USA > New Jersey > Atlantic County > Atlantic City > The Daily union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and County > Part 16
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What conclusion shall we draw? Did those servants of God, esteem this region more important, or had they any more of the spirit of self-sacrifice than their successors. that until recently and with a vastly increased population. the existence and situation of these churches were actually unknown to the two Presbyteries, within, or rather between whose bounds this Egg Harbour country is situated. May a double portion of their spirit fall upon us, and may their God raise up and qualify many to walk in their footsteps.
SHEPPARD H. VAUGHN.
EARLY CHURCH HISTORY.
Blackman's Meeting House was near the village of Bargaintown and abont ten miles southeast of May's Landing. It was built of upright planks.
The following extracts from a deed recorded in Trenton, Liber X, folio 407. 408. a copy being certified by James D. Westcott, Secretary of State, will prove the existence of a Presbyterian church and to whom the property of right belongs:
"This Indenture, made the nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four, between Andrew Blackman, Cord- wainer of Egg Harbor, in the county of Gloucester and Province of New Jersey, of the one party, and Joseph Ingersoll, John Scull, Joseph Scull and Return Bab- cock, of the aforesaid township, county and province, of the other party, Witnes- seth that the said Andrew Blackman for and in consideration of the sum of two pounds proclamation money. to him in hand paid before the ensealing hereof. by Joseph Ingersoll, &c. # hath granted, sold, &c. *
* and confirmed unto Joseph Ingersoll, John Scull, Joseph Scull and Return Babcock and their succes- sors, a certain piece of land situate, lying and being in the township of Egg Har-
CENTRAL CHURCH AT BAKERSVILLE.
bor, in the county and province aforesaid, near the head of Dole's Branch, Begin- ning at a stake standing in the line of Joseph Dole's and Atwood's, near the Branch, thence south twenty-one degrees east fifteen perches to a stake; thence south sixty-nine degrees west thirteen perches; thence north twenty-one degrees west to Atwood's line, Bounded by Atwood's line north eighty degrees east to the place of beginning at Dole's line; containing one acre more or less, together with the mines, &c. * for the erecting, building and standing of a Presbyterian Meeting House, for the carrying on of Publick Religious worship for all that shall incline to meet and assemble in it: together with a publick Burying yard for the interment of the deceased of all denominations, to have and to hold * unto the said * * and to their successors for ever, that shall be chosen and ap- pointed by the proprietors of the aforesaid meeting house or their heirs, to the sole and only proper use and benefit of maintaining a meeting house and burying yard as above mentioned." Andrew Blackman then on behalf of himself and heirs,
294
DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
warrants and guarantees to the above mentioned persons and their successors, to defend them and their successors in the "lawful, quiet and peaceable possession of the said premises, for the use before mentioned of maintaining a meeting house and burying yard as of fee without any let, suit, trouble or molestation whatso- ever." He then signs his name and the receipt for the sum of two pounds pro- clamation money.
Charles Jeffrey Smith, Andrew Blackman, Jr., and Jesse Lewis subscribed their names as witnesses, and the affidavit of one of them was taken before John Ladd, Esqr., one of his Majesty's Counsel for the Province of New Jersey.
Three years afterward, June 2, 1767, a memorandum was written on the back of the deed, explaining the views of the persons named and proving that the house had then been erected .- It reads thus:
We, the within Grantee, * * having been chosen Trustees to carry on and manage the building of a Presbyterian meeting house upon the lands within granted and sold for that purpose, do hereby acknowledge that the said land and meeting house is not our own personal property, but is bought and built by a subscription of many persons ; neither do we claim any other interest in it but what we have in common with all who have subscribed hereto and though the legal title is vested in us, yet we hold it only in behalf of our constituents and do promise that it shall be kept as a house of publick worship and the land for a free Burying yard in which all may have equal privileges with ourselves, without monopolizing it or engrossing and applying it to any private use of our own. A memorandum whereof we leave on the back of this instrument, that posterity may not be de- frauded of their right or mistaken about the intent hereof which is to secure a House of Public Worship, as before mentioned. In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names, hands and seals.
Joseph Ingersoll, John Scull, Joseph Scull, Return X Babcock, John Inger- soll, Ebenezer Ingersoll; and Ebenezer Ingersoll as a witness gives his affirmation before Jolin Ladd. Esqr., one of his Majesty's Counsel for the Province of New Jersey.
ZION CHURCH.
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995
ST. NICHOLAS' R. C. CHURCH.
