BX~6248 .N5 L48 1869 Levy, Edgar Mortimer , b. 1822. History of the Newark Baptist City Mission OLD FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY Jletoark Baptist City jmtsston FROM ITS ORIGIN IN 185 1 TO ITS SEVENTEENTH ANNIVERSARY IN 1868. REV. EDGAR M. LEVY, D. D. PUBLISHED WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY HURD AND HOUGHTON <£aml)vttjflc: 3£libcrsitic JJvrss. 1869. M w CONTENTS. PART I. PAGE Origin 5 PART II. Plan of Operations 9 PART III. Early Efforts 19 PART IV. Organization of Churches 27 The North Baptist Church 27 The Fifth Baptist Church 37 Fairmount Baptist Church 49 Mount Pleasant Baptist Church . . . 57 The Pilgrim Baptist Church 63 PART V. German Church and Mission 7 1 The First German Baptist Church . . . 71 The Twelfth Ward Mission 79 IV ' CONTENTS. PART VI. Sketches of First and South Churches . First Baptist Church .... History of the South Baptist Church PAGE 85 85 113 PART VII. Growth from Effort 133 THE BAPTIST CITY MISSION OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. ♦ $art fit$t. ORIGIN. A nameless man amid a crowd That thronged the daily mart, Let fall the words of hope and love, Unstudied from the heart. A whisper on the tumult thrown, A transitory breath, — It raised a brother from the dust, It saved a soul from death. O germ ! O fount ! O word of love ! O thought at random cast ! Ye were but little at the first, But mighty at the last" OME of the most important and beneficent enterprises, both in the world and in the Church, have had their origin in what appeared an accidental, but what proved to be a provi- 6 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK dential, suggestion of the human mind. It was so in the origin of the Sunday-school work, by Robert Raikes ; it was so in the origin of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and of the English Baptist Mis- sionary Society. Results of infinite moment lie hidden in a passing thought, or in a simple suggestion. This fact is illustrated in the origin of the Newark Baptist City Mission. Toward the close of the year 185 1, the pastors of the First and South churches 1 were one day walking arm in arm, on Washington Street, when the former said to the latter, " I will tell you what I have been thinking about." " And what is it, pray ? " " I have been thinking," said he, " that we ought to be planting some new churches in this growing city." " It is a good thought," was the prompt reply ; " it ought to be done." Thus the conversation went on, till they 1 Rev. H. C. Fish, D. D., and Rev. William Hague, D. D. BAPTIST CITY MISSION. J were about to part, when it was agreed to speak to some of the leading brethren in each church, and get them together in the private parlor of Mr. John M. Davies, a member of the South Baptist Church. Accordingly, on the evening of Decem- ber ist, of the above year, some ten or twelve persons met at the place designated, for consultation and prayer. At this meet- ing, the religious condition of the city, the demands of a constantly augmenting popu- lation, and the capabilities and duties of the Baptist denomination in Newark, were sub- jects of solemn and earnest consideration. The result was, that the following resolution was passed : — u Resolved : That in the providence of God, there is a wide field for missionary labor in our city, and mo- tives for its prosecution that should quicken us to renewed diligence and holy consecration." It was also deemed desirable to employ immediately a missionary, and to open two places for preaching — one in the North Ward and another in the Fifth Ward, and 8 NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION. liberal pledges were made for that purpose. A public meeting was arranged for, in or- der to secure the action of the whole de- nomination. At this meeting, held in the First Church, December 7, 1851, an interest in behalf of the enterprise was manifested by the spon- taneous contribution of additional sums, amounting to more than one thousand dol- lars. A plan of action was also adopted, by which each church was to elect six members, including its pastor, who should constitute a Board to direct the affairs of the Mission. The first meeting of the delegates ap- pointed to constitute this Board, was held on the evening of January 21st, 1852, in the lecture-room of the First Church. It was composed of the following persons: H. C. Fish, William Hague, David Jones, Lewis Nichols, John Compton, Samuel Mason, Sr., John Manning, Robert Johnston, John M. Davies, Daniel C. Whitman, Daniel M. Wil- son. The Board was then formally organ- ized by the election of proper officers. 5?art £rconti* PLAN OF OPERATIONS. ^EFORE proceeding to speak of the organization and support of churches, a few words of explana- tion may be necessary, in order that the constitution of the Board and the mode of operations may be clearly under- stood. I. The Board has a legal existence. For some years its operations were prosecuted in a very limited and simple manner. But in the course of time mission property accumulated, and deeds of land for chapels and church edifices had to be secured. It was found necessary for the Board to be an incorporated body in order to hold prop- erty by law. The following act of incor- poration was granted by the Legislature in 1861 : — IO HISTORY OF THE NEWARK STATE OF NEW JERSEY. An Act to i?icorporate the Baptist City Mission. i. Be it enacted by the Senate and Ge?ieral Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That Henry C Fish, Daniel M. Wilson, Edgar M. Levy, Joseph O. Nichols, Robert Atkinson, Ebenezer Tingley, David T. Morrill, Joseph Morris, Charles W. Clarke, Daniel C. Whitman, and Conrad Bordenbender, and their successors, being members of the Baptist Church, be and they are hereby constituted a body corporate, by the name of the Bap- tist City Mission, and by that name shall have per- petual succession, and exercise and be clothed with the powers and privileges enumerated in the first section of the act entitled " An Act concerning Corporations," approved February fourteenth, eighteen hundred and forty-six, and shall be capable of holding, taking, and receiving by purchase, gift, grant, devise, bequest, or otherwise, and of conveying, mortgaging, and granting all such property and estate, real, personal, and mixed, which may be necessary or proper for the purposes and objects of the corporation, provided, that the yearly value of the property which said corporation shall at any one time hold or own shall not exceed Fifty Thou- sand Dollars. 2. And be it enacted, That the objects of said corpor- ation shall be the furtherance and promotion of the interests of the Baptist denomination of Christians in the City of Newark, in this State, and its immediate vicinity. BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I I 3. And be it enacted, That the management of the affairs and concerns of said corporation shall be and is vested in eleven or more trustees, as the by-laws may direct, who shall be citizens of the said city of Newark, or its vicinity, and members of the said denomination of Christians (the persons named in the first section of this act to be the first trustees), a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of busi- ness ; they shall be annually elected, and shall hold their first meeting at the call of said first trustees, and shall appoint a president, secretary, and such other officer and officers as they may deem necessary. 4. And be it enacted, That the trustees may provide by-laws to determine the number of said trustees to be annually elected ; to provide for the election or appoint- ment for their holding over in case the regular annual election should not take place and provide for filling vacancies, etc. 5. