USA > New Jersey > Union County > Cranford > The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, N.J. : a brief history of its first half century > Part 3
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
years he has been associated with the Cathedral in New York, being the tenor soloist. The accom- panist of the evening was Mr. Joseph Pizzarello, a native of France. His status in the world of music is attested by the fact that he accompanies the solo- ists in Grand Opera-Maurel, the De Reszkes, and others. A solo, 'Ah! My Son!' from 'The Prophet,' by Meyerbeer, was rendered by Miss Maurer. The soloist was recalled, and sang a pretty little ballad. She is a soloist at the Dam- rosch concerts, and achieved great success in the operas recently given in Brooklyn. Mr. Van der Gucht, a Cuban, gave 'Faust Fantasie ' (Gounod- Sarasate) as a violin solo. This was greatly enjoyed by all, and he gave as an encore a berceuse, one of the sweetest compositions of Reber. He used his instrument with great skill, and brought out all its wonderful possibilities. Part Second of the programme began with a Hungarian Rhapsody- No. 12-by Liszt, which was rendered by Señor Miguel Castellanos. This piano solo was rendered in an exceedingly brilliant manner. Mr. Castel- lanos is a Cuban of noble birth, and he is a teacher of music in the Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York. The solo was followed by the rendering of Gounod's 'Ave Maria ' by Mrs. Mina Schilling. She was accompanied by the organ, piano, and violin; and so magnificently did she sing that the applause was tremendous and long continued. She repeated the piece as an encore. The quartette- Mrs. Schilling, Miss Maurer, Mr. Kaiser, and Mr. Schilling-then sang Verdi's 'Rigoletto ' brilliantly.
50
HISTORY OF THE
Mr. Bartlett played two of his own compositions, the 'Polonaise Militaire' and 'Allegretto Grazi- oso,' as concluding numbers."
This magnificent concert was due to the enter- prise of a number of the gentlemen of the Church, chiefly of the trustees, and to the gracious gen- erosity of Mrs. Fred Schilling, Jr.
On Tuesday evening, June II, exercises were again held in the church, the speakers being mem- bers of the Presbytery of Elizabeth. The pastor in a few words of greeting called on the moderator, Rev. J. G. Mason, D. D., to preside; and the latter, on taking the chair, made a brief address in fitting terms. Rev. Oscar L. Joseph, pastor of the First M. E. Church of Cranford, offered prayer, and the following ministers gave five-minute addresses: Rev. W. R. Richards, D. D., pastor of the Crescent Avenue Church, Plainfield; Rev. N. W. Cadwell, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Westfield; Rev. I. A. Blauvelt, D. D., pastor of the Roselle Church; Rev. George Hubbard Payson, D. D., pastor of the First Church, Rahway; Rev. John T. Kerr, pastor of the Third Church, Elizabeth, and Rev. John A. Liggett, D. D., pastor of the Second Church, Rah- way. Dr. Richards spoke of the distinct mission of each congregation and of the significance of an an- niversary like that in course of celebration. Mr. Cadwell brought greeting from the mother church. Dr. Blauvelt spoke as a long-time neighbor of the Cranford Church and its present pastor. Messrs. Payson and Kerr gave speeches of great wit and
REV. JAMES F. RIGGS, D.D.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
brilliancy, particularly emphasizing their personal friendship for the pastor of the Church. Dr. Lig- gett declared his admiration for what the Church had accomplished, and in very happy phrases con- gratulated the congregation on past achievements. The exercises, which lasted a little over an hour, were exceedingly brilliant throughout, and were greatly enjoyed by all who were so fortunate as to be present. Telegrams or letters of congratulation were read from Rev. D. S. Gregory, D. D., editor of the Homiletic Review; Rev. Everard Kempshall, D. D .; Rev. Samuel Parry, D. D., Stated Clerk of the Presbytery; Rev. E. G. Read, D. D., and Mr. Edward Lane of New York City. Among the other clergymen present besides those mentioned were Rev. John Stuchell, pastor of the First Church, Elizabeth, and Rev. J. M. McNulty, D. D., pastor of the Woodbridge Church.
