USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Amwell > The history of the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell > Part 19
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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-
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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-
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feebled by age, I believe he was the Superintendent of the School.
After such a career, we may with propriety close this tribute by quoting a sentence from a local paper, pub- lished at the time of the Doctor's death. It is this: "After a long and useful life, Dr. George P. Rex goes down to the grave, leaving behind him the memory of an honored career, and a record that is bright with good deeds."
THE SEVENTEENTH PASTOR, REV. JOHN R. KUGLER, 1890-1900.
After the resignation of Mr. Potter, the Church was without a pastor from December 22nd, 1889, to April Ist, 1890, when I took charge of the Church as pastor- elect. During the interval between pastors, the usual method of supplies and candidates was adopted for fill- ing the pulpit, the supply most frequently called upon was my college professor, Rev. Henry C. Cameron, D. D., of Princeton. Among the candidates were Rev. Theo. E. Montgomery, and myself, at the time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hoboken, N. J. I first occupied the pulpit January 12th, 1890. By order of the Session, a congregational meeting was held February 4th, 1890, for the purpose, if the way be clear, of calling a pastor. At this meeting the Rev. Charles W. Pitcher of the Kirk- patrick Memorial Church, being Moderator of the Ses- sion, presided. Theodore F. Swarer was chosen Secre- tary. The only nomination made was myself, and the nomination was followed by a unanimous vote to the pastorate of the Church. The call thus made named
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$800 as the salary to be paid semi-annually, together' with the free use of the parsonage during my pastorate, and a yearly vacation of three weeks. The call was thus made out and signed as directed by the congregation, by
WILLIAM G. HILL, CALEB F. QUICK, Eders.
JOHN E. HOLCOMBE, LEWIS SUTPHIN,
Deacons. JOHN B. LOWE, THEODORE F. SWARER, Trustees.
Elders Hill and Quick were appointed Commissioners to prosecute the call before Presbytery.
On being officially notified of the call, I expressed will- ingness to accept it.
The Rev. T. E. Montgomery supplied the pulpit March Ist. At this date, on invitation of Session, he acted as Moderator of the same, at which time Eugene Latourette was received, on examination to the mem- bership of the Church. On invitation I occupied the pulpit March 16th, and took charge of the Church from April Ist as pastor-elect. The Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, in session at the Third Church Trenton, April 8th, received me on letter from the Presbytery of Jer- sey City, and on examination as to my reception of the standards of the Church. At this time the Presbytery placed in my hands the call from the Amwell First Church, which being accepted by me, arrangements were
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made for my installation. This was ordered to take place May the 27th, 1890, and the following persons were appointed to perform the service: The Moderator of Session, Rev. Charles W. Pitcher, to preside and pro- pose the constitutional questions; the Rev. George S. Mott, D. D., of Flemington, to preach the sermon; Rev. William M. Wells, of Amwell United First, to give the charge to the pastor, and Rev. William W. Wolverton, of the Second Church of Trenton, to give the charge to the people. On the day appointed, the Committee performed the duty assigned, except that the Rev. George Ingram, of Trenton Fifth, as alternate, gave the charge to the people. The day was auspicious, the audience large, and the service full of interest to all.
The first meeting of Session after my installation was held May 3Ist. At this meeting all the Elders were present, viz: Caleb F. Quick, William G. Hill, Abra- ham J. Prall, James P. Chamberlin and Martin J. Bel- lis. At this time the following persons presented them- selves before Session, and after examination, were re- ceived into the membership of the Church, viz: Alfred Reasinger, Ira Hill, Joseph Higgins, Bessie Hill, Lena Wyckoff and Jennie V. C. Staats. The following day, June Ist, these persons made a public profession of their faith and promise of new obedience, and baptism was ad- ministered to all except Miss Staats, who had received this rite in infancy.
