USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Preakness and the Preakness Reformed Church : a history 1695-1902 : with genealogical notes, the records of the church and tombstone inscriptions > Part 21
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AND PREAKNESS REFORMED CHURCH.
active members. We have at this time (1898) eight Honorary, twenty-seven Active, and seventeen Associate members. Only two deaths as far as we know have occurred in the Society during the ten years. Our meetings are held at the parsonage on Friday even- ing of each week, the business meetings being held after the prayer meeting on the first meeting night of each month. Our consecration meetings are held the last meeting night of each month, and at these meetings the members repeat the pledge from memory. We have had a full complement of officers and committees, and all have worked for the best interests of the Society. Some years we have raised considerable money for the Missionary Boards of our Church. For the past eight years, we have been connected with the Paterson Local Union, and have generally had a good representa- tion at their meetings. One meeting of the Local Union has been here in Preakness. As a whole our Society has been active and prosperous, and a great help to the Church and to the community at large."
In February, 1898, the Consistory bought of the Walder estate, in Paterson, the horse sheds south of the church and a sufficient tract of land there for their accommodation, for the sum of $350. These sheds were built by Peter C. Post on his land when the new cemetery was laid out in 1857, and were rented for the benefit of the owner to those who wished them. The Church now has that revenue, -- nineteen sheds out of twenty (one for the minister's horse not being charged for) bringing in $57 annually. Shortly after the purchase of this property, the meadow lot on Singac Brook, con- sisting of 5 86-100 acres, which the Consistory had bought in 1849, for the use of Mr. Staats, and which for years had been rented, was, as we have seen, sold to J. W. Hinchman, for $400. The Con- sistory had borrowed money on a note with which to pay for the horse shed property. This note was now paid, and with the balance of the $400, together with the shed rents received May 1st, a part only of the money being used, the outside woodwork of the church was painted, and the bricks so far as necessary were pointed.
In the spring report to Classis this year, reference was made to the exceptionally sad feature of the loss by death of three of our young women members, all of whom also had been among the early members of our C. E. Society. The first of these deaths, on New Year's Day, was that of Miss Mary L. Berdan, for many years a member of our Church choir, stricken down by apoplexy, while singing at the piano which her sister was playing, in the home of a
222
HISTORY OF PREAKNESS
relative in Passaic City. Miss Berdan survived her shock but a few hours. The next was that of Miss Erminie Martin, Feb. 24, after a very short illness. Miss Martin was the daughter of Robert Martin. And the last was that of Miss Clara Cahill, on April 3rd, who had been on the decline for several years with consump- tion. The first two were likewise members of our Woman's Mission- ary Society. All three were exceedingly devoted Christians, and great lovers of the Lord's house and service. That Miss Cahill especially was a constant reader and a diligent and faithful student of God's Word is borne witness to by her very much marked and annotated Bible.
In the spring of 1899, previous to the observance of Children's Day, in June, a new organ was bought for the Church Sunday School, the old oak-cased one, bought during Mr. Durand's time, having given out; although it was put in with the price of the other by way of trade. Considerable repairing was done in the late summer and early fall of that same year, on the church horse sheds recently purchased, and which were quite dilapidated ; but the front extension, which the sheds never before had, but which they have now, was not put on them until the fall of 1901, just before the
Centennial celebration. Church Lane was macadamized, and Church hill was cut down to its present shape in the winter and spring of 1900, and the grass plot in front of the church was ter- raced, and the street lamp erected the same spring, or a little later. The slate roof on the church was put there in the late fall or early winter of 1900, by James Tintle, of Bloomingdale, N. J., at the cost, including lumber, sheathing, and zinc, of $306. The old shingle roof on the south side was getting poor, while that on the north side was most of it good; but in view of making interior repairs and decorations, it was decided to have the old roof give place to the new one,-the shingle roof to one of slate. Most of the old roof, in order to save the best of the shingles, was taken off in large sections, and the shingles were afterwards used as far as they would go, for repairing and extending the roof of the horse sheds. The money paid for the slate roof was borrowed by Con- sistory on note from A. Bensen, Sr., and J. W. Hinchman, the former furnishing $150, and the latter $175. Some mason work also had to be paid for.
The following resolution was passed by Consistory Feb. 21, 1901, in regard to vacated church pews :
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AND PREAKNESS REFORMED CHURCH.
