USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of the Presbyterian Church in Trenton, N.J. : from the first settlement of the town > Part 22
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On June 1I, 1884, the committee which had been ap- pointed to seek out and recommend to the congregation a successor to Dr. Hall made report naming the Rev. John Dixon, of Yonkers, N. Y., who was chosen pastor. Mr. Dixon signified his acceptance of the call and began work on September II, 1884. Arrangements were made by the Presbytery of New Brunswick for the installation services
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to be held on October 15. On that occasion the Rev. Dr. S. M. Studdiford presided; the sermon was preached by the Rev. J. O. Murray, D.D .; the charge to the pastor by the Rev. William Henry Green, D.D., and the charge to the people by the Rev. John Hall, D.D.
After some two years spent by Mr. Dixon in the neces- sary study of the congregation and of the spiritual needs. of the city, it was thought best to endeavor to interest our people in some form of Christian work outside of the church. Accordingly the attention of the congregation was directed to the manifest need of a Sunday-school in East Trenton, known as Millham. The Session, at a meet- ing held November 18, 1886, took action as follows :
"That as the attention of the Session has been seriously turned to the necessity of Sunday-school work in Millham in view of the spiritual destitution of that population, and after careful consideration of the subject, the Session recommend that such work be taken up by this church, and that the matter be referred to a meeting of the congrega- tion to be held on Wednesday evening next, following Thanksgiving next, for consideration, and that the pastor be requested, instead of the ordinary service, to present at such meeting the needs of such work, such statistics and other data upon the subject as he may think proper. "Resolved further, That a committee consisting of Elders Elmer and Hamill be requested to consider, and at such meeting report, what would be the best location for such Sunday-school building, and what would be the probable cost of organization and accommodation."
The interest of Judge Caleb S. Green in the project is shown by the offer he made as set forth in the following letter :
"TRENTON, December 20, 1886.
"To the Pastor and Session of the First Presbyterian Church.
"MY DEAR FRIENDS-In order to avoid any misunderstanding in re- lation to my proposal to aid in establishing the 'Millham Mission,' I desire to state in writing my several offers more in detail for the guidance of the Session in arriving at a safe conclusion.
"I. Should the Session be in favor of what I termed an aggressive policy in carrying on the mission work, that is, in addition to the Sabbath-school, to make provision for maintaining regular religious
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services for the adult population on the Sabbath, and if deemed ad- visable occasionally during the week, I am willing and offer to purchase a suitable lot to be selected by a committee of the Session and myself, and to lease the same for the purposes of the mission at a nominal rent for a term of years (not exceeding ten), with the privilege on part of the lessees of purchasing the lot at any time during the term at the price paid by me therefor. The lessees to erect on the premises within six months from the date of the lease a suitable building for the Sunday-school work and religious services, to cost, with furnishing, not less than $2,000. The lessees to pay all taxes and assessments on the property during the term. Should the mission fail and the Session neglect to maintain the school and religious services for the period of six months, the lease to terminate and be at an end.
"2. But should the Session deem it advisable first to try the experi- ment of establishing the school alone, before expending so large a sum of money and pledging themselves to the continuance of the work, I will, if a suitable house for the purpose can be obtained, pay a reasonable rent therefor for one or two years and aid in defray- ing the expense of any alterations necessary to be made for the accommodation of the school.
"Although the foregoing is to be considered as the substance of my proposal, I will cheerfully consider any modifications the Session may deem desirable.
"CALEB S. GREEN."
The proposals contained in Judge Green's letter were then carefully considered and discussed by the Session, and on motion it was determined that the interests of the church will be most surely promoted by declining the first and accepting the second proposal, and the Clerk was directed to write to Judge Green, expressing to him the thanks of the Session for the very liberal proposals he has made for promoting the work in Millham, and informing him that the second proposal contained in his communica- tion of the 20th inst. is accepted.
