USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > Baptists of Trenton, 1787-1867 : an historical discourse delivered at the First Baptist Church, October 6th, 1867 > Part 3
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I have been thus explicit and careful, after the most minute research, in giving a sketch of the Second Church and its off-shoots, in order to perpetuate a truthful history of some of our struggles and trials as a denomination in this city. To- day we heartily bid God-speed to the Central Baptist Church, as maintaining our faith and enforcing the truth of the word of God. They enjoy the shelter of the tree planted by John Young and his associates, the Parkers, Whiteheads, Howells, Gillinghams, an Albertson, a Clark, McKee, Holmes, Temple, Robinson, James H. Smith and others, together with women- workers, good and true. The church is now prospering well, "Elder Knapp " having given it an impetus during the last winter, by weeks of prayer and preaching previously unknown to the body, the result of which was the baptism of more than one hundred rejoicing converts.
Let us now turn again to the "Old Church," greatly reduced and afflicted by Mr. Young's course of conduct and those who followed him. In February, 1844, the Rev. Levi G. Beck was invited to the pastorate, and entered upon its duties. He found the church somewhat divided, the congregation
33
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
small. Under his judicious management, unity was restored ; the congregation increased, so that in a little time it was nearly if not quite as large as before the division. Mr. Beck resigned his charge October 1st, 1849, having baptized forty- six persons into the fellowship of the church.
Next came to your pulpit, January 1st, 1850, the devoted Christian, the elegant and scholarly preacher, Henry K. Green. The heavenly gift bestowed on him made him to this church, amid great personal trials-trials of a social and professional nature-an Apollos watering and affording cul- ture and life-growth to the plants of righteousness as he found them in this garden, and as a faithful shepherd, he drew to the fold, in holy sacred baptism, fifty precious con- verts, who may each in grace shine as " a diadem in the hand of the Lord." Mr. Green was not generally appreciated in this church, his style, and elegance, and learning, placing him far in the advance of the people he served. Here and there was found a true sympathizer, a congenial spirit, fully prizing the treasure of a preacher the church then possessed, and who, to no very limited extent, have been in mourning ever since his departure. He left Trenton January 1st, 1853. Mr. Green, after great suffering of body, passed to his rest and reward in the skies, a few years since. "The memory of the just is blessed."
In the month of May, 1853, the venerable and devoted Duncan Dunbar became pastor. He was a man of consider- able natural ability, extensive theological reading, and large experience. He was the friend of the poor, the counsellor of the afflicted, the earnest, plain preacher, the faithful pastor. He left the church in November, 1854, to return to his old field, in the bosom of old friends, in the City of New York,
3
34
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
being re-called to the McDougal Street Church. Mr. Dunbar fell "asleep in Jesus " three years ago, when, it will be re- membered by most of you, this church held a memorial ser- vice, and a discourse on the life and character of your former pastor, was preached by W. H. Parmly, of Jersey City.
In December, 1854, you called to your pulpit, as Mr. Dun- bar's successor, the truly pious Lewis Smith,-probably the most delicate and sensitive of all your pastors. His spirit was often grieved and wounded where no ripple would have disturbed the spirit of another. Mr. Smith was not just the man for the Trenton church. Too nervously sensitive, and if possible, too pious, always to be understood and to maintain pastoral rights. He closed his labors December 1st, 1857, having baptized forty-nine persons. He was greatly attached to the church, and, we are informed in his biography, "had no other object in breaking away from the ties that endeared him to this people, and entering upon a more arduous field, than the conviction that it was duty, and the hope of being more useful." We think of him to-day, as he last stood in this pulpit, whispering his "good-bye " word of counsel, a little while before he went down to the grave.
The Rev. F. Charlton came and supplied the pulpit for a brief time, during the year 1858. He baptized two persons.
On the 1st of October, 1858, the Rev. O. T. Walker hav- ing been invited, entered upon his ministry as pastor. He is so well known to you all, and has served you so recently, I need make no special reference to him as a preacher. During his ministry this beautiful edifice was erected, and was dedicated to the worship of God in August, 1860; ser- mons being delivered on the occasion by Rev. Thomas Armi- tage, D. D., Rev. Lewis Smith, and Rev. D. Henry Miller.
