USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume I > Part 54
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The first official record of Presbyterianism dates from April 23, 1811, when the Presbytery of New Brunswick was petitioned to furnish supply preachers for a congregation of English-speaking people located in the bor- ough of Easton. There was, however, more than one Eastonian who was connected with the settlement church in Allen township. The Presbytery granted the request, and assigned Stephen Boyer, a licentiate, November 6, 18II, who became the stated supply, which technically is not a pastor. The congregation worshipped in the old court-house, and a church was not built for some six or seven years. Mr. Boyer continued preaching and teaching in Easton until the spring of 1814, when he removed to Columbia, Penn- sylvania, and in that year the church is for the first time recorded on the minutes of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. After the removal of Mr. Boyer, the congregation was served by Presbyterial supplies until the autumn of 1816, and on November 3d of that year Rev. David Bishop was installed
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as a stated supply. The time had come when the congregation, though fully organized ecclesiastically, had no legal status, and steps were taken for incorporation. An act was presented to the State Legislature on Janu- ary 22, 1818, which was duly passed, and the congregation became known as the First Presbyterian Congregation of Easton. The present location on the corner of Second and Bushkill streets was purchased March 6, 1818. A building committee consisting of John Green, Absalom Reeder, John Cooper, Ralph Tyndal, Moses Davis and Thomas McKeen was authorized to erect a church 45 by 50 feet, fronting on Bushkill street. The total cost of the building was $5,875.15, and it was solemnly dedicated August 22, 1819. Rev. Mr. Bishop remained as pastor until his death, May 19, 1822. In the meantime the Presbytery of Newton was organized and the church became a member of that Presbytery. In the latter part of 1822 the con- gregation requested Rev. John Gray as a stated supply. Rev. Mr. Gray was a member of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, which on application granted him the privilege to preach until he should have time to be trans- ferred to the Presbytery of Newton. At a special meeting held December 31, 1822, he was examined for ordination, and was appointed stated supply, and served until October 7, 1823, when he was installed as first pastor of the church. Dr. Gray's pastorate continued forty-four years and seven months, until his death, January 12, 1868, and at this time Presbyterianism was firmly established in the community. During this period the original church was enlarged twice. That Dr. Gray was a man of ability is evi- denced that while there was defection from his church to organize other congregations, the original church even to the time of his death, was the largest Presbyterian congregation in the community. He was opposed to extension, being in favor of the enlargement of the church building rather than to form other congregations.
Dr. Gray was succeeded in the pastorate by the Rev. W. A. Kerr, a young man of fine oratorical talents, an interesting and attractive preacher. He resigned in August, 1870, and Rev. Frank E. Miller was installed as pastor May 1, 1871. He was of the type possessing superlative persever- ance, a good fighter, an advocate of extension rather than centralization, and it was mainly through his efforts that two churches were organized, also the Seitzville Mission. In 1887 Rev. Mr. Miller accepted a call ex- tended him from Paterson, New Jersey, and the Rev. Douglas Carlile was elected as his successor, and installed May 7, 1888. During his pastorage the church was again enlarged, and while his successor, Rev. Francis Stod- dard Haines, had charge of the church the present front of the building was erected. Rev. Plato T. Jones was installed as pastor February 6, 1904. The hundredth anniversary of the church was celebrated October 8-12, 19II. The present pastor is Rev. Herbert M. Gesner, who has had charge of the congregation since 19II.
The population of Easton in 1840 was 5,526, and the membership of the Presbyterian churches 333, which was one for every seventeen of its inhabitants. In 1910 the population was 28,523, and the membership of the five Presbyterian churches 1,926, or one for each fifteen of the total inhabitants.
