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 3
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
required by law, until April 5, 1859 .* Meanwhile on March 16th, 1859, the following paper was addressed to Rev. A. K. Street, then Presiding Elder of Trenton District: "Believing that it will promote the interests of religion and the increase of our beloved Methodism in our city to erect a Church with Pewed Seats, and having secured a lott in an eligible location, and elected a Board of Trustees for the same, we the subscribers do most respectfully ask the Presiding Elder of our District to organize us into a distinct society, to be called the "State Street Methodist Episcopal Church," and to have a minister sent us from the ensuing Annual Con- ference to take us under Pastoral care." This was signed by the 70 members and 2 probationers, who were to com- pose the new hive or Church,¿ and to this was appended the following :
" To all whom it may concern :-
" This is to certify that the names affixed to the above are now in regular standing and acceptable membership in the Greene Street M. E. Church, and have at their own request gone from said church as a colony for the purpose of being organized into a new church, to take the name of ' The State Street M. E. Church of Trenton, N. J.'
March 20, 1859.
" W. E. PERRY, Pastor."
So, it seems that all things were done "decently and in order " at the inception of the enterprise, and surely ami- cably. In response to this official action, on March 30, 1859,
* Book of Religious Societies, p. 32, Mercer County Clerk's Office. This recites, among other things, that they and their associates are members of " the Religious Societies and Congregations of the Methodist Episcopal Churches," Trenton, N. J., " usually meeting in the Church (formerly called Bethesda) in Greene street in said city," and that they " did assemble at their said place of meeting," Feb. 1, 1859, and elect trustees, &c. This evidently implies, that Greene St. M. E. Church was formerly called " Bethesda " also. But after much investigation and inquiry, this does not seem sustained.
+ See p. 32.
# See p. 46 for their names.
C
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Rev. George W. Batchelder, "of precious memory," was appointed by the New Jersey Conference to take charge of the new organization, as its first pastor. He was a young man of singular beauty of life and conduct, as well as per- son, and of marked genius and energy (often likened to Summerfield), and at once took front rank among the minis- ters of Trenton. His first service appears to have been April 9, 1859, when he preached morning and evening. This was held in Temperance Hall, where the congregation con- tinued to worship until after the completion and dedication of the new church. His services were soon largely attended, and it is not too much to say that he lifted the State Street pulpit to a height of excellence never since surpassed.
With great and saving faith, though moderate cash in hand, the Board of Trustees at once began to build. For on May 24, 1859, the State Gazette says : " Work on the church (State Street) is progressing with rapidity, and they hope to complete it before winter." It is true, the True Ameri- can of June 10, 1859, says : " Ground was broken for State Street M. E. Church yesterday ;" but this is evidently a mistake by a fortnight or so. For again, on June 6, 1859, the Gazette says ex-cathedra: "The new M. E. Church, cor- ner of State and Stockton streets, will be built of stone. The plan is an admirable one, and it would have been greatly to be regretted if it had been rendered less beautiful by being constructed of brick and rough cast." So, it seems, a stucco sham was at one time under consideration. But, happily, wiser counsels prevailed, and so we got our present honest Ewing brown-stone edifice instead. The Deed for the church-lot bears date June 1, 1859, and calls for 90 feet on State street by 150 feet on Stockton street, which includes the parsonage-lot also, and the consideration was $6750 .*
Thanks to the intelligence and energy of a keen and very competent Building Committee, the work on the
* Mercer County Clerk's office, Book of Deeds, Vol. 44, P. 556.
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Church was pushed forward so well, that on Thursday July 21, 1859 the " Corner-Stone " was laid with imposing ceremonies, in the presence of a large concourse of people. We quote the following authentic account of same from the State Gazette July 22, 1859 : "About half past 4, Rev. A. K. Street, Presiding Elder of Trenton District, called the audience to order, and introduced Bishop Scott. After a few remarks by him, Rev. D. W. Bartine * of Philadelphia gave out the 95th Hymn t of Methodist Hymns (Collection 1849) which was admirably sung by a large choir. A brief, but earnest and appropriate prayer was then offered up by the Bishop, after which Lessons were read from the Church Ritual by Revs. W. Tunison and W. E. Perry. Then came an address by Bishop Scott. This was a rapid, but exact sketch of Christianity, alluding especially to its two great Reformations under Luther and Wesley, and dwelling particularly on that form of the latter called Methodism. He said, that Methodism had an existence in Trenton certainly as early as 1770, and perhaps a few years before. The first church was erected here 1772-3 there being then about a score of Methodists in this city .¿ Now there are four regularly organized Churches, besides several Mis- sions, and a membership of nearly 1200. He alluded to the fitness of the location, and invoked God's blessing upon the enterprise. The sermon was simple and plain, but dignified, and charmed all who had the pleasure of hearing it. Rev. Dr. Wiley ? was then introduced to the audience, who proceeded to give an address at once elo- quent, scholarly and profound. Anything Dr. Wiley says will be said well, if it can be so said. || Rev. Mr. Batchel-
* Afterwards pastor of State St.
