History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 85

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print
Number of Pages: 942

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1876, June 4. The Treasurer having in- formed Session, that the pledges of our home work for the current year amount only to the sum of $4,012., and that. in his judgment $1,555. can be relied on from those who have made no definite pledge; it was deemed advisable for Session to call the at- tention of the members of the Church to the matter, and the Pastor and Mr. Little were appointed a committee to prepare a circular, to be addressed by Session to such members of the Church as have made no

pledge, and report the same at the next meeting. The Clerk was also directed to ask the Treasurer to furnish Session with a list of all who have, and also of all who have not, made pledges for our home work for the current year.

1876, June 7. The statement which the Treasurer was requested to furnish was laid before Session. The circular was reported by the Committee, and, atter amendment and careful consideration, was unanimously adopted; and it was ordered to be signed by the Pastor and Clerk, and addressed to those who have made no pledge towards Church support for the current year. The Clerk reported that he had procured a copy of the Assembly's Digest, as heretofore di- rected.

1876, June 25. The Pastor informed Ses- sion, that Rev. Mr. Erdman, Pastor of the South St. Church, had proposed a joint Communion of the members of the two churches in our Church, on the morning of the first Sabbath of July next. After con- sideration, in view of the fact that our Gen- eral Assembly had suggested the propriety of having an historical sermon preached in all our churches at that time, and that the Pastor had made his preparation accord- ingly ; Session deemed it not expedient to change the service on the morning of the Sabbath, but right to comply with the sug- gestion of the Assembly ; yet, realizing the great propriety of such joint communion at the present time, resolved to invite our brethern of the South St. Church to unite with us in such service in the evening of that day.

1876, July 2. The invitation referred to in the foregoing minute, having been cordially accepted, a joint communion ser- vice was celebrated in our Church, in the evening of this day. The Pastors of both Churches participated in the service, also Elders Mitchell, Hazeltine. Graves, Hoff- man, Burnham and Witte, of the South St. Church, and Elders Ward, Davis, Caskey, Stevenson, Dalrymple, VanDoren and Lit- tle, of this Church. In the morning of this day the Pastor preached a sermon on the history of this Church, from its organiza- tion, in 1738, to 1794, embracing the pasto- rate of Dr. Timothy Johnes, the first Pastor. 1876, Sept. 6. Mr. * presented a let-

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MINUTES OF THE SESSION.

ter of dismission from the Presbyterian . Church of * * , and asked to be received into membership with this Church. In view of the fact that Mr. * * resides several miles distant, and much nearer to the Church at * * , and of other facts, known to members of Session, connected with this application, Session thought it most pru- dent, and more courteous to the Church at * * * to ascertain, if possible, the special cause of Mr. * * separation from that Church, and to use its influence to induce him to remain in connection with it, and therefore laid his application over for future consideration.

1876, Sept. 27. The Pastor read to Ses- sion a letter from Rev. Mr. *

* , Pas- tor of the Church of, *

* in refer- ence to the dismission of Mr. *

* whose application for admission to this Church had been laid over for further con- sideration, and thereupon Mr. * was unanimously received.

1876, Nov. 1. The subject of an increase of the Session, having been again consid- ered, and such increase deemed advisable, it was unanimously resolved to recommend to the Church to elect Messrs. Lewis Pierson, Jr., Aurelius B. Hull, George E. Voorhees and William E. Church, if they will consent to such election. The Pastor was requested to confer with these brethern, and, if possi- ble, procure such consent. It was further Resolved ; That, if the brethern named give their consent. the Pastor give notice to the Church, for two Sabbaths before the next service preparatory to the Communion, of an election to be held at that time for such increase of the Session, and also of the per- sons whom the Session, in accordance with the usage of the Church, recommend for that purpose. Messrs. Stevenson and Dal- rymple were appointed a Committee to con- sider the expediency of increasing our Com- munion Service and report at our next meeting.