The final jubilee service was held in the church Wednesday evening, June 12, and a large audience was in attendance. The pastor presided. Prayer was offered by the venerable Rev. Wilson Phraner, D. D., who had preached at a service at which the founding of the Church was under advisement, over fifty years ago. Adresses followed by Rev. William Henry Roberts, D. D., the Stated Clerk of the Gen- eral Assembly, and pastor of the Church from 1873 to 1877, and Rev. James F. Riggs, D. D., pastor of the Brick Church, East Orange, pastor of the Church from 1877 to 1884. Dr. Roberts' subject was "The Presbyterian Church of the Twentieth
52
HISTORY OF THE
Century," * and that of Dr. Riggs was. "The Suburban Church." + They were both able ad- dresses, and were listened to by many of their former parishioners with much pleasure. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. H. C. Thomp- son, pastor of St. Paul's M. E. Church, Cranford.
After the exercises in the church a reception was held in the chapel to the present and former mem- bers of the parish, at which several hundred people were present. The Ladies' Aid Society had dec- orated the chapel for the occasion, and the mem- bers provided refreshments for the guests of the evening. While the people were chatting Gar- land's parlor orchestra provided music, and helped to give a festive tone to the gathering. It was a happy occasion, and when the evening ended all felt, it may be believed, that the entire celebration had been a great success. All the members of the Church had reason to feel a degree of honest pride in their organization. The reception committee for the evening consisted of the following: Mr. E. W. Austin, Mr. A. V. Hart, Mr. C. D. Lakey, Dr. J. K. MacConnell, Mr. F. J. Newcomb, Mr. George G. Teller, and Mr. B. A. Towl.
Among the newspapers, secular and religious, which contained more or less full reports of the an- niversary exercises were these: the Cranford Citi- zen, and Chronicle; the Elizabeth Daily Journal; the New York Tribune, the Mail and Express, and the Evening Post, and the New York Observer; and the Philadelphia Presbyterian.
* See Appendix IV. p. 66.
t See Appendix V. p. 73.
53
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
IX.
THE FUTURE.
If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow, and which will not; Speak then to me.
-Shakespeare.
" How narrow our souls become," says Richter, " when absorbed in any present good or ill! It is only the thought of the future that makes them great." The noble company of men and women who have been of our Church, and loved it, during the half-century of its life would have followed a mean motive if they had used their church privi- leges only for present blessing, forgetful of the claim upon them of a later generation. And if we, who are in a large sense reaping in the spiritual field where our fathers have sown, recognize aright our mission we shall think, plan, and pray for those who are to take our places when we have finished our allotted tasks in our Zion and gone to our rest. What, then, of our Church's future?
So substantial, commodious, convenient, and beautiful is our house of worship that we cannot believe that during the ensuing fifty years any new building enterprise will demand the attention of our membership. To use a commercial expression,
54
HISTORY OF THE
our "plant " is apparently solid and well-equipped; and it ought to meet all its requirements for a long time to come. If we may believe that Cranford is to remain the attractive suburb it now is, and that it is to grow as it has grown durng the past twenty years, it will not require a great exercise of the pro- phetic gift to foresee that not long hence our con- gregation will have grown to double its present proportions. In fifteen years our membership has grown from 125 to 377. During the next fifteen years it ought to grow to 600 or 700. Is it too much to believe that fifty years from now our mem- bership will not be less than 1000? In a former generation it would have been predicted from our present numerical standpoint that a second Pres- byterian church would soon swarm out from the mother hive; but the present tendency is all in the direction of strengthening existing churches, instead of wasting money and spiritual force in multiply- ing small congregations. In the business world the trend is constantly toward centralizing power and responsibility, and so securing economy, through combination. And the same law is bound to pre- vail in the ecclesiastical world. Fortunately for Cranford, and fortunately for our Church,-and, we may add, fortunately for the cause of Christ,- the logic of events is working to prevent the estab- lishment of new churches in our place. If the prin- ciples of forbearance, charity, and concession are to prevail in our circle there is no reason why, for long years, all who can occupy the broad platform
55
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
of our Presbyterian system may not worship hap- pily together under our one roof. We may look, then, to the steady growth of this Church in num- bers and in strength, if it please God, until its first century is rounded out.
