USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > The Sesqui-centennial, or, The 150th anniversary of the Deerfield Presbyterian Church, Cumberland County, New Jersey, celebrated Thursday, Aug. 25th, 1887 : historical sermon, addresses, etc > Part 5
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Then the churches of Salem and Millville were established. The appeals for help from Mr. Freeman and Col. Johnson on behalf of the infant church at Salem might now amuse the good people of that flourishing church. History repeats itself and
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those appeals should inspire our sympathy and hope for other churches now struggling for existence.
The Presbytery of West Jersey was organized in 1839, and from that time the Presbyterian Church has made steady progress within the six counties which this Presbytery now covers.
In 1840, and for many previous years, in Atlantic county, (or Egg Harbour), we had no church, and now have eight.
In the present Camden County, Blackwoodtown Church then stood alone, now there are nine Presbyterian churches.
In Gloucester County are ten, and all of these excepting Woodbury have been organized since 1840. In Salem County, where were two before 1840, are now four, and in Cape May County, where was one, are also four.
In Cumberland County, always the stronghold of the Presbyterian Church, were eight and now are ten churches.
Thus thirty-five churches have been organized in forty- seven years, and while the population has increased two and ·one-half times, the membership of our churches has increased about four-fold.
A similar report of progress might be made of Monmouth Presbytery, which was organized first in 1859, and reconstructed in 1870.
History repeats itself and has its lessons:
I. Were the former days better than these? Some assert that our churches in former years did not call for so much fin- ancial aid as now, because they sustained the Gospel by uniting contiguous churches, and that therefore we should do the same.
Tis true that once Woodbury and Pittsgrove were united.
In 1750 the Presbytery of New Brunswick directed as to Penn's Neck and Woodbury, that in the place which provided a house to live in, Mr. Chestnut should preach two-thirds of the time, and in the other one-third. In 1751 the same Pres- bytery decided that Mr. Hunter should preach at Greenwich one-half, Deerfield one-fourth, and at Pilesgrove one-fourth of his time. In 1794 the two churches, Greenwich and Bridgeton, united in calling Mr. Clarkson. Not until 1823 and 24 did the church of Bridgeton venture to sustain the gospel alone, and
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then terminated the collegiate relation which had existed for thirty years.
Times have changed, and so have the habits and demands of churches. Do you wish to return to those old times as bet- ter than the present? You do not realize the struggles of your Fathers to establish the ordinances which you now enjoy. Place yourselves in their circumstances, if you can, and you will sym- pathize with other feeble struggling churches of the present day.
II. History teaches us to cultivate diligently the field, which is committed to our care. The churches of l'enns Neek and Aloes Creek had vigor enough in 1797 to secure a pastor, and in 1803 had eighty communicants at a time when the two churches of Woodbury and Timber Creek, (Blackwood- town), were reduced to seven members. Once we wondered what were the causes of the decline of Aloes Creek and Penn's Neek churches. Now we wonder that they lived so long, when we read that for twenty years, and again for nine years, the people had no regular preaching; but only occasional supplies, and for another period of seven years only an annual supply .*
Has the Lord committed to us any portion of his vineyard to cultivate for Christ? If we are unfaithful in its cultivation, the Lord of the vineyard will take it away and give it unto other husbandmen.
III. Deerfield owes a debt to Egg Harbour. John Leake waited upon or escorted both Enoch Green and John Brainerd from Egg Harbour to Deerfield. Thus Deerfield church obtained the ministry of the Gospel at the expense of Egg Harbour. Deerfield survived and the churches of Egg Harbour, which were planted by John Brainerd, declined and became extinet.
Suppose the process had been reversed; then Deerfield Church had become extinct. Deerfield owes a debt to Egg Harbour and to John Brainerd, and to the Great Head of the Church.
How shall that debt be repaid?
*See the Presbyterian, April 26, 1856.
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ADDRESS OF CALEB ALLEN, A. B.
CONDENSED ADDRESS OF MR. ALLEN ON THE "IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THE PAST ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS."