St. nicholas' Church.
S T. Nicholas Church was built by the Reverend Michael Gallagher, O. S. .... in the year 1856, on ground given by the late Col. Daniel Morris, to the Order of St. Augustine. Then there were but few Catholic residents on the island. In fact, you might say they consisted of those who went there in summer season to wash and be clean. Atlantic City did not then show signs of its rapid growth, since then, or those who built wooden shanties on sand dunes and eked out a miserable existence by gunning and fishing did not read the signs aright, or they would to-day be multi-millionaires. However, it is better to be poor and honest, than rich without working for it.
The Augustinian Fathers came to look after lost or strayed sheep, and found a few such scattered among the sand hills of which there were plenty in those days. The eloquent Dr. Moriarty, O. S. A., was the first of the Augustinian fathers to preach the gospel of good tidings to those children of the church. It is said that many, not of his flock, were drawn by his matchless eloquence, to listen attentively to the saving truths he propounded in the name of the Master. Even on the barren sands, the seed thus sown, soon produced fruit, and the little flock began to speak of a regular service, a church and a pastor. The Lawlors, the Quigleys, the Dalys, the Doyles, and the McAdams, with others came together in the name of the Lord,
t
ST NICHOLAS' CHURCH.
and pledged their all for a suitable place in which to honor and adore Him. The Rev. Michael Gallagher heard their cry, and placed himself at their head and at- their service, and thus the little gothic chapel of St. Nicholas of Tolentine was
REV. J. J. FEDIGAN O.S.A.
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297
ST. NICHOLAS' R. C. CHURCH.
begun and finished in the year 1856. It was modest, but pretty, and dedicated to God as the offering of his poor people. It weathered the storms of twenty-five years and told of many who sought and found consolation there under the direc- tion of dear old Father Gallagher, the true friend. the Father of the poor, and the Priest of God. Rest to his soul! He was worthy of heaven, and on earth he is not yet forgotten by the few older people who still remain to bless his memory.
With the growth of the city, new demands were made, and more room re- quired by the Catholics of Atlantic City. They asked for a resident pastor. stating that they could support one all the year around. The Rev. John Joseph Fedigan, O. S. A., then President of Villanova College. Penna., being out of health was sent them to build himself up in health, and to build them up also. Both were happily accomplished, and that, too, in short order, and without the slightest difficulty, or difference of opinion among his little congregation. True, there was a great veneration for the old chapel and its founder, but it was too small. and ground could not be purchased on either side to enlarge it. So Father Fedigan, yielding to the wishes of the people bought a new site on Pacific avenue, moved the chapel there and then enlarged it to its present seating capacity of over one thousand people. Later on as the summer season poured its hundreds and thou- sands of strangers into our city by the sea, it became necessary to fit up the base- ment so that another thousand are accommodated there in July and August, and it is a reminder to those who think the faith is dying out to stand on the corner of Tennessee and Pacific avenues and watch the crowds leaving St. Nicholas Church at the nine o'clock mass in the summer season.
The fine residence adjoining the church is also the work of Father Fedigan, and this together with the church represents an outlay of about fifty thousand dollars, and paid without anybody feeling that it cost them even an effort, for this was one of the many happy faculties Father Fedigan possessed, that in dealing with his people in money matters. he never forced, nor even demanded their money, but made his appeal to them so convincing that they really felt it was "better to give than to receive." He received material assistance from his Pro- testant friends, also, and it seemed as if these vied with their Catholic fellow citizens in doing honor to the pastor of St. Nicholas' Church. We but give ex- pression to the public sentiment, when we state that no man in public or private walks of life won the heart of all classes as did the Rev. Father Fedigan during the eighteen years spent in Atlantic City. The thousands of summer visitors have the same story to tell at the mention of his name.
As the city extended southward, the only way it could extend, his watchful eye soon saw the necessity of summer accommodation in that section and hence he purchased a large lot on the corner of California and Atlantic avenues, and erected thereon the beautiful and spacious church of St. Monica in 1887. For this work the Right Rev. Bishop O'Farrell, of Trenton. N. J .. gave his consent publicly, and privately expressed, and the work went on to a finish so marvelous that when the church was dedicated many were surprised to see such a fine church among the sand hills, and asked the Father how he could have put so fine a building there.
WM. G. GARDINER,
299
OUR LADY, STAR OF THE SEA.
"The hills will soon give way to houses," he said. "and St. Monica will bless those who dwell therein." What was a theory then is a fact to-day.