We may likewise trust that during the coming years the glad news of Jesus Christ will continue to be preached in our pulpit, unmixed with purely human opinions, and unattended by sensational elements. This will not imply that the faces of our members will be toward the sunset. Men need not depart from Christ in order to be true learners, and to discover new truth and new methods of declar- ing it. New light is ever to break forth from the Word of God. The nature of Christ and the scope of His Gospel are so vast that His followers are bound to be kept from the dreary domain of old- fogyism so long as their eye is kept upon their adorable Lord. Let us hope that our Church will never betray Christ and follow after strange divini- ties, while it is yet sufficiently receptive of truth to keep up with God's own movement along the ages. But the Church that grows healthily must remain upon the immovable foundation once for all estab- lished by the infinite and infallible Builder.
Difficulties will be encountered by our Church, but through the grace of God and by the faith of His people they will be overcome. There are prob- lems that have recently arisen to be solved by the suburban church. Forces have begun to be ar- rayed against faith and spirituality that are peculiar
56
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
to localities of the stamp of ours. But the trust and devotion of the faithful, be they few or many, and whatever their local conditions, can remove moun- tains; and our faith is great that this center of spiritual influence will not lose its grip upon the community, but that it will rather grow, even as Truth itself grows, toward an absolute supremacy. The blessings of God be multiplied, then, upon the First-and the only-Presbyterian Church of Cran- ford !
ELM
E. M. Wray. J. K. MacConnell, M. D.
N. R. Foster.
S. C. Blake. Rev. G. F. Greene.
F. E. Woodruff.
PASTOR AND SESSION, JUNE, 1901
APPENDIX.
57
APPENDIX I. LIST OF ELDERS, WITH DATES OF ORDINATION.
Samuel White Thompson,
. June 26, 1851. 66
Josiah Crane,
William Crane,
66 66
John Miller,
April 6, 1858. 66
Ebenezer Hart,
J. A. Baldwin,
..
6
Job S. Williams,
April 19, 1865.
John Seaton,
. April 14, 1866.
Nathaniel G. Foster, Fisher A. Fisher,
October 4, 1868.
Ira Canfield,
. April 6, 1870.
Noel R. Park,
. May 5, 1872.
Joseph S. Elwell,
John W. Close,
March 29, 1874. 66
William D. Wood,
William E. Smith,
. April 14, 1878. . April 17, 1881.
Edmund B. Horton,
April 22, 1888. 66
George H. Krausè,
April 14, 1889.
Samuel Brush, .
. April 19, 1891.
Frank H. Valentine,
.
May 5, 1893.
Walter M. Irving,
. June 24, 1894.
Charles T. Bingham,
. April 19, 1896.
Edward W. Hazen, .
. April 15, 1900.
Nathaniel R. Foster,
. April 28, 1901.
Frederick E. Woodruff,
THE SESSION IN 1901.
J. K. MACCONNELL. EDWARD M. WRAY, Clerk. SPENCER C. BLAKE, Treasurer. NATHANIEL R. FOSTER. FREDERICK E. WOODRUFF.
. April 3, 1867.
Dr. Joseph K. MacConnell,
Edgar S. Ells,
Edward M. Wray,
Spencer C. Blake,
58
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX II. LIST OF DEACONS.
John Grant Crane, David Miller, Josiah Crane, Jr., Jacob N. Irving, George M. Lane, E. B. Horton, Theo. A. Crane, N. R. Foster,
Stephen D. Day, F. E. Woodruff, Daniel Burr,
Charles H. Clarke,
ORDAINED OR INSTALLED.
June 26, 1851.
April 5, 1865. March 29, 1874.
April 6, 1874.
June 27, 1880.
June 26, 1881. April 6, 1894.
April 10, 1896. April 7, 1899. April 28, 1901.
CEASED TO ACT.
March 29, 1874. April 10, 1861. March 29, 1874.
June 24, 1875. April 17, 1881.
April 7, 1899. Jan. 22, 1898. April 12, 1901.
-
THE BOARD IN I90I.
JACOB N. IRVING. DANIEL BURR.
THEODORE A. CRANE. CHARLES H. CLARKE.