The Sunday-school was begun February 13, 1887, and its sessions were held in the public school building by the permission of the authorities. Mr. Moore Dupuy was elected Superintendent and Mr. Barton B. Hutchinson, Assistant Superintendent. The school grew rapidly, and on
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October 14, 1887, the Session considered plans for the pur- chasing of property and the erection of a building. Dr. William Elmer and Mr. Hugh H. Hamill were appointed a committee to confer with Judge Caleb S. Green. As a result of the conference Judge Green purchased the lot corner of North Clinton and Olden avenues at a cost of $5,000. The erection of the building and its furnishing cost $6,313.50, making the total cost of ground and build- ing $11,313.50. The building was dedicated on December 26, 1887. Preaching in the evening was soon begun with such encouraging results that on the first of May, 1889, Mr. D. R. Warne, a student at the Theological Seminary, of Princeton, was engaged for a period of five months to spend his entire time on the field. Mr. Warne's services were warmly appreciated and the chapel continued to make steady and rapid progress.
On May 23, 1890, the Rev. Edward Scofield, of Newark, N. J., was called by the Session to give his whole time to the field, preach morning and night on the Sabbath and maintain a prayer meeting during the week. Mr. Scofield remained one year and then the Session invited the Rev. Frank B. Everitt, of Kansas City, Mo., to take charge of the chapel. Mr. Everitt took vigorous hold of the work and under his energetic leadership every department of church effort was pushed with vigor. He began his min- istry January 15, 1892, and at every communion there were regular, and sometimes large, additions made to the mem- bership. While our Session gave close as well as constant supervision to the work carried on at the Chapel, yet a separate roll of the members was kept and a separate report made to Presbytery. When under Mr. Everitt's ministry it had been so prospered as to be able to care fully for all its ordinary financial responsibilities it was deemed advis- able to apply to Presbytery for organization. This was done and the Presbytery gave favorable consideration to
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the petition of the people and the request of the First Church Session and organized the East Trenton Presby- terian Church on April 21, 1899. While the formal relation hitherto existing between the First Church and the Millham Chapel was thus brought to a close, yet our church maintains to this hour a deep and smypathetic in- terest in the activities and welfare of the church in East Trenton. From the very beginning of this enterprise our people supported it with enthusiasm, not only giving all needed financial aid, but workers in church, Sabbath-school, Industrial school and Club were never lacking. The story of its beginning and progress constitutes the brightest page in the history of the First Church during the pastorate of Mr. Dixon.
The Rev. C. A. R. Janvier, pastor of the Fifth Presby- terian Church, of Trenton, announced his purpose to return to India as a missionary under the Foreign Board. Mr. Janvier's early life had been spent in India, where his father had been a missionary. When the congregation of the First Church learned of Mr. Janvier's purpose they resolved to provide for his salary in addition to making their annual offering for the general work of the Board. On July 15, 1887, the Session gave the pastor permission to secure from individuals such gifts as they might be disposed to make for this purpose. The salary as determined by the Foreign Board was fixed at $1,000 per annum. There was practi- cally no difficulty in raising this sum year after year. Mr. Janvier was located at Fatehgarh, N. W. P., India, and his reports, from time to time, kept the congregation informed as to his work and maintained the interest of the church in him. After several years absence Mr. Janvier returned to this country for a brief visit. He addressed the congre- gation several times on the need and character of his work. He returned to India, where he continued to labor for a considerable time and then returned to this country to look
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after the education of his only son, who specially required his parents' attention because of seriously impaired eyesight. Mr. Janvier became pastor of the Holland Memorial Pres- byterian Church, of Philadelphia, where he still labors. It is interesting to note that young Mr. Janvier graduated from Princeton University with honor and has returned to India.
For many years the congregation was interested in the work of the Rev. Henry D. Wood, of Carthage, N. C. Mr. Wood and his wife were well known to many of the older families of the congregation, and when they went to begin work amongst their own people (colored) of Carthage, they carried with them the substantial good-wishes of our people. In December, 1888, the sum of $820 was raised by Mr. Wood's personal canvass of our people, which en- sured the erection of a church building. Out of gratitude for the interest so long shown by the congregation in Mr. Wood and his work, Mr. Wood and his people called the church the "John Hall Chapel." The school and industrial work carried on by Mr. and Mrs. Wood also required a building, and this being secured it was named "Dayton Academy," because of the special interest taken by the late Mrs. Wm. L. Dayton in this work. The young people of our church have kept up their devotion to this special enter- prise and for more than a quarter of a century have sent Christmas boxes and money to Mr. Wood's people.