+ Hymn 34 of our present " Methodist Hymnal" (Collection 1878).
į This agrees with p. 9 and p. 10, &c., substantially.
¿ Then Principal of Pennington Seminary, but afterwards pastor of State St., and Bishop M. E. Church.
| The True American July 22, 1859 says, that Rev. Anthony Atwood also delivered a brief address, in which he referred to the laying of the Corner-Stone of Greene St. M. E. Church, when he was pastor there in 1838.
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
der, the popular pastor of the new Church, then read the following " List of Articles " to be deposited in the Corner- Stone: A history of the Church, with an account of its organization, the causes that led to it, and the name and incidents connected with it. Names of members of the Church, Board of Trustees, Stewards, Local Preachers, Class Leaders, &c. Names of officers, teachers, and scholars in the Sunday School. Contributors to erection of Church edifice. Contracts for the building. Names of Bishop of M. E. Church, Presiding Elder of Trenton Dis- trict ; and Preacher in charge. The number of churches (Trenton) and names of pastors in charge. Names of officiating ministers at the laying of the Corner Stone. Names of the Governor of the State, and State officers, Mayor of the City of Trenton, and members of Common Council. Copies of the daily papers of Trenton. A copy of the Minutes of the last session of the N. J. Conference.
The tin-box containing these was then deposited in the Corner-Stone, and the Bishop made a few further remarks, when prayer was again offered by Rev. A. T. Walker, of Ist Baptist Church. The exercises closed with the Doxology, sung by the large audience, and the Bene- diction pronounced by Rev. E. Page. The occasion was one of deep interest, and will long be remembered by all who were present."
After the laying of the Corner-Stone, the work on the edifice went rapidly forward, with such zeal and energy that everything was substantially done and completed, and the Church ready for the Dedication, which took place Thursday June 14, 1860. The dedicatory exercises began at 1012 A.M., of that day, by the reading of a chapter from the Book of Kings by Rev. Geo. W. Batchelder, still pastor of the Church. They then sung Hymn 968* of " Methodist Hymns" (Collection 1849), and prayer followed. There was then a further reading of the Scriptures, by Rev M. E.
* 860 of our present "Methodist Hymnal" (1878'.
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Ellison, and then Hymn 965 * of same "Hymns" was sung. The dedicatory sermon was by Bishop Janes ; his text was I Cor., 3-9: "For we are laborers together with God." Then followed the Prayer of Dedication, by Bishop Janes, the congregation joining in same. Then came the collec- tion, which footed up $1,200 only-the members having already subscribed largely. At 3 P.M. there was another sermon, by Rev. Dr. Kennedy, then of Philadelphia. His text was Hebrews, 2-6: "But one in a certain placetestified saying, What is man, that Thou are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" Another collec- tion followed, which netted $800. At 712 P.M., there was another sermon, by Rev. D. W. Bartine, D.D., also of Philadelphia, but no further collection.+
The sale of Pews took place June 19, 1860, and the church was occupied for worship regularly from date of Dedication. The Sabbath Notices in the State Gazette continue: "State Street M. E. Church in Temperance Hall" until July 8, 1860. But this unquestionably was an oversight of the printer.
The architect of the Church was C. Graham, then of Trenton, but afterwards of Elizabeth. The main contract- ors were E. W. Page & Co .; for the mason work, Wm. Johnson; for the plastering, Samuel T. Forman ; for the carpenter work, Preston Graham-all of Trenton. Thetotal cost of the edifice itself, exclusive of lot ($6750), was about $27,000 - a very small sum for such a superb building. But prices then were very low. The Church was considered a model of ecclesiastical architecture at the time and was widely imitated or copied in part elsewhere in New Jersey. In the Minutes of the New Jersey Conference, 1861, there is a full engraving of it as a frontispiece, ¿ and on p. 17 of
* 871 of present " Methodist Hymnal" (1878).
