USA > New Jersey > Union County > Scotch Plains > History of the Scotch Plains Baptist Church from its organization on the fifth of August 1747 to its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary on the fifth of August 1897 > Part 3
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the meeting house, the Parsonage and the grounds around them were steadily falling into dilapida- tion and decay; and, still worse, the time when the interest upon the Mortgage debt of the Church, if not the debt itself, would have to be met, and with absolutely no provision being made or thought possible to be made to meet either.
It is not a matter of wonder that in such circum- stances, a proposition was seriously made by a trustee, at a meeting of the Board, that the Meeting House and other property of the Church covered by the Mortgages (which were held by Warren Ackerman, Esquire, who had generously forborne the interest thereon for five years), should be abandoned, and the property surrendered.
As the Mortgages covered everything belonging to the Church which could be Mortgaged, real and personal, even down to the Communion Service, such abandonment could not be permitted.
This brief sketch outlines the perilous conditions which existed in the years 1881-2; the inheritance from former years of mistakes and mismanage- ment.
Every one, or nearly every one, felt that it was quite time to call upon a leader who could devote zeal with knowledge, experience and business ability to the work of rescue and relief-a man who would be a brave and skilful Captain, to lead the "forlorn hope," and save the dear old church from utter annihilation.
On the twenty-seventh day of November, 1882, by a unanimous vote, the church extended a call to become its Pastor, to the Rev. James H. Parks, and on the Eighth day of December, next there- after, at a special Parish Meeting called to con-
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sider the subject, the call so made by the church, was cordially and with practical unanimity en- dorsed by the Parish, there being only three dis- senting votes.
After consultation with the trustees, and after receiving from each member of the Board his per- sonal assurance that he would stand by, help, aid and assist, with Prayers and work, and with a full knowledge of the direful condition, spiritual and financial, which surrounded the task before him, the Reverend James H. Parks accepted the call which he had received, and entered upon the ardu- ous work before him, on the second week of Jan- uary, 1883.
Of a truth, the labor was great, but seemed to be to the new pastor a labor of love as well, and success seemed to crown his efforts at the very beginning.
His organizing talent and executive ability, re- inforced by remarkable energy, inspired all around him with kindred vitality and strength of purpose. Where fear and despair had so lately held their paralyzing sway, faith re-asserted herself. Hope arose to newness of life, courage once more filled and fired all hearts; and very soon under their wise and careful leader, every one was a willing, cheerful co-worker for the redemption of the old church from her bondage of debt.
Methods were adopted to meet the accruing in- terest on the mortgage debt, provision was made for the current expenses of the Church, and a brave and successful attack was planned and carried into effect too for the reduction of the prin- cipal of the mortgage debt.
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REV. J. H. PARKS, D.D.
Although those were days of serious thought and severe and incessant toil, they were also times of great enjoyment. Peace reigned in our coun- cils, and harmony of purpose and action wrought their natural work. Pastor and people were united.
They could see that, with God's blessing, they were gaining ground and could even anticipate the time when the last fetter of debt should be knocked off and the Scotch Plains Baptist Church should be again, what for more than a Century she had been, dedicated to the Lord's service, free and clear of all debt.
Among the means to this glorious end introduced by the new Pastor, one ought not to pass unmen- tioned in the annals of those days of trial and triumph, viz. : The Ladies' Circle.
The New Pastor had brought with him an help- meet, invaluable to himself and to the Church, and when upon the Organization of "THE LADIES' CIRCLE," Mrs. Parks became its President, with Mrs. Huldah D. Cleaver as Vice President, Miss Mary Dunn, Treasurer, Miss Hannah Hayes, Sec- retary, and a Board of Managers, there came into life one of the most, if not the most potent factors for the success of the work in hand.
Under the wise and skilful guidance of their beloved President, who worked with her head, her heart, and her hands, the ladies of the Church, without regard to age, rallied with an ardor that shed new lustre upon the sex, and worked with the utmost zeal and untiring energy. Indeed more money was raised through this splendid band of women, than through any other one agency then in operation.
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Thus, under the judicious Management of Doc- tor Parks, the work of getting the Church upon solid ground went bravely and successfully on.
Doctor Parks had some heroic co-workers in those days, foremost among whom was Doctor F. W. Westcott.
