USA > New Jersey > Camden County > Camden > Fifty years after : or, A half century of Presbyterianism in Camden, New Jersey with biographical sketches of the Presbyterian ministers who have labored there > Part 4
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THE THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
is a colony of the Second Church. In the latter part of October, 1883, Mr. Boyd convened a meeting of the Presbyterians of South Camden at the house of Donald McCallum, at which the question
THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OF CAMDEN, N. J.
of opening a mission school was considered. As a result of their deliberations the meeting appointed a committee to engage Danen- hower's Hall, Broadway, below Kaighn Avenue, and to make all arrangements for beginning the work. A Sabbath-school of forty- five members was organized November 4th, 1883, and Mr. B. O. Titus was elected its first superintendent. Cottage prayer-meetings were held every Thursday night, and preaching once a month, both services being conducted by Mr. Boyd, as long as the school remained in the hall. In the summer of 1885 three lots of ground,
* Minutes of Church ; "Historical Discourse," by Rev. L. C. Baker.
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situated at the corner of Broadway and Atlantic Avenue, were purchased from Adolph Foster and a neat chapel erected, the property costing about $1,800. At the dedication of the building, which occurred upon the afternoon of September 27th, 1885 (the forty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the old First Church), the pastors and sessions of the First and Second Churches were present to mingle their thanksgivings over the first substantial effort to extend the Presbyterian Church in Camden within a period of twenty-three years. In the summer of 1887, D. Scott Clark, a graduate of Princeton Seminary, and a licentiate of the Presbytery of Philadelphia Central, took charge of the young enterprise. A church of sixty-two members was organ- ized February 16th, 1888, by a committee consisting of Revs. Wm. Bannard, M. A. Brownson, F. D. Harris, and Elders John Calla- han and William Fewsmith, with Mr. Boyd as chairman. The sessions of the First and Second Churches were again present and assisted in the services. Wm. Mitchell, Edwin H. Miller, George Belz, and William H. Woodruff were elected and ordained as elders of the new organization. Upon the 20th of September, 1888, Rev. James B. McCool was elected pastor, and subsequently installed over the church. After a year of labor he resigned his charge No- vember 1st, 1889. Since this date the pulpit has been supplied by different ministers. The church hopes to be able soon to secure a regular pastor.
Rev. Mr. McCool, the first pastor, received his theological train- ing in the seminary of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, in Philadelphia. He was pastor for one year of the German Street Church, of Philadelphia, and for about two years pastor of the church at Kingston, N. J., before taking charge of the Third Church of Camden. He is now laboring in Nevada.
The names of the sixty-two constituent members of the Church are : Mr. and Mrs. George Belz, Bella Buchanan, John Berry- man, Louise Buckley, W. J. Cross, Effie A. Crowell, Mrs. Johanna Davis, Laura Davis, Anna Davis, James Dunlop, Mr. and Mrs. George A. Green, Mr. and Mrs. David Geddes, Flora Humph- rey, Mrs. Salome Hoag, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. F. Lacy, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Mitchell, Jennie S., Mary H., and Sophie Mitchell,
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Mr. and Mrs. Donald McCallum, Bella McCallum, Susan Mac- Lean, Edwin H. Miller, Lucy Mccullough, Robena Rutherford, Mr. and Mrs. E. Roop, Sarah J. Raff, Mrs. Anna Schoeperkotter, Lorena Smith, Chas. W. M. Sommers, Mrs. Sarah Sidebottom, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Slayden, Isabella Scarborough, Mr. and Mrs. James Tough, John M. Tough, Martha Tyson, Mary E. Taylor, Mrs. Catherine Young, Maud E. and Theodora Wyckoff, William L. Woodruff, Andrew Rutherford, Mary E. Smith, Mrs. C. Siers, Bertie Siers, Agnes Tough, and Annie Thompson. To this number may be added the names of Elizabeth M. Long, Mrs. Chas. W. M. Sommers, Alexander Smyth, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. R. Given Taylor, and Sallie and Jennie Warnock, all of whom united with the Church three weeks after its organization.