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately. II. The members of the Board, or, ac- cording to the charter, the Trustees, consist of the pastor and four other members of each church, who are elected by the churches in April of each year. 1 1 Missions not organized into churches have the privilege of being represented by their missionary and one delegate, who may participate in the proceedings, but are not entitled to vote. 12 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK III. All the members of the Baptist churches of Newark are members of the City Mission. They are entitled to vote in their respective churches for those who are to represent them in the Board. They also have the privilege of organizing the anniversary meetings by the election of a Chairman and a Secretary ; approving or otherwise the reports of the Board, and may give instructions to the same. They are likewise expected to contribute towards the object of the City Mission, each one doing something. Particular attention is given to interest every member, old and young, in this work of the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. IV. The Board meets on the last Mon- day evening of each month. The monthly meetings are conducted according to the following order : First, devotional services ; second, calling the roll ; * third, reading of minutes ; fourth, treasurer's report ; fifth, receipts of money from the collectors ; sixth, 1 Members not present at roll-call are fined twenty-five cents, unless detained by sickness or absence from the city. BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I 3 reports of committees ; seventh, reports from the Missions ; eighth, miscellaneous busi- ness ; ninth, devotional exercises and ad- journment. V. At the first meeting of the new Board each year, one of the delegates from each church is appointed a collector for the church which he represents. It is his duty to keep a book and secure an annual con- tribution, if possible, from every member of said church. He reports to the Treasurer of the Board at each monthly meeting. VI. The pastors and missionaries are ex- pected to preach on the subject of city mis- sions, and otherwise direct attention to the work of the Board, on the morning of the Anniversary Sabbath of each year. Sub- scription papers are then circulated through the congregation, to relieve, if possible, the collector from the labor of a personal appli- cation. Payments of subscriptions may be made to the collector, annually, quar- terly, or monthly, at the pleasure of the subscriber. 14 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK VII. An annual and a semi-annual meet- ing of the City Mission are held. The annual meeting occurs on the second Sab- bath in April, and the semi-annual on the second Sabbath in October. These meetings, of late, have been held in the edifice of the First Baptist Church; the capacity of the house and its central location, making it all that could be desired for the gathering of the churches and the greeting of the Baptist Brotherhood. At the annual meeting in April, it is the custom of the Sabbath-schools of all the churches and all the missions to proceed in a body to the First Church. The spacious galleries, and a part of the main body of the house, are usually filled with the children and their teachers, the remainder of the sanctuary being crowded with an attentive audience. It is impossible to give an ade- quate description of the beautiful sight pre- sented at these annual meetings, or of the effect produced on the heart by all the chil- dren uniting to fill the house of the Lord BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I 5 with their songs of praise. Memorable, indeed, are those occasions, when the vigor of health, and the experience of age, and the flower of youth, and the fervor of piety, are found in beautiful combination, every one rejoicing in the success of the past and praying and planning for the work of the future. VIII. The principal aim of the Mission is to encourage the organization of Sunday- schools, and to provide a preached gospel for the destitute in the growing sections of the city. The Board does not primarily propose to purchase lots and build meet- ing-houses. The usual course is to open schools and send forth missionaries, and leave the question of building chapels and the organization of churches to be developed by the success of the missions. The prin- ciple has been to follow, and not to precede, the guidance of Providence. IX. It has also been a chief aim to pre- serve in the denomination in the city, " the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." I 6 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK And this result has been happily realized. Like a generous, faithful, loving mother, the Mission has given to the new interests support, sympathy, and unwearied care. Like the eagle, she has borne them on her wings until they were able to go forth alone. Every month the missionary or pastor has come to the Board with a statement of the wants, the trials, the joys, or the sorrows of his particular charge. Here he has always found sympathy. Advice has been kindly given. Material aid has been generously voted, and sometimes special prayer has been offered that God would interpose, and do that which His own cause required, and which was beyond human power to accom- plish. The influence of these monthly meet- ings cannot be over-estimated. They have kept the channel of sympathy between the churches free from obstruction. They have checked the growth of selfishness, by opening fields of usefulness in which all have been called to work. They have cul- BAPTIST CITY MISSION. \ 7 tivated unity and harmony among the churches, by affording opportunities of fre- quent intercourse with each other for Christian consultation and prayer. Here, in these monthly meetings, the members of the Board have grasped each others hands, as messengers of the churches, in fraternal love. Here they have united in aggressive movements against the kingdom of dark- ness. Here they have proved to be " the helpers of each other's joys," and the bearers of each other's burdens in fulfillment of the law of Christ. The moral power of such a union of the churches could not fail of producing the greatest possible amount of good. And its sweet spirit has often recalled the words of the Psalmist : " Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! // is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard : that went down to the skirts of his garments ; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon I 8 NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION. the mountains of Zion : for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for ever- more." We may add, what lover of Zion has not had occasion to deplore the absence of such unity in our chief cities. Too often the constitution of churches results from un- happy divisions, or in some spirit that is not in accordance with that of the gospel. And too often the wealth and talent of the de- nomination has been concentrated and un- developed in a single inert and overgrown body. It is, perhaps, not too- much to say, that could an unity like that realized in our city, be attained in other places, the strength of the denomination in those localities would be increased ten fold. m ^ $att €{prb* EARLY EFFORTS. HE first act of the Board was to obtain a proper person to fill the position of missionary. Rev. C. W. Waterhouse was selected, who entered upon the duties of the mission in April, 1852. Regular services were estab- lished at ic4 a. m., in the third-story room of a store No. [02 Broad Street, and in Humanity Hall, in the Fifth Ward, at 3 p. m. Sabbath-schools were commenced at both stations. At first, the number who met on the Sabbath for religious instruction and worship was very small. As the Board, however, provided better accommodations, the attendance, .both of the congregations and the Sabbath-schools, increased rapidly, while the missions grew in influence and usefulness. 20 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK Under the severe labors necessarily de- manded by the cultivation of both these missions, situated in opposite parts of the city, the health of the missionary, Mr. Waterhouse, became so seriously impaired as to compel him to cease altogether from this service. On accepting his resignation, the Board caused the following to be re- corded in the minutes : " The Board would at this time bear testimony to brother Waterhouse's self-sacrificing labors, his fervent prayers, his consistent, devoted life in the cause of his Master, and his zeal for the Mission." The work of this first missionary was that of the sower rather than of the reaper ; but the seed planted under much discourage- ment has since borne fruit. The Board called Rev. Thomas G. Wright to be his successor; and in April, 1853, he entered upon his missionary labors. A chapel in the North Ward having been completed, mainly through the liber- ality of Messrs. D. M. Wilson and John M. Davies, the missionary was directed to give BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 2 I the chief part of his time to that field, the Board regarding it as the more promising. He preached, however, every Sunday after- noon in the Fifth Ward. It was soon determined to employ anoth- er missionary. Accordingly, in October, 1853, David T. Morrill, a member of the Church at Rahway, and a graduate of the Rochester Theological Seminary, was in- vited to spend a Sunday in Newark. After preaching in the First and South Churches, he was elected by the Board as missionary for the Fifth Ward. Mr. Morrill began his mission work the first Sabbath in November, 1853. The pul- pit of the South Church becoming vacant by the resignation of Dr. Hague, Mr. Mor- rill, by the request of the Church and the consent of the Board, preached there for a time, on the Sabbath, and prosecuted his mission work during the w T eek. Under the faithful labors of the mission- aries, the instructions of devoted teachers in the Sabbath-schools, and the prayerful 2 2 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK and cheerful expenditure of the Lord's money, the cause of City Missions con- tinued to bring forth fruit. Frequent re- vivals were enjoyed, and many, from time to time, were converted. These were added by baptism to the First and South churches. As these were the only two churches in the city at this time, there was no other way of gathering in those who were converted in the mission fields. The idea entertained by the Board at first was, to organize Sunday- schools, and hold prayer-meetings, and af- ford opportunities for hearing the gospel to those who lived in destitute parts of the city. It was not the intention to favor the constitution of churches until there was a sufficient number gathered in these mis- sions to insure their permanency. Upon this theory, however, the missionaries worked under a great disadvantage. They were not able to retain in the mission as active workers those who had been converted. A wiser course was afterwards adopted. As soon as practicable churches were organized, BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 23 and the converts were baptized by the mis- sionaries, and became identified with the mission churches. This was found by ex- perience to greatly facilitate the procuring of houses of worship, and the usefulness of the missionaries. It will be seen by this that great care has always been taken by the Board in encour- aging the organization of the churches. Not until the working force in any mis- sion has given promise of success, and the Board, having counted the cost, has been prepared to furnish the necessary means so long as the church should require help, has an organization been favored. In this way, immature constitutions of churches, and those failures and disorganizations which have so often discouraged and grieved the denomination in other places, have been avoided. The reproof which the Saviour admin- istered to the man who commenced to build without counting the cost, is applicable to the organization of churches. It is wiser 24 NE WA RK BA PTIST CITY MISSION. to wait years in laying the foundations se- curely, rather than to hazard a failure by an indiscreet and hasty movement. And yet too much caution, which may amount to timidity and weakness, must be avoided, lest the hearts of those who are laboring in the mission field should be discouraged by the impression that the cause will never rise to the dignity and responsibility of an inde- pendent church. The Board has used great wisdom here ; and so far no mission has been allowed to surfer from unnecessary delay, nor has any church, after its organization, been permitted to languish and expire for the want of support. NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH. Jpart f ourtfj* ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES. — ♦ — THE NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH. Constituted July 26, 1854. HE mission in the North Ward, under the fostering care of the Board, and the labors of the mis- sionary, Rev. T. G. Wright, had grown to such an extent within the two years of its existence, that the subject of organizing a church began to be seriously considered. At a meeting held in the chapel, June n, 1854, Mr. H. M. Baldwin, of the South Church, moderator, the follow- ing resolution was adopted : — "Resolved, That the time has come for the organiza- tion of a regular Baptist Church in the field now occu- pied by our mission station connected with the North Baptist Chapel in Orange Street." 2 8 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK This resolution was duly considered by the Board, and being approved, measures were immediately taken to organize a church. A council, composed of delegates from the churches of Piscatavvay, Orange, Plainfield, Bloomfleld, Scotch Plains, Lyons Farms, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Hoboken, First and South Newark, met in the chapel, July 26, 1854. This council unanimously agreed to recognize the body as a regular Baptist Church under the name of the " North Baptist Church." The number of constituent members was forty-nine. Public services of recognition were held the same evening, when Rev. O. S. Stearns, pastor of the South Church, preached the Sermon ; Rev. H. C. Fish, pastor of the First. Church, gave the Hand of Fellow- ship ; and Rev. S. J. Drake, of Plainfield, the Charge. Upon the succeeding Sabbath, July 30, the first member was admitted to the new church by baptism. In August, 1854, Rev. Mr. Wright, after performing much mis- BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 29 sionary labor, with fidelity and zeal, re- signed his connection with the Board. The Church, with the advice of the Board, ex- tended a unanimous call to the Rev. Levi Morse, to become their pastor. Nine hun- dred dollars were appropriated towards his support. After a pastorate of nearly four years, during which time ninety-three were added to the Church, Mr. Morse resigned. During the time of their destitution, the Church, through their delegates, were in frequent consultation with the Board, and prayer was more than once offered at the monthly meeting, that God would direct in the choice of a pastor. May 10, 1858, the Church extended a call to Robert Atkinson, a licentiate of Fifth Church, Philadelphia. Mr. Atkinson ac- cepted the call, and was ordained to the work of the Christian ministry, September 1, 1858, in the First Baptist Church. Soon after his settlement, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit became manifest in the 30 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK meetings, and a season of extensive revival was enjoyed. At a meeting held March 2, 1859, the Church resolved to enter at once upon the work of securing a more commodious house of worship. The little chapel, with which so many hallowed memories clustered, was no longer, either in capacity or convenience, suitable to the growing demands of the community in which it had been placed. The Board was consulted. All the mem- bers felt the necessity of cooperating in the movement proposed. But at this time the denomination was engaged in assisting the First Church in building their large and expensive church edifice. This was the mother-church, and all were called to spe- cial effort and cheerful liberality. The strain upon the energies and resources of the Baptists of Newark was severe and long continued ; but through the goodness of God the harmonious counsels and patient endurance of the brethren were crowned with success. The First Church was re- BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 3 I lieved of all financial embarrassment, and in the possession of a noble and attractive house of worship. The way was now open to prosecute the building of an edifice for the North Church. A beautiful location, corner of Orange and High Streets, 140 by 70 feet, was selected and purchased for five thousand three hun- dred and fifty dollars. In 1863 plans were adopted by both the Church and the Board, and a joint com- mittee appointed to attend to the erection of the new chapel. In April, 1864, the Sun- day-school room was occupied, and in the autumn of the same year, the remainder of the building was completed and dedicated to the service of God. The North Church paid towards this object the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars. By the sale of their old house and lot, four thousand more were realized. The First Church fur- nished fifteen hundred dollars ; the South Church the same amount. In all, nine thou- sand five hundred dollars was raised in the 32 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK city of Newark ; and the remainder, about four thousand dollars, through the exertions of the pastor, was secured from abroad. This is the only instance in which help has been extended from sister churches out of the city. Grateful mention should here be made of the Christian liberality of Mr. John M. Davies, whose name has already promi- nently appeared in these pages. Mr. Davies has removed from the city, but he still re- tains the warmest interest in the Mission which he helped to organize. For assist- ance in the erection of the chapel in the North Ward, and the new edifice which the church there now occupies, as well as the substantial aid rendered in the build- ing of the two houses of worship which the South and First Churches occupy, the Baptists of Newark owe a lasting debt of gratitude to Mr. Davies. Immediately following the dedication of the new chapel, a blessed work of the Spirit began, continuing for more than four BAPTIST CITY MISSIOX. 