USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Hamilton Square > The centennial of the Hamilton Square Baptist Church, Hamilton Square, N.J. > Part 2
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The third Pastor was John Seger, entering on his work in 1820. He served the Church for twelve years. acting at the same time as Pastor of the Hightstown Church. He was a man of deep piety, evangelical spirit, greatly beloved by his people and his labors were crowned with success.
For two years of the time he supplied the pulpit jointly with Mr. Bosweil, of the Trenton Church. In his autobiography published in 1863, he speaks of his affection for the Hamilton Square Church. He died in extreme old age at Hightstown in 1870. His words, concern- ing this Church, are: "I have always felt strongly attached to this Church ever since my first acquaintance with them, and have ever felt great pleasure in preaching for them occasionally." Following this pastorate there was a vacant pulpit for three years. During this period of the Church's life the anti-nomian, anti-mission spirit pre- vailed and dissension existed in the Church. This may have prevented the settlement of a pastor and made unpleasant some pastorates that followed.
The fourth Pastor, called March 12th, 1835, was Rev. W. D. Hires. His pastorate was very short, extending over only a few months. Mr. Hires was a man of large pastoral ability, a good preacher, working for many years in the pastorate in the State.
The fifth Pastor was Rev. Searing Stites, settling here April 1st, 1837. He was the first Pastor who gave his entire time to the Church. Of him Rev. W. E. Watkinson writes: "He was a humble, godly man, self-sacrificing, who labored for sixteen years, faithfully, upon this
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field in his master's service amidst many trials. Indeed, few men would have remained so long and worked so faithfully for a church which was so wanting in sympathy and respect for a pastor as the Church was during his pastorate; and although there was a strong anti-effort or anti-nomian element at work during most of his pas- torate, yet God had respect unto his faithful labors and abundantly blessed him in winning souls to Christ, and in the general prosperity of the Church. The narrowing doctrine of a sovereignty of God that shut out the need of the Church's effort made a period of great con- tention in the church life. In the midst of opposition and internal confusion, Pastor Stites stood like a pillar. The Church enlarged its resources by the building of a parsonage in 1839. The second meet- ing house was erected in his pastorate. He resigned in 1852 and settled as Pastor of the Penn's Neck Church, where he labored for two years and then entered into his rest. On the tombstone of Mr. Stites are these words :
Then, stranger, stay and drop a tear Where many a tear has flowed. A man of God lies buried here, A holy man of God.
The sixth Pastor was Willian Paullin, settling here in June, 1853. Concerning him it is said: He was a bold, earnest, faithful preacher of the Gospel, and during his pastorate he did much toward bringing the Church to a higher and holier standpoint of action than she had before manifested, both as regard to her treatment of pastors and acts of benevolence. He also was the means of renewing the Sab- bath School cause in the Church, which for a long time had been ex- tinct. God has blessed his preaching to the conversion of many precious souls. He closed his labors here in January, 1859. His pas- torate ended at that time but his life and influence went on.
The seventh Pastor was Rev. A. H. Bliss who entered in his work August 8th, 1859. He served the Church in a faithful way for three years. Shortly before the close of his pastorate a gracious spirit of revival was enjoyed by the Church. He is yet living in the West, spending a serene old age.
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The eighth Pastor was Rev. W. E. Watkinson who took pastoral charge of the Church January 3d, 1863. He was a good preacher and a faithful and efficient pastor and leader. During his eight years of pastoral service there was a large increase in the membership, averaging thirty-five baptisms each year. In one year Pastor Wat- kinson baptized eighty-nine. The house of worship was crowded. Griffith's History of New Jersey Baptists says, "Seldom has a pastor wrought so great a change and accomplished such gains." The Church was now getting a vision of larger things, the widening of the Church life in the founding of a church at Allentown. As early as 1863 Mr. Watkinson arranged to preach there regularly, sometimes in a grove, sometimes in the Methodist meeting house. He was laying the foundations for the church in Allentown. He ended his pastorate February 1st, 1871.
