History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 125

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 125
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 125

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April 1, 1853, the services of the society were trans- ferred from Union to Insurance Ilall, No. 189 Market Street, where the religious services were held until Dec. 29, 1853, when the new chapel was completed and opened to the public for divine service. The opening services in the new chapel were conducted in the morning by Rev. Dr. Porter, who read the les- son ; prayer by the late Rev. Bishop Janes ; sermon by Rev. W. M. D. Ryan, from 2 Timothy i. 10. The afternoon service was conducted by Rev. William Urie, of Philadelphia, who preached from Genesis xxviii. 20, 21, 22. In the evening the service was under charge of Rev. Allen Steele, of Batavia, N. Y. His text was Isaiah Ix. 1, 2, 3. The donations for the day amounted to ten thousand dollars.

Early in April, 1854, a meeting of the officials and male members of the church was held, when plans for a brick church, with stone trimmings, was pre- sented by the architect, Mr. Welch. At the same meeting Cornelius Walsh presented a plan for a stone building, with two towers, as the church now appears, and offered to pay the difference in cost be- tween brick and stone, which was fifteen thousand dollars. His offer was accepted, and the work at once commenced, and on Thursday, Oct. 26, 1854, at two o'clock, p.M., the corner-stone was laid by the late Rev. Bishop Matthew Simpson, assisted by Pre- siding Eller Thomas N. MeCarroll and Rey. J. S. Porter, after which a collection was taken up amount- ing to six thousand dollars.

The building committee consisted of Cornelius Walsh, Thompson P'rice, Charles Campbell, David Price, Rev. Henry Cox, who pushed the work forward, so that on Friday, Feb. 22, 1856, the church was entirely com- pleted, and half-past ten A. M. of that day the church was dedicated by the late Rev. Bishop Matthew Simpson, who preached from Haggai ii. 9. In the afternoon the services were conducted by the late ; sonage, and on May 1, 1868, it was occupied by Rev. Rev. Bishop Pierce, of Georgia, who chose for his : R. R. Meredith. text I Cor., 13, 14. The evening service was in In November, 1868, eight thousand dollars were raised to pay balance due on parsonage. Total cost of parsonage and grounds eighteen thousand dollars. charge of the late Rev. Bishop E. S. Janes, who preached from Luke v. 7. The singing on this occa- sion, as well as at the dedication of the chapel, was conducted by A. S. Holbrook and T. P'rice. The collec- tion for the day amounted to eleven thousand dollars.

In February, 1859, a meeting of the trustees and stewards was held at the house of W. H. Murphy, when the treasurer made a detailed report of the en- tire cost of the church, which was seventy-eight thon- sand two hundred and forty-eight dollars.

In April, 1859, the iron fence around the church was completed, grounds graded and shade-trees set ont, under the direction of a special committee, con- sisting of C'. Walsh, E. Francis and W. H. Murphy.

July 1, 1862, the church pews were rented to the highest bidders.

March, 1863, the large front window (twenty-five by fifty feet), having become unsafe, was taken down and rebuilt under the superintendence of Cornelius Walsh, at a cost of two thousand three hundred dollars.

In June and July of the same year the chapel stairs were changed, new church parlor built and furnished, and the pulpit in the main church re- modeled, the entire cost of improvements being paid by Cornelius Walsh.

Nov. 13, 1864, the sum of twenty-one thousand dollars was raised towards the payment of debt on the church.

March 28, 1865, the name of the church was changed from Broad Street to that of St. Paul's Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

In May of the same year the old gas fixtures were replaced by the present reflectors.

October of the same year the mortgage debt of the church was paid in full.

In April, 1866, the church was repainted inside, except ceiling, pews changed to gain more room and new carpets laid, a stationary seat placed along the wall in the gallery, the front vestibule changed to make a more convenient entrance, all under the direc- tion of t'. Walsh and 11. 11. Miller, at a cost of three thousand dollars, and on Sunday, May 6th, the church was reopened for service.