33 months, resulting in greatly refreshing the Church, and adding to its number forty- four by baptism. In 1865-66, thirty-three were added by baptism, and during the latter year only one month passed without witnessing the administration of the ordinance. The Church commenced the year 1867 with a day of fasting and prayer, which was followed by a very quiet and gracious re- vival. Thirty-five were baptized. Unlike former seasons, the work began and con- tinued among the adults, and quite a num- ber of husbands for whom wives had lonor o been praying, were brought into the fold. In December of this year, the pastor, after a faithful and laborious ministry of ten years, resigned, in order to accept an ap- pointment of the Board of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, for Kansas and adjoining States. Not without years of earnest labor, ac- companied by the cheerful sacrifice of time and means, and the earnest prayers and 34 NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION. united efforts of the Church and the Board, have the results here sketched been at- tained. And who that looks at the attrac- tive chapel of the North Church, occupying as it does one of the most beautiful sites in the city, and takes a survey of the field in which it has been planted, and contem- plates the souls that have been gathered, can doubt that the labor and the money have been wisely expended ? It should here be added, that the benevo- lent contributions of this Church, since its constitution, have amounted to the sum of $3,950.22. The membership now consists of three hundred and one. FIFTH BAPTIST CHURCH. REV. D. T. MORRILL, PASTOR. NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION. *\>i THE FIFTH BAPTIST CHURCH. Constituted March 19, 1 85 5. The mission in the Fifth Ward, as has been stated, was commenced simultaneously with that in the North Ward. After the division of the two fields, Rev. D. T. Mor- rill became the missionary for the Fifth Ward. By request of the South Church, the Church at Rah way, of which Mr. Morrill was a member, invited a council to meet in the South Church, March 23, 1854, to consider the propriety of ordaining him to the work of the Christian ministry. The council met accordingly, and after an examination of Mr. Morrill, proceeded to ordain him by the usual services. Mr. Morrill, being relieved in April, 1854, from his engagement with the South 3 3& HISTORY OF THE NEWARK Church, entered fully upon his work in the Fifth Ward Mission. During the ensu- ing winter, God was pleased to bless the preached Word, and quite a number of per- sons were converted. It then became ap- parent that a church organization was indis- pensable to the greatest efficiency and suc- cess of the Mission. At a regular meeting of the Board, held March 5, 1855, after a full discussion, the following resolution was adopted : — "Resolved, that Rev. Mr. Morrill be instructed to obtain information as regards the material that can be gathered into a church organization, and report at a subsequent meeting." At a subsequent meeting, held March 19, the missionary reported that fifty-six persons had voluntarily tendered their names as willing to become constituent members of a new church organization, and that these persons had subscribed four hundred and seventy dollars toward the support of the gospel for the first year ; whereupon it was unanimously resolved, that in view of the BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 39 circumstances, the Board recommend that a church be constituted at an early day in the Fifth Ward. On Monday, March 26, 1855, a council convened in the South Church, in response to letters of invitation. The Articles of Faith and Covenant, adopted by the breth- ren, being satisfactory, the council recom- mended their recognition as a regular Bap- tist church, to be called the Fifth Baptist Church of Newark. 1 The public services of recognition were held on the evening of the same day. Of the fifty-six members constituting this Church, about an equal number came from the First and the South churches. The Church proceeded imme- diately to elect their missionary, who, by his faithful services, had endeared himself to them, to fill the office of pastor. 1 This name has been objected to by many, as not being liter- ally true. But considering the German Church as having prece- dence in point of time, the church is properly named. Another name would perhaps have been chosen ; but at the time of the organization, the church had no local habitation, and had been known as the Fifth Ward Mission. 40 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK The first Lord's day after the organiza- tion and recognition of this new Church, was one full of solemn interest and heavenly joy. Six new-born souls awaited the holy rite that should introduce them into Christ's visible Kingdom. The hearts of all were lifted in praise. After a brief morning service in the hall, the Church repaired to the South Church, where the ordinance of Baptism was administered. In the after- noon the Lord's Supper was celebrated for the first time by this infant body and these new disciples were welcomed by the hand of fellowship. The great want of the Church now was a suitable place to meet in. It was evident to all that no very great and permanent growth could be expected with their pres- ent accommodations. In the early part of- August the subject was earnestly discussed in church-meeting, and a resolution unan- imously passed, that " immediate measures be taken for the erection of a suitable house of worship." A building committee was BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 41 also appointed. In January, 1856, the building committee reported to the Church that Deacon H. M. Baldwin, of the South Church, who from the first had manifested great interest in this Mission enterprise, would give two lots on the corner of Lafay- ette and Prospect Streets, when a house costing not less than ten thousand dollars should have been built and paid for. Mr. Baldwin's proposition was thankfully ac- cepted, and at the next meeting more than three thousand dollars were subscribed by those who were present, to be paid within two years, in eight equal installments. The Church then, through its Trustees, presented the following memorial to the Board : — " Dear Brethren : — In the past we have been ac- customed to look to you for advice and aid. This ad- vice and aid, accompanied by the Divine blessing, has resulted in the formation of a church which God has so increased as imperatively to demand, in our opinion, the speedy erection of a commodious house of wor- ship. A member of your Board, Mr. H. M. Bald- win, has magnanimously promised to deed to the 42 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK Trustees of this Church an eligible site costing two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, when there shall have been erected and paid for, a house costing not less than ten thousand dollars. Pressed by the necessities of our present disadvantageous location, encouraged by this offer, and prompted by love to the cause of Christ, we resolved to make an effort within ourselves for the accomplishment of this object. And as the result of this, we have upwards of three thou- sand dollars subscribed. Thus situated we come to you for advice and aid. Shall the financial response be, ' Go forward ? ' when to go back is impossible, and to stand still imperils the cause ? We desire a prompt and prayerful reply. If the remaining amount is subscribed by the other Baptists in this city, relying upon Divine aid, we promise to sustain ourselves thereafter. "Yours, etc." [Signed by the Trustees in behalf of the Church.] To which the Board responded by pledg- ing their hearty sympathy and cooperation. Plans for the church edifice- were soon adopted by the building committee of the Church and the committee appointed by the Board. The corner-stone was laid by the Rev. E. L. Magoon, D. D., September 15, 1856. BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 43 July 5, 1857, the lecture-room was dedi- cated with appropriate services. At once the congregation and Sunday-school began to increase. This was the year of the great financial convulsion, and the year also of the great awakening. In December, the Lord beofan to visit the church and con- gregation. The former was quickened to work and pray ; the latter awakened to a sense of their sins and their need of a Saviour. The revival was of such power as to move through all the holiday festivities without hindrance. As the result of this visitation of the Holy Spirit, one hundred and twenty-three persons were baptized and received into the fellowship of the Church. The house of worship having been fin- ished and furnished, was dedicated to the worship of God, April 21, 1858. Dr. Dow- ling, Dr. Babcock, and Rev. A. Kingman Nott, preached on that day. A small debt remained on the new house. This debt, like many others of a similar nature, seemed 44 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK difficult to pay. The finances of the coun- try were disturbed, and the prospect was not encouraging. The Board was at this time paying four hundred dollars toward the support of the pastor. The Church had pledged the Board that it would ask no further aid as soon as their indebtedness was removed. It was seen that this amount was a large interest on fifteen hundred dol- lars, the sum yet owed. Mr. James Hague, of the South Church, suggested to his pastor the following plan by which this debt could be removed, and the Church enabled to fulfill her pledge of self-support ; namely, the Board to borrow the money, and get responsible persons to give bona fide notes with interest payable in two years. 