USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Montclair > History of Montclair township state of New Jersey; including the history of the families who have been identified with its growth and prosperity > Part 15
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HISTORY OF MONTCLAIR TOWNSHIP.
other life's possibilities : making much of what all Christians believe, and paying little or no attention to the infinite (and valueless) points of difference. While ethical on the one hand and inspiring on the other. it has been largely educational. Within a few years past Dr. Bradford has preached, in course, through the Life of Jesus: First Corinthians ; the Epistles of John : Hebrews ; and he is now on the Aets. Sunday evening services (largely attended by people outside his own regular congregation) have given courses on Books of the Bible : biographieal lectures on Great Heroes of Christianity : notable classes of Literature (fiction, poetry, history. etc.) ; Marked Movements in religion. philosophy, social interests, labor and capital-in short. a constant application of Christian thought to daily life.
" The question of making Sunday evening services attractive has been solved by hard work on subjects about which people are anxious to hear, and the audiences are nearly always as large as the morning congregation-sometimes larger. This winter, once a month, the people will hear some outsider of note and worth. Sunday evening of last week it was Mrs. Booth-Clibborne, and the thousand dollars raised then and there on her appeal for her work in France shows the responsive temper of the gathering. Mrs. Ballington-Booth. Dr. Charles A. Briggs, and Professor M. R. Vincent are others who are already engaged to come during the winter. Either by exchange or otherwise Dr. Bradford's people hear the best speakers in all departments of Christian life and labor. Not long sinee, a periodical course of sermons on Christian Evidenees embraced such preachers as Professor Tucker, of Andover. Charles S. Robinson, Lyman Abbott, Charles F. Deems, Richard S. Storrs, Dr. Behrends, Ecob, of Albany, and others. Thus Dr. Bradford keeps both his church and himself awake to the best thought of the day : vet care is taken that the thought shall not end in mere entertainment or intellectual self-satisfaction, but issue in works, for God and man. A little volume of Dr. Bradford's discourses, including several on the work of the Holy Spirit, and others on fundamental principles of Christian thinking and doing, was issned a year or so ago. entitled . Spirit and Life.' which took high rauk not only, but finds and helps many readers with its simple and eloquent directness. During this winter he is giving lectures on Congregationalism at Andover.
" There is nothing unique about this Montelair church. It offers no startling innovations or ingenious mechanisms and methods; except that, being neither a city nor a country church, but suburban. it must find a common ground of interest and activity for a very promiscuous gathering of people, both metro- politan and rural. And, as a genuine Christian church, doing excellent Christian work. it is on the right road, because it follows the simple ways of the Master. It teaches the way of this life as He did ; in study of the Scriptures for moral and spiritual guidance it . brings forth things both new and old': and, with a cheerful vigor, * goes about doing good.'
" Its theology. Fatherhood ; its polity, Brotherhood : revealed and exemplified in Jesus Christ.
" The society was formed in January. 1870, and was in May organized as a church, with eighty-four members, and formally established in the Congregational fellowship by council on the Sth of June. The 28th of the same month Mr. Bradford, then a new graduate from Andover, aged twenty-three. was called. and on the 28th of September installed as the first pastor of the church-and for over twenty-one years he has been their only one. In 1872 their stone building was erected, then far too large for their needs ; but now the increased membership (about seven hundred) and the steadily growing congregations have compelled the new enlargement. The need for it is proven by the fact that in the services the church is as well filled as before the extension.
" It is a church of families-a true suburban church. It embraces many professional men, but New York toilers of all kinds are among its attendants, and numerous resident workers, tradesmen, mechanics and townsfolk of Montelair itself. and people from the country near by. It is a capital sample segment of the 'social loaf.'
" It is a church where the young people receive much attention, and well repay it. Most who unite with the church on confession of faith do so by way of the pastor's elass, which supplements at that critical time the foregoing work of the Sunday school and Bible classes. The little catechism and leaflet of suggestions prepared by Dr. Bradford for this class has been published by the Congregational
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Publishing Society in Boston, for wider usefulness. The young people are interested in missions, in their Society of Christian Endeavor, and in the work of the church generally.
