USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Record of the twenty-fifth anniversary of South Park Presbyterian Church, Newark, N.J. : October 27th to the 30th, 1878 > Part 6
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Individual donations. $30,914 20
Collections at Dedication. 195 19
Special subscriptions from various parties towards the purchase of the organ, which cost $3,000 1,000 00
From the sale of the old Chair Factory which stood upon the church lot. 668 09
From the sale of real estate. 1,459 81
From outside contributions. 5.15 00
Then there were seven bonds of one thousand dollars which were sold, and $12,000 was borrowed from the New- ark Savings Institution on a mortgage, and a profit and loss account of $355.49 completes the aggregate of money of $54,107.78. And to show for this the corporation pos- sessed their church and church property, and also the Mul- berry Street Chapel, the whole subject to a debt of $19,355.49.
And then they reported that of the subscriptions which had been made three years before, there had been paid the
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sum of $14,233.29, which amount was applied in the main to paying off the church debt, but also in part to paying for some expensive repairs and additions which were unexpect- edly required about that time and for which no provision had been made. But the great desire of the people was so far consummated as that the debt was reduced to the sum of $9,089.00 ; and the committee seemed to be of the opin- ion that the additional amounts that would be realized from subscriptions and the ultimate sale or disposal of the Mul- berry Street Chapel, would provide ample assets to cancel the whole obligation.
This committee was composed of Messrs. Philip Tilling- hast, F. Wolcott Jackson and I. M. Harrison, of the Board of Trustees, Carman Randolph and S. H. Terry, of the lay members of the congregation, and Messrs. Seth W. Magie, and Samuel P. Smith, of the session ; and their report forms a valuable document for future reference, full of interest in its details and evincing a broad and generous spirit in dealing with the important and delicate topics which necessarily came before them for adjudication.
The minutes of the trustees show another effort was made March eighth, 1865, to liquidate the mortgage on the church, then amounting to $8,000, which, however, does not appear to have been successful at the time; but at the an- nual meeting, held December thirty-first, 1866, the minutes show that a subsequent effort, made in 1866, had been crowned with success, the report of which was filed at the next annual meeting, December thirty-first, 1867. A gen- erous response was elicited to the effort of the trustees of that period, and the whole amount was raised through the energetic labors of a few men. It was a time of great re- joicing. For the first time in its history the church was without an incumbrance.
One of the most important matters outside of immediate church effort in which the people were called to engage was the establishment of a parsonage. Prior to December thirty- first, 1867, the subject had been somewhat discussed in
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private, but on that day, at the annual meeting, a committee was appointed to consummate the purchase of a parsonage at a price not to exceed $16,000, of which $8,000 should be raised by subscription and a bond and mortgage given for the balance. During the years 1868-9 this subject was constantly in the minds of both pastor and people, and the conviction became universal that the dignity and good name of the church required the establishment of a manse in which the pastor should be guaranteed a comfortable and lasting home, and where the people should be encouraged to visit with greater interest. A very favorable opportunity presented itself for the development of these ideas, when the subject of the memorial fund was brought to the considera- tion of the Presbyterian Church in general under a con- gratulatory order which had been issued by the General Assembly of the Church, calling upon every organization in a spirit of thankfulness for the union which had been ef- fected between the two great branches, or schools of the Church, to aid in raising a great token or testimonial, each church to have the privilege of devoting the sums con- tributed by it to certain objects within a range prescribed by the General Assembly. It was ascertained that it would fall unquestionably within the purview of the policy marked out by the General Assembly if contribu- tions raised in this church should be divided between the establishment of a parsonage and rendering of assistance to the German Evangelical School, these two objects presenting, in the judgment of the elders and trustees, the strongest claims, unless other directions for the funds contributed should be prescribed by individual donors. Thereupon the elders and trustees appointed a committee of twelve ladies and twelve gentlemen to call upon every family in the con- gregation and leave with them a memorial card on which the names of the different members of the family should be written, with the sums respectively pledged and times of payment to be made. The pastor preached a sermon on the topic, and, in a practical way, brought the whole subject
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before the minds of the people, that there might be a full understanding and just appreciation of its importance. The donors of the fund seemed to have been duly impressed with the theme, and more than two-thirds of the fund raised in this church was especially appropriated to the parsonage. Additional subscriptions were made by a few liberal men, and a lot on Spruce street was purchased. A three-story brick house and extension was erected, and the church not only felt honored in the possession of a creditable and ap- propriate manse, but also rejoiced in the discharge of a duty which for a long time had seemed incumbent upon them of relieving their leader from the disagreeable necessity of moving from house to house and bartering from year to year for the price of his shelter. No one has ever regretted the movement, and kindly welcomes and genuine hospitality have always cheered the visitors of the pleasant home on Spruce street.