Oct. 21, 1866, being the centenary Sabbath, twenty- one thousand dollars were raised, nearly one-half the amount being paid by Cornelius Walsh.

June 24, 1867, the trustees purchased the lot ad- joining the church, on Marshall Street, for eight thousand dollars, and on July 15th the trustees and stewards resolved to raise money and build a parson- age on the lot. Cornelius Walsh, Charles Campbell and H. H. Miller were appointed a committee to carry out the resolution, which they did by completing the parsonage as it now stands. The Ladies' Parsonage Association raised the money and furnished the par-

April 1, 1870, the penny-a-week envelope plan was adopted, which increased the income of the church three thousand dollars.

In August, 1873, the organ was repaired and new carpets laid, at a cost of two thousand one hundred dollars.

In 1877 new carpets were laid in the aisles, at a cost of six hundred dollars.

500

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

SABBATH SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS. - The pioneer Sabbath-school connected with this church was organ- ized in Union Hall, on Market Street, on Sunday, Feb. 20, 1843. Elias Francis was elected super- intendent ; Elizabeth Parcells (now MIrs. D. Collins), superintendent of the female department ; W. P .! Dickenson, secretary; and HI. 11. Miller, librarian.

One hundred scholars were enrolled as members. enlarged to its present capacity of six hundred sittings. Rev. Chauncy Shaffer, then pastor of the church, to- gether with Mrs. Shaffer, entered at once into the work as teachers. In 1884 there were five hundred and fifty scholars.

Aug. 1, 1857, the Strawbridge Chapel was built at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars ; Sabbath-school organized, with Hon. Theodore Run- yon as superintendent.

In 1875, the -infant Sunday-school room of St. Paul's Church was enlarged, seats taken out of chapel, floors carpeted and five hundred chairs pur- chased, all at a cost of one thousand dollars.

Jan. 1, 1878, Bethesda Mission organized and took possession of a chapel in Baldwin Street, owned by Mr. Aaron Coe, who had held Sabbath-school there for fourteen years. He gave the church free use of the chapel, together with all the fixtures, books, &c., which the church received, together with a Sabbath-school numbering about three hundred pu- pils. llon. J. Frank Fort was appointed superin- tendent.

The membership of St. Paul's in July, 1884, was seven hundred. Value of church property, one hun- dred and twenty thousand dollars.

The pastors of St. Paul's have been as follows : Rev. Chauncy Shaffer to April, 1853; Rev. W. P. Corbit, appointed at the spring Conference of 1853; Rev. Henry Cox, 1854; Rev. D. D. Love, 1856 ; Rev. R. S. Arndt, 1858; Rev. Newton Heston, 1860; Rev. John Hanlon, 1861; Rev. M. E. Ellison, 1862; Rev. R. L. Dashiel, 1864; Rev. Robert R. Meredith, 1867; Rev. O. H. Tiffany, 1870; Rev. C. N. Sims, 1873; Rev. A. D. Vail, 1876; Rev. Henry Baker, 1879; Rev. S. L. Baldwin, 1882; Rev. Jacob Todd, 1×=3.

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church .- This so- ciety was organized in 1852, and subsequently built a brick church on the corner of Warren and Wilsey Streets, where there is a substantial membership of two hundred, large congregations at the regular meet- ings, and a church property valued at twenty-five thousand dollars.

The pastors who have served this people are Rev. George Snyder, Rev. - Ballard, Rev. John A. Munroe, Rev. Charles S. Coit, Rev. Dr. J. H. Vincent, Rev. G. Wilson, Rev. J. I. Boswell, Rev. Nicholas Vansant, Rev. Jesse S. Gilbert, Rev. George F. Dickinson, Rev. Alexander Craig, and in 1884, Rev. Daniel Halleron.

Charles Redmond, Abraham Beach, J. S. Morris, Stephen Page and Thomas Gay.