"Resolved, That hereafter, when a pew in our church is vacated on ac- count of the death or removal from the congregation of the party or par- ties who have occupied it, said party or parties or family not owning the same, the pew or pews thus designated, not being owned by any one else in the congregation, shall at once be taken charge of by the pew committee, under the direction of Consistory, for rent or allotment, according to appli- cation."
On March 6, 1901, the congregation and community were greatly shocked by the sudden, though not unexpected, death of Elder Jacob R. Berdan. Mr. Berdan, of late had been as well as usual, but being afflicted with heart trouble, was liable to be taken at any moment. On his retiring on the evening of March 5th, no one thought but that they would see him alive the next morning; but some time toward morning, it was found that his spirit had fled. Three days afterwards, the funeral services, which were largely attended, were held at the house, and the remains of the brother were laid away in the family plot, in Cedar Lawn Cemetery, on the banks of the Passaic, below Paterson. Mr. Berdan has been greatly missed, not only by his family and friends, but by the Preakness Church. The Consistory, on March 17, after the morning service of that day, at a meeting which was opened and closed with prayer. passed the following preamble and resolutions in regard to Mr. Berdan's death :
"WHEREAS, God in His overruling Providence, almost without warning. has been pleased to take from us to his eternal reward, our brother beloved. Elder Jacob R. Berdan, therefore
Resolved, That in this sudden and severe bereavement, we acknowledge the Divine right to do as He will, and bow with humble submission to the heavenly dispensation.
Resolved, That we hereby bear witness to brother Berdan's faithfulness and zeal as a Christian and officer of the Church; to his loyalty both to his Maker and to those associated with him in any human relation; to. the beneficent influence of his life and spirit upon all with whom he came in contact :- a workman that needed not to be ashamed, who was conscious of the all seeing eye of God upon him, and who lived in expectation of some day rendering to his divine Master an account of his stewardship. As a Deacon for ten years, and an Elder for twenty years in this Consistory, our brother's counsel was constantly sought and valued, and we shall now greatly miss him as an adviser.
Resolved, That we extend our sympathy to his bereaved family and friends, and in our prayers commend them to God's care and keeping.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished to the family, and published in the Christian Intelligencer."
Preparations, toward which Mr. Berdan had looked forward with considerable interest, and which we had all hoped he would be a great help to us in making, were now entered upon to repair and redecorate the interior of the church. The old decorations, which had been on about nineteen years, were faded and quite shabby,
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HISTORY OF PREAKNESS.
and some of the paint on the ceiling by reason of leaks in the roof, or the melting snow which had blown in on the attic floor, had peeled off, thereby making things of course look much worse. There was, however, at the start, some doubt as to whether it was expedient to do this work of redecoration at this time. But on May 6, Deacons F. T. Torbet and A. Laauwe were appointed a committee to secure estimates and the sentiment of the congregation in regard to going forward with it; while on June 17, after the report of this committee, it was resolved to circulate subscription papers, with which circulation also there was encouraging success, and on July 8, the estimate, which was equivalent to a bid, of William S. Umpleby, of Flemington, N. J., being reported as most favorably received by the committee, Consistory gave said committee power to go ahead, in case, as it seemed likely they would, the subscrip- tions reached to within $50 of the amount of Mr. Umpleby's bid. The reason of this action was, that in the meantime, Miss Dorcas Berdan, daughter of the late Garret Berdan, had generously paid the sum of $50 toward the debt incurred by putting on the new church roof; while she also soon after contributed most liberally likewise toward the work of redecoration, and for which al- together the Consistory was prompted to give her a unanimous and hearty vote of thanks.
The committee, thus empowered, soon having the desired amount and more subscribed, awarded the contract, which was to be executed in oil and whitelead, to Mr. Umpleby, first for $215, to which, for extra work, viz: for the frieze below the cornice, which was not in the original contract, $35 was subsequently added. The artist was given discretion as to colors and the filling in of the general design, the wisdom of which course was proven later, when the work was done, by the prevailing satisfaction expressed on the part of all concerned; the groundwork color approaching terra cotta, and the more prominent parts, such as the cornices, the centre pieces, and the decorative pillars back of the pulpit, and in the alcove, being in ivory white; while in the trimming the noticeable colors shade around dark red and olive green. The pews and wood- work were merely touched up and revarnished. The vestibule walls and ceiling were finished off also in a light shade of green. The new carpet in the audience room, to which we have already referred, selected with the artist's approval by a committee of ladies, con- sisting of Mrs. P. J. Doremus, Mrs. James D. Berdan, Mrs. Ira Roat, and Miss R. A. Berry, which committee had been chosen by
225
AND PREAKNESS REFORMED CHURCH.
the Consistory, being moss green in shade, and in keeping with the decorations and furnishings, naturally adds very materially to the pleasing effect produced upon all who enter the building.