On April 3, 1887, Miss E. B. Johnson resolved to show a practical interest in the religious welfare of the China- men in this city. Permission was given her to start a school on Sunday evenings in the lecture-room. Miss Johnson secured the co-operation of fourteen others and each had a class of one or more Chinamen. Quite a number of these teachers were young women connected with the Model and Normal Schools. This class was maintained for several years. From time to time the men were addressed by
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ministers and others who could speak to them in their own language. Amongst these was the Rev. Benjamin C. Henry, D.D., who was for many years a missionary in China under the Foreign Board. What were the permanent results of this bit of foreign missionary work at home may never be fully known in this life, but it is interesting to remember that at least one of these men, Joe Wong, by name, was converted and united with the church on con- fession of faith. His life and spirit were in every way exemplary and he gave abundant evidence that his conver- sion was both intelligent and thorough.
For many years the Women's Foreign Missionary So- ciety of the church provided the money necessary to pay the salary of Mrs. Hepburn, wife of Dr. James C. Hepburn, of Japan. Mrs. Hepburn's letters to the society were so interesting that she had gained for herself the deep affection of the women who fully appreciated the privilege of being brought into such close relationship with such a distin- guished missionary. When, then, it was learned that Dr. and Mrs. Hepburn proposed returning to this country, it was decided not only to invite them to Trenton, but also to give them a public reception which should suitably mark the esteem in which they were held. The reception occurred on May 31, 1889, was loyally attended and resulted in bringing up the interest of the entire congregation in Foreign Missions to a higher level than ever before reached.
On April 20, 1891, a joint meeting of the elders and trustees was held, to arrange for the suitable observance of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Dr. Hall's ministry. On Sun- day, May 31, Dr. Hall preached his fiftieth anniversary sermon. Characteristically enough the sermon contained very little about himself or about his work. It was an affectionate and earnest setting forth of the gospel. On the following evening a public reception was given him in the lecture-room of the church and a purse of $1,000 in
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gold was presented to him. The whole occasion not only called forth the warmest appreciation of Dr. Hall and of the love and devotion of his people to him, but also stirred most profoundly the tender sensibilities of the congregation, many of whom had grown to manhood and womanhood under his ministry.
At a meeting of the Session held January 25, 1893, it was resolved to recommend the church to elect additional elders and deacons, and accordingly at a meeting of the church held on February 26, 1893, the following persons were chosen elders, viz., John S. Chambers, Edward T. Green, Lewis C. Wooley, and Henry D. Oliphant; also, Thos. S. Chambers and Barton B. Hutchinson were chosen deacons. Both Mr. John S. Chambers and Thomas S. Chambers desired to be excused from accepting the offices to which they had been elected, and on Sunday, February 26, 1893, the remaining brethren were duly ordained and installed. By reason of subsequent deaths and changes among both elders and deacons another election was held December 13, 1897, when John H. Scudder, Moore Dupuy and Oscar Woodworth were chosen elders and Benjamin M. Phillips, Henry W. Green and G. Abeel Hall were chosen deacons, and on the following Sunday were duly ordained and installed. At this point it may be proper to note that at the time when Mr. Dixon began his pastorate the Board of Trustees was constituted as follows, viz .: Hon. Caleb S. Green, President; Barker Gummere, Chas. E. Green, Hon. William L. Dayton, Gen. William S. Stryker, Abner R. Chambers, and Edward Grant Cook. The secretary of the Board at that time was Mr. Benjamin F. Chambers, and the treasurer Mr. Thos. S. Chambers. To fill vacancies caused by death the following gentlemen were elected trustees between 1884 and 1898, viz .: Mr. F. O. Briggs, Mr. Elmer E. Green, Mr. John S. Chambers, and Mr. Charles Whitehead. The presidents of the Board follow-
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ing Judge Caleb S. Green were Barker Gummere, William L. Dayton, Charles E. Green and Judge Elmer E. Green. The secretaries succeeding Mr. Benjamin F. Chambers were Mr. Lewis W. Scott and Mr. Nelson L. Petty.