Turning back a few years to take up once more the his- tory of the church structure, it deserves to be noticed that in September, 1865, a meeting of the trustees was called to decide about building the Infant Sunday School room for Mrs. Dr. Wilson. The amount required for that purpose having been raised by subscriptions which were sufficient to complete at least one story, the proposition met with so much favor that building an addition was subsequently ordered.
The church having been entirely relieved of its debt, the financial wheels ran smoothly to the middle of the year 1869, when it was found necessary to authorize a mortgage of two thousand dollars, to be placed upon the chapel, dated July fifth, 1869, and in the Winter of 1870 the same unfor- tunate necessity intervened, and another mortgage of two thousand dollars, dated December seventh, 1870, making in all four thousand dollars, was authorized to be placed on the chapel. It seems always to have been the policy of the trus- tees, as evinced by the resolutions passed at the board meeting and ratified by the congregation, to sell the
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Mulberry street property if a satisfactory offer for the same should be received, and no doubt it was their hope and expectation that from the sale of the Mulberry street lands enough might be realized to liquidate the amount of the mortgage debt and secure the removal and erection of a building on some less valuable land.
It is a matter of further regret that we have to record that a new indebtedness was found necessary to be secured upon the church property October third, 1872. At a meet- ing of the session and trustees held that day, a committee, which had been appointed on alterations of the church edi- fice, and to provide means to pay the expenses for the same, made their report. The matter was held under advisement till November twelfth, 1872, at which time a mortgage for eight thousand dollars was authorized. But we must re- member that this was the period of high valuations and gen- erally extended prosperity, and it was supposed that but a short time would elapse before the total mortgage debt, then as now amounting to $20,000, would be entirely removed. The next year was the year of the financial panic, and these, like many other hopes, proved illusory. All present are familiar with the exertions put forth during the past year to cancel the general debt of the church, and the committee, composed of the trustees and seven from the congregation, bent their whole energies to the devising of a plan to obtain subscriptions from every member of the congregation, to be paid in weekly contributions, and to be devoted exclusively to the payment of past indebtedness and interest thereon, it being estimated that the annual pew rents would meet the current expenses. Notwithstanding the stringency of the times, it was estimated that the sum of $8,000 of the old debt would be paid off this year, and Mr. Jas. E. Harrison, special treasurer of this fund, reports that $5,894.29 had been paid in October twenty-first, 1878, and with weekly- pay contributions, $6,200.
We must now look back a few years, and take up the history of the management of the church and the election
.
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of its officers. We have already mentioned the names of its first elders. It was found so early as April, 1859, that the large and rapid growth of the congregation rendered it expedient and necessary to increase the eldership. The election was held May first, 1859, both male and female members participating. Messrs. Ralph Pierson, Archibald Parkhurst and William A. Crane were then chosen, and they were solemnly set apart in the manner prescribed in the form of government. On Sunday evening, June nineteenth, a sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Few-Smith on the duties of the eldership and the qualifications for the office, and the rest of the services were performed by the pastor.
