USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Piscataway > History of the First Baptist Church of Piscataway : with an account of its bi-centennial celebration, June 20th, 1889, and sketches of pioneer progenitors of Piscataway planters > Part 7
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The first Sunday-School established in the parish was begun at Piscatawaytown about the year 1820 or 1821. To Miss Ann Eliza Arnold (afterwards Mrs. Peter Tenbrook) belongs the honor of having originated this school. During the first summer it was held in a base- ment room of her mother's house. In the second summer so large was the attendance that it became necessary to resort to the school- house, where, after the lapse of a few years, Judge Cook, of New Brunswick, became its superintendent. The school is maintained to this day, its home now being the chapel. Its present superintendent is Mr. William H. Stelle. Besides this school there are four others.
2. The one at Stelton, held in the lecture room ; Superintendent Deacon Peter R. Letson. Of all the schools this is the most recent, having been established in May, 1877.
3. The one at Friendship School-House; Superintendent, Benja- min S. Letson. Established 1834.
66
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
4. The one at New Durham ; Superintendent Deacon Wm. Dunn. Established 1835.
5. The one at Union School-house ; Superintendent Lewis Walker. Established 1835.
The last four schools were until a few years ago closed during the winter months. They are now open all the year. The International Lessons are used in all of them. In all of them many have been born into the kingdom.
As early as 1807 we find mention made in the Trustee Book of a lot, known as the Church Lot, adjoining or near the present meet- ing-house. This was rented for a long series of years to different persons for an amount varying from seven to fifteen dollars, until March, 1850, when it was sold to Isaac A. Stelle for $62 50-100 per acre.
In April of the same year ten acres of the parsonage farm were sold to Augustus T. Stelle for $365.00, thus reducing the original size of the farm which was thirty acres to twenty acres. This farm was bought of a Mr. Buchanan.
In the Minutes of the Trustees under date of January 18, 1804, we find this resolution, which explains itself : "Resolved, That traveling ministers who preach for the congregation at the meeting- house by appointment, shall be entitled to two dollars, and those who preach at private houses by appointment, transmitted by said minister and published by the pastor of the Church or some one of the Society, shall be entitled to one dollar out of the collections, or any other money belonging to the Society." Small as this amount was singly it amounted in the aggregate to a good round sum. We find the Treasurer crediting himself this same year : "By payment to several ministers, £2; in 1806, £1 4s .; in 1807, " by cash paid sundry elders, £4; in 1809, $11 ; in 1812, $50.50, etc. This resolution was, in the course of time, so amended as, that nothing was to be paid to those who preached at private houses, and no doubt wisely amended. Unques- tionably the Piscataway parish was not shunned by traveling ministers, as the records show. This custom lasted till 1849, this being the last date of payment made to such ministers.
The annual expenses of the Church were up to 1882 met by as- sessments on the pews. Since that time, by the envelope system, or weekly offerings of the members. This plan has been successful beyond the anticipations of its projectors, a larger amount being raised than by the former method, while it is believed to be more in accord- ance with the Covenant obligations of each and every member.
67
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
Last but not least of these miscellaneous items, we would tenderly record the fact that in the adjoining graveyard stands a marble shaft, erected by voluntary subscriptions, in grateful and loving memory of those members of the Church and congregation who fell in defence of their country in the late civil war, and belonging to Co. C., 28th Regiment, N. J., Volunteers. Let their names be recorded here.
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.
DAVID S. SMITH, HENRY BRANTINGHAM, GEORGE D. BOICE.
MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION.
PETER F. RUNYON,
JOEL F. LANGSTAFF,
MARTIN V. B. McCRAY,
WILLIAM M. MERRIL,
JEREMIAH R. FIELD,
CHARLES W. TOUPET,
CLARENCE D. GREEN,
AARON H. LANE,
SAMUEL BAKER.
RETROSPECT.
Having thus briefly traced the history of the Church-how im- perfectly none can be more conscious than the writer-it remains only to take a brief retrospect and indulge in one or two reflections.
We have seen that the Church, during its two centuries of exist- ence has had eleven, rather has had ten pastors, the eleventh being still in charge. Of these the longest pastorate, the first, was fifty years, the shortest five years. The first four and the seventh died on the field, full of years and honors, all loved and lamented by the Church. Of the remaining five who left the field to labor elsewhere, two only survive, one of whom has recently retired from pastoral work.
The total membership in 1800 was one hundred and twenty-four. Since then seven hundred and forty have been added by baptism.