Roseville Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Roseville Society was organized in 1857, and their first house of worship erected in 1860, on the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Warren Street, and in 1874 the church edifice, a frame structure, was rebuilt and

The pastors of the Roseville Methodist Episcopal Church have been Revs. W. Copp, G. H. Jones, tł. W. Treat, B. F. Simpson, J. 1 .. Hurlbut, W. 1. Gill, J. R. Adams, J. D. Blain, J. H1. Dally, - Mckown, G. W. Smith and the present pastor, Rev. J. W. Marshall. The stewards and trustees in 1881 were G. S. Stur- tevant, C. Warren, J. G. Frazer, T. Conger, J. A. Smith, J. R. Conover, D. Collins, T. Hance, 1. C. Wolf, O. Drake, A. Scarlett, J. O. Dashiel, C. E. Hill, J. N. Van Arnam, W. J. R. Hegeman. Sunday- school Superintendent J. A. Smith. The communi- cants in 1884 numbered 350.

De Groot Methodist Episcopal Church .- This 80- ciety was organized in April, 1880, and a church cilifice erected on Littleton Avenue, near South Orange Avenue, from the avails of a generous gift, equal to the cost of the property, including the new edifice of Mrs. Ann De Groot, of Newark. This organization, though young, has already taken a prominent place in the great Methodist family. The pastors assigned to this church have been Rev. H. C. McBride, 1880-82; Rev. A. L. Brice, 1883; Rev. J. R. Wright, 1884. Stewards in 1881, C. F. Lee, I. F. Lee, G. Rider, J. F. Middleton, J. S. Lansing, M. March, and J. Vreeland; Trustees, Henry Lang, J. Breigan, II. Haskin, L. Marsh, H. W. Douglas, J. Micklleton, and W. S. Ayres. Membership iu 1884 was 275.

Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church .- This is one of the many churches throughout the country that was organized during the centennial year of American Methodism, and is located at No. 100 Belle- ville Avenue. It is a frame structure, with a seating capacity of three hundred and fifty, and embraces a membership of nearly four hundred. The pastors have been Rev. J. Brien, Rev. HI. C. McBride, Rev. R. B. Collins, Rev. C. R. Barnes, Rev. E. E. Chambers, Rev. C. S. Coit, Rev. J. H. Knowles, Rev. S. L. Bald- win, Rev. Charles E. Little, and its present pastor, Rev. D. B. F. Randolph.

The stewards in 1881 were T. Sands, R. Simmons, J. K. Osborn, T. W. Longstroth, J. R. Downes, C. D). Coe, D. P. Johnson, S. Myers, J. B. Morehouse ; Leaders, T. V. W. Warner, Rev. E. O. Howland, J. C. Dennis, J. 11. Baldwin, Rev. O. B. Coit. 11. Hayden ; Trustees, T. Bolton, T. Warner, E. McNaughten, P. M. Mesler, A. P. Littell, J. Rhodes, W. H. Brown.

Strawbridge Mission. Methodist Episcopal Church, is located at the corner of East Kinney and Jefferson Streets. The pastors have been Revs. R. F. The church officials for 1884 were William Fairlee, Hayes and S. W. Atkins. The stewards for 1881 George Kinsey, T. W. Crooks, Frederick C. Blanchard, | were J. Jordan, A. Cruser, Aaron Mead, J. W. Hay-

501

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

cock, E. T. Babbit, G. A. Hollister, A. Garrabrant ; Trustees, E. Leveh, F. Thompson, John Shliff, E. S. Black, superintendent of Sunday-school.

There are the following Methodist organizations in Newark of which we could obtain no data: South Market Street Church, Rev. R. F. Hays; Davis Memorial, Harrison Avenue, corner Tenth Street, Rev. J. I. Morrow ; Second German, Bergen Street, near Fifteenth Avenue; St. John's (colored), 107 Academy Street, Rev. W. H. Coffee ; Dashiell Memo- rial, 63 Housten Street, Rev. J. II. Robertson.

First Methodist Protestant Church. This society was organized June 20, 1859. in Library Hall, where religious services were regularly held, until their first church edifice was erected. This was of brick, located on Hill Street, near Broad, and built in Is59, and de- stroyed by tire in 1870, and immediately rebuilt, of brick, with a seating capacity of one thousand. of the original members only four were living in July, 1884.