2
5
7
6
I. Jasper C. Hunt, Chairman. 2. N. R. Foster.
3. Robert Rindell. 4. L. P. Naylor. 5. H. N. Fiske. 6. J. C. Miller. 7. John Lutton. , THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
59
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX III. LIST OF TRUSTEES, 1869-1901.
Josiah Crane, Sr.
R. Rindell.
Job S. Williams.
G. G. Ely.
Fisher A. Fisher.
E. M. Wray.
J. G. Crane.
W. M. Irving.
J. A. Murdock.
P. D. Van Saun.
Josiah Crane, Jr.
E. W. Austin.
N. G. Foster.
J. C. Hunt.
A. P. Purves.
H. B. Lounsbury.
J. W. Close.
E. B. Horton.
J. A. Elmendorf.
John Hegeman.
E. K. Adams.
J. C. Miller.
H. H. Cowan.
Joseph Purcell.
F. A. Ellis.
N. R. Foster.
W. D. Bigelow.
L. P. Naylor.
J. A. Bogert.
John Lutton.
G. B. Osborn.
H. N. Fiske.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN 1901.
JASPER C. HUNT, Chairman. JOHN LUTTON, Treasurer.
NATHANIEL R. FOSTER.
ROBERT RINDELL, Clerk. JAMES C. MILLER. LAWRENCE P. NAYLOR.
HARVEY N. FISKE.
60
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX IV.
MEMBERSHIP ROLL, SEPTEMBER 1, 1901.
[EXPLANATION: The title " Mrs." is used uniformly be- fore the names of married women. " Miss" is used before the names of unmarried women only when the sex is other- wise undetermined. The names of men are to be under- stood in cases where the sex is not indicated.
Omissions from this Roll may be explained by the annual transfer of names of absentees, etc., to the " Reserved Roll."]
Adams, Caroline L.
Beebe, George A.
Adams, Mrs. E. K.
Beebe, Mrs. George A.
Allen, W. C.
Beebe, Allyn W.
Allen, Mrs. W. C.
Benedict, Miss Susan A.
Anderson, Mrs. W. W.
Bennet, Miss E. G.
Anderson, Adelaide Julia.
Beyer, Annie.
Anthony, Mrs. Edw. J., Jr. Austin, Shelley F.
Beyer, Elizabeth.
Bindenberger, Carrie.
Bindenberger, Louise.
Barker, Wesley P.
Bingham, C. T.
Barker, Mrs. W. P.
Barnett, Mrs. Susan.
Barnett, Lewis M.
Blake, Mrs. S. C.
Bartow, Wm. N.
Blake, Robert W.
Bartow, Mrs. Wm. N.
Blake, Mrs. R. W.
Bates, George H.
Blauvelt, C. M.
Beadle, Edw., Jr.
Blauvelt, Mrs. C. M.
Beadle, Mrs. Edw., Jr.
Blauvelt, Frank Carr.
Beadle, Chas. S .*
Bookhout, Mrs. Edw.
Beadle, Mrs. Chas. S .*
Bookhout, Mrs. Edw., Jr.
* Garwood Chapel.
Bingham, Mrs. C. T.
Blake, S. C.
61
APPENDIX.
Bookhout, Clarissa A. Bowne, Jennie Gale. Bowne, Margaret Anna. Brackebush, Jennie F. Brackebush, Louise M. Brackebush, Teressa V. Bradley, Theo. F.
Bradley, Mrs. Theo. F.
Bradley, May.
Bradley, Florence E.
Crane, Mrs. J. M.
Crane, Abby C.
Crane, Theo. A.
Crane, Mrs. Theo. A.
Crane, Annie S.
Crane, Mabel C.
Crane, Fannie E.
Crane, Grace L.
Crane, Mrs. Wallace.
Crane, Mrs. Sarah F.
Crane, J. Irving.
Crane, Ada M.
Crane, Mrs. Chas. E.
Crane, Edward B.
Crane, Robert E.
Crane, Walter Muir.
Cromwell, J. H.
Culin, Mrs. C. G.
Cavalier, Mrs. Joseph. Cavalier, Mary L. Clarke, C. H.
Clarke, Mrs. C. H.
