USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Paper read before the historical society of Hudson County. 1908 > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
REV. ALEXANDER MCKELVEY
In the Third Presbyterian Church, known later as the Mc- Kensie church on account of the magnificent gift of the mil- lionaire sewing machine manufacturer, two pastors are worthy of mention.
Rev. Dr. James Harkness was one of the early pastors of the Scotch (afterwards Third) Pres- byterian church of Jersey City. He was installed October 21, 1862. At that time the congregation was located on Erie Street, but during the pastorate of Dr. Harkness, the brick building on Mercer Street above Varick, was erected and this afterward became their church home. Dr. Harkness was a notable preacher, of high scholarly attain- REV. JAMES HARKNESS ments. He was well versed in He- brew, Latin and Greek languages and firmly believed in the second coming of Christ and in the literal rendition of the Bible. His m'nistry covered a period of sixteen years and was eminently successful. He was born in Scotland in 1803 and was graduated from the Edinburgh University. After gradua- tion he studied medicine and received his full degree. He car- ried on the double work of practicing medicine and preaching
20
the Gospel for many years. the Gamma Sigma Society.
He was one of the originators of
Another noted minister was the Rev. David Mitchell, who for a period of ten years labored faithfully in the parish of the Scotch Presbyterian church in Mercer Street, Jersey City. He was an earnest and forceful preach- er and was greatly interested in city welfare work and the cause of education. He established the John Knox Presbyterian church on Manning Avenue as a mission chapel.
Rev. Mr. Mitchell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 3d, 1833, and at an early age, shortly after graduation from Glasgow Univer- REV. DAVID MITCHELL sity, he was called to the pastorate of one of the largest parish churches in Scotland. He came to this country in 1864 and became pastor of the Canal Street Presbyterian church in New York City. In 1875 he was called from thence to the Central Presbyterian church in Toronto, Canada. At the end of eleven years' successful pastorate in this field in 1886, he came to Jer sey City, and the remainder of his life was devoted to church work until, on account of ill health, he was forced to retire to private life, remaining in Jersey City until his death in December, 1898.
In the Park church ministered for twenty five years my dearly beloved friend, J. Howard Suy- dam. He was genial in his greet- ings to all, a preacher of rare ex- cellence and popular with all classes. During his pastorate spe- REV. J. HOWARD SUYDAM cial music in the Park church was attracting crowds to the church on Hamilton Square.
21
Rev. Wm. Verrinder became the pastor of Union Baptist church of Jersey City, which was afterwards organized as the First Baptist Church in 1849. In 1853 he resigned his pastor- ate to devote himself to the gen- eral religions work of Jersey City. The Jersey City Mission and Tract Society was organized and Mr. Verrinder was the city missionary. He gathered around him a faithful band of co workers from churches of all denominations, divided the city into districts and secured the distribution of tracts printed by the American Tract Society in all the homes of the city. Although many of these publications were theological rather than practical, REV. WILLIAM VERRINDER and were found dull reading to the average household, the visit of a christian worker once a month, was an untold bene- diction. Mr. Verrinder was also appointed by the Board of Freeholders of Hudson County, chaplain of the county institu- tions and often trudged through snow and sleet to Snake Hill, that his services might not be interrupted. He personally conversed with prisoners in their cells and sick in the hospital, often administering the last consolations of the Gospel to the dying. He was loved and respected by everybody and only
REV. J. C. EGBERT
ceased his labors when the infirm- ities of age prostrated him. He died in the year 1891.
Rev. Dr. J. C. Egbert continued the succession of long pastorates in Hudson County by serving the Presbyterian church of West Ho- boken for over forty years. Jersey City appreciates the valuable ser- vices of his son, Prof. James C. Egbert, who was president of the Jersey City Board of Education when our Dickinson High School was erected.
22
Residents of old Hudson County will remember a stalwart Scotch preacher in the Second United Presbyterian church, the Rev. Robert Armstrong, D.D. The Scotch Presbyterians of the whole county honored and revered him. He was a pulpit orator of great power and an old-fashioned pastor, welcomed in every home.
Dr. W. V. V. Mabon was installed in the church of New Durham (now known as the Grove Church of North Hudson) in 1846. He was especially distinguished as "The Friend of Education". He served as active pastor for thirty-five years. At the beginning of his labors the sur- rounding territory was occupied by a farming community with lit- tle hamlets scattered here and there. About 1850 a German im- migration began that greatly changed social and civic condi- tions, and Dr. Mabon opened his church for a German service. From this beginning two German churches have been established. REV. W. V. V. MABON He served as county superinten- dent in the public schools and received into his family young men whom he prepared for college and the Gospel ministry. It was a fitting tribute to his skill in pedagogy, that the Re- formed church elected him in 1881 its Professor of Theology in the Seminary at New Brunswick.
