Bethel Presbyterian Church, East Orange, N.J. : an historical discourse preached at the twenty-fifth anniversary of its organization, November 10th, 1895, Part 2

Author: Irving, David O
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: [Newark, N.J. : Thistle Stationary Co.
Number of Pages: 68


USA > New Jersey > Essex County > East Orange > Bethel Presbyterian Church, East Orange, N.J. : an historical discourse preached at the twenty-fifth anniversary of its organization, November 10th, 1895 > Part 2


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The chapel was dedicated with appropriate services in November, 1866, a number of Orange ministers being present and making short addresses. At first the infant department was held in the basement, but in 1872 an addition was built at an


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expense of thirteen hundred and fifty dollars, which was used by this department of the school, and also for many years by the prayer meeting, until it became too small for this purpose. The chapel was used for four years by the Franklin Union Sunday School and for twenty-one years as the place of worship for the Bethel Presbyterian Church. Probably it was not the intention of its builders to occupy it for these twenty-five years, but only to meet the needs of that time or until a church should be erected, for while it was a substantial and an eminently suitable structure, yet it was not ceiled within, nor did it have more than a small coal cellar underneath.


With the erection of this new building a change seemed to come over the character of the place. We no longer read of blessed seasons of revival. In this respect the glory of the former house was greater than that of the latter. In addition, a division of sentiment seemed to separate the workers, and instead of a strong and harmonious school an unfortunate difference arose in the community which divided the work into two factions. Without entering into the cause or justice of this division, let us read the facts as history lays them bare and consider,


II.


THE FRANKLIN DISTRICT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.


OR some time a feeling had prevailed among some of the workers in the Sunday school and the inhabitants of the neighborhood that a church should be established in this place, as the nearest ones were in Orange, Brick Church and Bloomfield. This desire resulted in a meeting at the house of Mr. Calvin Dodd on the evening of May 24th, 1867, "to take into consideration the establishment of meetings for prayer and social worship by those desiring a church organization." On the thirty-first of May, at an adjourned


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meeting, the foliowing preamble and resolution were unani- mously adopted :


" Whereas, We, representative members of the Franklin District Com- munity of East Orange, and members of different Christian denominations, desirous of identifying ourselves more fully with the religious interests and growth of our immediate neighborhood, and for efficiency and fellowship as workers in one common field of labor, believing that in the embodiment of the religious element in one evangelical organization upon such basis of belief as will best unite the denominations represented to be the plain dictate of Christian judgment ; therefore,


" Resolved, That with the blessing of God, we will form at the earliest practical moment a Congregational Church, believing that form of govern- ment best adapted to our necessities and conducive to our temporal pros- perity and growth in grace."


Meetings were held at the old schoolhouse, preaching services commencing in July. On August 27th a committee was chosen to agree on "Articles of Faith, Rules of Government, and prepare a list of members desirous of uniting with the Church, and take all necessary steps to complete the organiza- tion of Church and society." A meeting was held on January 13th, 1863, when this committee made its report and presented the names of thirty persons who had brought their letters from other churches and those who were afterwards received on profession of faith. Officers were elected and Rev. Mr. Harris was chosen pastor for a year at a salary of seven hundred and eighty dollars. On the twenty-ninth of the same month an ecclesiastical council was convened to recognize the new church. The council had representatives from the Orange Valley Church; the Grove Street Church, of East Orange; the First Congrega- tional Church, of Newark; Broadway Tabernacle, of New York city, and the New England Church, of Brooklyn. The follow- ing resolution was adopted by this council :


"Resolved, That having looked carefully into the history which has led to the organization of the Franklin District Congregational Church, and having examined their documents, manual, etc., we approve of their organization, and welcome this Church into the fellowship of the churches."


A public service of recognition was held on that same


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evening, when a sermon was preached by Rev. M. E. Strieby and an address delivered by Rev. L. W. Bacon.