Clarke, Wm. C.
Clarke, Mrs. Wm. C.
Clement, Mrs. R. E.
Close, Mrs. John W. Cox, Mrs. Mary T.
Cox, Howard.
Cox, Mrs. Howard.
Cox, Stephen J. Cox, Mrs. S. J. Cox, Frank E. Cox, Clifton Ray. Crane, Mrs. E. S.
Crane, James E.
Crane, J. C. Crane, Mrs. J. C.
Crane, J. M.
Brown, George E.
Brown, Mrs. George E.
Brown, Fannie E.
Brown, Susie G.
Brown, Gilbert LeRoy.
Brown, Mrs. Arthur L. Brundage, F. N.
Brundage, Mrs. F. N.
Brundage, Susie R.
Brush, Mrs. Hannah.
Burley, Mary A.
Burling, E. G.
Burling, Mrs. E. G.
Burr, Daniel.
Burr, Mrs. Daniel.
Davison, Mrs. Samuel.
Day, Chas H.
Day, Mrs. Chas. H.
Deckhut, Caroline.
Deckhut, Elizabeth.
Deckhut, Kate.
Deckhut, Annie.
Denman, John C.
Denman, Mrs. John C.
62
APPENDIX.
Derby, John L.
Derby, Mrs. John L.
Hall, Mrs. P. W.
Derby, J. L., Jr.
Halsey, Herbert W.
Halsey, L. H.
Hann, George A .*
Du Mont, Peter.
Du Mont, Mrs. Peter.
Du Mont, Mrs. H. K.
Duncombe, Frank E.
Duncombe, Mrs. Frank E.
Dunham, Emeline.
Hazen, Edw. W.
Hazen, Mrs. Edw. W.
Hedenberg, Mrs. George.
Hegeman, Mrs. Harry.
Herron, Mrs. R. B.
Herron, Annie E.
Herron, Essie.
Everett, Helen Esther.
Heston, Mrs. E. E.
Everett, Edward.
Higbie, Mrs. Wm.
Everett, Mrs. Edward.
Higbie, Mary L.
Hillier, Isaac V. S.
Hillier, Mrs. Carrie.
Fiske, Harvey N.
Fontaine, Mrs. H. T.
Foster, N. G.
Foster, N. R.
Foster, Mrs. N. R.
Hunt, Mrs. J. C.
Foster, Mary E.
Hyne, Mrs. E. B.
Fox, George F.
Fretz, Mrs. C. A.
Irving, J. N.
Garthwait, Martha E.
Irving, Mrs. J. N.
Graham, Robt. W.
Irving, David D.
Gray, Elizabeth.
Irving, Mrs. D. D.
Gray, Wm. N.
Isenmann, Annie.
Gray, Augustus T.
Isenmann, Maggie.
Gray, William N., Jr.
Gray, W. L.
Greene, Mrs. G. F.
Hann, Mrs. George A .*
Hart, Mrs. E. W.
Hart, Alfred V.
Hart, Mrs. A. V.
Hart, Joseph T.
Ely, George G.
Ely, Mrs. G. G.
Ely, Augustus G.
Everett, David A.
Everett, Mrs. David A.
Hodgson, Mrs. W. C.
Hopkins, A. C.
Hunt, J. C.
Jackson, Ella L. Jeamby, Mrs. P.
* Garwood Chapel.
Derby, Jacob B.
Dohrman, Mrs. J. K.
Hall, Philip W.
63
APPENDIX.
Johnson, E. A. Johnson, Mrs. E. A. Josephs, Emily J.
Kane, Mrs. John D. Kauffman, Mrs. George.
Klase, Mrs. Susan E.
Miller, Mary E.
Miller, Libbie L.
Miller, Jeptha E.
Miller, Mrs. Charles S.
Montgomery, Mrs. A.
Moore, Jas. G. Moore, Mrs. James G.
Moore, Elmer L.
Moore, Mrs. E. L.
Moore, Mabel O.
Moore, Frederick Jas.
Moore, Elizabeth Cook.
Moore, Ethel May.
Myers, George.
Myers, Mrs. George.
McDanolds, Miss Ella. MacConnell, J. K. MacConnell, C. W.