On May 10, 1894, Dr. Hall died at his residence 224 West State street, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. The funeral services were held in the church. The whole city was affected by the sad event and in various ways showed its deep appreciation of the long life, the noble character and the many and great services he had rendered to the church and the community. The address was de- livered by the Rev. John Hall, D.D., pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, of New York. The body was taken to Philadelphia for interment, and on the follow- ing Sunday Mr. Dixon preached a memorial sermon from Hebrews 13:7: "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversa- tion."
The following resolution, prepared by the committee appointed for the purpose, was adopted by the Session :
"The Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Trenton, N. J., hereby makes formal record of the death of the Rev. John Hall, D.D., the pastor-emeritus of this congregation. It occurred on the tenth day of May, last past.
"Nothing could be more foreign to our purpose in making this sad minute than to spread upon this record mere eulogium of him who was so dear to us as our Pastor, Associate and Friend.
"Silence born of sorrow is more suggestive of our loss than would be the eloquence of studied praise. And we are well assured that we are in thorough accord with his own oft-expressed wish when we restrain, as best we may, the impulse to speak the words of tender commendation and loving regard which our saddened hearts do con- tinually suggest.
"Yet we cannot refrain from confessing our sense of painful be- reavement that has followed the sundering of the tie which knit us together, nor fail to record our personal love for him; nor, as well, to express our gratitude to our Father in Heaven, who permitted him to labor among us and with us and for us for so many years.
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"Dr. Hall's thorough faithfulness in the discharge of his duties; his high appreciation of his sacred office; his witnessing for Christ boldly and always in his everyday life, made him a power not only in his own church but, as well, in the community in which he lived. While the unsullied honesty of his life, the purity and unselfishness of his purposes and the love and tender sympathy which impulsed every act, forever enshrine him in the hearts of this congregation.
"He has left us to go to his eternal home. In his Father's house of many mansions prepared for him by his Lord and Saviour, he is at rest. While the unbidden tear will flow, we rejoice that he has won the victory and has gained the crown."
The work of the church was carried on with regularity and steady progress was made in every department. Noth- ing of note occurred after Dr. Hall's death until Mr. Dixon notified the congregation of his intention to resign the pastorate, which he did on September 19, 1898. The Pres- bytery of New Brunswick, upon request of the pastor and congregation, dissolved the pastoral relation which had existed for fourteen years and the Rev. James O. Murray, D.D., was appointed to preach and declare the pulpit vacant.
The Rev. Lewis Seymour Mudge was unanimously called to the pastorate on May 24, 1899. On June 27, 1899, he was received into the Presbytery of New Brunswick, the call was placed in his hands and he having signified his acceptance, September 27, 1899, was appointed as the time for his installation. On that date Mr. Mudge was duly installed as Pastor, the following taking part in the service : The Rev. Samuel McLanahan presided and asked the con- stitutional questions. The sermon was preached by the father of the pastor, the Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, D.D., the charge to the Pastor was delivered by the brother-in-law of the pastor, the Rev. James D. Paxton, D.D., and the charge to the people by the former pastor, the Rev. John Dixon, D.D. Thus was initiated a delightful, though a brief pastorate. Nominally, the relation thus established continued for twenty-six months, but in reality Mr. Mudge's
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term of service ended on December 13, 1900, when, because of ill health, he was compelled to ask for a leave of absence which was finally extended to October 1, 1901. The health of the pastor not having been sufficiently restored by this time to justify his return to his duties, he regretfully pre- sented his resignation to the Session on October 18, 1901. On November 4, 1901, the congregation reluctantly acquiesced in the pastor's wish that the pastoral relation be terminated and at the joint request of pastor and people the Presbytery directed that the pastorate should end on November 24, 1901.