The Church called as its ninth Pastor Rev. W. W. Case who entered on his work October 1st, 1871. Two notable events took place during this pastorate-the erection of the present commodious meeting house and the founding of the church at Allentown. Both of these were epoch making acts. The meeting house will stand for a century to come-the Allentown Church will remain until Christ comes again the second time. At the opening of the pastorate preach- ing services were established at Allentown; a meeting house was opened for worship July 20th, 1873; March 23d, 1874, the Allen- town Church was reorganized in a formal way, this Church dismissing fifty members to unite in the new organization. Several revivals were enjoyed during this pastorate which ended October, 1881.
September 1st, 1882, Rev. Joseph Butterworth became pastor, doing good work and ended his pastorate June 1st, 1886.
November 1st, 1886, the tenth Pastor, Rev. J. B. Hutchinson, entered on the pastorate, continuing until November 1st, 1888. He was a man of marked pulpit ability, combining rhetorical beauty with great knowledge of the Scriptures. Griffith's History says he was one of the great preachers of his day. He was followed May 1st, 1889, by Rev. George B. Young, a good man and good preacher, who remained until September 30th, 1894.
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February 1st, 1895, Rev. William T. Galloway became pastor and continued his work until November 1st, 1904. He was a good man like Barnabas-full of faith and the Holy Spirit, a good pastor, de- veloping the activity and the benevolence of the Church. He did much in removing a burdensome Church debt.
February 19th, 1905, Rev. John W. Lissenden was called from Freehold to the pastorate, closing his work December 31st, 1909. During his pastorate large repairs and alterations were made in the Church property.
March 15th, 1911, Rev. John G. Booker of Philadelphia became pastor of the Church. May it continue on large and increasing for years to come.
THE THIRTEEN PASTORS.
Of the pastors of the Church Peter Wilson, William Boswell, John Seger, Searing Stites, William Paullin, W. E. Watkinson, J. B. Hutchinson, are deceased. Wilson and Seger are buried at Hights- town; Watkinson and Hutchinson, in Philadelphia. All of them rest quietly in green graveyards. They lie
"Under the sod, and under the dew, Waiting the judgment day."
Of the living Dr. W. W. Case is Pastor of the Olivet Church, Trenton ; Rev. Joseph Butterworth is Pastor at Fall River, Mass .; Rev. W. T. Galloway is Pastor at Old Bridge, N. J .; Rev. George B. Young is Pastor at Manchang, Mass .; Rev. John W. Lissenden is Pastor at Millville, N. J .; Rev. A. H. Bliss is passing a serene old age in the West.
DOCTRINAAL STEADFASTNESS.
On two occasions the Church has borne witness to the supremacy of the New Testament teaching. When William Boswell became a Swedenborgian, the Church at once put an end to the pastorate. So popular was he in Trenton that sixty of the members followed him when he left the pastorate of the Church. So far as is known not one
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of the Hamilton Square members walked after him in his advocacy of erroneous teaching. The Church witnessed for the truth again in the pastorate of Searing Stites in contending against the anti-effort, anti-missionary spirit, so prevalent at that time in many New Jersey Baptist Churches. The church at Hopewell, one of the oldest and strongest of our churches, was carried into the anti-missionary fold. An extremely bitter spirit was engendered in the membership. Con- tention raged. It was at this time that the Church records, from the first, were carried away and destroyed. Pastor Stites could say with Paul, "I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God." Pastor Stites knew the Scripture teaching and stood by it resolutely. The general doctrinal attitude of the Church has been that expressed in the New Hampshire Confession of Faith. It stands to-day where it stood one hundred years ago in the fundamentals of the faith-here may it stand for a thousand years to come.
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE KINGDOM.
