History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 128

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 128
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 128

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The prioress is an aunt of the wife of Dr. Joseph Corrigan, a brother of Archbishop Corrigan, and is a native of New York, and her name in the world was Miss Julia Crooks. The other nuns are of French, English and American birth.

The first ceremony of taking the veil and the final vows of a cloistered nun of the order of St. Dominic took place on the 3d of August, 1884, when the little chapel of the monastery was crowded by a large num- ber of interested spectators. As the first event of the kind in the United States, a brief description will not be out of place here. The novices were Miss Mary McGovern and Miss Mary Tully, both residents of Newark ; Bishop Wigger officiated. The former wore a bridal dress of white, with veil and a wreath of orange blossoms ; she stood before the altar on which the Sacrament was exposed, surrounded by the sisters in waiting. The bishop and Father Mccarthy knelt be- fore the altar. At a given signal Sister Mary knelt at the foot of the sanctuary steps, with an outside sister in a black dress beside her. Behind an iron grating back of the altar issued a chant. When this was ended the bishop asked the novice if she was willing to take the vows of obedience, chastity and poverty, according to the constitution of the contemplative nuns of the Order of St. Dominic. In a low voice the candidate answered that she was willing, when she was ordered to rise and seat herself beside the bishop. He spoke to her and then addressed the congregation on the spiritual benefits derived from consecrating ones-self to God, and pictured the celestial blessings that follow the days that are spent in the service of the Son of Man.

After the sermon Sister Mary arose and followed the bishop and priests. She carried in her hand a large wax taper. This was lighted in the aisle by one of the sisters in black, and the newly-invested nun was taken behind the iron grating. Here the sister superior imprinted a kiss on her forehead, and she was stripped of the bridal dress and invested with the plain white habit of the order. She then knelt before the bishop, who read to her the final vows, to which she made responses, after which she received the ben- ediction, and was given the name of Sister Mary of the Holy Sacrament.

Sister Mary Regina, a novitiate nun, who was to make a profession and take the black veil, advanced to the grating, and folding a long black eloak around her, knelt and renounced the world "forever and forever." This was Miss Mary Tully.

The ceremony throughout was a most impressive one. A dim light shone through the little chapel and the air was heavy with incense. The solenn chant of the invisible nuns, the dignified bearing of the officiating clergyman, and the beauty of the two

513

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

young women who shut themselves up from all the social enjoyments of the world made up a scene of solemn grandeur.

The cloistered sisters of the new monastery are the only nuns in the United States who take upon them- selves the full rows of the Order of St. Dominic. These pious women vow never again to set foot on the streets. They take upon themselves the strict rules of the thirteenth century. Their time is passed in prayer and work.

Cloistered establishments are rarer now than for- merly, for the Pope has assigned to the sisters of most of the orders some useful occupation ; but the priests are in favor of the strict conformists for the reason that their continued prayers call down blessings upon the church.

First Reformed (Dutch) Church. This church edifice is located at No. 211 Market Street, and was the first of that denomination ever established in this city. It is a branch from the Reformed Church at Belleville, and was organized in 1833. The name of Moses Dodd heads the list of those who made appli- cation to the mother-church for permission to plant a colony here. The first meetings were held in a room over the old market, that occupied the site of the pres- ent opera-house, corner of Market and Halsey Streets. The corner-stone of the church edifice was laid July 8, 1834, and the building dedicated May 6, 1535. Rev. Dr. Wells was its first pastor. It was during his pastorate that the financial crisis of 1837 occurred. The church suffered severely, yet during Mr. Wells' eight years pastorate three hundred and thirty-one persons were received into the church.

Rev. James Scott, D. D., succeeded Dr. Wells in 1843. Ile remained until his death, in May, 1858, and his loss was mourned by all who knew him. Dur- ing his pastorate the Second and North Reformed Churches were organized, which drew away many valuable members from this church; yet it scarcely felt the depletion, so rapidly was it refilled.

