USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Woodbridge > History First Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge, New Jersey 300th Anniversary May 25, 1975 > Part 4
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FOOTNOTES
1. Whitehead, Early History of Perth Amboy, p. 398.
2. Loetscher, A Brief History of the Presbyterians, p. 62.
3. History of Middlesex Co., Vol. 1, p. 93; Vol. 2, Chapt. 29, p. 418.
4. Dally, Woodbridge and Vicinity, p. 243.
5. Celebration of the 225th Anniversary, p. 17.
6. Celebration of the 225th Anniversary, p. 22.
7. Dally, p. 284-285.
8. McElroy, A History of Woodbridge, p. 5.
9. Celebration of the 225th Anniversary, p. 38.
10. Dr. Roe's Historical Sermon, copy of original manuscript.
11. Dally, p. 30.
12. Celebration, p. 14.
13. Celebration, p. 15.
14. "Church Founded With Township" article in Perth Amboy Evening News.
15. Two Hundredth Anniversary, p. 13-14 (See McNulty).
16. Dally, p. 233.
17. Two Hundredth Anniversary, p. 14 (See McNulty).
18. Two Hundredth Anniversary, p. 15 (See McNulty).
19. Celebration of the 225th Anniversary, p. 31.
20. Two Hundredth Anniversary, p. 15 (See McNulty).
21. "Church Founded With Township" article in Perth Amboy Evening News.
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22. Celebration of the 225th Anniversary, p. 34.
23. Loetscher, pp. 69 and 70.
24. Loetscher, p. 70.
25. Loetscher, p. 77.
26. Loetscher, p. 78.
27. Loetscher, p. 81.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BARBER & HOWE, Historical Collection of New Jersey Number 2. BRECKENRIDGE, Amy E., Disappearing Landmarks of Woodbridge 1946.
Celebration of the Two Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge, N. J., May, 1900. CUNNINGHAM, John T., New Jersey, America's Main Road.
DALLY, Rev. Joseph W., Woodbridge and Vicinity. Hunterdon House, Madison, N. J. 1967 copyright, 1873.
GARISTAD, Edwin Scott. A Religious History of America. Harper & Row, New York, 1966.
History of Middlesex County, N. J. Vol. I and 2.
History of New Jersey Vol. 2. Chapt. XXII.
JAMISON, Wallace N., Religion in New Jersey, A Brief History.
JAMISON, Wallace N., The United Presbyterian Story.
KULL, Irving S., Editor New Jersey, A History, New York, 1930.
LOETSCHER, Lefferts A., A Brief History of the Presbyterians, Westminster Press.
LUDEWIG, Dorothy S. D., Timely Told Tales of Woodbridge Township, Woodbridge Township Board of Education 1970.
McELROY, Leon E., A History of Woodbridge (excerpts), Woodbridge High School, 1955.
MCNULTY, Rev. Joseph M., Historical Discourse, delivered at the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge, N. J., June 20, 1875, New York. 1875.
Perth Amboy Evening News, Magazine Section. "Church Founded With Township," August 21, 1965.
SPENCE, Hartzell, The Story of America's Religions, The Presbyterians, pp. 59-75. SWEET, William Warren, The Story of Religion in America.
The News Tribune, Perth Amboy, N. J., "Woodbridge Church Dates to Revolution," Nov. 26, 1968.
TRINTERUD, Leonard J., The Forming of American Tradition, Philadelphia, 1949. Two Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge, N. J. 1925.
WEBER, Thomas, Heritage of the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, New Jersey 1967.
WHITEHEAD, W. A., Early History of Perth Amboy, D. Appleton & Co., N.Y. 1856. WHITEHEAD, W. A., History of N. J. Under the Proprietors.
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Chapter 3
1875 - 1975
To ascertain in any degree the truths of any history one must strive to be objective, and to have some knowledge of the subject in question. One must also have the ability and insight to view a par- ticular subject as a whole - as one story that continually unfolds. This is especially true of church history which reveals the complex patterns in the life and organization of a church. The story of a church, as it discloses the dreams and aspirations of people, is often a tale of hope, dedication, and unbelievable sacrifice.
In attempting to tell and evaluate the "one story" of the third century of the life and work of "The White Church," one is most fortunate in having the complete minutes of the Session and Trustees, plus those of many organizations. The voluminous minutes make the task most arduous, yet worthwhile and even humbling.