Although Mr. Mudge was in active service but fourteen months, marked progress was made in several directions. The adjustments in membership required by the formation of the East Trenton Chapel into an independent organiza- tion were completed, the roll of members thoroughly re- vised, and sixty-four new members, sixteen on profession of faith and forty-eight by letter, were added. The Sun- day-school, under the direction of Mr. Edward S. Wood, who was appointed Superintendent by the Session on No- vember 22, 1899, and who assumed charge of the school on December 10, 1899, grew rapidly in numbers and in- terest, a factor in its success being the large Bible class conducted by the Pastor. On November 22, 1899, the envelope system was adopted for use in connection with the benevolences of the church with most gratifying results, a much larger number of contributors being secured as well as greatly increased gifts. The publication of a weekly Church Bulletin was begun and proved a decided success in reducing to a minimum the giving of notices from the pulpit and in disseminating information concerning the church's activities.
On December 6, 1899, a new hymn book was adopted for use in the Mid-week Service and plans looking toward a change in the hymnal in use in the church services were
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considered. The various Missionary Societies of the church all showed healthy growth, the Golden Hour Circle more than doubling its membership. The Christian Endeavor Society continued its faithful work and the Chinese Sun- day-school maintained its helpful ministrations.
Just previous to the departure of the pastor on his leave of absence, at a conference held at his residence with a representative of those interested in the remodeling of the church and Sunday-school rooms, and with the architect, the plans for thhis remodeling, which were ultimately adopted, were practically agreed upon in outline. It is greatly to the credit of the congregation that in spite of the handicaps placed upon the church, first, by the illness and then by the resignation of the pastor, these greatly-needed improvements were soon pushed to completion.
It will therefore be seen that Mr. Mudge's pastorate, though so brief, was not without its permanent results. And it is a cause for profound gratitude that pastor and people alike can look back upon the few months of labor which they enjoyed together with unalloyed satisfaction and to the early sundering of the ties which bound them officially with sincere regret.
CHAPTER XXIV.
HENRY COLLIN MINTON, D.D.
The contribution to the history of this venerable church, to be expected from its pastor, will be, of course, short and insignificant. Makers of history are poor writers of the history which they make. As the soldier in the thick of the fight is too intent upon his own struggle to see how the battle goes, much less the war; or as the workman on the wall is too busy with his own task to realize how the splendid building rises, much less how the great city grows; so they who are busy doing their own day's work have not yet gained the clear and true perspective which discloses itself to the eye that surveys the field in the calm light of to-morrow's sun.
We can only add a little foot-note to the chronicles of the past.
The present pastorate began in November, 1902, and, accordingly, covers the last decade of the 200 years of the church's history. First of all, we have to thank a covenant- keeping God for his constant mercies that have never failed us in these short years of happy but unworthy service in His Name. These years have been filled with incidents and events which have left their indelible marks not only on the lives of us all but also on the life of the church itself.
Some pastors are careful to prepare and preserve statis- tics of their work as it goes on. Others find this practice, if not distasteful, at least somewhat irksome and of doubt- ful profit. During the present pastorate, as we learn from the official records, 260 have, up to the time when this is written (February, 1912, a little more than nine years),
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been received into the membership of this church. During this time 91 have died and 47 have been dismissed, includ- ing a few names which, for sufficient and appropriate reasons, have been dropped from the roll. It will thus be seen that during these ten years many changes have been brought about, and these changes have been more import- ant than at first glance might appear.
In this staid old community it is somewhat remarkable that nearly one-half of the present congregation should be, as such, less than ten years old. Every local church has its own distinct individuality and in the course of two centuries the marks of that individuality have had ample time to become deeply fixed and well known to the community. This church has long been conspicuous for its intelligence in Christian doctrine, its fidelity to every trust, and its generous leadership in the support of all good works. It has not been swift to depart from the ways of the fathers or to forsake the familiar landmarks of the past.
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