It is my task to outline the progress of events during the existence of this little church. In the peaceful village of Deerfield, pastor has succeeded pastor, and generation followed generation to the "silent city of the dead." Outside this quiet barbor storms have raged and many a gallant bark has gone to wreck.
One hundred and fifty years ago! How long-how short a time! What a trifle of the world's history! But crowded with events, separated from us by marvellous progress, away in a past already growing dim-how far distant !
It is impossible to predict the altered circumstances of A. D. 2037. Almost equally difficult is it to fill in the details of the distant past. Yet this is just the best way of estimating the world's progress.
Let us now go back to the "good old times," or if you will "the bad old times," and first take a peep across the water. Here comes one of the old-timers. Very stately is he in flow- ing wig and knee breeches; his long coat adorned with lappels and side pockets. His house is in keeping with his attire. In the low ceiled reception room, uncomfortable, straight backed mahogany chairs stand around the panelled walls in formal rows, whilst a jingling harpsichord occupies one corner. In his bed room, a close fusty chamber, hung with dismal dam- ask, stands the huge fourpost bed, like a gigantic hearse, so high that steps are needed for the perilous ascent. When he retires at night he will sleep (if he can) sunk in the center of a mass of yielding feathers, the bed curtains carefully drawn and tied to exclude every breath of fresh air; down to his nose he will draw a thick woolen night cap, and then with the dim rush light burning in a basin on the floor, he will lie semi-suffo- cated in what he calls "comfort." His London house stands in a narrow street, adorned with odoriferous heaps of refuse which
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are scattered by the wind for every shower to beat into a thick black paste. A large open drain in close proximity sends pes- tilential steams into the foul atmosphere. As a man of fashion our friend breakfasts at ten, dines at two, takes tea at five, and sups at eight o'clock. When he gives a dinner he will not fail to send home every guest intoxicated. If a brawl occurs he will arm with pistols and settle his quarrel in a duel. In the intervals of sleeping, eating, drinking and gambling, he will visit the theatre where the coarseness of the scenes will by no means shock his delicacy, or he will watch two men slice each other with broad swords; or at a bull-bait will enjoy the mutual tortures of gored dogs and a chained and infuriated bull. This elegant program will be varied by boxing matches and cock fights. When our friend walks through the city at night he goes cautiously along under the feeble twinkle of the oil lamps. past aged watchmen, who are snoring in their boxes, or tremb- ling lest their old bones should be pounded by the noisy bloods who go reeling by. Happy, indeed, if he is not pounced upon from some dark corner, knocked on the head and robbed.
Such is a fair picture of the life of an English gentleman of 150 years ago. Contrast it with the present; the low, close, stuffy rooms with the well lighted, well ventilated and well warmed modern house; the filthy surroundings with modern sanitary improvements. Think of our healthier habits and more refined pleasures; of profanity and sensuality as no longer characteris- tic of the gentleman; drinking and gambling under ban; duel- ling and highway robbery almost things of the past, and you will see the progress of 150 years.
Now let us look at Boston, just after the War for Inde- pendence in 1784. From various sources we may learn the condition and customs of the people. Thoughi Boston was the third city in the States, its streets were irregular, the carriage ways were unpaved, and the sidewalks unflagged. The houses were of wood, with unpainted weatherboard sides. Furniture was imported. There were heavy sideboards, English eight-day clocks with chimes, and high candelabra drawn about the floor on rollers. The huge fireplaces were adorned with scripture tiles, and the walls with inartistic colored engravings. In the streets the houses were not numbered, but instead were golden
