USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 1 > Part 64
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359
MONMOUTH COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
The re-supply of the county, which was ordered in 1849, was found not to have been completed this year, but ran through subse- quent years till the anniversary of 1853, when the final report was made. Perhaps a more interesting report was never before made to this society. Certainly there has never been anything like it in the way of statistics, whether we regard the volume of the figures or the min- uteness and uniformity of the details. The re- ports of two whole townships and two parts of townships were lost before they were put on rec- ord; and with the exception of these and the statistics of the part of Upper Freehold embraced in Allentown and vicinity, of which no report was made to the executive committee, the fig- ures foot up : Families, 3304; destitute, 305- or more than one in eleven ; Bibles circulated, 1100; Testaments, 664. This was in Mon- mouth County, diminished by the erection of the county of Ocean in 1850.
The results would seem to show more thor- ough work than had ever been made before in the county.
At this meeting Bennington F. Randolph, Esq., was chosen secretary, in place of Rev. John M. Rogers, resigned.
At the annual meeting in 1856, the Rev. Ezra W. Collier was appointed treasurer in place of Rev. H. D. Ganse, who had removed from the county.
With the opening of the fifth decade of the society's existence a new phase of life and ac- tivity is noticed. The time had come for action on its long-cherished purpose of aiding the pa- rent society in the world-wide diffusion of its beneficeut work. Up to the year 1850 only $86.36 had been contributed in all the years of this society to the Bible cause beyond its own particular field. In 1857 this sum had increased to $2169. The annual collections for the last four years had averaged $470.13 per year, com- pared with $187.83 as the average of the four ending with 1847.
At the anniversary of 1857 it was resolved to make another effort to supply the county with the Scriptures. The executive committee was authorized to employ agents for such parts of . the work as could not otherwise be performed,
so as, if possible, to complete the supply within the year.
At this meeting Bennington F. Randolph, Esq., asked to be relieved from further service as secretary, an office which he had held for four years ; whereupon the society reluctantly consented, in a resolution highly appreciative of his services in behalf of the Bible cause.
Gilbert H. Van Mater was then appointed secretary, and held the office up to 1868.
At the annual meeting in 1858, the exec- utive committee reported the work on the can- vass and supply of the county completed in six townships and parts of three others. Three townships were supplied by an agent, the rest by voluntary labor.
The next annual report showed all the town- ships supplied except Shrewsbury, Atlantic and Raritan. The executive committee exerted themselves to secure the supply of these during the next year, but with limited success. Though this supply was by no means equal to the last in thoroughness and efficiency, yet a good work was done. In the townships of Howell, Wall and Ocean, supplied by the agent, ninety-nine families were found destitute, and one hun- dred and eighty-nine Bibles were circulated. A general summary of the whole cannot be given, for the reason that in the other town- ships the statistics are not full and uni- form.
From this time there is nothing worthy of' note in the operations of the society till the an- nual meeting of 1861, when the attention of the friends of the Bible was directed to the soldiers in the army. The following resolutions were passed at this meeting :
" Resolved, That considerations of patriotism, and a regard to the spiritual wants of those who, by their services in the army, are removed from their religious privileges, urge on us the duty of distributing the Scriptures as far as possible among the soldiers, and having learned with great satisfaction of the efforts of the American Bible Society for this end, we pledge our co-operation to the extent of our ability.
" Resolved, That this Society approve of the work which has been done in Trenton, in supplying the sol- diers of our county with the New Testament, and do direct that the work be continued as begun."
On this subject, the Rev. Dr. George Sheldon,
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360
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
agent of the American Bible Society of this State, said,-
"Among us the distribution of the Scriptures in that portion of the army composed of our own troops was conducted under a plan peculiar to this State, and seems to have given general satisfaction.
"While in camp, before leaving the State, the men were supplied with handsome copies of pocket New Testaments, in the name of the Bible Societies of the several counties from which they had come, and so went forth equipped with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Additional supplies were also sent to chaplains, to replace such copies as were lost. In this, as well as in other ways, our men were continually reminded of God and of their Christian friends at home.
"The aggregate expense was apportioned among the several County Bible Societies, on the basis of the rolls kept in the adjutant-general's office at Trenton. The part belonging to Monmouth County was about $704, and the number of volumes distributed among Monmouth County soldiers was about 2500; the ac- tual number was probably in excess of this."
The minutes of this society in continuation show that when bills were presented, from time to time, for Testaments given to soldiers from this county, such bills were passed by a vote of the society at the next annual meeting, and orders given to the American Bible Society to charge the same to this society, against funds kept con- stantly on deposit there for the purchase of Bibles when wanted.
