USA > New Jersey > Memorials of Methodism in New Jersey : from the foundation of the first society in the state in 1770, to the completion of the first twenty years of its history > Part 19
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able to speak, he gave his hand an affectionate squeeze, with an expression in his appearance of a calm resigna- tion to God. We entertain no doubt but he rests in Abraham's bosom."*
* Minutes, 1796.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
PROSPECTS, RESULTS, AND LABORERS.
IN 1786, a little over a year after the organization of the Church, New Jersey reported its membership as follows : West Jersey, 492 ; Trenton, 352; East Jersey, 365; Newark, 50; making an aggregate of 1259 mem- bers in the State, including Staten Island. This was the result of more than fifteen years' labor. Truly the progress of the work was not remarkably flattering. And yet who will say that twelve hundred and fifty-nine souls, gathered into the Church, and rejoicing, as most of them, no doubt, were, in the salvation of the gospel, were not an abundant, a glorious compensation for all that sacrifice and toil? And then the prospects were brightening. The annual increase was becoming greater. Prejudices were being overcome, strong societies were rising up, churches were being built, and in every way the aspects of the cause were more encouraging and the
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future was radiant with brighter visions of success than ever before.
We have already noticed, with more or less of detail, the more important points in which Methodism had been established during this period. In the West Jersey cir- cuit there were two societies at Pittsgrove, one at Sa- lem, Maurice river, Quinton's Bridge, Penn's Neck, Pleasant Mills, Goodluck, and Greenwich. Trenton circuit probably included the societies of New Mills, Tren- ton, Mount Holly, Burlington, and Monmouth. Newark circuit included Elizabethtown and Staten Island. East Jersey embraced the societies of New Germantown, As- bury, and Flanders. In various other localities there were classes, no doubt, and in several of the above named places the societies had gained such strength that they had erected Chapels. This was certainly true of Trenton, New Mills, Greenwich, Salem, Maurice river, Pleasant Mills, Goodluck, Pittsgrove,* and possibly of
*It is probable that there were two Chapels in Pittsgrove at this time. I am not able to give the precise date of the erection of either Church, but I have good authority for the assertion that the Broad Neck Chapel was built as early as 1785 or 1786 ; and as Murphy's or Friendship was the first society, and as the Church there was rebuilt more than twenty years before that at Broad Neck, it is entirely pro- bable that it was built first. This accords, too, with the tradition of the place. The Broad Neck society must have been formed very soon after that at Murphy's, and as Abbott lived only a few miles from
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Flanders. When it is remembered that during this pe- riod there had been a deeply exciting and desolating seven years' war, the effects of which were seriously felt in New Jersey ; that the Church had only the most slen- der resources, except those which were Divine; that it was without a regular organization, and its ministry without orders; its condition at this period of its history with a considerable number of societies, and several churches erected, was certainly evidence of no mean success. Equipped for her career of trial and conflict, and panting for wider and grander scenes of battle and conquest, the Methodism of New Jersey rushed forward to the sublime arena before her ; while the splendors of her future triumphs, like the rays of light which gleam amid the darkness long before the sun appears, beamed, from afar, upon her path.
The appointments in 1786 were as follows : Thomas Vasey being elder in West Jersey, and John Tunnell elder in East Jersey. Trenton, Robert Sparks, Robert Cann. West Jersey, Jacob Brush, John Simmons, Ja-
there he probably formed it very shortly after he began his ministry. I am strongly inclined to the opinion that this was the society, the origin of which is given on page 108. It would be quite natural for the profane to substitute Hell Neck for Broad Neck, the former name being designed merely to correspond with the morals of the place.
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cob Lurton. East Jersey, John M'Claskey, Ezekiel Cooper. Newark, Robert Cloud.
