USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Readington > Historical discourse and addresses delivered at the 175th anniversary of the Reformed Church, Readington, N.J., October 17, 1894 > Part 4
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A hundred years from now every one of this huge assembly will have gone hence. Oh ! that every one of you may then, being glorified, look down from supreme heights upon those who may then be congregated here to celebrate the 275th anniversary of this church. May your labors, divinely blessed, greatly contrib- ute to making her more glorious in the future than in the past.
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READINGTON REFORMED CHURCH.
Address by Rev. Isaac Sperling, South Branch.
Who has not heard of Readington Church ? You may go to the far West and find many there who love it. You may go to the North and to the South-yes, you may visit the other side of the globe and find those to whom its name is very dear !
When but a little boy I learned about it; and have always thought of it as being an historic organization.
As an individual, mine is more than a passing and ordinary in- terest. For since the beginning of the present pastorate, that interest has been drawn here in an especial way ; because the pas- tor is a friend of my childhood, and one whom I highly esteem.
Happy and grateful in so doing, I feel it to be a great honor to represent a church that may be looked upon as one that has largely grown out of this.
It seems to me that Pastor Wyckoff must have had a feeling of awe and a sense somewhat akin to reverence as he undertook the task of going over those old sources of information which re- fer to the early history of this church.
How the strong characters of those who have gone before must have come back as he studied the old story !
How our attention was riveted and our hearts stirred as we lis- tened to that grand recital this morning ! O, the piety of the fathers of old !
The integrity, the faithfulness, the faith! How the blessed qualities all come back to us as we go over the meager records that refer to their church life and work !
Taking up our own record book, which to me is old, something. of the same feeling comes as I go over the names of those re- corded there as having brought their certificates from this church to unite in the new organization of Branchville.
Sixteen, if I mistake not, came at one time by letter, represent-
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ing a strong faith and sturdy Christianity, to undertake the work as it opened up at South Branch in the year 1850.
Others also came who have since professed faith in Christ.
Early influences upon us have not been lost.
In that carefully prepared history, by one of the sons of this church, now of blessed memory, is recorded a statement by one who was among our first members. Said he to the historian : " I have seen the time in Readington Church when it was very easy to go to church on a week day, leaving hay in the field ready to ' come in'; and I have hoped I might see the same again be- fore I die-and it looks very much like it now in Branchville."
We are a church-going people ; for such was our early training.
I once heard reference made to a portion of a good Dutch con- gregation as being " the cream " of that congregation.
Now I want to say that "the cream" of the South Branch congregation is not collected all in one locality, but there is " cream " throughout. .
Is it too much to say that the influence of this grand old church has contributed largely to such a state of affairs ?
Ours is a peculiar relation, geographically. The old site of the first building is within our bounds.
The residence of the fifth pastor (Studdiford), was not far from our sanctuary.
Socially and spiritually, our relations are and have always been delightful.
At this time, there comes before my vision an aged mother in whose presence stands a devoted daughter. There cannot be heard the sound of human voice, as by look and gesture that daughter speaks to the one whom she loves so much.
For she has not the gift of audible speech, and therefore must say what she wishes to say in another way.
The relationship between that mother and daughter is an ideal
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one-so devoted to each other-no harsh or ruffled feelings, but a continuous flow of pure affection, and unceasing willingness on the part of each to do what they might for the other.
Now the Branchville Church through a humble representative brings greeting to Mother Readington this afternoon. And while she can give no eloquent testimonial of her esteem and gratitude in the way of an address, nevertheless there is all of the devotion and loyalty and fellowship that are experienced by the other mem . bers of the family.
To each of us it would seem as though we had all of what you have to give of interest and good will. But these funds are inex- haustible ; and not one of your daughters will complain, because you do not show any preference or partiality, but make us all feel that we are very near to you.
What a joyous home-gathering this is! Truly your " children arise up " to-day and call you blessed !
We are not here to cast a cloud over the luster of this occasion, but we would, if possible, add to the brightness of this day by assuring you that to us you are not old. Those qualities and characteristics that endear you to us are by no means waning with the advancing years. One, among and with your children, ever setting before them an example of Christian faithfulness, fel- lowship and activity.