35
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
Mr. Walker resigned his pastorate September 1st, 1863, hav- ing baptized during his settlement in this city two hundred and twenty-seven persons. He did a good work for the Bap- tists of this city in securing the erection of the present house of worship.
In March, 1861, an application was made to the Legisla- ture, asking the privilege of changing the name of the church from " The Trenton and Lamberton," to that of "The First Baptist Church of Trenton, New Jersey." The bill passed both Houses, and the church is now, so known in law. This, you will observe, occurred years after "South Trenton " was incorporated within the city limits ; the "annexation " of Bloomsbury, or South Trenton, to the city proper, having no more to do in giving the name of "First " to this church than has " the calling of evil good or good evil," to make it so. This is the mother church, the first in fact, in location, in history, and name, associated with the Baptist cause of the City of Trenton. Let her children praise her and hold her name- the "First "-as belonging to her by no accident, but indeed hers as the "First " in "TRENTON and Lamberton." May they also hold dear that name as expressive of her enterprise and devotion in every good word and work. "Tell it to the generations following."
Early in September, 1863, the Rev. D. Henry Miller was invited to visit the church, in view of settling as pastor. At the time he was invited, he was serving his country as Chap- lain in the Union Army, and was located near Portsmouth, Virginia, with the Fifteenth Regiment of Connecticut Volun- teers. In October he was on the field. He preached morn- ing and evening in this house, and under " the large tree " near the residence of W. M. Lenox, Esq., in the Sixth Ward,
36
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
in the afternoon, of his first Sabbath in Trenton. He was invited to become pastor, and entered upon his duties as such on the first of the following December. This much your speaker may be allowed to say, it has been a pleasant though laborious pastorate. It is hardly necessary to add, he does not know of a more pleasant field of labor or kinder people, in all the State of New Jersey. As this is my last Sabbath with you, and this discourse, in its historical value, is to per- petuate the facts and events of the past and present, as far as practicable, an extract from the last associational letter, pre- pared by W. I. Vannest, Esq., and approved by vote of the church, will be here introduced, as valuable to this history and the day, but especially of interest to those who may fol- low us. The letter says :-
" We have been prospered both spiritually and temporally. The church has been strengthened and the congregation so increased that not an eligible pew is to be obtained in our beautiful church edifice. In view of these facts, our pastor proposed the formation of a new church by a colony from us, as a duty and necessity, and finally made it the turning point of his continuance with us, being willing to remain with the mother church or to go out with the new organization, but absolutely declining to remain as pastor of so large a church when there was such an inviting field to occupy in the city, and when the interests of the denomination demanded such enlarge- ment and expansion. The proposal of the pastor was deferred, and to the surprise of the church, on the following Sabbath the pastor announced his intention to leave us, by reading his resignation. He has since accepted the Pastorship of the Broad Street Baptist Church in Elizabeth, N. J., and though too late to prevent his departure, we are happy to state that at our last regular church meeting a com- mittee was appointed to consider the propriety of forming another Baptist Church in Trenton.
" Dr. Miller has been pastor of our church four years, and we
37
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
take great pleasure in referring to the record of his ministry, believ- ing his coming has been a blessing. During the first year, fourteen persons were added to the church ; during the second, seventy-one ; during the third, ninety-four ; and during the fourth, one hundred and twenty ; making a total of TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY-NINE added to the church during his pastorate."
In 1864 the church took steps toward the establishment of a Mission in the upper part of the city. A building lot was secured, and eight hundred dollars cash paid for the same. While the church was deliberating as to the style of house to be erected, and the time to do it, a complaint was made that the mother church, in the purchase of ground for a Mission Chapel in the vicinity of the State Normal School, was en- croaching upon the field of labor properly under the cultiva- tion of the "Central Baptist Church." The 'pastor of that church had an interview with the pastor of the First church, proposing that if such an enterprise was established, his peo- ple, and not the First church, should be allowed to do the work, unless we were willing that they should unite with us. Having taken the lead in this Mission enterprise, secured the lot, and held it free from debt, this proposal somewhat inter- fered with our plans, and certainly came too late to secure co-operation in the work thus nobly inaugurated on the part of the First church. A conference was had between a com- mittee from each church, which resulted in a proposal to take our lots and erect a building thereon, if we would consent to such a course, and leave that field to the " Central Church." This proposal was duly considered at a "regular Church meeting," when, on motion of Deacon William Johnson, for "peace sake " and the "interests of the cause," it was voted to "let the Central Baptist Church have the lots of ground
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
secured for Mission purposes." That church, we are happy to say, has succeeded in the establishment of a Mission Chapel in the vicinity of the lots purchased by us for such a purpose, the result, doubtless, of the noble effort on your part to " en- large your borders."
