History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 126

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 126
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 126

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"Throughout the long-drawn aisle and frottant vault,

The pealing anthem swells the note of praise."

A portion of the service usually read in the Episco- pal Churches is here chanted by the priest and his assistants. It is claimed by those using this form of worship that it is the ancient established form of the original Church of England. Communion service is held in this church every Sabbath.

The rectors of this church have been Rev. T. K. Cady, D.D., Rev. J. L. Watson, D.IL., Rev. J. S. B. Hodges, D.D., Rev. R. E. Dennison, Rev. W. H. Har-

504

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

rison, D.D., and the present rector, Rev. G. M. Chris- tian. The wardens in Issl were J. C. Garthwaite and Henry Hayes; Vestrymen, E. C. Drake, S. S. Tiffany, L. M. Stillman, A. Kirkpatrick, J. W. Miller, T. T. Kinney, J. S. Clark and L. S. Rutan. Commu- nicants, four hundred.

Christ Church (Episcopal) .- This parish was organized in 1849. The pioneer meetings which led to its formation were held in a hall, corner of Union and Lafayette Streets, the leading spirits of which were Joseph Kidger, Dr. Joseph A. Corwin and Henry D. Law. The first church edifice, of stone, located on the corner of Congress and Prospect Streets, was consecrated Feb. 2, 1850, by Bishop George W. Doane, D.D., L.L.D. The pioneer wardens were Joseph Kidger and Joseph AA. Corwin, M.D.

In 1871 the church edifice was enlarged by the addition of a transept and chancel, the corner-stone of which was laid November 17th of that year. The panic of 1873 delayed the work till 1880, when it was again resumed, and the additions consecrated Feb. 2, 1881, by Bishop Starkey on the coldest day of the year, the thermometer registering ten degrees below zero at 10.30 A.M., when the exercises commenced. The value of church property (including rectory) in 1884 was fifty thousand dollars; communicants, one hundred and ninety-two.

Nov. 1, 1882, there was erected in this church a beautiful altar and reredos to the memory of the late Bishop Odenheimer, and consecrated by Bishop Star- key, assisted by Bishop Scarborough and thirty clergy- men. This is said to be the finest piece of work of the kind in this country.

The rectors of this parish have been Rev. Robert T. S. Lowell, D.D., from 1849 to 1859. He was snc- ceeded in 1859 by the present reetor, Rev. J. Nicholas Stansbury. The wardens for 1884 were W. H. Fetter and Joseph N. Webb; Vestrymen, J. U. Lupton, R. W. Bennett, E. E. Smith, E. B. Williams and C. F. Corwin.

St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church .- This parish, located on High Street, was organized, in the autumn of 1848, in a hall on Marshall Street, Newark, and in 1884 owned church property valued at eight thousand dollars, with one hundred and fifteen com- municants. The rectors serving this parish have been Revs. James H. Tyng, principal of Newark Academy, five years; David M. Toekler, rector of Trinity Church ; Henry Sherman, one year; Joshua Smith, William II. Rice, D.D., J. Jefferson Danner, two years; William G. Webb, nine years; and the present reetor, Rev. J. Bowdin Massiah.

The wardens in 1884 were Elias S. Ray and J. G. Evans; Vestrymen, Adam Ray, James M. Baxter, Sampson Simmons, Louis Saris, Andrew Melntire, George De .J. Hurd and Alvin B. Ray.

St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal Church .- The church edifice occupied by St. Matthew's parish

is a frame building, located at the corner of West Kinney and Charlton Streets, and valued at forty thousand dollars. The rectors of this parish have been Rev. Dr. Rosa, Rev. - Way, Rev. C. F. W. Treptow, and the present missionary in charge of the parish, Rev. Julius Unger. No other data for this parish could be obtained.