A storm of division was beginning to subside as our Church staggered into the year of its 200th birthday, 1875. This division had surfaced in October, 1873, when the Session and the Congregation reluctantly agreed to dissolve the relationship with their Pastor, the Reverend George C. Lucas.
At the root of this division, and the subsequent problems encoun- tered in the selection of a new minister, was the lack of communication between the Session and Trustees. The appointment of a committee of Presbytery to moderate the Session following the dissolution of the pastoral relationship only further aggravated the situation.
Even with the calling of a new pastor, the Reverend Joseph Mc- Nulty, July, 1874, there was to be no reconciliation between the dis- senting parties. In October, 1874, the Session granted letters of dis- missal to 38 members, thus giving birth to the First Congregational Church of Woodbridge.
Due to the dissension the Bicentennial Celebration was delayed until late in '75 and early '76. In those years, even though the finances were in a deplorable state, a major renovation of the sanctuary and
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the construction of a Sunday School Building was undertaken. The renovation included a new organ, new pews, the lowering of the pulpit, and for the first time, a vestibule. In late 1875 a magnificent gas chandelier, now electrified, was installed. This object of great beauty became the central subject of much conversation.
Admiration must be expressed for the faithful few who at that time undertook a program of renovation and building for which liter- ally there were no funds, due in part to the secession of one fourth of the membership. The critical financial picture is shown by the fact that the Trustees moved in October, 1877, to dispense with the services of an organist. The Church Sinking Fund, appropriately named, showed a balance of $10.00 in June, 1878. The organist was rehired in 1878 for the annual salary of $65.00, with the stipulation that he pay for the services of a blower.
New hope and life was beginning to emerge. Beginning with 1877 new members were received at almost every Session meeting, and from the same year, and during the remaining years of Dr. MeNulty's ministry, baptisms are recorded on almost every page of the Session's minutes. Special "Prayer and Conference" meetings were held. The subject of benevolence and mission giving was frequently discussed with action taken. In 1883 Summer Union Services were commenced with the new Congregational Church. This practice continued well into the 20th Century.
Furthermore, the various women's organizations began to assume a definite leadership role. The work of the Woman's Foreign Mission- ary Society (1856) and the Church Ladies Aid Society (1862) was augmented in 1872 by the creation of an Auxiliary Society connected with the Elizabeth Presbyterial. In 1874 the "Lilies of the Field" Mis- sion Band was established. This was an attempt to interest young women in the work of Foreign Missions. In 1881 a Home Missionary Society was formed. This Society merged with the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, in 1884, to become the Ladies' Missionary Society. In 1891, with the exception of the "Mission Band." the various women's organizations united to form the Ladies' Aid Society.
A further indication of the new spirit at that time, is seen in the formation of youth organizations. In 1887 the Young Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor was organized, primarily a senior age group. In 1895 a Junior Christian Endeavor was formed. One wonders whether the new emphasis on the importance of youth was the result of the excellent work of the Reverend Dr. J. T. Mills, Evangelist from California ( 1886), or a constructive attempt to counteract the rebel-
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liousness of the young people during the services of worship. Giving rise to the question are the minutes of the Trustees which read: "that Mr. Benj. Drake be a committee of one to look after the disorderly boys in church during service." ' Whatever the reason it is obvious that the youth had moved into the mainstream of the church's life as evidenced in the report of the Y.P.S.C.E. Treasurer in 1896. ?
Expenditures
April 21, 1895, Dr. Jessup $20.00
April 29, Ernest Keorlin 20.00
April 29, Jr. C. E. Society 2.24
June 21, 1895, Ernest Keorlin 10.00
July and September, Miscellaneous
6.00
Nov. 10, 1895, Ernest Keorlin
10.00
Dec. 13, Topic Cards and Lecture on Pledge
4.25
Dec. 29, 1895, Armenians
3.50
Feb. 23, 1896, for Help
1.75
Ernest Keorlin 20.00
.50
Rail Fare for Speaker
$99.49
In the area of proclaiming and extending the Gospel to the sur- rounding communities the Church did itself proud in those years:
A petition, numerously signed by the people of East Wood- bridge, desiring the Session to appoint Elder Prall to the position of Superintendent of the "Blazing Star School House" Sunday School, was received. It was approved and placed in Mr. Prall's hands, urging his acceptance, and his entrance upon the work of resuscitating that School. 3
The establishment of a Presbyterian Church in Carteret in 1893 was the direct result of the above mentioned work in conjunction with the ministry of Dr. McNulty.