We are thankful, yea, we are proud, Dear Mother, that it is your life blood which flows through our veins.
May you continue to do the work the Lord has given you to do, even as you have done it in the past. And at last may it be ours to rejoice as one united church in the presence of Him who is the Great Head of the Church.
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Address by the Rev. O. M. Voorhees.
In one of the earlier Psalms (the 15th), we find an answer to the question, " Who is a welcome guest in the house of God?" Among other characteristics this is included, " He that sweareth to his hurt and changeth not." Dr. Delitszh translated the passage thus :
"If he swear to his hurt, he changeth not."
And Dr. De Witt's rendering is, " He may swear to his harm, but he answers not."
The verse may be paraphrased thus: If he make a solemn promise or enter into a covenant, and it turn out to his disvan- tage, yet he swerves not from his promise, and as zealously fulfills the terms of the covenant as though it worked to his profit. He makes great sacrifices rather than break his word. This is one of the moral qualities demanded of accepted worshippers before God.
These qualities, as well as the others mentioned in the Psalm, should mark Christian organizations as well as Christian men and women, churches as well as church members. And if the church of Readington has exhibited the other characteristics required by the Psalmist as faithfully as she has the one to which I have re- ferred, she must surely be accorded a royal welcome in the tab- ernacle of Jehovah and a dwelling place on His holy hill. And we may with confidence predict for her what the Psalmist affirms of the accepted worshiper, she " shall never be moved."
That this church has sworn to her hurt can easily be shown. There was a time when her spiritual oversight was acknowledged over a widely extended territory. Hers was a goodly heritage. The number of families reported was considerably over three hundred. On Sundays all these pews were occupied, the church was filled with worshipers and the congregation proud of its strength.
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But the church had sworn to be loyal to the Kingdom of God, and to make constant effort for the extension of that kingdom. The fulfillment of that promise required new organizations in other localities. But those organizations could not be formed and flourish if Readington held on to her members. To be true to her oath of loyalty to the kingdom she had to give up members, to suffer the loss of families, to witness a constant contraction and increasing weakness in her old age. She had sworn. It proved to be her trust. Yet she changed not. She swerved not from the obligations of her oath though she has suffered and still suf- fers in consequence. For her constancy let us give her due honor.
Of her loss in the formation of the other churches around, I have no positive knowledge. Their representatives have revealed so much as suited their purpose. But it remains for me to tell of her efforts and her loss in behalf of the most recently formed organization in this section, the church of Three Bridges.
For many years the pastor of this church had lectured statedly in the little school house on the corner, and a Sunday School was maintained there, largely through the efforts of Readington peo- ple. It is said that as early as 1863 an attempt was made to or- ganize a church, but it failed on account of some misunderstand- ing as to the location of the church edifice. Ten years later, at the solicitation of a number of residents of the vicinity, the Com- mittee on Church Extension of the Classis of Philadelphia, to which the Readington Church then belonged, held a conference with the people. Elder Joseph Thompson was a member of that committee. By a large vote (none opposing), the Classis of Philadelphia was petitioned to grant a church. A special meet- ing of the Classis was called, to meet at Three Bridges, at which the situation was thoroughly canvassed, and the church unani- mously granted. This was June 20, 1873. A committee con- sisting of Revs. John H. Smock and M. N. Oliver, and Elder
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Joseph Thompson was appointed, and directed to organize the church on Sunday, July 6. The committee met, received cer- tificates of church membership ; a consistory was chosen, ordained and installed, and the organization of the church declared com- plete.
These facts are set forth in a preface to the church register, and their truth attested by the signature of the chairman of the com- mittee, who was then pastor of the church. There are, however, a few additional facts that I presume Pastor Smock did not feel at liberty to record. The thirty members that helped form the organization came from five churches, viz .: The Reformed Churches of Readington, South Branch, Neshanic, and Clover Hill, and the Presbyterian Church of Reaville. And of those thirty members, eighteen came from Readington ; two more came before the first communion. Thus nearly two-thirds of our original membership came from this church and represent a loss of at least nine families. Nearly as many families have since come to us, so that Readington's loss in the organization of our church is about one-tenth the number of families now reported by her. She had sworn to her hurt yet changed not; so she surely merits our praise.