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bells, blue gloves, crowns and sceptres, dogs and rainbows, elephants and horse shoes. In the shop of the haberdasher were found wares of strange look and name-lawns and jeans, galloons and silk ferrets, swords, garterings, vest patterns and silk cloaks. The threshing machine, cast iron wheeled plough, drill, potato digger, reaper and binder, hay raker and corn cut- ter, were all unknown. In the farmer's house paint and carpet, had no existence; beef and pork, salt fish, rye bread, dried apples and vegetables coarsely served made his monotonous fare the year round. His Sunday suit of broadeloth lasted his life and then descended to his son. It is a question which was more to be pitied, the school teacher who itinerated amongst his patrons and gave to their children the elements of educa- tion in return for his board; or the unfortunate school boy, to whom hard fare, sermons, prayers and floggings came round with distressing regularity. The village doctor pounded his own drugs, prepared his own medicines, and put up his own preseriptions. Hle bled and cupped and leached unmercifully; of quinine, ether and chloroform, he was profoundly ignorant, and vaccination was as yet undreamed of. Even in the north- ern cities the dead cart nightly shot the victims of yellow fever into the pits of the Potter's field. But highest in dignity stood the minister. To sit patiently on the rough board seats while he turned the hourglass for the third time, was a delectable privilege. His sermon was the great event of the week. The newspapers were wretched productions on miserable paper, and never appeared oftener than three times a week. News was conspicuous by its absence. Travelling was perilous. Before a journey men made their wills and said to their friends a sad farewell. Two stages carried all the passengers between New York and Boston. The travelers had often to help drag the clumsy vehicle out of the slough. The condition of the poor was most wretched. Only by the strictest economy could the mechanie keep out of jail. His home was comfortless. Stoves, coal and matches were things unheard of. Worst of all, if mis- fortune overtook him he was liable to be seized by the Sheriff and hurried to prison for debt. And the prisons were horrible. To loss of liberty and the bitter thought of starving children at
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home, were added the terrors of the treadmill, the pillory, the stocks, the shears, the branding iron and the laslı.
Vast has been the progress since that day. Manners have changed, and morals. The spirit of humanity, has grown. Mechanical inventions and discoveries have increased the hap- piness of our race. From feebleness and poverty the country has progressed to power and wealth. Education, a free press, a free church, the influence and power of religion have produced and are still producing their marvellous transformation.
For the great and stirring events which have begotten nations and remodelled maps; for the startling discoveries which have given to mankind new creations for good, and ter- rific forces for evil; for the enterprise that has set on foot vast undertakings, and opened up unknown worlds; for the new ideas which so powerfully are influencing men's minds for weal or woe, but little space is left. Nor is much required. To us they are familiar as our daily bread.
Europe has been remodeled. Asia and Africa are opened up. South America is independent. Thirteen states have devel- oped to thirty-eight. The Civil War has been fought. Slavery has been abolished and the united nation is daily growing stronger for its part in the world's destiny.
Christianity has modified the horrors of war, and the Red Cross, the emblem of peace, is borne into the midst of its car- nage. The revolver, the repeating breech loader, the torpedo boat, the ironclad, the monstrous 100-ton gun ;- all doubtful triumphs, yet it may be hastening the universal peace.
The steamboat and locomotive, the safety lamp, coal gas, natural gas, electricity, vaccination, the great iron and cot- ton industries, iron puddling, the spinning jenny, the water frame, the mule, and the power loom, Congreve rockets, per- cussion locks, the kaleidoscope, lucifer matches, sewing ma- chines, telegraphs and telephones, steam hammers, gun cotton and dynamite, light houses and life boats, the penny post, pho- tography, Atlantic cables, submarine tunnels, Alpine railways, diving bells and dresses, sanitary reform and police ; these are the children of the last 150 years of history. These have caused 1737 to be as far behind us, as Julius Caesar is behind it.
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And the great world has opened up Africa. Australia, Cen- tral Asia, China, Japan, Corea, New Guinea, and the islands of the South Seas, mostly unknown to 1737, are yielding to the power of the Cross. The march has been ever forward. Reced- ing here, advancing there, our holy religion like a mighty tide has swept on in its irresistible course, and in no distant future shall cover the whole earth, "for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
The Committee failed to secure the address of Rev. Robert J. Burtt, of Marksboro, N. J. Repeated attempts were made to obtain it for publication, but without success. It is to be regretted that this link of the chain of proceedings must be left out.
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ADDRESS OF MR. C. S. TYLER.
