History of the First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City, New Jersey : in four discourses preached in the month of July, 1876; also, the discourse preached at the close of services in the church building, Sunday morning, April 29, 1888, Part 6

Author: Imbrie, Charles Kisselman, 1814-1891
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York : Randolph
Number of Pages: 152


USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > History of the First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City, New Jersey : in four discourses preached in the month of July, 1876; also, the discourse preached at the close of services in the church building, Sunday morning, April 29, 1888 > Part 6


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10


the end of the chain commenced running. Nothing could stop it, and the two men were swept irresistibly to the ground. Mr. Thomas McDowell, a young Scotchman of promise, who had written of his welfare to his mother only the day before, was dashed on his head to the stone pave- ment. He lingered at the city hospital, on Broadway and Duane Street, unconscious, except for a short interval, until the next day, when he died. Mr. Robert Canning was dashed in his fall across the iron railing and caught on his arm, which was thus torn from the shoulder socket. After much suffering he still lived, and united with the church at the next communion. A collection was ordered by the church in his aid, and permanent employment procured for him as flagman on the New Jersey Railroad, where he served for many years afterward, and died among us a few years ago. The second accident occurred on this side of the river, when the church was nearly finished. One of the carpen- ters, whose name I have not been able to obtain, was hurled, while putting up the gutter, from the scaffolding to the. ground, and died almost immediately.


Measures were taken, while the building was in progress, to secure appropriate church music. Mr. D. M. Hoîdridge was then chorister. And to aid in this object an offer was


69


First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City.


made by Mr. D. S. Gregory to put up, with the aid of the ladies, an organ. Mr. Jardine, of New York, was the builder. The instrument was put in at a cost of $2,000, toward which the ladies raised $375. It was understood to be the prop- erty of Mr. Gregory, and so recorded. But by his liberality, at the request of the congregation, it was used by them gratuitously until the debt for it was liquidated. It is proper to mention here, also, that to carry on and complete the building $12,000 were advanced by Mr. D. S. Gregory and Mr. David Henderson. A mortgage on the building to that amount, at first for five years and then for ten, at six per cent., was issued by the Trustees. The final payment of these debts in full in the year 1864, when a determined effort was made to clear off all incumbrances (as will be afterward more fully stated), is within your recollection. The whole cost of the church, including the basement, was $21,385.


It was not without urging that the building was erected within a reasonable time. The work was delayed after re- peated protestations from the Trustees. And I find by the record that it was not until the threat was held out to the carpenters and masons that the penalty for non-fulfilment of contract would be exacted, added to the importunities of the architect and the offer of an additional douceur of $50, that the work was expedited. At length the top stone was put on, the inside work was finished, the building was com- pleted, and the house erected for God's worship was ready for use. The public were invited to the dedication services by the following notice in the public prints :


" PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


" The Trustees have made arrangements to have this edi- fice dedicated to the worship of Almighty God on the next Sabbath. On which occasion the venerable Dr. Miller, of Princeton, now in the vigor of a ripe old age, will officiate at the morning service. . ... Dr. Miller was at the dedi- cation of the church in New York in 1810, . .. . and his


.


70


History of the


life has been spared to see the same building shipped to his own State. Dr. Phillips, long the pastor of the old church in New York, will preach on this occasion in the afternoon, and the Rev. Dr. Sprague, of Albany, will preach in the evening. Altogether it will probably be one of the most interesting occasions that Jersey City has witnessed for some time."


The dedication of the church took place according to this programme on Sunday, May 25, 1845. Overflowing houses attended the services. As had been advertised, the Rev. Dr. Miller, who had been the pastor thirty-four years before, when the building was first erected, preached the sermon. The Rev. Dr. Phillips, as was very appropriate, preached in the afternoon. As an incident of the evening service, when Dr. Sprague, of Albany, preached, I may mention that he referred to a serious loss which the church had met in Feb- ruary, four months before, in the death of one of three ex- cellent women (of whom this church has had so many to be thankful for during its history), Mrs. Margaret Strong, wife of Elder Strong. He referred to her consistent Christian activity, and to her helpfulness in setting forward this church, whose dedication she did not live to see. And he espe- cially mentioned that it was chiefly by her zeal that the money was raised by subscription to furnish the communion set (which has been so long used in this church),-a fact which we should have no means of knowing but from this source.