It may be permitted to mention here some inci- dents of how they then worked. The Furnace underneath the Church was so out of Order (and to get a new one was impossible) that the Audi- torium could only be warmed for Sunday Service by having someone sit up all the night before with the furnace and coax it along.
Doctors Parks and Westcott were the men for the Emergency. They did it alternately, and thus the old furnace was forced to do duty until a new one could be bought.
When the Ladies' Circle gave Entertainments at which oysters were served, it was a sight well worth the seeing, and not easily to be forgotten by those who understood all that it meant, to see these two Doctors, Parks and Westcott, standing with coats off, and sleeves rolled up, opening the rough- coated bivalves, for the guests at the festivals.
It was a homely but needed work. They did it well. They honored the work. The work honored them. They were working for the Master's Cause, and their work met His approval, and was crowned with success.
Space does not permit the narration of other in- cidents to illustrate the character and toilsomeness of the services and sacrifices made by the Men and Women, and Children also, of the Parish in that period of Supreme Struggle. Suffice it to say: All
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were animated by the high and holy resolve to save the old Church, and their resolve was chrystal- ized into action.
The Lord blessed their efforts, and from the nettle of seeming Ruin, they plucked the fragrant flower of Victory.
Pastor and People were of one mind, enthusi- astic and happy.
They saw the dark and ominous cloud, which had hovered so low and so long, over them passing away, and the dawn of a better and brighter day was beginning to purple the east.
Church and Parish were laboring as a unit. Faith and Good works blended in one harmonious impulse, and under the sway of such motors, all were content to work on assured of the blessing of the Most High. During this time the interest was paid and $2,000 on mortgage debt. Thus it was and thus continued the surroundings of the Church, when in the year 1888, Matthias Frazee Lee, an old member of the church died, and by his will, made her the residuary legateo of an estate estimated to be worth One hundred and fifty thou- sand Dollars ($150,000) or more.
This will was drawn up by Mr. Lee's legal ad- viser, and was made and executed absolutely with- out the knowledge of the church or any of its members, except only the testator himself.
As is usual in such cases, the dead man's will and wishes in regard to the disposition of his prop- erty were not respected.
He was a bachelor. He had no one dependent upon him. He was under no obligation to any of his relatives.
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His next of kin were two uncles, both older than himself, both comfortably well off as to "this world's gear." One of them was a member of this church, the other belonged to the Presbyter- ian Church of Westfield, New Jersey.
These two men set on foot legal proceedings to nullify the last will and testament of their nephew, who had lived all his life near neighbor to them, and whom they knew to be a man of far more than ordinary mind and capacity for business.
It was evident, as the case developed, that the uncles were mere "figureheads" in the contest.
That they had permitted themselves to be used by others who were not next of kin to the Testator.
These people, most of whom were cousins to Mr. Lee, many of whom had shared his bounty during his lifetime-these instigators of the attack upon the will of Mr. Lee made their appearance at the Court. (The old men whose names were used as nominal contestants did not appear), and did their utmost to cover with shame and obloquy the life, career and memory of the man whose money they sought to grasp against his wish and will, solemnly ex- pressed.
As the real parties to this shameful scheme, they dragged the vicinity for willing and unwilling witnesses-many of whom were debtors to Mr. Lee-they themselves; some of them became wit- nesses, and in their own interest swore down the dead man's character, his wishes and his will.
The outcome was that the church became weary of the long and expensive contest against avarice ; a compromise was made, and they who had fought so viciously for their kinsman's money, which
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SOME MEMBERS OF THE LADIES CIRCLE.
they knew he intended they should not have, car- ried off the major part of the estate. Let us not envy them all the pleasure they can derive from wealth thus obtained.
The small portion of the original estate which finally came to the church, enabled the Trustees to obey the first condition of the legacy, by paying the debt of the church. The balance of the fund is held by the terms of the Will "to be used by said Church in spreading the Gospel."
Another event which marked the Pastorate of Doctor Parks, and seemed to characterize it as the Era of Legacies, was that of the death of James C. Lyon, (which took place July 7, 1890), another former member of the church having departed this life, made the church the residuary legatee under his last Will. Happily this gift came unattended by the disagreeable and exasperating displays of greed which marked the Lee bequest; and so in due season, and in conformity with the will of the testator, his executor, William C. Stanbery, Esquire, turned over to the church the residue of the Estate valued at about Ten thousand Dollars ($10,000). This legacy came as a free gift untram- melled by any restrictions or limitations.
