USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 67
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On the 24th of January, 1850, an agreement was entered into by fifty persons, under the leadership of Josiah Crane, to build a house of public worship in Craneville, as our village was then called, various sums of money being pledged for the work. A public meeting followed, July 6, 1850, at the house of John Denman, at which nine persons were present,- John C. Denman in the chair, John E. Mathews, secretary. A second meeting occured in the Red School House, July 13th following, when a building. committee of the following parties was appointed : David Miller, John G. Crane, Jacob Miller, Jr., Josiah Crane and S. W. Thompson. The work of building was prosecuted with promptness, and on March 3, 1851, the little congregation met for the first time in the new church. Though the seating capacity of the new building was hardly greater than that of our present infant-class room, there was doubtless as much pride felt in it by the people who built it as we shall feel in our proposed new church. The comfort of the birds does not depend always upon the size of the nest.
Out of the several events connected with the origin of our church I have selected that of the dedication of the first edifice, in the spring of 1851, as the one from which to date our history. The organization of the church was not completed, however, until June 26, 1851. With strict accuracy, that was the birthday of the First Presbyterian church of Cranford. The original title of the church was "The First Presbyterian church of Craneville, Essex County, New Jersey." After the name of the village was changed to Cranford, in 1869, the church assumed its present title. On the day just mentioned, at 10:30 A. M., the first meeting of the session of the new church was held in Craneville, the Rev. Samuel H. Cox, D. D., then pastor of the First Presbyterian church
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of Brooklyn, being moderator, on invitation. The organization of the church was then effected, under the direction of a commission of Samuel T. Spear, chairman, Rev. Messrs. Lane and Cox, and A. B. Conger, Esq. The following were elected ruling elders : Sam- uel W. Thompson, Josiah Crane and William Crane. John G. Crane and David Miller were elected deacons. These were elected trustees : John Miller, president; Josialı Crane, Jr., secretary; David Miller, Jr., John Dunham, John G. Crane, Jacob Miller, Jr., and Moses T. Crane. The following twenty-two persons composed the membership of the new church, all being received by letter from the Presbyterian church of Westfield : Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Crane, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. John G. Crane, Mr. and Mrs. David Miller, Mrs. G. Baker, Mrs. John R. Miller, Miss Ariana Thompson, Miss Sophia C. Thompson, John Miller, Simeon Frazee, Mrs. Francis Pease, Charles Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Otis Woodruff. Of these original members not one is now connected with the church. The most of them have joined the church trium- phant. One, and only one, of the original officers of the church is yet with us,-the venerable Moses T. Crane. May the Lord long spare him to us! The original modest little church edifice which I have described stood in the centre of what is now Alden street, midway between Union avenue and North avenue. It was occupied for church services and Sunday school from 1851 until the erection of our present edifice, in 1868. Subsequently the original building was moved to the rear of the new edifice, where it continued to be used as a chapel. Later, two wings were added to it. It was replaced by the new chapel in 1888. A part of this original building yet remains, -the portion of our chapel which shelters the infant class of the Sunday school.
We 110w proceed to describe the building of the second house of worship used by this church, the structure which is probably soon to be replaced by a third. The first step toward the erection of this building was the adoption of a resolution by the session, in favor of a new church, January 12, 1867. The land for the beautiful site on which our church is happily located was purchased in 1868, the corner-stone service of this edifice was held in the church on the 25th of May, 1869, the sermon of the occasion being preached by the Rev. James P. Wilson, D. D., of Newark. The cost of the building, exclusive of the organ, was about thirteen thousand dollars. The organ was paid for by private subscriptions, secured through the enterprise of our fellow townsman, Mr. A. B. Bigelow. It was built in the spring of 1869, and cost about one thousand six hundred dollars. It was first used at the dedication of the church, May 25, 1869. The bell in our tower was a gift to the church by Josiah Crane, Sr. Its cost was five hundred and seventy-six dollars. It was at first placed in a bell tower built for the purpose, on the southeast side of the old church grounds, in 1868. The following year it was placed in its present position. We have remarked that the first edifice began to be used solely as a chapel on the completion of this building in 1869. In 1870 it was removed to the rear of this building. In 1873 it was enlarged. In 1888, to meet the growing demands of the Sunday school and church, a new chapel was built upon the site of the old, at a cost of two thousand seven hundred dollars. It was dedicated January 27, 1889. Strictly speak- ing this was an enlargement of the old chapel, though in the process only a small portion of the old building was left to be incorporated into the new. The first manse of this church was erected in 1854, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. It was situated directly east of the first church edifice. It was afterwards sold, and the present manse was built in 1871, at a cost of four thousand, six hundred dollars.
