USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Amwell > The history of the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell > Part 18
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277
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
made to Presbytery after Mr. Blattenberger left, gives the membership of the Church as 123. These figures are given to show how changeable this Church has been even in its most prosperous days.
There is another very important fact in this pastorate which reflects great credit, both upon the pastor and the people. The people saw that the Church was needing repairs. The question then arose, "shall we simply repair, or shall we enlarge and repair." Subscription papers were circulated with this question before the people. This was early in 1883, or perhaps in 1882. The subscriptions were on so liberal a scale that more money was sub- scribed than needed for repairs. This was understood to be the expression on part of the people of their wish to enlarge. This measure was decided on by the Trustees, and the work commenced. It consisted in raising the Church and putting in our very comfortable basement room, with session room and kitchen. Also lengthening the main building so as to add one window on each side at the north, and putting in the recess for the pul- pit. The whole was frescoed and fitted with heaters, and the building painted and thoroughly renewed. As a result we have a very pleasant audience room, duly pro- portioned and suitably furnished. Besides this our base- ment is a convenience of the utmost importance, and sur- passing any provision for its purpose among our neigh- boring churches.
The whole cost of this improvement was about $5,000. Three-fourths of this money was raised the first year. The debt remaining to the next year was $1,400. After little consultation between a few members of the con-
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as nd 71. was t is the de- port
278
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
gregation and the pastor, it was decided to present the matter one Sabbath at the close of the morning service. After a statement of the subject by the pastor, and the encouragement he was authorized to give, that if the con- gregation would take hold of it so as to wipe out the debt, two or three large subscriptions were ready to be named, such as $500 from Mr. J. W. Priestly, who had previously given $500, and two or three subscriptions of $200 would also be made, Mr. Blattenberger then and there called for subscriptions asking who would give $200, $100, $75, $50,$25,$15 and $10. The response was such that the whole amount was pledged before the congregation adjourned. I here name Mr. Priestly, and I presume with the ap- proval of all. I would name the others if I had the list.
It is all the more commendable, both to pastor and people, to find that while this large amount was con- tributed by the congregation for its own purposes, the ob- jects of Christian beneficence were receiving, from year to year, increased support. To illustrate, in 1884, the year in which the debt for enlarging the Church was cancelled, the Church raised for Home Missions $44, and for For- eign Missions $78. The largest amount, up to this date, contributed by the Church in any one year for these ob- jects. In the following year the amount for Foreign Missions reached $100. This is the index of a healthy condition of the Church.
I submit, as I have done in case of other pastorates, a more complete statement of the financial and benevolent work of the Church for this period, as an important part of the Church's history.
In April, 1879, the report for the year in which Mr.
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sh he ua of 25
279
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
Beekman left, and that in which Mr. Blattenberger set- tled, nearly always a poor year for benevolent work, the church gave to Home Missions $7.15, to Foreign Mis- sions $8.70. While to all the Boards of the Church, in- cluding the assessment for Presbyterial and General As- sembly expenses, only $42.50, and to miscellaneous causes $82.65. This largely to the Hunterdon County Bible So- ciety, or a total for beneficence $135. To tabulate the results of this pastorate we have:
For the
Total
Congre-
Boards. Miscellaneous. Beneficence. gational.
1879
$42 50
$82 65
$135 15
$1,330
1880
118 22
27 00
145 00
1,574
1881 ..
144 92
25 00
169 92
1,495
1882
147 20
69 00
216-20
1,402
1883
144 99
41 00
185 99
5,150
1884
170 99
10 00
180 99
2,873
1885
197 77
16 00
213 77
1,338
1886
185 40
16 00
201 40
1,420
1887
147 81
9.00
156 81
1,500
$1,299 80
$295 65
$1,605 23
$18,082
This is a very good showing for these nine years of the Church's history.
Of Dr. Blattenberger personally we know less than we should be glad to know. Like the wise man that he is, he has not put his age on public record. He was grad- uated, however, in college and theological departments of Drew Seminary in 1873. When called November 25th, 1878, to become pastor of this Church, it was from
280
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
the pastorate of the Bergen Street Methodist Episcopal Church in the City of Newark. He was installed over Amwell First Church, December 31st, 1878. The pas- toral relation was dissolved October 4th, 1887, making his pastorate here a little less than nine years.
