History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1885 pt 1, Part 25

Author: First Presbyterian Church (Morristown, N.J.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print
Number of Pages: 1014


USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1885 pt 1 > Part 25


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The Chairman having first decided that only those were entitled to vote who con- tributed regularly to home expenses of the Church, the question of the adoption of the substitute resolutions was put to vote, and decided in the negative by a very large inajority.


The original plan then came up, and, af- ter amendment in some slight particulars, was adopted in the following form, by a


Dated March 7, 1873."


149


TRUSTEES AND PARISH.


vote of 42 in the affirmative to 3 in the negative :


WHEREAS, the duty of supporting the gos- pel, both at home and abroad, rests on each individual in proportion to his abili- ty, and it is desirable that the discharge of this duty shall be clearly presented to each person as a matter of conscience :


Resolved, That we adopt the following modifications of our present system of mak- ing collections for Church expenses and benevolence.


First- The present Sabbath collection shall be continued. The moneys collected on the first Sabbath of each month shall be given to the particular objects to which they have been given during the past year. The collection for March to be given to such cause as the session may desig- nate. All moneys received from the Sabbath collections, or from any other source, shall be paid to a Treasurer. to be elected at the Annual Parish Meeting. The Treasurer shall keep a correct account of all moneys received by him, and pay the same as hereinafter directed ; and shall render a statement of his receipts and dis- bursements quarterly to both the Trustees and Session ; and at each Annual Parish Meeting shall submit a full report for the year.


Second -- At each Annual Parish Meeting the Trustees shall submit for the approval of the Parish an estimate of the probable expenses of our home work for the ensuing year; and immediately after such meeting each pew holder shall be called on, in such mode as the Trustees may deem advisable, to determine what amount he or she will agree to pay in monthly payments towards such expenses-such payment to be made by inclosing the amount in envelopes to be provided for that purpose by the Treasurer, and returning the envelopes to the Treas- urer on the second Sabbath of each month, with the name of the pew holder or the number of the pew.


Third-The Treasurer shall promptly for- ward all moneys which may be contributed for any specific object, and out of the other inoneys received by him shall first pay, on the orders of the Trustees, which shall be drawn quarterly so far as practicable, all expenses necessary for our home work,


not, however, exceeding the amount desig- nated by the Parish Meeting. Of the hal- ance of such money, he shall pay eight- twelfths to the eight boards of our church, in quarterly payments, in the proportion recommended by the General Assembly for the current year, and four-twelfths shall constitute the contingent fund of the Ses- sion, to be paid on their order and to be used for the support of the poor of the church, the expenses of the Sabbath School. and matters of a similar kind.


Fourth-If, during any year, the cur- rent expenses of our home work shall from any cause exceed the estimate of the parish meeting, it shall be the duty of the Trustees to provide for such excess, if possible, by special application to the mem- bers of the congregation, and if such effort shall fail, such excess shall be included in the estimate, and be paid out of the collec- tions of the next year.


Fifth-Five of the pews, which are now unoccupied, being first reserved by the Trus- tees for the use of strangers and families which may hereafter remove to the town, the remainder of those now unoccupied shall be assigned to such families as may apply for the same in the order of their ap- plication. And no person shall be deprived of his pew so long as he or his family shall occupy the same, it being understood that this provision is not to affect the sale or other disposition of pews not owned or con- trolled by the church.


It was, on motion of Mr. Theo. Little, Re- solved,


Ist. That the Parish year from this tiinc be considered as closing on the 12th day of March, and the Annual Parish Meeting shall. after this year, be held on the first Tuesday thereafter, at such time as may be appointed by the Trustees.


2d. That a Treasurer be now elected, in accordance with the system this day adopted, and that all collections made after March 12th, 1873, be disposed of according to such system.


3d. That the sum of $6,500. be designated as the amount to be collected for home work during the ensuing year.


Mr. A. B. Hull was unanimously elected Treasurer for the ensuing year.


