USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > History of the Newark Baptist City Mission : from its origin in 1851 to its seventeenth anniversary in 1868 > Part 3
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In April, 1867, the Board appointed Mr. Baxter a missionary for the Tenth Ward, at the same time appropriating for the Mission five hundred dollars for the first year.
The subject of a church organization
67
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
was long and prayerfully considered by the Board, but for various reasons was deferred.
At the Board meeting in January, 1868, a committee was appointed to take the matter again into consideration. The committee met the teachers and others composing the Mission in the chapel on the evening of February II, at which the subject was freely discussed. On motion a committee was ap- pointed to report at a future meeting the names of such persons as would become the constituent members, should a church be organized. At a subsequent meeting, the committee reported thirty-six names, with a promise of others as soon as the organiza- tion should be complete. The committee of the Mission Board were requested to in- form the said Board that it was the wish of the Tenth Ward Mission to become a regu- larly organized church.
The committee reported to the Board in accordance with this resolution, and the Board unanimously voted to approve of an organization of a church in the Tenth Ward.
68
NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
On Sunday afternoon, March 8, 1868, a meeting was held in the chapel for the pur- pose of organizing a church. The com- mittee appointed to apply for letters of dismission, reported that there had been re- ceived twenty-eight letters from the South Church, five from the Fifth Church, and two from Fairmount Church. The persons bear- ing these letters proceeded to organize them- selves into a church. Measures were also taken to call a council of recognition. At . a subsequent meeting the name of " Pilgrim Baptist Church " was unanimously adopted.
The council met, and after examination unanimously voted to proceed to recognize the body as a regular Baptist Church. The public services were held in the evening ; Rev. H. F. Smith, of Bloomfield, preached ; Rev. D. T. Morrill gave the Hand of Fel- lowship, and Dr. Levy delivered the Charge.
-
DRAKE
FIRST GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH. REV. JULIUS C. HASSELHUHN, PASTOR.
.
Part Fifth.
GERMAN CHURCH AND MISSION.
THE FIRST GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
Constituted September 7, 1849.
EV. K. A. Fleischman, whose men- tal and moral worth, and earnest labors in behalf of his " kinsmen according to the flesh," have secured for him so large a place in the hearts of American Baptists, has the honor of being the first German Baptist minister in this country. He arrived in New York in March, 1839. Receiving an invitation to preach in New- ark, he came to stay one Sabbath, but was induced to remain. Many of the Germans, however, finding that he would not sprinkle and confirm their children, but would preach only those doctrines and administer only those ordinances for which he could find
72
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
authority in the Scriptures, became bitterly opposed to him. But the Lord was with him, blessed his labors, and permitted him, in October, 1849, to baptize three persons, the first Germans in this country who re- ceived the ordinance from a German Bap- tist minister.
Mr. Fleischman soon after this time left Newark to labor in Pennsylvania. He con- tinued, however, to make frequent visits to this city, and from time to time souls were converted under the preaching of a pure gospel, and added to the little band of bap- tized believers. They united with Ameri- can Baptist churches, but continued to hold among themselves regular meetings in Ger- man.
After long and patient waiting, their heart's desire was fulfilled by the organiza- tion of a German Baptist Church, Septem- ber 7, 1849.
The Church was recognized September 20, 1849, by a council consisting of dele- gates from the following churches : South
73
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
Baptist Church, New York; First German Baptist Church, New York ; and First Bap- tist Church, Newark. The council was or- ganized by appointing Dr. Summers, of New York, moderator. Immediately after the recognition services, the council pro- ceeded, by request of the Church, to exam- ine the pastor elect, with the view of ordain- ing him to the gospel ministry. The ex- amination being satisfactory, Mr. S. Küpper was solemnly ordained by prayer and the laying on of hands. Mr. Küpper having resigned his charge March [, 1850, the Church were without a pastor more than eighteen months.
In October, 1851, Mr. A. Hüni was or- dained to the work of the ministry in the First Baptist Church, by the request of the German Church which had called him to be their pastor. The number of their mem- bership had increased to thirty.
After a successful pastorate of four years, Mr. Hüni resigned February 7, 1856, the Church having then fifty-eight members.
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
A call was extended to Mr. Conrad Bor- denbender in August, 1856. Mr. B. was or- dained in the First Baptist Church, August 26, 1856. Mr. Bordenbender labored ear- nestly for over five years, during which time the membership increased to ninety. He resigned October 31, 1861.