At the anniversary of 1863 notice was taken of the death of the Rev. Charles Webster, who had died during the year. He was a life director in the American Bible Society, -a life-long worker in the good cause,-of which twenty-three years were spent in co-operation with this organization.
The year ending with the annual meeting of 1865 was remarkable as exhibiting a larger amount of donations than had been made in any year of the society's history. They amounted to $886.48, of which $243.22 were contributed by the Methodist Episcopal Churches in the county. Arrangements were made at this meet- ing for celebrating the jubilee of the American Bible Society by holding Bible meetings in different parts of the county, by soliciting larger contributions to the funds of the society, and by making a fresh canvass and re-supply
of the county, all of which were but imper- fectly carried out.
At the anniversary of 1866 the Rev. Ezra W. Collier, the treasurer of the society, having removed out of the county, after surrendering his trust to the executive committee, William Statesir, Esq., was chosen to fill his place. The resolution to re-supply the county was renewed, and arrangements were made for a celebration of the jubilee or fiftieth anniversary of the society, which was duly held September 11, 1866, and of which the following report is taken from the Monmouth Democrat, under date of September 19th, having been reported for that paper by the editor :
" The fiftieth anniversary of the Monmouth County Bible Society was celebrated on Wed- nesday last, the 11th inst., at the Presbyterian Church in Freehold. There was a very large attendance of the friends of the cause from all parts of the county and from other parts of the State. The exercises were of a highly interest- ing character, and the occasion was one long to be remembered by all who were present.
" The meeting was called to order at half-past ten o'clock, A.M. by Rev. Ralph Willis, of Marlboro', president of the society. After sing- ing by the choir, a fervent prayer was offered by Rev. Donald McLaren. Next in order was the reading of the Scriptures by Rev. L. H. Van Doren, who selected the 19th Psalm and 2d chapter of Proverbs, and accompanied the reading with an interesting practical comment- ary upon the text. Mr. Willis then made a brief address. He said the occasion was one of unusual interest and should be one of thankful- ness; it also demanded an enthusiasm, and that if there was any cause more than another that demanded our hearty support, it was the Bible cause. In conclusion, he congratulated the soci- ety on the arrival of its semi-centennial anni- versary. As he had been instructed to limit the speakers to fifteen minutes each, he, himself, would not occupy the time. He then read let- ters from Rev. Job Halsey, D.D., and B. F. Randolph, Esq., acknowledging invitations and making excuses for not being present.
"The choir then sang the 119th Psalm, sec- ond part. Rev. H. C. Westwood, D.D., of the
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361
MONMOUTH COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Princeton, was in- troduced and delivered an able sermon from the text Rev. xxii. 18, 19.
"The sermon was followed by prayer. Next in order was an address of the representative of the American Bible Society. Rev. Dr. Sheldon was called upon to respond. He announced that Rev. Dr. Taylor, one of the secretaries of the parent society, who had engaged to fill the . place, would soon be present. The choir sang 19th Psalm, fifth part, and during the singing Dr. Taylor arrived. He gave a hearty greet- ing to this society upon the occasion of its meet- ing, and then with stirring eloquence repre- sented the blessed fruits of the Bible work, and gave a brief statement of the aims and scope of the labors of the American Bible Society.
"The president then announced that the ladies of the several churches in Freehold had pre- pared a collation under the trees on the grounds of the 'Young Ladies' Seminary,' which had been kindly tendered by Professor A. Richardson, and invited all present to partake of it. After the benediction the meeting adjourned to two o'clock P.M.
"At two o'clock the meeting reassembled, and commenced their exercises by singing the 378th hymn. Rev. William Reiley, D.D., of Holm- del, then delivered, according to appointment, the historical address. Brief addresses from friends of the society and former laborers within the county being then in order, Rev. Harvey D. Ganse, D.D., of New York, was called upon. He came forward and said it gave him great pleasure to be present. He wished to express his thanks to Dr. Westwood for his sermon, to Dr. Reiley for his lucid history. He paid a tribute to the labors of Dr. McLean, so often alluded to in the historical address. He came here to see the faces of dear friends with whom he had labored in past years. He went on to relate a number of interesting incidents connected with the operations of this society in this section in years long past, of which he was personally cognizant. In conclusion, he alluded to the pleasant social gatherings of this hour, and of his enjoyment in the occasion, and re- minded his hearers that time was passing, and
feelingly and impassionately warned them to prepare for eternity.