150


PASTORATE OF THE REV. JOHN ABBOTT FRENCH.


On motion, the following preamble and resolution was passed :


"Whereas, The Trustees, in accordance with the instructions of the Parish, have commenced legal proceedings for the col- Jection of unpaid pew rents ; and, Whereas, In some instances executions have been is- sued, and families will be distressed thereof ; Resolved, That all legal proceedings for the collection of unpaid assessments be abandoned, and the future payment of the same be left to the Christian obligation of the debtor."


Mr. W. E. Church, on behalf of the Trus- tees, again offered their resignations, when Mr. Youngblood, chairman, decided that the action of the meeting had already ter- minated their offices, and that there were no Trustees,


It was then, Resolved, That we proceed to the election of a new Board of Seven Trustees.


Nominations were received, the vote taken by ballot, and the following gentle- men declared elected : George Vail, Lewis Pierson, Jr., Henry M. Olmsted, George E. Voorhees, Edward Pierson, Joseph C. Bird, and David Gillespie.


The former Parish Clerk having with- drawn, James R. Voorhees was elected to that office viva voce.


On motion it was Resolved, That the Treasurer collect the pew rents due on the 12th 'inst, and pav all expenses of the church up to that date, and that no charge be made for interest on pews belonging to the Church.


On motion it was Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be printed and copies placed in the church pews, by the Parish Clerk.


On motion meeting adjourned.


Friday, March 14. 1873. Trustees. H. M. Olmsted was elected President, and Edward Pierson, Secretary,


The form of a card for distribution in the pews, in compliance with the plan adopted at the Parish meeting for raising money for the support of the Gospel, was presented by the President and adopted by the Board. The Secretary was ordered to have 500 printed, and to procure envelopes and have them directed and distributed in the Pews on Sunday, 23d inst.


March 31, 1873. Trustees. Absent, Geo. Vail, he having notified the President that he declined to act as Trustee.


Com. on Music reported that they had a conference with a Committee of the Ses- sion, and submitted a report in writing, which after discussion by the members of the Board, was ordered to be accepted by a vote of four in the affirmative, and two in the negative, and was also ordered to be placed on the minutes, as follows: The Trustees at the commencement of their of- ficial duties find themselves under the ne- cessity of deciding. whether to them. or to the Session of the Church, of right belongs the power and responsibility of electing a Choister and an Organist, which was a mat- ter in difference, between the late Board of Trustees, and the Session. The Trustees have given the matter careful examination and consideration, and while it is undoubt- edly true that the practice has been for many years past, for the Trustees to make such appointments, and so far as the Trus- tees know the propriety of that course was not questioned until within the last three or four years, the Trustees are, after full consideration and conference with the Ses- sion, constrained to record their correction and acknowledgement, that both under the law of the State, and the law of the Church as expounded by the General Assembly, the exclusive control of the music, whether in- strumental or vocal, as a part of the wor- ship belongs to the Session, and that such contract, of necessity, implies and requires that the Session shall have the power to appoint and discharge those who officiate as leaders. Resolved, That Mr. Kofler, the Chorister and Organist, be notified by the Secretary that the Board of Trustees have given the appointment of Chorister and Or- ganist to the Session of the Church, and re- fer him to them for any arrangement after ist May next.


June 17, 1873. Trustees. Resolved, That the request of Mr. Morgan for the use of the Church, for the purpose of a concert of mu- sic be denied and his communication be re- turned to Mr. French.


July 8, 1873. Trustees. The Remonstrance against granting license to Mr. N. B. Luse, as acted upon by the Session of the Church and signed by them, was then read; after remarks


1


-


151


TRUSTEES AND PARISH.


by the members, it was resolved that it be signed by the members present as Trustees, and presented to the Common Council of Morristown.


July 11, 1873. Trustees. The following communication was read, viz :


"Morristown, July 10, 1873. Mr. Edward Pierson :


Dear Sir :


I wish through you to ask of the Board of Trustees, that the time of my annual va- cation be made six weeks this year, as I find that amount essential to my condition for work in the Church; and when I provide a part of it for myself it makes confusion in the supply of the pulpit.