The Church called Rev. J. C. Hasel- huhn, of Wilmington, Del., who began his labors in Newark, January, 1862. Until 1861, the Church suffered greatly for the want of a house of worship, having always met in hired rooms, sometimes unfavorably located and otherwise inconvenient. The necessity of a proper place for worship was keenly felt by their American brethren as well as by themselves. The subject was more than once introduced and discussed at the anniversary meetings of the City Mission.
In February, 1859, the Church resolved to make an effort to secure a house of wor- ship. Committees were appointed ; one to solicit subscriptions, and the other to select
75
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
a proper place. Subscriptions among them- selves soon amounted to over a thousand dollars. The Church then resolved to lay their case before the City Mission Board. The Board kindly received them and gave them much encouragement. It was also voted that the German Church be invited to appoint delegates to represent them in the Board. A committee consisting of D. M. Wilson, of the First Church, J. O. Nichols, J. M. Barrows, and R. Johnston, of the South Church, was appointed to coop- erate with the German Church in selecting a location for a house of worship. About this time the German Presbyterian Church in Mercer Street, above High Street, was offered for sale. The joint committees were unanimously in favor of purchasing the same. The Church, February 5, 1861, authorized the Mission Board to buy it for them, at the price of twenty-five hundred dollars, which was accordingly done. Thir- teen hundred dollars, which the German brethren had raised among themselves, was
76
NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
paid on it. The balance the Board became security for, besides repairing and putting the house in good order.
The dedication services were held April 7, 1861. In the morning the dedication sermon was preached by Rev. K. A. Fleisch- man, of Philadelphia. In the afternoon a general meeting was held, and addresses made by Drs. Fish and Levy. In the evening interesting services were held in German, and the occasion was one of joy and gladness to the little band who had been so long without a religious home.
In 1864 an effort was made to pay off the debt that still remained against their chapel. The Church raised two thousand, and the balance was paid by the American churches. These results placed the Ger- man Baptists in Newark in a position for aggressive movements among their coun- trymen.
The contributions of this Church for be- nevolent objects have amounted to $4,092.93. The number of members is two hundred and twelve.
__
BRAKE
TWELFTH WARD MISSION CHAPEL. REV. J. C. KRAFT, MISSIONARY.
79
NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
THE TWELFTH WARD MISSION.
THE increase of the German population has been a marked feature in the growth of the city. In every direction they have been building homes for themselves, and extend- ing their influence. The Twelfth Ward was so largely composed of this element as to attract the attention of the members of the German Baptist Church. The delegates from this Church brought the condition of the Ward before the Mission Board. The Board at once appointed a committee with instructions to secure a place suitable for a Sunday-school. No better place could be found than a private house which had been a drinking-saloon. This was rented and opened as a mission station. The second Sunday in June, 1863, a Sunday-school was organized with one hundred scholars and sixteen teachers. Religious services were
.
80
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
held immediately after school, and the pas- tor of the German Church, Rev. J. C. Hasel- huhn, preached regularly every Sunday afternoon for more than one year.
As the field needed more labor than Mr. Haselhuhn could bestow upon it, a mission- ary was appointed at a salary of six hundred dollars, who began his labors in September, 1864, but resigned in a few weeks after his appointment. Rev. A. Transchel entered upon the work soon after, and preached ac- ceptably to the Germans in both the Tenth and Twelfth Wards, until his removal to Buffalo, in 1866.
In May of the same year, Rev. C. Kraft, of New Brunswick, was appointed at a sal- ary of eight hundred dollars.
As the dwelling-house in Niagara Street proved entirely inadequate for the Sunday- school and mission, a committee was ap- pointed by the Board to select suitable lots and erect a chapel. A location corner of Niagara and Patterson Streets was pur- chased, and a commodious chapel was
8 I
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
erected thereon, at a cost of about five thou- sand dollars. The dedication of this new house of worship occurred on Sunday after- noon, September 4, 1866.
The field has thus far proved to be an ex- ceedingly hard one. Romanism and infi- delity are predominant. The missionary can only reach them by much self-denial, and by visiting from house to house. A few, however, have been converted, and the Sunday-school contains at present over one hundred and fifty children. Through the power of the gospel which is being preached by a faithful missionary, and the earnest labors of the members of the German Bap- tist Church, there is much to encourage the friends of Christ, that a time of ingathering will come, and in place of the little chapel will be erected a substantial and attractive church edifice. The Germans are attracted by good and commodious houses of wor- ship, and are exceedingly fond of music. While it is not proper to encourage extrav- agance in either, yet it is wise to consult the
82
NEWAK BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
taste and education of men in all things that are lawful. Fidelity to our own principles does not necessarily involve a blind and bigoted opposition to everything that dif- fers from our habits and customs. Things indifferent should be allowed to be indif- ferent, and all our zeal and fidelity concen- trated on what is essential both in faith and practice.