The pastor's wife, Mrs. Annie Cramer Kugler, was received by letter from the Presbyterian Church of Ho- boken, on Saturday. At the same time Elder Martin J. Bellis reported that Mrs. Margaret, wife of Jacob Case, of
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Three Bridges, who had long been confined to her home by sickness, was desirous of being received into the mem- bership of the Church, whereupon, the Session decided to meet with her at her home on Sabbath afternoon, and if the way be clear, receive her to the Church and the Sacrament of the Lord's supper. At the time designated, the Session, with members of their families, met with Mrs. Case, and after examination admitted her to Church membership, and the sacrament of the 'Lord's supper being duly administered for her especial benefit.
Annie Higgins Case, daughter of Mrs. Margaret Case, being unable to meet with the Session on Saturday, was ·received Sabbath morning, June Ist, and the Sacrament of baptism was administered to her along with others received on Saturday. At a meeting of Session held December 6th, 1890, the pastor laid before the Session the cause of Foreign Missions. The members of Session were urged to give this great cause prayerful considera- tion, and appealed to them to increase their own gifts to this and the other causes of beneficence, and likewise to make an effort to enlist the co-operation of the members of the Church to take a deeper interest in the causes represented by the various Boards of the Church.
This action is deserving of mention here at the begin- ning of my pastorate, because I had decided to lay stress on this department of usefulness and growth during my pastorate. In this endeavor I had the most cordial and constant co-operation of Mrs. Kugler. And the records show that what growth in beneficence was secured by the Church, was rather with the Christian women of the Church, in and through their missionary societies,
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.
than by the whole Church as a part of its organic work. And here, it was rather by securing a larger number of contributors, than by larger contributions from any indi- vidual members. At the same meeting of Session, it was decided to observe the Week of Prayer by the Church, and to follow this service with evangelistic ser- vices.
The regular quarterly meeting of Session was held February 28th, previous to preparatory service. To avoid lengthening this history, already much longer than designed, the following meetings of Session will be stated with less detail of organization, than has been given under the preceding pastorates. At the meeting of Session Robert Boyd and Elizabeth P., his wife, was re- ceived by letter from the Reformed Church of Clover Hill. At the same time Mrs. Josephine, wife of Henry Daniels, Miss Florence A. Boyd and Howard C. Sutphin were admitted to Church membership on examination.
George H. Hoesfall and wife were at their own re- quest dismissed to the Presbyterian Church of Franklin, Pa.
As the result of the effort for increased beneficence our first report to Presbytery showed a total of $244 for the work of the various Boards of the Church, of which $112 was for Foreign Missions. Of this sum the Wo- men's Society contributed $75. While the money they raised for the Home Board, was divided, so as to aid the Church in making up its allotment for Synodical Home Missions. The other Boards were all aided. The Congregational expenses were for salary $800, and in- cidentals $401.
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The total membership reported was 157, which was greater than the number on the grounds. Received dur- ing the first year, II on examination and three by letter; and two were dismissed by letter to other churches.
June 6th, 1891, Session received Cornelius Miller and Mary Whitenack, his wife, by letter, from the Reformed Church of Three Bridges, and at the same time dismissed Mrs. Abbie G. Wyckoff and John, her son, to the Re- formed Church of Raritan, and Mrs. Mary Prall Phillips to the Amwell Second Church. The pastor reminded the Session of the fact that at the Congregational meet- ing March 30, he had obtained leave of absence for four or five months, that he and Mrs. Kugler might visit Europe. This was asked and granted on condition that he supply the pulpit at his own expense during his ab- sence, excepting for the three weeks granted for his vacation. He now informed the Session that he had engaged for this service the Rev. Alexander McWil- liam of the Reformed Church, residing at Somerville, and at present without charge. The selection met with the approval of Session. The first meeting of Session after this period of absence was held December 5th, at which time Charles H. Snook (colored) was received on examination to Church membership; and by letter Session received from the Reformed Church of Queens, L. I., John L. Burke, and Sarah, his wife, and Pearl, their daughter; also Morris W. Robinson and Lizzie J. Stiger, his wife.
The pastor reminded Session of the death of Elder Wm. G. Hill, which had occurred during his absence in Europe. The pastor and Elder Quick were appointed a
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Committee to bring in a minute in the near future, on the death of Mr. Hill.