At the completion of the present edifice, in 1869, a debt of about seven thousand five hundred dollars rested upon the church. So far as I can learn that was the largest amount of debt the church has ever borne at any one time. The debt was reduced to about one thousand nine hundred dollars in 1888. In that year it was increased to four thousand four hundred dollars by the erection of the new chapel. On the morning of Sunday, February 9, 1890, the entire amount of the above named indebtedness was sub- scribed by the congregation, and one year later, for the first time in the church's history, the society was entirely out of debt. That Sabbath morning, in February, 1890, was a day long to be remembered by all who were present, and who contributed to the joy it brought to the church. It marked a decided step forward for our beloved Zion, in its
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temporal and in its spiritual growth. That day's work taught us not to be dismayed, as a church, by small difficulties, and to expect large things and to undertake large things, under the divine blessing in the direction of our development.
The church has had eleven pastors or stated supplies during the forty-two years of its existence. The Rev. A. H. Lilly was stated supply from the date of organization until April 6, 1853, and remained until April 30, 1854. The Rev. William R. Durnett succeeded Mr. Brittan, June 12, 1854, but after a ministry of about three months his labors terminated by death, September 10, 1854. The Rev. William Whittaker was pastor from October 23, 1854, to January, 1855. On July 1, 1855, the Rev. Hollis Read, a returned missionary, and an author of some uote, became stated supply, and coutinued in that relation until April 1, 1864. The Rev. Samuel Murdock was the next pastor. He was stated supply for one year, from April 23, 1864, and pastor from June, 1865, until Sep- tember 13, 1867. The Rev. A. H. Sloat was pastor from January 23, 1868, until October 18, 1868. The Rev. A. A. MacConnell was pastor from December 30, 1868, until his death, in 1873. The Rev. W. H. Roberts was pastor from October, 1878, until Septem- ber, 1884. The present pastor was ordained and installed May 14, 1885. Of my predecessors I believe that only the Rev. Mr. Murdock, now of Virginia, the Rev. Dr. Riggs, now professor in the theological seminary of the Reformed church, New Bruns- wick, and the Rev. Dr. Roberts, of Cincinnati, Ohio, are among the living.
The Sunday school of the church has always been, of course, an important element of its life. It has grown with the church, from very humble proportions. The follow- ing is believed to be an accurate list of its superintendents from the beginning : Samuel W. Thompson, William Crane, Josiah Crane, Jr., Ebenezer Hart, James A. Baldwin, N. G. Foster, Fisher A. Fisher,* and William D. Wood. The present superintendent, Mr. Wood, who is exceedingly well adapted to his work, and who has held the confidence and affection of children and parents, has been superiuteudent since 1872. The only uuhappy note in our rejoicing to-day is the fact that he is unable to be with us. May the kind Father be gracious to him, and give him abundance of health and blessing, and enable the school to profit by his experience and ability for many happy years to come ! The number of scholars in 1851 was twenty-nine. Our present number of officers, teachers and scholars is three hundred and four. The school not only pays its owu running expenses, but also contributes regularly to all the benevolent boards of the denomination. Besides this, it contributed, iu 1889, five hundred dollars toward the new chapel, and, in 1891, five hundred dollars toward the payment of the church's debt. Thus the Sunday school has grown steadily and healthfully from 1851 to this hour.