On Aug. 26, 1901, the Consistory, on inspecting and accepting the work of Mr. Umpleby, passed the following :
"Resolved, That in accepting the work of painting and decoration of the inside of our church by William S. Umpleby, we do so with a hearty vote of thanks, and a sincere appreciation of his ability and faithfulness, in giving us most excellent and honest service."
For seven Sundays, or nearly eight weeks, viz: from Monday, July 22, until late in the week beginning with Sept. 8, the church was closed for this work, no services at all being held for six Sun- days; while on Sept. 8, when we had expected to have our opening services, there was service in Upper Preakness Schoolhouse Hall instead. The church was reopened Sept. 15, when the pastor preached an appropriate sermon from Psalms 122; 1: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."
But a short time remained now in which to get ready for the Centennial celebration ; but the arrangements were made, and suc- cessfully carried out. On Aug. 26, the dates of Oct. 27-29 inclu- sive, (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday), were set apart for such celebration. Later, Sept. 23, Consistory met to make the final arrangements in regard to programme and music, and the transpor- tation from Paterson and return, and the furnishing of luncheon on Tuesday, for our guests of that day. Luncheon was served under a tent pitched on the South side of the church, which tent was loaned to us for the occasion by the kindness of our neighbor, Charles H. Tintle.
The following was the programme made out and printed on a neat folder, on the front page of which was a good cut of the church :
Sunday morning service at 10:30, conducted by Rev. B. V. D. Wyckoff, of Readington, N. J .; sermon by the pastor, Rev. George W. Labaw, on "The Progress of the Reformed Church in America During the Last Century." Evening service at 7:30, address by Rev. B. V. D. Wyckoff, on "Our Anniversaries ;" paper read by the pastor on "Early Preaching, Preachers and Churches in the Neigh- borhood of Preakness."
Monday evening at 7:30, the pastor presiding-Devotional and musical ; reports of organizations ; address, "Kingdom Spreading in the New Century," by Rev. John W. Conklin, Field Secretary Board
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HISTORY OF PREAKNESS
of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church ; address, "The Duty of the Hour," by Rev. A. DeW. Mason, President of the Christian Endeavor Missionary League, of the Reformed Church.
Tuesday at 10:30 a. m., the pastor presiding-Singing, hymn 135 ; invocation, Rev. E. T. Corwin, D.D., New Brunswick ; Scrip- ture lesson, Psalm 122, Rev. F. S. Wilson, Pompton ; solo; prayer, Rev. J. S. Hogan, Pompton Plains ; singing hymn 363; historical address, the pastor ; prayer, Rev. J. F. Folsom, Kearny ; singing hymn 504; benediction.
At 2 p. m., Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D.D., of Paterson, pre- siding-Singing hymn 122; prayer, Rev. Thomas Powell Vernoll, Paterson ; congratulations by representatives of Classis of Passaic, Bergen and Paramus; anthem, the choir ; reminiscences by former pastors ; music ; address, "A Son that was not a Son," by Rev. David E. Post, of Gilbertsville, N. Y .; address, "Reminiscences," by Rev. E. T. Corwin, D.D .; singing hymn 334; address, "Jersey Dutch," William Nelson, Paterson ; doxology ; benediction.
The music will be in charge of the choir with Mrs. A. Titus as soloist and Miss Mary A. Vail as organist.
Luncheon will be served from 12:30 to 1:30 on Tuesday. Stages will be run from John H. Ackerman's stables on River street to the church on Tuesday, starting at 9:30 and 1 o'clock, and returning at the close of the exercises.
This programme was carried out as far as the time permitted, - as per report furnished by Rev. B. V. D. Wyckoff, to The Chris- tion Intelligencer, under date of Nov. 6, 1901.
"The Reformed Church of Preakness has passed the century mark and has been holding appropriate services in commemoration of that event. The anniversary began on Sunday, Oct. 27, and continued until Tuesday the 29th, and five highly interesting and profitable services were held.