Sabbath morning Elmer White was admitted, after examination, to Church membership. Both he and Charles Snook received baptism previous to the adminis- tration of the Lord's supper.
January 31st, 1892, a letter of dismission was given to Jonathan T. Conover to the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, N. J. March 5th Charles T. Hocken- bury, Ellen Cora Young and James Woodburn Wilson were received on examination to the membership of this Church. At their public profession, Sabbath morning, Mr. Hockenbury and Miss Young received the rite of baptism.
Mrs. Sarah Catherine Hill, wife of Lewis Huff, was received on certificate from the Reformed Church at Clover Hill, and Mrs. Anna Munson, wife of Wood- burn Wilson, from the Reformed Church of Three Bridges.
The Committee appointed to bring in a minute on the death of Elder Hill reported at this meeting, substan- tially, as follows:
Resolved, That in the death of Elder Wm. G. Hill, which took place August 21st, 1891, this Church has lost a most worthy member and faithful office-bearer. This faithfulness was shown during the entire period of his official life, extending over more than twenty-one years, from March 20th, 1870, to the date of his death.
Second. We regarded him as a man wise in counsel, strong in faith, with an exalted sense of the responsibil- ity of his office and unswerving in his devotion to duty.
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(As illustration: See his action in refusing to put a motion when out of order, in case of Rev. Beekman).
Third. We, the surviving members of Session, have been deeply impressed by the sincerity of his piety, shown by his zeal for the Church and the Master. We shall deeply miss his godly example and encouraging presence.
The report was adopted.
Closing the second year we reported to General As- sembly, a small increase in membership and also in the sum paid for congregational expenses, caused chiefly by putting a new furnace in the parsonage, which was granted when the pastor and his wife agreed to pay fifty dollars on the same; fifty-seven was the sum paid by them. It is regretted that there was a small decrease in the beneficence of the Church as compared with the previous year. At the beginning of our third year with the Church the Session granted, April 4th, 1892, the fol- lowing letters: to Theodore F. Swarer, dismissing him to the Presbyterian Church of Clinton, N. J .; to Joseph S. Higgins and Lizzie, his wife, to the Reformed Church of Branchville, N. J .; May 25th, to Miss Hannah Swarer to the Presbyterian Church of Clinton, and to the Misses Caroline V. D. and Catherine Case to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington.
June 4th, Session received on examination Augustus Lebler and Augusta, his wife, and on certificate, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Kane from the First Presbyterian Church of Roselle, and June 5th, Mrs. V. D. S. Hill, wife of Horace Herder, from the Presbyterian Church of Pennington. July 24th a letter was granted Mrs. Mary
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L. Karkuff, wife of Jacob, dismissing her to the Re- formed Church of Annandale, N. J.
September 3rd, Robert R. Smith was received on ex- amination to Church membership. September 11th, the Session convened at the residence of Mrs. Low, and sit- ting at the bedside of her very sick grandson, received him, on examination, into the Church and to both Sac- raments, which were then administered.
November 2nd, certificates were granted Mrs. Anna Munson, widow of the late Woodburn Wilson, dis- missing her to the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church, and to John L. Burke, Sarah E., his wife, and Pearl, their daughter, to the Williams Avenue M. E. Church, Brook- lyn, N. Y.
December 3rd, Mrs. Julia E., wife of Charles F. Creveling, M. D., was received by letter from the M. E. Church of Phillipsburg, N. J., and Mrs. Jane Ann Quick and Jesse B. Conover were received on examina- tion to membership of this Church.
March 3, 1893, a letter was granted Mrs. Hannah M. Smith to St. Paul's M. E. Church, Trenton, N. J. At the same time William B. Prall, Jr., was received into this Church on examination, and John Young by letter from the Reformed Church of Branchville, N. J. March 12th, Mrs. Edward H. Stout, nee Susie E. Hoagland, was dismissed by letter to the Presbyterian Church of Lambertville, N. J.