Like our friend, who, as the representative of the sainted John Brainerd, addressed us this morning, I came to-day to remain one of the unknown among this great gathering, but during the recess at noon I went down to the old historic spring to drink where my fathers drank; I cannot say that I drank in any inspiration. When coming away I met a friend, whose native modesty would not permit him to mention the subject himself, concerning the propriety of having the fact stated upon a stone beside the church, setting forth the many virtues of Rev. Enoch Green; that his body is not beneath the stone, but resting still within these walls. With this in view and to also enquire about the stone covering the grave of John Brainerd, which years ago I saw along the aisle before me, but which to-day, seeking it, I failed to find. Whilst looking for some of the "heads of this meeting" to confer about those mat- ters, I fell into the hands of your pastor, and the expectations of the morning came to an end.
As I wandered among those numerons and nameless graves, I could but wonder where among them repose the ashes of my ancestors? As I look over this great assembly, I see many descendants of those who, taking their lives in their hands, defied the wrath of Pope, Priests, and King at Boyne Water and Derry. Although they were men of humble lives, unknown to history and fame, I am prouder of a descent from such an ancestry, than I should be for the right to "the quartering" upon the shield of the Queen of England, or that of any other royal family.
We are told that certain traits of character are transmitted from parents to children; may it not be that the same spirit that worked in the fathers beyond the sea, to there establish civil and religious liberty, moved also, though in a less notable manner, in the hearts and lives of the founders of this church? May it not have been something of that same spirit of endur- ance that led the mothers of a century ago, whenever the
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weather permitted-to gather such of their children as were able for such a journey, and walk to church from Deerfield to Greenwich; walking those weary miles of roads, not laid out as we now know them, but winding through most open places of the heavy timber lands of that day, and by their many turns adding much to the distance; and often were they in the condi- tion of those described by the gentleman that preceded me- walking in heat as hard to bear as any that we have experienced in the weeks just past; days we found so hot and exhausting that many thought they could not possibly go up to His house to hear the word of the Lord.
Is it any wonder that out from under such training there went forth men willing to endure all the hardships and perils of our Revolutionary struggles, and those earlier colonial wars that were not alone contests for life and home, but for Protest- antism as well.
My heart has been stirred by the events of to-day, and thoughts of the past have flown as with wings. Here in your midst I was born; here in this house I was consecrated to God; here among these seats, from this pulpit, I first heard the way of life-though true, there is now no memory of those words. And now after this lapse of time, I am glad to-day to assure you that during all the years following the period when ill health severed the connection between pastor and people, there re- mained, and does still remain, with surviving head of that par- sonage household, a strong feeling of friendship for the people that were left behind; with hearty good wishes for those that from time to time had given the hand, and spoken the words of cheer to the pastor and his young wife.
To-day we have listened to many evidences of kind feeling on the part of the people of this church for their several pas- tors. To-day we look abroad over your hills, and fertile fields, where roam your many herds, or are glorious in promise of the coming harvest; and the thought has come, may it not be that this increase in basket and in store, that has brought joy to your lives, has come in answer to the prayers of God's ser- vants? heaven's reward for favors to them; favors that could not be returned in kind.
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This morning as we listened to those recollections that stirred our hearts, we were asked, "What shall be the record of the church at the end of the second century, when its history shall be read?" What the record of the next fifty years shall be, will depend entirely upon yourselves; what you shall do and train your children to do, for the advancement of God's kingdom and cause. If you gain no inspiration from the lives and efforts of those that have gone before you, who wrought that you might to-day rejoice; if from the things of to-day there comes no incentive to greater exertion for the years to come; if you and your children shall sit down content only to rejoice in the accomplishments of the past hundred and fifty years, then for those that shall gather here in 1937, there can be notli- ing but disappointment and regret in view of the failures of those fifty years.
God seems to have wonderfully favored you at this time in granting so perfect a day, that none should be hindered in coming to this place to rejoice and praise Him for His wonder- ful work of the past. I think this beautiful day, with all its favorable circumstances, has been granted not alone that you might gather to rejoice over what our fathers accomplished, but that nothing should hinder a gathering for instruction and warnings as well. We have just listened to the history of the rise, progress, and in some cases the decay and death, of Pres- byterian churches in South Jersey: an encouragement to us as we have seen how, through adversity, and many and long struggles, some churches have grown strong and flourishing, and a warning, as we have listened to the story of the decline and death of others. And I have in mind one, that in genera- tions ago was supplanted by another denomination, (Logtown or Harmersville). Whether they died as a church through "a famine of hearing the word," or because they failed as Presby- terians to do what they should, and might have done for the country around them I know not; yet this is known, that those who took their place, and have held that region of country as one of the strongholds of that denomination, have not done through the succeeding years what they should, and might have done, for those within their bounds. To-day, another denomination has entered upon the field, and whether they in
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turn shall possess it, will in a great measure depend upon the' way in which the former shall use their opportunities in advanc- ing God's kingdom, and benefitting their fellow men.