"Rev. L. H. Van Doren was then called upon. He cordially reciprocated the kindly remarks of Dr. Ganse. For seventeen years he had been pastor of a church that gave as much, if not more, than any other church in the county, and had been personally active in the Bible cause. He had himself carried the Bibles in a wheelbarrow and distributed them to the destitute of his township. He felt solemn, in connection with the joy of this occasion, when he reflected how little had been done,-if men would give in this county as the Lord had pros- pered them, they would give by thousands in- stead of hundreds. He gave some interesting reminiscences of past times. - Among others, he mentioned the labors of Luther Halsey, who not only carried Bibles to the people, but took with him, in his carriage, food for himself and horse, and spectacles to enable the aged to read the Bibles when they got them,-all a free gift. In conclusion, he said he would soon pass away, but before meeting the present generation in eternity he wanted to do something for them. At the present rate people were born faster than the Bible Society could produce Bibles. He wished this society to sustain him in recom- mending the publication and distribution of God's word in separate books as God gave it to us, and offered a resolution to the effect that the American Bible Society be requested, when un- able to furnish the whole Bible, to furnish one of the books of the same. The president stated that the resolution could not be entertained for discussion at this meeting, but would be referred to the regular business meeting of the society.
Representatives of other county Bible Socie- ties were called for, when the following reported : Rev. H. C. Westwood, D. D., and Prof. J. F. Schenck, special delegates from the Princeton Society ; Rev. J. H. Van Doren, special dele- gate from Morris County Society.
Rev. F. Chandler announced that Dr. John T. Woodhull, one of the members of the first board of directors of this society, was in the house and would like to address the meeting ; but his voice was too feeble to be heard. He also stated that Judge Thomas (. Throckmor-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
ton, also one of the founders of the society, and believed to be the only other one now living, was in a ripe old age, among us, having his residence in this village, respected and beloved by all who knew him.
Rev. D. V. McLean, D. D., was called for. He thanked Drs. Reiley and Ganse for the kind notice they had given of his labors in this society years ago. He continued in a pleasant vein of reminiscences of the early history of the society, with which he had been actively identified, and read a biographical sketch of the life of Rev. Dr. John Woodhull, the first president of this society, which embraced notices of his sons,-Gilbert S. Woodhull, one of the sixteen founders of the American Bible Society, and Dr. John T. Woodhull, one of the first directors of this society. He also read sketches of Dr. Samuel Forman, Dr. Thomas Hender- son, Joseph Scudder, William, James, Caleb and Corlies Lloyd, and referred to others who had taken an active part in the work of this society.
Dr. Sheldon, the State agent of the Ameri- can Bible Society, expressed his gratification with the exercises on this occasion and with the great number of persons present.
Dr. Reiley said that it had been stated that but two of the original members of this society were yet alive; he had just been informed that there. was another survivor,-Dr. James H. Baldwin, of Blawenberg, Somerset County.
Rev. Donald McLaren, Chaplain of the United States navy, recently from the frigate "Powhattan," said that during the last two years he had had opportunity to observe the effects of distributing the Bible. On board a ship it was a great auxiliary to the preacher's work. Men of various nations were here gath- ered together, and could not be reached except by the Bible in their own language. To see it in the familiar characters of their youth had a powerful influence upon them. In this connec- tion he related some interesting incidents which had come under his own observation.
At the close of his remarks he said he had greetings to bring from an unexpected quarter, -from the Bible Society of Peru. At Lima he had been permitted to assist in the formation
of a Bible society,-it was small, but it was an earnest one ; and he asked for it the prayers of this society. The government and the prevail- ing religion were opposed to it, and the people had to make their applications for the Bible privately. The history he gave of this society was one of the most interesting features of the meeting.
It was now drawing well on to the close of the day, and yet the audience showed no abate- ment of interest in the proceedings; it was time to close; President Willis made some remarks to that. effect, and called upon Rev. J. L. Ke- hoe, of Manchester, to offer prayer.
It was then announced that the ladies had again spread the tables under the trees, and all present were invited to take tea before sepa- rating for their homes. The Doxology was then sung, the benediction pronounced, and the jubi- lee meeting ended.