On yielding the field of missionary effort up-town, atten- tion was directed to Chambersburg and to the south part of the Sixth Ward, as promising large returns to such efforts. After carefully considering the subject with several persons, deeply imbued with the idea of Mission School work, it was deemed advisable to afford all the aid possible to the "Sixth Ward" enterprise, and to make the Sunday School already established there the nucleus of a Mission Chapel organiza- tion, hoping that the way would soon open for a mission school in Chambersburg. W. I. Vannest, Esq., has tendered building lots for such a purpose. Deacon W. M. Lenox, the Superintendent of the Sixth Ward Sunday School, has given ground for a similar purpose, where the work has been already commenced, and where, soon, we hope to see a Baptist Chapel made glorious in its history, as it shall be said, " this and that man was born there."
We have connected with this church "A Young Men's Mission Association," composed of most of the young men of the church. They labor to build up the Sunday School, to visit the sick, the poor, to distribute tracts. They also maintain five meetings, every Tuesday evening, in different portions of the city. A noble band of laborers, they shall have their reward. The Trustees of this Church have gene- rously appropriated a room in the Chapel building for the sole use and occupancy of the " Association," which the young men have tastefully and appropriately furnished. Let
39
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
me bespeak the sympathy, the aid, and the prayers of all the Church for the "Young Men's Mission Association."
During the early part of the present pastorate a Society was formed, styled "The Ladies' Society and Sociable,"- the real object of which was the elevation of the style and standard of music in the church service, a reform greatly needed. To this end an organ was desirable, and to this work the ladies gave their best energies, aided nobly by most of the men of the church and congregation. They were suc- cessful, and in due time the beautiful organ now adorning your house of worship was placed in its niche, free from debt -an offering generous and noble for the service of the sanc- tuary. The improvement in this department is most appa- rent, and the choir, swelling out the songs of Zion from sab- bath to sabbath, well deserves the praise of the whole church. The management of the organ and organist is under the di- rection of a committee composed of Messrs. Joshua S. Day, W. I. Vannest and J. V. Hutchinson ; the management of the choir, in the employment of a chorister, and all appertaining thereto, is by vote of the church, in charge of Deacon D. B. Coleman, Isaac Gearhart and Deacon W. M. Lenox.
Your church debt has been reduced about one-half, and now you owe only about four thousand dollars. Your grave- yard, which was in a most deplorable condition, and which is yet susceptible of great improvement, during the last year or two has been adorned by the planting of one hundred and fifty-nine dollars worth of trees and shrubs. Five hundred dollars have been paid over by the "Ladies' Society " toward the erection of an iron fence in front of the church property. Last year, in church meeting, a vote was passed to paint and renovate this edifice, which has, in part, been done ; you have
40
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
yet to make provision for its payment, a vote, however, and a provision which ought to have been taken and made only by the Trustees. The spiritual body attending solely and exclu- sively to spiritual affairs, while the corporate body having in possession and control the property, should be allowed, un- embarrassed by church action, to devise ways and means to keep in repair and to carry forward all that pertains to the secular interests of the same.
It is worthy of record that during the present summer a Mission work, in behalf of the German population of our city, has been inaugurated. This work originated with the " Cen- tral Church," but is cordially endorsed by the First Church, an efficient committee having been appointed to co-operate with a similar committee from the other church. The Rev. Mr. Hasselhune, of the German Church of Newark, N. J., has already preached in this city under the auspices of the joint committee. The prospect of success is cheering.
During the progress of our denomination in this city there have been twenty-one settled preachers : nine with the up- town interest and twelve with the First Church. The time occupied by those serving this church, and the baptisms of each during their pastorate, will be found in the following table :-
Peter Wilson,
.3 years and 10 months.
