USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > History of Jersey City, N.J. : a record of its early settlement and corporate progress, sketches of the towns and cities that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality, its business, finance, manufactures and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 42
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At the date of the consolidation the number of communicants were 597, eighty-four received from the Jersey City Church being included in this number.
Previous to the union of these churches it had been decided to enlarge the church building and session-house of the Bergen church, as there was not sufficient room to accommodate the congregation or Sabbath-school. After the consolidation arrangements were made to enlarge both buildings, and in the summer of 1890 work was commenced on the session-house which was completed October 8, 1890. The work of enlarging the church building then commenced. The corner-stone was laid October 16, 1890, and the church was re-dedicated October 6, 1891, when Sabbath services were resumed in that building, having previously been held in the Sabbath-school room of the session-house.
This church is in a prosperous condition, spiritually and financially. Every year shows a large increase in membership. At the present time it has the largest number of communicants of any church in the Presbytery of Jersey City. All claims upon it by the boards of the Gen- eral Assembly have been paid promptly, and also those for current expenses of the church.
The following are the officers of this church at date :
Elders-Henry Dusenbery, Charles A. De Witt, S. R. Forman, M. D., James Wilkinson, M. D., Flavel McGee, J. H. Halsey, Charles D. Ridgway, David W. Hull, Manning F. Stires, William Martin, Joseph D. Bedle.
Deacons-Charles P. Benedict, C. F. Patterson, Mrs. H. D. Austin, Miss T. C. Wightman.
Trustees-George F. Perkins, J. D. Bedle, Jr., John Smith, W. H. Dickenson, C. D. Ridg- way, John H. Watson, George S. Smith, F. A. Gebhard, George W. Case, J. W. Dusenbery, J. E. Hulshizer.
Sabbath-school-S. R. Forman, M. D., superintendent ; Frank A. Halsey, secretary ; Chas. D. Ridgway, treasurer ; A. S. Burniston, treasurer Sunday-school Missionary Association.
Ladies' Missionary Society-Mrs. J. D. Bedle, president ; Mrs. George Case, vice-president ; Mrs. J. H. Nelden, secretary ; Miss Annie J. Soper, treasurer.
Our Church Home Society-Mrs. C. D. Ridgway, president; Mrs. A. Sidman, vice-presi- dent ; Mrs. M. F. Stires, secretary ; Mrs. George F. Perkins, treasurer.
Rev. Charles Herr, D. D., pastor ; Rev. Charles K. Imbrie, D. D., pastor emeritus, died, greatly lamented by all, November 20, 1891.
As heretofore stated, this church was formed by the consolidation or union of The Presby- terian Church of Jersey City with The First Presbyterian Church of Bergen, N. J., in March, 1890. The following historical sketch of the Bergen church is taken in part from a discourse delivered by Rev. Edward W. French, D. D., pastor of the church, at its twenty-fifth anniversary held October 24, 188: :
In July, 1856, Mr. John G. Parker and others, residents of South Bergen, Hudson County, N. J., met together at the house of Rev. J. G. Craighead. The subject of the importance and necessity of forming a Presbyterian church was freely discussed. They were united in opinion
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that efforts should be made to gather a nucleus with a hope and view of its subsequent forma- tion. In September following, Mr. Parker invited friends favorable to this enterprise to meet at his house. After an interchange of views it was decided to engage a building occupied as a school-house on Hudson (now known as Storm Avenue). The first services were held Sabbath morning, September 21, 1856, to a congregation of about eighty persons. On Wednesday evening, September 24, 1856, the first prayer meeting was held, which was attended by twelve persons. Rev. Edward W. French preached the three following Sabbaths. Owing to the in- creased attendance upon the services of the church, it was decided to call a meeting of the eon- gregation, October 24, 1856, in order that the society might be incorporated. Application had been made in behalf of the congregation to The Third Presbytery of New York for the organi- zation of a Presbyterian church, which was granted.
The meeting was held October 24, 1856, the church organized, and a board of seven trustees elected, who took upon themselves the name of The First Presbyterian Church of Bergen. N. J.
The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time to this church, Sabbath morning, February 1, 1857. There were twenty-two communicants, all but one re- ceived by certificate.