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For nearly two-score years the First Presbyterian Church was almost the only church of that denomination in Easton and the adjoining territory. The activity which resulted in the formation of other Presbyterian churches began in 1847. The Rev. George Junkin, the first president of Lafayette College, was a champion of the old school of theology, not only in the Presbytery but in the higher ecclesiastical courts of the church. He and Dr. Gray were the best of friends, but they became estranged. It was on December 7, 1847, that Dr. Junkin addressed a letter to Dr. Gray advocat- ing the organization of another Presbyterian church. Arrangements were made to hold services by Dr. Junkin in the Guards Armory on North Second street. The first service was held January 7, 1848, in the Baptist church. The Presbytery of Newton was petitioned by fifty-three persons April 25, 1848, asking that a committce be sent to organize the church. This request was granted May 18, 1848, and the Second Presbyterian Church was organized. The church united with the Presbyterian Church at Har- mony, New Jersey, in securing a pastor, and on January 1, 1849, the Rev. John Shimer was elected pastor of the two churches. Dr. Gray was inimical to all the interests of the Second Presbyterian Church. He never invited their minister to occupy his pulpit, and showed his opposition in many ways. Dr. Shimer on March 21, 1851, addressed a communication to his congregation regarding the differences that existed in reference to the extension of Presbyterianism, and that it could not be amicably ad- justed, and tendered his resignation as pastor. The congregation notified the Presbytery of Newton on April 24, 1851, that they wished to dissolve, which was forthwith accomplished.
The conditions of affairs was such that the members of the Second Presbyterian Church did not desire to return to the ministration of Dr. Gray, hence they turned to the Reformed Protestant Church, known as the Dutch Reformed Church. The first pastor of this church was Rev. J. H. Mason Knox, who was succeeded by the Rev. Cornelius M. Edgar. Dr. Edgar's successor was Rev. M. S. Blauvelt, who in turn gave way to Rev. Timothy J. Lee. During the latter's pastorage the congregation sought to be dismissed from the Reformed body and to unite with the Presbyterian denomination. After the resignation of Dr. Lee, there was a union of the Second Presbyterian Church and the Brainerd Church, forming the present Union Church.
The Second Presbyterian Church established a mission on East Canal street, for which the Kate Drake Chapel was built. This mission was subse- quently abandoncd on account of the residents of the locality becoming a foreign-speaking people. Since 1909, however, the building has been utilized for foreigners, more particularly the Italians, and is under the joint care of the First Presbyterian and Brainerd Union churches.
Th original thirty-six members of the Brainerd Church, now the Brainerd Union Church, were formerly connected with the First Presby- terian Church. The mother church at a session held October 5, 1852, favored an application to the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia for organi- zation of a new church. The Presbytery granted the application, and the organization was completed by the selection of the necessary officials.
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Preparations were immediately made for the erection of a new edifice, a lot having been secured on the corner of Spring Garden and Sitgreaves streets. The front of the building was trimmed with Trenton stone, with a spire one hundred and seventy-five feet high, of Gothic design.
The Rev. G. Wilson McPhail was installed as pastor on the day the church was dedicated, October 17, 1854. Dr. McPhail continued his rela- tions until April, 1862. The Rev. Alfred H. Kellogg became his successor ; he was ordained October 22, 1862, and continued as pastor until April, 1865, when he accepted a call to the University Place Church in New York City. The next pastor was the Rev. D. Stewart Banks, who after a successful pastorage of nearly seven years removed to Marquette, Michigan. The Rev. Jacob Weidman, from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, was installed as pastor June 5, 1873, and he was followed in 1880 by the Rev. A. Russell Steven- son, who resigned March 1, 1888, to take charge of the First Presbyterian Church of Schenectady, New York. The successor of Rev. Mr. Stevenson was the Rev. Henry D. Lindsay. He was a graduate of Erskine College, South Carolina, and of Princeton University. The next pastor, the Rev. Leighton W. Eckard, was installed in 1891, and dissolved his relations with the church in the early part of 1906. It was during his pastorate that the present chapel was built, the church enjoying a career of prosperity and usefulness. The Rev. Louis B. Crane was installed as pastor December 6, 1906, and at a meeting held February 16, 1910, steps were taken to dis- solve the relations existing between the church and its pastor. The next pastor, the Rev. Samuel C. Hodges, was installed June 12, 1911, and was succeeded in 1916 by the present incumbent, Rev. Walter W. Edge.