The Church made a large contribution to the cause of Christ in giving birth to the Allentown Church. It gave a larger contribution in helping to found the New Jersey Baptist State Mission Society. Without the co-operative power of this State Society, Baptist work in this State would have been a weak and shrivelled thing. The State organization was effected at Hamilton Square, July 27th, 1830, by delegates from ten churches. The delegates from this Church were W. Appleton and John West. The Church has also contributed three able New Testament ministers. George R. Robbins, Pastor of one of the largest Baptist Churches in Cincinnati, has been and is a great spiritual factor in the Middle West. James A. Cubberly has given many years of effective pastoral work in this State. Everett C. Conover of the Park. Avenue Church, Plainfield, has given ten years of good work in this State. Stephen F. Reed, a licentiate of the Church, giving great promise of usefulness, died before his pre- paratory course was completed.
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THE CHURCH AND NATIONAL CRISES.
Baptist services were begun here two years after the Revolu- tionary War came to a close. It would not be strange if some of the members of the congregation here took part in the great struggle. If they were of the same mould as the Hopewell Baptist Church where John Hart, the Baptist signer of the Declaration lived, it would have been impossible to have kept them out of the struggle. The oldest gravestone in the burial ground is dated 1793. A number of Revolutionary soldiers are buried in the church graveyard.
Their bones are dust, their swords are rust, Their souls are with the Lord, we trust.
The first person baptized after the Constitution of the Church was John Morris. He was the son of a Revolutionary soldier. Soon after he enlisted in the army, in the war with England, serving until December, 1814. He died in 1864.
In the great contest from 1861-1865, Pastor A. H. Bliss, after leaving here entered the army taking part in the storming of Fort Fisher. It is ascertained that about twelve men who were at that time members or afterward became members stood by the country in her hour of peril. It would be a fitting thing if the Church should inscribe their names in a tablet, keeping their memory green forever. The Church has been loyal to Jesus Christ, to the civil government, to the cause of morality and righteousness.
DEACONS OF THE CHURCH.
A large part of the work and worth of the church is due to the kind of deacons the church has. Deacons of the Stephen kind will make a church rich and strong. From the first this Church has been blessed with godly, pillar-like kind of men. Herewith is a list of all those who have magnified this office for the hundred years of the church's history.
Rev. W. T. Galloway. February Ist, 1895-November 13th, 1904
Rev. John W. Lissenden. February 19th, 1905-January Ist, 1910.
John W. Tindall.
Charles H. Smith.
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Daniel Hutchinson, chosen September 1st, 1812. John Flock. chosen September 1st, 1812.
William Appleton, chosen September 1st, 1812. John West, chosen March 13th, 1819. Thomas Hooper, chosen March 13th, 1819. David W. Cubberly, chosen March 13th, 1819.
James G. Coleman, chosen March 4th, 1836.
Richard Narraway. chosen March 4th, 1836. George C. Dey. chosen September 2d, 1854. William Darnley, chosen
John S. West, chosen November 6th, 1863.
William I. Robbins, chosen October 16th, 1864.
George S. Cubberly, chosen October 16th, 1864. James B. Coleman, chosen October 16th, 1864. Samuel Flock. chosen 1881.
Jasper H. Allen, chosen 1886.
R. F. West, chosen 1886.
John W. Tindall, chosen 1887.
Charles H. Smith, chosen 1887.
Albert Tindall, chosen 1898.
V. N. Cubberly, chosen 1898.
William T. Flock, chosen 1899.
James Taylor, chosen 1904.
Randall B. Totten, chosen 1905.
R. Ellsworth Haines, chosen 1905. Walter D. Hulick, chosen 1911. Twenty-six in all.
In 1887 Mrs. Margaret Hutchinson and Mrs. Sarah D. West were chosen deaconesses.
The present deacons are John W. Tindall, Charles H. Smith, William T. Flock. R. Ellsworth Haines and Walter D. Hulick, Dea- conesses, Mrs. Margaret Hutchinson and Mrs. Sarah D. West.