In 1857 the old and well remembered brick front was pulled down, and replaced by the present beautiful Romanesque brownstone facade. The interior was also remodeled, the old ceiling giving place to one beautifully moulded. The pastors since Dr. Scott have been Rev. E. P. Terhune to 1876, followed by the present pastor, Rev. William 11. Gleason. In 1881 the elders were B. t. Miller, S. O. Crane, 1. W. Daw- Bon, F. Il. Thompson, A. W. Baker; Deacons, Oba Woodruff, t. W. Livingstone, I. 11. Morehouse, E. W. MeClave, J. B. Brott, J. W. Omberson ; Superin_ tendents Sunday-school, I. W. Dawson, O. Il. Shuck- Jeton ; communicants, three hundred.

Second Reformed Protestant (Dutch) Church1 was organized May 23, 1848, by a colonyfrom the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, among whom were the following-named persons: Nathan Crowell

Mary Crowell, Samuel R. Southard, Phobe Southard, T. I Cochran, Simpson Van Ness and with, W. H. Kirk and wife, D. P. Woodruff and wife, Jane Tiche- hor, MIrs. W. Crowell, Esther Lord, Amelia Lord. Mrs. Van Devort, Susan Van Devort, Sarah Van Devart, Amarintha Williamson, Mrs. Pierson, Maria Guerin, Maria Van Embush, Nancy Baldwin, Mary L. Ballwin, Sarah Ballwin.

The pioneer meetings of this new society were held in a small chapel east of the Market Street Railroad depot. Their first church edifice, located corner of Ferry and Me Whorter Streets, was of brick, forty- seven by seventy-five feet, the corner-stone of which was laid Sept. 25, 1848. In 1857 an addition thirty- live by forty-seven feet, two stories high with an ex- tension for lecture and Sabbath-school rooms were built.

The pioneer officers of the church were Nathan Crowell and Samuel R. Southard, ellers; Simpson Van Ness and Thomas Cochran, deacons.

The pastors of the church have been Rev. George R. Williamson, 1548-49; Rev. Rutger Van Brunt, (supply) in 194 !; Rev. Gustavus Abeel, 1849 to 184 ; Rev. M. B. Riddle, 1865 to 1869; Rev. Cornelius Brett, 1570 to 1873; Rev. F. V. Van Vranken, 1873 to 1882; Rev. John A. Davis, the present pastor, since 1883. The membership of the church September, 1884, was one hundred and sixty-two. Value of church property, seventeen thousand dollars. Elders, Hon. W. H. Kirk, J. S. Munday, J. Marlatt and F. Baker ; Deacons, R. Hatch, J. C. Mundy, J. S. Wellon and ti. Lawshe.

North Reformed Dutch Church .- A colony of thirty-four persons from the First Reformed Church went out in 1856, and founded what is now known as the North Reformed Dutch Church, located at No. 510 Broad Street. This colony comprised some of the most influential members at that time of the First Reformed. They called the late Rev. Abraham Pol- hemus, D.D., and held their pioneer meetings in Oraton Hall. Mr. Polbemus was a college graduate and companion of several of the most distinguished men of this city and the nation,-men who are now attendants within the walls that have been consecrated to his memory. A marble tablet on the right side of the pulpit bears the following inscription :

"Abraham Polbonus, D. D., born April 30, 1512. Instituted Arst pastor of this church May 3, 1877. He laid the foundation of this ediffer, but his voice was never heard within its walls. When the time of his dejar- ture was at hand, in faith he exclaimed .- 'That church will be created, souls shall there In converted to Christ, and I shall rejoice over thean in henven ' Of a noble nature, emulalished by culture and grace, frank and disinterested nun mun, sagacious and prudent as a counselor, eloquent and w'riptural, exenijdary and devoted as a member of The church, he was very devoted to his people and beloved by the church at large His brief ministry here will not be forgotten His memory is a rich legnes Called home in the vigor of manhood, surrounded by all the attractions uf life, he received the message with joy att ne heuven was uferning tu hin vlew he rvlamed, -'1 ser Jesus, and my mond in ruvished by the wight." "

