USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > The North Reformed Church, Newark, New Jersey : the addresses delivered in connection with the observance of the fiftieth anniversary, Dec. 10-17, 1906 > Part 3
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They were conscious that the task they under- took would strain every power of heart and hand
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and mind; and they realized their own insuf- ficiency. But they had clearly heard the call "Arise and build". He who summoned was the Source and Center of their spiritual life. In all His divine beauty, they saw before them the Son of Man. Not less definitely than the young men of Galilee eighteen hundred years before heard, their listening hearts heard Him say "follow Me," and they arose and followed Him. Think what this meant to these men and women. In material resources they were limited, in many ways they were widely separated from one an- other; the times were fearfully unsettled, omin- ous clouds of financial disaster were gathering, and the income of each might soon fail; the po- litical issues of that day were of a character that strained the friendship of close companions to the breaking point. Could they hold together ? Fifty years ago it was exceedingly difficult to in- duce men to shoulder new responsibilities that demanded great and continuous self denial. So perhaps the most pressing problem was the win- ning of support. Unless at least thrice their num- ber would join them in the work, they could not succeed. For the proposed enterprise had large proportions. If it was to fulfill its purpose it must from the beginning represent the best. They must build their church on broad lines. It must immediately become the larger home of many beside themselves. How rich was that lit-
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tle company in faith and hope and love! The secret of their power was their deep abiding con- viction.
Sixty years ago two young men,-one the poet Heine-stood in the center of the Cathedral of Amiens, France, the fairest monument of the piety of the Middle Ages left in that historic land. They viewed its noble proportions and matchless details, and the poet said "Opinions never wrought such a work, only convictions can." Thinking of our fathers and what they wrought for us, we thank God that they were men of convictions. For ten years, the most memorable and unsettling our land has known they gave their time, strength, means, their very selves, to the upbuilding of this Church. Because all their hearts were in it, they labored with a unity and hopefulness that no discouragement could thwart. There is not a stone or rafter in this pile that does not speak to some present of devotion and self-denial beyond price. In this world what is worth having is bound to cost com- mensurately, and there is no victory without wounds. To build this Church cost heart blood. I never read the history of the resurrection of the temple in Jerusalem but memories of the build- ing of this North Church crowd my mind; and the obsession has many parallels to that Nehe- miah knew when writing the Bible story. Above all both illustrate that great law which governs
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the history of the Church of God. The life of the Church is a divine life. Her Lord is with her. Her life is not dependent on chance or change. Nothing that comes from without has power to really hurt; all things that so come may be made to help.
Because our fathers knew that God was with them, they believed in the seemingly impossible, and accomplished the seemingly impossible. As a son of this Church, I glory in her splendid development during the past decade. I thank God for the noble leaders whose name and fame are in all the churches. You have become not only a great company knit together in one com- munion, but a mighty power in reordering and renewing the distracted and discordant life of the world. This Church conserves and preserves all that is worthy in the city, in your homes, in your individual lives. I know something of your trials something of your fears as you face the future. A church like this must grow. This means new and increasing effort, denial, respon- sibility, when already the burden bearers seem taxed beyond their strength.
My prayer is
"God give you grace to dare and do, God give you courage to endure, The all He now demands of you."
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PETER S. DURYEE, Treasurer of Church Building Fund.
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As a great incentive, I bid you as a church, pray that you may be worthy of the Fathers who laid the foundations of your spiritual house.
What was their spirit? It was the spirit of strong young men. Revering our fathers, we naturally think of them as old. In fact, the first hundred men who joined this church were, with few exceptions, well under forty years of age. And the elders had not only wisdom but all the spring of youth as they led the rest. Only strong young men could dream the dreams, see the visions, and accomplish the work they wrought. The complete Church was ever in their mind; the dying message of Dr. Polhemus,-he was but forty-four when taken,-was ever heard: "That church shall be erected ; souls shall there be con- verted to Christ and I shall rejoice over them in Heaven". What power that word of his has had for fifty years !