١
OPAK
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCHI. REV. HENRY C. FISH, D. D., PASTOR.
Part Birth.
SKETCHES OF FIRST AND SOUTH CHURCHES.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Constituted June 6, 1801.
AVING given a view of church extension in Newark, it is desir- and able, for completeness, to intro- duce here a brief history of the two churches out of which this movement sprang.
The First Church was formed on the 6th of June 1801, of five brethren and four sis- ters, all except two members of the Lyons Farms Baptist Church, one of the oldest in the State. Worshipping at first in a school- house, and struggling forward in great weakness, it was not until the year 1806 that they were able to occupy a home of their own, which consisted of a small meet-
6
86
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
ing house, 35 by 45 feet, on Academy Street, corner of Halsey Street. This church edi- fice was taken down and replaced with one 48 by 68 feet, and costing over $5,000, in the year 1810. And yet again, in 1841, this house underwent thorough repairs and im- provements, consisting, in part, of the addi- tion of a vestibule and lecture-room, at a cost of $3,000. The picture of the old First Church edifice, in the front part of this volume, presents an accurate view of the house in its improved condition, and as it stood until it was finally sold upon the re- moval to a new location.
Of pastors, the Church has had fourteen. The progress of the cause, in its outward manifestation, can best be seen in the two tables which are here given.
The following table presents, at a glance, the Pastors, their term of service, the num- ber of Members at the commencement of each one's ministry, the number he baptized, and the time of closing his ministry : -
Names of Pastors.
Commenced Labors.
With Members.
Number Baptized.
Closed Labors.
Years.
With Members.
Gain. Loss.
Rev. Charles Lahatt
February, 1802
17
16
July, 1806
4+
32
15
Rev. Peter Thurston
March, 1808
.
35
29
March, 1809
I
54
19
Rev. Daniel Sharp, D. D.
April, 1809
·
53
6
November, 181 I
2++
71
18
-
Rev. John Lamb .
April, 1812
62
3
April, 1813
I
59
-
3
Rev. David Jones
January, 1814
72
80
November, 1821
7+
I12
40
Rev. Daniel Putman
April, 1822
109
8
May, 1824 .
2-
108
-
I
Rev. Ebenezer Loomis
December, 1826
108
9
June, 1827 .
I-
-
I
Rev. C. F. Frey .
January, 1828
109
5
April, 1830
2++
III
2
Rev. P. L Platt
April, 1830
III
IO
April, 1831
1
II3
2
-
Rev. Daniel Dodge .
August, 1832 .
I20
94
February, 1839
7-
213
93
Rev. William Sym, D. D.
April, 1839
213
86
May, 1843 .
4
261
48
Rev. Henry. V. Jones,
September, 1843
259
96
April, 1850
7-
368
109
-
Rev. E. E. Cummings, D. D.
July, 1850 . .
339
November, 1850
I-
339
-
-
Rev. Henry C. Fish, D. D. .
January, 1851
330
920*
-
1871
863*
533*
-
.
* Up to 1868, inclusive,
+ Term of service not expired.
87
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
-
.
·
·
I
107
·
·
.
88
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
The following table exhibits the Number of Bap- tisms, and the Number of Members, for any given year up to the present time, December, 1868 : -
Year . . (1801|1802 1803|1804
1805|
1806 1807/1808 1809| 1810| 1811
Baptized
6
2
4
2
2
II
I3
16
23
4
Members
13
I7
33
36
34
33
34
46
60
88
84
Year . .
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
182I
1822
Baptized
2
I
6
2
2
37
28
3
O
2
3
Members
64
?
70
72
82
IIO
I22
I20
I20
II2
109
Year . .
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
Baptized
4
I
I
9
7
2
I
2
8
8
14
Members
II2
108
IO2
IO2
103
107
IIO
III
II3
I20
I28
Year . .
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1 840
1841
1842
1843
1844
Baptized
9
I2
23
12
9
7
48
I3
II
7
6
Members
149
164
203
22I
216
213
257
264
270
261
306
Year . .