March 31st, for the year, the record is six received on examination and four by letter, while thirteen were dis- missed to other churches, and three died, leaving a total
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of 150. At the same time the Church made decided gains in beneficence in all departments.
The Session granted a certificate July 23rd, 1893, to Mrs. Gertrude V. M. Peterson, dismissing her to the Second Reformed Church of Somerville, N. J. Mrs. Peterson had left the Church in 1891, but did not call for her certificate until this time. It should be added that Mrs. Peterson had served the Church as organist and leading soprano for many years, with great faithful- ness and efficiency, and her removal from us has been felt as a severe loss to the Church.
August 19th, letters were granted to Deacon John Emilie Holcombe and his wife, Emma A. Skillman, to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington. August 23rd, Mrs. Rhoda F., widow of Paul Quick, was dismissed to the Presbyterian Church of Hopewell. On the 30th, Henry C. Kline and his wife, Jennie C. Young, from the Reformed Church of Branchville. At the same time the pastor informed Session that Miss Bessie Smith, who had been organist since the removal of Mrs. Peterson, was about to leave the community, and asked Session to appoint a Committee to secure some one to fill her place. Elder Wm. J. Bellis and I. S. Lowe were made such Committee.
December 22nd, Mrs. Cora L. Smith, wife of D. Whitney Smith, was dismissed to the Second Presbyter- ian Church of Princeton. The Music Committee re- ported that they had engaged Miss Bessie Hill to take the place of organist in the Church.
- At this meeting of Session it was decided to observe the week of prayer as has been our uniform custom, and
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to follow this with such evangelistic services as may seem advisable.
January 28th, 1894, the Session granted certificates to Abraham W. Prall and Mary Elizabeth, his wife, to the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church. February 18th, the same to Miss Bessie Smith to the Presbyterian Church of Flem- ington, and March 3rd to Miss Mary Elizabeth Kane to the Church of Roselle, N. J.
At this time Elder C. F. Quick was reappointed to act with the pastor in the cause of Foreign Missions. The year closed with only two received, while eleven were dismissed to other churches and four had died, giv- ing a total of 139 members. Over against this painful fact was the cheering one, that there was a small increase all around in offerings for the spread of the gospel.
July 2nd, 1894, the Session received from the M. E. Church of Flemington Samuel Griggs, Georgianna, his wife, and Belle C., their daughter; also Margaret Hill Polhemus, wife of Isaac Lowe, and Alice Van Marter Polhemus, wife of Johnson B. Pierce, from the Reformed Church of Clover Hill. Anna A. Sutphen was received September Ist, on examination, and December 9th, Mrs. Mary C. Karkuff, from the Reformed Church of An- nandale. At the same time the Session determined to observe the week of prayer, and follow with evangelistic service, as called for.
The pastor convened Session December 16, and re- minded the members of the serious illness of Rev. Wm. M. Wells, of Amwell United First Church, and asked the privilege of rendering that Church a voluntary ser- vice for one Sabbath, as was being done by other churches
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and pastors in the Presbytery. This was cheerfully granted by the Session, at the same time agreeing to hold a prayer service in the absence of the pastor. This service was rendered for Brother Wells the first Sab- bath of January, 1895. A similar arrangement was made for Rev. W. H. Filson and the Church at Frenchtown, during the following summer.
According to the decision of Session, the week of prayer at the beginning of the year was followed by evan- gelistic services for seven weeks. These services resulted in a quickened interest among the members of the Church, and the addition, March 2nd, 1895, on examina- tion and to both sacraments, John H. Swarer, Wil- mina Rounsaville, wife of J. K. Rounsaville, Robert Smith, Charles Cronce, Samuel Gano, Samuel Hall, Elizabeth E. Walker and John V. Hoagland; and to the Lord's supper only Elizabeth H. Conover, wife of John H. Swarer, John Q. Williamson, Mary Ann Sloff, his wife, and William H. Housel, and by letter, Eme- line Conover, wife of Peter, from the Reformed Church of Clover Hill, Emily V. Conover, wife of Charles D. Wyckoff, from the Reformed Church of Readington ; and March 3rd, Peter H. Conover and William H., his son, and Sarah Taylor to both sacraments. These per- sons made a public profession of their faith in Christ and entered covenant to serve him, before the administra- tion of the sacraments, Sabbath morning.