MacConnell, Mrs. C. W.
MacConnell, Gertrude J.
Marsh, Wm. G.
Marsh, Mrs. Wm. G. Martin, Hugh. Martin, Mrs. Hugh. Martin, Mrs. Fred. Mathey, Mrs. L. H. Metcalf, George R. Metcalf, Mrs. G. R. Miller, Alonzo W. Miller, J. K.
Miller, Mrs. J. K.
Miller, Jas. C. Miller, Mrs. J. C. Miller, Jas. D.
Miller, Elizabeth.
Miller, Margaretta.
Krausè, George H.
Krausè, Mrs. George H.
Krausè, Grace M.
Krausè, Florence P.
Lakey, Chas. D. Lanning, Christina.
Lent, David B .*
Littell, George W.
Littell, Mrs. George W.
Littell, Nellie L.
Littell, Mary. E. Littell, Clara.
Lutton, John. Lutton, Mrs. John.
Madden, H. G. Madden, Mrs. H. G. Marien, John. Marien, Mrs. John.
Naylor, L. P. Naylor, Mrs. L. P. Neipp, Rosa. Newman, Mrs. George.
Osborne, Mrs. D. K.
Pargiter, Alexander. Park, Noel R. Park, Fred W.
* Garwood Chapel.
64
APPENDIX.
Park, Mrs. Fred W.
Sackett, Eliza D.
Park, Helen R.
Sanford, J. Halsey.
Park, J. Caldwell.
Sanford, Mrs. J. H.
Parks, Sadie.
Sargent, Walter F .*
Schwegler, Mrs. Alice V.
Parks, Wm. N. Peniston, Mrs. J. F.
Phillips, Mrs. Henry.
Pierson, Mrs. Mary.
Shaw, Wesley A.
Pierson, Ethel May .*
Shaw, Mrs. Wesley A.
Plummer, Elizabeth C.
Smith, Mrs. W. B.
Plummer, Florence H.
Smith, Mabel.
Potter, John A.
Smock, Daniel P.
Smock, Mrs. D. P.
Smock, Mabel J.
Stewart, Helena.
Stickle, Susie.
Sulzer, Mrs. Chas. F.
Sutton, Edwin J.
Reeder, Wm. W .*
Reeder, Mrs. Wm. W .*
Taylor, C. J.
Taylor, Mrs. C. J.
Taylor, Miss M.
Rindell, Mrs. Robert.
Taylor, Lenita.
Robertson, J. S.
Teller, George G.
Robertson, Mrs. J. S.
Teller, Mrs. G. G.
Robertson, Miss Mary.
Teller, Ida B.
Robinson, Mrs. R. B.
Teller, Edna P.
Robinson, Miss E. M.
Teuber, Annie G.
Robinson, Miss Eva.
Thomas, Wendell M.
Robinson, Mrs. W. R.
Thomas, Mrs. W. M.
Rosencrantz, Mrs. Marion.
Thornton, Mrs. H. C.
Rosencrantz, J. J.
Towl, Burr A.
Rosencrantz, Mrs. J. J.
, Towl, Mrs. Burr A.
Rosencrantz, Willard C.
Townley, N. M.
Rosencrantz, Waldo B.
Townley, Mrs. N. M.
Rosencrantz, Mrs. Waldo B.
Travis, J. M.
Rosencrantz, J. Sabine.
Travis, Mrs. J. M.
* Garwood Chapel.
Rankin, Mrs. J. C. W. Reed, Mrs. Dora A. W.
Richmond, Maggie.
Rindell, Robert.
Power, Mrs. E. B.
Purcell, Joseph. Purcell, Mrs. Jos.
Scott, Ellen. Severns, Mrs. Frank.
65
APPENDIX.
Truax, R. M. Tusch, Mrs. Albert. Tusch, Albert, Jr. Tusch, Wilbur.
Valentine, F. H.
Valentine, Mrs. F. H.
Van Saun, P. D.
Westergaard, Annie M.
Van Saun, Mrs. P. D.
Winans, Mrs. Annie C.
Van Saun, Henry R.
Winckler, Mrs. F. C. W.
Van Saun, Mrs. H. R.