The House of Prayer (Protestant Episcopal) .- As early as the year 1847 the establishment of a new parish in that part of the city of Newark lying north of Trinity Church was contemplated; and with this object in view the bishop of New Jersey appointed the Rev. E. J. W. Roberts, of the diocese of Fredericton, New Brunswick, missionary at Newark. Services were thereupon commenced in the same year in the small stone school-house situated on the south side of Orange Street, between Plane and Broad Streets. It was at that time, that the project of securing a perma- nent location for a church received much individual consideration, and the matter was temporarily deter- mined by obtaining the privilege of purchasing the property located at the northwest corner of Broad and State Streets, then commonly known as the " Plume property," the present site of the rectory and church of the House of Prayer.

In the course of a few months Mr. Roberts resigned his charge and withdrew from the diocese, and the services in the school-house were discontinued.

In 1849 the subject was revived by information received that the Rev. Samuel L. Southard, formerly of this diocese, and at that time rector of Calvary Church, New York City, would remove to Newark and take charge of the parish, provided a suitable place of worship should be furnished. This offer on the part of Mr. Southard, whose reputation for learning, elo- quenee, zeal and diligence was already well estab- lished, was a strong inducement to the laity to com- mence the work, and immediately enlisted their hearty co-operation. It was at once decided to close the above offer referred to by purchasing the property, and to erect without delay a stone church on the site. It was also determined to remodel and improve the stone dwelling standing on the corner of the lot, and to convert it into a rectory. Plans and specifications were prepared and presented by Mr. Frank Wills, of New York City, architect, and it was agreed that the entire work of erecting the church and remodeling the rectory should be executed under his immediate supervision, and it was also deemed advisable to have no services until the new church building should be completed.

Within the short space of two weeks after the mat- ter was fully determined upon, enough money had been pledged to justify the commencement of the un- dertaking; the property had been purchased, the plans adopted, the necessary contracts executed, and the laborers were upon the ground.

The grantors of the property were David Maitland and Royal Phelps, and the deed was dated Dec. 1,

505

RELIGION'S INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

1849, and recorded Feb. 20, 1850, in Book D 7, p. 503, of deeds for Essex County. The actual consideration money paid to Maitland and Phelps was three thou- sand five hundred dollars. The land purchased had a frontage on Broad Street of one hundred and fifty- nine feet, and on State Street of one hundred and sixty-three feet three inches.

The first service to entitle the originators of the enterprise to organize a parish was held on Wednes- day, Nov. 7, 1849, at (old) No. 26 Broad Street, corner of State Street, in the stone house standing upon the purchased premises, and which has been already men- tioned.

Only five or six persons were present at this first service.

On the same day a formal call was extended to the Rev. Mr. Southard to be the rector of the newly- formed parish, and it was duly accepted by him on 30th of November, 1849.

The parish was organized and incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, Nov. 24, 1849, and, after morning prayer had been said, the follow- ing gentlemen were elected by ballot the first wardens and vestrymen of the parish of the House of Prayer : Wardens, Daniel Condit, George A. Mayhew ; Vestry- men, Joseph L. Allen, Edward R. Whitlock, Jona- than Bird, Henry W. Duryce, William S. Faitoute.

The two wardens elected were at that time vestry- men of Grace Church, and not connected with the new movement ; but, being residents in the northern part of the city, they accepted the office from motives of duty, and by the advice of their associates of Grace Church vestry.

On the 28th of November, 1849, the bishop of the diocese, the Right Rev. George Washington Doane, I. D., LL. D., after morning prayer at the rectory by the Rev. Messrs. Southard and Charles W. Rankin, laid the corner-stone of the church in the presence of many of the clergy and of friends from New Jersey and New York.

During the year that the church was being built the Rev. Mr. Southard officiated at Trinity Church, whose rector, Rev. Mr. Henderson, was absent from the city on account of ill health.