The relation between the two churches has ever been most cor- dial. As your church was foremost in helping organize ours, so you must needs have a friendly interest in us. Your former mem- bers have always been given a hearty welcome when on a visit to their old church home, and we trust that you have ever felt a home feeling when visiting us. The various pastors have found it convenient to exchange pulpits occasionally, and in many other ways a cordial, neighborly, Christian interest has been manifest. We rejoice to be so prosperous and handsome a daughter of so generous and lovely a mother.
We are still neighbors. And as it sometimes happens that the
REV. JOHN H. SMOCK, EIGHTH PASTOR, 1871-1883.
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daughter, married and set up at housekeeping for herself, finds it convenient to increase her stores from the generous abundance of the old house, so we shall not feel we are taking undue liberties if we now and then carry off and appropriate to ourselves a few choice morsels from the home larder. We have need of them, and we know you will not offer serious opposition. For though living apart we are of one family. Dropping the figures and stating facts, we find that several families living much nearer Three Bridges than Readington, still call this their church home. It is but natural to expect that in time these families or their suc- cessors will attend the church nearest them. It will be hard for you to give them up. But you have sworn, so you must not change. That would be going back on your record. We shall do our best to help them preserve the family likeness.
Do not think, however, that we are active proselyters, and that Readington is our special field of operation. More than once it has been said to me by your people: "We ought to attend your church. It is much nearer." My reply has been : "If you con- clude to cast in your lot with us, we shall try and make you wel- come. But we cannot urge you." As we believe the Holy Spirit was instrumental in making this church willing not only, but active also in founding the church of Three Bridges, so we believe He will direct those who come from you to us, and those also who return from us to you.
In conclusion, I wish to affirm my belief that for all her sacri- fices in behalf of the Kingdom of God, the Readington Church will receive rich compensation. It will not come in a return of the old-time strength nor in less laborious conditions of church work, but in that satisfaction that accompanies work well done, and in the consciousness that her efforts have received the divine approval. She has and will continue to have not only the joy of her own ingatherings, but also a share in the harvests reaped from
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the fields she has helped prepare. We rejoice with her to-day in one hundred and seventy-five years of successful efforts and fruit- ful sacrifices, and bid her God-speed for the centuries that are beckoning her forward.
Hymn 235 was next sung, after which the pastor announced that letters of congratulation had been received from the follow- ing persons :
Rev. J. H. Smock, Glen Head, L. I.
Rev. E. W. Merritt, Salem, Conn.
Rev. H. P. Craig, Churchville, Pa.
Rev. D. B. Wyckoff, Ghent, N. Y.
Rev. C. E. Wyckoff, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mrs. P. A. Studdiford, Lambertville, N. J.
Rev. H. D. Sassaman, Mount Pleasant, N. J.
Rev. Theodore F. Chambers, German Valley, N. J.
Rev. J. L. Stillwell, Bloomingburgh, N. Y.
Rev. R. W. Brokaw, Springfield, Mass.
Rev. I. P. Brokaw, D. D., Freehold, N. J.
Rev. A. V. V. Raymond, D. D., LL. D., President of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y.
Hon. Frederick Frelinghuysen, Newark, N. J.
Prof. H. A. Scomp, Oxford, Ga .*
The pastor then stated that Readington had one very near and dear neighbor who, owing to the fact of her having started as a German Reformed church, could not claim any special relation- ship, and yet he felt that the present occasion would be incom- plete could we not have a few words from the pastor of the Re- formed Church of Lebanon, the Rev. William E. Davis, who would make a " three-minute speech."
*The letter of Professor Scomp, who claims to be a son of this church, is so appropriate that we have decided to include it in our volume. It will be found at the end of the book.
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Congratulations of the Church of Lebanon by her Pas- tor, William €. Davis.