For more than seven years this church was attended from St. Nicholas, after much expense and many sacrifices made on the part of the .Augustinian Fathers; until in 1893 the Bishop saw fit to take the church and lot adjoining and send a priest of the diocese to be pastor of St. Monica's Church. This did not please Father Fedigan, who on account of this tendered his resignation and asked for a new field of future labors. It is still remembered how Protestants and Catholics alike, upon that occasion, gathered around him, and begged that he would not leave the city, the scene of his many labors. In just three years from that time the Church of St. Monica was burned to the ground, and two firemen lost their lives in the devouring flames. Such is the brief history of St. Monica's Church.
There are a few other facts worthy of note in regard to St. Nicholas' Church, namely, that the iron columns supporting the floor of that church were silent wit- nesses of the ricts of '44, in Philadelphia, where they were used in the Second Street Market House. All, or nearly all of the prelates of this country have at one time or another said mass and preached in St. Nicholas Church, and con- sequently have been the guests of the Augustine Fathers. One of these, the late Archbishop of Kingston, Canada, preached a fine discourse on the words of St. Paul-"To live soberly, piously and justly." but sat down to it for just two hours. when Father Fedigan, who was in the vestry thought it well to call the attention of the eloquent prelate to the length of time already spent in developing his triple subject, and for this purpose pushed the sliding door of the vestry just enough to catch the eye of the Archbishop who quickly said: "Will you be kind enough to close that door, I perceive a draft." The door was closed, and the sermon went on. Mr. M. T., a merchant who gave six days in the week to business, and only an hour on Sundays to the Lord, thought this was too much of a good thing, and meeting Father Fedigan during the following week, asked him if that man was going to preach again next Sunday, for if he is I want to go to an early mass.
Many other humorous and interesting stories I have heard from Father Fedigan regarding the church in Atlantic City, but it takes Father Fedigan to tell them. For about fifty years the Augustinian Fathers have been attending to the Catholics of Atlantic City and to their efforts, zeal, and labors must be attributed the high standing that church has attained in our midst. Father Fedigan was the first resident pastor, coming here in August of 1880 and remaining till July, 1898. when he was elected by his brethren to preside over the province of St. Thomas, of Villanova, with residence at Bryn Mawr, Penna.
Our Lady, Star of the Sca.
In 1885 Rev. Father Fedigan purchased the lot at California and Atlantic avenues for St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church which was erected the following year and dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop ()'Farrell of Trenton. It was in charge of the Augustinian Fathers of St. Nicholas' Church till 1894, and was open for service
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A. W. WESTNEY, M.D.
301
CENTRAL M. E. CHURCH.
only during July and August. Bishop O'Farrell appointed Rev. P. J. Petri as resident pastor, who has since been in charge of this church. In 1895 the new Rectory was built. December 2, 180,6, the church edifice was destroyed by fire. On Easter Monday, April 19, 1897. Bishop MeFaut laid the corner stone of the present edifice when the name was changed to "Our Lady, Star of the Sea." Rev. Father Leahy of Swedesboro preached the dedicatory sermon. On July 18, 1897, the new church was dedicated by the Bishop, solemn pontifical mass being cele- brated by Bishop Prendergast of Philadelphia, and the sermon preached by Bishop Haid of North Carolina. The new church, furnished, cost $25,000. The cost of the rectory was $7.500. The lot 175x500 feet is valued at $25,000.
F
FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE.
Central m. E. Church.
Central M. E. Church of this city was the outgrowth of the urgent necessity of a Methodist house of worship in the central part of the city, nearer the great hotels and the sea.
The nucleus of the church was formed principally by a considerable number of earnest people who came from the First M. E. Church. The organization was formed by a few men who met first at the residence of Mr. F. A. Souder and afterward organized in Pennsylvania avenue school house about the 15th day of July, 1894. The original members of the official board were F. A. Sonder, L. A. Down, L. C. Albertson, C. B. Young. C. F. Wahl. Henry Wootton, Peter Corson, R. H. Ingersoll, Irving Lee, Smith Conover. James Down. James Conover, Mrs. Dr. Munson, Mrs. Thos. Seull.
The old hotel property known as The Colonnade was purchased in August, 1894, and the interior fitted up temporarily as a chapel. Here the first Sunday-
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GEO. W. CROSBY, M.D.