After due deliberation it was decided to erect a church building, and a plot of ground, 100 by 170 feet on Emory Street, was purchased. The corner-stone of the church building was laid September 16, 1857. Owing to the commercial panic of the autumn and winter of 1857 and 1858, the trustees ordered the cessation of the mason's work. . In the spring of 1858 work was resumed, and on October 28, 1858, the edifice was dedicated.
In 1859 a session-house was erected in the rear of the church building, with appropriate accommodations for the Sabbath-school, lectures, concerts, prayer meeting, social reunions and festivals.
The first service held in it was a meeting for praise and prayer, Wed- nesday evening, January 4, 1860.
Four more lots, south of and next to the church property, were bought, mak- ing the church plot 200 feet in front by 178 feet on the north and 159 feet on the south. The mianse was begun in the spring of 1866, and fully completed in FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. the next November. Rev. Edward W. French, D. D., served the church as stated supply, from September 28, 1856, to November 19 1856, when he received a call to the pastoral office, which he accepted November 26, 1856, and continued to preach as pastor-elect until January 15, 1857, when he was ordained, and installed as pastor by The Third Presbytery of New York, and continued to serve this church until removed by death, February 4, 1885.
Rev. Charles Herr, D. D., succeeded Dr. French January 26, 1886, and continued to act as pastor of this church until March, 1890, the date of its consolidation with The Presbyterian Church of Jersey City.
On the 14th of February, 1870, twelve persons went forth from the communion of the Ber- gen church with their families to constitute, with others, The Claremont Presbyterian Church of Jersey City Heights. Another year and a third passed by, when it relinquished thirteen more, with their households, for the formation of The Prospect Avenue Presbyterian Church of Jersey City (now Westminster). Thus, more members were surrendered in fifteen months than it had at its organization.
The Presbyterian Church of Jersey City, N. J., as before stated, was consolidated with The First Presbyterian Church of Bergen, N. J., in March, 1890, thus forming the church now known as The First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City. The following historical sketch ot The Presbyterian Church of Jersey City is taken in part from a discourse delivered in the year 1887 by its pastor, the late Rev. Charles K. Imbrie, D. D .:
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This church grew out of services held for some time in a building known as the Lyceum, and which were continued for about a year, or until the year 1844, during which it was con- cluded to make a more decided effort to establish a church. The first meeting for this purpose was held in February, 1844, at the house of Andrew Clerk, in Morris Street, Jersey City. After a free interchange of views it was decided to apply to the Presbytery of New York for organ- ization, which took place in the First Reformed Dutch Church, in Grand Street, Jersey City.
There were eleven communicants organized, including the two chosen as elders ; besides these there were thirty-four other persons who united in the request for the organization of the church. Just about this time The First Presbyterian Church of New York, whose building was in Wall Street, had reached the decision to move uptown. At the suggestion of David Hender- son, of Jersey City, it was agreed to ascertain whether their building, which had been renewed as to the interior since it was injured by fire ten years previously, could not be purchased and removed to Jersey City. After some negotiation the contract was effected. The church, with all its furniture, became the property of The Presbyterian Church of Jersey City. The cut stone in the building was all marked, and the building was taken down and carried over to Jersey City, and erected at the corner of Washington and Sussex streets. There were some changes. The building was put up seven feet shorter than it stood in New York. A basement, which had not existed in the New York building, containing the lecture-room, was added, and in this lecture-room were placed six pillars taken from the old Reformed Dutch Church, at the corner of Liberty and Nassau streets, New York City, which was afterwards transformed into the New York Post-office. The architect who supervised the whole was Andrew Clerk, one of the congregation. The steeple was put up as it had been, and a clock and new bell placed in it. The corner-stone was laid September 30, 1844, and the building was finished in 1845. On May 25, 1845, the dedication took place. The Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D., of Princeton Theologi- cal Seminary, who had been thirty years before pastor of the congregation of The First Pres- byterian Church in New York, when the same building was first erected in 1810, preached the sermon.