The stewards and leaders in 1881 were J. S. Crane, Gaven Spencer, J. Robertson, I. P. Cox, J. N. Taylor, E. M. Marsh. J. S. Shaw, D. Smith, J. L. Phillips, W. Il. Buchlish. The trustees were G. Spence (presi- dent), J. S. Crane, T. Clarkson, J. Robertson, E. John- son, J. L. Phillips, and Aaron Wilcox.

The membership of the church in 1854 was one hundred and eighty ; value of church property, forty thousand dollars. Sunday-school Superintendent, J. N. Taylor; Stewards, ti. Spence, J. S. Crane, P. J. Anderson, William Rattan, - - Rensselaer, S. J. Cox, A. S. Vansen, Robert Smith.

The pastors of this church have been Rev. J. J. Murray, D. I)., three years ; Frederick &weretze, M. D., William S. Hammond, two years ; David Wilson, M. D., three years ; J. T. Murray, D.D., two years; J. D). Valleant, two years; S. T. Graham, five years ; and John M. Holmes, the present pastor.

Trinity Episcopal Church.1-Of all the objects around which the memories of the past cluster, none should be held more sacred than oldl Trinity thurch. Here the brave Col. Schuyler worshiped among the people whose benefactor he was. Here the bleeding, wounded and sick sohliers of the Revolutionary war were nursed to convalescence. Here hundreds came whose memories are now revered by the older and middle-aged people of Newark and the surrounding country, and, with musket in one hand and prayer book in the other, filed up the long aisles between the stately elms, that yet remain, and took their places in the sanctuary. Through the arched door in the solid tower, built nearly a century and a half ago, and that now forms a prominent part of the present edifice. Washington, Robert Morris, Robert Livingston, Gen. Lord Sterling and other illustrious men once passed, and partook of the sacred emblems of the broken body and shed blood of Him who commanded us to do these things.

Many of the pioneer members of this time-honored old church are represented there to this day by de- scendants whom the State and nation delight to honor for their sterling virtue- and eminent services, whom society reveres and loves for noble and unoh- trusive deeds of true Christian charity, and who kneel in solemn faith where their fathers knelt, and join in the same "time-honored forms of devo- tion."

The oldest family of Episcopalians in this vicinity was the Kingsland family, of Barbadoes Neck. Isaac Kingsland was a member of the Governor's Council during the greater part of the period of the proprio- tary government, and died in 1695. The Sanford families, some of whom resided in Newark and some over on New Barbadoes Neck prior to 1692, were also communicants of old Trinity. Later we find the younger Schuylers and the Ogdens, Ebenezer Ward and others, became attached to the Episcopal form of worship.

The pioneer services, which resulted in the erection of Trinity parish, were held in Newark by Rev. Mr. Vaughn, "missionary at Elizabethtown," about the year 1729. It is related (says the writer) that Rev. John Beach, "upon a repeated invitation of the peo- ple of Newark, N. J., visited them in 1736, and held divine service, on which occasion he had about three or four hundred hearers."

In 1743-44 a building of hewn stone, sixty-three by forty-five feet and twenty-seven feet high, was erected, with a steeple ninety-five feet high and twenty feet square. The base of this steeple is still standing (14), as solid as when first erceted, the walls being five feet thick. When the chancel extension was he- ing made (about 1565), Daniel Dodd discovered in the gable of the church a stone which had been taken out of the old church front and laid upside down in the new wall, having engraved on it the inscription,- ".Inno Salutix, 1746." The original charter, bearing the seal of George Il., dated Feb. 10, 1746, was taken possession of by Mr. Daniel Dodd.