A few words should be spoken to those who have served the church in connection with the service of song. The choir was organized in 1851, and first sang at the dedica- tion of the first edifice. The chorister then, and for many years, was Mr. Charles Clark. He was succeeded by Mrs. David Miller and Mrs. Josiah Crane, Jr. Instrumental music was first used in the church's worship about 1860. The following I believe to be a complete list of the organists, in their order : J. W. Wagner, Miss S. J. Crane, Miss Mary A. Crane, A. B. Bigelow, Miss Fannie Butler, C. C. Sprague, F. W. Wagner, D. L. Elmendorf, Miss Addie Bigelow ( now Mrs. William Drysdale, ) and Miss Minnie Vreeland.
It is with extreme pleasure that we proceed to bear testimony to the excellent work wrought in behalf of our church by its faithful women. Toward the close of the year 1850 a Ladies' Sewing Circle was formed. Its presidents in order were Mrs. Eliza A. Miller, Mrs. Peninah Miller and Mrs. Mary B.Cahill. This organization was merged into the Ladies' Aid Society, organized in 1874, with Mrs. Cahill president. The latter society dissolved in 1884, and was succeeded in 1886 by the Willing Workers, a society composed of all the young ladies of the congregation. The Ladies' Aid Society was reorganized in 1889, and has continued in a flourishing condition to the present time. The presidents since 1889 have been,-Mrs. C. N. Fowler, Mrs. P. D. Van Saun, and Mrs. J. K. Mac- Connell. During the past year the society has earned for the church's building fund the magnificent sum of nine hundred and thirty-eight dollars and fifteen cents. It is not
* Mr. Fisher has within a few weeks passed to his reward. A man of integrity and genuine worth.
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too much to say that without the service rendered by the Ladies' Aid Society the church would not now be in a financial condition to warrant the erection of a new house of worship. When the debt was paid, in 1890, the society contributed six hundred dollars of that amount.
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in December, 1888, with ten members. It now numbers fifty-nine active, and forty-two associate mem- bers. It is now decidedly one of the most useful and promising elements in the life of the church. Its presidents have been N. R. Foster, F. E. Woodruff, C. T. Bingham, Miss Lizzie J. Herron and F. H. Valentine (the present incumbent). A flourishing Junior Society is also in existence, organized last year, which is under the superintend- ency of Mrs. C. T. Bingham. If any have feared that the enthusiasm of the young people for this society would flag, their fears have certainly not been realized thus far, as the attendance, interest and spiritual fruits of the society have steadily increased from the beginning.
The Woman's Missionary Society of the church, Mrs. George G. Ely, president, has been steadily growing, for several years past, in numbers and efficiency, and gives promise of accomplishing yet greater things in future days. We have also a busy and happy circle of King's Daughters, the "earnest workers," of which Miss Lizzie E. Herron is the president and Mrs. G. Lyons the vice-president.
In making brief reference to the prominent members of the church during its history we shall confine attention to those who have gone to their reward. Josiah Crane, Sr., and Samuel W. Thompson, were the strongest pillars of the church in its early years. It is probably just to say that the church could never have lived through its infancy without the assistance these two noble Christian men rendered. They were faithful to the church in its every crisis and need,-faithful in their presence, their counsel, their money and their prayers. Other prominent workers in the church, from the date of its founding were William Crane, John Miller, and David Miller. Later in its history John R. Miller, Ebenezer Hart, J. A. Baldwin, Job Williams, John Seaton, C. D. Bigelow, Ira Canfield and Alexander Stewart, as well as many others, were men of sterling character, who were unfailing in their devotion to the church. Nor must we forget to give honor- able mention to the lady workers of the church, the Priscillas and Dorcasses, to whom an infinite debt of gratitude is due, and who are in heaven's brightest mansions. These include among others, Mrs. Josiah Crane, Mrs. Phebe Garthwait, Mrs. Mary Bigelow, Mrs. John R. Miller ; and, of those belonging to a somewhat later period, Mrs. Cahill, Mrs. Partridge, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Wagner and Mrs. Stewart.