The church occupies a prominent position among the churches of Easton, and its members and adherents are of the foremost and influential citizens of the city. A mission is conducted in West Easton, at the Sarah J. Young Memorial Chapter. The Chapter House was erected by the Easton Coffee House Association, which was conducted by ladies as an undenomina- tional association from 1877 to 1898 for the purposes of supplying a lunch and reading room to offset the temptations of the saloon. With the profits from the enterprise, they employed a Bible reader and a city missionary. The last reader and the longest in the service was Miss Sarah J. Young, and the chapel was named in her honor. The ladies finally gave up their efforts, and the Brainerd Union Church assumed care of the mission.
The South Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Wilkesbarre street and Valley avenue. It was the outgrowth of a mission organized in the early eighties of the past century by the First Presbyterian and Brainerd Union churches. The Rev. J. F. Sheppard was installed as pastor, April 19, 1883, and preached his farewell sermon June 26, 1890. Among his successors were Revs. T. Calvin Stewart, R. B. Kennedy, W. J. Mewhinney, and in 1905 Rev. J. F. Stonecipher was appointed moderator until a vacancy in the pastorage was filled. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph Howell.
The First Presbyterian Church in 1881 founded a mission Sabbath School on Twelfth street. The meetings for several years were held in the Twelfth Street Engine House, when a little chapel was erected at the corner of Twelfth and Northampton streets. An independent organization
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was established in 1899, and became known as Olivet Presbyterian Church. Rev. Harley Klaer was elected pastor May 1, 1899. After a few years steps were taken for the erection of a church; the cornerstone was laid October 18, 1903, and it was dedicated October 2, 1904, the membership being at that time four hundred. The Rev. John Flemming was pastor in 1916. The pulpit is filled at the present time by Rev. De Forest Wade.
The College Hill Presbyterian Church was organized in 1896 by an independent movement of the citizens of that locality in Easton. The following year it was decided by those interested to build a church of the Tudor Gothic style of architecture, with a Queen Anne porch, corner of Monroe and Brodhead streets, at a cost of $22,500, with a seating capacity from four hundred to five hundred. The cornerstone was laid November 25, 1897, and Rev. Charles Schall was elected pastor; he tendered his resigna- tion in 1909, and was succeeded by Rev. Luther S. Black, who was installed June 15, 1909, and is the present incumbent.
The services of the Protestant Episcopal Church were first regularly performed in the borough of Easton by Samuel Sitgreaves and John Dolby, lay readers. Services were held in the family residence of Mr. Sitgreaves, on the corner of Third and Spring Garden streets, and continued for more than a year, or until the Rev. John Rodney was sent as a missionary by the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania. At a meeting held February 11, 1819, a parish was organized comprising eleven members. The Rev. John Rodney was elected rector of the new parish, the title of which was the Trinity Church of the Borough of Easton. In the month of April the cornerstone of a building to be called Trinity Church was laid in a lot on Spring Garden street, which was presented to the parish by Samuel Sitgreaves. The new House of God was finished and consecrated October 25. 1820, and on the following day the Rev. John Rod- ney was advanced to the priesthood. The first rector of the church resigned September 21, 1825, and was succeeded for a year by the Rev. Samuel Bow- man, afterwards Bishop of Pennsylvania, and succeeding him for four months was the Rev. Samuel Sitgreaves, Jr. The rectors that followed were Revs. John A. Hicks, Frederick W. Beasley, Joshua M. Rogers, Joseph I. Elsegood, J. Saunders Reed and William Bryce Morrow. Among those of later date were Revs. Benjamin J. Davis, L. M. Kerridge and Archibald H. Bradshaw, the present incumbent.