Hoping this request may be granted, I remain cordially yours, John Abbott French."


Upon which application it was Resolved, that the request of the Rev. J. A. French be granted, and that the pulpit be supplied at the expense of the Church during his six weeks vacation.


Jan'y. 16, 1874. Trustees. The President read the following letter, viz :


"New York, Jan'y. 13, 1874. H. M. Olmsted : Dear Sir :


A German Church, intending to join the Presby. Synod of Morris and Orange, has been organized. They have had public wor- ship in the South St. Pres. Church at 4} P. M. for a month past, but this hour being entirely too late they desire to meet in the morning. I would therefore respectfully enquire, whether the Chapel of your Church could be granted to them for Public Ser- vice at 10} A. M, every other Sabbath. The next meeting is the next Sabbath in the South St. Church Basement, at 4} P. M .. and if their request for the use of the Chapel should be granted it would be desirable to receive your reply before that time, so that notice of change of place and time might begiven them. Prof. Henurg, of the Bloom- field Seminary, is to be the Pastor.


Respectfully yours, M. C. G. Witte."


After the reading of the above it was Re- solved, that the President be authorized to reply, offering them the use of the Chapel as requested.


March 17, 1874. Annual Parish Meeting.


Twenty-one persons present. Mr. H. M. Dalrymple, Chairman. The Treasurer's re- ort was ordered to be copied in full in the minutes of this meeting, asfollows :


1873.


March 11. Received from D. H. Leek, Treasurer, 297 21


June 14. Received from voluntary assessments to date, 165


Received from J. A. French, 50


Sunday collection, 2


Sale of old iron, 4 95


1874.


Mar. 12. Old taxes on pews col- lected to date, 1,603 26


On Ac't annual pledges to date, 6,312 59


8,435 01


Per contra.


1873.


Mar. 18. Paid Rev. J. A. French


Bal. due him Mar. 12, '73, 300


Apr. 7. Paid Rev. J. A. French


in full to Apr. 1, '73, 200


Apr. I. Paid Rev. J. A. French one quarter in advance, 1.000


July 1. Paid Rev. J. A. French


one quarter in advance. 1,000


Oct. I. Paid Rev. J. A. French one quarter in advance. 1,000


1874.


Jan. I. Paid Rev. J. A. French one quarter in advance, 1,000


1873.


Mar. 18. Paid Leo. Kofler on ac't, 120


Mar. 31. in full


to date, 30


1874.


Feb. 28. Paid (monthly) Leo. Ko- fler, 550


1873.


Mar. 22. Paid F. L. Whitehead on ac't, 16 13


Mar. 31. Paid F. L. Whitehead in full to date. 25 54


1874.


Feb. 28. Paid (monthly) F. L. Whitehead in full to date,


550


March. Paid A. F. Whitehead during year on ac't. 31


Mar. 12. Paid miscellaneous ex- penses to this date, of which say $171.63 accrued prior to Mar. 12, '73, 1,571 63


152


PASTORATE OF THE REV. JOHN ABBOTT FRENCH.


Balance cash in bank and in hand of Treas., 1,040 71


8.435 71 .


Balance to new ac't, 1,040 71


There will be due April ist. 1874, for pastor's salary, 3 months in advance, 1,000


Organist and Choristers, I month's salary, 50


Sexton, month's salary, 50


Organ blowing (now due), 10


Gass bill and incidentals, say 40


1,150


Against which we have cash on hand and in Bank,


1,040 71


Unredeemed pledges for the past. 12 months, both of a positive and inferential nature.amount to,


340 59


From which deduct uncollectable, say


69 96


25,000


270 63


And amt. already received in ad- vance on ac't of second 12 months,


161 34


And there remains the net sum available of say 109 29


The salaries for 12 months are, 5,240 From the statement on the other side it appears that the cur- rent expenses for the 12 months, viz : from Mar. 12. 1873, to Mar. 12, 1874. have been say, 1,400