303
OLD CHURCH AT WEYMOUTH.
school service was held, September 18, 1894, and the first sermon preached by Rev. C. K. Fleming, November 24. 1804. From that time till the following March the pulpit was supplied by various clergymen, this arrangement being left with a committee appointed for the purpose, Bro. L. A. Down in charge.
In March, 1895. Rev. Wm. M. White was appointed by the Conference as the first pastor and under his wise administration the society prospered and grew in every department. The new house of worship, neat, handsome and capacious was erected on the site of the old hotel and was dedicated by Bishop Foss in June, 1896.
Rev. Win. M. White died during the conference session at Camden in April, 1898, and Rev. R. H. Eberhardt, under whose administration the church has had continued prosperity, both temporal and spiritual, succeeded to the pastorate.
The Society originally numbered 67 at the time the first sermon was preached. It now numbers over 200 and has 240 on its Sunday-school roll. and has had a prosperous history under the superintendency of Mr. F. A. Sonder.
The church property is valued at $25,000. At the 4th anniversary, held De- cember, 1898, it was shown that the church had raised for all purposes about $24,000. The Ladies' Aid Society, a notable and successful organization in the church, showed at its annual meeting in December, 1898, that in that year it had raised $1,262.
Old Church at Weymouth.
In a beautiful oak grove on the high bank of the Great Egg Harbor river stands the neat little church at Weymouth. For nearly a century it has served the purposes for which it was erected and in the adjacent cemetery are the graves of persons some of them long since widely known for more than ordinary talent and usefulness. Joseph Ball. the Quaker merchant and relative of Washington, was one of the owners and founders of Weymouth, when this edifice was erected. From a recent sketch compiled by Mrs. Charles R. Colwell and read at the gist anniversary the following sketch is taken:
"The building of the Weymouth Meeting House was begun in 1807 and com- pleted in 1808 at the expense of the Proprietors of Weymouth. The time books show the carpenter work to have been done by "Eziel Prickett and his son," the former working three hundred and sixty-five days at $1.25 and the son three hun- dred and sixty-six days at SI per day. The plastering and mason work was done by C. McCormick, the material and work on the building coming to $3.690,00. The Weymouth Meeting House was intended as a non-Sectarian place for religious meeting more especially for the benefit of employees of Weymouth. Both tradition and record show that it has been chiefly used by Presby- terians and Methodists, although services have been conducted and ser- mons preached by Episcopalians, Baptists. Dutch Reformed and in February, 1825, a sermon was preached by "Miss Miller." presumably a Quakeress. No records are accessible of the occupants of the pulpit of Weymouth Meeting House from its completion until 1813. From 1813 to 1845 the Time Books of Weymouth furnish the names of many preachers and dates of service.
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L. DOW BALLIET, M.D.
205
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.
St. Andrew's Church.
St. Andrew's English Evangelical Lutheran Church had its inception in a service held in Wolsieffer's Hall, June 30, 1889. The service was conducted by the Rev. Win. Ashmead Schaeffer. D. D. Twenty-nine persons were in attendance and after consultation it was agreed to undertake the establishment of a con- gregation.
A room was rented and services begun at the corner of Atlantic and Indiana avenues. In 1890 Philopatrian Hall on New York avenue was purchased, and the name changed to St. Andrew's Hall. St. Andrew's Hall was sold in 1892 to Joc Hood Post, and the present location at Pacific and Michigan avenues secured.
The corner stone for the church was laid June 8, 1892, and the edifice was con- secrated July 2, 1893.
Preaching was regularly maintained by Dr. Schaeffer, assisted by pastors in Philadelphia and students in the theological seminary. In the fall of the same year a call to the pastorate was extended to Rev. D. L. Passmant, but was declined.
In the spring of 1894 Rev. J. A. Kunkehan, D. D., was elected pastor. He accepted the call, and entered upon his duties April 1, 1894. He was the first settled pastor, and is still in charge of the congregation. The growth of the con- gregation has been slow but steady. The Sunday-school is in a flourishing con- dition, and the St. Andrew's Mission League is doing good work. The congrega- tion has sustained serious losses in the deaths of Mrs. Emily G. Taylor and Mr. Henry L. Elder, who were among its earliest and most liberal members. It has also received many evidences of kindly interest. A beautiful marble baptismal font, of chaste and exquisite design was presented by Mrs. Dr. W'm. Ashmead Schaeffer. Mrs. Lewis Steuber had specially cast and put in the belfry a sweet- toned McShane bell: and Mrs. A. D. Freas gave an elegant Mellor Pipe Organ, which sweetly leads and greatly aids in the beautiful service of the Church Book. An elegant silk robe was presented to the pastor by the Ladies' Guild of St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Philadelphia, of which he was pastor many years.