Divine services were held for the last time in the church erected in 1820, when it was torn down to give place to a new structure. The old church -- well known as "The White Church," from the color of its walls- had been built after the model of a rural parish church in England, a draw- ing of which was brought to the congregation by Samuel Sitgreaves, which he had secured while United States Commissioner to England under Jay's Treaty. The church, surrounded by its green sward and shaded by large and handsome trees, was beautiful and picturesque, and greatly admired by the townspeople and all visitors as one of the most lovely and attractive features of the borough. Its demolition was a cause of deep and abiding regret. The building that took its place was destroyed by fire March 8, 1873. It was rebuilt, with a chapel added to the west side, and was opened
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for divine service May 30, 1874, and in Easter week 1876, being entirely free of debt, was consecrated. The building is a handsome Gothic structure of granite, lofty and finely proportioned, with a tower upon the east side. It is located at the corner of Spring Garden and Sitgreaves streets.
The earliest records of Methodist preaching in the territory about Easton was that of Johnson Dunham, who was appointed in 1802 to Northampton county by the Philadelphia Conference. The following year Northampton county was abandoned as a district, and in 1810 another effort was made, when David Bartine was the preacher in charge. The circuit, however, was weak, and the next year had to be joined with what is now Lehigh county. For several years the preachers appointed to the Bristol Circuit or North- ampton Circuit continued to visit Easton, but did not hold regular services.
It was not, however, until 1825 that there was any healthy growth of the religion of John Wesley in Northampton county. In that year Philip Reese, a member of the Lutheran denomination, became an active and zealous Methodist. His home was a center for preachers to hold meetings and a Bethel for the new denomination. Meetings were held more or less regu- larly by preachers of the Warren circuit with variable success. Class meet- ings were formed in 1826, and William Down was appointed leader. The first class of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Easton was formed in Phillipsburg; the members of the denomination worshipped together, hence the class was formed there for mutual accommodation. A second class was formed in the summer of 1827, and the old academy on what was called School House Hill was secured for the preachers. Crowds attended the services, a gracious revival of religion followed, and, it becoming evident that the building was not sufficiently strong enough to bear the weight of the multitudes that flocked to it, the little society of Methodists were com- pelled to vacate. Through the courtesy of the county officials the court- house was used as a preaching place for a period, and finally services were held in an old red store situated near the junction of Walnut and Northamp- ton streets. Among the early ministers were James Long, Pharoah Ogden, Jacob Hevener, Joseph Chattel, Thomas Millard and James V. Potts.
Easton appears in 1831 for the first time in "Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church," as a separate and distinct charge. In that year the present church lot was purchased on Fermor, now Second street. On this lot was a long but narrow frame building which had been used as an armory or barracks in the War of 1812. This building served as a place of worship and a residence for a family for several years, and on account of its strange proportions and elevated position, resting as it did on props, was called by the people "The Saw Mill." The first regular church edifice was erected in 1835 under the supervision of the pastor, Rev. John Bishop Hagany, and continued to be used until it was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1855. The church was rebuilt the following year at the cost of $10,000; it was large and commodious, and its erection marked an epoch in the history of Methodism in Easton. The progress of the church has been steady, the itinerancy of the ministers is such and their stay so limited that their personality has not been impressed on the com- munity at large. The church was under the pastoral charge of Rev. William
ON SPRING GARDEN STREET AT THE CORNER OF THIRD 1 2 3
1. Road on Mt. Jefferson. 2. Philip Slough's Hotel. 3. Residence of Samuel Sitgreaves
OLD EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON SPRING GARDEN STREET
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H. Ford in 1918, and is known as the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Methodism began in South Easton with a class meeting under the leader- ship of James Bishop. Within two years two more classes were started, and the church was connected with the church at Easton. These classes for ten years held services in a small school building. A lot was purchased in 1840, corner of Mauch Chunk and Delaware, now Reynolds, streets, and during the construction of the building services were held in the basement. The church was completed in the autumn of 1846; in 1853 application was made for a separate minister, and the Rev. Edward Townsend was placed in charge of the congregation. This frame church in 1860 gave place to a commodious brick edifice, and in 1875 a parsonage was built on part of the church lot. The property at that time was valued at $19,000. The pastor in 1916 was Rev. W. J. Downing. The title of the church is the Second Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 1919 was under the charge of Rev. R. Edward Redding.