Dr. Miller's discourse in the morning excited great atten- tion. Necessarily, he was obliged to make reference to the former Presbyterian organization and building which had been transferred to the Reformed Dutch Church. This caused a very considerable commotion. Almost immedi- ately the Consistory of the Dutch church addressed a letter to the Session, asking friendly conference and stating that Dr. Miller's statements were unintentionally not exactly in accordance with the facts. A committee was appointed by


71


First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City.


the Session to visit Dr. Miller in Princeton. He asked for a plain statement of the errors and said he would correct any that could be pointed out. This request for an exhibit of the errors was sent, with a fraternal letter, to the Consis- tory. But there the matter dropped.


I have already given you in full the facts of this case as exhibited in official documents, and there is no need for any further reference to the matter.


The work was thus finished and all went on prosperously. Old occupants of pews in Wall Street, delighted to see the old walls once more standing, came to the opening service, and again and again came afterward to see their old home in God's house in its familiar features, and to sit in their old pews. The church itself was an imposing feature in the young and growing city. The congregation was united and was increasing, and all seemed fair in God's good providence for a useful and honorable career.


The first communion service in the new building was held on Sunday afternoon, June 29, 1845, just one year after the first communion, held in the Lyceum, after the organiza- tion. And on that occasion they had the pleasure of wel- coming ten new members-eight on certificate and two on confession of their faith. Their names are as follows : D. M. Holdridge, Frances Holdridge, Justus Slater (afterward elder), Esther Slater, Robert George, Ann Jane George, Robert Canning, and Margaret Ann Canning. These were on certificate ; and on confession-Aaron Bonnell and Phebe A. Bonnell.


Everything, as I said, seemed now to be prosperous, when, alas ! God having brought the church to this happy condition, a sad event almost immediately clouded all hearts and foreboded almost irreparable damage. I allude to the tragic death of Mr. David Henderson, the chief abettor of this enterprise.


There are those now living who can remember how eager Mr. Henderson was to get the church completed, so that it could be dedicated and he could be at liberty to be absent


72


History of the


in the mountains upon business. So eager was he for this that he sometimes detained and fed the workmen at his own house in order that they might continue working at 'extra hours for expediting the building. And yet, alas ! so mysterious are the ways of God, so uncertain the calculation of man. That visit was to throw all into gloom. The dedi- cation service had hardly passed when he went away into the Adirondacks. He returned and stayed for a short time, until August, and meantime his familiar face was seen for one Sabbath or two in his pew. Then almost immediately, accompanied by his pastor and his own family, he went again into the mountains. All went well until September 3d. On Tuesday, the day previous, Mr. Johnstone, his pastor, left him to return home, bearing with him the last writing that Mr. Henderson ever penned-a letter of con- dolence to his friend, Mr. Gregory, on the death of Mr. Gregory's sister, Mrs. Catlin. The day after Mr. Johnstone left, Mr. Henderson, accompanied by his guide, John Che- ney, went into the woods to what is now known as " Calam- ity Pond." He had always had a dread of firearms. And yet, strange to say, as the time for the meal approached, he took off his belt with its loaded pistol, and laid it down hastily, with the hammer resting on the cap, upon the rock at his feet. The blow on the hammer exploded the cap, the pistol was discharged, and the ball passed into his body. He sank immediately. His first words, as he looked around at the wild and deep woods, were, " What a place for such an accident !" Then calling his son, a boy of twelve, to him and bidding him be obedient to his mother, he com- mended his departing soul to God and died. It was a ter- rible scene, as you may well imagine. And yet whose imagination can come up to the reality, for that guide, for that young, fatherless boy, and for that widowed woman, as, later in the day, she sees from the house the guide return without her husband and talking hurriedly to Mr. Hender- son's nephew, imagines instantly some mishap! Beyond all control, she hurries to them to hear the terrible news. It


73


First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City.


was not long that the system could bear such a shock, and in two years she followed after. The news of Mr. Hender- son's death was three days in reaching Jersey City. It came by express on Saturday morning. A paragraph in the Jersey City Sentinel of September 6th, then the only newspaper in the city, announced the sad event, and filled the whole city with sorrow. He had lived here more than twenty years. He had been forward in all public improve- ments. His retiring habits and his kindness of heart were well and widely known. And all felt that a great and public loss, not to be repaired, had been sustained. I need not say that this church mourned. There is on record in the Trus- tees' book a most worthy tribute to his memory. They gave vent also to their appreciation of his liberality and de- votion to this church by the tablet which hangs against yonder wall, and to which, I may say here, even some far away in other lands desired to subscribe, in token of their affection. But nothing could fully express or could com- pensate their loss-a loss which indeed, I may add after having perused the records of this church through that whole time and subsequently, seems to me one which truly was never wholly repaired.