In this manner the Congregational Church was organized with Mr. Thomas Lippiatt as superintendent of its Sunday school. Mr. Gerry continued as superintendent of the Franklin Union Sunday School. This unfortunate division led to some injudicious acts which were required to be settled by the civil law .In the minutes of the Franklin Sunday School the follow- ing record appears: "The Chapel was forcibly entered on the night of the fifth or sixth of June, 1868, by some person or persons connected with the organization calling itself the Franklin District Congregational Church. The chapel was first occupied for service by the above named society on Sunday, June 2Ist, 1868."


The Franklin Union Sunday School therefore adjourned to the house of its superintendent and on every pleasant Sunday the school was held under the trees, until the differences between the two factions were legally settled, when the school returned to its former building. After the Congregational Church was disbanded, in time many of its members returned to the old Sunday school, and the breach eventually was healed.


Those in charge of the Congregational Church, among whom was Rev. Dr. Bacon, made overtures to the Church Ex- tension Committee of the Presbytery to have the church taken out of the hands of the Congregational body and made over to the Presbytery. To this suggestion the Committee of Pres- bytery objected, fearing that some trouble might arise, but advised that the Congregational Church first disband and then allow the committee to form a Presbyterian church out of the people who, of their own will and choice, were inclined to join a Presbyterian church. This suggestion was accepted and there was accordingly formed,


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III.


THE BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


COMMITTEE of Presbytery, consisting of Kev. Eldredge Mix, D.D., of the First Presbyterian Church, of Orange; Rev. Henry F. Hickok, D.D., and Elder Calvin D. Pierson, of Brick Church, of East Orange, met in the Sunday school chapel on November 13th, 1870. and organized the Bethel Presbyterian Church, of East Orange. There were twenty-seven names enrolled,* some of whom were received from the two Presbyterian churches of Orange and East Orange, and some from the recently disbanded Congregational Church. Mr. Charles M. Davis was elected elder and Rev. James H. Marr was chosen pastor. The Sunday school property was deeded to the Presbytery, who in turn transferred the deed to the church. Trustees were elected and the organization was regularly incor- porated. The name, Bethel-" House of God "-was given to the Church by the pastor, and in its acceptance by the founders and organizers of the Church, their desires for its future were best expressed : As God's house, may its name ever be kept sacred and its character always true to its name. The under- taking was begun in weakness but in great faith. It started amidst many trials and difficulties, financial and otherwise, but God's blessing rested upon that small band of followers, and He has mercifully led them through all their discouragements.


Our Church is the same age as our Presbytery. After the reunion of the old and new school branches of the Presby- terian Church in the United States of America, the several Presbyteries had to be reorganized. The churches of Orange were formerly in the Presbytery of Passaic. On June 21st, 1870, they were transferred to the new Presbytery of Morris and Orange, which held its first meeting in the First Church of Orange, July 6th. Our Church is the first one enrolled on the Presbytery's list of new churches. Since then we have seen five Presbyterian churches organized in Orange as follows : St.


* See appendix.


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Cloud, of West Orange ; Hillside and Orange Valley, German, of Orange ; Arlington Avenue, of East Orange, and Trinity, of South Orange. There have also been the following five churches organized in our community : Washington Street and Prospect Street, Baptist ; Watsessing and Ferry, Methodist, and St. Paul's, Episcopal.


At first the Church was dependent upon the Board of Home Missions for financial assistance, but through the earnest efforts of the pastor it became self-supporting, the building was refurnished, an addition was built and all its indebtedness was paid. Mr. Marr's work at first was one of laying foundations and collecting materials to build upon them. His power of organizing, which he had obtained from his experience in other similar fields, was fully called into play in his work in this locality. There were many difficulties to contend with, chief among which were the small number of workers, the changeable character of the neighborhood and the financial crisis the country passed through. All these discouragements would have Wearied the heart of many another, but with his characteristic determination and perseverance Mr. Marr conquered them and was able to build up a well organized church with a large membership and a still larger Sunday school. The increase was felt the first year when the twenty-seven charter members advanced to fifty-one, and the following year to seventy-two.


