History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 68

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 68
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 68

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1876-78. George Winzor.

1846-47. George Winzor.

1879-81. E. C. Ducher.

The following have been presiding elders of the circuit :

1828. Rev. Manning Force.

1857-60. Rev. Jamee M. Tuttle.

1856. Rev. Mr. Winner.

Rev. James Ayers.

1858. Rev. Mr. Lippincott.

Rev. R. T. Arnt.

Rev. John T. Porter.

Rev. Lewie R. Duon.

1861-66. Rev. T. J. Hilyard.

This church has been the mother-church of most of the Methodist Churches in this section of New Jersey, the following having sprung from this organ- ization about the dates named :

Perth Amboy M. E. Church, 1804.

Woodbridge M. E. Church, 1812.

Plainfield M. E. Church, 1818.

Westfield M. E. Church, 1846.

New Dover M. E. Church, 1842. Rahway Second M. E. Church, 1849.

These again have branched ont into the following : M. E. Church, Scotch Plains, 1864.

M. E. Church, Metuchen, 1865.

M. E. Church, London, 1867.

REV. THOMAS MORRELL .- The society in its in- fancy was under the greatest obligation to Rev. Thomas Morrell, who not only labored incessantly as a pioneer preacher of the gospel, but was ready with his means to aid struggling and weak churches. His name stands at the head of the subscription list to build the first Methodist Church in Rahway with a contribution of forty dollars, the largest sum given except by three other individuals,-Aaron Miller, Jonathan Oliver, and William Flatt, Jr. Mr. Mor- rell was at that time living at Elizabeth Town, and did more than any other man to build up the Metho- dist Church there. He inherited much of his devo-

tional nature from his mother, who was one of the small company who were induced to hear Philip Embury, the carpenter, preach in his own house in New York in the year 1766, the earliest American Methodist preacher. She was converted and had the honor of being enrolled in the first Methodist class in America. In 1772, Jonathan Morrell and his wife, the father and mother of Thomas, removed from New York and settled in Elizabeth Town. The father engaged in mercantile business, and soon took in his son Thomas as partner. When the news of the battle of Lexington reached the town he was foremost in getting up a company of volunteers, of which he was chosen captain. He was in command of one of the boats which captured the " Blue Mountain Valley" off Sandy Hook, Jan. 23, 1776.

"In June, 1776, he received a captain's commission, with orders to muster a company of seventy-eight men and report to Gen. Washington, then at New York. Two companies of militia were parading in front of the Presbyterian Church. Young Morrell gave them an earnest talk, and then called for volun- teers. So effective was his eloquence that in five minutes his quota was filled, many of them being of the most respectable families in the town. They were equipped and ready for service at New York six days after the declaration of independence. They were attached to the New Jersey Brigade under Gen. Heard, of Woodbridge, and in the fatal engagement at Flatbush, Aug. 27, 1776, were nearly cnt to pieces. Capt. Morrell fell, severely wounded, and barely es- caped with his life." He, however, recovered and served in the army till after the battle of Brandy- wine, with the rank of major. Failing health com- pelled him to resign. In telling the story of his con- version he says,-

. "In the month of October, 1785, I was awakened by the preaching of the Rev. John Hagerty, and in March, 1786, received the witness of God's spirit of my acceptance. In June, 1786, I began to preach as a local preacher in Elizabeth Town and in several parts of the circuit. In March, 1787, I began to ride as a traveling preacher, and rode on Elizabeth Town Circuit (twenty months) with Robert Cloud. At the Conference in New York, in October, 1788, I was or- dained deacon (nearly forty-one years old), and ap- pointed to the Trenton Circuit with John Merrick and Jethro Johnson. At the June Conference in New York, 1789, was ordained an elder, and ap- pointed for that city with Brother Cloud, who was with me twelve months, and Brother Merrick, four months."

CHAPTER XLIL.

CITY OF RAHWAY .- ( Continued.)

Second Presbyterian Church .- The following ac- count of the organization of this church is taken from the minutes of the session of the First Presbyterian

1827. John Buckley.

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Church of this city, and was written by the pastor, Rev. Charles K. Imbrie, D.D., under whose ministry the Second Church was formed :

" The session of the church having frequently conversed together on the expediency of taking steps for the formation of a Presbyterian Church in Lower Rahway, and there being some desire manifested at present among the people to effect this object, it was agreed among the members of the session to forward the work as far as possible. Several meetinge were held, in which the members of the congregation on both sides of the river were represented, to exchange views on the subject.