Mr. Johnstone continued sole pastor until 1848. It had been adjudged best for various reasons, and was so decided December 13, 1847, that he should have an associate. The first plan was to establish a mission preaching-station at Hoboken, which was to be supplied in part by the associate · pastor. And a committee, of which Mr. J. D. Miller was chairman, was appointed to select a room at that place. After some correspondence with Princeton, the Rev. Lewis H. Lee, a graduate of that Seminary, was called. He was ordained and installed as associate pastor with Mr. John- stone by the Presbytery of New York on Wednesday, No- vember 15, 1848. On that occasion Mr. Johnstone pre- sided. The sermon was preached by the Rev. James W. Alexander, D.D., of New York, from I Tim. iii. I. The Rev. John M. Krebs, D.D., of New York, gave the charge


74


History of the


to the pastor, and the Rev. William Snodgrass, D.D., of the same city, the charge to the people. Before Mr. Lee's in- stallation, however, the project of a mission-field at Hoboken was given up.


This associate pastorate continued for about a year. Dif- ficulties in sustaining the church arose, and after several con- ferences with the Session, Trustees, and others, Mr. Lee, on the IIth of December, 1849, presented his resignation to a meeting of the congregation, who, with regret and a cordial testimony to his zeal and faithfulness, agreed to accept it. And on the 7th of January, 1850, the Presbytery dissolved the relation, thus leaving Mr. Johnstone alone again as pastor. The difficulties of carrying the church forward, however, still continuing, the Session and Trustees called a conference of the leading persons in the church. The result was that Mr. Johnstone, who was now advanced in life, thinking it best on the whole, agreed to resign the active duties of the pastorate, and at length determined to resign the pastorate altogether, on condition of his receiving $600 per annum during his natural life. This the congregation agreed to at a meeting held May 20, 1850, at which the Rev. John M. Krebs, D.D., of New York, presided ; the congre- gation adding warm expressions of their attachment to Mr. Johnstone and of satisfaction in his zeal and faithfulness. A bond was given, and this sum was paid to him up to the time of his death, which occurred fourteen years afterward. They also assigned a pew for himself and family, in the de- sire that he would still continue with them as a worshipper. Thus, after a pastorate of six years, the relation was dis- solved by the Presbytery of New York, May 27, 1850.


At the same meeting of the congregation which agreed to receive Mr. Johnstone's resignation, on the terms men- tioned, the Rev. David King, then just leaving the Theo- logical Seminary at Princeton, was unanimously chosen as pastor, at a salary of $1,200, and the same commissioners were appointed to represent the congregation in both mat- ters before the Presbytery ; namely, Messrs. Luke Lyman,


75


First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City.


T. H. Shafer, A. S. Jewell, O. S. Strong, and F. B. Betts. In dissolving the pastoral relations between Mr. Johnstone and the church, the Presbytery appointed Mr. David King to preach in the pulpit on the following Sabbath, June 2, 1850. On Monday, June 3d, the Presbytery of New York again met, the call for Mr. King was tendered to him, and on Wednesday evening, June 12, 1850, Mr. David King was ordained and installed as sole pastor. At this service, the Rev. Dr. William W. Phillips presided, and offered the ordaining prayer ; the sermon was preached by the Rev. John D. Wells, of Williamsburg, L. I .; the Rev. J. B. Rockwell, of Brooklyn, gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. N. C. Locke the charge to the people.


Everything now seemed to betoken prosperity. Mr. King was a preacher of fine address, and he won all hearts to him. His fine, melodious voice added to the attractions of his preaching. But alas ! in God's providence, disappointment again awaited the congregation. Mr. King had been settled hardly four months when a disease of the throat showed it- self. The congregation, on October 26th, very kindly gave him an intermission for several months, in hopes that rest would restore him. During this time of intermission the Rev. William W. Eddy preached as stated supply a short time, but long enough to endear himself to the congrega- tion, some of whom still remember him. On leaving this church, he entered upon his noble work as foreign mission- ary at Sidon, in Syria, where he still labors, with his family in the same service grown up around him, approved of all for his zeal and fidelity.