1877, Jan. 10. The Pastor arrived, after considerable delay, and stated to Session that. as he had previously informed them, he had received a call from the 4th Presb. Church of Chicago ; , that he had been there to survey the ground, and had just re- turned ; that he wished the advice of the | after the next Sabbath.

Session as to whether to accept the call or not. After much conversation, as to the circumstances attending the making of the call; Session stated that they could not take the responsibility of advising him in the premises, particularly as he declared that there was nothing in the Church or Congregation which, in his judgment, ren- dered such a change necessary.and that per- sonally he had no desire for it ; that he only knew the field of labor in Chicago, and could best judge what course he ought to pursue. The Pastor, being much fatigued by his journey, requested a further confer- ence on Friday afternoon, January 12th, at 4 o'clock, to which time the meeting ad- journed.

1877, Jan. 12. The Pastor again stated fully the circumstances connected with the Call to the 4th Presb. Church of Chicago, and also added, that, previous to going there to survey the field, he had fully made up his mind that his health required that he should either have a furlough for a year, or go to some new field where he could avail himself of the preparation of the past eight years ; that, on careful reflection, he was decidedly of the opinion, the Church could not, in its present condition, afford to give him a furlough of a year, and that as the Pastoral labor was more than his health would permit him to do, he thought he was called to accept this new field of labor, which had been providentially opened, and where the congregation was more concen- trated and less pastoral labor would be re- quired. He would, therefore, announce his decision to the congregation on the Sab- bath, and call a meeting to appoint Com- missioners to unite with him, in his appli- cation to Presbytery. to dissolve his rela- tion to the Church as Pastor.

1877, Jan. 14. The Pastor announced his decision, in the matter of the call to Chica- go, to the Church, and requested a meeting of the Parish, to be held on Tuesday, Janu- ary 16th, 1877, to appoint Commissioners to unite with him in his application to Presby- tery.

1877, Jan. 31. Presbytery met in the Chapel and voted that the Pastoral relation be dissolved, the dissolution to take effect

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PASTORATE OF THE REV. JOHN ABBOTT FRENCH.

TRUSTEES AND PARISH.

January 11, 1869. Trustees. Resolved, [Ist,] To ratify the action of the committee ap- pointed to " seek a pastor," in commuting the use of a parsonage with our pastor at $1,000. per year ; [2d,] To approve the action of the Treasurer,in paying for use of Bap- tist Church basement and Sexton ; and to instruct him to continue such payment while the same is used as a place of week day meeting by our Church; also to au- thorize him to engage the body of the Bap- tist Church for the holding of the weekly lecture, if the pastor requests it ; [3d,] That the Treasurer be instructed to pay our Pas- tor $1,000. immediately for salary and com- mutation, for the current quarter, com- mencing Dec. Ist, 1868; and hereafter the payments shall be made quarterly, half in advance.

January 18, 1869. Trustees. Mr. Pitney reported, on behalf of the Com'tee to alter Gallery, &c .; That they believed the neces- sary alteration could be made within one week's time after commencement, at a cost of from $150. to $200. Resolved, That the said Committee be authorized to engage a competent mechanic to do said work.

January 30, '69. Trustees. Resolved, That the President (Mr. Requa), be authorized to recushion the pews in gallery ; also to as- certain cost, &c., of a new reflector, and purchase the same, if in his judgment he thought best.

March 5, 1869. Trustees. Resolved, [Ist,] That the pews in gallery be valued at such prices as the trustees may at some future time fix upon; [2d,] That the Sexton be paid $350. per annum, instead of $300., from March 1, '69.

June 22, '69. Trustees. Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to pay Mr. H. M. Olmsted the sum of $3,500. and interest, money advanced by him to aid the Church in purchasing the Mrs. Cobb property.