July third, 1866, a new necessity was experienced for an addition to the eldership, arising from the increase of the members of the church, its rapid growth, and the multiplic- ity and weight of the duties. On this occasion Ira M. Har- rison, Francis N. Torrey, Dr. Addison W. Woodhull and F. Wolcott Jackson were elected. The latter gentleman declined to serve ; the others were set apart the following Sunday evening according to the prescribed ceremony. The only remaining addition to the eldership was made May first, 1872, when five additional members were unanimously elected, namely, Augustus I. Gillette, Daniel Halsey, F. Wolcott Jackson, David C. Dodd, Jr., and Theodore F. Johnson. They were set apart May fourteenth, 1872, the Rev. Dr. Stearns preaching the sermon and the pastor giv- ing the charge to the elders and the people.
We have also given a list of the first board of trustees. Soon after their organization Mr. Asa Whitehead was made their president, Ira M. Harrison the treasurer, and Charles E. Young the secretary. Changes have been made from time to time in the membership of the board, but always with a kind spirit, the controling object being to secure the most careful management of the temporalities of the church without casting undue burdens on the shoulders of any. The subsequent presidents of the trustees were John P. Jackson, in the year 1861; Rodney N. Wilbur, in the year 1862 ;
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Ira M. Harrison, in the year 1864; John C. Johnson, in the year 1865 ; Silas C. Halsey, in 1875 to the present time. To the office of treasurer Aaron M. King was elected in 1863, and served through 1867, when he was succeeded by Leonard P. Brown, who still retains the office. In the office of secretary Charles E. Young served through 1864, when he was succeeded by William B. Brokaw, who, the next year, was succeeded by Charles B. Smith ; F. N. Torrey was elected to that office for the next year, 1866, and he was succeeded in 1868 by Silas C. Halsey, on whose election to the presidency of the board Andrew Lemassena, Jr., was made the secretary, and holds the office at the present time.
It would of course be impossible to recount the individual services of all who have liberally given their talents and means to further the interests of the church ; but the future historian would not be disappointed in his expectation of finding among the list of trustees and officers the names of
many prominent men. The book mentions the services of Captain Ezra Nye, Nehemiah Perry, John Whitehead, An- drew Lemassena, Henry N. Parkhurst, Dr. Luther Thomas, and many others. It would be pleasant also to recount & part of the history of the Mulberry Street Chapel enterprise and the little Sunday School in the railway cars, near the Chestnut street railroad depot, so far back as 1851, which, in fact, prepared the way and proved the necessity for the grander work of this church. Mr. Thomas H. Darlington has done a good service in his recent history of this depart- ment. And the numerous works of benevolence and prac- tical support which the ladies of the church have engaged in -their successful societies and fairs and special efforts in various causes-all are worthy of notice and emulation, and should be preserved in some appropriate records for the ad- vantage of future guidance as well as the proper recognition of faithfulness in the past.
It must be the work of some more expert hands to prop- erly record the theological position and history of this church. But to the comprehension of ordinary lay intelli-
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gence, it is obvious that this church, in its creed and sympa- thies, its views of the relation of Church and State, and its position respecting the great mooted points of theology, is a fair representative daughter of that noble mother from whom all the Presbyterian family of churches in this town have descended, the old First Church of Newark. The people have been more like those taught and reared in the school of original New England thought than in the school of Scotch thought. Indeed, the greater part of the Presby- terian community in this place bears the impress and strik- ing character of the old Puritanic spirit, which, wherever its virtues have been allowed full scope, and its vices (if any there are) have been restrained, has been more conspicuous than any other in laying the foundations of all enterprising, benevolent, upright and high-toned communities. It is always interesting to trace back, even in a very superficial way, the mental and metaphysical history of any class of people, and we accept it as almost axiomatic that the teach- ing and preaching which any community receives with satis- faction not only bear their fruits of like kind and character, but they furnish the very best standards whereby to esti- mate the real tone, disposition and capacity of the people themselves. A community of families and children, who, from generation to generation sat under the ministrations of a class of men like James Richards, Edward D. Griffin, Alexander McWhorter, Aaron Burr, Davis and the two Abraham Piersons, must have been inspired not only by daily instruction and example, but also by all the force of traditions and hereditary preferences, to cling fondly and tenaciously to a settled code of principles which would be- come lastingly impressed upon them by the advocacy and support of these vigorous and eminent teachers. It has been said that " the settlement of Newark in the years 1666-7 was probably the last attempt to realize the noble dream of the old Puritan emigrants."* The first minister of the town, Rev. Abraham Pierson, who was the first pastor of the First
"Dr. Stearns, First Church, Newark. p. 15.