1 State Gazette and True American June 15, 1860.
į We had hoped to give a copy of this, but after much inquiry and search have been unable to find the plate.
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
said Minutes is a full description thereof, which we quote as follows :
" This handsome edifice is situated on the southwest cor- ner of State and Stockton streets, Trenton. It was begun in the spring of 1859, and dedicated in June, 1860. It is built of Ewing Brown-Stone, in the Norman Italian style, the plans throughout being furnished by C. Graham, Esq., of Trenton.
"The main body of the church is 79 feet in length, by 57 in width, with a transverse section of the south end 65 feet in length by 27 in width, the first story of which is divided into class-rooms, while the whole of the second is appro- priated to the Lecture Room. The height of the cornice from the ground is 31 feet, and that of the ridge 47 feet. On the north-east corner stands the tower, 20 feet square at the base-the first section of stone-and 47 feet in length ; the second section, or bell tower, of wood and 38 feet in length. Above the tower rises an octagonal spire 100 feet in length-making the entire height 185 feet. There are 5 semi-circular windows with stained glass on each side of the church (besides those in the Class and Lecture Rooms), and one very large, of elaborate tracery, in front. Three large double doors in front admit to the vestibule, and three others to the aisles, and two at the side of the pulpit to the Class and Lecture Rooms, besides a separate entrance on Stockton street.
"Inside, the plain white walls are surmounted by a simple cornice. The ceiling is straight, with deep panels ; a cir- cular ventilator occupies the centre. At the south end is a recess, flanked by Corinthian columns, in front of which is the pulpit. Over the vestibule is a moderate gallery, suffi- cient to hold an organ and its accompanying choir. The Audience Chamber has 126 pews, which will accommodate over 600 persons; the Lecture Room will seat some 250. The pews are oaked, without doors, and in the Audience
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Chamber are cushioned throughout. Furnaces in the cellar heat it comfortably throughout."
This reads as if written by the architect himself, and seems well worth preserving. What would we not give for such a minute and clear description of our original " Meth- odist Preaching House" here !
To the Church thus finished and completed, but little was ever done, until 1878 when it was frescoed, and 1880 when it was re-upholstered and painted, at a cost altogether of about $2,600.
PARSONAGE.
For a few years the Society rented a house for the use of the pastor and his family, not feeling equal to the task of building one, while carrying the heavy indebtedness still upon the Church. This was on the north side of Academy St., near Stockton, at first, and afterwards No. 8 Southard St., and again on N. W. Cor. Livingston and Jackson Sts. But in 1865, during the first year of the pastorate of Rev. Thomas Hanlon, D.D., they proceeded to erect on E. State St., on the westerly part of the original Church lot, the handsome parsonage we now own and occupy. This was built of brick, with Ewing brown-stone front, in harmony with the Church, and cost about $10,000-the prices of everything being then very high, at the close of the Civil War.
ORGAN.
For many years our gallery or organ-loft was occupied only by the choir and a melodeon or parlor organ. But in 1870 the musical taste of the church had so improved, that it was resolved to procure a regular church organ. The movement was initiated by William Dolton, Trustee, who raised about $1500 on subscriptions for this purpose, and this was sup- plemented by a fair and festival in the Assembly Room of
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Taylor Opera House, Feb. 15-19, 1870, under the direction of the late Thomas J. Macpherson,* local preacher and ordained deacon, which netted $1382.43 more. The total cost of the organ was $3000. It was made by Mr. Andrews, of Utica, N. Y., and is a superior instrument, with 27 stops and 2 manuals of keys. It was some time in building, and was formally dedicated April 26, 1871, after which (same evening) a Sacred Concert was given in the Church, at which several eminent organists (one from St. Stephen's, New York), performed on the new organ, and a large choir of the best vocalists in Trenton assisted. Several anthems and other pieces of sacred music, as well as some national airs, were rendered with fine effect, and the church was crowded to its utmost capacity. "The organ was universally con- ceded to be a very fine toned and excellent instrument."+
NEW CHAPEL.