Baptized 18
William Boswell, . 13
66
9
187
George Patterson, 2
66
2
41
Morgan J. Rhees, . 10
7
66
231
Luther F. Beecher,
1
66
49
John Young,
66
6
. 6
66
27
Levi G. Beck,
4
9
46
Henry K. Green, 3
66
66
50
Duncan Dunbar,
1
6
66
66
13
Lewis Smith,.
3
.
O. T. Walker, 4
10
227
D. Henry Miller,. 3
9
66
66
242
Different Supplies,
7
5分
66
49
9
1
41
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
Embracing sixty-four years and eight and a half months ; the total number of baptisms being eleven hundred and eighty- nine. The present membership of the church, October 6th, 1867, being seven hundred and eleven.
In 1844, David Brister, James Howell, William Johnson, and Daniel B. Coleman were elected Deacons ; David Brister being re-elected after his return to the church, his first elec- tion dating January, 1831.
The following named persons have served the church in the important office of Clerk, and in the following order :- Benjamin Coles, from the constitution of the church until 1808; Thomas Mckean one year; William Gould one year ; Thomas McKean two years ; James Belden one year ; Daniel Lake two years; Thomas Mckean from October, 1814, to July, 1816; when Gershom Mott was elected, who served most faithfully and ably for thirty-three years. At his death a series of resolutions were adopted, expressive of the high esteem in which the church held his services, and of confi- dence in his christian character. Mr. Mott's death was a great bereavement to the church, and also a long-felt loss in the community at large. Abram R. Harris was appointed to the office next. He served a few months only, when John Q. Carman was chosen. He served from 1849 until March, 1853, when the present efficient and faithful officer, Daniel B. Coleman, was elected.
The Board of Trustees have been changed from time to time since the first election, as vacancies occurred, by re- movals, resignations, or death. The present Board consists of William Johnson, Samuel Wooley, Abram R. Harris, James Howell, W. W. Mershon, Joshua S. Day, and William White- head.
42
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
The present officers serving the church as Deacons are William Johnson, James Howell, D. B. Coleman, W. M. Lenox, Enos Bowne and W. W. Mershon ; the last three were elected in December, 1863. The venerable George Lanning, after serving the church as Deacon for forty-five years, " fell asleep in Jesus " October 7th, 1866. Oneayear ago this pre- sent week we laid his body in the dust, on the south side of this Church edifice. May the surviving Deacons be as faith- ful and true to all her interests as was "Father Lanning."
The Treasurers of the Church have been as follows :- Robert Howell from 1805 to 1812; Ezekiel Dye from 1812 to 1816; William McKean to 1819; Peter Jackson to 1823; David Brister to 1843; Daniel B. Coleman then served for seven years. He resigned, when the present excellent Treasurer, A. R. Harris, was appointed. Just at this point it is worthy of mention, and to be repeated "to the genera- tions following," that the Collector and Treasurer never have suffered the Pastor to remain a day without his salary, when it was due. All honor to these men. If the money is not in the treasury, they provide the means ; but the pastor is not allowed to wait for his money.
I cannot refrain from introducing an item of history which was productive of the gratifying fact to which I have just re- ferred. The church, until the pastorship of Rev. Lewis Smith, had but little system in the management of its finances ; this was especially true in the collection of "pew rents," which materially affected the payment promptly of the pas- tor's salary. The pious, devoted Smith, had waited weeks for his money, but he waited in vain. He felt that the la- borer was "worthy of his hire." His patience and forbear- ance both being exhausted, he addressed the following note to the Deacons and Treasurer :-
43
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
" MARCH 23d, 1857.
" Dear Brethren :- This is to inform you with all kindness that there will be no services performed by me in the church next sab- bath, unless the salary now due me is paid before that time.
" I take this opportunity to say further, that hereafter, if the sal- ary is not paid within two weeks after it is due, my services will cease till such time as it is paid.
" Hoping that you will have no further trouble in understanding my intentions in regard to this matter,
" I am, truly yours,
" LEWIS SMITH."
This letter had the desired effect. Mr. Smith was paid up before " the next sabbath," and from that time the practice of paying the pastor's salary when due has been most sacredly and conscientiously observed. The successors of Smith have been blest in his deed.