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Church, and whose son of the same name was the first President of Yale College-of whom Cotton Mather says : " Wherever he came he shone"-who seems to have been a very Puritan of the Puritans, wandered in his long and laborious life from Lynn, Mass., Southampton, L. I., Stam- ford, Conn., till he finally came with his flock to Newark to enjoy a larger liberty to pursue their cherished religious policy than seems to have existed in old Connecticut itself. With them they brought the largest liberty of conscience, but the strictest condemnation of disorganizing theories or in- fractions of rules of order and public right. Gradually their extreme views as to restricting the right of suffrage in State matters to Church members only gave way to more modern and perhaps more humane standards ; but as has been remarked of other places where the same class of people chose their settlements, " Their Puritanic principles made their mark on the civilization and morals of the community that lingers even to this day; and for purity of morals and sobriety of life, a parallel can only be found in those other places where dwell the descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers of New England."*
Yet, after all, as we have before intimated, we must look to the pulpit as furnishing the best evidence of the spirit and character of the people ; for not without ascribing too much weight to the reciprocal influences which exist between pastor and people, we must acknowledge a certain leader- ship in every approved pastoral relation. Generally it may be said, given the character of the leader, the character of the people may be determined. And yet a second thought tells us it is hardly fair in us to claim so much on our account, in view of what all must recollect from the time they are able to recollect anything, namely, the broad, generous, charitable, unswerving piety, that has ever been taught faithfully, conscientiously, persistently, from this desk. In the most kindly spirit, encouragement has here been held forth to all humanity, and yet no flattering unction
*Havell's Hist. of Southampton, L. I., p. 53.
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tion has been laid to any soul. "For a quarter of a century there are those who may bear witness that the maxim of these teachings might, in the words of another, be thus expressed : " look forward, not backward ; look upward, not downward ; and always lend a hand,"-yet with all that is cheering and bright in such presentations of truth, no one could discover any compromise with error, or confederacy with any form of guilt. Liberal in philosophy, and enlightened in accept- ing the deductions and discoveries of the world's pioneers in scientific research, there has been no weak surrender here to the gross demands of heresy and false doctrine or, the delu- sions of science, falsely so-called. No materialism or tran- scendentalism, no nihilism or pessimism, nor any cold, uncharitable consolation in the theory of the " survival of the fittest," has here found any favor ; but the warmer, more genial and Christian principle of the brotherhood of the whole race-the brotherhood of the weak with the strong, of the poor with the rich, of the happy and joyous with the unhappy and miserable-has always been advocated in opposition to modern skepticism and inodern selfishness. The faith of the olden time has been preserved. In all the domestic relations of life, as parents and children, as hus- bands and wives, as brothers and sisters, the generation of the last quarter-century cannot deny that they have been tanght the most refined, considerate and elevating standards of action. Nor in speaking of man's duty to his country, his obligations to society among whom he dwells, in all mat- ters of patriotism, and love for law and order and right, in rejoicing over the triumphs of constitutional liberty and human rights, and the nation's flag, can any one say that the voice which has been heard from this pulpit has given any uncertain, or indefinite, or wavering sound.
Long may this pleasant and profitable relationship exist, advantageous we dare to hope both for the shepherd and the flock, and, under the blessing of heaven, not wholly without good influences emanating therefrom for the benefit of the world and society around us.
SILVER WEDDING SOCIABLE.