68
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
What the membership has been every year since 1762, may be learned from the tabular statement appended. The largest number of baptisms in any decade was one hundred and fifty-six, viz. : 1850-1860. The total membership at the present time is two hundred and thirty. It reached its highest total in 1876, namely : three hundred and five. But numbers are not always an index of prosperity. In brotherly love and unity of spirit, in real activity, in well directed and prayerful effort for the spread of the Gospel at home and abroad, and in consecration of means to this end, the Church is to-day in no respect behind, but rather in advance of any former period.
Within the last century twenty-seven good men and true have by the choice of the Church served it as deacons. The early records refer frequently to Edward Griffith as one called to preside at meetings of business and to act on important committees. He was evidently held in high esteem as a man of intelligence and Christian worth. His grave stone, which almost touches this building, tells us that "he worthily fulfilled the office of deacon nearly fifty years." Time and lack of information forbid us to attempt to do justice to the memory of the greater part of those who have served in the same capacity since his day. But in respect to those who honored this office during, or just before the time of the writer, such as Jeremiah D. Stelle, David C. Dunn, Peter Smith, Alexander Dunn, Samuel Smith, Henry Smalley, Augustus T. Stelle, Furman Stelle, James D. Stelle, all of whom except the last named1 are at home with the Lord. Was ever a church favored with better deacons, or pastor with men wiser in council, sounder in judgment, truer in friendship, more exemplary in Christian virtues ? Why add more ? Their record is on high. In loving memory of their worth and work these words drop from our pen.
Whether we contemplate God's goodness to this Church in the generations past or in the times that now are, the feeling of gratitude must spontaneously rise up in every heart. If it has passed through some trials and sorrows, if there have been times of declension and a withdrawal of the quickening power of the spirit, its experience in these respects has not been peculiar, God dealing with churches as with individual members, bringing the trial, the sorrow and the cloud to chasten them that they may be driven closer to the throne of grace, take firmer hold of the promises, and more thoroughly realize that their sufficiency is of Him, of Him only.
Many churches in the old agricultural districts of our country
1. Now a member of Dr. Judson's Church. New York.
69
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
have, within the last fifty years, dwindled away, while many others maintain but a feeble existence. This Church is yet strong and bring- ing forth fruit in its old age. The territory acquired by the fathers, the sons through successive generations have stepped into, and entered into their labors. The Drakes and Runyons, and Dunns and Danhams, and Randolphs and Stelles are here to-day, responding, in the fulness of their hearts, to the words of the Psalmist-" Thy faithfulness is unto all generations." Seldom in the history of churches has any church held the ground so long intact without occupancy by churches of other denominations. The Lord of the vineyard appears to have given it to this people, we trust, in perpetuum-forever. It is a goodly heritage and precious in its memories ; but safe, only as those who now occupy it and those who follow them shall abide in the faith of the Gospel and have power with God in prayer. Their ancestry, those who gave tone to society and laid sure foundations for an orderly and prosperous community were men that feared God and wrought righteousness. And largely because of their piety and fidelity to truth is it that this community through all its history has been so abundantly favored tem- porally and spiritually. Piety, it is true, is not transmitted by birth, but waits upon and intercedes with the prayer-hearing God, and He is pleased to bless the children for their parents' sake. Who will at- tempt to measure the blessings that have fallen on this generation in answer to the prayers of those who lived and toiled and wept in time long past ? Their tears are bottled in Heaven. Their prayers and tears, added to those of their children, must ever come into remem- brance before Him who is "the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations," and they shall be the people whose God is the Lord, realizing all that the Psalmist longed for and prayed for : "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions sake I will now say, Peace be within thee."
70
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE STATISTICAL CONDITION OF THE CHURCH, From 1762-1889.
The following table is compiled from the Minutes of the Phila- delphia, New York and East New Jersey Associations. The first tabu- lated statement of the condition of the churches in the Century Minutes of the Philadelphia Association is found in the Minutes of 1761. But the Church at Piscataway seems to have furnished no statistics that year. The table, therefore, begins with A. D. 1762 :
The want of agreement in the sum total in membership of one year with another, in the following table, is due to errors in the Minutes from which it was copied.
Year.
MINISTER.
Where Held.
Baptized.
Rec'd by
Restored.
Dismissed.
Excluded.
Died.
Members.