The corner-stone of the present edifice was Inid May 22, 1809, and the building consecrated May 21, 1810. The plate used in the communion service was presented to the church in 150G by the ladies of the congregation. The building has suffered but little from changes since its erection. The oldl front, of Grecian style, with massive pillars of stone, built in 1743-44, still remain as first constructed. The old tin roof has given place to one of slate, and the plain windows have been replaced by elegant stained glass. yet the general appearance of the builing is the same as when the builders first entered its sacred doorway one hundred and forty years ago from that grand old avenue of elmis. The chancel is surmounted by a beautiful tiothie arch and three windows, the cen- tral one large and highly-ornamented, made up the picture in the back-ground. The finish of the interior is elegantly chaste and harmonious ; the organ facing

1 Vework bady Urertiser, March, 1x70.

502

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

the pulpit, and near the old tower, is perfect in the style of its decoration.

The form of worship is the same as it has been since the church was founded. The congregation is made up largely of the descendants of those who first worshiped there, and have inherited their preferences for solid worth and Christian devotion, to mere outside show and ornamentation. They contrib- ute freely to sustain the church in its various en- terprises. In the work of spreading the gospel the ladies of the congregation have shown remarkable de- votion and energy ; and through their various so- cieties they have brought many into the communion of old Trinity.

The rectors since 1831 have been Revs. Matthew Henderson, E. Neville, D.D., J. C. Eccleston, D.D., to 1862; M. M. Smith, D.D., W. R. Nicholson, D.D., !

the town in the General Assembly. He appears to have been a man of strong individuality, holding positive and decided views regarding things spiritual as well as things temporal. On a certain Sunday in the fall of. some year close to 1733, Col. Ogden, contrary to a rule of the First Church, went into his field and saved his wheat, which was exposed to serious loss from long-continued rains. En passant, it may be remarked that Col. Josiah seems to have been, like many truly good and worthy Christian people of the present day, a firm believer in the new dispensation which says the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. For his daring con- duet he was subjected to the discipline of the church, accused of having violated the sanctity of the Lord's Day, and publicly censured. The Presbytery re- versed the decision of the church, righteously deem-

COL. OGDEN SAVING HIS WHEAT ON SUNDAY.

to 1871; W. W. Newton to 1875, and the present rector, J. H. Eccleston, since January, 1877. The wardens in 1881 were J. E. Trippe and Hon. Cort- landt Parker : Vestrymen, S. Merchant, S. S. Morris, J. P'ennington, G. Lockwood, W. Durand, W. W. Duryee, Daniel Dodd, O. L. Baldwin, William James, and tleorge Peters. Communicants, four hundred and fifty.

ing the act of Col. Ogden one of imperative necessity, and tried to pour oil on the troubled waters. It was too late. Around Col. Ogden rallied a considerable body, who openly began to declare themselves dissatis- fied with the Presbyterian form of church govern- ment. A bitter controversy ensued. Col. Ogden car- ried the matter to the Philadelphia Synod. For several years an animated correspondence took place. Jonathan Dickinson, the distinguished Presbyterian divine, was called to the pulpit to controvert certain strong points in Episcopacy, and controversial pam- phlets passed between him and Rev. John Beach, a Connecticut Episcopalian.

Col. Josiah Ogden was a leading member of the community,-a pillar of the First Church. He was a man of energy, wealth and influence. His father was David Ogden, who came from Elizabethtown and settled in Newark about the year 1676. Col. Josiah's mother was the noted Elizabeth Swaine, whose first " Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth !" Out of this trivial matter sprang the Episcopal Church in Newark, and a conflagration of local feel- husband, the gallant Josiah Ward, died soon after the settlement of the town, leaving her a comely widow. From 1716 to 1721 the colonel represented , ing which it took nearly half a century to entirely

503

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

extinguish. "This separation," says Dr. Me Whorter, as is also that of his parents, is inscribed the follow- " was the origin of the greatest animosity and aliena- ing : tion between friends, townsmen, Christian-, neigh- "JOSEPH JOHNSON Son of Thomas and Fleahor JohnInch He died Mar 11th 177. In the Mini year if hls age. ' bors and relatives that the town ever beheld. The storin of religious separation and rigor wrought multuously. The openly-declared Episcopalian- His wife, Rebecca, who was the daughter of first Pas- for Pierson, and sister of Abraham, Jr., died a short time before her husband, and was buried alongside her parent. The inscription on her tombstone (now disappeared) informed posterity as follow -: vere few in comparison to the Presbyterians; yet here were two leaders, one on each side, who were pretty equally poised in point of abilities, wealth, connections and ambition. This religious brand," addx the doctor, " kindled a flame which was not ex- tinguished till the conclusion of the late war,"-the Revolutionary war.