1 Through the earnest efforts of Dr. Fish and Dr. Levy, the notes were procured ; and though Mr. Hague died before the notes became due, and the amount borrowed was returned, yet the plan he devised secured the end. 1 The money was borrowed from Dr. Rogers, of Paterson. BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 45 On the evening of January 3, i860, Mr. Wilson, President of the Board, paid over the fifteen hundred dollars, thus removing all claims against the Church, while Mr. H. M. Baldwin, according to his pledge, gave them the deed of the lot on which the build- ing had been erected. The Church unan- imously passed a vote of thanks to these brethren, and then employed the remainder of the evening in prayer and thanksgiving to God for his gracious aid in the work of building a house for his glory. The Church from this time has been self- sustaining — giving to the treasury of the Board instead of receiving from it. Through the blessing of God, and the generous co- operation of the City Mission Board, this result was reached in less than five years from the time the little band was organ- ized. The contributions of this Church since its organization, for benevolent objects, have amounted to the sum of $3,003.50. The membership now consists of three hundred and ninety-seven. 46 NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION. It will be also a matter of interest to state that during the past year, 1867-68, a very neat and commodious parsonage has been erected, adding greatly to the comfort and happiness of the pastor, a result which was much facilitated by the generosity of brethren who are members of sister churches. In concluding this sketch we are moved to indorse the remark of the pastor, Rev. Mr. Morrill, that if the City Mission Board had done nothing more than to plant this one Church in all the years of its existence, it would have done a noble work. But this is only one, the second born, of the Mission Church sisterhood. FAIRMOUXT BAPTIST CHURCH. REV. \Y\ D. 8EIGFRIED, PAKTOK. XEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 49 FAIRMOUNT BAPTIST CHURCH. Constituted June 29, i860. In the year 1859, the building, corner of Bank and Wickliff Streets, formerly used by another denomination, known as Fair- mount Chapel, was reported to the Board as being unoccupied. Its location, the rap- idly growing neighborhood, and the pros- pect of successfully establishing a mission there, were the subjects of thoughtful and prayerful consideration by the Board. The result was the opening of the place for wor- ship, the organization of a Sunday-school, and finally the purchase of the property at a cost of over three thousand dollars. For the first few months the pastors of the several Baptist churches preached alter- nately each Sabbath afternoon. The Sun- day-school was under the efficient superin- 5 CO v~ ^LO ' 3 rt o CX O rt § ft ft-£ rt ft o S^ o toao»o -=. N . . . . n . . • ^- . O tJ- -DO CO N CO 1-1 O ON M CO m „CO Orn'Oi," 00 ^hQOOO -co « -00 CO X >o „ "q ^d ri . -J . - -Q8& Q . «H_ Jl'-C Sss 6 -o fe « "3 S "> "S S fe J 'H S cW S >>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Si c u fl u > 00 i- 00 <— 1 O £ CX 13 h * +. 88 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK The following table exhibits the Number of Bap- tisms, and the Number of Members, for any given year up to the present time, December, 1868 : — Year . . 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1 80b 1809 181c 1811 Baptized — 6 2 4 2 2 n 13 16 23 4 Members 13 17 33 36 34 33 34 46 60 88 84 Year . . 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1S19 1820 1821 1822 Baptized 2 1 6 2 2 37 28 3 2 3 Members 64 r> 70 72 82 no 122 120 120 112 109 Year . . 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 Baptized 4 I 1 9 7 2 1 2 8 8 14 Members 112 IOS 102 102 103 107 IIO in "3 120 128 Year . . 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1 841 1842 1843 1844 Baptized 9 12 23 12 9 7 48 13 n 7 6 Members 149 164 203 221 216 213 257 264 270 261 306 Year . . 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 Baptized 7 7 30 9 7 30 42 25 21 106 36 Members 322 33i 372 380 376 339 378 39i 433 55o 492 Year . . 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 Baptized 25 18 236 19 29 25 n 6 125 16 152 Members 462 495 730 703 716 709 697 673 777 75i 901 Year . . 1867 1868 Baptized 13 15 Members 900 863 BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 89 From the foregoing tables it will be seen that the Church has been destitute of pas- toral care for more than nine years. Also, that in the remaining forty-one years, up to the present pastorate, the average term of ser- vice was about two years and eleven months. The most protracted pastoral service, except the present, was rendered by David Jones ; the second in length, by H. V. Jones ; the third, by Daniel Dodge ; and the fourth, by Charles Lahatt and William Sym. Deduct- ing the time of service of these five brethren, the average length of the pastorate under the nine remaining ministers, was but about one year and four months. The present unfinished pastorate extends thus far through eighteen years. The total number of additions to the Church by baptism up to the present pastor- ate, was 511 ; since then, 919; total since organization of the Church (sixty-seven years), 1430. Average per year for the first fifty years, a fraction above 10. Average per year since then, a fraction above 51. 9. D., PASTOR. NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION. HISTORY OF THE SOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH. Constituted February 13, 1850. It is conceded by all, that the erection of the South Church gave the first impulse to the spirit of city missions. For nearly fifty years the Baptist cause had been in a dormant state. A small frame building on Academy Street accommodated all who could be induced to attend public worship conducted by Baptists. But little money was raised, and but few efforts were made for the enlargement of Zion. The limits of the city had extended on every hand, the population had increased at a wonderfully rapid rate, and other denominations had grown from three to seven fold, and yet during all this time the Baptists had ap- peared satisfied with their ill-constructed meeting-house, and with the limited influ- ii4 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK ence they were exerting in the community. The gospel had been preached among them by able and faithful ministers, but there were few comparatively who seemed moved by it to a reception of Christ, while the piety of many of these even, was of a sickly and feeble type, like the health of children who have been long confined, and have had no opportunity for physical exercise or for breathing the pure air of heaven. It pleased God at last, however, to move the hearts of a few worthy men to break up this spell of self-satisfaction. At several meetings of the Church, and on the street and elsewhere, the subject of church ex- tension and Christian enterprise was in- troduced and earnestly advocated. These brethren, feeling deeply the necessity of ex- pansion, and moved with holy zeal for the advancement of Christ's kingdom, finally succeeded in awakening an interest in be- half of the movement in the minds of others. At a meeting of the Church in 1849, a BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 115 committee was appointed " in order to take measures for the erection of a new church edifice, and for the organization and perma- nent establishment of a new Baptist interest in addition to the one now existing." In accordance with this resolution, a lot on the corner of Broad and Fulton streets was soon after purchased. Failing, how- ever, to obtain a satisfactory title, the prop- erty was abandoned, and the attention of the committee was directed to the southern part of the city. A location, Kinney Street near Broad, was at length selected, and measures were immediately taken to erect a neat and substantial structure for the wor- ship and glory of God. At a meeting held in the lecture-room of the First Church, February 13, 1850, of persons holding letters of dismission for the purpose of forming a new Church to occupy the edifice then in course of erection, Mr. Edward Doughty was chosen Moderator, and M-- D. C. Whitman, Clerk. After prayer, the Moderator requested persons Il6 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK holding letters of dismission, for the pur- pose for which this meeting was