On Thursday, Nov. 26, 1850, the church was com- pleted and consecrated by the Right Rev. G. W. Doane, the bishop of the diocese, assisted by Bishop Southgate, ex-missionary bishop of Constantinople, and Rev. Messrs. Southard, Henderson, Watson, Rankin and Lowell. The text of Bishop Doane on this occasion was the third verse of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Psalm. The church is of stone, with slate roof, and the architecture is of the style known as the English, or four-pointed. The size of the nave internally is sixty-eight by forty-six feet, and the chancel is twenty feet deep. The apex of the nave roof is forty-three feet from the floor. The tower and spire are ofstone, reaching one hundred and twenty feet above the sidewalk. The entire cost of land, church

edifice, rectory and repair, was twenty-three thousand dollars. The rectory was first occupied as such Feb. 7, 1850.

Jan. 6, 1851, the warden- and vestrymen executed a deed of trust, now on file in the clerk's office of the county of Essex (Book 1, 7, p. 250), which secured the property belonging to the corporation to the holy uses for which it was designed, the wardens and vestrymen thereby making themselves liable for any attempt to alienate or encumber the same in any manner whatever or to sell the church pews.

Nov. 10, 1851, the church took fire, but the flames were soon extinguished and but little damage done. The day after the fire a bell for the church was pur- chased, at a cost of $666,68, and paid for in tull. Weight of bell, two thousand one hundred pounds.

In 1853 the spire of the church was taken down and rebuilt on n better plan, was pierced with four windows, surmounted with a cross, and made twenty- four feet higher than before,-all at a cost of two thousand and fifty-three dollars.

Nov. 16, 1855, by a resolution of the vestry, all the sittings in the House of Prayer were made absolutely free from and after Dec. 2. 1835. This system was in force six years, when it was abandoned, and the pew system again adopted, to take effect dan. 1, 1862. This in turn was abandoned for the present envelope system, which went into full effect on the first Sunday in October, 1870.

July 17, 1857, the vestry resolved to purchase the property in rear of the rectory lot for parish school purposes. The lot had a frontage on State Street of twenty-five feet, and cost two thousand dollars. The deed was given by Angelina M. Pye to the rector, wardens and vestrymen, and bore date Nov. 5, 1857, and recorded in Book K 10, p. 134 of deeds for Essex County.

In 1861 the old frame building then standing on the parish school lot was removed, and the present brick structure erected, the entire cost of which is not given, but which was nearly all paid by the late Hon. William Wright, who, when living, was a prominent vestryman of the parish and contributed liberally to the church work.

Feb. 12, 1866, the vestry authorized the organ com- mittee, which had lately been appointed, to sell the bell which hung in the church tower, and which had become cracked and useless, and apply the proceeds to the organ fund.

In 1866 an organ gallery in the west end of the church was built at a cost of $2,010,01, and an organ purchased of Ilall & Labagh, of Newark, costing $2432.10, and first formally used May 22, 1866, at a concert in the church.

In the autumn of 1868 the interior of the church was repainted and decorated by John F. Miller, of New York, at a cost of two thousand five hundred doHars, and the church reopened for divine service on Christmas day of that year.

506

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Soon after the church was decorated by Mr. Miller the finely-carved stone altar which stood near the cen- tre of the sanctuary, and on a level with its floor, was elevated three steps and removed back against the east wall of the church. It was also painted in colors and gilded, and above it was placed an appropriate reredos, elegantly ornamented and decorated. About the same time two standards, cach bearing thirteen lights, were presented to the church by one of the oldest parishioners, and were placed, one at each end of the altar. A handsome altar cross and vases, and eucharistic candlesticks and missal stand, all of hrass, were also donated by various parishioners.

On Easter day, 1870, a new bell, weighing two thousand pounds, made by Jones & Co., of Troy, N. Y., and purchased by offerings of the Sunday- school children, costing eight hundred and fifty dol- lar-, was rung for the first time.

During the summer of 1871 improvements were made on the rectory, costing thirteen hundred dol- lars, and in 1874 a new brick kitchen, with servants' room, bath-room, and other improvements, added to the rectory, at a cost of eleven hundred dollars.