During the Ogden excitement Pastor Webb seems to have had small influence, either as a controver- sialist or as a pacificator. We are told that he pos- sessed no gifts for controversy, and was hated and contemned by the new party, while sinking into neg. leet and disrespect with the other. Upon application of a majority of the congregation, he was dismissed by the Presbytery in 1736. Mr. Webb appears, how- ever, to have been a good, faithful, painstaking pas- tor. In 1731, while visiting friends in C'onnecticut in company with his son, both were drowned in crossing Saybrook Ferry, on Connecticut River.

Col. Ogden, the founder of Trinity Church, died in 1763, at a ripe old age. He was buried somewhere in the old burying ground. In emulation of Azariah Crane and his bequest to the First Church, Col. Ogden said, in his will: " 1 give to the rector, church wardens and vestry of Trinity Church, in Newark, my silver cup or porringer with two handles to the same, for and to the only use of said Church." 1lis tombstone, which still preserves itself in the ohl burying ground pile of such memorials, despite the vandals, bears the following simple inscription :

"Here Lyes interred ye badly of COL. JOSIAH OGDEN Who died May 1th 1763 In the 24th year of his age."

The death-list during Mr. Webb's pastorate includes a number of familiar names. C'aleb Ward, son of John Ward, "the turner," died in 1735, leaving the reputation of

"_An honest, pious soule Who all that knew his virtues did verole."

Deacon Azariah Crane, Jasper's son, died Nov. 5, 1730, aged eighty-three. Anthony Olive, Nathaniel Wheeler, Robert Young, Mrs. Joanna Crane (wife of Jasper. Jr., daughter of Samuel Swaine and sister of Elizabeth), Deacon Joseph Camfield, .John Browne and Joseph Johnson were all gathered in during the same period. Joseph Johnson was the town's first " drummer-hoy." He was fifteen years old when the town was settled. He lived to reach fourscore years and three. He was buried beside his parents, away from his wife. Upon his tombstone, which, marvelous to relate, is still in position in the old burying-ground,

"Here lyes a faithful loving wife She lovel ber husband as her life. sharp Deth bath snached her wan away Fer we are all but Just and they so newery would it be to live In Love

Halveres, wife of Jempl Johnson, axel in years. Ibrennen Nov. ya >th 1732 .**

Grace Protestant Episcopal Church .- The pio- neer meetings which led to the erection of Grace parish were hekl in a room over a savings-bank, on Broad Street, and afterwards in the building subse- quently known as St. Matthew'- German Church, on Market Street, and the church organized in 1537, with Rev. Dr. George T. Chapman as its first rector. The present church edifice, located at 16 Broad street, was built in I>4s, and retains its original architecture, except the slate roof put on in 186 !. The edifice is cruciform and of the finest type of Gothic construction. The walls and buttresses are almost entirely covered with ivy, brought from Eng- land by the late Bishop George Washington Doane, D.D. It ha- a highly-picturesque appearance, and is an ornament to the city in which it stands.

In the interior, the arch of the nave, which is of open Gothic style and very handsome and symmetri- val, rests upon stone projections in the side walls, thus leaving the auditorium free from pillar- or anything to obstruct the view of the chancel from any part of the house. The organ occupies the upper part of one of the transepts. The rear of the chancel is decorated by a beautiful memorial window, placed in the south transept in memory of the late Bishop Doane. Over the altar are six canopied screen-, cach containing Scriptural texts. The surpliced choir was introduced into this church in 1868, and at the time for the com- mencement of service a procession of men and boys, in white cassocks, appear, preceding the priest to the chancel, while, as they move along,

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 125

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840