The Superintendents of the Sunday-school have been B. O. Titus, William Long, Harry L. Maguire, Edwin H. Miller, J. B. McCool, Schuyler C. Woodhull ; and the Trustees of the church, William Mitchell, George Belz, John Tough, James Tough, James Henderson, Wm. H. Reagle, Wm. H. Woodruff, Willard H. Hol- ten, and Andrew Rutherford.
THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL
was organized by Rev. M. A. Brownson, as a mission of the First Church in the dwelling-house, 840 Federal Street, May 9th, 1886. Its first superintendent was Thomas S. Collins, who resigned June 13th, 1886, and was succeeded by W. J. Searle, who filled the position until October 30th, 1887. Having outgrown the house in which it was cradled, it took pos- session of its present beautiful building in the month of July last. A well-located lot at the corner of Eleventh and Cooper had been purchased for $4,400, and a chapel erected at a cost of nearly $3,000. The building was dedicated September 28th, 1890 (the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Old First Church), in the presence of a large audience. The chapel is admirably situated for large and rapid growth and will soon require an addition to accommodate the increasing population of that part of the city. The present efficient superintendent of the
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school is R. G. Hann. William J. Searle is assistant superin- tendent, and Frederick Smith is secretary and treasurer. The school numbers 169 teachers and scholars.
THE KNOX PRESBYTERIAN MISSION.
At the invitation of the Synodical Missionary, Rev. Allen H. Brown, Rev. Isaac W. Davenport visited Camden in the month of May, 1886, and under the supervision of the pastor of the Second Church began a thorough canvass of the colored popula- tion. A report of Mr. Davenport's labors was presented to Pres- bytery June 28th, 1886, and a committee was thereupon appointed to start a mission among the colored people, if the way seemed clear. The committee consisted of Elders G. R. Vogels, of the First Church ; B. O. Titus, of the Second Church, and Rev. M. A. Brownson, with Rev. William Boyd as chairman. The com- mittee held several meetings and, after a full discussion of the situation, concluded to start a mission at Danenhower's Hall, Broadway below Kaighn Avenue. The first service was held August 1st, 1886, Mr. Davenport preaching the opening sermon to a fair-sized congregation. From that date until May, 1888, when his term of service ended, Mr. Davenport labored with great fidelity. Starting with less than nothing-for the movement met with little sympathy in many quarters and even his warmest coad- jutors considered the project as tentative-he preached regularly Sabbath morning and evening, gathered together a Sabbath-school of fifteen scholars, which gradually increased to sixty-two, and maintained a training school in vocal music every Saturday after- noon and Wednesday evening. In his canvass of the city he found in all five families, representing seventeen souls, of the Presbyterian faith. In addition to these families, there were three Presbyterian ladies permanently located here, and persons of other religious connection, who favored the organization of a church. Had a church been constituted it would have enrolled upwards of thirty members at its beginning, a larger number than entered into the formation of the First or Second Churches. During the two years of his relation to the work Mr. Davenport distributed over three
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thousand tracts and religious papers, baptized ten infants, and re- ceived three persons into the church upon profession of their faith. In addition to this he succeeded in raising money enough to meet all running expenses, the entire amount expended upon the field, until his labors ended, being $1,334.71, of which sum Presbytery had appropriated $700. Mr. Davenport had done a more encouraging work for his people than he or the committee knew, until it was too late to save the enterprise or the man who had nursed and cherished it. The demands upon the missionary fund of Presbytery were so great, that it did not feel justified in longer continuing to support the mission, and Mr. Davenport withdrew to take charge of a Congregational Church in Newark. The work among the colored people of Camden was referred to the First and Second Churches, joint meetings of the two sessions were held, and at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Reuben F. Bancroft, who had taken the place of B. O. Titus upon the committee, and who had always been the warmest friend of the enterprise, the mission was continued for six months longer. A colporteur of the Board of Publication was placed upon the field, the churches holding themselves responsible for half his salary, the other half being guaranteed by the board. At the end of the six months the work was sorrowfully abandoned and the school languished and died in the hope of an early and joyous resurrection.