I762
Isaac Stelle,
I
I
4I
1763
2
43
1764
I7
I
I
58
1765
4
2
60
1766
3
63
1767
66
4
2
17
1769
S
2
73
1771
I
1
72
I772
I
73
1773
2
I
2
2
72
1774
72
I775
3
75
1776
2
2
75
1777
Scotch Plains, No Ass'n this year, Phila. occupied by British army. No statistics in the Minutes.
1779 1780 178I I782
66
66
..
S No messengers nor 1 letter sent.
I
1783 1784 1785 I786
Reune Runyon, 66
(No statistics). (Not represented.) Ass'n, New York.
2
.
2
40
1787
22
I
2
140
1788
S
2
I
145
1789
4
2
2
147
1790
Ass'n, New York.
I
I
I
148
1791
66
1
I
4
2
3
14I
I792
Ass'n, New York.
3
I
3
I36
1793
I794
I795
I
. .
1796
7
.
2
69
I770
I778
. .
I
39
78
3
121
2
2
I
133
..
(Without a pastor).
63
1768
Letter.
7I
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
Year.
MINISTER.
Where Held.
Baptized.
Rec'd by
Restored.
Dismissed.
Excluded.
Died.
Members.
I797
Reune Runyon, 6.
I
I
I
2
I26
1800
6
I
3
3
2
I24
1801
66
2
I
2
123
1803
123
1804
1805
1806
3
7
II3
1807
66
I808
I4
4
I23
1809
22
2
140
18IO
60
2
2
144
18II
8
3
149
1812 James
McLaughlin,
4
I
2
4
I45
1813
Daniel Dodge, 66
30
2
3
I
II5
1820
Piscataway,
I9
3
2
I29
1821
66
7
2
2
2
I34
I822
Plainfield,
I
I
4
135
1824
Middletown,
3
3
135
1825
3
I
I
IO
I39 I29 139
1828
Piscataway,
2
I
6
134 I3I
1830
44
Newark,
I
5
I
5
I20
1831
I
I
I
5
II4 I29
1833 1834 1835
Daniel D. Lewis,
Samptown,
I
2
5
3
III
I836
Paterson,
1
3
I
2
III
1837
6
18
I
II
J
4
IJ5
1838
New Brunswick,
27
5
3
I
3
I.40 141
1840
Middletown,
2
I
I
I
3
2
3
140
1843
E. N.J. Ass'n, Pl'field, First Church, Newark,
90
I
3
2
3
223
1844
Second, Middletown, Samptown, Patterson,
II
2
2
7
I
I
229
1845
1846
New Brunswick,
1
2
2
2
2
201
1849
Second, Plainfield, Rahway,
I
3
I
6
194
5
26*
3
II3
1819
New Brunswick,
4
4
I42
1816
4
143
1817
66
15
2
I
2
1829
I
2
2
1832
Scotch Plains,
18
2
I
4
I
4
I
2
I25 II6
1839
4
2
I
2
I4I
1811
..
3
I43
1842
I
I
3
2
3
223
I
2
2
219
1847
4
I
5
209
1848
* Twenty-three of these were dismissed from the Church in New Brunswick
I
I
I
II8
1799
1814
1815
1823
3
4
4
1826
I
I22
1818
5
I30
1827
2
5
-124
1802
Letter.
72
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
Year.
MINISTER.
Where Held.
Baptized.
Rec'd by
Letter.
Restored.
Dismissed.
Excluded.
Died.
Members.
1850
H. V. Jones,
Middletown, Newark,
24
4
3
7
207
1852
66
Scotch Plains,
I3
2
II
I
3
198
IS54
Hoboken,
5
I
2
2
211
1855
66
Holmdel,
3
8
4
3
209
1856
Bloomfield,
8
I
2
I
2
214
1857
C. J. Page,
Shrewsbury,
46
8
6
5
254
1858
Plainfield,
44
2
4
I
5
285
1859
Morristown,
5
2
2
4
2
I
288
1860
Jersey City,
3
3
8
3
4
282
1861
Middletown,
2
2
3
2
5
277
IS62
Piscataway,
I
3
2
9
262
1864
Red Bank,
38
7
8
282
1865
South Newark, Paterson,
I3
2
6
I
3
285
1867
New Monmouth, Rahway,
8
3
II
2
3
268
1869
North, Jersey City, Amboy,
8
I
. .
8
2
3
255
1872
First, Elizabeth,
2
I
4
I
6
268
1873
Bergen,
7
2
I
2
262
IS75
Red Bank,
21
I
I
6
5
292
IS76
New Market,
15
3
5
.