It was during the ministry of the Rev. S. H. Hoover at the Methodist Episcopal Church of Easton that the foundation of the Calvary Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church was laid. The building of a chapel on Perry street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets, is a monument of his energy and perseverance. This led to the organization in 1883 of the Calvary Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, which later built their present church on the corner of Fourteenth and Lehigh streets. The pastor of the church is the Rev. John E. McVeigh.
The Baptists, though occupying a prominent position in the great Chris- tian family, were almost unknown in Easton prior to 1836. The Rev. Joseph Matthias, from Hilltown, Bucks county, in his intinerary, would often stop and preach in the court-house at Easton as occasion might offer. On the second Sabbath in December, 1836, he baptized three persons in the Dela- ware river, and in the following January preached in the house of Ezekiel Hill and administered the Lord's Supper. Shortly after this, Rev. Thomas Ritchie, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, removed to Easton, and preached there and at Mount Bethel, Stroudsburg and other places. A council was convened September 26, 1837, in a schoolhouse near the corner of Fourth and Washington streets, a covenant was adopted, and a church consisting of six members regularly constituted and set apart as a separate and inde- pendent Baptist church. The Rev. Joseph R. Morris was elected pastor, and was succeeded the following year by Rev. Marshall M. Everts. In 1845 William B. Tolan was ordained to the gospel ministry and became pastor of the church. Upon his accession to the pastorate, it was deemed necessary that a commodious house was needed, a lot was purchased on Ferry street, and a house of worship erected thereon. In the fall of 1848, Rev. John C. Harrison was called to the pastoral charge of the church and continued nearly eight years. Dr. Harrison was a man of fine culture and ability, but was not adapted to that portion of the community with which he came in contact, consequently the church increased but very little under his ministration. The congregation became very small and was unable to support a preacher, and it was not until 1860 that Rev. Joseph L. Sage- heer became pastor. He served only a short time, when he was succeeded
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by the Rev. Samuel Skinner, and he in turn by Rev. J. N. Folwell. During the pastorate of Mr. Folwell the church moved into the Universalist house of worship, which had maintained an organization for several years in Easton. The Baptist church was subsequently sold to a colored congrega- tion. Rev. Mr. Folwell resigned in the spring of 1865, and from that time until January 1, 1870, the congregation was without a pastor, when Rev. Andrew Armstrong of Frenchtown, New Jersey, was called to take charge of the little band that had held together through so many trials and dis- couragements, and it is mainly due to his influence, untiring energy and perseverance that the church is now in a prosperous condition. A new church was built at a cost of $5,200 on the corner of Walnut and Ferry streets. The Rev. Andrew Armstrong resigned in 1878, and for a time the congregation depended wholly on supply ministers. Among the late pastors of the church are Revs. O. E. Cox, W. H. Marshall, J. P. Hunter, Wayland Johnson, George J. Fox, George W. Folwell, W. T. Tapscott, T. C. Brew- ster, E. R. Allen and James W. McDowall. He also has charge of the South Side Baptist Congregation that worships in their church at Lincoln, near Centre street.
The Evangelical church originated in America in 1847 when the Rev. Mr. Esbjoin came from Sweden to this country and organized a church of seven members. The following year services of this society were held in private houses in Easton, and in 1854 the small congregation became a mis- sion with Rev. J. Yeakel as pastor, and meetings were held in the basement of the West Ward Academy. Under the supervision of the pastor, the pres- ent church in Northampton street was built in 1855 and styled Trinity Church of the Evangelical Association. The next pastor was Rev. W. L. Reber, and in 1858 the society was constituted a self-supporting station. The church's golden jubilee was celebrated November 25, 1905, when Rev. P. W. Brown was pastor. The pastor in 1916 was Rev. A. Keuher, who was succeeded by the Rev. Christian C. Moyer.