Fifty years ago a Presbyterian Church was planted in this town. Two years later it perished. To-day the seemingly abortive effort has blossomed into a strong and vigorous church. Fifty years from now, if the world shall last that long, a strong and self-sus- taining colored church will stand upon the ruins of the Knox Presbyterian Mission, and perpetuate and bless the memory of Mr. Davenport and his consecrated band of Sabbath-school teachers. For so history repeats itself. When Giles Manwaring canvassed the white population of Camden forty years ago, he could only find two Presbyterian families. Five years ago there were five colored families of intelligence, respectability, and refinement, in our city. In these families were two well-known educators and one elder.
The officers of the Knox Sunday-school were T. C. Hinson, Superintendent ; Henry Boyer, Assistant Superintendent ; B. An-
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derson, Secretary ; J. R. Warner, Infant-school Superintendent ; Miss H. G. Sylva, Treasurer ; Messrs. Arthur Boyer and George Hinson, Librarians.
Rev. Isaac W. Davenport, whose name is so closely associated with this enterprise, is the son of Isaac and Aun Davenport, and a native of West Virginia. His father was born in slavery, but, receiving his freedom, removed his family to the District of Col- umbia, where his children received a common-school education. Entering Lincoln University, Mr. Davenport graduated from the Art Department of that institution in 1872, and from the Theo- logical Department in 1875. During his stay at Lincoln he united with the Ashman Presbyterian Church, and was elected to its elder- ship, serving in that office until he was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Chester.
He taught in the public schools of Georgia and Maryland, preached for a time in the Concord Church, of Danville, Ky., and then accepted a call to the Elder Street Presbyterian Church, of Harrisburg, Pa., where he labored for two years with much suc- cess, and was greatly beloved. Receiving a call from the Plain Street Church, of Newark, he resigned his Harrisburg charge March 15th, 1877. During his pastorate of eight years and a-half in Newark, he received into church fellowship one hundred and five persons, ten by certificate and ninety-five upon profession of faith. Resigning the Plain Street Church he came to Camden, and after two years of faithful service in this city went back to Newark to accept a call to the Third Congregational Church of that city. He still ministers to this congregation with marked acceptance, forty persons having united with this church under his ministry.
LIBERTY PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The German Church at Liberty Park had its inception in the corridor of a hotel in Denver, Colorado. The pastor of the Sec- ond Church had the honor of representing his Presbytery in the General Assembly which met at Omaha in the spring of 1887. In company with a number of the delegates he took a trip farther
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West. In the course of a conversation with Rev. John Richelsen, of the Corinthian Avenue Presbyterian Church, of Philadelphia, upon work among the Germans, the attention of that gentleman was called to Camden as a field for such evangelistic effort. As a result of the conversation, Rev. Charles H. Schwarzbach visited this city in the month of October, 1887, interviewed the pastor of the Second Church, and was referred by him to Mr. Brownson. After several conferences, and with some misgivings as to the prac- ticability of the step, the enterprise was finally begun. Had it not been for the great faith and indomitable perseverance of Mr. Schwarzbach the mission would have come to an untimely birth. Obtaining the use of Liberty Park Hall, he opened a series of services in the German language, which lasted for nearly a year. In the month of December, 1888, he undertook the erection of a building. E. N. Cohn generously donated a lot of ground 20x90, two other lots of the same size were purchased below their selling price, and on the 3d of March, 1889, the cozy little chapel was dedicated to the service of Almighty God.
In the meantime a petition had been presented to Presbytery for the organization of a church. A committee was appointed to carry the desire of the petitioners into effect if the way seemed clear. The committee met at the house of Adam Hartmeyer, January 22d, 1889, and constituted a church of 17 members. The names of these members were, William Schliephake, Anna Schliephake, William Kurz, Philippine Kurz, Henry Juengling, Adam Hart- meyer, Katherine Hartmeyer, Clara Hartmeyer, Frederick Hart- meyer, Henry Werner, Christine Werner, Jacob Christi, Mary Weyland, Louisa Leckleidner, Anna M. Kanz, Sussane Hebel, Panline C. Schwarzbach. Messrs. William Schliephake and William Kurz were elected and ordained elders. In the religious exercises which were held Messrs. Brownson, Brace, Boyd, Brown, Schnatz, and Elder George Belz took part. It was the intention of the committee to have organized the church in the Liberty Park Hall, where worship had been statedly conducted, but when they reached the ground, they found the building pre-occupied by some " Sons of Belial," who were engaged in a sparring match. Sundry evi- dences of their prowess, in the shape of bloody handkerchiefs, had
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LIBERTY PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OF CAMDEN, N. J.