called, to present them. The following was read : — " At a regular meeting of the First Baptist Church in the city of Newark, N. J., held February 13, 1850, the following brethren and sisters, members in regular standing with us, were, at their own request, dismissed to form a new Baptist Church to worship in the house now being erected by this Church, in Kinney Street in this city, namely : Edward Doughty, John M. Davies, Alice S. H. Davies, Louisa Davies, Robert Johnston, Ann L. Johnston, Samuel Baldwin, Mary Baldwin, Mary Belcher, David Jones, Mary Jones, Jane B. Hedden, Emma Ely, James Hague, Anna Hague, Daniel C. Whitman, Abraham Runyon Jr., Sarah Ann Runyon, Jane Morris, Rebecca Shuart, Caleb H. Earl, Elizabeth H. Earl, Mary M. Earl, Mary Canfield, George P. Morrow, E. P. Morrow, Catherine Fowler, George H. Bruen, Maiy Bruen, George M. Foster, Mary Law, Lydia Ann Force, Julia Wilson, Maria Hedden, Isaac Scribner, Caroline Scribner, I. Cam- field. May the blessing of God attend the formation of this new interest, and the same unanimity and Chris- tian harmony ever characterize the intercourse of the two sister churches which prevail between us and these dear brethren and sisters. " By order and on behalf of the Church. " Isaiah Peckham, Church Clerk." BAPTIST CITY MISSION. [ I 7 The persons named in this letter, who were present, were requested to arise and thereby signify their assent to the formation of this new Church. Prayer was then of- fered by Mr. David Jones. Articles of Faith were adopted, and a covenant read and approved. South Baptist Church, Kin- ney Street, Newark, New Jersey, was adopted as the name by which this Church should be known. Mr. George H. Bruen was elected clerk. At a subsequent meeting the following additional names were presented, and by vote were received as constituent members : Ebenezer T. Kirkpatrick, Joseph O. Nichols, Eliza D. Nichols, Abraham Coles, John H. Cross, Nancy Johnston, Mary Earl, John Rees, — in all forty-five members. With great unanimity the Rev. William Hague, D. D., of Boston, was called to the pastorate of the Church. On motion, a council of delegates from Baptist churches was called to meet in the First Church, on the first Tuesday in March, for the purpose Il8 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK of publicly recognizing the body as a regu- lar Baptist Church. This council convened according to the request, Tuesday, March 5, 1850, when,, after an examination of the Articles of Faith, and the manner of their organization, it was unanimously resolved to proceed to recognize them as an inde- pendent church of Christ. The services were held the same evening in the following order: reading of the Scriptures and Prayer by the Rev. H. C. Fish, of Somerville, N. J. ; Sermon by the Rev. E. L. Magoon, D. D., NewYork, from Psalm cxix. 1 8 ; Right Hand of Fellowship by Rev. H. V. Jones, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Newark, N.J. ; Charge to the Church by Rev. S. J. Drake, Plainneld, N. J. The Lecture-room of the church edifice was opened for worship, April 14, 1850. Dr. Hague, the pastor, was present for the first time, and preached in the morning from Mark iv. 34. " Vestry services " was the subject of the discourse. In the afternoon, the twenty-first chapter of John 'was ex- BAPTIST CITY MISSION. \ \ 9 pounded, and the small meetings of the dis- ciples, with their beloved Master as their teacher, was the subject. July 18, 1850, the church edifice being finished, was opened for public worship. Dr. Hague preached from Ephesians iv. 21. This enterprise, so auspiciously begun, sent a thrill of vital energy through the whole body. It was now seen what might be accomplished by the united efforts of the Church of Christ in devising liberal things. The South Church continued to prosper under the able discourses and faithful labors of its distinguished pastor. Our princi- ples, as a denomination, were so clearly de- fined, and so scripturally maintained, that many from other denominations were con- vinced and became obedient to the truth. Many also, among the unconverted, were awakened by the Spirit of God, sought mercy through Christ, " believed, were bap- tized, and added to the Church." The Church likewise abounded in gen- 120 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK erosity. Liberal donations were made from time to time, towards the extension of Christ's kingdom in the city and through- out the world. Very early in the history of the Church, the subject of systematic benevolence claimed special attention. In July, 1850, Dr. Hague made the following report : — " Newark, July 2, 185 1. ' 4 The Committee appointed to consider and propose a plan for regular and permanent contribution to ob- jects of benevolence, report, — " That they regard the object before them as one of the most important that can now engage the attention of the Church. As with us it is an acknowledged truth that a church is Christ's appointed instrumentality for the extension of His kingdom on the earth, the ques- tion which relates to a plan of contribution is one which bears directly on the grand design for which the Church was constituted. To the Corinthian Church the Apos- tle said, ' Therefore as ye abound in everything, in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also,' that is, liberal giving. Hence it is evident that God has made it the duty of a church to promote His cause, not only by contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, but also by the contribu- tion of property. B API IS 7 CITY MISSION. I 2 I " In writing to this same Church, to whom the words just quoted were addressed, Paul gave the following direction : ' Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.' At that time a special object of benevolence was. before the Church of Corinth, and the Apostle wished all the members of it to contribute systematically and from principle, with quietness and efficiency, so that he might not appear among them as a fiscal agent seek- ing for money. The direction which we have cited involves several important principles. " First, that Christian benevolence should be con- ducted according to a system. It should not be left to the mere play of impulse or the excitement of circum- stances. " Second, that this system should be comprehensive and pervasive. ' Let every one lay by him.' Let the sick and the poor meet together with their offerings of love at the altar of Christ. " Third, that the designation should be made at a stated time, frequently as often as once a week. On the first day of the week, when we thank God for redemp- tion and salvation, then we are bidden to lay a tax on our worldly income or expenditure, and to place it as a tribute of gratitude at the Saviour's feet. " Fourth, this weekly study and calculation of the amount of our contribution should lead us to give to 122 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK an extent commensurate with our power of giving. ' Let every one lay by as God has prospered him.' " Here we have developed the apostolical plan of benevolence ; a system of God's ordering — simple, equal, rational, effectual ; requiring nothing to sustain it in any church but that degree of love to Christ and His cause which will keep us from forgetting Him longer than the interval between successive Sabbaths. If we have real love to Him, that system would be found to be self-sustaining, and we have reason to believe that the result would prove that the hints of Scripture are better than volumes of man's wisdoms. " In view of these considerations, which might be more largely urged, the Committee recommend, — " First, that a collection be taken after the sermon, on the morning of every Sabbath, for the cause of evangelization. " Second, that from the funds thus accruing to the treasury of the Church, appropriations be made to specific objects of benevolence, at such times as may be hereafter designated. " All which is respectfully submitted. " Wm. Hague." This was the beginning of a system of Sabbath offerings which has secured a large amount of money in the aggregate, and has been a continual source of blessing to the Church. This system of benevolence was BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 123 farther modified in [865, when Dr. Levy, by direction of the Church, presented the following plan, by which the contributors know, at all times, the objects which are claiming their offerings and their prayers : " The custom, recommended by the Apostle Paul, and established by this Church at its organization, is still cherished by us as eminently the wisest and most suc- cessful and becoming arrangement for securing the contributions of God's people. It is but right that every Christian, as he comes to the sanctuary ' on the first day of the week ' to worship God and to give thanks 'for His unspeakable gift,' should bring with him a portion of the fruits with which God has crowned his labors. The rich