6.640


Realized income from voluntary system during the same per- : iod is,


6,312 59


Collectable ditto, ditto, is, 109 29


6,421 88


Showing a deficient income of


219 12


There is belonging to the Parish a due bill dated Dec. 12, 1872,


27 19


And a note due Feb. 2, '73, 12 96


Also scrip of the Firemen's Mutual Ins. Co. of Newark


of year 1868 for 24 00


Of year 1869 for 13 00 Which scrip probably with interest may be collected in a few days, 2 59


39 59


Schedule


of


Fire insurance in force March 12, 1874. Church Building.


St. Nicholas New York expires Sept. 22, 1874, 2,500


Newark Mutual expires Oct. 12, 1874, 5,000


New Brunswick Fire Ins. Co. ex- pires Dec. 14, 1874, 2,500


Amer. Mutual Newark expires Aug. 30, 1874. 5,000


Firemen's Mutual Newark ex- pires Jan. 29, 1875, 5,000


Peoples' Mutual Newark expires Nov. 13, 1874, 5,000


Furniture, &c., within ditto. St. Nicholas New York expires Feb. 9, 1875, Organ. People's Mutual Newark ex- pires Nov, 22, 1874, 600


Mendham Mutual expires April 19, 1877, 1,400


2,000


Stone Chapel.


Newark Mutual expires Jan. 18, 1875, 5,000


People's Mutual expires Jan.


18, 1875,


5,000


10,000


Furniture in ditto.


Newark Mutual expires Jan. 18, 1875. 1,000


People's Mutual expires Jan.


18, 1875,


1,000


2,000


-


Total,


Expenses consist of say-


40,000


Painting and glazing 20 75


Printing, 9 50


Work on burial yard and carting ashes, &c,, &c., 71 50


Sprinkling, 12


Legal expenses.


43 36


W. C. Caskey & Bro., 14 52


1,000


153


TRUSTEES AND PARISH.


W. Y. Sayre, stone mason,


34 69


Winding and repairing clock to May 1, 1873,


20


Voorhees Brothers, 4 Bills,


130 58


Gas and Water Bills,


151 85


McVay and Lounsbury,


106 47


J. York, plumber, 2 Bills,


29 13


Fuel,


227 82


Pulpit supply,


240


Returned to Rev. J. A. French,


50


Maps and wall hymns,


55


Fire Insurance,


161 50


Chapel clock,


12


Repairing Fresco,


70


Repair to church organ,


46 50


Repair to chapel organ,


9


Say 17 small items,


55 46


1,571 63


[Similar full reports were made annually by Mr. Hull, during his treasurership.]


A communication from the Session in re- gard to the disposition of moneys, was adopted and ordered copied in the minutes, and is as follows : "The Session having carefully considered the plan of church sup- port as adopted by the parish meeting of March 11th, 1873, hereby express to the Parish their willingness to concur in the same so long as it shall be for the best in- terest of the church ; although by Presby- terian law and usage the benevolent funds of the church are always under the care of the Session. They would also call the at- tention of the Parish to the recommenda- tion of the General Assembly (Minutes of 1873, page 499), that the churches remit monthly, or at least quarterly ; and request them so to alter that part of their previous action contained in section third of their resolutions, so that they may read as follows : The Treasurer shall first pay on the order of the Trustees all expenses necessary for our home work, not, however, exceeding the amount designated by the Parish Meet- ing; and the balance, excepting four- twelfths of the undesignated contributions, he shall remit monthly to the Treasurer of the Assembly's Committee of benevolence, to be distributed by him as follows: The special contributions to be sent to the dif- ferent Boards designated and the remainder divided among the eight boards in the pro- portion recommended by the General As-


sembly. The four-twelfths above stated shall constitute the Session fund, to be dis- tributed according to our present church system of benevolence."