Some of this company were present at the tenth anniversary. For us it requires no wand of evocation to enable us to recall the leaders who on that night told us what God had wrought. All but dear Dr. Hart-God bless him-have passed beyond our vision, but now we seem to see them. If they should speak, how silent would be our lips, how our hearts would burn within us !
President Campbell. He had guided, in- structed, inspired, as perhaps no other could
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have done. What a man he was, how strong, wise, brave, gentle.
Joseph P. Bradley. I wonder that the Bar of New Jersey has not erected the statue of the great Jurist in enduring bronze as a witness to all as to what the character of the lawyer and the judge should be. Where a more fitting place for such a monument than the park, facing the house he made his home, the church he loved and served, the public library that was the dream of his young manhood.
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen. Newark, and the State, were proud of their first citizen, and well they might be. But this church loved him as men are rarely loved, because all knew he loved her so well.
Peter S. Duryee. He was the friend of every- one, a man whose aim in life was to live for others; take him all in all the best man I shall ever know. Every word these men uttered on that night just forty years ago, is pertinent on this fiftieth anniversary. Their intent is summed up in a sentence of Judge Bradley, "The organ- ization of this church is the greatest work that any of us will ever be concerned in. Here is planted an organization that is immortal; which shall send forth influences to bless and to save for centuries to come, when we are forgotten."
Because the occasion warrants I name others who dearly loved this church and nobly served
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her in the good old days. The presence of Rev. Doctors Steele, McKee, and Abeel at every ser- vice was a benediction of peace to all. While life lasts many will be grateful for the kindness of Doctors Arthur Ward and Edward D. G. Smith. The Church should not forget John A. Miller. The Sunday School on Orange Street he organ- ized and maintained was the first root of her life, and all through the early struggle he loved and served her devotedly. From the beginning the benefactions of Robert F. Ballantine were large; but I think his richest gift was that personal character so helpful to everyone who knew him. He was so broadminded, so unselfish, so tried. And I should love to picture other loyal men like Peter Vanderhoof, John C. Woodruff, Joseph Penovie, Peter Demarest, John Duncan, Joseph Robinson, George Brown, C. G. Crane, Chris- tian and Paul Scharff. Each of these gave this church a service that was constant and hearty. About the close of the great war there came among us a noble Scotchman, George A. Clark. What a cheer and help his presence meant ! With his advent a new era began. The great industry he organized and developed brought hither many of his people. The scope of the church was doubled and her future assured. And not less his brother William Clark was a powerful influ- ence for good.
I must not continue, but every name on the
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long roll is worthy of its place in golden letters. There are two this church should always remem- ber-Tunis A. Waldron is first written there. The Senior Elder, about him the members gath- ered, to him they looked for guidance, and for comfort; and he never failed them. When he passed away there came among us one very like him both in manner and in spirit, Calvin H. Merry. For years his gracious presence blessed this church ; all revered him for his simple good- ness, and when he died every heart was lonely.
These, with others like them, were the men who maintained the North Church in her forma- tive years. Under the inspiration of their exam- ple and their teaching, boys grew into a manhood that was strong, regulated, helpful. All the training that came to them through their associa- tions in the church was based on that noblest definition of a broad education, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatso- ever things are of good report." The sons of the Church have been nobly taught how to bravely and wisely meet the issues of life.
I can wish for you men and women who now bear the burdens our fathers only laid down in death, no finer incentive to faithfulness than their blessed memory.
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"And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear their distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and hands are strong."
"And may the God of peace, Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. To Whom be glory for ever and ever." Amen.
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THE FOUNDERS
JOHN C. WOODRUFF, Deacon in First Consistory.
ADDRESS
BY
THE REV'D EDWARD PAYSON TERHUNE, D. D.
The Founders of the North Reformed Church of Newark, New Jersey
PON the Consistorial Minutes of the First Reformed Dutch Church of this city, for December 15th, 1856, stands this record :
"Tunis A. Waldron" (the then senior elder) "presented an application from the following persons for letters of dismissal in order to asso- ciate together for the organization of the North Dutch Church in Newark."