When we see another honored and praise poured out from every quarter, it is very natural to wish to be able to claim rela- tionship. Such is the feeling of the Church of Lebanon while the Church of Readington is being honored as she is to-day. But considering the fact that the Church of Lebanon was for many years a German Reformed church, we can hardly claim relation- ship. We must be content with acquaintanceship. This we do claim, and rejoice in it. Especially does the pastor of the Church of Lebanon rejoice in the happy feeling existing between these two churches. The three pastors of the Church of Readington, viz., Van Slyke, Smock and Wyckoff, have been and are to-day my much esteemed brethren. It is therefore a privilege for me to bring the congratulations of the Church of Lebanon to this old his- toric church. This we do, and our congratulations are as hearty as words and feeling can make them. We are citizens of no mean country, we think. Ours is a land better in our estimation than the Promised Land, for that was a land flowing with milk and honey, but ours with peaches and cream. And our congratula- tions to you to-day are just as rich as the products of our soil. Our church has lately celebrated her one hundred and fiftieth an- tieth anniversary-you to-day your one hundred and seventy-fifth. You being our senior, we make our best bow and bid you God- speed.
At the conclusion of Mr. Davis' words Hymn 330 was sung, and the audience was dismissed with the benediction by the Rev. O. M. Voorhees.
At 5:30 o'clock the friends gathered once more in the base- ment, and had their bodily wants again supplied.
It was estimated that about 450 persons partook of the even-
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ing meal, which was finished in time for the opening of the even- ing session.
EVENING SESSION.
At 7:30 o'clock the church was once more filled with the peo- ple present, and benches were again placed in the aisles and filled. The choir sang an especially beautiful anthem at the opening. The Scriptures were read and prayer was offered by the Rev. A. Paige Peeke, of Millstone. Hymn 107 was sung, and then the minis- terial sons of the church were heard in the following order : Rev. J. B. Thompson, D.D., Andrew Hageman, Gilbert Lane, Her- man Hageman, Elias W. Thompson and Jacob A. Craig.
Readington Negroes .- Address by Rev. John Bodine Thompson, D. D.
In commencing the early history of this church we ought not to forget its members of African descent. Some of them have been most godly and devoted Christians.
Berkeley and Carteret, the proprietors of New Jersey from its conquest by the British in 1664, " offered a bounty of seventy- five acres of land for the importation of each able slave."
But slavery in New Jersey was not so bitter as it was elsewhere. As early as 1694, trial by jury was secured to slaves here. " In every other colony in North America the negro was denied the right of trial by jury but here in New Jersey the only example of justice was shown toward the negro in North America. Trial by jury implied the right to be sworn, and give competent testimony. It had much to do toward elevating the character of the negro in New Jersey They received better treat- ment here than in any other colony in the country."*
*Williams' History of the Negro Race in America. He gives the cen-
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The first slave received into the communion of this church was " Black Tony, belonging to the Rev. Simeon Van Artsdaelen," pastor of the church; and others followed until slavery became extinct in New Jersey by virtue of the act passed February 24, 1820, which provided that children of slaves born after the 4th of July, 1804, should be free; if males, at 25; if females, at 21 years of age.
These temporary slaves, like the slaves for life, were sometimes hired out by their masters. Some of us here can remember our schoolmate, Richard L. Stryker, who had thus been hired by Domine Van Liew from the widow of his predecessor, Rev. Peter Studdiford. Afterward he became a prominent merchant in Liberia, and wrote from thence valuable letters of advice to the New Jersey colonization society. Once he came back to visit his friends here. He married a daughter of Governor Roberts, of Liberia, and amassed a fortune, which he left to his family.
Some of us remember, also, the Rev. Peter Miller, who, though not a member of this church, was well known in this community and frequently preached to congregations gathered in private houses in different parts of this congregation.
At one time slaves were regarded as real estate and their pur- chase and sale were conducted with the same forms as the trans- fer of land. But afterward they were regarded rather as personal property and were transferred from one master to another simply by bill of sale.
Here in this portfolio of mementoes prepared for this occasion are records of the purchase and sale of slaves in both these forms, which alike sound strange to modern ears.
In some instances the purchasers bought also the household
sus of slaves in New Jersey to the middle of the century, as follows : In 1715, 1,500 ; in 1735, 3,981 ; in 1745, 4,606 ; in 1775, 7,600 ; in 1800, 12,422 ; in 1810, 10,851 ; in 1820, 7,557 ; in 1830, 2,254 ; in 1840, 674 ; in 1850, 236.