At the conclusion of the Rev. Dr. Reiley's historical address, mentioned in the above re- port of the jubilee (and from which address the preceding historical sketch of the society has been chiefly taken), the speaker said :
" So far, the duty allotted to us has been performed. We have briefly traversed the history of the society from its feeble beginning; we have scanned the past, and have brought ourselves to the present time-the end of fifty years of responsibilities, of duties and of labor. While some would venture to say that this society has done all it might and could have done, and while few would deny that there is abundant reason for humiliation that so many opportunities of doing good have been suffered to pass unimproved, all may rejoice in the good hand of the Lord that has been upon the society, prospering His own cause, and enabling it, in the midst of the untoward circum- stances surrounding it, to attain to its present power and efficiency for good. It is true, we can see but little more than bare facts and figures, but we may well hope that higher results have been reached than appear to human vision. No one can tell this day how much the Monmouth County Bible Society has done to raise the standard of intelligence and morals in the county. There is no educator like the Bible, no reformer so efficient, while more than all is its in- fluence on the hearts and hopes of men as subjects of the Divine will, and as travelers to an eternal world.
"This much, however, we can all see in the work of the last fifty years, starting from the ' day of small things,' and reaching forward. This society has put
'363
MONMOUTH COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
in circulation in the county of Monmouth 10,151 Bibles and 5817 Testaments, besides the 2500 and up- wards of Testaments furnished to the soldiers in the army, at an aggregate cost of $6036.45, less $882.93 standing to the credit of this society on the Ist of April last, on the books of the parent society, and which is now being drawn on for the supply of the county. There has been paid, in donations, to the American Bible Society, for its general work, $5670.85, and the contributions to the treasury have averaged $768.88 per annum for the last four years. If this sum shall seem less than might be expected, it is so much above the average of years in the past " as to be highly encouraging ; and in connection with the donations made to the parent society is highly suggestive. The duty realized of sending the Bible to all the world creates the willing mind to give. As the Monmouth County Bible Society became con- scious of having a share in the spiritual advancement and eternal destiny of all the nations, the volume of her beneficence began to expand, and under the in- fluence of the Blessed Spirit, as we humbly trust, will continue to increase till all nations shall receive the Word of Life."
Following is a list of the officers of the society since the commencement of the second half-cen- tury of its existence, viz. :
1868.
President : Asbury Fountain.
Vice-Presidents : Rev. F. Slater, Rev. George Sei- bert, Rev. Thaddeus Wilson, D. H. Wyckoff. Secretary : Amzi C. McLean, Freehold.
Treasurer, : William Statesir, Freehold.
Executive Committee : Rev. Frank Chandler, Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Rev. William M. Moffat, Rev. J. L. Kehoe, John Baird, Horatio Ely.
1869.
President : Hon. William Spader.
Vice-Presidents: Rev. William D. Hires, Rev. J. B. Wilson. Nathaniel S. Rue, D. B. Strong.
Secretary : Rev. Frank Chandler.
Treasurer: William Statesir.
Executive Committee: Rev. John L. Kehoe, Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Rev. M. Relyea, John Baird, John Dorrance, Gordon D. White.
1870.
President : John Dorrance, Freehold.
Vice-Presidents : Rev. J. B. Ketcham, Rev. H. Belt- ing, Hon. William P. Forman, A. T. Vanderveer. Secretary : Rev. George Swain, Marlboro'.
Treasurer : William Statesir, Freehold.
Executive Committee : Rev. Frank Chandler, Free- hold; Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Holmdel; Rev. Edward Hewitt, Raritan ; Hon. N. S. Rue, Upper Freehold; D. B. Strong, Matawan; J. F. T. Forman, Freehold.
1871.
President: Hon. William P. Forman, Manalapan.
Vice-Presidents : Rev. W. D. Hyers, Rev. A. A. Za- briskie, William R. Mapes, Amzi C. McLean. Secretary : Rev. George Swain, Marlboro'.
Treasurer : William Statesir, Freehold.
Executive Committee : Rev. Frank Chandler, Free- hold; Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Holmdel; Rufus Ogden, Raritan ; Hon. N. S. Rue, Upper Freehold; D. B. Strong, Matawan; Tunis T. Conover, Freehold.
1872.
President : Holmes W. Murphy, Freehold.
Vice-Presidents: Rev. J. L. Kehoe, Rev. J. B. Dob- bins, D.D., John Baird, Henry Seabrook.
Treasurer : William Statesir, Freehold.
Secretary : George Swain, Marlboro'.
Executive Committee : Rev. Frank Chandler, Free- hold; Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Holmdel; Rufus Ogden, Raritan; Hon. N. S. Rue, Upper Freehold; D. B. Strong, Matawan; James J. Conover, Freehold.
1873.
President : G. H. Van Mater, Holmdel.
Vice-Presidents: Rev. R. J. Andrews, Rev. James B. Wilson, Rev. Frank Chandler, William Ely.
Treasurer : William Statesir.
Secretary : Rev. George Swain.