" It is a missionary church. It has put forth one colony (not as a mission, but an outgrowth) in Upper Montelair. It has in one of the neediest portions of Montelair a mission chapel, which provides a Sunday school, regular preaching services Sunday evenings, and meetings during the week for Christian reformatory and social work. Dr. Bradford's helper. now in charge of it. Mr. Louis Heckman, gladly proclaims himself a resened one, and is devoting his whole time, tireless energy, and special aptitude to the mission. This includes, by the way, weekly services at the Mountain-side Hospital and at the Penitentiary in Caldwell -- from which latter place discharged conviets come in considerable numbers, and stop at the . Washington Street Mission' to find their friend Heckman and get through him. from Montelair people, some material aid in clothes, money, and sometimes work, as a beginning toward a new and better life. Another similar mission is under way for another part of the town. The Ladies' Missionary Societies (three of them are in constant activity for the home and foreign fields, and the annual money contributions for missionary purposes are about $10,000. Two of the church members-the Rev. J. D. Eaton and his wife, the latter a daughter of the church-are missionaries in Mexico, and three of the young men of the church are at present preparing for the ministry. Dr. Bradford, about a year ago. delivered an address on . The Duties of the Suburbs to the Cities,' and this has been circulated in thon- sands by Dr. Seudder's Jersey City Tabernacle Church, while the Montelair Church, more than any other, has been behind the noble effort of the Tabernacle to reach the neglected portions of its great city. The enthusiasm for such labors of love permeate- Bradford's own people, and several of the young ladies of the church have engaged in the New York Rivington Street and other City Mission work. In fact, the ideal aimed at seems to be that of a large central church for the main source of influence and inspiration, with such other focal points of practical altruistic Christian labor as may develop under the demand of need."
Of those who have served as deacons since the organization of the church are Samuel Holmes, Joseph B. Beadle, James B. Pearson, David B. Hunt. Samuel D. Crosby. Alexander M. Clerihew, Franklin W. Dorman, Cornelin- A. Marwin, Frederick D. Somers. Joseph Van Vleck. William B. Holmes, Charles II. Johnson.
Those who have served as trustees are Samnel Holmes, Joseph B. Beadle, Samuel Wilde, Charles II. Johnson. Edward Sweet, Julius II. Pratt. Nathan T. Porter, Dorman T. Warren, Henry A. Dike, Joseph Van Vleck. J. Hewey Ames, George H. Mills, Robert M. Boyd, Jasper R. Rand, Ogden Brower.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Sunday school was the natural outgrowth of the Church, and was organized. under the most favor- able auspices, on the second Sunday of JJune, 1970, with 72 >cholars and I> teachers. Mr. Charles II. John- son was chosen its first Superintendent, and continued to discharge the duties of that offiee with commend. able zeal. earnestness and devotion for eighteen years, resigning in December, 1855. He was ably supported by a corps of officers and teachers, fully equipped by previous experience for the work. Mrs Edward Sweet. a lady of great executive ability, was made Assistant Superintendent. She proved a valuable aid to him in his work, and won the hearts of all by her kindness and affability. After four years of earnest and patient labor, she was compelled to resign the position in consequence of failing health. She was followed by Mrs. Samuel Wilde, who for nearly twenty years has been unremitting in her efforts to increase the efficiency of the school, and has shown by her acts of love and kindness to the children, and her sympathy and encouragement to the teachers, her fidelity and devotion to the Master's cause. Mr. J. II. Bonden, who was elected the first Secretary and Treasurer, continned to discharge the duties of that position in a most admirable and efficient manner for many years. Without a murmur or complaint he has met the increased responsibilities devolving upon him, and in his intercourse with his fellow laborers in the school has displayed that evenness of temper, that taet and wisdom, so essential to harmony and good feeling among officers and teachers. Few suburban schools have been favored by a more efficient, capable and well-trained corps of teachers. Fully appreciating the importance of the work, and their personal
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responsibility, they have labored with a singleness of purpose to lead those committed to their charge to " a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus," and the result of their labors is shown in the large additions to the church by profession of faith.
One important feature in the management of this school has been its ability to hold the scholars as they have advanced to years of maturity, and the able manner in which its adult Bible-class has been con- ducted. It has had for its leaders learned men of ripe experience and enlarged ideas-men fully conse- erated to the work. Among these have been Rev. D. S. Rodman, C. E. Morgan-now a prominent lawyer in Boston, Rev. J. Q. Butterfield-now President of Olivet College, Mr. Roswell Smith, and Mr. J. R. Howard.