The first communion service was held in the new building June 29, 1845. Besides Andrew Clerk, the architect, the names of David Henderson and Dudley S. Gregory cannot be omitted in speaking of the erection of this building, for it was by the untiring care and generous liber- ality of these gentlemen that the building was carried to completion at so early a date. The ground on which the building was erected was given for the purpose in part by the company known as The Jersey Associates, and in part by Messrs. David Henderson and Dudley S. Greg- ory, these gentlemen each donating one lot out of the four lots on which the building stood. A nominal ground rent of $60 per annum had always existed upon this property, and was annually paid until it was finally cleared off by the congregation, and in 1864 the balance of all remain- ing indebtedness upon the building was liquidated, and the church has ever since been entirely free from debt. The building stood in Jersey City twelve years longer than it stood in New York, and has passed through a similar experience in both cases. In 1810-11, when it was first erected in Wall Street, the congregation then and for many years after were all, or nearly all, within easy distance of the church's location. Thirty-three years later, or in 1844, when the building was sold to the congregation in Jersey City, the attendants upon the church in New York had moved so far away as to necessitate the removal and the erection of a new building on Fifth Avenue and Eleventh Street. When the Wall Street building was put up in Jersey City almost the whole of Jersey City could readily attend the several churches in the same neighborhood, but by the time it had stood thirty-three years, as in New York, the condition of things had entirely changed. The population which attended the churches in that vicinity for five and twenty years have been withdrawing and taking up their residence in other cities, or at long distances from the church, or on Jersey City Heights, where other Presbyterian churches have been formed.
The Rev. John Johnstone, of New York, formerly of Scotland, was the first pastor of this church. He was called as soon as the church was organized, and was installed pastor in the Re- formed Dutch Church building May 30, 1544, by the Presbytery of New York. He was dis- missed by the same Presbytery May 27, 1850. The Rev. Lewis H. Lee was installed as asso- ciate pastor of Rev. Mr. Johnstone by the sune Presbytery November 15, 1848, and was dismissed by the same December 11, 1849. The Rev Dawid King was ordained and installed by the same
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Presbytery as pastor June 12, 1850. His health failing, he visited Europe : during his absence Rev. W. Eddy (afterwards missionary to Syria) supplied the pulpit. Mr. King returning, and his health soon becoming again infirm, he again went abroad, and Rev. Wilson Phraner sup- plied the church until Mr. King's return. Mr. King's health still being weak, he resigned, and was dismissed by the Presbytery of New York October 14, 1851. Rev. James V. Henry also acted as stated supply of the congregation at different times during these changes.
Before leaving Jersey City Mr. King presided over a meeting of the congregation Novem- ber 14, 1851, at which a call was made to Rev. Charles K. Imbrie, D. D., who was then settled as pastor of The First Presbyterian Church, Rahway, N. J., to become their pastor. Dr. Imbrie preached his first sermon as pastor-elect December 14, 1851, and on February 11, 1852, he was installed as pastor by the Presbytery of New York. He continued to hold the office of pastor until the consolidation or union of his church with The First Presbyterian Church of Bergen. March, 1890, when he was elected pastor emeritus of the consolidated church called The First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City. In April, 1888, commissioners, appointed by the congre- gation of The Presbyterian Church of Jersey City, appeared before the Presbytery of Jersey City at its stated meeting held at Passaic, N. J., with the request that their church be disbanded. and anthority given to its trustees to sell the church building and other property in their pos- session, the proceeds of which to be invested, and the income derived therefrom to be applied for the support of their pastor during his life. The reasons given for making the request were such as to induce the Presbytery to grant it, which was subsequently carried out.
Charles Herr was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., October 20, 1856. His father was A. 11. Herr, of Lancaster County, Pa., and his mother was Narcissa Hoffman, of Virginia, Mr. Herr was educated in private schools, and graduated at Princeton in the class of 1875. He studied law in Washington, D. C., three years, when he decided to enter the ministry. He returned to Princeton, and graduated from the Theological Seminary in 1881. He was ordained by the Pres- bytery of Washington, and was called to the Central Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, as assistant pastor, and remained two years, when he was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Mansfield, Ohio. After serving there three years he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Bergen, now the First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City. On June 2. 1881, he was married to Helen Dongal, of Washington, D. C. Two sons and four daughters have been the issue of the marriage. One of the children, a son, is now dead.
THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The teachers in the Presbyterian mission school in Harsimus thought they were strong enough to organize a church, instead of having to go to the First Church, then at Sussex and Washington streets. The first meeting was held Decem- ber 16, 1851. Thomas S. Doremus, Darius S. Crosby and William Rhodes were elected elders. and John H. Lyon, D. V. Harrison, George H. Taylor, D. S. Crosby, Levi Wilder, Adam Craig and John C. Carpenter as trustees. The first communion was observed on the second Sabbath of February, 1852. There were twenty communicants. The service was held in Smyth's Hall. at Fourth and Grove streets. Rev. Charles Hoover was called to the pastorate April 16. 1852. and was installed by the Third Presbytery of New York June 30 following. He resigned No- vember 9, 1859. The congregation moved from Smyth's Hall to the Old Baptist Church in Barrow Street, and thence to the new church on Third Street, between Jersey Avenue and Eric Street. The main body of the church was built first, the front being completed March 21, 1800. The front contains ante-rooms, church parlors and other rooms. The church was placed on a permanent foundation by Mr. Hoover's labors. Rev. George C. Lucas was pastor from May 31. 1860, to 1863. In June, 1864, Rev. James M. Stevenson was called, and ordained and installed the following October. During his incumbeney a debt of $12,000 was canceled and the build- ing was enlarged. His health failed, and he resigned his charge April 24, 1871. Rev. Hiram Eddy succeeded him, serving from May 30, 1871, until March 16, 1874. Rev. John R. Fisher was pastor from June 19, 1874, until 1883. Rev. Alexander MeKelvey served from February 12, 1884, until September 30, 1892. Rev. H. C. Cronin was called to the pastorate March ;. 1893, and installed June 6 following. Under his pastoral work the church has a new era of prosperity. The session consists of : Wm. German, Win. C. Whyte, John F. Schmidt. J. 11. Frye, Albert Kampermann and Garrett Smith. The trustees are: John S Menagh, Ohver Coombs, A. M. Henry, H. R. Hocker, John T. Rowland, Wm. Howeth and Joseph D. Gopull
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
THE SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, on Mercer Street near Varick, was organized May 29, 1856. The early meetings were held in Andrew Kerr's furniture store on Newark Avenue, nearly opposite the old city hall. The Sunday-school met in the furniture store until Franklin Hall was secured for a temporary meeting room. The original members were Scotch, and when application was made to the First Presbytery of New York, the organization was not approved of because it was thought there were not enough of that nationality in Jersey City to warrant a church. The dozen families who desired to form the church would not be suppressed, and they applied to the Second Presbytery of New York, and their petition was granted. The first pastor was Rev. James Petrie, who remained from November 5, 1856, until 1858, when he re- signed. During his pastorate Franklin Hall was given up, and the congregation secured the old Baptist church on Barrow Street. After Rev. Mr. Petrie resigned, the church was served by supplies until June 7, 1859, when Rev. William Cochrane was ordained and installed pastor. He remained until March 28, 1862, when he ac- cepted a call to a Canadian church, and has there achieved a reputation for elo- quence and efficiency. Dur- ing Dr. Cochrane's pastorate the church edifice was reno- vated and very much im- proved. The congregation later decided to move, and the frame building on the cor- ner of Grove and Montgom- - cry streets was secured, but it was not satisfactory, and the frame church on the cor- ner of Erie and Sixth streets was bought, and it was the A church home from October, 1862, until the present edifice was built in 1874.
On October 21, 1862, Rev. James Harkness was in- stalled as pastor, and the church grew rapidly under V his charge. The new brick church was erected during his pastorate. It is a brick building of English gothic SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. style, 52 by 86 feet. The front is of Philadelphia pressed brick with stone trimmings. The pews in the audience room will seat 480, and the gallery contains seats for 70 'more. The basement contains trustees, lecture, Sabbath-school, infant class and library rooms. By sliding doors the lecture room and Sabbath-school room can be thrown into one, forming a large hall. The building cost $39,000. Rev. James Harkness died in the service July 4, 1878. He was a remarkable man, both in physical appearance and in attainments. He was born in Scotland in 1803. lle prepared for college at the Jedburgh High School, and grad- uated in the Edinburgh University. After graduation he entered the medical department and took the full course of medicine. He then went to the Glasgow University and graduated in theology under the celebrated Dr. Dick. Ile was licensed by the Presbytery of Edinburgh in 1830, and his first call was to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but he would not accept it. He preached in London for several months, and accepted a call to Ecclesfechan, in Dumfrieshire, where he
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was ordained in 1832. After seven years he resigned his pastorate because he had decided to remove to the United States. He arrived in New York on Sunday morning, May 5, 1839, and took his family to the Astor House, where he left them while he called on the late David llen- derson, a relative in Jersey City. That evening he accepted an invitation, and preached his first sermon in Jersey City before the First Reformed congregation, then worshipping in Park Hall. He accepted a call to the Franklin Street Reformed Church in New York, and preached there about a year, but was not regularly installed. Before leaving Franklin Street he had a call to the Laight Street Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Varick Street, then one of the large churches of the metropolis. Sickness in his family compelled him to leave the city, and in December, 1842, he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Matteawan, Dutchess County, N. Y. He remained there several years and built up a strong congregation.