The yearly report to Presbytery showed our largest increase in membership and again an increase in the offer- ings of the Church for the spread of the gospel, especially in the foreign field. The sum reached for Foreign Mis- 20
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sions was $119, the largest sum for this cause in the his- tory of the Church. For all these blessings, the Church, and especially the pastor and his wife were very grate- ful. And while our Sabbath School reported only 102 members, there were in the School thirty scholars who were Church members.
The Session received April 20, 1895, on examination, Cora B. Rounsaville and Mrs. Cornelia R. Smith, wife of Mahlon Smith, Jr., and by letter, Mrs. Mary Ella Holt, wife of W. Y. Holt, from the Presbyterian Church of Flemington, and William B. Dungan and Phoebe, his wife, from the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church. At the same time Barton Huffman and Sarah R. R., his wife, were dismissed to the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church. As the pastor had obtained leave of absence, in order that he and his wife might again visit Europe, on terms simi- lar to those of his first visit, he informed the Session that there would be uncertainty about his reaching home by the first of September, the Session, by unanimous vote, agreed that the communion service be deferred from the first to the Second Sabbath of that month, so that, if spared, he might be with them. The Session was in- formed that the Rev. Mr. Todd, of Cranford, N. J., an unemployed minister of the Reformed Church, had been engaged to take charge of the pulpit, during the pastor's absence, and this was approved. At the meeting of Ses- sion, October 6th, a letter was given Mrs. Mary A. Wil- son, wife of Aurthur Hoagland, to the Reformed Church of Long Branch, and to Stephen A. Staats and Martha V. Gulick, his wife, to the Reformed Church of New Brunswick.
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October 27, certificates were granted Mrs. Ada Hill and Lizzie Hill, her daughter, to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington, and to Samuel Hall, to the Reformed Church of Neshanic, and Florence Boyd, to the Kirk- patrick Memorial Church, while at the same time we received Mrs. Elizabeth Dungan from that Church. Mrs. Jennie C. V. Staats was dismissed to the Pres- byterian Church of Doylestown, Pa. The week of prayer and all other means of grace were observed and used with conscious faithfulness, unless it be while the pastor was absent. But with all this, the year has been one of decrease, rather than increase, in all departments, so far as numbers may express the conditions. July 5th, 1896, Mrs. Hannah Hoagland Wiggins was dismissed to the Presbyterian Church of Doylestown; December 5th, Mrs. Horace Herder was dismissed to the Reformed Church of Readington.
The conditions of this Church above expressed, ex- tended to the neighboring Churches, the Amwell United First, and the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church.
The pastors of the same, the Rev. Samuel H. Potter and the Rev. George W. S. Wenrick and myself agreed to unite in an effort for more aggressive work. In this we had the cordial co-operation of our respective Ses- sions, and of our people as well. The plan was for all to unite in a service at one of these churches one night, and at another the next, thus keeping up a continuous inter- church service. This was commenced November 8th, and was continued for four weeks, at which all the pastors were present with one or two exceptions, and preached for each other. The audiences were large, the
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people were deeply interested, and blessed results followed immediately in the Memorial Church and in the others the good influences were abiding, and the ingathering came following the week of prayer.
The Session gave a certificate, February 7th, to Mrs. Anna, wife of George R. Hill, dismissing her to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington, and to J. Jacob Kisz, to the German Evangelical Church of Paterson, N. J.
March 6, 1897, the following persons appeared before Session, and after examination, were admitted to the sealing ordinance of baptism and the Lord's supper, viz: Mrs. Nancy Crouce, wife of William, Sarah Mowry, Eleanor Griggs and Alexander Stryker; and the follow- ing having received baptism in infancy, were admitted to the Lord's supper, viz: Myrta Bellis and Anna W. Sutphin.
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