church, upon which so many covenanted blessings are now coming down.
In the month of January, 1876, began a precious work of grace. A few weeks before the Week of Prayer, the pastor divided the congregation into dis- tricts, and made out a list of the male members of the church who would be willing, in his judgment, to join with the elders and deacons in making a thorough vis- itation, with a view to the spiritual good of all the families of the congregation, and of any families that might be found living in neglect of church privileges. This plan was submitted to the elders and approved. Notice was given from the pulpit of the day on which the families in each district would be visited, and of the persons who might be expected to call in the per- formance of this service. All who were apppointed to co-operate in this work were invited to attend a conse- cration service. This was a solemn occasion, and served to prepare their minds and hearts for such an
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interesting and responsible undertaking. They took with them for distribution two tracts, "A Call to Prayer," " Come to Jesus," or " Looking unto Jesus," and went forth like the seventy of old, "two and two," to read the Scriptures and pray in each household. This was followed by continuous religious services from evening to evening in the church. The first fruits of this effort are thus described by an eye-witness :
Sabbath, the 20th of February, 1876, was a precious day in the Pres- byterian Church at Pennington. The sun shone brightly, the atmos- phere was pure, the assembly large. Forty-one persons, the fruits of a work of grace now in progress, sat down for the first time at the com- munion-table. Of these, twenty were males and twenty-one females. Seventeen were heads of families, and the remaining twenty-four were youth of both sexes.
In that compact group are a husband and wife, who agree in their pur- pose to join the little one whom the Good Shepherd has " gathered in his arms," by choosing Jesus as their own Saviour ; a father and his elder son sit side by side, and another father brings both daughter and son ; three members of a Bible class are there to manifest the power of their teacher's persevering efforts to save their souls ; a young bride, encour- aged by a Christian husband, celebrates her espousal to Christ ; and a widow, afflicted by successive bereavements, is soothed and cheered by a Heavenly voice, "Thy Maker is thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name;" " Am I not better unto thee than ten sons ?" Here are the proofs that God is faithful to his covenant from generation to genera- tion ; here are the answered prayers of saints who long since went up to glory ; and here also are the fruits of the earnest intercessions of the living, and marked testimonials of untiring pastoral fidelity.
Forty of these forty-one had been regular attendants on the ministra- tions of the sanctuary-the one exception proving that while God is not shut up to any method in saving men, He gives the chief honor to His own Word preached by His appointed servants in the name of Christ.
During six weeks the pastor has officiated at more than forty religious services, with aid only once or twice from abroad. God be praised that " They who sow in tears shall reap in joy." Of the many faithful ser- vants of the Lord who " give themselves wholly " to their work, let the name of Daniel R. Foster, the beloved pastor of Pennington Church, be put on record by one who knows his worth.
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Other communicants were afterwards received; the young men's prayer-meeting has become an established institution ; a young men's Christian Association (with reading-room) for the church has been formed; a youth's meeting has been held by the pastor during the winter and spring, for special instructions; the cottage prayer- meetings are maintained through the winter; Wednes- day evening is uniformly devoted to religious exercises, and the practice of presenting a Bible to every child that commits to memory the Shorter Catechism is con- tinued. As the result of Mr. Foster's labors, one hun- dred and eighty-one have been added to the roll of communicants on profession, besides twenty-six by certificate.
CONCLUSION.
This, for our nation, is the CENTENNIAL YEAR, and on this last Sabbath of the first century of our national existence, thousands of assemblies will send up their thanksgivings to God. Let us heartily acknowledge Jehovah as our God, as the Governor among the na- tions, as the author of our national prosperity, and the only source from which we can receive substantial good in days to come. Let us swell this volume of praise, " He hath not dealt so with any nation : and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord."
In viewing the history of this church, we see an illus- tration of the fact that the original colonists of any region give direction, tone and character to the people gathered into that community for centuries. The old Presbyterian Churches of Jamaica, Newtown and
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Hempstead had the moulding of the families who set- tled here. They did not neglect infant baptism. They brought with them an open Bible and the Sabbath ; they planted the sanctuary and the school-house side by side, and called for the living preacher; and with divine grace in their hearts, they purposed to establish a free Christian home for themselves and their children. Through their constancy, their labors and their prayers, this has been a spot peculiarly favored with heavenly influences.
During the last three-quarters of a century, there have been nine general revivals of religion; and in addition to these, ten seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Here the truth has been preached with fidelity, the word has been heard with gladness, souls have been converted, and saints have been ripened for glory. It is doubtful whether there are many places on this earth where, for a century and a half, so large a proportion of the inhabitants have, at their departure hence, in the judgment of charity, exchanged earth for heaven. In this churchyard they sleep in Jesus ; but in the remembrance of their example, and the rich legacy of their prayers, they still live ; nor can their influence die out while the world stands.
