USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of State Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Trenton, New Jersey : prepared for 26th anniversary of dedication, June 14, 1886 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
* Lednum's Methodism in America, p .. 17-18.
18
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
founded, &c."-(which would be 1770, of course). But this is not proof, nor anything but the assertion of men living in 1839 as to an event occurring in 1770, of which, person- ally, they knew nothing. This is absolutely all the evi- dence that exists, apparently, as to the erection of said church in 1770. On the contrary, their oldest Deed is March 10, 1794, and on the back of that is a diagram of the land conveyed (as usual in those days), with a pen and ink drawing of "Methodist Meeting House" and "School- House " in corner thereof, and on said diagram, in addition is the following : "Run out this lot of ground the 21st day of April 1797, and find it to contain one half acre and one pirch, Thomas Wilkins surveyor." What does this mean? Is it not, that the Society bought the land 1794, as per said Deed, and after they had erected their "Meet- ing-House" and occupied it a little while concluded in 1797 to have Mr. Wilkins plot it on the back of their said Deed ? Is not this more reasonable, than to conclude, that they built "Bethel " (a very considerable edifice for those days) in 1770, on somebody else's land, and worshipped in it 24 years-a whole generation nearly -without having any legal title to their property?
Their next deed was for an adjoining piece of land for a graveyard, April 8, 1811; their next for a like purpose Feb. 24, 1819; and they were not legally incorporated until Feb. 17, 1819, when they " consisted of 30 families, and upwards " only, according to their Certificate of Incorporation. If built 1770, would they have had but "30 families and upwards " 1819-forty-nine years afterwards? If in 1794 or thereabouts, even this would seem but a moderate increase for 25 years or a quarter of a century. The Committee went to the pains of sending one of their number down to Gloucester county to get at these facts, and after a full review of them all, their conclusion is, that said passages from the Journals of Mr. Asbury and Mr. Pilmoor, and the facts cited by Mr. Gilmore, are too vague and uncertain to establish so dis-
I9
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
tinguished a claim, and that Trenton instead is justly en- titled to the high honor of building the first well authenti- cated Methodist Church in New Jersey and the third in the United States. Our proof is clear, exact, and complete, as per said old "Book of Minutes and Account-Book," and seems impossible to overcome.
The first Methodist Church erected in America, of course, was John Street, New York, 1768, though their Deed bears date November 21, 1770. This was of stone, and 42 feet by 60 feet. The second was the Bush Forrest Chapel, in Harford Co., Md., about 1769 or 1770. This was of rough logs, and "was twenty-two feet square; on one side the logs were sawed out for a door ; on the other three sides there were holes for windows ; but it does not appear that it was ever finished-standing without windows, door, and floor." * Compared with this rude and primitive edifice, our Trenton " Preaching-House " that cost £193 6s. 2d., (about $2,000 now), must have appeared quite churchly or cathedral- like to Mr. Asbury and his early itinerants! The Society in Philadelphia did not erect a church, but purchased one that was built by the German Reformed Congregation and sold for debt Sept. 11, 1770.
To this first church in New Jersey, and third in America, in 1774, was sent William Watters, a Marylander, and the first Methodist preacher of American birth.+ The first Methodist Conference in America met in Philadelphia, June, 1773, and it sent John King and William Watters to " New Jersey," which was then all one Missionary field. It is true, that Lednum in his History of Methodism in America, p. 114, says : "It is certain that neither of these gentlemen (King and Watters) traveled in that State at the time speci- fied (1773)." But we confront him with the old "Account- Book" aforesaid, and there find these entries : "1773 July 30 To cash paid Mr. King If-IIS-6d. Sept. 16, To cash paid Mr. King 7s-6d; Oct. 28, To cash paid Mr. King
* Lednum's Methodism in America. p. 22.
+ Atkinson's Methodism in N. J., p. 243.