" After tull discussion all objections were at length waived, and it was mutually agreed by those present that the plan should he tried. Ac- cordingly, application having been made to the Presbytery of Elizabeth- town by those more immediately interested in the movement st its late meeting in Morristown, the Rev. Drs. Murray and Magie, of Elizabeth- town, Rev. Mr. Street, of Connecticut Farms, and the pastor of this church (ministers), and Mr. Brown, of the First Church of Elizabeth, and Mr. Amos Morse, of this church (elders), were appointed a com- mittee of l'resbytery to visit this place, and, if the way should be clear, to proceed to the organization of a Second Presbyterian Church in thie town.

" The committee of the Presbytery met accordingly in the First Pres- byterian Church in this place this alternoon at two o'clock, and the way being clear, they proceeded to the organization of a new Presbyterian Church, to be known as the Second Presbyterian Church of Rahway, N. J.

" The services on this occasion were as follows, viz. :

"Ist. lutroductory exercises by the Rev. M. Street. .

" 2d. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Magie.

" 3d. After sermon the new church was organized by the Rev. Mr. 1m- brie, pastor of the First Church, who then delivered a parting address to the members of the newly-organized church.

"4th. The election of elders, which resulted in the choice of the four brethren who had formerly been elders in the First Church, viz. : Aaron Tucker, Frederick King, George F. Webb, and Jonathan Thompson.

" 5th. Installation of the elders by the Rev. Mr. Imbrie.

" 6th. Charge to the new elders and the church by Rev. Dr. Murray. " The session would here record their gratitude to God that the whole affair has been throughout conducted with the utmost harmony and fra- ternal feeling. Our brethren leave us with the fervent wishes and prayers of the whole church for their success and happiness. We feel their loes deeply; but we bid them God speed in the new enterprise to which the Lord has called them. As a session we pray that the bless- ing of the Good Shepherd may follow our beloved brethren of the elder ship, with whom we have so long taken sweet counsel without a single interruption to disturb our fellowship."

In pursuance of this object fifty-five members of the First Church, at their own request, with their duly appointed elders, were dismissed by the session, and formed the nucleus of the Second Presbyterian Church of Rahway, Nov. 9, 1849. We give a list of their names as follows :

Elders .- Aaron Tucker, Frederjek King, George F. Webb, Jonathan Thompson.

Members .- Caroline E. Ayres, John A. Briant, Ira Clawson, Almson Creego, Delia M. Creego, James A. Calhoun, Ann L. Calhoun, Louisa Crowell, Nancy Davidson, Isabella Davidson, Anna P. Everosgham, Philip Eckerson, Eveline Eckerson, Alexander Edgar, Ursula M. Edgar, A. Wilhelmina Edgar, Mary C. Edgar, Phebe Catharine Edgar, William M. Edgar, George P. Edgar, Henrietta Freeman, Jane O. Free- man, Ursula F. Gage, Harriet Gage, Hannah Hay- dock, Nancy Hoff, Ann Eliza Henry, Cornelius Jewell, Sarah Jewell, Louisa Jaques, Abby La Rue King, Frederick La Rue King, Caroline L. King, Adeline S. Lee, Ira C. Martin, Rhoda Martin, Nancy Martin, Margaret Miller, Sarah E. Parker, Theophilus Page, Priscilla Sutton, Sarah Sharpe, Thomas Il. | pastor.

Shafer, Caroline E. Shafer, Bethiah Thompson, Hannah Tucker, Prudence Turner, Jonathan Wood- ruff, Alvira Woodruff, Sarah M. Winans, Mary B. Wooding.

Of these fifty-eight persons who entered the church in 1849, nearly one-half are still alive after the lapse ofthirty-three years. The four original elders-Aaron Tucker, Frederick King, George F. Webb, and Jona- than Thompson-are all dead.

Succession of Pastors .- Rev. Lewis H. Lee, from April 17, 1850, to April, 1853 ; Rev. George S. Mott, from Oct. 9, 1853, to Oct. 5, 1858; Rev. V. Le Roy Lockwood, from December, 1858, to 1864; Rev. John A. Liggett, from December, 1864, present pastor, 1882.