It will not be out of place here to make mention of a few persons connected with the early history of this church, who subsequently became preachers of the Gospel. Benjamin Coles, the first Clerk of the Church, who was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1807, was dismissed, by letter, to the First Baptist Church, Philadelphia, about the year 1810. He was a man much esteemed, of considerable natural ability as a thinker, but unable readily to express his thoughts, he was not generally acceptable as a preacher. He taught school for many years. He died about the year 1845.
Joshua P. Slack was baptized and joined the church in 1810, and was dismissed to unite with the Sansom Street Church, Philadelphia, in October, 1815. By that church he was licensed to preach. He was settled as Pastor of the Lower Dublin Church, Pennsylvania, where he was ordained.
44
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
He was quite successful in his work, but was suddenly re- moved by death, after preaching little more than a year.
James B. Bowen, mentioned in Dr. Hall's history of the Sunday School enterprise of Trenton, was baptized in July, 1815, and remained connected with the church until January, 1825, when he united with the church at Lambertville, N. J. When he united with this church he was about seventeen years of age. He was beloved for his piety, and admired for his gifts in prayer and exhortation. The church at Lambert- ville licensed and ordained him to the work of the ministry. He became pastor of the church at South Hampton, Pa., where he remained several years. He then removed to Vir- ginia. When last heard from, he was, with a ripened expe- rience, still " holding forth the word of life."
This church, in its early history, gave evidence of great Missionary zeal. As early as October, 1810, a "prayer meeting was established for the spread of the Gospel ;" a special meeting was to be held quarterly, the first of which occurred January, 1811. This was three years before the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions was formed. When the "New Jersey Baptist State Convention " was organized, this church was one of the constituent members, and gave lib- erally of its funds for the missionary objects of the Conven- tion. This feeling of interest continued until, owing to the action of some of the officers of the Convention, the church felt herself and counsel disregarded, where of all others she should have been respected. Most of those who were active in the affair referred to, on both sides, have passed away ; soon the last one will lie down in death. May we not hope that the past will be forgotten in its bitter history, and this church, true to herself, shall forgive all, and, as the evidence
.
45
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
thereof, lay. largely and freely on the altar of her wealth for State Convention uses ?
This history would be incomplete did we fail to make men- tion of the Sunday School. At the beginning it was the child of the church. The church gave it birth; the church gave it culture and growth; church officers watched over its in- terests ; and as evidence of the care the church and pastor had of the Sunday School the children were taken in a body to the House of God, to participate in the services, the teach- ers sitting with the scholars, the pastor frequently catechizing the school. I regret to say the day has come when there may be found those who seek to wrest the Sunday School from its true relationship to the church, and its general supervision from the pastor. May this church rise up, in honor to the memory of the founders of her Sunday School, to rebuke such a spirit, if ever publicly manifested. William Gillingham was the first Superintendent of the School; John T. French the first Secretary. In 1847 the School had on the roll one hundred scholars-thirty-five male and sixty-five female- ten female teachers and four male. Five hundred volumes in the Library. Eliza Ann Sherrad was the Treasurer, and Sarah B. Mott Librarian. Now, 1867, we number seven hun- dred scholars, sixty-five teachers, sixteen hundred volumes in the Library. W. W. Mershon and James Butterworth, Su- perintendents ; Isaac Gearhart, Librarian; Lewis Wooley, E. Case and E. Knowles, Assistants ; Annie Southwick, Treasurer. We rejoice in our prosperity, yet cry " not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name, O Lord, be all the glory." Our Sunday School singing is not excelled, if indeed equalled, in the State. If our Superintendents deserve special praise, it is because of their devotion to the interests of the Schoo
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
in this department. Miss Angie Brackett, nobly aided by several young ladies, has charge of the "Infant School," a . department of growing interest and importance to the church.
In 1839 a Library Association was formed in the church, for the benefit of the members, and also " that the pastor of the church might be supplied with books which he might not himself possess." Fifty-five volumes were collected together. Perhaps these books might with advantage be given to the " Young Men's Mission Association," as the nucleus of a library for their use.