Mr. A. B. Hull was re-elected Treasurer. The following persons were elected Trus- tees : Mr. Lewis Pierson, Jr., Henry M. Olmsted, George E. Voorhees, Edward Pier- son, Joseph C. Bird, David Gillespie, Wn. C. Caskey. Mr. James R. Voorhees was re- elected Parish Clerk.


Mr. Wm. E. Church, Supt. of the Sunday School, represented to the meeting that the school was outgrowing its quarters, already it is much cramped for room, and increased accommodations is imperatively demanded. Upon his motion it was, after much discus- cussion, resolved [ayes 8, noes 6], That it be referred to the Board of Trustees, to take into consideration some plan for enlarging the accommodations of the Sunday-school, and to report to the Parish such plan as shall seein most suitable, as soon as con- veniently may be.


Dec. 14, 1874. Trustees. The following paper was adopted : Whereas, the Treasur- er, A. B. Hull, Esq., has addressed a letter to the Board of Trustees and Session of the ist Pres. Church conjointly, bearing date Dec. 12, 1874, in which he rendered a state- ment of finances showing a probable deficit in the Treasury on the Ist of April, 1875 of $600, and notifying them that until other- wise advised he will retain in the Treasury all moneys of the Sunday offerings not con- tributed or designated for a specific object. Therefore, Resolved, That a committee of


be appointed by the chair to meet a like committee of the Session at such time as the Session may appoint, to consider to- gether the Treasurer's communication. The resolution was lost by three voting for and three against its adoption.


The following preamble and resolution was then offered, viz : That, Whereas, the Treasurer, A. B. Hull, Esq., having notified the Board of Trustees that he is in receipt of the sum of $594.45. being a bequest, abso- lute and subject to no condition, by the late Abel Minard to the Ist Pres. Church, and Whereas, The Testator having in his Will expressed his desire that the sumn be used and applied by the Pastor of said Church for purposes indicated by him,


154


PASTORATE OF THE REV. JOHN ABBOTT FRENCH.


therefore, Resolved, That the Treasurer be requested to hold the said sum of $594.45., subject to the order of the Pastor and Ses- sion of said Church.


Jan. 5. 1875. Trustees. Resolved, That the Treasurer of the Church be requested, from and after this date, to pay alf Church expenses on order of Trustees monthly, the Pastor's salary in advance.


March 16, 1875. Parish Meeting, 27 persons present. Mr. Enoch T.Caskey, Chairman. On motion of Mr, Wm. E. Church, Resolved, That the Parish year be considered as closi- ing with the second Sabbath of March, and the Annual Parish Meeting be held the first Tuseday thereafter. Adopted.


Mr. Wm. E. Church repeated his motion of last year in regard to the accommoda- tions for the Sabbath-school, which was again adopted.


The following were elected Trustees : Lewis Pierson, Jr., George E. Voorhees, Joseph C. Bird, William C. Caskey, Daniel H. Leek, Aaron D. Whitehead, J. Duryee Stevenson ; Mr. A. B. Hull, Treasurer ; and Mr. James R. Voorhees, Parish Clerk. Re- solved, That the Pastor be requested to urge all pew holders, so far as possible, to pledge the amount which they are willing to pay towards our home work promptly at the beginning of the Parish year, this be- ing essential to the proper working of our system of church support.


Resolved, That inasmuch as the success of any plan of Church support depends up- on the co-operation of all in it, that the Treasurer is hereby requested from time to time, in the name of the Parish, to invite all regular attendants upon the church, to con- tribute to its support under the plan now, in force, by liberal annual pledge and prompt monthly payment, and to forward statements of account to any in arrears.


March 14th, 1876. Parish Meeting. About 150 persons present, and the meeting was called to order at twenty minutes after three o'clock. Mr. William W. Stone, Chair- man.