Brethren, beloved of the Lord, the lines have fallen unto you in pleasant places. You have a goodly herit- age. Set a proper estimate upon your privileges. Guard as a sacred trust this precious inheritance that has come down from your fathers, and hand it over to posterity unimpaired. How often has He whose heart is love opened His hand to do you good ! "Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation."
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RULING ELDERS OF THE CHURCH AT PENNINGTON.
Enoch Armitage, born November 27, 1677 ; died January 28, 1738-9. Reuben Armitage, born November 3, 1705; died November 18, 1783. Ephraim Titus.
Joseph Titus, Sr., born May 30, 1722; died December 4, 1797. Nathan Hunt, born March 22, 1727 ; died April 10, 1808. Thomas Baldwin, died June, 1791.
John Smith, Esq., born April 13, 1747 ; died October 29, 1819. John Hunt, born April 13, 1747 ; died March 18, 1827.
John Muirheid, born October 18, 1750; died March 19, 1830. Abraham Pittenger, born July 12, 1743 ; died July 30, 1821.
John Carpenter, died September 15, 1831.
Nathaniel Burrowes, born May 5, 1767 ; died July 19, 1839.
Major Stephen Burrowes, born 1755; died July 8, 1812.
Jacob Hoff, born June, 1767 ; died December 12, 1812.
Israel Hart, born 1772; died May 24, 1828.
John Hoff, born March 2, 1782; died April 1, 1839.
Enos Titus, born 1769; died February 16, 1840.
Daniel G. Howell, born October 23, 1777; died February 28, 1852.
Aaron Hart, born 1768 ; died August 14, 1853.
Charles Welling, born February 10, 1777; died October 15, 1857. Enoch Ketcham, born July 4, 1774 ; died March 5, 1850.
Theophilus Furman, born June 17, 1773 ; died October 28, 1850.
Joab Titus, born 1780; died October 3, 1866.
Edmund Roberts, ordained February 6, 1829.
Isaac Welling, ordained February 6, 1829 ; born January 27, 1784 ; died February 29, 1868.
Nathaniel R. Titus, ordained February 6, 1829 ; died October 21, 1863. Joseph Titus, ordained 1829; died 1853.
John Guild Muirheid, ordained March 24, 1850; born June 25, 1789; died November 17, 1866.
Azariah Hunt, ordained March 24, 1850.
John Smith Hunt, 66
Benjamin S. IIolt, "
66
John Ellis Burd, 66 66 66
Enoch A. Titus,
66
66
66
Wilson Blackwell,
66 66
William J. Titus,
66
66 66 George R. Cook, 66
66 66 66 Wilson Atchley,
John V. Terhune, 66
66
Ralph Ege,
66
Jacob Dilts,
66
Reuben C. Titus,
66
66
66
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DEACONS OF THE CHURCH AT PENNINGTON.
Titus Hart, born November 12, 1754; died January 23, 1797. Solomon Titus, born October 8, 1757; died December 19, 1833. Edmund Roberts.
John Davison.
Daniel G. Howell.
Aaron Hart.
Enoch Ketcham.
Benjamin Hoff, ordained 1829; born Sept. 15, 1791; died Sept. 7, 1838.
Daniel H. Hart, born 1796; died September 28, 1842.
Andrew Titus, born 1788 ; died December 25, 1849.
Reuben Titus.
George Woolsey, ordained April 16, 1843.
James Burroughs, ordained January 5, 1845.
Jonathan Smith Hart, ordained March 24, 1850.
Daniel C. Titus, March 6, 1864.
John S. Vancleve,
Augustus Frisbie, 66 66.
Jonathan V. Blackwell, 66 66 66
David G. Baldwin, 66 66 66
It was in the early part of Mr. Rue's ministry that the congregation became incorporated under the General Law of the State. The record is as follows :
September 30, 1786.
A number of members of the First Presbyterian Church, of the Town- ship of Hopewell, met at the Meeting House in Pennington and pro- ceeded to elect Trustees for sª church, at which time and place the following men were chosen, viz .:
JOHN WELLING, JR., JOHN SMITH, EsQ., JOHN P. HUNT, AMOS MOORE, STEPHEN BURROWES, JR., NATHANIEL HART, HEZEKIAH S. WOODRUFF.