The North Reformed edifice has buttressed walls,

1 From data furnished by Rer .I. A. Davis.

514

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Gothic windows, round which the ivy gracefully clam- it of that garishness often found in modern architec ture. Within, its columned aisles and beautiful arches supporting the nave make it a fit temple in which to worship the Creator of all beauty. was organized in 1872, and in 1873 built a church bers, giving it just enough of the antique cast to relieve | edifice ou Washington Avenue (Woodside). The first pastor was Rev. J. M. Macauley, D.D., who remained till 1880, and was succeeded in 1ss2 by Rev. William Broadhead, the present pastor. The elders in 1881 were H. H. Nichols, Samuel Baldwin, C. C. Hinc; Deacons, J. T. Kitchell, George T. C'allen.

The pastors of the North Reformed since Mr. Polhemns, have been Rev. - Dubois, Rev. James Demorest Rev. Charles E. Hart to 1880 ; Rev. David Waters. D.D., present pastor, came in 1882.

Clinton Avenue Dutch Reformed Church .- This church was organized in May, 1868, by a colony that went out from the First Reformed Church. The pioneer weekly evening services were conducted for a time by the pastor of the First Church, in the second story of a building on the corner of Kinney and Beecher Streets. Here the meetings were held until Detober, 1869, when the chapel, a brownstone struc- ture of modern Gothic type and beautiful proportions, located at No. 25 Clinton Avenue, was completed.

The following named persons were the pioneer officers of this church : Elders, S. R. W. Heath. Orson Wilson ; George W. Smillie, George W. Bald- win and Dr. Joseph Osborn. Deacons, William B. Morton, George H. Andruss, Hugh Heath, John P. Doremus and David M. Pierson.

In 1872 a brownstone church editice was erected, large and elegant in proportions, with buttressed walls. \ mission Sunday-school has been in active operation for several years, as well as the other socie- ties and associations, which indicate an active spirit and a benevolent church.

The pastor, Rev. W. J. R. Taylor, D.D., the only one ever installed for this church, was formerly secre- tary of the American Bible Society, and is eminently qualified for the work in which he is engaged. He hundred. is an able and effective preacher ; warm-hearted him- self, he makes others respond to his feelings, touches their hearts, and has endeared himself to his people.

The elders for 1881, were S. W. R. Heath, William Robb, G. H. Smillie, J. L. Sutphen, W. B. Morton, G. Neefus, S. H. Wheeler, J. Traphagen ; Deacons, A. Delano, (clerk| D. 11. Morris, O. W. Dunham, C. H. Ingalls, J. R. Van Valen, David Kay, G. H. Andrews, W. U. Jube. Communicants, three hun- dred and fifteen. Sunday-school superintendents. S. 11. Wharton, G. t2. De Witt and A. B. Morrison.

West Newark (Dutch) Reformed Church .- This church was organized in 1866 by members of the other Reformed Churches in the city, and in 1877 bunt their present substantial church edifice, located on Blum Street. The pastors of this church have been Rev. John Minisch to 188]; Rev. Frederick Kern, 1882; and Rev. C. tinenther from 1883 to date. The consistory in 1851 was composed of F. A. Fradt, F. Fieger, M. Ohr, 1. Smith, A. Schoenleber, J. Mason, If. Schilling and E. Fraudt. Communicants one hundred and thirty.

Christ (Dutch) Reformed Church .- This church

There is also in the city of Newark the East Dutch Reformed Church, located at No. 475 Ferry Street, with Rov. William 11. Shafer, pastor ; also the North Reformed Mission, at 37 Belleville Avenue.