To this are appended the names of twenty- seven applicants :
Tunis A. Waldron, Mrs. Amanda Waldron, Miss Amanda Waldron, John C. Woodruff, Mrs. Julia C. Woodruff, Isaac Gaston, Mrs. Mary E. Gaston, Mrs. Anna Thompson, Joseph P. Brad- ley, Mrs. Mary Bradley, Peter Demarest, Mrs. Mary Demarest, Jacob A. DeBaun, Mrs. Cather- ine DeBaun, Mrs. Catherine Penovie, Mrs. Ann Hendricks, John A. Miller, Anne E. Brown, Isaac S. Miller, Miss Frances Hanson, Joseph Robinson, Mrs. Violet Robinson, Miss Violet Robinson, Peter Vanderhoof, Mrs. Margaret
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Vanderhoof, Mrs. Mary Waldron, Mrs. Sarah Deas.
To these I find added upon your own book the following names :
Mrs. Tamas G. Cadmus, Frederick T. Freling- huysen, Mrs. Matilda E. Frelinghuysen, Rev. Wm. H. Steele, Mrs. Fanny Steele, Mrs. Mary L. Austen, Newell Ransom, Mrs. Mary D. Ran- som.
The minute proceeds to say :
"After a deeply affecting interchange of senti- ment on the part of the petitioner and the Con- sistory, in which mutual expressions of affection and confidence were set forth, it was Resolved
First, That the above persons be and hereby are dismissed to constitute the North Dutch Church of Newark, N. J.
Second, That the Consistory consider it .a great honor conferred upon the Church over which God has made us overseers, to be able to send forth such a nucleus to form a new church of our order, and that we part with Brethren so beloved and useful among us, only because the Great Head of the Church seems to call for the sacrifice, and that we commend them all to the Covenant-keeping God."
You will perceive, at once, from the number of applicants here named, that the list is but a par- tial one of those who are to be remembered as the Founders of the North Reformed Dutch
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Church. It omits the names of certain persons who to your minds were most deeply interested and active in the organization. This fact sug- gests that the application, in respect to numbers, was probably a formality-an enrollment suf- ficient to justify the Consistory in its assent to the petition, and that it was understood at the time to represent the larger company contem- plated.
At the date of this record the Rev. James Scott, D. D., was the pastor of the First Re- formed Dutch Church,-a relation he had sus- tained to it for thirteen years, soon sadly to be severed by his sudden death.
In every respect Dr. Scott's pastorate had been happy and successful. He had come to the church but twelve years after its organization, and at a time when it was struggling in the almost des- perate effort to maintain its existence. By his energy he had, under Providence, extricated it from embarrassment, and by his popularity had drawn together a large fellowship; so that, at the time of this minute, few churches of its age, in the Reformed Dutch Communion, were its equal either numerically, or for efficiency in ser- vice. The ambition of the pastor was that his fold should be recognized among the prominent churches of the Denomination, a laudable am- bition consecrated to the honor of the Master.
There is evident pertinence, therefore, in the
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form in which this minute was written-prob- ably by the pastor himself-that while it is con- sidered an "honor to be able to send forth such a nucleus, etc., that we part with Brethren so be- loved and useful among us, only because the Great Head of the Church seems to call for the sacrifice."
And this will not appear surprising when you regard the character of the colony about to sever these ties, and to enter upon an independent career. For few organizations, I think, have been so gifted at the outset, in the quality of the ma- terial-if one may so designate it-gathered fifty years ago to form the North Dutch Church.
Frequently, as you know, churches are se- quences of experiment in neighborhoods yet to be developed, promising points which it may be wise to occupy, experiment nearly always begin- ning in feebleness, and protracted for years with varying fortune. A former pastor of our De- nomination in this city, and in his later years as- sociated with this communion, insisted that in a majority of instances churches have their period of infancy, of childhood perils, run the gauntlet of juvenile ills, and that none may ever be con- sidered as established until it has proved its right to survival by years of successful growth.