We have said that the church was organized by the presbytery of Brooklyn. It was founded as a " new-school " church. The members of the commission of presbytery, which organized the church were all distinguished "new-school " leaders. The "new- school " movement can hardly be thought of apart from such names as Dr. Cox and Dr. Spear. The synod of New Jersey, in session at Orange, transferred the church from the bounds of the presbytery of Brooklyn to the presbytery of Newark, October 17, 1865. When the reunion occurred, in 1870, the church naturally connected with the presbytery of Elizabeth. While our church in 1885 had but one hundred and twenty-five members, it now has two hundred and forty-one.
During the year closing the first of this month there were added to the church on profession of faith, ten; by certificate, eleven; dismission to other churches, six. During the year the church contributed to its own support $3,315.18, and to outside benevolent objects, $1,283.24, -a total of $4,598.42.
This completes the brief outline which we have endeavored to present of the history of our church. Now a new era appears about to dawn for us. A new event appears imminent, which will appear the most momentous and glorious of all in future annals of our church's life. Well may we echo the Psalmist's exultant song, "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God."
May the universal Father and Head of the Church grant, in his wisdom and good- ness, that the future years may be as prolific for our church in growth and victory as
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have been the years that are gone ! On April 9, 1893, fourteen thousand, two hundred dollars was subscribed for a new church.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A mission Sabbath school was organized by William W. Mendell, in the district school house, in the fall of 1857, and this was the starting point of the church in Cranford. In the spring of 1859 two lots, belonging to Peter B. Johnson, Esq., on the Westfield road, were donated, and in a short time a commodious chapel was erected, at a cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars, the neighorhood lending their help and giving of their means to further the cause. In 1864-5 a movement was made to erect a church edifice, and for several months the matter was in contemplation. The trustees, Matthew Flynn, George W. Mendell, Thomas Cloyd, Thomas Falyn, Charles Littell, Moses Mendell, and others, decided to secure lots on Walnut avenue, remove the chapel from the Westfield road, and build the new church adjoining it, which was carried into effect, and in a few months a fine edifice was completed, thirty-six by seventy feet, with tower, bell, alcoves, etc., at an expense of some sixteen thousand dollars. The following clergymen have served as pastors: R. B. Collins, Henry M. Simpson, J. W. Marshall, James Harris, E. S. Jameison, W. Christopher, F. S. Cookman, Lawrence Reeves, George Benson, Mr. Compton. Rev. Alfred Evans is pastor of the church at the present time.
TRINITY CHURCH, PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.
This beautiful church was erected by the faithful labors of a number of residents of this town and clergymen from neighboring parishes. The organization was fornied April 18, 1872, and for some months prior to the building of the church, service was held upon North avenue, easterly from the station, near the residences of a number of its members. The cost when it was completed, in 1875, amounted to seven thousand dollars, and it is now free from incum- brance. The number of families connected with the parish is thirty- seven. The Rev. E. M. Reilly was the first rector, in 1875, and remained for nearly three years. The Rev. J. H. Young was the next. Rev. John Edgecumbe, the present rector came to Cranford from Montreal, Canada, in 1890. He is a graduate of Plymouth Theological Seminary, London, and his pastorate has been a successful one here.
ST. MICHAEL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
A few Catholic families residing in this township in 1871 had, with Westfield, occasional mass every two or three Sabbaths. In the year 1874 efforts were put forth for the building of a church which would accommodate all the families within two or three miles around,
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and material was purchased, but not until the fall of 1875 and the spring of 1876 was much done towards building, but in the summer of the latter year they had completed a neat building, at a cost of about two thousand dollars, which will accommodate some two hundred and fifty. Rev. J. P. Smith is the present father in charge of the flock, and his rectorship over this congregation has made of it a pros- perous church.
SCHOOLS.
In the year 1805 the "Old Red School House " was built. The neighbors drew the stones for the foundation, and the frame was cut from the near timber land. The building had four windows on a side, and was a model school house for its day. It was sixteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions, and was furnished with slab benches. This site was occupied for school purposes until 1866-67, when a small building was provided on the north side of the Central Railroad, near the residence of Mr. Purves. The name of the teacher was Fred Searing. In 1869 a new and imposing structure was erected and a graded school organized.
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