Eldership in 1882 .- Jonathan Woodruff, Cornelius Jewell, Robert C. Brewster, Samuel Ayers, Ira La- forge, Edwin M. Brown, George Bush, Edward Cro- lins, James H. Durand.

The present membership of the church is about four hundred and fifteen, while the number in the three Sunday-schools connected with it is about six hundred. Within a few years a new lecture- and Sabbath-school room has been built, costing twelve thousand dollars, and a chapel has been erected for the school in East Rahway at a cost of five thousand dollars. The church has an excellent parsonage, and its property taken altogether has cost about fifty thou- sand dollars. It is free from debt with the exception of a very trifling sum.

First Baptist Church.1-In 1832 there were a few families of Baptists in Rahway who met regularly for prayer and praise. They were occasionally visited by Rev. D. T. Hill, then pastor at Plainfield, Rev. G. S. Webb, of New Brunswick, and Rev. L. Lathrop, of Samptown, upon whose advice, early in 1833, fourteen persons formed themselves into a church, which shortly after was publicly recognized as the First Baptist Church of Rahway, the Methodist Church lending their house for the occasion. The constituent members were William Marsh, Susan Bartow, Sarah Ross, William Ross, Ezra Frazee, Mary Frazee, Mary Cox, Mary Day, Huldah Frazee, Rhoda Laing, Saralı Mundy, Frances Moore, and Mary Osborn, of whom the one last named alone re- mains. A few others, among whom were Timothy Ross and Deacons Peter Spicer and W. L. Pangborn, soon joined the little band by letter ; and about the same date the first baptism was administered, the candidate being Brother B. C. Morse, who was subse- quently licensed to preach, and six years later, having completed his studies at Hamilton, was ordained as pastor of the Lyons Farms Baptist Church. Shortly after their organization the church took measures looking to the erection of a house of worship. Mr. E. W. Frazee, of Milton, offered to donate the ground

1 From a historical sketch of the church by Rev. William Rollinson,

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necessary if the church would build at that point. His offer was at first accepted, and the foundations of a building forty-four by sixty-four feet were laid. Judicious brethren, however, thought it would be wiser to select a more central position for their church edifice, and the advice of neighboring pastors was sought; among them was Rev. G. S. Webb, whose judgment had a controlling influence with the church, and led them to relinquish the lots they had accepted, and purchase others centrally situated in Lower Rahway. Here a plain but commodious building of the dimensions before named was ereeted, which ' it rendered greatly encouraged and assisted the pastor for forty years continued to be their church home. This change of location did much, under God, to determine the question of their success, as the site originally selected has since been offered to and suc- cessively occupied by churches of two other denom- inations, and by each in turn has been deserted, the ! vicinity having become a neglected suburb of the city, while that finally chosen is in its more attractive portion, so that in this, as in every after crisis of the history of this church, the guiding hand of God was visible.

The church now felt the need of a pastor, and ex- tended a call to Rev. Mansfield Barlow, who accepted and entered on his duties July 15, 1834. Favored now with a spiritual home, and aided by the counsels and ministry of Brother Barlow, the little band moved steadily on, and if sometimes made to feel the unpop- ularity of their distinctive tenets they were amply recompensed by tokens of the divine approval of their work. There were frequent accessions to the church by both baptism and letter, cheered by which they were led to "thank God and take courage." Brother Barlow's pastorate included but a single year, yet at its close the membership of the church had in- creased from fourteen at the time of its organization to forty ; there had been eighteen baptized and four- teen added by letter.

An interval of nearly a year succeeded, during the later portion of which the pulpit was supplied by Simeon J. Drake, a licentiate of the First Baptist Church of New York, to whom in the spring of 1836 the church gave a unanimous call, which he accepted, and May 6th of the same year he was ordained as their pastor, Rev. William Parkinson preaching the sermon of ordination.

The period of Brother Drake's pastorate claims a special mention, as it was its formative stage through which the church was passing, and under his wise and earnest leadership it was moulded into forms of life and action which have been transmitted to the present time. His clear and intelligent views of gospel truth enabled him to solidly lay those founda- tion principles on which the superstructure of church life was to be built, and each succeeding pastor has had occasion to feel that of Mr. Darke it might be said what Paul declared of himself: " According to the grace of God given unto me, as a wise master-