The other officers of the Church are as follows :
Pastor, Rev. John G. Booker, since March 15th, 1911.
Church Clerk, William T. Robbins.
Asst. Church Clerk, Fred McCabe.
Treasurer, Sylvanus H. Robbins. Collector, Elijah M. Vanness.
Trustees, Harrison H. Hutchinson, Forman S. Hulick, Walter S. Haines, Edward C. Hutchinson, Liscomb Tindall, Paul Inder- muhle.
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TRUSTEES OF THE CHURCH.
Herewith is a list of all who have served as Trustees of the Church since its organization :
William Tindall.
James C. Robbins.
John James.
William C. Quigley.
John Tindall.
Enoch South.
William S. Cubberly.
Samuel Flock.
Asher Quigley.
Alfred Fagans.
John Hammel.
Samuel M. Smith.
James Hutchinson.
Ezekiel Cubberly.
Elijah Cubberly.
Abraham Rogers.
Caleb Coleman.
A. Perrine Tindall.
Stephen Hooper.
John W. Tindall.
Forman Hutchinson.
Jasper H. Allen.
Daniel Wainwright.
J. V. Hutchinson.
Thomas Dey.
S. H. Robbins.
Robert Narraway.
C. C. Rogers.
William T. Cubberley.
Jonathan West.
William Coleman.
Daniel Hutchinson.
Howard I. Smith.
Clark V. Nutt.
John S. West.
Paul Indermuhle.
Stephen Flock.
Edward C. Hutchinson.
David S. Hutchinson.
Harrison Hutchinson.
Edward P. Tindall.
R. E. Haines.
Randolph F. West.
Forman S. Hulick.
Simon Dilatush.
Joseph B. Reed.
Samuel H. Smith.
Walter S. Haines.
Forty-eight in all.
The Lord had a call for Moses for leadership; for Aaron for the priesthood; for Bezaleel to work in brass in making the Tabernacle furniture. Trustees caring for the property and financial interests of the Church, are engaged, not in secular work, but in spiritual work.
THINGS WORTHY OF NOTICE.
(1) Rev. W. E. Watkinson gives a tradition concerning the drinking customs of a century ago. He writes: "As regards the tavern question, when I settled here in 1863, almost one of the first things I was told was that I was entitled to a Sunday morning dram at the hotel." It was a common remark that when William Nutt, a
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member of the Church, sold the tavern property, he bound the pur -. chaser to furnish free meals, drinks and horse feed to the ministers who came here to preach. It was the custom one hundred years ago to furnish strong drink for funerals and weddings and associational gatherings. The Church has grown in the application of the Spirit of Christ to the daily life.
(?) In 1827, during the anti-masonic excitement, it is said that the Church voted to forbid the pulpit to any member of the Masonic lodges. This would not be strange in the light of the times when we remember that a presidential anti-masonry ticket was in the field in 1828.
(3) The salary of the first resident Pastor who gave his entire time to his work, Rev. Searing Stites, was one hundred and fifty dol- lars per year. Coupled with this was the promise, "and as much more as we can raise." It is to be hoped that they raised more than the stipulated sum-he had a wife and six children. Pastor William Paullin was paid four hundred dollars-increased afterward to five hundred dollars.
THE CHURCH'S GREAT WORK.