In Trinity church, afterwards St. Mary's near the Five Corners, the Rev. Dr. Spencer M. Rice was the rector when I came to Jersey City. After his retirement from the rectorship he lived among us as rector emeritus, and was a prominent figure in the social life of our city. He served in earlier years in Grace church, Van Vorst. One of his parishioners, a Mr.
REV. SPENCER M. RICE
23
Blakely Wilson, died in Egypt while on a health tour of the Nile. He was buried in that historical land, but his family greatly desired to remove his body and have it laid in the fam- ily cemetery. The pastor was commissioned to undertake the task, and visited Egypt with a commission from the family to accomplish the work. It was exceedingly difficult to overcome the prejudice of ignorance and greed, but after indefatigable labors he succeeded, and made a return voyage as custodian of his friend. Assisting at the funeral of Mr. Wilson, whose wife was a member of our church, was one of the first public duties assigned to me as pastor of the Bergen church.
Rev. Daniel Frederick Warren, D. D., was born in Middle- boro, Mass., in the year 1826. His ancestors came over in the Mayflower and he was a lineal descendant of General Warren, of Bunker Hill fame. Dr. Warren received his classical education at Geneva, N. Y., and was prepared for the ministry at the General Theological Seminary, New York City. His first parish was Mar- sellus, N. Y. ; from there he went to Auburn Prison as chaplain, then became first rector of Church of the Ascension, Buffalo, N. Y., then rector of St. Mary's, Mott Haven, now Borough of the Bronx. He was called to be the first rec- tor of Trinity Church, Elizabeth, REV. DANIEL FREDERICK WARREN N. J., in 1859. After seeing that parish well established, he left Elizabeth in 1869 to assist Dr. Lawrence at the Church of the Holy Communion, New York City. After a few years he was called to St. Mark's, Chicago, then to Pottstown, Pa, and Edgewater, N. J., Church of the Mediator. Then to Holy Trinity, now St. Mary's, Jersey City, in the year 1888. This was his last parish and one he loved so well. The best work of his ministry and the best years of his life was given to it. St. Mary's of Summit Avenue stands as a monument to his faithful and wise devotion to the parish. Dr. Warren was chaplain of Christ Hospital, Jersey City, and chaplain to both the societies of "Patriots and Founders" and
24
"Descendants of The Mayflower" of New York. He died Oc- tober 10th, 1903. May Light Eternal shine upon him.
With four of my neighbors I was in very close touch until they were called to their reward. The rector of St. Paul's Episcopal church was the Rev. Dr. Putnam. He was like a father among the families of his charge, and likewise to many other old Bergen families. He was an elo- cutionist of rare power. One of his colleagues told me that often when he was tired and found it difficult to discover a topic for discourse, he would call on his frind Putnam, lie down on his sofa, and ask him to read the Gospel and Epistle, Psalter and lessons for the next Sunday, and he was sure that the intonation of his friend's voice REV. FERNANDO C. PUTNAM would call his attention to some hidden meaning in these lines.
Another friend was the Rev. Edward French of the First Presbyterian church. Before any Presbyterian church had been organized in the Bergen section, Presbyterian residents worshipped in the Bergen Reformed church. During the days, however, when considerable emphasis was laid upon the difference between the Old School and the New, a num- ber of progressive Presbyterians organized a Presbyterian church, affiliated with the New School Presbytery, and thirty-one of the first members were dismissed from the mother church to effect their organization. They built their REV. EDWARD FRENCH edifice on Emory Street near Ber- gen Avenue and called as pastor the Rev. Edward French. He was a lovable and wise man and remained until his death, which
2,5
came after a very short illness, one of the most efficient, spirit- ual leaders in all the city.
Another pastor of the United Presbyterian church, beloved by: all who knew him, was the Rev. Andrew Henry, D.D., who was the second pastor of the First United Presbyterian church on Barrow Street to move into the Bergen section By his energies was erected the church on the cor- ner of Sip and Tonnele Avenues. With only a short illness of warn- ing, he too was taken from us.