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been found beneath the pulpit upon the preceding Sabbath, to the mystification of the preacher. The mystery was cleared up when the committee knocked imperatively upon the door, and in answer to the summons the bolt was cautiously withdrawn and the stalwart form of a pugilist, coatless and prepared for the fray, revealed itself. It was thought best to beat a hasty retreat to the covert of Mr. Hartmeyer's house.
Mr. Schwarzbach has done most faithful and self-denying service for Liberty Park. In addition to the erection of the church he has recently built a neat parsonage at a cost, with ground, of about $1,800. The whole property is worth about $3,500. To the construction of both buildings the Churches of the Presbytery have contributed, notably the First Church of Camden, which has likewise assisted in meeting Mr. Schwarzbach's salary.
Mr. Schwarzbach was born in Chicago; pursued his prelimi- nary studies in that city and also in Basle, Switzerland ; studied theology at Bloomfield Seminary ; was licensed by the Presbytery of Newark, June 8th, 1880; was ordained by the Presbytery of Nassau ; was pastor of Flatbush Reformed Church, L. I., 1881- 1885 ; pastor of Carmel Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, 1885- 1887, and since the latter date has been stated supply at Camden.
THE CRAMER HILL MISSION
Is the youngest of the Presbyterian enterprises, and is under the care of the Second Presbyterian Church. The field had long awakened the interest of the Home Mission Committee of Presbytery as presenting possibilities of development and growth unsurpassed by any section of our city. At the suggestion of some of the members of the Second Church who resided in the neighborhood, and by authority of Presbytery, Mr. Boyd by personal visitation and printed appeal, convened a meeting of such citizens of Cramer Hill as were favorable to the plant- ing of a Presbyterian Mission, in Pavonia school-house, November 6th, 1889. James MacNab, J. H. Troutman, W. W. Davidson, Lewis H. Archer, and Richard D. Clover represented the Second Church. When the sense of the meeting was taken it was found
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that there were 16 Presbyterians present who resided in the vicinity of Pavonia ; that a number more appeared by proxy, and that a still larger representation, having no denominational bias, were de- sirous of organizing a school. It was also discovered that the Directors of the Township were willing to grant the use of the school-room, free of cost, until January 1st, 1890, with the option of leasing it thereafter at a reasonable rent.
Wednesday evening, November 13th, 1889, the school was regu- larly organized, with a membership of 24 adults and 7 children. Upon the following Sunday it went into operation, Mr. Boyd being present and conducting the services. W. W. Davidson was chosen Superintendent ; David Littlejohn, Assistant Superin-
PROPOSED CHAPEL FOR CRAMER HILL PRESBYTERIAN MISSION.
tendent ; James MacNab, Secretary and Treasurer, and John Caskey, Librarian. Since that meeting for organization a preaching ser- vice has been regularly held every Thursday night, conducted by the pastor of the Second Church, and a Sabbath-school session every Sunday afternoon. For the past three months, through the kindness of Presbytery, Rev. J. B. MeCorkle has conducted worship every Sabbath evening. The mission is now projecting the erection of a chapel. Three lots of ground, 20 by 100, have been secured. They are situated at the corner of Cooper and Gar- field Avenues. Mr. Alfred Cramer, with his usual liberality, donated one of the lots and deducted $120 from the purchase-money of the other two for prompt payment. Among those most promi- nently identified with the movement have been the families of
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MacNab, Holloway, Lane, Welsh, Littlejohn, Reed, Caskey, Chittuck, Kettle, Sharp, Weber, Carlin, Rogers, Downing, Ridge- ley, Kyle, Tice, Leconey, Okerson, and Smith. The Superin- tendent of the school at present is Nelson B. Kline.
LOST OPPORTUNITIES.