The position of the Church in the community in the last quarter of the century in question may well be determined by the following comment. "On motion it was resolved to allow the use of the Church on March 4, 1887 to the Graduating Class of the Public School, for this year in view of the fact that all members of said class, with one exception are either members of our church or congregation." 4
Despite the many difficulties, Reverend McNulty in evaluating the 19th Century wrote in his "Commemorative Sermon" for the Two Hundred and Twenty Fifth Anniversary: "The Century, let me say in closing, during which this Church building has held its place. marks
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the grandest era in the Church's history since the Apostolic Century. We are impressed with this the more as we stand consciously on the border line of the twentieth century." 5
From a more objective viewpoint one would have to claim that the good Reverend was guilty of hyperbole. One should not minimize the dedication and hope - the living thread of the one story -- but neither should the assumption be made that all was "positive" as the Church moved into the twentieth century.
The Treasurer on March 5, 1900 reported a balance of 10 cents. In order to end the church year, April through March, in the black, a special appeal was made from the pulpit for $360.00. The Congre- gation responded; balance at the end of the year, $1.79.
A practice that existed at that time, and well into the 20th cen- tury, makes it rather difficult to determine the true financial picture. We refer to the assumption of mortgages by the Church. In the time period, 1890-1930, almost every prominent family of the immediate area, including Carteret and Perth Amboy, borrowed funds from the Church. The extensiveness of this procedure raises the distinct possi- bility that monies may still be owed.
No matter how you cut it, the financial picture was a dismal one. The Session minutes of March, 1896, reveals that while there were almost 200 members on the roll, there were only 29 regular contrib- utors.
Attendance at the worship services, particularly when Communion was celebrated, left much to be desired. Growth in church member- ship was practically at a standstill: 1894, 171; 1899, 182.
It also appears that much energy and time was wasted in oppos- ing the inevitable. A battle raged, for example, for 25 years over the placement of telephone poles. As late as January, 1901, an applica- tion from the Carteret Light and Power Company for permission to erect poles along the church property was denied.
Still, the positives outweighed the negatives. With literally no funds, and very few members, the Church decided to pull out all the stops in respect to the 225th Anniversary. The resolution by the con- gregation tells, in part, the amazing story:
"Whereas God in his good providence has allowed us as a Church to complete Two Hundred and Twenty Five years of his- tory on the 27th of May of this year, and our present Church edifice to be nearly one hundred years old;
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Therefore, Resolved, That we should appropriately celebrate that remarkable era in our history in any method deemed best by the Pastor and Officers of the Church, and we hereby endorse the movement and method to do so already inaugurated at a joint meeting held a short time since by the Elders and Trustees, and we wish it will strive to give it, the utmost success." 6
The celebration held on May 27, 30 and 31, 1900, included three excellent Sabbath services; a Midweek Service, a Banquet and Program on Thursday evening, and the publication of an Anniversary Book - which included Dr. McNulty's outstanding "Commemorative Sermon." The highlight of the entire endeavor was the presentation by Mr. William H. Cutter of a very beautiful silver Communion Serv- ice, which was added to by Mr. Hampton Cutter in 1919. This service is still very much prized by the congregation.
One notes that no former pastor took part in the Celebration. The two immediate predecessors of Reverend McNulty, Reverend Wil- liam M. Martin and Reverend George C. Lucas had both died in 1898.
In the first decade of the 20th Century the Church bowed to the advances in technology. First of all came the telephone poles, 1902, and in the same year electricity for the Church. Mr. McNulty did not have, however, a lamp for his desk until 1906. In 1903 came the Trolley Cars and a Water Motor for the organ: no more hand blowing. In 1907 steam heat was provided for the Sanctuary and the Sunday School rooms, and in 1908 the residents of the Parsonage enjoyed similar luxury. Major repairs to the facilities were financed by the Ladies Aid Society.
However, the convenience of an electric lamp was not to be long enjoyed by the gracious Pastor. Dr. McNulty died December 24, 1906.
The Session minutes tell, in some degree, what his death meant to the Congregation and to the Community:
"Rev. Joseph M. McNulty, D.D., the Pastor of this Church for thirty-three consecutive years, an energetic worker, a scholarly man and an earnest and effective preacher and a faithful Pastor, passed away after a brief illness on the twenty-fourth of Dec. 1906.