should give of their abundance, the poor of their frugal savings, and all should give cheerfully and according to the measure of their ability. " The collections on each Sunday morning will be appropriated to the following objects and in the order now designated : — " January and February, Foreign Missions ; March, American Baptist Publication Society ; April, Newark Baptist City Mission ; May, Sunday-schools ; June, American Baptist Home Mission Society ; July and August, Miscellaneous Objects ; September, American and Foreign Bible Society ; October and November, 124 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK New Jersey Baptist State Convention ; December, New Jersey Baptist Education Society, and the Ministers' and Widows' Fund." November 2, 1853, the Church was called to bear their first trial. Dr. Hague, their esteemed pastor, after a pastorate of about three and a half years, resigned his charge. The Church was supplied with preaching by Rev. D. T. Morrill, until March 12, 1854, when a call was extended to Rev. O. S. Stearns, of Southbridge, Mass. Mr. S. en- tered upon his duties May 7, 1854, on which occasion public services of welcome were held, in which several ministers of the city and vicinity participated. This second pastorate, which was so sat- isfactory to the Church, was destined to be of short duration. December 17, 1854, by permission of the Church, Rev. Dr. Sears presented himself as a messenger from the Baptist Church at Newton Centre, Mass., and described the need of the Church there, and made an urgent appeal that the South Church would BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I 25 relinquish their claims upon their pastor, and consent to his accepting the call which had been made by the Church he repre- sented. The South Church, through a committee, addressed a letter to the Church at Newton Centre, declining to comply with their re- quest. The pastor, yielding to the warm expressions of affection and of earnest wishes that he would not sunder the ties which bound them together, publicly an- nounced, January 14, 1855, tnat ne would remain with them. Efforts, however, continued to be made by the Church at Newton Centre, to induce Mr. Stearns to accept their invitation. These efforts at last succeeded. August 29, 1855, after a pastorate of about fifteen months, Mr. Stearns resigned his charge. Rev. J. L. Hodge, D. D., was called to the pastoral charge of the Church, October 3, 1855. He accepted the invitation, and in November entered upon his labors. During the pastorate of Dr. Hodge, many 126 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK were converted, and a large number of per- sons, who from indifference had lost their membership in other places, having been induced to renew their vows, were received by the Church on experience. Dr. Hodge resigned November 8, 1857, after serving the Church just two years. Rev. J. H. Walden supplied the Church for three months. In June, 1858, the present pastor, on his way to fulfill an engagement with an es- teemed brother in the ministry in a neigh- boring city, was induced to stop at Newark and supply the pulpit of the South Church one Sabbath. He preached from Col. i. 19. " That in all things He might have the pre- eminence." God gave him such favor in the eyes of the people that, although he left the city early the next morning, measures were immediately taken to have him return and preach for them again. In July, he complied with their request. This second visit resulted in the Church extending to him a call to become their pastor. BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I 2 J It was not for some time after that the call was accepted. The relationship which bound him to his people in Philadelphia had been of fourteen years existence. It was his first and only pastorate. Nearly the entire membership had been baptized by him, and only a high sense of duty and the prospect of greater usefulness, could prevail on him to accept the call to the Church at Newark. On the first of October, 1858, he entered upon his duties here. The Church and congregation had become much discouraged and weakened by the frequent changes in the pastoral office. But soon the blessing of God attended the ministrations of his ser- vant, and frequent additions by baptism, and an increase of attendance on the means of grace imparted hope and encouragement to all. In 1859 a large and elegant organ was introduced, by the aid of which, with the change in the hymn book, the service of song in the house of the Lord was much improved. 128 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK In i860 there were constant tokens of the Divine favor, and conversions were re- ported every month. In the midst of this success, however, the pastor was suddenly prostrated by an alarming illness, which laid him aside for nearly three months. In answer to the earnest and loving prayers of the Church, the Lord was pleased to permit him to resume his labors among them. In 1862 the exterior of the church edifice was repaired and greatly improved. The front was faced with brown stone, which gave to it a substantial and neat appearance. In 1863, through the efforts of the pastor and the liberality of the Church and con- gregation, the interior of the sanctuary was remodeled and beautified. The plans and the execution of the work are highly credit- able to the architect, Mr. David S. Gendell, of Philadelphia, and to the decorator, Mr. John Gibson. During the winter and spring of 1864 the Church enjoyed a precious " season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I 29 Sixty-eight were baptized and received into fellowship. Again, in 1866, the Lord poured out His Holy Spirit and the Church was greatly revived. Nearly one hundred souls were baptized, and the membership reached al- most five hundred, being the largest, except one, of any Baptist Church in New Jersey. In 1868, the Pilgrim Baptist Church, in the Tenth Ward, was organized. This Church grew from the mission planted there eight years ago, by members of the Fifth Church. The principal support, however, has always been derived from the South Church. The ground on which the chapel stands, as well as most of the cost of erect- ing the same, were liberally donated by Mr. H. M. Baldwin, of the South Church, " whose praise is in all the churches ; " while nearly the entire constituent mem- bership went forth from this Church, with its blessings and its prayers accompanying them. According to the statistics of the Church, I30 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK the total number of additions has been as follows : Number of constituent members, forty-five. During the pastorate of Dr. Hague, from April, 1851, to November, 1853, three years and a half, by baptism, ninety -one ; by letter, one hundred and four- teen ; by experience, three ; total number, two hundred and eight. During the vacancy in the pastoral office, from November, 1853, to May, 1854, by baptism, twelve ; by letter, two ; total num- ber, fourteen. During the pastorate of Dr. Stearns, from May, 1854, to August, 1855, fifteen months, by baptism, twenty-five ; by letter, thirty- eight ; by experience, one ; total number, sixty-four. During the pastorate of Dr. Hodge, from November, 1855, to November, 1857, two years, by baptism, forty-eight; by letter, fifty; by experience, sixteen; total num- ber, one hundred and fourteen. During the vacancy, from November, 1857, to October, 1858, by baptism, fifteen ; BAPTIST CITY MISSION. \ 3 \ by letter, fourteen ; total number, twenty- nine. During the ten years of Dr. Levy's pas- torate, by baptism, two hundred and fifty- two ; by letter, one hundred and seventy- three ; by experience, thirteen; total num- ber, four httndred and thirty-eight. The entire number received from all sources since the Church was formed, is nine hundred and twenty-four. Three hun- dred and forty-seven persons have been dis- missed by letter, forty-six have been ex- cluded from the fellowship of the Church, and sixty-four have " fallen asleep." The first named, we may charitably hope, are now useful and consistent members of sister churches; the second, the excluded, awaken many painful thoughts and excite the prayer that they may, through the abun- dant mercy of God, be restored to repent- ance and good works. The last, those who have fallen asleep, lead us to say, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord ! " How precious is the memory of Samuel Baldwin, I32 NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION- Ann L. Johnston, James Hague, Edwin R. Parsil, Edward Doughty, David Jones, Mary Jones, Mary Baldwin, and many others of whom " we cannot now speak particularly." " With us their names shall live Through long succeeding years, Embalmed with all our hearts can give, — Our praises and our tears." GROWTH FROM EFFORT. PERIOD of seventeen years has thus elapsed since the Newark Baptist City Mission Board was