Our new Chapel was a consequence of the steady and healthy growth of our Church and Sunday School. Our Sunday School especially grew so large about the year 1876-8, under the able and faithful pastorate of Rev. J. L. Sooy, A. M., now again our Pastor, as to overflow into the main audience chamber of the church, and its continuance there proved so unsatisfactory that in 1881 (after recent painting, upholstering, etc.), it was decided to build a new and larger Chapel. The Subscription-List bears date 1882 and contains 140 names, and foots up $6679. Our new Chapel was built by tearing down the south front of the old Chapel on Stock- ton street, and extending it southward, doubling its capacity or thereabouts, and giving us doubtless the finest Sunday School Room, Prayer Meeting Room, Class Rooms, etc., in the New Jersey Conference. This also was built of Ewing brown
* Father of one of Committee (George W. Macpherson).
+ State Gazette and True American, April 27, 1871.
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
stone, in keeping with the Church and Parsonage, and has now a front of 2712 feet on Stockton street by 71 feet deep, being of two stories, like the old Chapel. The corner stone of this was laid Tuesday, July 25, 1882, by Rev. John Y. Dobbins, A. M., then Pastor of the Church. The exercises were in the main audience room of the Church, and con- sisted of singing, reading the Scriptures, and addresses by Rev. W. A. Brooks, Pastor of Fifth Presbyterian Church here, and Rev. J. A. Mace, then pastor of Union Street M. E. Church here. A brief history of the Church and Sunday School was read by Geo. W. Macpherson, one of the Com- mittee.
The following is the " List of Articles " placed in the tin- box deposited in the Corner-Stone : A copy of the Holy Scriptures, Revised New Testament, Methodist Hymnal, N. J. Conference Minutes, M. E. Church Discipline, M. E. Church Almanac, Annul Report of M. E. Missionary Society, the Ladies' Repository, the Christian Advocate, the Heathen Woman's Friend, New York Tribune, New York World, Philadelphia Ledger, Ocean Grove Record, State Gazette, True American, Daily Emporium, names of Official Board of Church and Contributors to building fund, names of Architect, Superintendent, Contractors, Building and Subscription Committees, names of State and City Officers, Map of Trenton, history of State St. M. E. Church and Sunday School, and names of pastors of dif- ferent M. E. Churches in Trenton.
The work on the new Chapel was pushed rapidly for- ward, with great spirit and determination, and being fully done and completed the Dedication took place Wednesday evening, Jan. 24, 1883. The pastor, Rev. John Y. Dobbins, A. M., took charge of the exercises, and Rey. D. H. Schock, A. M., then Presiding Elder of Trenton District, and Rev. George K. Morris, A. M., then pastor of Greene St. M. E. Church, participated. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Bishop Simpson ; his text was Isaiah XI-6, “And a
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
little child shall lead them." He dwelt on the conspicu- ous place childhood holds in Christianity deservedly, as compared with Paganism, Mohammedanism, &c., and spoke with much of his old-time eloquence and power. A collec- tion was taken up, of course, which amounted to about $1700. Rev. J. A. Lippincott, D. D., then Professor of Mathematics in Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., but now Chancellor of the University of Kansas (an alumnus of Pennington Seminary), preached the following evening, Jan. 25, 1883, and there was a further collection of $125. The following evening, Jan. 26, 1883, the exercises were varied by a Church Sociable in the spacious Sunday School Room of the new Chapel, which was largely attended, and favored with Ice Cream, Cake, and Coffee. On Sunday, Jan. 28, 1883, the Sunday School took formal possession of their new Room, and the dedicatory exercises were brought to a close, by a special service at 2 P. M. in the Sunday School Room, at which brief addresses were made by W. D. Holt, Wm. Holt, Ira W. Wood, Isaac T. Wood, Edward S. Ellis, Duncan Mckenzie, A. J. Rider, Jacob T. Glenn, Joseph McPherson, James F. Rusling, Mrs. Wm. Holt, and Miss Anna T. Baily-all officers and teachers of the Sun- day School-and the pastor Rev. J. Y. Dobbins, A. M.
The architect of the new Chapel was W. A. Poland ; con- tractors for carpenter-work, Cubberly & Kafer; for stone, Prior & West ; superintendent of mason-work, John Wythe -all of Trenton. The total cost of the new Chapel (car- pets, furniture and everything included) was about $10,000, all of which was paid or provided for at or before the dedi- cation. * For this handsome result, much credit is due to Joseph McPherson, Superintendent of Sunday-school 1863- 1875, and President of Board of Trustees 1869-1886 ; to Albert J. Whittaker, deceased, not a member of the Church though subscribing generously ; and to William Wood,t
* State Gazette, July 26, 1882; Jan. 25, 26, 27, 29, 1883.
+ Uncle of one of Committee (Ira W. Wood).