Universally beloved by his own people, and respected and esteemed by the entire community, he is sincerely mourned by all who knew him and has left behind a record of good words and works that will prove a lasting monument to his memory." 7
The Reverend Mr. Buschman puts it quite succinctly: "After thirty-three years of service he was laid to rest in the adjoining church yard, leaving a whole community to mourn his going." 8
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Poor, but harmonious, the Church proceeded to look for a new Pastor. Turning her eyes in the direction of Princeton Theological Seminary she extended a call to an athletic son of Erin, Reverend Robert W. Mark. While still a Senior Student he accepted the call at an annual salary of $1,200. Dr. McNulty had been receiving $1,500.
With Reverend Mark's ministry the Church began to consider the need for more social and recreational activities. This need culminated with the erection of the Parish House in 1911. This house, constructed at an approximate cost of $7,300, was located almost directly behind the former Rahway Avenue manse on a very large tract of ground which extended all the way to the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. A very large portion of the tract was used for many years by the Church and community as an athletic field which was sold to York-Jersey Homes, Inc., in 1942 for the sum of $6,000.
The Parish House project initiated a ministry for which, in the long run, neither the Church nor the community was ever fully pre- pared. Just about every organization of the Church and the com- munity had a "go" at it. A hundred attempts were made to sell it. Elders and Trustees prayed and argued about it. Community groups vied with one another as to who was going to use, or more properly, abuse it. In October, 1971 the building was razed, along with the Rahway Avenue manse. There had been basketball games, dinners, minstrel shows, tennis, and bowling. The bowling alleys had found their way to the recreation room of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in 1935. Although it had had its moments of glory, few tears were shed with its passing.
One should not be left with the impression, however, that for sixty years, the Church was concerned only about the Parish House. Many of the years of Reverend Mark's ministry, 1907-1917, were the years of World War I, with the subsequent strain and stress on the local Congregation which was not lessened by a very serious fire that extensively damaged both the sanctuary and the Sunday School Build- ing. While the flames of war threatened all of Europe the flames of hope and dedication burned low in The White Church. The treasurer reported in December, 1914, the month of the fire, a balance of 3ยข. Bills totalled $491.06. Bids were received in January and February for repairing the fire damage, but most of them were rejected - there were no funds for contracting out the work. So, the men and women purchased the necessary materials and supplies and did the work them- selves. By the end of February, 1915, most of the work had been accomplished - another amazing chapter in the Church's long history.
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In connection with the repairs to the Church in 1915, it is im- portant to note that the men of the church were beginning to organize into an effective and aggressive entity, over and above the work of the official judicatories. 9 Though the Men's Brotherhood did not officially organize until 1919, the Trustees minutes of April, 1910, state that the President and Vice President of the Men's Bible Class were to serve on the Building Committee of the Parish House. The Session minutes of September, 1910, indicates that there were other men's organiza- tions: "the matter of the federation of the men's organizations of the Church as proposed by the Men's Bible Class was discussed and it was agreed to postpone action until the next meeting." 10
This discussion was pursued for we find in the November minutes a motion to call together the men of the church in order "to discuss and devise some method of aggressive work." 11
Even though the various men's organizations remained fragmented during the ministry of Reverend Mark there is ample evidence to indi- cate that the men played a major role in the planning and subsequent supervision of the Parish House, in repairing the sanctuary and Sunday School Building following the 1914 fire, and in taking a greater interest in the larger ministry of the Church. One of the social concerns of the men, patricularly in the second decade of this century, was to whether or not to give the Anti-Saloon League an opportunity to pre- sent its case.
The true spirit of the Congregation as it tried so hard to keep things going is clearly revealed in the minutes that tell of the leaving of the Pastor:
. reported that after a house to house canvass, all the Church people were on their knees asking God that Mr. Mark might see his way clear to remain with us as pastor, however not our will but God's be done, and that to be in accord with the church people asked that those present kneel for fifteen minutes (in) silent prayer.
After this everyone expressed themselves and the unanimous expression was one of unqualified loyalty and love for Mr. Mark and the hope that he would stay with us until the unsettled con- ditions, due to the war, were over." 12
In January, 1918, the Presbytery moved to receive Reverend Mark's resignation. Looking once again toward the ivy covered walls of Princeton Seminary a call was extended to another young man who showed great promise, Mr. Leonard V. Buschman. He was licensed to preach on April 16. On May 9, he was both ordained and installed as pastor in the Woodbridge Church.