German Evangelical Protestant Church-This church was organized Feb. 1, 1847. at Temperance Hall, Nos. 60 and 62 Mulberry Street, with forty members. The property known as Temperance Hall was purchased by the church, and in 1869 rebuilt, making it a very neat and commodious frame church edifice. In the yard adjoining the church is an old cemetery, with a few old head-stones still standing.

The first officers of the church were August Jacob, August Roemer, John Mucher, Henry Rademacher, Heury Brintigan, William Eckardt, George Wein- mann, Henry Meiselbach and Ernst Broomel.

The pastors of this church have been as follows : Rev. John David Rose, from Feb. 7, 1847, to July 3, 1848; Rev. J. M. Serenbetz, July 3, 1848, to Oct. 23, 1849; Rev. Frederick A. Lehlback,' Nov. 22, 1849, to Sept. 3, 1875; Rev. George Sehambach, the pre- sent pastor, since Ort 10, 1875.

The officers of the church for 1884 were George Schambach, president ; John Luckemier, secretary ; Julius Newmann, treasurer ; Hermann Lehlbach, Charles Weber, Theodore Geiser, Adam Laner, Nico- laus Emrich, Ernst Wolf, Charles Kassel, John Zilinski and William Buck. Communicants, right Value of church property, twenty-five thousand dollars.

Connected with the church is a large and flourish- ing Sunday-school, Christian Women's Association, Christian Young Peoples' Association.

St. John's (German) Lutheran Church was organ- ized Oct. 13, 1832, in Mechanic Street; by theorge Rohder, president ; Jacob Gerst, secretary ; Bohlen G. Schmidt, Benedict Schmidt, Daniel Gillett, Wil- liam Becker, Il. A. Hemiels and John Fricker.

The first church edifice was of brick, and built in 1840. The second church edifice was a frame build- ing, erected on West Street. The original members were the First Church Council. The pastors of this church have been,-Rev. Geissenheiner, D.D., eight years; Prof. Winkler, six years; Rev. Marchopf, four years; Rev. Tuerek, eleven years ; Rev. Steiner, two years; and Rev. William Rich, present pastor. The membership of the church in fuly, 1854, was six hun- dred. Value of church property, thirteen thousand dollars. The officers of the church for 1884 were Rev. William Rieb, president ; George Berthold, Bernhardt

1 Died September 11, 1875. (" Atkinson's History of Newark.")

515

RELIGHOL'S INTERESTS OF NEWARK

Bann, William Schulz, Frederick Lanz, Gottlieb Barth, Fred. Weiss and Juhus Schulke.

The Sunday-school connected with this church han a membership of four hundred, and the attendance at the church week-day school is one hundred, with C'ou- rad Kramer as teacher. The church has a mission society ; also a young ladies' and young men's society, all doing a noble work for the church.

St. John's First Lutheran Church .- This church is located at 115 Halsey Street, and was organized in 1834, with the following-named persons as constitu- ent members : J. Disth, C'. Zulauf, George Bower, William Naulter, Henri Giansz, William Brooke, J. Leibbe, Mr. Gran and Mr. Wiegman.

Their first church edifice was a frame building located in Mechanic Street. Their present church edifice is of brick, and purchased in 1862. The mem- bership of this church in July, 1854, was three hun- dred and forty-five. Value of church property, thirty thousand dollars.

The pastors have been Mr. Winkler, four years ; Rev. --- Maschop, twelve years ; Rev. H. Reaguer, one year ; Rev. - Siebold, one and a half years ; Rev. - Ebert, thirteen years; and Rev. Philip Krug.

The elders of this church for 1844 were C. Jalanf, Frederick Schafer, William Eichlof, George Wenner; Trustres, George Steiner, Henry Ober, G. A. Ohl, Henry Formochen, Louis Enrich, George Brown, Jacob Meyer, Frederick Millining and Jacob Kunz-

Church of All Souls (Unitarian) is located at 719 Broad Street ; has been for some time, and is at pre- sent, without a pastor.