And now the day hastens to its close, and these anniver- sary exercises will be a matter of the past, and the history of another half century will commence, to end with a record depending entirely upon what you as a church shall do. Shall it be the record of a people who drew lessons of encouragement. and warning from their history of the past, an inspiration, an incentive to greater zeal for the years to come, who increased their efforts to meet the great and growing needs of year by year, not only around them at home, but abroad throughout. the land? a work to be done, an obligation resting upon you, not alone as Presbyterians, but as christians and patriots as. well.
May God grant that from this day's gathering there shall go forth an influence that shall make you flourishing, and strong, for all that pertains to God's kingdom and glory.
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ADDRESS OF REV. J. D. HUNTER.
CONDENSED ADDRESS OF MR. HUNTER ON "THE SABBATH SCHOOL, ITS HISTORY AND WORK."
In the brilliant procession of important events during the last one hundred and fifty years, none attract the attention of earnest, thoughtful men, more than the three most significant moral monuments since the days of the Apostles, except per- haps, the reformation movement of the sixteenth century. I mean the Missionary, the Temperance, and the Sunday School movements. All three of these movements, now absorb- ing so much of the thought and effort of the Christian Church, have been inaugurated within the lifetime of the Deerfield Church. There were missionaries, of course, before Carey and Mills, but no systematic plans for the evangelization of the world. There were Temperance reformers before Benjamin Rush, but no determined effort based upon scientific truth. There were Sunday Schools before Robert Raikes, but no well defined system whereby their permanent establishment and universal extension might be secured.
It is just as difficult to trace the Sunday School idea to its origin as it is to do so of any other great thought. Before a new idea is born into the world, the spirit of truth seems to brood over the earth, finally depositing its precious offspring wherever there is an open, progressive, willing mind. In speaking of original ideas, then, we must understand that an idea may originate with a great many different persous.
Then, further, we must distinguish between a thought involved in a principle, and the same thought incorporated in an institution. There is always a principle back of every institution, older than the institution. Back of the idea of the Raikes Sunday School is the older idea of the principal under- lying the Raikes Sunday School. The principle upon which the Raikes Sunday School was founded is more than four thou- sand years old. I mean the principle that it is the duty of the church to care for and religiously train the young. Dr. H.
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Clay Trumbull, in his excellent work, "Teachers and Teach- ing," clearly traces and distinguishes this principle back in the days of Abraham. He correctly distinguishes three agencies in the church for the religious training of the race-the Family, the Church-school, and the Pulpit. For fifteen hundred years the Family was the sole agency. During this time it demon- strated its inability alone to properly train the race. So God ordained the Church-school, not to displace the Family, but to co-operate with it. The Pulpit was first permanently estab- lished in the days of John the Baptist. Prior to that the mis- sion of the preacher or prophet was only occasional. This Church School involved the principle underlying the modern Sunday School.
There was the germ at least of a Sunday School at Taun- ton, England, in 1638; at Ephrata, Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1744; at Catterick, England, in 1763; and in numerous other places in obscure localities in England, Scotland, and America. But the Raikes school was distinct from all these previous efforts in the following particulars: (1) They were confined to the children of the church, while Raikes' idea was to include all; (2) they were taught in one class and by the pastor, while the Raikes school was divided into classes and taught by laymen; (3) they studied only the catechisms of the churches, while in the Raikes schools they also taught reading and spelling, and memorized scripture; (4) they were denominational and local, while the Raikes schools were unsectarian and for universal extension; (5) they were not known by any name that has come down to us, while the Raikes schools are the first to bear the name of Sunday School.
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