The Primary Department-the most difficult of any in the school to manage successfully-has been at different times under the leadership of Mrs. Samuel Boyd, Mrs. Edwin M. Harrison, Miss Annie Bull, Mrs. M. F. Reading, Mrs. C. H. Johnson, Mrs. J. R. Lamsen, and Mrs. Bissell, the present teacher.
The strong love and affection existing between scholars and teachers is shown in the fact that the young men who have gone out from here to enter college have almost invariably. on their return home during vacation, taken their places in the Sunday school. The fact that over $10,000 has been contributed by this school to various benevolent objeets during the past twenty-three years is an evidence of the systematic and earnest work which has been done by the officers and teachers. The children have been trained to habits of self-denial and systematic giving of that which was their own. and have been constantly familiarized with special objects of charity and benevolence, and the work connected with such prominent institutions as the Children's Aid Society, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. and others of this character. The gifts of the children have been invariably devoted to charitable purposes, and in no case to assist in defraving the expenses of the school.
The musical training of this school is worthy of special notice. This part of the service was for fourteen years condneted by Dr. C. A. Marvin, a highly accomplished teacher and musical composer. Some of his most beautiful compositions were designed especially for the use of this school It has been observed by visitors who were disposed to be critical that the singing was above the average, and evinced excellent training and enlture. The music of the school is now in charge of Mr. John B. Pratt.
In his address given at the 20th anniversary of the school Mr. Johnson alludes in a most touching manner to some of the faithful ones who were with them at the beginning. but who had since joined the heavenly throng above. Among these was Mrs. Julius HI. Pratt, " whose memory still rests upon our school like a benediction." Ile refers to Mr. J. H. Beadle and Mr. Samuel Wille, who were teachers at the beginning, faithful and steadfast, with the highest and best motives prompting all their efforts, and whose royal gifts of over $5,000 each, made possible this splendid building we now occupy, have joined the innumerable throng above.
Mr. Johnson alludes to the faithful co-operation of Dr. Bradford, the pastor, in the work of the school. in the following terms : "One thing that has cheered and encouraged the hearts of officers and teachers through all these years has been the hearty co-operation of the pastor; he has indeed been the pastor not only of the church, but the school. The sessions have been few indeed, except by reason of illness or absence that he has not been present, to advise, counsel and encourage the teachers in their work."
Referring to Mrs. Wilde, who was about to resign her connection with the school, he says: "The brightness and joy of the present hour is dimmed by the thought that Mrs. Samuel Wilde, who commenced as a teacher in the school at its very first session, and who has held an official position for sixteen years. fourteen of which she was assistant superintendent, now feels it necessary to relinquish the position she has so ably filled all these years."
In December, 1888, Mr. Charles II. Johnson, who had so faithfully discharged the duties of Super- intendent since the organization of the school, tendered his resignation. much to the regret of his fellow laborers in the work. The school under his supervision had increased from 72 pupils and 18 teachers to 350 pupils and 45 teachers. More than 200 had been added to the church from the school during his administration. and a few had joined the church triumphant.
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He was succeeded by Mr. D. O. Eshbaugh, who filled the position with honor and credit for three years. Referring to his election Mr. Johnson says : " The wisdom of that selection has been manifest from the beginning of his office, and I can bear witness to the fidelity and sound judgment with which he has filled a position to which he brought little previous experience, and I believe I voice the opinion of teachers and scholars in expressing profound and sincere regret that he feels it incumbent upon him to relinquish the office at this time."
Mr. Eshhaugh proved himself a model superintendent, possessing by nature and experience all the requisite qualitication> for the office. AA man of deep religion- convictions, well versed in the Seriptures, sympathetic, kind and affable in disposition : possessing also tact and good judgment, together with a natural love for children. Thus equipped, he entered upon his labors with earnestness, zeal and enthu- sia-m. receiving the hearty co-operation of officers and teachers, to whom he endeared himself by his uni- form kindness and his personal interest in their temporal and spiritual welfare : by the children, to whom he always extended a kindly greeting. he was equally beloved. The three years of his administration were marked by an increase in numbers and interest. and in 1890 forty united with the church by profes- sion of faith. most of whom came from the ranks of the Sabbath school. The school was never in a more prosperous condition than when he resigned his position in 1891, against the earnest wishes of his associates-his failing health compelling him to relinquish the duties of the office.