Executive Committee : Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Holmdel ; Holmes W. Murphy, Freehold; Rev. C. H. Hageman, D.D., Freehold; Gordon D. White, Matawan; Rev. J. L. Kehoe, Manalapan ; Rufus Ogden, Keyport.
1874.
President: John Van Doren.
Vice-Presidents : Rev. A. C. Millspaugh, Rev. J. E. Adams, Rev. Frank Chandler, John E. Johnston. Treasurer: William Statesir.
Secretary : Aaron C. Hart.
Executive Committee: Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Rev. C. S. Hageman, D.D., Rev. James Bolton, James S. Yard, Charles Meirs, Daniel D. Hunt.
1875.
President : James S. Yard, Freehold.
Vice-Presidents: Rev. T. W. Wells, Marlborough ; Rev. George Reed, Branchburg; A. T. Vander- veer, Long Branch; Daniel B. Strong, Mata- wan.
Treasurer : William Statesir, Freehold.
Secretary : Aaron C. Hart, Freehold.
Executive Committee : Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Rev. C. S. Hageman, D.D., Rev. Frank Chand- ler, C. V. Golden, Charles Meirs, Daniel D Hunt.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
1876.
President : Rev. A. C. Millspaugh, Marlborough. Vice-Presidents : Rev. J. M. Anderson, Matawan ; Gilbert H. Van Mater, Holmdel; Holmes W. Murphy, Freehold. Treasurer : William Statesir, Freehold. Secretary : Aaron C. Hart, Freehold.
Executive Committee: Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Holmdel; Rev. C. S. Hageman, D.D., Freehold; Rev. Frank Chandler, Freehold; Rev. A. Law- rence, Freehold; C. W. Fountain, Matawan ; Charles Meirs, Upper Freehold. .
1877
President : Hon. N. S. Rue, Cream Ridge.
Vice-Presidents: Rev. W. H. Pearne, Freehold; John
Dorrance, Freehold; Hon. William Spader, Mata- wan.
Treasurer: William Statesir, Freehold.
Secretary : A. C. Hart, Freehold.
Executive Committee: Rev. William Reiley, Holm- del; Rev. C. S. Hageman, Freehold; Rev. Frank Chandler, Freehold; Rev. Dr. Stokes, Ocean Grove; Charles W. Fountain, Matawan ; Charles Wilson, Upper Freehold.
1878.
President : George W. Bell.
Vice-Presidents : Rev. C. S. Hageman, D.D., G. H. Van Mater, N. S. Rue. Treasurer : William Statesir.
Secretary : Rev. J. M. Anderson.
Executive Committee: Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Rev. Frank Chandler, D.D., Rev. T. W. Wells, William Spader, D. B. Strong, Rufus Ogden.
1879.
President: William L. Terhune.
· Vice-Presidents: Rev. George Swain, D.D., Hon. W. P. Forman, John Statesir, Jr. Treasurer : William Statesir.
Secretary : Rev. James M. Anderson.
Executive Committee: Rev. William Reiley, D.D., Rev. Frank Chandler, D.D., Rev. George C. Mad- dock, Charles W. Fountain, James J. Conover, Joseph W. Hulse.
1880.
President : Hon. Amzi C. McLean, Freehold.
Vice-Presidents : Horatio Ely, Rev. H. A. Hendrick- son, Holmes W. Murphy.
Treasurer: William Statesir, Freehold.
Secretary : Rev. J. M. Anderson, Matawan. .
Exective Committee: Rev. William Reiley, D.D., . Rev. Frank Chandler, J. J. Conover, J. W. Hulse, Rev. G. C. Maddock, Rev. T. S. Griffith, William L. Terhune.
1881.
President : William R. Maps.
Vice-Presidents : G. H. Van Mater, A. H. Harris, D. B. Strong, Daniel H. Wyckoff.
Treasurer : William Statesir.
Secretary : J. M. Anderson.
Executive Committee : Rev. I. P. Brokaw, Rev. Frank Chandler, James S. Yard, Rev. T. W. Wells, James J. Conover, Andrew Perrine, Alfred Wal- ters.
1882.
President : Hon. Amzi C. McLean, Freehold.
Vice-Presidents : G. H. Van Mater, Holmdel ; A. H.
Harris, D. B. Strong, Matawan ; D. H. Wyckoff, Asbury Park.
Treasurer: William Statesir.
Secretary : James J. Conover, Freehold.
Executive Committee : Rev. I. P. Brokaw, Rev. Frank Chandler, James S. Yard, Rev. Theodore W. Wells, Andrew Perrine, Rev. G. C. Maddock, A. Walters.
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