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
deceased, local preacher and ordained deacon, who himself subscribed liberally, and at his decease directed his execu- tors to pay the deficit at dedication, large or small.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
The Sunday-school of State St. M. E. Church was organ- ized April 9th, 1859, at the residence of Miss Mary F. John- ston, N. W. Cor. Front and Willow Sts. It then consisted of 7 officers and 7 teachers, but the number of children is not reported. From best information obtainable, we judge they were about 35 to 40. The first report in the Sunday- school records now existing of the strength of the School is Nov. 26, 1865, when Alex. C. Yard being Secretary he reports officers and teachers 28, scholars 119, infant class 50 =197. The New Jersey Conference Minutes for 1860, how- ever, give the School as 143, but it was then a year old. Its first session was doubtless April 16, 1859, in Temperance Hall, at 2 P.M., where it continued to meet, until the Church was completed and dedicated, when the School was installed in the new Chapel on Stockton St. Here also a morning or Mission Sunday-school was established in 1866, and con- tinued to meet at 9 A.M. Sundays until June 9, 1876, when the two Schools were "united into one organization," to meet at 2 P.M. This School began very feebly, with only about 50 in attendance in all, but prior to the merging of the two Schools it sometimes reported over 400 present. In 1867 it organized a branch School in "Lumley's Row," and maintained it until the Row was torn down in 1876, After the consolidation of the two Schools, the new joint- School greatly prospered, and soon overflowed into the main audience room of the Church, and necessitated the erection of our new and enlarged Chapel, as elsewhere stated. Indeed a Committee of the Sunday-school was active in demanding and promoting the same, as a neces- sity of the Sunday-school. It secured possession of its
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
new quarters there Jan. 28, 1883, and now numbers about 400 members, including the Infant Class. It reports 700 vol- umes in the Library, and collections 1885, for current pur- poses, $124.41 ; for Missions, $302. It goes without saying, that it observes Children's Day and Christmas, and usually has also a June Pic Nic !
MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
The Sunday-school is also organized into a Juvenile Mis- sionary Society, and we believe always has been, as also was the Morning or Mission S. S. in 1873. This meets in the Sunday-school Room on the last Sabbath of each month, at 21/2 P.M., under its own Missionary Director, and has its own special exercises. These consist of singing, prayer, readings, recitations, original essays and addresses, all or nearly so by members of the Sunday-school, and bearing more or less on the subject of Missions (Mission fields, Mission needs, Missionary heroes, incidents, &c.), after which each class makes its monthly Missionary Offering. The classes are divided into sections, and each section (months in advance) given a special Mission topic or sub- ject to prepare for and discuss, under a competent officer or teacher as leader, who is held responsible for same. The object is to induce special study of one Missionary Field or subject at a time, and get rid of vague generalizations. This plan was inaugurated in 1879, by the then Missionary Director (James F. Rusling), with the approval of the School, and soon raised our S. S. Missionary Collection from about $150 to about $400 annually, and on the whole it is believed gives good satisfaction.
WOMEN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
This was organized under its present name and style April 19, 1882. Its forerunner was the " Union Missionary
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HISTORY OF STATE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
Society," composed of ladies from both State St. and Greene St. M. E. Churches ; and organized May, 1870. At this time (1870), the ladies of State St. had also a flourish- ing "Young Ladies' Band," which educated three Hindoo girls in Miss Sparke's School at Bareilly, India, to whom were given the names of Susie Yates, Clara Pearne, and Mary James. Said "Union Society" did efficient work during its existence, 1870-1881, collecting over $1,100, and among other things giving a farewell to Miss Lucilla Green (afterwards Mrs. Dr. Cheney), who died at her post of duty in India. The present Society numbers 84 members. They subscribe for 32 copies of the Heathen Woman's Friend, and raised last year $168. Altogether this society has con- tributed $750 to the Missionary cause since 1882.
WOMEN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
This was organized only Jan. 19, 1886, and has hardly got to work yet. It already numbers 52 members, however, and promises to do excellent work in the future. It reports between $50 and $60 raised so far ; but it has only just begun.
LADIES' PARSONAGE AID SOCIETY.
This was organized Feb., 1864, with 22 members, with a view to aid in the erection of a Parsonage. For this pur- pose it raised and paid over to the Trustees, 1865, about $1000. It was continued to have chief charge of the Par- sonage, and has done good work in that respect, and in caring for the welfare of the Pastor and his family. Itnow numbers about 50 members, and since its organization has raised and expended $5,132.88.
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