May 6, 1875 (Ascension day), a new bell of twenty-five hundred pounds' weight was hung in the tower by Jones & to. of Troy, in exchange for the one hung there in 1870, and four hundred dollars in cash. The old bell had become cracked and useless. This bell was also paid for by the Sunday-school.

The church has two flourishing societies,-the "St. Luke's Guild" and the "Altar Society,"-both of which are doing a noble work.

The membership in Isst was about four hundred; ! church sittings, six hundred ; value of church prop- erty, seventy-five thousand dollars. Wardens for 1881, J. C. Leonard and A. L. Miller; Vestrymen, Dr. W. A. Smith, A. F. Sharp, J. Townley, Col. E. Il. Wright, D. S. Wood. F. B. Adams, James Crocker and Egbert Ward.

Daniel Condit was the senior warden for the first eleven years. George A. Mayhew was a senior warden in this church for three years, and junior warden for twelve years. Samuel M. Hitchcock was senior warden for seven years.

REITORS OF THE HOUSE OF PRAYER.

Rev. Samuel L. Amthard, from Nuv, 30, 1×49, to Dec. 18, 1854.

Bev. William Ruller, from May 13, 1455, to Sept. 9, 1855.

Rev. John Wrage Slukleford, from Nov. 22, 1×55, to June 23, 1867.

Rev. William A. W. Maybin, from Sept. 28, 1863, to Oct. 1, 1867.

Hev. Hannibal Goodwin, from Dec. 1, 18G7.

ANMIATANT MINISTERA OF THE HOUSE OF PRAYER.

Rtvv. S Saunders, from Sept. Irak, In July, 1800.

Itev. Jahn Leighton MeKim, from June, 1860. There is no record of his resignation, but he served only for a short time.

Rev. Falward J. Stearns, 1 from spring of 1861, to Ortuber, 18GI.

Rev. Julian F. Inglo, ' from April, IST, to October, 18]

Rev Freeborn Cogkr-hall, Jr., from Derember, 1471, 10 August, 1872. Rev. Benjamin F Condey, frion January, 187a, to April, 1875.

Temporarily in charge of the services during the almente of the rer- tor in Europa-

St. Barnabas Protestant Episcopal Church .-- The pioneer meeting held preliminary to the organization of St. Barnabas Church, at Roseville, was on Sept. 12, 1852, in a dwelling-house subsequently occupied vy a Mr. Huntington, when twenty persons were present on that occasion.

The church was fully constituted in 1853, and some of the Sabbath services were held in a room over a gas-factory, subsequently destroyed by fire. The first church edifice was built on a lot of land donated by - Peck. This edifice was destroyed by fire, and in 1863 the present beautiful Gothic structure was erected, and in 1869 the two transepts were added, making the building cruciform. The interior has beautiful Gothic arehes supporting the nave, and triple and other memorial windows appropriately decorated. The edifice is located on Sussex Avenue, corner of Warren.

The rectors of this church have been, as near as we were able to ascertain, as follows: Rev. G. N. Sleight, 1855; Rev. - Leech, 1856; Rev. E. S. Watson, 1860; Rev. William J. Lynd. 1863 to 1867; Rev. Robert MeMurdy, 1868-69; Rev. William G. Farrington, 1870; Rev. George F. Flichtner, 1873 to 1883; Rev. Stephen H. Granberry, 1884. The wardens in 1881 were F. W. Jackson and W. h. Clark ; vestrymen, J. E. Trippee, Jr., (clerk.) C. Colyer, (treasurer.) Communicants, one hundred and forty.