The session of the Church was enlarged on January 5th, 1872, by the election of Mr. Calvin Dodd, formerly an elder in Brick Church, and Mr. Josiah F. Dodd. Mr. Calvin Dodd resigned from active service, "owing to infirmities of age," in the following year. At a Congregational meeting, held May 4th, 1875, the session was changed from the permanent to the rotary system of election and the following resolution was passed :


"In view of the wants of this, the Bethel Church, as a church of Christ,


" Resolved, Ist, That this Church substitute for the permanent eldership and the permanent eldership system that which is known as the rotary.


"2d, That this Church now elect three elders to serve until the annual


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Respl H. Charr


election of officers in 1878, 1877 and 1876, as they shall themselves determine by the drawing of the lot.


"3d, That hereafter, at the annual election of officers, this Church elect anew an elder for a three years' term of service."


The elders elected were : Messrs. Ira H. Patrey, W. Irven Soverel and Charles M. Riker. In 1878 Mr. William S. Mills was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr. Fra H. Patrey. In 1881 the session was increased from three to five elders by the election of Messrs. George K. Sutphen and Thomas J. Davis. The latter ceasing to act on his departure from Orange, Mr. James R. T. McCarroll was elected to fill the vacancy in 1887. The following year Mr. A. B. Spinning, formerly an elder in the New York Presbyterian Church, was added to the session, which thus increased its number to six. Mr. Herbert F. Soverel was elected in 1892 and Mr. Wm. B. Martin in 1894. Of the twelve elders who have served the Church in this capacity only two have been removed by death.


The Sunday school, under the care of the Church, its new guardian, continued to grow in numbers. At first it held a somewhat separate and independent existence, electing its own officers and transacting its own business. This it no doubt felt itself entitled to do as it had its own constitution and was entirely self-supporting. But on January 18th, 1874, it adopted its new constitution so as to bring it under the care of the Church. The preamble to that constitution reads as follows :


"Whereas, early in this century there was established in this neighbor- hood a Sunday school which. with a few but brief intermissions, has con- tinued until the present time ; and


"Whereas, during this long period its name has been several times changed, and its constitution altered or altogether laid aside; and


"Whereas, the time seems to have come when its connection with the Church should be recognized, and a constitution defining its present relations and character be adopted;


"Therefore, we, the friends and teachers of the Sunday school in Dodd- town, do hereby adopt the following constitution:


" Article I. This organization shall be known by the name of the Sabbath School of the Bethel Presbyterian Church."


A still closer relation with the Church has been formed by


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placing itself under the care of the session. This object was accomplished gradually and naturally. As the workers in the school and the Church became identical the interests of the two became united. As the school is considerably older than the Church it has maintained its seniority by being the larger body. It is hoped that the two bodies will become still more closely bound together so that more of the scholars may identify them- selves with the Church, and that the Church will take upon itself the entire financial support of the school. A great power for good lies within the reach of this branch of the Church and it should be worked with the best of modern appliances and methods. Already the infant department has had to be divided so as to form in addition an intermediate room. The total membership of the school at last report was three hundred and ninety-seven. It has been a great blessing to the Church and community, but we should not rest satisfied with what has been done, but press on with greater hopes to new attainments.


After having served this Church faithfully and zealously for more than eleven years, Mr. Marr resigned his charge January, 1882, to accept a larger and more promising field in the Kensington district of Philadelphia. During that time he had been instrumental in raising the membership from twenty-seven to one hundred and sixty-five. The Sunday school also increased under his leadership and care to two hundred members. As the first pastor, he worked hard to contribute to the Church's success. He has laid the foundation and another is privileged to build thereupon.


The Church was left without a pastor for four months, when it called Rev. David O. Irving, then just leaving Princeton Theological Seminary. The call was accepted and the ordina- tion and installation services took place on May 2d, 1882, under the charge of the Presbytery of Morris and Orange. Rev. Thomas Carter, of Boonton, the moderator of the Presbytery, presided and propounded the constitutional questions. The sermon was preached by Rev. Alfred Yeomans, D.D., pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, of Orange, from the text, John 15:16: "I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go


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David O Irving


and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain." Rev. David Irving, D.D., delivered a charge full of feeling and tenderness to the pastor. Rev. James H. Marr delivered a loving and earnest charge to the people. It is very startling to know that all of those ministers who took part in that service have been called home to a service above.