Near the close of his pastorate here he received a call to the Presbyterian Church at Bridesburg, Pa. He con- tinues in the pastorate of that church at the present time, 1899. In the meanwhile he has received calls to other churches, but has seen fit to decline them. His pastorate at Bridesburg has been characterized with great activity and with yearly additions to the membership of the Church, the number ranging from ten to thirty on examination. But in no one year so large a number as came into this Church the first year of his pastorate here. The Church of Bridesburg had in 1888, the time of Dr. Blattenberger's first report, 250 members, or about 100 more than this Church. Some years it has reported less, but generally more. The last report states the membership at 317. His address before the Woman's Home and Foreign Mission- ary Societies at the time of our one hundred and sixtieth anniversary, showed that his bow abides in strength, and that his zeal for the extension of the Master's Kingdom over the earth is still intense and impelling. You, as a church owe thanks to your Divine Lord for the ministry of such a man among you.
Dr. Blattenberger continued to minister to the Church at Bridesburg with untiring devotion until September, 1905, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis. He re- mained pastor of the Church until June 16, 1906, when he was called to his heavenly home by the Master, whom
281
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
he loved to serve. He was in the nineteenth year of his pastorate when his death occurred. The Presbytery (Phil- adelphia North) at the time of his death, expressed a high appreciation of his faithfulness as a minister of the Gos- pel, and its deep sympathy with his family and the Church of which he was the honored pastor.
APPENDIX NO. I-ELDER JOHN Y. BELLIS.
The death of Elder Bellis occurred on the IIth of March, 1888, and only a few weeks before the call of Rev. Thomas C. Potter to be your pastor. Because it was in the interval between pastors is perhaps the rea- son that no memorial of his service to the Church is to be found in the minutes of the Church.
Although I did not have the privilege of a personal acquaintance with Elder Bellis, I have learned so much of his service to this Church, that I cannot omit his name and a record of his service from the pages of this his- tory. Elder Bellis belonged to one of the old families which in Colonial times settled in the Amwell Valley.
The ancestors of Elder Bellis came from Germany and from the first were identified with the German or Old Stone Church at the Corner. This is our nearest neighbor to the West. When the German Church be- came Presbyteryian in 1810, and formed an organic union with our Church, under the corporate name of the United First Presbyterian Church in Amwell, under the pastorate of Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, the family was a part of this congregation. The original name was Boellesfelt. The first of the name was Johann Adam1 Boellesfelt, who came to America, previous to 1740,
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
giving a concert in the Church. This matter is men- tioned with no reflection on the requirement of a salary for this service, but as a matter of history, and to ex- press the appreciation of the Church to those members of the Congregation who for years rendered this service gratuitously.
The session called a meeting of the congregation again May 14th, 1888, in order, if the way was clear, to call a pastor.
The Rev. George S. Mott, D. D., moderated this meet- ing. Barton Huffman was appointed Secretary.
The Rev. Thomas Chalmers Potter was nominated and unanimously elected to the pastorate of this Church. The salary promised Mr. Potter was $800 per annum, to be paid in two equal payments, together with the free use of the parsonage and three weeks' vacation.
At the close of the preparatory service held June 2nd, Mr. Potter being present, was invited to act as modera- tor of the Session.
Mr. Potter signified his willingness, at this time, to accept the call of the congregation.
Dr. George P. Rex, and Elder A. J. Prall were ap- pointed commissioners to prosecute this call before Pres- bytery, to be held at Titusville, June the 26th.
Mrs. Rebecca Case, wife of Winfield Case, was received at this meeting of the Session, on examination into the membership of the Church.
Mr. Frederick Powelson and his wife, Emma Powel- son, were dismissed to the Second Reformed Church of Somerville, N. J. Also Mrs. Anna Sweitzer to the same Church. Mr. David S. Prall and his wife, Rosa,
285
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
to the Congregational Church of Albion, Nebraska. Mrs. Susie Hoagland nee Cronce to the Reformed Church of East Millstone, N. J.
The Commissioners appeared before Presbytery June 26th, at Titusville, and laid the call before Presbytery. Presbytery placed the call in the hands of Mr. Potter, which was accepted by him. Arrangements were then made for his installation. July 17th was the day named for this service. The Committee of Presbytery, being present, performed the respective duties assigned them.