3
305
1877
Piscataway,
I
I
5
I
4
299
IS78
South, Newark,
3
7
7
288
1879
J. W. Sarles,
Red Bank,
3
8
II
3
5
279
1880
First, Plainfield,
7
3
8
8
292
1882
66
North, Jersey City, Rahway,
I
6
I
9
276
1883
..
South, Newark,
7
4
4
1
8
269
ISS5
Red Bank,
.IO
4
8
8
265
ISS6
New Market, Piscataway,
8
I
I
7
5
7
249
I888
Fairmount, Newark,
6
3
. .
16
9
2
23I
1889
66
Park Ave., Plainfield,
4
I
4
3
4
225
. .
4
4
189
IS5I
Piscataway,
3
5
7
.
3
273
1863
North, Orange,
4
4
3
I
4
282
1866
66
3
5
7
I
262
I868
James F. Brown,
Plainfield,
23
5
. .
2
I
2
276
1874
Scotch Plains,
4
2
3
8
2
26I
1870
1871
2
4
5
277
18SI
First, Newark,
26
II
. .
I
5
27I
1884
8
I
2
4
I
8
263
1887
194
1853
.
4
276
66
73
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.
JOHN W. SARLES, D. D., Pastor.
Deacons.
WM. CROWELL,
PETER R. LETSON,
FRANK DAVIS,
MEFFORD RUNYON,
NOAH D. RUNYON,
WILLIAM P. DUNN,
WM M. LETSON,
SAMUEL E. STELLE,
BENJ, S. LETSON,
WARREN SMALLEY,
MEFFORD RUNYON,
ISAAC DAYTON.
B. D. STELLE, Chairman. WM. M. LETSON, Secretary.
Church Clerk.
PETER A. RUNYON.
Church Treasurer,
PETER R. LETSON.
Sexton.
THEODORE MUNDY.
Sexton of Chapel. MAHLON MUNDY.
Deacons of the Church from 1781 to the present time. When elected, and time of service.
APPOINTED.
DIED. March 24. 1813. No record.
Edward Griffith, Asa Runyon, Benjamin Stelle, Ephraim Pyatt, Joseph Holton,
August, 1792,
August 10, 1813.
October 31, 1804,
February, 1805.
George Drake,
August 28, 1805, November 3, 1813,
April 13, 1834.
Hezekiah Smith
November 26, 1817,
Wm. F. Manning,
June 2, 1821,
Isaac A. Stelle,
May 24, 1826,
February II, 1855.
Drake Stelle, Peter Smith.
August 28, 1839,
February 2, 1853. December 11, 1884.
Henry Smalley, Jeremiah D Stelle,
March 3, 1852,
April, 1857. April 20, 1875. June, IS56.
Alexander Dunn, David C. Dunn, Samuel Smith, Augustus T. Stelle, Jas. D. Stelle, Peter R. Letson, Wm. Crowell, Furman Stelle,
September 29, 1855,
August 2, 1881. September 20, 1887. Membership transf'd
July 27, 1872, 66
November 29. 1879, .6 November 28, 1885,
December 28, 1880.
Mefford Runyon,
Wm. P. Dunn, Warren Smalley. Samuel E. Stelle,
February 27, 1833,
November 2, 1817. April 6, 1826. July, 1850. June 3, 1872.
Peter Runyon. Jr.,
John F. Randolph,
October, 1789,
Trustees. BERGEN D. STELLE,
74
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH,
Stated Clerks from 1793 to the present time.
NAMES.
WHEN APPOINTED
Louis Dunn,
April, 1793.
George Drake,
October, 1796.
William F. Manning,
Samuel Smith,
May 1820. November, 1837.
Joseph H. Smith,
September, 1855.
Lewis F. Stelle,
-
-
Augustus Stelle,
March, IS62. April, 1864.
Peter A. Runyon,
September, 1875.
THE STELLE GENEALOGY IN PART.
Rev. Benjamin, son of Pontius Stelle, born 1683, married Mercy Drake. Their children were as follows : Mercy, Susanna, Betsy, Benjamin, John, Isaac. Benjamin became a deacon of the Church. John, a Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army ; Isaac, a minister of the Gospel, and third pastor of this Church.
Benjamin, son of Rev. Benjamin, born 1783, married first, Hannah Dunn : married second, Ruth Sharp.
Children of first wife. Mary married Andrew Manning. 66 Mercy married Ephraim Piatt
Elizabeth married Joseph Stelle.