During the early summer of the present year (1867,) the church licensed, to preach the Gospel, Brethren Geo. Parker and George W. Nicholson. Mr. Nicholson was a convert from Methodism to the doctrines and ordinances of the Bap- tist church. He had preached successfully within the bounds of the "New Jersey Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church." He was called to ordination by this church, and set apart by the laying on of " the hands of the Presbytery," August 29th, 1867. Rev. J. F. Brown, D. D., Chancellor of the University of Lewisburg, preached the ordination sermon.
And now, beloved flock, I must close this discourse. I have omitted many incidents I could have named, but enough has been said to show that the history of this church has been most eventful ; full of trial, of care, and unceasing toil. In all the Great Head of the Church has ever showed His care and watch over you. Through two fiery trials HE led you ; from " a little one " you have become "a thousand ;" from retirement you have been led out into " a large place ;" from a plain and unpretending house of worship you were re- moved to a larger and more pleasing one, and then, in due time, to this spacious, this elegant edifice, where you have learned the truth that " God will indeed dwell on the earth."
47
THE BAPTISTS OF TRENTON.
This hurried review of your history cannot fail, we think, to awaken in your hearts the spirit of praise. Lift up, then, to-day, your song of thanksgiving for the way you have been led ; for the faithful men you have had to guide you, some of the brightest lights in our ministry, already entered upon their REST. Praise God for the large measure of revival in- fluences which have marked your history. Gather up these fragments of experience, and let them compose a memorial which shall be to you as the "stone " which Samuel took and set " between Mizpeh and Shen," which he called " EBENEZER, saying : Hitherto had the Lord helped us." Praise Him for the sacred memories of devoted christians, men and women, who toiled early and late, who deemed nothing in their power to bestow too great a sacrifice for the church of their choice. Of such were the Parkers, the Sunderlands, the Wellings, the Mulls, the Johnsons, Richard and Martha Howell, and scores of others to memory dear, of whom we speak joyfully, "blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, their works do follow them." Go without these walls, look you upon the graves of your dead now crowding " the yard," and who is there re- maining of the older families but would be heard to declare, "my father, my mother, my husband, my wife, my brother, my sister, my son, the hope of my life, my daughter, the angel of my heart, lies there." Praise God to-day for the memory of your dead ; praise Him in the hope of immortality and eternal life. Praise God in the full consecration of your powers to perpetuate the good name of this dear old church, and thus to embalm the life thoughts and deeds, of your loved departed.
In view of God's goodness, arise, my brethren, and, as a thank-offering to your father's God, "enlarge the place of
48
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
thy tent, stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations, spare not, lengthen thy cords, strengthen thy stakes." Go forth, and in view of enlargement to the kingdom of Christ-in view of christian effort and christian success, in the blessed work of winning souls to Christ, plant another church, build another pulpit, erect another altar, and as you cry, " behold the Lamb," add, in the assurance of faith, "in the name of the Lord our God do we set up our banners." Have faith to this end. Give willingly, heartily, generously, give in sacri- fice to this work. Who of you professing so much love for Jesus will take the lead in this enterprise of enlargement ; who, who dare refuse such a memorial of affection to the memory of the loved departed ; and who dare refuse it, as an offering of gratitude to Almighty God for the blessings vouch- safed unto us as a people ? This work I hope to see accom- plished. It has been the desire of my heart for years. To you, my children in the gospel of Christ, I look for its full achievement. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," ever remembering that "there is a with- holding that tendeth to poverty."
With this day's labor I close my pastorate with you, be- loved flock ; how soon to meet on the other side of death's river we cannot tell; but when the world's history shall be completed, and eternal justice speak our biography in the opening of "the book of remembrance," may our names be found in the Lamb's Book of Life, the purchase of blood,- blood precious in the sight of Heaven. To this end, " hold fast the form of sound words." Hold up the Cross of Christ. Stand fast and firm to the Church, and let every act and every word speak out-
" 1 love thy kingdom, Lord, The house of thine abode : The Church, our blest Redeemer saved, With his own precious blood."
" Walk about Zion and go round about her; tell the towers there- of. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our guide even unto death."
1
HECKMAN BINDERY INC.
SEPT 96
Bound -To -Pleas® N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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