TUESDAY EV'G, OCTOBER 29TH.
PRESIDING OFFICER,
ANDREW LEMASSENA, JR.
The " Silver Wedding of the South Park Church," as the Committee of Arrangements preferred to designate it, drew together a very large and happy concourse of all the present and many former members of the church and congregation. Handsomely printed notes of invitation were issued to all who are now and to all who ever were members of the congregation. It is believed that none were overlooked. Some came from a distance in order to be present. We quote again from the Daily Advertiser :
" The early part of the evening was spent in congratula- tions to Rev. Dr. Wilson and his wife socially, as the meet- ing was intended to have the general character of a pleasant reunion. Mr. Andrew Lemassena, Jr., presided, and the exercises were interspersed with vocal and instrumental music by Prof. Huss, the first organist of the church, and by his son and daughter, which was finely rendered. Dr. Wilson made a brief address, reviewing summarily the great events of the past quarter-century, especially in their scientific and intellectual and moral aspects, mentioning the electric telegraph and Edison's latest inventions, the pro- gress of missions and temperance and of free thought in this country and in other parts of the world, the abolition of slavery, and the improving relations between the North and South. He referred to the church, which was everything, while he himself was nothing."
A resolution of thanks was adopted to Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and to the choir for their fine music, to the ladies of the committees for their excellent management and per- fection of detail in the various duties that arose from their appointment, to the gentlemen who acted as ushers for their prompt discernment and activity in attending to the wants of all, and to the public for their unflagging interest and
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attendance throughout, which contributed so much to the success and enjoyment of the meetings.
The company then adjourned to rooms in the rear of the main assembly room, where a most abundant entertainment was provided by the liberality of the ladies, who waited on their guests, and all material wants were more than sup- plied. The evening closed with the presentation to Dr. and Mrs. Wilson of a beautiful satchel, containing two hundred silver dollars, on behalf of the ladies of the congregation, by Mrs. David C. Dodd, Jr.
THE SILVER WEDDING OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 30TH.
The children of the Sunday Schools assembled in the afternoon and evening, and were treated to an abundant supply of ice cream and other refreshments furnished by the ladies, and good cheer and merriment were the order of the evening until the hour of separation came.
Thus ended the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniver- sary of South Park Presbyterian Church. The observance was worthy both in matter and manner of the event, and the effect was equal to all that had been anticipated. The church tie was made prominent, and the social relationship was honored and cemented. The people were made better acquainted. New interest was awakened in all the common enterprises of the church, and the members were drawn more closely together in their sympathy for one common object-to build up the Kingdom of Christ and save the souls of men.
When the semi-centenary shall arrive, may the record of the next twenty-five years be still brighter, and the work and zeal and piety of the new generation far exceed that of their fathers, and abound in richer fruits for the life ever- lasting !
CHURCH MANUAL.
FORM OF ADMISSION.
(The Minister addresses the Candidates in the following words :) You have presented yourself thus publicly before God, to take His covenant upon you, and definitely to incor- porate yourself with His visible people. We trust you have well considered the nature of this transaction. God, and the holy angels, this Church, and your own conscience, will be witnesses of your engagements, and your vows will be recorded in Heaven. But you need not be overwhelmed with this reflection. In the name of Christ you may boldly approach the God of mercy, who, though great in majesty and might, graciously condescends to enter into covenant with penitent sinners. You may venture thus irreversibly to bind yourself, and trust His faithfulness for strength to fulfill your engagements.
You do now, with unfeigned sorrow and self-abasement, confess the depravity of your nature; the total alienation of your heart from God; the unbelief whereby you have so long rejected the Saviour, and the manifold transgressions of your life. All which sins, without exception, you do condemn and forever renounce.
In the presence of God, angels and men, you solemnly avouch the Lord Jehovah as your God; the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour from sin and death, your Prophet to instruct you, your Priest to atone and intercede for you, your King to rule, protect and enrich you; and the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide.
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