Mr. Eshbangh was succeeded by Mr. Edward F. Meyers, who occupied the position one year. The present officers of the school are : Superintendent. Mr. C. S. Olcott; Assistant Superintendent, Professor John F. Woodhull : Secretary. Mrs. Samuel Wilde: Treasurer, Mr. W. L. Johnson: Librarians, Mr. Walter Lloyd and Mr. W. Skidmore. The present mumber of teachers is 32. the number of scholars, 210. Number in Young Men's Bible Class, 25. Primary Department : Mrs. A. C. Romer, Superintendent : number of officers. 3: teachers. 14 : scholars, 126.
The congregation continued to worship in the hall referred to until 1-75. On May 30, 1875, the cornerstone of the new church edifice was laid by the Pastor, Rev. Amory N. Bradford, and an address delivered by Rev. George B. Bacon, of Orange Valley. Evening exercises were held in the Presbyterian Church, at which time the sermon was preached by Rev. William M. Taylor, D.D., of New York. The building was completed in 1573. and on the 15th of October of that year was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies.
REV. AMORY HOWE BRADFORD, D.D.
It was eminently fitting that the First Congregational Church of Christ in re-establishing the form of religious worship introduced in this locality by the Pilgrim Fathers more than two hundred years ago, should choose as their pastor a direct descendant of Governor William Bradford, chief among the " Blessed Company " of the " Mayflower." and one of the chief founders of Congregationalism in this country-himself a descendant of a line of English ancestors who suffered martyrdom because of their adherence to the true faith as delivered to the saints.
One of the first martyrs who perished at the stake in " Bloody Queen Mary's" time was John Bradford, prebend of St. Paul's, and a celebrated preacher. He was born at Manchester, in Lancashire, about 1510; was committed to prison August 16, 1553, where he remained until his death, a period of two years. The numerous letters and other compositions written by him during his imprisonment are remarkable for their able and uncompromising opposition to the dogmatieal requisitions of papacy. and for abonnding in depth and fervency of plain personal piety and expansive religious feeling.
The early. energetic and persevering opposition of Governor Bradford. of Plymouth, to these dogmas would seem to indicate that he was a worthy descendant of the martyr'simmediate family, and that he was so is rendered more probable from the fact that the town of Bradford (meaning Broad-ford). in Yorkshire, Manchester, the birthplace of the martyr, and Austerfield, where Governor Bradford was born, thirty-three years after the martyr's death, are all in the north of England and near each other.
William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth Colony. was born at Austerfield, in Yorkshire, England, in 15SS. Ile went to Holland early in life and joined the Pilgrims, and came to Plymonth in the " May-
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flower " 1620, accompanied by his wife, whose maiden name was Dorothy May. This lady never reached Plymouth, but was accidently drowned on the 7th of December, 1620, during the absence of her husband on an examining tour into Massachusetts Bay, and while the " Mayflower" remained in Cape Cod Harbor. She was the first English woman (who died in Plymouth, and the first) whose death is recorded in New England.
Mr. Bradford was chosen Governor in 1621 and was re-elected to that office every year till 1657, except five years-1633, '34, '36, '38, '44. lle was one of the most efficient persons in directing and sustaining the new settlement ; he " was the very prop and glory of Plymouth Colony during the whole series of changes that passed over it." He married, August 14, 1623, widow Alice Sonthworth, whose maiden name is supposed to have been Carpenter. Ile died, May 9, 1657, lamented by all the colonies of New England as a common father to them all. He had by his second wife three children, William, Mercy and Joseph,
REV. AMORY HOWE BRADFORD, D.D., son of Benjamin F. and Mary A. (Howe) Bradford, was born in Granby, Oswego County, N. Y., April 14, 1846. He is eighth in line of descent from Governor William Bradford, probably through Thomas, third son of Governor Bradford by his second wife, Alice Southworth. This Thomas, by his father's will, seeured lands in Norwich, Conn., and removed thenee after his father's death. He married Anna, daughter of Rev. James Fiteh (first minister to Saybrook and Norwich) by the latter's second wife Priscilla. daughter of John Mason, the hero of the Pequot war.