20
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
his Quart'ge & Expenses 2£-18-3d ; Nov. 15, To preachers' Board, Horse &c 106-95-3d." We submit, this settles the question, that King at least was here that year. At that time (1773) there were but "about 19 members " in Tren- ton, as Mr. Asbury says, about 200 in N. J., only 1160 in all U. S., and but 10 Methodist preachers in America. In 1774 the members in N. J. had increased to 257, and in U. S. to 2073, and now for the first time Trenton appears as a regu- lar appointment in the Methodist Minutes .* There were but 10 appointments that year in all the United States, and of these Trenton stood third-New York being first, and Philadelphia second, as appears by said "Minutes." Of course, "Trenton" was a Circuit as well, and embraced several preaching places, of which Trenton was easily the chief. The Conference met again in Philadelphia May 25, 1774, and as we have said above sent William Watters to "Trenton." He cer- tainly came and served here that year ; for the old "Account- Book " aforesaid contains these convincing entries : " 1774, July 12, To Preacher's Board to Aug. 25 1774 8{-25-6d ; Aug. 30, To cash paid Mr. Waters I£, IOS ; Nov. To Preacher's Board &c to Nov. 20, 1774 36-135-6d."+ The Conference met again in Philadelphia, May 17, 1775, and "Trenton " still held its place as third on the list of appoint- ments, while the members in N. J. had increased to 300, and in U. S. to 3148.
The first Methodist Conference in New Jersey was held in Trenton May 23, 1789. Of this Bishop Asbury says: "We rode to Trenton : and on Saturday, 23, opened our Conference in great peace. We labored for a manifestation
* Simpson in his Cyclopedia of Methodism p. 870 says " 1784." But he errs by ten years !
+ In addition to the names of Asbury, King, and Watters, this old Book also contains the honored names of Singer, Wright, Boardman, Whitworth, Shadford, Webster, Strawbridge, Wade and Mann, to all of whom or for whom the Society here paid money, as Board, Quarterage, or Expenses, from April 19, 1772 to March 1, 1776.
į Minutes of Conferences M. E. Church, p. 6-7, Ed. 1840.
21
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
.
of the Lord's power, and it was not altogether in vain."* This was still the only conference in America; but it now embraced 196 preachers and 43,262 members. Trenton now reported 535 members, and New Jersey 1741. At this Con- ference, 43 preachers were admitted on trial, among whom was the celebrated Benjamin Abbott. He had been officiat- ing for some years previously in different parts of the Jerseys, but only as a Local-Preacher. On p. 58 of his Life he says: " I went to Trenton, and our meeting-house being turned into a stable by the army, they gave me leave to preach in the Presbyterian meeting-house." This was about 1778. On Sunday, May 22, 1791, Bishop Asbury preached again in Trenton- Conference being again in session here. His text was Joel 2-17, and he makes this entry in his Journal:+ " Eighteen years ago I often slipped away from Philadel- phia to Burlington one week and to Trenton another, to keep a few souls alive. I had then no Conferences to take up my time." This dates about April, 1773, or the time when we insist he laid the corner-stone of our original " Preaching House " here. On Sunday, Aug. 7th, 1796, Mr. Asbury preached here again on Isaiah 62-10. “Mon- day, 8. We directed our course through the Jerseys towards New York ; passing through Penny-Town, and along an agreeable, well-improved part of the country .¿ Tuesday, 9. We made our way twenty-five miles to brother Mc- Collough's, near Schooley's Mountain. After a good meet- ing at brother McC.'s, we went to lay the foundation of a new meeting house; we sang part of Dr. Watt's hymn on the corner stone,? and prayed; I then had to lend a hand to lay the mighty corner-stone of the house."|| This was at Asbury, Warren County, then called Hall's Mills, but soon
* Asbury's Journal, Vol. 2, p. 47.
+ Vol. 2, p. IOI.
¿ Pennington and northward.
¿ Doubtless hymn 766 of our present "Methodist Hymnal."
| Asbury's Journal, Vol. 2, p. 259.