July 7, '69. Parish Meeting : Mr. H. C. Pitney, Chairman, and Mr. J. Duryee Stevenson, Secretary. The Chairman of the Building Committee, Mr. Requa, reported : That about $11,500. had been raised by sub- scription, and $7,500. had been received as proceeds of sale of old Parsonage; in all $19,000. Of this, $3,500. had been paid on a mortgage lying on the new parsonage prop-

erty ; also repairs of the Church had been paid for out of the fund: That the Mason's contract on the Lecture room was $ 10,500., and the Carpenter's contract $5,500. ; in all $16,000. That the Committee needed $5,000. to complete the building in proper style ; and for the Parsonage $15,000. ; in all $20,- 000. The Chairman was empowered to ap- point, at his leisure, a Committee of Collec- tion of twenty person, to solicit contribu- tions from the members of the congregation individually, to carry on the work.

Sept. 8, '69. Trustees. Mr. Requa, from the Building Committee, stated that they had exhausted the funds, and would need some $5,000. or $6,000. to complete the Lecture room. Resolved, That the trustees deem it inexpedient, either to mortgage the prop- erty or make a temporary loan.

September 13. '69. Parish Meeting. John R. Runyon, Chairman ; and J. H. Van Doren, Clerk. Resolved, That the names of those present be entered on the minutes, and Geo. E. Voorhees was appointed Asst. Secretary to carry this resolution into . effect.

Mr. H. C. Pitney reported that he had ap- pointed the Com'tee of Twenty, directed by Parish meeting, held July 7, '69, and had made Mr. A. Requa, Chairman of that Com'tee. Mr. Requa stated that said Com'tee had been at work, and had rec'd subscrip- tions ; said subscriptions were, however, made upon the condition that the money should not be used exclusively in complet- ing Lecture room, but in building Parson- age and completing Lecture room. Report accepted and Com. discharged.

Resolved, That any resolution standing on the minutes authorizing the Building Com'tee to build a Parsonage be rescinded.

The Building Com't stated that they would need some $5,000. or $6,000. to com- plete the Lecture room.

A motion, to appoint a Com'tee to solicit subscriptions to complete the Lecture room, was lost.

A motion, that the Trustees be authorized to sell the lot known as the Mrs. Cobb property, was lost.

List of names of those present : D. Oly- phant, Theo. Little, J. H. Van Doren, Aus- tin Requa, H. M. Dalrymple, Isaac N. Whitehead, J. C. Bird, Edward Pierson, R.

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TRUSTEES AND PARISH.

W. Stites, J. Henry Johnson, Geo. W. For- syth, Lewis D. Bunn, Ezra Mills, William H. Anderson, H. M. Olmsted, Jno. R. Run- yon, H. C. Pitney, Lewis Pierson, Sen., Geo. E. Voorhees, Aaron D. Whitehead, Theo. F. Sayre, F. L. Whitehead, Jno. Ad- amson, Joel Davis, William Sayer, Jr., James Mills, Silas D. Cory, W. C. Caskey, Lewis Pierson, Jr., Stephen H. Little, Mrs. David Gillespie, Miss Mary E. Voorhees, Miss Irene Mills, Silas B. Emmell, Mrs. Ezra Mills, Miss M. J. Johnson, Mrs. Aaron D. Whitehead, Mrs. J. B. Headley.

The call for Parish Meeting not being deemed sufficient, in consequence of a fail- ure to post a notice on the door of the Church as required, there was no election of Trustees.

Sept. 27, '69., 7} o'clock P. M. Parish meeting adjourned from afternoon : Mr. J. R. Runyon in the Chair. Resolved, That the Insurance on the building (which was stated to be $15.000.), be increased to at least $30,000., and the furniture, organ, &c., be insured for $3,000.

Mr. Requa, as Chairman of the Building Committee, stated that the Lecture room was progressing, and would soon be ready for furnishing, and that about $6,000. more was needed to complete it. A subscription paper was circulated.