Let the memory of Lee and Lyon ever be kept freshly and lovingly in the minds of the sons and daughters of our old Zion. A beautiful memorial tablet has been erected conspicuously upon the church building to each of those benefactors of the church.
The first decade of Doctor Parks' Pastorate was, simply, a struggle for life.
The Old Ship which for more than a century had sailed upon her course safely and steadily bear-
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ing the "glad tidings" the Gospel of Love and Salvation, was now tempest tossed-storm beaten -well nigh wrecked. Self preservation, the first law of nature, demanded that every energy of Captain, Officers and Crew, should be directed to saving the ship, well knowing, as they did, that unless the ship were saved from wreck, her long and noble voyage, already sailed, would end disastrously and forever.
If therefore it should appear to the reader of this review of Doctor Park's Pastorate, that too much time and labor were devoted to the worldly or financial interests of the Church, and too little to her spiritual growth; it is felt that the criticism must be toned down and softened by the recollec- tion of the stern and unrelenting necessities which threatened the very existence of the Church.
But the spiritual things-the preaching and prayer services were never at anytime neglected or intermitted.
The Christian Graces were reared and fortified in the school of severe practical training and alert watchfulness. It was a discipline of realities in which Faith and Good Works so constantly met and mingled, that old-time Christians were strengthened and renewed, while the Novitiates felt their hearts warmed, and under the inspiration of the constant struggle for the cause, were built up and made to "quit themselves like men."
The latter years of Doctor Parks' Pastorate were marked by a quiet and gradual growth in the Church, and when he decided to resign the charge he so faithfully had kept for eleven years, his resignation was accepted by Church and Parish with unaffected and universal regret.
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REV. JAMES S. BRAKER.
He carried with him into his retirement, the esteem and respect of the community, and the sincere love of his Parishioners and Church Mem- bers.
He is now living in his own home, opposite the scene of his recent labors; and may the Lord bless and keep him and his estimable wife for years yet to come.
The present Pastor of the church is Rev. J. S. Braker. He was born in Camden, N. J., in 1863, and was educated at Bucknell University and Crozer Theological Seminary. He has held pastor- ates at Passayunk Baptist Church and at Temple Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pa. He accepted the call of this church in April, 1894. His pastor- ate is yet too young to record results-But he has the hearty co-operation of the church. He has baptised a number into its fellowship, and all hope he may be successful in accomplishing the will of the God of the church.
Thus Jehovah has always provided leaders for His people, who have broken to them the bread of life, and conducted them amid the intricacies of the way heavenward.
LICENTIATES.
Lay preaching was at least tacitly authorized as long ago as 1791 when it was "voted that the deacons exercise their gifts in case of disappoint- ment by the minister." The minutes, also record instances in which persons asked for license to preach the gospel, and after the church "had in- vestigated and inquired into their fitness," they were advised that "they would be more useful in some other department of the Lord's vineyard."
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The following persons, however, were licensed by vote of the church.
Henry Crosley, one of the original members, was licensed about the year 1750, and was ordained at Schooley's Mountain in 1753.
David Sutton was baptised by Rev. Mr. Miller, soon after the church was constituted, and was licensed in 1758 and ordained in 1761.
John Sutton, who was a brother of David, was baptised, licensed and ordained at the same time his brother was, and became an eminently useful Minister of the Gospel.
James Manning, D. D., was baptised by Rev. Mr. Miller, licensed and ordained at Scotch Plains. Elsewhere his great usefulness and the eminence he attained in the Denomination, have been re- corded.
Daniel Dane was baptised in August, 1771, and licensed to preach the gospel in 1773.
Jacob F. Randolph was baptised by Rev. Mr. Van Horn in 1786 and licensed in 1791. He had previously exercised his talents in the occasional absence of the Pastor. He was ordained at Mount Bethel in the same year, and afterward served as Pastor at Samptown; and when the Plainfield First Baptist Church was organized in 1818 he be- came their Pastor. He was devotedly pious, ar- dently zealous, and possessed a peculiar sweetness of disposition. He was Pastor at Plainfield about ten years, and died in the triumphs of the Chris- tian faith.