1845
1846
1847
1848 1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
Baptized
7
7
30
9
7
30
42
25
2I
IO6
36
Members
322
331
372
380
376
339
378
391
433
550
492
Year . .
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
Baptized
25
18
236
19
29
25
II
6
125
16
152
Members
462
495
73º
703
716
709
697
673
777
751
90I
Year . .
1867
1868
Baptized
I3
15
Members
900
863
89
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
From the foregoing tables it will be seen that the Church has been destitute of pas- toral care for more than nine years. Also, that in the remaining forty-one years, up to the present pastorate, the average term of ser- vice was about two years and eleven months. The most protracted pastoral service, except the present, was rendered by David Jones ; the second in length, by H. V. Jones ; the third, by Daniel Dodge; and the fourth, by Charles Lahatt and William Sym. Deduct- ing the time of service of these five brethren, the average length of the pastorate under the nine remaining ministers, was but about one year and four months. The present unfinished pastorate extends thus far through eighteen years.
The total number of additions to the Church by baptism up to the present pastor- ate, was 511 ; since then, 919; total since organization of the Church (sixty-seven years), 1430. Average per year for the first fifty years, a fraction above 10. Average per year since then, a fraction above 51.
90
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
The periods of the greatest weakness and severest trials of the Church, have been those of its most frequent change in the pastoral relation.
The darkest period in the history of. this Church was in the winter of 1811 and 1812. The flock was without a shepherd, scattered, distracted by internal dissensions, and threatened with pecuniary calamity. The following action as to a Church debt tells its own story : -
" Moved, That brethren James Beach and Jabez Pool be a committee to wait upon Mr. -, inform- ing him of the impoverished state and truly distressing circumstances of the Church. Resolved, To throw our- selves entirely on the clemency of Mr. - -, trusting alone in the mercy of God to direct the affair, and in submission to His will, wait the event."
But, although this Church, particularly in its early experiences, had many and sore trials, its history as a whole is luminous with the goodness of God. And it must be noted, that its missionary era was the era of increasing strength. When it began to care
91
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
for others, God especially cared for it. In 1836, twelve members disconnected them- selves from the parent body, and formed the Second Baptist Church in Market Street, under the supervision of Rev. P. L. Platt. But in less than five years the Society dis- banded ; and it appears that the movement was ill advised. With this exception, the First Church stood as the sole American Baptist body in Newark until the expira- tion of a half century, when the South Baptist Church was constituted, as the re- sult of a true Christian enterprise.
The benevolent contributions of the Church cannot be fully ascertained. There is extant a memorandum bearing the date of 1818, showing that that year $11.00 were given to the New York Missionary Asso- ciation. In 1834 it was reported to the New York Association that the Newark Church had given $167.00 to benevolent objects. In 1836 the sum was $675.00; in 1846, $1, 108.00; in 1847, $1,192.57 ; and in 1848, $1,558.54.
92
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
The following table presents at a glance the aggregate yearly benevolent contribu- tions of the Church so far back as statistics can be obtained : -
1849 $1,861.04
1850 $1,204.36
1851 $1,566.08
1852 $2,034.00
1853 $3,242.34
1854 $3,872.00
1855 $2,242.25
1856 $2,855.00
1857 $4,395.00
1858 $2,275.00
1859 $1,090.50
1860 $2,092.44
1861 $1,525.00
1862 $1,025.00
1863 $550.21
1864 $2,351.00
1865 $3,815.00
1866 $6,900.00
1867 $14,350.00
1868 $ 12,600.00
The total of these figures for twenty years is $64,946.22 ; or an average of $3,247.31 a year.
Besides these sums given for missionary objects, the pecuniary strength of the Church has lately been severely taxed in the erection of the new church edifice ; the corner-stone of which was laid October 4, 1858, and which was dedicated May 23, I 860. The necessity of a new house had long been felt; and the undertaking was only deferred that the City Mission work, sketched elsewhere, might have the benefit
93
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
of the united energies of the denomination. But the accessions to the membership from the " Great Revival," and other circum- stances, intensified the demand for more ample accommodations.