On Sunday morning at 10:30 o'clock the Rev. B. V. D. Wyckoff, a former pastor, led the devotional exercises and the present pastor, the Rev. George W. Labaw, delivered an address on the theme, "The Progress of the Reformed Church in America During the Last Century." It was a very compact and eloquent statement of the growth of the denomination in all its extent. On Sunday evening an address was delivered by the Rev. B. V. D. Wyckoff on the subject "Our Anniversaries," after which the pastor read a second brief paper on the subject "Early Preaching and Preachers in the Neighborhood of Preakness." This, like the ad-
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dress of the morning, was a most carefully prepared and suggestive paper.
On Monday evening the wider interests of the church were taken up. The Rev. A. A. Zabriskie offered prayer and the Rev. Theodore A. Beekman read the seventy-second Psalm, after which the Field Secretary of the Foreign Board of Missions, the Rev. John W. Conklin, spoke on the topic, "Kingdom Spreading in the New Century," and was followed by the Rev. A. DeW. Mason, the representative of the Missionary League, on the theme, "The Duty of the Hour." These brethren were listend to with delight and profit, not only because of the weight of their words, but also because of their former pleasant relations to the Classis of Passaic, to which the Church of Preakness belongs.
The last day-and the best-of the anniversary feast was Tuesday the 29th, when the centennial services proper were held, commencing at 10:30 o'clock. The Rev. E. T. Corwin, D.D., offered an appropriate invocation. The Rev. F. S. Wilson read Psalm 122, and the Rev. J. S. Hogan offered prayer. The pastor then delivered his historical address on the origin and progress of the Preakness church. His text was found in Zech., 1:5, "Your Fathers, Where Are They? and the Prophets, Do They Live For- ever ?" He traced the early settlement of Passaic County and especially of that portion of it with which the Preakness people had had most to do. The discourse was clearly the result of long and patient research, and its delivery was so forceful and earnest that the speaker held his audience without a moment's lapse to the very conclusion. It is a matter of congratulation that Mr. Labaw is intending to publish ere long a volume covering the period he has been investigating. We bespeak for it a most favorable reception.
At noon a lunch was served to all visitors by the ladies of the church in a tent erected just south of the church edifice. A very pleasant social hour was enjoyed by the many friends who had gathered. Many old friendships were renewed, and hosts of mem- ories were awakened into new life.
At 2 o'clock the final service began. The Rev. T. W. Welles, D.D., presided and introduced first the representatives of the three Classis of Passaic, Bergen and Paramus. The Revs. S. R. Cun- ningham, Charles S. Wright and T. W. Welles, D.D., presented congratulations from these bodies. Next the ex-pastors who were still living and were present at the exercises were heard. The Rev. C. B. Durand, of Newark, N. J., spoke with much earnestness and
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HISTORY OF PREAKNESS
tenderness of the years of his pastorate. He was followed by the Rev. A. A. Zabriskie, whose remarks took a very practical and suc- cessful turn without solicitation on the part of the pastor or church. He enlisted the aid of a blackboard and in a brief time secured sub- scriptions to the amount of $275 to pay off the only debt resting on the church, a debt recently incurred in the unexpected reroofing of the edifice. At the close of this part of the service the doxology was sung very heartily. The Revs. B. V. D. Wyckoff and Theodore A. Beekman then gave reminiscences of their pastorates. Owing to the lengthening shadows, the Rev. Dr. Corwin postponed his ad- dress until the next centennial. The Rev. David E. Post, a son of the church at Preakness, spoke briefly, and then Mr. Wm. Nelson, of Paterson, spoke for a few moments on the "Traits of the Jersey Dutch." Time would fail to make mention of all that deserves record.
The solos sung by Mrs. A. Titus, of Lambertville, N. J., were highly appreciated, as also the singing by the choir of the church. The church was very tastefully decorated with flowers and shields bearing important dates in the church's history. Orange ribbons were also suspended from the center of the alcove in each direction, indicating the loyalty of the church to the colors of their fathers."
Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Titus, who are cousins of the pastor, the former of whom, with the clarionet, assisted in the playing of accompaniments, while the latter sang, came, by special invitation, from their home in a distant part of the state to participate in these interesting exercises, a circumstance which was greatly appre- ciated by the congregation.