For a few years the growth of the Church was slow, owing to the stationary condition of the neighborhood. Gradually, as local improvements increased, the people began to move into this neighborhood, and the Church felt the change. New work- ers often meant new work. Societies were organized and set at work. The Ladies' Aid Society was started in 1885, which raised funds to paint and paper the interior of the building, to procure reflectors whereby gas could be used as an illuminator in place of oil, to purchase a larger organ, and to meet the expenses connected with the Christmas entertainments for the Sunday school. A Young Ladies' Missionary Society was organized in February, 1888, which has increased an interest in the cause of Home and Foreign Missions, and which has sent contributions of money and clothing to those in destitute parts of the world. This organization also seeks to train the younger girls, and it has charge of the Band of Willing Aids. Another society, somewhat similar in aim, but which seeks to help those nearer home, was started on November 26th, 1889, and was called the Ladies' Home Missionary Society. Money and boxes of clothing have been given to local charitable institutions, to the poor of New York city, and to many a needy Home Mis- sionary family. The need of reaching and training the young people was felt, and a Christian Endeavor Society was formed on December 5th, 1890. It has grown from its fourteen charter members to fifty-two active, twenty associate and three honorary members. Its three committees at its organization have increased till they number seven. More than twenty of its


members have united with the Church during the history of the society. Flowers are sent every week during the Summer to the Flower Mission, of New York city, and money is contributed annually to missions. On December 8th, 1892, a Junior Chris-


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tian Endeavor Society was formed, which holds weekly meetings except during the three Summer months. Starting with twenty- three members, it has grown to sixty. These children are taught the need of giving to those in poverty and want, and of taking a deep interest in the work of missions at home and abroad, and they have early shown their benevolent spirit.


In glancing over the work of the Church for the last twenty- five years we may find some facts to encourage us even if we record them in no boastful feeling but in the spirit of humility. Looking first at the financial condition of the Church we note that there has been contributed for all purposes about one hundred thousand dollars. Of this amount the benevolent column shows a total of about eight thousand four hundred and fifty dollars. After all, the benevolent column of the finances of the Church is the most important of all, as benevolence is the true kind of giving. It is disinterested and shows the love which we bear to Christ and His needy ones. While the benevolent gifts of our Church cannot compare with those of larger and more wealthy churches, yet it is not a discreditable showing when we consider that for many years the Church had to struggle with adversities and financial embarrassments, while its membership was for a long time very small. Many of the societies have been in existence but a few years, so that their contributions do not increase the total amount as much as they otherwise would. The figures given above represent not the gifts of the wealthy, but of those in moderate circum- stances who give with self-denial. But God accepts and uses the gifts of those who contribute in this manner. Let this benevolent statement be only a beginning which the Church will be able largely to surpass at its next quarter of a century celebration.


The Church has raised for its own expenses over ninety thousand dollars. It is not within the power of human reason to decide whether the amount of good accomplished in the individual souls and in the community is a full value for the money expended. God does not keep His records on the same system of book-keeping as we are apt to do. But it is


34


to be hoped that the money thus put into the Church treasury has been wisely and judiciously expended so as to have a moral and benevolent effect upon the community. A con- siderable amount of this money has been expended in the erection of our present building, whose fourth anniversary we celebrate at this same time.


Feeling the need of more accommodation than our other building afforded, an effort was made in 1886 to collect money to build a larger and more commodious structure. The necessity for more room and more convenient accommodations compelled the officers to take steps towards the securing of funds for the erection of a better building in which to worship God. The first contribution was fifty-seven dollars, the proceeds of an entertainment. In many little ways this amount was increased. Some smiled at these feeble efforts and predicted that many years would elapse before sufficient money would be collected to warrant the starting of a church edifice, while they offered no hopes about any large and substantial structure. But others, whose faith was greater, despised not the day of small things, but trusting in God and putting forth their own efforts, looked for grand results, and, as in all cases the people of faith and effort, were able to see their hopes realized.