organized. In conlusion, let us survey the field and sum up the work. As before stated, in December, 1851, several members of the First and South churches met for consultation and resolved to organize for the prosecution of City Mis- sion work. In April, 1852, the first missionary em- ployed by the Board entered upon his du- ties. Two places for worship and for Sab- bath-school instruction were opened, one in the North and the other in the Fifth Ward. In 1853 the first chapel, erected for the Mission, was dedicated to religious worship in the North Ward. 9 134 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK In the same year a reinforcement to the working force of the Mission was made by the appointment of another missionary, who was assigned to the Fifth Ward. July 26, 1854, the North Ward Mission was organized into a Church, with a mem- bership of forty-nine, composed mostly of such persons as had been converted through the instrumentality of the Mission. In 1855 the Mission in the Fifth Ward was organized into a Church with fifty-six constituent members. April 21, 1858, the new edifice of the Fifth Church was dedicated. In May, 1859, the Fairmount chapel was purchased by the Board, and opened for worship ; the pastors, in their turn, preach- ing every Sabbath afternoon. A Sunday- school was also established. October 6, the Board engaged Rev. C. W. Clark to labor here as a missionary. January 3, i860, the debt on the Fifth Church was paid through the efforts of the Board, and the Church henceforth became a self-supporting body. BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I 35 June 29, i860, the Fairmount Mission was organized into a regular Baptist Church. February 5, 1861, a house of worship was purchased for the use of the German Bap- tist Church, the members of which ex- hibited great liberality and Christian zeal in the accomplishment of this long desired object. July, 1864, the chapel in the Tenth Ward was completed, paid for, and opened for the use of the Mission. A German missionary was also engaged, who preached there in the morning, and in the afternoon at Hamburg Place, where a German mission had been established. About this time the Board also engaged the services of a German colporteur. November, 1866, the Mount Pleasant Mission was organized. A neat chapel was opened for religious services. February, 1867, Rev. C. E. Wilson, Jr., was engaged by the Board, and entered upon his work in the Mount Pleasant field. May 19, 1867, the lecture-room of the Fairmount Baptist Church was dedicated. I36 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK During this year (1867) a missionary was engaged by the Board for the Tenth Ward Mission. March 8, 1868, the Pilgrim Baptist Church was constituted in the Tenth Ward. Thus in seventeen years the Board have planted six missions, employed nine mis- sionaries and one colporteur. They have aided in the organization of five churches, assisted in the building of three substan- tial houses of worship, and four chapels. Through the advice and liberality of the same, the Germans have secured their house of worship, besides a commodious chapel, and have the services of an efficient mis- sionary. Through the direct influence of these missions, and the faithful labors of the mis- sionaries, one thousand and fifty-four per- sons have been baptized and added to the churches. There has been expended for the support of the missions twenty-nine thousand four hundred and eight dollars, besides the large outlay in building church BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I 37 edifices proper for the Fifth, the North, and Fairmount churches, and much of the cost of the chapels for other posts, which has not been included in the above estimate, and of which no account has been preserved. Without the moral and material assist- ance thus afforded by the Board, some of these churches would never have been es- tablished ; or if they had, their existence would, in all probability, have been feeble and of brief duration. Without this, the church edifices and chapels which now dot the different sections of the city, diffusing light and love, joy and gladness throughout the community, would never have been erected, and the missionaries, who have been preaching the gospel, and laboring for the salvation of souls, would not have been sustained. Those thousands of dollars, so productive of good and great results, could not otherwise have been raised, concen- trated, and made conducive to the glory of God in the enlargement of Zion. While these results have been accom- I38 HISTORY OF THE NEWARK plished through the instrumentality of the Board, the inquiry arises, How has all this expenditure of strength affected the two churches that originated this mission enter- prise ? Has the bestowment on others of their best gifts, weakened their own work- ing force ? Has the money which they have annually raised and liberally expended made them poorer ? Far from it. At the organization of the Mission, in 1851, the two churches, as we have seen, had an ag- gregate membership of five hundred and six. At the present time, the membership of those two churches is one thousand two hundred and eighty-seven ; and in the city, about twenty-five hundred. In 1851, their contributions for benevolent objects amounted, in the aggregate, to $2,117.36. In 1868 the sum reported was $20,766.84. How forcibly do the above facts and fig- ures illustrate these scriptures : " There is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." " The liberal soul shall be made fat ; and he that watereth shall BAPTIST CITY MISSION. I 39 be watered also himself." " Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over." " Give with no faltering hand, Give with no grudging heart ; The cause is holy, — help it on, — You lend to the Christian's Lord." The blessed results of this enterprise in the erection of churches, in establishing Sabbath-schools, in fostering the grace of Christian charity, in the conversion of souls, and in extending Baptist principles, should encourage the Baptists of Newark to go forward in their great and beneficent work. Much remains to be done. The city con- tains a population of over one hundred thousand. These six Baptist churches and three chapels, — what are they among so many? And the population is rapidly in- creasing. The advantageous location of the city, its broad and beautiful streets, its well regulated police, its commodious dwellings, its proximity to New York, and I4O HISTORY OF THE NEWARK its railroad facilities, are attracting the attention of capitalists and manufacturers, and inviting families to make their homes where they may live better and cheaper than in New York. It is estimated that in twenty-five years there will be, with- in the limits of the city of Newark, two hundred and fifty thousand souls. Now it will not do to wait until these come. It is the part of prudence and piety to make ready for their coming. It would be no more than wise and provident to build one chapel every year. This would give the de- nomination the advantage of preoccupation. There need be no fear of these not being filled. It is astonishing how soon houses of worship gather congregations from the mass of those who are non-church-goers. When God calls ministers to preach the gospel, He will call the people to hear, and when Christians build houses for His wor- ship, He will provide the means to fill them. The duty, then, is imperative, to be on the watch for opportunities to extend the BAPTIST CITY MISSION. 1 4 I cords as well as to strengthen the stakes of our Zion. We are sacredly called upon to gird ourselves anew for the accumulating work we find at our very doors. And we have every encouragment to be thus faithful. Our principles are gaining fa- vor every year, and must continue to do so, as the community advances in intelligence and in freedom of thought. As men learn to think for themselves, to read the Bible for them- selves, to repent of sins for themselves, to believe for themselves, and to obey Christ for themselves, they will seek the churches which have for ages " resisted even unto blood " the assumptions of civil and ecclesi- astical tyranny, and which, discarding all the traditions of men, and fearlessly braving the sneers and misrepresentations of the world, have simply and earnestly required of all who may have sought admission into the kingdom of Christ, personal faith and obe- dience. Surely, when we consider what has already been wrought by our denomination, we are 142 NEWARK BAPTIST CITY MISSION. compelled to acknowledge the hand of God, and to believe that He will continue to smile upon our efforts to advance His kingdom, and to maintain the honor of His word and the purity of His ordinances. " What though the gates of hell withstood, Yet must this building rise : 'Tis thine own work, almighty God, And wondrous in our eyes." Princeton Theological Seminary Libraries 1 1012 01245 6093 Hfc % *%