On January 27, 1851, Mr. King announced to the Session of the church that he was able to resume his duties, and Mr. Eddy's services terminated, the congregation passing a resolution expressing their grateful sense of the value of his ministrations. This short rest did not, however, achieve for Mr. King what had been hoped for. And on March II, 1851, at a proposal from him to resign his pastorate, the con- gregation, rather than to have the relation dissolved, agreed


76


History of the


to a further intermission of six months, and undertook to supply the pulpit in the meantime. Mr. King then visited Scotland, his native land.


During this second interval the congregation were sup- plied statedly by the Rev. Wilson Phraner. He also is re- membered here with much affection. On leaving the church he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Sing Sing, New York, where he still lives useful and honored.


Before the close of the allowed vacation Mr. King re- turned and resumed his duties. But it was soon too evi- dent that his malady was not cured, and amidst the deep regrets of the congregation he insisted upon withdrawing. At a meeting of the congregation held October 8, 1851, he offered his resignation. It was sadly accepted, and the relation was dissolved by the Presbytery of New York, Oc- tober 14, 1851, after a pastorate of about sixteen months.


During the four and a half years of the sole pastorate of the Rev. John Johnstone, the population of the city was increasing greatly. And the church grew in strength and numbers. The congregation was large, and the communion- roll up to the time of the Rev. Lewis H. Lee's accession as associate pastor, numbered 122 names. The joint pas- torate of these two ministers also, which lasted about fourteen months, was attended by a regular and gratifying progress. So that when Mr. Lee first, and Mr. Johnstone shortly afterward, had closed their ministry here, there were 166 persons in communion with the church, of which 45 were on confession of their faith.


The ministry of the Rev. David King, although only about 20 months in length, and so much interrupted, was very fruitful in results. The congregation was not only enlarged, but there were added 62 names to the list of the communicants, of which 21 were upon confession of their faith, and the whole number of communicants had risen to 228 at the time of his removal.


These three men are all now gone to their rest. Mr. Johnstone continued to live for a few years later in Jersey


77


First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City.


City. In 1853 he returned to reside in Moffatt, Scotland, where he died on the 4th of May, 1864, in the Sist year of his age.


The Rev. Lewis H. Lee was called, immediately upon his leaving this pulpit, to the then young and growing Second Presbyterian Church of Rahway, N. J. He labored there a number of years, resigned, and became pastor of the Pres- byterian Church of WaterforA,N. Y., where he died in 1862, after a ministry of 14 years.


The Rev. David King, after resting for some time subse- quent to his leaving this pulpit, thought himself able to settle, and was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, N. Y. He had been there only a few months when he was obliged to succumb to the disease which had all along assailed him. He withdrew to Water- N V, and there died May 15, 1853. A sermon com- memorative of his life was preached in this pulpit by the present pastor, on Sunday morning, May 22d, from 2 Cor. iv. 12: "So then death worketh in us, but life in you."


Thus all the pastors of the church, previous to the pres- ent one, have passed away. During the short interval which followed Mr. King's release from the pastorate here, the pulpit was supplied statedly for a number of weeks by the Rev. James Vernor Henry, who for many years lived among us with his family, and formed part of our congre- gation. More than three years ago, he also followed the others to the place of rest.


It may be desirable to note that at this time three steps of some interest were taken. The first of these was, that on September 5, 1851, the original motion was made for the organization of a Second Presbyterian Church here, and notice was ordered to be given from this pulpit of a preach- ing service to be held in the Mission School room on Sab- bath afternoon of September 7th. This movement after- ward developed into what now has long been known as the Second Presbyterian Church of this city.


The second incident was, that at this time the prospect


78


History of the


of the growth of the city was such that it was decided to change the relations of the church from the Presbytery of New York and to unite with the Presbytery of Elizabeth- town, with a view of ultimately having, what we since have in part, a distinct Presbytery for Hudson County. The res- olution to consult the Presbytery of New York was adopt- ed by the congregation at the same meeting which agreed to consent to Mr. King's resignation. The Presbytery, however, having remanded the subject to the congregation for decision, as the only party that could decide such a question, by a vote of the congregation taken at a subse- quent meeting it was decided to make no change.