The first formal movement in this direc- tion was at a Church meeting held April 23, 1858, when the subject of a new house was introduced and favorably considered, but laid over to a special meeting. The follow- ing is a copy from the Church Records of the doings of the meeting held by appoint- ment : -
" A special meeting, April 26, 1858, of the Church and congregation was convened by a call of the Trus- tees publicly read from the pulpit. Opened with sing- ing and prayer. After which D. M. Wilson was called to the chair, and Isaiah Peckham was appointed Sec- retary. The Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to take into consideration the propriety and necessity of erecting a new house of worship for the accommodation of the Church. Brother Andrews requested that the first chapter of Haggai might be read. The pastor read the chapter. After an informal exchange of views, brother Andrews offered a resolu- tion : 'That the time has come in the providence of
.
94
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
God when we are imperatively called upon to proceed in the erection of a new house of worship.' The reso- lution was unanimously adopted, and the vote was very large. Subscriptions were then taken up amounting to the sum of $10,800."
Building and finance committees were appointed, and in June the plan of the house was voted upon and adopted ; the carpenter work being assigned to the skill- ful and faithful hands of one of the mem- bers, Deacon David D. Dunn.
It was intended from the first that there should be no Church debt upon the house when completed; and the supposition was, that the subscriptions actually obtained, or easily available, would cover the expense, the old house and lot paying for the new lot. But the financial panic of 1857 and 1858, and the breaking out of the civil war, disappointed these expectations. The sub- scriptions in great part could not be col- lected, and the old Church property did not find a ready sale, so that the interest on the purchase-money of the new lot had to be annually paid, besides providing for the
95
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
Church debt proper. The generosity of the congregation was again and again brought into requisition, and some almost wearied of giving, and despaired of ever seeing the end of pressing dues and persistent appeals. The financial ability of an efficient Board of Trustees, and the utmost help of pastor and people, scarcely sufficed to meet the emergency. Indeed, about the beginning of 1863, an unpaid claim was so far pressed that the Church property was technically in the sheriff's hands. This perplexed and embarrassed state of mind on the part of the brethren from pecuniary troubles, seri- ously impaired the spiritual condition of the Church; but no one could discover a door of deliverance. At his own instiga- tion, Dr. Fish visited Mr. John M. Davies and a few other liberal brethren in New York city, and laying before them the whole case, obtained a subscription of several thou- sands of dollars, conditioned upon the pay- ment of the whole debt of $25,000, except that upon the Church lot (which was soon
96
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
afterward met by the disposition of the old property). This subscription from a neigh- boring city agreeably surprised and gave heart to the members of the Church and congregation, and it was determined to make one effort more to sweep away the encumbrance. The strain was heavy alike upon the pastor and the brethren and the Baptists generally in the city ; but through the mercy of God the attempt was crowned with success, and sincere thanksgivings upon the following Sabbaths ascended to heaven from a worshipping assembly, at length free from debt.
The following, taken from a copy of the " Examiner," bearing date February 26, 1863, may here be fittingly introduced : -
" The First Baptist Church in Newark, N. J., of which Dr. H. C. Fish is the pastor, has done itself honor. They had hoped to enter their new house of worship free from debt. But this hope was frustrated by the financial troubles of the times, and the Church has, for some time, been burdened by an unpaid balance of $25,000. The members of the Church were moved by a holy ambition to attempt to shake off the incubus,
97
BAPTIST CITY MISSION.
and by their generous efforts, and with the help of a few friends in New York, they have now provided for every dollar of the debt. The Church is much rejoiced at its freedom. We heartily congratulate not only our Newark friends on the energy and generosity with which they have ensured success for their enterprise, but also Baptists in general on the evidence which this movement gives of the prosperity of one of the largest of our churches."
The edifice thus completed and paid for, is located in the centre of the city, upon Academy Street, and within a few rods of the largest avenue, Broad Street. In its main parts it is built of brown chiseled stone, in the Romanesque style of architec- ture, extending one hundred and seven feet in depth, by seventy-two feet front; and is surmounted by two turrets, each one hun- dred and twelve feet high. The first floor is divided into a Lecture Room, forty-two by sixty-six feet, two Social Rooms, or Church Parlors, twenty-five by thirty-three feet (which three rooms may be converted into one by sliding partitions), and an In- fant Class and Library Room. The second
98
HISTORY OF THE NEWARK
floor, or main Audience Room, is inter- sected by four aisles, with permanent sit- tings for about fourteen hundred persons. The Singers' Gallery and Organ are behind the pulpit, at a slight elevation, to facilitate congregational singing. The Baptistery is immediately under the pulpit, the floor of which is its movable cover, and has Retiring Rooms on either side. The whole building is every way substantial, attractive, and con- venient, and cost, with the lot and the fur- nishing, about $50,000, which is not one third of the present value of the property.
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