Winckler, Marguerite Elise.
Vigelius, Mrs. Wm.
Winkie, Mrs. Chas.
Voorhees, Judson.
Winne, S. W.
Voorhees, Mrs. Judson.
Wood, Mrs. W. D.
Voorhees, Harry.
Wood, Fred W.
Voorhis, Mrs. C. G.
Wood, Ethel L.
Voorhis, E. Louise.
Woodhull, Mrs. Sarah D.
Voorhis, Alice.
Woodruff, Mrs. P. O.
Vreeland, Minnie M.
Woodruff, Fred E.
Vreeland, Emily M.
Woodruff, Mrs. Fred E.
Vreeland, Mrs. Maggie B.
Woodruff, Marian B. Wray, E. M.
Wray, Mrs. E. M.
Wrenn, Mrs. T. A.
Wagner, Minnie E. Watson, Mrs. Grace.
Watson, George A.
Watson, Mrs. George. Watson, Lottie. Watson, Jeanie. Westergaard, Christian.
Westergaard, Mrs. Chris.
Westergaard, Mary.
66
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX V.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
(Address of Rev. W. H. Roberts, D. D., LL. D., at Jubilee Service, Cranford, June 12, 1901. Revised by the speaker.)
IT gives me great pleasure to be present on this historic occasion, and to tender to your efficient and talented pastor, and to you as a congregation, hearty congratulations. As Mr. Greene suggested in his introductory remarks, I have most pleasant and happy memories in connection with this Church, in which I was privileged to serve for four years at the opening of my ministerial career. Your continued prosperity has been a source of joy to me, and I have remembered you always in my prayers. Wishing you yet greater prosperity in the future than in the past, I invite you to con- sideration of the subject which has been assigned me for an address, viz .: "The Twentieth Century Presbyterian Church."
In dealing with this subject, it is well to recall some of the characteristics of our Church which have been features of its life during its entire ex- istence.
(1) This Church of ours sprang into being on American soil, and has been from its first establish-
67
APPENDIX.
ment a Church independent of all Churches in for- eign lands. American in its origin, it has always been in full sympathy and complete adjustment with American ideas and the development of the American nation.
(2) Our Church, further, was historically the first of American republics. Its General Pres- bytery antedated by three-quarters of a century the Continental Congress. It represented, for that period of time before American independence, all the ideas in which as a nation we believe and which make us to differ from other nations. The oldest of American republics, it contributed more than any other ecclesiastical institution during the sev- enteenth and eighteenth centuries to the forces which brought about American independence.
(3) It has been from the first a Church maintaining the right of all citizens to education. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton Universities were founded by men who believed in the Westminster Confession. If they were not all Presbyterians, the early Fathers of this Republic were all Calvinists, and in the United States, as in other lands, Calvinism and popular education have gone forward hand in hand.
(4) Our Church has been faithful to its convic- tions as to truth. It has magnified the Word of God above all other sources of truth, as the only infallible rule of faith and conduct. It has clung tenaciously to the Bible as its supreme Creed, and has resolutely maintained what is called the Cal- vinistic system as being the Biblical system of truth.
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(5) While strenuous in its maintenance of what it believes to be truth, our Church has been thor- oughly evangelical in its spirit and conduct. The first Presbytery at its first recorded meetings took steps to send home missionaries to what were re- garded as the spiritually destitute places of the country; and among these was the very region in which this church is now located. Its Home Mis- sions are to-day found in every State and Territory of our own land, and its Foreign Missions in fifteen different countries. As General Benjamin Harri- son has said, " Though it has made no boast nor shout, it has yet been an aggressive Church; it has been a missionary Church from the beginning."
(6) It has been a Church cherishing a true catholicity. No Church exists which can rightly claim as exclusive property the name catholic or universal, but every Church ought to evince the possession of a catholic spirit. This spirit is a marked feature of the American Presbyterian Church. In the Confession of Faith these words appear: " It is the duty of civil magistrates to pro- tect the Church of our common Lord, without giv- ing the preference to any denomination of Chris- tians above the rest." Presbyterianism has been synonomous with that true catholicity which cheer- fully accords to others, whatever opinions they may cherish, their full rights of conscience.
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