I mention as the third incident, that owing to certain difficulties which had occurred previous to Mr. King's in- stallation, a proposition was made in 1850 to unite with their old friends, the First Reformed Dutch Church. The terms, however, upon which the proposition was to be dis- cussed were not agreed upon, the Presbyterians desiring that the name should not come in question. The Reformed Dutch Church, on the other hand, thought that this point should be considered. The Reformed Dutch Church there- fore declined to act, and the proposition was withdrawn.


Before Mr. King left Jersey City a meeting of the con- gregation was called and held November 14th, at which he presided, and the name of the Rev. Charles K. Imbrie, of Rahway, was proposed to the people. In consequence of this a subsequent meeting was called to consider the question of calling Mr. Imbrie to the pastorate of this church. This meeting was held December 8, 1851. At this meeting the Rev. Edward E. Rankin, of New York, pre- sided ; and then and there your present pastor, who had at that time been pastor for eleven years of the First Presby- terian Church of Rahway, N. J., was called to take the pas- toral charge of this congregation. He came and preached in this pulpit for the first time on Sunday, December 14, 1851. After due consideration he decided to accept the call, and was installed as pastor of this church by the Pres-


79


First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City.


bytery of New York on Wednesday evening, February II, 1852. At these services the Rev. Edward E. Rankin pre- sided. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Lewis H. Lee, the former associate pastor. The Rev. Edson Rockwell, of Brooklyn, preached the sermon ; the Rev. William Bannard gave the charge to the pastor; the Rev. Frederick Clark, of Astoria, the charge to the people; and prayer was offered by the Rev. Ravaud K. Rodgers, of Bound Brook, N. J., grandson of the Rev. Dr. Rodgers, the first pastor of the Wall Street church, New York. And so began the pastor- ate which, in God's providence, amid some trials and many conscious defects, and yet attended with many gracious blessings among a kind and affectionate people, has con- tinued nearly twenty-five years .*


This brings us to the present time. During this interval several changes in the structure of the original building have been effected which may be here mentioned. In 1852 the gallery was changed from the form of slips to the form of square front pews, with a slip in the rear of each, and the iron railing was placed along the front. It was contem- plated at that time also to place another row of pews in the front on the ground floor along the breadth of the building. But this was abandoned. Some time later the last two square pews on each side of the church by the door were changed into the present form. In 1856 the church was entirely renovated. The old Wall Street upholstery was removed and the present substituted. The basement lec- ture-room was enlarged and the back part fitted up and di- vided into an infant school and a large and commodious study. In 1868, during the pastor's absence in Europe, the old closed pulpit was removed and substituted by the pres- ent open-platform structure. In 1871 the basement was again thoroughly refitted by the ladies, the partition be- tween the two back rooms being removed and the present handsome church parlor fitted up.


The building has nowt stood in Jersey City thirty-two


* A.D. 1876.


t In 1876.


80


History of the


years, or within two years as long as it stood in New York City. And it seems rather singular that the building should thus have twice gone through the same experience of being erected when the population around was large and church- going, then of passing through all the changes incident to an up-town movement of the people, and finally, seeing its locality more and more entrenched upon by the encroach- ments of business and commerce, until its removal seems but a question of time. So it is in this changing world.


During the existence of this church there have been added to the communion-roll, up to this present year, 1876, close upon 800 persons (796)-i. e., twenty-five persons on an average each year. Of these, 528 have united on certificate, and 268 on profession. This increase has been in general very regular. At two different seasons, however, during the present pastorate, the manifestation of the renewing in- fluences of God's Spirit have been wider than usual and the ingatherings have been larger than during ordinary years. God has blessed us with harmony. In all the varied insti- tutions of the church, the Session, the Diaconate, the Sab- bath-school, the ladies' societies, and in the plans adopted for advancing the interests and usefulness of the church, God has preserved us well-nigh entirely from all unpleasant differences, and has bound us together as pastor and people with one heart. We have indeed been called to administer discipline ; but the cases calling for it have, by God's good- ness, been few; and as to severe discipline, very few. It is a matter for gratitude that the church members as a whole have ever walked with Christian propriety.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.