The great work of the Church for five score years has been that of creating, changing, transforming, uplifting character. . For miles around it has been a beneficent influence. It has taken crooked lives and made them straight ; has taken good men and made them better ; has developed them into the best of men. Upon thousands of men and women this Church has put its impress. Men have lived better lives, have been kinder in life, more gentle in tongue, more anchored in honesty, more pillar-like, because they have had instruction and in- spiration. Hundreds of homes have been centers of purity and piety through influences here begotten. There has been a higher moral tone in this community because here has been given a vision of God and duty. This pulpit and this ministry have been on the side of right and good conduct and godliness. If it were possible by some chem- istry to take out of this community for miles around from men and women and homes the good influences that have gone out from this Hamilton Square Baptist Church for one hundred years, this entire
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community would be impoverished intellectually, morally, spiritually. Huxley said that one first-class man in the State is dirt cheap at one hundred thousand pounds down. The church that lives finely and speaks clearly God's message to men is creating first-class men. The number received into the fellowship of the Church from 1812 to 1853 was 287. The number baptized between 1865 and 1894 was 407. The number baptized since that date is nearly 200. The entire num- ber taken into the membership of the Church will be far in excess of one thousand. Many of these pillars of the Church here have been transferred to the membership of the church of the first born in heaven.
TITE OUTLOOK.
One hundred years are past. A hundred years more lie before the Church. The past is an incentive to make a more glorious future. Never was there a more glorious time to live, to work effectively, to witness faithfully. Every belief is made to pass through the fire. Some Baptist churches are selling their birthright for a mess of pot- tage, the desire for larger numbers. Here is a sermon preached by the Pastor of the Church in 1805. Not a word need be altered to make it fit the belief of to-day. In all the fundamentals of belief may the Hamilton Square Baptist Church stand in 2012 witnessing for the same truths that she stands for to-day. In those days, in England, when Ridley and Latimer were burned at the stake, Latimer said : "Be of good cheer Brother Ridley. We are lighting this day in Eng- land a candle that by the grace of God will never be put out."
May the Hamilton Square Baptist Church, whose light was kindled April 25th, 1812, shine brighter and brighter until Jesus Christ shall come again the second time without sin unto salvation.
A Mother to Her Daughter.
HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. April 21st, 1912.
One hundred years ago with the approval and blessing of this Church you entered into Church covenant. For a century God has
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led you as with a pillar of cloud and fire. You have been blessed with a Godly Ministry. You have brought hundreds of souls into the Kingdom of Christ. You have in trying times borne a witness to the truth. We may say with John the beloved-"Greater joy have I none than this to hear of my children walking in the truth," we counsel you to walk in love, to grow in grace, to have kinship with all good causes, to abound in good work, to be wise in winning souls, to be a burning and a shining light, to bear witness to the truth. We pray that more and more you may be a Golden Lamp-Stand, watched over and approved by the glorified Christ who is the Head of the Church. May the past hundred years be as nothing in com- parison with the glory that sliall be revealed in and through you in the incoming century.
May the year 2012 bear testimony to your holy living and faith- ful witnessing for the truth.
A mother greets you in the words of Paul-"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified." Adopted by the Church, Lord's Day morning, April 21st, 1912.
O. P. EACHES, Pastor. T. E. APPLEGATE, Clerk.
First Baptist Church, Allentown, N. J.
To the Pastor and Members of the First Baptist Church of Hamilton
Square, N. J. :
DEAR BRETHREN-
The Church at Allentown sends greetings and congratulations to the Mother Church, on this Centennial Anniversary, praising God that the Hamilton Square Church has been in existence one hundred years, to be a blessing in keeping the faith, once delivered to the Saints, in upholding the Word of God, and in being loyal to Jesus, the Truth, the Way and the Life.
William T. Flock.
Walter Hulick.
R. Ellsworth Haines.
H. Harrison Hutchinson.
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Founded by members of your Church, the Allentown Church owes its existence to you, and is one of the fruits of your being, whatever of success we have had (and God is blessing us), whatever good is being accomplished by us in Allentown and surrounding country, whatever of help we have been in sending the Gospel to those who have it not, is primarily due to your existence, for unless there had been a Hamilton Square Church, there would not be the present Allentown Church, for we came from you, because of your light, the light of the Gospel is shining in Allentown and in other places. So we rejoice not only in your present success, and that under your pastor, the Rev. John G. Booker, you are prospering, but we bless God for all the good in the past accomplished by the noble men and women who have gone out from you, to live for God in other places, for the good done, to be rewarded in Heaven, by those of your members who have fallen asleep in Jesus, for the faithful pastors who have ministered unto you, and we pray that all your trials may bring you to a brighter future, under your present pastor, as you stand on the threshold of another century.