My dear friend, the Rev. Ar- REV. ANDREW HENRY ney S. Biddle, D.D., LL. D, was pastor of the Summit Avenue United Presbyterian church, which he organized as a colony from the First United Presby- trian on Barrow Street. He was descended from one of the Quaker families who were among the founders of the city of Phila- delphia. His mother was of the sturdy Scotch stock. He was a graduate of the college in Mon- mouth, Ill., and of the Allegheny Theological Seminary. He was a leader in every enterprise of the Kingdom, and was especially noted as a friend of the working people. He was especially useful as secre- tary of the organization to which he belonged, having been in early days a court reporter. He was REV. ARNEY S. BIDDLE prominently affiliated with the Sunday School Association of the county. On his way to the city hall, to present to the commissioners of Jersey City, a plea for the paving of Mont- gomery Street with wooden blocks instead of stone, when in front of his own church, and near the City Hospital, he was suddenly stricken, and was carried dead to his own home near by.
26
More than fifty years ago the ministers of Jersey City of all denominations organized a club, which is still in existence. Meetings are held each fortnight, usually at the homes of the members, where papers are read on topics connected with theology, church government and general religious interest of the community. In the earlier days, arrangements were made at Gamma Sigma for meetings during the week of prayer, and other union service. Dr. Biddle was the efficient clerk of the society from 1889 until his death.
In the most recent loss from the ranks of the Jersey City clergy is that of the Rev. George S. Bennitt, D. D., who was pastor for twenty seven years of the Grace Protestant Episcopal church (Van Vorst). He was eminently successful both as preacher and pastor and an efficient supporter of Christ Hos- pital. This church was duly organized for Christian service and the whole city mourns his loss.
Nor must we forget the church of Lafayette, where for so
REV. WM. RANKIN DURYEE
REV. T. J. KOMMERS
many years the Rev. Wm. Rankin Duryee, D.D., was the faithful pastor. On his father's side he was descended from the Dutch of Manhattan and Long Island. His mother was a Ran- kin and was of Scotch descent. Dr. Duryee was a man of cul- ture, fond of poetry, and in recognition of his literary attain- ments he was called to be professor of English in Rutgers Col- lege. He was followed in the pastorate of the Lafayette church by a studious young man, born in the Netherland, but possess- ing a true American spirit. His name was T. J. Kommers.
27
He was handicapped during his whole ministry by a physical weakness, which culminated in his last illness. His sun went down while it was yet noon.
Ky., in the year 1838
The Rev. Alexander H. Young was born in Louisville, After serving in several pastorates of the southern Presbyterian church, he was called to be the first pastor of the new church of Greenville, N. J., organized in 1871, and con- tinued in that service twelve years, during which time he gathered a prosperous congregation and built the chapel which was at first used for the Sunday service as well as the Bible school. A splendid church building, with beautiful stained glass windows, was after- wards erected.
REV. ALEXANDER H. YOUNG After leaving Greenville, Mr. Young was occupied for several years in business enterprises and finally accepted a call from the Presbyterian church in Matawan, N. J., which was his last service
One of the more recent pastors of the Greenville church was the Rev. Mr. Eggleston. He wasa graduate of the Union Theo- logical Seminary in New York City. His studies led him along the line of advanced Sunday School methods. After a few years' ser- vice in Greenville, he was called to a Presbyterian church in Brook- lyn, where he had an opportunity to organize a large modern Sun- day School, thoroughly graded. He was in great demand by Sun- day School instructors, to whom he explained his methods of organ . ization. His zeal and energy ex- REV. G. H. EGGLESTON ceeded his physical strength, and he early succumbed to the wear and tear of an earnest life.
28
James N. Fitzgerald as a Methodist minister served in the limits of the present Jersey City several times, first at the Pal- isade M. E. church from 1864 to 1867, and then at Centenary M. E. from 1874 to 1877. Before entering the ministry he had studied law and was admitted to practice as a counsellor-at law of New Jersey, practicing for a short time at Newark. His legal studies and inclinations left their impress upon his mind. He carried his methods of legal reasoning into the pulpit and became noted for the logic and force of his sermons, and at the annual conferences for his argumentative ability. In de- bate, and particularly upon par- liamentary questions, he was the despair of presiding bishops, when REV. JAMES N. FITZGERALD episcopal authority encroached upon the privileges of the plain clergyman. His executive abilities were early recognized, and he moved surely and stead- ily upward to the Episcopacy.
He was reared in an atmosphere of holiness, and no doubt favored his mother in inherited tendencies; holiness meetings conducted by "Mother Fitzgerald" at her home and camp meetings were religious happenings of note in their day. He possessed a warm and sympathetic nature which often express- ed itself in song, and when moved, his melodious voice would break forth into song from the pulpit. One of his favorite songs being "The Ninety and Nine".