builder, I have laid the foundation and another build- eth thereon." To the influence of his instructions may be attributed in part the tenacity with which the church has " held fast to the form of sound words" in which the fathers formulated their faith. It was ever his aim to lay, as the sole foundation of the sin- ner's hope, the finished work of Christ, and he was equally careful not to build on it the " wood, hay, and stubble" of an unconverted church membership. The New Jersey State Convention had now taken the church under its fostering care, and by the timely aid

and his people. For nearly four years Brother Drake continued with the church, during which time it gained largely in its influence on the community, and exactly doubled in membership. In July, 1839, he resigned to accept a call to the First Baptist Church, Plainfield, to which the remaining twenty-seven years of his earnest life were devoted, when, having finished his work, he entered into rest, leaving precious mem- ories in each of the two churches to which the whole of his ministerial life had been given. There were added during his pastorate by baptism forty-four, and by letter twenty-two; the total membership in- creased from forty to eighty.

For the ten following months, during which the church was seeking for a pastor, the pulpit was sup- plied chiefly by Rev. Walter Gillette, then pastor of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church at Piscataway, who, in April, 1840, introduced to the church his brother, D. H. Gillette, a youthful licentiate then about com- pleting his studies at Hamilton. He came among them with the early spring flowers, and was at once welcomed by the church as one sent in answer to their prayers. The gentleness of his manners, the kind- ness of his disposition, and his unaffected piety se- · cured for him the affection of the entire church, who, May 8, 1840, extended him a cordial invitation to the vacant pastorate. This call he accepted, and on the 29th of July following was ordained as pastor of the church, Rev. A. D. Gillette, of Philadelphia, preach- ing the sermon on that occasion. During the two years which followed the congregation was largely in- creased by accessions from other denominations, while the church grew by constant aceessions to its mem- bership. After his first year with them the church ceased to ask aid of the Convention, and during the remainder of his pastorate they succeeded in remov- ing about half of the heavy debt which at his coming rested on the church property, besides expending several hundred dollars in improving the appearance and accommodations of the house. It was in the midst of this usefulness that Brother Gillette was struck down by the insidions disease which, a few years later, consigned him to an early grave. The first severe attack was in December, 1840, and pros- trated him for a number of weeks, during which the pulpit was again supplied by his brother Walter. Recovering from that he resumed the duties of the

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pastorate, and continued to labor steadily and with gratifying results until January, 1842, when his congh becanie alarming, and the church gave him leave of absence for the remainder of the winter, that in a milder climate he might seek the restoration of his health. On his return in the spring he felt con- strained to resign the charge of church, and after two brief pastorates, one in. Charlottesville, Va., and a briefer one at Mobile, Ala., he was called to his rest on high.

The accessions to the church during the pastorate of Brother Gillette were: by baptism, thirty-four ; by letter, eleven; by restoration, one. The total membership increased from eighty to one hundred.

After an interval of two months, Rev. Joseph B. Breed was called as pastor, who entered on his work in Rahway June 1, 1842. This, though with a single exception the shortest of the pastorates, is memorable in the history of the church as having been marked by a revival exceeding in power anything previously experienced in that region of country. The years 1842 and 1843 were in all this part of the State emi- nently years of revivals, and the Rahway Church shared largely in the general blessing. During the winter of 1842-43 the membership more than doubled, one hundred and ten being added by baptism. Thus nearly the whole period of Brother Breed's pastorate was crowded with work peculiar to such a time of in- gathering, and with such abounding mercies con- ferred on the church and crowning its pastor's labors, it would be but rational to suppose that a sure founda- tion had been laid for a loving and lasting union.

Yet here it proved, as it has often elsewhere, that prosperity is at times the fire in which God tries His people. While the work was yet in progress, and it seemed as if the church with recruited ranks was entering on a higher plane of influence and useful- ness, difficulties and divisions arose so serious as in the judgment of the pastor to render it expedient that he should retire from the field, and on the 29th of January he handed in his resignation. His deter- mination was greatly regretted by the many whom he had so recently baptized, and resulted, on his subse- quently leaving, in heart-burnings and alienations, by which the Spirit of God was grieved away and great injury done to the young converts thus left like sheep without a shepherd; a few withdrew from the church, and some were scattered among other de- nominations.

It was a period of severe trial to the older members of the church ; for months they sought earnestly for a pastor on whom all could unite, but the personal antagonisms which had sprung up prevented any ap- proach to unanimity.