While laboring this year on Staten Island, which formed a part of the Newark (or Elizabethtown) circuit, Mr. Cloud had a public rencounter with a Baptist cler- gyman in which he triumphantly vindicated Methodism. An account of it has been kindly furnished for these pages by Rev. Francis A. Morrell, of the New Jersey Conference. It is as follows :-
" The Baptist challenged Mr. Cloud to a public dis- cussion of the points of difference between Calvinists and Methodists. The challenge was accepted and a day fixed upon for the discussion. A minister of the Bap- tist Church and my father, the colleague of Mr Cloud, were elected to preside at the meeting that no undue ad- vantage might be taken on either side. On the way to the place of meeting, the Baptist polemic called at the house of one of his friends and said, 'I pity the Meth- odist, (Mr. Cloud,) for I shall easily overthrow his posi- tions, and utterly demolish him.' He seemed not aware of the strength of the positions of his antagonist, and of his ability to defend them. A multitude assembled to hear the debate. The meeting being organized, the discussion commenced with a speech from Mr. Cloud, in which he gave so clear an exposition of Methodist the- ology, its agreement with the word of God, and of the
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inconsistencies and absurdities of Calvinism, that his antagonist was scarcely able to make any reply, speak- ing only about half the time allotted to each speaker, and sat down. Mr. Cloud arose and spoke for a few minutes, observing that his arguments were unrefuted, and as his antagonist had given him but little, if any- thing, to reply to, he would take his seat. No rejoinder being given, after a pause, my father arose and said, ' As the discussion appears to be closed, I put it to the audience to decide whether Mr. Cloud or his opponent has triumphed.' A rising vote was taken, and Mr. Cloud declared the victor by an almost unanimous vote.
" Methodism, which was at that time feeble on the Island, began to take root. The people flocked to hear the 'circuit preachers,' received the truth gladly, and ' the word of God grew and multiplied.'"
Some time during 1785 Adam Cloud and Matthew Greentree, who then traveled East Jersey circuit, visited Hightstown, and established preaching in a tavern kept by one Adam Shaw. They received, however, but little encouragement. John M'Claskey and Ezekiel Cooper, who succeeded them on the circuit this year, did not re- gard the appointment with much favor, and it is not cer- tain that Cooper preached there. M'Claskey preached there once or twice, "and then publicly informed the congregation that he would preach there once more, and
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then if a more suitable place for holding meeting could not be found he should cease to preach for them. Ro- bert Hutchinson, a young man of about twenty-one years of age, was present; and, being pleased with the preacher, was unwilling to be deprived of the privilege of hearing him. He, therefore, persuaded his uncle, Joseph Hutchinson, to go and hear M'Claskey, and in- vite him to preach at his house. The invitation was given and accepted, and thus, early in the year 1786, the preaching was transferred from Hightstown to Mil- ford, about two and a half miles from the former place. Joseph Hutchinson's was quite a rendezvous for the weary itinerants, and being near the line between 'East' and 'West Jersey,' the preachers on the two charges would sometimes meet here. Robert Hutchinson, with three brothers, Ezekiel, Sylvester, and Aaron, all four of whom afterward became preachers, went over to uncle Joseph's to 'have the small-pox,' as they were accus- tomed to call it in ' olden time.' While there they met with a number of traveling preachers. On one occasion there were several together. Ezekiel Cooper, J. M'Clas- key from 'East Jersey,' and Robert Sparks from 'West Jersey,' among the number. They became wonderfully attached to them ; and their preaching and conversation made impressions which resulted in their conversion. During the year a class was organized; and, among the
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number of its members were Joseph Hutchinson and wife. This brother was very zealous and enterprising, and soon after the organization of the class, he erected at Milford, almost entirely at his own expense, a house of worship for the despised band. The location was un- favorable however, and from this or other causes the society never became large. It continued to be used as a place of worship down to about 1835, when a church was built at Hightstown, after which it was sold. The old church was the scene of stirring times, and many have there fallen under the power of God, and many passed from death unto life. Among the number con- verted here were four sons of William Hutchinson, brother of Joseph, named respectively, Ezekiel, Robert, Sylvester, and Aaron, who all became ministers of the M. E. Church."*
Asbury, the indefatigable servant and the wise over- seer of the Church, urged his way heroically through the sands of West Jersey this year, to minister to the spiritual necessities of the scattered flock. "Since this day week," he says, "we have ridden about one hundred and fifty miles over dead sands, and among a dead peo- ple, and a long space between meals." The ensuing day, the 29th of September, he says he "preached in a close hot place, and administered the sacrament. I was
* Communication of REV. HENRY B. BEEGLE to the writer.