The First Free Presbyterian Church, now and since 151 The First Congregational Church.' The tablet upon the front of this edifice bears the date 1551, when the church that had been established as Presbyterian, seventeen years before, passed into the Congregational family .? This event affected only the name and form. In order to the change it was neces- sary formally to dissolve the original organization. The life was unbroken and continuons, and imme- diately incorporated in, as it were, a resurrection luxly, the same in its membership, its traditions, its records and its spirit. The change was no greater than that which takes place in marriage, when the maiden-name is exchanged for the marital. It is therefore a half-century of continuous life which comes before us for review.

Two or three years before the organization of this church, widespread revivals of religion had blessed our land. Out of the revivals of 1831 came, among other fruits, the free church movement.

Several gentlemen connected with Presbyterian

Churches in Newark became concerned for the wel- fire of a class for whose needs they saw no adequate supply. There were chiefly young men and women who had come to town to earn their living, but who lived here as strangers, uncertain of remaining. They found no home in the Presbyterian Churches, though they might in the Methodist, where sittings were free from rent. It seemed that there ought to be at least one Presbyterian Church that should be characteristically a church for strangers, where those whose uncertain abode disinclined them to hire them a seat, and those who felt too poor to pay rent might come freely in and feel at home.

Under the impulse of this benevolent idea, several public-spirited Christian men held meetings during the winter of 1833-31 to consider what could be done. thief among them were Dr. I. M. Ward, Messrs. ... N. Dougherty, J. W. Poinier and Jason Ives. Their meetings were in Dr. Ward's house, on Broad Street, just north of Clinton. Their conference and prayer upon the subject begot a resolution to make the ven- ture, with faith in God's blessing. In the ensuing spring Dr. Ward and Mr. Dougherty put up a frame building on Clinton Street, sufficient for the experi- ment, and designed, after serving that use, for trans- formation into dwelling-houses. The block of three houses nearly opposite this building, west of the Sal- vage Corps house, is that structure. By May it was finished into an audience-room, seventy-five feet by forty, and fitted up with plain board seats. On the 22nd of May, 1834, in the lecture-room of the First Presbyterian Church, from which most of them enme forth, forty-nine persons were organized by the Pres- bytery into the First Free Presbyterian Church of Newark, of which Dr. Ward, Messrs. Dougherty, J'ainier and Ives were constituted ruling elders.

On Sunday, June Ist, the new building was first opened for publie worship. Of those who first set forward, seven only are now known to survive,-Dr. Ward and Mrs. Ward, Mr. W. E. Layton and Mrs. Layton, Mr. Stephen Grimes, Mrs. Eliza Wilcox, Mrs. Maria W. Murch. The last named is the only one who still retains her membership here. On the other hand, her husband at that time, Mr. Sebastian (. Taylor, was the first one removed, dying in the February following.

For the new church a sentiment was felt of hesitat- ing acquiescence, rather than hearty approbation, on the part of those from whom they went forth. It was said there was no need of it; the existing churches had plenty of room in them ; there was more zeal than discretion in the new departure. With no very fer- vent blessing from their brethren, the hopeful pioneers trusted to time and Głod to show whether they had been, as they believed, divinely called. But for this they had to wait not long.

The new edifice was soon filled under the tempor- ary care of the Rev. J. Loring. The membership in- creased in a twelvemonth from forty-nine to one

1 From historical wrion by Rev. James 31. Whiton, I'h P., May 18, 1×81.

The society has a brief business record of the action of the trustees from the beginning. The early records of the church have taken Just, sure what has been proverved In the Manuals of 1836 and 18-13.