Marmaduke Earl who was a member of the Re- formed Dutch Church and graduate of Columbia College, became a baptist in 1789. He united with
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this Church in 1790 and was licensed to preach in 1791. He was Pastor for several years at Oyster Bay, L. I.
Henry Ball, son of Deacon Aaron Ball, was licensed to preach in 1805. He labored twenty- seven years at Brookfield, N. Y., and afterward was useful at Greenville, Factoryville and Middle- town, N. Y. At the latter place he was instru- mental in organizing a Baptist Church, which has since become a strong people.
Obediah B. Brown of Newark, came to Scotch Plains, to study under direction of Rev. Mr. Van Horn. He was licensed January 1, 1806. Soon after, he accompanied Deacon Ezra Darby, M. C., to Washington, D. C., and became Pastor of a church in that City.
Hervey Ball, nephew of Henry Ball, was grad- uated at Columbian College, Washington, D.C., and was soon after licensed to preach. His life was spent chiefly in teaching.
Elias Frost was licensed in 1830 and removed to Hamburg, Sussex Co., N. J.
These are all whom the minutes record as hav- ing received license directly from this church; though others who have been members with us, and removed to sister churches, have received license from the respective churches to which they went.
DEACONS.
It should be said here, that when the church was organized, officers were elected who are not usually recognized by Baptist churches. They were called Ruling Elders, and seem to have con- stituted an Advisory Board with the Pastor. The office continued for about forty years, and was
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then quietly allowed to drop out of sight. Those who occupied this position were William Darby, Recompense Stanbery, Peter Wilcox, John Stites, Samuel Drake, Samuel Doty, John Blackford and Joseph Manning.
Recompense Stanbery and William Darby were the first deacons. They were elected at the first business meeting of the church, October 14, 1747. They were chosen to the double office of Deacon and Ruling Elder. They served faithfully and well until their death. Joseph Allen was elected April 6, 1748, and retained the office until his death in 1797.
Gabriel Ogden and Samuel Brooks were elected in July, 1765. Deacon Ogden was dismissed upon his removal to Sussex Co., and Deacon Brooks died March 24, 1788.
Joseph F. Randolph was elected July 30, 1777, and died in 1782.
David Morris was elected in October, 1777, and served until he removed to Kentucky in 1788.
Daniel Drake was a deacon and died October 1, 1777.
Nathaniel Drake was a younger brother of Daniel, and became a deacon and discharged his duties until his death in 1801.
Noah Clark was chosen a deacon and served un- til his death in 1801, a period of about ten years.
Benjamin Blackford was elected in 1791, and served until his removal to Samptown at the or- ganization of that church.
Melvin Parse was appointed to succeed Deacon Blackford, and served thirty-four years until the time of his death in 1827.
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Aaron Ball was chosen in 1793, and continued in office more than forty-eight years.
John B. Osborn and Ezra Darby were elected February 13, 1802. Deacon Osborn served until his death. Deacon Darby was chosen to represent the State in the Congress of the United States in 1804. While performing his duties at the Capitol, he was suddenly removed by death, January 28, 1808. He was buried in the Congressional Cemetery which is a beautiful spot situated about two miles from the Capitol, on the banks of the "East Branch" of the Potomac River. His name is number two in the list of interments. His tomb is situated in the North East corner of the cemetery on a gentle mound, overlooking the peaceful valley of the "Eastern Branch," and the picturesque hills of Maryland beyond. The in- scription on the tomb is simply "In memory of Ezra Darby, born at Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Member of Congress from that State. Died in this City, January 28, 1808. In the 39th year of his age. A Patriot. A Philanthropist. A Christian."
James Brown was elected to fill Deacon Darby's place in 1809. He died June 5, 1811.
Henry Hetfield was appointed in 1828, and served about sixteen years, when he removed his church relationship to Brooklyn, N. Y., and after- wards to Somerville, N. J. He was re-elected when he returned, and served until the Master called him home.
Jonathan Osborn was chosen on 27th of July, 1830, and served until 1842, when he removed to the State of New York.
Dr. Corra Osborn, Alexander Wilson, William Hand, Maxwell Frazee, Corra O. Meeker and James
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Pugsley were all elected between 1841 and 1844, and filled the office well and faithfully. Randolph G. Silvers was also an efficient deacon. Jared S. Stout and L. H. K. Smalley have also served the church honorably and satisfactorily until they were called up higher.