St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church (Wood- side) was organized Sept. 2, 1867, with successive rec- tors as follows: Rev. Samuel Hall, D.D., February, 1868; Rev. H. M. Barbour, April, 1873; Rev. F. A. Henry, April, 1876 ; Rev. J. B. Wetherell, November, 1876; Rev. J. IL. McCandless, April, 1877; Rev. G. C. Pennel, S.T.D. ; Rev. A. B. Conger, called March 28, 1880-8]; and Rev. A. L. Wood, the present rector. The wardens for 1881 were F. F. Mercer and W. V. Snyder ; Vestrymen, F. W. Stevens, T. W. Williams, I. K. Gordon, Thomas Howell, A. W. Post, Fred- erick Hobart, G. A. Morrison and F. Hiscox, Jr. Communicants, seventy,

St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church .- This church was formerly a mission belonging to Trinity Church, and in 1871 built a chapel at junction of Clinton and Elizabeth Avenues, and in 1879 re- built and enlarged to its present dimensions. The rectors have been Rev. E. B. Boggs, 1879-81 ; Rev. Edwin G. Richardson, 1883-84. The wardens in 1881 were John 1. Young and John P. Nessle ; Vestry- men, C. Il. Alleock, J. Obrig, C. L. Weeks, George Riggs, W. H. Lomassena, John Robb, J. S. Rees and J. W. Smith. Communicants, one hundred and thirty.

St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church is lo- cated on East Tenth Street, corner of Fourteenth Avenue.

Emmanuel Reformed Episcopal Church .- This I church was organized Dec. 25, 1874, in Association

507

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

Hall, West Park Street, with about one hundred per- sons. Services were continued in this hall for about two and a half years, or until May 4, 1877, when their church edifice, located on Halsey Street, near New, and the early part of 1853. was completed and ready for occupancy.

The church edifice is of stone and brick, the corner- stone of which was laid Oct. 11, 1876, by Bishops Nicholson and Fallows, assisted by the rector and a number of clergymen from other denominations. The church is nearly free from debt, and when that happy day arrives the house of worship will be dedicated.

The pioneer wardens of the church were William A. Hammer and J. D. Orton : Vestrymen, George C. Miller, L. A. Osborn, J. 11. Johnson, R. Gray, Jr., P. G. Bottishe, J. Hodge and I. Lord, Jr.

There is a flourishing Sunday-school connected with the church ; also a Parochial Aid Society and the Cummins Society, composed of young people. There is a general prayer-meeting, also a ladies' prayer- meeting, ench held weekly. In June, 1884, the church numbered two hundred and fifty communi- cants, with a church property valued at twenty-five thousand dollars. The church has retained its original rector, Rev. J. Howard Smith, from the organization of the church to the present time.

The wardens for 1884 were William A. Hammer and George C. Miller. The vestrymen were William Selby, R. V. Carroll, A. C. Hagan, William M. Lee, H. E. Littell, George W. Douglas, T. J. Wilson, W. H. Miles and Joseph D. Day.

St. Paul's (Episcopal) Church.'-This parish was organized in October, 1852, and a chapel erected during the succeeding winter on the corner of High and Market Streets. The grounds on which the par- ish buildings stand are part of a garden-farm, and the present rectory was then an old-fashioned farm-house. The lot is about two hundred feet on Market Street by one hundred and fifty on High and Gove Streets, and was a gift to the parish by deed from Mr. Jere- miah C. Garthwaite in 1856.

It is provided in the deed that "the pews in the chapel or any church edifice hereafter to be erected on the said lands and premises shall not be sold or leased, but shall be and continue free and open for the occupation of all persons attending the publie ser- vices to be held in such chapel and church for ever."

St. Paul's was organized at a meeting of the congre- gation held May 5, 1853. The Rev. Andrew Mackie, presbyter of the diocese, presided by appointment of the bishop ; Caleb W. Harrison, secretary. The late Right Rev. Bishop G. W. Doane appointed the Rev. Andrew Mackie as missionary to the parish, and it was resolved to incorporate under State laws; the name, "St. Paul's Church" was adopted, and the following vestry elected : Wardens, B. T. Nichols and J. T. Garthwaite; Vestrymen, D. O. Scott, A. N.

Dougherty, M.D., F. Calloway, J. II. H. Brieninall, J. Jefferson, C. W. Harrison and J. G. Cunninghamt.

The chapel was built during the latter part of 1x2

The opening services were held April 1, 1853, in the forenoon, Bishop Doane and ten clergymen being present.