516

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

hundred and twenty-six. The Rev. Peter Kanouse, from Wantage, N. J., became permanent pastor Jan. 1, 1835, and was installed on the 4th of that month. He was then fifty years of age. Ile had been a blacksmith until he was between twenty-five or thirty, when, after the death of his wife, he had studied for the ministry. He was tall, with a fine person and voice, a kindly face, a winning and fatherly manner and a fervent spirit.

One year's experience had transformed uncertainty into assurance. God had blessed the venture of faith. It became necessary for the vigorous young church to exchange the cradle provided by private liberal- ity for a permanent home established by its own resources.

On the 4th of May. 1835, the congregation, with that end in view, elected its first trustees, viz. : Stephen G. Gould, Stephen 11. Pierson, Thomas V. Johnson, Louis M. Lindsley, Charles Grant, Otis Boyden, Frederick B. Betts. Their first meeting was on May 7th, when Mr. Pierson was chosen president and Mr. Gould treasurer, and a vote was passed to execute a bond and mortgage for four thousand dol- lars for the required land. t)n June 17th a vote was passed to erect a house of worship, and Messrs. Lindsley, Grant and Gould were chosen to be the building committee. The building was pushed rap- idly, and by the beginning of the next year the lecture-room of this house was opened for worship. Solicitations for help were widely responded to in re- eognition of the benevolent object of a free church. Workingmen gave day's work as masons. The First Presbyterian Church gave help in the shape of an ob- ligation for five hundred dollars, payable in five years, with interest. When it came to the furnishing, materials for the cushions were contributed by the dealers, and the women of the church manufactured them. The money paid out in building amounted to $9071.88.

While the building progressed the church steadily grew, closing the year 1835 with a resident member- ship of one hundred and sixty-five. During this year Mr. James IL Woodhull became a ruling elder in the place of Jason Ives. dismissed to another church. The record of the building ends Jan. 23, 1836, with a vote to purchase a bell of six hundred pounds.

The house was dedicated' on Sunday, March 13, Rev. John J. Shipherd became temporary pastor, 1×36, and was filled as soon as opened.

The spirit of the young church is to be estimated not merely by its crowded assemblies-so full that at times there was not standing room in the galleries nor by its revivalistic spirit and large ingatherings of converts-but also by its position upon the moral questions then stirring in society.

The first Manual of this church, published in De- cember, 1835, states that "this church is established

on temperance principles, and no one is admitted who is unwilling to adopt the temperance pledge." 2

In 1931, William Lloyd Garrison established the anti-slavery journal called The Liberator. In Decem- ber, 1833, the American Anti-Slavery Society was formed in Philadelphia, under Arthur Tappan as president. How the public resented all attempts to rouse the public conscience against the giant sin of the nation is well known. Less than two months after our church was organized a mob attacked the Fourth Presbyterian Church, on the southwest corner of Washington and Academy Streets. The Rev. Dr. Weeks, the pastor, was delivering his Friday evening lecture3 July 11, 1834, and speaking by invitation, on "Slavery as a Sin." The windows were broken and the furniture wrecked, after which the mob pro- ceeded to Dr. Weeks' house, where, after throwing stones and making threats of personal violence, they were persuaded by a prominent citizen to disperse.

It was in the face of such a public sentiment that this church bore its testimony for the cause of human rights. Soon after this building was finished those eloquent advocates of emancipation, the South Caro- lina sisters, Sarah and Angelina Grimke, visited Newark, and addressed a meeting in Dr. Ward's parlor, in the house just east of the church. The parlor proving too small, the lecture-room of the church was opened for their next address. On the 4th of July, about the year 1839, an anti-slavery meeting was held in this house in the forenoon, attended by Lewis Tappan, Joseph Sturge, the English abolition- ist, and Theodore D. Weld. Thus early this church embraced the cause of the oppressed as the cause of God, and made the sacredness of humanity a part of its faith. From this time on until public sentiment was reformed by the slavehollers' rebellion against the Union it bore in this city the unpopular names of " the abolition church " and the "nigger church."

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 128

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