Alexander, the great -great grandfather of the Rev. A. II. Bradford, owned a farm on the eastern border of Connecticut, on the shore of the Paweatuck River that forms the boundary between Connecticut and Rhode Island, about two miles below the village of Westerly. On that farm the father, the grand- father and the great grandfathers of Dr. Bradford were born. and the old homestead is still in a good state of preservation. Dr. Bradford's mother was Mary A. Howe, daughter of Amory Howe, of Marl- borough, Mass., a descendant of Abraham Howe, one of the founders and proprietors of Marlborough in 1660. Dr. Bradford was prepared for college at Penn Yan Academy, was graduated at Hamilton College in 1867 ; studied at Auburn and graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1870. Immedi- ately following his ordination in 1870, he accepted a call from the First Congregational Church of Christ at Montelair, and began his labors in June of that year. In September following he married Miss Julia S. Stevens, daughter of W. R. Stevens, Esq., of Little Falls, N. Y. The eighty-four members of this church who weleomed Mr. Bradford as their pastor, were earnest, liberal-minded, working Christians, made up of different denominations. Mr. Bradford made no inquiry as to the creeds or doctrinal views of the individual members. He determined to " know nothing among them save Jesus and Him crucified." Ile laid broad the foundation, threw wide open the doors of the church and extended a hearty welcome to Christians of every denomination. Hle assisted in the organization of the various societies for church work, in all of which he took a personal interest. He met the pastors of other churches in a kind and friendly spirit, and invited them to exchange pulpits. He has grown apace with his own church, which, as the record shows, has had large annual accessions, both by letter and by profession of faith. He has taken an active interest in every public improvement, and in the founding of benevolent and religious societies, one of the most useful and beneficial of which is the Children's Home, designed not only as a permanent home for children of Montelair who have been bereft of their natural protectors, but as a temporary home and resort during the hot summer months for the children of our large eities.
The alnost unparalleled growth of the church as a suburban church evinces the character of Dr. Bradford's work. his popularity as a preacher, and his faithfulness as a pastor. Few ministers have ever been more beloved by a people, or have exereised a greater influence in a community. He has frequently supplied the pulpits of the New York and Brooklyn churches during the summer months, and exchanged with the most eminent divines of these cities. During Mr. Beecher's life he often supplied his place in Plymonth Church during the summer vacation ; and in a letter eommending Mr. Bradford to his European friends, Mr. Beecher wrote that his people were very willing that he should extend his own vacation. Although humorous in form, this showed Mr. Bradford'sexcellent preaching as a fact.
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Dr. Bradford has made several trips abroad, both for study and for recreation. He studied six months at Oxford. and was the first American ever invited to preach a baccalaureate sermon at that institution.
In July, 1991, he was sent as a delegate to represent the Congregationalists of New Jersey in the great International Conneil of Congregationalists held in London at that time. No American preacher ever received greater honors than was accorded him during his stay. He took a leading part in all the discussions of the Council, and at all times was listened to with rapt attention. He was invited to preach at many of the largest and most prominent churches in England. The religions as well as the seenlar press of England voiced the sentiments of the people on both sides of the Atlantic in their expressions concerning Dr. Bradford as a man and as a preacher. If. as has been said. a foreign verdiet is like a verdiet of posterity in its impartiality, some extract from these foreign journals will be in point. The Leicester Daily Post, referring to his sermon preached before the Clarendon Park Congregational Church, said : " The mere fact that this distinguished visitor was one of the few who had been chosen to represent the Congregationalism of the Republic at the International Conference in London, alone speaks volumes to
PARSONAGE OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
the eminent rank he had gained among the Independents of America. Had there, however, been the slightest doubt as to his title to the enviable reputation he has gained among the religious preachers and teachers of the New Workl, it must have been swept away by his discourses yesterday. * * * * Hardly had he passed beyond the opening sentences of his morning sermon than it became clear that he was master in his own field of service-a publie teacher of the first rank. In one or two respects Dr. Bradford fills a place in the sphere of pulpit oratory which is di-tinctively his own. Not only has he strongly marked views on some of the pressing problems of his time, and all the courage of his advanced con- victions, but he has at least three of the essentials of success. He has grasp of thought which enables him to graple with the most difficult subject with no ordinary skill. He has a power of expression which crystallizes his ideas into the most incisive and vigorous phrase. And he has a delivery which, while not of the highest order, is still most effective. snstaining the lively interest of the hearer by, among other things, an occasional sudden transition from a tone that rings through the church to one that is almost inaudible in its mingled softness and depth. After all his paramount title to fame is necessarily not so
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