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almost ready to faint. I feel fatigued and much dispir- ited." This was, probably, the Pleasant Mills' Chapel, as he says he lodged with Freedom Lucas, near Batsto, which place is only about a mile from Pleasant Mills. Asbury knew the tendency of worldly prosperity to im- properly exalt the mind and divest the Christian of his simplicity. Hence he said of Lucas, "We shall see whether he will continue to be the same simple-hearted Christian he now is, when he gets possession of the es- tate which, it is said, has fallen to him in England." He was at Cape May, and other places in that region, but the impressions he received of the religious condi- tion of the societies were not of a sanguine character. Of the Cape he says : "I find there is a great dearth of religion in these parts." He was also at P. Cresey's where he "had a few cold hearers-the glory," he writes, " is strangely departed. There are a few pious souls at Gough's ; but here also there is an evident de- clension. My soul is under deep exercise on account of the deadness of the people, and my own want of fervor and holiness of heart." On Friday, the sixth of Octo- ber, he preached a warm and close sermon to a people who were attentive to the word at the Maurice river Church. His text was, "Lord, are there few that be saved ?" On Sabbath he preached at New England- town. He says: "We had a small house and large con-
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gregation. I had liberty in preaching on, 'By grace are ye saved through faith.' Thence I proceeded to M-'s, where I had poor times." At Murphy's, he says, "We had many dull, prayerless people. We came to the widow Ayars's ; the mother and daughters are se- rious, and the son thoughtful." Mrs. Susannah Ayars, of whom Asbury here speaks, was one of the first Meth- odists in Pittsgrove. She first received "the Lord's prophets" in that place. She died in peace about 1807.
He preached at Bethel, on 1 Peter iii. 18. "Three times," he says, "have I been here, and always strait- ened in spirit." He also visited Sandtown. The weather was very warm and the people dull. He ad- ministered the sacrament. There must have been a so- ciety there, or else it does not appear probable he would have held a sacramental service. He rode to Cooper's ferry, and crossed to the city, where he spent the Sab- bath. On Monday he rode to Mount Holly, where he preached on "Come, ye blessed of my father," &c .; and at New Mills he addressed them on "Suffering af- fliction with the people of God." He preached also at Burlington on "Neither is there salvation in any other," &c .; "these," he says, "are not a zealous people for re- ligion." The bishop's impressions of the spiritual con- dition of the people appear to have been unfavorable in most of the societies he visited in New Jersey at this
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time. At Monmouth he preached at Leonard's and the people, he said, appeared very lifeless. At the Potter's Church he had many to hear, " but the people," he says, " were insensible and unfeeling."
The society in Penn's Neck, through the character- istic zeal and energy of Abbott, were favored with a Chapel about this year. "I had often urged on the people," says Abbott, "the necessity of building a meet- ing-house, for the space of about four years, in Lower Penn's Neck, during which period we had frequently held our meetings under the trees when the weather ad- mitted. One day meeting with a carpenter, I agreed with him to build one. He came at the time appointed. I told him that we had got no timber for the building, and therefore I must go a begging. Accordingly we set out and went to a neighbor, and told him we were going to build a house for God, and asked him what he would give us toward it; he answered, two sticks of tim- ber for sills. We then went to the widow M'C's, a pro- fessing Quaker, and she gave us two more, and sent her team to haul them to the place. We then went to Mr. Wm. Philpot, and he gave us sufficient for the house, though not even a professor with us; may the Lord re- ward him accordingly. I then went among our friends, and told them that they must come and help to get the timber; they did so, and we began on Tuesday morning,
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and by Friday night we had all the timber at the place. Brother Henry Ffirth, a steward of the circuit, and my- self, were appointed managers to carry on the building. The Friday week following, we raised our house, and in the afternoon preached on the foundation. In six weeks the carpenter had done his work, and I begged the money and paid him. This proved a great blessing to the neighborhood, the greater part of which became Methodized, and many were moralized and Christianized, while the enemies of truth daily lost ground, and bigotry gradually declined."
A Quarterly meeting was held in Penn's Neck during the present decade, in Joseph Cassner's barn. B. Ab- bott, a local preacher named Stratton, and many others, attended. It was a time of power. The people lay prostrate over the barn floor, many obtained religion and joined the Methodists.