Asher married Mary Drake.
66 66 Isaac married Margaret Manning.
Benjamin.
Child of second wife.
Rachel married Ephraim Fitz Randolph. Samuel married Elizabeth Bishop.
Rev. Isaac, son of Rev. Benjamin Stelle, born 1718, married Christiana Clarkson. Their children were :
Benjamin, married Huldah Crawford.
Ambrose.
Abel married Sarah Dunham.
Joseph married Elizabeth Stelle.
Mary, Mercy.
Oliver, married Mary Runyon. Samuel married Hannah Taylor.
Descendants of Rev. Benjamin Stelle who have cither died or been dismissed by letter within the last fifty years :
Drake Stelle, Daniel Stelle, Rev. Bergen Stelle, Julia A. Stelle, Jeremiah D. Stelle,
Rev. Lewis Stelle, Rachel D. Stelle, Prudence Stelle, Sarah Stelle, Rachel Stelle,
-
75
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
The descendants of Rev. Benjamin Stelle, now members of the Church, are :
William H. Stelle,
Bergen D. Stelle,
Sarah J. Letson, S. Raymond Stelle,
Elsie M. Stelle,
D. E. Stelle.
Wm. T. Stelle,
Mary E. Stelle,
Isabella Stelle,
Anna C. Davis.
Descendants of Rev. Isaac Stelle who have either died or been dismissed within the past fifty years :
Isaac Stelle,
Adaline G. Stelle,
Mary Ann Stelle,
Phoebe D. Stelle,
Elizabeth M. Stelle,
Margaret J. Stelle,
Rachel Stelle,
Rebecca A. Stelle,
Adaline Stelle,
Susanna A. Stelle,
Mahlon Stelle,
Gifford Stelle.
Jas. Patterson Stelle,
Isaac R. Stelle,
Lewis F. Stelle,
Anna E. Stelle,
Augustus T. Stelle,
John N. Stelle,
Samuel R. Stelle,
Susan R. Stelle,
Alexander B. Stelle,
Annie E. Stelle,
James D. Stelle,
Samuel R. Stelle,
Isaac Stelle,
Mahlon C. Stelle,
Prudence Stelle,
Fanny D. Stelle,
George W Stelle,
Mamie A. Stelle,
Lucy Stelle.
Descendants of Rev. Isaac Stelle, now members of the Church :
Sarah Stelle,
Samuel E. Stelle,
Mary A. Stelle,
Almira Stelle,
Isabella D. Stelle,
Isaac D. Stelle.
Alice H. Stelle,
Augustus Stelle,
Louisa R. Stelle,
Angeline Stelle,
Sarah Stelle,
Julia Stelle.
Members of the New Brunswick First Church, descendants of Rev. Isaac Stelle :
Sarah E. Stelle.
Anna Stelle,
Rachel M. Stelle, Mary Stelle.
Helen Stelle.
ANCESTRY OF REV. REUNE RUNYON.
I. Vincent Runyon or Rongnion married Ann Boutcher, daughter of John Boutcher of Hartford, England, June 28, 1668, in the 20th year of the reign of Charles II. They had five children, but no record of their birth or death appears to exist.
2. Vincent Runyon, son af the foregoing, married Mary --. 1 Had eight children, viz. : Vincent, Reune, Reuben, Reziah, Sarah, Martha, Rizpah and Ann.
1. Last name unknown.
76
THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
3. Reune born 1707, died 1776, married Rachel Drake, born 1711, died 1784. Their children were : Mary, Ephraim, Rachel, Reune, John1 and Rizpah.
REV. REUNE RUNYON AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
Rev. Reune Runyon, born in Piscataway, November 29, 1741, the son of Reune Runyon and Rachel Drake, married 1765 Anna Bray. Their children were twelve : five dying in childhood, viz. : Rachel, Reuben, Charlotte, Rhoda and Mary.
The seven following lived to be married and had families :
BORN.
1766 .- Nancy Runyon married Rev. Geo. Drake ; their children were : Reune, George, Ann, Mary.
1771 .- Vincent Runyon married Providence Runyon ; their children were three daughters : Mary, Esther, Elizabeth.
1773 .- Rachel Runyon married Jonathan Dayton; their children were : Jesse, Simeon, Ann, Betsey and Samuel.
1775 .- Daniel Runyon married Phebe Runyon and Sarah Holton, their children were : Reune, Peter, Ann, Rhoda, Cornelia, Joseph, Elizabeth.