Oct. 4th the abovesd Trustees met at Mr. Henry Baker's, in sª Town- ship, at which time and place they each took and subscribed the oaths directed by an Act of the Legislature, made and provided for that pur- pose, and immediately proceeded to make choice of a President, when John Welling, Jr., was unanimously chosen to that office. And at the
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same time drew a certificate to certify the name of the church, which is as follows, viz. :
We, the Subscribers, being duly elected agreeably to a Law in that case made and provided, do assume the name of
THE TRUSTEES OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE TOWNSHIP OF HOPEWELL, in the county of Hunterdon, in the state of New Jersey. Witness our hands and seals, this 4th day of October, 1786 : JOHN WELLING, JR., JOHN SMITH, EsQ., STEPHEN BURROWES, JR.,
AMOS MOORE, JOHN P. HUNT,
NATHANIEL HART,
HEZEKIAH S. WOODRUFF,
which certificate was recorded, October 5, A.D., 1786, in the Registry of Deeds, &c., for the County of Hunterdon, page 135.
We here add the names of Trustees elected since that date :
Nathan Hunt, April 5, 1788. John G. Muirheid, March 1, 1834. Henry Baker, April 6, 1790. Garret J. Schenck, 66 28, 1838. 66 John Hunt, 66 66
John Muirheid, " 66
John Vancleve, 66 66
Asa Hunt, 66
29, 1841. 66
Ephraim Woolsey, Sr., Apr. 7, 1800.
Stephen B. Smith, 66 29, 1847.
Jesse Hunt, April 6, 1801.
Jesse Moore, April 1, 1806. Stephen Hunt, April, 1806.
John Carpenter, April 6, 1807.
James Stevenson, March 28, 1808. Enoch Ketcham, 1808.
66 Wm. D. Blackwell, Jonathan S. Hart, 66 66 George R. Cook, Ephraim Woolsey, John Ellis Burd, Benjamin S. Holt, March 29, 1848. John V. Terhune, " 25, 1861. Jonathan V. Blackwell, “ 66 William B. Muirheid, 26,1866. Archibald Updike, " 25, 1867. John G. Muirheid, Jr. Henry B. Perrine, 66 23, 1868.
Edmund Roberts, 66 26, 1810.
George Muirheid, 66 31, 1817.
Samuel Moore,
Charles Welling, 66
Aaron Hart,
Daniel C. Titus, 66
Josiah Hart, 66 66 Samuel B. Ketcham, 30, 1874.
Andrew Titus, 66 30, 1829.
Ralph Ege, 66
66
Joseph Titus, 66
4
C. L. Wyncoop, 66 George Woolsey, 66
Enoch Hunt, Stephen Titus, 66 66
THE NEW SIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF
MAIDENHEAD AND HOPEWELL.
ONE mile west of Pennington there is a graveyard on which once stood a Presbyterian church, and where a Presbyterian minister lies buried. This naturally ex- cites inquiries, which it is now proposed to answer.
In the year 1741, the Presbyterian Church in this country was rent asunder, the two parties being known as Old Side and New Side. The cause was not any difference in either doctrine or church polity-for all ad- hered to the Westminster Confession and Catechisms- but in a difference of opinion as to thorough preparation of candidates for the ministry, and certain new measures in the conduct of revivals. The leader in this division was a minister of undoubted piety, orthodoxy and talent, but of great impetuosity of temper, ardor, and force of will, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, then pastor of the church in New Brunswick. He was one of the most noted revival preachers of that day. But his zeal out- running his judgment, he censured in no measured terms his brethren who did not fully sympathize with him, and join in his course of action. His sermon at Notting- ham, Pa., in 1740, " On the Danger of an Unconverted Ministry," gave deserved offence. He denounced some of the best men in the church as unconverted, wolves in
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sheep's clothing, whited sepulchres, and plastered hypo- crites, and encouraged his friends to obtrude into the congregations and pulpits of such as in his view were not faithful to the souls of professors and non-professors. At the same time, he and his associates were dissatisfied with a rule of Synod requiring that candidates for the ministry should be examined by a committee of Synod before their licensure could be accepted as valid. Mr. Tennent and his friends claimed to be the only advo- cates of revivals, which allegation was not true. The Old Side men sought only to prevent the introduction into the ministry of men insufficiently educated, and to have " All things done decently and in order." The feeling was so intense, the war of words so fierce, and the misapprehension so great, that schism was inevita- ble. The first church disturbed by this controversy was this of "Maidenhead and Hopewell." We give in full the minutes in this case :
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia pro re natâ at Maid- enhead, March 14th, 1737-8, ubi post preces sederunt Mr. J. Andrews, Mr. Rob Cross, Mr. Richª Treat, Mr. Hugh Carlile and Mr. David Cowell, Mr. Cross chosen Moderator, and Mr. Treat clerk.