His next charge was at Fishkill Landing, where he was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church until November, 1855, when he accepted a call to the State Street Presbyterian Church in Rochester, N. Y. There his throat became affected, and he resigned after four years. He removed to Yonkers and remained there four years without preaching. In 1862 he accepted a call from the Scotch Presby- terian Church in this city. It was then a mission church. His ministry was pros- perous, and he soon had the congregation on a self-sustaining basis. His ministry extended over a period of forty-six years. His last sermon was preached on June 16th, when he officiated both morning and evening. His last public act was on June 20th, when he attended a funeral. He was a lifelong student, and eenversed - fluently in Greek, Latin and Hebrew. He practised medicine as a matter of charity until 1843, when his success brought him a large practice. In 1840 his attention was drawn to homeopathy. He took a full course in the Medical University of New York to refresh his memory prior to 1843. and when the New York College of Ho- meopathy was established he took a regn- lar course there, and received the degree of M. D. for the third time. He practised inedicine thirty-six years with marvelous success, carrying on the double work with- out any evidence of the strain to which he was subjected. He was one of the orig- REV. DAVID MITCHELL. inators of the Gamma Sigma Society in Jersey City, and its members were his pall-bearers. He was buried in the Rural Cemetery at Fishkill. 1
During Dr. Harkness' pastorate the name of the church was changed from Scotch to Third It was thought that the name militated against it. Rev. S. S. Stobbs became pastor on January 25, 1879, Rev. Andrew Colville on May 5, 1885, and Rev. David Mitchell on March 8, 1886 He was well known in the Province of Ontario, and built the Central Presbyterian Church of To- ronto before he accepted the call to Jersey City .. There are two ladies' societies, two societies of Christian Endeavor, a young ladies' brigade and a literary society among the active agents 111 the church work. The present elders are : Richard Vevers, G. G. Lane and Willitun Jones
THE TABERNACLE CONGREGATION. This church had an informal organization in September, 1857. On March 29, 1858, a council of neighboring churches was convened to advise upon the propriety of organizing a church. In accordance with the recommendation of this council,
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nineteen persons formally organized on April 14, 1858: These original members were : Mrs. E. E. Allen, Charles H. Dummer, J. V. N. DeHart, N. P. Dennison, Aug. H. Farlan, A. S. Hatch, Mrs. Theodosia Hatch, Fred. W. B. Hemming, Mrs. Mary M. Hemming, Mrs. Jane S. Hatch, S. F. Lund, Catharine Lund, Stephen N. St. John, Mrs. Laura E. St. John, Harriet T. Storrs, Will- iam S. Taylor, Mrs. Julia L. Taylor, Illinois Winters and Mrs. Elvira Winters.
The recognition service was held on April 25th, ensuing. Lyceum Hall was secured for a place of worship, and from there the little band moved successively to Park Hall, Metropolitan Hall, Franklin Hall, and back to the Lyceum. It was not until April 17, 1861, that the church felt strong enough to call a pastor. Mr. John Milton Holmes was called from the Andover Theological Seminary. He was ordained and installed on May 23, 1861. The installation service was held in the Hedding M. E. Church. The Lyceum soon became too small for the congregation, and on June 15, 1862, the church at Grove and Montgomery streets was secured. On June 16, 1862, the corner-stone of the present Tabernacle was laid. The building was opened for worship May 3, 1863. Rev. Mr. Holmes resigned on April 7, 1867 ; the congrega- tion did not accept it, but sent him to Europe in search of health. He was gone a year, but was not improved. His resignation was accepted on May 5, 1869, and he died September 20, 1871. Rev. G. B. Willcox was installed December 8, 1869, and remained until April 27, 1875. For two years the church remained without a pastor. Rev. A. P. Foster was installed May 23, 1877. He resigned March 23, 1886, and went to the Emanuel Congregational Church in Boston, Mass. Rev. J. L. Scudder was installed October 26, 1886, and is still pastor.
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