The following were elected Trustees ; Joseph C. Bird, Enoch T. Caskey, H. C. Pitney, A. Requa, Geo. E. Voorhees, H. M. Dalrymple and J. H. Van Doren ; and J. H. Van Doren was elected Parish Clerk for the ensuing year. Resolved, That the Trustees be directed to have annual parish meetings, in the future, held in the evening instead of afternoon.

Feb. 18, '70. Trustees. A communica- tion was read from the Session of the Church, stating that Mr. Vernon M. Bokee had been elected as chorister ; whereupon it was resolved, That we pay Mr. Bokee for services as chorister at the rate of $150. per annum.

Feb'y 21,'70. Trustees. A deed from the Trustees of the Green to the Church, hav- ing been presented and read ; Resolved, That the same be accepted and executed by the President; Resolved, That the Presi- dent do also execute to the Trustees of the

Green the deed in return, provided for by said first mentioned.

April 16, '70. Trustees. Resolved, That Mr. Requa be empowered to have the steeple strengthened and made secure.

April 23, '70. Trustees, Resolved, To employ an Architect and Fresco Painter to give estimates, &c., of what would be re- quired to make the desired repairs to the interior of the Church.

May 12, '70. Trustees. Mr. Requa stated that Mr. D'Orsay said he could not fix the price for repairing the fresco, but would say that probably $300. would cover the ex- penses.

Resolved [Ist,] That the fresco inside the church be properly repaired. [2d,] That Mr. S. D. Cory be directed to remove the stone and rubbish in the rear of the Church. [3d.] That the parsonage lot, adjoining the Church, be leveled and graded and cleaned.

Sept. 26, 1870. 74 o'clock. Parish meet- ing ; S. C. Burnet, Chairman ; and J. H. Van Doren, Clerk.

The Treasurer's report was amended so as to read " paid Pastor $3,000. for salary and $1,000. for house rent," and then adopted.

The following were elected Trustees : Lebbeus B. Ward, James Anderson, James C. Youngblood, Geo. W. Forsyth, Geo. E. Voorhees, Enoch T. Caskey, H. M. Dal- rymple ; and Charles E. Pierson was elected Parish Clerk.

Resolved, That the new Board of Trustees be directed to take prompt and judicious action in regard to those persons who are in arrears on their pew rents.

Oct. 3, 1870. Trustees. Lebbeus B. Ward was elected President ; George W. Forsyth, Secretary ; and James Anderson, Treasurer.

November 2, 1870. Trustees. The com- mittee appointed to settle with the late Treasurer reported that they had effected such settlement ; also that the indebtedness of the church is $3,538.87

That the assets amount to, say 1,500.00

Leaving a balance of $2,038.87

Nov. 14, 1870. Parish meeting : Mr. Richard Speer, Chairman. [Adjourned without important action, for two weeks.]

Nov. 28, 1870. Parish meeting : Mr. S. C. Burnet, Chairman.

Resolved, That the Trustees be instructed

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PASTORATE OF THE REV. JOHN ABBOTT FRENCH.

to call upon persons one year in arrear and / ployed for three months from the Ist day request them to convey their pews to the of January next and no longer, and the Secretary directed to notify Mr. Runyon and the Session of the action taken by the Trustees in the communication. church ; [and in case of refusal] to take measures for the sale of those pews, as fast as the Constitution and laws will permit.

Mr. Forsyth made a detailed statement of the estimated expenses of the Church for the coming year, amounting to $6,000. ; and of the income of the same time, amounting to $4,950. ; leaving a deficiency of $1,050.

Resolved. That the amount of rent on the valuation of pews, be fixed at thirty-five per cent. instead of at twenty-eight, as at present.