Notwithstanding the deadness of the people in West Jersey, of which Asbury complained, the work progressed; and an increase of sixty-five was reported of the West Jersey, and twenty of the Trenton circuit, making an addition of eighty-five to the membership in West Jer- sey. In addition to this the work had extended to the people of color, and eight colored members were reported in West Jersey this year.
Though the mission of Methodism has been more es-
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PROSPECTS, RESULTS, AND LABORERS.
pecially to the lower classes, and its greatest moral achievements have been chiefly among them, yet has it also shown its adaptation to meet the spiritual necessities of the more wealthy, cultivated, and influential. Thou- sands of such have borne cheerful and emphatic testi- mony to its power as a redemptive agency, and have re- joiced to number themselves among its trophies.
One such trophy was gained to the cause this year in Warren county. It was COL. WILLIAM M'CULLOUGH. He was, at this time, about twenty-seven years of age. He witnessed the Revolutionary struggle, and bore a part in it in favor of the colonies. He now became the standard bearer of Methodism in Asbury, and about ten years afterward erected a Chapel there almost entirely by his own means. This was the first Methodist Church in Warren and Sussex counties. He was among the most prominent Methodists in the State, and his influ- ence was strongly felt in the region where he resided, and especially upon his own family. By his godly ex- ample and counsels they were prepared to receive the truth from the pulpit, and his children and children's children became consecrated offerings to Methodism. He was a man of a progressive spirit, and exercised his influence to promote internal improvements. He occu- pied important and responsible civil positions, filling some of the most respectable offices of his county, and
370 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
for more than thirty years acted as an associate judge in the courts of Sussex and Warren. He was also fre- quently elected to a seat in the legislative council of the State. He was a steward of the circuit, and in his pleasant dwelling the preachers found a congenial home. Bishop Asbury, when traveling in that region, was ac- customed to enjoy the pleasures of his hospitality. He lived to a good old age, and, as he passed down the vale of years, religion shed its serene and benignant light upon his path. Having passed beyond the period of three-score and ten, he waited in cheerful confidence and hope for his change. His last illness was mild and brief, and his final hour was distinguished by the calm- ness of Christian peace, and the triumphs of Christian faith. After the power of speech had failed, a relative asked him if his confidence in Christ was still unshaken, and if so, to raise his right hand. He immediately raised both, one after the other, and attempted to elevate his whole body, thus evincing how powerful was the grace he had professed for over half a century to sustain him as he stood amidst the swellings of Jordan. He died at his residence at Asbury on the 9th of February, 1840, in the eighty-second year of his age. Asbury ap-
pears to have been one of the first localities in East Jer- sey into which Methodism was introduced, but the pre- cise time and manner of its introduction are now un-
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known. The Rev. Jacob P. Daily, the present pastor of the Church there, in a letter to the writer says :
" Unfortunately for the historic interests of this place, there are no local records of Methodism here for the period embraced in your work. I doubt very much whether there ever were any such records, beyond a class book, until 1795. From conversation with some very old members of our Church some time since, I con- clude that Methodism was introduced into this region prior to the Revolution. Dr. Coke once passed this way and called on some Methodist families. Our oldest living member, aged ninety-six, remembers Joseph Ev- erett as 'the first Methodist minister she ever heard
preach.' There were some Methodists before that day. She describes Everett as a fine sized, fine looking man, wearing a Quaker hat, and a suit of drab colored 'home- spun.' " Mr. Daily further says that there are no in- cidents of Methodism during the period of this volume to be gathered in Asbury, as no data of that sort now exist. Nearly all the first members of the first societies have passed away, and much of our history has departed with them. The wonder is not that so little now re- mains, but it is rather a marvel, considering the indiffer- ence of the Church and ministry generally to this sub- ject, that we are able to obtain so many reminiscences of the past. Had the attempt which we are now making
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been faithfully made twenty years ago, much might have been rescued which is now irrecoverably lost. And yet we should be thankful for what has been done. Suffi- cient historical material has been preserved to enable us to trace, with a good degree of distinctness, the begin- nings, struggles, and successes of Methodism in our State.