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stuff which the slaves were accustomed to use, in order that they might not seem to have their old homes entirely broken up. I will read the record of such a purchase by Abraham Post, the revolutionary soldier, who sleeps in the adjoining church yard after a stormy life of nearly a hundred years :
" Know all men by these presents that I, William Post, of Hillsborough township, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, yeoman, for and in consideration of the sum of fifty-five pounds, lawful money of said State, to me in hand paid, by Abraham Post, of Bridgewater town- ship, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey aforesaid, yeo- man, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, having bargained and sold, and by these presents do bargaiu and sell unto the said Abraham Post, a negro wench named Eve and her child, a negro boy named Frank, and various kinds of household furniture, as bed, bedding, pewter ware, wooden ware, linen and yarn, and all and every other article or articles in her care and possession ; to have and to hold, all and singular, said wench and boy and goods and implements of household and every of them ; unto the said Abraham Post, his executors, administrators and assigns forever, and the said William Post, for himself, his heirs, executors and adminis- trators, all and singular, said wench and boy and household stuff and unto the said Abraham Post, his executors, administrators, and assigns, shall and will warrant and for ever defend by these presents. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of Feb- ruary in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty- five.
Sealed and delivered
in the presence of DOUWE DITMARS, HENRY POST.
WILLIAM POST. L. S.
Probably, this William Post was Abraham Post's nephew ; and the witness, Henry Post, his father, the brother of Abraham Post.
This same Abraham Post was sued by Minna Dubois (who also had been a soldier during the Revolutionary War), for the value of a slave and was compelled to pay him between $100 and $200. I do not know the precise nature of the offense ; but I believe
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that it consisted in refusing to separate husband and wife by driv- ing from his premises one who was legally the slave of Minna Du- bois. Dubois' attorney was Frederick Frelinghuysen, the grand- son of the first pastor, and the son of the second pastor, of this church. His receipt for the value of the slave and the costs of the suit, as well as Abraham Post's memorandum of his expenses in defending it, are in this portfolio.
Some of us still remember " Dick and Rose " and "Sam and Kate" who used to come back occasionally to the farm on which they had lived as slaves to visit their "Young Missy," as they called her, and to exchange reminiscences of earlier days, which brought tears of alternate joy and sorrow both to her eyes and to theirs. They always went away loaded with gifts.
On what was once the glebe of this church, the farm on which the pastor lived, a mile west of us, on the road to the Drie Hook is a graveyard, surrounded by a stone wall, and cared for by this church. In that yard has recently been placed a gravestone, taken from a neglected grave near White House Station. This stone bears the name of George Anderson. He lived and died on " The Ridge," on the farm now owned by Mr. Henry Miller. In accordance with my suggestion the head stone was removed from the abandoned graveyard a few weeks ago, by the pious hands of George Anderson's grandson, Jacob G. Schomp, long time an elder of this church, and, though now eighty-eight years of age, present with us here in excellent health and spirits to do honor to this occasion.
George Anderson had a slave, who had been the slave of his father on his plantation near Raritan Landing, during the Revo- lutionary War, and had been the foster-mother of his children. From this fact she was known as " Old Maumy," which the irrev- erence of the third generation shortened into " Maum," and re- garded as a proper name. Mr. Schomp still recollects the stories
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she used to tell of Cornwallis' dragoons, who passed her master's house on their raids from New Brunswick among the neighboring farmers. But they never molested her or her master (as she thought and said) because she was always so well prepared for them with pitchfork and ax and boiling water.
After the death of George Anderson on the Ridge, her old age found a refuge with his children, who cared for her as long as she lived.
When George Anderson's daughter, Mattie, married Captain Henry A. Post, her father gave her as a wedding present her maid, Phillis, of whom she was very fond, and who was equally fond of her. Phillis was efficient as lady's maid, seamstress and nurse; and was always and only a servant. But a brother of her new master, the husband of her young mistress, was a wild young man ; and to save him from the consequence of a drunken frolic an entire corn-crop was sold. The consequence was that the next spring found the household in the most dreadful state of need; and, to raise money for present necessities, Phillis was sold, (I think to a man near Cranbury), with the express understanding, however, that she was to be bought back a year later at the same price.
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