After being without an under Shepherd since last July, we have now Rev. Charles K. Newell, as our pastor; he has been preaching for us since March 17th, and has visited us in our homes and is now at Lansdale, packing up to get ready to move with his family, the last of this month. This accounts for his unavoidable absence, which he deeply regrets from this momentous occasion. Deacons Elias B. Rogers and E. B. Yard have been appointed delegates from our Church. While the daughter has been independent of help since leaving home and now thinks she is almost as big as her mother, yet we are grateful that you gave us the founders of our Church, and we pray that the Lord may bless thee and keep thee, that the Lord may make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee, that the Lord may lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.
Yours in His name and in behalf of the Allentown Church.
C. K. NEWELL.
E. B. ROGERS.
O. E. SOUTHWICK. Committee.
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Pastoral Reminiscences.
BY REV. W. W. CASE, D.D.
I congratulate you on a hundred years of history. I became Pas- tor October 15th, 1871, coming from Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. There had been a great revival during the latter part of the pastorate of Rev. W. E. Watkinson. This revival continued for a number of months. It did not make any difference how bad the condition of the roads, the house was constantly filled with earnest worshippers and earnest seekers of Christ. It was something of a dangerous experi- ment to become pastor after such a revival. The people, however, were very loyal and the new Pastor had no trouble. There were large congregations from the beginning, especially at the morning services, filling the galleries and every available space of the old Church. It was a great sight to see scores and scores of carriages coming from all directions to the morning services on the Sabbath Day. The terri- tory embraced by the congregation was very large-on the West to the borders of Trenton, on the North beyond Clarksville, on the East to Windsor, on the Southeast to Allentown, on the South to Yard- ville and Southwest to White Horse, a distance of about twenty-five miles in circumference. This was my district for pastoral visitation. All the deacons who were here when I came are gone. Their names were George L. Cubberly, Wm. I. Robbins, James B. Coleman, George C. Dye and John S. West. The deacons elected while I was here, Jonathan West, R. F. West and Samuel Flock, are also gone. All the Board of Trustees, except David S. Hutchinson are gone. Their names were David S. Hutchinson, Ezekiel Cubberly, Alfred Fagans, Enoch South, James C. Robbins, Samuel Flock and Samuel M. Smith.
Deacon R. F. West, to whom I have already alluded, was the Church Clerk. He was Sunday School Superintendent for many years and a great helper to his Pastor. I loved him dearly. He was honored in the State as a member of the Board of Managers of the State Convention. He was also a Corporator of Peddie Institute. I should love to speak of other noble members of the Church but time will not permit.
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One of the important events in my early ministry here was that God enabled me to be a co-laborer with Him in the establishment of the Baptist Church at Allentown. Our brothers, E. B. and B. Rogers, purchased a building in the heart of the town, the upper part of which they fitted up as a hall. This hall was formally opened for public worship July 20th, 1873. There was a large congregation present and the Holy Spirit was there in great power; Rev. W. D. Hires of Imlaystown assisted the Pastor in the services. On November 2d, 1813, evangelistic services were commenced in the hall, these con- tinued five weeks. From the beginning there was a deep interest, eleven persons professed a hope in Christ and these were baptized at Allentown, December 7th, 1873. From this time there was much discussion about the establishment of a church ; the Pastor encouraged the members in that neighborhood to enter into the movement; the Church was duly organized and recognized on March 24th, 1874. Fifty of the fifty-six constituent members were among the best mem- bers of the Church. The Pastor had charge of the new organization until it settled its first Pastor, Rev. Warren Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln strongly resembled the famous President and was reported to be a distant relative.
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