There was a handsome addition made to the member- ship in East Jersey this year. The largest increase was on the Newark (it is reported Elizabethtown at the end of the year) circuit, which was largely, and, perhaps, chiefly, owing to the revival which had taken place on Staten Island. There was reported an increase on this circuit of 190 members. In the East Jersey circuit just one hundred were added to the membership, making an addition of 290 for the Northern part of the work.
Of the ten preachers that labored in New Jersey this year, five had previously labored in the State, and no- tices of them have already been given. To those who appear for the first time in our pathway our attention will now be turned.
THOMAS VASEY came to America with Dr. Coke and Richard Whatcoat, in 1784, just before the organization of the Church. He was one of the first Methodist preachers that was ordained. In process of time he ob- tained reordination by a bishop of the Protestant Epis-
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copal Church, and sometime afterward returned to Eng- land; but it is believed he was never recognized there as a minister of the Church of England.
ROBERT CANN entered the itinerancy in 1785, and was appointed to Annamessex, Md. In 1786 he appears as remaining on trial, and was appointed to Trenton, N. J. In 1787 he was sent to travel the West Jersey cir- cuit, but his name stands connected also with Clarksburg circuit; in 1788 he was appointed to Chester, Pa .; 1789, Bristol, Pa. ; 1790, Bethel, N. J .; 1791, Trenton, N. J .; in 1792 he again traveled Bethel circuit, N. J. In 1793 he was appointed to Burlington. He located in 1794. He continued in the itinerancy longer after he was mar- ried than the preachers of that day appear to have been accustomed to do. He was married in 1788, and did not locate till six years afterward. The slight notices of him we have been able to obtain represent him as an earnest, zealous, and effective preacher, declaring the word in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power. He died in 1796, leaving a widow and two small children.
JOHN SIMMONS was admitted on trial in 1786, and ap- pointed to West Jersey. In 1787 he was appointed to Alleghany. He labored in various places in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and elsewhere. In 1807 he located.
JACOB LURTON was also admitted this year, and ap-
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pointed to West Jersey. The following year he was sent to Berkeley, Va. He continued to labor in Virginia and elsewhere until 1795, when he located, and disap- peared from our view.
EZEKIEL COOPER was born in Caroline Co., Md., Feb. 22, 1763. When he was about thirteen years of age Rev. Freeborn Garrettson visited the neighborhood and preached.' While preaching he noticed a boy of thought- ful aspect leaning upon a gate, and giving, apparently, close attention to the sermon. That boy was Ezekiel Cooper, afterward so prominent a character in the history of the Church.
It was the privilege of Cooper to be present at the memorable meeting of Coke and Asbury, at Barrett's Chapel, Md., on the 14th of November, 1784. He thus describes the scene : "While Dr. Coke was preaching, Mr. Asbury came into the congregation. A solemn pause and deep silence took place at the close of the sermon, as an interval for introduction and salutation. Asbury and Coke, with great solemnity, and much dig- nified sensibility, and with full hearts of brotherly love, approached, embraced, and saluted each other. The other preachers, at the same time, participating in the tender sensibilities of the affectionate salutations, were melted into sweet sympathy and tears. The congrega- tion also caught the glowing emotion, and the whole as-
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sembly, as if Divinely struck with a shock of heavenly electricity, burst into a flood of tears. Every heart ap- peared as if filled and overflowing with love, unity, and fellowship; and a kind of ecstasy, or rapture of joy and gladness, ensued."
It was on this occasion that Cooper first received the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. It was administered by Dr. Coke and Mr. Whatcoat. It was on this occa- sion also that he was induced to enter the itinerancy. Asbury, discerning, no doubt, elements of success in the young man, persuaded him to go forth as a laborer into the field which was ripe for the harvest. Some of the other preachers seconded his advice, and though he had never publicly preached a sermon, nor made application to travel, nor even contemplated it, he consented to enter the work. Of this important event of his life, he says, "It was unsought, and when I went to that meeting, perfectly unexpected. With much diffidence, and great reluctance, I yielded to go; though pressed to it by my greatly beloved and much esteemed brother Asbury, and encouraged and urged to it by some of the other preachers. Old brother W. Thomas held up both his hands toward me, and in a loving and alarming manner, addressed me, 'I warn you, in the name of God, not to refuse ! I do not know but your salvation depends upon it ! God has a work for you to do, and he has called
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