In May, 1843, Brother William Rollinson, then a young licentiate of the First Baptist Church, New York, was invited to supply the pulpit for one Sab- bath, the services of which day resulted in their offering to hin a unanimous call to the pastorate of

the church. He had just engaged himself to the Jersey City Baptist Church for the ensuing six months, and declined to ask release from that engagement, when the church, on June 4th, voted to renew their call, the same to take effect at the expiration of his prior engagement. This call he accepted, and on the 28th of November was ordained as pastor of the church. Rev. Spencer H. Cone preaching the sermon.

Their disappointment in not immediately securing the services of the new pastor was overruled for good, as in the six months which intervened the previous difficulties slowly subsided, and in the united welcome they gave the young pastor on his settling with them, all former variances were forgotten. From first to last, during a pastorate of six years, Brother Rollin- son received the hearty co-operation of the church. The new material brought in during the great revival needed moulding, instructing, and cementing, to- gether with the usual amount of sifting the chaff from the wheat. In this important work the then in- experienced pastor found efficient helpers in the older members who had been trained under such men as Parkinson, Lathrop, Webb, Dodge, and Drake. The church co-operated in all the benevolent enterprises of the denomination more fully than at any previous period, and at home it enjoyed a steady growth in in- fluence and ability.

The debt on the church edifice was entirely can- celled, chiefly through a bequest from Sister Ann Compton. Lots were purchased opposite the meet- ing-house, and a chapel for the Sunday-school and purposes of social worship was erected, all services having previously been held in the main building. In the autumn of 1849, Brother Rollinson feeling his heart drawn to the great West, accepted an appoint- ment from the American Baptist Home Mission So- ciety to labor as their missionary in Racine, Wis., and November 1st of that year he resigned his charge of the Rahway Church.

During this pastorate twenty-three were received by baptism, thirty-five by letter, and one restored ; at its close the total membership was one hundred and sixty-one.

During the winter the church remained without a pastor, but early in the spring their minds centred on Rev. William H. Wines, to whom, March 22, 1850, they gave their unanimous call. He entered on the pastorate June 1st, and continned with the church nearly three years. During that period the accessions were of a character to add largely to the social in- fluence and spiritual power of the church, while the conscientious preparation made by Brother Wines for his pulpit duties and the high estimate every- where entertained of his personal character still further strengthened the position of the church in the community. But, like some previous pastors, this one had to contend with inconveniences arising from an insufficient support, which though they did not affect his usefulness nor lessen his fidelity to the

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church, hampered him in his work, and finally led to his retirement from the field, April 1, 1853, when he resigned to take charge of the Tarrytown Church, bearing with him the respect and affection of the church he left.

During his stay at Rahway there were added to the church by baptism thirty-three, by letter twenty-five, restored one; the total membership was one hundred and fifty-four.

The following month the church unanimously called Rev. William B. Tolan, then of Morristown, who ac- cepted and began his work at Rahway June 19, 1853. The new pastor entered on his labors with an earnest- ness which gave promise of great usefulness. Prompt measures were adopted to cancel a floating indebted- ness which trouhled the church, the register was re- vised, delinquents were sought out, and determined endeavors were made to bring the church up to the scriptural standard of life. Among an admirable series of resolutions adopted at that time was the fol- lowing, which is given in hope of calling attention to a prevalent neglect of church discipline :

" Resolved, That it ie the duty of any member changing hie place of residence into the vicinity of a sister church, with the intention of re- maining, to take a letter of dismission to said church; and any member so removing who shall for the space of six months thereafter neglect to call for such a letter shall be considered a proper subject for diecipline, or for exclusion, at the discretion of the church."

The social qualities of Brother Tolan secured him many warm personal friends, and in his labors he church. Additions to the membership were frequent, and the prospects of the church were never, up to that time, so favorable as they appeared at the close of the second year of this pastorate.

was cordially sustained by a large majority of the ; the church wrote, "The year to us has been one of

Again, however, the church was called to pass through a period of trial. Divisions, the responsi- bility for which can be determined only by God, re- sulted in the resignation of the pastor, Dec. 18, 1855. After vainly seeking to harmonize among themselves the differences which had sprung up it was decided to seek advice from sister churches in the neighbor- hood, and May 2, 1856, a council was called from the Plainfield, Newark, Somerville, Scotch Plains, and New Brunswick Churches. This council met at Rahway on the 23d of the same month, and succeeded by their judicious and impartial advice in restoring to the church that peace which for the last thirteen years has continued unbroken.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 68

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224