In this service Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford, D. D., of the Third Church, Trenton, preached the sermon, presided, and proposed the constitutional questions. The Rev. Wm. H. Wolverton, of the Second Church of Trenton, gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. J. P. W. Blattenberger, of Bridesburg, Pa., on invitation, gave the charge to the people. The Elders of the Church at this time were William G. Hill, James P. Chamberlin, Abraham J. Prall, Martin J. Bellis, Caleb F. Quick and George P. Rex, M. D.
The first meeting of Session, after the installation of Mr. Potter, was held September 2nd, 1888. At this time Mr. Jonathan T. Conover was received on examination, and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Potter, Mrs. Lizzie Higgins, and Mrs. Isaac Wyckoff, by letter.
December Ist, 1888, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Hors- fall were received by letter from the Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, N. J., and Mr. Asher Higgins, Charles F. Creveling, M. D., and Malvina Baird (colored) were received on examination. The Session convened March 2nd, 1889, and received on examination Messrs. Alvin
286
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Hill, Lewis C. Sutphin and John V. M. Wyckoff, Mrs. Mary E. Carkhuff, Mrs. N. M. Resch; also the Misses Anna M. Williamson, Hannah R. Swarer and Hannah E. Hoagland; and by letter from the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church, Mr. John C. Williamson.
This closed the first year of Mr. Potter's pastorate, which proved to be one of prosperity for the Church. He had one thing of great advantage both to himself and the Church, which was a goodly number of young peo- ple in the congregation at the time, ready to be gathered in. The like of it has not existed since. But it is great- ly to his credit that he succeeded in winning these for the Church and the Master. In all, the additions for this first year numbered thirteen, as received on ex- amination, and six by certificate, which is exactly the num- ber dismissed to other churches.
In the minute for June Ist, 1889, it is stated: that it was decided to conform to the usual custom, and dis- continue the evening service of the Church during the busy season.
November 24th, 1889, the pastor gave notice of his intention to resign the pastorate of the Church, that he might accept a call to the Presbyterian Church at Cedar Falls, Iowa. This call, he stated, had been made two months previous, and had been declined. It was re- newed, and he had decided to accept it.
A meeting of the Congregation was called by the Ses- sion to be held November 25th. At this meeting William G. Hill was made Chairman, and C. F. Quick Secretary. At this meeting it was decided to accede to the pastor's request, and unite with him in asking Presbytery to dis-
287
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
solve the relation between himself and the Amwell First Church, to take effect December 22nd.
The commissioners appointed to represent the Church at the meeting of Presbytery were Elders Wm. G. Hill and Martin J. Bellis, and Trustee Theodore F. Swarer.
It was not until November 30th, 1889, that there were any additions to the Church, during the second year of Mr. Potter's pastorate. At this time the Session re- ceived on examination to the membership of the Church Miss Mary Hoffman, Miss Laura E. Dilts, Miss Mary L. Dilts, Johnson B. Pierce, William L. Van Syckle and Robert M. Conover. This was the last meeting of Ses- sion of which Mr. Potter was Moderator.
Mr. Potter's pastorate closed by action of Presbytery, December 22nd, 1889, having continued one year and six months, or dating from the time he signified his ac- ceptance of your call, at which time he moderated the meeting of Session on invitation, when one person was received into the membership of the Church, its dura- tion was one year and seven months. This is the short- est pastorate in the history of the Church. But though brief, it was characterized by marked prosperity in the Church, and in this short period he impressed the Church with his faithfulness, and he and his excellent wife greatly endeared themselves to the people of the con- gregation.
To Mr. Potter belongs the credit of having organized the Christian Endeavor Society, which under the inspira- tion of his leadership and with the goodly number of young people at the time in the Church, became a great blessing to the Church.
288
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Mr. Potter was also faithful in promoting the cause of benevolence, so that creditable contributions were made to all the Boards of the Church.
The statistics of the Church for the first year are as follows: Received on examination thirteen; and the second year six, and six by letter, making twenty-five in all. Total membership one hundred and forty-seven. There were six Elders and five Deacons. Sabbath School members one hundred.