Nov. 30, 1870. Trustees. Resolved, [Ist,] That a circular letter be placed in each pew the succeeding Sabbath, stating the amount of the indebtedness of the Church and re- questing each parishioner to contribute to its liquidation, and return the circular with the amount subscribed the next succeeding Sabbath; [2d.] That each pew holder, or pew owner, whose salary is in arrears for fifteen months, be written to by the Treas- urer ; that his or her bill be inclosed in the letter ; that in case of a person renting a pew he or she be notified that unless the salary be paid by Dec. 12th inst. the pew will be considered vacant and for rent by the Trustees, and in case the owner occu- pies the pew and does not pay all arrear- ages by the 12th, that the Trustees will sell the same according to the Constitution of the Church.

Dec. 30, 1870. Trustees. The following communication was read :

"MORRISTOWN, Dec. 20, 1870. "L. B. Ward, Esq., Pres. B. of Trustees, &c. : " DEAR SIR-The Session of the First Pres. Church at its recent meeting unani- mously elected J. R. Runyon, Esq., Chor- ister until the Ist of October next. Of course the matter of compensation belongs to the Trustees. Perhaps I ought to add that as a fact the Session understand that Mr. Runyon asked $400. per year for his services. Yours, &c.,

"THEO. LITTLE, " Clerk of Session."

A motion to reject the communication was lost. [After much discussion, the pro- posal, withdrawal, rescinding, and amend- ing of various motions, it was finally,] Re- solved, That Mr. Runyon should be em-

Jan. 6, 1871. Trustees. The following resolution was adopted: Whereas, at the last meeting of Trustees, John R. Runyon was employed as Chorister for the term of three months from the first day of January now instant ; and, whereas, Mr. Runyon has been notified of the action of the Trus- tees and has declined to act as Chorister for the period above named ; Therefore, re- solved, That Mr. Runyon, if he will accept thereof, be employed as Chorister from this date until the first day of October next, at a salary not to exceed the rate of four hundred dollars per year, and that the action of the Trustees at a previous meet- ing be rescinded.

March 31, 1871. Trustees. Resolved, That the Committee on Church reengage the present Sexton for the ensuing year, at a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars, upon the understanding that he is to per- form all the duties of a Sexton, including the care of the Church, and Chapel, and ground, and walks around the same (ex- cepting the graveyard), and keeping the same clean and in good order, summer and winter, and also the care 'and winding of the clock.

April 25, 1871, Trustees. The Committee on Church reported that Frank Whitehead declined to be employed as Sexton under the resolution adopted at the last meeting, and that the committee had interviewed William C. Burnet, who was willing to ac- cept of the employment under the said re- solution at a salary of four hundred dollars ; And that at present the Church was with- out any regularly employed Sexton. A motion was thereupon offered as follows ; Resolved, That the Committee on Church be authorized to employ a Sexton at a sa- lary not to exceed four hundred dollars per annum.

July 7, 1871. Trustees. The Committee on Church reported that they had employed Frank L. Whitehead to act as Sexton for the current year at a salary of $350., and that the services required of him included the taking care of the Church and Chapel,

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and the grounds about the same, the church yard excepted ; and that they had employed John E. Parker to oil and wind the clock for $20. per year. All repairs re- quired to be paid for extra.

Resolved, That the Committee on Church procure the names of the owners of the lots in the Church burying ground and make a pro rata assessment upon them for the amount needed to repair the grave yard fence.

Resolved, That we grant our pastor leave of absence for two months, provided, dur- ing such additional part of said two months, not specified in his contract for leave of absence, the pastor shall supply the pulpit at his own expense.

July 19, 1871. Trustees. Resolved [Ist,] That the Treasurer draw on Mr. Olmsted, the Treasurer of the Memorial Fund, for an amount of money sufficient to liquidate the indebtedness of the Church; [2d,] That the Secretary inform Mr. Royle, that the Trus- tees will pay him no more money for ser- vices or materials, done or provided by him about building the Lecture room.

The following communication was read : "July 19, 1871.

"Mr. L. B. Ward : My dear friend :

" Feeling the need of a longer vacation this year, I will make this application to the Trustees of the Ch. through you as the President of the Board, to grant six Sun- days instead of the usual four this summer, if they shall consider it expedient.