An effort for a church building was made in July, 1856, when a committee was appointed to draft a sub- scription paper for raising money. In December, 1856, the committee was empowered to procure an architect and obtain plans for a new house of worship. The plans selected by this committee were approved in March, 1866.

On Nov. 12, 1872, a committee was appointed to procure new plans and to proceed to creet a section of the new church.

On April 25, 1873, the first stone of the foundation of the present new church building was laid by Miss Mary P. Smith. The corner-stone was laid on Sept. 29, 1873, by the Right Rev. Bishop Odenheimer with an address, many clergymen and a large congregation being present.

The work on the building was continued until the funds were exhausted, and as the panic of that year prevented the raising of additional means, the work ceased, but the object was never abandoned, and con- tinued efforts were made, and by various plans, to increase the building fund. On Jan. 22, 1883, the amount of funds on hand appearing to warrant the vestry in proceeding at once to complete the section of the building already commenced, a resolution to that effect was passed by the vestry, and a committee appointed to carry the resolution into effect. Con- tracts were signed for the inclosing of the building, and on June 5, 1883, work was commenced. Hin- drances occurred which prevented the church being completed as early as was anticipated ; but, on May 5, 1884, a resolution was adopted by the vestry that the opening services of the church should be held on St. l'eter's day, Sunday, June 29, 1884. On that day the rector, Rev. W. J. Roberts, and Revs. Joseph H. Smith and Hannibal Goodwin, former rectors, offici- ated at the dedicatory services.

RECTORS,-The first rector was the Rev. Andrew Mackie, appointed as missionary to the parish.

May 24, 1854, the Rev. Hannibal Goodwin, then a missionary in the city, was elected rector, and con- tinned in that position until his resignation, Novem- ber, 1858.

Feb. 25, 1859, the Rev. Joseph Hl. Smith (previously assistant of St. Paul's), then of Wheeling, Va., was elected rector ; he entered on his duties in May fol- lowing, and resigned May 29, 1852, to take effect July Ist.

Oct. 2, 1882, the Rev. William J. Roberts, of St. John's, Detroit, Mich., was elected rector, and entered on his duties Nov. 19, 1882 ; he was installed Jan. 25, 1883.

1 By Henry Farmer.

50%

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

1ss1>TANT :.- Jan 4. 1855, the Rev. J. H. Smith (afterwards rector) was elected assistant minister and teacher of the parish school. Resigned July 7. 1857.

.July 31, 1857, Rev. E. M. Peck was elected to fill the vacant position, and resigned in August, 1858.

Aug. 10, 1558, Rev. Walter A. Stirling was elected assistant minister and teacher of the parish school. He resigned Aug. 9, 1859.

Rev. Arthur B. Livermore (deacon) was assistant minister from Aug. 1, 1880, to August, 1881, and was made priest during that year.

St. John's Roman Catholic Church .- The first Roman Catholic assembly that ever convened for worship in Newark met in the basement of the dwelling of Charles Durning. in 1826. The first church record commeneed on Nov. 3, 1829, and soon after that a small building was created on Mulberry Street, where St. John's Church now stands, and a Mr. Perdue was parish priest. The history of the church for the first six years was marked by no par- ticular occurrences, and its growth was very slow.

In 1833 the late Rev. Father P. Moran took charge of the then little parish, and from that date it began to flourish. Father Moran was a man of sincere and holy piety. Ile journeyed for miles over a then rough and rugged country, enduring exposure, toil and privations to minister to the spiritual wants and necessities of his people. His zeal for his church did not make him any the less a Christian, and for his devotion and pure character those of other denomi- nations yielded him that respect and friendship which he so well deserved.

From the great benevolence of his heart, as well as from his convictions of duty, this good priest entered a crusade against all manner of immorality, setting an example to the priests of this, as well as other cities, which, as a rule, they have followed. Father Moran may well he said to be the father of the Cath- olie Churches of Newark and vicinity.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 126

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