22
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
afterwards changed to Asbury in honor of the good Bishop. On July 20, 1799, he was there again, and says : “ I rode in great pain and heat, hungry and sick, 25 miles (from Sussex C. H.) to Mr. McCollock's. How welcome a good house and kind friends.
Sunday, 21. At Colonel McCollock's. Having been so unwell for some days past, it was enough for me to exhort a little, after Jesse Lee had given them 2 Sermons." *
On May 9, 1811, he was there again and says : "We came to Asbury, and I preached and added a special exhorta- tion. Were it not for the brewing and drinking miserable whiskey, Asbury-town would be a pleasant place." +
This "Colonel McCollock" was Col. William McCul- lough, then Judge of the Court of Common Pleas there, and great-grandfather of one of the Committee (Gen. Rusling). He was "Captain and Conductor of Team Brigade" in Revolutionary War, and his house was the welcome home of Methodist preachers for 50 years.
With the progress of the Revolutionary War, all of the Methodist Preachers in America, who had come from Eng- land returned thither, except one. That one was Francis Asbury. Said he to Shadford : "If you are called to go, I am called to stay," and (to his eternal honor) stay he did throughout the war, and with the American preachers per- formed prodigies of labor and travel to keep the infant Church alive .¿ Our members, however, fell off largely, despite all Asbury could do-in 1779 they had dwindled to 140 only in both the Jerseys-but with the close of the War
* Asbury Journal, Vol. 2, p. 248-9. + Asbury Journal, Vol. 3, p. 308.
Į" During the 45 years of his ministry in America, Asbury visited the State of New York 56 times, New Jersey 62, Pennsylvania 78, Delaware 33, Maryland 80, North Carolina 63, South Carolina 46, Virginia 84, Tennessee and Georgia 20 each, and Kentucky, Ohio, and other States or Territories with corresponding frequency. In his great career he preached about 16,500 sermons, or averaged at least one a day, and traveled about 270,000 miles, or 6,000 a year, presiding in no less than 224 Annual Conferences and ordaining more than 4,000 preachers." Janes' Life of Asbury, p. 5. And there were no railroads or telegraphs in those days !
23
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
they again grew apace, reaching in 1784 a total of 963 in N. J. again.
In 1785 the Church in America separated from the British Conference, on the recommendation of John Wesley (because the United States had separated from Great Britain), and proceeded to elect Francis Asbury as the first American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Thomas Coke had just previously been appointed Bishop by Mr. Wesley in England, and sent over to ordain Asbury and help in the American work. Mr. Wesley had also appointed Asbury Bishop, but he refused to accept, unless elected by his American brethren, and they elected him unanimously .* Asbury, clearly, "had won his spurs !" In 1786-a hun- dred years ago-Robert Sparks and Robert Cann were appointed to Trenton or Trenton Circuit, and our members here had then increased to 352-in all N. J. to 1259-and in U. S. to 2068.+ It was not until 1819, that Trenton became a station by itself, on the special petition of the Society here to the Conference, and Rev. James Smith then became our "stationed preacher" with a salary of "$300 for his services for the current year."}
This first Church (1773) is said by Raum p. 116 to have been taken down in 1788, and another frame church erected on the same site. But the evidence as to this is not clear, if not mostly wanting. It is certain, however, that it was replaced by a new brick church on the same site in 1806. For the old "Book of Minutes " &c aforesaid records, that on March 3, 1806 "The Trustees met and proceeded to business. On motion whether the old house stand and build the new house round it and take the old house down after the
* Rev. Ezekiel Cooper's Life of Asbury, pp. 102-9.
+ Minutes M. E. Conferences, p 26.
Į Old " Book of Minutes and Account Book" aforesaid-In 1801 the appoint- ment was " Trenton and Freehold." In 1812-13 " New Brunswick and Trenton." In 1814 " Trenton and New Brunswick." 1815-1818 "Trenton" only, and so afterwards. 1818 to 1832 we had a " Trenton Circuit" besides-Minutes M. E. Conferences.