Through the generosity of Mr. Josiah F. Dodd, a valuable plot of ground on the northwest corner of Dodd Street and Midland Avenue, consisting of seventy-five feet by one hundred and twenty-five feet, was given to the Church. As this was more suitable for a large edifice than the former Church lot, the gift was gladly accepted, while it added a stimulus to the workers and seemed to make the scheme more real and tangible to the faint-hearted. Afterwards the lot was increased by a further donation of twenty-five feet on Dodd Street, while twenty-five feet additional on Midland Avenue was purchased for four hundred dollars. This amount was raised by private subscriptions on the part of the Building Committee. The work was still further aided by the generous contribution of a friend, whose name must be held by request, of two thousand dollars. This gift was appreciated for itself and the good


35


wish of the giver, and also because it was received at just the right opportunity to encourage all those who had the work of the new Church at heart. We felt that we were not working alone, but that God was raising up generous friends of the enterprise. A Building Committee was elected at a meeting of the parish on January, 1890. It consisted of the board of trustees and four members from the congregation, as follows : Messrs. Wm. S. Mills, Jas. R. T. McCarroll, H. B. Thistle and the pastor. It immediately set to work to select an architect and plans. Mr. Isaac Pursell, of Philadelphia, was chosen, and the plan of a stone building adopted, costing, exclusive of furnishings and windows, twenty-three thousand dollars.


Work was begun on the new Church on Monday, July 21st, 1890, when Rev. James H. Marr, in the pastor's absence, formally turned the first spadeful of earth for the excavation of the foundation. The corner-stone was laid on Wednesday, September 17th, at five o'clock in the afternoon. As the day was stormy it was feared that the services would have to be held under cover. But the rain having ceased for a time it was decided to brave the elements and have all of the exercises at the place where the cornerstone was to be laid. Accordingly the procession formed at the old Church and marched to the new site on Midland Avenue. The pastor led with the invited clergy. After them came the members of the session, deacons, trustees and building committee. They were followed by the older members of the Church and of the congregation and by the children of the Sunday school. The procession wound around to the rear of the Church and passed on the temporary floor to the front of the Church. The ceremonies had hardly begun before the rain began to fall and the services were held under- neath umbrellas. However, the rain did not dampen the spirits of the worshipers. The services opened with a prayer of invocation by the Rev. Henry F. Hickok, D.D., of Brick Church, East Orange, and the doxology was sung by the congregation. The Scripture lesson from Ist Corinthians, 3d chapter, beginning with the ninth verse, was read by Rev. Stanley White, of the Hillside Presbyterian Church, of Orange.


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The cornerstone hymn was then sung to the tune of Hebron, as follows:


"An earthly temple here we raise, Lord God, our Saviour ! to thy praise ; Oh, make thy gracious presence known While now we lay its cornerstone.


" Within the house thy servants rear Deign by thy Spirit to appear ; On all its walls salvation write, From cornerstone to topmost height.


"And when this temple, " made with hands," Upon its firm foundation stands, Oh, may we all with loving heart In nobler building bear a part,


" When every polished stone shall be A human soul won back to thee ; All resting upon Christ above, The chief and precious cornerstone.


"So when our toil is o'er at last, All labor in both temples passed, Oh, may it then by works be shown That faith hath laid this cornerstone."


At the close of this hymn, Mr. William S. Mills, chairman of the building committee, read a list of the contents of the box, which were as follows : The Holy Bible; the Confession of Faith ; an historical record of Bethel Church ; a list of members at the organization of the Church ; a list of members of the Church, September 17th, 1890; the names of the officers of the Church and officers, teachers and scholars of the Sunday school; the names of the architect and contractors ; pictures of the old Church and of the old Franklin Schoolhouse; coins of 1890 ; copies of the Orange Chronicle, Journal, Herald, Volksbote and Evening Mail, the East Orange Gazette, the Newark Advertiser, News and Journal, the New York Times, Tribune and Herald, the Church at Home and Abroad for September, 1890, the Christian at Work for September 11th, 1890; copies of the




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