In this instance there was no such period of leading strings. The glory of its youth was its strength.
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You will not, I am sure, demur, if in the con- gratulations of the hour I pause to lay a simple wreath of commendation at the feet of the Mother Church. She had not become venerable with years-less than twenty-four, I think, when, with her benediction, she sent you, the second of her offspring, forth from her embrace. A few years earlier she had dismissed a goodly com- pany to form the Second Reformed Church of this city, of which the Rev. Dr. Abeel became the pastor. And but ten years after you had left her fold, she was able to bid God-speed to one hundred and twenty of her members to constitute the vigorous Clinton Avenue Reformed Church. In no one of these instances did she permit a daughter to leave her undowered. The records of all these organizations will evince how gener- ous were her contributions to aid them to secure an appropriate home, and to facilitate the inde- pendent life they were henceforth to pursue. In all that period she was permitted graciously to illustrate the truth, so essential to be recognized in the Kingdom of Christ, enrichment through sacrifice. Whatever God in His Providence may have for her still to accomplish, the past of her bountiful life is secure. The children of so benefi- cent a mother will feel that they are honoring themselves by allotting to her a just meed of praise.
With respect to yourselves, the First Church
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felt that she was giving of her best; for, at that time, comparatively few came to you from other communions. Three of the applicants for dis- mission were members of the Consistory, men who had stood at their posts, with the pastor, in the days of the Mother Church's stress and struggle, who had a full perception of the work to be confronted, and who were trained to meet its responsibilities. Others, both men and women, were among the most efficient of her workers in the various spheres of church service. Whoever will recall the roster of those who may be termed the "charter members" of this church will recognize the exceptional promise in the ma- terial. Several of them were prominent in posi- tions of influence in the community, although certain of them had not yet reached the wider fame in the State and in the Nation to which they later attained. Almost every professional and business pursuit ; the ministry, the law, finance, manufactures, mercantile and mechanical trades, was represented in that company, and the talent, the facility, the experience in church work, and in the successful conduct of their varied callings were at once brought to bear to the advantage of the new organization.
It would be invidious to mention names and to go into detail respecting any or all of the prime movers in this enterprise. It is superfluous, also, for their actual participation impinges, perhaps,
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upon that of the majority of the present congre- gation. How vividly are they before me this hour !- in form, in feature, in the very tones of their voices, in all the functions in which you are to-day engaged, so recently have they pass- ed from our vision! The moulding influence of their hands is still so fresh, you are able to as- sign this and that feature to the leading of such and such a mind. The sons and the daughters occupy the seats of the fathers and mothers, and have assumed, as their inheritance and holy trust, the positions and responsibilities in the church which filial love and their personal consecration have made theirs.
I cannot state the exact period of the occupa- tion of Oraton Hall by the then congregation of the North Reformed Church. But whether long- er or shorter, it was never an occupation for ex- periment. To their mind's eye this church even then stood a completed edifice. The corner stone had been laid by the first pastor, recently in- stalled, so soon and mysteriously called to the employment of the Heavenly Sanctuary. His own faith, inscribed on that mural tablet, appro- priately represents an expectation matured to a certainty. "That Church will be erected, souls shall there be converted to Christ: and I shall rejoice over them in Heaven!" The faith of the dying was that of the living, and even the shock of the great bereavement did not for an hour dis-
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hearten or delay. Indeed, it seemed to devolve an enlarged sense of responsibility upon the now shepherdless fold. All the functions of the church were carried on in that hall, so that when the time came for the removal to this edifice, it was the transferrence of a fully organized and efficient church from a temporary to a perma- nent home.