B
24
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
new house is inclosed, it was agreed in the affirmative. (!) On motion what size the new house should be, it was agreed that it should be 35 feet by 45 feet squair. On motion that a head carpainter be appointed, George Ely was duly elected for said purpose. On motion, it was agreed that Conrad Kotts agree for the Brick for the house, and that George Ely do agree for the timber and scantling."
The Subscription List of this second Trenton Church bears date June 29, 1807, and contains 212 names, running from "Conrad Kotts, $100," to " Cash, $1," and foots up $1265.35. It was probably commenced in 1806 and completed in 1807 .* Mr. Kotts died about 1810, and his executor was ' Lucius Horatio Stockton, uncle of Commodore Stockton and great uncle of Hon. John P. Stockton, now Attorney General, N. J. This church was called "Bethesda," and among the prominent preachers in it, or its predeces- sor or successor, were Revs. Ezekiel Cooper 1787, David Bartine 1796-1801, father of Rev. Dr. Bartine, pastor of State Street M. E. Church, 1867-1870; Joseph Rusling 1816, uncle of one of Committee (Gen. Rusling); Manning Force, 1817, father of Hon. W. M. Force, member of State Street 1859; Joseph Lybrand 1828, Joseph Holdich 1829-30 ; An- thony Atwood, 1837-38, present at Dedication of State Street ; Charles Pitman, 1839-40; Charles H. Whitecar, 1841-2, pastor of State Street 1862; Daniel P. Kidder 1843-44, now (and for many years) Secretary of Board of Education M. E. Church, and Joseph B. Wakely, 1844-5, author of "Lost Chapters in History of Methodism." In Feb., 1819, the Board of Trustees adopted a series of By-Laws fortheir government, from which we quote the following: "Law 7. Each member absenting himself from the meetings of the Board, without offering a satisfactory excuse, shall be fined twelve and a half cents, the money to be paid to the Treas- urer." We suspect this By-Law hardly remedied the
* The New Jersey State Gazette (now State Gazette) of 1806-7 contains no record of the laying of its corner-stone, nor dedication, and we have found none elsewhere.
25
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
mischief ; but it was re-enacted Feb. 21, 1837. We com -. mend it to other Boards afflicted with dilatory or negligent members !
On Sept. 15, 1830, the Board received a communication from Rev. Joseph Holdich, pastor, "relative to the improve- ment of the singing in the church, which, being taken up and duly considered," they took action as follows:
"I. Resolved, That this Board deem it expedient and proper to do all in their power to promote good singing in the Church, to effect which they recommend the appointment of Br. William C. Howell* to take charge and lead the singing in the public congregation, procuring such assist- ance from others as in his judgment he may deem requisite, and that for this purpose he will occupy the first bench in the middle row next to the Pulpit.
2. Resolved, That the foregoing resolution be signed by the President and Secretary of this Board, and then pre- sented to Bro. Howell.
3. Resolved, That whilst the Board are duly sensible of the efforts of Bro. N. B. to serve the Church in the Singing De- partment, they are of opinion that it is most expedient that Br. W. C. Howell take the charge for the present.
4. Ordered, That the foregoing resolution be communi- cated to Br. B."
Evidently they knew how to deal with the singing question !
The first Methodist Parsonage here was decided on Dec. 30, 1831, and purchased early in 1832, though the Deed bears date Feb. 5, 1833. It was "Lot No. 12, in Wright's Row, on the easterly side of Warren street," now No. 206 South Warren street, and occupied by Thomas Ingram as plumber, &c. It was bought of the Trenton Banking Company, at a cost of $900. In 1836 it was sold to Abrahamı Bogart for $1100-the property not proving satisfactory-and $400 of the money left on mortgage.
* Afterwards Ist President of Board of Trustees of State Street M. E. Church.