The contributions to the Boards of the Church for the first year were $201, of which $72 were for For- eign Missions. To General Assembly $12, and Mis- cellaneous Causes, the unusual sum of $206, making a total of $419 to causes of benevolence. The salary was $800, and for other expenses of the Church, $700 were contributed.
The second year is only partly covered by his pastor- ate. The total contributions for the year are: to the Boards $157, of which $53 were for Foreign Missions; $15 for General Assembly, and $20 to Miscellaneous Causes. Or to outside causes $177, and for Congrega- tional expenses $1420.
Mr. Potter, in making request for the dissolution of the pastoral relation, gratefully acknowledged the uni- form kindness shown him by the congregation. The Church recriprocated by expressing their deep regret that he was about to leave them.
At a meeting of the Session held November 30th, the commissioners were instructed to ask permission of Pres- bytery to supply their own pulpit until the next stated meeting of the same. Also to request Presbytery to ap-
289
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
point Rev. Charles W. Pitcher, pastor of the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church, to act as Moderator of the Session for the same period.
Following the record of Mr. Potter's pastorate a few facts of his personal history will be of interest to this congregation.
Mr. Potter's father was Rev. L. D. Potter, D. D., born at New Providence, New Jersey, and at the time Mr. Potter was with you and long afterwards Dr. Potter, the father, was President of Glendale Female College, Glendale, Ohio, over which institution he pre- sided over forty years. The mother of Rev. Thomas Chalmers Potter was Henrietta M. Ketcham, of Penn- ington, N. J. Mr. Potter, Sr., graduated at Princeton College in 1841, having as classmates Drs. Duffield, Cuy- ler and Schenck. He graduated from Princeton Theo- logical Seminary in 1844.
Rev. Thomas C. Potter was born at Dunlapsville, In- diana.
He prepared for College at South Salem, Ohio, and graduated at Hanover College, Indiana, in 1874, and was a post-graduate of Princeton College in 1877, in the department of Philosophy. He graduated at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1880. He married Miss Eliz- abeth' H. McMullin, at Circleville, Ohio, in April, 1881. Her father was Rev. S. H. McMullin, D. D., professor of Greek at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and afterward a professor in the Danville Theological Seminary, Kentucky.
The pastorates held by Mr. Potter up to the time of the anniversary exercises of the Church were Denison,
19
290
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Iowa, Reaville, New Jersey, and Cedar Falls, Iowa. Losing his hearing, he retired from the pastorate for a while. At present (the time of revising this history) he is pastor of the Presbyteryian Church at Glasgow, Dela- ware. During his pastorate at Glasgow, he has been a very frequent contributor to the Presbyterian of Phila- delphia. In his last communication to me, which re- lated to this history, he repeated his expression of his pleasant memories of the uniform kindness of this con- gregation to himself and Mrs. Potter, and I personally know that this feeling continues to be reciprocated.
APPENDIX NO. I-ELDER GEORGE P. REX, M. D.
The death of Elder Dr. George P. Rex occurred July 12th, 1889, and only three months before Rev. Thomas C. Potter was released from the pastorate of this Church. By an oversight or neglect on the part of the Session, no record was made of his death in the minutes.
This is regretted by myself, because, as in the case of Elder Bellis, I had no personal acquaintance with Dr. Rex. But notwithstanding the disadvantages under which I write, Dr. Rex's services were too important to this Church for me to allow his name, and some men- tion of what he did in behalf of the Church to be omit- ted from this history.
George P. Rex was born in Philadelphia, September 2nd, 1813. After leaving a Classical School in Phila- delphia, he placed himself under the instruction of Dr. George McClellan, father of Gen. George B. McClel- lan, as a medical student, and soon after entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in 1834, be-
291
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
ing, as you will see, not quite twenty-one years of age. In that same year Dr. Rex settled in Clover Hill, and began the practice of Medicine. In 1836 he married Gertrude V., daughter of Jacob Williamson, Esq. In 1837 he moved to Reaville, or Greenville, as it then was called, where he remained until 1856. During this period of nineteen years, his skill and faithfulness se- cured for him a large practice, and won for him the es- teem of the medical profession of the county, of whose organization he became a member as early as May 3rd, 1836, and was made its Treasurer in 1850, and one of the board of censors from 1848 to 1853.