During the last fifteen years or more, William Archbold, David Hand, Dr. J. A. Coles and Thomas Mead have consecratedly and devoutly occupied the office. Deacon Mead removed to Spring Val- ley, N. Y., last year, and resigned his position.
CLERKS.
As appears by the minutes, those who have per- formed the duties of clerk, have been Recom- pense Stanbery, Ichabod Valentine, Jr., David Morris, Robert F. Randolph, Aaron Ball, Ezra Darby, Jonathan Hand Osborn, Jonathan Osborn, Jr., Alexander Wilson, C. O. Meeker, Thomas Ward, O. M. Putnam, L. H. K. Smalley, Thomas Cleaver, R. C. Treadwell and George Dunn.
Bro. Dunn is now acting in that capacity. Thus the church has been fully officered during all the years of its existence. Even during the dark times of the Revolutionary Struggle, while the minutes of that period are scant and unsatisfactory, and the business meetings irregular, yet the church maintained its existence, and kept the banner of the cross in sight.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The church has always defended Baptist prin- ciples : among these, soul liberty, or rights of con- science, by which our fathers understood that every one has a right to think and believe without
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dictation from any earthly power, being respon- sible to God only. To worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. A century and a half ago this principle was not so generally endorsed by other denominations as it is now, but it has always been the teaching of Baptists.
When the province of New Jersey was ceded to Lord Berkley and Sir George Cartaret, by the Duke of York, in 1664, religious freedom was guaranteed in the charter thus: "No person at any time shall be anyways molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question for any difference of opinion or practice in matters of religious concernment." This was the broad teaching which our fathers loved, but it was not always conformed to by paedobaptists of this and neighboring provinces.
In 1775 Baptists as well as others, were required to pay a rate ministerial tax for the support of Presbyterian and Congregational clergymen, in some of the provinces. Our fathers felt themselves wronged, aggrieved and persecuted by this require- ment. When knowledge of the fact came to the ears of this church, on the first of February, 1775, they appointed one Mr. Smith, to go to England to represent and defend these persecuted breth- ren. The church paid the expenses of Mr. Smith upon this mission.
Dr. Manning, and Dr. Stennett, who was known personally to George III, succeeded in getting the ear of the King. The consequence was that His Majesty "disallowed and rejected" all acts of oppression of Baptists: and thus one of the first victories of soul liberty secured on this continent was gained by the co-operation of this church, and
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the payment of the expenses of one of its mem- bers, as one of a committee upon this business.
The church has always been a Strict Communion church. It has always believed and taught that they only were entitled to the privilege of the Lord's table, who had been immersed on profession of faith, and were living upright and consistent lives. Our fathers were uncompromising in their tenacious adherence to this principle. Not only would they refuse to commune with an unbaptised person, but the minutes record instances in which their own members were "Set by," and refused the Lord's Supper until they had acknowledged some fault, or repented of some sin, or indiscretion of which they had been guilty. No officer of this church would ever have been elected, or held his position long, if he had been at all wavering or uncertain upon the communion question. So, too, of the doctrines of the church. They have always been unequivocally stated and implicitly believed. The Bible has ever been our only rule of faith and practice. While the church adopted the Philadel- phia Confession of Faith, yet it has never con- formed to any creed as such, but always tried every summary of doctrine, by the word of God and endorsed that which would bear the test of its teachings. We have reason to rejoice that our fathers laid the foundations of our Zion deep and strong, and that hitherto the superstructure has been erected upon that foundation.
The church has been pecuniarily self-sustaining from its organization. It has never received any help or assistance from Home Mission Society, State Convention, nor any other benevolent organ- ization of our denomination; while it has always
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counted it a privilege to contribute to the needs of others ; not to the extent of our ability, perhaps, but always in some degree.
The church has been at peace with itself from the beginning. No serious inharmony nor dissen- sion has ever prevailed, and we have never had occasion to call a council of the denomination to settle disputes. To the Great Head in Zion be the praise and not to us. We are doubtless as heady and strong willed as any in the Lord's great fam- ily, but His moulding and modifying hand has been upon us from the beginning even until now.
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