The Bethel Mission was organized as a mission March 22, 1869. The society then numbered nine members, and the first meetings were held in a private house; a chapel was, however, dedicated on Ferry street, Novem- ber 6, 1869. The building was erected and furnished at a cost of about $6,000, most of which was paid on completion. The first pastor was Rev. L. N. Werman; he served two years and was succeeded by Rev. S. L. Weist. He was followed by Revs. O. L. Sayler, S. C. Breyfogel, A. M. Stirk, J. G. Sands, J. C. Krause, T. A. Hess, besides others. From this church as a foundation came the First United Evangelical Church, which was organized in 1891, and was the first church of this faction of the Evangelical church to be established in Easton. A church was built on Tenth street, and the first pastor was Rev. Edward Romig. The eleventh anniversary of the church was celebrated October 27, 1907, and the four- teenth October 23, 1910, at which time Rev. J. M. Rinker was pastor. The successors to Rev. M. Rinker were Rev. D. A. Medlar and Rev. C. H. Wengel. The church in 1919 was in charge of the Rev. Andrew B. Sayler.
The Bethel United Evangelical Church, located on Ninth street, was erected in 1869, and was formally reopened September 3, 1893. The Bethany
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United Church, located on Berwick street, South Side, was organized in 1878, the first pastor being Rev. William H. Stauffer. The congregation in 1919 was in charge of the Rev. William J. Scheifley. Grace Evangelical Church, located on Wilkesbarre and McKeen streets on the South Side, dates its origin from 1869, when Rev. O. L. Saylor organized a class and held prayer meetings at the house of those interested in denominational work. The progress was slow, however, until the Rev. S. C. Breyfogle took charge, who organized a class of twenty in 1879. Three years later the Rev. W. H. Stauffer was assigned to the church, and the present house of worship was built. The following have also officiated as pastor: Revs. G. W. Marquardt, B. C. Knapp and E. H. Romig. The pastor in 1916 was Rev. C. A. Whitehead, who was succeeded by Rev. R. N. Taylor.
At a meeting held at Pomfret Hall, February 26, 1888, which was pre- sided over by the Rev. E. T. Kluge, preliminary arrangements were made to revive the Moravian religion, which for one hundred and twenty-five years had laid dormant in Easton. A permanent organization was effected April 1, 1888, and the following June, Rev. E. J. Reinke was installed as pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. F. F. Hagen, who continued until De- cember, when Rev. C. R. Kinsey was placed in charge of the congregation. He gave way in October, 1890, to Rev. J. D. Hillman. The first four years of the existence of the congregation it was a mission of the churches at Bethlehem and Nazareth. Religious services had been held in Masonic Hall, but a removal was made to the Olivet Presbyterian Chapel in the western part oy the city. In the summer of 1892 a church was erected on the North Tenth corner of Bushkill streets, Easton Heights, and the Rev. J. D. Hillman was succeeded in 1891 by Rev. J. S. Romig. The Rev. M. E. Kempler was pastor in 1897, in which year a parsonage was built. He preached his farewell sermon October 18, 1903, and was succeeded by the Rev. William H. Vogler, who was succeeded in turn by the Rev. W. H. Romig, who preached his farewell sermon September 13, 1914. His suc- cessor, the Rev. De S. Brunner, was installed as pastor October 4, 1914.