"Dr. Rex, and his wife," so stands the record, "pre- sented themselves before the Session of this Church Sep- tember 6th, 1838, and were received into the fellowship of this church on profession of their faith in Christ." The pastor at the time was the Rev. David Hull. Mrs. Rex being still with us, she heads the list of the living members of this church, and precedes the next living member by a period of eight years. She has now en- tered upon the sixty-third year of her Church mem- bership, though it should be added, that for a portion of this time she has lived in other communities, and held membership in other churches.
March 10th, 1838, Dr. Rex was made a member of the "Committee appointed to solicit subscriptions for erecting a new meeting house, which was to be located at or near Greenville. It was subsequently decided to build by contract, and the Committee to contract for the building was appointed August 18th, 1838, consist- ing of John Hagaman, George F. Wilson, Gideon Quick,
292
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Jacob W. Schenck and George P. Rex. At the same time a Committee of three was appointed to revise and file all the proceedings of this congregation regarding the erection of the Church, John Hagaman, Peter P. Quick and George P. Rex were the Committee thus appointed. This Committee had the disposal of the Old Meeting House, and was the Building Committee of the new. Dr. Rex was at the same time a member of the Board of Trustees, and the whole proceedings concerning the building of the New Church were recorded by him. Thus early in life, he became intimately identified with the interests of this Church.
In 1856 he removed to Perry, Ill. While there he be- came identified with the educational interests of the State. In 1861 he entered the service of the Government as Surgeon of the 33rd Illinois Infantry, and served throughout the conflict as Division Surgeon and Medi- cal Director. After the war, he resided in Selma, Ala- bama, where he held positions of great responsibility un- der Government appointment during the presidency of General Grant.
We have to do, however, with his connection with this Church, rather than in other departments of usefulness. In 1871, his health failing, he returned to Reaville, where he resumed his connection with this Church, October 14th, 1871, by certificate from Presbyterian Church of Selma, Alabama, as well as the practice of medicine.
April 27th, 1872, he was ordained to the office of Ruling Elder, together with John Y. Bellis and Abra- ham J. Prall, during the pastorate of Rev. John H. Scofield. Dr. Rex was chosen Clerk of the Session Feb-
293
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
ruary 28th, 1874, and the minutes of the Session were written by him for many years. February 28th, 1885, Dr. Rex, "on account of increasing years and imfirmity," handed in his resignation as Clerk of Session. His last meeting with the Session was March Ist, 1884. But on the 5th of September, 1885, he was requested to prepare a minute on the death of Elder Zebulon Stout. He complied with this request, but being too feeble to at- tend the Session, December 5th, 1885, he sent in the minute, containing expressions of high appreciation for the Christian character of Brother Stout, and deep sor- row on account of his death. This appears to have been the last service he performed for the Session. Dr. Rex had the honor of being chosen President of the Hunter- don County Bible Society, August 15th, 1876, to preside over its meeting the following year.
Dr. Rex departed this life July 12th, 1889, having been a member of this or some other Church for upwards of fifty-one years, and a Ruling Elder upwards of seven- teen year. Honorable as such a record is, I am per- suaded that the most beneficent and lasting service which he rendered the Church and the Master, was either as teacher in, or Superintendent of the Sabbath School. It is deeply to be regretted that the records of our Sabbath School, except for a few recent years, are not to be found. For this reason we cannot State with accuracy, the years of service he rendered our School, but it is known that he was thus actively engaged for many years before leaving for the west, and again after his return in 1871. From that date, up to the time he was en-
1
292
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Jacob W. Schenck and George P. Rex. At the same time a Committee of three was appointed to revise and file all the proceedings of this congregation regarding the erection of the Church, John Hagaman, Peter P. Quick and George P. Rex were the Committee thus appointed. This Committee had the disposal of the Old Meeting House, and was the Building Committee of the new. Dr. Rex was at the same time a member of the Board of Trustees, and the whole proceedings concerning the building of the New Church were recorded by him. Thus early in life, he became intimately identified with the interests of this Church.
In 1856 he removed to Perry, Ill. While there he be- came identified with the educational interests of the State. In 1861 he entered the service of the Government as Surgeon of the 33rd Illinois Infantry, and served throughout the conflict as Division Surgeon and Medi- cal Director. After the war, he resided in Selma, Ala- bama, where he held positions of great responsibility un- der Government appointment during the presidency of General Grant.
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