In the year 1861 John K. F. Stites, who afterward labored with great acceptance and success as a missionary of the American Sun- day-school Union in South Jersey, started a Union Sunday-school upon Locust Street, South Camden. The building in which it was held was subsequently removed to Third Street, below Walnut, and is still used for religious purposes. Although it bore no distinctively denominational name it was largely officered and supported by Presbyterians, and the Westminster Catechisms were regularly and systematically taught. Dr. Alexander Marcy, a brother-in-law of Mr. Stites, was one of the earliest of its teachers. Upon the appointment of Mr. Stites as Sunday-school Missionary, new superintendents were elected and for some years James H. Stevens, an elder in the First Church, acted in that capacity. The school was finally abandoned, the results of faithful work flowing into the various churches of the neighborhood. Had it been fostered a little while longer it might have formed the nucleus of a Third Church. A Baptist and Methodist congregation were already in existence and the only legitimate successor of the Union School would have been of Presbyterian affinity.
About nine years ago Mr. John Berryman had collected a thrifty Sunday-school in Centreville. Having outgrown the private house in which it had started, an effort was made to secure for it a suitable building and some sort of ecclesiastical recognition. Mr. Berryman was anxious to place it under the care of one of the Presbyterian churches. Eligible lots upon which to build a chapel had been promised, and stone and other material could have been se- cured for the asking, but the opportunity passed away unimproved. The Woodland Avenue Mission, which has just been placed under the care of the First Church, and which is located not many
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squares from the site of Mr. Berryman's school, might have had no reason for its existence if the earlier occasion had been seized.
In the summer of 1879 Mrs. Harriet Bergen, the wife of Hon. C. A. Bergen, conceived the idea of starting a Mission Sabbath- school in the northeastern part of the city. A meeting for that purpose was called at her home, 522 Linden Street. Later on the key of the house 628 North Sixth Street was, by her generous act, placed in the hands of Miss Jennie Porter and Mrs. H. E. Wil- liams. The building was thoroughly cleaned, benches were pro- cured from Mr. John Morgan, and upon the 20th of July, 1879, the school opened with forty-two persons present, and with Henry Landis as its first superintendent. The first teachers were Miss Jennie Porter, Miss Minnie Story, Miss Sadie Story, and Mrs. Williams. The school existed until May 31st, 1885, when it was disbanded. Members of different denominations had been among its active workers, but the predominating influence was Pres- byterian. About the time of its dissolution an effort was made to insure its continuance by placing it under Presbyterian care. A desirable lot of ground was promised at a reasonable figure, Mr. Bergen made a liberal offer of money if the school could be per- petuated, and there were $125 in the treasury, but another oppor- tunity was permitted to elude our grasp. The superintendents of the school were Henry Landis, Robert G. Hann, and George W. Hudson.
FINAL WORDS.
Notwithstanding what might seem to be some little remissness, the Presbyterian Churches of this city have accomplished much for this community and for the cause of Christ throughout the world. Their growth has been retarded by proximity to Philadel- phia, fluctuations in population, and many circumstances over which they have no control, but, nevertheless, during these last forty years, about 3,000 members have been taken into church connee- tion, thousands of children have enjoyed healthful religious train- ing, upwards of $67,000 have been contributed to benevolences abroad, and nearly $375,000 to religious work in the city. It may be true that the ratio of growth in membership has searcely.
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in these latter years, kept pace with the increase in population. The successive censuses and the Minutes of General Assembly teach us that in 1840 there was 1 Presbyterian for every 280 in- habitants ; in 1850, 1 for every 140; in 1860, 1 for every 89; in 1870, 1 for every 43 ; in 1880, 1 for every 59; and in 1890, 1 for every 58. But it must be remembered that the growth of our city in the last twenty years has been unprecedented, rising from 20,045 in 1870, to 41,159 in 1880, and to more than 58,000 in 1890; that Philadelphia, the strongest Presbyterian city in the Union, has but 1 Presbyterian for every 34 inhabitants, and that the last five years have witnessed much activity in the matter of Church extension in Camden. Four buildings have been erected at a present valuation of $24,000 ; one more is in process of purchase ; the plans for another have just issued from the architect's hands, and upwards of $25,000 have been spent in the liquidation of debt or the improvement of property. The Presbyterian Church in Camden has gathered up some salutary lessons from the experience of the past. Laboring side by side with her beloved brethren of sister denominations, rejoicing with them in their successes and sympathizing with them in their discouragements, she now hopes to press on to better things. May the Great Head of the Church, whose loyal servant she seeks to be, help her to realize the hope !
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