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The years of Mr. Buschman's ministry may properly be described as a "Love Story" between Pastor and People. Fresh out of Seminary and quite anxious to prove his ability, the young, aggressive cleric quickly captured the hearts of the Congregation. The Manse was practically "done over" for the newlyweds. Their marriage took place in October in Fulton, Missouri. To insure that the Pastor would be "free from wordly care and avocations" 13 Mr. Buschman's salary more than doubled during his pastorate increasing from $1,500 to $3,600, with a goodly number of bonuses. The affection was not limited, how- ever to increases in salary. Parties and celebrations for the Buschmans were the thing. Celebrations held for their fourth and fifth wedding anniversaries were truly occasions of love and generosity.
To all of this the Buschmans responded most generously with their time and talents. A Boy Scout House, a project that was en- thusiastically supported, was constructed in 1921 near the Parish House.
Parish House and Boy Scout House
Most of the materials came from the Church's horse sheds. While the Parish House and the cemetery (extensive damage was done to the latter in 1921) continued to present problems, almost every other facet of the Church's ministry was at its peak in the Buschman years. Church membership more than doubled (250-602). A Board of Deacons was organized in 1919. In the same year The Men's Brotherhood received its charter. In 1920, Reverend Ralph B. Nesbitt, a Seminary room- mate of Mr. Buschman, was chosen as the Church's special missionary to India. The Sexton's House, located on the cemetery property, was electrified in 1923. From 1921-1925 in preparation for the 250th anniversary major repairs and renovations were made to the sanctuary and the Sunday School Building. The celebration was held on May 25, 26, 27 and 31, 1925.
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It was a great Anniversary. The congregation paid $1.00 a plate for the Anniversary Banquet. The President of the United States in response to an invitation "regretted that it would be impossible for him to take part." 14
Following the celebration the undesired, but not unexpected, res- ignation of the Pastor was announced. Again the difficult task of finding a new minister was begun. The Pulpit Committee got right down to work, but it was impossible to disguise the "let down" atti- tude. By October, however, the Committee was prepared to recom- mend to the Congregation the name of the Reverend Leroy Y. Dil- lener, Sr. Mr. Dillener, a former classmate of Mr. Buschman, had just returned to the United States after a five-year stint as a missionary in Iran. Mr. Dillener's pastorate here was only a year and one half in duration. The fairest critique of that pastorate might be that the Congregation, greatly disappointed with the leaving of Mr. Buschman, was not inclined to exert the necessary effort to understand the Dil- liners. The Dilleners, for their part, experienced some difficulty in relating to their first pastorate in America.
The Session commented in January, 1927, that "It was felt that the Church was slipping." In April it moved to call a meeting of the Congregation to consider the dissolution of the pastoral relationship. One would have to comment that 'the Church had reached another "low" point. No Session or Parish minutes are available for the period from April 6 to November 3. The Session minutes of Nov. 7, simply state that the Reverend E. A. Abbott of Aurora, Missouri, had been called on November 3, to be the new minister at a salary of $3,300 a year. 15 Strange things happened in the Church in those years as indicated by the fact that the January, 1928, minutes of Session record that the Church had celebrated Communion on the previous October 16, and that the Service was "conducted by Reverend E. A. Abbott who was spending a week in town." 16
During the ministry of Reverend Abbott there was a decided deep- ening of the spiritual life of the Congregation, with much time being spent in seeking to reactivate the inactive members. During his min- istry the Church played an integral role in the organizing of a Pres- byterian Church in Avenel in 1927, and in Iselin in 1933. In the Abbott years a number of the members of the Congregation, along with the Pastor, were deeply involved in the First Century Fellowship (Moral Rearmament), an involvement which was not fully supported by the Session.
The very fine work on the part of Mr. Abbott was hindered, par- ticularly in the closing years of his ministry in Woodbridge, by poor health. In April, 1932, Reverend Abbott was appointed a commis-
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sioner to the General Assembly which was to meet in Denver. He was also given permission by the Session to attend the Pre-Assembly Con- ference on Evangelism. He did not return to the Woodbridge Church. Reverend E. A. Abbott died in Kerrville, Texas, on May 12, 1933.
The Church labored through some very difficult moments and decisions in the interim between Mr. Abbott's departure for Denver in May, 1932 and the calling of a new Pastor in June, 1933. There was that hope and expectation that he would be able to return. In August he was given a six months leave of absence. This was later extended. Realizing the seriousness of his illness he wrote a very moving letter of resignation in December. The letter of resignation was not officially received until March 15, 1933.
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