1777 .- Reune B. Runyon married Hudlah Drake, their children were : Oliver, Reune D., Samuel, Juliet, Anna, Mercy, Mary, Rhoda.
1784 .- Matilda Runyon married James Tanner.
1786 .- Isabel Runyon married John Holton.
The family of Reune B. all married, viz :
Oliver married Rachel Runyon, lived in Plainfield.
Reune D. married Rebecca Brokaw, lived in Newmarket,
Samuel married Sarah Crissey, lived in Piscataway. Jnliet married Louis Runyon, lived in Plainfield.
Anna married Nathan Blackford, lived in Middlesex.
Mercy Married Abel S. Runyon, lived near New Brunswick. Mary married Henry Crissey.
Rhoda married David Manning, lived in Piscataway.
The family of Daniel married in part, and lived in Plainfield. all of them.
1. John, the brother of Rev. Reune Runyon, had a son Ephraim, who was the father of Abraham Runyon, now of Dunellen, who has reached the venerable age of eighty-eight years, and whose children are the distinguished ex-Chancellor Theodore Runyon, of Newark, and Mrs. William C. Stanbury of Scotch Plains. They are there- fore the seventh generation in deseent from the first Vincent Runyon or Rongmon, who married Ann Boutcher, of Hartford, England.
-
Exercises ON ---
Bi-Centennial Day.
HE day appointed for the Bi-Centennial celebration, (June 20, 1 1889), proved very propitious. The skies were clear, the air pure and bracing, and everything seemed to conspire to elevate the feelings and bring them into joyful harmony with the occasion.
The congregation began to assemble a short time before the hour announced for beginning the service. Each arriving train brought additional visitors, while many from the surrounding country came in their own conveyances. Before the opening exercises were concluded, the church was filled to overflowing and continued so throughout the day and evening. The pulpit and platform were profusely and taste- fully decorated with flowers and evergreens. On one side of the alcove there appeared, enclosed in a beautiful wreath, the significant figures " 1689," composed of richly tinted flowers, and on the opposite side one similarly arranged containing the figures "1889." The ladies had provided for their guests a bountiful supply of inviting edibles for both dinner and supper, which were served at the large, unoccupied house and grounds opposite the parsonage.
The audience manifested the deepest interest in the entire proceed- ings at the church, and visitors from far and near expressed their heartiest appreciation of the entertainment afforded them. All connected with the church found the occasion a most delightful and inspiring one-a day never to be forgotten in the history of their beloved Zion.
THE BI-CENTENNIAL SERVICES.
GREETING BY THE PASTOR, J. W. SARLES, D. D.
In behalf of this church, let me say to the dear friends who are our guests to-day that your presence is grateful. Indeed the antici- pation of your coming, representatives of the great Baptist family of New Jersey and other parts, has entered so fully into our notion of a commemorative service that it would hardly be a Bi-Centennial with- out you.
There are substantial reasons why that should be so. If to us the lines have fallen in pleasant places, so they have to you. If we have a goodly heritage, you have the same. There has been here a long line of noble ancestry. But they were your progenitors as well as ours. The Piscataway Baptist Church is one of the three notable mothers of all New Jersey Baptists, and many more. Our joy to-day therefore is one in common with yours. It was meet that we should invite you here, and that you have come.
Besides that, we gratefully accept it that the children are not un- worthy of the fathers. As in the past so now, men and women of great renown in God's sight are living actors. It was in a moment of great depression that the heroic Elijah once thought that he, already as good as dead, was the very last of the faithful on earth. At that instant there were seven thousand who were true to Israel's God. The Great Head of the Church is never wanting for such ; and we are making constant acknowledgements of it a year too late. Our annual letters to the Associations are all crowded with loving words appre- ciative of those who have been taken from us. To many of those, poor in spirit, that just recognition would have been a grateful sur- prise,-" When saw we Thee an hungered and fed Thee,"-awaken- ing new gratitude, inspiring new confidence, and nerving for the last conflict, while only faintly foreshadowing what the Master himself will say. Many dear Christians have slipped away while I have been getting to the point of telling them what blessings God has made them
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THE PISCATAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
to me. Tens of thousands of the "called and chosen faithful" are now on the earth, and among them hosts of Baptists, "partners and fellow-helpers " of the Apostles, " messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ." Many of these are sure to be found in such a gathering as this. To look upon them is a privilege; to wait upon them a joy ; to honor them a delight. All this is ours to-day.
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