The Jewish congregation was begun in Easton in 1839, and chartered November 24, 1842-by the Jewish calendar, 5602. In that year a lot of land 40 by 100 feet was purchased for $400 on South Sixth street, and the first church building was contracted for and built at a cost of $2,400. The first officiating rabbi was Rev. Manis Cohen, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Kling, the Rev. Mr. Putzel and others. On account of the increase of membership in the congregation in 1870 the synagogue was enlarged at a total cost of $5,600. Divine services are held every Friday evening and Saturday morning and all Jewish holidays; services are conducted in the Hebrew and German languages. In the early seventies of the nineteenth century the spiritual affairs of the congregation were under the leadership of the Rev. Jacob S. Jacobson. On the portiere of the synagogue the name of the society, "Covenant of Peace," is engraved. Rabbi S. Kleeburg had charge of the congregation from 1897 to the time of his death at Atlantic City, New Jersey, September 6, 1906. The church was rebuilt, renovated and rededicated August 30, 1907. Rabbi B. Sadler delivered his inaugural address June 2, 1908. The present rabbi is the Rev: David Levy. In 1908
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a second synagogue was built on South Sixth street by the children of Abraham; its present rabbi is Samuel Cohen.
The Universalists had at one time an organization in Easton, and as early as 1846 held religious services in Guards' Armory on Second street, at which time there were about twenty members. The next year a church edifice was erected on Ferry street at a cost of $4,000. The first regular pastor was Rev. Herman Burr, who supplied the pulpit about three years and was succeeded by Rev. J. Galiger, who remained about six years. The next pastor, Rev. James Schrigley, remained but a short time, and was followed by Rev. J. B. Heath, who remained with the congregation until 1873. In November, 1874, Mrs. A. C. Bowles took charge of the congrega- tion, and a few years later it ceased to exist.
The Christian Scientists commenced holding meetings at Easton in 1902, and a church was afterwards established called the First Church of Christ. The Salvation Army has also a barracks in the city. The Mennon- ite Brethren built a chapel on South Fourteenth street several years ago, and in 1919 it was under the charge of Rev. Richard L. Wordring. The Young Men's Christian Association was established in Easton, February I, 1869; the association commenced religious work with forty-one enrolled members. They have largely increased their usefulness and are at the pres- ent time in a flourishing condition. A movement is now in progress to erect a new building for their occupation. There is also a Young Women's Christian Association in the city.
The First Colored Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in Febru- ary, 1866, by the Rev. D. W. Greenville. The church building was located on Ferry street, formerly belonging to the Baptist Society of the borough. The congregation dedicated a church September 2, 1902, at which time the Rev. D. L. Coleman was pastor. There are at present in Easton two colored congregations-Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church on Locust and Cherry streets, and Shiloh Colored Baptist Church, under the charge of Rev. Franklin P. Diggs.
The scenic setting of Easton as the gateway of the Grand Valley of the Lehigh is not surpassed by any city of the country. Far to the north and far to the south roll the waters of the rivers that fork at her feet, enveloping the country of northeastern Pennsylvania and that of northwestern New Jersey. The city is essentially a commercial and trading center, its manu- factured goods not only seek the domestic markets but are scattered throughout foreign lands.
We leave to the future historian the task of recording the services of her sons in the war between the Allies and the Central Powers. The gov- ernment of the United States has not as yet issued any official records, nor has there been an authentic history written of those noble endeavors to give Democracy to the people of the world. Easton, however, gave nobly of her means to all the government calls for loans, subscribing in every instance more than the quota allotted to her. Her sons responded to the call for duty, and those who made the supreme sacrifice are duly recorded in the annals of the city.
Immediately adjoining Easton are the boroughs of West Easton and
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Glendon ; also Williams, Wilson, Palmer and Forks townships, all separate municipalities. Across the Delaware river in New Jersey is the town of Phillipsburg and the townships of Lopatcong, Hopatcong and Greenwich, all separate municipalities. The combined population of the municipalities at the Forks of the Delaware within a radius of two and one-half miles of its junction with the Lehigh river is about 80,000. This makes a very important settlement, not only by reason of its population but for its educa- tional institutions, rich soil of the surrounding country, and its important and diversified manufactures. Easton is almost a suburb of New York and Philadelphia, only two hours distant from each city. It is one of the most important cities of its size in the United States. It has a paid fire department, ample police protection, beautifully lighted streets, well paved with brick and asphalt. Its people are industrious, thriving, contented and law abiding.
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