That in view of the critical position of our Church in its present manifest need of larger accommodations and its utter want of preparation for future responsibilities,and in view of the impracticability of altering the present building, the President, Clerk, and Trustees Voorhees, Caskey and Leek, be appointed a special committee to con- sider the establishment of a new Church Building Fund, looking to the erection of a new church, and if the same be considered wise, to report a scheme for such fund with details of collection."


Your committee now respectfully report to the Board : That we have carefully con- sidered the- matter given us in charge, and do unanimously favor the establishment of a new Church Building Fund for the pur- pose proposed, and advise that the Board recommend the same to the Parish ; that we have also considered and herewith report a scheme with details of collection for said fund, to be adopted by the Parish. All of which is respectfully submitted.


Dated March 6th, 1876. Lewis Pierson. Jr., J. Duryee Stevenson, George E. Voor- hees, William C. Caskey, Daniel H. Leek- Special Committee.


Scheme for a new Church Building Fund to be adopted by the Parish :


Resolved, That this Parish do erect to the honor and worship of Almighty God a new Church building on the following basis :


First. That nothing be done other than the raising of funds until $50,000 be reliably subscribed, and that we solemnly pledge ourselves not to dedicate or occupy the new Church until all indebtedness upon it be paid or provided for by responsible pledges.


Second. That the following persons (rep- resenting the Session, the Board of Trus- tees, the Board of Deacons, the Treasurer- ship. the Sabbath School, and the Congre- gation at large :)


Messrs. L. B. WARD (Session),


LEWIS PIERSON, JR., (Trustees),


HENRY M. OLMSTED (Deacons), AURELIUS B. HULL (Treasurer), THEODORE LITTLE (Session),


The Trustees submitted the following re- port of a Com. of the Board: Your committee GEORGE E. VOORHEES (Trustees), were specially appointed at the last meet- VICTOR FLEURY (Deacons), ing of the Board, held Dec. 17th, 1875, un- HENRY C. PITNEY (Congregation), der the following resolution : " Upon mo- WILLIAM E. CHURCH (Sabbath School), tion of Trustee Stevenson it was resolved be hereby appointed Special Trustees of the


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.


155


TRUSTEES AND PARISH.


new Church Building Fund, the same to be gathered and invested by them, and to be held subject to the order of the Parish.


Third, That the collection taken upon the hundred years ago, that this Parish was third Sabbath of each month to be devoted to this Fund (the present plan of Church support and beneficence being modified in accordance herewith) and be paid over by the Treasurer to the Special Trustees of the new Church Building Fund, and that they be requested to take such other steps as they shall think wise, to obtain subscrip- tions to their Fund.


The Trustees also reported, That upon receiving said report, so vital to the Church did your Board consider this subject to be. that we invited the Session, Deacons, Treasurer, Parish Clerk and Sabbath School Superintendent to meet and advise with us upon the same. That meeting was largely attended, and after careful consultation, reached a union of opinion suggesting some changes in the form of the report, until it appeared as above given, whereupon the report was unanimously adopted by your Board. We now present the same report and scheme annexed as our official recom- mendation to the Parish.


Under the circumstances of the Parish, and the recommendation above presented, your Board see no way to provide for an extension of the Sabbath School building at this time.


The Treasurer reported :


Total Receipts, $6,806.13


" Disbursements, 6,674.07


Balance in hand, $132.06


The following Trustees were elected : Lewis Pierson, Jr., George E. Voorhees, Joseph C. Bird, William C. Caskey, Daniel H. Leek, Aaron D. Whitehead, J. Duryee Stevenson ; with Mr. A. B. Hull, Treasurer ; and Mr. James R. Voorhees, Parish Clerk. The discussion on the scheme for a new Church lasted one and one-half hours, and when put to a vote was passed unanimously with one exception.


On motion of Rev. J. A. French, the Parish Clerk was requested to place on re- cord as full minutes of the meeting as pos- sible, which he has endeavored to do, and respectfully subinit to the Parish for ap-


proval what has already been read, and also what is to follow.




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