The Presbry having met at the application of the people of Maiden- head and Hopewell in order to clear their way for the settlement of the gospel ministry among them, they heard all parties at large in what they had to say respecting that affair, and there being a considerable number that insisted upon the trial of another candidate besides Mr. Guild be- fore they come to a determination about any one particular man, after much discourse those that were well satisfied with Mr. Guild conde -. scended, in view of the good and peace of the whole, to the motion of trying another for the space of three months, which three months are to commence at the expiration of the present agreement of said people with Mr. Guild, or as soon as such candidate or probationer can be procured after said time: provided that the said persons, that are desirous of this new trial, be at the whole charge of bringing said probationer hither ; which said persons have consented to. So that, upon the whole, presby- tery agrees and concurs with this proposal of making trial of another
-
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man besides Mr. Guild as the likeliest way in order to their settlement, and have also agreed to join with the people in inviting Mr. James Dav- enport being the person proposed to come and help them.
Concluded with prayer.
N. B. The evening following the ministers drew up a letter to Mr. Davenport, and left it with the people to be conveyed by the messengers that shall be sent to them.
The effort to obtain the services of the Rev. James Davenport failed, for he received and accepted a call to the church of Suffolk, Long Island, where he was or- dained and installed, October 26, 1738. In the mean- time,
The Presbytery of Philadelphia met Sep. 19, 1738 pro re nata at Phil- adelphia. Whereas the Presy did in some former sessions give a liberty, with proper restrictions, to the people of Maidenhead and Hopewell, to call any orderly and regular candidate in order to have a trial of his gifts and abilities for settlement ; and whereas, pursuant to said grant, the said people invited Mr. Rowland to come and preach to them for a suitable time, and Mr. Rowland did preach to them on the last Lord's day. The Presby being informed that Mr. Rowland has not complied with the order of the last Synod relating to the examination of students by a commission of Synod appointed for that end, was hastily passed over in his trials by the Presby of New Brunswick in direct opposition to said order of Synod, and Mr. Rowland had information of Mr. Cowell of the irregularity of his licensing, advising him not to preach at Hopewell at sª time, and he not attending the Presy although he knew of this time of its meeting-upon which considerations the Presby unanimously con- cludes they can't accept of Mr. Rowland as an orderly licensed preacher, nor approve of his preaching any more among said people of Hopewell and Maidenhead, or in any other of the vacancies within our bounds until his way be cleared by complying with the order of Synod afore- said, and order that a letter be sent both to Mr. Rowland and the people aforesaid with a copy of this minute.
20th day at 9 o'clock A. M. P. P. Sed' qui supra.
The letters ordered to be writ to Mr. Rowland and the people of Maidenhead and Hopewell were bro't in and approved and ordered to be transcribed and sent to them by the Moderator.
The Presbytery of Philadelphia met at Neshiminy October 26, 1738, makes the following record :
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A supplication was brought into the Presby from some people of the congregation of Hopewell and Maidenhead requesting that they might be erected into a separate society of themselves, containing also the rea- sons to support their request, and also a paper of subscriptions from the other part of that congregation, and both parties adding what they thought proper, were heard at length in reference to the contents of said supplication,-and also the matter was debated among the members of the Presby. At last it was agreed that inasmuch as the Presby judge it their duty and business that whenever new erections are made, they take particular care that the old standing congregations be not hurt or ruined thereby-to prevent this, it was agreed to ask sª supplicants whether they owned the authority and would submit to the determination of the Presby in case they could not agree about the seat of a new meeting- house for sd supplicants, when they shall be erected,-which question when proposed occasioned considerable reasoning between parties. At last it was by all parties agreed to, and promised that when erected they should endeavor to agree among themselves about a place for said meet- ing-house, that is to say a place about which a majority of the old con- gregation of Hopewell and Maidenhead and also a majority of sª designed new erection shall agree. But in case they cannot so agree, that then the final determination concerning the place of sd meeting-house shall again be remitted to the Presby, who shall at a convenient time meet upon the place and so finally determine as they shall find it reasonable, which abovesaid proposal was read publicly and submitted unto by both parties, viz. by those in behalf of the supplicants for the new erection Benjamin Stevens, John Anderson, Sam1 Hunt and Joseph Birt-by those in behalf of the old congregation Enoch Armitage, Thomes Bur- rowes, Edward Hart and Timothy Baker,-and then the Presby pro- ceeded to erect sª supplicants into a separate congregation or society, which was done unanimously.
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