His favorite pastime was the game of chess, at which he notably excelled.
While returning from the Orient on a trip to the mission field, he was suddenly smitten and passed away in the full vigor of his activities as a Bishop of the Methodist church.
Bishop Henry Spellmeyer was one of the most noted men of the New Jersey Conference. He was engaged in active pastoral work for thirty-five years, and his activities and devo- tion to the church interests attracted general attention, and as the result, he was elected bishop in 1904 by the largeat vote
29
ever cast for that high office. Ilis allotment to Trinity church, Jer- sey City, inaugurated a season of deep religious conviction. He was a preacher of superior ability, and his sermons attracted large and interested congregations.
He possessed a charming per- sonahty, gathering to himself many choice friends, and through a judicious and practical ministry endeared himself to all who came in contact with him. He was born in New York City November 25th, 1847, and died March 12th, 1910.
REV. HENRY SPELLMEYER
Rev. Edson W. Burr served as pastor of Methodist churches in Jersey City for nine years; six years at Centenary M. E. church, 1872 to 1874, 1884 to 1887, and three years at Lafa- yette M. E. church, 1878 to 1881. He came of a noted New England family which furnished the ministry with men of high re- pute, among them being his broth- er, Rev. J. Kelsey Burr, a biblical scholar of renown, and pastor of the Hoboken M. E. church at - three different periods
Edson W. Burr was small in stature, but very active, untiring and methodical in all his work. After his student years he taught in several seminaries. Among his studies, the languages and na- tural science were favorites. His REV. EDSON W. BURR sermons indicated his special fields of study, and often became lectures on astronomy, or other branches of science extolling the handiwork of the Creator. The teachings of modern science he found reconcilable with biblical doctrine. His appeals to his listeners were largely through their intellect, not ignoring the value of the emotions in pointing the way to eternal life. He impressed all by his
30
deep piety and sincerity, and the consistency of his life. His memory is cherished by many in our city for his labor in their behalf, and in leading them into the path of spiritual peace and happiness.
Dr. John Atkinson was another noted Methodist preacher identified with early Methodism in Hudson County. He was ap- pointed to the pastorate in Jersey City four times, once at Emory, twice at Trinity, and at the West Side Avenue churches. As a preach- er he was clear, logical, convincing and intense. He was emphatically a Methodist preacher and believed in Methodist experience and Meth- odist methods. In every church in which he preached he influenced the brethren to pay their debts and improve their property, and left the churches in a better condition than he found them, both spiritually and REV. JOHN ATKINSON financially. For forty-two years he labored in the Gospel field, faithfully and earnestly. He was born in Salem County, New Jersey, December 6th, 1835, and died in Haverstraw, New York. December 8th, 1897.
Dr. Atkinson's literary efforts were noteworthy. He was painstaking in his investigations, and his researches threw new light on the early history of Meth- odism. He was a great lover of music and was the author of the hymn "We shall meet beyond the river", as well as of other musical treatises.
REV. DANIEL R. LOWRIE
Rev. Daniel R. Lowrie, another famed Methodist pastor, before en- tering the ministry, studied medi- cine for two years, but gave up that profession to become an itin- erant minister. In 1862 he was re- ceived on trial by Bishop Baker in Hedding Methodist Church, Jersey
31
City. He was appointed to Emory church, Jersey City, 1867- 69, to St. Paul's church, Jersey City, 1873-75, to the Methodist church at Hoboken, 1879-81. He was made presiding elder of Jersey City, and appointed to Emory church 1892-96. Thus twenty years of his ministry were spent in Jersey City. His ministry in every place was unusually successful, and resulted in enlarged and interested congregations.
For the last thirteen years he was manager of the Methodist Missionary Society. As a pastor he was faithful and industrious, and was naturally kind, sympathetic and sociable. To the young he seemed as young as any, and to the older ones a loving com. panion.
He was born at Paisley, Scotland, September 8th, 1834, and departed this life August 17th, 1899.
John Wesley Young was born in Pennsylvania January 3Ist, 1833. and died March 23d, 1913. He was a member of the Newark Confer- ence for 53 years, remaining in the active pastorate until 1891. At that date he became secretary to the Committee of Apportionment of the Missionary Society and officiated as such until 1912. He devised new plans for increasing the efficiency of the society, which were found
REV. GEORGE EWII
REV. JOHN WESLEY YOUNG
very effective. In 1871 he was finan- cial agent for the Centenary Colle- giate Institute. He was located at Grace Methodist church.