26
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
In June 1832 the Society became at last legally incorpo- rated, under the name and style of "The Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the City of Trenton," and resolved "that a common wafer be the Common Seal of the Board." Their Certificate of Incorporation, dated June 16, s832, was duly recorded in the County Clerk's Office Flen- ington, Hunterdon Co. N. J .*- Mercer Co. not yet being created. Though this made them "in law and equity," as they say in their Book of Minutes, the Methodist Episcopal Church, it is a striking proof of the permanency of habit and the invariability of thought and speech, that they still continued to call their church a "Meeting House," (as also their Mission Church, hereafter mentioned), at nearly every entry of their Minutes, down to July 19, 1837, the end of the old "Book of Minutes !"
In 1834, "Bethesda," or the Methodist Society here, decided to establish a Mission Church, in Lamberton, now 6th Ward of Trenton, and proceeded to purchase an acre of ground of Francis S. Labaw for $150, "to build a Meeting House on for Divine worship." The Subscription List for this bears date June 10, 1834 and contains 193 names, from Anderson Lalor (not Methodist) $25, to cash $1, and foots up $802.43. The "contemplated Meeting House" was to be "30 feet by 35," which it will be noted are the exact dimensions of our original "Preaching House" here 1773. (See p. 10) and further proves the claim made on p. 11-16. This " Meeting-House " was finished and dedi- cated on or about Christmas 1834, and named "Bethlehem." This Church, it seems, never prospered much, and never attained to the dignity of a regular appointment ; but was supplied by exhorters and local-preachers only. Notwith- standing brave efforts to keep it alive, it appears to have gone from bad to worse, until March 10, 1849 when it was sold by the Sheriff under foreclosure of Mortgage, and bought by the late Albert J. Whittaker for the sum of
*Book of Special Deeds, Vol. 2, p. 134.
27
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
$520, which about covered principal, interest, and cost only .* It was converted into 3 dwelling-houses, and still stands on the original site No. 551 Second St., a short dis- tance below the N. J. State Arsenal, on the opposite side of the street, and is now owned by Christopher McCann, late member of Common Council from 6th Ward.+
Old "Bethesda," or the second Methodist Church here, was occupied and used as such until 1838, when it was sold to the Orthodox Friends Society here (" Commonly called Quakers," as the Deed recites), April 5, 1838, for $1400. The Deed was to Samuel Craft, and there was also a second Deed July 12, 1838, to cure supposed defects in former. But Craft immediately reconveyed to the said Friends, and it was used by them as a Meeting-House until Aug. 13, 1858, when they sold it to Joseph McPherson and Benj. N. Reed, for $3500, and it was by them torn down and replaced by the handsome store now occupied by Ivins Brothers as a grocery. Rev. Anthony Atwood, now of Philadelphia Conference, was then pastor here, and the Congregation had increased so much, that the Trustees had either to enlarge "Bethesda,"¿ or build a new Church. Much controversy ensued, as often on such occasions ; but happily, at last they decided to build a new one, and accordingly purchased the lot on which Greene St. M. E. Church now stands, and proceeded to erect the substantial and commodious brick edifice now there.
Their Deed bears date Dec. 1, 1837,¿ and the consideration was $2430-for the lot alone. It was not recorded, however, until Dec. 31, 1838.|| The Church then consisted of " 383
* Mercer Co. Clerk's Office, Book of Deeds Vol. P, p. 67.
" The facts on p. 24-25-26 have been gleaned from the old " Book of Minutes " &c. referred to heretofore, mainly.
į The name "Bethesda " was on a stone midway over the two front doors. The Friends, it is said, after their purchase, took out said stone and reversing it put it back again, thus hiding the name.
¿ Mercer County Clerk's Office, Book of Deeds, Vol. A, p. 304, &c.
"| Ist Session of New Jersey Conference 1837. Previously we belonged to the Philadelphia Conference.