The congregation and pastor are in connection with the Ministerium of Pennsylvania. Conservative in its methods it moves along quietly, fulfilling an important mission in this wonderful city by the sea.
Its doors are open, and all residents and visitors are most cordially invited to attend its services.
Friendship m. E. Church.
Friendship M. E. Church, near Landisville, N. J., was built in 1808. The exact records of its uneventful early history have been scattered and lost. That was a wild and sparsely settled region at that time before Vineland on the south or Hammonton on the north were dreamed of and before any railroad had been
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O. H. CROSBY, M.D., DECEASED.
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807
FRIENDSHIP CHURCH.
built in America. Like the zealous pioneers at Tuckahoe, Weymouth, Batsto and Clark's Landing, the settlers in what was then Hamilton township, constructed from the primeval forest the very substantial frame edifice, which with the repairs and improvements made in 1853. is acceptably serving the needs of the present generation.
A beautiful oak grove whose welcome shade has refreshed the several genera- tions of worshipers of old Friendship church, covers the grounds on the westerly side of the building, while an iron fence incloses the cemetery and three sides of the building. The history of that neighborhood for a hundred years is suggested by the names on the tombstones, some of which are the following:
Andrew Pancoast, died March 6, 1855: Rebecca D. Pancoast, died February 6, 1873; John Pancoast, died February 15, 1854; Wm. B. Vanaman, born Au- gust 9, 1808, died November 10, 1868; Mary M. Down, died March 12, 1872; John
FRIENDSHIP CHURCH.
Down, died May 11, 1872, aged 77 years; Charles Down, died March 20, 1866, aged 77 years: Rev. James Down, died June 27, 1850, aged 53 years; Buelah Down, died November 29, 1848, aged 44 years; Samuel Down, born May 4, 1769. died September 11, 1826; Jane, wife of John Claypool, born January 12. 1799, died March 16, 1866: John Claypool, died November 28. 1877; J. Quincy Adams, died October 7, 1863, aged 31 years; Susanna, John W., and Archibald Campbell, burned to death October 26, 1858.
Friendship church is at present organized as follows: Pastor, Rev. Charles
WALTER C. SOOY, M.D.
309
OLD CHURCH AT TUCKAHOE.
H. Barnes; Trustee, Charles Wray : President. C. A. Gross: Secretary, A. P. Vana- man; Treasurer, Wm. Howell: J. Henry Young. Richard C. Cake. Wm. B. Cower. Stewards, Charles Wray, A. P. Vanaman, Miss Lizzie R. Gross. Superintendent of Sunday-school, A. P. Vanaman. Class Leader, Mahlon Gross.
First Church at may's Landing.
The present Methodist Church at May's Landing was built in 1888, to re- place the old-fashioned edifice destroyed by fire which was erected in 1848. Nearly forty years previous to that a church was built on or near the same site and served the early inhabitants of a wild and rugged country.
The original deed is still in existence and bears date of May 20. 1812. It was given by "Richard Westcott. Sr., of Great Egg Harbour Township," who had purchased a tract of one hundred and thirty-five acres of the West Jersey pro- prietors, where the village of May's Landing now is. He gave a lot described as consisting of 2 roods and 17 perches, including the church building upon it. to seven trustees, part of them Baptists and the rest Methodists, who, with their successors and assigns, should forever allow the church to be used free by Metho- dists, Baptists, Presbyterians and Quakers. The first trustees were Elias Smith, Jolin Wicks, John Wheaton, Abner Gaskill. Thomas Doughty and John Steelman, described as "citizens of Weymouth township."
Oid Church at Tuckahoe.
So far as known, the oldest church in Atlantic County is the old M. E. Church at the "Head of the River." in Weymouth Township, about four miles westerly from the village of Tuckahoe. It was built about 1770, by the people who formed a considerable population in a section now but sparsely settled.
Old Aetna Furnace near it was a village of some forty families at a time when the mining and smelting of bog iron ore was a profitable industry.
Old Ingersoll, about three miles distant, near what is now Risley, was another settlement which contributed to the support of this pioneer church.
Rev. Benjamin Abbott, a preacher of considerable note in his day, dedicated this church, so rudely and substantially built of the best timber which then abounded in South Jersey.
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