The story of the clergy of Hud- son county would not be complete without some reference to the Ger- man pastors with whom it has been my good fortune to co-operate. Pastor Ewh of St. Matthew's Lu- theran church in Jersey City exer- cised a wide influence among his
32
countrymen. He was a thorough German but had embraced the cosmopolitan spirit of our American institutions. At one time the church gathered all the German population of lower Jersey City. The church at its organization occupied a small brick building which is still standing on Barrow Street, having bought it from the Particular Baptist church. The congregation then purchased a larger building on Fifth Street and now worships in the magnificent temple with its chime of bells.
The Rev. Leopold Mohn, D.D., of Hoboken, came to this country as a young man who had just graduated from the Ger- man Gymnasium. He had an evangelical spirit and was very anxious to do missionary work among his countrymen. On his arrival, Dr. Mabon was president of the Hudson County Bible Socie- ty and employed young Mohn as colporteur, to distribute Bibles in the county. He speedily acquired a speaking knowledge of the Eng- lish language and was specially use- ful among the Germans, where he left many copies of the Word of God. A single incident I think will interest you. At the Synod of 1881, held in the city of Schenectady for the purpose of electing a professor of theology, there was a division in REV. LEOPOLD MOHN the church between the conservative and progressive elements, each having its candidate for office. Many ballots were taken without an election. A single vote was cast on the first ballot for Dr. Mabon. In all subsequent ballots that vote reappeared, and finally when the two parties began to get discouraged they began to increase the Mabon vote until at last, with practical unanimi- ty, he was chosen. That vote was cast by his old protege, Leo- pold Mohn. Dr. Mohn canvassed the whole county with a view of establishing German churches where they might be needed. Through his influence many of the churches where the German language is still preached, were founded. I shall never forget the funeral of Leopold Mohn. All Hoboken turned out to see the cortege pass. Thechurch could not begin to hold the throngs who sought admission. It was their universal appreciation of a good man:
33
A similar scene was enacted when the Rev. Dr. Meury, of North Hudson, was carried to his last resting place. He had served for twenty-five years as pas- tor of the Second church of Hudson City. He was a native of Bern, Switzerland. He could preach in English as well as in German, but confined his labors to the German speaking people, and to his own young people who were outgrowing the speech of their fathers. His labors with the prisoners in our Hudson County jail, and especially with men under sentence of death. whom he on several occasions ac- REV. E. A. MEURY companied to the scaffold, will
never be forgotten.
Many of us enjoyed a delightful friendship with two of the Roman Catholic clergy, who were members of the Cosmos Club.
Father Hennessy of St. Patrick's possessed the face and figure of an old saint. He was a holy man. In the discussion of matters pertain- ing to religious life, he gave ex- pression to ennobling sentiments with deep religious fervor. He was buried near the corner stone of his church on the corner of Bramhall and Ocean Avenues.
Father Corrigan, of St. Mary's, Hoboken, was a saint of a jolly REV. PATRICK HENNESSY type. He possessed a fund of Irish wit which caused explosions of laughter during his criticism of affairs in general. At one of the entertainments of the Cosmos Club held in the rectory in Hoboken, he offered champagne for the delectation of the com- pany, with the remark that there were a few bottles that the bishop had left. He had quarreled with his bishop, when a spe- cial messenger of the Pope, Monsignor, afterwards Cardinal Satolli, was sent to America to calm the disturbance. He gave
34
a great banquet to the cardinal, which I had the honor to attend . I may close with one of Father Corrigan's old stories, which all the older members of the Cosmos Club remember. The temperance question was under discussion, and Father Corrigan told of his efforts to establish what he called "Tee- total Society" of St. Mary's. He had talked of it at every mass for a month and finally, on the day when the society was to be organized, he urged the whole body of men in the --- congregation, perhaps eight or nine hundred being present, to come at once to the parish hall and organ- REV. PATRICK CORRIGAN ize the society. After disrobing, he went to the hall and found it empty, took a seat at the head of the table, and waited for the members to appear. About half an hour later Charlie Scott, as he expressed it, "the only nagur in the parish", put his reluctant head through the door. He said to himself, "Great Scott", then turning to his African member cried out, "Come in, Charlie, don't be afraid, come and sign your name to the pledge." Charlie's name was the only signa- ture obtained that day, but he announced on the following Sun- day to the Teetotal Society, that it would take a vacation for a few weeks. He then worked up the matter privately and a large and flourishing society was founded.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.