It is due to the memory of two men, who by their wisdom in counsel and sympathetic encour- agement compensated in a measure for the void occasioned by the death of Dr. Polhemus, to re- call the valuable service rendered by them to the founders of this church. I refer to Rev. Dr. Wm. H. Campbell, then professor in the Theo- logical Seminary at New Brunswick, later Pres- ident of Rutgers College, and to Rev. Joseph McKee, resident in this city, and a worshipper in this church. Both have passed to their reward.
Many of you yet hold in recollection the di- rect, incisive preaching of Dr. Campbell. For a protracted period this church was favored with his ministrations in the pulpit and with his safe guidance. His attitude towards it always im- pressed me as that of a father. His interest, his sympathy, his oneness with you during the first few years of your separate life were of inestim- able benefit.
Rev. Mr. McKee identified himself with the formative period of the church, and, both in the
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ISAAC GASTON. Deacon in First Consistory.
THE FOUNDERS
pulpit and wherever his co-operation could serve, gave an instant support. How intense was his nature ! How profoundly interested in every- thing that engaged his mind! Though not a native of this country, from the hour he accepted it as his home its welfare seemed foremost in his thought. His Scottish descent and accent ren- dered him especially acceptable to that element represented in this church at its formation, and ever since constituting so considerable a portion of its communion.
Perhaps some of you recall the heroic manner of this good man in the hour of his death. It was in the darkest period of the Civil War, and on one of the darkest days of that period he lay dying. That fragile, tremulous frame had suc- cumbed to a sharp attack of pneumonia, and he recognized that the end had come. As the sun was setting he appeared feverishly restless. He was waiting with impatience the issue of the paper that would tell the result of a sanguinary battle of which the morning had given tidings. Several times his devoted wife had descended the stairs, in the eager desire to relieve his anxiety. She returned, at last, bringing the sheet, and as he seized it from her hands, he exclaimed, "My heart is trembling for the fate of my country: I must not, cannot die until I have known how the day has gone!" Then glancing at the headlines of the page that gave assurance of the victory,
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he closed his eyes, and with a sigh as of deep content, passed into the fuller life.
I have referred to these honored servants of God because their sympathy and co-operation with the founders of this church were conspic- uous at a time when they could be of peculiar fitness.
Permit me to indicate certain characteristics of the Founders of this Church :
First; They were distinctively of the Re- formed Dutch Church, believers in the truth as presented in its symbols, and attached to its forms of worship and government. At that time -fifty years ago-the technically "Higher Criti- cism" had not called men and women to the ques- tioning. and rejection of their early beliefs. The looseness, the shiftiness, the easy dismissal of re- sponsibility for belief had not become a feature of the age, at least in those holding to a distinct communion. Probably innovation, in certain re- spects, has come more slowly to the Reformed Dutch Church than to some others. Its con- servatism is of its traditions as of its nature. Those traditions were of staunchness to the truth at every peril and at all cost. It has been said that, numerically, every word of its con- fession stands as a memorial of a martyr's blood. Definiteness was deemed essential to solidity. The accepted inspiration of the Scriptures settled for the Reformed Church its theology. That is
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not an unreasoning assent, the conservatism of ignorance. It recognizes that all true liberty is liberty within bounds. A faith written in blood and maintained in unparalleled heroism and by sacrifice beyond measure, is not a faith without reason. The scholars, the critical students of Holy Writ, in the days of these standards, were among the most eminent the world has known. When Judge Bradley, then in your Consistory, contributed in this edifice his series of lectures upon the English Bible, he brought to that study the same acumen, the same research evinced in his legal decisions on the bench of the Supreme Court.
Several of the Founders of this Church traced their lineage directly to a Holland ancestry. The name of the foremost of that procession of Dutch ministers who crossed the seas to plant and per- petuate their order here, is repeated in your membership of to-day, as it has held a place of influence and of honor among you from the date of your organization. The relation to the Church of the Netherlands was both an inherit- ance and a conviction. Others of your number -"not to the manor born," but as loyal to its spirit-had for years maintained a devoted at- tachment to its fellowship.
Such allegiance to Denomination does not in- timate a narrow sectarianism. There may be preference without rancor. Habits of thought
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