28
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
whites and 2 colored," and the following were Trustees : Charles C. Yard (President), John D. Hester, Isaiah Laning, Charles Dippolt, Joseph McPherson,* and Jacob C. Howell. We have not been able to find the Subscription-List, but an old Report of the Trustees (1839-40) shows that the edifice, "with the furniture cost about $11,000," or Church and Lot together $13,430. We can find no record of the laying of the corner-stone, but the Dedication took place Sunday, Sept. 9, 1838, as follows: "The morning and evening ser- vices were conducted by Rev. Mr. Holdich, of Middletown, Connecticut, and those of the afternoon by Rev. Mr. Pit- inan, of Philadelphia.+ * * It was a day that will not soon be forgotten in our city. The congrega- tions were very large and attentive, thus evincing the deep interest there is in our enterprise, on the part of citizens generally, irrespective of religious parties. All seemed to rejoice, that a new temple was then and there dedicated to the service of God, and for the common benefit of a sur- rounding population.
" The house is seventy-two feet long by fifty-two in width; of brick, with a basement under the whole, and all finished in a neat and appropriate style, well befitting its objects.
* * * Collections and pledges to the amount of near fourteen hundred dollars were taken on the occasion; exceeding, I believe, any effort of a similar kind in our State.
"In behalf of a grateful Society, I embrace this oppor- tunity of tendering the most hearty thanks to both minis- ters and all others in attendance, for being so efficiently aided in defraying the expenses of the building." Signed "A. Atwood, Trenton, September 12, 1838."
* Now President of Board of Trustees of State Street M. E. Church.
+ Joseph Holdich and Charles Pitman, of course. Hon. Israel Howell, our ex-postmaster, heard both sermons, and reports text of one as Ex. 3-5 : " Put off thy shoes from off thy feet ; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."' He can't remember which, but this sounds like Dr. Pitman.
29
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
We found this in the New Jersey State Gazette of Sept. 14, 1838, but no local notice or other reference to it what- ever. It is, of course, authentic, as it is the Rev. Anthony Atwood all over, then pastor here. The Book of Minutes of the Trustees shows that Sept. 5, 1838, they appointed committees to take collections in "the body of the church " and "in the galleries" "on the day of dedication," but does not state when that was. In that same year Mercer County was created out of parts of Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, and Burlington, and the Court-House was erected on ground used previously as a Lumber-Yard by John Whittaker, one of the first trustees of the State Street M. E. Church, and already a leading citizen here. The Church first took the name of Trenton M. E. Church, and was so called until 1846, when Front Street M. E. Church having been organized, the one was called Greene Street and the other Front Street, to distinguish them. They so appear in the Minutes of New Jersey Conference 1847, and of course the name has continued "Greene Street" since then: Her present strength is 553 members, Sunday School 547, and Church and Parsonage property, $49,000, with Rev. Edmund Hewitt, Pastor.
We rejoice in such evidences of her matronly health and prosperity. And bid her hail and God speed, as our honored Mother of Methodism in Trenton.
30
HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
State Street M. E. Church.
" They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalms, 126: 5-6.
Leaving Greene St. M. E. Church now to speak for her- self, as she is well able to, we would only add, that she may now well be called the "Mother of Methodism " here. For from her "populous loins" have sprung the successive colonies, that now constitute the nine flourishing Metho- dist Episcopal Churches of this city. Front St. (now Cen- tral and Trinity, mainly) swarmed out in 1846. Union St. went next in 1852, and State St. in 1859. Prior to 1859, all the M. E. Churches here had been and still were free seat Churches. But it was now determined to establish a pewed M. E. Church, if possible. The project had been in con- sideration and under much advisement for several months ; but it was not until Feb. 1, 1859, that the first formal step was taken. On that day those who had decided to swarm inet in Greene St. Church, and "by the unanimous voices" of those present proceeded to elect seven trustees of the proposed new Church. On Feb. 2, 1859, they executed their certificate of incorporation, and in this assumed the name and style of "The Trustees of the State Street Metho- dist Episcopal Church of Trenton." This was signed by "William C. Howell, W. S. Hutchinson, John Whittaker, Daniel B. Bodine, Joseph McPherson, William Phillips and Isaac Gould," well-known and influential citizens, but was not filed and recorded in the County Clerk's Office, as
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.