Very truly yours, John Abbott French."

Upon which application it was, Resolved, That the request of Mr. French be granted ..

The Building Com. was also requested to report what the Chapel cost. The follow- ing were elected Trustees : James Anderson, A. B. Hull, E. T. Caskey, Isaac N. White- head, G. W. Forsyth, J. C. Youngblood, G. E. Voorhees ; and Chas. E. Pierson, Parish Clerk.

September 22, 1871. Trustees. James C. Youngblood, after stating his intention not to serve as a Trustee, retired. The follow- ing officers were elected : President, George W. Forsyth ; Treasurer, James Anderson ; Secretary, Aurelius B. Hull.

Sept. 25, '71. Adjourned Parish Meeting. Number present, 25. Mr. Austin Requa, Chairman. The Trustees presented the fol- lowing statement :

Pew rents due Sept. 12, 1870, $2,084.97

Old subscriptions owing Sept. 12, 1870, 670.00

Pew rents due Sept. 12, '70, since paid, $1,406.74

Old subs. paid since Sept. 14, '70, 380.00

Pew rents due Sept. 12, '70, uncol- lectable, $598.83

Old subscriptions, uncollectable, 290.00

Pew rents supposed to be good. 80.40

After considerable discussion and several ineffectual motions, the following report was ordered to be recorded upon the min- utes of the Parish, by 4 ayes to 3 noes : "The committee, appointed some four or five years ago to build a Chapel, in reply to the resolution of the Parish meeting held on the 18th inst., requesting them to furnish the Parish, at an adjourned meeting to be held this evening, with a statement of the cost of said building, beg leave to say : That although the Chapel was erected un- der their direction, and mainly under con- tracts made by them, a very considerable portion of the work was not done by con- tract ; that no part of the money collected was received or disbursed by your commit- tee, but the whole amount was paid into the Treasury of the Church and disbursed by the Trustees or their Treasurer on the order of the committee ; and that when the building was accepted and dedicated, all

Sept. 18, 1871. Parish Meeting. Mr. Re- qua, Chairman. Number present, 22. The Trustees reported, That the current ex- penses for the year were $5,772. ; that the debt on the Chapel was $4,415.05. ; that the balance of assets in favor of the Church was $2,013.48. It being claimed by some that the Trustees had monies in their hands belong- ing to the Memorial Fund, they were re- quested to furnish the meeting with a state- ment of how much of the debts due the Church, at the time of the raising of the Memorial Fund, has since been collected. | papers relating thereto in the possession of

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PASTORATE OF THE REV. JOHN ABBOTT FRENCH.

the Building Committee were delivered to the Trustees, who can doubtless give to the Parish the desired information.

" Your committee trust they will be excus- ed for expressing their regret that it should have been deemed expedient to place such a resolution as the one referred to, on the records of the Church, nearly two years after the completion of the Chapel and the discharge of the committee.

" Dated Sept. 25, 1871.

Austin Requa, Prest., Theo. Little, H. M. Olmsted, Geo. Vail,

Building Com."

December 26, 1871. Trustees. Resolved, That, after careful examination and consid- eration of the assets and liabilities of this Church, we find the probability so strong that all its assets will be required for the discharge of its said liabilities, that nothing further ought to be claimed by or paid to the Memorial Fund by this Board; and, on the other hand, this Board will not require any further sum in diminution of said Fund, but the Treasurer of the Session is now free to pay over to the proper parties the balance of said Fund.

The Committee on Music reported the engagement for another year of Mr. J. R. Runyon as Chorister, at the same salary as previous year. Similar services to be ren- dered by said Chorister, who voluntarily declared his willingness to terminate the arrangement at any time he should be re- quested to do so by the committee. Report was accepted.

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History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 85

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print Number of Pages: 942

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print
Number of Pages: 942