On Nov. 18, Consistory met in the pastor's study when the fol- lowing resolutions of thanks were passed :
"Resolved, That a hearty vote of thanks be extended to the church choir and those who joined them in furnishing music for our late centen- nial celebration."
"Resolved, That Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Titus, of Lambertville, N. J., who so kindly and disinterestedly gave us such excellent special music for our centennial celebration, and thereby added much interest to the occasion, be accorded a unanimous and appreciative vote of thanks by this body."
"Resolved, That Mr. Charles H. Tintle be thanked for favoring us as he did with the use of his tent, under which we were able to serve luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 29, to our guests."
But little remains to be recorded of this history. It is, at this point, about up to date.
A few weeks after the Centennial, Miss Dorcas Berdan gave the Church a clear and beautiful typed, handsomely bound, self
1
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AND PREAKNESS REFORMED CHURCH.
pronouncing pulpit Bible, a publication of the New York Inter- national Bible Agency, to take the place of the Bible, which had become much worn, which she and her cousin, Miss Rebecca Berdan, had given to the congregation in 1852, a half a century ago, when the new church as it was then was furnished.
Since March last, the quarterly service preparatory to each communion season, which service hitherto for many years has been held on Friday afternoon, has been changed, merely, however, as an experiment, to the previous regular Sunday morning service, it being the idea of the Consistory that greater good will be done by the new arrangement.
The Preakness Church thus having finished her first century of existence, has already entered upon the experiences and work of another. Conditions have changed; but the religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has not changed. The people now are not as Dutch as they were in the time of our fathers; but the same sturdy Christian character that distinguished the people of God in these parts a century ago, yea earlier, is still to be found in the Church, and in this Church.
Large numbers from other nations assimilated themselves with Israel in the days of the old dispensation ; and occasionally or at long intervals, there was an assimilation of the same kind even in the line of the genealogy of our Lord Himself. But was Israel any worse off, or the line in which the Savior of mankind came, any the more degenerated by the course of events? Usually new blood brings new life, together with other advantages. We believe this has been the case in many Christian communities, and in this community. In our midst to-day are the representatives of numer- ous nations and Church organizations, who profess the same Lord, the same faith, and the same baptism. God is over us all, and all owe and acknowledge allegiance to Him, and our common Lord. There is more in our Church life to-day than there ever was. There is more for us, and all Christians to look forward to than ever before. Christian life means more, and Christian activity accomplishes more in this wonderful age of advancement than in the years and centuries agone. Moreover, America is the country of the world, and by America we mean the United States. The Christian Church in America, or in the United States, is different and far ahead in its possibilities, of the Church in all other nations. The Reformed faith, and the Dutch Reformed faith is as firmly established, whether by priority or otherwise as any in the
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HISTORY OF PREAKNESS
land. Why should we not here in Preakness rejoice, both in pride of ancestry and in glorious opportunity ?
On May 1, 1902, after more than a year's agitation, and considerable correspondence with Congressman James F. Stewart, and the Post Office officials at Washington, on the part of the pastor and others of this Church and community, Rural Free Delivery of mails, from the Paterson post office, was established for Upper and Lower Preakness, in neither of which neighborhoods has there ever been a post office. Our rural free delivery service is in every respect first-class, and a great benefit to all this region of country.
INTERIOR VIEW OF PREAKNESS REFORMED CHURCH, 1901.
APPENDIX,
CONTAINING THE
Statistical Table, the Lists of Elders and Deacons and Treasurers of the Church, the Membership Roll, the Church Records, and Tombstone Inscriptions.
TABLE OF ANNUAL STATISTICAL REPORTS OF THE PREAKNESS REFORMED CHURCH, SO FAR AS WE HAVE THE DATA, TO DATE. NOTHING BEFORE 1814.
Year.
Families.
On
Confession.
Certificate.
Dismissed.
Suspended.
Died.
Total in Communion.
Infants
Baptized.
Adults.
Total in
Congrega-
tion.
1814
70
42
25
1815
1816
70
43
366
1817
1818
.. .
.
...
.
.
.
1819
...
·
1820
1821
.
..
.
. .
.
.
1823
46
1824
60
5
46
I2
380
1825
40
1826
I
41
9
·
...
..
...
1828
54
5
2
·
41
I7
I
263
1859
55
3
. 3
45
I2
258
1839
55
251
1831
55
251
1832
57
252
1833
55
53
IO
25I
1834
50
53
IO
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